Pale does not mean feeble. While researching this piece, over lunch at Scott’s Richmond I found an excellent illustration in Yorkshire grouse from H.G. Walter, served with butternut squash purée and sliced cabbage: richly flavoured, yet given lift rather than weight. Chef Tom Fraser had bypassed the usual bread sauce, parfait and game chips. ‘Always seems strange to me eating grouse this time of year with the traditional additions… especially with the heat we’ve had recently,’ he says. ‘Tried to lighten it up a bit.’ With such a dish, reach for a slightly chilled Pinot with tea leaf, earth and woodland notes, rather than sweet fruit or emphatic oak.

This issue is the latest in a litany of fitness woes to have impacted Musiala in recent years. The most notable of these came as the former Chelsea academy starlet suffered a broken ankle at the Club World Cup in the summer of 2025, which kept him sidelined for several months, though he recovered in time to feature for Germany at the World Cup.

?

Select your team for football news tailored to you

Lindsay Clancy’s former mother-in-law was called to testify by the defense on Tuesday, in the fourth week of her murder trial.

Clancy was “begging for help” in the months leading up to killing her three children and attempting to end her own life, said Susan Clancy, mother of Patrick Clancy. “Lindsay was struggling — we were all concerned.”

Susan Clancy, who like her daughter-in-law was a labor and delivery nurse, told jurors in the Plymouth Superior Court that she and Lindsay were close, calling her a “wonderful mother” who was “very nurturing, very loving.”

Susan Clancy said that Lindsay was transparent about her struggles and would ask for her mother-in-law’s support.

Texts between Lindsay and Susan Clancy in which Lindsay spoke about fears that she had developed a dependence on benzodiazepines, but couldn’t sleep without taking them were shown to the jury.

“I’m not okay and I’m terrified of taking meds tonight,” Lindsay texted her mother-in-law on Nov. 30, 2022, two months before the killings.

Susan Clancy’s testimony echoed emotional accounts the day before from Lindsay’s mother and sister, who recounted for jurors how they saw her become increasingly anxious, paranoid and suicidal starting in the fall of 2022.

The trial centers not on whether Lindsay Clancy killed her children, which her lawyers do not dispute, but on her state of mind at the time. The defense argues she should not be held criminally responsible because she was suffering from postpartum psychosis, while prosecutors say she planned the killings and understood what she was doing.

Lindsay Clancy’s ex-husband found their children after they had been strangled in the family basement in January 2023

Lindsay Clancy also attempted to take her own life that night, and was left paralyzed. Lindsay and Patrick Clancy are now divorced.

If convicted of murder, Lindsay Clancy faces life in prison without parole. If found not guilty because of a lack of criminal responsibility, she would be committed to a state mental health facility.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI) or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you

Angela Constance said the model to centralise neonatal intensive care services in Scotland “is the right one”.

Scotland’s Health Secretary has insisted the model to centralise neonatal intensive care services “is the right one”.

That is despite a backlash from worried parents and campaigners including those fighting to stop the downgrade of University Hospital Wishaw’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The Scottish Government published The Best Start: A five-year forward plan for maternity and neonatal care in Scotland in 2017.

The report set out to place the current and future needs of women, babies and families, and person-centred, relationship-based care, at the heart of redesigned maternity and neonatal services.

One of its key recommendations was to centralise specialist services by reducing the number of neonatal intensive care units (Nicus) from eight to three.

Speaking on BBC Scotland’s Breakfast Show on Tuesday, Angela Constance said: “It’s really important that as the Health Secretary that I continue to be very clear about the central importance of following clinical advice and clinical expertise. The model, I believe, is the right one, and it is well evidenced.”

Ms Constance acknowledged concerns about such needs to travel, but that the evidence shows the proposals will have the best outcome for the sickest babies.

“I understand that people want to be near their babies, they want their babies to have the best prospects,” she said.

“What the evidence also tells us is that clinical care, and for these smallest babies, that if they are in units where there is the highest level of expertise around intensive care, that there are the right facilities for surgery, perhaps life-saving surgery.

“That improves the prospects of these very sickest babies, babies born less than 27 weeks gestation, less than 800 grams, who need those multiple complex intensive care.”

University Hospital Wishaw is amongst the hospitals that will see its unit downgraded. It was named neonatal unit of the year in 2023 and serves a population of 655,000 people.

Under the changes outlined by the Government, only the units at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, and Aberdeen Maternity Unit will retain top-level intensive care status for babies born under 27 weeks or weighing under 800g.

Ms Constance said: “What our advice said in the best start review was that in the short term we should move to three to five, but the longer term position was to move to three specialist units, and that is based on the need for clinicians to maintain their expertise. For them to maintain their expertise they have to be regularly dealing with particular patients.”

