homes

SHOPPERS are rushing to buy a nifty gadget that costs just 1p to run – and they say it will stop them having to turn the heating on this winter.

The handy product will help keep you warm at home as the colder months approach, and it doesn’t cost a fortune.

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Amazon is selling the neck and shoulder heatpad for £39.99.

It normally retails at £59.99 – representing a saving of 30%.

The Dreamland heatpad is designed to be worn around the neck and can keep your shoulders feeling toasty in winter.

It has also been praised by buyers for easing symptoms associated with arthritis and injuries.

Others have described it as “excellent”.

One satisfied customer hailed it as “lovely” as it stays warm for hours and doesn’t cost anything extra to reheat.

Easy to use

The product’s manufacturer said it delivers “precise temperature control for a full three-hour treatment”.

It added: “It is so easy to use, and has a choice of five continuous use temperate setting, with a three-hour auto shut off timer.

“It costs from as little as 1p to run per treatment for three hours.” 

The cover is machine washable and can be easily stored away when the weather warms back up.

It’s even landed dozens of five-star reviews online.

One buyer said: “Bought for my arthritic mother. She loves it and it helps her a lot.”

Another described it as a “lovely item”.

A third person wrote: “Excellent for a stiff neck, or trapped nerve.”

More money-saving gadgets

Savvy shoppers are always quick to share tips and tricks to keep warm for cheap this winter.

Some recently shared Lidl was selling £18 gadgets that save them turning the heating on.

One woman also recently shared her new hack – which is said to be like “hugging a sheep”.

Dunelm shoppers have also recently been rushing to buy a “life-saver” winter gadget.

The discounter is selling the device that costs just 1p an hour to run.

Aldi also recently shared one of its winter gadgets that costs just 6p to run.

Don’t forget about your hands …

Here are some handy tips to ease the effects of cold weather on your hands …

A pair of mitts can really help your hands through the winter months.

Wear gloves outside so that the cold air doesn’t zap the moisture out of your skin.

For washing up, protect your hands with rubber gloves. Apply hand cream before putting on the gloves and the warm water will help the cream soothe your hands.

Dry, brittle and split nails are a real pain in winter, when our hands are craving moisture. The answer may lie in your food cupboard.

Rubbing olive oil into your nails and cuticles each day can strengthen and soothe them, reducing the risk of splits.

Nursem is a handcare brand started by former children’s intensive care nurse Antonia Philp, whose hands were left cracked and sore from constant handwashing.

Or, to soothe winter hands, try this. Blitz 100g oats in a food mixer until it becomes a powder.

Add to a bowl of warm water with 50ml of olive oil. Soak hands for 10 minutes before drying and apply hand cream.

ED Sheeran has revealed he has gone through with his plan to move to the US with his family.

Speaking in an interview for the 2 Johnnies podcast last month just before heading to the States, the A Team hitmaker said he was leaving Suffolk with wife Cherry Seaborn and their two daughters, Lyra five, and Jupiter, three.

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The family had spent their time living in a £3.7million pad – dubbed Sheeranville – which boasts a gym and pool, as well as a tree house and even a separate bungalow.

Yet Ed, 34, has said: “I’m just about to move to America.

“I feel like I might be the only person moving to America.

“I’m going on tour there for a while and I have a family so I can’t dip in and out.

“We’re going and settling there.”

Giving a glimpse into his home life on Instagram previously, he uploaded one showing him in a cosy-looking living area complete with a telescope for stargazing.

It also captured a huge library which was the perfect space for Ed and his song writing partners to pen his smash hits.

Ed’s sprawling £3.7million complex is made up of multiple homes — including swimming pool, two-storey treehouse and pub — and is in the Suffolk town he grew up in.

Land Registry records show that Ed bought his main home — a detached farmhouse and surrounding land — for £895,000 in June 2012

Despite the move, the Afterglow hitmaker has understandably retained his home but he also revealed he has built a second private boozer at his studio.

He said: “People always look at stuff like that in my lifestyle and think it’s a bit weird, but I think to go out and really let loose with camera phones round, you can’t really do that any more – as in like if you’re well-known.

“So it’s having a place where you can have a few pints, a dance, a sing, get a bit silly and not worry about it being on TikTok the next morning.”

OWN GOAL

Ed then admitted he will no longer be able to watch his beloved Ipswich Town, where he owns a 1.4 per cent stake and was their shirt sponsor.

Chatting just before they lost on penalties at Bromley in the Carabao cup four weeks ago, he said the match was going to be the only game he’d be seeing this season before settling in the US.

He said: “I went to almost every game last season – I think I can only make one this season because I’m moving to the States.”

ALL CHANGE

The Shape of You singer previously expressed a desire to move into country music and potentially relocate to the US.

He said earlier this year: “When you transition to country, you can’t transition back.

“Nashville is my favourite city in the States and it’s always been my end goal to move to Nashville and transition to country.”

However, he did not reveal in his more recent interview just before planning to fly out whether it was Nashville where he was now setting up home.

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A MUM has been praised after sharing the genius hack she swears by to give her kids a toy room without making her house look messy.

As a home schooling mum, Paige has devoted a whole room in her abode to her kids’ learning – which also contains some toys.

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But as any parent knows, toys eventually make their way into different rooms, and can end up making the house look untidy.

So Paige came up with a clever idea to let her kids play in the lounge – one of the main family areas of the home – without it turning into another toy room.

In a video on her TikTok page, the mum-of-three showed the kitchen, toy room and lounge, all of which looked perfectly neat and tidy.

She then took the camera to behind the sofa, where she had set aside a large area for toys to go.

“Having a little mini toy room behind the couch was the best decision!” she wrote over the top of the video.

Thanks to the positioning of the sofa, the area is entirely invisible until you’re right on top of it.

And it also means that Paige doesn’t have to deal with tidying it up until she wants to.

“Really has help the house look a bit cleaner haha!” she added in the video caption.

People were quick to praise Paige in the comments section for the clever hack.

“This is so smart!” one wrote.

To which Paige replied: “It really works well!”

“So cute! Great idea!” another added.

“Your house is literally a dream – it’s beautiful,” a third gushed.

“Aww thank you!” Paige responded.

“We love it so much but we are growing and will need more room eventually.

“This space is huge, but tiny rooms is the down fall!”

How to baby-proof your house

IF you’ve got a baby coming very soon, here’s our top tips on how to get your home ready for their arrival…

Secure Furniture and Appliances: Use brackets or straps to anchor heavy furniture and TVs to the wall. Ensure that large appliances like fridges and ovens are stable and cannot tip over.

Install Safety Gates: Place gates at the top and bottom of stairs. Use gates to block off rooms that are not baby-proofed.

Cover Electrical Outlets: Use outlet covers or plates to prevent little fingers from poking into sockets. Ensure that electrical cords are out of reach or secured.

Lock Cabinets and Drawers: Install child-proof locks on cabinets and drawers, especially in the kitchen and bathroom. Store hazardous substances, sharp objects, and small items that can be swallowed out of reach.

Use Corner and Edge Protectors: Attach soft corner and edge protectors to furniture with sharp edges. Consider using them on low tables, countertops, and fireplace hearths.

Secure Windows and Doors: Install window guards or locks to prevent windows from opening more than a few inches. Use door knob covers and door stoppers to prevent pinched fingers.

Maintain a Safe Sleep Environment: Use a firm mattress and avoid placing pillows, blankets, or stuffed animals in the cot. Ensure the cot meets current safety standards.

Keep Small Items Out of Reach: Regularly check the floor for small objects that could be choking hazards. Be mindful of items like coins, buttons, and small toys.

Adjust Water Heater Temperature: Set your water heater to a maximum of 49°C (120°F) to prevent scalding. Always test bath water temperature before placing your baby in.

Use Baby Monitors: Place baby monitors in the nursery to keep an eye on your little one. Ensure the monitor cords are out of reach to avoid strangulation hazards.

