The Sikh man who murdered student Henry Nowak with a dagger has denied a string of charges relating to the possession of an arsenal of 55 offensive weapons.

Vickrum Digwa, 23, who was jailed for life last month for murdering Henry, 18, denied owning weapons including two flick knives, an extendable baton, eight knuckle dusters, three machetes, a traditional Japanese weapon, three ninja swords and 37 other swords.

Vickrum appeared remotely from Frankland Prison in County Durham today at Southampton Magistrates’ Court, alongside his brother, 27-year-old Gurpreet Digwa, and his father, 52-year-old Moga Singh, who have also been charged with owning illegal weapons at their home in Southampton.

The alleged weapons offences took place on December 4, 2025, at the family’s home on St Denys Road in the Hampshire city.

One of the weapons Vickrum is accused of possessing, a manriki-gusari, a traditional Japanese weapon that includes a weighted metal chain.

Gurpreet denied charges of possessing an offensive weapon, namely an extendable baton, an axe and a kirpan that were found in a car parked on Belmont Road in Southampton, and is also charged with possessing an air weapon on Belmont Road.

Singh, father of Henry Nowak’s murderer Vickrum Digwa, was charged with a string of weapons offences

As was his other son, Gurpreet Digwa, who also tried to hide his face as he entered court today

Digwa wore his coat done up and a hood over his head, while his face was covered by a mask, despite the baking temperatures in Southampton

Vickrum Digwa, 23, was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years in prison before release for the murder of Henry Nowak on a night out in Southampton last December

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The trio also face charges of possessing three push daggers in a public place, but did not enter pleas for these charges.

District Judge Henry Gordon said: ‘You all pleaded not guilty to the charges that were put before the court.’

He said their trial would be held on September 27 next year.

Gurpreet and Moga  who both sought to cover their faces as they entered the court building – were released on bail. Vickrum appeared via video link from HMP Frankland in County Durham.

Henry died in police handcuffs on a night out in December last year after a chance encounter with Vickrum Digwa as the first-year student – alone, unarmed, and with only a trace of alcohol in his system – made his way home.

A brief tussle ensued after Digwa took Henry’s phone, then Digwa removed his dagger from his sheath, which he carried in accordance with his faith, and plunged it 8cm (3.5in) into the victim’s chest.

Digwa further stabbed Henry twice to the leg, and once in the abdomen, while the victim also sustained a slash mark to his face.

Digwa, with brother Gurpreet arriving on the scene shortly after the attack, then filmed Henry as he attempted to get away from his attacker.

Mr Nowak died after being attacked by Vickrum Digwa as he made his way home following a night out in Southampton, where he was a first-year university student

The trio appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court for a plea hearing today

Singh tried to cover his face from photographers as he attended a previous hearing with his son Gurpreet last month

Digwa lied when police turned up a short time later, falsely claiming that Henry was the attacker, had punched and kicked Digwa, knocked his turban off, and had made a racist remark.

Hampshire Police officers then placed mortally wounded Henry into handcuffs, despite his desperate pleas – captured on police bodycam – that he had been stabbed.

He also told officers he could not breathe as he lay dying, but they did not listen.

One officer replied: ‘I don’t think you have, mate.’

He and a second officer are currently under investigation for potential gross misconduct.

Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, and father Singh had by now arrived at the scene, and Digwa secretly told his mother to take the dagger home.

Kaur, 53, is due to be sentenced next week for assisting an offender. 

Digwa was later secretly recorded speaking in Punjabi to Gurpreet, in which the attacker agreed to pretend he had acted in self-defence even though he earlier confessed to his brother he had stabbed Henry.

He also told Gurpreet that if there were any cameras at the scene he would be unable to put forward self-defence.

Digwa was handed a life sentence in June this year with a minimum term of 21 years before being considered eligible for parole.

Judge William Mousley KC told the defendant, who showed no emotion: ‘In addition to killing Henry, and the irreparable harm to those close to him, you have also caused real suffering to others who knew him.

‘You have brought shame upon your family, your community and your religion.

‘Your actions have stirred up racial tension in Southampton and across the country which have made many Sikhs worried about their own safety even though they have done absolutely nothing wrong.’

