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He’s a bloated mummy’s boy who sobs in his cell and stuffs himself with junk food. Now insiders reveal a startling twist in the saga of Gavin Plumb – jailed for a gruesome plot to murder Holly Willoughby…

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Gavin Plumb, who plotted to kidnap, rape and kill Holly Willoughby and was sentenced to life in prison, may be now allowed to leave his category A jail to mark his mother's death

Days after security guard Gavin Plumb was arrested at his modest Essex flat in 2023, TV presenter Holly Willoughby quit her 14-year role on ITV’s flagship show This Morning, telling fans: ‘I have to make this decision for me and my family.’

The significance of her shock decision and its timing only emerged later – namely that police had just uncovered a plot by Plumb to break into the mother of three’s house to kidnap, rape and kill her.

‘Getting her has been my ultimate fantasy for way too long,’ Plumb confessed in an internet chat room. ‘I’m now at the point that fantasy isn’t enough any more. I want the real thing.’

It’s now almost two years to the day that Plumb was sentenced to life imprisonment for his vile scheme after he was found guilty of offences including soliciting murder.

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Of course, it’s unlikely that anniversary has anything to do with Ms Willoughby’s imminent return to the daytime sofa after a three-year hiatus.

As disclosed by this paper at the end of June, the 45-year-old is relaunching her career on a This Morning-style show that is already filming for a four-week run on YouTube. But in a chilling coincidence, the Daily Mail can reveal her comeback may happen as Plumb is allowed to leave HMP Long Lartin, the category A jail where he is being held, for the first time. Because the 39-year-old has suffered a recent bereavement, that of his beloved mother Carol, and may be given permission to say his goodbyes.

Gavin Plumb, who plotted to kidnap, rape and kill Holly Willoughby and was sentenced to life in prison, may be now allowed to leave his category A jail to mark his mother’s death

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The significance and timing of Holly's shock decision to step down from hosting This Morning only emerged later – namely that police had just uncovered and informed her of Plumb's plot

The significance and timing of Holly’s shock decision to step down from hosting This Morning only emerged later – namely that police had just uncovered and informed her of Plumb’s plot

Carol had stuck by her son through thick and thin. But having been diagnosed with cancer, the former hospital healthcare assistant suddenly died during treatment earlier this year – with ‘mummy’s boy’ Plumb only learning what had happened when he phoned home to talk to her.

News of her death is said to have left Plumb devastated and having to seek support from staff at the jail. A family friend told the Daily Mail: ‘His stepdad told him by phone after he rang home to speak with Carol. He went to pieces. But they’ve got a really good team at Long Lartin who are looking after him.

‘Of course he loved his mum. He phoned her up every week.’

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A prison source added: ‘He has taken the death very badly. He hasn’t thrown any strops or smashed up his cell – but there has been lots of sobbing.’

While Mrs Plumb died aged 64 in March, because an inquest may need to be held into her death no cremation or funeral has yet taken place. But discussions have been held over whether Plumb might be allowed to leave prison to mark her death in some capacity.

‘The prison authorities have said they’ll let Gavin out to see her one last time in the chapel of rest,’ a family friend told the Daily Mail.

But he has been told he will not be able to attend a ‘celebration of her life’ with other relatives.

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‘That’s a prison decision,’ the friend added – although the Daily Mail understands that no final ruling, which would be based on assessments of the risks Plumb poses, has in fact been made on whether to allow him to leave the prison at all.

Lest anyone forget, Plumb’s plot, which he masterminded over the internet, was particularly depraved.

Holly and her husband Dan Baldwin, 50, were to be incapacitated by a gang at their London home using chloroform, then she was to be taken to a ‘dungeon-style room’ and repeatedly raped before her throat was slit and her body dumped in a lake.

When Plumb was arrested in 2023 he had more than 10,000 images of Ms Willoughby and other celebrities, as well as deep-fake pornography featuring her.

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As disclosed by this paper, Holly is relaunching her career with a This Morning-style show on YouTube. But, eerily, her comeback may coincide with Plumb's release

As disclosed by this paper, Holly is relaunching her career with a This Morning-style show on YouTube. But, eerily, her comeback may coincide with Plumb’s release

A family friend told the Daily Mail that Plumb is being 'looked after' by 'a really good team' at HMP Long Lartin, following his mother's passing

A family friend told the Daily Mail that Plumb is being ‘looked after’ by ‘a really good team’ at HMP Long Lartin, following his mother’s passing

Earlier this month, Plumb found himself back in the headlines after a tabloid newspaper reported that a search of his cell had unearthed a stash of pictures of Ms Willoughby that he had somehow managed to tear out of magazines and hide beneath his mattress.

Obese Plumb has since told family members that the claim is ‘rubbish’ and that he intends to instruct a solicitor to seek legal redress for what was alleged.

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Nevertheless, a prison source said: ‘I think most of the people who’ve had any sort of interaction with Plumb are convinced that he will remain a danger to women for a long time.

‘He is completely unrepentant about what he put Holly Willoughby through. I think he’s very much still living the fantasy – it’s like he’s living two lives.’

Given the nature of his crime, he is also unlikely to find much sympathy from either fellow inmates or staff. The prison source added: ‘Plumb is a pretty repulsive character. He has serious weight problems. Staff have warned him about it but he doesn’t take any notice. He goes through packets of biscuits and crisps without even thinking – and then he has his meals on top of that. I think it’s all tied in with his mental state and self-loathing.’

