7 March - 13 March 2023

Ten arrested for robbing local Ukrainian refugees

a stamp collection valued at around half a million euros, jewellery and computers. the detainees, of russian and Ukrainian nationality, targeted the victims because they usually bring all their savings and valuables with them when fleeing the war-torn country. the operation began after a series of robberies in torrevieja and orihuela costa.

the police arrested ten suspects, seizing cash, valuables, and weapons from them. the criminal ring came onto the radar of law enforcement last summer after the first reports emerged of robberies of the homes of Ukrainian refugees on Spain’s Mediterranean coast.

the modus operandi of the group involved careful planning and study of the daily routines of potential victims to make sure nobody was home during the raid. the suspects then used lockpicks and other tools to break into the homes they had scoped out, “without causing damage and leaving hardly any traces,” the police noted. the gang is suspected of using trackers placed on victims’ vehicles to “study their routines” and determine when they were not at home for lengthy periods of time.

Police said they had arrested seven Ukrainian nationals as part of the investigation and three russians - a couple and their adult son providing ‘logistical support’ for the robbers, including driving the team itself and the items stolen during the robberies. officer have not ruled out uncovering more victims and making more arrests.

Spain has welcomed 160,000 Ukrainian refugees, who have been granted temporary status protection after fleeing their war-torn country.

civil Guard officers have arrested ten people for seven alleged robberies at the homes of Ukrainian refugees in

the provinces of alicante and Murcia. Money and valuables worth 1.2 million euros were seized, including

Hospital staff Protest

doctors and nurses from torrevieja hospital took to the streets on Saturday to protest their treatment by the regional health authority. Members of the public and the Mayor of torrevieja joined the workers, with around 3,000 people taking part. the crowds gathered in front of the hospital and walked into the city of the city.

the demonstration is in response to the Minister of health’s decision to end a collective agreement put in place by the previous management company. the announcement came without warning and without any kind of negotiation or consultation. in response medical workers called a meeting and decided to take strike action at easter.

the threat of a down-tools during the first major holiday of the year, when tourist numbers increase the hospital workload, was enough to cause the Ministry to make a U-turn. the Minister for health recently announced the judicial order to cancel the agreement would be revoked and the agreement would stand. however, unions and workers are sceptical and have made it clear that the planned strike at easter will go ahead unless the Minister keeps his promise to withdraw the judicial order.

sex exploitation arrests in elche

a couple has been arrested in elche for the sexual exploitation of more than 120 women. according to reports from the national Police, the pair had set up several modelling and film agencies where victims, under the promise of successful professional careers, were sexually assaulted and forced into prostitution. they were even forced to carry location devices so the pair always knew where to find them.

the pair have been charged with crimes of sexual assault, coercive

prostitution and falsifying documents. the investigation began after one of the victims told police of her ordeal. She claimed to have been sexually exploited for more than five years. She said she had been too afraid the threatened repercussions to report her situation. the women were kept under control by sexual violence and death threats. the agencies were located in elche and novelda and police believe more victims may come forward.

Regional volunteer day

the Parque de las naciones in torrevieja played host to volunteers and associations from around the Valencia region on Saturday (4 March) for regional Volunteer day 2023. the event was organised by the Provincial council of alicante with the collaboration of the torrevieja council. around 20 local associations and nGos from other towns in the province

of alicante joined forces to raise awareness of their activities, as well as to promote volunteering as a key tool

in the construction of a good society. those working on behalf of cancer charities, food banks, helping those in need and animal shelters all took part.

the event was supported by members of the local community who enjoyed funday event including dancers, entertainment and children’s rides, activities, workshops, games and exhibitions.

March tourist tours

the councillor for tourism, María García, has presented the tourist routes for the month of March, which will feature the poet Miguel hernández. the programme started on 5th March, with the hernandiana route, which will be repeated on 25th March at midday and leaves the Miguel hernández house-Museum and will be enlivened with poetry recitals by the orihuela Social Forum in the different stops that are made.

the 28th March, the day that is the 81st anniversary of the poet’s death, will see special commemorations with a “ tribute route to Miguel hernández”, during which there will also be poetry recitals. the tour will run twice during the day, at 10:30am and another at midday. on Sunday, 12thMarch, at 10:30am,

there will be a tour of the San isidro Murals that will also include a poetry recital and will stop at the most emblematic paintings in this open-air museum.

“obviously, this month’s routes have to have this theme and focuson Miguel hernández, so routes have been scheduled on different days so that everyone can enjoy the poet,” said María García.

the councillor for tourism explained that ‘various routes have been programmed to reach all audiences and all families’.

on Father’s day the route “ the minstrel and the stories of his home” will take place, aimed at family audiences. on Saturday, 11thMarch, there will be an activity in orihuela costa.

the councillor said: “We have renewed the Sendero azul

and it is a good opportunity to remember that we have a coast doing these tours, doing a little sport and enjoying our beaches is part of the orihuela experience.” this route will leave at 10:30am from cala Bosque, La Zenia. Finally, on 18thMarch at 10:30am the route “art through the churches” will take place.

“We always see the facades and the historical elements that are remembered, but there are works of art that we do not pay attention to,” Maria García explained.

“We have been certified as a relevant tourist municipality and we want to continue adding activities so that people come and visit and that tourists have an economic impact on the municipality,”the counciloradded.

Torrevieja hospital is a reference in Alicante

in the field of interventions with allograft bone and fresh cartilage

the knee unit of the University hospital of torrevieja has performed two new transplants with osteochondral allograft (bone and cartilage) in fresh and, thus, is positioned as the centre of the province of alicante that has made a greater number of transplants of this type, adding a total of 5 interventions.

it is an innovative biological alternative to the need for a knee prosthesis.

this joint reconstruction technique is indicated for young patients with severe and extensive cartilage lesions, such as adolescents with high-grade or large osteochondral lesions or young patients (under 45 years of age) with osteoarthritis for whom a prosthesis is not indicated.

“the problem with cartilage is that once it is damaged, it does not regenerate and cannot be repaired. this technique is highly complex and involves certain limitations and difficulties, but in many cases it is the only option for this type of patient for whom other techniques have failed or prosthesis is not an option,” says dr hugo Marquina, a specialist in orthopaedic surgery and traumatology at the knee unit of the University hospital of torrevieja.

Usually the osteoarticular

grafts are stored cryopreserved at -80ºc, but in these cases they are preserved at 4ºc and transplanted less than 3 weeks after extraction to maintain the viability of the tissue and allow proper osseointegration. the centre in torrevieja, which is managed directly by the

regional Ministry of health, is part of the network of training centres of the Spanish Knee Society (Serod). the centre offers the possibility of receiving specialists and residents from all over Spain to observe and learn the different techniques performed.

Alannia Costa Blanca will host charity music festival in March

Alannia Costa Blanca will be holding a charity music festival in March, where the most legendary English songs will be played

On Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th March, the Legends Charity Fiesta will take place, a music festival featuring a variety of musical shows and special activities, with all proceeds from ticket sales going to three charities.

alannia costa Blanca (crevillente), one of the camping resorts of alannia resorts (belonging to the Marjal Group), is hosting the Legends charity Fiesta music festival on 25th and 26th March, setting an important date for leisure in the Vega Baja and the province of alicante with a charitable purpose. attendees to this event, which will open its doors at 12:00h until 18:00h both days, will be able to enjoy first hand a total of 8 musical groups and live shows, 4 per day, which will be in charge of entertaining and making the

public enjoy with legendary songs in each of the days.

