TV doctor Dr Amir Khan has shared a warning about iron deficiency anaemia

A GP has advised people to seek medical attention if they spot an unusual sign in their fingernails. This could indicate an iron deficiency.

Iron plays a vital role in producing red blood cells, which transport oxygen throughout the body. The mineral can be obtained from foods including red meat, beans, and nuts.

However, despite maintaining a healthy, balanced diet, you may still find yourself lacking in iron, which can lead to iron deficiency anaemia. In a video posted to his Instagram page, medical expert Doctor Amir Khan provided further insight.

Dr Amir, who is widely recognised for his appearances on ITV, explained: “Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common type of anaemia. It happens when your body doesn’t have enough iron to make haemoglobin..

“Now that’s the substance in your red blood cells that allows them to carry oxygen throughout your body. Now, normally, your body brings in a steady flow of iron from the food that you eat.

“Your body stores excess iron so it’s available as needed to make haemoglobin but if you are not getting enough iron or it’s being lost faster than it’s being replaced, you will become deficient in iron.”

He listed some of the causes of iron deficiency anaemia. “There are lots of different causes but common ones include not getting enough iron in your diet, losing it through things like heavy periods – ladies, heavy periods are not normal, get them sorted with your clinician – gut illnesses like coeliac disease, and inflammatory bowel disease,” Dr Amir said.

“And in some cases, iron deficiency anaemia can be a sign of underlying cancer.”

Advertisement

Symptom in the nails

According to Dr Amir, one sign you could be deficient in iron will appear in your fingernails. This could cause them to become brittle or spoon-shaped.

He said: “Your nails are brittle or spoon-shaped. This condition is called koilonychia

“Your nails look concave, like spoons instead of growing flat.” Experts at the Cleveland Clinic add that you might also develop an indentation in your nail.

This will be “deep enough” to hold a drop of water on your nail bed. They said: “Most often, spoon nails are a sign of iron deficiency anaemia.”

However, it could also be the result of diabetes, heart disease, or an underactive thyroid among other issues.

Other symptoms

Dr Amir shared other symptoms to look out for. These include fatigue.

He said: “Now remember iron helps your body make the red pigment in your blood that carries oxygen to all your organs.

If you don’t have enough iron, you won’t be able to carry as much oxygen around your body, depriving it of vital energy making you tired.”

You might also have shortness of breath and chest pain. He continued: “Now when haemoglobin, the red pigment in your blood cells, are low with iron deficiency, oxygen levels are typically low.

“This means that your muscles will receive enough oxygen to do everyday activities such as walking. As a result, your breathing rate will increase as your body tries to get more oxygen in, resulting in shortness of breath.

“Your heart is also working harder to put what oxygen you have around your body and an unhappy hard-working heart will tell you it’s unhappy by giving you chest pain.”

You could also experience sores in the corners of your mouth, and restless leg syndrome, he said.

What to do if you have symptoms

He advised upping your iron intake, but also speaking to a professional if you have concerns. Dr Amir added: “Now, good sources of iron in our food include liver or red meat, shellfish, or if you’re vegetarian, legumes and pumpkin seeds are great.

“But if you’re worried, always speak to a healthcare professional.” On the NHS website, it says you should see a GP if you think you might have iron deficiency anaemia.

Britons have been warned of a risk to life “for even the healthy population” after a rare red weather warning for extreme heat was issued for parts of the UK.

With temperatures forecast to reach up to 40C on Wednesday, the AA said drivers could see gritters out on roads and cautioned that the heat could put extra strain on vehicles.

The UK Health Security Agency also issued red heat health alerts for the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, and South West.

Sweltering heat is expected until at least Thursday, with the Met Office expecting the record for the hottest June temperature to be smashed.

The Met Office’s red weather warning, which stretches from London across to Somerset and Swansea and up towards Birmingham, comes into force at 9am on Wednesday and will be lifted at 9pm on Thursday.

“An exceptional spell of hot and humid weather is expected across this region, with impacts to the general population highly likely,” the weather agency said.

The heatwave could bring disruptions to rail, road and air travel with National Rail advising travellers to check their journeys in advance.

By working on development proposals for a site on the doorstep of their campus, aspiring architectural technologists are translating theory into practice in a truly meaningful way.

Students at New College Lanarkshire are gaining hands-on industry experience thanks to a collaboration with Ravenscraig Limited.

By working on development proposals for a site on the doorstep of their campus, aspiring architectural technologists are translating theory into practice in a truly meaningful way.

As part of their Graded Unit 2, HND computer aided architectural design and technology students were tasked with creating a master plan for Plot E7, a key development site located adjacent to the college’s Motherwell campus at Ravenscraig.

The brief challenged students to design a hotel and retail/leisure-led scheme.

