Simister Island, also known as junction 18, connects the M60, M62 and M66 motorways.

The junction is notorious for chock-a-block traffic during rush hour, which is why National Highways are working on an upgrade to ease congestion.

Anyone who has driven eastbound towards Simister Island around peak times knows they could be sat in a queue as far back as junction 17, if they’re lucky. The same goes for anyone going west from the Pennines.

To solve this problem, the scheme aims to create five lanes for traffic on both sides of the M60; a new loop road to avoid queues on the carriageway; and widen the M66 road.

Carrying out this work means average speeds of 50mph, overnight closures, lane closures and weekend closures for motorists. It’s going to get worse before it gets better.

Most commuters will allow more time when using this stretch of road, which attracts around 90,000 vehicles a day.

National Highways have urged motorists to allow even more time over the coming years due to the roadworks and thanked them in advance for their patience.

On the weekends of September 26 and October 10, the junction will be closed completely so workers from Costain, the contractor, can remove the overhead gantries.

These closures are the first significant disruptions since the scheme started earlier this year.

What many people won’t know is that these closure dates are carefully selected to avoid what is anticipated to be busy periods. The National Highways team has a schedule of all the major events taking place in the city-region.

This includes sporting fixtures, gigs or cultural events such as Manchester Pride.

Highways bosses pointed out the start of the closure in October is slightly later than in September because a big Pussycat Dolls gig is taking place at Coop Live.

The idea is they don’t want to cause major disruption on the motorway when lots of people will be travelling away from a busy venue.

They may even reopen the roads earlier if their monitoring systems suggest the road network is dangerously busy.

Senior project manager from National Highways, Frances Oliver, said: “National Highways have a system where we have a huge list of all the events going on in the area, which is a really key strategic route for the wider region.

“We’ve got sporting events at various football and rugby grounds; we’ve got a shopping centre and the Christmas peak for those; we’ve got an awful lot of concert venues; and marathons and half marathons.

“If you can think about an event, we’ve got it on our list. We will try our best not to do our closures based around those events.

“For the second weekend closure (coming up) the closure time slightly varies from the first weekend. That is because we are starting later to accommodate the events going on.”

Through the interview about the scheme, Frances explained how safety is paramount to the project, which has been meticulously planned for years.

So safety was her answer when quizzed over why you rarely see workers out during the day on the project – a common frustration for motorists queuing past roadworks.

Safety is also the reason drivers can expect to see an average speed zone marked out through the stretch of motorway until 2030.

Frances added: “In delivering a scheme like this we need to manage the safety of the travelling public, but also the safety of our road workers.

“Also, we have really high quality barriers out there that are protecting people, so the sheer amount of time it takes to move those things is quite a lot.

“It is frustrating to drive past and not see people in the daytime, but it is really all about the safety of people. I can assure people we are working very hard to get things done.

“I hope through the lifetime of the scheme that people will drive through and see how things change and develop.

“There is a reduced speed limit, and there are temporary enforcement yellow cameras, and you will see them through the lifetime of the scheme. We recommend people travel at the speed limit or lower.

“Safety is our number one imperative. It’s not just about us and our staff; it’s about people travelling through. So if we shut the road completely and did things really quickly, it might not be the safest way.

“We often get told that in China they’re doing this overnight, but that’s all well and good but here we have really high safety standards.”

The scheme itself is going to come forward in seven phases, with the team currently moving into phase 3 – once the gantries removal is complete. During this time, the road will also be resurfaced with material that will reduce road noise, according to highways bosses.

Joel MacFarlane is the site agent for contractors Costain. He went into intricate detail about the upcoming gantry removal over two weekends.

Joel said the concrete gantries weigh around 450 tonnes collectively, and each one weighs between 90 and 120 tonnes, so getting them out is no simple task.

They also have to completely clear the road, including the central reservation, to do it.

This has to be done as the road is going to be widened to create extra capacity for the 90,000 vehicles streaming through the area every day.

