Mark Jones believes the looming EGM could be decisive in saving the Ospreys’ future

Ospreys head coach Mark Jones believes an extraordinary general meeting of the Welsh Rugby Union could pave the way for a change in leadership — and potentially a new plan for the professional game.

The Central Glamorgan Rugby Union have formally called an EGM which will take place after the Six Nations, with WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood facing a vote of no confidence.

Collier-Keywood is coming under fire for plans to cut one of Wales’ four professional clubs, with the Ospreys in the firing line if their owners Y11 Sports & Media complete a deal to buy Cardiff Rugby, according to Swansea Council who have began legal proceedings against the WRU.

Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings

The WRU board voted unanimously in favour of a cut to three teams but Jones hopes removing Collier-Keywood could alter the direction of travel.

“I think it’s just the EGM on the horizon post Six Nations,” Jones told Premier Sports.

“Anything can happen when that happens. As you know when you change things at the top which can potentially happen in an EGM.

“The change of direction is steered by the person at the top. It’s like a head coach of a team.

“If you bring a new head coach in he has a different idea of how he wants the team to play.

“I think there’s a lot to go on. There’s a lot of people to have their say and there’s a lot of discussion to be had.

“What I’ve said to the players is we can’t control any of it so let’s just let it play out and do what we do which is focus on the rugby.”

The Ospreys were outstanding as they claimed a stunning 21-10 victory over Ulster at the Brewery Field.

And Jones praised the character of his players who have performed extremely well in difficult circumstances.

“Character comes out in adversity doesn’t it,” Jones told Premier Sports.

“Usually adversity is the one that either brings you together or separates you. This group are tight anyway but I do think it has brought them together.

“I think the crowd today their contribution and the pressure they are putting on opposition lineouts. It has brought them into the game more as well what’s going on and the players have responded in the right way.

“We are proud to represent them as well as ourselves.

“The boys are handling it really well but we’ve got six games to go so we’ve got a little bit to do yet.”

Olivia Dean was one of the big winners of the night, picking up awards in four of the five categories she was nominated in.

This included artist of the year, album of the year, pop act of the year and song of the year for Rein Me In, which she sang with Sam Fender.

Fender himself picked up Alternative and rock act of the year alongside the song award.

Ozzy Osbourne was also recognised with a lifetime achievement award.

The Black Sabbath lead vocalist died in July 2025 at the age of 76, so his wife, Sharon, accepted the award.

Robbie Williams also paid tribute to the ‘Prince of Darkness’ with a rendition of Osbourne’s 1991 track No More Tears, backed by a band including Metallica’s Robert Trujillo and longtime Ozzy guitarist Zakk Wylde.

There was some controversy though, as Geese drummer Max Bassin was censored for saying “free Palestine, f*** Ice” when collecting the band’s award for international group of the year.

Presenter Jack Whitehall’s joke about Lord Mandelson potentially being in attendance was also removed.

The show took place in Manchester for the first time in its history, with the city’s Co-op Live Arena being the venue.

BRIT Awards 2026 full list of winners

Artist of the year: Olivia Dean

Group of the year: Wolf Alice

Album of the year: Olivia Dean – The Art Of Loving

Breakthrough artist of the year: Lola Young

International artist of the year: Rosalia

International group of the year: Geese

Song of the year: Sam Fender and Olivia Dean – Rein Me In

International song of the year: Rose and Bruno Mars – APT

Alternative and rock act: Sam Fender

Pop act: Olivia Dean

Hip hop, grime and rap act: Dave

R&B act: SAULT

Dance act: Fred Again, PlaqueBoyMax, and Skepta

Songwriter of the year: Noel Gallagher

Outstanding contribution to music: Mark Ronson

Producer of the year: PinkPantheress

Lifetime achievement award: Ozzy Osbourne

BRIT Critics’ Choice Award: Jacob Alon

Did you watch the BRIT Awards last night? Let us know in the comments.

The 1800W electric heater comes with its own artificial flame effect to imitiate a traditional chimney log burner, helping to keep your home feel more cosy while it heats up

With temperatures continuing to remain cold throughout the majority of the UK, many households will be spending nothing short of a fortune keeping their central heating switched on in order to stay warm. However, you could keep yourself warm at a much lower cost with an electric heater.

Currently the Energy Price Cap stands at £1,758 a year for the average dual fuel households, which will remain in place until March 31. With rates so high, you may be able to save money by keeping one room heated while you’re inside it, especially if it’s somewhere like your living room.