Charity music festival to collaborate with diverse charities.

the money earned from the sale of all the tickets will go towards financially collaborating with and raising the profile of 3 associations committed to different causes of social importance:

cruz roja crevillente, easy care horse rescue centre and rock against cancer.

the bands playing at alannia costa Blanca on Saturday 25th March will be cher tribute Show, abba tribute Show, Fakers Quo - Status Quo tribute Show and desperados - eagles tribute Show while on Sunday 26th you can listen to elvis tribute Show, Westlife tribute Show, il divo tribute Show and Liverpool Band - Beatles tribute Show. a show of the most legendary songs. in addition, a number of special activities are planned to offer a much more complete experience with a car show, craft stalls and a full gastronomic

offer, but there will be more surprises to come.

About Grupo Marjal and Corpfin Capital Grupo Marjal is the company that manages all the alannia resorts together with corpfin capital. currently, the company has more than 2,000 accommodation places in the different bungalow or plot offers. the brand’s objective is to continue its expansion by adding establishments that meet the chain’s parameters and are willing to join a project.

corpfin capital, an independent private equity fund manager, supports growth and consolidation projects of companies, having so far promoted more than 50 business projects in a wide variety of sectors for a total amount of around 1,000 million euros.

Alannia Costa Blanca have very kindly given the Costa Blanca People 10 tickets for this event.

To be in with a chance of winning one of these tickets email “WIN ALANNIA” to Claire@costablancapeople. com or WhatsApp “WIN ALANNIA” to 607031113

Deadline for the draw will be Friday 10th March and winners will be announced in 14th March edition.

Your Financial and Legal Affairs – Take Control

if you are new to Spain, thinking about making your home here or have been living here for a while, but have not organised your affairs, then this event could be just what you need. even if you have made your will, pay your taxes, your savings are invested and you have control of your pensions and you have a currency transfer option, it’s always a good idea to review things regularly. if you a still thinking about a funeral plan, it’s definitely time to act.

the event will take place in the wonderful clubhouse restaurant by the La Marquesa Golf club in ciudad Quesada on thursday 9th March starting at 10.30am. there will be presentations by local experts followed by a question and answer session. the speakers will be on hand to answer any individual questions you may have, as well as arranging follow up meetings if required.

our special guest speaker is derek Monks, a councillor from rojales town hall who will be on hand to talk about tie card renewal locally as well being on hand to answer your general queries.

the Seagate team has a wealth of experience in providing advice on all aspects of savings, investment and pension options. come along and chat to an adviser in an informal atmosphere.

My Lawyer in Spain are offering a free half hour consultation to all those who attend and need to discuss their legal or tax affairs with a lawyer.

currencies direct will be on hand to provide advice on currency transfers, especially aimed at those people who prefer to sit down with a person, rather than use an app.

avalon will be talking about how the funeral system here in Spain differs from the UK and will be available to discuss individual needs.

attendance is free, however places are limited so please call 965 704 338 or email: contact@ SeagateWealth.es to reserve your place.

Expat Seminar

Derek Monks, Rojales Councillor

Derek will be on hand to advise about local tie card renewal.

Pedro San Nicolás from My Lawyer in Spain

Pedro will discuss resident taxes, Modelo 720, the importance of having a Spanish will, as well as non Lucrative and digital nomad Visas.

Glenda Edwards from Seagate Wealth Management

Glenda will outline various saving and investment options for Spanish tax residents along with pension options.

David Pritchard from Currencies Direct

David will outline how to save the most money whilst transferring your money to and from Spain as well as simplifying your currency transfers.

Rebecca Laurie from Avalon

Rebecca will outline what is a funeral plan, who are avalon, changes to the funeral planning industry and the various avalon plans.

The deadline for obtaining housing aid to alleviate situations of special vulnerability is now open

the department of Social Welfare of the city of torrevieja reports that on Monday, February 27, was published in the official Gazette of the Province (BoP) that the call for aid in housing to alleviate situations of special vulnerability. the deadline for the presentation of aid will be open until 31 March and is endowed with a total amount of 88,749 euros, to process the aid to be presented.

this aid is intended to provide housing solutions for people who meet the following requirements:

a) Be registered in the municipality of torrevieja.

b) Be especially vulnerable people:

- Victims of gender violence

- Victims of trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

- Victims of sexual violence

- evicted from their habitual residence homeless

- asylum seekers, refugees, stateless persons, those under the temporary protection

regime or other subsidiary protection statutes.

- other especially vulnerable people, who are considered as such according to an assessment issued by the council’s primary care social services, in which the personal circumstances that make the granting of aid advisable are attended to and assessed, such as people with mental health problems, functional diversity, young people released by the Generalitat, elderly people, ex-prisoners, asylum seekers, vulnerable migrants and other similar situations.

- Persons who have become vulnerable because the net income of the whole cohabitation unit has been substantially reduced in the two years prior to the application for aid, so that it does not exceed 3 times the iPreM and the effort to pay the rent exceeds 30% of the net income of the cohabitation unit.

(c) the rented dwelling or the

property that is the object of the aid must be the habitual residence of the person receiving the aid.

d) in the case of renting, the tenant or any of those who have their habitual residence in the rented dwelling must not be related to the person who is the lessor of the dwelling to the first or second degree of consanguinity or affinity, except in exceptional situations justified by the social services. neither may the lessee be a member of the natural or legal person acting as lessor.

e) those persons or cohabitation units who have a dwelling in ownership or in usufruct, which they can occupy after accreditation of the status of victim of gender violence or eviction from their habitual dwelling or consideration as particularly vulnerable and whose occupation is compatible with these situations, may not be beneficiaries.

Thousands of people enjoy the Viii National Artichoke Congress in Almoradi

the Viii almoradí national artichoke congress held this weekend was a great success. the Plaza de la constitución has welcomed thousands of people who have been able to enjoy the extensive program that has been developed during these two days, where there have been children’s workshops, showcookings, tastings, tapas or live music, all done with great effort by the city council with the help of restaurants, bars, associations and clubs that have offered a multitude of visitors the best of each one, all with the artichoke as the protagonist.

during this Sunday the festival has taken a popular character in charge of the agrupación huertana del Bajo Segura and other invited clubs such as the Moto abuela club and MotoPeña Los alcasiles with a meeting, preceded by a Macro Workshop of healthy cooking with artichoke by the cdt of torrevieja, with the participation of more than a hundred children.

in addition this day has premiered an activity, the Parade

of entry to the enclosure of Peñas and associations with the dyosa cynara, accompanied by the Musical Union of almoradí. about this new figure, the dyosa cynara explained the councillor for tourism, José antonio Latorre that “according to legend, Zeus saw a beautiful maiden named cynara, fell in love with her and decided to take her with him to Mount olympus to make her a

the associations and clubs collaborating in the event, and the Mayoress, María Gómez, also presented the “Joyero de la alcahofa” award to the chef Koldo royo, Michelin-starred chef, writer and gastronomic consultant, as well as television presenter and celebrity on tik tok and instagram, with more than a million followers who, through his experience in almoradí and applauding the work done with the jewel of the vegetable garden, has put this congress on the national map, highlighting “that here the artichoke is cared for in the fields, the ecology is cared for and it is cared for in the kitchen”.

goddess, but cynara missed her family and ended up returning to her island, enraged by the spite, Zeus turned her into artichoke”, so the parade has had a lot of expectation around this legendary goddess. afterwards, the town hall recognised the work of all

the musical note on this second day of the event was provided by Black night rock Band, turning this crowded square into a very charming place that brings together more and more people every year, consolidating itself as a gastronomic and festive reference point on a national level, as in this eighth edition people have come from all over Spain.

