Manchester United are reportedly in the market for a new left-back and could find the solution has already landed on their lap

Michael Carrick’s first full season in charge of Manchester United grows ever closer. Though there is still plenty of transfer business to be done.

United have already bolstered their squad in several key positions this summer, welcoming Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans to their midfield ranks and back-up goalkeeper Karl Darlow. Their pre-season results have also been stellar.

Carrick’s squad are unbeaten in their last three fixtures since opening the summer with a friendly defeat to Wrexham. Carrick’s side drew 1-1 against Champions League titleholders Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday after beating Atletico Madrid 2-1 and Rosenborg 5-0.

But for the new Premier League season, the club have made it no secret that left-back is a position they wish to reinforce. Arsenal could help out their top-flight rivals with this issue, as the Manchester Evening News rounds up the latest gossip emerging from Old Trafford.

Mourinho makes trio available

Jose Mourinho is reportedly willing to offload three players considered surplus to requirements at Real Madrid. United could be well placed to take advantage of one or more of those available assets.

According to Spanish daily AS, ‘The Special One’ has indicated he wants a squad of 20, plus the sidelined trio of Rodrygo, Eder Militao and Ferland Mendy. However, Mendy is among those who could be moved on due to the heightened competition at left-back following Marc Cucurella’s arrival.

Mendy has no desire to depart the Bernabeu, yet his injury record has done little to instil confidence in Madrid. Former United prospect Alvaro Carreras is the other left-back option understood to be ahead of the Frenchman in the pecking order.

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Eduardo Camavinga finds himself in a comparable situation and has no wish to leave Real. United have previously been heavily linked with the midfielder and could capitalise on his versatility, given Camavinga has already demonstrated his ability both in midfield and at left-back.

The other Real name reportedly available is academy product Raul Asencio. United, however, are not currently thought to be actively pursuing reinforcements in central defence.

United have already endured considerable frustration with Luke Shaw’s persistent unavailability through injury over the years. For this reason, Camavinga may not be the only name at Real with a realistic prospect of making the move to United this summer.

Lewis-Skelly ‘offered’ to United and Chelsea

The £75million acquisition of Bruno Guimaraes looks set to trigger a knock-on effect at the Emirates Stadium. Reports have emerged that Myles Lewis-Skelly has been offered to both United and Chelsea this week.

Despite initially showing considerable promise as a left-back, Mikel Arteta deployed Lewis-Skelly in midfield throughout last season. The 19-year-old made some vital contributions towards the latter stages of the campaign as the Gunners secured the Premier League title and reached the Champions League final.

As it stands, United have a pressing need for a new left-back as they seek a long-term replacement for Shaw. Newcastle’s Lewis Hall has been strongly touted as a candidate for that position, though the Magpies are reportedly unwilling to part with him.

Just before 6pm local time ambulances from Lorain, Medina and Cuyahoga counties were dispatched to the Grafton Correction Institution after lightning sttic

At least 16 inmates were struck by lightning outside a correctional facility in Ohio, authorities said.

Just before 6pm local time ambulances from Lorain, Medina and Cuyahoga counties were dispatched to the Grafton Correction Institution.

A spokesperson for Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction said: “Initial reports indicate a lightning strike occurred this evening while incarcerated individuals were returning from the evening meal.

“At this time, 16 individuals are being transported to an outside hospital for treatment, including one individual who was life-flighted. There have been no reported deaths at this time. We are continuing to assess and monitor the situation.”

Officials said the inmates were leaving one building and heading to another after a meal when they were struck.

All were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries although some of the patients were described as being critically hurt.

It came after Ohio was battered by powerful storms that flooded parts of the state with several feet of water killing at least one person.

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I love the beach. It’s my happy place. And there’s one spot that’s become my go-to when I need to escape London and be by the sea.

Aldeburgh in Suffolk regularly tops lists of the UK’s best seaside towns, and it truly deserves its flowers. 

It’s small, with an estimated population of just 2,348, and just a handful of shops on the high street. But it’s got everything you could need for a charming coastal getaway. 

I would know; I’ve been going there at least once a year for almost two decades.

The first time I went to Aldeburgh was on the eve of my 15th birthday. 

I’m now 32, and honestly, it hasn’t changed all that much in the last 17 years. That’s a good thing. 

I love seeing the same businesses thriving each time I visit, from the Aldeburgh Cinema to The Golden Galleon fish & chip shop.

