Charlotte Smith

UK homeowners generally may build an extension up to a neighbour’s boundary but cannot cross it or allow features such as guttering to overhang. The rules depend on planning permission, permitted development limits, building regulations and the Party Wall Act 1996. Extensions within two metres of a boundary are subject to eaves-height restrictions, while work on or near a shared boundary may require advance notice, a surveyor and a Party Wall Award. Neighbours may also raise concerns about fire safety, privacy, overlooking, excessive loss of light and established rights to light. Early discussion with the builder or neighbour, followed by advice from a party wall surveyor or property solicitor, is recommended before construction begins.

Drivers are warned that ignoring temporary traffic lights carries the same legal penalties as disobeying permanent signals, including a £100 fine and three licence points. Traffic management experts debunk myths such as using headlights to change signals or assuming lights can be ignored at night. Temporary signals are legally binding under UK traffic laws, and motorists are urged to stop and wait for the proper sequence to ensure safety for both drivers and road workers.

Tesco’s Free Fruit for Kids scheme will run from July 20 to August 30, allowing children to receive a free apple at checkouts in more than 800 large stores, 77 Express locations and selected Click and Collect points. The supermarket has also expanded its Kids Eat Free offer to weekends across the summer holidays and is selling £2–£4 pre-filled donation bags in England and Wales. Donations will go to the Trussell Trust and Felix Project to support food banks and families facing food insecurity and rising holiday childcare and food costs.

Aldi is releasing a £14.99 Ultrasonic Cleaner on July 19, offering a low‑cost alternative to similar devices such as B&Q’s £83.99 Nedis model. The cleaner uses high‑frequency waves to remove dirt from delicate items and is part of a wider range of budget home‑cleaning products launching the same day, including vacuums, steam cleaners and tile scrubbers. The article highlights the significant savings for shoppers and the benefits of regularly cleaning everyday accessories to maintain hygiene and prolong item lifespan.

Royal Mail will phase in changes across the UK during 2026, ending Saturday delivery for 2nd Class letters and cards and moving to an alternate-weekday schedule while retaining a three-working-day delivery target. The changes follow Ofcom reforms to the Universal Service Obligation, which were introduced in response to declining letter volumes. 1st Class letters will continue to be delivered Monday to Saturday, and parcel services and the single nationwide price will remain unchanged.

Aldi will keep the price of its Mamia First Infant Milk at £6.99 until the end of 2026, extending a freeze first introduced in June 2025. The retailer says the move could save parents up to £5 compared with typical rival-store prices, amid rising formula costs and wider household budget pressures. The article also highlights Aldi’s Mamia New Parent Fund, which offers £100 in weekly vouchers for a year, and notes that UK regulations require all infant formula products to meet babies’ nutritional needs.

Millions of people in the UK taking beta blockers, diuretics and other blood-pressure medicines are urged to take precautions during an expected heatwave, with temperatures forecast to exceed 35°C in many areas. Pharmacist Robert Bradshaw advises staying hydrated, avoiding direct sunlight, keeping cool and monitoring blood pressure, while seeking urgent medical help for symptoms such as confusion, rapid pulse, severe fatigue or nausea. People with angina or heart failure are advised to consult their doctor about GTN spray, fluid restrictions and water tablets. Warning signs of heat stroke include dizziness, fainting, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting and rapid breathing.

Jeremy Clarkson has disclosed that he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, caught at an early stage, and underwent surgery to remove part of his prostate. He later revealed that some treatment had gone awry and that he expects to be unavailable for some time, raising uncertainty about the future of Clarkson’s Farm. The NHS guidance explains that early prostate cancer often causes no symptoms, while later signs can include urinary difficulties, erectile dysfunction, blood in urine or semen, back or pelvic pain, and unexplained weight loss. Risk increases with age, Black African or Caribbean heritage, family history, and inherited BRCA2 mutations, and people with concerning symptoms or elevated risk are advised to consult a GP.

Aldi has transferred about 1,200 electric vehicle chargers at more than 250 UK stores to renewable energy firm Drax, with further installations planned at around 20 new stores each year. Fast charging will cost 40p per kWh and rapid charging 62p per kWh, with payment available through the Charge Assist app or contactless card. The expansion is intended to provide shoppers with more convenient charging while supporting the UK's planned phase-out of new petrol and diesel car sales by 2030.

UK drivers could face a £200 fine and six penalty points for using a mobile phone while driving, including when stationary in traffic. The rules generally allow phone use only for emergencies or to pay at a drive-thru. McDonald's advises customers to prepare app orders before driving, have a passenger order, or stop safely with the engine off; solo drive-thru customers can give staff their app-order name at the order post. A vehicle-contracts executive also warns that distracting dashboard systems or hands-free devices may still lead to prosecution if drivers are not properly in control.

A British couple travelling with their two sons, including an autistic and non-verbal child, arrived at Belgium’s Your Nature Resort after a nine-hour journey to find the site fenced off and apparently closed. The resort had reportedly entered administration in October 2025 after accumulating more than €15 million in losses, despite Booking.com continuing to confirm the family’s reservation and collect related fees. Booking.com refunded the accommodation cost and offered alternative lodging, but the family says the options were unsuitable and is seeking more than £400 for extra travel and accommodation expenses. Booking.com disputes liability and says the property is now closed on its platform; no court has ruled on the allegations.

UK travellers visiting Spain must ensure their passports were issued within the past 10 years and remain valid for at least three months after their planned departure. British passport holders are limited to 90 days in the Schengen Area within any 180-day period. Spain’s Entry/Exit System will record travellers’ facial images and fingerprints, with registrations generally valid for three years or until passport expiry. Border officials may also request return or onward tickets, travel insurance, proof of sufficient funds and evidence of accommodation, including a hotel booking or an invitation from hosts.

Property owners may be liable when trees or hedges damage a neighbour’s fence, particularly if they knew or should have known about the risk and failed to act. Recommended steps include documenting the damage, checking deeds and boundaries, notifying the neighbour in writing, contacting home insurers, seeking mediation, and obtaining professional estimates. Tree-protection orders and conservation-area rules should be checked before pruning or removing trees. Guidance also covers blocked light or views, neighbour damage to trees, and invasive weeds such as Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed.

A six-month-old Doberman named Angus was found injured after a hit-and-run in Pinner, London, with a fractured leg and evidence of illegal ear cropping and tail docking. Medivet Pinner staff rescued him, arranged emergency surgery and cared for him during his recovery. After his former owners said they could no longer look after him, veterinarian Dr Reena Patel helped rehome him with Mark and his family. Angus is now recovering well, enjoying life as a cherished family pet, while the case highlights the welfare concerns and UK legal restrictions surrounding ear cropping and tail docking.

UK homeowners cannot claim exclusive rights to the road outside their property, but drivers must not obstruct driveways or park across dropped kerbs. Residents are advised to speak to the driver or neighbour, document repeated incidents, and contact the police on 101 when a blockage creates access or safety concerns. Local councils can issue penalty notices or arrange removal in certain cases. Homeowners should not clamp, tow, block in, or otherwise move vehicles themselves, as doing so could result in fines or legal consequences.

TUI’s analysis of historical weather data from more than 150 European locations ranks Turkey as the best destination for a 2026 family summer holiday, with an ideal-weather score of 8.70 out of 10, average temperatures of about 27.6°C, little rainfall and light winds. Dalaman and Gocek in Turkey achieved the highest individual destination scores. Cyprus ranked second and Greece third, while Spain placed ninth. TUI also identified Gibraltar as the driest location and promoted its family holiday resorts and weather guide.