A campaign against the Scottish Government’s plans, led by the Wishaw Neonatal Warriors group, said the changes would be “catastrophic”.

An online petition against the downgrading of the unit has so far received more than 26,000 signatures.

At the end of last year, a public meeting heard from parents, clinicians and campaigners to oppose the planned downgrade of Wishaw Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

People packed into the town’s Jim Foley Community Centre for the gathering, which was organised in collaboration with the Wishaw Neonatal Warriors campaign group.

Dr Caroline Delahunty, former consultant neonatologist at Wishaw General, added: “During my time as a consultant, Wishaw served the third largest health board population in Scotland, with care delivered by a specialist multi-disciplinary team of consultants, neonatal nurses and allied health professionals.

“In my opinion, shared by other clinicians, Wishaw Neonatal Unit should remain in a position to care for Lanarkshire’s babies.”

Previously Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: “The Best Start report into neonatal care recommended developing three to five neonatal intensive care units, yet the Scottish Government has agreed to reduce the number to three.

“Aside from the impact at Ninewells in Dundee, this will result in the downgrade of the award-winning Wishaw neonatal unit.

“We also know that the lack of capacity in Glasgow means mums and the very sickest babies may have to travel hundreds of miles to Aberdeen.”

*Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.

The ED3 service will be for East Durham College students only, operating between the Houghall and Peterlee sites, Arriva said.

However, services ED1, ED2, ED4 and ED5 will not return for the 2026/27 academic year following the end of the East Durham College contract for the services.

Students travelling to the East Durham College site can still use services 22, 24 and X22, as well as occasional extended journeys on service 23.

Those travelling to the Houghall College site can use services 56, 58 and X12.

Passengers aged under 22 can take advantage of Arriva North East’s £1 single ticket or £3 day ticket.

Full details can be found on the Arriva website.

A woman who died at a techno music festival in the grounds of a stately home has been named as a prominent Ibiza-based DJ.

Santanna Maria Ally, 38, who performed under the name Santanna Oush, died on August 9 at the 18th century Houghton Hall in north Norfolk.

She was found unconscious in a tent on the last day of the Houghton Festival and pronounced dead, despite the efforts of the on-site medical team.

The four day event is known for its rave-style dance and electronic music, played around the clock.

It is often referred to as the UK’s poshest music festival and was attended by the Princess of Wales three years ago.

An inquest that opened today at Norfolk Coroner’s Court in Norwich heard that the provisional medical cause of Ms Ally’s death was hanging. 

She was formally identified at the festival by her friend Amber Matheson.

Her sister Katy confirmed that Ms Ally was born in London on May 15, 1988, worked as a DJ and usually lived in Ibiza.

Her death was initially treated as unexplained by Norfolk Police but is not believed to be suspicious.

Norfolk coroner Yvonne Blake has now ordered Ms Ally’s GP records to be obtained as part of the investigation into her death. A full inquest will be held on December 15 this year.

Ms Ally’s family has also been invited to provide a pen portrait and any background information they believe may be relevant to the circumstances.

She was a well-known figure within Ibiza’s dance music community and had been a DJ for more than two decades.

Ms Ally had lived in the north of Ibiza and performed at some of the island’s best-known venues, including Pikes Ibiza and Hï Ibiza.

She was also the founder of OuShe, a female-led party and movement which championed women in music and gave emerging performers opportunities to play live.

It began at Pikes around five years ago before expanding to other venues in Ibiza, London and France.

In an interview last year, Miss Ally described OuShe as both a party and a platform created to ‘elevate and celebrate women in music’.

She said it offered space to women ranging from experienced performers to those who had never previously played to a live audience.

Miss Ally was also a vocalist, songwriter and radio presenter and had spoken about plans to release her own music.

Tributes have poured in from friends, fellow artists, promoters and venues following her death.

Houghton is the UK’s only 24-hour music festival and features techno, house, drum and bass and jazz

An inquest which was opened today at Norfolk Coroner’s Court in Norwich heard that the provisional medical cause of Ms Ally’s death was hanging

One fellow DJ recalled playing alongside Miss Ally regularly during the Covid era in Ibiza and said there was ‘something special’ about sharing a bill with her.

She said the pair loved the same music and would jokingly compete over who could play or mix a particular track first.

The friend added: ‘Thank you for the music. Thank you for the laughs. Thank you for the memories.’

Others described Miss Ally as a vibrant and unforgettable presence whose energy could transform a dancefloor, while praising her commitment to supporting women and emerging artists.

