Admiral Cooper also released a statement brushing off fears of widespread suicidal ideation alleged to be experienced among those aboard the aircraft carrier.

In the statement, posted to CENTCOM’s X account on Sunday, Admiral Cooper said: ‘Of the US Navy’s 11 active aircraft carriers, the Lincoln currently has among the lowest number of cases related to mental health.’ 

At an emotional town hall meeting earlier this month, more than 200 family members of sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln met with acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao to express their concerns. 

A spouse tearfully told officials she received a message that same day from her husband saying ‘he hopes he doesn’t wake up tomorrow,’ Stars and Stripes reported.

A mother also described how her daughter said she felt like she was never going to be able to come home and believed she was going to die on the ship, according to MS Now.

Relatives also expressed concerns over food levels on board after pictures emerged appearing to show meagre provisions, and some reports claimed there was mildew in the showers and a lack of clean water, which officials said had been resolved.

One parent with a child on the Lincoln said they received a photo from mid-April that showed a tray with boiled carrots, a scoop of ground beef and a gray slice of dry-looking meat.

Relatives expressed concern about food aboard the ship. One parent with a child on the Lincoln received this photo from mid-April showing a sad-looking plate of food 

Congressional Democrats demanded answers last week about the conditions onboard the aircraft carrier.

In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Senator Richard Blumenthal said the USS Abraham Lincoln ‘has been deployed more than 250 days’ without coming ashore ‘in over 200 days, setting a record for consecutive days at sea’.

Mr Blumenthal voiced concern for such extended deployments, noting ‘widespread reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns’ and other problems aboard the Lincoln.

Amid the outcry, reporters asked Donald Trump whether the deployment had simply gone on too long, to which the president shot back: ‘No. Not nearly long enough.’

Still, Admiral Cooper was sent to visit the ship, and CENTCOM announced on Sunday that the USS Abraham Lincoln’s deployment is ending. 

The admiral mentioned the development in the first paragraph of his op-ed, in which he said: ‘I delivered the words every deployed sailor and Marine longs to hear: “You have delivered a performance for the ages, and now you are going home.”’

Admiral Cooper praised the service members aboard the aircraft carrier as ‘high-achieving Americans standing tall with justified pride in everything they have accomplished’. 

He acknowledged that ‘The crew is tired,’ but also emphasized ‘they continue to fire on all cylinders.’ 

Amid the outcry from relatives of sailors and Congressional Democrats, President Donald Trump said the aircraft carrier had not been deployed ‘nearly long enough’ 

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The admiral also gave a rundown of the aircraft carrier’s accomplishments during its deployment, which included shooting down more than 200 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) drones, executing hundreds of strikes on IRGC targets and twice enacting ‘the most effective naval blockade in modern history’. 

He also thanked the families of the sailors aboard the ship and said: ‘Your strength makes their service possible, and your wait is coming to an end. Godspeed and enjoy the well-deserved reunion soon.’

As the USS Abraham Lincoln prepares for its journey home, another aircraft carrier, USS George Washington, has departed the Pacific to take its place. 

No health data was recorded on Lindsay Clancy’s watch or phone after 5.38pm on January 24, 2023, when the user went up two flights of stairs, digital forensics expert Ian Whiffin testified.

This information shines a light on the possible timeline of the killings.

If 5.38pm was the moment that Clancy had reached the second-floor bedroom and begun harming herself, after climbing up the first flight of stairs from the basement to the first floor, then this would mean she had already strangled the children by that time.

Patrick left the home sometime after 5.15pm.

So this would suggest that Clancy immediately began killing the three children almost as soon as he left the home, which could support the state’s argument that it was premeditated.

However, her defense attorney, Kevin Reddington, pointed out that there is no data after 5.38pm so Whiffin, who was being cross-examined, cannot know what happened after that time. Clancy’s phone or watch could have been put down or the battery died, while she could have still been going up and down stairs, the expert acknowledged.

Reddington also argued that on January 25, 2023, the morning after the killings, Clancy’s devices recorded 47 meters of movement between 7am and 8am.

He pointed out that, at that time, Clancy was bedbound in hospital and the Apple Watch was found days later in a bedside drawer – casting doubts on the accuracy of the data.

However, under redirect, the expert said that the data could have come from the watch or phone, and the phone could have recorded movement being handled by investigators.

