huge

Libya’s National Oil Corporation warns it may halt operations at the country’s largest operating refinery if drone attacks continue.

Firefighters in Libya are battling a massive blaze at the Zawiya refinery following a drone attack, with the country’s national oil company warning it may declare a force majeure and shut down operations if attacks continue.

Libya’s Ambulance and Emergency Service said in a statement on Tuesday there were no “serious injuries” from the fire, with most patients treated for smoke inhalation.

Footage verified by Al Jazeera showed huge flames and thick black ‌smoke billowing over the facility, the largest operating refinery in Libya with a refining capacity of 120,000 barrels per day.

It is located about 40km (25 miles) west of the capital, Tripoli.

The National Oil Corporation (NOC) said in a statement on Facebook that the fire broke out on Monday evening at tank number 402-T, belonging to the Brega Oil Company.

It said the tank, which contained about 4.5 million litres (1.2 million gallons) of gasoline, was “directly targeted, resulting in a severe fire before the tank completely collapsed”.

The NOC said the attack followed drone strikes on a water desalination plant at the refinery on Sunday and on a naphtha reservoir on Saturday.

The company declared a “maximum emergency” in the region and urged authorities to launch an investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, and the company did ‌not say who they believed was behind them.

In a statement hours later, the NOC said the refinery was “still being subject to sabotage attacks” with a drone targeting an oil blending and filling ⁠plant operated by the Zawiya Oil Refining Company.

It said the drone fell near its main oil tank and a pipeline network used to produce oils for the domestic market, without causing any casualties or damage.

“The company’s board of directors also confirms that if these attacks continue, it will have to declare a state of force majeure and suspend operations at the refinery,” it warned.

The Brega Oil Company, meanwhile, appealed to “all parties to stop the fighting and stay away from oil facilities and depots”. It said “oil facilities are vital infrastructure and owned by all Libyans” and that “protecting them is a national responsibility that does not tolerate any negligence”.

The attacks highlight the continuing security challenges in Libya, where rival administrations and armed groups have retained influence despite a ‌2020 ⁠ceasefire that halted major warfare. The country split in 2014 after a NATO-backed uprising that toppled longtime leader Muammar ⁠Gaddafi in 2011.

Two governments are currently vying for power: the United Nations-recognised administration in Tripoli, led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, and a rival in the east backed by military commander Khalifa Haftar.

In a statement, the Tripoli-based government said Dbeibah held a meeting earlier in the day with key officials, including the interior minister and the chiefs of some armed groups in the capital, “to follow up on the latest security developments”.

Dbeibah “stressed the need to deal firmly with any transgressions or actions that threaten security or harm vital facilities and installations”, the statement said.

Separately, a Libyan parliamentary panel condemned the attack and called for stronger protection of oil installations.

“The House of Representatives’ Energy and Natural Resources Committee condemns in the strongest terms the criminal attack targeting the Zawiya Refinery, one of the most vital facilities in the oil and gas sector that is a cornerstone of the national economy,” it said in a statement.

COPS are warning beachgoers not to dig holes “deeper than the knees” due to the risk of serious injury or even death.

Police have said that while the activity might be good fun, families should be wary of digging too deep and trapping people or pets in the sand.

In a statement on Monday, cops said: “Digging on the beach is part of the fun, but large, deep holes in soft sand can be incredibly dangerous.

“A hole can collapse without warning, trapping anyone inside under heavy sand in seconds.”

They added that even “fit and healthy adults” can get buried and struggle to escape, as they advised the public to “keep holes shallow”.

The update continued: “Deep holes also pose a serious trip hazard for children, beachgoers, and emergency services responding to incidents.

WATCH IT

All the best ticket deals you can get in Kids Week where children go FREE

SEE EU THERE

European country with FEWER tourists in 2026 despite £26 flights & £1.79 beers

“What takes minutes to dig can take seconds to turn tragic.”

Filling in holes before leaving is essential for ensuring the beach stays safe, they added.

It follows an incident at Skegness in Lincolnshire on Saturday, where a large hole ranging approximately three to four feet wide and 12 to 15 feet deep was discovered.

HM Coastguard Skegness said at the time: “Whoever dug this hole was incredibly lucky that it didn’t collapse in on them.

“Sand is surprisingly heavy and can give way without warning, especially in deep holes.”

It added: “A collapse can trap someone beneath the sand and may lead to serious injury or even death.

“Deep holes can also be a hazard to other beach users who may not see them.”

It is not the first time holidaymakers in Lincolnshire have caused mischief on the beach.

Last year, a team of three coastguards had to fill in a hole on Sandilands Beach that was over two metres deep.

Elsewhere in Cleethorpes, sunseekers at the popular seaside town were warned in April not to dig holes in the wet sand, due to the “avalanche effect”.

Coastguards deputy station manager Shaun Lee said the sand can keep “collapsing” and end up burying people.

“We don’t want to be the fun police – just be aware of what you are doing if you are digging holes,” he said.

Weather presenter Tomasz Schafernaker is reportedly considering quitting the BBC along with two other long-serving presenters amid major cuts announced by the broadcaster

Tomasz Schafernaker, and two other presenters are reportedly considering quitting the BBC. The meteorologist, 47, first joined BBC Weather in 2000 and is currently the lead presenter.

But now, insiders have claimed that the broadcaster is planning to downsize its national weather team, and it’s thought that Tomasz, along with fellow long-serving presenters Louise Lear and Darren Bett are “”considering voluntary redundancy” following the huge changes to the brand that were announced last week.

The BBC initially claimed that they were planning to “make more of their much-loved local weather presenters,” which would mean a reduction in those who present on a national basis. A source said: “It’s the end of an era for our weather presenting. The audience wants a bit of digital and TV – including a good old fashioned forecast.”

Speaking to The Times, one presenter added: “The team is already very lean and punched above its weight for many years producing a huge amount of output across all platforms 24 hours a day. It isn’t fair to compare it to the behemoth that is the rest of BBC News.”

In 2006, Tomasz became famous when he jokingly raised his middle finger to newsreader Simon McCoy live on air and enjoyed a media career off the back off it, going on to model for magazines and appear on TV shows like Celebrity MasterChef, Would I Lie To You?, Pointless Celebrities, and The Weakest Link.

Meanwhile, Darren presented Look North before becoming part of the launch team for BBC News 24 in 1997, and is currently the main weather presenter on BBC Radio 5 Live. Before joining the BBC in 1998, Louise worked as a weather presenter for Central Television, has been seen on Countryfile and is regularly fronts the weather segment on BBC News At Six.

Another presenter told the outlet that whilst there is still an audience for weather, there is a push to lean towards a more digital output with the genre.

The insider said: “The appetite for weather has massively grown, but people standing in front of a map giving a national picture is less relevant. We are going to be more digital-focused because there’s a really strong argument that what is now needed is more reporting than presenting.”

The BBC initially cut ties with the Met Office service in 2017 and turned to Dutch MeteoGroup, which was the acquired by the US weather services company DTN, for their meteorological output. But last year, a new deal was put in place which meant the broadcaster would reunite with the UK’s national weather and climate service.

Announcing the changes and a more digital approach to the output following the summer heatwave, BBC News’ interim CEO Jonathan Munro said: “As this summer’s heatwaves have proved, up-to-the minute and accurate weather information has never been more important.

“I’m looking forward to our partnership with the Met Office – this is a very apt time for our two trusted national institutions to be reunited.”

It all comes amid what the BBC has called a £500 million cost-cutting drive, with staple programmes Live at the Apollo, Blankety Blank and Celebrity Mastermind having already faced the axe.

Executives are aiming for at least £100 million in yearly recurring savings, which will eventually cut original television output by 100 to 150 hours across the broadcaster.

