Blogs

SUMMER school hols need not burn a hole in your pocket.

With summer activities costing around £500 per child, many families are choosing to spend time together instead – but even cute day-outs can end up costing a fortune.

TIKTOK/@kellybudgetingandfamily

One mum, from Portsmouth, took to TikTok where she offered fellow families a helping hand[/caption]

Getty

The cash-savvy mum also revealed how you can slash your petrol bill next time you’re out[/caption]

Luckily, one cash-savvy mum has come to rescue with easy tips that will slash the costs – and turns out, there’s even a simple way to get petrol for less when driving around.

Offering a helping hand to fellow parents, mum Kelly, from Portsmouth, took to TikTok to share hacks to keep the expenses as low as possible.

One of these, she recently revealed in the video, is preparing lunch and taking it with them when out and about – saving a fortune on going to a cafe or a restaurant for some grub.

”I can’t tell you the last time I didn’t pack a picnic and that’s just because they’re really expensive.

”That can whack on an extra £40 – and I don’t want to spend that on food.

”The kids never ask to eat and they’re used to having a backpack – and actually, if you’re walking around, it doesn’t restrict you, you can just eat on the go.”

The same, she added, goes for drinks as well, with the mum carrying three to four water bottles to keep the brood hydrated.

As well as having their food ready, the parents also avoid popping into gift shops – unless it’s someone’s birthday.

”I don’t buy anything from the gift shop and the kids have never wanted that because they’ve never known it.

”And that’s probably got even easier as they’ve got older cause now they understand the value of money more.”

If your child, however, insists they do want that new overpriced toy, you should remind them of the teddy or another toy that’s just now sitting in the corner.

While out and about you may also want some coffee for that extra energy kick – however, with coffee shop prices higher than ever, your dose of caffeine can easily all add up.

To keep the expenses as low as possible, the budget-friendly mum now carries a thermal flask with coffee which she can enjoy whenever and wherever.

”Lastly, getting to places. I’ll calculate roughly how much petrol it’s going to cost me.

”I will use an app called Petrol Prices to look for the cheapest petrol station in my area.

”There can be a massive difference between the most expensive to the cheapest, so I will plan that in advance.”

She went on: ”The most I spend on a day out whilst I’m there is probably £7 on ice creams – I’ll let the kids have an ice cream – but that’s usually about it.”

Kelly, who posts under the username @kellybudgetingandfamily, wrote in the caption: ”The days out themselves aren’t too bad, but when you start adding drinks, food, gift shop etc it all starts to really add up and before you know it you have spent hundreds!”

BACOLOD CITY—Sugarcane farmers on Negros Island and the provinces of Iloilo and Capiz in Western Visayas dealing with pest infestation will have some relief soon as the spread of the destructive red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) in their fields appeared to have slowed down, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said. “RSSI is still spreading but

LIAM CAHILL says Darragh McCarthy’s red fired Tipperary up as they marched back to the All-Ireland final. 

The Premier will face Cork in the showpiece on July 20 for the first time ever after they blew Kilkenny away in yesterday’s classic semi at Croke Park. 

Tipperary went down to 14 men when McCarthy was shown a second yellow card for wrapping stopper Eoin Murphy across the knuckles with his hurl with 12 minutes left. 

But Oisín O’Donoghue’s wonderstrike at the death fired Tipp back to the showpiece for the first time since 2019 – and Cahill hailed his warriors for clawing the Cats at Croker. 

He said: “It was a bit of a blow at the time but look, I think it really ignited the rest of the players on the field. 

“Look, it’s misfortune, the second yellow. By the rule book it’s there, as a second yellow. We had no complaints with it at all. 

“Just disappointed for Darragh, he commits to everything. I suppose just before that we probably had really discussed getting Oisín in at that time.

“Lo and behold, Darragh was coming off alright but we can’t get Oisín in to replace him. Again, the impact of our bench coming in had a big bearing on today’s game.

“I really thought they gave us huge energy. Tynan in particular was superb when he came on. Obviously, Oisín and Noel as usual, giving us that calming influence. Just happy, as I said, that the job is done now.

“We try and turn the page as quick as we can and look forward to two weeks’ time.” 

Cahill’s tenure as Tipp boss was under huge fire when they failed to win a game in the Munster SHC last year. 

