A man and a woman from Cardiff have been arrested in connection with a hate crime incident in Grangetown that happened around 1pm on Thursday.

South Wales Police received a report of a 25-year-old woman being assaulted in Dunleavy Drive.

A 39-year-old man from Grangetown and a 44-year-old woman from Ely have been arrested on suspicion of racially / religiously aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

They remain in police custody and an investigation is on-going.

Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to please contact South Wales Police quoting 2600264101

Autism diagnoses in England have risen to record highs, with more than 20,000 people told they have the disorder in the past year.

The figure is a jump of around 52 per cent since this time last year, according to new NHS data. 

A further 300,000 people in England are awaiting an assessment for suspected autism – four times the number in 2021. 

More than half of the new diagnoses are in children, the data shows. 

The striking figures follow a recent warning from autism research pioneer Professor Dame Uta Frith that many people diagnosed with the disorder may not actually have it.

In a damning paper published in the journal Psychological Medicine, the expert said ‘anyone’ can have autism nowadays, adding it has become a ‘catch all’ diagnosis for other psychological problems.

The definition of autism has become ‘too broad’ as a result of ‘misleading’ ideas spread on social media, she said.

Earlier this week popstar Robbie Williams became the latest of a series of celebrities to disclose his diagnosis of autism – which causes problems with development and learning.

Speaking during a Q&A at the Autumn/Winter launch of his clothing brand Hopeium at Flannels, Robbie said he has ‘a little bit of autism’ and uses the disorder as a ‘get out of jail free card’.

Autism is currently diagnosed in around 700,000 Britons. 

In 2021, researchers found that diagnoses had increased by a startling 787 per cent in the UK between 1998 and 2018, which some experts have argued is due to better awareness and understanding. 

The Daily Mail’s interactive graphic (below) reveals which NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) – bodies responsible for the health service in a local area – have made the most diagnoses over the last year.

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB led the way with 4,470 patients diagnosed between June 2025 and June 2026. 

That’s nearly a quarter of the total across England, and more than double the 2,220 patients at NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB, which recorded the second most over the same time period.

The statistics, released by NHS England, show those who receive a diagnosis after being referred to a specialist.

The figures also show a large rise in monthly diagnoses, from year to year. 

Some 1,375 patients were diagnosed with autism in June 2025, compared to 3,145 this June.

Meanwhile, just 370 diagnoses were made in June 2021.

The data also revealed that under 18s are driving the surge.

Some 5,755 under 10s were diagnosed between June 2025 and June 2026, a figure that rose to 6,280 among 10 to 17-year-olds over the same period.

The new data shows that a total of 294,792 patients currently have a referral for suspected autism, and are waiting to see a specialist.

That’s a jump of more than 30,000 since last June and around 80,000 since June 2024.

It is also an increase of almost five times since June 2021, when there were 68,690 referrals.

The figure of 294,792 could be far higher because The Owl Centre, which provides autism assessment services in the UK, did not submit data for June.

In May, 310,794 adults had a referral.

According to Prof Dame Uta Frith, who authored pioneering autism research in the 1960s and 70s: ‘When [autism] was first identified in the 1940s, it referred to a small group of children with severe difficulties in social interaction, communication and behaviour.

‘Over time, the definition has widened to include people with milder traits and no language or learning problems.

‘Today, anyone of any age or intelligence level can be diagnosed with autism if they meet certain criteria.’

Professor Dame Uta Frith warned last week that ‘anyone… can be diagnosed with autism’

Autism is a lifelong disability that influences how people experience and interact with the world, and causes problems with communicating, socialising and learning.

Some people also have a learning disability, and those with the disorder are at higher risk of a range of physical and mental health conditions including epilepsy, eating disorders and anxiety.

Charities now describe autism as a ‘neurodivergence’ rather than a developmental problem.

But Professor Frith said this further fuels misunderstandings.

‘While this helps reduce stigma, it also creates tension,’ she said. ‘If autism is not a disorder, why use a medical diagnosis?’

