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BBC News
27-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
'Sewage flooded my home - I'm worried it will happen again'
"It's mucky. You spot bits of loo paper inside it. It smells. And in it comes, into the house." At his home in Bladon, Oxfordshire in November, Colin Fletcher woke up to the sight of raw sewage bubbling up from a sewer in his back garden. "We were moving furniture upstairs as fast as we could," he said, as the mixture of rainwater and sewage entered the house. He and his wife had to move out for three months.A Thames Water spokesperson said the company was trying to identify a resolution. Mr Fletcher said the incident was partly caused by Thames Water blocking a wastewater overflow pipe that runs from his home into a small stream in his garden. He said it meant after heavy rainfall, sewage in the pipe system overflowed from the sewer, mixing with rising water levels from the stream. "We are looking at ways of stopping the stream flooding the house," he said. "But we still have the problem that Thames Water are responsible for: that their sewer is inadequate, their pumping station is inadequate". Mr Fletcher said he feared that without these issues being addressed, another deluge could lead to the same thing happening again. "I have asked the question: when are they going to upgrade the pumping station - I've had no reply as yet". A short drive away in Yarnton, Martin Johnson said collapsed piping under a roundabout near his home regularly caused his downstairs toilet to nearly overflow. A tanker, intermittently parked at the nearby pub The Turnpike, is the only thing mitigating ongoing issues with the sewer system there. "The root cause is that the pipes have collapsed, because they're so old."I'm the symptom [of the problem]. It's frustrating to be a consistent symptom of a problem they don't appear to be fixing." Both Mr Fletcher and Mr Johnson have raised their cases with the Liberal Democrat MP for Bicester and Woodstock Calum Miller. 'Really frustrated' Speaking to the BBC, Mr Miller said the two cases showed that the UK's water system was "broken". "I'm really frustrated that Thames Water are not taking these issues more seriously and doing much more to support their customers. "They tell us that's the priority for them, but their actions don't seem to live up to that."Mr Miller said his party were calling for a "single, new water regulator with real powers that would be responsible for water companies' economic and operational management." A Thames Water spokesperson said: "We are aware of the concerns raised by both customers, and we are sorry for the impact sewer flooding has had on them, as we understand this can be upsetting. "We have been actively investigating both separate complex matters, with the aim of identifying a resolution. "We will continue to keep the customers and MP updated." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
The Guardian
09-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Competitive Itoje willing to learn from Mount Rushmore of Lions captains
Do you know what really stuck out as Maro Itoje sat chatting in the O2 Arena after the British & Irish Lions squad announcement? His biceps. This year's Lions jersey is tight enough on the shoulders and sufficiently short on the arms to make their already well-muscled captain look like Popeye on steroids. Say what you like about the Lions squad but they have chosen a strong leader. It has worked for them in the past. Who can forget the pipe‑smoking Willie John McBride and his classic response – 'Do you think there will be many of them?' – when an angry hotel manager in South Africa threatened to call the police to arrest a number of 1974 Lions who had been enthusiastically 'rearranging' the furniture. Legend also has it that Ian McGeechan picked the hulking Martin Johnson as his skipper in 1997 partly because of the intimidating effect he might have on the Springboks – and the referee – when he entered their changing room. A bit of presence, particularly when paired with sharp intelligence, can certainly go a long way in a Lions context. But all successful teams need brain as well as brawn. Which was something Itoje himself was suitably reminded of on Wednesday evening when he dined with illustrious Lions skippers from tours past. Imagine sitting there surrounded by Johnson, Alun Wyn Jones, Sam Warburton and the rest of the chiselled-jaw immortals from rugby's Mount Rushmore. Maro's last supper before officially entering the pantheon sounded quite an experience, because all the veterans had nuggets of advice for him. Johnson, no stranger to lifting trophies in Australia, was particularly keen to emphasise just how swiftly circumstances can change, citing the 1993 tour of New Zealand when he was catapulted into the Test team just weeks after arriving as a replacement for Wade Dooley. Seeing Warburton and Jones also reminded Itoje of what made both of them such great captains to play under. 