Stretching across much of eastern England, the Fens produce a third of the country’s vegetables and support tens of thousands of jobs. Yet around 33% of the region lies below average sea level, while 87% is below the highest spring tides

The landscape only exists due to centuries of engineering – pumps, embankments and drainage channels – that keeps water moving almost constantly. Now climate change is introducing new challenges that this system was never designed to face.

The Fens face several climate threats that reinforce one another. Rising sea levels, heavier downpours, hotter summers, longer droughts and biodiversity loss are all expected to intensify over the coming decades. These are all serious challenges, and in the Fens they will play out within one tightly interconnected system.

The Fens cover parts of Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and Norfolk:

In June, we published an academic analysis of these climate risks in the Fens. Our research examined flood risk from rivers, surface water and the sea, alongside drought, water scarcity, heat, biodiversity loss and agricultural productivity. It found that these hazards increasingly overlap as the climate warms.

With around 2°C of warming, the region will experience more frequent flooding, more extreme heat, declining summer river flows and accelerated biodiversity loss.

By 2100, under a 4°C warming scenario, annual flood damages to homes and businesses in the region could rise from £16 million today to £250 million, while ecosystems could collapse and parts of the Fens would be rendered uninhabitable without major investment in new infrastructure.

Importantly, sea-level rise is different from other risks as it will continue for centuries even if global temperatures are stabilised. Even a high emissions scenario, where the sea would rise by a metre by 2100, would still be followed by further rise. This is an existential risk for the low-lying Fens, meaning that more radical adaptation approaches will be needed in the long term. Decisions about how to adapt must begin well before then, as major changes to infrastructure and land management take decades to plan and implement.

Connected climate hazards

National climate risk assessments are essential, but they can mask the severity and complexity facing regions with distinct characteristics. The Fens is a case in point given its low-lying geography means that it is exposed to multiple climate risks that can compound each other.

River flows could fall by more than 25% under 4°C warming, at the same time as floods from surface water, rivers and seas would increase. Agriculture could faces crop losses from both drought and water scarcity and from water logging and flooding, alongside a decline in insect pollinators that could reduce productivity. These issues cannot be managed by only tackling single hazards in turn.

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We therefore developed a way to assess all the climate-related risks to a single place, rather than looking at each hazard in isolation. This provides an integrated picture of how multiple risks develop and interact over time, and gives interested people and groups locally relevant information to help them plan for climate change.

Aligned with the engineering evidence

The Environment Agency’s Fens 2100+ programme, published in April 2026, reaches similar conclusions on the region’s infrastructure. For the first time, it brings together evidence on the entire flood risk management system, covering around 17,000 assets including 318 pumping stations, embankments and tidal defences.

Together, these assets are estimated to provide £58.8 billion in benefits through avoided flood damage over the next 100 years. However, nearly a third of these defences need upgrading in the next 15 years.

Both our analysis and the Fens 2100+ evidence conclude that dealing with these challenges separately or only in the short term cannot work.

The Fens needs to be considered as one connected landscape with decisions about flood protection, water, agriculture and the environment made together. Coastal lowlands around the world, from the Netherlands to the Mekong delta in Vietnam, are grappling with similar interconnected challenges of sea level rise, flooding and competing demands for land and water. The approach we have developed could be applied to help people in these regions assess their options for adaptation.

The college has acquired a new building which it says will ‘extend learning’

One of the country’s best sixth form colleges is set to expand under new plans. Hills Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge is renowned for its high achievements and its extensive range of A-level and academic courses on offer. There are around 3,000 students that attend the college from Cambridge and the wider region.

Back in July, the college set out to extend its learning spaces by converting the first floor of an office into a new teaching space at School House in Homerton Gardens. These plans have now been approved by the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning authority. The college wants to use the new building as a “specialist art teaching studios for sixth form students”.

The applicant added: “The proposed change of use represents a logical and sustainable extension of the college’s existing estate. It will enable Hills Road Sixth Form College to continue providing outstanding educational provision while making effective use of an existing building in an established educational location.”

The building is owned by Homerton College, a Cambridge University college. Hills Road Sixth Form has an “established and positive relationship” with the building owner, who “support the proposed educational use”.

