Shocking video captured the frightening moment two jets appeared to almost collide with the top of a packed sports stadium during a spectacular pre-game flyover.
The footage from Cape Town, South Africa, showed just how extremely low the pair of Airlink Embraer E-Jets flew over the 55,000-seat DHL Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
In multiple clips, the narrow regional jets zipped through colorful pyrotechnics blasting off the stadium’s roof as the crowd loudly cheered.
Different angles displayed the back of the planes seemingly coming very close to grazing the stadium.
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The jets were about 41 to 46 feet above the top of DHL Stadium, which stands roughly 164 feet tall near sea level, per FlightRadar.
The flyover happened ahead of the rugby game between the South African Springboks and the New Zealand All Blacks, which is part of a series that has been labeled ‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.’
Airlink is an official partner of the series and praised the ‘spectacular scenes’ it put on at the match.
Video captured on Saturday at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, appeared to show an extremely low pre-game flyover
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The Airlink Embraer E-Jets jets breezed through colorful pyrotechnics let off at the top of the stadium
Despite the apparent proximity, there was never any indication that a dangerous incident could have happened because of the low-altitude flyover
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However, viewers reacted in shock, with one online commenter calling the flyovers ‘absolutely unnecessary and dangerous.’
‘That was close,’ a second user added, sharing a video where a jet’s wing looked to nearly strike the stadium.
The two jets used in Saturday’s flyover were registered as ZS-YAE and ZS-YDE, according to CPT Aviation.
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Both were painted in special green and black colors, respectively, for the occasion.
Another user opined that the flyover ‘could’ve been a MAJOR disaster.’
Another added: ‘I mean, cool but how is that safe?’
Other commenters insisted that the stunt was ‘too dangerous’ and that ‘too many people’s lives were put at risk’ as a result.
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‘Some of these people travelled internationally to enjoy the games,’ one user wrote.
But despite the shocked reactions, there was never any indication that anyone was in danger during the awe-inspiring stunt.
In another angle, it looked like the back of one of the jets was close to clipping the 55,00-seat stadium
Two planes were involved in a very close call doing a flyover before South Africa faced New Zealand in Cape Town ✈️ pic.twitter.com/Ylggc9LyR6
A photo of the flyover before the game between South Africa and New Zealand. Flyovers have been common for important rugby games in South Africa going back to the 1990s
The jets used during Saturday’s flyover, seen pictured here, were painted in green and black colors especially for the match
Airlink touted the flyover on Saturday after it happened, writing on X: ‘Planning. Precision. Performance.’
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Low-altitude flyovers are relatively common for big rugby games in South Africa going back to the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final.
While many viewers were stunned, others defended the flyover calling it ‘beautiful’ or ‘spectacular.’
‘Only the weak of heart and mind will criticize this, but then again, those dudes need a license to go crap in the woods whilst camping,’ another said.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Airlink and DHL Stadium for comment.
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Terrifying moment jets appear to skim the roof of packed sports stadium during pre-game flyover
PC Andrew Harper’s killers to remain behind bars as Andy Burnham excludes ‘hundreds’ of killers and child sex offenders from early release scheme amid major outcry
PC Andrew Harper’s killers will be excluded from the prison early release scheme after Prime Minister Andy Burnham said anyone convicted of unlawful killing would be exempt.
The Prime Minister has been forced to keep hundreds more people behind bars who would otherwise be eligible for release to ensure Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole are not let out.
Bowers and Cole, two of PC Harper’s three killers, were passengers in the car that dragged the police officer down a country road after he got caught in a strap attached to the vehicle as they fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in 2019.
There has been a major public and political outcry at the possibility that under the scheme designed to reduce overcrowding they would be released next year, just halfway through their 13-year sentences for manslaughter.
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Mr Burnham had wanted to exempt just killers of emergency service workers from the scheme but was told such a move would open the door to legal challenges that the government would probably lose.
Instead the PM today told the BBC all those in prison for unlawful killing would be exempted, meaning ‘hundreds’ will not now be eligible for release, alongside prisoners convicted of historic child sex offences.
Speaking today to the BBC, Mr Burnham said he shared the ‘concern and anger’ of the public about prisoners such as Bowers and Cole being released early.
Mr Burnham said: ‘I know how strongly people feel about this issue.
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PC Andrew Harper was killed in August 2019 when responding to a quad bike theft in Berkshire
PC Harper’s killers Albert Bowers (left) and Jessie Cole (right), pictured outside court in 2020
‘That’s why I took action during my first weeks as Prime Minister to block some of the very worst in society being released before they should.
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‘We moved quickly to block vile criminals who commit rape, sexually abuse children and groom vulnerable young people.’
He continued: ‘But I always said I wanted to do more. We will now not only be keeping offenders serving time for indecent assault locked up, but also those in prison for manslaughter and death by dangerous driving.
