Sticky Vicky became famous for exposing herself to thousands of awestruck Benidorm tourists each year.

Nothing was left to the imagination as her X-rated shows included pulling razor blades and ping pong balls from her private parts.

So adoring fans of the legend will be shocked to hear Sticky Vicky actually harboured a secret from her British fanbase.

Her daughter revealed to Metro the iconic performer did not speak English.

Maria Aragüés Gadea, who took over from her mum when she retired in 2016, told Metro: ‘People don’t know that my mother didn’t speak English, she didn’t understand when a fan spoke to her, she just answered “yes”.’

This revelation comes as Maria pulled in the masses in a return to Benidorm last night.

The original Sticky Vicky is also playing a role in her daughter’s new show.

Maria said: ‘The most special thing is that before the show, there’s a tribute to my mother.

‘I hope you’re surprised by everything about the show. My intention is for people to leave the show feeling satisfied.

‘There are new features, choreography, music.’

She took to the stage at midnight at Rockerfellas cabaret bar, where she will be returning this week and beyond.

The original Sticky Vicky died in 2023 and spent decades in the Spanish city wowing tourists with her X-rated shows.

She was born Victoria María Aragüés Gadea on April 15, 1943, in Santa Cruz De Tenerife on the Canary Islands. 

The performer even trademarked her name after a legal battle in 2009 and her daughter now uses it.

At the age of six she went with her family to Barcelona, and began dancing at the age of eight.

While the young star is back in Benidorm for the long haul, she has not shut down the possibility of showing off her skills in other countries.

Maria added: ‘I can perform anywhere I’m invited, I don’t set limits for myself.

‘I have the opportunity to perform in many countries around the world.

‘It would be nice if tourists would calm down, but I don’t think they’ll stop visiting Benidorm. It’s unique in the world.’

Benidorm locals and British tourists are overjoyed at Sticky Vicky’s return after speculation she had left for good.

Tracy Blevins, who runs tourism website Benidorm Seriously, told Metro: ‘Sticky Vicky is a real Benidorm legend.

‘It is confirmed she is back. I presume she is back for good.

‘Rockerfellas will be her regular venue.’

In 2023, Benidorm received 2,766,366 visits, with 832,000 of them coming from the UK.

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A man has been shot dead at Milton Keynes railway station after reports he was carrying a firearm.

Police officers were called to Milton Keynes Central station at Elder Gate, Milton Keynes, just before 1pm today after a man ‘was spotted carrying a firearm’.

The man was then challenged by armed Thames Valley Police personnel before shots were fired.

Despite attempts to save his life, the man was pronounced dead at 1.44pm.

Milton Keynes Central Station has reopened to the public, but extra barriers have been put up to obscure some of its exits, with multiple doors closed to the public and passengers staggered entering and leaving the station at times.

Thames Valley Police do not believe there is any further risk to the public.

A source near to the incident told Metro: ‘I just heard a bang and then the ambulances arrived.’

A worker at a store close to the station said the whole area was cordoned off and three or four police cars are still present.

He told Metro: ‘I have never known anything like it. It is obviously concerning, we have never heard anything happen like this before.’

‘The station has been closed for a couple hours now.’

Thames Valley Police said in a statement: ‘Officers from Thames Valley Police and British Transport Police were called to reports of a man carrying a firearm at Milton Keynes railway station, Elder Gate, Milton Keynes, at 12.55pm today.

‘Armed officers from Thames Valley Police responded and challenged the man, before shots were fired by police.

‘Life-saving actions were immediately taken at the scene, but the man was pronounced dead at 1.44pm.

‘There is not believed to be any further risk to the public at this time.

‘We will provide more details as soon as we are able to.’

The police conduct watchdog have confirmed they are launching an investigation into the fatal shooting.

A spokesperson for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said: ‘We can confirm we have begun an independent investigation into the fatal shooting of a man by Thames Valley Police (TVP) at Milton Keynes railway station today.

‘We were notified by TVP shortly after the incident and IOPC investigators have been sent to the station and the police post-incident procedure to begin gathering information.

‘Our thoughts are with the family of the man who died and all those who have been affected by this incident.

‘Our role in these circumstances is to independently investigate all of the circumstances surrounding this incident, including the actions and decisions taken by the police.

‘We declared an independent investigation at 2.26pm. It is in its very early stages and no further information is available at this time.’

British Transport Police said: ‘BTP received a report from Thames Valley Police at 1pm today, of a man carrying a firearm at Milton Keynes station.

‘Armed officers from Thames Valley Police responded and he was shot and pronounced dead outside of the station.

‘BTP officers are on scene to assist our colleagues from TVP, and the station is open as normal.’

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A high-street clothing chain has gone bust after 35 of its stores shut earlier this month.

Staff at Select Fashion have reportedly been told they won’t get redundancy pay or any unpaid wages as insolvency firm Moorfields begins the wind-down process.

The womenswear retailer already closed 35 shops in mid-March as the chain went under.

Forty-eight stories will survive the liquidation and trade as Select after a deal with Essence Fashion Limited.

Workers at the shops that shut have been told their outstanding wages worked before the closures will not be paid, according to The Sun.

They have also been advised to apply for the Government’s Redundancy Payment Service (RPS).

Other employees at the chain’s remaining 48 shops have also reportedly been warned of delayed payments.

But one employee of a Select Fashion store, which is remaining open, told Metro they were ‘really happy’ their shop had survived the closures.

In an email seen by The Sun, Select Fashion is said to informed their employees they had gone bust.

They added: ‘Please be assured that your wages will be processed and paid out next week.

‘We are doing everything we can to resolve this matter as swiftly as possible and appreciate your understanding during this difficult time.’

The struggling fashion brand drafted in advisors last week to oversee the business’s liquidation.

The liquidation was officially confirmed following a creditors’ vote at a meeting last week.

Select was founded by Turkish entrepreneur Cafer Mahiroğlu in the early 1980s and previously operated 105 stores.

Select fell into administration before in 2019, before being rescued by Genus UK.

The company reported a pre-tax loss of £1.1 million for the year ending February 2023, according to its most recently-filed accounts.

Select’s reported collapse follows a turbulent time for a string of high street giants.

Rival New Look has announced 26 stores are losing down in 2025, with 90 ‘at risk’ when their leases expire.

Rival brand Quiz shut 23 stores, a third of its total, in February after falling into administration.

The retailer cited reduced spending among its customers from the cost of living crisis for the decision.

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A 9-year-old girl has ‘not had a life’ while she has waited 53 months for a life-changing kidney transplant.

Amelia Bourne, from Thornaby near Stockton-on-Tees, has to have 10-hour dialysis sessions every day during her five-year wait for a new kidney.

Grandmum Shell Mount, 49, issued a desperate Facebook appeal for a donor last year and still, a successful match has not been found.

Amelia has nephronophthisis, a rare kidney disease that leads to kidney failure and has left her kidneys ‘dead’.

As a result, Amelia endures 10-hour overnight peritoneal dialysis, which involves a catheter inserted in her abdomen to remove waste and excess fluids from her body.

This treatment and a ‘shed’ of 13 other medications mean Amelia suffers from ‘high blood pressure’ and ‘really bad’ bones.

Shell, who is her legal guardian, told Metro: ‘It is a struggle and it is really hard.

‘There is a risk if we do not get this kidney it will bring more bone issues

‘She just wants to be a normal child. She just wants to go on an aeroplane and have a normal life.

‘She cannot go swimming or do school overnight trips.’

Amelia is one of 145 children waiting for a kidney transplant in the UK.

More than 6,500 people are waiting for a kidney transplant as a whole.

In 2023/24, 418 people died while on the waiting list for an organ transplant.

Shell thought her granddaughter would be saved when she found out her kidney was a perfect 1.1.1 match for Amelia.

But testing revealed a hole in one of Shell’s kidneys, ruling out a potential donation.

‘I was telling them to take it and they wouldn’t,’ she added.

‘I’ve had a life, but she hasn’t.’

Amelia has been waiting on the on-call transplant list for 53 months. In that time numerous family and friends followed Shell’s appeal to get tested but no others have been a match.

The girl is beginning to desperately ask when she is going to get ‘this stupid kidney’, while her ill-health and dialysis routine means she is cannot go on valuable school trips.

Shell said: ‘If she gets a kidney it would just be amazing. It would be a change to the whole household.

‘She would get the chance to live a childhood. You cannot get your childhood years back.’

In the meantime, Amelia is being treated for her condition at Royal Victoria Infirmary Hospital in Newcastle.

Her grandmother said that while their care is ‘outstanding’ she cannot help but be frustrated at the enormous wait for a life-changing kidney.

In her Facebook post in March last year, Shell said: ‘My gorgeous granddaughter is fed up now of 6 years doing this journey.

‘This girl just takes everything in her stride since day 1 but now she’s getting fed up as she’s 8 years old and shouldn’t have had to wait all this time for a kidney.

