Booking a hotel for the day isn’t a novel idea, but platforms like Dayuse, which allows users to book rooms by the hour, are enjoying renewed relevance. Most of the London properties on there are cookie-cutter chains and/or vaguely sleazy, but there are some winners, including Treehouse London, the soaring hotel at the end of Regent Street. There are also the London outposts of the ever-reliable Hoxton hotels (in Holborn, Southwark, Shoreditch and Shepherd’s Bush).

Andy Burnham should tell Donald Trump not to pardon convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, an Epstein survivor and a lawyer for his victims have said.

Lara Blume McGee, who says she was groomed by Maxwell aged 20, has urged the new Prime Minister to ‘make it clear’ Epstein’s former girlfriend should stay behind bars.

Lawyer Spencer Kuvin, who has represented nine Epstein victims, said Burnham ‘has a voice’ over a feared pardon of Maxwell, who is a British citizen.

Trump has not ruled out granting clemency to the former socialite, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison on child sex trafficking charges in 2022.

Many survivors are outraged at Trump’s new US attorney general Todd Blanche, who was responsible for moving Maxwell to a minimum-security prison shortly after meeting her last year.

One of those who railed against Blanche’s confirmation last week was McGee, who was just 20 when she met Maxwell at New York Fashion Week in 2000.

She claims Maxwell used the prospect of modelling connections to lure her into Epstein’s orbit before he abused her.

McGee told Metro: ‘A pardon for Maxwell would not only be a travesty of justice but a devastating message to survivors everywhere. We cannot allow this. We will not allow this.’

As well as being British, Maxwell’s victims were also groomed and abused at her residence in London, according to the US Department for Justice.

Asked what her message would be to the UK’s new Prime Minister, McGee said: ‘Prime Minister Burnham, stand with us.

‘Use your influence to ensure that the UK is a beacon of justice, not a sanctuary for those who exploit and abuse.

‘Make it clear to President Trump and the world that pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell would be a grave injustice that Britain will not tolerate.’

Burnham has agreed to meet Epstein’s victims but is not considering holding a public inquiry into the paedophile’s UK activities, Downing Street confirmed this month.

Kuvin, who has represented Epstein victims since 2006, called on the PM to support an independent statutory inquiry into Epstein and ‘say publicly if credible evidence exists that anyone’ participated in the financier’s crimes.

The attorney added that survivors are ‘extremely concerned’ by talk Maxwell could be pardoned after her lawyers said she would only co-operate with investigations into Epstein’s crimes if granted clemency.

Kuvin told Metro: ‘Victims should never be placed in the position of wondering whether the person convicted of helping facilitate their abuse might be freed because she has information that powerful people want.

‘That would send a terrible message to trafficking survivors everywhere.’

Asked whether Burnham could persuade Trump not to pardon Maxwell, the lawyer said ‘Britain absolutely has a voice’.

He added: ‘I would encourage Prime Minister Burnham and his government to communicate directly to President Trump that clemency for Maxwell would have consequences far beyond American politics.’

Kuvin continued: ‘The Prime Minister could say publicly and privately that Britain believes Maxwell should serve the sentence imposed upon her.’

The lawyer said there are still questions British institutions have to answer about how Epstein was ‘able to operate for so long in plain sight, while surrounded by some of the most powerful people in the world’.

The Senate unanimously passed a resolution last month declaring it’s opposition to any presidential pardon for Maxwell, who has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing.

Senator Jacky Rosen, a Democrat of Nevada, said at the time: ‘It’s frankly horrifying that Trump would entertain the idea of clemency for even a second for a convicted sex trafficker.’

A Government spokesperson said: ‘Our thoughts are firmly with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, who have suffered devastating trauma, and it is right that Ghislaine Maxwell has been handed out a 20-year prison sentence for her role.

 ‘The Prime Minister is committed to meeting with victims. We are looking at all options to support them.’

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Drivers are facing long delays on the M60 and M62 this morning following two incidents.

A crash near Simister Island is causing queues on the anticlockwise carriageway.

