The alert comes as Britain prepares for yet another bout of scorching weather during the fourth heatwave of the year

Fire chiefs have issued a stark warning that the threat posed by wildfires “remains elevated across the UK”, following more than 200 incidents in just the past fortnight.

The alert comes as Britain prepares for yet another bout of scorching weather during the fourth heatwave of the year, with temperatures forecast to reach as high as 35C across south-east England on Wednesday. A Met Office assessment has indicated that blazes could become exceptionally serious by Wednesday should they ignite across parts of London, the South East and eastern England, due to the hot, arid conditions.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber heat-health alert covering the East Midlands, the East, South East and London.

The alert runs from Tuesday to Thursday, with the agency warning that rising temperatures may present heightened health risks, especially for vulnerable groups.

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Fire and rescue services throughout England and Wales have responded to 706 wildfires so far in 2026, with 208 incidents occurring between July 16 and 28 alone, according to the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).

The NFCC added that the latest figures, which do not include wildfires elsewhere in the UK such as a major wildfire in the Cairngorms in Scotland, demonstrate “how quickly wildfire activity can increase during prolonged periods of hot and dry weather”. Fire chiefs have additionally warned that wildfire risk “remains elevated across the UK”, with the NFCC confirming there were “currently eight live wildfire incidents being monitored through national reporting systems”.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed that firefighters were continuing to “make progress at the major wildfire incident at Tintwistle Moor” following the deployment of 60 personnel on Tuesday.

While wildfire numbers in England and Wales remain below the 788 recorded at the same point last year, fire chiefs have warned that “continued dry conditions, combined with warmer temperatures and harvesting activity in many rural areas”, are creating conditions in which fires can ignite and spread with alarming speed.

Images have shown extensive brown grass across Blackheath in London, with parched, dried-out grass evident in many parks throughout the capital following the recent period of hot weather.

This development comes as Royal Parks staff have been instructed not to leave deckchairs beneath trees, due to concerns that branches could fall during the hot weather.

Large-scale wildfires sweeping across Europe, including areas of Spain, France and Greece, have prompted evacuations, caused substantial environmental damage and placed enormous strain on emergency services. The NFCC acknowledged that wildfires in the UK are generally smaller in scale and differ in character from those seen across southern Europe, but cautioned that the “long-term effects of climate change are increasing the likelihood of larger, more complex and more resource-intensive wildfire incidents occurring”.

Phil Garrigan, chairman of the NFCC, said: “More than 200 wildfires in just 12 days shows how quickly the risk can escalate when hot, dry conditions take hold.

“The scenes we’re seeing across parts of Europe are a stark reminder of what a changing climate means for fire and rescue services. We are not seeing fires of that scale in the UK today, but the science tells us we should expect larger, more frequent and more complex wildfires in the future.

“That’s why we need continued investment in specialist wildfire capabilities, including aerial firefighting support, so we’re prepared for the risks ahead.

“But prevention remains our strongest defence. Most wildfires are avoidable, and we’re asking everyone to take extra care during the hot weather to help keep their communities safe.”

Senior fire officers warned that a considerable proportion of wildfires are sparked by routine human activity, pointing out that “disposing of cigarettes safely, avoiding the use of disposable barbecues in open spaces and taking litter home can significantly reduce the risk of fires starting”. According to provisional Met Office figures, July has been 3C warmer than average across the UK, potentially ranking it among the hottest three or four July months on record.

Fire chiefs have urged members of the public to report any signs of fire without delay by dialling 999 and requesting the fire and rescue service.

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Some of the highlights include a pair of Eminem x Nike Air Jordan 3 Slim Shady PE trainers, which are expected to sell for 25,000 to 35,000 US dollars (£18,000-£26,000), a pair of Eminem x Carhartt x Nike Air Jordan 4s and a pair of Eminem x Nike Air Jordan 4 Encores from 2017, which are also both expected to go for up to 25,000 dollars.

As first reported by The Bolton News, filming is currently taking place around Le Mans Crescent, one of Bolton’s most recognisable locations and a favourite backdrop for some of Britain’s biggest television dramas.

Commuters heading home caught glimpses of the cast and crew in action around the iconic arches and on the steps of the Grade II-listed former courthouse, adding to the town’s growing reputation as the “Hollywood of the North”.

Filming for The Woods in Bolton (Image: NQ)

The Woods is the latest Harlan adaptation to be filmed in Bolton and features a star-studded cast including Tom Bateman, Michelle Keegan, Mandeep Dhillon and Pearce Quigley. Production is taking place across Greater Manchester.

Filming for The Woods in Bolton (Image: NQ)

The gripping mystery thriller centres on Paul Copeland, a county prosecutor haunted by the disappearance of his sister during a summer camp massacre 20 years earlier. When evidence found on a modern-day homicide victim appears to connect to the decades-old case, Paul is forced to confront long-buried family secrets and question whether his sister could still be alive.

Filming for The Woods in Bolton (Image: NQ)

Bolton has become a regular filming location for Coben adaptations, having previously featured in hit Netflix dramas Fool Me Once and The Stranger.

