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EMPLOYEES signed off sick are costing the economy £400million a week — with claims of depression, anxiety and stress soaring.

A huge 34million working days were lost due to job-related ill health last year — a sharp increase on 22million in 2010.

Getty Images - Getty

Employees signed off sick are costing the economy £400million a week — with claims of depression, anxiety and stress soaring[/caption]

Getty

A huge 34million working days were lost due to job-related ill health last year — a sharp increase on 22million in 2010[/caption]

The forfeited productivity is estimated to have wiped £21.6billion off economic output, according to the Trade Union Congress.

The annual sickness benefits bill is set to spiral to £100billion by 2030 with four million people taking handouts.

Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden warned yesterday: “We can’t allow that to happen.”

It comes as Labour prepares to launch a crackdown to get jobless Brits back to work, with 2.8million on long-term sickness benefits.

Welfare Secretary Liz Kendall will unveil plans including changes to the Work Capability Assessment to force more people to find jobs.

The estimated savings will only be revealed later this month once the reforms have been sent to the Office for Budget Responsibility.

Mr McFadden added: “We don’t believe it is good that if somebody could work with a bit of support that they’re left to live a life on benefits.”

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “People are now being able to be signed off because they’ve got anxiety and they are not having to even look for a job.

“I think it’s gone far too far and it is costing us billions and billions of pounds.”

A government source told The Sun: “People saying Labour will duck the fight on welfare are wrong — we will tackle this head on.”

TRYING to make your food shop stretch that bit further?

Then don’t let yesterday’s Sunday roast go to waste.

There are plenty of meals you can knock up using your weekend leftovers.

Here are some ideas.

RICE ’N’ EASY: For speedy supper, add cooked rice to a wok or saucepan over a high heat, with a beaten egg, then pop in your roast leftovers.

Fry for a few minutes, ­making sure the egg is cooked, for a tasty take on a stir-fry that takes minutes to prepare.

BASIC BRUNCH: Chop up your leftover vegetables and combine them with beaten eggs.

Pop the mixture in a pan and cook on a low heat to make a quick ­frittata.

Alternatively, fry your veg with leftover diced roast potatoes to make a breakfast hash that tastes great served with crusty bread.

STOCK UP: Only the bones left? Use them, meat scraps or the chicken carcass to make homemade stock. It’s so easy and, provided you have a little time, it’s the key to future tasty dinners.

Add yours to boiling water with any leftover veg or peelings and dried herbs from the cupboard. Simmer for three hours, then strain off the stock. For a quick bite, you could add a dash of miso paste and noodles to a portion of the stock to create a speedy ramen.

SOUP-ER IDEA: Turn your leftover roast scraps and veggies into a comforting soup and freeze it in portions for quick lunches during the week.

Chop up an onion and a clove of garlic, add your chopped leftovers, and pour in homemade stock or use a stock cube.

To make it thicker, add a tin or two of cannellini beans and blend. Season with herbs and ­simmer.

PLANT FOOD: If you still have your potato, carrot or parsnip peelings from Sunday dinner, keep them!

Steep them in a jar of water for a few days and then pour it over your favourite plants. The nutrients in the water should help them flourish.

• All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability

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TWO cafes in Ukraine named after Donald Trump have ripped down their signs in fury at the US President.

The owner of Trump Coffee Bar and Trump Pizza Station, a mile apart from each other in central Kyiv, ordered the name be scratched off soon after the White House denied the country arms and intelligence.

Peter Jordan

The owner of Trump Coffee Bar and Trump Pizza Station in Kyiv ordered the name be scratched off[/caption]

Peter Jordan

The cafe name changes came soon after the White House denied Ukraine arms and intelligence[/caption]

Staff refused to comment, but will announce a new name later this month.

Online, their brand has changed to Frank.

Customer Yevhen, 38, said: “This is a great local place. It isn’t political.

“But it’s not a good time to be called Trump in Ukraine.”

He said Trump was “singing Putin’s tune.”

The IT manager added: “Everyone wants peace here. We are tired of war, we want it to end.

“But we also understand that what Trump is proposing, what Trump is doing, will mean a victory for Russia and defeat for Ukraine.

“We want Ukraine to survive.”

