The council also defended the ‘failed’ pothole repairs

Peterborough City Council has rubber-stamped plans to carry out highway repairs to road surfaces across the city that have deteriorated due to extreme weather.

At a Cabinet meeting held on June 23, the council approved a works order of £1 million to the authority’s highways partner, M Group, to carry out a series of jobs aimed at treating roads within the council’s boundaries. Councillor Angus Ellis, Cabinet Member for Transport, noted how extreme weather is having a “major effect” on the condition of Peterborough’s highway surfaces.

“It is vitally important that we act now,” he said, “and by agreeing this positive programme of works, we will help ensure that our highways are in an excellent condition for all road users and prevent key routes having to close in future.”

Some headlines have appeared in the press recently questioning the quality of M Group’s pothole repairs elsewhere across the Eastern region. During discussion, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Cllr Neil Boyce, asked councillor Ellis: “What warranty we hold with M Group over works that they’ve done?”

Cllr Boyce posed the question after stating: “We’ve recently had issues with road surfaces that have been resurfaced failing within 12 months.”

Cllr Ellis replied: “Resurfacing works carried out through the M Group contract are subject to a ‘Defects Period’ – any issues due to poor construction during this time would result in the contractors having to return to make good.”

Cllr Ellis added that the Defects Period lasts for a year. The Cabinet Member for Transport then invited James Collingridge, Service Director for Property, Infrastructure and Highways to elaborate on why some roads are more likely to need re-fixing more frequently than others.

Mr Collingridge explained that roads – especially those in rural areas – built on peat soils are far more prone to undulations (potholes) reappearing within 12 months of initially being repaired. Being roughly 80 to 95 per cent water makes peat highly compressible, so it continuously expands, contracts, and shifts with weather changes, creating voids beneath the tarmac which ultimately lead to buckling, cracks, and large craters.

“[Follow-up repairs] are not always due to poor workmanship,” the Service Director noted: “It’s due to the issues we’ve got with the peat soil.”

Mr Collingridge said first-hand inspection is the best way to determine the actual cause of re-appearing potholes in rural areas: “Where we have a Defects Period, we go out and we would assess whether it is due to poor workmanship or whether it is due to the actual underlying issue.”

Funds for this project were approved as part of the council’s budget for 2026/27, with £1 million allocated to repair roads that have suffered from the effects of drier winters and warmer summers in recent years.

Officers arrived at the scene on Tulip Avenue, Kearsley, just before 1pm on the afternoon of Thursday, June 25, with residents reporting seeing what looked like six police vehicles.

They say this is not the only incident they have seen recently of police activity on the cul-de-sac.

An eyewitness said: “I heard shouting a few minutes beforehand, but then suddenly around six police vehicles descended on the cul-de-sac.

“Within moments the street was packed with officers, including armed police.”

Officers on the scene (Image: Public)

He added: “There’s been a lot of police to same address last few weeks, like a lot.”

Images from the scene show police vans parked up around Tulip Avenue as officers went about their work on Thursday afternoon.

Greater Manchester Police later confirmed that a woman had been arrested in connection with the incident.

A woman was arrested at the scene (Image: Public)

A spokesperson said: “We were called at around 12.57pm to a concern for welfare of a woman at address on Tulip Avenue.

“The woman has been arrested on suspicion of section 18 assault.”

Anyone with any further information or concerns can call police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Alternatively, members of the public can call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The Moon briefly aligns with Mars in Taurus, making communication easy and potentially bold. Go with your gut today.

Scorpio, Sagittarius and Capricorn, said communication doesn’t have to be with others. Tune into your inner world and conversations.

Keep focused, and results will shine. Go get what you have your mind set on.

Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Friday June 26, 2026.

Like checking your horoscope every morning? You can now sign up to our free daily newsletter to get a personalised reading for your star sign delivered straight to your inbox.

To order your unique personal horoscope based on your time, date and place of birth, visit patrickarundell.com.

