Drivers have been caught in congestion on the M25 snarling back for miles after a crash involving a van.

Traffic has ground to a halt on the M25 clockwise in Surrey after a crash during the morning rush hour.

Motorists are being held between junction J10 (Guildford) and J11 (Woking) after a collision.

Queues are stretching for six miles, causing delays of around 45 minutes, National Highways warned.

Footage from the scene appears to show at least one van on the central reservation with its front smashed in.

National Highways said: ‘Surrey Police are now on scene with traffic officers. There are currently delays of 45 minutes and 6 miles of congestion on the approach.’

There are also severe delays on the anticlockwise carriageway, with queues stretching back towards Heathrow Airport and J13.

Meanwhile, the early May bank holiday is expected to be the busiest on roads in 10 years – despite the sky-high petrol and diesel prices.

The UK’s motorways and A-roads are forecast to see around 19 million trips over the weekend, the motoring expert RAC predicts.

Today has been labelled the ‘Frantic Friday’ as 3.7 million people are set to hit the roads.

Saturday is expected to the busiest day of the entire weekend, with 4 million trips in the pipeline.

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Asda is recalling its Exceptional by Asda Beer Battered Cod Fishcakes because of the possible contamination, which makes them unsafe to eat.

A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency (FSA) warned: “ASDA is recalling the above product.

“Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling this product.

Thursday 30 April – @asda recalls Exceptional by ASDA Beer Battered Cod Fishcakes because it may contain pieces of plastic or metal #FoodAlert https://t.co/qx80JZsVn2 pic.twitter.com/NKJ8APqwXR

— Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) April 30, 2026

“These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.

“If you have bought the above product do not eat it. Instead, return it to your nearest ASDA store for a full refund. For further information, please contact ASDA’s customer relations team on 0330 053 0111.”

The recalled fishcakes come in packs of 290g and have use by dates of May 1, May 2, May 3, May 4 and May 5.

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An Asda spokesman said: “We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused.

“If you have purchased Exceptional by ASDA Beer Battered Fishcakes with the above use by dates (no other use by dates are affected), please bring it back to your nearest store where you will be given a full refund.

“You do not need your receipt.”

Food Recalls Explained

What is a product recall?

If there is a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold, then it might be ‘withdrawn’ (taken off the shelves) or ‘recalled’ (when customers are asked to return the product).

The FSA issues Product Withdrawal Information Notices and Product Recall Information Notices to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food.

In some cases, a ‘Food Alert for Action’ is issued.

This provides local authorities with details of specific actions to be taken on behalf of consumers.

My husband and I have date nights at Facing Heaven in Hackney. It’s a tiny gem of a place; great atmosphere, punk rock soundtrack and chef Julian’s mind-blowing mix of Sichuan, Haitian and American comfort food… Dan dan noodles, smacked cucumber, French toast. Chequerboard vinyl floor. Disco light.

Milly Alcock, the breakout star of House of the Dragon, has revealed the unconventional way she discovered she had landed the coveted role of Supergirl, following a vision from DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn. The 26-year-old Australian actor, who captivated audiences as the young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, was chosen for her “punk rock” energy, a quality Gunn specifically sought for the iconic superhero.

DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran recounted Gunn’s initial vision for the character, inspired directly by Alcock’s performance. “He goes, ‘you know the young girl from House of the Dragon? The young queen or princess? That’s how I picture it, like a young punk rock girl who is just totally badass and tough,’” Safran told The Associated Press. “I was like, yeah, that sounds fantastic, and we haven’t seen that before.”

Alcock, who had been working in her native Australia since her teenage years, found her world rapidly expanding. After submitting a self-tape for the secretive Supergirl project, she was summoned for her first-ever screen test. A 24-hour flight from Sydney to Atlanta later, she gave it her all. “I kind of had a feeling, I remember I like got back to my hotel room and I like sat down and I was like, ‘Oh, this is gonna, something’s gonna happen,’” Alcock said. “I just had like an intuition that like, this is going to be a very exciting challenge if it goes in my favour.”

Ten days later, the news arrived not via a phone call, but a text message from Gunn containing an article from the trade publication Deadline: “Supergirl’: New Woman Of Steel Is ‘House Of The Dragon’s’ Milly Alcock.” Her immediate reaction? “This is crazy, what have I done?” Just days after, she was back on that 24-hour flight to film her cameo in the upcoming Superman film.

Since then, things have not slowed down. Filming the Supergirl movie, set for release on 26 June, has been a marathon of stunts, action, and emotion, with the promotional tour proving equally relentless. Speaking to the AP earlier this month, Alcock had just arrived in Las Vegas from Kyoto, where she was filming another project, and, on just two hours of sleep, had to rally to hype Supergirl in front of thousands of cinema owners.

