News Room

GREGGS has sparked shopper fury after hiking the cost of a sausage roll to £1.30.

Customers have slammed the bakery chain after it bumped up the price of the popular snack by 5p.

News and Pictures North

Shoppers spotted the price hike in one Newcastle branch[/caption]

It is the second time in six months sausage rolls have gone up price after the cost increased to £1.25 from £1.20 last year.

The iconic pastry has shot up by a staggering 30% since 2022, when it was priced at just £1.

The increase was spotted at Shields Road branch in Newcastle.

Linda Johnson, 74, a retired quality control inspector, said: “It’s now £3.90 for four sausage rolls. I wouldn’t pay that – I would tell them to stick it.

“A sausage roll used to be £1, now it’s £1.30.

“I know everyone is watching their pennies but the whole point of Greggs is that it’s cheap and cheerful.

“I usually hand over the correct change but when I went to pay I was told that the prices had gone up.

“I bought a coffee which is up from £1.60 to £1.70.

“It’s still cheaper than supermarket coffee or other big brands so I will still go there.”

Heather Hife, 62, a carer, added: “It’s disgraceful that they have raised their prices.

“They are a big company and are making a lot of profit. They shouldn’t be putting them up.

“The prices already went up before.

“I will stop buying sausage rolls when they reach £1.50.”

A Greggs worker said: “It went up just after Christmas.

“There have been a few complaints from regular customers who have noticed the increase.”

Prices do vary based on your location, with some Greggs branches charging up to £1.40 for the popular snack.

Greggs has already hiked the price of its iconic sausage roll seven times since 2016, when the lunchtime staple set customers back just 85p.

The last time was in July, when both the meat and vegan versions were increased by 5p.

Sausage roll prices shot up three times in 2022 at the height of the coronavirus pandemic – from £1 at the start of the year to £1.15 by the end.

In November, Greggs boss Roisin Currie warned the Government’s tax raid on businesses would cost the chain tens of millions of pounds.

The Government will hike employer National Insurance contributions from 13.8% to 15% from April while the National Minimum Wage is also rising, piling pressure on retailers.

A host of other major chains have warned of price rises following the Autumn Budget, including Next, Halfords and Sainsbury’s.

Greggs has been contacted for comment.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

THE SPFL have been criticised this season for postponing matches too late.

But they’ve gone the other way this time around – after making the early call to postpone two crunch clashes in the Scottish Championship fully THREE days before kick-off.

SNS

A general stadium view pre-match during a William Hill Championship match[/caption]

Kenny Ramsay

Cappielow Park has no undersoil heating[/caption]

The matches in question are Morton‘s Championship clash with Raith Rovers and Livingston‘s meeting with Airdrie – both of which were scheduled to take place on Saturday.

The former has been put back 24 hours to combat the forecast freezing temperatures in the Inverclyde area.

Despite having covers down on the pitch, Cappielow has no undersoil heating and bosses think the game would have had almost NO chance of going ahead on Saturday.

They wrote: “Following discussions with the SPFL and opposition, we can confirm that this weekend’s William Hill Championship match against Raith Rovers has been moved 24 hours to Sunday 12th January at 3pm.

“Following last Saturday’s postponement, temperatures have dropped further this week and are set to remain close to or below freezing between now and Saturday.

“Friday through to early Saturday morning is set to be extremely cold. With the current forecast in mind, and despite the fact covers have been on the pitch since Monday morning, the match would have almost no chance of going ahead on Saturday.

“Temperatures are forecasted to rise on Saturday afternoon through to Sunday and rescheduling the fixture by 24 hours gives it a much better chance of going ahead. It is preferable to aim for the game to be played this weekend, rather than having to reschedule the game for a midweek date. We have also aimed to make this decision as early as possible to give supporters as much notice as we could.”

The other postponement takes place at Livingston, where even the artificial surface is no guarantee to getting the match played.

Consequently Livi’s clash with Airdrie will attempt to go ahead on Tuesday January 14th at 7.45pm.

The Almondvale side wrote: “Due to the recent heavy snow in Livingston, coupled with the expected freezing temperatures in the coming days, Saturday’s clash with Airdrieonians has been rescheduled for Tuesday 14th January at 7.45pm.

“Despite covers being down on the pitch, and our maintenance team working incredibly hard over recent days, the already cold temperatures coupled with forecasted temperatures of between -7 and -10 over the course of Thursday and Friday means that we had real doubt of their being enough of a thaw to allow for the game to be played on Saturday as planned.

“As such, with the agreement of Airdrieonians and the SPFL, we looked to move the game to the Sunday with temperatures expected to be much better, but a number of external matchday partners were unable to accommodate for then, meaning we’ve had to go into midweek instead.

“An early agreement on the rearranging of the fixture also allows the club to save on some costs which would have been incurred by waiting for the formality of postponing on Saturday, and means our opponents also have plenty of advance notice.

