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ONE low-cost airline that flies from the UK will be testing out a new seating option – to block the middle seat.

Passengers willing to pay a little more for the perk will no longer have to squeeze next to someone on the aircraft.

Wizz Air is launching middle seat free options from December 2025 as part of a test.

Essentially the airline is targeting ‘low-cost’ business travellers who want extra space to work on a flight but don’t want to pay such a high premium.

The new system will allow travellers to ‘block’ the middle seat next to them from being booked.

The new initiative is called ‘Wizz Class’ and was unveiled by the airline at a media event on October 28.

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Unlike other airlines which have cabins dedicated to business class, there won’t be any reconfiguration for Wizz Class.

In fact, Wizz Class is likely only to be possible in the first front row of seats that has extra legroom.

The announcement also suggested that no other perks, like lounge access or meals, would be included.

Michael Delehant, Senior Chief Commercial and Operations Officer explained that the move comes off the back of requests from front-row passengers.

And the new idea has landed well with some customers, one person said: “Love it. Blocked middle seat is something that makes flying economy bearable. But this should extend to more than just the first row.”

Another added: “Blocking seats in the first row is nice. It compensates for the lack of storage space in front of the seating. It also gives you the opportunity to be first off on landing. I would pay extra for that.”

Wizz Class won’t be available on all flights, but will be rolled out on certain journeys from its hubs in Bucharest, Budapest, London, Rome, and Warsaw.

Another product Wizz Air is testing is lightweight onboard connectivity solutions called ‘Wizz Play’.

This is to appease the business traveller, but also other passengers as it hopes to provide a service so customers can use online messaging and streaming.

The airline is also launching a third wave of its ‘All You Can Fly‘ membership.

It’s making space for another 10,000 memberships across 34 countries.

The cost for signing up is €499 (£439.31) but the membership includes unlimited flights for 12 months across 950 routes and 53 countries.

Although there is a €9.99 (£8.80) booking fee each time.

It’s a popular scheme with frequent passengers saving hundreds on flights.

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Here’s more on Wizz Air’s newly relaunched ‘All You Can Fly’ membership.

Plus, more on flights as Wizz Air launches new flight routes from UK to 5 top Spanish destinations.

This seaside town has a reputation for being one of the country’s most expensive but I was forced to second-guess my assumptions

When I arrived at this seaside town, I expected the usual trappings of a millionaire’s coastal enclave: quiet streets, immaculate homes and the faint sense that everything is just a little too polished. After all, this New Forest harbour town is one of the most expensive coastal spots in Britain, with average house prices more than double the national average at £600,000, Express reports.

I was expecting it to be the kind of place where second homes outnumber locals, where the shops sell handmade dog treats, and where residents drive the kind of cars that never seem to gather dust. But as I wandered its cobbled streets and Georgian lanes, it became clear that Lymington in Hampshire doesn’t fit that stereotype.

For all its quiet wealth and picture-perfect charm, the town felt unexpectedly alive. What surprised me most wasn’t the grandeur of the homes or the sparkle of the Solent. It was the sense of community that seemed to ripple through everything. Even in a place where many doors stay closed for much of the year, there’s warmth and connection that you can feel as soon as you arrive.

Taking a stroll down the High Street on market day, the stretch of road transforms into a bustling corridor of colour and conversation. Locals chat across stalls piled high with artisan bread, handmade soaps and the day’s catch from the nearby quay. There’s the smell of roasted coffee from one of the independent cafes and the sound of a busker’s guitar drifting between the Georgian facades.

Down by the quay, children crouch on the old stone walls, dangling lines and bacon rinds into the water in hopes of catching crabs. The chatter of families mixes with the clang of yacht masts in the marina. Behind them, pubs like The Ship Inn and The Mayflower are full with people swapping stories over pints, as they’ve done for generations.

A few streets away, tucked behind the main road, small galleries and bookshops hum with quiet trade. And that’s the contradiction that makes Lymington fascinating. There’s no denying that many homes sit empty for large parts of the year. Walk along Captain’s Row or past the elegant townhouses near Bath Road, and you’ll spot drawn curtains and pristine gardens with not a footprint in sight. Yet somehow, the town refuses to feel hollow. Residents talk about the issue openly.

“It’s frustrating,” admits Adam Stote, 55, who recently downsized to a smaller property near the river. “We all wish more homes were lived in full-time. But the people who are here, we make up for it. There’s a real community and everyone looks out for each other.”

Part of that may come from the setting itself. The Solent glitters on one side, the New Forest rolls in from the other, and in between, Lymington feels cocooned, almost self-contained. It’s a place where the pace slows, where people stop to talk, and where heritage feels more like a habit than a history lesson.

Unlike other luxury coastal enclaves, the flash of Sandbanks, the celebrity polish of Salcombe, Lymington’s wealth whispers rather than shouts. Residents here seem to gladly trade glistening supercars and infinity pools for sea salt-dusted climbing ivy on weathered bricks. This difference adds to the town’s traditional character, from the quirky antique shops to the long-running St Barbe Museum and community theatre. Even the famous seawater baths, dating back to the 19th century, are run by locals who fought to keep them open.

Of course, Lymington isn’t perfect. The housing market prices out young families and parking is an eternal headache. As I walked back toward the train station, the tide was slipping out of the harbour and the sky had turned gold over the masts. It may be one of the most expensive seaside towns in Britain, but it’s also one of the few that still feels like a community first, and a postcard second.

A well-known airline has launched a new scheme which allows travellers place a bid to keep the seat next to them free on both domestic and international short-haul flights

Great news if you hate being bunched up next to strangers while flying – a major airline is now allowing passengers to bid to keep the seat next to them empty.

This handy new scheme, launched by Virgin Australia, will allow flight passengers to have two seats instead of one. The ‘Neighbour-Free Seating’ option will be available for travellers heading on either domestic and short-haul international flights.

If they select the new option, economy passengers can place a bid through the airline’s app to reserve an additional seat next to them – with the auction starting for as little as £14 but rising upon demand.

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Successful passengers will be informed two hours before their flight departure if they have their seat free, reports The Sun. Of course, there is a possibility that someone may book the empty seat. In this case, the winning passenger will be refunded.

It’s also important to note that while Neighbour-Free Seating provides extra personal space next to the assigned seat, it does not include any additional baggage allowance.

According to Virgin Australia, the new option means passengers will have “a more spacious Economy experience at great value”. The new feature comes after a 2023 survey which found that 42 per cent of Virgin Australia passengers said they would consider paying a fee to have the middle seat empty on international flights longer than three hours.

Additionally, 35 per cent of passengers also said they would do the same for domestic flights more than three hours.

Virgin Australia executive, Libby Minogue said: “Our priority is to give Virgin Australia guests even more value and choice when they choose to fly with us.”

She added: “Neighbour-Free Seating is a clever add-on for Economy travellers who want the certainty of extra space without the price tag. After booking their flight, passengers can bid for the additional seat via the Virgin Australia app.”

A similar feature is offered by other airlines like Qantas and Air France.

Those flying with Air France have the option to pay for the ‘Empty Seat Option – My Extra Space’, when they check-in online or through the airline’s app, allowing them to reserve up to three empty seats next to their own for greater comfort, space and privacy.

