Although heavy showers are expected for many this week, the places across England and Wales most in need of significant rain may not see much of it in the coming days.

The dry spell at Wisley in Surrey, which had recorded 62 days without measurable rain, ended overnight.

Much of the UK will see a mixture of sunshine and showers on Wednesday.

Across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England, the showers will be heavy, thundery and prolonged at times. Further south, the showers will be more scattered.

Thursday and Friday will see further showers, some heavy and thundery. England and Wales will see some prolonged and slow-moving downpours, with the potential for flash flooding.

However, a few days of rain will not be enough to alleviate the drought in two thirds of England and all of Wales and there are indications that further hot and dry spells could follow in autumn.

A 13-year-old boy has relived the moment he saved his newborn brother’s life after

Maitham Ali was in his bedroom at the family’s West London home when he heard a commotion downstairs.

The teenager rushed down to find his mum and grandmother in a state of abject panic.

His two-day-old brother Mohammad-Jawad had vomited and the baby’s airway had become blocked.

He was turning blue and opening his mouth as though trying to take a breath, but no sound was coming out.

As the family panicked, Maitham stayed calm and drew on the first aid training he had received as a St John Ambulance Cadet.

‘I went up to my mum and told her to rest him on her arm, belly first and supporting his head with her hand, and give him back blows. Not too hard, but hard enough to dislodge anything in the airway,’ Maitham said.

After two back blows, Mohammad-Jawad began to cry.

‘My mum was still worried, so I reassured her that because he was crying, it meant his airway was open,’ Maitham added.

The boys’ mum Raghad was understandably relieved. ‘The colour came back and my baby was breathing again. It’s all down to Maitham’s extensive knowledge which he learned with St John,’ she said.

‘I had had no first aid training, so I was sucking Mohammad-Jawad’s mouth and nose to remove the blockage, but the doctor told me later at the hospital that that wasn’t the right thing to do.

‘Maitham was so calm and steady. I couldn’t believe it was him talking. He was telling me what to do, making sure I stayed calm and making sure we got the ambulance called.’

New St John Ambulance research among 2,000 Britons found that 34% worry about their baby choking and not knowing what to do, while 23% have not learned any first aid.

According to the latest ONS data, 12 children under five died from choking in England between 2020 and 2024, including nine babies.

Mohammad-Jawad was checked by paramedics and made a full recovery. His family credit Maitham’s quick thinking and first aid skills with saving his life.

Raghad now plans to learn first aid herself.

‘It’s very important to know what to do in an emergency,’ she said.

Maitham is a member of the London Polish Cadets in Ealing and joined St John Ambulance as a Badger when he was nine.

His 19-year-old sister Judy was interested in a career in medicine and when Raghad discovered St John Ambulance, she decided to enrol them both.

Maitham had previously planned to work in palaeontology or archaeology, but after his training, and his early lifesaving success, he is now considering a career in medicine.

A week after the incident in June, he successfully completed his Community First Aid course with St John Ambulance.

His unit leader, Tom Canavan, said: ‘While I was amazed by what Maitham had done, I can’t say I was entirely surprised.

‘When it comes to helping others, Maitham has always shown compassion, confidence and a willingness to step forward. Through his time as a St John Ambulance Cadet, he has developed strong first aid skills, but more importantly, he has developed the courage to use them when it really matters.

‘In an emergency, many people can freeze or doubt themselves, but Maitham remained calm, recognised that his mum, dad and baby Mohammad-Jawad needed help and put his training into action.

‘That takes maturity, bravery and self-belief beyond his years.’

Maitham is sharing his story as part of St John Ambulance’s new Save a Life September campaign, which aims to encourage people to learn first aid through free public demonstrations and online guidance.

Throughout September, St John Ambulance first aid volunteers will deliver free demonstrations in public spaces across the country. The campaign aims to give half a million people the confidence to respond when an adult, child or baby is choking, bleeding severely or in cardiac arrest.

Since relaunching Save a Life September in 2024, St John Ambulance has taught more than 800,000 people vital first aid skills.

This year, it aims to reach another 500,000 people through public demonstrations and online guidance, taking the overall total beyond one million.

Tom added: ‘You’re never too young to learn lifesaving skills. A few minutes spent learning how to help someone who is choking, or a few hours learning CPR, how to use an AED or how to respond to a medical emergency, could one day make the difference between life and death.’

