By 10am it was eerily quiet. The previous day saw market traders, hundreds of shoppers and families enjoying lunch alfresco in the late summer sun. But by Thursday morning Braintree in Essex was a ghost town.

And then, shortly before 11am, the first minibus arrived like clockwork from Wethersfield asylum accommodation site and a group of young men disembarked, smartphones in hand, one wearing a Covid-style mask to hide his face.

‘They hang around the bus station and they whistle at the schoolgirls coming off the buses,’ complained 66-year-old local Mike Readon. ‘It’s horrendous. Lots of women just avoid the town entirely on a Thursday because it’s a totally different environment.

‘You see them hanging around the cash machines and then going into charity shops, haggling for a shirt that only costs a pound, trying to get it for 50p.

‘My wife and her friends, they wouldn’t come in on a Thursday, certainly not alone anyhow.’

The Wethersfield site – 12 miles from Braintree and operated by Clearsprings Ready Homes on behalf of the Home Office – is the largest facility of its kind in Britain and currently houses 800 men awaiting the outcome of their claims to remain in the UK.

The majority of the men are in their twenties and thirties and have travelled from Africa, the Middle East and Asia, many arriving on small boats from across the Channel.

This summer it was announced the site will stay open beyond 2027 and the capacity will rise by more than 50 per cent to 1,245.

Migrants from the Wethersfield camp are dropped off in Braintree by minibuses

Migrants are seen in Braintree town centre. They are housed at the Wethersfield site, 12 miles away 

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Earlier this week, the leader of Essex county council, Peter Harris, writing in this newspaper, described Wethersfield as a ‘holiday camp’ noting luxuries included a fully kitted-out gym complete with a fitness studio, a full-sized football pitch, indoor sports hall, television room and pool table. 

Reports from inside Wethersfield also paint a picture of violence, with one 25-year-old, Adnani Mohammed, sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work earlier this year for ‘violently’ attacking staff in a drunken rage.

And while the former RAF base, once home to Allied forces launching raids on the continent during the Second World War, is rural and secluded, local people in Braintree, Colchester and Chelmsford feel its presence acutely.

For every week, minibuses ferry the migrant men into these neighbouring communities where residents and workers accuse them of intimidating the elderly, harassing young women, theft and violence.

At the same time, however, hard-Right protesters, calling themselves ‘auditors’, harangue them in public, film their movements, hurl abuse and ultimately provoke further unrest.

Local people have found themselves in the centre of a social maelstrom and are on constant high alert.

Yesterday council leader Mr Harris announced a new plan, Operation Vanguard, to introduce security to these town and city centres to reassure residents.

Regardless of whether the migrants or protesters are the architects of the trouble, this is the story of how the Wethersfield site became a byword for the nation’s divisive asylum system.

Earlier this week, the leader of Essex county council, Peter Harris, writing in this newspaper described Wethersfield as a ‘holiday camp’

Locals in Braintree said you see migrants hanging around cash machines in the town

And it appears that three years after RAF Wethersfield was first converted into an asylum accommodation site by the government, relations between local people and the migrants have soured so much that assimilation into local towns is ruled all but impossible.

When the Daily Mail visited Braintree on Thursday – a day when migrants are brought in – only one minibus arrived carrying just a small group of migrant men, far fewer than the reports of up to 50 earlier this year.

Two local bus drivers in Braintree – neither of whom have anything to do with the migrant coaches – did not mince their words. ‘I want to kick their heads in,’ said one, who the Daily Mail has chosen not to name.

‘Three of ’em tried to get on my bus and honest to God I just drove on past and watched as they dived out of the hedge.’

‘They intimidate elderly people,’ added the second driver. ‘Disabled people have to walk all the way around the outside of town just to avoid them. But nothing will change, it never does.’

‘Put them on a boat and send them back,’ the other driver concludes to groans of agreement from his colleague.

Unpleasant opinions, perhaps, but then feelings are running high in the town.

Along the walk between the bus terminal where the migrants are dropped off and the high street, five panels of glass at the Sue Ryder charity shop have been smashed.

Inside, staff revealed that this is the second time the panes will have to be replaced in two months. While the culprit is yet to be identified, there are legitimate concerns that an asylum seeker from Wethersfield may be to blame after a previous incident in the shop.

Earlier this year, police advised the store to put a sign up declaring that no groups over the size of three should enter and that they were, ‘open for business, closed for crime’.

Accommodation units are pictured at Wethersfield migrant camp

Protesters demand the ex-military base at RAF Wethersfield is closed during a demonstration in September last year

It comes after gangs of up to ten asylum seekers had been caught entering the shop and stealing the donated goods, leaving young volunteers powerless and afraid. 

The Care4Calais charity which typically provides the men with support and supplies from the Salvation Army building in this town, also told this newspaper that their operations had been suspended due to ‘security reasons’.

It’s even worse at the Danaher Animal Home charity shop nearby, where store worker Hannah, in her twenties, has been scarred by an altercation she witnessed on a Thursday in mid-May.

‘I was working in the shop alone,’ she said. ‘A group of men came in – we’re the first charity shop from the bus station you see. They were initially polite and said hello. Then a group of Right-wing women were filming them inside and the men became agitated.

‘One of them threatened to lash out… and then he did. He smashed the camera out of the lady’s hand and I had to keep the two groups apart. There was a huge bruise coming up on the lady’s arm and I had to call the police.

‘It was absolutely horrendous,’ Hannah continued. ‘I only started the job in February. I hate this town. Working here alone as a woman is scary. On Thursdays there are no women, no kids, no locals. Just hundreds of men.

‘I’m not biased either way, but I think the protesters should target the Government, because they’re the ones allowing this to happen,’ she added.

When it comes to these so-called protesters, the agitator-in-chief in Braintree goes under the name ‘AY Audits’ on Instagram, where he has over 36,000 followers.

Real name Anthony Barnes, the man, who appears to be in his forties, has shared over 300 videos of himself harassing migrants and marching with other far-Right demonstrators.

In one typical video shared on August 16, the rotund Barnes films a group of migrant men in Braintree waiting to get back on the minibuses to Wethersfield, at one point mocking a man for picking up prescription medication from a pharmacy.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there are similar scenes in nearby Colchester and Chelmsford, where buses also deliver migrants from Wethersfield.

The Government has applauded itself for shutting more than 200 asylum hotels since 2023. Pictured: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood

David Warren, 68, has lived in Colchester all his life and describes the asylum seekers living at Wethersfield as ‘dangerous’. 

‘We don’t know what they’re up to,’ he says, ‘the community wants to see it stopped. Legal migration is fine but through unofficial channels is not okay. I worry.’

Garry Siddall, also 68, and who has lived in the city since 1993, described the young men as having ‘medieval views’. ‘They’re dropped off in the minibuses: it’s intimidating.’

Despite locals’ concerns, the Home Office – while acknowledging the fears of the communities – insists there is ‘no evidence’ that the asylum seekers have disproportionately increased levels of crime in Essex.

It is a similar scene in Chelmsford where Mike – who has lived here for four years – expressed his growing frustrations. ‘It annoys me that homelessness is a problem for British people but they house people who come over here illegally in their vanloads,’ he complained.

‘It’s concerning for children and women. The trouble is escalating, there are safety concerns.’

Kevin Taylor, 54, originally from east London but who has lived in Chelmsford for more than 15 years described the presence of migrants as ‘overwhelming’ for his community.

‘The men hang around in gangs. Women and children are intimidated by the court house; there are big groups of them there,’ he explained. ‘I feel the UK has lost its way; they should respect our environment. Letting anyone in, mostly men, it’s too many handouts. Everyone is scared. It’s sad really.’

As the Daily Mail witnessed while in these Essex towns, the main problem appears to be that the migrants from Wethersfield have very little to do.

With a £9.95 weekly allowance, they are unable to make meaningful purchases or eat in cafes and restaurants. Instead, they suck at cigarettes on street corners or lounge around enjoying the fresh air and giving off an air of idleness that feels – at least to the people of Essex – provocative at best.

The wider irony in all of this is that our politicians are aware of the issue. Shortly before the 2024 General Election, then Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer recognised that the Wethersfield camp ‘needs to close’.

