RAF Typhoons were scrambled from Lincolnshire on Friday to intercept the Qatar Airways flight in response, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) received a report from the National Air Traffic Services at around 6pm on Friday (July 24) relating to a threat made towards an aircraft travelling to Manchester Airport.

Working alongside partners, including the Royal Air Force and airport authorities, officers deployed the necessary resources to ensure the safety of the aircraft and everyone on board.

The aircraft landed safely at Manchester Airport and there was no threat to passengers or crew.

Following enquiries, officers established that the report was a hoax.

The 14-year-old boy, who was not on board the flight, has been identified and is assisting police with their enquiries.

Chief Inspector Gary Homa of the Airport Policing Unit at Manchester Airport said: “This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable.

“The safety of the public is always our top priority and every report of this nature is treated extremely seriously.

“Hoax calls can cause significant disruption, divert vital emergency service resources and create unnecessary concern for passengers, crew and the wider public.

“Thankfully, this incident concluded safely, but making false reports is not a prank and can have serious consequences.

“We will always investigate incidents of this kind thoroughly and take robust action where offences have been committed.”

By JOE ROSSITER, REPORTER

Published: 12:59 BST, 25 July 2026 | Updated: 03:03 BST, 26 July 2026

The former England cricket captain was taken to see the statue during a visit to Middlesbrough in late April while working in the area with broadcaster and media consultant Paul ‘Goffy’ Gough.

Shocked by its condition, Boycott publicly voiced his concerns, attracting widespread support from football fans across Teesside and beyond.

April 2026 as Sir Geoffrey Boycott visits the Brian Clough statue in Albert Park, Middlesbrough (Image: Supplied by Goffy Media)

Within days, council workers arrived to dismantle the statue and begin restoration work.

Speaking after seeing the restored monument, Sir Geoffrey said: “I’m delighted to see Brian’s statue back and looking so much better.

“When I raised concerns earlier this year, it was simply because Brian was a great friend and I felt somebody of his standing deserved better.

Brain Clough’s statue pictured on its return to Albert Park after major restoration (Image: Supplied by Goffy Media)

“The response from the public was tremendous and it’s pleasing to see that concerns were listened to and acted upon so quickly.”

“His goalscoring record for Boro and Sunderland is on another level – the fans adored him.

“It made no sense to me to see his hometown legacy was being so unloved.”

Brian Clough and Sir Geoffrey Boycott (Image: Supplied by Goffy Media)

Boycott, who remained close to Clough throughout his life and spoke at the legend’s family funeral, said the restoration would have meant a great deal to the football icon’s family.

“His lovely late wife Barbara would have been heartbroken to see the statue in the sorry state it had fallen into.

“She was immensely proud of Brian and everything he achieved.

Sir Geoffrey Boycott at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough alongside the Wilf Mannion statue – Sir Geoffrey has suggested Brian would be better placed outside of the ground. (Image: Supplied by Goffy Media)

“Most importantly, it will be a source of comfort to Brian’s sons Nigel and Simon, and his daughter Elizabeth, to see the statue restored and cared for properly.”

The Yorkshire cricket legend also believes Clough’s legacy deserves even greater recognition.

“I’ve always felt the statue might have been better placed outside the Riverside Stadium alongside Middlesbrough greats such as George Hardwick and Wilf Mannion.

“Brian is certainly worthy of that honour.

“I was over at the ground recently and they all look very comfortable there.

“People sometimes forget it all began just down the road at Hartlepool in 1965.

“From those first steps in management, Brian went on to become one of the greatest football managers the game has ever known.

“I can only hope lessons have been learnt.

“The important thing now is that the statue has been restored, protected and can continue inspiring future generations.”

Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke this week confirmed the statue had returned to Albert Park following restoration work, describing it as “a true homage to one of our region’s legendary sporting icons.”

The statue returned to the park on Thursday, July 22, with a team of council workers getting it back to pristine condition in the coming days – eventually without fencing.

Sir Geoffrey is back in the North East with ‘An Evening With Sir Geoffrey Boycott’ taking place at Cullercoats Crescent Club, North Shields, on Friday, October 9th, 2026.

