Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned of missile shortage as he says Putin will benefit from a “long war” in Iran.

Appearing on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, he said the US produces around 60 to 65 Patriot missiles a month, which equates to roughly 600 to 700 a year. In the first day of the Middle East war, 103 missiles were used, he warned.

He said there will be “definitely” be a deficit and the question is now “when will all the stockpiles in the Middle East be exhausted”.

“For Putin, a long war in Iran is a plus,” as resources deplete, added.

“So it is beneficial for Putin that the resources do not go to Ukraine, against whom he has directed his army, and he’s fighting with he needs to weaken us. And this is a long process. The Middle East is one of the ways to do that.”

His comments come after at least four people were killed in Russian drone attacks on Saturday, while strikes on energy infrastructure knocked out power to most of the northern Ukrainian region of Chernihiv.

A drone attack in Zaporizhzhia struck and left a man and woman dead, while six people, including two children, were injured, regional head Ivan Fedorov said.

Officials said another two people died in attacks in the Dnipropetrovsk region, and five people were injured.

In Russia, two women were killed and another wounded by Ukrainian shelling of the Belgorod border region.

Zelensky warns of missile shortage

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned of missile shortage as he says Putin will benefit from a “long war” in Iran.

“For Putin, a long war in Iran is a plus,” as resources deplete, he told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.

”In addition to energy prices, it means the depletion of US reserves and the depletion of air defence manufacturers. So we have a depletion of resources.

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“So it is beneficial for Putin that the resources do not go to Ukraine, against whom he has directed his army, and he’s fighting with he needs to weaken us. And this is a long process. The Middle East is one of the ways to do that.”

He said the US produces around 60 to 65 Patriot missiles a month, which equates to roughly 600 to 700 a year. In the first day of the Middle East war, 103 missiles were used, he warned.

He said there will be “definitely” be a deficit and the question is now “when will all the stockpiles in the Middle East be exhausted”.

Amy-Clare Martin22 March 2026 10:35

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Trilateral talks ‘constantly postponed’ due to Iran war, Zelensky says

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said trilateral talks over the war in Ukraine are “constantly postponed” due to the war in Iran.

Appearing on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, he said: “I have a very bad feeling about the impact of this war on the situation in Ukraine, and the focus on America is more on the Middle East than on Ukraine.

“Unfortunately, therefore, you see that our diplomatic meetings, trilateral meetings are constantly postponed. There is one reason, war in Iran.”

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Amy-Clare Martin22 March 2026 10:17

Village captured in Ukraine’s Sumy region, reports claim

Russia has captured a village in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, according to unverified reports.

Russian forces have taken control of the village Potapivka, state-run RIA news agency claimed on Sunday, citing the Russian Defence Ministry.

Reuters news agency said they could not independently verify the battlefield report.

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Amy-Clare Martin22 March 2026 09:32

Russia says it thwarted drone attack near Bashkortostan refineries

Russian air defences thwarted a Ukrainian drone attack on the city of Ufa in Bashkortostan region, regional governor Radiy Khabirov said.

Ukrainian drones were shot down near the city’s oil refineries, Khabirov said, without naming the facilities.

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Debris triggered a brief fire at a building under construction in one of the city’s districts.

Bashkortostan, located in the Ural Mountains, has been repeatedly targeted by Ukraine. Its capital, Ufa, lies about 1,400km (870 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border.

Amy-Clare Martin22 March 2026 08:48

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The media has unmasked Banksy, again. Art experts reveal what happens next

Reuters pieced together that a David Jones travelled to Ukraine with a well-known associate of Banksy’s in late 2022 — just before the artist’s work began appearing on buildings that had been bombed by Russia.

Banksy later confirmed that he’d created seven murals in the war zone, including one of a child flipping over a grown man who is wearing a black belt.

Rituparna Chatterjee22 March 2026 08:10

How Ukraine’s front line became a laboratory for drone innovation

In recent years, Ukraine’s domestic drone interceptor market has burgeoned, producing some key players who tout their products at international arms shows.

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But it’s on the front line where small teams have become laboratories of rapid military innovation – grassroots technology born of battlefield necessity that now draw international interest.

Rituparna Chatterjee22 March 2026 06:30

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller, who investigated Russia-Trump campaign ties, dies

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar22 March 2026 06:00

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Russian drone attack on village in Donetsk Oblast kills 63-year-old resident

A Russian drone attack on a village in the Donetsk Oblast killed one person and injured four others, including a 15-year-old boy, the Donetsk Oblast prosecutor’s office said.

