Tucked away in the Ozarks of Arkansas is a small community of around 40 residents.

Homestead developments like this are not unusual in rural America, but what sets this one apart is who is allowed to live there.

Applications are open exclusively to white candidates who are of full European ancestry, reject homosexuality and embrace what founder Eric Orwoll describes as traditional European values.

Orwoll leads Return to the Land, a private white-separatist membership association with over one thousand members.

Only a handful of families, however, are selected to live in its 165-acre Arkansas settlement near the town of Ravenden, where idyllic social media videos show goats and chickens roaming the grounds, children playing, and members building wooden homes and churches.

But behind the tranquil homestead lies a community whose leaders promote hard-Right ideology online, while its children are homeschooled and taught that even historical atrocities such as the Holocaust and slavery have ‘two sides to the story’.

At a time when much of the Western world celebrates diversity and multiculturalism, Orwoll has emerged as one of the most outspoken advocates of racial separation.

Orwoll doesn’t believe his movement is racist. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he repeatedly insisted Return to the Land is about ‘preserving’ European identity, rather than promoting white supremacy.

Only a handful of families, however, are selected to live in its 165-acre Arkansas settlement near the town of Ravenden

While Orwoll’s community is happy to accept those with white supremacist views, they draw the line at those who he says hold ‘non-traditional’ religious outlooks (Pictured: Members of Return to the Land)

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‘I think what we actually advocate is tolerance, free association, and self-determination. I don’t think the movement itself is white supremacist. Are there people within the association who hold white supremacist views? Probably. 

‘It’s a large organisation, and some people undoubtedly believe their own group is objectively the best.’

While Orwoll’s community is happy to accept those with white supremacist views, they draw the line at those who he says hold ‘non-traditional’ religious outlooks.

‘We wouldn’t automatically reject someone for being Christian, pagan, or agnostic, but if someone holds what we’d consider a non-traditional religious outlook – for example, they’re a militant atheist who is intolerant of traditional religious beliefs – they’re probably not a good fit for the association.’

To join Return to the Land, applicants complete a questionnaire and then have a 15-minute phone interview. 

During this call, candidates are asked about their views on various topics, including same-sex marriage, gender identity, vaccines and abortion.

‘The interview also focuses on values. It’s not solely about race. For example, we ask how often someone thinks about the Roman Empire because we see it as part of a shared European heritage and want people who value preserving it,’ Orwoll explains.

‘After the interview, the association’s board votes on the application. If accepted, members are added to our online discussion groups and can attend our national events.’

Those discussion groups paint a starkly different picture from the moderate one Orwoll presents.

He insists Return to the Land is a peaceful movement concerned with preserving European identity and says he has nothing against Black and Jewish people and would support them creating their own separate communities.

Yet posts and videos shared by senior figures in the organisation’s online channels perpetuate Holocaust denial, claims of ‘Jewish infiltration’ into society and rhetoric that downplays the harms of racial segregation.

Among the most prominent voices is Peter Csere, one of Return to the Land’s leading figures and a close associate of Orwoll.

In public Telegram channels, Csere has posted the number ‘1488’, a reference widely associated with white supremacist and neo-Nazi ideology. 

The number combines the ’14 Words,’ a white supremacist slogan, with ’88,’ a code for ‘Heil Hitler,’ as H is the eighth letter of the alphabet.

Orwoll himself has also spoken of the prospect of a ‘second Hitler’ and has praised former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.

He is closely connected to a wider network of hard-Right influencers and extremists, including white nationalist commentator Nick Fuentes.

Posts shared to their channels and social media also frequently refer to what members describe as ‘Jewish propaganda’ and ‘Jewish infiltration.’

One post shared reads: ‘Generations of men raised on Jewish propaganda and consumer culture have been taught to be soft, weak, and self-indulgent.’

Another states: ‘Even though towns are apparently White, the effects of Jewish infiltration and subversion can be seen, heard and felt.’

‘Sheltered Max’, an X user who says he’s living on the compound, has written in favour of ‘cannibalising’ and ‘eradicating’ Jews and posted that ‘Jew hatred is the great unifier.’ 

Orwoll, who uses the name Aarvoll online and has amassed almost 100,000 followers across social media platforms, has repeatedly warned that America’s changing demographics pose an existential threat to white Americans.

Ironically, the 36-year-old’s upbringing in a diverse community near Los Angeles helped shape the beliefs he now champions. 

