hefty

Prosecutors said the two young defendants planned a ‘sustained campaign of terrorism and sabotage’ backed by Russia’s Wagner Group mercenaries.

A British judge has handed lengthy jail sentences to the two young ringleaders of a group who carried out arson attacks in the United Kingdom on behalf of the Russian state-funded private military firm, the Wagner Group.

Prosecutors said on Friday that Dylan Earl, 21, and Jake Reeves, 24, planned “a sustained campaign of terrorism and sabotage on UK soil” with the backing of Russia’s notorious Wagner mercenary group, which has been accused of war crimes in zones of conflict around the world, including murder, torture and rape.

Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb handed Earl a 17-year prison sentence, with a further six years on extended licence, for his “leading role” in planning several attacks, including one in March last year in which a London warehouse storing humanitarian aid and Starlink satellite equipment destined for Ukraine was set on fire.

During the trial, prosecutors said the 21-year-old had discussed with his Wagner handler plans to kidnap the cofounder of finance app Revolut and to torch a warehouse in the Czech Republic.

A police search of Earl’s phone uncovered videos of the east London warehouse fire being started, while he was also found to be in contact with Wagner members on the messaging app Telegram.

17 years in prison.

CCTV, phone data and forensic evidence helped convict Dylan Earl, one of five men involved in a Russian-ordered arson attack on a warehouse in Leyton.

The blaze caused around £1 million of damage, including to aid bound for Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/m96hNx6fO2

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) October 24, 2025

Fellow defendant Reeves, 24, was handed 12 years in prison, with an additional year on extended licence, for his role in recruiting other men to take part in the Wagner-backed attacks.

The pair are the first people to be convicted under the UK’s new National Security Act, introduced in 2023 to readapt anti-espionage legislation to counter modern-day threats from foreign powers.

Russian-backed ‘hostile agents’

Earl and Reeves “acted willingly as hostile agents on behalf of the Russian state”, Dominic Murphy, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said in a statement.

“This case is a clear example of an organisation linked to the Russian state using ‘proxies’ – in this case British men – to carry out very serious criminal activity in this country on their behalf,” Murphy said.

“In recent years, we have seen a significant increase in the number of counter-state-threat investigations and the use of ‘proxies’ is a new tactic favoured by hostile states such as Russia,” he added.

In July, three other British men were found guilty of aggravated arson for their role in the warehouse attack in east London, which caused one million pounds ($1.3m) in damage and put dozens of firefighters’ lives at risk.

Nii Mensah, 23, was sentenced to nine years in prison; Jakeem Rose, 23, was jailed for eight years and 10 months; while Ugnius Asmena, 21, was handed seven years.

Ashton Evans, 20, was also jailed for nine years for failing to disclose information about terrorist acts relating to another arson plot targeting two central London businesses owned by a Russian dissident.

British authorities allege that Russia is conducting an increasingly bold espionage and sabotage campaign in the UK, with the head of the MI5 security service, Ken McCallum, saying Moscow is “committed to causing havoc and destruction”.

In a separate case this week, the Metropolitan Police arrested three men from west and central London, also suspected of spying for Russia.

The details of their alleged crimes have not been made public, but they have also been charged under the 2023 National Security Act “on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service”.

Local authorities in holiday hotspot Albufeira, Portugal, have warned that the new rules will be “enforced strictly” and that the code of conduct will be in place year-round

Tourists now face fines for misplacing shopping trolleys in a popular European destination keen to crack down on bad behaviour.

British travellers visiting Portugal this year risk fines of over £1,570 for breaking new public rules in the popular holiday destination of Albufeira. The fines range from a minimum of €150 to €1800 (£130-£1570) for ignoring tightened restrictions, which include misplacing shopping trolleys, lighting barbecues on the beach, and creating excessive noise.

Local authorities have warned that the rules will be “enforced strictly” and that the code of conduct will be in place year-round.

Over the years, Albufeira has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Portugal. With its stunning coastline, buzzing nightlife, and holiday appeal, it is easy to see why it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. But that popularity has come with some cost.

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A small number of visitors are engaging in disruptive, disrespectful or even dangerous behaviour. This has had an outsized impact on the town’s quality of life, particularly in peak season. From rowdy public drunkenness to inappropriate conduct in public spaces, these incidents have prompted concern from residents, visitors, business owners, and local authorities.

