Hayden Panettiere’s mother Lesley Vogel has broken her silence on her estranged daughter’s shock death at 36.

Vogel, 70, blasted Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend and convicted felon Brian Hickerson, 37, who in a newly-released police report, was revealed to have been with her when she died from a suspected overdose in Greenville, South Carolina on Sunday.

Panettiere and Hickerson had an on-off relationship from 2018 to 2022 that was marred by domestic violence incidents and arrests – with Hickerson serving jail time for abusing her. In recent months they had been seen spending time together once again.

Vogel told NBC News: ‘This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death and that was Brian Hickerson.

‘There is a lot of history in the past that Brian has enabled Hayden many times and this is why her father and I had been concerned for a long time about him.’

Vogel claimed Panettiere and Hickerson were still together at the time of her death and said she ‘always knew they were together.’

‘I think Hayden was an amazingly talented person in so many departments and I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry’ she said, ‘it is a struggle and it’s a very challenging industry and it’s not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path.

‘I think it becomes very difficult to be true to yourself, and I think Hayden sadly lost her way, and I wish it were different. I wish she had stayed true to herself because she had many incredible attributes.’

Vogel broke down in tears as she addressed the death of her son Jansen in 2023 aged just 28, saying: ‘I just feel that she’s with her brother and they’re at peace.’

Vogel blasted Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend and convicted felon Brian Hickerson, who was revealed to have been with her when she died from a suspected overdose on Sunday; The two seen in 2018

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Vogel is grieving the loss of her second child – three years after son Jansen died aged just 28 – pictured 2019 – and said ‘I just feel that she’s with her brother and they’re at peace’

Weighing in on the timing of the 911 call on Sunday that her daughter was in ‘cardiac arrest’ Vogel said she was concerned because it’s ‘not the typical hour of the day that you are partying, generally speaking.’

Vogel last spoke to her daughter in October, and said they had been ‘texting a bit since then, but not in some time.’

‘No-contact was a choice I made for very specific reasons and, you know, certainly not for lack of care, concern, love’ Vogel added.

She said she had ‘very little information as the investigation was ongoing but that she would be speaking with a detective.’ 

The Daily Mail has contacted Vogel for further comment.

Hickerson and his brother were inside Panettiere’s apartment when the actress suffered a suspected fatal heart attack on Sunday, police said on Tuesday. 

Hickerson and his brother Zach witnessed her final moments in the Judson Mill Lofts apartment complex, according to a newly released report from the Greenville Police Department. 

An officer at the scene said Zach was ‘very emotional’ as he saw paramedics perform CPR, but added Hickerson did not show any emotion until his partner was declared dead. 

Brian Hickerson allegedly then showed police a ‘bag of medication’ that Panettiere had been taking at the time of her death, kept inside the apartment complex where she was temporarily staying. 

The heavily redacted police report said officers arrived at 1.50pm, and officers found multiple EMS and firemen performing CPR for ‘an extended amount of time’ on the actress, ‘who did not seem to have any obvious physical reasons to be unresponsive.’

The Greenville County Coroner’s Office has said Panettiere’s cause of death remains under investigation, however audio of the 911 call from her apartment showed a dispatcher described it as a ‘cardiac arrest.’ 

A dispatcher could be heard in the audio saying that Panettiere had suffered a suspected overdose, and sources told TMZ that Narcan – a nasal medication used to treat an opioid overdose – was also found on a mattress at the property. 

Vogel and Hickerson have a tumultuous history – in May Hickerson slammed Vogel amid a public clash over allegations the actress writes about in her forthcoming memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.

‘I do have some things to say about Hayden’s mom: Hayden’s mother is, by far, one of the worst people I’ve ever met in my life,’ Hickerson told TMZ. ‘I just can’t with her – she’s terrible.’

The Heroes star’s on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson was in the apartment where she died alongside his brother Zach (seen together)

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Vogel told NBC News, ‘This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death and that was Brian Hickerson’ – pictured with Panettiere in 2007

Panettiere previously said she got ‘brutally honest’ in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning about her mother pushing her too hard and doubling as her manager 

An officer at the scene said Zach was ‘very emotional’ as he saw paramedics perform CPR, but added Hickerson did not show any emotion until his partner was declared dead 

The topic that has sparked resentment was Panettiere stating that she had always been bisexual – having preferred females to males ‘a very, very young age’ – but was discouraged from letting others know. 