On Monday the couple revealed that she is to be called Adelaide Elizabeth Annina Brooksbank in tribute to “three people we love and admire past and present”, including Adelaide’s late great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, and to reflect both English and Portuguese history – “two places we love and call home”.

For a second time, the US Supreme Court has declined President Donald Trump’s bid to overturn a federal civil jury verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E Jean Carroll.

In June, the top court had already denied a prior attempt by Trump to review the civil case.

The president has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and argued that the judge who oversaw the civil trial improperly allowed evidence to be presented that affected the jury’s perceptions of him.

In July, he paid Carroll more than $5m (£3.6m) in damages over her civil claim that Trump sexually assaulted her in the 1990s, and then branded the incident a hoax on social media.

“We are pleased that the United States Supreme Court has declined again to hear this case,” Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said in a statement following the decision.

“As a result, the jury’s unanimous verdict that Donald Trump sexually assaulted and then defamed E. Jean Carroll is now final and cannot be challenged in any court,” she added.

The court’s decision was posted as part of an order list on Monday, but offered no explanation for why the justices declined to rehear the case.

Legal experts said that Trump’s request to reconsider its previous June rejection was an unusual long-shot legal manoeuver, as the court rarely grants similar requests.

Carroll, a former magazine columnist who is now 82, sued Trump for attacking her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.

The defamation stemmed from a 2022 post on Truth Social in which he denied the claims and said Carroll was “not my type”.

Trump has yet to comment on the court’s latest decision to not rehear the case.

In a lengthy Truth Social post following the earlier decision in June, Trump vowed to continue battling what he termed the “weaponisation and lawfare case” and the “ridiculous” claim of defamation.

“This Case is really against the United States of America, and all it stands for, and should never be allowed to happen to another President, or Candidate to be,” he added.

In the initial petition to the Supreme Court, Trump’s lawyers argued that Carroll’s lawyers should not have let jurors see now infamous Access Hollywood footage from 2005 in which he used crude language as he discussed groping and kissing women.

Trump has also asked the Supreme Court to overturn a separate federal civil defamation verdict awarding Carroll $83.3m.

His lawyers have argued that Trump cannot be sued for comments he made while he was president.

The top court has not made a decision in that case.

Hayden Panettiere said she had “a lot more life to live” during one of her final interviews in the months before her death at age 36.

In May, the Heroes and Nashville actor spoke about her optimism after years of “darkness” and mental health struggles in an emotional, filmed interview with podcaster Jay Shetty ahead of the release of her memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning.

“I finally feel like I have shaken off all of this darkness and this negativity,” the former child star said. “I’ve closed one door and another door is opened.”

She added, “I can feel all the exciting possibilities. I feel like I have a lot more life to live.”

In the years before her death, Panettiere was open about her experience with addiction to opioids and alcohol as well as postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in 2014.

She told The Independent’s Adam White in May that growing up in the spotlight — she started modeling and acting when she was only four months old — negatively contributed to her mental health.

“It’s not healthy to receive so much praise as a child,” she said. “So when I got to an age where I became somebody the paparazzi were interested in, and the media wanted all the gory details… it broke my heart that people thought negatively about me.”

However, she said at the time that she was on an optimistic path anchored in her creativity.

“I know that if I surround myself with positive people, I can accomplish whatever I set my mind to,” she said. “I’ve made my share of mistakes, I’ve fallen on my face, but I’ve always stood up again and dusted myself off.”

Panettiere added: “I’ve got plenty of issues, but finding meaning in life isn’t one of them.”

The actor was known for her role as cheerleader Claire Bennett in the NBC superhero drama Heroes, which ran from 2006 to 2010. She later played country singer Juliette Barnes in Nashville, which earned her two Golden Globe nominations. She also starred in films like Ice Princess, Remember the Titans, Bring It On: All or Nothing and the Scream franchise.

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Her death was confirmed in a statement from her father Sunday, which said: “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden.”

“She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen,” Skip Panettiere said.

Her cause of death has not been released yet. Police do not suspect foul play.

Representatives for Panettiere did not immediately return The Independent’s request for comment.

Top US based jockey Juan Hernandez is facing a helicopter dash to catch a flight to Los Angeles less than three hours after he rides in the big race at York on Friday.

The Mexican native heads the standings at the current Del Mar meeting in California and has important mounts on Saturday, Pacific Classic day. The day before he is due in Britain to be reunited with Bacio, the Wesley Ward-trained Royal Ascot-winning speedster who is favourite for the Group 1 Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes.