As well as stuffing his face with junk food, Plumb’s life in HMP Long Lartin – a prison criticised in an official inspection earlier this year for cells that lacked hot water, heating and basic sanitation – also includes moaning about the poor prison food and trying to keep on the right side of some of Britain’s most dangerous criminals. The same inspection found that the rate of assaults among inmates in the Worcestershire jail was the second highest in the country for a prison of its type.

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Among those held alongside him are gunman Thomas Cashman, murderer of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, and Stephen Wright, a serial killer known as the Suffolk Strangler who is serving life for the murders of six women.

While there were recent claims that he and Wright, 67, had struck up a friendship and were known as ‘the odd couple’, a family friend this week told the Daily Mail: ‘Gavin has only met him once, they’re not friends.’

A prison source said: ‘Plumb spends a lot of time in his cell playing video games or watching TV. It’s hardly surprising because there are some very scary cons in Long Lartin.

‘While he’s a big bloke and will occasionally try and act tough, he’s the sort of individual who will start crying if he’s threatened. ‘He’s got few friends and is seen as a bit of a joke.’

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And he added: ‘He’s not exactly a difficult prisoner but he’s a complete fantasist.’

A former friend said: ‘Apparently, he’s depressed and wants to get out. He’s not doing very well. It’s all in the letters he writes. He is playing the victim. He’s really good at it.

‘He just feels like he’s been set up, despite the fact there’s so much evidence and he’s trying to say everyone has placed it on him. But no one believes him.’

Sources inside the prison are convinced that Plumb will remain a danger to women for a long time, adding that he is still unrepentant about what he put Holly through

Sources inside the prison are convinced that Plumb will remain a danger to women for a long time, adding that he is still unrepentant about what he put Holly through

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Plumb always insisted that, despite the evidence against him, he never actually posed a threat to Willoughby. He claimed that his discussions about what he wanted to do to her were just ‘online’ chat, saying: ‘There’s a massive difference between what’s online and real life.’

British police were only alerted to Plumb’s plans after he unknowingly shared them with an undercover US cop posing as another kidnap enthusiast in a dark web chatroom. The US officer printed a fake plane ticket to convince Plumb he was travelling to the UK. Having got his address, he alerted the FBI, which contacted Scotland Yard. Essex Police, fearing an imminent threat to Ms Willoughby, arrested Plumb on the day they were warned about him.

Plumb denied soliciting murder and inciting kidnap and rape between 2021 and 2023, but was found guilty following an eight-day trial. ‘I have no doubt this was all considerably more than a fantasy to you,’ the judge told him.

‘You always intended to carry out your plan to kidnap, rape and kill Willoughby if you could find “the right crew” to do it.’

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During the hearing, the jury learned that Plumb had a string of previous convictions for sexually motivated crimes against women.

Aged 19 he targeted two uniformed Ryanair workers travelling from Bishop’s Stortford to nearby Stansted Airport. He handed one a note that read: ‘I have got a gun. Do what I say.’ Arrested soon after, he was found to have a black toy handgun and three pieces of rope on him.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of attempted kidnap and received a 12-month suspended sentence.

In December 2008, Plumb was in trouble again, this time after targeting two 16-year-old girls working at Woolworths, where he was a shop assistant. Working in a stockroom, he pulled a knife on them and then taped the hands of one of them behind her back

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As he prepared to gag her mouth, the second girl ran off. The alarm was raised and Plumb was arrested. In June 2009, he pleaded guilty to two charges of false imprisonment and one of battery and was jailed for 32 months.

Plumb’s problems with women began at an early age.

The hearing revealed Plumb had a string of previous convictions for sexually motivated crimes against women, which friends think stems from his sexual frustration after putting on weight

The hearing revealed Plumb had a string of previous convictions for sexually motivated crimes against women, which friends think stems from his sexual frustration after putting on weight 

Raised in Harlow, Essex, by the age of 13 he had started to put on so much weight that he noticed girls would ‘friendzone’ him rather than fancy him.

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Those who know him believe his behaviour around women has its roots in the sexual frustration he experienced from then on.

His one serious relationship, with the mother of his two children, began at the age of 18 and was marred by allegations of emotional and physical abuse that saw police called on numerous occasions.

It ended when he was jailed for the first time – after which Plumb found himself banned from seeing his children and spending increasing amounts of time at home, behind his computer.

As he did so his weight ballooned further, heading towards an all-time high of 35-and-a-half stone.

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Gastric band surgery in 2018 helped but he remained reliant on his mother and stepfather for day-to-day help.

They would come over to help clean his flat and his mother was so worried he might have a heart attack that she had a set of keys – ‘just in case’.

After he was jailed over the Willoughby plot, they continued to make weekly visits to see him in prison, although the family friend said his closest relations had no illusions about what he had done.

‘His mum and his step-dad loved him but they were disgusted by what he did,’ he said. ‘Carol was fuming with him. She said to him: “You should not have done what you did. You’re in the right place.” Yes, she loved him as a son. But she never forgave him for this. She said he deserved what he got.

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‘It wasn’t down to Carol or his stepdad or his brothers to tell Gavin how to run his life. If he got caught, he got his just deserts – if you break the law the law will catch up with you.’

Something he will have no shortage of time to ponder in the coming years.