‘So whether you are young, old, male, female, black or white it doesn’t matter any kidney will do if it’s a match. I beg you please get a blood test to see if you’re a match.’

The family are reissuing their appeal as another year has gone by without a successful donor.

Anthony Clarkson, Director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, at NHS Blood and Transplant said: ‘There are not enough donated organs which sadly means some people wait years for a transplant or never receive one at all.

‘There are thousands of people, including hundreds of children, waiting for an organ transplant in the UK right now, and most of them need a kidney transplant.

‘We urge everyone to confirm their decision to be an organ donor on the NHS Organ Donor Register and tell their family they want to save lives after their death.’

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A man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly ‘attacking a prisoner with a claw hammer.’

Damien Bendall, 35, is accused of bludgeoning an inmate’s head in a prison workshop at Frankland Prison in Durham.

Bendall has been charged with attempted murder after the attack allegedly happened in May last year.

Sources told The Sun was ‘allegedly hit three or four times with a claw hammer’.

Durham Constabulary said: ‘A man has been charged following a serious assault at Frankland prison, in Durham, on Friday, May 10, last year.

‘Damien Bendall, of no fixed abode, has been charged with attempted murder.

‘The 35-year-old has been remanded in custody and will appear at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday, May 21.

‘The victim sustained serious head injuries and was taken to hospital but is now recovering.’

Bendall appeared at Teesside Crown Court on 4 March but did not enter a plea.

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A girl who slipped and fell into the River Thames has been named by police as Kaliyah Coa.

Emergency services launched a major search operation after an 11-year-old girl entered the water close to Barge House Causeway, near London City Airport, at about 1.15pm on Monday.

That search was scaled back last night, with London Ambulance Service (LAS), London Fire Brigade (LFB) and the RNLI saying crews had been stood down, but the search has resumed today with police boats patrolling the water.

Kaliyah had been playing with another girl and a young boy close to the water, residents said.

Speaking on Tuesday evening, Chief Superintendent Dan Card said: ‘Our specialist officers are supporting Kaliyah’s family through this deeply upsetting time and our thoughts go out to all those impacted by what has happened.

‘We are committed to finding Kaliyah and are working with partners to conduct a thorough search over a wide area – utilising drone technology and boats.

‘I’d like to thank the members of public, our first responding officers, and colleagues from other emergency services, as they responded rapidly to carry out a large-scale search during a highly pressurised and distressing time.

‘Equally, we appreciate this has affected the wider community who have been extremely supportive. You will see extra officers in the area during the coming days – if you have any concerns then please speak to them.’

One local told The Sun: ‘She was with two other kids. Obviously we were thinking, why aren’t they in school? But I think a lot of schools are off for Eid.

‘The little boy was holding her hand to help her step in the water but obviously she slipped, because it’s really slippy.’

The neighbour added: ‘So what we understand is the girl was playing down by the water.

‘As soon as she fell she was gone. She just disappeared into the tide. The boy came running to one of my neighbours for help but it was too late.

‘While the other kid — a little girl — went running to get a donut. All of us rushed out but it’s freezing in there.’

Shaleen Rajaendram, 59, who lives on Barge House Road which leads onto the causeway, said: ‘I heard upstairs a guy was screaming “wait there, wait, the police is coming”.’

The man was standing on a balcony in a flat block overlooking the river and later told Ms Rajaendram he had been alerted by the children ‘shouting, screaming’, she said.

Ms Rajaendram continued: ‘Then I saw suddenly two kids were coming out to the top of the bridge, I said “what happened?”

‘Then they said “one of my friends was playing in the water, one of my friends has gone into water and she’s gone underneath and we can’t find her”.’

The girl returned home while the boy told Ms Rajaendram where it happened.

Ms Rajaendram then called her neighbour, Kerry Benadjaoud, 62, who took a life ring down to the water but could not see the girl.

A man said he had called the police, Ms Benadjaoud said, adding: ‘But he said at the time he could see her (the girl’s) hands going down. So, by the time I got down there with the ring I couldn’t find her.’

She said she found shoes, a sock, a coat and a phone near the river, and handed the items to the police.

‘Apparently she was paddling, so her socks and shoes were off, her coat, then she must have slipped and gone down,’ she added.

Ms Benadjaoud said the boy who had been with the girl was around eight or nine years old.

She said: ‘The little boy turned around and said “I tried to hold her hand but it slipped”.

‘I said to the little boy’s parents, obviously he needs to see someone because it’s going to affect him later.’

Barge House Causeway is a concrete slope that goes directly into the River Thames and is used to transport boats, and residents pointed out that it appeared to be covered in moss and is slippery.

Kaliyah’s family have been made aware and are being supported by officers.

LAS was called at a similar time to police after receiving a report of a person in the water at Lowestoft Mews, close to the airport.

‘We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, an advanced paramedic, an incident response officer and members of our hazardous area response team,’ a spokesperson said.

‘Our crews assisted our emergency services partners at the scene but were later stood down.’

LFB deputy assistant commissioner Joseph Kenny said: ‘Firefighters responded to reports of a person in the River Thames near Lowestoft Mews, Newham.

‘Crews from East Ham, Barking, Ilford and Bexley fire stations were sent to the scene alongside crews from the HM Coastguard, RNLI, London Ambulance Service and the Metropolitan Police Service.

‘The brigade also deployed its drone team and fire boat as part of its response, with crews carrying out a systematic search of the area.

‘The brigade was first called about the incident at 1.23pm. Search operations for firefighters were concluded at 3.49pm when responsibility for the incident was left with the police.’

A spokesperson for the RNLI said: ‘Tower RNLI was requested to launch this afternoon (March 31) to an incident near Woolwich.

‘The lifeboat was later stood down.’

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A woman as been arrested on suspicion of concealing a birth, neglect and infanticide after a baby boy was found dead outside a Notting Hill Church.

The child was found in a Marks and Spencer’s bag near All Saints Church in Notting Hill.

The infant was declared dead at the scene on Talbot Road in Notting Hill shortly before 1pm.

A woman in her thirties was found by police on Saturday and arrested in connection with the death.

She was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and still receiving care there.

Medical experts will conduct a forensic post-mortem later this week to assist in investigations into the baby’s death.

Superintendent Owen Renowden, who leads policing for Kensington and Chelsea said: ‘This is an ongoing, fast-paced investigation, with officers working tirelessly to ascertain the circumstances of the baby boy’s death.

‘We believe that the woman is the baby’s mother and I am reassured that she is receiving the support she needs, while officers continue their work to understand what took place.

‘I recognise that the news of this arrest may cause concern among our community, but when dealing with investigations of this nature our priority is to ensure the welfare of all involved and ensure that all lines of enquiry are fully explored.

‘I appreciate the high level of attention that this investigation has received, but we politely ask for the public not to speculate.’

The deputy warden at All Saints’ Church in Notting Hill said she had ‘never heard anything like this in my life.’

Marcia Haynes told reporters: ‘I came here to prepare for the food bank and I just saw loads of police arriving, and when I came out it was all taped over.’

Marcia added the news a baby had died ‘just freaked me out, and I just I had to abandon what I was doing and go home because I thought I was going to be ill, to be honest’.

‘I’ve been here since 1966, I’ve never heard anything like this in my life.’

Moving tributes were later placed outside the church, including bunches of flowers and a toy bunny.

A note, left under a lit candle, read: ‘God bless the little Baby x’.

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Nothing is more iconic in Benidorm than the x-rated performances of the late great Sticky Vicky and her daughter Maria.

So hearts were shattered in the seaside town a few weeks ago when rumour spread that Maria Aragüés Gadea, who also performs as Sticky Vicky, had left the resort.

But British tourists are now in for a treat, as Metro can reveal that Sticky Vicky is making a return to Benidorm tonight.

The legend’s daughter is performing at Rockerfellas cabaret bar at midnight Spanish time (11pm in the UK).

Speaking exclusively to Metro, Maria revealed her new show will be more shocking than ever.

The new Sticky Vicky said: ‘I hope you’re surprised by everything about the show.

‘My intention is for people to leave the show feeling satisfied. There are new features, choreography, music.

‘The most special thing is that before the show, there’s a tribute to my mother.’

The original Sticky Vicky died in 2023 and spent decades in the Spanish city wowing tourists with her X-rated shows.

These shows involved pulling a variety of items from her private parts, including ping pong balls and razor blades.

Vicky finally retired in 2016, after a 30-year career as a performer, and her daughter soon took over and continued the performances.

Maria has also revealed a little-known fact about her famous mother.

She told Metro: ‘People don’t know that my mother didn’t speak English, she didn’t understand when a fan spoke to her, she just answered “yes”.’

She said she is creating the ‘best’ memories in Benidorm as her mother’s legacy means she ‘remembers everything in a special way’.

While the young star is back in Benidorm for the long haul, she has not shut down the possibility of showing off her skills in other countries.

