At the sitting of the Special Criminal Court, Det Sgt Shane Noone said he arrested O’Donovan at 17:07 local time on Friday and informed him he would be charged with the offence.

Solicitor Darragh Mackin said he had not taken instruction from O’Donovan as he was observing a strike over changes to criminal legal aid fees and was only appearing in court out of courtesy.

O’Donovan told Judge Patrick McGrath that he had “no representation at all”, and had asked for “the services of this gentleman beside me”, referring to Mackin.

O’Donovan was remanded in custody until Monday.

Law student Isobella Perrie Sullivan, 25, of Abbeylands Park in Clane, County Kildare, appeared before a district court on Friday charged with possession of explosives in connection with the same incident.

Her solicitor said she had been asked to take a bag to Northern Ireland, and had not been aware what was in it.

Perrie Sullivan was granted bail but remains in custody ahead of a further bail hearing on Monday.

Some forecasters are predicting highs of up to 35C across England and parts of Wales, with the heat expected to become more widespread and intense as the week progresses.

Heatwaves are defined as periods of three consecutive days where temperatures meet or exceed a specific threshold.

This threshold varies across the UK, from 25C in the north and west to 28C in parts of eastern England.

Is another heatwave coming in the UK?

The UK has already experienced three heatwaves this year, with the last one ending for most of England and Wales last weekend when cooler air brought temperatures down to 20-24C.

However, Usk in Monmouthshire and Exeter in Devon continued to hit heatwave levels and on Friday, marked 20 consecutive days of reaching the criteria.

A short period of cooler weather with some rain in parts of the UK is expected over the weekend, but the heat is likely to return quickly.

High pressure is forecast to build over the south of the UK next week, preventing the arrival of rain-bearing weather fronts in southern regions.

This pattern will confine wet weather to the north and west, particularly north-west Scotland, while temperatures begin to climb once more in the south.

The Met Office said that “if only one or two stations reach heatwave criteria, that would not be defined as a heatwave”, but a broader area could trigger the declaration of a fourth heatwave.

2026 became the first year to record temperatures of 35C on six separate days (Image: Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

For much of next week, temperatures in England and Wales are expected to peak at 25C to 32C, with the hottest conditions focused on central and eastern England by Tuesday, the BBC weather team predict.

Some computer models suggest east Wales and most of England could see temperatures between 30C to 35C by next weekend, raising the likelihood of another officially declared heatwave.

Met Office verdict on potential fourth heatwave

The Met Office is forecasting a “return to very warm weather in the south next week”.

It says: “This more unsettled spell is not expected to last long for much of southern UK with dry weather and sunny periods likely to return on Monday and continue into midweek.

“Further north, it will be cloudier with further showers or longer outbreaks of rain.  

“Temperatures are expected to recover quickly in the south. 

“Many parts of England and Wales are likely to return to the mid to high twenties Celsius early next week, with the potential for temperatures to reach 30C again in southern and eastern England by Tuesday.

“Conditions in the southeast could become very warm or locally hot, with the possibility that some locations may once again reach heatwave criteria, potentially making this the fourth heatwave episode of the year for parts of the UK.”

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How to stay cool in summer in the UK

The NHS suggests staying out of the heat if possible, adding that it is best to stay shaded, particularly between 11am and 3pm.

It also recommends using sunscreen, wearing a hat and light clothes, and avoiding exercise or activity that makes you hotter.

To cool yourself down, have cold food and drinks and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes.

It is also vital to keep your living space cool, closing windows during the day and opening them at night when it is cooler.

Have you enjoyed temperatures cooling down recently? Let us know in the comments.

Homes by Esh has received planning approval to build 49 homes in Tunstall, around four miles from Sunderland city centre.

The development, in the South Sunderland Growth Area on Burdon Road, will feature a mix of three and four-bedroom detached and semi-detached properties.

Homes by Esh has secured planning permission for a 49-home luxury housing development in Tunstall. Pictured is an example of the homes to be built (Image: Homes by Esh)

Dale Morris, technical director at Homes by Esh, said: “Securing planning approval for our Burdon Road development is a significant milestone for the team and a positive step forward for housing delivery in Sunderland.