Following a year of work, the local authorities have unveiled a new code of conduct. It was put together through consultation with police, businesses and civil society organisations.

Signs have been placed across the city centre area to remind tourists and locals alike of the new rules. Authorities say the crackdown follows several high-profile incidents of disruptive behaviour last year, including viral videos of British tourists engaging in indecent acts on the main party strip.

Fines being introduced in Albufeira include:

• Wearing swimwear outside of authorised areas – €300 to €1,500 (£260–£1,300)
• Street drinking, urination or defecation in public – €300 to €1,500
• Public nudity or sexual acts in public – €500 to €1,800 (£435–£1,570)
• Sleeping in public or unauthorised camping – €150 to €750 (£130–£650)
• Spitting in public – €150 to €750 (£130–£660)
• Abandoning shopping trolleys/carts – €150 to €750

“With a €144 million investment in projects across the municipality over the last four years, Portugal is pushing to protect locals and keep its reputation as a family friendly destination.” an expert at One Sure Insurance explains.

“We are seeing fines introduced across Europe which could lead to tourists being caught out. Portugal is looking to introduce some steep fines, so we are asking British travellers to consider these new rules when on holiday to avoid unexpected costs to their trip.”

If you’re concerned about accidentally breaking one of the rules, you can speak to tourist information offices, hotel staff, your country’s consulate or local police for more details. In emergencies, dial 112.

SACRAMENTO — In howling winds and choking smoke during the January fires that devastated Altadena and Pacific Palisades, more than 1,100 incarcerated firefighters cleared brush and dug fire lines, some for wages of less than $30 per day.

Those firefighters could soon see a major raise. On Thursday, California lawmakers unanimously approved a plan to pay incarcerated firefighters the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour while assigned to an active fire, a raise of more than 700%.

“Nobody who puts their life on the line for other people should earn any less than the federal minimum wage,” said the bill’s author, Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles), before the Thursday vote.

Bryan’s legislation, Assembly Bill 247, would take effect immediately if signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Newsom’s office said he typically does not comment on pending legislation. But in July, he signed a budget that set aside $10 million for incarcerated firefighter wages.

Working at one of the state’s 35 minimum-security fire camps is a voluntary and coveted job, giving inmates a chance to spend time outside prison walls, help their communities and get paroled more quickly.

Incarcerated firefighters don’t wield hoses, but clear brush and dig containment lines while working on front-line hand crews and do work such as cooking and laundry to keep fire camps running.

Prison fire crews at times make up more than 1 in 4 of the firefighters battling California’s wildfires, and have drawn international praise during major wildfire seasons. After the January fires in Los Angeles, celebrity Kim Kardashian called them “heroes” who deserved a raise.

The state’s 2,000 or so incarcerated firefighters earn $5.80 to $10.24 per day at fire camps, and an extra $1 an hour during active wildfires, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. That means the lowest-paid firefighters earn $29.80 per 24-hour shift and the highest-paid, $34.24.

Higher wages are not only a key way to recognize the life-risking contributions made by incarcerated firefighters, backers said, but could also help inmates build up some savings before they are paroled, or more quickly pay restitution to their victims.

Republican lawmakers who backed the plan emphasized the life-changing nature of finding work with meaning.

“When we talk about anti-recidivism, when we talk about programs that work, this is one of the absolute best,” said Assemblymember Heath Flora (R-Ripon).

Flora said he worked alongside incarcerated and formerly incarcerated firefighters during 15 years as a volunteer firefighter, and said they were “some of the hardest working individuals I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.”

Bryan originally had proposed a $19 hourly wage, similar to the wage earned by entry-level firefighters with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. During the summer’s budget negotiations, that wage was trimmed to $7.25.

A lobbyist for the California State Sheriffs’ Assn., which opposed the bill, told lawmakers in July that incarcerated firefighters already are “receiving compensation in different ways.” Prison workers assigned to hand crews have their sentences reduced by two days for each day they serve on an active fire.

State Sen. Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta), who co-sponsored the bill, cautioned in July that paying higher wages could lead to hiring fewer incarcerated firefighters overall.

The cost to the state will depend on the number of inmate crews staffed and the severity of the fire season.

From 2020 to 2024, inmate firefighters spent 1,382,117 hours fighting fires for $1 per hour, according to a bill analysis by legislative staff. The state would have paid about $10 million in wages — or about $8.6 million more — had the federal minimum wage been in place over those five fire seasons, analysts said.

