A distraught family has been left £107,000 out of pocket after a building company went bust and left their home uninhabitable.

Danielle and Andrew Duffy, from Rochdale, agreed to pay £71,000 for a double-storey extension to their £110,000 three-bedroom property but have been left with a wreck. 

They handed over £62,000 for the work to be carried out only to receive an email from building firm Nuera Construction Ltd stating it had gone into administration.

Now they have been told it will cost a further £45,000 to complete the extension, which is money they do not have. Mrs Duffy claims that building firm boss Michael Ashley Wood is now no longer contactable.

The 37-year-old mother said: ‘He has absolutely destroyed us both financially and mentally. He has taken every penny that we own from us.

‘We had been saving for five years to help pay for the work to be done. We have had to scrimp and scrape and missed out on holidays to help pay for this.

Danielle and Andrew Duffy, from Rochdale, pictured alongside their three children

The distraught family has been left £107,000 out of pocket after a building company went bust

After handing over £62,000 for the work to be carried out, building firm Nuera Construction Ltd stated it had gone into administration

Danielle Duffy, pictured outside the front of their wrecked home, said her family has been ‘absolutely destroyed both financially and mentally’

‘We managed to save £15,000 and then remortgaged the house for the remainder.

‘We have not lived in our house for over a year now. Fortunately, my mother-in-law let us have her home, while she lived elsewhere but it was only supposed to be for a maximum of 16 weeks.

‘She has been brilliant but, obviously, wants to move back home. It has been a nightmare for everyone.’

The family decided on the extension to add a fourth bedroom so daughters Chloe, 14, and Sophie, 13, could have their own bedrooms.

‘My eldest daughter is autistic, and her sister is suspected of having autism and ADHD, so we decided to extend so they could have their own space,’ explained Mrs Duffy.

The extension also included relocating the bathroom and increasing the size of the kitchen.

The couple, who have a son Lewis, nine, moved out of their house in March 2023 for the work to begin but have not returned since.

Mrs Duffy, who works as a lunch lady at a school, added: ‘We have been quoted £45,000 to complete the work.

‘I just don’t know how we are going to pay for it. We don’t have that kind of money. 

Mrs Duffy said her semi-detached home was left exposed to the elements for five months

The interior of the house, including the internal renovations, has been left ‘completely ruined’ Mrs Duffy said

A look at some of the possessions which were left behind in their family home

After building firm boss Michael Ashley Wood failed to show up and made excuses, the house has been left a wreck outside and inside

An aerial view of the Duffy’s family home which they paid £62,000 to get renovated

The family have been told it will cost a further £45,000 to complete the extension

Mrs Duffy said her eldest daughter, who has autism, has ‘blamed herself’ and cries herself to sleep every night

Danielle and husband Andrew said they had been saving for five years to pay for the renovations 

‘We have already remortgaged the house for the initial extension and are paying for that.

‘I am so embarrassed. I have never asked for financial help in my life. Everything we have, we have worked hard for. 

‘We work to provide a decent life for our children, and Michael Wood has destroyed this.’

She added: ‘I have my eldest daughter blaming herself for what has happened. She told me that if she didn’t have autism, we wouldn’t have had the work done and wouldn’t be in this mess.

‘That is heart-breaking. She cries herself to sleep at night.’

Danielle and warehouseman Andrew, 38, said they found Rossendale-based Nuera Construction Ltd on several trade websites and opted for the firm after boss Michael visited their home.

Mrs Duffy said: ‘We contacted a few businesses and he seemed to be the most interested and thorough. 

‘He appeared to be the most knowledgeable and he inspected the whole house. He really seemed to know his stuff.’

The couple signed a contract and work began in March last year, but while everything was fine at first, they claimed he started not turning up and making excuses that he was waiting for materials or the subcontractors had let him down.

She added: ‘We were constantly chasing him but because we weren’t living there, we didn’t keep a close enough check on the progress. 

‘He told us not to worry because he would oversee everything.

‘In hindsight, we should have we shouldn’t have kept paying him, but we had a contract, we thought everything would be okay and we were desperate to get in finished so we could move back in. Naively, we trusted him.’

Mrs Duffy also said because her semi-detached home was left exposed to the elements for five months, their furniture, possessions and internal renovation work are all ruined.

A Nuera Construction LTD representative told MailOnline: ‘To date the value of works completed at the Duffy residence totals a value of £59,600. 

