By ELIZABETH HAIGH, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

Published: 11:03 BST, 27 August 2026 | Updated: 13:12 BST, 27 August 2026

A father and son have died after falling into an industrial silage tank at a farm in Aston by Budworth, near Northwich in Cheshire yesterday lunchtime.

Alan Ford, 72, and son Rick, 42, passed away following the incident on Wednesday, the Cheshire Agricultural Society confirmed. 

Firefighters, paramedics, including an air ambulance, and police all rushed to the scene at a farm in Aston by Budworth, near Northwich after being alerted to reports of an ‘industrial accident’ at around 12.20pm.

Both men were working at the site when they fell into an ‘industrial size’ silage container. 

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Mr Ford and his son were rescued from the tank on Wednesday but were declared dead at the scene. 

Their next of kin have been informed and an investigation is underway, police said. 

Nearby Cann Lane was closed to assist with the emergency response.

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Alan Ford (pictured), 72, and son Rick, 42, passed away following the incident on Wednesday, the Cheshire Agricultural Society confirmed

Emergency services were called to the scene of an  incident at a farm in Aston by Budworth, near Northwich in Cheshire, yesterday lunchtime

Two men were rescued from the silage tank but could not be saved by emergency services 

The death Alan Ford, who retired after seven years as chairman of the CAS earlier this year, was confirmed in a statement released this afternoon.

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‘As Chairman of the Cheshire Agricultural Society it is with profound sadness that I have to announce the untimely death of our past Chairman Alan Ford and his son Rick following a tragic farming accident yesterday,’ the statement read.

‘Alan retired as Chairman and Director of the Society in April this year and Rick has been a Director of the Society for several years. 

‘The Ford family have worked tirelessly for the Society for many years and both Alan and Rick will be very sadly missed by everyone who knew them.

‘We wish to extend our thoughts, sympathy and prayers to the families at this very difficult time.’

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The men’s relatives have requested privacy following the tragedy.

A Cheshire Police spokesman said on Wednesday: ‘Police were called to reports of an industrial incident at around 12.20pm today.

‘The caller had reported two men had fallen into an industrial size tank.

‘Police, fire and paramedics are in attendance at the scene and rescue work is ongoing.’ 

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In an update published today, a statement confirmed both men had died. 

Dragons’ Den saw two teenage sisters win over the investors with their groundbreaking business.

A contestant on Dragons’ Den who is making history as one of the youngest-ever successful entrepreneurs on the show has revealed what the experience was really like. Cat Black and her sister Honor Black were just 16 and 17 years old when they stepped into the Den, with their episode airing on Thursday, August 24.

The pair were asking for £15,000 for a 10% stake in their business Maiden, a brand dedicated to empowering girls and women. Their company, which designs cricket clothing, teamwear and equipment specifically for women and girls, had been launched after their own experiences.

“We started Maiden because we were tired of being at the sidelines,” Honor explained to Steven Bartlett, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Peter Jones and guest Dragon Gary Neville.

“We felt when playing at every level that we were forced to make kit with boys’ kit or unisex gear that wasn’t designed for us. And so we decided that we would make something that worked for us and others like us.”

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The sisters won over all five Dragons, with Peter praising: “I think this is a movement, I don’t think this is an individual investment for a Dragon.” In an exclusive interview, Cat, who was sitting her Spanish GCSE just the day after filming Dragons’ Den, revealed what the experience was really like.

Maiden had been approached by Dragons’ Den when the company first started in 2024, but Cat and Honor declined the opportunity, before deciding they were ready the following year. Before Dragons’ Den, Cat, who had prepared by watching dozens of grillings from the BBC show and its US counterpart Shark Tank.

After watching those, the experience became “even more scary”, she admitted. She went on: “I was properly scared, and I had my Spanish GCSE the day after Dragons’ Den so I really hadn’t clocked it in my mind until the train up when I was doing Spanish flash cards, and I was like, ‘Wait I need to be learning my pitch,’ and then it finally hit me.