Sept. 20 (UPI) — More than half of Gaza City’s residents have evacuated as Israel Defense Forces continue their offensive in what they call a Hamas stronghold.

Gaza City has about 1 million residents, but IDF officials said more than half of them heeded their warning and began evacuating the city in late August, The Times of Israel reported on Saturday.

Israel has designated a humanitarian zone in the southern Gaza Strip and ordered all Palestinians across Gaza City to immediately evacuate to the humanitarian zone before it launched its new offensive on Tuesday.

Among those traveling to the humanitarian zone are Ahmed Daif Allah, who reportedly lost his eyesight during an IDF airstrike, and his wife, Rafiq.

“The journey is incredibly tough, more than anyone could imagine,” Rafiq told media, as reported by NBC News.

“There is no pity,” she added. “There is no humanity.”

The IDF is continuing its military operation against Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza City with “unprecedented force,” IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee said on Friday.

While hundreds of thousands have evacuated Gaza City, an estimated 84 Gazans were killed throughout the Gaza Strip on Saturday, including 69 in Gaza City, according to Al Jazeera.

The report did not cite a source or say how many of those reported killed are Hamas members or civilians.

Gaza City is located in the northern Gaza Strip, and the IDF warned its residents to evacuate ahead of its military offensive against Hamas in an effort to recover more of the about 50 remaining hostages held by Hamas since Oct. 7, 2023.

Disney World, in Florida, is reported to be “dead”, as rides are quiet and there are few queues. Americans have expressed worry about the state of tourism in the US

There’s been plenty of upheaval at Disney World lately, with a beloved attraction shutting its doors for good after 54 years. However, holidaymakers are now spotting another major shift at the popular destination, as the resort has apparently become “dead.”

Claims are emerging that the famous theme park has grown remarkably quiet this summer, with visitors sharing different theories about what might be behind it. The issue was recently highlighted by a man called thenobleways on TikTok, who filmed his latest trip to Disney World to share his thoughts on what was happening in Florida.

During his weekend visit, he insisted Disney World was “empty.” This comes months after several rides at the theme park shut down permanently.

He said: “I’m at Magic Kingdom right now, and this place is a tomb. There is literally nobody here. There is no wait time for anything.

“Space Mountain – walk on. Haunted Mansion – walk on. Pirates of the Caribbean – walk on. The longest I have even seen a wait time for Seven Dwarfs today [is] 30 minutes.

“Peter Pan’s Flight – up to 30 minutes, but everything is walk on all day long. I don’t know what’s going on. It’s Labor Day weekend – should be crowded, should be packed normally – this place is empty.

“I am absolutely loving it, but what do you think? What’s going on? Why is there nobody here? I have never seen it like this.

“It’s been years since I’ve seen it this empty, especially on a holiday weekend. I don’t know, I’m going to enjoy it while I can.”

The clip has racked up more than 7,000 views since being posted, with viewers rushing to share their theories about the quiet scenes.

One person commented: “People don’t want to go to Florida.” Another chimed in with: “Too expensive, politics, Trump.”

A third weighed in: “Florida is imploding financially and nobody wants to go there. Miami and the other beaches are struggling as well.”

Meanwhile, a fourth also remarked: “Nobody can afford Disney anymore. Think [it’s] the tariffs.”

Someone else also pitched in with: “That’s because it’s Florida. Disney in California is packed. Let’s face it, Florida is in major decline.”

Last month, CBS reported that tourism is actually on the rise in Florida, despite a drop in Canadian visitors. Visit Florida previously estimated 34.435 million people travelled to Florida from April 1 to June 30, which increased from 34.279 million people during the same period last year.

However, Disney is reported to have experienced a decline in tourism. The drop in travel to Orlando, particularly linked to the Walt Disney World theme parks, is said to partly stem from Disney Experiences’ major renovation projects taking place across the resort.

There could be a multitude of reasons for the dwindling crowds in Orlando, including steep ticket prices that some find hard to justify, a decrease in international visitors, particularly from Canada, stiff competition from Universal’s upcoming Epic Universe park and the ongoing effects of the pandemic.

The once-thriving seaside town of Ramsgate in Kent has been described as ‘depressing’ by locals, with a recent report revealing that a staggering 65 shop units are empty

When you picture British seaside destinations, you imagine golden sands, the aroma of fish and chips wafting through the air, throngs of holidaymakers seeking the perfect sunny spot, and naturally, ice cream. Most coastal towns across the UK deliver this experience and much more, but I’m uncertain whether the same applies to the Kent seaside town of Ramsgate.

Being a resident of the area, I’ve made countless trips to Ramsgate over the years. During my initial visit, I was captivated by the golden beach and dramatic white cliffs.

On my second journey, I relished exploring the UK’s biggest Wetherspoon, housed in the Grade II-listed former concert hall, the Royal Victoria Pavilion, positioned directly on the waterfront.

Yet, with each subsequent visit to Ramsgate throughout the years, I’ve increasingly observed how deserted it has grown.

The town previously thrived with vibrant independent retailers, distinctive dining establishments and a constant flow of tourists.

Nevertheless, a recent Kent Online study, published in December, disclosed that an alarming 65 retail units—nearly one in four—stand vacant. Over half of these premises aren’t even marketed for sale or lease.

This became apparent during my latest journey to the town when I encountered numerous shuttered businesses and vacant shop windows plastered with dated advertisements. Local residents appear to have recognised this transformation as well.

A Facebook post titled ‘The many empty shops of Ramsgate’ in the public Kent Views group, featuring images of all the vacant premises in Ramsgate, prompted some locals to brand the town as “depressing” and “sad.”

One person said: “It’s so sad, Ramsgate is one of my favourite places but the high street lets it down. On the plus side there are some lovely little cafes.”

Another wrote: “Very sad. Sign of the times.”

Meanwhile, another resident asked: “Strange because Broadstairs and Margate are doing okay. Why isn’t Ramsgate?”.

The surrounding towns of Deal, Margate, Broadstairs and Whitstable have recently flourished, with capital dwellers flocking in their masses to enjoy seaside weekends whilst browsing trendy vintage boutiques or dining at fashionable eateries.

Last year, Deal gained recognition from celebrated food critic Grace Dent following her visit to the Japanese-influenced eatery The Blue Pelican, Express reports.

Meanwhile, Broadstairs, which earned a spot amongst the UK’s ‘coolest’ residential areas in 2023, has transformed into something of a visitor magnet after featuring in Sam Mendes’ production Empire of the Sun, starring Olivia Colman.

The charming coastal resort of Whitstable has long carried the nickname ‘Chelsea-on-sea’, whilst Ramsgate’s trendy neighbouring town Margate remains a bustling hub of entertainment thanks to its golden sands, retro funfair Dreamland, and lively drinking establishments.

What does Ramsgate have to offer?

It’s likely Ramsgate simply hasn’t captured the fashionable “atmosphere” that its surrounding areas have succeeded in creating over recent years. Nevertheless, if you’re seeking an authentic, budget-friendly seaside break or day out, there remains much to explore and enjoy.

Ramsgate Tunnels once sheltered 60,000 people during World War Two air raids and is one of the town’s main attractions. The tunnels are the UK’s largest network of civilian wartime tunnels and are open for tours.

