Drunk seagulls are causing traffic jams along England’s south coast, experts have warned.

Ornithologists – scientists who study birds – say the gulls are snacking on flying ants, which have become active during this summer’s successive heatwaves.

But the ants release an acid which makes the birds intoxicated, causing them to stumble around and get in the way of vehicles.

Dr Viola Ross-Smith, from the British Trust for Ornithology, explains that flying ants produce formic acid when under threat to deter predators.

If the gulls eat enough of the ants, they can become unstable on their feet.

‘Ants produce formic acid, and because it’s a mild toxin, the gulls can act a bit woozy and come across as drunk,’ Dr Ross-Smith said.

‘The hypothesis is the formic acid is affecting them as ­ethanol affects us.’

While flying ants typically become more active in mid-July, residents of areas like Suffolk reported seeing the bugs swarming earlier in the year due to this spring’s unusually hot weather.

Dr Ross-Smith added: ‘It is just a hypothesis at the moment. Some say the birds might be so distracted by the food source they’re not paying attention. Or that they are overwhelmed by the food.

‘You do see blankets of gulls walking in the road and ­staggering around on the pavement, getting in the way of cars.

‘Usually, they’re bold birds who don’t shy away from humans. I would really love for someone to test the theory and see if formic acid is ­making the gulls drunk.’

If you see a gull looking a little dizzy, you should not be concerned. However, it’s important to seek help for a gull if it seems unwell.

She continued: ‘They’re taking the opportunity to gorge on the insect protein. We’re happy to let nature get on with it.’

You can report sick or injured animals to the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.

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Football pundit Micah Richards left Gary Lineker aghast as he revealed his surprise link to Spice Girl Mel B during a podcast chat.

Speaking on their The Rest Is Football podcast with co-host Alan Shearer, Micah, 38, completely stunned them with the revelation.

He said: ‘Mel B she used to babysit me when I was younger!’, to which Gary, 65, shouted: ‘She used to what!!’

He clarified: ‘She used to babysit me! Get her on the pod! My sister still does her hair now!’

Gary then asked: ‘That’s unbelievable, is that a known stat?’

To which Micah said: ‘No it’s not, you’ve got to save stuff for the pod, you know what I mean, always have something up my sleeve…’.

Speaking on their The Rest Is Football podcast with co-host Alan Shearer, Micah, 38, completely stunned them with the revelation that she used to babysit him  

Gary then joked: ‘How old were you? 16?!’ as the pair laughed away. 

Micah had previously told The I: ‘We’re all from Leeds, my sister knows her sister and my brother knows her sister Danielle. In the old days people used to just go around each other’s houses, you know?

‘My mum said years ago that Mel used to babysit me, then my sister confirmed it and I thought ‘Ooh!’. She’s a proper icon so I was buzzing.

‘I don’t remember anything about it but I’ve got two sources now saying it happened! I don’t know where it was but I can now confirm it definitely happened. So it is real. But I don’t have her number or anything. I couldn’t ask her for a pint.’

It comes after fans have claimed that Mel B has been blocked by her Spice Girls bandmate Geri Halliwell.

Last week the iconic girlband celebrated the 30th anniversary of the release of their debut single Wannabe.

Geri was the first to share an Instagram post to celebrate the milestone and whilst she gushed about her ‘beautiful spice sisters’ and insisted ‘friendship never ends’, fans were quick to notice a clue about the state of her relationship with Mel.

Whilst she tagged bandmates Victoria Beckham, Mel C and Emma Bunton, Mel B was untagged, suggesting Geri has been blocked by her bandmate.

The bandmates no longer appear in each other’s ‘following’ lists.  

He said: ‘Mel B she used to babysit me when I was younger!’, to which Gary, 65, shouted: ‘She used to what!!’

Spice Girls fans soon flooded the post with tags for Mel B and begged the pair to ‘please make up and go on tour.’ 

Mel meanwhile shared her own tribute to mark the anniversary, sharing a band photo, which included Geri with the caption: ‘Zigazig ahhhh Yipppeeee.’

Shortly after, Mel C posted a photo with all of the band tagged, gushing: ’30 years of girl power! Happy Birthday Wannabe I love you. The song that changed our lives forever.’