Years with more fire activity would be more expensive for the state. In 2020, the largest wildfire season in modern history, the state spent about $2.1 million on inmate firefighter wages at $1 per hour, which would have cost $15 million under the new bill language.

The bill follows years of effort to help improve the working conditions of inmate firefighters.

The number of inmates working on fire crews has shrunk by more than half since 2005, from a peak of about 4,250 that year to slightly less than 2,000 this year, according to the corrections department.

The number fell off sharply after the California policy known as realignment in 2011, which shifted many people who were convicted of nonserious, nonviolent and nonsexual offenses from California state prisons to county jails.

California bars people with a felony conviction from receiving an emergency medical technician, or EMT, certification for a decade after their release from prison. There is a lifetime ban for those convicted of two or more felonies.

In 2020, Newsom signed a bill allowing formerly incarcerated firefighters who were convicted of nonviolent, nonsexual offenses to appeal a court to expunge their criminal records and waive their parole time.

The Legislature this week also passed AB 218, by Assemblymembers Josh Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) and Sade Elhawary (D-Los Angeles), which would require prison officials to draft rules by 2027 to recommend incarcerated firefighters for resentencing.

A number of other bills dealing with fire issues are still pending in the Legislature in its final week of the year. Those include:

• AB 226, which would allow the California FAIR Plan, the state’s home insurer of last resort, to increase its capacity to pay out claims by issuing bonds or seeking a line of credit.
• AB 1032, which would require healthcare insurers to cover 12 visits a year with a licensed behavioral health provider, including mental health and substance abuse counselors, to residents affected by wildfires.

FORMER University students could be owed £1,000s in overpaid loans – here is how to check if you can get a refund.

In the last tax year, over one million third level education leavers overpaid their student loans, according to figures released by the Student Loans Company (SLC). 

1

But there are a number of reasons you may have been overcharged on your loan.

According to MoneySavingExpert, this includes beginning to repay the loan during some months, despite not earning enough in the full year.

You are only required to pay your loan back once your income exceeds a certain annual threshold.

This varies depending on what type of plan you were on when you started university. There are five plans in total.

For example, those on Plan 1, who attended university between 1998-2011 are required to earn a minimum of £26,065 before they begin paying back their loan.

Minimum earnings thresholds vary from plan to plan, with those on Plan 2 who attended university between 2021-22 being required to earn £28,470 before they start making repayments.

The blog said that if your earnings vary throughout the year, i.e. if you received a bonus, this could lead you to start making repayments before you are actually required to.

Another reason you may have overpaid is if you were put on the wrong plan.

This can happen if you filled in the student loan section of the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) starter checklist form wrong.

You can check which plan you are on by visiting the Gov.uk website.

Alternatively, you may be overcharged if you began repaying your loan too early or you had money deducted after the loan was fully repaid.

How to get a refund if you have overpaid

If you think you have been overcharged, you can get the money back and there a few ways you can go about this.

The blog said that former students who began repaying the loan despite not meeting the earnings thresholds can request a refund online.

This is done via the government’s Student Loan Company (SLC) online portal.

To do this, you will need to sign in to your online repayment account and select ‘request a refund’.

Once you’ve requested a refund through your online account, it will be processed in 28 days.

The money will get paid into your bank account.

It is also worth nothing that this only applies for tax years up to 2023-24.

More ways to claim

Alternatively, students can speak to their employer or call the SLC.

This may be applicable if you entered the wrong plan when filling out an HMRC starter form.

Ahead of your call, you can check what plan you are on in your online account and download an ‘active plan type letter”.

You can call on 0300 100 0611 to discuss the matter with the SLC.

You can also call the helpline if you began repaying your loan too early.

The MSE blog said: “When you get through, explain your situation and ask to reclaim the money you’re owed.

“To make the process smoother, before ringing see if you can dig out any old payslips, your payroll number, and/or your PAYE reference number.”

There is no restriction on how far back you can claim, so if you think you may have been affected years ago you can still ring up.

If you had money deducted after the loan was fully repaid, HMRC should pay you back this money automatically, 

Readers of the blog have claimed back as much as £3,773 by using these methods.

One said: “Thank you so much. I knew something wasn’t right when I lodged my tax returns and reading Martin’s article was the catalyst for a sustained attempt to work out what had happened. I received £3,773 back.”

While another said the process only took 15 minutes.

