More than 30 customers across the south of England claim they lost nearly £500,000 in total after paying deposits to South Coast Construction (Sussex) Ltd (SCC) for building work that was not delivered. Sussex Police are investigating reports of alleged fraud, while the company's director has strongly denied deliberately scamming customers.
Summary headline: Dozens scammed out of £500,000 by South Coast Construction (Sussex) Ltd
Craig Sullivan, a 45-year-old father from Nottinghamshire, was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer a year after experiencing initial stomach pain that was first attributed to irritable bowel syndrome. Following chemotherapy and subsequent spread of the cancer to his liver, he is now on a palliative care pathway. His family and friends are raising £50,000 for private treatment options not available on the NHS.
Summary headline: I wish we'd pushed sooner, says wife of cancer patient
Six-month-old Ralph was diagnosed days after birth with junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB), a rare genetic disorder that causes skin to tear or blister at the slightest touch. His parents, Ciara and Lewis, learned how to manage the condition through daily bandaging and specialized care routines. Ciara has now launched a petition calling for increased government funding and research into rare skin conditions to find a better treatment or cure, prompting a response from the Department of Health and Social Care regarding its existing funding commitments.
Summary headline: Parents campaign for more research after baby is diagnosed with rare butterfly skin condition
Following a successful pilot scheme in York that distributed potty-training guides and held workshops for parents, 20 local authorities across England are set to adopt similar initiatives. The York pilot resulted in a 43% drop in the number of children starting school without being fully toilet-trained, freeing up teachers to spend more time on education.
Summary headline: Potty-training scheme to expand to 20 more areas across England following success in York
Supporters of jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan have begun a long march from the north-west towards the capital, Islamabad, demanding his release and proper medical care. Around 5,000 people from Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party took to the streets after talks between the government and party leaders ended in deadlock. Authorities in Islamabad have blocked key access routes using shipping containers, while political tensions and disputes over negotiations and Khan's health continue.
Summary headline: Supporters of jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan march towards Islamabad
A team of 10 engineering students from Queen's University Belfast is travelling to Florida to compete in NASA's international Lunabotics competition. The students designed and built a 52 kg aluminium rover capable of autonomously navigating a lunar-simulated environment, digging up material, and building walls. Having won a preliminary competition in Milton Keynes, they will represent the UK and Europe at the University of Central Florida against international university teams.
Summary headline: Queen's University Belfast students head to US for NASA robotics competition
The US Coast Guard has ended its search for survivors after a medical transport aircraft travelling from Bermuda to Boston went missing off the coast of Nantucket. Operator Latitude Air Ambulance confirmed that all six people on board—four Canadian nationals and two Bermudian nationals comprising crew, a patient, and a family escort—are presumed dead. Authorities located a debris field from the Gulfstream G-100 plane, which lost contact with the FAA following reports of an emergency and communication issues.
Summary headline: All six people presumed dead after medical flight goes missing off US coast
Queen's University Belfast (QUB) has instructed staff to review existing or proposed collaborations involving the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI) following a warning from MI5. The UK security service cautioned that UK universities may have unintentionally assisted Chinese espionage through projects funded by the Ministry of State Security via CGTRI, potentially exposing researchers to criminal charges if they fail to cut ties. A Chinese Embassy spokesperson dismissed the accusations as fabricated, while QUB confirmed it is taking the national security warning seriously.
Summary headline: Queen's University Belfast asks staff to review China partnerships following MI5 security warning
Thames Valley Police have opened an arson investigation following a fire that severely damaged an unoccupied 18th Century Grade II-listed building known as The Bury in Church Street, Chesham. Emergency services were called to the scene in the early hours of Thursday morning, with around 11 fire crews and approximately 70% of the three-storey structure being affected. No arrests have been made as enquiries continue.