He attended an arts high school and grew up surrounded by neighbours from different backgrounds, including many Jewish families, experiences he says pushed him toward his current worldview. 

‘As I started learning about demographic change and correlating it with my own experience growing up in California, and seeing that different groups of people have different behaviors and tendencies, I concluded that things would continue moving toward greater racial diversity, and that this would affect the ability of white Americans to preserve the kind of lifestyle we’ve built over the last few centuries.

To join Return to the Land, applicants complete a questionnaire and then have a 15-minute phone interview

Among the most prominent voices is Peter Csere, one of Return to the Land’s leading figures and a close associate of Orwoll

Orwoll’s philosophy extends beyond who is allowed to join the community. It also shapes how its children are educated

Homes being built in the Return to the Land community in Arkansas

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‘If current demographic trends continue, I think Europeans should ask what their societies will look like in the future,’ he said.

He also cited what he described as ‘sociological data’ that ethnic diversity erodes social cohesion.

‘If you can’t predict what someone is going to do, you can’t really trust them. That’s an observed characteristic of multiracial societies.’

‘It’s really about preserving some sense of sovereignty and maintaining control over our own culture and society,’ he said.

Orwoll’s philosophy extends beyond who is allowed to join the community. It also shapes how its children are educated.

The Arkansas settlement, where residents work in nearby towns, remotely, or through businesses established within the community, is home to several homeschooled children.

There, they are taught subjects including the Holocaust, slavery and segregation in what Orwoll describes as an ‘even-handed’ way.

‘I think the problem with public education is that it’s very focused on what it presents as the sins of Europeans throughout history, whereas I think there are multiple sides to these issues,’ he says.

When teaching about American slavery, he says he would explain its wrongs while also discussing the Barbary slave trade, where many white Europeans were enslaved by Muslims and sold into Africa and other regions.

‘When it comes to segregation, I’d explain that America was explicitly founded as a white country. Once formerly enslaved Black Americans became citizens, society faced the question of how to reorganize itself, because that wasn’t part of what many people originally envisioned for the country.

‘I’d explain that the separate-but-equal system was one attempt to address that, but that it went too far by coercively imposing segregation. At the same time, I’d argue that the integrationist policies that followed also overstepped.’

As for the Holocaust, Orwoll says the death toll numbers have been ‘exaggerated’, and children have been taught ‘a very one-sided narrative’ through ‘Hollywood propaganda,’ which he would work to change.

‘In my view, many people who advocate violence against Nazis haven’t actually read the writings of figures such as Rosenberg, Goebbels, or Hitler. Instead, they’re relying on portrayals from films and popular culture.’

Orwoll claims many people died in the Holocaust due to ‘terrible conditions,’ but that ‘historical records contain less evidence of an intentional, centrally directed campaign to exterminate all Jews’.

‘I don’t believe there’s an order from Adolf Hitler explicitly directing the killing of all Jews. I also believe that some stories commonly associated with the Holocaust – for example, claims about lampshades made from human skin – have been shown to be false, and I think some survivor testimonies include accounts that are physically impossible.’

‘I’d also explain what I see as the German perspective toward Jewish people at the time, namely that they viewed Jews internationally as opponents in a military conflict.’

He added that the Nazis had ‘redeeming qualities,’ and he believes children should be given ‘all the evidence’ and allowed to make their own ‘informed historical opinions’ instead of being ‘brainwashed’.

Last Autumn, the Daily Mail spoke to Tess Ulrey, executive director of the Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE) nonprofit, who said Arkansas law leaves the Return to the Land youngsters highly vulnerable.

‘In a radically insular group like Return to the Land, the educational environment may uphold white supremacy ideology, promote speculative and fictionalised sciences, encourage harmful and unhealthy practices, and easily deny children access to the tools to form their own beliefs, or hear from a different viewpoint,’ Ulrey said.

‘We believe that kind of homeschooling is a violation of children’s rights, and harms their ability to thrive in a diverse and connected world.’

Outsiders have been rattled by evidence of extremist influence. During a media visit last year, Hitler’s notorious manifesto Mein Kampf was spotted on Orwoll’s office bookshelf.

In advocating for ‘traditional European values’, Return to the Land also discourages interracial marriages.

‘There’s a fair amount of evidence that interracial marriages tend to have worse outcomes. They don’t last as long, have higher rates of domestic abuse, and are more likely to result in single-parent households.

