The ‘devastated’ family of a bodyguard who protected the Kardashians and David Beckham have paid tribute to him after he died in a motorcycle crash.

Mason Haynes, 52, was killed earlier this month – days before his birthday – in a collision involving two Harley-Davidson motorbikes, a BMW X3 and a motorhome van on the A287 Farnham Road near Hook, Hants.

He worked for the likes of Kris Jenner, Kim Kardashian, her Formula One ace boyfriend Lewis Hamilton, and her ex-husband Kanye West.

He also protected Beyoncé, Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, David Beckham and Sabrina Carpenter.

Mr Haynes’ family have said they can’t imagine life without their ‘gentle giant’.

They said: ‘We are completely devastated by the loss of our beloved Mason, a devoted husband, father, son, brother and dear friend, just two days before his 53rd birthday.

‘He leaves his wife Fay, his daughter Brooke and son Noah, who were the centre of his world.

‘It is impossible to put into words the void his death has left.

He worked for the likes of Kris Jenner, Kim Kardashian, her Formula One ace boyfriend Lewis Hamilton (seen in 2016 with Kim and Kanye West)

‘Mason was larger than life in every sense. He lived life to the full, loved deeply and made an indelible impression on everyone he met.

‘He was funny, adventurous, loyal and hugely generous with his time.

‘Through his work as a professional bodyguard, Mason dedicated much of his life to protecting others.

‘To those closest to him, he was our gentle giant. He was the person we turned to for strength, advice, reassurance and laughter.

‘He brought people together, helped those who were struggling and made people feel safe.

‘He was the kind of man who would travel hundreds of miles to help a friend and never thought twice about standing beside someone who needed him.

‘We would also respectfully ask that our family’s privacy is respected as we try to come to terms with this unimaginable loss.

‘This is an incredibly difficult time for us all, and we ask for the space to grieve while the investigation continues.

‘We are deeply grateful for the kindness, support and condolences we have received.’

A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for his family.  

One source close to the family previously told the Daily Mail that Mr Haynes worked closely with Hamilton up until his death.

Working his way up from the pub and club security scene, the father was employed as a bouncer to protect some of the most high-profile people in the world. His career had taken him to 115 different countries, including 22 across Africa.

Mr Haynes was working with Kim when, in October 2016, armed men disguised as police officers stormed her luxury Paris apartment. The group held the star at gunpoint before tying her up and locking her in the bathroom while stealing millions of dollars’ worth of jewellery.

Talking about the incident, Mr Haynes said: ‘I can’t go into much detail about that; I was part of that team, and that incident was simply a set of unfortunate circumstances which led to something bad happening.’

Elsewhere, Mr Haynes spoke highly of the Kardashian family.

‘Trust builds. It’s such a close relationship, and that’s what makes it so unique,’ he said in one interview.

Mr Haynes also worked for Kris Jenner and spoke highly of the Kardashian family 

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Fay Cameron-Clarke, 52, Mr Haynes’ wife, said: ‘Mason wasn’t just my husband. He was my best friend, my rock and the heart of our family.

‘He was the most loyal and loving man and he gave so much of himself to everyone around him.

‘Whether he was protecting people through his work or travelling hundreds of miles to help a friend, that was simply who he was.

‘Mason lived without limits. He embraced every opportunity life offered, making friends wherever he went, lifting those around him and leaving an impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him.

‘His courage, generosity, wisdom and unwavering loyalty will never be forgotten.

‘Brooke, Noah and I are completely heartbroken, and we’re struggling to imagine life without him.

‘The love and support we’ve received has been overwhelming, and knowing how many lives Mason touched has brought us comfort during the darkest days of our lives.’

The second motorcyclist, a man in his 30s from Farnham, Hampshire, suffered serious injuries and is being treated in hospital.

The BMW driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless/ inconsiderate driving and drug driving. 

The driver of the campervan, a 58-year-old man from Basingstoke, was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and causing death by dangerous driving.

The force said both drivers had since been released under investigation, pending further inquiries.

The driver of the BMW X3, a 52-year-old man from Basingstoke, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by careless/inconsiderate driving and driving a motor vehicle whilst unfit through drugs.