Several tributes also urged people to check in with friends and not to assume somebody was well because they appeared to be smiling, working, travelling or socialising.

A GoFundMe appeal set up by her friend, Marcus Eppy, to help pay for her to have ‘a fantastic funeral’ has so far raised more than £8,000.

Mr Eppy stated on the appeal page: ‘I’m setting this up to help fund the funeral and send off for Santanna (Oush) Ally that she deserves and would want (especially to be the main person involved).

‘Those that knew Santanna knew her as mad as a box of frogs, which she was, but she had a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone at any time of the day, she was a very much loved daughter, sister, auntie, granddaughter and much loved friend.

Houghton music festival has been dubbed the UK’s ‘poshest’ and is held near the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk

Advertisement

Miss Ally had lived in the north of Ibiza and performed at some of the island’s best-known venues, including Pikes Ibiza and Hï Ibiza

‘Her love and passion for music and to spread the love was phenomenal and was always the life and soul of the party, from a quiet meditation session to a full scale party she would do everything to make it happen and make sure everyone was having the time of they’re lives and making the best memories they can.

‘This was not expected but, like Santanna was, it was spontaneous but also on the other hand it has devastated many and broken the hearts and lives of many.

‘Anything given will be amazing to help and any over im sure would go to a good cause as Santanna was a giver and would never let anyone miss out.

‘The family would like to thank everyone and hope that many will come and celebrate the life of Santanna that touched so many hearts. Lastly as Santanna would say… OUUSH. Fly high Santanna and keep the party going.’

Norfolk Police were called to the festival at 8.11pm on August 9 following concerns for the safety of a woman who had been found unconscious inside a tent.

This year’s festival featured music played 24/7 on stages set across the grounds of the 1,000-acre estate which is home to David Cholmondeley, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, and his wife Rose Hanbury.

The couple are friends and neighbours of the Prince and Princess of Wales with Houghton Hall being less than two miles from Kate and William’s country retreat at Anmer Hall on the 20,000 acre Sandringham estate.

Houghton Festival is the UK’s only 24-hour music festival, which means that some form of techno, house, or drum and bass or jazz is playing at every point on at least one of its stages throughout the weekend.

The Princess of Wales, a friend of David Cholmondeley, at whose estate the festival is held, was pictured at Houghton in 2023

It was set up in 2017 by DJ Craig Richards, the longest-serving resident DJ of London nightclub Fabric, who has played over 700 Saturday night sets at the club since 1999.

Attendees at the festival, paying between £280 and £330 for weekend tickets, are said to don fluffy bucket hats, skin-baring rave gear, and side bags as they dance the days and nights away on the 1,000-acre site.

It is regularly dubbed as the UK’s poshest music festival, attracting wealthy and high society ravers determined to let their hair down in the north Norfolk countryside.

The Princess of Wales is said to have made her visit on the Saturday evening in August 2023, accompanied by security guards and a group of friends, after having dinner with the Cholmondeleys in Houghton Hall.

According to reports, Kate was hesitant, but eventually agreed to go into the festival, although there was no sign of Prince William being with her.

The mother-of-three is said to have shunned the food trucks, instead opting for the upscale on-site restaurant, Turntable & Napkin, where festival-goers could treat themselves to a four-course meal, featuring burrata, panzanella, short rib ragu, and affogato, for £60 a head.

A source at the restaurant told the Evening Standard that Kate, who was wearing an understated black off-the-shoulder top, black skinny jeans and Veja trainers, was in high spirits.

She was seen ordering spicy margaritas, eating affogato, and speaking with the other members of her party who enjoyed balthazar-sized bottles of AIX rosé.

The festival regularly attracts wealthy and high society ravers to the north Norfolk countryside

The group with Kate were reported to have left a £700 tip to the festival restaurant staff before she left via the festival’s Pavilion stage.

It is unknown if she toured the rest of the festival site or saw any of the acts that night, which included DJ Stingray, DMX Crew, Shanti Celeste, and Radioactive Man.

The line up for Houghton 2026 event included major names from the dance music scene, including Ben UFO, Helena Hauff, Objekt, CCL, Underground Resistance & Saul Williams and Paquita Gordon.

The Houghton Festival released a statement on Instagram after Miss Ally’s death, saying: ‘We are deeply saddened to confirm that a person has passed away at Houghton 2026. Our thoughts are entirely with their family and loved ones at this difficult time.

‘We are grateful to our onsite medical team, event response team and to Norfolk Constabulary, who all responded immediately.

‘We continue to work closely with the relevant authorities to support in any way we can with their investigations.’