Maria added: ‘I can perform anywhere I’m invited, I don’t set limits for myself.

‘I have the opportunity to perform in many countries around the world.

‘It would be nice if tourists would calm down, but I don’t think they’ll stop visiting Benidorm. It’s unique in the world.’

Benidorm locals and British tourists are overjoyed at Sticky Vicky’s return after speculation she had left for good.

Tracy Blevins, who runs tourism website Benidorm Seriously, told Metro: ‘Sticky Vicky is a real Benidorm legend.

‘It is confirmed she is back. I presume she is back for good.

‘Rockerfellas will be her regular venue.’

Sticky Vicky herself first started performing in Benidorm in the 1980s and even trademarked her name after a legal battle in 2009.

In 2023, Benidorm received 2,766,366 visits, with 832,000 of them coming from the UK.

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A five hour police hunt for a corpse ended in shock when the body turned out to be a lifelike sex doll.

The ‘dead body in a blue plastic bag’ was first spotted on Saturday evening by a dog walker at a demolition site in Rostock, northern Germany.

It was only once homicide investigators, police drones and fire engines were at the scene for five hours did they discover the human remains were actually something entirely different.

The alleged corpse was in fact a lifelike female sex doll.

The love buddy had even been set on fire in several places and stuffed into a blue IKEA bag.

Bemused police officers then carted off the synthetic doll and a funeral director, hired to transport the body to a morgue, was told to go home.

The cordon and crime scene were hastily deconstructed, what has already been labelled ‘one of the most bizarre police operations in criminal history’.

This is not the first time a human sex toy has been mistaken for a dead body.

Police officers in the US state of Georgia responded to a call of a female body found along a hiking path in the Hitchiti National Forest.

After racing to the trail they unearthed a discarded human-sized sex doll.

The blonde-haired doll was dressed in a short blue shorts and a pink tube top and appeared remarkably lifelike when partly submerged in the woodland.

Cops quickly dubbed the doll Selena and collected her as evidence.

They department then joned on Facebook that Selena was ‘a little under the weather’ but ‘has been having a nice day and is expected to make a full recovery.’ 

The Police assured Selena’s owner that their DNA would not be collected, but stressed the importance of not littering.

The post went viral and received more than 39,000 likes; 35,000 shares and 7,500 comments.

Sex Dolls have become increasingly popular over recent years as the sex toy market has expanded worldwide.

There are 130,000 monthly searches on Google for “sex doll” and “sex dolls” in the US alone.

In the UK, sex toy companies reported that sales of the dolls skyrocketed during lockdown.

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Two people have been arrested after a toddler was found alone at a busy junction at night.

The young girl, believed to be aged between three and five, was found in the Wakefield Road area of Dalton, Huddersfield, last night.

West Yorkshire Police said in a statement: ‘A report was received at 6:51pm this evening of a young child in the street in the Dalton area.

‘The child was taken to a place of safety and house to house enquiries made in the local area.

‘The child has now been identified, and enquiries are ongoing into the circumstances of the incident.

‘Two people have been arrested as part of this investigation and are currently in police custody.’

A Dalton local, who said police knocked on their door last night about the incident told Metro: ‘I have a daughter around the same age so the thought of her alone walking the street was pretty shocking to be honest.’

This comes after a toddler was found wandering the streets alone in Wales.

The boy, who is believed to be around two or three-years-old, was found by somebody in Newport just before 7am on March 20.

The kid was then given back to his parents. There is no suggestion these incidents are linked.

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A girl and her mum killed in a destructive house fire have been named and pictured for the first time.

Mayci Fox, four, died in the fire at a former station house in Rushton, Northamptonshire.

Her mother Emma Conn, 30, of Desborough, and Louie Thorn, 23, of Rushton, also died in the blaze on Friday night.

A man was arrested on suspicion of murder but he has since been released without charge.

Flames raged at the converted railway station in Beswick Close in Rushton at 10.30pm on Friday.

Mayci, Emma and Louie all died at the scene despite the efforts of emergency services.

Three police officers were also taken to the hospital after inhaling smoke.

A 54-year-old man from the town of Kettering was arrested on suspicion of murder. He has since been released with no further action.

Detective Chief Inspector Ruby Burrow described this as a ‘heartbreaking situation’, adding that an ‘incredibly thorough and complex’ investigation is underway.

‘My thoughts, and those of everyone involved in responding to this fire, are with the people who died and those who love them,’ he added.

‘Due to the intensity of the fire we are managing a very challenging and dangerous scene, and are working with partners to safely and respectfully recover the deceased to enable formal identification to take place.

‘We know this incident has also caused significant distress within the Rushton community and I’d like to thank everyone for their assistance and patience while we continue our painstaking work.’

Pictures from the scene show the roof of the home entirely collapsed amid the flames.

A neighbour told the Northamptonshire Telegraph: ‘It’s absolutely shocking. My lad said it was on fire. There was a man who had tried to get in who was outside. It was just an inferno.

‘There were ambulance, police and fire. I don’t know the people who live there but all we can do is hope and pray.’

A cordon has been set up around the property while the investigation continues.

There are road closures in the area on Station Road between Desborough Road and Oakley Road, including roads off Station Road.

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service added in a statement: ‘Emergency services remain at the scene of this fire and we’re asking people to continue to avoid the area, with road closures in place in Station Road between Desborough Road and Oakley Road.’

The house previously served as a train station, with a train line running behind the building.

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It’s the first major update from Myanmar’s military leadership since the earthquake this morning. They added there will be more casualties as the search for any survivors continues.

Major search and rescue operations are also underway in Bangkok after the earthquake struck neighbouring Myanmar, with the impact rocking Thailand’s capital.

Rescuers are looking for 81 workers who went missing after a Bangkok high rise collapsed.

Myanmar declared a state of emergency after the earthquake rocked the nation and rippled out to other nearby countries earlier this morning.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said a 7.7 magnitude earthquake had struck central Myanmar at a depth of 6.2 miles just before 1 pm local time (6:20 GMT).

The epicentre of the disaster was about 10.6 miles from the city of Mandalay, which has a population of about 1.2 million, according to USGS.

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A major emergency response was underway in central London this morning after a man was spotted on the roof of the New Zealand embassy.

The man was reportedly first seen at height on top of New Zealand House on CCTV, near Trafalgar Square, shortly after 3.30am.

Emergency services were called to the scene as the man was seen moving across the roof of the embassy building by security staff.

Sources have told Metro officers the individual has not yet been found.

Emergency services set up a cordon around the area and the Metropolitan Police have sent specialist rope-trained officers.

The London Fire Brigade earlier brought an aerial ladder platform to assist in accessing the roof safely.

The LFB have now told Metro they are no longer at the scene, and added the incident is being dealt with by police.

Witnesses said there was a heavy emergency services presence, with officers managing the situation.

Road closures were in place on Haymarket and Pall Mall earlier this morning but according to the AA, they are no longer closed off.

Closures however are in place along The Mall this morning.

The Metropolitan Police said: ‘On Friday, 28 March police were called at 03:08hrs to New Zealand House, SW1 following reports of trespassing.

‘Officers attended the scene and placed a cordon as a precaution.

‘Police were unable to locate a suspect.

‘There were no arrests.’

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The European Union has told its almost 450million citizens to prepare for war or natural disaster by assembling ’72 hour survival kits’.

But as the UK ramps up defence spending and assembles a ‘coalition of the willing’ to protect Ukraine, British preparedness for conflict is now under the microscope.

The British government has not yet asked Britons to compile their own war survival kits, but they have a been preparing pages of advice on what we should do if other disasters takes hold.

Experts have also weighed in and told Metro that crisis packs could be crucial far earlier than a future military conflict might have you think.

Why did the European Union choose 72 hour stockpiles?

The stockpile order is driven by cyber conflict and not by a fear of military conflict, says Professor Peter Jackson, the University of Glasgow’s Chair in Global Security.

This is because while it might take seven years for Russia to be ready for another ground invasion of a Western country, they have the power to launch other kinds of attacks.

He told Metro: ‘Russia is very capable and much inclined to mount very sophisticated attacks on national infrastructure.

‘So much of our critical infrastructure happens online.

‘If a cyber attack was able to hit at power stations, for example, and deprive citizens of access to electricity.

‘Those are the kind of scenarios a 72 hour pack would be intended to combat. I do not think it is about the Russians invading.

‘If traffic alarms go out, or the banking system goes down. A cyber attack could throw British and European society into quite considerable chaos.

‘Starter packs make more sense in those scenarios.’

One little known weak spot are the ‘vital undersea cables which converge in Irish waters’ and which Ireland is underprepared to protect.

The Professor added: ‘There are lots of vulnerabilities that would be targeted long before the British public would be threatened with another land war.’

Russia needs to rely on cyber conflict because a military one would be entirely different to anything going on in Ukraine.

One example is Finland, a top Putin target, says Peter.