The Heroes star said Vogel, who managed her at one point, had encouraged her to keep it to herself, so it wouldn’t impact her career negatively. 

In May Vogel told the Daily Mail she was skeptical about the timing and suggested her daughter’s sexuality was not really a secret.

Reacting to her daughter’s public declaration, Vogel said: ‘I do not believe it was being hidden, but there is no historic proof that this is the case.

‘I do think the timing of this coming out is very interesting.’

She added that her estrangement from her daughter was a ‘recent occurrence,’ claiming it began around ‘mid-September’ of 2025.

‘We each are entitled to choose our path in life,’ Vogel said. ‘After 20 years of trauma, chaos, addictions [and] accusations, I felt I had no other option but to choose no contact.’

She added: ‘There will forever be a lingering hope that she will find her own path to inner peace.’ 

Panettiere previously said she got ‘brutally honest’ in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning about her mother pushing her too hard and doubling as her manager.

‘I was so scared of her that approaching her and being honest about my feelings [back then] was not going to get me any positive reaction. This is my way of doing it.’

She also dove into her struggles with substance abuse, postpartum depression and the sudden loss of her younger brother, Jansen, who unexpectedly died in 2023. He was 28.

He suffered from an enlarged heart and aortic valve complications. Before his death, he too struggled with substance abuse. Panettiere, for her part, has struggled with alcohol and opiate abuse.

‘I was shocked that it had gotten that bad,’ she said, referencing her brother’s use of crack and heroin. ‘When he said that he had put those two substances in his body, I was floored. I should have understood better than anybody what he was going through. And of all the people that could have saved him from passing away, it should have been me.’

Panettiere died in the Judson Mill Lofts apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina (pictured) where she was temporarily staying 

With her brother gone and her mother estranged, the actress said she was close to her father, Alan Lee ‘Skip’ Panettiere, and her stepmother, Mekdem.

‘My dad and I have a great relationship,’ she told the publication. ‘I actually went and lived with him and my stepmom for a while, where I was born and raised in Rockland County, and felt like being at home re-grounded me. Being around family reminded me of who I am at my core.’ 

Panettiere first began dating Hickerson in 2018, however, their on-off relationship became tumultuous as he was arrested several times on domestic violence charges.

Panettiere had spoken of her troubled childhood in the spotlight in recent months, and revealed intimate details of her relationship with Hickerson in her memoir published three months before her death. 

She was mother to an 11-year-old daughter with her ex-partner Wladimir Klitschko, a former boxer turned Ukrainian government official who has full custody of the youngster.  

In her memoir, titled ‘This Is Me: A Reckoning’, Panettiere alleged that Hickerson once beat her so severely that she had to remain in her house for weeks to keep her injuries from the public. 

She said she tried to keep the alleged abuse from the police because she feared the public would find out, and described her relationship as a ‘very dark and complicated time in my life.’

In one incident, Hickerson was arrested in May 2019, and court records show he was charged with injuring a spouse or girlfriend. He pleaded no contest to the allegations in April 2021, and he was sentenced to 45 days in county jail and four years’ probation. 

Just three days before Panettiere’s death, Hickerson had a request to reduce his past felony charges denied by a judge.  

Panettiere’s relationship with Hickerson appeared to end in 2020, and in July of that year she filed for a restraining order against him. The outcome of her request is not stated on court records. 

The Greenville Police Department said in a statement that ‘the preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances,’ and an autopsy found ‘no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death.’ 

Panettiere died aged 36 on Sunday after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest in a South Carolina apartment complex 

Panettiere had an 11-year-old daughter called Kaya following a life-threatening birth, who she welcomed with former fiancé, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko – pictured 2010

In 2018, following her split from Klitschko, 50, Panettiere announced she had made the ‘difficult decision’ to sign full custody to her ex, meaning Kaya would move to his native Ukraine 

Discussing the prospect of bringing her daughter back, Hayden insisted that she would not want to take her away from her ‘incredible’ life in Ukraine. She said: ‘By the time I finally got healthy, I felt like it would have been unfair of me to, and selfish of me to try to pull her out of this life that she had been creating’ 

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The star and her on-off real estate agent boyfriend were said to have flown from Los Angeles to South Carolina, where he is from, one day before she died. 