“Our focus has been to design homes that not only meet the needs of modern families but also integrate seamlessly with the local area and its long-term growth plans.

“With sustainability, energy performance and community at the heart of the scheme, we look forward to bringing these homes to life and working with local partners to generate real economic benefit for the region.”

The scheme was approved by Sunderland City Council as it aligns with the council’s wider strategic masterplan for land north of Burdon Lane.

The development will include properties such as The Juniper, The Magnolia and The Laurel, which have already featured at Homes by Esh’s Collier Gardens scheme on Philadelphia Lane.

All 49 properties will meet the 2021 Building Regulations Uplift, incorporating enhanced insulation, ventilation, and energy-efficient features such as electric vehicle charging points, solar panels and smart thermostats.

The scheme also includes a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG), complies with local authority highways requirements, and will offer a 10% affordable housing contribution.

Homes by Esh is currently delivering other high-quality housing schemes across the wider North East.

These include 35 homes at Philadelphia Lane in Houghton-le-Spring and 41 homes at Bluebell Gardens in Trimdon Village.

In Darlington, the housebuilder is progressing with Havelock Park at Blackwell Grange, which will deliver 44 executive homes, and 144 homes at Hurworth Meadows.

Further information about the company and its developments is available at www.homesbyesh.co.uk.

Beefeater has confirmed the closing date of all its restaurants across the UK.

Although there are no Beefeaters in Bolton, affected branches nearby include the Heaton Park Beefeater and The Whitegate Inn, Chadderton.

The mass closures are part of Whitbread’s major restructuring plan.

The company announced in April that it would shut its remaining Beefeater and Brewers Fayre sites as part of a strategy overhaul, placing around 3,800 jobs at risk.

Whitbread revealed plans to close all of its Beefeater sites as part of a major restructuring (Image: Getty Images)

UK restaurant chain Beefeater to shut all 106 sites in coming weeks

Customers were informed of the closure in a letter sent to Beefeater reward club members.

It stated: “As you may have seen, we have recently announced changes to our business, which is resulting in the closure of our Branded Restaurants.

“This means that on Thursday 10 September 2026 your local Beefeater and all other UK Beefeaters will close.”

In the letter, the company also said it would close the loyalty scheme on August 31.

Whitbread was contacted for a new comment.

The restructure is part of Whitbread’s new five-year growth strategy, which aims to re-focus the business and reduce costs by £250 million.

This includes a shift towards an integrated food and drink model that the company believes is more efficient and better suited to Premier Inn guests.

Dominic Paul, Whitbread’s chief executive, said previously: “We always challenge ourselves to improve and, in light of significant cost increases in the form of business rates and national insurance, as well as the implied market discount to our inherent value, we’ve looked hard at the options open to us to maximise value creation over the medium and long-term.

“This has been a rigorous process and we’ve approached all options with an open mind.

“Our new five-year plan builds on our strengths and drives a significant acceleration of our strategy.

“This plan will transform Whitbread into a higher-margin, higher-returning pure-play hotel business.

“We’re going to go further and faster to deliver a great experience for our guests and high-quality growth and returns for our shareholders.”

Whitbread’s restructuring strategy explained

Under the new strategy, Whitbread plans to convert some restaurant sites into additional Premier Inn rooms and sell off around £1.5 billion worth of freehold properties to fund further growth.

The group currently owns approximately 86,600 hotel rooms and intends to increase this to 96,000 by the 2031 financial year.

Whitbread said that although it expects to redeploy many affected employees within its wider business, the restructure will still result in significant job losses.

A statement said previously: “We recognise the impact of this proposal on colleagues who work at the affected sites.

“As a business which recruits around 15,000 people every year, we expect to be able to retain a significant proportion of those affected and will be looking to redeploy as many of our impacted colleagues as possible.

“However, we do anticipate that the proposed changes, which are subject to consultation, would result in a reduction of around 3,800 roles of a total UK and Ireland workforce of around 30,000.

“We will do all we can to support those colleagues affected.”

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The company believes the integrated food and drink model is better aligned with the requirements of Premier Inn guests, who account for a large portion of restaurant trade in Whitbread-owned venues.

Brewers Fayre, which is also owned by Whitbread, will also be closing, but does not yet have confirmed closure dates.