She also blamed social media for ‘spreading simplified ideas’ about autism.

The diagnosis, Prof Frith said, has ‘become part of popular culture’.

‘Social media, films, and online communities have helped people share experiences, but they have also spread simplified or misleading ideas.’

Prof Frith has called for medical professionals to identify other psychological problems that may be at play, and treat patients appropriately.

‘There are ways to reduce the symptoms of anxiety disorder and depression,’ she continued. 

‘There are also ways to build resilience in the face of significant social stress.’ 

She added that these approaches would not be appropriate for autism diagnosed in childhood.

It’s estimated that around 3 per cent of UK children have autism.

Early signs include avoiding eye contact, not responding to their name, repetitive movements and reduced engagement in play, according to the NHS.

Reacting to Prof Frith’s comments, Mel Merritt, head of policy and influencing at the National Autistic Society, said: ‘Autism is understood as a spectrum. As the article points out, in the past people thought the spectrum was a straight line between ‘more’ and ‘less’ autistic, but this isn’t right.

‘Today we understand the spectrum to mean each autistic person has a unique combination of characteristics.

‘Terms such as milder traits may be misleading or unhelpful in reflecting the difficulties and impact of navigating daily life for so many. 

‘Autistic people can be very different to one another, each with a unique set of strengths and challenges. This should not take away from or “neglect” people with high levels of support needs.

‘Autistic people need better access to quality autism assessments and tailored support.

‘The real debate about autistic people is how to address the chronic inequalities they face. It is unhelpful and a false choice to pit autistic people against each other – getting the right support early and better understanding makes a big difference to all autistic people.’

NHS England said the figures ‘should be interpreted with caution as Data Quality issues may be present’. 

“This time last year Farage had the highest approval of the main party leaders,” says pollster Luke Tryl from the organisation More in Common. “Yet earlier this month he fell to his worst score since the general election.”

“What will worry Farage is not only that his negative approvals have risen, which may signal greater willingness to vote tactically against the Reform leader, but there are also fewer people expressing a positive view suggesting an erosion in his base,” Tryl says.

More in Common’s research suggests around 80% of voters are aware of questions around Nigel Farage’s finances, but opinions on them are mixed.

“Farage’s strongest supporters often take the view it’s an ‘establishment stitch up’,” says Tryl. “And for his opponents, it is a further reason to dislike him.”

Farage has managed to professionalise Reform UK, secure significant funding, and recruit high-profile figures like Robert Jenrick and Zia Yusuf to prove that the third political party he has led during his long career is not just a one-man-band.

He may be bullish after this risky (and self-imposed) by-election battle, but his rivals are framing it as a waste of money and a personal embarrassment.

Ultimately it is voters nationally, and not in this corner of Essex, who will decide if this by-election will mark a downward shift in Farage’s brand, or whether it be a springboard towards achieving his bigger aspiration of getting to Downing Street.

Cambridge South opened its doors in June as the city’s newest train station, but some raised concerns around the lack of on-site parking

NHS staff said Cambridge’s newest station has already halved commutes while debate remains around its lack of parking. Cambridge South station is connected to the city’s cycle network and next to the guided busway system, with Trumpington Park and Ride (P&R) less than 20 minutes away.

Though there isn’t any general parking for commuters – unlike the main station which has hundreds of spaces – there are five blue-badge bays for those with disabilities and space for pick-up and drop-offs. The station first opened its doors to passengers on June 28 with trains to London, Birmingham, and Stansted Airport.

Kinga Bozek, who lives in Trumpington, said she likes the new station but there could be more regular bus connections to the park and ride. The 47-year-old said: “I would like more connections and buses later on because when you come back later there’s a bus every 30 minutes, and it’s a 30 minute walk.

“There should be parking to be honest – or more buses to Trumpington Park and Ride if they want to go for that. But it’s better to come here even if we have to walk, because it’s better than walking from the main station.”

