This is the moment a police boat collided with Westminster Bridge sending officers flying into the River Thames as five are ‘seriously injured’. 

Fresh footage has since emerged of the black rigid inflatable boat travelling at speed before hitting the Westminster Bridge’s pillar. 

Waves rose into the air as officers were hurled into the water, with their heads seen bobbing above the water as the boat drove away from them. 

Four police officers were seriously injured after the patrol boat smashed into the bridge yesterday afternoon. Their injuries are non-life threatening.

After being treated by paramedics at the scene, they were rushed to hospital. A fifth police officer was also treated at hospital but later discharged.  

The patrol boat was responding to reports of a person in the water further up the river, the Metropolitan Police said.

It comes as emergency services rushed to the incident on the River Thames after the patrol boat crashed in central London at around 3.45pm on Friday. 

Officers were thrown into the River Thames by the collision before they were rescued by those on nearby boats. 

Video footage, obtained by the Daily Mail, also showed individuals on the Uber Boat attempting to rescue one officer in the water. 

Meanwhile, two others could be seen being pulled onto the black rigid inflatable boat from the River Thames. 

Waves rose into the air as officer were hurled into the water, with their heads seen bobbing above the water as the boat drove away from them

Five police officers have been injured after a number had to be recovered from the River Thames when their boat hit Westminster Bridge 

RNLI responders could be seen treating casualties at the scene. The Metropolitan Police said no members of the public were injured.  

Officers entered the water but were recovered and were seen being treated by paramedics on a rigid black inflatable boat moored to the side of the river.

The incident sparked traffic chaos as a  police cordon was placed at either end of the bridge with buses travelling on it forced to reverse and find another route. 

A large number of officers, fire crews and ambulances arrived to the scene, with an air ambulance and police helicopter spotted circling.

Mother and son Cecilia Lusevic, 56, and Mateo Bilis-Lusevic, 12, said they heard a loud bang when the police boat crashed into the bridge. 

The two, visiting from Chile, were on a Thames tour boat on the north side of the bridge as they saw officers being rescued from the river. 

‘Two boats were riding extremely fast through the water,’ the 12-year-old said. ‘Suddenly, I was looking towards the boat, and I heard a boom.

‘Then three people went flying into the water, and one of the people was really hurt.’

He added that the officers were in the water for around ten minutes, and a life ring was thrown to one of them before a black rigid inflatable boat arrived to help them.

Mateo said emergency services then also arrived as he and his mother were evacuated from their vessel shortly after. 

A US couple said they heard ‘an explosion’ when a police boat travelling at ‘high speed’ struck Westminster Bridge.

A police cordon is in place at Westminster Bridge, with a large emergency service presence

Police cars and a fire engine are seen parked on Westminster Bridge on Friday afternoon

Pictured: The police boat being towed down the River Thames following the crash today

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An area cordoned off by police near the site where a boat of the Metropolitan Police’s Marine Policing Unit (MPU) struck Westminster Bridge 

Jim Bagley, from Gloucester, Massachusetts, said: ‘We were standing in line to get onto the city cruise hop on, hop off tours, and we saw two police boats coming up the river.

‘One was an orange boat that went under the bridge and left a great big wave, and then there was a black boat that came up behind it, the police boat.

‘It looks to me that he got stuck in the wake of the other boat that had just passed through the bridge and slammed into the wall on the opposite side.

‘We didn’t see it happen, but we heard the explosion… the next thing we saw was three people in the water, coming down the river.’

He added: ‘We were wondering why they were under way at high speed to begin with.’

Katherine Bagley said: ‘They were both in pursuit of something further down the river, but they never… the second boat never got to it because it crashed into the bridge with a big bang.’

Entrances three and four to Westminster Underground station have been shut, Transport for London confirmed.

A fire service boat has since been seen towing the black rigid inflatable police boat away from the bridge.

An Uber Boat service, operated by Thames Clippers, was also cancelled and others were delayed today following the incident yesterday afternoon. 