But his pleas for patience have paid off, and he hailed his players for taking them back to the biggest day of all against all the odds as McCarthy, John McGrath and Jason Forde fired first half goals against the Cats.

He said: “It’s been difficult to navigate over the last two years from my perspective, I won’t deny that. A huge change was required, it’s starting to come through now.

“As I said, it’s all down to the players. And to be fair, the alignment with our county board off the field as well. 

“These fellas set really high standards for themselves to be fair and they committed to that. We have a really tight group.

“I know every manager says that when they sit in front of you guys after a win. It takes a lot of work to create that because if you haven’t everybody on the same wavelength, days like today just don’t happen. 

“I mean not just players, I mean the backroom team we have, the people that support them. We’re a unit that keeps things really tight and we have one another’s back.

“That’s what really makes it proud for me is that when you can create something like that and the tests come like they came today outside there at Croke Park.

“The players usually find the answers. Just thrilled as I said to be in the final.

“The game was exciting, it was probably a very much mistake-ridden game as well which probably led to a lot of the excitement with the number of mistakes that were in it.

“We have a lot to do to make sure that we’re in a position to go forward and try and take on Cork in two weeks’ time.”

LUCENA CITY – The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Sunday warned that the increase in real-time seismic energy measurement (RSAM) and the low level of emission of sulfur dioxide (SO2) in Taal Volcano in Batangas province since last month may trigger an eruption. “The sharp increase in RSAM and the lack of

POLICE are trying to identify a man they want to speak to after a teenage girl was allegedly raped near a Surrey library.

The 15-year-old was with a friend close to Chertsey Library when they were reportedly approached by two males on Friday, June 27.

One of the men is reported to have assaulted the girl at around 7pm.

Surrey Police have released a photo of a man they are hoping to speak to in connection with the incident.

In a post shared on Facebook, the force said: “Can you help us identify the man in this image?

“We are looking to speak to him in connection with a report of rape in the area around #Chertsey Library at around 7pm on Friday, June,27.

“If you recognise him or have any information that could help us identify him, please get in touch quoting PR/45250077899.”

Detective Sergeant Mihai Kerekes previosuly said: “Incidents of this nature are extremely concerning, and we want to reassure the public that a full investigation is underway to identify the person involved.

“Should you have any information that can assist us in identifying the suspect, please contact us quoting PR/45250077899.”

Anyone with details that could help is urged to come forward.

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.

THE last easyJet flight of the night from Luton touched down in Ibiza to a round of applause and shouts of “Oi Oi!”

It was 11.40pm, I was ready for a nice cup of chamomile tea and bed, but the two Essex ravers, who looked barely out of their teens, in the seats ahead had other ideas.

Louis Wood

Oliver Harvey partied alongside the ‘Gravers’ at Gen-Z Ibiza hotspot UNVRS[/caption]

Louis Wood

Oliver partied at the UK’s biggest nightclubs in the 80s and 90s[/caption]

Louis Wood

The club’s mammoth, red-glowing dome ­dominates the skyline like St Paul’s Cathedral in London[/caption]

“We’re going to Amnesia, mate” one gurned — that’s a nightclub, not the condition experienced by some middle-aged folk like me.

While I was with the young ­clubbers in spirit, my 57-year-old dad bod said a firm no.

I was saving myself for the big one — UNVRS, the world’s first hyperclub, later in the week.

Pronounced “universe,” it is the recently opened king of clubs on an island that helped launch acid house, which morphed into the rave ­phenomenon that swept Britain in the late 1980s.

UNVRS may not have many ­vowels but it has a lot of punters — 10,000 can cram into its labyrinth of bars and dance floors.

Its superstar DJs including David Guetta, Carl Cox and Fisher attract clubbers from all over the planet.

Footie ace Jude Bellingham was at the opening night last month.

So, staring down the barrel of 60, would I be able to cut it at clubland’s hottest ticket?

And would I be the only relic from the halcyon days of Eighties and Nineties clubbing still trying to throw shapes?

Known as Gravers, I was interested to talk to survivors from the rave era for whom the party won’t stop until the Grim Reaper calls.

I haven’t been to a nightclub for decades, but back in the day I graced London clubs Ministry Of Sound, Heaven, Sin and Bagleys.

With Cardiff-born superstar DJ Jamie Jones on the UNVRS decks on Wednesday, I headed to this ­pinnacle of modern clubbing, hoping to rekindle the rave era spirit.

