Weather maps predict temperatures will surge to 26C across parts of the UK at the start of May, with 74 counties including Cambridgeshire expected to see highs of 20C or above

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Weather forecasting maps indicate that temperatures could climb to as high as 26C in certain parts of the UK in the coming days.

The data reveals that up to 74 counties across England, Scotland and Wales are set to experience temperatures of 20C or above at the beginning of May. Northern Ireland is forecast to reach a slightly lower peak of 19C.

According to the GFS weather model, the temperature rise will begin on 4 May, with 21C and 22C expected across much of southern and central England. North Wales could also enjoy highs of 21C at around 6pm.

The mercury is forecast to continue climbing throughout the week, reaching 24C in the south-east on 5 May, with London benefiting most from the warmth. Parts of Scotland could touch 20C at 6pm, while Wales may see highs of 23C.

The GFS model data suggests 6 May will be the hottest day, with temperatures of up to 26C in and around London. The Midlands, Yorkshire and East Anglia could all record highs of between 24C and 25C, though Northern Ireland and Scotland are expected to remain considerably cooler, reports the Mirror.

Across this three-day period, the maps indicate that 74 counties or county boroughs could reach 20C or above, with the south-east of England experiencing the most intense heat.

UK regions facing 20C or above in May

England

• Bedfordshire
• Berkshire
• Bristol
• Buckinghamshire
• Cambridgeshire
• Cheshire
• City of London
• Cornwall
• County Durham
• Cumbria
• Derbyshire
• Devon
• Dorset
• East Riding of Yorkshire
• East Sussex
• Essex
• Gloucestershire
• Greater London
• Greater Manchester
• Hampshire
• Herefordshire
• Hertfordshire
• Isle of Wight
• Kent
• Lancashire
• Leicestershire
• Lincolnshire
• Merseyside
• Norfolk
• North Yorkshire
• Northamptonshire
• Northumberland
• Nottinghamshire
• Oxfordshire
• Rutland
• Shropshire
• Somerset
• South Yorkshire
• Staffordshire
• Suffolk
• Surrey
• Tyne and Wear
• Warwickshire
• West Midlands
• West Sussex
• West Yorkshire
• Wiltshire
• Worcestershire

Wales

• Gwynedd
• Conwy
• Denbighshire
• Flintshire
• Wrexham
• Powys
• Ceredigion
• Pembrokeshire
• Carmarthenshire
• Swansea
• Neath Port Talbot
• Bridgend
• Vale of Glamorgan
• Cardiff
• Rhondda Cynon Taf
• Merthyr Tydfil
• Caerphilly
• Blaenau Gwent
• Torfaen
• Monmouthshire
• Newport

Scotland

• Roxburghshire
• Kirkcudbrightshire
• Morayshire
• Banffshire

Despite the scorching conditions, this hot period at the beginning of May is unlikely to be classified as an official heatwave. A heatwave is formally declared when temperatures meet or surpass the heatwave threshold for three days running.

The heatwave threshold ranges from 25C to 28C throughout the UK. It sits at 28C in the south-east of England where conditions tend to be hotter, and falls to 25C the further north you travel.

Shaun Murphy has blasted an audience member who berated one of his shots during the opening session of his first-round match against Fan Zhengyi at the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.

Murphy said he lost concentration after a spectator in the front row muttered “s*** shot” during a gruelling battle which the former champion edged 5-4, ahead of Tuesday evening’s conclusion.

Murphy wrote on Instagram: “Just a friendly reminder that if you’re sat on the front row in the Crucible and I play a shot that may not work for a particular reason, it’s probably best not to say ‘s*** shot’ out loud. I’ve got ears.”

Murphy joked: “I missed my last shot as I was contemplating which end (of) my cue to hit him with.”

Judd Trump hauled back an early 3-1 deficit to nudge 5-4 in front of Gary Wilson in a match that was also due to conclude on Tuesday night.

Wilson made a superb break of 139 as he moved into a commanding lead but Trump responded brilliantly with breaks of 128 and 77 as he looked to go deep in the tournament and protect his current status as world number one.

Liam Pullen made four half-centuries but still trails 13th seed Chris Wakelin 5-4 after the first session of their first-round match that concludes on Wednesday.

Pullen, 20, looked unfazed on his tournament debut and delivered a crucial break of 58 to win the final frame of the morning and keep himself well in contention.

Following the last round of talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, Iran’s foreign minister and negotiator Abbas Araghchi declared in a post on X on April 17 that the Strait of Hormuz was “completely open”. This came after he also signalled that his government could be flexible over the issue of nuclear enrichment as well as Iran’s support for its proxies in the region.