Panettiere had an 11-year-old daughter called Kaya following a life-threatening birth, but later gave full custody to her former fiancé, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko. 

The star began acting as a child, appearing in soap operas, then gained wider recognition for her role in the 2000 sports drama Remember the Titans with Denzel Washington, and as the voice of Dot in Pixar’s 1998 film A Bug’s Life. 

Panettiere later found fame playing cheerleader Claire Bennet in the superhero drama Heroes before starring as country singer Juliette Barnes for six seasons on Nashville.

She earned two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress on the show, while her singing produced 11 entries on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.

Panettiere’s film credits include 2006’s Bring It On: All or Nothing, the comedy-drama film Raising Helen, and appearances in Scream 4 and Scream VI as Kirby Reed.

Faye Marsay stars as Lizzie Davis in the latest series of Apple TV+ comedy Ted Lasso, joining one of television’s most acclaimed and anticipated shows as its long-awaited fourth season begins rolling out this month.

Many will recognise the Middlesbrough-born actress for her iconic role as The Waif – a mysterious and ruthless member of the Faceless Men in Game of Thrones.

Faye Marsay as the Waif in Game of Thrones. (Image: IMDB)

The 39-year-old went on to portray Steph Chambers in the acclaimed mining strike comedy-drama Pride, before appearing as Sybil Holland in the Oscar-winning wartime film Darkest Hour alongside Gary Oldman.

Her work across both film and television has continued to span a wide range of genres, including period dramas, crime thrillers and literary adaptations.

Among them was Lady Chatterley’s Lover as Hilda, before more recently appearing in Stephen Graham’s award-winning Netflix hit Adolescence – one of the most talked-about dramas of 2025.

Faye Marsay in Adolescence. (Image: IMDB)

Now, Marsay is back in the spotlight, with audiences introduced to Lizzie Davis, a player on Richmond AFC’s women’s team in the fourth season of Ted Lasso.

The actress’ newest role is a major credit, as the Apple TV+ series became a global success following its launch in 2020, winning multiple Emmy Awards and attracting fans around the world.

Marsay moved from Middlesbrough to Loftus in her youth, and attended Laurence Jackson School in Guisborough before studying at Prior Pursglove College.

Faye Marsay. (Image: IMDB)

Her acting ambitions eventually took her to the prestigious Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, where she won the Spotlight Prize in 2012, before landing a major role in historical drama The White Queen.

While her career has taken her from Teesside to some of the biggest productions in film and television, Marsay’s roots remain firmly in the North East.

With a starring role in one of television’s most popular shows, the Middlesbrough-born actress continues to represent Teesside on an international stage.

A man convicted of murder in Romania travelled to Britain after being released from prison and killed his flatmate in an attack described as ‘strikingly similar’. 

Eugeniu Neamtu, 59, was this week found guilty of fatally stabbing 63-year-old Gheorghe Trica at their Walthamstow, north-east London, flat on February 20.

It was heard at the Old Bailey that the two men had been arguing about money in the moments before Neamtu stabbed his victim in the chest with a kitchen knife. 

Witnesses reported hearing Mr Trica shouting: ‘Give me back those £5’, before Neamtu cried: ‘F**k off, I don’t have any to give you, leave me.’ 

Mr Trica was found lying in a pool of blood on a communal balcony outside the flat a short time later. Despite the efforts of paramedics and police, he died at the scene from a single stab wound to the chest.   

Neamtu was spotted throwing an item over the balcony’s banister shortly after the attack. A police dog was used to search the area and the murder weapon – a black-handled steak knife – was recovered from the garden. 

The ‘dangerous offender’ also made a call to 999, in which he said: ‘There was an incident here and a person is injured. There was an altercation, a man was cut, and I am the perpetrator’ .

Witnesses identified Neamtu as the man who stabbed Mr Trica when police officers arrived at the scene a short time later. 

Gheorghe Trica, 63, was found lying in a pool of blood at the scene and died from a single stab wound to the chest

Following his arrest, he claimed in prepared statements that Mr Trica had threatened to kill him, pushed him down the stairs and made throat-slitting gestures.

He said he picked up the knife from the kitchen to ‘scare’ his flatmate and stabbed him in the chest to protect himself.

