A DRIVER killed during a fight at a roundabout has been pictured – with a man charged with murder.
The family of Paul Bowles have described him as a “true gentleman” after he died following an incident in Chadderton, Greater Manchester, on Wednesday.
JEAN-PHILIPPE MATETA is wearing a water polo-style helmet on his return from a horror head injury.
The striker was taken to hospital after being on the receiving end of a sickening tackle in the last round of the FA Cup against Millwall.
Crystal Palace won the clash 2-1 to set up a clash with Fulham, but Mateta has not played since.
He required 25 stitches in his ear and was spotted wearing a big bandage in a recent interview.
Now on his return to action Mateta is wearing a water polo-style helmet to protect his ear.
There was serious planning to put into the helmet’s design, with three versions considered.
Mateta, x, wore the helmet in a behind-closed-doors friendly, with Eagles boss Oliver Glasner joking afterwards that the helmet was better suited to water polo.
He said: “It’s like a water polo helmet. In water polo it’s so they don’t get water into their ears, he has it just on one side. It sounds crazy, but we are used to it.
“I said to him maybe you should try [water polo] because he’s tall enough.
“It looks a bit strange but he says he feels comfortable so let’s see.
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“When he scores a header, then it was the right mask and the right protection.
“Our doctor and the team did a great job finding the right protection. Everything is approved by the FA.
“There were three different ones. He tried one like you use to ride a motorbike but he couldn’t train with this because it was too heavy.
“I said to the doctor I remember Petr Cech wearing a helmet but the ear was free so we needed the full helmet. Then we found the right one.
“He tried in training which one fits him best and doesn’t influence him in the wrong way.
“If I believed it was a problem, I wouldn’t play him but it looks like it isn’t a problem.
“The last 10 days he’s had this protection and he did well in training so I didn’t find a reason to talk about this.”
A TRAGIC Rangers fan who died in Istanbul earlier this month stopped at Ibrox for the final time before being laid to rest.
Christopher Potter, 40, passed away in Istanbul after being struck by two vehicles while over in Turkey supporting his team.
Residents in Glasgow’s Duke Street paid their respects to the Light Blues supporter this morning.
His funeral procession carried the popular local, known as Mr Duke Street, on his final journey accompanied by the Dennistoun Rangers Flute Band.
The hearse also made a stop at Ibrox where former Rangers players Lee McCulloch, Gordon Durie, Marvin Andrews, and some staff members stood at the front entrance.
A floral wreath was then laid on top of Christopher’s coffin by ex-Gers captain McCulloch.
The procession then carried on past the stadium and onto the funeral service which took place at 11am at Daldowie Crematorium.
Christopher’s wife Holly posted details of the funeral on social media last week.
She said: “Christopher Potter tragically passed away on March 6, 2025.
“He was a beloved husband to Holly, a loving father, son, brother and friend to many.
“Christopher will be sadly missed by all that knew him.
“Christopher will take his final walk along Duke Street at 10am along with the Dennistoun Rangers Flute Band.
“Funeral service will take place at Daldowie Crematorium on Saturday, March 29 at 11am. To which all family and friends are all respectfully invited.
“A special thanks to Alex Black Funeral Care for looking after Christopher on his return to the United Kingdom.
“Rest Easy Potts.”
The roofer, 40, was involved in a road accident in Istanbul after following Barry Ferguson‘s team to Turkey for the match.
News of his accident brought a wide outpouring of grief and a wall of tributes have been left in his childhood home of Dennistoun, flanking the football pitch and playground he grew up playing on.
A GoFund me appeal set-up by Christopher’s friends topped £160,000 for the family with donations received from across the Rangers fan-base and football spectrum – including one from ex-Scotland international Robert Snodgrass.
Both sets of players wore black armbands for the first leg in the Turkish capital as Rangers ran out 3-1 winners at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium.
The two teams returned to Ibrox to settle the tie with Rangers in the driving seat to progress to the quarter-final.
And Potter was in the thoughts of both sets of supporters as tributes were paid to the tragic fan in the home and away end of the stadium.
A banner in the Fenerbahce end before the game displayed a silhouette of Potter with a Rangers scarf with the message “Christopher Potter Rest In Peace”.
A flag displaying the same picture of the 40-year-old roofer also appeared in the home end with the words “Rest Easy Potter” written.
Another large banner in the home end panned across a section of the top tier of the Sandy Jardine Stand which read: “With the angels you’ll be singing, our special friend”.
Christopher is survived by Holly, their son Teddy, his older children Jak and Millie and parents Katie and Archie.
He was brother to Charlene and Amanda and uncle to Bradley, Jaiden, Scott, Carson and Halle.
JUDGING by the moss and weeds covering the deserted children’s playground and the chunky padlock attached to the entrance gates, it is a long time since anyone visited.
Except, that is, for the drug dealers and addicts who go about their business here under the cover of darkness every night.
By day, the peace of this deserted oasis in the heart of Cardiff’s Butetown in south Wales is broken only by the occasional shriek of seagulls overhead and the distant rumble of a train rolling towards the city centre half a mile away.