They explained: “I spent 15 minutes on the phone and got £555 back for overpayments on my student loan.

“Most was because of my maternity leave. Thanks so much, couldn’t have come at a better time.”

How student loan plans work

If you wish to attend university you may take out a loan to help cover the costs.

The loan is paid directly to the university or college on your behalf.

Repayments start from the first April after you finish or leave your course.

You repay 9% of your income above the repayment threshold.

This means that the majority or basic-rate taxpayers lose 37p for every £1 they earn above the threshold – 20p as income tax, 8p as national insurance and 9p for a student loan.

Your repayment threshold will vary depending on when you studied at university.

Interest is charged on your loan from the day you receive the first payment until it is repaid in full.

A quarter of holidaymakers have travelled without insurance all together, according to new research

One in six British holidaymakers confess they haven’t been entirely truthful about their health when buying travel insurance. The study reveals that a quarter of travellers have jetted off without any cover whatsoever, whilst a fifth have embarked on trips knowing their policy wouldn’t fully protect them.

The research found that a quarter of holidaymakers believe it’s acceptable to conceal details about health conditions they don’t consider serious in order to secure cheaper premiums. Some felt under pressure to keep holiday expenses low, with a quarter thinking it was fine to omit health information because they only wanted basic protection for cancellations or lost luggage.

A Staysure spokesperson, who commissioned the study, remarked: “This survey paints a worrying picture.”

“When buying a travel insurance policy, you want to know you’ll be in safe hands if the worst should happen so be as honest and detailed as possible about your current health.”

Most travellers were oblivious to the fact that weight loss medications must be disclosed, along with HRT, a treatment used to manage menopause symptoms.

Moreover, a quarter of holidaymakers didn’t think it was necessary to mention high blood pressure or recent surgery, or that they have previously had a heart attack or severe organ condition.

“Many people don’t realise that their NHS medical records are checked when they make a medical claim to verify their policy against their current health,” the spokesperson added.

“Any undeclared medical conditions, or recent GP and hospital visits that are not covered on their policy could invalidate their cover – leaving them high and dry to foot a medical bill alone.”

Seven out of ten revealed their greatest worry was having their claim rejected and being stranded overseas with an unaffordable medical bill. For 14 per cent they know someone whose medical claim was refused because they failed to disclose a health condition beforehand.

The spokesperson continued: “Declaring all your medical conditions ensures you are financially protected if you need medical treatment abroad or repatriating home – last year the average cost of an air ambulance from Spain alone was £45,136.”

Among those surveyed, 81 per cent believed their travel insurance represented good value for money, with 26 per cent having previously submitted a claim.

“We urge people to tell their insurer if they’ve recently seen a medical professional as not all heath changes will increase the price of their policy but may just save them thousands of pounds in unexpected medical costs.”

TOP 10 CONDITIONS TRAVELLERS DIDN’T REALISE YOU HAVE TO DECLARE:

1. Menopause/HRT
2. Weight loss drugs
3. Hearing problems
4. Arthritis
5. Osteoarthritis
6. Recent GP or hospital visits
7. Chronic back pain
8. Thyroid Issues
9. Changes in health/medication alterations
10. Mental health conditions

Brits on holidays this summer have been warned not to make an easy poolside mistake or they could risk facing some pretty hefty fees if things go wrong

There’s nothing quite like cooling off in the pool after basking in the sunshine while on holiday. However, Brits are being warned to stay vigilant if they step away from their sunlounger, or they could risk some hefty fees.

A travel insurance expert has warned that there are some easy mistakes we all make that quickly invalidate your travel insurance, meaning that if things do go wrong it’s likely your claim will be rejected.

One of those is stepping away from your bag, even if you can see it from the pool and feel like your surroundings are fairly secure.

“Stepping away from your bag for even a few minutes can invalidate your claim,” warns Niraj Mamtora, Director at Forum Insurance. “People think a quick dip or a trip to the bar is harmless, but from an insurance perspective, you’ve left those items unguarded. That’s classed as negligence. Most policies will state clearly that unattended belongings in public areas are not covered, regardless of how short the time or how secure you felt.”

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It’s not just about insurance either. Hotels are increasingly cracking down on people who leave their belongings unattended for a few hours, in a bid to fight back against sunbed wars. This has included introducing time limits on how long staff will leave an unattended lounger before picking up the belongings and taking them to reception, where holidaymakers can retrieve them.

