Home   News   Article A reclusive home-owner ordered to clean up her “junkyard” front garden has insisted the mess is “no-one else's business” spoke out after neighbours complained about the “eyesore tip” in front of her Hunstanton home and West Norfolk Council officials issued her with an order to remove it The garden in front of the £250,000 bungalow is piled high with rubbish household appliances and bags of rubbish have been stacked up in front of the bungalow for months Mrs Cochrane said: "The world is going to hell in a handbasket and people care so much about my furniture on my own drive "I don't understand why people are so concerned." Ms Cochrane was wearing yellow wellington boots and a striped t-shirt as she began moving bags of rubbish around outside her home on Tuesday afternoon A Tesco trolley with recent food shopping sat outside the drive with Chestnut mushrooms dated April 30 and Tesco Finest Anchovies baking in the sun A white Nissan which was reportedly hit just a few weeks ago is parked by the kerb with its front left bumper hanging on and a human-sized stuffed toy in the passenger seat Mrs Cochrane added: "Does it look like I'm living my best life "I'm getting support but I'm a very private person and I don't want to talk about my medical history to strangers." Neighbours say the eyesore blights their homes in the cul-de-sac of neat bungalows near the seafront and is attracting vermin said: "How can the law of the land let someone live in such squalor and filth "I appreciate there are laws and regulations but some people seem to live above them "The street has been suffering with this on and off for ten years and in the last five weeks it’s gotten worse "It's a fire hazard and risk of health and safety We've heard of rats from there spreading across to other properties which has meant pest control have had to come out "The notice only concerns the front and side of the house - there's even more in the back garden." "There are children walking past and it could fall onto the pavement at any time If people want to sell their houses it's going to lower the price." If Ms Cochrane does not appeal the council notice by May 20 the borough council could carry out the work and then try to recover its costs The property was pristine in a photograph taken from Google in 2009 rubbish had started to accumulate around the house and the pile has grown since then One close neighbour who did not want to be named said: "She left another property on York Avenue after it was repossessed and the council put all her stuff there "She's got a dog and six cats - we called the RSPCA as they were living in squalor but as far as we know they're still there now "Nine years ago there was a fire and it caught onto our roof "We've seen there's even more in the garden cast iron - it would come up to your knees "The car out the front got hit three weeks ago Another neighbour of Chatsworth Road added: "I'd like to throw a molotov cocktail on it "People have tried to get lots of different agencies involved but nothing seems to happen "We only occasionally see her walk past to Tesco with a shopping trolley A borough council spokesman said: "We are aware of the issues raised and continue to work with all parties." Click here to read Your Local Paper & Lynn News e-editions This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Lifeboat crews rushed to check on a cruiser which was drifting at sea after running out of fuel - and had to tow it back to Lynn Volunteers from Hunstanton RNLI were already on board the Spirit of West Norfolk lifeboat when they were tasked by HM Coastguard at around 7pm last Wednesday They made their way ten miles or so across The Wash before locating the 32ft craft near the River Nene outfall at Sutton Bridge had set off from Lynn and had been making for Boston before getting into difficulty the crew decided that with the vessel out of fuel and drifting those on board were at risk and the safest option was to tow it back to Lynn After doing so and meeting Hunstanton Coastguard to hand over the vessel and its uninjured crew they then returned to their station shortly before midnight it was washed down and refuelled before being placed back on service A Hunstanton resident has been ordered to clean up piles of furniture and rubbish left outside her house after neighbours had to see the untidy outlook for six years has been ordered to clean up the “eyesore” outside her Chatsworth Road property by West Norfolk Council It comes after a long battle with other residents who live on the quiet road of predominantly bungalows with neat front gardens The mess has escalated even further since images were first shared with the Lynn News last year bags of rubbish and appliances are now spilling out from the driveway onto the pavement has vocalised her concerns repeatedly at Hunstanton Town Council meetings on behalf of residents living nearby She has reported that rats had become attracted to the rubbish left outside and had been frustrated with West Norfolk Council about the lack of action the authority has ordered that Ms Cochrane remove the mess from the front and side of her property The order doesn’t impact the back of the property which is visible to Ms Edmunds and other surrounding properties Ms Edmunds has said the mess first began piling up around six years ago “It’s been frustrating and annoying waiting on