The apology comes after the college set up a working group of experts, doctors and abuse survivors, including Caroline, to review NHS care.

The group was set up after mental health services have seen a rise in people coming forward seeking help in the last decade or so, following high-profile abuse scandals involving schools, children’s homes and religious institutions, as well as the Jimmy Savile crimes.

The college is calling for a number of changes. It is promising to develop specialist training materials for psychiatrists, but wants mandatory training for all mental health staff on the importance of trauma-informed care for survivors of child sex abuse.

And it has recommended national guidance be published on how to recognise and respond to disclosures of historic child sex abuse, as well as an overhaul of services so those needing help can get the long-term support they need.

Gabrielle Shaw, chief executive of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood, said this was a “significant and welcome” apology, but it must lead to “meaningful change”.

“For too many adult survivors, mental health services have not felt like a route to safety or recovery.

“They have been another place where the impact of trauma was missed or where the offered treatment was inappropriate.”

She said some are met with disbelief which can be particularly “damaging”, while even when the trauma is recognised others are told they are “too complex, unsuitable or outside the remit of available services.”

A spokesman for NHS England said victims could access support 24 hours a day, seven days a week through sexual assault referral centres and counselling services with information about them available on the NHS website, external.

“People who have suffered historic child sexual abuse may not have spoken about it for years, so it’s vital they know they can access specialist, trauma-informed support through the NHS,” he added.

He also said steps were being taken to better support children and young people with additional training being provided to mental health support teams in schools and colleges.

If you’ve been affected by the issues in this story, you can find information, advice and support from the BBC’s Action Line. Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org in the UK.

The summer window has officially entered its final stretch, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham and all pushing to get deals done before next week’s deadline. Arsenal have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Julian Alvarez, with talks now set to begin after Atletico Madrid named their price. The Gunners could partially fund a deal through Gabriel Martinelli’s exit as they remain interested in the likes of Kenan Yildiz and Matias Fernandez-Pardo. Meanwhile, Igor Tyjon and Habeeb Ogunneye will be announced as Arsenal players after medicals, to be followed by James Scanlon.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms with thousands of Brits braced for heavy downpours and lightning over the next two days

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The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms, with thousands of Britons preparing for heavy rainfall and lightning over the coming two days.

The forecaster has implemented the alert from 3am on Wednesday, covering vast areas of England and Wales, including much of the East of England.

Cambridgeshire is covered by the warning alongside nearby Peterborough and Suffolk.

Residents have been cautioned about disruption and possible power cuts on Wednesday and Thursday, as flooding is also anticipated.

Wednesday’s warning remains in effect until 10pm and encompasses 59 local authorities. An additional yellow warning has been issued from 6am on Thursday.

The forecaster said there was “a small risk of flooding and disruption from thunderstorms on Wednesday,” encouraging Britons to prepare for potential floods and disruption caused by lightning strikes.

The Met Office warned: “Homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes or hail.

“Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services”.

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British households have been advised to take precautions ahead of the storms and prepare an emergency flood kit, including essentials needed should a power cut occur.

Ahead of potential lightning strikes the Met Office say: “If you find yourself outside and hear thunder, protect yourself by finding a safe enclosed shelter (such as a car).

“Do not shelter under or near trees, or other structures which may be struck by lightning. If you are on an elevated area, move to lower ground.”

Despite the wet conditions, warm temperatures are still forecast on Wednesday, following from recent heatwaves.

The forecast for Wednesday says: “Cloudy start to Wednesday with heavy or thundery showers. Cloud lifts into the afternoon, bringing some brighter or sunny spells, although scattered heavy or thundery showers still possible. Feeling warm. Maximum temperature 25C.”

The following days are also likely to see “spells of heavy rain, some thunderstorms and strong winds,” according to the Met Office.

General waste and recycling bins were left uncollected in The Groves from Tuesday, August 11 after gas works cut off access for City of York Council rubbish collection crews.