‘This means that the awful criminals responsible for the killing of PC Andrew Harper will not have their sentence shortened.’
The Prime Minister ordered a review of the changes to the Sentencing Act, which is being undertaken by Justice Secretary Alex Norris and is set to be published when Parliament returns from summer recess this week.
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Labour’s early release scheme started in September 2024 with the aim of easing overcrowding in jails.
It allows certain prisoners to be released after serving 40 per cent of their fixed-term sentence, rather than the usual 50 per cent.
The 2026 Sentencing Act, which became law earlier this year, allows for an expansion of the early release scheme by reducing the threshold from 40 per cent of a fixed-term sentence to a third.
Labour’s early release scheme started in September 2024 with the aim of easing overcrowding in jails. A police officer and inmates are pictured outside Brixton Prison in London that month
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Since becoming Prime Minister, Mr Burnham has excluded rapists and child sex offenders from being eligible for the scheme following widespread condemnation.
Some 5,000 people are now expected to be released early under sentencing changes under the Government’s scheme, down from 6,000 after Mr Burnham’s two exemptions were put in place.
Unlawful act manslaughter is when a person causes the death of another while committing a separate illegal act.
Mr Burnham said extra space in prisons would be created by deporting foreign prisoners and releasing inmates who are serving indefinite sentences under Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences (IPPs), which were given to offenders considered a significant risk to the public between 2005 and 2012.
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Full details of the latest changes are expected to be revealed by the Justice Secretary when Parliament returns.
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PC Andrew Harper’s killers to remain behind bars as Andy Burnham excludes ‘hundreds’ of killers and child sex offenders from early release scheme amid major outcry
Here is your round-up of the key cases that were heard before Northern Ireland courts during the week of August 24 -28
16:20, 29 Aug 2026
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Cases before the courts this week in Northern Ireland include a man who appeared to tell a judge that he would shoot him after being accused of spitting at hospital staff.
Another case included a man being charged with carrying out a five day campaign of sexual violence against a woman in North Belfast and a man who threated to “box the head off” police at Belsonic music festival.
A former council chief executive was also convicted of two charges relating to a freedom of information request.
Here is your round-up of the key cases that were heard before Northern Ireland courts during the week of August 24-28
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Noah Donohoe inquest jury set to resume deliberations next month
Jury deliberations in the long-running inquest into the death of Belfast schoolboy Noah Donohoe are set to resume next month.
Proceedings were adjourned at the start of July after jurors had deliberated for 24 hours over three days and were unable to reach an unanimous verdict.
The naked body of the 14-year-old was found in an underground water tunnel in the north of the city after having been missing for six days in June 2020.
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A post-mortem examination concluded that the cause of Noah’s death was drowning.
The inquest into his death started in January and has heard evidence from 76 witnesses and statements from a further 42 people, and involved maps, video footage, photographs, police logs and expert reports.
Noah’s mother, Fiona, has been present for every day of the inquest.
James Mulholland, 19, was handed a three-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, after he admitted attacking and directing homophobic slurs at officers called to the Belsonic event earlier this summer.
At one stage he squared up to two PSNI constables, declaring he would “box the heads off them”.
Mulholland, of Annadale Avenue in the city, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault on police, resisting arrest and criminal damage to a watch worn by one of the officers.
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Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard the officers intervened to assist security guards who had removed him from the Belsonic festival at Ormeau Park on June 27.
He tried to fight with staff before directing his violence at police called to the venue.
Man, 59, who tried to groom young boy caught during undercover PSNI operation
A 59-year-old man who tried to sexually groom a child into meeting him during an undercover police operation was today handed a three-year probation order.
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Nicholas Finton O’Brien, of Oakham Street, West Belfast, had previously pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.
O’Brien, who is originally from Co Waterford, also admitted a charge of attempted communication with a child. The offences were committed on dates between November 19, 2024, and December 4, 2024.
Belfast Crown Court heard that a serving law enforcement officer called ‘Mandy’ posed on apps Grindr and Snapchat in what prosecutors described as an “authorised operation”.
She purported to be a 14-year-old boy named ‘Reece’ from Northern Ireland and the purpose of the operation was to identify persons committing offences of child sexual abuse and child exploitation.
Man accused of spitting at hospital staff tells judge: ‘I hope you get shot’
A man accused of spitting in a staff member’s face during a sectarian tirade at a Belfast hospital appeared to tell a judge on Monday: “I hope you get shot dead.”
James Briers, 27, yelled fresh slurs as he was remanded into custody over the alleged weekend outburst of violence and threats.
Briers, of Kilmakevit Road in Cullybackey, County Antrim, is charged with two common assaults, disorderly behaviour and criminal damage.
Police said he had initially threatened a triage nurse checking on his welfare by saying: “You can f*** off, I’ll get up and knock the c*** out of you’.”