He described Henry, the first in his family to attend university, as a ‘much-loved, kind, hard-working and ambitious young man, devoted to his family and with a bright future’.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously said he ‘felt sick’ watching footage of police handcuffing Henry as he lay dying, and that there are ‘serious questions’ to answer about the case.

The footage also prompted large protests in the streets.

The Prince of Wales soared to the top of a celebrity leaderboard at a Hastings seafront crazy golf course, after taking on the famous windmill hole.

The Prince, who said he had played mini golf with his family before, played five holes at Hastings Adventure Golf as part of a day out with local young people.

The Hastings course was home to the 2026 World Crazy Golf Championships in June, with competitors from around the world all vying for the sport’s largest prize fund.

Joining teenagers on the seafront, as a small crowd watched, he did not manage a hole in one, but finished respectably.

After the Prince had left at the end of the engagement, the mini golfers averaged his score out across the usual 18 holes, saying that he might have made it in 33 but that they would settle on 35 as a conservative estimate.

The number would place him at the top of a celebrity leaderboard, with comedian Tim Vine in second place with 37, then comedian Henning Wehn with 39, magician John Archer at 41 and presenter and author Fern Britton at 45 – all have played the full 18 holes.

The Prince was introduced to the traditional course by expert players David and Marion Hartley, members of Hastings Mini Golf Club who managed the course for 14 years before they retired, and Murray Thompson, who came second in the World Mini Golf Championships last year.

Mr and Mrs Hartley, who are 74 and 75 respectively and both among the country’s leading players, joked that they would not be going easy on the Prince, but would give him tips ‘if he asked’.

The Prince had made it known to them, via his Kensington Palace team, that he was particularly keen to play the windmill hole, which involves hitting the ball through moving sails to send it through the windmill and into the hole.

He hit the ball through on the second attempt, making it a hole in three.

He played four other holes in total – two with the experts and two with local young people – taking two attempts each time to hit the ball into the hole.

The Prince joked that ‘next time he would play with a bunch of eight-year-olds, so I might have more chance’.

Mr Thompson, 41, hit hole-in-ones each time. ‘Stop it Murray,’ said the Prince as he watched him repeat the feat. ‘Oh my Lord, Murray!’

Locals had not been aware that the Prince was visiting the mini golf course, with a few dozen people – friends and family of staff – gathering to catch a glimpse of him before words spread.

The Prince said of his prior mini golf experience with his family: ‘We’ve played a few times. The children love it.’

One player reassured him: ‘We’ll stand back when you swing.’

Prince William in a wooden net shop in the Old Town

William played crazy golf with young people supported by the local youth charity XTrax 

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The Hastings Adventure Golfo course was home to the 2026 World Crazy Golf Championships in June, with competitors from around the world all vying for the sport’s largest prize fund

Prince William also met school children on the beach during his visit to Hastings, East Sussex, to highlight the town’s fishing community and the vital work of local youth-led and community-driven organisations

The Prince of Wales with young people and volunteers at the Common Room at Eagle House, which functions as a ‘public living room’ and youth club

 When he potted the golf ball in two goes for the first straightforward hole, the Prince said: ‘Phew.’

Mrs Hartley gave him some advice for the ‘tricky’ third hole – the Prince took on holes one, three, and five – and he repeated ‘Ok, hug the wood’.

‘You make it look so easy,’ he told his fellow players, as they each got a hole in one through the windmill.

In a second part of the engagement, the Prince met staff and teenagers from Hastings youth charity, XTrax, which works with disadvantaged young people to give them a safe and welcoming space.

He joined five young people to play two extra holes, stopping in between to speak to them quietly and at length about their lives and prospects.

As he left, he wished them good luck in their job search and promised that he would ‘make sure their opinions are heard and respected’.

‘And put on some suncream,’ he said, laughing, as he left.

As he made his way to a waiting car, he stopped to shake hands with around 100 people who had gathered to see and photograph him.

Among them was four-and-a-half-year-old Thea, who was dressed as a pirate after ‘Pirate Day’ at her playgroup, and was happy to shake hands with a ‘real Prince’.

Afterwards, Mr and Mrs Hartley and Mr Thompson assessed the Prince’s golfing skills as ‘better than a tourist’.