this outcome,” she said “I didn’t spend £1,000 last Easter on a fence to hide the view at the back of my garden to see mess going over it “This is not a vendetta against her [Ms Cochrane] “We shouldn’t be living like that in this day and age.” Ms Cochane now has until May 20 to appeal the decision Hunstanton writer John Maiden discusses changes he’s noticed at the town’s beach recently… John Masefield summed up my feelings for Hunstanton and the North Norfolk coast in his poem entitled 'Sea Fever' when he wrote: "I must go down to the sea again One of my earliest memories is of being on a walk with my family beyond the lighthouse and seeing just how dangerous the sea can look when backed up by a northerly wind Fast forward to when I was nearly 17 and my decision to give up working at James Lambert & Sons which was only a few yards down Westgate from the family home at Portland House The intention was to enrol on a 12-week course at a Merchant Navy training college near Bristol it reminded me too much of the five terms I had spent at Wymondham College but I was prepared to stick it out if it prepared me for a life at sea my intake was given the chance to give it up if we had any doubts The chap next to me in the line-up was a 'Teddy Boy' from Liverpool who used to carry a cosh so when he decided to head for home along with a handful of other landlubbers I jumped ship with them and set a course for home I made my first excursion across to the North Sea for a winter sports holiday in Norway which made me very glad that I was a passenger rather than a member of the crew The reason I could afford such a super break was because I had been employed as a teaboy the contractors appointed to construct the new north promenade and sea wall in 1955-56 all I have to do is take a 10-minute stroll from the Redgate Estate to the promenade that I helped to build back in the 1950s while praying there is not too much raw sewage in each helping If the tide is far enough away from the sea wall I can see how much beach has disappeared since my last visit To support my claim that the removal of groynes is doing nothing to reduce the loss of sand our daughter Caroline Allan was kept busy taking photos on her mobile phone If by chance she managed to catch a shot of me I want to make it clear that I was clad in leisure wear With regard to my flippant remark about raw sewage finding its way into the sea for supporting the campaign to bring responsibility for water back into public ownership Privatisation has not been good for our health Hunstanton is predominantly a two-ball course but fourballs are permitted on Tuesdays from 9am and after 1pm on Sundays in summer Visitors are restricted until after 2pm on Saturdays Information on the club website reads - For the course: \"Please wear smart golfing attire at all times Shorts with patch pockets or cargo style trousers/shorts are not considered to be smart golfing attire Gentlemen are asked to wear shirts that are tucked in.\" \"You are asked to wear smart casual wear throughout the Clubhouse with the exception of when jacket and tie for men and equivalent smartness for ladies is expressly required Jeans may be worn as long as these are smart with no rips Golf shoes and wet weather clothing are not permitted in the lounge areas Footwear must be worn throughout the Clubhouse.\" ranked 70th in our Top 100 UK&I course rankings in association with Peter Millar is a classic out and back links where wind is always a factor and the scenery is stunning https://www.hunstantongolfclub.com Visitors: Predominantly a two-ball course but fourballs are permitted on Tuesdays from 9am and after 1pm on Sundays in summer Visitors restricted until after 2pm on Saturdays Out and back links with some great and memorable holes You get a great feel for what lies in store from the clubhouse and it doesn’t disappoint The sand dunes and bunkering are prominent and frame a lot of the holes the views are delightful from most of the course but the best view is the one from the clubhouse balcony which is the perfect setting for a post round beer – Very welcoming with an excellent clubhouse UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2025/26 - 70 Hunstanton is a wonderful and challenging links course. At 6,741 yards, it’s a stern test, particularly when the wind is up, and it is very high in the list of the best golf courses in Norfolk with the holes largely played on either side of a sand dune ridge running down the middle of the layout The 10th green is the furthest point on the course before you turn for home I always find the conditioning of the course to be amazing and sand dunes are a real feature on most holes If you find them you’ll be forced to take your medicine and get it back in play There are some quite big elevation changes particularly the 6th which plays uphill and the long blind par 3 14th which plays over a ridge and then straight downhill the end of the front nine delivers some of the best holes The stunning par-3 7th is played to a green nestling in the dunes The 8th and 9th are great risk and reward par-5s The former features a ditch cleverly placed at the distance the longest drives might run out to while the 9th is played into the prevailing wind Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts Depending on the direction of the breeze – one of these two holes should be reachable in