Operation Coronation was launched last May on the Thornbank Estate off Deane Road in Deane after repeated reports of drug crime and vulnerable people being exploited.

Police say that by working with Bolton Council and housing provider Be One Homes, they have cut crime by nearly 30 per cent and incidents by nearly half.

Sergeant Oliver Cooper from Greater Manchester Police’s Neighbourhood Team in Bolton said: “This operation has been significant in increasing public confidence and safety.

“Ensuring people feel safe amongst their own homes and communities is the main focus of neighbourhood policing, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to see the impact this operation has had for residents and overall community well-being.

The policing team on the estate (Image: GMP)

“I’m truly proud of my officers and teams for the immense work they’ve put in for this operation.

“Their commitment and dedication to this work has had visible results and had an extremely positive impact amongst the public.

“The operation has transformed a high-demand estate, protected vulnerable people, disrupted crime, and most importantly, delivered meaningful and lasting change.”

The operation was rounded off this week (Image: GMP)

There were two closure orders for flats in the area that were linked to crimes and drugs, while another three were closed through tenancy action or voluntary surrender.

The operation was rounded off this week with the opening of a new UCAN centre.

Bolton Council Leader Cllr Akhtar Zaman said: “This is a great example of partnership working to ensure residents of the Thornbank Estate can live in a safe and secure community that they can be proud of.

Officers helping clean up the estate (Image: GMP)

“The success of Operation Coronation lies in the right mix of engagement and cooperation while also taking tough direct action where necessary.

“The support available at the UCAN centre will ensure this positive work will continue into the future.”

Officers say they hope the opening of the UCAN centre will mark the end of Operation Coronation but the start of a new initiative to have a base of operations in the community.

Officers helped clear up the estate (Image: GMP)

Visiting the new centre earlier in the week, Cllr Ayyub Patel, of Rumworth, said: “The new UCAN hub will make a tangible difference to people’s lives.

“It brings support directly onto the estate, meaning residents no longer have to travel or struggle to access help with housing, money matters, employment, wellbeing, or community development.

“For many families, having this support on their doorstep is the difference between coping and falling behind.”

The operation focused on the Thornbank Estate (Image: GMP)

Police say their work disrupted organised crime, displaced suspects, and created a safer and more welcoming area for residents.

Stop searches have also increased since previous years, highlighting a proactive approach to tackling crime while arrests increased mid-operation, and have since decreased.

Officers say this shows how they have cut crime on the estate and moved to a more preventative approach.

A special day was held to mark the end of the operation (Image: Public)

Be One Homes enforcement manager Gemma Hotchkiss said: “We’re committed to working in partnership to address antisocial behaviour and improve the quality of life for our residents.

“The progress made through Operation Coronation shows what can be achieved when organisations work together, alongside residents, to tackle issues that matter to local communities.

“We’ll continue to support residents and work closely with Greater Manchester Police and Bolton Council to ensure neighbourhoods remain safe and welcoming places to live.”

With United potentially set for a busy end to the window, we’re running Q&A sessions to give you the chance to ask the questions you want to be answered. Simply add your question here and our Senior Manchester United Correspondent, Tyrone Marshall, will get back to you.

Here are the answers to some of the latest questions:

Which current Manchester United player has the most to prove this season?

That’s a good question. Marcus Rashford feels like an obvious answer, but there are probably a few with something to prove or who need to back up impressive first seasons. I think all three forwards signed last summer fit into that category and can kick on.

It’s probably Rashford, but to be contrary, I’m going to go with Kobbie Mainoo. He had a superb second half of last season, but had a difficult World Cup experience and with more competition in midfield, he is going to feel like he has to nail down a place in the team.

What’s the plan for our No.6? We need a top box-to-box engine

I think that player has already arrived and it’s Andrey Santos. I’d be surprised if United signed an elite-level No.6 now at this stage of the window, the third midfield addition will be another in a similar price range.

United wanted technical midfielders this summer, with the mobility to get around the pitch. Santos fits that bill for me and I think he’s going to be a regular starter under Michael Carrick.

Was the way this summer’s transfer window has unfolded so far always part of United and INEOS’ plan? It seemed fairly clear that a significant overhaul of the midfield was expected this summer, yet here we are in mid-August and the only major business has been the £85m spent on Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans — both excellent signings, of course. Was this always roughly how the club expected the window to progress, or have things moved more slowly than they had hoped?