Falling audiences also had a significant influence on the decisions. Live at the Apollo plummeted from 1.3 million viewers in 2018 to approximately 660,000 for its most recent series.

Meanwhile, Celebrity Mastermind tumbled from an average of 4 million viewers in 2017 to 1.7 million. Blankety Blank similarly dropped from 5.5 million viewers during its 2021 debut to 2.3 million. BBC One’s Breakfast will no longer air on Sunday mornings from September whilst the production teams making Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg and Newsnight will merge.

Radio 4’s The World Tonight will end from September, and the number of permanent presenters on Today will be cut from five to four with a single anchor on the show on Saturdays. World Tonight is being replaced by Newshour, and Breakfast on Sunday is being replaced by the BBC News Channel.

The Mirror has contacted representatives for comment.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

ANYONE heading to two of the UK’s busiest airports are being warned of major travel disruption until the end of the day.

Trains between central London and both Heathrow and Gatwick airports are are currently disrupted due to train issues.

A tunnel closure between Hayes and Harlington and Heathrow has caused problems this morning.

There are currently no Elizabeth Line trains between the west London station and Heathrow terminals 4 and 5 and there are also a number of delays on other lines heading to Paddington.

National Rail has said that the tunnel has been closed for safety reasons.

The Heathrow Express is also currently running on a reduced service, with two trains per hour from London Paddington instead of four.

Read more on travel inspo

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

TRAVEL TIP

The £2.99 SIM hack that can save Brits HUNDREDS abroad

Disruption is also expected until the end of the day.

The tunnel closure is reportedly due to a water leak on the line.

Tickets are being accepted across the Piccadilly Line as well as numerous different buses.

There are two tunnels that link the airport to the main trainline, but with only one remaining open, trains have to wait at the tunnel to get in or out of the airport.

It is bad news for anyone heading to London Gatwick Airport as well, as there has been a fire beside the track causing delays to rail services between London and the South East.

The fire has caused damage to the overhead signalling cables and currently passengers are being asked to allow an extra 30 minutes for their journey to the airport.

Currently, services between London Victoria and Eastbourne are suspended along with Gatwick Express services.

Thameslink services which run between Three Bridges and Bedford are also suspended.

A Gatwick Express statement says: “You should travel on alternative Southern or Thameslink services towards your destination.

“If you’re travelling towards a different London terminal to normal, you will be able to change trains at stations along the route, such as Haywards Heath, Gatwick Airport, or East Croydon, for a train towards your destination.

“Alternatively, you can use London Underground to travel between stations once you’ve arrived in the London area.”

Ruth Madeley is currently taking on lead role, Dr Gabrielle Fox, in BBC’s thrilling new series The Rapture

BBC viewers have been left hooked with new thriller show The Rapture.

The five-part psychological series is adapted from Liz Jensen’s bestselling novel. A synopsis teases of the show: “As temperatures rise, a convicted murderer foretells apocalyptic disaster – is she a manipulative psychopath or does she know the truth? High-stakes thriller crackling with danger.”

In the show, Ruth Madeley plays Dr Gabrielle Fox, who starts a new job at a psychiatric hospital where she is assigned 17-year-old inmate Bethany Krall, played by India Amarteifio.

As talented actress Ruth, 39, takes on the lead role, viewers have been keen to learn more about the actress’ life off-screen, especially as she recently appeared in BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are?

Huge family discovery

On Ruth’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, the genealogy team uncovered what turned out to be a huge family secret on her dad’s side.

The family discovered that Ruth’s grandmother, Beatrice, was adopted and no one else knew, including her father, Geoff, as his mother Beatrice never told him this fact.

Talking about the discovery on the show, Ruth said: “No one knew. My dad had no idea. So that was a huge shock. As far as, like, we’re concerned, we’re all just born, raised, died in Manchester.”

Meanwhile, while talking to her father, he responded over the bombshell: “When I got that phone call, I thought, ‘what’s going on?’ You could have knocked me down with a feather” to which Ruth replied: “Wow!”

Her dad continued: “I’m dead surprised that my grandma never said anything. That’s the only thing that I can’t get my head around.”

On the show, Ruth revealed that she and her family – her parents and sister Liz – are “really close, like, shockingly close”. The actress joked: “We are quite a stubborn, determined family, so it wouldn’t surprise me if we had traits of that here, there and everywhere.”

‘Epic’ wedding

Away from the TV sets and shows, Ruth is loved-up with her husband Joe Lawrence, whom she has known since they were five-years-old.

Unlike his wife Ruth, Joe doesn’t work in showbiz or the acting world. He is the owner of a company that trains people to operate cranes and for many years he was also a motorbike racer.

In 2024, after 12 years together, Ruth and Joe made things official and tied the knot. Talking about their wedding on Who Do You Think You Are?, Ruth revealed they had their wedding reception at fully accessible theatre, 53two in Manchester, which Ruth is a patron of.

Ruth said: “It is like my special place. I feel very at home here. And the best bit, so we had our wedding reception here and it was epic. It was so good.”

The actress previously said: “We were friends forever, we were always going to end up together, and obviously now he thinks that what I’m doing for a living is absolutely hysterical. He’s not an actor, he’s very grounded, it’s nice to be able to go home and not talk about it.”

The couple have two fur children – a cat and an adorable Bulldog, who both made an appearance of Who Do You Think You Are?

Acting career

Ruth, who has spina bifida and uses a wheelchair, underwent many spinal operations throughout her childhood. Opening up, Ruth said: “In my secondary school years, those teenage years were really, really hard, but it was never seen as a reason to not achieve or not be happy.

“I never grew up seeing anyone who looked like me on screen. I really didn’t. Oh, acting was a complete accident. I was doing some work experience at the BBC and a producer I met was casting something for, I think it was a children’s drama.

“Yeah, I landed my first role and it developed in a very wonderful way, thank goodness.”

The actress joked: “I absolutely love my job. I feel so privileged to say that I do what I do for a living. I mean, I would do it for free. Actually, don’t say that on camera!”

A HISTORIC tram depot that is one of the last of its kind is set to be transformed into a major tourist attraction.

Dating back to 1870, Clapton Tram Depot in East London will undergo a huge glow-up with 34 independent businesses and boutiques including photographers and artists.

Outside the depot, there are then plans to create an open courtyard area, as well as a terrace.

There is already a gym open at the site as well as a cafe-deli.

The depot is one of the last surviving Victorian horse-drawn tram hubs in London and was used to transfer Londoners between Clapton and the Moorgate area.

At the depot itself, it was once home to 600 horses, with stables on the first floor and tram tracks as well as where the tram carriages were washed on the ground floor.

Read more on travel inspo

SO FLY

Our fave beach hols under 5 hours from UK with Caribbean dupes & £2 bottles of wine

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

The depot stopped being used in 1907 and since has been used as a World War II aircraft parts factory and a bus station.

Since 2008, it has even faced demolition twice.

The latest transformation will see historic features kept such as the original shed structures as well as bring back the tram-track details.

Sim Batth, head of property for Gilini – the team behind the transformation – said: “When we acquired Clapton Tram Depot, we were acquiring something irreplaceable, a working creative ecosystem that has survived two decades of development pressure.

“Our commitment from the outset was that any scheme had to preserve what makes this place worth saving.”

The project is expected to take between a year-and-a-half and two years to complete.

THE biggest Legoland in the world has just celebrated its first birthday – and its MUCH bigger than the one in the UK.

The park in Shanghai is a whopping 318,000 square metres and it’s home to largest Lego figurine in the world.

Legoland Shanghai Resort is the only one in the country and in its first year of opening, saw two million visitors through its doors.

Aimed at families with children between 2-12 years old, the park has immersive experiences, eight themed zones and a Lego-themed hotel.

