By KATHERINE LAWTON, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

Published: 12:25 BST, 18 August 2026 | Updated: 13:02 BST, 18 August 2026

A search has been launched for a young soldier who disappeared after a bar fight that led to two people being seriously injured when struck by a vehicle. 

Liam Potts, 22, a soldier with the Coldstream Guards who had a ceremonial role in the Queen’s funeral in 2022, vanished at around 12.20am on Saturday morning following a series of incidents in the village of Wylam, Northumberland.

Locals said a disturbance broke out in a pub close to the River Tyne, minutes before two people were struck by a vehicle on Wylam Bridge.  

Liam was not one of those struck by the car, nor was he in the vehicle, but he was seen walking away in the aftermath of the collision. 

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Police said they are working on the understanding that he entered the water, but it remains unknown whether he managed to make it out again. 

Northumbria Police received a report later on Saturday afternoon concerning the welfare of Liam. He was last spotted heading towards the centre of Wylam village from Wylam Bridge.

A man and woman – each aged in their 20s – both sustained serious but non life-threatening injuries when struck by the vehicle. 

Two men, aged 22 and 23, were arrested in connection to the crash and have since been bailed.

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Liam Potts, 22, was last seen heading towards Wylam from Wylam Bridge in Northumberland shortly after midnight last Saturday

Police and mountain rescue teams continue to search for Liam after his disappearance 

Liam’s family are becoming increasingly concerned for his welfare 

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A police spokesman said: ‘Whilst enquiries are at an early stage, we can confirm Liam was on the bridge at the time of the collision.However, he was not an occupant of the vehicle and there are no reports suggesting that he was injured in the collision.

‘He subsequently left the scene and enquiries are ongoing to locate him. Liam’s next of kin have been made aware and are being supported by officers.’

A large number of police and mountain rescue teams have been in the village of Wylam, with several vehicles including a Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team ambulance at the scene.

Liam was last seen wearing black joggers, Nike trainers and a black T-shirt with large text and a diamond logo on the back. He was also wearing a gold chain.

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Northumbria Police said extensive enquiries are ongoing to find him, while officers and his family are becoming increasingly concerned for his welfare. 

Liam was stationed at Wellington Barracks with the Coldstream Guards at the age of 18 and was one of just 20 soldiers who attended the proclamation of King Charles lll.

Liam was last seen wearing black joggers, Nike trainers and a black T-shirt with large text and a diamond logo on the back

Emergency services gather as they search for the missing 22-year-old 

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He and his comrades led the traditional ‘hip hooray’ cheer to welcome the new monarch.

He was also chosen to be one of the Coldstream Guards – the British army’s oldest serving regiment – to line The Mall as the Queen’s funeral procession passed by.

At the time his proud mother said: ‘They gave her the send off she deserved.’

Following his ceremonial duties he left with his regiment for jungle training in Kenya. 

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Anyone with information has been asked to quote reference NP-20260815-0424. 

The BBC has contacted the UK Foreign Office, the Greek authorities and the aviation company for comment.

Asset management firm Blackstone, where Cromie worked, said in a statement: “We are shocked by the tragic passing of three people including our colleague Alex Cromie and his wife Marie Ebert, who were celebrating their honeymoon.

“Alex was beloved by everyone who knew and worked with him at Blackstone, and our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones.”

A senior police official told the Times that the crash came just before the helicopter’s scheduled landing time of 18:15 local time (16:15 GMT).

Sifnos’ Deputy Mayor, Manolis Foundoulakis, arrived at the scene shortly after the incident and told local news site Newsit there was almost “nothing left” of the aircraft.

He said locals saw the helicopter crash within metres of their homes and had described a “bizarre engine noise coming from the aircraft” as it was about to land.

He said two of the victims were found in the wreckage, while the third was a short distance away.

Firefighters worked to tackle a blaze which broke out after the crash, and the flames had been extinguished by Monday evening.

The officers were rushed to hospital after a van was allegedly ‘deliberately driven at them.

A woman has appeared in court after two cops were injured in an alleged hit and run in Larkhall.

The incident took place on Glen Avenue the South Lanarkshire town around 2pm on Saturday, July 25. Emergency crews rushed to the scene after police received a report of two of their uniformed officers having been knocked down.