By taking these steps, you can create a safer environment for your baby.

“With all that wood accenting going on in there you could easily turn this into a hobbit house,” someone else pointed out.

Paige’s family home is located in Northern California, and is nestled within 10 acres of woodland.

She lives there with her other half and their three children – River Wildfox, Cedar Moon and Sequoia Rain.

IT may not be an imposing castle and there’s no Claudia Winkleman but Downing Street has become the stage for a real-life version of The Traitors.

Sir Keir Starmer set the scene for weeks of vicious plotting when he banished his faithful deputy from the Cabinet.

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His gushing letter to Angela Rayner after she was forced out was true to the hit TV series.

It could be summed up as: “So sorry, Ange. I really like you and I really, really hope it isn’t you. But I’ve got to go with my gut.”

But it hasn’t washed with her admirers who now see her as a standard bearer for Labour’s Left.

The problem for the PM is whether his ousted sidekick will be recruited by The Traitors — a clique of MPs and activists hellbent on revenge.

They think Sir Keir is the real traitor — a class traitor — and are ready to unleash anger and resentment that has been building up over the past 14 months.

‘Knives are out’

When Ms Rayner quit as Deputy PM and Housing Secretary, she also stood down as Labour’s Deputy Leader — an elected position.

The search for her successor will become a divisive and bloody battle for the soul of the party.

One activist declared: “It’s going to be carnage. The knives are out already — and many of them are aimed at Starmer’s back.

“Most MPs can’t stand him or his politics, and over the past week their hatred has gone off the scale.”

Ms Rayner and her supporters are not the only people to harbour a grudge against the PM.

Her departure forced him into a hasty Cabinet reshuffle in which several of her colleagues were also thrown under the bus.

One minister dumped in Sir Keir’s shake-up even vowed privately: “I’m going to f*** him up.”

The deputy leadership race could now turn into a proxy war to destabilise the PM and find his successor.

There are whispers about a stalking horse to pave the way for Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to steal the crown and, bizarrely, that Ed Miliband is pondering a bid for a leadership comeback.

The scandal has also exposed the Prime Minister’s indecision and weakness — flaws he once levelled at Boris Johnson.

Sir Keir allowed Ms Rayner to cling on to her job for eight days after it was revealed she had avoided paying £40,000 stamp duty on her swish new seaside property at Hove, East Sussex.

It was clear that at the very least she was guilty of rank hypocrisy and had to go.

One of his biggest tests will be the Budget on November 26

You’d think after being gifted £2,400 of free spectacles, Sir Keir would have seen what was coming.

But he left it to an ethics adviser to reach the inevitable conclusion — and even then, the PM didn’t sack her but let her resign.

Sir Keir knows he must fix the economy and stop the boats if he has any chance of winning the next General Election.

But the Left has been angered and emboldened, and their opening salvos are likely to be fired at the Labour Conference in Liverpool later this month.

One of his biggest tests will be the Budget on November 26, when drastic action is needed to plug the £50billion black hole in Britain’s finances.

Normally, all the pressure would be on Rachel Reeves to deliver. But the PM sidelined the Chancellor last week to take personal charge of economic policy.

He appointed his own economics guru and poached Ms Reeves’s geeky number two Darren Jones as well as the Chancellor’s chief tax adviser to join his No10 team.

One disgruntled source said: “Keir has made it clear he plans to own the next Budget.

“If that’s the case, he can shoulder all the blame when it goes down like a bag of cold sick.”

Cabinet heavyweight Pat McFadden has been put in charge of forcing through welfare reform, months after benefit cuts were ditched amid a backbench rebellion. His task just got a lot harder.

Time to get a grip

Another big mission — which eclipses any TV challenge Claudia could set — is to tackle the asylum crisis.

Voters are desperate to see this Government deliver on its promises soon

Sir Keir staged a clear-out of the Home Office at the weekend, removing Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and two of her ministers following their failure to stop the boats and close migrant hotels.

Hardly a surprise, as Sir Keir has had more success removing ministers than asylum seekers.

He has ushered in tough-talking former Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood — who supports chemical castration for serious sex offenders — to head up the dysfunctional department.

The PM knows that if she is unable to get a grip of the nation’s number one concern, he won’t be given time to send in a third team.

Voters are desperate to see this Government deliver on its promises soon.

Sir Keir returned from his summer break to declare he had begun “phase two” of his plan to change Britain.

If it continues like this, there won’t be any time for a phase three.

Voters will ask Sir Keir to reveal whether he’s a Faithful or a Traitor.

Then banish him from Number 10.

REFORM MP Lee Anderson wants schoolkids to wave Union Flags and sing the National Anthem at morning assembly.

Not so much Cool ­Britannia as School Britannia.

WHILE the nation was entranced by the Angela Rayner scandal, the Green Party elected a former hypnotherapist as its new leader.

Zack Polanski once claimed he could help women who wanted larger breasts by unlocking the power of their minds.

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Now he’s turned his attention to growing his membership before persuading the rest of us to reverse Brexit.

I can only imagine how he’ll do that.

Perhaps he’ll mesmerise us into a second referendum with an election speech which goes: “Look into my eyes, look into my eyes.

One, two, three . . . you’re back in the EU.”

A HUGE blaze has erupted at the old BBC Television Centre.

Around 100 firefighters are at the scene on Wood Lane in White City, west London, with families evacuated from their homes.

The cause of the fire is unknown, according to the London Fire Brigade.

Emergency calls were made at around 3.08am on Saturday.

In a statement, LFB said: “The building is nine storeys and the fire is currently affecting floors towards the top of the building.

“A restaurant, external decking and ducting is currently alight. An unknown number of flats have also potentially been affected by the fire.”

It added: “A rest centre is being set up for residents who have been evacuated from their homes.”

Wood Lane is currently closed to traffic and pedestrians.

Do you know more? Email [email protected]

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WE’VE all done it.

Spotting a plant you think will look amazing in your garden – rushing out to buy it – and then realising that on its own it suddenly looks, well, a bit naff.

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But happily, a new book by Jamie Butterworth could be about to banish the embarrassment of a badly put together garden for good.

‘What Grows Together’ – which comes out next weekend – offers up over 60 ‘fail safe plant combinations for every garden’ with no confusing horticultural jargon or lecturing.

You may recognise Jamie from his RHS Show Feature Dog Garden at Chelsea Flower Show this year – which he created alongside Monty Don and DJ Jo Whiley.

He’s appeared many times on Gardeners World, and cites Monty Don as the gardener who inspired him to get into horticulture.

His nursery Form Plants also supplies plants to Windsor Castle – and when he met King Charles at Chelsea Flower Show, the King said: ‘I know Jamie — you are delivering plants to me on Wednesday. Please don’t be late.’”

But it was another famous Jamie that actually inspired his book.
“I love cooking, but I never know what ingredients to put together as to what will taste nice,” he told Sun gardening.

“But when I came across Jamie Oliver’s Five Ingredients Book – where he just goes – take these ingredients and do this and this is what you’ll get, it was just brilliant. It was exactly what I needed.

“I just thought – we need to do this for gardening. We’ve even laid it out like a recipe book – in terms of making it look really crisp and simple – it’s like no other gardening book that’s ever been written.

“There’s so much synergy between cooking and gardening – people want to garden, they want to have nice gardens but they’re time poor and they don’t know what to plant that will a. Survive and b. look good, and that was the starting premise of the book.

“We’re forever learning with plants – my particular passion is growing plants, putting them together and making nice displays – it’s how I like to make people happy.

“It’s about getting rid of the old gardening rules – the ‘you must do this, you must do that, you must plant carrots at this exact time or everything will fail.

“What I wanted to do was make growing more accessible – there is no right way – but learning even just a few combinations and what will grow well together – then that gives people confidence to have a go themselves.”

“Jamie’s an idol of mine – and I want to make gardening as accessible as he did for cooking.

“You pay garden designers hundreds of pounds to tell you where to put plants – hopefully this book will negate all of that and give people the accessibility they need to go ‘oh actually this is what I need to do’ and it’s that simple.”

JAMIES’ FAVOURITE COMBINATIONS

COMBINATION ONE
Hydrangeas Limelight and Agastache Blackadder – both plants individually are brilliant and will flower for a long long time each – Hydrangeas from June to Autumn and even once they’ve finished flowering they’ll hold their seed heads and look great in the winter. Agastache Blackadder is a perennial and has dark purple liquorice flowers and if you plant the two together the darkness of the Agastache looks brilliant against the white of the hydrangea – but will also grow up through it. If you want to add to it – just add in some yellow Cosmos.

COMBINATION 2
Calycanthus ‘Aphrodite’, Japanese Forest Grass, Penstemon ‘Pensham Plum Jerkum’
Calycanthus has really rich ruby wine red flowers which look stunning in their own right. It flowers from late May through to September/October, leg it up by taking off lower branches – then you’ve got a specimen rather than just a shrub – and underplant with Hakonechloa Macra – AKA Japanese forest grass and the Penstemon with dark rich ruby colour flowers the same as the calycanthus. Individually they’re great plants – but put together that’s an incredible combination.

 What Grows Together: Fail-safe Plant Combinations for Every Garden by Jamie Butterworth (11 September, DK)

Also in Veronica’s Column this week…

News, top tips, Plant of the Week and a competition to win two hedge trimmers

NEWS! Catherine’s Rose is finally available to buy on the high street – with B&Q taking the honours as the main bricks and mortar stockist.
Named after HRH Princess Kate, and launching in store at the end of this month, funds from every sale will go to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
The pink ‘Catherine’s Rose’, which is scented, was developed by Harkness Roses – and in May we ran a competition for Sun Readers to become the first in the world to own a rose.
Now everyone can get one from their local B&Q..
The RHS and Harkness joined forces with Kate after she underwent a “very spiritual and very intense emotional reconnection” with nature after undergoing treatment for cancer.
The princess announced in January she was in remission after completing a course of preventative chemotherapy.

WIN! WIn one of two Webb ECO 20V 15cm Cordless Mini Chainsaw/Pruning Saws with Telescopic Pole Reach PLUS battery – worth £124.99 each. To enter visit www.thesun.co.uk/WebbPruner or write to
Sun Webb Pruner competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. September 20, 2025. T&Cs apply

PLANT OF THE WEEK! Heuchera Berry Timeless is evergreen and will still be sending up sprays of pale pink flowers well into September. It’s heat resistant and hardy – and doesn’t seem fussy about soil or shade or too much sun.

JOB OF THE WEEK! You can start with your onion sets now – to overwinter and get a bountiful crop next year. Red Winter is a great one to get in the ground. Potatoes and raspberries are ready to harvest and sweetpeas can be sown under cover.

TOP TIP! IF you fancy growing your own salad leaves over Winter – now is the time to start.
Lambs Lettuce is very hardy and perfect for Winter Gardens. Get the seeds in the soil now – either in pockets you know are milder – or in a cold frame.
The best thing about sowing rocket is that you’ll get your first crop with four to six weeks – and it also thrives in cooler temperatures.
If you plant Arctic Spring butterhead lettuce now – you’ll get a crop early next year. But also keep an eye out in garden centres, as they often sell a ‘Winter Mix’. Sarah Raven currently has one that includes ‘Can Can’, ‘Salad Bowl’ and ‘Merveille de Quatre Saisons.’

NEWS! Harrogate Autumn Flower Show is taking place from September 19th to 21st. As well as the usual floral marquees – there’s an Incredible Edible pavilion showcasing the best fruit and vegetables – as well as the giant versions – including a National Onion Championship. Plus talks, live demonstrations, expert gardening advice and competitions. And there’s a plant creche so you don’t have to carry your purchases round all day.

HELEN Flanagan has been forced to slash the price of her £1.5million mansion AGAIN after struggling to sell her family pad amid money woes.

The former Coronation Street star, 35, had already slashed more than £300,000 off the price of the house she shared with ex Scott Sinclair.

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Now Helen has been forced to reduce the price again for a second time after just fourth months of being on the market.

Helen first put the £1.5million six-bedroom family home up for sale in May, before reducing it to £1.195million just four weeks later. 

Now, the detached, 5,000sq ft home can be snapped up for a cheeky £995,000.

The former couple, who have three children together, bought the property at Belmont, near Bolton, in June 2021 for £840,000.

It has five reception rooms, six bathrooms and six bedrooms including two en-suites.

The house is situated on the edge of moors and is said to have “breathtaking views”.

Helen, who has spoken openly about “losing all her money” in the past, recently opened up being forced to downsize.

She said: “It actually makes me sad that I’m going to be leaving soon because I actually put so much effort into it.

“When we moved I put like a lot lot of my savings into doing the house up and making it look really beautiful. 

“But it’s a big house. It’s an eight bedroom house, which is obviously really hard to keep on top of.”

Meanwhile, Helen has shown off her evil stepmother credentials as she debuted her panto outfit for the first time.

The actress will play the evil stepmother in Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs at Liverpool‘s M&S Bank Arena in December.

The stunning star donned a sequinned red and black dress, with black feathered sleeves, and wore a gold and red diamante tiara on her head.

She also held aloft a red apple, symbolic of the poisonous apple so relevant to the Snow White storyline.

A source previously told The Sun: “Helen is excited for panto season and can’t wait to get into character, she’s a brilliant actress and knows how to put on a show.

“She’ll also be pocketing a pretty penny, celebrities and soap stars make good money doing panto and always look forward to it as some extra income.”

But despite being about to make her first foray into the world of pantomime, Helen is not looking forward to being alone this Christmas.

Helen, shares daughters Matilda, nine, Delilah, six, as well as four-year-old son Charlie, with her ex Scott Sinclair.

However, the ex-Coronation Street star also recently told The Sun that she was spending Christmas without her children this year, as she and former Chelsea footballer Scott, who most recently played for Bristol Rovers, live so far apart.

But Helen explained: “”I’ll do something in November – a really nice long weekend then I feel like I’ve had my Christmas period with them.”

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A WOMAN has been left totally lost for words after receiving a passive-aggressive letter from a neighbour she’s never spoken to.

So if you thought your neighbours were bad, you may want to think again.

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Not only was the typed-up letter extremely harsh, but it even accused the anonymous woman and her husband Joe of being ‘creepy’ and ‘strange.’

Stunned by the note and unsure on what to do next, the woman who lives in a flat with her hubby, took to social media to ask for advice.

Posting on Reddit on the r/BadNeighbors thread, the woman uploaded a snap of the direct letter and titled her post “At a complete loss.”

She then asked: “What would you do if you received this letter from a neighbour you’ve never spoken to?”

The long letter read: ‘Can you please stop with all of the noise. I live below you. I work from home full time and I am in school full time, online, at ECU for accounting. 

‘I am also having to take care of my 13 year old dog in-between those times. In case you haven’t noticed, I am always home. 

‘Your loud banging and stomping around is in all of my recorded WebEx meetings and proctored exams. 

‘Can you please, for the love of God, stop with all of the noise.

‘Every time you bang your dining room table chair on the floor, slam your kitchen drawers, and have a martial argument you are also causing my animals, and myself, to be in a constant state of hyper awareness and stress. It makes me jump and scares my animals.”

The neighbour then accused the woman of being ‘creepy,’ as the letter went on: ‘Why are you coming home 5 times a day in different cars and sometimes parking on the side of the building and creeping past my window? The other day you were staking my apartment out. Why? 

‘It’s creepy. I’m installing a camera to keep track of your strange activity because it is not normal. Please stop looking in my window while walking your dog and please stop parking your truck directly in front of my apartment window.’

The neighbour, who claimed to have been a property manager since 2016, continued: ‘I am not sure why it bothers you so much that I am home all the time. A lot of people work from home and do school remotely. 

