This season’s debutantes dazzled as they put on an elegant display at the 247th annual Queen Charlotte’s Ball held in London on Saturday.

The 22 affluent young women, all aged between 16 and 21, sported tiaras and diamond jewellery as they enjoyed the glitz and glamour of the acclaimed event held at One Whitehall Place.

This year, the glamorous gowns were provided by Miss Claire Oliver of bridal boutique store Wedding Wardrobe, while the event raised funds for charity Gam Med, which raises funds for healthcare and hospital treatment in The Gambia.

Seen as the pinnacle event of the London Season, the country’s most prestigious ball was formed over 200 years ago when the custom of returning to the capital at the end of the hunting season was celebrated with high society events.

Now, the glittering ball has managed to retain its rich sense of elegance and sophistication, as well-to-do families enjoy a lavish feast and fine champagne before an evening of dancing.

Each year, the young women in attendance are selected following an application process that includes an interview with their parents, alongside a comprehensive evaluation of their etiquette, character and commitment to charitable endeavours.

The rigorous interviews ensure they are intelligent, have particular core ethics, and either have aristocratic or professional backgrounds.

King George III introduced the inaugural Queen Charlotte’s Ball in 1780 to celebrate his wife’s birthday and debutantes were traditionally presented to the King or Queen.

The 22 affluent young women, all aged between 16 and 21, sported tiaras and diamond jewellery as they enjoyed the glitz and glamour of the acclaimed event held at One Whitehall Place

This year, the glamorous gowns were provided by Miss Claire Oliver of bridal boutique store Wedding Wardrobe, while the event raised funds for charity Gam Med, which raises funds for healthcare and hospital treatment in The Gambia

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Debutantes and their escorts appeared delighted to be attending the ball in London

The ceremony remained unchanged- with debutantes paying respects to a large iced cake at Buckingham Palace, overseen by the monarch- until 1958, when Prince Philip persuaded the Queen to stop receiving each year’s crop at Court. 

After 1958, the ball was held sporadically at various exclusive venues in the capital, with varying degrees of success, before being relaunched in 2009.

It has been held annually since, albeit without its royal seal of approval.

Lady Howard de Walden, followed by then editor of Tatler, Peter Townsend, continued the tradition and on his death, Peter nominated former debutantes Jennie Hallam-Peel and Patricia Woodall to take over the running of The London Season on a voluntary basis as a non profit organisation. 

It is now focused on raising money for children in need worldwide and the Queen Charlotte’s Ball has been held in Shanghai and Dubai as well as various grand venues in London. 

This year’s event took place at the distinguished One Whitehall Place, which is part of the former Palace of Whitehall. It has an antiquarian library and stunning white marble staircase, with glittering chandeliers.

Debutantes are treated to complimentary white couture ball gowns, while Harrods provides the young women with diamond jewellery, while guests at the glamorous event enjoy an eight-food traditional Queen Charlotte’s Cake.

Taking to TikTok, one debutante, who posted under the user handle Honey Henry, shared that they had made their debut at the sophisticated ball – adding: ‘So incredibly grateful to be part of such a special tradition’.

Seen as the pinnacle event of the London Season, the country’s most prestigious ball was formed over 200 years ago when the custom of returning to the capital at the end of the hunting season was celebrated with high society events

Each year, the young women in attendance are selected following an application process that includes an interview with their parents, alongside a comprehensive evaluation of their etiquette, character and commitment to charitable endeavours

The glittering ball has managed to retain its rich sense of elegance and sophistication, as well-to-do families enjoy a lavish feast and fine champagne before an evening of dancing

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Debutantes are treated to complimentary white couture ball gowns, while Harrods provides the young women with diamond jewellery, while guests at the glamorous event enjoy an eight-food traditional Queen Charlotte’s Cake

King George III introduced the inaugural Queen Charlotte’s Ball in 1780 to celebrate his wife’s birthday and debutantes were traditionally presented to the King or Queen

The ‘deb of the year’ is chosen according to ‘who has worked hardest’ during fundraising activities throughout the season and shown the most enthusiasm

The event attracts those from prestigious families from across the UK but also overseas, including members of royal families from the UK, Europe, the Middle East and China

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The young women who attend the event always wear stunning gowns and glittering jewellery

Meanwhile, Wedding Wardrobe London shared on Instagram that they were ‘incredibly proud and honoured’ to have been selected as the ‘official gown supplier’ for the prestigious event. 