However, not all households have fireplaces or log burners to do this, which is where the trust portable electric heater comes in. Currently, Dunelm is offering a Chimenea Style Flame Effect heater with a 30% discount, going from £100 to £70.

READ MORE: Dunelm shoppers race to buy retro lamp that looks similar to £45 Dusk ‘vintage’ version

READ MORE: Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026: Sky S26 Ultra deal sees freebie worth £449

With a lower initial investment cost than usual, Dunelm’s Chimenea Style Flame Effect heater is perfect for those looking to heat their homes for less. The 1800W electric heater comes with its own artificial flame effect to imitiate a traditional chimney log burner, helping to keep your home feel more cosy while it heats up.

Customers can also choose between a black or white exterior colour paired with a wooden trim to help suit your living room’s vibes and aesthetics. The heater also comes with thermostatic temperature controls to help you keep your room at a comfortable temperature without getting too warm.

According to Dunelm, the heater also only costs approximately 47p per hour which, depending on your current energy usage, may help you save a significant amount on your bills. However, if you’re looking for something a little different to decorate your home and keep it warm at the same time, you could opt for this PALINTH 1500W Electric Heater on Amazon, which is currently seeing a 50% price reduction, going from £59.99 to £29.99.

While sporting a more industrial look, this electric heater comes with four heating mods, including an ECO mode to further help you save money. It also comes with extra safety measures including an automatic shutdown and child lock. Otherwise, you could go for this Dimplex ECR20TiB Oil Free Radiator at Argos for £100.

This eco-friendly radiator comes with claims to offer up to 9% savings on bills when compared to traditional oil-filled radiators. It also comes equipped with three heat settings and an adjustabble thermostat to heat your room to a comfortable temperature.

Advertisement

People who purchased the Dunelm Chimenea Style Flame Effect heater praised it for being able to heat up rooms at a fast rate, with one shopper writing: “Perfect for my new room, warms up very quickly and looks lovely. Fairly easy to put together, although I struggled to tighten the screws for the legs. Seems to be secure enough though.”

Another added: “Stylish and very good heater for our room, heats it well.” A third said: “This looks great, is easy to use and even on the low setting warms up the space really quickly. I have it in my summerhouse which is about 8’ x 10’. I would recommend this product.”

However, not everyone was happy with the heater, with one shopper writing: “We bought this product because, in fairness, it does look good. When we got it home, the leg was damaged and the fan on it was noisy so completely unusable indoors. I’ve noticed that some other reviewers have also commented on the fan. Shame really. Could have been a great product.”

Another added: “It looks lovely and provides a nice ambience but it’s just a noisy fan heater/ really disappointed with it- I decided to keep it as I don’t have time to pack and return it but only use it for he ambience not for the heating element as its just a annoying fan heater noise.”

The Milbank Arms in the “charming” village of Barningham was highlighted by local foodie expert The Yorkshireman for its focus on “high-level food and proper Yorkshire ales”.

The Grade II listed country pub, which is not too far from the Yorkshire Dales, says it offers the “best” produce in the region, and customers have praised it for its “fabulous” Sunday roasts and “homely” atmosphere.

The Milbank Arms has ‘bags of traditional charm’

The Yorkshireman shared: “A hidden gem pub found in the village of Barningham, just outside of Richmond, The Milbank Arms is a truly stunning country pub, Grade II listed with bags of traditional charm.”

He added: “Putting a focus on high-level food and proper Yorkshire ales, The Milbank Arms is no ordinary pub lunch.

“Their offering surpasses your typical restaurant quality, bringing beautifully presented dishes of Yorkshire produce from wild game, to market steak.

“Every dish that passed our mouths evoked an audible reaction, and their Sunday lunch, in particular, is a real must-try.

“For the full experience, check yourself in for the night and huddle up by the fire with a glass of red wine and a bit of dinner. Wake up the next day, and repeat the process with a Sunday dinner.”

On its website, the dog-friendly pub reveals that The Milbank Arms is nestled just minutes from Barnard Castle and Teesdale.

“Beautifully restored, The Milbank Arms blends heritage charm with modern comfort – offering luxury rooms, charming cottages, fine dining and real ales.

“Our locally sourced menu features the best of the region, from wild game to fresh seafood, with dishes changing seasonally. Enjoy hand-pulled ales, stunning surroundings and a warm welcome.”

Commenting on its menu, it continues: “Located on the edge of a grouse moor, we make the most of the abundance of wild game.

“Our fish is sourced from Hodgson’s in Hartlepool for which our chefs will pick the freshest available. Our meat is pasture-raised and from neighbouring farms wherever possible.