Hernandez fulfilled a bucket list wish when he made his debut at the royal meeting in June and steered Bacio to an impressive three and three quarter length success in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes.

Hernandez did not want to miss out on another chance to ride the sprinter but faces a tight turnaround between the off-time of the Nunthorpe Stakes at 3.40pm and his flight home from Heathrow, nearly 200 miles from York. The estimated flying time is around two hours.

“The plan is to ride Friday and then take a helicopter to Heathrow Airport,” Hernandez said.

“There’s a flight at 6:30 from Heathrow to LAX. It lands at 10 p.m. Friday because of the time change and then I will drive down to Del Mar. It’s going to be tough but I think I can do it.”

Hernandez told Del Mar that he’s never attempted a trip like this before, but he would never make his flight by car. He faces an 11½ hour flight back to California.

“I want to come back and ride because my agent Craig (O’Bryan) told me we have some nice horses Saturday and Sunday,” he said. “That’s why we’re rushing to get back. Hopefully we can do both, win the race and make the flight.”

Hernandez has a plan to combat jet lag and fatigue associated with long distance travel.

“I’m going over there a couple of days before. I’m flying Tuesday at noon and I get there on Wednesday at noon so I’ll have Wednesday afternoon to recover. I like to run the day before my race or the day of just to get used to the air. I’ll run three or four miles and then get ready for the race.”

The Nunthorpe is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

“Coming back I’ll be flying at night,” Hernandez added. “I’ll just sleep the whole flight and save energy for when I get here.”

According to Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, North Korea is preparing to send as many as 50,000 fresh troops to support Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine. While the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been unable to verify Zelensky’s claim, it has not fallen on deaf ears in Seoul.

When questioned on August 10, an unnamed foreign-ministry spokesperson stated:

North Korea-Russia military cooperation is a matter directly related to our security and an act that violates UN Security Council resolutions … the government’s position is that such cooperation must be suspended immediately, and we are closely monitoring related developments.

Any new deployment would continue to cement a clear path. Pyongyang and Moscow signed a mutual defence pact in June 2024 and, within months, up to 15,000 North Korean personnel had been deployed to Russia. The deployment ranged from construction workers to logistics personnel, missile operators, engineers and infantry. It included 1,500 special forces troops.

North Korea has gained a lot from its partnership with Russia. So far, its troops have not fought within Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders. But North Korean soldiers have acquired battlefield experience in ground operations in the Kursk region of Russia, where Ukraine launched an incursion in 2024. North Korean missiles have also been fired at Ukraine and Pyongyang has received new military technology from Russia.

Perhaps more importantly, the partnership has provided North Korea with a financial boon. After many years of negative GDP growth, North Korea’s economy grew 3.5% in 2025. Beyond direct payment for the military support it is providing Russia, the partnership between the two countries supplies North Korea with fuel, food and technical assistance, as well as deferring debt repayments.

Their partnership has created a clear cycle in which North Korea supplies ammunition and manpower for Russia to use in the war, Moscow supports North Korea with resources and technology in return, and Pyongyang uses these to improve its standing against the south.

South Korean concern

For South Korea, a key concern is what North Korean troops may be learning in Russia. The North Korean military, the Korean People’s Army, has not fought a major conventional conflict since the Korean war in the early 1950s. But it is now directly involved in a modern war.

North Korean personnel have engaged not only in direct combat, but also drone surveillance, electronic warfare and precision artillery strikes. Pyongyang is also now able to analyse its own weapon technology – and assess its effectiveness – in an actual conflict rather than a test setting.

There have been calls from Kyiv and other allied capitals for Seoul to step up its involvement in the Ukraine conflict, but there is opposition both among South Korean citizens and within the political class to providing direct military support.

This position has been made clear by the South Korean president, Lee Jae-Myung, since 2025. Rather than becoming involved in a distant war in Europe, Lee has focused his foreign policy on the Korean peninsula – most recently calling for talks with the north to pursue peaceful coexistence on August 15.

At the same time, however, South Korea is attempting to bolster its readiness against emerging North Korean threats. The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, which South Korea carries out with the US military, have shifted in focus. They now incorporate drones, cyberattacks and GPS jamming in addition to more traditional scenario-based field manoeuvres and air operations.

