New York State

HAVING your dog stolen is one of the most distressing things that can happen to an owner – and theft has been rising at an alarming rate in the UK.

Since 2019, missing pet incidents have skyrocketed by 170 per cent, and the top 10 “theft hotspots” have now been revealed.

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New research has shown where your dog is most likely to be stolen[/caption]

Over 25,000 pets have been reported missing since the beginning of 2023, with estimates showing that six pets vanish every day. 

Locksmith Luton analysed missing pet data from trusted sources like Animal Search UK and Pets Reunited, to determine which towns and cities have the highest rates of missing pets over the past 12 months.

And it turns out if you live in Manchester you should be extra vigilant in protecting your furry companion.

Manchester tops the list with a jaw-dropping 236 reported cases of missing pets each year. That’s a shocking 17.93 pets disappearing for every 10,000 residents.

Huddersfield takes second place with an eye-watering 12.01 missing pets for every 10,000 people. 

While the average number of missing pets stands at 59 – nearly 75 per cent fewer than Manchester – figures are still significant given the West Yorkshire town’s population.

In third place is the Cheshire town, Warrington, with a staggering 11.91 reported missing pet cases per 10,000 residents. 

Another West Yorkshire town, Bradford, enters the top ten, in fourth place with an average of 102 reported missing pets over the last year, which equates to 10.22 cases per 10,000 people. 

Rounding off the top five areas most at risk of pets going missing is Newcastle, where the North East city sees 9.56 missing pets per 10,000 people.

The experts also looked at the areas which are safest for pet owners – and they discovered, on the whole, Scottish cities are among the safest with four locations featuring in the top 10 low-risk areas for missing pets.

Dundee claims the top spot as the safest city for your furry friends, with only 5 reported missing pet cases on average. 

This equates to an incredibly low 1.02 cases per 10,000 residents. 

Pet owners in this Scottish city can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing their four-legged companions are in one of the safest areas in the UK.

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Manchester was found to be the top crime hot spot for pet theft[/caption]

Swansea takes second place with just 1.20 missing pets per 10,000 people. 

The Welsh coastal city recorded a modest annual average of 12 missing pet reports, offering peace of mind for pet-loving families.

Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, ranks third, with a mere 1.44 missing pet cases per 10,000 residents. 

Known for its historic charm and green spaces, Edinburgh provides a relatively safe haven for pets.

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Pooches are most safe in Dundee and Swansea[/caption]

York lands in fourth place, reporting just 8 missing pets over the past year. 

That’s a reassuringly low rate of 1.56 cases per 10,000 people. 

Completing the top five, Aberdeen offers pet owners comfort with an annual average of 10.67 missing pet cases, translating to 1.63 cases per 10,000 residents. 

FEBRUARY 20 marks exactly one year since Britain’s richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his petrochemicals giant Ineos completed their purchase of a minority stake in Manchester United.

While the deal was announced on Christmas Eve 2023, it is safe to say it has been a tumultuous 12 months at Old Trafford since Ratcliffe and Co. took operational control of the fallen football behemoth.

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe arrived at Old Trafford on Christmas Eve a year ago[/caption]

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The first 12 months have plenty of PR own goals[/caption]

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It has been a difficult year on the field for the Red Devils[/caption]

The British billionaire, 72, stumped up more than £1billion to take a 27.7 per cent stake in his beloved Manchester United.

When his minority ownership was officially ratified in February – pretty much every single Red Devils fan was delighted by the news of the Ineos chief’s arrival and received it as the best Christmas present imaginable.

With his successful business and sporting background – plus his promise to invest heavily into the crumbling Old Trafford infrastructure – it felt like a major turning point for the club after years of regression under the Glazers and various managers since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

The reality, though, has been quite different from what the United supporters were hoping. 

For a start, the Glazers still own the club. And accounts published on Wednesday revealed the club have now paid £1bn in interest payments since the leveraged takeover in 2005.

United had their worst Premier League finish ever last season – and a lowest position at Christmas in 35 years in this campaign.

But things have only gotten worse as they stare down the threat of relegation after losing 12 of their 25 league games so far – the club’s worst run since suffering relegation in 1973-74.

