The two sons of a police officer killed in the A66 crash led out the Manchester United team as mascots for today’s Premier League match against Ipswich Town. 

PCs Matthew Blades, 37, and Tom Clough, 38, died alongside five young occupants of a VW Passat that was travelling on the wrong side of a dual carriageway in the early hours of Saturday, August 22. 

PC Blades was described as a ‘proud Red’ by United, having been a regular at Old Trafford. 

In a tribute in their programme, the club said: ‘Matthew was a proud Red, a devoted family man and a police officer who dedicated his life to helping others.’ 

His widow Sarah attended today’s game alongside their children, who led out the team as mascots in honour of their father. 

The eldest child was walked out by Bruno Fernandes, captain of Manchester United, while the youngest was led by goalkeeper Senne Lammens. 

It followed a minute’s applause in memory of PC Blades and PC Clough yesterday before Middlesbrough’s Championship encounter with West Brom at Riverside Stadium. 

Mourners also gathered to pay their respects at Seaton Carew FC’s game against FC Hartlepool – with PC Blades a former junior football coach at both teams.  

Bruno Fernandes, captain of Manchester United, led out PC Blades’s eldest child 

The youngest child (right) was walked out by goalkeeper Senne Lammens 

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PCs Matthew Blades with his two children and a Manchester mascot 

PC Blades, 37, was killed when his police vehicle was struck by a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way down the A66 near Middlesbrough 

PC Tom Clough, 38, also died in the crash, which occurred around 10 seconds after a police pursuit of the Volkswagen was called off 

The club paid a long and moving tribute to PC Blades in their programme, in which they said: ‘It is with great sadness that Manchester United learned of the death of PC Matthew Blades and his colleague PC Tom Clough in an accident near Middlesbrough last weekend. 

‘For Matt, some of his happiest times were spent watching United with his boys. His wife Sarah and two children will be at today’s game, with his sons leading out the Reds as mascots.’ 

They added that a friend and colleague of PC Blades sent them a tribute, which read: ‘For Matthew, United was a lifelong love, a passion he shared with his family. Since Matt’s tragic death there has been an extraordinary outpouring of grief and support. 

‘That love has been seen in countless tributes and acts of kindness. Today, we remember a fellow Red. A husband. A father. A son. A brother. A friend. A police officer. A man who gave his life in the service of others. Forever our superhero.’  

Middlesbrough and County Durham have been gripped by a wave of violence since the crash, which has left some residents too intimidated to leave their homes. 

Theo Rae, 17, Cole Worthy, 17, Michael Cahill, 23, Jakub Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18, were driving in the Passat and all lost their lives in the smash. 

Four of the five youths had previous criminal convictions, and were believed to be associated with another car which was seen ramming properties on the morning of the crash. 

Police are investigating whether the spate of violence, including the fatal A66 crash, is linked to organised crime. 

Middlesbrough, which has the highest crime rate in England bar central London, was rocked again when a seven-year-old girl, Valentina Foster, and her aunt, Natalie McDonald, 34, died in a house fire. Two men were arrested on suspicion of murder. 

Although police did not link the blaze to the A66 crash, they did not rule out a connection to wider organised crime.

Barely 24 hours later, armed police were responding to another serious incident in Middlesbrough, with claims of a machete attack that left a man with stab wounds.

Makai Saddington, one of the five killed in the Volkswagen, posted videos on TikTok of him being chased by police and was awaiting trial for racially abusing and assaulting officers

Jakub Matusiak, another occupant of the car which hit the officers, also posted videos of himself driving recklessly

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Close friends Theo Rae (left) and Cole Robert Worthy both died in the crash on Saturday

Michael Robert Cahill was one of the five in the VW Passat

Seven more men were later held as part of a broader operation to disrupt organised crime, taking the total number of arrests to 24.

Police in Middlesbrough had five pleas for help ignored by the Government before an outbreak of gang violence which led to the fatal A66 crash. 

Matt Storey, Cleveland’s police and crime commissioner, had written at least seven letters to the Government since July 2024 warning that officers were ‘woefully underfunded’ and struggling to protect the public. 

Only two received a response, his office said, while more requests for additional support were ignored. 

The most recent warning, sent to Andy Burnham last month, said shrinking recruitment was driving ‘concern about whether help will be there when it is needed most’.

Cleveland police was forced to call in 200 officers from nearby regions last week after the crash. 

