Construction is due to begin in 2026

A Cambridgeshire city will see 100 affordable homes built as part of a wider expansion of thousands of new homes. Vistry has secured a contract with housing association Amplius for the sale of land for 100 homes at Great Haddon in Peterborough.

These 100 homes will be owned and managed by Amplius across tenures including affordable rent, social rent, shared ownership, and rent to buy. According to Vistry, the scheme supports the delivery of “much-needed affordable housing in Peterborough”.

The homes will form part of phase four of the Great Haddon development. Chief Development and Commercial Officer at Amplius, said: “We want to deliver the homes people want, where they’re needed most and we know that these 100 homes will address the need for affordable housing in this part of the county.

“By making the homes available on various tenures, we’ll be fostering a balanced community and creating a place that people are proud to call home. We’re really pleased to be working with Vistry once again and I’m looking forward to watching work progress and the homes taking shape.”

Construction is due to begin in November 2026, with the first homes expected to be completed by mid-2027 and the final homes due to be completed in January 2030. The development forms part of a wider masterplan that will ultimately provide more than 5,000 new homes.

The development will also include a district centre, two neighbourhood centres, new schools, community and health facilities, sports amenities, water features and substantial green spaces, including 7.5 hectares of amenity open space and 8.4 hectares of accessible natural green space.

Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) will also be installed in a number of the homes, while lower air permeability levels will help reduce heat loss. The scheme is part-funded by Homes England through its partnership with Amplius.

Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza has urged the government to introduce 12 weeks of paid parental leave a year for mums and dads whose kids are seriously ill

Mums and dads of seriously ill children should be given 12 weeks of paid parental leave to be at their child’s bedside, the Children’s Commissioner has demanded.

Dame Rachel de Souza said parents should not be forced to choose between supporting their child or keeping their job. In a letter published today, she urged the government to bring in Hugh’s law – named in memory of six-year-old Hugh Menai-Davis, who died from cancer in 2021.

His parents Ceri and Frances campaigned for support for parents with seriously ill children. On Sunday, business minister Kate Dearden said she had been moved by families’ experience and said the government is looking to improve support and employment rights.

A government consultation on employment rights for unpaid carers will close on Tuesday. The Commissioner said Hugh’s Law should be in place alongside a form of paid carer’s leave and a right to return to work following a longer period away.

Ceri and Frances, who founded the It’s Never You charity after Hugh’s death and campaigned for the law change, said on their website: “In Britain today, there is no financial support for parents of seriously ill children. Parents are expected to carry the burden alone. This is not compassion. This is not care. This is failure.”

Bringing in Hugh’s Law would help families whose children have complex or fluctuating needs to remain in employment, Dame Rachel said. Recent analysis by the Commissioner’s office found over 260,000 children born after 2008 spent three weeks or more in hospital during their childhoods. Of these, 34,846 were treated for over three months in hospital, with 1,342 spending more than a year there.

Youngsters from more deprived areas and children from ethnic minority backgrounds were most likely to have long hospital stays, it found.

Advertisement

One mum, whose five-year-old child experienced a long hospital stay, told the Commissioner’s office: “I’ve had to quit my job, well, I haven’t just yet, I’m still technically I’m sick, but next month when my sick note runs out. I will be quitting my job, so I’m losing a lot of money, so it’s, yeah, it’s really hard. It’s really hard.”

Dame Rachel said she supported paid leave for 12 weeks at 90% of full pay for parents, as well as extending unpaid carer’s leave from five to 10 days a year.

But she warned the changes must go hand-in-hand with wider changes to support seriously-ill children. Dame Rachel said: “Paid leave is only part of the answer. My research showed too many seriously ill children are spending too long ‘stuck’ in hospital because the NHS and children’s social care cannot provide the nursing care, care workers, specialist support or suitable school places their children need. This can have devastating effects, not just on parents as the balance children’s care and work, but also on children’s lives.

“It is vital that government ensures improvements to employment rights are matched by better support from health and social care, so parents are not forced into poverty or out of work simply because their child is seriously ill.”