Safran believes the film offers a fresh perspective. “It’s a really original and unique take on a superhero movie,” he said. “I think it’s just a great movie for audiences. It’s not just for superhero fans.”

Despite her character being less widely known than her famous cousin, the response to Alcock’s brief appearance in Superman was overwhelmingly positive. “She’s in the Superman movie for, you know, 12 seconds, yet one of the things audiences wanted to see … more of was her,” Safran noted. “And Millie in real life, she’s just that girl … she is authentically a badass.”

Part of Supergirl’s intrigue lies in her stark contrast to the straight-laced Superman. Unlike her cousin, who was raised by loving parents on Earth, Kara witnessed the destruction of her home planet and the loss of everyone she knew, forcing her to fend for herself. Directed by Craig Gillespie, known for his films about complex young women like I, Tonya and Cruella, the film follows a jaded Kara on an intergalactic odyssey.

Alcock found an unexpected connection with her character. “Kara surprisingly reminded me a lot of myself, which I never thought I would get from playing like a superhero, from playing someone who isn’t human. There’s a lot humility in her and that kind of made me fall in love with her immediately,” Alcock explained. “Sometimes you can get swept up in what other people expect, and then you kind of lose your intrinsic you-ness. And that’s why people hire you in the first place, because of what you bring to something just innately being who you are.”

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Alcock, who didn’t grow up a big film fan, found acting to be a lifeline and an outlet for communicating feelings she struggled with in real life. Now living in London with a close-knit group of non-actor friends, she is adjusting to the intense visibility that comes with her new role.

“It’s been kind of disorientating,” she admitted. “I do this job because it gives me the ability to disappear. So then to like suddenly be so visible and so exposed is a very vulnerable experience. I’m just trying to learn how to deal with that relationship. But I mean, it’s exciting. Of course it’s exciting. But like anything exciting, it’s also terrifying.”

She recalled a conversation with David Corenswet on the Superman set, highlighting their differing perspectives on fame. “I remember him being like, ‘We’re gonna have action figures, isn’t that cool?’” she said. “And I was like, ‘That’s so weird. Why would someone have a toy of my face?’”

Hokum is a fun, self-aware title for a horror film when that genre can often be so easily dismissed as such. But this movie is ready to convince you otherwise.

You get your first jump scare less than five minutes in. It’s a warning that this movie enjoys employing that device. Is it original? No. But is it effective? Yes.

What is more original about this latest film from Oddity filmmaker Damian McCarthy is its decision to not take itself seriously without indulging in the cheap gags or bad acting that normally dominates comedy-horror blends.

This isn’t a splatter movie. In fact, Hokum manages to retain its supernatural chill throughout, even when you’re smirking over its dry jokes.

But make no mistake, there are some properly frightening moments, including a split-second in one scene that’s so beautifully simple yet traumatising that I doubt I’ll forget it.

Severance star Adam Scott is weirdly delightful as grumpy and troubled author Ohm Bauman who, while struggling with his latest book, decides to take a trip to rural Ireland to spread the ashes of his late parents.

He heads to the last place he knows they were happy, holing up in a faded hotel run by eccentric Irish staff.

The first unsettling – and rather baffling – sight he’s met with is the carcass of a goat that’s been shot dead for trying to climb on a car. ‘Shooing’ and spraying with a hose weren’t options, he’s told.

Ohm is invited to the hotel’s annual Hallowe’en party and, after ‘craic’ is explained to him in no uncertain terms, requests the room furthest away. He also refuses to sign a book. Later he describes someone to their face as an ‘oblivious charisma vacuum completely incapable of reading a room’. As you can tell, he’s a real ray of sunshine.

But things get weird when he meets local vagrant Jerry (a fantastic David Wilmot) in the woods, who offers him moonshine and confirms the goats are all high on a local supply of magic mushrooms. They’re naturally attracted to ‘shiny surfaces’ when clambering all over people’s vehicles.

He’s also been warned that a witch haunts the hotel’s honeymoon suite, which is never rented out, hidden behind a metal-gated lift to the top floor. Perhaps predictably, Ohm calls this ‘hokum’.

When hotel worker Fiona (Florence Ordesh) goes missing though, and Jerry is convinced he can find an answer in the honeymoon suite, Ohm finds himself sucked into a terrifying nightmare.

Cue plenty of creaking doors, jangling bells and glimpsed-at ghouls in the background, while Ohm also battles with being haunted by memories of his late mother, who we learn was shot.

