A village that is perfect for commuting gives people a hint of the city life, while enjoying a countryside life. Cambridge is often considered to be a sought-after location for high paid jobs.
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However, living in the city comes at a high price. So, for those who want to live close to work without spending all their money on rent, they’ll need a place that is a good commuting destination. A village perfect for this is Comberton, only five miles from Cambridge, with around 2,400 residents.
The village’s name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon period, meaning Cumbra’s Farm. Comberton is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Parts of St Mary’s Church in the village are over 800 years old, and some houses date back to the 14th century. The village streets are filled with big homes and tall trees.
There is much on offer in the village for people, including shops, schools and a friendly community pub. The village pub is The Three Horseshoes, a family-friendly pub that brings a great atmosphere to locals. Staff are said to be welcoming and it offers a wide range of drinks and snacks.
The village schools also cater up to 16 years old, as there is a primary school and village college. For any sporty people, they can also take advantage of the CB3 Health and Fitness facility.
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With so much on the doorstep, Comberton has plenty to offer, in a quieter and more rural setting.
Fresh conflict in the Middle East threatens to make the cost of petrol more expensive for motorists in the UK, experts have warned.
Escalating oil prices could see higher costs for consumers across the British economy – and the first place those rises will show up is at the fuel pumps.
Will the cost of petrol go up?
Fuel retailers base the cost of petrol and diesel on a number of factors, but the money paid out by motorists at the forecourts is strongly impacted by wholesale crude oil prices.
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On Friday, the oil price was below $70 (£52) a barrel, but on Monday – after the US-Israel strikes on Iran – this had gone up to $78 (£58) a barrel.
Many economists believe this could reach $100 (£74) a barrel if the situation in the Middle East goes on for too long.
How quickly could prices rise?
Oil prices have gone up by around 9% since Sunday night – with more rises potentially on the horizon amid the volatile situation.
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Increases in crude oil prices normally take two weeks to filter through to the fuel pumps, according to motoring organisation, the RAC.
Another thing that impacts pump costs is the exchange rate because oil is priced in US dollars, the RAC says.
This means a stronger British pound against the US dollar makes UK prices less expensive.
The 100-mile waterway leads from the Persian Gulf into the Gulf of Oman and to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.
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There are fears that if the waterway were blocked, it could cause a significant rise in oil prices.
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‘Oil tankers are relatively easy to target’
What do experts think could happen to prices?
Jorge Leon, of energy intelligence firm Rystad Energy, said any blockage of the Strait of Hormuz would directly impact British motorists.
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He said: “We have a direct effect – which is higher prices at the pump and higher electricity bills, but also a secondary effect, which is things will get more expensive because inflation might increase.”
However, some experts believe the movement of oil and trade would adjust to any continuing conflict.
John Stawpert, of the International Chamber of Shipping, the global trade association for ship owners and operators, said “shipping is very well placed to adapt in the face of a crisis”.
He added: “It’s important to stress that, whilst this is a big shock, and we are very concerned about reported attacks against shipping in the region, trade is continuing to flow, the straits are not closed, so any impact that we would see is likely to be minimal unless there is a big change in the security dynamic in that region.”
ITV star Brenda revealed her mystery man on Instagram last year
Loose Women star Brenda Edwards has said she believes her late son sent her boyfriend to her.
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Brenda’s 35-year-old son Jamal Edwards lost his life at the age of 31 on February 20, 2022. Last week marked the fourth anniversary of his passing.
Jamal gained fame after setting up the music platform SBTV in 2006, and was credited with helping to launch a string of UK music acts to stardom, including Dave, Jessie J and Ed Sheeran.
He was also an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, a charity headed up by the Prince of Wales, and in 2014 was awarded an MBE for his services to music.
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Following her son’s passing, Brenda, who rose to fame on The X Factor, set up The Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust in honour of her son. The charity recently opened a Self Belief Creative Community Hub in west London.
The new hub is a creative centre designed to help disadvantaged young adults secure long-term employment.
Two years after Jamal’s death, Brendan met her mystery boyfriend. She went Instagram official with him in November last year. Now Brenda, has revealed that she thinks Jamal sent him to her.
She told The Sunday Express newspaper’s Sunday Magazine: “There is a special someone, who I met just over a year ago.
“I believe he’s come at the right time, and I honestly believe my son sent him for me…Brenda explained: “There are so many similar things in his and Jamal’s way of thinking.”
Looking ahead to the future, Brenda is looking to finally have some happiness in her life, following a tough few years for her and her family.
