Stoke City achieved Championship safety with a win over promotion-chasing Southampton, who have now lost three games in a row.

The visitors took the lead after an impressive start with Tyrese Campbell firing under keeper Alex McCarthy.

Saints had a number of chances to level but were unable to beat Daniel Iversen, and also had two appeals for penalties waved away.

Russell Martin's side are now mathematically unable to achieve automatic promotion, six points off second place with one game remaining, but remain fourth in the table.

Stoke had a glorious chance to break the deadlock early on, Alex McCarthy palming the ball into the path of Josh Laurent, who poked the ball wide from close range.

The visitors piled on the pressure, playing the ball around Southampton's defensive third, while the home side struggled to retain possession to the frustration of their supporters.

Sekou Mara came close to an opener on 20 minutes, latching onto a ball played over the top and heading over the hesitant Iversen, but Luke McNally was there to sweep the ball away to safety.

Saints enjoyed more possession as the first half wore on and David Brooks forced Iversen into a save after the ball was cut back to him inside the box.

But Stoke went in front with 10 minutes left before the interval as Campbell beat Taylor Harwood-Bellis and drilled the ball home for his second league goal of the season

The goal sent the travelling supporters into loud celebrations with chants of "we are staying up" ringing out from the away end.

Saints nearly conceded again at the start of the second period after a mistake by Jack Stevens, but a lunging tackle by Jan Bednarek - brought on as a substitute for Harwood-Bellis at the break - averted the danger.

Saints boss Martin made further changes at the hour mark, introducing Che Adams and Flynn Downes in search of an equaliser.

There were two big shouts for a penalty in the later stages, Sam Edozie going down in the box and Adams appearing to shoot against the hands of a Stoke defender, but both were in vain.

Southampton failed create any clear chances in the final moments, and the biggest cheer from the home supporters coming when a Stoke clearance was booted out of the stadium.

They booed the Saints players at the final whistle, while the visiting supporters provided a stark contrast, with jubilant celebrations as they celebrated remaining in the second tier for next season.

Southampton boss Russell Martin told BBC Radio Solent:

"There were a lot of changes today, we had a bad start to the game and Stoke were really good.

"It's been a busy week and a tough week, I'm disappointed its ended like that at home.

"We have another game to prepare for before the two biggest games of the season."

Stoke City boss Steven Schumacher told BBC Radio Stoke:

"The win means everything to us, I'm relived more than anything.

"Overall I'm delighted with the performance, the players were excellent and fully deserved the win.

"We have had more shots than Southampton, double as many attacks. Not many teams will come here and do that."

Motorist Lauren Hirst has been slapped with a £60 penalty - at a parking meter. The 25-year-old was 20 minutes over the two-hour free parking available on the Sports Direct and Matalan car park, in Longton, when she attempted to pay the £1.80 three-hour charge instead.

But she faced a screen demanding the £60 payment - and paid up. Lauren had parked for a hair appointment in Longton town centre.

Lauren, from Fenton, said: “I got back to the car park 20 minutes over the two-hour free parking and thought it would be a couple of quid - but it came up as £60 when I put my registration number in the machine. It showed a photo of me driving in so I didn’t want to drive off without paying and I just paid for it. So my hair appointment cost me £175 in total after having to pay this.

READ: Drivers refunded as fines quashed on 'Stoke-on-Trent's most hated car park' - Motorists have previously vowed to boycott the Sports Direct and Matalan car park in Longton

READ: Matalan shopper lands £60 fine on 'Stoke-on-Trent's most-hated car park' - Michelle Horton parked on the Matalan and Sports Direct car park in Longton

"It’s a kick in the teeth because I’m struggling financially anyway. I had to go into my overdraft to pay that off as I hadn’t budgeted for a £60 parking fine and I’ve only just started working full time since finishing university.

“I’ve tried contacting ClearPark by ringing and emailing, but nobody had answered the phone and I’d had no reply to my email. The sign doesn’t make you aware and people need to be made aware of it because I don’t want old dears getting caught out too when they park here.”

StokeOnTrentLive has approached ClearPark for a statement regarding Lauren's case.

The car park has previously been branded 'Stoke-on-Trent's most hated car park'. Motorists had previously been charged 60p for up to one hour, £1.20 for up to two hours, and £1.80 for up to three hours - and they could get their money back by scanning in a receipt from either of the stores. But many shoppers were still slapped with fines despite appearing to follow the rules. It led to £7,000 worth of fines being quashed and the introduction of the two-hour free parking.

Research reveals that one in five Brits are keen to start their own business or side hustle. A third of these individuals aim to make this transition within the next two years. The main motivations for leaving the traditional 9 to 5 job include becoming your own boss and having more flexibility, both reasons cited by 40 per cent of respondents.

The survey, which polled 2,000 adults, found that 35 per cent valued more independence and a better work-life balance. Interestingly, 16 per cent already have their own side hustle, and 13 per cent have savings set aside to help them achieve their entrepreneurial goals in the near future. While 53 per cent wish to go solo, 29 per cent would prefer to collaborate with others.

This research was commissioned by AXA as part of its Startup Angel competition, where entrants stand a chance to win two top prizes of £25,000 in funding plus mentoring from successful entrepreneurs.

