More than 10 rescued after huge sinkhole opens in canal as ‘major incident’ declared

More than 10 people have been rescued after a huge sinkhole opened in a canal in Shropshire, leaving several narrow boats standed in the hole or tettering on the edge of a drop.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident after the “significant breach” on the Shropshire Union Canal in Chemistry, Whitchurch, on Monday morning.

Three boats were caught up in the developing sinkhole, measuring 50m in length and width, according to the service, which said its officers rescued more than 10 people. Aerial images showed one boat partly hanging over the drop into the hole.

Crews were working in difficult conditions, dealing with unstable ground and fast‑moving water escaping into the surrounding land, said a spokesperson. Meanwhile, safety zones have been opened around the sinkhole, but people have been asked to avoid the area.

The fire service said it was working with West Mercia Police, West Midlands Ambulance Service, the Canal and River Trust and the Environment Agency at the site.

West Mercia Police said in a statement: “There are currently no reports of any casualties, and residents are being assisted by the fire service.”

The Canal and River Trust said it had dammed of the impacted section of canal, and had closed off the area while an investigation was carried out into the cause of the breach. The trust said it was also providing support to boaters impacted.

Andy Hall, a councillor in Whitchurch, told the BBC that people thought there had been an earthquake. He said: “We’ve got two boats at the bottom of the sink hole that have fallen down, and we’ve got two boats that are teetering on the edge that could go in at any time.”

He added: “The most important thing is that the canal itself has been secured by fire and rescue. Their biggest worry was that the canal was going to burst even more and flood residents in the town.”

Jason, who works at the nearby Whitchurch Marina, told The Independent that efforts to pull the boats from the sinkhole could be tricky. He said: “The issue is going to be getting the equipment to the site [to remove the boats stranded]. Road access is tricky – a lot of sections of the canal are – so that might be a sticking point.”

The fire service said it first received reports of a canal bank collapse with large volumes of water escaping into the surrounding land.

It said: “Three boats had been caught in a developing sinkhole approximately 50m by 50m in size and crews helped more than 10 members of the public to safety.”

Fire service area manager Scott Hurford said: “We can confirm no persons are believed to be on board the affected canal boats, and no injuries have been reported. Approximately 12 residents from nearby moored boats are being supported and relocated to a welfare centre at the former Whitchurch Police Station.

“A major incident was declared at 5.17am – however, as of 8.30am the situation was stable with water flow reduced, and there is no ongoing search and rescue activity. Multiagency attendance remains in place to manage the environmental impact, protect nearby properties, and ensure public safety.”

According to the British Geological Survey, “sinkholes can appear in a variety of different shapes and settings depending on the composition of the rocks and different interacting processes”.

Heavy rain and flooding, as well as building works, changes in water levels and natural weathering processes can all trigger sinkholes.

Streeting’s call to rejoin EU customs union ‘early shot’ in leadership bid, Labour MP says

Wes Streeting’s suggestion that Britain should join a customs union with the EU has been seen as an “early shot” in a possible leadership contest, as the health secretary was accused of making a fresh bid to succeed Sir Keir Starmer.

The health secretary told The Observer newspaper a “deeper trading relationship” with Europe would be a means of boosting the UK’s economic growth, in what appeared to be a direct challenge to Sir Keir.

The move has reopened deep divisions in Labour as MPs prepare to try to relax for Christmas just a month after Downing Street officials were accused of briefing that the health secretary was trying to launch a coup against Sir Keir.

Veteran Labour MP Graham Stringer told Times Radio: “I think it’s a very complicated issue and it’s just Wes being opportunistic, knowing that, I think it’s nearly 30 per cent of the Labour Party membership is in London and most of those people seem to be in favour of rejoining the EU. So it’s an early shot in what might be a leadership election after the May local elections.”

The prime minister has ruled out a change in the government’s policy towards a customs union only in recent weeks.

And a Downing Street spokesperson on Monday deflected questions about a split over the EU in the cabinet.

