Sooner or later, the killer will be revealed… (Picture: ITV)
The rise, fall and murder of abusive monster Theo Silverton (James Cartwright) has been a rollercoaster from start to finish. But there’s one Coronation Street star who was glad to see it end.
For months, Theo subjected his terrified partner Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) to just about every kind of abuse imaginable.
As the signs of the nightmare Todd was enduring became more and more obvious, his loved ones grew to hate Theo more. Like all abusers, the raging narcissist worked hard to isolate his victim from his nearest and dearest such ashis boss and father figure George Shuttleworth (Tony Maudsley), his girlfriend Christina Boyd (Amy Robbins), and the closet thing he’s got to a daughter, Summer Spellman.
Theo’s reign of terror finally came to a close when he broke into the flat and tried to stop Todd leaving to Thailand, resulting in a terrifying game of cat and mouse which ended with the vile bully dead on the Cobbles at the hands of a mystery attacker.
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Todd’s abuse story was over. Corrie’s murder whodunnit had begun.
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It couldn’t happen soon enough for Harriet Bibby, who play Summer. In a recent chat with Metro, the actress revealed why she was glad to see the Theo story end.
‘There were a lot of potential murder victims at the start so when we learned that it was going to be Theo, I wasn’t necessarily excited, but I was definitely happy it was going to put an end to the horror for Summer, and definitely for it to put an end to the fear of Todd being hurt again. There was also the fear of her being hurt, because Theo did threaten Summer a couple of times as well, so I think it gave a definite full stop to that.’
Summer is a suspect in Theo’s murder. (Picture: ITV)
Most of the characters on the list of subjects hated Theo because of what he did to Todd. So does Summer, but she’s got her own reason for wanting the sinister scaffolder out of the picture. He was so jealous of Summer’s adoptive father and Todd’s ex Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank), that he left him to die in a mini-bus crash.
This is not the kind of behaviour we’ve come to expect from the Girl Next Door to The Rovers. Harriet Bibby reflects on her character’s dark side.
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‘I think we’ve seen a lot of level headed Summer in the past, although she can be quite reactive as well. Now that she doesn’t have Billy, and Todd’s been going through what he’s been going through, she’s really had to kind of cement herself and make her own decisions. So I am really excited to see a different side to Summer and for people to question whether or not she could be capable of doing something like this.’
Summer had every reason to want Theo dead. (Picture: ITV)
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But is Summer truly capable of murder? Maybe. She was the last person to see Theo alive. On the night of the murder, she was searching the flat for something when Theo interrupted her with that chilling but somehow hilarious line ‘I guess Summer had to end some time.’
Which isn’t even the first time he’s threatened her life. Would Summer kill to protect herself? Harriet seems to think so.
‘I think there’s a scenario where she might have felt like it was either her that was going to be hurt, or maybe even killed, or it was him. I think when people are pushed to that point, it’s interesting to see what they will do to survive. It’s no secret that Theo was very threatening, he even said that he was going to bury Summer if she got in his way, so there could have been a moment where she felt like it was either her or him.’
In upcoming episodes, Summer is set to be suspect number one when she is pulled in to the police station for questioning. Worse still, George Shuttleworth, who’s been like a second dad to Summer, is starting to doubt her innocence after stumbling on her journal.Suddenly, the most unlikely suspect of all is the top of the list.
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Ask for a lawyer, Summer! (Picture: ITV)
Harriet seems to be enjoying it though, as she shared some positive reactions from friends and fans alike.
‘It is really cool. I mean in soap a big who done it theme is always a really exciting one to be part of. Even the episode where it was revealed that it was Theo that died had everyone talking. The amount of people so far who I’ve bumped into who have said, ‘did you do it? Was it you? People really do start to question the characters, and like George who is now second guessing Summer, so is the audience as well.’
George and Christina have reason to suspect Summer. (Picture: ITV)
‘You see this sweet girl, who you probably would never think is capable of murder, but this changes everything. I literally got a message from my friend saying, her Mum’s text her to say, did Harriet kill Theo? Was it her? So there’s definitely a buzz around the story and it is really exciting to be involved in. It makes people question your character, what they’re capable of doing and that’s a lot of fun.’
Loyal Corrie fans are more used to seeing Summer in the Corner Shop in the Rovers than a police interview. Harriet shares how unexpected and different it feels to have her character in uncharted territory.