Legoland Shanghai makes an impression before visitors even enter the park thanks to its enormous Lego figure called Dada.

The figure is 26 metres tall and holds the record for the largest ever built.

PARK UP

Epic UK holiday parks with waterparks, theme parks & Spoons pubs from £3pp a night

HOL YES

Cheapest summer for holidays in YEARS – with August breaks still on sale for £188pp

It sets the tone for the theme park which has 75 attractions overall.

They are set in amongst the eight lands: Brick Street, Bricktopia, Legoland Creative World, Lego City, Lego Ninjago, Lego Friends, Lego Castle, and Lego Monkie Kid.

Rides vary but the biggest and longest rollercoaster at Legoland Shanghai is the Big Lego Coaster.

The ride actually passes through the hands of the Dada figurine and has a top speed of 52.8mph.

One unique experience the world-first water-town boat tour, which takes them on a cruise through a Chinese water town built entirely from Lego bricks.

Another first for the brand at this resort is Legoland Creative World – which allows visitors to see the largest Lego Minifigure in history.

There are also a number of live shows at Brick Street and Bricktopia.

Another attraction is a jet-ski based Water Race Challenge, there’s also boat building competitions and a ‘Beach Party’.

In the Lego Castle land, guests are transported into a magical land with wizards and dragons.

Fans of the UK’s Legoland in Windsor will be familiar with the driving school where kids can complete a circuit in their very own car and get their driving licence.

If any visitors need help, they can communicate with the world’s first AI Brick Girl Minifigure that helps visitors explore the Creative World.

And amongst all the rides and models, guests can also interact with robotic minifigures.

Guests can talk to them and according to Blooloop, they ‘respond to you in real time’.

That’s not the only part that has it’s very own AI robot – there are more at the 250-room hotel.

Called Little O, the fully interactive astronaut-themed robot talks to guests, welcomes them at check-in, shares facts and performs dances.

Inside the hotel are themed rooms like Monkie Kid and Ninjago with character meet-ups and even pyjama dance parties.

When it’s time to eat, the park has six restaurants, for example, Bricks Restaurant offers Lego-themed dining from Brick House Burgers with buns in the shape of Lego bricks, Brick fries and Apple Fries with ice cream.

Of course, there are souvenirs are everywhere, visitors can build their own Minifigures, engrave their own bricks and buy Lego sets.

As for tickets, Legoland Shanghai offers day passes from ¥300 (£33.33) and has offers like half-price one-day child ticket from ¥175 (£19.44).

A POPULAR beach destination in the UK is about to get a huge makeover.

The UK’s first seaside town – Scarborough – will soon have an upgraded train station.

Made Britain’s first seaside resort in the early 17th century after mineral waters were discovered in the town, the train station project is expected to cost millions.

Plans include upgrading the forecourt at the Grade-II listed Victorian station, with new seating, a taxi rank, drop-off areas and a pedestrian area.

There will be a new station roof too, as well as two accessible parking bays, alongside new taxi drop-off spaces.

The redevelopment is being funded by part of the £6.68million Government’s Local Regeneration Fund.

Read more on travel inspo

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

TRAVEL TIP

The £2.99 SIM hack that can save Brits HUNDREDS abroad

Plans to upgrade the train station were first submitted three years ago.

Though, the proposals have changed over the years with original plans set to make the entire forecourt pedestrianised.

Parts of the train station have already been upgraded earlier this year as part of a £14million project that included upgrading the ticket office and waiting room.

The roof was also repaired to weatherproof it, including adding new glass.

One of the most recognisable parts of Scarborough Station is the clock tower which was also restored.

Trains from the station head to different destinations including Sheffield and York.

A MAJOR European airport is set for a huge, multi-billion expansion.

Rome Fiumicino Airport in Italy is a major European hub with around 51million passengers travelling through the airport each year.

And now the airport has revealed plans for a €9billion (£8.48billion) project to make the airport bigger.

Plans include adding a fourth runway to the airport, as well as opening a new terminal.

The new 3,400-metre-long runway will partially replace runway one, which will be shortened by 900 metres with this area being turned into a park that is open to the public.

Other upgrades will be carried out on the taxiways, aprons and connecting roads.

Read more on travel inspo

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

TRAVEL TIP

The £2.99 SIM hack that can save Brits HUNDREDS abroad

Then, the new 350,000sqm terminal will be spread across several levels, with two new boarding areas, 76 gates and an exhibition area showcasing local culture.

The new terminal will also have a number of shops, green areas and public spaces.

The money will be split between €5billion (£4.28billion) being spent on expansion and the other €4billion (£3.4billion) being spent on upgrading existing facilities.

The aim is that the airport will be able to handle up to 100million passengers a year by 2046.

The project is set to be complete by 2033, which will mark the 2,000th anniversary of Christ’s death and resurrection.

According to The Financial Times, the airport’s chief executive Marco Troncone said: “If this happens, the new runway may be ready in 2033, in time, ideally, for the next iconic event . . . to mark 2,000 years after the death of Jesus Christ.”

There are several airlines that fly between the UK and the Italian capital.

For example, you could fly with Ryanair or easyJet that both offer flights from a number of regional airports.

British Airways and Wizz Air also operate flights to the city.

Festival season is well and truly here and there was one very special thing at Kendal Calling that left be utterly gobsmacked

Summer is well and truly upon us and that means one thing – the return of the festival season.

While it might be a fallow year for Glastonbury, that doesn’t mean there isn’t an entire raft of fun in fields to be had.

I was one of the lucky 40,000 people who descended on the fields of Cumbria for this year’s Kendal Calling – which gets bigger and better each year. Once again, it was a sell-out and not only that but festival goers were blessed with the most incredible weather.

I’m a Cumbrian myself so I know only too well how much it likes to rain in that particular county – the lakes in the Lake District do need their water from somewhere afterall.

There were some concerns Kendal Calling‘s organisers had a too tough a job to match 2025’s epic experience and line-up but people needn’t have worried as this year was even more spectacular.

From Vanessa Carlton and The Kooks on the open night to Two Door Cinema Club, Ash, The Coral and Scissor Sisters on the Friday, the incredible Biffy Clyro in what many are calling Kendal Calling’s best ever headline set and The Libertines on the Saturday before The Lancashire Hotpots got everyone going on hangover Sunday and the whole incredible experience was rounded out by a very on form Primal Scream and Wolf Alice – the line-up truly was something to behold.

One of the glorious things about Kendal Calling is the mish mash of activities on offer – from the stunning woodlands in Lost Eden, which transform into a magical fairytale after dark, to Tim Peaks Diner, Desert Island Disco and Chai Wallahs – this really is a festival with something else.

And this year there was a huge surprise I didn’t expect – the food. To call it varied and plentiful would be doing it a serious dis-service. From the usual burgers and pizza there was fish and chips, gyros, Yorkshire pudding wraps, pasta, BBQ, rotisserie chicken, meatballs, vegan offerings, fried chicken, poke bowls and anything else you can possibly imagine.

Don’t get me wrong, you couldn’t call it cheap but the prices were far from extortionate (although I am a London-dweller these days so I have lost all sense of what is ‘reasonable’) and everything I sampled was freshly cooked and utterly delicious.

There was even an actual sit down restaurant in the fields in the form of Ranch 76 Smokehouse, with the nicest staff you could meet and a breakfast that truly set us up for the day.

I wasn’t expecting to come back from a festival absolutely stuffed and my only regret is that four days is simply not long enough to try everything on offer.

Kendal Calling will be back next year with tickets going on sale at 10am on Tuesday.

A BRAND-NEW luxury holiday resort is under construction in the Cotswolds – and it will have cabins, a natural spa and swimming pools.

The whole project is predicted to cost £24million and it’s due to open in 2027 in Langley, Oxfordshire.

CABÜ is in the process of building 51 self-catered ‘eco timber cabins‘ with wooden panels and green window detail.

Each will have either one, two or three bedrooms inside.

The high-end resort will have lots of facilities for relaxation, from large swimming pools to its natural spa with hot tubs, saunas and a plunge bucket.

The indoor swimming pool which is surrounded by loungers and huge windows.

SUNNY STEALS

Sun-drenched European holidays with £1.50 pints and stays from under £9pp

PARK UP

Epic UK holiday parks with waterparks, theme parks & Spoons pubs from £3pp a night

Along with an outdoor pool, there will also be a shop, restaurant, two bars, an events space and a sitooterie social space.

The website says “Our Cotswolds holiday cabins are being designed for year-round stays, with plans to offer relaxing 2, 3 and 4-night breaks that balance comfort, wellbeing and nature-led experiences.”

The new site will be a short distance from popular villages in the Cotswolds like Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford.

The resort will be the third of its kind to open in the UK.

Two others CABÜ By The Sea in St Marys Bay in Kent and CABÜ By The Lakes at Killykeen Forest Park in Ireland.

CABÜ by the Sea sits on a stretch of privately owned grassland next to the seafront between Romney Marsh and the English Channel.

Rates for two-night stays in a one bedroom studio cabin start from £375.

Two-night stays in two bedroom cabins start from £495.

Meanwhile, CABÜ by the Lakes is found deep within the woods of Killykeen Forest Park in Co. Cavan.

This unique hideaway has log cabins and lake houses – it also has a nature spa with a forest bathing area and a Japanese Bath.

Rates for two-night stays in one bedroom cabins at the lakes start from €485 (£415).

Two-night stays in three bedroom cabins start from €650 (£556).

A UK airport has been given official approval for its planned expansion that will see it DOUBLE passengers numbers.

Its other plans include a brand-new terminal and expanding the existing one too.

London Luton Airport has now cleared all legal hurdles in order to expand in a £2.4billion project.

The initial plans were first approved by the government in April 2025.

Then on July 31, the Supreme Court declined to grant campaigners final permission to appeal – meaning the plans can go-ahead unopposed.

Now, the airport is set to build a new terminal as well as work on its existing one so that it can welcome up to 32million passengers by 2043.

SUNNY STEALS

Sun-drenched European holidays with £1.50 pints and stays from under £9pp

PARK UP

Epic UK holiday parks with waterparks, theme parks & Spoons pubs from £3pp a night

Flights will increase to 209,000 flights per year from its current average between 65,000 to 68,000.

Last year, Luton was UK’s fifth-busiest airport and saw 17.5million passengers.

The expansion will also create 11,000 new jobs at the airport, with 4,400 of those in the town itself.

Paul Kehoe, chair of Luton Rising which owns Luton Airport, called clearing it a “landmark moment”.

He said: “We are very pleased to now have the certainty we have been working towards.

“As a community-owned organisation, every passenger travelling through our airport means more investment in local people and services.”

Last year, London Luton won the award for the ‘Best Low-Cost Airline Terminal 2025′ by Skytrax.

Based on passenger satisfaction and overall experience, Luton Airport was been crowned the best terminal in the UK for budget airlines.

The airport is home to airlines like Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air.

It then welcomed airline Jet2 to the airport with 17 new routes at its start in April last year.

And throughout the month of August this year, London Luton Airport has launched free bus travel for any passenger travelling to the terminal.

“I’M going to spend my Saturday digging soil with a JCB for fun,” was a phrase that would never have passed my lips until I became a mum. 

Yet, here I am, spending the first sunny weekend in August on an industrial estate in Medway, Kent, having the time of my life at Diggerland theme park. 

Find out how to get 2-4-1 tickets through Sun Club here

Diggerland has to be seen to be believed and is possibly the UK’s most unique theme park.

Yes, it really is an attraction entirely themed around construction machinery, which was founded in 2000, by digger hire firm owner Hugh Edeleanu.

The Kent site was the first, and there are now three further parks around England, in  Devon, Durham, and Yorkshire. 

PITCHING IN

One of the UK’s best holiday parks launches pop up campsite right on the beach

CASH IN

Ask our Hols from 9.50 expert a holiday park question and win a £100 Amazon voucher

You might question whether you can really get a whole day out of construction equipment, and I was as surprised as anyone to find ourselves racing around the park at closing time, trying to choose our last attraction. 

The range of activities is impressive, and not like any other theme park. 

They have 20 main rides and drives included in the ticket price, plus some extras like dodgems and quad bikes. 

Spin Dizzy is the biggest – spinning up to 8 guests high in the sky in the bucket of a huge digger.

But the giant diggers were by far my son’s favourite, as you spend around 10 minutes shifting soil in an impressive Komatsu PC55MR-5 tracked excavator. They’re simple enough to use that at seven years old, he was able to get into the cab and tackle control himself. 

Other crowd pleasers included the chance to drive a JCB around a circuit, digging for gold with Komatsu PC14 mini diggers and being lifted 50 feet into the air by the Skyshuttle. 

But the standout for me had to be the decommissioned police car. 

My son was able to drive the car himself, pedals and all, around a dirt track, despite being a whole ten years away from getting his provisional license. 

Which is no bad thing, considering he made for a hair-rising chauffeur and was even given a ‘speeding ticket’ at the end of his go.

It feels like the Diggerland creative team had a whale of a time when coming up with the various attractions, which are diverse enough to entertain all ages. 

You’ve got the little Tykes toy area, the indoor soft play and the crazy trikes for the younger kids, plenty of options for primary school age children, and a large choice for the adults who’ve always fancied having a go when passing a construction site. 

The parks even offer stag and hen do parties, with the onsite cafe listing a range of cocktails and beers that you’d never see at your typical theme park restaurant. 

If you fancy checking it out for yourself there’s no better time to visit as Sun readers can get 2-4-1 tickets at Diggerland through Sun Club or Sun Savers, with families saving over £39 on tickets, plus free entry for children under 90cm. 

To get your tickets, Join thesun.co.uk/club for just £1.99 per month or £12 per year, then head to Offers Hub and find the Diggerland page to claim your voucher. 

Tickets cost £25.95pp in advance and £39.50pp on the door, for adults and kids over 90cm.

Or you can pick up the The Sun newspaper from Saturday, August 1 and collect Sun Savers codes.

• Find the Diggerland page in the Offers section and select Start Collecting.
• Collect THREE out of eight Sun Savers codes printed in The Sun from Saturday, August 1 to Saturday, August 8. Once you have your THREE Sun Savers codes, enter them on the Sun Savers app or website to unlock booking. Booking opens at 11am on Monday, August 3.
• Download your voucher (Max 2 people per voucher) and have it ready on your phone or printed before your visit.
• Choose your Diggerland Park in Kent, Devon, Durham or Yorkshire.
• Claim this offer by Monday, 19 October 2026. Present your voucher and a valid Sun Savers account at the park entrance when purchasing your tickets. Your voucher can be redeemed at your chosen Diggerland attraction on selected dates up until Saturday, October 31, 2026.
• 18+ UK only. Sun Savers multiple code collect 01/08/26-08/08/26 or Sun Club subscription required. Online access required. Buy one full price standard admission ticket to get a second standard admission ticket free for the same day. Voucher must be redeemed at attractions alongside valid Sun Club/Sun Savers account. Cannot be used online or in conjunction with any other offer. Max 2 people per voucher. Tickets valid weekends in September-October and October 26-30 only. Subject to availability. Non-transferable & non-refundable. Full T&Cs apply, see sunsavers.co.uk  or club.thesun.co.uk/sun-club

The cruise line is returning to the Amazon for the first time in almost a decade, with their latest cruise also giving holidaymakers the chance to witness the dramatic landscapes of Antarctica

With summer holiday season in full swing, many Brits who are sick of the usual beach resort might already be planning something more unique for their next getaway. And the wow factor doesn’t get much bigger than with Fred Olsen’s newest cruise that stops off at an incredible 28 ports – but holidaymakers will need to have some hefty savings.

The Amazon and Antarctica Adventure has just been announced by the cruise line, and it’s one of the longest trips available to book. Setting sail from Southampton on January 5, 2028, this cruise aboard the Borealis ship is a whopping 87 nights long and visits dream destinations across five continents, from the Canary Islands all the way down to the Antarctic Peninsula via the likes of Jamaica, Costa Rica, Brazil and Chile.

The voyage marks the first time in nine years that Fred Olsen has offered a cruise to the Amazon – and it’s the only cruise line sailing from the UK to do so, offering British holidaymakers a unique opportunity. “Time ashore brings you closer to lush rainforest, with toucans, butterflies, monkeys and pink river dolphins among the wildlife to look out for,” the description of the Amazon and Antarctica Adventure teases.

READ MORE:

A place on this adults-only cruise understandably doesn’t come cheap, with prices starting from £11,499 per person. But with travel, accommodation, food and entertainment all included at under £140 per night, those with the cash to spare might consider it worth the investment to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

For those seeking something more budget-friendly, the longest cruise on offer from fellow cruise line Ambassador is the Caribbean Sunsets and South American Secrets holiday. Sailing from London Tilbury in January 2027, this cruise currently has 30% off all cabins with prices now starting from £3,233 per person, and visits 12 countries over 45 nights, including Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Belize.

Book the Amazon and Antarctica Adventure

From £11,499pp

Fred Olsen

Book here

This 87-night cruise sets sail from Southampton in January 2028 and visits 17 countries across five continents.

Meanwhile, TUI’s Marella Cruises is also offering last-minute summer cruise deals with flights included in their price. Among the cheapest options are the Highlights of the Mediterranean cruise, which is on offer for £944pp reduced from £1,623, and the Grecian Discovery holiday, now priced from £949pp down from £1,598.

Back at Fred Olsen, another highlight of the Amazon and Antarctica Adventure is the Antarctic Peninsula, described by the cruise line as a place with ‘vast glaciers and snow-topped mountains’ where there’s also a chance for passengers to spot penguins and whales. Here’s the full itinerary of stops and highlights on this 87-night cruise:

• Santa Cruiz de Tenerife, Canary Islands
• Santa Cruz de la Palma, Canary Islands
• St John’s, Antigua
• Samana, Dominican Republic
• Ocho Rios, Jamaica
• Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
• Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
• Willemstad, Curacao
• Kingstown, St Vincent and Grenadines
• St George’s, Grenada
• Roseau, Dominica
• Bridgetown, Barbados
• Cruise past Barra Norte, Brazil
• Santarem, Brazil
• Cruising Amazon River, Brazil
• Manaus, Brazil
• Parintins, Brazil
• Alter do Chao, Brazil
• Fortaleza, Brazil
• Buzios, Brazil
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Puerto Madryn, Argentina
• Punta Arenas, Chile
• Cruise by Cape Horn, Chile
• Cruise Drake Passage, Antarctica
• Cruise Antarctica Peninsula
• Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
• Montevideo, Uruguay
• Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Salvador, Brazil
• Mindelo, Cape Verde
• Las Palmas, Canary Islands
• La Coruna, Spain

As well as travel and accommodation, the price of a cruise also includes full board dining, from five-course à la carte dinners to afternoon tea, and selected drinks with lunch and dinner. And there’s no shortage of things to do on the ship, with the fare also including access to the swimming pools, fitness centre and classes, expert talks and lectures and a variety of other activities, as well as evening shows with live music and dancing.

For those looking to get away sooner, this isn’t the only bumper cruise Fred Olsen is offering. The cruise line’s longest holiday currently available to book is the World Cruise with Japan and Hawaii, which stands at a staggering 98 nights and sets sail from Southampton in January 2027 with prices starting from £13,999 per person.

The third-longest is departing from Southampton this September for a last-minute autumn and winter getaway lasting 71 nights. The Exploration of the Mediterranean is priced from £9,999 per person and visits Spain, Italy, France, Malta, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Turkey, Gibraltar, Morocco, the Canary Islands and Portugal.

CHERYL TWEEDY is set to make a huge comeback with her own documentary.

The Girls Aloud singer has kept a low profile in recent years, but remains one of the UK’s most successful female solo artists and telly stars.

I’m told she is in early talks to create a film about her life and look back at her past successes.

The plan is to document her rise to fame auditioning on Popstars: The Rivals and being a judge on The X Factor as well as touching on her love life.

She is currently single after high-profile marriages to footballer Ashley Cole and restaur­a­teur Jean-Bernard Fernanzed-Versini plus relationships with US dancer Derek Hough and the late One Direction singer Liam Payne, who is the father of her son Bear.

A source said: “Cheryl is incredibly picky about what she chooses to do these days and spends a lot of time on motherhood, but she feels like she has a story to tell.

WHAT NOW?

The chilling questions plaguing the coroner over Liam Payne’s final hours

not my name

Cheryl’s music career hit by hackers who target star and release ‘new songs’

“The doc could create a bidding war between all of the big streamers — Netflix, Amazon Prime and Apple.

“She would also have creative control over the project.”

Cheryl’s TV project comes after successful documentary series from David and Victoria Beckham, Robbie Williams and Katie Price.

Her PR man did not respond when I reached out for comment.

Last year it was reported that Cheryl was in talks to make a telly comeback by appearing on The Voice, and she was spotted having a low-key dinner in Italy with pal Will.i.am, who is a mentor on the ITV talent show.

Over the years Cheryl has featured in several high-profile documentaries including Access All Areas, which followed her first solo arena tour.

Speaking about the 2012 doc, she said: “I literally had a friend of mine filming so that I would not feel like I had a camera crew in my way and at times forgot myself.

“I have since regretted this decision. The number of times I cringed watching it.”

I’m sure fans would love to go behind the scenes with Cheryl.

SLIPKNOT ‘CUT TIES’ WITH SID

SID WILSON has been “kicked out” of heavy metal band Slipknot after 28 years, according to sources.

The American DJ and keyboardist, who joined the group in 1998, is understood to have been sent packing on Friday.

It comes just five months after Sid – known in the band as #0 – split from his fiancée Kelly Osbourne.

I can reveal Slipknot have also parted ways with the PR company that has represented them since 1995.

A source close to the band told TMZ, “Sid was notified late Friday afternoon that he has been permanently kicked out”.

The musician proposed to Kelly backstage at her dad Ozzy Osbourne‘s final Black Sabbath gig at Villa Park in Birmingham last July.

Just weeks later, Kelly suffered heartbreak when Ozzy passed away.

She and Sid had started dating in 2022 and had son Sidney at the end of the same year.

However, she has since sparked fresh romance rumours with her supposed new hairdresser partner Kiinicki – a Los Angeles-based barber and creative behind the brand Hella Good Hair.

Kelly shared snaps of herself with Kiinicki, who uses they/them pronouns, in April.

And the pair were spotted at an after-party following Lily Allen‘s gig at the London Palladium in March.

Sounds like Kelly has got Sid out of her hair.

JESSICA’S NETFLIX DOCU

AMERICAN singer Jessica Simpson is set to have her life made into a Netflix documentary.

It will be developed by director Joe Pearlman, who created Robbie Williams’ docu-series and Lewis Capaldi How I’m Feeling Now film.

