Ministers spent £2.4m fighting to keep Afghan data breach a secret

Ministers spent £2.4m in legal fees fighting to keep a catastrophic Ministry of Defence data leak secret for two years through the use of an unprecedented superinjunction, it has emerged.

The MoD leak, in February 2022, exposed the details of thousands of Afghans who said they were in danger from the Taliban because of their links to UK forces and now wanted to escape to Britain.

The breach was only discovered in August 2023 when part of the leaked database was posted online, prompting a top-secret government operation that saw 16,000 affected Afghans brought to safety in the UK.

The whole operation was kept secret from the public through the use of a superinjunction brought contramundum, Latin for against the world.

Now, freedom of information data shared with The New York Times has revealed that the government spent £2.4m in legal fees fighting to keep the scheme secret.

The hidden resettlement scheme, the fact the data the data was leaked, and the injunction itself were only revealed after a court battle lasting almost two years in which media organisations – including The Independent – fought to lift the order.

The government admitted after the superinjunction was lifted that information crucial to its overturning was available last year. The unprecedented gagging order was finally lifted in July after a review commissioned by Defence Secretary John Healey found that the threat of danger to those on the list was not significant.

In a written response to a High Court judge’s demands for further investigation on why the order could not be lifted sooner, a senior government official admitted that a large amount of the information allowing publication of the breach was already known to the Ministry of Defence.

High Court judge Mr Justice Chamberlain had previously decided to lift the superinjunction in May 2024, partly because he felt that the secrecy was preventing Afghans from being able to take steps to help themselves, as the order meant the 18,700 Afghans affected could not be told their information had been compromised.

However, the government appealed this decision in a bid to keep the order in place, and those affected by the breach only learned they had been exposed when the superinjunction was lifted.

Figures for the legal costs of defending the order come as Afghans promised a new life in the UK have been detained in Pakistan police raids.

A former Afghan interpreter who was exposed in the MoD breach has been detained after having his offer of relocation to the UK revoked. A former Afghan special forces commando and his family have also been detained and taken to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, according to a family member who managed to avoid arrest.

The Ministry of Defence has been contacted for comment.

Supermarket giant says it will pay customers to report shoplifters

Supermarket chain Iceland is set to offer customers a £1 reward for actively spotting and reporting shoplifters in their stores.

Richard Walker, the retailer’s executive chairman, confirmed that shoppers who alert staff to offenders will receive the payment directly to their membership card.

The move comes as the business faces an estimated £20 million annual hit from the cost of shoplifting.

He added the £20 million cost of theft limits the amount that the company can pay back out to its colleague and restrains its ability to lower prices.

Mr Walker told Channel Five news that shoplifting is not a “victimless crime”.

“I’d like to announce that we will give £1 to any customer who points out a shoplifter.

“We’ll put it on their bonus card, if they see any customers in our stores who is undertaking that offence.

“Some people see this as a victimless crime; it is not.

“It also keeps prices from being lowered because it is a cost to the business.

“It’s a cost to the hours we pay our colleagues, as well as it being about intimidation and violence.”

“We’d like customers to help us lower our prices even more by pointing out shoplifters,” Mr Walker added.

Last month, official figures revealed that the number of shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales climbed to another record high.

Some 530,643 offences were logged in the year to March 2025, up 20% from 444,022 in 2023-24 and the highest total since current police recording practices began in 2002-03.

At the time, retail bosses warned that shop theft was spiralling out of control and that business owners need to see immediate results as ministers have pledged thousands more officers for neighbourhood policing by next spring.

Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said the recorded figures show more crimes are being reported, but this is still “far too low”, with many retailers having “no faith” in incidents being investigated.

‘Three weeks ago, this town was thriving’: Ukrainians flee the frontline in Putin’s frantic land grab

A customer in the Winston Churchill Cafe and cigar shop – the unlikely refuge on Dobropillia’s leafy Shevchenka Avenue – describes the mood with a sobering clarity: “Everyone respects Churchill here; he is a symbol of resistance. If he were alive now, the war probably wouldn’t have happened.”

