Rain has finally returned to Britain for the first time in weeks after a record-breaking summer of heatwaves and drought. 

Parts of Kent, Essex and Sussex saw light or patchy rain overnight, having all been officially declared in drought on July 29. 

Showers and potential thunderstorms are set to bring cooler conditions to Britain, with fresher weather predicted to arrive by the middle of the week. 

It follows months of prolonged dry spells, dangerously low water levels and soaring temperatures – reaching 38C in parts of Britain. 

Five reservoirs are recording exceptionally low volumes, government sources warned, while seven are more notably low, out of the 31 across England and Wales. 

The southwest has seen the lowest levels in its seven reservoirs, and is running at less than two-thirds of capacity. 

Experts have warned the return of rainfall may not be enough to reverse the drought conditions affecting much of the country, with weeks of above average rainfall required to make any significant changes. 

Rainfall totals for July ranged from 26 per cent of the typical average for northwest England to as little as 1 per cent in the southeast. Parts of West Sussex, the Isle of Wight and areas in Hampshire did not see a single day of rain for 59 days. 

Ministers have been told to prepare for a widespread ban on water use at private swimming pools and car washes amid talks on how to cope with the drought. 

The dry spell has brought severe wildfires that have devastated parts of Britain, including an inferno in Stourbridge, West Midlands last Thursday, which left 37 houses either destroyed or damaged. 

Approximately 36 wildfires burned over the weekend, 11 of which were declared major incidents. 

Residents in Kent took to social media to celebrate the light rain shower overnight, following weeks of drought 

Advertisement

Met Office meteorologists have announced that a shifting jet stream will allow low pressure to dominate, bringing cooler and wetter weather by mid-week. 

Some light rain is expected later today, mostly across northern areas of the UK, although the exact distribution of rainfall is still uncertain. This will turn heavier and move more into the south of England on Tuesday and Wednesday, in areas that have been badly impacted by drought. 

Residents in locations such as Kent took to social media overnight and this morning to celebrate the light rain shower, branding its arrival a ‘breakthrough’. 

While any showers are welcome, the Met Office warned it will take weeks of above average rainfall to make any notable changes to the drought. 

However, it will come as a huge relief to emergency services, who have been battling wildfires over the last few weeks. 

The fire severity index is set to be brought down to low or moderate, according to forecasts. 

It comes after the government sent out an emergency wildfire alert to millions of people’s phones in England and Wales on Friday. 

The siren sounded out on mobile phones across the country at 7pm, warning people against lighting anything that could spark a wildfire, including barbecues, campfires and fireworks. 

The emergency alert warned that even small flames could ‘rapidly develop into a major wildfire’. 

The temperature peaked at 30.6C in southern England on Saturday, making it the 40th day somewhere in the UK reached over 30C this year.

It is unlikely the temperatures will peak this high again for the rest of summer, which meteorologically ends on August 31. 

An aerial view of a scorched football pitch at Upton Court Park, Slough, Berkshire, on Sunday 

Advertisement

Residents in other parts of the country also took to social media to celebrate the arrival of rain

A home is seen completely gutted after a wildfire in Stourbridge on Thursday, with no roof or windows 

A photo taken from a distance further captures the devastation caused by the fire in Stourbridge 

Advertisement

Temperatures will still be above average across England and Wales on Monday and Tuesday, with highs of 20 to 26C. 

They will then drop during the rest of the week, as a northerly airflow starts to have an impact. 

Throughout the summer, Britain has experienced consistently above-average temperatures for the time of year. 

The string of heatwaves and lack of rainfall this summer has resulted in rapidly declining reservoir stocks and growing surface water shortages, leading to hosepipe bans and severe impacts on agriculture, wildlife and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said it has been ‘inundated’ with 999 calls since the government’s emergency alert and urged people to help ‘keep our lines available for those who need urgent assistance’. 

West Midlands Fire Service declared a major incident on Thursday as a wildfire spread across more than 500 acres and destroyed 19 homes. 