I bought an early-bird ticket for 55 euros, which means you must arrive at UNVRS before midnight.

VIP tickets go for £425-plus.

As you journey inland towards San Rafael de la Cruz, the club’s mammoth, red-glowing dome ­dominates the skyline like St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

I joined the queue with thousands of women in barely there skirts and boob tubes and well-honed guys in shorts and tees.

Most looked young enough to be my grandchildren.

Security thoroughly patted me down, then I entered another world.

Intense white light cascaded from a mirror ball into my eyes as the unrelenting bass seemed to rattle my chest bone.

This being Gen Z clubbing, there was an immediate opportunity to update your socials at the transparent selfie booth.

A sweeping staircase leads to a huge dance floor with a raised DJ booth at the far end, and it was soon a swarming mass.

Just like the old days, the hands are in the air when the music reaches a crescendo, but now thousands of phones are held aloft, recording every beep and thud for posterity . . . and Instagram.

UNVRS began life as Club San Rafael in the 1970s, later changing its name to KU Club and then ­Privilege.

‘DON’T EVER CHANGE DAD’

Celebs who once partied there include Bowie, Madonna, Kylie Minogue and Tina Turner.

In the 1990s, it hosted the ­infamous Manumission night, which featured live sex acts on stage.

UNVRS is less decadent for a ­different age, drawing a very glam and British — crowd.

With my back aching from too much standing, it was time for a beer and a sit down at the cavernous Dome Bar. I wince at the price list.

A 33cl bottle of Heinken? That’s £15, guv.

A bottle of water is nearly £13 and a vodka- redbull around £23.

Also catching some air were clubbers approaching my own age.

Department store manager Jose Antonio, 55, his wife Maria, 56, and their son Alonso, 21, were on ­holiday from Marbella in Spain.

Asking Jose what brought them to the hyper club, he revealed: “We like electronic music and know Jamie Jones and, of course, we are going to dance and will stay for two or three hours.”

Student Alonso, meanwhile, points out a decent advantage to going clubbing with your parents, revealing: “They paid!”

But Andrew Killin, 56, from North London, who has been to Ibiza ten times over the years, said he wasn’t impressed by the sprawling size of the club, finding it a little “soulless”.

Louis Wood

DJ Chinny reckons you are never too old to rave[/caption]

Louis Wood

Jose Antonio, 55, his wife Maria, 56, and their son Alonso, 21, all partied together[/caption]

In the main room I spot a greying figure with large specs nodding his head as if entranced by the beat.

Skegness dad-of-four Matthew O’Connor, 57, tells me he’s been “havin’ it” since 1988.

I’d found a bone-fide Graver.

“I couldn’t be on the island, in light of all the hype, and not come to UNVRS,” he told me.

“I wanted to see it and I’m quite wowed.”

So are his kids embarrassed that he is still raving as he approaches his seventh decade?

“Quite the opposite,” he insists.

“They tell me, ‘Don’t ever f***ing change, Dad’.”

Matthew — aka DJ Chinny — turns out to be a great raconteur who still “loves” this party island.

“I came out here in 1988 raving then in 1989 went to Tenerife where things also f***ing exploded,” he revealed. “

Since then I haven’t been to Ibiza every year, but it’s a love affair that’s lasted.”

‘IF IT’S IN YOU, IT’S IN YOU’

He’s still DJ-ing while running a ­decorating business, and I ask if his clubbing was ever fuelled by drugs?

“I’ve experimented over the years,” he added.

“It was all about ecstasy and LSD.

“That’s back in the day.

“I’m proud now that my weapon of choice is alcohol.

“I’m of the age now where I really need to slow down!”

Finally, I asked this fellow 57-year-old if we are too old to rave?

“I’m the same age as the parents of some of the guys I travelled out here with. I’m like the old fossil,” he reveals.

“If it’s in you, it’s in you.”

With Matthew’s assurance ringing in my ears I head back to the dance floor and throw my arms in the air to the pumping music.

Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.

RTE Fair City viewers viewers were all left confused as Ger tried to drag Carol into J.J’s chaos.

In tonight’s episode J.J. warned Ger that she better find proof that exonerates her quickly.

