7 h. ago Holidaymakers left in limbo as British travel company goes bust

The firm, based in Berkshire, claimed to offer the 'best cheap breaks in the UK'. Its website says: 'Holidays to the most iconic cities in the World.' Now thousands of summer getaways are at risk.

Transport

26 h. ago The reason our city is the happiest place in Britain: Locals reveal why their community scores highest on happiness index

New data released by the Office for National Statistics has revealed Britain's happiest region was the South West of England - with residents living in the mainly rural area.

Politics

35 h. ago Summer in Europe’s lakes and mountains: 15 of the best holidays

With cooler air, fewer crowds and lower prices, the mountains make a great alternative to the coastAll Italians race to la spiaggia in summer, leaving the hinterland marvellously empty. Tuscany gets a lot of love, but travel one region over to Umbria and Monti Sibillini national park bewitches with views of the Apennines and eyrie-like, honey-coloured hill towns such as Castelluccio, soaring above a plateau of brightly coloured poppies, cornflowers and daisies. It’s a gorgeous spot for hiking, biking and tracking down a trattoria to dig into specialities such as wild boar with locally grown lentils. You’ll find some of Italy’s finest salami in butcher shops in Norcia, as well as black truffles on the menus of restaurants such as the Michelin-starred Vespasia, which is in a 16th-century palazzo. Alternatively, you could join a tartufaio and their dog to head into the woods on a truffle-hunting tour.How to do it Organic farm Agriturismo Casale nel Parco dei Monti Sibillini (doubles fr...

Politics

3 d. ago England football star Trevor Sinclair is made bankrupt after 'burying his head in the sand' over £36,000 unpaid tax bill

Trevor Sinclair who played for QPR, West Ham and Man City, won 12 England caps during his lucrative football career before becoming a commentator on TV and radio.

Economics

4 d. ago Yorkshire in drought with low water levels in reservoirs after dry spring

The county is the latest in the north of England to see its status moved to ‘drought’ after the driest spring for 132 years.

Politics

5 d. ago Kids to enjoy free bus travel for summer holidays in west of England

The free travel offer is set to cover almost all bus services in the West of England and North Somerset

Transport

5 d. ago Harry Brook revels in leading ‘awesome’ England after West Indies clean sweep

England won the T20 series 3-0 to match their one-day international result.

Events

5 d. ago Ben Duckett sets tone as England thrash West Indies to continue perfect run under Harry Brook

A thrilling total of 248-3 equalled the record score on English soil

Events

5 d. ago England beat West Indies by 37 runs in third ODI to complete series sweep – live reaction

England complete series sweep in SouthamptonWTC final news | Sign up for The Spin | Email James3rd over: England 33-0 (Duckett 22, Smith 11) A drag down from Hosein is slapped to the square boundary by Duckett. Don’t bowl there, son. Duckett plinks down the ground for a couple, losing his shape slightly as he tries to go down the ground. SIXAH! The pint sized opener smears a big one on the sweep behind square. Four more down the ground all along the baize. Shai Hope can’t plug the gaps and Duckett is manipulating the field with aplomb. Seventeen runs off the over.2nd over: England 15-0 (Duckett 6, Smith 9) Jason Holder with the second over, long limbs chugging into the crease and decent bounce off the custard cream coloured surface. Shot! Smith drives on the up over mid-on with that deliciously clean swing of the blade. Sizeable outfield in at the Utilita (as no one calls it) boundaries harder to find than at postage stamp sized Bristol. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Ben Duckett blows West Indies away as England wrap up T20 series sweep

England, 248-3, beat West Indies, 211-8, by 37 runsDuckett hits 84 off 46 balls in 120-run opening standHarry Brook hit an unbeaten 35 off 22 balls, a quickfire cameo on a usual night, yet the slowest of England’s offerings in this record-breaking contest. His side piled up 248 for three, their highest total at home in this format, to set up a 37-run victory over West Indies in the third and final Twenty20 international.Ben Duckett top-scored with 84 from 46 balls as he shared an opening stand of 120 with Jamie Smith, 135 brought up at the 10-over mark. The destruction calmed down a touch thereafter but West Indies were still invited to pull off their highest successful T20 chase. It never felt on, even as Evin Lewis whipped away a first-ball six. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago England v West Indies: third men’s T20 cricket international – live