Two weeks of Russian military escalation have hollowed out this frontline town, and Dobropillia’s mayor has issued a mandatory evacuation order as indiscriminate attacks intensify.

Earlier this week, Putin’s forces breached the nearby Ukrainian defence line, pushing roughly 10 miles north-east of the town to within six miles of its perimeter. The grinding advance has sown panic amongst those still remaining.

The Churchill Cafe stands, for now, as one of the last vestiges of normal life. Outside, the streets are empty or thinning; inside, the atmosphere is tense, the chatter hushed, as patrons scroll their devices for updates.

Most of Dobropillia’s 28,000 residents have fled westwards. Vehicles laden with belongings race past, a desperate bid to outrun drones that may scour the skies.

“Three weeks ago, this was a normal, thriving town,” says a customer, surrounded by photographs of Britain’s wartime leadership. People are fearful and no one agrees to share their name.

“They started hitting us with artillery and glide bombs, now drones are hitting cars and pedestrians. Everything has changed in the last three weeks; it is no longer safe,” he says.

The current offensive appears designed to seize as much territory as possible before a Friday peace summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska.

Extra Ukrainian brigades have been deployed to repel the incursion, though reports suggest the Russians have yet to be expelled.

They are increasingly employing small, hard-to-detect Diversionary-Reconnaissance Groups (DRGs) that slip through overstretched defensive lines before retreating into the surrounding shadows.

The incursion carries strategic consequences beyond Dobropillia, threatening to sever Pokrovsk and Dobropillia from Ukraine’s Donbas strongholds of Kostyantynivka and Kramatorsk.

“It is stressful for everyone, of course. It is not pleasant to hear these things,” says the woman at the till. “This is a place where people can gather to get news; events are moving so quickly. I am not sure how much longer I can stay open.”

In the town square, scarred by the site of a massive ballistic missile attack, the European Snack Store remains open between two shops destroyed in the blast.

Ivan, 49, the store manager, recalls his brush with danger: “I hid under the counter when the attack happened. I was lucky; my neighbours were not.”

He foresees a difficult future: “Business is slowing down; it’s too dangerous here. I’ve had enough, I’m leaving tomorrow.”

He has already moved his business, once from Pokrovsk and now plans to relocate westward to Petropavlivka. “The future for Dobropillia does not look good. Pokrovsk, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, this is the playbook,” he says, alluding to other towns reduced to rubble and then occupied.

Anna, 33, is hurriedly stocking up groceries. “The situation is getting worse, and the shelling is intensifying. I’ve already moved my children to Dnipro. I’m only here for my job at the post office, but I’ve asked for a transfer.

“I want to live without the threat of shelling and drones. I’ve lived all my life here; everything I own is here, but the Russians are forcing me to leave. I am not scared, I am used to it.”

Despite all, some intend to stay. Among them are the elderly, the less mobile, and essential workers who have no obvious alternative.

On a bench under some trees to protect him from drones, Roman, 27, who works in the local coal mine, says he will remain for now: “It’s my job; I have nothing else.”

He concedes, however, that the Russians have “completely destroyed” other mines they have captured.

Most apartments lie empty.

Maria, 78, emerges from her doorway: “All my neighbours have left; I will stay. I have my apartment and a cat. Everything I own is here. We are a strong nation; our defenders will not let them in. I am alone, but I am not afraid.”

Back at the Churchill Cafe, the sound of distant booms punctuates the arrival of Artem, a soldier with Ukraine’s 25th Airborne Brigade, who steps inside with bags slung over his shoulder.

“This will be my final coffee here. I’m moving out of the town and my apartment further west,” he says, weary but unbowed.

He has little appetite for Friday’s possible breakthroughs in Alaska: “Putin does not want peace; he wants this town and all of Ukraine.”

He adds: “I see no end to this war. It’s sad to see my home likely become the front line; Russia will destroy it.”

Police seize £180,000 Aston Martin deposit from Andrew Tate

Police have seized £180,000 from Andrew Tate after a court heard he paid the money for a special edition Aston Martin through tax evasion and money laundering.

Devon and Cornwall Police obtained account freezing and forfeiture orders at Westminster Magistrates’ Court for the Valhalla supercar deposit.