Dame Rachel said: “We should never force parents to choose between holding down a job and being by their child’s bedside. Our existing employment rights are failing parents and carers, as they struggle to balance caring responsibilities with caring for their seriously ill children. Families of seriously ill or disabled children desperately need a form of paid leave that enables them to care for and spend time with their child following a diagnosis or crisis in their child’s health.”

Minister for the Future of Work Ms Dearden said: “Serious childhood illness is a heartbreaking situation for families. I’d like to thank Ceri, Frances and all of those campaigning in the memory of their children.

“I’ve been incredibly moved by the powerful stories we have heard, and we will move quickly to consider how we can strengthen support and employment rights for families facing serious childhood illness.”

Handsome, immaculately dressed and with a dead pan delivery, as Geoffrey Moore sips a chilled Martini, his resemblance to his famous father is uncanny. The eldest son of legendary James Bond actor Sir Roger Moore, who played 007 in seven movies, he says: “Once I dreamed of being Bond myself – but now I’ve just become a film star at 60. I must be one of the luckiest people in the world.”

And, while he is not quite in the same espionage league as Bond, he will be playing a spy. He says: “I’m very pleased. I took my time to get round to it for one reason or another, but I’ve got the lead role as Hugh, an MI5 agent in Knightfall, a new spy thriller. I’m stepping out from behind the scenes.”

Although he did some acting when he was younger – appearing in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde opposite Kirk Douglas and then in Sherlock Holmes in New York – Geoffrey chose singing over acting, going into the music business. And in 1999, he co-founded the upmarket restaurant Hush in London’s posh Mayfair.

But he and business partner, Jamie Barber, sold the lease to trendy Soho House in 2023. He says: “Running a high profile restaurant is a bit like being in the movies – a bit like putting on a show every night. Many of the clients come there especially to see and meet you.”

One diner, who he befriended, was independent film producer Jonathan Sothcott. He introduced Geoffrey to brothers Gary and Martin Kemp, who famously played the Kray twins, and to Nick Moran of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels fame.

He says: “Johnny and I became friends and every now and then he would say ‘do you feel like doing something one day?’ It kind of went from there. There was no pressure, but when he came up with such a brilliant thriller I thought ‘this is it.’”

Geoffrey, whose brother Christian, 53, is a film producer and director and whose sister Deborah, 62, is an actress, has never had any formal drama training. Instead, he watched his dad – who died in 2017, aged 89 – acting on film sets as a kid and absorbed his craft.

He did several jobs behind the scenes – producing the film version of The Saint starring Roger Moore and Ian Ogilvy (who is also starring in Knightfall).

Then Geoffrey, whose late mum Luisa Mattioli and dad divorced in 2002, was signed by EMI Records in 1987, releasing his debut single Sleep With Me (Tonight) and then moving to Warner Brothers.

Of his subsequent move into the world of fine dining, he says: “It’s actually tough running a successful restaurant, you become a slave to the business. I can’t really remember the last movie I was in. The funny thing is I really enjoy acting. It has been fun shooting a thriller. I’m not pretentious about it, it’s not Shakespeare.

“We filmed in England, in London and down on the South Coast in the Winter. It was bloody freezing. As I am a spy, there was a lot of running around. It was windy, it was cold.”’

The intemperate weather finally got the better of him when he was asked to reshoot a scene. He says: “I remember the director saying ‘we are gonna go again. Do this, do that.’ It’s 4 in the morning. I love the business, it beats working in an office, but I knew that was it. The scene was the best it could be.”

Advertisement

Turning his attention to his dad, he continues: “It was very difficult growing up having such a famous father. People always wanted his attention. But I am realistic. Can you imagine those who grow up not knowing who their father is? You can’t complain if you are born into a privileged family. Especially the Royals.” Of Prince Harry, he says: “Hey Harry! Can I tell you something? Get on with it!”

While Geoffrey acknowledges his privileged background, his dad’s childhood was very different. Sir Roger’s father was a South London copper and they all lived through the London Blitz in World War Two.