William talking to fisherman Steve Gurka in the Old Town, during his visit to Hastings

He also made the time to greet well-wishers during his trip 

Prince William aboard a fishing boat 

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‘Put him under our wing for a few days and he’d be good,’ added Mr Hartley.

‘He’s a lovely man,’ said Mrs Hartley.

Earlier the prince said he was ‘confident’ about England’s chances against Norway this weekend when asked about the football.

The heir-to-the-throne shared his mood when he surprised a class of four and five year olds eating their packed lunches on the beach.

Parent volunteer Ben Tivey, 40, who was accompanying daughter Tilly, five, and other members of Diamond Class at Cranbrook Church of England Primary School, raised the subject of the World Cup, telling William: ‘Come on England!’

The Prince, smiling broadly, replied: ‘I’m feeling confident.’

The group, who were taking part in their first-ever school trip, were amazed to see the future King stroll past on The Stade, the town’s shingle beach.

Moments earlier, William had been presented with a silver winkle as he became an honorary member of The Winkle Club, a charitable organisation founded by local fishermen in 1900 to support deprived families in the area, which now supports good causes and community groups across the town.

‘That’s a stunning winkle,’ said the Prince as he admired the gift, adding with a grin, ‘ I will take good care of my winkle.’

William laughed as he was told how members of the Club, known as ‘Winklers’ carry a winkle shell which they must produce when challenged to ‘Winkle Up’. Failure to do so results in a fine, which is donated to local charities.

There is an exemption for anyone ‘in working gear’, he was told.

‘I might do it on the Trooping the Colour,’ he joked.

Previous holders of the title bestowed by the charitable organisation include Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother, the Duke of Kent, Sir Winston Churchill and Field Marshal Lord Montgomery.

The Prince had arrived for a day of engagements in Hastings in style, riding the UK’s steepest funicular railway.

Opened in 1902, the East Hill railway looks out onto Europe’s largest beach-launched fishing fleet on The Stade.

He was greeted by a crowd of wellwishers, including a school party from Germany, several dogs and 15-month-old Sebastian Bowley, who promptly burst into tears when William crouched down to say hello.

‘I know how you feel,’ said the Prince. ‘It’s hot down here! Are you having a dip?’ he asked locals.

He headed first to a row of historic Net Shops – tall wooden structures built to store fishing nets to protect them from the elements. He was welcomed by Steve Peak, honorary curator of The Fishermen’s Museum, and Stephen Roberts-Pratt, the Museum’s manager and shipkeeper.

William ducked his head to enter the tiny Net Shops Museum, a restored 1835 tower which now leans to one side, but has been made safe by the council.

After hearing about the history of the fishing industry in the town, he headed to the beach to hear more from local fishermen.

He stopped to chat to Steve Gurka, who was finishing a fishing net by hand before taking it out in the hope of catching Dover Sole.

He also climbed a ladder to board the Senlac Jack, a fishing vessel used to catch Dover Sole to hear more from Paul and other local fishermen

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In a Metro Travel Hot Take, Adam Miller pays tribute to his favourite lesser-visited Italian city that was revealed as one of TikTok’s hottest destinations for 2026.

My great Italian love affair started at a wedding. Or, to be more accurate, because of a wedding.

I’d just watched my friends get married in a fairytale ceremony in Tuscany, and I wanted to round the trip of dreams off with a city break.

Everyone else in our party had the same idea: recover from four days of Prosecco drinking with downtime, dolce vita style. But while they were heading for Florence, two of us broke away to go to Bologna.

As we said our goodbyes after some of the best days we’d had in years, I started to regret our decision — perhaps we should have followed the gang and gone to Florence, widely hailed as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, to soak up culture, history, and the best prosciutto in the country.

I’d been dead set on Bologna, though. My well-travelled sister always said it was her favourite city in the world before she died suddenly in 2002, but I never got the chance to ask her why. A quick Google of ‘things to do’ didn’t make it much clearer, either.

I will always choose a city break over a beach holiday or sitting by the pool in a fancy villa.

I need to be constantly stimulated — I love the bustle, the smells, the knowledge that you could stumble across a meal, an exhibition, or a show that changes something fundamental about who you are.

In life, I have very little structure — my day-to-day schedule would strike horror into the hearts of many. But if I’m going to a city, I want a firm plan.

