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Joshua Aitken
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Northumberland foster carers praise Dolly Parton's free book scheme
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which sends a free book each month to children under five, is being praised by foster carers and education workers in Northumberland and Cumbria. Carers say the books improve children's speech and literacy, provide comfort and continuity, and help strengthen relationships. The programme has distributed more than 300 million books worldwide, including over seven million in the UK, and Northumberland County Council automatically enrols eligible foster carers.
Newcastle Couple Lose £370 in Whitley Bay QR Code Parking Scam
Jess Hagan and her fiancé, Jake Freeman, lost £370 after using a fraudulent QR code to pay for parking at the Spanish City car park in Whitley Bay. The scam website closely imitated RingGo and appeared to process the payment, but the couple later discovered five unauthorized bank transactions. RingGo says it never places QR codes on parking signs and advises drivers to use its secure app and report suspicious codes. The couple notified their bank and the Financial Conduct Authority, while North Tyneside Council urged motorists to report similar scams.