Countryfile presenter Charlotte Smith visited East Sussex to speak to farmer Frank Langrish about the impact of UK seasonal worker visa changes on sheep shearing

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Presnter Charlotte Smith travelled to East Sussex during the most recent episode of the BBC programme to speak with farmer Frank Langrish about visa alterations affecting one particular group of workers.

With approximately 4,000 sheep in his flock requiring shearing, he discussed the matter of overseas sheep shearers being permitted to work in the UK for a longer period.

The Countryfile star informed viewers: “With a short window of a few weeks to shear, Frank says the job can mean the difference between life and death for some of his flock.”

He explained to the BBC presenter that at this time of year, the sheep carry extremely heavy fleeces, which could cause them to become stuck and, within a short period, perish.

He further revealed that they could also get ‘eaten alive with maggots’ as the warmth attracts flies, underlining the urgency of removing the wool from the sheep promptly.

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As Charlotte explained to viewers, roughly 15 million sheep require shearing across Britain, a task that typically falls to farmers themselves, though some operations bring in additional specialists to assist, reports the Express.

Countryfile viewers discovered that professionals from Australia and New Zealand travel over to lend a hand, as they are capable of shearing hundreds of sheep daily. Frank recalled that he once employed a young woman who could shear 400 sheep in a single day.

Commonly referred to as Antipodean shearers, they have been a staple of British farming for many decades. However, earlier this February, the government announced it would not be permitting foreign shearers to work in the country over the summer.

Although the government subsequently announced a temporary visa reprieve, permitting overseas shearers to work in the country for one final summer.

This year, for the first time, individuals were required to pay £700, a figure expected to rise considerably next year should they opt to use a two-year Youth Mobility Scheme visa.

While Frank is able to call upon trained family members to assist on his farm, he raised concerns about what the changes to visa regulations could mean for others.

He told Charlotte: “I’m very worried because, you know, it’s not only going to add a lot of extra cost, but the animal welfare issues will be huge.

“We are a relatively well-organised, but there are lots of smaller farmers who really won’t get the shearers to come in and do the sheep at all.”

Despite the government being unavailable for an interview with Countryfile, the Home Office informed the BBC programme that ‘this had been the final extension for visa concessions. ‘.

Charlotte told viewers: “A government spokesperson said such concessions were temporary and designed to give sectors in the UK space to build a resilient, domestic workforce.

“They said they’ve been working closely with the farmers’ organisation British Wools to train more sheep shearers, adding that ‘Since 2021, the the British Will] have invested more than £67,000 to support over 800 trainees and produce 317 commercially qualified sheep shearers.’”

The BBC presenter explained that the government had announced temporary visa arrangements, which have offered a ‘much-needed’ supply of commercial shearers while domestic training continues to expand.

Countryfile is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

A duckling was found dead Sunday in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, marking the latest — and most tragic — twist in President Donald Trump’s troubled, $14.7 million renovation of the iconic Washington landmark.

Photos showed the poor creature floating in algae-fouled water after local U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro vowed to aggressively prosecute anyone accused of vandalizing the popular attraction on the National Mall.

During an appearance on Fox News’ The Sunday Briefing, Pirro — a former network host — said that “there are several citations that have been handed out to individuals. And these are cases that will be prosecuted to the full extent.”

“And if you damage, vandalize or do anything to impact something like the Reflecting Pool, you can be prosecuted,” she added.

The cause of the duckling’s death was unclear, and neither the National Park Service nor the Interior Department immediately returned inquiries from The Independent.

Trump ordered that the Reflecting Pool be renovated ahead of the nation’s 250th Independence Day celebration on July 4 and took credit for selecting the “American flag blue” sealant for its basin.

But days after the project was completed on June 6, the pool’s blue bottom was obscured by slimy green algae, after which the sealant started peeling off.

Efforts to eliminate the algae included pouring extra-strength hydrogen peroxide, a type of bleach, into the water.

Hydrogen peroxide is generally considered less dangerous to the environment than chlorine bleach because its components easily break down in water, but in high concentrations it can post a risk to ducks and birds who swim in the pool, according to The New Republic.

Workers in hip waders have been physically removing algae from the water and the Interior Department has said it’s also using nanobubble ozone technology to combat the aquatic, plant-like organisms.

On Wednesday, the online MeidasTouch Network reported that an email sent to National Park Service employees seeking people to help with “critical pre-July 4th operational needs” at the Reflecting Pool.

The email reportedly declared the “scrubbing and pump out operations” were a “regional and national priority” that required willing personnel to work daily, 12-hour shifts through the weekend.

