New research has shown that nearly half of drivers get worried when an emergency vehicle comes their way

Drivers are being reminded of what to do when an emergency vehicle approaches. It comes as new research of 1,292 car owners commissioned by car insurance expert MoneySuperMarket found that millions of motorists reported panicking and making risky manoeuvres when they hear a siren approaching.

According to the new survey by MoneySuperMarket, more than 17 million (41%) motorists admitted to panicking when they hear approaching sirens from an emergency vehicle, such as an ambulance, police car or fire engine.

More than one in four drivers (27%), equivalent to 11.5 million motorists, said they had made a risky manoeuvre, such as harsh braking, swerving or mounting a kerb, when an emergency vehicle approached, potentially increasing the risk for themselves and other road users.

When asked about knowing what to do when an emergency vehicle approaches with a siren going, less than a quarter (23%) said they knew the correct way to react every time; only 4% say they never know how to correctly react and more than two in five (45%) reported feeling anxious when they hear a siren.

Younger drivers were the most affected group, with those aged 18 to 24 twice as likely to feel anxious when they hear a siren compared to the over-55s (66% vs 32%). Drivers aged 18 to 24 were also more likely to say they had panicked and made a risky manoeuvre than drivers aged over 55, at 54% compared with 12%.

Alicia Hempsted, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: “Hearing a siren can make drivers feel under pressure, but sudden or unpredictable movements can create additional danger. Drivers should stay calm, check their surroundings, and make space only when it is safe and legal to do so. Knowing how to respond before an emergency vehicle approaches can help motorists act confidently while protecting other road users and emergency crews.”

What to do when an emergency vehicle approaches

Rule 219 of the Highway Code advises drivers not to panic, to consider the route of the emergency vehicle and to take appropriate action to let it pass while complying with traffic signs.

In practice, this means:

• Check your mirrors and work out where the emergency vehicle is likely to go
• Indicate and move to the side of the road in a controlled way, if it’s safe to do so
• Avoid stopping in a blind spot, bend, junction or narrow stretch of road
• Never mount the kerb, block a junction or brake sharply in the middle of the road
• Do not break traffic laws to make way – running a red light, entering a bus lane, or driving into a yellow box junction are still offences, even if you’re trying to help
• Once it’s passed safely, check your mirrors again before rejoining traffic

The data was collected via a survey of 1,292 UK drivers (aged 18+) conducted by Censuswide, with all data correct as of September 2026.

The percentages were based on more than 42 million people currently possessing a complete UK driving licence, according to data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

Two in five respondents, 41%, said they felt panicked when they heard an approaching emergency siren. This is equivalent to an estimated 17 million motorists when applied to the stated licence-holder population, the researchers said.

There are set to be delays for hours

A person has been hit by a train in the Cambridgeshire area. Emergency services are at the scene of an “incident” in the Ely area this morning (Friday, September 11).

National Rail has confirmed a person has been hit by a train. A National Rail spokesperson said: “A person has been hit by a train in the Ely area. Whilst the emergency services carry out their work, all lines between these stations are closed. Trains may be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised. Major disruption expected until 3pm.”

For people travelling on Cross Country, Greater Anglia and Great Northern trains, National Rail has advised them on what they can do if their train is affected.

Advice for CrossCountry customers:

Tickets will be accepted on:

• The two CrossCountry services operating before and after your cancelled service;
• Thameslink services between Peterborough and Hitchin connecting in to Great Northern services between Hitchin and Cambridge;
• EMR services between Ely and Peterborough;
• Greater Anglia services between Ely and Stansted Airport.

Advice for Greater Anglia customers:

• Trains are unable to run between Thetford and Cambridge North;
• Trains between Ipswich and Peterborough have been suspended.

For people travelling between Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge and Peterborough, they are told to travel to Cambridge, change on a Thameslink train to Stevenage and then board a train at Stevenage to Peterborough.