There are three car parking spaces on site, however, the college only expects to use them on an “exceptional basis” for service vehicles. It will instead maintain the three spaces to “improve access to and from the first floor external staircase”.

The applicant said the site will not require any external changes to the building and the scale of the building will not be altered. They added: “All works are internal, cosmetic and related to our safeguarding obligations and the practicalities of teaching A level art and photography.”

Ed Sheeran has lost more than 200,000 Instagram followers in 24 hours after fans criticised him for dropping opening act Macklemore from his US tour.

All of the remaining support acts have quit in response to rapper Macklemore being kicked off the live dates following a ‘free Palestine’ speech.

Macklemore was due to open for Sheeran at eight of the remaining ten shows on his tour in America, which continues on Friday in Philadelphia, but on Tuesday it was announced that he had been dropped. 

Among them were Finneas – pop star Billie Eilish’s brother – who said: ‘Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed.’

Sheeran’s close friend Myles Smith, Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe, Danish pop band Lukas Graham, and Irish folk band Beoga – who have been serving as Sheeran’s backing band on the tour – have also released separate statements announcing they will not continue with their dates on the Loop Tour.

Breaking his silence amid the backlash, Sheeran, 35, insisted Macklemore coming off the tour was the ‘promoter’s decision’, not his. He added his audience is often young people ‘from different backgrounds’ who do not expect his shows to be a political forum.

While his Instagram follower count stood at 47.6million on Monday, it has now dropped to 47.3million.  

Macklemore, aka Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, faced a boycott petition to drop him after he delivered a politically motivated speech in support of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank during his performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5. 

Responding with an Instagram statement after it was confirmed he was leaving the Loop Tour, the rapper claimed Ed told him billionaire Robert Kraft orchestrated the move having ‘rallied other stadium owners and issuing an ultimatum’ to Sheeran that the whole tour is cancelled or Macklemore is removed.

Kraft is the chief executive of the Kraft Group, which owns the NFL team the New England Patriots, as well as the Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts where Sheeran is due to play September 25 and 26.

While his Instagram follower count stood at 47.6million on Monday, it has now steadily declined past 47.4million

Sheeran addressed the 43-year-old rapper being removed from the tour with his own statement which read that Macklemore’s speech had upset the owners of venues while reminding fans he will never personally take a political stance publicly.

After the news of Macklemore’s departure, all of Ed’s remaining support acts have also stepped away from the tour. 

Finneas wrote: ‘Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed. I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people.’

Rowe took a strong stance as he wrote: ‘Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life. I could never thank him enough for this. But as Irish people, we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation.’

He continued by saying he ‘cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up’.

Lukas Graham wrote: ‘We should be able to speak about war, about civilians being killed, about children who deserve to grow up. Wherever they live. Whatever flag flies over them.’

They said their upbringing in a small Danish community made it so speaking your mind was part of everyday life and having more money did not invalidate one’s opinions: ‘I love Ed, and I’m grateful for everything we’ve shared. That hasn’t changed. But I can’t put these words out into the world and carry on with this tour as things stand.

‘I’m sorry we won’t be there. This is a difficult decision but it’s one I need to stand by.’

Musician and Billie Eilish’s brother/music partner Finneas led the four remaining acts who put out separate statements announcing that they will not continue with their dates on the stadium Loop Tour

Finneas is seen in LA back in November 2025

Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, and Beoga also put out statements on Instagram Tuesday announcing that they are pulling out of the remaining concert dates

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Irish singer Rowe took a strong stance (he is pictured in England in June 2025)

Lukas Graham said that their upbringing in a small Denmark community made it so speaking your mind was part of every day life and having more money did not invalidate one’s opinions

Danish soul pop band Lukas Graham is pictured 

Lastly, Irish band Beoga, who actually join Sheeran during Galway Girl on stage, also revealed that they are removing themselves from the tour

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Beoga is pictured as they revealed they have been friends with Sheeran for over a decade

Irish band Beoga, who join Sheeran for eight songs including Galway Girl, also revealed that they are removing themselves from the tour.

