When Donald Trump signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Versailles on June 17 after the G7 summit, it dominated the headlines around the world. This is no more than you’d expect. The 60-day ceasefire, which – despite a few wobbles – appears to be largely holding in both Iran and southern Lebanon, was a major breakthrough, even if US concessions to secure the deal raised more than a few eyebrows.

But the noise from Versailles effectively obscured some very significant developments at the G7. First, and most importantly, the G7 leaders’ adept handling of the US president, Donald Trump, seems to have edged him back into line with Europe over the war in Ukraine.

As we’ve come to know over Trump’s presidencies, this could easily change. But for now, the European G7 countries’ pledge to provide more military aid to support Ukraine over the winter will have come as a considerable fillip for Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky. And the American president’s promise to provide “backstop” for these efforts made this all the sweeter.

These, and the success of recent strikes on targets deep inside Russia, have greatly improved the mood in Kyiv.

But the apparent unity of the G7 on Ukraine concealed some important differences of approach developing as European members work out if – and how – they might “go it alone” when it comes to their security arrangements. This has been an issue greatly exercising European leaders’ minds as the US downgrades its commitment.

Stefan Wolff, of the University of Birmingham, and Richard Whitman, of the Royal United Services Institute and the University of Kent highlight a row among EU leaders about how to present a united front to Russia as symptomatic of this disunity. And Germany’s recent decision to pull out of a showcase Franco-German collaboration to build state-of-the-art warplanes shows how two of Europe’s “big beasts”, so often at loggerheads in the past, are competing for leadership on key defence issues.

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If Europe wants to ‘go it alone’ on security, countries need to learn to sing from the same songsheet

One of the big things complicating all this is that the diplomatic world has changed significantly during the Trump years. The US president’s singular and mercurial approach to international relations – and his preference for using personal friends or business associates instead of professional diplomats has made if tricky for allies and adversaries alike to navigate complex situations.

We’re lucky to have the insights of Nicholas Westcott, a former British ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Togo and Niger. Westcott, professor of practice in diplomacy at SOAS, University of London, parses the US president’s unique diplomatic style, pointing out five distinct features of the US president’s approach and the way other countries’ leaders are having to adapt to cope.

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How Donald Trump has changed the way diplomacy is done

One of the issues complicating America’s diplomatic efforts is that Trump’s main envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, are often pursuing parallel business opportunities, sometimes in countries where the US is playing an important role in the mediation of conflicts.

And sometimes these business interests themselves have sparked conflict. This can be seen currently in Albania, where thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest about a coastal resort being developed by companies associated with Kushner on southern Albania’s unspoiled Zvërnec coastline and surrounding wetlands.

Apart from environmental objections, there are also land ownership issues. The protests have snowballed into a broad anti‑government movement, writes Altin Gjeta, a political scientist at the University of Birmingham. Gjeta says the public anger has been exacerbated by the public perception of decades of official corruption – although there’s no suggestion this relates in any way to the Kushner-backed project.

But the unrest is causing problems for Albania’s ruling Socialist party and prime minister Edi Rama, several of whose former cabinet ministers are publicly criticising him over the issue.

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Why a development project linked to Donald Trump’s son-in-law has rocked Albania

Flawed agreement

When it comes to the MoU itself, the agreement prompted a great deal of criticism from both the US and its close ally Israel. Israelis were furious, claiming that the US president had sold them out for reasons of his own, putting their long-term security in jeopardy. Many in Trump’s Republican party thought the deal was a capitulation on the president’s part.

The deal highlighted what many of us already suggested: that Iran’s ability to spark economic turmoil by closing the Strait of Hormuz gives it considerably leverage over the US. Ben Soodavar, an expert in foreign relations in the department of war studies at King’s College London, identifies a vicious cycle that presents the US with a serious quandary.

Israel has a right to defend itself against Hezbollah attacks. But when it takes action against Lebanon, Iran reacts by threatening to close the Strait. The US puts pressure on Israel to stand down and Israel resists. The ceasefire deal was largely prompted by Trump’s realisation that the US in unable to put sufficient military pressure on Tehran to break this cycle.