Stephanie Holdsworth, who lives in Diamond Street, said the rubbish had started to smell and accused the council of ignoring a growing health hazard.

Ian Hoult, the council’s environmental services lead, apologised to affected residents and said crews would collect the waste as soon as possible.

It comes as Mrs Holdsworth and other residents said the issue began with the council missing recycling collections on Tuesday, August 11 and the general waste round the following week (Tuesday, August 18).

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She added Diamond Street, Emerald Street and Earle Street were among those affected and the council had not attempted to collect the rubbish despite several calls from residents.

Waste remained uncollected as of Monday, August 23.

The Diamond Street resident said: “The council have not collected anything or even attempted it and now the big bags and bins are starting to smell as bags are scratched open by animals and they’re getting infested with flies, even though the residents have all tried their very best to keep things safe and tidy.

Uncollected bins and rubbish in The Groves, York. Picture is from Stephanie Holdsworth, available for all LDRS partners to use.

“The council simply doesn’t and are quite happy to ignore a health hazard in our streets as it’s not a very prestigious area of York.

“We all suspect that the council is simply leaving the collection until the next scheduled date, effectively leaving us with only one bins and recycling collection a month and the residents just have to lump it.”

Another Groves resident, who asked not to be named, said people who get assisted collections and only use bin bags were particularly affected by bad smells.

They said: “They are bring ripped apart by vermin and are littering the streets.

“The council do not seem to care even when it is reported to them.”

Uncollected bins and rubbish in The Groves, York. Picture is from Stephanie Holdsworth, available for all LDRS partners to use.

Mr Hoult said the gas works which had now been completed had made it difficult for crews to access the streets.

He said: “We apologise for any inconvenience that residents in the area have experienced.

“Our crews will be attending these properties as soon as possible to carry out the delayed collections.”

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jeshaun Jones was issued a three-game suspension by the NFL for violating the league’s substances of abuse policy.

The NFL’s announcement of the punishment on Tuesday did not disclose the nature of the violation. Jones spent each of the past two years on Minnesota’s practice squad, before being promoted to the active roster and appearing in the final game of the 2025 season. He went undrafted out of Maryland, where he had 2,040 receiving yards on 151 receptions with 14 touchdowns over a six-year career.

Jones remains eligible to participate in what remains of the preseason, including the final exhibition game at Denver on Friday. His suspension will begin on Sunday, and he will be eligible for reinstatement on Sept. 28.

The 26-year-old Jones was already going to have a tough time making the active roster for the regular season, with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings locked into the starting spots and Tai Felton and Myles Price in line for backup roles after strong performances during training camp.

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See AP’s full NFL coverage here

‘People are really angry. I’ve been here all my life and never seen fires like this’

Acrid smoke hangs in the air as clearly as the growing sense of anger as yet another wildfire engulfs a mountainside in South Wales. Residents, whose homes are perilously close to the Maerdy Mountain fire, admit they are frightened. But more than that they are angry and at a loss to understand why this keeps happening.

No official cause of the Maerdy Mountain fire, which broke out on Monday, has been given, but many residents are vocal in their belief that it was started deliberately.

The word on most people’s lips is “why?”. Some fear it will take someone to be killed before the fires will stop. Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here

Mother of three Natasha Williams who lives on Tanybryn, one side of which borders Maerdy Mountain, expresssed the feelings of many of her neighbours: “It’s wrong. It’s ridiculous now. It’s got to stop,” she says as she comes to point out how close the flames came to homes.

“They are putting the public and fire brigade at risk. People are really angry. I’ve been here all my life and never seen fires like this.”

Natasha’s garden backs onto the mountain and when the flames came close on Monday she said she and her sons were scared, but also angry and wanting to know why this keeps happening.

“It’s frightening. What do they get for it, for putting people’s lives at risk? It is giving our community a bad name.”

Houses on Tanybryn and neighbouring streets were among those in the firing line as the blaze swept across the mountain so fast that witnesses said they watched it move hundreds of feet within minutes.

