A plane carrying tourists crashed into a field in Peru on Saturday outside the city of Nazca killing 13 people, local authorities said.

In a statement on Facebook, Nazca’s municipal government said the plane was taking tourists on a sightseeing flight of the Nazca Lines, a group of extensive geoglyphs scraped into the desert around Nazca hundreds of years ago by Peru’s Indigenous inhabitants. The lines form images of animals that can only be fully appreciated from planes or viewing towers.

Nazca’s government said the plane departed from the nearby city of Ica and was operated by Peruvian company Aerodiana. On its website the airline says that it has offered scenic flights over the Nazca lines for the past 14 years, using Cessna Grand Caravan planes.

In a statement, Peru’s Ministry for Trade and Tourism said that 11 “foreign tourists” and two crew members were on the plane that crashed Saturday. State news agency Agencia Andina reported that two German, two Spanish and seven Italian tourists were on the plane.

Peruvian authorities said the accident is under investigation. Aerodiana was not immediately available for comment.

‘I already know,’ my husband said with a smile.

My nerves melted away instantly in the warm glow of his acceptance after I told him I was bisexual five years into our marriage.

A big coming out was never in my plans, yet the moment I understood that I was bisexual, at 28, I told the person I trusted the most, not knowing he was already fully aware.

But that realisation didn’t happen overnight – the pieces started to come together on my first visit to Europe. Three years before that fateful conversation.

Growing up, I thought there were two options: straight or lesbian. I didn’t really have any queer role models in my life, so I mirrored what I saw around me. 

So, because I was attracted to men, I assumed that meant I was straight. 

It wasn’t until meeting other bisexual women in my university years that I realised sexuality isn’t a simple tick box; there’s an entire spectrum. 

That understanding began to take shape during a German work trip. 

I was at a new job, surrounded by new colleagues, traveling to Europe for the first time. The workdays were long, hot, and confined to an overcrowded indoor space. 

It was a perfect July day; green, warm and alive, when, on an outing to escape the office, I wandered into one of the biggest Pride events in Europe.

That was Berlin Pride, which was the scene of an appalling attack last week, and seeing that just brought home how important the event was.

Because this moment launched my journey towards embracing my sexual identity. 

From then, I followed queer creators on social media, attended community events, and had open discussions with people close to me. It all gave me the confidence to explore a deeper understanding of who I have always been. 

And so, I finally found who I was.

But now, when I share with people that I’m bisexual, and that I came out after I was married, it’s often followed with: ‘but you’re married to a man?’

I chose my husband as my partner in this life 13 years ago because of who he is as a human, regardless of gender. Thankfully, he chose me too. 

Even before I was out, I never felt something was missing between us – only that there was something missing within me.

After hearing ‘I already know’ from my husband, we chatted about how I came to this realisation and how he could support me in this journey.

The answer was immediate: Pride. 

I wanted to experience it rather than accidentally observing. 

But in the USA, attending Pride didn’t feel safe. 

Pride events in the US are often targets for harassment or worse, and the fact that LGBTQ+ people are five times more likely to be victims of violent crime in the US made the idea of attending more overwhelming than exciting.

I was also worried about being judged professionally or how it might change people’s perception of me.

At my job, my superiors had previously joked about pansexuality and bisexuality being trends and that they’re ‘just a phase’ – so, I stayed under the radar and was out to my closest friends and family, living my not-so-secret-but-plausibly-deniable bisexual life. 

But everything changed when my husband and I moved to Portugal, three years after I came out, to start our own business. 

From the moment we arrived, something felt different – there was less pressure, less expectation. People lived more openly. I saw couples of all genders holding hands and showing each other affection in the streets.

And for the first time, I was meeting people as my full self – a bisexual woman.

Within weeks, I got involved with local Pride events: supporting my new friends’ performances at queer open mic nights and working with local queer tour guides to promote gay-friendly bars and clubs. 

This year at my first official Pride – Lagos Pride, in Portugal – I showed up fully. 

With rainbow freckles painted across my cheeks, vibrant purple hair, a bisexual flag proudly trailing behind me, I walked with my pride, and even had my husband and best friend cheering me on. 

I remember feeling something I’d never felt before: uninhibited authenticity. 

We danced along the Algarve coast on a Pride boat cruise and even saw dolphins. It was a truly magical experience. 