“We take a lot of pride in our cask beer and will always have 2-3 local hand pulled ales available.”

Pub Quiz Tips

Just some of the main menu dinner options include corn fed chicken with breast foie gras, king oyster, cauliflower and white port sauce, as well as crispy goat’s cheese pastilla that comes alongside chargrilled broccoli, wilted spinach and toasted pine nuts.

Meanwhile, Saturday lunch mains feature the likes of wild Scottish venison burger, with caramelised onions, mature cheddar and homemade pickles, all on a brioche bun.

Similarly, the Milbank Milanese features buttermilk chicken, tomato, buffalo mozzarella, wild garlic mayo and rocket on a brioche bun.

When it comes to Sunday lunch options, you can choose from dry-aged sirloin of beef, 28oz dry-aged côte de boeuf for two, chateaubriand or wild Scottish venison haunch.

All of the above are served with beef fat roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, seasonal vegetables and roast gravy.

The fish served at The Milbank Arms is sourced from Hodgson’s in Hartlepool (Image: Tripadvisor)

Elsewhere, The Milbank Arms has a “very good” 4.3/5 rating on Tripadvisor, based on 75 reviews.

A recent visitor said: “Lovely pub that is well run and serves local seasonal produce. Staff are friendly and efficient, and the menu offers some of the best of locally sourced food. Thoroughly recommend the venison. Also dog friendly which is a bonus.”

This person posted: “A lovely find, on a wet night we had a fantastic meal beautiful monkfish and fantastic venison. Staff were attentive and engaging. Atmosphere was homely.”

Another shared: “We have enjoyed a fabulous Sunday lunch and evening meal here. Wonderful food, service and ambience – thank you so much for such a lovely experience.”

Meanwhile, one guest commented: “Beautifully finished rooms in a country pub in a charming village. Fantastic food with a great steak menu. Staff ever so friendly. Couldn’t do more to help. Great breakfast too.”

Will you be visiting The Milbank Arms this year? Let us know in the comments below.

Manchester United are set to be without Lisandro Martinez once again when they take on Crystal Palace today.

The Argentina international has formed a formidable partnership with Harry Maguire once again at the heart of Michael Carrick defence, playing every minute of the new manager’s first five games in charge.

Martinez missed the 1-0 win over Everton after picking up a minor calf injury in the days leading up to that game on Merseyside. Carrick is hopeful it is not another long-term issue with the centre-half to be further assessed over the coming days.

It remains to be seen whether he will be fit for the trip to Newcastle United on Wednesday but the former Ajax star will have no role to play today.

Leny Yoro deputised in his place on Monday night having also turned in a fine performance off the bench against West Ham. The young Frenchman is expected to keep his place in the side.

United remain without Mason Mount and Matthijs de Ligt with still no real timeline on when either player will be available again.

De Ligt has not played since the end of November having previously played every minute of the season before his back issue struck.

Patrick Dorgu also remains sidelined with the hamstring injury he picked up in the win over Arsenal and is expected to be sidelined until April.

Carrick remains with the same squad that secured that narrow win at Everton last time out – but has a big decision to make up front.

Man Utd XI to face Crystal Palace – Metro prediction

Just as he did against Fulham and West Ham, Benjamin Sesko again came off the bench to score a vital goal for United on Monday having now netted six in his last seven appearances.

Carrick has resisted the urge to throw him into the starting XI, throwing real value behind his role as  a ‘finisher’ off the bench.

But against West Ham and Everton, United laboured somewhat in attack until he came on, lacking an option to stretch the opposition in the absence of Dorgu.

Sesko offers that, albeit in a different role up top, and his presence could be vital in breaking down Palace.

Amad Diallo’s contribution has waned in recent games with the Ivorian perhaps in need of a rest after his exploits at the Africa Cup of Nations. He could be the man to drop out.

Man Utd vs Crystal Palace TV channel, live stream and kick-off time

Man Utd vs Palace kicks off at 2pm today (Sunday 1 March).

 You can watch the match live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event with streaming also available through the Sky Go app and NOW TV for subscribers.

MORE: Owen Hargreaves names Man City ‘advantage’ over Arsenal in Premier League title race

MORE: Owen Hargreaves tips £69m Liverpool signing to become ‘the best in the world’

MORE: Arne Slot makes Arsenal claim ahead of Chelsea clash

The byelection in Gorton and Denton this week has been huge for the Green party of England and Wales, with Hannah Spencer pushing Reform’s Matt Goodwin into second place, and Labour into third. Having one extra MP in parliament may not seem like a big milestone, but this byelection win is record-breaking for the Greens. I believe it shows their potential to be a credible alternative to Labour.

