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LONDON is undoubtedly home to numerous hidden gems, but I bet you didn’t know it has a secret island slap bang in the middle of the Thames.

Oh, and two times a year you can even visit it – including next weekend.

Eel Pie Island sits in the middle of the River Thames in Twickenham, around 20 minutes from Waterloo.

The rather exclusive island has a very famous past as well.

The destination used to host live music events with top acts including The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, The Who and Pink Floyd.

In the 19th century, it was even a popular resort with steamboats and the famous Eel Pie Island Hotel, which sadly closed in 1967 after its dancefloor collapsed.

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After the hotel’s closure, the island became a hippie commune – and this is where the island’s creative haven that you see today started to emerge.

On the island today, there are over 26 artists across cottages and studios which are littered around the island.

Twice a year, the island opens its bridge to visitors, where you can explore the intricate network of paths and venture through what feels like a jungle to discover the different artists’ huts.

The island spans no more than nine acres and you can easily walk around it within an hour.

With small jetties off the end of gardens and plants that look way too tropical to be surviving in the Big Smoke, the island does feel more like Little Venice in Los Angeles than an urban jungle.

Roughly 120 people live on the island across 50 houses and houseboats and as you meander the paths you’ll see quirky enamel signs and American-style post boxes.

These all just add to the Californian vibe, with different spots on the island named ‘Palm Beach’, ‘Copper Beach’ and ‘Love Shack’.

Several spots across the island also feel like treasure troves of antique junk, from headless mannequins to hanging bird cages.

You can explore the island and workshops for as long as you like on the day you have a ticket for – which are free.

There are even a couple of spots where you can stay on the island.

One is a flat in a converted boatyard – it has one bedroom, along with a sofa bed and a living area.

Alternatively, you could stay in a converted boat house.

The Open Studios weekends take place on July 4 to 5 and July 11 to 12 between 11am and 5pm.

Tickets can be booked via Eventbrite.

Eloy Room’s incredible goalkeeping helped Curacao make history in a goalless draw in Group E match in Kansas City.

Goalkeeper Eloy Room was Curacao’s hero against Ecuador, keeping out a barrage of shots to help the tiny Caribbean nation claim their first-ever World Cup point in a goalless draw that keeps alive their hopes of reaching the knockout phase.

Ecuador, who finished second in South American qualifying, had 28 shots, including 15 on target, but Room stood firm in an astonishing display in Kansas City on Saturday.

His 15 saves are the most on record, since 1966, by any goalkeeper in a World Cup match that did not feature extra time.

World Cup debutants Curacao, the smallest nation by population ever to qualify for the tournament, slumped to a 7-1 defeat against Germany in their opening match but restored pride in the American Midwest.

Ecuador fans turned the Arrowhead Stadium, the home of NFL team Kansas City Chiefs, yellow, hugely outnumbering supporters of Curacao.

But Curacao had royalty on their side in the form of Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima. The island is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Out of their 26-strong squad, managed by vastly experienced Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, 25 were born in the Netherlands, and most play their football there.

The match started at a fizzing pace.

Ecuador seemed certain to open the scoring in the third minute when former West Ham forward Enner Valencia burst through the middle, but Room tipped the ball around the post.

Sherel Floranus fired over at the other end as Curacao showed their pace on the break.

Valencia failed to beat Room from close range before Jordy Alcivar had an effort as Ecuador continued to dominate possession.

The South American team ended the first half with 65 percent of possession but nothing to show for their dominance.

They went close to breaking the deadlock just before the hour mark, but Room kept out a Gonzalo Plata header, before a flurry of Curacao chances.

Ecuador, more than 50 places higher than Curacao in the FIFA rankings, looked increasingly frazzled as they pressed for a goal.

As the match neared its end, chances continued to come thick and fast, but Room stood firm.

Ecuador substitute Angelo Preciado mis-hit a cross that bounced off the top of the crossbar and went behind.

The Curacao players swarmed around Room at the end of the match, celebrating an extraordinary point.

Earlier, four-time champions Germany came from behind to beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in Toronto, ensuring their qualification for the round of 32. Curacao’s draw ensures Germany will top the group.

Ecuador will play Germany on Thursday, while Curacao take on Ivory Coast.

EASYJET is launching 13 new routes from the UK including to lesser-known destinations.

The routes include the airline’s first international destination from a tiny UK airport.

EasyJet will launch a route between Newquay Airport in Cornwall and Geneva in Switzerland – which will be its first international route from the airport.

The route will launch on January 16, 2027 and operate once a week on Saturdays until February 27, 2027.

Among the 12 other routes being launched are new routes from London Luton to Kittila in Finland launching on November 24 and Strasbourg in France launching on November 29.

Flights to Kittila will operate twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays whereas flights to Strasbourg will operate four times a week on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

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London Southend will get new flights to Edinburgh, Scotland operating twice a week from October 25 on Thursdays and Sundays from £23.99 per person.

From Birmingham you will be able to fly to Copenhagen in Denmark, twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, launching on November 16 and costing from £31.99 per person.

Or if you live near Manchester, you can head to Cairo in Egypt from November 9 – the only direct route from Manchester to the ‘Sphinx’ airport.

The route will operate twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, with flights costing from £131.99 per person.

Liverpool will get two new routes including to Kittilä in Finland and Reykjavik in Iceland.

Flights to Kittila will start on November 25, departing twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays with tickets costing from £30.99 per person.

On the other hand, flights will head to Reykjavik from November 2, taking off on Mondays and Fridays, with flights costing from £43.99 per person.

And Newcastle will get several new destinations including Barcelona in Spain, Berlin in Germany, Copenhagen in Denmark, Hurghada in Egypt and Rovaniemi in Finland.

Flights to Barcelona will be the first to launch on October 25, operating twice a week on Fridays and Sundays and costing from £28.99 per person.

Hurghada flights will then start on October 27 twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays, costing from £121.99 per person.

Copenhagen flights will launch on November 5, followed by Berlin on November 20 and then Rovaniemi on November 25.

A SMALL airport in South Yorkshire once allowed passengers to travel to Europe – but lasted just over a decade.

Sheffield City Airport first opened in 1997, taking Brits to the likes of Belgium and the Netherlands.

First proposed in 1968, it finally opened in the 1990s as a gateway to Europe for those in South Yorkshire.

Passenger flights began in February 1998 with airlines KLM, Sabena, British Airways and Aer Arann.

Services took Brits to destinations like Belfast, Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Jersey and London.

At its peak in 1999, the airport saw 75,000 passengers, but by 2002, this number had dropped to 13,000.

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The runway at Sheffield City Airport was short meaning it couldn’t accommodate larger aircraft for long-haul flights.

At 1,211 metres in length, it’s smaller than even the runway at London City which is 1,508 metres.

At the time, it was also unable to take the planes that were used by the early low-cost airlines too which further limited the routes it could offer.

Sheffield City Airport officially closed in April 2008 after being deemed ‘not financially viable’.

The site has since been redeveloped with the terminal building and control tower being converted into offices.

The area that once was used to store planes is now a car park.

Recently, Sheffield City was even named one of the ‘world’s most fascinating abandoned airports’ by The Telegraph.

Another abandoned UK airport which came in joint place with Sheffield City is Doncaster-Sheffield which is actually set to reopen.

It closed down in 2022, but is currently undergoing huge upgrades and renovations to it can reopen as soon as next year.