A source said: “It will be a four-parter similar to Robbie Williams’ one. Like him, Jessica has faced her demons and been through trauma having started in the music industry aged 17.

“Filming is expected to start this year and will show Jessica talking about everything she’s been through.”

SAM THOMPSON and Pete Wicks seem to be building an empire – having joined forces on a new financial venture.

I can reveal that former Made In Chelsea star Sam and ex-Towie hunk Pete, who own Staying Relevant Productions and co-host a podcast, have set up PWST Investments Ltd.

Details lodged with Companies House show the nature of the business is “security dealing on own account”, which relates to investing in stocks and shares, futures, securities and commodities.

A source said: “Sam and Pete have become comedy gold on their podcast, but they are serious when it comes to business.”

Move over power couples, bromances are big business.

A HUGE US influencer has revealed her husband’s face “caught on fire” during a BBQ, and has left him with “second-degree burns”.

Rebecca Zamolo, 41, left her followers concerned after she shared the horror accident that left Matthew Yoakum, 46, badly injured.

The social media star shared a slew of photos which included how her husband’s face looked after it had been burned.

Posting the pics on Instagram, the mum-of-two penned: “For those who don’t know, Matt’s face caught on fire at our BBQ and it gave him ‘2nd degree superficial burns’.

“It was hours before our flight to Hawaii to celebrate his birthday so he has been healing here. (He still wanted to go).

“It was a scary incident for all of us, and a reminder how precious life is.

ABSOLUTELY PAR-FECT

Golf stunner Katie Sigmond puts on eye-popping display in black dress

‘INSENSITIVE’

Influencer slammed as she posts glam hols snaps days after kitten died

“Thank you to everyone that has reached out and friends that are in the medical field and put him on a good path to heal.

“He’s extremely lucky as it could have been a lot worse, but we are taking it day by day. We love you Matt.”

Rebecca’s followers immediately rushed to share their concern, with one writing: “Omg. That is horrible. So happy he’s okay.”

While another added: “Sending love & prayers.”

A third worried fan wrote: “This is awful! Get well soon Matt!”

Rebecca is a huge influencer, with 3.3million followers on Instagram and over 30million on YouTube.

The star is known for her family orientated content, which often includes Matt and their two kids, Zadie and Xander.

AS the mum of a seven-year- old boy, I think the two most-used words in my household are Pokemon and Lego.

So excitement was off the scale on a trip to Legoland Windsor’s second annual Lego Festival, featuring their new Pokemon Trainer attraction.

The festival, billed as the “ultimate celebration of play’’ — has five zones across the park, where you complete activities to earn stamps on a card.

Get three of the five stamps and earn a prize at the end of the day.

We created our own race car in the new F1 Brick Stop Challenge and added our own flower to the new garden in the Chill Zone.

But our favourite task was the Pokemon Play Zone — a 15-minute attraction where kids get their own interactive Lego Pokemon character to feed and take into battle.

WAIL OF A TIME

I drove Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands

TEMPTED?

Tiny ‘Bali of Europe’ town with stunning beaches, €3 cocktails and £20 flights

At the end, you can also make your own Poke Ball out of Lego to take home.

The festival showcases live performances, including headline act Battle Of The Bands, featuring rock and pop stars.

I’m a big fan of the seasonal offerings that Legoland puts on throughout the year and the Brick Or Treat Halloween attraction is unmissable in October.

We always fit so much in that we are too knackered to fully appreciate Miniland on the way out to the car, so I’ve resolved to make the miniature towns and cities our first stop during our next visit.

The theme park’s rides are also awesome. Flying theatre ride Flight Of The Sky Lion is my favourite, and Driving School is still a must for kids, despite dating from 1996.

But what makes Legoland stand out is the attention to detail in every corner of the park.

From the moment you start up Legoland Drive, where the Lego figurines spell out a scrambled version of “Welcome’’, to the excellent Miniland countries (which a team of five maintain full-time), there is something everywhere to marvel at.

I also love the permanent creative zones around the park, designed to let kids build when they need a break from rollercoasters.

While most theme parks focus on the biggest and best rides, Legoland manages to prioritise both entertaining kids and encouraging them to entertain themselves.

That said, these are my favourite five rides for ages five to ten . . . 

As I’ve said, Flight Of The Sky Lion is mindblowingly good.

If you are going to use a fast pass on anything, make it this. It is also not scary — any child aged four and over should be fine.

Minifigure Speedway is a duelling rollercoaster — with two separate tracks where cars race forward and backward past each other — that is one of the park’s newest rides and aimed at pleasing tweens.

My seven-year-old still won’t go near it.

Driving School is an oldie but a goodie — kids love being given the freedom to drive themselves solo around their own road circuit.

Coastguard HQ is right next to Driving School and perfect if your child is too young to handle their own car, as this lets them drive a boat around a lake while you accompany them.

The Dragon is an excellent starter rollercoaster for kids, with some decent drops and a few twists and turns, but it is easy enough not to terrify anyone while scary enough to make young ’uns feel they have braved something big.

Of course, most of these rides also have the biggest queues.

Fortunately, on our visit we were staying at the on-site Legoland Resort Hotel, which gave us early access to the park.

Guests can go on a number of rides, including Flight Of The Sky Lion and Coastguard HQ, from 9.30am — 30 minutes before the public opening.

The hotel lays on plenty of added extras for guests, from the Lego in the lobby to character meet-and-greets at breakfast, and evening dance parties.

Our room got full marks for fun, too, with a treasure hunt and Lego prize, along with a Lego build zone.

In fact, it is a miracle I got my son out in time for our 9.30am start.

But the lure of becoming a Pokemon Trainer was too strong.

If only I could use that trick every morning once school restarts.

THERE’S a leisure centre in the UK that has so many attractions, it feels more like a waterpark – and its just had a multi-million upgrade.

The Leisure Pool at Guildford Spectrum Leisure Complex has reopened after a major £10million refurb.

Over the past few months, upgrades and maintenance works have been carried out at the pool.

And there are a number of new features too including a splash pad for little ones, with different interactive features.

The Super Slide and The Surf – multi-lane slides – have both had a makeover as well.

The pool also operates a wave machine, with one visitor commenting that it “actually feels like you are in the sea”.

Read more on travel inspo

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

TRAVEL TIP

The £2.99 SIM hack that can save Brits HUNDREDS abroad

Many visitors have also noted how the pool feels more like a waterpark, with “amazing” slides.

Another feature introduced this year is an inflatable obstacle course.

The course features balance sections as well as slides, and you can race people on it too.

Each session on the course lasts an hour and costs £9.45 per person.

Tickets to the Leisure Pool then cost £13.13 per adult and £10.50 per child.

Alternatively, you could get a family of four ticket for £40.

The project forms part of a wider £10million project to upgrade the entire leisure complex.

Other new features include interactive mini golf, which is already open, and replacing the soft play area, with a more modern soft play and cafe bar experience.

Killing Eve’s Harriet Walter was left ‘astounded’ after discovering her mother’s incredible secret job on Who Do You Think You Are

Dame Harriet Walter was left speechless after discovering an ‘astounding’ secret about her mother.

The legendary actress, 75, has graced our screens for years in incredible films and television shows, such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Rocketman, Downton Abbey, The Crown, Succession, Killing Eve, Ted Lasso and Call The Midwife.

However, Harriet put her family in the spotlight for the latest episode of Who Do You Think You Are? on Thursday night, where she discovered an incredible secret about her mother, Xandra Lee – the elder sister of renowned actor Sir Christopher Lee.

Showing old pictures of her lookalike mother, Harriet said: “This is my mother, Xandra. She was a very sweet woman, had the most amazing sense of humour, but she was sort of slightly belittled by the men in my family.”