What would you do if you received this letter from a neighbour you’ve never spoken to?

Reddit poster

‘I am at a loss as to why it bothers you so badly and makes you suspicious of me. I have family and friends in law enforcement. If l have to report you for noise complaints and suspicious activity I will. 

‘I have lived in this apartment for 5 years and you guys are the only neighbours that I’ve had that intentionally try to make my life a living hell. 

‘Per the NC lease agreement, it is my right to live in a safe quiet place. You are currently not respecting that law.’

As well as keeping a copy of the letter, the neighbour also stressed that they would be ‘keeping track of all activity to further support my case in the instance I need to show proof.’

The letter continued: ‘I really hope we can be done with the passive aggressiveness and become civil neighbours. You may be accustomed to living in a loud angry household, but I am not.’

Reddit users react 

But Reddit users were left gobsmacked by the letter and many eagerly raced to the comments to share their shock and advice. 

One person said: “So YOU have to change your life because THEY work odd hours? Umm no. 

“They are trying to threaten you…tell them to go ahead and call the police. 

Ignore it, but keep it if they try any other type of communication with you

Reddit user

“They can’t do anything about your living noises if they aren’t excessive. This person feels entitled.” 

Another added: “Talk to the landlord and inform them of your confusion and that these allegations are groundless.” 

A third commented: “Ignore it, but keep it if they try any other type of communication with you. They should be contacting property management if they have a noise issue with you.” 

Meanwhile, someone else penned: “My response would depend on what complaints were valid, if any.”

I had a two-year bin war with my next door neighbour

Gemma Smith and Sophie Wood were engaged in a weekly feud for a year over their wheelie bins.

When Gemma moved next door to Sophie, 34, who is unemployed, in November 2020 they were civil to one another.

Gemma, who is single and doesn’t work due to stress, says: “Sophie seemed nice and we’d stop and exchange pleasantries.

“But it all changed at the beginning of 2022, when Sophie’s bin was full and she put her rubbish bag in mine.

“I took it out and put it on top of her bin.

“It fell off, gulls pecked at it and there was rubbish everywhere.”

Both women refused to clear up the mess, claiming it was the other one’s fault.

Gemma says: “I felt so angry.

“There was cat litter spread all over my drive — it was absolutely disgusting and we ended up shouting at each other.

“We were both as bad as each other — we’d walk past each other and I’d tell her she was a lazy cow and to clean up after herself.

“We’d scream insults at each other.”

Within six months Sophie had set up a CCTV camera and threatened to report Gemma to the council.

In retaliation, Gemma set up the baby monitor — which can record video — to try to pin more wrongdoing on Sophie.

Then last July Sophie spotted Gemma in tears on her doorstep following a burglary at her home.

Gemma says: “Sophie came straight round and asked if there was anything she could do.

“We are now the best of friends and help each other out all the time.”

In response, the woman shared: “The complaints are not valid at all.” 

At the same time, one user suggested: “Perhaps talk to her, and explain the noise? If you do make noise, just shift things around and show an effort.”

To this, the frustrated woman wrote back and explained: “I was really upset and anxious about it.

“We joke about it now, whenever my husband farts (it can be LOUD) or I drop my phone, we roll our eyes and say the cops might be on the way.” 

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A HOMEOWNER has left people stunned after sharing a video of their disastrous attempt to get a garden shed in their new garden.

After moving in to their new house, they enlisted the help of two friends to try and get the shed over a gate frame and into the back garden.

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The three men decided on a daring attempt to lift the shed – holding it above their heads.

However, in scenes that were predicted by those watching the TikTok video in horror, the shed ended up going a bit too high.

And as it did so, it fell heavily over the fence and into next door’s garden, much to the horror of the men carrying it.

The trio realised in seconds what had happened, and tried to look through the fence to inspect the damage next door.

“Moving day carnage,” Rea captioned the video on her TikTok page.

The gate frame also took part of the brunt of the shed disaster, as a panel was seen slipping down as the structure crashed to the ground.

Commenting on the video, a woman called Leonie wrote: “My partner is the one who got out the car to help, I thought I recognised them!”

“That was never ending well,” another added in the comments section.

“The only 3 people that didn’t see that happening,” a third laughed.

“Great start with the neighbours,” someone else sighed.

“The 2 at the front is at fault, him at the back was doing it properly!” another insisted.

“What the hell? This was hard to watch,” someone else said.

While others imagined what the conversation would be between the homeowners and their new neighbours.

“Can you imagine saying my shed fell in your garden?” one gasped.

“Excuse me Mister, can we have our shed back please?” another joked.

“Knocks on door, ‘hey Mr. I accidentally threw my shed in your yard. Can I go back there and get it?'” a third laughed.

But there were some people in the comments section who wondered what would have happened if there was someone on the other side of the fence.

“Omg what would have happened if a child or elderly person was other side of the fence?” one wrote.

“I would dread to think!”

“Imagine it fell on the neighbours plants or the poor old neighbour sitting in their back garden,” another added.

“Or a baby!”

“What if there was a toddler running around other side?” someone else commented.

FAMILIES living in the shadow of two “humungous” warehouses say the buildings have destroyed their view and devalued their properties.

The colossal steel frames, which residents have likened to cruise ships, are part of a 350,000 sq ft industrial site that is dwarfing homes nearby.

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Residents in Tyldesley, Wigan, described being alarmed by the scale, and some are even considering moving.

Plans from developer PLP show the massive site will eventually be home to four vast warehouses, with the council agreeing to a maximum height of 18.3m (60ft) for two of those buildings.

Delivery giant Whistl has already snapped up one of the huge sheds, signing a 15-year deal on a 140,000 sq ft unit.

A council boss insisted landscaping would help soften the appearance, adding that the project followed proper planning processes.

But residents argued the final approved plans from were far bigger than had been originally designed.

They worried about the effect on property values, arguing there was limited consultation before building started.

John Peters, 71, a retired teacher, has lived on the estate since 1978. He said: “It’s a total shock when you walk out of the door.

“The enormity of the thing just strikes you. It shouldn’t be there.”

He said his dreams of a peaceful retirement were “shattered” by the arrival of the structure so close to his home.

A campaign group has been set up to rally neighbours and fight the development, with more than 200 people in attendance at a recent meeting.

Mr Peters claimed the way residents were informed about the project left many feeling blindsided.

He said: “A letter was sent out to 90 residents, but I don’t know how they selected those residents because some of the people who back onto the site didn’t get anything.

“It was just completely random.”

Paula Boardman, 47, lives with her husband and two kids in a house that backs onto the imposing warehouse.

She said: “It’s quite upsetting, because we used to have such a lovely view.

“We knew this was going to be built, but we thought it was going to be a lot smaller.

“As soon as the framework went up, everyone realised the height of it – it’s humungous. I’m worried it’s going to take all our sunlight.

“It’s like a cruise ship at the back of our garden. Even if we wanted to move, I think the value of the house has gone down.”

She raised concerns about damage in her home that she fears could be related to the warehouse’s size and proximity of construction work.

She said: “I noticed a dip in the flooring back in February and a big crack in the wall.”

Steve Retford, 69, said he no longer sits in the garden because of the structure that stands just 30m away – describing the impact as “profound”.

The retired police officer said: “It’s just dreadful. We feel this sense of injustice.

“I don’t profess to be a planning expert, but when you look at the sheer enormity of this, it’s not right.

“It must have taken tens of thousands of pounds off the value of our houses. Every time I think about it, I feel sick.”

Care worker Danielle Edwards, 38, fears the warehouse could make it difficult to sell her home in the future.

Home upgrades that add the most value to a house

The best renovation to add value totally depends on your property, the local market and your potential buyers.

Zoopla shared a list of upgrades that will instantly add value to your home.

