Three firefighters who were killed battling flames on the Colorado-Utah border are being remembered as brave heroes who were trailblazers in their industries.

Wildfires have spread across the West fueled by months of dry weather and a record lack of snow, forcing residents from their homes as crews work to tamp down the flames.

Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson and Sydney Watson were killed Saturday, June 27, and two others sustained burn injuries when they were overcome by flames from fast-moving fires in Mesa County. They deployed emergency protective shelters, which are considered a “last resort” for firefighters when there is no other way out.

They were assigned to a Helitack crew that can be dropped into remote areas by helicopters and whose mission is to prevent new fires from growing into out-of-control blazes.

Their deaths came almost 13 years to the day since an elite crew of 19 wildland firefighters died when they were trapped in a steep canyon in Yarnell, Arizona.

A memorial service will be held for the three firefighters at 11 a.m. Sunday at Las Colonias Park Amphitheater in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Emily Barker

Barker, 38, had so much spirit, and the people around her always strived to be a better person by her presence, said Sarah Brubeck Schnurbusch, a friend and former roommate.

Barker was from Clinton, Michigan, and liked hiking, skiing, dirt biking and playing hockey. She loved firefighting.

“I’ve never seen someone so excited to go to work,” Brubeck Schnurbusch said. She added that her friend was an expert who helped pave the way for many women in the industry.

She said she is hopeful that Barker’s death opens people’s eyes to the hard work firefighters are putting in day in and day out.

“I just hope that Emily knows the impact that she left on everybody else, and how many people really truly love her,” she said.

Nick Hutcherson

Hutcherson, 27, served in the U.S. Navy and had plans to become a physical therapy doctor, according to the Kaibab National Forest in northern Arizona where he was assigned. He was also an active member of the Northern Arizona Deaf and American Sign Language community and was a dedicated Muay Thai practitioner who trained at Southside Combat Academy in Flagstaff.

Hutcherson was from Glendale, Arizona.

The Kaibab National Forest said it is heartbroken over his death. Hutcherson exemplified the agency’s commitment to serving the public and the courage wildland firefighters bring to the job, it said.

The combat academy described Hutcherson as a warrior and said it is forever grateful to have known him and to have fought alongside him.

“We lost a good one,” read a social media post. “If you met Nick, you loved Nick. He was such a gentle and genuine soul. We are still in disbelief.”

Sydney Watson

Watson, 27, was from Warrior, Alabama, and graduated from the University of Tennessee Southern, according to the university.

A former pitcher on the softball team and “a quiet, composed leader,” Watson was assigned to the U.S. Wildland Fire Service Rifle Helitack crew, the university said in a statement.

In 2023, Watson participated in a program in North Carolina organized by the Women-in-Fire Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges, the collaborative group wrote in a statement.

In her application for the program, she said she wanted to see more women on the fire line and to work with and learn from other women in the fire industry, the statement said.

“It’s hard for people outside of the firefighting world to understand why we do what we do. We do it because we love it. Sydney loved it,” the group wrote.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s 1,000 guests have started to share details of what has been dubbed the wedding of the century.

The superstar couple, both 36, tied the knot in front of around 1,000 family members, friends and A-list celebrities during an extravagant celebration at Madison Square Garden on Friday.

And while the nuptials have been shrouded in secrecy, quite literally thanks to the privacy the New York City venue offers, the dazzling array of celeb guests have started to spill details to social media.

With Travis’s sports superstar buddies mingling with every A-lister Taylor has worked with or befriended over the years, the wedding was comparable to the Oscars in terms of the sheer star power packed into MSG.

Paul Rudd, a Kansas City Chiefs superfan who has worked with Travis on charity projects, enjoyed the night with fellow actor Adam Scott, who shared a morning-after Instagram photo which sparked comments from fellow guests.

Paul, his wife Julie Yaeger and Adam and his wife Naomi looked stunning in their wedding finery in the snap.