DHADING, Nepal (AP) — In one of the areas worst hit by Wednesday’s catastrophic floods in Nepal, a group of schoolchildren managed to survive when they happened to leave their classroom for their lunch break.

Children attending other classes at the school in Dhading also escaped because teachers told them to quickly evacuate their classrooms shortly before the waters came crashing in.

“The teachers said, ‘There is a flood and you should leave bags and tiffins,’” said Lakshmi Shrestha, the mother of a student attending the school. “That’s how they managed to survive.”

Shrestha was among mothers and children who began to return to their school on Sunday to find the kids’ belongings and see what could be salvaged. The majority of the children at the school appeared to have survived the floods, the families said.

Thick brown and gray mud coated the surfaces of school benches, walls and notebooks while the school’s courtyard was filled with sediment. Lines on the walls showed how high the water rapidly rose. A pile of small mud-caked backpacks, some with colorful key chains, were on the benches and floors, waiting to be claimed.

Kopila Mizar, the mother of a student, was unable to find her son’s backpack, but remained positive.

“My son is alive, that is my biggest happiness,” she said.

At least 69 schools in Nepal’s flood-devastated districts have been destroyed or damaged, putting education at risk for nearly 19,000 children, according to the nonprofit Save the Children. Those numbers are likely to rise as rescue teams reach more areas, they said.

The government ordered schools and universities to shut down for three days following torrential rains that triggered severe flash floods and landslides across parts of the country. University exams were also paused.

With communities still receiving constant flood warnings advising them to move to higher, safer areas, it’s unclear when classes will be able to resume.

Nepal’s disaster agency said Sunday the death toll had climbed to 788 with 2,502 missing, while Chinese authorities reported 16 deaths and 546 missing on the Chinese side of the border.

The missing include hundreds of people from over a dozen countries who were in the region to work, visit the mountains or make a pilgrimage to a sacred peak. On Sunday, Chinese state media said 261 foreigners were missing in Tibet, including over a hundred Nepalis and others from around the world.

The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Police are looking for 43-year-old Daniel O’Brien in connection with an alleged stalking offence reported in Chadderton between June 23 and July 5, 2026.

O’Brien is believed to also have links to Oldham and Rochdale.

The force shared a picture of O’Brien on social media as part of an appeal to help locate him.

Anyone with information about O’Brien’s whereabouts is urged to get in touch with Greater Manchester Police.

Information can be submitted via 101 or by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

PC Matthew Blades, described by Man U as a “proud Red”, was killed alongside colleague PC Tom Clough in a crash with a VW driving the wrong way on the A66 at South Bank last weekend.

The children led the team out onto the pitch as mascots, walking with captain Bruno Fernandes and goalkeeper Senne Lammens ahead of their game against Ipswich.

The Red Devils expressed “great sadness” at the deaths of the two officers in a matchday programme.

“Matthew was a proud Red, a devoted family man and a police officer who dedicated his life to helping others,” United said.

“For Matt, some of his happiest times were spent watching United with his boys. His wife Sarah and two children will be at today’s game, with his sons leading out the Reds as mascots.”

Middlesbrough paid tribute to the pair on Saturday (August 29) in their Championship match against West Bromwich Albion at the Riverside.

Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion players observe a minutes silence in memory of PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, ahead of the Sky Bet Championship match at Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough. Picture date: Saturday August 29, 2026. PA Photo. P (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA)

A period of applause was also observed in honour of the two police officers before the Boro 10K on Sunday morning, and Darlington FC paid tribute before their National League North match against Macclesfield on Saturday.

Hartlepool United supporters held a two-minute silence for both officers before the club’s game against Eastleigh on Friday night, with members of PC Blades’ family joining players in the centre circle.

A two-minute’s silence was held for PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough before Hartlepool’s game against Eastleigh tonight. (Image: MARK FLETCHER)

Two officers’ hats left on the pitch at Victoria Park in memory of PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, (Image: MARK FLETCHER)

An image of PC Blades with his two sons at Old Trafford featured in the Man U v Ipswich match programme, along with a tribute from an unnamed close friend and colleague.

“For Matthew, United was a lifelong love, a passion he shared with his family,” the tribute read.

“Since Matt’s tragic death there has been an extraordinary outpouring of grief and support. That love has been seen in countless tributes and acts of kindness.

“Today, we remember a fellow Red. A husband. A father. A son. A brother. A friend. A police officer.

“A man who gave his life in the service of others. Forever our superhero.”