There’s a gorgeous independent bookshop (with tote bags to rival Daunt’s), several charity shops, a couple of art galleries, an excellent deli and, of course, an ice cream parlour.

The food scene is exceptional. The Suffolk’s seafood restaurant has been featured in the Michelin Guide, the Thai Street Kitchen takeaway slots fill up faster than you can say Pad Thai on a Friday night, and Sea Spice is serving up dishes on par with some of London’s finest curry houses.

The star of the show, though, is the beach itself.

It’s a pebble beach, which means you’ll probably want to keep your shoes on instead of going barefoot, but otherwise, it’s pretty perfect.

Colourful houses line the seafront in pastel shades of pink, yellow, and blue, wooden fishing boats sit on the shingle, and the North Sea sparkles gloriously in the sunshine. 

If you get up before 9am, you’ll catch locals heading down for a dip, wearing dressing gowns and water shoes. Some swim in the bracing water, others merely float for a few minutes to wake themselves up.

Whenever I’m in town, I like to set an early alarm and take a cup of tea down to the sea.

First thing in the morning, the beach is gloriously empty, save for a few swimmers, so you feel you have the entire place to yourself.

There are plenty of walking trails, too, including a two-mile stretch of coast you can follow to the village of Thorpeness.

This will take you past the Scallop, a massive shell-shaped sculpture made from steel, that serves as a memorial to the composer, Sir Benjamin Britten, who lived in The Red House in Aldeburgh.

Walk in the opposite direction and you’ll find Slaughden, a hamlet just south of the town centre. It’s marshland, home to England’s largest Martello Tower, and Slaughden Sailing Club.

There’s a footpath you can take through the salt marshes, with the estuary waters of the River Alde on one side, and fields full of cows on the other. 

The area is home to several nature reserves, including Snape Marshes and RSPB Minsmere, if you want to venture further. 

I can’t say I ever do any strenuous hikes when I visit, though. Aldeburgh is for relaxing, and it’s truly a glorious place to kick back.

I breathe in the sea air, eat more than my share of great food, enjoy a drink at the pub or a bottle of wine from the Adnams store, and I read. 

A long weekend is an ideal amount of time, but you might find yourself wanting to stay longer. Aldeburgh has a way of reeling you in.

The town has captured my heart, hook, line, and sinker, and I’m already counting the days until I return.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk

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The Northern Echo revealed last month that Dana Carr, 27, could be let out after serving less than three years of a nine-year sentence for allowing the two-and-a-half-year-old’s death, and child cruelty.

And Maya’s family have now called on the PM to “step up and make a decision for the good of families” after having to deal with the torment of potentially having to come face to face with Carr once she’s released from her jail term, maybe even as soon as in a few months.

Dana Carr (Image: DURHAM CONSTABULARY)

Mr Burnham said on Tuesday (August 11) that “I don’t want to see a single prisoner released early” as he claimed to have been “pressing every single day to go further” after saying he is “increasingly confident” the killers of PC Andrew Harper will not be released early from their sentences.

However, Maya’s great aunts, Gemma Chappell and Rachael Walls, have insisted that with every day that policies or decisions from the government change, “trust in justice and politics is eroded”.

“We’re left in limbo every day, not knowing if Dana Carr will be released,” said Gemma.

“It’s an emotional rollercoaster, and we’re left in turmoil every day by all of this.

Maya Chappell (Image: FAMILY)

“The prison service and Ministry of Justice aren’t balancing this on a case-by-case basis; they’re trying to do a ‘one size fits all approach, and it’s not good at all.”

Gemma and Rachael have insisted that they “wholeheartedly back” the decision on PC Harper’s killers, and now want the PM to look into individual cases more carefully.

When asked about what their message would be to PM Andy Burnham, they said: “We want him to get a grip of the situation and not flip flop on decisions.”

“The justice system is an absolute joke.

“We want Andy Burnham to sit down with us and listen to families.”

Rachael Walls (left) and Gemma Chappell (right) (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Gemma, who is a current police officer and a former prison officer, knows the challenges of prisons more than most, but says that the thought of her and her family coming face to face with Carr in the street is “unimaginable”.

“To say that we could easily see her around Consett and the area is sickening,” said Gemma.

“And younger memebers of the family could see her as well, which is awful.”

Following Carr’s sentencing, she applied to have her jail term reduced in the Court of Appeal in April last year, but her plea was thrown out.