He has since been released under investigation, pending further enquiries. 

Jude Bellingham‘s blockbuster World Cup has put him on course to eclipse Sir David Beckham as English football’s next billionaire.

The superstar, 23, who has been the tournament’s standout performer, is building a commercial empire to match his exploits on the pitch.

He is already believed to earn more than £40million-a-year from his Real Madrid salary and endorsement deals.

Already the face of Adidas, Louis Vuitton, EA Sports FC, Lucozade and Kim Kardashian‘s Skims, ‘Brand Bellingham’ is now becoming one of the most valuable in world sport.

Mark Borkowski, one of Britain’s best-known PR gurus, said: ‘Jude Bellingham could become a greater athlete than David Beckham. Whether he becomes a bigger brand is a much higher bar.

‘Beckham’s brand was built on extraordinary forces converging at exactly the right time. No footballer had ever occupied quite that intersection of sport, fashion, music and celebrity.’

More lucrative agreements are expected to follow after his World Cup heroics, which have included six goals and a string of match-winning performances.

Industry experts believe the United States could become his most lucrative market, because Americans love his self-confidence.

Mr Borkowski believes Bellingham has demonstrated his value both on and off the pitch.

Jude stopped to speak to a disabled Venezuelan journalist in Spanish when most of his teammates walked by

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Jude is the face of many brands including Louis Vuitton

He also has a deal with Kardashian underwear brand Skims

Adidas signed a big money deal to sign Jude when he was a teenager playing for Birmingham City

He pointed to a video that emerged after England’s victory over DR Congo in which Bellingham stopped to speak to disabled Venezuelan journalist Manu Gutiérrez while most teammates walked past.

Bellingham leaned down to speak to him in Spanish after being moved by the plight of Venezuela following a devastating earthquake that killed almost 5,000 people.

Mr Borkowski said the footballer had shown himself to be a ‘decent human being’ and the authentic role model brands are desperate to be associated with.

‘That comes from somebody being incredibly human and decent,’ he said of his behaviour.

‘There are plenty of examples of people ignoring mascots, ignoring journalists, ignoring fans. Messi has this bodyguard that surrounds him and stops them. But Bellingham is very open. And that’s what he and his team will be thinking about – it’s not just what you do on the field,’ he told The Times.

US football finance expert Roger Bennett has said Americans have embraced Bellingham – and his confidence.

He told the Financial Times: ‘His mentality is so rare for an Englishman – he actually has an American mentality. 

‘He sees himself as a winner and is willing to talk about himself that way with a cocksure confidence that many English people have a difficult relationship with but Americans love.’

Just a year ago, however, his manager Thomas Tuchel described some of his behaviour on the pitch as ‘a bit repulsive’ and claimed it upset his own mother, Gabriele.

Bellingham was also accused of arrogance after yelling ‘Who else?’ following his spectacular overhead kick at Euro 2024 in Germany.

Yet fans have embraced his performances and personality, including the way he has led England’s squad in singing the team’s unlikely tournament anthem, Wonderwall by Oasis.

Jude has said his parents, who are understood to have separated but remain close, are his heroes and it was his grandfather William who inspired his patriotism. 

William, a teacher from Southend who died in November 2020, has gone viral this week after a clip of him on Mastermind answering question after question on ‘Nigeria between 1900 and 1966’ went viral.

Jude’s grandfather William was a hero to him. He loved his country and also appeared on Mastermind in a clip that has gone viral

Adidas spotted Bellingham’s commercial potential long before he became a global superstar.

The sportswear giant signed him while he was still starring for Birmingham City’s first team at the age of 16. 

By 17 he had already made his England debut against Ireland in the same month his beloved granddad William died.

Sam Handy, general manager of Adidas’s football division, said: ‘Jude has that aspirational quality that all good brands look for as an ambassador; anyone who has ever met him will tell you his demeanour is incredibly polite, humble and professional.

‘That said, he has an edge, an aura, that makes him comfortable under pressure and it’s clear that for him every moment he steps on the pitch is a chance to show the world what he can do and express himself.’