‘From the fittings in our boutique to seeing the debutantes looking absolutely breathtaking at the Ball, it was truly such a special experience for our entire team.

Thank you for trusting us to be part of such an iconic occasion and wonderful tradition. We couldn’t be prouder.

‘Congratulations to all of the beautiful 2026 debutantes — what an unforgettable evening! An absolute privilege and a moment we will never forget.’

The London Season runs for six months of the year, and includes sporting events, cocktail parties, dances and concerts.

To become a debutante with the London Season, the young women must apply by sending a CV and covering letter with a photograph before being accepted for an interview.

It’s a stark difference to how debutantes were selected when royals were part of the proceedings, with only young women who were sponsored by a lady who was a former debutante being put forward.

Now, once accepted, debutantes – who must pay £500 for their ticket to attend the annual ball – spend six months raising funds for charity through fun runs, ticketed events and bake sales.

The group of meticulously selected debutantes wore dresses provided by Miss Claire Oliver of Wedding Wardrobe

The radiant debutantes line up in the ballroom before the ball begins in One Whitehall Place

A cheerful young lady showcases her elegant ensemble before attending the ball

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Guests dressed in their finery proudly showcase their outfits as they attend the event

This elegant debutante decided to pair her dress with sophisticated pearls rather than shimmering diamonds

A woman looks at her phone while getting ready for the glittering occasion with her friends

Prior to the event, older debutantes are on hand to guide and critique the girls on their dancing and pace around the ballroom.

On the day itself, an army of professional hair and make-up artists are on hand to make sure that the girls are glowing.

The ‘deb of the year’ is chosen according to ‘who has worked hardest’ during fundraising activities throughout the season and shown the most enthusiasm.

In the evening before the event, debutantes are invited to model glamorous hats by royal milliner, John Boyd, during the Berkley Dress Show at Kensington Palace. 

The event attracts those from prestigious families from across the UK but also overseas, including members of royal families from the UK, Europe, the Middle East and China.

All the 150 guests that attend the ball are personally invited by Patrons and the Chairman of the London Season.

The Patrons of the event are the Duke and Duchess of St Albans, the Duke and Duchess of Somerset and Sir David Roche, Bt.

On its website, the London Season states: ‘Queen Charlotte’s Ball continues as a voluntary organisation of people associated historically with the London Season and supporting charitable concerns.

‘It is now acknowledged globally as the most sought after ball in the world and the highlight of the London Season calendar. Tickets are always by personal invitation only and limited to 150 guests.’

A spokesperson for the event has previously said: ‘Seventy per cent of the girls who take part in the ball are bright Oxbridge students who have worked so incredibly hard for our charity.

‘They are accepted into the London Season through application form, curriculum vitae and personal interview and we choose girls who are aspirational.’

He was there to show his support when she received her Rising Star award at the Venice Film Festival. And Brooklyn Beckham, 27, went the extra mile when he and wife Nicola Peltz, 31, walked the red carpet at a screening for It Will Happen Tonight, shortly after she received her accolade. 

The estranged son of David and Victoria turned into Nicola’s personal hair stylist as he smoothed her locks to make sure she looked the part. 

The actress had a big smile on her face as Brooklyn doted on her while she had her big moment in the spotlight.

Nicola wowed in a cut-out cobalt blue Balenciaga gown while posing for snaps alongside the aspiring chef. And Brooklyn cut a dapper figure in a smart black tuxedo. 

Proving just how proud he was of his love, he planted a sweet kiss on her cheek while protectively wrapping his arm around her waist.

Brooklyn showed off his ‘Nicola’ hand tattoo as he tended to his wife

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Brooklyn went the extra mile when he and Nicola walked the red carpet at a screening for It Will Happen Tonight, shortly after she received her ‘Rising Star’ award

The loved-up pair’s outing came hours after Nicola accepted her award, with husband Brooklyn clasping her tightly by the arm and guiding her with care onto the small podium in the gardens of the Casa Cinema Giovani.

The pair attended the Kineo Awards, held during the Venice Film Festival over the weekend, where Nicola was honored with her Rising Star award for her work as an actress, producer and budding film-maker.

A visibly nervous Nicola wore stunning emerald and diamond drop earrings and an elegant full-length black dress for her moment in the spotlight, and paid tribute to her husband and family who she said ‘are the reason that I can reach to the stars’.