‘There is also a balance remaining on the total invoice generated of approximately £5,000 which is able to contribute to the majority of remaining works to their project.

‘Nuera Construction LTD was forced into the liquidation process in Late November 2023 due to a commercial contract failing to pay a substantial balance owed.

‘Nuera sympathise with the situation and has ensured any materials stored with ourselves have been returned and will continue to assist the Duffys where possible.

Nuera will not be providing any refunds as although the works were unable to be finished as intended, they have had the value in works of paid balances and the finishing cost is actually greater than originally quoted due to amendments and unforeseen works throughout the project. 

‘That said, Nuera is actively seeking potential avenues of compensation to help towards the completion under the circumstances.’

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help raise money to renovate the Duffy family’s home: https://gofund.me/a5293d04

Unfortunately, good news for the MonsterVerse is bad news for the ‘BusterVerse. Last week’s big new release “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” debuted to roughly the same numbers as 2021’s “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” but going up against “Godzilla x Kong” in its second weekend was always a bad idea. Both are PG-13 genre films targeting a broad demographic, from preteens to grown-ups, with an emphasis on fun and spectacle and monsters. They’re just too similar, and while “The New Empire” may have lost a few ticket sales to the competition, it’s “Frozen Empire” that’s really been flattened.

Per Deadline, “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” is expected to gross just $15.5 million in its second weekend at the domestic box office, a steep 66% drop from its $45 million opening. It’s not really possible to make a fair comparison with “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” whose second weekend was over the lucrative Thanksgiving window, but “Frozen Empire” is falling behind. After the first 10 days in its domestic theatrical run, the last “Ghostbusters” movie had grossed $87.5 million; “Frozen Empire” is on track to end its first 10 days with $73.2 million.

At this point it seems unlikely that “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” will break even at the box office, but it’s not a total disaster. Just a sign, perhaps, that the franchise has hit a wall.

• The Met Office said more rain was forecast over the bank holiday weekend 
• Environment Agency set 17 warnings for floods in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire
• It also issued 132 flood alerts across southern England 

By Lettice Bromovsky

Published: 12:34 EDT, 30 March 2024 | Updated: 12:37 EDT, 30 March 2024

Heavy rain over recent days has led to Easter events being hit with flooding , as meteorologists expect it will only get wetter on Monday.

The Met Office said more rain was forecast over the bank holiday weekend, with travel disruption likely as a band of heavy rain moves across England and Wales on Monday.

Worcestershire County Cricket Club’s grounds were completely covered in water on Saturday, while horse-racing at Musselburgh Racecourse near Edinburgh was rained off due to a waterlogged track.

The Environment Agency issued 17 warnings for expected flooding across parts of Wiltshire and Gloucestershire on Saturday morning.

Worcestershire County Cricket Club’s grounds were completely covered in water on Saturday. The Met Office said more rain was forecast over the bank holiday weekend, with travel disruption likely

Static caravans under water in Kempsey, Worcester after the River Severn burst it’s banks. The Environment Agency issued 17 warnings for expected flooding across parts of Wiltshire and Gloucestershire on Saturday morning

It also issued 132 flood alerts across southern England, which means flooding is possible in those areas, after several days of heavy rainfall across the UK.

Craig Snell, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: ‘For England and Wales, generally today’s the best for the sunshine.

‘Tomorrow, if you’re up early enough, it’s not going to be a bad start but it starts to go a bit downhill as we go from the afternoon onwards, and Monday certainly looks very wet in places.’

The worst of the rain will be felt from Yorkshire southwards and the Met Office said they are watching to see if weather warnings need to be issued, Mr Snell said.

An area of cloud in the North Sea will spill over into England and Wales on Easter Sunday, leading to grey conditions and spots of rain.

A band of heavy rain will then move across England and Wales in the early hours of Monday and stay throughout the day.

Scotland and Northern Ireland will hold on to brighter spells across both of the days.

Static caravans under water in Kempsey, Worcester. It also issued 132 flood alerts across southern England, which means flooding is possible in those areas, after several days of heavy rainfall across the UK

A field in Worcester underwater. The worst of the rain will be felt from Yorkshire southwards and the Met Office said they are watching to see if weather warnings need to be issued

Mr Snell added: ‘If anyone’s doing any travelling on Monday, maybe allow some extra time for journeys because regardless of whether or not we have any warnings out there, there’ll be some fairly poor travelling conditions at times.’