Also more famously known as Tiger Bay, the area has long been a multicultural melting pot – but with a seedy underbelly of crime and prostitution thanks to its proximity to Cardiff docks.
It’s also the hometown of the legendary Welsh songstress Shirley Bassey and rugby star Billy Boston.
But despite its long history, the neighbourhood now finds itself plagued by dodgy dealers on the prowl and gangs of yobs.
Empty beer and spirits bottles, many of them smashed, are scattered around nearby, adding to the impression that this playground is no longer for the very young.
Locals say the playground, which once teemed with children enjoying themselves, is now a “no go” area for most of Butetown.
Instead, they stay indoors, too afraid to go out when it gets dark.
One, Carly, a new mum in her early 20s, said: “After dark, there’s no way I leave my home. The streets around here are just not safe at night.
“The place is full of drug dealers and their junkie customers and it becomes pretty much a no-go area for most of us.
“I can’t remember the last time I went out after dark. Definitely not since I had my daughter, who just turned two.
“Out of my bedroom window, I often see drug deals being done in the streets around the kids’ playground, usually early evening.
“It sickens me to think that it probably won’t be open for my daughter to play in this summer, but the druggies get a free rein.”
Carly said she has counted as many as a dozen used syringes and needles thrown onto the ground by heroin users in recent weeks.
Broken bottles could also be seen by the padlocked gates sealing off the play park in the centre of Butetown last week.
Just last week, Cardiff drug dealer Ibrahim Mustafa was sent to prison for two years and 10 months after police caught him mid-deal in the backseat of a car.
The 32-year-old was spotted stuffing something down his trousers, while an X-ray confirmed the presence of a foreign object, believed to be drugs, in his body.
He was eventually charged with supplying cocaine.
In March of last year, seven men were arrested after a man was stabbed in the area, leading to the police imposing a dispersal order to keep the community safe.
Last April, four members of an Organised Crime Group based in Cardiff were found guilty of sourcing and supplying class A drugs in South Wales.
Kyle Johnson, Lee Bridgeman, Samira Kearle and Ali Ahmed between them moved more than 50 kilograms of cocaine in just three months.
Officers uncovered the group’s activities after cracking their messages on the EncroChat communication platform.
Back in Butetown, threatening characters gathered together by the side of the road.
We watched as a group of four scruffy young men, two of whom wore face coverings, dressed in jeans and hoodies, prowled the streets furtively.
We’ll always find another street so we avoid them. They’re trouble
Fernando
It is not known if they were drug dealers but when we approached them, they shot off without speaking.
Students Fernando, 20, and Jamie, 19, said they regularly see the men when they walk through Butetown on their way to and from their college closer to the city centre.
“If we see them up ahead, we’ll always find another street so we avoid them,” said Fernando. “They’re trouble.”
He added: “There’s a lot of drugs being sold around here and they aren’t the kind of people we want to get to know.
“Just last week I saw two different drug deals happening on these street corners. Money and packets changed hands in the blink of an eye and they were gone.
“It’s such a shame Butetown has been blighted by this kind of activity and the police don’t seem to be doing anything about it. We never see cops here. They just leave Butetown to it.”
Certainly, during the many hours we spent in Butetown last week, we saw no police officers patrolling the area.
Another local, Nadia, 52, said: “I’ve loved here on and off all my life and the drugs problem seems to be getting worse and worse.
“We launched a community initiative to make Butetown a safer, cleaner place to live and for a year or so, with the help of the police and councillors, it seemed to be working.
“It felt safer walking around here at night and drug dealers got to know it was no longer business as normal here.
“But over time, the police patrols became less frequent because their attention was needed elsewhere in the city and they don’t have the resources to be everywhere, I guess, and of course the dealers and pushers started coming back here.
“Now there are drug dealers and junkies everywhere at night and no one feels safe walking around here after dark. It’s such a shame.”
Locals also complain about the menace of drug dealers tearing through the labyrinth of Butetown streets on electric bikes capable of moving at almost 50mph.
One said: “They use these e-bikes because they’re manoeuvrable and anonymous. They wear face masks to conceal their identities and the drug drops are over in a flash.
“Then they ride off and often mount kerbs and ride on the pavements to take short cuts down their rat runs. But if you’re in the way, they’ll ride straight at you. It’s just so dangerous.”
Afzal Mohammad, who was on his way to Friday Prayer at a local mosque, said he still has faith in his community.
He said: “Sure, there are some in the area who are causing problems but on the whole this is a peaceful and close community.
“We always try to work together to get along.
“It’s a wonderful part of Cardiff and I wouldn’t live anywhere else.
“Every community has its problems and Butetown is no different.”
SOUTHWales Police is aware of concerns regarding drug dealing and other crime in Butetown.
Tackling these concerns is a priority for us. There is significant work, including the Clear Hold Build project, and police activity in this area.
Since July, more than 50 people have been arrested in connection with drug dealing offences in Butetown.
Plain-clothed officers are deployed to gather intelligence and identify offenders. These patrols are complimented by high visibility-patrols which regularly result in arrests
Inspector Ross Crutcher, from South Wales Police, said “This is part of our dedication to the people of Butetown and to the Clear Hold Build national project in the area. There has been a noticeable increase in information coming from the community both online and in person.”