‘I simply think the more typical and adaptive pattern is for there to be continuity between extended families, traditions, and psychological tendencies. When people are more similar in those respects, I think things tend to harmonise more easily.’

In advocating for ‘traditional European values’ Return to the Land also discourages interracial marriages

Orwoll claims many people died in the Holocaust due to ‘terrible conditions,’ but that ‘historical records contain less evidence of an intentional, centrally directed campaign to exterminate all Jews’

The movement also rejects what Orwoll describes as a ‘homosexual lifestyle’.

‘It’s harmful for the people who adopt that lifestyle. I believe they have shorter lifespans, higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases, more sexual partners, and more psychological problems. 

‘I think it’s unhealthy, and I don’t want the society I belong to to affirm it or encourage people toward it because, in my view, it leads to worse life outcomes.’

He says that if ‘God forbid,’ his son turned out to be gay, he would not disown him, but he would no longer be able to remain in the community as an adult. 

However, Orwoll’s emphasis on ‘traditional values’ marks a striking difference with his own past.

Before embracing his current lifestyle, Orwoll appeared in live webcam sex shows for money, the Daily Mail revealed last year.

His former wife of 11 years, Caitlyn Smith, with whom he shares four children, was also his online porn partner. The couple divorced in October 2024.

On her Chaturbate profile under the username ‘Openmindedsexualencounters,’ her listed interests included ‘Men, Women, Trans, Couples.’

Despite that, Smith still lives in the Arkansas settlement, where the community attempts to shield children from exposure to LGBTQ lifestyles.

The Daily Mail previously spoke with several people familiar with Orwoll, all of whom refused to have their names disclosed for fear of what they said is his short temper and erratic ways.

‘This image he has created for himself as an upstanding Christian conservative is bulls**t, total bulls**t,’ one said.

Another urged current and prospective residents of the Arkansas compound and future Return to the Land developments to beware of the slippage between who Orwoll purports to be and who he actually is.

‘Eric’s behaviour follows a clear pattern. Whether he’s filming graphic content or adopting extremist personas, it’s all part of the same spectacle-seeking drive. The goal is attention, disruption, and control,’ that person added.

Although Orwoll told the Daily Mail that he ‘discourages victim narratives’ and does not believe they are ‘a productive mindset,’ he argues that Return to the Land has itself become the victim of a broader campaign of vilification.

The organisation is currently facing a legal battle after being sued by Michelle Walker, a woman of Jewish ancestry who alleges that Return to the Land discriminated against her based on race and religion by denying her the opportunity to purchase land in the community.

‘We’re being threatened with potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages or fines simply because we want a rural community where we feel comfortable and can preserve our culture,’ Orwoll says.

‘I think that’s absurd and actually cruel. We’re portrayed as the villains simply because we want our own culture, our own neighbourhood, and to raise our children the way we choose. 

‘We’re not aggressing against anyone else, yet coercive legal action is being used to try to make us, and our children, homeless.’ 

Yet, despite widespread condemnation, Orwoll says the movement is growing, and there are plans in place to create more separatist communities around America.

‘Many of our members are interested in creating communities similar to ours, and I’m happy to help them do that,’ he says.

On behalf of the movement, Orwoll emphasises that ‘we don’t want anything for ourselves that we wouldn’t want for every other group.’

‘I think every group should have the freedom to form its own voluntary communities, uphold its own values, and do so without legal harassment or media harassment.’

‘There are many other examples of Asian, Jewish, Black, Native American, and other communities that have their own associations and communities dedicated to preserving and celebrating their cultures. 

‘In my view, they don’t face the same level of scrutiny or harassment that we do.’

A mum is warning parents about the dangers of multiple children using a trampoline after her six-year-old son suffered a double leg break

A mum claims her schoolboy son will have to relearn how to walk – after breaking his leg on a trampoline when a ‘heavier girl’ sent him flying. Lucas McVeigh, six, was playing at another child’s house on May 9 and followed his friend and a nine-year-old girl onto the trampoline.

Just 20 seconds into standing on it, the girl did a ‘hard’ bounce that sent Lucas flying into the air due to their weight difference. He says he then came crashing down and heard a ‘crack’ as he landed oddly on his right foot. Lucas’s mum Jessica Kerr said he had only been playing out for 30 minutes when she got the dreaded phone call about the accident.

