Danger to life weather warning as thunderstorms set to hit England

Parts of southern England are set to be battered by torrential rain on Saturday which could cause “significant” flooding and a danger to life, the Met Office said.

An amber warning for thunderstorms has been issued for between 4am and 11am spanning major towns and cities including London, Brighton, Portsmouth, Chelmsford, St Albans and Cambridge.

Forecasters have warned of sudden flooding in roads and homes with some more remote communities at risk of being cut off, while delays to train and bus services are also likely.

Power cuts could also occur and buildings are at risk of damage from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail and strong winds.

It is one of several weather warnings for thunderstorms issued across the country.

On Friday, two yellow warnings are in place with one covering much of Yorkshire and the north east of England from 11am to 8pm on Friday. The second will come into place at 9pm until 11:49pm in London and the south east.

On Saturday, two yellow warnings will be in place alongside the more severe amber alert. Most of England will be covered by a yellow warning from midnight to 9pm. Eastern Scotland is also facing a yellow warning from 4pm until midday on Sunday.

A further warning for the south west of England will also come into place ad midday on Sunday and remain until 3am on Monday.

The downpours will be fuelled by warm and humid airmass moving across the country over the coming days, the Met Office said.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Jason Kelly, said: “Within the warm and humid airmass we will potentially see temperatures reaching 30°C or more for parts of eastern England by Friday, with very warm and muggy conditions continuing into the weekend in parts of central and southern England.”

Looking ahead to next week, the unsettled pattern is expected to continue, with showers and thunderstorms at times, although some drier, brighter interludes are also likely. Temperatures will be near normal or warm for the time of year, depending on sunshine.

By mid-week, conditions may begin to settle from the west, though eastern areas could still see showers. Temperatures are expected to be near or slightly above normal, with warmth in sunnier areas.

It comes as Southern Water has become the latest company to bring in a hosepipe ban, to protect rare chalk stream habitat, as England battles exceptionally dry weather.

The company said restrictions on hosepipes for activities such as watering gardens, filling paddling pools or washing cars would come in for households in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from Monday.

It is the latest announcement by water companies bringing in hosepipe bans in response to the driest start to the year since 1976 for England.

Rainfall across England was 20 per cent less than the long-term average for June, which was also the hottest on record for the country, with two heatwaves driving unusually high demand for water, the Environment Agency has said.

Drought was declared in East and West Midlands on Tuesday, with the region joining swathes of northern England in being impacted by the lack of rainfall.

Russian spies who ‘targeted Britain in sustained campaign’ sanctioned

Britain has hit more than a dozen Russian spies with a wave of sanctions, targeting those it accused of running a “sustained campaign” of malicious activity against the UK.

The Foreign Office named 18 officers from Russian spy agency the GRU, as well as hitting three of its units with measures aimed at cracking down on Vladimir Putin’s increasing aggression abroad.

It said the military intelligence officers targeted were “responsible for spreading chaos and disorder on Putin’s orders”, and included those who had targeted the family of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal.

The officers sanctioned had targeted a device belonging to Mr Skripal’s daughter Yulia with malicious malware known as X-Agent five years before GRU attempted to murder them in Salisbury with the deadly Novichok nerve agent.

The units are also accused of conducting a prolonged campaign of cyberattacks across Europe, including in Britain, aimed at destabilising the continent and undermining democratic institutions.

“GRU spies are running a campaign to destabilise Europe, undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and threaten the safety of British citizens,” Foreign Secretary David Lammy said.

He added: “The Kremlin should be in no doubt: we see what they are trying to do in the shadows and we won’t tolerate it. That’s why we’re taking decisive action with sanctions against Russian spies.”

On 15 March 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, Unit 26165 carried out online reconnaissance on civilian bomb shelters in Mariupol, southern Ukraine and in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry said.

One of the targets was the Mariupol theatre. Civilians sheltering inside from Russian bombs had painted the word “children” outside in the hopes they would be spared.