Pictured: Onlookers amid the patrol boat crash at Westminster Bridge at around 3.45pm today

London Fire Brigade said its fire boat and three of its fire rescue units with water rescue capabilities were mobilised following the incident

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A police cordon was placed either end of the bridge and buses and coaches travelling on it were forced to reverse and find another route

Emergency services at the scene near Westminster Bridge as witnesses say they heard a loud boom as the incident unfolded 

An Uber Boat service, operated by Thames Clippers, was also cancelled and others were delayed today following the incident this afternoon (Pictured: Emergency services at the scene) 

A number of officers entered the water but were recovered and have been seen being treated by paramedics on a rigid black inflatable boat moored to the side of the river

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Metropolitan Police Commander Nick John said: ‘Our thoughts are with all those involved, in particular our officers who were injured and those who responded in challenging circumstances.

‘The four officers who remain in hospital have serious but non-life-threatening injuries. We will give them all every support as they recover.

‘I must also offer our thanks to those river users who came to the aid of the officers, as well as other police and emergency service colleagues who immediately made their way to the scene to assist.

‘The quick-thinking and professionalism of all those involved undoubtedly prevented any further injuries.’

It is understood a probe into the incident is being led by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, while the Met will support them with any enquiries. 

A Port of London Authority spokesman said: ‘We are aware of an incident involving a police vessel at Westminster Bridge.

‘We are supporting the response by providing river traffic management assistance where needed and are working closely with the Metropolitan Police, HM Coastguard and partner agencies to manage the situation.’

An RNLI spokesman said: ‘Tower RNLI lifeboat attended an incident this afternoon, Friday 24 July, at Westminster Bridge. For further information please contact the Metropolitan Police.’

London Fire Brigade said its fire boat and three of its fire rescue units with water rescue capabilities were mobilised following the incident. 

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 3.47pm today (24 July) to reports of an incident on Westminster Pier, Victoria Embankment.

‘We sent resources to the scene including ambulance crews, incident response officers, advanced paramedics and paramedics from our hazardous area response team (HART). We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.’

A spokesman for Uber Boat by Thames Clippers said: ‘An incident occurred in the vicinity of Westminster Bridge on Friday afternoon that did not involve Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, however some services may be subject to disruption or delay as a result.

‘For further information and updates please refer to the Port of London Authority or the Metropolitan Police.’

Manu Kone has constantly emerged as a midfielder Manchester United want to sign, but reports from Italy suggest the process has had its difficulties

Reports from Italy have claimed Roma are growing frustrated with Manchester United’s lack of a transfer offer for Manu Kone. The Italians are open to selling him, but want to wrap up any potential deal by July 31st.

The Frenchman is high on the Reds’ list of potential midfield signings after his excellent displays for France at the World Cup. It has been reported personal terms, in principle, between United and Kone have been agreed.

Moreover, a bid from United had also been expected to be issued, yet Roma has claimed none has been sent by Michael Carrick’s side. It’s a situation which is believed to be frustrating the Serie A side.

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Corriere dello Sport, via Sport Witness, has claimed United have not moved forward in their desire to sign Kone, despite the agreement in principle they made with the 25-year-old.

It also stated United have been moving “slowly” in the deal, something which is frustrating Roma. They are enduring a race against the clock as they have a settlement agreement with UEFA where they need to cap their aggregate football earnings deficit to €60m (£51.3m).

Selling Kone would help them meet this threshold and prevent the club from being fined between €10m. However, for them to do so, they need a move to be completed by July 31st, which is the deadline UEFA have set.

Kone is not the only midfielder the Reds have been linked with. Real Madrid ace and Kone’s France team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni is still being linked with a move to Old Trafford.

United have already bolstered the middle of the pitch with the signings of £35m Aston Villa star Youri Tielemans and Chelsea youngster Andrey Santos for £50m. But with Casemiro out of the building and Manuel Ugarte injured, a fourth is still at the top of United’s transfer list.

At the World Cup, Kone started four of France’s seven matches. In their semi-final defeat to Spain, Didier Deschamps turned to Kone to help France get back in the game by introducing him at half time for Adrien Rabiot.

