At least 1,000 schools and nurseries will either be closed or partially closed in England and Wales over the next two days.

Some have brought in early finishing times or relaxed uniform rules, while transport services have been disrupted and people are being urged to stay inside, close windows and curtains and stay hydrated to beat the heat.

Night time temperatures have also been unusually high, staying above 20C in many places, with Brize Norton in Oxfordshire not dipping below 22.3C and Heathrow, west London, not dipping below 22.1C, the Met Office said.

These “tropical nights” make it hard to sleep and for people to recover from the heat of the day, experts warned.

More than 100 schools will be at least partly closed in Bristol, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hampshire. In Somerset, more than 200 schools will be shut or operating on more limited opening hours.

Children at some schools have been told they can wear PE kit rather than full school uniform, which can involve long trousers and blazers.

Since the start of the World Cup, the Tartan Army has overtaken social media feeds.

A Scot has opened up about how his mental health has improved since the Tartan Army’s trip to America has taken over his social media feed. Marking the change as “refreshing”, the Scot is calling for only Boston and Tartan Army content to be allowed on his for you page.

The Scots have made a massive impression on the Americans since they started celebrating their first appearance in the World Cup in nearly three decades. Having overtaken the city of Boston as their first host city for over a week, the streets were flooded with traffic cones, bagpipes, kilts, and singing.

While locals delighted in getting involved with the Tartan Army’s shenanigans, with Glasgow and Boston even becoming ‘twin cities’, many of us back on home soil have also been enjoying seeing the variety of joyful content flooding our social media.

Get Daily Record Premium for just £1 per month in exclusive offer to celebrate the World Cup

Celebrate the World Cup with a chance to win £100 in Aldi vouchers

Removing many of the more negative or serious posts some of us see online, Glasgow business founder Andrew Dobbie has opened up about how this change has benefited his mental state. Voicing his thoughts on Instagram, many people have shared that they have also welcomed the change.

Captioning the clip, Andrew wrote: “Has your feed only been Boston and Scotland content this past week? My whole FYP has been a delight and full of joy, happiness and cones.” The video now has over 163,000 views and has garnered thousands of likes and comments.

In the clip, he says: “Do you know what’s been really refreshing about this whole Boston and Scotland thing? I don’t know about you but my whole feed – everything on my feed – has been Scotland and Boston having a great time, having great fun.

“And it’s removed from my feed of all the politics, all the bad stuff, all the AI stuff, all the negative stuff and the only thing I’ve been consuming on my phone is people having a great time and a great party.”

Andrew continues: “It’s just made me think it just shows you what that stuff does to your kind of mental state. I think we should just have Scotland and Boston content on our feeds. Only that… forever. Who’s with me?”

Many over Instagram users have shared the same thoughts, as one person wrote in the comments section: “Yeah I’ve noticed a huge change in mine too, it’s brilliant. Just so much joy. Love to see it!”

While another person added: “I made a similar comment to one of my sons today. It’s truly been a much needed breath of fresh air!”

Other viewers also agreed, with one user commenting: “Yessssssssssss! I’ve been saying the exact same thing! I’m with you!”, while another followed on, adding: “100% it’s great. All positive now, no more drama.”

A fifth follower also shared: “I said the same, I just kept scrolling and smiling and laughing out loud. What a change to the normal stuff you see everyday. I’m in!”

During the Tartan Army’s time in Boston, many notable events occurred such as thousands of fans attending a Red Sox baseball game, the unofficial legalisation of haggis, traffic cones appearing on statues across the city, and Glasgow and Boston becoming sister cities.

Despite the majority of the Tartan Army having left Boston last week ahead of their third World Cup match against Brazil, Bostonians are still very much all over social media sharing videos of missing the Scots and adding to comments to Miami clips saying they want the fans to return.

While Scotland’s World Cup bid currently hangs in the balance as we wait for the third place standings, it is safe to say that the Tartan Army has been a highlight of the 2026 tournament.

Police were called to Osbourne Close in Hemlington on Thursday (June 25) after a man blocked himself inside and “made threats” – sparking the evacuation of dozens of residents.

A huge section of the street has been taped off, with neighbours cleared from 23 homes by gun-toting officers at the scene. 

Cleveland Police has described the incident as “isolated” and said negotiations were ongoing with the man inside the property this afternoon. 