The force confirmed that the pair had been carrying out enquiries at a property in the area before a white Renault Traffic was “deliberately driven at them”. Both male officers, aged 41 and 43, were blue-lighted to hospital.

They suffered serious injuries. Both have since been discharged, although they will remain unfit for duty for a prolonged period. Detectives investigating the attempted murder arrested a woman on Friday, August 14.

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Jemma McQuade appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Monday, August 17. The 34-year-old from Larkhall was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.

She made no plea and was committed for further examination. Ms McQuade has been granted bail and it is still to be confirmed when she is due to appear at court again.

A man is still being hunted in connection with the incident, and extensive enquiries are ongoing to track him down. More than 80 properties have been searched throughout Lanarkshire and the Scottish Borders.

Five teenagers killed when their stolen BMW ploughed head-on into a family while driving on the wrong side of a motorway had been ‘terrorising’ people over the previous days.

Joey Carthy, Alex McCarthy, Jeremy O’Brien, Jack Kennedy and Kamil Pustkowski, all aged between 15 and 18, died in the collision on the M9, in County Kildare, on Sunday morning.

Speaking soon after the ‘horrific’ crash, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said that ‘in some cases’ cars were being driven the wrong way down motorways for social media likes.

And it has now emerged the five teens often posted videos of themselves being chased by gardaí, with one clip showing the view in their rear mirror captioned ‘wrong way’.

All five were also suspected in several thefts and burglaries, in addition to further anti-social activities across Kildare and Carlow over the previous two weeks.

Each was wearing a mask when their bodies were retrieved from the wreckage, the Daily Mail reports.

The newspaper quotes security sources as saying the teenagers were part of an increasing number of youths trying to ‘one up’ each other in dangerous videos posted to social media.

‘These young guys have been terrorising communities for weeks if not longer,’ they added.

‘They did not care if they were caught as they knew they were underage and that there was little the courts system could do with them.

‘It’s becoming a growing social media trend and it’s been a nightmare for gardaí to police because they are often ordered to stand down from pursuits because of the danger that chasing these guys could put the public in.’

Sisters Niamh and Alma Kinsella, both in their 30s, younger sister Ella Hendricken, in her 20s, and Alma’s seven-year-old son Yemi all suffered serious injuries in the other car.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said yesterday he was ‘shocked and saddened’ at the crash, which was the result of ‘an irresponsible and dangerous act’.

He said: ‘This is the second appalling crash we’ve seen on our roads in a matter of days as a result of the reckless driving of a car on the wrong side of the motorway, endangering the lives of innocent road users.

‘As the Garda Commissioner has said, it is an irresponsible and dangerous act and it is shocking in some cases that it is being done for likes on social media.’

Mr Martin added: ‘My thoughts and prayers are with the family who have been injured.

‘I wish them a full recovery.

‘The lives of five teenagers have also been lost as a result.

‘Every death on our roads brings untold grief to families and communities.

‘There can be no tolerance for this reckless behaviour that we have seen on our roads recently.

‘It must stop.’

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The mounts of rubbish have persisted on the backstreets around Elmwood Grove near Queens Park at least since May this year despite repeated complaints.

Parents have been particularly alarmed by used nitrous oxide canisters, which are classed as a Class C drug, and by the potential to attract rats.

Zishan Sarwar said: “I heard about this from one of the families here and when I saw it, obviously it just disgusting.

“It’s like a jungle to be honest.”

He added: “I rang the council and they said they would get someone to sort it, I’ve rung them three times.”

The Bolton News went to visit the area around Elmwood Grove and found huge amounts of rubbish, a large bag full of used nitrous oxide cannister, and furniture strewn around.

In an ironic twist, lying amongst the rubbish there was an old Bolton Council sign warning people against fly-tipping and warning them they faced fines or prosecution.

Cllr Arif with an abandoned sign warning against fly tipping (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Sarwar said he later got in touch with Cllr Baggy Khan who then introduced him to Cllr Zan Arif, of the Queens Park and Central ward which covers Elmwood Grove.

He said that he and many of the residents would first like to see the rubbish cleaned up and then to see permanent solutions like CCTV cameras installed.