I think they have probably moved more slowly than they hoped. It was always the plan to take a breath after making that flurry of signings but I believe they thought they would be in a stronger position now.

I still think they will have a good end to the window and I think another two players will come in, a left-back and a midfielder, but it’s clear with a couple of weeks to go that they have work to do.

Is there a realistic possibility that the window could close without United making any further first-team signings? Cristian Orozco and Tynan Thompson have arrived, and there now appears to be interest in Louis Page, but none of them would be expected to make an immediate impact on the first team. Aside from the two midfielders and Karl Darlow as a back-up goalkeeper, that is essentially the extent of the senior reinforcement so far. It feels as though the patience of a large section of the United fanbase is beginning to wear very thin, so should supporters still expect more significant first-team business before the deadline?

I would be very surprised if this window ends with no more first-team signings. As I mentioned above, I actually think they will get a left-back and a central midfielder.

I’d be stunned if they don’t at least sign a left-back. I’ve heard that is the priority now and that is the area they are pushing on, so I think we’ll see some competition for Luke Shaw coming into the building.

Who is replace Bruno if the injured?

It’s been interesting to see Shea Lacey get a few games as a No.10 in pre-season and I think he will be considered a real option to step in for Fernandes next season. He looks a good player there and is a really creative player as well.

The other player I’d like to see there is Matheus Cunha. He will play on the left again but I think his best position is as a No.10 and he could do really well there.

It’s not just if Fernandes gets injured either. I think there will be games where he will need to be rested this season, so Michael Carrick needs an idea in his head about who to play there instead.

Is a move for Lewis Hall completely out of the question? I fully understand that Newcastle have made it clear he is not for sale, and that having already lost several key players, they would be extremely reluctant to allow another important player to leave — particularly to United. But similar things were said about Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimarães, and both ultimately managed to join the clubs they wanted to move to.

I think it’s very, very unlikely. I think it only changes if Hall really pushes to leave Newcastle and United make an exceptional offer, but neither of those feel likely at the moment.

If Hall handed in a transfer request and pushed for it, then I think United would have a look and try and make it happen. They would probably be willing to pay more for a player who makes it clear they want to move to Old Trafford.

But as I say, I’m not sure Hall will do that and it would be a shock to me if it happened now.

Luke Shaw did, remarkably, start all 38 Premier League matches last season, but I suspect very few people would confidently expect him to do the same again this season. With that in mind, a new left-back looks increasingly important, and Hall seems almost ideally suited to what United need. Is there genuinely no scenario in which United could test Newcastle’s resolve, particularly if the player himself were open to the move?

That last bit is the key here. Hall is open to the move but Newcastle have no need to sell and need to stop the exodus of first-team players.

United clearly need a left-back and they will sign one. Hall was the perfect age and has good Premier League experience for a 21-year-old. He looked the ideal successor to Shaw, but it’s difficult now.

There is always the possibility that they sign a lower-profile left-back this summer, then revisit Hall in 2027, when Shaw will be out of contract.

The Miami Marine Stadium, considered a masterpiece of midcentury Brutalist architecture with its massive cantilevered roof and a stunning view of the city, opened in 1963 as the nation’s only race venue for powerboats, a major symbol of South Florida.

The historic gem designed by a Cuban refugee was the backdrop of Elvis Presley’s 1967 film “Clambake” and a beloved venue of Gloria Estefan and the late Jimmy Buffett, who performed on a movable, floating stage.

But since closing in 1992 after suffering serious damage during Hurricane Andrew, the 6,500-seat venue has fallen into disarray and today is fenced off and covered in graffiti despite being listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

On Tuesday, voters will decide whether to allow the city to partner with a private company to return the unique stadium situated on Virginia Key across the water from downtown Miami to its former glory.

President Richard Nixon and Sammy Davis Jr. appeared together at the stadium during a 1972 campaign rally to support Nixon’s reelection bid. And residents would gather for Easter sunrise services, as well as celebrate Our Lady of Charity, a representation of the Virgin Mary honored by many Cubans and Cuban Americans.

“It encapsulated a time period in Miami that’s incredibly unique with an incredible story that touches all Miamians,” Miami Commissioner Damian Pardo said. “So this is really a place that connects with Miami at a very deep and personal level.”