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RBF announces Ozuna, Bryant Myers and Lunay as first artists for his concets in Torrvieja on 5 and 6 August

the Mayor of torrevieja, eduardo dolon, along with the councillor for Youth, domingo Paredes, the director of reggaeton Beach Festival (rBF), ernest hidalgo, and the local co-producer of rBF, Lalo diez, attended a press conference to present the concerts that, for the first time in the history of the largest urban music event in europe, will also stop in torrevieja on 5 and 6 august, in the Park of antonio Soria.

rBF announced the first artists of the great international line-up that will land in this enclave of the costa Blanca this summer, such as oZUna, the Puerto rican superstar, friend and collaborator of Shakira and one of the great icons of reggaeton for almost a decade.

ozuna will headline the reguetón Beach Festival on the first day of the festival, 5 august. it will be his first time performing at the rBF and he has more than 50 million monthly plays on music platforms and is well known for tracks such as te pienso, Monotonía with Shakira and taki taki with Selena Gómez, the latter of which has more than a billion plays on Spotify.

two slightly younger compatriots will also be present: BrYant MYerS, pioneer of Latin trap, collaborator of Bud Bunny, anUeL aa, author

of hits such as tanta Falta or nocturna and LUnaY, another emerging talent from the island who recorded with Bud Bunny and daddy Yankee the famous Soltera and other hits such as Bandida or Le gusta que la vean. rBF spokespeople also reminded us that it is much more than a two-day music festival, a unique experience that combines an exceptional atmosphere with concerts by the most relevant international artists of the moment and a host of complementary activities: water attractions, batucadas and parades, dance, Zumba and selfdefence classes, chill out areas, swimming pool, food trucks with all kinds of gastro proposals, make-up and hairdressing workshops, stands of small local businesses and much more. everything that has made rBF, in its short history, the most popular and best rated festival among Spaniards, and which this year is expected to attract up to 600,000 people. the rBF tour will also stop in 2023 in asturias, Barcelona, Benidorm, Galicia, Madrid, Mallorca, Marbella, Marina d’or, Santander, tenerife, etc. Strategic agreement for torrevieja

For his part, the mayor, eduardo dolon stressed the importance of this strategic agreement for torrevieja, “which

gives a leap and places the city in the national circuit of major festivals. a choice that has influenced its tourist projection, its territory and its local business network, with a cuisine and entertainment that are the perfect complement to rBF.

in addition, “it is to generate a medium and long term agreement with an international project that in a few years has put the sold out sign in their events repeatedly, with a city that has everything you need both in terms of infrastructure and institutional support to move forward a great festival like this “ as the rBF tour is present in the most important tourist destinations in our country torrevieja could not be an exception and this year has entered the great family of rBF. a family that carefully defends values such as sustainability, safety, respect for the environment and neighbours, the promotion of local commerce, social awareness and the fight against any kind of abuse against women.

Pre-sale tickets sold out in just a few hours, so this new torrevieja event is expected to sell out in record time.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the official festival website: reggaetonbeachfestival.com.

Our son and his wife had a little boy two months ago, providing us with our first grandchild. We were thrilled, but things quickly turned sour. I had been unemployed for several months and wanted to get back to work; my daughter in law wanted to return to work, and it was somehow assumed by them that I would be a full time babysitter to our grandson. It was never mentioned, apart from the fact that we said we wouldn’t mind baby sitting every now and again so that they could have a break. When I told my son that I’d got a new job, all hell broke loose and my daughter in law screamed it had ruined their lives. The other grandma and granddad work, and they are not coming in for the same flack. My husband had a word with our son, but he refuses to back down, and is not speaking to me, and has said that we will no longer be part of the child’s life. I am thinking I should give in, but my husband says we shouldn’t.

grandchildren can be used as a stick to wield over grandparents, and of course it’s very unfair. You say there was no agreement to babysit before you got offered your new job, so no promises have been broken. If you give in, you will always be treated this way; however, your son has already threatened you with not seeing

your grandchild. They may need time to let off some steam, so state your case, and let them know that everyone needs to work, and you cannot afford not to, so matters are out of your hands. I assume they weren’t going to pay you to look after their child. Tell them you will be on hand to help in other ways when you are not working and the door is always open.

That’s quite harsh. Sometimes Write to Sara in confidence. a p S eudonym W ill be u S ed if you WiS h. Sara read S all letter S and can give a per S onal reply. e mail your que S tion to S ara@ co S tablancapeople.com or Sara i S available for private con S ultation S, telephone 650 054 467.

The awards of the integral system of tourist quality of destinations (siCTed) have been presented.

in the real club nautico de torrevieja (rcnt ) was the delivery of the awards of the integral System of tourism Quality in destinations (Sicted) 2023, in recognition of the effort and commitment to tourism quality of various companies in the town. the Mayor of torrevieja, eduardo dolon, the councillor for tourism, commerce and hospitality, rosario Martinez, and the director of the tourism centre of alicante (cdt ), antonio crespo, on behalf of the regional Secretary of tourism, Francesc colomer, have delivered these awards. a total of 33 tourist services have been recognised, 6 of them have been distinguished for the first time (adventure Boat, La terracica torrevieja, Mar time, náufragos Beach club, taxi 77 and Varadero Salinas) and 27 have renewed their distinction: ( aquópolis torrevieja, apartamentos turísticos Fresno, andrés norte, club náutico Marina internacional, hipopótamo 1 and 2 centro de Lavado torrevieja, hotel Fontana Plaza, hotel Masa internacional, hotel Playas de torrevieja, hotel Spa/ Golf doña Monse, irish Pub

Shannon, Kiosco estefi, Mar holidays, Marina Salinas de torrevieja, odisea diving, Parque natural de La Matatorrevieja, Pizzería nº1, Playa de los náufragos, Playa del cura, Playa cabo cervera, Playa cala Piteras, Policía Local del ayuntamiento de torrevieja, real club náutico torrevieja, restaurante nautilus, tourist info torrevieja, Viajes La Valise and Wash & More).

of the 37 trades covered by this quality system, 16 are represented in torrevieja, with restaurants being the most numerous with 18 distinguished, followed by Bars and cafeterias (15) and commerce (9).

of the 74 distinguished tourist services, 6 municipal dependencies participate in this project (4 beaches, Public Safety and the tourist office), as well as the natural Park of La Mata-torrevieja, having a total of 8 services with the Q of tourist Quality.

the integral System of tourist Quality in destination, hereinafter Sicted, is a programme promoted by the Secretary of State for tourism, through the autonomous communities and the Spanish Federation of Municipalities

and Provinces (FeMP), whose main objective is to achieve a homogeneous level of quality of tourist services, both those strictly tourist services and those which, without being so, contribute to the formation of the tourist experience of the destination. torrevieja joined this system in 2014 in which turisme comunitat Valenciana finances the training, advice and evaluation services involved in the implementation of this system, so it does not involve any cost for tourist services; all this through the collaboration agreement that maintains the regional administration with the chambers of commerce of alicante.