He said: “The PM is very happy with his cabinet, they’re getting on with the important work of driving down the cost of living, targeting growth and turning renewal into reality for the year ahead.”

But he confirmed that the government “will stick to its red lines from the manifesto” and not rejoin the customs union, single market or EU itself.

However, a government source, meanwhile, accused Mr Streeting of “setting out his stall” for a leadership bid in his Observer interview, according to The Times.

Only in November was the health secretary forced to deny suggestions he wanted to oust Sir Keir from Downing Street and replace him.

He continued to shrug off claims he wants to be prime minister as he spoke to The Observer.

“The closer I see that job and the pressure on Keir and the demands of that job, the more I wonder why anyone would want it,” Mr Streeting said, later adding the PM has “got my absolute support”.

In what has been seen by some as an attempt to create a dividing line with the PM, Mr Streeting ruled out a return to the single market, and thereby freedom of movement, but appeared to leave the door open to a customs union.

“The best way for us to get more growth into our economy is a deeper trading relationship with the EU,” he said.

Mr Streeting added: “The reason why leaving the EU hit us so hard as a country is because of the enormous economic benefits that came with being in the single market and the customs union. This is a country and a government that wants a closer trading relationship with Europe.

“The challenge is any economic partnership we have can’t lead to a return to freedom of movement.”

However, the health secretary’s intervention has not endeared him to pro-EU Labour MPs.

One senior MP told The Independent: “Wes will regret going for the customs union as it’s a lot of pain for little gain. The real prize is an agreement similar to Switzerland [with access to the single market].”

Under a customs union arrangement, the UK would get access to tariff-free trade with the bloc, while having to accept common standards for traded goods.

Rejoining the customs union would undo trade deals Britain has struck with the US and India, the PM has warned.

The European Movement UK’s campaigns manager, Michael Anderson, said: “Wes Streeting is right to reopen the conversation about the customs union. The damage that leaving the EU has done to our economy continues to make us all poorer. A customs union with the EU would inject much-needed adrenaline into our struggling economy in a way that striking trade deals around the world simply cannot achieve.”

Cal Roscow, executive director of campaigns at Best for Britain, added: “As a customs union will likely take much longer to negotiate, we must remain clear-eyed about what we must deliver quickly – particularly on access to security action for Europe [Safe] in the face of external threats.”

Sir Keir has recently faced pressure from his own backbenchers to change course on a customs union.

On 9 December, some 13 Labour MPs voted in the Commons in favour of proposals which would pave the way for a new customs union, the Customs Union (Duty to Negotiate) Bill, though this is highly unlikely to become law.

Responding to Mr Streeting’s comments, a Conservative Party spokesperson said: “Instead of focusing on running the health service, Wes Streeting is busy courting left-wing, pro-EU Labour Party members – now even floating the idea of dragging Britain back into the EU’s customs union.

“Patients and NHS staff deserve a health secretary focused on delivery, not political pitch-making.”

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice MP said: “Starmer’s so-called ‘reset’ deal was already a shameful betrayal of what people voted for in 2016 and now we’ve heard it straight from the horse’s mouth. Labour remoaners like Wes Streeting will not be satisfied until every valuable Brexit freedom is surrendered directly to Brussels.”

Lush boss says customers who oppose his views on Gaza shouldn’t shop at his stores

The co-founder of Lush has said those who oppose his views on key issues such as Gaza shouldn’t shop in his stores.

Mark Constantine OBE, who led a shutdown of Lush stores earlier this year in solidarity with people in Gaza, said people “shouldn’t come into my shop” if they disagreed with his stance.

Speaking on the BBC’s Big Boss Interview podcast, Mr Constantine said he believed in being “kind, sympathetic and compassionate”, and said people are “not going to get on very well with me” if they are “unkind to others”.

He said: “I’m often called left wing because I’m interested in compassion. I don’t think being compassionate has a political stance. I think being kind, being sympathetic, being compassionate is something we’re all capable of and all want to do in certain areas.”

