blow

Fresh concerns the UK’s ‘doomsday ship’ could blow up were sparked after a cargo ship was recently spotted sailing perilously close to the exclusion zone

An unassuming seaside town with pastel beach huts and pebble shores is bizarrely home to its very own ticking time bomb.

Situated on the northwest corner of the Isle of Sheppey in north Kent, Sheerness looks like any other coastal resort at first glance. With sweeping views of the Thames Estuary, rows of flashing arcades, a slew of fish and chip shops, and a popular promenade that runs along a shingle beach – it ticks all of the quintessential seaside must-haves.

Dating back to the Bronze Age, Sheerness’ history is what really sets it apart from the rest. It owes much of its origins as a Royal Naval dockyard town, after Henry VIII required the River Medway as an anchorage for his army, and ordered that the mouth of the river be protected by a small fort. Samuel Pepys established the Royal Navy Dockyard in the 17th century, where warships were stocked and repaired until its closure in 1960.

READ MORE: Tiny UK island ‘abandoned by humans’ after ambitious £3m plan axed decades ago

But, in 1944, just a year before the Second World War came to an end, a US Liberty Ship named SS Richard Montgomery, was loaded with around 7,000 tons of munitions and joined over convoys bound for the UK and then on to Cherbourg in France.

After arriving in the Thames Estuary, the vessel was directed to anchor in the Great Nore just off Sheerness to wait for instructions to cross the Channel. However, on August 20, it all went wrong.

“The vessel grounded amidships on the crest of the sandbank. Intensive efforts began to unload her cargo,” GOV UK explains. “Unfortunately, by the next day, a crack appeared in the hull and the forward end began to flood. The salvage effort continued until September 25, by which time approximately half of the cargo had been successfully removed. The salvage effort had to be abandoned when the vessel finally flooded completely.”

Now, the wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery remains on the sandbank, her masts clearly visible above the water. There are still approximately 1,400 tons of explosives contained within the forward holds – sparking fears it could explode at any time.

The government has reassured the public that the risk of a ‘major’ detonation is ‘believed to be remote’ – but that monitoring the condition of the wreck is essential. “Surveys are carried out by the MCA on a regular basis to ensure that any changes to the wreck, or its immediate environment, are discovered quickly,” the Maritime and Coastguard Agency states.

“It is clear from the results of these surveys that the hull is subject to the prevailing environmental conditions and is showing evidence of gradual deterioration. However, the wreck is considered to be in a stable condition.”

The wreck is under 24-hour radar surveillance and is designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973. An exclusion zone is clearly marked around it, but recent fears emerged after a cargo ship was pictured sailing perilously close to the ticking time bomb.

Eastchurch resident James Dewey, who spotted a WEC Lines container ship edging closer to the exclusion zone – marked by buoys, told reports: “It was worrying when I was sitting there looking at doomsday.” Officials confirmed the ship did not breach the exclusion zone, but the event still re-sparked interest in the ship’s potential to wreak havoc.

As previously reported, a 1970 report from the Royal Military College of Science predicted a huge tsunami more than 3,000 metres high would be caused if its payload was to detonate. Nearby Sheerness would also be engulfed in the carnage.

Do you have a story to share? Email us at [email protected] for a chance to be featured.

THE UK economy shrunk in April and by more than expected, official figures show.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Gross Domestic Product (GDP) went down by 0.3% that month.

Services and manufacturing both contributed to the fall.

However GDP still grew over the last three months as a whole, with signs that some activity may have been brought forward from April to earlier in the year.

The figures likely reflect the impact of huge tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

Experts had warned the tariffs could put a dampener on UK sectors including car and steel manufacturers.

It comes after the economy grew by 0.7% in the quarter to March.

At the time, it had grown more than expected.

Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith said: “It’s bad news that growth has fallen but when you introduce a £25billion jobs tax, hike business rates, drive investors overseas and spawn hundreds of pages of extra red tape, lower growth is precisely what you get.