Aries

March 21 to April 20

Just over a year ago, Jupiter, the planet of fortune, moved into a more nurturing, family and property-oriented placement. However, at that time, Saturn, the planet of limits, slowed down the benefits it could bring. Ironically, as Jupiter heads to the exit, your ruler, Mars, supercharges it, and finally, in these very areas, the things you first hoped for can come to life.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries

Taurus

April 21 to May 21

Today is a fabulous opportunity to share your ideas. They can land well, and people can be responsive to your practicality and desire to get things done. Yet with the Moon briefly going face-to-face with Mars in Taurus, you might get a bit frustrated if things don’t flow as fast as you’d like but do trust you’ll make an impact. Socially, too, things can spark well, Taurus.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Taurus

Gemini

May 22 to June 21

Your financial situation has been supported all month, but have you felt the impact? Sometimes our personal cycles don’t quite gel with the heavens as we’d like – usually when we are going through big changes. However, on a project or idea that you have painstakingly and quietly applied yourself to, a breakthrough is possible, and it can prove to be validating.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Gemini

Cancer

June 22 to July 23

I wouldn’t say you will feel invincible today; you’d know that would be a stretch. You could though feel invigorated, and this can give you the get-go to take on the day with confidence and determination. With the expansive Jupiter, near to completing his thirteen-month journey through your sign, it can be a fine chance to reflect on what his visit has meant to you.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Cancer

Leo

July 24 to August 23

Soon enough the fabulous energy of the planet of fortune, Jupiter, will move into your sign. His movement through the sign of Cancer has likely given you a much greater appreciation of your own inner resources and the power of healing. With the confident energy of Mars connecting to him today, you can find yourself more comfortable with sharing what you’ve learned.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Leo

Virgo

August 24 to September 23

Your gift is managing processes. You often grapple with details with consummate ease. The planets, however, have been pushing you to broaden your approach and to be more adventurous. Today is a point in case with supportive friendships, travel plans, and exciting new ideas all in the mix. The finer points do still matter, but it’s your vision that counts most.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Virgo

Libra

September 24 to October 23

Whilst the planets can create the conditions for success, it’s what we do that decides the outcome. Some of your ambitions may not have come to pass in the last year, but what has changed is that you have likely fine-tuned what it was that was important to you. And being aligned with this has likely led to some breakthroughs of late, with another possible now.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Libra

Scorpio

October 24 to November 22

With the Moon travelling through your sign, it’s a reminder to stay in touch with your personal perspective. There could be one brief pinch point of tension, but it can soon be resolved by the fine vibe between your ruler, Mars, and the noble Jupiter. This can help to forge constructive alliances, sign off on a deal, or firm up a travel plan with a friend or partner.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Scorpio

Sagittarius

November 23 to December 21

Although you may feel a little quieter today, you can take great pride in several things you have achieved recently. All sorts of transformations have been occurring at a practical, organisational, physical, and even psychological level. Take time to celebrate these and acknowledge your progress. As the Moon glides into your sign later, know things will speed up.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Sagittarius

Capricorn

December 22 to January 21

There’s a fine chance to enjoy yourself today. The key is giving yourself permission to do so. If you have had a busy week, the allure of a quiet night in can be strong, but chances are, if you venture out, you can have a pleasurable time. Friends can be keen to meet up, but if you do have a date night, connecting emotionally can be as powerful as any attraction.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Capricorn

Aquarius

January 22 to February 19

Very soon, two mighty celestial players, Mars and Jupiter, will both end their journeys through less than exciting parts of your horoscope, but will arrive in two very positive arenas. So, if you find yourself caught up in more mundane affairs, even if being productive, do know that by the start of next week, a scintillating new phase will shape up for you, Aquarius.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aquarius

Pisces

February 20 to March 20

You can express yourself with additional conviction. And there may also be some lighter, more playful moments. If you sometimes find it harder to put your feelings into words, this will be less of an issue, and if there is someone that you are keen to impress, just let things flow naturally. This is where the North Node in Pisces can help, urging you to trust the process.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Pisces

Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.

Head here for this week’s tarot horoscope reading, and see what the cards have in store for you!

Check out the tarot horoscope reading for the month of June here.

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The budget airline has announced a shake-up affecting new bookings from today, with some families now having to wait until check-in to find out where they will be sitting.

While Ryanair says children will still be seated beside a parent or accompanying adult free of charge, families who do not pay to reserve seats are likely to be allocated places towards the rear of the aircraft.

The move comes after scrutiny of airline seating policies and criticism from consumer group Which?.

What is changing for Ryanair seating policy?

