It’s the last Bank Holiday weekend before Christmas and September is just around the corner

It’s the last Bank Holiday weekend before Christmas and September is just around the corner – and the weather forecast is shaping up to be a bit unsettled.

Saturday looks wet and forecasters think only the very far north east of Scotland will entirely dodge the rainfall. The worst of the wet weather will hit the North West, Northern Ireland and north-west Scotland on Sunday.

“There is a chance we could see some quite windy weather through the bank holiday Monday, predominantly for more northern areas,” said Annie Shuttleworth, Met Office meteorologist.

“But I think it will likely be a relatively breezy day for the UK as a whole so that may affect plans if you are outside this weekend at a festival or in a tent. That is something to keep in mind.”

The change in conditions has come as a relief to many after an exceptionally dry, hot summer.

There’s plenty happening across Northern Ireland this weekend including five major ‘Last Saturday’ demonstrations, Belfast Mela at Botanic Gardens and Ireland’s biggest Electronic Music Festival at Boucher Road Playing Fields.

Whatever you have planned here’s the Met Office forecast for the next couple of days:

Saturday:

A mainly cloudy day with patchy rain spreading across the southeast, chance of one or two showers breaking out elsewhere. Maximum temperature 18°C.

Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:

Rain or showers at times, perhaps heavy and thundery, but also occasional drier and brighter spells. Light or moderate winds, likely freshening on Monday and Tuesday.

UK long range weather forecast: Wednesday 2 September – Friday 11 September

Likely remaining unsettled with most areas seeing some showers or longer spells of rain at times, with the main focus for these across northern and western areas.

Potential for some strong and gusty winds at times. Some drier and more settled interludes could develop, perhaps becoming longer in duration across southern areas later in this period.

Temperatures are likely to be near average, although some short-lived warm or very warm spells are possible, especially in the south.

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A Dutch drug addiction and mental health institute warned users on Friday about potentially lethal ecstasy pills shaped to look like the head of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The respected Trimbos Institute said that several of the pills have been handed in recently at a network of centers that test drugs for users before they take them.

“Absolutely do not use these pills,” the institute warned.

It released a photo of the pills that have a depiction of Trump’s head on one side and on the other side “NL” and “Trump” stamped into the surface either side of a vertical line. One of the pills has a green face and another is yellow.

The institute warned in a “ Red Alert ” published on its website and social media that they contain a high concentration of a chemical called PMMA, or para-methoxymethamfetamine, that is similar to MDMA, the active ingredient in ecstasy pills.

However, PMMA is slower working than MDMA and that could lead users to take more because they think that the first pill didn’t work, leading to a risk of overdosing, the institute said, adding that use of the pills “can lead to overheating with possibly deadly consequences.”

Spokesperson Anniek Groothuis said that the institute has no reported cases of serious illness or fatalities among people who may have used the drug.

“We do not know of any victims where PMMA was found in their blood,” she told The Associated Press.

Producing, selling and using ecstasy is illegal in the Netherlands, but it’s widely used, particularly at clubs and music festivals. A government report in 2024 said that some 550,000 people took the drug in a year.

It’s not the first time ecstasy pills in the form of Trump’s head have appeared. In 2017, German police seized thousands of orange Trump-shaped tablets.

Ye Olde Cross in Ryton, near Gateshead, has been shortlisted in the top 16 for CAMRA’s 2026 Pub of the Year competition, with the winner set to be named in January.

The now 117-year-old pub is known for its community spirit and regular events, including open mic nights and weekend food pop-ups.

And this is not the first time the pub has earned praise from CAMRA, winning its Pub Saving Award in 2019 and securing a place in the 2026 Good Beer Guide.

Locals also have plenty to say for the establishment.

Reviewers describe the “great choice of beers, excellent service, friendly customers – plus a whisky club and a load of other regular nights.”

Others say the “service is always decent and the beer is never less than excellent.”

It will now compete against 15 other pubs from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for the national title.