When asked whether his stances could impact business, for example, if someone decided not to shop at Lush due to his stance on Gaza, he said: “Absolutely, that’s what you [the shopper] should do. You shouldn’t come into my shop. Because I’m going to take those profits you’re giving me and I’m going to do more of that – so you absolutely shouldn’t support me.

“The only problem is, who are you going to support? And what are you supporting when you do that? What is your position?”

He added: “I think it’s up to people if they want to fox hunt and shoot pheasants, it’s up to them, but I don’t approve of it.”

In September, the cosmetics chain shut all of its UK stores and closed its website for the day in solidarity with people starving in Gaza.

In a statement on its website, the company said: “Across the Lush business we share the anguish that millions of people feel seeing the images of starving people in Gaza, Palestine.”

The business, which trades in more than 50 countries, said it had put messages in the windows of closed shops which read: “Stop starving Gaza, we are closed in solidarity.”

Speaking on the BBC podcast, Mr Constantine also criticised changes made by the government on inheritance tax, from 6 April 2026, which will see the removal of the full exemption for family businesses, with only the first £1m to be tax free.

“They don’t understand the strength of family businesses … and they have been sold a belief in a greedy culture,” he said, adding there was a risk people would sell businesses rather than pay inheritance tax bills.

Liam Gallagher and David Beckham attend Stone Roses bassist Mani’s funeral

Stone Roses singer Ian Brown hailed his bandmate Gary “Mani” Mounfield as “a brother to me” and a “beautiful human being” as he arrived for the bass player’s funeral.

Mounfield died last month at 63.

Manchester Cathedral hosted the service on Monday, attended by 90s music luminaries including Liam Gallagher, Paul Weller, Bobbie Gillespie, and Bez.

Former Manchester United players David Beckham and Gary Neville also joined hundreds of mourners.

Hundreds more fans gathered outside the cathedral and applauded as the cortege arrived, preceded by a guard of scooter riders as The Stone Roses track I Wanna Be Adored played on speakers.

Mounfield was part of The Stone Roses’ classic line-up alongside singer Brown, guitarist John Squire and drummer Alan ‘Reni’ Wren.

He went on to join Primal Scream.

Pausing briefly as he went into church, Brown said he was there to celebrate “what a beautiful human being that he was”.

Asked what Mounfield meant to him, the singer said: “Everything. He’s a brother to me.”

Mounfield’s coffin – which was decorated with the classic artwork from The Stone Roses first album – was carried into the cathedral as family and friends followed, with more applause from the crowd.

Christmas warning after 100-tonne fatberg discovered in London sewers

People have been warned to think about what they pour down their sinks and flush down their toilets over Christmas after a 100-tonne fatberg was discovered in London’s sewers.

The newly discovered fatberg, which is a solid mass of congealed fats, oils, grease and non-flushable waste, was found in Whitechapel, east London, and is estimated to stretch for around 100m and weigh approximately 100 tonnes.

Tim Davies, head of waste operations for north London at Thames Water, said the extraction of the blockage could take “weeks to complete”.

He added: “This latest fatberg shows exactly what happens when fats, oils and wipes go down our drains – they don’t disappear, they build up and cause serious damage. The cost of clearing blockages and repairing sewers runs into tens of millions of pounds every year, and that money ultimately comes from our customers.”

It has been dubbed “the grandchild” of the 2017 Whitechapel fatberg, which once weighed 130 tonnes and stretched over 250m (820ft). The 2017 fatberg was among the largest ever discovered in the city, and a sample even went on display in the Museum of London.

Thames Water has now asked people to be mindful of how they dispose of waste associated with rich cooking over Christmas.

Fat, oils and grease cause more than 20,000 blockages every year across the Thames Water network, accounting for 28 per cent of all sewer blockages.

The company said it sees a seasonal rise in blockages during December and January, with clearance costs totalling £2.1m over the two months.

Research commissioned by Thames Water has revealed that households across London and the Thames Valley are unknowingly contributing to blocked pipes, polluted waterways and increased risk of internal flooding through everyday disposable habits.