As the flames licked perilously close to gardens and homes, some locals took their strimmers and went out to cut the parched foliage at the base of the mountain to protect themselves.

This worked, but they said they will continue to be vigilant.

Lydia Jones was at home in Tanybryn with her sons aged 10 and 12 when her eldest asked her if she’d seen the smoke at around 3pm on Monday.

“I thought the smell of smoke was from the earlier fire in Ferndale. I came out and saw thick smoke here and I phoned the fire service,” she said.

Then came the fire.

“The kids were terrified. It was so close I could see the flames. They were a few feet high. It spread really fast. “

“It is ridiculous now. It’s not just the residents but the firefighters, who don’t get a break, who are put at risk.”

Lydia, like her neighbours, believes the fire was started deliberately.

“Everyone here is stressed and angry,” she added.

A few weeks ago Lydia and her husband, Mark, who works at the refuse site in Llantrisant, came across some boys lighting a fire on a patch of grass on a nearby street. They went to speak to their parents. They couldn’t believe this was happening when the ground was so parched and after so much publicity around the destruction of the local landscape.

Sarah Jones lives closer to the main road and several streets from the mountain, but said the smell of smoke was so strong that she was concerned for a disabled client she looks after on a street adjacent to the fire.

The care worker contacted the client’s family and drove up to help evacuate her bed ridden client to safety.

“Me and her daughter had to use a hoist to get her out and take her to safety to her daughter’s house. I live on the main road and could see the smoke and then I could see the fire starting to spread.

“A friend said they were evacuating Brookfield at about 6.45pm, with the fire a few feet from people’s gardens. It was horrific and I was panicking.

“These fires are all the time now. There’s only one mountain left here that hasn’t had a fire.

“I don’t know why they do it. It’s terrible. All the wildlife is affected and the firecrews have been working at it for weeks.

“Someone is going to get hurt. It’s only a matter of time.”

As smoke rose from the blackened hillside on Tuesday a group of friends gathered to watch as fire engines stood at the end of the street.

Two of the group explained they had taken their strimmers to cut dried grass and foliage to stop it catching light on Monday.

Christian Griffiths and Carl Coombes said they couldn’t stand by and watch as fire tore through, potentially threatening properties and homes near the base of Maerdy Mountain .

They said some allotments and sheds on the mountain behind the houses had been destroyed. Luckily the hens and dogs that had been on some of them were rescued, said Christian.

“The fire came away and right across the back of the houses,” he said.

“There was one line of flames that just went right across.

“It was scary to see. The allotments went up in flames. The dogs and chickens were got out.

“About four of us went across to cut the grass and bracken at the back of the houses to stop the fire spreading. We took our strimmers and cut the grass for about an hour.”

As they scan their blackened mountain at a time of year when it should be green, residents said the lack of rain all summer has felt odd and now the bone dry ground and fire has become a real risk.

Their message to anyone who may be tempted to start a fire, or encourage others to?

“Wise up,” said Sarah Jones, “or someone is going to get hurt. What are you getting out of it?.”

On Tuesday South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said crews continued to deal with the fire on Maerdy Mountain, Ferndale and that it has been contained.

A spokesperson said: “Smoke is impacting the Treorchy and Treherbert areas.

“Residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed and follow public health advice.”

Jayne Smith, local councillor for Ferndale and Maerdy thanked “everyone involved” in trying to get fires under control on Monday night.

“There were residents creating fire breaks, the community centre on standby, residents offering shelter and residents offering assistance to the fire fighters, you were all amazing.

“The biggest thanks to the firefighters for everything you have done.”

Echoing residents’ anger was Sir Chris Bryant MP, who represents Rhondda and Ogmore, said he is “deeply angry” to see ongoing fires in his constituency.

“After weeks of fires across our communities, our firefighters and emergency services should not have to be heading back out again, putting themselves in danger and spending yet more time tackling fires that devastate our mountains and wildlife,” he said.

“These fires are not harmless. They spread rapidly, threaten homes, damage the landscape for years to come and place enormous pressure on the emergency services.