Musselburgh’s premier race meeting, due to feature the £100,000 Virgin Bet Queen’s Cup, was abandoned due to a waterlogged track.

The course’s general manager Bill Farnsworth said on social media: ‘Unfortunately racing today has been abandoned. We had 15mm of rain yesterday and we had a further just over 3mm this morning.

‘The ground is very wet, it has been an incredibly wet winter.

‘Normally Musselburgh would take this rain no problem but just because it is so wet and the water table is very high it hasn’t taken it so well and the ground is saturated in places.’

The day of racing was due to include family events including the annual corgi derby featuring racing dogs, but this was also called off.

There’s no place like home – especially when you’re Judy Garland.

Fans of the late Wizard of Oz actress will love to know that her house is actually up for sale – and it’s definitely not in Kansas.

Found in LA’s prestigious Bel-Air neighborhood, the 5,513-square-foot, five bedroom abode was built especially for the star – a year before the 1939 film’s release.

The idyllic two-story property thus boasts hardwood floors throughout, and is seen in a slew of vintage photos featuring the multitalented artist.

It’s also set on some 2.7 acres of exceptionally manicured grounds – an impressive sight rivaled only by the old owner’s own career, and perhaps its price tag. To own the piece of Hollywood history, you’ll need a whopping $11.5 million.

Found in LA’s prestigious Bel-Air neighborhood, the 5,513-square-foot, five bedroom abode was built especially for the star – a year before she appeared in The Wizard of OZ

The exterior features a brick-paneled walkway that Garland once traversed – though back in her day it was still stone. Garland is seen in photos making that walk in 1939, seemingly taking in the splendor of her first taste of real success

‘This is a very special home in a very special location,’ explained Beverly Hills Real Estate Agent Josh Flagg of Garland’s legacy, more than 50 years after she passed on.

‘Not only does it have pedigree, but it belonged to one of the most famous stars in the world,’ the realtor at Compass added, before detailing some of the home’s most fetching features.

‘The home is a true center hall floor plan home,’ he said, sharing photos from both inside and out.

‘It’s located just a mile north of Sunset [Boulevard] and a few blocks from the hotel Bel Air’, he continued, mentioning the traditional curved staircase and iron railing in the entry foyer – a scene straight out of Old Hollywood.

The listing agent then rattled off some of the home’s more unique characteristics that retain that old aesthetic, even after all of the modifications made after Garland’s premature passing in 1969.

This includes multiple black marble fireplaces, molded walls, and an extra-large chef’s kitchen, which Flagg declared was one of his ‘personal favorite rooms’ in the entire abode.

The others, he said, are the kitchen and the large formal living room, both of which contribute handsomely – double entendre intended – to the home’s 5,513 square-feet.

‘This is a very special home in a very special location,’ explained Beverly Hills Real Estate Agent Josh Flagg of Garland’s legacy, more than 50 years after she passed on

‘Not only does it have pedigree, but it belonged to one of the most famous stars in the world,’ the realtor at Compass added, before detailing some of the home’s most fetching features

‘The home is a true center hall floor plan home,’ he said, sharing photos from inside and out

‘It’s located just a mile north of Sunset [Boulevard] and a few blocks from the hotel Bel Air’, he continued, mentioning the traditional curved staircase and iron railing in the entry foyer – a scene straight out of Old Hollywood

The listing agent then rattled off some of the home’s more unique characteristics that manage to retain an old aesthetic, even after decades of modifications made after Garland’s premature passing in 1969

This includes multiple black marble fireplaces, molded walls, and an extra-large chef’s kitchen, which Flagg declared was one of his ‘personal favorite rooms’ in the entire abode

The chef’s kitchen is a nod to modern luxury and convenience offering top of the line appliances, the listing states – with an expansive marble island as well as a sun-drenched breakfast nook

The 2.7 acre property has been meticulously restored, and is only a few miles away from the famed Getty Art Museum and Sunset Blvd.

‘The 2.7 acre property is exquisite and the home has been meticulously restored,’ the agent said of the property only a few miles away from the famed Getty Art Museum.

‘We are fortunate to have several photos from Judy’s time at the property which we have used in our marketing materials online,’ he said, citing photos of Garland enjoying her then-new home, which she had custom-built when she secured the part of Dorothy when she was just 16.

‘While there’s no science that justifies an exact correlation between price when a celebrity lives at a home or has lived at a home, I do feel that it adds value,’ Flagg concluded.

Other room include a full-blown dressing room – one fitting of such a beloved, iconic star.

There are also dual walk-in closets and ‘several conversation areas’, each of which are bolstered by five en suite bedrooms.

If a full bath for each room wasn’t enough of sell, take a walk on the home’s surrounding property, which comes complete with an in-ground pool and a large brick-lined patio – for entertaining guests more sizable than Munchkins. 

The outside also features a backyard writer’s cottage with a fireplace, as well as a series of tasteful cabinets to keep personal items stashed away.

‘We are fortunate to have several photos from Judy’s time at the property which we have used in our marketing materials online,’ agents said, citing photos of Garland enjoying her then-new home, which she had custom-built when she secured the part of Dorothy when she was just 16

The bathrooms – like much of the rest of the property – scream vintage, and hark back to the days the star walked its halls 

The five, generously sized, bedrooms are all en-suite and help to complete the carefully curated floor plan of this posh enclave, agents wrote in the listing 

Each of the property’s five bedrooms boasts a private, posh bathroom, complete with a shower and bath

Seen here is one of the bedrooms repurposed into an office, with windows that allow the LA sun to soak through

‘While there’s no science that justifies an exact correlation between price when a celebrity lives at a home or has lived at a home, I do feel that it adds value,’ agents said of the pricey listing

The 1938 estate exudes taste, and has graced the pages of numerous prestigious publications over the years

If a full bath for each room wasn’t enough of a sell, take a walk on the home’s surrounding property, which boasts a large brick-lined patio – for entertaining guests more sizable than Munchkins.

It also comes complete with an in-ground pool, one that Garland once swam in before some modifications were made

The outside also features a backyard writer’s cottage with a fireplace, as well as a series of tasteful cabinets to keep personal items stashed away

To own it, you’ll need to fork over more than $11million – a sum befitting Hollywood royalty

Garland passed away in 1969 at just 47, but fortunately, her legacy – and home – lives on

The exterior also features a brick-paneled walkway that Garland once traversed – though back in her day it was still stone and visually much less impressive 

Garland is seen in photos making that walk as far back as 1939, seemingly taking in the splendor of her first taste of real success.

That said, Garland got into the industry as a child, performing with her sisters in the Vaudevill group ‘The Gumm Sisters’ as a preteen and young teenager.

Already preforming for several years by 1935, she signed with MGM in 1938, and within months booked her big break in ‘The Wizard of OZ.’

However, following an illustrious career that spanned decades – and saw Garland star in classics like ‘Meet Me in St. Louis,’ ‘Easter Parade’, and ‘Star Is Born’ – she sadly passed away prematurely.

She died in 1969 at age 47 in her and fifth husband Mickey Deans’ rented mews house in the Belgravia area of London. The cause of death was a drug overdose.

Fortunately, her legacy lives on.

Christina Applegate isn’t afraid to be frank about multiple sclerosis.

In fact, the Dead to Me star has been candid about her struggles with the disease—which is caused when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the central nervous system—since receiving her diagnosis in 2021. Though the illness has left Christina with multiple brain lesions, chronic pain and mobility issues, the 52-year-old refuses to let it get her down, approaching the topic of her health journey with humor and honesty.

“I make these jokes because if I don’t, I’ll suffocate. I’ll be done,” she explained on the March 25 episode of Armchair Expert. “I’m not ready for the healing yet. I will get there.”

And after surviving cancer, Christina’s learned not to sugarcoat matters concerning her health.

“My first interview was with Robin Roberts when I had cancer and I’m sitting there lying my a– off about how I felt,” recalled the Married…With Children alum, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. “I fell into the wall and sobbed because it was a lie. Everything I was saying was a freaking lie. It was me trying to convince myself of something, and I think that did no service to anyone.”

Former Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit has the world at his feet after signing to the same NFL team as Taylor Swift‘s boyfriend.

The ex-rugby star will be joining Swift’s Super Bowl-winning beau, Travis Kelce, on the Kansas City Chiefs after signing a reported $884,000 contract with the club – a far cry from his tight-knit family upbringing in Cardiff, Wales.