They wrote: ‘We have been friends with Ed for over ten years now and will continue to be.

‘Playing to those crowds every night is the stuff of dreams but to play in venues that silence anyone advocating for a Free Palestine is simply not an option for us.’

Beoga also showed their solidarity for Macklemore as they echoed his sentiments by writing: ‘The whole episode is once again serving to distract from the real issue, over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed since the most recent so-called ceasefire.’

Smith, who previously supported Sheeran on his tour last year, released a statement on Wednesday morning, telling fans: ‘For everyone asking me to drop out of Ed’s tour, let’s get something straight: I’m not on that tour anymore.’

Whilst Smith confirmed he had dropped out he went on to voice his support for Sheeran, insisting ‘Ed it not the victim here. Palestinians are. But let’s not get confused: Ed it also not the perpetrator.’

‘I need to be very clear about Ed. He is my friend. Not an industry friend. A real one. And there is no pressure, no trend, no headline and no comment section that will make me turn on him or hang him out to dry.’

‘Supporting Palestinian life, safety and freedom does not require me to betray someone I know to be a good human being. It requires me to keep the focus where it belongs: on the people suffering, and on the people with the power to stop it.’ 

Myles highlighted his background ‘working in a home with Holocaust survivors, spending time with the Jewish community and hearing stories of bravery, survival, loss and humanity from people who had lived through things most of us only read about.

‘I’ve also spent my life around Muslim friends and families, spend time in mosques, celebrated Eid throughout my youth and grown up in Luton: a working-class, proudly multicultural, predominantly ethnic minority town where Island and Muslim culture were part of the beauty and fabric of everyday life.’

‘Neither of those experiences taught me to sit on the fence. They taught me to be human.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to Sheeran’s representatives for comment on the four acts resigning from the tour and has yet to hear back.

It remains uncertain how the Loop Tour will proceed with zero openers scheduled and 18 dates still set through the end of the year. 

Sheeran had assured his followers on Tuesday that Macklemore’s removal would not affect his tour, as he told them ‘I would never let down the fans who had made plans’.

In his reaction, which came two days after Macklemore’s own statement, he said: ‘I am appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine. 

‘The suffering and pain caused on both sides is a human tragedy. There are too many wars across the world causing immeasurable pain, none of which should be tolerated.

‘Macklemore asked to join my tour last year and I agreed, because I respect him as an artist. As with all my support acts, I agree that they play a setlist of their choosing.

‘After Macklemore’s performances at my New Jersey shows, venues on my upcoming tour dates communicated that they would pull the shows if he was still supporting.’ 

Sheeran continued by explaining that he had tried to find a resolution so that Macklemore could remain on his tour but he was not able to.

He said: ‘I was informed that this stance was based on how Macklemore conveyed part of his message during his performance, rather than on everything that was said. I spoke with the venues at length all week to try and build a bridge.

‘One of those people was Robert Kraft. I was also involved in direct talks with promoters along with activists on both sides to try and find a mutual resolution for all, but the venue’s and promoter’s decision was final.

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Sheeran released a statement on Tuesday, addressing the American star’s position and reminding fans he will never personally take a publicly political stance

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‘Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine. Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me.’

Sheeran then explained that there would be no alterations to the tour he has planned because he would never let his fans and crew down.

He said: ‘I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living.

‘I have always used my platform and music to bring people from all backgrounds and cultures together and this won’t ever change. Those who have been to one of my shows will know that they are about unity, joy, escapism, love, and a place for everyone to feel welcome.

‘I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care. Nor does it mean I don’t support causes in my own, personal way.

‘There is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics – my audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum. 

‘I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes. However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace. I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed. If we only focus on shouting the loudest, nothing will ever change.

‘There are different approaches to being an advocate for change. I have spent this week trying to build bridges, to find a solution and unfortunately, was unable to do so. I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and those who know my heart know my values too.’

Sheeran captioned his post: ‘It’s important I set out some facts’. 

In a statement on Instagram, Macklemore claimed that his long-term friend Sheeran had told him that Kraft personally called the singer to inform him that the rapper would not be allowed to perform at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts.