Geoffrey was often looked after by his grandparents for long stretches when his dad was away filming. He recalls: “They were quite strict. I knew them well and loved them. But it was a different world. Grandma served fish and chips every Friday, like they did in those days, and sheep’s brains on Thursdays, which I hated’

“When I complained, she admonished me and said I was an ‘ungrateful little boy,’ because, during rationing, sheep’s brains are what you got. They taught me to appreciate things. It’s important to be grateful.”

And he has plenty to be grateful for. Geoffrey and his Anglo-French wife, Loulou, and their two daughters’ main residence is a luxurious chalet in the Swiss Alps – although he says he still drives a 20 year old Range Rover.

For his recent 60th birthday, he had a dinner party for 30 pals at home, which he describes as “low key”. He says: “It was the best birthday party I’ve had. My wife made me cakes and a special breakfast.”

Loulou used to work in the City and Geoffrey says: “She’s incredibly smart.”

Educated at Le Rosey in Switzerland, the most expensive school in the world – where fees exceed £130,00 a year, Geoffrey remains remarkably down-to-earth. He says: “Of course, I get down some days, but I never get depressed as such. That’s not in my DNA.

“A lot of fortunate people moan about their lives, but I wake up every day thinking ‘I don’t need an umbrella, fantastic, very good, another day!’

Taking a final sip of his Martini, his thoughts return to his dad. He says: “My father was famous. I loved him and miss him – after all, he was one of my best friends.”

*Knightfall, starring Geoffrey Moore, is scheduled for release on Digital and On Demand on September 11, 2026, followed by a UK Blu-ray release on September 14, 2026.

Torrential rain and thunder couldn’t stop the party on day three of Pride

There were a few constants at Manchester Village Pride this year. If you’ve been there you’ll know that one of them has been the rain – lots of it in fact.

But if you’re a regular attendee, you’ll also know that Pride in Manchester is also characterised by bucket-loads of resilience. A bit of bad weather, and even a temporary stop due to thunderstorms, couldn’t stop the city’s most joyous and necessary celebrations.

We’re known for rain showers and grey days here in Manchester, but Pride’s technicolour flag shone bright through the downpours, thunderstorms and lightning. Its attendees and lineup of stars shone even brighter.

Click here for the latest on Manchester’s food & drink scene, gigs and more in our CityLife newsletter

There’s been a lot of change for this year’s Pride, but the community, as expected, has risen to occasion – and it’s been a joy to watch.

So when the heavens opened on Sunday afternoon, people sheltered, but they also danced in the rain too as Umbrella and Raining Man played over the speakers – that is the very essence of Manchester Village Pride for you.

For the third day of this year’s inaugural Manchester Village Pride, there were no signs of slowing down in terms of the line-up either.

Following the parade and festivities on Saturday, the city’s annual LGBTQ+ celebrations in the Gay Village on Sunday featured big performances from big music stars like Kate Nash, Big Brovaz & Booty Luv and Cascada, as well as the likes of Manchester legends including DJ Paulette, Misty Chance, Misha B, and many many more.

Regular attendees of the historic event, which has now been running more than 40 years, spoke of how the renamed and new-look festival has had a different feel to last year. Now known as Manchester Village Pride, it has emerged from the ashes of its predecessor.

Not long after last year’s event, the company behind what had been known as Manchester Pride went into voluntary liquidation after it was deemed to no longer be ‘financially viable.’

Bars and venues in the Gay Village refused to let it die and joined forces with Manchester Council and the Equity union to create a Community Interest Company (CIC) which has brought the new-look and renamed celebration to fruition this year.

More than 30,000 people attended the event on Sunday, a similar number to Saturday. The daily numbers are understood to be several thousand higher than last year.

Despite the increase, a number of those in attendance said it felt ‘quieter’ and ‘calmer’ than previous years, with bosses putting this down to better crowd management. Others said it felt like the event had ‘gone back to its roots’ and felt less ‘commercial’ than its previous incarnation.

One attendee described how had been the victim of homophobic abuse whilst on their way to the event, as he and others reaffirmed how important the event still was to the community.

Others said it helped showcase the city’s unique Gay Village and LGBTQ+ community, and could help those yet to open up about their sexuality feeling confident enough to do so.