‘Yeah, it’s quite different. Being interviewed by the police, in that police cell environment, it’s a very different sort of scene. When we went into the police questioning rooms, I said I’ve never been in here, and everyone was like, what?
‘But Summer’s such a good character, she’s not really mischievous, she’s not evil, we’ve not seen her seek revenge before. So this is such a flip on its head. She’s such an unexpected suspect in this, but it’s also completely understandable why she’s a suspect, and so she should be.’
Labour is edging closer to implosion following its bruising local election results and increasingly bitter divisions over Brexit.
For months, speculation has swirled around Keir Starmer’s future and whether a poor set of election results could eventually trigger a leadership challenge. Now those fears have been realised, tensions between rival camps are escalating rapidly, with allies of potential successors openly clashing over the direction Labour should take next.
Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham have both effectively thrown their hats into the ring for a possible future leadership contest. But their supporters have been accused by deputy prime minister David Lammy of “lighting a match and standing in the petrol” as divisions threaten to consume the party.
Senior Labour figures have also warned that prolonged infighting risks making the government appear chaotic and distracted while Nigel Farage and Reform UK continue to gain ground nationally.
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The latest flashpoint came after Streeting reignited the Brexit debate by describing leaving the EU as a “catastrophic mistake” and signalling he would ultimately like Britain to rebuild a much closer relationship with Europe.
The comments sparked fury among Burnham allies, who accused the former health secretary of reopening old divisions and handing ammunition to Reform ahead of the crucial Makerfield by-election, where Burnham hopes to return to parliament.
Meanwhile, rumours about former deputy PM Angela Rayner’s ambitions have been circling since she was forced to resign from Sir Keir’s cabinet last September, after it emerged that she had underpaid stamp duty on her Brighton flat.
But her supporters believe the door to a future leadership bid swung back open last week when she was formally cleared over her tax affairs.
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With Labour increasingly divided over both policy and personality, we want to know who Independent readers believe should lead the party into the next general election.
Vote in our poll and share your views in the comments below:
The Next Seamed Sleeveless Denim Maxi Dress costs £48 and comes in three colours and multiple sizes, including petite, regular and tall lengths.
Sarah Tulloch Senior Affiliates Writer
12:03, 18 May 2026
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Shoppers are loving a denim dress from Next that they’ve said is “very flattering” and “great quality”.
TheSeamed Sleeveless Denim Maxi Dress, £48, comes in three colours – white, washed black and light blue – as well as sizes 6 through to 24. The dress is also available in petite, regular and tall lengths, ensuring there’s sizes to fit everybody.
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The product description on the Next website says: “This seamed sleeveless denim dress combines a structured silhouette with flattering seam details to create a versatile everyday look. The draped fabric adds a soft touch to the durable material, ensuring a comfortable fit that retains its shape throughout the day.”
Elsewhere, River Island stocks the Blue Denim Halter Neck Midi Dressfor £39.00, featuring a halter neckline and a back slit to make walking more comfortable.
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Back at Next, the Seamed Sleeveless Denim Maxi Dress has received a 4.5 star rating from 10 reviews.
One shopper said: “This dress is very flattering to wear and good value for money.”
“Beautiful dress, perfect fit and good quality,” penned another.
A third said: “Just what I had been looking for comfortable easy wear dress.”
Another echoed the same sentiment, saying: “Easy wear, stylish but comfortable. Perfect for my holiday.”
However, others had issues with the length of the garment, with one reporting: ” “Lovely quality dress fitted well but should have ordered a petite.”
Another agreed, saying: “Bought petite length. I’m 5ft 2. Still ankle length but kept as I love the fit otherwise.”
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Someone else said: “I was looking for a simple shift like denim dress however I didn’t think this style suited me. The dress is lovely just not what I was looking for.”
Conor McGregor will make his long-awaited return to the cage when he takes on Max Holloway this summer in a rematch of their clash in 2013
Conor McGregor will return to the cage this summer when he takes on Max Holloway for a second time.
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The rivals clashed 13 years ago when McGregor outpointed the Hawaiian in Boston, despite suffering a knee injury during the bout. McGregor went on to win world titles at featherweight and lightweight while Holloway also went on to become featherweight world champion.
