With EastEnders love rat Max Branning (Jake Wood) having spent the last few months having it off with Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Khan-Levy), his wedding to Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) was always going to end in fireworks. 

And sure enough, it looks set to be as explosive as hoped when their nuptials end in catastrophe next week, with actress Michelle Collins – who plays Cindy – warning that fans can expect her character to ‘go for Max big time’ after his secrets erupt. 

Recent scenes on the BBC soap have seen the pair bring forward their nuptials from New Year’s Day to this month, opting to share their wedding date with fellow Walford couple Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) and Howie Danes (Delroy Atkinson). 

Turns out, that will be a decision to regret.

As the big day arrives, Max has gone AWOL, much to his family’s panic, who try to track him down before Cindy finds out about his disappearing act. 

Eventually, he turns up hungover at Peacock Palace, where he ends up getting into a blazing row with his former flame Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), during which it all comes out about his affair with Priya. 

Linda, who has been secretly harbouring feelings for Max herself, is disgusted that he has reverted to type, and he slinks off to the car lot where he finds Priya. 

She’s furious when he tells her that Linda now knows about what they’ve been up to, but their argument ends up being overheard by Max’s daughter Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa). 

Feeling let down by her cheating dad yet again, Lauren refuses to attend the wedding, and word soon spreads to Oscar Branning (Pierre Counihan-Moullier) and Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), who soon give Max a roasting over his behaviour. However, they still manage to get him to the wedding venue on time. 

But just as Max and Cindy are about to say their vows, Linda and Priya arrive, and chaos quickly erupts. 

Teasing the drama ahead, Michelle Collins tells Metro: ‘Hell hath no fury like Cindy’s scorn! God help Priya is all I can say.’  

The star also suggests that Cindy could seek the ultimate revenge on Max, who we already know is central to the New Year’s Day episode, with this January’s flash-forward episode revealing he will find himself arrested and with someone threatening to shoot Lauren and Oscar. 

‘[Cindy] knows how to use a gun – she’s used a gun before,’ Michelle recalls. ‘I wouldn’t put anything past Cindy. 

‘You do not mess with Cindy. She loves hard, but she also will get revenge. Her revenge will be really hard as well.’

EastEnders airs these scenes from Monday 7th September at 7.30pm on BBC One or stream first from 6am on iPlayer. 

MORE: Linda confirms she is ready to move on as Kellie Bright’s ending draws closer in EastEnders

MORE: EastEnders’ Ravi rocked to catch Priya and Max – revenge is sure to follow

MORE: ‘Hell hath no fury!’ EastEnders’ Cindy will go ‘all the way’ in revenge against Max

Entering September, Saturn and Neptune are in retrograde, creating a sense of pressure and unease. This productive month could be off to a rocky start.

Gemini, Cancer and Virgo, conflicting perspectives could arise today. Try to use these to productive ends.

Keep looking forward, despite tensions that the cosmos bestows on you. This unusual energy will soon pass.

Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Tuesday September 1, 2026.

Like checking your horoscope every morning? You can now sign up to our free daily newsletter to get a personalised reading for your star sign delivered straight to your inbox.

To order your unique personal horoscope based on your time, date and place of birth, visit patrickarundell.com.

Aries

March 21 to April 20

As we enter September, the Moon in your sign is face-to-face with the diplomatic energies of Venus. This encourages you to choose your words with care, particularly amid the challenging tension between your ruler Mars and the restrictive Saturn. So, whilst usually you might wish to power forward, this new month may start more tentatively for you, Aries.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries

Taurus

April 21 to May 21

Someone else’s changing moods could leave you wondering where you stand. Rather than reacting, give things a little time. The intense pressure between Mars and Saturn suggests that forcing an issue will only create more resistance. Indeed, quiet persistence and a practical approach can see you accomplish more than getting drawn into an unnecessary conflict.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Taurus

Gemini

May 22 to June 21

A friend or group may have different priorities from yours today. And whilst lovely Venus encourages cooperation, strict Saturn’s clash with the go-getting Mars reminds you that patience can be more effective than trying to prove a point. The issue may be that something you closely identify with, be it a principle or financially, is one you are reluctant to budge on.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Gemini

