Microplastics are a big environmental issue. They’ve been found in oceans, drinking water, seafood, the air we breathe, and increasingly throughout the human body, from the placenta to the brain.

A new study by researchers in Italy, published in the European Heart Journal, adds another organ to that growing list: the heart’s own blood supply. But while the discovery of microplastics in coronary blood is concerning, the most intriguing finding may not be the plastics themselves. It is how they may be getting there.

Researchers found that people who smoke were six times more likely to have detectable micro- and nanoplastics in the blood supplying their hearts than non-smokers. Even more notable, every smoker who was also exposed to higher levels of air pollution had plastics detected in their blood, compared with just 12.5% of people who neither smoked nor experienced high pollution exposure. That is a remarkable difference, even in a small population.

Rather than simply confirming another harmful consequence of smoking, these findings raise an intriguing possibility: cigarettes may also act as an efficient delivery system for microscopic plastic particles. For decades we’ve understood why smoking damages the heart and blood vessels. Tobacco smoke contains thousands of chemicals that trigger inflammation, damage blood vessels, promote clotting and accelerate the build-up of fat inside arteries.

The new research suggests another mechanism could be operating alongside these well-established risks. Cigarette smoke contains enormous quantities of fine particles that penetrate deep into the lungs. The researchers propose that inhaled micro- and nanoplastics may hitch a ride with these particles, crossing the delicate air sacs of the lung, called alveoli, and entering the bloodstream far more readily than previously thought. Air pollution may facilitate a similar process.

This doesn’t necessarily mean the detected particles originated from the cigarette itself, although most cigarette filters are made from the plastic cellulose acetate and may contribute. Rather, smokers inhale air that already contains microscopic plastic particles from synthetic clothing fibres, tyre wear, degraded packaging and countless other environmental sources. Smoking may simply make it easier for these particles to cross from the lungs into the circulation.

The researchers studied 61 patients undergoing a heart test called coronary angiography. They compared three groups: people who had experienced a heart attack, patients with stable coronary artery disease and people with normal coronary arteries.

Micro- and nanoplastics were detected in 84% of patients who had suffered a heart attack compared with 40% of those with chronic coronary disease and 32% of those with normal coronary arteries. Heart attack patients also carried a greater variety of plastic polymers, with polyethylene, commonly used in packaging, being the most frequently detected.

Importantly, the researchers also observed higher levels of inflammatory markers in patients with detectable plastics. Since inflammation plays a central role in destabilising fatty blockages in the heart and triggering heart attacks, this biological link deserves further investigation.

Why this isn’t proof yet

This study, however, does not prove that microplastics cause heart attacks. The study was based on a small number of participants and was observational. That means researchers identified associations but cannot determine whether one factor caused another.

People who smoke often experience greater exposure to environmental pollution and may differ in many other lifestyle factors that influence cardiovascular risk. Patients treated for acute heart attacks receive intravenous fluids and medical devices that themselves may introduce tiny plastic particles into blood samples.

That caution matters. Microplastics have become a topic that attracts considerable public attention, and it is tempting to assume every new discovery represents proof of harm. Science rarely works that way. Instead, each study contributes another piece to a much larger puzzle.

Whether or not microplastics ultimately prove to play a direct role in heart disease, this study reinforces a broader message that has become increasingly difficult to ignore. Our heart health is shaped not only by our genes and personal lifestyle choices but also by the environments we live in.

Air pollution is already recognised as a major contributor to cardiovascular disease worldwide. Smoking remains one of the largest preventable causes of premature death. If both exposures also increase the movement of environmental plastics into the bloodstream, they may represent overlapping rather than separate risks.

This idea fits with a growing understanding of the exposome; the sum of environmental exposures we accumulate throughout life. Rather than considering tobacco smoke, air pollution and plastic pollution independently, researchers are beginning to examine how these exposures interact.

The findings should not distract from the established reasons to stop smoking. Cigarette smoking already dramatically increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, cancer and chronic lung disease.

But if future research confirms that smoking also acts as a gateway through which microscopic plastics enter the bloodstream, it would add yet another mechanism by which tobacco harms health.

