At this time of year grass can shoot up quickly, but wet weather can limit the chances in which to cut it

As lawns across the UK surge into growth after some wet weather following the heatwave at the end of May, experts say Google searches for “cutting grass after rain” have jumped 250% this week. But while many homeowners will be eager to get mowing, experts are urging caution, sharing four essential dos and don’ts to help protect your lawn from damage.

Nick Ee, product training manager at home improvement specialists BLACK+DECKER, said: “It’s important to take precautions when mowing lawns after wet weather as damp grass tends to tear rather than being cleanly cut, causing jagged edges that leaves lawns more susceptible to pests and diseases. Not only that, but the grass clippings often clump together suffocating the grass beneath and creating an uneven finish.”

The dos and don’ts to follow when mowing lawns after rain

Check the lawn is dry enough before mowing

Nick said: “One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make after periods of heavy rainfall is assuming a dry morning means the lawn is ready to mow. While the surface may look dry, the grass and soil underneath can still be holding a significant amount of moisture, particularly in gardens with poor drainage or compacted soil.

“Before mowing, I’d recommend walking across the lawn and checking whether your shoes pick up moisture or leave visible footprints behind. You can also brush your hand through the grass blades. If your hand comes away damp, it’s a sign the lawn needs more time to dry out.

“Mowing wet grass doesn’t just affect the appearance of your lawn, the damp clippings can also clog up the mower deck, put extra strain on the motor and dull the blades more quickly. Waiting until both the grass and the ground have properly dried will give you a cleaner cut, a healthier lawn and help protect your mower from unnecessary wear and tear.”

Raise the cutting height

Nick added: “After weeks of wet weather, grass can grow quickly thanks to the combination of moisture and warmer temperatures. While it may be tempting to cut it back to its usual height straight away, lowering the mower too much can put unnecessary stress on the lawn and leave it looking patchy.

“I recommend raising the mower height by one or two settings and avoiding the temptation to remove too much growth in a single cut.

“As a general rule, never remove more than a third of the grass blade at once. Taking a gradual approach will help the lawn recover more effectively, encourage stronger roots and leave you with a healthier, more even finish.”

Clear debris before you start

Nick said: “Before reaching for the lawnmower, it’s worth taking a few minutes to clear the lawn of fallen twigs, leaves and other garden debris that have been blown around by the wind and rain. If left this debris can interfere with the quality of the cut and potentially damage the lawnmower.

“Running over sticks, stones and larger debris in particular can dull the mower blades, block the deck and put unnecessary strain on the motor.”

Avoid mulching wet grass

Nick said: “Mulching can be a great way to return nutrients back into your lawn, but it’s something I’d recommend avoiding after heavy rainfall. This is because the clippings are more likely to clump together when the grass is still damp rather than disperse evenly across the lawn.

“These wet clumps can block sunlight and airflow from reaching the grass underneath, potentially leading to patchy growth and an untidy finish. Instead, it’s better to collect the clippings, which helps to keep the lawn healthy while reducing the risk of blockages in your lawnmower.”

US economic growth is picking up again after a slowdown towards the end of 2025. According to price data released on May 28, US GDP grew by 1.6% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026. This is despite energy prices rising and consumer confidence falling since the US president, Donald Trump, went to war with Iran in February.

Confronted by higher prices for gasoline and a range of other everyday products, US households are spending more in total, rather than cutting back on their purchases. This defies the many economic forecasters who expected that paying more for the basics would discourage consumers from spending money on less essential items, holding back expenditure and GDP growth overall.

Kevin Hassett, the director of the US National Economic Council, has hailed the rise in consumer spending – and the associated surge in borrowing – as signs of an economic boom. It seems hard to argue that people are better off if they are having to pay more for the same goods and services as before, and are taking on more short-term debt to fund the extra spending.

Hassett is statistically correct, however. If people pay more for everything, and the higher prices are not entirely matched by extra cost for producers, more value is being created in the economy and GDP will rise in real terms. To the extent that higher bills are affordable to consumers and generate more profit for producers, the cost of living crisis may actually be promoting GDP growth in the US.

This contradicts the conventional economic opinion that views inflation as harmful to economic growth. But growth can happen under these conditions when consumers cannot or will not switch away from goods or services whose price rises faster than average.