Arsenal legend and former Manchester City midfielder Patrick Vieira has already given Kone his seal of approval. While speaking as a pundit, the 1998 World Cup winner, when asked about Kone, said: “He had a really good season in Serie A with Roma.

“He came to the World Cup after a couple of injuries. It has been quite a difficult season for him. He is for me today the best midfielder in France.

“I’d put him ahead of [Aurelien] Tchouameni and [Adrien] Rabiot, because he has this mobility, he is aggressive, he is a ball-winner, and he has the technical ability to be part of the build-up, has the facility with the ball to break lines and move forward.”

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A huge wildfire has been raging across Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands for days

Enraged residents have condemned the response to an “apocalyptic” wildfire tearing through the Scottish Highlands, with some being instructed to leave their pets behind as suffocating smoke engulfed their properties.

The vast blaze has burned across Cairngorms National Park for several days, sending enormous plumes of smoke rolling over Nethy Bridge before locals were ordered to flee. More than 500 firefighters have been tackling the inferno for 10 days as it continues to pose a threat to homes in the remote region.

Community council chairman Sandy McCook said villagers were left “upset, angry and frustrated” after witnessing the towering smoke on Friday (July 24), the Mirror reports.

“Apocalyptic is the word for the pall of smoke that was on the go yesterday,” he said. The smoke has since shifted direction, with Mr McCook noting on Saturday that it was now drifting towards Aberdeenshire and the North Sea, while the flames remained “very plain to see” from the outskirts of Nethy Bridge.

Duncan Ferguson, a resident in Glenmore near Aviemore, revealed that police visited his property last Wednesday and instructed residents to “leave your pets and go”.

He expressed concerns that the fire could continue to advance and damage properties unless it was brought under control swiftly.

“It’s going to be bad, it’s going to be major unless they get hold of it. It’s heathland at the minute, but it’s started to burn in the upper area of the regeneration of the Caledonian pine forest,” he added. “Once it comes down into there, it’s dry, dry ground, with a real load to burn. It’s just going to get hotter and hotter.”

Police Scotland declared a major incident, with evacuations under way and smoke advisories remaining in place throughout Cairngorms National Park. Emergency services had previously warned that powerful winds were causing the out-of-control wildfire to behave in an unpredictable manner.

“If you are affected by smoke, stay indoors where possible, keep windows and doors closed, and avoid strenuous outdoor activity,” the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) stated.

“Operators who can provide suitable plant machinery to support the ongoing multi-agency response are asked to report to the Village Hall in Nethy Bridge.”

In a further update on Saturday morning, Police Scotland confirmed that residents in a small cluster of properties north-west of Dorback Lodge (Lain Thatchan) had been evacuated as a precautionary measure.

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Pop has always thrived on reinvention, with artists moving through distinct phases that reconfigure both their sound and sense of self.

David Bowie moved through personas such as Ziggy Stardust and the Thin White Duke, each marking a distinct shift in sound and identity. Madonna similarly built her career through transformation, with each phase tied to a distinct visual and sonic shift. More recently, Beyoncé has moved through distinct eras, from Lemonade (2016) to Renaissance (2022) and Cowboy Carter (2024), creating clearly different stylistic worlds around each project.

Taylor Swift’s recent Eras Tour has helped to repackage this reinvention as clearly defined “eras”. The tour reinforced the idea that each album represents a distinct world, and encouraged fans to structure their memory, identity and engagement through these phases.

These artist eras are now experienced, circulated and intensified through social media. Albums have become centrepieces of wider cultural worlds built through visuals, personal stories and fan participation. Meanwhile deluxe editions, remixes and companion releases increasingly blur the boundaries of the album itself.

Thinking in terms of eras provides a way of understanding these multiple releases as belonging to the same creative chapter that fans actively participate in, expand and help define.

Charli XCX

Fan studies research has long shown that digital technologies expand opportunities for fan creativity and participation, allowing audiences to play a more active role in shaping and circulating cultural meanings.