(Image: ALEX O’LEARY)

Displaced residents have been forced to watch the 999 activity from the street amid 28 degree heat – with a rest centre set up at Hemlington Library. 

Residents have described waking up to the flurry of emergency services including several ambulances and a fire engine, at around 7.30am this morning. 

Jacqueline Howard described the armed police activity as “frightening”. 

The 65-year-old said: “I got up at about 8am, and all of the matrix police cars were here and the cordon was here. The police just told me to stay in. 

(Image: ALEX O’LEARY)

“I didn’t know how long it had been going on for. 

“I saw the bomb squad and thought that it must be serious.

“I nearly died – I thought, what the hell? I have never seen so many police. I counted about 11 officers and that wasn’t including the armed police.

“I have never seen them close up with guns. It was frightening. I don’t know how long we are going to be out here for.”

Pete, 75, had just arrived back from a trip away when he saw the police activity at 10.45am this morning: “I had to park my car around the corner.

(Image: ALEX O’LEARY)

“Everything was here and it has just gotten more and more. The bomb squad has come, armed police have come, the fire service has come.”

The dad-of-two added: “I have lived here for 41 years and we’ve had nothing like this. I have seen some things like but not on the scale, nowhere near.”

One man, who has lived on the road for 13 years, said he first came across the incident at around 7.30am: “There were just the police officers at the time.

“We were evacuated at about 7.50am, they just said to us that we had to leave. I’ve lived here for 13 years, it’s lovely.”

One 28-year-old, who wished to remain anonymous, added: “I first found out this morning when I tried to take my friend’s dog out at about 10.45am. 

(Image: ALEX O’LEARY)

“At the time, there was just one matrix van and about three or four police cars and one ambulance. It is quite a shock”

A cordon remains both at the front and rear of the home. Police officers guarded either side on Thursday afternoon while other emergency services waited on standby. 

Superintendent Paul Allen said: “At this time, we remain on the scene at Osbourn Close and negotiations with the man in the property are ongoing, our priority is to bring this incident to safe conclusion.

“We have extended the cordon; this has resulted in more properties being evacuated. Middlesborough Council has set up a rest centre for anyone who has been displaced, this can be located at Hemlington Library.

“I would like to reassure the community that this is an isolated incident, in a single property. Any specialist equipment and services, including the explosives unit, are at the scene as a precaution at this stage.  

A North East Ambulance spokesperson said: “We were called to an incident in Hemlington, Middlesbrough at 8.35am on 25 June.

“We are currently supporting the police and have three resources on scene.”

Christmas?! In June?! A sentiment likely echoed by the residents of Walford as Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) decked the halls and toasted festive cheer in EastEnders this week.

The popular matriarch, as was established last year, likes to celebrate half-Christmas with her loved ones, branding the annual event a ‘family tradition’ for her clan.

And with the past year having proven one of change for the clan – with Teddy (Roland Manookian) having gone to prison, Barney (Lewis Bridgeman) having found out that Teddy isn’t his biological dad and Nicola embarking on a romance with George Knight (Colin Salmon) – Nicola felt it was right to take the opportunity to celebrate.

Thus half-Christmas was set in motion, with No. 1 decorated on June 25 just as it would be in the middle of December.

But while the Knight / Mitchell clan were full of festive cheer, Suki and Eve Panesar-Unwin (Balvinder Sopal and Heather Peace) were worried sick that Nicola would spell the end of their adoption dream.

Eve, as viewers know, hit Nicola earlier this week after the bar owner berated Suki’s parenting skills. Nicola retaliated by revealing that Eve’s violence was captured on CCTV and thus she proceeded to blackmail Suiki for £50,000.

The blackmail couldn’t have come at a worse time for Suki and Eve, who were only just approved by an adoption panel the previous day.

In a bid to ensure Nicola didn’t take their dream from them, Suki agreed to her demands.

Harry (Elijah Hollway), however, worked out what Nicola was up to and berated her for stooping to such levels, reminding her that – after her role in bringing Eddie Knight back into George’s life – she should be trying to raise the money she needs through better methods than blackmail.

The telling off left Nicola with food for thought and thus she headed back to Suki and Eve’s, telling the couple that she doesn’t want their money.

But before Suki and Eve could get excited about being let off the hook, Nicola revealed that she has no intention of deleting the CCTV footage and will hold onto it for now – in case she needs it.

Will Suki and Eve find themselves trapped in Nicola’s web for months to come? Or will Nicola erase the footage and allow the couple to move on?

Don’t miss a Soaps scoop! Add us as a Preferred Source

As a loyal Metro Soaps reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for stories. We have all the latest soaps news, spoilers, videos, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.

Click the button below and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.

Advertisement

Add us as a Preferred Source

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One or stream from 6am on BBC iPlayer. 

If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@metro.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you.

Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage.

MORE: Suki and Eve join forces in EastEnders to overcome adoption issues with Ria

MORE: Glowing EastEnders star marries long-term partner in intimate ceremony

MORE: Vinny lashes out at Suki in EastEnders over heartbreaking family death

Mary Berry’s no-cook chicken recipe is the ultimate summer dish.

Britons up and down the country are currently enduring a week-long heatwave that feels akin to being roasted alive. The last thing anybody wants is to venture into their kitchen and face yet more heat while preparing dinner.

Rather than resorting to supermarket snacks or ordering a takeaway, Mary Berry has shared her ideal summer salad — simple to prepare, utterly delicious and, best of all, completely free of any cooking whatsoever.

The recipe description, as per BBC Food, reads: “Mary’s Mediterranean-inspired salad is full of good things – creamy avocado, juicy tomatoes and tender chicken in a quick pesto dressing. It’s perfect for making ahead, with a quick assembly before serving.”

This recipe serves up to six people and contains just 382 calories per serving. The dish is packed with 27g of protein and as little as 24g of fat.

Elsewhere, you can also take a look at Mary Berry’s “easy” honey chicken recipe, which makes for a perfect midweek meal. Read on below to discover how to make her no-cook chicken salad.

Mary Berry’s honey chicken recipe

What you’ll need:

• Three cooked chicken breasts
• Two large avocados
• One lemon
• Half a cucumber
• 18 baby plum tomatoes
• Four tablespoons of fresh green basil pesto
• Six tablespoons of light mayonnaise
• Salt to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 25g of toasted pine nuts
• Micro salad
• Basil leaves

Method

1. To start, prepare the chicken by removing the skin and bones from the cooked chicken breasts, where necessary. Cut each breast horizontally in half, then slice into thin strips.
2. Next, prepare the dressing by placing the basil pesto, light mayonnaise and the juice of half a lemon into a large bowl. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then stir thoroughly until fully combined.
3. Next, add the sliced chicken and stir until it is thoroughly coated in the dressing. For the best results, cover the chicken and allow it to marinate in the fridge for several hours or overnight, though this step can be omitted if time is short.
4. For the following step, peel and slice the avocados, then transfer the slices to a separate bowl. Squeeze over the juice of half a lemon and gently toss until the avocado is evenly coated.
5. Slice the cucumber in half lengthways and use a teaspoon to scoop out and discard the seeds. Peel the cucumber with a potato peeler, then cut it into thin crescent-shaped pieces. Then, halve the baby plum tomatoes lengthwise.
6. Layer the cucumber slices, avocado slices, tomato halves and pesto chicken on a serving platter or divide them between individual bowls. Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
7. To serve, scatter the toasted pine nuts across the top of the salad and finish with a generous handful of micro salad leaves and fresh basil leaves.

“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve you”

A Dungiven based butchers has announced this week that it is set to close its doors in the next few days.

McKay Family Butcher, which is based on the Main Street of the Co Derry town, took to social media to let its followers know that the business was closing for “circumstances beyond our control”.

The family-run business let their customers know that their shop will close from this Saturday in this statement: “Due to circumstances beyond our control, we will be closing our Dungiven shop. Our last day of trading will be this Saturday.

“This is not a decision that has been taken lightly, but one we feel is right for our family. We would like to thank everyone for your support since we opened our doors in 1999! It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve you.”

Advertisement

They went on to thank their staff by saying: “To our staff, past and present, thank you for your efforts and dedication. It is truly appreciated. All vouchers (still in date up to 27/6/26) will be honoured or refunded. Thank you from our family to yours”

The business was established in the town in 1999, and the owners of the butchers shop have now placed the business up for sale.

Saying that the potential new owners have an “excellent opportunity to hit the ground running by taking on a successful butchers shop with huge potential.”

The owners also run a second location in Ballycastle in Co Antrim, which will remain open and unaffected by the Dungiven closure.

Customers of the business reacted to the news in the comments, saying they were “Sad to hear this news” and that the business’s closure was “a big loss to the Dungiven community”.

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

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans who were berated by President Donald Trump over opposition to his war in Iran held a late-night vote Wednesday to try to appease him, rejecting a war powers resolution a day after a similar measure passed.

Trump harangued GOP senators face to face earlier in the day for allowing a vote to block his war in Iran on Tuesday, further escalating a feud that has diverted GOP efforts to focus on election-year affordability issues and brought much of the chamber’s business to a halt. He exchanged particularly harsh words with Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, one of four Republicans who had voted with Democrats on the measure.

Hours later, though, Cassidy was invited to receive a personal briefing on the war at the White House from Vice President JD Vance and envoy Steve Witkoff. Cassidy then returned to the Capitol to vote against a separate but nearly identical war powers resolution.

“I want to thank Vice President Vance and Special Envoy Witkoff for the thorough briefing this afternoon on Iran. I appreciate the quick invitation to the White House to address many of my concerns,” said Cassidy, who lost reelection last month after Trump endorsed his opponent, in a post on X.

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican who has repeatedly voted with Democrats to halt the war, voted present this time “to give the President more space and leverage to negotiate a lasting peace,” he said on X. The measure failed 47-50-1 just before midnight on Wednesday, and the Senate then left town for a two-week recess.

It’s unclear whether the move will be enough to appease Trump, who had called the Republicans “losers” for voting against his war and had called Cassidy a “lunatic” at the lunch after their tense exchange. But the vote was a clear signal to the president from Republican senators who still want to placate him, despite increasing tensions in recent weeks and his decision Wednesday morning to reverse himself and delay signing a housing bill that received overwhelming bipartisan support.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and a small group of his Senate GOP colleagues called Trump after the vote. Thune told reporters that the president was “pleased with the outcome.”

Trump later thanked Thune in a social media post and noted that Cassidy and Paul had switched their votes. “This vote puts Iran on notice!” he wrote.

The war powers measure blocked by the Senate on Wednesday was on a separate track from the nearly identical resolution adopted on Tuesday, which had also been passed by the House. Both votes were largely symbolic, and the measures do not carry the full force of law.

Cassidy had sharp words for Trump

Invited by Florida Sen. Rick Scott to speak at a GOP luncheon in the Capitol, Trump had signaled ahead of time that he would use the closed-door meeting to push senators to pass his proof-of-citizenship voting bill. But the conversation was more focused on Tuesday’s vote on war powers.

Most Republicans stayed quiet. But Cassidy stood up and defended his vote.

“I stood and said, ‘You have not told the American people what’s going on,’” Cassidy told reporters after the meeting. “This was supposed to last four weeks, it’s lasted four months. Our original objectives have not been achieved.”

The two men “went back and forth,” Cassidy said, and he “matched his tone and volume.” Cassidy said that he eventually de-escalated, but he did not want to be bullied.

“I am voting for war powers until I get a briefing,” he said afterward.

Trump repeatedly told Cassidy to sit down, according to a person familiar with the private meeting who was not authorized to discuss it. At one point, the president called the senator a “lunatic.”

Publicly, Trump said afterward that they had “a really great meeting.” But he hinted at the discord.

“We like everyone in the room,” Trump told reporters on his way out. “I don’t like a few people, but that’s OK.”

The luncheon capped weeks of friction between Trump and Senate Republicans and added a new layer of frustration as Tuesday’s vote was the first time the Senate had adopted a war powers resolution on the Iran war. Trump made clear he was in no mood to compromise before it even started, calling off a scheduled signing ceremony on a housing bill that passed both chambers overwhelmingly this week and that GOP lawmakers were touting as an election-year achievement.

Trump reverses on housing bill

Republican senators were eager for a conciliatory meeting with the president after escalating tensions in recent weeks. But Trump upended their plans when he declared on social media just beforehand that he wouldn’t sign the legislation until they send him the SAVE America Act, his bill to require proof of citizenship for all voters.

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said he doesn’t know why Trump is holding the housing bill “hostage” for the voting bill that “will never pass in this Congress.”

“It makes no sense to me,” Tillis said as he walked into the luncheon.

Thune said the housing legislation, which aims to lower costs, is “an affordability issue,” and that ”eventually I hope he finds a way to sign it.”

It’s unclear if Trump might veto the legislation or if the late Wednesday night vote will change his outlook. But by rejecting a public bill signing, Republicans worry that Trump is indicating a level of indifference to voters’ affordability concerns heading into November’s midterm elections.

Trump and Senate Republicans have been at odds

Trump’s move on the housing bill is his latest reversal after weeks of being at odds with Senate Republicans.

Trump has blocked the Senate from confirming one of his own nominees, asked them to fund parts of his White House ballroom project despite opposition and forced them to defend the Iran war even as they question the strategy and endgame.

Trump has also helped whittle down his own support in the Senate after endorsing primary challengers to two GOP incumbents who were previously reliable votes for his agenda — Cassidy and Texas Sen. John Cornyn. Both men have become more critical of Trump since losing reelection.

“If we’re going to win the midterm elections, we need to get on the same page,” Cornyn said ahead of the meeting. “We’re not on the same page now, and that I think is dangerous.”

Trump pushes Thune on SAVE America Act

Trump has pressed Republicans for months to kill the Senate filibuster and focus on the proof-of-citizenship voting bill, even though Thune has repeatedly told him that neither has the votes.

While Thune remains popular in his conference and cordial with the president, he has spent much of his time lately telling Trump what he doesn’t want to hear. Thune said Tuesday that while Trump and some in their conference want to see the voting bill pass, “it’s just not realistic.”

Thune devoted weeks of floor time to the voting bill earlier this year and has said he supports it. But he has repeatedly said there aren’t enough votes to scrap the filibuster that triggers a 60-vote threshold to pass most bills in the 53-47 Senate. And Democrats are uniformly opposed to the bill.

“I think people at some point have to come to grips with that,” Thune said.

___

Associated Press writers Josh Boak and Kevin Freking contributed to this report.

Now, however, he is back on the tennis court, and back to winning ways, having strung together two consecutive victories on the Sussex coast. He beat Marcos Giron, an American lucky loser, in his first round, and his compatriot and close friend Jack Pinnington Jones in the second round. Both were matches that his new coach Sir Andy Murray observed, with the pair’s new relationship off to the perfect possible start.

And sometime by the end of July, it will re-open at a currently undisclosed city centre location.

Partners Molly McGrath and Leon Sledmore co-founded the restaurant in November 2022 after several years in a kiosk in the city known as Sloppy Burger, which became extremely popular.

They then opened the Nine Bar next door, which also went “from strength-strength” until the pandemic hit in 2020.

RECOMMENDED READING:
Sloppy’s Bar and Kitchen opens at Acomb Wood Shopping Centre

The business continued with deliveries before becoming take-away only by operating from pub kitchens from January 2021 whilst they looked for premises. Venues they worked from included the Inn on the Green in Acomb and The Lighthorseman on Fulford Road.

The couple always had plans to open a restaurant and by chance they found their venue after a meal at the top-rated Italian restaurant Buongiorno, situated next door, attracted by its warm and welcoming staff and lovely food.

Whilst keen to start in the suburbs, Molly says the couple had always wanted to move to the city centre.

All being well, contracts should be signed next week, to allow for a relocated business to re-open “later in July.”

Molly McGrath and Leon Sledmore in front of their top-rated restaurant, which is to move. (Image: Pic supplied)

Molly told the Press: “We have had a great time here, but we had an opportunity arise. We have loved been in Woodthorpe and thank you to the locals. We can’t wait to welcome them to the new premises.”

Over the years, Sloppy’s Bar and Kitchen has gained a reputation for some of the best burgers in York. Lovers of messy food have given rave reviews on TripAdvisor and Google.

Google Awards 4.8 stars out of five, based on 134 Google Reviews.

TripAdvisor awards an even better 4.9 stars out of five, based on 214 reviews, ranking it 12th out of 798 York restaurants.

The most recent Google review awarded five stars and said: “Super friendly as soon as we walked in! Loads of choice on the menu. Our food came super quick and taste incredible! Can’t fault it. Will be back!”

The most recent TripAdvisor review also awarded five stars, praising its “amazing friendly service and something a bit different local to us!”

The review added: “Quick service, lovely friendly staff. American twist food, served hot and flavoursome. Quirky, great vibe with indie music. Great choice of cocktails.”

Have you eaten at Sloppy’s? What did you think? Will you be trying out their new venue in the city centre. Please share us your thoughts in the comments below.