A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said the organisation is ‘disgusted’ with the level of vandalism

Lives have been put “in danger” following a rise in vandalism this summer, including at locations along the River Nene. The Environment Agency said it is “disgusted” by the level of vandalism.

The agency has urged the public to stop tampering with sluices, locks, and other water control structures. A spokesperson said: “Environment Agency water control structures suffer repeated vandalism which puts lives at risk and worsens drought impacts.”

According to the Environment Agency, Ashton Lock, near Oundle, has been “one of the worst-hit sites”. Vandals damaged its winding wheel, which meant it had to be removed for repairs.

A temporary fix was fitted, then stolen. The lock’s guillotine gate, which controls water flow, was then tampered with too, draining water needed for wildlife and navigation.

The spokesperson added: “Damage to water infrastructure is making it harder to manage already low water levels and is putting people at risk. Tampering lowers water levels, disrupts navigation, harms wildlife and habitats, and creates serious safety hazards.”

In a separate incident at the same lock, people took a life buoy and its rope from a safety station, used the rope to tie open the lock’s doors, then wound up the guillotine gate, draining water upstream. This has happened repeatedly and has been reported to the police, the Environment Agency revealed.

Elsewhere, people have tried to break into control panel boxes, climbed on guillotine gates, and jumped into locks where there are “hidden hazards due to the infrastructure, putting themselves at serious risk”, according to the agency.

In a statement, the Environment Agency said: “A common problem on the River Nene is people manually winding up lock paddles which then drain the stretch of river above. The worst-affected stretch is between Upper and Lower Barnwell locks, home to Oundle Marina, where some residents live aboard their boats.

“Water levels there drop quickly and, during drought, can take a long time to recover. People have also been reported climbing onto or breaking into weed-cutting boats left on the riverbank during maintenance.”

Ben Thornely, Area Manager for the Environment Agency, said: “We are disgusted with the level of vandalism we are experiencing at our vital water control structures. This puts lives in danger and has big implications for wildlife and navigation during drought. If you witness vandalism or antisocial behaviour at our assets please report it to the police and to us on 0800 807060.

“The Environment Agency is taking action to protect its infrastructure, including placing volunteers at Great Ouse sites to discourage vandals, having CCTV at some locations with some linked to council control rooms with speakers, plus regular and additional safety inspections and more.”

Other locations affected by waterways vandalism include:

• Northampton Town Lock;
• Whiston Lock;
• Billing Lock;
• Upper and Lower Wellingborough Locks;
• Irthlingborough Lock;
• Denford Lock;
• Nine Arches Mooring;
• Lower Barnwell Lock;
• Elton Lock
• Alwalton Lock.

Brad Pitt once claimed he could ‘drink a Russian under the table with his own vodka’.

Although self-reflective at the time, it was a particularly unsettling statement, given that it came in 2017 just a year after the terrifying account of his drunken rage on board a private flight – which ultimately cost him his marriage and his family.

So, when Pitt, seven years sober, revealed this week that he was back on the booze, eyebrows were raised.

Is it possible for him to return to drinking sensibly?

Pitt, 62, seems to think so.

‘I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon,’ he told Esquire magazine, apparently even ‘offering a little laugh’, according to the interviewer.

He sought help for alcoholism in 2016 after his drunken rage on board a private flight cost him his marriage to Angelina Jolie (pictured) and their children 

He insisted that he now drinks ‘in a more restrained manner’, describing how he ‘got over-confident a couple times, went, “Yep, nope, not good for me.” Not in big quantities.’

He clarified that he can ‘have a few’ glasses of wine, but no more. ‘I have to be professional about it.’

This week a source close to Pitt’s camp told the Daily Mail that the star’s return to drinking was a ‘gradual process in recent years’, as Pitt slowly figured out ‘how he felt comfortable and what he felt was appropriate for him’.

‘Friends had become more aware of it recently,’ said the insider who added he drinks with pals and his girlfriend of four years, Ines de Ramon.

It’s de Ramon, according to sources, who stops Pitt from having one too many and succumbing to the pull of addiction.

Pitt has been dating jewellery executive de Ramon, 33, since late 2022, with the elusive pair moving in together in Los Angeles before making their red-carpet debut at the Venice Film Festival in 2024.

It was only in July this year that the New Jersey native made her romance Instagram official, sharing several snaps of them at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding at New York’s Madison Square Garden – where we are told Pitt was drinking.

‘Ines smokes and likes a glass of wine or two, especially at dinner,’ said a source close to Pitt’s production company Plan B Entertainment.

This week a source told the Daily Mail that his return to drinking was a ‘gradual process over recent years’, as Pitt slowly figured out ‘how he felt comfortable and what he felt was appropriate for him’ (pictured in 2009 in Cannes) 

‘Friends had become more aware of it recently,’ said the insider who added he drinks with pals and his girlfriend of four years Ines de Ramon, who stops Pitt from having one too many (pictured in June 2025)

‘She’s never set boundaries with Brad, but until recently he’s managed to hold off alcohol. He’s made a pact with Ines that she won’t let his habit get out of control.

‘Brad has had one of the most stressful years of his life. On top of dealing with what seemed like a never-ending divorce, he’s found it very difficult to get over his mother’s death.

‘Ines understands the strain the past year has been for him. She’s by his side to make sure he doesn’t overdo it.’

But one person who has already raised doubts is ex-wife Angelina Jolie, who is reportedly ‘not surprised’ by Pitt’s return to drinking.

During their infamous eight-year divorce battle Jolie filed court papers accusing Pitt of drunkenly attacking her and some of their children during an alleged altercation on a private jet back in September 2016.

Jolie accused her then-husband of ‘physically abusing’ their six children – Maddox, then 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, ten, and twins Vivienne and Knox, eight – onboard.

FBI documents made public in 2022 detailed the extent of the terrifying ordeal.