On social media, fans don’t just follow an era – they help bring it to life. Through videos, memes, fashion, conversations and creative interpretations, they shape the meanings that come to define a project and extend an album beyond the music itself. Artists often encourage this by revealing visual aesthetics, sharing cryptic teasers and discussing new projects in interviews long before release, inviting fans to imagine the era before the music is even out. What emerges is something larger than an album alone: a shared cultural world built together by artists and fans.

This can clearly be seen in the work of Charli XCX. Released in 2024, her album Brat became instantly recognisable for its lime green artwork and deliberately chaotic aesthetics, becoming one of the defining pop moments of the year.

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Brat by Charli XCX is a work of contemporary imagist poetry – and a reclamation of ‘bratty’ women’s art

The album’s rebellious energy was rapidly taken up by fans online, who helped to build a recognisable Brat universe that connected with the core themes of the album through fashion, memes and video edits. One example was the “apple dance” a viral TikTok dance that accompanied Charli’s song Apple. It was originally created by fan Kelley Heyer before being taken up by Charli herself and becoming a regular feature then in her live shows.

Participating in an era in this way was also a way of expressing identity and belonging, allowing fans to signal shared values, tastes and community through creative participation.

Charli’s new album Music, Fashion, Film (released on July 24 2026), signals a shift in tone and style, showing a distinct new era. Where the Brat era embraced bright green visuals, club culture and a chaotic energy, Music, Fashion, Film introduces a more cinematic, fashion-led aesthetic, with stronger influences from rock culture.

The album’s artwork itself is a collage featuring figures from music, fashion and film. As with Brat, fans are similarly able to co-produce a particular world around this new era, being invited through a website generator to add their own images and remix the album cover. This built excitement around the release and encouraged fans to share visual references and interpretations before the music was fully out. It’s an example of how eras increasingly begin even before albums are released, shaped through expectation as much as through reception.

The third single from Charli’s album, Wink Wink, with its tongue in cheek declaration “I’m not a bad girl anymore, I promise”, signals a deliberate departure from the Brat era.

This has shaped early fan interpretations of the project as a shift in direction. Charli herself has reinforced this, explaining in interviews that her albums often “repel against each other”, suggesting that reinvention is central to her creative process, with it being “fun to flip the form”.

Ariana Grande

One of Charli’s recent collaborators, Ariana Grande has highlighted a different dimension of era building with her new album, Petal (released on July 31). Whereas Charli’s recent era has centred on a bold visual aesthetic, Grande has framed her new era primarily through emotional openness and personal storytelling.

Grande labelled her new current era “a little feral” and from “a place that I have maybe been too shy or polite to tap into before” in a post shared to her Instagram before any music was released. By describing the project this way directly with her followers, Grande encouraged fans to understand the album as an emotionally revealing chapter of her career.

The visual presentation remains important. Through monochrome photography, Grande showcased a return to her signature high brunette ponytail after the blonde look associated with her role as Glinda in Wicked. The striking image of her smiling on the album artwork helped to signal a new chapter as it reinforced a sense of a return to self after a major acting role.

These visuals establish the mood of the project, but it is the emotional framing of the project that gives this era its further distinctive identity. Fans extend those narratives through their own posts, edits and discussions online. Eras, as well as being visual or aesthetic terrains, can also be emotional ones.

Not every fan welcomes a new era. Major shifts in sound or image can spark debate, with some celebrating reinvention while others mourn the loss of what came before. Those discussions are themselves part of how an era takes shape.

Ultimately, what we are seeing is the expansion of the album. Albums remain core musical texts, but eras are the wider worlds built around them that can grow over time through visuals, performances, interviews, remixes and fan interpretations. In this sense, the album becomes less of a fixed object and more of an ongoing cultural space shaped through repeated engagement and reinterpretation.

Eras have become such a powerful way of understanding contemporary pop music. Listening is only one part of the experience. At their core, eras are sustained by the connective and creative work of fandom, which fuses together music, meaning and identity across time.

