By MATT STRUDWICK, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER and ELIZABETH HAIGH, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

Published: 13:40 BST, 23 September 2026 | Updated: 14:33 BST, 23 September 2026

Two trainee RAF pilots ejected from a Hawk jet and escaped with minor injuries before the aircraft crashed in Wales this morning.

The Hawk T2 plummeted to the ground moments after taking off, with witnesses reporting a ‘big bang’ and flames coming from the jet.

Both crew members, understood to be trainees, ejected safely using parachutes.

They were located shortly afterwards and are currently being treated for minor injuries, North Wales Police said. 

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Witnesses described seeing flames coming from the Hawk T2 training aircraft after it took off from the RAF Valley, in Anglesey, and heard ‘a big bang’ before it came down near the village of Rhosneigr. 

Footage shared online shows what appears to be the wreck of the aircraft engulfed in a fireball and a huge plum of smoke billowing into the air. 

A separate video posted to Facebook shows a Wales Air Ambulance helicopter landing in a field close to the incident. 

Farming influencer Gareth Wyn Jones published a picture on the social media site appearing to show two ejected crew members with parachutes floating to the ground.

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‘Hope everyone is ok,’ he wrote. ‘Rhosneigr, big bang, jet on fire out of control and two parachutes??’

The Hawk T2 training aircraft crashed moments after taking off, with both pilots ejecting safely (pictured) 

Footage shared online shows what appears to be the wreck of the aircraft engulfed in a fireball and a huge plum of smoke billowing into the air

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Witnesses described seeing flames coming from the Hawk T2 training aircraft after it took off from the RAF Valley, in Anglesey, and heard ‘a big bang’ before it came down near the village of Rhosneigr

The pilots were located shortly after the crash and are being treated for minor injuries

One eyewitness said they had watched the jet take off and told his wife ‘it’s in trouble as I could see flames’.

He wrote: ‘We watched it climb then as it was parallel with us, it started to pitch up violently twice… then both pilots ejected and the Hawk crashed about a mile away.’

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A source told The Telegraph: ‘We’re aware of an incident involving a Hawk jet. We believe the crew was not seriously injured and ejected… we believe this happened within the last hour.’ 

North Wales Police has warned people to avoid the area ‘until further notice’.

A spokesperson for the force said: ‘Local officers are currently in attendance to reports of an incident involving an aircraft in the Pencarnisiog area of Anglesey, alongside colleagues from North Wales Fire and Rescue Services, Welsh Ambulance Service University Health Trust and Helimed.

‘Two pilots are being treated for what are thought to be minor injuries and at this stage there are no reports of any wider damage or injuries.’ 

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‘Please avoid the area until further notice. Updates will be issued when appropriate.’ 

 A Royal Air Force spokesperson said: ‘An incident involving an RAF T2 Hawk aircraft, flying out of RAF Valley, occurred near Anglesey. An investigation is underway and we will not comment further at this time.’

RAF Valley, where Prince William was once stationed as a search-and-rescue pilot flying Sea King helicopters, is home to the RAF’s No 4 Flying Training School and is responsible for training Britain’s next generation of fighter pilots.

The Hawk T2 is built by BAE Systems and have been used to train British pilots since 1976. 

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This is a breaking news story. More to follow.  

“Two pilots are being treated for what are thought to be minor injuries and at this stage, with no reports of any wider damage or injuries,” North Wales Police have said.

Local officers are currently in attendance following reports of an incident involving an RAF training aircraft in the Pencarnisiog area of Anglesey.

Also at the scene are members of the Royal Air Force, North Wales Fire and Rescue Services, Welsh Ambulance Service University Health Trust and Helimed, the statement adds.

The authority has launched a search for an experienced festival producer, cultural organisation or consortium to help develop and deliver what it hopes will become a nationally significant event for County Durham.

Building on the success of festivals including Lumiere, the council says it is seeking a “bold, ambitious and distinctive” concept that could become a permanent fixture in the county’s cultural calendar.

