Katy Prickett

A 425-flat build-to-rent development beside Cambridge North station and the guided busway has been approved with only 22 car parking spaces but 711 resident cycle spaces, alongside affordable homes, parks and retail areas. Developers and planning officials argue that the site’s public transport and cycling connections make the low-car design sustainable. Cyclists see potential for the model to work in Cambridge but question visitor parking and whether cycle storage will be adequate. Milton residents and councillors fear parking displacement into already congested village streets, while opposition councillors and a town planner say low car ownership cannot be assumed and that strict, effective management will be essential.

Reality TV contestant Stephen Bear was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison after admitting five breaches of the sex offender notification requirements. He failed to notify authorities about a trip to Brazil, his return, a new passport and two bank cards, while posting social media videos taunting police. Bear is already imprisoned after admitting a separate breach of a restraining order preventing him from posting about former partner Georgia Harrison, whose private sex video he had shared without her consent.

A 150-hectare excavation ahead of the Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk has revealed more than 1,000 Neolithic pits, an unusually rare Early Bronze Age hut, hundreds of medieval ovens, an 11th-Century hoard of 321 silver coins and an Anglo-Saxon cemetery containing a horse burial alongside two people. Archaeologist Richard Mortimer says the landscape-scale investigation is transforming understanding of prehistoric settlement, farming and medieval monastic land use because it examines an entire working landscape rather than isolated structures or artefacts. The findings will be presented at free public archaeology events.

Callun Bermingham, 37, was sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm, firearm possession and dangerous driving. He stabbed a friend six times and shot him at close range in Luton in March 2025, leaving the victim critically injured. Bermingham fled in a Jaguar containing a live firearm and was arrested after colliding with three vehicles while driving the wrong way along a one-way street.

The Imperial War Museum at Duxford hosted an event marking 50 years since the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird set still-unbroken world speed and altitude records. Former US Air Force pilot Buz Carpenter and Lockheed Martin engineer Steve Justice discussed the aircraft's operational missions, extreme performance, pressure suits and advanced stealth design. The museum's Blackbird, described as the crown jewel of its collection, is the only example of the reconnaissance aircraft outside the United States.

Wedding photographer Scott Johnson survived largely unscathed when a fertiliser unit exploded at an industrial estate near Rettendon, Essex, throwing him against a door and collapsing his studio roof. More than 100 firefighters responded, 20 were taken to hospital and later discharged, while crews continued to control smaller fires and hotspots. An investigation into the cause is under way, and the UK Health Security Agency said the health risk from debris and smoke was low.

Latitude Festival will remain at Henham Park near Southwold, Suffolk, for another 20 years after founder and organiser Melvin Benn signed a new lease with the estate's owners. The festival, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, has grown from a small 2006 event with peak daily attendance of 4,500 into a four-day music and culture festival attracting about 135,000 people in total. Estate owner Hektor Rous said the event has supported the restoration of at-risk buildings and ongoing forestry and landscape maintenance at Henham Park.

More than £100,000 was awarded to 13 organisations through Northamptonshire’s Safe and Sound Communities Fund, relaunched by Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone to support projects addressing harm reduction, vulnerability and community safety. Recipients included Northamptonshire Rape Crisis Centre, which used its grant for a therapeutic programme for survivors of sexual violence. Additional funded initiatives targeted youth diversion, trauma-informed support, domestic abuse services and volunteer training. Stone emphasised the scheme’s focus on preventing violence against women and improving safety across the county, with grants of up to £10,000 available to local groups.

Thirty‑four candidates have been confirmed for the Clacton by‑election triggered by Nigel Farage’s resignation. Farage, representing Reform UK, is the only contender from a major Westminster party after Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party chose not to participate. The field includes 20 independents and several joke candidates, notably Count Binface and multiple representatives of the Monster Raving Loony Party. Tendring District Council reported that this is likely the largest candidate list for a modern UK by‑election, surpassing the previous record of 26 in 2008. Voters will go to the polls on 13 August.

A record 34 candidates will contest the Clacton by-election triggered by Nigel Farage’s resignation as MP, with Farage standing again as the sole representative of a main Westminster party after Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens declined to participate. The candidate list includes 20 independents and several joke candidates, including figures from the Official Monster Raving Loony Party and Count Binface, making it the highest number recorded for a modern UK by-election.

Police in Suffolk are investigating the death of a man in his seventies who died at a Lowestoft care home after an alleged assault. Emergency services responded to reports that the resident had become unwell and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The case is being treated as a manslaughter investigation, with an 81‑year‑old man arrested and bailed pending further inquiries. A Home Office post‑mortem examination is scheduled as authorities work with partner agencies and the care home to establish the circumstances.

Greater Anglia introduced new Great British Railways branding at London’s Liverpool Street Station following its move into public ownership. The Labour government’s ongoing rail renationalisation policy and a fare freeze through 2027 framed the announcement. Managing director Jamie Burles emphasised improving value for money, service reliability and accessibility, while Rail Minister Lord Hendy highlighted the aim of unifying the rail network. GBR will consolidate passenger operations and infrastructure under one organisation to reduce bureaucracy and improve accountability.

A right-wing terror threat targeting the UK Ijtima Islamic gathering at Shrubland Hall in Suffolk led police to shut down the event early and arrest twelve people across the country. Villagers described heavy police presence and disruption but praised officers for their calm and methodical response. The Muslim Council of Britain credited counter-terrorism officers with saving lives and warned the incident reflects broader threats faced by Muslim communities. Local and national leaders expressed shock, with calls for continued vigilance and reassurance for residents as investigations continue.

Police closed the UK Ijtima event in Barham after receiving information about a possible right‑wing terror threat, arresting 12 people and conducting searches nationwide. Nearly 10,000 attendees were evacuated as armed officers sealed off village roads, prompting shock among residents who praised the police response. The Muslim Council of Britain credited officers with saving lives, while officials warned the incident reflects rising threats to Muslim communities. Government leaders condemned the threat and emphasized zero tolerance for anti‑Muslim hatred.

Specialist washing and changing facilities have been installed on the Paddington Ward at Northampton General Hospital to better support babies and children with complex needs. Funded by Northamptonshire Health Charity through a Dragons' Den-style initiative, the upgrades include a purpose-designed changing table and a calming mural. Staff say the improvements provide appropriate equipment and an environment that enhances personal care for children with mobility or learning difficulties.

A six‑hectare floodplain meadow at Earls Barton has been donated by the Thompson family to the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, becoming the charity’s 34th reserve in the county. The trust plans to restore the rare habitat through hay cuts and conservation grazing, highlighting the national loss of wildlife and habitat decline. Conservation manager Matt Johnson emphasized the ecological importance of floodplain meadows and thanked the donors for supporting efforts to reverse biodiversity loss across the region.

A UPS depot worker, Zak Archbold, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for acting as the inside man in a cocaine‑smuggling operation that brought nearly 300 parcels of drugs worth £10m into the UK from the Netherlands in 2020. Prosecutors said he facilitated shipments for a gang led by Steven Bullen, who ran operations from Spain and received a 16‑year, four‑month sentence for multiple drug‑supply conspiracies. The scheme was uncovered after law enforcement accessed Encrochat communications, revealing aliases used by gang members. Authorities continue to search for three additional suspects, and prosecutors plan to pursue confiscation of criminal proceeds.

Family members described Paul Hughes as a devoted and generous father following his death after an assault at The Old Bank pub in Northampton. His sons highlighted his loyalty, kindness, and continued generosity through organ donation. Hughes, a keen sportsman and proud Welshman, was remembered for his support of his children and enthusiasm for activities such as rugby and pub quizzes. Police charged 22-year-old Louie Oliver with his murder, and the investigation continues.

Police continue to search for a suspect believed to have killed a mother and her two children in Great Denham, Bedfordshire. Officers forced entry into the family’s home after they had not been seen for several days, identifying a suspect known to the victims who is thought to have left the country. Tributes were laid at the scene, and police stated there is no wider threat to the public while increasing patrols and appealing for information.

Britvic denies claims that it infringed copyright by using a photograph of the Magic Mushroom Cabin to promote a 2025 competition. Amanda and David Robinson argue they should receive compensation for lost profits and unpaid licensing fees, asserting that the image was used without permission and without credit. Britvic accepts the photo was used but disputes both liability and the scale of damages sought, challenging the couple’s ownership of the copyright and arguing no financial loss resulted. A High Court hearing is pending.

Volunteers in Northampton have documented more than 60 ghost signs, some dating back 150 years, as part of a heritage project by MOLA and Northamptonshire Historic Environment Record. The initiative collects details of surviving painted shop signs to support historical analysis and preserve local industrial and commercial history. Organisers describe strong community enthusiasm and aim to recruit additional volunteers to expand the project across Northamptonshire and eventually other counties.

A Harris's hawk named Rufus has kept Wimbledon’s courts free of pigeons for 18 years, with handler Donna Davis describing the venue as his playground. Rufus begins work before dawn to clear birds from court structures and occasionally pursues strays. Raised in Brigstock, he also works at other major sites including Westminster Abbey and Lord's Cricket Ground, sometimes disappearing for hours while flying the grounds.

Shifting sands and recent storms have exposed rare World War Two coastal defences along the Norfolk and Suffolk coastline, revealing concrete anti-tank blocks, dragon’s teeth, and remnants of scaffolding barriers built rapidly in 1940 to deter a feared German invasion. Local historians and experts describe the scale of the wartime construction effort and its historical significance, noting that these structures periodically re-emerge due to natural coastal processes intensified by climate change. The exposed remains highlight the region’s strategic role during the war and the importance of preserving the memory of the defensive preparations undertaken along the East Anglian coast.

An 18-year-old woman, Tallulah Bradford, died six days after being injured by a loading vehicle in Chalkwell Park, Southend-on-Sea. Her family and friends issued heartfelt tributes describing her as loving, kind-hearted and deeply missed. Two youths arrested in connection with the incident remain on bail, and Essex Police continue to appeal for information or footage related to the case.

A woman fleeing police entered the grounds of St Margaret’s Primary School in Ipswich, prompting a temporary lockdown. Officers arrested the 30-year-old on suspicion of multiple thefts and failing to appear in court, while a 37-year-old man accompanying her was detained nearby on similar offences. School staff followed safeguarding procedures, and no pupils had contact with the individuals. Both suspects were taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre and later released on bail.

A patient died at James Paget Hospital in Gorleston during a period of extreme heat, prompting an investigation into whether high temperatures contributed to the death. The trust ordered a full inquiry after a medical examiner raised concerns, and the patient’s family is being kept informed. The heatwave saw temperatures in Norfolk reach potentially record June levels and caused widespread business and school closures.

A critical incident was declared at Addenbrooke's Hospital A&E due to high demand that left 127 patients waiting, some for up to 24 hours, and ambulances unable to offload promptly. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust urged the public to attend only for serious emergencies and apologised for long delays while staff enacted contingency measures to maintain patient flow and prioritise those with the greatest need.