Firefighters remain at the scene of a blaze at a waste facility that started more than a week ago, with operations expected to continue for some time.

Crews have been at the scene at the landfill site near Ladybank in Fife since the alarm was raised at about 1.35pm on May 12.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said it remains a “complex and protracted incident” due to the “deep-seated nature” of the fire and the volume of material involved.

SFRS said that operations at the site are expected to continue for some time.

At the height of the incident, 12 appliances and specialist resources were dealing with the blaze.

Three fire engines were still at the scene as of 6.30am on Wednesday.

Bianca was pulled to the ground and bitten by a dog which she believed to be an XL Bully breed – before her miniature dachshund Socks distracted the dog and drew it away

A woman who was attacked by a large dog in Cambridge said she feels “very lucky to have walked away from it”. Bianca Mclean, 26, was walking her miniature dachshund Socks, in the North Cambridge area on the evening of Friday, May 15, when she was attacked.

She said a large dog, which she thought looked like an XL Bully breed, escaped from its garden and began to chase her just metres away from her front door. Socks, who is two years old, growled at the dog to go away, which provoked it further.

Bianca started to pick Socks up but the large dog continued trying to grab him. Bianca said she had “started screaming ‘help help, someone help’”, as the large dog pulled her to the ground.

Bianca said she threw herself between the dogs to protect Socks and was bitten by the large dog. Socks’ owner Bianca claims that she overheard the large dog’s owner from afar, saying that it was their dog which had got out.

Bianca said that the owner “never showed [their] face” and hadn’t come out to help. During the attack, Socks managed to escape his harness. Instead of running away, Socks ran “directly at the much larger dog and drew it away“ from Bianca.

Socks continued to lead the dog away from Bianca and into a nearby park. “I genuinely believe [this] stopped the attack from becoming worse”, she stated. “I feel very lucky to have walked away from it the way that we did. This could have been a very different story.”

A man nearby then heard the screams and ran after them into the park to separate the two dogs. “He repeatedly punched the larger dog until it released Socks, likely saving his life,” she said. “When I got Socks back he was covered in slobber, was only a bit bruised and I immediately rushed him to the vet.”

Socks was given an injection to ease any pain and seems to be completely fine. Bianca was also given antibiotics to treat her dog bite.

The 26-year-old said she was “just so concerned about this dog getting hold of Socks because it really was a David and Goliath situation”. Since then, Bianca said she is now experiencing “a lot of anxiety taking Socks for a walk “.

Although she feels okay going for a walk by herself, the incident has left her feeling “really shaken” about taking Socks out. She said she “a lot of unease” and “any slight noises” make her “feel spooked”.

” He is my little hero,” Bianca said. She continued: “If anyone, dog or human, puts their life on the line to try and help you, it’s just an immense eye opener. It goes to show the absolute love and bond between human and dog. A dog may only be with you for part of your life but for that dog, you are their whole life. “

A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson confirmed that a dog attack was reported to them that day. A crime has been raised for having a dangerous dog out of control and an investigation is ongoing. There had been no arrests at the time of writing.

A fall in Ofgem’s energy price cap saw the rate of inflation drop in April – but experts warn it will be a temporary reprieve

Inflation eased to 2.8% in April thanks to a fall in Ofgem’s energy price cap for millions of households.

The consumer price index dropped from 3.3%, the Office for National Statistics said, which also revealed a welcome drop in food price inflation too.

However, it is expected to be a temporary reprieve as the Middle East war is set to drive living costs back up in the coming months. Before the Middle East war began, economists predicted inflation would ease back to the Bank of England’s 2% target.

Ofgem’s price cap fell to £1,641 a year in April thanks to measures announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves to remove certain policy costs from bills. Industry experts Cornwall Insight this week predicted that Ofgem’s price cap could jump by more than £200 a year in July.

Ms Reeves is expected to unveil further measures this week to ease the pressure on households, which could involve further targeted help with energy costs.

READ MORE: ‘We got £4,000 energy bill refund after following Martin Lewis tip’READ MORE: Energy bills set to rise by £209 with Ofgem announcement due next week

It comes amid reports that supermarkets may be asked to freeze the prices of essential goods such as eggs, bread and milk in an attempt to ease the impact of the Iran war.