In just the last few months, a number of Pride celebrations across the country have been shut down due to a lack of financial support or the backing of their councils. This threat means that events like Manchester’s are even more vital to the community and many spoke of how proud they were of the city for keeping it going and its strong messaging after a difficult few months.

Mark Doyle who attended Manchester Village Pride this year told us: “It’s about being myself and celebrating who we are as a community.

“I work for Tesco who are one of the sponsors so yesterday I took part in the parade as I have done several times before and it was an amazing experience as always, the weather aside.

“However on way in someone shouted f****t at me. It just shows how important it still is. We have still got much more to do.”

As the evening drew closer, and just after 6pm, The Village was hit by a biblical storm. Flashes of lightning and rumbles of thunder were followed by torrential downpours.

Stunned punters were heard screaming as they ran for cover under gazebos and the canopies outside venues.

Others decided to embrace the conditions and went topless and danced out in the open as the rain bounced off the floor and left large stretches of Canal Street under water.

Bosses were forced to temporarily halt the music on safety grounds and whilst the main stage reopened a little later, the decision was made to shut the Sackville Gardens until Monday due to the amount of standing water.

Whilst the worse of the conditions passed quickly, vendors selling pride flag coloured brollies did a roaring trade and the crowds were a sea of umbrellas and ponchos with revellers arriving for another evening’s entertainment taking no chances in the volatile weather.

A little later than scheduled, Kate Nash took to the stage drawing a huge crowd. A whistle-stop tour through he back catalogue, there was of course one song that everyone was waiting for.

Those who grew up in the 90s and noughties know her best for Foundations, the indie pop hit that spawned the famous line ‘I said I’d rather be with your friends mate, cause they are much fitter’. A feeling, I’m sure, we have all at some point, felt towards our significant other.

It was robbed of a number 1 in the UK charts but it needn’t matter because the crowd at Manchester Village Pride knew every word and belted it out alongside the songstress.

The site of former Corrie star Adam Rickitt got pulses racing a little later, as the actor who we best know for his portrayal of Nick Tilsley on the British soap, whipped his top off – clearly he had taken notes from Gareth Gates’ performance on Saturday night.

The last spot of the night when to German Eurodance and electronic pop superstar Cascada. And as the heavens opened again, prompting brollys to be flung open and the cagoules swiftly unpacked from bags, there couldn’t really have been a more fitting end.

A sea of multicoloured umbrellas bouncing to the high tempo beat of ‘Everytime We Touch’ felt close to fever dream territory, while the lashings of rain soaking the crowd to ‘Evacuate the Dancefloor’ felt like a premonition, but if you took a second to look around, you could see that the rain really didn’t matter.

The joy etched on people’s faces as they danced, hugged friends and loved ones, and surrendered to the pulsing beats and uplifting synths of Cascada was sure sight enough that Manchester Village Pride 2026 will go down as in the history books – Pride is finally home.

With a Palestinian flag draped over the DJ deck, the trio, consisting of rappers Moglai Bap, Mo Chara and DJ Provai – who has been replaced with an alternative due to the arrival of his newborn child – got the crowd jumping with hits from their latest album FENIAN as well as 2024’s Fine Art, with some political messaging interspersed into their set.

The Ferrari 296 crashed on the M602 in Salford on Sunday morning (August 30), with pictures showing extensive damage to the front of the supercar.

Greater Manchester Police Traffic said the driver had lost control in wet conditions.

Despite the scale of the damage, police confirmed nobody was injured.

Pictures shared by officers show the red Ferrari with much of its front end destroyed, its windscreen badly damaged and debris hanging from the vehicle.

GMP Traffic said: “Unfortunately there’s one less Ferrari 296 in the world this morning after the driver of this one lost control in the wet on the M602 in Salford.

“No injuries luckily but please drive to the conditions for everyone’s sake.”

(Image: GMP)

A motorist who passed the aftermath while travelling to work said the extent of the damage immediately caught their attention.

They said: “I was driving to work and had to do a double take when I saw it being recovered.

“The whole front of the car looked completely destroyed and I couldn’t believe how much damage there was.

