By RIATH AL-SAMARRAI, CHIEF SPORTS FEATURE WRITER

Published: 21:59 BST, 14 August 2026 | Updated: 23:53 BST, 14 August 2026

Audrey Werro is fast becoming an unsolvable riddle for the leading lady of British sport. For the second time in 10 weeks, this Swiss phenomenon left Keely Hodgkinson staring at her heels in a race that lived up to its billing as the best of the European Championships.

To the most talented Audrey since Hepburn went the 800m gold medal. To Hodgkinson, there was presumably no silver lining to be found in finishing a close second on home soil.

If there is to be any consolation, it is that Werro, aged 22, clocked a championship record of 1:54.81 on a chilly, breezy evening in Birmingham to beat her. But warmer thoughts will be harder to find for Hodgkinson.

Instead, the Olympic champion must process the dawning of a serious rivalry and one that is not currently swinging in her favour. This one was settled by the margin of 0.2sec.

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In the long run, Hodgkinson might view such moments as the competitive nectar needed for the breaching of new frontiers, of course, but the sting in the present will be real. Not many athletes have the finishing speed to match Hodgkinson, but in their past two races Werro has kicked away from her with the force of a donkey.

The decisive move here came after 500 metres, when Werro put the hammer down.

Hodgkinson, who had been near enough level at the bell after a 56sec opening lap, went with her, and they both separated from Femke Broeders-Bol in third, but the Brit had no answer. She never got her nose in front, and those moments of futility can leave lasting doubts in an athlete.

The 24-year-old, who was chasing a third straight European title, was evidently in little mood to indulge the celebrations of on-track interviewer Iwan Thomas. He assumed she would be thrilled with silver, but Hodgkinson responded: ‘I think I would be happier with a gold.’

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Kely Hodgkinson was forced to settle for second in the women’s 800m final on Friday

Hodgkinson jokingly took off her silver medal at the European Championships in Birmingham

She later added: ‘I think with that level of competition, any medal is a really good achievement and another one to add to my collection so I can never be disappointed with that. But I’m defending champion so I wanted to do that.

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‘I knew it was going to come down to the wire but I really thought I was going to win today. But it wasn’t meant to be. I didn’t do anything wrong, it was just one of those things.

‘Congrats to Audrey. I am sure we will have more battles.’

That much seems certain. And for two women striving to break the oldest world record in track athletics, that will be a good thing.

But Werro has the edge. Having been beaten twice by Hodgkinson during the indoor portion of the season, she gained spectacular revenge in Stockholm in June when the Brit set a personal best of 1:54.33. Not only was that a win against a full-form Hodgkinson, Werro’s time of 1:53.98 was the third quickest in history. A month later, Werro ran quicker again with a 1:53.80 – if anyone is to better the dubious mark of 1:53.28 set by the Czech Jarmila Kratochvilova in the Eighties, Werro might have the edge.

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To think, Werro was only cleared to race in this final on appeal after being tripped in her semi-final. It was a marginal call but also the correct one, so there should be no controversy around what it led to.

For Hodgkinson, the bigger picture will make for strange viewing. After the injury troubles of 2025, her times in 2026 have moved sharply on an upward trajectory, including the indoor world record in February, so she rightly resents any suggestion of ‘failure’ at losing a race or two. She was borderline tetchy in using that label prior to these Championships.

But in athletics, the clock is a secondary adversary to the field and Werro’s emergence is a huge fly in the ointment. For the rest of us watching, we can presumably take great pleasure in where it leads, because athletics needs rivalries. In these two gifted runners, it has one that has the potential to go on for years.

Christopher Stevenson, 39, of Dene Terrace, Shotton Colliery, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on August 11.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of theft from a shop, and pleaded guilty to one count of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress, all committed in Wheatley Hill.

Stevenson stole groceries and laundry products valued at £52.89, £23.75, and £59.35 from Co-op Food on three occasions: October 26, 2025, December 12, 2025, and February 4.

