Coastguard search for missing dinghy off Solway Coast
A search has been taking place for an "overdue vessel" off the Solway Coast.HM Coastguard was called out to reports of what is understood to be a missing dinghy off Wigtown Bay on Tuesday at about 19:00.Rescue teams from Ballantrae, Isle of Whithorn, Kirkcudbright, Portling, Stranraer and Portpatrick were sent alongside a search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick and Kirkcudbright RNLI lifeboat.Police were also called out to the incident. The coastguard said the search was suspended at about 01:00 on Wednesday but was set to resume.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
The sewage battle that could scupper Labour's new homes plan
Sometimes, when there's heavy rain in Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire, waste bursts from the drain below Ian and Lilian McDonald's garden with such force that it lifts the manhole and its heavy concrete base in the middle of the couple's immaculate lawn, spewing gallons of ankle-deep dark brown sewage for days. 'It blasts out. It makes a pool that rotates with bog roll and everything in it,' says Ian, 87, a retired RAF worker, pointing to his pond at the bottom of the garden where most ends up. 'It's ruined the watercress. It keeps going till the pressure drops.' Anglian Water, responsible for the water supply to the 350 houses in their tiny village, has no plan to improve its overburdened sewage system, which is not only wreaking havoc with drainage but also polluting the local river, the Great Ouse. Yet in 2022, Buckinghamshire Council granted developers permission to build a further 153 houses here, which would place it under ever more strain. 'It's ludicrous to add more into this system which isn't coping at the moment,' says Lilian, 83, a retired teacher. 'Crackers,' concurs Ian, staring at the manhole in disbelief. At first, a clause prohibited building before the sewage works – at capacity since 2015 – have been updated. But last year the developers, David Wilson Homes South Midlands, part of the UK's largest housebuilder Barratt Redrow, successfully fought for it to be amended – and once houses are built, water companies have a statutory duty to connect them to the sewage system, regardless of capacity. However, under the planning terms nobody is allowed to move into the houses until there is sewage capacity for them, creating an absurd situation reflective of a wider national crisis, in which beleaguered water companies operating sewage systems no longer fit for purpose appear – to put it kindly – incapable of working coherently with councils under pressure to accommodate Labour's plans to build new 1.5 million homes by 2029 and developers doggedly seeking profit. The Environment Agency found sewage spills more than doubled in 2023, from 1.75 million hours to 3.6 million hours, and last month Ofwat, the regulator for the water and sewerage sectors in England and Wales, fined Thames Water nearly £123 million for breaching rules relating to its wastewater operations. Sewage not only 'suffocates fish because it's taking the oxygen out of the water,' says Dr Justin Neal, solicitor for environmental charity Wildfish, which has secured a judicial review at the High Court later this year, challenging the Maids Moreton planning permission. 'It kills plant life and insects. It destroys the ecosystem the fish depend on. We want to make sure that if there is house building there is capacity in the sewage works.' Neal describes poor sewage systems as 'ubiquitous' in England and Wales. 'There's a lack of capacity.' Next door to the McDonald's home at the bottom of the hill Maids Moreton sits on, neighbour Bob Christopher, a retired insurance worker, shows me a memo from the council's environmental health officer to its planning department, declaring 'no objections' to the development 'from an Environmental Health point of view'. Yet, according to the Environment Agency, sewage pollution is one reason the Great Ouse is failing to achieve 'good ecological status'. Bob, 80, says: 'It makes me cross. If the council turns a blind eye, I think the situation could get very serious.' Wife Georgie, 79, adds: 'We're trying to look after the environment, not make it worse.' Anglian Water, too, seems keen to downplay the effects of the development. In an internal memo dated this March, released under the Freedom of Information Act and seen by The Telegraph, it says 'the additional foul flow generated by the proposed development would create an unacceptable risk of flooding to our existing customers and the environment.' Yet it's just a month later claims the exact opposite – that 'the additional foul flow from the proposed development would not create an unacceptable risk of flooding to our existing customers and the environment.' Anglian Water declined to explain its apparent U-turn. Neal believes Ofwat, which, together with the Environment Agency, decides where sewage infrastructure investment is made, should prosecute Anglian Water as it did Thames Water, because the company is 'not in compliance'. Ofwat had already signed off on investment money for Anglian Water, he says, 'and it clearly hadn't been used for the sewage works.' An Ofwat spokesman says: 'Ofwat has an enforcement case against Anglian Water and its wastewater treatment which has not yet concluded. As such, the investigation is ongoing, and it is not appropriate for us to comment at this time.' Now, adds Neal, 'the pressure will be on the council not to put any red lights up. They're worried about legal action from developers.' Nobody I speak to believes the council, which is allowing the houses to be sold, will enforce its own rule of no occupation. 