There has been major sackings galore in the boardroom and dugout.

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Fans are unhappy thanks to several PR own goals.

And for the staff who still have their jobs, morale is through the floor. 

So, what has happened in this tumultuous first year for Ratcliffe?

Well, it all started very positively indeed with CEO Richard Arnold resigning before the Ratcliffe news was even announced and United managed to poach Omar Berrada from rivals Manchester City in January. 

In the same month, Ratcliffe and his right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford were pictured smiling as they met Erik ten Hag and other staff at Carrington.

Then in February, Arnold quit the board and left the club for good while Ineos pair John Rees and Rob Nevin were added as Ratcliffe continued to stamp his mark and influence. 

But there were the first signs that things weren’t completely going swimmingly as early as March.

On one hand, Ratcliffe gave fans a major boost by announcing his grand plans to replace the dated and leaking Old Trafford by building an epic new stadium dubbed a ‘Wembley of the North’.

But on the other, United’s share price on the New York Stock Exchange dropped to just $13.71 – down from $20.52 immediately after the takeover was announced just three months earlier. 

And in a slightly strange twist, it came out that Ratcliffe had banned words such as “awesome” and “lukewarm cappuccino” as part of a very corporate lingo drive. 

It was in April, though, that the ruthless businessman started to wield his cost-cutting axe when he cancelled company credit cards and private cars for senior members of staff.

Around the same time, there were more changes upstairs as football director John Murtough followed Arnold out of the exit door and Jason Wilcox arrived as technical director once a compensation package with Southampton was agreed. 

Concurrently, the highly-coveted former FA and Brighton chief Dan Ashworth was on gardening leave from Newcastle.

May proved to be a crucial month for United – and for Ratcliffe.

On the pitch, the club followed up their nightmare Prem season where they came eighth by shocking City to win the FA Cup final, making it two major trophies in two years for Ten Hag, who had been on the brink of the sack. 

Off the pitch, it was a catalogue of errors. 

The extent of the leaking roof was laid bare as heavy Manchester downpours prompted waterfalls on the seats – before construction crew were pictured finally getting to work on fixing it. 

Elsewhere, Ratcliffe started making himself not-so-Mr-Popular with the club’s staff.

It started with sending a strongly-worded email to employees slamming the “disgraceful” lack of cleanliness around both the training ground and the stadium, prompting a “toxic” atmosphere around Carrington.

He then announced plans for redundancies, giving staff just one week to decide if they would accept packages to leave. 

And to make things worse, the new owner slashed FA Cup final benefits, limiting staff to just one ticket each and forcing them to pay for their own transport to Wembley. 

The pre-match party and hotel for senior staff before the final was also axed – although a night of celebration in the capital did go ahead after the goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo. 

Ratcliffe doubled down on his cut-throat approach in June when he introduced the “back to work” policy, forcing all staff to be in the office every day – or else they could leave for good. 

He also announced plans for a £50m Carrington upgrade but scored an own goal with disparaging comments about the women’s team. 

Ashworth finally made his long-awaited arrival in his role as sporting director after four months of gardening leave and a £3m compensation package agreed with Newcastle. 

Jobs slashed

Ratcliffe made the most of the off-season to oversee a major overhaul of staff roles in July. 

He kicked things off by slashing the number of staff to travel on the tour to the USA down to 125 and then made plans to make 250 employees redundant.

That included the departures of popular media man John Allen, historian Cliff Butler and kitman Alex Wylie in subsequent months as Ratcliffe showed he was at Old Trafford for business, not for sentiment. 

Jean-Claude Blanc joined the board and ex-Chelsea technical director Christopher Vivell came in on a short-term basis as interim director of recruitment.

The month also saw a merry-go-round in the coaching staff – but crucially one man kept his job.

Lord Ping

A new ‘Wembley of the North’ could replace Old Trafford[/caption]

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Ratcliffe and right-hand-man Sir Dave Brailsford were all smiles on their arrival[/caption]

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Ratcliffe showed no mercy as he stopped paying Sir Alex Ferguson’s £2m-a-year ambassador contract[/caption]

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Erik ten Hag won the FA Cup, signed a new contract then got sacked[/caption]

Ten Hag was tipped to get the boot regardless of the result in the FA Cup final but the club made a major U-turn and offered him a contract extension until 2026 – which he duly signed.