“Honor and I were up until 2am reading each other the script, and we fell asleep listening to it on our phone, and that was when it was like, ‘oh my god it’s actually happening, it’s so real’.”

She added: “In the Den, everything goes quiet. You’re focused on not messing up, so when I got out, I was like, ‘Oh I’ve just done it’. It goes so quickly… but it was amazing, I can’t express how proud I am now, because back then I didn’t realise how much of an achievement it was.”

She went on: “When we ended up getting all five Dragons, we were like, oh my god, no way. We’d never even thought about what would happen if we had got Dragons!”

After filming in the Den, Cat was given the opportunity to meet the other Dragons. “It was hugs all around, I met all of them, definitely a bucket list moment ticked off,” she said.

She added: “I remember hugging them so many times, I was so overwhelmed. Peter Jones really understood the situation more than the others, just because he started a business at 16, so he was like, ‘This is an amazing achievement, and I hope it all goes well for you’.”

Dragons’ Den is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

What are CGPs?

Research has shown GCPs might lead to better mental and physical health, though they benefit some more than others

BRUSSELS (AP) — The Pentagon on Thursday pressed U.S. allies at NATO to prove they are stepping up their defense of Europe as Washington shifts its attention to security challenges closer to home and in the Indo-Pacific region.

The U.S. has begun cutting the forces it has stationed in Europe — around 80,000 are still deployed — and the Pentagon has launched a review to establish how deep further cuts should be.

A strong U.S. presence is key to NATO’s ability to deter adversaries in Europe, such as Russia.

The cuts will depend on how effectively European allies and Canada respond to a U.S.-demand to overhaul NATO. It would see them take over the conventional defense of Europe. The U.S. would provide backup, including with nuclear weapons, only if needed.

After a briefing at NATO headquarters in Brussels, U.S. Under Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby praised Germany and Poland, as well as Scandinavian countries, for their efforts.

But he told reporters: “We hope to see more from countries like the United Kingdom.”

Colby said Washington’s aim is to bring “NATO to a more realistic, fit-for-purpose, fit for time, more balanced structure. And so that’s the spirit we’re going to continue pursuing our Europe posture review in.”

The Pentagon has circulated a survey seeking written answers to questions about how allies plan to meet the U.S. aims.

“We just received several of the questionnaires, so we’re looking forward to reviewing them,” said Colby, without saying which countries had responded.

The survey includes demands for information not related to NATO, such as whether allies will grant U.S. forces unfettered access to their bases and airspace. Some in Europe hesitated when the United States launched its war on Iran without consulting them.

“Europe has an interest in making sure that also that Iran doesn’t get a nuclear weapon, which is of course our objective,” Colby said. “We need to be able to have the ability to operate effectively. We need predictability.”

There has been a new name added into the mix as speculation over which actor will be offered the coveted James Bond role continues to grow.

It has been the question on everyone’s lips since Daniel Craig announced he would be hanging up his bow tie and pistol as 007 in 2019.

Now Brit actor Jack Barton, 31, has been introduced as a potential new leading man, as he was named the current favourite for the iconic part. 

It has been reported by Page Six that screen tests are due to begin in the next few days, with Jack’s name apparently among the shortlist.

So far he has notably appeared in teen Netflix drama Heartstopper and the BBC SAS: Rogue Heroes in 2025, as well as a selection of minor roles.

Casting directors are said to be backing Jack for the role, while it is thought that Amazon is keen for a more well-established actor.

It has been the question on everyone’s lips since Daniel Craig announced he would be hanging up his bow tie and pistol as 007 in 2019 

Debbie McWilliams, who picked previous Bonds Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig for the role, previously said a newcomer should be cast.

She told the Independent in June: ‘I don’t want to see any of [the rumoured stars] as Bond because we now know so much about them.

‘We want to know as little about them personally as possible, because that’s what spies are. We don’t need to know where he goes shopping or who his parents are, or where he lives.

‘We never want to see him at home. And a vital element of the whole thing is his job description. He’s licensed to kill, and we have to believe that he can do that. If you don’t, then you’ve lost the audience.’