RTE

Ger plotted to manipulate J.J. using his weakness[/caption]

RTE

Ger revealed to Carol that the real rat is Aidan O’Rourke[/caption]

Ger plotted to manipulate J.J. using his weakness – Carol.

Ger revealed to Carol that the real rat is Aidan O’Rourke and tried to guilt Carol into thwarting J.J.’s hit on her.

Carol quizzed Liam on Aidan. Liam told her about the locket and photos, but warned her not to trust Ger.

With Carol not committing to helping her, Ger admitted to a sorrowful Dean that she had run out of options.

Carol was stunned when Sharon confirmed that Ger is telling her the truth and that Aidan is the informant.

RTE Fair City viewers all raced to social media to share their thoughts on tonight’s episode.

Thomas said: “Ger is out and about a lot for someone with a hit out on them.”

Adam wrote: “My head is spinning here, haven’t got a clue what is going on with this ridiculous ‘hit’ storyline.”

Another added: “Ger should just wait around and get hit.”

Elsewhere, failing to get in contact with Wayne, Dolores anguished over the discovery of his shady dealings with Devereux.

Pete was concerned when he spotted Dolores speaking with the detective.

Doug worried he’d ruined everything by getting involved in the car nixers, but Erica calmed his nerves. 

Confronted by Pete, Dolores revealed that when Wayne was part owner of the garage, him and Devereux were in cahoots over the stolen cars.

TONIGHT’S DRAMA

The pair worried about what it means for the business but hid their fears from Ray and Nora.

When Babs made it clear she doesn’t want to invest their money in a market stall, Victor hid that he had already booked one for the weekend.

Ruby warned Victor that Babs would not be happy when she found out.

Victor was apprehensive as Ruby grew closer to Lorcan and attempted to steal her attention from him.

Lorcan was disappointed when Ruby chose to help Victor over hanging out with him.

Babs was dismayed when she found out about the stall. Unsettled by Darren’s thievery, Nikki started to lay down the law with Darren and Kim – to Cass’s apprehension.

A WIMBLEDON star had to retire with a freak injury after trying to catch the ball.

Robert Galloway and Aldila Sutjiadi teamed up in the mixed doubles.

BBC

Robert Galloway tried to take a routine catch off a let serve[/caption]

BBC

The American indicated that the ball had jammed the end of his finger[/caption]

BBC

A physio came to check on the stricken star[/caption]

They faced British duo Joshua Paris and Eden Silva on Court 18 on Sunday.

However, Galloway had to withdraw from the match at the end of the first set because of his finger being in agony.

Facing Paris’ serve at 3-2, the ball clipped the net on its way into the service box, prompting a let.

So with the ball dead and out of play, and the direction changed by the let cord, Galloway tried to save time by grabbing the tennis ball as it hurtled towards him.

But while the incident happens in many matches, it very rarely leads to anything of note.

However, on this occasion, Galloway, 32, did not take the catch cleanly.

Instead, the ball jarred the end of his finger awkwardly.

And that immediately left the American wincing in pain and shaking his hand in agony.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

Galloway knew something was wrong and at the next change of ends, signalled to his camp that he had done damage.

Both his partner and opponents looked on worried as the Wimbledon physio was called to come and check on him.

Galloway – the world No37 in doubles – soldiered on until the end of the first set, which they lost on a tie-break.

And he then decided it was too much to carry on and retired hurt in sad scenes.

British pair Paris and Silva will face Sem Verbeek and Katerina Siniakova in the quarter-finals.

Ironically, Galloway was put back on Court 18 for Monday’s order of play in the men’s doubles.

He and partner Yuki Bhambri are due to face No4 seeds and French Open champions Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in round three of the men’s doubles.

BBC

He dropped the ball after it caught his finger awkwardly[/caption]

BBC

Galloway immediately knew something was wrong[/caption]

BBC

He tested out the finger at the change of ends[/caption]

BBC

They played until the end of the set before he had to retire[/caption]

Getty

Joshua Paris and Eden Silva progressed in unusual fashion[/caption]

WIMBLEDON have apologised for a failure of its all-electric hawkeye system during Sonay Kartal’s match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

The Russian star was left fuming after a point was replayed when the hawkeye system failed to register a shot which had been out of bounds.

Kartal’s forehand at game point to Pavluchenkova in the ninth game of the opener was clearly out but there was no call from the electronic officials.

With both players perplexed, German umpire Nico Helwerth halted play for three minutes as TV replays showed the non-call was totally wrong.

