You will have seen this — but do you know what it actually means?

It’s easy to take the Highway Code for granted once you’ve passed your test. But years down the line, how many of us can honestly say we remember every road sign and its meaning?

One common road sign features a plain white circle with a single black diagonal stripe running across it. You’ve likely seen it on country roads, dual carriageways and even just beyond roadworks — but do you know what it actually means? According to Ben Raffell at BigWantsYourCar.com, an online platform for selling used cars in the UK, this sign is “far more important than many drivers realise”.

The sign signifies the national speed limit applies. But drivers have gone online to ask why we have the sign rather than just the exact number for the speed limit depending on the road (for example, 60mph or 70mph). One asked: “Does anyone actually know the reason we have national speed limit signs with a diagonal black line on a white background rather than just the number 60 or 70 depending on the road? I’ve looked around and can’t find the history or reason for it anywhere.”

The basic reason the sign shows a black stripe rather than a number is because the speed limit “depends entirely on the type of road and what vehicle you’re driving”, explains Ben. Here’s how it breaks down:

For a heavy goods vehicles (HGV) the national speed limit is 50mph on single carriageway roads and 60mph on dual carriageway roads. The new national speed limits for HGVs came into force in 2015 but soon afterwards government research found that while all HGV drivers consulted were aware of speed limit changes on single carriageways, not all were aware of the changes on dual carriageways.

And Ben stresses that this isn’t a green light to hit top speed: “The sign doesn’t mean ‘drive at the limit’ — it simply means that the previous speed restriction has ended and the default national limit now applies. Drivers should always consider road conditions, visibility, and surroundings. On narrow country roads, for instance, doing 60mph could be incredibly unsafe.”

Unlike numbered speed signs, the national speed limit symbol relies on drivers remembering the associated rules — something that can fade over time.

“It’s not as intuitive as a clear 30 or 40 in a red circle,” Ben says. “That black stripe assumes you know what’s expected of you, which is fine in theory, but in reality, many drivers forget the details years after passing their test.”

He says this gap in understanding could potentially lead to dangerous driving, especially in areas where road conditions don’t safely allow for high speeds, and advises drivers to take a quick refresher.

“Revisiting the basics of the Highway Code is a great idea for any driver,” says Ben. “It’s not just about avoiding fines; it’s about keeping yourself and others safe on the road.”

The national speed limit sign is far from the only common sign on UK roads that drivers might not know the meaning of — there’s also this ‘blue and red cross’ road sign ‘everyone should know’ the meaning of. And drivers have also been confused by this huge road sign, saying they’ve “no idea what it means”.

Several of Tuesday’s papers reflect on the anti-migrant demonstrations in Portsmouth. Metro’s headline is “port in a storm”, explaining that police were injured, external and vehicles damaged as hundreds of protesters blocked efforts to bring ashore 120 migrants.

The Sun says the “anger of decent, law-abiding folk, external” is rising. “Now they try to stop the lifeboats, external” is the Daily Mirror’s take on events, adding that the “mob” targeted “RNLI heroes”.

The Daily Express urges the government “not to ignore public anger, external over illegal migrants”, although its editorial stresses the paper agrees with the police that “violence has no part to play in protest”.

The Times looks ahead to the government’s expected announcement of a trade ban affecting Israeli settlements, external in the occupied West Bank. The paper says retaliation by Israel is likely, as is sharp criticism from the US. The Guardian reports that Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband will also say that the government will take a “more active” approach in supporting the Palestinian cause, external.

The i Paper reports the Treasury is to introduce a new ISA, external to help people buy their first home, and that it will not have an age limit. It is believed that the details are likely to be set out by Chancellor John Healey in his upcoming Budget.

Many of the papers lead on the King clarifying that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain private citizens, after their recent move back to the UK. “No return to the Firm, external” is the Daily Telegraph’s headline. The Daily Mail says the King has put “Harry and Meghan in their place, external“. “Megxit means Megxit” declares the Sun, external.