But the next day, the theatre was hit by Russian airstrikes, killing about 600 people, including children, according to an Associated Press investigation.

In 2013, officers from the same unit had targeted the daughter of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal with malware, designed to harm or infiltrate computer systems, the foreign ministry said.

In 2018, Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok in the English city of Salisbury, in an attack the British government said was organised by Russian intelligence.

The sanctions also targeted the Africa Initiative, which the Foreign Ministry said employed Russian intelligence officers to carry out information operations in Africa, including undermining public health programs and destabilising various countries.

Russia’s campaign of sabotage and disruption across Europe ranges from cyberattacks and propaganda to arson and attempted assassination. Mr Lammy said: “Putin’s hybrid threats and aggression will never break our resolve. The UK and our allies’ support for Ukraine and Europe’s security is ironclad.”

More than 70 different attacks have been attributed to Russia by Western officials since the invasion.

The military intelligence units sanctioned Friday also targeted foreign aid to Kyiv, ports, infrastructure and border crossings as well as technology companies, the Foreign Ministry said.

Although targeting GRU officers with sanctions is likely to have limited effect, the ministry said the goal is to raise awareness of Russia’s campaign and raise the cost to people working for its services, including making it harder for them to travel.

Macron says new EU sanctions on Moscow ‘unprecedented’

Kyiv’s European allies have welcomed the European Union’s 18th sanctions package targeting Moscow’s oil and gas industry over its war in Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the package was “unprecedented” in a post on X.

“It is more necessary than ever to recall that the security, freedom, and future of Europe are closely tied to the fate of Ukraine,” Macron added.

When asked about the sanctions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia has built up a certain immunity to Western sanctions and adapted to them.

Peskov called the sanctions illegal, saying every new restriction created negative consequences for those countries that backed them.

Its latest sanctions package on Russia will lower the G7’s price cap for crude oil to $47.6 per barrel, diplomats told Reuters today.

This comes as Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky are considering a deal that involves Washington buying battlefield-tested Ukrainian drones in exchange for Kyiv purchasing weapons from the US.

The Ukrainian president said his latest talks with Mr Trump focused on a deal that would help each country bolster its aerial technology.

On the battlefront, Russia said its troops have taken control of three villages in three different parts of the frontline running through Ukraine, a claim Kyiv denies.

Former England captain Paul Ince gets 12-month ban after drink-drive crash

Former England captain Paul Ince, 57, has been disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay £7,085 after pleading guilty to drink-driving.

The 57-year-old appeared at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Friday where he admitted driving his black Range Rover while over the limit on June 28 in Neston, Cheshire.

District Judge Jack McGarva told Ince: “The message has got to be if you’re going to drive you don’t drink at all.”

He was banned from driving for 12 months, fined £5,000 and ordered to pay a £2,000 statutory surcharge and £85 costs.

A police statement after the Ince was arrested said: “At around 5pm on Saturday 28 June, police were called following reports of a collision on Chester High Road, Neston.

“The incident involved a black Range Rover which had collided with the central reservation barrier. Officers attended the scene and arrested a 57-year-old man.

Arriving at court on Friday, he signed an autograph with a fan and posed for a selfie with another.

The former West Ham, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Liverpool midfielder won 53 caps for his country.

After retiring, he moved into management, most recently working for Reading between 2022 and 2023.

Brain surgeon loses £14m holiday crash claim after post-accident text

An “adrenaline junkie” brain surgeon who sued McLaren for £14m after a snowmobile crash has had his case thrown out after post-accident texts emerged of him telling company staff “No worries … sh*t happens …[do] I owe you guys a snowmobile”.

High-flying neurosurgeon Andrew Cannestra suffered multiple injuries when the skidoo he was riding careered off a forest track in Lapland during a £23,000 luxury break booked through the Pure McLaren Arctic Experience for him and his then partner, Kaitlin Mealor.