Other current favourites include Callum Turner, Jack Lowden, Harris Dickinson, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jacob Elordi and Henry Cavill.

Theo James recently ruled himself out of taking the role and insisted he is ‘too old’ to play the secret agent.

Speculation about who will be the next 007 has been rife for months and recently heightened after Amazon MGM Studios announced in May that auditions were finally taking place.

Theo’s name has always been in the mix but the star of Netflix hit The Gentlemen has said at age 41 ‘I’m definitely too old now’ despite Daniel being 51 by the time he shot his final Bond movie.

Age isn’t the only factor that has put Theo off the role though, as he insists the part is ‘an example of a place you could never come back from’. 

So far he has notably appeared in teen Netflix drama Heartstopper and the BBC SAS: Rogue Heroes in 2025, as well as a selection of minor roles

Casting directors are said to be backing Jack for the role, while it is thought that Amazon are keen for a more well established actor

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Speaking to British GQ, the actor recalled the ravenous attention the Divergent movie franchise brought to his door a decade ago.

Just when his fame was reaching its peak, Theo stepped back from the limelight, choosing smaller projects that helped him hone his craft, and even briefly considered studying for an oceanography degree at the University of Santa Cruz, California. 

‘Imagine, suddenly, you and I cannot walk down the street. What that does to your children, who are trying to find themselves in the midst of hyper-scrutiny and fame,’ Theo, who is married to Irish actress Ruth Kearney with whom he shares two young kids, says now of the path he could have chosen.

‘None of that, to me, is worth it. At the time, it’s very intoxicating, being offered some huge, sexy part that would change your life forever. But it really wouldn’t ultimately be worth it.’ 

He says whilst he is fiercely protective of his private life, his stance on how to handle fan interactions has changed as he’s got older. 

‘It’s funny with selfies. When I was younger, I used to be really allergic to them,’ he said.

‘So I used to say no – but the problem with saying no, I found, is that it elongates the moment. Obviously, it’s very nice, and you want to service someone who is invested in any way.’ 

‘But at the same time, there’s the existential problem of what is your job? What is identity? What belongs to the public and what doesn’t?’ 

Jack (Lowden) was recently tipped as a favourite, with 007 producers said to be ‘strongly considering’ the Slow Horses star.

Presenter Richard Osman said recently on his podcast The Rest Is Entertainment: ‘Someone told me for definite who the new Bond is the other day, but I mean that’s happened before. The name I’ve heard is Jack Lowden.’ 

Theo James recently ruled himself out of taking the role and insisted he is ‘too old’ to play the secret agent 

Richard cautioned: ‘It is definitiely not a ‘he’s definitely got it’ thing. He is definitely being strongly considered. I think he’d be amazing.’ 

His co-host Marina Hyde agreed, pointing out that at 36, Lowden is ‘a good age. You have to have the longevity. They’ve got to do at least two movies and he’s a good age for it.’ 

Richard said the actor has ‘real Daniel Craig energy’, adding that he ‘is such a brilliant actor. Can be funny, can definitely do action. I mean, I think he’d be sensational.’

Richard and Marina’s podcast was discussing new research which reveals the public’s top picks for Bond are Tom Hardy, 48, Henry Cavill, 43, and James Norton, who recently ruled himself out, admitting at age 41, like Theo, he feels relieved he is now seen as ‘too old’.

The podcasters pointed out that the public can’t necessarily be relied upon to pick the right actor.

‘If you look back at every single James Bond that has ever been appointed, not a single one of them would have been chosen by the public, apart from maybe one,’ said Richard, referring to 1995-2002 Bond Pierce Brosnan. 

‘You have to rely on the film producers to choose someone the public doesn’t know they want… Daniel Craig definitely wouldn’t have been chosen by the public. They were furious about it at the time.’

‘That was Barbara Broccoli’s call completely the Daniel Craig call,’ Marina agreed. ‘And it was really ballsy because everyone was like “what on earth are you talking about?” The second they see Casino Royale they’re like “oh yeah, no you’re right, that is the right call”.’