Calling Mel B and Geri the ‘leaders’ of the band, Mel C reflected on the two’s tense relationship in a new interview this week, telling the Louis Theroux podcast that whilst the pair were ‘really great mates if they had a fallout, it would affect everybody.’

‘I think because they were both so outspoken.’

The root of the feud can be traced back to the Nineties, when the band were at the height of their fame.

Less than two years after Wannabe topped charts in 1996, Geri announced she’d had enough and confirmed her departure from the group in May 1998 in the middle of their world tour.

Her shock decision to leave at the peak of their fame and right before their concerts in the US was never going to go down well, but her move to quit on Mel B’s birthday especially hit a nerve.

Scary Spice didn’t mince her words in a subsequent TV interview, saying: ‘When Geri left the group, it was bad. She left on my birthday and didn’t tell anybody. She didn’t show up. We had the American part of the tour to continue.’

Mel’s ex-husband Jimmy Gulzar later said that Scary Spice was particularly hurt because they were ‘really, really close’.

In 2019 Mel B caused upset by revealing on Piers Morgan‘s Life Stories that she and Geri enjoyed a lesbian fling during the band’s Nineties heyday.

Sources close to Geri said the singer was ‘livid’ following Mel B’s claims and after a week of silence, responded to Mel B’s comments with a statement denying her version of events.

Scary Spice was slammed for using ‘lesbianism as a PR strategy’ ahead of their reunion tour and following Geri’s reaction, attempted to backpedal on her story.

The women have also reportedly squabbled in recent years over Geri’s new ‘la-di-da’ image, which tends to rub Leeds-born Mel up the wrong way.

There was more confidence in his performance too. At previous gigs, Capaldi’s used humour as a crutch but there were no rambling speeches about haemorrhoids or bodily functions on Sunday night. The many parents who’d brought their kids must have been relieved. He still made jokes about England’s recent world cup success (“the less said about that the better, I’m a bitter, bitter man) and how the crowd were “fools” for paying to see him live, but there was a refreshed trust that his music was enough to carry the show. “I just want to say, there was a point where I didn’t think this would ever be possible again but we’re here and I’m having a great time, so thank you. It’s a really special” he told the crowd. “Having said that, this is a song about my death,” he added with a smirk before the absolutely devastating ‘The Day That I Die’. After an uncertain few years, the future is bright for one of the UK’s biggest pop stars.

Andrew, stripped of his titles last October by his brother, the King, has long faced separate accusations of having sex with the late Virginia Giuffre three times, including when she was 17 – under the state of Florida’s age of consent – and also during an orgy after being trafficked by Epstein.

A father has described the moment he saved a boy from drowning after his mother screamed for help – insisting he just did ‘what any man in my position would do’.

Two men died on Seaton Carew beach in Hartlepool, County Durham, yesterday afternoon as they also attempted to rescue the ‘little lad’ from the water.

Davey Short, 48, said the boy was aged around 12 or 13 and had been playing in the waves when he got swept out to sea.

His brother, who was around 15 years old, attempted to help him but also got into trouble in the water.

Two men tried to save the boys – but tragically died before they could do so.

Mr Short, a painter and decorator who lives in the Seaton Carew area, said: ‘I was sat on the sand dunes, and I saw a lad swimming in the sea. He was next to a man with his head in the water, and initially I thought he was snorkelling.

‘A woman was hysterical on the beach. I asked her what the matter was and she said, “Will you save my son?” I can’t swim.

‘Instinct took over, I ran straight in, and swam out as far as I could. I was telling the lad to try and swim towards me.

Police attend the scene at Seaton Crew Beach in Hartlepool, County Durham, after the two men drowned

‘He managed to get to me, but I was struggling to get back out with him.’

Mr Short said another man came over to give him a hand and together they managed to get the boy out.

He claimed it had taken emergency services around 40 minutes to attend the scene – leaving him no choice but to risk his life to rescue the child.

Mr Short added: ‘The little boy was fine, but it was too late for the other two men who had tried to help before me.

‘I couldn’t get further out to get to them. It was scary, the waves were hitting me. I knew I wouldn’t be able to get to them.

‘I am a dad myself. I didn’t even think about the danger to myself. I just wanted to get that little lad out.

‘I couldn’t not go in. There were people screaming at me not to go into the water, but I said, “I am not leaving that bairn”.