Sue Furnell said it’s her first time using the station but she’ll definitely be using it more often to get to Addenbrooke’s. The 65-year-old said: “I think it’s brilliant – I don’t drive so the lack of parking wouldn’t really get to me.”

Erika Nacario works in Addenbrooke’s and said the station opening has halved her commute from Royston. The 32-year-old said: “It’s very convenient and it’s saved me a lot of time – obviously it can vary in terms of delays, but that’s also the case for the main station.

“I don’t drive at all – the one that drives is my fiance, but he works in Papworth so it’s more convenient for him too, it’s horrible traffic from Royston.”

Councillor Imogene Blackburn-Horgan, ward councillor for Queen Edith’s which includes Addenbrooke’s Hospital, said it is hoped the well-connected station will reduce “parking stress” and “associated anti-social behaviours”.

The Lib Dem councillor said: “With a site that is well supported by train and bus connections it aims to mitigate these issues and support local residents with their wish for more active travel and less traffic.

“Being disabled, I have been able to travel via the new Cambridge South Train Station as it is on my doorstep and have found it easy to use the disabled parking, taxi drop-off/pick-up for travelling home and bus connections to reach the city.”

Cllr Olaf Hauk, ward councillor for Trumpington, said both Trumpington P&R and Babraham P&R are available for rail commuters, with free parking for up to 18 hours. He said the station was designed primarily for patients, visitors, and staff travelling to the Biomedical Campus and Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

He said: “It was not intended to be a starting point for long-distance journeys, which is why it was built without a car park. People travelling to destinations further afield can use other stations in and around Cambridge, or access Cambridge South by public transport, walking or cycling. Those who need to drive can use nearby Park & Ride sites, such as Trumpington or Babraham.”

He said residents in the nearby Clay Farm and Glebe Farm estates raised concerns about parking after the station’s opening, but their roads are still privately owned by the developer, Vistry, which is responsible for enforcing parking restrictions.

Cllr Hauk said: “Motorists who park in breach of those restrictions risk receiving substantial penalty charges. As local councillors, we will continue to work with Vistry and the councils to ensure that the parking arrangements are fair and effective for both residents and visitors. At the same time, we remain strong advocates for improving public transport and sustainable travel across Cambridge.”

Nigel Farage has won the Clacton by-election but did not attend the official declaration at Clacton Leisure Centre

Nigel Farage has secured victory in the Clacton by‐election, though the result was immediately clouded by a dispute over whether police had urged him to stay away from the count due to a “credible threat” to his safety.

The Reform UK leader declared he had won “fairly convincingly” long before the official announcement, hailing the outcome, delivered on the hottest day of the year, as an “overwhelming endorsement” of his leadership.

Farage said he would not attend the declaration at Clacton Leisure Centre after being informed of what he described as an “organised campaign to disrupt and degrade the result“. A party spokesperson later insisted Essex Police had advised him not to appear because of a credible threat.

Despite this, the Press Association understands that Essex Police did not advise Mr Farage, or any other candidate, to stay away from the count.

A spokesperson for Essex Police said: “We have a proportionate and robust policing operation to ensure the safety and security of all participants in the count.”

Deputy Reform leader Richard Tice later indicated it was Mr Farage’s “team” who concluded that “there was sufficient anxiety, and concern, and threats” to warrant him staying away from the count.

When pressed for further details on the information the party claimed to have received, he told GB News: “No, I can’t. But I think we should just trust those tasked with keeping Nigel safe and alive, I hesitate to say, but that’s what the task is.

“And if a credible threat is perceived or a deep anxiety, whatever you want to term it, clearly they’re going to err on the side of caution, and that’s just the reality.

“So, yes, of course, it’s a shame he would have loved to have been there, but security is paramount, and everybody knows we’ve had a very, very difficult few weeks and last couple of months.”

Mr Farage triumphed with 22,239 votes, with Count Binface coming second on 9,455 votes. Mr Farage claimed a 12,784 majority, representing 62.82% of the vote.