He then allegedly called the nurse “a dirty Fenian b*****d”.
Man with 99 previous convictions refused bail after new burglary charge
A Co Tyrone man with 99 convictions on his criminal record was refused bail due to concerns he may re-offend.
The application to release Padraig Anthony James Brolly from custody was made and refused at Belfast Crown Court.
From Castle Gardens in Dungannon, the 27-year old is awaiting trial on a charge of burglary.
Prior to reaching his decision on Tuesday on the bid for bail, Judge Philip Gilpin was addressed by both a Crown and a defence barrister.
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The Crown barrister told Judge Gilpin the application was being opposed for two reasons – concerns that Brolly would re-offend and would not turn up for his trial.
Regarding the burglary charge denied by Brolly, the prosecutor said this dated back to June 24 last year when a house on Southview Street in Belfast was broken into and a TV and other items were stolen.
‘F**k you and your Ma’ Woman’s community service revoked after Peelers notoriety
A woman who appeared on BBC documentary ‘Peelers’ was unable to complete more than 10 hours of her community service order because of her notoriety, a solicitor claimed this week.
Defence solicitor Pearse MacDermott told Belfast Magistrates Court after Jacqueline Farrell was on TV, other people who were doing their community service alongside the 44-year-old were subjecting her to taunts and abuse.
In addition, the solicitor submitted that Farrell’s “notoriety resulted in a death threat.”
“Has that been confirmed by probation?” District Judge Steven Keown asked, and Mr MacDermott said the threat has been confirmed.
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North Belfast woman Farrell, who previously served a jail sentence over drug offences, featured in Stephen Nolan ’s fly-on-the-wall documentary Peelers.
Police had been called to the Balmoral Hotel following reports of intoxicated guests causing a disturbance and, although initially jovial with Farrell high-fiving the journalist and asking after his mum, the incident ended with the 44-year-old being arrested.
Anne Donaghy: Verdict reached in case of former council chief
Former Mid and East Antrim Council chief executive Anne Donaghy has been convicted of two charges around deleting an email to prevent disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
Donaghy, 56, of Clonmore Road, Dungannon, was convicted of deleting an email and having procured the deletion of an email to prevent the disclosure of information through the Freedom of Information Act.
It concerned an email to then first minister Dame Arlene Foster, forwarding a letter she had sent to the Cabinet Office around the administering of the post-Brexit treaty, the Northern Ireland Protocol at Larne Port and alleged threats to council workers in 2021. She was cleared of a third charge of having attempted to delete a second email.
Aaron McClelland, the council’s former director of corporate services, was cleared of a single charge of having attempted to delete an email. Neither gave evidence during the two-day trial.
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Donaghy was fined £750 for each of the two charges she was convicted of. It is understood she intends to appeal against the conviction.
Man appears in court after woman held hostage, raped and assaulted for five days
A man appeared in court today accused of holding a woman prisoner as he allegedly raped and sexually assaulted her over a five-day period in North Belfast.
Jonathon White, 40, appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, August 26, where he faced nine charges following incidents that allegedly took place from August 20 to 24.
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The charges include, three counts of rape, grievous bodily harm with intent, false imprisonment, sexual assault, possession of an offensive weapon and domestic abuse.
White appeared in the dock during the hearing where a police constable said they would be able to connect him to the charges.
Daniel Paul Curley, 28, of Ross Road, will spend a further nine months on supervised licence on his release from custody.
Belfast Recorder Judge Philip Gilpin said he was departing from the normal 50/50 split between custody and licence as Curly had the offer of work with his uncle and the Probation Board said it had programmes which would help the defendant deal with his drug issues.
Staff told police that the male asked to see watches and when he was shown one he snatched it. During the incident another watch fell to the ground and Curley fled the store with two stolen Citizen watches worth around £700.
The 66-year-old from Crossmaglen in Co Armagh, stood in the dock dressed in a blue and white striped T-shirt.
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When the first charge was put to him by the court clerk that he stood accused of indecently assaulting a male on dates between February 24, 1993 and February 25, 1994, the ex-postman, replied: “Not guilty.”
The clerk asked McKenna how he pleaded to a further 13 charges of indecent assault against the same complainant, he replied: “Not guilty.”
According to court papers, these alleged offences spanned dates from February 24, 1993 and February 25, 2000.
Couple sentenced after dog found ‘underweight and living in dirty conditions’
A couple from Co Antrim have been sentenced for dog welfare offences after an underweight dog was found living at their property in “dirty conditions.”
Jason Gallagher and Aleshia McLaverty, both of Islandbawn Drive in Antrim, were sentenced at Antrim Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, August 26, having pleaded guilty to dog welfare offences. Gallagher pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the dog’s welfare, while McLaverty pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the dog.