Traffic is stretching back past junction 19 of the M62 westbound, at Heywood.

The M60 is partially blocked between Simister Island and Prestwich.

Meanwhile, drivers are also facing delays in two areas of the M60 clockwise.

There are queues approaching Simister Island following the crash on the other side, while the road has also been partially blocked near junction 15.

‘Sometimes my wife has to shake me to stop me shouting’

A driver left a man with “excruciating” pain and “nightmares” nearly a year after a crash. A motorcyclist was left “fighting for his life” after a crash involving a car and motorbike on September 29, 2025 on the A15 at Glinton.

The driver of the car, Les Rodgers, 52, was arrested and later charged with causing serious injury by careless and inconsiderate driving. Rodgers, of Black Prince Avenue, Market Deeping, was also charged with driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specific limit, after he tested positive for cannabis in his system.

Rodgers appeared for sentencing at Peterborough Magistrates Court on Tuesday (August 11). For prosecution, Olaide Esan told the court how Rodgers was in stationery traffic on September 29, with the motorcyclist “overtaking this slow moving traffic”.

Rodgers then carried out a U-turn, leading his car to “go into the motorbike”. The court heard how the victim was left with “severe injuries”, which required three surgeries and “lengthy treatment”.

Ms Esan read out a victim statement from the motorcyclist dated from March 2 this year. The court heard how the victim has issues with his right leg, and he was “able to move a little on crutches”.

The statement added: “I still need to be supervised by my wife and told to take my medications.” The court also heard how the man had “not walked” properly since September 29.

The victim said he was “keen to get back to work”, but was unable to work for now due to his injuries. He added that he suffers “excruciating pain”, especially in his lower back.

“The pain is constant and throbbing,” the statement added. The court also heard that when the man wakes up in the morning, he feels like “concrete”.

Ms Esan also told the court that the pain “wakes the victim up at night” and he was “not getting as good a sleep” as he did before the crash. The statement added: “I am getting nightmares. Sometimes my wife has to shake me to stop me shouting. The nightmares are like I am in a box I can’t get out of.”

The victim concluded in his statement that he held “no animosity” towards Rodgers, but he wanted him to be “aware of what I have been through since the collision”.

In mitigation, for the defence, Mr Mohammad asked the judges to give credit to Rodgers for his earlier guilty pleas. The defence added that Rodgers was “remorseful and apologetic”, and that he reflected on the incident on a “daily basis”.

The court heard how Rodgers had not consumed drugs since the crash in order to keep a “clear head”. Rodgers was ordered to serve a high level community order for 18 months, including 15 days of rehabilitation activities. He was also disqualified from driving for 18 months, having served four months of that already.

Rory McIlroy has reversed his stance

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Rory McIlroy has had a change of heart regarding the FedEx Cup by entering the opening leg of this year’s Playoffs. The world number two faced criticism 12 months ago for missing the first FedEx Cup event, as it had no bearing on his ranking position and provided an opportunity to rest before the Ryder Cup.

The FedEx Cup Playoffs is the culmination of the PGA Tour season. Throughout the regular campaign, players accumulate points based on their tournament performances.

When the regular season wraps up in August, the highest point earners qualify for a three-tournament playoff series that crowns the overall season champion.

The opening Playoff event, the St Jude Championship, features a field of 70 competitors. For the second event, the BMW Championship, this is reduced to 50.

Then, for the Tour Championship season finale, the field comprises the top 30 players on the list, reports the Mirror.

McIlroy heads into this year’s Playoffs sitting in 12th position, with his place in the Tour Championship essentially guaranteed even if he opts out of the first two events. As recently as last month’s Open Championship, McIlroy indicated he was willing to skip the initial Playoffs events and challenged the format in a direct message to PGA Tour officials.

Prior to last year’s Playoffs, the Starting Strokes format, which favoured players higher up the standings, was scrapped. It had seen the leader begin on 10 under par, while players ranked 26th to 30th on the list started on level par.

McIlroy stated at The Open: “I guess I’m just at a stage that I have other things that I prioritise. The PGA Tour is in a lot of flux at the minute, with a lot of their schedule and structure and everything like that.