The funds add to almost £2.7m of criminal assets seized from Mr Tate and his brother Tristan, since December 2024.

The police action was submitted to the court on the same basis as previous applications made by the force last year.

At that time, Judge Goldspring said in his judgment that he was satisfied of the “overall criminality of deliberate and dishonest cheat of the revenue”.

He added that the Tate brothers had “engaged in long-standing conduct to evade their tax”.

The pair had not opposed the latest account freezing and forfeiture orders, the police statement said.

Sarah Clarke KC, representing Devon and Cornwall Police, told the court the funds deposited with Aston Martin originally came from a Coinbase cryptocurrency account.

The account held multiple cryptocurrencies purchased with funds derived from the Tate brothers’ business activities. No tax or VAT had been paid on the funds, which had been laundered through the bank accounts that were the subject of the previous applications, the court heard.

Detective Superintendent Jon Bancroft said: “This latest judgement follows on from our applications made against the Tate brothers, which resulted in a successful ruling in December 2024 and the forfeiture of nearly £2.7 million of criminal funds.

“From the outset, we aimed to demonstrate that Andrew and Tristan Tate evaded their tax obligations and laundered money. We succeeded in doing exactly that and we have succeeded again this week.

“This further successful outcome shows how we will relentlessly pursue all criminal funds without fear or favour.

In a statement, the force said the money would be distributed in line with the Proceeds of Crime Act and would benefit communities, victims of crime and vulnerable people, while the Treasury would receive 50 per cent to be spent on public services.

Mr Tate, a former professional kickboxer, faces a civil trial at the High Court next summer over claims of rape and sexual violence brought by four women.

He and his brother are also facing prosecution in Romania over allegations of trafficking minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money laundering.

How ultra-processed food and toxic masculinity are killing off the Mediterranean diet

Flick through TikTok, thumb through the latest nutritionist’s cookbook or tune into morning TV and you’ll be bombarded with praise for the Mediterranean diet.

Touted as the ultimate blueprint for healthy eating, it’s plant-forward, low in meat and fish, and virtually free of ultra-processed foods (UPF). Rich in fibre, healthy fats and antioxidants. It’s a diet which has been linked to better gut health, longer life and lower risk of chronic disease – and it underpins the world’s so-called blue zones, where people frequently live to 100 and beyond.

Yet in the countries where it was born, it’s becoming less popular.

“Spain and other parts of southern Europe are famous because of the Mediterranean diet,” says Dr Rubén Fernández-Rodríguez, a nutritional psychiatrist and researcher at the University of Granada, “but our diets are shifting because of convenience, the price of whole plant-based food, and because we don’t have time to cook. We live fast. We need fast things ready to go.”

There’s a growing irony at the heart of the Mediterranean diet’s global fame: while it’s praised as a model for healthy, sustainable eating, its own future is increasingly under threat – and the very thing blamed for its decline might also hold the key to its survival.

Recent research shows that adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet is in steady decline across southern Europe, even in the countries where it originated.

The consequences? “An increase in chronic, non-communicable disease,” says Fernández-Rodríguez. “Specifically, the most concerning ones are cardiovascular disease, but also mental health disorders. This is related to climate change and how biodiversity is decreasing in our world – but also to our guts because of the foods and the environment.”

Southern Europe, once a go-to example of a healthy eating region, is now facing rising obesity and child health challenges. In Spain, over 40 per cent of children are overweight or obese; in Italy, one in three children are either overweight or obese before the age of eight. Across the Mediterranean, UPF consumption is on the rise – and so are rates of diabetes, anxiety and depression.

UPFs are industrial products made with additives, preservatives and synthetic ingredients, using methods far beyond home cooking. They now make up 56 per cent of the UK diet – one of the highest rates in Europe – and consumption is rising across southern Europe too.

Diet-related disorders are now the fourth leading cause of disease burden among the living population, according to Fernández-Rodríguez. And health isn’t the only issue. The Mediterranean basin is experiencing rapid ecological degradation – and its effects are creeping into the food system. “Climate change is critically impacting our lives,” Fernández-Rodríguez says. “Not only in the way food is produced, but also in the crops themselves.”