However, his backroom team underwent a major reshuffle. 

Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake were appointed assistant managers, Andreas Georgson a first-team coach and Jelle ten Rouwelaar the goalkeeper coach.

Darren Fletcher – previously the technical director – came into the coaching staff as a first-team coach, too.

Steve McClaren, Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy all departed – the former taking over as Jamaica’s head coach. 

By the end of August, the new-look board had given the green light for £199m on transfer signings in the summer window.

But that coincided with Ratcliffe ditching lunchboxes for matchday staff – with reports that some were even forced to eat hospitality suite leftovers beside the toilets. 

Fergie axed

Ratcliffe once again demonstrated his ruthless streak by stopping the payment of Ferguson’s £2million-a-year salary as a United ambassador in October.

He also cancelled the staff Christmas party in yet another measure that infuriated those working for the club behind the scenes. 

But all those savings were offset with the £15m pay-off for Ten Hag, sacked with the club 14th in the Premier League table just three months after putting pen to paper on his new deal. 

And it emerged that the “back to work” policy was actually costing United a fortune – because there was not enough desks at Old Trafford so hospitality suites were being temporarily converted into offices between home matches. 

November saw the arrival of Ruben Amorim as Ten Hag’s successor on a deal until 2027 but only after United were forced to stump up £10m to activate his release clause.

Amorim axed legend Van Nistelrooy, who oversaw three wins and a draw from his four matches in interim charge, to bring in his own coaching staff. 

But despite the excitement of a new manager, friction from the former regime still lingered with Manchester United’s board members and chiefs locked in a bitter blame game over the summer shambles including transfer signings and the Ten Hag saga with his new contract and subsequent dismissal. 

And while most of Ratcliffe’s policies had largely impacted staff and the playing squad, his actions towards the end of his first 12 months at Old Trafford started to directly affect fans.

Reports emerged he plans to cut the £40,000 budget paid to the Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association in half. 

Then in December, supporters marched and protested against Ratcliffe after he scrapped OAP and children’s concessions tickets for home matches and simultaneously increased the minimum cost of a home ticket to a whopping £66. 

And he showed his Scrooge side by slashing the staff’s traditional £100 Christmas bonus, replacing it with a measly £40 M&S voucher. 

Then in a shock twist, £3m man Ashworth was suddenly sacked after just five months as sporting director. 

In the final match before the first anniversary of Ratcliffe’s arrival, it was somewhat fitting that United lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth, one of their summer signings gave away a penalty and the ceiling leaked during Amorim’s press conference.

Ratcliffe ended the year by investing an extra £79m and increasing his stake in the club to 28.94 per cent.

But both he and those watching on know this first year has not gone as he would have hoped or envisaged. 

Gary Lineker labelled the Ashworth rigmarole “bloody embarrassing”, “laughable” and a “terrible look” while Michael Owen insisted the way Ratcliffe has “ripped out” the core of the football club is “heartbreaking”.

Ratcliffe himself admitted “mediocre” Manchester United is “still in the last century”. 

New year, new problems

And then came January and the winter transfer window.

Results on the pitch where nowhere good enough but with the threat of a PSR breach crippling the club as years of poor spending caught up, transfer chiefs had precious little they could do.

In the end, United invested around £30m to try and improve their squad by bringing in Patrick Dorgu from Lecce and Ayden Heaven from Arsenal, who both arrived late in the window.

But the big stories centred around the outgoing department, with Antony and Marcus Rashford the two big names to leave on loan transfers to Real Betis and Aston Villa respectively.

With some big wages cut, at least temporarily, from the wage bill and cost-effective deals done that might have been cause for some cautious optimism that the wheels may finally start turning in the right direction.

At the start of February, reports emerged detailing plans by Brailsford – dubbed Mission 21 and Mission 1 – to get both the men’s and women’s teams to win the league.