The top 16 pubs are:

East Anglia: Railway Arms, Saffron Walden

East Central: Malt Shovel Tavern, Northampton

East Midlands: Railway Inn, Ketton

Greater London: Cockpit, Chislehurst

Merseyside and Cheshire: Turks Head, St. Helens

North East: Ye Olde Cross, Old Ryton Village

North West: Northumberland Arms, Marple Bridge

Northern Ireland: Dog and Duck Inn, Lisbellaw

Scotland: Steam Packet Inn, Isle of Whithorn

South Central: Bell, Waltham St Lawrence

South East: Nelson Arms, Tonbridge

South West: Fallen Tree, Clevedon

Wales: Mold Alehouse, Mold

West Central: Alma Inn, Linton

West Midlands: Tamworth Tap, Tamworth

Yorkshire: Countryman’s Inn, Hunton

As CAMRA’s North East regional winner, Ye Olde Cross is now in contention for the national title.

A final four will be announced in October, with the national winner revealed in January.

The community-owned Tyne Valley pub closed in 2019 but reopened around 18 months later following a community-led campaign.

Rapist James White had worn a Manchester United top with the number 97 to mock Hillsborough Disaster

A thug who wore a Manchester United shirt mocking the victims of the Hillsborough Disaster has now been jailed for 24 years for rape.

James White, 36, was banned from every football ground in the country in 2023 after he pleaded guilty to displaying threatening or abusive writing likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Willesden Magistrates’ Court heard that White had worn a United top with the number 97 on the back of it along with the words ‘Not Enough’ at the club’s FA Cup Final with Manchester City.

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He was branded ‘abhorrent’ by a Judge and slammed by survivors of the tragedy, which saw 97 supporters of Liverpool crushed to death at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final.

White was arrested in November last year after Warwickshire Police received a call from a relative of a woman who said she had been attacked by him with a knife.

The victim had called her relative to let him know she was in danger, after which White fled the address. She had bruising over her face and other injuries to her back and torso. She also said that White had threatened her with a knife previously and had also used it to cut her stomach.

He was arrested half an hour later at a pub nearby. Further enquiries found that, over the course of five weeks between October 17 and November 30 2025, White had been involved in a pattern of violent and abusive behaviour against her, including rape and sexual assault.

White denied a number of charges but in June this year was found guilty after a trial of two counts of rape of a woman over 16, assault of a female 13 and over by penetration, engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour, five counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of threatening a person with a knife in a private place, threats to kill and two counts of intentional strangulation.

White, of St Michael’s Crescent in Stockton, was jailed for 24 years.

Investigating officer DC Baylie Cairns, of the Domestic Abuse and RASSO team, said: “The victim escaped the cycle of abuse by having the courage to tell a family member it was taking place – at which point we were called and were able to take action against her abuser.

“Over the course of five weeks, James White subjected the victim to a campaign of horrific abuse, violence and sexual assaults. She showed remarkable bravery and courage in speaking to me about the offences committed against her.

“White has now been sentenced to 24 years in prison, preventing him from posing a risk to the victim and others. While nothing can undo the harm caused, we hope this sentence offers her some comfort and reassurance that justice has been served.”

White previously in court for sickening shirt

At his previous case, District Judge Mark Jabbitt said it was ‘hard to imagine a more… offensive reference to the 1989 Hillsborough disaster’. A decade ago a series of inquests found the fans had been unlawfully killed.

White claimed to police that the t-shirt related to his grandad, who died at the age of 97 ‘and didn’t have enough kids’.

He was fined £1,000, ordered to pay £485 in costs and was banned from all UK games for four years.

After the hearing in 2023, Diane Lynn, vice chair of Hillsborough Survivor Supporters Alliance, said it was “very personal” for people who were at Hillsborough that day and that survivors suffered with “guilt”.

“How dare he make us feel like this,” she said.

He was also banned from all regulated football games in the UK for four years, while Manchester United said it had issued an indefinite club ban to White.

A Manchester United spokesman said: “The club’s ban goes further with the immediately imposed three-year suspension being extended to an indefinite ban from all club activities including all matches at Old Trafford. Mockery of Hillsborough and other football tragedies is completely unacceptable and the club will continue to support firm action to eradicate it from the game.”

The FA said in a statement it “welcomed” the sentence, adding White’s actions were “reprehensible”, and “abuse that references Hillsborough or any football tragedy will not be tolerated at Wembley Stadium”.

“We hope that today’s ruling sends a strong message that action will be taken against any perpetrators who behave in this way.”