He points to a stark example: “The food that is grown in poor [quality] soils has much less nutrient density. Maybe you’ll need 20 carrots from poor soil to equal the nutrients of one carrot from high-biodiverse soil.”

This matters in countries where time, money and nutrition knowledge are scarce. Legumes, for instance, can cause gut discomfort when fibre intake rises too fast – meaning that making a gradual change is key, Fernández-Rodríguez says.

Nutrition literacy is low, especially among younger people. University students in particular are vulnerable because of stress, the distance from home and the need to suddenly fend for themselves in the kitchen. “This is a critical period,” he says.

Social and cultural factors also shape how people approach food; while high-end salted steaks and smash burgers are a craze on TikTok, so is exposure to new ways of eating. “For example, women and young women are more likely to try plant-based meats. Men are not so likely. There is research to suggest that fragile masculinity plays a role.”

UPFs have long been blamed for many of the health problems outlined above. But there’s nuance – particularly when it comes to plant-based UPFs.

Plant-based meats are classed as ultra-processed under the Nova food classification system – but, as The Good Food Institute points out, many differ from typical UPFs: they’re often higher in fibre, lower in saturated fat and contain less sugar.

In fact, studies show that replacing red and processed meat with plant-based alternatives can improve key health indicators such as cholesterol levels, blood pressure and weight management.

“Are plant-based meats ultra-processed food?” asks Fernández-Rodríguez. “According to the Nova classification, yes. But does this mean it’s a bad food to include in our diet? Well, we have to see why plant-based meat exists – it’s to replace ultra-processed meat options.”

That replacement matters. Red and processed meats – particularly sausages, bacon, ham and salami – have been strongly linked with increased risks of colorectal cancer, heart disease and early death. The World Health Organisation classifies processed meat as a Group 1 carcinogen and red meat as “probably carcinogenic”. Environmentally, meat and dairy account for around 14.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions – more than all cars, trains and planes combined.

This debate is at the heart of wider policymaking tensions. While high UPF consumption is consistently linked with negative health outcomes – from heart disease to cancer – the mechanisms driving these associations are not yet fully understood. Yet in the absence of clear strategies from business or government to promote healthier alternatives, UPFs continue to fill the gap.

A short-term trial Fernández-Rodríguez worked on found that people who replaced meat with plant-based meat alternatives for eight weeks experienced improved cardiometabolic outcomes, including reduced LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and total cholesterol.

“If you want to try to reduce your meat consumption, that should be the simple message,” he says. “It’s going to be better for your health, and it’s going to be definitely better for the environment.”

These products are far from perfect. “Maybe not all of them are as nutrient-dense as we would like,” he admits. “But some processing allows us to better digest the legumes included. And we can reinforce nutrients – we can add vitamin B12, iron, vitamin D – which are often low in both plant-based and omnivore diets.”

Fernández-Rodríguez points to research from the Good Food Institute showing that many plant-based meats, despite their processing, score better than conventional processed meats on key health indicators.

“There is room for improvement,” he says. “But in a couple of years, the options are going to be better, tastier, and more people are going to try them.”

If progress feels slow, Fernández-Rodríguez blames more than just the market. In Spain, Italy and elsewhere across southern Europe, the rise of right-wing governments is reshaping the food system in ways that may run counter to both health and sustainability.

It’s a striking contradiction: nationalist and conservative parties often position themselves as defenders of tradition – and yet one of the region’s most historic cultural assets, the Mediterranean diet, is being allowed to erode. Policies continue to favour more industrial food production, livestock farming and processed foods, like the American diet, while the cost of homegrown fresh produce and whole grains climbs higher.

Earlier this year, Spain’s left-leaning parties endorsed the Plant-Based Treaty, a global initiative aimed at promoting sustainable diets. But resistance was swift – not just political, but commercial. The dynamic isn’t limited to southern Europe either. In the United States, the politicisation of food has long skewed public health messaging and dietary policy. Donald Trump has derided plant-based eating while praising Diet Coke and “real” sugar on the campaign trail.