The Greens had never won a byelection before. They polled less than 7% of the vote (coming in fourth place) in the Runcorn and Helsby byelection in May 2025. And, unlike Reform UK in that byelection, the Greens didn’t just edge this victory – they took nearly 41% of the vote. That’s a whopping 28-point increase on their performance in the same constituency at the 2024 general election.

À lire aussi :
Victory in Gorton and Denton is historic for the Greens – and cataclysmic for Britain’s two-party politics

The victory has given party leader Zack Polanski the confidence that voters now see the Greens as a viable alternative to Labour, even in former Labour strongholds. He announced to supporters, “this is what replacing Labour looks like”.

Over the past few years the Greens have really professionalised their party. We saw the impact of this in the 2024 general election, when they quadrupled their number of MPs and finished second in 40 constituencies.

Under Polanski’s leadership, they’ve developed a more populist edge, focusing on issues such as the cost of living and moving away from being “just” a climate party. They’ve also had a more visible media presence and started to take their communication strategy more seriously.

Spencer’s win increases the size of the Green parliamentary group to five MPs. In the context of a 650-member House of Commons, this doesn’t seem like much.

The Greens certainly aren’t large enough to swing any votes, or cause the government many problems. And although they now have more MPs than ever before, they are still only the sixth-largest party group in the Commons. There are still over twice as many independent MPs as there are Greens.

The win will, however, give the Greens some breathing space. It’s a tough job being a small party in the Commons, and the existing group of four Green MPs have shared a heavy burden of responsibilities in the chamber since their arrival in 2024. As Spencer finds her feet, she will be able to take on some of these policy portfolio responsibilities.

Having a bigger parliamentary team doesn’t just alleviate some of the pressure to be in the chamber all the time. It also allows the party to be more strategic, and to insert Green voices into more conversations than before.

This could be through places on committees scrutinising legislation, trying to catch the speaker’s eye during high-profile government statements and question times, or holding backbench debates on more local issues. There is no place for passengers in any small party, so we can expect to see Spencer playing a very visible role for the rest of the parliament.

The battle ahead

When the next general election draws closer, the Greens may be grateful of this bigger team. They will want to capitalise on their success in Manchester and continue to professionalise their operations as a national party.

They are also likely to face more hostility at Westminster. Labour is now fighting a war on two fronts. The party’s embarrassing third-place result in Gorton and Denton – which Keir Starmer called “very disappointing” – will have hammered this home. We can expect to see more attacks on the Greens, including in the Commons chamber.

Until now, the prime minister has focused much more consistent attention on discrediting Reform. Now, he needs to worry much more about Polanski and the Greens, and will be directing some focus to winning back Labour voters who see the Greens as the stronger party of the left.

We had a glimpse of this in January, when North Herefordshire’s Ellie Chowns used her occasional opportunity to question the prime minister to ask about water pollution. Starmer turned it into a partisan attack on the unrelated topic of Polanski’s comments about Nato.

While the Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, regularly berates Starmer in the Commons, the Greens rarely take such an overtly partisan approach. Reform MPs tend to participate more frequently in high-profile parliamentary occasions, where they can question the government. The Greens tend to have a more balanced, policy-focused approach, regularly popping up on committees to scrutinise legislation.

This is helped by Polanski’s position as a leader who sits outside the Commons (a member of the London Assembly). He can delegate the scrutiny of government policy to Chowns and her colleagues, while he takes broader comments about the government’s performance directly to the press.

This balance will be important as the Greens think about the upcoming local elections. Spencer told the press today that the party can now “win anywhere”, and Polanski predicted a “tidal wave” of Green MPs at the next election.

To do this, they need to maintain the momentum they’ve created this week. This means keeping a tight hold of the former Labour voters who chose them instead in Gorton and Denton.

It will be difficult for the party to carry out the same intensive campaign strategy on a more national level, but this sort of intensity is key to ensuring that the left vote goes to the Greens rather than to the other alternatives. Having more party members than ever before will help with this, but they will need to rely on their on-the-ground campaigners to feel secure.

Vladimir (5 March)

The Dinosaurs (6 March)

Boyfriend On Demand (6 March)

War Machine (6 March)

One Piece (10 March)

Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere (11 March)

The Plastic Detox (16 March)

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (20 March)

Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen (26 March)

A selling point of hotels has traditionally been the standardised service offered by their trained staff. In contrast, “peer-to-peer” accommodation – of which Airbnb is the most popular host platform – is usually run more informally by individual hosts who have little if any formal hospitality training.