And the Daily Mirror is one of several papers to have picked up on criticism of US President Donald Trump’s proposed new uniform for his Space Force, external. The paper says the look, which features a fitted tunic, peaked cap and knee high boots, have drawn comparisons to a “sinister Star Wars-villain style outfit”. The menswear writer Derek Guy is quoted as saying it is the kind of costume designers make to point out “who are the bad guys in a space movie”. The Daily Star’s headline is “storm bloopers, external“.

By MARK NICOL, DEFENCE EDITOR

Published: 23:12 BST, 7 September 2026 | Updated: 03:54 BST, 8 September 2026

Britain’s Special Air Service is suffering an exodus of its most senior soldiers due to ‘decades of lawfare’ it was revealed on Monday.

Conservative MP Sir David Davis, who has launched a parliamentary bid to stem the tide, said leading Special Air Service (SAS) troops were signing off due to persecution from lawyers which he warned would ‘compromise’ the UK’s national security.

He cited the recent resignations of eight Warrant Officers, each with decades of experience, as ‘a huge loss to Special Forces’.

One of the SAS’s four ‘sabre squadrons’ is also known to be severely undermanned due to senior soldiers leaving the regiment. The exact number of those who left cannot be disclosed for security reasons.

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Sir David, a former SAS reservist, claimed that troops in the special forces unit are becoming ‘more risk averse’ on the battlefield due to the threat of legal claims years later.

‘In recent conflicts we have won the war but lost the law. The effect is felt worst by Special Forces soldiers,’ Sir David said.

He added: ‘They are resigning over this issue. So we must be more robust about pushing back against human rights law. Otherwise we will compromise UK and international security.

‘The UK provides eight Special Forces squadrons, so does the US. So this country accounts for half the world’s premier ‘SF’ capability.

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SAS soldiers conducting secret operations in the Middle East – troops are citing constant legal persecution as a reason for requesting discharge from the Hereford-based regiment 

‘Soldiers are saying to their officers ‘Do I need my lawyer with me?’ Before they deploy. The problem is making our most elite units more risk-averse.’

His comments come as Sir David prepares to table the Military Operations Bill in Parliament, which if passed would put time limits on investigations and demand ‘public-interest and compelling-evidence thresholds’ before soldiers are hauled into probes over their conduct.

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The Mail’s Stop the SAS Betrayal campaign has raised the profile of this issue, highlighting historical cases in Northern Ireland from the Troubles era.

The special forces unit also remains under the microscope at the High Court due to the ongoing Independent Inquiry Relating to Afghanistan, which is examining claims that its soldiers executed Taliban suspects while they were in UK custody.

The Bill would ensure that soldiers operating in wartime are not subjected to laws written to cover peacetime scenarios.

Its central premise is to distinguish between genuine wrongdoing and legal processes that risk becoming detached from operational reality.

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Key provisions of the Bill also include direct ministerial authorisation of force, designed to curtail lawfare against soldiers, by establishing a panel of military experts to determine cases and provide enhanced support and safeguards for service personnel.

Senior ministers would also be required to sign off on operations, thereby ensuring accountability remains with the chain of command and with government rather than with the courts.

Personnel would be shielded from civil or criminal liability ‘when acting in accordance with international humanitarian law [also known as the Law of Armed Conflict]’.

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Coroners will be required to consult an Expert Military Panel in combat-related deaths, thereby protecting service personnel from self-incrimination and ensuring that inquiries remain focused on fact-finding rather than retrospective blame.

While the Bill only stands a slim chance of becoming law Sir David is said to be working with Conservative colleagues in a bid to ensure many of its clauses are adopted by the party as part of its manifesto at the next General Election.

Former SAS commanders contributed to the research upon which the prospective legislation is based. Those involved include Jamie Lowther Pinkerton, a close friend and mentor to Princes William and Harry.

