A 44-year-old man was arrested at Liverpool John Lennon Airport on Saturday (July 25), after the joint operation by officers from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU), the UK Border Force and Merseyside Police.

The suspect was wanted by police after a previous interception in Newcastle which saw the seizure of more than 30 kilos of cannabis.

Saturday’s arrest strike was pre-planned, and when stopped and arrested at the Liverpool airport he was found to be in possession of a further 20 kilos of cannabis.

Case full of drugs seized by North East regional police agency in targeted arrest of suspected smuggler at airport in Liverpool (Image: NEROCU)

He has now been subject to bail while police inquiries continue.

Speaking after the arrest, Sergeant Neil Lovat, part of NEROCU’s Disruption Team, praised the partnership working.

Some of the vacuum-packed cannabis seized by police in arrest of suspected drug smuggler (Image: NEROCU)

Sgt Lovat said: “I want to thank everyone involved.

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“This has been an excellent display of what can be achieved when partner agencies work together to take action against illegal drug operations.

“We will continue to work with our partners, under Operation Sentinel, to dismantle the criminal groups who try to profit from the sale and supply of illegal drugs and inflicting harm to communities.”

If anyone has any information about drug supply, they can report it to their local police, using the general non-emergency 101 line, or via the independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously, on (0800) 555111.

While many people will be jetting off on holiday, it can be nice to spend some time exploring the local area during the summer.

Saltburn-by-the-Sea is a hugely popular seaside resort with plenty of things to do and great restaurants, including the Seaview Restaurant.

The “outstanding” restaurant has “unrivalled views of the sea” thanks to its terrace area where you can enjoy a meal while watching the sunset.

What is the Seaview Restaurant in Saltburn-by-the-Sea like?

The Seaview Restaurant featured on the Remarkable Places to Eat show where Fred Sirieix and Nadiya Hussain tried the spot’s famous Crab Brioche.

The restaurant is described as offering “an extraordinary setting” with floor-to-ceiling windows so guests can enjoy watching the pier and sea.

The restaurant’s website says: “With a laid-back old-school Ibiza vibe, our outdoor, open-air terrace with chic furnishings comes with jaw-dropping views across the dramatic coastline of Huntcliff.”

The Seaview Restaurant has a range of starters including moules mariniere, seafood cocktail, and sardines on toast.

The famous Saltburn crab brioche features on the main menu alongside dishes like lobster linguine, lemon sole, and market fish.

For those wanting a more traditional experience, you can find classic cod, haddock, and Whitby scampi served with chips, as well as mushy peas and curry sauce available to add on.

What do visitors of the Seaview Restaurant say?

Guests on Tripadvisor have said the restaurant is in a “superb location” with “friendly” and “efficient” service.

One reviewer said: “Great restaurant with great service and excellent food.

“We ate there twice and both times was amazing.

“We had cod and chips, tuna, oysters (which we got the younger waiter to try).

“The homemade taramasalata with bread was beautiful.

“Afterward we had some cocktails, espresso martini and a new one on the menu called Amalfi Sour.

“Well worth a try.”

Another person praised the restaurant and said: “Food is outstanding.

“The fish was perfectly cooked and had so much flavour.

“The lobster mash is expensive but worth it!

“Staff were absolutely lovely and service was excellent.

“It was a lovely evening watching the waves while we ate.”

Have you ever visited the Seaview Restaurant? Let us know in the comments.

A TfL spokesman said tickets are being accepted on London buses. He also pointed to other train services available on the Weaver and Suffragette lines, Great Northern, Thameslink, Greater Anglia, South Western Railway and Southeastern, taking any reasonable route to complete a journey during the delays.

LEGE-CAP FERRET, France (AP) — Fire crews battled a mega-fire four times the size of Paris in southwest France while facing tinderbox temperatures forecast to climb above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday.

