A new homeowner has been left feeling stressed after his neighbour asked him to install hedges along their shared fence for extra privacy – but he refuses to contribute a penny towards the costs

A first-time buyer has been left scratching his head after moving into a new home because of his neighbour’s “entitled” demand for hedges to be planted along their shared fence for extra privacy. But the neighbour refuses to pick up the tab for their request.

After moving house and getting everything unpacked, it’s usually a significantly calmer period of time after dealing with all the stress, paperwork and endless admin that comes with buying a property. For one new homeowner, the stress and anxiety looks to be continuing though. Just a month after moving in, he got a knock on his door from his new neighbour who asked him to arrange the installation of tall hedges along their shared fence to give them both a bit more privacy – but they’re not willing to chip in to help cover the costs.

As the neighbour previously paid for hedging along the fence he shares with the homeowner on his other side, he believes it’s only fair they should bear the cost of planting and maintaining matching hedges along their shared boundary.

The neighbour is also expecting the new homeowner to cover all watering expenses once the hedges have been put in.

While the idea of added privacy does appeal to the new homeowner, the request has nonetheless taken him by surprise, leaving him both puzzled and worried about his relationship with his next-door neighbour.

Turning to Reddit for guidance, the homeowner explained: “He already pays for the one on the other side for the fence he shares with his other neighbour, but that has nothing to do with me.

“Is it fair that he’s asking me to do that? I mean he’s not forcing me, but I feel like it’s kind of a d**k move to ask me to do it and not pitch in at all. I asked if we could somehow split the cost and he said no, but is still suggesting I do it.

“Not gonna lie, the privacy would be nice, but I don’t think it’s fair I have to pay for all of it.”

WARNING: Some strong language below…

Another issue is the telephone at the end of the homeowner’s garden, which also seems to have been cause for concern for his neighbour. Before the new homeowner moved in, the “entitled” neighbour planted a cypress tree “literally two feet away” from the pole in the homeowner’s garden to “mask” the sight of it.

While the neighbour’s sprinkler system waters the tree from his own property, the new homeowner worries this “could be a fire hazard”. He questioned whether he should remove the tree given it’s on his land, despite the neighbour having planted it and continuing to water it.

In the comments section, other Reddit users were eager to weigh in. One person said: “If he wants it, he can help pay for it. ‘You benefit too’ isn’t a great argument for making it your bill.”

Another said: “People are too nice to their entitled neighbours. If he told me no there’s no way I’m paying for it, got some damn nerve.” A third simply commented: “It’s fair to ask. It’s fair to say no.”

While a fourth said: “The level of entitlement some people have is mind boggling. I’d tank that cypress too. Not a good tree around water pipes.”

Someone else shared: “Your neighbour sounds pretty entitled to expect you to cover all the costs for shared privacy.”

And another Reddit user added: “If he wants hedges for privacy, he should plant them on his side and at his expense. If you desire privacy, install a privacy fence on your side.”

If you’re facing a similar issue with your neighbour and aren’t sure what to do, Citizens Advice states: “If the wall or fence is safe and there’s nothing about repairing it in your legal documents, it’s up to you whether you do what your neighbour’s asking.”

Property specialists Hamptons advise homeowners to check their title deeds for ‘T’ marks to determine responsibility over boundaries.

A ‘T’ on one side indicates the property owner is responsible, while an ‘H’ mark shows joint responsibility between neighbours.

The judge said: “I don’t think it is safe to release him under any conditions at the moment.”

A man charged with the manslaughter of children’s nurse Karen Cummings in December 2024 was today denied compassionate bail to attend a specialist for ongoing back problems.

Kevin McGuigan, 44, whose address was given as c/o Maghaberry Prison, is currently awaiting trial in December this year for the gross negligence killing of the mother-of-two.

The 40-year-old was found unconscious with a serious head injury in a house at Laurel Heights, Banbridge, Co Down, on December 14, 2024.

Emergency services attended the scene and Ms Cummings, who worked at Newry’s Daisy Hill Hospital, was pronounced dead a short time later.