By JOSHUA HAINING, NEWS REPORTER

Published: 11:04 BST, 25 July 2026 | Updated: 17:24 BST, 25 July 2026

Despite some wet and windy conditions this weekend, Scotland could be faced with warmer weather towards the end of next week

Scots could be set for another warm spell next week as staggering weather modelling shows parts of the UK potentially bracing for standard-shattering 45°C heat.

Maps from the GEFS weather model have raised eyebrows after predicting unprecedented highs in the south-east of England. While a 45°C scorcher remains an extreme outlier, other forecasting models suggest temperatures down south could easily push into the high 30s.

So, what does this potential summer furnace mean for weather north of the border?

What is the forecast for Scotland?

While England faces the brunt of the heatwave, Scotland is set for a much milder – though still very warm – taste of the sunshine, The Mirror reports.

According to the latest Met Office predictions:

• Northern & Scottish regions: Temperatures could creep up to 28°C across Tuesday and Wednesday.
• South & East Scotland: Sunseekers in the east and southern regions will see the best of the sunshine, with the mercury comfortably sitting in the mid-to-high 20s.
• North & West Scotland: Typical Scottish summer conditions will prevail here early in the week, with cloudier skies and patchy rain at times on Monday and Tuesday before turning brighter by Wednesday.

The 45°C prediction: Reality or fluke?

The jaw-dropping 45°C figure comes from just one data run within the GEFS weather model. Forecasters stress that single-run spikes like this are extremely unlikely to materialize.

However, the underlying trend across multiple models points toward a genuine heat surge returning to the UK next week. For context, the current UK all-time temperature record stands at 40.3°C, set during the sweltering July 2022 heatwave – a storm that also saw Scotland record its hottest day ever at 34.8°C in the Borders.

Official Met Office & BBC verdict

The Met Office confirms that “very warm weather” is on track to return early next week, potentially triggering the fourth heatwave episode of the year for parts of the UK.

“Many parts of England and Wales are likely to return to the mid to high-20s early next week… Conditions in the southeast could become very warm or locally hot.”

The BBC weather forecast for Monday through Wednesday outlines a distinct split for Scotland:

• Monday & Tuesday: Dry, sunny, and very warm in the south and east, but cloudy across the north and west with patchy rain at times.
• Wednesday: Sunshine continues in southern areas. Further north will turn sunnier overall, though a few showers may still affect the north-west in the morning.

The BBC has announced five new dancers who are joining the show in September

Five new professional dancers will join the Strictly Come Dancing team this September, the BBC has announced.

The hit TV series will return to our screens on Saturday and Sunday nights in the autumn, but this year it will look rather different. At the end of the 2025 long-standing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down, marking an end of the era for the BBC show.

They will be replaced by new hosts Emma Willis, professional dancer Johannes Radebe and comedian Josh Widdicombe. That’s not the only change to the Strictly line-up.

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This week it was confirmed that professional dancers Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas would not be returning to the show. Today the BBC announced five new professional dancers who will be joining the show.

These are Aleksandra Iseava and her dance partner Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, Maddie Ingoldsby, and Mark Karmilta. They will join Strictly’s returning Professionals: Alexis Warr, Aljaž Škorjanec, Amy Dowden, Carlos Gu, Dianne Buswell, Jowita Przystal, Julian Caillon, Kai Widdrington, Katya Jones, Lauren Oakley, Nancy Xu, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, and Vito Coppola.

Sarah James, Executive Producer, BBC Studios said: “Aleksandra, Cristian, Lethabo, Maddie and Mark are all outstanding world class dancers and we can’t wait to see them shine under the Strictly glitterball this September.”

Celebrity contestants for the 2026 series are set to be announced throughout the summer. Jo Wallace, Senior Commissioning Editor, BBC Entertainment added: “It’s so exciting to welcome the brilliantly talented Aleksandra, Cristian, Lethabo, Maddie and Mark. As if the return of Strictly wasn’t shaping up to be fab-u-lous enough already, they’re five more reasons why the new series is not to be missed.”