The Attorney General also received a request for referral for Carr’s sentence after it was called “unduly lenient” back in January 2024.

It was considered by then Solicitor General Robert Courts MP, who decided not to refer the case to the Court of Appeal.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham (Image: Toby Shepheard/PA Wire)

Carr was jailed along with her ex, Michael Daymond, who was found guilty of Maya’s murder and child cruelty and was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 20 years behind bars.

“Monster” Daymond shook defenceless Maya in her Shotton Colliery home in September 2022, and she died at the Newcastle RVI two days after.

Back in Westminster, the PM said he had “never taken no for an answer” as he confirmed he had ordered Justice Secretary Alex Norris to draw up plans to increase the number of cells available to keep more serious offenders behind bars.

Mr Norris had been asked to fast-track proposals to create “more headroom” in the prison system, including through deporting more foreign offenders, finding a solution for people on indeterminate sentences and using cells previously holding female inmates to accommodate male offenders.

Since last year, Maya’s family, alongside The Northern Echo, have campaigned for stronger safeguarding laws and legally required information-sharing about potential risks to children, including a new Child Risk Disclosure Scheme (CRDS).

The MoJ said that more than 18,000 offenders serving more serious sentences will not be released early and timelines for any individual early release have not been calculated yet.

Under the Sentencing Act 2026, those who previously would have been released at 40 per cent or 50 per cent of their sentence will now be eligible for release one-third of the way through their term.

Those who would previously have been released at the two-thirds point – typically for more serious offences – will now become eligible for release at 50 per cent.

He’s hailed father-in-law Gordon Ramsay as his inspiration and the man he ‘looks up to’.

And after spending a lot more time with the celebrity TV chef in recent months amid his fallout from his own family, Adam Ramsay-Peaty has picked up Gordon’s recognisable mannerisms.

‘There are moments when he is channeling his father-in-law so hard here that you could be forgiven for thinking you were watching a retro episode of Hell’s Kitchen,’ one body language expert told the Daily Mail.

In July, the athlete competed in the Commonwealth Games at Tollcross International Swimming Centre in Glasgow, where he was disappointed with his performance, as he failed to pick up a gold medal.

All eyes were on Adam as he appeared to blame the losses on the ‘s***’ he had been through this year, seemingly alluding to the estrangement from his parents Caroline and Mark. 

‘It’s hard because I know how hard I’ve worked,’ he said in a post-race interview. ‘I know the s**t I’ve been through, which is no fault of my own. It does take a toll.’

Adam Peaty’s ‘hero worship’ of father-in-law Gordon Ramsay has led to copycat poses in a ‘desire to impress him and bond with him’

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It is no secret that Adam looks up to Gordon, having previously told The Sunday Times: ‘He’s an incredible energy to be around and an incredible person to have that guidance from’

During his interviews with the BBC, Adam, 31, included some non-verbal ‘twinning’ with Gordon, 59.

In one clip, he says he ‘wants to get lost in being a husband and father’ with his pregnant wife Holly as they prepare to welcome a baby girl – words that Gordon would approve of.

Body language expert Judi James told the Daily Mail: ‘His pose and his aura mirrored Gordon Ramsay. His chest and upper arms are posed in a way to look huge to show strength, and he folds his arms, tucking his hands into his torso in the signature style of the TV chef.

‘There’s a very similar style of rocking side to side from one foot to the other in a Ramsay look of high-energy tinged with frustration, and the way he looks away with a frown to think and reflect before shrugging suggests a similar alpha energy.

‘Adam runs his hand through his hair and scratches the back of his head here as though puzzled by his results and the swearing, the staccato delivery with the ‘uptalk’ rise of the vocal tone as he says ‘I just think I deserved more’ was also reminiscent of Gordon’s verbal and tonal delivery.’

Judi said that Adam’s behaviour in these interviews suggests that he is aspirational in terms of seeing Ramsay as his role model.

‘Babies learn body language through mimicry, but when we mimic as adults we often admire or even hero-worship the person we’re copying,’ she said.

‘Adam might see Ramsay as having the kind of strength and presence he admires. He might see him as a father figure, or he might have a desire to impress him and bond with him.’