“You can’t tax and spend your way to growth.”

Alex Brooker is facing off the Banker in tonight’s Soccer Aid special

A Deal or No Deal contestant has been dealt a huge blow, losing the £100K jackpot just minutes into the ITV show.

Saturday Night’s (7th June) Soccer Aid episode saw The Last Leg co-host Alex Brooker facing off the Banker, supported by a star-studded panel.

In a bid to win up to £100,000 for UNICEF, Alex gunned for the cash prize assisted by celebrities, including former England player Jill Scott and Irish actor Emmett J. Scanlan.

However, the TV presenter was left devastated when he selected his brother Tom’s box, hoping to strike blue.

Initially optimistic about his choice, Alex told host Stephen Mulhern “I think my brother Tom, number eight, has got 50p in there [the box.”

Tom was equally confident, agreeing with his sibling that the box likely contained 50p. But the duo were dealt a huge blow as Tom opened his box to find £100,000 inside.

The Soccer Aid team was visibly upset, and they were not alone. Viewers have taken to X, formerly Twitter, to echo their frustration at the huge loss.

One penned: “Oh no! The £100K is gone,” while a second voiced out: “£100K gone. I’m furious and raging.”

Other ITV fans were quick to question the star’s process. “Why hasn’t he got a system? Lucky numbers & bad numbers. Looks like he’s just choosing randomly with no strategy,” quipped one.

Despite his early disappointment, Alex later accepted the Banker’s offer of £13,780. The Soccer Aid team was happy with his final deal, with viewers agreeing that “he made the right choice.”

Taking to X, one person praised the final deal, stating: “That’s a lot of money for charity.” Meanwhile, a second fan said: “Well done, Alex. A tremendous amount of vital funds in the bank.”

Started by Robbie Williams in 2006, Soccer Aid for UNICEF is a celebrity football fundraising event, with profits going to UNICEF’s global mission to protect children’s right play.

This year’s game kicks off next Sunday (15th June), with Brooker on the line-up alongside Sir Mo Farah, TV star Bear Grylls, singer Tom Grennan and social media sensation Morgan Burtwistle.

Deal or No Deal Celebrity Special is streaming on ITVX

A popular seaside resort that has grappled with its image in recent years is facing yet another blow, as it seemingly struggles to sell a huge £18.5 million shopping complex

A popular seaside city savagely ranked as one of the UK’s worst has clapped back at claims it has suffered a major blow over a £18.5 million complex.

For many, Bangor – nestled on the coast of Wales and just a stone’s throw from Snowdonia National Park – is a coastal gem wrapped up in nostalgia and natural beauty. Classed as the oldest city in the country, and commonly mistaken as a town, Bangor is filled with a rich history, unique architecture, and an impressive Victorian pier that stretches almost half a kilometre out to sea.

Residents insist their hometown has ‘lots to offer’, but Bangor was sensationally snubbed earlier this year when it was ranked as the worst seaside resort in the whole of the UK. Earning a measly 42 per cent overall destination score, almost 5,000 Which? members gave the destination just one star for its seafront/ pier, food and drink offerings, shopping experience, and tourist attractions. Bangor redeemed itself slightly with its scenery and parking availability.

“It’s disappointing to see Bangor City named as one of the UK’s worst seaside towns,” said Bangor City Council at the time. “Such rankings often fail to capture the full picture and the unique charms that make Bangor City so special.”

However, Bangor’s sliding reputation has recently been cast under the spotlight once more due to the sale of its premier shopping complex, the Menai Centre, which reports describe as another ‘blow’ to the city. Developed back in 2007 by Cathco Property Group – reportedly costing £18.5 million to build – the 130,000 square ft building struggled during the pandemic, which caused almost 80 per cent of its shops to close down.

According to North Wales Live, it was bought by Bearmont Capital back in 2023, who added a bunch of retailers including he Original Factory Shop (TOFS), Greggs, and Hays Travel to the complex. Plans to open a major health centre in the complex in place of the former Debenhams store, using Welsh Government funds, have also been unveiled.