The country has 180,000 ‘very well trained and highly motivated troops’, making invasion a very tough obstacle for Russia.

Should the UK issue a similar stockpile warning to the European Union?

So should the UK do the same? Professor Jackson thinks Starmer should focus on other things first.

‘We should be increasing the security of Britain’s critical infrastructure and our ability to thwart cyber attacks,’ he added.

‘I think it is already a priority for the UK government, but it will only become more acute, especially as the UK industry becomes more oriented toward defence production.’

Army veteran and survival guru Leigh Price, however, believes we should all have a survival kit, even if the likelihood of an invasion ‘is small’.

Leigh, who runs survival courses and sells survival equipment from the Bug Out Shop, told Metro: ‘An emergency kit is still a good idea.

‘We cannot totally prepare for conflict. If you had to vacate your home, you need a survival kit in your bag to grab at a moment’s notice.

‘If you are at home and a missile strikes, you have got to make sure you have stuff at home to make your life comfortable.’

What should we pack in a survival kit?

Veteran Leigh says there are four priorities for what we need to include in our emergency pack: food, water, shelter and medical first aid.

His range of freeze-dried tinned food – his most popular item – can last until 2050. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he says prices of food tins skyrocketed by 56%.

The survival pro added: ‘There is only so much perishable food you can cover, so that is why you need ‘freeze-dried food.

‘But you also need some way of heating it your food, so your kit needs to have a little stove.’

People often pack in three-day emergency kits with bottled water, but Leigh says that does not go far enough.

‘Water bottles are also only going to go so far. If you want to up your game you can get a water filter, so you can filter anything you find,’ he added.

Swiss Army knives also commonly feature in survival kit guides, but there may be more important blades and basics we should prioritise.

‘You do not want everyone running round with a knife like John Rambo. You might needs tins of food, you have just got to cover the basics like a tin opener.

‘You need personal documents to identify yourself. There might be an injury, what is your blood type? What allergies do you have?

‘You also will need warm clothing.’What happens in the first 72 hours of a natural disaster or war?

What does the government tell us to do in case of an emergency?

The EU’s announcement comes just a week after France decided to issue 20-page survival manuals.

In it are 63 measures on how the French can protect themselves from armed conflict, natural disasters, industrial accidents and nuclear leaks.

Keir Starmer has not done the same in the UK.

In fact, Metro could not find a single government web page dedicated to advice to Brits in case of a military conflict hitting the UK.

There are other government pages with information on more general ‘natural hazards’, infrastructure failure’ or ‘severe weather’.

‘Emergencies happen every day in the UK and across the world,’ the government’s ‘Prepare’ campaign website says.

Officials advice for us to be informed about the risks in our local area, and to accordingly sign up for alerts and warnings.

We should also learn basic first aid skills.

There is also a downloadable and printable household emergency plan, which includes emergency contact details and a three-step plan of action in cases disaster strikes outside your house.

The government tells us to ‘go in’, ‘stay in’ and ‘tune in’.

This means close all windows and doors, stay inside, and tune in to national and local news and follow official advice for what to do next.

If war does come to Europe, Professor Jackson is concerned the UK and Europe need to prepare for the U.S. to remain on the sidelines.

He said: ‘The EU and UK need to invest heavily in the intelligence assets the US military enjoys. Such as imaging, geo-spacing, and very powerful listening capabilities.

‘They also need a replacement for Starlink.’

Starlink is the constellation of satellites owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, and has been used by Ukraine to carry out military operations against Russia.

Peter warned Europe and the UK they need to be ready for a world in which they cannot access Musk’s space network.

‘If it gets shut down, they are in real real trouble’.

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A Trump-loving Republican congresswoman who told a British journalist to ‘go back to your country’ because of her accent acted like she was in a ‘bad reality show’, an expert has said.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, from Georgia, ridiculed Sky News reporter Martha Kelner as soon as she caught wind of her British accent.

The 50-year-old Republican and Trump loyalist had just left a committee hearing on funding for public broadcasters when she began taking questions from reporters.

She was flooded with questions on the controversy over how a journalist was added to a group chat on air strikes in Yemen with top US officials, but when U.S. Correspondent Kelner decided to chip in all hell broke loose.

‘Should the Defense Secretary—,’ she asked before Green, known as MTG, interjected.

‘What country are you from?’ Greene asked as she rolled her eyes.

As sooner as Kelner answer ‘the U.K.’, MTG then ripped into the reporter saying: ‘Go back to your country.’ 

Greene continued her rant: ‘Okay, we don’t give a crap about your opinion and your reporting. Why don’t you go back to your country where you have a major migrant problem? You should care about your own borders.’

Judi James, a body language expert, told Metro: ‘Marjorie Taylor-Greene, in particular, is known to have no filter. In this video, you can really only describe her body language as pure contempt. It signalled someone that somebody was enjoying the sense of superiority – being able to sort of be so dismissive.

‘Her chin was raised. Her brows were raised. She was looking down her nose at the journalist. Her hand was outstretched, flattened, a dismissive gesture.

‘It was the type of gesture that you generally don’t really see unless it’s on a bad reality show. You don’t expect to see this in the political arena.’

But Ms James said she doesn’t think MTG ‘realises’ what she’s done after going on the tirade.

‘I think what she’s gonna find now is a journalist deliberately speaking to her to get her to swear or shout. If you know somebody overreacts like that, they will see if they can sort of get a rise out of her,’ she observed.

This isn’t the first time MTG has forcefully told a reporter from the USA’s closest ally where to go.

Last year she told Emily Maitlis, formerly of the BBC and now with The News Agents podcast, to ‘f**k off’ after the veteran broadcaster quizzed her on her support for conspiracy theories involving ‘Jewish space lasers’.

In the exchange at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Maitlis asked: ‘Can you tell me why so many people who support Donald Trump love conspiracy theories, including yourself? He seems to attract lots of conspiracy theorists.’

MTG replied: ‘You’re a conspiracy theorist, and the left and the media spread more conspiracy theories. We like the truth, we like supporting our Constitution, our freedoms, and America First.’

Pushed on her own support for conspiracy theories, MTG said: ‘No, why don’t you go talk about Jewish space lasers, and really, why don’t you f**k off.’

Why does MTG seem to take such a petulant approach to the media, including journalists from the UK? It’s all part of a strategy, Kelner wrote after her own run-in with the MAGA die-hard.

Last night, Kelner said: ‘Discrediting the messenger, rather than focusing on the message and what lessons can be learned, is the order of the day for the Trump White House.’

She had tried to force a reply from MTG on her questions about the Signal ‘war plans’ leak, attempting to shout over the politician so she could be heard.

She asked Greene: ‘Do you care about American lives being put at risk?’

But the Trump support screamed back: ‘I don’t care about your fake news.’

Greene then turned her attention to an American reporter, who wanted to get an answer to Kelner’s question.

MTG refused to be drawn on this however, and so the American asked a similar question about the Signal chat scandal.

For the past two days, top White House officials have faced relentless pressure from lawmakers and the press on the scandal.

Questions have been asked about why President Donald Trump’s national security team was sharing sensitive information in an unsecured manner.

Once Greene was probed on this again, she launched another furious reply: ‘You want to know about complete disregard about operational security?

‘You should talk about the Biden administration and how they ripped our borders open to terrorists, cartels, child sex trafficking, human trafficking, and drug trafficking across our borders for four years.

Greene similarly told a British journalist to ‘go back to your country,’ in 2022.

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Dense fog patches will cover the south coast of the United Kingdom today – prompting the Met Office to issue a yellow weather warning.

Britons are being impacted by the mist stretching from Exeter to Ashford.

The yellow warning, which began at 3am today and lasts until 9am, means visibility may fall below 100 metres in places.

The Met Office said areas of fog will be dense in places and may lead to some travel delays, while the fog will ‘slowly lift by mid-morning’.

Area of South East England and South West England which are affected include Brighton and Hove, Kent, Southampton, Dorset, Devon and Somerset.

Clare Nasir, meteorologist at the Met Office, said: ‘Fine in the South and wet in the North and in between more in the way of cloud.

‘A weak weather front is straddling Scotland and Northern Ireland today.

‘Further south it is dry. Winds will be a feature of the weather over the next 24 hours as well.

‘Further south we’re seeing clearer skies, a chilly start, particularly across Southern England and Wales.

‘Watch out for one or two mist and fog patches

‘For Northern England, lots of cloud here and even some drizzly bits and pieces, so poor visibility over higher ground.

‘We will see some fine weather across England and Wales. Although for the likes of Cumbria and Northumberland, southern counties of Scotland, you will see less in the way of rain and more in the way of cloud.

‘Down towards the south east we are likely to see 17 degrees celcius. For mid-Wales 15 or 16 degrees.’

When it’s foggy, drivers are recommended to only drive when necessary, ensure their headlights are working properly and to use their fog lights – when required.