Councillor Karen Allison, the council’s cabinet member for leisure, tourism, regeneration and high street, said: “We have a significant opportunity to create an ambitious, nationally significant cultural event that will shape perceptions of County Durham for years to come.”

The move comes after organisers announced in October 2025 that Lumiere, which transformed Durham with large-scale light installations every two years, would come to an end following its final edition in November that year.

Over its 16-year run, Lumiere attracted more than a million visitors and generated £43 million for the local economy, becoming one of the county’s best-known cultural events.

Now, Durham County Council is looking to create a successor event capable of delivering a similar impact while offering something entirely new.

Cllr Allison said: “The commissioned event should be capable of becoming a defining cultural moment for County Durham: bold in concept, ambitious in scale, participatory in nature and recognised nationally for its originality.

“We are particularly interested in ideas that bring together culture, creativity, technology, innovation, and community participation in ways that are distinctive to County Durham and cannot be replicated elsewhere.”

According to a council procurement site, the authority wants proposals that represent a “step change from traditional festival models” and have the potential to become a recurring event with national recognition.

Organisers are also being asked to create opportunities for local residents, particularly children and young people, to play an active role in shaping and delivering the festival.

The expression of interest period for the new festival remains open until October 8, with the contract expected to begin in February 2027.

When Lumiere’s final edition was announced last year, Artichoke chief executive Helen Marriage said the decision had “not been taken lightly”.

She said: “When we first brought Lumiere to Durham in 2009, we didn’t know if it would work.

“Fifteen years on, Lumiere has become part of Durham’s story.”

At the time, council leader Cllr Andrew Husband stressed that Lumiere’s end would not mark the end of major cultural events in the county.

He said: “This is by no means the end of light art or major events in County Durham.

“This is an opportunity for us to take time to reassess how we present light art in County Durham and explore new ways to fire people’s imaginations and bring communities together.”

Two pilots have been injured after an RAF jet crashed in Wales.

Emergency services are at the scene in the Pencarnisiog area of Anglesey on Tuesday afternoon following the crash involving a training jet near the RAF Valley training base.

North Wales Police warned people to avoid the area until further notice and confirmed the two pilots are thought to have “minor injuries”. It is understood they were both able to eject from the jet before the crash.

There have been no reports of any wider damage or injuries, police said.

North Wales Police said in a statement: “Local officers are currently in attendance to reports of an incident involving an RAF training aircraft in the Pencarnisiog area of Anglesey, alongside colleagues from the Royal Air Force, North Wales Fire and Rescue Services, Welsh Ambulance Service University Health Trust and Helimed.

“Two pilots are being treated for what are thought to be minor injuries and at this stage there are no reports of any wider damage or injuries.

“Please avoid the area until further notice. Updates will be issued when appropriate.”

RAF Valley sits on the Welsh island of Anglesey and is a training base for the air force’s fighter pilots.

The Ministry of Defence has been contacted for more information.

More follows on this breaking news story. Subscribe here to get the latest updates from The Independent

Plans were submitted for the new coffee shop at Houghton House on Doxford International Business Park in Sunderland, including a drive-thru lane, reconfigured parking, and electric vehicle (EV) charging bays.

If approved, the development would see part of the office building extended to accommodate the drive-thru window.

A planning statement included with the application said the project would create up to 45 full-time equivalent jobs and support the gym within the same building.

It described the coffee shop as an “attractive facility” for business park employees, nearby residents, and commuters.

Developers said they expect “minimal queues” at the drive-thru and believe the site would not pose a “significant adverse impact on the safety of road users travelling on the surrounding road network.”

The statement continued: “There are no adverse impacts that would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the proposals and there are no specific policies which indicate that development should be restricted.”

The proposed layout includes 32 parking spaces to the east of the building, four of which would be accessible bays.

The addition of EV charging points was described as an improvement to existing infrastructure, offering a convenient place for drivers to recharge.