Will you be sad to see your local Beefeater restaurant close? Let us know in the comments.

Ayden Heaven has started at centre-back in both of Man Utd’s pre-season games so far this summer.

Ayden Heaven opened up on his relationship with Harry Maguire following Manchester United’s 5-0 win over Rosenborg on Friday evening, admitting he “loves” playing alongside the experienced defender.

Heaven has started at centre-back in both of United’s pre-season games so far this summer, taking the chance to partner Maguire in the absence of some of United’s senior stars.

With United awaiting an update on Lisandro Martinez’s injury and Matthijs de Ligt still recovering from back surgery, Heaven may be called upon in the opening weeks of the season. The 19-year-old has shown he has the quality to be a mainstay in the United side for years to come, and he credited Maguire with helping his development.

“I love it, obviously,” he said of playing alongside Maguire. “He helps me a lot. He’s had over 20 years of experience playing. And yeah, he’s always good to play with. He speaks a lot and he always tells me to speak. I always work on that with him.”

Michael Carrick spoke glowingly of Heaven following his display away at Chelsea last season, a game which saw United come away with the three points and a clean sheet despite a defensive injury crisis. Heaven then started in subsequent wins over Liverpool and Brentford before Martinez returned to the team.

Heaven looked disappointed not to get on the pitch on the final day of the season against Brighton, but Carrick was spotted putting his arm around him and passing on a few supportive words.

“He’s played a big part for this club when he played. So that’s the extra boost that he’s given you, to have a compliment. And yeah, we all really trust him. I’m thankful to have him as a coach,” Heaven said of Carrick.

Asked about potentially nailing down a starting role, Heaven said: “I know I’m young, obviously, and I’ve got to be patient, you know, especially in my position. You don’t see a lot of 19-year-olds playing week in, week out.

“I know it’s nothing personal and I’ve just got to be patient. I’m waiting for my opportunity.”

Playing for England at Euro 2028 is Heaven’s target after representing the Three Lions’ Under-21s.

“I could push further than that, maybe try and get into England, the main men’s team. You know, the sky’s the limit. So, yeah, I’ve just got to keep working hard every day,” he said.

East Durham Garden Centre has an almost perfect rating of 4.4 stars from nearly 800 Google reviews.

The garden centre, part of the British Garden Centres chain, opened in 2005 and offers a wide range of products.

(Image: EAST DURHAM GARDEN CENTRE)

The centre, located on South Hetton Road in Peterlee, offers a diverse selection of plants, gifts, homeware, furniture, and more.

One review said: “The best garden centre in the area.

“Great staff, good selection of plants, plant and garden accessories, and non-gardening items too.”

East Durham Garden Centre is also home to the Gardener’s Retreat Restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and a carvery every Wednesday and Sunday.

One customer gave the restaurant a five-star review and said: “I can only say, has to be the best breakfast I’ve had in the UK.

(Image: EAST DURHAM GARDEN CENTRE)

“The sausage was to die for, the portions were perfect, not at all too much.

“Perfect toast, lovely people and a great view of all the plants as the sun shines in.

“Been coming here over 15 years now, never had food.

“I’ll be back for breakfast once a week for a treat.

East Durham Garden Centre has received glowing reviews from customers. (Image: EAST DURHAM GARDEN CENTRE)

“About time the good old English breakfast became homemade and homegrown.”

British Garden Centre Family Cards are also available at the centre, which provide the customer with exclusive offers, vouchers, and invites to events throughout the year.

The garden centre has wheelchair accessibility, free parking, is dog-friendly, and offers home delivery on larger items.

The opening times are Monday to Friday – 9am-5pm, Saturday – 9am-5:30pm, Sunday – 10am-4:30pm.

The Gardener’s Retreat Restaurant closes 30 minutes before the garden centre, and the tills open at 10:30am on a Sunday.

Wes Streeting has followed the lead of Ed Miliband in launching a ‘charm offensive’ on Donald Trump. 

The new Defence Secretary is said to be seeking to repair the UK’s relationship with the US President by rebuilding bridges after the ‘special relationship’ turned sour under Sir Keir Starmer‘s leadership. 