But what stood out the most was that there was no anxiety about being judged, and no pressure to explain myself.

One thing I’ve learned throughout my journey is when living as only part of myself, it was far more exhausting than I realised. Stepping into my full identity brought me a kind of joy that changed everything.

And sometimes, a new start in a new place can give you the space to finally become the person you’ve always been.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto leader, in a phone call with President Donald Trump on Saturday raised concerns about the U.S. potentially escalating the conflict with Iran, according to a person familiar with the leaders’ discussion.

The discussion, which was first reported on by Axios, comes as Trump weighs whether to carry out new strikes on Iran.

The Saudis, according to the person briefed on the substance of the call but not authorized to comment publicly, are concerned that if the U.S. targets Iran’s energy infrastructure or carries out massive strikes on other key infrastructure that Tehran could respond by carrying out attacks on the kingdom’s and other Gulf countries’ energy infrastructure.

The crown prince during Saturday’s call sought clarity from Trump on what potential new action he’s weighing to take against Iran, the person said.

The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment about Saturday’s call.

Saudi Arabia earlier this week joined the U.S. in striking multiple logistics and weapons sites used by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, but has been urging the U.S. and Iran to get back to the negotiating table to find an endgame to the five-month old conflict

The crown prince also dispatched his brother, Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, to Washington earlier this week for separate meetings with Trump and Vice President JD Vance to discuss Iran strategy.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reportedly expressed concern to President Donald Trump over his plans to hit Iran with further airstrikes. 

The leader of Saudi Arabia called the president on Saturday to voice his concerns and urge Trump not to carry out the strikes, two US officials and a third source told Axios. 

One source told the outlet that Prince Salman urged Trump to deescalate the situation and to not launch further strikes. 

A US official added: ‘The Saudis expressed concern and asked for clarity about the plan of action.’

The White House on Friday signaled that Trump is weighing carrying out new strikes on Iran as the US presses for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. 

They are also calling on the nation to abide by terms set out in a truce agreement the two sides forged last month which quickly collapsed.

The President was bombastic at a televised meeting with his Cabinet at Camp David in which he vowed to hit the nation.

‘We will be hitting them very hard and you know at some point, they’re going to say, ‘We just can’t take it anymore.’ 

Smoke is seen here rising following multiple US strikes hit the city of Ahvaz in the Khuzestan Province in Iran on Thursday

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed the US administration’s frustration anew, charging that Tehran last month signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. on a truce but then quickly ‘broke it, shot at commercial ships, and killed American soldiers.’ 

‘President Trump is not going to stand by and allow this terrorist behavior to occur,’ Leavitt said in a statement on Friday evening. 

‘Iran will continue to pay until they come to the table in, what President Trump deems, a meaningful way.’

Leavitt issued the fresh warning after Trump earlier on Friday told reporters that “we just want to win” in Iran and signaled that he expected US military action to continue for some time.

The Wall Street Journal claimed Trump has already given his approval for strikes that could begin this weekend and last a few days, citing several officials. 

Axios, on the other hand, reported that Trump ‘hasn’t given final orders to do it.’ 

A report from CBS News emerged on Friday which cited sources as saying that the US and Israel are preparing ‘one of the harshest bombing campaigns to date’ against Iran’s energy infrastructure. 

While the president has not yet given the final green light, several insiders told the outlet that strikes could begin as soon as this weekend, with Israel already notified and coordinating with Washington.

‘The Department of War is locked and loaded, ready to execute the President’s directives at a moment’s notice,’ Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement, though refused to comment on intended targets.

One source told Axios that Prince Salman urged Trump to deescalate the situation and to not launch further strikes, the pair are seen here last November

Smoke rises following explosion at an unknown location, during what U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) says are strikes on Iran

Both Iran and the United States plotted out new strikes after several days of back and fourth between the two nations

Meanwhile, an Israeli official told the outlet: ‘Israel is unaware of any decision to restart full military operations, nor has Israel been asked to join any military action against Iran.’

A former US military official told CBS News that striking Iran’s energy infrastructure would aim to cripple the regime’s ability to support its military, provide services and maintain control.

A joint operation would see Israel return to the battlefield after pausing its attacks under the US-brokered truce. Iran has not struck Israel since the agreement fell apart and Washington restarted combat operations in early July.

A senior Iranian security official vowed Tehran has ‘the capacity and the will’ to retaliate against any US and Israeli strikes, claiming ‘extensive response plans’ are already prepared.