'Sam wasn't necessarily the biggest talker but he led through his actions,' said Itoje. 'He was always among the best players and putting his body on the line. Alun Wyn was all pride, passion and Welsh energy. He's incredibly professional, too, but he also speaks well. They're both smart, selfless guys.' Which, you suspect, is how Itoje will look to be perceived in Australia. He could – and probably should – have been made England's captain much earlier and has shown every sign of relishing the responsibility since Steve Borthwick lobbed him the armband at the start of the year. Now 30, he is about to get married – a two-legged fixture taking place in England and, after the tour, Nigeria – and has long had a keen interest in issues far beyond the next lineout. Only the other week he was holding court in Downing Street, discussing his mixed heritage and looking as comfortable doing so as if he were previewing Saracens' next game. 'I'm a rugby player, I'm an athlete,' he said. 'But that's what I do, that's not who I am. I have other interests, whether it's philanthropy, whether it's art, whether it's politics.' He even joked to Sir Keir Starmer that he was enjoying himself so much at the lectern that he might not leave No 10. 'It was a very cool experience. The prime minister is quite a busy man with a few things on his plate – but he was very grateful I was there and he was enjoying the jokes I was cracking.' It must now be hoped he can strike up a similarly good rapport with Andy Farrell, who might have preferred Ireland's Caelan Doris had the latter not unfortunately been injured last weekend. The two alpha males may appear polar opposites on paper – not many Old Harrovians played for Wigan in Farrell's playing days – but what they do share is a relentless competitive edge. 'I want this Lions squad to be tough,' Itoje said. 'I look at that forward pack and I see a group of tough men. I want us to be an incredibly tight group of players that have each other's back. And I want us to play with the passion, energy and zeal you would expect of a Lions squad. Regardless of who plays, I think that's what the fans would expect of us.' Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion Quite so. Stir it all together, with a sprinkling of good fortune on top, and you have the basic recipe upon which all successful Lions tours are based. Make no mistake, though, the 2025 Lions will have to be clever as well as energetic to defeat Joe Schmidt's Wallabies. Itoje, for one, is wary. 'The Wallabies now are completely different to the Wallabies two years ago,' he said. 'They're a talented team … talent has never been their issue. Now they have a coaching group who have got them organised, sharp and firing. They've got a big, powerful pack and dynamic backs; they're definitely going to be a challenge.' Will Skelton, Rob Valetini, Taniela Tupou … Itoje is not wrong to suggest Australia have some seriously heavy artillery, with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii also posing a huge aerial threat wider out. But if the touring team can keep their best players fit and foster the necessary esprit de corps on the other side of the world, Itoje could yet join that most distinguished subset of Lions captains, namely those who have returned home victorious. Strip away the team's glorious heritage and it has happened only once since Johnson's 1997 squad famously overturned the Boks. The ultimate accolade, consequently, comes laden with responsibility. 'The overarching message from all the captains was: one, enjoy it and two, trust yourself,' Itoje said. 'Lean on the quality people you will have around you. I am very fortunate that when you look at the squad there is a whole load of talent, quality and leadership there. I think between all of us we can do something special.'
News.com.au
08-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Maro Itoje left humbled after being named British and Irish Lions captain
Maro Itoje has become the first English captain of the British and Irish Lions since Martin Johnson in 2001 after being placed in charge of the squad bound for Australia this summer. Head coach Andy Farrell has turned to the 2017 and 2021 Lions tourist after he impressed while leading England during this year's Six Nations, helping his team finish runners-up.