Mr Streeting wants to ‘work together’ with the President to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and build a global coalition to safeguard shipping through the commercial trade route. 

Both Mr Streeting and Mr Miliband can expect an uphill battle, having previously publicly criticised Donald Trump and key figures in his Government.  

In a post on X on Friday night, the Defence Secretary said he had a ‘good first call’ with the US Secretary of State for War Pete Hegseth. 

Mr Streeting wrote: ‘The UK and US are the closest allies on defence and security. I look forward to working together on our vital shared security interests in an increasingly dangerous world.’ 

The pair reportedly discussed proposals for a conference in London this week which would bring together NATO allies, defence ministers and military leaders from up to 40 countries. 

Previously Europeans had held regular meetings without American leaders, but after a difficult few months the summit would aim to reconcile all sides.  

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband will also be seeking to rebuild bridges. He jetted off to meet with his US counterpart Marco Rubio within 24 hours of being appointed  

In 2018, Mr Miliband branded the US President a ‘racist’ and ‘misogynist’ and claimed he had a ‘peculiar relationship with Russia’. In April, Mr Streeting called Trump’s social media posts ‘incendiary’, ‘provocative’ and ‘outrageous’

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The UK-US relationship had become increasingly tense after the outbreak of the Iran war earlier this year. 

Mr Streeting commented back in April that the relations between the two nations were ‘strained’. 

He had called President Trump’s social media posts ‘incendiary’, ‘provocative’, and ‘outrageous’ on Sky News following the President’s expletive-laden comments about the Iran War, and suggested Brits should ignore his posts. 

Then the Health Secretary, Mr Streeting said the US President should be judged on ‘what he does, not just what he says‘ and admitted that the Iran conflict had ‘strained’ relations with Mr Trump’s administration. 

Andy Burnham’s new Defence Secretary is also said to have discussed defence investment and the UK’s commitment to meeting its NATO commitments. 

Mr Streeting has stated he plans to modernise and reform the Armed Forces amid a new age of drone warfare. 

He will be following in the footsteps of Ed Miliband, who held his first bilateral meeting on Wednesday with his US counterpart, Marco Rubio, after being appointed as Foreign Secretary by the new Prime Minister. 

Mr Miliband jetted off to the Philippines within his first 24 hours of being Foreign Secretary to meet with Mr Rubio at the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit of foreign ministers. 

Mr Streeting is said to be looking to modernise the Armed Forces as Defence Secretary in Andy Burnham’s new Government

But the Foreign Secretary also faces a tricky task in trying to win over Mr Rubio, a close ally of Donald Trump, following his past criticism of the US President. 

The ‘Net Zero’ agenda of Mr Miliband, which he doggedly pursued in his former role as Energy Secretary, is also anathema to the Trump administration.

And there are concerns in Washington about Mr Miliband’s role in blocking the US from using British bases for strikes on Iran.

Meanwhile, Gavin Newsom – the governor of California and one of Mr Trump’s fiercest political opponents – has risked complicating matters further by heaping praise on Mr Miliband.

In his first bilateral talks with Mr Rubio, Mr Miliband is believed to have reiterated his commitment to mending the fraying ‘special relationship’ between the US and UK.

Transatlantic ties were pushed to crisis point at the outbreak of the Iran war earlier this year.

Former prime minister Keir Starmer initially refused to allow US bombers to strike Iran from British air bases, before later altering his stance to allow their use for ‘defensive’ operations after Tehran launched missiles and rockets across the Middle East. 

Mr Miliband was reported at the time to have been instrumental in leading Cabinet opposition to the use of British bases by the US. 

When Andy Burnham later launched his successful bid to oust Sir Keir, senior officials in Mr Trump’s administration were said to have privately warned the new PM that appointing Mr Miliband as his Chancellor would be a ‘mistake’. 

There will also be concerns that Mr Miliband’s undiplomatic comments about Mr Trump in the past will complicate his job in trying to steady transatlantic ties.

In 2018, Mr Miliband branded the US President a ‘racist’ and ‘misogynist’ and claimed he had a ‘peculiar relationship with Russia’.

He also used an interview with GQ magazine to condemn Mr Trump’s ‘very scary authoritarian tendencies’ and vow to join protests against him visiting Britain.