Under the revised policy, families who choose not to pay for seat reservations will receive their seat allocations after checking in.

Previously, Ryanair’s family seating policy provided greater certainty earlier in the booking process.

Parents who want to choose where they sit, including securing seats near the front of the aircraft, can still pay a reservation fee.

Ryanair says children will continue to sit next to an accompanying adult free of charge.

Why has Ryanair changed the rules?

The airline says the move aligns its family seating policy with industry standards used by many European carriers.

However, consumer group Which? claims the changes only came after pressure from regulators.

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: “It was never fair to charge parents to sit next to children as young as three.”

Families may end up at the back of the plane

Ryanair has warned that passengers using the free seating allocation are more likely to be placed in rows towards the rear of the aircraft.

That’s because seats at the front are often reserved by passengers willing to pay extra.

Families wanting specific seats or premium locations will still need to purchase seat reservations.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary criticised regulators and suggested the airline was being forced to abandon what he described as a more consumer-friendly system.

He argued that Ryanair’s family seating policy had been popular with customers and gave families greater certainty than some rival airlines.

But he confirmed the airline would make the changes rather than continue its dispute with regulators.

Recommended reading:

What does it mean for holidaymakers?

For most parents, children should still be seated next to them at no additional cost.

However, families who do not pay to choose seats may now have to wait until check-in to find out exactly where they will be sitting.

The changes apply to bookings made from today, June 25, onwards and come just as millions of Britons prepare for summer holidays.

Consumer groups say they will be closely watching how the policy works in practice to ensure families are not separated or pressured into paying extra charges.

The UK is bracing for further hot weather on Friday, following a week of record-breaking temperatures across all parts of the country.

Highs of 36.7C (98F) were provisionally recorded in Merryfield, Somerset on Thursday, while it was also the hottest day of the year so far in Wales (35.9C), Scotland (31.2C) and Northern Ireland (30.8C).

A red weather warning for extreme heat will be in force on Friday, covering areas including London, Oxford, Sussex and Kent.

Bare-knuckle boxer Callum Kerr was handcuffed by police on board the Jet2 flight, but died a short time after.

An airline has released a statement after a boxer died after he was restrained by passengers on board a chaotic flight.

Father-of-three Callum Kerr and his girlfriend had boarded the Jet2 flight from Larnaca in Cyprus to Manchester, England on June 21.

Witnesses told how he became ‘disruptive’ during the flight after reportedly drinking alcohol beforehand.

Police said officers were called to Manchester Airport at 2.25am on Monday, June 22, after reports of a man ‘behaving aggressively towards passengers and crew’.

It was reported he had been restrained by others passengers before police boarded the aircraft.

Police boarded the flight to find Mr Kerr ‘being restrained by passengers and aircrew at the rear of the plane’, reports the M.E.N..

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The force said officers used handcuffs to detain him, but ‘quickly identified he was unresponsive, through the provision of first aid’.

CPR was commenced and he was taken to hospital, where he died on Tuesday afternoon (June 23).

Mr Kerr, from Warrington, was 35 and a father-of-three.

In an update issued on Thursday, Greater Manchester Police said it had made a mandatory referral to police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

In a statement, the force said two reports of an assault – on a passenger and a member of cabin crew – were made.

Jet2 has now issued a new statement following the incident.

A spokesperson said: “We are aware that a customer has sadly passed away, having been taken to hospital earlier this week.

“We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the customer’s friends and family. As investigations are ongoing, it would be inappropriate for us to make any further comment at this time.”

READ MORE: Inside hellhole Spanish prison where crime boss Steven Lyons will await fate

READ MORE: Two charged after suspected ‘crossbow’ attack in Edinburgh

Mr Kerr has now been formally identified. In a statement issued through police, his family said: “Callum was a family man, father to three beautiful young children, a lover of sport and with a heart of gold.”

GMP said the IOPC was ‘investigating the actions of our officers’, while detectives from its Major Incident Team were investigating the circumstances on the flight.

Mr Kerr was not under arrest. No arrests have been made.

The police watchdog said its investigation would ‘look at the actions and decision-making of the officers involved to understand the events surrounding the man’s death’.