Soodavar fears that once all the players realise that restraint is also unlikely to solve anything, then “escalation ceases to be a choice. It may come to be the only available logic”.

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The flaws at the heart of Donald Trump’s Iran ceasefire deal

Bamo Nouri and Inderjeet Parmar, international security experts at City St George, University of London, foresee a strengthened Iran continuing to flex its muscles in the region.

Tehran, they write, will be encouraged by the clear geopolitical shifts the war has already prompted – not least the cessation of any hopes that the US might have harboured to expand the Abraham Accords and the normalisation of Arab states’ relations with Israel. So the Islamic Republic is likely to continue to compete for influence via its proxies in the region and via “grey-zone” tactics such as cyber-warfare.

Meanwhile the underlying drivers of the conflict remain intact, they write: “US-Iran-Israeli relations are therefore likely to continue oscillating between confrontation and accommodation.”

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Will the US-Iran talks in Switzerland deliver peace? It’s unlikely

I’d hazard a guess and say many of us like chocolate, great for a snack, or added to other treats to satisfy those sugar cravings.

But, for some, you may prefer to use own-brand chocolate, as it is often cheaper than the iconic brands many know and love.

With this in mind, I compared some milk chocolate from five different major UK supermarkets… and in my mind, one was the clear winner.

I tried own-brand chocolate from Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, Morrisons and M&S (Image: Newsquest)

I compared own-brand chocolate from Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, Morrisons and M&S – but which was best?

I have to admit I’m not really an own-brand chocolate person, perhaps only buying it for baking and other similar pastimes.

So this test was going to be an interesting one, and I will hazard and say I am no expert.

I will also point out that this was not necessarily about price, as different size bars were bought, but more about the taste.

Nevertheless, I will note down the price of each chocolate bought.

Aldi – Dairyfine chocolate – £1.95 – 4/5

Dairyfine is Aldi’s exclusive, budget-friendly chocolate brand, and as with all on this list, it was my first time trying it.

Despite Aldi being a budget-friendly supermarket, and this price being no different, I was pleasantly surprised with this.

It had a nice sweet and creamy taste, and an aftertaste that was nice but not too strong.

It wasn’t quite my favourite, but I can see it being very popular with shoppers, with good taste and being on the cheaper side of things.

Lidl – Fin Carré chocolate – 99p – 3/5

Another popular budget-friendly chocolate brand is Lidl’s own Fin Carré chocolate.

I have to say that this was incredibly good value for money, at just 99p, and it was still good chocolate.

It was a slightly thinner bar I will say, and it was not quite as smooth and creamy as Aldi, but I still thought it was nice.

Another point that dropped the score was the slight sickly flavour it left me with.

Morrisons – Morrisons own brand – £2.30 – 2/5

Sadly, Morrisons was my least favourite of the five I tried.

It was on the slightly more expensive end, and did not have as nice a taste as the budget options.

The Lidl (top left), M&S (top right), Morrisons (middle), Aldi (bottom left) and Tesco (bottom right) chocolate were all slightly different (Image: Newsquest)

I felt it was a tad boring, with no real sweetness or richness to add to it.

Despite this, I will say the aftertaste was ok, and I did not get a bad, sickly feeling.

Tesco – Tesco own brand – £2.30 – 3/5

Another middle-range supermarket brand, and another decent option.

Tesco cost the same as Morrisons, but was slightly better, with a bit more taste and texture to it.

It was definitely more milky and had a nice smoothness about it.

Despite this, I was not a fan of the aftertaste, and as with others, it was a little sickly.

M&S – M&S own brand – £3.50 – 5/5

Perhaps the obvious answer for many, but M&S was the best.

It was naturally the most expensive and is a premium option for many, but not only was it the thickest chocolate, but the taste was also fantastic.

It was a rich and creamy delight, and had a nice aftertaste, and ticked all boxes for me.

And I know that is what you would hope for with the price, but it is exactly what I got, and therefore was my favourite.