Stevenson was ordered to pay £135.99 in compensation to the Co-op.

No court costs or victim surcharge were imposed, with priority given to compensation. 

His guilty pleas were taken into account by the court.

The Government issued the alert at 7pm on Friday evening (August 14), across England and Wales, advising people to avoid any activity that could start a blaze.

Mobile users were told not to use barbecues, campfires, or fireworks, and to call 999 immediately if they spot a fire.

The alert follows several major incidents, including a wildfire in Stourbridge that destroyed 19 homes.

The message read: “There is a serious risk of fire across the nation.

“Residents, landowners, and visitors should not undertake any activity that could cause a fire, including using disposable barbecues, fire pits, garden incinerators, or fireworks.”

It also warned that even a small flame could quickly escalate into a large wildfire, putting lives, property, and emergency services at risk.

Did you receive an emergency alert? (Image: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)

Government bans sale of disposable barbecues

This alert comes after disposable barbecues were banned from sale in the UK earlier today.

The government has taken the step in response to a growing wildfire risk during the ongoing heatwave, citing the grills as a significant fire hazard during hot, dry weather.

A government statement said: “The single-use grills have been the cause of a number of serious wildfires across the country over the summer months.

“Disposable barbecues cannot be considered a safe product in the context of the ongoing weather and environmental conditions and must not be made available for sale either in store or online at the current time.”

Prime Minister Andy Burnham indicated earlier in the week that such a ban could be introduced.

Disposable BBQs removed from UK supermarket shelves

Major retailers including Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Co-op had already begun removing disposable barbecues from shelves , following warnings from fire services about the increased wildfire risk.

Other retailers such as Wilko and The Range have also started removing them from stores and online.

Heatwave to continue across the UK

The ban comes as much of England remains under an amber heat health alert, with temperatures reaching 38.1C at Kew Gardens in London on Thursday (August 13).

This marks the second time this year that temperatures have hit 38C.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended the amber alert until 10am on Saturday (August 15) for:

• East Midlands
• West Midlands
• South East
• South West
• London
• East of England

All other regions in England remain under alert until 9pm on Friday (August 14).

The UKHSA has warned that the extreme heat could pose health risks, particularly to vulnerable individuals.

Officials are urging the public to take basic precautions, including:

• Staying out of the sun during peak hours
• Staying hydrated
• Checking in on vulnerable friends and family

Acting consultant in public health at the UKHSA, Polly Ashmore, said: “Drinking plenty of water, avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day, and keeping indoor spaces cool are all things you can do to keep yourself and others safe.

“For vulnerable groups including older adults and those with existing health conditions, warmer weather can result in serious health outcomes.

“We urge health and social care services to ensure they are prepared and encourage people to check on vulnerable friends and family to make sure everyone is aware of the forecast, follows the necessary advice, and stays safe in this period of hot weather.”

The recent heatwave has made 2026 the first year on record with three separate days that reached the 37C threshold, and the first with four days at 36C or higher.

It is the fifth heatwave of a summer already marked by extreme heat, prolonged dry spells, and drought conditions across much of England and Wales.

Wildfire risk remains high, with England and Wales already recording as many wildfires this year as in the whole of 2025.

Drought conditions have persisted across nearly three-quarters of England and the whole of Wales, following a record dry July and a similarly dry start to August.

This has put increasing strain on water supplies for households, agriculture, and the environment.

Reservoir levels in England have dropped to 66% capacity, down from 69% the previous week and nearly 14 percentage points below the long-term average for this time of year, according to the Environment Agency.

Did you receive an emergency alert? Let us know in the comments below.

By MELISSA KOENIG, US REPORTER

Published: 22:33 BST, 14 August 2026 | Updated: 23:49 BST, 14 August 2026

Six people are dead, including a suspected gunman, while another was left critically injured in what appears to be a massive shooting spree in Michigan.

State troopers said they were called to a home on LaChance Road in Missaukee County at around 11.40am on Friday about someone being shot.