However, those positive PR notes were soon thwarted by more bad news as it was revealed Ratcliffe was preparing to sack another 200 staff as part of continued cost-cutting efforts.

The 1958 fan group revealed plans to protest the steep rise in ticket prices when Arsenal visit Old Trafford on March 9.

A statement from the group was about as damning as an assessment as could be given, as it blasted the way the club was treating fans by “putting profit before fan safety” and “everything”.

The publication of the club’s second-quarter fiscal results for 2025 then revealed it cost them £14.5m to sack Ten Hag, his staff and Ashworth.

It also revealed the club had now paid £1bn in interest payments since the Glazers’ arrival, with the total debt standing at £731m including around £300m still owed on transfers.

Cripped finances, a squad in desperate need of another rebuild, the worst position in the league for some 50 years and more and more bad PR moves behind the scenes all paint a pretty morbid picture.

You would think things can’t get any worse under Ratcliffe, yet United do continue to surprise.

So, will he be able to turn things around on and off the pitch in his second year at the helm?

Everyone connected to the Red Devils will certainly hope so…

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The roof at Old Trafford leaks a waterfall when it rains heavily in Manchester[/caption]

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There have been major changes in the boardroom at Old Trafford[/caption]

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A 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth was the final match before the anniversary[/caption]

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There hasn’t been much to celebrate for United so far[/caption]

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Can Ratcliffe turn things around in his second year in charge?[/caption]

SAINSBURY’S and Tesco have hiked prices for hundreds of products after they scaled back on their money-saving price match schemes.

In a huge blow to shoppers, the number of products offered on both major supermarkets’ Aldi price match schemes have fallen since last year.

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Both Sainsbury’s and Tesco have reduced the number of products on their Aldi price match schemes[/caption]

This means hundreds of products, previously tied to the typically lower prices of parallel Aldi products, may now see their prices go up.

The Sainsbury’s scheme covered a total of 681 products back in November last year before falling to now just 606 items, according to analysis by The Grocer.

This fall of 75 items is understood to primarily have come from Sainsbury’s own-brand lines.

The supermarket, however, also became the first to extend its scheme to convenience stores when it did so in November.

A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s told The Sun: “Much like the price of individual products, the number of items in our Aldi Price Match campaign can go up as well as down.

“That doesn’t stop us offering outstanding value throughout the year across thousands of items, whether that’s through Aldi Price Match, Low Everyday Prices, Nectar Prices or our value Stamford Street range.

“We have invested £1 billion into value in recent years which we know customers are noticing as more and more customers are choosing to do their shop at Sainsbury’s.”

This comes just a week after Tesco confirmed more than 100 items from its own Aldi price match scheme had been removed.

The number of products available dropped from a peak of 790 in August last year to just 645 in February, according to Paul Stainton, partner at private label consultancy IPLC.

Tesco explained that its 145-item decline was caused by a change in its methodology to determine which products would be available under the scheme.

Products are now only included if the claimed Aldi equivalent can be found in at least 10 of the budget supermarket’s stores, whereas previously Tesco only required five stores to approve a match.

Tesco said the change was made to so that it could focus its price match campaign on more key lines that are most important to customers.

A spokesperson for Tesco told The Sun: “We work hard to offer our customers the best possible value, quality, and service with every shop.

“Our powerful combination of Aldi Price Match, Low Everyday Prices and Clubcard Prices ensures we deliver great value for our customers as the UK’s cheapest full line grocer.”

INFLATION CONTINUES TO RISE

This comes as inflation in January skyrocketed to the highest rate in ten months, putting pressure on shoppers.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the Consumer Price Index (CPI) measured 3% in the 12 months to January.

Meanwhile, inflation is expected to hit 3.7% in the summer, driven by increases in the price of energy and food.

Grant Fitzner, chief economist at the ONS, said: “Inflation increased sharply this month to its highest annual rate since March last year.

“The rise was driven by air fares not falling as much as we usually see at this time of year, partly impacted by the timing of flights over Christmas and New Year.”

He added: “After falling this time last year, the cost of food and non-alcoholic drinks increased, particularly meat, bread and cereals.