The statistic likely to resonate most with readers is also the simplest: in this study, every participant who both smoked and had high air pollution exposure had detectable plastics in their blood, compared with only one in eight people exposed to neither.

This small study doesn’t prove plastics caused heart disease, but it does remind us that smoking is more than a source of toxic chemicals. It may also be helping transport another modern pollutant to places in the body we never expected to find it.

Police officers have been recorded behind closed doors inside a station making ‘shocking’ racist and sexist remarks and jokes.

In the footage, the police were taped discussing attempting to ‘fit up’ suspects, illegally arresting black people and visiting a brothel for sex.

The officers had earlier seized a body-worn camera from an animal rights protester and taken it back to their station without realising it was still recording.

The tape was made at Bethel Street police station in central Norwich in January 2023, and is now the subject of legal action by the camera’s owner – who posted footage on social media.

In the footage, male officers can be heard discussing a visit to a local brothel which was trading under the guise of being a massage parlour.

One male officer recalls: ‘I go there… what I find a bit strange is that it appears that each room has like a card reader in it.’

When the officer explains that it is a Chinese massage parlour in town, his colleague says: ‘It does happy endings [a slang term for massages which have a sexual dimension].’

The jokey conversation involving several officers then continues with an officer asking, ‘Did you go there innocently thinking I need a massage? And were they like, “You want a w***?”‘

In the footage, male officers can be heard discussing a visit to a local brothel which was trading under the guise of being a massage parlour

When the officer explains that it is a Chinese massage parlour in town, his colleague says: ‘It does happy endings [a slang term for massages which have a sexual dimension]’

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And when the officer says, ‘Pretty much, yeah’, he then goes on to confirm he paid for sexual services and describes ‘lacy’ underwear strewn across the room.

Elsewhere in the tape, one female officer appears to joke about targeting a person based on their ethnicity.

She says: ‘I illegally stop search IC3 [Afro-Caribbean] females and then I arrest them and then it becomes a big deal.’

A male colleague adds: ‘You’re black and you were…’

The female officer continues: ‘You’re being stop-searched because my colleague said so.’

The footage was on a camera was seized from animal rights activist Gemma Barnes, 36, from Norwich, when she was arrested during a protest.

As well as the racist and sexist banter, the tape also features officers describing how they had dealt with her.

Two officers can be heard discussing a previous attempt by their colleagues to obtain a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) against Ms Barnes which would enable them to ban her from engaging in specific activity.

But the plan backfired, according to one of the officers, as the police included footage of Ms Barnes pushing a truck driver in self-defence after he had attempted to run her over.

According to the officer: ‘Essentially the whole of that got thrown out.

‘And the prosecutor was like, “What are you trying to do? She will get herself into trouble”. The judge was like, “You are trying to go after her and it looks really bad”.

‘And to be fair, she’s making a valid point.’

Gemma Barnes told the Daily Mail: ‘I was shocked but not surprised when I heard the contents of the tape. When I first got it back from the police, I assumed it would have been wiped.

‘The first section I heard was one of the officers going to the toilet, which made me laugh, but I thought that was the extent of it until I heard the conversations.

‘I’ve always thought that there is a bullying sub-culture in the police, and this confirmed my suspicions.

‘Likewise, I have long thought that I was being targeted by the police, and again this was obvious when I listened to the tape.

The jokey conversation involving several officers then continues with an officer asking, ‘Did you go there innocently thinking I need a massage? And were they like, “You want a w***?”‘

And when the officer says, ‘Pretty much, yeah’, he then goes on to confirm he paid for sexual services and describes ‘lacy’ underwear strewn across the room

The footage was on a camera was seized from animal rights activist Gemma Barnes (pictured), 36, from Norwich, when she was arrested during a protest

‘One prosecution lawyer has told my solicitor that they will refuse to take any more prosecutions against me brought by Norfolk Police, which is quite something and indicates the extent of the targeting.’

Gemma, who freely admits taking part in non-violent direct action, even if it means breaking the law, has been arrested countless times by Norfolk Police, with most cases dropped or dismissed. She has never been sentenced to jail.