A new school policy in Spain aims to introduce vegetarian or vegan meals two to three times a week has been a shift, but not a full solution. “It’s not as good as I’d like,” Fernández-Rodríguez says. “Still, at least it’s a change.” Meanwhile, in Italy, agricultural subsidies still largely support livestock production, despite the fact that meat and dairy account for more than 60 per cent of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in the Mediterranean area, according to the Sustainability paper.

Powerful food lobbies, cultural identity politics and party lines are colliding with the need to eat better – and the Mediterranean diet is getting caught in the crossfire. So where do we go from here? Fernández-Rodríguez believes the key lies in education – and a possible rethink of what the Mediterranean diet really means.

“We need more nutrition knowledge in schools, where the children are really young. This impacts the whole family, the whole community,” he says. “And we need political change that promotes and helps healthy foods for people – food for the community – but also supports regenerative agriculture, or agriculture that is not damaging our soils.”

He’s optimistic that if UPFs are here to stay, healthier processed foods will play a role in the future. “Hopefully, in the next few years, we are going to see better plant-based foods that could help us shift to a more plant-forward diet. We have the knowledge. But something is blocking that knowledge from being implemented. We need to keep pushing.”

And so the irony remains: the very products blamed for eroding the Mediterranean way of eating – ultra-processed foods – may yet provide the tools that help preserve it. If we can harness them wisely, improve their nutrition and shift policy to support better choices for the environment, then the thing that once looked like the problem could become part of the solution.

Remote retreats: idyllic British breaks for the perfect escape

For a restorative getaway where you can truly unwind, relax and reset, there’s nothing like escaping into nature, whether it’s a coastal bolthole, lakeside idyll or a country retreat surrounded by forests and fields. To help you find your perfect escape, we’ve rounded up some of the best remote breaks around Britain, from luxe cabins to country houses and everything in between.

What’s more, they’re all accessible by train, making it even easier to get away from it all, wherever you’re based. Plus, Railcard offers a third off rail travel around Britain. With nine Railcards to choose from, saving customers an average of £172 a year, it pays for itself in no time. Find the one for you at railcard.co.uk. What’s more, Railcard have created a handy online calculator to determine what you could save – simply enter your journey details and the relevant Railcard and it will calculate the discount you can get.

Read on for some truly special stays where you can go off grid in style…

Follow the herd, or rather flock, to a collection of luxury shepherd’s huts situated on a farm in Romney Marsh in Kent, where you’ll be surrounded by sheep (the owners also run a sustainable wool business). Just three miles away from the busy Ashford International Station, you’ll feel a million miles away from the stresses of everyday life. The huts each have a fully fitted kitchen, fridge, bathroom with a power shower and even a log burner for chilly evenings. You can add on various extras to your stay, from BBQ boxes and cocktail kits to local vineyard tours and even alpaca trekking – or just sit back under the vast open skies and feel your worries melt away.

Nearest station: Three miles from Ashford International Station

Nature lovers will relish a stay at Whitby Log Cabins, which offer a slice of rustic luxury in three acres of peaceful ancient woodland, complete with a stream and waterfall, just a mile from Whitby train station. There are three cosy but luxe cabins to choose from, each in its own private area and not overlooked by anyone else – aside, perhaps, from some local wildlife. Guests have spotted deer, badgers and owls outside their cabins and it’s the perfect place for a spot of stargazing. If you want some human life, Whitby town centre, with its many attractions (including the famous Whitby Abbey – an inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula) is just a 40-minute scenic walk away, along the Cinder Track, a former railway line.

Nearest station: Whitby, about one mile away (the owners are happy to pick people up from the station)

There’s no better place to camp than in one of Britain’s dark sky reserves – areas officially designated excellent for observing the night sky. While by their very nature (a lack of artificial light), these areas are usually fairly remote, some are reachable by train. Woodfire at Westerlands is a 15-minute taxi ride from Pulborough station, in the heart of the South Downs National Park. They have pre-pitched tents available if you don’t want to lug your own stuff (though there’s no lighting onsite, so pack your torch!) In Wiltshire, Tisbury has the only “dark sky friendly” train station in Britain – from there it’s four miles to Marshwood Farm Camping, in the where you can stay in a bell tent or shepherd’s hut, or pitch your own.