Her proud billionaire father, business leader Nelson Peltz, mother Claudia and brother Bradley were there to watch her, with Nelson fanning himself in the 30C (86F) heat and, at times during the wait, retreating inside.

She said: ‘Hi everyone. I am normally more comfortable playing a character as an actor than standing in front of an audience, so please bear with me.

‘Thank you so much for this immense honour. To receive an award at the Venice Film Festival is something I will carry with me for the rest of my career.’

She then addressed her co-star in the film Prima, Faye Dunaway, who was given a lifetime achievement at the same ceremony. ‘Faye you have always been an inspiration to me and learning with you has been incredible.’

The actress looked content as Brooklyn doted on her while she had her big moment in the spotlight

Proving just how proud he was of his love, he planted a sweet kiss on her cheek 

He seemed overwhelmed by her beauty as they walked the red carpet together 

She went on: ‘My family are my everything. My mum, dad, (brothers) Diesel and Brad and Brooklyn thank you. You always believe in me. To have your support is the reason I can reach to the stars in the first place.’

There was some chaos before she took to the stage, with her award being announced five times, and one presenter saying: ‘Where is our beautiful star?’

Eventually they were told that she didn’t want to accept the award until Faye Dunaway, 85, was also in place.

Accepting her lifetime achievement award Ms Dunaway said that the best advice she had was the Shakespearean line: ‘To thine own self be true’ and added that she loves Venice. ‘There is no city like it.’

Nicola started in acting in Deck the Halls with Danny DeVito, in 2006, aged 11 and posted a throwback snap on her Instagram earlier this week. 

She also appeared in The Last Airbender and Transformers: Age of Extinction.

More recently she has been writing and producing films through her label, Bunny Films, which is named after her late grandmother and bankrolled partly by her billionaire father, Nelson. 

Her last movie was Lola, which did not gain wide distribution and took under $1,000 at the box office.

She has been married since April 2022 to Brooklyn Beckham, the son of David and Victoria, and is at the centre of a family feud which has seen her husband cut off his family in search of ‘peace’, having explained on Instagram in January that they had tried to split him up from his wife.

Nicola has been working on her indie drama Prima since January but the film does not yet have an official release date. 

The movie also stars Dunaway, Jack Huston, Mira Sorvino and Betty Gabriel. Luca and Alessandro Morelli, known professionally as the Morelli Brothers, directed the film as their feature debut. 

Nicola stars as Margo, a dedicated prima ballerina facing life-altering decisions as modern changes disrupt her ballet company. 

The actress and her family attended a private Los Angeles screening in May for the movie, hosted by East West Bank CEO Dominic Ng. Afterwards she thanked supporters and said their backing of independent film meant ‘more than I can express’.

The film has also been in the spotlight after Nicola sparked concern with her drastic weight loss while preparing for her starring role. 

Nicola undertook four months of gruelling ballerina training for her role which saw her drop to less than 100lb (45kg). 

Her shock weight loss came in a bid to fully embody her ballerina character – for which she committed to a strict diet and intensive training regimen. 

Just this week Nicola’s husband Brooklyn jumped to her defence and warned ‘don’t ever talk about my wife’ in an online row about her weight.

The aspiring chef hit back in the comments section of his latest Instagram cookery tutorial after one follower asked: ‘Do you comment on everyone who is concerned about your wife and how sickly she looks? She puts herself out there, feed her.’ 

Brooklyn replied: ‘Don’t ever talk about my wife. She’s absolutely beautiful and you should never comment on a woman’s body. It’s disgraceful.’ 

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — When kitchen burnout hits, figuring out what to make for dinner every day can feel like an impossible task.

Eating out or relying on convenience foods are increasingly difficult solutions for many American families, who are facing the biggest jump in grocery prices in a half century. It can also be healthier to cook at home, where it is easier to control things like how much salt or sugar is added to a meal.

But in many cities, there’s another way to break the “what’s for dinner” rut without breaking the bank: shopping at international food markets.

It can be surprisingly simple to incorporate new flavors into home meals by pairing unfamiliar ingredients with pantry staples, says Palina Louangketh, a self-described foodie and the director of the Idaho Museum of International Diaspora. She also teaches cooking classes, partnering with Boise-area refugees who demonstrate dishes and techniques from their home countries.

