A Freedom of Information request revealed that was the worst speeding offence on a 30mph road and in a 20mph zone a driver was clocked going above 50mph.

Neither of the locations where the speeding offences happened were disclosed.

The RAC found that seven-in-10 police forces caught drivers travelling at twice the speed limit or more on 30mph roads last year, new data analysed by the RAC has found.

One driver was caught at 89mph on a 20mph stretch of the B5129 in Deeside, north Wales; another at 114mph on a 30mph road in Aylestone, Leicestershire – the latter close to a primary school, although the driver was caught in the middle of the night.

Other shocking examples of truly excessive speeds on 20mph roads in the daytime included someone clocked at 64mph at around 10.45am in Halifax, West Yorkshire, a 60mph speed recorded in Southport in Merseyside, and a driver logged at 48mph in Alderley Edge in Cheshire around 3pm.

Even faster speeds were recorded in the middle of the night by forces in other parts of the country, including 72mph in Holland Park in London and 68mph on the B3122 in south Bristol.

In total, across 33 UK police force areas, 271,341 drivers were caught driving at 40mph or more on 30mph roads – speeds of at least 33 per cent higher than the posted limit – while across 28 forces 32,548 drivers were caught at 30mph or more on 20mph roads.

When it comes to the highest overall speeds last year, vehicles were recorded travelling at 161mph by police forces on the A5 in Bayston Hill, Shropshire and on the M6 southbound between Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford.

Other drivers were caught at 160mph on the M6 in Cheshire, 158mph on the A14 in Suffolk and 155mph on the A38 Sutton Coldfield bypass in the West Midlands.

Speed has for a long time been one of the main factors in fatal collisions on Great Britain’s roads.

The Bolton News has previously reported that Bolton has among some of the highest numbers of injury collisions on the roads, including fatal crashes.

Work is being done to reduce the number of crashes by all the emergency services, including dramatic d emonstrations of what they face when called to a crash.

RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said: “Our analysis shows some of the frankly chilling speeds some people are prepared to drive at – and these are just the cases the police are aware of.

“The fact that some were recorded in residential areas, even near schools, in daytime hours when others might well have been using the roads, underlines just how dangerous this kind of behaviour is.

“Such roads will almost certainly be well used by pedestrians and cyclists, so it doesn’t bear thinking about what travelling at such high speeds could have led to.

“There is a lot of work to be done.

“Despite drivers and riders exceeding speed limits being a factor in an increasing number of fatal road collisions, it’s clear that some people remain oblivious to the incredibly severe risk that driving too fast poses.

“The latest official data shows there were more than 300 fatal collisions in just one year where speeding was a factor – tragedies which are, on the whole, entirely avoidable given speeding is a choice the driver makes.

“We very much look forward to the Government’s response to its consultations on the Road Safety Strategy.

“New casualty reduction targets and an update to councils on setting local speeds are welcome, but a greater focus tackling the problem of excessive speeding and repeat offending is also desperately needed.

“Together with the Stop Excessive Speeders campaign, we therefore strongly urge the Government to introduce Intervening Intelligent Speed Assistance technology – which can prevent a vehicle from exceeding the limit – to reduce the number of drivers on our roads that puts all of us at risk.”

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for roads policing Chief Constable Jo Shiner said: “The fact that a majority of drivers now believe there is a culture where speeding is acceptable reflects a deeply embedded issue in driver behaviour.

“We must reset expectations and make it clear that safe, lawful driving is a shared responsibility.”

The Crescent is a 10,000 sq ft hub in the Upper Green Mall dedicated to independent and emerging retailers.

It officially launched this weekend with the opening of Café Filto, the first brand to sign on.

Filto. (Image: FILTO)

Noah Knapton, asset manager at Sovereign Centros from CBRE, said: “As these latest signings prove, the North East can lay claim to a wealth of small businesses, start-ups and scale-ups.

“What better platform to showcase their creativity and to support their further growth than The Crescent – our new, dedicated space for independent and emerging brands.

