Thousands of homes in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area have been advised to boil their water before drinking due to an incident at the treatment works

Welsh Water has issued an update after telling residents in Rhondda Cynon Taf to boil their tap water before drinking it after a chemical issue at the treatment works. The boil water notice remains for a second day for residents across a large area whilst the issue is being resolved.

On Friday, May 22, the water company identified an issue affecting the chemical dosing process at the Maerdy treatment works. Whilst the boil water notice is still in place, Welsh Water has advised customers that the issue has been fixed and water from the site is re-entering the network.

A statement made today, Saturday, May 23, said: “As a precaution, the boil water notice remains in place and we ask that you continue to follow guidance and boil tap water before drinking, brushing teeth, preparing food or making ice until further notice. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here

“Public Health Wales advise that it is important to continue to drink water in the current hot weather to stay hydrated, using boiled and then cooled water if affected by this issue. Boiled water is safe to use in the normal way when making infant formula.”

Bottled water stations have been set up for affected customers.

The full list of areas affected by the notice are:

• Blaenllechau
• Bryngolau
• Cymmer
• Dinas
• Edmondstown
• Ferndale
• Hopkinstown
• Llwyncelyn
• Maerdy
• Tylorstown
• Penrhys
• Pontygwaith
• Porth
• Pwll Gwaun
• Pantygraigwen
• Pontypridd – Treforest
• Trebanog
• Rhiwgarn
• Tonyrefail
• Tyn Y Bryn
• Trehafod
• Wattstown
• Williamstown
• Ynyshir

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Supporters will not be allowed to take their own food or filled drinks bottles through the turnstiles, under Wembley’s standard security rules.

Instead, the stadium is encouraging fans to bring empty clear plastic bottles of 500ml or less, which can then be filled for free at water stations inside the ground.

Any bottle must be clear, plastic, crushable and no bigger than 500ml and is required to go through security without a lid.

Hard plastic, metal and glass bottles are not permitted, but once inside, there are free water refill points around the concourses, and kiosks will also be selling drinks.

Bags will also be tightly controlled.

Wembley operates a “small bags only” policy, with each fan limited to a single bag no larger than about A4 size; rucksacks, holdalls and suitcases are not allowed, and there is no cloakroom.

Fans are being advised to travel light, a small bag for essentials such as medication, a phone, sun cream, wallet and an empty bottle is likely to pass checks, but anything larger may be turned away.

Food from outside the stadium is not allowed and may be confiscated or binned at the search areas.

Supporters will need to rely on the food and drink outlets inside Wembley, where queues are expected to be lengthy for a sold-out play-off final.

There is also a wider list of prohibited items, including flares and pyrotechnics, fireworks, weapons, illegal substances, alcohol brought from outside, large umbrellas, air horns and megaphones, drones, scooters, and large banners not related to the teams.

Professional cameras with long lenses, laptops, tablets and selfie sticks are generally not permitted, although normal mobile phones and small non-professional cameras are usually allowed.

Once inside, there is no re-entry; fans who leave the stadium will not be allowed back in.

With temperatures expected to be high on Sunday, health officials and fan groups are urging supporters to take extra care in the heat.

Fans are being advised to use the free water refill points regularly, seek shade on the concourses before kick-off and at half-time where possible, and to look out for anyone around them who appears unwell or dizzy.

Light clothing, hats and sunscreen are recommended for those in seats exposed to direct sun, particularly in the early afternoon.

Club guidance for the match largely mirrors Wembley’s own rules, with the main additional advice covering flags and banners.

Flags are generally allowed as long as they meet size limits and use small plastic poles – anything larger may require prior approval or could be refused on safety grounds.

The newspaper said: “From streets filled with bookshops to quaint island shores, there are plenty of eye-catching spots to lay a picnic blanket this summer.”

Downham features in the list, which also highlights towns, and is described as being one of the best spots, whether you choose to spend the day there or have a staycation in the area.

It’s little more than an hour away from Bolton, so ideal for a day out.

The likes of Port Isaac in Cornwall, Castle Combe in the Cotswolds and Tobermory on the Isle of Mull are among the prettiest towns and villages shared by The Independent.

But it’s Downham that flies the flag for Lancashire.

Why is Downham among the prettiest villages in the UK?

Downham’s location, and its lack of unsightly things such as overhead wires and satellite dishes, were some of the reasons it’s considered one of the prettiest villages in the UK.

The Independent says: “At the foot of Pendle Hill, Downham’s village green, scenic brook and limestone cottages, owned by the Assheton family since 1588, make it a serious contender for a summer stroll.

“Unspoilt by overhead wires and satellite dishes, the small town offers keen walkers or cyclists a bite to eat at acclaimed gastro pub the Assheton Arms, with a seasonal ice cream shop near the village’s car park in the summer months.”

What’s your favourite Lancashire village? (Image: Getty)

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in Downham, The Independent recommends Greendale Teahouse and Rooms, which “offers comfortable and colourful rooms with countryside views” and you can look forward to visiting “a traditional tearoom stocked with artisanal breads and homemade cakes.”

What was filmed in Downham?

Downham has been used as a filming location for a few films and series.

The Downham Village website explains: “As well as a constant flow of tourists and walkers, the village is attractive to film makers because of the lack of apparent modernity.

“The absence of aerials makes it ideal for historical drama and many films have been shot in the village and its surroundings.”

Recommended reading:

Born and Bred was filmed there, as well as Wuthering Heights (not the 2026 version).

The website adds: “One of the most famous films [although this one did have TV aerials in view!] was the 1961 ‘Whistle Down the Wind’ starring Hayley Mills and Alan Bates, shot largely at Worsaw End Farm and including local children from Downham and Chatburn schools in the roles of many of the children in the film.”

The Secret of Crickley Hall was also filmed in the village.

Have you been to Downham? Tell us your favourite thing about the village in the comments below.

The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene

A man who died after a crash involving a lorry on the A14 has been named by police. Suffolk Police were called at 2.26am on Thursday, May 7, following reports of a crash involving a lorry and a pedestrian on the eastbound carriageway at Bury St Edmunds.

The pedestrian, a man aged in his 70s, was pronounced dead at the scene. He has since been identified as David Green, previously known as David Biggs, aged 76, of Bacton.

Officers are appealing for any witnesses that haven’t already spoken to the police. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Joint Norfolk & Suffolk Serious Collision Investigation Unit, quoting reference 37/25998/26, via their website, or by calling 101.

It was not the only Britpop anthem to get a Salah-inspired re-write that season, with London band Dodgy’s Good Enough providing the tune for a terrace chant the player calls “something special”. Acknowledging Salah’s self-proclaimed pride in his Muslim identity, the fans sing: “If he’s good enough for you, he’s good enough for me, If he scores another few, then I’ll be Muslim too, If he’s good enough for you, he’s good enough for me, He’s sitting in the mosque, that’s where I want to be.”

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Some 90 people have been confirmed dead following a gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China.

More than 240 workers were on duty underground at the Liushenyu coal mine in Changzhi, Shanxi province when the explosion occurred at around 7pm on Friday.

President Xi Jinping called on authorities to ‘spare no effort’ in rescuing survivors and treating those injured by the blast.

The cause of the incident in Qinyuan county is currently under investigation, the state-owned Xinhua news agency reported.

As part of a probe, executives from the Shanxi Tongzhou Group responsible for managing the facility have been arrested.

Six national emergency mine rescue teams were dispatched to the scene.

Coal mine explosions in China are often caused by flooding, although regulations introduced since 2000 have reduced the number of fatalities from incidents.

The latest blast is one of deadliest reported in recent years.

Premier Li Qiang called for information to be released in a ‘timely and accurate manner’.

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“In space we don’t experience any forces, our muscles, our bones immediately start to diminish because we’re not being loaded by those forces,” says Dr Dan Cleather, professor of strength and conditioning at St Mary’s University who is on the team developing the British equipment, HIFIm.

ITV will air the last Britain’s Got Talent live semi-final of the series tonight with the grand finale just days away

Britain’s Got Talent will be back on our screens tonight for the last semi-final of the 2026 series.

So far, there have been four semi-finals, with eight acts confirmed to be in this year’s live final already.

The two acts that made it through the fourth semi-final last Saturday (May 17) were poet Sonny Green and magician Rafferty Coope.

They’ll be joined in the final by singer Matty Juniosa, dog act Anastasiia and Salsa and dance group LMA.

Also through to the final are magician Fabian Fox, fire-juggler Liwei Yang, and comedian Ted Hill.

This evening, the remaining eight semi-finalists will take to the stage in a bid to land the last two spots in the grand finale line-up.

Judge Amanda Holden’s golden buzzer act The Hawkstone Farmers Choir will go up against industry-leading drone art company Celestial, sideshow and suspension duo Baron & Vesper, magician Jake Banfield, singer James Miller, schoolboy dancer Juan Carlos, Japanese comedian Mr. Cherry and rock boyband SOS.

The 32-strong group of farmers moved the judging panel to tears with a soaring rendition of Elbow’s One Day Like This prompting Amanda to press the gold buzzer – sending them straight into the semi-finals.

It also has been confirmed that the cast of Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical will take to the stage as the Guest Act this week.

ITV has confirmed when fans can expect the next Britain’s Got Talent champion to be crowned and there isn’t long to wait.

The live final of the 2026 series will air next Saturday (May 30) at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

Last year’s series of Britain’s Got Talent saw magician Harry Moulding crowned the winner after he was put straight through to the final by judge KSI, who pressed the live show golden buzzer.

Harry won a life-changing £250,000 and the opportunity to perform at the Royal Variety Performance.

Fans will have to wait and see which act will win over the nation and follow in Harry’s footsteps as series 19 draws to a close.

Britain’s Got Talent continues Saturday, May 23 at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX