On Saturday there will be a day of free entertainment and live music in the Market Square followed by the annual Pride march.

On Sunday (August 9) the fun moves to Hopetown Darlington with the annual Pride Picnic where there will be free crafts, face painting, live music, bubbles and stilt walkers.

• Check out our ultimate Darlington Pride weekend here.

Here’s what the weather will look like:

Saturday, August 8

Temperatures will start off cool before reaching 23C by midday in time for the Pride March.

From 12pm temperatures will rise steadily throughout the day, reaching highs of 25C by 2pm.

The temperature will stay there until 5pm where it will slowly drop throughout the evening, reaching lows of 16C by 11pm.

Saturday is expected to stay dry throughout, with the risk of rain under 5 per cent.

Sunday, August 8

Sunday could see some showers as the risk of rain remains at 30% until midday.

The risk will drop to 20% by 1pm and 10% by 2pm.

Temperatures will start off cool before reaching 21C by midday in time for the Hopetown Picnic.

From 12pm temperatures will rise steadily throughout the day, reaching 23C by 2pm.

The temperature will stay there until 4pm where it will slowly drop throughout the evening, reaching lows of 17C by 11pm.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is reportedly prepared to “explore every option” to block the early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers

Andy Burnham is reportedly weighing up whether to block PC Andrew Harper’s killers from being released early from prison, having previously suggested he was powerless to keep them locked up.

Pc Harper was 28 years old when he sustained fatal injuries while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in August 2019. He died after getting caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and dragged down a country road as three teenage suspects fled the scene of the burglary.

Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were passengers in the car and both 17 years old at the time, were handed 13 years in custody for manslaughter after a trial at the Old Bailey in 2020.

Soft-justice plans to free Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole halfway through 13-year jail terms were paused last month. But following a review, there will be no change to manslaughter cases, which means the two thugs could be out in months.

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The driver of the vehicle that caused Pc Harper’s death, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and will not be eligible for the scheme.

The Prime Minister is prepared to “explore every option” to keep Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers behind bars, a Government insider told the Telegraph on Friday.

The Government has so far resisted mounting pressure to exclude the two killers from its early release scheme, which is set to begin in October in a bid to ease prison overcrowding.

Mr Burnham said earlier this week he had “pushed to the very limits of what is possible to do without risking the prison system reaching capacity and collapsing” by excluding sentences for “rape, serious child sex offences and other grooming offences” from eligibility.

Around 5,000 prisoners are expected to be freed early under the sentencing changes, reduced from 6,000 following the exemptions announced as part of an urgent review of the scheme.

However, under current plans, Cole and Bowers remain eligible to be released halfway through their 13-year sentences, having been convicted of manslaughter in 2020 following PC Harper’s death in 2019.

Downing Street has been approached for comment regarding Mr Burnham’s reported deliberations over blocking their release.

Thames Valley Police has issued a statement on PC Andrew Harper’s killers being eligible for early release. Chief Constable Jason Hogg said: “I am beyond disappointed the Government is continuing to allow PC Andrew Harper’s killers to be released early from prison despite the overwhelming recent public outcry.

“It is simple: if Andrew’s killers were convicted today, they would receive life sentences due to the law that was created in his name. They would not be eligible for early release.

“This decision is demoralising for all police officers and our fellow emergency service workers, not just in the Thames Valley, that puts themselves in harm’s way to protect and serve their community.

“We stand with Andrew’s family, the Police Federation, our Police and Crime Commissioner in our dismay and we will continue to lobby the Government to make the right decision.”

PC Harper’s family have voiced fury and dismay at the decision not to exclude Cole and Bowers from the plans as well.

The early release modifications formed part of the Sentencing Act passed earlier this year that reduced the minimum period many offenders would be required to serve behind bars.

Those released will be subject to stricter probation conditions, including electronic monitoring, random drug testing and potential bans from driving, pubs and events such as football matches.

A convicted sex offender was free to kill two women and rape another despite warnings he was a danger to women.

And incredibly, Simon Levy, 40, committed the second murder while on bail suspected of carrying out the first. 

Kemi Badenoch has led a blistering criticism of the Crown Prosecution Service and Metropolitan Police after the sexual predator was released from custody time and again to continue his depraved attacks.

Levy, 40, is facing a possible whole-life sentence after he was convicted of murdering two sex workers and raping and almost suffocating a third woman, with police fearing scores more may have been targeted.