Prosecutor Philip Evans KC said: ‘He said that Gheorghe Trica was swearing towards his family members and had been drinking cider from cans.

‘At one point Gheorghe pushed him and he fell down the stairs, and that he had an injury on his rear right shoulder and a scrape on his forehead.

‘He said that Gheorghe Trica continued swearing and making threats towards him and went to grab a chair to attack him with.’

But Mr Evans also pointed out during the trial that, in fact, Neamtu had stabbed a man and tried to cast the blame on his victim on a previous occasion.  

The 59-year-old was convicted in May 2007 of fatally stabbing his housemate Adrian Vas during a drunken row centred around money in his native Romania. 

The incident occurred during August 2006 at the home where Neamtu and Vas were living together.  

Mr Evans said the housemates had been drinking plum brandy and rowed over rent and work that the defendant had agreed to carry out at the property.

During the confrontation, the defendant took up a knife from the hallway and stabbed Mr Vas several times in the chest, jurors were told. 

Neamtu told Romanian authorities that he and Mr Vas had argued, insulted each other and fought with objects to hand, and that it was possible he struck Mr Vas with a knife in self‑defence.

After being arrested, Neamtu claimed in prepared statements that Mr Trica had threatened to kill him, pushed him down the stairs and made throat-slitting gestures

The 59-year-old was found guilty of the crime at the Old Bailey and will be sentenced on Friday, August 21

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In later accounts, he said that he picked up a knife because he was afraid and that Mr Vas had provoked him, the court was told.

The Romanian court rejected the defendant’s claim of self‑defence.

Mr Evans said: ‘The prosecution in this case relies on this previous conviction because of the striking similarities between the circumstances of that offence and the allegation you are concerned with in this trial.

‘In both cases the defendant was involved in a drunken argument with an associate over money. In both cases he took up a knife from within the home.

‘In both cases he stabbed the other man in the chest. In both cases he later claimed that he acted in self‑defence.’

Neamtu’s earlier murder conviction can only now be reported following the conclusion of his trial for the killing of Mr Trica. 

He was released from prison in Romania in 2023 and moved to Walthamstow, where he carried out his latest attack just three years later.  

Before the week-long trial began, Mr Evans had asked for the full details of the earlier stabbing to be put before the jury because of its ‘powerful probative evidence’ in the new case.

He pointed out many aspects of the two cases were the same and the fact Neamtu would have known his second victim, Mr Trica, might die if he was stabbed in the chest.

During legal argument, Mr Evans said: ‘The court in Romania in 2007 rejected the argument he did not intend to inflict injury in 2006. This is directly relevant to a key issue – was it to scare him or cause serious bodily harm?’

Defence barrister Paul Hynes KC argued it would be too prejudicial to his client for the full circumstances to be shared with the jury.

Judge Richard Marks KC allowed some details to be put before the jury but not that the first victim had in fact died from stab wounds to the heart and lungs, or that Neamtu had been convicted of his murder.

In his ruling, Judge Marks told the prosecution: ‘In fairness, I am not proposing to allow you to adduce the consequences of the death.’ 

Neamtu, of Westbury Road, Walthamstow, was assisted by an interpreter in court. He denied murder but declined to give evidence in his trial.

The jury deliberated for three hours to find him guilty of murder.

Following the verdict, Judge Marks told jurors the victim in Romania had died and remanded the defendant in custody to be sentenced on Friday, August 21.

By OLIVIA ALLHUSEN, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER

Published: 23:04 BST, 18 August 2026 | Updated: 01:43 BST, 19 August 2026

Andy Burnham said he will continue ‘to support Ukraine 100 per cent’ after Moscow warned Britain would ‘pay’ following confirmation that UK-made drones were used in recent strikes on Russia.

‘We are not fair-weather friends, we will be there in Ukraine’s hour of need and that won’t change,’ the Prime Minister said.

Russia was able to destroy only 180 of the 620 drones Kyiv launched at Moscow on Monday night.

Officials said three people were wounded as air defence systems scrambled to repel one of Ukraine’s biggest attacks on the capital.

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Energy facilities were reportedly targeted, including a Moscow oil refinery.

A warehouse belonging to e-commerce giant Wildberries was hit amid claims the firm supplies components for Russian drones.