“So, I think the change where it doesn’t matter where you are in the top 30 going into the Tour Championship, it’s like I just need to be in the top 30 going in there to have a chance to win a FedEx Cup.

“So why would I care about the first two? I sort of came to that decision last year, and I’m just sort of doing the same thing.”

Despite his earlier stance, McIlroy has had a change of heart and entered the St Jude Championship. He will be competing alongside the likes of Scottie Scheffler, who topped the regular-season leaderboard and pocketed a £7.4million bonus in the process.

This marks the first occasion since 2021 that McIlroy will enter the opening leg of the Playoffs outside the top 10 in the standings, though it would be premature to discount the Masters champion’s chances.

In a development likely to appeal to McIlroy, the PGA Tour is set to introduce a two-tier structure from 2028. A revamped Tour Championship will be held at a “rotation of prestigious courses, many of which the PGA Tour would play for the first time,” according to the Tour.

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Crabbish has taken the social media world by storm in recent months with its theatrical presentation, steaming food and customers wearing bibs.

The Louisiana-inspired restaurant guests to sit around a communal table and wear bibs as a bag of boiling seafood is sliced open and poured out, with various items often ending up in the customer’s lap.

Customers scramble to get their hands on boiled prawns, crabs, mussels, corn-on-the-cob, potatoes and more thrown in the middle of the table.

While some say the experience is “great”, with many returning to try it for a second time, others assume it would be their “idea of hell” and ask “how is that even edible?”.

A waiter serving a bag of Seafood Boil at a ‘Crabbish’ restaurant (c) Crabbish (Image: Crabbish on Instagram)

A picture of one of ‘Crabbish’s’ dishes shared on Instagram (c) Crabbish (Image: Crabbish)

The theatrics have, unsurprisingly, generated millions of views with customers flocking to the existing Crabbish branches in Liverpool and Manchester.

Residents in the North East, however, won’t have to head south for long; the chain announced on social media this week that they are opening a restaurant in Newcastle.

The restaurant is set to open in Pandon Bank, Quayside, with an official date to be confirmed.

The seafood boil phenomenon, which has raked in over nine million online watchers, said: “Crabbish is coming soon to Newcastle, bringing seafood boils loaded with crab, prawns and plenty more to the city centre!”

The post continued: “If getting stuck into a huge seafood boil sounds like your idea of a good time, this is definitely one to keep an eye on!”

The announcement has been met with a lot of excitement, one user writing: “Can’t wait for this one! Love my seafood.”

“Very excited for this,” another said.

While excitement is through the roof to experience the seafood, questions have also been raised about whether local produce will be used.

One comment read: “North East crab? I hope I hope I hope.”

With questions already arising, it is clear the people of Newcastle are not only thrilled, but ready, for the boiling bag to arrive in the North East.

Sir Rod Stewart has cancelled the remainder of his 2026 US tour dates after undergoing heart surgery.

The 81-year-old singer, who was performing his One Last Time tour, will take four weeks off to recover after undergoing a coronary stent procedure, effectively cutting short the US and Mexico performances for the remainder of the year, which was due to stretch into September.

He was scheduled to perform events across Ohio, Illinois and Mexico, as well as a six-night stretch at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

“I’m already feeling better and very much on the mend,” he said in a post on Instagram.

“I want to thank the doctors, nurses and everyone who has taken such wonderful care of me.

“I am deeply disappointed to miss these shows and sorry to let my fans down, but I look forward to getting back on stage and having a good time with you all again soon.”

His representatives said Sir Rod was “doing very well” following the procedure and had “returned to his normal daily activities”.

The statement added: “On the advice of his doctors, he will take the next four weeks to recuperate and regain full fitness before returning to the stage.

“Unfortunately, this means he will be unable to continue his current tour dates.

“Information regarding affected performances will be communicated by the respective promoters and venues.”

Two further dates in Colorado are scheduled for September 2027.

The announcement came after Sir Rod postponed shows in Cincinnati and Cleveland following medical concerns.