When troopers then arrived at the scene, they found three people dead and another critically injured. That victim was then rushed to a local hospital.

At that point, police launched a large scale manhunt for the suspected gunman Chad Hickman, 39, who was considered armed and dangerous and was said to be driving a white pickup truck.

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When investigators then searched a location during the manhunt, they found the body of a fourth victim inside a separate home.

A short time later, troopers located Hickman’s vehicle abandoned near a wooded area, which investigators then searched with a K9 team, WWJ reports. 

There, they discovered Hickman’s body – along with another deceased victim. 

Police are now working to piece together exactly what happened. 

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Suspected gunman Chad Hickman, 39, was among those found dead in Michigan on Friday

Michigan State Police were seen investigating a massive shooting that left six people dead

Authorities said there is no threat to the larger public at this time

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‘Not only is this difficult for our investigators and our troopers, but it’s very hard for this community. You know, this type of loss is tragic,’ Michigan State Police Public Information Officer Ashley Miller told Up North Live. 

She then vowed that troopers are ‘going to conduct a thorough investigation, and we want to make sure to keep our community members up to date on our current situation and what we’re discovering throughout this process.’

In the meantime, authorities said there is no treat to the public. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to Michigan State Police for comment. 

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This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

The incident happened near junction 22 for Saddleworth, causing long delays in both directions as police and traffic officers worked to clear the animals from the carriageway.

National Highways confirmed shortly before 8pm that the sheep had been “secured” and all lanes reopened, but drivers faced lengthy delays.

The incident began earlier in the evening when a flock of sheep escaped from a nearby field and wandered onto the motorway.

Traffic was brought to a halt in both directions as emergency services responded to the scene.

At the height of the disruption, drivers faced delays of 100 minutes with lengthy congestion in both directions.

Keely Hodgkinson was beaten to the 800m gold medal at the European Championships in Birmingham on Friday night

Keely Hodgkinson could not hide her disappointment after finishing second in the 800m final at the European Championships in Birmingham this evening.

The Olympic and reigning European Champion clocked an impressive time of 1:55:01 but was pipped to the post by Swiss runner Audrey Werro in a closely contested race.

Werro bounced back from a dramatic tumble in her semi-final to clock 1:54.81 and establish a new Championship record, possessing just too much for her Team GB opponent.

Femke Broeders-Bol completed the podium and broke the Netherlands’ national record, having only recently made the switch from 400m to 800m.

Hodgkinson couldn’t conceal her frustration in a post-race interview, momentarily removing her silver medal after failing to secure the one she wanted

Speaking after the race, Hodgkinson took off her medal and told the BBC: “I’m kidding, that was a joke. Yeah, a bit of mixed emotions. I think with that level of competition, any medal is a really good achievement.

“So another one to add to my collection. I can never be disappointed with that. But yeah, I’m defending champion, so I wanted to do that.

“I knew it was going to come down to the wire. I really thought I was going to win today, but I guess it just wasn’t meant to be. I didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just one of those things.”

Werro controlled the race from the start and when questioned whether that was the intended strategy, Hodgkinson said: “I think there were so many different ways it could play out.

“It was all down to figuring out the first 100 metres. Audrey wanted to take it on. With that wind, I was happy to let her.

“But yeah, we’re all really great athletes and I knew it was going to be close. I look forward to the next match-up.”

Countdown to Kickoff: The Essential 26/27 Sky Sports Bundle

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Despite claiming second place, the 24-year-old said racing against such elite-level athletes brings out her finest performances.

She said: “I’ve said all year it’s really motivating to be in such a competitive event. I love it. I think it brings out the best in me.

“Championship racing is what it’s all about. You don’t know how it’s going to go. Some people can have a good day. Some people can have a bad day.

“I had a pretty good day today, I think. It just didn’t go the way that I wanted it to.”

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A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a teenage boy died following reports of a possible burglary, police said.