For something a bit different, visitors can explore smugglers’ caves that are built into the cliffs at Pegwell Bay.

Alternatively, if you’re keen to get your hair tousled by those coastal winds, then a boat trip around Ramsgate harbour is the way to go. There are a number of local skippers who offer boat trips, with some taking you on tours of the beautiful coastline while others offer a closer look at some of Kent’s wildlife.

As previously mentioned, Ramsgate is home to the UK’s largest Wetherspoon. The former concert hall and assembly rooms were designed by architect Stanley Davenport Adshead and were one one of the most at-risk Victorian/Edwardian buildings in the area.

The pub is located on the seafront and includes a mezzanine level and a beachfront terrace. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a cheap pint and some chips while looking out to sea.

If you’re looking for something a bit more traditional, you can’t go wrong with The Pub. The Pub offers a fantastic selection of cask ales, craft beers, and ciders, as well as classic bar snacks.

For a unique and less-trodden experience, make your way to Eats ‘n’ Beats. Nestled on King Street, this trendy bar and kitchen offers an array of exquisite wines, cocktails and beers, complemented by mouth-watering tapas dishes.

Eats ‘n’ Beats opens its doors from Thursday to Sunday, boasting a delightful brunch menu available on Sundays from 10.30am to 4pm.

Despite the vacant shops in Ramsgate, there’s a treasure trove of antique, vintage and retro shops waiting to be discovered. Petticoat Lane Emporium, Kent’s largest indoor marketplace, offers everything from fashion and art to vintage curiosities.

This family-run venture accommodates 200 independently rented stalls within a sprawling 10,000 sq ft warehouse. Visitors can also indulge in a coffee or perhaps an alcoholic beverage at the on-site Baker Street Bistro and Bar.

Arch 16 Antique, Vintage, and Retro Junk is an ideal spot for a weekend adventure. Brimming with trinkets, furniture, retro toys, and more, it’s easy to lose yourself and take a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

Ramsgate might not have the glamour of Whitstable or the trendiness of Deal, but despite the empty shops, there’s a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. In 2023, the Ramsgate Empty Shops Action Group was established with the aim of assisting businesses, councils, community groups and entrepreneurs to collaborate and breathe new life into the town.

I’m convinced that it’s only a matter of time before Ramsgate becomes the next must-visit destination on everyone’s list.

The pretty UK seaside town will be familiar to many as the fictional Devon town of Shipton Abbot in the BBC’s Death in Paradise spin-off, Beyond Paradise

Second-home owners are said to be selling their properties in a stunning UK seaside town that draws crowds of tourists – and fans of the TV detective drama Beyond Paradise.

While the comeback of full-time residents to homes that were previously vacant for months on end is being celebrated, there’s still concern. A local property agent has warned that first-time purchasers continue to be priced out with some residents being compelled to live in tents and sofa-surf.

They claim that dwellings in the picturesque town have become unaffordable due to wealthy Londoners relocating from the capital for the peace the coastal location provides.

Looe, in Cornwall, will be recognisable to many as the fictional Devon town of Shipton Abbot in the BBC’s Death in Paradise spin-off. Like numerous locations in this gorgeous corner of Britain, second homes and holiday rentals can be a contentious issue – with some residents being rather unwelcoming.

Most, nevertheless, acknowledge that tourism is essential, even if it does carry a price. Sara Barron, 54, helps operate The Haven, the base of the Boundless Trust, a community centre that runs holiday clubs for local youngsters and helps address local deprivation and homelessness in Looe and its neighbouring villages, reports the Express.

On a bright summer day, when Looe was crammed with visitors, Sara said: “Looe needs tourism and second homes are part of that. What doesn’t help is when people don’t let them out – then they sit empty for most of the year.”

Sara, who relocated to Looe from Portsmouth six years ago, explains that there “are also lots of restrictions” on residential lettings and that Airbnbs “have less restrictions”, making it simpler for landlords to rent them out as holiday accommodation.

“Landlords can get more renting them out for eight weeks in the summer than for renting them out all year [as a home],” she said. “And what homes there are, are unaffordable for many locals.”

The consequence of all this, according to Sara, is that so-called “hidden homelessness” – people sofa-surfing and living in tents and vans, rather than sleeping rough on the streets – is a genuine issue in Looe.

Sara said: “We don’t get many street sleepers, but there are lots of people sofa-surfing, sleeping in tents on campsites or in campervans. There’s a lot of hidden homelessness.

“We gave out a few tents to people last summer who were working here and living on campsites.”

Nevertheless, local businessman Sam Chapman holds a somewhat different perspective. The 30 year old, who has resided in the Looe area his entire life, runs Pengelly’s fishmonger shop and lives on his family’s farm on the town’s outskirts.

He said the surge in second homes and holiday lets has “driven prices up” and he can “understand why other people get angry about” the issue. Nevertheless, Sam said he hasn’t been personally impacted – and that all his employees have secured accommodation.

“All my friends have found houses – there’s the new estates and stuff,” he adds. Yet, Sam confesses that he doesn’t reside in Looe itself, so he doesn’t feel the impact as much as others might.

Clive Gardner, who lives in the heart of Looe’s old town above his business, Clive’s Cat’s Cartoons, a gallery and framers, with a waffle hut, shares his perspective. The 71 year old, who spends the winter months in Thailand, said: “Quite a few of the houses in the back street are second homes.

“There is nowhere to rent, so lots of businesses struggle to get staff, because they have nowhere to live.

“But it is still a really good community, it’s still a really good place to live. People know you – you walk down the street and people say hello.”

His partner, Mandy Rose said: “If people are coming down and using them [second homes], then great – but it’s not good if they’re left empty. The problem is, there’s no control over it – and there’s no going back.

“But there is still a really good sense of community here. And we do live in a really lovely part of the UK.”

Clive and Mandy reside in the maze of alleyways that makeup Looe’s old town – an area that frequently floods. Many of the residents who once lived here have long since moved away.

The Boundless Trust provides meals to several elderly individuals who once resided here but have since relocated to the outskirts. Sara Barron, a representative of the trust, shared: “The fishermen’s cottages all used to be lived in. They [elderly Looe residents] talk about how they grew up playing in the streets, getting fish from the local boats.

“That’s changed – but that was 50 or 60 years ago. I don’t think many of those houses have people living in them now.”

This part of town, which boasts buildings dating back to the 15th century, is adjacent to the quayside. Among the cafes and restaurants in this vibrant riverside location is the Uncharted gift shop.

Kelly Jones, co-owner of Uncharted, has been a Looe resident her entire life. The 41 year old said: “Personally, I wish there weren’t so many of them [second homes]. There just seems be more and more of them.

“Local people need to rent and there’s just nothing available. I rent privately, but I’ve been very lucky. I’ve always rented from someone I known. “I’ve lived in two or three different properties over the years, and have great references, so it hasn’t been a problem for me.

“But for the children growing up here, the 18 and 19 year olds they can’t afford or can’t find anything – which is really hard if they don’t want to leave Looe.”

Across the river from Uncharted, in West Looe, Kelly’s sister, Carla Jones, runs an estate agent business. She returned to her hometown eight years ago, after spending a decade in London.

