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A CENTER Parcs holiday is a bucket list break for most British families, thanks to its secluded lodges, wide-ranging activities, onsite restaurants and subtropical waterparks.

While it’s the ideal spot for a half-term break, the price of a family holiday can triple in the school holidays leaving some Brits priced out.

Jenna Maxwell

Jenna Maxwell

However, there is another way to experience the popular family resort without paying inflated prices or being fined for removing children from school during term-time.

A seven-night stay during the February half term at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest in Cumbria cost a staggering £2,578 for a basic lodge for my family of four.

The same trip at Center Parcs Les Villages Nature near Paris costs £1,237, working out at £1,341 cheaper.

A European trip to Center Parcs is still cheaper even when the cost of flights is factored into the equation.

For example, direct flights from Edinburgh (where I live) to Paris came in at £216 for my family of four.

It means by choosing Center Parcs Les Villages Nature, we would save £1,125. 

My family visited Les Villages Nature last year, and it has all the trappings of a traditional Center Parcs break, including the much-loved subtropical water park, countless activities, soft play and play parks.

This resort is also one of the newer parks and we found it bigger and better than its UK counterpart.

Compared to Whinfell Forest, there were more water slides and activities, such as the poolside climbing wall.

And on our last trip, our booking came with a couple of free activity passes, which our daughter used on a pony ride and a chocolate-making class – both of which would have cost an extra €20 (£16.63) each.

We found the food options to be much better in Paris too.

There is something quite magical about going for a morning walk and grabbing some fresh bread and pastries in France.

As well as the amazing bakeries, there was also a pizzeria and grocery store that had lots of fresh cheese and hot food selections.

Everything was just fresher and tastier and all quite affordable.

Center Parcs escapes are known for their seclusion, with most holidaymakers at UK resorts opting to stay within the resort for their whole stay.

We felt Les Villages Nature gave families more options.

For instance, on our week-long trip, we visited Disneyland Paris, which was a short 20-minute drive away, and Park Asterix – around 40 minutes away.

With 26 Center Parcs locations in Europe, you’ll be spoilt for choice on where to go, and most of them will offer more affordable trips than the UK versions.

Some of the other bargain breaks we found during half term were Center Parcs Park Nordseeküste in Butjadingen, Germany, which cost only £515 for the same week in February.

There’s also Center Parcs Port Zélande in Ouddorp in the Netherlands which only costs £779.

Of course families do have to factor in the cost of travelling to Europe.

But even when flights are factored in, breaks were still cheaper, so it seems like a no-brainer to jump on a plane.

And here are the UK holiday parks ‘like Center Parcs without the crowds’.

Travel writer Catherine Lofthouse has tried several Center Parcs-alternative holiday parks in the UK, here’s what she thought.

Jenna Maxwell

Disneyland

Les Villages Nature has all the trappings of a traditional Center Parcs break[/caption]

Disneyland

A THRILL seekers dream rollercoaster is set to open this year.

In Saudi Arabia, Six Flags theme park is set to open this year and with it, the tallest, fastest and longest rollercoaster in the world.

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The Six Flags theme park will have some of the most daring rides in the world[/caption]

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There will also be a water park and race track in Qiddiya City[/caption]

The Six Flags theme park – which has been under construction since 2019 – will form part of Qiddiya City, a 376 square kilometre entertainment and sports hub in Saudi Arabia.

One of the big attractions set to bring in rollercoaster fans is the Six Flags Theme Park which will have 28 rides in total.

The main and most talked about is the terrifying Falcon’s Flight rollercoaster – which once opened will be the tallest, fastest and longest of its kind.

The ride will be over thirteen thousand feet long, at its peak height it will stand at 639 feet tall.

As for the thrills, the top speed of Falcon’s Flight will be 155.3 mph, and the tallest drop will be from 519 feet over the side of a hill.

Fourteen riders can experience Falcon’s Flight at a time and thanks to its speed and the desert environment, the trains will have curved windshields to protect riders from sand.

There have been mixed views from rollercoaster enthusiasts with some saying they “need to ride” it, with others branding it “ridiculous”.