After a hugely successful spell with Borussia Dortmund, Bellingham followed in Beckham’s footsteps by joining Real Madrid in a £113million move.

One Spanish football executive told the Financial Times: ‘Fans and brands are increasingly drawn towards players and not just the teams they play for.

‘You want someone whose personality stands out above the rest. His celebration, his attitude, the way he carries himself both on and off the pitch — he has that unquantifiable thing that we call authenticity.’

Sir David Beckham is Britain’s first billionaire sportsman after he and wife Victoria doubled their wealth in the last year, according to the Sunday Times Rich List published in May.

The celebrity couple now have a combined fortune of £1.185 billion, a significant increase from the £500million estimated net worth they had on the 2025 list.

The major uptick in wealth is attributed to Sir David’s investments in the US, as the signing of Lionel Messi to Inter Miami until 2028 has lifted the value of his stake in the club, and a vast property development adjoining Inter’s home has provided another windfall.

Meanwhile revenues at Lady Beckham’s eponymous fashion line have topped £100million.

It came in the year that Beckham received his knighthood – but the family also suffered the heartbreak of their very public estrangement from their eldest son Brooklyn.

Bellingham was spotted sitting alongside his girlfriend, Ashlyn Castro, 28, appearing visibly upset while speaking to his father Mark and mother Denise after losing to Argentina

David, pictured with his wife Victoria, looked just as devastated as Argentina came back to win

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The foundations of Jude’s success were laid long before the fame and fortune arrived.

Bellingham’s mother Denise, whom he affectionately calls his ‘Queen’, shared his flat in Madrid’s exclusive La Finca district when he moved there.

She is reported to help cook his meals, make his bed and drive him to training.

A former HR professional, she manages her son’s financial affairs and is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in his career.

His father Mark Bellingham, a former West Midlands Police officer and prolific non-league striker nicknamed the ‘Non-League Pelé’, has largely focused on supporting Jude’s younger brother Jobe, now also a star at Borussia Dortmund.

The sacrifices made by both parents were considerable. For years they spent evenings and weekends ferrying their sons around the country for training sessions and matches.

While many young footballers seek independence from their parents, Bellingham has frequently spoken about the benefits of having his mother nearby.

At his Real Madrid unveiling, he said: ‘The role my mum is playing is massive. It is probably the biggest role of anyone, more than my coaches and managers, to be honest.’

Acting as a moderating influence as his profile continues to soar, Denise helps keep him grounded.

‘Without my mum, sometimes I’d get too low with the lows or too high with the highs and I stay pretty humble because I’ve got her around,’ he said.

‘It’s also great to have her there because she’s a great laugh as well. We get on so well and we’re always doing stuff together.’

Bellingham – pictured as a baby with dad Mark – had scouts marvelling at his ball-carrying technique

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Denise has travelled with Jude as his career has taken him from Birmingham to Germany and on to Spain. Pictured: Jude taking a selfie with his mother, Denise, who has helped manage his career

Jude Bellingham has been open about the importance of his mother and father to his career.   Pictured with his parents and brother, Jobe on holiday in July 2021

Although Bellingham later idolised stars such as Wayne Rooney, his first footballing hero was his father.

Mark scored more than 700 goals in around 900 appearances during a remarkable non-league career, juggling spells with clubs including Leamington, Stourbridge and Sutton Coldfield Town alongside his police career.

He retired from football at the age of 41 in 2017 and is believed to have since stepped away from policing. He rarely discusses the achievements of either of his sons publicly – but is fiercely defensive of them.

A Southend United supporter, Mark introduced Jude to football, with the England star’s first live matches coming alongside his father at Roots Hall.

Speaking about his father in a recent interview, Jude said: ‘We talk about footballing heroes, and my dad was like my first.

‘When you go and watch him play every week in non-league, you know it’s not the Premier League or anything, but seeing the way that he played and the atmosphere, it made me fall in love with football so he was probably my first hero.

‘After the first few times of going, I’d start to pay a bit more attention to the games and stuff, the atmosphere and he’s scoring goals so you see him celebrating and stuff like that – you want that to be me.