Trump on Friday claimed without evidence that vandals were responsible for the pool’s dismal state and he repeated that assertion throughout the weekend, saying Sunday that work would “begin immediately” to repair the “seriously vandalized Reflecting Pool.”

”I just inspected it, and could only say to myself, and those gathered around me, WOW, who would do such a thing? SICK, DERANGED PEOPLE!” the president wrote on social media.

On Friday, three-time Olympic canoeist David Hearn, 67, was arrested by Park Police officers and charged with misdemeanor destruction of government property for allegedly vandalizing the pool.

The following day, the Bethesda, Maryland, resident admitted reaching into the pool to touch a “flapping piece” of sealant but denied causing any damage.

“I didn’t vandalize anything,” he told The Washington Post. “I didn’t destroy or break or peel anything. By the time I realized what was going on, I was being put in handcuffs.”

Later Saturday, Trump claimed without evidence that the Park Police had “arrested multiple individuals” for vandalizing the pool and threatened, “Years in jail!”

The Monday letters page is getting very excited about GTA 6 pre-orders, as a reader suggests IO Interactive could make a Mission: Impossible video game.

Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

The cost of failure
A lot of us would probably be glad if Call Of Duty went the way of the dodo, and consider it something worthy of a great laugh if it happened just after Microsoft bought Activision. A few years ago I would’ve definitely thought that, but now that I’m a bit older and wiser all I can think of is the poor wage slaves who will be sacrificed because their bosses made dumb decisions.

Call Of Duty has been without a direction for years, and just coasting by on its name, and the fact that it’s now in trouble shouldn’t have come as a surprise to anyone sensible. Although as we see, those sort of people are rarely in charge of games companies.

So now we’re hearing that nobody’s interested in Modern Warfare 4 and it could end up being just as big a flop as last year’s game. But before you start celebrating that the witch is finally dead, remember just how popular Call Of Duty is and how far it’s got to fall before it’s not economically viable. It’s going to be around for a decade even when it’s a dead man walking.

It’s going to be a long painful death and hundreds, if not thousands, of people are going to lose their job. It’s not too big to fail but it is too big to not go quietly.
Taylor Moon

Games bill
I don’t get why people don’t know why people pre-order games. Not only do you get the odd bit of extras included but it’s about budgeting. What with bills like energy and food prices going up on nearly a daily basis it’s about guaranteeing you can afford it and knowing you won’t spend that money on anything else on the store.

I’ve got £130 in my PSN wallet and on the 25th I’ll be pre-ordering not because they might run out of a digital game but so I can say, yes I’ve paid for it and that money is gone. People say gaming is getting more expensive, well so is living a normal life with bills going up all the time that’s why we pre-order.
David

Same old story
With all this talk of studios being shutdown I did a quick google and it was interesting to see Sony is in the lead with it closing 14 studios since 2012. Microsoft has closed down 12 since 2007 (looks like they may take pole position soon). Nintendo, a grand total of zero since entering the industry.

We hear a lot of late, on Nintendo not buying a lot of studios, but I’d rather they didn’t if they are only going to buy them to close them down the line, like the other two.

On the other hand maybe independent studios shouldn’t be swayed too much by the big bucks on offer from Sony and Microsoft, if they actually cared about the studios.

Those that don’t learn from history are bound to repeat it or something…
Anon

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Promoting the Commodore
The Kickstarter for the Commodore 64: The Birth of a Cultural Icon documentary has just launched which is about the Commodore 64 computer and it’s games. The documentary is being made by the people who made The PlayStation Revolution documentary and The Rubber Keyed Wonder documentary, among other classic computers documentaries and their games.

I didn’t own a Commodore 64 but I would of played some of the games from the C64 on my Amstrad CPC 464. I know there is at least one Commodore fan among GameCentral readers, besides me (Commodore Fan). I’ve backed the Kickstarter for a physical copy but you can back it for a digital copy for less money.
Andrew J.
Just completed: Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream (PC) – I highly recommend it if you like the Plague Tale games. Although there is no rats in it, it has you using stealth and distraction to get past stronger enemies, much as you do in the Plague Tale games.

Second choice
If Amazon takes the Bond licence away from IO Interactive they will be absolutely crazy, if you ask me. But money’s involved so we can’t count on there being a sensible outcome.

If the worst happens I wonder if IO could get the Mission: Impossible licence instead? It’s not as big but Tom Cruise would probably be quite interested in helping, because he can’t really do the stunts anymore and the series has ended.