He wrote that ‘Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.’

In his 1,000-word statement the rapper went on to say that he did not blame Sheeran personally, writing that his friend was put in a ‘f***** up position’.

‘He told me that the words ‘Free Palestine’ and the image of the Palestinian flag were hurtful to a lot of people he spoke with,’ Macklemore continued. 

‘I told him that if those words were more offensive than tens of thousands of Palestinian children being killed by Israel, then there was a fundamental disconnect between where those people stood and where I stood. But he couldn’t get past his public facing, “I don’t take sides.” And I get why people don’t.’

‘Taking a side can cost you,’ Macklemore added. ‘Money, brand deals, sponsorships, festivals, private shows, relationships and access. I’ve lost all of those things. But there is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed.’

He noted that the pair had had ‘some difficult conversations this past week’ and he hoped that ‘this isn’t the end of my relationship with Ed. Thirteen years of friendship doesn’t disappear because of one painful disagreement.’

Kraft has defended his decision to block Macklemore from performing, saying the rapper ‘crossed a line’.

‘Gillette Stadium has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech,’ Kraft said in a statement.

Macklemore claimed that his long-term friend Sheeran had told him that Kraft personally called the singer to inform him that the rapper would not be allowed to perform at Gillette Stadium

Macklemore stated that every human being deserves the same freedom, and told the crowd he wanted people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to know they had not been forgotten. Above, Macklemore on August 30 performing at the Goldencoast Rap Festival in France

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‘Based on Macklemore’s recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the September 25 and 26 concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line.’

The promoter for the American side of Sheeran’s Loop Tour, Messina Touring Group, said in a statement that they were told by venues of future dates on the tour that ‘they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup’.

‘Which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans,” a spokesperson continued to Rolling Stone. ‘After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates.’  

As seen in fan-taken footage from his September 5 performance in New Jersey, Macklemore wore a keffiyeh at one point during his set and also performed his 2024 song Hind’s Hall with footage of Gaza on the massive screen behind him.

In the lyrics for Hind’s Hall the rapper criticises actions in Gaza. Proceeds from the song go toward humanitarian efforts from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. 

The full video from the performance shows Macklemore standing on stage and addressing the crowd. 

Pink reposted an Instagram Story from StopAntisemitism, which slammed Macklemore’s performance and demanded an apology to the concertgoers

‘One of the reasons why I wanted to come on this tour was because I wanted to stand up here on stages in stadiums across America and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine. I said, Free Palestine!’ he told the attendees.

‘I want those words to be loud and clear so that people from Gaza, all the way to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten them.’

He then introduced Hind’s Hall, stating that it ‘was inspired by the bravery of Columbia University students who led an encampment movement that mobilized the entire world. Opened up hearts, myself included.’

‘So thank you to those students that risked their diplomas, that risked their tuition, that risked their scholarships, that stood up and said, “No.” CUAD students, Students for Justice in Palestine, and Jewish Voice for Peace. Thank you guys.’

He addressed the Jewish community, stating: ‘To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters: Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you.’

‘My message is for peace. Love. For all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality. So I say free Palestine. I say free Lebanon. I say free Cuba. I say free Congo, free Sudan, free all people in America living in fear over this terrorist organization ICE. None of us will be free until we are all free.’ 

Macklemore went on to post a video of his speech on social media with the caption: ‘Wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial’. 

The singer Pink weighed in on the controversy, reposting an Instagram Story from StopAntisemitism, which slammed Macklemore’s performance.

The caption on the post read: ‘Awful – Jewish fans bought tickets to see Ed Sheeran sing last night in NJ, not to be ambushed by Macklemore’s anti-Israel propaganda.

‘Instead, Macklemore walked onstage in a keffiyeh, shouted “Free Palestine,” accused Israel of a false “genocide,” and turned a mainstream event into a political nightmare against the Jewish state. Concert-goers are owed apologies and refunds.’

In response, Macklemore appeared to double down on his comments last week, as he posted a clip of his speech from MetLife Stadium with the caption: ‘Wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial’.

Pink did not add any additional commentary aside from re-sharing the post.