A decision on the application will be made following a consultation.

The annual weekend will see an exciting line-up open their doors – including the 19th Century historic buildings within Plean Country Park, the historic Leighton Library in Dunblane.

Attractions across Stirling will throw their doors open to welcome visitors this weekend, as part of an annual celebration.

Doors Open Days is returning to the city as local attractions and landmarks welcome visitors to celebrate the region’s history, people and heritage.

On this coming Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27, visitors are invited to step inside buildings and spaces across Stirling that are usually closed to the public.

As the country’s largest free festival dedicated to architecture, history and culture, Doors Open Days is a national invite to explore Scotland’s built and cultural heritage, and to see it through fresh eyes.

Stirling’s Doors Open Days feature an exciting line-up of venues and events, including the 19th Century historic buildings within Plean Country Park, the historic Leighton Library in Dunblane and a new walking tour of the historic tenement buildings of Stirling city centre.

Each building or site opens not only its doors but also a window into the past, present and future of the community.

These are the places where stories were lived, art was created, and history unfolded, with the public invited to step inside during the festival.

Finance, Economy and Culture Convener, Cllr Gerry McLaughlin believes the event will give people a major insight into history and culture.

He said; “We are privileged in Stirling to be the home to some of the most storied historical sites in Scotland, but we also host some incredibly unique built history and heritage which can sometimes be overlooked. “Doors Open Days is an excellent and unique opportunity for residents and visitors alike to take a deep dive into the history, culture and architecture that has shaped Stirling over the past decades and centuries.”

Director of The Scottish Civic Trust, Doors Open Days national coordinator, Joe Traynor, said: “The National Doors Open Days encourages everyone to explore what’s often right in front of them. The festival is a chance to see familiar places with fresh eyes, to learn, and to make memories with friends and family. We’re delighted that Stirling is taking part in this year’s programme and helping to celebrate the places that shape Scotland.” Earlier this year, Stirling topped the list of places to visit in the UK in 2026 by TimeOut magazine due to its packed cultural calendar, breathtaking scenery and travel links to the remainder of the country.

Since its launch in 1990, Doors Open Days has become a beloved tradition that now reaches all 32 local authority areas.

It brings together thousands of volunteers, organisations and visitors every year with one common goal: to make Scotland’s heritage accessible, engaging and open to all.

A fifth casualty was found outside the house and taken to hospital with burn injuries

Tributes have been paid to a woman and three children who tragically died in a house fire in Bootle, Merseyside, on Tuesday morning (September 22).

Flowers, balloons and soft toys have been left at the scene of a house fire on Stone Square, where the “intense” fire which “spread very rapidly”.

The four victims were found in the upstairs bedroom of the house in Bootle, Sefton, on Tuesday morning when firefighters entered the property, and a fifth casualty was found outside the house and taken to hospital with burn injuries.

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On Wednesday morning, a number of floral tributes had been laid next to a police cordon closing off access to the road. Candles had been placed on the pavement, along with pink and blue star-shaped balloons.

Soft toys, including Minecraft and Star Wars characters, were also laid at the scene.

One card had the message: “God bless you all. Heartbroken to hear about the devastating fire.” Another said: “Sleep tight. Forever in our hearts.”

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service crews were called to the blaze just before 3.45am on Tuesday and found the semi-detached house well alight, a spokesman for the fire service said.

Chief fire officer Nick Searle described it as an “intense fire which spread very rapidly”.

A joint investigation with Merseyside Police is being carried out to establish the cause of the blaze. Next of kin have been informed but the victims have not yet been formally identified.

Fire service area manager Kevin Longshaw said: “This is a devastating incident and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of those who have lost their lives and been injured.

“We will work closely with relevant colleagues to ascertain the cause of the fire, but in the immediate term, we again extend our sincere condolences to those affected by this tragic incident.”