Toni Collette was quick to comment gushing about their shared fun, ‘So good to see you guys! What a night?! You all look so beautiful in this picture’.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia actress Mary Elizabeth Ellis, who appeared in Taylor’s 2022 music video for Anti-Hero, gave some insight into the reception entertainment as she gushed: ‘Yes!! Dancing with y’all was a highlight of my night!! ✨’ 

Singer Kelsea Ballerini also gushed about the dancing, sharing a photo of her look as she wrote: ‘long live a love story. ❤️ congrats on the most beautiful wedding i’m still crying and dancing.’

Music video director Joseph Kahn, who has helmed eight videos for Taylor gushed that the star-studded nuptials meant he got to meet some of his filmmaker heroes.

‘Had a wonderful time at Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce’s wedding last night,’ Kahn gushed on Instagram. ‘I got to meet Steven Spielberg and the lovely Kate Capshaw and talk filmmaking with the GOAT (lifelong dream achieved).’

‘What I will say about the wedding was it was so much funnier and emotional than expected, and as big as it was, it also felt very intimate.’

The superstar couple, both 36, tied the knot in front of around 1,000 family members, friends and A-list celebrities during an extravagant celebration at Madison Square Garden on Friday 

Paul Rudd, a Kansas City Chiefs superfan who has worked with Travis on charity projects, enjoyed the night with fellow actor Adam Scott

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Adam’s post sparked a flurry of comments from fellow guests, including Toni Collette who gushed about their shared fun, ‘So good to see you guys! What a night?! ‘

Music video director Joseph Kahn, who has helmed eight videos for Taylor gushed that the star-studded nuptials meant he got to meet some of his filmmaker heroes

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‘And yes, literally everyone was there. I told Lotte many times it was like living in the internet, and AI would crack if it tried to render it. Anyway congratulations Taylor and Travis! Wishing your beautiful family and future family endless happiness!’

Suki Waterhouse, a years-long pal of Taylor’s also shared her first glimpse of her wedding look on Sunday.

In a carousel of photos about her trip to NYC, the Brit model and actress included a selfie of herself in a stunning silver sequin dress.

Suki, unlike many other guests, had confirmed her invitation to the wedding months prior. Speaking to Variety earlier this year, she revealed she would be attending before joking that it might inspire plans for her own nuptials with fiancé Robert Pattinson.

Jessica Alba shared a post-wedding recap on Instagram, as she showed off her Prada dress and wrote: ‘We love love Congrats to T&T – such a beautiful night celebrating you.’

Niecy Nash documented her car ride to MSG and wrote after the big night: ‘The Betts pulled up to the Travis Kelce & Taylor Swift wedding . A time was had! The love in the room was palpable. Wowwwwwww‼️ is the best way to describe it. From beginning to end no detail was spared! Congrats! Welcome to the club!

Suki Waterhouse, a years-long pal of Taylor’s also shared her first glimpse of her wedding look on Sunday. In a carousel of photos about her trip to NYC, the Brit model and actress included a selfie of herself in a stunning silver sequin dress

Niecy Nash documented her car ride to MSG and wrote after the big night: ‘The Betts pulled up to the Travis Kelce & Taylor Swift wedding. A time was had! The love in the room was palpable’

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BBC Radio 1 star Greg James, who has been friends with Taylor for years after interviewing her multiple times, shared a photo of a slice of pizza, and joked: ‘I am currently experiencing the world’s greatest hangover and unable to reply to the hilarious number of messages I have received over the last 24hrs. 

‘But just&t to say: true to her word, of course the invitation arrived and I couldn’t tell anyone. And oh my God, what an unbelievably brilliant night. I’m off for a nap.’

The morning after the lavish bash, country star Maren Morris gave fans a peek inside the festivities by sharing a series of glamorous Instagram snaps from the wedding, including one unexpected keepsake.

Tucked at the end of the carousel was a custom handkerchief gifted to guests as a wedding favor – and Swifties were quick to spot a subtle nod to the singer’s music.

The personalized memento featured the couple’s bespoke wedding logo, made up of two intertwined Ts framed by hearts, alongside the wedding date, July 3, 2026, and the location, New York City.