This marks an increase from his 8,405 vote majority, 46.2%, when he prevailed at the 2024 general election. The declaration came shortly after 6am. Turnout stood at 44.37%, a drop of just over 14%. A total of 32 of the record 34 candidates forfeited their deposits.

Mr Farage informed supporters at an all-night “Farage-fest” gathering organised by Reform in Essex that he wouldn’t be attending the count: “I’m not scared of these people, far from it.

“But I’m damned if I’m going to stand on a stage, having won a resounding victory, a ringing endorsement of all that I’ve tried to fight for, and you’ve tried to fight for, and be demeaned and humiliated by nobodies, and I will not sadly be attending the count.”

Mr Farage had been due to deliver what was promoted as a “major speech” in Clacton at 10.30am on Friday, but Reform scrapped it, stating he had “already commented on the expected result of the by-election”. In his address, Mr Farage declared, hours before the outcome was officially announced: “The verdict is now in, and it is a convincing, overwhelming win with more votes than we got in the general election of 2024.”

He continued: “Today the voters in Clacton have stuck up two fingers to the entire political establishment.”

He previously told GB News: “Look, this is an overwhelming endorsement of me. I have had enough of being judged by mainstream media, being called a criminal.

“Do you know, if I made one sin, if I haven’t filled in a piece of paper, I’ve broken no law, I’ve broken no tax law, I’ve taken no public money, I don’t even own a motorhome.”

Council acting returning officer and chief executive Ian Davidson confirmed he was unaware Mr Farage would not be attending the count until the Reform UK leader revealed it during his speech to supporters.

“It is up to individual candidates’ wish to or do not wish to attend the count, but as far as we’re concerned we will be able to complete this count successfully and safely for all the candidates, my staff here and all the visitors,” Mr Davidson stated. “I am not aware of what has been said, or what that threat is.”

Mr Davidson noted that Essex Police had deployed an assistant chief constable as part of a “Gold Command” policing operation. He indicated he did not believe there was any threat sufficiently serious for the count to be called off, though he could not comment further on security matters.

The by-election was triggered by Mr Farage’s resignation over scrutiny of donations from cryptocurrency tycoon Christopher Harborne. Labour and the Conservatives insisted his win wouldn’t put an end to the furore.

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A record 34 candidates contested the seat, with satirical contender Count Binface emerging as Mr Farage’s primary opponent, after the other mainstream parties declined to stand.

Speaking to Sky News, Count Binface, a character created by comedian Jonathan David Harvey, alluded to the prospect of a second by-election in the constituency should Mr Farage be found to have broken Parliamentary rules.

He said: “You just said at the beginning of this interview that Nigel Farage is claiming victory, but in that case it’s going to be a two-legged match like the Carabao Cup or the Cold War, because we’re going to be back again in a few weeks aren’t we? We’ll see what happens then.”

He added: “Even if I got to 12%, so one-in-eight people in Clacton would rather vote for a space warrior shaped like a bin than Nigel Farage.”

Labour chairwoman Ms Phillipson said: “This is no victory for Nigel Farage. The mountain of sleaze and scandal he and Reform are now engulfed in has grown and grown while he’s been trying to distract the public by fighting a by-election against a bin.

“This morning, Nigel Farage shouldn’t be celebrating – he should wake up and smell the coffee. He must come clean with the public and put all the facts on the table over his secret £5 million gift, his relationship with a convicted fraudster, and the other scandals his Party is drowning in.

“Farage’s distraction by-election doesn’t clear his name – it just shows he likely has so much more to hide.”

A Conservative Party spokesperson said: “Nigel Farage called this fake by-election in a desperate attempt to draw a line under the questions surrounding his fishy £5 million donation.

“Whatever the outcome on Friday, this stunt has not done that.”

Before quitting Westminster, Mr Farage was being investigated by the parliamentary standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg over a £5 million gift from Mr Harborne, which he received before taking his seat in the Commons.