two There are strong holes on the run for home but surely the most famous is the well-bunkered par-3 16th It was here in the Eastern Counties Foursomes of 1974 that Leicestershire County player Bob Taylor scored three holes-in-one on the same hole on three consecutive days and a 6-iron for the other two says something about the impact the wind can have on a round at Hunstanton James HollandGolf Monthly Top 100 PanellistA wonderful out and back links Fantastic variety of holes but all keeping within the same style The par 3 14th is a poor hole and if redesigned (which would be easily done just with a new tee) I’ve gone from liking it to absolutely loving it Richard HealyGolf Monthly Top 100 PanellistAn intriguing old school style course make sure you practice your bunker skills in case you have one of those days Greens and approaches are well presented and in great condition Tim GormanGolf Monthly Top 100 PanellistA delightful golf course Enjoyable from the moment you arrive until you reluctantly depart Processions of (mainly dog) walkers crossing at 1st/18th and 8th /9th can be a little irritating Courses like this fabulous old links give the North Norfolk coast huge appeal unique setting on a spit of land between dunes and marsh meaning that the height of the tide can have a bearing on how certain holes play Sandwiched between the North Sea and the North Norfolk Railway it was at Sheringham in 1920 that Joyce Wethered won her first English Ladies title aged just 18 Renowned writer Bernard Darwin remarked that Sheringham calls for “Some of the very stoutest hitting with the brassey that there has ever been required of us.” For more information on the best courses near Hunstanton, check out our guide to the best golf courses in Norfolk very stylish and just 500 yards from the golf course With grounds that stretch down to the seashore and of the finest beaches in Norfolk the Old Hunstanton Le Strange Arms Hotel offers old world charm and personal service Information on the club website reads - For the course: "Please wear smart golfing attire at all times Gentlemen are asked to wear shirts that are tucked in." "You are asked to wear smart casual wear throughout the Clubhouse with the exception of when jacket and tie for men and equivalent smartness for ladies is expressly required Footwear must be worn throughout the Clubhouse." golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin you will then be prompted to enter your display name Police have launched an investigation after a woman and her pet were attacked by a “large” dog in Hunstanton the woman was walking her own dog along Cliff Parade - near Lincoln Square - when another dog approached them “The victim suffered a bite to her leg and the victim’s dog suffered a bite to the stomach requiring vet treatment,” a police spokesperson said “The offending dog is described as a large Officers were quickly made aware of the incident Anyone who may have seen the incident has been asked to contact the police on 101 quoting crime reference 36/23012/25 or by emailing James.Lovelock@norfolk.police.uk Flood and precautionary evacuation warnings for parts of West Norfolk were removed late on Sunday night in the wake of rising tides Warnings were issued earlier in the day for high tides expected around 10pm for Lynn Potential precautionary notices to leave properties were issued at the time for Heacham Hunstanton and Snettisham seafronts by the Environment Agency Dersingham and Wolferton were also advised that their areas might be at risk The agency said high tides and a tidal surge resulted in higher levels than usual between 7.45pm and 9.45pm Areas most at risk in Hunstanton were South Beach Road Jubilee Road and South Beach; and in Snettisham properties in front of the flood defences and along the seafront Some people gathered along the seafront at Hunstanton to watch as the tide reached the prom Sea water did get very close to some properties further along the coast At Burnham Overy one car was partially submerged in a flooded parking area Flood gates in the affected areas were closed People took to social media to keep others up to date with the situation Some said there was nothing ‘thankfully’ in Heacham while there were reports of waves crashing on to the promenade at Hunstanton leaving behind stones but no breaches of sea gates or flood defences Pictures captured by The Drone Guy UK on Sunday showed the high levels of water at Hunstanton with some spray spilling over onto the promenade Hunstanton writer John Maiden discusses local authors I had the pleasure of reading a book by Peter B Gunn entitled 'Sculthorpe Secrecy and Stealth - A Norfolk Airfield in the Cold War' this book included details of the close connections between RAF Sculthorpe and my home town which rejoiced in the name of Little America throughout the 1950s I have just started reading Peter's latest book which has more pages but a slightly shorter title: 'Aviation Landmarks Norfolk and Suffolk' There are delightful illustrations throughout I will save the front cover for another day but with particular relevance to Hunstanton Peter has sent me a photo from inside and on the back cover which shows Hawker Hinds or Harts from RAF Bircham Newton flying over Hunstanton Pier in 1936 three years before fire destroyed the pavilion at the seaward end The aircraft were from Number 18(B) Squadron but I very