The 54-year-old medic, who specialises in spinal surgery, struck a tree after negotiating a forest turn and was out cold for 30 minutes following the impact in February 2020.

He went on to sue McLaren Automotive Events Ltd, claiming the impact of the crash on his future earnings alone exceeds £14m.

But lawyers for McLaren Automotive denied blame, insisting that on-the-spot guides did their utmost to ensure a safe skidoo trip, carefully briefing Mr Cannestra and his partner before they set off.

Dismissing the claim, Mr Justice Richie said that Mr Cannestra – who was dubbed an “adrenaline junkie” by his then partner – had “wanted more speed” and had caused the crash himself when he “accidentally hit the gas instead of the brakes”.

The briefing he and his partner received before riding had been adequate, the judge said, adding: “They were both on a McLaren ice driving holiday. Adrenaline cannot have been irrelevant to the experience of driving on ice in a superpowered car. There is nothing wrong in that. Life is for living and excitement and risk are part of that.

“He wanted more speed. He should have understood that being guided at higher speed would be more challenging and risky.”

Neil Block KC – for Mr Cannestra – had told London’s High Court that both riders were “absolute novices” and argued their guides should have done more to explain the detailed layout of their route through the forest.

The surgeon crashed after a pause in the journey during which his guide had changed the drive mode so that the doctor’s snowmobile could hit higher speeds.

The impact resulted in a brain haemorrhage and severe leg injuries, causing lasting problems with “word-finding, comprehension, memory and fatigue” and worsening his previous hand tremor.

Mr Cannestra, who was earning around £1.8m per year, has had to give up brain surgery, although his lawyers say he “continues to work to a limited extent.”

Mr Cannestra’s KC claimed the lead guide “rode at an excessive speed for a novice rider to follow safely”.

But Matthew Chapman KC – for McLaren Automotive – argued that Mr Cannestra had appeared a competent rider and fully in control of his snowmobile, adding that he had seemed “eager” for his vehicle to be switched to a faster travel mode.

In his ruling, the judge pointed out that the surgeon had sent a post-accident text to McLaren staff, saying: “No worries … sh*t happens … I asked … if I owe you guys a snowmobile, or any other costs. Please let me know. It was my error and my responsibility.”

In another, he wrote: “Thank you both so much for your help yesterday and thru my little self destructive snowmobile behaviour. Please let me know anything I am responsible for…. transport…. a snowmobile….. etc. we had a great time and all is good!”

In his evidence, Mr Cannestra had insisted his post accident messages did not amount to an admission of fault, also taking issue with any image of him being a thrill-seeker.

And although conceding he is a passionate classic car fan – having owned up to 33 at various times in the past – he explained that he never raced his vehicles, restricting himself to “collecting and restoring them”.

But dismissing his claim, the judge said: “Whilst the claimant was in Lapland on an expensive four-day driving experience for McLaren road cars on ice, he chose to drive a snowmobile as part of the ancillary fun activities provided by McLaren.

“He was following a guide round a snowy track through trees, but he lost control, drove off the track and hit a tree. He was injured. At first, he thought it was all his own fault, apologised and offered to pay for the smashed up snow mobile.

“A few months later, he instructed solicitors and by the end of July 2020 a pre-action protocol letter was written by his solicitors, to McLaren’s solicitors, asserting negligence/breach of contract by the guide and claiming damages for personal injuries.

“After the accident, the claimant told the guide his glove had become stuck to the throttle. The claimant had sent a message offering to pay for the snowmobile because it was, using his words, ‘my error and my responsibility’ and caused by ‘my little self destructive snowmobile behaviour.’

“Negligence was denied. The cause of the crash was pleaded as the claimant accidentally accelerating whilst negotiating [a turn] instead of braking.

“I did not find Kaitlin Mealor’s evidence to be of much assistance. She appeared to me to be playing a wing person role to support her ex-partner.