Here are the new professional dancers for 2026:

Aleksandra Isaeva

Aleksandra Isaeva grew up in Ukraine and now lives in Italy. A multiple Ukrainian National Latin Champion, Aleksandra is ranked in the world’s top 21 Latin dancers and has reached top 10 positions at both the European Latin Championships in Blackpool and the Dutch Open’s World Latin Dance Competition, as well as becoming a finalist at the UK Dance Festival’s Latin Rising Star competition.

On joining Strictly, Aleksandra says: “I’ve been living and breathing dance for as long as I can remember, so joining the Strictly family is a true honour. The thought of learning from and sharing this experience with such extraordinary dancers, choreographers and the whole Strictly family still gives me goosebumps. I can’t wait to pour my whole heart into every performance, inspire others and be inspired along the way.”

Cristian Priori

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Aleksandra joins Strictly with her dance partner Cristian Priori. A four-time Italian Latin Champion who was ranked in the World’s top 24 Latin dancers for eight consecutive years, Cristian’s international success saw him become a Rising Star Latin Finalist at the Blackpool Dance Festival and an Open World Latin Semi-Finalist. Born in Rome, Cristian achieved dance success from a young age as the Junior Italian 10-Dance Champion, before going on to become a Rising Star Finalist at both the UK Open and the Dutch Open.

Cristian says: “Saying yes to Strictly was an easy decision. Dance has always been my way of expressing myself, and I’m so excited to begin this new chapter. I’m ready to give my all, enjoy every moment of this amazing journey, and embrace everything it has to offer. Strictly is where passion, hard work and entertainment come together, so being part of it is a real privilege.”

Lethabo Monametsi

Lethabo Monametsi is an undefeated South African Latin Champion who first fell in love with dance after watching the South African version of Strictly Come Dancing. No stranger to television, she won the TV dance competition Dance Yo Dumo as a member of Urban Wave and has since performed as a dancer on The Masked Singer SA.

Lethabo has also shared the stage with global icons including Diana Ross and Hans Zimmer, and represented South Africa at the WDC Amateur Open World Championships in Ireland. As if that all weren’t enough, Lethabo also holds a Bachelor of Arts (Law Major) Degree from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Lethabo says: “This moment is bigger than me. I step into it with profound gratitude and deep humility, knowing it is the culmination of years of unwavering love, belief, and support from the people who dared to dream alongside me. Representing South Africa on the Strictly Come Dancing stage is far more than a career milestone, it is an honour beyond words, and I cannot wait to embrace every extraordinary moment of this journey.”

Maddie Ingoldsby

Maddie Ingoldsby is a UK National Ballroom Champion and eight-time Amateur 10-Dance World Champion from Bournemouth, who was previously also crowned World Rising Star and Under 21 World Ballroom Champion. As a child Maddie played Annie in the West End, and made her television debut on Strictly: It Takes Two – before going on to perform in a Pros’ group number on the main show’s Christmas special. Maddie can also be seen in the hit film Last Christmas, starring Emma Thompson and Emilia Clarke.

Maddie says: “Joining Strictly as a professional dancer is truly a dream come true. My heart is so full of gratitude, excitement, and anticipation as I begin this incredible new chapter. Dance has always been where I feel most myself, and to now share my heart, my creativity, and my love for it on a show that has inspired millions is an honour beyond words.”

Mark Karmalita

Maddie Ingoldsby is a UK National Ballroom Champion and eight-time Amateur 10-Dance World Champion from Bournemouth, who was previously also crowned World Rising Star and Under 21 World Ballroom Champion. As a child Maddie played Annie in the West End, and made her television debut on Strictly: It Takes Two – before going on to perform in a Pros’ group number on the main show’s Christmas special. Maddie can also be seen in the hit film Last Christmas, starring Emma Thompson and Emilia Clarke.