‘Growing up, he’d always give me tips on what I could do and now it gets to a certain age and it sort of flips and that’s brilliant because we have that sort of relationship like father and son and then as I got older, like coach and player.’

His parents have acted as a grounding force for the midfielder.

And many believe Bellingham is uniquely positioned to become the defining sporting brand of his generation and the first English footballer since Sir David Beckham to turn worldwide fame into a billion-pound fortune.

Michelle Obama was seen partying it up without her husband Barack Obama in Martha’s Vineyard on Wednesday, dancing and even giving hugs out to the crowd.

Michelle, 62, made an appearance at Norman’s restaurant in Oak Bluffs for an event hosted by The Vineyard Icon Foundation.

The former First Lady looked younger than ever as she showed off her dance moves, wearing a strappy white tank top which had an open-style back and Bermuda-style jean shorts. 

She completed her youthful look with a pair of oversized, aviator-style sunglasses.

Michelle appeared to be in great spirits and was seen dancing and embracing an attendee in footage shared via Instagram by The Vineyard Icon Foundation. 

Another clip showed Michelle grooving to the song Wobble along with members of the crowd.

Michelle appeared solo, without husband Barack or daughters Malia, 28, and Sasha, 25.

The two have been married for over three decades, but in recent years, they’ve been inundated with rumors that their marriage has become rocky.

Michelle, 62, made an appearance at Norman’s restaurant in Oak Bluffs for an event hosted by The Vineyard Icon Foundation, according to TMZ

The speculation first erupted when Michelle skipped two high-profile events Obama attended solo in January 2025. 

During a recent interview with the New Yorker, Barack confessed that there was ‘genuine tension’ in their household because Michelle wanted him to ‘ease up’ on public duties to spend more time with her.

In addition, during a joint sit-down interview with People last month, Barack admitted he wasn’t sure if his partnership with Michelle was an equal one.

‘I don’t know if it’s been an equal partnership, but it’s worked out for me pretty well,’ he said. ‘I’ve gotten more out of it than she has.’

He continued: ‘For her, it’s probably more of a mixed bag.’

Meanwhile, Michelle heaped praise on her spouse as she responded to his remarks.

‘My husband is always thinking about reflecting the light on other people,’ she said. ‘I am so proud of how my husband showed up in that role [as President of the United States], how he shows up every day.’ 

Michelle added that together, she and Barack were each other’s ‘counterbalance.’ 

The former First Lady looked younger than ever as she showed off her dance moves, wearing a strappy white tank top which had an open-style back and Bermuda-style jean shorts 

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Michelle appeared to be in great spirits and was seen dancing and embracing an attendee in footage shared via Instagram by The Vineyard Icon Foundation 

‘The truth is, I probably would have been someone who stayed more put,’ she said. ‘I think I would have had a beautiful life here, but it would have been smaller.

‘But because of who my husband is, he offered all of us – our girls, my mom, my family – a broader sense of what’s possible in life.

‘He made me think more broadly about what I could do with this Harvard law degree besides be a lawyer. He gave me the courage. He was my ballast. He was like, “I got you.” And however hard it’s been, the ups and downs, he’s got me.’

The family was recently seen all together as they opened The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago in June.

During her speech at the Obama Presidential Center, Michelle gushed that there had not been a single second in their marriage where she was not ‘left in awe.’ 

She also commended Barack for his ‘truest essence, stubborn optimism and unflinching courage.’

In addition, Michelle paid tribute to what she said was Barack’s ‘dazzling brilliance, unpretentious decency, ferocious work ethic and unshakable moral fiber.’

Michelle appeared solo, without husband Barack (seen together in June) or daughters Malia, 28, and Sasha, 25 

The family was recently seen all together as they opened The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago in June 

The Vineyard Icon Foundation is a nonprofit that is dedicated to ‘spotlighting those who consider [Martha’s] Vineyard their happy place and [want to] make an impact,’ founder Erin Goldson told the Daily Mail.

‘The Obamas are very much a reflection of that,’ she added. 

Last year, she hosted the first annual Vineyard Icon Awards which was attended by an array of stars including Gayle King.

And Goldson, whose family has been going to Martha’s Vineyard for five generations, said she hopes that the Obamas will make an appearance at the awards show one day.