Last month, McGuigan was arraigned at Belfast Crown Court and formally pleaded not guilty to her manslaughter and also denied three firearm offences.

In addition, he pleaded not guilty to handling stolen goods, namely a double-barrelled shotgun on December 14, 2024.

Co-accused Glenn Robert King, 44, c/o Magilligan Prison, is also charged with manslaughter and possessing a firearm in suspicious circumstances.

He was not arraigned with McGuigan and a legal application on his behalf is due to be heard next month.

During a contested compassionate bail application on Thursday, prosecution barrister James Johnston said police objected to McGuigan being released from custody.

“Police say that this does not qualify as a compassionate bail application as the defendant wishes for private medical treatment rather than use the prison health facilities,” said Mr Johnston.

“Police have looked into this gentleman who advertises himself online as a mind and body wellbeing specialist and also advertises himself as willing to go and see patients.

“The other objections are the risk of interference with witnesses, most notably a risk of further offending and there is a concern that he will not abide by bail conditions and may abscond.”

Mr Johnston said McGuigan is facing separate charges on a second bill of indictment of common assault, burglary of the Ramada Hotel in Belfast, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and possessing three kitchen knives in a public place.

The prosecutor told Judge Richard Greene KC: “On November 24, 2024, the defendant was in a nightclub and was captured on CCTV assaulting someone on the dance floor.

“He is later captured on video entering the Ramada Hotel and going into the kitchen and was seen on camera putting three knives into his pockets.

“He goes out of the hotel and punches a man and then slashes him with one of the knives. He was detained by police and the three knives were recovered. He was put on bail for that offence.

“Then two weeks later a more serious offence occurs whereby very tragically a nurse and a mother lost her life when the defendant and his co-accused who were in her home as guests and had with them a sawn-off shotgun.

“The two of them were struggling with the loaded firearm when it went off which tragically killed this woman with a fatal head shot wound.”

The court heard painter and decorator McGuigan left the scene and gave no assistance to Ms Cummings. Following his arrest, he told police that he took the firearm to her house.

“He frankly told police: ‘I am under threat and l am in fear. I take this firearm with me everywhere I go’. He was on bail and was walking around with a loaded firearm which led to very tragic circumstances.”

The court was told McGuigan had relevant convictions on his criminal record. In 2020, he was jailed for 18 months for having a loaded gun and ammunition in the Chimney Corner Hotel in Co Antrim the previous year.

“Police say there is a history of this man being involved in very serious offences, such as pointing a gun at people in a hotel and attacking a man on the street with a knife,” said Mr Johnston.

Defence barrister Caitriona Keenan said McGuigan had been in custody since his arrest two weeks after the killing of Ms Cummings.

“This is his first application for bail and he has been entirely compliant and cooperative (in prison),” said Ms Keenan.

“Mr McGuigan has been experiencing severe back pain since December 2025. His mother and sister are in court with a cash surety and they will pick him up from the prison, see the specialist and take him back to the prison.

“This specialist deals in spinal manipulation and osteo therapies so it will be physical, hands-on treatment. This is a man who has been struggling with back pain for the past seven months.”

Judge Greene said he was not satisfied that it was a proper compassionate bail application and refused it.

“It is not a case that I think it is appropriate for bail given the seriousness of the offences for which he is in custody for,” outlined Judge Greene

“His behaviour while on bail for the Section 18 (wounding) offence which was an egregious event where he armed himself with three kitchen knives and attacked a member of the public who sustained hand injuries.

“Two weeks later he became involved in an incident whereby a lady lost her life when a firearm was discharged and he was charged with gross negligence manslaughter.

“I don’t think it is safe to release him under any conditions at the moment,” added Judge Greene.

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Headteacher Paddy Russell praised the achievements of the Class of 2026 and said every key measure had improved on previous years.

Mr Russell said: “Our 2026 leavers should be very proud of their achievements.

(Image: Ladybridge High School)

“The year group have worked so hard and really deserves the recognition they receive today for their efforts.