The heat wave and forecast winds could hamper progress against the blaze that has forced 220,000 people from their homes, authorities for the Gironde region around Bordeaux said.

In a Wednesday morning update on the huge firefighting effort, Gironde authorities said the situation overnight had been “calm” and that the blaze hadn’t spread — although it’s still not contained a week after it started.

The onset of heat-wave temperatures and winds heightened the risk of flames flaring again.

On Tuesday, Gironde authorities ordered 4,000 more people evacuated from tourist sites along the Atlantic coast, widening what may be France’s largest peacetime evacuation.

“The situation remains complicated. That’s clear. We’re not out of the woods,” Gironde prefect Sophie Brocas said Tuesday evening. But she also gave the go-ahead for 60,000 evacuees to return to their homes in three Bordeaux suburbs that haven’t burned.

The opposing movements — thousands ordered out of coastal resorts while those returning were told to be on the alert — underscored how precarious the fire’s hold remained.

Across France and Spain, roughly 330,000 people have been driven from homes and vacation sites by huge wildfires. Spain braced for its fourth heat wave of the summer, with several blazes still burning out of control, including the largest in its recorded history.

Even so, Spanish authorities began lifting evacuation and stay-at-home orders for thousands of people after firefighters made progress.

At its most violent, the Gironde blaze created a gargantuan black thundercloud, electrified and lit from within. It generated lightning, violent winds and new fires beyond the original front. The phenomenon, known as a pyrocumulonimbus cloud, was the first recorded in France.

More than 1,160 square kilometers (448 square miles) have burned across France this year, according to the Interior Ministry.

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Wildfire evacuations are underway on the Greek Aegean island of Paros where a massive forest fire has been burning through the island overnight and into Wednesday morning.

Footage shared on social media shows bright orange flames rising above the mountains as dark clouds of smoke engulf the island.

Nine villages have been evacuated due to the growing flames. Local media has reported that residents are fleeing to the beaches on the instructions of emergency services. 

According to Greek news outlet Proto Thema, emergency crews have been battling the blaze non-stop since Tuesday afternoon. 

The response team includes 66 firefighters, specialised forest firefighting units from Athens, five helicopters, and two water-bombing planes. 

They will soon be reinforced by 20 additional firefighters travelling from the mainland town of Rafina.

Haris Giourtzidis, the deputy mayor of Paros, has said they ‘don’t yet have a clear picture of the extent of the damage. So far, we know that two barns have burned down.’

He added that ‘the wind is blowing constantly and very strongly,’ making the firefighters’ work more difficult.

Nine villages have been evacuated due to the growing flames

According to Greek news outlet Proto Thema, emergency crews have been battling the blaze non-stop since Tuesday afternoon

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Early Wednesday morning, residents in Trypiti, Glyfa, Pyrgaki, and Aspro Chorio were ordered to evacuate toward Dryos. 

This followed an earlier evacuation notice directing people in Ageria to flee toward Aliki beach. 

These urgent measures build on Tuesday afternoon’s operations, which successfully cleared the areas of Agios Charalambos, Kambi, Bougados, Aneratza, and Kamari. 

The Deputy Mayor said there were cases where emergency services ‘forcibly removed residents from their homes’ after they refused to leave their animals behind.

Local outlets report that the Paros wildfire has split into two advancing fronts, heading toward Faragas Beach and Tripiti. 

The village of Agkairia has been hit particularly hard by the flames. Conditions are expected to deteriorate on Wednesday as the island enters a category 3 high forest fire risk designation. 

In response, local authorities are maintaining a state of high alert until the blaze is fully contained.

The Fire Department’s press spokesman, Yiannis Artopoios, said the flames are slowly being subdued by the 86 firefighters tackling the blaze.

‘The battle continues so that the fire does not escape,’ he emphasised.

One person who had to evacuate to neighbouring island Antiparos told Swiss outlet Blick: ‘This is turning into a real catastrophe! The fire spread further south with the wind in just three hours.’