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Top snaps from the Aerial Photographer of the Year Awards

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Watch the birdie: Azim Khan Ronnie took home the coveted title with a photograph showing thousands of migratory Siberian seagulls feeding in Yamuna Ghat, India

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From mountain tops, rainforests and glaciers to swollen rivers, shrinking lakes and running wild horses, talented photographers have captured nature through a series of stunning aerial shots. 

The winners of The International Aerial Photographer of the Year have been revealed after judges sifted through 1,587 entries from all corners of the globe.

Azim Khan Ronnie took home the coveted title with a photograph showing thousands of migratory Siberian seagulls feeding in Yamuna Ghat, India

Meanwhile Dawn Net by Chin Leong Teo captures a fisherman’s yellow net as it blooms across the water.

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Equally dramatic is Kah-Wai Lin’s third-place photograph of Yilki horses as they surge across the dusty plateau at sunset in Cappadocia, Turkey.

The photograph of the year was handed to Vitaly Golovatyuk’s capture of a bird sitting on the water of a clear lake reflecting the sky, surrounded by red grass, in Dongtai, China.  

Amateurs and professionals were invited to enter the competition – with the use of AI strictly forbidden. 

Winners will have their aerial photographs published alongside the top 101 entries in an annual awards book, with the overall winner taking home $5,000 and a trophy.

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Watch the birdie: Azim Khan Ronnie took home the coveted title with a photograph showing thousands of migratory Siberian seagulls feeding in Yamuna Ghat, India 

Horse power: Kah-Wai Lin's third-place photograph of Yilki horses as they surge across the dusty plateau at sunset in Cappadocia, Turkey

Horse power: Kah-Wai Lin’s third-place photograph of Yilki horses as they surge across the dusty plateau at sunset in Cappadocia, Turkey

The photograph of the year was handed to Vitaly Golovatyuk's capture of a bird sitting on the water of a clear lake reflecting the sky, surrounded by red grass, in Dongtai, China

The photograph of the year was handed to Vitaly Golovatyuk’s capture of a bird sitting on the water of a clear lake reflecting the sky, surrounded by red grass, in Dongtai, China 

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Chin Leong Teo captured a fisherman’s yellow net as it blooms across the water, wrapping his small boat

Chin Leong Teo captured a fisherman’s yellow net as it blooms across the water, wrapping his small boat 

Ice see you: Taken by Rhiannon Lawler, a polar bear balances on the edge of an iceberg in East Greenland, using the height to scan the sea ice and test the wind

Ice see you: Taken by Rhiannon Lawler, a polar bear balances on the edge of an iceberg in East Greenland, using the height to scan the sea ice and test the wind

California's Diablo Range at its greenest after winter rains, highlighting smooth contours and flowing patterns, was taken by Chengming Liu

California’s Diablo Range at its greenest after winter rains, highlighting smooth contours and flowing patterns, was taken by Chengming Liu

Barbara Brown's aerial shot of Salt Works in Walvis Bay, Namibia

Barbara Brown’s aerial shot of Salt Works in Walvis Bay, Namibia

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Sanghamitra Sarkar's photo shows a gathering of Hindu pilgrims sitting in a circular pattern around a central litter carrying sacred footwear

Sanghamitra Sarkar’s photo shows a gathering of Hindu pilgrims sitting in a circular pattern around a central litter carrying sacred footwear

The sharp, steep, and layered hills in the Badlands of Utah by A J Rich

The sharp, steep, and layered hills in the Badlands of Utah by A J Rich

Bali's rice terraces cascade down the hillsides in vivid green steps, shaped by centuries of careful irrigation by Chin Leong Teo

Bali’s rice terraces cascade down the hillsides in vivid green steps, shaped by centuries of careful irrigation by Chin Leong Teo

Hindu devotees gathered in Dhaka, fasting and praying with incense and oil lamps by Azim Khan Ronnie

Hindu devotees gathered in Dhaka, fasting and praying with incense and oil lamps by Azim Khan Ronnie

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Thousands of bright red chilli peppers are harvested in the hot sun before being sorted ready to be delivered to spice companies in the Sariakandi, Bogura, Bangladesh, also by Azim Khan Ronnie

Thousands of bright red chilli peppers are harvested in the hot sun before being sorted ready to be delivered to spice companies in the Sariakandi, Bogura, Bangladesh, also by Azim Khan Ronnie

A lone person crossing a traffic junction in central Tokyo by Chin Leong Teo

A lone person crossing a traffic junction in central Tokyo by Chin Leong Teo

An aerial shot of The Park Royal Hotel in Singapore by Chin Leong Teo

An aerial shot of The Park Royal Hotel in Singapore by Chin Leong Teo

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Bacon will be ‘perfectly crispy’ every time with kitchen staple a chef loves

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Wales Online

Chef Will Murray of Fallow restaurant swears by this simple oven method for perfectly crispy streaky bacon

Whether you’re making breakfast or meal prepping for the week, bacon is a versatile favourite that adds a satisfying crunch and rich, salty flavour to almost any dish. While many people cook it in a frying pan, air fryer or even the microwave, the oven is often the most overlooked method.

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According to chef Will Murray of Fallow restaurant, baking bacon in the oven is the best way to achieve consistently crisp results. Although thinner slices may cook a little faster than thicker ones, the oven helps the bacon cook evenly, producing crispy strips from edge to edge.

The chef, however, swears by adding one particular ingredient midway through the cooking process — sugar.