Officers were called to initial reports of a possible break-in in Soulbury Road, Linslade, near Leighton Buzzard, at around 10.25pm on Thursday, Bedfordshire Police said.

A 17-year-old boy was found unresponsive when emergency services attended the scene.

First aid was provided but he was pronounced dead shortly after, the force said.

A man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and is in custody.

Three other men were also arrested in connection with the incident, which is being investigated by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit.

Enquiries have so far found “no evidence whatsoever that the victim was carrying out, or attempting to carry out, a burglary”, Bedfordshire Police said.

A 76-year-old neighbour, who did not want to be named, told the Press Association (PA) she heard “a lot of noise and shouting going on” on Thursday evening, and “a bit of a bang”.

She thought it was “just drunkards walking home” or a burglary as “there was a bit of movement in gardens”.

She said: “All I knew was there’s a lot of noise and shouting going on.

“And, to me, I thought it was some young lad drunk and looking over gardens, because there was a bit of movement in gardens, and looking for bikes or something to steal.

“But it obviously was not that, it was a lot worse than that.”

She added: “I thought it was just drunkards walking home, and, you know, I thought I heard a bit of a bang, and I think ‘oh my god, my car’s up there’.

“So I went to look out, and then it carried on around the back, and people’s lights were coming on.

“I think I’ve got security lights coming on, and I was a bit worried because I was on my own, so you know you don’t want to go down and look into anything.

“Next thing is a lot of police presence, a lot of people out there, and I just didn’t go down because, well, I just didn’t want to be down.”

Asked if the area was usually safe, the neighbour said: “Yes, there was an incident probably four years ago, maybe about that, not long ago, where again somebody had gone over the gardens between these houses at the back view and taken someone’s lawnmower.

“And, I mean, my sheds weren’t even locked. They are now, I always lock now since then.”

She said the area around a house on Soulbury Road remained cordoned off on Friday evening, with police and forensics outside.

The victim’s next of kin have been informed about the incident, Bedfordshire Police said.

Detective Inspector Caeva Taylor said: “This is an incredibly tragic incident in which a 17-year-old boy has lost his life and our thoughts are with his loved ones at this unimaginably difficult time.

“We currently have one person in custody on suspicion of murder, and three other men are also assisting us with our enquiries.

“Our team is working hard to establish what has led to the boy’s death and we understand the concern this will cause in the community.

“The initial 999 call to police was to report a possible break-in in progress, however our enquiries so far have found no evidence whatsoever that the victim was carrying out, or attempting to carry out, a burglary.

“We have been carrying out a number of enquiries today including reviewing CCTV and speaking to people in the area, and we’re urging the public to help us by letting us know any information they may have. In particular, we’re urging anyone with any doorbell or CCTV footage to get in touch immediately.”

Anyone with information can visit beds.police.uk/ro/report, call 101 and quote reference Operation Breakwater or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or on crimestoppers-uk.org.

It was a 20th anniversary special show when the Government alert interrupted

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The One Show was in the midst of celebrating its 20th anniversary special when the episode was interrupted just minutes later with a blaring alert from the Government.

At about 7pm this evening, mobile phones were issued with an alert about the risk of wildfires. It urged people not to start any fires, such as disposable barbecues or fireworks, to combat the issue that has gripped the country in recent weeks.

The BBC chat show was mere minutes into the start of its extended hour-long anniversary special when hosts Alex Jones and Roman Kemp were drowned out by the loud alarm.

When introducing the segments set to air across the episode, Kemp was explaining how former host Christine Lampard was returning to the studio when the alarm could be heard on the broadcast.

While Kemp pushed through and kept speaking, Jones shook her head and raised her hands, before she said: “You couldn’t make that up could you. Is that a fire alarm?”

Kemp then faced someone off camera and asked: “Is there some sort of fire alarm?”

“We continue,” they both said, before running through the rest of the segment introductions before the alarm cut out and Kemp said: “Ok, it’s stopped”.

The noise was an emergency alert sent out to the phones of people across England and Wales to warn communities from the growing threat posed by wildfires.