She noted that the landscape is shifting, with many second homes and holiday lets being converted back into full-time residences. However, she also highlighted that local first-time buyers are still being priced out of the market, describing the rental situation as “impossible”.

Carla said: “During Covid, there was a huge number of people who had second homes who sold up because they knew they were never going to get those prices again. People were looking to relocate during Covid and were buying them to live in”.

“It’s nice – there are lights on now. People are living in these homes now. It’s building the community back up. There needs to be a balance if Looe is to survive.

“And people who didn’t jump on the bandwagon during Covid, who took their time, are now looking at relocating. They’ve seen that Cornwall could work for them – even though it is a huge lifestyle change.

“These can be people with high-paid corporate jobs. They’re bringing their careers down with them on their laptops and working from home in Cornwall – that’s bringing more money to the area.

“But it’s still very difficult for locals – getting on the property ladder can be very tricky. First-time buyers face so many restrictions, from lenders. There’s nothing in my window they could afford.

“People earning £20,000 a year [An average wage in Cornwall] have got no hope. Local people can’t afford to get on the ladder – but it’s not just [mortgage] affordability.

“People can’t afford 10 per cent deposits – people haven’t got £30,000 or £40,000 sitting in their back pockets. It’s only really people whose family can help and get gifted deposits.

“People relocating are buying the homes that would have been taken by first-time buyers. When first-time buyers can’t buy, you haven’t really got a sustainable market.”

Houses in Looe carried an overall average price tag of £304,342 over the past year, dropping from the 2021 peak of £379k.

Terraced homes can be snapped up for around £80,000 less at an average of £222,399, whilst detached houses went for an average of £422,143.

Carla added that locals priced out of purchasing can find letting equally challenging. “The rental market is impossible,” she said.

“I have 22 residential rentals on my books – but none of them are vacant. And I’ve got 30 clients looking for homes to rent – but I’ve got nothing I can offer them.

“Landlords are not being supported by the government. A lot of landlords jumped on the covid bandwagon and sold up. A very big percentage of rental properties got taken out from under people, who had section 21 notices served on them.

“The new Labour Government are saying they’re going to build more houses, but where? There’s nowhere in Looe to build. And Cornwall County council don’t help – they’re difficult they’re very tight on planning.”

Carla reckons that even if fresh properties were constructed, this would simply create a different set of issues. “Looe just hasn’t got the infrastructure,” she explained.

“The doctor and dentist surgeries are already over-run.

“It sounds so bleak when you talk about it, but it’s the reality for so many people.”

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A top Florida official says the controversial state-run immigration detention facility in the Everglades will likely be empty in a matter of days, even as Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration and the federal government fight a judge’s order to shutter the facility dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” by late October. That’s according to an email exchange shared with the Associated Press.

In a message sent to South Florida Rabbi Mario Rojzman on Aug. 22 related to providing chaplaincy services at the facility, Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie said “we are probably going to be down to 0 individuals within a few days.” Rojzman, and the executive assistant who sent the original email to Guthrie, both confirmed the veracity of the messages to the AP.

A spokesperson for Guthrie, whose agency has overseen the construction and operation of the site, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

News that the last detainee at “Alligator Alcatraz” could leave the facility within days comes less than a week after a federal judge in Miami ordered the detention center to wind down operations, with the last detainee needing to be out within 60 days. The state of Florida appealed the decision, and the federal government asked U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams to put her order on hold pending the appeal, saying that the Everglades facility’s thousands of beds were badly needed since detention facilities in Florida were overcrowded.

The environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe, whose lawsuit led to the judge’s ruling, opposed the request. They disputed that the Everglades facility was needed, especially as Florida plans to open a second immigration detention facility in north Florida that DeSantis has dubbed “Deportation Depot.” During a tour of the South Florida facility last week, U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) said he was told that only a fraction of the detention center’s capacity was in use, between 300 and 350 detainees.

Williams had not ruled on the stay request as of Wednesday.

The judge said in her order that she expected the population of the facility to decline within 60 days by transferring detainees to other facilities, and once that happened, fencing, lighting and generators should be removed. She wrote the state and federal defendants can’t bring anyone other than those who are already being detained at the facility onto the property.

Environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe had argued in their lawsuit that further construction and operations should be stopped until federal and state officials complied with federal environmental laws. Their lawsuit claimed the facility threatened environmentally sensitive wetlands that are home to protected plants and animals and would reverse billions of dollars spent over decades on environmental restoration.

The detention center was built rapidly two months ago at a lightly used, single-runway training airport in the middle of the rugged and remote Everglades. State officials have signed more than $245 million in contracts for building and operating the facility, which officially opened July 1.

Payne and Schneider write for the Associated Press. Schneider reported from Orlando, Fla.

Al Jazeera’s Ibrahim al-Khalili reports from inside the main UNRWA warehouse in Gaza City, showing the completely empty shelves where food aid used to be stored. The UN officially declared famine in Gaza on Friday with Israeli-imposed food insecurity and starvation having reached critical levels.

There are no signs to the hot spring, but I locate it on the map and we drive to the end of the paved road. Overlooking the sea is a stone bench someone has dedicated to her parents, “with gratitude and love as deep as the Aegean”. My dad died recently and the words strike home. I’m glad my mum has joined me on this little adventure.

We walk down to the deserted cove at Agia Kyriaki thermal springs. There are old fishing shacks with stone-slab roofs, and shuttered cottages. Down an unmarked path, we find a rock pool where hot waters bubble gently from the sand, blending with the sea to a perfect temperature. Immersed in the healing mineral bath, I look up at juniper trees and blue sky, lulled by lapping waves and cicadas.

Ikaria, in the eastern Aegean – named after Icarus, the Greek mythological figure who flew too close to the sun – is known for its forests, springs and wine, communist leanings and longevity. Its population of about 8,000 is spread across dozens of scattered villages over 255 sq km, with few dedicated to tourism, and it only really gets busy in July and August. We arrive in mid-June from Kos (ferries also connect Samos and Athens to the port of Evdilos) at the port of Agios Kirykos and drive north-east to Faros, which has a mile of beach without a single hotel. The house we’ve rented for our first few days, Lighthouse Lodge, is perfectly located next to a cafe-bar and two tavernas – the hot spring a few kilometres away.

While Mum reads in the shade of a tamarisk tree on the beach in front of the house, I walk around the mastic- and thyme-covered cape to Drakano tower, with remains of fortifications from the fourth century BC. The lofty peak of Samos and the Fourni islands are the only features in an expanse of blue – the space and light are mesmerising.

A few Greek families with young children linger on Faros beach until dark. At Grigoris taverna, we eat grilled sardines and soufiko, summer vegetables cooked slowly in olive oil, and drink Ikarian red wine. Then we fall asleep to the sound of the waves.

The next day we explore the north of the cape, swimming in the clear turquoise waters of Iero bay, near the cave where legend has it that Dionysus was born.

Getting to Monokampi, a pretty village 15km inland from Agios Kirykos, and our base for the following two nights, requires negotiating the forest-covered Atheras mountain, which stretches in a 40km ridge across the full length of the island, rising to more than 1,000 metres. Our route zigzags up a vertiginous slope, cypresses poking up from the tangle of trees.