They claimed Pitt ‘lunged’ at one of the children as they tried to defend their mother, and later ‘choked’ one of them and ‘struck another in the face’.

‘She’s never set boundaries with Brad, but until recently he’s managed to hold off alcohol,’ said another insider. ‘He’s made a pact with Ines that she won’t let his habit get out of control’ (pictured together in July)

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During their infamous eight-year divorce battle Jolie filed court papers accusing Pitt of drunkenly attacking her and some of their children during an alleged altercation on a private jet in 2016 (pictured with their kids Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne in 2011)

‘Some of the children pleaded with Pitt to stop. They were all frightened. Many were crying,’ the documents read. ‘At one point, he poured beer on Jolie; at another, he poured beer and red wine on the children. After many tense hours, Pitt finally fell asleep.’

On landing, Jolie woke him up and told him she and the children were going to a hotel instead of to their home but, according to the court documents, Pitt ‘shouted that nobody was getting off the plane and prevented the family from deplaning for about 20 minutes’.

It was only ‘after a child intervened and demanded to leave’ that Pitt ‘finally relented’.

‘But once outside the plane door, Pitt again physically abused one of their children,’ the documents read. ‘He also grabbed and shook Jolie by the head and shoulders, causing one of the children to beg, “Don’t hurt her.”

‘He let Jolie go but then called her a “b****”, before adding, “F*** you, f*** you all.”

An FBI investigation was launched, but no charges were ever filed. Child services also did not find abuse.

Pitt either sought help or was encouraged to do so, with the actor seen leaving Alcoholics Anonymous that same month.

‘Brad was sober for so long because he’d been drinking steadily for over 40 years,’ an insider close to the star’s camp told the Daily Mail.

Pitt and Ms Jolie were once considered Hollywood’s golden couple during their marriage (pictured in 2015, a year after they wed)

Pitt went to alcoholics anonymous after the September 2016 incident and later credited Bradley Cooper – who got sober two decades ago after struggling with alcohol and cocaine addiction – with helping him give up alcohol

‘Overdoing it with pals and even alone, many, many times. He knew it was time to stop and lead a sober life. Drinking has caused him too many problems for too long.’

Last year he revealed the depths to which his addiction took him, telling Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast: ‘I was pretty much on my knees, and I was really open. I was trying anything and everyone, anything anyone threw at me. It was a difficult time. I needed rebooting. I needed to wake the f*** up in some areas.’

He previously credited actor Bradley Cooper with helping him get sober, claiming in 2020 that ‘every day’s been happier ever since. I love you and I thank you’.

He joked that he had ‘the cleanest urinary tract in all of LA’ after he switched his beverage of choice to ‘cranberry juice and fizzy water’.

So it is no surprise ‘some of Brad’s Alcoholics Anonymous friends have expressed concern about him drinking again,’ said our Plan B source.

Falling off the wagon now would be especially catastrophic for Pitt, given that his career was seemingly unaffected by the media attention over the plane incident.

His war drama Allied was released two months later and was well received – despite the rumours of an affair with his co-star Marion Cotillard, something she publicly denied. She was in a long-term relationship.

This was followed by his company Plan B Entertainment picking up the Best Picture Oscar in 2017 for the coming-of-age drama Moonlight. Unsurprisingly, Pitt wasn’t in attendance.

‘Some of Brad’s Alcoholics Anonymous friends have expressed concern about him drinking again,’ said our source (pictured in June)

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Pitt went back to drinking around the same time his children started to drop ‘Pitt’ from their last name  

For a while, acting roles were minimal as he slipped behind-the-scenes, producing a wealth of films before re-emerging and winning an acting Oscar for Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood (2019) and landing a Best Picture Oscar nomination for F1 The Movie earlier this year.

And the Hollywood heartthrob, estimated to be worth $400million (£296million), has 19 upcoming projects in various states of filming, pre- and post-production.

Pitt may have managed to find happiness with de Ramon and to stop his entire life from free-falling, but he has had no such luck with his children who have all distanced themselves from the actor, with all bar Pax, now 23, even going as far as filing to legally drop ‘Pitt’ from their last names.

When Shiloh turned 18, in May 2024 she filed to change her name to Shiloh Nouvel Jolie, which was granted a few months later in a Los Angeles court. That same month, Vivienne, then 15, went by the name of ‘Vivienne Jolie’ in the Playbill for Broadway’s The Outsiders, which she produced alongside her mother.

Then, in May this year, Maddox, 24, legally dropped his father’s last name, and Zahara was announced as ‘Zahara Marley Jolie’ when she graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. The following month she filed a petition in the Los Angeles Superior Court to officially change her name. A hearing is set for September 28.

Her younger brother Knox also dropped the name Pitt from his high school graduation diploma this summer.

And the estrangement has stretched to the wider Pitt family, with one family insider telling the Daily Mail in 2024 that Pitt’s parents hadn’t seen their grandchildren in eight years, despite attempts to make contact.

Jolie faced accusations of trying to drive a wedge between Pitt and the children, with former British SAS soldier Tony Webb, who worked for the family for more than 20 years, claiming that a colleague told him he’d overheard the actress ‘encouraging the children to avoid spending time with Pitt during custody visits’.

Insiders told the Daily Mail in 2024 that Pitt’s parents, right, hadn’t seen the children he shares with Jolie in eight years (pictured with Pax, Shiloh and Maddox in 2014)

Pitt and Jolie are still embroiled in an acrimonious battle – dubbed the war of the rosé – over shares in their 1,200-acre wine estate, Miraval

This week a source close to Pitt’s camp was insistent that the actor had not resumed drinking as a result of the ongoing estrangement.

‘The extraordinarily painful isolation of his children has been difficult, but his decision to drink is independent of this. It was not [because of] the name changes.’

Yet it is hard to ignore the timing of Pitt’s decision. If abstaining from drinking was a way to prove that he could be a good father, he seemingly has no reason to keep proving himself, given that his children have made clear their stance.