What they offer instead is personal interaction, a sense of authenticity, and local knowledge about the area. And our multi-year research shows that this is often rated much more highly by visiting guests.

Our study (with colleagues), recently published in the International Journal of Hospitality Management, investigates the key reasons international guests staying all over India – one of the world’s fastest growing tourist markets – give their Airbnb accommodation a five-star review, or rather less.

One clear pattern was how guests talked about their relationship with hosts. Many appreciated meeting friendly, helpful hosts – but only when contact felt optional. Our survey and interview findings showed around one-third of guests said they were uncomfortable when communication felt too frequent or too personal.

This points to an important tension in Airbnb stays. Guests often want reassurance without intrusion. A takeaway recommendation was the importance of short, polite messages that reassure guests help is available if needed – but not excessive contact. Feeling welcome is less about ongoing interaction and more about responsiveness, clarity and respect for boundaries.

Our study began in 2019 by developing a new way of analysing thousands of Airbnb guest reviews in India to understand the key indicators of satisfaction (and dissatisfaction). After being interrupted by COVID, we followed this up with surveys and in-depth interviews in the same country to establish the priorities guests give to different aspects of how they were hosted.

Some guests also talked about experiences that stood out for the wrong reasons. These were not “horror stories”, but moments where boundaries felt unclear – such as hosts dropping by unexpectedly, asking too many personal questions, or being slow to respond when something went wrong.

Expectations also played a big role in how stays were judged. Guests who felt well-informed before arrival – about the space, the rules and the neighbourhood – tended to be more relaxed and forgiving of small issues. By contrast, even minor surprises could negatively affect how the entire experience was remembered.

These patterns became stronger after COVID. Guests became more sensitive to cleanliness, safety and communication, and many preferred less face-to-face contact than before.

With all this in mind, here are five practical ways our research suggests hosts can increase their prospects of a five-star rating – and a return stay.

1. Tell guests what to expect – truthfully

Frustrations sometimes start building before they have even arrived. Many guests, particularly from other countries, rely on clear, practical information to feel confident about their choice.

Hosts should make sure their listing answers all common questions upfront and truthfully: how check-in works, what the neighbourhood is like, whether the space suits families or remote work, and what amenities are (and are not!) available.

Small gaps between what guests expect and what they find can shape how they judge their entire stay. Guests who feel well informed are less likely to focus on minor issues.

2. Comfort counts, not just appearance

Good photos matter, but guests judge accommodation on how it feels to actually stay there. We found features such as comfortable furniture, a calm atmosphere and a sense of privacy strongly influence how enjoyable a stay feels.

Hosts do not need to make expensive upgrades. But paying attention to lighting, noise, clutter and basic comfort is non-negotiable.

3. Be responsive, but don’t overdo it

Guests value personal interaction in different ways, but they consistently appreciate hosts who are reliable and easy to reach. Yet feeling welcome does not require constant communication.

Simple actions matter: replying promptly to messages, giving clear instructions, and dealing calmly with problems when they arise. We found this sense of feeling “looked after” is closely linked to whether guests want to return.

4. Anticipate small issues before they snowball

It’s notable how often small problems can snowball during a stay. Issues such as non-working equipment are usually forgotten if clearly explained and calmly dealt with. But slow responses to concerns – or worse, displays of frustration or anger from hosts – can quickly affect how a stay is judged.

Anticipating common issues and dealing with them early can prevent small problems from overshadowing the guest experience. Clear house information, well-maintained facilities and simple backup plans all help.

5. Focus on return visits, not ratings

Positive reviews matter, but they do not tell the whole story. In our research, the most important indicator of guest satisfaction was whether they said they wanted to return.

While enjoyment and value are closely linked with recommendations, feeling comfortable and welcome plays a stronger role in repeat bookings. Creating a space that is easy to use, pleasant to stay in and welcoming will encourage guests to come back, even in a crowded market.

Small, thoughtful choices in these areas shape how guests remember their visit. Hosts who want long-term success should think beyond ratings and consider whether guests will genuinely want to return.

It’s 2028 and you’re getting a taxi home from a night out. So far, so normal, the only difference is that this one is flying.

Sounds futuristic but it’s far from unrealistic according to Vertical Aerospace, which is aiming to have its taxis soaring across London’s skyline within two years.