The fire on Paros comes as Europe is battling some of the worst wildfires in living memory across multiple popular holiday destinations as temperatures hit up to 47C.

Around 4,000 holidaymakers were evacuated yesterday from a popular French beach resort.

Officials ordered campsites, holiday villages, tourist residences and leisure parks to be cleared in the surfing hotspot of Lacanau, around 35 miles west of Bordeaux, as firefighters battled what has become France’s largest wildfire since 1949.

Firefighters in France and Spain were battling to contain the blazes before the arrival of a fourth heatwave of the summer brings scorching temperatures.

Flames have torn through vast swathes of forest in both countries, incinerating properties and forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of people.

In a sign of progress, Spain’s interior ministry said it would end evacuation orders for 13 municipalities on Tuesday afternoon, without providing details of how many people were covered.

Conditions are set to worsen as a fresh heatwave hits western Europe this week, with temperatures climbing again in France from Tuesday and Spain from Wednesday, according to meteorologists.

French firefighters were ‘on the offensive’, commander Eric Pitault insisted, standing beside a 50-metre-wide, 25-kilometre-long firebreak cut with the help of civilian volunteers on the Cap Ferret peninsula.

Over the past six days, the largest French wildfire since 1949 has raged west of Bordeaux, forcing more than 220,000 people to flee and destroying 240 homes.

The prefect’s office said that, while there were flare-ups overnight, these were under control and the burnt area had not increased.

Outside Spain’s Aldea del Fresno, on the edge of the vast fires burning west of Madrid, evacuated locals queued up in their cars in the hope of returning to properties and pets.

They were among 60,000 people forced to flee by fires that have consumed 190,000 acres, an area almost the size of New York City.

For now, though, the Guardia Civil gendarmerie was blocking their return, blaming the risk of smoke inhalation.

Galia Borisova, a 55-year-old domestic helper, wanted to reach her animals in nearby Picadas but was having to wait.

‘They say there’s so much smoke that you can’t breathe, even with a mask. And I believe it, because you could see it from here.’

Firefighters use controlled burning to halt a wildfire that continues to spread near Cebreros, Spain, on July 28, 2026

Residents smother embers with dirt to prevent reignition after a wildfire was brought under control near La Adrada, 95 kilometres west of Madrid, on July 28, 2026

Firefighters work as flames and smoke rise during a wildfire, amid drought conditions following a heatwave and water shortages across much of France

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Firefighters respond to a forest fire both from the air and land in the Seydikemer district of Mugla, Turkey on July 29

Firefighters respond to a forest fire in Turkey

Europe has been gripped by successive heatwaves and a major drought this year, which scientists have attributed to human-caused climate change.

Extreme heat has parched the ground and dried out vegetation that had grown vigorously during wet and mild weather earlier in the year, creating tinderbox conditions.

The leaders of both France and Spain warned of the new reality that climate change has created.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called the fires ‘the most painful expression of a climate emergency’, while French President Emmanuel Macron said: ‘The coming weeks will be tough and we have to hold out.’

While the focus is currently on Western Europe, the EU’s crisis management chief warned that conditions elsewhere on the continent could spark new fires, stretching already strained resources.

‘Extreme conditions are looming for Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, in addition to France, the Iberian Peninsula… where the situation is expected to worsen, including in Portugal starting today,’ commissioner Hadja Lahbib said.

The coffee chain is now selling scones served with jam and cream at more than 1,000 stores as part of a new afternoon offer.

Scones were removed from menus around 2020 or early 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Their return has reignited the debate over whether jam or cream should be spread on scones first, as reported by creatorzine.com.

Costa Coffee has added scones back to its menus following a break that started during the Covid-19 pandemic (Image: Costa Coffee)

Costa Coffee brings back iconic British treat to menus after 5 years

Costa has launched a “50/50” scone, topped with a balanced swirl of both jam and cream, in a bid to save the arguments.