Sun Travel previously spoke to the Director of FlyDoncaster who revealed that passenger planes could restart as soon as 2028.

Here are ’10 of the world’s most fascinating abandoned airports’…

1. Longhua Airport, Shanghai, China

2. Ellinikon Airport, Athens, Greece

3. Tegel, Schönefeld and Brand-Briesen airports, Berlin, Germany

4. Sheffield City and Doncaster-Sheffield airports, UK

5. Nicosia International Airport, Cyprus

6. Tempelhof Airport, Berlin, Germany

7. Kai Tak Airport, Kowloon, Hong Kong

8. Ciudad Real Airport, Spain

9. Stapleton International Airport, Denver, USA

10. Mirabel Airport, Montreal, Canada

WASHINGTON — President Trump’s remodeled Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool with its “American flag blue” bottom has turned chartreuse from an algal bloom that park service workers struggled to address Tuesday just days after its more than $14 million renovation.

The Washington Monument is once again visible in the refilled pool, but Trump’s vision of an azure expanse between the D.C. landmarks has been complicated by the harsh realities of chemistry and biology known to any backyard pool owner. The work has been confounded by the unique challenges posed by the scale of the structure, bigger than 10 Olympic-sized pools — which Trump has called a lake — and the source of its water: the often-fetid Tidal Basin.

Algae has plagued the site since it opened more than 100 years ago, but Trump set his sights on addressing it as part of his aggressive push to beautify Washington as the country approaches its 250th anniversary. Contracts worth at least $14.8 million have been awarded for the project, announced in April by Trump, who said he was inspired by complaints from a friend visiting from Germany who called the pool dark and disgusting.

Teams of National Park Service employees and contractors deployed chemicals and ozone nanobubbles Tuesday in a bid to keep the algae in check, not dissimilar from efforts to clean the pool before Trump’s renovation kicked off.

“What do you expect?” asked Cochise Wanzer II, president of the Pool Service Company in Arlington, Virginia. “You’re basically taking natural, untreated river water, pumping it in and expecting it to do something different from what it would do out in the open.”

And the new coat of paint on the bottom of the pool has added an additional twist to ensuring the cleanliness of one of Washington’s most memorable destinations: “Now that the bottom is nice and dark, it elevates the temperature and the algae grows better,” said Wanzer.

The chemicals and ozone nanobubbles — a water purification treatment used to avoid some harsh chemicals — were one part of the effort underway to clean the Reflecting Pool. Workers used a swimming pool-type vacuum cleaner to suck up algae from the bottom, leaving behind clean patches of American Flag Blue paint adjacent to enormous swaths of green algae in a pattern familiar to anyone who has ever vacuumed a carpet before.

The park service said in a statement it is also using hydrogen peroxide, a milder treatment than chlorine and one used in spas and natural swimming pools. “There are no harmful side effects to marine life or to the environment,” it said.

As the mitigation work continued, a contractor took off his socks and shoes and rolled up his pants to his knees and proceeded to wade into the pool to place an ozone nanobubble tube as tourists and locals milled about on a sunny morning.

Rick and Ariana Pettit, a couple from Las Vegas who are road tripping in their RV across the United States, posed for photos at the iconic site of protests and marches as cleaning continued. Dressed in American flag-themed leggings and a Make America Great Again leotard, Pettit remarked to her husband, attired in an “Veteran for Trump” American flag button-up: “Look, it’s already looking more blue.”

Wanzer was blunt in his assessment of what it would take to maintain the pool as an algae-free space: “They may want to drain it, hose it all down, and start from the beginning with fresh water and treat it as the water comes in.”

Vogel and Martin write for the Associated Press.

MAYA JAMA has sent a defiant message to Ruben Dias as she posed in a tiny bikini on holiday.

The Love Island host, 31, split from the footballer in April this year, after 18 months together.

But she clearly hasn’t been moping around, and has been on holiday in Ibiza, where she flaunted her curves in a tiny bikini.

The telly favourite has shared a number of stunning snaps on her Instagram, including one of her in a Zebra print dress, and another of her in a mesh see-through black dress.

“Fun maxing, sun maxing,” she captioned the Instagram post.

It comes after she opened up about her break-up for the first time earlier this month.

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As the guests discussed her relationship on the Cocktails and Takeaways podcast, Maya responded by saying: “Truth is even when I tried to keep my relationships private we get photographed anyway.

“I’m an all or nothing girl, I don’t casually date, so yes I will love loudly or not at all and if it ends it end.

“I decided a long time ago not to base personal life decisions on public opinions.”

The former couple went public with their relationship in April 2025 after their relationship began in December 2024.

But The Sun exclusively revealed that they had split in May this year.

It comes after Maya was clearly feline fine as she turned up the heat in a skimpy leopard-print mini dress on the dating show’s ITV2 spin-off Aftersun on Sunday.

The most recent episode of the programme saw the beauty return to our screens in an incredible leopard print bodycon number.

She caught up with Toni Laites, Yasmin Pettet and Joe Baggs on the sofa.

MODEL Hailey Bieber gives her business a bit of a helping sand.

The 29-year-old, wed to singer Justin, posed on a beach in an ad campaign for her own skincare and make-up brand Rhode.

It was recently named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential companies.

And she told the mag she is hungry for more.

Hailey said: “I’m an entrepreneur at the end of the day.

“I want to expand in business and I want to be able to do more things.

“But I’m definitely not in a rush.”

Last year the brand was valued at a billion dollars.

Hailey launched it in 2022 and last year it turned over £150million in sales.

She recently posed in a chic yellow bikini for another fashion shoot and she was also pictured out in New York in a white mini dress for the Met Gala after-party.

Just last November the model posed up a storm for GQ magazine in another set of sizzling swimwear snaps.

Justin and Hailey have been married since 2018, with the pair welcoming their son Jack Blues in 2024.

I already want to return to this historic town that has quietly built a reputation as one of the most desirable places to live in Britain.

Friends spoke highly of it, travel writers regularly rank it among the UK’s best places to live, and it has built a reputation as one of the country’s most creative and independent towns.

Even so, I wasn’t quite prepared for how much I would enjoy spending a day there. Located in the Upper Calder Valley in West Yorkshire, Hebden Bridge has a fascinating history. Once a small settlement where packhorse routes crossed the River Hebden, it grew rapidly during the Industrial Revolution thanks to textile manufacturing and its position on the Rochdale Canal.

The arrival of the railway in the 19th century further transformed the town, connecting it to nearby cities and helping it prosper. Today, many of the old mill buildings remain, giving Hebden Bridge much of its distinctive character. But rather than being dominated by its industrial past, the town has reinvented itself as a thriving hub for independent businesses, artists and outdoor enthusiasts.

I arrived by train on a bright morning and was immediately struck by the setting. Hebden Bridge is in a narrow valley surrounded by steep hillsides, with rows of traditional stone buildings packed between the river and the slopes above. It’s a dramatic setting but the town itself feels welcoming and surprisingly compact.

My first stop was a walk along the Rochdale Canal, one of Hebden Bridge’s defining features. The towpath was busy with walkers, cyclists and dog owners, while narrowboats drifted slowly through the water. It felt like the perfect introduction to the town, offering a chance to take in both the scenery and the relaxed pace of life.