The main aspects of the scheme include a ‘northern loop’ built to stop thousands of vehicles using the current traffic light-controlled roundabout every day.

A five-lane section on both sides of the M60 between Prestwich and Simister (junctions 17 and 18) has been touted as well.

The M66 on the Bury side of the junction would also be widened with new lanes introduced at the interchange and a second lane added from the M60 northbound link.

All these benefits people can expect to get ahead of the 2030 completion date as the roundabout is the last bit of work to do.

Joel said: “During the period of the scheme the maintenance of the site will be managed by Costain. The surfacing will be managed and upgraded during that period. It won’t be done during the demolition works.

“Towards the end of the project, it is necessary to put traffic on the feature before we undertake the roundabout works in the centre and close the existing off slip and open the new free flow link.

“So that will come into play before the completion of the project, but not until the tail end. Trying to maintain traffic flow during the construction of the scheme is the challenge.

“20-30mph is about the average speed at the moment around Simister Island. Once we’ve opened up the scheme and traffic is free-flowing between junction 17 and 19 they won’t need to queue. Traffic should flow freely and it should mean the average speed will increase.”

Steve Askham, community relations and stakeholder manager at Costain, has arguably one of the most difficult jobs – dealing with the local community. Residents in the village of Simister as well as around Prestwich and Besses o’ th’ Barn get the tough job of living right next door to this scheme.

That will mean more traffic, more noise from construction and general disruption. Steve feels residents’ concerns and thoughts have been taken into consideration throughout the planning process.

The main example of this was the construction of the site compound for construction workers off the motorway, which stopped construction vehicles traipsing through local residential areas to park up post-shift. Other smaller details like electric, rather than petrol, power tools to trim back foliage at the sides of the road and taking part and funding community projects are also a major part of his role.

Overall, the scheme – estimated to cost between £255m and £296m – aims to reduce congestion, improve journey times and create a safer route through what is one of the North West’s busiest motorway junctions. Unfortunately will be some pain for drivers until that happens.

National Highways have urged people to sign up to their website updates so they can avoid the junction when major works or closures are taking place. They have thanked everyone for their patience during this time.

Pet insurance specialists at Tiger.co.uk have issued the warning after this year’s hot, dry summer led to a “false autumn,” with trees dropping leaves, acorns and conkers earlier than usual to conserve water and energy.

The early fall poses a risk to dogs, as both conkers and acorns are toxic if chewed or swallowed and can pose serious health threats.

Ian Wilson, pet insurance expert at Tiger.co.uk, said: “Autumn woodland walks with your dogs are a highlight of the season with the falling leaves, foraging wildlife, berries, and nuts lying on the ground.

“But with that comes some dangers to our furry friends.

“Both acorns and conkers can be toxic to dogs, although if dealt with swiftly, aren’t normally life-threatening.

“They can, however, cause severe discomfort including stomach upsets and lethargy.”

What happens if a dog eats a conker?

Conkers contain aesculin, a toxin found in the nut, leaves and bark of horse chestnut trees.

If ingested, conkers can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, drooling and lethargy.

They also pose a choking hazard and can cause dangerous blockages in a dog’s stomach or intestines.

Acorns contain tannins, which irritate the digestive tract and can lead to similar symptoms.

In rare cases, large quantities of acorns can cause serious kidney or liver damage.

The early drop of these hazards could catch dog owners off guard, increasing the risk during autumn walks.

What should you do if your dog has eaten a conker?

Mr Wilson said: “Avoiding conkers and acorns on autumnal walks isn’t easy, especially if the ‘false autumn’ has caught you unaware.

“There are a few tips to try, including distracting your dog with toys and treats, and teaching emergency commands so they drop the conker or acorn immediately.

“Making sure you have pet insurance in place is important for incidents like this.

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“Depending on the policy, it should cover the unexpected vet bills that come with accidents and emergencies, plus a 24-hour helpline to support any queries.”

