Paul Barltrop

1 month ago | msn.com | Paul Barltrop |Leigh Boobyer

1 month ago | yahoo.com | Paul Barltrop |Leigh Boobyer

A trial to encourage more children to brush their teeth while under supervision at school is being rolled out across the country. Children between the ages of three and five in the most deprived areas of England will be shown how to brush their teeth daily in a bid to prevent tooth decay. Supervised toothbrushing began as part of the trial in the south west of England in 2023 and it has been heralded as a trailblazer by the government.

2 months ago | msn.com | Paul Barltrop |Dan Ayers

2 months ago | aol.com | Paul Barltrop |Dan Ayers

Farmers in Somerset say they have seen a huge increase in thefts with trucks, trailers and machinery being stolen. Insurers NFU Mutual said their latest figures suggested there was a 42% increase in the south west in 2023. Richard Wilcox, a farmer in Somerset, said: "I've had three quad bikes stolen over the years and I'm not alone.”Avon and Somerset Police said it was working hard to tackle rural crime but admitted resources were "stretched".

2 months ago | yahoo.com | Paul Barltrop |Maisie Lillywhite |Edward Rowe

More than 70 tractors drove in convoy around Gloucestershire earlier to protest against inheritance tax changes. In October, the government announced it would charge a 20% inheritance tax on agricultural assets worth more than £1m for the first time, although the threshold for some farmers to pay will be £3m. The change has sparked fierce opposition from farmers, who say it will "ruin" farms and push food prices up.