‘I do know how keenly this is felt locally and understandably so,’ the former Prime Minister added.

But two years on and with a new PM in place – one who has already told the British people that more communities will have to absorb the shock of asylum seekers on their doorsteps – it seems the problem is set to get worse.

The Government has applauded itself for shutting more than 200 asylum hotels since 2023 and allegedly reducing the asylum bill by a £1billion a year. 

But this is rather to miss the point, because once locals no longer feel secure in their towns, it doesn’t matter where migrants are housed or at what cost.

What is clear is that the people of Essex feel the true cost of asylum accommodation is to their safety – and with the Wethersfield site set to welcome 400 additional migrants in the coming months, many are now wondering what will become of these historic local towns already buckling under the weight of fear and suspicion.

– Additional reporting: Isaac Crowson

The second series promises to be bigger and better, with more betrayals than ever

The Traitors Ireland returns this weekend for an eagerly anticipated second series, following the huge success of the first.

24 contestants will enter Slane Castle, hoping to backstab their way to winning €50,000.

If you need a refresher on the format of the RTE show – the game starts with all of the contestants arriving at the castle as Faithfuls. Once they are there, they sit at the Round Table blindfolded and find out if they will play as a Traitor or a Faithful.

The host typically picks three Traitors by tapping them on the shoulder, so their identities are kept a secret from the rest of the group.

If you’re a Faithful, your job is to suss out who the Traitors are amongst the group, and banish them all before the end of the game. Traitors, meanwhile, need to convince everyone they are Faithful, and escape banishment.

If the Faithfuls successfully get rid of all the Traitors before the end of the game, the remaining Faithfuls win the game and the prize money. But if any Traitors are left standing, they win and take it all.

Earlier this year, RSVP got the chance to go behind the scenes of The Traitors Ireland as they filmed series 2 at Slane Castle, as the show boss spilled some secrets on what is to come.

Darren Smith, MD of Kite Entertainment, teased some great contestants this year.

“Of course, this year’s cast have had more examples to watch. So the player has had, you know, all the international versions,” he explained. “So some of them have been deeply consumed in it. And you can see that, and there’s a little bit of them kind of trying to outsmart the format sometimes, but it’s like, whatever they do, it just gives us a story.

“It might not be the story we were expecting. They were beginning to look for loopholes in the missions, where others or, last year, they didn’t, but that’s fine. It’s a very robust format.”

Last year’s contestant lineup was a big hit, in particular Paudie Moloney, who went on to become a finalist on Dancing With The Stars. The casting team ensured us that there was a fabulous lineup this year with totally different characters from the last – but they had a major influx of applications from prison guards after Paudie’s success.

“We had over 120 prison guards apply to be in the show this year,” said Darren. “They weren’t all Paudie types. We had guards as well. We also had some older brilliant guys apply, and you’d put them in any show in a heartbeat.

“But it just felt like a try-hard, like we were looking for another Paudie. And we were really keen not to repeat things that worked last year.”

Darren did tease that there is one person in particular he predicts as the breakout star of the series – and they are nothing like Paudie.

“Definitely there is one character who is strong, in terms of the national love that is going to be there for this person,” he said.

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The show is filmed in advance and edited down into episodes, but what viewers may not realise is that the contestants get rest days over the course of filming. This year, it was upped to two rest days instead of one day off like last year.

However, they did have to take extra precautions in contestants hotels to maintain the secrecy of the show, including blacking out their windows and under their doors, to ensure they don’t know who is coming and going to the Traitors’ conclave.

“We discovered last year people have been looking under the door of the hotel, that gap, and recognising shoes,” said Darren. “It never worked for them, but they got to know the footwear of various members of the production team, but that was about it.

“So we have to black out hotel windows, all that stuff. We have to do dummy runs to bring everyone back. Then they have to come back here so there’s a lot of us waiting for them to come back to do their murdering and all of that.”

The Traitors Ireland series 2 begins on Sunday, August 30 on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player at 9:30pm continuing Monday and Tuesday and is directly followed by The Traitors Ireland Uncloaked each day.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our What’s On newsletter.