The centre has now been placed up for auction with a guide price of just £4.2 million – a mere fraction of the price it cost to build. However, the sale does not include the Debenhams unit or a linked site, which was sold off a number of years ago. “If no stand out bids are received or bids received are of a similar value then a reserve price will be set on the property and it will be sold via a live online auction (date to be determined subject to Stage 1 of the process),” Savills, who is selling the property, said.

Speaking to the Mirror, a spokesperson for the council stressed that Bangor doesn’t have a beach and has never promoted itself as a ‘seaside resort’ – despite being located near the sea. “Similarly, Bangor does not promote itself as a tourist destination,” they added.

“We do, of course, have interesting attractions, such as St Deiniol’s Cathedral, Garth Pier (which won the National Pier of the Year award in 2022), and the University building, to name a few, and Bangor is an ideal base to visit North Wales’s attractions. However, to consider Bangor as a seaside resort would be flawed and inaccurate. In contrast to the Which survey, another survey found that the people of Bangor as the happiest people in the County.”

The spokesperson added that the council does not consider the sale of the Menai centre as a ‘blow to the city’ as most of the retail units within the complex are ‘occupied on long leases’ that won’t be impacted by the change of ownership. “The sale, several months ago, of the other Bangor shopping centre, namely the Deiniol Centre, has not impacted negatively on the units within it nor on the City and there is no reason to think that this one will,” they stated.

“This year, Bangor is celebrating 1500 since St Deiniol established his religious settlement here and to mark this important milestone, the City has come together and is hosting an ambitious programme of events. It has something for everyone, from a military parade to music concerts, from Bangor’s Across the World Exhibition to a History Festival, from the Summer Festival to the Christmas Festival and much more. The one exception being that Bangor does not have a beach.”

Do you have a story to share? Email us at [email protected] for a chance to be featured.

The Canary Island of Fuerteventura will start charging British holidaymakers a tourist tax if they want to visit its most beautiful locations, officials on the Spanish holiday hotspot have announced

British holidaymakers heading to the Canary Island of Fuerteventura will soon have to fork out a tourist tax if they fancy visiting its most stunning spots.

The island’s government has confirmed it will introduce the charge for the wild beach of Cofete, the awe-inspiring sand dunes of Correlejo and the vast sea caves of Ajuy.

The move will follow the example of Tenerife, which has already started charging visitors to the mountain-top village of Masca and intends to do the same with Mount Teide.

Jessica de León, Minister of Tourism and Employment of the Government of the Canary Islands, has insisted that Fuerteventura “must now be incorporated into the regional debate on the ecotax in protected natural spaces.”

Fuerteventura’s president, Lola Garcia, said the collection of a tourist tax was necessary to raise money for the maintenance of the natural spaces visited by hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers each year.

READ MORE: ‘I’m a Brit living in Benidorm and tourists should avoid these three areas’

In this same framework, the city council of La Oliva is looking at implementing a tourist tax of its own. La Oliva is in the north of the island and is again a hotspot for tourists due to its wealth of history. Ms Garcia has argued that a tourist tax in these specific locations was justified, given the significant impacts of mass tourism.

She added: “The landscape and natural spaces must be protected, in addition to the fact that public institutions must listen to the citizens who, recently, expressed it in the street” through protests across the Canary Islands.

“Now is the time to take measures and decisively, and one of them is the tourist tax.”

The island’s president announced that the tax may be introduced for the beaches of Cofete, within the Jandía Natural Park, the Corralejo Dunes, the Ajuy Caves and the Betancuria Rural Park. A deadline on when they might be introduced has not been set.

Area councillor, David Fajardo, has proposed a minimal fee for visitors to La Oliva. “It would not involve a significant cost for the visitor, but it would allow reinforcing services such as cleaning, environmental conservation or maintenance of public spaces,” he explained. “It is not a collection measure but a tool that aims that each tourist who stays overnight in La Oliva contributes to the improvement and maintenance of our territory.”

