An estimated 2,877 deaths were associated with excessive heat in May and June this year – almost double the number of casualties compared to last summer.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the figure represented a significant increase on 2025’s heat-related death toll, which was 1,504.

Approximately 753 deaths were linked to the heatwave from 24 to 27 May, while  2,124 were associated with a second period of unusually hot weather between 21 and 28 June.

The health body stressed that these figures are interim and an official number has yet to be determined.

But they are already approaching the annual record for heat-related deaths set in 2022.

UKHSA’s principal environmental public health scientist and author of the report, Dr Ross Thompson, said: ‘These figures highlight the significant danger that very hot weather can pose to people’s health.

‘This is particularly true for those who are more vulnerable including older adults and people with underlying medical conditions.

‘While the figures are interim, they suggest that, if we experience more periods of hot weather this summer, we could see the highest number of heat-associated deaths on record.’

The figure only accounts for deaths in May and June, covering just two of the four heatwaves the UK has experienced this summer. 

A third heatwave in early July saw multiple yellow and amber health warnings issued by the UKHSA.

A fourth heatwave currently underway has seen wildfires break out across much of the country, the most recent of which saw holiday homes and residential properties evacuated near a nuclear plant in Suffolk.

More than half of England is also experiencing drought as a result of the hot, dry conditions.

The Environment Agency (EA) said much of central, eastern and southern England is affected and that further restrictions on water use – like a batch of hosepipe bans brought in over the past few weeks – may be introduced.

Farmers have also warned the sweltering conditions mean they face depleted crop levels.

Gavin Lane, president of the CLA (Country Land and Business Association) – which represents 28,000 farmers – said: ‘Farmers are telling us this is the worst harvest in years.

‘A sodden winter followed by drought has left wheat at half its usual height and some crops not worth harvesting.’

Health and Social Care Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said of the report: ‘The sweltering heat has had a serious impact this summer on people’s health and on our NHS.

‘For many years, we have been used to winter pressures in our NHS and the need to support those who are vulnerable in the coldest weather.

‘But now we are seeing the summer heat have an increasingly serious impact on the health of thousands of people, and on the pressures facing our NHS too.

‘As we move through the summer, it is so important for people to be able to look out for their health and help those who are more vulnerable to the hot conditions.

‘Please don’t hesitate to seek help if you’re worried about your own wellbeing, or anyone else’s. A little care could make a lifesaving difference.’

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Former England football star Shaun Wright-Phillips was the tenth celebrity announced for Strictly Come Dancing on Thursday. 

The sportsman, 44, whose father is retired footballer Ian Wright, said the show is ‘completely out of his comfort zone’, but that he was ‘looking forward to the challenge.   

The news was announced on Thursday 30th July via @bbcstrictly’s official social channels on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube. 

Shaun is a former footballer with 36 caps for England, across a professional career that also saw him play for Manchester City, Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers, and the USA’s New York Red Bulls and Phoenix Rising FC. 

Now a football pundit and broadcaster, Shaun has worked with the likes of the BBC, Sky Sports, ITV, and the Premier League and he has been a Manchester City club Ambassador since 2020. 

Shaun said: ‘Dancing is in my blood—but mainly at family events! Strictly is definitely outside my comfort zone, but I’m super excited to get started and really looking forward to the challenge!’

He will be joining Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer, Will Best, Dame Sarah Storey, Jaime Winstone and Bethany Antonia in the Strictly line-up. 

Further news will be revealed throughout the summer ahead of the brand-new series getting underway on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this September. 

EastEnders star Lacey was the first contestant announced as she is currently on an extended break from playing her iconic character Stacey Slater in the soap and is keen to use her time to train for the BBC competition, which will start in September.   

In a video shared to Instagram, Lacey admitted she is ‘terrified’ to be taking part in the BBC show, which will return to screens in September, and can’t wait to ‘learn a new skill’.

She said: ‘Hello it’s Lacey Turner I can’t quite believe that I’m actually saying this but I want to let you in on a little secret.

‘This September I will be taking my little toes onto the dancefloor to do Strictly Come Dancing.

Shaun said: ‘Dancing is in my blood—but mainly at family events! Strictly is definitely outside my comfort zone, but I’m super excited to get started and really looking forward to the challenge!’

‘I can’t believe it. I’m so excited and terrified at the same time but I’ve had so many friends do Strictly and I thought it was about time that I plucked up the courage and made my way onto that dance floor. So, there you go the secret is out, see you there in September.’

It comes after it was revealed Dani is also making her Strictly comeback.

The TV star has been confirmed as the second celeb to take part in the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing one year after she was forced to quit the 2025 run after fracturing her ankle during rehearsals.

Dani said: ‘I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September!’

‘I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one! I’m just over the moon and cannot wait to find out who else is doing it!’

Upon her exit last year, BBC bosses confirmed the door would be left open for ‘heartbroken’ Dani to return for the 2026 series as they said they ‘hope to welcome her back to the ballroom in the future’.

Elsewhere, on Monday the returning Strictly professional dancers shared a glimpse inside day one of rehearsals for the 2026 series on Instagram. 

