Temperatures have soared across the UK this weekend

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While many people across Britain will be enjoying the record-breaking hot weather this May, there’s one thing most won’t appreciate – getting to sleep.

While many holiday resorts and hotels typically have air conditioning installed, this is less in British homes so when the weather warms up it can be difficult to fall – and stay – asleep.

A heat health alert is currently in place across the North West with experts warning of an increase in demand for NHS care, LancsLive reports. The yellow alert will remain in place until Wednesday May 27.

The Red Cross has released a list of potential tips including advice on where to sleep and what to do before you get into bed.

Make sure all electrical items are turned off

Even while in standby mode, many electrical items can generate heat. People are being advised to make sure any in the bedroom are turned off and unplugged to help reduce heat.

Have a lukewarm or cool shower before bed

It is best not to get into bed feeling hot. You run the risk of overheating it your core body temperature is too high. One option is to take a lukewarm shower before going to sleep to bring your body temperature down slowly.

Choose loose-fitting clothing

Tighter clothes or pyjamas can trap warm air next to your body, so a better option might be to go for a loose t-shirt and shorts.

Stay hydrated

Dehydration can affect a person’s body temperature at night, causing them to feel too hot or too cold. Drinking a glass of cold water before bed and keeping one close during the night might help. However, balanced against that, it may be an idea to…

Avoid alcohol and caffeine in the evening

Alcohol often goes hand in hand with sunny weather – and many people will have spent the past few days enjoying the beer garden -but it is advised to limit consumption especially in the evening but causes poorer quality of sleep. As well as this, many caffeinated drinks are diuretics and may encourage your body to lose fluids, risking dehydration as well as increase your body temperatures. Try to opt for lighter, fresher foods like fruits and vegetables.

Change your bedding

Sleep with a thin, cotton sheet, which will absorb sweat. Body temperature drops overnight, so even if you go to bed hot you will still need a cover so you don’t wake up from feeling cold.

Wear cold socks

Cooling your feet helps to bring down your overall body temperature. Put a pair of socks in the fridge or freezer during the day and slip them on your feet before getting into bed.

Sleep on the lowest level of your home

Heat rises, so you might want to consider sleeping on a lower level of your home. If your home is only on one level, move to the coolest area of it.

Keep to your routine

Hot weather can often mean your everyday routine goes out the window but, eating and going to bed later may affect the quality of sleep. Try to stick to your usual eating and bed times and keep the same night-time routine.

The heat can also mean you feel more tired during the day because your body is using more energy to regulate internal temperature. Try not to give in to having a day time nap, as this disrupts your sleep pattern and can make it harder to fall asleep in the evening.

The local authority has received a planning application from TRJ Contracts seeking the go-ahead to develop a site at off Colliertree Road in Clarkston.

North Lanarkshire Council will decide whether to permit the construction of four houses on a site near a suburb of Airdrie.

The local authority has received a planning application from TRJ Contracts seeking the go-ahead to develop a site at off Colliertree Road in Clarkston.

If allowed, the housing would be in the form of four semi-detached dwellings on land which is currently vacant.

Several neighbouring properties have been notified of the application, and a coal mining risk assessment report on the site recommends that planning permission can be granted with relevant conditions in place to mitigate any risk from old mining works in the area.

For additional details or to leave a comment for consideration as this application is determined, visit North Lanarkshire Council’s website and search for planning reference 26/00349/FUL.

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READ MORE: Newmains residents to contend with major roadworks over the summer

His family has issued an emotional tribute

The family of a 24-year-old man who died following an incident in Abergavenny have described him as a “kind, loving and warm individual” who made a lasting impact on everyone he met.

Officers from Gwent Police were called to Old Hereford Road at around 6.15am on Friday, May 15. It was confirmed that a man in his 20s had been left with life-threatening injuries. Gwent Police confirmed that the injured man, who has now been named as Idris Squires, died in hospital.

In an emotional tribute, his family said they were devastated by the loss of a young man whose life had been “tragically cut short”.

“Idris was a beloved son,” they said. “We cannot begin to express the loss we feel, along with the rest of his family who have loved and supported him throughout his life.

“At only 24, he was only just beginning life’s journey but in his short time with us he made a hugely positive impact on so many people’s lives.”

Liam Bennett, 27, of Oak Tree Lane, Gilwern, has since been charged with Mr Squires’ murder.

Specialist officers are continuing to support Idris’ family as the investigation continues.