For this method, Will recommends opting for streaky bacon, as it carries more fat, and as he puts it, “fat means flavour”.

The chef begins by laying the rashers on a baking tray before placing it into a preheating oven at 180C for five minutes.

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There’s no requirement to line the baking tray with foil or greaseproof paper, since the bacon contains sufficient fat to prevent it from sticking.

The appeal of this approach is that not only can you cook large quantities of bacon simultaneously, but you can also manage the outcome with greater precision.

Once the five minutes have elapsed, much of the fat has rendered out of the bacon, and it’s time to turn it over. At this stage, the chef scatters demerara sugar over the rashers.

In addition to crisping the bacon further, the sugar imparts an “awesome sweetness”. However, when incorporating the sugar, it is important not to be too heavy-handed, as an overly candied result can leave the bacon unpleasantly tough.

The following step involves returning the bacon to the oven for an additional five minutes at the same temperature.

Upon removing the bacon from the oven, the chef demonstrated to viewers how the edges had become “really nice and crispy”, asserting that no alternative method can rival it.

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13 Summer Co-Ords For The Heatwave, From M&S To Damson Madder

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13 Summer Co-Ords For The Heatwave, From M&S To Damson Madder

We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, HuffPost UK may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

It’s too hot to think. I don’t know about you, but every day is currently a reminder of just how many decisions we have to make each day: three whole meals, if you should bother leaving the house, and what you’re going to wear to survive the sweat-sodden commute.

Whether you’re going to the office or lounging in the park, you better make sure it’s loose and made of breathable material. Then, if you can muster it, you can think about whether it looks nice.

But if there’s one way to dodge having to make any logical decisions about what skirt goes with what top, it’s co-ords.

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Every year, a matching outfit is my ticket to keeping – and looking – as cool as I possibly can through the summer months.

So if your brain is feeling as fried as your skin is right now, we’ve rounded up 13 summer co-ords that will see you through the heatwave. And don’t worry, there are options suitable for commutes, picnics, strolling around a city, and even dinner dates.

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New poll finds majority of people in NI support immigration checks at border

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Belfast Live

The research also suggested racism is now viewed as an issue at least as serious as sectarianism in Northern Ireland

Three in five people in Northern Ireland support immigration checks on the border with the Republic of Ireland, even if it means creating a harder border, according to new polling carried out in the aftermath of last month’s riots.

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The More in Common survey, which saw interviewed 1,000 adults across NI, found 62 per cent backed border checks, while 71 per cent said the UK Government, Irish Government and Northern Ireland Executive should work together on migration issues. Nationalist voters were almost evenly split, with 45 per cent supporting checks and 44 per cent preferring to keep the border open as it is.

The research, conducted a month after the disorder erupted across parts of Belfast and Northern Ireland in the wake of the attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvie, also found immigration is now one of the public’s biggest concerns.

Some 44 per cent of respondents ranked it among the three most important issues facing Northern Ireland, while 78 per cent said they were concerned about illegal immigration compared with 34 per cent who expressed concern about legal migration.

However, the survey also found strong public condemnation of the violence, with 62 per cent describing the disorder as riots rather than protests, 60 per cent saying it brought shame on Northern Ireland, and 77 per cent saying those involved did not speak for them.

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The polling also found overwhelming opposition to violent acts committed during the unrest. Nine in ten respondents said setting fire to vehicles was unjustified, 87 per cent said attacks on migrant homes and businesses could not be justified, and 80 per cent opposed intimidating migrants into leaving their communities. Peaceful protest was the only action tested that attracted majority support, with 75 per cent saying it was justified.

The research suggests racism is now viewed as an issue at least as serious as sectarianism in Northern Ireland. Three-quarters of respondents (76 per cent) described racism as a serious problem, compared with 73 per cent who said the same of sectarianism, while 68 per cent cited paramilitary activity. Six in ten believed racism had increased over the past five years, and half felt society had not done enough to tackle it.

Asked how politicians should respond to outbreaks of violence, 58 per cent said their priority should be reducing tensions, correcting misinformation and avoiding inflaming the situation. Just 4 per cent believed politicians should encourage public anger.

The survey also painted a mixed picture of public attitudes towards Northern Ireland more broadly. Nearly half of respondents (49 per cent) said the region feels divided, yet 60 per cent believed its best years are still ahead, and three-quarters said people generally look out for one another.

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Conleth Burns, Associate Director for Northern Ireland at More in Common, said: “A month on from the riots, what’s clear from this research is that people right across Northern Ireland – from all community backgrounds – condemn the riots. People looked at burning cars, buses and homes and said this is not us, and this is not who we want to be.

“The same public in Northern Ireland that rejected the violence is worried about both racism, which people now rate as a more serious problem than sectarianism, and about immigration, which is a top concern for many voters and the top concern for unionist voters.

“We also find a depth of public concern about immigration in Northern Ireland. While the political debate seems to be stuck on whether legitimate concerns exist at all, the public are past that argument and asking what should be done, particularly on illegal immigration.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

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A summer discount on family days out sounds good, but it won’t fix UK tourism

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A summer discount on family days out sounds good, but it won’t fix UK tourism

The long summer holidays can be an expensive time for families. The cost of day trips to theme parks or zoos or soft play centres quickly adds up.

Discounts sound like a good idea. So this summer, the UK government has slashed the VAT rate from 20% to 5% on admission to a wide range of family activities.