According to a recent survey, more than 40 per cent of people had poured meat juices down the sink, 39 per cent gravy, 18 per cent animal fats including lard, 28 per cent cream, 21 per cent custard and 10.5 per cent hummus – all fatty and oily substances that can congeal in pipes and block them.

Thames Water has urged people to scrape food scraps from any dirty dishes, ensure plugholes are fitted with a strainer and avoid pouring liquid foods, such as gravy or cream, down the sink.

It’s about experience: Further Education teachers share what it takes

In the modern world, many of us are working longer than ever. Research based on ONS Labour Market data found that there are almost one million more workers aged 65 and above since the millennium and the state pension is set to rise to 67 by 2028 and 68 by the late 2030s. Subsequently, having multiple careers is becoming increasingly popular. And after decades working in a specific industry, sharing the work-based knowledge you have gained via teaching in further education is one of the most rewarding career shifts you can make.

Further Education teaching (defined as any education for people aged 16 and over who aren’t studying for a degree) allows you to switch up your working days and harness the skills and experience you have developed, all while helping shape the next generation of workers in your field.

To find out more about the role, from what it takes to the best parts of the job, we spoke to Further Education teachers who have switched from doing their day job to teaching it…

John Ryan, 51, from Weston Super Mare, worked for more than a decade on site in the construction industry, mainly in bricklaying and supervising roles, before an opportunity to become a Further Education assessor changed his path in his thirties. Travelling nationally to assess the work of new bricklayers in order to sign off their NVQs (National Vocational Qualification), the college John was associated with then started offering him some teaching work.

With no prior teaching qualifications, John completed these alongside his assessing and teaching roles with the fees picked up by the teaching college. “I liked the idea of passing on my knowledge and giving young people the skills and confidence to progress in a trade,” he says. “Teaching in Further Education felt like a natural next step because it would allow me to combine my practical background with coaching and mentoring.” There were practical draws too. “On site in the construction industry you are self-employed so you do not get holidays or sick pay. The stability of income and regular paid holidays was a big draw of Further Education teaching,” he adds.

Since his first assessing role 18 years ago, John has worked between assessing, teaching and jobs back on the construction site and now, he currently teaches bricklaying and groundwork full-time at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College.

John’s extensive site and supervisory experience has proved to be hugely valuable when it comes to teaching his students there. “I can explain not just the ‘how’ but also the ‘why’ behind industry standards,” he explains. “Learners often respond well to hearing about real jobs, site challenges, and the professional behaviours that employers expect. It makes the lessons more relatable and credible,” he shares.

“For example, I can share stories of accidents when teaching site safety, or explain how a mistake of a few millimetres on a construction site can cost you time to rectify, which in turn will cost you money,” he says. “These hands-on, real world experiences make the theory relatable and show learners the real value of getting it right.”

Coral Aspinall, 52, who became a full-time Further Education teacher 12 years ago, agrees. “My experience allows me to put my teaching into context,” she says. Coral started out her engineering career at 16 as an apprentice in a local engineering company. Following a BSc in Engineering and Business Management, she worked for many years in the engineering industry before enrolling on a part-time PGDE (Professional Graduate Diploma in Education) course for teaching. She’s now the Engineering Programme Leader at the Stockport campus of the Trafford and Stockport College Group. Here, they offer qualifications such as Level 2 Performing Engineering Operations as well as engineering-focused Level 3 T Levels and Level 3 Btec Awards. They also offer Level 3 apprenticeships across engineering including Technical Support, Engineering Fitter and Maintenance Management.

“Because I’ve been an engineering apprentice myself, I understand what the student needs to be successful in terms of skills, knowledge and behaviour,” she explains. “I also have contacts in the wider engineering community and understand what an employer is looking for in an apprentice, and can also share insights in terms of how the sector is shifting and evolving to help support their progress.”

Working for an extensive period of time in a field before passing on that knowledge gives teachers maturity and empathy which can be hugely helpful for students, especially those facing complex life situations.