The pizzeria still offers a “Trumpino” option with ham, mushrooms and artichokes.

Trump sparked anger last week by condoning Putin’s bloodbath airstrikes as “what anybody else would do”.

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The Monday letters page thinks the Nintendo Switch 2 games line-up may be more predictable than it seems, as one reader looks forward to the RoboCop: Rogue City follow-up.

A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a woman who died after being shot.

Cops were called to a report of a shooting in the Green Park Area of Talbot Green, which is a few miles west of Cardiff, at 6.10pm yesterday.

Matthew Horwood

Police attend a shooting in Talbot Green, Wales[/caption]

Matthew Horwood

A number of crime scenes have been set up in the area[/caption]

Officers and Welsh Ambulance Service paramedics attended the scene.

A 40-year-old woman was found suffering serious injuries and was was later pronounced dead at the scene.

A 42-year-old man, from Talbot Green, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in police custody.

A number of crime scenes have been set up in the area and road closures remain in place.

South Wales Police said they are gathering evidence and enquiries into the circumstances continue.

Detective Chief Inspector James Morris said: “I understand the concern this will cause the local community, and I want to reassure people that a team of experienced detectives are already working at pace to piece together the events of last night.”

A THEME park which closed down just days ago already looks like it has stood abandoned for years.

Oakwood Theme Park in Pembrokeshire, west Wales, shut its gates for the final time on Tuesday, March 5.

Hidden Pembrokeshire - Gareth Davies Photography

Hidden Pembrokeshire - Gareth Davies Photography

Many excited kids have wooshed down this twisting blue slide[/caption]

Hidden Pembrokeshire - Gareth Davies Photography

The roller coaster track have already been broken up[/caption]

It was the biggest theme park in Wales – and locals were distraught to see it go.

The park had been saved back in 2008 after £25million was put back into it – but that proved just a sticking plaster.

The owners blamed the government’s national insurance and minimum wage hikes for making it impossible to carry on.

And now, less than a week after shutting up, the park already looks like a ghost of its former self.

Haunting photos show the rides standing eerily empty and partially dismantled.

Once symbols of joy and excitement, the purposeless relics now serve only to remind locals of what they have lost.

The iconic pirate ship has run aground for the final time, and now sits with pieces of metal hanging off it.

Bright toy planes that once whizzed children through the air have been lined up and fenced off.

Broken sections of roller coaster track – the backbone of Oakwood – lie strewn around in the mud.

And the mini black taxi carts are still and without passengers.

Oakwood is the latest theme park to fold in recent months – with others around the country at risk.

Despite the park’s owners citing the UK government as the cause of its financial woes, locals have pointed to another hurdle barring the tourism and hospitality industry.

Some believe that the Welsh government’s proposed “tourist tax” is snuffing out the tourism trade – even before it takes effect.

They say that Oakwood’s closure is just the “tip of the iceberg” of the decline that is to come.

Hidden Pembrokeshire - Gareth Davies Photography

Athena

Oakwood was Wales’s largest them park before it closed for good on Tuesday[/caption]

Hidden Pembrokeshire - Gareth Davies Photography

This ride is left to rust amongst the trees[/caption]

The new levy, which could be introduced in Wales from 2027, would see visitors to the country paying a £1.25p per night tourism tax when they stay at hotels, B&Bs and self-catered accommodation.

A lower rate of 75p would be charged for hostels and campsites.

The Welsh government insists the money raised would help fund services in tourism hotspots, but critics say it will deter visitors.

Kevin Hart, who has been running a bar restaurant and caravan and camping site within walking distance of Oakwood for the past 18 years, is “dreading” the new tax.

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An aerial view of the site[/caption]

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Local bar and restaurant owners Kevin and Debbie Hart have blamed a new tourist tax for being behind the theme park’s decision to close[/caption]

Mr Hart, 66, runs the business – The Snooty Fox – with his wife, Debbie, and had been hoping to sell up and retire in a few years. Now he believes that dream is in tatters.

He told The Sun: “How am I going to be able to sell up and retire now when the Welsh and national governments are doing their level best to destroy what we’ve spent 18 years building up?

“I employ 10 people here and I’m already having to find extra money to pay for the rises in national insurance and minimum wage, not to mention inflation and energy costs going through the roof.

“And now the Welsh government expects people coming here to pay a tourism tax.

Another local, Jenny, 45, said: “Once this dreaded tourist tax comes in, I don’t think anyone in their right mind will want to come to Wales.

“It’s yet another tax, and at a time when everyone’s already feeling the squeeze caused by every other tax we pay, on top of inflation, soaring energy costs and, if you’re an employer, extra national insurance and another rise in the minimum wage.

“Oakwood going is the tip of the iceberg, I fear. In the years ahead, there’ll be nothing left here.”

A POPULAR pub has announced its shock closure after pouring pints for more than 400 years.

Punters have been left devastated after ancient boozer confirmed it will finally pull down the shutters for good.

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The Pack Horse Inn is a historic traditional pub in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.[/caption]

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It claims to have been pouring pints since 1610[/caption]

The Pack Horse Inn is a historic traditional pub in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.

It claims to have been pouring pints since 1610, which makes it the town’s oldest watering hole.

However, after operating for so many years, the management posted a notice to the pub’s Facebook page warning punters of the closure on March 2.

They wrote: “It is with great sadness that we announce the closure of The Pack Horse on March 2.

“This iconic pub means so many things to so many people and it’s been a difficult decision.”

They signed off by thanking all their local customers.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers, past and present, for their support, friendship and banter.

“We wish you all the best for the future and hope to see you over the next two weekends.”

Hoards of people flocked to lament the loss in the comments section – with many sharing fond memories of sinking pints there.

One sad customer said: “Really sorry to see the closure of this iconic pub, it’s been a part of my life since the seventies.

“Sleepovers in the beater’s hut & later our local for the last thirty years.

“We will never forget your input during lockdown, the fruit & veg, Heptonstall opera & the other things we can’t talk about!”

Another person said: “So sad to hear this. It’s a long way for us to travel so we are occasional visitors but we love this place.”

A third heartbroken customer wrote: “Devastated for this, another renowned destination gone by the wayside.”

Meanwhile, a popular pub in Buckinghamshire has suffered the fate The Hole in the Wall hopes to avoid.

The Pink and Lily in Princes Risborough has pulled its last pint after seven years in business.

It comes after more than 400 pubs closed across the UK last year as the country’s boozer count hit an all-time low.

400 PUBS SHUT IN 2024

Some 412 in England and Wales — around 34 a month — shut and were demolished or converted into homes, offices and nurseries.

That was a rise of 6.7 per cent compared to the previous year and the sharpest fall in numbers since 2021, when 444 pubs closed their doors.

A total of 2,074 pubs have gone in the past five years, analysis by the commercial real estate experts Altus Group found.

The overall number of boozers in England and Wales, including those vacant and offered to let, fell to a low of 38,989 according to Valuation Office Agency statistics.

Three years ago, the hospitality sector was hit by Covid lockdowns and soaring energy prices.

This year, rising costs and cautious spending have also hit the sector.

A MAN has been charged after a protester climbed up the clock tower of Big Ben and held on for 17 hours.

The man, who scaled Elizabeth Tower barefoot at around 7.20am on Saturday, finally came down just after midnight on Sunday.

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A man scaled Elizabeth Tower barefoot at around 7.20am on Saturday[/caption]

Images from the scene showed the man holding the Palestine flag he had with him on the ledge as he was lifted to the ground in a cherry picker.

Daniel Day, 29, of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, has now been charged with causing a public nuisance and trespassing on a protected site, the Metropolitan Police said.

Day is accused of scaling Elizabeth Tower barefoot at around 7.20am on Saturday, and came down just after midnight on Sunday.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Emergency crews had been at the scene with dozens of uniformed police officers guarding the cordon which extended from Bridge Street to Westminster Bridge.

Two aerial ladder platforms, an incident response unit ambulance, regular ambulances and two fire engines were also present late on Saturday.

Parliamentary tours, which happen on Saturdays when Parliament is sitting and on weekdays during the summer recess, were cancelled.

In a statement issued just after 1am, the force said: “The man has now been arrested.

“This has been a protracted incident due to the specifics of where the man was located and the need to ensure the safety of our officers, the individual and the wider public.