The unnamed official told Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency that potential US-Israeli attacks would amount to a ‘form of recklessness’ on their part.

The Iranian official claimed the ‘comprehensive’ plan includes strikes on ‘the vital infrastructure of the Zionist regime and US energy infrastructure in the region.’

A joint operation would see Israel return to the battlefield after pausing its attacks under the US-brokered truce. Israeli soldiers are seen here in the Israeli-occupied West Bank 

Trump’s comments come as the US demands Tehran reopen the Strait of Hormuz and honor a truce agreement that was forged last month but quickly fell apart

‘We are fully prepared to carry it out,’ the official added.

Many believe that regardless of what Trump does, they want the operation complete by the time Wall Street opens for business on Monday to avoid any economic damage. 

Iran fired drones at Kuwait, a Gulf country hosting US forces, and said it had also fired at oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil and gas shipments, which has been largely closed by the fighting.

Kuwait’s Defense Ministry said Friday its armed forces had shot down drones inside Kuwaiti airspace.

It said the Iranian attacks had targeted several vital military facilities, causing material damage from falling shrapnel but no casualties.  It did not specify how many drones were intercepted. 

Iranian state media said Iran had targeted an air base in Kuwait with drones in retaliation for US strikes on Thursday.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed to have hit two oil tankers attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.  Iranian state media said four other tankers had turned around. 

As uncertainty continues to brew, Americans were told to be ready to flee ten countries in the Middle East on Saturday. 

The warning covers 10 countries: the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Oman, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and, most recently, Egypt. 

Nidderdale Museum, in Pateley Bridge, tells the story of life across the dale through thousands of objects, recreated rooms, and displays covering farming, industry, schools, shops, and family life.

The museum was founded in 1975 by a group of enthusiasts who feared that traditional ways of life were disappearing in the years after the Second World War.

The founders began collecting objects and memories before they were lost, creating a museum dedicated to preserving the history of Nidderdale and the people who lived there.

It is housed in The Old Workhouse on King Street, a building originally constructed in 1863 as the Pateley Bridge Union Workhouse.

Today, the rooms once used by the workhouse contain displays recreating everyday life in the dale.

The museum has more than 30,000 items in its collection, with exhibits arranged across 13 spaces and 15 life-sized displays.

Visitors can explore a traditional schoolroom, parlour, kitchen, cobbler’s shop, and war room, along with sections on farming, mining, geology, religion, costume, local industries, and archaeology.

The size of the museum regularly surprises people who step inside.

One recent visitor on TripAdvisor described it as an “unexpected delight”, saying it was “much bigger than it looks from the outside” and packed with objects and information.

Another visitor, who had passed through Pateley Bridge several times without knowing the museum existed, called it a “hidden gem”.

Others have described the museum as an “Aladdin’s Cave” and an “extraordinary museum”, while one reviewer said it was among the most comprehensive local museums they had visited.

Nidderdale Museum, in Pateley Bridge (Image: TRIPADVISOR)

The museum is also unusual because it is entirely run and staffed by volunteers.

Visitors frequently praise the volunteers for being welcoming, knowledgeable, and willing to explain the history behind the displays.

One reviewer said the staff were “ever so friendly and obliging”, while another praised them for being “helpful and kind”.

That volunteer effort was formally recognised in 2017, when the museum received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The Nidderdale Museum Society has around 150 members and is overseen by an elected board of trustees.

In April 2022, it became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.

Despite its large collection and historic setting, visitors regularly highlight its affordability.

Recent reviews describe the £5 adult admission charge as “worth every penny”, “amazing value”, and good value for the amount there is to see.

Children can enter free of charge.

The museum is currently rated 4.8 out of five on TripAdvisor and is listed among the leading attractions in Pateley Bridge.

The recreated rooms give people the chance to picture how residents of Nidderdale lived, worked, and learned in previous generations.

One visitor summed it up by saying: “This is how museums should be.”

Vincent Pastore, best known for his iconic portrayal of mobster Salvatore ‘Big Pu**y’ Bonpensiero on HBO‘s The Sopranos, has died at age 80.

He had not been heard from for three days before a neighbor discovered his body at his home in the Bronx. An investigation is underway, according to Deadline.

Pastore was beloved by fans of The Sopranos for his nuanced performance as  Pu**y, who is ultimately exposed as an FBI informant and shot.