In Ukraine, Russian missiles killed ten and injured eight others in a village in the Kharkiv region.

Vladimir Putin faced further humiliation as the fear of drone attacks led to the cancellation of an annual Red Square military music festival this weekend for the first time in four years of war.

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Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said Britain ‘supports Ukraine 100 per cent’ after Vladimir Putin warned against supplying Kyiv with drones

With frontline fighting at a near standstill, Ukraine and Russia have stepped up long-range attacks, pushing the civilian death toll to its highest since the war began in 2022.

On Monday the Russian embassy in London accused Britain of ‘deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis’ by supplying the drones, adding: ‘London’s actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer.’

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And former deputy foreign minister Andrei Fedorov warned Russia could strike Britain as military figures in the Kremlin believe the US would stop any retaliation.

He told Radio 4’s Today: ‘There are a lot of people in the military community who are saying Russia can strike the UK and Nato will do nothing. Trump will not allow Nato to answer.’

It comes after Mr Putin threatened on Wednesday to seize British ships in the Pacific.

British-made drones used by Ukraine for strikes on Russian territory include the Nyan – a jet-powered, carbon-fibre attack drone (pictured) 

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He framed the move as tit-for-tat if Andy Burnham orders the arrest of more Russian shadow fleet tankers carrying oil to boost Moscow’s war coffers.

The Kremlin’s threat on Monday followed reports British drones were used to strike targets on Russian mainland on Sunday.

Drones made by two UK companies were supplied to Ukraine, whose forces deployed the weapons as part of its deep-strike campaign against Russian oil refineries.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s campaign against vital Russian resources has cost more than £35billion in economic damage, according to estimates, and has led to fuel shortages across the country.

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British-made drones used by Ukraine for strikes on Russian territory include the Nyan – a jet-powered, carbon-fibre attack drone developed by Wiltshire-based Callen-Lenz, a subsidiary of BAE Systems, The Sunday Times reported.

The aircraft has a wingspan of more than 9ft and a reported range of more than 150 miles.

It was reportedly used against Belgorod last year and has since formed part of Ukraine’s expanding deep-strike campaign.

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Ukraine has deployed a second unidentified British-made drone, launched by catapult and capable of travelling more than 600 miles.

British systems have reportedly participated in operations targeting Russian oil refineries and other infrastructure during the past six months.

The disclosure over the use of British drones follows Ukraine’s use of Storm Shadow missiles in the war, but stocks of these are limited and costs high compared with unmanned planes.

The first known strikes took place in November 2024.

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The trainers are made from premium leather with a durable, flexible sole making the style both stylish and comfortable in equal measures

Many women who commute into the office will have a pair of old trainers that they wear on the train and then a neat pair of shoes that they slip into when they arrive at work. These can take up a lot of space in a handbag or tote, making the scenario not exactly ideal when you’ve got more important things to worry about.

Luckily, Clarks has dropped a new pair of comfortable shoes that are smart enough to wear to the office, so there’s no need to change your shoes once you’ve got dressed for the day. The Code C Lace trainers are especially going to be a popular style as we enter autumn in the next few weeks.

The Code C Lace trainers in black come in at £85. Shoppers can pick them up in sizes three to eight, including half sizes, in both D (standard) and E (wide) widths.

READ MORE: New Balance trainers reduced from £111 to £66 ‘are comfortable even after 20,000 steps’

READ MORE: Roman’s prettiest £19 hot weather trousers both ‘look and feel special’

Alongside the elegant black colourway, shoppers can get the Code C Lace trainers in five other colours. These include navy, pale green, light pink, pewter metallic and white, all available for £85.

The trainers are made from premium leather with a durable, flexible sole making the style both stylish and comfortable in equal measure. They boast Clarks’ most advanced dual-layer comfort technology to make every step a breeze.

The unmatched cushioning and support absorbs impacts and returns energy to power the wearer forward. The trainers feature a lace fastening, offering a secure and customizable fit.

The shoes have a lightweight Strobel construction that allows for flexible, full-range motion, which comes in handy when you need to run for the train or the bus. They are finished off with a 35mm heel height that provides substantial underfoot cushioning while remaining easy to walk in.

Elsewhere, Marks and Spencer’s Leather Side Detail Trainers, £49.50, is a great high-street option. Made in a regular fit with a practical lace-up fastening, they feature a contrast side detail for a distinctive look.

