NHS tells wheelchair user to go to Pets at Home to be weighed

An NHS trust has apologised after staff told a wheelchair user she would have to go to a pet shop to be weighed.

Sarah Rennie said that at first she laughed when health bosses in Shropshire advised her to go to Pets At Home because the suggestion was so absurd.

But she told The Independent it later dawned on her the situation was not acceptable and showed: “services everyone else can access aren’t possible for disabled people”.

Ms Rennie, 39, from Shrewsbury, who has muscle-wasting, needs to be weighed to monitor her medication and exercise and to ensure her weight remains stable.

Her difficulty began after she moved to Shropshire from Birmingham last year, and Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust told her it was no longer commissioned to run its weighing clinic, which closed after the Covid pandemic.

“The rehabilitation service has now been utilised by other services and clients can be weighed when attending a clinic appointment only,” an email reply to her from the trust read.

The Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries later said it encouraged her to do the same as its patients on discharge – “access community-based weighing options, including facilities such as Pets at Home, where they can roll onto the scales”.

But Ms Rennie, a freelance transport consultant, said she would not put herself through the dehumanising experience of going to Pets at Home and would continue to battle for disabled people who are “invisible in the system”.

The trust was forced to apologise for offence caused by incident, but Ms Rennie called for it to be honest about its lack of facilities.

“I can’t go to my GP surgery for a cervical smear because they don’t have a hoist and I’m OK with that but I’m not OK with pretending services are there that don’t exist,” she said told The Independent.

“Weight is a key indicator of health for people who are immobile so to be able to access that information about our bodies is really important.”

She cannot stand or walk so is unable to transfer to a different type of seat.

“I don’t blame individuals, it demonstrates the institutional lack of regard for the quality of our lives. I blame the policymakers”, she added.

Before moving, Ms Rennie bought a set of scales designed for weighing animals for about £50, but stopped using them because they were not designed for use with her equipment and her personal assistant would have to be insured to use them.

She says hospital wards may have weighing facilities, but she doubts whether they would allow the public to walk in and use them.

“I don’t think any private facilities would be comfortable with that”, she said. “There’s a privacy issue, and insurance to consider.

“This is an example of wider institutional health inequalities for disabled people, particularly women.

“In hospital the number of older people unable to transfer is higher than you think. Families are helping them transfer so they’re not a visible part of the community so we’re just constantly being forgotten.”

In a TikTok video she said: “A very nice lady connected to my surgery suggested I go on local radio and see if any factory owners could help me.”

She added: “Do I look like a chipmunk?”

A spokesperson from NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, on behalf of the local health and care system, said: “We would like to apologise to Ms Rennie for any upset or offence caused.

“Although we are unable to comment on individual cases, we are continuing to look into her experience to fully understand the wider issues and identify what can be done for her, and others, in similar situations.”

Father’s desperate plea to bring home daughter, 15, stranded in Israel

Fifteen-year-old Bella Baker should be in a classroom in Leeds, beginning her GCSE mock exams.

Instead, she is facing the horror of the Israel-Iran conflict. as she remains stranded in a hotel in the northern Israeli port of Haifa, where on Monday, 30 people were injured in a dawn missile attack on the city.

With her mother, the pair are among the dozens of British nationals who are unable to return home from Israel after authorities closed the country’s airspace for landings and takeoffs due to an escalation in the war.

The pair had travelled to Israel for a family member’s Bar Mitzvah, a coming-of-age ritual in Judaism, last Tuesday – but plans to come home on Sunday changed after Israel’s surprise attack on Friday.

The assault resulted in a weekend of escalating attacks between the two countries. And on Monday morning, Iran fired a new wave of missiles on Tel Aviv and Haifa, killing eight people.

For the latest on the Israel-Iran conflict – click here to read our blog for updates

Now Bella and her mother are living in a war zone in Haifa, and unable to get a flight or boat home, said Bella’s father, Leslie Baker.

