By SABRINA PENTY, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER

Published: 08:40 BST, 23 September 2026 | Updated: 20:18 BST, 23 September 2026

Below you’ll find the winning numbers from tonight’s £4.3m Lotto draw below. The jackpot for tonight’s Thunderball draw was £500,000.

The winning National Lottery Lotto numbers are drawn at 8pm while the National Lottery Thunderball numbers are drawn shortly after. We’ll have those results live below.

The biggest ever Lotto winner was created in April 2016 when an anonymous player banked £35m. In January 2016 two ticket-holders walked away with £33m each. Before that a main Lotto game jackpot of £42,008,610, was drawn in January 1996 and split between three anonymous winners with each being awarded £14,002,870. A single ticket won £26.4m on the New Year’s Eve lotto in 2016.

The UK National Lottery was first drawn on November 19, 1994. Half of all money spent by players goes to the prize fund with 28% to good causes, 12% to the Government as duty, 5% to retailers, and 5% which has operated the lottery throughout its history.

The results:

Our Justin got the Belfast street-style social media treatment when he was beckoned over to try one of these Mexican culinary bad boys

I got shouted at by some people in a van last week, and it rarely is a positive thing, but this time it was.

The guys from Taquitos were set up over by the big fish at the Lagan and I was walking by after work at the Waterfront Hall. They called me over to try a taco out.

I will say that they caught me at a great time because I was hungry and I have always meant to try Taquitos because I do work in town.

The menu here is simple but does have quite a few options to customise it the way you like it. You can choose from chicken adobo, Mexican chorizo, fish, mixed meat, beef and vegan/ veggie option. From there you can choose them on a soft taco, burrito and a rice bowl.

I asked them what the bestseller was because I’m not a fussy eater, and I really wanted to try what they thought was best. I was glad when I was handed a taco because I’ve heard they were fantastic.

I got the chicken adobo, which had a seasoned chicken, topped with adobo mayo, pickled onion, shredded lettuce and topped with a grated cheese.

This was a little spicy, but it was balanced out well with the mayo and cheese. I also love to see a soft taco on the menu because, in my opinion, it trumps the hard shell taco all day long.

The adobo mayo was the star of the show for me and I have thought about it since. They do sell jars of it so I might have to buy it the next time I head along.

While this is a food van, it does feel like more than this because of the idyllic setting beside one of our most iconic landmarks and along the river, with plenty of seating around to sit and eat.

I had this around lunch time, and it was the perfect amount for lunch, so if you work in Belfast City Centre, this is a great lunch option.

Typically, we pay for all of the meals we review, but full disclosure on this one, the guys here insisted I try this taco free of charge, and there was no requirement to post anything, but I just wanted to share my experience with you.

However, this would have cost £12 as the soft taco and £13 as the burrito or rice bowl. This is a little on the expensive side for a casual everyday lunch, but it is a treat that is worth splurging on once in a while.

It is also worth being mindful of their opening days, which are currently Wednesday to Saturday, but with the nature of being a food truck, I’d keep an eye on their socials for any updates they have.

All in all, Taquitos has stood the test of time over at City Quays for good reason because they’re offering some of the best tacos in the city in a really approachable way. To top it all off, the guys here were really good craic and up for a chat about the food, so I will definitely be heading back to try out the rice bowls very soon.

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Police say they are treating all three offences “extremely seriously”

A village store has become the third to be burgled in as many days in Cambridgeshire. Two men dressed in all black are reported to have smashed through the front door of Bridge End Stores in High Street, Earith at around 3.15am this morning (September 23).

The men left around four minutes later in a small black hatchback car, taking with them a bag of cigarettes and vapes. No arrests have been made but police say an investigation is ongoing.

It follows two burglaries which happened at village shops in Willingham in the early hours of Monday and Tuesday (September 21 and 22). In one instance, the suspect left empty-handed whilst in the second incident, two men made off with a bag full of cigarettes.

Whilst police have made no indication that these incidents are linked, they say that they are treating them “extremely seriously”.

Detective Sergeant James Rabbett, from the Southern Acquisitive Crime Team, said: “We understand this latest incident will add to concerns within our communities, particularly following the recent burglaries in Bluntisham and Willingham.

“We want to reassure residents and businesses that these offences are being treated extremely seriously and officers are carrying out extensive enquiries to identify those responsible.

“We are keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time, saw a small black hatchback, or anyone who has dashcam, CCTV or doorbell footage that may assist our investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Cambridgeshire Police online, quoting reference 35/73768/26.. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or on their website.

The family of a mother and three children who died in a house fire have said they are experiencing an “unimaginable” loss.

Elisha Brabin, 36, and her children, Leo, 16, Ellis, 8, and Prudence, 7, died after a blaze “spread rapidly” inside a house on Stone Square in Bootle, Merseyside, in the early hours of Tuesday.

Paying tribute, their relatives said they had been left “heartbroken” and the loss would be “felt forever”.