Eventually, Helwerth announced: “The electronic system was unable to track the last point”, ordering a replay, which saw Pavlyluchenkova volley wildly and eventually lose serve again.

She then complained that, “you took the game away from me” due to the the failure.

And Wimbledon chiefs have since apologised for the issue and revealed what caused the problem.

A spokesperson for the All England Club commented: “Following the Pavlyuchenkova vs Kartal match, we have had the opportunity to undertake further investigation, including speaking to the players, Chair Umpire, Hawk-Eye operators and Review Official.

“It is now clear that the live ELC system, which was working optimally, was deactivated in error on part of the server’s side of the court for one game by those operating the system.

“In that time there were three calls not picked up by live ELC on the affected part of the court.

“Two of these were called by the Chair Umpire, who was not made aware that the system had been deactivated.

“Following the third, the Chair Umpire stopped the match and consulted with the Review Official. It was determined that the point should be replayed.

“The Chair Umpire followed the established process.

“We have apologised to the players involved.

“We continue to have full confidence in the accuracy of the ball tracking technology.

“The live ELC system relies on the Hawk-Eye operators, the Review Official and the technology to work in harmony. This did not happen.

“In this instance there was a human error and as a consequence we have fully reviewed our processes and made the appropriate changes.”

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..

The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.

WHEN former prisoner Raoul Moat shot PC David Rathband in the face, he not only blinded the traffic cop but also blew apart his family life – and effectively triggered his death.

It is 15 years since the crazed gunman went on a shooting spree, wounding his ex, murdering her new partner and sparking a week-long manhunt across the north of England.

PA:Press Association

Crazed killer Raoul Moat[/caption]

Jon Bond -The Sun

PC David Rathband in hospital after he was shot by Moat[/caption]

Neil Jones - The Sun

Darren Rathband is now in touch with his niece, Mia[/caption]

After issuing a threat to the police that he would kill an officer, Moat crept up on PC Rathband’s parked patrol car on the outskirts of Newcastle and blasted him at close range.

From that moment, traumatised David’s life fell apart, and just 20 months later — after his wife Kath walked out on their 20-year marriage — he took his own life.

In the aftermath of his death in 2012 at the age of only 44, his family were barely speaking to each other.

But on the 15th anniversary of the shootings, PC Rathband’s twin brother Darren exclusively revealed to The Sun how he is now in contact with David’s 26-year-old daughter Mia.

He said: “Every day without David is a s**t day, so an anniversary isn’t something to celebrate.

“But thankfully I’ve just started talking to Mia again.

“It’s beautiful — she’s had a little boy, Ronnie, who looks the spit of my brother, and when I spoke to her she said, ‘Come here, somebody’s on the phone’.

“He came on and looked at me and went, ‘Oh Grandad!’.

“I started crying and Mia started crying.

“Three weeks later, she rang me again and said, ‘Just hold on a minute, somebody wants to meet you’.

“Mia turned the camera away to her lap and there was a little baby, a week old.

Chilling warning

“I hate getting really emotional — I’m a typical bloke.

“You just put it to the back of your mind and try to get on with it.

“It’s been 15 years and it’s still raw.

“But I knew Mia would always reach out.

“She told me, ‘You’re the closest thing I’ve got of my father — I need to ask you some questions’.

“She said, ‘I’m really struggling to remember things about my dad because I was 13 at the time’.

“I said, ‘Ring me and you can ask me anything — any questions.

“I’ll tell you the truth, I’m really grateful that we are in touch again’.”

To Darren, David will always be his big brother, although they were born just two minutes apart.

They were inseparable while growing up in Staffordshire, where they both later joined the police.

David moved to Northumberland, while Darren emigrated to South ­Australia, where he served with the force in Adelaide.

It was the release of Moat from Durham Prison on July 1, 2010, after he had served an 18-week sentence for assault, that led to the terrible chain of consequences for David.

Two days after he got out, Moat shot and wounded his former girlfriend ­Samantha Stobbart, then killed her new partner Chris Brown, who Moat wrongly believed was a policeman.

Moat then sent a chilling warning to the Northumbria force that he was “hunting down police”.

The force did not issue a warning to its officers, and PC Rathband, who should not have been on duty that night, was blasted with a sawn-off shotgun by Moat, who had crept up to his car parked in the ­Newcastle suburb of Denton Burn.