But while he has been active in recent years, McGregor will be fighting for the first time in five years, since he broke his leg in the first round of his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier. And while the Irishman will surely be hampered by his inactivity, he will be boosted by the fight being held at welterweight on July 11.
McGregor has fought at 170lb on three occasions, twice against Nate Diaz in 2016 and then against Donald Cerrone six years ago. He returned to lightweight for his second and third fights with Poirier but has since bulked up. Holloway, on the other hand, has never fought at welterweight but has competed four times at 155lb, including his defeat by Charles Oliveira earlier this year.
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McGregor earned a reputation as a KO artist and has not gone the distance since his rematch with Diaz 10 years ago. And while his clash with Holloway will be expected to end early, the Dubliner may struggle with his stamina should it go the distance, given his long absence from the sport.
McGregor had been scheduled to return against Michael Chandler in 2024, but the fight was cancelled when the former champion sustained a broken toe. Last October, McGregor accepted an 18-month doping ban, backdated to September 2024, for three failures of the whereabouts system, but he is now eligible to compete again.
Last year McGregor lost his appeal against a civil jury’s finding in favour of Dublin woman Nikita Hand, who accused him of rape. British star Paddy Pimblett is also on the card for UFC 329, taking on Benoit Saint Denis in the lightweight division, and will be joined by fellow Brit Lone’er Kavanagh who takes on Brandon Royval.
Former TOWIE star Pete Wicks has had a chequered love life but he was told he “needs a nice homely woman” in his life after meeting a succession of “wrong ones”
TV personality Pete Wicks has been told he “needs a nice homely woman” – and he’s even been advised when the meeting will take place.
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The former TOWIE star has had a colourful love life over the years but at the age of 37 is still yet to settle down. His past romances include former TOWIE castmates Jess Wright, Megan McKenna and Shelby Tribble and I’m A Celeb star Maura Higgins, while he has recently been linked to his pal Olivia Attwood.
Pete recently appeared on the Grime Gran podcast with the viral internet sensation, real name Margie Keefe.
Margie claims to be a psychic medium and told Pete some home truths about his love life.
She said: “I think, and I know I’m right, you need a nice homely woman and you’ll meet one when you least expect it. She’ll come into your life. I want an invite to your wedding.
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“I’m sure that you will meet someone and it will be the love of your life. You’ve been meeting the wrong ones.” Pete replied with: “Fingers crossed,” before joking: “It could be you. When you least expect it.”
After joking that he was going to “say something really inappropriate there,” Pete added: “If I do, I’m going to have to bring her to see you. I don’t know you particularly well but the time I’ve spent with you, you’re someone’s opinion who matters to me and I trust.”
Grime Gran, who is in her 80s, shot to prominence when her grandson, grime videographer RiskyRoadz, started filming her interviewing major music stars over a cup of tea.
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She recently started her own YouTube channel, and along with Pete has interviewed TV and radio presenter Rylan Clark and Inbetweeners star James Buckley and his wife Clair.
Recently Pete was left far from impressed as his mate Sam Thompson teased his rumoured relationship with Olivia Atwood. Following the breakdown of the former Love Island’s marriage to Bradley Dack, Olivia has been seen growing closer to her good friend Pete.
Olivia, 35, and Pete were seen sharing a kiss on what appeared to be a cosy date night and the former Towie star was spotted on airport duties as Olivia returned from a girls’ holiday.
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While neither will confirm they are dating, ex Made In Chelsea man Sam couldn’t help but make a sarcastic comment about their situation.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Staying Relevant podcast, Pete’s best pal Sam discussed the duo attending Olivia’s birthday party over the weekend with Sam’s girlfriend Talitha Balinska. As they chatted, Sam joked that him and Pete had both been partying with their ‘other halves.’
Pete immediately looks unimpressed at the comment and moved to shut down the topic.
Several dog breeds are currently banned in the UK, with ownership of these animals not only being against the law, but selling, abandoning, rehoming, or breeding from them also carrying serious legal penalties.
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At present, it is illegal in the UK to own a Pit Bull Terrier, a Japanese Tosa, a Dogo Argentino, a Fila Brasileiro, or an XL Bully. Whether a dog falls into a prohibited category is determined by its physical characteristics, rather than its registered breed or name.