The introduction of the Bill comes after the SAS Regimental Association (SASRA), which represents past and present members of the unit, criticised Labour’s proposed Troubles Bill, which while designed to help bereaved families find answers about those who died during the Northern Ireland conflict has been accused of being ‘not fit for purpose’ amid worries it could reignite persecution of innocent soldiers.

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The Ministry of Defence said: ‘Our commitment to our service personnel and veterans is unshakable, and that will be clear in the forthcoming amendments package to the Troubles Bill, which builds on already existing protections, including safeguards from cold calling.

‘This means that no veteran will face a knock on their door, and there will be protection from repeat investigations.

‘The Troubles Bill will pave the way for all families in their search for the truth of what happened to their loved ones.’

An Arizona realtor, who had to be duct-taped to his first-class seat after allegedly going on a hate-filled tirade, apparently flipped out mid-flight after talking about religion with a controversial doomsday author sitting next to him, it has been claimed.

In wild video footage, Layne Arthur Lundeen, 67, was seen duct-taped to his seat by fellow passengers after he allegedly launched a homophobic and racist rant during an American Airlines flight from Dallas, Texas, to Newark, New Jersey, on Thursday night.

The plane was forced to make an emergency landing at the Baltimore airport, where Lundeen was removed and arrested by Maryland Transportation Authority Police, before other passengers resumed their flight to Newark.

But what sparked the Tucson-based realtor’s alleged outburst has taken a bizarre turn.

Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, a controversial author known for linking biblical prophecy to current events, has claimed Lundeen grabbed him by the throat, hit him and broke his laptop after becoming incensed by their discussion of religion and his new book.

Cahn, the leader of the Beth Israel Worship Center, a Messianic Jewish congregation in Wayne, New Jersey, told the Daily Mail that he and Lundeen had been having a ‘friendly’ chat about their religious views for about two hours before things took a ‘demonic’ turn. 

In a ‘split second,’ Cahn claims, Lundeen, who he believes had just a couple of drinks, became enraged and started cursing at him and God.

‘He told me he was a realtor and onto his third marriage,’ Cahn said. 

‘He said he was at one point a Christian, but he rejected Jesus after he got divorced and he felt judged by Christians over the divorce.

‘I was trying to help him, I was trying to encourage him and say Jesus had trouble with religious hypocrites.’

But it was when married Cahn, 66, started talking about his own experiences of God that Lundeen allegedly saw red and ‘turned.’

‘His face changed, his voice changed, and he said… almost in a whisper, he was like, “I have something to tell you,” and he said, “Bulls***,”‘ Cahn alleged. 

‘He’s getting louder, and he starts cursing God, cursing Jesus, cursing me.

‘And then he said, “Go f*** yourself.”

‘This was from nothing. It wasn’t like there was any real argument.’

‘It was a split second. The change was like unbelievable. It was two hours of friendly, and then in one second it just changed to the most different voice, different faith, different guy,’ Chan added. 

‘It was as if something had taken him over.’ 

Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, a controversial doomsday author who claims he was sitting next to Lundeen, alleges the real estate agent erupted after the pair started talking about religion

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Lundeen, a realtor in Tucson, Arizona, was fired after the mid-air ordeal went viral. He has been charged with disorderly conduct and second-degree assault

Cahn claimed he tried to withdraw from Lundeen by doing some work on his laptop, but his seatmate allegedly then began knocking his screen and attempting to get him to talk again.

He said a flight attendant allegedly then came over to tell him to quiet down.

As the saga escalated, Lundeen allegedly called a black flight attendant the N-word and made homophobic comments, according to TMZ. 

Cahn, for his part, told the Daily Mail he didn’t ‘specifically’ hear what Lundeen said – including whether or not he uttered the racial slur or made homophobic comments.

But he claims he did hear him say something ‘vulgar’ about the genitals of a male flight attendant.

Cahn said Lundeen tried to be ‘friendly’ to him again before allegedly putting ‘both hands around my neck’ and ‘pushing going back and forth.’