READ MORE: Major UK airport unveils upgrade set to transform queue times for BritsREAD MORE: ‘Chaos’ at another Spanish island airport as bins overflow and major queues form

The Canary Islands have arguably been most impacted by the negative effects of too many tourists of anywhere in Spain. In the first quarter of 2025, 4.36 million international visitors made their way to the islands. As a result, angry locals have hit the streets brandishing banners.

Officials in Tenerife are taking action to dampen the impact of overtourism. One such action is a new online booking system for some of the trails in Teide National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site home to Spain’s highest peak. As of this summer, tourists visiting the peak will be charged an ‘eco-tax,’ and security cameras are reportedly being installed to control the park’s visitor numbers.

KYIV’s mayor and former world champion boxer Vitali Klitschko entered the ring with Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of “authoritarianism”.

The former heavyweight blasted the wartime Ukrainian President for paralysing his city with “raids, interrogations and threats of fabricated criminal cases”.

8

8

8

Klitschko said the president’s decision to use martial law to appoint a rival military administration in Kyiv stopped his city from making progress.

The 53-year-old mayor’s claims come after ex-comedian Zelensky was taunted earlier this year by Donald Trump and his right-hand-man JD Vance.

The Don tripled down on his criticism of Zelensky in a blistering Truth Social rampage in February, branding the Ukrainian President a “dictator” and a “moderately successful” comedian.

And just days after that, a furious Trump dramatically booted Zelensky out of the White House amid a seething row over US backing of the Ukraine war, sparking global chaos.

Trump has also accused wartime hero Zelensky of “refusing to have elections” – despite this being normal protocol under martial law.

Klitschko’s allegations towards Zelensky of authoritarianism come as his Kyiv administration faces a string of arrests.

Some of Klitschko’s deputies have been purged by the national anti-corruption bureau under an operation called Clean City.

The probe has exposed widespread corruption under the mayor’s watch – and seven of his subordinates have so far been arrested, with another three under investigation.

The former athlete has now lashed out at Zelensky, saying that the work of his city council has been plagued by fake criminal cases and threats.

He says that these hampered the ability of Kyiv authorities to make key decisions.

Kyiv’s mayor told The Times: “This is a purge of democratic principles and institutions under the guise of war.

“I said once that it smells of authoritarianism in our country. Now it stinks.”

He also accused President Zelensky of using military administrations across the country to take power from elected mayors.

This is not the first time ex-sportsman Klitschko – who is also said to have presidential ambitions – has called out his rival Zelensky.

The Kyiv mayor called out the Ukrainian President in February amid stalling peace negotiations.

Zelensky then hit back at the boxing champ, saying: “Klitschko is a great athlete, but I didn’t know he was a great speaker.”

8

8

8

Klitschko said that his recent criticism of Zelensky has been protected by his celebrity status.

“Many of the mayors are intimidated, but my celebrity status is a protection,” he explained.

“You can fire the mayor of Chernihiv, but it is very difficult to fire the mayor of the capital who the whole world knows.”

He added: “That is why everything is being done to discredit and ruin my reputation.”

Political scientist Volodymyr Fesenko said that the conflict betwene the two rivals goes deeper.

The expert said it reflected concern about abuse of city funds in wartime, calling it a “response to manifestations of corruption in the Kyiv city administration”.

He told The Times: “During the war money should go primarily to defence, to protect the country, yet there is all this construction.”

Questioning the corruption in Kyiv, he added: “In some other cities, even stadiums are being built.

“In the Donbas there are large landscaping projects. The frontline is near by, and the money is not going to defensive structures, but to greenery.”

Kyiv locals have been baffled as luxury flats keep popping up instead of shelters or schools — often built on public land using a dodgy “toilet loophole”.

This starts with setting up a par-per-use toilet for example, to then receive something similar to squatters’ rights.