Cancer

June 22 to July 23

You may be eager to make progress professionally, but obstacles slow your momentum. Don’t see this as a setback, but as an opportunity to double check your plans. Mars in your sign is making you highly determined, but perhaps impatient, and as restrictive Saturn squares Mars, you likely can’t rush. Look to things step by step. Once you accept this, the tension will ease.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Cancer

Leo

July 24 to August 23

You may have been surprised by how old issues or grievances have come up of late. If there is a current situation where it feels someone is being unfair, as Mars and Saturn clash, it can be difficult not to simmer with resentment. If need be, look to talk to a trusted friend. Their perspective might not fully chime with yours but could help you to see a different way forward.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Leo

Virgo

August 24 to September 23

The collective energies in Leo over the last month have likely given you some different perspectives on old issues. This may have seen some old hurts released too. The area you can apply these insights to as you enter September may be around group dynamics. Where things flow freely and light, you can see the opportunities; where not, you may prefer your space.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Virgo

Libra

September 24 to October 23

Relationships are firmly in focus, with the Moon opposing Venus in your sign. While you naturally seek harmony, today suggests that someone may test your patience. Listen carefully before responding and try to avoid being defensive. Your talent for meeting people halfway is in the mix, but Mars is bringing out a more assertive part of your nature, and you may use it.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Libra

Scorpio

October 24 to November 22

Your workload or daily demands could feel more onerous. Rather than trying to tackle everything at once, focus on the priorities. Demanding Saturn encourages steady effort, even if progress seems slow. This is going to be the case for some time to come, so where possible, look to give yourself occasional breaks. If you don’t, you could end up becoming resentful.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Scorpio

Sagittarius

November 23 to December 21

Your ruler Jupiter is roaring through your sister sign of Leo and pushing to showcase that side of you that loves to open up and be adventurous and bold. So why might it feel things aren’t flowing? Well, it’s likely because of a bruising battle between Mars and Saturn, and for you, whatever expansive plans you have, ensure they are well planned, particularly financially.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Sagittarius

Capricorn

December 22 to January 21

Family or domestic strands may require a little diplomacy today – especially should people have different expectations. With your ruler Saturn trying to put the celestial handbrake on Mars, this might be seen by those close to you as you looking to control things. Diplomatic Venus chimes in to urge you to keep things light, so look to lead rather than impose your will.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Capricorn

Aquarius

January 22 to February 19

Conversations may become more emotionally charged than expected, making it important to think before speaking. A carefully chosen phrase can achieve much more than a blunt opinion. Yet despite this, you could have a brilliant connection with someone, where your ideas mutually spark one another, and in a way that could stand the test of time.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aquarius

Pisces

February 20 to March 20

With Saturn and Neptune in retrograde, using resources carefully is to the fore. Yet, if you do have an idea or plan that you have thought carefully through and want to forge forward, don’t think you shouldn’t. Mars’ influence on the day can mean you find something hard to resist, but either your budget or someone close to you may make it difficult to get.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Pisces

Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.

Head here for this week’s tarot horoscope reading, and see what the cards have in store for you!

Check out the tarot horoscope reading for the month of September here.

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MORE: Daily horoscope August 31, 2026: Today’s predictions for your star sign

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Kenneth Wilson, 70, went fishing on Sunday but has not been seen or heard from since and concerns are growing.

A desperate search has been launched for a man who vanished after going fishing at an Inverness loch.

Kenneth Wilson is believed to have gone fishing at Lochan an Eoin Ruadha on Sunday, August 30. The 70-year-old has been seen or heard from since, prompting police to launch a desperate missing person’s search in his absence.

Kenneth’s vehicle has been traced a short distance from the loch, which lies on the Ashie Moor, between Loch Ness and Loch Duntelchaig, two miles southeast of the village of Dores.

At a memorial service Rabbi Daniel Walker remembered Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz who were killed not far from where he spoke during a terror attack last year

As Rabbi Daniel Walker rose to his feet hundreds of people stood with him and applauded. They were united in grief, remembering the awful events of Yom Kippur terror attack on Heaton Park synagogue.

