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A police officer has been tragically killed when a van struck her while she cycled on a countryside dual carriageway. Sergeant Lynwen Thomas, 37, died on the roadside after she was hit by the vehicle in rural Wales on Thursday evening. Super-fit Lynwen was an experienced cyclist who had previously taken part in triathlons and a charity ride from John O'Groats to Lands End. She worked as a heritage crime specialist at Dyfed Powys Police and was described as a "well-respected" officer. Hundreds of devastated colleagues paid tribute to her by changing their Facebook profile pictures to a thin blue line. One described her as a "lovely lady who would be greatly missed" while others remembered how generous Lynwen would "do anything for anyone". But tragedy struck when she was riding along the busy A40 road in Carmarthenshire near Bancyfelin. The van driver was arrested and questioned on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has since been released under … [Read more...] about Police officer, 37, dies after being hit by van while cycling on dual carriageway

Brits will once again be tempted to head outdoors today on another bright and sunny day. Crowds flocked to beaches and parks on Saturday as most of Britain baked in spring-like sunshine. This is despite the country being in a national lockdown, with scientists warning on Friday that people must not "wreck it" now after the government published a "roadmap" out of the crisis last week. There will be more mild and sunny weather today, although it will be windier in the south, with some cool conditions expected on coasts. And by the middle of next week, temperatures are set to drop to as low as freezing again, with the mercury dropping to just 1C in Manchester on Wednesday, according to the BBC. The Met Office said the weather next week should remain dry and bright, although they refuse to rule out colder spells going forward. Its forecast reads: "Confidence is high for this period as local high pressure is expected to give a mostly settled outlook, with any uncertainty … [Read more...] about UK weather: Sunny weekend continues but freezing temperatures to return next week

Joan Wakefield has barely been able to walk for the best part of six months. The 72-year-old from Stockport had a knee replacement in October and has since suffered infections in the scar tissue, causing agonising pain. Then at the beginning of this month she received the first dose of AstraZeneca 's Covid-19 vaccine. 'I woke up the next morning and the leg pain and stiffness was gone,' she says. 'I couldn't believe it. I joked with my partner about whether the vaccine had anything to do with it. Previously, I couldn't even bend my leg. Now I can extend it fully, and even put my shoes and socks on. I'm optimistic I'll be able to return to work sooner, rather than later, now.' It seems ludicrous – a vaccine designed to protect against one virus can, somehow, improve other totally unrelated elements of health. But Joan Wakefield is far from alone. A man receives his Covid-19 vaccinations at Lichfield Cathedral, Staffordshire earlier this week RELATED … [Read more...] about The coronavirus jab’s most tantalising side effects? It may help fight cancer, chronic pain… and even Alzheimer’s

Police in Myanmar have fired tear gas, water cannons and stun grenades at pro-democracy protestors, killing at least 18 and leaving several wounded. Violence erupted in the major city Yangon when a woman died after police broke up a teachers' protest with stun grenades, though the cause of her death might have been a heart attack, her daughter and a colleague said. Several people were being helped away, leaving blood-smeared pavements, after police opened fire, images posted on social media showed. But protesters refused to back down. "If they push us, we'll rise. If they attack us, we'll defend. We'll never kneel down to the military boots," said Nyan Win Shein from one Yangon protest. Footage also showed protesters running away from police as officers charged at them, makeshift roadblocks being put up to slow the police advance and protesters being bundled into police trucks to be taken away. Advertisement Sounds of gunfire could be heard and what … [Read more...] about Myanmar: 18 protesters killed after police open fire during latest unrest

A couple and a child had to be rescued after they set up camp on the edge of a cliff in breach of coronavirus restrictions, the coastguard said. Teams from Staithes and Whitby Coastguard were called to reports of two adults and a child camping on a cliff edge in the North York Moors on Saturday. They found the family inside a tent on the Cleveland Way stretch of coastline and gave them "safety advice due to the dangerous location of their tent". North Yorkshire Police was also called because the family had breached COVID-19 restrictions by travelling there, the coastguard said. It is not clear if they were given a fine. But "especially with recent landslips", they were warned the location was unsafe. Advertisement A Staithes Coastguard spokesperson said: "Today's call was to attend a section of the Cleveland Way to issue safety advice to two adults and a child camping on the cliff edge. "An officer from North Yorkshire Police also … [Read more...] about COVID-19: Couple and child rescued after camping on cliff edge in coronavirus breach