“For the retailers themselves, it offers a prime location with high footfall and unrivalled visibility in the region.

“For our customers, it delivers an even richer mix of stores, services and experiences, with more great additions still to be announced.”

A further three independent retailers are set to join The Crescent in the coming weeks.

Thatype

Thatype. (Image: THATYPE)

It is a bespoke jewellery boutique relocating from Newcastle city centre.

The store will offer custom-made rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

Mia Fang, owner of Thatype, said: “What appealed most about The Crescent is its vision of creating a space where established brands and independent businesses can thrive alongside one another.

“It provides small businesses like ours with the opportunity to reach new customers, grow our brand, and share our passion and craftsmanship with a much wider audience.”

Webster & Carr

An award-winning men’s barber and hairdresser will open its second location at The Crescent, following the success of its Gosforth branch.

The store will offer styling, grooming, cuts and shaves, along with carefully curated fragrances.

Darren Carr, co-owner of Webster & Carr, said: “We searched for more than 18 months before we found The Crescent at Metrocentre.

“The moment we walked in, we knew our brand had found its next home.

“Not simply because of the location but because the people believed in our vision as much as we do.

“Their enthusiasm was genuine.

“Their support was obvious. We could feel it.”

Aqua TCG

Aqua TCG. (Image: AQUA TCG)

A specialist in Pokémon and trading card games, will open its first ever store at The Crescent.

The company has built a following at card shows in and around the North East region and wider UK.

James Leather, co-founder of Aqua TCG, said: “Being from Gateshead, we knew Metrocentre to be a prime location for footfall.

“Thinking of our customers, we also knew it to be easily accessible, whether travelling by car, bus or train, which was important to us.”

Space at The Crescent is in high demand, with just a few of the 10 units still available, a Metrocentre spokesperson said.

A travel agent has revealed their top picks of the best summer holiday destinations – and they’re not in the likes of Greece, Spain or Portugal

When it comes to summer travel, most of us will know the classic holiday hotspots such as Spain and the Canary Islands, Portugal, Greece and France.

They may have a reputation for being cheap and cheerful, but according to one travel pro, sticking to the mainstream destinations means you could actually be missing out on some of the best value holiday spots in July and August.

Ashley Quint, a travel agent at Traveltime World, suggested that although Europe is a firm favourite because of its near-guaranteed sunshine and hot weather, looking a bit further afield could actually get you more bang for your buck.

Ashley explained: “If you’re looking at staying in a five-star all-inclusive hotel in Greece, you could go very easily long-haul and do something for less than that, during the summer, specifically. As long as you’re as long as you’re aware of the compromises, most people who are don’t mind doing something a little bit more alternative, the value’s there.”

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In fact, the travel pro has seen a marked increase in long-haul destinations such as Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Canada and Japan since the end of the Covid pandemic, thanks to the “pricing value of [those destinations] in the summer”.

However, Ashley admits that these destinations will only appeal for Brits who are “willing to compromise on weather“, adding that “some families are not always after the sunshine, they want a little bit of beach at the end, but if it’s cloudy, it’s cloudy”.

The weather compromise isn’t one to be taken lightly. For example if you’re eyeing up Thailand, July and August fall in the peak of its monsoon season, with intense rainfall although often in quick bursts. Still, weather remains hot and you won’t have the crowds of the winter sun months, so it can be an ideal time to explore.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka’s monsoon season starts to come to an end over the peak summer months, meaning you could luck out and get hot, dry and sunny weather, potentially peppered with bursts of intense rainfall. Again because the months aren’t as popular as winter, it can be a great time to explore without having to manage hordes of tourists.

Other destinations like Mauritius enjoy balmy temperatures of around 25C so it’s still hot enough to make the most of a beach, but pack layers as temperatures can drop down come evening time.

Still, if you’re someone who’s not fussed about blazing sunshine on your holiday, like quieter spots and plan to be out and about exploring, then these destinations could tick all of the boxes.