Advice for Great Northern customers:

All lines are blocked between Cambridge and Kings Lynn. National Rail “strongly advises” people to delay their journeys between these stations until later.

Tickets will be accepted on the following services:

• Thameslink and Great Northern services between London stations, Cambridge, and Ely;
• Greater Anglia services between London Liverpool Street, Cambridge, and Ely;
• London Underground services between London Terminals.

Replacement buses have also been requested to run between Cambridge and Ely.

British Transport Police have been contacted for more information.

Beverley Callard has spoken out about how she is “not herself” amid her cancer battle and was recently forced to cancel huge plans with a loved one because she just wasn’t feeling up to it

Beverley Callard has admitted she is struggling with having to put her life on hold amid her breast cancer battle.

The actress, 69, announced earlier this year that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer around the time she joined RTE soap Fair City. The soap legend, who is best known for having starred as Rovers Return landlady on Coronation Street on and off for 30 years, has been keeping her fans updated ever since.

On Friday night, the star, who recently completed radiotherapy, explained to her followers that she is currently preparing for “more tests and scans” as well as an endoscopy, for which she will have to be sedated.

Whilst she had had a great week at work, she found the days “long and hard” and by the time the weekend rolled around, she was left unable to attend a close friend’s wedding.

Speaking in a new video posted to Instagram, she said: “Oh, it’s been a hell of a week. In some ways, it’s been fantastic. Work was amazing, fantastic scripts. I was working with great actors, so we did really good stuff, but also we laughed a lot as well, it was amazing. But they were long, hard days.

“And it catches up with you when you’re not well. It’s great for me in one way, because it takes your mind off everything. I’m at work again but I’ve also got to have more tests now, and more scans.

“And the first one is on Thursday, I have to have an endoscopy. And apparently, I’ve got to be sedated for that, so they’re just checking out inside and seeing how that all is.

“But I am tired, and I’m not myself yet. To be honest, the whole thing just makes you put real life on hold, and I find that quite hard. I should have been going to a really mega Irish wedding tonight of someone who’s very dear to me, and I’m not up to it. I’m not up to partying yet, at all. I will be, I’m sure, but not just yet.

“So, time will tell. I’m trying my best. Today, I’ve been very lazy aside from walking the dogs, which you can have a look at on John’s Instagram! Yes, walking in the countryside. And thanks for all your messages, and keep telling me how you’re doing, please, as well.”

Beverley, who is also known for starring in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps and last year filmed I’m A Celebrity…South Africa but was unable to attend the live final due to her illness, was optimistic about the situation in the caption of her post.

She wrote: “A bit of a chat about how I fell and what’s next…just don’t feel myself at all…but I WILL get there.” Beverley was instantly supported by her followers in the comments section of the post.

One wrote: “Keep going Bev. It’s really hard at times, especially the caner fatigue but take each day at a time.” Another said: “Sending love from a long time Corrie fan. You’re doing fantastic.”

Another said: “All you can do is your best and your body will tell you when you’re able,” whilst a fourth said: “Hang in there lovely lady. All the best this week.”

If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at Breast Cancer Support.

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Qasim Rizwan, from Bolton, required every unit of rare blood available to him in the country after being diagnosed with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA). Doctors initially struggled to match his blood type but scientists discovered he was a rare mix, including r’r’, a subtype of the Rhesus system that is shared by roughly one in 10,000 people. Only around 50 blood donors are type r’r’. Qasim, now 9, visited NHSBT’s national frozen blood bank in Liverpool in August with his father Rizwan Ahmed, 46, and brother Yusuf to thank staff for their help (NHSBT/PA)

A Just Stop Oil protester who likened himself to the Suffragettes after he smashed up a petrol station has had his medical license suspended again for showing ‘no remorse’ for his actions. 

The Doctor, Patrick Hart, complained he couldn’t protest any more because of ‘draconian’ British laws. 

Dr Hart used a hammer and chisel to smash 16 Esso petrol pumps on the M25 in 2022. 