But a key concern here is South Korea’s relationship with its historic security partner, the US. Just as Seoul will not engage in Russia’s war in Ukraine, it has been equally reluctant to join the US’s war in Iran. And, as has been the case for other US allies in Europe, it may face consequences for this.

In a social media post on August 16, Donald Trump said the US would “substantially reduce” its joint military exercises with South Korea. He cited South Korea’s refusal to join the Iran war, as well as his own “very good” personal relationship with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong‑un, as the reasons for doing so.

Meanwhile the US has used substantial quantities of ammunition during the war with Iran, despite being the world’s largest military power. Reports from early August suggested the US had used “virtually all” of its precision strike missiles.

Earlier in 2026, as the US burned through its missile stockpile in Iran, Washington and Seoul discussed the possibility of moving some of the US Patriot defence missile systems based in Korea to the Middle East. As North Korea strengthens, Seoul is learning that its own security policy can no longer be built around the assumption that US weapons will be available in the event of conflict with the north.

Whether or not the 50,000 extra North Korean troops materialise remains to be seen. But the broader warning for Seoul is real: it must prepare for a stronger north in a world where even the largest military arsenals are not always enough to achieve policy goals.

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After weeks of relentless heat, long dry spells and plenty of sunshine, the UK is finally getting some much-needed relief from a summer of back-to-back heatwaves.

Temperatures are set to drop from the 30s to the mid-20s in many parts of the country this week, with showers and the chance of thunderstorms bringing cooler, wetter weather.

Parts of Kent, Essex and Sussex have already seen some light or patchy rain overnight, offering a welcome break after all three counties were officially declared to be in drought on July 29.

But experts warn that a little rain won’t be enough to undo months of dry weather.

For green-fingered homeowners who have watched their lawns turn straw-coloured and plants struggle in the heat, the cooler weather means it’s finally time to start giving their gardens some TLC.

From bringing scorched lawns back to life and repairing sun-damaged wood, to improving soil so it holds on to more moisture, the Daily Mail has rallied a host of gardening experts to share their top tips for helping gardens recover from the heat.

And with extreme weather becoming more common, experts say it could even be time to take a few lessons from Mediterranean gardens as we look ahead to 2027.

Fed up with battling Mother Nature? Read on to discover how to get one step ahead and future-proof your garden from increasingly unpredictable weather – and how to help it recover now…

Water smarter – even with hosepipe restrictions!

With hosepipe bans and water restrictions in place across much of the country, gardeners need to be a little more clever about how they keep lawns alive. 

Cheryl Harper, Managing Director of Greensleeves Lawn Care, said: ‘Make the most of rainwater and greywater: tap into water butts or reuse leftover household water (like cooled bathwater or washing-up water, provided it doesn’t have harsh chemicals).’ 

She advises to water in the early morning or late evening to avoid losing up to 40 per cent to evaporation, and focus on the driest or most heavily used areas rather than soaking the whole lawn. 

For brown, dormant grass, Jonathan Davis, grass expert at Lawnsmith, says there is no need to panic, but watering should be the priority.

He encouraged: ‘Infrequent, deep watering is more effective than a light sprinkle every day. Aim for a deep soak two or three times a week. 

Although he says ‘most lawns will show signs of green regrowth within 10 to 14 days of consistent rainfall or watering’, full recovery can take two to four weeks depending on how badly the grass has been stressed. 

Add mulch to soil 

One of the easiest ways to help a garden hold on to moisture is by giving the soil a good layer of mulch. 

Andy Simms, of MyBuilder.com, said: ‘One job gardeners can do is add around two or three inches of mulch to your soil, which will help keep your garden damp during drier periods.’

David Denyer, florist and gardening expert at Eflorist, also recommends adding a 5-8cm layer of organic material such as compost, bark chippings, well-rotted manure or leaf mould to reduce evaporation and regulate soil temperature. 

‘It also suppresses weeds, which would be competing with your plants for precious moisture’, he added. 

Andy also suggests planting drought-tolerant options such as lavender and camomile, as well as using water butts to collect rainwater for plants and lawns during hosepipe bans. 

Give soil a little breathing room  

After a long, dry summer, soil can become hard and compacted, making it difficult for water to reach the roots where it is needed. 

Cheryl Harper of Greensleeves Lawn Care recommends giving particularly dry patches a helping hand with a garden fork. 

