Warburtons and Morrisons have teamed up to give away thousands of free crumpets to anyone who ‘asks for Ellen’ this summer.
After first introducing it to huge success back in July of last year during the school holidays, and then yet again for the Easter break back in March, Bolton-born bakery Warburtons has decided to join forces with supermarket chain Morrisons for a third this summer to relaunch the popular ‘Ask for Ellen’ initiative.
A whopping 100,000 portions crumpets are set to be served up to hungry families free of charge over the next couple of weeks.
The relaunching of the popular initiative means that anyone and everyone who ‘asks for Ellen’ at one of the 395 Morrisons cafes across the UK will be given toasted crumpets with a choice of topping, completely for free with “no questions asked”.
The offer will be available all day every day from 5-25 August, while stock lasts.
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Warburtons and Morrisons are giving 100,000 free crumpets across the UK this summer (Credit: Morrisons)
If you’re unfamiliar with the ‘Ask for Ellen’ initiative, it aims to help “alleviate holiday hunger” and works to ease the additional financial strain that is often put on parents, carers, and guardians when children are not at school.
400,000 portions of free crumpets have already been provided as part of the much-needed scheme since it first launched, and even more are set to be given away over these next couple of weeks.
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Chris Strong, who is the Morrisons Cafe Senior Buying Manager, says the supermarket retailer is “thrilled” to collaborating with Warburtons to “bring this fantastic campaign to life once again” over the next couple of weeks.
Anyone and everyone who ‘asks for Ellen’ will get free toasted crumpets with a topping / Credit: Morrisons
“As a family-run business, we have always fostered a strong sense of community,” added Warburtons’ Chairman, Jonathan Warburton, “and that’s why we are so proud to bring back ‘Ask for Ellen’ for a fourth time.
“Since launching last year, we will have served almost half a million portions of crumpets, including the 100,000 portions this summer holiday.”
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As well as running the ‘Ask for Ellen’ initiative, Morrisons is also continuing to provide its ‘Kids Eat Free’ promotion all day, every day, throughout the summer holidays too, meaning families can get a free kids meal when purchasing an adult meal that costs £5 or more.
To get your free Warburtons crumpets this summer, all you’ll need to do is head down to your nearest Morrisons Cafe and ‘ask for Ellen’.
Featured Image – Warburtons
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Rio Ferdinand is stepping away from TNT Sports after more than a decade
Danny Jones
Manchester United legend and ex-England international Rio Ferdinand has announced he will be stepping away from TNT Sports, leaving more than a decade with the broadcaster.
Ferdinand has spent the best part of the last 10 years serving as a leading pundit and analyst, as well as hosting his own ‘Rio Meets’ online series – the interview format of which has been replicated on his YouTube channel.
However, after having been one of their main anchors both under the BT Sport and even more so since the inception of the rebranded TNT Sports Football umbrella, the 46-year-old has confirmed he has now quit their regular coverage following the Champions League final this weekend.
In a lengthy statement on social media, the ex-Man United defender, who also played for Leeds, West Ham, Bournemouth and QPR, described it as a “difficult decision.”
Taking time to thank the network for their “tremendous support” over the years, especially those “behind the scenes, whose work often goes unseen but has been essential to our success.”
The talented centre-back retired in May 2015 after more than 500 appearances and 81 national team caps, making an almost immediate switch into punditry and remaining a household name.
Rio has also remained a popular figure at Old Trafford and, indeed, across various parts of Manchester since leaving United in 2014.
For instance, his self-titled Foundation has carried out some truly transformational local outreach across various boroughs, as it has back in his home city of London.
Responding to the news, TNT Sports said nothing more than “Thanks for everything, Rio”; meanwhile, fellow former Red, Danny Simpson (who retired last year and also works as a pundit/presenter for MUTV) added: “You’re going to be missed, bro. Every time you’re on, you give us all the mad insight.”
However, he has promised he will remain in the media industry, continuing to work under the Rio Ferdinand Presents digital brand and pursuing “other business interests”.
With his ‘Rio Reacts’ and ‘Vibe with FIVE’ series regularly raking in millions of views, he might not be on the box during European nights but you’ll still be seeing plenty of him.
Rare bat-eared foxes have arrived at Chester Zoo for the first time in more than 30 years
Emily Sergeant
It’s time to say a big hello, as rare bat-eared foxes have now arrived at Chester Zoo.
The two sisters, named Maasai and Malindi, have been welcomed by conservationists after travelling more than 500 miles from a zoo in Paris, and they are the first mammals of their kind to come to Chester Zoo in more than 30 years.
First images show the pair exploring their home in the zoo’s new Heart of Africa habitat – which officially opened to the public back in March, and is the largest zoo development ever undertaken in the UK, spanning more than 22.5 acres in size.
The adorable – but rather unique-looking – bat-eared fox is named after its distinctive oversized ears and is native to the open savannahs and arid grasslands of eastern and southern Africa.
They live for around 13 years on average, and their characteristically large ears help regulate their body temperature and enhance their incredible hearing, allowing them to prey like detect insects moving underground.
The species faces increasing threats in the wild, largely due to the loss of their habitat caused by agriculture, human encroachment, and hunting.
This is why Chester Zoo has long been at the forefront of protecting African wildlife.
Its teams’ have been supporting everything from the safe translocation of northern giraffes to protected national parks in Uganda, to developing cutting-edge AI trail cameras to protect giant pangolins from illegal trafficking in recent years.
Bat-eared foxes have arrived at Chester Zoo for the first time in 30 years / Credit: Chester Zoo
“It’s incredibly exciting to welcome bat-eared foxes back to Chester Zoo after a 30-year hiatus,” commented David White, who is the Twilight Team Manager at Chester Zoo.
“Both Maasai and Malindi are settling in well so far, spending much of their time exploring their expansive home and getting to know their new housemates – a family of twelve Cape porcupines. These two species would often come across one another in the wild, so we’ve recreated this right here at Chester.
“In time, we hope to introduce one of the two sisters to a male fox, with the hope that we can contribute to the European conservation breeding programme, helping to ensure there’s a healthy, genetically diverse back-up population in human care.
Emily Sergeant -
30th July 2024 