‘Brad knew when Shiloh got approval for dropping Pitt from her name in late 2024, his other children would follow suit,’ said the source close to Plan B Entertainment. ‘He was humiliated every time another one did – there was nothing he could do about it.

When Vivienne recently filed to drop Pitt [just days after her 18th birthday last month], although he knew it was coming, that was almost the final straw.’

Jolie has said little about the breakdown of their marriage, simply that it was ‘the right decision’.

‘I continue to focus on their healing,’ she told Vogue in 2021 referring to their six children. ‘Some have taken advantage of my silence, and the children see lies about themselves in the media, but I remind them that they know their own truth and their own minds.’

She has also tentatively talked about how she lost herself for a bit but was encouraged to keep going by her children, who have also largely remained silent, aside from Pax.

He attacked his ‘f****** awful human being’ of a father in an explosive Instagram rant on Father’s Day 2020, accusing the actor of making the lives of those closest to him a ‘constant hell’.

Alongside a picture of Pitt receiving an Oscar for best supporting actor, he wrote: ‘You time and time again prove yourself to be a terrible and despicable person.

‘You have no consideration or empathy toward your 4 youngest children who tremble in fear when in your presence.’

He claimed that Pitt will ‘never understand the damage’ he inflicted on his family because he is ‘incapable’, adding that ‘the truth will come to light someday’.

Despite being declared legally single in 2019 and the overall divorce finalised and signed off in December 2024, the exes are still embroiled in an acrimonious battle -dubbed the War of the Rosé – over shares in their 1,200-acre estate, Miraval, in Provence, where the award-winning wine they launched in 2013, is made.

‘Although they’re still battling it out, he doesn’t feel that falling off the wagon will be an issue,’ said a source. ‘If he wasn’t so much in love and in such a great place in his career, the sadness of his family and Angie issues would be way too much.

‘When it’s all done and she’s completely out of his life, he feels he’ll finally be able to breathe again.’

The store is Cambridge’s only branch of the popular chain

Cambridge’s only former WHSmith store is set to close. Former WHSmith stores underwent a major restructuring when it changed its name to TG Jones in 2025.

As a result, this resulted in all stores across the country changing their names. As part of the restructuring plans, some stores were, or are due to close.

The TG Jones branch in Market Street, Cambridge, which is the city’s only store, is closing on September 14. A TG Jones spokesperson said: “Following the approval of the TG Jones restructuring plan, our store on Market Street in Cambridge will be closing on September 14.

“We are currently supporting our in-store colleagues during this process, and we would like to thank all of our loyal customers who have shopped with us during our time in the town.”

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.

Nothing moves in the Ukrainian city once known as the Soviet Union’s ‘capital of glass’. 

Kostiantynivka’s streets, buckled and deformed from years of artillery fire, missiles and bombs, are deserted. Its houses lie crumpled in ruins.

The factories that gave this faded industrial titan its moniker – and forged Lenin’s crystal sarcophagus and the ruby–red stars that still adorn the Kremlin – lie abandoned. Or so it seems.

‘Look at the screen,’ Volodymyr says, gesturing to live, full colour images from an observation drone that hovers hundreds of metres above in the eastern region of Donetsk. 

‘It looks like an empty city – but it isn’t,’ whispers the 42–year–old Ukrainian drone pilot, who cannot be fully identified.

‘Our people are there. The Russians are there. Nobody dares show their face. That’s what war looks like now.’

Hiding from swarms of drones that map every inch of this war–ravaged hellscape, among the ruins and the foliage provided only during the summer months, Russian infiltration teams and Ukrainian defenders are engaged in a desperate fight that will decide the next turn of this war.

The Daily Mail was given rare access to the Seraphymy Unmanned Systems Battalion of the 104th Independent Territorial Defence Brigade in Donetsk last month.

The Daily Mail was given rare access to the Seraphymy Unmanned Systems Battalion of the 104th Independent Territorial Defence Brigade in Donetsk last month

A Ukrainian-made Vampire heavy bomber drone loaded with bombs takes off during a test flight along the fortress belt in the Donetsk region in May 2026 (file photo) 

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Here we witnessed the battle for Kostiantynivka, one of four cities in the Donbas that make up Ukraine’s ‘fortress belt’. 

Logistically vital, the belt stands between Moscow and its stated war aim to seize this region – and collectively forms the backbone of Ukraine’s remaining defences in Donetsk Oblast.

While many feel it is only a matter of time before Kostiantynivka falls (it has already been breached by up to 200 invaders), the manner in which Ukraine has harnessed drone innovation to slow Russia’s advance may offer a blueprint for how it repels them completely from the three remaining key cities.

In short, the revolution happening here will determine if this will be the last great fortress Russia takes – and, if that proves to be the case, could ultimately force Vladimir Putin to finally enter peace talks.

Kostiantynivka is the stuff of science fiction. Within the 15–mile ‘kill–zone’, vehicles, heavy armour and tanks have all but disappeared in the past 12 months. 

Artillery, still vital, is heavily camouflaged and used sparingly. Too big. Too easily spotted. Here, where drones rule the skies, they often become ‘weapons of self–destruction’.

Instead, men move in ones and twos, from foxhole to foxhole, cellar to cellar. Detection from above is death.

The second human activity is identified, the entire building in which it is spotted is brought down by drones. 

A Ukrainian serviceman of the 100th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces fires a Bohdana self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops (Pictured: November 29 2025)

‘People are like ants,’ Volodymyr explains. ‘They’re hiding, crawling, constantly moving underground. The moment someone is spotted, 15 drones are on their way.’ Shaking his head, he adds: ‘It’s a terrible war.’

But Volodymyr is not among the ants. Thanks to cunning Ukrainian innovation, he is piloting his hulking 17in bomber drone from 37 miles away in a secret location the Daily Mail was invited to.