She explained:: “Losing my baby is like walking around with this big gaping hole in my heart. But I’m happy to share some lovely experiences together – it’s a long time since I’ve been this happy.”
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Announcing her relationship last year, Brenda wrote alongside a snap of them holding hands with their fingers entwined on Instagram: “A year ago, you walked into my life with laughter in your beautiful eyes and so much unconditional love in your heart and every day since has been that much brighter.
“Your humour makes the ordinary magical, your love makes the difficult easy, and your steady spirit makes me feel safe enough to dream bigger than I already do, even silence feels like music, and every moment feels like we have known each other for years! You just get it!
“So here’s to us, one year of laughter, love, and balance, and a lifetime still waiting to be written. I can’t wait to keep turning pages with you, hand in hand, side by side, back to back, heart to heart. Love you Boy (sic).”
Meanwhile, on a 2025 episode of ITV’s Loose Women, Brenda revealed some details about her new man. Asked if boundaries were in place early on in their relationship, she replied: “Not rules as such, but we do have common interests, and I think that’s important because then you don’t mind if they want to go and do something.
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“It’s all about communication with it, and I think that’s key, and I’m enjoying having that sort of communication.”
Brenda was previously married to Patrick Edwards, and they divorced in 2023 after 27 years of marriage.
Liam Bowes, who runs his own motor mechanic business, had downed up to ten pints and more spirits at a birthday party before getting behind the wheel of a VW Golf and heading home, Teesside crown Court heard.
The 37-year-old was caught on camera racing through the red light at Neville’s Cross in Durham before crashing into the law student and knocking Abigail Eggleston’s body through the air.
The harrowing dashcam footage was shown before the killer driver was sentenced by Judge Francis Larid KC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough.
In heart-breaking victim impact statements, the family of the Durham University student paid tribute to the adventurous and funny 22-year-old.
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Her mother, Mandy, told Bowed he displayed “cowardice and cruelty at the highest level” by leaving the scene.
She added: “Losing her has led to my world being completely and utterly crushed and destroyed – life can never be the same again for me without her.”
Floral tributes to Abigail Eggleston at the scene of her death in Neville’s Cross, Durham (Image: The Northern Echo)
Dr Christopher Wood, prosecuting, said CCTV footage from a workingmen’s club where the defendant could be seen drinking at a function the previous evening.
He said telematic details were recovered from the Golf despite the damage caused to the car and were used to determine he was driving at around 56mph when he collided with Miss Eggleston.
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Dr Wood told the court that Bowes failed to slow down at all before attempting to torch the car in a desperate attempt to destroy evidence.
Despite the efforts of paramedics, the student died as a result of her devastating injuries and a post mortem revealed she had died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head.
Bowes, of Eastern Avenue, Langley Park but formerly of Kelloe, County Durham, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, driving without insurance, failing to stop after an accident and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The court heard how he has four convictions for 12 offences, including a fine for failing to stop at the scene of an accident.
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Christopher Morrison, mitigating, read out a letter penned by the defendant outlining his remorse for his actions in the early hours of Sunday, October 26.
Read more:
Judge Laird jailed Bowes for 12 years after he left the student for dead as he fled the scene and tried to destroy evidence.
“Your vehicle struck Abigail, she didn’t stand a chance of avoiding the impact,” he said.
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“Paramedics carried out CPR, sadly she lost her life and her parents were not able to reach the hospital before she died.
“You did not stop at the scene, you continued to drive to your home. With the unwitting assistance of your mother, you drove the car to place where it was abandoned and you set the interior alight to destroy evidence.”
Bowes was also banned from driving for for 18 years and will be required to take an extended driving test before his licence is returned.
Readers discuss staring at others on public transport, Nigel Farage’s ICE-like policies and potholes (Picture: Getty Images)
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments
‘Transport for London is reminding us of respect for females while travelling’, points out reader
Fellow Commuter (MetroTalk, Thu) wrote of his journey being brightened by a ‘stylish’ woman dressed ‘entirely in pink’ who looked someone from 1960s period TV show The Marvelous Mrs Maisel.
He wrote as a married man, he said, with ‘no intention beyond expressing how striking and refreshing it was to witness such effortless style and presence’.
He said ‘sometimes strangers… remind us of the art, fashion and eras we love – and that deserves acknowledgment’.
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When Transport for London is reminding us of respect for females while travelling, in particular staring, I would suggest he spends less time ogling his fellow commuters, however stylish they may be.