Mary Jo Campbell, the mother of the Kardashian-Jenner momager Kris Jenner, has died aged 91.

Jenner, 70, announced the news on Thursday on social media: “Today, we said goodbye to my beautiful Mommy MJ.”

No cause of death was immediately provided. Campbell appeared on the family’s reality programmes multiple times since they were first brought into the spotlight with Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which premiered in 2007.

“She taught us that family is everything. She showed us how to love unconditionally and how to find joy in the little moments. She showed me how to face life’s challenges with resilience and faith,” Jenner wrote.

In fresh comments given to British newspapers, Tuchel was asked in detail about the tactics and approach.

“I haven’t seen the data yet but I think right after the goal, the momentum swings completely in ball possession, chances and it drops dramatically,” he said.

“We got too passive within our structure. I tried to help, not to become more passive with a back five but to be more active, to be quicker out to the wingers, not to open up the gaps between the back four.

“We encouraged everyone to step out, to be more active within the structure, but we just struggled.

“We couldn’t find any duels any more which was why we dropped deeper and deeper, which was never the plan but it happened.

“We needed to get back on the ball otherwise you cannot break the pressure and you cannot get the momentum back.”

Tuchel said ball possession “plays a crucial role”.

“It’s maybe not in our DNA like it is in the Spanish DNA or Argentinian or Brazilian DNA to take the ball, control the game and the ball, which is also a big problem,” he said.

“I still think we can show how good football players we are. I think that is still in us, as I see it in training and in every camp.”

Tuchel was appointed with the belief that he was the man to finally get England over the line.

Gareth Southgate had reached one World Cup semi-final and two European Championship finals during his reign – but Tuchel’s tactical acumen was viewed as what was needed to turn England from nearly men to winners.

But the notion from some players that Tuchel got it wrong in Atlanta will pose an intriguing player-manager dynamic heading into the European Championship qualifying campaign.

While Tuchel continues to have the full backing of Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham, the criticism the German has faced since the defeat to Argentina won’t have failed to register.

As always the FA will review England’s performance at the tournament once they return home after Saturday’s bronze medal match against France.

While England’s run to the semi-final is still viewed as an achievement by those at the FA, it is clear there is much to unpack with regards to the circumstances behind their loss to Argentina.

The US Navy’s legendary Blue Angels squadron has launched a safety review after one of its fighter jets tore across a packed Florida beach at an alarmingly low altitude.

The probe comes after thousands of spectators gathered for the Blue Angels’ annual ‘Breakfast with the Blues’ flyover at Pensacola Beach on Wednesday morning, when an F/A-18 Super Hornet screamed along the shoreline in a low pass that unleashed a powerful jet wash from the aircraft’s engines.

Shocking footage captured by bystanders shows the sleek fighter roaring over sunbathers as tents collapse, umbrellas flip inside out and plumes of sand erupt across the beach.

Beachgoers were forced to grab their belongings and duck for cover as the jet’s exhaust blasted across the shoreline, with some spectators describing the moment as both terrifying and unforgettable.

The Blue Angels later confirmed that one aircraft had flown ‘lower than standard profiles’ during the arrival and confirmed that team leadership had launched a review into the incident. 

‘The safety of our hometown community, spectators, and our pilots is our highest priority,’ the squadron said in a statement.

‘Team leadership is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the maneuver and conducting a thorough safety review to ensure all operations adhere to strict Navy and FAA safety standards.’

Officials reported the flyover caused a ‘disturbance on the beach’ but no serious injuries were reported.

Thousands of spectators gathered to attend the Blue Angels’ annual ‘Breakfast with the Blues’ flyover at Pensacola Beach on Wednesday morning, when the F/A-18 Super Hornet made an unusually low pass over the shoreline

Witnesses described the flyover as unlike anything they had previously experienced. Towering plumes of sand filled the air while beach umbrellas toppled over and chairs were hurled across the shoreline by the force of the aircraft’s exhaust

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Bystander Ashley Korn told WEAR: ‘I’ve been coming for 10 years and I’ve never seen a pass like that in my life.’