Mr Sarwar said: “We’re engaging and trying to build strong relations here, one individual would not be enough to get this removed, it needs to be a collective.”

Cllr Arif was particularly troubled to find used nitrous oxide cannisters (Image: Newsquest)

On a visit to the site, Cllr Arif came across dumped rubbish, bins that appeared to have been vandalised, and boxes of used nitrous oxide canisters.

He said: “This is the sort of stuff we’re finding in the area, and this has accumulated for quite some time.”

He added: “It’s been reported, nothing’s been done, we need to act on it as soon as possible because once something’s become a dumping ground, everybody else is going to come and think well why not? I could do that too?”

Huge amounts of rubbish have been dumped (Image: Newsquest)

Cllr Arif said he was particularly concerned to come across nitrous oxide canisters, vodka bottles, and beer cans.

He said: “There’s a theme here, its people doing some kind of recreational activity, whether its this, drinking, needles, whatever comes with it, it’s these types of people that are doing this unfortunately.”

In an apparent reference to the recent bin strike in the West Midlands, he said: “It’s a dumping ground, it looks like Birmingham!”

Bolton Council leader Cllr Akhtar Zaman said: “Fly tipping is a problem all over the borough which we are trying to deal with.

“Where possible we try to identify and deal with the culprits, bring them to court and issue fines and fixed penalty notices.

“We encourage people to always report fly tipping to local authorities.”

An official store closure date has been confirmed for a popular fashion brand

River Island will close its Swansea store next month.

The shop on Oxford Street has been a longstanding presence in the city centre but will officially close its doors on Saturday, September 12.

Signs have appeared in the windows confirming the closure, with a message thanking customers for their support. It reads: “Thanks for shopping with us – we’ve had a blast!”

The closure is the latest setback for Swansea city centre and comes just months after Marks & Spencer shut its doors following more than a century of trading in the city.

The loss of M&S left many locals disappointed, with one shopper previously telling WalesOnline: “I don’t know why or where these big shops go… British Home Stores, Next. It’s terrible. There will be nothing here before long – other than the market.”

The city has also seen the loss of other major brands like The Body Shop and Zara, however, both units have since been filled by the likes of premium home and body cosmetics brand, Rituals and Scandinavian lifestyle brand Søstrene Grene.

The Swansea closure comes as River Island continues with a major restructuring of its store estate. Earlier this year, the fashion retailer announced plans to close 27 branches as part of efforts to secure the future of the business.

In Wales, its Wrexham shop closed on January 18, while its Llandudno Retail Park branch also subsequently ceased trading. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here

At the time, River Island chief executive Ben Lewis said the retailer had been affected by the long-term shift in shopping habits, with more customers choosing to shop online rather than on the high street.

He stated: “River Island is a much-loved retailer with a decades-long history on the British high street.

“However, the well-documented migration of shoppers from the high street to online has left the business with a large portfolio of stores that is no longer aligned to our customers’ needs.

“The sharp rise in the cost of doing business over the last few years has only added to the financial burden. We have a clear strategy to transform the business to ensure its long-term viability.

“Recent improvements in our fashion offer and in-store shopping experience are already showing very positive results, but it is only with a restructuring plan that we will be able to see this strategy through and secure River Island’s future as a profitable retail business.”

WalesOnline has contacted River Island for comment.

On Monday, SEW apologised to customers.

Head of health and safety Mike Pickard told BBC South East the team were “exhausted and being pushed to limits” trying to manage the “unacceptable” situation.

While understanding the difficulties faced by customers, he said the company was aware of a number of incidents of abuse directed at staff and contractors, which it would “not tolerate”.

On Tuesday, he added: “Being angry about the situation is understandable, but attacking a vehicle, threatening a member of staff or subjecting our teams to abuse is not acceptable.

“No one should face threats, intimidation or violence simply for doing their job, our people are not responsible for the disruption.

“If our teams feel unsafe, they may have no choice but to leave an area.”

On Monday, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the situation was “simply not good enough.”

A spokesperson said the company’s new leadership “must now deliver a step change in performance, where customers’ needs are prioritised”.

SEW was the first water firm to issue a hosepipe ban this summer, having barred 850,000 customers in Kent on 3 July.