Douglas Mackay from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said at the time: “The CPS continues to work closely with the football authorities including the Premier League and the Football Association, police, clubs, and charities to look to stamp out all of the appalling and horrendous incidents of tragedy chanting and gesturing.

“We are sending a clear message that we call on so-called fans to stop this vile behaviour of a minority which has a terrible impact on the bereaved and communities.”

The historical source material on bigamy depicts an awful lot of weeping. Sometimes the tears are behind the scenes – the reaction of a deserted first wife or deceived second wife to the revelation of her husband’s crime.

On occasion they are tears of contrition, as the bigamist begs for forgiveness or at least not to be prosecuted. Although one unmoved 18th-century wife suspected her bigamist husband, William Bury, had just “spit on his fingers” to counterfeit tears and prosecuted him anyway.

And sometimes the tears are shed publicly, at the trial – reflecting fear of the potential punishment, or, for some, relief at an acquittal. Both reactions are understandable given that bigamy was potentially punishable by death when it was first made a crime in 1604.

While few were sentenced to execution, my research, published in my books Double Trouble and Double Lives, shows that bigamy was still harshly punished. Until the end of the 18th century, convicted bigamists were usually branded on their hands.

The early 19th century saw around a quarter of bigamists (254 people) being transported to Australia and even after that practice declined, sentences of imprisonment were rarely nominal. Thomas Hall, for example, cited by historian Lawrence Stone as having been sentenced to a single day, in fact got four months. Only in the 20th century do we see shorter sentences becoming the norm.

Yet tears are not usually the first thing that comes to mind when we think of bigamy. Stone described one case of a man abandoning his first wife to marry a second as effectively “divorce by mutual consent”, simply because the first wife agreed not to prosecute him in return for financial support. Such language frames bigamy as a victimless crime – a more-or-less socially acceptable solution to marital breakdown at a time when divorce was unavailable and cohabiting with a new partner unacceptable.

And culturally, the idea of bigamy has often had a comic dimension, exemplified in Ray Cooney’s 1983 farce Run For Your Wife. The central character, John Smith, is a London cabby with wives in different parts of the city.

Yet even Run For Your Wife has a darker edge to it. Smith may be depicted as an essentially lovable character (helped by being played by Richard Briers in the original West End production and Danny Dyer in a 2012 film adaptation) – but he is living a double life and deceiving both of his wives.

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A juggling act

Of course, few bigamists were able to juggle two households simultaneously: it was generally too complicated, too tiring and too expensive to do so. One 20th-century bigamist, who bicycled across London between his two families, lasted only a few months, finding it difficult to maintain both homes on his weekly wage of £2 and seven shillings.

Even so, deception plays a much bigger role in the history of bigamy than most accounts have credited. Time and again, bigamists – usually, it has to be said, men – either lied about their marital status or simply let it be understood that they were free to marry.

Some, no doubt, were genuinely hoping to make a new life with their second spouse and hoped the truth would never come to light. You have to have some sympathy for George Harrower, prosecuted in 1816, whose first wife was confined in a lunatic asylum. Or for Benjamin Griffiths, whose wife cheated on him with his nephew and who in 1847 bigamously married the woman who was caring for his children.

Others were just in it for the sex, and went back to their first spouse after a brief dalliance. John Mase Smith probably holds the record for the briefest second marriage, heading back to his first wife at 5am the morning after his bigamous wedding in 1849.

And some particularly nasty men made a career out of inveigling women into marriage, fleecing them of their money and abandoning them for their next victim. One of the most prolific of these was John Woodgate Kinsella, prosecuted in 1900, 1908 and 1918, who used lonely hearts adverts to dupe more than a dozen young, working-class women into marrying him and giving him their hard-earned savings. If he was around today he would almost certainly be involved in online romance fraud.

The sheer extent of deception revealed in the reports of trials disproves the claims that have been made about the acceptability of bigamy as a solution to marital breakdown: if it was acceptable, why was any deception necessary?

My analysis of where bigamous weddings took place also shows that bigamists were generally trying to avoid detection, rather than assuming that their actions would be accepted. Very few took place in the same church unless the person in question either believed that they were entitled to remarry or thought they would escape notice.