Full of independent shops

From there, I headed into the centre, wandering along Market Street and the surrounding roads. One of the things that stood out most was the number of independent shops.

Unlike many town centres, there was little sign of the major chains that have become so common elsewhere. Instead, I found bookshops, bakeries, record stores, galleries and cafés occupying handsome stone-fronted buildings. I stopped for coffee and later picked up lunch from a local bakery before spending time browsing some of the shops.

The town was busy without feeling overcrowded, and there seemed to be a strong sense that people were there because they wanted to be, rather than simply passing through.

In the afternoon, I made the walk up to Heptonstall, the historic hilltop village overlooking Hebden Bridge. The climb is steep in places, but the views across the valley more than justify the effort.

Heptonstall itself is well worth exploring, with its cobbled streets, historic church and connections to the poet Sylvia Plath, who is buried in the churchyard.

Back in Hebden Bridge, I spent some time by the river before heading to the station. As I sat watching people come and go, it became clear why the town has attracted so much attention over the years: the combination of history, landscape, community and independence. It manages to feel both lively and relaxed at the same time, while offering easy access to some of the most beautiful countryside in northern England.

I’ve visited plenty of attractive towns across the UK, but few have left me thinking about what it might be like to live there. Hebden Bridge was one of them, and by the time I boarded the train home, I was already planning a return visit.

The past five years has seen Chwalinska work hard on the lower levels of the WTA Tour, diligently trying to improve her game.

Working on being able to mentally compartmentalise her career – which she associated with “pressure, stress and crying” – from the rest of her life has proved crucial.

A year ago, Chwalinska was playing tiny tournaments in Italian cities Brescia and Bari after going out of the French Open in the second round of qualifying.

Now she has won nine matches in a row at Roland Garros. One more will see her become the first qualifier in the Open era to lift the trophy here.

Maybe the tattoo represents how she has played over the past three weeks – with a freedom and joy that has captivated the Parisian crowds.

Chwalinska has earned notable wins over former French Open semi-finalist Maria Sakkari and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, as well as beating three seeded players in Shnaider, Anna Kalinskaya and Elise Mertens.

Playing with variety and spin, Chwalinska can lob, drop shot and moonball her opponents to distraction, but she can also hit with pace to finish off points quickly.

“I feel like I’m in the bubble. I don’t know what’s going on. I’m just very happy to be here,” said Chwalinska, who has almost tripled her career prize money with the guarantee of winning at least £1.2m by reaching the final.

“After the tournament there will be time to process it and breathe in, breathe out.”

THE release of Rivals series two has thrust the Cotswolds into the spotlight once more.

Brits are seeking out the pretty scenery of Rutshire with its stone cottages, rolling countryside and delightful pubs in beautiful villages like Kemble.

Data from Trainline revealed that since Rivals returned on May 18, passengers to Cotswolds ‘gateway stations’ have risen by an average of 22 per cent.

That includes the tiny town of Kemble which is a 12-minute drive away from Cirencester.

Kemble is considered a ‘rail gateway’ for the southern Cotswolds as it’s one of the smaller spots that actually has a train station and a direct link to London.

With Great Western Railway, visitors can get from London Paddington to Kemble in just over an hour.

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The small train station was built in 1882 and is now a listed building.

It’s considered one of the prettiest in the country thanks to retaining its original Victorian features.

It even has its old water tower which was once used to fill steam trains that called by the station.

Outside of the train station and visitors can easily explore Kemble, as it’s pretty tiny.

Kemble has a school, village hall, village shop, Cotswold-stone clad cottages and a pub called The Tavern Inn.

The Tavern Inn is a mere 10-minute walk from the train station and is ideal for a pint pit stop or hearty pub grub.

One visitor to the pub said: “Fantastic Spot. What a lovely place. From the moment you step inside you know you have found a gem.”

Another added: “Food and staff fantastic home from home feel – a lovely beautiful spot.”

A third said it serves up the ‘best’ Sunday roast.

The village is popular with hikers too, many take on the River Thames walk.

From Kemble, this walk takes you to Thames Head which is the official source of the River Thames.

Heading south, the path heads to the Cotswold Country Park & Beach which has the UK’s largest inland beach.

Along with the beach, it has swimming lagoons, snack huts and visitors can get on the water with paddleboards, pedalo swans or rowing boats.

During the summer it also has a huge aqua inflatable.

Right next door to the village is Cotswold Airport which is mostly used for private jets and charters.

But it is open to the public on certain weekend for events.

This year, Cotswold Airport Open Weekend is between July 4-5 with an aircraft, vintage aircraft displays, classic cars, live music and tours.

For those who want a great view of the runway, the airport has its own restaurant called AV8 where visitors sit on the terrace and look out over the airfield.

Other villages in the Cotswolds that have seen an increase in visitors since the release of series two of Rivals are Moreton-in-Marsh and Charlbury.

HEIDI Klum looks half her age in a tiny zebra-print bikini for a sizzling and steamy beach photoshoot.

The America’s Got Talent alum, 53, has posed in an array of tiny bikinis as part of a brand collaboration with Calzedonia.

Posing on a sandy beach, the ageless beauty looked sensational as she smiled for the camera.

In one photo, Heidi rocked a zebra print number which showed off her sensational figure thanks to the plunging bikini top and low rise bottoms.

Another snap saw her lounging around in a brown glittery two-piece string bikini.

Heidi then rocked a bronze string bikini, which left very little to the imagination.

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She also wore a yellow gold number, which displayed her svelte figure seamlessly.

Last month, Heidi went topless in just a pair of tiny thong bikini bottoms as she sunbathed on her swanky hotel balcony.

Heidi was accompanied by her husband, Tokio Hotel guitarist Tom Kaulitz, who wore what appeared to be a polka-dot pyjama top and sunglasses before taking off his shirt.

Just weeks before her topless moment in the sun, the costume-loving star was completely unrecognizable as she transformed into a living statue at A-list fashion event The Met Gala.

Heidi and her husband Tom got engaged in 2018 and then got married in California in February 2019.

The pair then had a second ceremony in Capri, Italy later that same year in August 2019.

Speaking about Tom in an interview in 2022, Heidi gushed that she had “finally found the one” in her husband.

“I just know him so well. We just gel really well,” Heidi spilled in an interview with E! News.

“I just feel like, ‘Finally, I found the one.’ So far so good. I hope it stays that way.”

And in 2024 she even lifted the lid on their sex life.

Speaking about their “bedroom sports”, Heidi told The Sunday Times: “Sport en chambre is my favorite exercise – it sounds better in French.

“I have a younger husband,” she gushed.

She then revealed how the Tokio Hotel guitarist is “very good” and she even called her husband “my match”.

Heidi is also a mother and shares Leni, 22; Henry, 20; Johan, 19; and Lou, 16, with her ex-husband Seal.

ONE of the UK’s prettiest islands has been forced to ban people travelling there once a week.

Ulva is home to just 16 people but after it starred on a TV show, has experienced ‘unprecedented interest’ by tourists.

In a bid to control the number of people visiting the small Scottish island, the local and only ferry service has announced it will not run on Sundays.

Ulva is an island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland found off the west coast of the Isle of Mull.

The island receives an influx of visitors during the spring and summertime – but this year has had more than ever.

This is a result of the TV show, Banjo & Ro’s Grand Island Hotel being aired on BBC Scotland and iPlayer.