'How does a buyer even know that they might not be able to live in their house? We're all scratching our heads,' says Kate Pryce, 50, a former solicitor and married mother-of-three, the unofficial leader of the residents' campaign group fighting the development, and now an unexpected expert in sewage. 'Houses are being built all over the country where there's no capacity on the basis that there's a statutory duty to connect once houses have been built. It is mad.' We walk waist deep in nettles across a field to a storm discharge point in a nearby stream, from where untreated sewage that the local sewage plant, Buckingham Water Recycling Centre, has insufficient capacity for feeds into the Great Ouse. Kate points out murky shapes in the putrid water: 'This brown stuff is called sewage algae. That is your absolute evidence of sewage discharge.' Back in the village, Sheilagh Rawlins shows me the 22-acre site of the planned development from the upstairs bedroom of the four-bedroom terrace she shares with husband Peter, a retired engineer. The view beyond the roses and spiraea bushes in her garden is bucolic. A tractor silages the hay in fields bordered by a wooded area. 'All those trees will go. That will all be concrete,' she says. A second judicial review challenging the development on the basis of the council's incorrect biodiversity net gain calculation is also due to be heard this year. She asks: 'How can you justify that as a biodiversity gain?' Sheilagh, 62, a chemistry teacher, believes sought-after local grammar schools make the new houses a particularly lucrative prospect. 'It's people like us who've lived here 23 years that will end up with the mess,' she says, on the brink of tears. 'We are not Nimbys. This is about a council and a developer. It has been eye-wateringly painful to watch. What has to happen? Do we have to have an outbreak of dysentery and the village quarantined before somebody sits up and takes notice? It's so wrong. You would have thought regulations were in place to protect us.' A spokesman for David Wilson Homes South Midlands said its development would lead to 'at least a 10 per cent uplift in biodiversity,' and generate a £3.5 million investment in local infrastructure, 'and we will create new, publicly accessible green open spaces with play areas, as well as jobs for the local community.' They added: 'We will ensure a programme of any wastewater upgrades required to support the development has been agreed with Anglian Water. It is also vital that water companies invest in the country's water and sewerage infrastructure so that we can build the homes the country needs, generating new jobs and driving economic growth.' A spokesman for Anglian Water said: 'Although there is currently no dedicated scheme for upgrades at Buckingham Water Recycling Centre, we are currently reviewing and prioritising our growth portfolio for delivery over the next five years. This is a typical part of our planning process between investment cycles.' Peter Strachan, Buckinghamshire council's deputy leader and cabinet member for planning, said its council 'follows the planning process rigorously as determined by nationally set guidance and legislation' and that, as its decision is now subject to judicial review 'it is not appropriate for the Council to comment further'. After sewage spills on the McDonald's garden, Anglian Water staff are dispatched with soil, grass seed and disinfectant to clear the damage – a process that can take days but will likely seem small fry to the company in the event of a new development. If he does end up with 153 new neighbours, Ian predicts: 'They're in trouble.'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Heartbreak as youngest named victims of Air India crash so far are revealed to be in British family-of-four - as relatives hit out at 'no support' from Foreign Office