Clear Hold Build, now running in Butetown, has been successful in several locations across the UK.
Chief Inspector Stuart McDean, who is leading Clear Hold Build, said: “This is a real opportunity to bring partners and the community together to remove the criminal element from Butetown and put in place long term plans to improve the infrastructure of the area.”
PREGNANT Anne-Marie has shown off her huge baby bump ahead of welcoming her second baby.
Anne Marie, 33, has taken to social media to share a glowing snap of herself and her baby bump.
Posing up a storm in a mirror, Anne Marie displayed her massive bump as she lifted up her top.
Wearing a white t-shirt underneath a baseball shirt, Anne Marie looked amazing as she smiled for the camera while showing off her growing bump.
The singer announced her second pregnancy in February, with fans now saying she looks like she’s ready to pop.
“You’re so beautiful. you look like your gonna pop any minute,” penned one fan in the comments.
A second added: “Got that pregnancy glowwww.”
“Looking great & a beautiful bump,” penned a third.
A fourth said: “You’re glowing.”
While a fifth added: “Seriously you and Thai are glowing!!!!!!”
And a sixth said: “Omg you’re so cute.”
Other snaps shared in the photo dump included a loved up snap with her husband Slowthai.
This comes after the singer announced her second pregnancy by sharing a video and writing alongside it: “Call me mummy and slap my bum.”
When the singer revealed she was pregnant for a second time, she did so by sharing video of herself singing along to her song Don’t Panic before revealing her bump.
She sang: “Baby, please don’t panic. Nothing’s gonna happen.
“Please don’t panic. You’ll only cause more damage. You give yourself a heart attack.
“Oh, every time you think like that.”
Anne Marie captioned the video “surprise”, with her dancing around in the video and showing off her huge bump.
The former Voice UK judge only welcomed her daughter with Slowthai in February last year, with their second child on the way a year later.
The couple only recently celebrated their daughter – Seven’s – first birthday.
Anne-Marie and Slowthai – real name Tyron Kaymone – secretly married in Las Vegas in the summer of 2022.
Last year, a source exclusively told The Sun: “Anne-Marie and Slowthai got married in secret two years ago.
“She had an eight-week break from her tour and they went to Las Vegas and got married.”
A MAJOR new airport is set to transform the a nation often dubbed the happiest country in the world.
Bhutan, a landlocked country between India and China, has revealed plans for a huge new airport.
Images of the new airport show a jagged design that replicates a mountain range, with diamond structures interlocking.
Inside will be huge gardens and plant life as well as an open-air forest in the middle.
Called the Forest Spine, it will split the terminal between domestic and international flights.
Across the four zones will be yoga spaces, outdoor lounges and even meditation and sound bath areas.
Yet to be confirmed, the cost of the airport could be as much as BTN20 billion (£178million).
It hopes to open by 2029.
Gelephu is already home to a domestic airport, although the new plans how to welcome long-haul flights.
Gelephu International Airport hopes to welcome 123 flights a day, working out to 1.3million passengers a year.
While this is a fraction of other international airports – London Heathrow welcomed a record 83.9million last year – it is still nearly four times the number of tourists who visit a year.
With a population of 795,186, around 316,000 tourists visit a year.
And it hopes to make long-haul flights easier, with the majority currently flying via Paro International Airport in the city of Thimpu, the capital.
However, its location near the mountains mean only a few flights can land a day, the majority being short-haul, smaller aircraft.
While Brits can’t currently fly directly to Bhutan, the new airport could pave the way for new flights.
Bjarke Ingels, Founder & Creative Director of BIG, said “An airport is the first and last impression of a place you visit.
“For the Gelephu International Airport, we have tried to embody the nature and culture of the country and the Mindfulness City.
“The forests that cover the highlands are allowed to flow from the arrival plaza through the airport to the tarmac.”
Despite its difficult location, a number of famous people have visited Bhutan over the years.
King Charles visited in 1998, then visiting as Prince Charles, along with the Kate Middleton and Prince William in 2016.
Ed Sheeran visited earlier this year as part of a concert tour, while celebrities including Demi Moore, Drew Barrymore and Keanu Reeves have all visited.
It is also often named the Land of Happiness, after creating its own “Gross National Happiness Index” to focus on a number of factors.
This includes psychological well-being, health, education, good governance, ecology, time use, community vitality, culture and living standards.
Start saving to visit though – tourists have to pay a daily fee of $100 (£77) for adults or $50 (£38) for kids.
Called the Sustainable Development Fee, it is put towards conservation of the nation, which is one of the only carbon-negative ones in the world (meaning it takes out more carbon than it produces).
While it may seem steep, the reduced fee is in place until 2027 – with the original tax costing double this at $200 (£154) for adults.
Dexter is finally back, but this time, we are looking at the origins of his serial killing journey. Fans of Dexter must be eager to know where Morgan’s killer instinct started and how he came to terms with his need to kill. Dexter: Original Sin takes us back to the time when our favorite forensic […]
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