A Russian Lancet drone struck a residential area of the Maidan village, killing a 63-year-old resident, while simultaneously damaging 35 nearby homes and vehicles, according to the Kyiv Independent.

Four other civilians, including a 30-year-old man, two women aged 52 and 65, and a 15-year-old boy, also suffered injuries, officials said.

Rituparna Chatterjee22 March 2026 05:39

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Power and water supplies cut in parts of Kyiv

Power and water supplies were cut to parts of the capital Kyiv after what officials described as an incident on the power grid.

Russia has conducted a bombardment campaign against Ukrainian energy facilities throughout the war, causing regular, hours-long blackouts across the country.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar22 March 2026 05:00

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Russian attack kills four in Zaporizhzhia

Russian attacks killed four people in southeastern Ukraine and left much of the northern region of Chernihiv without power, officials said.

Zaporizhzhia governor Ivan Fedorov said a morning strike on the city killed a man and a woman and injured six others, including two children.

In the adjacent Dnipropetrovsk region, officials said two people died in an area southeast of the regional centre, Dnipro.

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Five others were injured in attacks at multiple locations. President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his nightly video address, noted Russian strikes in several regions across eastern and southern Ukraine.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar22 March 2026 04:30

Some flights to and from the Middle East have been cancelled

Flights across the globe continue to be disrupted following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, with a number of flights also cancelled between the region and Manchester Airport today, March 22. Aviation is not as disrupted as it was at the start of the war, as some airline have began resuming some services which were initially impacted by the war.

Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways, which are the Middle East’s three biggest carriers, are operating a limited number of commercial flights from their respective bases in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, which each serve as major travel hubs for passengers flying between Europe and the Far East and Australia.

Between Manchester Airport and the Middle East, Emirates, Etihad and Qatar are currently operating a limited number of flights. However, Gulf Air has continued to cancel flights to and from Bahrain due to continued airspace closures.

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A statement on its website reads: “Due to the closure of airspace in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the region, Gulf Air flight operations remain temporarily suspended. The airline will resume services once the Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs confirms the safe reopening of the affected airspace.”

Gulf Air flight GF5 which was scheduled to arrive at Manchester this morning at 6.35am has been cancelled. A Gulf Air flight to Bahrain from Manchester, which was scheduled for 10:15am, has also been cancelled.

Below are the latest cancelled flights to and from Manchester Airport today, March 21. If you are due to fly then check with your airline before you travel.

Departures

10:15am Gulf Air flight GF4 to Bahrain

Arrivals

6:35am Gulf Air flight GF5 from Bahrain

The streaming giant has added the divisive action movie to its library

In a weekend update, Netflix has discreetly added a ‘chaotic’ action adventure film based on what some fans claim is ‘one of the best video games series of all time’.

Despite the title being one of the most contentious when it premiered in cinemas back in 2024, others declared that it is an ‘absolute thrill ride’. Available to stream as of today (March 22), the streaming service now includes the film Borderlands as part of its extensive catalogue.

It’s a big screen live action adaptation of the hugely popular video game franchise of the same name. These games are first person shooters, known for their extravagant weapons, sometimes crude humour and colourful characters, with the latest title Borderlands 4, launching on PC and consoles last year.

The film version attempts to bring some of these characters to life with the main story centring on Lilith, portrayed by Cate Blanchett. She’s a notorious bounty hunter with a mysterious past, who reluctantly returns to her home planet of Pandora, the most chaotic planet in the galaxy.

Her mission is to locate the missing daughter of Atlas. Along the way, she forms an unexpected alliance with a motley crew of misfits – Roland (Kevin Hart), a seasoned mercenary on a mission; Tiny Tina (Ariana Greenblatt), a feral pre-teen demolitionist; Krieg (Florian Munteanu), Tina’s musclebound protector; Tannis (Jamie Lee Curtis), the eccentric scientist who’s seen it all; and Claptrap (voiced by Jack Black), a wisecracking robot, reports the Mirror.

READ MORE: Netflix’s ‘intense’ thriller fans found hard to watch confirms season 2 dateREAD MORE: ‘Masterful’ sci-fi thriller viewers ‘won’t ever forget’ gets Netflix exit date

Together, these unlikely heroes must fight an alien species and dangerous bandits to discover one of Pandora’s most explosive secrets. Eli Roth, known for creating the Hostel horror films as well as Cabin Fever, wrote and directed the picture.