Tiger.co.uk recommends keeping dogs distracted with toys or treats, teaching “drop” and “leave” commands, and keeping dogs on a lead in areas with heavy leaf or nut fall.

If a dog is caught chewing a conker or acorn, owners may try to safely remove it from their mouth if the dog is comfortable with this.

Do you have a dog? Let us know in the comments.

Former international peacekeeper Danny Vettrino, 35, from Dysart, Fife, was gunned down in Canouan, on St Vincent and the Grenadines, in June.

The funeral service of a Scottish man who was shot dead on a Caribbean island has taken place.

Former international peacekeeper Danny Vettrino, from Dysart, Fife, was gunned down in Canouan, on St Vincent and the Grenadines, in June. The 36-year-old, who moved to the Granadines in 2024, was murdered at a car park in the Gym Hill area of the island after returning from a day out.

He suffered a number of gunshot wounds to his body and was pronounced dead at the scene. Danny, who worked as a Technical Service Manager at the Canouan Estate Resort and Villas, was laid to rest in his hometown on August 21.

In a statement, Ian Johnston Funeral Directors described the service at Kirkcaldy Crematorium as “beautiful and heartfelt”.

The statement reads: “A beautiful and heartfelt service was held on Friday, 21st August, at Kirkcaldy Crematorium to celebrate the life of a much-loved young man and a true one-of-a-kind, tragically taken from this world, Mr Daniel Vettrino, affectionately known to so many as Danny.

“Danny’s loving family gathered outside his home in Dysart to welcome him back there one final time, before accompanying him on his final journey to Kirkcaldy Crematorium. On arrival, they were joined by many more of Danny’s relatives, friends and loved ones, who had travelled from different parts of the world to be there.

“During his time working away, Danny had made many lifelong friendships, and it was a fitting reflection of the impact he had on so many that so many had come together to pay their respects.”

The statement went on: “There were, understandably, many tears throughout the service, but amongst the sadness were also smiles and moments of gentle laughter as stories were shared and cherished memories brought back to life. One thing was certain, Danny did things his way, and there will never be another quite like him.”

It concluded: “Rest in peace now, Danny. Your work on this earth is done. Rest forever in the hearts and minds of all who will keep loving you, forever.”

In the weeks after Danny’s death, Caribbean cops confirmed they had made several” arrests – including two of Danny’s co-workers – as part of the murder probe. Nobody has since been charged.

Danny moved from Scotland to Egypt in 2015 and worked for an international peacekeeping organisation, which was created to oversee the terms of the Egyptian peace treaty with Israel. He moved to Colombia in 2023 and was contemplating returning to Scotland early in the next year before he landed the job in the Caribbean.

We previously told how detectives investigating the fatal shooting were reportedly probing links to a plane which ‘vanished’ in mysterious circumstances. Local media reports stated that his death has triggered an “expansion of an ongoing investigation” into the “disappearance” of a private plane near Canouan in July.

Reports suggested the probes became linked as the two pilots of the light aircraft, which vanished from radar before being found days later, came from Colombia, where Daniel previously lived.

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The process to make antivenom has barely changed in a century: snakes are milked, their venom is injected into horses, and their antibodies are harvested to form the basis of the product. The resulting treatments are difficult to administer, can trigger severe side effects, and the quality varies from batch to batch. 

“The big four snakes contribute to 70 per cent of poisonous bites [in India]… so 30 per cent of poisonous snakes are not covered, even to begin with,” said Dr Yogesh Jain, a public health physician in Chhattisgarh state and a member of The Global Snakebite Taskforce. 

“But there are huge quality and efficacy issues even against these 70 per cent of bites. We’re relying on a 100-year-old technique of getting antivenoms, and at least 50,000 people are dying every year,” he told The Telegraph. 

“There’s a real need for new technology. We don’t have a safe and appropriate antivenom for the largest majority of people in rural India.”

Now, scientists are hopeful that they have developed a potential alternative. 