She added: ‘It’s one thing to go on an action and expect to be arrested, but this was a sedate, peaceful protest outside a police station and I was thrown to the ground for no reason.’

Ms Barnes has already made a complaint to Norfolk Police and the Independent Office for Police Conduct and is also now taking civil action over the incident and the tape.

Her solicitor, John Hagan of DPP Law, told the Daily Mail that the accidentally recorded video had lifted a veil on a ‘bullying police culture’.

He said: ‘This footage shows us what goes on inside many police officer’s heads and behind the closed doors of the police station, and it is not a pretty sight.

‘Officers can be heard describing my client as a f***** waste of space, discussing other officers attempting to generate an unsubstantiated charge against her. 

‘They are gleeful about the way they have dealt with Gemma, a peaceful protestor, and frankly the whole atmosphere is akin to a school in which the teachers are absent and the bullies have taken over.

‘What is perhaps equally shocking to what is revealed on the “candid camera” with which the Police recorded their sordid comments, is their behaviour in the full light of day.

‘One officer publicly assaulted my client with the kind of cocky impunity which is born of a Policing culture which fails to police itself.

‘The so-called Independent Office of Police Conduct has, as usual, shown itself to be anything but independent in its assessment of my client’s case, and she will now be using the full force of the civil law to hold both Norfolk Constabulary and the IOPC to account for their egregious actions.’

After she was allegedly pushed to the floor, Ms Barnes angrily remonstrated with the officer, who arrested her for a public order offence, which was later thrown out by a court.

It was this that led to her camera filming inside the police station after it was confiscated during her arrest.

Mr Hagan described an inquiry into the tape by Norfolk Police’s Professional Standards Department as ‘a whitewash’.

Only five of 17 separate parts of the complaint were upheld and in each of those counts, officers faced no disciplinary action, instead being ordered merely to undertake ‘reflective practice’ on their conduct.

No action appears to have been taken over the discussions about being ‘out to get’ Ms Barnes.

The officers had earlier seized a body-worn camera from an animal rights protester and taken it back to their station without realising it was still recording

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The tape was made at Bethel Street police station in central Norwich in January 2023 and is now the subject of legal action by the camera’s owner – who released footage on social media

A later IOPC investigation broadly agreed, although the watchdog asked Norfolk Police to re-investigate an explanation from an officer that he arrested Ms Barnes in order to establish her identity, when she claims he knew exactly who she was.

A civil suit is pending against Norfolk Police for wrongful arrest, battery and malicious prosecution.

Ms Barnes describes herself as an animal and civil rights activist and said she grew up in a rural farming community.

A vegetarian since the age of three, she says: ‘I’m a front-line activist and do not believe that animal liberation will be achieved without bold action, civil disobedience, determination and personal sacrifice from proponents.’

She posts frequently on social media and has a Patreon page where well-wishers can donate. She mentions her interactions with police on the profile, saying: ‘And then there is the relentless targeting and discrimination I’ve faced from Norfolk Constabulary in relation to my animal rights activism.

‘I have been arrested, detained, charged and prosecuted more times than I can count. Several instances have been for acts of financial sabotage that I was responsible for, but the majority of police action is malicious, and intended to shut me up and prevent me attending actions.’

In May 2023, Ms Barnes was given a conditional discharge for criminal damage for her part in a protest in an M&S store in central Norwich, pouring bottles of milk over the floor and meat counter to highlight ‘the need to support farmers in a transition to a sustainable, plant-based food system’.

But in no fewer than 24 other cases brought by Norfolk Police against her between 2020 and 2024, all but one resulted in either no further action, an acquittal in court or a discontinuance. One other public order case did result in a conviction but was then overturned on appeal.

A Norfolk Constabulary spokeswoman said: ‘We are aware of footage circulating on social media, which was previously reviewed as part of a conduct investigation. Following that investigation, a number of matters were addressed through the appropriate misconduct processes. This investigation is currently subject to a complainant’s right to review with the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Therefore, it would be inappropriate to comment further on the investigation outcome, while this review takes place.

‘Part of the footage currently being circulated on social media has not previously been provided to the Constabulary in its current format and we are therefore further reviewing this. As a matter of fairness, we will not comment further on this while that assessment is ongoing.