“We worked with other agencies including the London Fire Brigade and deployed specialist officers to bring this incident to a close as quickly as possible whilst minimising risk to life.

“We have been in close liaison with the Parliamentary Estate throughout and all roads have been reopened.”

DEAR DEIDRE: MY brother and I have always been close but since we found out that we have a half-sister, I now hardly recognise the man I grew up with.

I’m really concerned because they have started a fling together, it’s so wrong.

We’d always suspected our dad had been unfaithful to mum but it was only when our half-sister contacted me through Facebook last year that everything was confirmed.

Unfortunately Dad has advanced dementia so we can’t talk to him about our discovery.

I’m 41, my brother is 38 and our half-sister is 35.

Together, my brother and I agreed that we would meet our sister and arranged a meeting at a quiet pub.

As soon as I saw her I was struck by how similar she looked to my brother. We all got on well and started meeting up regularly.

Over time we agreed we should tell our mum about our half-sister.

Mum and dad had split over ten years earlier and like us, she’d always had a feeling Dad had cheated.

She told us she always expected more children would turn up sooner or later.

Although I liked our half-sister, I had a growing sense of unease that she and my brother were starting to flirt with each other.

Then one day I popped around to my brother’s house unannounced.

I let myself in but as I walked in and called out his name he emerged from the lounge looking guilty.

Our half-sister appeared moments later looking dishevelled and flustered.

It was so obvious they had been together, the atmosphere felt so awkward.

Later when I confronted my brother he told me it’s none of my business.

He’s said that no one needs to know they are related.

What can I do?

DEIDRE SAYS: Close relatives who haven’t grown up together can feel a strong attraction when they meet as adults.

This is often called Genetic Sexual Attraction and is attributed to a combination of genetic similarities and the misguided desire to connect with one’s biological family.

Although, of course, that isn’t the green light for a sexual relationship.

If your brother and half-sister are being physically intimate, their relationship would be classed as incest and is against the law.

Your siblings are taking a huge risk and could go to prison if they are reported to the police.

If the rest of your family found out about their relationship, it would cause difficulties for everyone.

Talk to your brother and let him know your concerns. Suggest he gets counselling to help him overcome his feelings.

My pack on How Counselling Can Help explains more.

I MISS MY BROTHER IN PRISON

DEAR DEIDRE: HE is my world, but I can’t see my older brother because he is in prison over 200 miles away. I miss him so much.

I’m a 16-year-old girl and live with my mum. Dad abandoned us when we were very young and we never saw him again.

I’ve looked up to my brother ever since. He says I’m the best sister ever. He’s 24.

My mum took it really badly when my dad left. I know she loves me, but my brother’s the only one who has ever really put me first.

I admit he did some terrible things – he’s inside now for burglary. Other people think he’s a nasty piece of work, but he’s always been kind to me.

He’s always encouraged me to work hard and never drink or do drugs. Some people tell me to forget all about him, saying he’ll never make anything of himself.

They constantly judge me for loving him because they only see him as a criminal.

DEIDRE SAYS: Having a loved one in prison can feel like being bereaved, with feelings of loss and grieving for the close relationship you shared.

The inability to connect with him face-to-face can be very painful.

Ignore other people. Your faith in your brother might help him stay out of trouble in the future.

Please get in contact with prisonersfamilies.org, which offers free, confidential support and advice for families who have a loved one in contact with the criminal justice system.

FEAR MY DRINK WAS SPIKED

DEAR DEIDRE: I THINK my drink was spiked because I woke up one morning to find a strange guy in my bed.

I’d been out with friends the night before but hadn’t had a great time.

I am a 25-year-old woman. I am engaged to a lovely man who is 28.

He is an engineer and is currently working away.

I wasn’t really enjoying myself being out without him so I made an excuse to my friends and left the bar early.

Getting drunk has never been my thing because I hate the feeling of being out of control.

I had had just one glass of wine and a fruit juice.

As I made my way to the cloak room, I vaguely remember a man loitering near me and then standing right by me while I put on my coat. He followed me out of the pub, offering to walk me home.

I refused his offer, saying that I was fine to go home by myself, but he was insistent.

I don’t remember anything else until I woke up with him beside me, half-naked. I have no idea how I got there.

