The village is just outside of Cambridge and is filled with pretty thatched cottages

No matter where you’re from, it’s likely that you know of a place with a name that people often pronounce wrong. The English language loves to throw in a silent letter where it can, and some place names in Cambridgeshire have fallen victim to this grammatical curse.

One village that is often pronounced wrong is Great Wilbraham, which is six miles from Cambridge. Many assume that it is pronounced Great Wil-bra-ham, but it’s actually Great Will-brum.

But despite its confusing name, the village has a rich history which dates back all the way to the Domesday Book, where it appeared as Wilburgaham. This name is thought to derive from the Anglo-Saxon princess Wilburh, the daughter or close family member of Penda King of the Mercians. Wilbruh remains a part of the village today as she features on a village sign.

In the Middle Ages, the Knights Templar held the manor of Great Wilbraham, which is still known as ‘The Temple’ today. Within the grounds of the temple, the remains of a Roman villa were found. Above it, a Middle Saxon burial ground was also found.

Today, Great Wilbraham is a charming village home to around 600 people. Property prices in the village range from around £300,000 to over £1 million. There is a real mix of homes in the village including more modern homes and chocolate box-style thatches cottages.

There is one pub in the village called The Carpenter Arms. The pub has served the village community for more than 250 years, with what it calls “genuine hospitality”. Visitors have praised it for its “beautiful” decorations and that it feels “really welcoming”. The pub is also dog-friendly.

There is also a Post Office, a shop and a well-used village hall. The village also has a strong sporting history, as it has a local football and cricket team.

There will be some sun, but rain is expected in parts of Cambridgeshire across the long weekend

The final bank holiday weekend of the summer is upon us and and in true British style, it looks set to be a wet one. Whilst it gives most people an extra day off work, the weather may be a bit of a hindrance when choosing what to do.

We’ve had a long, hot and dry summer with plenty of evenings spent in the pub beer garden. But if you were planning on one last hurrah this weekend, you may need to take a raincoat and umbrella with you.

Here is the weather forecast for Cambridge, Peterborough, Ely, St Neots and Huntingdon from today (Saturday, August 29) until Monday (August 31), according to the Met Office.

Cambridge

• Saturday, August 29 – highs of 20C, lows of 16C. Cloudy conditions and 40 per cent chance of rain;
• Sunday, August 30 – highs of 23C and lows of 14C. Some cloud and sun, but 50 per cent chance of rain;
• Monday, August 31 – highs of 21C and lows of 12C. Some cloud and sun, but 50 per cent chance of rain.

Peterborough

• Saturday, August 29 – highs of 20C and lows of 16C. Cloudy conditions and 40 per cent chance of rain;
• Sunday, August 30 – highs of 23C and lows of 14C. Some cloud and sun, but 50 per cent chance of rain;
• Monday, August 31 – highs of 21C and lows of 12C. Some cloud and sun, but 60 per cent of rain.

Ely

• Saturday, August 29 – highs of 20C and lows of 16C. Cloudy conditions with 30 per cent chance of rain;
• Sunday, August 30 – highs of 23C and lows of 14C. Some cloud and sun, but 60 per cent chance of rain;
• Monday, August 31 – highs of 21C and lows of 12C. Some cloud and sun, but 50 per cent chance of rain.

Huntingdon

• Saturday, August 29 – highs of 20C and lows of 16C. Cloudy conditions with 50 per cent chance of rain;
• Sunday, August 30 – highs of 23C and lows of 14C. Some cloud and sun, but 60 per cent chance of rain;
• Monday, August 31 – highs of 21C and lows of 12C. Some cloud and sun, but 60 per cent chance of rain.

St Neots

• Saturday, August 29 – highs of 20C and lows of 16C. Cloudy conditions and 60 per cent chance of rain;
• Sunday, August 30 – highs of 23C and lows of 14C. Some cloud and sun, but 50 per cent chance of rain;
• Monday, August 31 – highs of 21C and lows of 12C. Some cloud and sun, but 50 per cent chance of rain.

 didn’t think much of it when he began experiencing monthly bouts of diarrhoea. 

The part-time DJ, 43, from south London, simply assumed he had a delicate constitution, irritated by late night kebabs. 