‘Take a garden fork and gently push holes into the ground across dry, compacted patches,’ she said. 

The simple trick creates channels for water and air to travel deeper into the soil, rather than allowing water to sit on the surface or run off. 

It can also be particularly useful after a spell of heavy rain following weeks of drought, helping the water actually reach thirsty roots – just take care not to dig too aggressively around established plants, where you could damage their roots. 

Raise your lawnmower blades

Resist the urge to give a tired, brown lawn a close crop, as cutting heat-stressed grass too short can strip away what little moisture it has left. 

Cheryl said: ‘Set your mower to its highest setting or take a little break from mowing altogether until you see healthy green shoots returning.’

If you do need to mow, avoid removing too much of the grass in one go and make sure your mower blades are sharp to prevent unnecessary damage. 

It is also worth leaving fine grass clippings on the lawn rather than collecting them up. 

The clippings can act as a natural mulch, helping shade the soil and slow down moisture loss. Once your lawn starts recovering, regular but gentle mowing will help keep it healthy without putting it under extra stress. 

Restore heat-damaged decking

It is not just lawns and plants that have suffered in the sunshine, with wooden decking and garden furniture also taking a beating from months of UV exposure. 

Jimmy Englezos, Ronseal’s DIY expert and Senior Brand Manager, said: ‘One of the most notable signs is a significant colour change or dull-coloured panels or boards.’ 

He explained that UV rays break down pigments in the wood, while sun exposure can weaken its natural oils and resins, leaving timber more brittle and prone to splintering and cracking. 

To revive it, start by removing moss, mould, algae and dirt with a stiff brush, before working decking restorer into a few boards at a time and scrubbing well. 

Jimmy recommends leaving the solution for around 15 minutes before re-scrubbing and rinsing, then allowing the wood to dry completely – usually around two days – before applying oils, stains or paint. 

Take care of artificial grass 

According to James Higgins of Grass247, homeowners can easily prevent artificial turf from overheating by using water and shade. 

He notes that a quick rinse with a hose, bucket, or watering can is the fastest cooling method, while a misting system provides continuous relief. 

Additionally, he recommends blocking direct sunlight with structures like umbrellas, awnings or pergolas. 

For a temporary solution, Higgins suggests using adaptable options like shade sails or pop-up tents, which can be easily put up and stored away as needed.

Collect rainwater

Installing a water butt is one of the best long-term investments for any garden, allowing you to collect and store rainwater for use during dry spells.

Jo McGarry, a leading luxury garden design expert at Caragh Nurseries, said: ‘Collecting rainwater gives gardeners an extra supply to use on lawns, flower beds and plants when the weather turns dry. 

‘Adding compost or other organic matter to the soil can also help it hold water for longer, meaning less moisture is lost between watering.’

Weed little and often 

‘Weeds compete with plants for limited moisture, so removing them while they are still small can reduce pressure on flower beds and vegetable plots,’ Jo explained. 

She recommends avoiding deep digging in hot, dry soil, as this can increase water loss and disturb plant roots. 

Instead, hand-pull young weeds or cut them off at the surface.

Hold off on pruning and fertilising 

In the wake of heatwaves and drought, gardeners should not panic if lawns turn brown, foliage wilts, and flowers look tired. 

According to David Denyer of Eflorist, this state does not mean plants are dead. 

Once temperatures fall, it’s worth removing obviously dead or damaged material, but avoid heavy pruning right away. 

He added: ‘I’d also be cautious about reaching for the fertiliser. Feeding a badly stressed plant to force new growth won’t necessarily help. 

‘The priority after extreme heat should be restoring moisture and allowing the plant to recover. Healthy, properly hydrated plants will be in a much better position to put on new growth naturally.’

Feed as soon as conditions allow 

Kate Turner, Gardening Guru at Miracle-Gro, said: ‘Firstly, it’s important to note that until rain falls properly, there is little you can do in terms of gardening during a drought, as many lawn feeds will scorch grass above 25 degree heat, not to mention much of the nation is under a hosepipe ban.

Instead, she advises to feed your lawn when rain returns. 

Apply a granular fertiliser after good rainfall to help grass recover for autumn and build strong roots before winter, and use a liquid feed with a watering can or sprayer if rain is light. This protects dry grass from burning while feeding the roots.

Overseed patchy areas after rain 

Kate said: ‘Once the ground has taken on moisture, oversow thin or bare patches to thicken the lawn back up, and use a dedicated repair product such as Patch Magic on the worst-affected areas. 