On larger drones such as this, Kyiv has attached Starlink terminals to give them a secure satellite connection that is largely unjammable. 

It means bomber pilots who once sat within three miles of their machine have been moved out of the kill–zone.

This is a game–changer. Lest the peril for those who remain on the frontline needs spelling out further, beside Volodymyr’s observation screen and a tablet showing the tactical map of the city sits a third monitor which we were not allowed to photograph. 

It carries the day’s operational picture. A Russian soldier has been located in a house. That is now the target.

Reconnaissance crews, drone pilots and commanders coordinate the strike in real time. 

The operation unfolds in silence. The drone pilots continue talking over the radio. A bomber drone releases its munition. It fails to explode. The Russian soldier breaks cover, sprinting from the house into a patch of bushes.

A First Person View (FPV) kamikaze drone carrying a 1.5–kilogram high–explosive dives after him. 

The onboard picture rushes into the foliage – and disappears. There are no cinematic explosions here. The screen simply goes black. 

This is how soldiers meet their maker in the 21st century. Volodymyr is now free to go and make a cup of coffee. His radio sits within arm’s reach. 

Ukrainian serviceman walks near apartment buildings damaged by Russian military strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in the frontline town of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk region (Pictured: December 18 2025)

Whenever reconnaissance identifies another target in the ruins of Kostiantynivka, he returns to his workstation, takes control of his bomber drone and flies another mission.

This way of waging war is the brainchild of Mykhailo Fedorov, the recently sacked Defence Minister whose dismissal by Volodymyr Zelensky after just six months in post prompted nationwide protests earlier this year. 

In his previous role as head of Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation, Fedorov ramped up drone procurement on an unprecedented scale in response to Russia’s 2022 full–scale invasion.

It was here that the concept of the Drone Line – using unmanned systems as the backbone of a front held by too little infantry – received institutional backing. 

Given Ukraine has only a modest air force and a serious manpower challenge, the concept was to harness drones to preserve the lives of personnel and repel the Russians. 

The unmanned systems would be used to establish a kill‑zone through which the enemy cannot advance without sustaining heavy losses.

When Fedorov was promoted to Defence Minister in January, the Drone Line program surged drastically, as he pumped 90 per cent of the weapons budget (not including the vast arsenals supplied by the West) into robotic warfare.

This way of waging war is the brainchild of Mykhailo Fedorov (Pictured: July 1 2026), the recently sacked Defence Minister whose dismissal by Volodymyr Zelensky after just six months in post prompted nationwide protests earlier this year

In Kostiantynivka, this has manifested in its most extreme form.

Russia had begun creeping assaults on the city and by May this year, as explained, some 200 men had successfully infiltrated.

Yet this city has not fallen. With Ukraine’s increased drone capabilities, invaders are identified and liquidated almost instantly.

‘What fascinates me is the war we’re fighting now,’ Serhii Kostynskyi, commander of the battalion, tells us. 

‘The way we fought in 2022 and 2023 was terrifying. You spent your days being blanketed by artillery. The enemy never had to come within rifle range. They simply erased you with artillery and mortars. Then the tanks moved in. The Russians had an overwhelming advantage in artillery – it really was the First World War.

‘Now it’s different. Both we and they have an incredibly wide range of tools at our disposal.’

Within the kill–zone, infantrymen are scattered in teams as small as two or three. Hiding in dugouts and basements, they largely act as lookouts to call in drone strikes on any infiltrators.

Unmanned robotic vehicles support them with supplies and evacuate casualties. 

Giving them cover are pilots, also hiding on the frontline, who fly FPV kamikaze drones on gossamer–like fiber–optic cables. 

These drones, which have a range of about nine miles and cannot be jammed, are launched by a separate team of soldiers.

A year ago troops would drive into position, unload and speed away, but the proliferation of enemy observation and attack drones means that’s now impossible. 

So the launchers enter in pairs, on foot. One pushes a handcart loaded with drones, batteries and ammunition. The other walks ahead, scanning the ground for mines with a drone detector around his neck.

A Ukrainian serviceman walks along a road near anti-drone nets and destroyed military vehicles as he takes part in a mission to protect the stretch from Russian drones between frontline towns of Druzhkivka and Kostiantynivka

Flying high above the kill–zone to avoid Russian electronic warfare are Ukraine’s Queen Bee motherships, whose pilots are several miles behind the frontline. 

These carry swarms of smaller FPV strike craft and drop them up to 20 miles deep behind enemy lines.

Then there are the heavy bombers loaded with anti–tank mines and mortar shells connected to pilots like Volodymyr via Elon Musk’s Starlink dishes. 

They use thermal imaging cameras to erase Russian armour and smash concrete fortifications while their crews are safely out of range. 

Protecting both men and machines are interceptor drones – ultra–fast, highly agile quadcopters equipped by AI tracking, which take out surveillance drones and effectively blind the enemy.

The Drone Line is stitched together with a constant layer of fixed–wing AI reconnaissance drones that map every inch of the battlefield and feed it live into a battle management system.

Software automatically flags shifting pixels on digital screens, instantly identifying hidden Russian troops and automatically sending the coordinates to the nearest drone crew. 

Russia possesses a roughly similar array of drones and this is an ongoing, evenly matched contest.

For the moment, Ukraine holds the advantage thanks to grassroots initiative and integration into Western technology – most importantly Starlink. 

It is little wonder the men of Seraphymy believe a day may be coming soon when men are all but removed from the battlefield. 

Volodymyr thinks soon every drone, not just heavy bombers, will operate through Starlink. Reconnaissance crews and FPV teams will no longer have to occupy exposed positions on the edge of Kostiantynivka’s kill–zone.

Instead, he is adamant they will work from rooms like his, with coffee machines, reliable internet connections and dozens of kilometres separating them from the battlefield.