This continued for three years until, in August 2024, Daniel who primarily works as a director at Heathrow Airport, was almost caught short while DJ’ing on a Pride float. 

‘There was always just an explanation for my symptoms – I thought it was from a late night, a dodgy kebab or irritable bowel syndrome. I wasn’t ignoring it,’ he says. 

‘But when I was DJing on a float during Pride, I thought I was about to experience what would have been the most embarrassing moment of my life.’   

By September he was also experiencing breathlessness. But it wasn’t until he saw a photo of himself on holiday and realised how unwell he looked that he booked an appointment to see his GP. 

After returning home, he underwent a barrage of tests and was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer, presenting as a 10cm tumour in his small intestine. 

‘I felt like the air had just been sucked out of me,’ he recalls. ‘When I got that call I knew it was going to be something significant like cancer.’ 

At this point, Daniel was told the tumour was ‘too serious’ to operate on. 

‘My world changed, my life changed on that day,’ he said. 

‘I felt like I could feel the shift of the world on its axis. Nothing really felt real, and for a really long time, I felt like it wasn’t happening to me.’ 

A month after his diagnosis on October 29 2024, Daniel stated immunotherapy – a type of cancer treatment that uses the body’s own immune system to find and attack cancer cells. 

However, towards the end of his treatment, he developed inflammation in his lungs. 

He was prescribed steroids to treat the condition – known as pneumonitis – which sadly caused psychosis and delusions. 

‘It sent me absolutely crazy,’ he remembers. 

After a long road to recovery, Daniel finally underwent surgery in March 2025 to have the tumour removed. 

Daniel put his symptoms down to lifestyle choices for years. Then he was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer 

It was only when he was DJing on a float for Brighton Pride in 2024 that he thought something could be seriously wrong 

The procedure was successful, and doctors were able to resect two thirds of the tumour, also removing 51 nearby lymph nodes that the cancer had spread to.

In April 2025, he was given the all clear. 

‘It felt like the most surreal moment ever,’ he said. 

‘I remember being in floods of tears, and my support worker saying to me, ‘Dan, you were inoperable, and look at where you are now.’’

The part-time DJ now undergoes blood test every three months and scans every six months, to make sure the cancer has not returned. 

He is also required to have a colonoscopy – a medical procedure to examine the inside lining of the bowel – once a year. 

He believes his brush with cancer has put his life into perspective and made him more appreciative of the little moments with loved ones. 

Daniel has since raised £4,300 for Macmillan and Outpatients, which he achieved by holding a ‘Silly Bowel Disco’ at a queer night club. 

Daniel with Diane Carson

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Daniel with his fiance, Harry

‘It was my way of putting my middle finger up to cancer – we did it in a camp and fabulous way,’ he said.

 ‘We had drag queens, symptoms to look out for on the back of toilet doors in glitter.’

He added: ‘Talking about our bums and poo can be hard and embarrassing for a lot of us, and I don’t think we talk enough about cancer in the LGBTQ+ community.’ 

Cases of bowel cancer have soared in recent years – with more than 48,000 people diagnosed in the UK every year. It’s now the leading cause of death in under 50s. 

Common symptoms include changes in bowel habits, such as persistent diarrhoea or constipation, a feeling of incomplete emptying, and blood in the stool.

 Stomach pain, bloating, unexpected weight loss and fatigue are other warning signs.

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second biggest cause of cancer deaths, claiming more than 17,000 lives every year. 

But Cancer Research UK estimates that more than half (54 per cent) of bowel cancer cases in Britain are preventable.

By OLIVIA ALLHUSEN, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER

Published: 19:42 BST, 29 August 2026 | Updated: 20:02 BST, 29 August 2026

It is being reported that a Northern train has hit a vehicle near a railway crossing in Burscough, West Lancashire.

Passangers said in posts on social media that they were left on the train waiting to be evacuated hours after the incident, which is beleived to have unfolded at around 3:30pm near Martin Lane.

One passenger posted an image of a damaged carriage with debris strewn across the floor. The passenger said they were still on the train with their children, adding “we are all shook”.