Maddie says: “Joining Strictly as a professional dancer is truly a dream come true. My heart is so full of gratitude, excitement, and anticipation as I begin this incredible new chapter. Dance has always been where I feel most myself, and to now share my heart, my creativity, and my love for it on a show that has inspired millions is an honour beyond words.”

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A campaign has been launched to urge the council to take action

A four-year delay in plugging an “eyesore” in a Cambridgeshire town has prompted a campaign to demand enforcement action from a council. Civic Society of St Ives, a charity, has launched a campaign urging Huntingdonshire District Council to take action on the former Barclays Bank on 11-12 The Pavement.

The former Barclays site has stood mainly empty for the majority of the past four years, despite full planning permission being granted in late 2021 to redevelop it, followed by approval in 2022 to demolish it. A scaffolding rig was erected over the site which has been branded as “highly intrusive” by Civic Society.

Christine Phillpotts, Chair of Civic Society of St Ives stated that the derelict building is located “right in the heart” of the town’s Conservation Area. She feels as though it is a “real eyesore” and “potentially a health and safety menace”. People believe it is a “distraction and detraction from the town”, she claimed.

Due to this, the charity felt it was time to “chase” the council on the building’s future. The ‘Action for 11-12 The Pavement’ campaign, launched last month, urges Huntingdonshire District Council to use Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. This gives councils the power to act when the condition of land or building adversely affects the amenity of an area.

The charity said an enforcement notice should be served to compel the removal of the scaffolding unless work will be carried out on it.

Chair Phillpotts said the team at the charity “very much worry about the children in town climbing up the scaffolding and climbing over the boards”. The charity would like to see it made “less dangerous”.

She added: “We feel for the shops on either side of it that are trying very hard to attract customers in. It looks terrible. People walking past say things like ‘it looks derelict’, ‘doesn’t the town look poor now’ and that’s not what we want people to think when they come into St Ives.”

Civic Society is “very keen” that it becomes an entity that encourages attraction to the town such as a shop or pop-up venue.

A spokesperson for Huntingdonshire District Council said: “We have been actively engaging with the developers to secure improvements to the appearance of the hoarding and encourage progression of the development. The developer has advised that the scaffolding is still required in connection with the development approved and will be removed as soon as practicable.”

Fernando Alonso made a major breakthrough for Aston Martin on the weekend they debuted their virtually new car by breaking out of the first session for the first time this season.

Alonso will start 16th, 2.8secs off pole – but that was two seconds faster in relative pace than they had managed for some time.

The veteran Spaniard, who is 45 next week, told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I feel relieved a little bit, feeling that the team understood the weaknesses of the car and this is the first step in the right direction.

“We brought a few updates to this car early in the season, and it didn’t work much. And we come from two years of disappointments of upgrades. So definitely there is a change in optimism in the factory and I feel optimistic.”

Alonso faces a decision this summer as to whether to continue his career after this season. He said that while he had no doubts managing technical partner Adrian Newey would lead the team to success in the future, he was not sure whether it would happen soon enough for him.

“No one should doubt Adrian Newey or the potential we have in Silverstone. It is a matter of time before we have the best chassis and it is a matter of time before Honda have the best engine in F1. It is a question of when.”

All the drivers were battling with a track surface that was breaking up, especially in the final two corners, where Norris said it was especially difficult to judge the grip level.

Even before the incident with Verstappen, Russell was afflicted on his final run by a water leak, which was spraying water on to his rear tyres.

Mercedes asked him to pull over immediately after crossing the line, and he parked at Turn One, in an attempt to avoid damaging the engine.

Antonelli said: “I think we were just slightly out of the window with tyres, then in Q3 we did a good step and the car just felt finally a bit more alive. For sure it was a shame with the yellow flags, but it happens. P3 was on the table today but still not good enough for pole.”

A man who ‘brutally’ beat up a seagull in front of young families after it swooped for his food has called for wild birds to be trained – while claiming he is, in fact, an ‘animal lover’.

Charlie Righton attacked the bird in July at the Harbour View Cafe in Porthleven, Cornwall, while having lunch with a companion.  