Under Commons rules, new MPs are required to register any gifts worth more than £300 they received in the previous 12 months, except where the gift “could not be reasonably thought by others” to relate to their political activities.

That investigation was paused when Mr Farage resigned his seat but will resume if he wins the by-election – as bookmakers have made him the firm favourite to do.

Mr Farage could also face an investigation over support provided by George Cottrell, a long-term ally. If he is found to have broken the rules and a suspension of more than 10 days is imposed, it could trigger a recall petition and the prospect of Mr Farage facing a second by-election.

David Kelly had been drinking on the flight, when he started ‘arguing about politics’, before making racist and homophobic remarks

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An intoxicated man left families in fear after shouting racist abuse and making a Nazi salute on their flight home from Turkey.

David Kelly, 56, was on a Jet2 flight from Turkey to Newcastle when he became drunk and offensive on December 19 last year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard he committed racially aggravated harassment to airline staff and members of the public and also made a homophobic remark. Saba Shan, prosecuting, said: “When he initially boarded the plane and, it would seem, in the first couple of hours, he was enjoying himself. He was loud and boisterous with lots of laughter.

“Regrettably as he became visibly more intoxicated, his behaviour deteriorated. There are statements from staff and passengers which describe how the defendant became angry and animated and started ranting.”

Among the offensive behaviour, Kelly said “Hitler knew” followed by making a Nazi salute. He also pointed at a Turkish passenger and called him a terrorist and made other racist and one homophobic remark.

Miss Shan said: “A young family were distressed by his actions and were moved from the row behind him.” Members of staff did their best to manage his behaviour by offering alternative seating to passengers alarmed by his behaviour.

Kelly, of Bek Road, Newton Hall, County Durham, stood in his seat and initially refused to sit down and put his seatbelt on as the plane began its descent to land. Staff had alerted police, who were waiting to arrest him at Newcastle Airport.

Kelly, who has four previous convictions, including for arson and drugs offences, pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft and a racially aggravated public order offence.

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Jailing him for ten months, Recorder David Gordon said: “Those who become drunk and disorderly on board an aircraft must ordinarily expect an immediate custodial sentence because of the fear and distress caused to passengers and crew and because of the potential implications with regard to safety.

“You repeatedly shouted abuse, including racist and, on one occasion, homophobic abuse and made threats of violence and ignored efforts by cabin crew to calm the situation.

“The offences occurred in the uniquely confined environment of an aircraft in flight. Passengers and crew could not remove themselves from it. Families and other passengers were alarmed and distressed.

“Cabin crew were required to divert their attention from their own duties to manage your behaviour. Your conduct created genuine fear among those on board and carried an inherent safety concern, particularly during the landing phase of the flight.

“This offending caused distress and alarm to numerous passengers and crew members and it included vile repeated racist utterances and a homophobic utterance.”

Brian Hegarty, defending, said he is remorseful and said the incident started after Kelly argued with another passenger about politics. He added that Kelly did not need to be restrained and did not assault anyone and said: “His behaviour was reprehensible and unpleasant but was restricted to words alone.”

The court was provided with character references about Kelly, including from a magistrate and a former Metropolitan Police officer. He was said to be hard-working, helpful and community minded.

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The event takes place at Bothwell parish church centre on September 12 and 13

Talented Lanarkshire artists are getting set for their popular annual exhibition.

Members of Bothwell art club will showcase their works at a two-day display in September, taking place at the town’s parish church centre on Main Street.

It will allow visitors to see original art by the club’s members, with many of their pieces available for sale during the weekend event.

The art show takes place on September 12 and 13, opening at 10am on Saturday and 11.30am on Sunday, running until 5pm on each day.

It will be hosted at Bothwell parish church centre on Main Street, and admission is free.

All are welcome to attend, and more details about the club including examples of the talented members’ creations is available on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok.

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And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!

The U.S. has received several warnings from Israel over the past year that Iran intended to assassinate President Donald Trump.