Harriet continued: “This picture is my parents, and they were married in December 1946. I knew a bit about what she did in the war. She worked in naval intelligence in the Admiralty, but she said, you would never in a million years tell your best friend, your husband, anybody what you were doing. You just would not do it.

“She said she was one of thousands of cogs in the machine and I just want to know much more about exactly what that machine was doing and what her part in it was. So I’m going to see what I can find.”

However, Harriet got more than she bargained for upon discovering her mother played an important role in the success of the 1944 D-Day landings, which she learnt thanks to ground-breaking research on women in wartime intelligence conducted by Dr Helen Fry.

During the meeting at the Old Admiralty Building in London, Dr Fry revealed after sharing archive details and facts: “To get this into perspective, your mother was in charge of the whole intelligence picture for naval intelligence for the D-Day landings.”

Harriet was left speechless as she put her head in her hands, before adding: “Wow, wow. It’s just astounding. It’s astounding. I had this rather frivolous idea of her sort of just having a great time in the canteen and flirting with the boys and I had no idea she had this sort of responsibility.”

Dr Fry then pointed out: “The oath of secrecy, they knew when they took it, it was for life and she kept it”, adding that her mother’s work was “detailed analytical work” and “highly responsible”.

Harriet added: “That is extraordinary. I’m sorry to say this, but when I think how she was sort of put down by my dad and my stepfather and, you know, ‘your mother’s not very logical’, you know, had they only known what she’d done, they might have treated her with more respect.

“Blimey. It’s so extraordinary. I’m rethinking my mother entirely. You know, it’s extraordinary how that changes your image of somebody, to think of her in that position of responsibility. I have such a mixture of feelings.

“I mean, mainly I’m astounded that my mother had any kind of significance in the war effort, because she never exposed anything of that sort. She was the epitome of, I would say, modesty in some kind. Not coy, but just sort of, ‘Oh, I don’t matter, darling.’ You know.

“I feel certainly silly that I’ve got some kind of fame for having done absolutely nothing except, you know, pretend to be other people for a living.

“And she, who had a quite a strong role in the D-Day landings, which opened up the whole path to peace. Good for her. Good for Xandra Carandini Lee.”

Who Do You Think You Are? airs at 9pm on Thursday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

CRETE is the latest destination to be struck by wildfires and with it being a holiday hotspot for Brits, lots are asking – is it still safe to travel to?

Here’s everything you need to know right now about travelling to the Greek island.

Where are the wildfires in Crete?

The majority of the wildfires in Crete are on the south of the island.

On Wednesday, a large fire broke out in the south of the Rethymno regional unit where around 8,000 people have been evacuated.

A large fire is being tackled near the villages of Krya Vrysi, Orne and the coastal resort of Agia Galini.

Hotels in Rethymno have been placed on high alert.

PARK UP

Epic UK holiday parks with waterparks, theme parks & Spoons pubs from £3pp a night

HOL YES

Cheapest summer for holidays in YEARS – with August breaks still on sale for £188pp

It’s believed the fire that has been exacerbated by 125km per hour winds has destroyed a number of homes in the area.

According to the BBC, it’s one of the biggest active fires on the island, with its front exceeding 9.3miles.

Hundreds of residents and tourists were evacuated from Krya Vrysi on Wednesday.

Hundreds of firefighters have been deployed to battle the blaze, and two sadly died on Wednesday during high winds in Crete.

Forecasters warn fire-prone conditions will spread towards the centre of Europe this week, with Greece among one of the places most affected.

Is it safe to travel to Crete right now?

The travel advice for Greece remains unchanged.

But there are warnings on being prepared for wildfires which are “high risk” between April and October.

The advice from GOV.UK reads:

“Ensure that your mobile phone is registered to receive emergency alerts to be warned of wildfires near your location.

“Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. The situation can change quickly.

“To avoid starting wildfires:

• leave no litter, especially not glass which is known to start fires
• make sure cigarettes are properly extinguished
• do not light barbecues

“Causing a wildfire or a forest fire is a criminal offence in Greece – even if unintentional. If you see a fire, call the emergency services on 112.

“Be cautious if you are in or near an area affected by wildfires:

• follow @112Greece for official updates
• follow the guidance of the emergency services
• call the Greek emergency services on 112 if you are in immediate danger
• contact your airline or travel operator who can assist you with return travel to the UK”

Are flights still going to Crete?

Flights to Crete remain unaffected.

If you are due to fly in and have concerns, it may be worth contacting your airline to check if they are operating normally.

What if I have a holiday to Crete booked?

As the Foreign Office has not warned against travel to Greece, there are no special circumstances in place for holidaymakers to cancel their trip and receive a full refund.

Depending on what travel insurance you have, your policy might include natural disaster cover.

If so, your insurance policy should cover you for when you are unable to reach your holiday destination due to natural disasters, like wildfires.

So it is worth checking your travel insurance policy.

Can I cancel my trip?

If you do choose to cancel your trip, it is best to contact your airline or holiday provider.

There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings unless government advice changes.

Gladiators star Cyclone, whose real name is Lystus Ebosele, has featured on the BBC show since January 2025 but is now said to have been axed along with two others

Another one bites the dust… Cyclone has become the third professional to be axed from BBC show Gladiators. The TV star, whose real name is Lystus Ebosele, joined Bradley and Barney Walsh’s BBC revival of the 1990s classic last year, and has so far filmed two series.

But just as production got underway at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield for the next series of the reboot, Lystus, 25, is said to have been cut from the line-up and is not impressed with bosses.

A source told The Sun: “Cyclone won’t be back and she’s not happy about it. She’s now cut all ties with the show – it’s a pity as fans absolutely loved her.” The powerlifting champion has also unfollowed the official Instagram account for the programme and deleted all pictures of herself on the show.

News of Lystus’ exit comes just days after it was reported that Matty Campbell, who stars as Bionic, and Karenjeet Kaur Bains, better know to fans as Athena, had also been axed from the show, having missed out on a considerable amount of the last series after both suffering injuries.

A source said: “They won’t film this year for the show but could be back for the tour, depending on how they recover from their injuries.”

Earlier this year, Giant, 40, whose real name is Jamie Bigg, departed Gladiators amid much controversy when he went public with then-girlfriend Taylor Ryan, 28, and it emerged that she worked as a model on OnlyFans.

Execs were quick to air their disapproval, and the athlete said that he was “shocked and disappointed” by the move, which he directly linked to his partner’s racy work. It was then reported that body builder and fitness instructor Ahmad Rabus, 37, would act as his replacement, and it became apparent that he would be one of several new faces on the show.

Team GB medallist Tabby Stoecker, along with fitness influencer Florence Wong and World’s Strongest Man champion Tom Stoltman are reportedly in the lineup, whilst The Sun also reported that former England rugby star Joe Marler would be making an appearance.

The new series will introduce a soon to be revealed event, as well as the other well known challenges such as Duel, Hang Tough and the Eliminator. Popular additions from the previous series — Everest, Destruction and Suspension Bridge — are also set to return after receiving a strong response from viewers.

Produced by Hungry Bear Media in partnership with MGM Alternative UK, part of Amazon MGM Studios, Gladiators remains one of the BBC’s flagship entertainment programmes.

The most recent series, which came to an end in March, attracted an average audience of 4.6 million viewers across BBC One and BBC iPlayer over a 28-day period, while continuing to perform particularly strongly among younger audiences.

Kalpna Patel-Knight, BBC’s Head of Entertainment, said: “Since Gladiators burst back onto screens in 2024, it’s been amazing to see families across the UK rally behind the contenders and champion our phenomenal Gladiators as the true stars of Saturday nights.