PC Blades, a dad-of-two from Hartlepool, has also been remembered for his work coaching youngsters at football clubs in the town.

He and PC Clough were travelling in a marked armed response car when the crash happened around 3.39am.

Inquests opened on Thursday heard both died from head and neck injuries.

Five people travelling in the Passat also died. They have been named as Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Jakub Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18.

A handsome home both outside and in, The Lime House has been thoughtfully designed in partnership with Native Architects to create a property that stands well in its surroundings and provides wonderful open-plan spaces for family life and entertaining.

More than that, The Lime House has outstanding environmental credentials, having been built using straw bale construction (a renewable building method that utilises agricultural by-products to create a super insulated, highly sustainable and breathable home) and with a commitment to sourcing materials locally wherever possible.

This has included bricks from the Yorkshire Handmade Brick Company and stonework crafted by a York Minster mason.

So successful has the creation of The Lime House been that it has been recognised in the latest Pevsner guide, which refers to it as a prominent contemporary, classically designed country home and draws particular attention to its striking galleried entrance hall.

The centre point from which the ground floor accommodation radiates, the entrance hall features elegant panelling, a beautiful stone fireplace and a hand-crafted curved stone staircase.

Beyond lies the open-plan kitchen, dining and living area, fitted with bespoke cabinetry from Hovingham Interiors, timber and leathered granite worktops, a generous central island and an electric AGA range cooker.

Adjoining the kitchen is a dining area and a spacious seating area with doors that open into a south-facing courtyard, creating a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor living.

A separate sitting room provides a more private retreat.

Completing the ground floor is a cloakroom, boot room, utility room, study and the principal bedroom suite, with a light-filled bedroom complemented by a striking curved bathroom featuring a freestanding bath.

Upstairs are three double bedrooms, all with en-suites, and with one having a staircase providing access to a mezzanine storage area.

An interconnecting passage links the main part of the house to a generous double-height barn, store and studio/workshop with potential for being converted into a self-contained annexe, subject to obtaining the necessary consents.

The house embraces modern technology throughout, including a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system which circulates and redistributes warmth around the home, plus triple glazing complemented by double-glazed pocket windows.

Jerusalem limestone, timber and tiled flooring extends throughout much of the house and benefits from underfloor heating.

Additional sustainable features include PIR lighting, a rainwater harvesting system, water softening equipment and an installed biodigester.

The Lime House is surrounded by rolling countryside and farmland, with its grounds extending to approximately 4.5 acres.

The owners have created a natural pond which captures rainwater from the house and supports a rich variety of wildlife.

Beautifully maintained, the gardens blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, embracing and enhancing the property’s idyllic rural setting.

The Lime House stands in a commanding position on the edge of the Howardian Hills AONB, near the village of Whenby and around eight miles from Easingwold.

It is on the market at a guide price of £2.75m.

For more information or to arrange a viewing, please contact Savills on 01904 617800.

As the tough-talking judge on BBC‘s MasterChef, John Torode wasn’t ever one to mince his words.

The Alpha-Aussie made a quivering souffle of the home cooks, amateur chefs and even celebrities who stood before him hoping for a crumb of praise.

So no wonder – after he was unceremoniously sacked after 20 years on the show – fans are both surprised and delighted to discover ‘another’ Torode.

Ever since launching a YouTube show with his wife, Lisa Faulkner, Torode, 61, is revelling in his much softer – almost cuddly – side.

From the comfort of their beautiful kitchen, at the heart of their terraced home in the enviable London enclave of Muswell Hill, Torode and Lisa, 54, laugh, tease and mock each other while whipping up mouthwatering dishes.

And viewers love it.

‘John and Lisa are basically the Richard and Judy of TV chefs and they are proving to be a huge success. Who needs the BBC now?’ says my well-placed source.

Just like Richard, Torode often looks clueless as quick-witted Lisa makes a cheeky comment.

Torode and Ms Faulkner with his MasterChef colleague Gregg Wallace, who was sacked from the show following allegations of misconduct

Ms Faulkner met Torode in 2010 while competing on Celebrity MasterChef, which she went on to win

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Swapping the clinical MasterChef kitchen for their more homely one has also been a hit, with viewers loving their wooden central island, customised ‘John & Lisa’ chopping board and pale green saucepans from their own J&L cookware range with high street chain ProChef.

Explaining their concept on the first video, Lisa cuddled their schnoodle dog as she enthused: ‘We’re cooking all our recipes from home in our kitchen which is great because we know where everything is, and we really hope you’re going to join us to see our family favourites.’