The 29-year-old rushed over to the house and was ‘distraught’ when she found her son whimpering, pale and falling in and out of consciousness. After bundling him into the car to take him to their nearest hospital, an X-ray confirmed he had ‘completely snapped’ his fibula and tibia.

Lucas then had to have his bones manually reset by a doctor before a full leg cast was put on his right limb. Jessica says he is too scared to ever go on a trampoline again.

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The beautician is now raising awareness about Lucas’ accident to warn other parents about the dangers of child weight differences and having multiple bouncers on a trampoline at one time. Jessica, from Portadown, Northern Ireland, said: “There were three of them on the trampoline.

“The little girl on the trampoline was nine and Lucas was only six so there was a weight difference. Lucas has never been on a trampoline before. I got a phone call to say I needed to come and get him as he had really hurt himself.

“He had been lifted off the trampoline and brought him back into (the) house. He was in and out of sleep due to the pain he was in. I knew straight away it was something bad, I was distraught.

“He went pale and was whimpering. His teeth started to chatter from the adrenaline and so I knew straight away there must have been a break.

“Both of his bones were completely snapped. The doctor cut his trousers to look at the leg before the x-ray and you could clearly see the leg was disfigured. His leg was like a snake. It was sideways and you could tell it was broken straight away.”

Jessica has been told Lucas will have to wear this cast for six weeks before getting a smaller cast fitted for another six weeks. He will then have to undergo physio to help him learn to walk again as he is currently in a wheelchair.

Jessica said: “He has been in a wheelchair the whole time so has had no movement in either leg and will need physio to help him learn how to walk.

“Lucas won’t go on a trampoline again. Even when we try to talk about what happened, sometimes he says, ‘Mummy I don’t want to talk about it, it makes me feel weird’.

“I think this is him remembering the pain he was in and he gets uneasy. He said he had only been on the trampoline for about 20 seconds when it happened.

“All he remembers is that the girl jumped and bounced really hard, he went flying into the air and was scared and when he came down his foot went inwards and he heard the crack.”

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents states that 60% of injuries occur when more than one person is on a trampoline. They also say the person weighing less is five times more likely to be injured and garden trampolines are not suitable for children under six years old.

Following Lucas’ accident, Jessica is now raising awareness about the potential dangers to avoid it happening to anyone else. Jessica said: “Everyone needs to be educated on what can happen. You should only let one child on a trampoline at a time. Anything more than that and it’s going to end in disaster.

“Ensuring you have a safety net and it’s zipped up is also important. Most trampoline accidents happen when there are two or more bouncers at the same time.

“The biggest risk is when trampoline users have different weights so let children take it in turns and you should avoid adults and children jumping at the same time.”

Mr Carr, who has become a household name thanks to his recent win on The Celebrity Traitors, will lead a new “rival panel” of detectives on the show, competing against the regular judges as they try to guess the famous faces behind the masks.

The main panel, made up of Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Mo Gilligan, and Maya Jama, will return for the upcoming series alongside the new additions.

Alan Carr joins The Masked Singer as new judge

Alan Carr said: “I can’t wait to play detective – so excited to be shouting ‘take it off’ in the actual studio rather than on my settee at home.

“A dream come true.”

ITV’s Katie Rawcliffe welcomed the news.

Ms Rawcliffe said: “We are thrilled to welcome Alan Carr to The Masked Singer. His wit and energy are the perfect addition to our new ‘rival panel’ and we can’t wait for viewers to see the sparks fly.”

Reports suggest that Alan’s run on Celebrity Traitors has made him a highly-desired name for shows.

“Triumphing on The Celebrity Traitors changed everything for Alan because the international success of the show brought him to a global audience,” an insider told The Sun.

“That saw him bombarded with offers from the big streamers, and shows with the likes of Disney, Amazon and Netflix account for almost half his current workload.

“But the traditional TV channels are keen not to lose him completely which is why they’re also offering him deals too.

“He is one of the hardest working people in the industry and isn’t afraid of taking on the challenge of juggling multiple shows.”

The Masked Singer’s current format sees celebrities perform in elaborate costumes while a panel of judges tries to guess their identities, with the audience voting for their favourites.

Fans recently speculated about possible changes to the judging line-up after the show posted “clues” on social media.

Other famous faces are also expected to join the series as part of the new Wild Card team, though their identities have not yet been confirmed.

Who was unmasked in the last series of The Masked Singer?

ITV’s beloved gameshow returned for its seventh series in 2026, and there was plenty of guessing to be done before Moth was crowned the winner.

From Can of Worms to Red Panda, there were 12 characters taking part in the last series.

Here are the celebrities behind the main characters that were unmasked on last series:

• Disc Jockey – Alex Jones – TV presenter on BBC’s The One Show (episode 1)
• Teabag – Professor Green – Rapper, singer and songwriter (episode 2)
• Yak – John Lydon – Sex Pistols frontman (episode 3)
• Gargoyle – Marcella Detroit – singer from Shakespears Sister (episode 4)
• Monkey Business – Kate Nash – singer and actor (episode 5)
• Artic Fox – Anton Du Beke – Strictly Come Dancing judge (episode 5)
• Red Panda – Harry Hill – comedian (episode 6)
• Sloth – Ben Fogle – TV host (semi-finals)
• Can of Worms – Marvin Humes – Radio host and singer (semi-finals)
• Toastie – Mica Paris – singer and presenter (final)
• Conkers – Ben Shephard – This Morning host (final)

Recommended reading:

The most recent winner was Sugababes singer Keisha Buchanan, who was revealed as Moth in the season finale.

She said: “Honestly I’ve had the best time, I’m more of an introvert than an extrovert, and without the girls by my side it’s really brought me out my shell.”

Are you a fan of The Masked Singer? Let us know in the comments.

Louis, George and Charlotte joined the Prince and Princess of Wales at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as the event came to a close this weekend. 

On the penultimate day of the so-called ‘Friendly Games’, the family joined spectators to watch a packed sporting schedule involving the world’s best competitors. 

Prince Louis, now eight years old, delighted royal fans in a rare public appearance as he watched the games alongside his siblings. 

The family were in the stands for the netball semi-finals earlier today, which was a visibly tense match which decided who went through to the final playoffs for a medal. 

Louis appeared animated, biting his nails, gasping and pointing in the stands as he enjoyed the game sat in between his siblings.  

Prince George, who celebrated his 13th birthday last week, was pictured sitting next to his father, William. 

William was spotted chatting to his sons throughout the match, pointing at the players and explaining the play. 

Charlotte, meanwhile, regularly turned to speak to Kate, whispering to her mother throughout the match.  

The family looked delighted and cheered as the match came to an end 

Catherine, Princess of Wales, was spotted in the stands with Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis during the match

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The eight-year-old appeared animated as he watched the netball, gasping at one point at the game

At other times his head was in his hands 

The family grimaced and Louis bit his nails during the tense match 

Princess Charlotte, 11, wore her hair like her mother’s in long curls and was dressed in a polka dot navy blue and white dress. 

Her two brothers, George and Louis, wore smart blue and white shirts while William also opted for a smart blazer. 

Kate and William – who are known by their Scottish titles, the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, when visiting the country – also met Team Wales athletes and their families on Saturday. 

Kate, 44, was named last week by Tatler magazine as the ‘Best Dressed in Britain’ for 2026. 

Today, she wore a smart green blazer over a cream and navy striped top with elegant pearl drop earrings and a pleated white skirt.  

The games where medals are up for grabs today include the men’s and women’s boxing, para athlete and sprint cycling events at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, judo, athletics and netball. 

Perhaps the most hotly-anticipated event of the whole tournament – the Men’s Mile – is also being raced on Saturday night. 

The event, starting at 8.55pm, will see Scotsman Josh Kerr return to the track after his recent world record run at London Stadium for the fastest mile in history. 

Kerr broke the previous record set by Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999 with a time of 3 minutes 42.66 seconds. 

The middle-distance runner will have another chance to make athletics history tonight under the lights at Glasgow’s Scotstoun Stadium. 

He will be competing against fellow Scotsman Jake Wightman and young buck Cameron Myers, the Australian who broke the world record for the fastest mile by a 16-year-old in 2023. 

Princess Kate beamed as she took a seat alongside spectators 

She laughed with a member of staff before the game began 

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Kate spoke animatedly with other members of the crowd 

The family tensely watched the netball semi-finals at The Hydro venue on Saturday afternoon

Kate put her arm around Charlotte at one point 

Princess Kate appeared to enjoy the match as she watched it unfold 

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William was seen chatting to his sons throughout the game, as Louis appeared to eagerly listen to his father

Meanwhile, Charlotte turned to whisper to her mother at one point

The siblings exchanged animated conversation in their public outing this weekend 

Before the games began, William chatted to five Team Wales athletes – lawn and indoor bowler Ross Owen, blind para bowler Julie Thomas and her guide John Wilson, and weightlifters Madaline Connelly and Catrin Haf Jones – when he visited the London Welsh School in Hanwell, west London. 