Tickets and information are here: TicketsSource link

Families jetting off abroad during the summer holidays have been warned by a travel expert about a vital check they must ensure they do before heading to the airport

A travel expert has issued a warning to families about the one important check they must do before jetting off abroad.

There’s a lot to think about before making your way to the airport for that sun-soaked getaway, from checking the family’s passports are all in date, to packing the suitcases and planning the itinerary. But there’s one crucial task that can’t be missed, and experts are reminding families to ensure it’s in place as the summer holidays are set to be among the busiest travel periods.

Graeme Buck, director of communications at ABTA, the Travel Association, said: “It’s holiday time for many families, as schools start to break up, meaning lots more people will be heading abroad to visit new destinations or return to their old favourites.”

He warned: “Before you set off, we’re encouraging people to take a moment to make sure they have all of their holiday essentials – including travel insurance that covers the activities they plan to do.”

Travel insurance is crucial to have in place before any trip abroad, as it can give you extra protection should anything go wrong with the holiday. Citizens Advice outlined that it can protect you against the following:

• cancelling or cutting short your trip for reasons beyond your control
• missed transport or delayed departure for reasons beyond your control
• medical and other emergencies
• personal injury and death
• lost, stolen or damaged items, including baggage, passports and money
• accidental damage or injury caused by you.

The expert at ABTA also urged families to ensure that the “whole family’s passports are in date” and reminded them that “children’s passports are only valid for five years.” If you or your child needs to renew their passport, you can do it online through the government website.

The standard fee for a child’s passport, aged under 16, costs £66.50 when applied for online, while a postal application costs £80. Meanwhile, it costs £102 to renew or replace an adult passport when applied online, or £115.50 when applied in a paper form.

In further guidance for holidaymakers, Graeme added: “We have advice to help you plan and prepare for your trip, and if you are still planning to book a holiday, ABTA members are on hand to make sure you can get the best family holiday for your budget.”

It comes as the summer holidays are set to see a staggering 30 million British holidaymakers pass through UK airports in July and August alone. According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, the busiest day to fly will be this Friday (25 July), as 500,000 passengers, including thousands of families, ditch the UK for a sun-soaked getaway abroad.

All travellers jetting off abroad have also been warned to pack their power bank in their carry-on bag instead of their checked-in luggage. This follows a recorded number of safety incidents on board flights caused by lithium batteries found in power banks.

The CAA safety experts warned: “Incorrectly packed lithium batteries are increasingly causing delays and cancellations due to bags having to be offloaded. If a fire breaks out onboard, flights may have to be rerouted or evacuated.”

Therefore, power banks must be carried on board in hand luggage, “to enable swift action to be taken if they start to overheat”. Passengers should also be mindful that they can carry only two power banks per person on the flight, but they should check directly with their airline regarding specific restrictions, as certain airlines may have additional requirements.

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Two cops have been rushed to hospital with “serious injuries” following a hit-and-run in Larkhall.

Two police officers have been rushed to hospital with “serious injuries” after a van was “deliberately driven at them” in a hit-and-run.

Emergency crews rushed to Glen Avenue in Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, this afternoon. An alarm was raised around 2pm after police received a report of two of their cops having been knocked down.

The force confirmed that the pair had been carrying out enquiries at a property in the area before a van was “deliberately driven at them”. Paramedics attended the scene and both were blue-lighted to hospital.

It’s understood that the two officers have suffered serious injuries. Police Scotland are now working to find both the vehicle and driver as enquiries continue.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 2.10pm on Saturday, July 25, officers were carrying out enquiries are a property on Glen Avenue, Larkhall when a van was deliberately driven at them.

“Two officers have been taken to hospital for treatment to serious injuries.

“Enquiries are ongoing to trace the vehicle and the driver and establish the full circumstances.”

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Crews spent the night battling the blaze

Aerial images show the impact of a huge fire which burned overnight in Rochdale.

The large broke out in an open area on Spring Mill Walk in Smallbridge at around 8:15pm last night (Friday, July 24).

Dramatic photos on social media showed enormous plumes of black smoke billowing from the site, visible from across Rochdale as the fire ripped through a large quantity of waste at the site.