Then came an abrupt correction. Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, a former commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) who was recently appointed as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, is understood to have complained to the IRGC, submitting a report that criticised Araghchi for “deviation from the delegation’s mandate”.

The negotiating team was called back to Tehran. Araghchi was attacked by state-run media which said his post had “provided the best opportunity for Trump to go beyond reality, declare himself the winner of the war and celebrate victory.” And the Strait of Hormuz was declared closed.

This episode demonstrates the new reality in the Islamic Republic, where the IRGC increasingly calls the shots in all matters of statecraft and government. The rest of the state is a façade at most.

Over the six weeks of war, Iran’s former leadership has been decimated: the supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in a US strike on the first day of US and Israeli attacks. Many of his senior colleagues have also been killed. Iran is no longer best understood as a state with a powerful militia. It has become, more precisely, a powerful militia with a state – a political order with the IRGC at its core.

The other traditional centres of power – the government and the clergy – have effectively been relegated to mere front organisations. Amid the fog of war, even the new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, appears merely as a legitimising ornament. In any case, Khamenei is reported to have been severely injured in the attack that killed his father and is apparently taking no part in government.

So who is running the country? The answer points unmistakably to the IRGC and its leader, Ahmad Vahidi.

Guardians of the revolution

The IRGC was created after the 1979 revolution, precisely because Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and his allies did not trust the conventional state apparatus to defend the revolution. Over time it grew beyond its role as guardians of the revolution into an all-encompassing, all-channel network. It became a military, an intelligence service, an economic conglomerate and a regional expeditionary network. Its internal security force, the Basij, gave it an arm of mass social control inside Iran. The Quds force was set up to export the revolution across Iran’s proxies in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and beyond.

Far from destroying this architecture, sanctions deepened it. They led to the creation of front companies linked to the IRGC doing illicit deals and operating circuits of patronage that enriched those closest to the centre of power. What emerged was a parallel state that gradually outgrew the formal one.

The IRGC is organised as a network with a core and a periphery. Its central hub decides strategy. This is surrounded by a network of decentralised cells capable of operating with a high degree of autonomy. This is called Iran’s “mosaic defence doctrine”. And it was built to operate precisely the way it is now: to keep fighting amid attempts at decapitation and disruption.

A new leader emerges

After IRGC chief Mohammad Pakpour was killed on the opening day of the conflict, Ahmad Vahidi, a former interior minister and a founding member of the IRGC, has emerged to take his place. After being appointed in an emergency capacity after his predecessor was killed, he has consolidated effective control as the civilian presidency has been hollowed out.

With the new supreme leader apparently incapacitated and the clergy sidelined, Vahidi and his group of allies – IRGC commanders and security council hardliners such as Ali Akbar Ahmadian and Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr – have set the mandate and red lines for the ceasefire talks.

The IRGC’s red lines are clear: it will not surrender uranium enrichment altogether; it wants to preserve its missile program and the axis of resistance; it wants sanctions to lifted and access to Iranian assets overseas that are presently frozen. Room for negotiation only exists on technical details about enrichment levels, timelines for lifting sanctions or the language of any deals that are agreed.

In times of war, states tend to centralise as civilian institutions shrink. Hard men tend to rise, especially after many of the influential political pragmatists, such as Ali Larijani, the former secretary of the security council, were deliberately taken out by Israel.

The IRGC was not suddenly conjured by this war, but prepared by decades of institutional entrenchment, economic capture and delegated coercion. The IRGC’s military dictatorship in the making needed this war to consolidate its influence over competing nodes in the network – most importantly the clergy.

This has profound consequences for the negotiations. Instead of being straightforward bargaining between statesmen, Washington’s real estate moguls turned negotiators are speaking to Iranian counterparts who are on a short lead held by the IRGC. Progress in negotiations should not be judged by what Iran’s diplomats say in public, but by what the guard allows to be implemented in practice.

Trump and Israel’s failed decapitation strategy leaves a potent system in place that feels emboldened by the desperation in the White House to find a diplomatic off-ramp. To think that this war-hardened system of hardliners will capitulate is wishful thinking.

The past few days have made it clear that the IRGC is now a militia with a state using the civic and military institutions of the Islamic Republic as its outer skin. While there is room for negotiation to build a mutually acceptable deal, the US administration needs to be realistic about where the IRGC’s red lines are and what card it actually has to play against a resilient network with a very high threshold for pain.

Donovan Tanaka Mkutchwa, 26, was found dead on Oakdale Golf Course in Harrogate on Thursday, January 29.

Coroner Mark Armitage gave Mr Mkutchwa’s cause of death as being from the effects of cocaine.

He told Northallerton Coroners’ Court that Mr Mkutchwa’s body was identified by a police officer on the scene.

