One homeowner was left frustrated after finding rats in their garden, and they believed their neighbour’s chicken coop was to blame – but who’s responsible to get rid of them?

As summer draws to a close and the autumn months approach, you may notice an increase in rat activity in your garden – especially as the many heatwaves might have increased number of rats around.. Rat sightings peak between September and November in the UK, as the breeding season winds down and rats venture into homes in search of food and warmth as the temperature drops.

While there are various measures you can take to discourage rats from entering your garden in the first place, such as using natural repellents, it can sometimes feel unavoidable, particularly if they have already made their way into a neighbouring garden.

This was precisely the situation faced by one homeowner, who sought advice after repeatedly discovering rats entering their garden from next door, suspecting that their neighbour’s chicken coop was the source of the problem.

“During the day, I spotted two rats in my garden, seemingly sniffing around some of the flower beds,” they explained in a Reddit post. “I went outside to see where they may be coming from (one of them was brazen and didn’t disappear immediately when I went outside) and spotted two little tunnels dug under the neighbour’s fence through which they must have came through.”

They added: “My neighbours started keeping chickens in a chicken coop recently, and I can only assume the rats found some feed. In the five years we have lived in this house, we have never had any issues with rats or seen signs of them.”

They continued by questioning whether it would be preferable to speak to the neighbour about the problem, despite not enjoying the strongest relationship with them, or simply contact pest control to eliminate them.

Legal rights if rats keep entering your garden due to neighbour

You have the right to report a serious rat infestation to your local council’s environmental health department if it presents a public health risk or a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Section 79 of the act states that premises in such a state as to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance (such as from accumulated rubbish or poor waste management) allow councils to serve an abatement notice.

Meanwhile, the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 requires landowners and occupiers to keep their property free from rats and mice, giving local councils the power to take enforcement action.

As a homeowner, you are legally responsible for ensuring your own property does not attract or harbour pests, meaning you should avoid placing traps or poisons directly over the boundary line.

What to do if rats enter your garden from neighbours

One of the initial steps recommended if you discover rats coming into your garden from your neighbours is to speak to the neighbour in question about the matter, as they may not be aware of it in the first place. It is also worth examining your garden thoroughly to identify any gaps or potential entry points through which rats may be gaining access, thereby preventing any future occurrences.

This can involve sealing any holes, securing your bins, clearing away garden clutter, and ceasing to feed wildlife if it is attracting rodents to the area.

Should your neighbour decline to take action and the infestation begins to affect your health or immediate surroundings, contact your local authority’s environmental health team and present them with documented evidence.

Brexit is costing the UK £11.7bn a year in lost exports, stark new figures show, piling further pressure on Andy Burnham to rejoin the EU’s single market and customs union.

The damning findings by Logistics UK, which represents freight companies and is one of the largest trade associations in the UK, show that the loss in revenue compared with 2019 is worth £400 per household in the UK per year.

The organisation has called on the prime minister to push for greater alignment with EU regulations as campaign groups ramp up pressure to find a pathway for Britain back into the bloc.

It comes as a major new business survey by the European Movement UK has revealed that 72.8 per cent of firms say that Brexit has had a negative impact on their businesses, 96.4 per cent say it has had a negative impact on their communities, and 98.2 per cent want the UK to rejoin the EU’s single market.

Logistics UK head of trade James Mills, a former advisor on Labour’s Treasury team, said: “Greater trade matters because it is closely linked to productivity. It gives businesses access to larger markets, encourages investment and allows successful firms to specialise and grow. Yet Britain’s recent performance points in the wrong direction.”

He said there is “a huge prize” on economic growth to be had by fixing the loss in trade and noted that since the UK voted to leave the EU in 2016, UK goods exports by tonnage have fallen 20.7 per cent. Export volumes to the EU have fallen 15.9 per cent, while exports to the rest of the world have fallen 37.2 cent.

That’s despite promises of a trade boom with the rest of the world made by Nigel Farage, Boris Johnson and other leading Brexiteers at the time of the referendum.

The findings emerged in a week where Mr Burnham disappointed many with his decision to stick to Keir Starmer’s red lines on Brexit and not rejoin the single market or customs union.

That is despite Labour MPs overwhelmingly being in favour of rejoining both and a vote being passed in the Commons supporting the move.

Mr Burnham has previously said he supports rejoining the EU and earlier this week promised to be “bolder” than Sir Keir in his forthcoming Brexit reset talks due to take place next month.

Mr Mills said unnecessary paperwork, border complexity and duplicated processes due to Brexit were making exporting harder and more expensive than it needs to be.