In an email sent to Leeds North East MP Fabien Hamilton, which has been seen by The Independent, the technology consultant said: “My daughter is now getting used to a new normal, sirens sounding and told to head to bomb shelters at 3am, then told to stay near a shelter at all times.

“Beaches and business areas are closed and she describes it as being ‘back in Covid’ staying in one room awaiting the next siren. If she stays much longer then she’ll be learning how to put on a gas mask should the need arise just as every other child in Israel has.

“She should not be there. She should not be in a war zone. Bella should be here starting her mocks with the rest of her year group.”

Mr Baker told The Independent he was in contact with his daughter over WhatsApp and used an app to receive notifications for rocket alerts. To provide a home comfort to her, he streamed reality show Love Island over the phone to her while she sat in her hotel’s bomb shelter on Sunday night.

Bella and her mother are staying in a hotel close to a relative’s home, where they are receiving food supplies.

Mr Baker, who is also concerned that Bella will run out of medication she takes in just over week, said: “She is scared. She’s never been in this situation before and she’s young. She wants to come home, see her friends and go back to school.”

The Foreign Office has updated its guidance to advise against all travel to Israel, warning that the situation could “deteriorate further, quickly and without warning”. British nationals in Israel are urged to follow advice of local authorities.

But with the airspace closed and no sign yet of the UK government providing repatriation flights, some British nationals are considering taking land crossings, such as in to Egypt, to escape the war.

However, Mr Baker said crossing borders into neighbouring countries for his daughter carried a “significant dangerous risk”.

He has called on the UK government to provide flights to bring those stranded, including his ex-partner and daughter, home.

He said: “The UK government has to do something, it can’t just sit and do nothing. There should be boats put on to get people to Cyprus. In the current situation, you can’t just leave British nationals, who are feeling scared, in the country with no support or way out.”

Others are also calling for flights to be put on by the UK government.

Comedian Zach Margolin, 31, from north London, was in Tel Aviv for his birthday when the conflict escalated. He told The Times: “Ideally the UK government should be putting on a repatriation flight,” Margolin said. “The only update [from the Foreign Office] is don’t go to Israel.”

Grandfather James Eden, 72, from Newcastle, was in Jerusalem for a six-day Christian pilgrimage. He told PA: “They (the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) rang me and said there wasn’t a lot they could do. They can’t put on any planes because the airspace is shut – all they can do is send out alerts and keep track of us.”

Mr Eden is now considering travelling across the land border into Egypt.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy posted on X: “My message to British nationals there is clear – your safety remains our top priority.”

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said: “The FCDO advises against all travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. British nationals should continue to follow the advice of local authorities.”

Suspect arrested after ‘largest manhunt in state history’

Vance Boelter, the man suspected of assassinating one Minnesota lawmaker and shooting another over the weekend, is in police custody, ending a nearly two-day manhunt, described as the largest in state history.

Boelter, 57, was arrested Sunday and stands accused of fatally shooting Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, as well as wounding Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife at their respective homes on Saturday morning.

Law enforcement agencies spent nearly 48 hours searching for Boelter, reportedly an evangelical Christian with a checkered employment history, with more than 100 agents deployed across the state.

On Sunday, police located the suspect’s vehicle on the side of the highway in Sibley County, where officials reported finding valuable evidence.

He was later cornered in local woodland, surrendered to officers, and was arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two of attempted murder.

“Justice will be served,” Minnesota Governor Tim Walz promised at a press conference.

Boelter’s longtime friend and roommate described him as “very conservative” and opposed to abortion and said the suspect had returned to their home and texted him on the morning after the attacks.

Tory MP pleads not guilty to sexual assault at London’s Groucho Club

A Tory MP has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault at London’s Groucho Club.

Patrick Spencer, the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, allegedly cupped the breasts of two women over their clothes at the famous private members’ club on an evening in August 2023.

He has been suspended from the Conservative Party and had the whip withdrawn over the charges.

