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People in the North of England are more likely to need painkillers – with Blackpool hardest-hit by chronic aches, new figures suggest. NHS data on GP prescriptions shows that 22 of the country's 106 Clinical Commissioning Groups spent more than £10 per patient on the drugs last year – all in the North. NHS data on GP prescriptions shows 22 of the country's 106 Clinical Commissioning Groups spent more than £10 per patient on painkillers last year – all in the North (stock image) By contrast, ten areas spent less than £5 on medication such as paracetamol, codeine and morphine, all in London and the South. Blackpool GP Dr Neil Hartley-Smith said deprivation in the area meant patients had long-term conditions and complex care needs.

A migrant mother has told how she and her two young children nearly drowned trying to reach the UK by boat – but she is still planning another perilous crossing. Joan, 32, revealed that she and her son Zanyar, ten, and daughter Sidra, nine, were among 33 would-be asylum-seekers who nearly died last week when their ramshackle vessel capsized at night after seven hours at sea. After they were rescued, French authorities put them up in a hotel for three days, before returning them to a squalid camp in Dunkirk where they are planning their next attempt. Speaking exclusively to The Mail on Sunday, the Kurdistani national said of the ill-fated journey: 'I felt that something bad would happen and I was very scared. Joan, 32, revealed that she and her son Zanyar, ten, and daughter Sidra, nine, were among 33 would-be asylum-seekers who nearly died last week when their vessel capsized at night 'The waves became bigger and then the engine failed. We were in the boat for about seven hours

Plans to electronically tag serious burglars, robbers and thieves will see just 1,500 crooks monitored – despite 1.5 million offences being recorded last year. The flagship scheme announced last week by Prime Minister Boris Johnson was heralded as a 'fresh commitment' to tackling crime. But The Mail on Sunday can reveal that it will apply to only a tiny fraction of offenders.  Government sources said the scheme would be a 'controlled study' across 19 of 43 police forces in England and Wales and apply to criminals sentenced to 12 months or longer. Plans to electronically tag serious burglars, robbers and thieves will see just 1,500 crooks monitored. The scheme announced last week by Prime Minister Boris Johnson John Apter, of the Police Federation, said: 'What is needed, more than knee-jerk plans or gimmicks, is long-term, centrally funded investment in policing and the wider criminal justice system, so that we can plan for the here and now and the future.'  Last

Boris  Johnson's attempt to privatise Channel 4 is being jeopardised by opposition from within the Civil Service, The Mail on Sunday understands. Senior mandarins have expressed 'serious reservations' about the plan, which comes after months of tensions between No 10 and the broadcaster over its funding model and allegedly woke agenda. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has concluded that the channel does not have a viable future in the face of the multi-billion budgets of the US streaming giants unless an 'alternative ownership model' is explored.  But No 10 has been told by the Cabinet Office that privatisation offers 'no value to the taxpayer'.  Boris Johnson's attempt to privatise Channel 4 is being jeopardised by opposition from within the Civil Service, as senior mandarins have expressed 'serious reservations' about the plan The station, launched in 1982, is a Government-owned but commercially funded public service broadcaster, with a remit to

Dozens of asylum seekers are being housed in a hotel in one of London's most upmarket postcodes. The Best Western Kensington Olympia, a short walk from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's residence Kensington Palace, has been closed to paying customers and is instead putting up 55 migrants – in some cases for up to nine months. The hotel is nestled in a corner of West London where three-bedroom flats sell for about £1.2 million. The Mail on Sunday watched on last week as a group of young men gathered outside the hotel casually chatting and smoking together. The Best Western Kensington Olympia has been closed to paying customers and is instead putting up 55 migrants – in some cases for up to nine months One strolled out of the building watching a video on an iPad. Inside, rooms are equipped with wi-fi, air conditioning and flat-screen TVs. Most of the residents said they did not understand or speak any English. One man named Mosin, 28, who said he was from Iran, told the MoS he

Tiffany Trump was spotted relaxing with her billionaire fiance Michael Boulos on the Greek island of Mykonos this weekend, as the loved up couple took a break from planning their 'international spectacle' of a wedding. The 27-year-old daughter of Donald Trump strolled across a beach with Michael to board a boat anchored in the clear blue Aegean Sea. Tiffany appeared to have taken inspiration from the island's history as she looked every inch the Greek goddess in a flowing pale blue dress, cinched in at the waist with a belt and with a daring thigh-high split.  She paired the dress with matching Dior accessories of bucket hat, sliders and a tote bag, which dangled from the arm of her fiancé, square sunglasses and some large, statement pieces of jewelry. On her ring finger, she flashed her large 13-carat diamond engagement ring which is estimated to be worth a staggering $1.2 million. The couple, who moved to Miami along with most of the Trump clan earlier this year, are said

A retired priest has been accused of assaulting a bible study student at his Bronx parish in the 1970s. A lawsuit was filed against Louis Gigante, brother of late mob boss Vincent Gigante, in May alleging he molested a nine-year-old boy at St. Athanasius Church in 1976-77. According to court documents obtained by the Daily News, Gigante forced the victim to 'endure prolific and profound abuse'. The suit, which does not name the victim, seeks unspecified damages from the church, as well as the Archdiocese of New York. Former St. Athanasius Church priest Louis Gigante  has been accused of assaulting a 9-year-old bible study student at his Bronx parish in the 1970s ' plaintiff would attend bible study at the church with Father Gigante and would find ways to get plaintiff alone ... and repeatedly performed oral sex on him,' the suit claims.  The complaint alleges that both the parish and Archdiocese 'knew or should have known that Father Gigante was sexually abusing ch

Police have been called to a 'serious incident' at a Welsh holiday park and warned people to 'stay away' after the 'tragic incident'. An air ambulance was rushed to the scene at Ty Mawr park in Towyn, north Wales on Saturday afternoon. The Parkdean resort was cordoned off as police carried out an investigation in the park. An air ambulance was rushed to the scene at Ty Mawr park in Towyn, north Wales on Saturday afternoon Police have been called to a 'serious incident' at a Welsh holiday park and warned people to 'stay away' after the 'tragic incident' North Wales Police said there is no threat to the wider public.  Social media images showed a caravan had been taped off by detectives.  Police said in a statement: 'Officers are attending a serious incident at a Holiday Park near Abergele. Investigations are ongoing. Apologies for any difficulty. 'There is no threat to the public but please stay away from the area whilst we deal

Wayne Rooney's neighbours have been given the green light to build an outbuilding to hold 1,000 sheep. After a year-long planning battle, the Brighouses - farmers who live next to the footballer's £20million Cheshire mansion - were given approval for agricultural livestock and produce stores to breed sheep.    The site borders the grounds of the six-bedroom luxury home the Derby County manager shares with wife Coleen, both 35, and their four sons. Wayne Rooney's neighbours have been given the green light to build an outbuilding to hold 1,000 sheep The site borders the grounds of the six-bedroom luxury home the Derby County manager shares with wife Coleen, both 35, and their four sons Plans submitted to Cheshire East Council show the farmers plan on keeping 1,000 Australian sheep next door this year. The expert sheep breeders use artificial insemination to genetically modify their flock, making them popular amongst farmers. There will be a dark-room laboratory next to the fo