According to the film’s credits it was written in partnership with Joe Crombie but it has been reported that person may not even exist. Some fans believe whoever the writer really was, wanted their name removed from the project but that remains an unconfirmed rumour.

The studio apparently brought in Tim Miller who helmed Deadpool to oversee reshoots for the production. It lost $100 million at the box office against its budget and scored just 10% on Rotten Tomatoes.

However, since its release it has still managed to find a fanbase, making it one of the most divisive blockbusters around. One viewer posting their thoughts online acknowledged its shortcomings but still considered it an enjoyable watch.

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They said: “Look, this film isn’t a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, but if you want an entertaining popcorn flick, this is it. Sure it played around with the lore, but it was satisfying and whilst the writing was predictable and the final boss fight very quick, it felt like the actors had fun doing it, got into character and had a few laughs.”

Meanwhile, another person described it as “an absolute thrill ride from start to finish, perfectly capturing the chaotic charm of the beloved video game series.” They go on to say: “As someone who has played all the games multiple times, I was blown away by how faithfully the movie brought the world of Pandora to life. The humour, the action, and the larger-than-life characters are all here, just as fans would hope.”

They continue: “The movie doesn’t just cater to hardcore fans; it’s a fantastic entry point for newcomers too, offering a wild, entertaining experience that doesn’t require prior knowledge of the games. The visual effects are stunning, and the action sequences are both intense and hilarious, just like the chaotic gunfights the franchise is known for. “Borderlands: The Movie” delivers everything I hoped for and more, making it a must-see for any fan of the series or anyone looking for a fun, action-packed movie experience. I can’t wait to see it again.”

Nevertheless, not everyone shares this view, with one let-down viewer claiming: “What a disappointment. This world has so much potential, and they just wasted it to produce a no-heart, by-the-numbers adaptation. With amazing adaptations like The Last of Us, Fallout, Mario Bros, Sonic etc coming out in recent years, I thought Hollywood finally knew better. Boy was I wrong.”

Borderlands is streaming on Netflix.

Beau Greaves’ record 114-match winning streak in the PDC Women’s Series came to an end as she lost to 4-1 to Fallon Sherrock in Wigan on Saturday.

Three-time women’s world champion Greaves, the first woman to hit a nine-dart finish on the PDC ProTour, had not been beaten since April 2025 and had won 17 women’s events in a row.

Sherrock, who averaged 102.12 to the 100.28 produced by Greaves, went on to lose 5-3 to Lisa Ashton in the final of the fifth event of the PDC Women’s Series.

Greaves bounced back to win the sixth round, which took place on Saturday night, beating Gemma Hayter 5-0 in the final to secure her fifth title of the year.

Not sure what’s happened here, but we’re actually feeling sorry for Kim Tate (Claire King) in Emmerdale.

Kim is our favourite Emmerdale tyrant and we’re feeling a bit protective of her in her new vulnerable state. If Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) thinks he’s taking her crown, he can do one.

Although he’s not the one who’s hurt our little Kim, it’s Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough), who is messing with our heads as much as Kim’s. One minute we’re rooting for him as mister nice guy, helping ailing Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) with his farming predicaments, the next he’s trying to break up Rhona Goskirk’s (Zoe Henry) marriage and manipulating Kim into bed.

His arrival back in the Dales threw Kim into a spin, given that she thought he’d been dead for six years. Ever since he returned, he’s been plotting to discredit Kim in Joe’s eyes, encouraging him to break ties with the Home Farm matriarch.

Kim has been fighting her feelings for her ex, putting on a frosty front while admitting to Lydia Dingle (Karen Blick) that there is regrettably something still there. When Graham gave Rhona an ultimatum that she seemingly refused (only because her child got sick, who knows what would have happened if Rhona had met Graham on that bridge?!), he took his battered ego and lured Kim into bed.

The next day he brushed her off, leaving her in a bad head space. Humiliated, she admitted to Lydia she’d never again let him get close – and yet he continues to live in her house.

Scorned Kim is now thinking up new ways to protect herself and forms an unusual alliance – she hires Ross Barton (Mike Parr) to take on the very important role of her Director of Operations, aka a glorified bodyguard.

Slowly, Kim plans to build an army against Graham.