The police watchdog said two officers are under investigation for misconduct over potential failures, following an Old Bailey trial which exposed repeated missed opportunities to stop Levy.

Officers now believe Levy may have claimed many more victims during the many occasions he was released on bail, potentially carrying out daily attacks as he stalked unsuspecting women across the capital from 2018.

Writing in the Daily Mail, Conservative leader Mrs Badenoch said ‘a broken system allowed him back on to the streets to continue offending’, and that soft attitudes to justice mean serious criminals feel they ‘can get away with’ offending.

Levy, who is blind in one eye, has now been convicted of carrying out two murders, two rapes, a near-fatal suffocation and 13 sexual assaults.

Pictured: Sheryl Wilkins who Levy killed in Tottenham in August 2025, after being granted bail for murder

Pictured: Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo who Levy murdered in south London in March last year

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This escalated from groping women on the London Underground to targeting sex workers he would go on to murder.

He killed one woman, Sheryl Wilkins in Tottenham in August 2025, after remarkably being granted bail for murder.

He had initially been held on suspicion of killing Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo in south London in March last year, but was let go.

This was because the Crown Prosecution Service failed to oppose bail at Levy’s first magistrates’ court hearing, and then did not provide the judge with damning information about his previous convictions at his next appearance before a judge.

There were another three crown court hearings that Levy failed to attend for various reasons, yet no warrant for his arrest was requested, leaving him free to strike again.

By this time, Levy had already been arrested by British Transport Police, in November 2024, for a string of sexual assaults on the Tube network, for which he was later convicted.

But delays with sorting out an identification parade meant he was released, and carried out his first rape, in January 2025, and the murder of Ms Valencia-Trujillo. Levy was first jailed for three years in 2021 for carrying out sex attacks on two women at Notting Hill Carnival and a Camden street party in 2018.

Mrs Badenoch said: ‘The details of his Levy’s crimes are horrifying enough but what is almost as shocking is the number of opportunities the authorities had to stop him. His case is symptomatic of the litany of failures at all levels that bedevil our criminal justice system.’

The rape survivor – who cannot be identified for legal reasons – even pointed officers towards the exact location of Levy’s home, but she was never formally interviewed as she was withdrawing from drugs.

Mobile phone footage recorded by a victim of Levy on the London Underground 

Bodycam footage showing the Met Police arresting Levy 

Kemi Badenoch has led a blistering criticism of the Crown Prosecution Service and Metropolitan Police after the sexual predator was released from custody time and again to continue his depraved attacks

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The Metropolitan Police later closed the investigation, despite the fact the prime suspect could be identified.

The victims’ families wept in court as the jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts after deliberating for nearly 13 hours, following a seven-week trial.

Levy refused to give evidence in his defence, and showed little emotion other than to stare, wearing sunglasses, at the jury foreman as the verdicts were returned.

He is due to be sentenced on Wednesday. Judge Mark Lucraft KC said Levy would receive a life sentence, the only decision would be the length.

Tory justice spokesman Nick Timothy said: ‘It is an outrage that this monster was allowed to roam the streets on bail despite his long record of sexual offences against women. Victims were repeatedly failed by the system, and the Crown Prosecution Service and others have serious questions to answer.

‘Prison works because it incapacitates criminals, and this case shows why we must ensure dangerous offenders are kept behind bars.’

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said Levy ‘should never have been given bail, adding: ‘He will clearly keep murdering and raping women at every opportunity. This man must never see the light of day again.’

Zia Yusuf, Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman, said: ‘The Metropolitan Police allowed a serial sexual predator to rampage through the streets of London with zero consequence. Simon Levy spent years sexually assaulting women. ‘He was repeatedly granted bail. His risk was downgraded. And he went on to rape and murder. This was entirely predictable.

‘The officers who enabled Levy and allowed London’s streets to become a free-for-all for this predator must face real consequences. Simply shuffling them to another desk is an insult to his victims.’

Tory justice spokesman Nick Timothy said: ‘It is an outrage that this monster was allowed to roam the streets on bail despite his long record of sexual offences against women’

Crime and policing minister Sarah Jones said it was ‘deeply concerning’ that Levy ‘was able to inflict such devastating harm after being freed by police and the courts’. She said: ‘It raises serious questions that require urgent answers.’ 

The Independent Office for Police Conduct confirmed it had served a gross misconduct notice on a police constable and a misconduct notice on a detective sergeant.