By JOSHUA HAINING, NEWS REPORTER

Published: 21:55 BST, 28 August 2026 | Updated: 23:20 BST, 28 August 2026

Spanish flag-waving Ceuta locals have stormed a makeshift migrant camp and set it on fire amid rising tensions about the ‘invasion’ of the enclave.

Residents in the North African enclave remain up in arms after more than 70,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta from neighbouring Morocco last month.

There has been growing frustration amongst locals over the handling of the situation in Ceuta which culminated with an attack on the makeshift camp.  

Video footage shows thousands of locals charging down and destroying the camp on Thursday as droves of worried migrants watch on.

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Residents can be seen throwing migrants’ belongings including bags into the water before unfurling Spanish flags and waving them. 

The furious locals also torched the camp located on the beach before police created a barrier between the protesters and migrants. 

As the protest intensified, police did not appear to intervene and instead stood mere feet away as chants were shouted in the background.

Although most migrants have now returned to Morocco, between 3,500 and 7,000 people remain in Ceuta, with many resorting to making shanty towns on the beach. 

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Thousands of residents on Ceuta stormed a makeshift migrant camp and set it on fire

Locals threw migrants’ belongings including bags into the sea before unfurling Spanish flags

The furious locals on the Spanish enclave torched and destroyed the camp as demonstrations intensified

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Spain’s interior minister has since called for calm after the camp was destroyed during the protest against the mass influx of migrants. 

‘Violence is not the answer,’ Fernando Grande-Marlaska told Spanish parliament today. 

‘I call for calm and an end to any form of violence, because violence is not the way to resolve any problem with the complexity’ of the situation in Ceuta, he added.

Demonstrations held by Ceuta residents have increased in recent days with protesters clashing with police on a beach where migrants slept on Thursday.

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A soldier was also injured in a separate incident on Thursday when migrants hurled stones at troops and 12 arrests were made.

Juan Vivas, the head of Ceuta’s local government, said peaceful protests against the migrants were justified but any acts of vandalism would be condemned.

‘We totally reject the use of any kind of violence,’ he said during an address.

‘No one can or should take the law into their own hands. The defence of Ceuta and the interests of its people can only be pursued through legality.’ 

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Hundreds of worried migrants watched on as police assembled a barrier between the protesters

The attack on the camp comes after residents clashed with police on the enclave in recent days

Despite most of the migrants returning to their native countries, some have stayed and set up shanty town encampments on the beach

But Right-wing and far-Right parties have demanded that the government immediately round up the migrants and send them back to their native countries.

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Mr Grande-Marlaska accused those political parties of ‘inciting hatred’ on the Spanish enclave ahead of the general election next year.

Spanish Government Delegation officials held a meeting on Wednesday to establish a response plan for the remaining migrants, with guards stationed at the entrance to prohibit protesters entering.

The meeting came as more than 2,000 residents protested, first gathering around 6pm outside the Military Hospital, which is one of the locations set to accommodate the migrants in the government’s contingency plan.

On Tuesday hundreds of residents marched through the streets, criticising the central government’s handling of the migrants in Ceuta.

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Following the protest, the government took steps to speed up the return of thousands of migrants still in the Spanish territory after a declaration the migrant situation was a matter of interest to national security.

As such Spain’s cabinet approved the creation of a ‘single command’ for Ceuta, to be led by territorial policy minister Angel Victor Torres, which allows resources from various administrations to be organised and coordinated under a single structure. 

Kyle Gibson, known as Kyle V Food and regularly shares reviews of restaurants, takeaways and food venues with thousands of followers on social media, recently returned to Lucky 88 Chinese Takeaway in Billingham to put its menu to the test.

In a video shared online, the viral man described the venue as “one of my favourite Chinese takeaways in Teesside”.

Kyle, who boasts over 236,000 TikTok followers, also said that the ribs were “spot on” and claimed the “satay sauce was honestly the best.”

He recommends the prawn toast, chicken skewer, and mixed sweet chilli with prawn, chicken and beef, which he dubs as “very, very nice”.

Kyle also tried the roast duck in “sweet sauce” and dubbed it “absolutely perplexing”.

He was also delighted to get a fortune cookie at the end.