‘He’s doing like he’s playing, but it was threatening and it was a just bizarre thing,’ Cahn said. 

He claims a flight attendant came over a second time and asked Lundeen to stop bothering passengers.

In a bid to defuse the situation, Cahn said he showed Lundeen the cover of his new book, the Altar of Pergamon, on his laptop.

‘When he saw the book cover, that’s when he started getting violent,’ Cahn alleged. 

‘I could only describe it what happened as demonic. It was like he was influenced by the dark side.’

He claims Lundeen hit his chest and abdomen ‘like he’s trying to start a fight,’ before allegedly threatening: ‘I’m gonna punch your f***** Jewish face in.’

‘I knew I was in danger. I knew it was it was going towards violence. I was trying to keep calm.

‘There were glasses there. I was thinking, in a second, you can just smash it and take it and cut me with it. I was trying to get the glasses out.’

He claims he had a ‘feeling’ Lundeen wanted to destroy his laptop so he got up from his seat taking his computer and cellphone with him.

But he said when he stood up, Lundeen allegedly lunged for his laptop and tried to wrestle it off him – leaving the whole plane in ‘shock.’

He alleged that during the struggle, Lundeen broke Cahn’s laptop and hurt Cahn’s already injured arm.

The plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Baltimore airport, where Lundeen was removed and arrested by Maryland Transportation Authority Police, before other passengers resumed their flight to Newark 

Cahn recalls two male passengers seated two rows in front of him then got up to help.

‘Everybody in the area was disturbed by it,’ he claimed. 

‘The air stewards were trying, but they really didn’t know what to do until those guys intervened when it became totally violent.’

Juan Mejia, a retired police officer who was on the flight, and Richard Olenick, a store manager, reportedly restrained Lundeen with duct tape around his wrists, head and body to tie him to the seat.

Olenick appeared to back Cahn’s account, telling Fox10 Phoenix that Lundeen had allegedly ‘ended up striking the passenger that was next to him’ and then ‘put his hand on the passenger’s throat.’  

At one point, Lundeen allegedly tried to get out of his restraints but the male passengers held him down.

Cahn said he switched seats before the plane made its emergency landing at Baltimore. When FBI agents boarded the plane, he said he gave them his contact details but has yet to hear from them. 

Lundeen was charged with second-degree assault and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors, and was released on recognizance bond, according to online court records viewed by the Daily Mail.

After footage of the wild incident went viral, Lundeen was promptly fired from Long Realty in Tucson, where he was reportedly vice president.

The real estate company confirmed to the Daily Mail that Lundeen is no longer employed with them.

‘Long Realty is aware of reports concerning criminal charges filed against a former affiliated real estate agent arising from an incident that allegedly occurred during a commercial flight,’ CEO Kevin Kaplan said.

‘Upon learning of the incident, Long Realty promptly ended its affiliation with the individual. The individual is no longer associated with or authorized to represent Long Realty in any capacity.

‘The conduct described in the reports is wholly inconsistent with the professionalism, integrity, compassion, and respect for others that Long Realty expects from those affiliated with the company.’

Cahn, who is no stranger to being in the headlines for his often controversial views, said he does not plan to take legal action against Lundeen but is ‘hoping the guy gets better.’

‘I don’t think he knew what he was doing. He was just out of control,’ Cahn, who once featured on a podcast of the late conservative activist, Charlie Kirk, said. 

‘I just heard he got fired because of this, so I am hoping the best for him.’ 

Cahn, for his part, has likened the 9/11 attacks to biblical warnings that God would punish a disobedient Israel, according to a 2019 New York Times report.

The outlet also reported that Cahn said abortion, gay rights and the apparent public perception of religion indicated America had lost its way.

Meanwhile, Maryland Transportation Authority Police would not respond to questions about Cahn’s account of what happened on board the flight. 

Police did confirm, however, that an incident involving a ‘disorderly and unruly passenger’ had taken place.  

