Katy Rickitt

Marks and Spencer bosses have said the Government must give police the resources they need to tackle crime effectively. It follows a number of incidents of young people causing large scale disorder. Large groups have been seen gathering and causing violence in South London and Birmingham, in what are being called 'link-ups'. There are fears these could spill into the Bank Holiday weekend. @katyrickitt reports.

Parents will be told to limit screen time for young children to no more than an hour a day under new government advice. Screen use for under-twos should be avoided altogether unless it’s shared activities like video calls with family.

Ian Huntley - the school caretaker who murdered 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham back in 2002 - is said to be fighting for his life in hospital after being attacked in prison. Huntley, who's serving a life sentence at the maximum security Frankland jail, was reportedly knocked unconscious with a metal pole and "suffered serious injuries." @katyrickitt reports.

The number of compensation claims made to councils for damage caused by potholes has spiked by 90% in 3 years across Britain. The research, carried out by The RAC, found over 50,000 claims were submitted to local authorities in 2024, compared with just under 28,000 in 2021. ＠katyrickitt is in Bury.

Ambulance bosses are pleading with people out celebrating Christmas tonight to behave responsibly, on one of the busiest and most dangerous nights of the year for emergency workers. It has become known as 'Mad Friday'. @katyrickitt reports.

Thousands of resident doctors in England will begin five days of strike action over pay and jobs. Hospitals have cancelled tens of thousands of tests and treatments to help them cope. NHS leaders have warned the walkout could mean frail and elderly patients being stuck in hospital over Christmas, without the necessary staff to discharge them. @katyrickitt has the latest.

The Health Secretary Wes Streeting says the NHS in England is at risk of collapsing under the strain of what he calls a 'tidal wave' of flu cases. Children appear to be most affected, with health bosses saying it's 'now or never' to get kids vaccinated to protect family members at Christmas. @katyrickitt reports.

Households are being warned against throwing electrical items like battery-operated christmas lights and batteries themselves in the bin over the festive period. Figures show they were responsible for 1200 fires last year, a 71% increase on the year before. When batteries are incorrectly disposed of, they can get crushed or damaged, and that can lead to fires. @katyrickitt has the latest.

Justice Secretary David Lammy is considering scrapping trial by juries - an ancient right that's said to date back to the Magna Carta more than 800 years ago. The proposals could help clear a massive 78,000 backlog of court cases, but would see jury trials only guaranteed for defendants facing rape, murder, manslaughter or other very serious charges. @katyrickitt reports.

A group of fundraisers are taking on a special challenge inspired by the TV show Race Across The World. Raising money for Alfie's squad, a charity which supports children bereaved by parental suicide, 20 different teams of people will be aiming to get from Anfield in Liverpool to Stamford Bridge in London, but they must solve clues along the way to reach the next checkpoint. @katyrickitt is with the teams before they set off.

@sciencegirl What if you see a cow?! 😜

Apparently, if you can see two people dancing, you're left-brained, and if you can see a bowl of fruit, you're right-brained…

Victims of grooming gangs say they are "being silenced" and that a planned national inquiry into the scandal is "being watered down." Two women, Fiona Goddard and Ellie Reynolds, have now quit the liaison panel and warn that more could follow. @katyrickitt reports.

A council claims an increase in "flag flying" has coincided with a rise in racist incidents, including children being abused on their way to school. York City Council has decided to remove hundreds of St George and Union flags. @katyrickitt reports.

P.E. kits are being blamed for teenage girls dropping out of sport by the time they reach 16. New research has found that a huge majority would like to see more comfortable outfits. @KatyRickitt reports from Burnley High School.

The number of people being referred to Responsible Dog Ownership Courses has surged this year. Dog owners may be referred by police, if their dog is considered to have behaved dangerously. @katyrickitt has the latest.

The Houghton Girls better watch out for @katyrickitt! She's ready to play, and it only took a few attempts... This comes as the Women's Rugby World Cup gets underway tonight, with England hosting the international tournament.

The Women's Rugby World Cup gets underway tonight, with England hosting the international tournament. Wales and Scotland play each other, and Ireland is up against Japan. Both of those games are this weekend, but England will take on the United States in their opening game at Sunderland's Stadium of Light tonight. @katyrickitt has more.

Within the next hour, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to receive a double whammy of bad news with the release of the latest inflation figures and the Retail Price Index figure. Experts predict they'll rise, triggering price hikes for costs. @katyrickitt reports.

Heavy Metal fans across the globe are mourning Ozzy Osbourne, who has died at the age of 76. Fellow music icons Rod Stewart, Elton John and Brian May paid heartfelt tributes to the Black Sabbath frontman, saying the world had lost a "fearless talent". @katyrickitt reports.

Vets and government officials are issuing an urgent warning to the owners of cats and dogs after traces of a toxic insecticide were found in a fake flea treatment. @katyrickitt reports.