In the latest study, published last week, researchers showed that an experimental antivenom cocktail with five components protected mice against lethal doses of antivenom in Indian cobras, even when delayed by up to 20 minutes – a scenario that mimics the real-world lag between a bite and treatment.   

“If you go 10 years back, people didn’t think you could make sufficiently simple products with new, modern biotechnology that could cover all these different snake venoms,” said Prof Andreas Laustsen-Kiel, head of the Section of Biologics Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark and co-author of the paper. 

“People simply believed it was too complex, too expensive to manufacture, and so on… But the data we are gathering is convincing enough to say this is something that could make a huge dent in the lost lives and limbs snakebite causes every year.”  

The antivenom itself was based on lab-made nanobodies – antibodies derived from a group of animals including camels, llamas and some species of shark. Scientists believe their structure means they could be a more potent, more precise, more temperature-stable alternative to man-made monoclonal antibodies – and cheaper to manufacture.

“The latest study builds on an earlier discovery of nanobodies that can protect across a broad spectrum of African snakes,” said Prof Nicholas Casewell, director of the Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, who has previously collaborated with Prof Laustsen-Kiel.

“In this paper they have iterated and demonstrated that a narrow number of nanobodies can protect against Indian cobras and king cobras. This demonstration brings the nanobody technology closer to market,” he added.

But that is likely still years away, depending on how much funding the researchers can attract. The next steps – a larger animal study, scaling up manufacture, and launching human trials – are expensive. 

“If money was no issue, we could probably be testing in humans in 1.5 to three years from now,” said Prof Laustsen-Kiel. “But since money is a big issue, it is more likely that human trials won’t be able to start until 2.5 to four years from now.

“But I really think that this [study shows] there’s no doubt that biotech can deliver better antivenoms. The question is whether people are willing to fund it,” he said.

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Dani Dyer and Nikitz Kuzmin have been paired together once again on Strictly Come Dancing

Strictly Come Dancing 2026 has been hit with a fix storm.

The glitzy BBC programme has returned for another series with new famous faces hoping to lift the glitterball trophy at the end of the competition.

The 15 celebrities taking part all learned the identity of their professional dancer partner during Saturday’s (September 19) pre-recorded launch show which saw new presenters Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe make their debut.

Love Island series three winner Dani Dyer is back in the running for a second chance after a horror injury forced her to withdraw from the competition last year.

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After fracturing her ankle Dani told fans: “Apparently, doing the quickstep on a fracture is not advisable. It was so hard because I was having the best time of my life. [After I quit] I couldn’t leave the house, because I knew if someone said to me, ‘Are you OK?’, I’d just cry. It’s been really testing my mental health.”

Dani was partnered up with the professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin last year and was replaced by West End star and fellow Love Island champion Amber Davies, who reached the final of the 2025 series.

During the 2026 launch show, Dani learned that she’d been paired with Nikita once again and fans were left rushing to social media to share their thoughts.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one fan penned: “So Dani and Nikita are reunited yayyy.”A second said: “Love that Dani and Nikita have been paired together again #strictly.”

However, one viewer asked: “Is it fair that Dani has Nikita again? I’m happy about it but Jamie Laing was told he couldn’t have Oti again due to the advantage of having danced together before so I’m surprised the same rule doesn’t apply to Dani.”

Another agreed: “I can’t remember how long Nikita and Dani were together for last year, but is that a bit of an unfair advantage as they already know each other.”

Speaking to the BBC ahead of the new show, Dani revealed: “I’m probably most nervous about getting out on that dancefloor for the first time and being judged!

“I’m quite sensitive and definitely my own biggest critic, I’ll probably overthink everything. But if I’m really honest, my biggest fear is getting injured again.

“I’m going to do everything I can to look after myself, stay positive, and just enjoy every moment of the experience. Doing the Quickstep definitely scares me a little.”

However, when it came to her getting the call, she admitted she cried, adding: “I didn’t want to assume after everything that happened last year that I would get another chance.