Recommended reading:

My final rankings of UK supermarkets’ own-brand chocolate

Here are my five rankings in order and their scores:

1. M&S – 5/5
2. Aldi – 4/5
3. Tesco – 3/5
4. Lidl – 3/5
5. Morrisons – 2/5

What is your go-to supermarket? Let us know in the comments.

Rob Reiner’s son Jake has made his first red carpet appearance since his parents Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner’s deaths, where he attended the premiere of a series he is starring in

Jake Reiner has made his first public appearance since his parents’ deaths. Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner died by multiple knife stab wounds in December 2025. It is claimed that their bodies were found by their daughter, Romy, at their Brentwood home.

Since then, their son Nick was charged with his parents’ murder. He later appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to six felony charges, two of first-degree murder, two of special circumstances involving multiple murder and two counts of special circumstances using a deadly weapon, which was identified as a knife.

Now, Jake has been seen for the first time, attending the red carpet event for Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness, which is a project of his dad’s friend Larry David, in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Legion Theatre.

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Taking to Instagram to document the occasion, he said: “Attended the premiere of Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness this week. Comes out Friday on @hbo @hbomax, look out for me in the first episode.”

Jake has been open about discovering the tragic news of his parents’ death. In a Substack post in April, he said: “I received a call from my sister Romy telling me our father was dead. Minutes later, she called back telling me our mother was also dead.

“The 45-minute Lyft ride from downtown to the west side was unendurable … The only thing I could focus on was that I needed to get to my childhood home. I needed to get to my sister. I needed to figure out what the hell just happened.”

Jake said that that day, he felt robbed of so many things. “My parents won’t be at my wedding, they won’t get to hold their future grandchild, and they won’t get to see me have the successful career I’m still seeking,” he added.

“It simultaneously breaks my heart and enrages me … Nothing can prepare you for what it feels like to lose both parents instantly at the same time,” with Jake describing it all as a “living nightmare”.

Rob Reiner was best known for his work as an actor and director, appearing in The Wolf of Wall Street and in New Girl as Jess Day’s father, Bob Day. He was also the director of popular films, including the heavy metal mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, The Sure Thing, Stand by Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, and A Few Good Men.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

Several flights have been delayed, diverted and cancelled after thunderstorms hit Edinburgh Airport.

Fights at Edinburgh Airport have been diverted and cancelled as thunderstorms swept the country. Thousands of lightning strikes were recorded by the Met Office across the central belt since the early hours of Friday, June 26.

One British Airways flight from Edinburgh to London City has been cancelled while several others have been diverted or delayed. Flights from Porto, London, Chicago, New York, Dublin and Riga have all been diverted to airports across the UK and Ireland.

Some flights have been delayed for a number of hours while others have circled in the skies above the central belt waiting for the weather to clear. Edinburgh Airport has been contacted for comment.

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Karen Kay has been talking to fairies since she was four and says she can also see centaurs and mermaids

Ever since she can remember, Karen Kay has seen fairies. Karen says magical beings have been a constant presence throughout her life, offering messages from the spirit world. Karen, 62, from Truro said: “Fairies usually show themselves to me as tiny flashing lights. They often have messages for me. If I see one around someone’s throat, it usually means they have something significant to say. I can see fairies in the trees now. Dryads and sprites dancing in the afternoon sun. They are smiling at me.” Karen moved to Cornwall 40 years ago and believes the county is rich in magical energy. “I love it here. It’s the home of my heart and there are definitely fairies and mermaids in Cornwall.”

Known as a fairy whisperer, Karen organises the Three Wishes Fairy Festival, an annual event she says was inspired directly by the fairies themselves. “I set it up because the fairies told me to do it 20 years ago. I also organise fairy balls and fairy fairs, including a fairy market in Glastonbury,” she says. “It began when I was a single mum to my two sons. I started running spiritual and charity events to raise money. It wasn’t my intention to turn it into a business, but it just happened that way and I’ve been doing it ever since.” According to Karen, fairies are just one type of elemental being. “Fairies are guardians of nature. There are lots of beings that come under that umbrella, including pixies, elves, gnomes, mermaids, dryads and naiads. I also see centaurs and unicorns.” She’s been communicating with them since she was four years old, when she would collect rose petals from her grandmother Chris’s garden and make rose water. She would leave a bowl of it in the narrow space between her nan’s garage and the neighbour’s garage.