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Cleveland’s Rocket Arena earlier confirmed the cancellation on social media, writing: “Following a period of monitoring, doctors have advised Rod Stewart to rest for at least 48 hours. As a result, his performance tomorrow night, August 11, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland has been cancelled.

“Rod is disappointed to miss the show and appreciates everyone’s understanding. He looks forward to returning to the stage soon.”

Health problems had also forced the cancellation and postponement of shows in May and June.

In May, the Maggie May singer sent “apologies to my family of fans” in a statement to the Las Vegas Review-Journal after cancelling performances in Nevada, adding: “I am on vocal rest as I recover from a sinus infection.”

Less than a month later, he cancelled his San Diego show after being diagnosed with a respiratory infection that resulted in laryngitis.

Earlier this month, the rocker welcomed his sixth grandchild after his daughter Ruby gave birth to a son called Levi.

With temperatures forecast to climb to 36°C in parts of the UK, heat health alerts are once again in place – and for many people it will mean more than an uncomfortable few days.

The human body normally keeps its core temperature at around 37°C, and when the air around us heats up, it has to work harder to hold that line. Heat stress occurs when the body gains heat faster than it can lose it.

Its main defence is sweating and sending more blood to the skin, where the heat can be released into the environment, but that system has limits. When the heat becomes too much, or hot, humid air stops sweat evaporating, or dehydration leaves too little fluid for the body to sweat and circulate blood properly, these cooling mechanisms start to fail. That’s what leads to heat exhaustion and, in more serious cases, heatstroke.

The two conditions are often used interchangeably, but the difference between them matters. Knowing which one you’re looking at could save a life.

Some are more vulnerable

Anyone can develop heat-related illness, but some people are far more exposed to the risk than others.

Older adults and young children are less efficient at regulating their body temperature, and that vulnerability can be compounded by underlying health: heart, kidney and respiratory disease all reduce the body’s ability to cope with heat, as can medications that affect sweating, hydration or blood flow.

Enclosed spaces such as parked cars and poorly ventilated rooms can heat up rapidly, causing body temperature to rise quickly, particularly in children, older adults and people with underlying health conditions.

People who work or exercise outdoors face additional risks. Physical activity generates extra heat within the body, which, along with the burden of environmental heat and humidity, causes further rises in core temperature.

Heat exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is what happens when the body is struggling to cope but still just about managing to keep its core temperature below dangerous levels – you might notice heavy sweating, dizziness, headache, nausea, fatigue, cramps or simply feeling wiped out.

Heat exhaustion is often accompanied by dehydration because large amounts of fluid and salts are lost through sweat.

Staying hydrated helps reduce risk, but drinking water alone is not always enough. Even a well-hydrated person can develop heat illness if temperatures are very high, humidity prevents sweat evaporating, or activity continues without adequate cooling and rest.

However, heat exhaustion does not inevitably progress to heatstroke. Most people recover fully if they are cooled down and rehydrated promptly.

Heatstroke

Heatstroke occurs when the body’s temperature regulation system begins to fail and core temperature rises to dangerous levels, typically above 40°C. The most important difference between heat exhaustion and heatstroke is the effect on the nervous system.

Heatstroke looks different: confusion, disorientation, behaving strangely, collapse, seizures – the nervous system itself starts to fail.

Heatstroke can damage the brain and other organs and can be fatal without urgent treatment. It can strike during heatwaves or during intense physical activity when the body generates more heat than it can lose.

Temperature readings can be helpful, but they should not be relied upon in isolation. Measurements taken on the skin, forehead, or in the ear may not accurately reflect true core temperature. Look at the whole picture rather than relying on a temperature measurement.

If someone develops these symptoms, act quickly: get them somewhere cool, loosen their clothing, encourage cool fluids, and cool them down with whatever is to hand — a fan, damp towels, even a cold shower. Most people should improve within about 30 minutes.

If the person becomes confused, behaves unusually, collapses, has a seizure or loses consciousness, assume they have heatstroke and don’t delay in calling the emergency services.