Emmerdale fans were delighted earlier this week when Lawrence Robb revealed that he’d be competing for the glitter ball trophy after signing up to take part in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.

The Mackenzie Boyd star, a firm favourite with viewers of the ITV soap since his debut in 2020, said that joining the BBC’s dance competition is a ‘dream come true’.

‘I can’t quite believe that I am going to be getting my dancing shoes on this September on one of my favourite shows of all time!,’ he exclaimed. ‘It’s a dream come true, and I can’t wait to bring my all to ballroom.

‘Wish me luck, and any advice is very welcome – trust me, I’ll need it!’

The announcement was met with positivity from his fans and co-stars alike, with Nicky Miligan actor Lewis Cope – who made it to the Strictly Quarter-Final last year – writing: ‘Yes brother!!! I am so excited for you’.

Tracy Metcalfe star Amy Walsh added: ‘Omg omg omg!!!!!!!!!!! Amazing!!!!!!!! ,’ while Matty Barton actor Ash Palmisciano said: ‘yes mate! your gonna be amazing!’

But while fans are eager to see Lawrence strutting his stuff on the dancefloor, some did worry what this announcement means for his future on Emmerdale.

Emmerdale and Coronation Street stars don’t typically remain on the ITV soaps while competing on Strictly so Lawrence’s casting left some fans wondering if an exit could be on the cards for fan-favourite Mack.

However, this does not appear to be the case, with Lawrence having revealed that he’ll be balancing both his work on Emmerdale with Strictly.

Speaking on a video shared on the official Strictly Come Dancing Instagram account, the soap star said: ‘For the next couple of months, alongside strutting my stuff on the Emmerdale fields, I’m going to be strutting my stuff on the dancefloor.

‘It’s very exciting, but I’m terrified’.

Lawrence has had plenty of material to get his teeth into on Emmerdale over the past year after Mack was taken hostage by serial killer John Sugden, who previously shot him with a crossbow.

The character also recently found out that wife Charity Dingle had cheated on her with his best mate Ross Barton. Charity, meanwhile, confided in him that she had been raped by Dr Todd, who Mack subsequently confronted in a heated showdown.

Dr Todd was later confirmed to be dead via a flashforward sequence, so will Mack end up as one of the suspects in the murder?

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8:00pm on ITV1 or stream from 7am on ITVX and YouTube.

If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@metro.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you.

Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage.

MORE: ‘Guinea pig’ Emmerdale star Danny Miller confirms surprise Strictly update

MORE: ‘Mummy tried her best’ Helen Flanagan’s daughter, 11, left in tears by gutting update

MORE: TV soap icon ‘loses part of herself’ as she announces death of father

A historic market town gripped by unrest saw more arrests on a third consecutive night of disorder after angry locals tried to storm homes believed to house asylum seekers. 

Riot police were deployed to guard more properties in Thetford, Norfolk, last night as protests over migrants being housed in a residential street escalated, with crowds chanting: ‘Get them out, get them out.’

Two men were arrested on Thursday evening, Norfolk Police said, following two nights of disorder in the market town.

One was arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred in connection with events on Wednesday. The other was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and failing to provide details to police when asked.

Police powers were increased on Thursday evening in the wake of the disorder earlier in the week.

Last night, officers threw a ring of steel around the property as dozens of locals gathered just yards away. Demonstrators also hurled eggs.

The tense atmosphere saw police in full public order gear form a line around the house.

This man was taken away in a third consecutive night of unrest.

Police lined up to protect the houses locals believe belong to asylum seekers in Thetford

Crowds chanted: ‘Get them out, get them out.’

Advertisement

One man was arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred in connection with events on Wednesday. The other was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and failing to provide details to police when asked.

Police say they have been bitten and spat at

Demonstrators gathered outside the property, where asylum seekers are being accommodated, repeatedly shouting: ‘Get them out, get them out.’

One local said: ‘What they have done is shocking. It’s two-tier. We won’t stop until they’re gone. We don’t want them here.’

The latest protest follows two previous nights of disorder in the Norfolk town, during which stones and eggs were thrown at the house and a window was smashed.

A police officer was also bitten during the unrest, while another was spat at.

Frustration spilled out at three properties in Thetford, Norfolk, following weeks of protests at a nearby former military barracks, which has been earmarked to take 1,250 male migrants.