The criminal proceedings followed an investigation by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Animal Welfare Team after the PSNI reported that a dog had been seen living at the property in dirty conditions and appeared underweight.
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Council officers attended the property that same day and found a terrier-cross dog which was severely underweight. Although the property had been cleaned before the Animal Welfare Officers arrived, police body-worn camera footage showed the dog living in a room where the floor and bedding were strewn with faeces, with no access to water.
Council officers removed the dog and took it to the Council vet who certified the animal as suffering.
GENEVA (AP) — A shooting at a rave in the northern Swiss canton of Aargau killed one person and left five injured early Sunday, local police and media reported.
Cantonal police wrote on X that one person was killed and five injured — some seriously — by a shooting at event in the canton’s capital Aarau, 46 kilometers (29 miles) west of Zurich.
Police spokesperson Pascal Wenzel told Swiss public broadcaster SRF that police were alerted around 2:30 a.m. about the shooting.
At the time of the incident, the “Aarau Rave VOL. 7” was taking place at the horse racing track in Aarau’s Schachen district, Swiss public broadcaster SRF reported. The fire department cordoned off a large area around the site.
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A major police operation was underway and locals were asked to stay away from the area.
Police are still looking for a suspect, they said.
Aarau has about 22,300 residents and is 46 km (28.5 miles) west of Zurich.
The former Duchess of York is said to have been inundated with requests as she maintains a tight friendship group in the UK despite the fallout from her Epstein associations
Sarah Ferguson is set to appear in a tell-all documentary and interview as she returns from exile to a tidal wave of requests, it has been reported.
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The former Duchess of York left the UK amid fallout from hers and former Prince Andrew’s association with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, and the latter’s arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office. She is now said to have returned, having spent seven months abroad on mainland Europe.
Her return has not gone unnoticed, with a source claiming she has been “bombarded with requests” as she reportedly settles into a £10,000-a-month Home Counties property.
The source told The Sun that Fergie has been approached by “big streamers” to sit down for interviews and “tell her side of the story”. They said: “Fergie has been bombarded with requests from all over the world to do sit-down interviews, especially with the big streamers, to tell her side of the story.
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“She is looking at her options. For her, it’s more about retaining editorial control rather than making money.” The former left the UK earlier this year after she was dropped by multiple charities and stripped of her honours.
The major shunning stemmed from fallout over her previous association with Epstein, revealed in the release of a tranche of three million emails from the US Department of Justice in January. In one email released amongst the trove from 2011, she privately apologises for publicly rejecting Epstein.
She says: “You have always been a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family.” Another email indicated that she took her daughters to see the disgraced financier days after he was released from prison for child sex crimes.
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The emails do not serve as an indication of any wrongdoing, of which Ms Ferguson has never been accused. Andrew has strenuously denied any wrongdoing stemming from his relationship with Epstein.
Despite the immense public pressure, and both former royals having been stripped of their honours and top positions, Fergie remains well connected in the UK, the source said. They claimed: “Sarah has a tight-knit group of friends and is extremely well connected.
“She would only allow someone she knew well to tell her story.” The news comes after another source said she had been eyeing her return to the UK for some time.
They said: “She’s had her eyes on a return for some time but it takes time to find the right new house. She hasn’t had to worry about accommodation for 20 years as she had Royal Lodge with Andrew. Now’s the right time to get back to her life. With everyone looking out for Harry and Meghan she thought she could slip back under the radar after seven months away.”
CambridgeshireLive readers have been sharing their views on parking enforcement and provision around Cambridge’s new railway station and nearby Clay Farm and Glebe Farm estates
David Prince and Cambridgeshire Live readers
06:46, 30 Aug 2026
Readers of CambridgeshireLive have been weighing in on the debate surrounding parking and its enforcement near the new Cambridge South station and neighbouring estates.
Residents living close to Cambridge’s newest railway station are calling for improved enforcement to curb what they describe as a “surge” in parking. Clay Farm and Glebe Farm, both developed over the past decade, remain under the management of developer Vistry, which retains responsibility for the residential roads within the estates.
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Cambridgeshire County Council has confirmed it has agreed in principle to take over the roads at some stage, but no formal legal agreement has yet been reached.
One commenter, Pumpumdoggy writes: “Absolutely, more fines need to be handed out with bobbies on the beat arresting repeat offenders.”
Throatwobblermangrove quotes: “‘Enforcement must improve.’ No, parking provision must improve. With adequate parking provision – that is, enough spaces, at a reasonable price – these problems would go away. These issues are an inevitable consequence of following the ‘if we don’t accommodate cars, people will stop needing them’ myth, which has been proven time and time again to be a delusion.
“The same still happens around Cambridge main station, and the same will happen in Milton and Chesterton when all those new flats are built at Cambridge North. The problem can be easily avoided by providing enough parking spaces to meet current and future demand. But will our councils learn? Of course not.”