This message was echoed by South Wales Fire and Rescue service who said on Saturday evening it had already received 736 calls compared to an average of about 300, and urged people only to call 999 if there was a new emergency to report.

The region has been affected by wildfires, leading to the deployment of about 200 military personnel – from the Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, supported by the 22 Engineer Regiment – to provide support.

According to the Ministry of Defence, its main task was to provide logistical support, such as water distribution, and help free firefighters and specialist responders to focus on frontline firefighting.

Deputy chief fire officer Adam Openshaw said he was ‘incredibly proud’ of everyone involved in the response to the major incident, and thanked fire crews from across the UK who had come to assist them.

He added: ‘We know this is a challenging and worrying time for many people. I would like to thank our communities for their continued support throughout this time.

‘Please be assured that we remain committed to protecting our communities and keeping the people of South Wales safe.’

Agony aunt Coleen Nolan advises a reader who wants to propose to his girlfriend of three years but says she needs to ‘grow up’ a bit and stop sulking over minor things

Dear Coleen

I’ve been with my girlfriend for three years and have been thinking of proposing. We’re both 29 and we’ve had a few conversations about it. I would have done it sooner, but I keep waiting for her to grow up a bit and appreciate how fortunate she is because, at the moment, her attitude stinks.

She literally has everything going for her – a good family, stunning looks, a fun job and loads of friends, plus me – but nothing is ever good enough. This past weekend is a good example. We were staying in a hotel for a few days and offered a free upgrade to a rooftop suite, as there were a couple of functions going on.

Anyone else would have been made up with a suite of rooms that included a rooftop deck with a private hot tub, but not her. Apparently, the bathroom was too small, so she sulked the whole time.

Her glass is always half empty and it’s draining. Sometimes she acts really spoilt and it’s not attractive. She’s an only child and used to her parents pandering to her every whim. But can I change her way of seeing things.

Coleen says

I don’t think you can change people – they have to do that for themselves – but you can try to help her see things differently and appreciate the life she has. Maybe your more mature and optimistic outlook will rub off on her.

My most important bit of advice is: if you’re feeling all these things, then don’t get engaged! Propose when you are sure and the timing feels right.

Weddings are stressful enough and there’s a lot of potential for emotions to run high, so it’s really important that you’re on the same page. I’m not suggesting you should end the relationship, but take some time because you’re both still young and the opportunity is there to share more experiences and grow together.

You don’t need an engagement ring or a wedding right now. Also, sometimes people need to hear the truth, so if she’s acting like a petulant child, call it out. I’m sure she’d tell you if something you did annoyed or upset her. It’s supposed to be an equal partnership and you have to be able to communicate honestly.

But one thing’s certain, if you’re having these thoughts now, a wedding certificate isn’t going to make them magically disappear. Before you go into marriage, it’s so important to confront any issues or doubts, so you can walk down that aisle feeling truly happy.

Coleen’s words of wisdom

If you’re struggling to move on from something painful, remember that you don’t have to be defined by that experience. What’s important is how you emerge from it – you can choose who you become.

Police arrested a 52-year-old woman

A woman was arrested after a shop had its windows smashed. Cambridgeshire Police were called to reports of criminal damage at One Stop in Hargate Way, Hampton, Peterborough just after 10am on Saturday (August 15).

Some of the shop’s windows had been smashed, with boards currently in place to cover some of the damaged windows. Police arrested a 52-year-old woman.

A police spokesperson said: “We were called at 10.12am on Saturday (15 August) to reports of criminal damage at a shop in Hargate Way, officers attended and arrested Etiene Da Silva, 52, of Beaumont Way.

“She has since been charged with two counts of criminal damage and two counts of assault. She has been bailed to appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on 18 September.”

Advertisement

Do you want more of the latest Cambridgeshire news as it comes in from across the county? Sign up to our dedicated newsletter to make sure you never miss a big story from Cambridge or anywhere else in the county. You can also sign up to our dedicated Traffic and Crime newsletters for the latest updates on the topics you are most interested in.