The flat heel ensures all-day comfort, while Marks and Spencer’s innovative Freshfeet technology helps minimise odour. The leather material offers durability with a touch of sophistication.

Alternatively, The Dash FF T-Toe Leather/Suede Trainers are available for £80.75 instead of £95 with the discount code ‘WELCOME’ applied at checkout. Crafted from smooth leather with contrasting, premium suede panelling at the side and heel, the subtle colour-blocking on these low-top trainers is inspired by classic, retro styles.

The trainers have an ultra-lightweight, high-rebound cushioning system that diffuses pressure on feet and stop muscles from being overworked. Designed for city days and weekend plans, they’re finished with added Scotchgard protection to protect them against the elements.

Back at Clarks, the Code C Lace trainers are so new in, they are yet to receive any reviews from shoppers. One thing to bear in mind is that they’re made from leather, so those who’d prefer to wear synthetic materials will want to shy away from this option.

GREENBELT, Md. (AP) — A former senior adviser to infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci pleaded guilty Tuesday to plotting to conceal federal records related to research on the origins of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. David Morens is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 12 by U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis in Greenbelt, Maryland. Morens pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the U.S. government, a felony punishable by a maximum prison sentence of five years.

“By pleading guilty today, Dr. Morens has taken responsibility for what he did, and he will continue to do so,” defense attorney Tim Belevetz said in a statement after the plea hearing.

Morens is accused of using his private email account to intentionally circumvent public records laws while employed at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The Justice Department alleges that he concealed or destroyed records of discussions related to COVID-19 research grants, including an effort to revive a controversial coronavirus grant.

The indictment follows a probe by House Republicans into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic that scrutinized Morens’ email communications and accused him of intentionally concealing records. In congressional testimony, Morens denied attempting to evade federal transparency laws by using his personal email.

In July, Fauci repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a congressional hearing on his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last Friday, Fauci declined a request to appear voluntarily before a second Senate panel after majority Republicans on the Homeland Security Committee voted along partisan lines to hold him in contempt of Congress.

Fauci wasn’t charged in the case against Morens, 78, of Chester, Maryland.

A wildfire classified as a “major incident” last week has now”concluded”, the fire service has confirmed.

A spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said:

“Following several days of intensive firefighting operations and a coordinated multi-agency response, the wildfire at Rhandirmwyn has now concluded. Fire and Rescue Service personnel will continue to closely monitor the area and respond to any changes in conditions.

“Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service can confirm that the proactive firefighting phase of the wildfire incident in the Rhandirmwyn area, near Llandovery, has now concluded.

“Significant progress has been made in bringing the fire under control, and operational firefighting crews have now left the scene following several days of intensive firefighting activity and a coordinated multi-agency response.

“While active firefighting operations have ended, the incident will continue to be closely monitored. Fire and Rescue Service personnel will maintain a watching brief and undertake regular proactive visits to the affected area for the foreseeable future to monitor conditions and check for any remaining hotspots.

“As conditions continue to settle, members of the public may notice occasional fluctuations in smoke levels from the affected area. This is not unexpected following an incident of this scale. Residents and visitors can be reassured that the area is being closely monitored to assess conditions and respond if required.

“The Major Incident declaration has now been stood down, and all roads previously closed as part of the emergency response have been reopened.

“Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service would like to place on record its sincere thanks to the local community for the exceptional support, patience and understanding shown throughout this incident.

“We are especially grateful to local residents, businesses, landowners and members of the farming community whose cooperation, local knowledge and practical assistance have been invaluable in supporting the emergency response.

“We would also like to acknowledge the vital contribution of our partner agencies and organisations, whose expertise, resources and support have played a key role in bringing this incident to a safe conclusion.

“Finally, we extend our gratitude to all fire and rescue personnel, both from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and those who assisted with mutual aid arrangements, whose professionalism, commitment and resilience have helped protect communities, property and the environment.

“If members of the public see flames or have significant concerns about fire activity in the area, they should call 999 immediately.”

Scientists say they have been “stunned” by how quickly young children’s lungs began to recover and grow after pollution restrictions were brought in where they lived.

Researchers found that children in London whose lung growth had been stunted by pollution showed impressive improvements after the introduction of an Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) in 2019 reduced emissions.