‘I know I had put my own life at risk, but I had no choice.’

Mr Short claimed it had taken emergency services around 40 minutes to attend the scene – leaving him no choice but to risk his life to rescue the child 

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Meanwhile the boy’s older brother was rescued by a different man.

Mr Short said: ‘Everybody has thanked me. The mother was hysterical, but she has thanked me so much and has been messaging me.

‘I am not a hero, I just did what any man in my position would do.

‘I just went in. I didn’t even think about it.’

Yesterday Superintendent Glen Ward of Cleveland Police said: ‘Our deepest sympathies go out to the families of both the men involved in this tragic incident today.

‘Despite the best efforts of emergency services, sadly both men were pronounced dead a short time after being brought out of the sea.

‘We are conducting enquiries into the circumstances of what happened today, although the deaths are not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the Coroner.

‘I would like to remind everyone that open water comes with serious risks. We know it is inviting in the hot weather, but we would encourage people to refrain from entering any open water at all. Today we have sadly seen the true tragedy that can happen as a result.

‘Please take extra care and enjoy the warm weather as safely as possible.’

The RNLI has been contacted for comment.

On Friday, the bodies of two teenagers were recovered in Derby and Greater Manchester following separate water-related incidents.

In Derby, an 18-year-old was retrieved from the water below the weir near the Darley Abbey Mills complex on Friday.

Emergency services had been called at 12.46pm after two young teenagers got into difficulty.

The younger teenager was rescued, but after hours of searches, the 18-year-old was found dead.

In Manchester, emergency services were called to Dovestone reservoir in Oldham at around 7pm on Friday.

They found an 18-year-old unresponsive in the water and he was pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts of medical professionals, the force added. A scene remains in place and inquiries are ongoing, police said.

The previous day a 16-year-old boy died after getting into difficulty in a lake in Lincoln – weeks after another teenager drowned at the same site.

Lincolnshire Police were called to Swanholme Lakes on Thursday afternoon and the boy was taken to hospital but he died shortly before 9pm.

It followed 15-year-old Declan Sawyer dying after also getting into difficulty at the nature reserve on May 24.

Last month the family of a teenage boy who drowned at Clifton Country Park in Swinton, Greater Manchester, paid tribute to their much-loved son, brother, nephew and friend, Leon Pafu Ngoy.

They said in a statement: ‘Leon was our baby, our brother, our best friend and the heart of our family. He was kind, respectful, thoughtful and loved by everyone who knew him.’ 

Britain’s May and June heatwaves are thought to have claimed more than 2,700 lives, with almost half of these deaths said to be fuelled by the changing climate.

A study estimates that 550 people died during the exceptionally warm spell at the end of May, with a further 2,200 fatalities linked to the ten-day heatwave in June. 

Dr Claire Barnes, a research associate in extreme weather and climate change at Imperial College London, argued: ‘Every time we have a heatwave, our news is filled with reporters at swimming pools, images of people eating ice cream and sunbathers on beaches.

‘We all love the sun, but people need to be aware that we are now seeing dangerous climate-change fuelled heat that is claiming lives, disrupting schools and hospitals and shutting down transport and infrastructure.

‘It’s time we woke up to the fact that we now live in a country with dangerously hot summers.’

Police are investigating the circumstances after three people were found dead in the Old Cullybackey Road area of Ballymena this morning, Monday 13th July. The three people were related and found inside the family home.There is no ongoing risk to the public.A further update will follow in due course.

Both Corrie and Emmerdale’s schedule has been subject to changes in recent weeks due to coverage of the 2026 Fifa World Cup

Coronation Street and Emmerdale fans can enjoy a slightly more regular fix of their favourite programmes this week as the end of ITV’s schedule shake-up for the World Cup looms.

Viewers have got used to their daily fix of drama from the cobbles and the Dales after Corrie and Emmerdale became part of a ‘soap power hour’ on ITV back in January.

The major schedule change meant that half-hour episodes have since been airing for each show every weeknight, which the network said at the time was because ‘viewing habits continue to change’.

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However, more recently, Corrie and Emmerdale fans have been treated to the previous hour-long episodes, which come amid ongoing changes to how fans can get their regular soap viewing due to coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is taking place across America, Canada and Mexico.