She further warned: ‘This step only works with the promise of further rain to come, and so refrain from doing this if showers are proving sporadic, as sowing into dry soil is a waste of seed.’

Give stubborn patches an extra boost 

Specialist wetting treatments can dramatically improve soil water retention after a harsh summer. 

For severe dry patches, Cheryl Harper recommends Greensleeves’ Aqua Boost treatment that uses a gentle wetting agent to break down the water-repellent barrier in baked soil. 

Alongside mechanical aeration, this process helps the ground absorb every drop of water. By locking moisture directly into the root zone, it delivers the hydration needed to jump-start lawn recovery.

Adopt Mediterranean gardening methods 

If this summer has taught gardeners anything, it is that planning for hotter, drier weather could be worth doing now rather than waiting for the next heatwave. 

Andy Simms of MyBuilder.com suggests adopting a more ‘Mediterranean’ approach, focusing on water-saving techniques and plants that can cope with plenty of sunshine. 

‘Olive trees, for example, are surging in popularity in the UK due to their ability to thrive in the sun,’ he said, with mastic, pink rockrose and deadly carrot also able to cope with high temperatures. 

David Denyer further believes this could be one of the biggest lessons for gardeners heading into 2027. 

He said: ‘We’ll need to become more comfortable taking inspiration from Mediterranean gardening.’ 

He recommends options including lavender, rosemary, salvias, sedums, agapanthus, verbena and yucca, which can all cope well with dry conditions while still bringing plenty of colour and interest to a garden. 

Lewis Machin, Assistant Horticulture Buyer at Hillier Garden, added: ‘It’s also important to choose the right plant for the right position. 

‘Good drainage, plenty of sunlight and protection from cold winds can make all the difference, particularly when experimenting with plants that originate from warmer climates. 

‘Combining these with more traditional hardy plants can create a diverse, attractive garden that is both resilient and well adapted to the conditions we’re likely to experience more frequently.’ 

Changes to take into 2027  

Preparing for 2027 involves reviewing which plants failed to cope with summer heat before buying replacements. 

According to David Denyer, efficient gardens group species by water requirements, keeping dry-climate plants like rosemary and lavender separate from moisture-loving hostas and hydrangeas. 

Additionally, overall garden resilience can be improved through organic mulching, larger containers, better drainage, and rainwater collection. 

He added: ‘The aim should be to create a garden that isn’t dependent on constant watering to survive. 

‘If hotter and drier summers continue as predicted, choosing plants that are naturally comfortable in those conditions and helping them establish strong root systems will make gardening easier, use less water and give outdoor spaces that still look fantastic during prolonged periods of heat.’

Downing Street today urged the public not to turn off emergency alerts on their phones following criticism of the Government’s use of the system to warn about wildfires.

Millions of Britons received messages on Friday evening urging them not to light anything that could spark a wildfire, including disposable barbecues and fireworks.

It came as fears grew of further devastating blazes, with Britain still experiencing ‘tinderbox’ conditions due to this summer’s heatwaves.

But the use of the emergency alerts system by the Government has been criticised by some as unnecessary, with ministers told they risked ‘crying wolf’.

There were also questions over whether an ‘immediate risk to life’ threshold had been met in the use of the system to issue a general warning about wildfires.

Nick Ross, the chairman of the National Fire Chiefs Council board of trustees, said Friday’s use of emergency alerts was ‘not appropriate’.

The former Crimewatch presenter also revealed he nearly crashed his car when he received the ‘extraordinary sound’ on his phone.

‘Personally, I don’t think it was appropriate to use that. That is a big cudgel for this,’ he told Times Radio.

Firefighters are pictured attempting to control a wildfire blaze on fields at Flinton Hill Farm, close to Herrington Country Park, in Sunderland yesterday

He continued: ‘I nearly crashed my car. I remember driving along, all of a sudden, wow, wow, wow, this extraordinary sound went off.’

‘I had no idea what was going on. This is the sort of thing that I think is for an acute emergency. It’s not, this is a chronic thing.

‘That warning could have come any day, any time. So I think we’ve got to be very careful about overusing that, otherwise people will cry wolf.’

But Mr Ross added, speaking in an ‘official capacity’, that it was ‘entirely appropriate’ to warn about the risk of wildfires across Britain.

