Hedgehogs are more likely to be spotted in British gardens at this time of year as they stock up on food for winter, but gardeners could be putting these beloved critters at risk by leaving out a common food scrap

September marks the point when gardeners begin swapping t-shirts for thick jumpers as they prepare for colder conditions, and it’s also the ideal moment to assist hedgehogs in getting ready for the cold. Right now, hedgehogs are more frequently spotted in gardens as they require substantial amounts of food to accumulate their fat reserves so they possess sufficient energy for hibernation.

Nevertheless, much of British wildlife may be finding food scarce at present because of the dry conditions we experienced in summer, which means there will be fewer insects around. The period before autumn is critical for hedgehogs, and if they’re unable to locate adequate food in September, they’re more vulnerable to weakness or even death once winter arrives.

Spending time feeding hedgehogs at this moment is among the most compassionate things a gardener can do, but experts at the Suffolk Wildlife Trust have cautioned that many people cause more damage than benefit if they put out bread or even milk.

They said: “A hedgehog’s natural diet can also be supplemented with a bowl of wet cat or dog food (not fish flavoured). This is especially helpful in cold weather when invertebrates may be scarce. Best to avoid putting out bread and milk as hedgehogs are lactose intolerant and so this will make them ill.”

Why should you not feed hedgehogs bread or milk?

It’s extremely widespread in the UK to put bread out in the garden for wildlife, as there’s a mistaken belief that ducks and other birds like eating it. Hedgehogs will probably eat bread if it is left out for them, however in the long run it is genuinely harmful as it provides none of the nutrients required to help them build up fat reserves ahead of winter.

The real danger with bread is that it leaves hedgehogs feeling extremely full, meaning they will not go in search of other food that contains the proteins essential to their survival.

September is a critical month for hedgehogs as they have very little time to prepare their bodies for hibernation. Consuming too much bread means they will lack sufficient energy to last throughout the entire winter.

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This can cause hedgehogs to wake repeatedly during hibernation and be forced to hunt for food during the harshest period of the year, significantly reducing their chances of survival.

Milk is equally harmful to hedgehogs as their bodies are unable to process dairy, and it can actually cause dehydration and serious digestive issues.

What should you actually do to help hedgehogs?

If you genuinely wish to support hedgehogs, the best option is to leave out a meaty cat or dog food, as these contain the high levels of protein and calories that hedgehogs currently require.

Opt for chicken, beef or pork flavours, but steer clear of fish-based pet foods as their strong odours tend to put hedgehogs off and they are unlikely to touch them.

It can also be tremendously beneficial to leave a pile of leaves, sticks or logs in a corner of your garden. These will attract insects and make foraging considerably easier for hedgehogs.

Planting autumn-friendly flowers or leaving the lawn unmowed for a fortnight can also encourage insects, which in turn help hedgehogs accumulate sufficient fat reserves ahead of winter.

Leaving out a bowl of fresh water is another simple yet effective gesture that could give any local hedgehogs a vital boost to their chances of survival.

Helping hedgehogs doesn’t require a great deal of effort, but occasionally putting out some pet food — while avoiding bread — will give these creatures the best possible chance of thriving throughout September.

Unlike the main proper rounds of the tournament, this non-league phase does not feature a live televised studio broadcast, as the FA publishes the completed fixture list directly online at the designated time.

There is no dedicated UK television broadcast for the qualifying stages, meaning traditional channels such as TNT Sports, BBC, or ITV do not air live coverage. Broadcast networks only pick up live TV rights starting from the first round proper later in the autumn season.

By JAMIE BOYS, REPORTER

Published: 12:03 BST, 7 September 2026 | Updated: 12:25 BST, 7 September 2026

A man died after being bitten by a dog during an argument about a right of way, an inquest opening has heard. 

James Judge, 55, was bitten on the back of his right knee by an Alsatian-Australian Huntaway cross dog belonging to local landowner Lee Ellis on a footpath. 

He died from complications of a wound on his leg after the incident in Wakefield in August. 

Ellis, 55, of Calder Grove, Wakefield, has been charged with manslaughter and being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death. 

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The two men were said to have been arguing over a right of way. Mr Judge is thought to have filmed Ellis on his phone and threatened to report him to police. 

Mr Judge is said to have become agitated during the row and allegedly pushed Ellis in the face. The dog at some point bit Mr Judge and Ellis then attempted to get the animal away from the scene of the confrontation, it has been alleged. 