This effect has long been visible in performing arts and other creative industries. These industries depend on individuals who, even with technical help, are unable to keep producing more in a day without losing quality.

While audiences often complain about the ever-rising cost of tickets for live music or sport, these events still sell out. So long as audiences keep paying, the real output of these industries keeps growing, even if there is no increase in the number of matches or concerts played.

Uneven growth

There are other reasons why recent GDP growth has not made the average US household feel better off, or revived the fortunes of Trump and his governing Republican party. Polling by the Economist suggests that 58% of Americans currently disapprove of Trump. This makes him the most unpopular US president since 2009, when Barack Obama was grappling with intense public anxiety over the global financial crisis, despite the uptick in growth.

GDP is a measure of total economic output. It is calculated by adding up the sum of all final incomes earned within a country’s borders, including wages, profits and taxes on imports. The calculation does not account for how much – or how little – individuals receive.

Much of the recent gain in the US has flowed to people already high up the income and wealth scale, shifting the distribution of GDP from wages towards profits. Expectation of a continued profit boom is one reason stock markets have continued to rise despite Trump’s tariff regime and wars, as well as other global turbulence since 2021.

At present, US growth is fragile. This is because of its reliance on borrowed money to fuel consumer spending. Household debt in the US was already at levels that trouble some economists before the latest cost-of-living squeeze. Total US household debt is greater now than when it reached crisis proportions in 2008, tipping the US and the world into recession.

US company debt is also higher now than in 2020, when the COVID pandemic began, though it has been declining since 2021 as firms have used recent profits to pay it down. There are fears that companies’ debt-to-income ratio may be higher than officially measured, due to a recent sharp rise in private credit. This form of debt is not monitored or regulated as heavily as debt from traditional sources.

The situation for indebted households and firms will improve if interest rates fall, as Trump has demanded from his newly nominated Federal Reserve chair, Kevin Warsh. But financial markets are anticipating the opposite, as higher prices and government borrowing generate inflation that typically pushes interest rates up.

This leaves it doubtful that the bright start to US growth in 2026 can last through the rest of the year. Any rises in borrowing costs or a fall in stock markets would begin to squeeze consumer spending and business investment, even if the high oil prices have subsided by then.

The cause of the fire is under investigation

Firefighters were called to a busy road in Cambridge after receiving reports of a house fire on Tuesday, June 9. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service were called at 11.12am to reports of a house in flames on King Hedges Road in Cambridge.

Two crews from Cambridge attended the scene to battle the fire. Wearing breathing apparatus, firefighters extinguished the fire using a hose reel. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire.

Police warned the public to “avoid” the road during the incident. The road has since been reopened.

At the time of the road closure, traffic monitoring site Inrix said: “Kings Hedges Road in both directions partially blocked, slow traffic due to an Emergency Services incident between Northfields Avenue and Campkin Road.”

Louise Cameron was found barely conscious next to her son Rhys when her mothe Carole and sister Donna called at her Billingham home to check on her on September 15 last year.

Teesside Crown Court heard the 41-year-old made a series of heartbreaking confessions as police tried to get to the bottom of what happened to her eight-year-old disabled son.

A jury was told the mother-of-three allegedly poisoned her son with methadone and morphine over the weekend in September last year.

Mrs Justice Heather William DBE told jurors that they would not have to find the defendant guilty or not guilty of murder but rule on the facts of the evidence heard during the trial.

Cameron is accused of killing Rhys between Saturday, September 13, and Monday, September 15.

The ambulance service alerted police after attending a property on Marsh House Avenue, Billingham, and finding the young boy.

Opening the case, David Lamb KC, prosecuting, said: “Rhys was lying on the left side of his mother’s bed, on his back with the covers pulled over him.

“To Donna it looked like Rhys was asleep however she knew that he was dead. He had white foam around his mouth.”

Jurors heard how it was clear to paramedics that the youngster had been dead for some time and no attempts were made to resuscitate him.

Mr Lamb said Cameron made a number of statements to police officers which were captured on their body-worn cameras.

The clearly distressed mother was heard to say she was “getting done for murder” and that “I’ve just murdered Rhys, haven’t I?”.