Little short of cutting peepholes in the Metro he was reading, I’m not sure how much more detail he could have garnered from ‘such effortless style and presence’.
Perhaps spare a thought for your ‘fellow commuter’ and the discomfort caused by – and I am being generous in this word – observing them. As a father, brother and husband, I know my family would feel uncomfortable with this kind of unsolicited attention. Neil Franklin, London
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Should Amazon drivers put packages in the porch?
Amazon has launched a probe after a family complained about a delivery driver opening their unlocked front door to deposit a parcel in their porch (Metro, Thu). I’m shocked how petty people can be! There are irresponsible delivery drivers out there but this doesn’t look like one of them.
After ringing the doorbell and knocking four times, he made the right decision in ensuring the delivery wasn’t left outside to either get wet or stolen.
All this has done is make delivery drivers not want to make sure your delivery is safe and they’ll just leave it on the doorstep in future. Plus the poor guy may now face a disciplinary or even worse, lose his job! Shazza, via email
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This reader says people are ‘too petty’ (Picture: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Who’s to blame for potholes?
Instead of knee-jerk assumptions that councils alone are to blame for pothole damage, I wonder if some complainants who put ‘fashion’ before practicality might consider whether they themselves could be part of the problem?
I’m thinking of how they might be causing potholes in the first place by driving three-ton ‘SUV’ behemoths (which they don’t need), driving on under-inflated low-profile tyres (which they also don’t need, they are not F1 drivers), driving too fast in problem areas, or not looking properly at the road while fiddling with phones.
The consequences are that insurance and breakdown premiums go up for all of us, because they can’t be bothered to drive intelligently. G Martin, Thornbury
‘Politicians don’t keep their promises’, says reader
This reader says we can’t trust Farage’s claims that Reform’s deportation squads would not be like ICE’ (Picture: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
Reform UK promise their deportation squads ‘won’t be like ICE’ – Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant squads that have attracted protests wherever they have operated and shot dead US civilians (Metro, Tue).
Yes, well, Labour promised to cut our energy bills and build 1.5 million houses. The Lib Dems promised to abolish tuition fees in 2010. Politicians don’t keep their promises.
We know Nigel Farage admires Trump – he’s called the president ‘the bravest man I know’. Trump is not one for keeping promises – remember that wall he never built? Do we honestly believe Farage is going to keep his new deportation force under control? Or will he be ‘inspired’ by Trump to turn it into a violent secret police? Ellie Jaeger, Leighton Buzzard
The actress was looking completely different to her usual self as she transformed into a musical icon to celebrate her milestone
Emmerdale star Michelle Hardwick has been seen looking completely different to her usual self as she transformed into a musical icon to celebrate her milestone birthday.
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It was last week that the actress, who is best known for playing vet Vanessa Woddfield in the ITV soap having joined back in 2012, was celebrating her 50th birthday.
Amy Walsh, who plays Michelle’s on-screen sister Tracy Robinson, was among those paying tribute at the time. She shared a picture of the pair to her Instagram Story and said: “I can’t believe you’re 50?!!! Happy birthday to my sister from another… erm fake mother.” She added: “Have the best day! Can’t wait to celebrate you! @missmichellehardwick.”
Meanwhile, Michelle’s real-life wife, Corrie producer Kate Brooks, paid a gushing tribute on Instagram. Alongside a picture of the birthday girl beaming on a fairground carousel, she shared: “Happy birthday to the woman who brings the magic to the mundane, the wonder to our world, and the disco to our days. How lucky are we to have someone as wonderful as you in our lives? Now, let’s dance.”
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And dance, it appears, they did as over the weekend, Amy returned to social media with a glimpse inside what appeared to be Michelle’s birthday bash, and she looked incredible as she transformed into Cher for the special occasion.
First sharing a picture of a banner boasting photos of the birthday girl, Amy, who is currently pregnant with her second child, wrote on her Instagram Story: “Celebrating the amazing @missmichellehardwick.”
She then shared a photo of Michelle, in which she could be sporting a tight black leather outfit and leather jacket, along with a massive black curly wig. “Beautiful birthday girl! How are you 50?!!” Amy wrote alongside the snap before Michelle admitted: “I mean… Giving my best ‘Cher’.”
It comes after Michelle admitted her family’s hearts were ‘truly broken’ at the start of the year as she and Kate suffered a heartbreaking loss. She took to social media in early January to confirm that she and Kate had been forced to say an upsetting goodbye to their beloved dog, Fred
Alongside a picture of their adorable companion, Michelle wrote: “Our hearts are truly broken tonight, our house is not the same [broken heart emoji]. Our Fred, our protector, he lost his fight this morning.