When the charges were made public last month, Mr Spencer “categorically denied” the allegations against him and vowed to defend them “robustly” in court.

Mr Spencer is the son of Michael Spencer, a billionaire Conservative peer and founder of finance firm NEX Group.

Lord Spencer was Tory treasurer between 2006 and 2007, having donated millions of pounds to the party, and was awarded a peerage by Boris Johnson in 2020.

Mr Spencer was first elected to Parliament last year, with a majority of 4,290. Prior to entering Parliament, he worked in finance for a private equity firm chaired by his father, IPGL.

He later took a job at the Centre for Social Justice think tank, founded by the former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, and then became a senior adviser at the Department for Education.

He made his maiden speech in the Commons in July last year during a debate on the MPs’ code of conduct relating to second jobs, during which he said the “most important thing to the people across my constituency” was “restoring a sense of moral probity and public spiritedness to our political system”.

He had been told by Tory whips to stay away from the parliamentary estate while inquiries were ongoing.

The 37-year-old, from Suffolk, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, where he confirmed his name and date of birth before pleading not guilty to the offences.

Prosecutor Polly Dyer told the court that the first complainant “felt Mr Spencer put his arms under her arms” before he “cupped her breasts over the clothing”.

Of the second complainant, the prosecutor alleged “he moved behind her and also cupped her breasts with his hands over clothing”.

Ms Dyer added that neither woman consented to the alleged touching.

He is due to appear at Southwark Crown Court on July 14.

Influencers say tap water is bad – here’s what the experts think

Concerns about the safety and purity of UK tap water are no longer confined to the comment sections of influencers with conspiratorial or fringe ideas. An increasing number of British consumers are now filtering their water, worried that it might be unsafe to drink.

Investigations by The Guardian, Watershed Investigations, and the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) have revealed the presence of potentially harmful substances – specifically PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as “forever chemicals”) – in drinking water sources used by 17 out of 18 English water companies. The findings have raised significant questions about long-term exposure to such contaminants and prompted renewed scrutiny of the UK’s water infrastructure.

From countertop filtration systems and under-sink reverse osmosis units to purifying showerheads and portable bottles, there are now several ways to filter your tap water at home. Some of these solutions are expensive – costing more than £2000 – but they claim to transform potentially harmful water into safe, drinkable, even health-boosting H2O.

But is the concern around our tap water justified, and do these domestic filtration products offer any meaningful protection?

I grew up in an old house, with my mum telling me never to drink from the hot tap in case there was a dead pigeon in the tank in the loft, or in case the hot water dislodged some slime in the Victorian pipes. We had a filter installed, and I assumed all people had these concerns around tap water – I was met with blank stares when I warned the room about the pigeon risk at a sleepover when I was 14.

I love to drink water, but I’ve always been sensitive to its flavour – the mineral content, the provenance; as a health writer, these things interest me. For years, I used a Brita filter, but after reading a study about microplastics found in UK tap water – despite claims that treatment facilities are able to remove more than 99 per cent – I switched to some heavier-duty technology: the Skuma countertop water filter. The Skuma uses three-stage reverse osmosis to remove microplastics, chemicals, and heavy metals, and then infuses the water with the helpful, health-giving minerals it stripped out.

I’m not so obsessive that I would start arguing with my dentist if handed a cup of tap water to rinse with, like I have seen some American wellness influencers do on Instagram. I wouldn’t turn down a drink if it had been made with tap water, but I am more mindful about what I’m drinking when I can help it.

Though the UK maintains some of the highest regulatory standards for drinking water globally, a growing body of research points to the presence of emerging contaminants – including microplastics, industrial chemicals, heavy metals, and pharmaceutical residues – in our water supply. Many of these substances are still not yet regulated under UK or EU law, despite growing evidence of potential links to hormonal disruption, developmental issues, liver toxicity, and certain cancers.