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Banjo and Ro who hail from Australia appeared on the series renovating Ulva House – a Regency home that will open as a hotel.

Since the show aired, the island has become much busier – so much so that the ferry operator has decided to close on certain days.

The ferry is the only way to get to Ulva as it crosses the strait from Mull in around 5-minutes.

The foot passenger ferry operates on weekdays from 9am to 5.30pm and does not operate on Saturdays.

In recent news, the ferry announced it will no longer carry passengers across on Sundays either.

In a recent post, it said: “None of us could have predicted how significant the increase in the numbers of visitors would be, so to give ourselves, the Boathouse [restaurant] and fellow islanders the chance to recharge and prepare for the week ahead, we have made the difficult decision not to open Sundays this summer.”

For those who have already pre-booked a trip to the island in June, July or August, the ferry operator has said that it will still help visitors across.

Banjo and Ro already run The Boathouse on Ulva, a restaurant where visitors can pick up a coffee or local fish dishes.

The island is car-free island with cliffs, moorlands, woodland as well as quiet beaches and bays.

Talking to Sun Travel about the island, Banjo described it as “another world” and there’s plenty of wildlife to spot too.

Banjo said: “We’ve got otters, dolphins and seals swimming by, and one ferry you can take from Ulva is called Turus Mara which goes to the Treshnish Isles, it’s home to puffins.

“Often we go there for a puffin picnic just to sit with them, that’s one of our favourite things to do.

“There are more cows than people too so you’re likely to see a lot of them. And you’ve got a great chance of seeing the Northern Lights when the sun goes down.”

When it comes to activities on the island, of course Banjo suggests stopping at The Boathouse for a “pre-walk coffee” then a walk to Ormaig.

Here is where there are ruins of the island’s villages.

Another attraction is Livingston’s Cave, and nearby you’ll see “gorgeous view of Inch Kenneth where the Mitford sisters used to live”.

Then Banjo said: “Head back to The Boathouse for lunch – we serve fresh langoustines, crab and lobster which you can enjoy with a fresh bottle of wine.”

Rachel Nickell’s horrific death sent shockwaves across the UK, but it took the police more than 15 years to solve her murder. As the case is explored in a new Netflix documentary, we speak to the expert who found a breakthrough clue after years of investigation failures

Rachel Nickell had her whole life ahead of her when it was cruelly stolen in a sickening attack – leaving her toddler son as the sole witness.

In July 1992, the 23-year-old mum was strolling through Wimbledon Common with her two-year-old son Alex Hanscombe, and their dog Molly. In a quiet, wooded area, she was ambushed, sexually assaulted and stabbed dozens of times.

Alex was later found by a passerby, desperately clinging to his mother’s body. In a heartbreaking attempt to help, the toddler had placed a piece of paper on her forehead as a makeshift bandage after pleading with her to wake up. Even at that tender age, Alex later revealed, he knew instantly that his mother was never coming back.

The brutal murder shattered the life of Alex and his father André Hanscombe. Yet, it would be 16 years for anyone to face justice. The haunting case is now the subject of a new three-part series for Netflix dramatisation, The Witness, alongside an accompanying documentary featuring never before seen archive footage, and deeply personal accounts from those who lived through the tragedy.

Among those interviewed is legendary forensic scientist Angela Gallop, whose work has helped solve many of the UK’s most high-profile murders, including the killings of Stephen Lawrence and Damilola Taylor.

Her team was handed the case in 2002, a decade after the murder, when the investigation had gone completely cold. They had agonisingly little to work with: a microscopic trace of male DNA recovered from the crime scene. To make matters even more difficult, forensic technology at the time was ill-equipped to handle such a minute sample. In order to find the killer, they had to pioneer an entirely new methodology to examine the sample.

Reinvestigating the decade-old DNA required immense precision. Describing the pressure and the patience required to manipulate the tiny shred of evidence, Angela said: “The technique that had been used at the time was a very new, sensitive method, but we had never particularly liked it in my laboratory.

“For Rachel’s case, we got hints of male DNA using our standard test, but we wanted to see if we could squeeze out some more information. By concentrating and purifying the DNA, we managed to achieve it, but it took two years to develop the technique properly.”

After a painstaking process, the team eventually got a strong enough DNA profile to add to their database – and it matched with a man named Robert Napper, a paranoid schizophrenic and serial rapist.

To ensure the case was ironclad, they raced back to the crime scene and analysed all the sample items that had been collected. Angela and her colleagues then went on to uncover footwear marks and forensic paint evidence linking Napper directly to Wimbledon Common.

His footwear was matched directly to the mud profiles taken from the area, and microscopic paint flakes matching Napper’s toolbox were discovered trapped in the hair of two-year-old Alex. The box, found in Napper’s flat, contained knives and other weapons.

The new DNA breakthrough was enough to convict Napper and exonerate Colin Stagg, the innocent man wrongfully targeted by a flawed police honey-trap operation. A new Netflix documentary will examine the botched investigation, which led to Stagg – a local resident who walked his dog on the common – spending 13 months behind bars in custody, and facing rampant speculation that he killed Rachel.

He was freed by an Old Bailey judge in 1994, who criticised officers for using a ‘honeytrap’ undercover policewoman to try to make him confess to the murder, branding the entrapment evidence as “reprehensible”

Mr Justice Ognall, who halted the trial, described officers actions as “deceptive conduct of the grossest kind” after undercover officer “Lizzie James” tried to seduce Stagg, promising a relationship in the hope of getting a confession. Stagg later received £700,000 compensation from the Home Office.

In 2008, Napper admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was detained indefinitely at Broadmoor. He was already incarcerated at the psychiatric unit, having been convicted in 1995 for the equally depraved double killing of single mother Samantha Bisset, 27, and her four-year-old daughter Jazmine.

Discovering the match provided a profound sense of justice for Angela’s team, particularly regarding the human toll of the investigation. “We had a DNA result that hit a match on the National DNA database, so the police have got something to investigate,” she said.

“There was an added level of satisfaction because Colin Stagg had been professing his innocence for all those years. We were able to show that he was telling the truth,” she said.

The new documentary about the 1992 murder features Alex describing the moment that he knew his mother had died after being stabbed 49 times.

A home video video captures him describing the moment his mother was killed on Wimbledon Common to his dad André, who gently discusses what his son saw on the day.

Now 36, Alex describes seeing Napper, telling his dad: “I saw him first,” he says, telling Andre that the man was carrying a bag which he opened. Asked what he took out, he replies simply: “A knife.”

He then tells his dad that the man “knocked me over” and that he witnessed his mum being stabbed. “There’s his knife,” the little boy tells his dad, indicating the picture he is drawing of his mother. “I saw the knife. I saw it, Yeah, I saw it all.”

Speaking in the trailer for the film, André explains: “My son saw his mother’s murder but nobody could have possibly known how long it was gonna take to find the person who did this.”

Ahead of the Netflix show, Angela is keen to emphasise that DNA evidence is rarely a simple “magic bullet.” Television would make people think that experts can simply swab a crime scene and receive a clear-cut result just 30 minutes later, Angela said, adding: “If it was going to be really straightforward, the original scientists would have discovered the truth a long time ago.

“You have to be much more clever. Sometimes you have to look for one type of evidence to find another. In the Stephen Lawrence and the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path murders, it was analysing textile fibres that led us to finding blood traces and therefore DNA.”