Currently, the fastest rollercoaster in the world is the Ferrari World Abu Dhabi that reached speeds of 149.1 mph.

The tallest rollercoaster, since the closure of Kingda Ka that stood at 456 feet, is the Superman: Escape from Krypton at Six Flags Magic Mountain standing at 415 feet.

Six Flags is set to open in ‘late 2025’ with an exact date still to be confirmed.

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The Six Flags theme park will be set across 79 acres[/caption]

The record-breaking rollercoaster isn’t the only unique attraction Qiddiya City will be opening – they are also set to reveal the most unique racing circuit.

Speed Park is set to open in 2027, and the plan is that the track will eventually host the country’s Formula 1 Grand Prix.

The daring track has been designed by racing drivers and has the very first elevated track corner which is 70-metres high – the equivalent of a 20-storey building.

It won’t be just the professionals that get to whizz around the track, they will regularly host open days so that motorsport enthusiasts can have a go.

The Aquarabia water park will also be part of the complex – and will be the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia.

There will be eight themed zones inspired by the wildlife found in Saudi, for example Camel Rock and Viper Canyon.

Inside the water park will be 22 rides, a surf pool, water coaster and slides.

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The city plan includes 27 entertainment attractions and 43 sports facilities[/caption]

Aquarabia will become home to the world’s tallest water coaster in the land of Junoon Drop. It will have a 138 foot drop and include a twisty flume with an 180-degree turn.

You can also do water sport activities, kayaking, rafting, canyoneering and cliff jumping.

There’s another theme park set to open in the Middle East called The Land of Legends which is set to open in 2028.

This incredible floating theme park called ‘The Rig’ is being built on an old oil rig in Saudi Arabia.

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Six Flags Qiddiya City is set to open this year after six years of construction[/caption]

DRIVERS are bracing for chaos as a campervan and lorry collision lurches the M6 into delays.

National Highways warned there will be a 30-minute delay on the M6 North.

Affected areas are between J12 Gailey and J13 Stafford and the traffic enforcement agency have warned drivers there might be traffic in these areas.

The crash between a lorry and a campervan lead to long queues in the region.

Traffic officers rushed to the scene as congestion begins to pile up.

National Highways West Midlands said: “2 lanes (of 4 ) are closed on the M6 north between J12 Gailey and J13 Stafford

“This is due to a collision between a lorry and a motor-home.

“National Highways traffic officers and recovery in attendance.

“There are 30 minute delays on approach.“

LISBON was struck by a 4.7 magnitude earthquake just moments before a Benfica press conference took place on Monday.

Head coach Bruno Lage was about to address the media in preparation for his team’s Champions League play-off second leg against Monaco when the earthquake hit.

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Head coach Bruno Lage addressed the media as normal after the earthquake[/caption]

Before he took to his chair, the whole room started to shake.

The moment was caught on camera by CNN Portugal just moments prior to the start of the conference.

Once the commotion had subsided, Lage spoke to the media as planned.

Discussing his experience of the earthquake, he said: “If I tell you what I said to my assistant Lemos…

“We were climbing the stairs when we heard a noise. I mentioned that we needed to fix the glass door in front of us.

“It was only after I got here that I realised what had actually happened.”

Benfica go into Wednesday’s match against Monaco with a 1-0 advantage.

Vangelis Pavlidis scored the decisive goal in the first leg at Stade Louis II last week.

Should they beat Monaco on aggregate, Benfica will face either Liverpool or Barcelona in the last-16 of the Champions League.

The earthquake struck Portugal at around 1:24pm local time on Monday afternoon.

Its epicentre was recorded around 14 kilometres from Seixal, in the district of Setúbal, and was felt in several places in Greater Lisbon.

The shockwaves were felt at maximum intensity in the municipalities of Almada and Sesimbra.

GORDON Ramsay has revealed his plans to take over a well-known Michelin-starred restaurant that has been seen on MasterChef.

The Mayfair site was known for its French cuisine and for being the first restaurant to be awarded one, two and three stars.