“With a brand‑new series confirmed and another celebrity special on the way, audiences can look forward to even more colossal clashes, even more edge of your seat excitement and plenty of opportunities to raise those foam fingers high once again.”

The Mirror has contacted representatives for comment.

* Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

EDDIE MARSAN is to play Harry Redknapp in a film about one of football’s most incredible stories, I can reveal.

The actor, a Spurs fan, will put his allegenices to one side when he takes on the role of the West Ham favourite when he was their assistant boss in 1994.

The film by Sir Ridley Scott re-tells the moment Harry actually invited a loudmouth Hammers fan to play up front for the Premier League outfit after hurling abuse at players from the stands — and he went on to score.

Eddie plays gaffer Harry in Halftime Hero, alongside Anson Boon as angry fan Steve Davies.

West Ham were struggling against non-league Oxford City in the pre-season friendly when Steve was told to put on a kit and prove he could do better . . .  and did.

A source said: “Eddie has been cast as Harry in Halftime Hero and will be filming his scenes in the coming weeks.

NAGA QUITS

Bullying row & crude jokes – Naga’s Munchetty’s downfall as she quits BBC

wild ROMANCE

Princess Andre can’t keep up with ‘extreme’ mum Katie Price’s marriage to Lee

“As a huge football fan, Eddie knows this tale well and to take on such a prominent part in a film about such a huge moment in the game is hugely exciting for him.”

Like me, Sherlock Holmes actor Eddie is a Tottenham fanatic, so it will be a dream role to play Harry, who went on to manage Spurs years later.

It’s just a shame he’s going to have to wear a West Ham coaching kit to do it.

I revealed last month that Ridley’s production company was working on the film about Harry’s famous game, which has become part of football folklore.

Steve could be heard heckling striker Lee Chapman and repeatedly branded him a “donkey” for his poor performance.

Harry went into the stands and got him to play, with Steve going on to score and helping West Ham to a 4-0 win.

The historic moment was never caught on camera, so now Anson, Eddie and Ellie Bamber — who plays Steve’s girlfriend — are bringing it to life.

Harry has spoken fondly about the wild episode over the years, admitting he told the stadium announcer that he was bringing on a “great Bulgarian” called “Tittyshev”.

Steve previously said: “It was the greatest moment of my life.

“After that, I was exhausted.

“I was on 30 cigarettes a day back then.

“I had a couple of cigs and a couple of beers in the first half.”

Good on you, Steve.

Me, I’m Jase relaxing

TAKE THAT have just finished their hit Circus Tour, but there’s been no clowning around for former member Jason Orange.

The ex-boybander, who quit the group in 2014 to lead a quieter life, was seen enjoying a peaceful afternoon in a park in Cheshire on Monday.

He now has a successful property portfolio and has declined offers to rejoin the group.

And judging by how zen he looks here, I can’t say I blame him.

LEIGH-ANNE PINNOCK is feathering her nest with a few quid from her fans by becoming a mumfluencer as she prepares to give birth to her third child.

The Little Mix star has started a page where fans can subscribe for £5 a month for “behind the scenes content” and a “private community” to find out what’s going on with her pregnancy.

Announcing the move, Leigh-Anne said: “I’m excited to announce I’ve started a Patreon to share more of my pregnancy, bump updates, everyday life and all of the things in between as I prepare to be a mum of three.

“This is going to be a complete safe space to be open and honest, share advice and give you a little more insight into life right now.”

Leigh-Anne, who will perform at Brighton Pride on Saturday, already has twin daughters with her footballer husband Andre Gray.

Kaia and Homer channel parents

KAIA GERBER and Homer Gere looked like proper Hollywood stars at the premiere of new Disney+ thriller series The Shards – maybe because of their A-lister parents.

Kaia’s supermodel mum Cindy Crawford wed Homer’s old man, Richard Gere in 1991, although the golden couple divorced four years later and went on to have kids with new partners.

Now, their actor offspring are appearing opposite each other in the Shards, which launches next week.

Speaking on the red carpet, Kaia said of Homer: “I’d never met him but I was really, really excited to meet Homer and he’s such a wonderful actor, my god.

“This is his second thing he ever did and he has this confidence and charisma – he’s so magnetic to watch.

“He made my job much easier because of how talented he is.”

Looking forward to tuning in.

Niall hits the clubs

IT’S tee time for golf nut Niall Horan ahead of his Dinner Party Live Tour.

The ex-One Direction singer hit the greens at Royal Lytham & St Annes in Lancashire before the AIG Women’s Open this weekend.

He will soon be heading out on the road, kicking off his tour at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on September 22.

But the long spells playing shows across the UK, Europe, Australia and North America until next May won’t stop him hitting the greens.

He said earlier this year: “It’s Niall’s golf tour with music, especially in the States.

“Florida is great.

“There’s so much good golf in Florida, and we’ll hit random places in Ohio.

“If we do 30-something shows, I’ll try to get in ten rounds.”

TULISA HAS MAXED OUT ON LOVE

TULISA’s romance with medicinal cannabis kingpin and influencer Maximillian White has gone up in smoke, it seems.

One of my pals has spotted the N Dubz singer back on celebrity dating app Raya.

I told you last autumn that the pair had started dating.

But on Raya, the former X Factor judge has listed her occupation as “singer/investor/author” while her bio simply says, “Lara Croft”.

As for her interests, she’s into, “Music, fitness, deep belly laughs, cheeky bottle of red, all things weird and wonderful.”

Sounds like a fun time to me.

Harry Potter actor Tom Felton and Kingsman star Taron Egerton have both been spotted on the exclusive app, so she has her pick of handsome fellas.

Mel C met her husband Chris Dingwall on Raya, and Lily Allen found her now-ex David Harbour on there too, although the less said about that, the better.

Tulisa was also on there before meeting billionaire Maximillian but insisted she was a “spectator” and said: “I never like or message anyone first . . .  just letting you know.

“I’ve only gone on one date from there, and that was because of a recent rebound.”

Live a little, Tulisa.

ELLIE MUSIC OF LOVE FOR HER BEAU

IT has been dubbed her “divorce album” but Ellie Goulding’s new record will feature at least one song about falling head over heels for her new beau, called, err, Beau.

I first revealed their romance last July when I told how she had jetted off to Italy with actor Beau Minniear, when they stayed at the Four Seasons in Florence together.

Now Ellie, who gave birth to their daughter Iris in March, has written a song about how she was swept off her feet by him during the trip to that very hotel.

On the track, titled 4 Seasons, she sings: “Daydreaming, faint feelings, f**k around at the Four Seasons. I think that I might be falling in love with you.

“I need it, wanna keep it. We mess around, put the damn key in. I think that I might be falling in love.”

The song will be on her sixth album, I Know Too Much, which will be released on September 4.

And from what I’ve heard so far, it’s going to be another brilliant record.

PRINCE’s cult movie Purple Rain is being adapted for the stage and will debut on Broadway next March.

The hit film was accompanied by Prince’s album and song of the same name, with the projects being released in 1984.

The news of the stage musical was announced on the 42nd anniversary of its release and will launch next spring.

ARIANA SUES SONG HACKERS

ARIANA GRANDE has understandably seen red and filed a lawsuit against hackers who leaked unreleased tunes.

The Thank U, Next singer has alleged that two unidentified hackers broke into devices from people she had worked with to get songs and footage of her which was sold for “significant sums of money” on the dark web.

Legal papers have been lodged in Los Angeles to try and unmask those responsible.

The documents claim: “In 2023 alone, 45 unreleased songs belonging to Ms Grande were hacked, stolen, and leaked.

“Since her music debut in 2011, hundreds of similar leaks have taken place.”

And it sounds like Ariana, whose new album Petal will be out on Friday, won’t stop pursuing them until they’re in prison.