Rachael Mcmenemy

Police in St Neots seized an Evri delivery van after finding that its self-employed driver lacked insurance and a valid driving licence. About 100 parcels were inside, and Cambridgeshire Police said the van’s badly worn tyres would likely have prevented successful delivery regardless. Evri said it was investigating and expected most parcels to arrive within its normal five-day target.

A barn owl found exhausted about 70 miles offshore was rescued after landing on a British Army sailing boat competing in a race around Britain and Ireland. The crew, who named it Little Reg, kept the bird safe and warm for 24 hours before the Caister Independent Lifeboat transferred it to shore. Wildlife rescuers believe it may have reached the sea after roosting on a fishing vessel. At the RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre, the dehydrated and underweight owl was rehydrated, fed and scheduled for veterinary assessment, with hopes of a full recovery and return to the wild.

Harwich Redoubt, a Grade II*-listed coastal fort in Essex, has received more than £360,000 for repairs after leaks, moat-wall damage and extensive vegetation led to its inclusion on Historic England’s at-risk register. Historic England is providing £119,212 and the National Lottery Heritage Fund £246,538. The Harwich Society, which operates the monument, says the funding will support essential conservation work and create opportunities for volunteering and public learning. Built between 1808 and 1810 as part of the defences against a possible Napoleonic invasion, the fort was later used as barracks and during World War Two before being saved from demolition in the 1960s.

Fourteen-year-old astronomer Aston Smith organized a solar-eclipse watch party on his housing estate in Overstone, Northamptonshire, attracting hundreds of neighbours. He set up two telescopes, distributed 400 pairs of eclipse glasses, helped make viewing devices and led experiments measuring light levels and temperature. The event also raised more than £400 for UK Astronomy, while Aston’s family and neighbours highlighted his longstanding passion for stargazing and his ambition to work for SpaceX.

A wildfire that devastated about 150 hectares of heathland at Dunwich Heath and the neighboring RSPB Minsmere reserve has exposed unexploded World War Two ordnance, prompting warnings to stay away. The National Trust says unstable ground, hot ash, collapsing trees, damaged cliffs and the risk of flare-ups continue to make the site dangerous, while full hazard assessments may take weeks. Minsmere has partially reopened, but Dunwich Heath remains closed. A recovery appeal has raised more than £600,000.

A wildfire that devastated about 150 hectares of Dunwich Heath and nearby RSPB Minsmere has exposed unexploded World War Two ordnance and left unstable ground, heated burrows, unsafe trees and potentially weakened cliffs. The National Trust is keeping Dunwich Heath closed while specialist teams make explosives safe and assess the damage, a process expected to take weeks. RSPB Minsmere has partially reopened, and the National Trust is urging visitors to stay away, support nearby Dunwich businesses and contribute to its recovery appeal, which has raised more than £600,000.

Laura, a 36-year-old lupus patient from Norfolk, says experimental CAR-T cell therapy delivered at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge has transformed her life after two decades of severe symptoms and unsuccessful treatments. The therapy removes and genetically modifies immune cells before returning them after chemotherapy, aiming to reset the immune system. Laura reports being able to walk, work and socialize more easily, although she still has occasional bad days. A second phase of the clinical trial is due to begin, and lupus specialist David Jayne says her case had been unusually resistant to standard treatment.

A fundraising appeal to restore Dunwich Heath after a 371-acre wildfire has raised £350,000 toward an initial £500,000 target. The National Trust estimates that the reserve will need at least two years of intensive recovery work, including safety assessments, habitat restoration and repairs to visitor facilities. Around 600 Suffolk firefighters, supported by crews from 18 other services, continue to monitor hotspots and underground fires, while local farmers and voluntary organizations have assisted the emergency response.

A fundraiser to restore Dunwich Heath after a wildfire destroyed 371 acres has raised £350,000 in four days toward the National Trust’s initial £500,000 target. The site, which also affected RSPB Minsmere, is expected to require at least two years of intensive recovery work, including safety checks, habitat restoration and repairs to visitor facilities. Hundreds of firefighters from Suffolk and across the UK continue monitoring underground hotspots, while local farmers and voluntary organizations supported containment and emergency operations.

The family of murdered Conservative MP Sir David Amess says an independent government review must provide full answers about the circumstances leading to his death and identify ways to prevent future attacks. Amess was stabbed at a constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea in October 2021 by Ali Harbi Ali, who received a whole-life sentence. The review, led by former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland KC, will examine missed Prevent interventions, policing and Home Office documents, court and coronial records, and other evidence. It is expected to conclude within six months and report to the Home Secretary before its findings are given to the family.

A sea-safety programme run by Tendring District Council has enrolled 422 children in Clacton this year, more than 100 above last year’s total. The sessions teach children about tides, currents, winds, underwater hazards, survival tactics and how to seek help. Increased participation follows four deaths on the Essex coast this summer, including three members of one family at West Mersea and a man at Frinton-on-Sea. Parents and organisers urge both local residents and holidaymakers to learn that sea swimming carries different risks from swimming in a pool.

A man in his 50s is in critical but stable condition after three people got into difficulty in the water near Clacton Pier. A man in his 20s and a teenage girl are also in hospital and recovering well. Essex Police said the three knew each other and urged people not to comment on social media. The incident followed the deaths of a mother and daughter in a separate water rescue in West Mersea earlier in the week.

A man in his 50s is in critical but stable condition after three people got into difficulty in the water near Clacton Pier in Essex. A man in his 20s and a teenage girl, who knew the man, are also in hospital and recovering well. Essex Police said emergency services responded shortly after 16:30 BST and urged people not to speculate on social media. The incident followed the deaths of a mother and teenage daughter in a separate West Mersea water incident earlier in the week.

Twenty firefighters were taken to hospital after a fire at an industrial site at Highlands Farm near Rettendon, Essex, spread to a fertiliser store and caused a major explosion. Four firefighters suffered minor injuries, while 16 were assessed as a precaution; all were later discharged. More than 100 firefighters responded, three fire engines and two service cars were destroyed, and a major incident was declared. The cause remains under investigation, with crews continuing recovery and dampening-down operations.

A fire at an industrial unit at Highlands Farm near Rettendon, Essex, spread to a fertiliser store and caused a major explosion. Twenty firefighters were taken to hospital; four suffered minor injuries and 16 were assessed as a precaution, with all later discharged. More than 100 firefighters responded, three engines and two service cars were destroyed, and an investigation into the cause is under way.

Donations of sandbags, hardcore and topsoil from the A14 Nene Viaduct maintenance project enabled the creation of a new garden at The Veterans Cottage in Corby. Designed by former soldier Garry Wall, the space now offers seating, fragrance and a calming environment for veterans and their families. National Highways staff described the contribution as a valuable way to support the local community, while the charity’s founder said the materials transformed the garden into a welcoming meeting place.

An NHS trust will assume care for 287 inpatients at St Andrew's Healthcare in Northampton after investigations into safeguarding, safety and financial concerns. NHS England ordered the transfer following enforcement action and continued doubts about patient safety, supported by troubling findings from the Care Quality Commission. The Charity Commission and police are also investigating the charity. Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust will take over services from mid‑September, with some facilities leased as part of the transition.