We’re late and I call George, owner of Moraitika Farmhouse, to say we’re on the mountain somewhere. “Ten kilometres in Ikaria are not like 10km anywhere else!” he laughs. When we arrive, George shows us around what was his great-grandmother’s farm, lovingly restored over 15 years. Three houses are now tourist accommodation, while the oldest one, from the 14th century, is like a museum to old Ikarian life, with a large fireplace for smoking meat, an inbuilt oven and a secret back door for escaping from pirate raids. A forest of arbutus (strawberry tree), oak, olive and ivy has grown over the once-cultivated terraces and the footpath his grandmother used to walk over the mountain.

In the evening on the terrace, as the sun descends over the sea, we eat local cheese with an organic dry white wine, Begleri – all picked up en route, as we’re a long drive from a taverna. Eleonora’s falcons swoop, an owl hoots and there are tiny, bright lights of glow-worms.

In the cool morning, birds sing their hearts out. We walk through Monokampi’s village square, dominated by a huge plane tree, and follow a sign to Agia Sofia, a hidden chapel built into a rocky spur. Mum points out honeysuckle and walnut trees, and we pick mulberries and plums.

The next day we descend to the coast and continue west, stopping at Karavostamo for a swim and fresh spinach pies from the bakery, then we drive on, looking for a place to stay for the next few nights. We stop above an impressive beach at Gialiskari, but there’s the thump of music from a bar so we keep going.

At Nas, we pull in at a taverna. After a lunch of courgette fritters, herby meatballs and homemade cheesecake with sea views, we think we might have found our place. We walk on until we spy a lush river canyon and a sparkling cove, and soon find rooms at Artemis Studio.

Steps lead down the rock to the bamboo-fringed estuary, where swallows and damselflies flit. The other bank is dominated by the walls of an ancient harbour and a ruined sanctuary for the worship of Artemis, protector of nature and wildlife. The waters flow from the deep, pine-covered Halari gorge, which extends several kilometres inland, with paths leading in various directions. The riverbed, with pink-flowering oleander and little waterfalls, fills with wild campers in mid-summer. For now, quiet reigns.

We quickly fall in love with Nas. Mum swims in the freshwater lagoon with the frogs; I swim in the sea, which is cold enough to leave my skin tingling. When the sun sets into the ocean, we settle on Artemis’s peaceful terrace for baked aubergine with kathoura cheese and red peppers, and goat roasted in olive oil and wine. The taverna is run by Thanasis, a musician who offers tours of his family’s organic farm, and Anna, who has a ceramics studio and shop, where we take our time choosing pretty jewellery.

After a breakfast of fresh juice, eggs and Ikarian smoked ham at nearby Reiki cafe, we head on to our next stop, in the village of Agios Polykarpos. We’re staying at Monopati Eco Stay, which has studios of stone, wood and bamboo, with large windows framing a magnificent view of blue sky, canyon and forest.

The owner says we will find his 87-year-old mother in the garden. Svelte and sprightly Popi, covered up against the sun, is thinning out her basil plants and beams at us. She shows us terraces filled with courgettes, sweet potatoes, aubergines and tomatoes. The next day she picks me apricots, shows me how to make basil pesto with walnuts and sunflower seeds, and tries teaching me to dance the ikariotiko, with a deep laugh when I mix up the steps.

Her philosophy is: good food, good thoughts and outdoor exercise. Every morning, she looks at the magic of nature and feels gratitude. “We only have one life – we must make the most of it.”

Mum and I feel that exact sentiment as we wave goodbye. We’ve made the most of our two weeks of discovery in Ikaria. We leave not only revived by good food and rest, but energised and inspired by the sweeping landscapes and time together, with precious memories to last a lifetime.

Lighthouse Lodge, Faros, from £105 a night (sleeps 4, minimum three nights); Moraitika Farmhouse, Monokampi, from £55 per house (sleeps 2-4); Artemis Studio, Nas, from £40 per studio (sleeps 2); Monopati Eco Stay, Agios Polykarpos, from £80 per studio (sleeps 4-6, minimum three nights)

Brits heading on Ibiza holidays to enjoy the island’s world-famous clubs, bars and boat parties are being warned of a simple scam that’s leaving them out of pocket

Brits heading to Ibiza this summer to make the most of its epic boat parties are being warned of a common scam that could leave them out of pocket, staring at an empty dock.

Ibiza Town is famous for its epic nightlife from the packed clubs and bars to boat parties where revellers can soak up the views and sunshine while listening to live music and DJ sets. However, one insider has warned that Brits planning Spain holidays should stay vigilant when trying to make the most of the atmosphere.

James Smith, founder of Learn Spanish with James, has spent years living on the White Isle and witnessed countless tourists fall victim to elaborate cons. His warnings come after Spanish islands fear Brits won’t return as tourists are dealt another blow.

Have you been caught out by one of these Ibiza scams? Email us at [email protected].

READ MORE: Travel experts warn Brits to stay vigilant amidst rise of ‘fake visa websites’READ MORE: Brit abroad in Benidorm warns tourists to ‘never rent car’ during August

“Living in Ibiza opened my eyes to how sophisticated these scams have become.” He said. “The operators know exactly what buttons to push with British tourists, so they’ll promise VIP treatment, exclusive access, or once-in-a-lifetime experiences. But there are always telltale signs if you know what to look for.”

He adds that boat party scams “have exploded in recent years”. Fraudsters set up websites and social media pages to promote incredible events complete with celebrity DJs, unlimited drinks and VIP packages. Only, these events are completely made up; when people turn up to the docks or venues, there’s nothing there.

James warned: “These scammers are getting smarter with their online presence. They’ll steal photos from legitimate boat parties and create convincing websites. But when you turn up at the supposed departure point, there’s no boat – and no refund.”

He urged Brits to keep an eye out for red flags such as vague meeting locations, requests for full payment upfront via bank transfer, and reluctance to provide official booking confirmations or company registration details.

It’s also worth noting that in recent years, Ibiza officials have introduced strict rules around boat parties in a bid to crackdown on unruly tourists. This includes a ban on party boats sailing within one nautical mile of a number of towns on the island, with captains also prevented from picking up and disembarking passengers in the regions.

Other common scams according to James include approaching tourists with ‘discounted’ tickets to clubs such as Pacha or Amnesia.

“They’ll show you what looks like a genuine ticket and claim they can’t use it,” he explained. “The story is always the same: they’re leaving the island early, their friend cancelled, or they double-booked. But these tickets are either completely fake or already used.”

If they won’t let you check the ticket or refuse to provide contact details, be wary. They may also use high pressure tactics such as telling you someone else is interested.

Meanwhile if you’re promised unlimited drinks and queue skips, proceed with caution, especially if you’re being approached in the street. “The legitimate venues don’t work this way,” James pointed out. “Real clubs sell their own packages through official channels. These street sellers are either selling fake vouchers or massively overcharging for basic entry.”

You can find out more on learnspanishwithjames.com.

Wars, recessions, overtourism protests and fed-up locals are just some of the reasons why visitor numbers are slumping in some resorts that rely heavily on holidaymakers

Five European holiday hotspots beloved by holidaymakers are struggling to attract visitors as the ‘ghost townification’ of certain destinations continues.

Wars, recessions, overtourism protests and fed-up locals are just some of the reasons why visitor numbers are slumping in some resorts that rely heavily on holidaymakers.