Beyond the practical techniques, a big part of John’s role is helping learners build confidence, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills that employers look for. “Many of my learners have different challenges, so they value teachers who are approachable, who believe in them, and who prepare them for real opportunities in work or further study,” he says. For John, his previous work experience has allowed him to do this. “On site, I worked with people facing all sorts of pressures, from work to life issues, which taught me to be patient and supportive,” he explains.

Coral has had a similar experience. “I see my role as more than imparting knowledge; it is about preparing the young person for the next stage of their journey. The students trust me to have their best interests at heart; they come to me for advice on their next steps and how they can achieve their aspirations, and I’ll support them with both practical advice and words of encouragement.”

For Coral, teaching later in life allows her to draw from a mature perspective, and teach her students positive workplace behaviours alongside skills and knowledge. “Students thrive when they have clear unambiguous boundaries, so I’m firm around expectations in terms of timekeeping, attendance and attitude. This is particularly important to succeeding in the workplace as employers value these behaviours as much as, or even more than having specific expertise or know-how (which can generally be developed).”

If you’re looking for a fresh career option, and keen to share your skills with the next generation, Further Education teaching could be a really enriching new phase. Further Education covers a huge range of career sectors including construction, law, engineering, digital, hospitality, tourism, beauty and more. This includes BTECs (Business and Technology Education Council qualifications), T Levels, NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications) or City & Guilds Qualifications.

Teaching in a mixture of colleges (often General Further Education Colleges or Sixth Form Colleges) and Adult and Community Learning Centres as well as workplace and apprenticeship settings, further education teachers share their years of real world industry skills with a diverse mix of people from those straight out of school aged sixteen to those making career switches later in life.

You don’t always need an academic degree or prior teaching qualifications to start teaching in further education. You can undertake teacher training on the job, often funded by your employer, so you can start earning straight away.. Furthermore, it doesn’t mean you have to stop working in your chosen field. Further education offers hybrid opportunities – so you could teach part time alongside your other commitments. This means you could have the best of both worlds, where you are still working in your chosen industry and teaching alongside it at a time that suits your schedule. Find out if it’s the right move for you here.

If, like John and Coral, you see the appeal in sharing the knowledge and skills you’ve developed with the next generation, exploring the option of becoming a Further Education teacher can be a great next step. As John shares, the reward is always worth it: “It never gets old passing on my knowledge to people starting on their journey, knowing I have made a difference and getting a smile and thanks in return!”

Looking for a new role that’s rewarding, flexible and draws on your current career? Why not consider sharing your experience where it matters most – helping inspire the next generation of workers in the field you love? Visit Further Education to find out more

Activists celebrate ‘landmark’ animal welfare reforms to ban hen cages and pig farrowing crates

Activists are celebrating “landmark” animal welfare reforms that could spare millions of animals from being gassed to death or suffering in cramped cages for their meat, eggs or fur.

In its animal-welfare strategy, branded “the most ambitious welfare reforms in a generation”, the government is setting out an overhaul of laws on farm animals, pets and wildlife.

Campaigners say more than 9 million pigs every year could be spared agonising deaths in carbon dioxide chambers, under plans to rethink the practice.

Farmers will be forced to phase out pig farrowing crates and colony cages for laying hens – which both provide cramped conditions that stop animals moving about naturally.

The strategy also proposes “humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish to spare them avoidable pain”.

And proposals to promote the use of slow-growing meat chicken breeds are designed to benefit the 1.1 billion so-called “frankenchicken” broilers genetically engineered each year to balloon so rapidly that their limbs and organs fail.

Sean Gifford, managing director at the Humane League UK, said: “Cruelly confining animals to cages is a stain on British farming, and we are thrilled to see this government following countries like Germany and Austria who have banned them.

“The vast majority of the public thinks raising animals in tiny cages is unnecessary and morally wrong. Seven million hens are languishing in confinement and need the government to move quickly and make cages history.”