First sparked on Tuesday, the angry scenes continued on Wednesday night and into yesterday.

Two officers needed hospital treatment and three arrests were made.

A Government spokesman said the ‘concerns of communities are central to our immigration reforms’. The chaos on the first night saw five men having to be escorted by police from a property on St John’s Way, prompting the furious protesters to brand the officers ‘traitors’.

Damage caused to a house after locals attacked the property this week

Crowds of up to 100 people stormed three properties amid fears they were being used to house asylum seekers

Advertisement

On Tuesday a group of young men were escorted away from a property by police

One local claimed the landlord had told them to expect new tenants but didn’t mention they would be asylum seekers.

The occupant of a house in nearby Elm Road is then understood to have been forced out of his home and his phone was stolen.

The disorder next spilled over to a residence in Bracken Road, which had its windows and front door smashed in. Up to 100 people became involved in the violence, with video capturing one man shouting: ‘They don’t want the white man anymore. They want us all gone, they wanna swap us. It’s predicted by 2050 the f****** white man’s going to be a minority.’

Officers attended another residential property in Clover Way on Wednesday after a large group of people gathered there at about 9pm and tried to gain access. The group became ‘physically aggressive’ with a male officer struck by a rock and a female officer ‘seriously bitten, breaking the skin’.

Assistant Chief Constable Julie Dean said: ‘We will always facilitate and support the right to peaceful protest, and we recognise that people may hold strong views. However, there is no place for violence, intimidation or criminal behaviour.’

The turmoil began at around midday on Tuesday when a group of men were seen moving into the St John’s Way house. 

News of the arrival spread and by 7pm people began arriving with numbers swelling to around 60. The crowd tried to force their way in by smashing a window and breaking a fence.

Dramatic footage shows an officer standing in front of the property and telling the protesters to do so peacefully.

By 10pm, the decision was taken to remove the five men in the property and ten officers surrounded them, some hooded, as they hurried outside and into a police van.

A man in his 30s was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of a public order offence. Local Brian Thompson, 68, has been charged with possession of a weapon, a bat. Another man, in his 40s, is in custody. 

Local MP Terry Jermy said: ‘I utterly condemn this behaviour.’

As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our
articles.

Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local
services.

These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local
community.

It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need
as much support as possible during these challenging times.

BANGKOK (AP) — World shares were mixed Friday after a modest retreat on Wall Street, while the price of Brent crude gained more than 1%.

In early European trading, Germany’s DAX rose 0.4% to 26,253.77, while the CAC 40 in Paris edged 0.2% higher to 8,715.47.

Britain’s FTSE 100 was up 0.1% at 10,879.57.

The future for the S&P 500 rose 0.1% while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.1%.

Selling of computer chipmakers and other stocks linked to the boom in artificial intelligence appeared to taper off a bit as Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 lost 0.1% to 65,606.71.

The Kospi in South Korea dropped 0.6% to 6,258.77 and Taiwan’s Taiex fell 0.4%.

The Shanghai Composite index gained 1% to 3,940.04 after China reported its exports grew at a slightly slower but still robust pace of about 24% in July on strong demand for electronics and other high-tech products. China’s huge trade surplus narrowed last month and imports also slowed.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng picked up 0.5% to 25,668.03.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 slipped less than 0.1%, to 9,263.60.

On Thursday, stocks declined on Wall Street as oil prices rose and more company earnings reports rolled in.

The S&P 500 fell 0.2% and the Dow industrials fell 0.9%. The Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%.

The price of Brent crude rose nearly 4% on Thursday as progress toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz, vital to securing stable oil supplies, remained unclear.

Iran has said it is close to a deal with Oman for reopening the strait. U.S. President Donald Trump has also previously said a deal is close, but the conflict has had many starts and stops over the past five months.

Reopening the strait may require a compromise since the Trump administration has ruled out Iran charging fees to ships. But Iran has insisted on some measure of control, saying the strait will not go back to being an international waterway.

As of early Friday, a barrel of Brent, the international standard, was up 1% at $83.33. U.S. benchmark crude oil advanced 0.7% to $77.79 per barrel.

A fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas once passed through the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices have surged as high as $113 due to the war and higher prices have added more heat to inflation by raising the price of gasoline and raising costs for shipping.