The Bristol-based firm successfully tested its electric flying taxi above the Cotswolds last year.

Uber has slightly tempered its ambitions to 2030, although its partnership with Joby Aviation is set to bring flying taxis to Dubai already later this year.

It joins cities in China and the United Arab Emirates which harbour similar ambitions.

Uber’s chief product officer Sachin Kansal revealed he would be ‘very disappointed’ if the 2030 milestone wasn’t hit.

‘London is going to be a very high priority market,’ he said.

‘We know our users (there) would love a feature like this, which will help them escape a lot of the traffic and be able to get from their home to the airport within a few minutes rather than hours.’

How fast would a flying taxi journey be?

To put that in perspective, a 10-mile journey across central London could take as little as 10 minutes in a flying taxi – compared to in excess of 90 minutes during peak times.

‘To me, the number one advantage of being able to take that ride is time,’ Sachin explained.

‘Of course the aircraft itself is going to be an amazing experience, but being able to save an hour is going to be amazing.’

Joby’s electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) will launch like a helicopter before tilting forward to cruise like a plane to travel at speeds of up to 200mph.

It will carry a pilot and four passengers, cover up to 100 miles on full battery, which takes up to 10 minutes to charge from empty.

And it won’t be priced beyond the means of ordinary Londoners.

How much would flying Uber trip cost?

Fares would be comparable to Uber Exec, the premium tier of the Uber app. In central London, a 10-mile Uber Exec journey typically costs between £50 and £70 depending on traffic and demand.

Like with Uber, customers will be able to book shared trips or an entire aircraft. They will travel via ‘vertiports’ — landing pads on rooftops, car parks, or repurposed helipads.

Under Uber’s model, passengers can take ‘stitched’ journeys where a car takes them to the ‘vertiports’ and another picks them up when they land for the final leg of their journey.

On top of this, they are significantly quieter than conventional aircraft. Joby claims their eVTOLs are around 55 decibels when flying overhead, roughly equivalent to a loud conversation in a restaurant.

So far, no infrastructure exists to accommodate eVTOLs – although not many ‘vertiports’ would be needed to serve London, according to Sachin.

‘My expectation would be that we would pick a few spots that give us enough coverage in the city as well as on the outskirts … which could be starting points,’ he said.

‘You just need a clearing to get enough angle to come in, you need enough space, and you need charging infrastructure. And all of that is very creative.’

What happens next with flying taxis in UK?

Joby is currently testing the taxis out in Dubai – which promises to be the guinea pig before the models expand to the US and then London.

Despite the ambitions, significant hurdles remain.

Before any commercial service can begin, aircraft must receive certification from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The regulator must approve their safety, and operators must secure licences covering pilot training, routes, and maintenance.

Local authorities could also block the building of ‘vertiports’, especially if locals raise concerns about issues like noise.

Jonathan Nicholson, from the CAA, said we were ‘very close’ to seeing flying taxis ‘as long as it is safe we will seek to enable it’.

But there are also broader concerns over public confidence.

Autonomous cars have yet to be rolled out on a large scale in the UK. Until this is normalised, it remains to be seen how popular self-flying taxis will be.

Until these hurdles are overcome, the dream of beating London traffic by air remains just that.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: London’s coolest loo has some of the ‘best views’ of the city

MORE: Retired couple who said new tower blocked light to their flat could face £3,700,000 court bill

MORE: London’s worst train station is about to get its awful ad boards back

The number of potholes reported this year to date has more than tripled compared to the number reported this time last year

Advertisement

Pothole reports in Peterborough have increased significantly since last year, according to Peterborough City Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment & Transport.

Speaking at the Full Council Budget meeting on Wednesday (February 25), Councillor Angus Ellis (Lab) said 2026 has already been a bad year for drivers across the city.

He said: “This year is worse than last year; up from January last year to where we are today, there were 231 reports. This year, so far, there are 787.”

Cllr Ellis suggested recent harsh weather conditions had been the driving force behind the exponential increase in road surface damage. “The cold weather followed by the extremely wet weather has created perfect conditions for potholes to form,” he said.

The councillor said road maintenance teams were working hard to get on top of the situation. “We have already fixed 2,431 by the end of January,” he said, “but there is more to do.”

Cllr Ellis highlighted how highways maintenance company M Group have deployed their specialist pothole-fixing utility vehicles – known as ‘Dragon Masters’ – to help resolve the issue.

“Since Monday, they have been fixing potholes,” he said, “and they’ve put an extra crew out there to fix potholes during the night.”