In a statement, Bishop of Liverpool the Right Rev Ruth Worsley and Bishop of Warrington the Right Rev Simon Robinson said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the devastating incident in Bootle, in which several people have tragically lost their lives.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones at this unimaginably difficult time. We pray, too, for all those affected by this tragedy and for the emergency services who responded to the fire.”

A man who endured 13 years of chemotherapy after being told he had an aggressive, life-limiting tumour has spoken of his devastation after learning the treatment may never have been necessary.

Andrew Whitehead was just 29 when he underwent surgery to remove a tumour from his neck at a hospital in Coventry in 2010.

He was subsequently told that he had a high-grade aggressive tumour and that chemotherapy and radiotherapy were his only options.

Now 45, Mr Whitehead says he was effectively told to prepare to die – and spent more than a decade organising his life around repeated cycles of chemotherapy.

The treatment only stopped after a new oncologist took over his care in 2024 and his case was reviewed.

Independent medical evidence obtained by his lawyers has since indicated that his tumour was a much lower grade and that he should not have received chemotherapy at all, according to law firm Brabners.

His case is among more than 40 being investigated by lawyers over claims of prolonged or allegedly unnecessary chemotherapy treatment at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust of patients all under the care of Dr Ian Brown.

It comes as an interim review by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has found serious failings in the care of patients who were prescribed prolonged courses of the chemotherapy drug temozolomide at the Coventry trust.

His case is among more than 40 being investigated by lawyers over claims of prolonged or allegedly unnecessary chemotherapy treatment under the care of Dr Ian Brown (above)

The RCP examined 20 cases and found 15 were ‘unsatisfactory overall’, with none judged to represent good practice. Its preliminary findings said patients had been prescribed extended courses with ‘little or no evidence of benefit’ and described the failings as a ‘betrayal of patient trust’.

The full review is expected to be published later this autumn.

Reflecting on the revelation, Mr Whitehead told the Daily Mail: ‘I believed I didn’t have long and was going to die. I hoped the treatment would extend my life, but I didn’t honestly know how long that would be.

‘It was just a case of taking one day at a time and seeing what happens. The treatment became my life, really. Taking the chemotherapy as I was told was my one and only focus, because that was the thing I hoped would keep me alive.’

Mr Whitehead was given 30 sessions of radiotherapy and chemotherapy at the beginning of his treatment.

For most of the next 13 years he took chemotherapy tablets for five days, followed by three weeks off, before starting another cycle.

‘You don’t just recover straight away. You have to slowly come out of it and, by the time you start to feel OK, it’s time for the next cycle again.’

Eventually, the routine became so entrenched that he could scarcely remember life before it.

‘After a few years it just became normal. It sounds stupid, but it just became my life. I didn’t know anything else. My old life had disappeared and this was the new life that I had to lead to stay alive.

‘There was a constant monotony of taking the tablets, going for a scan, hoping the scan was fine – which it usually was – and then you breathe a little bit and think, “OK, I’ve got another six months now; I need to do the best I can to get to the next scan”.

‘That was how I lived my life, from scan to scan.’

Then came the news that turned his world upside down.

He was told that the tumour was actually low-grade and that his original diagnosis had been wrong.

‘I was shocked and I was relieved, because being told you have a low-level cancer is not as stressful.

‘I was told I was coming off my tablets, and that was causing me a lot of stress because I had been told the tablets were keeping me alive.’

A Freedom of Information request showed that between 2007 and 2023 Coventry had spent £3.6million on temozolomide – around ten times more than any other neuro-oncology centre they examined

Reflecting on the revelation, Mr Whitehead told the Daily Mail: ‘I believed I didn’t have long and was going to die. I hoped the treatment would extend my life, but I didn’t honestly know how long that would be’

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It was not until he drove home that the enormity of what he had been told began to sink in.

‘Since finding out what I’ve found out, every time I look back I feel anger and sadness. All those years were taken away from me.’

Mr Whitehead says he had been forced to abandon almost every part of his former life.

He left a job he had worked at for around four-and-a-half years, gave up weight training, saw friends less often and stopped going out.

‘I had to stop everything just to concentrate on taking the tablets and trying to keep myself alive.’

He says he continues to suffer from stomach problems, fatigue and difficulty concentrating.

He has also been diagnosed with depression and illness anxiety disorder during assessments carried out for his legal case.

‘I still live at home, unfortunately, because I haven’t been able to move on with my life and be able to work or look to a future.

‘Everything has been put on pause. I’m still not working; I’m still struggling through life and I’ve got other things to deal with.’

His case is part of a much wider investigation by lawyer Fiona Tinsley and colleagues at Brabners.

Ms Tinsley said the first patient who approached the firm had taken temozolomide for 17 years after being told the drug was keeping him alive.

When a new consultant reviewed his case in April 2024, he was told there was no scientific or medical evidence supporting chemotherapy for anything approaching that length of time.

His family complained to the trust.

According to Ms Tinsley, the trust subsequently acknowledged that the treatment should not have happened and was not in line with national or international guidance, apologising to the patient and his family.

Crucially, she said, the trust referred to a wider ‘cohort of patients’ who would also be contacted.

That prompted lawyers to investigate.

Since January 2025, Ms Tinsley said her firm has identified around 40 patients with concerns about prolonged temozolomide treatment – and believes there could be many more.

National guidance generally recommends six cycles of temozolomide following radiotherapy for the relevant brain tumours, with prolonged treatment requiring clear clinical justification. 

The RCP review found repeated instances in which the drug was continued for years despite limited evidence of benefit.

A Freedom of Information request showed that between 2007 and 2023 Coventry had spent £3.6million on temozolomide – around ten times more than any other neuro-oncology centre they examined. 

Ms Tinsley says the investigation has also uncovered concerns about the original diagnoses in a number of cases.

In some patients, she said, independent experts reviewing tissue samples have concluded that the tumours were lower grade than originally diagnosed and that the patients may never have needed chemotherapy.

In Mr Whitehead’s case, his lawyers say independent expert evidence indicates the correct diagnosis should have been made in 2010.

His tumour samples had been sent from Coventry to Birmingham for pathology analysis.

The lawyers are now pursuing claims involving both University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire and University Hospitals Birmingham in cases where they allege diagnostic errors occurred.

The wider RCP review has raised questions about how such treatment could continue for so long without being challenged.

Its interim findings criticised the consultant at the centre of the review, who it referred to as ‘Dr Y’ but who the Daily Mail understands to be Professor Brown.

The report said he did not participate in the review and did not attend an interview with investigators.

It also raised concerns about the role of a former clinical nurse specialist, saying patient care was primarily managed by him while the consultant had limited direct involvement.

Pharmacy teams were also criticised for failing to question the use of an oral chemotherapy drug continuously for ten to 15 years.

The review said there had been ‘multiple opportunities for scrutiny and challenge’ and described a failure to recognise the prolonged prescribing as highly unusual.

It also recommended consideration of independent reviews of living patients who had been treated by the consultant.

The trust has said that all patients receiving temozolomide at the time of the consultant’s retirement had been reviewed by senior clinicians and appropriate care plans put in place.

It has also said it is conducting an independent review of its ‘speak up’ processes and will assess the full RCP report before taking further action.

The legal cases are now being pursued against the NHS trust, with the lawyers seeking answers, accountability and compensation for patients who they say suffered physical, psychological and financial consequences. 

The department store as unveiled its new Christmas range for 2026

John Lewis has revealed its new Christmas shop for 2026, with new festive decorations and gifts.

The retail giant announced that Christmas has officially started in its UK stores, just a little over 13 weeks ahead of the day itself. John Lewis Christmas shops – selling trees, lights and tableware to decorations, gifts and wrapping – are now up and running across all stores.

The department store said it has already seen early demand for some festive items, including gift wrap, charity Christmas cards and Christmas crackers.

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Cydney Ball, head of Christmas at John Lewis, said: “After months of planning, creating and bringing our vision to life, it’s incredibly exciting to finally open the doors to our Christmas shop and share it with our customers.”

She added: “Christmas at John Lewis is about so much more than finding the perfect gift or ornament for the tree. It’s about the anticipation, the nostalgia and those little moments that make the season feel magical. We can’t wait for our customers to step inside and start their Christmas story with us.”

John Lewis said its shoppers appeared to be seeking out “retro classics”, with sales of the Native Union Pop Phone spiking by 186 per cent last week alone.

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Retro Christmas decorations on sale include a 70s disco mouse, a miniature arcade game, a cassette tape, and a classic sketch toy. Classic characters such as Miffy and Snoopy also feature within the Christmas shop.

The John Lewis Santa’s tea party is returning to selected stores this festive season, with 28 per cent more tickets on sale than last year. The retailer said this year’s tea parties will be “more immersive and enchanting than ever before, with a special storytime hosted by Santa and his elves accompanied by hot chocolate, festive treats and a special gift”.

All stores will also be holding talks covering a range of themes, such as how to build the perfect winter capsule wardrobe, a ‘treetorial’ on how to style and decorate the tree, and tips on how to set the perfect table for Christmas.

John Lewis is not the only department store to have already opened its Christmas shop, with Liberty and Selfridges having transformed significant areas in store into dedicated festive-themed spaces.

Ava Mannings says she was diagnosed with a brain tumour about a week after viewers learned she had won ITV’s The Voice.

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Following a two-year absence from social media, The Voice champion Ava Mannings has revealed the reason behind her disappearance after winning the ITV programme. The performer, who uses the professional name AVA, secured victory in the competition aged 21 under the guidance of McFly vocalists Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones.

Yet just a week after the public witnessed her crowned as champion, Ava was given a life-altering diagnosis. On Instagram, the now 23-year-old posted a video acknowledging it was ‘a little hard’ for her to discuss.

She said: “I’m not sure how to put it into words. So unfortunately, Miss Ava here was diagnosed with a brain tumour back in October 2024, about a week after everyone found out that I had won The Voice. So that’s why I disappeared so quickly.

“Yeah, I’m not going to get into that whole experience because it’s still something that, you know, it’s quite life-changing.”

The vocalist revealed she had undergone ‘major surgery’ and received an encouraging outcome. Later in the footage, she expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support she’s been shown, reports the Express.

Ava assured her supporters she would ‘never’ abandon music despite the ‘tough ride’ she’s endured over the last two years. Describing the considerable effort required to reach her current position, she hinted that fresh material is forthcoming.

She continued: “So, catch me on a journey that I had no idea how to experience. One thing to know about me is that I still go with the flow. The main thing is, thank you so much, everyone. I don’t really know what to say because obviously this is quite a hard video for me to make, but I’m back, so watch out, everyone.”

Supporters were quick to rally around Ava, among them Giovanna Fletcher and Harry Judd. The McFly star wrote: “Sending you loads of love and I cannot wait to hear you sing again!” while Giovanna added: “So much love for you Ava.”

One follower wrote: “I see strength, passion and real courage in this video. It is such a privilege for all of us to get to be a part of your journey. Immensely proud of you! Cannot wait to hear the new music.”

Another commented: “Aw, Ava, I’m proud of you for having the courage to post this, and I’m so excited for your music. I loved you on The Voice, so I’m very excited to hear your own stuff, take it day by day and don’t overdo it. We’ll be here waiting and supporting you through it all.”

A third shared: “Thank you for sharing this Ava, I’m sorry that you’ve been experiencing. I hope that you’re doing better and that you are healing. We can’t wait to hear more from you soon.”

While another wrote: “I’m so glad to see you’re back, sending all my love to you.”

The Voice is available to watch on ITVX.