Amy Dowden, Dianne Buswell and Jowita Przystal are among the stars returning to the dancefloor this year after the BBC show underwent a major shake-up.

The stars were also joined by returning pro Carlos Gu, 33, who scooped the coveted Glitterball Trophy with footballer Karen Carney.

As well as Katya Jones, Kai Widdrington, Aljaž Škorjanec, Lauren Oakley, Nancy Xu, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Alexis Warr, Julian Caillon and Vito Coppola.

Five new faces were recently announced to the pro line-up, months after the Strictly axe ‘bloodbath’ saw bosses ditch stars Michelle Tsiakkas, Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk and Gorka Marquez.

Making their Strictly dancer debut this Autumn will be Ukrainian Aleksandra Isaeva, Italian hunk Cristian Priori, South African latin champion Lethabo Monametsi as well as Canadian dancer Mark Karmalita and UK National Ballroom Champion Maddie Ingoldsby.

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East Midlands Railways services could be disrupted across numerous weekends in August as workers set to strike over train safety concerns.

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has announced 24-hour strike action on three consecutive Saturdays: 1, 8 and 15 August.

East Midlands Railways (EMR) is advising its customers only to travel if their journey is essential and to check journey statuses before travelling.

On strike days, EMR will be operating a significantly reduced timetable between 7am and 7pm on its Intercity and Connect routes.

There is likely to only be one train per hour between London St Pancras and destinations such as Nottingham, Sheffield and Corby.

Regional services are unlikely to be affected by the strike action and will operate as normal.

In addition to the strike action, the RMT has also notified the train company that members will be taking “action short of strike” from Sunday 2 to Friday 7 August (inclusive), Sunday 9 to Friday 14 August (inclusive) and from Sunday 16 August until further notice.

This usually means that workers will carry on working, but may limit some of their duties. EMR says trains may be subject to short-notice alterations or cancellations.

RMT says the strike action is taking place after the train company refused to withdraw faulty trains and the collapse of talks.

The union’s dispute centres around the roll-out of the Class 810 Aurora fleet, built by Hitachi, which it argues has been operating with a significant number of dangerous faults.

“EMR has been sending trains into service that are likely to fail and require a full reset which leaves the train with no active safety systems including loss of communication between train drivers, dispatchers, and trackside which has occurred at least three times in the last week alone,” the union said.

“Despite numerous attempts to resolve the dispute through talks, EMR will not remove the 810s from service therefore the strikes will go ahead, and we remain available for further talks,” RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said.

The operator previously announced a temporary reduction of its Intercity timetable due to service reliability and maintenance issues with the 810 fleet that “significantly impacted upon EMR’s ability to run a consistent service”.

As a result, hundreds of services were cancelled on the Midland mainline, including around 20 fast trains a day connecting London, Sheffield and Nottingham.

On Monday, EMR’s managing director, Will Rogers, stepped down from his role amid the ongoing problems.

Regarding the strikes, Philippa Cresswell, customer experience director at EMR, said: “We’re sorry to customers whose journeys will be affected by this industrial action.

“EMR continues to engage in constructive discussions with the RMT in the hope of resolving this dispute as quickly as possible.”

Ms Cresswell continued: “The dispute relates to concerns raised about the introduction of our new Class 810 Aurora fleet. Any suggestion that the trains do not meet the required safety standards is incorrect.

“The Class 810 fleet entered passenger service only after successfully completing all required testing and meeting the rigorous safety standards required by the independent regulator.”

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The incident has been condemned by local politicial representatives

An attack on a memorial garden in East Belfast has been described as an “insult” to the 96-year-old wife of a murder victim.

The garden, which is close to a sectarian interface with the Short Strand on the Lower Newtownards Road, was built to commemorate Jimmy McCurrie and Bobby Neill, who were shot dead by republican snipers in June 1970.

The memorial, which has been previously attacked, most recently in 2024, had paint thrown over it in the latest incident at around 10.35pm on Wednesday, July 29. It is being treated as a hate crime by police.

DUP councillor Bradley Ferguson condemned the attack, adding: “The McCurrie family made me aware of the latest attack on the memorial, which is not just an insult to those commemorated on it, but particularly to the families, including Jimmy McCurrie’s wife who is now 96 years old and is having to deal with being retraumatised by yet another sectarian attack on this memorial.

“It is important there is leadership from across the community to condemn this attack. Also, anyone with information should contact the police to assist with identifying those responsible.

“Attacks on this memorial, and on the families who take comfort from it must stop.”

Titanic councillor Ruth Brooks added: “The community on the Newtownards Road continue to stand with the McCurrie and Neill family and this attack is felt by all those in the area.

“The paint will be removed and the damage restored, but it is the mindset of those who carried out this damage which is in most urgent need of change.”

PSNI Inspector Connolly said: “We received a report at around 10.35pm on Wednesday, 29th July that a memorial park in the Newtownards Road area had been paint-bombed.

“This is being treated as a hate crime and our enquiries are ongoing.

“We would appeal to anyone with information to contact police using our witness appeal form at https://reporting.psni.police.uk/appeals, quoting reference 2066 of 29/07/26, or call us on 101.”