1. Loft conversion – increase of 15%
2. Off-street parking – adds £50,000 to property price
3. New kitchen – increase of 15%
4. Garage conversion – increase of 15%
5. Cellar or basement conversion – increase of 10-15%
6. Open plan living space – increase of 3-5%
7. New bathroom – increase of 3-5%

She said: “It’s awful. We bought this house because we’re a young family wanting to stay in the area.

“It would be very difficult to move. I can see it from my back garden. We thought they were going to be low-rise industrial units, but they’re not.”

Retired project manager Eric Earnshaw, 79, has lived in the Tyldesley area all his life but is now preparing to leave for the Lake District.

The keen dog walker said it’s because he’s had enough of constant building work.

He added: “There are walks that take me along fields in the area where there are plans for thousands of homes.

“All the green space around here is disappearing.”

Aidan Thatcher, director for place at Wigan Council, told The Sun: “This planning application went through our planning consultation and committee process.

“The final plans include landscaping which will help to screen and soften the appearance, and mitigate the impact on nearby properties.

“We will continue to monitor the site throughout construction, ensuring this development bringing new jobs and investment to the area is delivered properly.”

A spokesperson for PLP said they would not comment.

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A COUPLE are selling their £600k home in a raffle – with tickets costing just TWO pounds.

Aily Chalmers, 32, and her husband, Nathan, 35, say they were forced into the unusual decision because of the “disastrous” housing market.

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They initially put their four-bed detached home near Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire, on the market, but were instantly put off.

The couple were told by their estate agent that they would have to cut the price, with a potential 18-month wait to make a sale.

Instead, they are selling 450,000 raffle tickets, with the winner set to receive the house free from stamp duty and fees.

Speaking on their “mad” venture, website designer Aily said: “We never thought we’d be doing something like this.

“But we want to move closer to family and just thought, ‘go for it.’

“All you can do is try in these situations and the house is basically just going to be given away.

“All stamp duty and other fees will be paid, and the winner won’t have to pay anything other than £2 for the ticket.

“The market is awful at the moment, and we’re looking to move ASAP.

“It sounds mad, but it’s a win-win for us and someone who gets to live in a four-bed house for £2.”

The home has three bathrooms, a study, a snug and an open-plan dining room-lounge.

Aily and Nathan moved into the then-new build seven years ago.

But when the pair’s fourth child was born, they decided they wanted to move closer to family in Hampshire for support.

The mum-of-four continued: “Nathan and I have been discussing moving out since last year.

“We looked into selling the house the traditional way.

“Our house is perfect at the moment and our budget is the same.

“The only downside of being here is that we have to drive miles and miles if we want to see our family.

“It sounds mad, but we’re really hoping we can pull it off.

“We had lots of Zoom calls with the company hosting the raffle, to iron out the legalities of it all and now the competition is live.”

The pair have already sold one per cent of tickets in a matter of days, raising £6,000.

Both her and Nathan are hoping to raise an extra £20,000 in spending money to cover additional costs.

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It comes as Chancellor Rachel Reeves is said to be considering a new tax on the sale of houses over £500,000.

But critics say the measures could weaken the property market by discouraging homeowners from downsizing and selling.

The proposed legislation would be part of a wider overhaul to stamp duty and council tax.

Slamming the proposed changes, Aily accused the Government of “punishing people who own property”.

She added: “I feel like it’s the whole property market at the moment.

“The government putting in all this new legislation just to get more money off people and sort of punishing people who own property.

“We couldn’t afford to keep this home mortgage when our mortgage rate doubled a couple of years ago.

“It’s terrible. I don’t know how some people are surviving. A lot more people are wanting to just rent.”

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A MUM received a £3,500 payout after “disgusting” police officers were caught throwing her lingerie around and laughing at her sex toys while raiding her home.

Nichola Corr, 51, claimed the cops were like “children in a playground” as they searched her house as part of a drugs investigation into a family member.

Bodycam footage captured them discovering her £1,000 collection of erotic gadgets and chucking her racy G-string knickers at each other on her bed.

Nichola said: “The male officer that threw the underwear was looking through my whole toy box, laughing, joking, going: ‘Oh, look at this. Jesus Christ, look at this!’

“They were taking the absolute piss! It was like they were children in a playground the way they were acting. It was disgusting.”

She complained after no arrests, charges or prosecutions were brought by Suffolk Police following the raid of her home in Essex in October 2023.

Its Professional Standards Department found the officers’ behaviour was “unacceptable and unprofessional” but formal disciplinary action wasn’t required.

Nichola, who is now getting a divorce from her husband, added: “I don’t trust the police anymore.

“I always used to say if you ever need the police, they’ll be there for you. But no, not in this day and age. They’re using their power over people.”

Suffolk Police claimed the cops were all “very young in terms of service” and their behaviour was “considered to be more due to immaturity than spite”.

One officer had already left the force when the complaint was received but the remaining two were required to apologise and undertake ‘Reflective Practice’.

Last week, Hertfordshire Police cop Marcin Zielinski, 27, was jailed for four months after nicking a woman’s underwear while searching her home.

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Aug. 25 (UPI) — Eight alleged gang members have been arrested in break-ins of high-end items and firearms from at least 92 homes and businesses, the Los Angeles Police Department announced Monday.

The suspects, who have been arrested and charged, are believed to be members of the Rich Rollin Burglary Crew, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said at a news conference. They range in age from 20 to 47, police said.

Also, two other men were linked to the burglary crew but were already in custody on suspicion of an unrelated attempted murder, police said.

“These individuals represent the kind of repeat offenders we are targeting through our suppression strategies and their arrests underscore our progress in reducing burglaries and other crimes,” the chief told reporters.

McDonnell said they focused on West Los Angeles and near Los Angeles International Airport, though some crimes were in the San Fernando Valley, police said.

They sought high-end jewelry, purses, watches and wallets, as well as guns and suitcases, police say. The items were sold for cash, District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.

“They come in here, not because they need anything, but because of greed,” Hochman said. “They don’t want to use (the stolen items) for their own benefit, they are using that [to get] money.”

Some of the accused could face life in prison because they have one or two strikes against them, Hochman said.

Police said they are members of the Rollin’ 30s and 55 Neighborhood.

None of the burglaries are linked to a recent crime wave in Encino, and instead were from 2022, with most last year and this year.

At 5 a.m. Wednesday, search warrants were served at eight homes in Los Angeles, Hawthorn, Inglewood and Carson. Besides stolen high-end items and currency, police said they found 15 firearms, weapon magazines, burglary tools, narcotics, masks, cellphones and radios.

Police said they got a break in the burglary cases on Feb. 13 when three suspects in a van were arrested after a vehicle pursuit. The vehicle was recognized from two burglaries the day before, McDonnell said.

In April, police found items from a search warrant. Included were stolen credit cards and license plates, he said.

Mayor Karen Ross praised the “extraordinary work of our LAPD and our regional partners,” including Hawthorne and Inglewood police departments.

She said it was a “major win” for her city, and “we won’t stop doing whatever we need to do to combat crime.”

Police said some places may have been targeted because of postings on social media.

“You’re showing off Rolexes, fancy bags, fancy cars, this kind of stuff. You make yourself a target,” McDonnell said before the announced arrests during a meeting with the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association last week.

Also, McDonnell said upscale restaurant patrons may be targeted.

Homicides in Los Angeles are down 9% from the previous year.

SHOPPERS have slammed a bargain retail giant after spotting Christmas decor on shelves four months early.

Many have claimed it is “ridiculous” and an “absolute joke” to see the festive decorations so early in the year.

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Despite this August being sunnier and warmer for Scots than normal, The Range is already preparing for the winter months.

And shoppers were left fuming when the retailer showed off its range of Christmas buys that are now up for grabs.

The Range took to social media to share its brand new collection of festive decor, which is already stocked on shelves.

In one Facebook post, the shop showed a number of festive cushions and teddies, including cuddly Christmas puddings, gingerbread men, candy canes, and snowy trains and villages.

There was also a huge collection of different Christmas bedding sets, each with its own theme, and large Santa toys.