Within the kill–zone, infantrymen are scattered in teams as small as two or three. Hiding in dugouts and basements, they largely act as lookouts to call in drone strikes on any infiltrators

For the moment, Ukraine holds the advantage thanks to grassroots initiative and integration into Western technology – most importantly Starlink

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He adds: ‘Within a year, infantry will all but disappear from the kill‑zone. Ground robots will carry weapons. Everyone will be sitting behind a control console, connected through Starlink, miles from the fighting.

‘Watch what happens over the next six months… everything will be done remotely. That’s the direction this war is heading.’

Despite Fedorov’s untimely removal, investment continues to pour into Ukraine’s drone units. 

The 104th Independent Territorial Defence Brigade is already in the final stages of raising a second unmanned systems battalion. 

Seraphymy, a territorial brigade, is one of the lowest rankings in the army, yet is receiving cutting–edge supplies. In just six months, the army is aiming to increase the number of drone crews sixfold.

Military expert Bob Seely, a partner in Ukraine–UK defence firm Trypillian, says: ‘We are witnessing a significant evolution of warfare. Sadly not enough soldiers and politicians in the West understand this.’

Moving pilots out of the kill–zone has long been ‘a Ukrainian priority’ and as a consequence we are now seeing ‘the rise of the machines’, Mr Seely, a former MP and British soldier, adds. 

‘It is likely that war in the future will be largely fought by decision–making machines – overseen at least on our side by humans,’ he said.

‘It’s the quality and survivability of your machines that will dictate whether you win or lose.’

While observers marvel at Ukrainian advances, experts generally push back on claims that the infantry will disappear. 

Anton Zemlianyi, Senior Analyst of Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center, said such claims are ‘premature’ as control of territory ‘continues to depend on the infantry’.

Paraphrasing Mark Twain, Retired American Colonel Frank Sobchak, professor at the US Naval War College, said: ‘Reports of the infantry being outmoded are greatly exaggerated.’

Noting how often before this has been falsely predicted, he adds: ‘The infantry will always have a role on the battlefield, as there is no other element that can seize and hold terrain.’

While it is still unclear how NATO would fare in such a war, despite its vastly superior logistics and air power, the alliance is undoubtedly playing catch–up.

Ukraine is in the ascendancy but it has learnt this guarantees nothing. The pendulum could swing back as early as this autumn.

Russia is already rolling out technology it believes can jam Starlink. It is looking for alternatives to use itself offensively.

This is why Mr Zelensky’s removal of Mr Fedorov at such a critical juncture is so troubling.

Now the widely respected General Mykhailo Drapatyi has taken over as Commander–in–Chief while former head of intelligence Yevhenii Khmara is Fedorov’s acting replacement.

It must be hoped that they can quickly get to grips with this revolutionary battlefield as well as the Ministry of Defence, which spends more money than all the country’s other ministries combined. 

The future of Kostiantynivka, and the rest of Ukraine, depends on it.

Andy Burnham was today considering imposing a ban on disposable barbecues amid the risk of further wildfires as Britain braces for one of its hottest days on record.

The Prime Minister will chair an emergency Cobra committee this afternoon as the sixth heatwave of the year builds with 33C forecast today and up to 38C tomorrow.

Mr Burnham will meet with ministers, officials and agencies and revealed on a trip to Stevenage this morning that single-use grills could be banned to help prevent fires. It comes eight days after the Government said it was not planning to introduce such a ban. 

Rail operators have warned against non-essential travel with several having already cancelled services as passengers were told to brace for major disruption.

East Midlands Railway and Chiltern Railways both told customers to ‘only travel if essential’ tomorrow; while reduced services were confirmed by c2c, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, Northern, Transport for Wales and West Midlands Railway.

The Met Office has issued a rare 15-hour amber ‘extreme heat’ warning for southern and central England from 9am tomorrow – only its second such alert in four years.

The whole of England has also been put under an amber heat health alert by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) until Friday night, which warns of a ‘rise in deaths’.

A 38C high tomorrow would make it Britain’s joint fifth hottest day on record – tying with that same temperature in Norfolk on June 26, which is the current 2026 high.

It comes as a firefighter union chief warned Britain faces a ‘national emergency’ amid ongoing wildfires, with the country on course for its hottest summer on record.

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

Parts of southern England including Hampshire and West Sussex have now gone 60 days without rainfall, and there are no downpours in the immediate forecast.

People walk across the parched grass at Primrose Hill in north London this morning

People collect bottled water at a distribution centre in Loughton, Essex, today after burst water mains left more than 10,000 homes and businesses with no water or low water pressure

Firefighters try to deal with a big blaze in Eton near Windsor in Berkshire this morning

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Allotments in Basingstoke, Hampshire, today as parts of the UK are set to bake in 38C heat

Parliament Square in London today during the drought which has hit 71 per cent of England

Crosland Heath Golf Club in Huddersfield has dry grass on the fairway and a lush putting green

Cows feed in a parched field near the village of East Meon in Hampshire this morning

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Speaking about the possible barbecue ban, Mr Burnham said: ‘There is obviously a significant problem of wildfires in the south. The New Forest fire is a great concern; we have seen them in northern areas as well as Suffolk recently.’

He added: ‘This is a message for the public as well, because the wildfires I mentioned, many of them have been created by disposable barbecues.’

Mr Burnham continued: ‘I do believe we need to get the message out loud and clear. People should not be using those barbecues outside at this moment in time.

‘I don’t know yet what the remedy is, but I do want to leave the meeting today with a loud and clear message that we do want people to take the greatest possible care when they are out in the countryside, both in terms of cigarettes, but also those temporary barbecues that we know are causing risk of fires.’

It comes after a Government spokesperson had insisted on August 4: ‘There are no plans to introduce a blanket ban on disposable barbecues.’

Most major UK supermarkets suspended sales of disposable barbecues in recent weeks, which is understood to have been in line with voluntary guidance from the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).