A spokesman said: ‘We are examining whether action could or should have been taken to prevent [Levy’s] re-offending, and if all officers involved in his management followed policies, procedures and training.’

But it said disciplinary proceedings were not inevitable.

The police and CPS have admitted making mistakes, but there are calls for a public inquiry into the scandal as campaigners claimed the case makes a mockery of state promises to tackle violence against women and girls in the wake of Sarah Everard’s murder by Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens in 2021.

And police believe there are many other women who have not yet come forward.

After he was jailed in 2021, Levy continued to target women, groping a prison officer in 2022.

When he was released early at the halfway point of his sentence in February 2023, he told probation staff that sex workers were frequently offering him services, yet he claimed to never leave his home.

In reality, Levy was still on licence in October 2023 when he started venturing on the Tube for prey, roaming stations across London at peak times when he knew carriages would be packed with passengers, leaving victims unable to escape his clutches.

He regularly tied a jumper around his waist to hide his wandering hand as he grabbed the women around him.

Court artist sketch of Levy. After he was jailed in 2021, Levy continued to target women, groping a prison officer in 2022

In May 2024, he was recalled to prison following a rape allegation while the case was being investigated.

He was released in August the same year, after which he continued his campaign of attacks on the Tube. His youngest victim was 18, and his oldest 32. 

Levy, who has learning difficulties, was supposed to be supervised by both probation and Visor (Violent and Sex Offender Register) staff.

But his chilling fascination with rape and murder went unnoticed as he secretly amassed a huge collection of newspaper stories about notorious offenders he lionised, including black cab rapist John Worboys and paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The jobless 40-year-old, who lived with his mother in Tottenham, north London, also looked up misogynist influencer Andrew Tate online.

Additional reporting by Ryan Hooper and Sam Merriman

President Donald Trump’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Dan Caine, is seeking an “off-ramp “ from the ongoing war in Iran, according to a new report.

Caine has privately told other top administration officials that the country needs to find a way to exit the war, according to CNN, which cited three sources familiar with the matter.

Despite Trump claiming throughout the war that a peace deal, which would include his demand that Iran never obtain a nuclear weapon, was within reach, fighting has continued for more than five months.

“Caine is looking for an off ramp,” one of CNN’s sources said.

The general’s meetings with Trump officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are just to make clear the limitations and pitfalls of different military options, according to the sources.

Joseph Holstead, a spokesperson for Caine, told CNN, “We do not discuss the Chairman’s confidential conversations with the President, the Secretary, or other senior leaders, nor do we comment on anonymous, agenda-driven characterizations of those conversations by sources who were not privy to them”.

A White House official praised Caine’s know-how, calling him an “incredible asset to President Trump’s national security team.”

“The General always provides accurate, unbiased information and a host of options to the Commander-in-Chief, who ultimately makes decisions based on what he feels is best for US national security”, the official said.

The Independent has reached out to the White House, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Department of State for comment.

Trump’s war has primarily been an air campaign, relying on fighters to launch strikes against Iran instead of deploying ground troops. Caine and other Trump officials privately think it’s unlikely that an air campaign alone can put enough pressure on the Iranians to agree to a deal that’s favorable to the president, according to multiple people familiar with recent discussions who spoke with CNN.

Meanwhile, Trump has denied recent reports that the US military’s weapons stockpile is dwindling.

“The U.S. has massive amounts of ‘munitions,’ especially of certain types. Additionally, large amounts are being manufactured and shipped to the U.S. as needed. Defense companies are building the largest number of plants and factories in our country’s history.

“The ‘leakers’ of these treasonous statements are being hunted down. Long term jail sentences will be sought!” Trump wrote on Truth Social Thursday.

Trump’s threats came after Reuters reported Tuesday, citing two unnamed sources, that the Army has used “virtually all” of its long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems and Precision Strike Missiles.

A recent report has also found that the Pentagon is running low on missile interceptors.

The US military had 2,330 Patriot systems and 452 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense systems before the war, according to the report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies. As of July 27, an estimated 759 to 827 Patriot systems and 234 to 278 THAAD systems remain, the report said.

During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing last month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said US military operations in Iran have cost an estimated $37.5 billion. He also asked Congress for an additional $67 billion to, in part, replenish weapons stockpiles, blaming the Biden administration for not properly funding the Pentagon.