I want a list of galleries, museums, churches, dinners booked well in advance, and barely a minute unaccounted for. Depending on whether you’re type A or B, I might very well be your nightmare travel companion.

What can you do in Bologna?

A weekend break with me, and you’ll need to book another holiday just to recover. So, what would I do in Bologna?

Google told me that ‘must-see attractions’ are the Piazza Maggiore, the Basilica di San Petronio, the Two Towers, and the Basilica di Santo Stefano (Seven Churches).

I’d never heard of anything listed, and at a glance, I wasn’t particularly excited about them.

Bologna looked beautiful in pictures, its signature red buildings against the backdrop of rolling hills and the Apennine Mountains, but still, I wasn’t necessarily counting down the days.

I’ve been to Italy more times than I can remember, and love Florence, Rome, Venice, Milan, Verona, Siena, Lucca, Pisa, and Bergamo.

Claiming Bologna as your favourite city in Italy seems like a bold statement — let alone your favourite in the world — but after one night there, I had to agree with my sister.

I can’t name many cities I want to come back to again and again, but this is at the very top of the list. I already have a flight booked for another trip, later this month.

Florence, Rome, Venice — they all live up to their reputations. The Vatican City is so impressive, it reduced me to tears; there are few joys in life more magical than walking along the canals of Venice. And Florence is, of course, replete with magnificent buildings and extraordinary art and history.

But aside from their creative wonders, they all have one thing in common: they’re tourist traps.

Getting into anything worth seeing can be claustrophobic, with huge crowds and long queues. They’re also eye-wateringly expensive to eat, drink, and exist in.

I’d never stay in Florence again, knowing Bologna is just a 40-minute train ride away.

Bologna taught me a valuable lesson about city breaks and what makes a city truly special.

Yes, there are beautiful tourist attractions, absolutely worth seeing, but more than anywhere else I’ve been, Bologna has a unique spirit.

It’s both historic and cosmopolitan. Among its many nicknames, Bologna is often referred to as La Rossa — ‘The Red’ — for the terracotta buildings that have been its quintessential design for centuries.

The streets are alive all day and night, with locals chattering at bars and cafes. We were there for two nights — from Monday to Wednesday, outside of school holidays — and it felt like a weekend in any other city.

That might sound off-putting, like the rowdy streets of the UK after an England men’s football match, but it’s nothing like that.

Bologna is bustling, yes, but it never loses its class — no matter what street you go down or how many Aperols (which are around €5 each, wherever you go) you see being poured along the way.

Another of Bologna’s other nicknames is La Grassa: ‘The Fat.’

I’ve been to many food capitals—New York, Tokyo, Paris, Singapore—and I live in London which, it must be said, has some of the best grub on the planet.

But Bologna? It’s wall-to-wall with the best food I’ve ever eaten, the kind of meals you’d have to book weeks in advance for in London, at half the price.

The city’s signature dish is Tortellini in Brodo — meat-filled pasta served in broth. I’d love to tell you all about it, but I suffer from turophobia: a phobia of cheese.

My travel buddy had plenty, though. While all I can report is that it looked incredibly chic (and I wish I could have eaten at least 10 servings based on its appearance alone), he ate enough for both of us.

Every street is lined with incredible cuisine. We were lucky enough to get recommendations from a friend-of-a-friend who lives in Bologna. She pointed us toward various cheap eats, like Mercato delle Erbe, where we ate a grilled alla Norma toastie I still think about daily.

She promised we’d find the ‘best gelato in the world’ at Cremeria Cavour, and she was right.

But the real magic of Bologna is in its simplicity. Everything feels so calm and easy. Eating, drinking, exploring—it all feels effortless compared to Florence, Venice, or Rome.

It’s one of the only city breaks I’ve been on where I felt genuinely rejuvenated afterwards.

I can’t imagine staying anywhere else in Italy for a city break now, especially when the Italian train service is so cheap and efficient. Florence is close, Venice is only 70 minutes away, and tickets can be as cheap as £13, so it also makes a great detour destination.

I’ve already told you I’m going back, so what are you waiting for?

A version of this article was originally published in March 2026.

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BEIJING (AP) — A fire broke out at a shoe factory in the eastern Chinese province of Fujian on Thursday, killing 28 people, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping demanded “an all-out search and rescue effort,” urging a swift investigation of the incident and “strictly hold those responsible accountable.”