“I was really focused on microplastics, PFAS, and other substances that weren’t being widely reported on,” says Charles Robinson, founder of water filtration company Water2. “I remember asking scientists at UCL whether, if they were in charge, they would allow this – and the answer was a clear ‘no’.”

Robinson funded independent research through labs in Italy and the UK to develop a filtration system capable of removing contaminants at the sub-micron level. His first-generation filter launched in 2023 and was subsequently backed by survivalist and TV personality Bear Grylls.

“A standard filter jug may filter particles down to around 200 microns,” Robinson explains. “A human hair is about 70 microns for comparison. Our filters work down to 0.1 microns, capturing most microplastics, which typically range from 1 to 10 microns.”

A team of research scientists behind The Water Professor – an organisation offering laboratory water testing kits for home use – explain: “Smaller particle size may be important for the blood-brain defences against microplastics. In the study on the cognitive decline of mice contaminated with microplastics, the particle sizes were between 0.1 and 2 microns.

“The current understanding of toxicity associated with microplastics suggests that size does matter; smaller microplastics will find it easier to pass through tissue layers and could be absorbed through the stomach and lungs, entering deep into the body.”

They also point to early studies suggesting that particles below 25 microns can pass through biological barriers and accumulate in organs, causing adverse effects. Larger particle sizes are less likely to have toxic effects since they are unable to pass through biological membranes.

Logic then follows that high-tech filters able to sift out smaller microplastics will be better for you than something like a filter jug. The Water Professor’s research also suggests that bottled water, on average, contains a higher concentration of smaller microplastics and could be worse for humans than previously thought, which is why opting for glass or metal bottles might also be the healthier choice.

However, filtration is not without trade-offs. It might sound like a perfect solution, but some high-powered systems, such as reverse osmosis units, can also strip water of essential minerals like magnesium and calcium. These nutrients are linked to bone health, cardiovascular function, and even skin health, so their presence in water is important.

“It would be easy to assume that pure H2O is the gold standard,” says Robinson. “But distilled or over-filtered water can actually be less beneficial if it lacks mineral content. The challenge is reducing harmful contaminants while preserving key elements.”

Many people choose to add electrolytes to filtered water to ensure at least one glass contains a recommended daily allowance of vitamins and minerals. It’s a smart workaround – and one that I personally employ every morning. However, there are concerns around these kinds of products too. Nutritionists frequently warn of the dangers of taking too many supplements and overloading the body, so be mindful of whether you actually need electrolytes and how much of a product you’re using.

Public health authorities continue to assert that UK mains water is safe to drink. But as Robinson and The Water Professor point out, “safe” does not necessarily mean optimal, particularly given the pace at which chemical pollutants, synthetic compounds, and microplastics are entering the global water cycle.

The Water Professor researchers explain that the most common plastic materials contributing to micro- and nanoplastics in water are polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE), along with toxic chemicals such as per-and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS ) and BPA. PFAS are commonly associated with non-stick cookware, as well as cosmetics, food packaging and outdoor clothing.

These chemicals are also known as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down easily and can build up in the environment, leading to potential risks for both wildlife and humans.

Last year, researchers at Birmingham University found that the combined effects of PFAS with microplastics led to greater harm. After studying their effects on water fleas, they noted delays in sexual maturity and stunted growth. Their study paves the way for future research on how these chemicals might affect gene function, providing crucial insights into long-term biological impacts not only on aquatic species but on humans too.

Menstrual health brand Asan recently reported that 2.4 million tampons are flushed down UK toilets each day, some of which end up in wastewater systems. Trace fibres and fragments from hygiene products, pharmaceuticals, and plastics are increasingly being detected in tap water, and while the long-term health impacts of these exposures are still under investigation, their ubiquity is raising alarm among environmental scientists and public health researchers.

Stephanie Metzger, policy advisor at the Royal Society of Chemistry, has said: “Here in the UK, we monitor for a long list of PFAS, but we’re lagging far behind the US and the EU when it comes to the amount allowed in our drinking water and what is considered healthy.