The coroner adjourned the inquest to a later date after the brief hearing on Tuesday (April 21).

Mr Mkutchwa’s family has described him as a “deeply loved son, brother and friend whose life was complex but whose character and potential should not be forgotten”.

A family spokesperson previously told The Press the death of Mr Mkutchwa, who grew up in Harrogate and attended Harrogate Grammar School, has left an “unimaginable void” in the lives of his loved ones.

Donovan Tanaka Mkutchwa as a schoolboy (Image: Family)

Speaking after the hearing on Tuesday, the family spokesperson said they “acknowledged that [Mr Mkutchwa’s] death has been attributed to cocaine use”, but added: “As a family, we do not consider the current explanation to be complete or sufficiently supported by the known circumstances.

“There remain material gaps in the factual narrative that require careful and thorough examination.

“In particular, there is no clear or coherent account of how [Mr Mkutchwa] came to be at the golf course, nor how he could have ingested a substance in a quantity said to be fatal without any apparent intervention, incident, or witness account in what is understood to be a public setting.”

The family spokesperson said there were also “specific factual matters that remain unexplained” such as Mr Mkutchwa’s personal items, including his phone, jacket and head covering, not being accounted for.

‘We will continue to engage fully with the inquest,’ says family

They added that Mr Mkutchwa’s clothing was found to be “heavily soiled with mud” when his body was found and there were “visible blood spots present on his t-shirt”.

“These are material factors that, in our view, require proper forensic consideration and explanation within the evidential record,” the family spokesperson said.

“Taken together, these issues raise legitimate questions about the sequence of events leading up to his death and whether all relevant circumstances have been fully established.

“We therefore expect that the inquest process will rigorously examine all available evidence, including toxicology, forensic findings, timeline reconstruction, witness testimony, and any potential third-party involvement, to ensure that no line of inquiry is left unexplored.

“We will continue to engage fully with the inquest and reserve our position pending the outcome of a comprehensive and evidence-based investigation.

“Our focus remains on establishing a clear and complete account of what occurred in the period leading up to our son’s death.”

They urged anyone with information about his death to contact North Yorkshire Police quoting reference number 12260017377.

Mr Mkutchwa’s death followed him being released from a four year and 10-month jail sentence which he received in May 2024 after pleading guilty to four drug dealing charges. He was arrested after being stopped by police in Harrogate in May 2023, when he was already serving a suspended sentence for drugs offences.

Current guidelines in England state that offenders sentenced to four years or more are eligible for release halfway or 40 per cent of the way through their sentence. Some serious offenders are released at the two-thirds point, according to the Sentencing Council.

The family spokesperson said that while Mr Mkutchwa “did have a run-in with the law in recent years”, he had “taken responsibility and paid for those offences through the court system”.

They said the family believes Mr Mkutchwa “was in a period of reflection and was working toward reshaping and rebuilding his life” before his death.

“Like many young people, mistakes can happen,” they said of Mr Mkutchwa’s jail sentence. “But those mistakes do not define the whole of a person’s life. Donovan had faced the consequences and was looking toward turning things around and moving forward.”

• The Samaritans say that whatever you’re going through, you can call them for free, at any time, from any phone, on 116 123.

When Sir Olly took over in the Foreign Office on January 20, Lord Mandelson had already gone through the Cabinet Office’s “due diligence” process, approval had been given by the King, the US had agreed to him, he was already allowed in the building and was being granted access to “highly classified briefings” on a case-by-case basis – without his security clearance being confirmed.

Responding to the Sunday Times report in December about Lord Doyle’s previous campaigning for Morton, after his peerage was announced, No 10 told the newspaper the pair’s past association was “thoroughly investigated, including through several interviews with Matthew Doyle, prior to his appointment”.

Laura Pereira Camargo was rushed to hospital as paramedics believed she might have been submerged in the pool for five to 10 minutes

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A 12-year-old girl has tragically passed away after she played with friends in a swimming pool. It is believed her hair was sucked into the pool’s drain, trapping her underwater for several minutes.

Laura Pereira Camargo from Brazil became stuck in the pool during the horrific incident at her pal’s house in Mirassol on Friday (17 April). Firefighters on the scene believe the schoolgirl may have been submerged for around five and 10 minutes before they managed to pull her from the pool.

The youngster was immediately given first aid at the scene. Laura was then rushed to an urgent care unit in cardiac arrest, but survived the ordeal as paramedics managed to revive her.

She was then transferred to a hospital in São José do Rio Preto in a critical condition before sustaining multiple organ failure and bacterial pneumonia.

After fighting for her life for two days, she sadly died on Sunday (19 April) evening. Her funeral and burial are due to take place in Mirassol today (Tuesday), as reported by NeedToKnow.