The family said Idris was well known for his kindness and ability to form close friendships, adding that they had received hundreds of messages from friends following his death.

“Idris made friends easily and had a huge circle of friends who he cared for very much, and this was reciprocated,” the tribute continued.

“We have been inundated with hundreds of messages of support from so many of Idris’ young friends.

“He was the most kind, loving and warm individual you could ever wish to meet. He never thought twice about helping others, young or old, he had the instinct to do the right thing.”

The family also spoke of their pride in Idris’ decision to join the organ donor register, describing it as reflective of the person he was.

“We are proud of his gift of organ donation — that he elected to be on the donor register speaks volumes for the man he was,” they said.

“Although we are overwhelmed by the grief of losing such a wonderful young man, we take comfort in the memory of the love, laughter and kindness that he shared with those he met.

“He will be forever in our thoughts and in our hearts.”

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Emergency services including the air ambulance and a coastguard helicopter descended on Formby Beach in Merseyside after concerns were raised for the safety of a teenage girl, who has since been taken to hospital

Emergency crews rushed to Formby Beach this afternoon amid fears for a teenage girl’s welfare.

Merseyside Police, coastguard teams and North West Ambulance Service were scrambled to Formby Beach on Albert Road at approximately 3.30pm on Monday, May 25.

Officers confirmed a 15 year old girl was transported to hospital following the incident, with her family notified. The operation saw a substantial emergency response, featuring an air ambulance, coastguard helicopter and multiple police incident response units.

A force spokesperson confirmed: “We can confirm that emergency services are in Formby following an incident this afternoon, Monday, May 25.

“At around 3.30pm, police, the coastguard and NWAS were called to Formby Beach, Albert Road to reports of a concern for the safety of a 15-year-old girl.

“She has been taken to hospital and her family are aware. Enquiries are ongoing at the scene.”, reports the Liverpool Echo.

“Further updates will be issued when appropriate.”

Serious traffic congestion has brought chaos to the beach vicinity, with nearby roads experiencing gridlock as emergency personnel remain at the scene.

Officers have implemented a temporary one-way system in a bid to alleviate the tailbacks, although considerable delays persist throughout the locality.

Drivers are being advised to steer clear of the area if feasible to ensure emergency vehicles can reach the scene unimpeded.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The best young spellers in the English language are competing at the Scripps National Spelling Bee this week, continuing a more than century-old tradition. The three-day competition begins Tuesday and concludes Thursday night.

The first bee was held in 1925, when the Louisville Courier-Journal invited other newspapers to host spelling bees and send their champions to Washington. After a long run at a convention center in suburban Maryland, the bee returns to the nation’s capital this year at Constitution Hall, a few blocks from the White House.

Another change for this year: ESPN NFL analyst and recent “Celebrity Jeopardy!” champion Mina Kimes has joined the bee as its television host.

This is the 98th bee; it was canceled from 1943 to 1945 because of World War II and again in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s champion will be the 111th, because the bee ended in a two-way tie several times and an eight-way tie in 2019.

Thirty of the past 36 champions have been of Indian heritage, including last year’s winner, Faizan Zaki.

How can I watch the Scripps National Spelling Bee?

The bee is broadcast and streamed on channels and platforms owned by Scripps, a Cincinnati-based media company.

On Tuesday, preliminary rounds will stream on Scripps Sports Network and spellingbee.com from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT.

Wednesday’s quarterfinals will stream on Scripps Sports Network and spellingbee.com from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and semifinals can be watched on those platforms from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tape-delayed semifinals broadcast on ION from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Finals will broadcast Thursday on ION from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. The semifinals and finals will also air or be streamed on these Scripps-owned channels or services: ION Plus, Bounce, Grit, Laff, The Spot, Bounce XL, Grit Xtra, Laff More, Scripps News and Scripps Sports Network.

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What are the rules of the Scripps National Spelling Bee?

Spellers qualify by advancing through regional bees hosted by sponsors around the country. In order to compete, spellers must not have advanced beyond the eighth grade or be older than 15.

Contestants must get through two preliminary rounds, where they are quizzed on words from a list provided in advance. There is one spelling round and one multiple-choice vocabulary round.

Those who make it through the preliminaries sit for a written spelling and vocabulary test, with the top 100 or so finishers advancing to the quarterfinals. The words for the test, and for all subsequent rounds, are taken from the Merriam-Webster Unabridged dictionary.