‘We know that some of the content currently being shared will undermine public confidence in policing. People rightly expect high standards from police officers and staff, and some of the content being circulated falls short of what the public would expect to hear. We are carefully reviewing the material and will take any action that is supported by the evidence.’

A police source added: ‘The individual who shared the footage has indicated who she believes to be involved. But it is important to note that the camera was recording while stored inside an evidence bag and left in an open office area so attributing individual comments to specific people is challenging.’

The ongoing heatwave has derailed travel plans for Scots hoping to experience the iconic Jacobite steam train.

Network Rail has introduced a nationwide ban on all steam trains lasting one week, citing health and safety concerns amid the UK’s ongoing heatwave.

The network operator fears that steam locomotives could ignite wildfires across the country due to the sweltering conditions currently being experienced throughout the UK.

The announcement came as a major disappointment for tourists and rail enthusiasts who had been looking forward to travelling aboard the historic steam locomotives. Many were learning of the disruption just days before their scheduled journeys.

The decision follows an incident involving the famous Hogwarts Express, the Scottish Daily Express reports. The combination of soaring temperatures and dry conditions is believed to have caused the steam locomotive to emit sparks while travelling through Cheshire.

The sparks caused a blaze on the side of the railway tracks, raising concerns about running steam trains during the current heatwave.

As a result, passengers were reportedly left stranded on the tracks, resulting in approximately 80 hours of delays. A diesel locomotive was required to tow the train 70 miles back to its base in Crewe on July 11.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “The current long periods of hot dry weather have increased the risk of wildfires across the country. As a result, we have asked charter operators to replace steam engines with diesels in line with our steam charter fire risk policy.”

One customer, who was clearly outraged, told The Sun that the situation led to his journey on the Hogwarts Express, made famous by the iconic films starring Daniel Radcliffe, being cancelled.

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He said: “Poor show for the price. No steam train the day we went and regular blue and white intercity carriages. A lot of disappointed kids the day we were there. Nothing Hogwarts about it.

“I asked for our trip to be transferred but was told it was sold out every day. Nonsense. Our carriage was half empty.”

Train operators have been instructed to switch to diesel locomotives to reduce the risk of sparks igniting dry vegetation and causing wildfires. The disruption also affected passengers aboard the prestigious Northern Belle, where tickets start from £595 per head.

A spokesperson for the Northern Belle said: “Obviously this is a big disappointment for both us and many of our passengers. But there is a very high fire risk after all the recent hot weather so we are using a heritage diesel locomotive instead.”

In response, the company is offering passengers a £50 refund along with a complimentary cocktail during their journey.

“Seven people working the night shift died on the spot,” governor of the Tambov region Evgeniy Pervyshov wrote on Telegram, adding that 28 drones were also shot down on approach.

He said 25 people had been injured, including seven in serious condition. Most of these injuries were caused by shrapnel wounds, he said.

It was the “largest and most inhumane” attack on Tambov region in terms of the number of drones used and the number of casualties, he said.

Meanwhile, governor of the Moscow region Andrei Vorobyov said eight of those injured in the strikes on the Wildberries warehouse in Elektrostal were in “serious condition”.

He added that total of 48 drones were shot down in the Moscow region overnight, and that a Russian oil depot had also been struck by a falling drone, which he described as the incident with “the most serious consequences”.

“Firefighters, emergency services, and the Ministry of Emergency Situations continue to work at the scene,” he wrote on Telegram. He did not describe the level of damage in detail. Zelensky separately confirmed Ukraine had struck “an oil facility”.

Ukraine has recently intensified its long-range drone attacks on Russia’s critical energy infrastructure, causing widespread fuel shortages. Earlier this month, Kyiv said nearly 43% of Russia’s oil refining capacity had been “disabled” as a result.

The BBC has not independently verified this figure.

Ukraine says Russian oil and gas facilities are legitimate targets as Moscow relies heavily on fossil fuel exports to finance its full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare admission last month that fuel shortages had been caused by Ukrainian attacks, and signed into law a bill aimed at boosting supplies to the domestic fuel market in early July.