“At a time when finding sustainable ways to grow the economy is more important than ever, reducing those frictions is one of the clearest opportunities available. Fix how we trade, and we can help fix how we grow,” added.

Research published by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) last summer put the administrative burden of Britain’s import and export declarations with the EU, which became necessary after Brexit, at £1.8bn in 2022 alone, across 38.6 million declarations. At HMRC’s own timings of 19 to 28 minutes each, that is 15 million hours a year that could have been spent more productively.

Mike Galsworthy, chair of the European Movement UK, said: “The absolute killer on our businesses, large and small, is paperwork. What hurts is the sheer time, cost and risk of it. Brexit is a huge source of that paperwork, creating vast barriers where previously there were none. Rejoining the single market and customs union, or better, the EU outright, would remove it entirely.”

Naomi Smith, chief executive of Best for Britain, which campaigns for the UK’s renewed EU membership to get the country’s Gross Domestic Product growing again, said: “Ministers must urgently prioritise practical reforms to address this crisis, but at the bigger picture level, if Burnham really want to secure good growth and lower the cost of living he cannot afford to overlook the GDP growth on offer via EU membership, which independent analysis finds could have almost ten times (£92bn) the impact of these measures.”

Daisy Cooper, the Lib Dem Treasury spokeswoman and deputy leader, said the government “cannot sustain its red lines on Europe anymore” and called for action to help struggling businesses.

“It should take up the Lib Dem plan to unleash British business and slash red tape by striking a deal for a new customs union with the EU and joining the single market. That is the single biggest lever the government can pull to finally get our economy growing again,” she said.

The impact of Brexit on UK businesses is clear, with almost 80 per cent of firms polled telling the European Movement‘s Business Impact Survey they were pessimistic about their future prospects.

Mike Donovan, who runs Apparel Studio Stockport, said its earnings were cut in half almost overnight after the EU voted leave the bloc.

“The 12 per cent tariffs on all imports and exports drastically decreased our profits which meant we had to change our business model and move our manufacturing to countries like Turkey,” he said.

Austin Wildmore, from Paws Pet Transport, said: “When the Brexit referendum happened, I didn’t believe any UK government would seek the deal we ended up with, I couldn’t imagine a government would inflict this on its own nation.

“However, as soon as the final agreement was in place and we were faced with a hard tariff Brexit, my business was affected overnight. Suddenly, all our veterinary licenses were null and void, and there were no reciprocal licenses available. Our biggest problem was border control in the UK.”

Marco Forgione, director general of the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade, said, it was right to say trade intensity had slipped since Brexit.

But he claimed the services trade, such as banking and tourism, had “more than offset” a large part of the weakness in goods being traded, with services exports up from £340bn in 2019 and to £546bn in 2025.

“Where Logistics UK is right is that compared to G7 nations UK real trade volumes have lagged since 2019. Services growth has not been enough to bridge the gap,” he added.

The Independent has contacted the Department for Business and Trade for comment.

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Xabi Alonso said he wants players that “feel a desire to play” for Chelsea after Enzo Fernandez was left out of the squad for Thursday’s win over Luton.

It’s understood that there had been no formal contact from Manchester City over a proposed move for the Argentina international.

Chelsea’s asking price of £120m, placed on Fernandez in May after he told the club he wanted to leave, is also understood no longer strictly to apply following the expiry of a deadline for offers imposed by the club on 13 August.

Chelsea believe that market valuations have risen following a number of deals in the Premier League and in Europe struck for more than £100m. So far there have been three transfers for a fee exceeding that figure, set to rise again after Liverpool agreed a £120m deal with Paris Saint-Germain for Bradley Barcola.

Should Fernandez be sold this late in the window, it would leave the club with very little to time to seek out a replacement and at risk themselves of being charged a premium by selling clubs, understood to be a further factor that could raise the price should City make their move.

The door is not closed on the player’s exit. Chelsea are open to his departure before Tuesday’s deadline but only if it leaves them with options to strengthen, likely meaning they will demand more than the £120m asked earlier.

Alonso has dismissed reports in Argentina that Fernandez asked not to be involved in the game against Luton, which the Blues won 2-0 thanks to goals from Danny Welbeck on his home debut and an own-goal by defender Hakeem Odoffin.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Premier League game at home to Brighton, Alonso said: “We need the players that are in the best situation to play.

“We need to take everything into consideration, players that are in good moments, players that are not feeling that energy to play. For me it’s very important that they feel that desire to play and to have good preparation.

“We talked, and we decided that (for Luton) it was better not to be part of the squad. He’s a top player, there’s no doubt about that.”

Asked whether Chelsea would re-enter the market before Tuesday should Fernandez leave, he said: “We have to be ready always.”

There has been a raft of departures from the club in recent days with defender Mamadou Sarr the latest to leave, joining Real Sociedad on loan. Liam Delap was sold to Nottingham Forest for £50m on Thursday.

Alonso, who previously said his squad size needed to be drastically cut, said: “We are quite close to the plan that we had. We will see where we finish, if it’s fully executed or there are some things still to be done.

“But overall the balance of what we have is going to be good. We need to see how the last few days develop.”

By RACHEL BOWMAN, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER and RACHEL SHARP, CRIME CORRESPONDENT

Updated: 15:38 BST, 28 August 2026

The jury in Lindsay Clancy‘s murder trial were called back into court on Friday for a question as intense deliberations continue. 

As jurors, family, and members of the public gallery returned to the courtroom, Judge William R Sullivan appeared to hold up two clear Ziploc bags of Clancy’s medication, suggesting the question was about her use of the prescription drugs. 

Twelve jurors are deliberating the Massachusetts mom’s fate after the court heard closing arguments from the prosecution and defense yesterday.

A total of nine women and three men, selected from 18, will decide if Clancy is guilty of first degree murder, second degree murder, manslaughter, or not guilty by reason of insanity.

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Clancy strangled her children Cora, 8, Dawson, 5, and Callan, eight months, to death at their family home in Duxbury in January 2023.

The former labor and delivery nurse has pleaded not guilty in her trial, citing postpartum depression and psychosis as a result of overmedication. Clancy had been prescribed at least 13 different psychiatric medications at the time of the killings.

Clancy and her ex-husband, Patrick, filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against her former care team as a result of the tragic incident.

Prosecutors are angling to convict Clancy on the basis that the killings were deliberate, and that the mom was in control of her actions in the moment.  

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Judge calls for a sidebar

Court briefly resumed, and the judge immediately called for a sidebar with the attorneys.

During the sidebar, Judge Sullivan held up clear Ziploc bags that appeared to contain Clancy’s medication as he spoke to the prosecutors and the defense attorney.

It seemed that the jury had a question about the pill bottles. They are not present in the room.

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After speaking for approximately seven minutes, the sidebar ended, and the judge ordered the court in recess while deliberations continue.

Clancy’s prescriptions took center stage during the trial, where her defense argued she was suffering postpartum depression and psychosis as a result of overmedication.

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Patrick Clancy and new wife’s secret crisis: As he weighs big move ahead of Lindsay trial verdict… those closest to him speak out

As Lindsay Clancy’s trial nears its end in Massachusetts, her ex-husband is hundreds of miles away trying to rebuild a life that keeps being dragged back into the spotlight.

Patrick Clancy, 38, was seen this week touring apartments in a quiet neighborhood of Manhattan as he and new wife, Dr Rachel Danis, seek to escape the glare of publicity.

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What happened to the Clancy children?

On January 24, 2023, Clancy announced she’d had an exhausting day looking after their three young children so she asked husband Patrick if he didn’t mind going out on an errand. He just needed to pick up some children’s medicine and a takeout dinner order as she’d been too tired to cook, she told him.

Patrick, 36, who worked in software sales for Microsoft, was happy to oblige. But when he returned to their home in the well-to-do Boston coastal suburb of Duxbury less than an hour later at around 6pm, he discovered that their happy family existence had been snuffed out in an act of almost unimaginable violence.

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After going upstairs to find his wife, who he imagined was giving the children a bath, he discovered their second-floor bedroom door was locked and had to force his way in. Inside, there was blood on the floor, a bloody knife on the nightstand and the room was chilly as a window had been left open.

He ran downstairs to find his wife lying barely conscious outside. She had cut her wrists and neck before jumping out of the window, falling some 20ft onto frozen ground. She told him she’d tried to kill herself, adding – when he asked – that the children were in the basement.

Patrick stayed by her side for the next 10 minutes after dialing 911, convinced that she might die before the paramedics arrived.

Only when they turned up did he hurry inside to find the children – five-year-old Cora, three-year-old Dawson and Callan, just eight months. They were indeed in the basement – they had all been strangled with resistance bands.

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Legal experts warn of ‘disaster’ ending no one saw coming for America’s saddest trial

According to several legal experts who spoke with the Daily Mail, while many are asking whether the jury will deliver a verdict of guilty or not guilty, there’s a very real possibility that this high profile, tumultuous trial is heading towards a third outcome: a mistrial.

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Members being called into the courtroom

The prosecution and the Clancy family have returned to the courtroom.

A court officer told the media they were returning to the courtroom.

At this time, it is unclear why.

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Lindsay Clancy spectator slammed for bringing her dog named Chorizo into court

A spectator sparked a social media uproar for bringing her pet dog to the Lindsay Clancy trial.

The unidentified woman wore a red shawl and her dark hair pulled into a ponytail, as she sat in the back of the courtroom with her emotional support pug, Chorizo.

Chorizo was seen in a blue harness, leashed to its owner and sitting quietly by her feet.

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Lindsay Clancy’s shocking plan to celebrate her freedom

The former labor-and-delivery nurse is looking at two starkly different futures: a life behind bars or potentially years inside a state psychiatric hospital, which could end in her release if she is no longer deemed mentally ill.

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Look back at all the major moments from ‘America’s saddest murder trial’

The Lindsay Clancy jury is now working to decide her fate

We’ve been in court since day one of ‘America’s saddest murder trial.’

While the world waits for their verdict, take a look back at our coverage of all the major moments from the gripping trial.

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Kevin Reddington arrives at court

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Lindsay Clancy’s family arrive at court

Lindsay Clancy’s parents, Mike and Paula Musgrove, as well as her sister, Allison Ozga, walked into court for the second day of jury deliberations.

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Inside the courtroom

Clancy’s parents have gone into the courtroom. Her sister Allison Ozga is also with them today.

Prosecutor Shanan Buckingham is wearing a navy-blue bow in her hair.

Clancy sits at the defense table in a green T-shirt. Reddington just walked over to her, opened his tin of mints, and poured some on the table in front of her.

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The jury did not appear to look at Clancy as they entered. She watched them closely.

The judge quickly asked the jury his usual questions about whether they could fulfill their duties, then sent them back to deliberations.

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Inside Lindsay Clancy’s home: Disturbing photos show scene of unimaginable horror… as jury decides her fate

It was a bright, sunny day in the South Shore of Massachusetts – typical of late July when visitors and locals flock to the picturesque coastal towns for summer vacations.

But the weather contrasted with the mood as the 18 men and women with the grueling task of deciding Lindsay Clancy’s fate were taken to the scene where she strangled her three young children.

Clancy is accused of murdering Cora, five, Dawson, three, and Callan, eight months old, inside the family home in the affluent suburb of Duxbury, Massachusetts, on January 24, 2023.

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The former delivery nurse strangled the children with exercise bands in the basement then tried to kill herself – cutting her wrists and neck before jumping from the second-floor bedroom window.

It is a case where postpartum mental illness and criminal responsibility have taken center stage.

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PARIS (AP) — Celine Dion blew kisses and made a love-heart shape with her hands as she swept into Paris on Friday for her first series of concerts since revealing her diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome.

Fans yelling “We’re so happy to see you” and “We love you” crowded with journalists outside a Paris hotel as the Grammy-winning star settled in to prepare her residency of 16 shows in September and October at the Plenitude Arena in the French capital’s western suburbs. The first show opens on Sept. 12.

“I am ready and I’m a bit uptight of course because it’s been a long time,” she told French broadcaster BFMTV, wearing a beige trench coat, high heels and dark shades.

“I have always felt supported from the first day and because it’s a story that continues. It’s true that this is my second home,” the Quebec-born singer said.

Asked which song she’d sing first, Dion replied: “I can’t say, it’s a big secret!”

The Paris concerts, to be followed by 10 more next May, mark a major milestone for 58-year-old Dion after years away from touring due to the rare neurological disorder she disclosed in 2022.

With nearly 260 million albums sold worldwide, Dion remains one of the bestselling and most decorated artists in pop music history, known for hits including “My Heart Will Go On” and “Because You Loved Me.”

The concert series, titled “Celine Dion Paris 2026-2027,” will feature her catalog of hits in English and French.

Dion has largely stepped back from performing since canceling her Courage World Tour as her condition progressed. She wowed with a brief but widely watched return at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics in 2024, singing “Hymne à l’amour” (Hymn to love) atop the Eiffel Tower in the rain.

The Plenitude Arena has a capacity of 40,000 spectators and was one of the venues used for the Paris Games.

President Donald Trump reportedly plans to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the Pentagon, not Ground Zero in New York City – in part because he cannot give a speech.

The president had initially intended to join former presidents and other officials in Manhattan on September 11, but those plans were changed after memorial planners seemingly reminded Trump’s team that politicians are barred from speaking at the site to maintain its nonpartisan stance, the New York Times reported.

Instead, Vice President JD Vance will represent the White House in New York City while Trump goes to the Pentagon, which also came under attack on September 11, 2001.

White House Spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement: “On the 25th anniversary of this tragic day, the President will remember those who were killed at the hands of evil terrorists, honor their loved ones, and pay tribute to the brave first responders who put their lives on the line to rescue their fellow Americans.”

She added, “As a proud New Yorker, President Trump has spoken about his own experiences watching the horrific events of September 11, 2001.”

The president and First Lady Melania Trump also marked the September 11th anniversary at the Pentagon last year. At the memorial, Trump spoke about those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001, while peppering in brags about his administration and agenda.

“In America we take blows, but we never buckle. We bleed, but we do not bow, and we defy the fear, endure the flames and emerge from the crucible of every hardship stronger, prouder and greater than ever before,” Trump said during remarks last year.

The president then added: “Last year we were a dead country, now we have the hottest country anywhere in the world” – a statement he repeatedly shared during rallies and press conferences.

Later that day, Trump flew to New York City to attend a New York Yankees game.

Since 2012, the National September 11 Memorial and Museum has prohibited politicians from speaking at Ground Zero – the site of the Twin Towers.

That decision was made after a series of political battles over the construction of the memorial site angered families who felt the political issues were overshadowing the memory of those who died that day.

The last time Trump attended a 9/11 memorial in New York City was during the 2024 presidential race when he joined then-president Joe Biden, then-vice president Kamala Harris and other officials at Ground Zero.

The politicians shook hands and stood side-by-side as they remembered the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attack.

This year, several notable politicians are expected to attend the 25th anniversary at Ground Zero, including former Mayor Rudy Giuliani; former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary Clinton; former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura Bush; and former President Barack Obama, officials familiar with the planning told the New York Times.

There are other reasons the president will mark the day from Washington, D.C., instead of New York City.

The president is planning to travel to his golf course in Doonbeg, Ireland, the following day and it’s easier to leave from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland than the tri-state area airports, the New York Times reported.

Furqan Khalil was convicted by a jury at Chester Crown Court following a four-day trial which concluded on Thursday, August 27.

Jurors found the 28-year-old guilty of one count of sexual assault relating to an allegation he touched the teenager’s bottom.

He was found not guilty of a second count of touching her leg and genitals. The offences related to an incident on February 3, 2024.

During the trial, the court heard, the girl entered Cheshire Mobile and E-Cigarettes in Market Way, Northwich, to buy a phone charger.

While in the shop, she also asked about buying a vape.

Prosecutors alleged Khalil touched the girl inappropriately while showing her a selection of vapes before telling her to wait outside because CCTV cameras were operating inside the premises.

Once outside the shop, the court heard he again behaved inappropriately towards the girl while discussing the vape purchase.

The assault happened at Cheshire Mobile and E-Cigarettes, where Khalil was working back in February 2024 (Image: NQ)

During the trial, the prosecution said the defendant suggested she carry out ‘favours’ in return for being sold the vape.

Instead, the victim’s friend attacked him, causing him to run back into the shop and lock up and leave quickly.  

Khalil, of Rishton Lane, Bolton, was released on bail and is due to return to Chester Crown Court on Friday, October 9, for sentencing.

Following the verdict, Detective Sergeant Helen Harrison said: “I welcome today’s outcome and hope this conviction will provide reassurance to the victim, and local residents, and also acts as a warning to other people who feel it is acceptable to act in this manner.

“We treat all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously, and any allegation will be thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and needs of the victim our main priority.

“Victims should never feel ashamed to talk about what they have been subjected to.

“They will receive the help and support they need from our specialist officers, as well as from other support agencies we work alongside, and all victims of sexual offences have the right to anonymity.”

To report any sexual offence call Cheshire Constabulary on 101 or visit https://www.cheshire.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/v1/rape-sexual-assault-other-sexual-offences

Commander Claire Smart, gold commander for Notting Hill Carnival, said: “Our message is simple: come and enjoy carnival, look after one another, respect the event, the communities hosting it and the police officers, stewards and other emergency services working to keep people safe.

Since 2020/21 overall real terms benefits spending is forecast to have increased by approximately 16%. As a percentage of GDP, benefits spending is lower than it was in 2020/21 (though it is worth noting that the UK’s GDP was heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in that year), but it has been increasing since 2022/23.