内容摘要：An 86-year-old pensioner has embarked on a 73-mile (117km) wheelchair challenge in support of his wife.

An 86-year-old pensioner has embarked on a 73-mile (117km) wheelchair challenge in support of his wife.

About 31,000 people are employed on the programme across the 140-mile (225km) route.An HS2 spokesperson estimated that the second bore of the Bromford Tunnel would be completed later this year by another tunnel boring machine, this one named Elizabeth, after the social reformer and activist Dame Elizabeth Cadbury,.

Following the excavation, teams will begin fitting out the tunnel with cross passages, concrete finishing works, base slabs and emergency and maintenance walkways.At peak production, Mary Ann advanced at about 30m (98ft) each day, with teams reinforcing the tunnel with more than 20,000 pieces of concrete."Today's breakthrough is a significant milestone for the project and I'm immensely proud of the men and women who have worked day and night to bring Mary Ann and her crew home safely," said Mark Wild, HS2 Ltd's chief executive.

"Washwood Heath is set to become one of the most important sites on the entire HS2 network - the point at which the railway will be operated, controlled and maintained using the very latest digital technology."Mary Ann dug out about a million tonnes of soil to create the structure, which will become the longest railway tunnel in the West Midlands.

The earth which was excavated will be reused to support construction of a nearby network of 13 viaducts, officials added.

Plans for Birmingham's new flagship station on high-speed railway HS2 have been recommended for approval, after the designs were revised.Therefore, he said, it was "not an appropriate case" to reduce the amount of money that Mrs Vardy should pay.

New court documents show that Mrs Vardy has now launched an appeal bid, which her lawyers Kingsley Napley confirmed to the PA news agency related to the misconduct ruling.BBC News has asked Mrs Rooney's legal representatives for comment on Mrs Vardy's request to appeal.

Mrs Vardy, the wife of Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, lost the original Wagatha Christie court battle in 2022.She had mounted the legal action after Mrs Rooney, the wife of former Manchester United striker Wayne, publicly accused someone using Mrs Vardy's Instagram account of leaking private information about her to the press.