Bond producer Amy Pascal gave an update on the audition process earlier this month explaining: ‘We are being really, really methodical. Having worked with Barbara Broccoli at the studio, I mean, Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow.’

‘And it’s got to be something really different that is stirring and exciting and different,’ she added. 

Auditions for the new Bond finally opened in May, five years after the famed spy’s last outing on the big screen. 

That announcement was delayed after the Broccoli family, which held an iron grip on the franchise for decades, handed over creative control to Amazon MGM Studios. 

The production company, which was formed when Amazon bought MGM in 2022, has been quiet on who might fill Craig’s boots, but in May it teased there will be ‘exciting 007 news’ in the coming months. 

In a statement revealing it was auditioning actors for the role, Amazon MGM Studios said: ‘The search for the next James Bond is underway. 

‘While we don’t plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we’re excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right.’

At the end of June, insiders told Deadline that director Villeneuve had begun informing talent who had made the next round of auditions. 

The streets were packed, the cameras were rolling as Paddy McGuinness and his co-presenters came to Bolton to film a special episode of the hit show.

On March 5, 2020, Top Gear presenters Paddy, Freddie Flintoff, and Chris Harris brought a touch of television glamour to Bolton as they filmed in and around the town.

The visit formed part of a 24-hour challenge in which the trio were tasked with spending a full day inside their cars, with Paddy behind the wheel of a Tesla, Freddie in a Volvo, and Chris driving a BMW.

Filming began in the early hours on Le Mans Crescent, drawing crowds of excited fans eager to catch a glimpse of the presenters in action.

Patrick O’Reilly, who waited on the corner of Queen Street to see the stars drive past, said: “I tried getting a photo before but this time I’ll record it.

“I like Freddie and Paddy but I am more of a fan of the old school Top Gear.

“But these lot are good, I’m just trying to catch them going past.”

The challenge saw the presenters tour various locations across Bolton, including the market, where Paddy was seen bartering from his car with a stallholder for blankets, pillows, and duvets.

Speaking to The Bolton News during a break in filming, Paddy said: “It’s amazing.

“This challenge we’re doing today, we’re spending 24 hours in our cars, so we’re not allowed out.

“We’re going on a tour of Bolton.

“So we’re driving onto Bolton Market, and we’re driving onto various places that I can’t tell you yet.

“But it’s good.

“I would love to take them in Bolton Museum because I remember as a kid going in there… and that mummified body in there.

“And it’s still in there.

“It’s one of them things where you go ‘oh, look at that there.’

“But yeah it will be good.

“They haven’t seen anywhere in the town yet.

“This is the start.”

The presenters were also spotted picking up lunch at Rigby’s Chippy in Deane and filming scenes near Bolton College.

Fans young and old gathered throughout the day, with two-year-old Quintin Smith posing for a photo with the stars and others queuing for autographs and selfies.

The excitement even reached nearby businesses, with staff at Adoption Now’s head office in Bolton managing to grab a selfie with the presenters during filming.

The visit did cause some disruption, with traffic building up around Le Mans Crescent as filming took place.

Despite the delays, the mood remained upbeat, with Mr McGuinness and Mr Flintoff taking time to sign autographs and greet fans.

One parent said: “I’ve just got an autograph for my son.

“He’ll be so happy.”

Paddy had teased the visit on Instagram the day before, joking: “We’ve been to Nepal, we’ve been to Peru, we’ve been to Borneo.

“But where are we tomorrow lads? Bolton!

“They are buzzing.

“The capital of the UK – come on!”

A business rates software error has left 374 Anglesey businesses facing higher non-domestic rates bills

Anglesey Council is preparing itself for a wave of calls from distressed business owners facing higher rates bills as a result of a software blunder. Small businesses across the county are already under considerable strain, with one owner describing the mistake as “another nail in the sector’s coffin”.

Rob Harman, who runs two Gaerwen-based businesses, warned he may be forced to cut staff hours and scale back community sponsorships. His rates for one of his companies, Hardcore Fitness Centre, have already doubled to £5,000 this year following a reconfiguration of the small business rates system.