In 2014, Macklemore issued an apology after wearing a disguise on stage in Seattle that many condemned as an anti-Semitic Jewish caricature.

In his apology after the Jewish caricature controversy, he said: ‘There is no worse feeling than being misunderstood, especially when people are hurt or offended… I respect all cultures and all people. 

‘I would never intentionally put down anybody for the fabric that makes them who they are. I love human beings, love originality, and… happen to love a weird outfit from time to time.’

Macklemore added that he never thought he looked Jewish. ‘Some people there thought I looked like Ringo, some Abe Lincoln. If anything, I thought I looked like Humpty Hump with a bowl cut,’ he said.

The uproar comes after the UK last week imposed sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, sparking a furious response from Israel.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the measures would target ‘illegal settlements and settlement expansion’, adding that there had been ‘ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank, perpetrated by settler terrorists’.

It followed growing pressure for action to curb violence in the West Bank, amid reports of some 1,400 attacks by Israeli settlers this year – an average of over six incidents a day.

The British sanctions will ban settlement goods but also act against businesses and individuals providing services for settlement expansion. 

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar responded by accusing Miliband of spreading an ‘outrageous lie’.

He later announced counter-measures, including shutting the UK’s consulate in East Jerusalem. 

But the UK was supported by France and Canada, who announced plans for trade bans on settlement goods, as well as nine other European countries who backed similar measures. 

The 12 countries issued a joint statement warning the Israeli government’s actions in the West Bank are threatening the two-state solution.

The measures mark a sharp shift in Britain’s stance on Israeli settlements under new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, representing the most significant attempt in many years – from a close Israeli ally – to use economic power to force change in the occupied West Bank.

The Trump administration is taking a different stance, amid reports that it plans to sell to Israel a munitions package worth $2.8 billion, which will ​include tens of thousands of highly destructive 2,000-pound bombs.

The package, which was reported earlier by the Washington Post, includes 20,000 MK 84s and 20,000 BLU-117s, according to anonymous officials.

US public support for Israel has fallen since the Gaza war began in 2023, particularly among Democrats. 

A June Quinnipiac University poll found 48 per cent ​of voters and 66 per cent of Democrats believe the United States ​is too supportive of Israel, up from 16 per cent and 20 per cent when the question ‌was ⁠first asked in 2017. 

While the heaviest fighting has subsided since a ceasefire took hold in October, Israeli airstrikes have killed 1,369 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry. 

The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government, does not distinguish between civilians and militants.

Noah’s dad Rhys has given an update on the search for the youngster while clarifying that he is “only mildly autistic and has partial hearing loss”.

He says the emergency services believe that he has gone further away than the immediate areas around the playground where he disappeared.

He wrote: “Thank every single one of you who have taken part in the search for our boy Noah. To clear things up because people really do make up their own stories, he is only mildly autistic and has partial hearing loss, he is fully capable of every day tasks.

We still have nothing, all the emergency services and all of you have shown how strong this community is, with people coming from far and wide (…).

“The emergency services are very confident that the high risk areas (Decoy pond, railway lines) are all clear.”

Rhys continued: “This means knowing our boy, he has gone even further, could I ask that all of you brilliant people out there today expand further if you are able to? Reference where I have outlined, and maybe even further than this,

“I cannot go another night knowing he’s out there alone, please don’t give up on him guys. He is out there somewhere and I appreciate every single one of you.”

Free family-friendly events featuring fireworks will be held at Wythenshawe Park, Heaton Park, and Platt Fields Park on Saturday, November 7.

The evening will include a reduced-noise, low-impact display at 5pm for families and SEND audiences, and a main display at 8pm.

Lantern-making workshops will also be held in the lead-up to the events, with lantern parades taking place before the 8pm fireworks shows.

This return follows the pause of major fireworks events in 2019 following the Covid-19 pandemic, when funding challenges spurred a change of direction.

As a result, the council shifted its focus to funding a range of community-focused events across the city’s parks during the autumn season, rather than the larger one-off fireworks events.

These community-focused events will continue and are set to expand further in local parks this year, particularly during the October half-term school holiday, offering a mix of themed activities.