The blaze started at a factory in Huiteng shoe company in the city of Jinjiang, the city’s fire department said in a statement. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

There were 237 factory workers and two visitors in the building when the fire broke out. Authorities evacuated or rescued 213 people. Of the 28 people who died, two were pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Xinhua said the factory’s owner and others in charge have been arrested and the company’s accounts have been frozen.

Video by CCTV shows the facade of a building of several floors charred black and covered in white smoke. Earlier footage shows fires were burning on multiple floors and the building shrouded in thick, black smoke.

Jinjiang, the city where the fire happened is known as China’s shoe capital.

This week has seen the nation hit by a case of Wimbledon fever, as wildcard Arthur Fery has made an astonishing run all the way to the semi-finals.

And it now seems his rise to success could be a case of life imitating art, with his journey resembling that of the 2004 hit film, where a wildcard entry goes on to scoop the Wimbledon trophy. 

Having arrived at the tournament outside of the top 100 rankings, Arthur has stunned SW19 by becoming the sole British player to reach the second week, and on Wednesday he booked himself a spot in the semi-finals.

Arthur beat ninth seed Flavio Cobolli in straight sets, despite only gaining entry to the championships as a wildcard, and will now play second seed and recent French Open champion Alexander Zverev on Friday for a place in the final.

Wimbledon starred Paul Bettany as a once-renowned tennis star who has seen his position slip to 119th in the world.

In the film, Paul’s character Peter Colt lands himself a wildcard entry for the Wimbledon Championships, and despite feeling he’s past his prime, he fights his way to the title, and finds love along the way.

His journey is eerily similar to the 2004 film Wimbledon, where Paul Bettany plays a once-great star who qualifies as a wildcard, before winning the title

The film, which also starred Kirsten Dunst as an American tennis star who steals Peter’s heart, was partially filmed during the 2003 tennis championships, the only time it has ever been allowed in the tournament’s history.

Fery’s Centre Court triumph was watched by his parents, who are divorced, and his shock run to the last four has guaranteed him at least £900,000 in prize money.

He has also reached the semi-finals despite a series of on-court nosebleeds. ‘It is a problem I am going to address. It has happened before but it’s not that common,’ he said.

Fery reached the semi-finals of the boys’ doubles at Wimbledon in 2019 – before making the third round of the main competition’s mixed doubles, alongside Tara Moore, two years later.

He then went on to win a tennis scholarship for a science, technology and society degree at the prestigious Stanford University in California.

This year has taken him to new levels, however, initially with getting through to the second round of the Australian Open in January.

And he was granted a wildcard entry to this summer’s Wimbledon, despite not qualifying through the official routes.

His performances since have made him only the fifth wildcard entry to reach as far as the quarter-finals.

The only wildcard entry to actually go on to win a Wimbledon title is Goran Ivanisevic, in 2001… for now.

Wimbledon starred Paul Bettany as a once-renowned tennis star who has seen his position slip to 119th in the world, but along with winning the title, he finds love along the way

The film, which also starred Kirsten Dunst as an American tennis star who steals Peter’s heart, was partially filmed during the 2003 tennis championships

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Fery moved to Wimbledon at a young age and although he went to university in the USA, he was educated nearby and trains in London.

His subsequent run at the All England Club has led to some in the French media claiming the 23-year-old as their ‘last remaining hope’ given his dual nationality and family ties to France.

However, when pressed on which country he feels closer to after his quarter-final victory over Flavio Cobolli, Fery was clear in his response.

‘In regards to the French, I mean honestly less and less these days,’ he told reporters.

‘I’ve now lived here a long time, 10 years ago I may have said I felt more French than English but now it’s not the case at all.

‘I feel very British, I live here, all my best friends live here, I went to school here, I train here.

‘My parents are still French so we speak French with my family and cousins who still live in France. But no, my roots are very much tied to London now.’

Fery’s fourth round victory came in five sets against former world No 3 Grigor Dimitrov, amid baking heat, on Centre Court on Monday.

His second consecutive fightback makes him the first British wild card to reach the quarter-finals at a grand slam in the open era.