While Netflix has yet to announce an official release date for The Woods, Harlan Coben’s adaptations have developed a reputation for becoming instant chart-toppers, with several previous series proving hugely popular with viewers worldwide.

Gwent Police is appealing for information to locate Navaeh, who is reported as missing.

The 14-year-old was last seen at around 4pm on Saturday 25 July in Rogerstone, close to the train station.

Navaeh is described as white, around 5″4 tall, with light brown hair in a bun.

She was last known to be wearing black leggings, a black vest top, a brown cardigan and black slider shoes with a cream handbag.

Navaeh has links to the Cardiff area.

Anyone with information on Navaeh’s whereabouts should contact Gwent Police via the website, direct messaging the force on Facebook or X social media pages or call 101, quoting log reference 2600240166.

Navaeh is also asked to contact us.

Everyday habits that could weaken your heart

1. Poorly controlled blood pressure

2. Untreated sleep apnoea

3. Drinking too much alcohol

4. Physical inactivity

Junior Andre has revealed he used to have a crush on his stepmother Emily, before she tied the knot with his dad Peter.

The 21-year-old aspiring singer, son to Mysterious Girl crooner Peter and Katie Price, had his secret initially blabbed by younger sister Princess, 19, during a new episode of her ITV2 reality show The Princess Diaries.

While enjoying a BBQ outside in the garden towards the end of the second episode of season three, Princess asked her dad Pete, 53, when he knew he loved his wife Emily, whom he married in 2015.

Emily, who works as an NHS doctor and shares three children with Peter, is 36 – 15 years older than Junior, and 17 years younger than her husband.

Peter then told his oldest kids, who recently revealed their matching tattoo, that they were friends for two years before things turned romantic and they started to date in 2012, with Junior and Princess thought to have first met her when they were aged around five and three, respectively.

Princess reflected that she had known Emily ‘literally my whole life’, before turning to Junior and adding: ‘And you used to fancy her when we were younger.’

With her slightly mortified brother laughing along at the on-camera revelation – while his dad cackled – Junior then recalled how distraught he’d felt learning that Emily was Peter’s girlfriend.

Junior responded: ‘Did I cry to you or something? Because you said that Emily is going to be your girlfriend and I cried and said, “No, she’s my girlfriend”.’

Princess then quipped in a to-camera segment: ‘There’s some things that Junior will never let me live down, and there’s some things that I’ll never let Junior live down… and that is one of those things.’

Returning to the garden scene, Princess – known affectionately by her family as Bista – then added: ‘I remember we were camping outside in the garden, and you were like, “Emily, I want you to sleep in my tent!”’

Peter and Emily became parents to their oldest daughter together Millie, 12, in January 2014.

Following their lavish marriage at in July 2015 at Mamhead House in Devon, they went on to welcome nine-year-old Theo in November 2016 and youngest daughter Arabella Rose, now two, in April 2024.

Elsewhere in their conversation from The Princess Diaries, Peter spoke to Junior about Princess possibly moving into his bigger bedroom at their house now he was living with girlfriend Jasmine.

‘Wait, if I got a boyfriend, would he have to sleep in Junior’s room? The spare room?’ Princess asked, before her protective father revealed his rules for her.

‘You’re going to hate me, he’d still have to stay downstairs, or you’d have to stay downstairs. Sorry, I know you’re 18.’

Princess also admitted that she struggled to keep up with her mum’s ‘extreme’ love life, following her latest – rather turbulent – marriage to most recent husband, Dubai-based businessman Lee Andrews.

While she doesn’t ‘follow’ the former glamour model’s ‘stories’ about her romances, she shared that she hopes Katie is ‘happy’.

‘Mum’s in Dubai right now to see her husband and to be honest I don’t really know much about it,’ the teenager explained.

‘I’ve never met him but mum’s love life is everywhere at the moment. Mum’s love life stories are quite extreme and honestly I don’t even follow it myself, but as long as my mum’s happy, we’re happy, and that’s all that matters.’

Katie tied the knot with her fourth husband in January just weeks after they met for the first time, and Princess admits her mother’s life has been a whirlwind, saying: ‘Mum never has time to relax, her life is chaos.’

However, during the show, Katie was seen dispensing advice to Princess and Junior, warning them about the dangers that come with wealth.

Katie told the pair: ‘It’s good to have money but it doesn’t bring you happiness, it’s the people around you that bring you happiness. When you’ve got money you attract the wrong people.

‘Because you two have been brought up seeing that, you’ve seen so many hangers on use and abuse me for all kinds of different things, hopefully you will have learnt to keep your circle small.’

The third season of The Princess Diaries is the first to feature both of Princess’s parents, Katie and ex-husband Peter.

Katie was previously blocked from appearing in the first season, but she made a cameo in the second while Peter has made his debut on the show in series three, after signing an agreement in February to never speak ill of each other again.

However a review of Katie’s recent life and times documentary saw her already test the limits of that truce, when she shared a fan review of it which appeared to label one of her exes a ‘narcissist’.

But joking about the situation in a montage shown on her own series, Princess deadpanned: ‘What could possibly go wrong?’