“Coming here to an international market, you get both a dose of cultural experience but also healthy, fresh exotic ingredients,” Louangketh said on a recent trip to the Idaho Capital Asian Market in Boise, pointing to products from China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea and elsewhere.

“It doesn’t have to be so scary or unique. If you pair your protein with vegetables and with a starch and add savoriness to it — soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce — you’re covered,” she said.

Yes, navigating a grocery store full of new-to-you products with foreign-language labels might feel daunting at first, said Beryl Shereshewsky, a New York video producer whose YouTube channel is dedicated to exploring dishes and cultural connections from around the world.

But there are ways to incorporate international supermarkets into your home cooking routine, she said.

Here are some tips:

Venture outside your neighborhood

“I think you would be surprised by how many international markets exist even in small towns and cities,” said Shereshewsky. “Everywhere you go in America, you’re going to find immigrants, and those immigrants are still cooking their foods from their countries and cultures.”

Sales at international supermarkets and small grocery stores across the U.S. have been growing steadily for years, according to market research firm IBISWorld.

There are more than 20 international markets in Boise, which has just over 235,000 residents. Several more are located in nearby Meridian, Nampa and Caldwell.

People tend to shop near home, Shereshewsky said, but exploring new territory can reveal hidden gems.

“It allows you to interact with your city or town in a different way,” she said.

By LETTICE BROMOVSKY, NEWS REPORTER and JACK HARDY, NEWS REPORTER

Published: 12:05 BST, 7 September 2026 | Updated: 13:18 BST, 7 September 2026

Two men and two women have been arrested on suspicion of murder over the death of a three-month-old child. 

The baby, who was camping with family in Great Wyrley, went into cardiac arrest on land off Strawberry Lane, in Staffordshire at around 8.45am on Saturday and was pronounced dead by paramedics a short time after.

In the latest announcement police confirmed that a 42-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman, from south Staffordshire, a 20-year-old woman, from Wolverhampton and an 18-year-old man, from Walsall have been arrested in connection with the investigation. 

All four people have since been bailed with conditions.

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Officers cordoned off a fishing lake in the Wyrley and Essington Branch Canal Local Nature Reserve over the weekend and remain there today. 

One witness said she directed paramedics towards the area around the fishing lake.

Drone images from the scene show at least four tents and camping chairs positioned next to each other, close to fishing platforms. 

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A tent was set up in a wooded area near a pond off Strawberry Lane, near the village of Great Wyrley in Staffordshire

Officers and an air ambulance attended the scene following reports that a child had entered cardiac arrest at around 8.45am on Saturday

Today the police cordon had been lifted at the scene where the family were camping and floral tributes to the baby girl had been rested at the foot of a nearby tree.

The flowers and a toy bunny rabbit appear to have been left by relatives, with one attached note saying: ‘Baby girl, I’ll look for the brightest star in the night sky. Nanna loves you.’

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Police appeared to have removed the tent where the family were staying , but just feet away the burnt-out husk of another tent – apparently pitched overnight – had been abandoned alongside a pile of litter.

One local who regularly cycles through the area told the Mail that he believed some people had been camping by the fishing lake for several days.

The grass below where a tent had been pitched appeared to be faded, suggesting it had been covered for some time.

Detective Inspector Josh Lee, from our child protection team, said: ‘I want to assure the local community that we are working around the clock to investigate the circumstances of this tragic incident, which has understandably caused concern.

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‘While we can confirm that all four people have been arrested on suspicion of murder, we are still working hard to obtain further evidence and we are keeping an open mind as to the circumstances of the death at this very early stage, which we are treating as an isolated incident.

‘All four people were arrested at the scene of the incident and have been released on bail.

‘While we fully understand that speculation into the nature of this incident is likely to take place, we’d ask people to follow this page for factual, accurate updates as our investigation unfolds and to avoid sharing unconfirmed and speculative claims online.’

Previously Robert Duncan, district councillor for Cheslyn Hay, said: ‘I know how deeply upsetting news like this is for our community. 

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‘It’s important that we allow the emergency services the space they need to complete their work with dignity and care.

‘As soon as the full and confirmed details are formally shared with me, I will provide a further update to residents. 

‘Until then, please avoid speculation and allow the family and responders the privacy and respect they deserve.’