To support the students, a panel of industry professionals visited the college to review initial concepts and provide feedback.

Attendees included Russell Wilkie, director at Ravenscraig Limited, Ricky MacDonald and Heather MacSween from Keppie Design and Michael Smart, development director for Crucible Developments.

Following the initial presentations and feedback, students refined their ideas, developing three concept proposals each before taking one final concept into a detailed hotel design.

Keppie Design hosted a prize giving ceremony at their Glasgow office, where the top three students were awarded with Amazon vouchers from Ravenscraig.

Poppy McCubbing secured £500 for first place, Colin Campbell was awarded £150 for second place and Myles McDougall was recognised with £100 for third place.

The project has provided students with valuable real-world insight, including a tour of the college’s plant rooms to better understand the technical and spatial requirements needed within their designs.

Drawing inspiration from Ravenscraig’s industrial heritage as a former steelworks, some students incorporated metal cladding to echo oxidised steel, while others introduced curved façades symbolising the flow of molten metal.

Sustainability also played a central role in inspiring several proposals, with biophilic design features such as living walls, green roofs, and landscaped surroundings integrated into their concepts.

Additional design elements across the projects included rooftop terraces, spa and gym facilities, skylights, and bold architectural forms, demonstrating both creativity and a strong understanding of contemporary hotel design.

Christopher Moore, principal and chief executive of New College Lanarkshire, said: “Projects like this are invaluable in preparing our students for the realities of the industry.

“Working on a live development site such as Ravenscraig gives them the opportunity to apply their learning in a meaningful way, while engaging directly with leading professionals.

“We are proud of the creativity, professionalism and ambition our students have demonstrated throughout this project.”

Russell Wilkie, director at Ravenscraig Limited, added: “It’s been fantastic to see the level of thought, innovation and enthusiasm the students have brought to this project.

“Ravenscraig has a rich history and an exciting future as we deliver the masterplan.

“The site the students focused on is designated to retail and leisure and it’s inspiring to see the next generation of designers contributing creative ideas for what this might be.

“Initiatives like this are a great example of how industry can collaborate with education to help inspire and shape talent for the future.”

Ricky MacDonald, director of Keppie Design, said: “Working with the students has been a really rewarding process, particularly seeing how they respond to professional critique and develop their ideas.

“This project has given students a genuine insight into that evolving design process.

“The standard of thinking has been impressive, especially in how they’ve balanced creativity with practical considerations like buildability, user experience and sustainability.”

*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.

Rod Dennis, road safety spokesperson at RAC, has urged drivers to take the red extreme heat warnings seriously this week as he warned that there could be a record number of breakdowns this week.

He said: “Drivers whose vehicles don’t have effective air conditioning should strongly consider postponing any non-essential car journeys until the Met Office’s weather warnings are lifted and temperatures drop.

“If this isn’t possible, our best advice is to travel during cooler times of day. This is especially important for anyone travelling with vulnerable people, including young children and older adults, who are at greater risk from the intense heat. We’d also remind motorists never to leave pets inside a hot vehicle, as doing so can quickly become fatal.”

He added that the RAC expects breakdown volumes on Monday to be 20% higher than what’s normal for a Monday in late June and advised drivers to pack an emergency breakdown kit.

He said: “This week could end up being a record-breaking one for June – not just because of the heat, but also for the number of drivers breaking down. The heatwave will affect services right across the UK and while all patrols will be working incredibly hard to assist drivers, longer waits are more likely.”

Mr Dennis also said drivers can reduce the risk of breakdowns with a few basic checks, including making sure oil levels are sufficient while coolant levels sit between the “min” and “max” markers.

Mosquitoes love bananas and beer

How can I stop mosquitoes from biting me?

Mr Clarkson shared that he had been diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of cancer during the final two episodes of the fifth series of Clarkson’s Farm.

He shared the news with co-stars Kaleb Cooper and Charlie Ireland during a conversation at his Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire.

He explained that the cancer was detected early following a medical in May 2025 and described it as “aggressive”.

Jeremy Clarkson shares health update after cancer diagnosis

Now, Mr Clarkson has shared an update with fans in an interview with The Times.

The presenter said the cancer was detected early, and a recent PSA test showed no remaining signs of the disease.

In the interview, Mr Clarkson said he had spoken with former Prime Minister Lord David Cameron about the impact of their public disclosures, noting how they encouraged others to get checked.

Mr Clarkson said, “I was talking to David (Cameron) about it earlier this morning.

“He said the amount of people that come up to him is mostly in public conveniences and say, if you hadn’t owned up to it, I wouldn’t have got checked, and they wouldn’t have found it.”