It is understood Mr Righton, believed to be from Truro, grabbed and punched the seagull, and then ‘smashed’ it against the cafe’s wall and ‘stuffed [it] through the fence’. 

The bird was allegedly rescued by tourists, who Mr Righton deemed ‘idiotic’ and said rather ‘ruined’ the seagull’s day by ‘taking it away from its home’.

The harrowing incident, which witnesses said left the bird with broken wings, took place by the harbour on the afternoon of July 13. 

Mr Righton has since defended the attack, described by bystanders as ‘brutal’, as he called out his local council and ecologists for failing to ‘train’ the habit out of the wild animal.

In one post, he said that ‘having root canal treatment I felt obliged to give the seagull that attempted to steal my food a little roughing up’.

While denying breaking the bird’s wings or killing it, he wrote: ‘It’s unfortunate that our local council and ecologists haven’t done what is a simple thing and train the animals not to take food out of our mouths! My dog does not take from my table and neither should our gulls.

‘I was actually protecting the food of B who has been vegetarian all her life to her eighties who was kind enough to take me there. She fully supports my actions. 

‘The bird was not harmed or killed and flies around Porthleven again.’ 

Mr Righton added: ‘I am actually an animal lover and believe that with the correct training all species can live in harmony. 

‘Businesses and humans need to take a stand and learn how to harmonise these creatures, understand them and teach them their place in our society as we all have ours. Sorry for any upset my actions have caused anyone.’

In a separate post, as reported by Cornwall Live, he described being in ‘intense pain’ after the bird’s wing hit him in the mouth, causing the ‘automatic’ reaction to ensue. 

He added on Facebook, which includes a bio that reads ‘one life live to the max!!!!!’: ‘I didn’t even damage the animal. It was in shock and I guarantee that the gull won’t attack other diners at the harbour side cafe again (the food was delicious and staff warm and friendly) and just because some idiot tourists decided to further ruin the bird’s day by capturing it and taking it away from its home where it would have naturally recovered.

‘Get a grip, find something useful to do with your day go plant a tree! Why not grow yourselves some food of your own and actually understand the animal cruelty behind your food that you choose to give to the seagulls.’

Commentators jumped to the seagull’s defence, with one writing: ‘No aggression towards any animal is acceptable and I’m sure you would have some strong words for me if I’d “roughed up” your dog.’

Mr Righton has since defended the attack, described by bystanders as ‘brutal’, as he called out his local council and ecologists for failing to ‘train’ the habit out of the wild animal

While another said: ‘I’d love to see you train a seagull.’

A third person added: ‘Trained? A wild animal? Maybe we could train weaver fish not to sting, or pigeons not to coo!

‘If you were in that much pain, why were you visiting a cafe? And people who saw your attack were very clear the bird was badly harmed.’

A fourth posted: ‘Ah yes, thank you for this eloquent manifesto on proportionate response and animal husbandry.

‘What a relief to learn that you think the seagull can still fly around Porthleven, truly the bar for “not harming animals” has never been set so low.

‘And what touching dedication to vegetarian B and her chips, though I do wonder if she knew her lunch companion had recently become a martial arts enthusiast after dental work. Your dream of teaching all species their place in society is admirable.’

At the time of the incident, a witness wrote on social media: ‘This man brutally and repeatedly smashed a seagull against the wall of the Harbour View Cafe because it tried to steal some food.

‘He then stuffed the seagull through the fence onto the road, where it floundered with two broken wings. This was in front of numerous people and children who were hugely upset.’

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said in July: ‘We have been made aware following a report of a seagull being injured by a man by the harbour in Porthleven on the afternoon of Monday, July 13.

‘It was reported the suspect grabbed and punched the seagull leaving it injured.

‘Enquiries into the matter are ongoing.

‘Anybody with any relevant footage or information is asked to call 101 or visit our website quoting 50260183379.’

All wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, according to the RSPCA. 

It is illegal to intentionally kill, take or injure seagulls, take or destroy their eggs, or damage or destroy any seagull nests while they’re being used or built. One must have a licence to do so.