A critically endangered spider has been rediscovered on the Isle of Wight, the first sighting in Britain since 1985. The specimen was found at the National Trust’s Newtown National Nature Reserve and is linked to the species Aulonia albimana. The National Trust described the find as a major conservation success. Entomologist Mark Teller, who made the discovery with colleague Graeme Lyons, said: “This is one of those unforgettable discoveries. To […]

Tom Daley has fronted a new Channel 4 programme about knitting after retiring from diving. The show, titled Game Of Wool, is hosted by Daley, who is 31, with Di Gilpin and Sheila Greenwell serving as judges. Ten knitters compete in a series of challenges to determine Britain’s first television knitting champion. Daley retired from diving after the 2024 Olympic Games, collecting three bronze medals, one silver and one gold. […]

Luke Littler missed Wednesday's Players Championship event in Wigan after a traffic jam prevented him from registering before the 11:00 deadline. The world number two was delayed by congestion following a reported incident on the M6.\n\nThe reigning world champion had already qualified for next month’s Minehead finals after winning Players Championship 32 earlier this month. The 18-year-old later posted from inside his car on social media and paid tribute after […]

A 22-year-old man has been charged with murder after a triple stabbing in Uxbridge. Safi Dawood, of Midhurst Gardens, is charged with murdering Wayne Broadhurst and with two counts of attempted murder in connection with the incident in Midhurst Gardens, Uxbridge, on Monday. He also faces one count of possession of an offensive weapon. The Afghan national entered the UK in a lorry in 2020 and was granted asylum in […]

A teenager has been found guilty of murder after fatally stabbing a 16-year-old boy during New Year’s Eve fireworks at Primrose Hill in north London. Areece Lloyd-Hall, who was 16 at the time and is now 18, attacked Harry Pitman with a dagger as crowds gathered near police officers watching the display over the River Thames on 31 December 2023. Mobile phone footage shown in court depicts a knife being […]

A man was stabbed in an assault in Uxbridge that left a dog walker dead. Neighbours from a house opposite rushed outside with baseball bats to confront the knifeman and shield the injured man. The 45-year-old victim sustained life-changing injuries, and a neighbour said he might have died without the intervention. Police said a 22-year-old Afghan national, who arrived in the UK in 2020 in a lorry, is in custody […]

Sir David Attenborough is backing a conservation bid to raise £30 million to buy the Rothbury Estate in Northumberland. The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust aim to complete the purchase of the 15-square-mile site, a mix of former grouse moor, woodland, farmland, streams and rivers, with plans to boost wildlife, restore bogs and promote nature-friendly farming. Experts describe Rothbury as part of a potential 40-mile “wild” corridor of protected […]

Researchers are trialling a world-first breath test to detect pancreatic cancer. The study, funded by Pancreatic Cancer UK, is described by the charity as the most significant step toward a lifesaving breakthrough in 50 years. Symptoms of the disease are often vague, such as back pain and indigestion, so many cases are not diagnosed until the cancer has spread. An audit of pancreatic cancer in England and Wales found that […]

From today, the morning-after pill will be provided free of charge in almost 10,000 community pharmacies across England. Emergency contraception remains free at most GP practices and sexual health clinics, but it has previously cost up to £30 (€35.1) in pharmacies. The change means patients will not need an appointment with a GP or clinic to obtain the pill, and NHS England estimates tens of thousands of women could benefit. […]