Outside of earnings, SpaceX rose 6.1%. More than 911 million SpaceX shares held by early investors and employees became eligible for sale Thursday as a lockup period for the stock expired. That is more than double the shares that were initially offered to the public for sale during the initial public offering for Elon Musk’s company.

SpaceX jumped as high as $225 a share following its market debut in June, but has since slumped below its initial $135 offering price. The stock is currently trading around $115.

The latest monthly jobs report, for July, will be released Friday.

U.S. employment remains strong, but growth in hiring has been easing. A weekly report on Thursday showed the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week, though layoffs remain in the historically healthy range of the past few years. Employers pulled back on hiring in June, adding only 57,000 jobs.

In other dealings early Friday, the dollar rose to 158.46 Japanese yen from 158.42 yen. The euro fell to $1.1520 from $1.1524.

Firefighters from Hartlepool and Stockton fire stations were called to the farm on Sunday, August 2, after the harvester caught alight.

Pictures shows the charred and burned-out farm vehicle still smoking with crops underneath burnt up.

A spokesperson for the fire service said a much larger incident was prevented and the flames did not spread across surrounding fields.

Cleveland Fire Brigade said the results could have been much worse. (Image: CLEVELAND FIRE BRIGADE)

“As harvesting continues, we encourage everyone working in the agricultural sector to remain vigilant and take simple precautions to help prevent fires,” they said.

Cleveland Fire Brigade has warned that agricultural machinery fires can become more frequent during spells of hot, dry weather, with combine harvesters posing a particular risk due to the number of concealed areas where fire can take hold unnoticed.

Engine compartments, belt systems, bearings, hydraulic components and build-ups of dry crop material can all harbour hidden hotspots, making fires difficult to extinguish and often requiring extensive checks afterwards to confirm they are fully out.

With harvesting season continuing across the region, the fire service is urging everyone working in agriculture to take simple precautions to reduce the risk of fire breaking out on their machinery.

Farmers and agricultural workers are advised to:

• Regularly inspect and clean machinery to remove dust, chaff and crop debris
• Check bearings, belts and moving parts for signs of overheating or wear
• Carry suitable fire extinguishers and ensure they are well maintained
• Keep a water bowser or other firefighting equipment on hand where possible during harvesting
• Call 999 immediately if a fire starts

Mr Muir said he had been “alarmed by some of the highly inaccurate and irresponsible commentary surrounding the team’s actions”.

Civil servants have received threats and abuse following controversy over the shooting of 51 cows in Co Tyrone, Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has said.

Providing an update to MLAs, Mr Muir said that “no animal was chased around fields” by staff and no cattle were shot multiple times.

He did, however, state that some animals had made it onto a public road and had been chased “for a significant period of time” after a local farmer had expressed interest in buying some of the cows.

Stormont’s Agriculture Committee is due to meet on Monday to discuss the cull carried out by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs’ (Daera) Humane Slaughter Team on land near Fivemiletown in June.

Concerns have been raised by some political representatives about the nature of the incident and Mr Muir has ordered an external review of the circumstances.

Mr Muir provided a written update to MLAs on Thursday of actions taken by officials in his department.

He said it arose following a court order requiring the department to act after a man was convicted of a number of offences and disqualified for life from keeping animals.

The minister said the department gave the herd keeper three weeks to sell off or dispose of his animals, but he “only divested himself of a small number of animals”.

He said this left 51 cows on the land which had to be removed from the disqualified keeper.

Mr Muir said: “The department was unfortunately left with no reasonable alternative to comply with the court order, other than to euthanise the animals.

“While it is generally preferable for the animals to be removed from the premises and euthanised remotely, in certain circumstances, such as this case, it was the assessment of professional veterinary staff that this option was simply not possible.”

He said officials had decided the animals could not be moved to a different location.

He said that 50 cattle were “euthanised” on June 29 and another one the following day.

The minister said: “The staff in this team are highly trained, in line with best practice and legislative requirements, and highly respected across these islands for their expertise following procedures that provide for a humane death.”

Mr Muir said he had been “alarmed by some of the highly inaccurate and irresponsible commentary surrounding the team’s actions”.

He said: “Officials have outlined that no animal was chased around fields by Daera staff, no animal was shot multiple times, nor were there sounds of loud gunfire.

“It is standard practice that silencers are used, an important detail both from an animal welfare and from a public concern perspective.”

Mr Muir said the the animals were “collected and disposed of the next morning” with efforts made to keep this operation out of public view.