‘The responding MDTA officers observed a male passenger being restrained to his seat by duct tape and his hands secured by zip ties,’ Sergeant Clinton Kelly told the Daily Mail. 

‘The passenger 67-year-old Arthur Lundeen of Arizona was arrested by police and charged with disorderly conduct and second-degree assault for incidents that occurred aboard the aircraft at BWI Airport.

‘The incident that took place in the air is being investigated by the FBI Baltimore Field Office.

‘Lundeen was cleared by paramedics for an open wound on his arm that was noticed by officers while being taken into custody.’

American Airlines confirmed, too, that the flight was diverted due to a ‘disruptive customer.’

‘The ​safety and ​security of our customers ​and ​team members is our ​top ​priority, ​and ​we do ​not tolerate violence,’ a spokesperson said.

‘We ​thank ​our team members ​for ​their ​professionalism and ​our customers for ​their ​understanding.’

The Daily Mail has contacted Lundeen and his wife for comment.

NEW YORK (AP) — After missing more than three months, Aaron Judge is ready to return to the New York Yankees.

The three-time MVP was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Monday night, an off day for the Yankees. They open a three-game series at home Tuesday night against the Colorado Rockies.

Judge hasn’t played since May 31 because of a broken right rib, but the slugger traveled with the Yankees on their recent trip to the West Coast. He took batting practice on the field multiple times last weekend in San Diego and ran the bases as he worked toward his return.

The outfielder will rejoin New York’s active roster without going on a minor league rehab assignment first. Throughout his absence, Judge said he wouldn’t need a stint in the minors to get ready.

“If I tell them I’m ready to go play, I think we’re ready to go play,” Judge said on Aug. 27. “I’m not a pitcher. I’m a position player. I can get my reps down here in the cage. I’m in every game. I’m sitting there in the dugout watching every game, feeling the environment, feeling the energy, so I don’t think there’s going to be much of a difference.”

With 19 games remaining in the regular season, the Yankees (81-62) trail first-place Tampa Bay by four games in the AL East. They are two games ahead of rival Boston (80-65) for the top American League wild card and hold a potential tiebreaker between the teams after winning the season series.

The higher seed plays at home throughout every best-of-three Wild Card Series.

New York was 36-23 after Judge last played on May 31 and went 45-39 in the 84 games he missed since.

The offense, however, was obviously affected. The Yankees batted .243 with 86 homers in 59 games through May 31 but hit only .227 with 107 homers in 84 games while Judge was out.

Their batting average during that stretch ranked 29th among the 30 major league teams, ahead of only Seattle (.225).

New York had a .770 OPS through May 31, but it was .681 in his absence.

Judge is hitting .248 with 17 homers and 38 RBIs. He was initially injured attempting to avoid second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. on a diving catch in Houston on April 26 and batted .263 with seven homers and 20 RBIs in 31 games before being sidelined.

The 35-year-old captain’s only homer in the final 18 games before he went on the injured list was a game-ending, two-run shot to beat Tampa Bay 2-0 on May 24 that snapped an 11-game drought without an RBI, the longest of his career.

Judge won a batting title last season when he hit a career-high .331 with 53 homers and 114 RBIs in 152 games. He missed 10 games from July 26 to Aug. 4 with a flexor strain in his right elbow that he sustained on a throw to home plate July 22 in Toronto. He underwent a plasma-rich platelet injection and did not require offseason surgery.

Judge skipped a rehab assignment in 2023 when he missed 42 games with a fractured right big toe after crashing into the right-field fence at Dodger Stadium. In 2019, he appeared in five minor league games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre when he missed two months with a strained left oblique.

To make room on the 40-man roster for Judge, right-hander Chase Hampton was designated for assignment Monday night.

New York optioned right-hander Elmer Rodríguez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after Sunday’s loss in San Diego.

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AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.

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See AP’s full MLB coverage here

James Judge was 55 years old when he died last month following dog bite – Lee Ellis has now been charged with manslaughter in connection to the incident

A man bitten by a dog on a footpath died from complications of a wound on his leg, an inquest opening has heard.