Sky News
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Sky News
British and Irish Lions: Maro Itoje becomes first English captain in more than 20 years ahead of Australia tour
The British and Irish Lions squad has been named, with Maro Itoje becoming the first English captain of the squad in more than 20 years. The 93-cap Saracens second row was presented on stage at The O2 in London, where head coach Andy Farrell named his squad for the 10-fixture tour. In addition to being the first English captain since Martin Johnson in 2001, Itoje is the first ever black captain of the Lions. After revealing he found out about the news on Tuesday when Farrell called him, the new captain said "it feels amazing". "I'm deeply honoured, humbled and I'll do my best to do the role justice," he said. "I'm very much looking forward to the challenge ahead, it's going to be a great tour. "I know the appetite amongst the players is extremely high, everyone is hungry to be a Lion and I can't wait to play my role." Farrell turned to Itoje, who made six appearances on the 2017 and 2021 Lions tours, after he impressed while leading England during this year's Six Nations, helping his team finish runners-up. What are the British and Irish Lions? Essentially an all-star international rugby union team, the British and Irish Lions is a team made up of players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. 1:10 They play every four years in a test series, with this year marking a return to Australia for three test matches and six other warm-up fixtures on tour. The Lions last played on tour in South Africa in 2021, where they won one match and lost two in the test series. Who's in and who's out? Other additions to the 38-man strong line-up include test rookie Henry Pollock, who made his England debut at 20 years old this March. He scored two tries off the bench during a record 68-14 Six Nations victory over Wales, and has performed well for Northampton in league play. During a press conference on Thursday, Farrell said of Pollock: "When you see a player - doesn't matter what age - performing like he has. "When people have been waiting to see whether he can do it in the big games, or week after week with consistency, et cetera, it's there for all to see really." Despite his father being the head coach and playing in the last three Lions tours, 33-year-old Owen Farrell has missed out on a call-up after an injury-hit season. Ireland and Leinster captain Caelan Doris has also missed out after injury, and was set to undergo surgery this week on a shoulder issue.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Relive the iconic memories of the Lions with the Daily Mirror's Special Edition
WHEN Andy Farrell's Lions head to Australia this summer you can guarantee iconic memories will be made. There is nothing quite like stamping your name into the Lions history books - and in a new, stunning Daily Mirror special edition, we take a look back at the most iconic moments in Lions history. You can buy our special edition here Down the decades, pretty much in every single battle with New Zealand, South Africa and the Wallabies over the half century and more, the Lions have created a whole host of magical memories which have projected their players into rugby folklore. READ MORE: Lions squad announcement sees just two Wales players make it READ MORE: Fiji rugby international killed at 30 as car 'hit by train in front of team-mates' As the great Martin Johnson once said, no-one remembers Six Nations or Tri-Nations matches from 12 years ago. Everyone recalls what happened with the Lions though, and stretching into yesteryear as well. The iconic Class of 1971, dominated by a host of Welsh greats including Gareth Edwards, Barry John and JPR Williams, are still revered as the only team to beat New Zealand. Fully 54 years on, their wonderful exploits still last the test of time. Same with Willie John McBride's 1974 Invincibles, a barnstorming team who fought fire with fire. They introduced their famous '99' call to meet violence with violence, and played some truly dazzling rugby inbetween the chaos to emerge unbeaten on their South African tour. Who can forget Finlay Calder's Class of 1989? 'Finlay's Fighters' they were dubbed, the only Lions team to lose the first Test and still emerge victorious after three epic battles with Australia. How about Jeremy Guscott's drop goal to down world champions South Africa in 1997, a tour made even more momentous by the brilliant behind the scenes TV documentary which took us right inside the Lions team room. We've witnessed the try-scoring emergence of Brian 'Waltzing O'Driscoll' versus the Wallabies in 2001, the huge controversy after he was spear- tackled out of the next tour in New Zealand, the brutal 2009 'Battle of Loftus Versfeld' with the Springboks, which saw five Lions stars hospitalised. More recently, we've had further O'Driscoll controversy, an entire Irish nation outraged as he was axed from the final 2013 Test in Australia. Leigh Halfpenny rescued the day for Warren Gatland with a stunning solo show as the Lions romped to a resounding victory. There was also what was dubbed 'the greatest piece of captaincy in rugby history' as Sam Warburton gently persuaded referee Roman Poite to backtrack on a penalty call which ensured a drawn rubber with New Zealand in 2017. Amid all of that drama, particular Lions moments have rightly gone into rugby folklore. This Mirror special edition celebrates many of those incredible memories – the good, the bad, and the sometimes ugly. The Class of 2025 are about to make more iconic memories, building upon the many deeds of legends from the past who are featured in this special edition. Pride of Lions will be on sale in participating retailers from May 14, 2025. You can buy it online here . Online postage and packaging costs apply.