Mission: Impossible doesn’t have anything like the history and traditions as Bond though, so I really hope Amazon do the sensible thing, because 007 First Light is my game of the year.
Diem

Dream edition
Grand Theft Auto 6’s pre-order date being unveiled as June 25th is the highlight of last week, when it comes to the gaming news circulating. For many and myself, it’s the early coming of Christmas. Because even if it certainly kills me, I am snagging that collector’s edition no matter what. I’ve never done so for any other game, but has there ever been a title such as highly anticipated, as Grand Theft Auto 6? Certainly not in living memory.

Instead of celebrating in joyful merriment, the fans and trolls are partaking in nitpicking. Judging a mere glimpse as lacking in reflections, or prowess on a technical scale. It is petty to say the very least, but for my personal opinion on the topic at hand, it would have sufficed more positively if the glimpse was of daylight.

A city brimming with neon and colour is suited to a daytime preview. Choosing that shot and proceeding with it as the final cut, is a very milquetoast presentation. That, however, heightens the expectations of a third trailer very much. At least it should officially open the floodgates for every storefront, digital market, and site to crash simultaneously, just as Silksong did.

I am deeply hoping the collector’s edition is also revealed and I am able to secure it. It’s my first ever buy and considering the eventual steep price tag, it will have to be justified. My main worry is that the game will not be included in the package. It’s been seen time and time that certain editions fail to bear fruit, in that regard. It would also affect the goodwill that has been generated thus far. If the game is included with the edition, my wallet is ready to endure the pain. If not, my heart shall endure.
Shahzaib Sadiq

GC: A collector’s edition has neither been announced nor leaked, it’s just assumed.

Good security
So, on Thursday we’re going to get the price of GTA 6 and probably find out about the other editions. Seems wild to finally be sorting out this kind of detail after literally years of waiting and endless delays.

After that it’s going to be full speed ahead on the hype, the marketing, and the silly fan theories. Has a single one of them been true since the game was announced? I kind of like the fact that no one really knows what to expect other than the obvious. Whatever Rockstar is doing to keep their secrets I approve.
Flint

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The shape of things to come
A lot of people have pointed out that Nintendo has two N64 remakes coming out this year (Star Fox and Zelda: Ocarina Of Time) and I’ve been trying to figure out if this is a coincidence or a sign of things to come. A remake of Star Fox is the quickest way to get something out there and see if people are interested in a new game. And an Ocarina Of Time remake is, I think, the Nintendo game almost nobody would object to seeing a remake of.

But assuming they’re both hits what happens after that? Will they make more remakes? Zelda: Majora’s Mask and F-Zero GX look like pretty good options to me but there are lots of games that could be suitable.

Will Nintendo start to use remakes the way they used Wii U ports for the Switch 1? They’re not as quick or easy to make but the big name ones are virtually guaranteed to be a hit. Thing is, I don’t know how I feel about that. A part of me does want to see these come back and be modernised but I don’t like the idea of Nintendo devs spending time remaking old games when they could make new ones.

They all sound like a good idea until you realise a massive team has got to spend four or five years making them, tying them up for a long time.
Vate

Inbox also-rans
Saros is such a frustrating game. I want to love it because of the action but I just hate the story and the atmosphere. Returnal is definitely better, in my opinion.
Sanders

Saw a rumour that Gears Of War: E-Day has a budget of $400 million. Even if that’s not true the fact that we can’t instantly rule out because it’s too much blows my mind. And they made that an Xbox console exclusive?!
Rinda

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

The small print
New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.

You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.

You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

MORE: Games Inbox: What’s the point of pre-ordering GTA 6?

MORE: Games Inbox: Do you need to buy a PS5 Pro to play GTA 6?

MORE: Games Inbox: Is Xbox worth saving?

Shaun Burton, 60, was at the controls of an East Midlands Railway service when the crash occurred, killing him and injuring 100 others

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The train driver killed in Friday’s collision near Bedford has been identified as Shaun Burton, aged 60.

Mr Burton was at the controls of an East Midlands Railway service travelling from Corby to London when it struck the rear of another train heading from Nottingham to the capital, reports Nottinghamshire Live.

In a statement, his family said they were “devastated by his loss” and extended their sympathies to all those affected by the crash. “We are devastated by his loss. Our thoughts are also with those affected by this incident,” the family said in a statement released by the British Transport Police, alongside a photograph of Mr Burton, while requesting privacy as they begin to come to terms with their grief.

Passengers aboard the Nottingham service described the collision as “bewildering and frightening”. Speaking to the BBC, Alistair Adamson, who was travelling on the Nottingham to London St Pancras train, said he feared an explosion following the initial impact.