“We know that PFAS can be filtered from drinking water – the technology exists – so increasing the level of filtration is just a matter of expense and political will.

“In [the regulator] Drinking Water Inspectorate’s own words, levels above 10 nanograms per litre pose a medium or high risk to public health. We’re seeing more and more studies that link PFAS to a range of very serious medical conditions, and so we urgently need a new approach for the sake of public health.”

A 2024 study of London boroughs showed that in Harrow, a water sample had a PFOS (a type of PFAS) level of 14 nanograms per litre (ng/l) – 1.4 times the maximum limit for its presence in tap water under proposals put forward by the RSC.

The answer as to whether you should be filtering your water largely depends on the level of risk you are willing to accept. For many, the regulated standard of UK tap water is sufficient. But for those concerned about cumulative exposure to emerging contaminants – or managing specific health conditions – additional filtration may be worth considering.

“It’s about making informed choices,” says Robinson. “Not everyone can afford an expensive system, but a well-made filter that costs under £100 a year can reduce your exposure significantly.”

That said, experts caution against assuming that all filters are created equal. Filtering technologies vary significantly in their efficacy. While standard pitcher filters can improve taste and remove some chlorine, only high-performance filters operating below one micron are likely to capture smaller contaminants such as microplastics and certain PFAS. Consumers should look for independently verified performance data, consider the filter’s lifespan and replacement costs, and weigh potential losses in mineral content against reductions in harmful substances.

Of course, some people resort to filtration to soften hard water, which contains elevated levels of calcium and magnesium. These minerals not only cause the build-up of limescale on appliances and surfaces, but may also affect skin and hair.

According to Karlee Oz, founder of Hello Klean, showering in unfiltered water may “leave residue, contribute to dryness, and exacerbate conditions like eczema,” she explains. “In addition, hot showers can vaporise chlorine and other disinfectant byproducts, increasing the risk of respiratory exposure and irritation.”

Hello Klean’s shower filters use KDF (Kinetic Degradation Fluxion) technology to convert chlorine into gentler compounds. Oz emphasises the importance of using filters that are clinically tested and certified for efficacy. “Filtering reduces the burden on the skin and hair barrier and may improve tolerance over time.”

Of course, not all areas in the UK have a hard water problem – and in some cases, softer water may be better for skin and hair – but a filter can still remove heavy metals like lead and cadmium and traces of harmful bacteria like E. coli.

For the consumer, it can be complicated. UK tap water meets legal safety standards: it undergoes multiple filtration rounds and was ranked joint first for drinking water quality and sanitation in Yale University’s 2022 Environmental Performance Index, along with Finland, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

However, that doesn’t mean there is no room for improvement. Research suggests that trace levels of PFAS, microplastics, and other contaminants are present in some supplies. Filtration can reduce exposure to these substances, but must be balanced against the potential loss of essential minerals.

Research is still ongoing, but personally, I’ll always reach for filtered water, glass bottles, and avoid ice if I can. A filter in my shower has made a noticeable difference too. It’s a personal choice – but with microplastics now found in human blood, remote Antarctica, tea bags, and at the bottom of the ocean, I’ll do what I can to avoid them in my morning glass of H2O.

Win a Wilderness Festival luxury package for two

Music fans can win a luxury package for two to this year’s Wilderness Festival, all courtesy of Audi.

Wilderness returns this year to the picturesque nature reserve at Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire, and will be headlined by rock band Supergrass, Nineties rave duo Orbital, and Brit Award-winning, Grammy-nominated indie-rock duo Wet Leg.

Completing the headliner lineup are Basement Jaxx, who are making their return to live shows for the first time in over a decade, as they celebrate the 25th anniversary of their groundbreaking album, Remedy.

The winner will receive a pair of complimentary festival tickets and boutique accommodation in a luxury cabin for two. They will also be treated to an Audi Kitchen experience and, for the ultimate luxury, your own private chauffeur to take you and your guest to the festival and return journey.

Enter the prize draw here.