The Wimbledon local was twice a break down in the fourth but roused himself with the unrelenting support of the Centre Court crowd with chants of ‘Let’s go, Arthur’ echoing across the packed stands.

Arthur will now play second seed and recent French Open champion Alexander Zverev on Friday for a place in the final

Speaking of his comeback afterwards, he said: ‘I was really close to losing my last round as well, again today a break down in the fourth.

‘I was just trying to keep fighting, having a good attitude, committing to what I’m trying to do – playing really well with my back against the wall, paid off.’

Another interested spectator sat in the front row of the Royal Box, with Fery aware of the gaze of eight-time champion Roger Federer.

The British player said: ‘When I switched the TV on in the changing rooms for the first match, I saw Roger was in the Royal Box.

‘I didn’t know he was coming. I sent a message to my team saying, “Yeah, look, Roger’s in the box, I’m pretty tight”.

‘It’s incredible to be in that position where one of the greatest of all time is watching you, let alone watching me play a five-set match against Dimitrov on Centre Court at Wimbledon.’

The man ICE shot and killed during a traffic stop in Houston has been remembered as a ‘hard worker’ and family man.

Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was driving a car on Tuesday evening when ICE officers tried to stop him.

Araujo is allegedly undocumented and didn’t follow commands. ICE has claimed that Araujo attempted to ‘weaponise his vehicle’ and run over an officer – the same reason the agency gave for shooting Renee Good in January this year.

The agency said officers fired in ‘self-defence’, but his family don’t believe this to be the case.

His son, Ronaldo Salgado, said: ‘He did not deserve to die. He did not deserve to be reduced to a headline of ‘Mexican man shot and killed by ICE.

‘He dedicated his life in the United States to giving his family the American dream. He raised my brothers and me on the idea of education taking us so far in life.

‘I am deeply heartbroken to see that the man who taught me the value of hard work, family values, and education will no longer spend an evening on his porch.’

Homeland Security said: ‘The driver of the vehicle, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo — an illegal alien from Mexico — attempted to evade arrest.

‘From information we are receiving, he rammed an ICE law enforcement vehicle, refused to follow multiple verbal commands, and weaponised his vehicle in an attempt to run over an ICE law enforcement officer resulting in our officer firing his weapon in self-defence.’

‘The driver was struck, and emergency services were immediately contacted. The driver was transported to the hospital, where he passed away from his injuries.’

An investigation into the shooting has been launched, led by Homeland Security.

ICE made headlines earlier this year after the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renée Good in Minneapolis, which sparked fierce backlash and further protests against the immigration agency.

ICE has been ramping up operations under Donald Trump’s administration, targeting major cities as part of mass deportations, which has led to fear and concern among immigrant communities.

Houston, the biggest city in Texas, is home to around 6.5 million people.

Around 28% are white, 24% Hispanic, 22% Asian and 21% Black, according to official census figures.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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You might find it odd that the potatoes are dressed twice, but it ensures that they are well-seasoned as they suck up the oil dressing while they’re still warm. This salad is great with lots of main courses – poached salmon, roast chicken and baked ham. If you can’t find buttermilk, use a mixture of sour cream and milk.

As Britain’s third heatwave of the summer strikes this week, workers are ditching their sweltering home offices in favour of cool air-conditioned offices.

Companies operating businesses throughout the UK have informed the Daily Mail that they have witnessed a surge in people coming into the office – and believe a desire to beat the heat is behind the boost.

Flexible office firm Office Space in Town (OSiT), which has five locations across London, reported a 75 per cent increase in office attendance at their sites during the ‘red alert’ heatwave in the capital, from June 22 to July 3. 

The spike in numbers, the company said, was as a result of people seeking fully air-conditioned office environments as opposed to increasingly hot temperatures at their homes. 

In fact, OSiT said approximately 60 per cent of workers that used their facilities during periods of extreme heat felt it was ‘more convenient’ to travel to and work in an air-conditioned office.

Sarah Singlehurst, co-founder of OSiT, said employees are choosing cooler environments ‘where they can work comfortably’. 

Ms Singlehurst said: ‘With no statutory maximum working temperature in the UK, employees are responding pragmatically during heatwaves by choosing cooler environments where they can work comfortably and stay productive.

‘It highlights how extreme summer temperatures are now directly shaping day-to-day working decisions.’ 

