UK

Millions of mobile phone users are being warned of potential text scams in the lead-up to Christmas, peaking today on what is being dubbed “Super Saturday”. The BT-owned EE network has said cyber criminals could try to take advantage of the busy last-minute shopping period to issue delivery-style scams, suggesting parcels are waiting to be

A body has been recovered from the River Tay in the search for a missing woman. Although formal identification is yet to take place, the family of Clare Marshall have been informed. A search was launched for Ms Marshall at the beginning of the week, with specialist help from the Police Scotland helicopter. The 64-year-old

A criminal investigation has been launched into alleged child abduction in connection with Alex Batty – who reappeared this month after going missing six years ago. The investigation has been launched by Greater Manchester Police. Alex, now 17, has returned to the UK after spending years in France and Spain with his mother and grandfather.

Serious concerns have been raised about West Midlands Police, with the force found inadequate in three areas. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said it had concerns about how the police force – the country’s second-largest – investigates crime, protects vulnerable people and manages offenders and suspects. It graded West

COVID-19 infection levels are rising and more people aged 18-44 are catching it than the elderly, new figures suggest. Around 2.5 million people, or one in 24 in England and Scotland, are likely to have tested positive for the illness on 13 December. That equates to around 4.2% of people in private households across the

When Brianna Ghey left home on 11 February, she thought she was going to meet a friend. But in what detectives described as the “ultimate betrayal”, the 16-year-old had been lured from her house that Saturday afternoon by a girl with “murderous intent”. A little more than two hours later Brianna, who was transgender, was

England and Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps has been crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The 30-year-old strung a series of impressive performances as the Lionesses reached the Women’s World Cup final this summer, including a penalty save from Spain’s Jenni Hermoso in the final – a game England lost 1-0. Earps also won

Police are still searching for a missing woman who vanished in Perth. Investigating officers believe Clare Marshall, 64, left the Dundee Road area in the early hours of Monday and may have walked to Moncreiffe Island. Extensive searches within the area and along the River Tay have taken place since the alarm was raised. Specialist

Drivers are falling victim to scams involving fake online parking payment websites, Which? has warned. An investigation by the consumer champion found an increasing number of fake adverts for popular parking apps appearing near the top of online search results. The fake sites impersonate popular parking payment apps to trick drivers into giving away their

Police searching for a 63-year-old man reported missing in Ipswich have found a body. The family of Julian De Bono, who disappeared in the early hours of Sunday last week, have been informed after underwater search teams made the discovery in the River Gipping just after 3pm today. A Suffolk Police spokesman said a post-mortem

The King and Queen have been filmed showing their sense of humour in a documentary tracing the first year of King Charles’s reign. In behind-the-scenes footage of the build-up to last year’s coronation, the couple are seen laughing and joking during dress rehearsals. At one point, the King holds up his robes like wings during

A body has been found after a fire on an industrial estate in South Wales. South Wales Police declared a major incident after it was called to reports of an explosion at a premises shortly after 7pm on Wednesday night. Officers remain at the scene on Treforest Industrial Estate today. Formal identification of the body

A body has been found in the search for missing mother-of-three Gaynor Lord, police say. The 55-year-old was last seen after she left work early at Jarrolds department store in Norwich city centre at 2.45pm on Friday 8 December. Norfolk police said: “Police searching for missing Norwich woman Gaynor Lord can confirm a body has

A teacher was killed after an escaped cow went into “fight mode” and tossed her over a wooden gate, a court has heard. Marian Clode, 61, was out for a walk in Northumberland during the 2016 Easter holidays when a cow charged at her and attacked her three times. She died in Newcastle‘s Royal Victoria

Rishi Sunak has avoided a damaging Tory rebellion over his flagship Rwanda bill in a crunch vote in the Commons. The totemic legislation, which aims to revive the stalled £290m deportation scheme after the Supreme Court ruled it unlawful, has been backed by MPs at its second reading by 313 votes to 269, a majority

A football supporter has been suspended by his club after an alleged “hateful” social media post about Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery was shared online. West Bromwich Albion said in a statement they are “appalled” by the “disgusting” post. The Championship club said it is helping police with their inquiries after hearing about a “hateful social media

Thousands of cancer patients could survive an extra six months at least if the government met its own performance targets for the disease, a leading cancer charity has said. Research by Macmillan Cancer Support has found 64,000 people in the UK diagnosed with cancer over the next five years could live half a year longer

The UK is considering extraditing an American driver who fled the country after a crash that left a British nurse unable to walk. Mystery surrounds exactly who the other driver – 22-year-old Issac Calderon – really is after the victim of the crash was told by police that he had been visiting a British special

Police investigating the murder of a man near a London Tube station almost 40 years ago have made an arrest. Anthony Littler, 45, was found with “catastrophic” head injuries near East Finchley Tube station shortly after midnight on 1 May 1984. His murder was never solved, despite extensive inquiries at the time and further investigations

The festive season may bring back memories of Christmas COVID waves gone by. While restrictions were in place in 2020 and 2021, many were forced to spend Christmas Day alone or isolated from loved ones. In the latter part of this year, virus levels decreased month-on-month, but positivity rates have crept up again with increased