The barrister added: “The defendant stated that ‘I wasn’t leaving Rhys to be, because I know what will happen to him and it’s not happening, I didn’t want to hurt him, I didn’t want to have to stab him, or drown him or hurt him, I didn’t want to hurt him’.”

The trial continues.

The force said it is carrying out an ongoing investigation into reports of a serious assault which took place outside a bar in Saturday Market, Beverley, around 8.30pm on Saturday, February 28.

Recommended reading:

A Humberside Police spokesperson said: “Since receiving that report, extensive enquiries have been conducted including gathering CCTV from the area, speaking to businesses and several witnesses.

“As a result of these enquiries, we are releasing CCTV images of two men which we believe may be able to assist in our enquiries.

“We are appealing for help to locate and identify both men.

“If you see them, know who they are or have any other information which may assist with our investigation, contact us on our non-emergency number 101 quoting crime reference 26*28611.

“Alternatively, if you wish to remain anonymous you can make a report via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

A man from Sudan has been arrested over a knife attack in Belfast which prime minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned as “horrific” and “abhorrent”.

The man aged in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the “brutal” assault on Monday night which left the alleged victim with significant injuries to his face, neck and back, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said.

The PSNI has launched a “critical incident” in response to the attack, which was captured on video and appears to show a man stabbing at the victim’s head and neck while he was on the ground.

The clip shows people, including one with a hurling stick, intervening to stop the man attacking the victim in the residential area close to the busy Antrim Road in north Belfast.

Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn thanked those who tried to stop the attack, saying “you showed the very best of humanity”.

When the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on June 11, 2026, matches will be played across 16 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Millions of fans will arrive through multiple airports and will pack into stadiums, airports, hotels, bars and public transit systems over five weeks.

That makes the World Cup not just a sporting event but a weekslong experiment in global mixing that creates a perfect environment for infectious diseases to spread. Events of this scale rarely cause major outbreaks, but they do create opportunities for outbreaks and for health systems to be tested.

The possibilities range from the dramatic but unlikely (an imported Ebola case) to the much more probable (flu and measles spreading through crowded venues) and the largely overlooked (spikes in sexually transmitted infections and mosquito-borne diseases gaining footholds in new areas).

As an infectious diseases physician studying how outbreaks affect peoples’ health, and an avid soccer fan – I root for the Colombian team – I have been watching closely as public health experts prepare for the event.

Here are some of the infectious disease threats they are monitoring as the world’s largest sporting event kicks off:

Ebola – scary but unlikely

In May 2026, the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency over an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda caused by a rare strain called Bundibugyo, which kills roughly 1 in 3 people it infects.

No approved vaccines, rapid diagnostic tests or treatments exist for this strain. And the global response has been complicated by deep cuts to international health aid and the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization.

If a case is detected, rapid identification and isolation are critical to prevent further local transmission.

Still, the risk of Ebola reaching a World Cup stadium is very low. That’s because the virus spreads only through direct contact with bodily fluids like blood or saliva, not through the air, and infected people aren’t contagious until they show symptoms.

The U.S. has banned entry for non-U.S. citizens and green card holders who have been in the affected countries in the past 21 days and is screening all passengers traveling from affected areas. It is also urging European countries to embrace similar procedures as World Cup travel picks up. Mexico and Canada also have travel restrictions in place.

Measles, flu and COVID-19 – the bigger dangers

The more likely threats for soccer fans attending the World Cup are respiratory infections — illnesses spread by coughing, sneezing and breathing in crowded spaces.

Of special concern is measles, which is surging in the United States as well as in Canada and Mexico. As of June 4, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 2,030 cases of measles in the U.S. in 2026 – close to the total count for all of 2025 and significantly higher than in previous years.

Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases on the planet. A single infectious traveler passing through Denver International Airport in 2025 triggered an outbreak of at least 10 cases. An infected fan in the stands, at an airport or in a bar could easily cause an outbreak.

On top of that, the 2025–2026 flu season reached a 30-year high, and COVID-19 continues to cause an estimated 290,000 to 450,000 hospitalizations per year. And big gatherings can amplify the risk of transmission.

In the background, avian influenza H5N1 — the bird flu circulating in dairy cows and poultry — has caused 70 human infections in the U.S. since 2024. No person-to-person spread has been detected, but scientists are watching closely for mutations that could change that.