Since the soft launch of John and Lisa’s Kitchen & Home eight months ago, they have accumulated more than 1.2million views as fans have tuned in to watch them make ‘the perfect pavlova’ or Lisa’s ‘legendary’ roast potatoes (made legendary by crumbling a stock cube into the fat first). Such a figure could earn them thousands, which – along with advertising revenue, side hustles such as their cookware range and a forthcoming book – means Torode will be making more than he did from MasterChef. A source said: ‘There’s more than one way to skin a cat when it comes to earning cash as a telly chef.’

Those familiar with the project say it is the ‘ultimate sod you’ to the BBC. The broadcaster sacked Torode as host of MasterChef in July last year after an allegation was made that he had used the ‘N’ word at a filming wrap party in 2019 while singing along to Gold Digger by rap star Kanye West.

Torode’s dismissal came amid accusations of inappropriate behaviour against co-presenter Gregg Wallace. Last year the 61-year-old was sacked after a report, commissioned by MasterChef’s production company Banijay UK, found 45 out of 83 allegations were upheld.

Despite Torode saying he had ‘no recollection’ of what he was accused of and hoped to have been allowed a say, he was also shown the door. So it’s rather delicious that, after so much upset at losing the job that made him one of the most recognisable faces on British television, Torode is said to be ‘loving life’ back in front of the camera once again.

‘They are the Mr and Mrs of television cookery. They are smashing it,’ a source close to the pair told me. As one YouTube viewer commented on their chemistry: ‘Love it! Lisa’s cheeky innuendos that John never gets, but we get the camera wink eye from Lisa!’

‘The numbers they are pulling in are massive,’ says the source. ‘John doesn’t even recall saying what he was accused of and there was never any evidence of it. The die-hard MasterChef viewers have very much taken his side.’

Since the soft launch of John and Lisa’s Kitchen & Home eight months ago, they have accumulated more than 1.2million views

Torode and Wallace had presented MasterChef since 2005 but were both axed by the BBC

Indeed, the broadcaster’s new director general, Matt Brittin, may well be questioning whether predecessor Tim Davie didn’t slip up in sacking Torode. Just last week at the Edinburgh International Television Festival, Brittin – who joined the corporation from Google this year – hinted he was looking at opening up the BBC to user-generated content.

Brittin suggested turning an ‘iPlayer 2.0’ into a YouTube-style site hosting appropriate influencer content. It would be built around an algorithm aimed at ‘educating, informing and entertaining the public here and ideally around the world’. 

‘It’s hilarious,’ says a friend of the couple.

‘Should Gregg have been sacked? Yes, absolutely. But with John, it feels like they found a way to get rid of him and start afresh on MasterChef.

‘What he has proved is that he and Lisa are extremely popular and surely the BBC will be jealous of their YouTube concept.’

Proof is in the pudding – or in this case, scone – as more than 102,000 fans have so far watched Torode and Lisa whip up a batch of the teatime treats.

On the back of positive feedback, advertisers are flocking to promote their brands, with HSBC and Monzo banks running campaigns on John and Lisa’s pages. But it looks unlikely that their ITV show, John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen will return. ‘Never mind,’ says one pal. ‘They’ve got a second cookery book coming soon.’

Those who know Torode say that Lisa was his ‘rock’ when he was sacked from MasterChef, which was of course where the couple met when the former Spooks actress was a contestant in 2010.

When they met on the show, Lisa was with her husband Chris Coghill while Torode was with his wife Jessica.

After both relationships ended, they began dating and married in 2019 at the stunning Aynhoe Park in Northamptonshire.

Seven years on and Lisa has been every bit the supportive wife. So, who’s going to blame her for enjoying the odd swipe at the BBC? In one video, as John tells viewers how to whip up the perfect poached egg, a smiling Lisa quips: ‘The poached egg masterclass by the MasterChef!’

Ouch! But then revenge, as they say, is a dish best served cold.

PS: Wife Lisa might want to avoid the deep-fat fryer!

Ms Faulkner alongside Kevin McNally, left, and Shane Attwooll in Spooks

As MI5 agent Helen Flynn in Spooks, unsavoury extremists murdered her using the gadget. 

NEW YORK (AP) — Main draw play is underway at the U.S. Open, with 19th-seeded Jasmine Paolini among those playing in the opening set of matches at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sunday.