“Private school fees were another factor, as new VAT rules meant prices rose nearly 13% this month.”

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IN a time where soaps are struggling, budgets are tightening and axing cast members has become a daily task, it has become harder than ever to make noise and get loyal soap fans on side.

But the bosses at ITV may well and truly have made the most costly mistake ever with its recent week of Emmerdale episodes.

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Emmerdale’s deadly limo smash was one of the best weeks of soap ever[/caption]

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But going against EastEnders anniversary week was a stupid decision[/caption]

With the BBC‘s EastEnders arguably at its best and miles in front of its counterpart ITV soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale in terms of critical opinion, ITV have been left in a desperate bid to change the fortunes of the hugely-scrutinised programmes.

Having been forced to cut both one episode of Corrie and Emmerdale a week amid the soap cash crisis, ITV seemingly had one chance with each of its soaps to bring it back to its glory days.

And whilst Coronation Street continues to plunge from one cliff to another with its dire content, Emmerdale struck gold with one of its BEST weeks of soap ever.

Well, sort of.

Emmerdale’s deadly limo crash was phenomenal television.

One of the most innovative stunts in soap ever, the Dales’ biggest female characters saw themselves trapped in a sinking limo in the middle of a frozen lake with only one way to safety and the other being to certain death.

The soap proved it meant business when it opted to kill off one character, Suzy Merton, within the first five minutes of the opening episode thus ensuring there was plenty more drama to come.

Having managed to keep most things a secret and under wraps, apart from a certain exit from Roxy Shahidi‘s Leyla, it delivered gasp-worthy, edge-of-your-seat gripping action.

It was by far the show’s most creative and visually chilling episode since 2016’s Hotten Bypass Crash – largely regarded as one of Emmerdale’s most memorable moments.

In fact, I’d go as far as to say this week’s deadly limo smash and shock underwater body reveal could even top it!

Surely, it must pick up all the awards at this year’s British Soap Awards?

It is bound to be one of soap’s most talked-about plots for years to come.

But no – sadly, I can almost guarantee it will not and it comes down to one thing.

The selfishness and greed of ITV bosses.

For reasons I can’t quite wrap my head around, ITV chose the hotly-anticipated week of EastEnders 40th anniversary to broadcast the best episodes of soap they’ve had in 10 years.

All eyes have been on the BBC’s flagship soap for months.

A huge fire, every single characters in the mix, two spin-off shows, legendary returns galore, an interactive vote and of course, a live episode meant that Emmerdale never stood a chance going up against the Walford Warrior.

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The reveal of a mystery body was a total shock[/caption]

The ITV bosses should be painfully embarrassed and should hang their head in shame for sacrificing a top quality week of soap in an attempt to compete with its rival soap’s biggest week to date.

Emmerdale could have broadcast this week realistically in any of the other winter months.

They could have picked November, December, January or even March to showcase this fantastic week of episodes.

It’s a travesty that no one will be talking about this week’s Emmerdale.

Killing off four characters was a huge decision and is certainly the biggest number of simultaneous cast deaths seen on the show.

So, why bother wasting it when even just the potential for two EastEnders deaths would blow it out of the water?

It is a sorry mess and any desperate attempts to win some sort of competition is quite frankly childish.

ITV already had the fact that their soaps’ reputations are on their knees and now by wasting the one chance they had to put Emmerdale back on the map, they’ll have to go back to the drawing board when it comes to picking up the pieces of the fallen shows.

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EastEnders major week is all anyone can talk about[/caption]

I feel for the stars of this week’s episodes, namely Roxy Shahidi, Amy Walsh, Natalie Ann Jamieson, Laura Norton and Martelle Edinborough.

They gave the performances of their careers and it does not deserve to go unnoticed.

And let’s be clear, my issue does not lie with any of Emmerdale’s fantastic cast or crew who delivered absolute TV gold.

It’s with those at the top who sacrificed their strongest soap week in forever as part of a pathetic little game.

MOST people would agree that giving your children chores in return for pocket money helps make them a more rounded individual.

And one mum has shared the list of chores she has her eight-year-old daughter do to earn herself £3 a week.