Nearest station: Various, see above.

Moreton-in-Marsh, in the heart of The Cotswolds, is a pretty market town full of honey-coloured stone houses and beautiful surrounding countryside. It’s also one of the few Cotswolds towns with a train station, making it a convenient spot from which to explore this delightful part of the country. Attractions like Cotswold Falconry, the award-winning Bourton House Garden, Sezincote House and Gardens (a 200-year-old Indian palace set in 3,500 acres of English countryside) and Batsford Arboretum – a 60 acre collection of rare and beautiful trees – are all nearby and can be reached by local footpaths. Back in Moreton-in-Marsh itself, Lord of The Rings fans will enjoy exploring spots frequented by JRR Tolkien — particularly The Bell Inn, said to be the inspiration for Middle Earth pub the Prancing Pony.

Nearest station: Moreton-in-Marsh, about a five minute walk to the town centre

If you’re after some relaxed luxury, the 19th century Hampton Manor is just a five minute stroll from Hampton-in-Arden station (a 15 minute rail journey from Birmingham). Set across 45 wooded acres, it has two award-winning restaurants, a cookery school and artisan bakery. There’s a real emphasis on sustainability – the estate is powered by 100 per cent renewable energy and works with local farmers, producers and craftspeople. You can choose from three different but equally plush areas to stay: the manor house, the walled garden suites or the walled garden cottage. A daily vinyl (and cake) hour, along with informal wine tastings and impromptu fire pits help make it feel like you’re in a friend’s country pile rather than a hotel.

Nearest station: Hampton-in-Arden, a five minute walk away

On the fringe of the Northumberland Coast, Bilton Barns Farm has soul-nourishing views over the village of Alnmouth to the sea beyond. There’s a selection of accommodation here, including a range of cottages, but for something a bit different, book into one of their two bespoke cabins, each with a sea view, hot tub and fire pit – plus luxury touches like Egyptian cotton bedding, fluffy towels and robes. The Bilton Lookout has two storeys, so you can stare out at the stars from your cosy loft bedroom. While the Bilton Bothy is an L-shaped cabin with large outdoor decking, perfect for al fresco dining. Nearby you’ll find numerous walking trails including one that takes you directly down to the Northumberland coast path.

Nearest station: Alnmouth train station on the east coast main trainline (short taxi ride of one mile)

The Cairngorms National Park is the UK’s largest National Park, home to a quarter of its rare and endangered species – and the ultimate destination for an outdoor adventure. Aviemore is an ideal gateway to explore it from, offering incredible views, thrilling outdoor activities, and wonderful wildlife. Hire a bike and head out on the many local trails. Put on your walking boots and head for the stunning Loch An Eilen (Loch of the Island) – famous for its island castle ruin – around an hour’s walk from Aviemore. Take a trip on the Strathspey Heritage Railway, with its incredible views of the Cairngorm mountains and River Spey. And be sure to visit the Cairngorm Brewery to try some award-winning tipples.

Nearest station: Aviemore, in the town centre.

Low Wood Bay Resort and Spa is an award-winning spa hotel set in a breathtaking location on the shores of Lake Windermere, just a two mile taxi ride from Windermere Railway Station. Whether you’re looking for some adventure or just want to do some serious unwinding, there’s plenty to suit every mood here. The hotel spa has both indoor and outdoor infinity pools with lake views, along with saunas, hot tubs and thermal experiences. And at the on-site water sports centre you can try your hand at kayaking, paddle boarding, waterskiing, sailing and more. When you’ve worked up an appetite you might want to try the hotel’s signature wood-fired afternoon tea, which includes toasted slider sandwiches, peri peri chicken wings and flamed lemon meringue cheesecake. Be sure to force yourself to leave the hotel though – it’s the perfect base for enjoying scenic walks in the spectacular surroundings.