The warnings, passed to U.S. intelligence agencies and in some cases relayed directly by Israeli officials to senior White House officials, included possible plots to shoot Trump with a sniper or recruit someone to attack him with a knife at a large public event, the sources said.

The tips began in the lead-up to the 12-day war in June 2025 and intensified before the U.S. decision to go to war in Iran in February, the sources said.

The most detailed warning came ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara in July, the U.S. official and the other person familiar with the matter said. 

Israeli officials briefed the White House about intelligence that indicated Iran may try to kill Trump, potentially with a shoulder-launched missile, while he travelled on Air Force One for the summit, the officials said.

The U.S. intelligence community has long assessed that Iran wants to retaliate for Trump’s killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020. 

But the Central Intelligence Agency has not been able to corroborate some of the specific threats against Trump’s life shared by Israeli intelligence since early last year, the officials said.

In the case of the NATO episode, a Turkish official said the country’s intelligence agencies also did not have any evidence to corroborate the Israeli claim about the threat to Trump’s life, an assessment the host country shared with Americans.

Despite the lack of verification, White House officials and the Secret Service have taken steps to mitigate the threats out of an abundance of caution, including an extraordinary deception operation during the Turkey trip that involved moving Trump from Air Force One to a different aircraft for his flight out of the country.

That episode underscores how Israeli intelligence is influencing the Trump administration’s decision-making about Iran at a time of heightened tensions with Tehran – and broader disagreement between U.S. and Israeli intelligence assessments on Iran’s threat overall.

Earlier this year, American intelligence agencies assessed that Iran was not actively building a nuclear weapon, even as Israel argued Tehran posed an urgent threat.

Despite the reports from the U.S. intelligence community, Trump moved forward with strikes in Iran in February. 

Trump also took into consideration intelligence shared by Israel that Tehran had tried to assassinate him before launching the military campaign, Reuters previously reported.

A spokesperson for the Israeli embassy disputed that Israel was using its intelligence to influence U.S. policy on Iran.

‘The same people who claim that Israel is trying to influence U.S. policy through alleged intelligence sharing would just as soon accuse Israel of concealing critical information if it benefited their own agenda,’ the spokesperson said.

Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi declined to discuss specific intelligence matters but said the agency remains focused on Trump’s security amid recent assassination attempts and an increase in threats against the president. 

‘The U.S. Secret Service continuously analyses a wide range of information to guide our protective operations in real time and across every location we secure,’ he said.

The U.S. has long relied heavily on Israeli intelligence on Middle East matters, particularly as they relate to Iran.

The current and former officials said Israeli intelligence on Iran typically flows to the CIA or the National Security Agency through formal channels and is subsequently analysed, two former U.S. officials said.

The U.S. intelligence agencies often cannot verify Israeli intelligence but will use other forms of information to make judgment calls on its authenticity and accuracy, the officials said.

In several instances over the course of the two U.S. military offensives in Iran, the CIA assessed it had ‘low confidence’ in the Israeli intelligence about the threats posed by Iran, including any plans to assassinate Trump, according to one former official and another person familiar with the matter.

It is unclear how widely those assessments have been circulated inside the administration.

Two of the former U.S. officials described to Reuters several instances in which senior Israeli officials and representatives over the last year called the White House, including in the Situation Room, to brief senior Trump officials on Iranian threats directly.

The direct engagement comes amid a breakdown in U.S. intelligence sharing inside the Trump administration.

Last year, amid increased tension with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the CIA stopped working on joint assessments with the National Intelligence Council, the former officials said.

The council is the U.S. intelligence community’s elite analytical group overseen by ODNI to turn out reports reflecting the view of the broader intelligence community, with the CIA being the largest contributor to its assessments.

Fewer recent Iran assessments by the NIC have stemmed partly from recent layoffs at ODNI, the officials and another person familiar with the matter added.

A passenger on the train that derailed in East Sussex has described how people and gadgets sailed through the air after a ‘violent jolt’, before passengers broke out ‘screaming’.