Fan favourite festive candles were also on display, as well as diffusers with classic Christmas smells such as gingerbread and cranberries.

Our Christmas candles have officially landed. Because it’s never too early for a little festive magic

The RangeFacebook post

Other pieces of decor for the home were up for grabs, like little gingerbread house ornaments, green glass trees and gold lanterns.

The Range captioned one post: “They’re here… and yes, it’s still summer.

“Our Christmas candles have officially landed. Because it’s never too early for a little festive magic.”

And another post on Facebook read: “Not to sleigh the surprise… but since you asked for MORE, here’s a little festive teaser.

“Too early? Snow way! Our full Christmas collection is coming soon – stay tuned!”

But the posts led to an outcry from shoppers who said it “spoils the magic” by being in shops so early – especially when the summer is still considered to be in full swing.

Many flocked to the comments to blast the shop for selling Christmas decor before the official start of autumn.

One person said: “Have a day off, it’s bloody August!”

Another added: “Spoils the magic of it. It’s ridiculous”.

Someone else wrote: “Absolute joke…”

While a fourth shared: “Ridiculous, it’s not even Halloween”.

And a fifth chimed in: “I love Christmas, but this is far too early”.

How to save money at The Range

THE Range shoppers can save extra cash by using these tips…

Shop, within a shop – In some The Range stores there’s a ‘secret’ shop within a shop.

You can purchase Iceland products in over 85 of the retailer’s branches.

The budget grocery items are a must for plenty of shoppers with hungry mouths to feed back at home.

Shop the sale – Even some of the biggest ticket items are slashed in price if you know when to shop.

A good tip for online shoppers is to use the “offers” tab on The Range website.

It’s where you’ll find deals like this and all the best bargains are saved in one place so you can browse hundreds of products that have been reduced.

It’s also where you’ll find the “Mega Drop”.

Use Facebook – You can use Facebook to your advantage before you head out to shop at The Range.

Like-minded bargain hunters flock to the social media platform to post all about their latest finds and how they managed to score the best prices.

Others, however, seem delighted to get into the Christmas spirit before summer’s over.

A user posted: “Woop woop, skip Halloween and just have Christmas”.

A second commented: “Can’t wait to see the full range of Christmas stock out in shops”.

And a shopper agreed: “Please hurry, I keep popping in to check”.

While a fourth cheered: “Sooooooooo excited, I love Christmas”.

Someone else added: “YASSSSSS, IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!”

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The picturesque seaside town is facing growing tension over the impact of second home ownership and overtourism, with locals expressing their frustration.

Hunstanton, a delightful coastal town on the Norfolk cost, is grappling with mounting tensions surrounding second home ownership and excessive tourism.

Renowned for its unique striped cliffs and picturesque coastline, Hunstanton has remained a beloved spot for holidaymakers for generations.

Yet residents are growing increasingly angry about the escalating numbers of second homes, which they claim are inflating house prices and making it nearly impossible for locals to secure reasonably-priced accommodation.

Throughout recent years, Hunstanton has witnessed a flood of second-home purchasers drawn to the resort’s idyllic location and peaceful ambience.

Figures revealed that almost 20% of homes in the vicinity are now second homes or holiday lets, reports the Express.

This boom in second-home purchases has triggered alarm amongst residents, who believe their neighbourhood is being stripped of its soul by vacant properties and that essential services are buckling under pressure from the seasonal tourist invasion.

Jane Matthews, a lifelong Hunstanton resident, expressed her frustration: “I’ve seen my hometown change dramatically over the past decade. With so many houses sitting empty for most of the year, it feels like we’re losing the heart of our community. And when the tourists do come, the town is overwhelmed and the streets are crowded.”

The problem of excessive tourism has worsened the difficulties confronting the resort.

Throughout busy periods, Hunstanton’s population balloons, resulting in jammed roads, packed beaches, and heightened strain on community services. The boom in short-term rentals, driven by platforms like Airbnb, has intensified the pressure, with some locals arguing that the town’s distinctive character is being stripped away.

Yet, during quieter months, the explosion of second home ownership and holiday lets has resulted in a dwindling population in Hunstanton, creating what another resident, Mark Fuchter describes as “mini-desert areas” around town where most of the houses are unoccupied for much of the year.

This drop in permanent residents has had a visible effect on the local economy and community spirit. “There is less of a sense of community in these circumstances,” Fuchter noted. “More worryingly, this affects footfall in our shops and use of local services.”

The predicament has sparked comparisons to other British towns grappling with similar issues.

Whilst Hunstanton may not be as deserted as some locations branded as “ghost towns,” like Lyme Regis, Fuchter describe the town as a “kiss-me-quick” town.

He explained: “I like the fact that the town provides holidays for those who may not be able to afford to jet off on foreign holidays. I suspect it is probably busier even in the off-season compared with places that are more highly desirable and upmarket.”

Fuchter recognises that the town’s year-round attraction to budget-conscious tourists may be the reason it remains somewhat livelier during the off-season. However, he also expressed concern about the rising poverty levels in the area, which are often masked by the presence of expensive homes and tourist attractions.

“I volunteer at the local foodbank and have run a Helping Hands warm space community hub. I was shocked by the level of poverty and hardship in this are which I always thought was part of wealthy North Norfolk. Of course, it is both.

“Personally I’m worried that there is nothing effective to stem the growth of second homes and holiday lets. Many vested interests do okay out of it.”

Mike Ruston, another local, offered a contrasting viewpoint, recognising the financial advantages tourism brings whilst also urging for equilibrium. “My personal opinion is that this area is a holiday destination,” Ruston said.

“Out of the holiday season, the villages can be quite quiet, but in the holiday season, they’re absolutely heaving, and that is a very important part of the local economy. You’ve got to be a bit careful what you wish for.”

Ruston highlighted the contradictions within local opinions regarding second home ownership and holiday rentals.

“We don’t raise an eyebrow about renting somewhere abroad, but there are plenty of people who, rather hypocritically, might go abroad on a self-catering holiday but don’t want them here. It’s all a matter of balance,” he said.

He also drew parallels with other UK tourist hotspots like Cornwall and Devon, where locals often voice concerns about affordability and the impact on their communities, yet oppose new housing developments.

A town councillor from Hunstanton said last year that the council hasn’t broached the subject and doesn’t have a policy in place.

However, they have been in talks with Norfolk County Council who have commissioned research into the matter, but no report has been produced as of yet.

IT’s been HOT this summer – it’s no surprise if some of your usual garden favourites are wilting somewhat.

But as the climate changes it’s worth thinking about new varieties that can cope a bit better going forward.

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There’s a whole host of wildflowers out there that can handle the heat and still put on a beautiful show.

Dr Emily Attlee, conservation scientist and co-founder of Seedball has shared her top picks with Sun Gardening.

CONEFLOWERS

“Not just a feast for the eyes, these are tough and reliable perennials that come back year after year. Easy to grow and adored by pollinators, coneflowers bring long-lasting colour and drought resilience to any garden.

OXEYE DAISY

“Spotted on roadside verges, the oxeye daisy is a fuss-free flower that thrives on neglect. It handles poor soil well and requires very little watering once settled in.

These cheerful self-seeders return annually and spread with ease – bringing with them rustic charm and a welcome haven for pollinators.

MEADOWHALL CRANESBILL

Although young plants may need a little more water to begin with, meadow cranesbill is a fantastic choice for dry, well-drained soil once matured.

With rich violet blooms and a place in the geranium family, this plant supports pollinators while adding definition and charm to beds and borders.

MUSK MALLOW

With soft pink flowers and a classic cottage garden appeal, musk mallow is both beautiful and hardy. Low maintenance and drought tolerant, it dies back in Autumn but reliably reappears in spring. Its vintage look and wildlife-friendly nature make it a garden favourite.