He also revealed a support group including Mr Cameron, food writer Giles Coren, and others who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Mr Clarkson said: “So now there’s a group of us, Giles Coren, David, me, one or two other people, and we meet for lunch every so often.

“Everybody has different Gleason scores, and everybody has different Stockholm and PSA scores.

“We all compare notes and I actually get muddled with what mine were.”

The group has drawn attention from onlookers curious about what connects the members.

Mr Clarkson said: “It is quite funny watching people looking at us and going, that’s quite an interesting group of people, what do they all share in common?”

He also spoke about the seriousness of his diagnosis and the importance of early testing.

Mr Clarkson said: “This is why I have to say to everybody who’s reading this, please, please, please go and get checked.

“It’s not uncomfortable, it’s not undignified, and it’s a no-brainer.

“I did, and that’s why I’m sitting here talking to you 11 months down the line.”

Reflecting on the wider impact of cancer, he expressed empathy for those facing terminal diagnoses.

He said: “I’ve seen so many people die of cancer.

“It doesn’t bear thinking about what it must be like to live knowing that an illness is going to kill you.

“It must be very, very, very distressing.

“I don’t know the history of what happened to (former Olympic cyclist) Chris Hoy, but to be told your cancer is inoperable and to still carry on you’d have to be incredibly brave.”

Mr Clarkson’s diagnosis came nearly two years after he underwent a heart procedure involving the placement of two stents.

He revealed that during cancer treatment, he experienced complications after resuming medication without consulting a doctor.

He said: “That was horrific and it was all my own fault.

“I’d been on drugs for heart issues and I had to come off them during the cancer treatment.

“Two or three weeks after the cancer operation, I thought I’d better put myself back on those blood thinners.

“Big mistake, huge.

Recommended Reading

“It (resulted in) a very big emergency in the middle of the night.

“I’m not even going to go into the treatment that was required as a result of that, because it was horrible.

“I didn’t ask a doctor, I just thought, I’m sure it will be all right to go back on blood thinners.”

Mr Clarkson also shared that his doctor had advised him to stop working following his heart procedure, though he has continued to front the series Clarkson’s Farm.

The show follows his experiences running Diddly Squat Farm near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, which he began running in 2019.

As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our
articles.

Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local
services.

These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local
community.

It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need
as much support as possible during these challenging times.

The Met Office alerts also warn of an increase in potential water safety incidents, as more people are likely to visit coastal areas, lakes or rivers.

During the previous record-breaking heatwave , from May 24 to 31, the UK saw a horrifying death toll of 19 children and adults killed in water related incidents during one week. In response the Mirror launched our ‘Save Lives for Sam’ campaign to stop the “catastrophic” deaths of 33 children who drown in England every year – “the equivalent of a classroom of children lost”.

Bereaved families, Olympic legends and safety organisations have joined together to call on the Government to take five key steps to save young lives across the country. People heading to the coast should be mindful that sea-surface temperatures are not as high as they would be in mid-summer.

Samantha Hughes is the National Water Safety Partner at the RNLI. She said: “With warmer weather approaching, it’s important to remember that the water is still cold. Entering it unexpectedly can lead to cold water shock, causing a sudden increase in breathing and heart rate, which may trigger panic.

“If you find yourself struggling in the water, remember to Float to Live: tilt your head back so your ears are submerged, relax and control your breathing. You may need to gently use your hands to help you stay afloat, and it’s ok if your legs sink—everyone floats differently.

“Where possible, always choose a lifeguarded beach, and swim between the red and yellow flags. In a coastal emergency remember to call 999 for the coastguard.”

A man in his 20s suffered serious injuries after a stabbing on Sunday evening (June 21)

Residents have been left in shock after seeing a man “covered in blood” – as police swarmed a street following a stabbing. Cambridgeshire Police were called to reports of a stabbing at a house along London Road in Peterborough at around 7pm on Sunday (June 21).

A man in his 20s was stabbed and suffered serious injuries. He remains at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. A 52-year-old man wanted in connection with the stabbing is in hospital. People who live along London Road say police “swarmed” the street on Sunday night.

Amsita, who wished for her surname not to be included, said she was in her garden with her children when she suddenly heard “screaming”. She added: “We went outside and it looked like a young boy. There was a lady crying – the man had a lot of blood on him. Suddenly police and ambulances came and they were checking the man.”

Amsita said it was “horrible”. She added: “We heard screaming and shouting. We were surprised it was happening. They [police] were here for about two to three hours. They broke down the door to a house. We were shocked it happened.”

Another woman, who wished to not be named, found it “frightening”. She added: “I came out and saw the armed police, but I didn’t see the man. They [police] were all across the street. There were about nine police cars and three ambulances. It was quite shocking. Because of the armed police and dogs, and you hear them shouting to open up [the front door], it was quite frightening. But because there were quite a lot of police, it felt under control.”