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Calumen Nomen agrees: “Well said – nailed it.”
Freddly says: “The Clay Farm streets weren’t built as free car storage space for people who are too important to use public transport.”
Jim212 writes: “Residents haven’t been kept updated about BridgePam taking over parking enforcement, and there has been no communication about this or the new signs that were sneakily introduced. There is woefully insufficient visitor parking, and not all properties even have a parking space.
“Whereas I support measures to tackle commuter parking, BridgePam have been issuing PCNs incorrectly, not physically giving notice on cars and failing to send letters within 14 day timeframes to give a chance of appeal, before increasing fines and adding penalties.
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“The road owner needs to be a lot more transparent and work with residents to find solutions. An area-wide parking scheme, like in Accordia off Brooklands Av, would solve the problem overnight. Basically: What do you expect if you build a railway station and imagine no one is going to drive to it? Only councillors are not clever enough to work this out.”
Prunesquallor feels: “Short-sighted anti-car council builds train station with no parking. Cars parked all over the place. Gullible electors suffer the consequences of their decision.”
Over on our Facebook page, David R comments: “Make a good car park for the new station! It’s not rocket science.”
Kate Lynne B says: “Great, now I know where to park for the station.”
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Julian H writes: “The fact that the roads haven’t been adopted and there is confusion as to who is responsible for what seems to add weight to the argument in favour of a Cambridge Development Corporation. They can hardly do any worse in terms of achieving an outcome.”
What do you think is needed regarding this parking situation? Comment below or HERE to have your say.
There are free breakfasts, supermarket giveaways and even groceries you can take home – and now all the help is means-tested
Feeding children through six weeks of summer can make an already expensive food shop feel considerably worse.
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But before assuming the only extra help available is through a food bank, it is worth knowing about some of the other schemes that are still there.
There are supermarkets giving away food, free breakfasts you don’t have to buy anything to claim, community fridges where you can take groceries home and council-funded holiday programmes that include meals.
Importantly, not all of these are designed only for people in financial crisis. Some are open to everybody. Here are five places I’d check.
1. Morrisons – ask for a free breakfast
This is probably one of the easiest freebies to claim because you don’t need to buy an adult meal first. Morrisons and Kellogg’s are offering a free breakfast in Morrisons Cafés until September 6, 2026.
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Ask for a “Kellogg’s Breakfast” at the till and you can get a portion of Corn Flakes or Rice Krispies with dairy or non-dairy milk, plus an apple or banana.
And this isn’t only for children. Adults can claim one too. The offer is available all day, Monday to Sunday, in participating Morrisons Cafés, with a limit of one breakfast per customer each day.
That’s particularly worth knowing because many supermarket ” kids eat free ” promotions actually require an adult to spend money first.
Morrisons’ separate Kids Eat Free deal, for example, requires the purchase of an adult main meal costing more than £5.
2. Find a community fridge – you may be able to take food home
This is the one I think many people still don’t know about. A community fridge isn’t the same thing as a food bank.
The Community Fridge Network says its fridges are open to everyone and aren’t means-tested. That means you don’t have to prove that you receive benefits or are experiencing financial hardship.
The idea is to stop perfectly edible surplus food going to waste. Supermarkets, businesses, producers and sometimes local residents donate surplus food, which is then made available for people in the community to take.
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There are now more than 700 community fridges around the UK. What you find will vary enormously. You might find bread and vegetables one day and very little the next, so I wouldn’t rely on one for a weekly food shop.
But if there’s one nearby, it could be a genuinely useful way to supplement what you already have at home.
Search for the Hubbub Community Fridge Network and use its map to find your nearest one. Check opening hours before making a special journey.
3. Check whether your council is offering free holiday food
If your child normally receives benefits-related free school meals, don’t assume that support stops when the school gates close.
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In England, the Government’s Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF) funds free holiday club places for eligible children during the summer holidays.
The programme includes a nutritious meal as well as activities. However, this is one where you need to look locally rather than searching for one national booking page.
Councils have considerable flexibility over how they run their programmes, so what’s available in one part of the country can be quite different from another.
Search your council’s website for “HAF summer 2026” or “Holiday Activities and Food” .
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One important point for this summer: eligibility is still based on the existing benefits-related free school meal criteria. The wider expansion of free school meals to households receiving Universal Credit starts from September 2026 and does not automatically expand HAF eligibility.
If you think you qualify but haven’t been sent information, contact your council or your child’s school rather than assuming you’ve missed out.
4. Look for supermarket food freebies while you’re shopping
There are a few smaller offers that won’t replace a food shop but are worth knowing about if you’re going to the supermarket anyway.
Tesco, for example, has brought back its Free Fruit for Kids initiative for summer 2026.
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Children can get a free apple while stocks last at participating stores, with the scheme running until August 30.