The toppings are piped together using a custom-made dual piping bag.

The first of these scones was served to the mayors of Saltash and Kingsbridge at Costa’s Saltash branch, located near the Devon–Cornwall border, an area that’s the symbolic centre of the traditional cream tea rivalry.

Cornish tradition dictates that jam should be spread before the cream, while the Devon method places cream underneath the jam.

Councillor Brian Stoyel, mayor of Saltash, said: “We’re proud that Saltash has become the home of Britain’s latest chapter in the great scone debate.

“The beauty of Costa’s 50/50 scone is that it celebrates both traditions rather than choosing between them.

“After trying it for myself, I can confirm it’s every bit as delicious as it sounds – proof that sometimes bringing people together is even better than settling the argument.”

Costa Coffee’s research found that 71% of Brits prefer the Cornish, jam-first method.

However, 29% of people said they preferred cream first.

More than a third admitted judging somebody for preparing a scone the “wrong” way, and one in five had refused to eat one assembled in the opposing order.

Andrea Stewart, global head of food at Costa Coffee, said: “Our research shows Britain remains divided when it comes to how people top their scones, so we thought it was about time someone brought both sides together.

“Rather than choosing between two much-loved traditions, we wanted to create a playful compromise that celebrates both approaches.”

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The poll also found 52% of younger people believed cream teas were finding a new audience online.

Meanwhile, 55% pronounce “scone” to rhyme with “gone”, compared with 45% who favour rhyming it with “bone”.

The returning scones are part of Costa’s new Afternoon Bundle.

The deal, which includes a regular hot or iced drink and one scone with cream and jam, starts at £6.49.

It will be available to buy until October 21 at selected Costa Coffee stores.

Do you put jam or cream on your scone first? Let us know in the comments below.

The Better Late Than Never tour has been on the road for four years and will culminate in a special run of charity performances.

The Bolton comedian is to perform over four weekends this autumn. In addition to evening performances, a series of matinee shows will also be staged to help generate even more funds for charity.

Peter Kay’s final tour dates (Image: SJM)

All profits from the shows will be donated to three charities – The Lily Foundation, a UK Mitochondrial disease charity; Maggie’s, which provides cancer care around the UK and the Be More Laura Foundation supporting research into brain cancer.

Peter Kay said: “It’s been an incredible four-year tour. I’ve absolutely loved it. If doing a few more shows can help raise money for these overlooked and sadly underfunded charities, then that’s the least I can do.”

He will play Cardiff on September 6; Hull on October 10; Brighton on November 13 and 14 and end the tour with two shows at Blackpool Opera House on Saturday, November 21.

Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday

As of Wednesday, July 29, two Loganair services and one Jet2 flight have been cancelled, while several departures earlier in the day have left more than 20 minutes later than scheduled.

The cancelled flights are the 2.05pm Loganair service to Exeter, the 4.55pm Loganair service to Southampton and the 7pm Jet2 service to Heraklion in Greece.

Flights to destinations including Rhodes, Dubrovnik, Malaga, Faro, Antalya, Dalaman, Alicante, Corfu and Tenerife were among those delayed by more than 20 minutes.

Flight delays can happen for a number of reasons.

Common causes include poor weather, air traffic control restrictions, technical issues with aircraft, late-arriving inbound planes, staffing shortages and operational problems affecting airlines or airports.

During the busy summer holiday period, delays can also build throughout the day as aircraft and crews fall behind schedule.

Passengers due to travel today are advised to check the latest information with their airline before setting off for the airport, as departure times can change at short notice.

Andy Burnham will hold cross-party talks on social care today – but neither Kemi Badenoch nor Ed Davey can attend in person and Nigel Farage has been snubbed.

The Prime Minister wants to build a ‘spirit of collaboration’ on tackling the social care crisis and vowed to expend ‘whatever political capital I have’ on fixing the system.

