Netherlands to ban laughing gas from January
Getty Images Many European governments are concerned about the increased use of laughing gas among young people The Dutch government is banning the use of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, amid concerns over the health risks for the growing number of young people using it. The ban, which starts in January, makes it […]
Farmers can apply for self-employed scheme
Conor Macauley BBC NI Agriculture & Environment Correspondent PAUL ELLIS/afp/getty images To apply for the grant, farmers must have filled in a self assessment tax form last year The economy minister has confirmed that all eligible farmers can apply for support under a government scheme to help the self employed cope with the fallout from […]
‘Pandemic of fuel poverty’ warning as energy costs soar
Getty Images Rising energy bills have raised concerns over the cost of living for millions of people Boiling a kettle just once a day and using candles in the evenings are some of the ways people are trying to cope with rising energy prices. Christine, 76, lives alone on a small pension, but says her […]
The lorry drivers who miss Christmas
Stuart Ratcliffe and Laurence Cawley BBC News, East BBC Northampton lies at the heart of the UK’s logistics industry, which generates £14bn to the nation’s economy each year Pretty much every present beneath every Christmas tree will, at some stage, have been carried on the back of a lorry. Some of the drivers who help […]
Families struggle with rising cost of summer childcare
Yasmin Rufo, Lauren Stanley & Alpa Patel BBC News BBC Jane Carmichael says her career “has taken many hits” A mum of three has told the BBC she has had to go into debt to pay for childcare. Jane Carmichael who has three children said affording summer childcare was “impossible”. Research shows London parents pay […]
‘No town immune’ as shop closures go on
Getty Images Scotland continued to lose shops faster than in any other part of Britain last year, a report has found. A total of 290 high street stores shut up shop across Scotland in 2017 – a rate of more than five per week. There were 142 openings, but the net loss of 148 was […]
Westmorland County Show returns with a two-day event
BBC The show is being held over two days giving farmers enough time to exhibit their animals More than 30,000 people are expected to visit the Westmorland County Show as it is held over two days again this year. The annual celebration of Cumbrian agriculture has been extended to consecutive days for the second year […]
Meat sector warns of Brexit production squeeze
Tom Espiner Business reporter, BBC News Getty Images The UK faces shortages of British-produced meat as problems with recruitment continue, the industry has warned. Brexit and coronavirus have meant many EU workers have returned to their own countries, putting a squeeze on production. The poultry industry is reporting a 10% fall in the number of […]
Rise in diabetes ‘to cause surge in heart disease and strokes’
Alex Therrien Health reporter, BBC News BBC Heart attacks and strokes in England are set to surge in the next 20 years as diabetes cases linked to lifestyle increase, a charity has warned. The number of diabetics is projected to rise by one million by 2035, largely driven by more cases of type 2 diabetes […]
Friends, drink… and a giant bar chart
Will Chalk Newsbeat reporter Dan Hess Some would say it’s the magic of a festival – stumbling upon a random stage and accidentally discovering your new favourite band. You could call it following your festival instinct. But what if you ditched all that and did the complete opposite? What if you took arguably the most […]