CORNFLOWER

These eye-catching blue blooms feature open faces, frilled petals, and curly stamens. Loved by bees and other beneficial insects, cornflowers are easy going once established and thrive with minimal watering. Ideal for adding colour and texture to a dry garden.“

She added: “These are just a small selection, as most native wildflowers are naturally suited to withstand drought once they’ve taken root.

“Many have evolved over time to adapt to the UK’s unpredictable weather patterns, including long dry periods. Some even store seeds beneath the soil, ready to regenerate when conditions improve.

“So, if you’re planning for the future of your patch, wildflowers are a smart, sustainable choice.”

For more tips from Emily and the Seedball team, visit  www.seedball.co.uk.

Also in Veronica’s Column this week

Top tips, news, Plant of the Week and a competition to win a Spring Bulb Bundle with 183 bulbs!!

NEWS! Multi award-winning garden designer, Pip Probert, from BBC 2’s Your Garden Made Perfect, is designing the headline feature garden at this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair, taking place at Audley End House and Gardens in Saffron Walden, Essex next weekend.
 As reported previously in Sun Gardening – the  ‘Make a Metre Matter’ campaign encourages gardeners to transform a metre of outdoor space for the good of the planet. More than 13,500 eco-friendly metres have been pledged at gardenersworld.com to date, and Pip’s feature garden is brimming with meaningful metres to inspire Autumn Fair visitors to get involved. For tickets, visit  www.bbcgardenersworldfair.com.

TOP TIP! If you’re thinking about attracting birds to your garden and keeping them happy in Autumn – then Honeysuckle is a win-win plant for your outside space.
It will provide you with a gorgeous scent and lovely trumpet-shaped flowers, as well as being a great climber for trellis and walls.
But in September it also provides lush red berries – a favourite food source for birds and other wildlife.
Or consider Cotoneaster shrubs – blackbirds and thrushes absolutely love them – just check the size of the one you’re buying as you don’t want it to take over.

TOP TIP! IF you’re coming to the end of your tomato journey for this year and you’ve still got some on the vine that look like they’ve got no chance of turning red – don’t despair.
Some experts suggest putting them in a bowl with a banana! The bendy yellow fruit emit ethylene – a compound that helps fruit ripen. Or you can just make green tomato chutney. Remember to chop up your vines and chuck them on the compost.

JOB OF THE WEEK! If you’re lucky to have wisteria – cut back this year’s current green shoots to five/six leaves. It will prevent it from growing too large and unwieldy.

PLANT OF THE WEEK! Spider Lillies are blooming now – and are named after the stamens resemble spider legs. Great for tropical borders, they look really exotic, best in full sun, in well drained soil and are full hardy to -5ºC

TOP TIP If your kitchen ginger has started sprouting, plant in a shallow tray with the shoot poking out – as it grows, keep topping up the soil. Keep on a sunny windowsill and you can grow year round as long as it doesn’t get too cold.

WIN! Win one of FOUR Spring Saver Bulb Bundle – 183 Bulbs WORTH £64.94 from Suttons Seeds. 
Featuring a variety of beloved spring-flowering bulbs to bring colour from February all the way through May, they’re ideal for beds or rockeries and can be layered in patio pots. To enter visit www.thesun.co.uk/SPRINGBULBS or write to Sun Spring Bulbs competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. September 6, 2025. T&Cs apply

For more gardening content follow me @Biros_and_Bloom

STUDENT accommodation, colleges and disused tower blocks may replace migrant hotels as councils continue to revolt.

The move is part of Labour’s pledge to stop using hotels to house migrants by 2029,

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However, nearly 200 hotels are still in use, putting up more than 32,000 people, according to recent figures.

Labour said it no longer wants to house migrants on large sites like military bases.

Instead, it is reportedly planning to use sites which are easier to make habitable and not as expensive to refurbish.

According to Dame Angela Eagle, the minister for border security, the plan is to use “medium-sized” sites like “voided tower blocks, old teacher training colleges or old student accommodation”.

This is because the Tories’ plans to use large sites like former military bases and the Bibby Stockholm barge would be too expensive.

She said the effort of tackling “asbestos-filled buildings and poisoned land” would be too pricey.

“I think that there are different, better ways of trying to achieve this kind of service than the ones that we’ve inherited,” she said.

It comes amid an urgent appeal from the Home Office, reportedly looking for 5,000 properties to house 20,000 migrants.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is already facing the humiliation of Labour councils revolting against his government’s loathed migrant hotel policy.

Huge pressure from councils run by every political party could hasten the end of the controversial Home Office policy.

A total of 32,059 asylum seekers were being housed temporarily in UK hotels at the end of Labour’s first year in Government, up 8 per cent on the same point 12 months ago, Home Office data shows.

But authorities are poised to follow Epping Forest council in Essex after it won a High Court injunction to halt asylum accommodation.

Now, it has been revealed that asylum accommodation contractors working for the Home Office “reached out” to property specialists earlier this month, seeking 5,000 residential units, reports the Telegraph.

Insiders told the outlet that each flat would likely have two bedrooms on average, with space to house four migrants.

ASYLUM SEEKER HOTEL PROTESTS

This Bank Holiday weekend, around 30 migrant hotels are bracing for a wave of protests as campaigners are bolstered by this week’s landmark ruling.

The High Court ordered the removal of migrants from the hotel in Essex, which has become the face of the row over asylum seeker accommodation.

It was the centre of protests after a migrant being housed there was charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl – which he denies.

Several other demonstrations cropped up around the UK as communities rebelled against the migrant hotels in their area.

It is understood that there is a fresh wave of protests – at least 27 – planned outside of hotels this Bank Holiday weekend.

However anti-racism groups have warned towns and cities could experience the most disruption since last year’s summer riots.

Councils are also pushing back, following the lead of Epping Forest Council, which argued for the hotel to be closed to reduce the threat of “violent protests” and for the safety of those living nearby.

Mr Justice Eyre ruled the owners may have breached planning rules by housing migrants rather than paying customers.

The Home Office argued that granting this application risks “acting as an impetus for further violent protests”.

The High Court ruling threatens Labour’s asylum seeker plans, as more and more councils express an intention to follow suit.

If more councils take action, ministers are unsure where more than 30,000 people in hotel rooms would live.

However Brighton and Hove City Council refused to launch a legal bid, saying it was a “proud city of sanctuary” and will continue to welcome and support asylum seekers.

Jacob Taylor, the local authority’s deputy leader, said “We will not comment on the location of hotels being used by the Home Office to provide temporary accommodation to people seeking asylum.

“I believe to do so in the current climate is irresponsible and risks causing division and unrest in our communities at a time when more than ever we need to bring people together.”

While some county councils will push for the closures, the legal steps to challenge the use of hotels falls to district and borough councils.

The Local ­Government Association called on the Home Office to work “much more closely” with ­authorities on asylum accommodation decisions.

The Home Office is scrambling to find accommodation for up to 138 men housed in the Bell Hotel in Epping before the September 12 deadline to empty it.

Pressed to give details of these contingency options, Minister of State for Security Dan Jarvis said: “With respect, the legal judgment was only handed down yesterday.”

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has written to Yvette Cooper to demand that those in the Bell Hotel are not moved to apartments, houses in multiple occupation, or social housing which is “much needed for British people”.

When there is not enough housing, the Home Office – which has a legal obligation to provide accommodation to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute – can move people to alternatives such as hotels and large sites, like former military bases.

Amid hotel protests, campaigners including Rape Crisis and Refuge have warned conversations about violence against women and girls are being “hijacked by an anti-migrant agenda” which they argued fuels divisions and harms survivors.

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RECORD NUMBERS OF MIGRANTS

It comes after it was revealed that a record number of people claimed asylum in the UK in the last year – with a massive 32,000 currently living in taxpayer-funded hotels.

Home Office data shows that 111,000 people claimed asylum in the year ending June 2025 up 14 per cent on last year.

It is higher than the previous recorded peak of 103,000 which was set in 2002.

