Kirstie Mccrum

Four West Midlands fire crews are battling a fire in trees at Meriden Park in Chelmsley Wood, Solihull. The West Midlands Fire Service has urged the public to avoid the area while crews respond. Meriden Adventure Playground, which includes a children's play area, skate park and football pitch, is operated by an independent charity and hosts community events.

Nell Saffron Raven, a 53-year-old writer and former journalist, and her 10-year-old daughter Irena “Ira” were buried together in a wicker coffin after dying from injuries sustained in a two-car crash in County Cavan. Their funeral celebrated Nell’s writing, motherhood and recovery from cancer, and Ira’s joyful personality and love of music and Irish dancing. Ira also donated organs that gave four children the gift of life. Nell’s husband Alexandru paid tribute to their family’s move from England to Ireland and their life in Cavan, while friends and relatives remembered the pair before their burial at Drumlane cemetery.

A man in his 40s was found dead in a room at the Brownlows Inn on Mount Pleasant in Liverpool city centre. Merseyside Police said the death was unexpected, with next of kin notified and a postmortem examination planned to establish the cause of death. Enquiries at the scene remain ongoing.

Police are investigating a report that a man in his 20s was raped and robbed by an unknown attacker in the car park of Padworth Common Nature Reserve in West Berkshire. Officers are appealing for witnesses, particularly anyone with dash-cam footage or who saw a red vehicle in the area around the time of the incident. The victim is receiving specialist support, and police have increased their presence locally while enquiries continue.

A 21‑year‑old Australian student, Fletcher Beasley, died after falling from Victoria Embankment in London during a June heatwave. Emergency services responded but were unable to save him. His family paid tribute, describing him as funny, loyal and curious, and noted his close relationships and active lifestyle. His father travelled to London to return his body home, and a coroner has opened an inquest. A GoFundMe fund has been created to support the investigation and assist his family and friends.

Police launched a murder investigation after a man in his 30s was found fatally stabbed on Westow Hill in Crystal Palace in the early morning. Another man, also in his 30s, was treated for non‑life‑threatening injuries and later arrested on suspicion of murder. Detectives are maintaining multiple scenes and a large police presence as enquiries continue, urging residents and witnesses to come forward with information.

A 27-year-old British man, Lewis Quinn, suffered serious injuries in a quad bike crash shortly after arriving in Zante for a holiday. He sustained fractures and later developed pneumonia due to internal bleeding, requiring prolonged hospitalization in Greece. His father, John, described the situation as extremely stressful as the family faces medical, travel, and accommodation challenges. Quinn had no travel insurance, prompting a friend to launch a GoFundMe campaign that has raised about £7,000 to support treatment and related expenses. His condition is improving, but it remains unclear when he will be able to return home to the UK.

A four-year-old girl was taken to hospital after an unattended vehicle rolled over her in the car park of the Mimosa Tea Garden in Eastham. Emergency services responded and the vehicle owner remained on-site to assist police. Merseyside Police have launched an investigation and are appealing for witnesses to provide information through their social media channels, the police website, or Crimestoppers.

An easyJet flight from Palma de Mallorca to Glasgow diverted to Liverpool due to an extraordinary circumstance deemed outside the airline’s control. Passengers were informed that the aircraft would refuel before continuing to Glasgow. A separate recent easyJet flight from the Isle of Man to Liverpool also diverted to Manchester following an aborted landing but landed safely.

Emergency services cordoned off Lenzie Terrace in Springburn, Glasgow after a chemical incident was reported in a residential property, prompting nearby evacuations and advice for the public to avoid the area. Hazmat crews and other responders entered a block of flats while some residents were prevented from leaving their homes. Police Scotland urged anyone needing help to approach officers or call the non‑emergency line with the incident reference.

Police are searching for two teenagers, Scarlett and Daisy, missing from Everton since early Friday morning and believed to be together. Authorities say the pair may have travelled to multiple locations across England, releasing descriptions and urging the public to report any information using online services or by calling 101 with the provided reference numbers.

A 21-year-old Glasgow University business student, Thomas Reynolds, died after falling from a bridge while attempting to retrieve his dropped phone. He had been reported missing the previous day before police found his body. Tributes from his family, former youth football club Hutchison Vale, and Glasgow University’s football club described him as kind, caring, and a valued teammate. Police Scotland is assessing the circumstances of the accident.

A 32-year-old man, Daniel Mahmood, died from head injuries after a Porsche Cayenne collided with a Seat Ibiza on Savile Street East in Sheffield. Police reported that the Seat’s occupants suffered minor injuries, while a second man in the Porsche remains in serious but stable condition. A local Muslim funeral service confirmed Mahmood’s death, prompting numerous tributes expressing grief and prayers for his family. Authorities are appealing for information and footage related to the crash, with funeral arrangements still pending.

Police arrested a 51-year-old man on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life after a major fire at the Pink Punters LGBT+ nightclub in Milton Keynes. The blaze prompted the evacuation of partygoers and nearby residents while fire crews worked to contain the flames. Authorities said the cause of the fire remains under investigation and asked the public not to speculate. Road closures remain in place, and police appealed for information from witnesses.

A roadside bomb on the Pan-American Highway in Cauca killed seven civilians and injured 20, with officials attributing the attack to dissident factions of the disbanded FARC guerrilla group. Governor Octavio Guzmán condemned the assault as part of a broader escalation of violence affecting multiple areas of the region and urged the national government to act amid strained public resources and heightened security concerns ahead of the May 31 presidential election.

British content creator Sam Walker has reportedly been detained in Hanoi, with video posted on his TikTok account appearing to show his arrest. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is aware of the situation and is liaising with Vietnamese authorities. Walker, who has an extensive criminal history, previously faced a court case in Liverpool and was detained in Sierra Leone in 2024 after travelling there while on bail. His friend Samuel has expressed concern over his welfare. The reason for his latest detention remains unclear.

A 20-year-old Bristol man, Nitesh Nitesh, has been charged with rape following an early-morning incident in the Assembly Rooms Lane area on March 29 and is set to appear before Bristol Magistrates' Court. Avon and Somerset Police reported three arrests to date and said enquiries remain ongoing, with officers commending the victim’s courage and urging the public to avoid online speculation. Authorities asked anyone with relevant information to contact police or Crimestoppers anonymously.

Police arrested a man in his 40s after reports of a firearm near the Beehive pub in Bolton on Easter Sunday. Officers responded around midday and found the item was a non-viable imitation, reportedly a stick. The man was detained on suspicion of possessing an imitation firearm, while Greater Manchester Police confirmed the situation posed no active threat.

Police are searching for a 14‑year‑old girl named Faith, last seen in Salisbury on April 2, and are concerned for her welfare. Officers released a description of her clothing, appearance, and the possibility she may have a grey and white cat on a lead. She has known links to Bristol, Almondsbury, and Henbury, and the public is urged to call 999 with sightings or 101 with information.

An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of rape after a woman in her 20s was allegedly sexually assaulted in an alleyway in Lowestoft shortly after midnight. Police say the woman entered a taxi with a friend when an unknown man also joined the vehicle, later leaving with her near London Road North before leading her into an alley. The suspect reportedly fled the scene, and officers have established a police presence while assisting the victim. Authorities are requesting witnesses or residents with CCTV, doorbell, or dashcam footage to contact Suffolk Police or Crimestoppers.

A man in his 50s was found dead on Monk’s Park Lane near Atherstone, prompting a police investigation focused on a suspected hit and run involving a red Mercedes Vito van. A 23‑year‑old from Nuneaton and a 74‑year‑old from Shifnal were arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, drink driving and failing to stop, then released on bail. Police appealed for CCTV, doorbell and dashcam footage as they work to establish the circumstances, with a family liaison officer supporting the victim’s relatives.

Police in Bristol identified one of four men sought in connection with the rape of a woman in the Assembly Rooms Lane area on March 29 and continue to seek the remaining three. Officers responded within minutes and launched a major investigation involving forensic work and CCTV review. Detectives believe the unidentified men moved toward the eastern part of the city shortly after the incident. Additional high‑visibility patrols have been deployed, and the public is urged to assist by providing information to police.

Strong winds of up to 33mph forced a plane to make an emergency landing at Belfast City Airport, with several other flights held in holding patterns for over two hours. Services from Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool experienced significant delays as safety precautions were implemented. The airport reported that all passengers and crew safely disembarked, and multiple fire engines from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were placed on standby.

NASA reports that the Artemis II mission remains on track for its April 1 launch, with an 80% chance of favorable weather conditions at Kennedy Space Center. Officials highlight cumulus cloud concerns and wind as the primary factors being monitored. Program leaders state that flight systems, ground systems, and crew preparations are all ready, emphasizing the mission’s historical significance as the first human deep-space launch in more than five decades. The Orion spacecraft and SLS rocket are reported to be fully prepared with no outstanding technical issues.

Scottish crime boss Steven Lyons was arrested at Bali Airport after an Interpol Red Notice alerted immigration officers, following a two‑year investigation into suspected drug trafficking and money laundering across Scotland and Spain. Authorities highlighted coordinated efforts involving Police Scotland, the National Crime Agency, Europol and Eurojust, with related raids resulting in multiple arrests and asset seizures. Lyons’ recent expulsions from several Middle Eastern countries and escalating gang tensions linked to past violent feuds underscored the international scope of the operation.

NASA is preparing to launch the crewed Artemis II mission on April 1 from Kennedy Space Center, marking the first human flight to the Moon since 1972. The report outlines the full broadcast schedule for live coverage on NASA+ and YouTube, along with backup launch dates and plans for post‑launch briefings and daily mission updates. The 10‑day mission will carry astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen to lunar orbit, testing Orion’s life‑support systems and advancing preparations for future crewed Artemis missions.

Police arrested two men, aged 18 and 21, on suspicion of murdering 26-year-old Farmanullah Sherzad, who was fatally stabbed in Westminster. Officers found the victim with multiple stab wounds and he later died in hospital. Investigators described the arrests as significant progress and announced increased patrols in the area. Authorities urged anyone with information to contact police or Crimestoppers.

A 37-year-old woman was arrested in Walton after allegedly assaulting a delivery driver and two police officers. Merseyside Police officers witnessed the initial attack and detained the woman, who reportedly assaulted an officer and attempted to flee before injuring her arm on a metal fence. She was taken to hospital for treatment and further arrested on suspicion of assaulting emergency workers. The area on Church Road West was cordoned off as forensic teams investigated, and local residents reported hearing shouting and seeing emergency services arrive.