Born in 1946 to an Italian family in the Bronx, he was often cast in mafia roles, including a bit part in GoodFellas and a larger role in the 1996 HBO film Gotti.

His television career included frequent guest shots on Law & Order, as well as reality shows ranging from Celebrity Apprentice to Dancing with the Stars.

In his later years, he ran a theater company that produced multiple plays a year and reunited him with a number of The Sopranos alumni, including Anthony Ribustello, who featured as the chauffer of James Gandolfini’s lead character Tony Soprano.

The Daily Mail has contacted the New York City Police Department and the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for comment. 

Pastore is pictured (right) with (from left) Tony Sirico, Steven Van Zandt, James Gandolfini and Michael Imperioli in a publicity still for The Sopranos

Pastore was born in the Bronx in 1946 but raised upstate in an Italian neighborhood of New Rochelle, living with his family above the local Foresters club.

‘I can still smell the pizza!’ he fondly remarked a few years ago to Edge magazine. ‘Roller skating every Friday night at the Boys Club. Great memories.’

Although he came across ‘bookies and loan sharks’ as a child and acknowledged that many fans ‘think I grew up with’ the ‘kinds’ of insalubrious characters he later played, he insisted he ‘grew up in a pure Italian-American home. Tradition.’

After serving in the US Navy in the Vietnam War, he began opening bars and clubs, including the 1980s New Rochelle nightspot the Crazy Horse.

However he had long nurtured dreams of acting, having obtained a drama degree at Pace University, and in the late 1980s he began pursuing them.

A stroke of luck arrived when he was working as a New York City limousine driver and thus became acquainted with Kevin Dillon and his brother Matt Dillon. 

‘I told them about my dreams of becoming an actor. They ended up seeing me at this community theater I was doing, and Kevin helped me out. He gave me the direction I needed to finally act,’ Pastore remembered.

After jobbing around with small roles in mob movies like GoodFellas and Carlito’s Way, Pastore landed a major supporting role in the 1995 crime comedy The Jerky Boys: The Movie as the sidekick of a mob boss played by Alan Arkin.

Pastore was beloved by fans of The Sopranos for his nuanced performance as ‘Big Pu**y,’ who is ultimately revealed to be an FBI informant and shot

By the next year, he had earned his breakthrough part on HBO as the real-life Gambino family capo Angelo ‘Quack Quack’ Ruggiero in Gotti, with Armand Assante in the title role in a cast that also featured Anthony Quinn.

Pastore’s co-stars in that TV film included Tony Sirico, Dominic Chianese and Frank Vincent, all of whom went on to become colleagues of his on The Sopranos.

He later described Gotti as a ‘turning point’ in his career that led to his being recognized in the street and later cast on The Sopranos, via Cryptic Rock.

Big Pu**y was one of Tony Soprano’s best friends, a prized member of the mob boss’s inner circle including Paulie Walnuts (Tony Sirico), Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli) and Silvio Dante (Steve Van Zandt).

One of the key plot threads of the first two seasons is Pu**y’s unsuccessful attempt to conceal the fact he has become a mole for the FBI informant.

Pastore drew praise for his portrayal of a ‘rat’ who is wracked with guilt until his betrayal is discovered and he is shot dead by Tony, Silvio and Paulie. 

Several years later, Pastore revealed one of his iconic scenes – when Tony furiously searches Pu**y for a wire – was born of an improvisation by Gandolfini.

‘We were scripted on Sopranos, but you don’t know the moment he’s going to come in whether he’s going to be mad at you,’ said Pastore.

Pastore has said portraying his character’s ‘mental turmoil’ over his activities as an FBI informant ‘stayed with me as an actor, over five days a week of taping’

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‘In the scene when he was frisking me down in the basement of the house in Episode One, Season Two, he’s really frisking me. I didn’t know he was going to do that.’

Pastore took a dim view of the unflattering remarks  that Gandolfini’s colleagues made about him after his death of a heart attack aged 51 in 2013.

In the 2024 documentary Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos, Gandolfini was accused of having had a fiery temperament and drinking so heavily that the head of HBO tried to persuade him to go to rehab, only for him to retort: ‘Fire me!’ 

His commitment to method acting was said to have been so intense he would stay awake for days on end and get himself ‘angry’ by keeping rocks in his shoes.

The Sopranos creator David Chase alleged that Gandolfini ‘had to go places that were destructive to him, and painful for him’ for the role.

Pastore, on the other hand, said: ‘People talk bad about Jimmy. I saw it in that documentary. I didn’t dig it, man. Jimmy was tired. He was carrying the weight for seven years. Without Jimmy, there would have been no Sopranos. I’m sorry.’

In another interview, Pastore remarked that portraying his own character’s ‘mental turmoil’ over his activities as an FBI informant ‘stayed with me as an actor, over five days a week of taping. It was rather tough.’

He explained: ‘I saw Big Pussy as a man with a big heart, and that was my choice of how I played that role. In that scene where he is crying in the bathroom at Anthony Jr.’s confirmation, you knew it was not just because he was a rat – he was betraying his friends, which was even harder to deal with.’ 

Pastore is pictured with his The Sopranos co-stars Jamie-Lynn Sigler (left) and Drea de Matteo (right) at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2019

After The Sopranos, Pastore featured on a string of reality shows including Dancing with the Stars, Celebrity Family Feud, Celebrity Apprentice and Shark Tank, and his attempts at weight loss were documented on Celebrity Fit Club.

On scripted TV, he guested on such programs as General Hospital, Mad TV, Blue Bloods, Hawaii Five-0 and, as recently as last year, Yellowjackets.

Pastore held a voice role in the hit animated movie Shark Tale, starring Will Smith and Renee Zellweger, and also acted in the 1999 Hugh Grant comedy Mickey Blue Eyes. 

He also enjoyed a long stage career, which has Broadway has included being one of the actors to play the dopey Amos Hart in the still-running 1990s revival of Chicago.

Pastore was also cast alongside Zach Braff in the original Broadway cast of the 2014 musical adaptation of Woody Allen’s 1994 comedy Bullets over Broadway.

While working on Bullets over Broadway, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and earned plaudits for his show-must-go-on work ethic by refusing to miss any rehearsals or performances while undergoing his ultimately successful treatment. 

He later began his own small theater company, through which he was able to work with a fleet of The Sopranos alumni including Maureen Van Zandt, Nicholas Giangiulio, Joe Lisi, Garry Pastore, Tony Rossi, Anthony Ribustello and Janet Sarno.

‘I try to produce three plays a year. It really enables people to see the actors work,’ Pastore remarked four years into the venture. ‘I don’t make a lot of money because I own the theater company, but we’ve had a pretty good run.’

Former castmates mourned the loss of Pastore, with Edie Falco telling Page Six in a statement that his death was both an ‘awful loss’ and ‘unexpected’; Falco seen in 2024 in NYC 

Michael Imperioli shared a throwback photo to Instagram as both he and Pastore paused for a photo together; seen in 2004 in NYC

Pastore is survived by his 55-year-old daughter daughter Renee, whom he shared with his amicable ex-wife Nancy Berke. 

Former castmates mourned the loss of Pastore, with Edie Falco telling Page Six in a statement that his death was both an ‘awful loss’ and ‘unexpected.’

The star, who had portrayed the character of Carmela Soprano on the hit series, continued, ‘Vinnie was always so full of life.’ 

Michael Imperioli shared a throwback photo to Instagram as both he and Pastore paused for a photo together. 

The actor, who played Christopher Moltisanti on the series, wrote: ‘Our beloved friend and collaborator VINCENT PASTORE has passed away.

‘This is a hard one for us, it seems like I’ve known Vinny forever. We did lots of work together and traveled all of the USA as well as Italy and Australia. Lots of good times.’

He concluded, ‘Lots of laughs. Vinny was a kind hearted brother who cared deeply about his family and friends. I will miss him always.’ 

‘This is a hard one for us, it seems like I’ve known Vinny forever. We did lots of work together and traveled all of the USA as well as Italy and Australia. Lots of good times,’ he wrote

Lorraine Bracco, who had portrayed Jennifer Melfi, uploaded a black and white photo of the late actor to her Instagram stories on Saturday

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Dominic Chianese had played Corrado ‘Junior’ Soprano on the series and also took to his Instagram account to pay tribute; seen in 1999 in NYC

‘We lost a friend today. Paying respect and sending Love in tribute. You were a gem Vinnie,’ the actor wrote

Lorraine Bracco, who had portrayed Jennifer Melfi, uploaded a black and white photo of the late actor to her Instagram stories on Saturday. 