Northern has blocked all lines between Wigan Wallgate and Southport “due to emergency services dealing with an incident,” with disruption expected for the rest of the day.

Train ticket restrictions have been lifted in the affected areas, including Advance and Peak restrictions, during this disruption, Northern said.

The Elgin Marbles could return to Greece on loan from the British Museum using the blueprint of the Bayeux Tapestry partnership which has finally brought the 1,000 year old artefact to the UK.

It is hoped the delicate cultural diplomacy between France and the UK which resulted in the 230 foot tapestry travelling to the UK for the exhibition which starts next month could be replicated by a similar deal with Greece.

That could mean the much disputed sculptures, which once adorned the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens and were carved in the fifth century BC, could go on display in the city for the first time since they were brought to the UK by Lord Elgin in the early 1800s.

British Museum director Nicholas Cullinan said the success of the partnership with France to bring the tapestry over for the forthcoming historic exhibition offered a ‘glimmer of possibility to move forwards’ on the Elgin Marbles because it had taken several attempts to secure.

‘I would hope that some tangible progress can happen. It would be a wonderful thing,’ said Mr Cullinan, who has overseen the return of the tapestry which famously depicts the Battle of Hastings and the Norman invasion for the exhibition which opens on September 10.

He told the Financial Times that while there was no ‘cookie cutter template’ for dealing with every piece of cultural history or relationship, its return was ‘a very compelling example of international partnership’ that pointed to the success of ‘reciprocal exchange’.

His comments follow Andy Burnham’s apparent volte face on the marbles this week in saying their fate was in the hands of the British Museum having once backed a bill to return them to Greece.

He previously strongly advocated their return, backing a 2002 Private Members’ Bill to do so and writing on social media that they should be sent back with ‘no strings attached’.

British Museum director Nicholas Cullinan said the success of the Bayeux Tapestry partnership offered a ‘glimmer of possibility to move forwards’ on the Elgin Marbles

In July, the Bayeux Tapestry arrived in London after a hugely complicated journey to leave France for the first time in more than 900 years 

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But he appeared to backtrack this week when he said that it was ‘ultimately an issue for the British Museum’.

He said: ‘Legally that’s where that issue rests, but I’m all in favour of using British cultural diplomacy.’ 

Mr Burnham is among generations of politicians who have debated the future of the marbles in a row which at times has threatened to turn into a full-blown diplomatic crisis.

His crowning as PM prompted the Greek paper Ta Nea to ask whether Mr Burnham would be ‘Greece’s strongest ally yet in Downing Street’.

Greece claims they were illegally removed from the Acropolis and should be returned home permanently where they can be displayed next to the other portion of the Parthenon frieze they made up.

But the UK government has warned that could set a dangerous precedent for artefacts held in museums worldwide.

Mr Cullinan, who took over as the British Museum’s director in 2024, and formerly headed the National Portrait Gallery, has previously warned there could be ‘unintended consequences’ if the British Museum Act 1963 were amended to allow artefacts in its possession to be permanently removed.

But he said that the museum would ‘always remain open for dialogue’ about the sculptures, gifted by the British government to the trusteeship of the museum in 1816 after they were bought from Lord Elgin.

This week, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has backtracked on supporting the Elgin Marbles being handed back to Greece

The museum has previously said that some artefacts, including the Elgin Marbles, ‘may be loaned as part of our commitment to increase national and international loans‘.

Such a loan is not abnormal with around 1,630 other objects from the museum’s eight million-strong collection on long-term loan nationally last year.

Greece made its first formal request for the permanent return of the Elgin Marbles in 1983.

Former PM Sir Keir Starmer suggested they could be part of an antiquities loan agreement and, back in 2021, it emerged that former Tory chancellor George Osborne, then chairman of the British Museum, had had secret talks over the marbles’ return with Greece.

Meanwhile final preparations are underway for the display of the Bayeux Tapestry, believed to have been embroidered by nuns in England in the 11th century, in what will be the biggest and most expensive exhibition in the museum’s 273 year history.

It will run until next July and it is expected, if successful, to go some way to restore the museum’s damaged reputation under its previous director when over 2000 items were stolen.