Throughout the quarterfinals and semifinals, spellers are eliminated at the microphone through oral spelling or vocabulary questions.

About a dozen spellers advance to the finals. When only two remain, Scripps has the option to use a lightning-round tiebreaker known as a “spell-off” to determine the champion.

Who is competing in the Scripps National Spelling Bee?

This year’s bee has 247 spellers representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, three U.S. territories and five other countries: The Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.

The top returning finisher from 2025 is Sarv Dharavane of Dunwoody, Georgia, who finished third last year as an 11-year-old fifth-grader. Even if he falls short this year, he has two years of eligibility left.

Other possible contenders:

— Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Rancho Cucamonga, California, who finished third in 2024. He has dominated the bee circuit in the past year, winning the South Asian Spelling Bee, the SpellPundit National Spelling Bee and the Words of Wisdom Spelling Bee.

— Oliver Halkett, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Los Angeles who finished in a tie for seventh last year.

— Esha Marupudi, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Chandler, Arizona, who also tied for seventh last year.

What are the prizes for the Scripps National Spelling Bee champion?

The winner receives a custom trophy and more than $50,000 in cash and prizes. Here are the prize payouts:

— First place: $52,500 in cash, reference works from Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster, a custom trophy and commemorative medal, and $1,000 in flight credits from Delta Air Lines.

— Second place: $25,000.

— Third place: $15,000.

— Fourth place: $10,000.

— Fifth place: $5,000.

— Sixth place: $2,500.

— All other finalists: $2,000.

___

Ben Nuckols has covered the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 2012. Follow his work here.

Hajj unfolds through a series of sacred rites carried out over several days in and around Mecca, each marking a different stage of the spiritual journey.

Day 1

Step 1: Ihram (entering the pilgrimage) – Pilgrims enter a state of spiritual purity, wearing simple white clothing and declaring their intention to perform Hajj.

Step 2: Tawaf (circling the Kaaba) – Worshippers circle the Kaaba seven times in the Grand Mosque at Mecca.

Step 3: Sa’i (walking between Safa and Marwah) – Pilgrims walk back and forth between two hills, retracing a historic act of devotion.

Step 4: Mina (the tent city) – Millions gather in a vast encampment outside Mecca, spending time in prayer and reflection.

Day 2

Step 5: Arafat (the central day of Hajj) – Considered the most important day, pilgrims gather at Mount Arafat in prayer and reflection.

Step 6: Muzdalifah (overnight under the sky) – Worshippers sleep outdoors and collect small stones for the next ritual.

Day 3

Step 7: Stoning of the pillars – Pilgrims symbolically throw stones at pillars representing temptation and evil.

Step 8: Eid al-Adha sacrifice – The festival begins, marking an act of devotion linked to Prophet Ibrahim.

Step 9: Shaving or cutting hair – Pilgrims mark spiritual renewal by cutting or shaving their hair.

Step 10: Final Tawaf – A final farewell circling of the Kaaba before leaving Mecca.

Days 4 and 5

Return to Mina – Pilgrims repeat the stoning ritual at all three pillars before completing their pilgrimage.

Ben Miller, best known as Death in Paradise’s DI Richard Poole, has confirmed he is returning as Professor Jasper Tempest in ITV’s Professor T

Actor Ben Miller has revealed he will be returning to a beloved role in thrilling news. Ben, who played the first lead detective in Death in Paradise, is set to reprise his role as Professor Tempest in ITV’s Professor T. He has also confirmed that another series, which is filmed in Cambridge, is on the way.

Much like Ben’s character DI Richard Poole in Death in Paradise, Professor Jasper Tempest has a gift for solving cases. Despite struggling with OCD and a difficult past, the professor is coaxed from his university role by a former student who has become a police detective, convincing him to help with a complex case.

Speaking recently on The One Show, Ben confirmed that not only is series five of Professor T on the horizon, but series six is also in production.

“We’ve got season five that will hopefully be coming out in the autumn,” he said. “I mean, spoiler alert, we’re actually working on season six. It’s a very exciting situation to be in.”

Executive producer Jo McGrath teased: “Season 5 will prove to be a momentous one for Professor T, both personally and professionally, and the series will climax with one of its trademark series finale episodes guaranteed to keep audiences glued,” reports the Express.

Fans of Death in Paradise were thrilled by the news, with numerous people sharing their excitement on social media. One wrote, “My favourite detective is back on screens.”