The death of Miss Ally came just over a week after a 17-year-old girl also died from a ‘medical episode’ at the Kendal Calling festival in the Lake District.

By RICHARD MARSDEN, GENERAL REPORTER

Published: 17:48 BST, 18 August 2026 | Updated: 19:02 BST, 18 August 2026

Forget the sunscreen, now brollies and waterproofs might come in handy.

After five successive heatwaves brought devastating wildfires and drought conditions, the arrival of widespread rain could come as a much-needed relief.

But as torrential thundery showers make their way south across the country, drenching all but south-eastern areas, forecasters warn there could be flash flooding – because the ground is too hard to soak up the water.

The worst weather is forecast for Thursday, when heavy and thundery downpours are set to move south from Scotland.

Advertisement

Mike Silverstone, the Met Office’s deputy chief forecaster, warned: ‘As some of these showers could be intense, there is a chance of some surface water flooding as the rain falls on very dry and hard ground.’

He added: ‘While some of these will be heavy, some areas will miss them altogether.’

London and South East England, in particular, are likely to stay dry and sunny.

Temperatures over the coming days are due to reach highs in the low 20s Celsius (70s Fahrenheit) in southern England and Wales but only the high teens (60s F) in northern areas – more typical for a British summer.

Advertisement

A satellite image shows a largely brown and yellow-looking country last week

Rain could potentially cause flooding because the ground is hard and water cannot soak in

Thundery showers are likely to continue into Friday before a fine and dry Saturday.

Advertisement

Widespread rain first arrived late yesterday, spreading south-eastwards, followed by further showers today, particularly in northern areas.

Patchy drizzle is due to clear from the south east tomorrow morning followed by a return of sunshine in many areas.

Mr Silverstone said: ‘Many areas in England and Wales are desperate for rain, this week some of these areas will see the first meaningful rain for a long time.’

Wildfires destroyed 19 homes in Stourbridge, West Midlands, prompting an emergency alert

Advertisement

The prospect of further hot weather is not over yet, though – with ‘warm, humid spells’ possible through the rest of August and even another heatwave in September.

‘Largely dry and settled’ weather is likely over the weekend and into the first half of next week, although showers are possible in the far southeast and temperatures are not likely to rise above the 20s.

Unsettled conditions with ‘rain or showers’ and strengthening winds are predicted towards the Bank Holiday weekend.

But the Met Office has raised the spectre of a sixth heatwave before the autumn equinox – saying the first half of September could see ‘late season hot spells or heatwaves develop, especially in the south’.

Advertisement

The scorching conditions which have dominated Britain’s weather since May have seen drought conditions declared in two-thirds of England and all of Wales, turning parched fields yellow and draining reservoirs and water reserves.

More than 27 million people are now subject to restrictions on water use. Wessex Water was the latest company to bring in a hosepipe ban from today.

Last week saw the hottest day of the year with temperatures peaking at 38.1C (100.6F) on Thursday – close to the all-time record of 40.3C (104.5F) recorded in 2022 – sparking devastating wildfires including one which destroyed 19 homes in Stourbridge, West Midlands.

Tinder dry conditions have seen large blazes break out in countryside from the Peak District to the New Forest, South Wales and Suffolk – and resulted in the government issuing the first ever national emergency alert for wildfires to mobile phones last Friday.

Advertisement

July was the driest in England and Wales since records began 190 years ago and some areas recorded no rain for nearly two months, including Wisley, Surrey.

An investigation is underway into a suspected botulism outbreak at a lake in St George’s Park, Bristol, where locals have reported animals have been falling sick

People are being urged to avoid contact with sick animals or the water at a Bristol lake following a suspected outbreak of a potentially deadly illness.

An investigation is underway by Bristol City Council into a suspected botulism outbreak at a lake in St George’s Park where locals have reported that wildlife has been sick or dying.

According to the NHS, botulism can be life-threatening and needs immediate treatment in hospital. It is caused by a paralysing neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Animals and humans can become sick by ingesting the toxin or the bacteria that produce it.

One local resident said it was “heartbreaking” to see the “devastating impact” on wildlife.

Advertisement

“Local residents are extremely concerned and distressed by the number of animals that have reportedly become sick or died,” they said. “There is a genuine sense of sadness, frustration and anger among people who care deeply about St George Park and its wildlife.

“Residents want to understand what is happening, what is being done about it, and whether everything possible is being done to prevent further suffering.”

Bristol City Council is actively investigating reports of an outbreak and it has urged members of the public not to touch injured animals and to avoid people and dogs coming into contact with the water in the meantime.

A spokesperson stated: “We are aware of reports concerning suspected botulism in the lake at St George Park and are actively investigating them.”