Drivers should only use fog lights when visibility drops below 100m, according to The Highway Code.

If you’re not sure when that is, check if you can see the tail lights of the car in front of you. If you can’t, you should be using rear fog lights.

Then, when visibility rises above 100m, remember to turn off lights to avoid dazzling other drivers.

Lastly, drive slowly and keep your distance – you never know what could be in front of you in low visibility.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a chilling prediction that Vladimir Putin ‘will die soon’ as the Russian leader faces renewed speculation about his health.

Ukraine’s President begged for the US to ‘stay strong’ as a tentative ceasefire on energy infrastructure attacks appears on the brink of collapse.

Zelensky made the claim during a sit-down interview with journalists in Paris after he met French leader Emmanuel Macron in Paris yesterday.

Speaking in Ukrainian, he said: ‘Putin fears losing his power.

‘He will die soon, and that’s fact, and it will come to an end.’

The comment has added fuel to rumours the 72-year-old Russian leader is battling ill-health.

Putin allegedly has four doctors permanently on duty at his man official residence, according leaked documents.

Last October, the Kremlin had to deny he had serious health issues after he was admitted to a Moscow hospital undergoing regular examinations.

A famous incident in June 2022 saw the Russian president grip a table so hard his veins started to bulge during a meeting with then-Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

He also appeared slouched and was slurring his words.

Putin also seemed frail and off-colour while meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko last May to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine. 

During the wide-ranging interview, Zelenksy also discussed European support for Ukraine and the shaky Black Sea ceasefire brokered by the US on Tuesday.

Zelensky said that Putin is trying to ‘hit the European Union from within’, referencing Hungary, whose leader Victor Orban has cozied up to Russia.

This dig at a European power comes as Starmer and Macron prepare to host another summit of the ‘coalition of the willing’ today in Paris.

All eyes are currently on the success of a tenuous ceasefires agreed between Russia and Ukraine this month.

Both sides agreed to a 30-day pause on attacks on energy infrastructure last week.

However both countries have now accused the other of breaking the terms of the tentative U.S-brokered deal and disagreed about when the energy ceasefire was meant to have begun.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that Ukrainian drone attacks hit an electric facility in the Bryansk region early Wednesday and a power grid facility in the Kursk region the day before.

Zelensky’s communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn said there had been ‘eight confirmed hits on energy facilities’ from Russia.

Despite this Ukraine and Russia agreed to an naval ceasefire to the Black Sea this week.

Zelensky said of these fragile negotiations: ‘A ceasefire in the Black Sea is first of all important today and for the Russians.

‘They have not controlled the corridor in the Black Sea for a long time.’

On the energy side of the deal, he added: ‘I don’t want to lie.

‘There were no Russian attacks on energy infrastructure tonight. But there were Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure.

‘Ukraine did not respond with energy sector [strikes] either.’

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The family of murdered teenager Ben Kinsella have unveiled ‘powerful’ new artwork calling for more progress on tackling knife crime.

London’s Grove Gallery is exhibiting art from Aidan Phelan, which incorporates Ben’s own GCSE artwork and a letter he wrote to Gordon Brown raising urgent concerns about violent crime.

Ben’s murder was one of the most high profile over the last 20 years, when he became the 17th teenager killed in London in 2008.

The then 16-year-old was chased down and stabbed to death in Islington by a group of teenagers after celebrating the end of his GCSEs.

Metro revealed in February almost half of all murders in the UK over the last two years have been due to stabbings or violent incidents with a blade.

The art collection, running from March 17th to April 17th, displays three new pieces ‘centered on hope and positivity’.

Ben’s sister Brooke Kinsella left a white handprint on a painting of doves, a nod to symbols that Ben had used in his GCSE artwork.

Brooke Kinsella told Metro: ‘Ben dreamed of being an artist, and for us as a family, he was an artist.

‘We chose a series of birds that Ben did. A bird is a symbol of hope and peace.

‘To take a really dark message and project a message of hope is incredibly powerful.

‘Art is a medium that resonates with many people in different ways. We need to use whatever ways we can to reach different audiences and to say that we all need to do our bit to tackle knife crime.’

One of the artworks, by Aidan Phelan, shows a boy and a girl holding hands.

The bird on the boy’s T-Shirt belongs to Ben, the graphic on the girls bag and the wording is taken from Ben’s GCSE letter to Gordon Brown.

In that letter, sent to the Prime Minister as part of his GCSE coursework, Ben said: ‘Would it be wrong to tell you that youth violence is one of the biggest problems in society today?

‘The reality is murder is becoming a part of everyday life in society.

‘You pick up any newspaper and what is spread across the front page? Young kids dead, Dad in coma or pensioner fights for life.

‘It has to stop.’

Ben’s words were a chilling foreshadowing of his own death.

The teenager had been out at a local pub to celebrate the end of his GCSEs with his friends when he was attacked by a gang of other teenagers.

They were seeking revenge for an altercation in the club that had taken place earlier that evening, but Ben and his friends had absolutely nothing to do with the fight.

When the older boys caught up with Ben, in an entirely unprovoked attack, they stabbed him to death.

The three men, Juress Kika, Jade Braithwaite and Michael Alleyne were found guilty and sentenced to life for his death.

Ben’s sister, now 41, said: ‘The letter has always been heartbreaking for us to read. We found it after we lost him.

‘We did not realize he had so many concerns about society. That letter inspired us to drive those changes. We did give it to Gordon Brown after Ben died.’

The artist behind the exhibition at Grove Gallery in Fitzrovia is Aidan Phelan.

The 52-year-old told Metro: ‘All my work focuses on very dark topics. A lot of it features young kids wearing stab vests and images of knives.

‘But for these three new pieces, we incorporated a young boy and a young girl holding hands.

‘They are pieces of art centered on hope and positivity, but in a soft, subtle way.

‘It is always very sensitive when you come face to face with a young woman who has lost her teenage brother to a stabbing.

‘To hear that if Ben were alive, this is the kind of work he would be doing, that was really touching.’

Despite the positive intention of the message, Aidan is clear that change on knife crime can only come from government and politicians.

He added: ‘We all hope for change, but unless the government steps up and those in charge take action, nothing will happen.

‘You can do all the art in the world, the shows, the radio interviews, but the only way things truly change is from the top.’

Figures show that out of the 898 recorded murders in the UK over the last three years, 443 of these murders were committed using a knife, stabbing, or a sharp instrument, stats have shown.

The largest number of murders due to knife crime was in London, with 222 murders in the last two years

The Operations Manager of the Ben Kinsella Trust, a charity established after the teenager’s death to educate young people about the consequences of knife crime, hopes the artwork at Grove Gallery will kick start positive change.

Tom Jewkes told Metro: ‘It simply, London has the highest figures for knife crime and serious youth violence.

‘It is especially important that this is recognized in this piece of art.

‘On one hand, events like today honor the legacy of a family member taken too soon and showcase his artwork.

‘On the other hand, it is a powerful reminder of the loss which never goes away.

‘And that the universal suffering and devastation left behind is very much felt today.’

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Morrisons’ customers can now redeem their loyalty vouchers to buy baby formula products – achieving a major focal point of Metro’s Formula For Change campaign in partnership with charity Feed.

The move means Morrisons shoppers can use their More Card Fivers on first baby formula milk.

This major step forward comes after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said last month that parents should be allowed to use vouchers and loyalty points to buy infant formula.

Sign the Formula For Change petition here

Metro and Feed have been urging the government to urgently review their infant formula legislation and give retailers the green light to accept loyalty points, all food bank vouchers and store gift cards as payment for infant formula.

With costs soaring by 25% in the past two years, desperate parents have been reduced to watering down formula and even stealing tubs off shop shelves, to ensure their babies get fed.

Morrisons’ decision marks another positive development for Metro’s award-winning Formula for Change campaign with infant feeding charity, Feed.

More Card Fivers are £5 vouchers awarded on collection of 5,000 More Points earned on products purchased.

However wider CMA regulation from 2007 still stops shoppers from earning More Card Points when buying baby formula.

The supermarket chain is nonetheless hoping this move will help reduce childcare expenses for parents and ease the financial burden during their child’s early years.

Kate Lavery, Director of Loyalty at Morrisons, said: ‘First baby formula is an essential item in the weekly shop for many parents, and we are helping them to save on their purchase by allowing More Card Fivers to be redeemed on the product.

‘This is part of our ongoing commitment to delivering market-leading value through the More Card, whether it’s savings on everyday essentials, exclusive promotions, or rewarding loyal customers with offers to make their budgets stretch further.’

The latest CMA infant formula study found that parents could save £300 if they switch to cheaper baby formula.

CMA’s study also recommended standardised packaging in hospitals; providing clear information to parents in healthcare and retail settings on the nutritional sufficiency of all infant formula; making it easier to compare prices of different brands; and extending the ban on advertising to include follow-on formula.

Formula for Change was instrumental in bringing this issue to light.