One commenter wrote: “Round corner from me, will have to give it a try”.

Another said: “You should try it with plum sauce with crispy chicken with chicken fried rice my favourite.”

A close up of Kyle trying prawn toast at Lucky 88. (Image: Kyle-v-food on Instagram)

Lucky 88 operates from The Stoney Oak on High Grange Avenue in Billingham and offers both collection and delivery services.

The takeaway serves a broad range of Chinese dishes, from familiar favourites such as sweet and sour chicken and chow mien to crispy duck, fried rice dishes and sizzling stir-fries.

According to the business, its menu has been designed to bring together a wide range of authentic Chinese flavours, with chefs preparing everything from traditional takeaway staples to the venue’s own speciality dishes.

The takeaway says customer service and speedy delivery are key parts of its offering.

The Deck in Redcar turns 60 in 2027, after surviving decades of change in Britain’s nightlife industry.

After opening its doors in 1967, the seaside nightclub is believed to be one of the country’s longest-running nightclubs.

Despite its age, The Deck is still one of the most popular venues on Redcar’s nightlife scene.

Inside the Deck in Redcar. (Image: Yorkshire)

Ahead of the anniversary, the club is asking customers past and present to share memories from the venue’s six decades – whether they met a partner there, celebrated a birthday or just have good memories of nights out with friends.

The milestone is particularly important at a time when many hospitality venues and businesses struggle to stay afloat during the cost-of-living crisis.

Over the last couple of decades, the industry has faced rising costs and changing consumer habits, struggled with the impact of the Covid pandemic and faced increased competition from other late-night venues popping up all over the region.

Despite the challenges facing the industry, The Deck continues to draw both younger crowds and long-time regulars, remaining a well-known name across Teesside.

The Deck continues to draw a multi-generational crowd, blending six decades of music with the familiar atmosphere that has kept people coming since the 1960s.

While social media, dating apps and home entertainment have transformed the way people socialise since the club first opened, The Deck’s management says people still value nights out with friends where they can dance, talk and make memories in person.

Local clubber Max McDonald said in a review: “The DJ makes great choices and makes the night great – can feel the atmosphere of the floor and instantly knows what song will go best.”

Another reviewer, Sammi Wheater, said the Deck always caters for a range of musical tastes, from pop classics upstairs to dance music downstairs.

As it approaches its diamond anniversary, The Deck’s team says its longevity comes from remaining true to itself and its customers.

Rather than chasing trends, the venue has continued to offer what many people want from a night out: music, dancing, conversation and lasting memories.

Nearly six decades after welcoming its first customers, the Redcar venue is hoping to prove there is still a place for traditional nightlife in an increasingly digital world.

Anyone wishing to share memories ahead of the 60th anniversary celebrations can email the team at info@deckredcar.co.uk.

The remarks drew an angry response, with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald stating no prime minister has the right to ‘high-handedly’ remove the provision as set out by the Good Friday Agreement

Prime Minister Andy Burnham did not make a mistake when he said in Belfast that a poll on Irish unity is “off the table”, Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant has said.

Sir Chris said Mr Burnham was speaking about the situation “now” and insisted they are both “full square behind every single part of the Good Friday Agreement ”.

The Prime Minister caused a political row this week with his comments during his first visit to Northern Ireland since coming into office.

Asked about the prospects of a border poll, he responded: “I will take a collaborative approach but some issues will be off the table, and that is one issue that will be off the table.

“I think we’ve got to focus on bringing people together as best we can, and I think we’ve lived through a decade where there’s been a referendum on Brexit, we had Scottish independence just before it.”

The remarks drew an angry response from nationalist politicians, with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald stating that no prime minister has the right to “high-handedly” remove the provision for a unity referendum from the Good Friday Agreement.

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DUP leader Gavin Robinson welcomed the comments, stating the Prime Minister had “put to bed the nonsense” speculation over a unity poll.

Asked if Mr Burnham’s comment was a mistake, Sir Chris told UTV: “No, it wasn’t.

“I sat next to Andy throughout all the conversations yesterday, and he made absolutely clear, time and time again, and I’m happy to do it again now, that we stand full square behind every single part of the Good Friday Agreement, including the provisions in relation to a border poll.”