Asked whether Davies was able to exercise self-control, which is one of the considerations in a defence of diminished responsibility, Dr Reagu points to his “lack of sleep and emotional numbing”.

“He was struggling to exercise self-control,” says the psychiatrist, who describes the symptoms as “pretty much textbook”.

“I am of the opinion his function at that time was substantially impaired,” says Dr Reagu, though he adds that it is a matter for the jury to determine whether the diminished responsibility criteria were met.

“His mental functioning at the time was highly different from his usual mental function… This was a completely different mental and cognitive state than his usual self, which was recognised by those close to him.”

It was not surprising that the defendant did not have an explanation for his actions, given his “overwhelming distress”, Dr Reagu tells the court.

Dr Reagu says another forensic psychiatrist, Dr Tom Wynne, agreed with his diagnosis and with his conclusion that the defence of diminished responsibility was “available”. A third psychiatrist who analysed the case, however, did not agree with those findings, the court hears.

Britain is being ‘taken for fools by illegal immigrants and their enabling lawyers,’ the Conservatives warned today amid allegations only one in 100 asylum claims is genuine.

A former Home Office insider, who assessed and approved thousands of claims for years, said the entire process had been abused and turned into ‘a massive fraud’.

The whistleblower said many were using the ‘same script’ to try to stay in the UK, citing the example of hundreds of Iraqi Kurds all claiming that they are in a relationship with the same daughter of the Kurdish prime minister.

Scores of Pakistanis alleged they could not go home because they were in a gay relationship with the same man, who would provide letters supporting their claims.

And large numbers of Bangladeshi asylum seekers said they were political dissidents, but seemed to have little substantive knowledge about the party they were said to support.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: ‘Only 1 per cent of asylum claims are actually genuine. Many make the same claims, advised by the same lawyers.

‘We need to implement the Conservative plan to end this scam – no asylum claims by illegal immigrants and leave the ECHR (European Convention on Human Rights) so we can deport them on arrival.

‘We are being taken for fools by illegal immigrants and their enabling lawyers.’

Stephen Kerr MSP, the Scottish Tories’ justice spokesman, added: ‘This blows apart the nonsense behind far too many asylum claims being processed by the Home Office.

‘Recycled stories. Claims allegedly tailored to fit the system. Officials saying they see the same excuses again and again.

‘There must now be an urgent investigation, answers and accountability. This is completely unacceptable. The British people are being taken for a massive ride.’

Alan Mendoza, founder of Right-wing think-tank the Henry Jackson Society, said: ‘Are we remotely surprised by the news that an asylum claims whistleblower has revealed that only one in 100 of these are real?

‘The pro-asylum industry in the UK and the criminal gangs have been at it for years, gaming the system for their clients at the (literal) expense of the British people.’

Mr Mendoza, chief adviser on global affairs to Reform UK, referred to how hundreds of demonstrators were in a standoff with police overnight as they vowed to prevent migrants leaving Portsmouth after they arrived in a small boat.

He said: ‘As yet another humiliation unfolds in Portsmouth, with the police aiding the admission of illegal migrants who should never have been able to leave France given what we are paying the French to stop them – and who should be returned immediately from where they came – why must we continue to tolerate this disgrace that successive governments have inflicted upon us?’

It comes after the Home Office whistleblower condemned the current system.

Speaking to The Times, he added: ‘There’s almost no aspect of the asylum system that isn’t either a massive fraud or just really dysfunctional.’

The former employee said claimants underwent only a brief screening initially, followed by a more substantial interview by officials months later.

‘This gives them time to prepare, time to get advice, time to see exactly what fake evidence they can get before committing to a story at full interview.’

He also said there was a bias towards green-lighting claims, which would only take minutes, as opposed to rejecting an application – which could take hours.

Officials denying asylum would be expected to respond to every claim made by the applicant, the man said.

Laura Rogowski Weldon, a 2024 Conservative general election candidate who is a former welfare manager for the Home Office’s asylum contractor, also pointed today to concerns relating to those claiming they are victims of modern slavery.

She said: ‘The problem is that aside from the blatantly risible examples in the article there are thousands of other vague and unprovable claims for asylum. The biggest one is modern slavery.

‘If you come here illegally and work cash in hand at a car wash and live in a shed round the back, the dodgy guy who owns it is not going to whip out a load of paperwork to show you were there of your own free will when it gets raided, so you claim asylum and they can’t prove you weren’t forced to do it so you get approved. That is the biggest scam of them all.’