Relatives of a British couple who died in the Air India crash alongside their two young children shared their heartbreak today - as they accused the Foreign Office of giving them 'no support'. Harrods brand ambassador Mariam Ali Syed, 35, her husband Javed - a manager at the Best Western Kensington Olympia Hotel - and their children, Zayn, five, and Amani, four, were passengers on stricken Air India Flight 171. Zayn and Amani are believed to be the youngest named victims of the crash so far. Mrs Ali Syed's sister-in-law, Yasmine Hassan, 45, broke down while confirming the children's names, and pleaded with officials to offer more support to the families of the 53 British citizens onboard the flight. 'They are so small, they are five and four. And it's just thinking how scared they must have been,' she told the Telegraph. 'We're not angry about the lack of answers [from UK government officials] – we understand that takes time. 'We're angry because no one has reached out to offer support or even ask if we need anything. These are British citizens.' The Gatwick-bound plane carrying 242 passengers crashed just moments after take-off from Ahmedabad Airport in the northwestern Indian state of Gujarat. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner careened back down to earth in the densely populated Meghani area of the city just minutes after leaving the runway around 1.40pm local time (8.10am BST). Terrifying CCTV footage shows the plane appear to lose control before it starts rapidly descending with a high nose angle and landing gear deployed. It plunges into the ground and explodes in a huge fireball, as a massive plume of black smoke is seen billowing out from crash site. Aviation experts say that the aircraft may have suddenly lost power 'at the most critical phase of flight' after takeoff. A video posted to social media appeared to show the plane descending in a controlled manner with a high nose angle and landing gear deployed The plane momentarily disappeared from view behind trees and buildings before a massive fireball erupted on the horizon in this horrifying clip All but one person aboard Air India Flight 171 are feared to have died in the tragedy. Also among them were Akeel Nanawaba, Hannaa Vorajee and their daughter Sarah, 4, Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, Raxa Modha, her grandson Rudra and her daughter-in-law Yasha Kamdar, and Ajaykumar Ramesh, the brother of the tragedy's only survivor. The sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was seated in 11A, is also British and told the Hindustan Times he had lived in London for 20 years. Vishwash's brother Ajaykumar accompanied him on the flight and was sat on the other side of the aisle in seat 11J, but he sadly perished in the fireball explosion. Akeel Nanawaba, 36, his wife Hannaa Vorajee, 30, and their daughter Sarah, four, were flying home from a five-day family celebration when the Dreamliner crashed. The successful young couple ran a global recruitment agency with offices in Ahmedabad and Gloucester. Their shocked business partner Shoyeb Khan Nagori told MailOnline: 'I had dinner with them last night. They were a lovely family and Akeel and his wife were extremely successful people.' Mr Nagori said he was too upset to find the words to describe their daughter Sarah who had spent time with her grandfather during the brief visit. He said: 'They were here to celebrate a family festival and to spend some time with Akeel's father. 'Akeel was a really good man, I'm in shock, we were all having dinner together the night before.' Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, 45, (right) and husband Fiongal, 39, live in London, run a wellness and healthy lifestyle company called the Wellness Foundry, and had been in India on holiday. They are also believed to have been on the flight Mr Nagori was with hundreds of other relatives of crash victims waiting for updates at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad. He founded recruitment company Iceberg Outsourcing Services with Mr Nanbawa, who was the managing director. Hannaa, a trained midwife, was head of finance with a sister company called Rec2go Ltd, also based in Gloucester. Recently widowed Raxa Modha, 55, her grandson two-year-old Rudra, and her daughter-in-law Yasha Kamdar are all believed to have been onboard the ill-fated airliner. Mrs Modha had been in India for some time fulfilling the dying wish of her ill husband Kishor who had wanted to live out his last days in his homeland. Following his recent passing, the mother-of-three was returning with her family to their home in Northamptonshire when disaster struck. In a twist of fate, Kishan Modha – the toddler's father and Raxa's son – had also been in India but was not on the flight as he was due to catch another tomorrow. Speaking to MailOnline, a family friend said: 'It's incredibly sad, the whole family is already grieving Kishor's death. 'Kishan fortunately was getting on another flight, but we don't know what has happened to the others.' Neighbours at the family's detached home in Wellingborough said Mrs Modha is a 'lovely lady'. They said she had been in India for an extended period to support her husband who was battling an illness. The respected businessman, who launched a successful catering business after settling in the UK in 1989, died on April 26. The family were due to hold a service in his memory later this month. In a memorial for him, the family said he was a 'cherished husband' to Raxa and 'proud grandfather to Rudra, who brought him immense joy'. The mayor for Wellingborough, Raj Mishra offered his condolences to the family on a post on Facebook adding it was devastating for the local community. 