The statement added that “Elisha was a devoted and loving mother” and “our beautiful babies, Leo, Ellis and Prudence, were loved beyond measure”.

The family said they were “devastated by the loss of Elisha, Leo, Ellis and Prudence”.

“Elisha was our beloved daughter, wife, mother, sister, auntie, niece and cousin,” they said.

“She was a devoted and loving mother who lived for her children. They were her whole world, and she meant everything to us.”

Elsewhere, a heat network development in London’s Bexley and Greenwich areas, serving up to 100,000 homes when fully built, will receive £11.5 million, and £11.4 million will go towards a system in London’s Marble Arch area that will use water-source heat pumps to take energy from the London chalk aquifer to heat offices, homes, hotels and businesses around Oxford Street.

Flaming debris from an RAF fighter jet that crashed in Wales this morning fell just yards from holiday caravans and a family home, the local farmer has revealed.

Richard Owen, 88, owner of Afallon Caravan Park near Rhosneigr, Anglesey, described his dramatic near miss with the wrecked plane, which remains scattered across his field.

The Hawk T2, reportedly on its first test flight after repairs, plummeted to the ground moments after taking off from RAF Valley, with witnesses reporting a ‘big bang’ and trailing flames.

The two pilots, forced to eject and seen parachuting to the ground in spectacular footage, were still being treated for injuries this evening.

Meanwhile, the RAF has halted all flights involving its Hawk T1 and T2 models while it investigates the crash.

Mr Owen said he was in the kitchen when the initial bang rang out, but at first he ‘didn’t think much about it’.

He said: ‘We are on the flight path and there are planes overhead every day. We’re just a couple of miles from the runway.

‘But then I heard a second bang and I saw the fire and flames. It landed just on the other side of the park.

A large pile of twisted metal was still burning when locals went to inspect it

An enormous fireball erupted as the jet crashed near the village of Rhosneigr on Anglesey

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‘I went out to take a look. There were little bits of wreckage all around the site. The tail section must have blown off and landed next to one of the caravans.

‘There was lots of smoke, thick black smoke. I didn’t dare to go too close. I was worried about it exploding.’

Mr Owen said he was thankful that most of his 30 caravans were empty, and that the vehicles were largely unscathed. 

While it took the RAF police around 15 minutes to arrive, the farmer reported that a helicopter was with the ejected pilots within ‘a minute or two’.

Both crew, understood to be studying at the No 4 Flying Training School that runs out of RAF Valley, were being treated for minor injuries this afternoon.

A local source claimed the plane had ‘just been repaired after a faulty component’.

They said: ‘This was a test flight and they realised pretty quickly that something was wrong. It was a very lucky escape for all involved.’

The Ministry of Defence refused to comment on whether the plane was on a test flight.

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

The force added around 7pm: ‘Following an incident involving an RAF Hawk T2 aircraft today, both pilots are receiving medical treatment. Their families are being supported.

‘The RAF has decided to temporarily pause Hawk T1 and T2 operations, as a precautionary measure, whilst investigations are ongoing.’ 

Both pilots ejected safely after the Hawk T2 training aircraft crashed moments after taking off

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Spectacular footage shows the moment both pilots made their escape from the aircraft

Footage shows the jet jerking violently as it careers through the air before the two servicemen eject simultaneously. Seconds later, the Hawk begins a steady plunge before crashing in a fireball, leaving a huge plume of smoke.

Farming influencer Gareth Wyn Jones posted a picture on social media appearing to show two ejected crew members parachuting to the ground.

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

Aviation security expert Julian Bray told the Daily Mail it was too soon to know the cause of the crash, but said it ‘had to be pretty serious because both of them bailed out’.

‘Something has gone wrong by the angle of the aircraft in the stalled position,’ he added.

‘It might have flamed out, the engine might have given up. It’s less likely, but it’s possible it was a bird strike. Or a malfunction somewhere – but these aircrafts are looked after like babies.’

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

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

Another, Pete Bennett, told North Wales Live: ‘I knew straight away that it was in trouble – right on take-off there was an orange flame and as it accelerated it was basically on fire.

‘As it gained altitude the flame disappeared but it was clearly in trouble.

‘It climbed at an aggressive pitch. It pitched twice violently in the air and then there were two clear loud bangs.

‘The pilots ejected and both parachutes opened.’

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

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

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

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

Witnesses described seeing flames coming from the Hawk T2 training aircraft after it took off from RAF Valley

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

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

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The aircraft jerked violently before careering vertically towards the ground

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

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

Mr Bray told us the initial white flash seen in the video as the plane descends is the initiation of the Martin Baker ejector seats, fitted as standard in all Hawk T2s.

‘You can see the aircraft is definitely not right and so the two pilots decided to eject.

‘So what they do is they pull a lever and the rest of it is automatic. There’s a rocket under the seat and the rocket explodes, fires them up into the air as the plane is going quite fast. They have to eject very, very quickly or they will get sliced by the tail fin.’