But at a memorial service tonight they were also determined to celebrate the community’s strength and resilience. Standing not far from the spot where two worshippers Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby, were killed and three others were injured as they tried to defend the synagogue from terrorist Jihad al-Shamie on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, on October 2 last year, Rabbi Walker paid tribute to his friends, two men he described as ‘very different’.

“I think you can see that,” he said gesturing to the photos hung on the wall behind him. “Melvin with his trademark wry smile, Adrian with his quieter smile.”

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“If you didn’t know Melvin you probably aren’t from Manchester,” he said to laughter. “On the other hand very few of us had the privilege of knowing Adrian. I consider that one of the great privileges of being a rabbi here that I got to know Adrian.

“But what was similar about them was their ability light up a room, their ability to show care and affection to everybody from all walks of life… Remembering them means emulating them.”

In a moving speech of quiet, dignified emotion Rabbi Walker also told how when he was first allowed back inside the synagogue in the days after the attack it appeared as though it had been ‘frozen in time’.

“After we were evacuated we weren’t given a chance to take anything with us,” he said. “So when I came in here I saw the Shul frozen in time as if abandoned.

“It was a painful sight because inevitably the prayer books were open. When we finish using them we close them. To leave them open is an act of disrespect. Seeing them all sitting here open, that was just one of the many things that hurt.”

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Rabbi Walker then called on those gathered to stand ‘proud, loud and uncowed as Jews’ and also revealed that the synagogue is writing a new Torah scroll in Adrian and Melvin’s memory.

“We at Heaton Park have for the last year lived by this principle: To remember is to do good,” he added.

Earlier Angela Rayner, Secretary of State State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, told the memorial service the ‘poison’ of antisemitism must never be ‘normalised’ .

She added: “The horror and fear in a place of prayer on the holiest day of the year is a moment none of us should ever forget and in particular we should never forget Melvin and Adrian. Together we can overcome and defeat antisemitism.”

GMP Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson, who last month apologised for a ‘missed opportunity’ to act before the attack after it emerged the al-Shamie’s phones were seized by officers but crucial data was not examined, admitted the force was ‘not infallible’.

But, he added: “No-one should doubt the perfection of our intent. Our anxiety to give of our very best in all circumstances. And in our fierce determination to stand in defence of you, your families and the wider Jewish community.”

Describing antisemitism was a ‘moral stain that needs to be ruthlessly expunged’ he said that in light of recent attacks he ‘could well understand how vulnerable and isolated’ the Jewish community feels. But he urged those gathered to remember the impeccably observed silences held at football grounds around the country in the wake of the Yom Kippur attack

“That was the roar of the silent majority and the true voice of our country,” he added.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and Greater Manchester Mayor Bev Craig were also among those in attendance. The first anniversary of the attack isn’t until October, but Monday night’s memorial was held to coincide with the religious anniversary date rather than by the secular calendar.

Yom Kippur falls in September this year. Private prayers will be held at the synagogue on that day.

Speaking to the BBC earlier this week Rabbi Walker said the service was also arranged because the community also wanted to hold a public memorial before the Jewish High Holy Days.

Ariana Grande has revealed she is suffering with a foot injury as she gave an update on her final two London shows on Monday.

The singer, 33, is taking a planned career break ‘amid ongoing scrutiny’ after her Eternal Sunshine tour concludes on Tuesday.

Ahead of her last two gigs at the O2 Arena, Ariana shared on Instagram that she is recovering from a ‘deep cut’ after fans noticed her limping on stage last week.

Ariana explained she will not be performing in her trademark heels and instead will opt for comfy footwear to avoid putting weight on her injured foot.

She wrote: ‘My sweet petals, I wanted to let you know I will need to be in cozy footwear for this evenings show (and possibly tomorrow’s) as I am bandaged up underneath, recovering from a minor injury.

‘It is not a sprain or anything muscular but just a deep cut! So when you see me tonight without my signature heels, or even possibly having a little trouble putting weight on that foot, that is why!

Ahead of her last two gigs at the O2 Arena, Ariana shared on Instagram that she is recovering from a ‘deep cut’ after fans noticed her limping on stage last week

‘But please do not fret. On with the show and I am on the mend. I cannot wait to perform for you tonight and tomorrow (even if I am a few inches shorter than usual).’