‘With e-bike use increasing, the situation needs to be tightly controlled’

Police seizures of ‘menace’ e-bikes have increased in Greater Manchester amid new calls for a change in the law, data shows.

Confiscations nationally have surged by 83 per cent in a year. Across the city region, Greater Manchester Police said 78 e-bikes were seized in 2024-2025, with the figure for the latest 12 month period standing at 86.

Some 7,049 of the machines were confiscated across the UK in the 12 months to May 19, according to the new data. That’s compared with 3,858 during the previous year.

Campaigners, meanwhile, have called for changes in the law as they warned of the dangers posed by illegal e-bikes.

Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter

One Labour MP has proposed a ban on sales of illegal e-bikes and conversion kits, saying they should be defined as an ‘unsafe product’ which cannot be sold by online retailers.

Warning how e-bikes can put other motorists and pedestrians at risk of injury, Carlisle MP Julie Minns said they do not have an MOT, they are not licensed or insured and cannot be traced as they do not have registration plates.

She said: “Something needs to be done about this and I think the way to do it is to designate an illegal e-bike because you have a definition of what a legal one is – the motor that will cut out at 15-and-a-half miles an hour – and as long as it does that, that’s a perfectly legal e-bike … which are a brilliant way of getting people cycling.

“The illegal ones, however, are a problem and we need to do something about them. And the way to do it is to say, if it’s not legal, it’s an unsafe product.

“I think an illegal e-bike is an unsafe product and I think the Government should designate illegal e-bikes so that the ones that don’t meet the definition and the kits that create them that don’t meet the definition of a legal e-bike, designate those an unsafe product and say to retailers you can no longer sell them.”

Earlier this year the Department for Business and Trade sought views on product safety reforms, including considering tougher rules on e-bike batteries and conversion kits, to crack down on illegal modifications. The department is expected to publish its response to the consultation next month.

It comes after the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking (APPGCW) last year warned of a “crisis hiding in plain sight” as it published a report which found the rise of illegal and unsafe e-bikes was putting lives at risk.

Catherine Woodhead, chief executive of charity Living Streets, said the increasing use of electric two-wheelers ‘must not come at the expense of people walking’.

She told the Press Association, which published the latest data: “No e-bikes should be used on our pavements, and ones that go over the maximum power and speeds should be off our streets altogether. With e-bike use increasing, the situation needs to be tightly controlled. On-street enforcement is part of that.”

The Government said it has changed the law to strengthen police powers for e-bike seizures.

The figures, however, prompted police, politicians and charities to call for new laws to clamp down on the dangerous vehicles which have caused deaths and serious injuries in some cases.

Sergeant Stuart Ford, who leads the cycle team at City of London Police, described illegal e-bikes as ‘a menace’.

Under UK law, legal e-bikes are known as electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs) and must meet certain safety regulations such as their electric motor having a maximum power output of 250 watts and cutting out when a speed of 15.5mph is reached. Many illegal e-bikes confiscated by police have been modified to travel much faster, with some exceeding 70mph. Non-compliant machines are effectively electric mopeds or motorbikes, which must be registered, taxed and insured.

While major retailers sell thousands of legal e-bikes every year, many illegal machines are bought on the internet. Kits which add an electronic motor to a conventional bike are available online for under £300.

As well as being used for crime, illegal e-bikes are also often used for legitimate journeys such as food deliveries and commuting.

A Government spokeswoman said: “Illegal e-bikes that can reach dangerous speeds have no place on our roads and pavements, and the rise in seizures shows the scale of the problem police are dealing with. That’s why we have strengthened police powers, changing the law so that officers no longer need to issue a warning before seizing these vehicles where they are used anti-socially.”

These tougher powers came into force on June 29 under the Crime and Policing Act 2026.

PC Martin and PC Mann, from Greater Manchester Police’s Farnworth Neighbourhood Team, noticed a suspicious red Honda motorcycle while on patrol yesterday.

After carrying out checks, officers confirmed that the motorcycle had been reported stolen.

The vehicle was seized by police and has since been reunited with its owner.