For those companies and tourist services interested in learning about this quality system or in joining it, they can make an appointment with the managers responsible for Sicted at the tourist office located in Paseo Vista alegre, on telephone number 96.570.34.33, by e-mail request: sicted@ turismodetorrrevieja.com or through the web: www. calidadendestino.es., from today until 17th March, in order to be able.

if you have a question or problem with any household technology needing my help or want to join the technology help Group please email Brian at cbtechnology.help@gmail. com.

as a group member, you would have access to the group website which contains previous session notes, and handouts and access to previous costa Blanca People published articles.

Scan the Qr for a reminder of what the costa Blanca technology help Group offers.

“I have a problem with my laptop. Can you help me”??” Yes, of course. i can come to you if you are not too far from me. i don’t charge for my time, but i do need my travelling expenses to be paid. if not feasible then there is another option. if you download and install teamViewer on your computer and give me a contact phone number, i can help you remotely. When teamViewer is installed i will then need your id and password. With this, i can display

Your tech questions answered by Brian Hoile of the Costa Blanca Technology Help Group, helping over 320 members with their PCs , smartphones and more. Group members can attend meetings in person or online using Zoom or Teams.

your home screen on my computer.

We should then be in telephone contact so that i can talk you through what is happening. You are still able to control your computer but so can i. Very useful application for me to fix an issue or talk you through how to perform a particular task.

“A program on my laptop has frozen. What can I do?” if a program has “frozen” then you need to close it. there are 2 choices:

1. try to close the program using “task Manager”

2. “Press and hold” the Power button to turn off the laptop.

1. task Manager Press and hold ctrl + alt + del Select task Manager. in the task Manager window, you canthen tap the Process tab to see all running applications and processes incl. background processes in your computer. Select the application that has frozen and click end task button to terminate the frozen application.

2. “Press and hold” the Power button. after 10 seconds the laptop will turn off. this will erase the raM (random access

Memory) closing all active applications. When you next power up the laptop it will open up normally.

“How do I know if my Windows 10 laptop can be updated to Windows 11” hardware requirements are:

• Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with two or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or system on a chip (Soc).

• Memory: 4 gigabytes (GB) or greater.

• Storage: 64 GB or greater available disk space.

When you go to Settings “Update and Security” Select Windows Update. it either says your Pc can run Windows 11 or that it does not meet Windows 11 system requirements. if you cannot update to Windows 11 then Windows 10 will be supported with updates until october 2025 giving you time to save for a new computer if you think you need to. however, after Windows support ends in 2025 all you will need is to download and install an antivirus application of your choice.

Brian Hoile Technology Help Group

Celebrating international Women’s day

Wednesday 8th March is international Women’s day. this global awareness event pushes towards a gender equal world. a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. a world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. a world where difference is valued and celebrated.

the initiative has a strong focus on women in the workplace, aiming to create businesses where women thrive, with equal pay, the same opportunities and with inclusive work cultures.

Unfortunately, there is a current ‘rollback’ trend where companies are experiencing a reverse in gender

equality advancements. Women in leadership are leaving their jobs at the highest rate ever seen. the reasons, according to the Women in the Workplace 2022 report from Lean in and McKinsey & co., are due to employers not meeting the expectations of women leaders. these expectations include a

the Mind & Body work together & need to be balanced for us to function properly and cope with the stresses and strains of life. if we feel out of sync... this happens on average twice in our lives. to carry on and muddle through without getting help is madness nowadays as it’s so accessible.

this can be help to deal with stress and anxiety, to release trapped emotions, feelings and triggers, anger management, confidence issues, habits and addictions... the list is endless. But basically giving you back control of your life

We are all wired differently but help is there in the form of different therapies. We offer counseling, coaching, clinical hypnotherapy and Pain relief. Please contact us at changes therapy for a free 15 minute chat to see if we can help on 0034 608829557 or visit www.changesbyjacqui.com

workplace focus on flexibility, employee well-being, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

as a predominantly female-run business, to mark the event the costa Blanca People is running a special feature to celebrate the achievements of local women in business. there

are hundreds of businesses run by woman across the costa Banca. Businesses that despite the odds have survived economic slumps and global pandemics. We want to celebrate that achievement and raise awareness of their hard work, tenacity and business acumen.

indiana’s hair & Lash Boutique has been opened since august 2020 which was just after the lockdown. indiana was just 24 years old at the time and took the next step in her career to open her own salon in Benijofar. indiana has been a qualified hair stylist (nVQ) for the last 8 years having trained in Spain and London. She specializes in advanced cutting of short or long hair and all types of coloring.

two of the most demanding beauty treatments at indiana’s are offered by the lady herself, indiana is all about the lashes offering both individual eyelash extensions and LVL lash perming treatment. having trained in London her lash clients return again and again.

indiana’s salon also offers all beauty treatment including nails, waxing and facials. her salon is a little gem in the heart of Benijofar and is definitely worth a visit.

Myself and my dental surgeon husband ian Smith own a very busy dental practice called carredent in torrevieja. We moved to Spain with our 2 children 20 years ago leaving behind a successful 4 surgery practice in Manchester which we owned for 10 years.in the UK i trained as a nurse/oral health educator/practice manageress and radiographer. i have worked in dentistry for 36 years using my nursing and then management organisational skills. i am a team leader and many patients comment on my ability to multitask. i have a keen attention to detail and providing patients with the best service possible. i have previously trained numerous nurses to a very high standard which benefitted their careers in dentistry. all these skills we have continued at carredent and ensure all patients who attend are made to feel at ease and treated in a safe environment. this was proven in the difficult times of the pandemic, protecting the patients and their families by adhering to the strictest measures of health and safety. the patients are not only a client but many i now class as my friends.i think my motivation and competence shows in the success of our dental practice carredent.

debbie Wright opened euronics, the electric Shop at Blue Lagoon, 13 years ago and in that time has build a reputation for quality goods and excellent customer service. the business is a ‘one stop shop’ for all electrical household appliances and has a loyal and dedicated team serving the local communities.the team sells, delivers and installs euronics domestic appliances and has established a strong return-customer base.

debbie brings the perfect mix of capability, professionalism, strong management skills and a good sense of humour to the role, which endears her to staff and customers alike.

debbie said: “any business is only as good as its staff. My team and i have many years of customer service experience and we focus on offering the best customer service experience to our existing and future customers.”

tracy has lived overseas for over 20 years, 17 of them here on the costa Blanca. She is married with 2 children, amira and Luca, who were born here. Since moving overseas, she has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in both sales and customer service from her positions held with tUi, in the real estate industry, and now in her current role as account Manager at Smart currency exchange.

at Smart currency exchange, customer service is at the heart of our company. Whether you are buying or selling a property, or making small regular transfers for living costs, we are here to give you our expert advice.

Why don’t you give us a call on 966 392 539 or come in to our office in Benijofar, next to Muebles Ballester and see how we can help.