Nearest station: Short taxi ride from Windermere Railway Station

The Sharpham Trust is on a mission to reconnect people with nature, through a series of mindfulness and nature connection retreats on the stunning Sharpham Estate in Devon. There’s a whole range on offer, from beginner’s mindfulness and those focused on learning more about the natural world to singing and silent retreats. You can even spend a few days canoeing along the idyllic River Dart, or learn some new skills on a rewilding or foraging course. Accommodation options include a Grade I listed Georgian mansion, a converted 18th century stable block, The Barn Retreat Centre and bell tents in the Woodlands. The perfect way to escape in every sense.

Nearest station: Totnes, 15 minutes in a taxi

Buddha Beach House is a 400-year-old fish cellar turned modern coastal hideaway, perched on the cliffs above Whitsand Bay on the south east coast of Cornwall, just a 10-minute taxi ride from St Germans train station. Beyond the unbeatable sea views, there are four plush bedrooms (the house sleeps up to 10), a cedar hot tub and a bathroom aquarium the kids will love. Spend days beachside, surfing, exploring rock pools or hiking the coastal path. The owners have another property nearby, On The Rocks, which sleeps seven and is just 30 metres from the beach. Cornwall can get hectic during the summer, but this quiet corner is hidden from the crowds, ensuring a peaceful and picture perfect break.

Nearest station: St Germans, 10 minutes by taxi

Enjoy great value British adventures by train

From stunning nature and the great outdoors, to culture, cuisine and incredible scenery, there’s no doubt Britain has it all in spades, and these unmissable adventures are just a simple, enjoyable train ride away. So there’s never been a better time to start planning some Great British getaways, from day trips to weekends away or a longer staycation.

With Railcard, whether you’re travelling solo or with a friend, on a couples weekend or off on holiday with the family, you can save on all sorts of train journeys around Great Britain. Railcard helps you save a third off rail travel and for just £35 for the year, it pays for itself in no time. With nine different Railcards available, find the one for you at railcard.co.uk

Teacher who sent pictures of herself in underwear to student banned

A secondary-school teacher has been banned from the profession for life after sending explicit pictures of herself to a 15-year-old pupil.

Georgia Lowe, 27, had taught at Kingsmead School in Hednesford, Staffordshire, when the inappropriate exchanges were discovered by the boy’s mother.

A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel heard that the relationship had began in 2021, just months after Ms Lowe began in her role, when she engaged the pupil in late-night email sessions.

These would use emojis like the heart symbol, nicknames, and often end in an ‘X’, representing a kiss, the panel heard. Ms Lowe also used phrases like “make me proud”, “try not to miss me too much” and “you’ve already made my day.”

She was suspended from the school in October after the messages came to light, but contacted the pupil again and sent pictures of herself in her underwear, the TRA panel was told.

Ms Lowe had only been employed as a trainee teacher in July. The TRA panel found there was little public interest in her retaining her position as a teacher due there being “no evidence of any positive contribution made to the teaching profession” in her “very short career.”

After resigning as a teacher, Ms Lowe was found guilty of engaging in sexual communication with a child and was handed a 14-month suspended jail term. She was required to complete up to 20 days of rehabilitation activity and 120 hours of unpaid work.

The judge also imposed a restraining order preventing Ms Lowe from contacting the pupil for at least five years.

In his sentencing remarks, the judge said Ms Lowe’s acts were a “gross breach of trust” adding she: “used the environment in which you were working with [the pupil] to pursue what was evidently your sexual interest in him”.

“You moved on to the passing of inappropriate notes to him, and ultimately, by the end of the period that we are concerned with, matters escalated to private digital communications between you and him, including you sending him images of yourself in your underwear,” the judge said.

“The concerning aspect of your case is that after matters came to light, by his mother having found out what was going on, you were spoken to, and yet you still had another face-to-face meeting with him at school, and ultimately, when the investigation was launched and you were suspended from work, you contacted him again, and that included the sending of the images of yourself to him.”

Decision maker Marc Cavey said on behalf of the secretary of state that Ms Lowe’s behaviour was “incompatible with working as a teacher.”

He decided she should be prohibited from teaching indefinitely and unable to apply for restoration of her eligibility.