According to the Financial Times, the Treasury has said it would in return offer supermarkets “incentives” which may include easing packaging policies and delay potentially costly changes to healthy food rules. This would be agreed to by retailers on a voluntary basis, and would not emulate the strict price controls brought in during the inflation crisis of the 1970s.

The ONS said food and soft drink prices rose by 3% in the 12 months to April, down from 3.7% in March.

Suren Thiru, chief economist at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, said: “These figures will feel bittersweet for rate-setters as inflation would have almost certainly fallen back to the Bank of England’s 2% target in April had the Iran conflict not dramatically flipped the UK’s outlook from disinflation to stagflation.

“This decline could be the final fall in inflation this year, with surging fuel and food costs set to push it to 4% this summer, particularly as July’s Ofgem price cap reset will mean eyewatering increases in household energy bills.”

Last month’s drop in inflation was more than expected, with economists saying it makes it even less likely the Bank of England will raise interest rates when it meets next month. A hike would have piled more pressure on borrowers.

Yael Selfin, chief economist at KPMG, said: “This effectively closes the door on a potential rate hike at the June meeting, with the BoE likely to wait for clearer evidence of a renewed pickup in domestic inflation.”

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “It’s welcome that government action on energy bills has brought down inflation – and today’s data suggest that before the war wider prices were also on track to fall more sharply than many expected. But the longer Trump’s illegal war goes on, the greater the threat to households and firms.”

Some Southampton fans hoped the actual details of the spying incident involving Middlesbrough might help ensure there was some leniency in their punishment.

The spy, Southampton analyst intern William Salt, is said to have parked at the golf club, then walked a couple of hundred yards down a road which leads to a raised area of ground.

Sources told the BBC that the accused simply stood pointing his mobile at the training session, while wearing in-ear headphones.

Middlesbrough staff believe he may have been live-streaming the session via a video call.

Southampton fan Cameron said he expected expulsion from the play-offs was a strong possibility, but felt the four point deduction for next season in addition was too much.

“I am shocked, to be honest,” he told BBC Radio Solent.

“I mean, from everything that was going on, we knew the punishment was going to be harsh.

“After seeing the picture come out of what it was actually like with just an iPhone AirPods, we thought, okay, might not be that bad, but to be expelled from the play-offs and a four-point deduction seems way too harsh.”

Fellow Saints fans Chris Jewell added: “I think it’s a bit unfair.

“I know we have done wrong but how they can stop it when they have sold all these tickets, people have booked coaches. I am absolutely gutted about this.”

Middlesbrough supporters speaking to the BBC outside the club’s Riverside Stadium on Tuesday were understandably delighted.

Supporter and podcaster Jimmy Lees said: “It would have been massively unfair to the ethics of game of football.

“If Southampton were able to play in the final on Saturday, what example would that set for everyone else in football? Is it worth cheating to try and get that unfair advantage?

“Thankfully the EFL stood firm, gave their punishment and kicked Southampton out of the final. Now it is Middlesbrough’s opportunity to play Hull and hopefully get Premier League promotion.”

Fellow fan Chris Saunders added: “I am stunned. Stuff like this doesn’t happen to Boro – we are used to our hopes being dashed and bitter disappointment. I was expecting them to get away with it and a big fine.”

For Hull there will be some frustration that the team has been preparing to face one opponent but will now be taking on a different one with just three more days to train.

Prior to the decision being announced, Hull City assistant manager Dean Holden said on the Monday Night Club that the club would be prepared for whatever eventuality.

“If anything changes in the next few days then we’ll have to adapt to that,” he said.

“There’s obviously going to be a lot of emotion, a lot of nervous energy, going into such a big occasion and for us it’s about the players going out there and not overthinking.

“We’ve adapted well to teams we’re playing against, to injuries and we’ve found ways to win.”

For BBC Radio Humberside sports editor Mike White, there still remains too much uncertainty given Southampton’s appeal.

“There will be questions about whether Hull City consider their legal position in all of it, because they have been put in a position where they have had a couple of days notice to prepare for Middlebsrough,” he said.

“But I think there’s too many good professionals at Hull City. I would be amazed if they hadn’t done some sort of work, prep or plan for Middlesbrough being the opponent. Ultimately, in the public eye they have been given three days notice to prepare for Middlesbrough. So would they consider their legal standing?

“The hope is they go into the final, win the final, and justice has been done in that sense. It’s mucky, it’s horrible and not a nice position for anyone to be in. Southampton made their bed and have to lie in it.”