With additional council investment, the fireworks events on November 7 will be a grand finale to the community activities happening across the city.

Councillor Garry Bridges, leader of Manchester City Council, said: “I’m delighted we’re keeping the Fireworks this year in Manchester.

“Residents tell us how important it is to create opportunities for our communities to come together and celebrate.

“Our fireworks display is exactly one of those events that bridge culture and background — and so it’s fantastic to bring back these free community displays that give families, friends and neighbours a shared experience — and without cost being a barrier.

“It is even more important that everyone feels welcome and able to participate, which is why we have designed our early evening display with inclusivity for families with young children and people with SEND as an essential element of the day and evening celebrations ensuring that no-one has to miss out on the fun.”

Councillor Basat Sheikh, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “We are delighted to announce and welcome the return of our much-loved fireworks celebrations.

“Our parks should be shared spaces that create opportunities for Manchester people to gather, which is why bringing back the fireworks displays was top of our agenda.

“And we also recognise the importance of community, which is why we will also continue to invest in a wide range of activities in our parks throughout the year.”

The trio appeared side by side in the dock at Dungannon Magistrates’ Court during a brief mention of that case on Wednesday

Three men have appeared in court in Dungannon charged in connection with a model of a mosque being placed on a Loyalist bonfire in Co Tyrone in July.

Tyler Somerville, 28, of Jacksonville Road in Moygashel, Simon Dilworth, 58, of a different address on Jacksonville Road and John Black, 38, of Prince Andrew Crescent in Moygashel all faced one charge in terms of offensive material.

The charge is that on July 8 2026 they displayed written material which was threatening, abusive or insulting, intending to stir up hatred or arouse fear contrary to Article 9(1) of the Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987.

It came after a model of a mosque was on a bonfire in Moygashel, Co Tyrone in July as loyalist bonfires were being built across Northern Ireland to mark the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.

The trio appeared side by side in the dock at Dungannon Magistrates’ Court during a brief mention of that case on Wednesday morning.

All indicated they understood the charge.

A detective constable told the court he believed he could connect the accused to the charge.

No issues were raised during the first appearance of the three men with connection.

While all three had previously been out on police bail, they left under £250 court bail.

A fourth co-accused is set to appear on September 23, with all four to “travel together” going forward.

Meanwhile, Mr Somerville has been permitted to travel on a one-week holiday which had been booked before his arrest for the alleged offence.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

One officer told his colleague “I hope you get raped”

Two further officers have been sacked from the Metropolitan Police following a BBC Panorama undercover film exposing misconduct at Charing Cross station. This makes a total of 13 officers that have lost their jobs since an investigation was launched by the Independent Office for Police Conduct in October.

PC Mason O’Connor and PC Lloyd Hunter of the Central West Command Unit have both been sacked after “appalling” comments they made while off-duty as the investigation into the conduct at the station continues.

A hearing for PC O’Connor, was held on Tuesday, 15 September following allegations in a pub on October 2024 he said to a female colleague: “I hope you get raped on your way to Waterloo”.

The incident was reported after the Panorama episode aired in October 2025 that highlighted issues within the police station as officers were filmed calling for immigrants to be shot, boasting about excessive use of force and joking about rape and sexual assault.

The hearing found the allegation proven and that PC O’Connor breached standards of professional behaviour for authority, respect and courtesy, equality and diversity, and discreditable conduct, according to the Met Police. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here

Allegations against PC Hunter were also made and proven at a hearing on August 27. During an off-duty drink in November 2024 he made comments that trivialised the use of force, suggested that he would enjoy using force on members of the public and that he “hated” homeless people.

Both officers have been sacked and will be added to the College of Policing’s barred list to prevent them re-joining policing or working for a number of other police-related bodies.

Commander Simon Messinger, Professionalism, said: “Two more officers have now been dismissed for their appalling comments and attitudes. I hope this sends a very clear message about the standards we expect from all our officers and the Met’s determination to improve our culture across the organisation.

“We continue to support the ongoing IOPC investigation.”

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Staying trim, fit and healthy is no longer just determined by what you eat, as scientists are increasingly concerned with when you eat, too. 