Anyone found to be keeping a banned dog risks having it confiscated, even if no complaints have been made and the animal has not been seen acting aggressively. Proposed new legislation could potentially see around 67 dog breeds, which suffer due to selective breeding for cosmetic reasons, face prohibition across Britain.
This includes well-loved breeds such as shih tzus, Welsh corgis, and dachshunds. PETA has published the full list of all 67 breeds on its website.
Full list of dog breeds that could be banned in the UK
Affenpischer
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American Cocker Spaniel
Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Shepherd
Basset
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Basset Bleu
Basset Fauve
Beagle
Beauceron
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Bergamasco
Bloodhound
Border Collie
Boston Terrier
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Boxer
Bracco
Brittany
Brussels Griffon
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Bullmastiff
Bulldog
Cairn Terrier
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
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Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cesky Terrier
Chihuahua
Chow Chow
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Clumber Spaniel
Dachshund
Dandie Terrier
Dogue de Bordeaux
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French Bulldog
Glen of Imaal Terrier
Grand Basset
Great Dane
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Japanese Chin
King Charles Spaniel
Lancashire Heeler
Lhasa Apso
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Mastiff
Mudi
Neapolitan Mastiff
Newfoundland
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Norfolk Terrier
Norwich Terrier
Old English Sheepdog
Pekingese
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Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Petit Basset
Polish Lowland
Pug
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Pyr Mastiff
Pyr Shep
Rough Collie
Schipperke
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Scottish Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
Shar Pei
Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie)
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Shih Tzu
Skye Terrier
Smooth Collie
Spanish Water Dog
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St Bernard
Staffordshire Terrier
Sussex Spaniel
Swedish Vallhund
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Tibetan Mastiff
West Highland White Terrier
If this prohibition becomes legislation, licensed breeders would be banned from selling these breeds. Nevertheless, any dogs currently alive would remain legal.
PETA confirmed that current dogs would continue to be available for rehoming through rescue centres.
Reproductions of works by Monet, Picasso and Van Gogh are being hung in town centres to bring art closer to communities
Masterpieces from the National Gallery are being displayed in the London suburb of Croydon as part of a travelling project designed to bring art closer to local communities.
High-quality reproductions of works by Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, JMW Turner and Vincent van Gogh are on show in prominent town centre locations, including Croydon Minster and Queen’s Gardens.
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The Croydon displays form part of Art on Your Doorstep, a three-year initiative that aims to share paintings from the national collection with audiences beyond the gallery’s London base in Trafalgar Square. The programme runs until 5 July, and also features a series of free exhibitions in Coulsdon, New Addington, Purley, Thornton Heath and Upper Norwood.
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Further stops are planned for 2026, including Torquay, Derry, Birstall, near Bradford, and the Isle of Wight, extending the reach of the scheme across the UK.
In Essex, the Creative Mile Brentford Art Trail will collaborate with residents to identify unexpected settings for the artworks, from high streets and community venues to public parks. Locals will help decide which pieces are shown, embedding the project within each area it visits.
Works from the National Gallery are going on tour as part of Art on Your Doorstep, an initiative to share paintings beyond a gallery space
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Hannah Widgington, exhibitions manager at the National Gallery, said: “The trail will offer a rare chance to encounter these works beyond the familiar gallery walls and weave them into everyday life. Local residents will help select the artworks featured on the trail and will contribute their own creative responses.”
Images: The National Gallery
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More Tube and bus strikes are fast approaching, threatening another challenging week for commuters.
The RMT union has announced two 24-hour walkouts, kicking off at midday on Tuesday, May 19 and again on Thursday, May 21, with the effects spilling across four working days.
During April’s strikes, stations were packed with long queues as frustrated commuters searched for alternative routes home, with many turning to bikes to get around.
E-bike provider Lime reported a 22% jump in trips on April 23 compared with the previous week, while Forest saw evening rush-hour rides soar by more than 50%.
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With strike action looming again, all signs point to a repeat of that pattern.
TfL sources say they will have a clearer picture soon, but for now, Londoners might want to start thinking about a backup plan.
Commuters squeeze into busy train carriages during strike action on April 21
Getty
Everything we know about the upcoming Tube and bus strikes
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Strikes are planned by some Tube drivers from midday on Tuesday, May 19, to Wednesday, May 20, and again on Thursday, May 21 to Friday, May 22.