He added: “He was asked specifically about whether he was going to be discussing a border poll, holding a border poll now, and he was saying that we’re taking that off the table today.

“It was simply about the conversations yesterday.

“I’ve spoken to the First Minister and to other political leaders today to make it absolutely clear, I and Andy are fully committed to the Good Friday Agreement with all its provisions, including in relation to a border poll.”

Under the terms of the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, the secretary of state can decide to hold a border poll, and it also places a duty on the office holder to call one if it appears likely a majority would vote for Irish unification.

The people of the Republic of Ireland must also vote in favour to effect constitutional change.

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

It’s the rock festival which his father famously headlined 26 years ago.

And today, Oasis singer Liam Gallagher’s youngest son Gene, 25, took to the stage at the Reading music extravaganza with his band Villanelle.

Gene, whose mother is Nicole Appleton, looked remarkably similar to his famous dad with his rock chic black hair and sunglasses as he performed his biggest gig yet at the event which has twin festivals which take place in both Reading and Leeds today and across the weekend.

Along with his two bandmates, he appeared on the Canopy stage, which is smaller than the main stage where Oasis were in 2000.

But he wasn’t the only musical nepo baby to perform at the festival. This weekend there are several offspring of world famous musicians appearing there which has prompted accusations of elitism after organisers of the festivals axed the BBC Introducing stage which was first launched in 2008 to host new talent.

Despite it launching the careers of musicians such as Ed Sheeran and Florence + the Machine, as well as around 70 per cent of British artists in this year’s line up, bosses of Festival Republic announced an overhaul of stages last month saying it would now be open to a ‘much wider pool of emerging talent.’

However, after handing performing slots to the likes of Cruz, Gene, Violet and Moses, there has been much online.

Shortly before Gene took to the stage, Moses Martin, the 20-year-old son of Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow, took to the stage with his indie-pop band People I’ve Met at the Reading music extravaganza for a 35-minute set 27 years after his father sang there with Coldplay.

Shortly before Gene took to the stage, Moses Martin, the 20-year-old son of Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow took to the stage with his indie-pop band People I’ve Met

Wearing a white t-shirt and dark blue denim jeans, Moses, who like his father is his band’s lead singer, took to the stage with the band which is also made up of Orlando Wiltshire and Andrew Suster.

They originally formed the group during their time in school together in Los Angeles, California but only started performing live two years ago.

Gene and Moses’ appearances set up a second-generation twist on one of Britpop’s frostier rivalries, which saw Oasis star Liam, 53, mock Coldplay frontman Chris as looking like a ‘geography teacher’ and branded the band’s fans as ‘bedwetters’.

Also taking to the stage on Friday was Violet Grohl, the daughter of Foo Fighters singer Dave Grohl, who had a slot at the Leeds event which is held at the city’s Bramham Park before appearing at Reading on Sunday.

Despite cancelling two gigs in Liverpool and Manchester earlier this week after losing her voice, she recovered in time to sing hits from her album Be Sweet to Me.

Like Gene and Moses, Violet’s father Dave also appeared at Leeds and Reading seven times, the last outing being in 2019 when they headlined.

Also this weekend David and Victoria Beckham’s youngest son Cruz, 21, is also performing with his band The Breakers in Reading on Saturday and Leeds on Sunday.

His proud parents, who have previously attended his gigs, will see his sets as they are continuing their summer holidays in Spain.

The nepo-babies will tag-team both festivals throughout the weekend.

Other headliners include Fontaines DC, former Little Mix singer JADE, RAYE, Chase And Status and Florence and the Machine.

Liam Gallagher’s youngest son Gene is the lead singer and guitarist for the grunge/indie rock band Villanelle (pictured together in 2018)

Just like his famous father, Moses has carved out a career in music (pictured together)

Gene, whose mother is Nicole Appleton , looked remarkably similar to his famous dad with his rock chic black hair and sunglasses

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Along with his two bandmates, he appeared on the Canopy stage, which is smaller than the main stage were Oasis were in 2000

Gene performed his biggest gig yet at the event

Also taking to the stage on Friday was Violet Grohl, the daughter of Foo Fighters singer Dave Grohl

Violet is the eldest daughter of Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl and Jordyn Blum (pictured together in January)

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Over 100,000 festival-goers are expected to descend on both locations during the three days.