After spending a lot more time with the celebrity TV chef in recent months amid his fallout from his own family, Adam has picked up Gordon’s recognisable mannerisms

Both have shown their emotions on live TV, with Adam crying in a recent interview at the Commonwealth Games, and Gordon shedding a tear in the audience at Strictly 

Even the way Adam shows his wife, Holly Ramsay, affection in public, from a peck on the lips to rubbing her bump, was all actions Gordon did with his wife Tana

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The mirroring started long before the Commonwealth Games, as Adam has often been seen posing for photos, typically on a red carpet or by a swimming pool, in the same powerful stance as Ramsay.

Even the way Adam shows his wife, Holly Ramsay, affection in public, from a peck on the lips to rubbing her bump, was all actions Gordon did with his wife Tana.

It is no secret that Adam looks up to Gordon, having previously told The Sunday Times: ‘He’s an incredible energy to be around and an incredible person to have that guidance from.’

In April, he also told BBC Breakfast: ‘[He’s] very inspiring. I think for him, it’s obviously a very different way of life in terms of the business he has to do and the businesses he has to run. 

‘I take a lot of guidance. I look up to him a lot…’ 

It is also believed that the pair bonded when Adam’s older brother Jamie was arrested over allegations he sent aggressive threats to the Olympian during his stag weekend in November.

Gordon was said to be ‘incredibly supportive’ during this time, after going through similar issues with his own brother and with Tana’s father.

Ronald Ramsay was jailed for ten months in Bali, Indonesia, in September 2007 after police found 100 milligrams of heroin in his pocket.

Tana’s father Chris Hutcheson was sentenced to six months in prison in June 2017 after he orchestrated a plot to hack into the celebrity chef’s company computers during a family feud.

Throughout her career Blanchett has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, three Actor Awards, four British Academy Film Awards, and four Golden Globes, as well as nominations for three Primetime Emmy Awards, a Laurence Olivier Award and a Tony Award.

As Britain prepares to bake yet again this week, Britain’s famous faces have faced just the same battle as everybody else to keep their gardens just about alive.

But one celeb is faring better than most – due to a quirk in hosepipe ban regulations, which some 27 million Britons are currently subject to.

Chef Jamie Oliver‘s plush lawns are rather lusher than most, and the secret is easy to spot – a large personal lake just a stone’s throw from the back of his Essex mansion.

He has lived at the Grade I listed 12-bedroom property since purchasing it for £6million in 2019, and the pond sits within its 70-acre site. 

Mr Oliver, 51, is able to run hosepipes from the water feature to the rest of his garden, keeping it markedly greener than the surrounding parched countryside.

While this summer is set to be the UK’s hottest ever and 45 million people are now living in areas declared in drought, the chef has kept selective areas of his land a refreshing shade of green, encircled in brown fields.

Under hosepipe bans, certain exemptions apply including to designate they can be used if the water is taken from a privately owned source.

These might include lakes or ponds, as well as springs or wells on the property. 

He has lived at the Grade I listed 12-bedroom property since purchasing it for £6million in 2019, and the pond sits within its 70-acre site

Mr Oliver, 51, is able to run hosepipes from the water feature to the rest of his garden, keeping it markedly greener than the surrounding parched countryside

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A long yellow pipe could be seen extending from Mr Oliver’s garden to the pond behind in images taken this week. 

The TV chef is faring better than many, including Rolling Stones member Keith Richards, 82.

The songwriter and guitarist’s pad in West Sussex has a small garden encircled in buildings which is clearly being well cared for.

But other grass on his estate is just as brown and dry as the surrounding fields.

With no visible private water source, Mr Richards cannot rely on a handy nearby lake to get around restrictions, which came into place in the county on July 25.

The legendary musician has owned the property for decades after initially persuading the retired naval officer owner to sell.

Known as the Redlands Estate, the property would make headlines in 1967 after he and Mick Jagger were arrested there by police while high on drugs.

These days it’s a much quieter corner of the English countryside, surrounded by large trees offering some protection from the relentless summer heat. 

Keith Richards’ pad in West Sussex has a small green garden at the centre, but other grass on the property is struggling

With no visible private water source, Mr Richards cannot rely on a hand nearby lake to get around restrictions, which came into place in the county on July 25

Sir Rod Stewart’s Grade II-listed mansion has very green gardens despite the dry weather

The property in Essex has an artificial football pitch with a 20-space car park

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Sir Rod’s mini golf course features a fairway, two bunkers and a lush putting green

One of the most successful gardening efforts this year has to go to Sir Rod Stewart, whose lawn betrays no hint it is even summer, let alone a record-breakingly hot and dry one. 