It’s worth noting of course that these comparisons are based on opting for the likes of all-inclusive package holidays in hotspots across Greece and Spain – it’s unlikely that a holiday in Mauritius will be cheaper, but it is likely that you could get a higher quality hotel (for example a 5* option) for a similar price, and that’s where the value potentially lies.

According to Ashley, there’s been a marked shift over the last few years of popular destinations for summer, as Brits look to get more value from their breaks. The likes of Madeira and Croatia have seen a boost of interest, while typically classic summer holidays such as Greece, the Canary Islands and Italy are not working out to be as cheap as they used to, causing people to “look for places that are not where necessarily everybody everybody else is going to”.

“It often varies year to year,” Ashley expanded. “But you do see it swings from one place to another, depending on what their perceived value is. Italy has become extortionately priced if you’re doing high-end all-inclusive, getting to the level where people are saying, ‘I’m not willing to pay that’.”

You can find out more at traveltimeworld.co.uk.

By FRANCINE WOLFISZ, NEWS REPORTER

Published: 01:57 BST, 8 July 2026 | Updated: 02:05 BST, 8 July 2026

From mountain tops, rainforests and glaciers to swollen rivers, shrinking lakes and running wild horses, talented photographers have captured nature through a series of stunning aerial shots. 

The winners of The International Aerial Photographer of the Year have been revealed after judges sifted through 1,587 entries from all corners of the globe.

Azim Khan Ronnie took home the coveted title with a photograph showing thousands of migratory Siberian seagulls feeding in Yamuna Ghat, India. 

Meanwhile Dawn Net by Chin Leong Teo captures a fisherman’s yellow net as it blooms across the water.

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Equally dramatic is Kah-Wai Lin’s third-place photograph of Yilki horses as they surge across the dusty plateau at sunset in Cappadocia, Turkey.

The photograph of the year was handed to Vitaly Golovatyuk’s capture of a bird sitting on the water of a clear lake reflecting the sky, surrounded by red grass, in Dongtai, China.  

Amateurs and professionals were invited to enter the competition – with the use of AI strictly forbidden. 

Winners will have their aerial photographs published alongside the top 101 entries in an annual awards book, with the overall winner taking home $5,000 and a trophy.

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Watch the birdie: Azim Khan Ronnie took home the coveted title with a photograph showing thousands of migratory Siberian seagulls feeding in Yamuna Ghat, India 

Horse power: Kah-Wai Lin’s third-place photograph of Yilki horses as they surge across the dusty plateau at sunset in Cappadocia, Turkey

The photograph of the year was handed to Vitaly Golovatyuk’s capture of a bird sitting on the water of a clear lake reflecting the sky, surrounded by red grass, in Dongtai, China 

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Chin Leong Teo captured a fisherman’s yellow net as it blooms across the water, wrapping his small boat 

Ice see you: Taken by Rhiannon Lawler, a polar bear balances on the edge of an iceberg in East Greenland, using the height to scan the sea ice and test the wind

California’s Diablo Range at its greenest after winter rains, highlighting smooth contours and flowing patterns, was taken by Chengming Liu

Barbara Brown’s aerial shot of Salt Works in Walvis Bay, Namibia

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Sanghamitra Sarkar’s photo shows a gathering of Hindu pilgrims sitting in a circular pattern around a central litter carrying sacred footwear

The sharp, steep, and layered hills in the Badlands of Utah by A J Rich

Bali’s rice terraces cascade down the hillsides in vivid green steps, shaped by centuries of careful irrigation by Chin Leong Teo

Hindu devotees gathered in Dhaka, fasting and praying with incense and oil lamps by Azim Khan Ronnie

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Thousands of bright red chilli peppers are harvested in the hot sun before being sorted ready to be delivered to spice companies in the Sariakandi, Bogura, Bangladesh, also by Azim Khan Ronnie

A lone person crossing a traffic junction in central Tokyo by Chin Leong Teo

An aerial shot of The Park Royal Hotel in Singapore by Chin Leong Teo

Chef Will Murray of Fallow restaurant swears by this simple oven method for perfectly crispy streaky bacon

Whether you’re making breakfast or meal prepping for the week, bacon is a versatile favourite that adds a satisfying crunch and rich, salty flavour to almost any dish. While many people cook it in a frying pan, air fryer or even the microwave, the oven is often the most overlooked method.