But the sweetest touch was embroidered in one corner: the opening lyric from Swift’s 2014 hit Blank Space – ‘So it’s gonna be forever…’ 

BBC Radio 1 star Greg James shared a photo of a slice of pizza, and joked: ‘I am currently experiencing the world’s greatest hangover’

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Guests at the wedding may be finding an extra special thank you gift in their mailboxes, as insiders have claimed the newlyweds 1,000 friends and family will receive a film of the wedding as part of a lavish gift package.

The couple had camera crews following them around their spectacular wedding to film a documentary, the insiders have claimed.

The couple are yet to release any photos or footage of their big day, while details from guests have been trickling through amid the NDAs and tight security surrounding the event.

But it’s thought the bride was keen to capture every moment of her dream day.   

According to sources, there will be a documentary about the wedding, with the rumours intensifying after signs reading ‘No parking’ for a ‘film shoot’ were spotted around MSG from Wednesday. 

The film will cover everything from the planning stage to the day itself, it’s claimed, with the insider adding to The Sun US that the finished film will be sent to guests as part of a ‘thank you for coming’ present package. 

In another clue, Taylor invited Disney execs Bob Iger, Dana Walden, and David Greenbaum to the wedding. The star has an existing relationship with Disney as the studio’s streaming service, Disney+, released her documentary projects The End of an Era and Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions.

Another major media figure in attendance was AMC Theaters CEO Adam Aron, who worked with Taylor to release her 2023 concert film Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, which took £195 million worldwide. 

Some Swifties have speculated though that pop superstar Taylor was more likely to have captured footage for a future music video, rather than reveal all in a documentary. 

On Reddit one top comment pointed out: ‘Taylor has used family photos and clips over the years so may have put up the notice so that she could choose to use photos or video clips down the line if she wants to.’

‘Maybe a short clip makes it into a YouTube short or maybe one day she writes a song about this time in her life and she wants to include footage from the wedding.’

The morning after the lavish bash, country star Maren Morris gave fans a peek inside the festivities by sharing a series of glamorous Instagram snaps from the wedding, including one unexpected keepsake

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AMC boss Aron was among the first to spill some details about the wedding. Just hours after the lavish festivities wrapped, he shared an unusually detailed account of the ceremony in a since-deleted post on X. 

According to Aron, the couple exchanged vows that were ‘long, entertaining, personal, charming, emotional, irreverent and endearing.’

‘Then the vows. Long, entertaining, personal, charming, emotional, irreverent and endearing explorations by each as to how they met, why they want to be with each other for all eternity, the promises they made in joining their much-beloved two whole families (Kelce’s and Swift’s) as one, and committing to their new mutual life together,’ he wrote.

Aron said the ceremony took place inside a transformed Madison Square Garden that ‘did not look like Madison Square Garden,’ with the venue draped in ‘peach and white’ and decorated with oversized photos of the bride and groom from childhood through their teenage years.

According to Aron, Kelce looked ‘handsome’ in a white tuxedo while Swift stunned in a white wedding gown with a long veiled train before an officiant who was ‘warm and welcoming, funny and eloquent’ led the ceremony.

After the couple sealed their marriage with what Aron described as a ‘sweep you off your feet kiss,’ guests moved into an elaborate ‘Secret Garden’-themed reception featuring five-story illuminated trees, an A-list crowd, lavish food and drink and plenty of music.

He ended his post by calling the ceremony ‘real, pure, true joy’ and declaring that, in a world filled with conflict and division, the couple’s wedding proved ‘that love conquers all.’

Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, Sacha Baron Cohen, Hugh Grant, Reese Witherspoon, Graham Norton, Ethan Hawke, Ed Sheeran, Cindy Crawford, Suki Waterhouse and Emma Stone were all spotted entering the venue on Friday.

Beyonce and Jay Z are understood to have attended as did Dua Lipa, Jessica Alba, Chris Rock, Bradley Cooper, Dakota Johnson and Gigi Hadid.

Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks performed at the reception and was followed by Sir Paul. 

Taylor’s former ‘BFF forever’, actress Blake Lively, was reportedly not invited after they fell out after Swift’s name was dragged into the the actress’s bitter legal battle with co-star Justin Baldoni.

It comes after the price cap change on July 1

People have been warned to “never assume” if they are struggling with bills.

According to an expert at consumer champion, Which?, many households may feel the impact, with the price cap having increased on July 1, 2026. The BBC reports: “Regulator Ofgem says the war means a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity will pay £221 more a year, with an annual bill of £1,862.”

Which? also says similar, noting that much of the rise is driven by conflict in the Middle East. This has pushed up global oil and gas prices, and by the government shifting some environmental policy costs from electricity bills to gas bills.

Don’t assume

However, in key advice, Sarah Ingrams is urging people not to assume “a big energy provider gives better customer service.” With over 10 years’ experience writing about consumer affairs, the expert leads on energy content at Which?, helping customers navigate the market and exposing poor practice.

She writes: “British Gas, EDF Energy, E.on Next, Octopus Energy, Ovo Energy and Scottish Power supply gas and electricity to around 92% of households in Great Britain, according to Ofgem. Some customers have stuck with them for years, and others have never been with a different provider.

“But our research finds big differences between the quality of their customer service, whether customers consider them to be good value for money and the extent to which their practices are in the best interests of customers.”

With this in mind, people should always shop around to ensure they get the best value for money. But before people sign up for a deal, there are a few things they should always check.

Which? says to always check:

• Exit fees – how much they cost
• Length of tariff – usually 12, 18 or 24 months
• How direct debit works – is it a fixed monthly amount or does it vary depending on what you use?
• Warm Home Discount – if eligible, will a new supplier pay it? Some of the smallest suppliers aren’t included in the scheme.
• Solar Export Payments – some providers offer preferential rates for customers, so you might lose a rate if you switch suppliers, or find a better rate to move to.
• Peak and off-peak times – a small number of ‘time of use’ tariffs are available, with different rates at different times of day. If that’s you, make sure you know the time slots and can act accordingly.

Fixed deals

In addition to never assuming, the expert asks people to set reminders so you “don’t forget when your fixed deal is ending.”

She explains: “If you signed up to a fixed deal, it’s likely to be 12, 18 or 24 months long. When your contract ends, you’ll automatically move onto your provider’s out-of-contract or default tariff if you take no action.

“Default tariffs are set by the energy price cap and change every three months. They rise by 13% today and are expected to remain as high when the cap is next adjusted in October.

“Your supplier should remind you that your fixed tariff is ending 49 days before it does. You can also check your tariff end date in your app, online account or your latest statement.

“Seven weeks’ notice might feel like a long time and it’s easy to put it aside for later and end up paying more than you need to as a result. But you can actually switch, without paying any exit fees, in the last 49 days of your tariff. “

By JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR

Published: 10:53 BST, 5 July 2026 | Updated: 14:51 BST, 5 July 2026

Andy Burnham has urged England fans to grab the ‘golden chance’ to be in the pub until the early hours of tomorrow morning.

The PM-in-waiting said he wanted the country to ‘make the most’ of the World Cup showdown even though it is a ‘school night’.

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Employers are braced for staff to turn up late, extremely weary or not at all in the wake of the clash with Mexico. 

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has also been pleading with parents not to let kids skip school after watching the game. 

Kick-off is scheduled for 1am UK time after a last-ditch move to bring it forward was blocked yesterday. With delays for thunderstorms also possible, that means the contest might not end until 3am or even later. 

In a video wishing the team luck, Mr Burnham said: ‘What a golden chance to be in the pub together at 1am on a school night… make the most of it everybody, but mainly let’s hope that England do the job – come on England.’ 

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Andy Burnham has urged England fans to grab the ‘golden chance’ to be in the pub until the early hours of tomorrow morning

Mr Burnham said he wanted the country to ‘make the most’ of the World Cup showdown even though it is a ‘school night’

It is the first time England have played at Mexico’s high-altitude Azteca stadium (pictured) since the ‘hand of God’ match against Argentina at the 1986 World Cup

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The former Greater Manchester Mayor is expected to watch the event live tonight. It is the first time England have played at Mexico’s high-altitude Azteca stadium since the ‘hand of God’ match against Argentina at the 1986 World Cup.

Downing Street initially suggested Arsenal fan Keir Starmer‘s schedule tomorrow was too busy, but he is now proposing to watch.

The Government has announced that pubs across England will be able to stay open until 5am without licence extensions, although the decision came too late for many to make arrangements.  

Mr Burnham makes great play of his fondness for football. 

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An Everton fan, he was a member of the notorious New Labour ‘Demon Eyes’ team alongside the likes of Ed Balls and James Purnell – both now tipped to be part of his Government.

Mr Burnham has pledged to promote sport, and yesterday backed calls for football fans to be allowed to booze in the stands at matches.

In a social media post, he criticised the ban which has been in place for England’s top five leagues for more than forty years in a bid to curb hooliganism.

In contrast, Downing Street has suggested that Arsenal fan Keir Starmer’s schedule tomorrow is too busy for him to stay up so late

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Sue Barker returned to Centre Court at Wimbledon today to join Sir Geoff Hurst and other major sporting names in the Royal Box. 

The former tennis player and TV presenter, 70, was dropped from her role as host of A Question of Sport in 2020 after 24 years on the show – later claiming the corporation had effectively ‘axed’ her as part of a refresh.

She later announced her retirement and stepped down from presenting the BBC‘s Wimbledon coverage.   

Mrs Barker was met with cheers from the crowd this afternoon as she returned to Centre Court for Day Seven of the Championships, sitting in the Royal Box among some of Britain’s biggest sportspeople. 

World Cup hero Sir Geoff, 84, led the stars as he enjoyed the tennis ahead of England’s crunch match against Mexico tonight, attending with his granddaughter Amy Driver. 

Today’s tennis matches include the fourth-round singles match between Novak Djokovic and Roman Safiullin, as well as Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka. 

Mrs Barker and Sir Geoff enjoyed Wimbledon among other household names including ice skating legend Dame Jayne Torvill, as well as Olympic Double Gold Medallist Dame Kelly Holmes. 

Cricket star Sir James Anderson and his wife Lady Daniella also sat in the box, alongside English former rugby union player Matt Dawson. 

Mrs Barker waves to the crowd as she makes a return to Wimbledon this afternoon 

Sir Geoff Hurst waves in the Royal Box today, wearing a blue suit and stripy tie 

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Sir Geoff led the stars as he enjoyed the tennis ahead of England’s crunch match tonight

Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill with Rosie Galligan in the Royal Box today 

English former rugby union player James Haskell in the Royal Box on Centre Court this afternoon 

Dame Laura Kenny and Sir Jason Kenny are seen in the Royal Box on Day Seven of Wimbledon

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Rugby player Sadia Kabeya is seen in the Royal Box wearing a yellow dress 

Rugby players Rosie Galligan, Marlie Packer and Zoe Stratford smile as they watch tennis today

Mrs Barker arrived at Wimbledon wearing an elegant white blazer, while Sir Geoff sported a navy blue suit, white shirt and colourful stripy tie.

The footballer became the first player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, as England recorded a 4–2 victory over West Germany at Wembley in 1966. 

Meanwhile, Dame Jayne donned an elegant blue floral dress and white sandals while Dame Kelly looked stylish in a blue and white gown. 

Jessica Ennis-Hill looked smart as the Olympic athlete wore an ivory pant suit, accompanied by her husband Andy Hill. 

Sir Geoff’s appearance at the major sporting event came one day after joining the quest to recover captain Bobby Moore’s missing famous red jersey.

He urged ‘whoever has the shirt’ to give it back to the Moore family, stepping forward after the Daily Mail revealed how Tina Moore, married to Bobby for 24 years, has launched a dramatic legal action.

She lodged papers at the High Court on Friday alleging that Neville Evans, a businessman from Wales, either has the iconic shirt or knows what happened to it. 

Mr Evans, a tyre firm tycoon, is a well-respected dealer of sporting memorabilia and there is no suggestion that he acquired the shirt illegally. 

Tomorrow’s men’s singles match at Wimbledon will see Britain’s last man standing Arthur Fery and Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov fight for a place in the quarter-finals. 

Fery booked his place in the last 16 with a five-set comeback against Belgium’s Zizou Bergs yesterday, winning the longest match of this year’s Championships.