They’ve even given the policy a catchy name: Great British Summer Savings, and in theory, a family could save a decent amount.

If a business passes on the full reduction (they are not legally obliged to), the Treasury says a family of four could save around £20 on theme park tickets for example. The temporary discount, which lasts until September 1, also applies to children’s meals in restaurants.

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According to other estimates though, the cut, which will cost the Treasury around £300 million, could be worth just £10 per household. So critics could easily dismiss the whole idea as a not very impressive gesture with an expensive price tag.

But the ten-week VAT drop is also designed to help struggling hospitality businesses, thousands of which were forced to close last year.

Wage rises and changes to national insurance and business rates introduced in April 2025 added an estimated £3.4 billion a year to sector costs. And against that background, a temporary VAT cut can make a difference.

It lowers prices and can improve cash flow by giving attractions a simple message to advertise: this summer’s day out should be cheaper.

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But the policy also demonstrates a weakness in the UK’s “visitor economy” – the money generated by people visiting a place for business or pleasure.

Spending on things like accommodation, transport, and food and drink can be a key driver of local economic growth. But when it comes to encouraging visitors to enjoy British hospitality, the UK is not strong. It ranks 113th out of 119 countries for price competitiveness.

So Britain’s problem is bigger than being an expensive place to entertain children in the school holidays. And perhaps the whole hospitality sector needs either a permanent VAT reduction, or a better-targeted seasonal cut, to provide it with a long-term boost.

My research used economic modelling to compare year-round VAT reductions to shorter periods. It asked a straightforward question: does the extra business activity created by a tax cut justify the reduction in tax revenue?

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Using an economic model to predict effects in the English county of Dorset, a popular tourist destination, the year-round options did increase tourism activity and employment. But the benefits did not outweigh the cost.

Targeting the relief from November to March performed better. It came much closer to breaking even and significantly reduced the government’s losses.

The central lesson was simple. Timing mattered.

Tourism and timing

The current scheme being run by the government is in place when demand for family leisure is usually strong. Some of the households now planning a trip to a theme park this August may well have done so without a tax cut.

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In those cases, the policy makes an existing day trip cheaper, but it does not create a new visit. A lower price is more likely to change behaviour when attractions have spare capacity and families are deciding whether a trip is worth making at all.

Dorset in winter.
Chris Button/Shutterstock

Attracting people to a popular attraction in the summer holidays is not the same as persuading them to visit in the middle of winter.

During quieter months, hotels, attractions and restaurants have unused rooms, tables and space. Extra visitors at those quieter times can make a big difference. In peak season, the same discount may simply reduce the price paid by people who were planning to come anyway.

A ten-week summer cut will not fix Britain’s visitor economy. But it creates a quiet precedent: the government has accepted that the VAT rate can change when there is a reason to change it.

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The next step should be a more strategic approach, one that supports competitiveness but concentrates relief where spare capacity and price-sensitive demand give it the best chance of creating genuinely additional visits.

The government should not limit itself to saving some families a few pounds on a summer day out. A more ambitious approach would be to use a well-timed VAT cut to persuade those same families to make a trip they were not already planning, to a half-empty attraction in February.

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Alvaro Arbeloa: Fulham reveal ex-Real Madrid boss as new head coach after Marco Silva exit

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Alvaro Arbeloa: Fulham reveal ex-Real Madrid boss as new head coach after Marco Silva exit

Fulham’s owner Shahid Khan said Arbeloa “built an exceptional case” for himself throughout interviews in June, saying: “I am delighted that Alvaro has accepted the challenge to push Fulham forward, and I have no doubt that our squad, staff and fans will resonate with what his appointment means for the present and future of our Club.”

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My neighbour put up a new fence but says I can’t paint my side. Can he stop me? Consumer lawyer DEAN DUNHAM KC replies

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Dispute: A reader's neighbour has forbidden him from painting the fence - claiming the wood has to breathe

My neighbour has put up a new fence and won’t let me paint my side of it. 

It’s making my garden look ugly and disjointed but he insists the wood needs to ‘breathe’. What should I do?

Name and address supplied.

Dean Dunham replies: I am afraid your neighbour is right on the fundamental point, even if his ‘breathing’ explanation is nonsense. The crucial question here is one of ownership.

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If your neighbour erected the fence, on his land, then it is his fence and therefore his property, in the full legal sense.

In these circumstances you have no automatic right to paint, stain, alter or even attach anything to a structure that belongs to someone else.

Dispute: A reader’s neighbour has forbidden him from painting the fence – claiming the wood has to breathe

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Doing so without his permission would technically amount to trespass and criminal damage, however harmless a lick of paint might seem. So his refusal, frustrating as it is, is within his rights.

As for the wood needing to breathe, that’s not a legal argument, it’s a horticultural myth. However, it doesn’t matter, because he doesn’t need a good reason.

So, what are your options? First, check the boundary position. Look at your title deeds and any Land Registry plans. If the fence sits on your side of the boundary, or straddles it, the picture changes entirely.

That’s because of a longstanding rule that things fixed into the ground become part of the land they’re attached to. 

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So if a proper check establishes that the posts and panels are sitting wholly on your side of the boundary, there’s a strong argument the fence is legally yours and that your neighbour has arguably trespassed.

But, assuming it is genuinely your neighbour’s, my advice is to work with the boundary rather than against it. 