Fans this week shared their concern on social media after spotting the star limping during her ten-night London residency.

A comment on TikTok read: ‘When I saw those high heels I was worried that she might roll her ankle due to how high. Anyways I hope it’s nothing serious and she recovers soon’.

Another added: ‘It must be so painful in those heals’.

While a third wrote: ‘Next Week needs to come fast for my baby to rest.’

Earlier this month, Ariana clarified that her career hiatus had been ‘quietly planned a long time ago’ before insisting that the decision was not made because ‘negativity was ruining things for me’.

Ariana explained on stage at one of her shows: ‘Multiple things can be true at the same time. Yes, boundaries, they need to be set. Human beings can need a break sometimes.’

She added that her tour, which she kicked off in North America in June, ‘will continue to be the greatest experience of my professional and creative life’.

‘Sometimes when a story comes out that’s not directly from me, things can get a little blown out of proportion,’ Ariana began, ‘So I just wanted to speak to my fans directly tonight because I love you so much. The announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing.’

Ariana explained she will not be performing in her trademark heels and instead will opt for comfy footwear to avoid putting weight on her injured foot

‘It is something that I had decided to plan that I had quietly made a long time ago and it’s a decision that was made from a thoughtful and empowered place. And I want you to know many things can be true at the same time.’

‘I want to share this because I heard that my fans were worried that negativity was ruining things for me, but I just have to say that could not be more the f**k opposite. Honestly, this is not what that is.’

‘And I just want to be very, very clear: Multiple things can be true at the same time. Yes, boundaries, they need to be set. Human beings can need a break sometimes. And also, this can be and will continue to be the greatest experience of my professional and creative life.’

‘No matter what noises exist out there, nothing will ever be able to distort my reality or be more real to me or elaborate to me than this love that we share,’ she gushed to fans from the stage.

‘The rest of that s**t is not mine to carry, so I don’t carry it. I need to get out here and differentiate that from my truth for you all because I love you and this tour has been the most healing, beautiful, corrective, magnificent, special experience of my life.’

Ariana’s exit from the spotlight means she has decided to bow out of her starring role in the London production of Sunday In The Park with George at the Barbican Centre in summer 2027.

She was set to reunite with her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey for the anticipated show, but producers confirmed in a statement on Sunday that she had decided to withdraw, adding ‘we know this cannot have been an easy decision.’

The statement confirmed that the production will go ahead and open as planned at the Barbican in summer 2027 with casting ‘announced in due course’.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is stepping down after 18 months on the job, the White House said Monday, in the latest departure of a top military leader during the Trump administration.

No reason was given for the departure of Driscoll, who is a friend of Vice President JD Vance, but tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have been widely reported. It marks the latest in a series of shakeups of the military leadership, with the Army especially seeing major upheaval.

“Secretary Driscoll has been highly effective in advancing President Trump’s agenda to Make America Strong Again at the Department of the Army by providing outstanding leadership during historic military operations, restoring an emphasis on readiness and lethality, assisting with negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and more,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement.

“The United States Army is more powerful than ever thanks to his work alongside the Commander-in-Chief and Secretary of War,” she added.

A U.S. Army official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said Driscoll spoke with President Donald Trump on the current state of the Army and submitted his resignation. The official did not provide additional details. The Pentagon referred questions to the Army. Driscoll’s resignation was reported earlier Monday by The Wall Street Journal.

Hegseth suddenly ousted the service’s top uniformed leader, Gen. Randy George, in April, while the Army’s commander in Europe and Africa, Gen. Christopher Donahue, unexpectedly stepped down in June.

Gen. Christopher LaNeve, who has made a meteoric rise under Hegseth, took George’s place as the Army’s acting chief of staff. Under LaNeve, the service is pulling the plug on a drone modernization program that Driscoll had heralded. An Army unit based in Europe was building its own drones before LaNeve directed it to end its efforts and return to being a traditional infantry battalion, officials said in August.

Driscoll was a George ally and lamented his departure, along with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. He told Congress in April that he and his family drove to George’s house following his resignation “and we all gave him a hug.”