The study followed more than 3,400 primary school children in London and Luton and provides what scientists believe is the strongest evidence yet that local clean air zones could help reduce some of the harm caused by pollution during childhood.

But independent researchers caution that other factors must also be considered.

Air pollution can stunt the growth of young children’s lungs leaving them at an increased risk of asthma, heart disease, diabetes and even premature death.

Children are also more vulnerable to pollution because their lungs and immune systems are still developing. And when outside, they tend to be closer to the ground and nearer sources of exhaust fumes, for example.

In 2020 Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, a nine-year-old girl from London who died following an asthma attack in 2013, became the first person in the UK to have air pollution listed as a cause of death.

In the study, researchers recruited six to nine-year-olds attending primary schools in London’s ultra low emission zone and followed the same children for five years, comparing them to similar children (in terms of socio-economic background, physical activity and ethnicity) in Luton.

Children in the study had annual lung function and capacity tests in the year before Ulez came in and for four years after.

Initial results showed children’s lungs in London were smaller in capacity than those in Luton, which is less polluted than London but has a similar mix of pollutants.

At the end of the study the children’s lung capacity reached near identical levels in both groups.

“While we would expect children’s lungs to grow year on year, our results indicate that the London children’s lung growth had accelerated during the four years to ‘catch up’ with the control group in Luton to reach similar levels of lung capacity,” researchers say.

“I was absolutely stunned when I first saw the results,” Prof Chris Griffiths, a senior author on the study, at Queen Mary University of London, told the BBC.

“The speed of catch up in lung capacity in the London group was surprising and impressive.

“This shows an ambitious clean air zone can drive pollution levels down, rapidly restoring children’s stunted lung growth.”

The main test measured how much air a child could forcibly breathe out in one second after a big breath in.

In practical terms the improvements could mean children in the London group could run as fast as the Luton group without getting out of breath or blow out of the same number of candles for example, Griffiths explained.

Another way of testing for lung capacity used in the study showed significant improvements too, though not to the same extent – implying there are still gains to be made.

Overall the proportion of children in London whose lung capacity was deemed “clinically impaired” (suggesting lung damage resulting in coughs or breathlessness) fell from 14% to 9%.

In Luton – where some smaller scale measures were put in place to tackle air pollution – the figures were 9% to 7%.

The team’s measurements also showed the level of nitrogen dioxide children were exposed to fell faster in London than in Luton over this time.

Researchers say this is key as it likely demonstrates that the improved lung growth they saw was related to air quality improvements following the implementation of Ulez.

London’s Ulez was first introduced in 2019 by Mayor Sadiq Khan in a bid to “clean up London’s air”. London had high levels of the harmful gas nitrogen dioxide which comes from motor vehicles.

Older, more polluting vehicles had to pay a daily charge to drive in central London. The measures were later expanded to cover the whole capital. While many supported the policy it provoked political opposition and protests.

He’s vowed to end rough sleeping

Andy Burnham has pledged to work to “get everyone in for Christmas” as he continues to build on his vow to end rough sleeping.

The Prime Minister is attempting a repeat of efforts during the coronavirus pandemic when the Everyone In scheme resulted in thousands of rough sleepers across England being taken in off the streets.

The latest annual national statistics, published by the Government in February, estimated there were 4,793 people sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2025 in England.

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This was a new record high and the fourth annual increase in a row. At that stage 43% of all people sleeping rough were in London and the South East.

Newer data for London published last month showed a 10% year-on-year drop in the number of rough sleepers in the capital, prompting a charity boss to insist ending rough sleeping in London and beyond is “within reach”.

Some 3,959 people slept rough in the capital between April and June this year, research from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (Chain) showed, down from 4,392 in the same period in 2025.

This week, the Government has committed to “offer everyone a route off the streets this Christmas”, although there is no defined duration as to how long local authorities might be expected to take people in for, and it is understood to be accepted that not every rough sleeper might take up the offer.

Mr Burnham has also said he will host what is being described as a first-of-its-kind national summit this autumn to “bring together leaders from across society – from business, finance, charities, health, faith communities and more – to ask what role each of them can play in ending rough sleeping”.

The Prime Minister, who pledged as his “first instruction” on day one in No 10 “to end rough sleeping in our country”, suggested people living on the streets has begun to become accepted over the years.