Many of the ten Kyiv officials under investigation have been charged with corruption relating to the approval of these land permits.

Klitschko’s ex-deputy has been charged with taking bribes to help war conscripts escape, while a former city councillor accused of embezzlement has fled to Austria.

He responded to claims of corruption under his watch, saying that he had sacked eight of the officials being investigated.

“I have 4,500 employees in this building alone and about 300,000 employees working for the city,” he said.

“Corruption cases sometimes happen, but we react harshly and quickly.”

He added: “We co-operate with law enforcement, provide all the necessary information and hope for an impartial investigation of all cases.”

Klitshcko’s main rival in Kyiv, Tymur Tkachenko, has slated the mayor for showing “weakness” during wartime.

Tkachenko told The Times: “Mr Klitschko could not close the brothel in the basement of the same building where he lives.”

He was referring to Tootsies, a notorious strip club raided and shut down by the security service last month as part of an investigation into sex trafficking. 

Klitschko hit back at claims he was tied to the strip club which is near a hotel complex he owns, calling it a “lie” meant to smear him.

8

8

WASHINGTON — How can Congress cut Medicaid without explicitly cutting Medicaid?

That has been a years-long dilemma facing fiscal conservatives in the Republican Party who have sought cuts to the country’s deficit-driving social safety net programs, including Medicaid, Social Security and Medicare, without generating political fallout from the tens of millions of Americans who will suffer the consequences.

Now, GOP lawmakers have settled on a strategy, outlined in legislation expected to pass the House in the coming days amid ongoing negotiations over the package that President Trump is calling his “Big Beautiful Bill.”

Rather than lowering the income eligibility limit for coverage — an old policy proposal that would cut off Americans at the higher end of the eligibility range — Trump’s bill will instead require applicants to provide proof of their work hours and apply for specific exceptions, creating new barriers for individuals to maintain insurance.

House passage of the bill is far from assured, and the Senate will still have its say. But if it does become law, the policy would affect more than 71 million of the poorest Americans, more of whom live in California than any other state.

Barriers to entry are the point

If everyone eligible under the new work requirements were to apply for and receive Medicaid coverage, the cost savings to the government would be minimal. But the barriers themselves are the point, making it more likely that people with a right to Medicaid won’t ultimately receive it, experts said.

“If you want to make a substantial cut to the program, how do you do that in a systematic way?” said Matt Bruenig, founder of People’s Policy Project and a former lawyer at the National Labor Relations Board.

“With the work requirements, the number of people who seem to be actually ineligible because of it is quite small — so if it actually is perfectly administrated, you’re not going to see a whole lot of savings,” Bruenig said. “But if it’s not well administrated and it creates all these problems, then you could see significant savings.”

Existing government programs, such as Social Security, unemployment and supplemental nutrition assistance for women, infants and children, determine eligibility for those benefits based on an individual’s income. But creating a new set of criteria for Medicaid based on hours worked will require a new reporting system that is not outlined in the bill.

“We have all these systems that are based around making sure people have the earnings that they can report to all these agencies, but you don’t really report hours in any context,” Bruenig added. “Monthly hours — that’s just not a thing. And it’s not clear how that’s going to work, at all.”

Who counts as ‘waste, fraud and abuse’?

Trump and members of the House Freedom Caucus, a group of Republican fiscal hawks, have argued for a strict hourly work requirement to eliminate “waste, fraud and abuse” in Medicaid by cutting off unproductive individuals from government benefits.

But exemptions suggested in the draft legislation — parents caring for young children or elderly parents, individuals dealing with health issues, those between jobs — reflect the range of reasons why Medicaid recipients may fall below the proposed hourly requirement. And each time an exception arises, individuals will have to refile, increasing the likelihood they will simply let their coverage lapse.

It also will force working individuals who would otherwise be eligible — such as Americans working gig jobs for DoorDash or Uber, for example — to account for hours worked transiting between jobs that don’t generate receipts.