RAF Typhoons were scrambled from Lincolnshire on Friday to intercept the Qatar Airways flight in response, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) received a report from the National Air Traffic Services at around 6pm on Friday (July 24) relating to a threat made towards an aircraft travelling to Manchester Airport.

Working alongside partners, including the Royal Air Force and airport authorities, officers deployed the necessary resources to ensure the safety of the aircraft and everyone on board.

The aircraft landed safely at Manchester Airport and there was no threat to passengers or crew.

Following enquiries, officers established that the report was a hoax.

The 14-year-old boy, who was not on board the flight, has been identified and is assisting police with their enquiries.

Chief Inspector Gary Homa of the Airport Policing Unit at Manchester Airport said: “This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable.

“The safety of the public is always our top priority and every report of this nature is treated extremely seriously.

“Hoax calls can cause significant disruption, divert vital emergency service resources and create unnecessary concern for passengers, crew and the wider public.

“Thankfully, this incident concluded safely, but making false reports is not a prank and can have serious consequences.

“We will always investigate incidents of this kind thoroughly and take robust action where offences have been committed.”

By JOE ROSSITER, REPORTER

Published: 12:59 BST, 25 July 2026 | Updated: 03:03 BST, 26 July 2026

The former England cricket captain was taken to see the statue during a visit to Middlesbrough in late April while working in the area with broadcaster and media consultant Paul ‘Goffy’ Gough.

Shocked by its condition, Boycott publicly voiced his concerns, attracting widespread support from football fans across Teesside and beyond.

April 2026 as Sir Geoffrey Boycott visits the Brian Clough statue in Albert Park, Middlesbrough (Image: Supplied by Goffy Media)

Within days, council workers arrived to dismantle the statue and begin restoration work.

Speaking after seeing the restored monument, Sir Geoffrey said: “I’m delighted to see Brian’s statue back and looking so much better.

“When I raised concerns earlier this year, it was simply because Brian was a great friend and I felt somebody of his standing deserved better.

Brain Clough’s statue pictured on its return to Albert Park after major restoration (Image: Supplied by Goffy Media)

“The response from the public was tremendous and it’s pleasing to see that concerns were listened to and acted upon so quickly.”

“His goalscoring record for Boro and Sunderland is on another level – the fans adored him.

“It made no sense to me to see his hometown legacy was being so unloved.”

Brian Clough and Sir Geoffrey Boycott (Image: Supplied by Goffy Media)

Boycott, who remained close to Clough throughout his life and spoke at the legend’s family funeral, said the restoration would have meant a great deal to the football icon’s family.

“His lovely late wife Barbara would have been heartbroken to see the statue in the sorry state it had fallen into.

“She was immensely proud of Brian and everything he achieved.

Sir Geoffrey Boycott at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough alongside the Wilf Mannion statue – Sir Geoffrey has suggested Brian would be better placed outside of the ground. (Image: Supplied by Goffy Media)

“Most importantly, it will be a source of comfort to Brian’s sons Nigel and Simon, and his daughter Elizabeth, to see the statue restored and cared for properly.”

The Yorkshire cricket legend also believes Clough’s legacy deserves even greater recognition.

“I’ve always felt the statue might have been better placed outside the Riverside Stadium alongside Middlesbrough greats such as George Hardwick and Wilf Mannion.

“Brian is certainly worthy of that honour.

“I was over at the ground recently and they all look very comfortable there.

“People sometimes forget it all began just down the road at Hartlepool in 1965.

“From those first steps in management, Brian went on to become one of the greatest football managers the game has ever known.

“I can only hope lessons have been learnt.

“The important thing now is that the statue has been restored, protected and can continue inspiring future generations.”

Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke this week confirmed the statue had returned to Albert Park following restoration work, describing it as “a true homage to one of our region’s legendary sporting icons.”

The statue returned to the park on Thursday, July 22, with a team of council workers getting it back to pristine condition in the coming days – eventually without fencing.

Sir Geoffrey is back in the North East with ‘An Evening With Sir Geoffrey Boycott’ taking place at Cullercoats Crescent Club, North Shields, on Friday, October 9th, 2026.

Tickets and information are here: TicketsSource link