The price of gas has also surged during the war, sitting above $4 a gallon Friday, according to motor club AAA. The price of a gallon of gas was just below $3 at the start of the war, according to the Associated Press.

Just 28 percent of Americans said they approved of Trump’s handling of Iran in a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.

In a statement on its website, a Bristol Airport spokesperson said: “Due to a defect on the runway, we have temporarily suspended operations as a precaution, in order to inspect and repair the section affected.

“We apologise for any inconvenience. Safety is always our number one priority. Customers should refer to their airlines with any flight queries.

“All flights are currently suspended until at least 06:00 tomorrow morning (Saturday 8 August).”

City of York Council said its contractor will repaint the lines in Markham Crescent, off Haxby Road, as the work “clearly hasn’t been completed to our high standards”.

The ‘quadruple’ yellow lines left in Markham Crescent, York, on Friday (August 7) (Image: Newsquest)

Residents said workers repaired the strip off tarmac on Thursday (August 6) and repainted the double yellow lines.

But they said workers then returned on Friday and painted a second pair of lines on top.

One resident said the lines had resulted in “utter confusion” for motorists.

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Naj Mahmud, from the Park View guest house on the corner of the street, said he was left speechless by the work.

“I have no idea [why they did it],” he said. “I have nothing to say. They just did it.”

He said it was “definitely” not a good job.

A City of York Council spokesperson said: “This work clearly hasn’t been completed to our high standards, something our external contractor accepts.

“It has confirmed the work will be redone by the end of this weekend at the latest, after which it will be inspected by our highways team.”

Police allege the businessman, who has not yet been identified, met the men in question on an online dating site and invited them to his salon on separate occasions

A man has been charged after an investigation into alleged sexual offences inside a his own hair salon.

Detectives began investigating in June this year after two men, 34 and 37, alleged that the incidents had taken place at a salon on Gardeners Road, Rosebery in Sydney’s south.

Police allege the owner of the business, who has not yet been identified, met the men in question on an online dating site and invited them to his salon on separate occasions. It is alleged that the men unknowingly ingested a substance before being sexually assaulted.

After extensive inquiries, detectives arrested a 39-year-old man at the business, which has not been named, at about 11am local time on Friday August 7.

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A New South Wales Police spokesperson said: “In June 2026, detectives attached to South Sydney Police Area Command commenced an investigation after two men, aged 34 and 37, were allegedly sexually assaulted at a hair salon on Gardeners Road, Rosebery.

“Police will be alleged the owner of the business met the men on an online dating site and they were invited to the salon, where they unknowingly ingested a substance before being sexually assaulted.

“The two separate incidents allegedly occurred on Sunday 8 March 2026 and Monday 25 May 2026. Following extensive inquiries, detectives arrested a 39-year-old man at the business at 11am today (Friday 7 August 2026).

“He was taken to Mascot Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of use intoxicating substance to commit indictable offence, and two counts of sexual intercourse without consent.

“The man was refused bail to appear at Bail Division Court 7 tomorrow (Saturday 8 August 2026).”

A dolphin leaped out of the sea to the delight of Dorset kayakers as the UK prepared for its fifth heatwave of the year.

Paddlers off the coast of Weymouth, Dorset, were surprised by the sight of the dolphin, which emerged from the water and rose 4ft into the air.

Captured by Mark Flanders, who was on the Sea Kayak Dorset outing, the dolphin was lit by bright sunshine as the kayakers enjoyed a break from the 20C Dorset heat.

And it is likely many more will be heading to the seaside as the country prepares for its fifth heatwave this year, with highs of 36C expected.

Yellow heat health alerts will run from 9am on Saturday until 9pm on Tuesday, advising of potential impact of the warm weather on health and social care services.

And it is likely the annual record for days exceeding 30C in temperature will be broken next week.

The current record, 34 days, was set in 1995 but the UK has already seen temperatures reach 30C or more on 33 occasions this year.

A high of 36C is expected in parts of East Anglia and south-east England by Thursday, the Met Office said, following heatwaves in each of the last three months.

Sunbathers took advantage of the warm weather at Brighton beach on Friday as the country prepared for the fifth heatwave of the year

The highest temperature of the year was 38C recorded at Lingwood in Norfolk on June 28.

There have been more than 2,800 excess deaths associated with the heatwaves, which have fuelled drought and wildfires.