Lewis Hamilton will face a race against time to take part in qualifying for tomorrow’s Belgian Grand Prix after he crashed out of final practice.

In the final seconds on the concluding session at Spa-Francorchamps, Hamilton lost control of his Ferrari on the exit of Fagnes, racing through the gravel with the rear of his car thudding into the barrier.

“I have destroyed the car, mate,” said Hamilton as he came to an abrupt stop in the middle of the track.

Hamilton, unharmed in the accident, got out of his car to inspect the significant damage to the back right of his Ferrari – with his back-right wheel facing the wrong way.

Hamilton’s Ferrari mechanics will now have a little more than two hours to repair the seven-time world champion’s car. Qualifying for tomorrow’s race takes place at 16:00 local time (15:00 UK).

Kimi Antonelli will be the favourite to secure pole position after he finished fastest.

The championship leader led the way yesterday and was quickest again in the final running prior to qualifying.

Antonelli saw off McLaren’s Lando Norris – who will serve a 10-place grid penalty for exceeding engine parts – by 0.139 seconds.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen took third, 0.148 sec slower than Antonelli, with George Russell a place back and almost four tenths off his Mercedes team-mate’s pace.

Russell trails Antonelli by 25 points heading into the 10th round, with Hamilton next up in the championship standings, 32 points back. Hamilton finished 0.392 sec adrift of Antonelli before his late crash.

Ireland suffered a 40-21 defeat to New Zealand at Eden Park in the Nations Championship as head coach Andy Farrell admitted his side’s inaccuracy and mistakes proved too costly against a clinical All Blacks side.

Head coach Andy Farrell was left ruing a performance littered with errors after Ireland suffered a comprehensive 40-21 defeat to New Zealand in the third round of the Nations Championship.

The All Blacks crossed for four first-half tries through Patrick Tuipulotu, Ardie Savea, Will Jordan and Asafo Aumua as they maintained their remarkable unbeaten run at Eden Park, which now stands at 53 Test matches.

Jack Conan scored for Ireland in a physical opening 40 minutes, before Joe McCarthy and Hugo Keenan went over in an improved second half, with fly-half Sam Prendergast converting all three tries.

However, following unconvincing bonus-point wins over Australia and Japan, Farrell’s men were thoroughly outplayed in Auckland, with Damian McKenzie and Anton Lienert-Brown adding further tries for the hosts.

“Inaccurate is the word,” said Farrell, speaking to ITV, reports the Irish Mirror.

“Continuity, it just wasn’t flowing for all sorts of reasons, whether that be discipline reasons, spilt ball, throwing the ball into touch, et cetera.

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“The character and fight is there for all to see, hence the comeback and win against Australia, but you can’t make so many errors against a quality side like New Zealand. Congratulations to them.”

It marked Ireland’s first visit to New Zealand since their historic 2-1 series victory in 2022. They lost 42-19 at Eden Park during that tour and have now endured four successive losses to the All Blacks, including a quarter-final elimination at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Following victories over France and Italy, New Zealand claimed their third successive win under newly appointed head coach Dave Rennie.

Farrell said: “Dave is a fantastic coach, you can see what they are trying to do.

“With the speed of ball and movement, it was hard to handle for us. We have got to look at how we adapt and do things better.

“It’s the end of the season now for us, we will re-assess and make sure we learn these lessons, because otherwise what’s the tour for?”.

“All these experiences are fantastic, coming to the southern hemisphere, which is where the World Cup is going to be (next year) – we need to learn those lessons.”

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It won the Collaborative Excellence in Working Together to Improve Care award at the RLDatix Awards 2026 for its Learning Disability and Autism Awareness Education programme, designed to help pre-hospital clinicians deliver more person-centred care.

Karen Gardner, deputy director of people development at NEAS, said: “Winning this award is a fantastic achievement and reflects the commitment of the education team, colleagues and partners who have worked together to create something that is making a real difference for both our staff and the patients we care for.

“By listening to people with lived experience and embedding their voices throughout the programme, we’ve created learning that is practical, meaningful and directly relevant to the realities of ambulance care.

“We’re incredibly proud to see this work recognised on a national stage.”