You are perfectly entitled to erect your own fence, trellis or screening on your own land, immediately in front of his, provided it sits wholly within your boundary and doesn’t lean on his structure. 

Fast-growing climbers, a run of trellis, or hardy evergreen planting will hide the offending timber in a season or two.

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Before you do anything, a friendly, non-confrontational chat is always worth a try, as you should always do all you can to avoid a neighbour dispute.

Council’s rubbish with bins can I get a tax refund? 

The local authority where I live is making a hash of bin collections. 

Can I complain about this, and can I opt out of the bin collections and get a reduction in my council tax?

G.W., Preston, Lancs.

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Dean Dunham replies: First, the good news: yes, you can absolutely complain – and you should. Waste collection is a statutory duty. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, your council has a legal obligation to arrange the collection of household waste.

If it is persistently missing collections or generally doing a bad job, that’s a failure to deliver a service it is bound to provide. Start with the council’s formal complaints procedure. Put it in writing, keep a dated log of every missed collection or any other issues you experience with the collections and request a reference number.

It is also worth garnering support from your neighbours, which will strengthen your position. If you exhaust the council’s official complaints process, you can escalate the issue to the Local Government And Social Care Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman investigates maladministration and can recommend a remedy, including, in some cases, a modest financial payment for the distress and inconvenience caused.

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Now the disappointing part. You cannot opt out of bin collections in exchange for a council tax reduction. I know that feels counterintuitive but council tax is not a fee for specific services rendered.

It’s a general property-based tax that funds everything from social care and schools to street lighting and libraries, many of which an individual may never personally use.

There’s simply no mechanism to itemise it or claim a rebate for a service you would rather forego.

So, complain vigorously and hold them to their legal duty – but don’t pin your hopes on a refund.

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Persistence through the proper channels is your most powerful tool here.

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6 plants gardeners must prune in July for ‘another flush of blooms’

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Wales Online

As warm weather continues across the UK, a professional gardener shares essential July pruning tips to keep your garden blooming all summer long

As the warm weather persists throughout the month, gardens right across the UK have erupted into vibrant colour. If you’re keen to ensure your outdoor space looks just as stunning next year, it’s essential to invest the effort now.

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Many of the UK’s best-loved plants will flourish even more abundantly with a spot of careful attention during this period — and with the sunshine streaming down, it’s an ideal opportunity to venture into the garden and tend to your cherished flowers.

Noah Mabey, Senior Gardener at Thornbridge Hall and Horticultural Advisor to Platinum Splash, has shared his expert recommendations for maintaining the garden this month and guaranteeing it blossoms once again next year.

He said: “As we head into July, the garden is truly in full bloom. It has been an absolutely fantastic year for roses, and with a little bit of careful maintenance this month, we can keep the spectacular show going right through the summer.”

Roses

During the warmer months, it’s vital to stay on top of your rose bushes.

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Noah said: “Keep deadheading diligently. When a rose flower fades, don’t just snip the head off, cut the spent stem back to a healthy set of five leaves. This tricks the plant into pushing out another flush of gorgeous blooms.”

Wisteria

To manage the shape and flowering of your wisteria, now is the ideal moment to prune it back. Noah explained: “July is the perfect time for a summer wisteria prune.

“By now, it has likely sent out long, grabby, whippy green vines. Cut these unruly shoots back to about five buds to control the shape and encourage better flowering next year.”

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Herbaceous Perennials

If your geraniums or other early summer perennials have completed their initial flowering period, now is an ideal opportunity to trim them back.

Noah said: “Cutting them back hard now will encourage a fresh foliage and a second wave of flowers.”

Sweet Peas

These blooms respond exceptionally well to frequent pruning. According to Noah, “the more you pick, the more they grow”.

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He explained: “Keep harvesting the flowers for your indoor vases and snip off any spent heads before they go to seed to keep the blooms coming.”

Topiary

Give your topiary hedges a trim now to refine their outlines and maintain their appearance throughout the remainder of the summer.

Fruit trees

If you’re fortunate enough to have fruit trees in your garden, you may have observed they can occasionally produce excessive amounts. This month presents an excellent chance to prune them.

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Noah explained: “If you see large, congested clusters of fruit, thin them down to just two or three healthy fruits per cluster. This ensures the tree channels its energy into growing larger, healthier fruit rather than a crowd of tiny ones.”

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Olivia Attwood passionately kisses Pete Wicks before he carries her designer bag to dinner date in Ibiza

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Olivia Attwood passionately kissed Pete Wicks at Cala Gracioneta in Ibiza on Monday evening

They’ve only recently gone public with their romance, but it seems Olivia Attwood and Pete Wicks can’t get enough of one another.

Pete, 37, looked enthralled by Olivia’s rock chick new look as they passionately kissed at Cala Gracioneta in Ibiza on Monday evening.

Ever the gent, Pete carried Olivia’s £2,150 ALAÏA Le Teckel leather shoulder bag, while heading to their table, as she posed for pictures to document her ensemble. 

Olivia, 34, looked incredible in a simple white T-shirt with capped sleeves and statement PVC trousers, while sporting backcombed hair and heavy eye make-up. 

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Her KISS co-host Pete showed off his tattooed muscular biceps while wearing a black vest, matching trousers and loafers. 