‘I literally thought we were going to be taken out by Blue Angels, but it was so amazing,’ the stunned spectator said.

Another witness said the jet blast knocked over tents and scattered equipment, but added that the dramatic moment was something they would never forget.

The flyover formed part of Pensacola’s annual ‘Breakfast with the Blues’ event, held ahead of the Pensacola Beach Air Show, which attracts huge crowds each summer to Florida’s Gulf Coast.

The Blue Angels have called Naval Air Station Pensacola home since 1946, making the city synonymous with the Navy’s elite flight demonstration squadron.

Created shortly after World War II, the team was established to showcase the skill and professionalism of US naval aviators while promoting public interest in naval aviation and inspiring future recruits.

Today, the squadron flies the Boeing F/A-18E and F Super Hornet, a twin-engine fighter jet capable of reaching speeds close to Mach 1.8.

During performances, pilots push their aircraft to the limit, flying just 18 inches apart while executing precision maneuvers under extreme forces of up to 7.5 G.

Pensacola holds special significance for the squadron as both its home base and the location of one of its most popular annual performances, with hundreds of thousands of spectators lining the beaches to watch the display

The Blue Angels have been based at Naval Air Station Pensacola since 1946, making the city synonymous with the Navy’s elite flight demonstration squadron

But behind the breathtaking displays are strict safety rules. Every display is meticulously choreographed and practiced, with strict altitude and safety requirements governing each maneuver. 

Even minor departures from approved flight profiles are typically reviewed under Navy safety procedures.

The incident is particularly significant because Pensacola is considered the spiritual home of the Blue Angels, with thousands of fans traveling each year to watch the team perform above the city’s beaches.

The Pensacola Beach Air Show is expected to continue as planned while the Navy completes its internal review.

The Navy has not indicated whether any disciplinary action will result from the investigation. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Blue Angels for comment.

Warm sticky nights are becoming more and more common in the UK.

Climate change is raising temperatures, but one factor that adds to that is often ignored. Walk down a city street and you see what would have been front gardens a decade or so ago have now been tarmacked over and turned into driveways.

Individually these changes might seem small, but as more and more gardens disappear this increase in hard driveways can alter the way neighbourhoods heat up during the day and cool down at night. It’s an issue that is suddenly on more people’s minds this summer as they struggle to sleep.

According to a UK’s Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) report in 2025, 42% of domestic garden space is now paved over, including 55% of front garden space.

In 2005, only about 8% of UK front gardens were fully paved. By 2015, that figure had tripled to roughly 24%.

Estimates from the RHS suggest there are 20.6 million domestic gardens (front and back) in the UK, covering around 502,757 hectares. The UK’s domestic gardens together cover an area around three times larger than all national nature reserves combined, giving them enormous potential to support wildlife.

Replacing vegetation with hard surfaces also shrinks habitat for plants and wildlife while increasing surface runoff and the risk of flooding.

The desire for more off-street parking may have contributed to this trend. The shift to electric vehicles could have created another incentive to pave front gardens, as goverment grants helped households finance home-charging points.

How paving stokes heat

Impervious surfaces including asphalt (which many driveways are made of) absorbs heat, raising ground and air temperatures. They both absorb up to 95% of incoming solar radiation during the day, reaching surface temperatures of 50-55°C, compared to 27-32°C for grass or tree-covered areas.

During the day, this heat is stored and slowly released after sunset. This is known as the urban heat island effect. The result is warmer night-time air temperatures, particularly during heatwaves. Unlike vegetation, these hard materials have little capacity to cool themselves through evaporation, and are making cities hotter.

This heat island effect can raise cities’ temperatures by 1-3°C compared to surrounding countryside. That’s why it always feels hotter in the city on summer nights.

À lire aussi :
Heatwaves: how to close the UK’s cooling divide

And the result can also cause health problems. The 2018 summer heatwave saw an estimated 399 (of 785) heat-related deaths in the Greater London area attributable to this night-time effect.

Paved front gardens eliminate evaporative cooling (the process by which plants release water vapour), which lowers air temperatures. Plants and trees provide cooling through shading and evapotranspiration (defined as the combined loss of water to the atmosphere through two processes: evaporation and transpiration). In urban environments, green spaces release moisture into the air, which humidifies the atmosphere and significantly reduces air temperature, a mechanism entirely absent in paved areas.