Graham reacts badly to this news, just as Kim hopes he would. He knows Ross and Dawn have a history, so the first thing he does is go in heavy and warns Ross off.

Ross is not one to be intimidated and finds Graham’s attempt laughable, instead lauding it over him that he’s now Kim’s ‘extra muscle’. Has Graham met his match?

MORE: Rhona grateful as pining Graham saves Dylan in Emmerdale – and passion follows?

MORE: Joe and Jamie Tate war ‘confirmed’ in early Emmerdale ITVX release as Kim reveals the truth

MORE: Emmerdale ‘confirms’ who will take Joe Tate down a peg – and it will be most delicious

Housing Secretary Steve Reed has insisted the UK is safe, despite warnings Iran has developed long-range firepower capable of reaching Britain.

Israel issued a stark warning that Iran’s missiles are a threat to European cities – including London, Paris and Berlin – after an attack on the UK-US Diego Garcia military base on the Chagos Islands.

Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper on Saturday hit out at the “reckless” Iranian action after two ballistic missiles were fired towards the base. Both were unsuccessful, with one shot down by a US warship and the other failing in flight.

Mr Reed told Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: “We have systems and defences in place that keep the United Kingdom safe, and that will continue to happen, but the PM has been crystal clear about this war.

“We didn’t join the war, we’re not going to be dragged into this war, but we will take necessary defensive action to protect British interests, British people, or our allies across the region.”

He said the fact that one of the missiles fired at Diego Garcia was intercepted, and the other failed, shows “that our defensive capabilities are correct”.

On Saturday, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it was the first time Tehran had launched a long-range missile since the start of the war, and showed it was now capable of reaching cities such as London, Paris or Berlin.

It claimed the missiles could go a distance of around 4,000km, meaning they posed a danger to dozens of countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. In a post on X, it said: “We have been saying it: The Iranian terrorist regime poses a global threat. Now, with missiles that can reach London, Paris or Berlin.”

Diego Garcia is around 3,800km (2,360 miles) away from Iran. The distance between Iran and the UK is around 4,435km (2,750 miles).

Mr Reed refused to say how close Iran’s long-range missiles had come to reaching Diego Garcia, insisting that to do so would only help Iran.

He appeared to suggest Israel’s warning was exaggerated, saying the IDF’s statement was “conditional”, adding “there is no assessment to substantiate what’s being said”.

He also would not be drawn on whether the government backs Donald Trump’s fresh 48-hour deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, saying that was a question for the US President.

Early on Sunday, Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social that the country had 48 hours to comply or the US would “obliterate” Iran’s power plants.

The Conservatives accused Sir Keir Starmer of putting the UK’s “standing in the world” at risk by “dithering” on Iran.

Sir James Cleverly, the shadow housing secretary, said Mr Trump had been “deeply unfair” when he accused the UK and European Nato allies of being cowards.

But he added: “However, I don’t think it has been helped by the fact that our prime minister has sat on his hands at a time when the Canadians, a left-of-centre government, were supportive of the action against Iran. Australia, a left-of-centre government, supportive of the action against Iran – so it’s not a left-right split. The fact is Keir Starmer was equivocal, he was dithering, he was undecided and that, I fear, has undermined our standing in the world.”

Nearly 600 immigrant children were held in a Texas family detention center in recent months without enough food, medical care or mental health services, as their time inside stretched beyond court-mandated limits, according to court documents filed Friday.

Children and families held in the Dilley detention facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father were sent earlier this year also faced virus outbreaks and lasting lockdowns in December and January, although the total number of children held at Dilley has fallen in recent weeks, according to the attorney’s reports and site visits.

The case of Ramos, a preschooler who was wearing a blue bunny hat when he was picked up in Minnesota by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, stirred protest over the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, including among detainees who gathered and held up signs in the yard inside Dilley’s chain-link fences.

Last week about 85 children remained detained at Dilley, but concerning conditions continued, said Mishan Wroe, directing attorney at the National Center for Youth Law, who visited in mid-March. In early February, a legal advocate for the children observed about 280 children.

The filings cited numerous poignant cases, including that of a 13-year-old girl held at Dilley who tried to take her own life after staff withheld prescribed antidepressants and denied her request to join her mother, as reported by The Associated Press. The government reported there had been “no placements on suicide watch,” according to the filing. The AP obtained Dilley discharge documents that described a “suicide attempt by cutting of wrist” and “self-harm.”