Following the encounter, both men are said to have separately called 999. Ellis, realising Mr Judge had been bitten, is believed to have called for an ambulance and offered to help him – but was told by an emergency operator to leave the scene. 

Soon afterwards two members of the public found Mr Judge, who was bleeding. He was taken to hospital but died shortly after 7pm. 

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Ellis has been charged with manslaughter and appeared in court last month

Police attended the scene of the dog attack in Wakefield, West Yorkshire 

On Monday, an inquest into Mr Judge’s death was opened and adjourned.

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Acting senior coroner Oliver Longstaff said Mr Judge died in Leeds General Infirmary, where he was taken after the incident, and was identified by his mother. 

A post-mortem examination gave a provisional cause of death as complications of a right leg wound caused by a dog bite. 

The inquest heard Mr Judge was unmarried and was born in Horbury, Wakefield, where he was also living at the time of his death.

Mr Longstaff said the inquest would be adjourned, pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.

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Ellis is due to appear at Leeds Crown Court on September 16. 

During his first appearance at Bradford Magistrates’ Court, his solicitor said the incident started over an argument about ‘right of way’. 

 Court, his solicitor said the incident started over an argument about ‘right of way’. 

Ellis bought his agricultural property for £5,000 in 2002 and renovated it with his ex-wife. The former couple renovated the house themselves, building in stables.

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Lee Ellis, 55, leaves Bradford Magistrates’ Court in West Yorkshire last month after being bailed

The area near the old train line footpath off Blacker Lane in the Calder Grove area of Wakefield

He is a keen farrier and frequently posts videos showing him taking care of horse hooves. The pair were often seen riding their horses in the area by neighbours.

Ellis has two children with his ex-wife but the couple separated earlier this year. A number of signs warning of guard dogs decorate the outside of Ellis’s house.

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One neighbour told the Daily Mail his son was ‘scared to walk past the house’ because the dogs would ‘always bark so loudly’. Another said: ‘Whenever you walked past you would always hear the dogs barking loudly.’

One dog walker said: ‘We don’t normally get any trouble here. It’s very quiet. The path where it happened is a well-trodden route, there’s a lot of dog walkers. I just feel so sorry for the man who died.’

It comes as Northern celebrates 75 years

Visitors heading to the Peak District are being urged to consider travelling by train rather than driving, as efforts continue to reduce congestion and pressure on parking areas.

The popular national park has experienced problems caused by high numbers of motorists in recent years. Police have previously taken enforcement action against dozens of drivers who parked illegally or left their vehicles along roadsides.

Now, rail operator Northern, tourism organisation Visit Peak District & Derbyshire and the Peak District National Park Authority are working together to promote public transport as an alternative way for visitors to reach the area.

Northern services provide access to several of the Peak District’s best-known attractions and walking destinations. Passengers can travel to Edale for a hike up Mam Tor, explore the countryside around Grindleford or make their way to the spa town of Buxton.

The campaign forms part of celebrations marking 75 years since the Peak District was designated the UK’s first national park. To commemorate the anniversary, Northern has named one of its Class 195 trains Peak District 75. The train was officially unveiled at Manchester Piccadilly station during a special ceremony.

It is expected to carry thousands of passengers over the coming months while operating along the Hope Valley Line through the Peak District. The national park covers approximately 555 square miles and attracts visitors with its distinctive limestone valleys, gritstone landscapes and vast areas of open moorland.

An estimated 13 million people visit the Peak District every year, drawn by its walking and outdoor activities as well as its historic towns and villages. Rail travel has been closely linked to tourism in the region for generations. The arrival of new railway lines during the 19th century helped make the Peak District more accessible and contributed to a significant increase in tourism.

Although several former railway lines have since been converted into walking and cycling trails, four passenger routes continue to operate. These provide rail connections into the national park from cities including Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield.

Alex Hornby, Northern’s Commercial and Customer Director, said: “The Peak District has become an incredibly popular tourist destination because there’s something for everyone, whether they’re looking to get out and explore the stunning countryside or enjoy a day in one of the charming towns and villages.

“Travelling by train is easy, as there are regular services running to stations across the national park, and it saves visitors from sitting in traffic or searching for a parking space.”

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, added: “Travelling by train is one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to explore the Peak District, allowing visitors to leave the car behind, avoid parking pressures and experience our landscapes in a more sustainable way.