Metro‘s Deputy Editor Claie Wilson celebrated the news: ‘We’re so pleased when any supermarket helps their customers when it comes to the formula crisis as that’s what Formula For Change is all about.

‘It’s great that Morrisons have listened to the CMA and are taking action, as families across the UK are still struggling to afford and get formula when they most need it.

‘Let’s hope more retailers follow in their footsteps very soon, as it really isn’t that difficult.’

Baby bank Little Village, which the families of newborns and young people living in poverty across London, welcomed Morrisons decision but said more work needs to be done from other retailers.

Sophie Livingstone MBE, chief executive of Little Village, told Metro: ‘This is an important step in easing the financial strain on families struggling to afford essential infant nutrition.

‘Alarmingly, nearly 1 in 10 families we support have been forced to water down formula just to make it last longer.

‘The rising cost of formula is having a devastating impact on families, and Morrisons’ move reflects a growing recognition of these challenges.

‘It’s encouraging to see retailers taking action, and we hope this sparks further action and collaboration to tackle child poverty.’

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A prized bird was ‘stuffed down a man’s shorts’ and stolen from a pet shop, before being ‘returned by a woman in a balaclava’ the next day.

The beloved kakariki – worth up to £150 – was nabbed from Animalistic Pets in Henlow last Friday.

CCTV from the shop shows a man and a woman breaking into the aviary before he stuffs it down his grey shorts.

The shop issued a desperate appeal on social media for the rare bird to be reunited with her ‘distressed’ kakariki boyfriend.

The next day a different woman in a balaclava returned in a cage to the shop.

The kakariki, up for sale alongside her partner were sitting in their cage when CCTV stills, posted by the shop online, appear to show a man and a female accomplice walking in to the shop.

He seems to have crawled into the bird cage and then walked away holding the bird stuffed down his shorts. The woman, in a bucket hat, walks behind him as they leave the shop.

The remaining bird and Animalistic’s staff were devastated.

Manager of the shop Becky Norris told Metro: ‘I am gutted, I have cried so many times.

‘While we have the animals here we love them.

‘It is a living breathing animal, time was off the essence, so we put out an appeal on Facebook.

‘Her mate has been very unhappy, very distressed. He was calling out, pacing up and down, frantically flying backwards and forwards and calling frantically.

‘Although there are other birds in the bird room, they are not his species.’

The shop’s appeal for information, with the CCTV stills, on Facebook went viral in the local area.

The next day, staff were back in Animalistic Pets when a figure dressed in all black and wearing a balaclava, returned the bird in a cage.

Staff did not believe the woman was the same as the lady who entered the shop the day before.

The shop manager said it was a ‘very weird day’ and that the bird was returned in a ‘broken, battered, dirty cage’.

Becky added: ‘I could not believe it when the staff said she was back. I checked it was her and it was. Everyone nearly burst into tears.

‘She is very tatty, missing most of her tail feathers. I do know if she has had proper food and water. She is quiet subdued.

‘Her mate is now a lot happier too.’

The kakarikis, which are ‘sociable and intelligent’ indoor birds, are now back up for sale at Animalistic Pets.

Bedfordshire Police told Metro: ‘We were called just before 10:20am on Friday (21 March) to a report of a bird being taken from a pet shop in Hitchin Road, Henlow.

‘The bird was returned to the shop the following day. Enquiries into the incident are ongoing.’

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One famous carol reminds us there are ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’, but over in one Leeds town Christmas has stretched on for 130 days.

This is because their now dishevelled Christmas tree was left standing for over four months.

Residents in the town of Guiseley, near Leeds, were baffled why the 20ft Spruce in their market square was still standing just three weeks before Easter.

Locals have put Leeds City Council on Santa’s ‘naughty list’, after the tree, first erected on November 15, 2024, was hauled down on Monday.

That was 83 days into the New Year, leaving this Spruce as the UK’s ‘last Christmas Tree standing’.

Paul Alderson, 38, who lives near the square, said: ‘It’s not too much to ask for a Christmas tree to be removed by Easter.

‘I’m hoping that the council won’t do this again, because it had to be chased up last year too.

‘It was a great tree, but it has somewhat died back and browned now. You could forgive someone for thinking it had been forgotten.’

The former councillor for the area said he got in touch with the local authority after hearing a wave of complaints.

Paul said the not-so-green tree was financed by the Outer North West Community Committee, with the council billing £500 for installation and removal costs.

The tree was decorated by the Guiseley Lights team, which raises money to brighten the town each Christmas.

Paul continued: ‘The council has received the money, so they should fulfil the service.

‘It is disappointing and concerning that it has taken members of the public to complain for something to be done.

‘The tree has always been funded by community funds, made available to spend on our local area, so it’s no different to paying someone for a service upfront and them taking the money and not carrying out the work.’

However not all residents were bothered by the out-of-date tree.

One flower shop right opposite the square told Metro they had not even noticed the tree was up for so long.

A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: ‘The council’s present contractual arrangements for Christmas trees is to use a single contractor for supply, installation, and removal.

‘It is not always possible to remove trees immediately after Christmas, but they are removed as promptly as possible and if required council staff may support from time to time in this process.

‘This particular tree has now been removed.’

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A thick blanket of fog covers a large portion of the United Kingdom today – prompting the Met Office to issue a yellow weather warning.

Millions of Britons are being impacted by the mist from across the East of England and the North West.

The yellow warning, which began at 4am today and lasts until 10am, stretches from Norwich, Cambridge and Ipswich in the east, all the way up to Middlesbrough.

Liverpool, Manchester, Preston and Blackpool are all affected on the other side of the UK.

The Met Office said areas of fog will be dense in places, reducing visibility to less than 100m at times which may lead to some travel delays, while the fog will lift and clear during the morning.

Clare Nasir, meteorologist for the Met Office, said: ‘First thing there are some mist and fog patches, as well as some low cloud.

‘High pressure extends across the country through Wednesday before this weather front moves in. Some heavier pulses of rain across western Scotland, weakening all the while as it sinks down through the south.

‘More rain on its way through Thursday, a stronger wind and the air turns colder.

‘Hazy sunshine across the north and the west of Scotland associated with this weather front moving in later, affecting the outer Hebrides.

‘Elsewhere, it’s a fine day with some sunshine, any showery rain across Shetland first thing will clear. Temperatures will be a degree higher than yesterday coming in around 14, 15, 16, 17 degrees C but a breezy end to the day with stronger wind across western Scotland as that rain slowly moves.

‘Through this evening and overnight it will turn wet across northern and western Scotland, the far north and west of Northern Ireland.

‘Elsewhere again we could see one or two fog patches as we head into Thursday morning, with a lighter breeze, particularly towards the south where it would be a bit of a cool start to the day.’

When it’s foggy, drivers are recommended to only drive when necessary, ensure their headlights are working properly and to use their fog lights – when required.

Drivers should only use fog lights when visibility drops below 100m, according to The Highway Code.

If you’re not sure when that is, check if you can see the tail lights of the car in front of you. If you can’t, you should be using rear fog lights.

Then, when visibility rises above 100m, remember to turn off lights to avoid dazzling other drivers.

Lastly, drive slowly and keep your distance – you never know what could be in front of you in low visibility.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

A British influencer has been found in her South Korean apartment with a mysterious black eye and multiple organ failure.

Ashley Surcombe, 29, was taken to a hospital’s intensive care unit and is suffering from severe dehydration.

Police had bashed down her door after family friends became concerned she had stopped replying to messages.

Ashley, who has been living in Seoul for five years and documenting her life there to more than 465,000 followers on Instagram, was found slumped on the bathroom floor.

Mystified officers said there were no signs of forced entry and Ashley lived alone.

The video creator was last heard from on Instagram over six weeks ago, advertising a Korean beer and wishing her followers a Happy Chinese New Year.

Her family, who are over 5,500 miles away in Evesham, are now desperate to find thousands of pounds to cover Ashley’s care and might be forced to sell their house to find the cash.

Her sister Kat Surcombe, a 33-year-old aerospace engineer, told the MailOnline: ‘We just don’t know what happened and we are trying to find out exactly, but it’s been difficult, and we have had to rely on contacts out there.

‘We were supposed to speak with her at 8pm on Sunday (Korean time) but she never answered, and we didn’t get any response from messages so that’s when we called police through a friend of my dad who has contacts out there.

‘About a week ago she told us she she hit her head against the door and got a nasty bruise on her eye.

‘She was found unresponsive and unconscious on the floor; she didn’t have any broken bones, but she was severely dehydrated and has major organ failure.

‘Her blood sugar levels are very low and when we spoke with her on Saturday, she seemed confused, and you could barely see her lips she was so dehydrated.

‘When they heard back that she was in hospital it was just horrible as we felt so helpless and so far away.’

Kat, as well their parents Karen and Nigel and sister Tara, are in the dark about the severity of Ashley’s condition.