Bolton Police shared details of the recovery and encouraged residents to report suspicious activity in their neighbourhoods.

Anyone who sees suspicious activity can contact Greater Manchester Police by calling 101 or reporting it through the force’s usual channels.

In an emergency, always call 999.

Cromsdale Estates and William Edward Cundall have submitted an outline application to build on about 3.2 hectares of land adjoining The Pastures in Sherburn, near Malton.

North Yorkshire Council’s Thirsk and Malton area planning committee will consider the proposals on Thursday (AUGUST 20), with planning officers recommending approval.

The scheme has attracted 53 public representations, with 40 objections and 13 in support.

Objectors say Sherburn is becoming overdeveloped and does not have the infrastructure to accommodate further growth. Concerns include pressure on schools, doctors and dentists, increased traffic and congestion on the A64, flooding, loss of agricultural land and impacts on wildlife.

Sherburn Parish Council has raised similar concerns, including the lack of facilities for children and teenagers and pressure on the village school and medical facilities.

The parish council also highlighted concerns about traffic joining the A64 and said bus services were already full.

However, council officers say the development should be allowed despite acknowledging that the site lies outside Sherburn’s development limits, where new housing would not normally be supported.

The report says North Yorkshire Council can currently demonstrate just 0.8 years of housing land supply in the former Ryedale area, against the five years required.

As a result, national planning rules mean the “tilted balance” in favour of sustainable development applies, with officers concluding that the harm caused by the development would not significantly outweigh its benefits.

The scheme would provide 35 per cent affordable housing, equivalent to 18 affordable properties if all 52 homes were built.

Around 1.4 hectares of public open space and a children’s play area are proposed, while the development would also deliver more than ten per cent biodiversity net gain.

The Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board has warned that nearby Sherburn and Rillington Practice does not have capacity for the additional population. A developer contribution of £61,368 towards healthcare infrastructure is therefore proposed.

Officers also acknowledge the development would cause some harm to the setting of the Grade II-listed Brewery House by building on largely undeveloped agricultural land.

However, they conclude this would be at the lower end of “less than substantial harm” and would be outweighed by the benefits of providing market and affordable housing, public open space and biodiversity improvements.

Highways officers, Natural England and the council’s ecologist have raised no objections subject to conditions.

Hollywood actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, has died aged 36 – with police saying there were ‘no signs of foul play’.

Detectives confirmed to the Daily Mail that they responded yesterday afternoon to a 911 call from an ‘acquaintance’ of Panettiere, describing her as ‘unresponsive’.

Officers and paramedics headed to the apartment block in Greenville, South Carolina, where they tried to save Panettiere’s life, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police and the local coroner’s office are probing the death, but said the ‘preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances’.

The star and her on-off real estate agent boyfriend Brian Hickerson were said to have flown from Los Angeles to South Carolina, where he is from, one day before she died.

The 36-year-old star began acting as a child, appearing in soap operas then gaining wider recognition for her role in the 2000 sports drama Remember The Titans with Denzel Washington, and as the voice of Dot in Pixar‘s 1998 film A Bug’s Life.

Panettiere later found fame playing cheerleader Claire Bennet in the superhero drama Heroes before starring as country singer Juliette Barnes for six seasons on Nashville.

She earned two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress on the show, while her singing produced 11 entries on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.

Panettiere’s film credits include 2006’s Bring It On: All Or Nothing, comedy-drama film Raising Helen, and appearances in Scream 4 and Scream VI as Kirby Reed.

Panettiere died at Judson Mill Lofts (pictured), an apartment block in Greenville, South Carolina

Advertisement

Hayden Panettiere attends the world premiere of ‘Scream VI’ in New York in March 2023

Panettiere is remembered for her role as Claire Bennet on the hit NBC series Heroes

She played Juliette Barnes on the ABC show Nashville, releasing a number of her own songs

Today, a spokesman for City of Greenville Police told the Daily Mail: ‘On August 16, 2026, at approximately 1.51pm, officers from the Greenville Police Department, accompanied by EMS personnel, responded to a report of an unresponsive female at Judson Mill Lofts, located at 701 Easley Bridge Road.