“Northern’s services provide easy access to some of our most iconic beauty spots, from the rolling hills around Edale and Mam Tor to the stunning walks and villages of the Hope Valley.

“We are committed to encouraging more car-free visits and our website is packed with inspiration, including a range of itineraries that can be enjoyed using Northern’s services. We’re delighted to support this initiative and encourage more visitors to discover the Peak District by rail during this special 75th anniversary year.”

A spokesperson for the Peak District National Park Authority, said: “It is wonderful that Northern have joined our celebration of the Peak District National Park by naming a train in honour of our 75th anniversary.

“Our National Park is a wonderful place to visit at any time of year, and travelling by train gives visitors the chance to enjoy the beautiful landscape whilst helping to protect it by choosing a greener form of travel.”

Northern is the UK’s second-largest train operator and runs around 2,650 services each day, serving more than 500 stations across the North of England.

She suffered a rare mishap while holidaying in Capri, with her outfit being compared to the cartoon character Fred Flintstone – but Amal Clooney proved she was back in form as she attended the Venice Film Festival. 

Since arriving at the Venice Lido with her husband, George Clooney, the human rights lawyer, 48, cemented her status as one of the world’s most glamorous dressers with an array of dazzling looks. 

From a fringed mini dress that showed off her toned legs and a romantic Stella McCartney ensemble, to a custom Tom Ford gown paired with Cartier diamonds, Amal looked like a million bucks as she embraced la dolce vita. 

Her Venetian holiday wardrobe is a far cry from the fringed Mugler skirt and matching halterneck that sparked comparisons to the cartoon caveman, with fashion expert Lisa Talbot noting it felt more ‘costume-like than chic’. 

‘Amal Clooney has always had a strong sense of personal style, but I think we’re seeing a much more refined version of it now,’ Lisa said. 

‘Her more recent looks at the Venice Film Festival show a much better understanding of proportion, with one statement element doing the talking while the rest of the outfit feels considered.’  

While in Venice with husband George, Amal wore a romantic Stella McCartney raspberry-print maxi dress

Amal’s fringed Mugler skirt and matching halterneck that sparked comparisons to the cartoon caveman Fred Flinstone, with fashion expert Lisa Talbot noting it felt more ‘costume-like than chic’

All eyes were on Amal as she disembarked from a water taxi ahead of the event that commenced on September 2. 

As the couple travelled through Venice’s waterways, Amal displayed her sophisticated sense of style wearing Tom Ford from head to toe. 

For her first look, she paired micro shorts with a low scoop-neck satin tank top and a matching blazer from the brand’s spring/summer 2027 collection. 

The barrister accessorised the three-piece, olive-green suit with oversized sunglasses, also from Tom Ford, and styled her brown tresses in loose waves as she quietly reclaimed her status as one of the festival’s most fashion-forward attendees. 

Amal’s winning streak continued as she hit the red carpet with George for the premiere of Danny Boyle’s film Ink on the first night of the prestigious event. 

Opting for Tom Ford again, she looked like a movie star in her custom-made, ruched column dress with barely-there straps, and £277,000 worth of glittering diamond jewellery from Cartier. 

Amal pulled out all the stops as she supported George, 65, as he accepted the Golden Lion Lifetime Achievement award during the opening ceremony of the 83rd Venice Film Festival. 

In his acceptance speech, the Ocean’s Eleven actor gushed that he was at a ‘loss for words’ to describe how much he loved Amal, which left her visibly moved. 

Amal looked every inch like a movie star in her custom-made, ruched column dress with barely-there straps and diamond jewellery from Cartier

The human rights lawyer put on a leggy display in a snake print Elie Saab skirt, which she paired with a black vest top and brown belt, as the couple prepared to leave Venice on Saturday

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As the festival continued, Amal turned the Italian city’s famous waterways into her very own floating catwalk by opting for designs by Stella McCartney, Caroline’s Couture and Elie Saab. 

On the second evening of the two-week festival, Amal donned a show-stopping mini-dress from Caroline’s Couture, with heart motifs, sequins and fringe details. 

Amal finished her look with a pair of diamond chandelier earrings as she put her best fashion foot forward for a night on the town with George. 

On Friday, the acclaimed human rights lawyer donned a playful, raspberry-print maxi dress from Stella McCartney that retails for around £1,190 when she accompanied George to the The Future Of… Creativity event at Scuola Grande della Misericordia.

