How a quiet Surrey woodland helped the Allies on D-Day
The defence system would inevitably fail, thanks in part to the tests carried out hundreds of miles away in Surrey in 1943.
Royal Canadian Engineers based in the area built a replica section of wall in the woodland using plans smuggled from France, which showed how the real wall was built.The Army then began blowing the wall to pieces using two new armoured test vehicles.
One of the vehicles was the AVRE mortar-firing tank, which was then used to break through the real Atlantic Wall during the D-Day landings."It was about creating new armoured vehicles, vehicles that would be able to breach this wall," said military historian Paul McCue."The people who built this went ashore during the invasion of France and many lost their lives."There's a plaque on it but it's quite a modest one and it's tucked away, so people will walk past it and not see it."Today, it is clear to see the chasms that were blown out of the wall during tests, with metal rods still poking from moss-covered rubble.
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The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
Live view of Heathrow Airport after air traffic control outage grounds flights
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Telegraph
26 minutes ago
- Telegraph
My five days on the road with Trump revealed a man in complete control
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The Sun
26 minutes ago
- The Sun
The UK hotels that have ‘dip and dine' daytime packages – with free pool access and dinner from just £16 each
AS A child, I always look forward to one thing during the summer holidays - heading to my local 'dip and dine' experience. 'Dip and Dine' is essentially a swimming and eating deal many hotels offer across the UK. 6 While some are designed for families, there are some more luxury options for adults with spa experiences included. Here's a round up of the top 'dip and dine' experiences across the country. Merton Hotel, Jersey Located on Jersey, the Merton Hotel offers two different 'dip and dine' options. Visitors can opt to head to the hotel for either Friday dinner or Sunday lunch and enjoy time in the venue's subtropical Aquadome. Both the Friday and Sunday food options entail a three-course buffet in the hotel's Belvedere Restaurant. For a Sunday lunch booking, it costs £30 for adults and £16 for children. The Aztec, Torquay in Devon At The Aztec in the English Riviera town of Torquay, dip and dine is available any day of the week and no booking is required. Guests can swim in one of the venue's indoor pools, that have a fun Aztec theme. Then they can head off and enjoy some food after. The way the Aztec works is that you pay for dip and dine, and get money redeemable on food. I went to France to visit the world's best waterpark For example, for adults and children over 12 years old, it costs £18 each with £10 redeemable on food. For children over three-years-old, it would cost £10, with £6.50 redeemable on food. The bistro menu boasts many different options, many of which are under £10 including baguettes and jacket potatoes. Alternatively, if you fancy something larger like a burger and chips - you can essentially use what is redeemable from your dip and dine, as a voucher. For example, if you wanted a burger and chips costing £14.95, you would only needed to pay £4.95 additionally. The hotel also has an Aztec-themed soft play for children aged 10 and under. 6 Whitewater Hotel and Leisure Club, Cumbria At the Whitewater Hotel and Leisure Club in Newby Bridge, Cumbria a dip and dine experience allows guests to have access to the Cascade Spa. Families can enjoy a leisurely swim, followed by a moment in the sauna or in the steam room. Then between 12pm and 5pm you can enjoy an afternoon tea, with pastries and sandwiches. If you want something more substantial though, you can do - just for an extra fee of £5. It costs £25.95 per adult and £22.95 per child. 6 Cofton Holidays, Dawlish Warren in Devon Another spot in Devon with a 'dip and dine' option is Crofton Holidays park in the sunny seaside town of Dawlish Warren. Have a dip in their indoor pool before heading off for some food. Here prices work the same as the Aztec in Torquay, with it costing £16 per adult with £12 towards food and £11 per child, with £8 towards food. You can even go super early if you wish and enjoy a full English breakfast after your swim. Or you could opt for a Sunday roast. The only downside of this offer is that all of the dishes on the main menu are at least an addition £3 on top of the price you have paid for the experience. The Headland, Newquay in Cornwall The Headland hotel in Newquay doesn't offer just one 'dip and dine' experience, but five. For early risers, you could opt for a sunrise swim followed by a three-course breakfast in The Deck. 6 You would arrive for your swim from 8am and then have a table for breakfast between 10am and 10:45am. This experience costs £35 per person, Monday to Thursday or £55 per person Friday to Sunday. Not an early riser? Well then you can opt for the 'Laze and Lunch' option, which allow guests to experience six AquaClub pools from 11am before having a one-course lunch meal. This option costs £45 per person, Monday to Thursday or £65 per person, Friday to Sunday. As for a classic 'dip and dine' experience, The Headland has that too. Guests can swim under the stars and then enjoy a two course meal for £55 each, Monday to Thursday or £75 each, Friday to Sunday. Other options include the 'Swim and Tea Retreat', with an afternoon tea or 'Relax & RenMor', which includes food in the RenMor restaurant and a tipple. The Thames Lido, Reading Whilst not a hotel, the Thames Lido is a great option for people living in the capital. Located in Reading, Thames Lido has an outdoor pool, sauna, steam room, hot tub and ice bucket. 6 For when the sun is beaming and you want to lap up some rays, this is a great option. The lido's 'Swim and Dine' package allows guests to use the pool and spa facilities, followed by a two-course meal. There are three different time slots, starting at 4:30pm and the final slot at 6:30pm and it costs £40 per person. Harbour Hotel & Spa, various locations There are a number of Harbour Hotel and Spas across the country that offer 'dip and dine' experiences. At each hotel, guests can have a dip, relax in the sauna and steam room and then have a meal at HarBar. This is an adults-only 'dip and dine' experience and each person gets £30 dinner credit, on food only. The different locations and prices include: Southampton, £44 per person Brighton, £55 per person Bristol, £45 per person Richmond, £55 per person Salcombe, £45 per person Guildford, £45 per person St Ives, £45 per person Christchurch, £55 per person Sidmouth, £45 per person Swimming safety advice Experts have revealed some of their top advice for both adults and kids heading to the water this summer: How to stay safe at the beach Gareth Morrison, Head of Water Safety at the RNLI said: "If you find yourself being swept out to sea in a rip, try to relax and float until you are free from the rip and you can then swim to safety. "If you see someone else in danger, alert a lifeguard or call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard." How to stay safe at the swimming pool Tiny Hearts Education, former paramedic and CEO Nikki Jurcutz said: "Always put your little one in bright or contrasting colours that would be easy to find in an emergency. "It only takes 20 seconds to drown, little tips like this could save a life". An Auqabliss spokesperson added: ' Swimming toys such as noodles, dive rings, floaties and beach balls can be dangerous if left in the pool. ' Children may try to grab these from the pool's edge and fall in." How to stay safe at a waterpark Ali Beckman, Puddle Ducks Technical Director, said: "Never send a child down the slide on their own, not only are they going to be entering the slide pool area independently, they then have to exit the pool and wait for an adult. "And wave pools should be avoided until your child is really confident with water going over their faces and you know they are able to regain their feet independently. ' Waterparks are often very busy places and it's easy to lose sight of a child in a split second." Center Parcs has also announced major change s to its swimming pools – and guests are divided. Plus, the holiday park with indoor pool and nearby beach that mums are saying is the best in the UK – kids 'never get bored'. 6