Mosquito risks

Mosquito-borne diseases add another layer of risk to health authorities and travelers, especially for matches in southern U.S. and Mexican host cities during peak summer mosquito season.

Dengue – a tropical virus that causes high fever, severe body aches and sometimes life-threatening complications – set a U.S. record in 2024, with nearly 3,800 cases. That was a 359% jump over the prior 14-year average.

Most cases occurred in travelers returning from the Caribbean and Central America. Still, locally acquired cases have cropped up, mainly in Los Angeles.

There’s also the risk that fans will bring infectious diseases from their home countries.

Yellow fever, a potentially deadly viral infection, is absent from the U.S. but remains a threat to fans traveling from parts of Sub-Saharan Africa and South America, where the disease is native. A 2024 yellow fever outbreak in South America outside the Amazonian jungle, where transmission generally occurs, hinted that its spread to urban areas is possible.

And Oropouche virus, a once-obscure mosquito-borne illness, exploded across Latin America in 2024 in the largest epidemic ever recorded, with over 8,000 confirmed cases in Brazil alone. Although infection is usually mild, it can have dangerous complications such as brain inflammation and bleeding disorders and can harm a developing fetus. No vaccines or treatments exist.

Travelers carrying these infections may need medical care, but familiarity with them among U.S. physicians tends to be low. There’s also a small risk that illnesses may spread locally through mosquito bites.

Sexually transmitted infections under the radar

One category of possible risk that’s getting less media attention is sexually transmitted infections.

About 1 in 5 international travelers engages in casual sex, according to one study, and nearly half of those encounters are unprotected.

Mpox, a viral infection that spreads through close physical contact, continues to circulate in the U.S and is a particular concern at large public events. Syphilis is also seeing a global resurgence.

Public health in action

Public health authorities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico have scaled up monitoring efforts amid preparations for keeping World Cup travelers safe.

In the U.S., a coalition of academic institutions, companies, nonprofits and public health organizations led by Georgetown University and nonprofit healthcare provider MedStar Health, called the Health Security Operations Center, will be keeping close tabs on disease transmission during the event. But some experts have raised concerns about U.S. resilience to public health threats at the World Cup due to significant cuts to public health infrastructure since 2025, including to the CDC.

Fans can take several steps of their own to protect themselves. They can make sure their routine vaccinations – especially measles, flu and COVID-19 – are up to date; practice safe sex; use mosquito repellent; and stay home or wear a mask if they feel sick.

A total of 24 closures are set to sweep the high street – including a couple in Greater Manchester

Customers in Greater Manchester face losing more access to face-to-face banking services this week as Halifax, Lloyds, NatWest and Bank of Scotland press ahead with another round of branch closures. A total of 24 branches across the UK have either already closed or are scheduled to shut their doors over the coming days.

Several banks say the decision reflects changing customer habits as many now opt to manage their finances online and via mobile banking apps rather than visiting banks in person. But this decision has sparked huge concern, especially among the elderly, who rely on the additional support banks provide for their banking needs.

In a statement, NatWest said: “We’ve recently announced that we’re closing some branches. You can still bank with us in many other ways.

“Banking has changed dramatically in recent years. There’s more demand for mobile and online services, allowing you to benefit from a faster and easier way to bank.”

It continues: “We understand the closure of your local branch will bring some changes, and we want to make sure you are fully informed and supported every step of the way.”

Nevertheless, NatWest and Lloyds Banking Group – which operates Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland – say customers will still be able to access banking services through alternative arrangements. These include temporary community banking events, while dedicated banking hubs are being introduced in some areas affected by branch closures.

Of the 24 branches affected nationwide, two are located in Greater Manchester. Halifax’s Didsbury branch is scheduled to close on Wednesday, June 10, while Lloyds Bank’s Altrincham branch ceased operations on Tuesday, June 9.