According to chef Will Murray of Fallow restaurant, baking bacon in the oven is the best way to achieve consistently crisp results. Although thinner slices may cook a little faster than thicker ones, the oven helps the bacon cook evenly, producing crispy strips from edge to edge.

The chef, however, swears by adding one particular ingredient midway through the cooking process — sugar.

For this method, Will recommends opting for streaky bacon, as it carries more fat, and as he puts it, “fat means flavour”.

The chef begins by laying the rashers on a baking tray before placing it into a preheating oven at 180C for five minutes.

There’s no requirement to line the baking tray with foil or greaseproof paper, since the bacon contains sufficient fat to prevent it from sticking.

The appeal of this approach is that not only can you cook large quantities of bacon simultaneously, but you can also manage the outcome with greater precision.

Once the five minutes have elapsed, much of the fat has rendered out of the bacon, and it’s time to turn it over. At this stage, the chef scatters demerara sugar over the rashers.

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In addition to crisping the bacon further, the sugar imparts an “awesome sweetness”. However, when incorporating the sugar, it is important not to be too heavy-handed, as an overly candied result can leave the bacon unpleasantly tough.

The following step involves returning the bacon to the oven for an additional five minutes at the same temperature.

Upon removing the bacon from the oven, the chef demonstrated to viewers how the edges had become “really nice and crispy”, asserting that no alternative method can rival it.

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It’s too hot to think. I don’t know about you, but every day is currently a reminder of just how many decisions we have to make each day: three whole meals, if you should bother leaving the house, and what you’re going to wear to survive the sweat-sodden commute.

Whether you’re going to the office or lounging in the park, you better make sure it’s loose and made of breathable material. Then, if you can muster it, you can think about whether it looks nice.

But if there’s one way to dodge having to make any logical decisions about what skirt goes with what top, it’s co-ords.

Every year, a matching outfit is my ticket to keeping – and looking – as cool as I possibly can through the summer months.

So if your brain is feeling as fried as your skin is right now, we’ve rounded up 13 summer co-ords that will see you through the heatwave. And don’t worry, there are options suitable for commutes, picnics, strolling around a city, and even dinner dates.

The research also suggested racism is now viewed as an issue at least as serious as sectarianism in Northern Ireland

Three in five people in Northern Ireland support immigration checks on the border with the Republic of Ireland, even if it means creating a harder border, according to new polling carried out in the aftermath of last month’s riots.

The More in Common survey, which saw interviewed 1,000 adults across NI, found 62 per cent backed border checks, while 71 per cent said the UK Government, Irish Government and Northern Ireland Executive should work together on migration issues. Nationalist voters were almost evenly split, with 45 per cent supporting checks and 44 per cent preferring to keep the border open as it is.

The research, conducted a month after the disorder erupted across parts of Belfast and Northern Ireland in the wake of the attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvie, also found immigration is now one of the public’s biggest concerns.

Some 44 per cent of respondents ranked it among the three most important issues facing Northern Ireland, while 78 per cent said they were concerned about illegal immigration compared with 34 per cent who expressed concern about legal migration.

However, the survey also found strong public condemnation of the violence, with 62 per cent describing the disorder as riots rather than protests, 60 per cent saying it brought shame on Northern Ireland, and 77 per cent saying those involved did not speak for them.

The polling also found overwhelming opposition to violent acts committed during the unrest. Nine in ten respondents said setting fire to vehicles was unjustified, 87 per cent said attacks on migrant homes and businesses could not be justified, and 80 per cent opposed intimidating migrants into leaving their communities. Peaceful protest was the only action tested that attracted majority support, with 75 per cent saying it was justified.

The research suggests racism is now viewed as an issue at least as serious as sectarianism in Northern Ireland. Three-quarters of respondents (76 per cent) described racism as a serious problem, compared with 73 per cent who said the same of sectarianism, while 68 per cent cited paramilitary activity. Six in ten believed racism had increased over the past five years, and half felt society had not done enough to tackle it.