While the travel industry is generally booming across Europe, with Brits taking a record number of holidays, the story of unfettered, seemingly never-ending growth that was being told post-COVID is no longer the case in every destination.

Below are five holiday destinations where a different story is beginning to be told.

READ MORE: ‘Resorts are becoming ghost towns but it’s not protests that are to blame’READ MORE: ‘I organise holidays to the world’s most challenging and remote places’

Faliraki, Rhodes

It was once the ultimate party resort. The Rhodes town was infamous for the unruly tourists who would descend on it every summer. For A-Level school leavers of a certain generation, Faliraki was the place to go.

But then Greek officials, pushed by unhappy locals, hit breaking point. In 2003, they decided that enough was enough, announcing a ban on pub crawls and a new tough policy on violence and scantily clad revellers. And it worked. When the Mirror’s Melissa Thompson visited in 2013 she wrote that “Faliraki is unrecognisable.”

However, the clean-up came at a cost. “While the vomit-covered streets, couples having sex in alleyways and late-night punch-ups are gone, so too is the money the tourists brought with them,” Melissa noted.

Local businesses say the clean-up has all but decimated the place. While the town once enjoyed a six-month season packed with British tourists from May, their departure left them struggling to make ends meet in a summer that lasts just three months, starting in July.

The behaviour crackdown has not been the only factor blamed for the slump in Falirakian fortunes. The arrival of large all-inclusives along the east coast of Rhodes, as well as sizzling hot summers that have seen major wildfires, has dented fortunes along the strip.

As of 2013, some businesses report a 90% dip in earnings. Sofia Gkouma, 45, who has owned the Acropolis restaurant on the corner of two of the town’s busiest streets since 1990, said: “Before, this area would be filled with young English people. They were good customers. For 15 years we had them on pub crawls on 18-to-30 holidays, but then there was trouble because the hotels that catered for families couldn’t deal with them. They just wanted older people and families. They cracked down on young people and they left, with nothing to replace them.”

When I visited earlier this year, things had clearly improved a little. The area was smarter and cleaner than during its ‘Faliraki fishbowl’ debauched heyday. But it also felt as if it had struggled to fully capture a new identity, with most bars only partially full and a strange mix of karaoke-singing families and out-of-place young partygoers.

Bulgaria

Over the past decade, the former Soviet state of Bulgaria has caught the eye of an increasing number of tourists, who have been won over by the great prices and good weather on offer along the Black Sea coastline.

The destination became popular enough to inspire its own UK reality TV show, Emergency on Sunny Beach, which offered a glimpse into the larks on offer in the cheap and cheerful resort as it went head-to-head with established favourites such as Magaluf.

In recent years, many of the beach resorts along the Black Sea have started to feel conspicuously empty. The Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association announced that hotel occupancy rates had dropped 40% in some typically bustling areas. Only Sunny Beach had bucked the trend and seen an increase in visitors.

The declining fortunes of hotspots dotted along Bulgaria’s 235-mile coastline are primarily due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. After Vladimir Putin launched the offensive, Bulgaria stopped air links between the countries, which led to a tenfold decline in Russian visitors, from a 2019 high of 500,000 a year to 50,000 in 2024.

The impact has been a hollowing out of certain resorts once popular with Russians, with Varna particularly impacted. The town sits close to a village called Bliznatsi, which, according to Radio Free Europe, is actually owned by the Russian state. Many ordinary Russians have attempted to sell their holiday homes along this stretch of coastline since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine began.

Despite such turmoil, beyond the Russian market, Bulgaria’s tourism industry is on the up. Last year, the country’s Ministry for Tourism confidently announced it would hit record visitor numbers and tourism revenue of £6billion a year. The EU’s tourism dashboard shows a steady increase in arrivals across the country year-on-year.

Marbella, Spain

In Spain at large, tourism is booming. Visitor numbers are up in almost every part of the country. However, one place in particular is now facing a slump.

Tourist numbers have declined on the Costa del Sol this summer, marking the first time since the pandemic that numbers have dropped. The downward dip has been felt particularly keenly in Marbella, where there was a 34% drop in Spanish tourists in June, according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE). In July, 68,630 people came to visit the city, which is 8,201 fewer than in 2024.

The fall in visitors is causing misery through the hospitality sector in Marbella, with business owners wondering how they’re going to make ends meet.

“There are days when we feel like we’re not holding our heads in our hands from so much work, and others when the restaurant is empty. It’s as if people are more restrained when it comes to going out,” Yolanda, a waitress at one of the downtown hospitality establishments, told Sur.

A retail worker in Marbella told the publication that those Spaniards who are visiting the destination have less money to spend. They blamed “how expensive accommodation has become” as well as a lack of public transport between Malaga and Marbella – which sit 40 miles from one another on the coast – for the 10% dip in tourist numbers overall this summer.

While visitor numbers are down, Marbella is far from feeling empty. Hotel occupancy has reached 80.08 percent, with an average stay of 3.95 nights – the highest since 2016.

Estonia

After two years of pent-up demand during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, many European countries enjoyed bumper years in 2023 and 2024 as visitor arrivals and average spends shot up. In Spain, August arrivals increased by two million to 19 million in 2024, compared to the pre-pandemic 2019 peak.

But not every country has enjoyed, or, depending on your perspective, had to tolerate such booming figures. Estonia’s visitor figures are 22% down now compared to 2019, with hotel bed occupancy rates hitting just 40% this summer, according to EU data.

There are a number of reasons why. The proximity to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has likely kept some concerned tourists away, while a ban on Russian visitors has certainly dented numbers. According to Travel and Tour World, cruise ship arrivals in the capital Tallinn are also down significantly.

So far this summer, the situation has been particularly tricky in the southeast of the country, where many resorts run along the vast lakes Peipus and Pihkva. An unusually cool summer is to blame.

“Occupancy has dropped by about 30 percent — at least for the first two months that just ended,” said Triinu Vähi, a board member at Taevaskoja Tourism and Holiday Center. She told ERR that July is also shaping up to be relatively quiet, with occupancy down around 20 percent.

However, as much as Estonia’s tourism sector may have had a slow start to its post-Covid recovery, it clearly has a lot to offer. The Mirror’s Ines Santos visited earlier this year and was blown away by a country she likened to a more laid-back but equally as beautiful Sweden. It was also named one of the world’s cleanest and most walkable countries.

Cyprus

The island of Cyprus is home to one of the most famous abandoned towns in Europe, or perhaps even the world. Famagusta was once loved by Europe’s elite, but now the disputed area sits empty: the consequence of conflict between the Turkish and Greek-controlled parts of the country.

Despite the simmering tension and general unease evident between the two sections of the island, tourism in Cyprus has been booming for years. That is, until early in 2024, when the number of arrivals fell for the first time in three years. A big reason why was the war in Ukraine, with Russian visitor numbers falling 70% in 2024.

Those in the hospitality industry have been sounding the alarm since 2023, warning that the rise of Airbnbs and other holiday letting companies is taking customers away from hotels and also pushing up locals’ rents in popular areas. Visitor numbers to the Turkish-controlled Northern Cyprus have doubled in recent years, according to President of the Cyprus Hotel Association, Thanos Michaelides, which has taken visitors away from the Greek part of the island. Hotel occupancy in June last year was at its lowest in three years, at 49.6%.