Even here, Hokum retains its humour in an entertaining way, from the knowing faces of the room’s chintzy cherub ornaments to a ghost with no concept of personal space walking directly behind Ohm. As in, mirroring his every move like a shadow that’s glued to him. I left the screening with that image branded on my brain it was so creepy – and yet, I still laughed.

That’s the unique power of Hokum.

However, it runs out of steam with its main character trapped in the room and trying to survive. While it continues to keep you on edge, the threat of the lurking witch is stretched thinly over the rest of the film.

There’s some intriguing human drama that comes into play, including a couple of twists – one I guessed, one I didn’t – but in places it chips away at the twisted atmosphere McCarthy has so far conjured, as well as our suspension of disbelief.

And while the ending is neat enough, it left some of its foundations underexplained, a frustrating characteristic of horror (and a personal pet peeve).

Having said this, more horror films should aspire to be like Hokum: unafraid to showcase smart humour alongside genuinely unnerving elements.

Its cast, which also includes Peter Coonan, Will O’Connell and Michael Patric, are all universally superb as well, helping to elevate the experience Hokum offers above standard fare in the genre.

Hokum is in cinemas from today.

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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is introducing statutory sick pay rule changes affecting employees who call in sick, with minister Pat McFadden confirming that up to 1.3 million more workers will be covered and can now access sick pay from their first day of illness.

The Department for Work and Pensions is implementing a rule change that will affect workers who phone in sick. Pat McFadden, the DWP minister, has spoken to the House of Commons about the modifications to sick pay arrangements.

Labour MP Yuan Yang this week asked Mr McFadden “what assessment has he made of the adequacy of rates of statutory sick pay?” prompting a response from the DWP minister, reports Yorkshire Live.

Mr McFadden, who leads the welfare department, said: “For the first time ever, we have removed the lower earnings limit for statutory sick pay, as well as the waiting period so that people can access sick pay as soon as they need it.

“These changes will mean that up to 1.3 million more people will be covered, helping the low paid and those who work for more than one employer in particular.”

Yang said: “I am indeed very proud of this Labour Government’s historic Employment Rights Act 2025, which, from this month, means that workers will get statutory sick pay from the first day they are ill, rather than having to wait till the fourth. Too many people in Reading – even those working in health and care settings – are working through their illnesses; this measure will protect them, their clients and patients and improve the productivity of their workplaces.

“While the ERA is an important step forward, does the Secretary of State accept that the current flat rate of statutory sick pay 0 at four fifths of average earnings – remains a barrier to those on low incomes, and thus remains a barrier to tackling illness in the workplace?”

Mr McFadden continued: “I believe that removing the three-day limit and giving access to statutory sick pay from day one, as well as making it available to those who work for multiple employers, should decrease the pressure on workers to have to work through illness.”

Matthew Oakley, Founder and Director of WPI Economics, remarked: “Sickness absence costs the economy – simple as that – and it impacts affected workers severely in terms of lost earnings.

“Improving sick pay would enable people to take the time off they need to recover and lower the number of people taking extended sick leave, stemming the flow of unwell workers on to out-of-work benefits and boosting productivity.

“As the Government looks for fresh ideas to give the UK a competitive edge, a wider overhaul of sick pay and better incentives for employers to invest in occupational health should be front and centre.”

The northbound carriageway was blocked between junction 2 and junction 3, near the A666 St Peters Way turn-off, after the vehicle caught fire at around 9.45pm on last night (April 29).

Firefighters from Farnworth and Bolton rushed to the scene, with three engines in attendance.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 9.45pm on Wednesday 29 April, three fire engines from Farnworth and Bolton attended a vehicle fire on the M61 northbound.

“The fire involved one vehicle, and firefighters used one hose reel, one breathing apparatus and lighting to extinguish the fire.

“Crews were in attendance for one hour.”

Video footage shows emergency crews tackling the fire.

Traffic was temporarily held while crews tackled the blaze, with delays of up to 20 minutes and around a mile of congestion reported on the approach.

The car engulfed in flames (Image: Public)

Shortly after 11pm, the burnt-out vehicle was moved onto the hard shoulder and traffic began to flow again, although delays lingered.

Greater Manchester Police have been contacted for comment.

The new programme from Scottish charity Right There will operate from Clydesdale Street.

Plans have been announced for a new supported accommodation service in Hamilton.

Scottish charity Right There, in partnership with the local council, are behind the efforts to prevent homelessness in South Lanarkshire.