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Shannon asked if she was too strict on her eight-year-old daughter for her long list of chores[/caption]

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The mum gave her daughter pocket money in return, but many said it wasn’t enough[/caption]

Shannon Tomkins, from the UK, took to social media asking if she was too strict on her daughter, Lauren.

“Every day, Lauren has some set jobs to do in order to earn her pocket money, starting with making her bed every morning,” the mum said.

“She then makes her own breakfast and then washes it up.”

Shannon admits she often has to go back and clean the bowl herself but saw it as a vital chore to teach her daughter responsibility.

Lauren doesn’t just wash up her own stuff, she washes up for the whole family before heading upstairs to get herself washed and dressed.

Last but not least, Lauren has to fold and put away her clothes, but Shannon said she obviously helps if her daughter finds it difficult.

In return, Shannon said she gives her daughter £5 a week, but she only gets to keep £3 as the rest goes towards her phone.

She captioned the post: “What do you think? Too strict? Not strict enough? – I also forgot to mention she has to tidy her own room and as long as she does that, I keep it clean!”

The mum’s video soon went viral on her TikTok account @lifewiththetomkins with over 511k views and 33k likes.

Plenty of people were quick to take to the comments section and seemed divided – but not on the mum’s strictness.

While many agreed with the premise of doing chores at a young age, some thought the mum should increase the cash to make it fairer.

Public Reaction

One person wrote: “I love it, however, I would increase the pocket money as £5 doesn’t get you much at all these days. You could even encourage saving some if increased.”

Another commented: “Up her pay, come on, at least a tenner.”

“Great parenting! Well done, maybe she could have a little increase. She’ll have a great work ethic.” penned a third.

Meanwhile a fourth said: “Great parenting and setting her up for a great future that she can navigate through with ease. Well done little miss.”

“Not strict at all!” claimed a fifth.

After seeing the comments, Shannon decided she would increase her daughter’s pocket money while teaching her essential life skills.

“I will definitely be upping it after this,” she told viewers.

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NEVER in the history of pop has a band had as many line-up changes as the Sugababes.

Over the years there have been several different singers making up the trio but the group is set to headline Brighton Pride, alongside Mariah Carey, this summer. Here we take a look at who the original babes are.

Getty - Contributor

Who were the original Sugababes members?

Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan – 1998 to 2001 and 2022 to present

The Sugababes were formed in 1998 by All Saints manager Ron Tom.

Siobhán Donaghy and Mutya Buena, both aged just 13, had been signed as solo artists, but decided to work together after performing at the same showcase.

While working in the studio, Mutya invited her best friend Keisha Buchanan to watch them and she was picked to join them.

Originally called the Sugababies, the group’s name was tweaked to Sugababes when they were signed by London Records, to give the group a more mature image.

The group’s debut single, Overload, went to number six in 2000 and was nominated for a Brit Award and they released debut album One Touch.

However, during a Japanese promotional tour in 2001, Siobhán left the group.

She stated initially that she wanted to pursue a fashion career, but was eventually diagnosed with depression.

The band then got back together in 2022 and have remained the original threesome ever since.

Who else has been in Sugababes?

Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Heidi Range – 2001 to 2005

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Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Heidi Range were the second Sugababes line-up[/caption]

After the shock of Siobhán’s departure, Mutya and Keisha decided to carry on and add a new bandmate – enter Heidi Range.

Their first single Freak Like Me scored the group their first UK No1 single and they followed suit with their next single Round, Round.

The new formation was a big hit and they had THREE top ten albums together, numerous hit singles and even sang on the Band Aid 20 single.

But things didn’t last.

Keisha Buchanan, Heidi Range and Amelle Berrabah – 2005 to 2009

PA:Press Association

Right we have ANOTHER line-up.

In 2005 Mutya quit the band to pursue a solo career – enter Amelle Berrabah.

The new threesome had a HUGE hit with their song About You Now – and to date this is their highest-selling single.

They toured and released their top ten album Catfights And Spotlights.

They also teamed up with Girls Aloud for Comic Relief single Walk This Way.