‘Such a funny & charming man…just a beautiful soul. Absolutely heartbreaking,’ the actress penned. 

Dominic Chianese had played Corrado ‘Junior’ Soprano on the series and also took to his Instagram account to pay tribute. 

‘We lost a friend today. Paying respect and sending Love in tribute. You were a gem Vinnie,’ the actor wrote. 

Robert Attermann, who had been Pastore’s manager for over 30 years, also shared an emotional statement to Page Six. 

He said that Pastore had been ‘so much more’ than his character on The Sopranos.

Robert Attermann, who had been Pastore’s manager for over 30 years, also shared an emotional statement to Page Six; Pastore seen in 2005 in NYC 

The late star had been ‘one of the kindest, most generous people [he’d] ever known’ who also ‘treated everyone with warmth and respect, never turning down a fan who wanted a photograph or an autograph.’ 

Pastore was passionate about his acting career and would ‘offer guidance and support’ to other young actors. 

Attermann added that the star will be remembered for his ‘remarkable career but also the incredible person he was.’ 

Pastore ‘leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond his memorable performances,’ his longtime manager continued, before noting that the actor will be ‘never forgotten.’

If you are spending hours walking around the North York Moors, you might need somewhere to stop off for a break and a quick coffee.

The Falling Foss Tea Garden can be found in a “fantastic location” right next to the waterfall of the same name.

After getting a few photos and enjoying your time at the Falling Foss waterfall, you might want to head to the tea garden for a treat.

What is the Falling Foss Tea Garden like?

The tea garden’s website says: “It’s a rustic, outdoor setting.

“Think picnic tables and wellington boots rather than fine china and linen table cloths.

“Our offering is simple, scones baked freshly on site daily served with lashings of jam & cream, delicious cakes, barista coffees, speciality teas and locally made dairy ice cream.”

There is plenty of outdoor seating to soak up the sun while enjoying an iced coffee, warming tea, or indulgent hot chocolate.

The tea garden serves a range of sandwiches that you can have with crisps while listening to the sounds of nature around you.

If you need a bit of a sugar boost for the rest of your walk, you can pick up one of the many home-baked goods the café offers, from cakes to rocky road slices.

The homemade scones are described as being “to die for” and are served with jam and fresh cream.

What do visitors of the Falling Foss Tea Garden say?

Many visitors have stopped off at the tea garden during their visit to the Falling Foss waterfall and call it a “beautiful” spot with reasonably priced food.

One reviewer on Tripadvisor said: “Had a lovely couple of hours at Falling Foss.

“It is peaceful and the waterfall is beautiful.

“The tea garden does amazing food, and the scone was to die for.

“The staff are all lovely and helpful and would recommend a visit if you’re thinking of visiting.

“You have 48 hours to pay for the car park too if you can’t get signal when you leave like we couldn’t so don’t panic.”

Would you visit the Falling Foss Tea Garden? Let us know in the comments.

Ravi Ghelani, a finance expert at consumer group Which?, has outlined six key checks to make sure policies still offer adequate cover, especially for those taking out annual policies.

Annual cover can save money for those who travel frequently throughout the year, but changes in health, destination, or planned activities could affect whether the policy still meets a traveller’s needs.

Depending on where you are going on holiday and how often, it might be cheaper to buy other travel insurance. (Image: Getty)

How to check if annual travel insurance is worth it

Mr Ghelani said: “A single-trip policy may work out cheaper if you do not expect to travel again.

“But do not rule out annual cover too quickly – if you are taking one big trip, check how much more an annual policy would cost.

“The difference may be smaller than you expect, and if you travel again later in the year, annual cover could work out better value.”

Which? reviewed 138 travel insurance policies, considering factors such as cancellation limits, baggage cover, and requirements for medical disclosure, to assess whether annual policies deliver value across multiple trips.

Changes to your health

According to Mr Ghelani, 90 per cent of annual policies reviewed required policyholders to declare any new medical information before travelling.

The Government website Money Helper explains that insurers may define pre-existing medical conditions differently, but they typically include conditions awaiting surgery or test results, any health issue discussed with a doctor in the past year, or serious conditions such as cancer or heart problems.

Cancellation limit

A Government website lists cancellation cover as essential, recommending at least £2,000 in protection.