Jon Pearce, the Labour MP for High Peak in Derbyshire, also wrote to retail giants last week asking them to stop selling single-use grills for the rest of the summer. He said he expected the Government to act before next summer and would continue campaigning for a ban.

Ministers from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Home Office and Department for Health will attend today’s Cobra meeting.

The Environment Agency will also be present at the discussions – the second Cobra meeting this year on heatwaves after another during similar weather in June.

A Downing Street spokesperson said the Government understood firefighters, farmers and NHS staff were all facing challenges connected to the weather.

The Government urged the public to pay attention to warnings, and advised people to drink plenty of fluids and check in on family, friends and neighbours who may be at high risk.

A No 10 spokesperson said: ‘The Prime Minister will chair a meeting of COBR – the government emergency committee – this afternoon on the UK’s ongoing response to extreme heat, wildfires and drought.

‘We know how challenging this summer is proving, particularly for firefighters tackling wildfires, farmers working in drought conditions, and NHS staff in busy A&E units.

‘We will continue to take the action needed to keep communities safe, protect water supplies and safeguard the environment.’

Met Office chief forecaster Chris Bulmer said: ‘While the peak heat will be more short-lived than recent heatwaves, temperatures widely into the mid-30s Celsius on Thursday brings 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.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said in Stevenage today that single-use grills could be banned

Dry grass at Blackheath in south-east London yesterday with Canary Wharf in the distance

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The cracked and parched earth of Stew Pond at Epsom Common in Surrey yesterday

‘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 for many in the south of the UK.’

Meanwhile Steve Wright, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), warned the UK faces a national emergency ‘right now’ with fires across the country.

Firefighters have responded to 966 wildfires across England and Wales this year, including 185 in the first 10 days of August alone, while July was the busiest month on record for wildfires with 458 incidents, the NFCC said.

Crews from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service have battled a fire in the New Forest, which started after a van caught fire on the A31 near Ringwood on Sunday.

The area hit by the blaze is protected heathland and home to a number of rare species, according to the New Forest National Park Authority.

Mr Wright told Times Radio: ‘In many parts of the country, firefighters do not have the new modern equipment to deal with these.

‘They do not have the new modern personal protective equipment, the lightweight fire kit that we wear, the right helmets, lightweight helmets, breathable uniforms to make sure they’re better protected, their health is protected when they’re out dealing with these incidents for hours and hours on end.’

The Government said it had announced £97million in new funding to upgrade national firefighting capabilities, including off-road vehicles and specialist equipment.

The Liberal Democrats and Green Party both welcomed the Cobra meeting being convened but called for further action.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski said: ‘What we urgently need is concrete action.

‘That must include taxing fossil fuel giants to pay for firefighting helicopters, a cool space in every community, and a maximum working temperature.’

Lib Dem environment spokesperson Pippa Heylings said: ‘Emergency meetings alone will not put out fires or protect our communities – we urgently need a national strategy to make the UK climate-ready.

‘Extreme weather warnings, widespread water shortages and wildfires raging across our countryside are a stark reminder that the climate crisis is gripping the country, yet the Government is moving at a snail’s pace, waiting until the fifth heatwave this summer to act.’

Rick Parfett, WWF’s head of climate policy, said: ‘Convening a Cobra meeting underlines that extreme heat, drought and wildfires are no longer distant risks. They are immediate threats affecting communities across the UK today.

‘As climate change drives more frequent and extreme weather, the Government must focus not only on emergency response but also on tackling their root cause. Licencing the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields would lock in future emissions that will strain our NHS, emergency services and communities even further.

‘The UK must roll out clean energy across the UK to cut bills, drive local growth, and ensure our buildings and farms are fit for future temperature rises. Nature is our best ally in tackling climate change as well as its impacts like extreme heat and flooding. That means restoring and protecting nature now, so it is more resilient to the climate extremes we know are coming.’

Nearly three quarters of England and the whole of Wales are in drought, after a record dry July and very dry start to August has combined with high temperatures to put pressure on water resources.

Southern Water has applied for a rare non-essential use ban drought order, which, if imposed, would mean businesses must stop using water for activities such as cleaning cars and filling non-domestic swimming pools.

Met Office satellite views show the transformed landscape from May (left) to Monday (right)

In its application, the firm said an ‘exceptional’ shortage of rain in the South East ‘demonstrates a clear threat to supplies within the Hampshire Southampton West (HSW) water resource zone, as well as the Isle of Wight (IOW)’.

It added that 165,000 people in the Southampton West supply area could ‘soon be significantly affected by a restricted water supply’.

The application will now be considered by Environment Secretary Angela Eagle, with a decision expected as soon as possible.

A non-essential use ban has not been imposed for 20 years, with the last one granted to Sutton and East Surrey Water in May 2006.

Elsewhere, water stations opened in Ilford, east London, and Chigwell, Essex, after burst water mains left more than 10,000 homes and businesses with no water or low water pressure.

Thames Water said the affected areas were: E10, E11, E17, E18, E4, IG10, IG2, IG4, IG5, IG6, IG7, IG8, IG9 and RM4.

A spokesman for the utility company said: ‘Our teams continue to work in the extreme heat to fix the multiple broken pipes in the area. We’re sorry to those who are still affected.

‘Whilst progress is being made, it’s taking longer than normal to fix the broken pipes as often excavations are needing to be extended.

‘We’re still working on the repairs at both Chigwell Road and Daisy Road, and extra teams are in the area to carry on the work. We’ll be working 24/7 until things are back to normal.

‘To enable the repair, some currently not affected may notice they lose their supply for a short period. Once completed, this will mean a larger area’s water will begin to flow again.’

Record-breaking heatwaves in May and June led to the deaths of more than 2,800 people, while parts of the country were hit with further heatwaves last month as England and Wales endured their driest July since records began in 1836.

A fifth heatwave of the year was declared early last week.

Provisional statistics from the Met Office show that the mean temperature for the summer so far, from June 1, stands at 16.48C – which is 1.88C above the 1991 to 2020 average.