But again – change was on the horizon.

Heidi Range Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen – 2009 to 2011

Darren Fletcher - The Sun

The Babes were hit another blow when the only original band member, Keisha, quit the group in 2009.

Fans were distraught – with no more originals left, would the Sugababes continue?

The answer was yes – enter Eurovision star Jade Ewen.

Unfortunately this line-up didn’t set the world on fire and the girls decided to officially call it quits in 2011.

IF every toilet trip has you straining and struggling, it could lead to health problems in the future.

Many of us don’t even realise we are straining – if you admit to scrolling on your phone while pooing, for example, you could be at risk.

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Scrolling while on the toilet? You shouldn’t be hanging around on the loo- a toilet trip should be swift and easy[/caption]

Makeda says: “Although many of us have experienced straining to defecate at some point in our lives, we are not designed to strain. 

“Our body is a network of tubes and vessels that are designed to allow substances (in this case poo or waste) to flow through them. 

“When poo stops flowing or slows down considerably, a problem tends to develop.”

So how, exactly, should it feel to ‘go’? Brace yourself for some pretty grim chat…

Makeda Hemans, a colon hydrotherapist, says that poo should glide out, with ease.”

You shouldn’t even have time to open Instagram or TikTok for a scroll.

“It should be a Type 3 or 4 on the Bristol Stool Chart, AKA, smooth sausage-like.”

The Bristol Stool Chart was created by scientists to show people exactly what their poo should look like.

It’s enough to make you squirm – Makeda says straining over long periods can lead to anal fissures, which is a tear in the end section of the anal passage.

Plus Makeda says that rectal prolapse is a possibility.

“Basically your rectum shifts out of place or falls out of your anal passage,” she says. 

Carolina Goncalves, Superintendent Pharmacist at Pharmica adds: “Straining puts quite a lot of pressure on the blood vessels around the rectum. 

“This can cause them to become swollen and inflamed, plus the increased pressure weakens the walls of these blood vessels, which might cause them to bulge outward and form haemorrhoids or make existing ones worse. 

“Frequent straining can also weaken the pelvic floor muscles.”

Why are you straining?

Straining could be a sign of an underlying problem, usually chronic constipation.

“This needs to be addressed to avoid more serious complications down the line,” says Carolina.

“Chronic constipation can occur if your diet lacks sufficient fibre; this is crucial for adding bulk and softness to the poo by absorbing water and helping it move smoothly through the intestines.”

Underlying health issues, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a thyroid disorder or other gastrointestinal conditions can also cause constipation. 

Not drinking enough water can lead to dehydration which can make your stool hard and difficult to pass. 

Carolina says: “A lack of physical activity slows down intestinal transit time by reducing the rate of muscle movements that push stool through the colon, which in turn can contribute to constipation.”

Want to know how fast your gut transit time is? Find out with this simple test.

Carolina says: “If you find yourself constantly straining, don’t ignore it. Seek medical advice to pinpoint and address the root cause.”

Remember to be aware of symptoms of bowel cancer, which often show up in our toilet habits and although embarassing, should never be ignored.

Signs are bleeding (from the bottom, on the toilet tissue, in the stool) and an obvious change in your bowel habits, such as going more or less frequently or feeling like you haven’t emptied.

Weight loss, extreme tiredness, a lump or pain are also signs.

The stop-the-strain techniques 

While you work on easing constipation in the long-term, there are some things you can do in the short-term to get things moving…

Feet on a high stool

Elevating your feet on a high stool whilst you sit on the toilet, such as a small step or a special toilet stool, mimics a squatting position. 

Caroline says: “This posture straightens the rectum more effectively, to make it easier for your stool to move through with less effort.

“It also lowers abdominal pressure, which helps prevent strain on the muscles and blood vessels in the rectal area, decreasing the risk of developing haemorrhoids.” 

Research has also found that the squat position makes it easier for people to empty their bowels more quickly compared to traditional sitting, while also minimising the need to strain. 

Don’t want a stool hanging around your bathroom floor?

“You can achieve a similar effect by bending your knees and hips deeply while sitting on the toilet,” suggests Carolina. 