As Army secretary, Driscoll was tapped for the unusual role of key negotiator to try to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. He was also a major force behind trying to cut the red tape for military contractors to quickly develop more drones and counter-drone capabilities as warfare rapidly changes around the world.

The Senate confirmed him in February 2025, voting 66-28, following an Armed Services Committee hearing that was largely unconfrontational and focused on how the Army could modernize its systems, improve recruiting and beef up the military industrial base.

Driscoll noted that his father and grandfather served in the Army and he vowed to be a secretary focused on the needs of soldiers. According to the Army, Driscoll served as an armor officer from August 2007 to March 2011, deploying to Iraq from October 2009 to July 2010.

He also ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for a North Carolina congressional seat in 2020, getting about 8% of the vote in a crowded field of candidates.

His departure comes after Hegseth ousted several other generals and admirals, including the head of the Navy.

The Pentagon abruptly announced in April that Navy Secretary John Phelan was leaving the job, becoming the first head of a military service to depart during Trump’s second term.

Police have issued a condition update on a mum and daughter found injured at a home in the Lisnahull Road area of Dungannon where a 61-year-old man was found dead

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a man in Dungannon, County Tyrone, and the attempted murder of two other people in the same incident.

On Saturday emergency services rushed to the Lisnahull Road area of Dungannon where they found a 61-year-old man dead next to his seriously injured daughter at a house in the town. Police on Tuesday said the girl is in a stable condition.

The dead man’s wife, who was also in the house at the time and sustained non-life threatening injuries, was released from hospital.

Providing an update, Mid Ulster District Commander Superintendent Peter Stevenson said: “Just after 10.55am, we received a report from a member of the public of an ongoing disturbance at a house in the Lisnahull Road area of Dungannon. “Officers arrived a short time later and discovered the body of a man aged 61, his 48-year-old wife, who had sustained non-life threatening injuries, and their severely injured eight-year-old daughter. “Our officers immediately commenced first aid on the woman and girl – and I am in no doubt that their quick-thinking actions gave the young girl a fighting chance of survival. “She is now in a stable condition in hospital. Colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Air Ambulance later attended and took both females to hospital.”

The officer added: “First and foremost, I want to express my sympathies to the loved ones of this family who will inevitably be struggling to come to terms with this horrendous news. Specialist officers are supporting the wider family circle and we are liaising with the relevant consulate. We would ask that the public avoid speculation.” The senior officer said police do not believe that there is any ongoing risk to the public and they are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation. However, Superintendent Stevenson said locals would continue to see an increased police presence in the area with a “significant number of detectives and local policing officers dedicated to working on this case”.

The teenage boy, who has not been named for legal reasons, is due to appear before Omagh Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.

Lentils, beans and chickpeas have been feeding people for thousands of years. Lentils are among the world’s earliest cultivated crops, with archaeological evidence tracing them back to the beginnings of agriculture. Yet scientists are still learning what happens inside our bodies when we eat them.

A 2026 review of the research examined the evidence on pulses and their effects on the gut and metabolism. Pulses are the dried edible seeds of legume plants, including lentils, chickpeas, dried beans and dried peas. Legumes are the wider plant family and also include foods such as soya and fresh peas.

The researchers brought together evidence from human studies with laboratory and animal research. So what does the science suggest pulses actually do once we eat them?

1. They feed microbes in your gut

Pulses provide plant protein and fibre, along with carbohydrates that are not always completely broken down before they reach the large intestine.

There, gut microbes get involved. When some bacteria break down fibre and other carbohydrates, they produce substances called short-chain fatty acids. These help support the lining of the gut and are involved in how the immune system and metabolism work.

Because pulses provide some of the carbohydrates these microbes feed on, researchers are interested in whether regularly eating them changes which microbes thrive in the gut and what they produce.

The recent review found promising evidence that pulses can affect the gut microbiome, the community of microbes living in our digestive system. But much of this research still comes from laboratory and animal studies. Longer human trials are needed before we know how important these changes are for health.

2. They can change what happens to your blood sugar after a meal

Blood sugar normally rises after we eat carbohydrates. Pulses appear to reduce the size of that rise.