“I was not persuaded by her denial of the conversation…after the accident about the claimant being an adrenaline junkie who was always getting into accidents.

“This conversation may be put into context. The claimant had bought two McLaren road cars, which are up the top of the list of the most powerful vehicles on roads worldwide.

“They were both on a McLaren ice driving holiday. Adrenaline cannot have been irrelevant to the experience of driving on ice in a superpowered car. There is nothing wrong in that. Life is for living and excitement and risk are part of that.

“He wanted more speed. He should have understood that being guided at higher speed would be more challenging and risky. I consider that he did understand this. He also understood that they would go through trees.

“I consider that about five minutes was an appropriate length for a briefing for just two customers. I find that the briefing complied with local Finnish standards.

“At the ambulance in the car park, he told [the guide] that he accidentally pressed the throttle in the middle of turn two and blamed his glove.

“At hospital, he told a medic he accidentally hit the gas instead of the brakes. He considered that he himself was the cause of the accident. He did not blame [the guide] for rushing him or disappearing.

“He reached turn two and turned through 25 degrees, then squeezed or pushed the throttle by mistake with his right hand and shot straight forwards into a tree. In whatever mode, that accidental throttle use would have caused him to go straight off the track.”

He said the guide was not dealing with a “17-year-old new car driver ” who had just passed their driving test, adding: “He was guiding a mature, supercar and jet-ski aficionado, who had ridden confidently and wanted more speed. The claimant was prepared to leave his partner behind to increase his own enjoyment.

“The claim will be dismissed and judgment will be entered for the defendant,” the judge concluded.

When my friends were facing cancer, a community of people stepped up

When I was younger, I used to worry incessantly about my parents getting cancer. I’d lay awake at night, ruminating on what would happen to my brother and I if they did. Who would support us? Thankfully, both are still cancer-free, well into their seventies.

However, now that I’m a parent myself, I worry about my children. Many people believe that cancer only really happens to people in old age, but that’s just not true. One beloved friend’s daughter died of leukaemia in 2020, aged just five; an unthinkable horror that changed the lives of everyone who knew her and her family.

And with Macmillan Cancer Support reporting that almost 3.5 million people in the UK are living with cancer, I also worry about my friends – parents themselves, their lives touched by cancer. One friend sat me down in our favourite local café, our toddlers playing at our feet, to break the news that she was about to undergo a double mastectomy. We cried together.

Another friend, Sarah, a single parent to two teenage girls, was diagnosed with breast cancer the day before we heard that King Charles had cancer, and a month before the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, announced her own diagnosis in March last year. It seemed like cancer was everywhere.

As a result, Sarah put 2024 on hold – she missed her daughter’s last sports day and last concert at primary school and had to find a whole new way of co-ordinating family life.

“I’m lucky in some ways that my children are teenagers, so they are able to look after themselves to some degree – but I’m also a single parent, so there are some things that they can’t do, or struggle with, due to their age,” she tells me.

“I have even set up multiple alarms on our Alexa reminding them to put their packed lunches in their bags or leave for school, just in case I can’t get up.”

Sarah says she thought she knew quite a lot about cancer prior to her diagnosis, but now admits she “really didn’t”. She explains: “There are so many terms and procedures to understand – stages and grades, not to mention over 100 different chemotherapy drugs.”

Sarah tells me about the exhausting cumulative effect of chemotherapy, which she endured every three weeks during her cancer treatment: “After the very first lot, I slept for a few hours and felt much better pretty quickly. For my last rounds, I slept for 48 hours solid and even days later, I needed to have a nap in the middle of the day and was in bed by 8pm.”

Sarah’s now finished chemotherapy and, a year on from her diagnosis, is turning 50. She’s throwing a huge party to celebrate not only the birthday milestone, but getting over this “annus horriblis” – a year she couldn’t have gotten through without the people around her.