However, policyholders should review the terms carefully as not all policies cover every scenario leading to cancellation.

Coverage for baggage and belongings

Baggage cover also varies by policy, and Mr Ghelani advises travellers to pay close attention to individual limits.

He said: “Also look out for any separate single-item, valuables or gadget limits, as these may be lower than the overall baggage limit.”

The government recommends that a good policy should offer at least £1,500 in baggage cover.

Activities

Adventure travellers should also check what activities are included.

All 138 annual policies reviewed by Which? covered hiking as standard, but not at the same altitude.

Mr Ghelani explained: “Altitude limits varied from 1,000 metres to 5,000 metres, with a median limit of 3,000 metres.

“Some providers may offer higher altitude limits as an optional extra.

“So, before you strap on your walking boots, check whether your route falls within the limit of your policy.

“For example, Mount Toubkal in Morocco reaches 4,167 metres, which would exceed the standard hiking limit in many of the policies we analysed.”

Winter sports are another area to consider.

The Government website recommends winter sports cover as a valuable add-on for activities such as skiing and snowboarding.

Money Helper advises that a good policy should cover personal or hired winter sports equipment and include benefits such as cover for lost ski packs or slope closures.

Where you are travelling

Travellers should confirm which countries are included in their annual policy, especially when travelling outside of Europe.

Some insurance companies categorise global regions differently, and not all destinations may be covered under standard “worldwide” policies.

Additionally, there may be no cover for travel to countries where the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against all or all but essential travel.

How many holidays you are going on

For those who only plan one trip, single-trip cover may be more cost-effective.

Citizens Advice said that for travellers planning multiple holidays in a year, an annual policy could still offer better value than several single-trip policies.

Do you buy annual travel insurance? Let us know in the comments.

Defence chiefs have been accused of showing ‘shocking disregard’ for Britain’s war dead after destroying almost 800 First and Second World War gravestones of Commonwealth soldiers killed in the Iraqi desert.

Furious families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country say that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is guilty of a cover-up lasting more than 20 years.

The British Army removed dozens of gravestones and panels engraved with the names of the fallen from the Basra War Cemetery in southern Iraq in 2003 amid fears that they could be destroyed or vandalised by locals.

As well as hundreds of gravestones, 80 large, 2 in-thick slate panels bearing the regimental crests of Army units and the names of the war dead were also removed.

The remains of the soldiers –who died in the First and Second World Wars – stayed buried but unmarked.

Within 18 months, almost all of the gravestones and panels had been deliberately pulverised into gravel and used to fill a drainage ditch at another military base in southern Iraq.

The work was overseen by 64 Works Group, Royal Engineers and appears to have gone ahead after the assent of a padre.

Ben Soppitt, whose grandfather, Gunner Joseph Soppitt, was buried in Basra War Cemetery, claims the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and the Ministry of Defence tried to hide the truth about the demolition from the public.

Ben Soppitt’s grandfather, Gunner Joseph Soppitt, is among those buried at Basra War Cemetery

Details of the destruction of the gravestones only emerged recently after the publication of Freedom of Information (FoI)responses by Mr Soppitt, 55, who lives near San Francisco.

The MoD had to respond to his requests because the Information Commissioner stepped in to order their release.

The FoI disclosures reveal that the gravestones were crushed into gravel and used to build a drain inside the British Army’s Shaibah Logistics Base, nine miles south-west of Basra, in April 2005.

The Mail’s chief reporter David Williams visited the cemetery just the week before the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, and found that the local militia had been using the gravestones for target practice – explaining why the army removed them, though no such action was taken at any other graveyard in Iraq.

In footage from the time showing the operation to remove the gravestones, an unnamed officer said: ‘We have collected all the gravestones together along with the tablets which have the names of all those people who died bravely during the First World War and Second World War.

‘We have put them all into the back of the truck. We will take them back to our camp where we will hold them for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which will come back in the future and restore this cemetery to its former glory.’

The FoI disclosures show a SITREP (situation report) from 64 Works Group, Royal Engineers in April 2005 records: ‘The gravestones have now been crushed and are ready to be placed in the soakaway.’

Field Marshal The Lord Richards of Herstmonceux, the former chief of the defence staff, said he had no doubt the soldiers who removed the stones thought they were doing the right thing.