Olivia Attwood passionately kissed Pete Wicks at Cala Gracioneta in Ibiza on Monday evening

Showing off a new rock-chick makeover, it seems as though Pete, 37, couldn't get enough of Olivia's sexy new look

Showing off a new rock-chick makeover, it seems as though Pete, 37, couldn’t get enough of Olivia’s sexy new look

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Pete waited patiently while holding Olivia’s bag as she had photos taken with a group of glamorous friends. 

Earlier in the week, Olivia finally addressed intimate pictures of herself with Pete on a boat that were captured in Ibiza last year. 

The pair went on a trip with KISS and were seen putting on a flirty and cosy display on a yacht. 

It caused uproar at the time as Olivia was still married to Bradley Dack – who she split from months later, in January this year.

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Talking to Olivia’s House, a Platform Media original show, Olivia said: ‘Okay, let’s talk to my listeners about the yacht pictures with Pete.

‘Because there is a funny story here. Just as a subtext, okay I was obviously leaning back on [Pete] on the yacht, but nothing happened.’

Olivia added: ‘Our friend Megan Elliot, who we love, we adore her. She is my second sister. She is my blood, my family.

‘But love her, sometimes, she is a couple of sandwiches short of the whole picnic. Sometimes she comes out with things, we go “Oh, shut up, Megan!”

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‘So anyway, she goes, we’re in the middle of the ocean, right? And not posted anything for days.

‘There’s a catamaran, so if you don’t know what a catamaran is, it’s one of those boats that has two bits, and then the middle bit is like, it’s a weird boat.

Ever the gent, Pete carried Olivia's £2,150 ALAÏA Le Teckel medium grained leather shoulder bag, while heading to their table

Ever the gent, Pete carried Olivia’s £2,150 ALAÏA Le Teckel medium grained leather shoulder bag, while heading to their table

Pete waited patiently while holding Olivia's bag as she had photos taken with a group of glamorous ladies

Pete waited patiently while holding Olivia’s bag as she had photos taken with a group of glamorous ladies

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Olivia, 34, looked incredible sporting backcombed hair and heavy eye make-up, wearing a simple white T-shirt with capped sleeves with her statement trousers

Olivia, 34, looked incredible sporting backcombed hair and heavy eye make-up, wearing a simple white T-shirt with capped sleeves with her statement trousers

Olivia and Pete looked hugely in love as they wrapped their arms around one another

Olivia and Pete looked hugely in love as they wrapped their arms around one another 

Pete couldn't keep his hands off Olivia

Pete couldn’t keep his hands off Olivia

Oiivia had a big smile on her face as Pete chased after her

Oiivia had a big smile on her face as Pete chased after her 

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Another glamorous lady was seen taking pictures of the radio host

Another glamorous lady was seen taking pictures of the radio host 

‘She goes, “Someone is taking pictures of us off that boat! I saw a flash, it was massive”.

‘And we go “Shut up, Megan!” We were all taking the p**s. Someone is taking pictures of us. Who do you think you are? Jennifer Aniston?!

‘We were actually mocking her for it. And then she was like “No I swear!” We carried on about our business, next day we’re at the pool and I’m so hungover, I think I’m going to die.

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‘I’m on the back. I’m on the bed, and she comes in and she goes “Told you.” And then she was going all like “I told you, I told you”.

‘She’s scrolling through and she goes “I knew it, I knew it. I saw…” She had her t*ts out.’

Pete spoke about their romance for the first time the week before, after the couple enjoyed a holiday together in St Tropez.

Pete discussed their recent PDA-filled holiday to St Tropez as their connection continues to heat up.

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The couple were spotted sharing steamy kisses by the pool at the celeb-favourite haunt Nikki Beach club this month.

On a recent episode of his Staying Relevant podcast with best pal Sam Thompson, Pete opened up about the Mediterranean getaway for the first time.

He said: ‘It was delightful. Switched off from the world as much as I could.’

Pete showed off his tattooed biceps in his black vest and trousers combo

Pete showed off his tattooed biceps in his black vest and trousers combo 

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The couple enjoyed a mini photoshoot as Pete grappled with Olivia's hips

The couple enjoyed a mini photoshoot as Pete grappled with Olivia’s hips 

He looked pretty pleased with himself as they prepared to head to their table

He looked pretty pleased with himself as they prepared to head to their table 

Earlier in the week, Olivia finally addressed the intimate pictures of herself with Pete on a boat that were captured in Ibiza last year

Earlier in the week, Olivia finally addressed the intimate pictures of herself with Pete on a boat that were captured in Ibiza last year

The pair went on a trip with KISS and were seen putting on a flirty and cosy display on a yacht. It caused uproar at the time as Olivia was still married to Bradley Dack - who she split from months later, in January this year

The pair went on a trip with KISS and were seen putting on a flirty and cosy display on a yacht. It caused uproar at the time as Olivia was still married to Bradley Dack – who she split from months later, in January this year

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She insisted that no matter how the pictures look, 'nothing happened' at the time

She insisted that no matter how the pictures look, ‘nothing happened’ at the time 

After her split from Bradley, Olivia spoke out about what 'mistruths' are as she claimed Bradley 'lied and cheated' during their relationship, and now she feels like a 'f*****g idiot'

After her split from Bradley, Olivia spoke out about what ‘mistruths’ are as she claimed Bradley ‘lied and cheated’ during their relationship, and now she feels like a ‘f*****g idiot’

The television personality also denied trying to trick fans over her fake wedding scandal, and confirmed her new romance with Pete

The television personality also denied trying to trick fans over her fake wedding scandal, and confirmed her new romance with Pete

Olivia took to Instagram Stories to joke about how she was on yet another night out

Olivia took to Instagram Stories to joke about how she was on yet another night out 

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She showed off a picture of a detailed look at the back of her trousers

She showed off a picture of a detailed look at the back of her trousers 

Olivia and Pete pictured on the yacht in Ibiza in August 2025

Olivia and Pete pictured on the yacht in Ibiza in August 2025

Sam, 33, couldn’t resist bringing up the pictures of Pete and Olivia smooching, which were taken by an onlooker staying at the same resort.