A review that combined the results of 65 clinical trials, involving 2,102 adults with and without type 2 diabetes, found that eating pulses reduced rises in blood sugar after meals.

One possible explanation lies in their structure. Pulses contain fibre and starch that can be digested relatively slowly, and intact cell walls can make some of the starch harder for digestive enzymes to reach.

The evidence for longer-term changes is less certain. The same review found some improvements in measures of blood-sugar control, particularly among people with type 2 diabetes, but researchers rated much of this evidence as low or very low certainty.

3. They may modestly lower cholesterol

There is also evidence from human trials that eating legumes can produce small improvements in cholesterol.

A 2024 review of 24 trials involving 1,938 people found modest reductions in both total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.

LDL stands for low-density lipoprotein. These particles carry cholesterol through the blood, and extensive genetic and clinical evidence shows that higher exposure to LDL contributes to the build-up of fatty plaques in arteries, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The changes seen in the legume trials were relatively small, so eating beans or lentils should not be thought of as a treatment for high cholesterol. They can, however, form part of a diet that supports cardiovascular health.

4. They may help you feel fuller

Pulses may also affect how hungry you feel after eating.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of short-term feeding trials found that people reported feeling fuller after meals containing pulses than after comparison meals. However, this did not reliably translate into eating less at the next meal.

This means the evidence supports a short-term effect on feelings of fullness more clearly than it supports claims that pulses automatically reduce how much we eat.

5. How you prepare them can change what your body absorbs

Pulses contain minerals such as iron and zinc, but they also naturally contain phytate. Phytate can bind to minerals and make some of them less available for the body to absorb. broken link

Preparation can change this. Research has found that techniques including soaking and sprouting can reduce phytate and improve the availability of iron and zinc, although the effects vary between foods and preparation methods.

So the amount of a mineral present in a food tells only part of the nutritional story. How that food is prepared can influence how much becomes available for our bodies to use.

There is an environmental advantage too

Pulses also have an unusual ability before they ever reach our plates.

Legume plants form partnerships with bacteria around their roots that convert nitrogen from the atmosphere into forms plants can use. This relationship is one reason legumes are important in farming systems and can help reduce reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilisers.

So, should we eat more pulses? The evidence is strongest for some effects and still developing for others. Human trials suggest pulses can reduce blood-sugar rises after meals, modestly improve cholesterol and increase feelings of fullness. Research into their effects on our gut microbes is particularly interesting, but better long-term studies in people are still needed.

Fortunately, adding pulses to meals does not require much reinvention. Lentils can be added to soups, curries and salads. Chickpeas can become hummus or be roasted, while beans work in stews, wraps and pasta dishes.

After thousands of years on our plates, pulses are hardly a new discovery. What is changing is our ability to follow what happens after we eat them, from the bacteria in our gut to changes in our blood. And scientists are still filling in parts of that picture.

A parent at Venturers’ Academy, a specialist school for autistic pupils, is urging staff and management to work together to avoid further upheaval for vulnerable children.

Members of the National Education Union at Venturers’ and six other schools managed by the E-ACT multi-academy trust are set to stage a five-day strike in September over a dispute regarding backpay for support staff. They follow similar industrial action taken in June and July.

Charlotte Brine, whose 9-year-old autistic daughter Ellie-Rae attends Venturers’ — which has sites in Withywood and Brislington — says the strikes have had a profoundly damaging impact on her child. Stay in the know by making sure you’re receiving our daily newsletter

“Since the disruption caused by the strikes, I have noticed a clear change in her,” Charlotte said. “Her sleep has become much more disturbed than usual.

“She has been having more meltdowns and crying outbursts, and the crying in particular is very unusual for her. As her mum, it is heartbreaking to watch a change in her that I know isn’t normal for her.”, reports Bristol Live.

“One of the hardest things for me to see is when she watches her siblings getting ready for school. She sees them putting on their school uniforms and going to school, and she becomes upset because it feels to her like she is missing out on something.”

The education union maintains that strike action is necessary to secure a fair deal for some of the lowest-paid staff at schools. According to the NEU, a member of staff earning £20,000 has lost out on about £2,000 due to the method used to calculate backpay since E-ACT assumed control of the former Venturers’ Academy schools in 2024.

E-ACT, meanwhile, says it gave staff a pay rise and argues that demands relating to additional historic backpay are unreasonable.

At Venturers’, pupils with complex needs find themselves caught in the middle.

“She [Ellie-Rae] doesn’t understand the wider reasons behind the strikes,” Charlotte said. “She doesn’t understand why her normal school routine has been disrupted. What she sees is that her siblings are going to school while she isn’t, and that can be incredibly difficult for her to process.

“For these children, disruption to routine isn’t simply an inconvenience. Their routines can provide security, predictability and reassurance. When those routines are taken away or repeatedly changed, the impact can be much bigger than simply missing a day of education.”

Numerous workers at the heart of the dispute are forced to take on second, or even third jobs, to support their families, the union stated.

A comparable dispute at the end of 2025 involving support staff working for the Cathedral Schools Trust ended after that trust decided to offer its workers improved terms. Charlotte said she massively respects the job that support staff do and their right to fair wages, and called on both sides to work together to bring an end to the dispute.

“I believe fully paid staff are crucial to our children’s care, and the support staff who dedicate their time to helping and caring for our children absolutely deserve a decent and fair wage,” Charlotte said.

“These are people doing incredibly important work. They should be valued, respected and paid appropriately for the responsibility they carry.

“I hope that everyone involved can come together, listen to one another and find a resolution as quickly as possible. I want fair pay and fair treatment for the people who care for our children.

“But I also want stability and security for the children themselves. Ultimately, our children should not be the ones carrying the emotional cost of an ongoing dispute.”

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A man fleeing police at Notting Hill Carnival died after entering a canal – while arrest figures have climbed past 500. 

Met Police confirmed on Monday night that the body of a man, thought to be in his 20s, was pulled from the water near Meanwhile Gardens.

The force was called at around 3.19pm on Monday and attempted to stop the individual in the Harrow Road area.

He fled on foot as officers followed behind but entered the water a short time later in the vicinity of Meanwhile Gardens.

The man was pulled from the water by officers and members of the public and he was immediately given CPR.

Paramedics continued treatment before taking the man to a central London hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Commander Smart said: ‘This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the loved ones of the man who has lost his life.

‘Any death following contact with the police is passed to the Independent Office for Police Conduct so the circumstances can be fully investigated. I would encourage everyone to avoid speculation while this work takes place.

Some 7,000 police officers and 3,000 stewards have been deployed for the festival weekend (pictured: a man being detained)

Day two of the festival is considered ‘adults day’ with louder music, bigger crowds and racier dancing

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 ‘I acknowledge the efforts of the officers and members of the public who entered the canal to rescue this man. I know they will be devastated that his life couldn’t ultimately be saved.’  

It comes as police arrested 315 people on the second day of the carnival – after confirming 243 arrests during the ‘family day’ on Sunday. 

Pictures taken today show Met Police officers searching and arresting people during the carnival’s 60th anniversary celebrations.

Monday is considered the ‘adults day’ of Europe’s biggest street party, with loud sound systems, larger crowds, widespread drinking and racier dancing.

The force said it arrested 97 people on the ‘approaches’ to carnival, while the remainder were arrested within the event itself.

Offences ranged from possession of drugs and weapons to assaults, including assaults on emergency workers, and sexual offences.

Police say the majority of attendees have now ‘left the area’ – though officers remain on duty to ensure revellers ‘can get home safely’. 

The Met added there were two assaults with knives over the course of the event – one stabbing and one slashing – neither of which resulted in life threatening injuries.

The total arrests over the two day police operation was 560 as of Monday evening.

It is likely the number will rise while further arrests are processed, police said.

Notting Hill Carnival attracts millions of revellers each year for two days of partying and Revellers could be seen climbing on top of bus stops amidst the party atmosphere at the carnival and engaging in racy dancing.

On Monday, 48 of the arrests followed identification using live facial recognition.

Using the technology, officers to stop 43 registered sex offenders to check they were complying with licence conditions. Three were arrested for breaching their conditions, in addition to three arrested for breaches on Sunday. 

Of those arrested on Sunday, 61 were identified via facial recognition after the force deployed the technology as part of an intense policing operation at the festival, which attracts millions of people each year.

A man is taken aside by police officers at Notting Hill Carnival earlier on Monday

Revellers climb on top of a bus stop on Elkstone Road at the heart of the Notting Hill Carnival

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Revellers climbing fences at the side of the railway in Notting Hill. The Met says the event has been ‘overwhelmingly positive’ despite making scores of arrests

A pair of revellers at Hammersmith Underground station put the finishing touches to their outfits – with an oversized bottle of Buzzballz cocktail for company

The Met has rolled out live facial recognition at the carnival, which it says helped it identify 61 wanted people

More than 7,000 police officers and 3,000 security stewards have been deployed in West London, and metal detectors have been installed on the perimeter of the festival.

The Met has also imposed a Section 60 order, allowing officers to stop and search anyone attending carnival without needing reasonable suspicion that they are harbouring drugs or weapons.

Police said the method had been used ‘extensively’ – with 62 weapons seized across both days, including a handgun during Monday afternoon. 

Transport for London has made some Underground stations ‘exit only’ to prevent crushes – while some crowds opted to walk to Notting Hill from nearby Kensington, exiting from High Street Kensington station with scarves covering their faces.

Police commanders say the mood on Sunday was ‘overwhelmingly positive and celebratory’ despite being marred by scores of arrests. 

Commander Claire Smart, gold commander for the carnival operation, said last week: ‘Our message is simple: come and enjoy Carnival, look after one another, respect the event, the communities hosting it and the police officers, stewards and other emergency services working to keep people safe. 

Here are some pictures from Monday’s festivities

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‘But if you’re coming to commit crime, to target others or to engage in violence – stay away or know that we will be work relentlessly to identify you and take action.’

The Met says it has worked with festival organisers to improve safety and security at the carnival, which has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years due to increasing violence and drug use.

Some 76 zombie knives, 30 flick knives and a machete have been seized following Met raids ahead of time, while a joint operation with Greater Manchester Police saw seven people arrested on suspicion of planning robberies at the festival.

Some 330 people have been banned from attending the festival as part of their bail conditions for those arrested on suspicion of other offences. 

Official estimates suggest the carnival annually contributes almost £400million to the wider economy – but this comes at a cost to taxpayers.

Commander Smart said: ‘The progress by Notting Hill Carnival Ltd in stepping into so many of the event management and crowd safety roles previously performed by the police cannot be understated. 

‘They have delivered a challenging event well and in doing so have allowed us to focus our resources on our core role of tackling crime.’ 

The Met’s policing operation cost £15.7million last year, up from £11.7million in 2023, while City Hall gave organisers an extra £4.6million grant for stewards and CCTV on top of the near-£1m already pledged to support the event. 

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea estimates its annual clean-up and staffing bill as £1million, of which it sees around £300,000 back in street trader fees.

Some have called for the Carnival to impose an admission fee to help cover costs.

James Ford, a former adviser to Boris Johnson when he was Mayor of London, said in City AM last week: ‘If London can’t turn a reasonable profit – or at least cover its costs – on one of the biggest street festivals in the world, then there is something fundamentally wrong here.’

Organisers insist the Carnival is safe and have labelled criticism of it ‘unfair’.

But it has been marred by tragedy in recent years – including the 2024 murder of young mother Cher Maximen – and widespread drug use, with discarded nitrous oxide canisters a common sight on the streets as the clean-up begins.

Ms Maximen, 32, was murdered in front of her three-year-old daughter – one of eight stabbings in and around the festival. 

Her killer, Shakeil Thibou, was jailed for life. Thibou lunged at a man with a large knife at the festival and fell into a crowd of people including Ms Maximen. As he swung his blade, he stabbed her in the groin while she was shielding her child.

Chef Mussie Imnetu was also murdered close to the carnival in 2024 by Omar Wilson, who lied to police that he had acted in self defence as he punched and kicked Imnetu in Queensway and delivered kicks to his head.

The Met made more than 500 arrests last year, mostly for drug offences as well as for weapons offences, sex crimes and violence. No fatalities were reported in 2025.