The filings were submitted in a lawsuit launched in 1985 that led to the creation in 1997 of court-ordered supervision of standards and eventually established a 20-day limit in custody. The Trump administration seeks to end the Flores settlement.

“For years, the Flores consent decree has been a tool of the left that is antithetical to the law and wastes valuable U.S. taxpayer funded resources,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. “Being in detention is a choice.”

Attorneys for detainees highlighted the government’s data showing longer custody times for immigrant children, and also cited worms in food, and poor access to medical care or sufficient legal counsel as reported by families and monitors at federal facilities.

“Dilley remains a hellhole,” said Leecia Welch, the chief legal director at Children’s Rights, who visits Dilley regularly to ensure compliance. “Although the number of children has decreased, the suffering remains the same.”

Dilley is retrofitted for families, who receive basic necessities including adequate food and water while in detention, and the Trump administration is working to quickly deport detainees, the DHS spokesperson added.

A report from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement showed that about 595 immigrant children were held in custody for more than the 20-day limit in December and January, with some stretching into months, per the filing.

“Approximately 265 of these children were detained for more than 50 days and a shocking 55 children were detained more than 100 days,” the filing stated.

That is up from a previous government disclosure late last year that showed from August to September, 400 children had been held at Dilley beyond the 20-day limit. DHS did not respond to questions seeking comment on the data.

Chief U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee of the Central District of California is scheduled to have a hearing on the case later this month.

Ronan Kanda, 16, was fatally attacked with a 20-inch “ninja” sword as he walked home from a friend’s house in June 2022.

The mum of a teenage boy who was stabbed to death in a case of mistaken identity is battling to use school parents’ evenings to tackle the scourge of knife crime.

Ronan Kanda, 16, was fatally attacked with a 20-inch “ninja” sword as he walked home from a friend’s house in June 2022. Fellow pupils Prabjeet Veadhesa and Sukhman Shergill, both 17, mistook the tragic teen for a rival they had set out to kill.

Veadhesa plunged the weapon into Ronan’s back and chest, piercing his heart, in the attack in Wolverhampton. The boy had bought the sword with his mother’s ID and was handed it by bungling Post Office workers hours before the killing.

The remorseless pair went to Veadhesa’s home and ordered takeaways and played video games. Veadhesa and Shergil were jailed for life in 2023. They must serve at least 18 and 16 years behind bars.

Ronan’s mum Pooja, 49, has since devoted her life to tackling youth knife crime and the online sale of deadly weapons. New legislation named after her son – Ronan’s Law – has made it illegal to sell, make or import ninja swords to the UK. Last month Pooja, who still lives on the street where her son was killed, received an OBE for her anti-knife crime campaign.

She and her daughter Nikita regularly visit schools and charities to speak to youngsters about the dangers of carrying knives. But now they want to engage directly with parents to stop kids sliding into lives of crime. Pooja said school parents’ evenings are the ideal time to speak to adults.

She told the Mirror: “Parents are vital. They have a responsibility. Bringing up a child on this earth and not nurturing them with values causes so much pain. I know it’s hard to be a parent, and people say it’s hard to bring up a child because people are working all hours. But I was a single mum and I managed to raise two children with respect and values.

“I’m not saying ‘become me’, I’m saying ‘be better in what you are doing’. I see a lot of parents, especially the murderers’ parents, they didn’t have any morals or values between them. I saw them, the way they acted during the court case. One of the mothers said to me, ‘My son hasn’t done anything wrong’. That opened my eyes.

“That boy, sitting in his cell for the next 16 years, still doesn’t think he’s done anything wrong because his mum is there backing him up. I would like the schools to come forward and work with us. If we could go into schools on parents’ evenings, we’d have a captive audience. A school is a great portal to get that support to parents.

“I would like to have posters outside, people like me standing in the school hall, speaking to parents. I’m never giving up on this. I’m not giving up on the children who deserve to know what we can do to support them.”

Pooja says she remains “absolutely broken” over her son’s death nearly four years ago.

She said: “It doesn’t get any easier. It is more difficult than ever. At the beginning you are in shock, you are not thinking that you have lost your son forever. The pain, the loneliness, what he went through, really is painful. It feels like I didn’t protect my child, I failed to protect him. Ronan was my life. When I think back to before the murder, I was such a happy person, we were such a happy family.

“Now, even when I’m laughing, there’s no happiness inside. It’s like a continual sentence. There is no happiness. I’m always thinking, ‘What would he be doing now? What would he be like?’ His friends are going to university now, and I’m imagining him when I see them.