“To every firefighter, and emergency service responder tonight, thank you. You should not have to be doing this again.

“Please, everyone, take care and think about the consequences of anything that could start a fire. We cannot keep putting our emergency services, our communities and our mountains through this.”

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The Green Howard veterans, based in Richmond, cycled the Coast to Coast in July from Morebone to Saltburn, which took two days to complete.

The route included a scheduled stop off in the Green Howard Museum, Richmond, for a talk from Chris Ryan, who accompanied them on their ride.

Chris Ryan (Image: SUPPLIED)

Chris Ryan (Image: SUPPLIED)

Ryan, former British SAS sergeant and author, shared stories from his latest bestseller, Breakout, during the sold out talk.

The Green Howards Association and Royal Yorkshire Regiment Charitable Trust provide financial and community support to their respective veterans and their families, while the Green Howards Trust preserves the history of the Green Howards regiment.

The donation has been divided between The Green Howards Trust, The Green Howards Association, and the Royal Yorkshire Regiment Charitable Trust.

The team (Image: SUPPLIED)

The charity ride, organised by Paul Cutler, was also supported by several volunteers who helped co-ordinate, transport luggage, and ensure riders’ safety en-route.

Marie Woods, chief executive officer of the Green Howards Trust and Museum, said: “Absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity and support of our wonderful Green Howards veterans. Their passion and dedication in helping serve our military family has never bene more important. We thank you wholeheartedly for standing by us.”

The team (Image: SUPPLIED)

The Green Howard regiment was first raised in 1688, merging with the Yorkshire Regiment in 2006.

Throughout its 300 year history, the group has seen action in almost every country in the world.

Today, its heritage is preserved in the Green Howards Museum, which contains over 35,000 artefacts.

The museum has a specialist research service dedicated to the discovery and preservation of military artefacts for future generations. It hosts regular exhibitions, and is open Monday to Saturday.

Celtic were humiliated in the Champions League play-off round as they blew a four-goal lead to LASK in Austria to crash out of the competition and into the Europa League

Martin O’Neill has shouldered responsibility for Celtic’s catastrophic Champions League exit.

The Hoops tumbled into the Europa League after surrendering a FOUR-goal advantage against LASK in Austria.

Celtic had established a three-goal cushion from the first leg, with Callum McGregor adding to their tally with an away goal in Linz to make it 1-0.

However, the Parkhead outfit capitulated spectacularly, succumbing to a 5-1 extra-time hammering in their worst European second-leg performance in over six decades.

O’Neill declined to point fingers at summer signings for the debacle, maintaining that Celtic ought not to have crumbled so drastically, reports the Daily Record.

He said: “No, absolutely. Shouldn’t do, and I accept responsibility.

“That is down to me, regardless of how it turned out to be, whether it’s fitness, whether it’s… it’s just everything perhaps, but we shouldn’t have done that.

“From the position that we were in, you shouldn’t even have been near to this extent.

“I’m responsible for the team. I’m responsible for it. I’m the manager of the side and I’m just hugely disappointed.

“Disappointed for obviously for the side, for the aspect, and for the people who come to the performance, and hugely disappointed.”

Celtic’s record shows six consecutive Champions League qualifying failures, with LASK joining recent conquerors including Kairat, Cluj and Ferencvaros on that unwanted roll call.

O’Neill acknowledged: “I’m responsible for this one, and I don’t know what’s happened in the last… but it’s not a good statistic.

“I think that what these games, these type of games show you is that we obviously a lot of work to do in that aspect.”

People say you can overcome that at certain stages, you know, but overall, like, these games are real, real tests for you, and unfortunately, we failed that test tonight.

Celtic had opportunities to secure the result and were ahead in Austria before a disastrous second-half collapse.

O’Neill reflected: “We lost control. In the first half, we had clear-cut chances; one of them should have gone in.

“We allowed them to get before that, and it gave them something to hold onto.

“Just after half-time again, they scored, so momentum went with them. We were unable to stem the flow at that particular stage, and yeah, just really disappointed that we didn’t see it through.”