Asked how politicians should respond to outbreaks of violence, 58 per cent said their priority should be reducing tensions, correcting misinformation and avoiding inflaming the situation. Just 4 per cent believed politicians should encourage public anger.

The survey also painted a mixed picture of public attitudes towards Northern Ireland more broadly. Nearly half of respondents (49 per cent) said the region feels divided, yet 60 per cent believed its best years are still ahead, and three-quarters said people generally look out for one another.

Conleth Burns, Associate Director for Northern Ireland at More in Common, said: “A month on from the riots, what’s clear from this research is that people right across Northern Ireland – from all community backgrounds – condemn the riots. People looked at burning cars, buses and homes and said this is not us, and this is not who we want to be.

“The same public in Northern Ireland that rejected the violence is worried about both racism, which people now rate as a more serious problem than sectarianism, and about immigration, which is a top concern for many voters and the top concern for unionist voters.

“We also find a depth of public concern about immigration in Northern Ireland. While the political debate seems to be stuck on whether legitimate concerns exist at all, the public are past that argument and asking what should be done, particularly on illegal immigration.”

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

The long summer holidays can be an expensive time for families. The cost of day trips to theme parks or zoos or soft play centres quickly adds up.

Discounts sound like a good idea. So this summer, the UK government has slashed the VAT rate from 20% to 5% on admission to a wide range of family activities.

They’ve even given the policy a catchy name: Great British Summer Savings, and in theory, a family could save a decent amount.

If a business passes on the full reduction (they are not legally obliged to), the Treasury says a family of four could save around £20 on theme park tickets for example. The temporary discount, which lasts until September 1, also applies to children’s meals in restaurants.

According to other estimates though, the cut, which will cost the Treasury around £300 million, could be worth just £10 per household. So critics could easily dismiss the whole idea as a not very impressive gesture with an expensive price tag.

But the ten-week VAT drop is also designed to help struggling hospitality businesses, thousands of which were forced to close last year.

Wage rises and changes to national insurance and business rates introduced in April 2025 added an estimated £3.4 billion a year to sector costs. And against that background, a temporary VAT cut can make a difference.

It lowers prices and can improve cash flow by giving attractions a simple message to advertise: this summer’s day out should be cheaper.

But the policy also demonstrates a weakness in the UK’s “visitor economy” – the money generated by people visiting a place for business or pleasure.

Spending on things like accommodation, transport, and food and drink can be a key driver of local economic growth. But when it comes to encouraging visitors to enjoy British hospitality, the UK is not strong. It ranks 113th out of 119 countries for price competitiveness.

So Britain’s problem is bigger than being an expensive place to entertain children in the school holidays. And perhaps the whole hospitality sector needs either a permanent VAT reduction, or a better-targeted seasonal cut, to provide it with a long-term boost.

My research used economic modelling to compare year-round VAT reductions to shorter periods. It asked a straightforward question: does the extra business activity created by a tax cut justify the reduction in tax revenue?

Using an economic model to predict effects in the English county of Dorset, a popular tourist destination, the year-round options did increase tourism activity and employment. But the benefits did not outweigh the cost.

Targeting the relief from November to March performed better. It came much closer to breaking even and significantly reduced the government’s losses.

The central lesson was simple. Timing mattered.

Tourism and timing

The current scheme being run by the government is in place when demand for family leisure is usually strong. Some of the households now planning a trip to a theme park this August may well have done so without a tax cut.

In those cases, the policy makes an existing day trip cheaper, but it does not create a new visit. A lower price is more likely to change behaviour when attractions have spare capacity and families are deciding whether a trip is worth making at all.

Attracting people to a popular attraction in the summer holidays is not the same as persuading them to visit in the middle of winter.

During quieter months, hotels, attractions and restaurants have unused rooms, tables and space. Extra visitors at those quieter times can make a big difference. In peak season, the same discount may simply reduce the price paid by people who were planning to come anyway.