“The next day it was always gone. I knew the fairies had accepted and were pleased by my little offering.” Karen remembers seeing tiny points of coloured light around her from a young age. “My nan had two neighbours who looked like gnomes. They were brothers and short and round. At the same time, I would see fairies everywhere. They appeared as tiny dancing lights in vivid electric colours. It was completely natural to me. It wasn’t something I questioned.” But as a goth and punk-loving teenager, Karen worried that believing in fairies didn’t fit her image and began questioning what she was seeing. “So I got my eyes tested, but found out I had perfect 20/20 vision. That was confirmation for me that what I was seeing was real, even though I already knew that instinctively.” So Karen embraced her beliefs, getting fairy tattoos, including a rose and Tinkerbell on her shoulder, and expressing her love of fairy folklore through her clothing – dressing in wings, tutus, crowns and sparkles. “Fairy energy was always manifesting through me in a physical way,” she adds. However, it was after moving to Cornwall that the experiences intensified. “The energy became much stronger. I started experiencing telepathic messages, feelings and even fragrances. You can have urban fairies, but in wild natural places they’re much more prevalent. It was wonderful to connect with the mermaids when I moved to the coast in my twenties.”

Then in 2005 she received one message that changed the trajectory of her life. “They always let me know they were there, but the strongest message was about the festival. Fairies can get quite bossy when they know you can hear them. “They said: ‘You must organise a festival. It must be in Cornwall. It must take place at midsummer. And you must tell everybody.’” Karen insists the message felt entirely different from her own thoughts. “I’d lived long enough to know the sound of my own internal dialogue. This was definitely a different voice. It came with a different energy. I can’t fully explain it. It felt fizzy, almost like opening a bottle of champagne.” She held the first festival at Colliford Lake Park, beside Dozmary Pool, where Arthurian legend says the Lady of the Lake lived. And more than two decades later, the festival is still running, although it has since moved to Glastonbury. “Working on the fairy path isn’t an exact science. It’s not for the faint-hearted because it’s unpredictable, but that’s what appeals to me. “With fairies, you always have to expect the unexpected. Everything is inside out, upside down, back to front, betwixt and between, and topsy-turvy. You never know what you’re going to get, but the journey will be magical.”

For Karen, fairies are also the secret to staying youthful. “Fairies bring me joy, happiness, upliftment and loving energy. And they keep your inner child alive. As adults, life can become weighed down by responsibilities and bills, but fairies help you stay connected to that playful part of yourself. I feel joyful, playful and almost immortal.” Karen’s daily routine reflects her spiritual beliefs. Each morning begins with a walk in nature before she does anything else. “I acknowledge the plants and the fairies and ask them for inspiration and guidance for the day.” After breakfast, she consults her Enchanted Realms Oracle Cards – which she has just launched on her website – before spending time writing, planning events, handling admin, posting on Instagram @‌karenkayfairy, making music or meditating. And whether or not she’s heading out, she gives careful thought to her outfit. Karen has become known locally as “The Fairy Whisperer” thanks to her flamboyant wardrobe and sparkling accessories. “If you’ve got to wear clothes, why not make them fun? It’s a big part of my day, even if I’m not going anywhere special.

“Sometimes I wear wings and I’m very often in a flower crown. I love expressing my creativity through my clothing.” She also credits fairies with helping her maintain her youthful appearance. “Fairies definitely keep you young. I’m not saying I never would, but I’ve never had any work done, Botox, fillers or anything else. Lots of people say I look younger than my years and I think that’s because of their playful magic – and my plant-based diet. “People who connect with fairies often have a youthful glow. That’s down to fairy glamour, the beautiful energy that keeps you feeling uplifted.”

Karen knows her beliefs are not for everyone, but she says she has no intention of changing. “My friends and family have all accepted what I do. I only recently discovered that my nan believed in fairies too, which made me feel very supported. “People who believe in fairies often feel a bit different or like the odd one out. When we meet others who think the same way, we form really beautiful friendships and bonds that last a lifetime.”