Another woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said London Road was “swarmed” with police.

“I had never seen anything like that – it was crazy. We had no idea what was going on, and then all you could hear was shouting and the police trying to get someone out of the house. I saw a man lying on the floor and a lady crying, but I couldn’t see what it was like. It was quite scary.”

Another resident, who didn’t want to be named, also saw a man with “blood on him”. The man said: “They [police] were here for quite a long time and then the neighbours were everywhere. It was a frightening thing to happen so close to home.”

The first Lidl pub opened in Dundonald this month and one content creator known as the Northern Ireland Traveller has released a video about his experience

A bloke who was only the second ever customer to be served a pint inside the world’s first Lidl pub has declared he will never return — after being left in “complete shock” at what happened during his visit.

Mark Rowan, known online as Stumpy or the Northern Ireland Traveller, was the second punter in the door when The Middle Ale opened in Dundonald this month.

It is owned by the supermarket chain and it was partly launched as a way to comply with the strict licensing laws in Northern Ireland.

Stumpy was there for the grand opening and things were going smoothly until he suddenly was asked to stop filming — but more on that shortly.

Starting off on a positive note, he told his 28,900 YouTube subscribers: “This is the first Lidl pub in the world. Considering Lidl has almost 13,000 stores across 31 counties, it’s pretty remarkable that Belfast Northern Ireland is the first place to have one.”

He then explained that the name The Middle Ale was a clever play on words relating to Lidl’s famous “middle aisle” which is loved by shoppers.

The YouTuber joked that you could end up enjoying a pint in the boozer before going to the middle aisle next door to buy a chainsaw and a lawnmower.

Inside the pub, which has a separate entrance to the supermarket, punters are met by bold red, yellow and blue colours, reflecting the German brand. There is space for about 60 people and the walls feature shelves of Lidl grocery products.

One of the standout features was trolleys transformed into chairs, and Stumpy noted: “Absolutely unbelievable — I absolutely love this.”

A pint of Guinness in the pub costs £5.80 while a lager is £5.30.

And sipping a pint of the black stuff, Stumpy said he was impressed and that the temperature of his drink was solid. Summing up his thoughts, he said: “I really like it. There’s a good vibe about the place, good atmosphere, and very friendly staff. Very very impressed so far. Obviously, it’s opening day, so there’s going to be a bit more of an atmosphere around the place but yeah, so far so good.”

Unfortunately, things then changed in an instant, after Stumpy said he was approached by a member of staff who identified himself as security.

Stumpy was informed that he would have to leave if he kept filming before he explained that he had been doing so all day without any issues.

He alleged that he then asked for the man’s name, and Stumpy continued: “His response was none of your f***ing business.”

Advertisement

This behaviour caused Stumpy to say he would “definitely not be returning” before he outlined his disappointment about a pleasant experience turning sour.

He said: “I actually said the pint was good, I can’t take that away from it, wasn’t a bad pint. Would I return again? Definitely not. I don’t really know what to say. We were planning to spend the rest of the day in there. So plans have changed.

“I’m completely in shock. I totally understand it’s up to the owner’s discretion if they allow you to film inside the premises.

“[But] press team inside there this morning were taking picture of us when we walked in the door. And that’s obviously going to be going on social media and across all news platforms.”

He added on the video: “I was here to promote the place on the first day.

“Obviously, everyone is going to be taking photographs or if and pictures of it and videos of it. It’s the very first supermarket pub in the UK and Ireland. Absolute disgrace to be honest. I am annoyed.”

He clarified that every member of staff he encountered was friendly but the alleged behaviour of one left him determined never to go back in the future.

Hours later, long after Stumpy had left, a brawl erupted at the Lidl pub, in a separate incident which spoiled the opening night.

One man was left hospitalised after the altercation and the PSNI said in a statement: “Police received a report of an assault outside licensed premises in Dundonald on Thursday evening, June 18.

“At approximately 11.20pm, it was reported two men were involved in an altercation outside premises in the Dunlady Road area. Officers attended, and one man was taken to hospital for treatment to injuries not believed to be serious.”

Lidl Northern Ireland meanwhile said: “We are aware of an incident at The Middle Ale which took place yesterday evening.

“A group of customers were politely asked to leave the premises after last orders were called and an altercation took place between the group of customers.

“For the safety of our employees and customers, security personnel assisted in the prompt removal of the group and the PSNI supported in ensuring their full removal from the site.

“At The Middle Ale, the safety of our employees and customers is of utmost importance and we operate a zero-tolerance approach to disorderly behaviour.”

In relation to the earlier incident involving the Northern Ireland Traveller, Lidl Northern Ireland was approached for comment.