This is where it pays to distinguish between a genuine freebie and a “free” meal that actually requires you to spend £10 or £15 first.
If money is tight, I wouldn’t recommend making an unnecessary purchase purely to qualify for free food. Check the conditions and work out what you’re actually saving.
Finally, free isn’t always the best deal. If a restaurant requires you to buy a £15 adult meal before your child eats free, spending £1 somewhere else may leave considerably more money in your pocket.
Asda’s café offer is a good example. Children can eat for £1 without an accompanying adult having to buy a meal.
Other restaurants, supermarkets, pubs and cafés are running their own school holiday deals, but the conditions vary considerably.
A family with two children could potentially save a significant amount over the remainder of the holidays simply by planning meals out around the best offers.
One thing I’d do before travelling anywhere
Check the offer is still running at your particular location.
Free-food schemes can have exclusions, participating locations and limited opening times, while community food is dependent on what has been donated.
I also wouldn’t feel uncomfortable about using a scheme that’s explicitly open to everyone.
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A community fridge exists to prevent food waste. A supermarket offering free breakfast is running a promotion available to its customers. You aren’t taking something intended for somebody else by using an offer you’re entitled to use.
And with several more weeks of summer still to feed everyone through, even taking one breakfast, lunch or bag of surplus groceries off the bill can help.
Money-saving tip: Don’t let the word “free” distract you from the total cost. A £1 children’s meal with no adult minimum spend can be a better family deal than a free children’s meal requiring an expensive adult purchase.
Offers and availability can change and may vary by location. Check individual providers before travelling
Good morning. If you’re just joining our live coverage, here is the full statement from Big Church Festival organisers, where a man was killed by a falling sign.
A spokesperson said: “We are devastated by the serious incident that took place at Big Church Festival 2026 today, in which a sign fell, injuring at least seven people, one of whom tragically lost their life.
“First and foremost, all of our thoughts are with those who have been affected, their families and friends, and everyone who witnessed what happened. Following today’s incident, we have made the decision to bring Big Church Festival 2026 to a close.
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“Our immediate priority is the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved and helping those currently at the festival to leave the site safely.
“We will provide further information as quickly as we can through our website and official channels. Please look to these for updates.
“We are working with the emergency services, police and the Health and Safety Executive as they establish the circumstances surrounding today’s incident. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who responded, and to our teams and community for the care they have shown one another.
“Big Church Festival is about bringing people together. Tonight, that community is grieving. Right now, our focus is on those directly affected by what happened today.
14 million of us are out of contract with our current mobile phone supplier – and therefore could be saving money
Do you panic when your phone packs in? Does the battery warning bring you out in a cold sweat? Have you ever felt the heartbreak of watching a wet phone die? You are not alone.
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The latest data from Uswitch shows 96% of the population have a mobile phone and there are 88 mobile phone subscriptions (contracts) in operation. We are a nation in thrall to those little mini computers in our pockets and bags.
Yet according to MoneySavingExpert, 14 million of us are out of contract with our current mobile phone supplier. This means we are paying way over the odds for our phone service. In fact, if you shop savvy and think about what you need from your contract, you could save upwards of £250 a year.
Switching to a better deal with another mobile phone service provider may seem like a faff, but it’s remarkably easy – and yes, you can keep your number. So with the cost-of-living crisis showing no signs of going away, here’s my guide on how you can switch and save.
Can I switch today?
If you’re out of contract, you can switch to a new provider immediately! However, can you remember your online password for your bill? I certainly couldn’t. So before you start shopping around, reset your password and take a look at your bill. It should say if you are out of contract and you will also be able to see how much data you are using too. This can help you cut costs later.
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If you’ve switched or renewed recently, add your mobile phone contract renewal date to your calendar. If you add this one month before the renewal day you have time to do some research and find the best deal.
What if my contract hasn’t expired?
If you are mid-contract, you will likely have to pay an exit fee to leave early. This starts high and reduces as your contract progresses. If you can find a better deal, then it may be worth breaking your contract early, but ask for an estimated exit fee from your provider first. This also gives them an opportunity to come up with a better counter offer to keep your custom.
If the exit fee is too high, you can sometimes leave your contract early if the business isn’t meeting its side of the contract.
I don’t want to put words in your mouth, but here are some of the most commonly cited reasons for leaving a contract early:
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Poor signal strength
Bad customer service
Changes to your original contract
Mid-contract price increases
Changes in circumstances (like moving abroad or to an area with no mobile phone coverage from your provider)
If you are alleging poor signal strength, download a free app to monitor this. Report the problem to the mobile phone company and take regular screenshots showing you service is poor to support your argument.
What research should I do before I switch?
Start by having a think about how long you want to lock yourself in to a contract for. You get cheaper deals for longer contracts, but prices can increase mid-term, so make sure you read the terms from the mobile phone company. New rules from Ofcom state that they should clearly explain what those mid-term contract increases will be on your offer letter.