To equal the 16.12C 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, the Met Office said.

And for England and Wales, which have seen temperatures more than 2C above average so far this summer, it is even more likely that June to August 2026 will be record-breaking.

The Environment Agency said 71.3 per cent of England is now experiencing ‘flash drought’, as a dry start to August followed the country’s driest July on record.

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Flash drought is one which develops very quickly because of a combination of very low rainfall and high temperatures.

East Midlands Railway said that regional services between Sheffield and Liverpool will be suspended today and tomorrow.

Regional services between Nottingham and Worksop and Nottingham and Leicester will also be suspended from noon tomorrow.

Philippa Cresswell from the operator said: ‘The hot weather means we’ll need to make some temporary changes to our services to keep the railway operating safely.

‘If you do need to travel and the journey is essential, we’d recommend travelling before midday and checking your journey before setting off.

‘We appreciate these changes may inconvenience some customers and we’d like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while we work to keep people moving safely.’

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said: ‘There are heat health alerts in place again this week – this means temperatures are set to rise significantly, and people should take extra care.

‘Keep an eye on elderly relatives, neighbours and loved ones, or anyone who might really be feeling the heat, just as we would during a cold spell in winter.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber heat health alerts across England

A UK heatwave is official when a location records at least three consecutive days of daily maximum temperatures which meet or exceed a specified threshold – which varies by region

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‘I want to thank NHS staff who are once again stepping up to cope with the extra pressures that hot weather brings.

‘Extreme heat can be dangerous, so staying aware of warnings and alerts in place can make a real difference.’

There are also warnings older people are more at risk from the extreme heat – with Age UK’s charity director Caroline Abrahams saying that as people age, their bodies find it harder to adapt to extremes of heat and cold. 

She added that most homes in the UK were not designed to cope with extreme heat, so it is important to keep them as cool as possible.

Keeping curtains and windows closed during the hottest part of the day and opening windows overnight when temperatures fall can help.

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.

The Food and Drink Federation said ‘fruit, vegetable and grain supply’ are being hit by the heatwaves, with these crop shortages then set to feed into supermarket prices.

Economists from the trade group suggested that this will put upward pressure on food inflation going into 2027.

The drought has even revealed the remains of a lost village which was demolished and flooded in the 1970s to create the Rutland Water reservoir in the East Midlands.

Stonework and the outlines of buildings in Nether Hambleton can now be seen because of the low water levels.

Separately, a report warned the UK’s treasured historic green spaces are under increasing threat from climate extremes.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England warn that historic parks, gardens and cemeteries are vulnerable to damage from harsher, more widespread drought, intense rainfall, more severe storms and pests which can thrive in warmer conditions.

These impacts are said to be affecting all aspects of these heritage landscapes, from trees and plant collections to paths, terraces and lakes.

Stay away from Dunwich Heath amid ongoing fire risk, warns National Trust

The National Trust has warned people to stay away from Dunwich Heath until the area has been assessed following a devastating wildfire, amid a risk of further flare-ups.

More than 100 hectares of heathland habitat have been destroyed by fire at the Suffolk reserve since it took hold almost two weeks ago, the conservation charity said.

The fire service said on Monday that the fire has been stood down as a major incident but crews remain on scene damping down the affected area and monitoring for hotspots.

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Coastal winds are stirring up ash and debris, rabbit burrows and warrens have retained significant heat and trees with burnt root systems are vulnerable to collapse, the National Trust said.

Parts of the landscape have been left unrecognisable, making it harder to navigate, and fires spread along cliffs putting their stability at risk and making the beach below unsafe.

Russell Clement, general manager for the National Trust, praised all of Suffolk’s 35 fire stations, the 18 fire services from around the country and others who ‘worked tirelessly to tackle this fire’.

The aftermath of the wildfire at the National Trust site Dunwich Heath in Suffolk

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More than 100 hectares of heathland habitat have been destroyed by fire at the reserve

The National Trust said there are still parts of the fire ground that they have not yet been able to access to map and record hazards.

Work to assess the full site is under way and is likely to take some weeks, the charity said.

Mr Clement said: ‘Right now… the best way people can help is by staying away from the reserve.

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‘We know how important Dunwich Heath is to the local community and visitors alike, but we need to ensure it is safe before anyone returns.’

Unexploded ordnance dating back to Operation Kruschen during the Second World War has been exposed by the fire, the National Trust said.

While specialist teams have already made some discoveries safe, there could be more.

‘We very much look forward to welcoming visitors back to Dunwich Heath, when it is safe to do so,’ said Mr Clement.

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Coastal winds are stirring up ash and debris at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk

The fire has been stood down as a major incident but crews remain on scene

‘With no rain forecast and continued hot weather, there remains the risk of further flare-ups in the days and weeks ahead, which will require the fire service back on site.

‘In the meantime, Dunwich village remains open and we’d encourage people to support the local businesses, which are such an important part of the community.’

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While Dunwich Heath remains closed, supporters can follow updates through the National Trust’s website and social media channels.

A fundraising appeal launched by the National Trust to help support Dunwich Heath’s recovery has raised more than £600,000.

The National Trust is also asking people to sign a petition calling on Government to make climate resilience a national mission, invest in nature to reduce environmental risks and support Fire and Rescue Services with the funding needed to prepare and respond to wildfires.

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Six fire engines are at the scene

Firefighters are battling a significant blaze which has broken out in the sand dunes at Formby Beach this evening (August 12).

The Liverpool Echo reports that six fire engines are currently at the scene on Albert Road near the coastal beauty spot.

Crews have been tackling a gorse fire ‘measuring around 300m by 300m’ since 8pm this evening.

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Dramatic footage taken from a distance shows flames spreading across the dunes as thick black smoke rises into the sky.

In a statement, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said that the fire had grown in size after being ‘driven by wind’.