Aerial photographs show the land around the 81-year-old singer’s 18th-century Grade II-listed property, which he bought for £4.65million in 2013, is still extremely green. 

His ten-bedroom home opens out on to a range of sprawling gardens and includes a mini golf course with a fairway, two bunkers and a lush putting green.

There is also an artificial football pitch with a 20-space car park which Sir Rod had installed at the property before moving in with wife Penny Lancaster in 2016.

Sir Rod’s property is supplied by Affinity Water, which introduced a hosepipe ban across its central region, including Essex, on July 17 due to the weather conditions.

Eight other water companies have brought in bans, which mean customers are legally banned from using hosepipes to water gardens or wash cars, patios or boats.

There is no evidence Sir Rod has breached a ban, given there are many workarounds for watering grass such as using a watering can. He may also have an exemption such as that used by Mr Oliver.

Drought has been declared for all of Wales and almost three-quarters of England – and a sixth heatwave of the year is on the way this week with 38C (100F) highs. 

It was confirmed on Tuesday that the UK is on course for its hottest summer ever – with only average conditions needed for the rest of August to beat a record set only last year.

The mean temperature for the summer so far, from June 1 to yesterday, stands at 16.48C – which is 1.88C above the 1991 to 2020 average, provisional data shows.

Dry fields at Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, today

The dirt paths and scorched grass of Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath this afternoon

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A person walks over a dried up stream on parched land at Richmond Park in London today

The grass surrounding Sarah Beeny’s house also looked incredibly dry as it appears the entrepreneur has been sticking to the hosepipe ban 

The £3 million custom-built Somerset estate near Wincanton, featured on her Channel 4 series Sarah Beeny’s New Life in the Country

To equal the 16.12C seen in 2025 – the UK’s warmest summer on record – the rest of August would only need to be 0.21C below the long-term average, and any warmer than this would establish a new record for the country, meteorologists confirmed.

It comes as the record-breaking drought revealed the remains of a fascinating lost village which was demolished and flooded half a century ago to create a reservoir.

Stonework and the outlines of buildings in Nether Hambleton can now be seen because of the low water levels at Rutland Water reservoir in the East Midlands.

More than 3,000 acres of land were submerged in the 1970s to create what was then Europe’s largest man-made lake, with residents rehoused in the surrounding areas.

Among the lost buildings were 18th century homes and farmland growing barley to be sold to Germany for brewing lager and wheat which Hovis bought for breadmaking.

The remains of Nether Hambleton were left in the bottom of a valley between what is now the Hambleton peninsula in the north and the hamlet of Lyndon to the south.

People across drought-hit England have been told to expect no rain in this week’s forecast with some areas now having been completely dry for two months.

Some parts of Hampshire and West Sussex have not had rain for 59 days. The parched landscape will only deteriorate as Britain’s sixth heatwave of the year builds from today towards one of the hottest days on record this Thursday with a 38C (100F) peak.

If 38C (100F) is observed, it would see Britain experience its joint fifth hottest day on record – tying with that same temperature recorded at Lingwood in Norfolk on June 26. The hottest-ever UK day was July 19, 2022 when Coningsby in Lincolnshire hit 40.3C.

The Met Office has issued only its second extreme heat warning in four years, in an alert saying the ‘wider population is likely to experience some adverse health effects‘.

The 15-hour amber warning for central and southern England will run from 9am until midnight on Thursday. Another extreme heat warning was also issued in the June heatwave but that was the first time such an alert had been issued since 2022.

Separately, UK Health Security Agency today activated amber heat health alerts for much of England, which will run until Friday – warning of a ‘rise in deaths’.

The Government has urged people to stay safe by drinking plenty of water, checking on vulnerable friends and family, and avoiding the sun at the hottest part of the day.

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Met Office chief forecaster Chris Bulmer said: ‘While the peak heat will be more short-lived than recent heatwaves, temperatures widely into the mid-30Cs on Thursday bring the potential for impacts for some, which is why a Met Office warning has been issued.

‘High pressure is now becoming dominant and temperatures will build day-by-day.

‘Southerly and south-easterly winds will also tap into the hot conditions over Europe, which helps develop this further notable heat in what has been a hot and dry summer so far.’

This summer has been one of extreme heat and dry conditions, with two record-breaking heatwaves in May and June that led to the deaths of more than 2,800 people. 