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Firefighters worked throughout to extinguish the blaze.

They then remained on the scene until around 1pm this afternoon (Saturday), damping down hotspots and monitoring the aftermath.

Pictures shot by a drone camera this afternoon show a huge area of scorched earth and debris left behind by the fire.

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It is understood officials from the Environment Agency were also called in and the local council alerted due to the fact it involved waste.

Sainsbury’s is to increase supplies of British tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers amid fears of drought affecting crops imported from abroad.

The UK’s second biggest supermarket has signed new 10-year partnerships with UK producers Evesham Vale Growers and Thanet Earth to ensure it can keep a steady supply of tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers on its shelves.

The produce has been badly affected by weather-based shocks in the past.

In early 2023, supermarkets imposed limits of three on packs of tomatoes, as well as cucumbers, peppers, lettuce, salad bags and some vegetables after a combination of bad weather and related transport problems in north Africa and Europe led to widespread shortages on UK shelves.

Sainsbury’s said British-grown tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers were already an important part of its salad offer to customers, but extreme weather across warmer growing regions had underlined the need for supermarkets to think differently about how they build more resilient supply chains.

The grocer said it hoped its long-term agreement with Thanet Earth would extend availability of British cucumbers beyond the summer season into the winter months for the first time, after traditionally relying more heavily on imports.

The new British winter crop will be grown at Thanet Earth in Kent, the UK’s largest single site glasshouse complex, where supplementary lighting, heat, and CO2 are managed to create the conditions cucumber plants need to keep growing through the darkest months of the year.

Benefits of the agreements would be seen on shelves as early as this summer with the launch of the new Taste the Difference British Salad Selection 800g box.

Hannah O’Reilly, category director of produce at Sainsbury’s, said: “With our changing weather, it’s more important than ever to find new, innovative solutions to make sure our customers can continue to enjoy the quality produce they want all year-round.

“Investing in more British production and supporting our suppliers to innovate is helping us build a stronger, more resilient supply chain in a category that has been impacted by weather-based shocks in recent years.

“By giving our brilliant British growers the certainty to invest and innovate through long-term contracts such as these with Thanet Earth and Evesham Vale Growers will help us to continue to support British farming for years to come.”

Rob James, technical director at Thanet Earth, said: “Working with Sainsbury’s in this way means we can plan ahead with more certainty and keep pushing what’s possible for British growing.

“A good example is our investment in the technology needed to grow cucumbers through the winter, creating the right conditions for the crop and helping bring more British-grown produce to customers at a time of year when that has not previously been possible.”

The informal role of prison philosopher is taken up by incarcerated people across the world. With time on their hands and a proximity to other people, systems of control and narratives of morality, people in prison are well positioned to practice philosophy.

This is the terrain that Dennis Kelly’s six-part BBC television drama Waiting for the Out, released earlier this year, covered. The series is an adaptation of Andy West’s memoir The Life Inside (2022), which shares his experiences of teaching philosophy in prison contexts and unfolds his own proximity to criminalisation through his father, uncle and brother, who all spent time in prison.

We are theatre-makers who regularly co-create work with people living or working inside our criminal justice system. Saul with arts organisation Rideout Creative Arts for Rehabilitation and Sarah as a researcher and practitioner based at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Our latest collaboration explores the resonances and utility of French philosopher Michel Foucault’s influential 1975 work Discipline and Punish today.

Foucault’s book, which is core reading on most social sciences undergraduate curriculums, argues that since the late 18th century, punishment has morphed into discipline, a more diffuse form of surveillance and social control.

We were keen to investigate whether the book held meaning for people with lived experience of our criminal legal system today and understand what new insights they, in turn, might bring to Foucault’s work. We also drew inspiration from more contemporary writing, most fruitfully Henrique Carvalho and Anastasia Chamberlen’s nuanced interrogation of contemporary practices of punishment, Questioning Punishment (2023).

À lire aussi :
I taught art in a high-security prison – Waiting for the Out took me straight back to my classroom

Putting justice centre stage

In spring of 2025, across ten initial drama workshops, we collaborated with members of Expert Citizens, an organisation led by and for people with lived experience of multiple disadvantage. We collectively explored power, punishing institutions and surveillance.