Police have recorded the case as an accidental death and are now reviewing the safety conditions of the outdoor pool.

Laura was the only child of a devoted family and the daughter and granddaughter of deacons at the Christian Congregation in Brazil.

A talented piano player, she had recently celebrated her parents’ 20th wedding anniversary with them.

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Her father, Elias, previously described her as “our special gift from God” in a social media post.

Heartfelt tributes have poured in online.

One friend wrote: “May the Lord give you strength in this moment of sorrow. We are with you in this time of grief and will continue praying for you.”

There are many positives to living with your mum the age of 48 – fun, advice, companionship.

But according to pop star Duncan James, there is one downside – she nicks all the beer from his fridge while he’s away on tour.

‘I went to the fridge to get my beer, and my mum was: “Oh, I’ve drunk them all. I had my friends over and we had the lot,”‘ Duncan says, laughing. ‘She did message me while I was away to tell me it was delicious. She said she couldn’t resist it.’

For Duncan, it is personal as he’s on a mission to save the nation from the dreaded warm beer.

As Blue return to the spotlight with their reunion tour, he has teamed up with Coors to launch the Coors Cold Coorus – a playful new music video celebrating one of life’s great moments: when your beer is finally cold enough to drink.

New research from Coors reveals only 16% of Brits put beers in the fridge for the right amount of chill time before guests arrive, while more than half (55%) end up accidentally freezing them.

Which is why Coors’ packaging helps drinkers out. Its iconic mountain graphic is printed using thermochromic ink, turning blue when the beer reaches peak cold.

‘There is nothing worse than warm beer. Coors cans turn the mountains blue when the beer is at peak chill, which is perfect for me as Duncan from Blue. But that also extends to the pub, as Coors glasses turn blue too when it’s the right temperature. It’s a brilliant feature,’ Duncan says.

‘Having travelled all over the world, I am very lucky to have sampled lots of beers. But you can’t beat a nice cold beer on a summer’s day for that perfect refreshing drink. Whether that’s for yourself – or your mum’s mates.’ 

Duncan moved in with mum Fiona during Covid because he had just sold his flat in London and she was alone. But after the pandemic passed, the two were having such a nice time together that he decided to buy a shared house for them both. 

‘I didn’t want to leave my mum on her own, so we now have a big, beautiful townhouse in Surrey. I have my own floor, she has her own floor.

‘I am away with work and touring a lot of the time, and – yes – I know she drank my beer, but I did come home to bacon and eggs when I returned recently, so that was lovely,’ he adds.

Duncan has enjoyed the move from London to a more relaxed pace in the home counties. 

He has a large private garden and, when they moved in a year ago, he invited his neighbours around for a barbecue, served them cold beers and introduced them to his mum and bandmate Anthony Costa.

He recently returned from skiing in the Dolomites, Italy, where he thoroughly enjoyed cold beers up the mountain, and he is looking forward to a summer of beer gardens and festivals, including Live at Chelsea at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in June, where he is performing with Blue.

And Duncan has launched a new track in conjunction with Coors designed to help serve beer at the right temperature. Fans place their Coors in the fridge and DM “BLUE” to Coors on Instagram or Facebook.

A few hours later, Duncan slides into their DMs with the Coors Cold Coorus – confirming the moment the famous Coors mountains have turned blue and their beer is ready.

‘It’s an anthem to let people know when their beer is chilled at the right temperature. It’s a fun nod back to the noughties, it’s a lovely catchy tune, and I’m enjoying being part of this important mission to make sure the nation’s beer is cold,’ Duncan says.

But while a beer is usually a celebratory ritual, it can also bring back more poignant memories.

When asked who he could share a beer with – alive or dead – Duncan thought carefully before naming his best friend Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, who passed away nine years ago at the age of 45.

‘I really miss her. She was such a huge part of my life. She was so much fun to be with and always there for a really good laugh.

‘I met her on CD:UK in 2001. She had just come out of the jungle on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, and we were performing. I bumped into her backstage and we got on like a house on fire.

‘She shook my hand in a very formal fashion, but I could feel something in my palm. She’d written on a piece of paper in eyeliner: “Hi Duncan, here’s my phone number. Give me a call. Love, Tara.” I will never forget that. From that moment, we became the best of friends.

‘She had this wonderful energy and a naughty, impish sense of humour that I really related to. I just miss her so much and wish I could sit down and have a beer with her,’ he adds.

Duncan James partnered with Coors to launch the Cold Coorus – a surprise new song and music video announcing the exact moment your beer reaches peak chill.

Fans can message “BLUE” to Coors on Instagram or Facebook and receive the video when the mountains have turned blue and it’s ready to drink.

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