Travelers are advised to check vaccination requirements and current outbreak information before traveling. The update covers outbreaks and disease events affecting 19 countries, including mpox in Denmark, Poland, Madagascar and Pakistan; yellow fever in Ecuador and Bolivia; measles in Bangladesh; dengue in Martinique, the Maldives, Tonga and Bolivia; Zika in Bolivia and among travelers returning to France from Indonesia; polio in Malawi and South Sudan; Oropouche virus disease in Colombia; an undiagnosed illness in Burundi; and an imported H9N2 avian influenza case in Italy linked to Senegal. Health authorities continue investigating several events, including the unexplained illness in Burundi.

Aldi has announced its UK opening hours for the May 2026 bank holiday weekend: 8am–10pm on Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2; 10am–4pm on Sunday, May 3; and 8am–8pm on Monday, May 4. Stores may vary, so shoppers are advised to check locally. Aldi recommends visiting between 8am and 9am or 7pm and 10pm for quieter shopping. The article also notes Which? research identifying Aldi as the UK’s cheapest supermarket in March 2026, with a 95-item basket costing less than at Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Waitrose.

Home Bargains is selling a £19.99 Hotel Collections 200-thread-count cotton duvet set in double and king sizes, including two matching pillows. The set is described as soft, breathable and hotel-inspired, and is compared with Next’s similar £48 double duvet set, which has a higher 300-thread count and different stripe detailing. The article also highlights other affordable Home Bargains homeware, including a £12.99 canvas resembling an £885 Studio McGee painting and blackout curtains.

New EU rules taking effect on 22 April 2026 require Great Britain residents travelling to EU countries with dogs, cats or ferrets to obtain an Animal Health Certificate rather than relying on EU pet passports issued to British residents. Certificates typically cost £99 to more than £250, are single-use for outbound journeys, and can support further EU travel for up to six months if rabies vaccinations remain current. The rules also limit non-commercial travel to five pets per private vehicle and require written authorisation when someone other than the owner accompanies the animal. Travellers are advised to check destination-specific requirements and obtain certificates from a veterinary practice in advance.

Jet2 has told passengers that it will contact them if fuel-related disruption affects booked holidays, amid warnings of a possible European jet fuel shortage caused by conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Industry bodies and Ryanair warn that shortages could emerge in May or June if the route does not reopen, while Spain is viewed as comparatively better supplied. The UK government says there is no immediate cause for concern, is monitoring fuel stocks and prices, and notes that many airlines hedge fuel purchases to limit fare increases.

TUI has reminded passengers flying short- and mid-haul routes to arrive two and a half to three hours before departure for standard check-in, while noting that overnight bag drop is unavailable at London Stansted. Travelers heading between the UK and Europe may also face longer airport queues because the EU’s Entry/Exit System requires facial scans and fingerprints from eligible non-EU visitors. Corfu Airport and airlines including TUI and easyJet advise passengers to arrive when check-in opens and complete border-control procedures early. The EU is expected to introduce the separate €7 ETIAS travel authorization in autumn 2026.

Home Bargains is selling a three-piece U-shaped oak-effect shelf set for £4.99 online and in stores. The wall-mounted shelves are marketed for displaying ornaments, plants, candles and photographs, with three 42cm-long shelves that can be arranged together or separately. The set is significantly cheaper than comparable products at B&Q (£26) and The Range (£32). The article also highlights a B&M discount on a black wooden side table, reduced from £12 to £10.

easyJet has warned passengers departing from Lisbon Airport to allow extra time because of lengthy passport-control queues linked to the rollout of the European Union's Entry/Exit System on April 10, 2026. The system requires non-EU visitors, including British citizens, to provide fingerprints and facial images on their first visit, causing reported waits of up to several hours and some missed flights. Lisbon Airport has advised passengers on international, non-Schengen flights to arrive early, while easyJet notes that boarding gates close 30 minutes before departure and that passengers who miss flights should ask bag-drop staff about the rescue fee.