The 23-year-old has also managed to bag a spot in Jay-Z’s Roc Nation sports agency after they opened their international office in the UK last month.

Roc Nation already boasts a star-studded roster, representing the likes of as Kevin De Bruyne, Reece James, and Romelu.

But as his career goes from strength to strength after ditching the rugby pitch for American football, the same can’t be said for his romance with Strictly Come Dancing star Saffron Barker which has ended after only four months.

Former Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit has the world at his feet after signing a reported $884,000 contract with Kansas City Chiefs

The Welshman will be joining Taylor Swift’s Super Bowl-winning beau on the American football team 

The Welsh youngster has also managed to bag a deal with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation sports agency alongside famous footballers such as Kevin De Bruyne , Reece James and Romelu

However his promising sports career has spelt disaster for his romance with Saffron Barker as the pair split only four months after announcing their romance

The NFL franchise confirmed ‘Rees-Lightning’ via a social media announcement on Friday afternoon.

Confirming the former British and Irish Lions youngster arrival, the NFL team said he would be wearing the No.9 Jersey and will be playing a running back position.

‘Hey Chiefs Kingdom, Louis Rees-Zammit here. Just signed, can’t wait to go and see you all at Arrowhead,’ Rees-Zammit said in a short clip on the Chiefs’ social media. 

The exact details of Rees-Zammit’s contract have not been revealed, however an NFL insider believes the ex-Wales player has signed a three-year deal worth $884,000.

Rees-Zammit joins the Kansas City Chiefs after they bagged back-to-back Super Bowl wins, becoming the first team to do so in 20 years.

However it seems his journey across the pond put a strain on his relationship with YouTuber Saffron Barker as the pair split only four months after becoming official.

The YouTuber confirmed the duo had gone their separate ways last Thursday, despite previously hitting back at claims they’d ended their romance just weeks ago.

The update comes after eagle-eyed followers noticed that both Saffron and Louis had unfollowed each other on Instagram in recent weeks, amongst other clues that hinted at a break-up.

As speculation rose, a source close to the couple told MailOnline that they were ‘very much together’ and focused on ‘navigating a long-distance relationship,’ after Louis kickstarted a new career in the NFL.

In an update to his Instagram Story this week, Saffron wrote: ‘I have so much exciting news to update you on, and I promise to keep you all posted on that.

Rees-Zammit signed a deal believed to be worth $884,000 for three years and will take the number nine jersey 

Rees-Zammit shocked many when he announced that he was leaving the rugby world only weeks ahead of the Six Nations

The pair only went public with their romance at The Hunger Games world premiere in November

In an update to his Instagram Story last week, Saffron wrote: ‘I wanted to address some of the questions re my relationship… I am no longer in a relationship’

‘For now though I wanted to address some of the questions re my relationship. Whilst I won’t be going into any detail, I am no longer in a relationship. 

‘I am fully focused on my well-being, wonderful family, & career. I want to thank all of the incredible people who have sent me messages of love & strength over the past few weeks.

‘I have read every single one & I can’t tell you how much it has meant to me.

‘The community I’ve built on here for nearly 10 years (how amazing!) are always there for me. It feels so special to have your support & strength – so thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.

‘I know good things come to good people so I hold onto the hope that 2024 is going to be a positive year for me. Lots of love, Saffron x’

Followers had previously spotted that she had deleted a photo of his initials tattooed on her arm and then liked a comment insinuating that he had cheated.

Although he may have experienced heartbreak, it is safe to say Zammit will continue to receive undying support from his tight-knit family.

His parents Maxine and Joe – who raised Zammit and his brother, Taylor in Cardiff, Wales – have not been shy in expressing their immense pride in Louis. 

After the announcement Taylor, who went to all of his younger brother’s games for Llandaff RFC for three years in a row told Wales Online: ‘We’re all so proud.’

Previously discussing his unwavering support for his brother, Taylor told WalesOnline:

‘I probably haven’t missed a game he has played home and away in three years,’ he said.

‘When I was in Manchester University, I used to get the train down to Hartpury on a Wednesday morning, watch his game for the college and then get the train straight back up to Manchester.

Although his relationship may have come to an end, the ex-rugby star’s family will continue to support him unconditionally (pictured: Louis Rees-Zammit and his family)

‘To be honest, I don’t enjoy anything more. I couldn’t think of anything better than going to watch him. It’s not like a difficult decision for me, the same for our parents.