“We had 7 years of this incredible little guy, he was such a warrior. No more suffering now, run free our beautiful Fred, you’ll be missed more than you’ll ever know, but we’ll talk about you every single day. We love you so so much.”
And she was quickly flooded with messages of love and support. Emmerdale co-star Amy Walsh said: “Awwww babe I’m so sorry!!! Sending you so much love. Little Fred.” Ash Palmisciano also shared: “Ahhh little fred so sorry to read this mate! sending you all lots of love.”
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Former Emmerdale star Natalie Ann Jamieson replied: “Ohh I’m so sorry guys, sending lots of love,” while Corrie’s Amy Robbins commented: “He was such a lovely boy . Im so , so sorry.” Tina O’Brien also responded: “I’m so sorry to hear this. Sending you all my love.” Ex-Hollyoaks star Gemma Merna penned: “I am so sorry. Sending so much love,” while Sophie Austin added: “I’m so sorry sending love.”
A caravan was deliberately set on fire in a Cambridgeshire town. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue were called to the fire in Twenty Foot Road in March on Friday (February 27) just before 7.30pm.
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The fire is believed to have been caused deliberately. A fire spokesperson said: “At 7.26pm on Friday, a crew from March was called to a caravan fire in Twenty Foot Road in March.
“Wearing breathing apparatus, firefighters used hose reels to extinguish the fire. The crew returned to their station by 8.50pm.
“The cause of the fire is believed to be deliberate. Anyone with information should contact police by visiting www.cambs.police.uk to submit an online report or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”
Cambridgeshire Police has raised an incident of arson. A police spokesperson said: “The fire service informed us of this incident. A crime was raised for arson but has since been filed pending any further evidence.”
Over 100 episodes of the crime drama originally broadcast on CBS, with the narrative centring on an enigmatic, reclusive billionaire computer programmer.
Michael Emerson portrays Harold Finch, who created a sophisticated computer programme for the federal government dubbed the Machine. The system was able to forecast terrorist attacks and identify those plotting them.
Person of Interest proved enormously successful upon its debut and was hailed by numerous critics as the finest science fiction series on broadcast television.
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Enthusiasts have flocked to Rotten Tomatoes to express their views and encourage others to watch, with Matt B declaring: “Person of Interest is the best show ever.”
He continued: “Great characters: Finch is top-notch great and Michael Emerson absolutely pulls off each scene with excellence. John Reese – Jim Caviezel is flawless and awesome. Fusco – Kevin Chapman balances the show and is also a great actor!”.
Zoran I remarked: “Absolutely thrilling show that showcases the incredible impact of AI on everyone!”.
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Michelle H stated: “This is a superb show and binge-worthy. We had not seen it when it was originally released but only recently caught up with the series via Amazon Prime.”
One viewer remarked: “We find the idea very compelling and the plotting excellent, not to mention the actors who are perfectly cast. It keeps you wanting to know more- from the big-picture stories that move the series forward to each episode where the characters work to help save doomed souls. We need more of these types of series.”
Zack R simply declared: “Easily in the top 5 shows of ALL TIME!”
J noted: “Give it an episode or two and you will be hooked. A really intriguing premise with a perfect acting duo for Reese and Finch.”
Elijah A praised: “Phenomenal: well-made, well-acted, powerfully scored, with profound and timely themes. Very thrilling and touching.”
The critically lauded programme claimed the 2012 People’s Choice Award for Favourite New TV Drama and the 2016 People’s Choice Award for Favourite TV Crime Drama.
Screen Rant revealed the show concluded because it wasn’t commercially viable enough for CBS, as the majority of advertising revenue was directed to Warner Bros, which held the rights to the programme.
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The creators of the series, which attracted millions of viewers with each instalment, had been informed beforehand that the show would likely finish after five seasons, allowing them to craft a satisfying finale.
Person of Interest is on Netflix.
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The United States and Israel targeted Iran in coordinated attacks over the weekend that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of other senior figures and kicked off a furious Iranian response that threatens a wider regional war.
Allies of the U.S. pledged to help stop Iran’s missile and drone strikes. The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah claimed strikes on Israel for the first time in more than a year, and Israel fired back.
The first U.S. military deaths have been reported. Other deaths have been confirmed in Israel and Gulf nations, while Iran has said hundreds of people have been killed there.
