Thames Water said a blockage weighing around 100 tonnes was cleared from a west London sewer in Feltham. The mass, located more than 10 metres below street level, was mainly made up of wet wipes bound by fat, oil and grease and was described as the equivalent of eight double-decker buses. A specialist team accessed the sewer via a large manhole chamber equipped with gas monitors, then used blasting, chiselling […]

Dame Jilly Cooper, the author famous for the Rutshire novels, has died aged 88 after an unexpected fall, her family said. Her children Felix and Emily described the loss as a complete shock. In a message released by Buckingham Palace, the Queen paid tribute, calling Cooper a legend and a wonderfully witty and compassionate friend to her and to many others. She wrote: 'Very few writers get to be a […]

Britain's Conservative Party has pledged to abolish business rates for high street shops and pubs if it wins the next general election. The commitment was announced by shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride at the party conference, who said the burden of Labour's tax rises had been 'simply too much to bear' for many businesses. He told delegates that, subject to public spending being brought under control, a future Conservative government […]

St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London is reopening its North Wing to visitors for the first time in what organisers describe as a 300-year history. The 1732-built section is Grade I listed and features a Great Hall and a staircase decorated by Hogarth, with works including The Pool of Bethesda and The Good Samaritan. The wing will be accessible to the public on two days each week. Barts Heritage oversaw a […]

The government has signalled a major reform of the homebuying system, saying the proposals could reduce costs for buyers and shorten the process. Planned changes include requiring sellers and estate agents to provide more information when a property is listed, reducing the need for buyers to carry out searches and surveys. Contracts could be binding earlier to reduce the risk of a property chain collapsing. The package would also introduce […]

Former England rugby captain Lewis Moody has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, the 47-year-old has confirmed. Moody told the BBC the diagnosis was given two weeks ago and that facing what lies ahead is difficult. He said there is a reluctance to dwell on the future for now. Moody said his symptoms are currently mild. He described some muscle wasting in his hand and shoulder but stressed he remains […]

About one in six adults (16%) in the UK describe themselves as financial carers, helping to manage the money of a relative who is older and more vulnerable, a survey for Legal & General shows. Many start in their 30s. The reasons include signs that a loved one is struggling with finances, such as missed bills, forgotten accounts or losing track of day‑to‑day money. Carers often help with paying bills, […]

Researchers at Heriot‑Watt University studied how female sawflies lay eggs in plants. The team found the insects’ ovipositor behaves like a biological reciprocating saw, instinctively knowing when to cut and when to push material aside. The sawflies must avoid killing the plant so it remains alive to feed the larvae. Electron microscopy and 3D imaging helped map the cutting-teeth geometry, showing that small serrations work with larger protrusions to create […]