The store was one of three in the North East and North Yorkshire named among the 77 finalists aiming to scoop the Independent Bookshop of the Year Award. They are Drake the Bookshop in Stockton, Forum Books in Corbridge, and Kemps General Store Ltd in Malton. A spokesperson for Drake the Bookshop said it was delighted to be in the mix for the award, and said it was “huge testament” to Stockton to be up for the honour. )”The award, sponsored by Gardners, celebrates stores at heart of local communities and seeks to highlight them. The list includes ten book stores in London, North England, Scotland, South-East England and South-West England respectively, eight in East England and the Midlands, six in the Island of Ireland and five in Wales.

Ray Pattemore, 77, has been volunteering as the a police cadets leader for the past seven-and-a-half years following a distinguished career with first Avon and Somerset Police and then MOD Police. “I was with the Red Cross Cadets for 30 years and had my own Red Cross Cadet unit in Bath and the Royal Navy Cadets in Corsham. “After retiring 19 years ago, I worked for the ambulance service and then the out-of-hours doctors’ service in Chippenham and then I joined as Chippenham Police Cadets leader seven-and-a-half years ago.”To anyone thinking of joining the Police Cadets, he said: “Definitely join. The Chippenham Police Cadet unit is the only one currently active in Wiltshire. For more information or to apply to be a cadet, visit the police cadet page on the Wiltshire Police website.

British actor Pamela Salem, shown in a 1971 publicity shot, died on Wednesday at her Florida home. British actor Pamela Salem, who appeared as Bond secretary Miss Moneypenny in the film “Never Say Never Again,” has died. Salem’s agent Maddie Burdett Coutts confirmed in a phone call with The Times that the actor died Wednesday at her home in Florida at age 80. She was just the most lovely person.”British production and publishing company Big Finish announced Salem’s death in a news release Friday. Her time on the beloved sci-fi series informed the multiple audio drama projects she pursued with Big Finish in the years before her death.

Senior figures in the Scottish Government "spoke about cutting all the ethics crap" and introducing artificial intelligence systems to help tackle the Covid pandemic. The latest revelation comes in a new academic study looking at the use of AI by the SNP administration in Edinburgh. It says the Scottish Government had taken steps "soften up" the public to "the usage of AI and Big Data". For example, at certain moments during the Covid-19 pandemic some in the Scottish Government 'spoke about cutting all the ethics crap' to allow for speedier responses to the crisis." A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We can categorically say that Scottish Ministers endeavour to ensure that use of Artificial Intelligence in Scotland is trustworthy, ethical and inclusive at all times."

The Conservative MP Lee Anderson has claimed that Islamists have 'got control of London' and its mayor, Sadiq Khan. Labour has called for the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, to remove the party whip from Anderson in response to the comments. A Conservative source said: 'Lee was simply making the point that the mayor, in his capacity as [police and crime commissioner] for London, has abjectly failed to get a grip on the appalling Islamist marches we have seen in London recently'

A group of angry French farmers stormed into a Paris agriculture fair on Saturday before a planned visit by Emmanuel Macron, amid anger over costs and regulations. Facing dozens of police officers inside the fair, the farmers shouted and booed, calling for the French president’s resignation and using expletives aimed at him. There were some clashes and police arrested at least one protester, a Reuters witness saw. Farmers have been protesting across Europe, calling for better income and less bureaucracy and denouncing unfair competition from cheap imported goods

When we talk about comets, people often think of a large, bright sphere followed by a long thin tail. ☄️A comet will be visible in the UK night sky for the next couple of weeks and our researchers need images to help improve forecasts of space weather. Images of the comet will enable the research team to record data about solar wind conditions local to the space projectile. If the tail detaches from the comet or appears to wobble, the team can determine there was an increase in solar wind activity nearby. The comet has been visible in our sky since February 14 and will remain so until the end of March.