Wilderness Festival is known for its eclectic music lineup, which this year includes performances from pop singer Lapsley, singer-songwriter Bess Atwell, Scottish musician Jacob Alon and DJ Craig Charles.

At The Sanctuary and Spa, guests will discover an oasis of calm, whether that means taking part in disco yoga or a workshop to explore your sensuality. Highlights include boating, massage treatments, sauna rituals, hot tubs, a wild sauna, Wim Hof method ice baths and wild swimming.

Gourmet food offerings can be found at Ben Quinn’s long table banquet in the woods, a once-in-a-lifetime experience set in the woods and lit by chandeliers. There, Quinn and his team will serve up a feast of flavour cooked right in front of you five courses of carefully curated, responsibly sourced, local and seasonal ingredients.

Elsewhere, attendees can join a number of talks, comedy sets and conversations, from Food Stories with Jay Rayner to a live recording of Jamie Laing’s podcast, Great Company.

Comedian, writer and NHS doctor Matthew Hutchinson will share a sharp and moving look at life on the frontline of British healthcare, while cultural historian Tiffany Watt Smith will uncover a bold and fascinating alternative history of female friendship.

The prize draw will open for entries at 3pm (BST) on 7 May 2025 and close at 3pm BST on 17 June 2025. Only one entry per person is permitted for the Prize Draw. Terms and conditions apply.

Evans rolls back the years to dismantle Tiafoe at Queen’s

Only two summers ago Dan Evans was up at a career-high ranking of 21st in the world. Now the Birmingham-born player is just a fraction inside the top 200, having dropped out of it altogether earlier this year.

His season so far has been one of hard grind with little reward, spent largely plugging away on the lower-tier, lower-profile Challenger tour. He has only won one ATP-level match this season, on the grass last week at ’s-Hertogenbosch, where he came through qualifying to reach the last-16.

However, somewhere the Brit always comes alive is on the grass. And under bright Queen’s Club sunshine on the Andy Murray Arena, Evans produced some of his best inventive, classy tennis to dismantle the world No 13 and seventh seed Frances Tiafoe. His 7-5, 6-2 win was his first top-20 victory since October 2023 (coincidentally, also over the American).

Now the British No 7, Evans’ slide down the rankings has not necessarily been because of a drop-off in form, but because of the somewhat arbitrary nature of the points system. In August last year, the then 58th-ranked Evans opted not to defend his Washington Open title in favour of entering the Paris Olympics, where he partnered Andy Murray in the Scot’s farewell tournament. The consequence was that he slipped to 178th.

It has been a long road trying to claw his way back up, more akin to playing snakes and ladders than professional tennis. At 35, Evans is only too aware that time is not on his side. Earlier this year, he brushed off the idea of retirement, targeting a return to the top 100. After months of toil, it is matches like these that make the grind feel worth it, and it was vintage Evans who took to the court on Monday.

As women’s champion Tatjana Maria sliced her way through the field last week, causing the brains of four successive top-20 players to short-circuit, so too did Evans frustrate Tiafoe with his hugely effective backhand slice. In almost every backhand-to-backhand exchange, it was the Brit who came out on top. In almost every longer rally, it was Evans who stayed patient, either forcing the error from an increasingly frustrated Tiafoe or – more commonly – lashing in a winner.

In the early stages, the pair were well-matched, and Tiafoe – a French Open quarter-finalist this year – earned the first opportunity to break, leading at 2-1. But in what was to become a pattern, Evans dug himself out of trouble, and with his all-court game firing, it was the Brit who struck first. A double fault from Tiafoe brought up break point, and a brilliant passing shot from the Brit sealed the game.

But his concentration wavered and Tiafoe broke straight back, ruthlessly punishing a couple of errors. Evans has at times shown a tendency to get bogged down in his own mind on court. There was none of that here, as he recovered his rhythm on serve, and after holding to love for 5-5, a sublime backhand down the line gave him a second chance to break.