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Startling mild-mannered ladies in their mid-70s may not be the aim of the game, but the fact the Performance version can hit 60mph in under four seconds would make most people sit up and take note.

Aside from the straight-line speed, it’s the handling that left a more lasting impression on me. On an undulating road, it tackles flowing corners with a level of composure and confidence I’ve rarely experienced in an SUV.

The classy Polestar 3 Performance catches the sunlight

That’s high praise for a vehicle of this size. The Polestar 3 is a substantial, five-seat electric SUV, weighing between 2,525kg and 2,605kg depending on specification, yet I didn’t think it ever felt cumbersome from behind the wheel. It is fast, certainly, but more importantly it has the poise and balance to make that pace usable on a demanding road.

In its most potent Performance Pack guise, the dual-motor all-wheel-drive Polestar 3 develops 680hp and can complete the 0-60mph sprint in a mere 3.8 seconds.

Those are figures to trouble serious performance cars, let alone a family-sized SUV. The delivery is as immediate as you would expect from an electric powertrain: a brief squeeze of the accelerator is all it takes to summon a wave of torque that sends the car forward with purpose. I’d advise treating it with the utmost respect, as anyone shelling out the best part of £100,000 surely would.

The interior of the Polestar 3 Performance

On twisting B-roads, there’s a sense of being able to get into a flow through the corners. Indeed, there’s a pleasing sense that the chassis is working with the powertrain rather than merely trying to contain it.

Large SUVs can sometimes feel uneasy on undulating surfaces, with their mass shifting around as the suspension tries to keep body movements under control. The Polestar does not entirely disguise its weight, but it manages it with remarkable sophistication.

The steering is a major part of that impression. It’s direct and accurate, allowing you to place the front of the car confidently on the approach to a bend, with excellent ‘turn in’.

The near-even 49:51 front-to-rear weight distribution also helps. Rather than feeling nose-heavy, the Polestar 3 has a balanced, neutral character through a sequence of corners.

Much of that confidence appears to stem from the suspension technology.

Polestar says its active air suspension uses sensor inputs up to 500 times a second, adapting its response to the road and the way the car is being driven. At higher speeds, it can lower the ride height to reduce aerodynamic drag, but its greater contribution is in the way it maintains control over broken surfaces and sudden changes in elevation.

The nose of the Polestar 3 Performance

The all-wheel-drive system and torque vectoring provide further reassurance.

Looks-wise, the Polestar 3 makes a bold first impression. It is a sizeable 4.9m-long SUV, but its low roofline, crisp bodywork and broad, planted stance prevent it from looking like a conventional luxury 4×4. In Performance Pack guise, 22-inch wheels and Swedish-gold brake callipers sharpen the visual impact, giving the car a suitably purposeful look.

The interior follows Polestar’s clean design approach. A 14.5-inch portrait touchscreen sits at the centre of the dashboard, operating the Google-based infotainment system with Google Maps and the Play Store built in. It is joined by a 9-inch driver display, with a head-up display available through the Pilot Pack. Four USB-C ports, rear climate controls, digital key technology and over-the-air software updates make the cabin feel well equipped for modern family use.

The optional 1,610W, 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins system with Dolby Atmos surround sound is a suitably high-end accompaniment to the Polestar 3’s refined cabin.

There’s practicality too, with a 484-litre boot behind the rear seats, rising to 597 litres when loaded to the roof, plus a 32-litre front storage compartment. Its 107kWh usable battery delivers a claimed range of up to 368 miles, while 350kW rapid charging can take it from 10 to 80 per cent in 22–32 minutes.

Polestar 3 Performance

PRICE: £92,040 (£97,540 as tested)

POWERTRAIN: Dual electric motors, all-wheel drive

POWER: 680hp

BATTERY: 107kWh usable lithium-ion

TRANSMISSION: Single-speed automatic

0-60MPH: 3.8 seconds

CLAIMED RANGE: Up to 368 miles

Professional dancer Amy Dowden will soon be back on Strictly, having recently returned to screens earlier than expected

Amy Dowden has shared a health update ahead of her return to Strictly Come Dancing, having recently returned to screens earlier than expected.