He said if animals are painfully and incompetently killed, such as having fish their gills cut without being stunned, there were no real legal repercussions for staff or the farm. “A change in law should help address this”, he said.

The Humane League wanted assurances a consultation would lead to a ban on cages, as the previous government announced a consultation but it never happened, he said.

Anthony Field, head of compassion at World Farming UK, welcomed the “landmark” step forward in protecting farmed animals, saying 150,000 pigs a year would benefit from farrowing crates being ended.

However, farmers have said they were worried increases in welfare standards could push up their costs, causing shoppers to buy cheaper foreign imports produced to lower welfare standards.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “We know there is demand for our great British food overseas. In all trade deals we must ensure that we don’t continue to undermine domestic production with imported food that would be illegal to produce here.”

Ministers are promising new steps towards a ban on imports of real fur from cruel fur farms abroad, where foxes, racoons, mink and other fur-bearing animals are kept in small cages.

The strategy, published on Monday morning, says ministers will publish the results of the previous government’s call for evidence on the fur trade. Campaigners against fur had been enraged by the Tories’ failure to publish those findings, and the Conservative government U-turned on plans to ban fur imports.

The document says it will publish and consider carefully the report from the animal-welfare committee and bring together a working group on fur, and talk to the EU, a major source of imported fur, about scientific findings on fur animal welfare.

Campaign organisation Animal Aid said a proposed ban on snare traps would spare countless animals from agony lasting hours or days.

The strategy introduces a “close season” for hares to reduce numbers shot in the breeding season. Currently, many young hares are left vulnerable to starvation and predation when their mothers are killed.

Ministers are also promising an end to puppy farming, when young dogs are bred in squalid conditions and sold at high turnover rates, sometimes from breeders renting homes to appear reputable.

New licences will be considered for pet rescue and rehoming organisations to ensure sanctuaries have checks in place.

Michael Webb, of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, said the reforms would address some key issues that the charity had campaigned on for many years.

He said: “There is clearly still a lot of detail to work out, and the strategy does not claim to tackle every problem animals face. However, Battersea is hopeful that it will be the catalyst for real, lasting change.”

The government also announced a ban on trail-hunting to prevent the activity from being used as a cover for foxhunting.

Final delivery dates drop from top UK retailers for last-minute Christmas gifts

It’s officially Christmas week – the time when the “out of office” is on, festive jumpers are encouraged, and shopping centres are filled with panicked last-minute buyers.

Years ago, if you’d left your gifts to the eleventh hour, you would have no choice but to brave a heaving high street.

But today you can browse hundreds of stores and do all your Christmas shopping from the comfort of your sofa.

Retailers are allowing customers to place orders just days before the big day, with some click and collect options open until Christmas Eve.

But they aren’t quite as magical as Santa, so if you’re looking to get some last-minute shopping done, here are the dates you need to be aware of.

Monday 22 December is the last date Amazon recommends ordering on next-day delivery for a guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve. You could try and order on the 23rd, as deliveries are scheduled for the 24th, but the sooner the better if you want your gift’s safe arrival nailed on.

Monday 22 December by 2pm is the last order for John Lewis and Waitrose deliveries to safely make it to you before Christmas. You can, however, order deliveries for click and collect until 23 December, and pick them up until stores close on Christmas Eve.

Depending on the department you’re ordering from, M&S has a few different dates to be aware of. For fashion, home (excluding furniture), beauty and flowers orders, you’ve got until 23 December for both next-day delivery and click and collect. If you want a hamper, you’ll need to order by 22 December.

Next-day delivery is open until 23 December for items to arrive before Christmas, or 22 December for click and collect.

Customers can order up until 22 December for click and collect into store, and 23 December by 1pm for next day home delivery. On-demand delivery is available right up until Christmas Eve.

You have until 22 December for next-day delivery on small items or standard delivery on large items, and until Christmas Eve to order and collect anything in-store.

You can order by 4pm on 23 December for Christmas delivery.

Next-day delivery is available until 22 December at midnight.