Letters have been dispatched to 374 businesses notifying them that non-domestic rates demands issued earlier this year were “incorrect”. This was due to software incorrectly calculating the amount of transitional relief available, meaning that more relief was awarded than should have been. As a result, these demands will be re-issued, resulting in higher charges. Figures will vary between businesses, which will discover the full impacts.

Affected firms may be granted up to 12 months to settle any outstanding balances. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter

The local authority told North Wales Live: “The council regrets that the billing error was not identified before bills were issued, but has acted to notify affected businesses as soon as possible and is working with ratepayers to minimise any financial impact arising from the correction.”

Anglesey council confirmed it isn’t the only local authority facing this predicament, with councils throughout Wales and England similarly affected. Inviting businesses to ring and discuss the ramifications, Anglesey Council acknowledged the error will impose “financial pressures” on those impacted.

However, the local authority cautioned proprietors against aggressive behaviour when telephoning for information. In its correspondence, the council stated: “If you do call, please ensure you are courteous and respectful towards staff members dealing with your call. The council will not tolerate any incidents of abuse and harassment. If this happens, staff have been instructed to end the call immediately.”

Anglesey is home to approximately 2,640 businesses, of which roughly 230 are classified as small businesses. The overwhelming majority – around 2,390 – are micro businesses, most receiving 100% Small Business Rate Relief.

Mr Harman indicated the software glitch will force him to consider making cutbacks at his Gaerwen gym. The facility launched a decade ago and takes pride in supporting the local community through sponsorships and waived fees.

He told North Wales Live: “It’s a crazy situation. The council doesn’t seem to care about small businesses. We are struggling, we need help. We will have to look at ways reducing costs right across the business, perhaps by cutting hours for staff.

“Some people might say we should just increase gym session charges by £5. But a lot of people in our community simply wouldn’t be able to afford it. All the time they are driving more nails into the coffin of the small business sector.”

Hardcore Fitness Centre sponsors kits for two junior rugby teams and a football team. It also backs athletes and boxers, and raises money for kids in need.

Furthermore, veterans and serving Armed Forces personnel are permitted to train at the gym free of charge. This may now be subject to review.

“We will have to look at that,” admitted Rob. “We have around a dozen regulars where the £15 session charges are waived – that equates to around £150 to £200 per month.

“We also sponsor the Llangefni junior teams, which may have to end. We don’t want to stop but we need to protect the staff, without whom there would be no gym.”

Non-domestic rates (NDR) across Wales have risen sharply this year owing to a combination of sector-based multipliers and the scrapping of pandemic-era support schemes. All commercial properties in Wales were also reassessed from April 1, 2026.

To cushion businesses against sudden hikes following these reassessments, the Welsh Government introduced a transitional rate relief scheme. Operating on a sliding scale, liabilities will increase to 100% by 2028–29.

Cardiff has committed £116m over two years to finance the scheme. Mr Harman argued his gym cannot compete on equal terms.

“We don’t make a lot of money at the gym – it’s not subsidised like council facilities,” he said.

“David Hughes Leisure Centre (in Menai Bridge) has just had half a million for new equipment and now the council is looking to refurbish Llangefni Leisure Centre. It makes it really difficult for us to compete.”

Anglesey Council emphasised its function is to administer and collect NDR on behalf of the Welsh Government – it bears no responsibility for determining rateable values, relief schemes or the overall taxation level.

A spokesperson stated: “The council relies on specialist software to calculate bills based on the new valuations and relief arrangements.

“Following the issue of 2026/27 bills, it became apparent that the level of transitional relief awarded to some ratepayers had been calculated incorrectly, resulting in some businesses initially receiving more relief than they were entitled to. As a result, revised bills are being issued.

“This issue is not unique to Anglesey. We understand that a number of other local authorities using the same software system may also have been affected, although we cannot comment on the position of individual councils.

“We recognise that a revised bill may create financial difficulties for some businesses. Rather than simply issuing amended bills and increasing monthly instalments immediately, the council has written to affected ratepayers first to explain the situation.

“Businesses are encouraged to contact us if they have concerns about paying the revised amount. While business rates liabilities are set within a statutory framework, the council is willing to agree payment arrangements and, where appropriate, allow businesses up to 12 months from the issue of the revised bill to pay any outstanding balance.”

Fears that Putin will deploy ‘tactical nuclear weapons‘ against Ukraine are growing as Russia becomes increasingly frustrated and diplomatic hopes crumble.

Voices in Moscow calling for nuclear warheads are becoming louder, and the President is surveying his options for escalation, according to sources.

Ukraine and Russia have ramped up attacks against each other in recent months, with Kyiv landing significant strikes deep inside Russian territory against its oil infrastructure.

Meanwhile, negotiations have all but collapsed, with little hope on either side of a peace deal being found.

The Kremlin is adamant it will not end the war under pressure from sanctions or Ukrainian attacks on its refineries.

It is also increasingly indignant at Nato allies supplying Ukraine with weapons and intelligence – leading to threats against the UK that Prime Minister Andy Burnham this week branded ‘outrageous’.

Putin’s conclusion is that he need to intensify his attacks on Ukraine, three Kremlin sources told Bloomberg.

At the weekend, he told a reporter that Ukraine had ‘opened this Pandora’s box’, and warned Kyiv: ‘Be ready to get a blowback on your most sensitive sectors of the economy.’ 

If Russia did deploy a nuclear weapon, it would likely be a tactic nuclear weapon, rather than a strategic missile (pictured: nuclear-capable cruise missile, Burevestnik)

For now, it is considering how it can ramp up its conventional ballistic assaults, including missile attacks on the centre of the capital, Kyiv.

But a growing number of Russian officials have concluded that Putin could eventually abandon the rules of modern warfare and hit the nuclear button, the sources said.

Tactical nuclear weapons, which are less powerful and have a shorter range, would be more likely than strategic missiles.

They would be used to gain the upper hand in a specific battlefield, rather than to decimate entire cities, like the bombs dropped by America on Japan in 1945.

Throughout the conflict, he has repeatedly flaunted the threat of nukes against Ukraine and its Western allies – even publishing maps showing strikes zones.

And if he made the call, there would be nobody to stand in his way.

Fiona Hill, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who served as a national security advisor to three US presidents including Trump in his first term, said: ‘For Putin there is no sign of collective will anywhere to resist him and so many ways in which he can grind people down.

‘This is why a concerted collective and consistent effort to resist his actions, and to engage in diplomacy, is essential. 

‘He has a single-minded focus and we are all over the place.’

It was reported this week that the Putin might be abouyt to test a nuclear-powered cruise missile – dubbed the Flying Chernobyl – that can fly for days, according to analysts.

An influx of aircraft and shipping has converged in the Arctic in a telltale sign that a new experimental firing is expected of a weapon powered by its own atomic reactor, say analysts.

The ‘invincible’ Burevestnik missile – with a nickname inspired by the nuclear catastrophe that could be inflicted, much like the Chernobyl power plant explosion in 1986 – carries a nuclear warhead with an ‘unlimited range’ and is designed to fly for days at a time before striking the West, according to the Russians. 

While the chance of nuclear weapons still looks remote, the only way to rule them out completely would be a swift diplomatic end to the war – something that now seems out of reach.

The US is preoccupied with the conflict in Iran, and Putin has abandoned its hope of an understanding between Donald Trump and himself that was fostered during at their summit in Alaska last August.

Russia has indicate there may be a path to peace if Ukraine hands over its ‘fortress belt’ of cities in the Donbas that have held firm since the start of armed hostilities in 2014 – but Kyiv has made clear that is not on the table.

A recent indication of the US’s feeling toward Russia came from Secretary of State Marco Rubio in June, when he said: ‘If there had been an agreement, we would have had an end to the war.’

CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a rare visit to Moscow on Tuesday for a diplomatic meeting, though it’s unclear what the focus was.