A growing body of evidence suggests that eating the majority of calories as early as possible in the day could accelerate weight loss, lower blood pressure and keep you fuller for longer.

Last year, scientists from Slovenia found restricting meals to an 8am to 4pm window resulted in ten pounds weight loss over three months, as well as reduction in body fat and stabilisation of blood sugar levels. 

Critics say the effect is merely a result of fitting in fewer calories in a shorter space of time.

But is that really the extent of the benefit?

According to registered dietitian Sophie Medlin, there is reason to consider meal timings – and not just for those looking to lose weight. 

The body’s ability to utilise food depends on the interaction with our daily routine; that is, the time we wake up, sleep and exercise, she says. 

Here, she reveals the truth about the optimum time for breakfast, lunch and dinner – and the worst time to snack if you’re looking to shift extra pounds. 

Is eating earlier really better?

There’s no denying that research suggests eating more of our energy earlier in the day could produce some benefits for weight and heart health, says Ms Medlin. 

Perhaps the most in-depth study is a 2024 meta-analysis⁠ which found that earlier calorie distribution and time-restricted eating produced reductions in weight – albeit relatively small.

‘Our bodies run on approximately 24-hour circadian rhythms,’ says Ms Medlin. ‘These influence how good our body is at converting blood sugar to energy and digesting food, as well as the level of our appetite hormones.’

In general, the body is more efficient at converting sugars in food into energy – and therefore calories burned – during the most active part of the day.

‘Eating earlier gives us more opportunity to use energy through movement,’ she adds. 

One 2022 Harvard study asked 16 overweight and obese adults to stick to an early eating schedule for two weeks, and then pushed the meals back by four hours, but consuming the same calorie intake.

Early eaters ate one hour after waking – at around 8am, on average, – while the late eaters waited five hours, with some having their first meal as late as 12pm. 

Those in the early group ate dinner at around 4.30pm, compared to 8.30pm in the late group. 

Results showed that those on the later schedule had much higher blood levels of hormones associated with hunger, and lower levels of compounds released in response to fullness. 

The researchers concluded that eating later could trigger changes in the gut that increase hunger signals, risking weight gain.

Big names including Rishi Sunak, Jennifer Aniston and Hugh Jackman swear by fasting to keep their health and weight on track

However, Ms Medlin caveats: ‘This study is interesting but it only involved 16 adults. More conclusive evidence is needed to prove the theory.’ 

She admits, though, that delaying most of our food until late evening could disrupt appetite regulation, and make blood sugars go awry. 

What about skipping breakfast?

Intermittent fasting – which involves limiting calorie intake for a few days a week – remains popular among Britons. 

Most adherents follow a similar schedule: skipping breakfast and saving their calories for lunch and dinner, while cutting out the snacks.

A review on the diet plan published earlier this year suggested it could result in a body weight reduction of about 3 per cent (roughly five and a half pounds in an average man).

However, a wealth of other reviews have found that the benefits are likely just the result of eating fewer calories. 

Scientists have found similar weight loss with other low-calorie diets. And some research suggests skipping breakfast could cause you to overeat. 

One large observational study examining the dietary records of 23,488 American adults found that people who skipped both breakfast and lunch consumed, on average, about 187 more calories at dinner.

Another study involving almost 3,000 older adults found delaying the first meal of the day by even an hour was associated with an 11 per cent higher risk of death. 

‘Skipping breakfast risks a pattern whereby you eat very little throughout the day and then consume a large proportion of the day’s food late at night,’ says Ms Medlin.

‘This can encourage overeating, and large, rich meals close to bed may cause reflux, bloating or disturbed sleep.’

She adds that, as the body is less able to convert food to energy at night, excess calories are more likely to be stored as fat. 

Is there an optimum time for every meal?

According to Ms Medlin, there aren’t any specific timings that guarantee that we won’t overeat, become sluggish, or lose focus.

However, there are ‘useful windows’ to stick to which are based on the strongest scientific evidence. 

‘Breakfast could be eaten within around one to two hours of waking up, lunch approximately four to five hours later, and dinner ideally two to three hours before bed,’ says Ms Medlin.