Forecasters said the weekend will see a north-south split in the weather with Scotland and Northern Ireland likely to see spells of heavy rain, while England and Wales will remain largely dry, sunny and increasingly warm.

Temperatures could reach 30C on Saturday, before climbing into the low 30s in southern and south-east England on Sunday.

Highs of up to 30C are possible across parts of England and Wales on Tuesday, increasing to 32C to 34C on Wednesday, with the highest temperatures currently expected on Thursday.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow heat health alerts for the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber and London.

Amid the continued heat, the National Trust has begun a petition calling on the Government to make tackling climate change a national mission.

In London’s Greenwich park, the once-lush green grass had turned a scorched brown after four heatwaves in the last three months

After England saw its driest July since records began, the Queen Mother reservoir in Berkshire was filled below average for the time of year

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Wildfires have burned across the country, including at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk, Headon Warren on the Isle of Wight, Llanwonno in the Rhondda Valleys, South Wales, and the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland.

Fires are likely to become exceptionally severe – the highest ranking – on Sunday for almost all of the east and south-east of England, according to the Fire Severity Index.

The Met Office data includes rainfall, temperature and humidity and agencies use the index to assess the severity of fire if it starts. It does not predict the chance of wildfires occurring.

Reservoir storage in England has dropped to 69 per cent, down from 72 per cent a week ago and nearly 12 percentage points below the long-term average for the time of year, the Environment Agency said on Friday.

Storage stood at 85 per cent at the end of June, which was the average for that time of year, but has fallen steadily in recent weeks.

Five reservoirs are now classed as having ‘exceptionally low’ levels after England and Wales saw their driest July since records began, the Met Office said.

Nineteen counties across England recorded effectively no rainfall – 1mm or less – across the whole of the month.

‘It’s time James’ killer faced up to justice and saw the trauma he has caused me and my family repeatedly’

The mum of murdered toddler James Bulger says she has no doubt that if Jon Venables is released he will harm or kill again.

It comes as she is fighting for Venables to have his fresh bid for freedom heard in public – warning he is still a danger.

Venables, only 10 when he tortured and murdered two-year-old James, is due to have a new parole hearing. But James’ mum Denise Fergus and her husband Stuart have applied for it to be held in public after his last was behind closed doors.

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Denise told the Mirror: “Enough is enough. It’s time James’ killer faced up to justice and saw the trauma he has caused me and my family repeatedly…

“It is important everyone knows the real truth of his crimes and that he still poses the greatest danger to other families like ours and the wider public. I have no doubt that, if released, he will harm or kill again.

“A public hearing would help explain how risk is assessed and managed by the parole board. It would also be a great opportunity for authorities to show just how rigorous the parole system is. A public hearing would not only allow justice to be seen to be done but we would finally feel listened to as a victim’s family.

“I truly believe James’ killer’s further convictions as an adult make it an exceptional case and mean that it is hugely in the public interest in how the parole review is conducted. We are ready to face him in a public hearing. We urge the authorities to allow this to happen.”

In February 1993, Venables and Robert Thompson, who was also 10 at the time, murdered James after snatching him from a Merseyside shopping centre. Venables, now in his 40s, was released on licence in 2001 from a life sentence.

But he ended up being recalled in 2010 after indecent images of children were discovered on his computer. Venables was released in 2013 but recalled in late 2017. In 2018, he was jailed for possessing child abuse images. Venables admitted charges of making incident images of kids and one of having a paedophile manual.

In 2020, Venables was refused parole after an assessment. He also had a bid for freedom rejected in 2023, with the Parole Board reportedly saying: “After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and on licence, and the evidence presented in the dossier, the panel was not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public.

“It noted the risks as set out above, doubted Mr Venables’ ability to be open and honest with professionals, and concluded that there remained a need for him to address outstanding levels of risk, and to develop his relationship with his probation officer.”

Today, details published on the government’s website by the Parole Board state: “The Parole Board has received an application from Denise and Stuart Fergus for the Parole Board hearing in the case of Jon Venables to be heard in public.”

Reasons listed for the application are summarised, including “significant public interest in the case”. Meanwhile, another point states: “The Applicants say they are exposed to extensive social media discussion about the case, and that greater transparency may help address misinformation, which is an issue that continues to have a retraumatising impact.”

In addition, the couple “argue that the prisoner should have to face up to his offending by way of a public hearing, especially given that he has committed further serious offences as an adult”.