Some mobile phone companies offer discounted rates for the first few months of a deal with the best deals running for up to a year. Your contract will increase significantly afterwards, so when comparing deals, get your calculator out and add up what the total amount is you will pay over the duration of the contract. Don’t forget to put the date the contract increases in price in your diary too, so you don’t go overdrawn if cash is tight.
You can also get a range of discounts for “bundling” deals. This means you agree to move other contracts over to the same new provider. For example, you could get a discount bundle deal for having your broadband, TV and mobile phone packages with the same provider. This can be convenient but make sure you research all of the separate deals before signing up, along with comparing the costs with single deals elsewhere.
Watch out for firms that move you automatically on to the ‘best’ deals. They get commission for this and some don’t act in your best interest. Have a look at review sites too, so you can get a feel for how the business handles complaints and deals with problems.
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Here’s your checklist when reviewing your mobile phone service providers:
If you want a contract or pay as you go deal
If you want a “free” handset
Contract length and mid-term rises
“Inclusive” minutes (the number of calls/texts in the UK you get for free each month)
Data (the amount of data you can download from the internet)
International calls and data roaming (the latter is the cost of using your phone abroad)
How do I switch to a new mobile phone service provider?
Ofcom has a relatively simple process which should mean you are able to switch mobile phone providers by text. Problems do occur though, but you can complain if a business gets it wrong – and potentially get compensation.
If you want to keep your number:
The industry term for switching to a new mobile provider while keeping your existing number is known as “porting”. To switch and keep your number:
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Contact your existing mobile phone company and request a Porting Authorisation Code (PAC)
To request this by text, send PAC to 65075
You can also request this through your online account or by calling the business
Your PAC code must be given in one minute and lasts for 30 days, but don’t delay!
Your existing provider must also send you all important information, including any exit fees if they apply
Your new service provider then does all of the work behind the scenes and you should be set up within one working day
If you aren’t bothered about keeping your number:
You will need to request a Service Termination Authorisation Code (STAC) instead
To request this by text, send STAC to 75075 or obtain the code online or on the phone
The process is the same after doing this
What if I change my mind?
If you signed up to your mobile phone contract online or on the phone, then legally, you have a 14 day cooling off period.
This means you can change your mind and end the new contract if you are unhappy with the service, if you feel you’ve been misled or you find a more advantageous deal. Make sure the business logs that you have cancelled the agreement on its systems. The clock stops ticking on the time limit when you say you want to cancel.
What about all my stuff?
Contacts, photos, old WhatsApp messages. All of these things and more should not vanish when you move to another mobile phone company if you keep the same handset. However, many people report problems to varying degrees with some switches to new handsets, so prep in advance.
Take some time to learn about backing up your phone. This includes data stored on the phone itself, things you’ve backed up on a computer or hard drive and information you’ve saved to a “cloud storage service”.
If you are changing handsets, talk to your mobile phone company and the manufacturer about transferal of data, just to be sure.
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Finally, lots of mobile phones now have ‘e-sims’. Many people don’t really understand how e-sims work, so make sure you ask about this when speaking to the mobile phone company.
What can go wrong?
Mobile phone companies are not allowed to charge you for notice periods when the switch date has occurred. If this happens to you, tell the firm that has billed you that you want to make a formal complaint. They should address the error, remove the debt and confirm that this has occurred in writing.
Compensation may apply if there is a delay with the switch or errors occur. People sometimes report being stuck in between two businesses blaming each other when this occurs. Your new provider is responsible for ensuring the switch takes place appropriately. But you can still complain about the old provider if they are responsible for errors.
Ask the new business to confirm in writing what the problem was and use that letter as evidence in your complaint against the new provider.
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Making a complaint
Don’t forget that you can make a complaint about most mobile phone or broadband problems to the Ombudsman. The largest of the services is the Communications Ombudsman and you can contact them here. Alternatively you can find CISAS here.
Martyn James is a leading consumer rights campaigner, TV and radio broadcaster and journalist
The talent show, fronted by Simon Cowell, created some of the biggest music stars, including One Direction, Little Mix, Leona Lewis, and Alexandra Burke.
Originally, The X Factor ran for 15 series from 2004 until 2018, before airing two spin-off series in 2019 with X Factor: Celebrity and X Factor: The Band.
At its peak, the ITV show brought in 19 million viewers and became one of the UK’s most talked-about shows.
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Now reports suggest that ITV are looking to bring Cowell’s singing competition back but with a new look.
The X Factor to return after 7 years, reports
ITV bosses and production company Talkback Thames have reportedly been in talks to bring back The X Factor, according to The Sun.
The show would have younger judges to appeal to a social media generation; however, it’s said that Cowell would still return in some capacity.