On Saturday morning, Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh and the vice patron of Commonwealth Sport, the body which delivers the games, visited athletes alongside his wife Sophie. 

The Duchess of Edinburgh wore a Commonwealth Sport navy quarter-zip fleece as she visited the Team England house at The Social Hub in Glasgow on day nine of the games. 

The couple spoke to staff and athletes at the trendy hybrid hospitality venue located in the Merchant City district.  

On Thursday, Edward’s sister, Princess Anne, joined him and Sophie and enjoyed a day out at the Commonwealth Games watching the hurdles, triple jump and the decathlon. 

Stylish Sophie opted for a summery linen blazer worn over a white top with khaki trousers, while the Duke was casual in a navy zip-up and polo.

Anne also later visited the Commonwealth offices – showing off a second, lighter denim jacket and blue scarf, shaking hands with staff. 

The Firm members looked to be in good spirits as they enjoyed a sporty day out, often laughing and excitedly pointing at the action at the stadium. 

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, also visited Team England at The Social Hub on Saturday 

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Edward and Sophie appeared animated as they spoke to fans and staff ahead of day nine of the games 

Sophie wore a navy quarter-zip fleece with the logo of Commonwealth Sport, the charity which delivers the games and of which her husband is vice patron 

Maddy Gordon and Georgia Heffernan of Team New Zealand celebrate victory after the Semi-Final match between Team New Zealand and Team England on Saturday

Leigh Hoffman of Team Australia celebrates after setting a Commonwealth Games Record during the Men’s Sprint Qualifying in the Track Cycling on Saturday morning 

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Nathan Maguire of England celebrate winning gold in the Men’s 1500m T54 final at the Scotstoun Stadium during day nine of the 2026 Commonwealth Games

The King and Queen had earlier arrived at the games by emerging from a Tardis at the Hydro arena in Glasgow during the opening ceremony, in scenes reminiscent of London 2012 when Queen Elizabeth II appeared to skydive into the Olympic Stadium alongside James Bond actor Daniel Craig.

The opening ceremony in Glasgow was the first to be held indoors as part of a radical restructuring of the games’ finances after Australian state Victoria withdrew as host of the event in 2023, citing spiralling costs. 

The future of the event, which originated as the British Empire Games in 1930, was in doubt until Glasgow was convinced to step in and reprise its hosting role from 2014, albeit with significant alterations.

William and Kate will also spend time with athletes competing at the games whose careers have been empowered by the charity SportsAid. 

Kate has supported the organisation as its patron since 2013, and will meet emerging talent taking part in the Team England Futures project on Saturday. 

Sporting stars whose early promise was boosted by SportsAid include Sir Chris Hoy, Ellie Simmonds, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill and Tom Daley. 

Team England Futures has given talented young athletes and aspiring support staff the opportunity to attend the Glasgow games to gain behind-the-scenes experience in preparation for potential medal-winning performances as Team England, Team GB or Paralympics GB debutants. 

The Commonwealth Games, held every four years, overcame disappointment at the start when nine top British athletes pulled out, saying they were prioritising the European Championships in Birmingham next month. 

Heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and sprint star Dina Asher-Smith were the two leading lights to withdraw and they were joined by fellow Olympic medallists Matthew Hudson-Smith and Daryll Neita as well as 400m runner Amber Anning.

Hammer thrower Anna Purchase, middle distance runner Elliot Giles and sprinter Jona Efoloko also pulled out alongside steeplechaser Zac Seddon. 

Thousands of fans have still attended the games this year – despite another earlier blow from the BBC, who did not cover the games for the first time in 72 years. 

TNT Sports has the live UK broadcast rights, after owner Warner Bros Discovery paid a reported £5million, meaning the televised English–language coverage will only be accessible via an HBO subscription. 

TalkSPORT also took over as the radio broadcast partner of the event, so there will be no such coverage on the BBC either. 

The corporation reportedly tried to extend its broadcast partnership, which has lasted since 1954, but was outbid. It has made no secret about prioritising other events. 