The new programme will operate from Clydesdale Street, Hamilton, and is designed to provide short-term, supportive accommodation that meets the needs of individuals, couples and families at risk of homelessness during periods of transition, helping people move on to more settled housing as quickly and safely as possible. The service is currently under development and is expected to be operational soon.

Janet Haugh, CEO of Right There, said: “Right There is proud to have supported people in South Lanarkshire for more than 18 years now, and this programme is about continuing that relationship in a practical way.

“We know that the right support, offered at the right time, can help prevent difficult situations from escalating and give people the stability they need to move forward. We want this to be a place where people are treated with dignity while they work towards something more settled.”

The Right There Supported Accommodation programme will support people who may be experiencing significant life challenges, including poor health, trauma, housing instability or repeat experiences of homelessness. The focus will be on providing a calm, psychologically informed environment alongside practical and emotional support.

The accommodation, otherwise known as ‘Willow Gate’, will comprise 15 self-contained units, including provision suitable for families. Trained staff will be available to provide support around the clock, seven days a week.

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The programme will focus on planned, positive moves to longer-term accommodation. Right There will also offer wider support services, including mentoring, counselling and outreach, to help people sustain progress beyond their stay.

Further information, including referral arrangements, will be shared closer to opening.

As part of preparation for the service going live, the charity is recruiting staff to deliver the programme, ensuring the team is in place early to shape a safe, welcoming and supportive environment. Go to https://careers.rightthere.org/

Right There is a charity that prevents people becoming homeless or separated from the people they love. It supports almost 4000 children, families, and individuals across Scotland, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, Highlands, Orkney and South Ayrshire.

*Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.

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Among those put behind bars includes a paedophile and man who tried to drown his pregnant girlfriend

A lorry driver that killed a young mother as she was struck by a crane while walking along a path is among the criminals jailed in Cambridgeshire this month. It’s been another busy month for Cambridgeshire courts, with more criminals put behind bars.

Others jailed this month include a man who tried to drown his pregnant girlfriend and a man jailed for manslaughter. Here are five people jailed in April:

Kevin Miller

Kevin Miller, 71, was driving his lorry along a road in Willingham on September 22, 2022, where 30-year-old Rebecca Ableman was walking with her then two-year-old daughter Autumn in her pram.

Miller had a unsecured crane on his lorry. When he drove past Rebecca, the crane struck the mother and left her with “catastrophic brain and head injuries”. Autumn was pushed out the way by Rebecca. The 30-year-old died a few weeks later in hospital.

Miller, formerly of Gayton Road, King’s Lynn, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving in February. He was sentenced to 13 months in prison at Peterborough Crown Court on April 14.

Linden Chirico

Linden Chirico, 38, touched a girl and got her to touch him inappropriately multiple times between January and July 2022. The offences all happened in East Cambridgeshire.

Chirico, formerly of Close Road, Pavenham, near Bedford, admitted to his offences in police interview. At court, he was found guilty of two counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl and one count each of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl and cause/incite a girl to engage in sexual activity – no penetration.

After appearing at Cambridge Crown Court on April 16, he was sentenced to seven years in prison. He was also handed a ten-year restraining order, an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

Luke Davey

Luke Davey attacked his wife on November 16, 2025 at her home in Doddington, near March. The couple were in the process of separating, and an argument broke out.

The victim recorded the argument with her phone, but then Davey grabbed it and then placed his hands around her neck.

On April 21, Davey was sentenced to a year in prison at Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court after previously pleading guilty to intentional strangulation. He was also handed a five-year restraining order against the victim.

Christopher Boulton

Christopher Boulton, 78, forced himself into the home of a woman in her 70s on December 29, 2025. Boulton forced the woman into her room and touched her in a sexual way.

He then threatened to kill her if she called the police. In the days before this incident, Boulton exposed himself to other women near his home.

The 78-year-old pleaded guilty to trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence, sexual assault, three counts of exposure, and assaulting an emergency worker. At Peterborough Crown Court on April 24, he was sentenced to six years in prison, and also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Harvey Browne

Harvey Browne, 20, tried to push his pregnant girlfriend into the bath at their home in Godmanchester in August 2025. The victim was also abused in other ways, including being punched in the stomach.

Browne was arrested by police. While on court bail, Browne threatened to kill the woman and said he would “put her in a coffin” before police could help her.

Browne, of Moselle Avenue, Haringey, Greater London, was arrested for sending communication threatening death or serious harm. He pleaded guilty to the offence, and also assault ABH.

At Cambridge Crown Court on April 27, he was sentenced to two years and nine months in a young offender institution, and also handed a restraining order.