He said: “No-one should have to bed down in a doorway or outside a station. But we’ve seen it for so long that it feels like Westminster has started to accept it.

“I won’t accept it. That’s why my first instruction as Prime Minister was to end rough sleeping. And it’s why today we’re getting started with a national drive to get everyone in for Christmas.

“We did it in the pandemic, we can do it again. But it needs all of us.

Government will put the money in, but I’m asking leaders in communities and sectors across society to play their part locally too.

“Let’s get people out the cold. And let’s bring back hope.”

Mr Burnham has announced an additional £102 million, from uncommitted budgets within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), to go towards immediate routes for people off the street this winter, including an £8.4 million boost to the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund, in recognition of the work of charities, faith groups and community organisations in this area.

The £102 million will go alongside the £340 million announced last month in funding for new support to get long-term rough sleepers into settled accommodation.

MHCLG said areas facing the greatest pressures with regard to homelessness will get the largest share of support and that mayors will be expected to work alongside councils to “play a leading role in driving local action to end rough sleeping” including deciding what help is needed and where.

Guidance to help with the drive will “make clear the need to ensure adequate and accessible provision” for female rough sleepers who the department said are often underrepresented in official statistics and can be at greater risk of violence, abuse and exploitation.

Local areas will be encouraged to “consider single-sex accommodation with specialist, intensive and trauma-informed support, for victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence”, the department said.

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said: “When the Prime Minister pledged to end rough sleeping, we said we’d move urgently from words to action. Today we’re delivering on that promise.

“This funding will help thousands of people leave the streets behind, move into secure homes and get the support they need to rebuild their lives.

“Working alongside councils, mayors and charities, we’re backing local areas to tackle rough sleeping at its roots, giving people the security, dignity and opportunity they deserve, and restoring hope to those who have been let down for far too long.”

Ms Rayner has previously declined to put a target deadline on the Government’s pledge to end rough sleeping, when asked about Mr Burnham’s commitment that his Government would work to “finally end long-term rough sleeping across the UK at the earliest opportunity”.

Homelessness charities welcomed the announcement as a “strong start” that puts the country on a path to end rough sleeping, while opposition critics said it lacked detail and substance.

Shelter chief executive Sarah Elliott said: “The Prime Minister’s pledge to get everyone sleeping rough off the streets by Christmas is a game-changing move and exactly the kind of bold leadership needed to end the housing emergency.”

She added: “Tackling the most visible form of homelessness is a strong start, but the almost 178,000 children hidden away in grim temporary accommodation also need somewhere to call home.

“The Prime Minister must apply the same unwavering ambition to delivering the council housing revolution he promised.”

Lord John Bird, the crossbench peer and co-founder of the Big Issue, said: “Covid proved that when we decide rough sleeping is unacceptable, we can act and get people in off the streets. This Christmas commitment is a welcome return to that spirit.

“But it’s important that people are not just brought in from the cold for a few weeks, only to be sent back out again.

“To that end, I’m encouraged to see the Prime Minister is allocating millions in tried-and-tested localised solutions that offer wraparound support for long-term rough sleepers.”

Crisis chief executive Matt Downie said: “Today’s announcement represents a clear statement that in the 21st century, we will not tolerate a situation where people are having to bed down on our streets.

“It puts us on the path to an historic milestone: the end of rough sleeping in England.”

He added: “Where access to a home isn’t possible straight away, providing good quality accommodation with a clear plan to support people into settled housing is a vital first step.”

Shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly said: “Andy Burnham promised to end rough sleeping in Manchester, and failed because he didn’t do the hard work necessary.

“Now he is pledging to end it nationally without any plan for delivery. And as with many of his other commitments, there is very little detail on how this one will be paid for.”

Sir James added: “Labour must come clean on what other programmes they are cutting to pay for this project.

“Otherwise, struggling families will fear that yet more Labour tax rises are on the horizon.”

Deputy Reform UK leader Richard Tice dismissed the pledge as “yet another vague announcement with no substances which uses our most vulnerable for political point-scoring”.

“We’ll believe it when we see it. Andy Burnham’s record on homelessness has left a lot to be desired,” he said.

“As mayor of Greater Manchester, he promised to eradicate rough sleeping. In actual fact, homelessness in the city-region increased every year since 2021.”