56 m. ago The North Road by Rob Cowen review – the poetry and pain of Britain’s backbone

A beautifully written study of our longest numbered route, the A1, is full of rich asides and haunting explorations, conjuring the visual pleasure of a road movieMost people know the North Road of this book’s title as the London-to-Edinburgh A1. But, as Rob Cowen writes, A1 is a cipher for a 400-mile multiplicity of roads – a historically diverse bundle that includes ancient trackways, a Roman road, the “Old North Road” and the “Great North Road” (the name generally applied to what became the A1 in the road-numbering scheme of the 1920s). This collective forms, as Cowen has it, our primary road – the “backbone” of Britain.As a frequent shuttler between north and south, I prefer the North Road to its rival, the bland, homogenous M1. It has verges and laybys, eccentric pit-stops where the coffee is not necessarily Costa, and a scruffy, improvised air, suggesting something organically arisen from the landscape. But whereas I have merely driven along the road, Cowen has communed with it...

Politics

57 m. ago Omar Marmoush ignored Pep Guardiola advice and it almost cost Man City dear in Champions League chase

Manchester City left it late to beat Everton at Goodison Park with Pep Guardiola's frustration at his forwards clear.

Sport

2 h. ago New BBC TV licence fee update over calls to scrap it for over

A new petition calling on the UK Government to scrap the BBC TV licence fee for every person over State Pension age has received nearly 50,000 signatures to date

Politics

3 h. ago Martin Lewis explains Donald Trump tariff effects on UK energy bills

The US President has caused global markets to experience a rollercoaster few days, including historic falls followed by record rises

Politics

7 h. ago The 750 schools where free breakfast clubs will open next week

From Tuesday, thousands of parents will have access to 30 minutes of morning childcare as part of a pilot scheme running until July

Politics

7 h. ago Man reviews hundreds of pounds worth of Easter eggs to raise awareness about cost of living

Billy D’Souza received more than 4.2 million views on a TikTok video reviewing 21 Easter eggs costing £550.

Events

7 h. ago ‘Breaking our spirits was the plan’: the lifelong impact of having gone to boarding school

As a new documentary explores Boarding School Syndrome, seven former pupils share their stories Boarded from the age of nine Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago Smartphone ban at Brianna Ghey's school "transforms" pupil behaviour

The initiative was launched to tackle bullying and mental health issues, with results so far proving positive.

Politics

9 h. ago Rollout of free breakfast clubs to begin this week for 750 schools

They are designed to give parents of primary school children 30 minutes of free childcare a day, or up to 95 hours a year.

Politics

9 h. ago Plumber issues urgent warning to households this Easter that could cost you hundreds of pounds

As tempting as it may be to pile all of your dirty plates and pans into the sink after your Easter Sunday roast, one plumber is warning that doing so could end up costing you a hefty price in your wallet

Events

9 h. ago Phones have been banned at Brianna Ghey's school following her murder

It was hoped te measure at Birchwood would help curb bullying and improve students' mental health.

Events

9 h. ago Street light plan could cost council hundreds of thousands of pounds

Newport City Council is considering three options after council leader Dimitri Batrouni announced in February that the authority planned to 'switch every other street light back on'

Politics

9 h. ago Romesh Ranganathan criticises local council over school placement ‘shambles’

The comic posted a video on Instagram on Saturday criticising West Sussex County Council for placing his son in a school on the other side of town.

Culture

11 h. ago Brianna Ghey's high school bans mobile phones following her murder with incredible results

Since September, students at Birchwood Community High have had to place their mobile phones in a lockable pouch at the start of the day.

Events

11 h. ago Brianna Ghey’s school says pupils ‘less stressed’ after mobile phone ban

Special pouches used to lock students’ phones during the day were introduced at Birchwood Community High School in September.

Politics

11 h. ago Never mind the late drama, Amorim and Postecoglou still face the Ten Hag trap | Jonathan Wilson

The Australian could leave after Spurs win the Europa League, while United may stick with their coach after winning nothingErik ten Hag has gone, but his shadow looms over English football still. The mistake was understandable enough: high on the euphoria of beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final, Manchester United renewed his contract. Three months into the new season, more than £180m spent on summer transfers, Ten Hag was dismissed with United 14th in the table on 11 points from nine games.The sporting director, Dan Ashworth, and various members of Ten Hag’s backroom staff also left, at a total cost of £14.5m. Or, to put it another way, keeping Ten Hag cost United £200m and in effect undermined this season. Nobody wants to be caught in the Ten Hag trap. Continue reading...

Events

12 h. ago Full list: The 750 schools where free breakfast clubs will open next week

From Tuesday, thousands of parents will have access to 30 minutes of morning childcare as part of a pilot scheme running until July

Politics

12 h. ago Interior designer shares decorating mistake all homeowners are making

Interior designer to the stars Kelly Hoppen has shared her top tips for giving your home a seasonal refresh - and it won't cost you the earth

Politics

12 h. ago Manchester City to step up transfer move for perfect Ederson replacement

Manchester City are set to return to Portugal for a replacement for Ederson, eight years after he joined from Benfica, with a move for Porto No.1 Diogo Costa this summer

Sport

13 h. ago 'New level of hell' as kids banned from learning about flag because of 'frontal nudity'

A school district in the southern American state of Texas has banned students from leaning about the commonwealth of Virginia and its flag which some say is inappropriate

Events