The stadium has a rich history in Miami

Hilario Candela was in his late 20s and a recent refugee from the Cuban Revolution when he designed the structure. He spent decades designing buildings around Miami and led community efforts to restore the marine stadium until his death in 2022.

When it was added to the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places in 2018, then-Secretary of State Ken Detzner called the stadium “one of the state of Florida’s most unique architectural and historic resources,” and “an ambitious example of mid-century Modernist architecture” that represented the “multi-cultural influences evolving in the city of Miami during the 1960s.”

The year before his 2023 passing, Buffett wrote a letter to Miami officials, urging them to save the “little cathedral of musical fun.” The Mayor of Margaritaville described a 1985 concert at the marine stadium that ended with him jumping off the floating stage into the surrounding water, joining cheering swimmers and boaters.

“Those were the ‘Miami Vice’ days, and Don Johnson introduced us,” Buffett wrote of the actor in the popular 1980s television crime drama. “WITCO Desperadoes from Trinidad opened the show, and the Coral Reefer Band finished the night with what I think was one of the most fun shows, for band and fans, that I have ever done.”

Buffett’s daughter, Savannah, continues to work with Restore Miami Marine Stadium. The group’s co-founder, Donald Worth, began a mission to save the stadium in 2008, shortly after city officials at the time announced plans to tear it down.

“The architecture gives it the wow, the history gives it its soul,” Worth said. “It’s just a special, magical place, and so many people in Miami have had such memorable experiences there.”

Voters will help decide the stadium’s future

Breakwater Hospitality Group co-founder Emi Guerra, who’s working with the company selected to partner with the city, said the stadium’s view of the city skyline and its location right off Biscayne Bay could make it an entertainment destination that rivals Denver’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre, an open-air venue built into the side of a mountain.

“There’s just something here that can’t be duplicated, and that’s the view,” Guerra said of the marine stadium.

Guerra said he can understand the cynicism felt by some voters, but he points out that this isn’t a developer land grab to build more condos. The city of Miami will retain complete ownership of the stadium and surrounding area, and the management company will be stewards of the city’s vision, Guerra said.

“When it’s something that’s historic, you have two options: restore it or let it rot,” Guerra said.

Ernesto Cuesta, head of the Brickell Homeowners Association, sees another option.

He said the group supports the preservation of a historical landmark, but members are worried about how noise and traffic from a large-scale event space will affect residents across the bay and nearby wildlife. He said he’d prefer a park with more green spaces.

Restoration plans aim to honor the stadium’s past

Despite sitting unused for more than three decades, multiple studies have shown that the stadium remains structurally safe.

Project architect Richard Heisenbottle, who has previously worked to restore other Miami landmarks, said he hopes reviving the marine stadium will honor its original architect.

He said renovations will have to include modern amenities and accessibility requirements, but the galvanized steel rebar used to reinforce the concrete during its original construction has protected the stadium from serious deterioration. Completed construction documents for the restorations have already been permitted by the city of Miami, he said.

Miami Commissioner Pardo said a significant hurdle to reopening the stadium previously has been the city government simply not having the capacity to properly run a major event space.

The referendum going before Miami voters on Tuesday would allow the city to enter into a management agreement.

The private company would develop the stadium’s large parking area into a flex park that includes public recreational facilities and a special events space. The city would collect revenue from events to fund the stadium repairs and upgrades, while paying the company a management fee. The total cost of the project hasn’t been determined, but Pardo insisted it will not be borne by taxpayers at all.

“It’s the right time to finally do this,” Pardo said.

Hedgehogs are a beloved symbol of British wildlife and are often welcomed into gardens for their natural pest control abilities — here’s how to encourage them with two simple household items

Many people adore hedgehogs for their endearing appearance, placid temperament and standing as an iconic emblem of British wildlife, with the overwhelming majority of gardeners warmly welcoming them into their outdoor spaces. Long regarded as “the gardener’s friend,” these prickly creatures are highly coveted visitors owing to the natural, environmentally friendly pest control they provide.

Summer tends to be an especially hectic period for hedgehogs as they forage for food, protect their territory and build up reserves ahead of the colder months to come. With this in mind, Hampshire-based Fareham Borough Council has outlined a number of ways you can support hedgehogs during summer and entice them to pay your garden a visit.

Leave out food

The first recommendation is to leave out food. Suitable options include dry cat or dog food, or specialist hedgehog food, which is particularly ideal.

However, the council cautioned against fish-based food, as hedgehogs possess an exceptionally keen sense of smell and experts note they are frequently deterred by the powerful odour of fish.

Fish protein also passes through a hedgehog’s short digestive system remarkably rapidly and, while not harmful, can result in noticeably pungent, fishy-smelling droppings.

The council further advises never to offer hedgehogs milk. Hedgehogs are severely lactose intolerant, lacking the enzyme required to process lactose, meaning that consuming milk triggers acute stomach cramps and severe diarrhoea.

For a small mammal, rapid fluid loss resulting from diarrhoea can cause severe dehydration, which frequently proves fatal.

Provide fresh water

Rather than milk, the council advises leaving out a shallow dish of clean water, which “can be a lifeline” to hedgehogs during warm weather.

Specialists recommend positioning the water bowl close to their food source, particularly during hot summer nights or prolonged dry periods.

Check before you trim or mow your lawn

The post urged people to thoroughly inspect long grass, shrubs and undergrowth prior to operating any garden machinery.

Hedgehogs do not flee from danger; instead, they curl into a tight ball. This instinctive defence mechanism renders them entirely vulnerable to rotating metal blades and nylon lines, resulting in severe, frequently fatal lacerations and wounds.

Given that hedgehogs are nocturnal animals, they spend daylight hours sleeping in precisely the spots people tend to want to clear — such as long grass, dense undergrowth, bramble patches and beneath hedgerows.

Water plants wisely

Watering plants thoughtfully helps maintain moist soil so that earthworms, beetles and insects remain active near the surface. This provides foraging hedgehogs with a crucial food supply during dry spells, when hardened ground makes hunting particularly challenging.

It also serves as a useful reminder to top up any shallow water dishes positioned around the garden.

Prince Harry wants to visit Britain ‘every few months’ over the next year after his reunion with King Charles last month, according to sources close to him.

The Duke of Sussex, 41, is set to return ‘more and more’ to the UK following his visit last month that left him ‘buoyed’, ‘very happy’ and ‘really energised’.

Harry will return in September for around a week, when he will take on a series of engagements for the Invictus Games, which will be held in Birmingham next summer, and WellChild, the charity supporting seriously ill children.

It has not yet been decided whether the Duchess of Sussex, 45, or their children Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, will join Harry next month.

During their visit to the UK last month, King Charles secretly hosted Harry, Meghan and their two children at Highgrove in a long-awaited meeting.

Queen Camilla, 79, was also present at the Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire when father and son exchanged words in what was the first public in-person meeting in four years. 

Charles had not seen his youngest grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet, since 2022, when they were just three and one. 

Meghan posted a photograph online of Harry and their children in Althorp’s gardens carrying bouquets of flowers. They were believed to be making their way to lay the blooms at Diana’s grave.

King Charles and Queen Camilla secretly hosted Harry, Meghan and their two children at Highgrove in July 

Prince Harry pictured with Meghan and their children Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five

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It is understood Harry wants to spend more time in the UK so he can see his father and wider family more often, and as he feels he can support his UK-based charities with more in-person meetings. 

A source close to Harry told The Times: ‘The template for his visits has been working well, so the frequency of trips will increase, especially in the run-up to Invictus which he’s determined to make the best games yet. So he’ll be coming back and forth a lot more, every few months.

‘The way the wind is blowing, he’s going to want to be here more and more. He’s happy these trips can now have more focus on the patronages and be less obscured by the other nonsense. 

‘He wants more of a foothold here, more trips back, less courtroom drama. And he always loves seeing his family.’

It is not known whether the King and Harry will meet when the latter returns next month, as Charles is expected to be at Balmoral in Scotland on his summer break

Sources claim that no decision has been made on whether Harry will reside at Buckingham Palace during the visit.

Harry is also understood to be hoping to return to Ukraine in the coming months, having visited the war-torn country twice in the past two years. 

Earlier this month it was reported that Harry is believed to want his father to stand alongside him at next summer’s Invictus Games.

King Charles has reportedly received an olive branch from his son in the form of an invitation to the multi-sport event, held in Birmingham.

One source told the Mirror: ‘Next year is a big deal for Harry. He is determined the Birmingham Games will be the best ever. It would mean the world to him to have his father there.’

Harry and Meghan, who quit as senior royals in 2020 and moved to California, have also recently spoken about their wish to introduce their children to their British roots.

During a visit to Warwickshire last month, Harry said: ‘I love being here, this is the highlight of my month. 

‘Actually probably the last few months. It’s very easy to sit in your grief, to sit in your stress but, guys, if you are feeling it, share it.’

Pregnant Anne Hathaway stepped out to D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event on Friday wearing another one-of-a-kind ensemble that will surely provide fodder for the fashion critics.

Hathaway, 43, who announced she was expecting her third child in June, was draped in a glaringly red, ribbed halter dress with an asymmetrical ruffled hemline.

Underneath this eye-catching garment were a pair of wide-legged, cream-colored slacks that gave off some neutral relief.

Hathaway wore her long hair bundled in a top knot with side-swept curly bangs.

Her surprise appearance at Friday’s function in Anaheim, California was made in part to accept her induction as an official Disney Legend, but also to provide fans with news that production on The Princess Diaries 3 is moving forward.

However, Julie Andrews recently confirmed she will not be in it after announcing her retirement from acting.

The actress’ glaringly red halter dress with asymmetrical ruffles and wide-legged, cream-colored slacks will surely provide more fodder for the fashion critics

The massive, multi-day event is held every two years in anticipation of new releases, and headliners at this year’s celebration also included Kristen Bell, Josh Gad and Idina Menzel for Frozen 3; Robert Downey Jr and Chris Evans for Marvel projects; Queen Latifah and Denis Leary for Ice Age: Boiling Point; and the Jonas Brothers who were promoting Camp Rock.

But Hathaway and her protruding baby bump were hands down the star attraction.

Fans didn’t take kindly to the ‘ridiculous’ maternity outfit she wore while attending the Los Angeles premiere of her new film The End of Oak Street.

On that occasion, The Devil Wears Prada star was clothed in a sleeveless, baby-blue, red satin-lined cutaway top that showed off her growing bump in all its glory.

She paired the creation with wide-legged jeans and pointed red heels.

Celebrity watchers were quick to share their thoughts on social media and not all of them were favorable, with one expressing that the red-carpet get-up ‘looks ridiculous.’

‘It’s awful. She’s too pretty for this to happen,’ another opined.

‘Please let me UNSEE this,’ someone else begged.

One fan jotted down, ‘This one is so wrong sorry,’ as another fan let fly, ‘Jeans? JEANS?! That dazzling top deserves a better companion,’ while an X user commented, ‘The jeans make it worse.’

Hathaway’s surprise appearance at the Anaheim, California function was made in part to accept her induction as an official Disney Legend; pictured with Dana Walden, President and Chief Creative Officer of The Walt Disney Company

The Oscar winner was clearly thrilled to be the center of attention; pictured with Josh D’Amaro, CEO of The Walk Disney Company

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Hathaway told the crowd that production on The Princess Diaries 3 is actively moving forward

Over on Instagram, a fan sympathetically wrote, ‘I love her. I do not understand why her stylist did this to her.’

‘Ya no to her outfit,’ one penned, and another vented, ‘That’s very tacky.’

An Instagram follower chimed in, ‘Unflattering styling for a beautiful pregnant woman,’ and another said, ‘love her – outfit just No.’

Other fans were more flattering with one sharing on X, ‘She looks radiant…,’ as well as, ‘Anne hathaway [sic] at a world premiere is always a win, she looks stunning.’

Jersey Shore alum JWoww got in her two cents via Instagram, ‘I love her so much omg.’

Meanwhile, Hathaway knows if she’s having a boy or a girl, but she won’t be telling anyone else, as she revealed during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Monday night.

Guest host Anthony Anderson questioned her about the tot’s gender, saying: ‘I consider myself to be a baby whisperer. Now, this is my first time seeing you pregnant and what not. It looks like it’s a boy. Am I correct, or you’re waiting?’ 

‘We know [but] we’re not saying,’ Hathaway replied with a smile.

The star’s choice to show off her growing baby bump in midriff-revealing looks has sparked noisy online backlash; pictured left on August 9 and pictured right on August 10

Julie Andrews recently announced her retirement from acting and confirmed she won’t be returning for Princess Diary 3

The audience met the news with cheers, to which the actress admitted she always ‘feels bad’ for not revealing the baby’s sex when asked.