If approved, the development would create over 200 jobs

A Cambridgeshire village could get 80 new homes if plans go ahead, but locals have raised concerns. Martin Grant Land Limited proposes to build up to 80 homes on land at Pendrick Close in Coton, approximately two miles west of Cambridge.

The plans, submitted by Stantec, on behalf of Martin Grant Land Limited, also propose a new public open space as well as a play area. They want to build the homes to help “meet the needs of the residents which would also be of benefit to existing local residents”.

If approved, the development would create over 200 jobs, including apprenticeship opportunities. Local businesses are also expected to benefit from the development.

The application said: “Future residents would also contribute towards local spending to the benefit of business in Cambridge. The site would therefore contribute to expansion of the local economy.”

The proposals have been slammed by locals who said it would add “unsustainable pressure” to services. A number of objections have been lodged so far.

One local said the proposals would be an “absolute nightmare” for property owners and tenants in the area. They added: “Not only will we have to suffer the noise and dust that is inevitable but as a result of the building plans we will be denied the peace and tranquillity and also benefits for future generations.”

Other concerns were raised about the “strains” on the infrastructure of the village, “much of which is designed for a community smaller than the current one”, an objector stated.

The local added: “With the addition of yet more houses, this will be under greater strain.”

Meanwhile, another stated that the local primary school is “already operating close to full capacity” and an additional 80 homes would place “unsustainable pressure on the school and exceed its ability to accommodate further pupils”, the local said.

The objection added: “The GP surgeries serving Comberton and Eversden are already operating at or near capacity. This development would place further strain on essential healthcare services that are currently unable to meet existing demand.”

A resident described Coton as a “dead end village” with “narrow roads of which the narrowest is the roadway leading to the plot for which planning has been asked to build up to 80 houses”.

The ‘Reclaim Our Streets’ rally in Edinburgh is being held in response to alleged knife attacks, which the Prime Minister said appeared to have been motivated by “anti-Muslim hatred”.

Comedian Franklie Boyle and former First Minister Humza Yousaf are among the well-known faces backing a ‘Reclaim Our Streets’ rally following a series of alleged attacks in Edinburgh

A 36-year-old man appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday charged with five counts of attempted murder ‘aggravated by reason of having a terrorist connection’.

Two men were injured in Sighthill area of the city, at about 8.50pm on Friday.

Police said three other men were then allegedly attacked in the Telford Road and Leith Walk areas of the capital.

Counter-terrorism officers were brought in to investigate what happened, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying that the incidents appeared to be motivated by “anti-Muslim hatred”.

A ‘Reclaim Our Streets’ rally is being held on Saturday afternoon at Montgomery Street Park and a number of famous faces have signed up to take part.

The event organised by Stand up to Racism Edinburgh, aims to show solidarity with minority communities.

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A rare double earthquake ravaged Venezuela on Wednesday, killing at least 188 people and leaving more than 200 trapped. Many more are feared dead.

Thousands of people have been reported missing and about 1,500 people have been injured. Some of the heaviest damage and casualties were in La Guaira, a coastal region north of the capital, Caracas.

Here’s what to know about the earthquakes and the search for survivors:

Two earthquakes in less than one minute

The powerful 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes struck 39 seconds apart along the San Sebastian fault on Venezuela’s northern coast, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

They were among the strongest in the South American nation in more than a century.

The first earthquake, a 7.2-magnitude foreshock, hit west of Morón on the Caribbean coast, about 170 kilometers (105 miles) west of Caracas, with a depth of 22 kilometers (about 14 miles).

The second, a 7.5-magnitude mainshock, was centered 16 kilometers (10 miles) southwest of Morón, with a depth of 10 kilometers (about 6 miles).

The back-to-back earthquakes — known as a doublet because of their similarities in magnitude, time and proximity — resulted from shallow strike-slip faulting near the complex plate boundary between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

Many people are dead, injured or missing

The death toll in Venezuela is likely to climb as rescue crews comb through buildings toppled by the earthquake.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said authorities have deployed rescue teams from other parts of the country to La Guaira, where dozens of buildings have collapsed.

The city, about 165 kilometers (103 miles) east of the 7.5-magnitude quake’s epicenter, is a “disaster zone,” she said.

Civilians and authorities pulled survivors out of concrete rubble, some of them covered in dust and blood. Families sobbed in front of destroyed homes.