However they are hoping to raise £50,000 for Ashley’s hospital treatment, which is so expensive because her health insurance recently expired.

The family say it costs £1,500 for her to stay in intensive care each day.

In just 24 hours medical costs have already burned through a £3,000 deposit.

Kat added: ‘It’s been very difficult, it’s been a shock for all of us, we all just want her home, she’s my baby sister and I want to give her the biggest cuddle and tell her that I love her.

‘I am also really worried about my parents; they have just retired, and this has the potential to financially ruin them.

‘My dad has already said they may have to sell their house, obviously the priority is Ashley, but they just don’t know how to cover the medical bills.

‘They don’t have an abundance of money, and they have just retired, and they had to pay £3,000 deposit which has been swallowed up in just the first day.

‘The thing is we just don’t know how long she could be in there for and then when she is fit to come out there is the cost of a flight home.

‘It’s the not knowing that is worrying and how long she may be in hospital for, we just hope that when dad gets out there, we can get some answers.’

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Chilling CCTV footage allegedly shows the moment two bouncers pulled a British tourist to the ground before he died.

Nick Weir, 28, was said to have been behaving erratically before he was allegedly beaten to death at 2am this morning in Bangkok, Thailand.

Nick, the manager of a packaging company in Salisbury, was allegedly kicked out of the 91karaoke bar as he tried to get into the venue.

Two bouncers then chased him on a motorcycle, and the tourist was spotted running along a road in Bangkok, it has been reported.

Video footage captures the moment the Thai bouncers allegedly grabbedNick’s floral yellow t-shirt, and pulled him to the ground.

The two men pull up next to the graduate from Leeds University, and speak with the Brit at the back of their motorcycle.

A violent fight then breaks out, according to the video, as the holidaymaker is seen charging at the bouncers.

The bar security then allegedly drags Nick down onto the pavement as they try to restrain him.

The packaging manager can then be heard pleading for ‘help’ and shouting in pain.

The CCTV shows the two bouncers pressing Nick against the ground for more than 10 minutes.

The fight unfolded around 200 meters from the 91karaoke bar.

Passers-by came up to the fight scene and called an ambulance.

Thai police said the bouncers attacked Nick in a nearby alleyway but then called the emergency services when he was knocked unconscious.

Officers are now questioning two Thai men, called Phurinat, 32, and Boonchou, 29 over the alleged attack.

Thai Police said Nick had been ‘shouting and causing a commotion’ and had been running for half a mile before he arrived at the karaoke bar.

Lieutenant Colonel Apichai Hwanjit, Deputy Superintendent of the Bang Po station said: ‘During the scuffle, they pushed and wrestled, causing the foreigner to fall.

‘We are unsure if there was any pressure applied during the fall that caused the death, so we are waiting for the forensic results.’

A Foreign Office Spokesperson told Metro: ‘We are providing support to the family of a British man who died in Bangkok and are in contact with the local authorities.’

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An elderly couple’s house was mistakenly raided by police who thought it was a cannabis farm – because it was so hot.

Officers stormed into the home of Barry, 80, and Mavis Lovelock, 78, while they were eating their breakfast on March 15.

The raid was triggered by a thermal helicopter camera, which thought their gas fire-heated property was a drugs den.

Nine officers charged upstairs searching for cannabis plants and the strong lamps which are used to grow them.

Mortified cops then had to admit their tip-off had been ‘not fully accurate’.

The cause of the mistaken raid was the couple’s two gas fires, which they kept 24/7 during the colder months.

Leicestershire Police have apologised and said they had raided a separate property in Newfoundpool, Leicester, and found a large cannabis farm with 79 plants.

Mavis, who has lived there since 1978, told the BBC that she could “not stop shaking” afterwards.

‘Somebody shouted back to Barry, “stand clear”.

‘They just rammed the door in. It was awful. They knocked the gate at the back in and all.

‘It was terrifying and I said to them, “what the devil do you think you’re doing?” I said, “there’s two pensioners here”, and they just stood there.’

She added: ‘They told us the camera on the helicopter had noticed our roof glowing white but that was just because we have the heating on all of the time.

‘People of our age feel the cold so we need the heating on.’

The couple, who celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary last year, were even shown a warrant with their house number on it, which Mavis said the arrest warrant was from February 18.

Leicestershire Police have since said they would reimburse the Lovelock’s for any damage resulting from the raid.

The couple have been asked to get quotes on how much it will cost to replace the couple’s front door and back gate, the Lovelock’s said.

The couple have been left bitterly upset after the incident.

Barry said: ‘Mavis has been left really shook up, and struggling to sleep.

‘After most of the officers left, and they were only here for four or five minutes, two stayed behind and were apologetic. One female PC was quite upset.

‘A rapid response repair came round and fixed the front door, but told us not to use it until it’s been properly replaced.’

A spokesman for Leicestershire Police confirmed that officers executed two warrants at properties in Leicester, based on information received related to the production of cannabis.

The force would not elaborate on where the intelligence came from for ‘operational reasons’.

The spokesman added: ‘Due diligence was completed prior to the enforcement taking place.

‘However, the force acknowledges that the information was not fully accurate and no plants were found inside.

‘Officers have spoken to the residents living at that address regarding the incident to apologise, provide reassurance and explain why the lawfully-executed warrant took place.

‘At the other property, 79 cannabis plants were seized. No-one was arrested and an investigation is continuing.’

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Grindr is overhauling its app to roll out a game-changing new feature in London and fourteen other world cities.

Metro has been given an exclusive video of the LGBT dating app’s ‘Right Now’ tool, soon to be available for gay daters in London.

Right Now adds a real-time feed, separate from the iconic Grindr grid, designed to provide immediate hook ups.

The feature is one of a number of new Grindr services hitting users this year, which aim to diversify the app’s offering on travel fun and finding relationships.

Grindr is a location-based dating app used primarily by gay men, and almost one million Brits and 14.5million people world wide.

Right Now is being launched today in London, as well as New York City, Paris, Madrid, Milan, Amsterdam, and Sao Paulo.

Keen Londoners who get the updated app can get Right Now on both iOS and Android.

The separate feed can be found via the main navigation bar, side bar, and a floating action button on the main grid.

Those looking for a quick fling will have ten hour-long sessions per week to find their nearby hook up.

Once those have been used people will be able to purchase additional Right Now sessions.

Speaking exclusively to Metro, AJ Balance, Chief Product Officer at Grindr, said: ‘Grindr is the the Global Gayborhood in Your Pocket. Casual dating is where we started in 2009, it was the origin.

‘Bu the culture has changed, we have grown to be a global product.

‘A lot of people have gotten a lot of value out of it and now get a lot of other things out of the app.

‘Too often, people start a conversation only to realize they’re looking for different things – one person wants a date, the other a quick connection.

‘Right Now makes it clear who’s available and what they’re looking for, in real time.’

Right Now is targeting those based in London and other key cities, but Grindr are hoping to roll it out globally by the end of the year.

It was first piloted last year in Australia and the Washington D.C. area.

‘Our users really liked it,’ AJ added.

‘We are now in early testing for our other features. Some of our lucky users will get them early this years, others later this year.’

‘We are very proud of the mission and we are fulfilled by serving our users every day.

‘It is an immense responsibility. We constantly want to be doing even more and doing more for our users all the time.’

Grindr also wants to promote the building of relationships and deeper connections on their app, which is already known for hook-ups.

To do this they plan to introduce a ‘For You’ tab of AI chosen potential matches for users.

Grindr also want to help more gay men hook up abroad. They will soon be launching a new ‘heatmap’ to reveal the liveliest gay areas in a city.

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A mysterious glowing spiral illuminated the sky last night and was spotted across the UK.

The spinning orb was seen for a number of minutes in parts of England and Wales as onlookers wondered whether it was a ‘portal’ or contactfrom ‘aliens’.

But despite the excitement from extraterrestrial enthusiasts – it is believed to have been caused by something else much closer to home.

The suspected cause of the phenomenon is actually thought to be rocket fuel from an Elon Musk space launch.

The cloud-like shape is believed to be a result of leftover fuel released by a SpaceX rocket in the U.S.

A Falcon 9 rocket from Elon Musk’s space company took off at 17:50 UK time in Florida on a secret US government mission.

The rocket completed its NROL-69 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and then turned around to head back to Earth.

It was at this point the Falcon 9 would have released any leftover fuel.

This fuel freezes instantly in a spiral pattern due to the high altitude and the rocket’s movements.

When light is reflected off of this frozen spiral, it becomes the glowing orb visible on Earth.

Despite this, Britons last night were left stunned by the beautiful spiral.

Thousands posted social media asking whether what they had just seen was a supernatural phenomenon.

One space enthusiast Damian Peach post on Facebook: ‘While imaging Jupiter and Mars tonight I completely by chance happened to notice a huge ghostly swirl slowly drifting across the northern sky.