Jackie Frost

Alison Smith

Tracy Burns

Debbie Wright

Indiana Grogan

International

Kaye is the joint owner of MaJiK Mobiles in Benijofar. Along with her husband she has built her business through hard work and determination.

Starting the business back in May 2018, Kaye has taken MaJiK from strength to strength. She is an honest, focused, and a vibrant modern business woman who always takes pride in customer care and after sales. With her bright red hair and colourful ink she is certainly different to your average business woman. Kaye´s greatest strength is her pleasant nature and patience in understanding her customers needs. Kaye isn’t stopping there and is also venturing into the CBD business and is already helping many people here on the costa blanca.

Kaye´s motto has always been... “You walk into MaJiK as a customer and you leave as a friend”.

Glenda Edwards is a partner with Seagate Wealth Management. She graduated from the University of Abertay in 2000 and now has over 20 years’ experience in Finance Management and Services. She has a Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (ACCA - RQF Level 2) and CII qualification in Pensions and Retirement Planning (RO4).

On relocating from Scotland to the Costa Blanca in 2015 she has focused her career on providing financial knowledge and advice to the expat community. Her passion is to provide personalised, honest and independent financial advice and offer solutions to maximise individuals’ personal wealth, achieve their medium term goals and long term financial stability.

These traits fit perfectly with the core values of Seagate Wealth Management. For all your savings, investment and pension needs, pop into our office and have a chat with Glenda.

Natasha Grocutt is a passionate hairdresser, salon owner and hair educator with more than 37 years’ experience. After owning a chain of salon’s in the UK Tasha moved to Spain and established Hair O.T.T more than 18 years ago. Since then the salon has gone from strength-to-strength with clients traveling from all over the Costa Blanca and many visiting when on holiday from the UK and Northern Europe.

She has recently launched ‘Growing Hair from the Inside Out’ bespoke consultation service dedicated to working with women experiencing hair loss. The course aims toteach individual women how to encourage and optimise hair re-growth and to teach hair professionals how they can do the same for their clients.

Tash said: “I have celiac disease and as a result I started to lose my hair. This had a huge effect on my daily life. I worked my way through the complications and now I use my professional knowledge and skills to help women optimise their hair growth.”

At Clásicos Legendarios, my father and I run business shoulder to shoulder. We ensure your special vehicle is maintained, caring as if it were our own. As a family business, we provide a personal service and always make sure we go the extra mile. Customer satisfaction is our top priority. We have recently relocated to Cox to continue expanding our services tailoring to customers’ needs. We now offer a full body shop in addition to our mechanical workshop. Although specialising in Jaguar Land Rover and Classic Cars, we have recently upgraded our diagnostic system offering coverage for over 52 brands with back up support from UK based technicians.

Feel free to come visit us and see how we can help you with your motoring needs. On 11-12 March we will have a stand at the IFA classic car fair (exhibition centre by Alicante Airport)... come meet us!

Helen’s Trucks has been in business for 20 years this yearand are based in Crevillente, having just moved to larger premises. They specialise in local removals and moving goods between the UK and Spain and Vice Versa.

Helens Trucks provides a personal, friendly and quality service to their customers. Helen and Kevin, both believe it is very important to meet their customers face to face even when giving those initial estimates. “That way we can find out what the customer really wants and needs,” said Helen.

Helen’s Trucks have secure storage available at very good rates, for both short and long term. The warehouse is alarmed and insured also, for peace of mind.

Wrapping and packing can be undertaken by Helen’s Trucks or packaging can be supplied. They have just acquired, an Economic Operators Registration and Identification Number as of 2020.

Helen’s Trucks philosophy is, “It’s all about making moving easy and stress free.”

Tel: 965 400 616 or 667 815 08. Email: helenstrucks1@yahoo.co.uk.

Website: www.helenstrucks.com. Facebook: Helens Trucks.

My name is Grace, I am 25 years old and from Boston, Lincolnshire in England. I moved to Algorfa, Spain in August 2022 to take over the Hotel Algorfa. My father and I are currently working on renovations to the building to include heating the pool, opening all the bedrooms, creating a rooftop terrace and improving the already fabulous bar, restaurant and terrace area. We have been hosting regular entertainment events since opening to include live music every weekend, bingo on Tuesdays and a quiz on Wednesdays. We have 3 75’ screens with surround sound showing all live sports and hosting karaoke every week! Our kitchen is open from 8am daily and is a very popular hub for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We are known for our gorgeous sunsets that can be viewed from the terrace with our famous ‘Algorfa Sunset’ cocktail. We have recently been on ‘A New Life in The Sun’ on channel 4 and will be reappearing once renovations are underway so keep an eye on us and our transformation over the next coming months!

Kaye Hurst

Natasha Grocutt

Helen Armitage

Grace Truscott

Kirsty Saltiel

Glenda Edwards

Women’s Day 2023, 8th March

Being part of the Whelehan family, which established The Stray Sod bar in 2008, Aisling was no stranger to business, and seven years ago, opened sister business The Stray Sod Golf Tours which she runs with her partner Eddie.

The business has a second-to-none reputation for professional, personalised customer service and was awarded Best Golf Tour Operator in Spain, in the World Golf Awards in 2020 and 2022 and was shortlisted in 2021.

Stray Sod Golf Tours offers everything clients need for an annual group trip, even advising on the best courses. Each package is tailormade and all arranged by the expert team. This makes golfing holidays hassle free as well as excellent value with discounted green fees, competitive club hire, accommodation, airport and golf course transfers. The best booking prices and flexible payment allows clients to secure everything up to 1 year in advance, with no deposits or payments required until nearer the trip. The company also runs a successful golf society with reduced rate outings three times a month.

Just over a year ago, in Algorfa, a quiet little second hand shop with a good feel about it became available. Sue who was enjoying her singing in the evenings but looking for something to keep busy during the day snapped it up!

She gave the shop a total up lift, a brand new modern vibe to match the quality ‘Pre-loved’ clothes, shoes, bags and accessories she was selling there.

‘Back on the Rack’ as the shop is now known has a reputation for finding new homes for beautiful, quality condition preloved items; everything from designer & luxury to casual and formal. All at a fraction of the high street price tag!

What a great way to recycle clothes and items looking for a new home and treat yourself in the process

I moved to Spain with my now husband and 6 month old baby at the age of 21, leaving all my family behind and settling into a new country. For the first 6 years of being in Spain I was fortunate enough to be a stay at home mum.

Euroguard has always been a family run business but upon taking over the management of the company we have been able to grow and bring new ideas to this ever changing industry. From full house renovations, conservatories, porch infills or stunning glass curtians and railings we are able to provide it all. My husband and business partner Mat will design and build what our clients desire whilst I manage the office, orders, staff and I am also the clients point of contact. We could not do what we do without the support and hard work of our team and most importantly our fantastic clients. We have now been on the Costa Blanca for 22 years and here’s to another 22 more.

Karen, who is originally from Brighton came to live in Spain in 1988. Soon after she set up New2you, which is a 2nd hand furniture business based in Mar Azul, Torrevieja.

Karen opened the first shop with a small selection of furniture and over the years the business has expanded to now include three shops in Mar Azul plus a permanent shop at the Sunday morning Zoco market. Karen has built a reputation for providing good quality furniture at affordable prices. Karen and her team pride themselves on ensuring all of the furniture displayed is clean and well presented. New2you buy sell and part exchange and you will find a large selection of furniture available in all the shops with new stock arriving daily.