“They leave us with the grades to open doors and the skills and qualities to do well once they reach their next destination.

“We wish them all the very best with the challenges ahead.”

(Image: Ladybridge High School)

Although there are no official national progress figures this year due to the cohort missing primary school SATs during the pandemic, alternative assessments point to exceptional academic progress.

Mr Russell said that the group had made the highest progress ever recorded at Ladybridge High School.

The severity of the ban facing Nick Kyrgios for testing positive for cocaine depends on whether he can prove he took the drug out of competition.

The 2022 Wimbledon finalist tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine at June’s grass court event in Mallorca, and is currently serving a mandatory provisional suspension.

The ban could theoretically stretch to four years, but it will be a maximum of three months if the Australian can satisfy investigators he took the drug out of competition.

Sources have told BBC Sport this is likely to be the option which Kyrgios will choose to pursue.

A player is deemed to be ‘in competition’ from the day the draws they are competing in begin until they leave the tournament after their final match.

Before the grass court season, former world number 13 Kyrgios had not played since January’s Australian Open and so has recently spent very few days on site.

He is considered to have been ‘in competition’ in Stuttgart between 8-12 June, and again in Mallorca on 21 and 22 June.

It was on the 22 June – when he exited the tournament in the first round – that Kyrgios submitted the sample that was later found to contain benzoylecgonine.

If the 31-year-old can convince the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) he ingested the drug before he was ‘in competition’, there would be no need for an independent tribunal to be formed.

This would make the process far quicker, and if Kyrgios subsequently agreed to enter a treatment programme, the ban could be as short as one month.

His provisional suspension began on 4 August, meaning he could even be eligible to compete again from 4 September.

You might be forgiven for glancing at this year’s GCSE results and thinking not much has changed.

And sure, if you’re just looking at the pass rate across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, that would be more or less correct.

But, when you dig into the detail, you find a more complicated picture, where some existing issues have become even more stark.

You’ll see the grades of students resitting their English and maths GCSEs in England are dragging down the overall results in those subjects – all part of a system the government itself says is “demoralising” and needs fixing.

You’ll see that boys’ and girls’ grades are looking more similar – though that’s more to do with girls slipping than boys improving.

And you’ll see that, despite the government’s pledges to “tackle entrenched inequality”, the regional divide in England has actually grown, and remains stubbornly higher than it was before Covid.

Here are five key things you need to know.

Nike has closed over a dozen of its small, neighborhood-focused stores across the country.

The athletic giant initially launched Nike Live, its concept of a neighborhood store, in Los Angeles in 2018. The original store in Melrose used digital data from customers who live in the area to stock products based on what neighborhood shoppers wanted.

The stores also worked with Nike’s app and membership program to let customers reserve products to try in-store and pick-up purchases.

The LA location and at least 14 others have since permanently closed including in California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas, Retail Dive reported Wednesday.

“Like all retailers, we regularly evaluate our fleet and make adjustments across our marketplace to better align to our strategy for growth, including elevating stores and streamlining our physical retail footprint,” a Nike spokesperson told Retail Dive in a statement. “This is part of our work to create Nike’s future marketplace.”

The Independent has contacted Nike for comment.

Nike once had big plans for the stores. In 2020, after testing the Nike Live concept, the company said it could open as many as 200 locations across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The Live locations were rebranded as Nike Well Collective stores in 2023, expanding the concept to include wellness and fitness.

Nike did not say whether it plans to continue the neighborhood-store concept or if the reported closures represent the full extent of the shutdowns, Retail Dive reported

On a summer earnings call, Nike CEO Elliott Hill said the company is making changes to its Nike Direct business, including improving the in-store experience and relying less on online discounts.

“We’ve elevated more than 150 stores with sport-led experiences,” Hill said, according to Retail Dive. “Over time, we will continue to rezone and elevate our fleet and close the doors that are no longer aligned to our strategy.”