The number of people claiming asylum in this country has almost doubled since 2021.

And just under half of all those applying for protection in the UK are granted it at the initial decision stage – 48 per cent.

It is lower than in 2022 when 77 per cent of those applying were given the green light.

Half of all those came via irregular routes – such as on a small boat or in the back of a lorry – while 37 per cent claimed asylum after previously arriving on a valid visa.

In the year up to March, the UK was the fifth biggest recipient of asylum seekers in the UK after Germany, Spain, Italy and France.

The sky-high figures come as the number of migrants being housed in hotels has INCREASED since Labour came into power.

A total of 32,059 asylum seekers were being housed in hotels at the end of Labour’s first year in Government up 8 per cent on the same point 12 months ago.

Around 210 hotels are currently open across the UK despite Labour’s manifesto pledge to end their use.

In the year to June, the top five nationalities of people arriving in Dover were Afghan, Eritrean, Iranian, Syrian and Sudanese.

Bridport, located on the Jurassic Coast, boasts a number of attractions, including a beach-side bar and beautiful coastal walks to a Michelin-listed restaurant and thatched brewery

As the cost of living continues to rise, more Brits are choosing staycations over foreign holidays. With this in mind, why not swap your usual holiday destinations like Spain, France or Portugal for the delightful town of Bridport on the Jurassic Coast this year?

Bridport, self-styled as ‘Dorset’s eventful town’, is a vibrant and bustling destination with plenty to offer. One of its highlights is The Watch House Cafe, a beach bar that recently made it onto Conde Nast Traveller’s list of the best beach bars in the UK. Google reviews describe it as a ‘fantastic find’ with a ‘lovely setting right on the beach’ and ‘excellent fish tacos’.

With cocktails priced at £9 and a ‘Mermaid’s Kiss’ mocktail for £5, it’s a great spot to enjoy a summer evening with family.

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The town also boasts a variety of shopping opportunities, with two main streets filled with unique boutiques. In terms of entertainment, the Art Deco Electric Palace screens films, and live performances are held at the Bridport Arts Centre, The Lyric. And don’t forget to check out the prestigious Bridport Literary Festival, reports MyLondon.

West Bay and Burton Bradstock offer stunning coastal walks with their pebbly beaches and dramatic sandstone cliffs. After a day of exploration, there are a variety of dining options. Dorshi, a Michelin-listed East Asian diner, and the Red Brick Cafe, known for its vegetarian dishes, are among the local favourites.

For a truly unique dining experience, why not try The Station Kitchen, which offers a quirky setting inside railway carriages?

Tucked away in Bridport is Palmers, the UK’s only thatched brewery and arguably the town’s best-kept secret.

When it’s time to hit the hay, Haddon House hotel is a top choice. Just 300 yards from the harbour and boasting a 4.5-star rating on TripAdvisor, it’s a real gem. Guests have described the hotel as ‘excellent’, ‘faultless’, and ‘beautiful’, and some suites even feature spa baths.

Bridport has been dubbed ‘Notting Hill-on-sea’. However, this comparison isn’t entirely accurate. While both places have revamped their Electric Palace Cinemas, the property prices tell a different story.

Notting Hill, one of London’s most expensive areas, boasts an average house price of £1.6 million, according to Rightmove. In contrast, homes in Bridport average at £371K, making them over a million cheaper than their Notting Hill counterparts.

The journey from London to Bridport by car is fairly straightforward, taking around three and a quarter hours, mostly along the M3.

If you’re opting for public transport, catch a train from Waterloo to Axminster. From there, hop on an X51 Jurassic Coaster bus – a treat for all you transport enthusiasts – which will get you to Bridport in just over an hour. All in all, expect the journey to take just under four hours.

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A PEST control expert has revealed a simple way to keep rodents away from homes and gardens – and all it takes is a quick shake and sprinkle.

With rat season about to begin, the advice arrives just in time.

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The easy – and humane – method is unveiled in a social media post just weeks before cool weather arrives in the UK.

That is the end of the breeding season for rodents and signals their arrival around homes and in gardens.

This is when the little blighters are at their most active as they search for food and shelter ahead of winter

If hungry they will take more risks such as raiding bird tables and bins.

And they don’t move in at night – they often seek food during the day, particularly if other rats are congregating in the same garden or porch.

But fear not, help is at hand – literally.

In a video posted to his Facebook account, Ceith Griffith unveiled a simple and effective way to keep rats from the door.

“It’s that time of year again, guys … mice and rats are going to try and get inside your home but I’m going to show you how to keep them out by repelling them,” he said in the video, which has received more than 2,500 likes.

Ceith goes on to explain how attaching a spray nozzle to a vinegar, apple vinegar or pine salt bottle can turn into the ultimate repellent.

“Pine salt works the best but I know a lot of people are allergic to it,” he said. “Just take the spray and point it at your porch and anywhere you don’t want the rats to come near.

“You can use this around your garage or even inside your garage … and it’s going to keep all the mice and rats from coming around your home, or garage or RV.”

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Facebook users rushed to the post to comment and thank Ceith for his help.

One person said: “Love UR videos. I watch and write them down. Thank u.”

A second person said: “Definitely going to try this.”

A third person, however, said they were looking for advice after encountering another type of pest in their home.

They posted: “Hello, how do you get a raccoon or possum out of your loft? Please help.”

Other ways to repel rats

Rats are a nuisance and can be difficult to get rid of but by using the pickled onion hack you can deter them, but other methods can help too, one of which is planting certain plants in your garden that rats hate.

One home expert shared: “Plants such as lavender, mint, marigolds, daffodils, rosemary, sage and several others can be planted in your garden to disrupt the smell of a rat.  

“If a rat can’t smell inside of your home then it is far less likely to try.”

For best results, plant these plants along fences, around sheds, and near compost bins or generally anywhere that rodents might be tempted to settle.

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A WOMAN who moved from a council estate to a “posh” house has admitted she wasn’t prepared for her nightmare neighbour.

TerriAnn is famous for appearing on TV show Rich House, Poor House, and regularly shares behind the scenes tales from the show on her social media pages.

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In a recent TikTok, she decided to post a story time of “coming from a council estate and moving to a ‘POSH’ area”, as she recalled acclimatising to the new home, and an unfortunate situation with their neighbour.

Calling it her “dream home”, which came complete with a cinema room and bar, TerriAnn said the real problems began when she spent £40,000 building a home office in her garden.

“Then I had a new neighbour and he was a doctor and he wasn’t very nice,” she said.

“I think personally he could not stand the fact like I’m just me – I’m not posh, I’m just me, I’ll never change.

“I’ll always be from a council estate, always a bit rough and ready… and he just couldn’t stand us.”

While the house had a “massive drive” for all her staff to park on, they all arrived for work at different times, meaning that they ended up blocking each other in.

So they instead decided to park on the street.

And following one of her staff having an argument with the neighbour, the man ended up phoning the council to complain.

“Then when council got involved basically the reason I had to move out of the house is because they said I couldn’t run my business from there,” she said.

“So I’d spent £40,000 on this office being built in the back garden and the council turned around and said you’re using your property as a commercial property.

“There was a massive hoo-ha over it anyway and I thought, I’m not staying here and not being able to run my business.

“It’s just not worth it what we’ve invested.”

So they decided to sell the house – making a profit in the process – and then moved to another home, which was the one that featured in Rich House, Poor House.

Concluding the video, TerriAnn said it wasn’t the first time she’d been discriminated against for coming from a council estate – and it probably won’t be the last.

“I think they look down on people who have turned their life around, who are now living that lifestyle – who are doing it by genuine means, who are earning legitimate money.”

She was quickly praised in the comments section for her refreshing attitude, with one writing: “Love to see my own kind of people getting along in life good on you.

“Sounds like the doctor was very bitter and jealous of you!”

“You hit the nail on the head,” another agreed.

“As long as you’re happy now!” a third said.

“Love your story times, you’re so real,” someone else added.