He refused to show remorse for his protest action, which landed him in jail, but said he could no longer attend any protests ‘because he does not want to spend the rest of his life in prison’.

The doctor has likened himself to the Suffragettes by saying that they are ‘celebrated now’ but they ‘acted in a similar way to resist unjust laws and effect change’. 

The outspoken GP, who has appeared on Good Morning Britain, was jailed for 12 months for a Just Stop Oil protest, which blocked a service station on the M25 in 2022. 

He said he took part in the demonstration because he felt he had done all he could to combat the ‘crisis’ and that the effects of the heatwave put ‘increased pressure’ on the NHS, a professional tribunal heard.

The doctor previously told a court that he ‘regrets nothing’ and ‘reminded the Tribunal of actions taken by figures such as Martin Luther King Junior and Nelson Mandela’. 

Last year he was suspended from practising for ten months by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS). 

Now, he has been suspended from practising for a further ten months after a panel found he showed a ‘contempt both for certain laws and the Tribunal process, having made it clear that he thought both were wrong to be punishing him’.

He qualified as a doctor in 2010 and was a practising GP at Bridge View Medical Practice in Bristol at the time of the protest, the tribunal heard. 

Dr Hart took part in a Just Stop Oil protest in April 2022, where he climbed onto the pipework at the Exolum Pumping Station and disrupted the storage and transportation of fuel.

He was fined £500 for that offence and was on bail.

Then in August 2022, he took part in another protest at Esso Service Station in Thurrock, Essex, where he used a hammer and orange spray paint to damage the petrol pumps.

This led to the closure of the forecourt on the M25 and left three-quarters of the petrol pumps out of action for 24 hours. 

Dr Hart was convicted at Chelmsford Crown Court, Essex, of criminal damage to property valued at £11,000.

He was jailed for a year with the judge deeming the offences were ‘deliberate’ and were committed while he was on bail. 

In May 2023, he invaded the pitch during the Premiership Rugby Final at Twickenham and threw orange-coloured cornflour around, as part of a wave of Just Stop Oil protests at major sporting events at the time.

He was later found not guilty of causing criminal damage to the pitch at Twickenham.  

Dr Hart referred himself to the General Medical Council in September of that year.

An MPTS tribunal was held in 2025, and the panel decided to suspend Dr Hart for ten months.

He was suspended for another ten months in a new tribunal having given no new evidence and showing ‘no remorse’ for his actions. 

The tribunal heard: ‘He told the Tribunal that there was an impasse as he was committed to his position that he acted in good faith and with integrity.

‘He said that the suffragettes, now celebrated in society, acted in a similar way to resist unjust laws and effect change.’

The doctor refused to say that his actions were ‘wrong’ and he said that he had ‘dignity’, knowing he didn’t back down from his conviction.

The panel said: ‘Dr Hart said that he had taken no further part in climate activism that risks arrest because he does not want to spend the rest of his life in prison and the imposition of draconian laws restricting protest has made it ineffectual.

Activists from protest group Just Stop Oil blocked the entrance to the Esso after damaging pumps at the filling station at Thurrock Services on the M25 in Essex in 2022

In May 2023, Hart invaded the pitch during the Premiership Rugby Final at Twickenham and threw orange-coloured cornflour around

‘He said that he does not have access to resources to properly maintain his skills and knowledge other than reading for his own interest but that, in any case, he had no interest in providing such evidence to the Tribunal while it would find him impaired because of his lack of insight.

‘Dr Hart said that, despite being an otherwise law abiding citizen, to act with integrity included sometimes choosing to break certain laws in the interest of effecting change.

‘He said that the recent heatwaves in the UK and Europe had put an increased pressure on health services and that this would continue to get worse.’

The panel added: ‘The Tribunal considered that Dr Hart’s opinions regarding climate change were sincere and deeply held.

‘However, it considered that he had shown no insight into the negative impact of his misconduct or conviction on public confidence or on the profession.

‘Dr Hart was candid in stating his position that he believed he had done nothing wrong and that he was at an impasse with his regulator.

‘The Tribunal considered that Dr Hart had shown contempt both for certain laws and the Tribunal process, having made it clear that he thought both were wrong to be punishing him.

‘The Tribunal determined that Dr Hart had demonstrated no insight into his misconduct and conviction, despite his belief that his insight was excellent.

‘The Tribunal noted that Dr Hart had indicated his main reason for attending this hearing or a subsequent review was to use the public forum to express his views on the climate crisis.

‘The Tribunal considered that this reflected its earlier finding that Dr Hart had demonstrated contempt in some circumstances for both the law and this Tribunal.

‘Despite this, the Tribunal considered that erasure would be disproportionate to Dr Hart at his first review hearing.’

The latest tremor came a day after another magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Banda Sea near Indonesia’s Maluku Island on Friday, September 11

Indonesia has been struck by a magnitude 6.2 earthquake at a depth of 376km, it has been announced.

The earthquake was confirmed in Java by ⁠the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) on Saturday, September 12.

The latest tremor came a day after another magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Banda Sea near Indonesia’s Maluku Island on Friday. That quake occurred at a depth of 143 km (89 miles) and had no tsunami potential, according to Indonesia’s geophysics agency.

Java is an island which lies between Bali and Sumatra and is dotted with volcanoes. It is described as a the geographic and economic centre of Indonesia and is home to more than half of its population.

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The quake was recorded about 115km (71 miles) north-east of Teluknaga, on the island of Java, the USGS said.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

This is a breaking news story – more to come.

The fairground closed for the evening following the incident

Emergency services rushed to a fairground in Rotherham tonight after a horror incident left three injured, including two children.

The youngsters were on a ride at the Maltby Crags Fair in Rotherham when an incident occurred around 7.30pm. South Yorkshire Police said that it had received reports of the incident involving the three people.

The injuries of the three are not said to be serious, reports The Mirror.

A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said: “Emergency services are currently in attendance at an incident at Maltby Crags Fair in Rotherham after two young people, aged 11 and 13, and a 21-year-old woman were injured while on a ride.“They have been taken to hospital for treatment and the fairground has now closed for the evening (11 September).“Blyth Lane was closed between Muglet Lane and Victoria Road to allow people to safely exit the fairground but has since been reopened.”

South Yorkshire residents posted on social media that a ride at the funfair had “malfunctioned”, reports YorkshireLive.

Former Rother Valley MP Alexander Stafford wrote on Facebook: “News from the fair in Maltby, where a ride has reportedly injured a child. I believe only one child is involved, but please check on your children if they are currently there.”

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The body of Tasia Fortune was discovered hanging in the backyard of an abandoned home in Jackson, Mississippi on August 3 – the death has since been ruled as a homicide

A man has been arrested in connection with the death of Tasia Fortune, a black woman who was found hanging from a tree in Mississippi.

Police discovered Fortune’s body hanging in the backyard of an abandoned home in Jackson on August 3. The state medical examiner’s office determined that the death was a homicide, Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney said.

Brackney said at a news conference on Friday, September 11 that police had secured search and arrest warrants for the man and arrested him when they encountered him walking on the street.

The medical examiner’s determination allowed police to execute the warrants they already had on hand.

“This case remains active and additional arrests will be pending,” Brackney said.

Christy Spivey, Fortune’s mother, said Friday after police told her of the arrest that, “I just started crying and told them ‘thank you, thank you, thank you.’”

Spivey said police did not share a motive or whether DNA led them to the arrest. Spivey said she did not know the man who had been arrested, but was asking her daughter’s friends if they knew him. Spivey described the family as “in disbelief” and “shock.”

“We still don’t have a lot of answers,” Spivey said.

Police discovered Fortune’s body hanging in the backyard of an abandoned home in Jackson on Aug. 3.