'I extend my deepest condolences to their families, friends, and all those affected by this heartbreaking event,' he added. Police said they had found a lone survivor who had been sitting in seat 11A when Flight 171 crashed shortly after takeoff in India British celebrity wellness guru Jamie Meek and his husband are also believed to have perished after they posted a haunting video of themselves at the airport waiting to board the Air India flight. Mr Meek, 45, and husband Fiongal Greenlaw, 39, who live in London, run a wellness and healthy lifestyle company called the Wellness Foundry, and had been in India on holiday. In a chilling final social media video posted from Ahmedabad airport as they waited to board their doomed flight the couple were dressed in flowery shirts looking happy at the end of their break. In the clip, Fiongal says: 'We are at the airport just boarding. Goodbye India. Ten-hour flight back to England. What was your biggest takeaway Jamie? Jamie replies: 'I don't know,' with his partner laughing and responding: 'Thanks for your contribution.' Fiongal than jokes that his biggest takeaway was 'don't lose your patience with your partner' to which Jamie responds with a smile: 'You snapped at me at the airport for having chai.' As other passengers mill in the background, Fiongal laughs at the camera and reveals that he is going back to Britain 'happily, happily calm.' Mr Meek's brother, Nick Meek, told MailOnline: 'We were expecting him home tonight. He should have landed at 6.30pm and then driven up for about 11pm to get his dog who is staying with our Mum. 'She is not in a good way. It is all very raw for her at the moment. It's a lot to take in and we only heard this news a couple of hours ago. 'Jamie and his husband Fin had been out there for 10 days as a couple to do a wellness retreat. 'They both worked in holistics and had their own business.' The caretaker from Birmingham said it was not the first time his brother had been to India but it was the first time they had gone as a couple. He said that his brother and Fin had married in 2022 and lived in Ramsgate, Kent. In other videos posted by the couple, they showed the stunning hotel they were staying in while in Ahmedabad having completed a seven-hour car journey. The company specialises in tarot and psychic readings, reiki and other alternative spiritual therapies. British father Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, was filmed walking out from the rubble after some how miraculously surviving the catastrophic crash. Fiongal lies on a large bed as he speaks to the camera, showing off a giant swing in their room and describes the hotel as 'beautiful. He beams: 'Feeling very, very happy.' The couple captured the happy time they had in India in a series of social media posts. This included getting henna tattoos, shopping for fine fabrics and other gifts and driving through chaotic traffic in a tuk-tuk. They arrived in Ahmedabad just a day before flying back with Fiongal posting in a video: 'So, it's our last night in India and we've had a magical experience. Some mind-blowing things have happened. 'We are going to put all this together and create a vlog. It's my first ever vlog about the whole trip and we want to share it.' Jamie revealed what a memorable trip they had both had: 'We have been on quite a journey and then spending our last night here in this beautiful hotel, it's really been great way to round off the trip.' According to its website, The Wellness Foundry was founded by Fiongal in 2018 after he had a 'spiritual awakening' following a mysterious illness. The website adds: 'Seeking healing beyond conventional methods, Fiongal delved into alternative practices that resonated deeply within his soul.' Speaking to local media from the safety of a hospital bed, the passenger who was in seat 11A said: 'Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.' 'When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. 'There were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital.' Astonishing footage showed the passenger walking away from the scene with some visible injuries. Vishwash, who was returning home to London after visiting family, sustained injuries to his chest, eyes and feet, he told the Hindustan Times. The regional police chief said 'some locals would have also died', given that the plane smashed down into offices and accommodation for doctors close to a hospital. So far, rescue teams supported by the military have recovered 204 bodies, with casualties from the plane and the area surrounding the crash. The passengers included 159 Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and a Canadian. Eleven of those on board were children, including two newborns. A spokesman for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said: 'Our thoughts are with all those affected by the tragic plane crash in India – this is an unfolding situation, and it will undoubtedly be causing a huge amount of worry and concern. 'FCDO staff are working urgently with local authorities in India and the UK to ensure families and friends are supported in the coming days, whether in the UK or in India.'