T20 updates from Southampton; start 6.30pm BSTWTC final news | Sign up for The Spin | Email James We’ll be underway in less than ten minutes. Just enough time to dig into Don McRae’s wide reaching interview with Pat Cummins on the eve of the WTC Final. Some topics were still off-limits though But the ball-tampering saga remains an awkward topic. He listens quietly while I tell him about my 2021 interview with Cameron Bancroft who, as a callow opening batter trying to find his way in Test cricket, followed instructions to use sandpaper to rough up the ball. His captain, Steve Smith, David Warner and Bancroft were banned and the batter, when pressed on whether any of the bowlers had known of the plan, told me that “it’s probably self-explanatory”.Cummins took seven wickets in that Test, which Australia lost heavily, and I ask if he really had no idea what was being done to the ball. “I don’t want to talk about it,” he says bluntly.” Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Foreign Office issue new warning to Brits heading to Croatia this summer

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel advice for holidaymakers heading to Croatia this summer.

Events

6 d. ago Bruce Springsteen snubbed autograph hunters for 'chasing him all around town'

The Dancing In The Dark rock legend - who recently played the second of two gigs at the north-west of England city's Anfield stadium - appeared angry as he was seen admonishing some people in the rain and refusing to sign any autographs

Politics

6 d. ago Children to go free on buses in West of England during summer holiday

No bus pass or registration will be required to access the scheme, which is due to run from July 19 to September 5.

Politics

7 d. ago Luke Wood takes England return in his stride after ‘weird’ PSL experience

Wood starred in the series-clinching T20 win over the West Indies.

Politics

7 d. ago It feels like we’re a group of mates – Skipper Harry Brook hails England unity

Brook has won five on the bounce against the West Indies since taking over as white-ball captain from Jos Buttler.

Politics

7 d. ago Audacious Banton turns tables on West Indies to seal series for England

Second T20I: WI 196-6, Eng 199-6; England won by 4 wktsRight-hander dominant in the middle with Jacob BethellThe drought continues for the West Indies men. A total of 196 looked serious enough to end a sequence of nine consecutive away defeats against England, a run going back to the bio-bubble Test series of 2020. With the hosts requiring 71 off 39 balls, Jos Buttler and Harry Brook gone, the game looked up. Then came Tom Banton, a first-ball six and a change of tune, the final summary a four-wicket victory to secure an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Twenty20 international series.The Somerset right-hander is usually a top-order man but was dominant in the middle alongside Jacob Bethell as the pair put on 43 off just 15. Banton pummelled Gudakesh Motie’s left-arm spin while Bethell struck Alzarri Joseph for three monstrous sixes. The left-hander’s failed ramp on 26 mattered little as Banton remained, his own audacity including a reverse-flick for four off Jason Holder. He finished on ...

Events

8 d. ago England ace chase to continue unbeaten start under Harry Brook

Jos Buttler and Tom Banton starred as England hauled in 197 in Bristol

Politics

8 d. ago England beat West Indies by four wickets: second men’s T20 – cricket live

Over-by-over report from T20 match in Bristol‘Harry’s team now’ Brook makes instant impactHe’s got him first ball! A snorter of a yorker beats Lewis for pace and bangs him right in front. The batter reviews but it’s more in hope than anything. Maybe he thought he made contact with the ball as he attempted to dig it out, but there’s a gap between leather and willow. A stunning start for Wood and England.The players are now geared up and ready to roll. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago England chasing 197 to beat West Indies: second men’s T20 – cricket live

Over-by-over report from T20 match in Bristol‘Harry’s team now’ Brook makes instant impactHe’s got him first ball! A snorter of a yorker beats Lewis for pace and bangs him right in front. The batter reviews but it’s more in hope than anything. Maybe he thought he made contact with the ball as he attempted to dig it out, but there’s a gap between leather and willow. A stunning start for Wood and England.The players are now geared up and ready to roll. Continue reading...

Events