Once he broke, he hit his stride. Another lengthy rally went the Brit’s way courtesy of another fine passing shot that Tiafoe could only hopelessly watch drift by. Evans took the set with an exquisite forehand volley.

Now, not only playing some of his best tennis but full of self-belief, the world No 190 started to enjoy himself. And Tiafoe cracked, double-faulting to hand over an early break. Like in the first set, Tiafoe had an immediate chance to level as Evans took a tumble on the baseline, but the 35-year-old regrouped and held with some excellent serving.

As Evans rattled through the second set Tiafoe, one of the game’s most swashbuckling characters, looked a shell of his usual self. Evans broke again for a 4-1 lead thanks to a fortunate net cord and, on Tiafoe’s serve, produced a highlight reel-worthy shot for match point, sprinting from corner to corner in a lengthy rally until the seventh seed volleyed wide.

The first was saved and Tiafoe held; but another ludicrous rally went Evans’ way to set up a second. Serving for the match, Evans went from flailing at the baseline, lobbing his opponent from deep in the court, to winning the point with a sweet drop shot, an exhibition-style rally that summed up the encounter.

Another fine drop shot sealed it and the crowd gave a standing ovation for Evans’ biggest win since 2023, the year his ranking and career peaked. Evans’ relief was palpable and Tiafoe looked emotionally spent. Maybe he hadn’t quite prepared for the level of tennis Evans can still bring, fired up in front of a home crowd, playing with British grass under his feet.

“I’m happy to play some good tennis because it has been few and far between,” the Brit said afterwards. “Days like this are why I’ve been carrying on playing.

“It has been a long year so far, I’ve been playing the lower tournaments, but this is why I’m hanging around to try and get some wins on the grass.”

His draw doesn’t get any easier; he will face either another American in Brandon Nakashima or the huge-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, whose 6’8” frame is ideally suited to grass. But based on this showing, Evans will be hanging around a little while longer.

‘Very painful’ symptom could be sign of new Covid ‘Nimbus’ variant

A new Covid variant spreading in the UK may be causing one “very painful” symptom, a doctor has warned.

The new Nimbus Covid strain (NB.1.8.1) is now rapidly spreading across the world and is being closely monitored by the World Health Organisation.

Latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed Covid-related hospital admissions have risen by almost 10 per cent, with 947 patients admitted in the week up to May 31.

Cases have also risen by 6.9 per cent with 1,211 cases in the week up to June 4.

Dr Naveed Asif, GP at The London General Practice, warned this variant has a distinctive symptom, a severe sore throat known as a “razor blade sensation”.

It causes a sharp stabbing pain when you swallow, often at the back of the throat.

Rest, fluids and painkillers are the best remedies for the painful symptom.

Doctor Mohamed Imran Lakhi, told The Mirror: “People commonly report a severe sore throat, persistent fatigue, mild cough, fever, muscle aches, and nasal congestion.

“Some also experience digestive issues like nausea or diarrhoea, which isn’t always typical with Covid variants.”

The NHS advises people who think they have Covid to stay at home.

However, vaccines that are currently approved are also effective against this new variant, a World Health Organisation spokesperson said.

“Despite a concurrent increase in cases and hospitalisations in some countries where NB.1.8.1 is widespread, current data does not indicate that this variant leads to more severe illness than other variants in circulation,” WHO said.

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, one of the deputy directors at UKHSA said: “You might have seen news or social media conversations about the Covid variant NB.1.8.1, which you might know as the ‘Nimbus variant’.

“NB.1.8.1 has been detected in small numbers in the UK to date, but international data suggests that it is growing as a proportion of all Covid cases.

“Based on the available information so far however, there is no evidence to suggest that this variant causes more severe disease than previous variants, of that the vaccines in current use will be less effective against it.”

If your symptoms persist or get worse, or if you are worried about you or someone else you can speak to a GP or call 111. If someone is in serious distress, for example struggling to breathe, you should call 999.