‘Sunbed wars’ see people frantically rushing in the early hours of the morning to leave their towels on sunbeds to claim these for the day. However, tensions rise when people do this but don’t return for hours at a time, leaving others unable to enjoy the pool despite there being empty beds.

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Just recently, holidaymakers were spotted using a sneaky tactic before the pool staff had even laid out the loungers, with other tourists slamming the “pathetic” behaviour. Meanwhile, one British couple was recently livid when they returned to a stern warning from hotel staff after they’d left their loungers for half an hour, claiming that other holidaymakers had been away from their sunbeds for longer but not received any backlash.

If you are going to step away from your sun lounger, you may want to leave your valuables back in your room – but even then, Niraj warns that you’ll want to make sure they’re in the safe.

“Valuables not stored in a locked safe are rarely covered,” explains the insurance expert. “If you leave your passport, jewellery, or expensive tech out on the bedside table or tucked into a suitcase, and they’re taken, your insurer may argue you failed to secure them properly.

“The policy wording often requires that high-value items be locked in a hotel safe when not in use. It’s a small effort that makes a big difference to whether you’re covered.”

Have you had issues with sunbed wars on your holiday? Email us at [email protected].

RICHMOND, Va. — Democrats in Virginia have built up a hefty fundraising advantage for their effort to reclaim the governor’s mansion in a November election that is seen as a bellwether for the party in power in Washington ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA case manager turned congresswoman, has a more than 2-to-1 fundraising advantage over her GOP opponent for governor, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who has struggled to draw support from her fellow Republicans. Both were unopposed for their party’s nominations and were able to focus on the fall general election without having to overcome a challenge in this week’s primaries. The match-up means Virginia is all but certain to elect the state’s first female governor.

Spanberger has amassed $6.5 million toward her campaign for governor over the last two months after raising $6.7 million between January and March, according to the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project. Combined with the money Spanberger raised in 2024, she has gathered $22.8 million and still has $14.3 million in her coffers.

Earle-Sears, meanwhile, spent more than she earned between April and June, bringing in $3.5 million and spending $4.6 million. Between January and March, she also raised a little over $3.1 million. In total, she has raked in nearly $9.2 million since launching her campaign last September. Now, she has a little under $3 million in the bank, according to Virginia Public Access Project data.

In a statement, Earle-Sears’ campaign said the candidate is putting forward a message for Virginians that money can’t buy.

“Clearly the Spanberger campaign needs a lot of help attempting to erase Abigail’s bad voting record on issues that actually matter to Virginians,” press secretary Peyton Vogel said in an email. “This race isn’t being bought — it’s being built on a message that matters.”

Virginia is one of two states, along with New Jersey, that host statewide elections this year. The contests will be closely watched as a measure of whether voters in the shadow of Washington will embrace President Trump’s aggressive effort to overhaul the federal government, or be repelled by it.

Democrats’ outsized fundraising lead ahead of the primaries may reflect local Democratic enthusiasm and the party’s ability to push people to the polls in light of Trump being in office. Mark J. Rozell, dean of George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government, also referenced the noticeable frostiness among leading state Republicans. The party’s statewide nominees have yet to campaign together, despite securing their nominations at the end of April.

“Enthusiasm drives fundraising and in Virginia right now the Democrats’ voting base has much greater enthusiasm“ than Republicans, Rozell said. ”It is reminiscent of Trump’s first term in office when Democratic fundraising and ultimately voting overwhelmed the Republicans in Virginia.”

Money does not guarantee success, however. In the last Virginia governor’s race, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe outspent Republican Glenn Youngkin, who had invested $20 million of his own money in the race. Youngkin still clinched the election by nearly two points.

Youngkin, who is term-limited from seeking reelection, has offered more than $21,000 in support to Earle-Sears through his political action committee.

When asked whether he would donate more, his PAC responded, “Governor Youngkin is working to elect the entire GOP ticket and is urging all Virginians to support the commonsense team this November to keep Virginia winning.”

The Democrats’ fundraising advantage isn’t confined to the governor’s race.

State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, who eked out a primary win in a close three-way contest for lieutenant governor, raised nearly $1.8 million in her primary race and has $462,000 remaining.

The Republican nominee, conservative talk-radio host John Reid, raised nearly $312,000 since launching his campaign and has $116,000 remaining.