Responding to the report today, Emma Reynolds, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, told LBC radio: ‘Well look, we have highly trained people going through these claims, processing them more quickly than they were before.’

She was then pressed by presenter Nick Ferrari on whether she recognised the 1 per cent figure, and replied: ‘Well, I don’t recognise it, no, and it’s one person who is saying it.’

In another interview with GB News, Ms Reynolds also said: ‘Net migration is down, we’ve returned 80,000 people – which is a ten-year record high – people who don’t have a right to be here.

‘We’ve employed hundreds of additional case workers who are highly trained, who will know all the tricks revealed in this article – they will be no surprise to them.

‘So I will reassure you and your viewers that the Government takes this issue very seriously and we’re making positive progress. But obviously there is more to do.’

Pakistan accounted for the largest number of claimants stating to be gay or bisexual, according to a 2024 Home Office study. 

The claims come just months after legal advisers were caught by undercover reporters telling asylum seekers to pretend to be homosexual to stay in the country.

A BBC investigation in April exposed a shadowy network of asylum experts charging up to £7,000 to coach migrants on how to be more successful in their applications.

The advisers were also revealed to be providing clients with cover stories and telling them how to falsify evidence, including photos from LGBT nightclubs.

The migrants would claim asylum on the basis they risked being persecuted if they returned to Pakistan or Bangladesh, where homosexual acts are illegal.

In the 12 months to June, the most common nationalities claiming asylum were Pakistani (10 per cent), Eritrean (8 per cent), Iranian (8 per cent), Sudanese (7 per cent) and Afghan (7 per cent).

Almost nine in ten claims were from individuals who arrived in the UK on a work, study or visitor visa and overstayed.

A Home Office spokesman said: ‘We do not comment on anonymous briefings.

‘The Home Secretary has been clear that those trying to defraud the British people to remain in the UK will have their application refused and find themselves on a one-way flight out of Britain.’

The Prime Minister’s spokesman today denied the claim that only 1 per cent of asylum claims are genuine.

Hedgehogs are more likely to be spotted in British gardens at this time of year as they stock up on food for winter, but gardeners could be putting these beloved critters at risk by leaving out a common food scrap

September marks the point when gardeners begin swapping t-shirts for thick jumpers as they prepare for colder conditions, and it’s also the ideal moment to assist hedgehogs in getting ready for the cold. Right now, hedgehogs are more frequently spotted in gardens as they require substantial amounts of food to accumulate their fat reserves so they possess sufficient energy for hibernation.

Nevertheless, much of British wildlife may be finding food scarce at present because of the dry conditions we experienced in summer, which means there will be fewer insects around. The period before autumn is critical for hedgehogs, and if they’re unable to locate adequate food in September, they’re more vulnerable to weakness or even death once winter arrives.

Spending time feeding hedgehogs at this moment is among the most compassionate things a gardener can do, but experts at the Suffolk Wildlife Trust have cautioned that many people cause more damage than benefit if they put out bread or even milk.

They said: “A hedgehog’s natural diet can also be supplemented with a bowl of wet cat or dog food (not fish flavoured). This is especially helpful in cold weather when invertebrates may be scarce. Best to avoid putting out bread and milk as hedgehogs are lactose intolerant and so this will make them ill.”

Why should you not feed hedgehogs bread or milk?

It’s extremely widespread in the UK to put bread out in the garden for wildlife, as there’s a mistaken belief that ducks and other birds like eating it. Hedgehogs will probably eat bread if it is left out for them, however in the long run it is genuinely harmful as it provides none of the nutrients required to help them build up fat reserves ahead of winter.

The real danger with bread is that it leaves hedgehogs feeling extremely full, meaning they will not go in search of other food that contains the proteins essential to their survival.

September is a critical month for hedgehogs as they have very little time to prepare their bodies for hibernation. Consuming too much bread means they will lack sufficient energy to last throughout the entire winter.

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This can cause hedgehogs to wake repeatedly during hibernation and be forced to hunt for food during the harshest period of the year, significantly reducing their chances of survival.

Milk is equally harmful to hedgehogs as their bodies are unable to process dairy, and it can actually cause dehydration and serious digestive issues.

What should you actually do to help hedgehogs?