Mr Michaelides has warned that 30,000 fewer tourists will visit the island over the summer season, meaning around £20 million less will be spent on the island. The faltering UK economy has been cited as a major factor, given the 1.3 million who visit Cyprus most years, and a decline in Israeli visitors.

The hotel boss said “significant threats to the demand for tourism in Cyprus” remained.

Greece is famous for its stunning islands and one in particular has been a favourite with holidaymakers since the ’70s – but despite people flocking there, businesses are struggling

Despite being one of the most photographed islands in Greece, thanks to its awe-inspiring beauty and mesmerising sunsets, local businesses are grappling with challenges, according to a local tour operator.

Greece is renowned for its myriad of scenic islands. With a total of 6,000 islands and islets, 227 of which are inhabited, it’s a paradise for travellers.

The stunning beaches, secluded coves and caves, significant archaeological sites and breathtaking landscapes draw millions of tourists annually. One particular destination has been a favourite among holidaymakers since the ’70s, regularly attracting families, friends and couples to its dazzling white-washed houses and spectacular hilltop views of the surrounding azure waters.

Last year was no exception.

READ MORE: Best summer wedding guest dresses 2025 chosen by the Mirror fashion team

However, a local from the volcanic island of Santorini has raised concerns that despite the influx of visitors, businesses are struggling due to under capacity. Gianluca Chimenti, a local tour operator who has resided on the island for 18 years, claims that while the streets are teeming with people during the day, come nightfall, the place turns into a ghost town.

Greece, amid a holiday hotspot renaissance, is wrestling with the dilemma of welcoming a surge in tourists while preserving the quality of life for locals. During peak season, crowds of up to 17,000 cruise ship passengers descend daily on the island, flocking to Fira and Oia, renowned for its stunning sunsets.

Santorini, which has earned the nickname ‘Instagram Island’ thanks to its breathtaking views and photogenic avenues, is proving irresistible for globetrotters.

By nightfall, the narrow lanes and scenic balconies are swamped to an almost stifling degree by snap-happy travellers. However, tranquility is restored post-sunset as they retreat to their vessels. Despite social media being awash with footages suggesting otherwise, Chimenti told CNN that these portrayals are inaccurate.

“The problem is that the social media are showing something completely different from what is the reality,” he insisted. “The truth is that the island is empty. Right now is like never before, it’s the worst season ever.”

He reveals distressing figures indicating “the hotels right now are more or less under 30% of a normal season,” also highlighting that other trades, like eateries, across the island are feeling the pinch.

In Chimenti’s view, potential visitors eager to explore off-peak or genuinely unwind there are being deterred by the mythical image of excess congestion. He said: “Over-tourism doesn’t exist. What I see is a lack of structures.”

Chimenti said that more strategic measures were needed regarding tourist destinations. “Santorini has one of the most important archaeological sites right now in Europe,” he claimed.

“Why are cruise ships not organising tours to the archaeological sites? If you split the people in three parts of the island, so at different times they are doing multiple things, they have time to enjoy and you will never have crowds in any part of the island.”

Chelsea kicked off their Fifa Club World Cup campaign against Los Angeles FC to tens of thousands of empty seats in Atlanta.

The game started at 3pm local time on a working Monday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The ground can hold 75,000 spectators, but the entire top tier was closed for this match.

Sources told the BBC that Fifa was expecting a crowd of about 26,000, but it did not appear that busy at kick-off.

A small middle tier seemed to be mostly full, but a larger bottom tier was more than half empty.

The cheapest ticket was about £37 before kick-off. During the game tickets were still on sale online for £26 – with many available in nearly every section.

Los Angeles is more than 2,000 miles away from Atlanta, across the southern United States.

Their 1,500 ultras dominated the atmosphere.

The newly expanded Club World Cup is being treated as a dress rehearsal for the international World Cup next summer, which will be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

The CWC is just being played in the US.

Brits remain a big part of the tourist market in Magaluf and Majorca more broadly. Every year more than 2.3 million Brits head to Majorca, which accounts for around 26% of the total tourist traffic

A Spanish holiday island typically bustling with Brits has been snapped looking empty and ghostly.

Miguel Perez-Marsa, president of the island’s ABONE nightclub and entertainment association, has told local press business is booming in the German-popular party resort of Playa de Palma near the Majorcan capital.

However, he has claimed young Brits are turning their backs on Magaluf – where holidaymakers from other European countries were once a rare sight in the summer season – because they have been “demonized.”

Dozens of beach sunbeds lay empty yesterday as thousands of Spanish teenagers from Valencia partying after end-of-year school exams took over the resort, with some bar owners admitting they were opening up later to cater for the new type of tourists they were receiving.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email [email protected]

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Mr Perez-Marsa said the gap left by the British was being filled by French and Italian tourists who tend to drink less than UK party animals and don’t spend as much going out at night. He went on to claim that British youngsters who have traditionally packed out the noisy nightspots of Magaluf’s brash Punta Ballena party strip had been “steam-rollered”, by island authorities.

Mr Perez-Marsa also said more British families were visiting Magaluf but complained they were opting for all-inclusive deals that meant they spent less outside their hotels.

Magaluf’s infamous party strip has been under the spotlight since Majorca’s leading politician at the time, Jose Ramon Bauza, slammed Punta Ballena as “500 metres of shame”. This came after an 18-year-old girl was tricked into performing sex acts for a supposed free holiday, only to receive a cocktail named ‘Holiday’.

Fines reaching up to £50,000 were introduced for tourists caught balcony jumping, and alcohol service with meals at all-inclusive hotels in areas like Magaluf was restricted under a regional government decree targeting ‘drunken tourism’, introduced five years ago.

Last year saw even stricter measures, including £1,300 penalties for street drinking and mandatory night-time shutdowns of alcohol-selling shops in parts of Magaluf.

Brits remain a big part of the tourist market in Magaluf and Majorca more broadly. Every year more than 2.3 million Brits head to Majorca, which accounts for around 26% of the total tourist traffic. The major share is still the Germans with more than 3.4 million, equating to 40% of the total. There are around 340,000 Scandinavians, 238,000 French, 160,000 Swiss, and 136,000 Irish.

Last year the mayor of Calvia, Juan Antonio Amengual, announced that that “all Brits are welcome” in Magalluf. The mayor says that there is some “tourismphobia” on account of the behaviour of some tourists, but most certainly not all. “We want people to enjoy their holidays with respect between tourists and residents.”

The surfing spot of Mawgan Porth in Cornwall has seen a number of celebrities move in, with prices soaring as bungalows are converted into holiday homes and mansions are built up the side of hills

A quaint beachside village, now known as ‘Hollywood on Sea’, has become a magnet for celebrities, causing concern among locals about being priced out due to the surge in holiday home conversions.

Stars like Cate Blanchett and Jason Statham have snapped up properties in Mawgan Porth, a serene former fishing village in Cornwall that’s now a hotspot for the rich and famous. The once tranquil surfing spot is witnessing a property transformation, with bungalows being turned into second homes and luxury mansions cropping up along the hillside.