“All of a sudden, a really big impact,” he said. “I immediately felt myself lurching forward and saw my colleagues across from me getting thrown around.”

The incident left 100 people injured, 11 of whom sustained serious wounds, while 57 suffered minor injuries, the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) confirmed. Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles was “greatly saddened” by the rail crash and that his “thoughts and sympathies are with the family of the deceased and with all those injured of affected by such a tragic incident”.

Dave Calfe, general secretary of Aslef, the train drivers’ union, said: “We are all heartbroken by the death of Shaun Burton which leaves a hole in the lives of his family, friends, and colleagues, which will never be filled. Shaun, a driver at East Midlands Railway, joined the railway relatively late in life.

“He loved public transport – he used to work on buses and coaches – before he became a train driver seven years ago. He was dedicated to the job, and devoted to his colleagues and enormously popular at his depot.

“The railway family grieves his passing; no-one should go off to work in the morning and not come home. Our thoughts are with his family and friends tonight.”

The crash occurred on Friday afternoon, June 19, when the 4.40pm EMR service from Corby to London St Pancras slammed into the rear of the 3.50pm service from Nottingham to London St Pancras.

The incident took place near Bedford, leaving 100 people injured in total, of whom 11 sustained very serious injuries, 32 suffered serious injuries and a further 57 walked away with minor injuries.

Liverpool Premier League-winner Darwin Nunez was dropped amid criticism following Uruguay’s 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia, he came on against Cape Verde as they avoided a World Cup shock

Former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez couldn’t inspire Uruguay as they struggled in a 2-2 draw with World Cup minnows Cape Verde. The 26-year-old was dropped by Marcelo Bielsa ahead of the clash with the South Americans looking to respond after their 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia in the opener.

Nunez was introduced with 20 minutes remaining as he was handed the responsibility of leading the Uruguayan attack and dragging them over the line. The Al-Hilal striker was a threat and showed promising signs, including a cross that captain Fede Valverde couldn’t convert from close range, in an embarrassing night for Uruguay.

They now need to pick up at least a point against Spain in their final Group H match to be in with a chance of progressing to the knockout stages. As it stands, they sit second on two points, level with Cape Verde who face Saudi Arabia.

But the pressure will build on the former Leeds United head coach after struggling against the nation ranked 67th in the FIFA world rankings amid reports that the squad is already fractured.

Uruguayan icon and former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez watched on from the stands and was animated throughout the contest. Cameras panned to the veteran striker after the full-time whistle as he looked crestfallen with his nation’s World Cup hopes hanging in the balance with the need for a result against Spain to bolster their chances of progression.

Last week, reports suggested that Nunez was set to re-sign for Liverpool after the World Cup as part of the rebuild under new head coach Andoni Iraola. Speculation emerged from South America that the 26-year-old, who won the Premier League before the lucrative move to Saudi Arabia, has signed a deal to return to Merseyside but first had his sights set on the World Cup across North America.

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The noise surrounding such a sensational return has simmered with numerous outlets dismissing the suggestion. On the pitch, Nunez’s struggles continued after a nightmare in the Middle East with Al Hilal, where he was de-registered in order for Karim Benzema to be included in his place.

The striker’s goal drought for his country will stretch ever-closer to two years when they take on Spain on June 27 (1am) after Nunez last found the back of the net for Uruguay on June 28, 2024 when he scored once in their 5-0 rout over Bolivia at the Copa America.

But against Cape Verde, he couldn’t do much more after the Uruguayans shot themselves in the foot on multiple occasions. They found themselves behind in the first-half after Kevin Pina’s long-range free-kick stunned Fernando Muslera.

A quickfire two-goal salvo from Maxi Araujo and Agustin Canobbio on the stroke of half-time turned the game in their favour.

However, a huge mistake at the back from Mathias Olivera was punished as Cape Verde equalised. The Napoli defender miscued a clearance from their own throw-in, and as Muslera charged out of his goal to rectify the error, Helio Varela nipped in and fired into an empty net.

Speaking as part of BBC Sport’s coverage, former Premier League striker Benni McCarthy dismissed Uruguay’s chances against Spain: “You can’t (not) want to pick yourself up but in football, anything is possible. They will make themselves believe that they can get a result against Spain, I highly doubt it but what a complete missed opportunity for Uruguay.”

Paul Kueker, a 51-year-old married father of two from Connecticut, died after falling 150 feet at Madison Square Garden

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A 51 year old man who fell to his death during a concert at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night has been identified as a beloved married father of two from Connecticut.