Stepping off a water taxi amid the star-studded event, Amal accessorised with nude Aquazzura heels and huge dark shades.

She put on a leggy display in a £1,695 snake print Elie Saab skirt, which she paired with a black vest top and brown belt, as the couple prepared to leave Venice on Saturday. Her look was accessorised with brown wedged sandals, a nude leather handbag and large stylish shades.

Linking arms with her smiling husband, the couple departed Venice after a successful few days at the festival, which saw George receive the Lifetime Achievement Award and Amal reclaim her crown as Venice Film Festival’s reigning queen of fashion. 

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia kept several airports closed and shifted schools to remote learning Monday though the volcanic eruption that has halted 2,300 flights and coated areas with ash was subsiding.

The continuous, 25-hour eruption of Anak Krakatau that produced a fountain of lava and a boom heard 700 kilometers (435 miles) away ended Sunday, the country’s Geological Agency said. But it remained active Monday with moderate, intermittent eruptions, dark ash emissions and small, localized earthquakes, the agency said in a statement. Weather was obscuring visual observations of the eruption.

AirNav Indonesia said tests showed volcanic ash present in the airspace around Jakarta and several other cities, prompting authorities to close seven airports until 6 p.m. Monday, while Atung Bungsu Airport in Pagar Alam, a city in South Sumatra province, resumed normal operations Monday morning.

The closure of four commercial airports managed by state-owned operator InJourney Airports: Jakarta’s international airports of Soekarno-Hatta and Halim Perdanakusuma, Husein Sastranegara in West Java’s Bandung city and Radin Inten in Lampung on the southern tip of Sumatra, has disrupted about 2,300 flights and affected 270,337 passengers, according to Indonesia’s Transportation Ministry.

The eruption’s impact extended beyond air travel. The government authorized schools in areas affected by volcanic ash, including in Jakarta, West Java, Banten and Lampung provinces, to temporarily move to online learning at home to reduce students’ exposure to ash.

“The probability of additional eruptions in the coming days remains high,” said Lana Saria, head of the Geology Agency. “The main hazards include volcanic bombs, heavy ashfall and possible lava flows if sustained eruptive activity resumes,” she said.

Anak Krakatau is a volcanic island in the Sunda Strait between Indonesia’s main Java and Sumatra islands. Its name means “child of Krakatau,” and the volcano is the offspring of the infamous Krakatau, whose monumental 1883 eruption triggered a period of global cooling.

An eruption of Anak Krakatau in 2018 caused a tsunami that killed at least 430 people in Sumatra and Java. Researchers believe volcanic activity triggered an underwater landslide and caused a large chunk of Anak Krakatau’s southwest slope to collapse and displace a large volume of water.

Indonesia has more than 120 active volcanoes and frequently experiences eruptions due to its location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” the ring of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where most global seismic activity occurs.

DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Christopher Bell is finally second-to-none this season.

Bell’s crazy, frustrating season of seven second-place finishes without a victory at last came to an end with a win at the Southern 500 on Sunday night.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver passed defending NASCAR champion Kyle Larson with 18 laps left at Darlington Raceway and held on to win the Chase-opening race and break a winless stretch of 33 races dating to Bristol last September.

“Darlington is the epitome of NASCAR,” Bell said. “This is better than a dream come true.”

It was his first win in 15 career Cup races at Darlington and pushed him into second in the Chase standings behind teammate Denny Hamlin.

“No off weeks. right back to work next week at Gateway,” he said. “I still feel I’m going to have win more races if I want to” win the championship.

Gibbs finished second and Tyler Reddick, a five-time winner this season, was third. Chase drivers accounted for nine of the top 10. Ryan Blaney was fourth, followed by Larson, Chase Briscoe, Josh Berry, Bubba Wallace, Joey Logano and Ryan Preece.

Berry was the only non-Chase driver in that group.

Crew chief Adam Stevens tried to keep Bell focused as the runner-up finishes — along with the driver’s frustration — grew. It was important for him to understand that him finishing second wasn’t because his team wasn’t doing everything it could to succeed. “You have to really come into each weekend with a clean slate, and he’s done a fantastic job with that,” Stevens said.

Larson gambled during the sixth and final caution, staying on the track while other competitors including Bell went into the pits for fresh tires.

And for a bit, Larson’s bet look like it might pay off as he opened a sizeable lead on the restart and forced Bell and the others to come get him. Bell eventually did, moving low on the track to put Larson in his rearview mirror.