If you genuinely wish to support hedgehogs, the best option is to leave out a meaty cat or dog food, as these contain the high levels of protein and calories that hedgehogs currently require.

Opt for chicken, beef or pork flavours, but steer clear of fish-based pet foods as their strong odours tend to put hedgehogs off and they are unlikely to touch them.

It can also be tremendously beneficial to leave a pile of leaves, sticks or logs in a corner of your garden. These will attract insects and make foraging considerably easier for hedgehogs.

Planting autumn-friendly flowers or leaving the lawn unmowed for a fortnight can also encourage insects, which in turn help hedgehogs accumulate sufficient fat reserves ahead of winter.

Leaving out a bowl of fresh water is another simple yet effective gesture that could give any local hedgehogs a vital boost to their chances of survival.

Helping hedgehogs doesn’t require a great deal of effort, but occasionally putting out some pet food — while avoiding bread — will give these creatures the best possible chance of thriving throughout September.

Unlike the main proper rounds of the tournament, this non-league phase does not feature a live televised studio broadcast, as the FA publishes the completed fixture list directly online at the designated time.

There is no dedicated UK television broadcast for the qualifying stages, meaning traditional channels such as TNT Sports, BBC, or ITV do not air live coverage. Broadcast networks only pick up live TV rights starting from the first round proper later in the autumn season.

By JAMIE BOYS, REPORTER

Published: 12:03 BST, 7 September 2026 | Updated: 12:25 BST, 7 September 2026

A man died after being bitten by a dog during an argument about a right of way, an inquest opening has heard. 

James Judge, 55, was bitten on the back of his right knee by an Alsatian-Australian Huntaway cross dog belonging to local landowner Lee Ellis on a footpath. 

He died from complications of a wound on his leg after the incident in Wakefield in August. 

Ellis, 55, of Calder Grove, Wakefield, has been charged with manslaughter and being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death. 

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The two men were said to have been arguing over a right of way. Mr Judge is thought to have filmed Ellis on his phone and threatened to report him to police. 

Mr Judge is said to have become agitated during the row and allegedly pushed Ellis in the face. The dog at some point bit Mr Judge and Ellis then attempted to get the animal away from the scene of the confrontation, it has been alleged. 

Following the encounter, both men are said to have separately called 999. Ellis, realising Mr Judge had been bitten, is believed to have called for an ambulance and offered to help him – but was told by an emergency operator to leave the scene. 

Soon afterwards two members of the public found Mr Judge, who was bleeding. He was taken to hospital but died shortly after 7pm. 

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Ellis has been charged with manslaughter and appeared in court last month

Police attended the scene of the dog attack in Wakefield, West Yorkshire 

On Monday, an inquest into Mr Judge’s death was opened and adjourned.

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Acting senior coroner Oliver Longstaff said Mr Judge died in Leeds General Infirmary, where he was taken after the incident, and was identified by his mother. 

A post-mortem examination gave a provisional cause of death as complications of a right leg wound caused by a dog bite. 

The inquest heard Mr Judge was unmarried and was born in Horbury, Wakefield, where he was also living at the time of his death.

Mr Longstaff said the inquest would be adjourned, pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.

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Ellis is due to appear at Leeds Crown Court on September 16. 

During his first appearance at Bradford Magistrates’ Court, his solicitor said the incident started over an argument about ‘right of way’. 

 Court, his solicitor said the incident started over an argument about ‘right of way’. 

Ellis bought his agricultural property for £5,000 in 2002 and renovated it with his ex-wife. The former couple renovated the house themselves, building in stables.

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Lee Ellis, 55, leaves Bradford Magistrates’ Court in West Yorkshire last month after being bailed

The area near the old train line footpath off Blacker Lane in the Calder Grove area of Wakefield

He is a keen farrier and frequently posts videos showing him taking care of horse hooves. The pair were often seen riding their horses in the area by neighbours.

Ellis has two children with his ex-wife but the couple separated earlier this year. A number of signs warning of guard dogs decorate the outside of Ellis’s house.

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One neighbour told the Daily Mail his son was ‘scared to walk past the house’ because the dogs would ‘always bark so loudly’. Another said: ‘Whenever you walked past you would always hear the dogs barking loudly.’

One dog walker said: ‘We don’t normally get any trouble here. It’s very quiet. The path where it happened is a well-trodden route, there’s a lot of dog walkers. I just feel so sorry for the man who died.’