While the professional dancer is preparing for her return to the famous ballroom, with rehearsals for the BBC One dance show’s 2026 series already underway, Amy is already back on our screens as she’s taking part in the new series of Celebrity Hunted over on Channel 4.

Having filmed the programme, which is for Channel 4’s charity initiative, Stand Up To Cancer, last year, viewers are now seeing how Amy teamed up with her Strictly co-star and friend, Carlos Gu, as they and other celebrity duos try to out-smart some of the most skilled intelligence agencies in the world to see how difficult it is to stay off the radar as a fugitive.

Amy’s participation in the show comes after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023, at the age of 32, after she found a lump the day before her and husband Benjamin Jones’ honeymoon.

During the series so far, Amy spoke to her Strictly pal and fellow fugitive as they stayed with their dancing co-star Neil Jones, his now-wife Chyna Mills and their daughter, Havana, and said: “Obviously I’ve always wanted the honour of being a mum, and obviously I don’t know if that’s going to be possible,” as she wiped away tears.

Speaking to the Celebrity Hunted cameras, Amy reflected: “A cancer diagnosis changes your life forever. I just got married, I had my whole life ahead of me and all of a sudden, my world fell apart right in front of me. But I’ve been given another shot at life, and I want to embrace it and take every opportunity that comes my way.”

Amy, who underwent gruelling chemotherapy treatment and had two mastectomies, also returns to the hospital once a month for preventative treatment, having been diagnosed with a hormone-fed cancer, with one of her visits taking place during filming for Celebrity Hunted.

While it was an emotional scene to viewers at home, Amy has since told The Independent that she now feels comfortable speaking about her treatment on screen. “I don’t really find it hard now, revisiting it, because I’m at the hospital once a month,” she said.

“It’s part of my routine now. I celebrate now how far I’ve come, how strong I feel, how healthy I am, and I’m just grateful really, and honoured to feel this way,” she continued. “I’m forever in gratitude to the wonderful healthcare workers who’ve looked after me, the nurses, doctors, you name it, every healthcare worker. They are our true unsung heroes.”

Amy was also asked how she’s feeling before the launch of Strictly’s 2026 run, to which she said: “Honestly, I feel the fittest, the healthiest, the strongest I’ve ever been, Carlos knows you’ve just been on tour with me.” She turned to him and asked: “How would you say I am?”

To which Carlos responded: “I feel like everything that she went through somehow made her stronger mentally and physically. It made her realise she loves dancing, coming back and dancing and being on stage. We finished touring a month ago and she was was just incredible. She looked the best and she feels the best. I think being through something so severe makes you cherish what you have more.”

By JANE DENTON, MONEY REPORTER

Updated: 08:45 BST, 19 August 2026

Britain’s competition regulator has launched investigations into Trainline, Virgin Atlantic and Red Driving School over concerns customers were not shown full prices upfront.

The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) investigation into Trainline will focus on whether all mandatory fees were displayed upfront to travellers buying train and coach tickets in advance, on its app and website.

The CMA said it saw transactions with additional fees ranging from 59p to £2.79, with a £1.50 booking fee for coach journeys.

Consumers affected could get compensation if it is found the companies broke the law, the regulator said. 

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The investigations form part of a wider clampdown by the regulator over misleading pricing practices. 

It said this included practices where mandatory charges were separated from the headline price or added later in the buying process, known as drip pricing.

Investigations: Britain’s competition watchdog has launched investigations into Trainline, Virgin Atlantic and Red Driving School over drip pricing concerns

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Shoppers could have ended up facing unexpected costs or have to calculate the total cost of a purchase themselves.

The CMA said: ‘Such practices can also impact competition between businesses, as a firm using drip pricing may falsely appear to be cheaper than a competitor and attract more customers.’

The investigation into Virgin Atlantic will look into mandatory resort fees and local taxes for package holidays.

Red Driving School is being investigated over how a mandatory booking fee and a so-called digital fee, typically £7 per booking, were displayed for driving lessons. 

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All firms under investigation were sent ‘advisory letters’ as part of the CMA’s first consumer protection drive using its new enforcement powers. The letters put the businesses on notice and reminded them of their obligations under consumer law, but the CMA said it remained concerned about their pricing practices following ongoing monitoring.