“They just are not finding very much at all,” said John Schmitt, a senior research fellow at the Center for Economic and Policy Research and a senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute, when asked whether ineligible individuals are routinely receiving Medicaid.

“The real problems are not with individuals taking advantage of Medicaid,” Schmitt added. “It is with healthcare providers taking advantage of Medicaid, in the sense of the way they bill and provide services to people. And that is not going to be changed in any way, whatsoever, by imposing a work requirement.”

The Congressional Budget Office said it is these Medicaid recipients who will either fall behind or grow fed up with the paperwork, resulting in 7.6 million losing coverage under the plan and saving the federal government roughly $800 billion.

California will be hit hardest

The effects of Medicaid cuts will be felt nationwide, but most pointedly in states that expanded Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act. On that score, Democratic states such as California lead the way.

A state assessment published Sunday found the GOP bill would “cause serious harm to California’s health care system,” possibly resulting in up to 3.4 million residents losing coverage.

No state has more workers on Medicaid than California, where 18% of its workforce receives benefits from the program, according to a study from the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

“Millions will lose coverage, hospitals will close, and safety nets could collapse under the weight,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “We must sound the alarm because the stakes couldn’t be higher.”

But the political stakes are high for Republicans as well.

Stephen K. Bannon, a former campaign aide and White House strategist to Trump, warned in recent days that the party has “gotta be careful” with Medicaid, given its widespread use among low-income GOP voters.

“A lot of MAGAs are on Medicaid, I’m telling you,” Bannon said on his podcast. “If you don’t think so, you are dead wrong.”

Trump, for his part, seems of two minds on the matter. Cuts to Medicaid, as well as to food stamp programs and green energy tax benefits, will be required to get the bill passed with support from the Freedom Caucus, which says the renewal of tax cuts initially passed in the first Trump administration must be offset with savings elsewhere.

“Here’s what I want on Medicaid: We’re not touching anything,” Trump said Tuesday, taking questions from reporters on Capitol Hill. “All I want is one thing. Three words. We don’t want any waste, fraud or abuse. Very simple — waste, fraud, abuse.”

But in a private meeting with GOP lawmakers, his guidance was sharper. “Don’t f— around with Medicaid,” the president reportedly said.

What else you should be reading

The must-read: White House pushes for quick approval of ‘big, beautiful bill,’ but key hurdles remain
The deep dive: Villaraigosa blasts Harris and Becerra for not speaking out about Biden’s decline
The L.A. Times Special: Congressional leaders call for streamlined visa process ahead of World Cup, L.A. Olympics

More to come,
Michael Wilner
—
Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here to get it in your inbox.

A GANGSTER jailed for plotting to blow up a football stadium has lost his bid to stay in Britain — but is still here.

Maksim Cela, 59, claimed returning to Albania would put him at risk from rivals.

1

His claims were thrown out by a judge on Friday after a two-year fight costing taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds.

But the crook, who arrived in 2023, five days after serving a sentence for murder and terrorism in Albania, has not left and launched yet another appeal.

Cela argued sending him home breached European human rights laws.

But Judge Jeremy Rintoul of the Upper Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber said: “I do not accept that the appellant has told the truth about the nature of the threats.

“I find that the appellant’s refusal to acknowledge guilt weighs heavily against him.”

Cela was jailed in Albania for masterminding the murder of a crime-busting police officer and plotting to bomb a football stadium.

In his legal battle, he claimed the elderly mum of the dead officer might seek revenge.

He was named as the mafia boss in the case only after The Sun fought for 23 months to overturn an anonymity order.

Sources last night confirmed Cela was still in the UK and had lodged another legal appeal.

The Home Office said: “Foreign nationals who commit heinous crimes should be in no doubt we will do everything to make sure they are not free on Britain’s streets.”

It remained unclear last night where Cela was living — but he can remain here while his appeal is being prepared.