The alert, which were sent on a rolling basis from 7pm, warned people not to light anything that could spark a fire, including barbecues, campfires, and fireworks.

Recipients have also been urged to report any fire immediately by calling 999.

Following the airing of a segment, Kemp then told viewers: “As you will probably be aware that was actually a wildfire alert on everyone’s phones.

“You would have heard it on the opening of our show, but as always we hope everyone is staying safe, of course.”

At around the same time, theatregoers taking their seats ahead of a performance of Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium gasped as the alert rang out on phones across the auditorium.

Later in the show presenters Clara Amfo and Angellica Bell also faced disruption.

When presenting a segment outside, an ambulance could be heard driving past with its sirens on, nearly drowning the presenters out for about 15 seconds as they tried to speak.

Elsewhere during the episode, the event celebrated the long-running show, speaking to former presenters, guests and people who have been assisted by the programme.While being reunited with some people she helped in past episodes, Bell broke down in tears, with Jones declaring: “Angellica doesn’t cry often, so that’s a result!”

The episode also looked back at celebrity interviews and past musical performances from artists including Harry Styles, Elton John, Olivia Dean, Stormzy and Take That.

Wrapping up the show, Jones then asked to share a message with viewers, in which she said: “A huge thank you to the team and crew who work relentlessly hard on this programme to make it a brilliant show for all of you every day.

“Thank you for all of the guests for entertaining us, being so generous with their time and just being all-round nice people. Thank you to all of my co-hosts over the years. I’ve been so lucky to sit next to all of them.

She added: “Lastly, thank you to all of you at home. You are the most important people in all of this. Thank you for being with us every weekday. It’s a real privilege for us all to be with you all at seven every night.”

The episode then ended with a performance from Tom Grennan.

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Jason Arday recently quit his role at the University of Cambridge and cancelled his upcoming memoir

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Controversial university professor Jason Arday has reportedly been found dead at his home address. The Metropolitan Police said officers attended Daley Thompson Way in Battersea, where the academic lived, on Friday afternoon.

It was there a 41-year-old man was found “unresponsive” and later pronounced dead at the scene. The force said “Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 15:12hrs on Friday, 14 August following a report that a man had been found unresponsive inside a property on Daley Thompson Way, SW8.

“Sadly, a 41-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. His next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

“At this time his death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious. The case is being investigated by officers from the Met’s Central South Command Unit. A file will be prepared for the coroner.”

A London Ambulance Service spokesman added: “We were called at 3.06pm on Friday 14 August to reports of an incident on Daley Thompson Way, SW8.

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“We sent a number of resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, an advanced paramedic in a fast response car and members of our Hazardous Area Response Team. Sadly, a person was pronounced dead at the scene.”

In a statement, University of Cambridge Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice said: “We are desperately saddened to hear this tragic news. Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”

Prof Arday, a professor of sociology of education who became Cambridge’s youngest black professor in 2023, quit following a series of media reports alleging he plagiarised his PhD thesis – completed at Liverpool John Moores University – and other research.

Further questions were asked in the press about the truth of other claims he made, including saying he ran 600 miles in six days and that he had raised £5.5 million for charity.

An investigation at Liverpool John Moores University cleared Prof Arday of wrongdoing. Durham and Glasgow universities are investigating the circumstances around Prof Arday’s appointment to academic posts there and Cambridge’s Jesus College has accepted his resignation from his fellowship, according to Prof Prentice.

Prof Arday said in his open resignation letter that the “only way to bring this chapter to an end is to step away”.

He said: “This decision should not be interpreted as a loss of faith in scholarship or in the values that first brought me to Cambridge. Nor should it be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me.

“It is simply the decision of someone who has reached the limits of what any person should reasonably be expected to endure.”

Over the weekend, he cancelled events promoting his forthcoming memoir. Publisher Simon & Schuster previously said that the book, Great And Unfortunate Things, would be published in the UK on August 27.

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