A 75 per cent increase in office attendance was reported by OSiT, a London-based workspace company, during the rising heat

ADAPT Workspace, who offer over 3,000 offices to rent across London, cited a similar upwards trend of people using their workspaces because of the appeal of the aircon.

Of the providers it works with, the company said, increases of double-digits in occupancy were reported during the hot weather, in particular ‘cool, modern, air conditioned buildings’ with in-office amenities. 

Chris Meredith, CEO & Founder of ADAPT, said the company has ‘definitely’ seen the heatwaves change how businesses are using office space.

He said: ‘The office is no longer just somewhere to put desks. During a heatwave, a cool, comfortable workspace becomes a genuine employee benefit. 

‘Good air conditioning, meeting space and breakout areas are playing a much bigger role in attendance, collaboration and productivity.

‘Companies are investing in better workplaces that give people a reason to come into the office, and extreme weather is definitely accelerating this change.’ 

Outside of London, where temperatures are still reaching up to 30C, a similar story can be found.

Department UK is an office workspace operator in Manchester and Leeds. 

FIFA World Cup and Wimbledon have also been cited as pulling crowds into cool office spaces 

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Abigail Chew, operations director at Department UK, said the company is seeing ‘more’ of their members ‘choosing to spend time in the workspace where there is air conditioning’ as the hotter weather emerges.

Ms Chew said: ‘We’re seeing more of our members choosing to spend time in the workspace where there is air conditioning.

‘In workspaces like Department at Bonded Warehouse, with its exposed brick walls, it offers a more comfortable place to work for both focused work and collaboration during this heatwave, and it’s been great to see the spaces being well used.’

Yet it is not only the draw of the aircon that is tempting workers into the office. 

In fact, major sporting tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup and Wimbledon have been cited as pulling crowds into office spaces by the same companies. 

Ms Chew added: ‘The World Cup’s also been a brilliant reason for people to come together, with members coming into the office to watch the matches and enjoy the atmosphere with their teams.

‘With venues across St John’s showing the games right on our doorstep, it has made it easy for teams to head out together straight after work, while others have been using lunch breaks to watch Wimbledon on The Green.’

Ms Singlehurst also cited a rise in in-office viewings for the World Cup at OSiT during periods of hot weather that coincided with England fixtures.

Britain’s third heatwave of the summer has come into full force this week

Amber and yellow heat health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency from Thursday

She said: ‘While we hear chants of the football coming home, we have seen the reverse in the movements of our employees, who want to go into the office and catch the excitement of the matches with their teams and the crowds gathering in the communal screening amenities in our locations.’

The surge in office attendance comes as Britain’s third heatwave of the year is in full force this week. 

Parts of south-east England officially entered a heatwave on Monday, after three days at or above the threshold temperature which varies by region but is 28C in London.

Hot weather is expected to last throughout this week and next with meteorologists saying the heatwave threshold could be met for as many as 14 days in some areas.

On Thursday and Friday, the Met Office expects areas of south-east England, including London, to reach highs of 35C to 36C.

Amber and yellow heat health alerts have also been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the Midlands and southern England, which came into force at 9am on Thursday. 

The alerts will remain in force until at least Sunday, and indicate ‘significant impacts’ are likely across health and social care services because of the weather – including a ‘rise in deaths’, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions.  

The rising temperatures follow last month’s scorching heatwave, when a record temperature for June of 37.7C was set in Lingwood in Norfolk on Friday, June 26. 

That came after May’s record heatwave when a scorching 35.1C was reached in Kew, London, smashing the previous peak of 32.8C set in 1922.

There’s nothing worse than finally climbing into bed after a long day, only to spend the night tossing and turning because you’re too hot to sleep. While things like your bedroom temperature, bedtime routine and the weather all play a part, your bedding has a bigger impact than you might realise. The wrong sheets can trap heat, hold onto moisture and leave you waking up hot, sweaty and uncomfortable, especially during a heatwave.

The good news is that the right sheets can make a noticeable difference. But staying cool at night isn’t simply a case of choosing the thinnest fabric you can find. Different materials vary in how breathable they are, how well they wick away moisture and how easily air can circulate, meaning some are far better suited to hot sleepers than others.