Twenty people were hospitalised after the Southern Rail train carrying 150 people came off the tracks near Lewes station just before 4pm on Thursday, including two with ‘severe’ injuries.

The rear three carriages were thrown on to their sides after apparently hitting a section of badly buckled track, leaving around 40 passengers trapped inside.

Teddy Birkbeck, 18, boarded the train from London Victoria at Gatwick after flying back from a lads’ holiday in Albufeira, Portugal, with his cousin and friend.

He said the train had already been delayed in its journey to the airport, with officials explaining over the intercom that it was ‘due to the heat’.

Mr Birkbeck, a farmer from Sussex, told the Daily Mail: ‘It felt like there was something wrong from the start. There were two sudden jolts soon after we left Gatwick. My mate even joked, “That hurt!”

‘Then it was all smooth going – until we got near Lewes.’

The trio were among eight people travelling in the rear carriage, which ultimately careered furthest down the bank.

Mr Birkbeck described people and gadgets sailing through the air 

The rear three carriages overturned and fell off the rail track

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Images appeared to show a section of badly buckled track just behind the train, with experts suggesting this may have happened due to the extreme heat 

Mr Birkbeck was watching TikToks on his phone, nursing a ‘slight hangover’ from the holiday, when he felt a ‘violent jolt’. 

He said: ‘The train suddenly started to lean from side to side, and things were floating around the carriage in slow motion, like we were in space.

‘I saw my mate’s laptop go through the air, and a bottle of water as well. Then we slammed down on our side.

‘I screwed my eyes shut, but it felt like we were in a car that was drifting after the brakes had been slammed on. I thought to myself: “I am going to be seriously hurt here.”

‘We were sitting on the left of the carriage, so it wasn’t too bad in the end, but people on the right flew from their seats and fell down on to our side.

‘Everyone was silent for about 30 seconds – though it felt like an hour – and then people started screaming. Some were really panicking. It was difficult to know which way was up or down.

‘I had smacked my head on something, and saw that some people were bleeding.’

Charlie Hobden, Mr Birkbeck’s cousin, said it felt like they were ‘in a washing machine’ when the carriage tumbled over onto the embankment.

The rear carriage, in which Mr Birkbeck and his friends were travelling, skidded furthest down the embankment

Some passengers were able to clamber through the emergency doors onto the sides of the overturned carriages

Mr Birkbeck’s view from the track after being helped out of the carriage by emergency workers

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Images from the scene show that the rear carriage slid around ten metres down the slope to the left of the track, bulldozing trees and coming to rest in the adjacent field.

Three of the carriages whipped over, while the front five remained upright. Behind the stricken rear carriage could be seen a section of track that looked to have buckled severely, with several sharp swerves along it. 

James MacCleary, the Lewes MP, said concerns had been raised about the condition of tracks in the area due to the sustained heatwaves.

He told Times Radio: ‘I had a meeting literally last week with [Greater Thameslink Railway], who are the parent company of Southern Rail, and we did discuss the track and the fact that it has been a bit bumpier in recent months, which is possibly a result of the incredibly hot weather we’ve had recently.’

A temperature of 38.1C was recorded at Kew Gardens in west London on Thursday, making it officially the hottest day of the year.

Mr Birkbeck continued: ‘Another passenger eventually managed to get the emergency exit open so people could climb out on top, but we decided to stay inside because it was actually cooler to begin with.

‘There were also a couple of elderly ladies who were distressed, so we wanted to stay and help them.

‘I had to force the door into the driver’s compartment at the back of the carriage to get the first aid kit.’

South East Coast Ambulance Service said around 150 people were on board the train, and 20 were injured. It said two people were rushed to the major trauma centre with ‘severe’ injuries, while a further 18 patients were also in hospital. 

Three air ambulances and at least 20 other emergency vehicles raced to the scene, while a number of passengers who did not require hospital treatment were taken to a local community centre to be triaged and supported.