Police were called in following the alleged ordeal on Glassford Street in the city centre at 3.55am on Saturday, August 1.

A man has been arrested and charged after a homeless shelter reported tents being “urinated on” in Glasgow with charity staff “assaulted”.

Police were called in following the alleged ordeal on Glassford Street in the city centre at 3.55am on Saturday, August 1. Homeless Project Scotland claims two men urinated on street tents provided to the city’s homeless before attacking charity staff who tried to intervene.

A 21-year-old man has been arrested and charged. He will appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court at a later date.

Inquiries remain ongoing.

A spokesperson for Homeless Project Scotland said: “This behavior is disgraceful and will not be tolerated.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson told our sister title Glasgow Live: “Around 3.55am on Saturday, 1 August, 2026, we were called to a report of a disturbance in the Glassford Street area of Glasgow. A 21-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the incident. He is due to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court at a later date.

“Inquiries are ongoing.”

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A 12 mile walk which starts with a bus ride. Start with a visit to Middleham Castle, follow initially the River Cover, then the Ure which serenely meanders past Jervaulx Abbey through a quintessentially English countryside

Park in Masham and take the bus from Masham to Middleham and return back to Masham. The no 159 leaves Masham market place at 10.15 (at present every day bar Sunday) and takes 20 minutes. Middleham is a very attractive Dales village, one of the best. The traditional castle (home amongst others of Richard 111) is worthy of closer inspection and overlooks the village, find it via a series of cobbled streets from the market place. To start the walk, take the main road heading east for ¼ of a mile from the end of the village to a farm lane heading south. Continue down the lane for ¾ a mile to the River Cover. The lane becomes a footpath as it approaches the river. Turn left and follow the river for half a mile to Cover Bridge.

There is a traditional Dales pub at Cover Bridge situated on a fine pack horse bridge. It sits on the River Cover, just 150 metres from the confluence with the River Ure. The next mile of this ever changing walk is a real pleasure. The path sticks close to the river (Cover soon becoming the Ure) as it passes serenely through the landscape of the area. As well as walkers it is popular with fishermen…do watch out for the legendary ‘kelpie’ fish which allegedly leaps out to devour its victims. The path follows a mix of woodland and open walking till it arrives at the ruins of Jervaulx Abbey. Jervaulx Abbey was a Cistercian Abbey, the ruins today creating only a part impression of the size and power of the abbeys past.

Middleham Castle ruins (Image: Supplied)

Explore the remains of the abbey, set amongst the wild flowers, trees and shrubs which have been allowed to grow up within its walls. Then take the main track/road which crosses through the grounds of Jervaulx Abbey, a well preserved park full of sheep and deer (although I have never seen the deer!). After passing the gate house on the edge of the estate turn left at the road and follow this down to Kilgram Bridge. Although it was the monks who originally built this fine bridge if you lean over the side and look carefully in to the running water you will be able to see the foundations of an old Roman road, part of a ford for their legions on their way north. 

More walks:

Return a few metres along the road to Kilgram Grange to a track heading south east and parallel to the river. Keep the river in view as the well signposted path winds its way for two miles (sometimes difficult to see on the ground) until it leaves the river a little and arrives in the attractive village of Low Ellington. Head south east alongside some higher ground on a path past a small plantation and bend left back towards the river bank. The path then heads south to some marshy/wet ground before arriving at the wetlands reserve of Marland. Follow the marked paths through the reserve. You exit the wetlands at its southern end just a few hundred metres from the outskirts of Masham. The reserve makes an interesting end to this walk full of contrasts.

Fact Box:

Middleham to Masham map. (Image: Supplied)

Distance: Roughly 11.5 miles.

Height to Climb: 130m (430 feet)

Start: SE 127878. The bus drops you in the centre of Middleham.

Difficulty: Medium. Like all riverside walks the paths can be muddy and wet in places.  

Refreshments: There is plenty of pubs and cafes in Masham. Aside from the pub at Cover Bridge early in the walk there is no pubs or cafes enroute.

Be Prepared:

The route description and sketch map only provide a guide to the walk. You must take out and be able to read a map (O/S Explorer OL30 & 302) and in cloudy/misty conditions a compass. You must also wear the correct clothing and footwear for the outdoors. Whilst every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers head out at their own risk.

Please observe the Countryside Code and park sensibly.