“I imagine his face, what would his hair be like, how tall would he be? Would he be introducing his girlfriend to me? All his future plans, and me being part of that future, has been taken away in one blow. I’m broken beyond words, absolutely broken. The grief can suddenly hit me without warning at any moment. His face comes into my head when I least expect it. I do everything in my power to stay strong, because I don’t want people to see my tears, but sometimes I can’t stop them. It’s constant pain, constant darkness.”

Pooja said she would turn down any opportunity to meet with Ronan’s killers as part of a “restorative justice” scheme. “I’m aware of restorative justice, and I know some families choose that path,” she said.

“But every parent who has lost a child has their own way of coping and seeking answers. I have found my way as well. For me, the courtroom gave me my answers. I saw everything in there. It was very clear. I saw the video evidence in the court. I heard the evidence too. They were ordering takeaways, playing PlayStation, after knowing they had taken Ronan’s life. I never want to meet them or see them again. I’m very clear with my mindset, I saw what they did. If it wasn’t my son it would have been someone else’s son, either another mistaken victim or the intended target.

“Unfortunately on this occasion it was my son, who I really, really, absolutely adored. There is no way I will ever forgive them.” Pooja is continuing to battle for changes in the law and licensing rules to stop crimes like her son’s murder happening again.

Amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, which will make it mandatory for collection point sites to check ID on knives, are going through the House of Lords. And a consultation is being run by the government for a licensing system for sellers and imports of knives, which would include rules for age verification and secure packaging.

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Volunteers at a Highland Hospice shop in Wick created a tongue-in-cheek display featuring mannequins in council workwear — but officials demanded it be taken down and confiscated the uniforms.

A killjoy council ordered a charity shop plagued by road works and potholes to remove a hi-vis window installation. Volunteers at the Highland Hospice in Wick in Scotland set up the tongue-in-cheek display.

It featured four mannequins in council workwear with the window reading “get the new high street look”. The mannequins were wearing Highland Council workers’ uniforms and carrying brooms and shovels.

They had been donated to the shop which has also suffered a lack of business due to ongoing roadworks.

But shop manager Hannah Morrison says council employees have since demanded the display be taken down – despite not offering the uniforms for sale. The council even confiscated the outfits.

Hannah says the response from the council has been “frustrating” – as staff members are still waiting to have a large pothole near the shop filled in.

“We got donated Highland Council hi-vis workwear – we don’t know who donated them, but they came to our back door,” said Hannah.

“I just thought, because all these roadworks are ongoing, and it’s affected our footfall, that it would be quite funny if we put something in the window to make light of the situation.

“We put them in and wrote “get the new high street style” – they weren’t for sale and it was just a joke.

“There were so many people that loved it and thought it was great – it brightened up the street and every day people would be coming in and saying how good it was.”

But on Tuesday, while Hannah was away from the premises, a council employee demanded the display be taken down.

Meanwhile, roadworks in Wick have been taking place in the town centre since early November as part of the £2.1 million Wick street design project and are due to continue until the end of May.

She said: “On Tuesday, I was on a day off, and someone from the council had come in and said to take the window display out, as it had the Highland Council badge on all these uniforms.

“What just frustrated me a lot about it was that he never asked to speak to me, to discuss any matter or negotiate.

“He’d come in and told them to take it out, and he took the uniforms with him.

“If he would have spoken to me, I would have explained, obviously, that it was display only.

“I could have said we’ll cover up the badges, or he could have maybe offered a contribution – or filled in the pothole at the back that’s been asked to be filled in.”

Hannah described the response from the council as “frustrating,” and said they should be doing more to help Wick’s high street during “difficult times.”

A Highland Council representative told the John O’Groats Journal: “Displaying council hi-vis in the charity’s shop window suggests it is for sale. There was no indication it was for display purposes only.

“Hi-vis is issued to staff who require to wear this for their protection and safety, which the council takes seriously.

“Council hi-vis should not be used for personal purposes by council staff or members of the public.

“The council has a responsibility for the appropriate use of resources and, where staff no longer undertake activities which require hi-vis, the protective clothing should be returned and recycled where applicable to safeguard budgets.

“The council does not regard this to have been an overreaction. It was necessary to retrieve the hi-vis.

“Staff and managers are being reminded personal protective equipment should be returned when staff leave a role requiring this type of safety protection.”

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