If you haven’t visited any of the shops, why not pop down and see what’s on offer!

Greetings. My name is Eli. I am 44 years old and mother of three beautiful children and I love combining work and raising children. I have a business in Alicante airport which is car parking for short and long term parking since 2015 which is called VipParking Alicante!

My role in our company is to prepare annual contracts, advise clients on their questions, answer emails, control booking and manage the staff. I like to be at work communicating with clients.

I first started with the company as a driver, preparing and washing cars for our customers and receiving and delivering cars to the airport. During this period we received a large number of regular customers and now we have grown into a large company with our services now being available at the airport, train station, port and bus station. Without the help of my husband and our family it would definitely not have been possible. Please give VipParking Alicante a try and I am sure you will be pleased with the service we offer. You can find our advert on the front page of the newspaper for all bookings.

Abbie Barratt is 30 years old and has lived in Spain for 20 years with her husband, who is Spanish and her two children aged 2 and 5. Abbie Started property conveyancing in 2013. Abbie is professional, ambitious, independent and a bubbly character.

In 2016 Abbie opened her own office, CONNECT CONVEYANCING, in La Finca Golf, Algorfa. This has now naturally progressed into also dealing with Real Estate CASAS CONNECT.

Abbie is supported by her fabulous young, efficient and enthusiastic team and is extremely proud of her company and the way the business is growing. Connect Conveyancing and Casas Connect have strong repeat business and friend referrals and also have a 5* rating on Google.

Aisling Whelehan

Linda Whiteman

Elizabeth Ismailova

Abbie Barratt

Karen Downing

Sue Greenwood

International Women’s Day 2023 8th

March

Chanade moved to Spain in 2004 and purchased a small bar in Benimar in 2006. In 2008, Chanade went on to manage the largest most successful bar in Dona Pepa until December 2023. Then in January 2023 Chanade opened her own bar in Quesada high street near to Banco Sabadell called “Chanades bar”.

Chanades bar is a local friendly bar where everyone is welcome. They served delicious home cooked food and live sports are shown at the weekend. In a very short time the bar is proving to be a great success Chanade has been a popular figure in the hospitality industry for a number of years and loves organizing charity events to help the local community. Some of the events she has organized include raising money for operations for people in need, purchasing a defibrillator for the local area and raising funds for Ukrainian people.

In total from these events Chanade has managed to raise a total of 48,000 euros thanks to the generosity of the local community.

My journey as a Woman in Business began In South Africa. Heading up a group of companies. Presitigous office premises, numerous staff and all the glamour and fame of being at the helm of a multi brand organisation. My company - The Minolta Group of Companies - became synonymous with excellent staff training and development of women in a man’s industry. During this period my love of empowering women in business began. From South Africa I relocated back to the UK and I was the first Exante Meal Replacement distributor. Four fantastic years followed. Then we moved to Spain to retire but this only lasted a few months. Looking back on my life/career in the UK, led me to conclusively decide I had been at my happiest with Slim4Life Berkshire – and that I felt the greatest pleasure in helping others with the same weight problem that I had. As such SLIM4LIFE was reopened in Spain in January 2017. SLIM4LIFE is a business with a purpose. A purpose that can save lives. A business that is a business - but so much more. It is about transforming lives, helping clients regain health. I also sincerely feel that I have been shown a path... that this is what I was meant to do.

Michelle started her career in Hairdressing, however after 20 years decided to have a career change opened a children’s shoe shop that lead also selling ladies shoes. Michelle and her team went on to win awards for best Children’s shoe shop in the UK three times which was a huge achievement.

During all this Michelle went through Cancer treatment on and off over 5 years, which led her to view life differently and made the decision to follow their dream and move to Spain.

After two years off enjoying life Michelle needed to be occupied so again decided what to do that she would enjoy. Sales and meeting people are her strong point and that is how My New Home in Spain was born. Michelle and her husband, David started the business back in 2020, which started slowly but the business has built up over a period of time and they are now extremely busy. Michelle is on cloud 9 doing something she enjoyes whilst also giving her time to enjoy her home and garden.

Chanade Cooper

Shirley Latham

Michelle Lane

Tuesday 7th March

Wednesday 8th March

STUDIO32 Summer Show –Hello

Dolly

Studio32 invite you to come along for a night of pure entertainment when they perform the award winning musical, “Hello Dolly’. Coming to you at the CardenalBelluga Theatre, San Fulgencio from Wednesday 31st of May to Saturday 3rd of June. Doors open at 7:00pm, curtain up at 7:30pm.

To book tickets online for our show please visit our website www. studiothirtytwo.org , email tickets@ studiothirtytwo.org or call Linda on 679 062 272 For those of you unsure of how to use our system you can call into The Post Box in Dona Pepa, or Quesada Tech where someone will be on hand to assist you with booking tickets. You could also come along to one of our rehearsals at Casa Contenta, Rojales, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 7:30pm and 9:30pm where someone will be available to assist you.

BBC one BBC two ITV Channel 4Channel 5ITV2 ITV3

Thursday 9th March

Friday 10th March

BBC one BBC two ITV Channel 4Channel 5ITV2 ITV3

Saturday 11th March

12th March

Monday 13th March

It’s my prerogative’: Idris Elba HITS BACK at being criticized for not wanting to call himself a ‘black actor’ after sparking race debate

Idris Elba has hit back after facing mass criticism last month for revealing that he no longer describes himself as a ‘black actor’.

The Luther star, 50, who is of

Morgan to make history as the show’s first ever wheelchair-using contestant’

Strictly Come Dancing have reportedly lined up Loose Women star Sophie Morgan to be the show’s first ever wheelchair-using contestant.

The presenter, 38, is paralysed

from the chest down following a car accident aged 18.

And show bosses are said to be keen to get her on the BBC show, believing that she’s the ‘ideal’ star to join, while also ‘very glamorous’ to rock the sensational costumes.

ITV star Kate Garraway will take husband Derek Draper to Mexico for second bout of experimental treatment in desperate bid to save him from devastating effects of Covid Kate Garraway described the treatment in Mexico as potentially ‘life-changing’

They plan to continue the trial in a way that is financially viable for the family She said there are days when Covid-stricken, Derek Draper, ‘cannot do anything

Ghanaian and Sierra Leone Creole heritage, sparked a social media backlash when he detailed how he thought the ‘black actor’ label put him in a ‘box’, and that an ‘obsession’ with race can hinder aspirations and growth.

He told Esquire: ‘We’ve got to grow. We’ve got to. Our skin is no more than that: it’s just skin. Rant over.’

Strictly Come Dancing bosses ‘line up Loose Women’s Sophie

Torrevieja U3A Country and Western evening

Tuesday 21st February had Coopers Bar in Dona Pepa bursting at the seams when members of the Torrevieja U3A turned up to take part in their Country and Western evening. organised by their Social Team. Besides the 82 members of the U3A that attended, there were also a large number of instrumentalists from Hilarys Ukulele Allstars who provided music and singing whilst everybody else tucked into the meal provided by the hosts.