“I can’t wait to finally get the opportunity to properly experience the Strictly journey. I am excited, nervous, and emotional – all the feelings!

“But more than anything, I can’t wait to get stuck into learning how to dance and make the most of every single moment. As long as I don’t trip over my own feet I will be happy!”

Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday, September 26 at 6.15pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer

At around 1.05am last Sunday (September 13), an Audi is believed to have been rammed by a Mitsubishi on Front Street, Consett.

One of the occupants of the Audi is then alleged to have fired shots towards an occupant in the Mitsubishi before making off from the scene.

(Image: Joshua Nichol)

Nobody was injured during the incident, according to police.

Yesterday (September 18), armed police arrested a 37-year-old man in Burnhope and brought him into police custody for questioning.

Today (September 19), David Railton, of Framwellgate Moor, in Durham, has been charged with attempted murder.

He has been remanded in custody to appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Monday (September 21).

(Image: Joshua Nichol)

A large police cordon was put up between the junctions with Albert Road and Medomsley Road on Friday, blocking off several businesses.

Further searches have also been carried out at a house in the Framwellgate Moor area of Durham in connection with the investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Atkinson, from Durham Constabulary, said: “We understand this incident will have caused a great deal of concern and alarm in the local community.

(Image: Joshua Nichol)

“As a result, we have increased our patrols in the area to provide reassurance to residents.

“I’d like to thank the community for their patience and support while we carried out our enquiries at the scene.

“I would urge anyone who has any information about this incident to please report it, either directly to the police or anonymously to Crimestoppers.”

During the incident, residents and business owners were left baffled by the police presence.

One business owner told The Northern Echo: “They’ve been here about an hour.

“There was a line of officers sweeping the street. I’m not sure what they are looking for.

“We’ve had cannabis raids before, but this is different to that.”

A resident, who wishes to remain unnamed, added: “I don’t know what’s happened, but five or so officers were sweeping the path.

“It looked like they were looking for evidence.”

This is the moment seven migrants are discovered hiding in the back of a lorry as traffickers begin to favour smuggling people via lorries instead of small boats. 

In the video, police surround the rear of a yellow lorry parked on Britannia Road in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, at around 3.25pm on Thursday. 

A man wearing a high-vis orange vest opens the doors as officers repeatedly ask members of the public to stop filming the incident. 

One bystander could be heard muttering, ‘What is going on?’, before men, believed to be migrants, begin crawling from the vehicle.

Wearing hooded tracksuits, they can be seen clambering down from a height within the lorry as officers wait for them to reach the ground. 

Hertfordshire Police has since confirmed seven people were found in the lorry and later detained. 

The driver, a man in his 30s, has been arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal entry.

It comes as security sources say there has been an increase in migrants setting their sights on lorries and other vehicles instead of small boats in a bid to reach the UK. 

Some are trying to jump into moving lorries or even slice through roofs of vehicles in a bid to get to Britain undetected. 

Hertfordshire Police has since confirmed seven people were found in the lorry and later detained

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It comes as more beach patrols, coupled with bad weather, have seen a 45 per cent reduction in those arriving by small boat compared to this time last year. 

However, recent figures also indicate more than 200,000 migrants have arrived in the UK via the English Channel since 2018. 

In 2025, 5,874 vehicle-borne stowaways were detected by authorities in French ports, rising from 4,794 in 2023, according to the BBC. 

Border Force relied on intelligence-led screening rather than every single vehicle entering the UK being checked manually.  

A source told GB News: ‘Despite the understandable focus on the boats crisis, attempts by migrants to board UK-bound lorries and other vehicles has never gone away.

‘It’s not the major crisis it was almost a decade ago before the smugglers switched much of their attention to the use of dinghies, but it remains a persistent problem.’

Another insider said it is not known how many illegal migrants make it to British shores.  

If undetected both in France and on arrival to the UK, they will likely ‘exit the vehicle at some point and disappear off undetected by the authorities’, they added.