The programme was co-produced with people who have lived experience, as well as their families and system partners.

It uses real ambulance scenarios, patient stories and immersive learning methods.

More than 2,000 NEAS colleagues have completed the training, with 99 per cent compliance.

Early results show increased staff confidence, a better understanding of patient needs and improved delivery of safe, personalised care.

The RLDatix Awards celebrate individuals and teams across health and social care who make demonstrable improvements to care quality, patient safety and workforce effectiveness.

Entries are judged by an independent panel of health and care leaders.

Paul Sanders, president of RLDatix UK and Ireland, said: “Every day, we see incredible examples of people across health and social care making a real difference for patients, service users and colleagues.

“Through the RLDatix Awards, we are proud to provide a national platform to celebrate these achievements and share the stories and learning that can inspire progress across the wider health and care community.

“It is both an honour and a privilege to recognise and celebrate the exceptional people, teams and organisations who are helping to raise the standard of care, everywhere.”

The RLDatix Awards 2026 were held on July 9 at the Telford International Centre, with more than 500 health and social care professionals in attendance from across the UK and Ireland.

The event aimed to recognise collaboration, innovation and excellence in improving care.

Pupils from Lakes Primary School and Wilton Primary Academy in Redcar have buried a time capsule at the site of The Lookout, a new development in Redcar town centre.

Harry, Aria, Katie and Lillian were among the pupils who helped seal and bury the capsule filled with letters and messages to their future selves, creating a snapshot of life in Redcar today for generations to come.

Local school children bury a time capsule at The Lookout in Redcar. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

The capsule has been buried on the High Street side of the development, just outside the attraction, where it will remain hidden until it is one day rediscovered.

The Lookout is one of the flagship projects in the Redcar Town Deal programme that aims to create a modern community hub featuring a library, learning spaces, family-friendly attractions, food and drink outlets, and a programme of year-round events.

Once complete, The Lookout will offer digital technology and learning areas, flexible indoor and outdoor event spaces, and family-friendly activities.

Local school children bury a time capsule at The Lookout in Redcar. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Jacqui Hutchinson of RCVDA coordinated the event with the help of the schools and Robertson Construction North East.

Ms Hutchinson said: “This was a lovely opportunity for local children to become part of the story of The Lookout.

“The messages they’ve placed inside the time capsule will give future generations a glimpse into what life was like in Redcar today.

“The Lookout is all about creating opportunities, learning and experiences for local people, so it’s fitting that young people have played such an important role in this milestone.”

The scheme follows extensive public consultation and sits alongside other Town Deal projects aimed at regenerating Redcar’s town centre and seafront.

Local school children bury a time capsule at The Lookout in Redcar. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Cllr Alec Brown, leader of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see local schoolchildren helping mark this exciting stage in the development of The Lookout.

“Burying a time capsule is a great way of connecting the town’s future with its present, and I hope the children will look back proudly knowing they’ve contributed to a project that will benefit Redcar for years to come.”

Local school children bury a time capsule at The Lookout in Redcar. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

As construction continues, the community is being reminded that the heart of Redcar remains open and ready to welcome shoppers, diners, and day-trippers alike.

The visit ended on an even sweeter note for the pupils, with an ice cream from iconic Italian parlour, Pacitto’s.

For more information on the Lookout and other Redcar Town Deal projects, visit: https://redcarcleveland.uk.engagementhq.com/hub-page/redcar-town-deal

The Milbank Arms, in Barningham, sits close to the A66, Barnard Castle, Richmond and the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.

The pub, which is Grade II-listed and dates from the early 19th century, has become a popular stop for walkers, diners, overnight guests and people travelling through the area.

On Tripadvisor, The Milbank Arms has a 4.4 rating from reviews, with visitors often mentioning “an incredible welcome”, “pudding” and “Sunday lunch”.

The Milbank Arms, in Barningham (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

The venue describes itself as a “historic country inn offering a cosy atmosphere, accommodation, locally sourced cuisine and a welcoming pub, combining rustic charm with modern comfort”.

Recent reviews suggest the pub has become a destination in its own right.