A ten-week summer cut will not fix Britain’s visitor economy. But it creates a quiet precedent: the government has accepted that the VAT rate can change when there is a reason to change it.

The next step should be a more strategic approach, one that supports competitiveness but concentrates relief where spare capacity and price-sensitive demand give it the best chance of creating genuinely additional visits.

The government should not limit itself to saving some families a few pounds on a summer day out. A more ambitious approach would be to use a well-timed VAT cut to persuade those same families to make a trip they were not already planning, to a half-empty attraction in February.

Fulham’s owner Shahid Khan said Arbeloa “built an exceptional case” for himself throughout interviews in June, saying: “I am delighted that Alvaro has accepted the challenge to push Fulham forward, and I have no doubt that our squad, staff and fans will resonate with what his appointment means for the present and future of our Club.”

My neighbour has put up a new fence and won’t let me paint my side of it. 

It’s making my garden look ugly and disjointed but he insists the wood needs to ‘breathe’. What should I do?

Name and address supplied.

Dean Dunham replies: I am afraid your neighbour is right on the fundamental point, even if his ‘breathing’ explanation is nonsense. The crucial question here is one of ownership.

If your neighbour erected the fence, on his land, then it is his fence and therefore his property, in the full legal sense.

In these circumstances you have no automatic right to paint, stain, alter or even attach anything to a structure that belongs to someone else.

Doing so without his permission would technically amount to trespass and criminal damage, however harmless a lick of paint might seem. So his refusal, frustrating as it is, is within his rights.

As for the wood needing to breathe, that’s not a legal argument, it’s a horticultural myth. However, it doesn’t matter, because he doesn’t need a good reason.

So, what are your options? First, check the boundary position. Look at your title deeds and any Land Registry plans. If the fence sits on your side of the boundary, or straddles it, the picture changes entirely.

That’s because of a longstanding rule that things fixed into the ground become part of the land they’re attached to. 

So if a proper check establishes that the posts and panels are sitting wholly on your side of the boundary, there’s a strong argument the fence is legally yours and that your neighbour has arguably trespassed.

But, assuming it is genuinely your neighbour’s, my advice is to work with the boundary rather than against it. 

You are perfectly entitled to erect your own fence, trellis or screening on your own land, immediately in front of his, provided it sits wholly within your boundary and doesn’t lean on his structure. 

Fast-growing climbers, a run of trellis, or hardy evergreen planting will hide the offending timber in a season or two.

Before you do anything, a friendly, non-confrontational chat is always worth a try, as you should always do all you can to avoid a neighbour dispute.

Council’s rubbish with bins can I get a tax refund? 

The local authority where I live is making a hash of bin collections. 

Can I complain about this, and can I opt out of the bin collections and get a reduction in my council tax?

G.W., Preston, Lancs.

Dean Dunham replies: First, the good news: yes, you can absolutely complain – and you should. Waste collection is a statutory duty. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, your council has a legal obligation to arrange the collection of household waste.

If it is persistently missing collections or generally doing a bad job, that’s a failure to deliver a service it is bound to provide. Start with the council’s formal complaints procedure. Put it in writing, keep a dated log of every missed collection or any other issues you experience with the collections and request a reference number.

It is also worth garnering support from your neighbours, which will strengthen your position. If you exhaust the council’s official complaints process, you can escalate the issue to the Local Government And Social Care Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman investigates maladministration and can recommend a remedy, including, in some cases, a modest financial payment for the distress and inconvenience caused.

Now the disappointing part. You cannot opt out of bin collections in exchange for a council tax reduction. I know that feels counterintuitive but council tax is not a fee for specific services rendered.

It’s a general property-based tax that funds everything from social care and schools to street lighting and libraries, many of which an individual may never personally use.

There’s simply no mechanism to itemise it or claim a rebate for a service you would rather forego.

So, complain vigorously and hold them to their legal duty – but don’t pin your hopes on a refund.

Persistence through the proper channels is your most powerful tool here.