Zammit is also fulfilling his father’s dreams when he shocked the rugby world by deciding to join the NFL. 

Zammit’s father, Joe, previously played for the American football squad – Cardiff Bay Tigers, later instilling a passion for the sport in his son.

‘As a little boy, my dad always brought me up to be a big NFL fan,’ Zammit told Roar.

‘He used to play American football, so it is kind of to try to continue his legacy and hopefully go beyond and make him proud. That is the sport he grew up loving.’

“How we did it was Jeff Beecroft, my amazing production designer, designed this ramp under a small kiddie pool of corn,” Krasinski explained. “So there were only 12 inches of corn the entire time for these kids to look like they were drowning in.” You can watch a behind-the-scenes clip below, in which the perfectly safe Noah Jupe and Millicent Simmonds are pretending to nearly drown in a shallow pool of corn. Admittedly, this pool looks far bigger than the average kiddie pool, but it’s definitely much smaller and less dangerous than an actual grain silo. (It also helps that dry corn, unlike water, is a lot easier for a film production to work with.)

“They could walk up and down the ramp at any time, and look like they were above the corn or below the corn,” Krasinski continued. “If they ever got nervous, they could just duck below the corn and gasp for air.” The result was hard to argue with; in the finished version of the film, it’s impossible to tell that the corn the characters are wading in is as shallow as it really is. Even in the behind-the-scenes clip, the illusion’s hard to shake. As a whole, the scene has ended up serving as a much-needed PSA about the dangers of mucking about in a corn silo … even if it, admittedly, took some creative liberties along the way.

President Biden has sparked outrage by declaring Easter Sunday will also officially become Transgender Day of Visibility. 

The White House doubled up backlash as it also banned religious imagery in submissions from children of military families taking part in the traditional Easter Egg Roll event, as critics branded the moves an ‘attack on Christianity.’

Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy led the charge against the move, as he mused ‘I wonder how (Biden) came up with that date ‘ by having Easter Sunday clash with the transgender tribute day. 

Others said it was a ‘huge insult to Christians’ – a charge also levied at the White House after it banned religious submissions for its Easter festivities.  

The White House has sparked outrage by banning children from submitting Easter Egg designs for this year’s Easter Egg Roll with any ‘questionable content,’ including political statements and religious imagery 

Children take part in the 2023 White House Easter Egg Roll event, which has been held on the South Lawn for almost 50 years 

An egg designed by children of members of the military adorning the East Colonnade of the White House ahead of the White House Easter Egg Roll, Thursday, March 28, 2024

The White House is set to host the Easter Egg Roll tradition on Monday, an event that dates back to 1877. 

Part of this year’s tradition is centering on ‘Celebrating our Military Families’, and will include submissions of festively designed eggs painted by children of National Guard troops. 

However, the National Guard families taking part in the traditional Easter Egg Roll event won’t see their submissions counted if they include any ‘questionable content,’ including ‘religious symbols, overtly religious themes, or partisan political statements.’ 

Children will also be banned from designing their eggs with anything that promotes ‘bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against any group or individual or promotes discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age.’

The move sparked backlash, with many feeling the religious foundation of the Easter holiday meant religious symbols should be welcome at the event. 

Conservative policy researcher Jeremy Carl tweeted that it shows the president and Democrats ‘hate America’s heritage… and they show it again and again.’ 

‘The war on Christianity continues,’ said another critic, as others pointed out: ‘We need to remind the White House that Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.’ 

Others noted that Biden often made a point of his Catholic faith on the campaign trail, while conservative influencers ‘the Hodge twins’ added: ‘I guess Easter is cancelled this year.’ 

President Biden sparked backlash by declaring Easter Sunday to be a national ‘Transgender Day of Visibility’, with critics feeling he is blatantly overlooking the religious holiday 

Former President Donald Trump delivers remarks from the Truman Balcony ahead of the 139th Easter Egg Roll event at the White House in 2017 

As he declared Easter Sunday would also be ‘Transgender Day of Visibility’, Biden was seen by critics as overlooking the religious holiday. 

‘Transgender Americans are part of the fabric of our Nation,’ the president said in a press release, which also included a scathing attack on Republicans. 

‘But extremists are proposing hundreds of hateful laws that target and terrify transgender kids and their families — silencing teachers; banning books; and even threatening parents, doctors, and nurses with prison for helping parents get care for their children. 