Jonathan runs Where2walk, a walking company based in the Yorkshire Dales:

• He has written 4 books on walking in the Dales; ‘The Yorkshire 3 Peaks’, ‘Walks without Stiles, ‘The Dales 30’ mountains a guide to ‘The Bracken Way. Please visit Where2walk where you can buy the books.
• Jonathan runs Navigation Training Courses from Long Preston and Reeth. The next ‘Introduction to Navigation’ course is at Reeth on the 5th September.
• You can buy Dales 30 Guide Book, T Shirts and branded caps from the new Dales 30 website. Start the challenge today.

Where2walk.co.uk features 100s of walks with descriptions across Yorkshire and beyond, from easy strolls to harder climbs. Visit the website for details of all these walks, guiding days and navigation.

EXCLUSIVE: The Co-operative Party – Labour’s sister Party – is calling for a new organisation, a Supporters Direct 2.0, to back supporter and community ownership across sport

Andy Burnham has been urged to help fight back against a “fundamentally broken” sports ownership model with a new organisation to hand power back to supporters.

The Co-operative Party – Labour’s sister Party – is calling for a new body, a Supporters Direct 2.0, to back supporter and community ownership across sport.

In a new report, they say this would help clubs across all sports with legal, governance and development support, reducing the power of private finance.

It comes amid a row over FIFA proposals to sell a stake in the World Cup. The governing body had launched a consultation over setting up a separate $20billion (£14.9billion) company to run its competitions, only to U-turn after a furious backlash.

The report brands English football a “global commercial success story”, but that it has created an imbalance where “supporters provide the loyalty, culture and community identity which give clubs their value”, but ownership and decision-making remains concentrated in the hands of a “small number of private interests”.

It highlights that most Premier League clubs are privately-owned by international owners, such as hedge funds and private equity firms, and argues for more community ownership instead.

The Co-op Party says the attempts at selling off World Cup shares should be a warning about the state of sport ownership and the need for change

There have also been a series of issues in Rugby Union, with London Irish falling into administration in 2023, following Worcester and Wasps also folding. Speaking at the time, RFU chairman Tom llube blamed “unsustainable business models” for the clubs failing, adding that all three “have had fragile business models for many years”.

In Rugby league this year, six teams have faced financial issues, with Keighley, Salford Red Devils, Featherstone Rovers, Halifax Panthers and North Wales Crusaders all going bust.

In cricket, Yorkshire’s chief executive Sanjay Patel is trying to end 163 years of being a members-run club, and claiming failing to do so could see them miss out on test matches.

General Secretary of the Co-operative Party Joe Fortune said: “The World Cup fiasco of the past week is an extreme version of what already exists: private ownership across sport which comes at the expense of fans.

“The Co-op Party says private ownership dominates across sport – with several rugby league clubs in administration and efforts to demutualise Yorkshire Cricket.

“We want to see a shift in power to the people who are at the heart of sport. A new Supporters Direct would allow supporters and communities to take control of the clubs they love.”

The first Labour and Co-operative Prime Minister in history, Mr Burnham was previously chairman of Supporters Direct – an organisation set up to increase supporter voice and ownership in football.

Speaking in the 2000s on the issue, he said: “I have always believed that football clubs belong more to their supporters than their shareholders. Some people have bits of paper to say they own a clubs’ assets – stadium, training ground, brand – but the heart and soul of every club is the property of its fans.”

Cardiff City round off their pre-season preparations this afternoon with the glamour visit of Italian giants Roma to the Cardiff City Stadium.

After an encouraging summer under Brian Barry-Murphy, the Bluebirds face by far their toughest test yet as they take on one of Serie A’s biggest clubs just over a fortnight before the Championship season gets under way. Their first competitive game is against Swindon Town next weekend in the Carabao Cup.

Roma, who secured Champions League qualification with a third-place finish in Italy last season, arrive in the Welsh capital boasting a squad packed with international talent and led by highly-respected boss Gian Piero Gasperini. It promises to be a valuable examination of where Cardiff are ahead of next weekend’s league opener.

For Cardiff supporters, there will also be plenty of interest in Barry-Murphy’s team selection, with fans hoping to get another look at the club’s summer recruits and see how the manager shapes his side before competitive football returns.

The match kicks off at 3pm and you will be able to watch it via Cardiff City TV with a £5 match pass.

We’ll have all the build-up, confirmed team news, live updates, analysis and reaction throughout the afternoon, so stay with us as Cardiff City take on Roma.

Scroll down for live updates…