The Baker seats, made by a British firm, have saved the lives of more than 7,800 service personnel across the globe since development.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting posted on X and said: ‘An investigation is underway. My thoughts are first and foremost with the pilots. We will provide further updates in due course.’ 

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service issued an update on Wednesday afternoon and said the blaze is now ‘under control’. 

A spokesperson said: ‘North Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews and officers attended at an incident involving an aircraft in the Pencarnisiog area of Anglesey, working alongside colleagues from Royal Air Force, North Wales Police, Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Wales Air Ambulance.

‘The fire is now under control.

‘Members of the public are asked to avoid the area while emergency services continue their work safely.’

RAF Valley, where Prince William was once stationed as a search-and-rescue pilot flying Sea King helicopters, is home to the RAF’s No4 Flying Training School and is responsible for training Britain’s next generation of fighter pilots.

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

It is described by the RAF as a ‘high-performance, two-seat training jet’ designed to ‘simulate front-line combat aircraft like the Typhoon’.

It is used in training to prepare pilots for complex tactical environments.

The entire fleet was briefly grounded in January 2023 amid concerns after a blade failed during an incident on the runway at RAF Valley.

They were allowed to resume operating the following month. 

What does it all mean?

Huge changes could see a four-Test series in 2029, with one of the matches played in Australia

The 2029 British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand could involve a four-Test series – with one of those Tests potentially being played in Australia.

Leaked documents from New Zealand Rugby last week revealed the country’s governing body is projected to lose £28m over the next five years – even if the next visit of the Lions is likely to bring in record revenues. Major changes have now been promised in order to improve the financial crisis.

And that could affect the next Lions tour, which is seen as a huge a money-spinner for New Zealand.

According to The Australian, Melbourne Cricket Ground is being considered as a possible venue for a Lions Test in 2029.

Manchester council met in the chamber of the historic town hall for their latest meeting, with a huge array of items on the agenda

Celebrating women, ridding the area of unclean air and ousting Palantir from the NHS were all discussed at the latest town hall meeting in Manchester, alongside some swipes at Reform UK.

There was tension in the historic town hall building as the Labour group took direct aim at the seven Reform UK councillors in the chamber. Coun Tim Whiston tabled a motion that called to reject the ‘divisive politics of Reform UK’.

The Sharston councillor highlighted Reform-run councils in other parts of the UK scrapping net zero goals, closing care homes for the elderly and removing Pride flags from public buildings.

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Coun Whiston reaffirmed that Manchester is a city ‘where everyone is welcome’, whilst Coun John Flanagan asked ‘why Reform are so resistant to a rainbow flag’. Manchester’s Reform leader Sian Astley called the motion ‘a word salad of woke’.

Coun Astley refuted claims they were against Pride or pushed divisive politics. She felt this motion was ‘disrespectful’ to the 21,455 people who voted for Reform in Manchester.

Despite Reform, the Greens and Lib Dems suggesting this motion didn’t really do anything but highlight Labour’s dislike of Reform politics, the motion was carried by the Labour majority.

This fierce debate came just after the council unanimously voted in favour of supporting the celebration of women in the build up to the 2028 centenary of women securing the vote on equal terms with men. The town hall agreed to support a government petition for a fund to celebrate the century.

Coun Andrew Simcock explained that the Emmeline Pankhurst statue in the city centre was part-funded by the £5m created to celebrate the centenary of women first securing the vote in 2018. He wants another government fund worth £10m.

Highlighting why this celebration is needed, Coun Simcock pointed out: “There are more statues of men called John than there are of women. There are more statues of animals than women.

“Up until the installation of the Emmeline Pankhurst statue in 2018 there was only a single other female statue in our city and that was of Queen Victoria.”

If funding could be secured the Council would suggest a number of Mancunian women who have left their mark on the city. The list includes Louise da-Cacodia, the anti-racism campaigner from Moss Side; Ellen Wilkinson, from Ardwick, the former city councillor and leader of the 1936 Jarrow March; and Emily Williamson, who founded what is now the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds at her home in Didsbury.

The matter of unclean air in the city-region was later raised in the town hall. This came in the wake of the heatwaves and wildfires that left a haze of smoke over the Greater Manchester area during the summer.

Coun Ross Steven recalled his ‘eyes burning’ and many councillors having to leave the chamber because of smoke-induced coughs. His Green Party colleague Coun Ati Zafar spoke of being fearful of smoke in the air, due to his cystic fibrosis.

The council agreed to develop an Air Quality and Extreme Heat Emergency Response Plan, to be better prepared for a similar event in the future.

Councillors also agreed to write to health bosses at the government to break the contract with technology company Palantir and the NHS; welcomed the UK’s recognition of the State of Palestine and called for support for a ‘just and lasting peace’; and agreed to include new guidance to help protect vulnerable children who arrive in the country without their family.

Also at the meeting, Coun Thomas Robinson was officially appointed as the new co-deputy leader of the council.