People had to readjust their bearings inside the carriages that had completely turned onto their sides

Emergency workers used a stretcher to transport a passenger away from the train

Three air ambulances took off from the scene at around 6pm, evacuating the last of the passengers rescued from the train

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Josh Babarinde, MP for Eastbourne, the train’s destination, said that one of his constituents had suffered a broken rib, while other passengers described seeing people bloodied and with head wounds. 

Photographs from the scene show emergency workers stretchering off wounded passengers and guiding others by the hand down the tracks.

The air ambulances took off at around 6pm, carrying the last of the passengers rescued from the carriages.

Of the emergency responders, Mr Birkbeck said he ‘couldn’t credit them enough’.

He told us: ‘They were absolutely brilliant. They put ladders down inside the carriage so we could climb up onto the train’s side, and then helped us down onto the ground.

‘All the passengers were in total bewilderment; everyone was quite quiet. But the ambulance crews and police were amazing at keeping us calm.

‘It’s all such a blur. I am still shaking hours after getting back from the adrenaline.’

Another passenger, father-of-two Liton Miah from Eastbourne, travelling with his wife and daughters, said he had noticed going past a warning sign at the side of the track.

He said: ‘I saw on the big board there was a problem with the track. I don’t know why they didn’t take any precautions. I saved my family and tried to help another couple. The guy was bleeding heavily and there was not much I could do to help him.’

Rob Bradley, who was travelling from London Victoria to Eastbourne with his six-year-old daughter Mabel when the crash happened, said they were in the carriage next to those that overturned.

He said his daughter had been dancing between the carriages just 30 seconds before the derailment.

Mr Bradley told the BBC: ‘As she sat down we felt the train speeding up and started to rock. Then our carriage jumped vertically upwards and we could tell it was a derailment.

‘The emergency brakes went on the train and everything got thrown forward.

‘The train skidded for quite a while before it stopped. We turned around and we saw the whole back of the train was open and smoke and dust were pouring into the carriage and we saw the fifth carriage had gone on its side.

‘We are doing okay. We were very lucky.’

The cause of the derailment has not yet been confirmed

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A huge emergency response including ten fire engines descended on the scene near Lewes station

A passenger dragging her luggage across a field after evacuating the stricken train

The cause of the derailment has not been confirmed but transport experts have raised the possibility that the exceptional heat contributed to the crash by causing the rails to buckle or the dry ground beneath them to collapse. 

One suggestion from transport expert Christian Wolmar was that the prolonged heat and drought could have caused the ground beneath the train to dry out and crack, causing part of that bank to give way, leaving the rails without proper support.

He told the Daily Mail: ‘Well, there are two possible reasons this has happened.

‘Obviously, the train track might have buckled before the train arrived. But because the first carriages didn’t derail, it might be that the dryness from the heat has led to the embankment collapsing, and then the train made the rails buckle rather than the other way round.

‘I noticed yesterday when I was out on Hampstead Heath for the eclipse. There’s just great big fissures in [the ground], big openings like there’s been an earthquake, and that must be happening in many places.

‘So it could be that there’s something like that that caused the embankment to partially collapse, and then the rails buckled under the weight of the train because the rails were unsupported. Which could be the more likely explanation given that the first four carriages didn’t go down.’

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was ‘deeply concerned’ following the incident.

She wrote on X: ‘Grateful to emergency services who are on the scene supporting those impacted. We are working quickly with the rail industry and local partners to assist passengers.’

Network Rail said it had launched an investigation into the cause of the derailment.

Southern Railway said all lines through Lewes had been closed to allow emergency services to reach the scene and warned passengers to expect major disruption until 10pm.

The operator said: ‘A train has derailed in the Lewes area. This has closed all lines running through this station.

‘As a result of this, trains are currently unable to run through the area to allow the emergency services to attend the incident.

‘Major disruption is expected until 10pm.’

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch deployed investigators to establish how the Southern service came off the tracks.