English professional footballer Lauren James in the Royal Box this afternoon 

Sir Jason Kenny and Dame Laura Kenny in the Royal Box on Day Seven on Wimbledon 2026 

English former rugby union player and coach Sir Clive Woodward wore a grey suit and tie to sit in the Royal Box today 

Cricket commentator David Gower waves as he stands up in the Royal Box today 

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Ice skating legend Dame Jayne Torvill attends Wimbledon today to sit in the Royal Box 

Will Greenwood, Sir Geoff Hurst and Michael Carrick on day seven of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships

Jessica Ennis-Hill and her husband Andy Hill attend Wimbledon this afternoon 

Dame Kelly Holmes smiles inside the Royal Box today during the Wimbledon Championships 

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Former footballer Graeme Souness is seen in the Royal Box at Wimbledon today

You would have to be living under a rock not to have noticed that everyday costs have been spiralling in recent years.

Households across the UK are feeling the pinch as rising interest rates, sky-high inflation and economic uncertainty have taken their toll on the country’s finances.

Prices have increased by an eye-watering 27.3 per cent in the past five years (between May 2021 and March 2026), according to a report from the House of Commons Library.

But for all the talk of a soaring cost of living, it can be hard to keep track of how much you actually need to earn to get by these days.

And how much higher does your salary really need to be if you live in the capital, compared with other British cities such as Birmingham, Edinburgh or Manchester for example?

Analysts at investment platform AJ Bell have crunched the numbers, using Government data to see how much the average two-adult household with a mortgage is spending each month on essentials from food, clothes and transport to insurance, council tax and energy bills. 

The costs have been broken down by region to find out how much you really need to earn to keep the family finances in the black – and the results may surprise you.

The average monthly spend for a UK household is a massive £2,964. This does not include luxuries or nice-to-haves such as holidays, but does include average spending on meals out, trips to the cinema or theatre, and personal care such as hairdressing.

The overall spend is equivalent to £35,567 a year and a couple would need a combined income of around £39,624 before tax to pay for this, assuming they have no other costs and not allowing for any savings or pension contributions.

But this will only cover the basics, you will need more than this to live a comfortable lifestyle or set any savings aside. For example, anyone planning a holiday, those who need a new car, who want to do home improvements or even families who have young children in childcare will need to earn substantially more to cover pay for these costs.

The average salary in the UK was £32,890 in 2025, according to official data from the Office for National Statistics’ latest Annual Survey for Hours and Earnings. This means that a family with a single earner on the average salary would not be paid enough to cover the very basics for their family.

Households spend £300 a month on food and non-alcoholic drinks on average, £48 a month on alcohol and tobacco, and £75 a month on clothing and footwear.

Mortgage costs are the largest single outgoing, at an average of £1,592 a month. Utilities eat up much of the budget too: water is £50 a month, electricity £88, gas £68 and council tax £183.

Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at AJ Bell, says: ‘Costs have gone up for everyone, and inflation over the past few years has been horribly painful all round, but when you delve into the data you can see just how hard some regions are being squeezed.’

London is infamous for its high-cost living, where it’s common to pay £7 for a pint, housing costs are typically the highest in the country and residents have to spend more on transport. But how much do you need to earn to survive in the capital?

Those living in London spend considerably more than elsewhere, with average monthly outgoings of £4,414. While this may come as little surprise, what may be less expected is that Londoners have the lowest costs in four out of 16 categories of spending we analysed – alcohol and tobacco, electricity, petrol, TV – and had the highest outgoings in just four categories.

A lower outlay on fuel is likely because more people in the capital use public transport over their own vehicle, according to Coles.

Housing costs are the clincher in the capital, where the typical mortgage eats up £2,940 of the monthly budget. This is more than three times the £809 monthly spend on mortgages in Scotland.

Council tax is considerably higher in London too, at an average of £292 a month.

A London couple will spend on average £52,972 a year on essential outgoings. To be able to cover these minimum costs, they will need a combined income of at least £63,792 a year, according to the calculations.

Wages do tend to be higher in the capital, thanks to what’s known as the ‘London weighting’. The average salary in London was £39,778 in 2025, according to official data – £6,888 a year more than the average across the UK. However, this falls short of the extra £17,405 you need to get by in London compared with elsewhere.

Coles says: ‘It’s not that Londoners are living the high life – they’re spending less than average on everything from foods and drink to communications and TV packages.

The average house price in London is £542,000. And those living in London spend considerably more than elsewhere, with average monthly outgoings of £4,414

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Anyone living in the East of England needs at least £39,024 a year to spend on the basics, with the average household of two needing a combined income of £44,424 before tax

‘The trouble is that they’re forking out a small fortune for property – and these figures lay bare the consequences of sky-high property prices in London.’

The average house price in London is £542,000, according to official figures, compared with a national average of £268,000.

It’s worth noting, too, that we have not included childcare costs in our calculations.

For a London couple with one child under the age of two, this would add £997 a month (£11,961 a year) to their outgoings, assuming they need 25 hours of childcare per week and receive no working parent entitlement. The average cost of childcare is £764 a month in England, or £9,166 a year, according to Coram, the children’s charity.

Households in the East of England have the highest outgoings in seven of the 17 categories we analysed – the most by far – and yet their overall monthly costs, at an average of £3,252, are only the third highest. Spending on insurance is considerably above the average, at £27 a week, and they also spend the most on food and drink, at £74. Low-lying geography and number of flood plains in the region could explain why these households are having to spend more on insurance.

Anyone living in this region, which includes Norwich and Ipswich need at least £39,024 a year to spend on the basics, with the average household of two needing a combined income of £44,424 before tax. The average salary in the East of England was £34,104 in 2025, according to official data.

Households in the South East live in the second most expensive region in the UK – and need to earn the salary to match. Here, households of two spend £41,460 a year on the basics and need a combined income of £47,808 before tax to pay for them. Perhaps surprisingly, those in the South East tend to spend more on utilities than households in London – spending £93 a month on electricity and £74 a month on gas, compared to £81 and £68, respectively, in London.

Those in the North East of the country have the lowest outgoings in six spending categories including health, insurance and water. But the amount spent on recreation is also lower than the average, suggesting that these households are still feeling the pinch.

They spend on average £122 a month on eating out, and just £6 on cinema and theatre. Mortgage costs here are considerably below the average at £853. The total average monthly spend for the region is £2,144 – some £820 below the national average.

The average monthly spend in the East and West Midlands is incredibly close, separated only by a few pounds at £2,526 and £2,555 respectively. Here, households need to earn around £32,500 before tax to get by. The average salary in the East Midlands was £30,690 a year and £31,345 a year in the West Midlands.

In the North West, average monthly costs are £2,449, and Yorkshire and the Humber is marginally cheaper at £2,389.

Households in Wales spend the least on public transport, at a monthly average of just £3.90, but the most on alcohol and tobacco, at £59. Overall, average monthly costs for the region are £2,411. This requires a pre-tax income of £30,408.

But it is Scotland where the overall cost of living is lowest. The average monthly spend is £1,971 – equivalent to £23,652 a year. Mortgage costs are lowest, at an average of £808.99 a month, and the region also has the lowest average spend for clothing and footwear (£59), meals and drinks out (£101) and council tax (£124).

Households in Scotland need a combined income of just £23,652 before tax.

So, is it worth moving elsewhere in the country to cut your costs?

A relocation to the other side of the country might save a few hundred pounds a month, but there is more to consider: jobs, friends and family, and quality of life.

Coles says: ‘It’s less typical to consider a move much further afield to cut costs, but plenty of people will consider a longer commute. There are also plenty of people who will consider a move to a city elsewhere in the UK, offering career opportunities without breaking the bank.’

If that feels too extreme, then the best way to cut your costs is to shop around for everything you possibly can – from your food shop to your phone bill and household insurances.

Coles adds: ‘It’s only when you’ve done all these things and still face enormous costs that you might need to consider bigger cuts and making some more difficult sacrifices.’

Vix Leyton, consumer expert at Think Money, says: ‘The biggest savings are not always in dramatic lifestyle changes – they are often in renewals, repeat payments and bad habits that are easy to fall into when you’re time-poor and the smallest bit of admin feels a bit overwhelming, but a few minutes on key areas can have a big impact.’

When it comes to energy bills, make sure you are submitting regular meter readings and check that your direct debit still reflects your actual usage.

Leyton adds: ‘For subscriptions, comb your bank statement and ask whether you would actively choose to sign up now – whether that’s streaming services, cloud storage, fitness apps or delivery passes. They can all be paused, rotated or cancelled if you’re not using them.’

Anyone whose mortgage deal is coming to an end should speak to their lender or broker early – don’t move on to the standard variable rate. This is the biggest expense for most households so shopping around can make a real difference.

Leyton adds: ‘The aim is not to cut every comfort out of the household budget. It is to be more deliberate about what earns its place.’

Djokovic, meanwhile, now 39, had to overcome a sticky first-round against unknown Chinese player Yibing Wu – who took a set off the veteran – before he breezed past Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets in the second. He was stretched to four sets by French 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech in his most recent outing, but his star quality showed in a flawless tiebreak to seal a morale-bolstering win. Keep up to date with all the latest on Centre Court with our live blog below, with expert insight and analysis from Oli Gent at Wimbledon.

Police are looking into reports that two people walked out of an upmarket seafood restaurants without paying a reported £115 bill.

A man and a woman visited the El Puerto restaurant in Penarth, Wales, on Monday evening, with CCTV footage showing them park up and enjoy food and drinks, before leaving without appearing to pay the bill.

The duo reportedly ordered an all day set menu for £32, including a Dover sole meal for £52.10, calamari for £9.50 and eight Coca-Colas for £22. The bill’s total came to £115.60, according to BBC Wales who managed to get hold of the outstanding bill.

As of Sunday, the bill has remained unpaid.

El Puerto called on the couple to pay their bill in a post on social media after the incident, saying: “A polite request to two customers who visited The Custom House today…We’d kindly ask you to return and settle your outstanding bill.

“We’d much rather resolve this directly and appreciate you getting in touch with us as soon as possible.

“We have your vehicle registration on record. Please return or contact the team to arrange payment.”

South Wales Police confirmed they had received a report of theft from The Custom House and called on anyone with information to get in touch, quoting 2600206060.

Tanny Martinez, owner of the restaurant, told local media that the incident had been “hugely disappointing” for the entire team.

“The hospitality industry is already facing an incredibly challenging economic climate, with rising costs and pressures across the sector, without having to deal with situations like this,” he said.

“It’s incredibly frustrating when the hard work and dedication that goes into creating great experiences for our customers is not respected.”

Martinez added the impact of dine-and-dash crimes “goes beyond the financial loss”.

“Situations like this can also have a real effect on the team’s morale and wellbeing, especially when so much care and effort goes into every service.”

A chef has shared his tips for the perfect cheese toastie recipe on social media

Cheese toasties make for a delightful lunch, and they’re relatively simple to prepare at home. While you might typically grab whatever cheddar happens to be in your fridge, one chef has suggested a three-cheese blend that will take your toastie to new heights.

In a TikTok video, Andy Hearnden, who shares content on the platform as @andy_cooks, revealed his recommendations for the ultimate cheese toastie.

Grating and chopping his selected cheeses, Andy explained: “These are the best cheeses for your next grilled cheese.

“We’ve got mozzarella for creaminess, taleggio for amazing funk, and red cheddar for sharpness.” Chop all those up and mix them together in a bowl.”

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Once the cheese is combined, place it between two slices of bread. Instead of using sourdough, Andy chooses shokupan, a Japanese milk loaf that can either be prepared at home or purchased from specialist retailers or Marks and Spencer.

Having assembled the sandwich, add some clarified butter to your pan, then grill the cheese until it has melted on both sides.

Describing this as the “best grilled cheese you’ll ever have”, Andy suggests you can enhance it even more by incorporating some crispy chilli oil.

While the TikToker employs clarified butter in his method, the experts at The Culinary Cartel suggest using mayonnaise instead of butter for the ideal golden crust.

The reasoning given was that mayonnaise is easier to spread than butter, reduces the risk of the bread tearing, and with its higher smoking point, it is far less prone to burning.