‘It always feels so rude saying that,’ she admitted.

The baby will be the third child for Hathaway and husband Adam Shulman, who are already parents to Jonathan, 10, and Jack, six.

The star did say that her older kids are more than a little excited to be getting another sibling: ‘[They’re] over the moon. It feels really beautiful. It feels like the family’s having a baby. I mean, it’ll feel like I’m having a baby while it’s happening, but the emotional feeling is that we’re all going to welcome this little one.’

The country singer announced in May that ‘health problems’ barred her from some performances

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Dolly Parton had a touching message for fans after cancelling her appearance at Dollywood theme park due to ongoing “health issues.” Rather than attending in person, the 80-year-old singer made a virtual appearance for the launch ceremony of Dollywood theme park’s latest roller coaster.

DailyStar reports this was the NightFlight Expedition on August 14.

Dolly explained: “I’m still in Nashville, [Tennessee], and I’m sorry about that,” according to footage shared by Knoxville News Sentinel and the Tennessean.

“I’m supposed to be there in person, like we planned,” she continued, “now I’ve told you before, all my fans, that I have had a few little health issues. And sometimes I get a little dizzy, and I get dehydrated.”

This followed Dolly’s revelation that she was planning to head to Broadway following her health scare, reports the Express US.

The Grammy-winning performer went on, explaining that she was “dehydrated” while sporting fairy wings.

“And so my Nashville doctor clipped my wings, saying you ain’t traveling this week,” Dolly revealed.

“So I guess if your doctor tells you you ain’t traveling this week, you ain’t traveling this week.”

Dolly’s most recent public outing was at the launch of her Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop ribbon-cutting ceremony in late June.

During her appearance, the 9-to-5 performer appeared to be in high spirits outside the Cornersville, Tennessee, shop. Her latest public appearance represented the first in months since her health struggles commenced last year, after she endured kidney stones in September 2025.

The Jolene hitmaker was due to attend Dollywood to unveil the newest attraction, but she clarified in a video that she was recuperating.

“Turns out there was an infection, and the doctor said, ‘You don’t need to be traveling around this minute, so you need a few days to get better,’” Dolly told the gathered crowd.

In May, Dolly revealed through a video message released in May that she had chosen to axe her rearranged Las Vegas residency performances because she would require time before being “up to stage performance level.”

She went on to elaborate: “The good news is I’m responding really well to meds and treatments and I’m improving every day.

“I’m doing really well, and they assure me that everything I have is treatable, so I’m going with that, and I just want you to know I thank you for standing by me and that I will always love you.”

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The crash, which appeared to involve several vehicles, was reported on Derby Street near the junction with Moor Lane and Trinity Street on Friday, August 14.

Images from the scene show several cars that appeared to have been damaged, with police officers called to the junction.

Speaking on Saturday morning, a Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “It was a damage only road traffic collision involving three cars, no injuries or arrests.”

A damaged car at the scene (Image: Phil Taylor)

The incident appeared to have happened close to a branch of Dominos Pizza and near where the University of Greater Manchester, formerly Bolton, is based.

Images from the scene on Friday evening show several cars that were damaged strewn across the area near the junction.

Police were called to the scene (Image: Phil Taylor)

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that they had not been called to the incident.

By 9pm on Friday evening, the cars involved in the crash had been moved by a recovery vehicle and traffic was able to move freely through Derby Street.

It is the latest crash in the area, which has been earmarked for improvements

Members of the public have been advised to always call 999 in the event of an emergency as soon as it is safe to do so.

By CAROLINE GRAHAM, US EDITOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

Published: 23:46 BST, 15 August 2026 | Updated: 03:41 BST, 16 August 2026

Iran hit back at Donald Trump‘s claim that he could declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory.

The President made the assertion during a speech at a Long Island police academy on Friday when he said: ‘After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated, pretty soon, I will be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States. 

‘We have control over it. Nobody else. Only us.’

But last night Iranian deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi ridiculed the claim, saying the US has ‘no authority’ over the vital waterway that has become a flashpoint in the six-month war.

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On X he wrote: ‘The Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian. 

This strait will only be closed and opened under Iran’s command. The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by tweet, nor by aircraft carrier, nor by issuing an order, nor by an election speech.’