“Tickets for the original fixture date remain valid. Our thanks to Airdrieonians and the SPFL for their cooperation on a swift and prompt solution.”

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

SIX in 10 adults put early signs of dementia down to old age – rather than the condition itself, a new study has shown.

A poll of 500 people who have a relative or loved one with the condition revealed the common symptoms people often mistake for getting older, when they are in fact all signs of dementia.

Misplacing items, needing help with everyday tasks, and problems with judgements and decisions featured on the list.

While forgetting things they have just done or been told, and repeating the same question were also confused with ageing.

More than four in 10 (41 per cent) admit they first feared it could be dementia, but ‘brushed it under the carpet’, and put it down to getting older instead.

The study, commissioned by Care UK, also found 31 per cent believed such symptoms to be a normal part of ageing because they lacked knowledge at the time.

Suzanne Mumford, head of dementia and lifestyle for care home provider, said: “Awareness of dementia has improved, but many people still struggle to confidently differentiate between signs of old age and dementia.

“Understandably, it can also be a worrying time when a loved one starts acting out of character or begins to display symptoms of dementia.

“Yet, reaching out for support early on can make a world of difference – whether it’s speaking to an expert about how to manage symptoms or simply connecting with families who may be in a similar situation.

“That’s why we’re relaunching our Big Dementia Conversation for the second year running.

“We must continue to raise awareness of the condition and its symptoms in order to become a more dementia-friendly nation.”

The study also found that despite it taking an average of four months to realise certain symptoms could be dementia and not just old age, year-on-year comparisons show people are now more familiar with them.

Now, 44 per cent feel they would be able to recognise the different signs, whereas only 24 per cent said this in last year’s survey, both conducted via OnePoll.com.

Forgetting what they had just done or been told, repeating the same question, and not knowing where they were are among the things they started to notice first.

With struggling to find words, judgements and decisions, and misplacing items among the fastest developing symptoms.

A fifth started spotting these signs when their relative or loved one was in their early to mid-70s, with this leaving 71 per cent feeling upset, and 21 per cent confused.

Despite 94 per cent believing this confusion between the two is a common issue, 71 per cent feel there is little awareness around the differences between them.

But the yearly comparison also revealed misconceptions about the condition are still rife with 36 per cent believing it always includes memory loss – which isn’t far off the 34 per cent who said this last year.

And 20 per cent believe that if someone in their family is living with dementia then they are likely to develop it too.

This is more than the 17 per cent who said the same previously.

Suzanne, for Care UK, added: “Recognising the signs and getting a diagnosis is just the first step towards better support, rather than the end.

“Contrary to popular belief, there are many ways to prevent and manage symptoms to live well with dementia.

“This is something we’re passionate about, and we’d like to invite those keen to find out more to head to our content hub to hear our experts’ advice.”

swns

If you bought a car, van, motorbike, motorhome or caravan on finance, you could be among the millions of consumers eligible for a significant refund.

The UK financial regulator, the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority), is currently carrying out an investigation into the scale of mis-sold vehicle finance, with millions expected to be in line for refunds.

The FCA estimates that hidden PCP and HP finance commissions have cost consumers more than £1,100 in additional interest charges on a typical £10,000 finance agreement.

It’s due to set out its next steps in May 2025, and the results could entitle millions of drivers across the country to thousands of pounds in compensation.

Drivers who bought multiple vehicles on finance and those who financed larger amounts are expected to be due the most back.

Martin Lewis, consumer champion, has compared the potential scale of payouts to the PPI scandal – where firms were forced to refund billions to mis-sold customers.

But, to make a legitimate claim, you’d need to have taken out a PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) or HP (Hire Purchase) agreement through a car garage, dealer or broker.

We explain how these agreements work and how to quickly find out if you can claim compensation.

Start your claim – Get Your Refund

What is an HP agreement?

Under a HP agreement, you’ll work towards one objective – to own the vehicle.

Normally, you’ll pay a deposit, which is about 10% of its value, and you’ll finance the remainder.

The remainder is then split into monthly repayments over a fixed number of months, e.g. 12, 24, 36, 48. Once you make the final repayment, you’ll own the vehicle.

It’s only at this stage that you’ll normally pay a transfer fee to put the car in your name.

Unlike buying a car with a personal loan, under an HP agreement your lender will have security of the vehicle until the repayment plan is complete.

Start your claim – Get Your Refund

What is PCP car finance? 

PCP finance allows you to drive a vehicle with lower monthly repayments than HP finance, but you won’t necessarily own the vehicle at the end of the repayment period.

Under a PCP agreement, your lender will consider how much your vehicle is expected to drop in value over a specified timeframe to determine your monthly repayments.

Like other forms of financing, you’ll need to maintain your repayments or risk damaging your credit score.