The minister added: “Two of the sites were very remote with limited public access and the cattle were euthanised on these sites by approximately 1.30pm on June 29 with no issues arising.

“On the third site, I understand that issues did arise when a local farmer approached staff at the scene to indicate a potential interest in purchasing some of the animals.”

Mr Muir said operations were “halted immediately to provide space for any transaction to take place”.

He told MLAs: “The local farmer seeking to purchase some of the animals, another individual and the herd keeper were facilitated to remove the animals from a field into a lorry.

“They chased the animals for a significant period of time and released them onto a public road which created further health and safety risks.

“While those actions delayed the completion of operations, ultimately Daera staff had to intervene as the individuals were unable to detain the animals which by that stage were stressed.”

Mr Muir said by this point there was a “small number of protesters at the site” but operations did not recommence until they had left the scene.

He added: “With the assistance of some neighbouring farmers, staff were able to move the remaining cattle from the road and they were subsequently euthanised.”

The minister said there had been “highly irresponsible and very misleading” political and public commentary about the cull.

He said: “Other commentary, particularly on social media, has had the effect of encouraging and provoking quite disgraceful and unacceptable reactions, including some that are abusive and clearly misogynistic.

“That commentary has led to threats being made against some Daera staff and multiple other staff being subjected to significant abuse online, in person and through written correspondence.

“That is not acceptable in any scenario, and certainly not when it comes to our civil and public servants carrying out their lawful duties.

“My senior officials now have to review risk assessments, reassure staff as to the value and importance of their work, and assess what specific security, policing or legal responses are required in the case of some comments.”

Responding to the ministerial statement, Agriculture Committee chairman and Ulster Unionist MLA Robbie Butler said a “central question is whether every alternative to euthanasia was genuinely exhausted”.

He said: “The statement records that the keeper divested himself of some animals during the three-week period, and that on the day of the operation a local farmer approached staff indicating an interest in purchasing animals.

“If sale or transfer was possible for some of the herd, farmers will want to understand precisely why it was judged impossible for the remaining 51, and at what point that judgment became final.”

Mr Butler added: “Let me be clear about the treatment of departmental staff.

“The threats, online abuse and misogynistic commentary directed at Daera officials and veterinary staff are indefensible, and anyone amplifying such material should stop.

“Legitimate scrutiny and abuse are not the same thing, and neither should be used to excuse the other.

DUP MLA Deborah Erskine said Mr Muir’s statement leaves “important questions unanswered”.

She said: “This information should not have come through a drip feed of statements and media reports over the past number of weeks. Given the level of public concern, the minister should have been far more forthcoming from the outset.”

Ms Erskine added: “The statement fails again today to apologise to constituents that witnessed this incident occur and are genuinely concerned by what happened in a quiet rural area.

“That should be at the very least something that could and should be offered at this stage.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter.

HMRC is due to publish its latest Advisory Fuel Rates from September, with the quarterly review potentially changing how much employers reimburse staff for business travel in company cars.

The rates are also used to calculate how much employees should repay if they use company-paid fuel for private journeys.

While the changes are usually linked to fluctuations in fuel prices, experts warn that using outdated rates could lead to incorrect mileage claims and, in some cases, unexpected tax consequences.

What are HMRC’s Advisory Fuel Rates?

HMRC reviews the rates every three months to reflect average fuel costs for company cars.

They are designed to help employers reimburse staff for business journeys without creating additional tax liabilities and to calculate repayments where company fuel has been used for personal travel.

Joe Lytwyn, personal finance expert at thimbl.com, said: “HMRC’s Advisory Fuel Rates are designed to reflect the average fuel cost of running a company car for business journeys.”

He added: “They’re reviewed every three months because fuel prices don’t stand still, so it’s important that businesses keep up with the latest figures.”

One mistake many drivers make

Lytwyn said many employees wrongly believe the rates apply to everyone who drives for work.

He explained: “One of the biggest misconceptions is that the rates apply to everyone who drives for work. They don’t.”

Instead, the Advisory Fuel Rates only apply to company cars.

Employees using their own vehicles for work are covered by separate HMRC mileage rules.

Could you end up paying more tax?

Using the wrong reimbursement rate can have tax implications for both employers and employees.

Lytwyn said: “If an employer reimburses above HMRC’s Advisory Fuel Rate without being able to justify the higher cost, the excess could become taxable.”