He asked: ‘Question, if you don’t mind, why I’ve never been locked in an embrace with you in a pool? I’ve never been in that position with you before, you looked so comfortable and relaxed.’

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Deliberately dodging Sam’s question, Pete replied: ‘I had a very, very lovely holiday.

‘And do you know what? For me, obviously, you know, I don’t go on holiday. This year I’m on holiday, this is holiday mode Pete.

‘It’s very nice to get away for a few days. I must say, I don’t know what I’ve been missing for the past 37 years of my life. 

‘I’ve refused to go on holiday because I’m pathetic and think it’s a waste of time.

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‘I’ve now decided that holidays are not a waste of time. Do you know what, we had a lovely time. We had lots of plans, we had lots of different things going on, we had a whole itinerary.

‘On the down day, got up early, sat by the pool, had a little coffee, I went for a massage.’

Shortly after splitting from Bradley, Olivia accused him of cheating on her multiple times. Despite their huge ITV wedding, they never made their union legally binding.

The television personality admitted on Gogglebox: ‘I didn’t think my first marriage would be amazing, but I didn’t think it would be that bad.

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‘I’ve decided now I am going to get married a few times, or engaged, because I like the ring.’

After her split from Bradley, Olivia spoke out about what ‘mistruths’ are as she claimed Bradley ‘lied and cheated’ during their relationship, and now she feels like a ‘f*****g idiot’.

The television personality also denied trying to trick fans over her fake wedding scandal, and confirmed her new romance with Pete.

Olivia wrote: ‘I have stood by Brad for the last ten years during which he lied and cheated on me multiple times. The breakdown of our relationship is because of this.

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‘I was in love with him and the potential I saw in him and wanted always to help him try to be the best version of himself – as I did for ten years – covering up. Lying to my family and friends. Arranging therapy. Believing the grovelling apologies.

‘I of course now feel like a f*****g idiot. (Especially as more things come to the surface) I never wanted to say any of this. I find the whole situation utterly humiliating.’

Olivia went on to speak about the moment she decided to walk away from the relationship, as well as confirming her relationship with ITV is strong following reports the broadcaster was ‘furious’ over the fake wedding scandal.

She continued: ‘This January when I was confronted at the screening of one of my shows by someone reporting to me yet another night he had gone back with a random girl – I decided it was time to finally leave.

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‘I’m not losing my job, I’m not pulling the wool over anyone’s eyes. Yes I’m dating.

‘Yes I’m getting up every single day even when I have cried all night to film the shows I love filming, record my podcast, record my radio show, shoot campaigns and somewhere in there TRY to move on.’

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Oasis ‘set for 18 UK shows’ in 2027 with Knebworth and Etihad residency

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Manchester Evening News

Oasis are reportedly planning an extensive UK tour next year and a triumphant return to Knebworth

Oasis are reportedly set to return to the stage next year, with sources confirming a series of shows in Manchester and Hertfordshire.

Noel, 59, and Liam, 53, are expected to retain the same line-up as their previous shows, including guitarist Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs, 61, who was forced to take a break from the tour after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

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Sources claim the brothers will embark on a 12-date residency at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, as well as a record-breaking run of six concerts at Knebworth – which would surpass the record for the most times any act has performed there, reports the Mirror.

Fans have been clamouring for more following their Live 25 tour, which took the world by storm after a 14-year absence from the stage.

An insider told The Sun: “Oasis’ schedule is booked. It’s 12 nights at the Etihad over six weeks starting in June. They will then play Knebworth six times over a three-week period in September. Dates could be added but for now that’s the master plan.”

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A source added: “Noel and Liam always planned for the tour to have a second run. There were discussions about announcing it during the World Cup because of the connection between Wonderwall and the Three Lions in this tournament. But they’ve settled on August.”

There is also speculation that further dates outside England could be on the cards, with Rome and Celtic Park in Glasgow among the potential venues being discussed. The band’s PR team and the stadium are yet to respond to the speculation.

However, Liam took to X to address an enthusiastic fan who tweeted: “12 night at the Etihad?”, appearing to confirm that Oasis would be performing in Manchester next year, while seemingly correcting the number of dates. The Don’t Believe the Truth star replied: “12? I thought it was 10 ffs”.

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Following their triumphant world tour, in which the brothers wowed audiences across the globe with their greatest hits, Liam and Noel are now counted among the wealthiest individuals in the UK.

The Mancunian siblings joined the ranks of Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney and the Glastonbury Eavis family on the Sunday Times Rich List, published in May.

The duo are reported to have accumulated a projected fortune of £375million in the wake of their hugely successful reunion tour – just £25million short of Emily Eavis and her family, the founders and organisers of Glastonbury Festival, who are listed as having an extraordinary combined wealth of £400million.

The Mirror has contacted the band’s representatives for comment.

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