Once your PCP finance ends, you can decide what to do with the vehicle.

You can pay a “balloon payment” to own the vehicle, trade it in and buy a new vehicle using a new PCP agreement, or hand it back to the lender and walk away.

Start your claim – Get Your Refund

Have you taken out either of these types of finance agreements? 

Have you bought a car, van, motorhome or caravan using PCP or HP finance? If so, you could be a victim of mis-sold vehicle finance and be eligible for a significant refund.

Until 2021, many car dealers operated under “discretionary commission arrangements” (DCA), allowing them to earn commissions based on the interest they set for your finance.

Generally, the higher the rate, the more commission your dealer earned, in addition to their markup on the vehicle’s sale price – which incentivised them to charge customers more.

The FCA banned the practice as of 28 January 2021, and anyone who took out PCP or HP finance before this date is urged to check whether they are affected.

Even if your agreement wasn’t affected by a DCA, it’s very likely the dealer treated you unfairly because of an “undisclosed commission” from the finance company.

A landmark Court of Appeal ruling in October 2024 found it was unlawful for dealers to receive a commission from a lender unless you, the customer, were properly informed and consented to the payment – potentially paving the way for up to an estimated £30 billion in refunds.

Start your claim – Get Your Refund

How to claim compensation

To see if you’re eligible for compensation, start your claim with Get Your Refund. 

Their team of claim specialists and legal partners have been fighting for the rights of consumers for over a decade. As a regulated law firm, you can be assured that your mis-sold vehicle finance claim is in safe hands.

Get Your Refund provides their service on a no win, no fee basis. Allow them to pursue your potential claim to its conclusion, and there’s no charge if your vehicle finance claim is unsuccessful.

Their fees are some of the lowest, if not the lowest, in the industry, at just 25% plus VAT of any refund amount.

While you don’t need to use a legal representative and can complain directly to your lender and refer your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service for free, Get Your Refund believes that it pays to have an experienced team assisting with your claim.

Start your claim – Get Your Refund

TWO people have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a baby died in hospital.

The one-year-old was discovered in cardiac arrest at a home in Rugby, Warwickshire in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Tragically the tot could not be saved and was declared dead shortly after.

Warwickshire Police confirmed a man, 25, and woman, 24, have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

No further information on the baby has been released by officers.

The force said: “At 4.37am on Tuesday (7 January) we received a report of a baby in cardiac arrest at a house in the New Bilton area of Rugby.

“The baby was taken to hospital but sadly died.

“Anyone with information that could help police with their enquires can go to www.warwickshire.police.uk/report or call 101.

“Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Please quote incident number 39 of 7 January 2025.”

More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online

Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.

Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.

Респіраторний вірус, що поширюється в Китаї, відомий як метапневмовірус людини hMPV, не є новим і не становить серйозної загрози, вважають у Всесвітній організації охорони здоров’я. Як передає Укрінформ, про це у вівторок заявила журналістам у Женеві речниця ВООЗ Маргарет Гарріс. За її словами, у Китаї випадки зараження такими інфекціями очікувано зростають взимку, при цьому сезонний […]

Розморожування холодильника у багатьох господинь викликає неоднозначні емоції. Комусь це зовсім не подобається, адже на справу потрібно виділити багато часу та сил. Лід і шар снігу всередині вашого холодильника та морозильної камери негативно впливають на його роботу та енергоефективність. Втім, ви можете легко уникнути проблем, якщо знати простий секрет швидкого розморожування пристрою. Аби позбутись від […]

Приготувати омлет може навіть людина, яка ніколи не цікавилася кулінарією, але не у всіх виходить по-справжньому смачна і пишна страва. Існує п’ять неочевидних правил приготування омлету, дотримуючись яких,  цю страву зможуть приготувати навіть новачки. Молочна суміш На кожен стакан молока (250 мл) припадає чотири яйця. Таке співвідношення зберігається при приготуванні класичного омлету. Формула борошна На […]

Вчені з університету Північної Кароліни виявили, що комарі можуть переносити інфекції не лише через укуси. На їхніх лапках також можуть накопичуватися хвороботворні бактерії. Вчені зібрали у Кот-д’Івуарі 79 дорослих самок комарів Anopheles coluzzii. Їх відправили до США для аналізу мікробіома та зовнішніх поверхонь тіла. У результаті на лапках комах знайшли фруктобацил. Це означає, що комахи […]

Попри великий досвід роботи з гібридами, Honda була обережною щодо повного переходу на електромобілі. Однак це зміниться, оскільки на виставці CES у Лас-Вегасі будуть представлені два автомобілі серії 0. Про це розповідає NNews із посиланням на autoexpress Представлення електромобільного майбутнього Honda відбудеться невдовзі після обговорень можливого злиття з Nissan. Водночас Nissan не планує використовувати технології […]