much doubt if they would have been featured on the aircraft recognition charts with which I was familiar during my time in the Royal Observer Corps during the mid-1950s I did my observing from Hunstanton lighthouse the observers became more concerned with checking radiation levels to find out if it would be safe to leave their underground bunkers in the aftermath of a nuclear attack or accident Whether or not Mr Trump is making such tragic events more or less likely remains to be seen but I will definitely have more to say on Peter's excellent book when I have studied more of its 336 pages I must say how pleased I am to learn that the thousands of us who objected to plans for two mega farms in West Norfolk seem to have been successful The Cranswick application has been refused by the planning committee but experience makes me think this will not be the last we hear of mega farms Another petition that I signed recently was triggered by the cruel death of an elderly horse which was forced to compete in the Grand National race by its heartless rider Perhaps it is natural to think of death at Easter which also reminds us that death could mark the beginning of a new life Perhaps this is what inspires the helpless victims of the relentless war on Gaza or the brave people of Ukraine who defend their country because they cannot face the prospect of becoming part of Putin's Russia As if war was not enough to make us think about death We can explain wildfires and the increasing number and intensity of storms caused by man-made climate change even the most devout believer must question whether or not God is almighty Perhaps I am not believing at the same level as my ancestors who built churches and cathedrals but more like my father who fed his family with vegetables from an allotment which was situated on land that is now our back garden He never missed Sunday mass at the RC church of Our Lady & St Edmund as well as being my next stop on the way from here to eternity It was supposed to be a dream family home along ‘Millionaires’ Row’ the man behind a controversial home plan on Wodehouse Road in Old Hunstanton it has become a frustrating folly that has led to a simmering row between neighbours and the local council After being threatened with having to rebuild parts of his newly-constructed home, he has attacked his critics, saying the situation has been “blown out of proportion” and he feels there has been a “bizarre amount of interest” in the property He has spoken out after West Norfolk Council’s planning committee refused a retrospective application that sought to gain approval for his completed three-storey home Nearby residents had lodged numerous complaints with the authority claiming it had been built bigger than the original application had outlined Mr Middleton – an investment manager from Lincolnshire – believes the council’s decision was down to a small minority of villagers making a “nuisance” The issue has became so controversial in the street – which is named after PG Wodehouse and is known as Millionaires’ Row for the number of large homes – that it even led to the parish council issuing a statement after being bombarded with “abusive” phone calls from people angry about the situation Some opponents of the scheme have also accused borough council officers of acting fraudulently over their handling of the planning procedure Mr Middleton’s family had hoped to move to the village from neighbouring Lincolnshire in order to be closer to relatives He said his love for the area had grown from annual visits in the summer holidays people complained to the council it had been built differently from the agreed plans Their objections included the construction of a basement room as well as the realignment of the outdoor staircase and balcony They also claimed the ground level had been built up higher than proposed This led to the retrospective application being submitted to the borough council to gain permission for the changes But it was refused by councillors on the grounds that the neighbouring home was being overlooked and overshadowed Residents have also complained that it was initially meant to be a two-storey home but now has an extra level both the council and Mr Middleton insist it was always proposed to be three-storey Mr Middleton believes the complaints have come from a small number of people with one couple in the village submitting multiple objections to the council about the home “There has been a lot of noise from a small minority,” he said “It is upsetting - this is the last thing we wanted We want to be part of the community in the village “We feel there has been a bizarre amount of interest in what is a neighbour dispute that has been blown out of proportion.” Mr Middleton has questioned why the two main objectors They live on a different street to Mr Middleton and are relative newcomers to the village He insists he has developed a good relationship with people next door and they have been working together to find compromises during the building process have said Ms Erkersall and Mr Oldham have spoken on their behalf One of the neighbours said: “Our privacy has been violated You can’t let people get away with building whatever they want.” He has signalled he may appeal to the Planning Inspectorate – the Government department which presides over planning disputes – following his application’s refusal “I feel the planning committee did not fully understand the situation,” he added “A site visit would have been a good outcome A furious row over a ‘grand design’ home that was built bigger than planned has escalated after neighbours accused the council of acting fraudulently They have reported West Norfolk Council’s planning department to a fraud helpline as part of a dispute over the three-storey property on Wodehouse Road an exclusive street in Old Hunstanton known as Millionaire’s Row The street is named after author PG Wodehouse a frequent visitor to the village and who drew inspiration from its leafy surroundings for his Jeeves and Wooster series Neighbours say the new build has broken planning rules because it is vastly different from the original application which was approved by councillors – with an extra storey on top And they claim the council itself has acted fraudulently by misrepresenting the original plans and insisting the extra floor was always supposed to be there The fraud probe has been revealed as councillors met to decide what action to take over the property It follows homeowner Henry Middleton making a retrospective application to West Norfolk Council in the hope of gaining approval for the design of the house after it was built differently to the approved plans He claims there have only been “small alterations” to the original application the ongoing saga has caused uproar in the community and has led to councillors and officers being bombarded with abusive phone calls from angry neighbours complaining the property is too big which has passed the case on to the National Fraud and Intelligence Bureau West Norfolk Council’s monitoring officer has refuted any suggestion of fraud saying the dispute revolves around the interpretation of the previously approved planning application councillors met this week to decide the fate of the home The issue of fraud was again raised at the planning committee meeting by Patricia Eckersall who highlighted that multiple previous council reports described it as a two-storey property Tensions are running so high in the village that it prompted councillor Tom de Winton to attack the behaviour of both the applicant and villagers at the meeting He said: “People have been rude and disrespectful to the council there continued to be confusion as to the manner in which the home had been built differently Officers explained that a staircase leading to the first-floor balcony had been built two metres away from where it was originally approved Some areas of land had also been raised by 50cm The changes led to concerns that neighbours are overlooked and overshadowed by the property It was proposed that foliage could be planted to create privacy but this move was dismissed by councillor Vivienne Spikings She said: “To try and remedy this with a green fence is poor planning Councillor Martin Storey added that there were about 21 differences to the original plans “We do not want to be taken for a ride,” he said councillors voted to refuse the application This means enforcement officers will now investigate what action to take This could include the homeowner being forced to rebuild the home as per the approved plans Mr Middleton may also choose to appeal against the decision which would then mean the Planning Inspectorate – the government department that presides over planning disputes – would make a judgement called for the home to be built to the original plans and welcomed any challenge to their decision “I do not want to see any wriggle room on this,” he said “I would be more than pleased to write a letter to the inspector.” For best viewing experience of this website Please enter a place name in the search bar After provisionally the warmest May Day on record in the UK higher than average temperatures will subside over the weekend Environment Agency Updated: 06:49 (UTC+1) on Tue 6 May 2025 cloud will increase from off the North Sea to bring a few light showers during the day Some bright or sunny spells developing by late-afternoon Staying dry with some lengthy clear skies overnight Turning chilly with a touch of grass frost in places Largely dry with variable amounts of cloud and bright or sunny spells on Wednesday with variable amounts of cloud and bright or sunny spells throughout the period Dry across the vast majority of the UK with clear or sunny spells but also some patchy cloud Cloud will likely thicken across the far north and northwest during the weekend with some outbreaks of rain for a time There is also a small risk of some heavy showers in the far south or southwest high pressure will be dominant across the UK This will bring predominantly fine and dry weather for the majority of places Temperatures are likely to be slightly above normal for the time of year although there is a chance of some cold nights Fairly typical weather for the time of year is most likely through this period fine and dry weather is more likely to dominate although this will be interspersed with occasional spells of rain and showers with a risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms in places temperatures will most likely be near to or slightly above average The Environment Agency has warned residents to expect flooding in Heacham and it says evacuation warnings may follow Dersingham and Wolferton and also being advised that their areas may be at risk The Agency says