Drones are becoming increasingly popular in a technologically advancing world, but that doesn’t mean they can fly anywhere

Seeing a drone hovering above your garden can be an unsettling experience, particularly if it happens more than once. Whether you’re relaxing outside or spending time with your family, many people are left wondering whether their neighbour is actually allowed to fly it there.

While drones are legal to own and fly in the UK, there are strict rules governing how they should be used. Whether a neighbour has broken the law depends on factors including where the drone is being flown, whether it is being operated safely, and if it is capturing images or video in a way that breaches privacy laws. According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), drone users must always fly safely and responsibly.

The CAA’s Drone Code says operators should keep their drone within visual line of sight and fly no higher than 120 metres (400ft). They must also respect other people’s privacy and be aware that individuals may have concerns about drones flying close to their homes or gardens.

Contrary to a common misconception, homeowners do not automatically own all the airspace above their property. However, that does not give drone operators unrestricted permission to repeatedly hover over private gardens or fly in a way that could endanger people or property. The CAA says pilots must fly responsibly and avoid creating a risk to others.

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Privacy is another important consideration. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) says anyone using a drone fitted with a camera should consider their data protection responsibilities if they capture identifiable images of people outside their own household, particularly where recordings are shared or used beyond purely personal purposes.

If you believe a neighbour is using a drone to harass you or deliberately invade your privacy, the issue may extend beyond aviation rules. Depending on the circumstances, repeated behaviour could amount to anti-social behaviour or harassment, and concerns can be reported to the police if a criminal offence is suspected.

Official guidance recommends trying to resolve disputes with neighbours informally where possible before escalating matters. If the problem continues, keeping a record of when the drone is flown, where it was operating and any photographs or videos may help if the matter is investigated by the relevant authorities.

It’s also worth remembering that simply seeing a drone fly over your property does not necessarily mean any laws have been broken. Much depends on how it is being flown, whether it is creating a safety risk and whether there is evidence of unlawful recording or persistent nuisance.

Although drones are now a familiar sight across the UK, operators are still expected to follow strict safety and privacy rules. If a neighbour repeatedly flies a drone over your garden in a way that creates a risk, invades your privacy or forms part of a pattern of harassment, there are official routes available to report your concerns.

By SAM MERRIMAN, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

Published: 00:32 BST, 8 August 2026 | Updated: 05:50 BST, 8 August 2026

The Green Party deputy leader who said Palestinians have a right to ‘fight back’ on October 7 has called for fewer people to be referred to the Government’s anti-extremism scheme.

Mothin Ali said that Prevent ‘sweeps too many innocent people into the security state’ after figures showed a record number of referrals to the flagship counter-terror programme.

Last night a former Prevent counter terror officer slammed the Green co-deputy leader’s ‘uninformed’ comments and warned they will ‘hinder national security efforts’.

A Reform UK spokesman said: ‘Prevent is already unfit for purpose, opting to prioritise the “far-right” over Islamic extremism which poses a real and immediate danger to our national security. 

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‘The fact Mothin Ali has still yet to be referred to Prevent for his extremist comments is evidence of that.

‘It’s no wonder he wants to scale back this programme in case it actually starts doing its job.’

Former Prevent officer Ghaffar Hussain said that ‘by definition’ the scheme is designed to ‘support those who are innocent yet at risk of being susceptible to extremist influence’.

He added: ‘Security is not just about dealing with criminals, it is also about going upstream and putting in place interventions that prevent criminality. These types of uninformed comments only hinder national security efforts.’

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Mothin Ali, Deputy Leader of the Green Party, is interviewed on the first day of the Green Party Conference in 2025

Rachel Millward, Zack Polanski and Mothin Ali arrive for the Green Party Conference at Bournemouth International Centre in October 2025

Mr Ali – who apologised after saying that Palestinians have a right to ‘fight back’ after the Hamas terror attacks on October 7 – acknowledged that violent extremism is a ‘real threat’.