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By SHANNON MCGUIGAN, NEWS REPORTER

Published: 19:53 BST, 28 July 2026 | Updated: 20:34 BST, 28 July 2026

A manhunt continues for a man after two teenage girls were allegedly raped in an alleyway in Blackpool.

The incident is said to have happened to two girls, both in their late teens, in an alleyway between Edward Street and Topping Street on July 25, 2026.

The area was cordoned off by Lancashire Constabulary over the weekend as both detectives and forensic officers were seen scanning for evidence.

A probe has been launched into the incident. The two girls are being supported by police officers.

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Lancashire Constabulary have released CCTV footage of a man they want to speak to as part of their enquiries.

A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 2.36am on Saturday, July 25 to a report of rape in Blackpool.

‘It was reported that two girls, both in their late teens, had been raped by a man in an alleyway off Deansgate, the alleyway running between Edward Street and Topping Street.

‘An investigation has been launched by detectives.

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The incident is said to have happened to two girls, both in their late teens, in an alleyway between Edward Street and Topping Street (pictured) on July 25, 2026

Lancashire Constabulary have released CCTV footage of a man they want to speak to as part of their enquiries

‘Our enquiries are at an early stage, and both girls are being supported by our officers.’

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Any witnesses or anyone with information that could aid police enquiries are urged to call 101, quoting log 0195 of July 25.

Alternatively, those who wish to report anonymously can do so through the independent charity, Crimestoppers, by calling 0800 555 111.

Hull Crown Court heard that over 12 years, Bush breached the trust placed in him by grieving families “on an almost industrial scale”, by keeping bodies for months after they should have been cremated, giving out the wrong ashes, taking money for funeral plans without making any of the arrangements and stealing charity donations collected at services.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday praised the late Senator Lindsey Graham as a bipartisan lawmaker and ‘legend’ who rose from humble roots to become a powerful force to be reckoned with in the US Senate. 

‘He was a man who gave America the full measure of his good and mighty heart,’ Trump said of Graham, the late South Carolina Republican who died unexpectedly earlier this month at 71. ‘Until that heart itself just gave out.’ 

‘While he was always quick to laugh, no one ever doubted the gravity of his mission to all in a strong America,’ Trump said of Graham during a memorial service at Washington National Cathedral. 

‘There’s probably not a single town in South Carolina where Lindsey did not help repair a bridge, expand a school, improve a hospital, or recover from a disaster,’ Trump said of Graham, who served for more than two decades in the Senate.

‘As you remember, Lindsey and I did not exactly get off to the best of starts’ while running against each other in the 2016 Republican presidential primary elections, Trump told attendees, recounting how, at one point during the primary race, he shared the late senator’s personal phone number during one of his rallies. 

‘I shared his personal cell phone number with the millions of people that happened to be watching that particular day,’ Trump remembered. ‘He said, ‘’I had that number for 20 years.” That was the beginning of a friendship, in a way.’ 

‘But it was Lindsey who had the last laugh,’ Trump added, ‘because while I blew up his phone call for one day, we became great friends, and Lindsey did not stop calling me for the next 10 years.’

He ‘was a force of nature, and I will miss him greatly,’ the president said.

Trump’s remarks cap a two-day series of funerals for Graham in Washington and in the Palmetto State, where he will be laid to rest.  

A number of high-profile attendees were seen streaming into the National Cathedral before services began, including current and former administration officials, foreign leaders, and Cabinet officials.

Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, whose confirmation Graham helped push through the Senate Judiciary Committee years earlier, was seated in the front row alongside his wife, Ashley. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Israeli Prime Minister Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were also in attendance. 

Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche attend the funeral service for Graham

Former Vice President Mike Pence greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a funeral service for Graham at the Washington National Cathedral 

Netanyahu speaks to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the Cathedral ahead of Graham’s funeral 

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talks with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Lawmakers pay tribute to Graham at the US Capitol

Senator Jim Justice comforts Senator Roger Marshall at the Capitol 

Other big names included Eric Trump and his wife, Lara Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche were seated together in the second row.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright were also seated near the front of the cathedral.

Earlier, Graham’s former Senate colleagues honored his life and career at a smaller ceremony held in the Senate Rotunda. That memorial was, at times, highly emotional, as many in the chamber remembered the years they spent working alongside Graham, and walked around his casket to say their final goodbyes.

‘I look forward to the days when you make us all laugh again,’ Senate Majority Leader John Thune said of Graham at the Capitol tribute, pausing briefly as he choked back tears.

Vice President JD Vance also spoke at the service. ‘I remember Lindsey Graham as a man who loved people, and because he loved people, he was willing to reason with them, to respect them, and ultimately to persuade them,’ the vice president said.

Lindsey’s death was announced just after 2am Eastern time on July 12.

The cause of death was aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to a statement issued by his office at 5pm.

‘The death certificate will be PENDING until all the toxicological and microscopic testing are finalized, and at that point the death certificate will be updated to reflect the cause of death and appropriately classify the manner of death,’ a spokesman for Graham’s office said at the time.