‘For someone following a conventional sleep pattern, that might mean breakfast between 7am and 9am, lunch between 12pm and 2pm, and dinner between 6pm and 8pm.’

But most crucial is ensuring the hours before bed are not the ‘main eating period of the day’, she adds. 

‘Finishing a main meal approximately two to three hours before lying down is a sensible target. This provides time for digestion and can reduce reflux or discomfort.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has thanked party leaders for their support following the death of his father, Roy, on Monday.

All opposition leaders sent condolences to him as he cancelled engagements earlier this week.

Burnham had previously spoken about the fact his dad did not know he had become prime minister, due to his advanced Alzheimer’s.

Posting on social media, he thanked, external “everyone who has shared a kind message about my dad, particularly the leaders of the other parties”.

Burnham added: “My family and I have been helped though this difficult time by people’s warmth and compassion. It means a great deal to us and we wanted to say thank you.”

Speaking to journalists on his first day back at work on Wednesday, Burnham thanked all those who had sent “so many lovely messages” to him and his family.

“It’s hard and it will be hard for a little while but better to get back to the job,” he said.

“I also want to thank the leaders of the other parties, all of whom sent a message, and it shows there is decency in British politics still and that’s lovely to see, so thank you from us all, the whole family.

“But my dad would want me to be back out there bringing some of the changes that he always pushed me to make.”

He has described how his father, a former telephone engineer, had raised him with “laughter, love and support” alongside his mother Eileen in Culcheth, Cheshire.

In July, Burnham spoke about his father’s condition and said it had influenced his drive to reform adult social care in England.

The husband, a man in his 60s from Stockport, pleaded guilty to 60 charges

The trial of 12 men accused of sexual offences is expected to start next month after a husband admitted drugging and raping his wife over a 20-year period.

The husband, a man in his 60s from Stockport, pleaded guilty to 60 charges. His guilty pleas were entered on Monday (September 14).

He admitted charges of rape, assault by penetration, administering a substance with intent, sexual assault, attempted rape and sharing intimate photographs or film. The husband will no longer feature as a defendant in the trial.

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The Manchester Evening News and other media organisations are not naming the husband in order to protect the anonymity of his wife. The law entitles her to anonymity for life. A further 12 defendants are due to go on trial on October 5. They all deny sexual offences.

They are David Graves, 59, of Milton Avenue, Derbyshire; Robert Stewart, 70, of Sandpiper Drive, Stockport; Karl Lindsay, 56, of Wordsworth Drive, Taunton; Philip Wild, 58, of St Davids Road, Cheadle; Graham Brougham, 74, of Birtwistle Road, Rudheath; Northwich, Daniel Rayner, 42, of Sherwood Drive, Whitstable; Sean Peers, 38, of Sandwich Road, Eccles; Mohammed Sabir, 28, of no fixed address; Jordan Wallace, 31, of Hindsford Close; Wythenshawe, Alan Keelan, 42, of Foscarn Drive, Wythenshawe; Richard Townsend, 37, of Woodland Street, Heywood; and Jonathan Kirk, 43, of Telford Close, Macclesfield.

The jury were originally sworn in on September 4 and were recalled to court today (September 16) to be addressed by Judge Maurice Greene. He told jurors: “You were told amongst other things that the prosecution’s case concerns allegations of sexual offending by a number of men on a female.

“You were also told that 14 men have been identified to date and one of them was [the husband]. That is [the wife’s] husband.

“Some of you may have seen or heard on the news on Monday that a man from Stockport had pleaded guilty to drugging and raping his wife, and that he admitted multiple offences of rape, attempted rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault and administering a substance with intent.

“His identity is protected in the public domain to protect [his wife’s] identity. Of course the man who pleaded guilty was [the husband]. He will no longer be a defendant in this case.

“As a result of those pleas, there is work to be done by the parties in this case. You were also told that the case could not sit in any event in the week commencing September 28.

“That is still the case. What I am going to do is ask you to come back to this court on Monday October 5. On that date I anticipate the trial will commence.”

The judge said he hoped that the trial would conclude by December 18.

Proceeding.