In a reciprocal arrangement, treasures including ones from the Sutton Hoo Anglo Saxon burial ship and the 12th century carved Lewis Chessmen, discovered on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, will travel to France to be exhibited.

The first ticket release for the tapestry exhibition sold out in a day, raising £2.5 million for the museum.

A standard adult ticket costs £33, while under-16s go free. The exhibition is being sponsored by hedge-fund billionaire Igor Tulchinsky in a deal valued at £5m.

Defending the prices, Mr Cullinan said the museum had ‘thought long and hard’ about prices and hoped to turn a profit on the exhibition.

A fire service has been hit with an improvement notice by the Health and Safety Executive

A fire service has been hit with a safety notice after it “failed” to assess the safety risk for employees in a training centre. The Health and Safety Executive issued an improvement notice to Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue‘s Huntingdon Fire Station on July 14.

The notice related to safety risk in a training centre. The notice said: “You have failed to make suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk from employee exposure to vibration caused by activities carried out by your training centre employees, involving the use of vibrating equipment including, but not limited to, reciprocating and circular saws.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue has since made improvements at its training centre. A fire spokesperson said: “Routine assessments for exposure levels have now been implemented through our health and safety team for all colleagues who may be impacted due to the equipment they use. The improvement notice has now been closed.”

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Forever Home, based on Graham Norton’s bestselling novel, will be screened at Tyneside Cinema on Friday, September 4, ahead of its television debut.

The six-part drama was filmed mainly in Northumberland earlier this year, with County Durham town Consett also used as a location.

Film crews were spotted in the town in January as production got under way.

It is not yet known which cast or crew members will attend the Newcastle screening, but the line-up includes Geordie actor Denise Welch, former Emmerdale star and Strictly Come Dancing contestant Lewis Cope, Shetland actor Douglas Henshall, Amy Nuttall and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet favourite Kevin Whately.

(Image: NQ)

What is Forever Home about?

The drama follows Carol Crottie, played by Amy Nuttall, whose relationship with older partner Robert Barrie becomes increasingly difficult as his dementia worsens.

Robert is played by Douglas Henshall, while Welch takes the role of Carol’s mother, Moira Crottie.

Lewis Cope plays Robert’s son Kaden and Heartstopper actor Jenny Walser portrays his daughter Sally.

Kevin Whately appears as Silent Dave.

The story centres on Carol’s growing suspicion that Robert’s reluctance to leave his home may be connected to the disappearance of his first wife, who vanished 20 years earlier with Robert’s brother, leaving behind young children Kaden and Sally.

As the mystery unravels, Carol discovers a body concealed in the basement, turning what begins as a later-life relationship drama into a dark family thriller.

(Image: BBC/BBC Studios))

Consett’s role in new drama

The Channel 5 series gives Consett another screen connection, with scenes filmed in the town as part of a wider North East production.

When the drama was announced, Norton said the original novel had started with the idea of the complications involved in packing up a home later in life.

He said: “The novel soon evolved into a funny, twisted, ‘dark-romp’ full of farcical scenes and it’s wonderful to see the depth and richness of Carol’s story realised as a screenplay.”

The production was supported by the North East Production Fund and North East Screen.

Filming also took place in locations including Stocksfield and Hexham.

It was a special trip to Scotland that revealed a potential rift between Sir David Beckham and his eldest son Brooklyn – who was noticeably absent.

However, despite the fallout that had been brewing in the background, the football star has raved about the time he had north of the border as he praised the Scottish wilderness instructor who made his getaway memorable.

Former Manchester United star Sir David has given a glowing endorsement to outdoorsman and wilderness instructor Zeki Basan as the Scot prepares to lead a wild skills workshop in Sutherland.

Mr Basan, who was raised in the Cairngorms, came into contact with Sir David when the star and his sons Romeo and Cruz booked a remote camping and fishing trip for his 50th birthday in May of last year to the uninhabited Hebridean island of Scarba.

While the former England captain was joined by his sons Romeo, 23, and Cruz, 21, his eldest was nowhere to be seen.

Mr Basan, 26, instructed the Beckham family in off-grid survival, foraging, traditional fire-making and open-air cooking.