“There didn’t seem to be another car involved and traffic was moving normally by the time I went past, which made it even more surprising.

“I was just confused about how it had ended up in such a mess. The person with the car understandably didn’t look too pleased.”

There were no current traffic alerts listed for either carriageway of the M602 later on Sunday morning.

The M602 runs through Salford, connecting the M60 and M62 with routes towards Manchester city centre.

The festival is now into its third day, with stalls filling Bolton town centre despite some less-than-perfect weather over the bank holiday weekend.

Among the traders tempting visitors with something sweet are The Curious Confectioners, who have been selling homemade chunky stuffed cookies and cookie pies.

(Image: Phil Taylor)

Despite the weather, they said they had enjoyed a successful few days.

One of the team members said: “We’ve had a really good couple of days, to be honest.

“We’ve got nothing to compare it to really based on other years because it’s our first year here, but it’s been really good, despite the weather.”

Among the bestsellers have been the Ferrero Rocher cookie pie and Lotus stuffed cookies.

(Image: Phil Taylor)

The Finest Fudge Co has also returned to Bolton for what stallholders Mariah and Kitty said it was their fourth year at the festival.

(Image: Phil Taylor)

The Clitheroe-based business has been selling a wide selection of fudge, with one unexpected flavour proving particularly popular on Friday.

Mariah said: “For us, on Friday, it was actually the Turkish delight in rum and raisin, which is so weird for us.”

Another regular favourite is the Cinderella, a Nutella and white chocolate fudge containing a Kinder Bueno.

Mariah said the weather had not stopped visitors from supporting the stall.

She said: “It’s been good, considering we’ve not been blessed with the best [weather].

“We’ve still had a really lovely time. I think because we’ve done it for a few years now, people know us.”

Asked why they continue to return to Bolton Food and Drink Festival, she added: “It’s local, people have learned our brand and it’s a really nice place to come out.

“The people are really lovely.”

Those after something savoury have also had plenty to choose from, including authentic Italian street food serving freshly made arancini.

(Image: Phil Taylor)

Freshly cooked in front of you, they were a popular choice with queues forming.

Another eye-catching addition to the festival is Dantez Lemonade, which is serving homemade, slightly sparkling artisan lemonade from a converted old milk wagon.

(Image: Phil Taylor)

The idea for the drink came from Danny and Teresa, who also own a churros stand, after experimenting with a lemon dipping sauce for their churros.

The concept eventually developed into a lemonade, which is carbonated and served ice cold using a machine that super-cools the drink.

Paul, who was working on the stall alongside Louise, said trade had been good over the first few days of the festival.

He said: “It’s been good. We launched the brand, Dantez, at Bolton Food Festival last year.”

The lemonade itself has been traded at the festival for four years, with the Dantez brand officially launching in Bolton last year.

Bolton Food and Drink Festival continues throughout the bank holiday weekend, with its final day taking place on Monday, August 31.

Shocking figures from the RSPCA reveal animal beatings across the country have risen by 90 per cent

The number of animal being beaten in Cambridgeshire has risen by over 60 per cent in five years. Shocking figures revealed by the RSPCA show that animal beatings reported to the charity from across the country have risen by 90 per cent since 2021.

This is equivalent to one incident reported every 15 minutes. In Cambridgeshire, the number of beatings last year stood at 276. This is a 61 per cent rise since 2021, when 171 incidents were reported to the RSPCA.

Dogs and cats are the most common animals to be attacked, but other animals are victims too. RSPCA superintendent Jo Hirst said: “It’s incredibly distressing to see such a massive rise in reports of intentional beatings with one report coming to our cruelty line every 15 minutes.

“These are often upsetting cases where animals, usually pet cats and dogs, have experienced deliberate and horrific violence – leaving animals with not only physical injuries but mental scars as well.

“The reasons why an individual acts in this way can be down to a multitude of factors – if they are struggling with behavioural problems or their mental health, they may have violent tendencies generally, or sometimes pets are used as part of coercive control, or simply the perpetrator has a complete lack of empathy for animals.”

The RSPCA has praised the public for their help in trying to tackle cruelty – whether that’s through donations or helping to report incidents.