After the meal was finished, the floor was cleared to make way for a line dancing demonstration that was provided by Susans Syncopating Stompers. After the demo had concluded the audience was given an opportunity and encouraged to try their luck at line Dancing.

During the evening a raffle was held to raise funds for the U3A charity, HELP Vega Baja. 200€ was collected for this excellent cause. There was also a competition to find the best dressed C and w male and female, the winners of which received a prize.

If you would like more information about the Torrevieja U3A and the events and activities that it provides for its members, simply visit their website torreviejau3a.org

where you can read everything that you may need to know and find details on how to join

up. Alternatively there is also a Facebook page that can be accessed.

Tips for getting a good night’s sleep

If you have difficulty falling asleep, a regular bedtime routine will help you wind down and prepare for bed.

Few people manage to stick to strict bedtime routines. This is not much of a problem for most people, but for people with insomnia, irregular sleeping hours are unhelpful.

Your routine depends on what works for you, but the most important thing is working out a routine and sticking to it.

Sleep at regular times

First of all, keep regular sleeping hours. This programs the brain and internal body clock to get used to a set routine.

Most adults need between six and nine hours of sleep every night. By working out what time you need to wake up, you can set a regular bedtime schedule.

It is also important to try and wake up at the same time every day. While it may seem like a good idea to try to catch up on sleep after a bad night, doing so on a regular basis can also disrupt your sleep routine.

Make sure you wind down

Winding down is a critical stage in preparing for bed. There are lots of ways to relax:

· A warm bath (not hot) will help your body reach a temperature that’s ideal for rest;

· Writing “to-do” lists for the next day can organize your

thoughts and clear your mind of any distractions;

· Relaxation exercises, such as light yoga stretches, help to relax the muscles;

· Do not exercise vigorously, as it will have the opposite effect;

· Relaxation CDs work by using a carefully narrated script, gentle hypnotic music and sound effects to relax you;

· Reading a book or listening to the radio relaxes the mind by distracting it;

Your bedroom should be a relaxing environment. Experts claim there’s a strong association in people’s minds between sleep and the bedroom. However, certain things weaken that association, such as TVs and other electronic gadgets, light, noise, and a bad mattress or bed.

Keep your bedroom just for sleep and sex (or masturbation). Unlike most vigorous physical activity, sex makes us sleepy. This has evolved in humans over thousands of years.

Your bedroom ideally needs to be dark, quiet, tidy and be kept at a temperature of between 65F and 75F (18C and 24C).

Fit some thick curtains if you do not have any. If you’re disturbed by noise, consider investing in double glazing or, for a cheaper option, use earplugs.

Keep a sleep diary

· There are a number of apps designed to help with sleep;

· Avoid using smartphones, tablets or other electronic devices for an hour or so before you go to bed as the light from the screen on these devices may have a negative effect on sleep.

Make your bedroom sleepfriendly

It can be a good idea to keep a sleep diary. It may uncover lifestyle habits or daily activities that contribute to your sleeplessness.

If you see your GP or a sleep expert they will probably ask you to keep a sleep diary to help them diagnose your sleep problems.

A sleep diary can also reveal underlying conditions that explain your insomnia, such as stress or medicine.

Is your vehicle road-ready?

It is important to make sure they are safe and ready for the road at all times. The start of a new month is one of the best times to check on some of the basic mechanics.

There is a simple method to remembering what should be checked, a system known as POWDERY. We will explain what it means.

P - Petrol

For both drivers and riders, always make sure you fuel up before a long journey. You’ll need enough to get to your destination or the nearest petrol station. Of course your vehicle might be diesel, in which case you must check that.

O - Oil

Car drivers - When did you last do an oil check? Most new cars have the technology to let you know when your oil needs topping up. But for those with an older vehicle, make sure you’re checking the level regularly. Your handbook will give you the preferred

method for your car. For bike riders, you can check you have the right amount of oil by using a dipstick or sight glass in the side of the engine casing. Remember to keep the bike vertical when checking this by getting someone to sit on the bike whilst you check the oil. Bear in mind that overfilling will also cause damage, so top up slowly and check your fuel level regularly.

W - Water

Have you checked your vehicle fluid levels? For drivers, your car will alert you if you’re running low on coolant, but ideally, you shouldn’t let it get this low. Check water levels and buy coolant for your car and top it up whenever necessary. For riders, levels need to be checked if you have a water-cooled engine, ensuring the bike is vertical when you make the check. If you find that you’re low on water, remember never to use tap water - you’ll need a mix of water and antifreeze.

D - Damage

For both drivers and riders, look around your vehicle, checking your tyres and bodywork to ensure there is no visible damage. For riders, also remember to check your protective clothing and crash helmet to ensure they are intact. Remember it’s recommended that you replace your crash helmet every 3-5 years or if you’ve had a crash or dropped it. For car drivers, once you’re in your vehicle, make sure you have no warning lights pop up on the dashboard before you set off.

E - Electrics

Whichever vehicle you’re driving or riding, check all the lights, preferably with a helper to operate the switches or walk around whilst you do. Failing that, use the reflection of the lights in a window or a nearby car. For bike riders, remember to ensure your brake lights work from both controls. In addition to your lights, also check your horn and windscreen washers, remembering to be considerate of others when you do - waking up the

neighbours or leaving puddles on the garage floor may not be popular.

R - Rubber

When did you last check your tyres?

Both riders and drivers should look at tyre tread depth and overall condition before every journey to ensure they are road legal. Remember to check tyre pressure as well. Bear in mind this could change depending on the amount of weight your bike or car is carrying. The legal limit on a bike is 1mm across three-quarters of tyre and visible tread on the rest. The legal limit on a car is minimum 1.6mm in a continuous band around the central three-quarters of the tyre. Tyre pressures for both bikes and cars should be tested when the tyres are cold, as the reading will be higher when they’re hot.

Y - You

Are you fit to drive or ride? Have you been under the weather? Ask yourself if you’re fit to be in control of your

vehicle. Medication and tiredness will affect your driving or riding, and your concentration may not be 100% if you’re ill or stressed. Check that you’re fit to drive and take a break before you set off if necessary. For bike riders, if you’ve been out of practice for a few months, then you may have lost your ‘bike fitness’. Make sure you are fit to ride your bike and remember to take it slow and steady until you’ve got to grips with it again.

Whether it’s a car or bike, ensuring your vehicle is in tip-top condition will mean a much longer life for the parts and helps you enjoy your vehicle, worry free. Keep your service schedule up to date and don’t put off any replacements. Tyres should be kept in good condition, as performance will start to drop off before the legal limits of wear are reached. Don’t forget - the maintenance of your vehicle, so you have one less thing to worry about before you start a journey, is an important part of the ‘you’ in driving and riding.

Tow Bars and the Law

If you need to tow a trailer with your vehicle, you will need to have a tow bar installed. However, in view of the serious implications of getting the installation wrong, it must only be done under certain conditions, in an authorised and qualified workshop and in compliance with the law.

In 2011, the law in Spain categorised tow bars. Prior to that date they were simply another accessory which could be added to the vehicle, but the new “anti-tuning” law standardised the European directive of 2007 which elevated the tow bar from an accessory to a “major reform”.

Therefore, all tow bars not only have to be of an approved and authorised type for the individual vehicle in question, they can only be fitted in certified workshops where a technical report can be issued, a requirement for the vehicle to pass its ITV inspection.