They said: “Firefighters continued to fight the fire in difficult conditions as the fire was being driven by wind and grew to 500 by 200 metres with multiple seats of fire in thick gorse bush and dunes.

“Firefighters are using beaters and extended hose reels to fight the fire and the service drone has been requested to gain situational awareness from height.

“A fire engine from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service is also in attendance as part of mutual cross-border support arrangements. An MFRS off-road vehicle is in attendance to access the fire from the beach side of the incident.

“The main body of fire has now been extinguished and crews are checking for hot spots.”

One person who witnessed the fire in its early stages said: “The fire originally appeared to be burning in three or four separate areas, spaced apart from one another.

“We’re at Formby Point Caravan Park, and the park owners are here checking on what’s happening. We think the fire may now be moving away from us, but it has been blazing for hours.

“We were out only last night clearing rubbish from this whole area. Rage Against Rubbish is campaigning for greater awareness around BBQ and firework restrictions, as well as encouraging people to take their rubbish home with them.”

The shocking incident has happened in Pantside, Newbridge, where pictures show all five homes decimated

Five homes have been completely destroyed in a devastating fire in Caerphilly borough on Wednesday. The shocking incident has happened in Pantside, Newbridge, where pictures show all five homes decimated.

Firefighters remain at the scene late Wednesday evening, where 12 crews are battling the blaze with water bowsers and an aerial ladder platform.

It is believed there have been no casualties as a result of the fire which happened at five terraced bungalows at Hazelwood Road.

Crews were called to the scene just before 4pm on Wednesday and are urging people to stay away from the area and keep windows and doors closed due to heavy smoke.

A statement shared by Newbridge RFC reads: “We are absolutely heartbroken to have seen the horrendous fire earlier this evening at Pantside and the devastation caused in such a short space of time.

“We cannot begin to imagine what the people affected are going through right now and our hearts go out to everyone that has been affected by such a frightening and horrendous event, and we hope that everyone is safe and well.

“Our clubhouse will be open at 8am in the morning and we can offer hot and cold drinks along with changing and shower facilities for anyone who needs it, no need to contact us or make a booking, just drop in.

“This is our community and we are only happy to be able to offer some sort of help where we possibly can.”

A fundraising page has been set up by resident Demi Stredwick to support the relief effort. She said: “There are a number of families at Pantside who have lost everything due to a massive fire that has spread through their homes and gardens.

“As a community I am praying we can get some sort of funds together to go towards anything they might need.”

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The Prime Minister is being warned that the plans could force young people into less regulated parts of the internet.

Young Scots have called on Andy Burnham to rethink the social media ban for under-16s in the UK. More than 150 youth organisations and young people have written to the Prime Minister about the proposed ban.

Their letter warns that the plans could force young people into less regulated parts of the internet. The letter, led by the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP), has been signed by the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, Children in Scotland, Together (Scotland) and Forces Children Scotland, among others.

The proposals were outlined by Sir Keir Starmer in June, with the former PM saying a ban could be implemented by spring 2027. Youth groups warned that if the current Labour leader moves ahead with a ban, he should work with young people to implement the change.

SYP campaigners said young people should be allowed “meaningful participation” to share their views with politicians. The letter also asks the UK Government to commit to carrying out a children’s rights impact assessment on the proposed ban before it is introduced.

Ellie Craig, chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, said: “Young people know the risks that exist online and want safer online spaces just as much as anyone else, but legislation affecting millions of young people cannot be developed without properly listening to those who will live with its consequences.

“We are asking the Prime Minister to work with young people, not simply make decisions on our behalf. Our message is straightforward – we want safer social media, but we also want policies that are based on evidence, that respect children’s rights and genuinely make young people safer rather than unintentionally pushing them towards greater risks.”

The letter points to concerns that a similar ban in Australia may have led to children accessing less regulated online platforms.

Ms Craig said: “If the Government is determined to proceed with these proposals, then young people must have a seat at the table and not be an afterthought.

“What is happening in Australia can be avoided by consulting with the people who will be most affected.”

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A study by Australia’s University of Newcastle suggested more than 80 per cent of under-16s in the country were still using social media three months after the legislation came into force in December 2025.

A UK Government spokesperson said: “We ran one of the largest consultations this government has undertaken, hearing from 116,000 people, including young people, and their views have directly shaped these policies.

“Two thirds of young people responding told us they supported a minimum age of 16 for at least some social media.

“We’re continuing to listen as we finalise details, which will be published by the end of the year. We’ll keep working with young people as we implement these changes to make the online world safer.”

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Born in Wolverhampton, Hudson-Smith said before the championships that it would “mean the world” to land gold not only home soil, but where he first began working towards his dreams.

With his achievements since those early training sessions recognised in writing on the north stand, to Hudson-Smith’s mind there could be only one possible outcome.

He did not make it easy for himself, however.

Entering the championships as the fastest European this year, the Briton admitted he “misjudged” his semi-final after fading to second place in his heat – an error which meant he had to pursue gold from the outside lane.

Unable to monitor the early progress of his rivals, Hudson-Smith went out hard and had established enough of a gap entering the home straight to reassure the home fans that all was under control.

The European record holder over 400m, and the sixth-fastest man of all time in the one-lap event, missed out on successive global titles by mere fractions of a second at both the World Championships in 2023 and Paris 2024 Olympics.

Those stunning silvers followed the toughest period of his life, but he put three years of “absolute hell” behind him to win world bronze in 2022 as he re-established himself among the world’s best.

On the European stage, there has been no shortage of golden moments – but none will come close to this emotional full-circle moment.

Gold was secured in 44.17 seconds, with Frenchman Muhammad Abdallah Kounta next to cross the line in 44.40.

Speaking on BBC TV, three-time world heptathlon champion Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill said: “What a moment. This will stay with Matthew Hudson-Smith forever.

“It means so much and the pressure was piled on him. Anything but a gold medal here for him would have been a disappointment.”