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But the Green councillor for Leeds, 44, said that ‘dragging more and more children into a counter-terrorism programme is not the solution’.

‘British Muslims have long warned that Prevent is heavy-handed, undermines trust and sweeps too many innocent people into the security state,’ he added.

Mr Ali – who also caused controversy when he shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ after being elected and has described Gaza as ‘the world’s biggest concentration camp’ – said ‘counter-terrorism resources should be focused on genuine terrorist threats’.

He suggested that Prevent resources could instead be diverted to teaching, youth work, social work and mental health support.

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Mr Ali added: ‘We can’t defeat hate and radicalisation by treating vulnerable children as security threats and making entire communities fear the state.

‘Approaches that stigmatise communities and erode trust risk deepening the alienation that extremists seek to exploit.’

His comments came after new Home Office figures this week showed that a record 10,293 referrals were made to Prevent for 9,957 people in the year to September.

The scheme saw referrals rise 39 per cent from 7,408 in the previous 12 months. This is the highest number of referrals in a single year since records began in 2015.

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Of the total referrals, just 860 (8 per cent) related to concerns of Islamist extremism, while there were more than 2,100 (20 per cent) over suspected ‘Right-wing extremism’.

It comes more than two years after a highly critical official report accused Prevent of applying a ‘double standard’ regarding Islamism.

The review found the role of Islamist ideology had been ‘misinterpreted, misunderstood, or even overlooked’ by officials, who prioritised countering far-Right activity above tackling Islamism.

A celebration of the pub’s success took place at the Gait Inn at Millington, near Pocklington.

Publicans Harriet and Daniel, who took over the Gait Inn five years ago, were on hand to receive the certificate from branch stalwart Suart Barkworth. He wasn’t alone as he had a group of CAMRA colleagues there to enjoy the evening.

Chris Tregellis, branch Chairman, had arranged a bus to visit the pub and other local attractions.

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Chris added: “We all enjoyed the evening as the Gait is certainly worth the trip out to Millington for food and excellent beer.  

“Stuart had nominated the pub as it’s one of his favourites and we all enjoyed the Wensleydale and Theakston beers on offer. And the food!

“It’s one to try when out in the Pocklington area.”

Harriet and Dan outside the Gair Inn at Millington (Image: Pic supplied)

Earlier, Stuart said of the 16th Century pub: “Set in beautiful countryside in the Yorkshire Wolds near the famous Millington pastures and Millington woods. For summer, outside there is a good size partially covered beer garden with great views of the Wolds. In winter the wood burning stoves make it warm and cosy.”

He continued: “The bar has three regular cask beers and changing guest beers from local breweries.  Hearty home cooked food is very popular. Regular events include quiz nights  fish Fridays. A beer festival is held each July. The Gait Inn is popular with locals and visitors. It richly deserves the York CAMRA pub of the season award for Summer 2026.”

Landlord Dan Morgan said thanked CAMRA for their support and said the presentation night went very well, with plenty of locals adding to the CAMRA members.

He wasn’t sure if publicity surrounding the CAMRA award has boosted trade, saying summer is always busy. He also praised his staff for helping deliver success for the family-run village pub.

The popularity of the Gait Inn is borne in online reviews.

TripAdvisor awards the Gait Inn 4.5 stars out of five, based on 235 reviews, ranking it 173th out of 793 York restaurants.

The most recent awarded five stars said: “Fifteen friends pre booked our food. Everyone said the food was excellent and the service was excellent as well. Great choice of dishes , good portions so much so we could not manage dessert! Thanks for looking after us Friday and see you all again soon.”

Google awards 4.7 stars out of five, based on 547 Googe reviews.

The latest awarded five stars and said: “Brilliant little pub good value. Lovely food and beer. Great staff.”

At least three people, including a child, have been killed in overnight Russian attacks near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

In the early hours of Saturday missiles hit east of the capital and witnesses reported hearing powerful explosions just days after strikes across Ukraine killed 21 people.