Most bigamists put a significant distance between their two ceremonies, particularly in rural areas. And from the mid-19th century, many chose the greater privacy of a register office. No wonder, then, that so many second spouses were genuinely shocked and distressed on discovering another existing marriage.

Just 80 minutes from Cambridge is a beautiful stretch of Norfolk coastline that is a lesser-known gem that goes wonderfully uncrowded every day of the year

There’s one beach along the Norfolk coastline that seems to go under the radar, but it’s well worth exploring, as I found out.

When it comes to a beach day out, Norfolk is our best option, with stretches of golden coastline and charming seaside towns all within easy reach of Cambridgeshire. Holkham beach, backed by rolling sand dunes and pine forests, is among the most popular and is frequently visited by the Royal Family, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their three children, George, Charlotte and Louis.

Wells-next-the-Sea has consistently proved to be a beloved seaside spot, with its sweeping sand beach lined with colourful beach huts and a town packed with independent shops, cosy cafés and traditional pubs. Meanwhile, there’s the classic Victorian seaside resort of Cromer, the stretches of coast at Great Yarmouth Beach, and Horsey Beach, known as a prime location for seal spotting, with hundreds descending on the shore.

I’ve visited various stretches of the Norfolk coastline on day trips from Cambridgeshire, packing the car with my walking boots and a picnic, come summer or winter – there’s nothing like that fresh sea air! And while I love Holkham beach, I took the time to visit the lesser-known beach of Snettisham, and found that it’s equally worth a visit.

Nestled near the west coast of Norfolk, just 80 minutes drive from Cambridge, Snettisham offers stretches of an unspoilt sand and pebble beach. It’s backed by salt marshes and wetlands, remaining untouched by loud and tacky seaside attractions, for a blissfully quiet retreat by the sea.

In fact, there really isn’t much at Snettisham, aside from a few holiday and caravan parks that I passed on my way to the beach car park, but that’s what makes it all the more appealing. It’s a haven for beach walks and uninterrupted sea views, offering the chance to simply take a moment and step back from the everyday bustle, against the soothing sound of gentle waves and the sea breeze.

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During my visit, it remained beautifully serene, aside from a few niceties from fellow walkers, and it’s a part of the coast that goes wonderfully untouched by crowds. There’s ample space for dog walkers, who are welcome all year round, or for kids to kick a ball around, and plenty of spots against the salt marshes to pitch up for a picnic on those warmer days.

While I wandered along miles of the flat sand and shingle shore, I also found a promenade lined with cabins and shacks. It also provided the perfect opportunity for wildlife spotting as birds swooped over the open stretches of shore, with the tide stretched out.

There are also walking routes from the beach that will take you to the RSPB Snettisham Nature Reserve, affectionately known as the ‘Snettisham Spectacular’, thanks to its flocks of wading birds and pink-footed geese that fly overhead during high tide. It also offers picturesque views across The Wash, with parts of the Norfolk Coast Path connected to Snettisham beach if you’re keen to wander further afield.

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It’s such a popular spot for birdwatching and wildlife that, during my visit, I saw a film production arrive in the car park, planning what they would capture in this rare, untouched part of the Norfolk coast. And after time spent exploring the beach and nature reserve, there’s the Snettisham Beach Chip Shop to pick up that quintessential seaside treat, or to grab a coffee at The Old Store in the town, or a classic pub meal at the 14th-century, The Rose & Crown, before heading home, feeling fully recharged.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

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A food content creator named Amy Sheppard claims most people are not eating Marmite the right way, saying it’s much tastier if you don’t have it ‘raw’ and instead cook it up

Love it or hate it, Marmite is arguably one of Britain’s most divisive foods. It was first invented by the Marmite Food Company in 1902 by using the by-products from beer brewing. And despite its salty and yeasty flavour, it’s a great addition to most diets, as it contains a vegan source of B vitamins, including supplementary B12.

But those who are fans of the spread tend to be very particular about how they enjoy it, from adding a thick layer onto toast, while others prefer a smaller amount. It can even be used in cooking and baking, from pasta dishes to chocolate cookies – yes, really! There are also various snacks and foods available in supermarkets that have a ‘Marmite flavour’ added.