With Khamenei’s death, the Islamic Republic must now choose a supreme leader for the first time since 1989. U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Iranians to seize the moment and overthrow the theocracy that cracked down on nationwide protests early this year. There was no sign that was happening.
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Around the world, some protested. Others cheered.
The attacks came two days after the latest U.S.-Iran talks aimed at putting controls on Tehran’s nuclear program. They echoed the events of last year, when talks were cut short by an Israeli attack that led to a 12-day war and U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear sites. Washington has claimed that Iran was rebuilding its nuclear program in recent months.
The 86-year-old Khamenei was killed when his compound was bombed Saturday morning. Iran’s ballistic missile sites, navy headquarters and warships were attacked as well. Iran said strikes also targeted the Natanz nuclear enrichment site. Israel and the U.S. have not acknowledged strikes at the site, though Israel has said it is targeting the “leadership and nuclear infrastructure.”
Khamenei had no designated successor. Iran has set up a three-member leadership council, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said a new supreme leader would be chosen in “one or two days.” On the streets, there have been scattered celebrations over Khamenei’s death. Internet restrictions in Iran have complicated efforts to monitor what’s happening.
In retaliation, Iran’s military has struck Israel, where several people have been killed. Iran has also targeted U.S. bases in the region. The U.S. military said three service members were killed, the first known U.S. casualties. Other Iranian strikes have killed a handful of people in Gulf nations including the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, and hundreds of flights have been affected at some of the world’s busiest airports.
What to watch for: further military strikes, the selection of a new supreme leader, and reactions from the Iranian people.
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United States
The strikes came after the U.S. built up its biggest military presence in the region in decades. Israeli and U.S. authorities spent weeks tracking the movements of senior Iranian leaders. Trump has said the “heavy and pinpoint bombing” in Iran would continue through the week or longer.
U.S. military bases throughout the region remain a potential target of Iranian attacks.
The U.S. has signaled it is willing to talk to Iran’s new leaders, eventually. Meanwhile, some leaders in Congress have protested at the launch of the strikes without congressional authorization.
What to watch for: further military strikes, effects on U.S. bases and forces, and any diplomacy with Iran’s new leadership.
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Israel
Israel sees Iran as an existential threat and has long sought to end its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, while also targeting armed allied groups like Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israeli attacks have weakened those groups since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that started the war in Gaza.
Israel launched strikes in Lebanon early Monday in retaliation for missiles that Hezbollah launched across the border.
Now Israel has pledged “nonstop” strikes and at one point said 100 fighter jets were simultaneously striking targets in Tehran. During last year’s war, Israel pitched Trump a plan to kill Khamenei. Now they have.
Israelis dashed to shelters for safety all weekend, but most of Iran’s attacks have been intercepted. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under international criticism for the war in Gaza, is claiming a win for Israel’s security.
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But risk remains from Iranian-backed groups like the Houthi rebels in Yemen who have vowed to resume attacks on Red Sea shipping routes and on Israel.
What to watch for: further military strikes, as well as attacks by and against Iranian proxies.
The Middle East and beyond
The current conflict is already far more intense than last year’s Israel-Iran war, where the U.S. inserted itself near the end by bombing Iranian nuclear sites and Iran responded with a calculated attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar.
Now, hundreds of Iranian missile and drone strikes have sent people scrambling across Gulf nations that had previously been relatively insulated from the volatility in the region.
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The United Arab Emirates said Dubai’s main airport had been affected, and tourists and others flinched at the booms of interceptors. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted attacks, and summoned Iran’s ambassador. Top diplomats of six Gulf states said they had the “right to self-defense.”
Oil prices rose sharply when market trading began Sunday as traders bet that supply from the critical region would slow or stop. Attacks on and near the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical oil chokepoint, are also raising concerns about supply.
And on Monday, the world might learn the first details about any effects on Iran’s nuclear program as the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors holds a meeting on the conflict.
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What to watch for: oil prices, details on Iran’s nuclear program, and diplomatic efforts.
Asked for her “take” during an interview with Entertainment Tonight at Sunday’s Actor Awards, Wunmi began: “I was there and it was painful to have that celebration kind of really tainted for me.”
While the British actor was quick to state that she holds “no hard feelings towards John Davidson at all”, she pointed out that Bafta has a “lot of lessons to learn” following what transpired at this year’s ceremony.