‘And we can only know what we know; if they slip through, we’ve no idea how many might have managed that,’ the insider said.

Last May, figures showed more than 200,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel since 2018.

Just over a third of this number arrived since Labour took power in July 2024, according to analysis of government data.

The remaining two-thirds made the journey under the Conservative governments of the previous four prime ministers.

That data is based on official statistics from 2018 to 2025 and provisional figures recorded so far this year.

Successive governments have tried to work with France to disrupt crossings and have revised asylum rules to deter migrants. 

In April, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood signed a three-year agreement with French authorities to pay £662million to support beach patrols.

Ms Mahmood is seeking to overhaul the asylum system to deter crossings and deport people more easily, including proposed changes to make refugee status temporary.

Under the current Labour government, ministers scrapped the Conservatives’ multimillion-pound deal to send migrants who crossed the Channel from France to Rwanda. Just four volunteers were sent before the policy was ditched.

But the move has prompted a legal battle with the East African nation seeking to sue Britain for more than £100million claiming it has breached the terms of the agreement and is owed money – something lawyers for the UK deny.

A police spokesperson said: ‘Police were contacted at around 3.25pm on Thursday 17 September to report concerns about a lorry in Britannia Road, Waltham Cross.’

‘Officers attended the scene and seven people were located inside.

‘All seven have been detained.

‘The driver of the lorry, a man aged in his 30s, has been arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal entry.

‘Officers are working closely with the immigration service.’

The Daily Mail has approached the Home Office for comment.

A large emergency services presence has been reported at a multi-storey car park in Manchester city centre.

An air ambulance was seen landing on the top floor of the car park in the Northern Quarter this evening, and part of Turner Street outside the Abel Heywood pub has been cordoned off.

Pictures from the scene show several police cars and ambulances in attendance, the Manchester Evening News reports.

The Mirror has contacted Greater Manchester Police for further information.

A long-serving Cambridge City Councillor has joined the Green Party as they welcome a ‘tireless campaigner’

A veteran Cambridge councillor has joined the Greens as he says the party is the “right place to fight” to “build a better future”. Cllr Dave Baigent, who represents Romsey, has been a councillor since 2014 and was previously a member of the Labour party.

He left the party in 2025, saying he could “no longer stay silent over the Gaza genocide” before joining Your Party, the left-wing party set up by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana. The newest member of Cambridge City Council ’s Green Group brings their number of councillors up to 13 after winning seven seats in May’s local elections.

Cllr Baigent said: “Helping people has been at the heart of everything I have done. I have always believed in taking action rather than simply talking about change, and I have never been afraid to stand up for the issues that matter to our community.

“With the climate crisis affecting communities across the world, I believe the Green Party is the right place to fight for the urgent action needed to build a better future.”

Cllr Sefira Davison was elected leader of the Cambridge Greens earlier this week as Cllr Naomi Bennett stood down to focus solely on being the party’s finance spokesperson. Cllr Davison, who represents Arbury, called the party’s newest addition a “tireless campaigner” who has “never shied away from championing local residents”.

She said: “He’s a great addition to our Green team, with many years of experience as a strong ward councillor and we look forward to working together to deliver the best result for residents, in Romsey and across the city.”

Cllr Jacqui Whitmore, who also represents Romsey, said: “County Councillor Darren Green and I are thrilled to welcome a fellow Romsey colleague to the Green Party. Dave has consistently worked with us with integrity, compassion, and a focus on delivering practical solutions and I have come to appreciate his deep knowledge of Romsey.

“He shares our commitment to putting local people and communities at the heart of decision-making and will make a great addition to the team.”

Cambridge’s Greens gained their largest ever share of the city’s seats in the 2026 local elections and became the council’s official opposition. It marked the first time in over a decade that the Labour Party lost control, though remaining the largest party, with council leader Cameron Holloway one of six councillors who lost their seats to the Greens as Labour suffered defeats nationwide.