As well as the archive footage, the documentary will explore how Angela’s work led to justice for Stagg after her breakthrough solved the case.

The three part drama, The Witness, will follow Alex and André as they deal with the devastating impact of losing Rachel. Jordan Bolger plays André, while Max Fincham is the teenage Alex. Both men acted as consultants on the series.

The story aims to show how a father and son “moved through the aftermath of unimaginable tragedy, from darkness into light.”

The other cast include Kevin Eldon as DCI Mick Wickerson, Neil Maskell as DI Keith Pedder, Mark Stanley as DS Ivan Agnew, Jon Pointing as DC Nick Sparshatt, James Dryden as DC Paul Miller, Kerry Godliman as André’s mother June, James Bradshaw as DCI Tony Nash and Claire Rushbrook as Dr. Jean Harris-Hendriks.

In a joint statement released last month, André and Alex Hanscombe said: “Our life has been a battle. We can never express how indebted we are to everyone that’s been a part of this, for the kindness and generosity they’ve extended to us, for the chance they took with us in bringing our story to the screen, and for the care they have taken.

“Our journey has all been by the grace of God and a promise to go on together, and we feel incredibly blessed to be able to share our story in this way.

“We hope that audiences will be left with a testament to the tough battle of life we all face and to the power of faith, hope, love – and never giving up.”

• Documentary The Murder of Rachel Nickell has been made to accompany the new drama about what happened that day, called The Witness. Both will be released on Netflix on June 4.

A HUMPBACK whale was spotted off the coast of a pretty destination in Devon this week.

Brixham is on the southern edge of Tor Bay and can’t be missed when it comes to Devon‘s coast – from its pretty multicoloured cottages to seawater lido and apparently, whales too.

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Local skipper, Tristan who also goes by Mr Fish, revealed that he saw what he believes to be a Humpback whale off the coast of Brixham earlier this week.

He told local press: “It was amazing to see. As far as I know there has never been a humpback seen off Brixham before. What a thrill.

“I’ve seen some unbelievable things at sea over the years, huge dolphin pods, feeding frenzies, rare wildlife, but this honestly tops it all.”

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The mammals are huge at around 15-metres long and weighing around 30-tonnes.

Usually they’re spotted along the west side of Britain when they travel from the chilly seas of Norway to the warmer Cape Verde to breed – but sightings across the UK are on the rise.

It might be a rare sighting of a humpback whale, but around the coast of Brixham, you’re likely to spot grey seals, bottlenose dolphins and porpoises.

If you’re keen to see some for yourself, there are dedicated boat tours to spot marine life from £20pp.

The town itself is very important for the fishing industry and in all the local restaurants, expect to find catch of the day.

You can find these at Rockfish, Beamers, Smugglers Restaurant and Bar, Breakwater Bistro and Crusoe’s Restaurant.

Further inland, Middle Street is known for having independent shops, boutiques and cafes.

Also in Brixham is Shoalstone Seawater Pool, one of the few saltwater tidal lidos – which has even been compared to Australia in the summertime.

The 53-metre pool is built into the rocks and has been used since the Victorian times – it dates back to 1896.

It’s completely free to swim at Shoalstone, but the lido does ask for donations in order to stay open.

About the pool, The Lido Guide said: “Any swimmer who has spent any time at all looking at swimming-related social media feeds will be familiar with the Bondi Icebergs sea pool, even if they have never set foot in Australia.”

Unfortunately, Shoalstone is currently closed to the public as it’s undergoing repairs, but it’s scheduled to reopen for swimming in June.

Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding, who hails from Devon, revealed the must-do things for those visiting Brixham.

She said: “One of three towns on the English Riviera, Brixham is usually quieter than its busier neighbours – Torquay and Paignton, but the town is a gem to visit.

“Come rain or shine, the harbour always makes a nice walk and if you head out to Brixham Breakwater – around half-mile long – you will almost certainly see some of the local seals twirling in the water and basking in the sunshine.

“The Breakwater Beach is a good spot for a dip as well. Back in the main town, make sure to spend some time around the harbour where you can spot a replica of the Golden Hinde.

“Adults – don’t miss Liberty… Their cocktails all feel like pieces of art and trust me you’ll want to try the entire menu. For food, Rockfish is a staple.

“It can be found in the main harbour building and is the perfect opportunity to try out freshly caught fish.”

CHRISTINE McGuinness looked stunning as she soaked up the Bank Holiday sun in a tiny black bikini.

The model, 38, had fun and cooled down in a paddling pool filled with plastic balls.

In a video posted to Instagram, the media personality took to the water in a skimpy black bikini with thong bottoms.

She grinned widely as her daughter jumped into the pool making a big splash.

The star wrote over the reel that she felt her problems were melting away as she spent time with her kids, with the clip first starting at “99 problems” and then ending with “0 problems” at the end of the clip.

Christine finished the look off with a pair of chunky sunglasses and kept her hair loosely falling down over her shoulders.

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Captioning the post, Christine wrote: “My mummy magic medicine, always. Life is just better with them.

“Wishing you all a Gawjus bank holiday, half term, heatwave!”

The star added in brackets: Stay hydrated and wear protection always!
sorry to be that mum!”

Fans of Christine thought she looked stunning and dropped compliments in the post’s comment’s section.

One user said: “Stunning as always Christine, hope you’re having a lovely bank holiday x”

A second shared: “Beautiful mummy.”

A third added: “If I had your body I would wear that to Tesco. Just saying.”

The sexy video comes just weeks after Christine was spotted locking lips with DJ Roxxxan in her Land Rover Defender.

They were first linked when we revealed they flew to Ibiza together in 2024.

The DJ — real name Roxanne Conway — is also a model and describes herself as “masculine”.

Christine was recently also linked to former boxing champ Nicola Adams, 43, after saying she would “love to have a wife one day”.

She added: “Not like a legalised marriage, but like a blessing, a celebration of love.”

Christine has also been growing close to Olympic boxer Nicola Adams, who has confessed that she’s “crazy” about the blonde bombshell.

While neither of the two women have directly addressed the speculation, Nicola took to social media to confess she’s head over heels right now. 

She shared a clip of herself dancing with her eyes closed with the caption: “Them – you’re not that crazy about that woman”

Nicola added: “Who me? [laughing emoji].”

Christine and Nicola attended The DIVA Awards 2026 recently, which is an event which celebrates the achievements of LGBTQIA women and non-binary people.

And an onlooker told the Daily Mail: “They were inseparable and looked like they were a couple.”

Christine and Take Me Out host Paddy McGuinness, 52, divorced in 2024 but still live together in Cheshire with their three children.

SUPERSTAR Lizzo has turned heads looking smoking hot in a skimpy pink bikini.

The 38-year-old looked fabulous as she showed off her newly-slimmed-down figure in a neon tiny two-piece.

The Truth Hurts singer – who has lost around 60 pounds over two years – posed proudly in front of a decadent gold mirror.

Making the pink pop even more, she colour coordinated with a vase full of peonies and she captured herself in the striking swimsuit.

She wrote alongside the pictures: “Not enough big grrrls w they whole stomach out fa me.” (sic)

Followers commented: “Wish I had your confidence.”

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Another agreed:” Queen!! If only we all shared the same confidence!”

A third praised: “Pray she never gets a tummy tuck! I love her this way!”

With her hair tied back in a silk headscarf, she accessorised with a colourful beaded necklace and bracelet.