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Ask the head gardener: How can I keep ants off my plants?
Dear Tom, I have infestations of ants in the polytunnel in my garden – they have destroyed the tender plants. I have tried all the various organic methods: paprika, chilli powder, white vinegar and drowning the nests; alas, to no avail. Any other ideas? – Liz, Cornwall Dear Liz, I'm so sorry to hear that Liz; growing plants can be challenging enough at the best of times, let alone adding a nest of hundreds, if not thousands, of ants into the mix. The presence of ants in our gardens or around our homes can be quite unnerving, but in reality, they provide an important part of a wider ecosystem, acting as food for many birds and mammals. Ants in lawns can be tolerated by simply removing the mounds of soil as they appear on the surface; it is best to remove the soil before mowing to avoid smearing the turf. When ants build a nest in a compost heap, that extra level of aeration can help accelerate the composting process, and therefore they cause little damage. Powders and boiling water aren't always that effective – although these methods can make us feel better for a fleeting period of time, because we feel that we've done something about it, very little else is achieved. Ants can cause harm when plants are particularly young, or low-growing to the ground, such as alpines or container plants, where the excavation of the soil can physically disturb and damage a plant. The warm and dry conditions that are created in your polytunnel will create an ideal environment for ants. There are a few techniques that you can adopt to discourage ants from nesting in your polytunnel, however. First, you can make the ground conditions less than ideal, forcing the ants to relocate to a less sensitive part of the garden. This is a more realistic approach compared to complete eradication, which is counterproductive when it comes to your garden ecosystem. It is a challenge to keep areas of soil biologically active in protected environments with fertile and moist conditions throughout the year, where no natural rainfall can hydrate the soil. Many of us come to plant our tomatoes and cucumbers in open ground in greenhouses and polytunnels in the late spring, and find that our soils are more like sawdust than the rich, moisture-retentive soil that we require. This is often the result of a degree of neglect over the winter. I would suggest keeping any open soil within the polytunnel regularly mulched and watered to make that area less hospitable and inviting for ants to take up residence. Secondly, you can look at applying nematodes (microscopic parasites) to the area, such as Steinernema feltiae (available online), which will prey on the larvae but not kill the adult ants. The combination of moist ground and the presence of nematodes is likely to deter the ants and encourage them to relocate, let's hope to an area outside of the polytunnel, which is less sensitive. Finally, if you have staging or tables within your polytunnels, apply a layer of petroleum jelly to your table legs or staging to prevent or discourage ants from climbing; this will keep them from accessing your young plants in pots, where the excavation can do a lot of damage. Generally, in a garden, ants do little damage to plants that are planted in the ground, but they encourage and protect aphids and other sap-sucking pests in their production of honeydew. This process is sometimes described as the ants 'farming' the aphids. The presence of ants can be detrimental to the plant in the way that they protect the aphids from predators such as ladybirds and allow those populations to build up to the point that they can weaken the plant by reducing its vigour and photosynthesising capabilities. Keep an eye on aphid populations within your garden and use SB Plant Invigorator once or twice a week when you see an outbreak, to keep those numbers under control.