Nearly a week later, the net was closing on Moat following an occasionally bizarre search that involved TV survival expert Ray Mears and former footballer Paul “Gazza” Gascoigne, who claimed he knew Moat and offered to take him “chicken and lager” in an attempt to convince him to surrender.

After a six-hour stand-off with police, Moat shot himself dead near the market town of Rothbury.

Jon Bond -The Sun

David seen weeks after the shooting with wife Kath and their children Ashley, left, and Mia[/caption]

PA:Press Association

The crime scene tent after the shooting of Moat’s ex and her new partner[/caption]

Darren, 56, said: “Honestly, if they set what happened to music it would be the Keystone Cops.

“They didn’t put out a warning to officers there was a man out to kill police.

“Chief Constable Sue Sim held a public meeting in Rothbury with the door wide open while a madman with a gun was on the loose.

“And they walked Ray Mears in, dressed in a ­sergeant’s uniform.

“Then the fiasco with Gazza turning up with a fishing rod and cans of beer, wanting to talk to Moat.”

Darren believes not enough was done for David in the aftermath of the shooting.

He said: “David got shot square in the face.

“He was seen as a hero, he had survived with a bit of pride.

“But Northumbria Police breached their own human resources welfare policy because they were supposed to give him counselling.

“They were ­supposed to get him to return to work, but they never did any of it.”

After David had travelled to ­Australia to visit Darren, he returned home in February 2012 and hanged himself at his home in Blyth.

Darren said: “I was surprised he lived as long as he did.

“I knew eventually he would take his own life.

“I’m proud of him because he made the decision, not Raoul Moat.

“He decided he’d had enough.

“He couldn’t deal with being blind and he had the strength of character, because it [suicide] is hard.”

Poignantly, Darren also spoke about having his own suicidal thoughts.

He said: “I’ve thought about it every day since he died and I haven’t done it, because I can’t do it.”

Wrong place at wrong time

And Darren believes that if David had received proper aftercare, he would still be here to enjoy life with his grandchildren.

He said: “David should have had counselling from the time it happened.

“Anyone injured in the line of duty should be sent to a medical ­professional without delay to assess if they have PTSD.

“Police officers never ask for help because, if they do, they’re made to feel like a leper.

“If they made it ­mandatory, then that stigma about mental health gets taken away because everybody has to go.”

When David was in Australia, he told his brother that all he wanted was to be able to “book off” the shift — the customary end to an officer’s work period — which he had never ­completed because of Moat.

So after his death, Darren planned to book David off shift at Newcastle’s Etal Lane police station as his coffin was being carried to a memorial ­service at the city’s cathedral.

But Darren says he was told he could not go inside the station, so instead he officially booked Tango Charlie 190 — PC Rathband — off shift in the car park.

He said: “I also asked the Chief Constable in one of our meetings, ‘Can you posthumously make him Sergeant, because he’d qualified for the promotion?’. That never happened.”

During our 90-minute conversation, I accidentally called Darren by his late brother’s name.

But when I apologised profusely, he said: “You aren’t the first and hopefully you won’t be the last.

“People calling me David is a tonic, it’s just like he’s still here.

“I don’t want people to forget him.”

Now Darren is backing a drive, the 999 Injured And Forgotten campaign, to create a medal for the thousands of other emergency service personnel who have been discharged from service due to injury in the line of duty.

He said: “David survived being shot in the face and if he had decided to live and left the force because of his injuries, he would not have got a medal to show he’d served.

“There are more than 16,000 other police officers who, when they have had to leave through injury, don’t even get a ­certificate.

“The only way you get a medal is if you die in the line of duty and you receive the new Elizabeth Emblem.

Every day without David is a s**t day, so an anniversary isn’t something to celebrate. But thankfully I’ve just started talking to Mia again. It’s beautiful

Darren Rathband

“Or if you display bravery, you will get a medal for gallantry, like the George Cross.

“But if you are injured on duty and you don’t complete enough years for a long-service medal, you don’t get any recognition.

“Nobody would ever know that you’ve ever done any service.

“There’s nothing for officers like David, who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

He added: “My dream is to get a medal for David and give it to Mia’s children.”

PA:Press Association

Darren is comforted by fiancée Angie Stephenson at a memorial service in 2012[/caption]