Experts have said that conditions are now “perfect” for the insects to breed, with standing water and rising temperatures providing an ideal environment for them to thrive.

June’s rainfall, following a particularly dry May, has created just the right conditions in which mosquito eggs can hatch and develop, prompting concerns about a potential rise in bites and the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.

Mosqutio warning issued amid potential ‘surge’ in the UK

Dr Mojca Kristan, assistant professor in medical entomology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), said: “Weather conditions in the UK at the moment are perfect for mosquitoes.

“They like warmth as well as standing water to lay their eggs in.

“May was too dry, but we’ve had rain in June, so there’s water around and, as the weather continues to warm up, I would expect mosquitoes to emerge and start biting to get the blood they need to breed.”

The Met Office said that some areas of the UK recorded a month’s worth of rainfall in the first half of June.

It followed an exceptionally dry spring experienced across southern and eastern England.

The Met Office noted how many areas recorded only around half their normal spring rainfall, with some locations receiving as little as a quarter of the seasonal average.

Recently, the weather has taken a sharp turn, with a heatwave across the UK over the last few days.

Rare red weather warnings were issued for parts of central and southern England, as well as parts of Wales, warning of ‘extreme heat’.

The UK has recently seen temperatures break June records dating back to the infamous summer of 1976.

How to avoid mosquito bites in the UK

Dr Kristan recommended a number of steps people can take to reduce the risk of being bitten.

She said: “To protect yourself from bites, wear insect repellent and cover your skin with long sleeves, plus wear socks in the evening as mosquitoes like biting around ankles.”

She also warned that climate change could increase the risk of invasive mosquito species becoming established in the UK, raising the potential for transmission of diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika.

While Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito) is currently not present in the UK, eggs have been detected here.

Dr Kristan said: “At the moment, there’s a low risk of bites from UK mosquitoes spreading serious illness, but we have to be alert to the threat of new disease-carrying mosquito species as climate change makes Britain a more attractive place for mosquitoes to survive and thrive.”

Aedes aegypti (Egyptian mosquito) is also not currently present in the UK.

However, modelling studies suggest that, by the 2060s, the climate in London and surrounding areas will most likely help the endemic transmission of dengue fever.

Dengue, which is already present in parts of Europe, including the Mediterranean, causes flu-like symptoms, including high temperature, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and muscle and joint pain.

Malaria is not currently endemic in the UK.

Around 2,000 imported cases are recorded annually among travellers returning from high-risk regions.

Have you ever been bitten by a mosquito? Let us know in the comments.

Today is set to be another stifling day with soaring temperatures – but things are about to change

After a sweltering and uncomfortable few days, Greater Manchester was treated to spectacular display of thunder and lightning overnight.

However, today is set to be another hot one but there will be a welcome shift in the weather over the weekend.

Today (Friday) there are still weather warnings all over the country. A Met Office amber warning for extreme heat remains in place for large parts of the country, including Greater Manchester, until midnight tonight.

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There is also a yellow warning in place for thunderstorms for the north of England, Wales, and the south west of the country up until 10pm tonight. In parts of the south east, a rare Met Office red warning for extreme heat are in place until 9pm.

Temperatures in Greater Manchester are high today, expected to reach around 32C by early to mid-afternoon in Manchester.

After some rain earlier this morning, the Met Office says patchy showers, possibly thundery, to the north will move off through the morning, along with any high cloud.

Tonight things are still going to be muggy and uncomfortable with minimum temperatures of 17C, with chances of light rain in the early morning.

Saturday is forecast for a cloudy start which will lift through the day. It will still be hot and dry but temperatures will be slightly down on recent days, with maximum temperatures of around 25C.

Sunday is set to see a welcome break in the incessant heat. Fresher and cooler conditions are forecast as is rain first thing which will clear later on.

A significant temperature drop is expected with temperatures dropping significantly to around 20C during the hottest parts of the afternoon. Sunday night is set to be cooler with temperatures around a more comfortable 14C.

Monday and Tuesday are forecast to be mostly dry with sunny spells, with temperatures a little above average.