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The Hell’s Kitchen star was previously mentored at Le Gavroche[/caption]

News UK Ltd

Le Gavroche restaurant in Mayfair shut its doors in January but could be serving guests under a different name going forward[/caption]

Ever since its opening in 1967, Le Gavroche has been synonymous with the English-French chef Michel Roux Jr.

That was until the two star eatery closed its doors last month so the 63-year-old could “make time for a better work / life balance”.

The iconic restaurant has been known to help many celebrity chefs launch their careers including Marco Pierre White and Marcus Wareing.

It even served the late Queen on her 90th birthday.

Gordon Ramsay, who was a previous resident at the site for two years, has opted to step into the shoes of his former mentor’s son.

In the late nineties, Ramsay cooked under Albert Roux who opened the original restaurant with his brother Michel.

According to Westminster Council, Gordan Ramsay Restaurants is set to acquire Le Gavroche after a successful premise license transfer application.

It has reportedly been completed under his operating company, Union Street Café.

Silvano Giraldin, who oversaw the dining room at Gavroche for more than 30 years, has reportedly been listed as premises supervisor.

Chef patron Matt Abé could be set to be in charge of the kitchen, according to The Standard.

Whether Ramsay will look to change the title or head up the new project is still unconfirmed.

Yet, it would be no surprise for the celebrity restaurateur with eight existing Michelin stars who has recently gained a number of London ventures.

Adding to his portfolio in recent months, Ramsay has opened a cookery school, two restaurants and a bar at the City of London’s tallest building.

The host of 22 Bishopsgate has even ensured a chef’s table spin-off of Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, which has three-stars in Chelsea.

Michel Roux Jr has also been exploring new sites as he took on the Langham at Portland Place.

He previously described Le Gavroche to Restaurant Online: “Those were really tough and long days and weeks.

“I was doing 80-90 hours a week sometimes and I think ‘god, did I really go through all that?’ I can’t say I absolutely loved every moment but it’s something I would do again.

“I’m glad I came to a decision to close and move on. I can sit comfortably with that.”

The Sun has approached Gordon Ramsay Restaurants for comment.

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Ramsay has opened a number of new sites in recent months[/caption]

WRESTLING legend The Great Muta has given British cuisine a brutal verdict.

The WWE Hall of Famer paid a visit to Old Trafford Wetherspoon’s in Manchester over the weekend.

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WWE Hall-of-Famer The Great Muta joined a host of wrestling stars at a Spoons this weekend[/caption]

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The Japanese star ordered a katsu curry and ramen noodles[/caption]

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But the noodles didn’t go down well with the former nine-time world champion[/caption]

Muta, 62, flew to the North West to attend a fan convention at the BEC Arena.

He met supporters and gave a talk at For the Love of Wrestling – but was less than taken with his food options.

Muta – real name Keiji Muto – popped into the Bishop Blaize by Manchester United‘s Old Trafford stadium.

He was joined by fellow wrestlers including Mark Henry and Debra McMichael.

But after ordering some ramen noodles, the Japanese legend was floored.

Uploading a picture of his dish and a disgusted face to X, Muta spluttered: “As for ramen…what the heck is this?!”

The wrestler also tackled a chicken katsu curry, which he declared was simply: “Okay.”

Despite his disastrous dinner, the wrestler wasn’t put off entirely and returned to the same pub later in the weekend.

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This time he played things a little safer – ordering a steak and chips.

One of the first wrestlers out of Japan, Muta is considered among the greatest and most influential of all time.

He spent 39 years in the ring and was a nine-time world champion.

In total, he held 32 championships and also went by the names The Black Ninja, Kokushi and Bach Mutoh.

Despite never appearing in the WWE, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame following his retirement in 2023.

A NEW Channel 5 series is set to follow the police as they investigate the brutal murder of Jonathan Hutty.

Murder Suspect No. 1 will provide viewers with a behind-the-scenes look as detectives take on the case and attempt to catch the killer.