Looking fresh and flawless, she added to the outfit with black shades as she posed up a storm.

She further delighted fans by posting a sassy video wearing a red string bikini sporting long blonde hair as she strutted up and down.

It’s rumoured the pop icon has lost 60lb, though she has never publicly revealed this because she didn’t want others to make comparisons.

Prior to the weight loss, she helped kick-start her health journey by going two months with no alcohol.

In June last year, she said: “I’ve tried everything. It’s just the science for me – calories in, calories out. Ozempic works because you eat less food.

“That’s it. It makes you feel full, so if you can just do that on your own and get mind over matter, it’s the same s**t.”

Lizzo explained how she ditched her vegetarian diet, realising it was causing her to eat in excess of 3,000 calories, after visiting Japan.

Lizzo began her weight loss journey at the end of 2023 when she was “severely depressed”.

She previously admitted she would order hundreds of dollars of food delivery and eat everything until her stomach ‘felt like it would explode’.

In 2025, Lizzo noted that she had ‘quit drinking for the longest’ but reincorporated it into her lifestyle because she’d ‘earned it’.

Last November, she wrote in an essay on Substack: “So here we are halfway through the decade, where extended sizes are being magically erased from websites.

“Plus sized models are no longer getting booked for modeling gigs. And all of our big girls are not-so big anymore.”

She said: “We’re in an era where the bigger girls are getting smaller because they’re tired of being judged.

“And now those bigger girls are being judged for getting smaller by the very community they used to empower.

“There’s nothing wrong with living in a bigger body. There’s nothing wrong with being fat.

“But if a woman wants to change, she should be allowed to change.”

POWDERY sands, vibrant wildlife, crystal waters and less crowds – one Caribbean island has it all.

South Caicos is one of the islands found in Turks and Caicos, a British Overseas Territory in the Atlantic Ocean.

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The picturesque island often known as the fishing capital of the archipelago, with a variety of sea life including eagle rays, hawksbill sea turtles, nurse sharks, parrotfish, bonefish and conch.

Despite historically having a prominent fishing and salt industry, today the island remains largely untouched and according to Travel and Leisure, it is becoming the next Caribbean hotspot.

When it comes to things to do on the island, a lot of the top activities revolve around the local wildlife.

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For example, you can go bird watching at the salt ponds across the island.

These salt ponds were operational until the 1960s, but today stand still as a haven for birds including wild flamingos.

The salt ponds aren’t just home to birds though; you might even catch a glimpse of a wild donkey.

Another wildlife-based activity you can do from the island, is heading on a boat tour to see whales such as humpbacks, between January and April.

Thanks to the island being largely underdeveloped, it is also a great spot to stargaze as there is little light pollution.

Cockburn Harbour is the main town on the island and here, visitors can expect to see dramatic cliffs and reefs – which make for great snorkelling spots.

The town itself boasts Bermudian style buildings as well as stone walls down each street and is the best place to try some of the local cuisine such as conch fritters and conch salad, spiny lobster in garlic butter and whole boiled fish.

Another popular spot to visit nearby, is The Boiling Hole, which is a tidal pool connected to the ocean via underground caves.

If you head to the outskirts of Cockburn Harbour, you’ll see the salt salinas (marshes and ponds) as well.

Away from the main town, head to Highland House and Government Hill, where you’ll find a ruined colonial home that has views of the town as well as the surrounding area.

Down from Highland House, you can visit Highlands Beach – a rugged spot backed by limestone rocks and sand dunes, that also makes a great start or end point for hikes.

At the north end of the island, there’s the remote Plandon Cay Cut and beach, and if you want a more swimmin-g friendly spot, head to Long Beach, which stretches on for 1.25 miles.

This spot is often thought to be the best on the island for snorkelling as well.

If you happen to be on the island in May, you can experience the Annual South Caicos Regatta where there are a number of parties, boat races and games.

There are even beauty pageants, Maypole dancing and float parades as well.

In fact, it is the oldest native festival across the Turks and Caicos islands.

When it comes to places to stay in South Caicos there are a few options – though be warned they do come with a bit of a price tag.

For example you could stay at the Sailrock South Caicos, an SLH Hotel, from £611 per night.

The hotel features a variety of suites and villas as well as a spa, Ridgetop Spa Cabanas, sailing experiences, snorkelling and sand volleyball.

There’s also Marriott’s Salterra, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa which was named one of the best new hotels of 2025 by Travel and Leisure.

Inside, there are around 100 rooms for guests to choose from as well as a sprawling swimming pool, spa and a number of experiences including sunset cruises and flyfishing sessions.

A stay at the resort costs from £525 per night.

The best way to get to the island is by catching a short 20-minute flight from Providenciales.

A one-way flight between London and Providenciales in June costs from £362 per person.

On the 80th anniversary of the first flight of the de Havilland Canada Chipmunk basic trainer, an aircraft that generations of British and other military pilots learned to fly on, it’s worth recalling perhaps the most unusual episode of its career. Between 1956 and 1990, a handful of these propeller-driven trainers kept watch on Warsaw Pact forces in the divided and heavily fortified city of Berlin — a front line of the Cold War.

One of the two Chipmunks flown last week by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is WG486 — formerly attached to the RAF Gatow Station Flight for intelligence-gathering flights over Berlin:

At the end of World War II, defeated Germany was left divided between the Allied powers of France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The division of the country also extended to the former capital, Berlin, which was left deep within the Soviet occupation zone. Under the quadripartite agreement, the Western Allies retained the right of access to Berlin, using land and air corridors running into the Western-occupied zones of Germany.

The quadripartite agreement also included provisions for the Allied powers to maintain ‘liaison missions.’ Formally, these were supposed to ensure communications between the Western Allies and the Soviets. In practice, they soon became a critical way of gathering intelligence, especially since the Western missions were permitted to move, relatively unimpeded, in the Soviet zone, which would later become East Germany. The same applied to the Soviets in the West. For the British, the liaison mission was known as the British Mission to Soviet Forces in Germany (BRIXMIS), and it was based in Potsdam, just outside Berlin.

Meet The Real Cold War Spies Of BRIXMIS • FULL DOCUMENTARY | Forces TV

The agreement also ensured access to West Berlin for the Western Allies, flying through three air corridors in and out of the city. Each of the Western Allies had an airport in the city, with the British using RAF Tegel. These corridors were full of transport activity during the Berlin Airlift of 1948-49, when the Soviets attempted to cut off the Western sectors of the city by blockade. Outside the corridors, Western Allied military aircraft could also fly over the Soviet Zone of Berlin, although this was something Moscow was never happy about.

By the mid-1950s, relations between East and West were becoming more tense, and this airspace access began to be exploited for intelligence-gathering.

After the Berlin Airlift, the Western Allies were prohibited from flying combat aircraft in the corridors. Transport and training types, like the Chipmunk, were excluded from this rule, and in late 1956, the British launched the top-secret Operation Schooner (later renamed Operation Nylon), under which the trainers would conduct spy flights within the roughly 1,200-square-mile Berlin Control Zone.

Flying out of Gatow, the Chipmunk flights were officially for continuation training, which provided the required cover story. Actual training flights were also regularly conducted, also to preserve the cover.