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) has referred itself to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and is investigating whether all the workers had a legitimate reason for looking at his information

An inquiry has been launched after the medical records of a three-year-old boy injured in a crocodile pit were accessed by approximately 40 hospital staff members.

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) has referred itself to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and is examining whether all the members of staff had a valid reason for viewing his personal information.

The boy, who is from Cambridgeshire, ended up in a zoo’s crocodile enclosure and is currently in a stable condition. He was rushed to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, which is managed by CUH, last Thursday following the incident at Johnsons of Old Hurst.

A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and subsequently bailed after he was “assessed as not being fit for interview”. The suspect is reported to have learning difficulties and had been visiting the attraction with carers at the time.

A CUH spokesperson said: “We have strict policies in place to safeguard patient data and we take any breach extremely seriously. We know the vast majority of our 13,000 staff understand the fundamental importance of maintaining patient confidentiality and uphold the highest professional standards.

“Where any member of staff is found to have accessed patient records without legitimate clinical or operational reasons we take robust disciplinary action, including dismissal. As part of our response to any breach, we notify both the ICO and apologise to patients and their families affected.”

Cambridgeshire Police confirmed on Monday that the boy was “no longer critical” and was “in a stable condition in hospital”. It is believed he was attacked by at least one crocodile after allegedly being thrown into the enclosure.

Officers were alerted to the zoo at 1.24pm on Thursday (June 18) by the ambulance service following reports that a three-year-old boy had sustained serious injuries.

Cambridgeshire Police stated the boy “sustained serious injuries while in the enclosure” and “was pulled out by staff from the zoo”. Tracey Johnson, wife of the zoo owner, is reported to have jumped into the enclosure to rescue the child.

Last week, a former healthcare worker received a caution from the ICO for attempting to obtain and sell the medical records of the Princess of Wales.

‘Opening the loft hatch gives all that trapped warm air upstairs somewhere to go’

It’s absolutely sweltering and there are a host of tips people are being given to reduce the heat in homes. The UK has been hit by a severe heatwave – with temperatures predicted to hit 39C and ‘ tropical nights’ meaning few people are getting any sleep.

One expert said that people can used their loft to act as a funnel which draws the heat out of the home – and makes the upstairs cool quickly. The theory is if you have a loft, then open the hatch – and if there’s a window open that too.

Because heat rises it’s drawn out. On Instagram interior and building tips account house_by_luna said: “Open the attic hatch when it’s boiling hot upstairs… sounds mad, but it actually works and the hot trapped air is released. Thermostat dropped instantly.”

One skeptical followed said: “Is your attic not boiling too though? We were up in ours and it’s way way hotter than the house cause of wool insulation?” house_by_luna replied: “Turns out there’s a simple reason this works. The hot air rises. Opening the loft hatch gives all that trapped warm air upstairs somewhere to go, and if your loft is ventilated, some of that heat can escape altogether.”

Followers were interested with one saying: “Ooh great idea. Another added: “Oh wow I need to try this.”

On the BBC an expert said: “Hot air rises within houses, so if you have loft vents or windows you can open them to release some of the heat. The hot air can otherwise get trapped on the second floor, where you may be trying to sleep.

“Extra insulation can also help keep heat out in the summer, as well as reducing your energy bills and usage in the winter.”

Ideal Home added: “Opening your loft hatch can be a surprisingly effective way to cool your home. Heat naturally rises, which means the top floor is often the warmest part of the house. By opening the hatch, you’re giving that trapped hot air a route to escape, helping to bring down the overall temperature indoors

“If your loft has a window, opening it alongside other windows around the house can improve airflow, drawing cooler air through and allowing heat to vent from the highest point. This is especially efficient if your loft is insulated at rafter level.

“Despite being a common feature in many homes, loft hatches are often overlooked as a way to manage heat. If your home feels uncomfortably warm, opening the hatch as soon as possible can make a real difference.”

During hot weather, you should never open your windows as it can allow hot air into your home. Instead, opening your loft hatch allows the hot air to escape without letting any more into your home. When really hot, it’s also recommended to shut your blinds and curtains.