He added that as long as Mr Trump ‘will not accept the reality of defeat’ and stop indulging his ‘delusions’, Iran will continue to ‘enforce its blockade’ of the waterway which, before hostilities began in February, carried one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.

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Iran hit back last night at Donald Trump’s claim that he could declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory

Iran launched a strike against an oil tanker in the strait yesterday according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre, which said that a vessel belonging to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company was hit by an ‘unknown projectile’. 

No injuries were reported in the strike, which allegedly hit the vessel’s hull.

The strait – which links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea – is currently under the shared jurisdiction of Oman and Iran.

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But Mr Trump has repeatedly insisted that he will seize ownership as part of any peace deal.

The US has twice deployed a total blockade of the waterway and Mr Trump insists vessels which continue to pass through do so only with America’s permission.

Only six vessels travelled through the strait last weekend – a fraction of the 140 oil tankers that would typically cross each day before the war. 

Oil prices have surged since the start of the conflict, with the price of crude rising 6 per cent this week as hopes of a peace deal between the US and Iran faded.

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Only six vessels travelled through the strait last weekend – a fraction of the 140 oil tankers that would typically cross each day before the war

Mr Trump told Fox News on Friday that he will continue to ‘hit Iran’s economy hard‘.

He added that he ‘didn’t care’ whether or not the war ended before November’s midterm elections in the US, in which the cost of living will be the number one issue for voters.

In a speech earlier this month, he said ‘to the victor goes the spoils’, and declared that the US would impose tolls on the strait once the war had ended.

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Mr Trump said: ‘We will take control of the strait and we will charge ships to go through it and we will make lots of lovely money.’

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Joey Logano continued his surge toward the NASCAR Chase, winning Saturday night at Richmond Raceway with a late-race charge on fresh tires.

The three-time Cup Series champion scored his second victory in the past four races while surging from 17th to ninth in the points standings.

With 24 laps remaining, the Team Penske driver snatched the lead from Christopher Bell, who had pitted 20 laps earlier and was trying to stretch his tires to the finish on Richmond’s abrasive surface.

Logano raced to his 39th career victory and third at Richmond. He won by 0.392 seconds over Chase Briscoe, who led a race-high 171 of 400 laps but was unable to catch Logano after losing the lead just before his final pit stop.

Briscoe had a best finish of 11th in nine previous starts at Richmond, one of only three active tracks where he had yet to score a top 10. After qualifying second, he passed pole-sitter Ryan Blaney on the first lap to lead the first lap of his career on the 0.75-mile oval.

Austin Cindric finished third, followed by Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott.

Hamlin family dedication

In an emotional ceremony Friday morning, Richmond Raceway dedicated the grandstand seats where Denny Hamlin’s parents sat for years watching NASCAR races long before their son became a 64-time winner in the Cup Series. Hamlin’s father, Dennis, died in a house fire last December.

The track’s tribute was among the highlights of a homecoming weekend for Hamlin, who grew up about 20 minutes from the track.

“It’s really the time I get to see my brother and sister that still live up here,” said Hamlin, who lives in the Charlotte, N.C., area. “I’ve got lots of high school friends that have their own campsite here. It will be amazing if they don’t get arrested.”

Mirror driving

In an appearance on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast this week, Ty Gibbs lobbied for removing the digital rearview camera that NASCAR implemented four years ago. Gibbs joked that some Cup drivers would be out of the series without the high-tech device that makes blocking easier by anticipating an opponent’s move. He’s gotten no feedback from NASCAR but hopes a change could be made in the offseason.

“I didn’t hear anything on it, but I thought I’d recommend it,” GIbbs said. “I just think everybody probably agrees to it, too. I mean, a lot of people do, so I thought I’d say it. I think it could happen. They took windshield wipers off, and we run in the rain still, so I think it could happen.”

Another sellout

Richmond Raceway announced its grandstands were full for the second consecutive year, marking the 11th sellout in 24 Cup Series races this season. Many of those tracks have reduced seating capacities in the past 15 years, and Richmond is among the most notable. The track’s capacity is roughly half of its 112,000-seat peak in the mid-2000s.

Up next

The NASCAR Cup Series will make its annual stop at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with a 301-lap race Aug. 23 at the 1.058-mile oval. Ryan Blaney is the defending race winner at the track.

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing