Of the problems reported, 67% relate to problems with the Halifax while 13% reported problems with login.
A further 10% of problems were linked to fund transfers.
One customer said on Downdetector: “Cannot login to my account.
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“Halifax fix this immediately!!!”
Another commented: “Cannot make any payments or transactions with my banking details?”
Someone else said: “Banking app says they’re having technical issues and to try again later.”
Halifax issues update to bank users
The Halifax app has informed customers using the app that it is “having a few technical problems”.
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The notice reads: “You’ve been logged out
“Sorry, we’re having a few technical problems.
“Logging in again may fix the issue, but if this doesn’t help, please try again later. (503).”
What is Downdetector?
Downdetector is an online website that allows users of popular services, including X, Instagram, Facebook, Virgin Media and more, to report if they are having trouble with the services.
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The site only reports an incident when the number of problem reports is significantly higher than the typical volume for that time of day.
Describing itself on its website, Downdetector is “where people go when services don’t work.”
The website monitors disruptions to various key services, including the internet, web hosting platforms, banks, social media and more.
You can see the full methodology and learn more about how Downdetector collects status information and detects problems via its website.
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In short, users can get involved by submitting any issue reports on the platform.
Problem indicators are also collected from social media and other factors on the web, Downdetector explained.
These reports are then validated and analysed in real-time.
An incident is then detected if the number of reports is significantly higher than the typical average for that particular service.
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When a user goes to investigate the issue, they can see what the most reported problems are currently and check if their areas are in one of the outage hotspots.
Are you having issues with Halifax? Tell us in the comments below.
She continued: “I have seen horrific examples of footage like Henry Nowak’s death, where you see police handcuffing people when they are in moments of vulnerability, when they are on unwell, when there are in moment of crisis, against the guidelines which are set out for use of force… and unfortunately the disproportionate people who are on the receiving end of that tend to be the people of colour.”
The man who held 10 people hostage in a California bank building while threatening to detonate explosives has been identified as Anthony Scott Searle-Sharris.
Searle-Sharris was a 41-year-old who served in the U.S. Army but had an extensive violent history, authorities said.
He was discharged for the Army for going AWOL, officials added.
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Isabel Keane3 June 2026 18:18
Ten hostages held during incident
Ten people were held hostage in the Chase Bank building after a suspect barricaded himself inside and said he had explosives on his body, authorities confirmed during a press conference Wednesday.
“We are incredibly relieved to report that all of the hostages involved have been safely recovered,” Bakersfield Assistant Chief of Police Jeremy Blakemore said.
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Five of the hostages were tied up by the suspect, but all 10 were released without harm.
Isabel Keane3 June 2026 18:12
Bakersfield Police to hold press conference
The Bakersfield Police Department is set to hold a press conference starting at 10 a.m. local time.
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Authorities said additional information would be released as it becomes available.
Isabel Keane3 June 2026 17:59
SWAT team swarmed building overnight, brought a man out
About 50 SWAT members swarmed the building where a suspect was holding people hostage overnight and brought a man outside, according to a report.
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Witnesses told NBC LA that they saw SWAT members enter the building around 2:30 a.m. before bringing a man — possibly the suspect — outside.
Video seen by the outlet showed officers escorting a group of about seven people out of the building.
Isabel Keane3 June 2026 17:32
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Details about the suspect remain unclear
Authorities said the suspect who held multiple people hostage in California overnight was killed — but have shared few other details about him.
The suspect reportedly entered a building that houses Chase Bank and a school district office around 1 p.m. Tuesday and claimed to have a bomb.
Bakersfield police then responded to the hostage situation and were able to negotiate the release of two people late Tuesday.
The suspect was reportedly barricaded inside the building with several hostages. Authorities have not said how many people were held hostage.
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Authorities have not shared the name of the suspect or a potential motive.
Isabel Keane3 June 2026 17:15
Suspect was killed in ‘officer-involved shooting’ with FBI
The suspect holding people hostage in a California building that houses a bank was killed in an “officer-involved shooting,” police said.
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The Bakersfield Police Department specified that the suspect was killed in the shooting by FBI personnel, not a local officer.
Isabel Keane3 June 2026 16:45
Road closures remain in effect as police warn of traffic delays
Several roads in Bakersfield will remain closed off on Wednesday, even as the hostage situation has concluded.
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Police warned on social media that traffic closures are in effect between Truxtun Avenue and 18th Street, as well as between H Street and K Street.
“Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area for the next several hours and seek alternative routes. Delays are expected until sometime this afternoon,” police said.
Isabel Keane3 June 2026 16:10
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Suspect dead and hostages released
The suspect holding people hostage inside a Chase Bank building in California has been killed, and all of the hostages have been released, authorities said Wednesday morning.
The hostage situation concluded at approximately 4:20 a.m. with an officer-involved shooting involving FBI personnel, the Bakersfield Police Department said in an update.
All of the hostages were found uninjured. They received medical evaluation and treatment at the scene, police said.
Authorities have not shared how many people were being held hostage or the identity of the suspect involved.
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Additional information will be released at a 10 a.m. press conference, authorities said.
Isabel Keane3 June 2026 15:53
Road closures remain in place Wednesday
Several road closures in Bakersfield remained in place Wednesday morning.
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Closures are currently in effect between Truxtun Avenue and 18th Street, and between H Street and K Street, police said.
“Please avoid the area if possible and allow extra travel time this morning,” police said.
Isabel Keane3 June 2026 15:09
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Number of family members gathered by the scene Wednesday morning
Family members were gathered waiting for their loved ones to be released from the hostage situation early Wednesday morning, CBS Mornings reported.
Two hostages had been released overnight, authorities said.
It was not immediately clear where the situation stood early Wednesday morning, and authorities have not said how many people remain trapped inside the building.
Nigel Farage has a victory over the BBC after Newsnight misquoted the Reform UK leader’s response to Henry Nowak’s murder.
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In the Newsnight episode last night the presenter Matt Chorley put it to Kemi Badenoch if she agreed the country should respond to the killing of the student with ‘white, cold rage’.
He then gets it wrong again, asking the Conservative leader ‘what is the risk if more people follow Nigel Farage’s appeal for ‘white, cold rage’?’.
But in reality, Farage actually said ‘pure, cold rage’.
A BBC spokesman confirmed they had deleted the entire episode.
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They said: ‘In an interview about the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, we mistakenly quoted the Reform UK leader Nigel Farage as saying people should respond to his death with a “white, cold rage”.
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‘To be clear Mr Farage actually said “pure, cold rage” as had been stated earlier in the programme and we apologise to him for this error. The programme has been removed from BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds.’
Matt Chorley also apologised to the Reform UK leader, posting on X: ‘I owe Nigel Farage an apology. This was a mistake on my part, a misremembering of the quote. It didn’t change the content of the interview but I should have got the quote right. I apologise to Nigel Farage for this.’
It came after protests turned violent in Southampton last night as Tommy Robinson supporters tried to storm police lines, injuring 11 officers and a police dog.
Nigel Farage called for people to respond to Harry Nowak’s death with ‘pure, cold rage’ not ‘white, cold rage’. (Picture: PA)
A man is seen with a live snake as protesters gather to express their anger at the murder of Henry Nowak(Picture: Christopher Walls/SOPA Images/Shutterstock)
A man flashes police after Nowak’s family called for peace (Picture: Christopher Walls/SOPA Images/Shutterstock)
The student’s killer, 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, told police attending the scene of the stabbing that he had been the victim of a racist attack, while Mr Nowak was handcuffed by police as he lay dying.
Speaking in Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Sir Keir highlighted the words of Mr Nowak’s father, who said: ‘We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred, or tension.’
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Sir Keir said: ‘They’re the words of a grieving father who’s lost his son.
‘I think those words have resonated with people across the country. We must not allow this tragedy to be hijacked by anyone who seeks to divide us.’
Mr Farage argued that the UK has ‘two-tier policing’ and that officers are told to treat different ethnic groups differently.
He said: ‘Following the horrendous circumstances of Henry Nowak’s death, can I urge the Prime Minister to consider this: it is now clear to growing millions in this country that we are living under two-tier policing.
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‘The instructions that are given to police officers from police bosses are clear and written down in ink. It says you must treat different ethnic groups in different ways.
‘Apart from the upset and the anger at the circumstances of his death, the anger that you saw spilling out in Southampton last night, which is in danger of getting considerably worse…
‘If the public lose trust in being treated fairly by the police, can he (Sir Keir) take some action, end this divisive practice of two-tier policing, and make sure that all British citizens are treated the same?’
In an interview set to air on Times Radio Mr Farage also said: ‘What you saw in Southampton last night is the beginning.
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‘If we get large numbers of young white males who think the police are prejudiced against them, goodness knows where we go.’
As he was speaking in the Commons, the Reform leader was heckled by a number of MPs telling him to condemn the violence in Southampton.
Sir Keir replied: ‘I don’t believe there’s two-tier policing in this country. I’m really shocked that he pretends to have respect for Henry’s family and then acts in this way.
‘The grieving family have asked us not to respond in the way that the leader of Reform has responded. They’ve asked us not to. They have lost their son in the most appalling circumstance. They make a simple plea of us as human beings to please not exploit that. That is their plea to us.
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‘We all need to reflect on those words of Henry’s father. My response, and the response of others to be fair, has been focused on the lessons to be learned, so we can deliver justice.
‘His (Mr Farage’s) response has been to appeal for rage, rage. That’s his response to a father who has lost his son and asked for that not to happen.
‘Exploiting this tragedy to create grievance and division would be wrong in any circumstances, but to do it when the family are expressly saying ‘please don’t’ is unforgivable. It shows exactly who he is.’
NEW YORK (AP) — Scientists have identified a group of worker honeybees that are specially adapted to build their queen’s waxy abode within the hive.
Worker bees perform a myriad of jobs to keep up the hive, including collecting food, nurturing young bees and caring for the queen, who lays all the eggs. New research reveals that the honeybees responsible for crafting the queen’s home effectively run a fever to help melt and blend special chemicals into the wax.
“No one had ever thought that there might be a specialized group of workers that were building these queen cells,” said bee researcher Julia Bowsher with North Dakota State University, who had no role in the study.
These newly identified bees were younger and also had patterns of expression in their genes that made them uniquely suited to the task. The resulting peanut-shaped home was also distinct in its makeup, as it was made of softer wax with a higher melting point than the kind used to build worker bees’ homes.
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Queens are raised eating royal jelly secreted from the glands of worker bees and scientists have long believed diet was the main key to making a monarch. The new findings, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, suggest that the queen’s environment might also play a role.
To test that theory, researchers raised baby queens in cups capped with either queen or worker wax. Despite eating royal jelly, the queens raised in worker wax were smaller and didn’t survive as well.
“For centuries, we believed ‘you are what you eat’ was the only rule for making a queen bee. Our study rewrites that rule to say ‘you are where you live, too,’” Kai Wang, a study co-author with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said in an email.
The findings offer a rare look inside the hive, but questions remain.
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Honeybees pollinate and ensure the survival of crops such as blueberries, squash, watermelon and almonds. Further research is needed to learn more about the secret lives of queen cell-building bees and the exact combination of factors that produce the hive’s head honcho.
“I would really like to know more about the specific chemical composition of this wax and which active ingredients are directly affecting the growth of the queens,” Bowsher said.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
The move follows an unauthorised encampment at the site earlier this month, which residents and volunteers said left behind rubbish, damage and human waste.
Councillors say the new measures are aimed at protecting the park and its arboretum from future incidents.
Cllr James Moller said: “Some people might complain it is a big lump sum of money, but it is money better spent on this, as the damage that they have done can cost thousands.
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“It is just protecting assets in the area, and it is a good thing they are protecting these assets for the older generation and newer.”
The councillor said the cost of repairing damage could ultimately be greater than investing in prevention measures.
(Image: NQ)
He said councillors had agreed a 50/50 funding arrangement with Bolton Council to deliver the security improvements.
Cllr Moller added: “It costs the taxpayer more with damages than if we install this.”
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The exact design of the new security feature has yet to be confirmed, although it is expected to involve a barrier at the park entrance.
The plans come after Bolton Council confirmed that the gate at the site had been damaged and that officers were reviewing security arrangements.
Earlier this month, eight caravans parked at Longsight Park before the council served a legal notice ordering those on the site to leave.
Following the encampment, volunteers described a major clean-up operation and raised concerns about damage to parts of the park and arboretum.
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A Bolton Council spokesperson previously said neighbourhood services staff had attended the site to remove waste and that the council’s neighbourhood assets team had reviewed the quality of the gates on site.
A new organisation will deliver thousands of new homes and jobs, the government has announced
A new regeneration body will be set to deliver thousands of new homes, jobs, transport links, and community services in Greater Cambridge, the government has announced. The government says the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation will ensure transport and services are built alongside new homes and “not as an afterthought”.
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The corporation aims to bring land together for development, invest in key sites, and unlock stalled and derelict land, according to government officials. The announcement follows a consultation over the plans earlier this year.
Speaking exclusively to Cambridgeshire Live, housing and planning minister Matthew Pennycook said: “Cambridge East presents a golden opportunity to transform one of the largest undeveloped brownfield sites in the country. For years, this land in Greater Cambridge has sat idle and this government is putting its money where its mouth is by investing £100 million to now bring the site forward.”
The government said the development will attract millions more in investment. “This is about delivering real benefits for local people – tackling the region’s acute housing crisis and building a place where communities can grow and prosper, while backing Cambridge’s future as a world‑leading centre for science and innovation,” the housing minister added.
The leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, Councillor Lucy Nethsingha, said she welcomes government investment in the region. However, she said the council is “staunchly committed to ensuring that the growth, which is much needed, will materially benefit and involve local people”.
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She added: “Earlier this year, we responded to the government’s consultation on proposals for the Development Corporation, raising our deeply held concerns across a variety of areas including, but not limited to: availability of water and sewage capacity, transport infrastructure and highways maintenance funding, flooding and environmental management, and energy capacity.”
Cllr Nethsingha said it is not clear how the Development Corporation will interact with the existing planning system. She said it risks “disrupting effective partnership working, significantly reducing local democratic influence over decisions and possibly even slowing growth”.
Feedback received during the consultation has been “carefully reviewed”, according to Mr Pennycook. He said a comprehensive response has since been published.
“We will now take the time necessary to ensure we understand the many implications for our residents and on our diverse services, from adult social care to waste management and everything in between,” Cllr Nethsingha added.
While formal identification is still to be completed, police have informed the family of a missing man
A member of the public made the grim discovery of human remains close to a busy major road on Tuesday evening (June 2), as police continue to search for a missing man.
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Avon and Somerset Police confirmed the find was made on the A4 Portway in Bristol, which connects the city centre to the M5 motorway and Avonmouth via the Avon Gorge. Officers added that the remains have been linked to an ongoing search for the missing 40-year-old Rebaz, Bristol Live reports.
While formal identification is still to be completed, officers have notified the family of Rebaz. He was last seen on May 4 near Fishponds Road, prompting a public appeal amid growing concern for his welfare.
“Police were called to the Portway on Tuesday evening, 2 June, by a member of the public who had found human remains,” the force confirmed in a statement released on Wednesday.
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“Sadly, our initial enquiries suggest the deceased is missing Rebaz, 40, from Bristol, who hadn’t been seen since Monday 4 May. While formal identification has yet to take place, his family have been informed and have our sympathy in their loss.
“Officers would like to thank everyone who contacted us with information or shared our appeal to trace Rebaz.”
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The name and logo of the UK’s Universal theme park in Bedfordshire have been officially unveiled
Katie Green Senior multimedia reporter and Sam Hall, Press Association
16:10, 03 Jun 2026
The name and branding of the UK’s Universal theme park have been revealed, alongside announcements of £7.3 billion worth of investment into the scheme by the American entertainment giant and the Government.
The attraction will be called Universal United Kingdom Resort, with work already underway and construction due to commence shortly.
Universal anticipates the development, which will be the company’s first theme park and resort in Europe, will deliver almost £50 billion of economic value to the UK economy by 2055.
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The theme park is projected to draw millions of visitors every year, including over a million additional international tourists, with the resort poised to become the UK’s leading tourist destination.
Comcast NBCUniversal has pledged to invest more than £5 billion in the entertainment resort complex throughout the anticipated five-year construction period, alongside an additional £1 billion in capital expenditure during its first decade of operation.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) described it as “one of the largest-ever investments in the UK tourism sector” and said it would create nearly 20,000 jobs during construction and a further 8,000 positions when the resort launches in 2031.
The Government will back the scheme with an investment of £1.3 billion on regional and local community infrastructure to “ensure the park can operate successfully, with improved transport links for local residents and visitors from across the UK and abroad”, DCMS said. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves visited the location on Wednesday (June 3) morning and met some of the initial staff recruited for the scheme after being welcomed by Mark Woodbury, chairman and chief executive of Universal Destinations & Experiences.
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Addressing Mr Woodbury and Universal employees during her maiden visit to the location, Ms Reeves, who wore a hi-vis jacket and hard hat, said: “Thank you for choosing the UK. I know that you could have chosen locations in other parts of Europe. We’re really thrilled you’re going to be here and we’re determined to work with you to make it the massive success that I know it’s going to be.”
Mr Woodbury said the resort would deliver “immersive storytelling, thrilling attractions and unparalleled creativity and innovation to the UK”.
He told Ms Reeves the firm was “ready to break ground and make this the most spectacular theme park in all of Europe, if not the world.”
Molly Murphy, president of Universal Creative, said the company was “thrilled” to have the Chancellor attend to mark the commencement of enabling works on the location.
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Asked why Bedfordshire was chosen, Ms Murphy told reporters: “We chose Bedfordshire because it is an exciting place. There’s an amazing amount of creative talent in the UK that we can tap into and this place is a perfect location to build the greatest theme park in all of Europe, so we’re very excited about doing that.”
Following the site visit, the Chancellor and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy hosted Brian Roberts, chairman of Comcast Corporation, and Mr Woodbury at 11 Downing Street to reveal the resort’s name and logo.
Mr Roberts said the company looked forward to “creating a spectacular destination that supports the UK creative industries and brings joy to millions for generations to come”.
The Chancellor said: “This landmark investment in the heart of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor will unlock nearly £50 billion of economic growth and create tens of thousands of jobs across Bedfordshire in construction, hospitality, creative and technology sectors.
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“Our own investment in transport and infrastructure means that local people will benefit – improving connectivity, backing our creative industries, and bringing millions of visitors to the UK from across the world.”
As part of the £1.3 billion investment, the Government will provide a grant of £400 million through the Exceptional Regional Growth Fund, while DCMS will contribute a further £438 million towards new community infrastructure to “maximise the benefits of the development and support growth across the region”.
These grants will only be released once Universal has completed the community infrastructure — in the case of the DCMS grant — and formally opened the theme park and resort. The Department for Transport will also upgrade the strategic road and rail network, on the A421 and at Wixams train station at an expected cost of £474 million.
DCMS stated that Universal’s selection of Bedford for its inaugural European park is “a testament to the strength of the UK’s visitor offering and creative industries”.
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It further noted that Universal had “committed to world-class training opportunities for the next generation of its workforce, including through a range of apprenticeships and internships”.
Culture Secretary Ms Nandy said: “This unparalleled investment is a huge vote of confidence in the UK and puts rocket boosters under our entertainment industry.
“When it comes to creating world-class experiences, the UK is second to none. We’re proud to be backing British industry, investing in local talent and partnering with powerhouses like Universal to create jobs, growth and opportunities across the UK.”
Over 100 people across the UK have already been taken on to work on the development, with Universal having received expressions of employment interest from approximately 33,000 individuals. Roughly 80% of the theme park and resort’s workforce is anticipated to be drawn from Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.
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Dame Caroline Dinenage, chairwoman of the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee, described the investment as having “potential to provide a welcome boost to our tourism industry at a time when there are concerns that the policy landscape is making the UK a less attractive destination for overseas visitors”.
She went on to say: “The Government must work with Universal to ensure the project brings long-lasting benefits, not just to tourism, but also to our wider creative industries.”
Universal’s American theme parks feature rides and attractions drawn from its impressive portfolio of major blockbusters and film franchises, encompassing Minions, ET and Jurassic Park, alongside Kung Fu Panda, Fast & Furious and Shrek.
The entertainment giant currently operates five resort complexes across the globe – Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood in the US, Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Universal Beijing Resort in China and Universal Studios Singapore.
An inquest has heard how Chiedza Nyanjowa’s tragic death was an “unintended result of a deliberate act”
A teenager drowned on a bank holiday beach trip, after entering the sea to retrieve a ball.
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Chiedza Nyanjowa, 15, was playing volleyball with her cousins at Formby beach, Merseyside, when their ball entered the water at around 3pm on Monday, May 25.
She and her 11-year-old cousin entered the sea to retrieve the ball but Chiedza, along with her younger cousin, were swept out away from the shore as they attempted to get it.
An inquest, held at Bootle Town Hall today, June 3, heard evidence from coroner’s assistant, Emma Donaldson.
The court heard how the teenage girl, from Cheshire, had been visiting her auntie at her home in Bolton during the half term and was unable to swim.
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Before the family visited Formby beach, Chiedza had been told to stay out of the water due to her inability to swim, the evidence stated.
The inquest heard how her auntie lost sight of the children as they played due to the volume of people during the busy bank holiday, reports the Liverpool Echo.
The court heard: “The water depth increased, quickly reaching her cousin’s neck and Chiedza’s chin. Chiedza was submerged and she tried to climb onto her cousin, submerging her.”
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Chiedza was told to hold onto the ball they had gone to retrieve from the water as a flotation device while her cousin went to get help. However, the inquest heard it took 15 minutes for her cousin to get help.
The inquest heard how the air ambulance landed at the beach at 3.35pm before it then set off at 4.23pm and landed at Alder Hey at 4.33pm.
Despite the best efforts of medical professionals and the members of the public, Chiedza died in hospital on Saturday, May 30.
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Area coroner for Sefton, St Helens and Knowsley told the court: “Chiezda was aged 15. On the 25th of May 2026 she was at Formby Beach playing with a ball.
The ball entered the water and she went in to get it, but was pushed out by the waves.
“She was recovered from the water unconscious.
Bystanders performed CPR and she was transferred to Alder Hey Hospital. Despite care and treatment, she sadly died on the 29th of May 2026 as a consequence of a brain injury caused by her submersion in the water.”
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Ms Wheeler concluded her death was the result of misadventure, with a post-mortem recording her death as a brain injury as a result of drowning.
She said: “This is the unintended result of a deliberate act of going into the water to retrieve the ball.”
She described the death as a “tragedy” and offered her sincere condolences to the family of the girl who did not attend the inquest.
The coroner said: “I am so so sorry for your loss, I cannot imagine what you are going through.”
Ms Wheeler also raised concerns about illegal parking in the surrounding area of the beach and the potential impact that this could have caused emergency services in accessing the beach. However, she stated there was no evidence that this caused or contributed to Chiedza’s death.
Ms Wheeler said: “I am extremely concerned that selfish and illegal parking on single yellow lines could have an impact on emergency services in future deaths.”
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The coroner decided against writing a prevention of future death report due to there being no one who could reasonably fix the parking issues around Formby beach, but condemned drivers.
She also commended the acts of bystanders who she said could have “frozen” in the moment, but instead fought to try and save the life of the teenager.
She said: “I want to offer my commendation for the bystanders who helped and the condemnation for the selfish, inconsiderate drivers who are parking illegally for the sake of having to avoid walking a short distance [from the beach].”
Cllr Marion Atkinson, leader of Sefton Council, said: “We were deeply saddened to learn of Chiedza’s passing following a visit to Formby beach during the recent Bank Holiday weekend.
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“Our thoughts remain with her family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”
The plans, submitted to Blaenau Gwent council planners, are to convert Elmwood House in the Georgetown area of the town into a “sui generic house” class so that it can become a 14-bedroom HMO.
Taite Johnson Audience and Trending Writer and Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter
17:22, 03 Jun 2026
Plans have been submitted to turn a building in Tredegar into a 14-bedroom HMO. The plans, submitted to Blaenau Gwent council planners, are to convert Elmwood House in the Georgetown area of the town into a “sui generic house” class so that it can become a 14-bedroom HMO.
Some in the area have expressed worries over the plans, while others have backed the plans and said the most important thing is that people in need of a home are accommodated properly.
The proposal has been submitted by Pascal Stumpers of Cobra Real Estate Limited. Planning agent Charlotte Hall, of Harvey Bowes, explained the proposal, saying: “Elmwood House is a substantial building located within a residential area of Georgetown, Tredegar. The site is sustainably located with access to local services and transport.”
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She said the council has no article four directions or policies specific for HMO concentrations and the proposal should be assessed against general planning principles including amenity, design, and highways.
Ms Hall said: “The proposal retains a residential use and makes efficient use of an existing building. The scheme provides generous bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, and high-quality communal areas.
“The site promotes sustainable travel with cycle storage and car ownership is expected to be low. The proposal represents a sustainable form of development and should be supported.”
A management plan for the HMO has also been lodged with the proposal. Ms Hall said: “The property will be professionally managed with a named responsible person available 24/7. All tenants will be referenced and tenancy agreements will include strict behavioural clauses.”
These “house rules” include no anti-social behaviour, no excessive noise after 10pm, respect for neighbours, and proper waste disposal.
Ms Hall continued: “Neighbours will have access to a contact number and complaints will be logged and resolved within 48 hours. The property will comply with fire safety regulations and licensing requirements. The management approach ensures minimal impact on the surrounding area.”
The application has gained much interest on social media, with some residents concerned over the type of people that could end up living at Elmwood House.
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One neighbour said: “The question now facing residents is whether a 14-room HMO at this location is genuinely needed or whether it represents yet another example of communities being reshaped to suit speculative property interests.” Others have pointed out that the site is close to schools.
Some comments also pointed out that people don’t notice other HMOs in the area and that there is a need to “help and house” homeless people.
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