To find out more information, visit each respective bank’s websites. Here’s the full list of Halifax, NatWest, Lloyds, Bank of Scotland closures:

Halifax

Advertisement

1. Ellesmere Port, Cheshire – June 8
2. Hunts Cross, Merseyside – June 8
3. Shipley, West Yorkshire – June 9
4. Didsbury, Greater Manchester – June 10
5. Bridgend, Wales – June 11
6. Cardiff Albany Road, Wales – June 11

NatWest

1. Sheffield – Attercliffe June 8
2. South Shields – June 9
3. Kirkby Lonsdale – June 10
4. Boston – June 11

Lloyds

1. Golders Green, Greater London – June 8
2. Birkenhead, Merseyside – June 8
3. Lymington, Hampshire – June 8
4. Altrincham, Greater Manchester – June 9
5. Crowborough, East Sussex – June 9
6. Lancaster, Lancashire – June 9
7. Southam, Warwickshire – June 9
8. Hinckley, Leicestershire – June 9
9. Birmingham Blackheath, West Midlands – June 10
10. South Newington, Oxfordshire – June 10
11. Wolverhampton Tettenhall, West Midlands – June 11

Bank of Scotland

1. Bridge Of Don – June 10
2. Haddington – June 11
3. Rutherglen – June 11

The official also trashed any suggestion of a Westminster inquiry into the scandal.

The First Minister’s official spokesperson has refused to give an assurance John Swinney will cooperate with a Westminster inquiry into the Peter Murrell scandal.

The official said a Commons probe would “destroy” the credibility of the Scottish Affairs committee and its convener, Labour MP Patricia Ferguson.

John Swinney is under pressure after Murrell, the former SNP chief executive and estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon, pled guilty to embezzling over £400,000 of funds from the party.

He is expected to be jailed later this month and calls have been made for a parliamentary probe into the scandal.

A bid for a Holyrood inquiry is likely to be voted down by the SNP and Greens on Wednesday, a move that could see the Westminster committee act.

The Record last week reported the SNP could boycott participating in a Westminster inquiry and the FM’s official spokesperson fuelled that speculation at a briefing.

OPINION

Asked if Swinney would cooperate, he said: “If they do decide to hold an inquiry, then the First Minister and the Government and the party will need to decide how to respond.

“But I think the First Minister’s clear view is that if the committee decides to proceed it will destroy the credibility of the committee and its convener.”

Asked again, he replied: “We will decide how to respond.”

The Scottish Affairs committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss its next steps.

Any hearings could be held in Edinburgh in a move to pressurise the First Minister.

Get Daily Record Premium for just £1 per month in exclusive offer to celebrate the world cup. Click HERE.

This is a breaking news story – we’ll bring you updates, pictures and video as it happens.

For the latest news and breaking news visit: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/

Here you can get your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Daily Record, Sunday Mail and Record Online.

Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.

You can also check out our social media channels for live updates.

Follow us on Twitter @Record_Politics for the latest news.Or you can catch all the action by following our team: @paulhutcheon and @dennynews.

The event at Sheepfolds Stables in Sunderland on Saturday night drew around 700 attendees.

Organised by LGBTQ+ charity OUT North East, the concert marked the official start of the Summer of Pride programme, which includes Pride events in Sunderland, South Tyneside, and Gateshead.

Around 700 people attended a fundraiser concert at Sheepfolds Stables in Sunderland to launch the North East’s new Summer of Pride Festival (Image: Supplied)

Peter Darrant, CEO of OUT North East, said: “This was a fantastic evening and shows what a successful partnership can bring.

“Not only was it a celebration of Pride but it had a huge economic benefit to the Sheepfolds and shows how Pride plays its part in supporting the local economy.”

The fundraiser featured live music and was promoted as a free community event to raise funds and awareness for the wider festival.

Around 700 people attended a fundraiser concert at Sheepfolds Stables in Sunderland to launch the North East’s new Summer of Pride Festival (Image: Supplied)

Organisers said the night underlined the positive impact of Pride events on the local area, both culturally and economically.

The festival continues throughout the month with a full schedule of activities.

Events include a Pride march and rally on Saturday, June 27, along with additional concerts, film screenings, family-friendly gatherings, and sports activities across the region.

Around 700 people attended a fundraiser concert at Sheepfolds Stables in Sunderland to launch the North East’s new Summer of Pride Festival (Image: Supplied)

Around 700 people attended a fundraiser concert at Sheepfolds Stables in Sunderland to launch the North East’s new Summer of Pride Festival (Image: Supplied)