TRAIN fares in Britain will go up by an average of 3.1 per cent next year.

Virgin Trains fares and West Midlands Railway's regulated fares are expected to increase by 3.2 per cent.

Chiltern Railway fares are going up by 2.8 per cent, while CrossCountry ticket prices are set for a 3.2 per cent rise.

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Dudley News:

Winter deaths have hit their highest level in 40 years. Photo by PA

CHARITIES and health organisations have demanded action after official figures showed excess winter deaths hit their highest level in more than 40 years last winter, with the elderly worst affected.

Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows there were an estimated 50,100 excess winter deaths in England and Wales in 2017/18 – the highest recorded since winter 1975/76.

The increase is thought to be down to the flu, the effectiveness of the flu vaccine and the particularly cold weather seen last winter.

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Dudley News:

Christmas at Windsor Castle. Photo by PA

THE festive season has officially arrived at Windsor Castle with beautiful Christmas trees and decorations created by royal staff for visitors.

From Saturday, royal fans visiting the Queen’s Berkshire home can see a 23ft fir tree covered in gold decorations and around 7,000 lights in the castle’s majestic St George’s Hall.

Staff from the Royal Household have spent the past few days erecting the tree, a smaller fir in the nearby crimson drawing room, and other decorations throughout the state apartments to celebrate Christmas.

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