From the mid-1950s onward, East Germany rapidly became the focal point for Soviet military expansion in Europe, and the British and other Western Allies had a growing need for precise intelligence on Soviet basing, equipment, tactics — anything, in fact, that provided a better understanding of the adversary and potential warning of an attack.

The U.K. Prime Minister’s office individually approved the Chipmunk flights from RAF Gatow. Two or three sorties were typically scheduled for each week. These were flown under visual flight rules (VFR) — so only in good weather — and not above 1,500 feet. The quadripartite Berlin Air Safety Center, which ensured the security of flights in the Control Zone, was notified in advance, and each flight was planned to last around three hours.

The primary ‘targets’ were the numerous Soviet military installations located within the Berlin Control Zone. The Soviet controller within the Berlin Air Safety Center, not coincidentally, often stamped the flight request card with the words “Safety of Flight Not Guaranteed.”

Mission equipment, at first, was a handheld camera, operated by a BRIXMIS member in the front cockpit of the Chipmunk, with the RAF pilot sitting behind. Each sortie required careful preparation, with the crew wearing oxygen masks at all times to prevent their identification. They would climb aboard the aircraft inside a hangar, with the cameras already loaded, and the engine would be started behind closed doors. After all, Soviet ‘watchers’ were posted around Gatow, and observation towers overlooked the base.

Though the Soviets were well aware of the real nature of these flights (once, according to one BRIXMIS account, a camera lens was accidentally dropped from an open cockpit onto a busy parade ground), the quadripartite agreement provided diplomatic immunity to the Royal Air Force pilots. Nevertheless, Moscow was upset about any Western flights outside of West Berlin, and harassment of aircraft was hardly rare. At least once, a Chipmunk was damaged by groundfire from a Soviet infantryman.

The importance of Schooner/Nylon increased as the Soviets made efforts to conceal their military activity in East Germany. To try to avoid the eyes of the liaison missions, they set up more Permanent Restricted Areas (PRA) — another provision of the quadripartite agreement. Within the Berlin Control Zone, the Chipmunks had access to several major Soviet divisional HQs, including some of its best-equipped and highest-readiness forces.

The construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 underscored the East-West standoff and led to the Soviets further bolstering their military presence in and around the city, including new air defense missiles and surface-to-surface sites. According to some accounts, Chipmunks were among the first assets to bring back evidence of the extent of the border closures enacted by the Soviets in August 1961.

By the end of the 1960s, one of the Gatow Chipmunks had received a permanent camera installation, and both got new radios. According to one pilot, the new camera was powerful enough to “record the maker’s name from the inside of a tank if the turret was open.”

10 April 1978, the British BRIXMIS Liaison Mission had access to two Chipmunk aircraft, which they used for photo reconnaissance over parts of East Germany, between West Berlin and the Inner German Border. In this case they’ve captured a T-64 engine being removed for maintenance. pic.twitter.com/NQTdOn7Qul

— The Tank Museum (@TankMuseum) June 5, 2023

On one occasion, a BRIXMIS member recalled being intercepted and closely followed by a Soviet Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter, which escorted the Chipmunk from the Soviet helicopter base at Oranienburg to the north of Berlin.

Right at the very edge of the Berlin Control Zone was an especially interesting ‘target,’ the Soviet airbase at Werneuchen. This was latterly home to MiG-25 Foxbat reconnaissance jets, and it also hosted periodic deployments of Soviet long-range bombers. It was also deep within a PRA, making ground access very difficult. The Chipmunks would fly close enough to photograph every aircraft on the flight line, aware that if they strayed beyond the main runway centerline, they would be outside the Berlin Control Zone and would be shot down.

Also connected to Werneuchen and even more remarkable in terms of mission equipment is the fact that at least one Chipmunk was fitted with electronic intelligence (ELINT) gear. This modification was approved by the U.K. Prime Minister in 1981 but was only revealed by aviation journalist Ben Dunnell in 2024. It is known that the ELINT equipment was used to gather information about a new Soviet battlefield radar, equipping the 9K35 Strela-10 (SA-13 Gopher) short-range air defense system. However, it was also used in at least one flight over Werneuchen. No other details of the results of these missions have ever been released.

The Chipmunks remained busy until the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 heralded the end of the Cold War. Immediately before German reunification, in 1990, BRIXMIS was stood down and, with it, the need for intelligence-gathering flights came to an end. At its biggest strength, the RAF Gatow Station Flight never had more than four Chipmunks assigned.

The Gatow Station Flight remained active until 1994, when the last Chipmunk departed. Gatow finally closed as an RAF station the same year.

Last week, as the Royal Air Force marked the 80th anniversary of the classic Chipmunk trainer, it is worth remembering the unique role that the aircraft played during one of the tensest periods of recent history, during which the intelligence it collected helped keep the peace between East and West.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

A FURIOUS passenger has called out a major airline for giving him a smaller than usual seat.

A British passenger has bashed KLM Royal Dutch Airlines after they revealed their assigned seat was “30 per cent smaller than usual”.

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Calling out the airline on X, Mike (@finnishmike), said: “Almost 8 months ago @KLM said they will reimburse my payment for this seat, which is not supposed to be on sales for passengers.

“Since then, they’ve completely ignored me won’t even reply back to emails anymore.”

According to The Mail, Mika was assigned seat 30A but when he arrived he realised it was much smaller than he expected it to be – even though he had sat in the same seat previously.

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Mika had specifically paid to be on an exit row, which usually means extra leg room.

However, the seat he eventually sat in was 30 per cent smaller than the one next to it, despite both seats being the same price.

Mika added: “It was only €99 (£85.57) and its not about the money, its principle.

“Just common sense they should reimburse me back, shame.”

One commenter pointed out that the seat is relatively new and is normally used for staff travelling between cities.

Sun Travel has contacted KLM for comment.

VENEZUELA Fury may have just bagged a £5million wedding gift from her Gypsy King dad Tyson – but the teenager’s first marital home is a far cry from the millionaire lifestyle she grew up in.

The Fury dynasty toasted the teenager’s lavish wedding, which included Peter Andre performances, towering cakes, and a dress with a 50ft train, this weekend. But now, the 16-year-old bride and new husband Noah Price, 19, have moved into a £46,995 static caravan that had been sitting unsold for months – after furious buyers blasted the company’s homes as “absolute s**t”.

And in true Fury fashion, the story behind their first home together is every bit as dramatic as the wedding itself.

The young couple snapped up the two-bedroom caravan, named Manor House, exactly as it stood on the forecourt of East Yorkshire firm Carabuild – with no bespoke upgrades, luxury add-ons or personalised touches.

At 42ft long and 14ft wide, the caravan spans 588 square feet – roughly the same size as a large London studio flat.

That means Venezuela, who has spent her entire life surrounded by unimaginable luxury, is swapping Tyson and Paris Fury’s jaw-dropping £8million mansion for a static home that is 21 TIMES smaller.

Tyson’s sprawling estate stretches across 12,286 square feet, sits on historic land over 200 years old and boasts all the lavish trappings you’d expect from one of Britain’s richest sporting dynasties.

Yet now his eldest daughter is embracing traditional traveller life with husband Noah – and it seems the pair are doing it the old-fashioned way.

A source previously told The Sun: “Venezuela wants to start her married life in the traditional style of a traveller, just like her parents did.

“She has lived in luxury since she was born, but is willing to swap her home comforts to go and live in a static caravan.”