Third-ranked Jessica Pegula leads off at Arthur Ashe Stadium against Elena-Gabriela Ruse at noon, followed on the men’s side by Daniil Medvedev against Hugo Gaston.

Novak Djokovic begins his quest for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title on Sunday night against Mariano Navone. Djokovic at 39 is coming off losing his opening match at the hardcourt tuneup Cincinnati Open earlier this month.

Venus Williams faces fellow American wild card Sophia Kenin in the last match of the night at Ashe. She and sister Serena are scheduled to play doubles together.

___

See AP’s full tennis coverage here

A Muslim group planning to convert a Grade II-listed pub into an ‘Islamic-style’ mosque has claimed it ‘only had three regulars’.

The Norwich Muslim Centre submitted plans to transform the historic 1930s building in Norfolk into a place of worship.

The proposals have sparked concern from some locals who argue there is another mosque operating less than half a mile away on the same road.

But the Muslim association has now hit back at critics – arguing it has ‘come across only three people’ who regularly visited the pub.

Sirajul Islam, a trustee of the Norwich Muslim Centre, said: ‘Since we became involved with this historic building, I have personally knocked on doors throughout the neighbourhood to speak to local residents and understand their views.

‘So far, I have come across only three people who told me that they used to visit the pub on a regular basis when it was open and operating as a pub.

‘This did make me wonder where all those objections and concerns are coming from.

‘We really do appreciate the concerns being raised, and we are fully committed to working with the wider community.’

Plans have been submitted to turn the Grade II-listed Gatehouse in Norwich into a mosque. CGI of the proposed building is seen here

Proposals show a large copper-coloured extension decorated with screens and Arabic lettering which would be built onto the rear of the pub

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It comes as leaflets opposing the plan posted around Norwich asked: ‘Should this pub be converted into a mosque?’

A blank objection letter was also included, addressed to City Hall.

The letter did not give the option to support the application, which was submitted last month and it is unknown who the sender is.

The pub, a mixture of Arts and Crafts and Tudor styles, closed three years ago following the death of its landlord.

For generations, the 1930s-built red-brick Gatehouse has stood at the western gateway to Norwich in Norfolk.

Neighbours fear a re-development will swamp surrounding residential streets with cars, while campaigners have warned a piece of Britain’s traditional pub heritage could be lost.

Proposals show a large copper-coloured extension decorated with Islamic-style screens and Arabic lettering which would be built onto the rear of the pub.

The plans to transform the old pub were put to the council in two parts.

Richard Dixon (pictured), a member of the Norwich and District branch of CAMRA, said: ‘Norwich has lost many pubs over the years, to either be knocked down or redeveloped’

CGI mock-ups show glass-fronted prayer and function halls overlooking landscaped terraces, gardens and the nearby river

One objector said the change would bring more parked vehicles on to neighbouring roads, resulting in a ‘detrimental impact on the area’

The change of use and extension application, which is the only one referenced on the leaflet, has received more objections than the other bid to extend the pub.

So far, objections have reached 234, with 136 commenting in support.

But the public comments in support of the application, which are not mentioned on the leaflet, are much higher, with 154 objections and 175 in support.

Richard Dixon, a member of the Norwich and District branch of CAMRA (Campaign For Real Ale), said: ‘Norwich has lost many pubs over the years, to either be knocked down or redeveloped.

‘There are now large areas of the city that have few or even no pubs.’

He added: ‘The changes to the outside would change the character of the listed building.

‘The interior, although it is said retaining existing features, would not be the style of a bar with handpumps and other pub related features – this would detract from the original use of the bar.’

‘No reasonable efforts were made to show the pub cannot be viable.

‘Whilst the changes would nominally make it a community facility, this will not be as a pub.

‘The Gatehouse was well liked and used by the community for socialising, drinking, music and pub games.

‘It should be retained for use as a public house.’

Norwich Muslim Centre said the site is intended for use by the wider community and not as an exclusive mosque.

As part of the scheme, an extension would be built at the back of the pub.

According to the plans, hall space could be used for celebrations and festivals, youth services, and school visits.

There would be space for more than 200 worshippers at the site.

A mission statement submitted with the plans says: ‘Our dream is to create a community hub that not only provides a space for worship but also empowers the next generation with strong Islamic identity, promotes interfaith engagement and tackles misconceptions about Muslims.’

Mr Islam added: ‘We believe our project is a community-focused and sustainable proposal that will give this historic building a positive future while respecting the local area.