“People can do so much for us when we are unwell – and I am forever grateful,” she says. “I’ve been really overwhelmed by the support that my friends have given me; from ferrying around my children to and from after-school events and sleepovers when things get bad, to my 75-year-old neighbour mowing the lawn. One friend popped round with a huge pot of pasta sauce and I even had a gift box from a recruiter at work.”

What talking to my strong, resilient friends about their cancer journeys has made me realise most, is the power of community: for when we receive the worst news imaginable, what we need is people around us to see us through. A community of other women: friends, school mums, neighbours.

They had people willing to make them food, pick up their children, go shopping for them or to just sit with them and listen. They had support when they decided to raise money for cancer support charities, when they did fundraisers such as hosting a Macmillan Coffee Morning.

It takes a village to raise a child – and that village will be with you every step of the way when you need them most.

Find out how you can help raise vital funds by hosting a Macmillan Coffee Morning. Sign up now on the Macmillan website

Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). Also operating in Northern Ireland.

Top Tory warns voting will distract 16-year-olds from exams

A senior Tory has warned 16 and 17-year olds should not be allowed to vote because it will distract them from their exams.

Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho said if the voting age is lowered teenagers, will face choosing between focusing on their studies or “staying up to watch political debates”.

The senior MP said elections are often in May, June and July and warned pupils do not need “this added pressure of being dragged into politics”.

The voting age is to be lowered to 16 in time for the next election, the government has announced in a move that would allow around 1.5 million more teenagers to cast a ballot.

The change will bring UK-wide elections in line with Scotland and Wales by the time the country next goes to the polls, due by the summer of 2029 at the latest.

The “seismic” development, which is part of a raft of measures set to be introduced through a new Elections Bill, is the biggest change to the electorate since 1969 when the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18.

Keir Starmer encouraged 16 and 17 year olds to use their vote at next election.

No 10 said the PM would “absolutely encourage them to be as engaged as they can be in the future of their country”.

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner said: “For too long public trust in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline.

“We are taking action to break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in UK democracy… and delivering on our manifesto commitment to give 16-year-olds the right to vote.”

Sixteen-year-olds already work, pay taxes and serve in the military, ministers point out.

But, speaking to Times Radio, Ms Coutinho said: “Can you imagine saying, OK, I’ve got this right. It’s a new right. I’ve got exam season coming up, but maybe I should stay up to watch this political debate.

“Maybe I should be out there campaigning. Personally, I think 18 is the right age. I have no problem with politicians wanting to compete for younger votes…but I don’t think you have a massive difference between 18 and 16. And like I say, most 16, 17 year olds are going to be in exam season. And I just don’t think it is the right thing for them.”

She added: “The thing that I worry about and I might be speaking as a new mum is that it’s exam season; elections are often in May, June, July and I don’t really think 16 and 17 year olds need this added pressure of being dragged into politics.”

The Open 2025 live: Leaderboard with McIlroy leaving himself on -3

Rory McIlroy remains in contention at The Open 2025 with the Masters champion ending Friday’s second round at three under after a steady performance at Royal Portrush.

The Northern Irishman remains a distance behind early clubhouse leader Brian Harman, who added to a solid first day to finish eight under as he bids to win The Open again just two years after victory in Hoylake.

The chasing pack includes overnight leaders Haotong Li, Harris English and Matt Fitzpatrick as well as British hopeful Tyrrell Hatton, with world number one Scottie Scheffler also lurking at four under.

As always there have been some surprises on day two at The Open, with Rasmus Hojgaard and Robert MacIntyre among those still in contention while Lee Westwood looks to roll back the years again after shooting a 69 yesterday.

Justin Rose started well before a triple bogey threatened to ruin his tournament, though he kept his head to recover to two under for now, while Tony Finau, Matthew Jordan and Tommy Fleetwood are some of those still firmly in the race in Portrush.

Follow live updates, scores and analysis from Royal Portrush below: