Shop numbers return to growth after years of decline, say experts UK high streets and shopping destinations are showing signs of recovery as more than 13 retail stores opened each week over the past year, according to new figures. However, England and Wales have still seen more than 6,000 retail premises vanish from local communities
Wildfire forces evacuations of suburbs in French city of Bordeaux Authorities in France have evacuated some suburbs of Bordeaux as a massive wildfire shifted toward the city. The prefect of the Gironde region ordered the evacuation in the early hours of Saturday, covering parts of three of the city’s western suburbs, including its airport. “As
English gymnast Gabriel Langton suffers horrific fall at Commonwealth Games A horror injury to England’s Gabriel Langton overshadowed his team’s silver medal in the men’s team gymnastics final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Langton, who replaced multiple Olympic medallist Max Whitlock in the team earlier this month, fell off the high bar after missing
Scottish Government holds response meeting after Cairngorms wildfire evacuation First Minister John Swinney has chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Room (SGoRR) after homes were evacuated amid a wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park. People in the Nethy Bridge area were evacuated as a precaution after Police Scotland declared the blaze a major
Firefighters to continue tackling industrial units blaze into weekend Firefighters will continue tackling a large industrial unit blaze in Essex into the weekend after a major incident was declared and residents were evacuated. Fire crews were called to the blaze on Southend Road, between East Hanningfield and Rettendon, at 4.50pm on Friday, according to Essex
Met rolls out new testing kits to crack down on illegal e-bikes and e-scooters New testing kits are being rolled out by the Metropolitan Police to crack down on illegal e-bikes and e-scooters, with a record number of the vehicles seized so far in 2026. The Met seized 29 e-bikes and seven e-scooters by Tottenham
200,000 people flee wildfires in France and Spain as some leave by boat Massive forest fires forced the evacuation of some 200,000 people in south-western France and central Spain, with residents fleeing towns near Madrid and Bordeaux as the flames raged out of control. Firefighters and authorities in both European countries were caught off guard
Police vessel carrying armed officers crashes on Thames Five police officers have been injured after a number had to be recovered from the River Thames when their boat hit Westminster Bridge, the Metropolitan Police said. A police boat carrying armed officers has crashed near Westminster Bridge in central London, police sources have said. Casualties could
Millions of motorists set for long journeys as summer getaways continue Millions of motorists are set for long journeys over the next week as summer getaways continue. The AA said around 6.3 million drivers are planning a road trip of more than 100 miles between Friday and Thursday. Schools have broken up for the summer
Andy Burnham to host first meeting at No 10 North in Manchester Whitehall resistance to devolution is “over for good”, the Prime Minister has said ahead of his first meeting at the new No 10 North. Andy Burnham is expected to work from the site in Manchester once each week during his premiership. He will