However, one woman now has come out to claim most people are not using the spread to its full potential, claiming people are eating it ‘raw’.

Taking to TikTok, food content creator and cookbook author Amy Sheppard, who has millions of followers across social media platforms, has shared her recipe for a Marmite toastie, adding: “You have got to stop eating raw Marmite.”

In the caption of the video, she added: “This is going to change your Sunday morning Marmite toast… Forever.” She also suggested it would likely ‘blow your mind’.

Marmite toastie recipe

Amy went on to reveal her method for what she calls ‘grilled Marmite’ or ‘baked Marmite’. She starts with two slices of bread, toasting one side under the grill. On the untoasted side, she spreads a generous layer of butter, followed by a “nice, thick layer of Marmite”.

According to the food enthusiast, it needs to be “thicker than you would normally do”. She then places the slices, Marmite side up, back under the grill until they turn “golden brown, and crisp and bubbly”.

She continued: “When you grill it, it doesn’t look much different, does it? But the Marmite goes really sticky and gooey, and has this kind-of chewy, caramelised flavour to it. It’s so good.”

Amy went as far as suggesting that even those who aren’t fans of Marmite would likely enjoy this combination. Eager Marmite devotees were keen to give it a go themselves, with one commenting: “I eat Marmite every day for brekky. Going to try this.”

Another enthused: “[Be right back], heading to the kitchen to try this immediately.”

Others were quick to share their own beloved Marmite pairings, including Marmite with peanut butter and crispy bacon, as well as Marmite and cheese sandwiches.

One user suggested: “Try poached eggs on Marmite on toast…” while another recommended: “Try Marmite on your steak. Cook one side, turn it over then spread it on the cooked side and then leave it to rest as normal mmmm.”

A review could be launched just three years after the junction was redesigned

Cambridge residents have called for a safety review of a “dangerous” junction they say has seen a number of “near misses”. The junction of Barton Road and Grantchester Street has been a longstanding concern for Newnham residents and, despite a 2023 redesign, they fear it is still unsafe.

Peter Singleton, chair of Old Newnham Residents Association, said there are a number of “design flaws” with the current junction creating confusion for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. These include having cyclists and pedestrians go at the same time and removing the beeping noise which indicates it is safe to cross.

The 73-year-old said this poses a particular danger to cyclists and pedestrians and has led to accidents and a number of near misses.

He said: “You’re never going to come up with something that’s going to satisfy everyone, but if we can make it safer then that’s better. Accidents certainly happen there and, if you like, you could call it a case of more accidents waiting to happen. Particularly in Newnham Croft, there are quite a lot of elderly people who are not so agile.”

He launched a petition at the start of July which has been signed by more than 200 residents, enough to be debated by Cambridgeshire County Council.

Mr Singleton said: “It was done a little bit in haste – but the sooner we get something on this, the sooner it can be in the next budget. Any delay could lead to an extra year or two. I think for what we’ve done, we’ve done pretty well.”

A safety audit was completed before the redesign three years ago, but he said this focused mainly on the safety of drivers rather than pedestrians.

He said: “The county council redesigned it as part of the Barton Road Greenway without discussing with the local residents whether this would improve things or make it worse.”

He said residents have “always had safety concerns” and their input must be taken aboard to prevent a serious accident on the crossing.

He said: “There’s four phases to the traffic lights and in only one are pedestrians and cyclists permitted to go, and they all go at the same time. I think the lack of auditory feedback is a big one – there’s no beeping at all, so a lot of cyclists approaching see cars stopped and think it’s safe to go and dash across.”

Cllr Dr Peter Rees, county councillor for Newnham, said the existing safety audit is “insufficient” and “does not reflect the lived experience of people using the junction daily”.

The Green councillor said: “We support residents in calling for a new, comprehensive safety audit that fully considers collision risk, visibility issues and the needs of vulnerable road users. We have been working with residents to bring the issue forward, helping gather evidence, raise concerns with council officers, and ensure the petition is heard.

“The junction has been a persistent source of complaints, and residents have repeatedly felt ignored. I really hope that the members of the highways committee will recognise the serious concerns that have been raised and ask for a further safety audit to consider how they can be addressed”.

The petition will be debated by the county council’s highways and transport committee on Tuesday, September 1.