And it appears Britain’s long summer spell of hot and dry weather is over as crowds of people were spotted on Thursday donning their wellies and ponchos as they arrived at both festival locations to set up camp, bracing for rainy conditions.

The Introducing stage first launched in 2008 and also hosted the 1975 and Charli XCX, who is one of this year’s headliners, before they got their big breaks in the music industry.

Reading Festival launched in 1971 and was expanded into Leeds in 1999.

Its biggest sets are being televised by the BBC and streamed on iPlayer, including RAYE on Saturday night and Chase And Status the following evening.

Donald Trump’s construction of the new ballroom at the White House caused radio issues that led air traffic controllers to not hear messages sent from pilots preparing to carry the US President

Ongoing construction at the White House contributed to radio problems that reportedly caused radio problems which resulted in Marine One’s near miss with a passenger jet, a report has found.

Federal investigators said on Thursday the construction work resulted in air traffic controllers being unable to hear warning calls that Donald Trump’s helicopter was preparing to take off. This resulted in them clearing an airline jet to take off as Marine One lifted off earlier this month, the investigators said on Thursday.

In the week leading up to the near-miss, air traffic controllers met with Marine One pilots to discuss having not received the standard three-minute warning call ahead of its flights, a preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report said.

They planned to relay radio calls through someone else if there were future problems but that was also unsuccessful on the day of the August 4 incident. Communication issues would come up again on Thursday, when the air traffic controllers at Ronald Raegan Washington National Airport were not able to hear Marine One and had to ask a support helicopter for help just before take-off.

“I can’t hear Marine One,” an air traffic controller says to the support helicopter. “If you hear Marine One, can you let me know?”

Following the incident earlier this month, technicians discovered the reason Marine One was having trouble talking to the tower at times was because the helicopter shifted to a new location during the construction. So, the Federal Aviation Administration moved the radio receiver out of a neighbourhood near the airport and to the top of the tower at Raegan to fix the problem.

“Even though they were aware of some previous communications issues, they never got at the root cause,” aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti told the Associated Press. A recording posted by ATC.com showed the Marine One pilot telling the tower it was “three minutes to lift” just like the 2013 agreement between the FAA and the military calls for. But the controller seemed surprised a few minutes later when it took off.

“Uh, Marine One, you said, uh, you’re proceeding as briefed?” the controller asked before giving directions and continuing: “OK, no three minutes, roger, proceed as briefed.”

Guzzetti told the agency he did not believe the controllers were at fault as they never heard Marine One’s warnings. He added: “In this case, the controller did absolutely nothing wrong.

“He did not receive the transmission saying that they were three minutes away from taking off. So he had no reason to hold the airplane that was lining up and waiting.”

Three Scottish Fire and Rescue Service crews were called to the scene on the A76 alongside paramedics, with an air ambulance also spotted flying in the vicinity.

One person has been injured in a crash involving a police vehicle in Ayrshire. Emergency services were called to the A76 at Kingencleugh, near Mauchline, following the collision at around 2.40pm on Friday, August 28.

The road remains closed following the incident while investigations into the crash are ongoing. Three Scottish Fire and Rescue Service crews were called to the scene alongside paramedics, with an air ambulance also spotted flying in the vicinity.

A spokesperson for the fire service confirmed one casualty, the passenger of a car, was extricated by firefighters who assisted police and paramedics. It is understood both police officers travelling in the police vehicle were not seriously injured following the collision.

The Record also understands the car was not involved in a police pursuit. The car passenger’s condition or seriousness of their injuries are unknown.

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “The A76 is closed at Mauchline following a crash involving a police vehicle and a car, reported around 2.40pm on Friday, August 28. Emergency services are in attendance, and motorists should use an alternative route.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were alerted to a two-vehicle RTC south of Mauchline at around 2.40pm. Operations control mobilised three fire appliances to attend.

“Crews used rescue equipment to extricate a passenger.”

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