‘Fire risk in Britain is enormous,’ he said. ‘We are, as a society, not good at protecting ourselves from what we regard as small risks, even though the consequences are vast.

‘And you only need to look at what’s happened in Spain and in France to recognise just how catastrophic wildfires can be.

‘We don’t have the tanker aircraft that they do to put out these big fires. So yes, in one sense, we desperately need to be warned.’

Downing Street on Monday defended the use of the emergency alerts system.

A No10 spokeswoman told reporters: ‘On Friday alone, when that alert was issued, crews were tackling 43 wildfires across the country and had declared 11 major incidents, which stretched resources to the very limit and required military support, as we announced on the day.

‘We took the decision to use the system after a direct request from fire and rescue services, on the front line of the fight against wildfires.’

Asked about the possibility of people disabling emergency alerts on their phones in the wake of Friday’s use of the system, the spokeswoman added: ‘The emergency alert system is in place to communicate life-saving advice, and we would encourage people to use it.’

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner on Monday met with emergency responders who fought the home-destroying Stourbridge fires at West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service HQ

Ms Rayner could be seen walking among the shells of houses at Quarry Park Road, Stourbridge, following the huge blaze which destroyed 19 homes.

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Phil Garrigan, chairman of the National Fire Chiefs Council, hailed a ‘fantastic’ response to Friday’s use of emergency alerts but urged Britons to remain ‘vigilant’ over the risk of wildfires.

‘This has undoubtedly been an incredibly tough period for fire and rescue services, but we are beginning to see incident numbers reduce and that is welcome news,’ he said.

‘I want to pay tribute to the outstanding dedication and professionalism of firefighters, fire control room teams and all those supporting the response behind the scenes.

‘For weeks they have worked tirelessly in exceptionally challenging conditions, often responding to multiple incidents simultaneously, to protect lives, homes, businesses and our natural environment.

‘It has also been fantastic to see how the public have responded following Friday’s emergency alert and the support they have shown their local fire and rescue services. 

‘People have listened to the advice, taken sensible precautions and helped reduce the risk of further fires at a time when emergency services have been under immense pressure.

‘But we are not out of this yet. Conditions remain exceptionally dry in many parts of the country and it only takes one spark to start a serious wildfire.

‘We have seen first-hand the devastating consequences these fires can have for communities, wildlife and property. I would therefore urge everyone to remain vigilant, continue to follow public safety advice and avoid any activity that could start a fire.’

Angela Rayner, the Housing Secretary, on Monday visited the burnt-out remains of homes in the West Midlands gutted by a wildfire last week.

She could be seen walking among the shells of houses at Quarry Park Road, Stourbridge, following the huge blaze which destroyed 19 homes.

Ms Rayner said the devastation from wildfires was ‘absolutely horrendous’ and praised the local community.

‘The community have been exceptional, looking out for each other,’ she added.

‘The emergency services, the police, the fire, the ambulance service, the local authority, the local MP, Cat (Eccles) here, and the community have come together to really support each other.

‘But it is devastating to see the level of damage and the emotional turmoil of losing everything, and that’s what these families have gone through.’

Ms Rayner continued: ‘We’re seeing a pattern here with the wildfires. We’re seeing a pattern with climate.

‘We have introduced £100million more equipment and we’ve got specialist fire crews now that look at wildfires, and they have been pushed by what’s happened.’

The Stourbridge fire is among a host of blazes which have ripped across Britain over the last week.

Other fires have raged across South Wales, in the New Forest, and in the Cairngorms in Scotland.

Temperatures are set to cool, and rain is set to fall in some areas in coming days, but extreme heat is expected to return after that.

A total of 1,132 wildfires have now been recorded across England and Wales in 2026 so far. 

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, who was a government minister when the emergency alerts system was set up, said the message sent on Friday was an ‘abuse of the system for the purpose of political posturing’.

He added: ‘This is the equivalent of crying wolf – people won’t take it as seriously in the future, and others may seek to disable the feature.

‘Either way, using the alert system in this way has undermined its usefulness in a real imminent future emergency.’

Fellow Tory frontbencher Alex Burghart, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, also criticised the decision to send out an alert, highlighting that ‘an immediate risk to life’ should exist before it is used.

‘Tonight’s use at a national level clearly doesn’t hit that threshold and opens the door to future misuse of the system,’ he wrote on X on Friday evening.