Under the proposals, the working week for most drivers would be cut from 36 to 35 hours, but contractual hours would not change due to the introduction of paid meal breaks.
This means, essentially, that drivers would work longer days but fewer days each week and fewer overall hours each week.
RMT instead wants a 32-hour week over four days, meaning drivers would work three fewer hours each week for the same salary.
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Drivers belonging to the union Aslef will not be participating in the strike, meaning that most Underground lines will be able to operate on a reduced service.
But disruption is expected across the Underground network.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at the Queen’s park depot picket line during the strike action in April
PA
Only the Elizabeth line, the DLR and London Overground services will be operating as usual.
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A spokesperson for Aslef previously said they were “surprised that the RMT has decided to take this action”.
The union has agreed to the voluntary four day working week, saying it gives drivers an extra 35 days off a year “in return for some fairly minor changes to working conditions”.
“It will be the first strike in the history of the trade union movement designed to stop people having a shorter working week and more time off,” Aslef’s spokesperson added.
Further 24-hour strikes are planned for Tuesday, June 16 and Thursday, June 18.
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London bus controllers strikes
Meanwhile, further strike action by Transport for London bus workers is taking place on Thursday, May 21, and Friday, May 22, in an ongoing dispute about rota changes.
Walkouts by over 150 bus controllers and network traffic controllers will coincide with the strike action taken by London Underground drivers.
Bus controllers and network traffic controllers do safety critical roles for TfL, which include dealing with incidents and accidents, managing bus stations and putting in place bus stop closures and diversions due to traffic or emergencies such as accidents.
The injured man was taken on to hospital following the incident
A man was taken to hospital after being punched in the head and knocked unconscious in a weekend assault.
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Police in north Belfast are appealing for witnesses and information following the incident in the Tomb Street area in the early hours of Sunday morning, May 17.
Police received a report at around 12.30am that a man had been punched to the head by another male and knocked unconscious.
Officers attended the scene and the injured man was subsequently taken on to hospital.
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A PSNI spokesperson said: “Our enquiries are ongoing and we would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and has any information, including dash-cam, CCTV or other video footage, to contact police on the 101 number, quoting reference 50 of 17/05/26.”
If your neighbour’s hedge has grown too large and is encroaching on your garden, it’s important to know your legal rights and the boundary rules before you start trimming.
Arguing with your neighbours is never enjoyable, no matter the cause. Disputes over gardens are very common, and determining who’s right isn’t always straightforward.
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Take, for instance, a situation where your neighbour’s hedge becomes overgrown and begins creeping into your garden space. You may feel tempted to cut back the branches, but before grabbing the secateurs, it’s important to understand what’s permitted by law and what crosses the line.
Not sticking to the regulations could get you into trouble, and your neighbour might even pursue legal action against you for property damage.
Based on the official government website, you’re allowed to trim your neighbour’s hedge if it extends into your property from their home or a public highway – but only under specific circumstances.
It’s only permissible to cut back up to the property boundary. If you go beyond this, your neighbour could pursue legal proceedings against you for damaging their property.
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Your neighbour has a duty to care for their hedges so they don’t damage your property or grow excessively tall. If any damage does occur, your neighbour may be held responsible.
To prevent potentially breaking the law, it’s recommended to check who actually owns the hedge before trimming it. The solicitors at Bonallack and Bishops said: “If it transpires that you have trimmed or moved a hedge which belongs to someone else, you could be held liable and forced to pay substantial legal costs.
“There are no hard and fast rules with regards to boundary ownership, and the only way to find out who owns a boundary border is to check the deeds at the Land Registry. Often, there’ll be no definitive answer and it’ll ultimately be a shared responsibility.”
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On the other hand, if your hedge has spread so that it extends over your neighbour’s property, they are entitled to trim back the portion that has crossed the boundary line, though they must return any cuttings to your land.
If any trimming occurs on your side of the boundary, this could be considered an offence under the Criminal Damage Act 1971, unless there’s a lawful excuse.
You are within your rights to pursue a civil claim for any resulting damage, though it’s always recommended to attempt a conversation with your neighbour beforehand.
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If confronting them feels daunting, consider writing a letter that clearly outlines the issue while keeping strictly to the facts.
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