This was followed by two further heatwaves in July, and a fifth was confirmed last week.

The UK has been struggling with the impact of extreme weather including drought, heatwaves and wildfires.

Some 45million people are in drought-stricken areas, and 27million customers are under hosepipe bans as rivers and reservoirs run low.

Rainfall in July ranged from 1 per cent of the average in the South East to 26 per cent in the North West.

Farmers have warned of a ‘brutal harvest’ for crops and a lack of feed for livestock, and there have been warnings of food price inflation shocks later in the year as a searing summer across Europe feeds through from fields to supermarket shelves.

Meanwhile firefighters continue to battle a series of fires across the UK, including one in the New Forest National Park which began in a van and spread to nearby heathland.

The latest heatwave is set to subside over the weekend and bring fresher air and rain – although this is not expected to make up for the shortfall in recent months.

Sarah Davies, head of environment and energy at the Met Office, said: ‘Forecasts for the remainder of August and into September suggest a good deal of dry weather is expected, mixed with some unsettled spells.

‘While some areas may see useful rainfall at times, there is currently no strong signal for a sustained period of widespread rainfall, with below-average rainfall more likely than above-average for the period as a whole.’

Cleveland’s Rocket Arena earlier confirmed the cancellation on social media, writing: “Following a period of monitoring, doctors have advised Rod Stewart to rest for at least 48 hours. As a result, his performance tomorrow night, August 11, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland has been cancelled.

Rats are super active in summer, and storing a certain item outdoors can cause them to take over your garden. Advice has been shared on how people can prevent the issue

The prospect of rats invading your garden is something no homeowner wishes to encounter, which is why understanding how to keep them away is absolutely vital. What many homeowners don’t realise is that August is actually one of the peak times for rats trying to access properties, as it aligns with their breeding season — meaning extra caution is required.

This results in heightened activity around homes during summer, making sightings in your garden considerably more probable. However, leaving particular items outside can actively attract them, so it’s worth being careful about what you keep in your garden and how it’s stored.

There are, indeed, numerous things that should be on your mind right now regarding rats. Certain items left outdoors could make it surprisingly straightforward for rats to establish themselves on your property.

What draws them in?

If you’ve been visiting the garden centre to purchase soil and compost, more often than not, those extra bags end up stored beneath the decking to maintain a tidy patio appearance.

It appears to be a perfectly logical approach but, according to Allan Jeffrey, gardening expert at Ultra Decking, it’s one of the most frequent ways homeowners inadvertently invite pests onto their property. While compost may be wonderful for your flowerbeds, it is equally appealing to rodents and insects — particularly when kept in the dark, damp conditions that commonly exist beneath decking.

There are several reasons why it proves so attractive to unwanted visitors. Compost bags are filled with organic matter and retain moisture, generating precisely the kind of warm, humid environment that rats and mice seek out when nesting.

Yet rodents aren’t the only worry. Ants and soil-dwelling insects are attracted to the very same conditions and, once they’ve settled in near your decking or fencing, they can be extraordinarily difficult to remove.

Once rats and mice establish themselves, the issues tend to escalate rapidly. Allan explained: “Nesting rats are a big problem.

“Their numbers grow quickly, and they’ll soon start gnawing through garden structures like your decking, your fencing and that kind of damage doesn’t come cheap.”

Firewood poses another potential hazard. “Those storing leftover winter logs under their decking are also at risk,” he added.

“Timber that’s picked up moisture over winter is the perfect hiding place for wood-boring insects, and that’s when the real damage starts.”

How to store your garden supplies

Allan suggests a simple method to keep pests away:

• Raise and air out. Store compost bags and firewood on an elevated platform at least one to two metres away from the house and any timber structures. Good ventilation prevents moisture building up and makes the spot much less appealing to pests.
• Move to sealed containers. If space is tight, move compost into robust plastic bins with secure clip-on lids. These are significantly more difficult for rodents and insects to penetrate.
• Complete a 60-second check. Take a torch and conduct a swift examination beneath your decking for warning signs – torn plastic, small access holes or dark droppings.

Identifying issues early is nearly always the distinction between a simple clear-up and a costly pest control visit. A small amount of preparation now can prevent considerable trouble, and ensures you’ll be able to properly enjoy your garden this summer.

If you suspect rats may be present nearby, contact a pest control professional for guidance.