To find out which sheets are really worth investing in, I spoke to sleep experts about what to look for when shopping for cooling bedding, the materials they recommend and why the right fabric can help you sleep more comfortably.

Read more: How to wash and care for linen bedding

What sheet material is best for people who sleep hot?

Dr. Louis Lerebours, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician at Freeman Recovery Center says the best materials for hot sleepers are those with “natural breathable fibres with good air circulation.” These materials can include cotton, linen, bamboo-derived viscose, and Tencel.

He explains: “These breathable fibres will also allow your body to move some moisture during the course of the night. This is important because most people who experience excessive nighttime sweating (or what’s commonly referred to as night sweats) have an inability to move enough sweat out of their skin to cool themselves down properly during the night. In other words, they retain too much heat in the upper layers of their skin. As this excess heat builds up, it causes them to become excessively warm and sweaty at night. So, breathable fabrics may be beneficial to you if you find yourself getting hot and waking up multiple times throughout the night.”

How do different fabrics compare when it comes to breathability and temperature regulation?

According to Dr. Lerebours, there are some differences in how these materials work. Linen, he explains, is made with a large weave that doesn’t cling to the skin, whereas cotton will feel cooler due to its crisper texture.

“Bamboo and Tencel are also examples of breathable sheet materials,” he adds. “They’re also softer than heavier materials such as microfibre or densely woven sateen.”

How to reduce your temperature while sleeping

There are some sleep tricks you can follow to try and stop your body temperature rising at night. According to Dr Tim Mercer, NHS GP partner and GP trainer, adjusting your sleep position helps more than you might think.

“Sleeping on your side can improve airflow and reduce contact between your body and heat-retaining surfaces like your mattress and bedding,” he explains. “Minimising contact points may help your body stay cooler overnight. If you share a bed, avoid physical contact during sleep, as body heat transfer can worsen discomfort.”

Best linen bedding

Naturalmat organic linen bedding

Ranked as our best overall bedding, reviewer Ali Howard called this set a “strong choice if you want relaxed linen with proper sustainability credentials.”

She added: “In testing, the fabric had a soft, airy feel with a slightly more substantial handle than very lightweight linen, and the pure white shade kept the bed looking clean, unfussy and inviting. It washed well, keeping its airy handle and drying with a gentle crumple that didn’t need ironing. The brand’s breathability claim held up well, making this one a sensible year-round option rather than a purely summer switch.”

Why we love it

• GOTS certified
• Soft, airy texture
• Matching Oxford pillowcases available

H&M linen duvet cover set

Linen bedding can certainly add up in price, so for a good budget option Ali Howard recommends this set from H&M. She wrote in her review: “ The washed linen has a relaxed, lightly crumpled texture and feels perfectly breathable in use. While this one might not be the softest straight out of the packaging, it becomes more and more supple after washing. Pure linen bedding is not cheap, and it is not created equally, but for an affordable entry point, H&M’s set does the job really well.”

Why we love it

• Relatively affordable pure linen
• Snap poppers
• Washed texture

Woolroom arinta organic cotton linen bundle

“Woolroom’s arinta bedding keeps things simple in the best possible way, and is the best bedding set I tested,” wrote reviewer Ali Howard in our guide to the best bedding sets. She added: “Made from 100 per cent organic cotton percale, it has the kind of crisp, smooth feel you get in a good hotel – cool, breathable and noticeably fresh against the skin.”

Why we love it

• Naturally hypoallergenic
• Super soft
• Breathable

Take note

• Needs a pre-wash to soften

Dunelm Durham stripe 100 per cent cotton duvet cover and pillowcase set

For a budget cotton set, Ali Howard recommends this set from Dunelm. For £20, she says it’s great value, adding that the stripe design “is simple enough to work in most bedrooms.”

She continues: “Crafted from 100 per cent cotton with a 144 thread count, the bedding feels light and breathable, but still durable enough for heavy, regular use. The button fastening keeps everything in place, and I found it refreshingly easy to care for, too: machine washable, low tumble dry and a cool iron if needed, making this an effortlessly chic option. “

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Why we love it

• Budget-friendly
• Fresh, modern colourways
• Reversible

Take note

• Lower thread count
• Not as soft as others

Experts share whether linen bedding is better than cotton