The BBC’s Northern Ireland police drama has been a massive hit with viewers who have awarded it a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes

Three series of the police drama are now available to stream in their entirety, and viewers appear to have nothing but praise for yet another BBC triumph.

When the third series arrived, audiences were delighted to have even more content to immerse themselves in, and it appears with justification, as they awarded it an impressive 100% flawless rating on the review platform Rotten Tomatoes.

Blue Lights is a police drama centred at a fictional station called Blackthorn in Northern Ireland, positioned against the landscape of considerable grit and emotional turbulence.

It tracks the daily experiences of a police force in Belfast as they interact with various members of the community.

Throughout we encounter hardened criminals and ordinary residents, and unlike other programmes in the genre, it opts to focus on the internal dynamics of the police rather than the investigations themselves.

The ensemble comprises Sian Brooke, Katherine Devlin, Nathan Braniff, Martin McCann and Richard Dormer, all of whom have garnered significant acclaim for their authentic portrayal of the police force.

Commenting on the cast, one fan posted: “Absolutely brilliant acting. One of the best series I’ve ever watched. Characters and plots are brilliant. Totally believable, and the tension at times is almost palpable. If you’ve not watched it yet, what are you waiting for?”

Another review reads: “Just. WOW. Better than anything we’ve watched that I can remember. Great writing, good character development, and what a plot! I figured seasons 2 and 3 would probably be a let-down, but I see they get even higher tomato ratings.”

Spanning what are now three series, Blue Lights portrays the immense pressures faced by the force, particularly across the Belfast area, while shining a light on the extent of organised crime in the region, including corruption from within the ranks.

Each episode unravels the intricate conspiracies officers must untangle, the loyalist tensions they navigate, and their ongoing battle against an established criminal dynasty.

One reviewer said: “EXCELLENT show. Well-paced and well-written, believable characters and tense storylines set this show apart in the best way in the crowded field of policing dramas.”

One viewer proclaimed the third series to be “Outstandingly excellent on all counts!”. They added: “I love it when you feel the creators love their characters! Even most of the bad guys have a touching, loveable side. Line of Duty excellence + so much human warmth and authenticity = what else could I hope for?”

Blue Lights has reportedly been commissioned for a fourth series following the triumph of its predecessors, though precisely when it will land on screens remains unclear. Fans are anticipating its arrival at some point during 2026.

To remain fixed to your settee, all episodes of Blue Lights are accessible to stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

Two women and a man were in the property at the time

A woman has spoken of how the door of her East Belfast apartment was set on fire during an alleged arson attack.

Olivia Hayes said she was awoken by the fire service breaking through her door after it had been set on fire in the early hours of Monday, May 18.

It happened in the Finmore Court area and the door was left badly damaged. She says she has been told she will have to wait a number of days before her door can be repaired or move into temporary accommodation.

Speaking to Belfast Live, Olivia said she is now living in an unsecure property while she tries to get her door replaced and described the moment firefighters arrived at her apartment.

The resident explained: “I was sleeping when I was woke up by my dog barking and firefighters suddenly breaking through my front door.

“Thankfully there has not been too much smoke damage done to the inside of my flat, but the door has been completely destroyed and I have been told by the Housing Executive that it will be a few days before I am able to get it replaced and I have the option of going into temporary accommodation.

“I have overcome some difficult issues in my life and I have told them going into a hostel would be the last thing that I want to do, but I am just hoping that something can be done sooner to replace my door. I have had to have friends come over in order to get some sleep because the flat is wide open.”

Police are investigating the incident which took place at 3am on Monday, May 18, at an apartment in the Finmore Court area of the city when the front door was set on fire using an accelerant.

Two women and a man were in the property at the time of the fire but were not injured with the fire service extinguishing the blaze. A man in his 20s was arrested in connection with the incident.

Detective Sergeant Andrews said: “At around 3am, it was reported that the front door of a flat located at the Finmore Court area had been set alight with accelerant used. Two women, one aged in her 40s and one in her 30s and a man in his 30s were inside the upstairs flat during the incident, but were not injured. Colleagues from Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service extinguished the fire.

“One man in his 20s was arrested in relation to the incident.

“We would continue to appeal for information or who saw anything suspicious in the Finmore Court area of East Belfast between 12am and 3am, to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 104 18/05/26. You can also submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.”