‘Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered; however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

‘The case is under investigation by the Greenville Police Department in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.

‘The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. An acquaintance of Ms Panettiere placed the 911 call. At this time, no further details are available for release.’

Earlier, a representative for Panettiere confirmed the death, saying her family would remember her as an ‘incredible light’ who brought ‘immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her’.

A statement from her father Skip read: ‘It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden.

‘She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen.’

Her father also asked that her family be given privacy as they ‘take time to process this unimaginable loss’.

No cause of death has been announced.

Scream co-star Melissa Barrera paid tribute to the actress in an Instagram story, writing, ‘Rest in peace sweet Hayden,’ alongside a broken heart emoji.

Panettiere started out as a child star, with her first acting gig at just 11 months old

Panettiere is pictured with her daughter, after telling how she almost died during childbirth

Commenting under Panettiere’s latest social media post after news of her death broke, actress Selma Blair said: ‘I love you. Don’t be gone. Don’t be gone. Please. Please.’

Singer JoJo wrote on her Instagram stories: ‘this is such devastating news. I am so sorry to hear of her passing. Oh My God’, and Rosie O’Donnell shared a picture of Panettiere with the caption: ‘Oh my god – heartbroken.’

Following her rapid rise to fame, the pressure of the industry began to weigh on Panettiere – with the actress previously revealing that she had struggled with addiction throughout her 20s.

In a memoir published earlier this year, Panettiere opened up about her struggles with mental health, the loss of her younger brother, Jansen, and her decision to give full custody of her daughter Kaya to her former partner, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, in 2018.

‘The idea that anyone would think that I would just give away my child and be okay with it is heartbreaking and couldn’t be further from the truth,’ she told podcaster Jay Shetty after the release of her memoir in May.

Panettiere said her daughter had lived with her father full-time from a young age amid the actress’s struggles with addiction and mental health.

She said: ‘I was struggling with mental health and anxiety and the postpartum and having to act my way through it and just feeling like I completely lost myself.’

Panettiere also spoke about giving up custody of her daughter while struggling with addiction in one of her final interviews before her death.

In an interview with parenting outlet Mome for its July cover, she discussed the life-threatening birth of her daughter Kaya, 11, and the eventual decision to give up custody to her ex-fiance Klitschko, 50.

While battling substance addiction issues, in 2018 the actress made the decision to sign over custody of her daughter to Klitschko, who was not living in the same country as Panettiere at the time.

She said: ‘It wasn’t a decision I made lightly, nor was it a decision I even wanted to make.

‘I was going through a really challenging time in my life… I knew I needed to be able to put her first so that I could get the help I needed and be the mum she needed me to be.’

After giving birth to her daughter in 2014, Panettiere recalled haemorrhaging before she underwent seven blood transfusions and surgery to repair vessels that had begun to fail.

She said: ‘I closed my eyes and just prayed for my daughter to be OK. I truly was ready to go if it was my time. Kaya being safe and healthy was all that mattered.’

However, days later she recalled feeling ‘nothing’ when looking at her daughter and developed postnatal depression. The actress then turned to drinking.

She said: ‘I turned to wine, which ultimately ended up leading to an alcohol dependency. It was how I would get through each day.

Although she underwent treatment, Panettiere felt the ‘root cause’ of her drinking, the depression, was not addressed.

‘I wish more people had known what it was at the time. Maybe I wouldn’t have waited so long to get help,’ she said.

Six years on from giving up custody, Panettiere spoke about her current relationship with her daughter.

She said: ‘I love my daughter, and I’m so proud of the young woman she is becoming. I talk to her all the time, and I feel so connected to her. She’s like a mini-me.’

The actress went on to say she had ‘been able to put her first no matter how I’ve felt or what I’ve experienced’ and that she hoped that one day Kaya would ‘understand my story and why I wasn’t able to be with her all the time’.

She then called herself ‘resilient’ and a ‘work in progress’, but that she was ‘doing the work…and doing my best’.