The only statewide GOP candidate with a fundraising lead, incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares, has $2.3 million in the bank after raising a total of $4.6 million. His Democratic opponent, Jay Jones, has raised $2.7 million. He had about $493,000 left at the beginning of June, reports show.

This year, all three Democratic statewide candidates are backed by Clean Virginia, a political group that pushes for clean energy and often takes on legislative challenges against Dominion Energy, Virginia’s largest utility.

The two groups are some of the most influential entities lobbying on state politics and policy. With energy demand likely to be a key issue in November, their influence could be significant.

According to the nonpartisan public-access group, Spanberger has taken in $465,000 from the environmental organization. On Tuesday, Clean Virginia endorsed Hashmi’s candidacy for lieutenant governor, following its previous donations to her state Senate campaign committee.

During his campaign, Jones also received $1.5 million from Clean Virginia, while his primary opponent, Democrat Shannon Taylor, accepted $800,000 from Dominion Energy between 2024 and 2025. Clean Virginia released attack ads targeting Taylor for accepting Dominion money.

The energy utility has become entangled in other statewide battles. On the Republican ticket, Earle-Sears accepted $50,000 from Dominion in March. Miyares also gained $450,000 from the utility so far this year.

Clean Virginia has donated to both Democrats and Republicans, including to candidates running for the House of Delegates, where all 100 members are up for reelection in November.

Democrats who control the legislature are hoping to keep or expand their thin majority and amend the state’s Constitution to protect rights to voting, marriage equality and abortion.

Democratic candidates have raised about $16.9 million in those races, with $3.2 million stemming from House Speaker Don Scott.

Meanwhile, Republicans have raised $8.8 million, with former Minority Leader Todd Gilbert earning over $643,000, and newly tapped Minority Leader Terry Kilgore raising nearly $470,000.

Diaz writes for the Associated Press.

Harry Poulton regularly shares his travel tips and advice about the sunny location with his 41,700 followers on TikTok, and has now delivered a stark warning to holidaymakers

A Brit living in Benidorm has revealed the three things tourists are being fined for while visiting the Spanish destination’s beach.

Harry Poulton regularly shares his travel tips and advice about the sunny location with his 41,700 followers on TikTok. In a recent clip, which has racked up 43,000 views and hundreds of likes, he’s shared the top three things Brits do while at the beach which could land them a hefty fine.

The 24-year-old’s first piece of advice is to avoid swimming in the sea at unrestricted hours. He explains: “You can’t swim between midnight and 7am at Benidorm [beach] otherwise you’re going to end up with a massive fine.” This can range from anywhere between €300 and €1,500 (£255 – £1,278).

When it comes to beach hogging, that’s a big no-no in Benidorm. “Reserving spots on the beach – that means putting your towel down [and] reserving a seat – not okay,” the content creator, from Brighton, said.

READ MORE: Spain warning for Brits as new holiday rule comes into force from July 1

“Not allowed. “You can actually get a fine of up to €200 for reserving a spot on the beach. “Even just leaving your towel down somewhere on the beach can get you a massive fine. So just don’t do it.”

His final piece of advice is to avoid smoking and vaping while at the seaside. The ban on vapes has already come into force in Spain and Italy, with France next to implement the change on 1 July. Those caught with the e-cigarette could be forced to fork out a whopping £1,700.

The same rule applies for cigarettes. Harry explained: “To be honest, probably the most important one; smoking on Benidorm’s beach. Let’s be honest, we’ve all been there if you’re a smoker. Don’t do it – if you get caught, you are going to be fined.

“They are proper on it at the moment, so if you do all those things, you’re going to get a fine. If you don’t, then you’ll be absolutely fine.”

In 2024, the Spanish Medical Association unveiled new anti-smoking regulations that also encompass vaping in public spaces such as beaches and restaurant terraces.

Several well-known Spanish beaches where vaping prohibitions are now in effect include L’Albir Beach in Alicante, Levante and Poniente Beaches in Benidorm, Barceloneta, Nova Icaria, and Bogatell in Barcelona, and Malvarrosa Beach in Valencia. If caught breaking the law, travellers could face penalties up to €2,000, equivalent to £1,700.

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Holidaymakers heading to France this summer should also be cautious about where they are vaping. From July 1, France will prohibit smoking in outdoor areas frequented by children, including beaches, parks, schools, bus stops, and sports venues. This is part of a wider initiative that started in 2011 with a beach ban and has since broadened.

Those caught breaking these laws could face fines of up to €135 (£115).