Families began posting missing-person flyers with photos of loved ones, while others shared handwritten lists of names as they searched for those still unaccounted for.

Significant damage in Caracas and beyond

The earthquake destroyed buildings in Caracas and led to evacuation as far away as Brazil’s Amazon, about 1,700 kilometers (1,050 miles) away.

In downtown Caracas, hundreds of people spent the night huddled in parks, parking lots and other open spaces.

Parts of the city lost power and cellphone service. Venezuela’s main airport in Caracas was damaged and closed, subway service was suspended and natural gas was shut off.

Classes will also be canceled for several days as schools are used as shelters and donation centers.

Rodríguez said the government was creating a $200 million reconstruction fund for hospitals and homes damaged by the earthquakes.

Another challenge for Venezuela’s leader

The earthquakes are yet another crisis for Rodríguez, the former vice president who took office in January after the U.S. captured former President Nicolás Maduro.

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are jailed in New York City while awaiting trial on drug trafficking charges.

Rodríguez inherited a country that has been in economic turmoil for more than a decade.

Many Venezuelans reject the legitimacy of her political movement, while some loyalists have criticized her leadership and warming relationship with the U.S.

Venezuelans in the U.S. are rushing to organize donation drives. More than 770,000 Venezuelans live in the U.S., with large communities in Florida, Texas and Utah.

___

Follow AP’s Latin America coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Science tells us that plastic lives forever. From oceans to urban streets, plastic pollution has become a defining geological marker of our time – entangled with nature, yet often hard to see.

While we often measure plastic pollution in tonnage of microplastics, those numbers can feel abstract. The reality is more immediate: plastic is everywhere – in our homes, on our streets, in our bodies and from soil to sea spray. Waste is designed to disappear, but the truth is that it doesn’t.

For the past 15 years, I have used art to connect the public to this issue through reuse workshops and interactive art installations made from single-use plastics. In these exhibitions, visitors don’t just look at plastic waste; they experience it as a vibrant material that is capable of sparking new environmental conversations and creative approaches to reuse.

This work comes out of my studio, KraalDesignedisposal, which I set up in 2010. KraalD began as a playful experiment: exploring the circularity of plastic waste, turning discarded objects into art and inviting audiences to rethink what we throw away.

One piece, the Xmass workshop sign, captures the feeling I get every December when recycling bins overflow and streets glitter with festive decorations. It’s whimsical, but it also carries a deeper message – my unease about excess wrapped in celebration.

A walk along the Kent coast after a storm inspired one of my early works. The shoreline was covered in seaweed, shells, jellyfish – and plastic. I picked up a sun-bleached blue toy and realised how quickly a small piece of rubbish becomes part of the ocean food chain.

Weathered and worn by the waves, plastic fragments break down into microplastics that marine animals ingest. That simple encounter on Whitstable beach and Medway river became the spark for Plastic Waste Ecologies, an exhibition I co-curated with artist Carina Brand.

Visitors to the Plastic Waste Ecologies exhibition encountered plastic clouds suspended from the ceiling. Standing beneath them, people instinctively looked up – checking the sky, noticing tiny details. I hope this inspired them to think about how plastic circulates through the air.

Sea PET mobiles – hanging sculptures made from repurposed plastic – imagine a 150-year future where ocean acidification changes marine life, jellyfish thrive, and the flow of natural cycles, or planetary metabolism, becomes visible. These installations are built from pieces collected over a decade, demonstrating that art can make environmental processes tangible and immediate.

Through workshops and co-designed installations, participants become part of the work. They helped shape another work, Beach Wrack, and contributed elements to the mobiles, taking part in a process that merges creativity, care and environmental reflection.

Conversations were had about waste and conservation while making – this highlighted the ubiquitous presence of plastic and the small gestures through which people can engage with waste differently.

The artworks that result are more than just aesthetic; they are conversation starters and prompts for reflection, showing that the challenge of mismanaged plastic waste is both systemic and personal.

I believe installation art can be a vital tool in environmental dialogue – one that transforms curiosity into awareness, and awareness into action.

The climate crisis has a communications problem. How do we tell stories that move people – not just to fear the future, but to imagine and build a better one? This article is part of Climate Storytelling, a series exploring how arts and science can join forces to spark understanding, hope and action.