Zeki Basa (left) with David Beckam and his sons Romeo and Cruz

Discussing the experience, Mr Basan said: ‘I was with the family for three days and David and his sons were very down to earth and engaged with the outdoors.

‘They have an interest in the environment. They learned about the fauna and flora, fishing techniques, fire making and foraging.

‘We did talk about football, and it was fascinating to hear some of their stories. But we were more focused on the environment. They were great company.’

Now, in a glowing review online, Sir David has praised Mr Basan, writing: ‘We had an incredible experience with Zeki, learning new skills and understanding the landscape and habitats that he is so passionate about.

‘His knowledge and care for the environment and commitment to protecting traditional crafts is infectious. We are lucky to have people like Zeki to teach these valuable skills to a new generation.’

Sir David’s trip to Scotland came amid rumours of an ongoing feud with Brooklyn, who also did not attend his father’s 50th birthday celebrations.

The star had shared a series of photographs and videos on social media in May of last year, documenting the trip to Scotland.

He and his sons had caught their dinner during the fishing expedition. They then prepared scallops and lobster before tucking in around the table inside a spartan bothy they had chosen to stay in.

A snap shows Cruz and Romeo inside the rustic bothy where the Beckham boys stayed

Sir David shows off a haul of scallops the group caught during his trip to Scotland

In one post, Sir David said he had banned his sons from using their mobiles.

He wrote: ‘Last time boys were allowed to use their phones. Not so happy about it.’

In another post, featuring a picture of himself with Romeo and Cruz, Sir David tagged Brooklyn and said: ‘You were missed Brooklyn.’

The extent of the fallout in the family finally became clear in January of this year when Brooklyn posted a stinging statement hitting out at his family.

In it, he said: ‘I do not want to reconcile with my family.’

Mr Basan has worked across the globe, from the Arctic fjords of Greenland to the forests of Iceland.

Fellow former footballer Ian Wright, who also went on an outdoor course with his has also praised his skills, writing: ‘Zeki is one of those rare people who seems born from another world, not in a strange way, but in the best possible sense. His understanding of the outdoors goes beyond skill; it’s instinctive, almost otherworldly.’

Mr Basan will lead a wild craft skills event at Ferry Croft, Lairg, on September 5 from 11am to 4pm.

During it, he will share stories from his life in remote landscapes and demonstrate the ancient technique of turning fish skins into leather.

The event celebrates rural heritage, hands-on learning and the passing on of skills that once shaped everyday life in the Highlands and beyond.

You can use our gadget to estimate how much your bill will increase by

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Energy bills are set to increase by £60 a year from October as Ofgem increases the energy price cap by 4 per cent. That works out as an extra £5 a month for the typical household.

The energy price cap will be increasing to £1,723 a year for the typical household for people who aren’t on a fixed tariff and pay by Direct Debit in England, Scotland and Wales. It’s up from the £1,663 cap currently in place, an increase of 4 per cent, that’s the typical household, however.

The price cap sets the maximum you can be charged for unit rates and standing charges – so your bill can be higher or lower than the price cap figure. An estimated 35 per cent of all households – around 11 million in total – are on fixed tariffs and will not be affected by this rise.

It’s also believed that the removal of VAT on electricity bills will also save households £45 a year. The VAT of 5 per cent will no longer apply to electricity bills under action undertaken by Andy Burnham when he became Prime Minister.

You can use your current bills to estimate how much your bills will change by using our interactive calculator.

Ofgem has attributed the rise in price cap to the ongoing situation in the Middle East. The conflict there is impacting the wholesale price of gas.

This means that households who use less gas than others will be less impacted by the changes. In fact, households that don’t use gas at all are estimated to see an increase of less than 1 per cent in their bills.

Neil Kenward, Ofgem’s Director General for Markets, said: “High international gas prices are continuing to drive energy costs in the UK. We welcome the Government’s intervention to remove VAT from electricity bills, without which customers would have faced even higher costs this winter.

“Savings are available by choosing a fixed tariff, which are available at £100 or more below the October price cap, and many suppliers offer tariffs with cheaper electricity to smart meter customers for electricity consumed out of peak times. It’s also worth considering different payment methods, with prepayment customers paying the lowest price cap rates, and could save consumers an average of about £45 compared to direct debit.”