One visitor from Ipswich said they stopped at The Milbank Arms on the way to Scotland, describing it as a convenient halfway stop just five minutes off the A66.

They said the accommodation was “very clean and comfortable and quiet”, while supper in the bar was “excellent”.

The reviewer added: “Proper chef clearly works in kitchen and the menu was well thought out.”

Another visitor described it as “a lovely gastro pub in an idyllic setting” after calling in for Sunday lunch following a walk around the surrounding countryside.

They praised the “delightful” pub, friendly staff and food, saying the roast beef was rare and the lemon sole was “fantastic”.

The Milbank Arms has also been praised as an overnight stay.

One guest who stayed for Valentine’s Day said the pub was in “such a lovely little village”, with snow making the setting even prettier.

They described their room as cosy, the bed as very comfortable and the food as “absolutely delicious”.

They added: “The staff were so so welcoming and friendly, so hats off to them; their customer service was 10/10.”

Another reviewer said they could “100 per cent recommend” The Milbank Arms after an overnight stay in a large room with “pretty decor” and a “super-king-size bed”.

They praised the evening meal, describing the pub as “spacious yet cosy”, and said breakfast was another highlight.

Diners have praised dishes including steak, roast beef, lemon sole, monkfish, venison, arancini, steak pie, vegetarian options, puddings and cooked breakfasts.

One solo visitor who stopped for a pint and food said staff were “warm and friendly” and praised a pint of Timothy Taylor Landlord before describing the steak as extremely high quality.

They wrote: “Cooked to medium rare, well seasoned and served with new potatoes. No extra fuss and nonsense, but really top service.”

Another reviewer, who visited for a family birthday party, said The Milbank Arms hosted 38 people “exceptionally well”, adding that the food was “outstanding”.

The pub has also been used for a company leadership strategy away day, with one business visitor saying they “couldn’t fault it”.

They wrote: “Beautiful rooms, wonderful food, friendly hospitality.”

The family of a young mum who was stabbed to death by an intruder while she slept alongside her husband and their three-month-old baby have said they want ‘justice’ for her ‘shocking’ death.

Kirandeep Kaur, 24, was allegedly attacked by stranger Daniel Sean James in her home in Hayes, west London, on the morning of July 12.

Ms Kaur, who had been living in the UK since 2024 on a student visa, suffered a stab wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 8.26am.

Speaking to ITV News, Ms Kaur’s mother Baljeet said: ‘We send them somewhere safe to study then this happens. We didn’t realise hooliganism and violence is happening there too.

‘We want justice, we want our daughter’s body returned from Hayes.’

Ms Kaur’s brother Gurvinder Singh said the family had found out only on Friday that she had died.

He said: ‘We were shocked, we don’t understand what we can do.’

Mr Singh said the family do not have anyone who could bring Ms Kaur’s body back home to their village in Punjab.

A GoFundMe page has been set up by the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall Gurdwara to help raise money for funeral arrangements for Ms Kaur as well as the repatriation of her body to India and for her family.

As of Friday night, it has raised more than £34,600.

Before the random attack, James allegedly walked through a playing field in Hayes dressed all in black and carrying a large knife.

The 46-year-old was caught on CCTV and doorbell cameras approaching three different addresses before coming up behind a man in his 20s in the street and stabbing him in the back, it is claimed.

Minutes later, at around 7.51am, he is said to have kicked at the door of the home Mrs Kaur shared with her husband and three-month-old baby and broke in while they were asleep in bed.

The husband awoke to the sound of a scream from his wife and saw a figure leaving the bedroom, prosecutor Charlene Sumnall told the Old Bailey on Thursday.

The court heard James, of Pinner, west London, left the property in Uxbridge Road two minutes later by jumping out of a window from the kitchen-living room area.

Having broken both ankles, he allegedly tried to flee but collapsed after 10 metres.

The Old Bailey was told that both victims were complete strangers to the defendant, who was treated in hospital before being taken into custody.

He was subsequently charged with the murder of Ms Kaur, attempted murder and having a blade.

Judge Nigel Lickley KC set a plea hearing for October 1 and a provisional three-week trial from April 5 next year, while James was remanded into custody.

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