There are two types of tow bars, a fixed ball hook and a removable ball latch. The fixed ball hook, as its name suggests, does not disassemble and any form of manipulation is forbidden. In view of the installation procedures in order to ensure the legality of the tow bar, any action on the tow bar would be considered a manipulation of a major reform, which can only be done legally in a workshop.

The removable ball latch is, as the name suggests, detachable and consists of a fixed element and an easily removable part, which may be semi-automatic or by a thread, or by automatic pressure and ball rotation. There are other removable tow bars which can be retracted into the vehicle, but these form an integral part of the construction.

When tow bars are not in use, they can pose a hazard to other road users, as any protrusion from the vehicle can cause damage, such as when reversing into a parking space, especially as the tow bar is not visible, and interferes with the shape and design of the vehicle´s safety features and can cause considerable damage in the event of a rear-end collision.

That said, as we have already mentioned, a fixed ball hook cannot be manipulated in any way and therefore cannot be removed (unless

done on a permanent basis by a qualified mechanic), and so there is no legal requirement to remove the tow bar when not in use. Similarly, the very design of a removable tow bar does not constitute a legal requirement to remove it either, although you may choose to do for your own safety.

There is a legal requirement however that no tow bar, fixed or removable, can interfere with the visibility of rear elements of the

vehicle, namely the number plate and lights. Article 9 of the Ley de Seguridad Vial ensures that these items must be visible at all times and not obscured.

It is also important to remember that only officially approved tow bars are permitted in Spain and only for the purpose of towing a trailer (including caravans). The use of ropes, A-Frames and vehicle-to-vehicle towing bars or any other unapproved devices are not permitted by law.

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Ford Focus Estate ST LINE 2018, Automatic, Diesel, 185,000 kms, Estate, 1.5L, ABS, PAS, Radio/CD, Central locking, Climate control, Electric windows, Sat Nav, Handsfree, Multifunctional steering wheel. 14,995€

Volkswagen Beetle 2013, Manual, Diesel, 130,166 kms, Hatchback/Saloon,2.0L. ABS, PAS, Central locking, Radio/CD, Climate control, Electric windows, Bluetooth, Parking sensors. 13,995€

Audi Q2 2018, Automatic, Diesel, 176,983 kms, 4x2. ABS, PAS, Climate control, Cruise control, Radio/CD, AUX/USB, Bluetooth, Parking sensors, Electric boot, Apple Car Play. 20,995€

Jaguar E-Pace 2019, Automatic, Petrol, 123,100 kms, 4X4, 2.0L. ABS, PAS, Central locking, Radio, AUX/USB, Climate control, Bluetooth, Reverse camera, Multifunctional steering wheel. 26,995€

London Taxi LTI TX4 LHD 2010, Diesel, Manual, 190,000 kms, MPV 7 seater, 2.5L. 7,995€

Ford Kuga Automatic 2013, Automatic, Diesel, 141,4804 kms, 4x2, 2.0L. ABS, PAS, Radio, AUX/USB, Climate control, Bluetooth, Multifunctional steering wheel, Parking sensors, Stop/Start. 13,995€

Mini Clubman Cooper S 2014, Automatic, Diesel, 116,612 kms, Hatchback/Saloon, 1.6L, PAS, ABS, Radio, Climate control, Bluetooth, Navigation, Multifunctional steering wheel, Leather seats, Sunroof. 17,995€

Opel Zafira Automatic 7 Seater 2018, Automatic, Diesel, 133,000 kms, MPV 7 seater, 2.0L. ABS, PAS, Central locking, Radio, Navigation, Climate control, Cruise control, Electric windows. 17,995€

Opel Grandland X 2019, Manual, Petrol, 82,519 kms, 4x2, 1.2L, ABS, PAS, Cruise control, Climate control, Bluetooth, Electric windows, Multifunctional steering wheel, Navigation. 17,995€

Volvo V90 D4 MOMENTUM 2018, Automatic, Diesel, 2017,172,749 kms, Estate, 2.0 L, ABS, PAS, Radio, climate control, Cruise control, Bluetooth, parking sensors, Electric boot, Multifunctional steering wheel. 21,995€

Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2020, Automatic, Diesel, 169,065 kms, 4x2, 2.2L, ABS, PAS, Radio/ USB, Central locking, Climate control, Parking sensors, Navigation, Bluetooth, Multifunctional steering wheel. 25,995€

Peugeot 207 CC 2010, Petrol, Manual, 144,085 kms, Cabrio,1.6L. ABS, PAS, Central locking, Radio/CD, USB/AUX, A/C, Climate control, Electric windows. 6,995€

BMW Z4 2010, Automatic, Petrol, 90,222 kms, Cabrio, 2.5L. ABS, PAS, Central locking, Radio/CD, AUX/USB, Climate control, Parking sensors , Bluetooth, Navigation, Multifunctional steering wheel. 19,995€

LandRover Range Rover Sport 7 Seater 2014, Automatic, Diesel, 140,990 kms, 4X4, 3.0L. ABS, PAS, Radio, USB, Climate control, Bluetooth, Multifunctional steering wheel, Parking sensors, Navigation 32,995€

Leon Estate 2016, Manual, Petrol, 171,636 kms, Estate, 1.2L. ABS, PAS, Central locking, Radio/CD, Touch screen, Aux/USB, Climate control, Bluetooth, Multifunctional steering wheel 10,995€

BMW X1, 2017, Manual, Diesel, 172,888 kms, 4x2, 1.6L, ABS, PAS, Radio, USB, Climate control, Cruise control, Navigation, Bluetooth, Parking sensors, Multifunctional steering wheel. 16,995€

BMW 320d GT 2014, Manual, Diesel, 110,168 kms, Hatchback/Saloon, 2.0L. 15,995€

Opel Grandland X 2019, Automatic, Diesel, 132,759 kms, 4x2, 2.0L, ABS, PAS, Climate control, Parking sensors, Navigation, Multifunctional steering wheel, Bluetooth, Reverse camera. 20,995€

Citroen C4 Grand Spacetourer 2018, Manual, Petrol, 100,487 kms, MPV 7 seater, 1.2L. ABS, PAS, Radio, Climate control, Cruise control, Apple Car Play, Bluetooth, Heated seats, Electric windows. 16,995€

Renault Kadjar 2017, Manual, Diesel, 131,000 kms, 4x2, 1.5L, ABS, PAS, Radio, USB, Climate control, Electric windows, Bluetooth Multifunctional steering wheel, Navigation, Heated seats. 14,995€

Jaguar XF Supercharged 2015, Automatic, Petrol, 147,807 kms, Hatchback/Saloon, 3.0L, ABS, PAS, Radio, Cruise control, Climate control, Parking sensors, Navigation, Bluetooth, Multifunctional steering wheel, Navigation, Reverse camera. 22,995€

Volkswagen GOLF GTI CABRIO 2014, Automatic, Petrol, 99,039 kms, Cabrio, 2.0L. ABS, PAS, Radio, Aux, A/C, Parking sensors, Climate control, Electric windows, Handsfree, Multifunctional steering wheel, Electric soft top roof. 19,995€

BMW 118D 2015, Diesel, Manual , Hatchback/ Saloon, 142,148 kms, 2.0L. 12,995€

SEAT