‘I did wonder if it was an alien species attempting to open a portal into our dimension – but it was in fact a Space X rocket fuel dump.’

Another commented that it ‘looked like a portal opening’ up while another thought they had just witnessed an ‘alien spacecraft’.

This is not the first time this ‘alien portal’ has been witnessed.

Back in 2023 a similar spiral was spotted over parts of the USA, hours after a SpaceX Rocket had taken off from California.

UFO theories were rampant at the end of 2024 when a series of unidentified objects were seen over the US.

The mystery drones, which were compared to alien spacecraft, were spotted on a daily basis for weeks hovering over the country’s northeast.

Experts told Metro the drone which were compared to UFOs, may have been from hobbyists but could have been being used as surveillance from malicious foreign actors.

These unidentified aircraft appeared to be able to avoid detection by helicopter and radio, and ‘operate[d] in a coordinated manner’. 

In November last year, a fleet of unidentified drones flew over three airbases in the UK, including one due to store nuclear warheads.

It was not clear whether those drones were operated by a hostile actor.

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A school which gave a dyslexic pupil with ADHD more than 250 detentions, exclusions and isolations has been forced to apologise to the boy’s family.

Kian Mills’ school discriminated against him and put him at a ‘substantial disadvantage’ compared to his classmates, an educational tribunal found.

His parents Aldon and Julie Mills claim their son was ‘persecuted’ at St Joseph’s Catholic School in Port Talbot, south Wales and his mental health not adequately supported.

By the time Kian was ultimately pulled out of the comprehensive he had racked up more than 250 sanctions over two years, WalesOnline reports.

Julie said: ‘We took him out of school in June of year nine because they were going to give him isolation again and I thought enough was enough.

‘The system is not working for many, many families. At school Kian was so unhappy he was getting depressed.’

Aldon and Julie said Kian would get in trouble whenever he struggled to sit still and work, which led his mum to suspect he had ADHD.

Matters were compounded by strict Covid lockdown rules, which meant pupils had three 100-minute lessons in the same classroom each day.

Julie, who works for the NHS, ultimately spent £950 to get her son an ADHD diagnosis the followingyear.

But she says St Joseph’s did not provide the help Kian needed once they were informed his condition.

It took one parents evening for her to realise not all of Kian’s teachers were aware of his diagnosis.

Even after his parents then contacted the school, its governors, the local education authority and the Children’s Commissioner, they felt support never came their way.

Kian did eventually get an Independent Development Plan in June 2023, but by then his relationship with the school had irreversibly broken down.

After he was pulled out of the school, Julie and Aldon, who works for the probation service, took their son’s case to an Education Tribunal for Wales.

Their claim was brought under the Equality Act 2010 on the basis the school discriminated against Kian.

Julie argued the system failed her son and she instead wants to see change to help others children in similar situations.

The tribunal agreed with the Mills family on January 9, and this week they rejected an appeal from the school.

In its final order, the tribunal said: ‘St Joseph’s Comprehensive School has discriminated against Kian by failing to put in place reasonable measures to support him at school and by its application of its behaviour policy.’

In his conclusion, tribunal judge Paul Allen said: ‘[The school’s] approach that pupils should be on time for lessons, should be present in lessons, should not fidget or move around or distract others, and should all produce the same amount of work, would put a disabled child at a particular disadvantage, and put Kian at a substantial disadvantage compared with pupils who were not disabled.

‘From the evidence presented the breakdown of mainstream education was entirely preventable’.

He did credit the headteacher and senior management at the school for their ‘reflection and taking a fresh look at policies’.

Despite this he ordered St Joseph’s to update their behaviour and additional learning needs policies and train staff on the challenges faced by neurodiverse pupils.

The judge also told the school to write a letter of apology to Kian, in age-appropriate language, and a separate apology letter the parents.

In their letter to Kian, the head teacher Dr Felton said: ‘To start I would like to tell you that you will always be welcome to come back to our school and I have told your mother this many times.

‘As you know, recently, your mother went to the Disability Tribunal of Wales.

‘Your mother was not happy with the way that we tried to help you whilst you were in school.

‘The judge in the case acknowledged that the school had put in a lot of interventions to help support you.

‘However the Judge decided that these interventions weren’t enough to help you and sometimes weren’t put in place quickly enough and for that we are sorry.

‘Despite trying to work very hard for you, we sincerely regret that our efforts didn’t achieve what we wanted for you and for any stress this could have caused you.

‘We wish you will for the future and repeat that you would be welcome back to our school at any point.’

But aspiring chef Kian now prefers life outside of St Joseph’s, saying: ‘It’s a lot better not being in school.

‘No one was listening to me. It was frustrating.’

Mum Julie said they will continue to home educate Kian, adding: ‘There was nowhere we could turn when things went wrong.

‘Home education is not a choice and we do it with great difficulty.

‘With the right support in place I would love him to be in school with his friends – it’s sad that he’s not with his friends and learning social skills.’

Julie, who went to St Joseph’s herself and whose three older children also attended without issues, said isolation was a particularly cruel punishment.

Julie said ‘Things go wrong for children like Kian and they can be failed.

‘We will try our best [at home education] but some parents don’t have a clue.’

Aldon agreed and said: ‘I really did not want him to go to school because of the way he was treated.

‘No one seemed to be listening. Children going through this don’t have a voice. Sometimes things are just allowed to continue.

‘There is no clear way to complain or make a query and no obvious route to navigate what happens if a child has additional learning needs.

‘Kian was in a dark place and it was not him to be that low.

‘He did not suit the system because he was persecuted. He lost his trust and confidence, but it’s coming back now.

‘Councils should do more to support schools. They seem so defensive if you question them.

‘The bottom line is Kian has gone through damage. To prevent other children being affected we want to highlight this.’

A spokesperson for Neath Port Talbot Council said: ‘The council is unable to comment on individual cases and it would be inappropriate to comment on specific issues.’

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Morrisons has announced plans to shut down 17 convenience stores, 52 cafes and over a hundred other in-store services.

The supermarket chain also plans to cut 18 market kitchens, 13 florists, 35 meat counters, 35 fish counters and four pharmacies in the next few months.

The changes put 396 Morrisons employees at risk of redundancy, the company has said.

It stressed a significant majority of their affected colleagues will be deployed elsewhere in the company.

The 17 store closures will all be Morrisons Daily stores, which are smaller stores with extended hours and focused on local convenience.

Morrisons Dailys in Birmingham, Bath and Woking are among those slated for closure.

The supermarket chain employs 95,000 people alongside its 1600 Morrisons Dailys and 500 supermarkets.

In-store cafes will be shut in five London stores, with cafes in Leeds, Portsmouth and Glasgow also affected.

Fifty two of Morrisons’ 397 cafes are on the list of in-store services to be axed.

The four crucial pharmacies to be wound up are those in the Bradford Victoria, Blackburn Railway Road, London Wood Green and Birmingham Small Heath branches.

Morrisons said these closures are a reaction to ‘significant cost increases’.

The 174 store, counter and services cut were viewed as the least useful or valuable for customers.

Rami Baitiéh, Chief Executive of Morrisons, said: ‘The changes we are announcing today are a necessary part of our plans to renew and reinvigorate Morrisons and enable us to focus our investment into the areas that customers really value and that can play a full part in our growth. 

‘Morrisons Cafés are rightly famous for their great quality well-priced food, their place in the local community and their appealing mix of traditional favourites alongside exciting new dishes.

‘In most locations, the Morrisons Café has a bright future, but a minority have specific local challenges and in those locations, regrettably, closure and re-allocation of the space is the only sensible option. 

‘Market Street is a beacon of differentiation for Morrisons and we remain committed to it.

‘But as we modernise we are making some necessary changes to the areas of the model which are simply uneconomic.

‘In some stores where we are closing counters or Cafés, we plan to work with third parties to provide a relevant specialist offer.

‘Although these changes are relatively small in the context of the overall scale of the Morrisons business, we do not take lightly the disruption and uncertainty they will cause to some of our colleagues.

‘We will of course take particular care to look after all of them well through the coming changes.’

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A fire is raging inside a block of multi-million pound homes in Moscow.

The Roza Rossa complex of luxury residences and a hotel has been engulfed in flames this morning.

Video appears to show the penthouse well alight.

The six-story building is located in a central district of Moscow and has won a series of international awards for architecture.

Smoke billowed out of the 211 apartment block, reportedly worth more than one billion rubles, or £90,000,000, and was seen across Moscow’s skyline.

There is a risk of fire spreading to neighboring buildings, according to Belarussian news site Charter97.

It is currently not clear what caused the fire or whether anyone is inside the building.

The Roza Rossa, which is 20 minutes away from the Kremlin, won the International Property Awards International and the International Property Awards Europe in 2019.

Building of the Roza Rossa was completed in December 2022.

The fire has now been contained, according to Russian news site Mash.

The project’s brainchild is the Italian architect and designer Piero Lissoni.

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