Falling debris damaged apartment buildings and cars, while a fire broke out at a separate building, the head of the regional military administration Timur Tkachenko said. He added that three others had been wounded in the ballistic missile strikes.

Emergency crews were also fighting fires at a building and fuel tank in Kyiv, Mayor Vitaly Klitchko wrote on Telegram.

Ukraine’s state emergency service DSNS shared photos showing garages, a business and a building on fire in Kyiv, adding: “The number of victims is being clarified.”

President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Serbia for his first visit after raising concerns about Ukraine’s capacity to fend off Russian missile attacks due to depleting interceptors stockpiles.

Earlier in the week, Zelensky said delays in receiving anti-ballistic systems from partners leads to “horrific casualties and destruction”, saying that having a stronger interceptor capability “could have saved lives” in recent deadly assaults.

The president later said the supply of interceptors from allies had been “significantly reduced” this year.

It came after Ukraine hit two oil refineries deep inside Russia along with Moscow-linked vessels in the Black Sea, which Zelensky said was intended to limit oil revenues used by Russia to “finance” its war in Ukraine.

Recent mediation talks have faltered, leading to an escalation of attacks between both sides.

The young driver also nearly crashed into cars when driving on the wrong side of the road

A dangerous driver who led police on two high-speed pursuits has been jailed. Cambridgeshire Police spotted Adam Abdellouche, 19, driving a silver Vauxhall Astra which they believed to have false number plates in Broadway, Peterborough on September 18, 2024.

Officers tried to stop Abdellouche, but the 19-year-old turned left into Granville Street and sped away at 55mph in a 30mph zone. He continued to speed along Dogsthorpe Road and he tried to get away from a pursuing officer.

As he drove, Abdellouche failed to give way and nearly crashed into other vehicles, before mounting a pavement, driving along it and crashing into a wall. He ran from the scene and was later arrested.

Abdellouche was released on bail while an investigation took place. However on April 10 this year, officers tried to stop him again near Tallington in Lincolnshire. An officer was concerned that Abdellouche may drive through a level crossing to get away, so he parked his vehicle to block the road and illuminated his blue lights.

Abdellouche made an immediate right turn, cutting across the wrong side of the road, mounting a grass verge and sped along Stamford Road. He drove at more than 120mph as he tried to get away. He also ignored keep left signs and drove the wrong way around roundabouts. Officers deployed a stinger to end the pursuit, with the vehicle stopping on the A15 between Glinton and Werrington.

When Abdellouche was searched by officers, he was also found with a knife. Abdellouche, of Allexton Gardens, Welland, Peterborough, admitted to two counts of dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving without a licence and possession of a knife in public.

On Tuesday (August 4) at Cambridge Crown Court, he was jailed for 23 months and disqualified from driving for four years.

DC James Walker-Harrison said: “Abdellouche clearly had no consideration for the risk he put others in as he persistently drove dangerously in his failed attempts to get away from officers. Thankfully nobody was injured during these two incidents where he recklessly drove at high speed. I’m pleased he has now appeared in court and been jailed for his actions.”

Former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, a prominent Democrat who lost the presidency to Donald Trump in 2016, has warned of one Republican attack on progressive members of her party that will be “very effective” in the midterms.

After progressive Abdul El-Sayed’s victory over centrist congresswoman Haley Stevens in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for a U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, Clinton suggested that Republicans will baselessly label him as a “communist,” and it will work to dissuade voters.

“The real fight will be how do we make sure that people who voted for Haley feel comfortable voting for Abdul El-Sayed, and how do we get Independents to feel comfortable?

“And you can see that it’s not just about Michigan, but the Republican messaging is communist, socialist. It’s going to be a very effective attack,” Clinton told Kara Swisher during the journalist’s Pivot podcast with author Scott Galloway.

Trump was quick to celebrate El-Sayed’s election win, calling it “Great news for the Republican Party.”