Discussing the show’s potential return, a source told The Sun, “They can explore a younger, fresher panel, with new faces and have Cowell behind the scenes.
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“The plan is for the show’s return to take on a new life and be updated to envelop social media generation.
“ITV has shown with programmes like Love Island and I’m A Celebrity . . . that social media is where they can inject massive viewing figures.
“The X Factor was one of the most iconic shows in TV history and created dozens of stars and household names who are still riding high today.
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“Executives at Talkback Thames have had discussions with ITV chiefs about a comeback, and they are super-keen for it.”
Back in May, Cowell was asked if he would like to see The X Factor return while appearing on the Tales from the Celebrity Trenches podcast, “Yeah, we talk about it a lot. Do you bring it back as X Factor or do you bring it back as the Z Factor?
“There’s still no question, the power of TV in terms of getting people to know an artist. It’s so important if you’re not writing your own material.
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“The truth is there’s something about being on a big screen. You hear about these artists who break online, but so rarely.
“Truth is, I guess, thank God, people like being on TV.”
Newsquest has contacted ITV for a comment.
Would you like to see The X Factor return? Let us know in the comments.
The creators of the BBC medical drama Casualty have finally admitted that the show was designed as an attack on Margaret Thatcher‘s health policies.
Paul Unwin and Jeremy Brock, who launched the show in 1986, say they were inspired to write the drama because of what they saw as the Conservative government’s dire neglect of the NHS.
The two men have come clean at last about the show’s political origins in an interview to mark its 40th birthday next Sunday.
On today’s edition of Radio 4’s The Reunion, presenter Kirsty Wark asks Unwin directly if the show was designed to be critical of Mrs Thatcher’s Government.
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He replies: ‘Yes. In fact, our original pitch began with the line, “In 1948, a dream was born. In 1985, the dream was in tatters”. Pretentious? A little bit.
‘But we did really mean it, and we really did feel the BBC was behind us in trying to say this great national institution was under real pressure.’
Even the programme’s title had political undertones. TV bosses initially planned to call the programme Front Line or City Hospital, before realising the name Casualty was more in keeping with its political agenda.
Brock said: ‘I think Casualty came up as a consequence of us realising there was a lovely double meaning in the title.
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Pictured: Cast members from Casualty appearing in the show’s 40th anniversary special
Paul Unwin and Jeremy Brock said the show was inspired by the neglect of the NHS during Margaret Thatcher’s time in government
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Should TV dramas use their platform to push political messages about the NHS and government policy?
‘You had the casualties who came in and then you had the staff who were the casualties of a system that was under-funding them and putting them under incredible pressure.’
Catherine Shipton, who played Nurse Duffy, one of the show’s most popular characters, recalled producer Geraint Morris telling staff about the show’s mission statement.
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She said: ‘Geraint gave us this speech. It just felt like a huddle. This was a maverick group of people, and he said this is anti-cuts, pro-NHS, that is what we are doing here.
‘It just chimed with everything I personally believed, and I just thought I can’t believe that every word that’s going to come out of my mouth, I’ll believe it.’
Although Casualty was an instant hit, many viewers agreed with Edwina Currie, the then junior health minister, that it was too negative about the state of the NHS.
At the time, the BBC refuted suggestions of political bias, claiming the show was just honest.
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The political heat which surrounded the show in its early days had serious consequences for Peter Salt, a real-life nurse who was also its medical consultant.
He was warned that his NHS career might be affected if he continued with the television role.
He told The Reunion: ‘My career nearly ended or abruptly came to a stop very early on.
‘When the show started the hospital authorities were saying, “This is great. Shining a light on the hospital is very, very good”.
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‘As soon as the Government started getting their tuppence worth in, I was approached and told, “Are you sure you want to keep doing this? You might want to be running this department one day”.’ Salt said he interpreted that as a threat.
Casualty, which aired its 41st series earlier this year, is one of the world’s longest-running dramas. Over the years, it has helped launch the careers of some of the world’s biggest stars.
Titanic star Kate Winslet, Lord Of The Rings actor Orlando Bloom and Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley all appeared in the show when they were complete unknowns.
Ms Winslet was only 17 when she appeared as an anxious babysitter in a 1993 episode.
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Catherine Shipton recalled a young actress who had little time for the on-set banter which occurred between takes.
She said: ‘She [Kate] was about 17. She was very concentrated… She would just take herself to one side and stay in the zone and not enter into the banter.
‘But I did sense somebody who loved her profession and who worked really hard at her profession.’
The Reunion is on BBC Radio 4 today at 10am and is available via the BBC Sounds app.
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The broadcaster is also promising a ‘gripping’ 40th anniversary Casualty double-bill special that ‘centres on a high-stakes major incident that throws Holby into chaos’. It will be aired on BBC iPlayer on Saturday.
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