A famous UK seaside resort grappling with anti-social behaviour and constant smells of drugs has seen its high-acclaimed beach lose out on a prestigious award this year

The faultless reputation of one of the UK’s most iconic seaside resorts has taken a tumble after its three-mile beach was stripped of a prestigious award. Situated in the heart of the Jurassic Coast, and surrounded by lush Dorset countryside – Weymouth attracts a staggering two million day trippers every single year.

Steeped in history and boasting a charming town centre, the resort’s pièce de résistance has often been its golden sand beach.

“Weymouth’s sheltered bay, gradual sloping seabed and exquisite waters offer swimmers, bathers and water sports enthusiasts idyllic and safe conditions to suit every taste,” hailed Visit Dorset, the area’s official tourist board. “The internationally recognised beach is a frequent host to festivals, sporting championships and a wide range of events for all to enjoy.”

Weymouth Central Beach, which has often been regarded as one of the best slices of coast in Europe, was even frequented by King George III in the late 1700s. But, after its water quality was downgraded from ‘excellent’ to ‘good’ by the Environment Agency at the end of 2024, Weymouth has waved goodbye to its Blue Flag status.

READ MORE: ‘Deserted’ UK beach boasts three-miles of golden sand but getting there isn’t easy

Earlier this year, Matt Bell, chair of Weymouth Town Council’s Environment and Services Committee, described the review as ‘disappointing’. The council is reportedly working with agencies to tackle its dip in water quality to ‘improve the situation’.

Despite being robbed of the accolade, Weymouth Beach was given a Seaside Award – which aims to recognise ‘quality and diversity’ and focuses more on well-managed, clean beaches as opposed to factors like water quality. “We are delighted to be awarded the prestigious Seaside Award for another year. Weymouth Beach is such a fantastic resource for our residents,” Weymouth Town Council’s Town Clerk Jane Biscombe said, according to the BBC.

However, losing its Blue Flag gong isn’t the only problem plaguing the region. As previously reported, swathes of business owners and residents claim their home is being ruined by ‘moronic’ anti-social behaviour, and the constant stink of drugs.

Want the latest travel news and cheapest holiday deals sent straight to your inbox? Sign up to our Travel Newsletter

“It’s definitely got worse,” argues Lee Waugh, 57, a military veteran who has lived in Weymouth since his teenage years. “The levels of the problems seem to be higher. For example, we need tables out the front to showcase our clothes and bring people into the shop, but opportunists steal them. It’s a catch 22. It’s a problem in town – groups can cause mayhem.”

Lee also spoke of the issue of smell, saying that the drugs in the area are now extremely obvious and off-putting due to the infamous smell once lit. “There’s a lot of weed – you can smell it,” he added. “People don’t even hide it through town, they’re walking up and down the street with it.”

Janet and David Dye, 67 and 71, are from Basildon, Essex, but frequently visit their son who lives in the town. They too have noticed a decline in the town’s reputation, and argue weed is the ‘main problem’. “If you are drinking a bottle of beer in the street, the police should stop you and tell you to tip it out – that’s supposed to be the law,” David said. “But a lot of the time they won’t, until someone complains that they’re drunk.”

The Mirror contacted Dorset Police back in April this year to ask what was being done to tackle anti-social behaviour in Weymouth. It pointed to its Safer Street Partnership, an initiative backed by several organisations including Dorset Council Community Safety Team, which tries to not only identify those causing disruption on the streets, but to help rehabilitate them.

“Over the last five years reported anti-social behaviour in the town centre has reduced by over 40 per cent,” stated Sam Goom, Inspector for Weymouth and Portland Neighbourhood Policing Team. “The Safer Street Partnership is an integral part of that success.

“Our collaborative effort to tackle street-based ASB has made a huge difference – our partners work extremely hard to find long-term solutions. They are a great bunch, and I am thankful for their continued commitment. There is always more to do but definite progress is being made.”

Do you have a story to share? Email us at [email protected] for a chance to be featured.