O’Neill acknowledged that missing out on Champions League qualification – along with the substantial £40m payday – may affect his ability to strengthen the squad during what remains of the transfer window.

He stated: “It’s really major. It’s major in every aspect, for financial, football, for prestige, for everything.

“And again, Europa League is some consolation tonight, but we’ll pick ourselves up because that’s what I have to do. That’s my responsibility.

“I think that I said last week that if you could qualify for the Champions League, I think there would be players that would be wanting to come, and that’s no longer the case. So we’ll see.

“And I’ve got to say that we’re short, and maybe I’m not a million miles away.

“We played brilliantly the other evening, brilliantly in the game. I thought they were a fine, fine side, and they’ve got some great goals. And tonight, you know, we fell way short, particularly in the second half.”

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One shopper said: ‘It’s honestly the best thing I feel like I’ve invested in household-wise’

As temperatures begin to drop, drying clothes can quickly become a headache. But while a tumble dryer can get clothes dry quickly, frequent use can soon add to household energy bills.

A heated airer offers a more economical alternative, and Lakeland has now cut the price of a range of its heated airers ahead of the colder months. The retailer has knocked up to £30 off selected models, with the range spanning compact three-tier designs for smaller homes to larger options that hold up to 15kg of wet washing.

Lakeland says its heated airers cost around 8p to run, compared with 65p for a standard tumble dryer. That’s based on an average electricity unit cost of 26.11p at the time of writing.

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For smaller homes, the dry: soon 3 Tier Heated Clothes Airer is now £139.99, down from £159.99, saving shoppers £20. The lightweight airer can hold up to two loads of laundry and folds down when not in use, making it a practical option for anyone short on storage space.

Reviews-wise, it’s had some great feedback. This person shared: “It helps to dry clothes inside quickly. I don’t have a cover, and it still works. I do use two bars per load, but it works great for my load and household. I only dry large clothes that cannot be tumble dried. Perfect for this. Cannot live without it.”

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This lightweight heated airer holds about two loads of laundry.

And another said: “Perfect size for a family wash. It’s been extremely useful when the weather was impossible to get the washing outside.”

However, one person noted: “This is a great airer, plenty of space and dries fairly quickly. I would have given it 5 stars if it had wheels as the smaller version does.” Alternatively, the discounted BLACK+DECKER 3-Tier Heated Airer (£119, Amazon) features built-in wheels for effortless moving.

If drying clothes as quickly as possible is the priority, it may be worth spending a little more on a heated airer with a cover. A cover helps trap warm air around the clothes, speeding up drying while keeping the heat contained.

The Dry: soon 3-Tier Heated Airer and Bundle Cover is currently £184.98, reduced from £204.98. With 21 metres of drying space, it can hold up to 15kg of wet washing, while its foldable heated shelves make it easy to load and store between uses.

The accompanying cover features mesh panels to encourage airflow while keeping warm air around the laundry. It can also be converted into a storage bag for the airer when it’s not being used.

It’s a versatile option, too. The top shelves can be opened out to create extra space for longer items such as towels and trousers, making it easier to dry a full load without everything being crammed together.

It’s also had some great feedback from Lakeland customers, with more than 130 five-star reviews. This happy fan remarked: “It’s honestly the best thing I feel like I’ve invested in household-wise.

“Being in a flat with a poor heating system, this has saved me with my washing rotation, having things dry within the 12 hours I like to leave things on for.”

And someone else said: “It’s been in use daily for the past two weeks, gently drying whole loads of family washing. Although it seems a bit fragile, it easily copes with bed linen, towels, and curtains (although not all at once!). A godsend in winter or wet weather.”

To maximise a heated airer’s potential, Lakeland recommends a few smart accessories, including anti-slip strips to keep laundry secure and a mesh shelf duo for drying delicate items flat. Adding anti-slip hangers, like this £6 set from Dunelm, also prevents clothes from sliding between the heated bars.