Paul Kueker plunged 150 feet from the Chase Bridge at Madison Square Garden during the Goose concert, shortly before 10pm on Saturday. His mother, Patricia Finelli, told the New York Post: “He was the greatest kid in the whole wide world, he’d give you the shirt off his back. He took care of me like I was a piece of gold.”

Kueker had attended the concert with his wife, with whom he has two children. Following the tragic fall, he was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead, according to police.

Kueker and his wife were at Goose’s second night at MSG as part of the band’s summer tour. The group concluded its 16-song set at around midnight, reports the Mirror.

A statement from the band read: “We are deeply saddened and heartbroken to learn of the tragic event that occurred at tonight’s show. We extend our deepest sympathies to everyone affected. Thank you to the emergency personnel and venue staff who stepped in with care and support.”

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Concertgoers reported that a fan fell from the upper 200 or 300 tier down to level 100. The multi-storey venue’s main 100, 200, and 300 seating sections sit at a height equivalent to that of a typical 10-storey building.

One photograph of the alleged incident, shared by a gig-goer on Reddit, showed multiple damaged seats at the venue with police tape sealing off the section.

The band reportedly went on to perform a second set following the incident after a prolonged break. Multiple witnesses confirmed that paramedics carried him out on a stretcher.

As many of us head to the seaside to enjoy the nice weather, there are five common habits that could lead to fines of up to £2,500.

These include illegal beach camping, pocketing pebbles, using disposable barbecues, allowing dogs to roam freely, and littering.

Camping on the beach

While appealing to many, camping remains illegal across much of England’s coastline without permissions.

This is enforced by major landowners such as the National Trust and the Crown Estate.

Visitors caught camping illegally could face fines of up to £1,000.

Taking pebbles

It seems like a small issue, but taking pebbles, rocks, or plants is also an offence under the Coastal Protection Act 1949, with similar fines in place.

Disposable barbecues

BBQs are banned by many coastal authorities because of the fire and environmental risks they pose.

Visitors who ignore the ban may receive a fixed penalty notice of round £100.

If you want to bring a picnic, experts recommend using ready‑made food, cold boxes and reusable containers instead of trying to cook on the beach.

Letting dogs roam freely

Dog restrictions are also in place on several beaches under Public Space Protection Orders.

On some beaches, including Roker and Seaburn in Sunderland, dogs are banned from designated sections between 10am and 6pm during the summer months.

Owners who breach these rules risk a fine of up to £100.

However, not every shoreline is off‑limits, with some stretches of Northumberland coast – such as parts of Bamburgh and Alnmouth – allow dogs all year, often off‑lead in designated areas.

Littering

The final warning on the list, carries the heaviest penalty, with fines reaching £2,500 in serious cases.

Prosecution is also possible for repeat or persistent offenders.

North Tyneside Council recently placed beach‑toy recycling boxes made from reclaimed pallets along parts of the seafront, encouraging visitors to donate old plastic toys instead of abandoning them on the beach.

Cape Verde pulled off another stunning shock at the 2026 World Cup as they held Uruguay to a dramatic 2-2 draw in Miami.

The team had already produced a remarkable 0-0 draw with European champions Spain in their opening game, and they added another point to their tally as they took advantage of mistakes in Uruguay’s defensive line.

More to follow…

The man appeared to have a “medical emergency” on board the plane which saw him allegedly bite a passenger and start “trying to fight everybody” triggering the pilot to make an emergency call

A pilot was forced to make a chilling call to air traffic controllers before landing on Sunday as a man allegedly bit another passenger on board.

The American Airlines flight was landing in Philadelphia when the passenger was “trying to fight everybody” and suddenly got out of control.

Audio from the call from the pilot heard him say: “I don’t know if he’s hallucinating or whatever, but he just bit a passenger, and he’s trying to fight everybody.”

He then requested emergency medical crews and law enforcement before telling a controller in an audio recording obtained by CBS News, “what a day, huh?”

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The controller wished him a happy Father’s Day and he responded: “I’ll be sure to tell my daughters about this one.”

American Airlines said in a statement the passenger was experiencing a medical issue, and a medical professional on the plane assisted him before the flight landed.

According to tracking sight FlightAware the flight left Charlotte, North Carolina, earlier in the morning, and landed just before 10 am ET.

The news of the passenger’s behaviour follows other incidents onboard flights recently.

On a Frontier Airlines flight a man allegedly attempted to open an emergency exit mid-flight, having to be held down by passengers and crew members.

The plane bound for Guatemala City was flying at 36,000 feet at the time of the incident.

On a Lufthansa flight a female passenger attacked somebody on board and it had to make an emergency landing.