The vast memorial in the deserts outside the Southern Iraq city of Basra which contains the names of thousands of British Empire soldiers who died in the First World War, which now lies in semi-ruin

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Lord Richards, who served as Assistant Chief of the General Staff at the time the gravestones were destroyed, told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I am deeply saddened by what happened to this cemetery. With the benefit of hindsight there is of course no excuse. However, I have no doubt that in the dangerous and febrile environment of Basra at the time, the officers who took this decision thought they were doing the right thing.’

But Lord Dannatt, the former chief of the general staff, said: ‘The Chairman of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is the Secretary of State for Defence. A decision should be taken to either re-instate all the graves, probably now impossible, or otherwise put in place a memorial with all the names of those buried in the cemetery with a suitable explanation of recent events.’

Mr Soppitt travelled to Basra last year with a new granite gravestone to mark the grave of his grandfather, who died from dysentery in 1941. A service was held, attended by the Archbishop of Basra and local residents.

Gunner Joseph Soppitt was one of more than 360 Britons who lie in the cemetery alongside comrades from India, Poland and other Commonwealth nations.

Mr Soppitt has made a High Court application for Judicial Review into the destruction, with the aim of holding the MoD accountable.

He said: ‘The MoD is fighting this claim, unwilling to bear the cost of ensuring the over 3,000 men and women buried there are properly commemorated with the honour they deserve and that the public expects.

‘It is a bitter irony that a member of the public, a relative of one of the casualties buried at Basra, is having to pursue the MoD through the courts simply to secure the basic dignity of commemoration that those who died in service are owed.’

In contrast, Basra Memorial, only 30km away from the cemetery, was left untouched.

The MoD said it is unable to comment for legal reasons.

Callous disdain for the memory of the fallen 

By COLONEL RICHARD KEMP 

Among the 800 men whose gravestones and memorial panels at the First and Second War World cemetery in Iraq were summarily pulverised on the orders of the Ministry of Defence, 130 were from a forerunner of my own regiment, the Royal Anglian.

So you can appreciate why I am appalled at such a callous disdain for the memory of the fallen.

It does not matter that some of these men died over a century ago, what matters is that they did so fighting for their country. Such patriotism and heroism should never be treated so shabbily.

The Army removed the headstones for their own safety in 2003, after British forces invaded Saddam Hussein’s Iraq.

No doubt the removal was carried out by soldiers in good faith that the stones would be replaced when the time was right.

But that faith was betrayed after 18 months, when it appears that the MoD decided the stones should be destroyed. Having fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, I can sympathise with soldiers given wrong-headed orders from London, clueless as to the reality on the ground.

In Kabul, we had intelligence of a planned coup d’etat on the parliament building. We understood that the thrust of the assault would be carried out by tanks. Only, when I proposed to lay anti-tank mines around the insurgents’ tank enclosure, the MoD’s response was one of horror – along the lines of ‘You do realise Afghanistan is the most land-mined country in the world?’ A few more to prevent huge political upheaval seemed a price worth paying to me, but we thwarted the coup nonetheless.

Pictured: British Army soldiers are seen out on patrol in Basra, Iraq, in April 2003

Soldiers follow orders, and those in Iraq who helped in the destruction of the headstones would have done so with a heavy heart. It must have been galling to know that a drainage ditch had been filled in a way that was so obscene to the memory of past British soldiers.

But what twists the knife is the evasiveness of the top brass. They have stonewalled the attempts of relatives of those buried there to get to the truth. Only begrudgingly revealing the sorry episode after being taken to the Information Commissioner.

But even public shame about their behaviour has not prompted the MoD to make right the scandal. The cemetery in Basra is still bare, the fallen still unmarked. It beggars belief that new headstones have not been erected in their place.

These are soldiers who died in the most horrific of circumstances, often under constant gunfire, in punishing heat and with little in the way of sanitary facilities, meaning that death by dysentery was grimly common.

They deserve a cemetery that befits their sacrifice.

If the MoD believes new headstones would be vandalised I urge them to visit Kabul, where locals respectfully tend to a British cemetery I visited there. To ensure the upkeep of the Basra site, surely we could expect the co-operation of the Iraqi government, which is the recipient of many billions of pounds in British economic aid?

Even if the cemetery is vandalised, so be it: that can be repaired. What cannot is the permanent deletion of their memory from the ground where they are buried – effectively killing them twice.

The MoD must correct its terrible mistake: failure to do so shames our country.