He has insisted the time for ‘playing politics’ on the issue is over, ‘when the human cost of that means carers struggling, families paying the price and our NHS buckling under the strain’.

Both the Tories and Liberal Democrats have accepted Mr Burnham’s invitation to attend Wednesday’s meeting, which will happen after the PM gives a speech.

But Mrs Badenoch, the Tory leader, is unable to attend – due to a non-serious pre-planned medical appointment – and will send shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew on her behalf.

Meanwhile, Sir Ed will join the meeting via Zoom as he is in France with his son who needs round-the-clock care.

A Tory official criticised Mr Burnham for only giving short notice of Wednesday’s meeting and for holding it during Parliament’s summer break. 

‘If Burnham was serious about working cross-party he would have given us more than 18 hours’ notice for a 30-minute meeting during recess and the invitation wouldn’t have been immediately press-released,’ they told Politico. ‘It’s almost like it’s only being done for show.’ 

Kemi Badenoch has warned Mr Burnham she will not support any proposals for social care that involve raising taxes or increasing Government borrowing

Mr Farage also hit out at the PM for not extending an invite to his Reform UK party. He said: ‘It’s remarkable that he’s chosen to ignore the party that led over 300 national opinion polls and represents thousands of councillors and millions of Britons across the country.

‘It’s now clear that Burnham is conspiring behind closed doors with the failed political establishment to foist further tax rises on the country.’

Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who has also been snubbed, urged Mr Burnham to reach out to him.

He told BBC Newsnight: ‘I would like to be there. Of course, I would, and I’d encourage the PM to extend that invitation.

‘I think the point here, though, is not politicians’ personal egos. The point is, adult social care is a ticking time bomb.’

It has been estimated the PM’s plan to make social care free at the point of use will cost an extra £18billion a year. 

He has previously championed a ‘national care levy’ and this week failed to rule out a 10 per cent charge on all estates after the owner dies to replace current inheritance tax – dubbed a ‘death tax’ by critics.

Nigel Farage hit out at the Prime Minister for not extending an invite to his Reform UK party

Sir Ed Davey will join the meeting via Zoom as he is in France with his son who needs round-the-clock care

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According to The Telegraph, Government officials have also drawn up alternative plans for a new tax on income to fund social care.

This could be set at 1.8 per cent of earnings above £6,240, paid by workers over the age of 34. The fund would be invested on behalf of working-age people to use for the cost of care when their cohort reaches old age, the newspaper reported.

Mrs Badenoch has warned Mr Burnham she will not support any proposals for social care that involve raising taxes or increasing Government borrowing, while Mr Farage has vowed his party ‘will fight a death tax every step of the way’.

Ahead of his speech on social care in London on Wednesday, the PM said: ‘Last week I said we needed a different kind of politics: problem-solving, not point-scoring. 

‘Nowhere is that more urgent than social care. For decades, governments have kicked this issue down the road because they’ve seen it as too risky, too difficult, and too complicated.

‘Politicians might have different views, but I’m serious about fixing this issue and to do that, we have to find common ground and listen to others to find a way forward.’

Michelle Dyson, CEO of Alzheimer’s Society, said: ‘We warmly welcome and support the PM’s commitment to tackling social care.

‘For people living with dementia, it is critical. People living with dementia need good quality care as early as possible, but too often families are left to navigate a fragmented system, bearing huge emotional, practical and financial pressures.

‘Dementia is one of the biggest drivers of demand on the care system. Getting social care right depends heavily on getting dementia care right, making the most of the new opportunities afforded by scientific breakthroughs, which mean we can intervene earlier and keep people well for longer.

‘The public is fully behind us on this – our recent polling shows that four out of five people want dementia to be made a national healthcare priority.

‘Urgency is key. We are looking forward to working with our new PM on quick wins like dementia training for care workers, together with longer-term plans for reform that will leave a lasting legacy for people living with dementia now and in the future.’