This week’s soap schedule has now been confirmed, which comes ahead of the major footballing competition coming to an end this Sunday (July 19), with England among those fighting for a spot in the final, alongside Argentina, France and Spain.

Both Emmerdale and Coronation Street have been pulled from ITV’s schedule on Tuesday (July 14), but will air on Monday (July 13) in their usual slot, from 8pm to 9pm.

To make up for Tuesday’s missing episodes, due to coverage of Spain vs France, it has been confirmed. Emmerdale will air at 8pm on Wednesday (July 15) for an hour, while Corrie will follow afterwards at 9pm until 10pm. And on Thursday (July 16) and Friday (July 17), Corrie and Emmerdale fans can enjoy their usual half-hour episodes as normal.

It comes after ITV confirmed what its new billion-pound deal means for its two beloved soaps. It was announced earlier this month that ITV has agreed to sell its media and entertainment arm to Sky for up to £1.6 billion, following months of talks over a possible deal.

The companies said the deal will combine the division with Sky to create a major competitor to the global streaming giants. They have been in talks since late last year in a bid to hammer out the terms of a sale, which is set to be transformative for UK television.

The sale includes ITV’s terrestrial TV channels and streaming service ITVX. But it does not include its production arm, ITV Studios, which makes shows including I’m A Celebrity and the popular drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office.

ITV Studios will become a “pure-play global content business” with its shares listed on the London Stock Exchange following the sale, and a long-term agreement to supply content to the newly combined Sky and ITV, according to the broadcaster. This includes programmes popular with the British public like Love Island, as well as Corrie and Emmerdale.

The UK is well and truly in the throes of BBQ season – and millions of proud Brits across the nation are touting their ‘pub shed’ set-ups ready for the summer.

And some are taking the coveted art of decorating backyards into sophisticated ‘mancaves’ – perfect for watching the World Cup in – even more seriously.

Three DIY enthusiasts have transformed humble garden spaces into ‘sheddies’ kitted out with pool tables, dart boards, foosball and table tennis.

They beat thousands of contenders and are now battling it out in the finals, to be named Britain’s Pub Shed of the Year 2026.

They include a traditional countryside-style pub as well as two incredible sports bars.

All feature the classic sports-lovers’ regalia but also personalised touches which make them feel special.

Paul Brimecome, from Portsmouth, is in the running with his stunning back yard creation made almost entirely from recycled materials called The Pampered Chicken.

The pub-sport player’s paradise – which measures 9.6m x 4.8m – boasts a pool table, a huge darts wall as well as retro arcade games and a fruit machine.

‘Our home pub is built on the original site of our chicken coop,’ he revealed. ‘Built by family, friends, and neighbours starting in May 2022, it is a vibrant social hub.’

And it has a special meaning as it is named in memory of their late friend Carol.

‘She always joked that our seven chickens were the most pampered in the world,’ Paul shared. ‘It is a lasting tribute that keeps her memory alive.’

The shed boasts a pool table, huge darts wall as well as retro arcade games and a fruit machine

The pub was built ‘almost entirely from recycled materials’, including pallets and Facebook Marketplace finds.

‘The historic bar originally belonged to a Hong Kong sailing club,’ he added. ‘The windows came from a local renovation, and we used salvaged soundproof insulation from a music studio to create a cosy atmosphere.

‘The facilities include a toilet and a shower with disco lights. A secondhand 10-line beer chiller serves drinks alongside entertainment like a pool table, fruit machine and a bespoke hand-painted dartboard wall.

‘We even have our own darts team, The Pampered Peckers.

‘Outside, a reclaimed scaffold-board deck and outdoor kitchen provide the perfect venue.

‘The Pampered Chicken perfectly represents friendship, sustainability, and community.’

Elsewhere Adam Cockroft, from Wakefield in West Yorkshire, built The Mucky Pub after moving in to his new home two years ago.

Adam Cockroft, from Wakefield in West Yorkshire, built The Mucky Pub after moving in to his new home two years ago

It opened in May of last year and Adam said they’ve had ‘some fantastic evenings with friends and family or even quiet nights on our own’ 

Decorated like a traditional pub, it also boasts an incredible games room with a pool table, air hockey, table tennis, shuffleboard, table football and arcade machines.

He said: ‘The main buying point of the house was the outbuildings that were located at the bottom of the garden.