While some local entrepreneurs welcome the influx of wealthy newcomers, not all residents are pleased with the town’s evolving character. Cate Blanchett, the Oscar-winning star from Lord of the Rings, is said to have been the pioneer celebrity to invest in the village’s real estate.

Following her lead, action hero Jason Statham acquired a home there, and they’ve been joined by other luminaries such as Imogen Stubbs, Jamie Dornan of Fifty Shades of Grey fame, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, and the actor-cum-gastronome Stanley Tucci.

READ MORE: ‘This rammed, sweaty hell makes it obvious holiday hotspots need to change’

Locals lament that their idyllic area has been ‘ruined’ and resembles a ‘building site’, with property prices soaring to ‘unaffordable levels’. John Bradley, a retired builder who has resided in the town with his wife Barbara, 77, for 19 years, expressed discontent: “If you look across the road, five of the seven bungalows are holiday homes and do you think we’re happy with that? People lived in one for 30 years and moved out of the country.

“This guy bought it and as soon as he comes in he wants to take the roof off and put another roof on it. I gave him my views straight away. There’s a place down the road which is rented out for £7,500. It’s just ridiculous. It’s not even in keeping.”

Mawgan Porth’s picturesque seafront has become a hotspot for multi-million pound developments, luring celebrities and the wealthy to its shores. Central to the high-end property scene is a five-bedroom eco-home under construction by a Hollywood actress following her successful application to demolish the £1.6 million cottage she acquired with her playwright spouse Andrew Upton.

Photographs reveal a cluster of ‘Californian’ style abodes that have replaced the traditional Cornwall cottages in an area once dubbed ‘Cornwall’s best kept secret’, nestled between Padstow and Newquay. Residents have voiced concerns that the village is being overwhelmed by holiday homeowners, leaving it eerily deserted during the off-season.

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John, an 81 year old B&B owner, takes a stand against the rise of holiday lets, pointing out they aren’t subject to the same stringent rules. He worries that such upscale makeovers could encourage similar transformations among neighbours, potentially altering the face of the community and questioned whether the local council should intervene more.

“The only people benefiting from these second homes are the builders and gardeners. It keeps certain local people in work so in that way it’s good but we have lost the community. I understand that when the top end of the earners have money, the most sensible place to put it is in accommodation,” he said.

“There’s no doubt about it, it’s safer than anywhere else, and any returns are going to be better than investing anywhere else. But it means that places like this become an empty shell and that is very sad. I would like to see celebrities contribute more to the community. I think locals are being priced out.

“We’ve got a humble little bungalow, but every time someone comes and buys one, they knock it down and build some kind of monstrosity. I think it’s losing its character because there is a lot of money coming in.”

He enjoyed the tranquillity of winter, confessing: “I don’t mind it too much because I like the quiet. It seems a waste, but round here it’s been like that. It is very holiday home-ish. It seems like they’re taking away the character. I know everything has to get modern but that’s not what we moved here for.”

Not everyone is as down about the fortunes of Mawgan Porth and the arrival of the A-Lister cash. Some locals embrace the change.

Debbie, a retired local, said: “Lived here 20-odd years. It doesn’t bother me. There are couples and families living in the posh bit. If we moved our house would become a holiday home. There aren’t many bungalows left now but they were all like this. “There aren’t many places to work here for young people to move in and get jobs.

“Jobs are poorly paid so there is no way you can afford a house. It’s a lovely place as long as nothing else gets built up.”

Stuart Kirk, who runs Betty’s general store, suggested that Cate Blanchett’s situation was not an isolated case and that the situation is a complex one.

“Because she’s a celebrity everybody latches onto it. It happens in every village around Cornwall, people buying up homes. So many houses have been bought up for stupid money. An old client of ours sold her house for £900,000 and somebody literally just bought it and flattened it and built something else in its place,” he said.

“It was just a three-bedroom house. It’s not specific to this area; it’s happening all over Cornwall. I grew up in the area. I’ve owned this shop for 21 years now but when I first bought it in 2003 the houses were too expensive then anyway. It’s because of the location.”

When it comes to the village today, he still sees a lot tying the locals together.

“We do have a very strong community here. You can come down here on a winter’s evening and see a lot of lights on. It’s surprising how many people do live up there,” Stuart said.

“But if they are holiday homes, they’re always occupied. If you speak to any holiday home owner around here, they’re always booked up. There is always somebody here; it’s not like it’s going to be left empty for three months and we’re going to be turned into a ghost town.”

IF you had a boozy bank holiday weekend, you might have a few empty bottles lying around.

Before you ditch them, try these great upcycling tricks to turn them into something new.

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LIGHT WORK: Clean out wine bottles and remove labels by soaking them in warm, soapy water.

Fill with battery-powered fairy lights, £3 at Poundland, for an instant glow and garden ambiance.

FLOWER POWER: Turn gin bottles into sleek vases by soaking off labels and painting with a light-coloured beige or cream matte paint using tester pots, from £1.50 at B&Q.

It will give your vase an on-trend ceramic look. Wrap twine around the neck for rustic charm. It will be perfect for displaying garden cuttings or supermarket blooms.

CLEAN UP: Ditch ugly detergent bottles by decanting them into a pretty empty bottle.

Gin bottles especially are a great swap for holding your washing-up liquid instead of the unsightly plastic bottles.

You can even buy a budget pourer or pump to place on top of your bottle for £2.50 at amazon.co.uk.

MINI SAVER: When thoroughly washed, use slim half-sized vodka bottles as toothbrush holders or a place to hold your cotton wool in the bathroom.

If you are crafty, these smaller bottles also are great to stash away for birthdays and Christmas gifts, just add homemade bath salts for a thoughtful budget present.

BEER WE GO: Carefully cut the tops off clean beer bottles with a £5 glass cutter from Homebase or Screwfix — it is a lot easier to do this than you would think.

Then use them as mini tumblers, or mini plant pots to grow your own herbs, taken from sprigs of supermarket bunches. Try growing basil or mint and place on a sunny windowsill.

• All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability

Deal of the day

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YOU can eat outdoors tonight if you pick up the Milano table and chairs patio set with parasol. It was £100 now £70 at B&M.

SAVE: £30

Cheap treat

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SCOFF a Wall’s mini Twister after dinner. A pack of six was £2.75 now £1.85 at Iceland.

SAVE: 90p

What’s new?

PRET is celebrating today’s bank holiday with a picnic of sorts.

Selected stores in Glasgow, Edinburgh, London and Liverpool will be giving away a free sandwich to the first 50 people called Nick today.

Top swap

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IF you are a fan of the cult Aesop Reverence Aromatique hand wash, £33, from spacenk.com, head to Lidl this week.

Its similar Deluxe Aromatic hand wash is on sale for £2.99. In-store only.

SAVE: £30.01

Little helper

KIDS eat free at Cote this half-term. Until June 1, families can enjoy delicious French food and children get two complimentary courses when parents spend at least £20.

Shop & save

7

ADD these tasty Itsu Bao buns to your freezer for a speedy meal in the future. Previously £3.95, now £3 at Morrisons.

SAVE: 95p

Hot right now

GET down to Marks & Spencer for a sale on selected toys, reduced by up to 50 per cent.

PLAY NOW TO WIN £200

7

JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.

Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.

Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.

The more codes you enter, the more tickets you’ll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!