‘We are a peace-loving community, and one of our fundamental obligations is to look after and respect our neighbours.

‘We want to approach this project in exactly that spirit and work constructively with everyone in the community.’

The Gatehouse closed in 2023 following the death of its long-serving landlord.

A community campaign had tried unsuccessfully to buy the building and turn it into Norwich’s first community-owned pub.

The Gatehouse was built for Norwich brewers Morgans in 1934, replacing a 19th-century pub which had previously stood on the same site.

The building was granted Grade II-listed status in 2015.

The application awaits a decision from Norwich City Council.

Monaghan born Thomasina Tobin and her husband Patrick died near Valencia on Tuesday

The Irishwoman and her husband found dead in the jacuzzi of their Spanish holiday villa died from cardiac arrest, it has emerged.

Reports say postmortems show Thomasina and Patrick Tobin suffered fatal heart stoppages when they became trapped in the jacuzzi at the villa near Valencia.

One theory is that both cardiac arrests were brought on by physical exhaustion in the struggle to save themselves – while another is that one of them was electrocuted and the other died when they fought to rescue them.

“Preliminary analyses indicate that the victims suffered cardiac arrest brought on by acute stress following physical exhaustion and the desperation of the moment,” the respected Valencia newspaper Las Provincias newspaper said on Sunday morning.

The couple, who were married with two teenage children and were living in London, died in the freak accident at their holiday villa at Cullera, near Valencia, last Tuesday.

Mrs Tobin, née McArdle, was a quantity surveyor who was originally from Castleblayney in Co Monaghan. She was 51. Her husband Patrick, 48, was from New Zealand.

They are believed to have spent up to two weeks at the villa in the upmarket residential estate called Cap Blanc in Cullera when the tragedy happened.

They were both found dead in the jacuzzi by their two teenage children, who then raised the alarm.

Homicide cops initially investigated their deaths as there were marks and scratches on both bodies – but foul play was quickly ruled out.

Instead, police are now investigating the theory that they died in a freak accident while they enjoyed the outdoor jacuzzi in their holiday rental.

It has now emerged that on Saturday, police examined the jacuzzi for the third time – but on this occasion they had an industrial expert on hot tubs with them.

The expert joined the Guardia Civil team at the request of an investigating magistrate – as judges lead such probes in Spain.

The expert was tasked with analysing the power of the suction fittings in the jacuzzi – to see if they trapped one or both of the victims in the hot tub.

Las Provincias said investigators are probing the theory that the tub’s hydro-massage system cause a strong suction effect that suddenly trapped Mr and Mrs Tobin in the water.

It says investigators believe the couple then fought desperately to save themselves.

The paper says: “According to the first investigations, the excessive suction force would have imprisoned the couple inside the bathtub, which triggered a situation of extreme anguish and desperate physical effort to free themselves from the hydraulic grip.

“The autopsy findings almost definitively reinforce the theory of accidental entrapment. “Preliminary analyses indicate that the victims suffered cardiac arrest brought on by acute stress following physical exhaustion and the desperation of the moment.”

It also said the post mortems showed the scratches on their bodies were not as a result of third party violence – but stemmed from them trying to save each other.

The paper also said that another possibility is that one victim may have suffered the cardiac arrest due to electrocution from a suspected fault in the tub and the other died trying to save them.

Mrs Tobin was a member of the highly respected McArdle family from Castleblayney, but had been living and working in London for around 20 years.

Her father is Tommy McArdle, who is a well-known playwright, actor and producer – and who spent many years directing RTÉ’s drama Glenroe.

He is famous for working with his brother John, who is also a writer and actor.

Both brothers also played football for Monaghan.

Mrs Tobin was a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and worked as a Chartered Surveyor.

Major projects she worked on in the UK included the Ritz and Shard building, both in London.

The Department of Foreign Affairs previously confirmed to the Irish Mirror it was aware of the incident and confirmed it was providing consular assistance in the case of one Irish citizen.

Initial reports said both Mr and Mrs Tobin were Irish, but it was later established that he was from New Zealand.

A spokeswoman told the Irish Mirror : “The Department is aware of this case and is providing consular assistance in the case of the Irish citizen concerned.

“As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases.”

The couple’s two young children reportedly alerted the homeowner after finding their bodies at their rented villa near Valencia at around 5pm local time on Tuesday.

Relatives from Monaghan flew out to be with the couple’s devastated children on Wednesday morning.

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