Emma Cochrane, executive director for consumer protection at the CMA, said: ‘Clear pricing helps people compare offers confidently and choose the option that works best for them.

‘Unexpected mandatory charges make this much harder, which is why the CMA initially put these firms on notice over concerns about their pricing practices and is now opening formal investigations.’ 

A Trainline spokesman said: ‘Trainline is committed to offering customers a transparent booking experience with clear pricing and genuine value.

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‘We’ve proactively engaged with the CMA over several months and we are taking proactive steps to enhance how certain fees are presented to our customers.

‘We will continue engaging with the CMA to address their questions.’

A Virgin Atlantic Holidays spokesman said: ‘We take our responsibility to customers incredibly seriously and we always want to ensure they can make an informed decision when booking a holiday with us.

‘Mandatory fees are indicated at multiple stages throughout the booking journey.

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‘We are reviewing the points raised by the CMA carefully and will co-operate fully with its investigation.’

This is Money contacted Red Driving School for comment.

Sue Davies, head of consumer rights policy at Which?, said: ‘The CMA shouldn’t hesitate to use its new consumer enforcement powers to fine any firms that have broken the rules – especially after each firm has already received a warning advisory letter.’

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Speed cameras on major UK motorways are still flashing drivers — but police are dropping all the fines

More than 36,000 speeding fines have been cancelled – because of a fault with 154 speed cameras. The problem which impacts 12 motorways in the UK was discovered last October – and lead to thousands of fines being cancelled.

Now police have refused to push through more than 36,000 speeding tickets – and cancelled the fines, The Times reported. The problem impacts all Smart Motorways in the UK including the M1, M6, M5 M25 and M42.

Last year, a “technical anomaly” was identified with 154 speed cameras used on all smart motorways – meaning that there was a delay between the cameras and the speed limits being changed – meaning drivers being sent speeding fines after the limit had changed – meaning they were not breaking the law.

Officials confirmed the cameras are still flashing on the motorways – but police have lost confidence and are not enforcing the fines. National Highways, the government body in charge of England’s major roads, said that it had identified 2,650 instances of “erroneous camera activations” since 2021 but police forces across the country were so concerned that they cancelled more than 36,000 ongoing and historic speeding cases related to the cameras.

The Times reported that more than ten months after the national issue was identified, the malfunctioning cameras are still being put through testing by the Home Office and have not yet been approved for use.

While they wait for approval, police forces are not issuing any enforcement notices for speeding motorists caught by the faulty cameras. In January, shortly after the camera flaws were exposed, Nick Harris resigned as chief executive of National Highways after five years in charge with sources stating that he had lost the board’s confidence.

Major Motorways with Smart Sections

• M1: Multiple upgraded stretches between Junction 6A and Junction 42 (including J prejudicial areas like J10-13, J16-19, and J28-31).
• M3: Junction 2 to Junction 4A (Surrey and Hampshire).
• M4: Junction 3 (Hayes) to Junction 12 (Theale) [0.10].
• M5: Sections around Junction 4A to 6 and Junction 15 to 17 (Bristol region).
• M6: Extensive segments running from Junction 2 up to Junction 19 (including the heavily monitored West Midlands and M6 J10A-13 corridor).
• M20: Controlled and dynamic sections between Junction 3 and Junction 7.
• M23: Junction 8 to Junction 10 (south of London toward Gatwick).
• M25: Large continuous and controlled segments spanning from Junction 2 round to Junction 30 (notably J5-7 and J23-27).
• M27: Junction 4 to Junction 11 (Hampshire).
• M42: Junction 3A to Junction 9 (the original pilot region around the West Midlands).
• M60: Junction 8 to Junction 18 (Greater Manchester ring road).
• M62: Sections covering Junction 10 to Junction 12 and Junction 18 through to Junction 30 (Manchester to Leeds)

The independent review ordered by Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, into the agency’s handling of the issue is due this summer but is yet to be published. Simon Williams, from the RAC, said: “It’s very concerning that this has not been fixed and that so many speeding drivers are not facing the consequences. We urge the government to address this as a matter of priority.”

A National Highways spokesperson said: “Speeding offences continue to be detected and prosecuted. A range of enforcement measures are in place to help keep road users safe. A fix for the impacted cameras is going through rigorous testing.”

In a statement at the time the Goverment said: “National Highways has confirmed an anomaly has been identified in the way some variable speed cameras interact with signs on some A roads and motorways.

“This has resulted in a very small number of people incorrectly facing enforcement action for speeding. The anomaly has meant there was at times a slight delay between cameras and variable speed signs, leading to some drivers being incorrectly detected as speeding after the limit had changed.

“As a result, National Highways have identified approximately 2,650 total erroneous camera activations on impacted roads since 2021, which is the equivalent of fewer than 2 a day. Anybody affected will be contacted directly by the relevant police force. They will be reimbursed and have points removed from their licence where relevant.“

What are smart motorways?

Smart motorways are motorways which use technology to manage traffic flow.

In addition to informing drivers of speed limits – which are regulated using speed cameras – the overhead signs can also alert people to accidents or other hazards ahead.

There are three main types:

• Controlled – have a permanent hard shoulder like normal motorways, but use technology such as adjustable speed limits, indicated using overhead signs, to control traffic flow
• Dynamic – the hard shoulder can be converted into another lane of traffic at busy times, with the speed limit reduced to 60mph. Overhead signs will display an ‘X’ over the hard shoulder if it is closed
• All-lane running – the hard shoulder is permanently another lane of traffic, with emergency refuge areas (essentially laybys) at regular intervals (currently every 2.5km) that drivers can use in an emergency

?

Select your team for football news tailored to you

Last season: 12th.

There has been trauma on Tyneside this summer. Some of their best players – sold. The manager who brought the first domestic trophy for 70 years – gone.

So, a challenging job awaits for new man Matthias Jaissle.

The momentum has gone out of the Saudi Arabian project with the departures of Eddie Howe, Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes from St James’ Park. Uncertainty and instability reign.

Newcastle failed to land many of their top transfer targets, although Lukas Hornicek has arrived from Braga to address the goalkeeping problem, while midfielder Aladji Bamba is rich in promise after arriving from Monaco.

The same applies to Dutch midfielder Sean Steur, the 18-year-old signed from Ajax, and 20-year-old Bazoumana Toure, the Ivory Coast winger who has joined from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim.

Defender Amar Dedic has arrived from Benfica, having worked with Jaissle when winning the Austrian title with Red Bull Salzburg in 2023.

An experienced midfielder is key, with Tonali and Guimaraes gone, and Joao Palhinha has been mentioned after a deal for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg failed to materialise.

Jaissle needs a good start – and more players – to settle the Toon Army’s nerves.

The notice for Joe Carthy, 15, was published on Monday morning but was taken down just hours later, amid a backlash over the circumstances of the fatal M9 motorway collision

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The funeral notice for one of the five teenagers killed in Sunday morning’s M9 crash has been removed from RIP.ie following an influx of angry and abusive comments in its online condolences section.

The notice for Joe Carthy, 15, of Clonmullion, Athy, Co Kildare, was posted on Monday morning but taken down within hours, amid a backlash over the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision.

The remaining four teenagers who died — Kamil Pustkowski, 17, from Limerick; Jack Kennedy, 17, from Athy; Jeremy O’Brien, 18, from Carlow; and Alex McCarthy, 17, also from Carlow — have yet to have funeral notices published.

It is understood the death notice was removed due to a wave of negative and abusive comments left in the condolences section, where users vented their anger regarding the circumstances in which the group of teenagers drove the BMW the wrong way down the M9 motorway.

The BMW was involved in a head-on collision with a Hyundai near Moone, Co Kildare, killing all five teenagers instantly, reports the Irish Mirror.

The innocent driver and passengers in the Hyundai — sisters Alma and Niamh Kinsella, aged in their 30s, and their younger sister Ella Hendricken, in her 20s — sustained serious injuries in the crash.

Ella’s seven year old nephew, who was travelling as a rear-seat passenger in the car when it was struck by the BMW, is also seriously injured.

The sisters and the young boy had been on their way to Dublin Airport to catch a flight to the UK for a wedding. According to the Irish Times, RIP.ie, which is owned by The Irish Times Group, said it did not comment on individual funeral notices.

Meanwhile, undertaker Joe Rigney, of Rigney’s Funeral Directors, declined to comment on the removal of the notice, the Irish Times reports.

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