What needs to change?

Changing front driveways back to grass can reduce daytime surface temperatures by 1.5-2.0°C and nighttime temperatures by 0.3-0.5°C. Adding trees doubles the benefit: daytime cooling of 2.0-3.0°C and nighttime reductions of 0.5-1.0°C. Therefore, increasing urban greenery by 10% – particularly planting trees – can lower average air temperatures by around 0.5°C.

Front gardens with plants rather than driveways can also reduce flood risk by absorbing rain, filter air pollutants, support biodiversity and improve mental wellbeing. The RHS estimates that restoring plant cover in one million front gardens could save millions of litres of stormwater run-off annually.

But there are ways to have a driveway that doesn’t create so much heat. London’s De-pave Your Garden campaign offers guidance on replacing concrete with permeable paving, gravel or planting strips, an approach that has since been promoted by London boroughs including Lambeth and Ealing.

Leeds City Council’s front garden design guide encourages householders to retain at least 30% green space.

Other things could help change people’s attitudes to front gardens and their value. Financial incentives, such as council tax rebates for depaving or grants for rain gardens, could accelerate change.

In the future, public policy must recognise private gardens as green infrastructure, not merely private amenities. Updating planning permission rules to encourage a mix of plants and gravel, for instance, would help.

The United Nations identifies urban greenery as a key way to reduce heat in cities. The benefits extend beyond gardens: green roofs and balcony gardens can lower indoor temperatures by up to 11°C.

No single garden will transform a city’s climate, but when thousands of gardens are protected and restored across neighbourhoods, the combined cooling effect would become significant.

As climate projections show more frequent, longer and hotter summers, every square metre of restored vegetation matters. Domestic gardens are frontline defences against intensifying heatwaves.

By not opting for a tarmacked driveway or replanting the existing one, households can help cool their streets, protect vulnerable neighbours and reclaim a piece of Britain’s vanishing green heritage.

The Bank of Dave hero has called for the return of his bin after he watched council workers toss it in their rubbish truck and hastily drive away.

Dave Fishwick MBE, 55, a Netflix star famed for setting up his own highly successful bank following the financial crash in 2008, shared CCTV footage of two rubbish collectors who appeared to steal his bin on Thursday afternoon in Ribble Valley, near Burnley.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Mr Fishwick said his wife Nicky sent the video to him while he was at work and heard the two workers shout ‘go, go’ as they fled.

He said: ‘All I could see was this guy that sort of grabbed it and threw the whole thing in the back. You can hear in the video, he says something like “go, go” and I thought how bizarre.’

The ‘Bank of Dave’, as it was affectionately known, was founded by Mr Fishwick and operated from his hometown of Burnley in Lancashire. 

It loans money to individuals and businesses who found themselves turned away by the High Street banks in their hour of need. The community bank operates not for profit, with all surplus money going to good causes – and one that is going strong today.

From his desk at the bank’s headquarters in Burnley town centre, Dave has loaned more than £30million to thousands of locals to cover everything, from funeral expenses to the costs of IVF.

The feel-good story caught the eye of Hollywood scriptwriters, who turned Mr Fishwick’s venture into a big-budget biopic that was released on Netflix in 2023.

Mr Fishwick said his wife Nicky sent the video to him while he was at work and heard the two workers shout ‘go, go’ as they fled (pictured)

Bond star Rory Kinnear played the eponymous hero, while Bridgerton’s Phoebe Dynevor took on the role of his fictional niece Alexandra, who is based on a composite of local characters.

The successful businessman posted the video of the alleged bin theft on X mere hours after the incident, with the post receiving several warnings from his followers who said bin thefts are a common occurrence. 

He warned people to be sure to properly destroy any items with confidential information like bank and hospital letters as bin bags can be a treasure trove for those seeking to steal ones data.

He said: ‘Whatever you put in your bin, make sure you shred it. Make sure you also shred the envelopes as well because I do a lot of programs around data protection and GDPR and data theft out of phones and things.