In May, Panettiere released her memoir titled This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she also detailed being separated from her only child.

‘Not being under the same roof with her every day has been the most gut-wrenching experience of my life, and it’s hard to describe the layers of emotion – including sadness, resentment, and anger – I’ve felt because of it,’ she wrote.

‘I grieve that I’m not the mother I thought I’d be and definitely not the mother I want to be (trust me, no one should ever have to raise a child on FaceTime), and although I miss Kaya so much my heart aches, I know how blessed I am to be her mom.

‘She is the greatest gift of my life, with all the best parts of her father and me.’

Actors’ union Sag-Aftra, of which the actress had been a member since 1994, said in a post on X: ‘We mourn the sudden passing of Hayden Panettiere. 

‘A child actor, Hayden’s long career in TV and film included memorable roles in Heroes, Nashville and more. Our hearts are with her daughter, family, friends & fans.’

A representative for the actress confirmed the news to US network ABC on Sunday (August 16).

Her father, Skip Panettiere, has described her as “an incredible light and a force of nature.”

Actress Hayden Panettiere dies aged 36

In a tribute, Mr Panettiere said: “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden.

“She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen.”

No cause of death has been released, and her family has requested privacy as they “take time to process this unimaginable loss.”

Panettiere began her acting career as a child, appearing in soap operas before gaining wider recognition in the 2000 film Remember The Titans alongside Denzel Washington.

She also voiced Dot in Pixar’s 1998 film A Bug’s Life.

She rose to international fame as Claire Bennet in the superhero drama Heroes and later starred as Juliette Barnes in the country music series Nashville.

Her performances in Nashville earned her two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress, and her music from the show produced 11 entries on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.

Panettiere’s other film credits include Bring It On: All Or Nothing and Raising Helen.

She also notably played Kirby Reed in two films in the Scream horror franchise, Scream 4, and Scream VI.

Hayden Panettiere as Kirby Reed in Scream VI (Image: Paramount/YouTube)

She was open about her personal struggles, revealing she battled addiction throughout her 20s.

In a memoir published earlier this year, she discussed her mental health challenges, the loss of her younger brother Jansen, and her decision to give full custody of her daughter, Kyra, to her former partner, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, in 2018.

In a podcast interview with Jay Shetty, she addressed public perceptions of her decision.

Ms Panettiere said: “The idea that anyone would think that I would just give away my child and be okay with it is heartbreaking and couldn’t be further from the truth.”

She explained that Kyra had lived with her father full-time from a young age due to her struggles with addiction and mental health.

She said: “I was struggling with mental health and anxiety and the postpartum and having to act my way through it and just feeling like I completely lost myself.”

Actors’ union Sag-Aftra paid tribute to her on social media.

In a post on X, the union said: “We mourn the sudden passing of Hayden Panettiere.

“A child actor, Hayden’s long career in TV & film included memorable roles in Heroes, Nashville & more.

“Our hearts are with her daughter, family, friends & fans.”

Earlier this month, Mr Dimon said in an interview for the Master Investor Podcast that he “always thought it was wrong”, adding: “JP Morgan did not damage the UK… I just thought it lacked principle to punish a company that had nothing to do with the crisis, and is still there 16-17 years later.”

Medical treatment was provided at the scene however, sadly, the woman passed away from her injuries a short time later.

A woman aged in her 50s has sadly died following a one-vehicle collision in Co Derry.

Police received a report at around 2.50pm on Sunday, August 16 of a collision involving a pedestrian and a car in the Drumrane Road area of Limavady.

Officers, along with colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, attended and medical treatment was provided at the scene. However, sadly, the woman passed away from her injuries a short time later.

The Drumrane Road, which was closed for a time, has since reopened.A PSNI spokesperson said: “Our enquiries are continuing and we would appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision, or who may have any information which could assist with our investigation – including dash-cam or other footage – to contact the Collision Investigation Unit on 101, quoting reference number 926 of 16/08/26.”You can also submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.

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