that high spring tides and a tidal surge will result in higher tide levels than usual between 7.45pm and 9.45pm People are being warned to take care on beaches Areas most at risk in Hunstanton are South Beach Road properties in front of the flood defences and along the sea front Flood gates in the affected areas will be closed Flooding but not evacuation is possible along the coast from Heacham to north of Lynn Tomorrow’s tide at 8.45am is currently forecast to be below the alert threshold The Envionment Agency says residents in the affected areas of Heacham Move to higher ground or the upper floor of a building; electricity and water in your home if it’s safe; Hunstanton writer John Maiden asks where the rock seaweed has gone… When I was in my last year at Wymondham College I made an important discovery I cannot remember if my grammar school course had a teacher in charge of careers advice I was carrying a pile of geography books across the playground for the headmistress when she asked me what I wanted to do after leaving school Ideas about becoming an actor or a private detective flashed through my mind I heard myself saying 'journalist' instead Her response was to ask me which I preferred best: "People or things?" It was only later that I realised this was the 'logic of false opposites' so I played safe at the time and replied: "Things." This prompted her to inform me that I had better not go in for a career in journalism because this would involve people rather than things This could explain why I embarked on a career in education and only became a Lynn News columnist when I had 'almost' got teaching and lecturing out of my system I am always on the lookout for the logic of false opposites and very recently it did not take me long to identify one It was when I read the excuses put forward for the destruction of ancient woodland as a price worth paying for a state-of-the-art new hospital I will admit that destroying ancient woodland to make way for a new hospital has slightly more merit than would be the case for a 3.9 mile stretch of dual carriageway - the so-called Western Link Road this side of Norwich it beggars belief to suggest that the sacrifice of a group of ancient trees can be justified on this occasion was constructed without the removal of these splendid trees Before the chainsaws and diggers are given licence to destroy nature surely the planners can come up with a site plan that embraces the natural world which is probably the best medication for those attending or staying in hospital I know how post-operative recovery - at Stow near Downham in 1969 and at Hunstanton in 1979 - was made more effective by the natural surroundings in both locations Perhaps a new QEII - or even a KCIII - should really be built in close proximity to the Sandingham Estate This would certainly reduce travelling time for patients from the coastal section of the hospital's catchment area because there are times when traffic from Knights Hill to the hospital can be very slow-moving indeed Readers with long memories might remember how pleased I was in March this year when I bought a Carousel Calendar for East Anglia This was not just because it was reduced in price to only £2 but more significantly it contained a photo of Hunstanton cliffs for November I am more determined than ever to find out why the rocks on our spectacular beach have become almost completely devoid of the green seaweed which has adorned them for as long as I can remember As a first step towards finding out why our rocks have gone bald I picked up the phone and spoke to Dr Adele Powell who is the marine & coastal designations team leader for The Wash & North Norfolk Coast Marine Protected Area Hunstanton rocks will now be on the agenda for a meeting later this month This reminds me that last month I was informed by a Hunstanton resident that he could no longer take a jam jar full of cockles from the beach This instruction came from someone who harvests cockles as a business which leaves me wondering what the legal situation is when it comes to such incidents I was never tempted to eat shellfish of any sort due to pollution inflicted on The Wash by the discharge of sewage and the run-off of agricultural chemicals into its tidal waters What a fabulous day for an Easter parkrun - there was an above average attendance of 204 runners We even had a guest appearance from the Easter Bunny himself (it was definitely him as well as he knew where the Easter eggs were being hidden - he brought the magic to life) (Thank you!) Sadly the legendary Sir Mo Farrah wasn't in attendance today for those eagle eyed data loving stat crunching participants among us that spotted Sir Mo's name Today we ran the summer course starting by the Salad Bowl café and toilets on the green It's a 3.5 lap route on the grass running towards the lighthouse and back again We had tourists from as far away as Edinburgh And the welcome briefing we all warmly clapped the volunteers Please consider popping your name down to help out the amazing team who make parkrun possible There are multiple positions available and some you can still do and run as well We welcomed all the first timers - there were 10 brand new parkrunners today Dave Richmond was today's most experienced parkrunner smashing out an awesome 397 runs - wowsers Brodie Butts managed to earn his red top today completing his 50th parkrun - congratulations Martin Crowe and Nancy Waldron both did their 150th Today's fastest runner was the awesome Jack Noble who smashed out a PB and got a fantastic time of 18:14 Our first lady today was the remarkable Corrine Toyn who got a great time of 23:18 Today's higest age graded percentage participant was Andy Starr who got a whopping 76.61% 5k is still 5k no matter how quickly you complete it in.5k your way Next week please invite your walker friends to participate to see if we can get everyone involved and show them that it really is for everyone © parkrun Limited (Company Number: 07289574) No part of this site may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner but I quite enjoy a cold winter walk along the beach to blow the cobwebs away So when my partner Tom and I decided to have a lengthy stroll in Hunstanton on a Saturday we wanted to fuel ourselves before taking to the beach I’ve been eyeing up the Norfolk Deli Cafe on the town’s high street each time I’ve visited recently Its eye-catching yellow front enticed me to see what they have to offer This is a great alternative place to eat if you’re visiting the seaside town but don’t fancy fish and chips - as the Norfolk Deli Cafe offers a huge variety of light bites We helped ourselves to a table in the small and cosy cafe the place was full to the brim - which I take as a promising sign The Norfolk Deli Cafe has a great selection of sandwiches The cafe also utilises its location and offers a lot of seafood options I had a flat white coffee with oat milk (£3.50 with an extra 50p for oat milk) which was strong and creamy Tom decided to try one of the many special winter hot chocolate options available and went for a Biscoff hot chocolate which came with cream and marshmallows (£3.95) He said it was really creamy and delicious I was really pleased to see how many vegan options I could choose from I definitely want to go back to the cafe one day to try its vegan platter The toastie was delicious and full of flavour and kept me full Tom went for the tuna mayo sandwich (£7) which came with the same accompaniments as mine I think this cafe has a great menu and is a fantastic place for a spot of lunch which is pretty reasonable for a filling lunch and two drinks the staff were so lovely - and especially kind and understanding when I clumsily spilt my coffee everywhere Drink: Nice spot for a warm coffee or hot chocolate this winter Staff: Kind and lovely staff who made me feel less embarrassed after spilling my drink Decor: A modern flower wall and comfy seats bring this cafe into the 21st century An article in 'Your Local Paper' on December 11 about a forthcoming litter pick and clean up at Old Hunstanton beach in the morning of December 29 reminded me of the days when I would involve my Animal Care students in this type of activity The aim being to make the coast safer for both people and wildlife My guess is that the amount of litter collected in 2024 is greater than it was in my days as a lecturer at the College of West Anglia in the late 1990s This was certainly the impression I had when a small group of 'Night Owls' from the USAF 67th Special Operations Squadron to conduct a litter pick on the beach from the fun fair to The Green life would be a lot easier for people and wildlife if rubbish was not discarded on beaches or dumped in rivers and seas proclaims that even the longest journey begins with a single step so I decided to look on the shelves of just one supermarket in Hunstanton in order to discover signs that 'every little' really can help even when it comes to cutting down on pollution After looking through the small print on containers of the detergent to put in washing machines I was unable to find any references to the contents not being tested on animals normally thought of as the place where certain publications are kept beyond the reach of children old age has not shrunk my body to the point where the top shelf is out of bounds for me because it was here that I discovered traces of the small steps being taken by two brands deserving of a mention as you might expect from its name: 'Ecover' - vegan friendly and not tested on animals The other one was new to me but seemed to qualify as one of those important first steps on the long journey towards a better world for people and wildlife It is called 'Ocean Saver' and consists of 34 non-bio laundry detergent ecocaps It is made in the EU for Ocean Saver of Leeds It is important to remember that larger stores probably stock a wider range of environmentally-friendly detergents Even without venturing forth as far as Lynn the Co-op stores in Snettisham and Dersingham stock a wide range of own-brand items including several laundry and household cleaners that are vegan and not tested on animals when my recent shopping spree had been completed it became apparent that the TV Choice I had picked up was the one covering both Christmas and the new year Sure enough there are several old films that I will probably watch again Without wishing to sound anything like a TV critic there is one movie in particular that I plan to watch for a second time It is entitled: 'Green Book' and was made as recently as 2018 but is set in the southern states of the USA in the 1960s it is scheduled to be shown rather late at night on BBC2 from 12.10am for two hours Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.