James Judge, 55, died after an incident on the old train line footpath off Blacker Lane near the Crigglestone Viaduct, a grade-II listed railway viaduct some 80 metres tall and nearly 400m long, in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, on August 15.

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

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.

“Whether an inquest is required to be resumed cannot be answered until the conclusion of that process,” he added.

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”.

Officers are appealing for information about the “violent incident” in Clifford Street at about 10am on Saturday, June 27.

North Yorkshire Police on Monday (September 7) issued photographs of two men officers want to speak to in connection with the incident.

Police want to speak to this man about the ‘violent incident’ in Clifford Street, York (Image: North Yorkshire Police)

Officers want to locate the man in the footage along with the taller man who potentially witnessed the incident, police said.

A police spokesperson added: “We are also urging people to come forward who have witnessed the incident or have mobile phone video footage.”

Those with information are asked to email helen.barrett@northyorkshire.police.uk or phone 101.

Information can be passed anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 via its website.

Quote reference 12260123802 when providing information to police or to Crimestoppers.

The UK will call on 95,000 retirees in a drill to help prepare for war next year as the army has fallen to its smallest size in over 200 years

Around 95,000 retirees are set to get the call up to help the UK prepare for war, according to the Armed Forces minister.

Louise Sandher-Jones revealed that a major drill to mobilise an army of veterans is being planned to take place next year.

She said a “strategic reserve” of 95,000 retired troops will be called into action “on a scale we haven’t seen for a long time”.

The plan comes as fears regarding conflict with Russia increase as Moscow have already threatened British factories over building drones for Ukraine.

The scheme emerges as the government’s cost-cutting on the military is facing scrutiny after it was reported that John Healey, the Chancellor, would fail to commit to spending 3 per cent of gross domestic product on defence by 2030.

The Telegraph reports that the details of the drill are still being finalised but it will test the ability of veterans to be called on and equipped in an emergency.

Ms Sandher-Jones said on Monday: “The strategic reserve is a real commitment for those that are in it and they will be exercised as part of our exercise programme next year where we will go through measures to call out, use, equip and all the rest of the procedures we’d have to go through to use the strategic reserve properly.”

She added that the network of former troops would have a crucial role in defending the country, despite it being “a lot less used in my lifetime”.

She continued: “When I left the Army and found out I was in the strategic reserve, I just filed it away and never thought about it again. We are definitely no longer in that space.”

The Government revealed that it had forgotten much of the network of retired soldiers and officers from the Army, RAF and Navy, so the drill will serve as a test.

Under current law all former regular and reserve officers retain recall liability for life.

The Ministry of Defence are also legally obliged to maintain contact with former military staff in the first six years after they leave full-time service.

This group of former military staff differs from the reserve forces, which is made up from people who volunteer part-time to serve in the military.

There are currently around 32,000 active reservists.

In January it was announced that the age military veterans could be mobilised would rise from 55 to 65.

The current rules also state that retired soldiers can be called upon in the event of “national danger, great emergency or attack in the UK”.

However, a new bill will change this to mean retired soldiers can also be called on for “war-like preparations”.

The changes come as the Army has decreased to its smallest size in over 200 years, with around 71,000 full-time, fully-trained troops ready to deploy to the front line.

Government officials have also stated that Britain does not have an “effective system of tracking and engaging” those that recently left the military and also don’t “know where most” of the reservists are.

Last week the MoD announced that more people had joined the full-time forces than had left it for an entire year for the first time since 2021, however these gains are still small with the Army having only increased by 170 personnel.

Escrick Park Estate is progressing plans for Heronby on land west of Escrick, with proposals also expected to include schools, a health centre, country park and other community facilities.

An early masterplan for the development was prepared as part of the former Selby Local Plan process in 2021.