“El-Sayed, a Communist loser who hates Jews and Israel, is the projected winner in his race with the Socialist…Now, the Dumocrats crazy policies will only get worse!” he wrote on Truth Social Wednesday.

Despite the pro-Israel group AIPAC spending tens of millions on Stevens’ campaign, El-Sayed — a former public health official who has accused Israel of genocide in its war against Hamas in Gaza — narrowly beat her in Tuesday’s race. Israel has vehemently denied allegations of genocide.

When Swisher probed further on whether labeling a politician a communist is an effective attack, Clinton said, “That’s the attack that Trump is leading with and I assume they’ve tested it and I assume that they have reason to believe that it’s effective or they wouldn’t be beating the drum on it.”

“It’s not just him. [Vice President JD] Vance has done it. Others are doing it. They are trying to bring back scare tactics about our candidates, and it didn’t work in New York. [New York City Mayor Zohran] Mamdani was elected, and there was a lot of money spent against him,” Clinton said.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist who has been commonly misstated as a communist, won his election in November against a member of the Democratic establishment, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Two democratic socialists whom Mamdani backed in the June primaries in New York, Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez, also won their races.

The 40-year-old sent sexual messages to someone he thought was a teenage girl

A convicted sex offender who sent explicit messages to someone he thought was a teenage girl has been sent to prison. Daniel Coleman, 40, contacted the account in May 2025, not knowing it was a decoy run by an online child abuse activist group.

Despite the “child” telling him she was only 13 years old several times, he proceeded to strike up conversations of a sexual nature before arranging to meet her. Despite not using his real name, officers traced the IP address of the profile back to Coleman and he was arrested.

Coleman, of Bishops Road, Peterborough, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, breach of a sexual harm prevention order, inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity, and failing to comply with Sex Offenders Register Requirements.

He was sentenced to four-and-half-years in prison at Cambridge Crown Court on July 31. PC Alex Neill, who investigated, said: “Coleman is clearly a risk to children. Protecting young people from harm is one of our top priorities and we will do all we can to bring offenders to justice.”

Do you want more of the latest Cambridgeshire news as it comes in from across the county? Sign up to our dedicated newsletter to make sure you never miss a big story from Cambridge or anywhere else in the county. You can also sign up to our dedicated Traffic and Crime newsletters for the latest updates on the topics you are most interested in.

Senior national co-ordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, Vicki Evans, said: “As part of the ongoing investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing South East into the murder of Ann Widdecombe, officers have reopened an investigation into an incident reported to police last year.

A reader looks back at how nuclear war has been portrayed in video games, from Missile Command in 1980 to the modern Fallout titles.

On the list of things that might ruin your day, nuclear war is probably right up there. I doubt anyone could argue that nuclear weapons aren’t mankind’s worst invention and it defies all logic that any country would keep a nuclear arsenal, let alone use it. However, I am drawn to the subject of nuclear weapons and nuclear war in fictional scenarios. Whenever nukes are involved in a story, tension and drama can be ratcheted up to unparallelled levels because the risk to humanity’s continued existence is understandably severe.

As demonstrated in the 1983 movie War Games, nuclear weapons and the pastime of computer gaming can sometimes overlap to generate an entertaining form of fusion. If asked specifically about the most effective use of nukes in games, almost certainly I’d mention the Fallout franchise. In my opinion Fallout 3 was a way better game, but with respect to a single unsettling moment that’s lodged itself in my memory, Fallout 4 certainly deserves a prize.

After a brief history lesson and a slick montage, Fallout 4 places you in front of a bathroom mirror with your wife/husband standing by your side. The year is 2077 and we’re in retro futuristic America and life seems fairly idyllic. You are one of the parents of a newborn baby. You live in a nice house that’s situated in what appears to be a nice suburb. It’s a bright and sunny day outside. There’s a knock on the front door, and so you go and answer it. A representative from Vault-Tec has an offer for you. In the event of a crisis, you and your family can enjoy shelter and residency in Vault 111.

The ensuing conversation gives you a chance to define your game character’s attributes via a registration form. The Vault Tec rep leaves and what follows is a precious family moment, with you and your spouse in your baby son’s bedroom. Plans to visit the park are made. Today could be a great day, if fate doesn’t have other plans. The mood distinctly changes when you’re called back into the living room by your multi-armed hovering robot, Codsworth.

There’s a troubling newsflash on the TV. Portentous music starts in the background. Confirmed reports come in of nuclear detonations in New York and Pennsylvania. An early warning siren begins to wail outside, and the next moment the three of you are on the move. You run through chaos and mass distress playing out on the street outside. Guided by soldiers, your tight family unit flees down a path and up to a gate through which only a privileged few are allowed. Quick, quick, onwards and onto that large circular platform. ‘We’re going to be okay’, says your partner. Famous last words.

There’s a brilliant flash, and then you see it. A dreadful mushroom cloud, huge and all powerful and terrifying. The platform that you cower on lowers you and your small family into the ground just as the blast wave hits. You look up as the lift shaft above you closes. Pray for all of those poor souls who are left behind on the surface, because surely everyone who isn’t lucky enough to be a vault dweller is now dead.

Another game that’s strongly associated with nuclear war is Missile Command. This eighties arcade cabinet was fairly iconic. The game asked you to protect cities by shooting down incoming missiles. For me one of the defining characteristics of Missile Command was the trackball that you used to move your crosshair around the screen. The other memorable aspect of the game were the bright flashes that appeared whenever impacts happened.

Missile Command was designed by Dave Theurer for Atari, at the height of the Cold War between America and Russia, and as such was undoubtedly influenced by the tensions of that time. The game’s iconic status was further guaranteed when John Connor was seen playing it in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Incidentally, director James Cameron’s classic 1991 film has what is almost certainly one of the most effective cinematic depictions of what a nuclear blast might do to a city and its residents. In Missile Command, once all of your cities suffer the same fate, a rather gloomy final message appears on screen: THE END.

There’s a rather good licensed version of Missile Command that you can play via your browser.

Missile Command: Recharged is also available from the usual digital game outlets. Recharged is an updated version of the game with flashy visuals and catchy music. Missile Command: Recharged is fun, if fun is the right word to use when you’re trying to save cities and their residents from being vapourised by incoming ballistic missiles. On the downside, I do think that the visual makeover of Recharged has taken away an important aspect of Missile Command.

The explosions in the reinvented game are now black voids, and so they don’t resemble nuclear flashes at all. I don’t know why this decision was made. Maybe nuclear war and atomic explosions were considered too upsetting or unpalatable for a modern audience. But the game does play well, even without a trackball. There are various modifiers that you can apply that quite effectively tweak the core experience of arcade mode, and there’s a missions mode to try out also.

Incidentally, I watched the film War Games again before writing this feature. Despite a rather corny score, the 1983 hacker thriller still holds up well. The wall screen representations of nuclear threats and strikes that feature in War Games are effectively realised and timeless, and the film’s story is worryingly prescient today, given the rise and mass adoption of artificial intelligence. Still, you’ve got to focus on the positives. Putting AI in charge of nuclear weapons might save some cash-strapped government a fair chunk of money. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?

By reader Michael Veal (@msv858)

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.

Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.

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BEIJING (AP) — Authorities in eastern China shut schools and tourist sites as Typhoon Dolphin made its way towards land on Saturday.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds were estimated at about 162 kilometers per hour (101 mph).

It will bring heavy rains, creating a risk of severe flooding as well as landslides. It’s expected to hit Zhejiang province and northern parts of neighboring Fujian province late Sunday. Shanghai is also in the path of the storm.

National authorities declared a level III emergency response, the second lowest level.

Many tourist destinations in Zhejiang are shut Saturday and Sunday, as well as all water-based activities, including ferries and cruises. Authorities in the city of Ningbo, one of province’s largest, ordered schools and other educational facilities shut this weekend.