‘These bills attack our most basic American values: the freedom to be yourself, the freedom to make your own health care decisions, and even the right to raise your own child.

‘It is no surprise that the bullying and discrimination that transgender Americans face is worsening our Nation’s mental health crisis, leading half of transgender youth to consider suicide in the past year. 

‘At the same time, an epidemic of violence against transgender women and girls, especially women and girls of color, continues to take too many lives. Let me be clear: All of these attacks are un-American and must end. 

‘Today, we send a message to all transgender Americans: You are loved. You are heard. You are understood. You belong. You are America, and my entire Administration and I have your back.’ 

The move quickly sparked backlash, as critics said they ‘don’t even have words for this.’ 

‘What an utter disgrace,’ added another, while a third person said that ‘Christians will remember this come November.’  

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• Andrew Swindells, 47, was notified through his phone of a serious collision 

By Milo Pope

Published: 11:40 EDT, 30 March 2024 | Updated: 11:43 EDT, 30 March 2024

A man’s £30,000 BMW was written off after it was crashed by Manchester Airport parking staff in a multi-storey car park.

Andrew Swindells, 47, handed over the keys to his BMW One Series after paying just short of £100 for the airport’s valet-style ‘meet and greet’ parking service before jetting off to the US for a business trip.

However, while having dinner in Chicago just days later his car’s on-board telemetry system alerted him via his mobile phone to a ‘serious collision’.

Completely unaware of what was happening, he was then called by BMW to ask him if he was all right and tell him to pull over immediately.

On arrival back to Manchester, the father-of-two from Widnes, Cheshire, said he was taken up to the top floor of a multi-story car park where he saw the BMW crashed into a concrete bollard. 

He said the airport has now settled with his insurers and apologised to him. 

Here is a look at the damage that was caused to Andrew Swindells’ £30,000 BMW

On a business trip to the US, his phone received an emergency alert notifying a collision

The car itself – bought second-hand by Mr Swindells 12 months ago at three months old – was left up on the car park for weeks because it couldn’t be moved, he added. He was also critical of the level of customer service he got from the airport.

The IT product manager, who regularly flies abroad on business, likened the scenes at the airport to ‘something out of Only Fools and Horses’.

He said: ‘It all happened at the end of January, but it has taken ages for the airport to sort the insurance out. It dragged on and on.

‘It’s valet parking and they move the car to another site on the airport. It ended up within the boundaries of the airport on the top storey of a seven-storey multi-storey.

‘During the trip I received notifications from the in-car telemetry to tell me it had been involved in an accident. Upon returning, I found the car had been driven into a concrete block, whilst being moved by the airport driver.

‘The airport team told me the car was being driven slowly and safely, however the car has been written off by the insurance company. They managed to completely write it off by crashing it into a concrete block.

‘I just thought the sensors had gone at first and ignored it, then I got a call from BMW about 20 minutes later. They phoned me to ask me if I was ok – I was completely unaware of what was going on. I tried to phone the airport but couldn’t get an answer.’

He said he eventually got through on the phone from America and was told by the airport the car had been in an accident, but given no details.

‘I landed back in Manchester on January 27 and went to the meet and greet reception,’ he said. ‘There were two managers waiting for me. I have to say they were really good. They said “yes, your car has been in a crash. We need to show you what happened”.

The car itself was left up on the car park for weeks because it couldn’t be moved

‘We went up to the car park and it was smashed into a post. I was just completely surprised. They said the driver misjudged a turn.

‘The telemetry said it was being driven between 20 and 30mph at the time. They had to leave it in situ for the insurance assessment. It was up there for weeks.’

Mr Swindells said he was given a hire car while the situation was dealt with by his insurers and the airport’s.

He said: ‘Eventually they came back and said the car’s a write-off. They offered to pay me market value and we went back and forward for weeks. Eventually they made me an offer which I agreed to.

‘Apart from when I met with the managers on the Saturday, I have had no contact from the airport. I had to chase them.’

A Manchester Airport spokesperson told the Manchester Evening News: ‘We apologise to Mr Swindells for the damage to his car and have worked with his insurance company to ensure he is fully compensated.

‘Thousands of passengers use our Meet and Greet products every week and incidents leading to any kind of damage are extremely rare.’