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A toilet step puts the body into a position that is more natural for using the toilet, which should help with bowel movements[/caption]

Blowing bubbles 

Yes, it sounds bizarre. But blowing bubbles into a drink or empty straw may help you ‘go’.

“At its core, this is a breathing technique that engages the diaphragm and abdominal muscles, promoting relaxation and reducing the need to strain,” says Carolina. 

She adds that this helps your pelvic floor relax and changes the abdominal pressure, encouraging both your bladder and bowels to empty.

“It’s more of a relaxation technique, and while it may help reduce some strain, it may not be a solution for everyone with constipation,” adds Carolina. 

Pelvic floor clench and relax

Pelvic floor exercises are renowned for helping reduce incontinence, but can they help overcome straining?

Carolina says: “Practising pelvic floor exercises involves tightening the muscles you use to stop the flow of urine for a few seconds, then relaxing them. 

“Repeating this cycle several times before and during bowel movements helps strengthen these muscles, providing better support and making bowel movements easier and more controlled.”

There’s an added bonus – improving pelvic floor strength may help your sex life, research has shown.

Women who have a strong pelvic floor also have an increased libido and more sex, studies suggest, while the opposite is true for those with weaker muscles. 

What’s more, during sex, the pelvic floor muscles contract and relax which contributes to arousal.

It’s always a good idea to work your pelvic floor muscles but Caroline says if you are struggling with severe constipation or specific gastrointestinal conditions, it may not be the solution.

Sitting with one ankle over your knee

On the floor, this stretch helps to ease tight muscles in your butt.

But on the loo, it could help to open your pelvic area and align the intestines for “easier stool passage”, according to Carolina. 

“This act of leaning forward helps reduce the pressure on your lower abdomen, which can decrease the need to strain.”

This may be a more challenging move if you have joint issues or limited flexibility.

Deep breathing 

The way we breathe has been shown time and time again to have an influence on our stress and mood.  

Plus, studies have found that breathwork can help relieve anxiety. 

Makeda explains: “Breathe deeply, in through the nose and out through the mouth in an ‘O’ shape. 

“Take long, strong exhales when gently bearing down as this relaxes the muscles in the pelvic floor and makes pooing easier.

“It may take some practice, but it’s a great bowel habit to have!”

Carolina adds that deep breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which ‘promotes relaxation’.

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Her phone was seized, and at least 18 video calls between the pair and thousands of messages were discovered.

Cole Palmer does not have a release clause which activates if Chelsea miss out on a place in next season’s Champions League, according to reports.

Chelsea currently sit sixth in the Premier League and just one point behind fourth-placed Manchester City.

The Premier League is in line to be rewarded with an extra Champions League place this season because of the impressive performances from English clubs in Europe so far.

However, there is cause for concern that Chelsea could finish outside the top five as Enzo Maresca’s side have only registered two wins in their last nine Premier League fixtures.

Earlier this week, reports claimed that Palmer’s contract includes a clause could force Chelsea to consider offers if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.

However, MailOnline reports that no such clause exists in Palmer’s deal which he signed at the start of the campaign and keeps him tied to Stamford Bridge for the next nine years.

The report adds that Chelsea also have no intention of selling Palmer in the summer transfer window.

Speaking after Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat to Brighton last Friday, Jamie Carragher questioned how long Palmer would be prepared to stay at Stamford Bridge without playing in Europe’s elite competition.

‘If they don’t get Champions League, it will be a disaster,’ said Carragher.

‘The one thing I took from this game is not just how poor they were but the frustration from Palmer.

‘He won’t wait around for this idea that in a couple of years, we will make the Champions League.

‘The idea that this project is going to take two or three years, the problem is that the best players won’t wait for that.

‘Cole Palmer is one of the best players in the Premier League. You could start to feel the frustration starting to build. He’s good enough to be competing for the biggest honours in the Premier League and Champions League.

‘He’s scored in a Euro final. That is something that Chelsea need to keep in the back of their mind.

‘The idea that it could be five or 10 years – it’s nonsense. Nottingham Forest are third and Chelsea have spent over £1 billion.’

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