Larson thought more racers would’ve stayed out of the pits on the final caution to give him some cover and distance before the fresh-tire drivers got going. “But Bell got to second so fast, I was straight into defense,” Larson said. “Not able to run the lines I ultimately wanted to to take care of my tires.”

Three-peat thwarted

Briscoe was looking to make a bit of history with his third straight Southern 500 — only Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon had ever won more with four in a row from 1995-98 — and he fought off a pit-road penalty for running out of fuel at the end of stage two that took from the lead to 20th.

But he could not keep pace with Bell at the end.

Hamlin’s troubles

Hamlin, the top seed in NASCAR’s Chase, had started the final stage in the top five when he got hit from behind on lap 237 by Michael McDowell and his car struck the wall in turn four.

Hamlin immediately told his crew, “The toe links are gone.” But the incident did not draw a caution and Hamlin had to keep racing, falling to 20th as he and his pit e was still in front by 12 points over teammate Bell.crew waited for the chance to fix the damaged Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

While the toe links were not damaged, there were extensive repairs and Hamlin was a lap down. Hamlin finished 18th.

“It was certainly not the finish we were hoping for,” Hamlin said. “We certainly made gains on it all day.”

Hamlin came into the race with a 25-point lead over second-seeded Ryan Blaney. The rules of NASCAR’s postseason changed this year, with all 16 drivers competing in all 10 playoff races without eliminations.

He’s still leading, 12 points in front of teammate Bell.

Other Chaser issues

Hamlin wasn’t the only one of the 16 Chase competitors to have problems. Hendrick Motorsports William Byron was in position for a top 10 finish when he spun out with what he believed was a flat tire. After a trip to the pits, smoke billowed out of Byron’s Chevrolet and he went back to the garage to end his day.

Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing had high hopes with two of its three drivers, Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece in the Chase. But Buescher could not gain any momentum at Darlington and rode in the back of the pack for most of way.

Preece, who won his way into the postseason with a victory at Daytona last week, pledged to continue to be aggressive because as the 16th seed, his team had nothing to lose. That strategy worked well as he rode in the top 10 for most of the first half of the race. He couldn’t sustain it, though, and ended 10th.

And while 23XI co-owner Michael Jordan watched from the pits, his two Chase drivers in Reddick and Wallace went from running 1-2 at the end of the first stage to falling out of the mix down the stretch.

Up next

The Chase continues with its second race at World Wide Technology Raceway outside of St. Louis in Madison, Illinois. Denny Hamlin won the playoff race there a year ago.

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See AP’s full auto racing coverage here

The Israeli military has intensified its strikes in southern Lebanon in recent days.

They have happened in places near the strip of territory that is occupied by Israeli troops, and large numbers of residents have again been fleeing those areas.

The latest attacks targeted Kfar Roummane, in Nabatieh district, which is only a few hundred metres from what the Israeli military calls its “security zone”.

The first air strike destroyed a three-storey residential building near the town’s Shuyuiya roundabout shortly after midnight, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported.

The Lebanese health ministry said that in addition to the eight people killed, 11 were injured, including four children, two women, and a paramedic from the Islamic Health Association, which is an emergency service linked to Hezbollah.

The second strike hit a vehicle carrying paramedics from the Islamic Risala Scout Association, killing one of them and injuring two others, according to the ministry. The Risala Scouts is an emergency service affiliated with the Amal movement, a Shia group allied to Hezbollah.

An initial report from the NNA said 11 people were killed in the two strikes.

The health ministry said the death toll “serves as further irrefutable evidence of the grave violations of international humanitarian law committed by the Israeli occupation, targeting medics and children”.

A resident of Kfar Roummane, Sara Moallaem, 35, told the BBC that she had been asleep with her five children in their rental home when she heard the explosions.

She immediately grabbed her children and moved them into the home’s “safe room” while they waited for the booms and the sirens to stop.

Some of those killed in the strikes were distant relatives of Sara’s husband. She insisted they were civilians with no affiliation to Hezbollah.

Sara said she was planning to move her family to the coastal city of Sidon for their safety.

“During the day, it is almost normal, [with] people going back and forth. But as it comes near the night, things escalate, and now my children are afraid and I am packing now for the sixth or seventh time. It is terrible,” she explained.

“Now that they are targeting civilians, I don’t want to weep for my children.”