“That’s one thing,” she added. “And then the BBC is a whole other thing. That’s the bit that really kind of kept me awake at night and brought tears to my eyes. I was like, ‘you really chose to keep that in’. I can’t understand it. And I’m not sure if I can forgive it.”
Meanwhile, the BBC has “fast-tracked” an investigation into how the racist slur came to be included in its Baftas broadcast, which a spokesperson described as a “serious mistake”.
Whether you’re currently stranded in the UAE or another affected country, or have a holiday booked in the near future, you may be wondering what your travel insurance will really cover amid the current chaos
Most holidaymakers know that travel insurance is vital no matter where you are going in the world. The advice has always been to book your travel insurance policy as soon as you book your holiday, as this can protect against cancellations and last-minute hitches.
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But amid the current travel chaos across the Middle East, many travellers will be wondering what their insurance actually covers. Do you simply get the money back for a cancelled break, or can it help with other expenses? A lot depends on the type of policy you have, terms and conditions, and levels of cover chosen, so here are some key things travellers need to know.
Does travel insurance cover war?
Most standard travel insurance policies won’t cover ‘acts of war’, so there’s no guarantee that people caught up in the current situation will be able to make a claim. Some policies offer enhancements such as travel disruption coverage, which includes unexpected disruptions such as natural disasters, civil unrest, terrorism, and airspace disruption.
In the event that Brits are evacuated from a country en masse, it is the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) that would organise transport, rather than insurers. Therefore, the FCDO is asking Brits to register their presence in countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Israel.
Some policies include ‘travel curtailment’, which means they may cover a claim if a holiday is cut short. However, if the policy doesn’t cover acts of war, you’re unlikely to be able to claim if your trip is shorter than planned or for costs associated with this.
Tim Riley, managing director of travel insurer True Traveller and chairperson of the UK Travel Industry Association, said: “Standard travel insurance policies do not cover war, hostile acts, civil war, military action, invasions or similar large-scale conflict events. This exclusion is standard across the global insurance market because war presents systemic, unpredictable risks that cannot be priced into conventional travel insurance products.
“However, travellers are still covered for claims unrelated to the conflict itself. For example, illness, accidents not connected to hostilities or lost or stolen baggage would typically be handled in line with the normal terms and conditions of the policy. “It is important to note that airlines have a legal obligation to re-route passengers once services resume, and it looks like there will be UK Government-funded repatriation of British passport holders imminently.”
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Will my insurer cover flight delays or cancellations?
The UK has a list of legal requirements for what airlines need to provide passengers when their flights are delayed or cancelled. Tim continued: “If your airline cancels your flight, you are legally entitled to choose between a full refund or re-routing to your final destination at no additional cost. Airlines must offer one of these options.”
Passengers with trips to affected areas in the next 72 hours should hear from their airline soon, and many airlines are releasing statements with further information about what steps passengers need to take. A spokesperson for British Airways said: “We are closely monitoring the situation and have cancelled a number of our flights to the Middle East. Safety is always our top priority and we would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so.
“If you are due to fly between London Heathrow and Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai or Tel Aviv you can change your flight free of charge up to and including 6 March. Customers travelling up to and including 4 March may also request a full refund.”
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Tim advised travellers not to automatically accept a refund if they’re offered one. “It is important that travellers do not accept a refund automatically if they still wish to travel. Accepting a refund effectively ends the airline’s duty of care and its obligation to re-route you. You would then need to book new flights yourself, which may be significantly more expensive. Travel insurance will not cover the price difference between a refunded ticket and a new booking,” he said.
What should I do if I have a holiday booked in a few weeks?
If you have a holiday booked somewhere on the FCDO’s do not travel list and are departing in the next few weeks, you probably won’t hear from your holiday provider or airline for a while. Most travel companies will be swamped with enquiries at the moment, so unless you are due to travel within 72 hours, you may need to be patient and keep an eye on the situation.
Tim added: “If the Foreign Office advises against all travel to your destination before you depart and you’ve booked a package holiday through a UK tour operator, you are entitled to cancel without paying cancellation fees under the Package Travel Regulations 2018 and should receive a full refund, typically within 14 days, provided the warning significantly affects your trip.”
He added: “If the advice is against all but essential travel, the position is more nuanced and many reputable operators will still cancel and refund, but legally it depends on whether the situation constitutes unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances.
“For travellers who have booked flights and accommodation separately rather than as a package, refund rights are less automatic, as airlines and hotels will apply their own cancellation policies. In those cases, travellers should check their travel insurance wording carefully, as some policies may provide cover depending on the circumstances.”
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