This ban was extended to parts of Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire about three weeks later.

An employee of a company that provides accommodation for asylum seekers has been charged with misconduct in public office over sharing the properties’ addresses.

Houses in St John’s Way, Bracken Road, Clover Way, Elm Road and Chester Way in Thetford, Norfolk, were targeted by crowds over three nights earlier this month.

James Jobson, 62, from Highlow Road, Costessey, near Norwich, works at Serco and appeared at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

He was remanded in custody and will appear at Norwich Crown Court on 14 September.

The charge states that between 3 and 14 August, while acting as a public officer namely Serco, Jobson “wilfully and without reasonable excuse, or justification” committed misconduct in a way which “amounted to an abuse of the public’s trust in the office”.

Norfolk Police said the charge was in connection to the “release of information relating to a number of addresses in Thetford, which were later targeted during several nights of violent disorder in the town”.

A spokesperson for Serco said: “This matter is currently being handled by the police, and we are cooperating fully. As this relates to an ongoing legal process, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

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University resits are a second chance for students who have experienced academic difficulties. Typically resit exams are sat during the summer break.

But while resits are available to all eligible students, the ability to engage with them is influenced by broader inequalities.

When students fail assessments, the conversation typically shifts towards personal responsibility. The assumption is that students need to work harder or manage their time more effectively to bounce back.

However, this way of thinking can oversimplify a much more unequal experience. Bouncing back from educational adversity, called academic resilience, is linked to wellbeing. Less resilient learners are more likely to suffer the negative cognitive effects of adversity.

By focusing only on individual resilience, universities risk overlooking the inequalities that determine who can make the most of their second chance.

Unequal circumstances

Students with stable housing, family financial support and access to quiet study spaces are better positioned to focus on revision over the resit period.

On the other hand, many students will have a different experience. Some students need to work more to cover basic living costs, while others face housing problems such as paying rent. Financial pressures can reduce the amount of time, energy and emotional capacity these students have available for revision.

A recent research report found that 66% of students work to cover basic living costs, while 26% work to support their families. Students balancing work commitments alongside resits may face disadvantages compared to peers with greater financial security.

Social isolation and belonging also play a significant role. During the summer months resit period, many students return home or move away from campus. This reduces their opportunities for connecting with other students. Revising alone can intensify feelings of disconnection and perceptions of failure or exclusion.

Belonging is not simply an individual feeling, but is shaped by institutional culture and access to academic support. When those studying at university are separated from this environment, they may feel less connected to the academic community and begin to lose their sense of academic identity.

Summer resits can also leave students with little downtime from university work. This be especially challenging for students with caring responsibilities, including those who are parents.

Resits can result in students becoming more anxious and losing confidence in their academic abilities. They may trigger concerns about disappointing family members, losing financial support or jeopardising career plans. Feelings of disappointment may discourage students from seeking support, reinforcing isolation and disengagement.

In some cases, repeated academic difficulties may lead students to drop out of their degree. Resits therefore involve far more than simply retaking an assessment. They are an emotionally complex experience.

Helping all students

Workshops on exam technique and study skills provided by universities are valuable. However, students often require broader forms of help during periods of academic difficulty.

Research has found that students undertaking resits value clear guidance and opportunities to help build their self-confidence.

One proposed approach for universities arising from our work is the development of “resit roadmaps”. These plans provide students with individualised guidance, structured timelines and signposting to support services. While this could add to academic staff workload, it should help make resit support more consistent and equal.

Support should be proactive and tailored to students’ individual circumstances. Universities can help students by improving the quality of feedback after failed assessments and supporting them to understand and use that feedback. However, it is unclear to what extent universities can fully level the playing field, when many of the challenges students face during resits are due to wider financial and social inequalities beyond institutional control.

When universities aim to increase participation to make themselves open to people from all parts of society, they often focus heavily on access. Less attention is given to how students are supported once they encounter difficulties.

The resulting awarding gaps, where some groups are more likely to achieve top degrees than others, significantly and disproportionately affect students from Black and other ethnic minority groups. If universities are committed to equity and inclusion, support during periods of struggle must become a central part of widening participation strategies rather than an afterthought.