Deepak Soni, of AXA UK, commented: "Whether it's turning a side hustle into a business or launching a startup from scratch, it's clear that being your own boss is on the agenda for many people across the UK."

He added: "Whatever industry they're looking to venture into, running a small business requires hard work, determination and a bit of help along the way. Creativity and innovation are the cornerstones but having the necessary support both emotionally and financially is the springboard to success."

Hanan Tantush, a winner of the AXA Startup Angel competition in 2023, has turned her passion for creating adaptable clothing for people with disabilities into a thriving business.

The 22 year old entrepreneur from Neston was inspired to start her company, Intotum, after witnessing her grandfather's struggle to find comfortable and stylish clothing suitable for his stoma and urostomy bag following his third cancer battle.

She shared: "I've been working on adaptive fashion for three to four years, so it's been a long development process collaborating with the disabled community, I've been learning as I design."

Tantush is determined to revolutionise the industry, stating: "Clothing is designed from a standing perspective, all the patterns are made for someone to walk down a catwalk, automatically excluding many with a disability, something I'm passionate about changing."

Her focus began with wheelchair users: "I chose to start working with wheelchair users, creating my own custom patterns and styles to cater for someone seated, including ambulatory wheelchair users."

Intotum has since expanded its range: "From there, I've gone on to create a whole collection that also caters for people with stomas and sensory needs, which is just the beginning for Intotum."

GB wheelchair basketball star Amy Conroy, who has competed in three Paralympic Games and is gearing up for her fourth in Paris, has tested some of Hanan's innovative designs.

She expressed: "It's great that there are innovative people like Hanan who recognise the everyday challenges faced by people with disabilities and want to make things better for them. This clothing range could really be a gamechanger and I'm looking forward to trying out more of her designs in the future."

Deepak Soni chimed in: "It's fantastic to hear how last year's winner Hanan has gone from strength to strength with a business that has such a positive impact on people's lives. We're delighted to have played a small role in her success, and that she's been able to turn her passion into her full-time job. It takes a lot of dedication but we know there is a whole raft of entrepreneurs who want to take the next step like Hanan, and we're here to help them."

DFS Furniture has revealed that half of Brits draw home decor inspiration from abroad, with Sweden, Italy, and Japan being the most influential. A survey of 2,000 adults identified these countries as the top sources of style inspiration for everything from rugs to wallpaper, with France, Denmark, and Norway also featuring prominently.

Interestingly, a third (33 per cent) of respondents are so passionate about interior design that they would even select a holiday destination based on its home decor heritage. However, it's not just foreign styles that inspire us - 19 per cent have been influenced by home decor associated with staycation destinations here in the UK.

The most popular specific design styles from across the globe include 'English country cottage' style, rustic Scandi, and white buildings from Greece. The research, commissioned by DFS, found that while 33 per cent would like to restyle areas of their home to reflect the style of their favourite places, 63 per cent don't believe they have the necessary skills.

Pippa Jameson, author of 'The Sensory Home' and sensory design expert, commented: "In the rush of everyday life, we yearn for a sense of escapism and spaces inspired by our favourite destinations."

"From far flung locations like Japan and Sweden, to closer to home in the United Kingdom - interior design inspiration can be found in every corner of the globe. Sensory design brings our travels home, creating spaces that unlock a treasure trove of memories and emotions through touch, sight, scent, and sound."

"Our homes serve as sanctuaries - places of solace, inspiration, and connection. Sensory design allows us to tailor our living environments and merge holiday memories into the fabric of our everyday lives. Whether it's the tranquil hues of a coastal retreat, the rustic charm of a mountain lodge, or the vibrant energy of a tropical paradise."

The study also discovered that the average UK home incorporates the interior styles of two different countries. People are drawing overseas inspiration for their home colours (28 per cent), displayed artwork and prints (26 per cent) and furniture (25 per cent).

On average, individuals spend five hours researching interior design trends before they revamp a space in their home, with inspiration coming from interiors websites (33 per cent), browsing retail stores (28 per cent) or their websites (27 per cent), and Pinterest (20 per cent). Art and colour are also identified as the two key elements to evoke a sense of escapism.

Moreover, 58 per cent of people enjoy showcasing their travel souvenirs at home - fridge magnets, ornaments, glasses, cups and vases being the most popular. Upon returning from a holiday, 46 per cent feel inspired to incorporate certain aspects of the lifestyle they experienced.

Diet, culture and interior design style are among the top things they'd like to introduce into their lives, with 22 per cent of those surveyed by OnePoll stating that travel has encouraged them to step outside their comfort zone when it comes to home decoration.

Kellie Wyles, head of upholstery at DFS, commented: "As we head into the summer months, our minds can often drift to getaways and adventure, but we don't need to hop on a plane to indulge in some wanderlust - we can also embrace escapism from the comfort of our own home."

"Picking up interiors inspiration from holidays and destinations you see online or on TV can be a great place to start and can create a beautifully eclectic space that's unique to you."

PIPPA'S TOP 10 SENSORY TIPS TO INFUSE YOUR LIVING SPACE WITH INSPIRATION FROM YOUR FAVOURITE HOLIDAYS:.

TOP 30 FOREIGN COUNTRIES WITH THE BEST INTERIOR DESIGN.