‘I really understand that side of things, so I make sure that I’m super careful with that. 

‘Your bin has probably got a piece of your life in there that you don’t want anybody to be able to use against you, like data, bank account details, and things. You have got to be super careful.’ 

Mr Fishwick pleaded for his bin back as he and his wife have been left dumbfounded by the ‘bizarre’ incident, and now binless.

Mr Fishwick has pleaded for his bin back as he and his wife Nicky have been left dumbfounded by the ‘bizarre’ incident (Pictured together at the premiere of Netflix’s Bank of Dave)

Dave Fishwick (left) and Rory Kinnear (right), attended the world premiere of Netflix’s ‘Bank of Dave’ in Burnley, England in 2023

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Questioned on his wife’s reaction, he said: ‘She just wants to know where the bin is. It is unbelievable. Nicky is so down to earth, she just wants the bin back. 

‘If somebody sees it, can they send it back or can they point it back in the direction of Burnley?’ 

The self-made multi-millionaire added: ‘I’ve never seen this before. It is just so bizarre. You don’t expect that from a council, do you? Have you ever?

‘At the end of the day, it’s just a bin and it’s gone missing, but we’re going to need one. 

‘We are either going to have to go out tomorrow and buy one, they are going to drop one off, or we’re going to have to get half a dozen black bin bags, aren’t we.’

Ribble Valley council and Lancashire police have been contacted for comment.  

The county council said the delay will prolong the “current period of uncertainty” faced by locals waiting to find out how services will change

A major decision on how local councils will work in the future has been delayed. The Government advised Cambridgeshire County Council on Thursday (July 16) that it has not yet made a decision on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

The Government set out clear criteria in 2025 for LGR, including improving service delivery, strengthening local accountability, and ensuring long‑term financial sustainability for future councils. A county council spokesperson said staff at the authority believed that there were clear options that met these criteria.

They said that the delay will prolong the “current period of uncertainty”. They added that this creates increased risk about whether the timescale set out by the Government can be met.

Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, Councillor Lucy Nethsingha, said: “I am deeply disappointed that a decision for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough has been delayed, rather than selecting one of the locally developed LGR options that clearly met the Government’s own criteria.

“I also have major concerns that this delay will create a prolonged period of wholly unnecessary level of risk and complexity at a time when our residents and council workers deserve clarity about the future. We will want to reflect carefully on this and consider our options.”

She continued: “Whilst I am deeply disappointed, I am not particularly surprised by this news. This Government has once again demonstrated an inability to make decisions or deliver on time and has, instead, been mired in the chaos of replacing the Prime Minister, all of which have serious impacts upon decision making by Government.

“Shunting this decision to an as yet undetermined point in the future leaves all seven councils across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough in limbo and will leave less time for the existing councils to deliver a safe transition.

“Although we are extremely frustrated by this wholly unnecessary delay, we will continue to work closely with the other six councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and will retain our focus upon ensuring high quality services for our residents and communities.”

The ban comes after 1,100 responses to a consultation which strongly supported introducing an age restriction on the drinks, external.

The new rules will come in via secondary legislation using powers from the Food Safety Act 1990.

Too much caffeine can cause a rapid heart rate, abnormal heart rhythms and seizures.

Although rare, there have been some deaths linked to excess caffeine.

The sugary versions of the drinks can also contribute to obesity and damage teeth, according to The Association of UK Dieticians.

Currently any drink, other than tea or coffee, with over 150mg requires a label warning of its high caffeine content that says it is not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women.

For most adults, up to 400mg of caffeine a day, or about four cups of instant coffee or five cups of tea, is safe.

Katharine Jenner, Executive Director of the Obesity Health Alliance, praised the policy and said restricting the sales of the drinks to children “at a vital time in their life is just common-sense”.

The British Soft Drinks Association said the ban was “unnecessary”.

A spokesperson said: “Since 2010, our members have committed not to market or promote the sale of energy drinks to under-16s, and all high-caffeine beverages carry a ‘not recommended for children’ label.”

The previous Conservative government had planned to introduce the ban, but scrapped the move in 2022, and said consumption should be a personal choice.

Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are also considering a ban.