Summary headline: Police launch arson investigation after fire damages 18th Century building in Chesham
A man was rescued by firefighters from a partially collapsed house in Waltham Abbey, Essex, after a car crashed into it late at night. Emergency services responded to the scene on Ninefields shortly before 23:00 BST on Friday. A man was arrested on suspicion of being unfit through drink or drugs and taken to hospital, while a woman was taken for a precautionary assessment and another man was rescued from the rear of the property using a ladder.
Actor Lenny Rush played a crucial role in adapting Eric Morecambe's children's novel, The Reluctant Vampire, into a BBC television series after attempts to bring the book to the screen stalled for decades. Gary Morecambe, the comedian's son, stated that securing Rush as the star allowed the project to finally move forward. The series, adapted by Neil and Rob Gibbons, features Rush as Val, a character who believes he is a vampire but discovers he is human.
Summary headline: Actor Lenny Rush helps bring Eric Morecambe's children's book to television after 35 years
Pop star Olly Murs has been announced as the first headliner for the new four-day On The Beach music festival in Great Yarmouth, taking place from 17 to 20 June 2027. It marks the first expansion of the Brighton-based festival brand to a sister venue and is expected to be the first large-scale staged event on the beach since the noughties.
Summary headline: Great Yarmouth to host On The Beach music festival in June 2027
Antingham and Southrepps Primary School in Norfolk is celebrating its 200th year of history. Built in 1826 by Lord Suffield to educate estate workers' children, the school marked the milestone with past and present pupils, former headteachers, and local community members.
Summary headline: Antingham and Southrepps Primary School celebrates its 200th anniversary
A mother from north Northamptonshire has raised about £1,265 to install a mental health support bench along the Embankment in Wellingborough. Anne-Marie organised the initiative in memory of her ex-partner, who took his own life in 2024, and through her community group The Seddon Legacy Project. The bench features contact numbers, a reading light, and QR codes linking to 24-hour support services, aiming to show struggling individuals that they are not alone.
Summary headline: Mum fundraises to install mental health support bench in Wellingborough
Young people studying in Kettering have spoken out against the label 'snowflake', arguing that it dismisses the genuine challenges, mental distress, and economic uncertainties their generation faces. Experts and politicians have weighed in on the debate, noting that while young people encounter modern pressures such as social media and the legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic, questions remain around resilience and the potential over-medicalisation of normal life stress. Educational facilities like Tresham College have responded by introducing new wellbeing spaces to support students.
Summary headline: Young people in Kettering hit back at being called 'snowflakes' amid rising mental health concerns
Peterborough City Council's cabinet has approved a £5.38m revamp of Eye Church of England Primary School to improve facilities, including a new car park, reception area, access road, and dedicated special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision.
Summary headline: Cabinet approves £5.38m Peterborough school expansion plans
A round-up of the best photographs and news stories from across the West features a giant cardboard pier in Weston-super-Mare, a world-record-breaking cucumber from Gloucestershire, and signs of autumn appearing across the counties.
Summary headline: West in Pictures: Cardboard pier art and misty mornings across the region
A collection of reader-submitted photographs highlighting the autumn scenery and wildlife across the West Midlands, including pumpkin patches in Wolverhampton, grazing cows in Worcestershire, and geese in Staffordshire.
Summary headline: BBC News feature showcasing reader photographs from the West Midlands
A Coventry resident named Mary Courtney created a temporary art display and protest banner after growing frustrated by a large fly-tip near her home that included bottles filled with urine. Following weeks of unsuccessful reports to the council and local representatives, she shared the artwork online, prompting city enforcement officers to clear the waste shortly afterwards.
Summary headline: Coventry woman creates art installation to get fly-tipped urine bottles cleared
Domestic abuse survivors in England and Wales have expressed fear and anger as the government implements an early prison release scheme to tackle jail overcrowding. Around 700 offenders were released in the first wave, with thousands more expected. Survivors, charities, and police officials have raised concerns regarding victim safety, support disparities, and increased pressure on police workloads, while the Ministry of Justice defended the scheme by citing strict monitoring and the necessity of preventing prison overcrowding.
Summary headline: Domestic abuse survivors fear for their safety under government's early prison release scheme