‘The buildings were a solid blockwork construction so a great starting point for our conversions.

‘To the bar we added a new floor, a metal stud inner leaf, new windows, a log burner and a handmade bar.

‘We opted for a traditional pub theme and bought all the furniture second hand.

‘When our kids were young if ever we were going out for a drink we’d always say we were off to “The Mucky Pub” that name stuck and that’s what we called it.’

It opened in May of last year, and Adam said they’ve had ‘some fantastic evenings with friends and family or even quiet nights on our own.’

Staffordshire-based Tina and Rich Hibbs are in the running too with their bar named Hibbys

Their pub shed is decked out with Wolverhampton Wanderers FC memorabilia and has an outdoor play area and beer garden

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Tina says their bar has ‘evolved into the perfect place to cater for large occasions for both family and friends’ 

And finally, there are Staffordshire-based Tina and Rich Hibbs, of Rugeley, in the running with their bar named Hibbys.

It’s decked out with Wolverhampton Wanderers FC memorabilia and has an outdoor play area and beer garden.

Initially, Tina said, it was ‘a bolthole for hubby to escape and watch the football in peace, and to display his vast collection of Wolves memorabilia’.

However, it’s since grown in both size and reputation.

‘The bar has since evolved into the perfect place to cater for large occasions for both family and friends,’ she explained.

‘With two daughters and five grandchildren it is the perfect place to host birthday parties and special occasions, with the play area a particular favourite with the young ones.

‘The fridge is always full, and with a vast selection of spirits and two Blade beer machines ensuring cold refreshments are always on tap.

‘Purposely there is no clock or traditional bell available as the bar is always open to family and friends alike.’

The annual competition is run by Twofatblokes.co.uk and winners get £500 worth of prizes.

It is believed more than two million back garden pubs are now in operation in Britain after their popularity exploded during the coronavirus pandemic.

Ashley Turner, from Two Fat Blokes Bar Sign Emporium, said: ‘This is our sixth year running the competition, the quality of the entries makes judging harder every year.’

The Pub Shed of The Year 2026 winner will be announced live on Ngageradio.co.uk next month.

To vote, visit: https://pubshedoftheyear.co.uk/

The Prime Minister, whose No 10 guests included Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, said: “A criminal group called the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right have publicly claimed seven attacks at UK locations linked to Jewish and Israeli communities, and sitting behind them were members of Iran’s IRGC.

Two men have been arrested following the shocking brawl in Hulme

Two men were seriously injured in a ‘machete fight’ on a south Manchester street.

The shocking brawl in Hulme was captured in dash-cam footage, which shows a group of five men hacking at each other in broad daylight with what appear to be machetes. It came after two youths on e-bikes, dressed head to toe in black, including black balaclavas, began attacking a car as it waited at the traffic lights on Jackson Crescent in Hulme at around 3pm on Saturday.

After the bike-riders strike the car’s driver and passenger windows with the knives, two men, who also appear to be armed with machetes, get out of the car and fight back. A brief stand-off follows, with both sides wildly swinging at each other, before the two men who launched the attack flee.

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A third youth, who was a passenger on one of the bikes, is also present but in the footage is not seen taking part in the brawl.

On Saturday night a large police cordon was in place at the nearby crossroads of Stretford Road and Chorlton Road, understood to be in connection with the incident. Today police said two men were seriously injured in the fight.

A 22-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy arrested in connection with the incident remain in custody for questioning. The Manchester Evening News understands detectives are also searching for three other people as part of the investigation.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “Officers responded to an incident on Jackson Crescent, Hulme at around 3pm on Saturday, July 11, 2026 following reports of an altercation between a group of people involving bladed articles. Two men suffered serious injuries and remain in hospital for treatment.

“One boy – aged 17 – was arrested on suspicion of affray, assault, grievous bodily harm and possession with intent to supply class B drugs. One man – aged 22 – was arrested on suspicion of affray, possession of a class B drug and possession with intent to supply class B drugs.

“He was further arrested on suspicion of evading police custody and assaulting an officer. They both remain in custody for questioning.

“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of this incident and locate other suspects. There is not believed to be any wider threat to the community.”

Anyone with information or footage of the incident is urged to contact police on 101 quoting log 2329 of July 11.