We went on to create an ensemble comprised of four Expert Citizens members and six theatre-makers. They shared creative, lived and theoretical knowledge with one another across a four-week intensive devising and rehearsal period.

Ultimately the ensemble created Punishment Acts: Tales of Retribution, Reparation and Redemption, an 80-minute production that was staged over seven nights at the B Arts theatre in Stoke on Trent.

Set in a prison cell late at night, between restless sleep and wakefulness, the cell’s occupants traverse different histories and spaces of punishment. Through a collage of puppetry, fable and movement, the show asked audiences to reflect on beliefs about punishment and consider whether there are other ways to achieve justice.

Punishment Acts sits in a landscape of theatre work that is increasingly interested in opening up conversations with audiences about what we want our justice system to look and feel like.

James Graham’s 2025 play Punch drew on Jacob Dunne’s memoir, Right from Wrong. Dunne’s book documents his conviction of manslaughter and the restorative justice process that brought him together with the parents of James Hodgkinson, the man he killed, so all three could begin to rebuild their lives. Punch staged the possibilities and processes of restorative justice as an alternative framework for responding to harm for a wider audience, initially at Nottingham Playhouse and then on to the West End and Broadway.

Synergy Theatre Company’s recent production of Evan Placey’s Lifers, meanwhile, invited audiences to consider how we respond to the ageing prison population and the broader harsh and dehumanising conditions of imprisonment in Britain. Bringing audiences attention to our rapidly shifting prison population and inviting them to ask what that might mean for the architecture, staffing and conditions within our prisons evidences the capacity of theatre to hold space for nuanced and humane reflections on justice.

Meanwhile Lung theatre company are currently touring Woodhill, a beautifully choreographed documentary piece that stages the acute failings at HMP Woodhill which led to catastrophic failures in care of the men held there. Chris Carpenter, Stephen Farrar and Kevin Scarlett were all held at the prison and each found dead in their cells between 2013 and 2018. Built on 70 interviews, the performance is a searing indictment of our failing prison system.

Theatre has long been a practice that invites audiences to (re)examine our relationship to the criminal justice system. What was distinctive about Punishment Acts is the explicit integration of philosophy, lived experience and community performance.

The importance of lived experience

Foucault’s ideas became less abstract through the ways our mixed cast could engage with and expand them in relation to contemporary prisons, probation and support services in Britain.

Punishment Acts was not autobiographical and used a fictional frame to enable some distance between cast members’ own stories and the characters in the play. But as one of the Expert Citizens mentors noted, the character they came up with embodied the frustrations they’d experienced in their own journey.

This was integral to the project and underscored how lived experience groups reanimate and offer useful perspectives on philosophy rather than the learning only going one way.

For example, the ensemble devised a scene in a hostel that blended Foucault’s discussion of how institutions organise space and time to enact control with their own experiences of punitive treatment in hostels.

In the play, the character of Melissa arrives at an Approved Premises looking for support, but is met with a long list of rigid and increasingly punitive rules from the use of the washing machine to the working hours of the communal kettle. The list is in fact so long it makes Melissa late for a probation appointment. When Melissa eventually meets her probation officer, an under resourced and overworked figure, another set of rules is deployed in lieu of support. Ultimately, her infringement of lateness lands her back in prison, back into the same cycle.

Melissa’s journey drew on Foucault’s proposal that punishment expands far beyond the prison gate and echoed the experiences of our ensemble. They also recognised that those working in these contexts (housing, justice, employment) are also being let down by systems that so often do not enable them to meaningfully support people.

The expansion of mainstream live performance, TV series and films addressing ideas around justice, harm, and punishment is to be welcomed. It marks an increased appetite from a broad range of people to examine the values, histories and philosophies of our criminal legal system.

Amid this growth in representation on our stages and screens, it’s vital to support community-rooted and research-informed performance projects. Such work brings people with different skills and experiences together, it foregrounds the knowledge of those who have had contact with our justice system, and enables us to collectively explore the fundamental ideas that inform our approach to punishment.