Fortune died less than a year after the hanging deaths of 21-year-old Trey Reed, a Black student at Delta State University in Cleveland, and Cory Zukatis, an unhoused white man in his 30s, in Vicksburg.

The train came off the tracks near Cléon in Normandy at around 7.45pm on Friday

At least 44 people have been hurt after a passenger train carrying approximately 180 people came off the rails in northern France, authorities have confirmed.

The train derailed near Cléon in Normandy at about 7.45pm on September 11, with one carriage tipping over and four carriages leaving the tracks, reports the Express.

Local reports have since indicated the number of casualties could be greater, with an 18 year old woman reportedly in a critical condition and 43 passengers said to have sustained minor injuries. A major emergency response was launched following the incident, with French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot saying 140 firefighters had been dispatched to the scene.

The regional TER train had been travelling between Rouen and Caen when it derailed between Tourville and Elbeuf-Saint-Aubin, in the vicinity of the Cléon commune in Seine-Maritime. Mr Tabarot said: “At this time, the provisional report indicates about twenty injured. 140 firefighters are deployed on site to provide assistance to the injured and passengers.

“Along with the prefect, who is heading to the scene and coordinating the mobilization of emergency services, and the SNCF teams, we are closely following the situation.”

The prefecture of Normandy and Seine-Maritime separately estimated that roughly 200 passengers had been on board, compared with the figure of 180 given by the transport minister. It stated: “A passenger train operating the Rouen-Caen route derailed this evening, Friday, September 11, around 7:45 pm, near the municipalities of Cléon and Tourville-la-Rivière.

“Approximately 200 passengers were on board.”

The prefect of Seine-Maritime activated the departmental operational centre at 8pm, just 15 minutes after the derailment, and triggered the ORSEC NOVI emergency plan for incidents involving numerous victims.

The prefecture urged members of the public to keep away from the area, adding: “It is requested to avoid the area. Situation updates will be communicated regularly.”

Questions are now being raised about what caused the train to leave the tracks.

A police source told French broadcaster BFMTV that the regional train struck an unidentified object prior to the derailment.

However, the cause of the crash has not yet been officially confirmed.

One woman quoted by local media described broken windows following the impact, with passengers reportedly sustaining injuries from shards of glass and objects on board the train.

Rail services have been brought to a complete standstill in both directions on the Rouen-Caen line in the wake of the derailment.

Services on the Paris-Rouen-Le Havre and Rouen-Amiens routes have also faced severe disruption, according to local reports.

Emergency operations are continuing at the scene and the public prosecutor’s office has now launched an investigation to establish the cause of the accident.

Police in Jackson, Mississippi, arrested a man on Friday in connection with the killing of Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old Black woman found hanging from a tree outside an abandoned home in the area last month.

Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney identified the arrested man as Jacque Ratliff. She said officers apprehended him on the street after failing to encounter him at the address on their warrants.

“That arrest today is an important development in this investigation but it is not the conclusion,” Brackney said at a press conference on Friday. “This case remains active and additional arrests will be pending as our investigators continue to follow the evidence wherever it leads.”

Police secured warrants for his arrest after the Hinds County coroner determined on Thursday that Fortune’s death was a homicide.

Brackney said she was aware of the local and national attention to the case given Mississippi’s history, but she insisted she could not yet comment on the nature of the death beyond the medical examiner’s findings.

“We owe it to Ms. Fortune, to her family and the integrity of this investigation to let the evidence guide us,” Brackney said.

Raliff will be charged with homicide, according to police.

Mississippi is estimated to have had the most lynchings in the nation between 1882 to 1968, with at least 581 recorded incidents in the state, according to the NAACP.

Fortune’s family have said they don’t believe she died by suicide.

“Tasia always let us know if something happened to her, that she was going to fight,” her mother, Christy Spivey, told WAPT. “Tasia loved life. Tasia loved living life, like, there’s no way, no way that she took her own life.”

This is a breaking news story and will be updated with new information.