I’m so confused and alarmed by this whole episode. I never do anything like this so it makes me think that my drink must have been spiked.

I found out later when he tracked me down on social media that we had done sexual things. I am mortified and feel physically sick. I would never hurt my fiancé like this.

He is the best in the world and I love him. I have asked this other man not to tell anyone what we did, but I am devastated.

DEIDRE SAYS: I’m sorry this happened to you. You did nothing to give him the idea you wanted sex.

This was at least sexual assault and possibly rape – and if your drink was spiked, it was drug-assisted as well.

As a priority you need to find understanding for your distress. Contact rapecrisis.org.uk (0808 802 9999) who say that someone who has been spiked cannot consent to sexual activity – no matter the circumstances.

When you are ready to reflect on this, decide if you want to report this to the police.

A POPULAR plug-in hybrid car owned by thousands of drivers has been recalled amid safety issues.

The company has asked the owners of the motor “not to charge their cars” as it could kill the battery.

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A Ford Kuga Plug-in Hybrid parked on a street[/caption]

Ford has issued an urgent recall to pull back the popular Kuga plug-in hybrid car.

The motor giant said a problem with the vehicle’s battery pack could lead to a short circuit.

The firm has warned owners not to charge the car battery until the issue is resolved.

Drivers have been urged to use their cars in Auto EV mode to run on petrol power.

The issue affects every current-generation Ford Kuga plug-in hybrid with the 2.5-litre petrol engine, AutoExpress reports.

Ford has said that drivers will receive a “Stop Safely Now”message on their dashboards and a warning light on the driver’s display.

In the event of a short circuit, breaking and steering will remain unaffected – but the drivetrain could lose power.

It is understood that the company will try to resolve the issue by issuing a software update – and the remedy will be sorted free of charge for the owners.

A representative from Ford said: “Customers can always contact a customer relationship service if they have any further questions.”

It comes after Volkswagen recalled 177,493 crossover SUVs, including certain Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles over a fire risk.

The motors recalled range from model years 2024 to 2025 and may possibly have loose engine covers.

The engine cover may have been improperly installed after vehicle service, allowing it to come loose and contact hot engine surfaces, said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Officials warn a loose engine cover could potentially increase the risk of a fire.

Volkswagen dealers will remove the engine cover, free of charge, to remedy the issue, the NHTSA said.

It comes after another huge car name recalled 9,000 motors over fears they pose a fire risk.

Hyundai bosses are concerned that brake fluid could leak into the affected cars, potentially sparking engine fires.

The company is urging drivers to park vehicles in open spaces and away from flammable materials.

Meanwhile, five major carmakers are set to recall thousands of motors over safety fears relating to various faults with air bags and other components.

Drivers in the UK can find out if a manufacturer has recalled any vehicle, part, or accessory due to a serious safety problem by using the GOV.UK website.

An investigation last year revealed that vehicle recalls have surged over the past 30 years.

To that end, almost 1.2 million vehicles were recalled by the DVSA in the first eight months of 2024.

A RISE IN RECALLS

Newer figures show that nearly 250 car recalls were issued by the end of the year – affecting up to 2.3 million vehicles in total.

In contrast, 30 years previously in 1994, just 27 passenger car recalls were issued.

Cars make up the vast majority of UK vehicle recalls, although other vehicles, such as vans, trucks, buses, motorcycles, motorhomes, trailers, and even individual parts like seats, are also included.

CarVertical’s Matas Buzelis said: “As cars become increasingly modern and incorporate more electrical components, recalls are becoming more common.

“Fortunately, these issues are usually resolved during regular vehicle maintenance, causing minimal inconvenience to drivers.”

CarVertical claims that 3.1% of cars on the road are recalled at least once in the UK – the lowest recall rate among the 26 European countries analysed.

The highest recall rates were seen in Portugal, Greece, and Spain.

One of the biggest issues surrounding recalls arises when a vehicle is sold on and the owner’s records are not updated.

Manufacturers always contact owners to inform them of a recall, but this becomes difficult when car firms cannot track down the vehicle’s current keeper.

In the eyes of the law, it is the legal responsibility of vehicle owners to ensure their cars are safe to drive and do not have outstanding safety recall notices.