A train driver, formerly a Cambridgeshire councillor, died of ‘traumatic injuries’ after a crash in June

A train driver who was killed in a 49mph crash in Bedfordshire is believed to have died from “traumatic injuries”, an inquest has heard.

Shaun Burton, 60, was driving an East Midlands Railway train (EMR) that hit the back of a stationary train run by the same operator in Elstow, near Bedford, on June 19. Mr Burton, a former Huntingdonshire councillor, died as a result of the crash.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) published an interim report on June 24, which stated Mr Burton’s train had proceeded past a red signal near the scene of the crash. An inquest opened into Mr Burton’s death today (Tuesday, July 14) at Bedfordshire and Luton Coroners Court in Ampthill.

The coroner’s officer, Natalie Shirran, said: “On June 19, 2026, at approximately 17.14 hours, a collision occurred south of Bedford Rail station between train 1H46 and the rear of stationary train 1B67.

“Train 1B67 had stopped due to a fault and the driver was contacting the signaller and maintenance staff. The signalling system had placed following trains at red signals. Train 1H46 departed Bedford at 17.10 hours and subsequently passed a red signal.”

Some 162 people were injured, 102 of whom needed hospital treatment. As of when the RAIB was published around three weeks ago, 53 remained in hospital, including eight in a critical condition.

Images from a forward-facing CCTV camera on Mr Burton’s train show a signal near the scene of the crash “was displaying a red aspect as the train approached and then passed it”, the RAIB said.

Train data from the wreckage shows the brakes were applied while the train was travelling at 77mph, about 200 yards before the crash, the court heard.

Its speed had reduced to 49mph when the impact happened. Mr Burton’s train was fitted with automatic warning system (AWS) equipment triggered by magnets on tracks. This sounds a bell or chime in the driver’s cab when it is approaching a green signal, and a horn when coming up to a non-green signal.

In the case of the latter, drivers are required to acknowledge the warning by pressing a button. After this happens, a visual indicator appears in the driver’s cab as a reminder. The train’s emergency brake is applied if the warning is not responded to quickly enough.

The RAIB statement said the stopped train involved in the crash had come to a stop “unexpectedly” after a fault with its AWS equipment caused its brakes to apply. This resulted in the signal behind it automatically changing to red, investigators said. Approaching trains should stop at red signals.

A post-mortem examination was carried out by consultant pathologist Dr Virginia Fitzpatrick-Swallow on behalf of the coroner’s court.

Mr Burton’s cause of death was confirmed as “traumatic injuries to the brainstem and chest, pending further investigations.” His family had been informed that the inquest was set to open, but did not attend court.

Coroner Emma Whitting said: “I would like to take this opportunity to pass on my condolences to Mr Burton’s family, friends and colleagues for their loss.”

The inquest has been adjourned until the conclusion of the RAIB and British Transport Police investigations.

The move aims to reduce Britain’s reliance on overseas processing.

DEScycle opened its first demonstration facility at the Wilton Centre in Teesside on Thursday, 9 July, in what the company says is a significant step towards keeping critical minerals processing on home soil.

The plant will process electronic waste to recover metals such as gold, copper, silver and palladium, which are essential for manufacturing, clean energy, technology and national security.

The UK generates millions of tonnes of e-waste each year, most of which is currently sent abroad for recycling.

The facility was opened by Anna Turley, MP for Redcar, and Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor, alongside investors and industry figures.

Anna Turley MP said: “Critical metals are essential to Britain’s manufacturing, energy, technology and national security, yet too much valuable metal-bearing waste is still exported for processing overseas.

“DEScycle’s plant in Redcar is an important step towards changing that.”

Ben Houchen said: “Teesside has always been at the forefront of industrial innovation, and it’s fantastic to see companies like DEScycle choosing our region to develop new technology that turns electronic waste into valuable critical minerals.”

Tech giant Cisco will supply materials to the facility, while Mitsubishi Corporation will explore commercial routes to market for the recovered metals.

Waste Minister Mary Creagh CBE MP said: “Recovering these critical metals and materials here in the UK is vital for our supply chain resilience, resource security and climate goals. I am delighted to see a British start-up like DEScycle showing how innovation strengthens the circular economy.”

CEO Leo Howden said the Teesside plant was designed as a blueprint that could be replicated at industrial sites across the UK and internationally.

The launch follows a government announcement last month of a £50m investment in domestic critical minerals production, setting an ambition for recycling to meet 20 per cent of annual UK critical mineral demand by 2035.

Andy Serkis has admitted the Lord Of The Rings cast was ‘very white’ after a 25-year row over the lack of diversity in the films.

The iconic trilogy is considered one of the greatest in cinematic history, and its conclusion The Return Of The King, was awarded 11 Oscars.

However, fans have complained that there was little diversity in the stars who played its most iconic roles, and Andy himself has addressed the backlash in a new interview.

The actor, who provided the motion capture for Gollum, acknowledged that there were ‘criticisms’ aimed at the casting for the original films, and it was something he planned to ‘acknowledge’ in his new film The Hunt For Gollum.

He said: ‘Tolkien himself was influenced a lot by Norse mythology, there’s a lot of that feeling.

‘The Shire feels very, very much like a very, a very white, you know…’

Speaking to the BBC, Andy added: ‘They’re not very concerned about what goes on beyond the borders of The Shire, but they know they don’t want people coming in.

‘Yes, there have been criticisms.

‘This particular film is somewhat acknowledging that. But I don’t think we will be doing a politically correct just-casting-for-the sake-of-casting-and-ticking-boxes version of the film. So, it’s where relevant basically.’

Casting for The Hunt For Gollum is currently underway, and will see Andy reprise his role as Gollum, alongside Ian McKellen as Gandalf The Grey, with the film set to be released in December 2027.

Told from Gollum’s perspective, the film is set before the events of The Fellowship of The Ring, and sees Gandalf sending a ranger called Strider to find the former Hobbit.

Strider, also known as Aragorn, will be played by Jamie Dornan, replacing original star Viggo Mortensen in the role.

The casting received a mixed reception, with comments on Instagram including: ’50 shades of Gollum;’

‘Kate Winslet to Jamie Dornan in LOTR: “draw me like one of your Rivendell girls;”‘

‘From a looks wise Jamie is fantastic for Aragorn;’

The iconic trilogy is considered one of the greatest in cinematic history, but fans have previously criticised a lack of diversity among its actors

‘JAMIE DORNAN. HELL YEAH. AND LEEEEE PACE! AGGHHHHHHH.’

‘Jamie Dornan, you just being given a second chance in this industry,’

Anya Taylor-Joy and Kate Winslet have also joined the cast, and the film is set to use de-aging technology for actors who are returning to the franchise.

In 2022, several stars of The Lord Of The Rings prequel series The Rings Of Power, received vile racist trolling over their casting in the show, with stars including Sir Lenny Henry cast as elves, dwarves and Harfoots.

Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan, who played hobbits in the original trilogy, shared social media posts with the caption: ‘You Are All Welcome Here’ in a show of solidarity.

A message was also posted on the show’s social media account hitting back at the ‘relentless’ abuse some of the cast suffered.

It said: ‘JRR Tolkien created a world which, by definition, is multicultural.

‘A world in which free peoples from different races and cultures join together, in fellowship, to defeat the forces of evil. Rings of Power reflects that. 

‘Our world has never been all white, fantasy has never been all white, Middle-earth is not all white.’

In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day.

By OLIVER SALT, US ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Published: 21:47 BST, 14 July 2026 | Updated: 02:58 BST, 15 July 2026

Timothee Chalamet crossed paths with David Beckham and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders after attending France and Spain’s World Cup semifinal on Tuesday.

The Hollywood star, 30, headed to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, to watch France take on the reigning European champions for a place in Sunday’s final.

During the second half of the game, Fox Sports cameras spotted him locked in conversation with soccer legend Beckham, 51, and his son Romeo, 23, in the stands.

Chalamet, who is French-American, was wearing a France tracksuit top at the match while rooting for his father Marc’s birth country to get the better of Spain.

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Unfortunately for him and his dad, Les Bleus were sent packing from the tournament after slumping to a surprise 2-0 defeat in Texas.

Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring for Spain from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute, before Pedro Porro added their second 13 minutes after halftime.

Timothee Chalamet chatted with David Beckham at France and Spain’s World Cup semifinal

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Chalamet was locked in conversation with Beckham and his 23-year-old son Romeo in Texas

France were favorites to go all the way and lift the trophy in New Jersey on Sunday, meaning their miserable performance and elimination therefore comes as a slight shock.

Nevertheless, Spain have proven themselves one of the best teams in the world in recent years, having also prevailed at the 2024 European Championships. 

At the halftime break in Arlington, Chalamet was also filmed meeting the famous Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders backstage at AT&T Stadium. 

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As he gave each of the cheerleaders a hug, the Marty Supreme actor could be heard saying that he was ‘starstruck.’

Chalamet was also spotted at Spain’s quarterfinal win over Belgium in Los Angeles last week alongside his father, though there was no sign of girlfriend Kylie Jenner.

Kylie joined her man at a number of New York Knicks games earlier in the summer, sitting courtside with him on multiple occasions as his beloved team became NBA champions for the first time since 1973.

As for Beckham, he has attended several World Cup matches over the past month, including his native England’s dramatic quarterfinal victory over Norway in Miami on Saturday.

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The Inter Miami co-owner also hosted his country at the MLS team’s training facility ahead of that game last week, where he and two of his sons were seen chatting with Three Lions players and head coach Thomas Tuchel.

Chalamet was rooting for France, his father Marc’s birth country, against Spain on Tuesday

But Les Bleus were sent packing from the tournament after suffering a surprise 2-0 defeat

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Do celebrity appearances at big sports events add excitement or distract from the game itself?

Beckham will likely be in Atlanta on Wednesday as England bid to reach their first World Cup final since 1966.

Standing in their way is none other than Lionel Messi and Argentina, who are looking to become the first team to retain the title since Brazil in 1962.

Whoever comes out on top will then lock horns with Spain in the all-important final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

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The loser, meanwhile, will be forced to play a deflating third-place playoff against France the night before. 

Flight LS869, operated by a Boeing 737-800, departed Manchester at 10:15 pm before the crew declared an emergency moments later by squawking 7700, the international transponder code used to indicate a general emergency.

The aircraft stopped its climb at around 10,000 feet while the pilots carried out emergency procedures.

After assessing the situation, the crew decided to return to Manchester.

The aircraft landed safely at around 10:50 pm, approximately 35 minutes after departure, where it was met by airport fire and rescue vehicles as a precaution.

Following checks by emergency services, the Boeing 737 taxied to a remote stand under its own power, allowing passengers and crew to disembark safely.

No injuries were reported.

The cause of the cockpit fumes has not been confirmed.

The aircraft remained in Manchester following the incident while engineers carried out inspections.

One lane remains closed on the A1

Smoke engulfed a major A-road while firefighters dealt with a lorry blaze. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue were called to a lorry fire on the A1 southbound between Carpenters Lodge and Wittering at around 7am today (Tuesday, July 14).

Both lanes of the A1 had to close while the fire was dealt with. A fire spokesperson said: “On Tuesday at around 7am, crews were called to a lorry fire on the A1 southbound between Carpenters Lodge and Wittering.

“Crews from Dogsthorpe, Stanground, Yaxley, the Peterborough Volunteer Fire Brigade and Stamford (Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service) are in attendance, with the water carrier from Ramsey. Both lanes of the A1 were closed to begin with as smoke was affecting the northbound carriageway.”

The fire was extinguished at around 9.30am, but the northbound lane remains closed. The fire spokesperson added: “One lane northbound has now been opened but traffic is still heavy and we’d ask motorists to avoid the area if possible for now and find an alternative route.”

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