Jo added: “To help rescue animals from these situations we rely on the public to be our eyes and ears and report any concerns about animal abuse to us and we are grateful that so many people do and are more aware of the problem.

“We’re also finding that CCTV footage, doorbell cameras and smartphones are providing a view into society that we never had before, meaning that animal beatings are more likely to be caught on camera in supermarket car parks, on streets, in lifts, and even behind closed doors in the home.

“This could also account for the rise that we are seeing as they are more likely to be caught on camera, uploaded to social media or reported to us.”

By JADA BAS, REPORTER

Published: 23:39 BST, 30 August 2026 | Updated: 23:39 BST, 30 August 2026

By STEPHEN M. LEPORE, US SENIOR REPORTER

Published: 22:14 BST, 30 August 2026 | Updated: 23:59 BST, 30 August 2026

US forces made their first strikes at Iran in over a month Sunday, firing at two rocket launchers on the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran responding by attacking American forces in Jordan. 

Forces with the Revolutionary Guard Corps were seen preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the strait, Central Command spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins confirmed to The Daily Mail.   

‘US forces are monitoring the area closely and remain prepared to protect the free flow of commerce through this essential waterway,’ Hawkins said.    

The US military last week completed clearing sea mines from the strait´s international shipping routes, he added. Iranian news outlets reported sounds of explosions near Larak Island on the strait.

Advertisement

Shortly following the report of the US strikes, Fox News reported that Iranian forces were attacking American troops stationed in Jordan.

Almost all of the incoming missiles have been intercepted and there have been no significant impacts.  

The Guard in a statement carried by Iran’s state broadcaster noted ‘the martyrdom and injury of several of our fighters and compatriots.’

The statement said the attack will ‘result in punishment of the aggressor.’

Advertisement

US forces made their first strikes at Iran in over a month Sunday, firing at two rocket launches on the Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump’s War in Iran passes the six month mark

Semiofficial news outlets in Iran reported sounds of explosions near Larak island on the strait

The fighting comes just days after the Trump administration said it would turn its focus to increasing economic pressure – rather than military action – to try to end its war with Iran. 

Advertisement

The shifting strategy centers on threats to punish any country or entity that continues to conduct business with Tehran.

The turn to using sanctions as the cudgel of choice comes as the administration weighs diminished munitions stockpiles after months of war, sparking concerns that the prolonged conflict could undermine U.S. military readiness in other parts of the globe.

As the conflict grinds on, Trump´s talk of finding a quick end to the war also appears to be fading. 

He stressed last week that he´s ‘not in a hurry’ to get Iran back to the negotiating table, and he continues making the case that the Islamic Republic´s leadership is on the ropes.

Advertisement

Trump has consistently emphasized that the U.S. and Israel campaign has been devastating for Iran´s navy and air force. Iranian officials have said the country has suffered $270 billion in direct and indirect damage. 

Israeli military strikes in the first weeks of the war wiped out much of the theocratic government´s leadership structure.

But Iran has found leverage through its own strikes in the critical Strait of Hormuz where relatively few vessels carrying oil and liquefied natural gas are risking passage. 

Sailors conduct night flight operations aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) as the ship sails in regional waters supporting operations in the Middle East

Advertisement

Forces with the Revolutionary Guard Corps were seen preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the strait

Iran still has enough drones and missiles to fire at vessels transiting the vital energy waterway, through which 20 percent of the world’s oil normally flows, effectively controlling much of the traffic in the strait.

Trump has repeatedly declared that the ‘Strait of Hormuz is open,’ saying 24 vessels passed through last week. But that´s a fraction of the roughly 130 vessels that passed through the vital waterway daily before the war began.

Earlier on Sunday, a multinational coalition overseen by the U.S. Navy said commercial traffic through the strait remained at ‘reduced levels.’ 

Advertisement

And a monitoring agency run by the British military said an unknown projectile struck a tanker ship on Saturday north of Khasab, Oman, in the strait.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization said the ship had been moving inbound and no casualties or environmental impact had been reported. 

It cited unspecified military authorities. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.