The defence secretary, Grant Shapps, has distanced himself from comments made by the Conservative MP Lee Anderson about the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, which Labour have described as Islamophobic. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Shapps said he would have said things differently to Anderson, a former Conservative deputy chairman, who claimed in an interview with GB News that 'Islamists' had 'got control of London' and its mayor. Shapps also voiced concern about protests outside parliament during his interview on BBC Breakfast

Sport AnalysisWhen Liverpool approached Jorg Schmadtke to be their sporting director in the summer, he thought the offer was a joke. Indeed the club are currently conducting an internal review of football operations, according to one individual familiar with their ongoing search for a new sporting director. “It is a sensible thing to do because replacing Klopp and bringing in a new sporting director are both huge decisions in their own right. Of the outstanding external candidates, several are now free agents – including Paul Mitchell, the former Monaco and RB Leipzig sporting director. While his teams press and his club are data-driven, like Liverpool, they do not exhibit the same control as the Reds.

These include routes running between Edinburgh Waverley and Fife, Perth, and the Borders Railway. However, despite more seats being available, ScotRail has urged rugby fans to plan ahead and allow for additional time when travelling. This is due to the limited access at Haymarket station caused by the ongoing redevelopment of an adjacent building. Scotland and England fans are being urged to go straight to Waverley Station after the final whistle is blown to reduce pressure on Haymarket. “We’d also encourage customers to travel straight to Edinburgh Waverley to catch their train home after the game due to the limited access and capacity at Haymarket station.”

Today, we highlight the Friends of the Southern Necropolis, who maintain the Southside burial ground. Friends of Southern Necropolis volunteers (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)Colin Mackie, chairperson of the group which looks after the grounds, said: "We do a walk-around every January to take note of the issues that we will have to focus on in the year. We are going to work on the rose garden, which we are also planning to work on." He said: "I was employed as a researcher in the first ever Southern Necropolis Research Project and I just fell in love with the history and heritage of the place." The Southern Necropolis opened in 1840 and is the burial place of around 250,000 people and is a well-loved attraction in the Gorbals.

While each summer, Buckingham Palace opens its state rooms and gardens to the general public. Buckingham Palace. (Image: Newsquest)Tourists gutted with Buckingham Palace visit and want to complain to the KingOne user of Tripadvisor described the tour of Buckingham Palace as "a facade" writing: "Terrible terrible terrible!! Another Tripadvisor user described Buckingham Palace as a "big house in London with more bedrooms than mine and probably more televisions although I did not see one nor a sky dish either." Others who had taken part in the garden tour at Buckingham Palace called it a "rip-off" adding: "Disappointing garden tour.

Regarding Dr Tom McEwen’s letter published on 19th January, while I appreciate that some roads are dangerous for cyclists, I disagree with his suggestion that cyclists should be allowed to use the pavements. This would be dangerous for pedestrians. New housing estates have separate cycle and pedestrian routes which are the most direct routes to the shops, station, etc. I would suggest that a policy on these lines would be the best way to protect both cyclists and pedestrians. Let’s not put vulnerable pedestrians at risk by allowing cyclists to use the pavements.

Gas engineers looking for the mystery gas leak in Roundstone Street and Silver Street areas of Trowbridge have closed the road, bringing disruption to traffic. Image: Trevor Porter 70621-2 (Image: Trevor Porter)The route from Church Street into Silver Street and Roundstone Street is a popular one for drivers, including those who run buses and delivery vehicles into the town centre. The gas engineers have moved their search from the Silver Street junction further along Roundstone Street to check whether the leak is in the mains pipe. Gas engineers looking for the mystery gas leak in Roundstone Street and Silver Street areas of Trowbridge have closed the road, bringing disruption to traffic. Dave Wyatt, of DW Money Services, says the search for the gas leak has caused massive disruption to his business.

Members of the 11th/24th Bury Beavers and Cubs at St John and St Marks went to the town hall in an event hosted by borough mayor Sandra Walmsley. They were guided on a tour of the council chamber and mayor’s parlour, learning all about the council and its role within the community. The group were given information about the history and traditions of council and mayoralty, viewed historical artefacts - and even got to try on the mayoral robes. They also took part in a Q&A session, asking some very interesting questions. For more information about becoming a beaver, cub scout or volunteer visit www.scouts.org.uk/join.