Nike Live stores were originally part of the company’s direct-to-consumer strategy. The approach worked for a while, but its momentum faded under former CEO John Donahoe, according to Retail Dive.

Now, under Hill, Nike is changing course. The company is focusing more on wholesale partners and rebuilding relationships with retailers, even as it closes some of its smaller Nike Live locations, the outlet noted.

Still, Nike is not giving up on the idea of community-focused retail altogether. The company recently teamed up with Foot Locker to open Crenshaw Rec by Foot Locker in LA, a neighborhood store designed to feel more like a community recreation center. It features a local-focused product selection, gym, equipment room, creative workspaces and a resource center with community programming, Retail Dive reports.

The new Telegraph Fantasy Football season is finally here. The experts at Fantasy Football Hub will continue to bring you the very best in fantasy football knowledge, tips and tools to help you rise up the ranks and win your mini-leagues.

To join the Hub and get access to all their great resources and expert tips you can take advantage of its 50% pre-season discount here.

Telegraph Fantasy Football Tips: The Expert’s XI

The Telegraph Fantasy Football player list has been analysed ahead of GW1 and the season ahead and this is the best XI:

1. GK James Trafford (£3.0m)
   
   Highlighted in the Budget Gems picks, the new Elland Road shot stopper should provide excellent value between the sticks.
2. DEF Gabriel Magalhães (£4.9m)
   
   The safest route into the champions’ backline, the Brazilian should return defensive and attacking returns.
3. DEF Nico O’Reilly (£4.2m)
   
   The reclassification from midfielder to defender opens up more routes to points for the roaming left-back.
4. DEF Marco Palestra (£2.7m)
   
   As a standout from the new additions to the league article stated, the summer acquisition offers a budget route into the Chelsea defence.
5. MID Antoine Semenyo (£4.9m)
   
   At under £5m, last season’s second top scorer should be the first name in TFF managers’ XIs.
6. MID Bruno Fernandes (£6.5m)
   
   The Manchester United captain comes at a premium, but offers one of the most consistent streams of points in the game.
7. MID Enzo Le Fée (£3.3m
   
   A great double header to open the season, the Black Cats midfielder combines tackle bonus potential with good attacking numbers
8. MID Sangare (£3.1m)
   
   The Brentford midfielder is expected to rack up tackle bonuses this season.
9. FWD Haaland (£8.3)
   
   The biggest hitter of all, the Norwegian is worth the expensive price tag.
10. FWD Pedro (£5.1m)
    
    The 24-year-old had a decent summer break and looks rejuvenated in pre-season.
11. FWD Calvert-Lewin (£3.9m)
    
    The forward looks to be over his injury woes and offers a consistent threat in the opposition box.
    
     

Pick your team for the 2026/27 season >

You can follow the latest Telegraph Fantasy Football news and discussions throughout the year on Facebook, Twitter and Fantasy Football Content Hub.

Emergency services are currently in attendance.

Giant cable spools have been spilt across the road on the A77 after a horror crash involving a lorry. Emergency services are currently in attendance at the collision near Kilmarnock.

The road has been closed northbound at the Bellfield Interchange. Images taken from the scene show cars driving around the large metal cable spools that have rolled onto the busy road.

Glasgow Live reports parts of cable can be seen lying on the motorway surface, while another has become jammed on the central barrier. Anne White, who passed the scene, said: “I’ve never seen anything like this, so that’s why I took the pictures.

“These things were stationary when we got there but there was a bus, a car and a lorry all pulled off to the side of the road. And I can only imagine how terrifying it would be if they had been flying towards you.

“There was a big lorry with an entry trailer and lots of broken ties, so it looks like they’ve come from there. Drivers were just having to dodge through these things – we got through but nothing much bigger than a car will.”

Drivers have been warned to find an alternative route if possible and to expect delays. No injuries have been reported.

Traffic Scotland said: “The A77 Kilmarnock has been closed Northbound at Bellfield Interchange due to a road traffic collision. Emergency services are at the scene.

“Drivers should use an alternative route at this time and expect delay.”