Heronby Illustrative Plan September 2026 For Media

However, that process stalled and was subsequently halted after North Yorkshire Council took over responsibility for planning in the area following local government reorganisation in 2023.

Escrick Park Estate has now confirmed it is working towards submitting an outline planning application for the development.

As part of that process, an Environmental Impact Assessment scoping request has been submitted to North Yorkshire Council.

The request is not itself a planning application. Instead, it asks council officers to determine what environmental issues will need to be examined in an Environmental Statement accompanying a future application.

The developers say the proposals are being revived in response to North Yorkshire’s shortage of planned new housing.

Beilby Forbes Adam, of Escrick Park Estate, said the estate had remained committed to the project despite the previous local plan process ending.

“Two years later we are moving closer to being ready to submit an outline application,” he said.

“But before we do we want to hear what the potential future residents of Heronby would like to see there.”

Mr Forbes Adam said the consultation was open to all ages but the team particularly wanted younger people to get involved, referring to those struggling to find homes of their own as “Generation Limbo”.

“The housing crisis means too many young people can’t find a home of their own and are struggling to get on and lead their own lives,” he added.

“We want to hear from ‘Generation Limbo’.”

Selby councillor, Steve Shaw-Wright, said there was a lot of support for the proposal among councillors in the former Selby district when the plans were first discussed.

“It would, if you like, mop up all the developments that were planned for the Selby area at the time.

“Instead of having bits and bobs of development in each village causing uproar, you would have this large development that would be like a new village with a school, a medical centre and everything else you need.

“It just seemed to be a sensible solution to the long-term housing issues that we’ve got in Selby.”

But Councillor John Cattanach, who represents the Cawood and Escrick division, including the site of the proposed development, is opposed to the plans, which have been criticised as potentially marking the ‘death of villages’ in North Yorkshire.

He said: “Since the inception, I’ve spoken out against it completely and utterly — it’s complete madness.

“It’s the size of the development and where it is, and the fact that all these people would go on to the A19.”

A public exhibition is planned in Escrick later this year, while initial proposals and a feedback form are available on the Heronby website.

The 27-year-old accused faces charges of arson with intent to endanger life, burglary as well as four drug offences, including possessing magic mushrooms

A man told police he had sawn his way into his neighbour’s flat and set fire to it “in retaliation for a complaint of harassment,” a court has heard.

Appearing in the dock of Newtownards Magistrates Court on Monday, 27-year-old Jack McClure was charged with six offences alleged to have been committed on Sunday September 6.

McClure, with an address at Balloo Walk in Bangor, was charged with arson with intent to endanger life, burglary with intent to steal as well as four drug offences, including possessing magic mushrooms, herbal cannabis, pregabalin and diazepam.

The court heard that emergency services, including the police and the Fire and Rescue Service, were called to a fire at the flat around 5.30am.

Giving evidence, a police officer told the court the fire had caused extensive damage to each of the rooms and that after the fire was extinguished, it was estimated the flat had been on fire for about an hour before emergency crews were called.

Police were still at the scene when McClure asked to go into his flat to retrieve property but he was arrested when officers noted that his hands were covered in soot.

A search of his property uncovered the drugs as well as a saw, and the court heard that when he was interviewed, McClure admitted using the saw to cut the front door to gain access.

Once inside the flat he “trashed it,” and having pulled the mattress from a bed, McClure set it on fire.

The officer told the court McClure admitted the incident was “in retaliation for a complaint of harassment.”

Objecting to bail, the constable emphasised a risk to the public in that McClure had admitted setting fire to a flat within a multi-occupancy building, and one which has adjoining properties.

There were fears of further offences being committed, she told the court, adding that McClure “has no suitable bail address.”

Defence counsel Conan Rea submitted that McClure could be granted bail, subject to an address approved by the police, and further that additional bail conditions could be imposed to address police concerns.

District Judge Amanda Brady refused bail, however, given what she said were the risks to the public and the risk of further offending.

McClure was remanded in custody, and the case adjourned to the end of the month.

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