The source added: “She thinks it did her parents no harm and is looking forward to taking care of all the domestics while Noah goes out to work. Her parents approve.”

And it seems Venezuela took that traditional vision very seriously.

Because the caravan itself had been sitting unsold for months before Venezuela and Noah bought it.

Carabuild, which describes itself as a “bespoke manufacturer of luxury static caravans and lodges”, first advertised the home back in January with an asking price of £46,995.

By February, it still hadn’t shifted.

The firm posted another sales video online showing off the caravan’s “oak exterior” and “cream and gold” interior while urging potential buyers to get in touch.

Then in March came what insiders described as an increasingly desperate push to finally get rid of it.

In a social media plea, the company wrote: “Springtime offer. Be in this home for Easter. Available right now from stock. No waiting, no travelling, no stress.”

But while the videos attempted to paint a picture of luxury traveller living, furious online reviews underneath told a different story.

One furious customer blasted: “Stay well clear of this man Zane from Carabuild.

“Once he has your deposit, you never see him again.

“The homes are absolutely sh*t flat packs.”

The disgruntled reviewer continued: “Cheap made kitchen, cheapest of the cheapest, trust me, I am not joking.

“Please stay away from this company.”

Others accused the firm of poor insulation, broken radiators and “paper-thin walls”.

One scathing Google review read: “If I could give lower than one star, I would.”

Another raged: “Don’t give them a pound.”

Despite the controversy surrounding the company, Venezuela and Noah still chose the static home as the place they would begin married life together.

Carabuild proudly revealed the newlyweds had bought the home.

Sharing a video of the caravan to their Facebook page, the company wrote: “Congratulations to the new Mr and Mrs Price.

“We had the pleasure of designing and building Venezuela Fury and Noah Price’s very first marital home.”

It marks the latest chapter in what has become one of the most talked-about celebrity weddings of the year.

Venezuela – the eldest daughter of boxing superstar Tyson Fury and wife Paris – married Noah in a lavish traveller wedding on the Isle of Man earlier this month.

The wedding itself was pure Fury extravagance.

There were 20,000 flowers, a towering 12ft wedding cake, 18 bridesmaids, vintage cream wedding cars and a surprise performance from Peter Andre.

Venezuela wore a dramatic fishtail gown imported from Italy, complete with a staggering 50ft train – paired, brilliantly, with white Crocs.

Netflix cameras filmed the entire thing for the family’s hit reality series At Home With The Furys.

Tyson, emotional throughout the day, called himself a “big softie” as he walked his daughter down the aisle before later joking in his speech: “I told you – you shouldn’t have done it!”

And despite the glitz, glamour and eye-watering spending, the newlyweds appear determined to keep one foot firmly planted in traditional traveller culture.

The young couple will settle in East Yorkshire once they return from their lavish £30,000 honeymoon in Marbella – another gift paid for by Tyson and Paris.

And the honeymoon wasn’t the only present the pair received.

Tyson also gifted the newlyweds a traditional gypsy wagon as a sentimental nod to their roots.

Meanwhile, some family members were said to be stunned after Tyson and Paris reportedly handed the young couple £5million to help kickstart their married life.

“Some family members thought it was a lot of money for a young couple,” one insider told The Sun.

“But it’s up to Tyson and Paris.”

For now, though, despite the millions, the honeymoon and the reality TV cameras, Venezuela and Noah are preparing to start married life in the very caravan that buyers warned people to avoid.

OFF the coast of Northumberland is a remote, tidal island that you’ll have to time right to visit – as it is cut off from the mainland twice a day.

Called Lindisfarne, or by its other name, Holy Island, it might be familiar to fans of horror movies.

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The island off the coast of Northumberland was used to film post-apocalyptic film, 28 Years Later, which came out just last year.

The 2025 movie was about a group of survivors of the rage virus living on a small island starring actors like Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes.

Filming spots included the tidal causeway and Lindisfarne Castle which attracts thousands of visitors every year.

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The National Trust took over the property in 1944 and it has been open to the public ever since.

Inside the castle, visitors can explore the different rooms, including a dining room, a kitchen, and bedrooms, as well as the upper battery, which has panoramic sea views.

In addition to exploring the interior of the castle, there are plenty of other things to see.

Entry to the castle is £14.30 for adults and £7.20 for children (between 5-17).

The island is also referred to as Holy Island, and it got its nickname after becoming the centre of Anglo-Saxon Christianity in the 7th century.

It was home to saints and it’s considered a very religious place.

But for those who want to move away from its history, there’s plenty to do on the island, like visit its coffee roastery, Pilgrims Coffee.

The business first set up in a yurt, but now even has a cosy cafe on the island too serving up caffeine hits and homemade cakes.

The family that runs Pilgrims Coffee moved from the mainland to Holy Island in 2022.

Another spot to visit is St Aidan’s Winery, where Lindisfarne Mead is made, and visitors to the island can pop in for tastings and browse the shop that sells its wine and beer.

The island has around 160 permanent residents, but it does have places for visitors to stay from hotels to holiday lets.

One of the top spots on Tripadvisor for Holy Island is Belvue Guesthouse which sleeps two guests.

One guest on Tripadvisor wrote: “We had such a lovely stay in Belvue, I think it was one of the best guesthouses we have ever been to!”

There are also cosy B&Bs as well as rooms in the local Ship Inn Pub.

The pub dates back to the 18th century with a dedicated dining room and a beer garden to the back.

It has also made an appearance on TV and was featured as the fictional ‘Seahorse Pub’ in ITV’s Vera.

Visitors can walk the historic Pilgrim’s Way or visit the Gertrude Jekyll Garden.

For seal spotting, head to the harbour or the sand flats around Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve where there are thousands of grey seals especially between February and October.

To get to Lindisfarne, you have to cross the causeway from the mainland which is only accessible at low tide from the town of Beal.

While the tides can be predicted, holidaymakers will need to check the crossings on the day on the Northumberland County Council website.

Jesy Nelson has celebrated her twins turning one with a lavish double birthday bash.

The singer posed with daughters Ocean Jade and Story Monroe surrounded by balloons and pastel party decorations at the sweet celebration.

But the former Little Mix star has also been reflecting on her emotional first year as a mum, sharing a touching video montage of her journey with daughters Ocean Jade and Story Monroe.

Ocean Jade and Story Monroe Nelson were diagnosed with SMA1, a rare genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and movement difficulties.

Narrated by Jesy herself and set to soft piano music, the clip featured a poem about parenting children with disabilities and the difference between the motherhood she expected and the reality she has experienced.

The poem compares raising a child with additional needs to planning a dream trip to Italy, only to unexpectedly land in Holland instead.

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Widely shared by parents of disabled children, the emotional piece explains that while life may not turn out how you first imagined, it can still be filled with beauty, love and joy.

It has become a well-known piece of writing within disability and parenting communities for its message about embracing a different path.

Jesy accompanied the video with a heartfelt caption which ended: “Happy Birthday my Ocean and Story you are my whole heart and soul I love you more than you will ever know.”

The 34-year-old described her girls as “tiny little super humans” and “he strongest, most resilient little fighters I’ve ever known” in a heartfelt caption.

The twins’ dad is rapper and singer Zion Foster, who began dating Jesy in 2022 and got engaged to the former Little Mix star last year.

However, the couple later split following the devastating diagnosis of their daughters’ SMA1 condition, though they have remained close and are continuing to co-parent together