He added that employees who receive less than the advisory rate “may be able to claim tax relief on the difference in some circumstances.”

Keep good mileage records

Experts also say poor record-keeping is one of the biggest reasons mileage claims go wrong.

Lytwyn said: “Poor record-keeping is probably the most common issue. People often forget to log journeys properly, or they mix business and personal mileage together.”

Keeping a record of where you travelled, why the journey was for business and the miles covered can help avoid problems if HMRC or your employer ever questions a claim.

What drivers should do before September

With fresh Advisory Fuel Rates expected from September, drivers are being encouraged to check that any future claims use the updated figures.

Lytwyn said: “Don’t assume the current rates will remain the same.”

He added: “Once HMRC publishes the updated figures, check whether your employer has updated its mileage policy and make sure any new claims use the correct rates.”

He also recommended keeping mileage records up to date throughout the year, making it easier to challenge incorrect reimbursements or claim any tax relief that may be due.

It’s worth noting that the September rates have not yet been published, so drivers should continue using the current HMRC Advisory Fuel Rates until the updated figures are officially released.

Lidl announced earlier this year it had plans to open more stores in Cambridgeshire

A new Lidl supermarket could open in a Cambridgeshire village. Earlier this year, Lidl announced a “wish list” of 876 locations, including some in Cambridgeshire, where it wants to open new stores.

Plans have now been revealed for a new Lidl in Hartford, near Huntingdon. The proposed store is on a plot of land south of Main Street (B1514) in Hartford.

A Lidl spokesperson said: “A new Lidl foodstore off Main Street/B1514 in Hartford would provide local residents with an additional shopping option, while reducing the need to travel further afield for regular grocery shopping.

“The site, located to the east of Hartford and adjacent to Huntingdon Road, has previously been identified for development. We believe a new Lidl foodstore would deliver a range of community benefits, including greater access to affordable shopping and the creation of new jobs for local people.”

The land where the new store could be had outline planning approval for 25 to 30 homes. However, the Lidl spokesperson said this scheme had “not progressed”.

Lidl is seeking feedback from the public before it submits a planning application.

Do you want more of the latest Cambridgeshire news as it comes in from across the county? Sign up to our dedicated newsletter to make sure you never miss a big story from Cambridge or anywhere else in the county. You can also sign up to our dedicated Traffic and Crime newsletters for the latest updates on the topics you are most interested in.

It’s been a big week of song, dance and culture in the city as part of the world’s largest celebration of traditional Irish music.

It’s a mixed bag for Belfast’s weather this coming weekend as the city hosts the final days of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.

It’s been a big week of song, dance and culture in the city as part of the world’s largest celebration of traditional Irish music.

More than 200 events and 180 traditional music competitions have been taking place across city venues, pubs, and streets throughout the week-long celebration that runs until this Sunday, August 9.

Weather-wise the weekend isn’t looking too bad despite some rain forecast for Saturday before conditions improve in the coming days.

Here’s what we can expect in Belfast on the weather front this coming weekend, according to the Met Office:

Today:

This morning will be dry across all parts with sunny spells. It will remain dry this afternoon with some bright or sunny spells. Warm, locally very warm across Down. Maximum temperature 20°C.

Tonight:

This evening will be dry with some late sunshine. Then it will become cloudy overnight with some light and patchy rain extending northeast for a time. Freshening southwesterly in the northwest. Minimum temperature 13°C.

Saturday:

Some hazy sunshine in the southeast at first; otherwise rather cloudy with some rain at times in the north and west, drier elsewhere. Maximum temperature 21°C.

Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:

Outbreaks of rain on Sunday, turning drier later. Dry with some sunshine on Monday and Tuesday.

UK long range weather forecast: Tuesday 11 August – Thursday 20 August

A settled start, with mainly dry conditions on Tuesday, although with scattered showers across western areas.

Then through the week, more changeable conditions are likely across northern parts, with some spells of rain or showers and stronger winds, interspersed by drier periods. Whilst southern areas will generally see more settled, drier conditions where it will become very warm or hot.

Further into August, lower pressure may start to track further south or east. This means there is a greater chance of frontal systems or thundery interludes affecting southern and eastern areas compared to recent weeks, though rainfall amounts could be quite variable with some areas still seeing relatively little.

Temperatures look to remain above average, especially in the south, where it may be very warm or hot.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.