UK

The number of young people taking ketamine has tripled in recent years – a surge which experts blame partly on its affordability and widespread availability during the cost of living crisis. Now, the mother of an 18-year-old student who died on her first night at university after taking the drug has called for the police

Eurostar trains are set to resume this morning after “unprecedented” flooding in a tunnel brought chaos for thousands. The company said all services would run to Paris, Brussels, London and Amsterdam – but warned there could still be delays and packed stations. Southeastern and Thameslink rail are also predicting serious disruption. Travellers were stranded yesterday

A fire has broken out at Blackpool Tower, with video showing flames at the top of the iconic structure. Firefighters in climbing gear are “on their way up”, according to a tourist information page, as high winds continue to hit the seaside resort. In a statement Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service said: “We have six

The King has used his second Christmas message to praise people’s “growing awareness of how we must protect our Earth”. The monarch described the natural world as a “manifestation of the divine” and said that caring for it is a “responsibility owned by people of all faiths and none”. “We care for the Earth for

Millions of mobile phone users are being warned of potential text scams in the lead-up to Christmas, peaking today on what is being dubbed “Super Saturday”. The BT-owned EE network has said cyber criminals could try to take advantage of the busy last-minute shopping period to issue delivery-style scams, suggesting parcels are waiting to be

A criminal investigation has been launched into alleged child abduction in connection with Alex Batty – who reappeared this month after going missing six years ago. The investigation has been launched by Greater Manchester Police. Alex, now 17, has returned to the UK after spending years in France and Spain with his mother and grandfather.

A body has been recovered from the River Tay in the search for a missing woman. Although formal identification is yet to take place, the family of Clare Marshall have been informed. A search was launched for Ms Marshall at the beginning of the week, with specialist help from the Police Scotland helicopter. The 64-year-old

The Home Office has rowed back on plans to increase the salary threshold for family members of migrants in the UK following a backlash Home Secretary James Cleverly told the Commons earlier this month that the threshold for a family visa would rise from £18,600 to £38,700 by “next spring” in a bid to reduce

COVID-19 infection levels are rising and more people aged 18-44 are catching it than the elderly, new figures suggest. Around 2.5 million people, or one in 24 in England and Scotland, are likely to have tested positive for the illness on 13 December. That equates to around 4.2% of people in private households across the

When Brianna Ghey left home on 11 February, she thought she was going to meet a friend. But in what detectives described as the “ultimate betrayal”, the 16-year-old had been lured from her house that Saturday afternoon by a girl with “murderous intent”. A little more than two hours later Brianna, who was transgender, was

The Irish government is to bring a legal case against the UK under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The inter-state case is over the UK’s decision to bring in the Northern Ireland Troubles Legacy Act, deputy premier Micheal Martin has confirmed. The act became UK law in September 2023. It looks to end

Police are still searching for a missing woman who vanished in Perth. Investigating officers believe Clare Marshall, 64, left the Dundee Road area in the early hours of Monday and may have walked to Moncreiffe Island. Extensive searches within the area and along the River Tay have taken place since the alarm was raised. Specialist

A body found in the search for Gaynor Lord has been formally identified as the mother-of-three. The remains were recovered from the River Wensum on Friday, a week after Mrs Lord disappeared. The 55-year-old was last seen on CCTV walking along St Augustines Street in Norwich, at 4.01pm on Friday 8 December, having left work

Police searching for a 63-year-old man reported missing in Ipswich have found a body. The family of Julian De Bono, who disappeared in the early hours of Sunday last week, have been informed after underwater search teams made the discovery in the River Gipping just after 3pm today. A Suffolk Police spokesman said a post-mortem

For eight years, Sophia* has been living a double life. She is not cheating on her husband and isn’t doing anything illegal, but her clandestine activities are something she plans with military precision to avoid getting caught. Sophia, who is in her early 30s and lives in north London, is hiding her secret in plain

A body has been found after a fire on an industrial estate in South Wales. South Wales Police declared a major incident after it was called to reports of an explosion at a premises shortly after 7pm on Wednesday night. Officers remain at the scene on Treforest Industrial Estate today. Formal identification of the body

Police have provided a timeline of Gaynor Lord’s last movements as they appeal to the public to help find the mother-of-three who has been missing for nearly a week. Mrs Lord, 55, was last seen after she left work early at Jarrolds department store in Norwich city centre at 2.45pm on Friday afternoon. CCTV that

A teacher was killed after an escaped cow went into “fight mode” and tossed her over a wooden gate, a court has heard. Marian Clode, 61, was out for a walk in Northumberland during the 2016 Easter holidays when a cow charged at her and attacked her three times. She died in Newcastle‘s Royal Victoria

A man in his 60s arrested on suspicion of felling the Sycamore Gap tree will face no further action, Northumbria Police has said. The 200-year-old tree was cut down in Northumberland National Park overnight between 27 and 28 September in what police believe was a deliberate act of vandalism. Two other men in their 30s

The UK’s minister for climate will make a 6,313-mile round trip to take part in the government’s crunch vote on Rwanda, Number 10 has confirmed. Graham Stuart has been in Dubai for the COP28 summit, where leaders from around the world have been discussing the best ways to tackle the climate crisis. But key talks