Another wrote, “I was so sad when you died in Death in Paradise,” while a third commented, ” Wonderful show!!! You and the rest of the cast are superb, Mr. Miller!!! We watch you on PBS channel 13 in NYC.”

Ben also appeared on Sunday Brunch yesterday, where he discussed his other television project, Austin. Speaking to hosts Tim Lovejoy and chef Simon Rimmer, Ben revealed that the second series of Austin has yet to be broadcast in the UK.

He disclosed, “It is coming soon. It is out in Australia, and it was the number one comedy in Australia.”

When pressed for a UK release date, Ben admitted he was uncertain, “I think over the summer, but I don’t know, it could be next month.”

Ben also announced his debut adult novel, A Very Dangerous Pursuit. “My story winds the clock back two years earlier, the same character -39 Steps is not in the UK, mine is obviously in Europe- and another very intriguing thriller, spy type drama,” the Richard Poole actor explained.

Drawing parallels between his lead character, Richard Hannay, and James Bond, Ben was insistent that the two bear little similarity, pointing out that Richard is hopeless with gadgets and is “incredibly self-conscious”.

Reflecting on the pressures of penning the novel, Ben remarked, “It’s funny, I didn’t think too much about it at the time, it’s only now it’s come out, and people say, ‘Did you get permission?’”

Sunday Brunch returns on Channel 4 at 10am and Professor T is available to stream on ITVX. Season 5 coming soon.

A massive lightning storm destroyed most of the village in the 14th century

There are many different villages and towns all nestled within Cambridgeshire, some big and some small. There are some places though that could be easily missed. One place that people probably drive past without realising is Lolworth.

Lolworth is a tiny village south of the A14. It is so small that it only has 65 houses and two farms. Lolworth Parish Council describes the village as a “hidden gem in the Cambridgeshire countryside”. Although people live happily there today, there have been times in its history that the village has almost disappeared.

In September 1393, there was a large lightning storm, causing a fire that burnt down most of the village’s homes and crops. It is thought that the fire also destroyed part of All Saints Church, with its side aisles lost and never rebuilt.

Lolworth was left desolate after the fire. The field next to All Saint’s Church is called Burnt Close, paying homage to the fire that nearly wiped Lolworth off the map.

The village eventually built itself up again. Today, it is a peaceful place to live, and is perfect for anyone wanting a quieter life in the countryside.

Although it is small in size, it is “rich in community spirit”, according to the Parish Council. Robinson Hall, previously a village school, serves as an important place for the community to gather together.

And although the village has no pub, there is the village club which offers residents a social place to meet. To get into Lolworth, it may seem quite complicated. This is because the village has no through-road, and has to be accessed via the A1307.

Jones’ performance wrote another chapter in his Wembley story, which started when he helped Coventry win the EFL Trophy in 2017 and being on their books when they won the League Two play-offs in 2018.

His previous visit for Notts involved him scoring a penalty in the National League promotion final shootout against Chesterfield in 2023.

He followed that up by representing Malta as a substitute against England in November 2023 before going on to be named League Two player of the year in 2024 after breaking a record shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne with 24 assists.

“I’d like to think there’s another chapter at Wembley coming for me,” said Jones. “I haven’t lost with a club. I’d like to think Wembley is a good place for me.”

County’s promotion was their 14th in EFL history, one short of the all-time record held by Grimsby Town, and Jones says there is no reason why they cannot be optimistic about the future.

“My godfather said to me when I went to Notts, ‘I really believe you can do something similar to what you did at Coventry and go up the leagues. Notts seem like the sort of club who would do something like that, they are a massive club’,” said Jones.

“It wasn’t that long ago that I was a Coventry City player and we got promoted against Notts in the play-offs. I hope they have forgiven me for that.

“Who knows where we can go. We are a fantastic club and I’m sure we’ll attract a lot of talent who will want to come and join us.”

As for it being a third major success among his significant clubs, Jones said he spoke about Arsenal, Coventry and Notts County having fruitful campaigns in a family group chat at the start of the season, saying it “would be amazing”.

“And it’s happened, fantastic.”

Her contract had been due to expire at the culmination of the 2025-26 season, though, and Standard Sport understands that Chelsea held a strong interest in the Women’s Super League top goalscorer, eyeing her as a replacement for the outgoing Sam Kerr. It is also believed that London City Lionesses had Shaw on their summer wishlist.