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Gavin Leaning brutally attacked and killed 49-year-old Jonathan Hutty[/caption]

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His accomplice in the crime was Ian Smalley[/caption]

Brutal attack

In February 2024, Jonathan Hutty, 49, was found with serious injuries in his flat in Padstow House, Hull.

He was immediately transported to the hospital, however, Mr Hutty never regained consciousness. 

He was left in a ‘’deep coma’’ after suffering serious face and head injuries.

Following the attack, three suspects were initially arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, however, on March 11 – 16 days after the incident took place – Mr Hutty died in hospital as a result of his injuries.

According to a statement shared by Humberside Police: “The post-mortem examination concluded the cause of death was a severe head injury, likely as a result of an assault.”

Murder investigation launched

Following Mr Hutty’s death, a murder investigation was launched.

This included conducting house-to-house enquiries, reviewing CCTV footage, extensive analysis of phone data, and forensic examinations.

Detective Chief Inspector Ben Robinson, who led the investigation, said at the time: “I understand an incident of this nature is likely to cause concern within the local community, however, I’d like to reassure people that we do believe this to be an isolated incident between individuals known to each other.”

“Since we received the report, I have had a dedicated team of detectives conducting extensive lines of enquiries, including house to house and reviewing CCTV footage in and around the area.”

After reviewing hours of CCTV footage in and around the area, three suspects were captured inside Padstow House and later seen entering a lift to travel to Mr Hutty’s flat.

Discussing the findings, Detective Chief Inspector Ben Robinson said: “All three men later left the flat, making no attempt to help Jonathan and leaving him for dead, before a friend later found him on the floor with a serious head injury and alerted emergency services.”

‘’Whilst Jonathan was receiving treatment in hospital, officers attended the property and conducted extensive enquiries where it was established that Jonathan had been kicked, stamped and punched.’’

The detective added: “All three were subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder.”

Investigating officers also seized clothing worn by the suspects on the night of the attack.

The post-mortem examination concluded the cause of death was a severe head injury, likely as a result of an assault

Humberside Police

Following forensic and DNA testing, blood which was confirmed to be that of Mr Hutty was identified on the footwear of two suspects – Ian Smalley and Gavin Leaning.

Forensic testing also found blood on Smalley’s jeans.

Text messages sent by Smalley were also recovered, in which he admitted he had killed Mr Hutty.

Missing bank card

Detectives also discovered that prior to the incident, Smalley had visited his bank to report that his bank card was missing, which he had wrongly accused Mr Hutty of stealing.

Detective Chief Inspector Ben Robinson explained: ‘’Due to the accusation over a missing bank card, Smalley and Leaning went to Jonathan’s flat with one intention – to cause him serious harm.

“Jonathan was killed by people he knew and trusted and regarded as his friends, having done nothing to warrant the brutal attack inflicted upon him.”

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The brutal crime features on C5’s Murder: Suspect No.1[/caption]

Three individuals, including Smalley and Leaning, were charged with murder.

Justice for Jonathan

Following a four-week trial at Hull Crown Court, in December 2024, Gavin Leaning, 52, of Padstow House was found guilty of manslaughter. 

He was jailed for 13 years.

Ian Smalley, 54, of Hutt Street, pleaded guilty to murder; he originally denied the charge but later asked to change his plea.

He was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 17-and-a-half years.

A third individual was acquitted after the jury found him not guilty of murder or manslaughter.

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The show includes behind-the-scenes footage of the investigation[/caption]

After the sentencing, a statement shared by Humberside Police read: “This has been a long and complex investigation, with hours of CCTV footage being trawled in the initial weeks to establish the events leading to Jonathan’s death. 

‘’Once our suspects were identified; we then had the task of carrying out various forensic and mobile phone data analysis to build a strong evidential case against them.

“Whilst we welcome the outcome, we recognise nothing can reverse the horrendous actions committed by Smalley and Leaning or take away the heartache and pain Jonathan’s family have to live with for the rest of their lives.

“Finally, I’d like to commend my dedicated team of investigating officers within our Major Crime Team who have worked relentlessly to bring these violent men to justice.

“We will always do everything we can to seek justice for those who come to harm at the hands of others, and to ensure those who commit the crime are held to account for their actions.’’

Murder Suspect No. 1

Murder Suspect No. 1 will air at 9pm on Channel 5 on Monday, February 17, 2025.

A second instalment will follow at the same time on Tuesday, February 18.

Previous episodes are available to watch on My5.

EMMERDALE star Jeff Hordley opened up about his life-changing health transformation after decades of struggles.

Famed for his role as the Dales bad boy Cain Dingle, actor Jeff Hordley has bravely opened up about how he completely turned his life around after battling ongoing health issues for years.

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Jeff Hordley also addressed whether he fears his character Cain being killed off[/caption]

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Especially after the animosity between Caleb and Cain prior to the crash[/caption]

The ITV soap star, 54, shared the personal journey that helped him regain control and transform his health.

Jeff has a chronic health condition that he has been battling since his 20s, Crohn’s disease.

He has revealed how he has stayed healthy without medication, after he discussed his health during an appearance on the Another Day Another Collar podcast.

Host Steve Mann asked him about his ambassadorship for Crohn’s disease.

Jeff said: “Crohn’s; no, I’m not anymore, but I was for years because I’ve had Crohn’s since I was 24, 25, and I’ve now managed to keep it under wraps because of diet.

“We eat very much seasonally; we eat from our allotment, from definitely June through to now.

“So that’s how I’ve managed to do it and exercise and things like that. I’ve managed to avoid any medication, which not every Crohn’s sufferer manages to do, but that’s the way I’ve managed it.”

Jeff revealed that many people are often in search of “quick fixes” rather than adopting a more holistic approach to their well-being.

He explained that instead of focusing on their rest, exercise, and the food they consume, many people today turn to pills, calling it the “modern way” of dealing with health issues.

The NHS has identified Crohn’s disease as one of the two primary forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the other being ulcerative colitis.

These conditions affect over half a million individuals in the UK.

Jeff was diagnosed with Crohn’s after he sadly lost his mother, who also had the condition.

He went on to be an advocate who campaigned to raise awareness.

The Emmerdale legend also recently admitted that he’s “worried all the time” whenever there is a huge stunt on the soap.

Jeff addressed fears of his character being killed off in the limo crash.

He told Metro: “When you hear that they’re doing stunts you instantly think, ‘Somebody’s going to die, somebody’s going to cop it here.’

“Or people being hospitalised, that’s the kind of thing that happens when you do sequences like this.”

Asked if the crash’s implications worried him, Jeff replied: “I’m worried all the time! Not all the time, that’s a little bit over the top.

“Every time there’s news of this it can unsettle us as a cast because we know the shelf life of characters is not forever in soaps and it’s down to the producers or the writers to steer the ship and take us in the direction they want to take us.”

Harrowing scenes that aired on Friday saw two groups set off on separate journeys across two limos.

Tensions were running high – with Caleb’s anger towards brother Cain at boiling point.

A devastating turn of events saw Caleb forced to swerve violently to avoid an oncoming truck.

Meanwhile, Charity’s limo veered dangerously after she caught sight of Noah stumbling into the road.

Chaotic moments saw passengers thrown around, glass shattering and residents crying in distress.

One of the limousines ultimately ended up being stranded on a frozen lake.

The occupants woke up to the terrifying realisation that they are balancing on dangerously thin ice.

Monday’s episode will see one villager die and THREE lives left hanging in the balance.

One villager will be pronounced dead, leaving the group devastated.

But with the limo sinking further into the icy lake, there is no time to grieve.

As they try to escape one by one, one villager plunges through the ice and into the freezing water.

Struggling to break through the ice, they fight for air – only to be met with a chilling sight beneath the surface… a dead body.

And with people still trapped in the sinking limo, who will make it out alive?

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 or stream from 7am on ITVX.

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Caleb was forced to violently swerve – with devastation ahead[/caption]

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As the other limo crashed into an icy lake[/caption]

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Several Emmerdale favourites are fighting for their lives[/caption]

The track might need to be censored.

She has had a more than 30 year career with the broadcaster.