TRAVEL

Motorists are flocking to Amazon to get their hands on a smart bit of car kit that’s seen a dramatic tumble in price.

The gadget is the second-generation Echo Auto, and it’s been picking up some proper rave reviews from blokes and lasses who have snapped it up.

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Amazon Echo Auto (2nd gen), £19.99 (was £59.99)

Originally fetching a hefty £59.99, the nifty Echo Auto is currently on sale for just £19.99 on Amazon.

That’s a cracking deal and a perfect time for anyone looking to introduce some smart tech into their motor – and crucially, without splashing out a fortune.

This price drop is part of a wider Amazon promotion, with savings as high as 45% across the retailer’s smart devices.

It’s the best deal we’ve seen on a piece of car tech since we covered a slashed cheap CarPlay alternative on Amazon back in April (which is on sale again).

What does the Echo Auto do?

This little gizmo is designed to be your co-pilot, letting you command Alexa while you’re busy at the wheel.

• Hands-free control: You can talk to Alexa to play music, make calls, or set reminders without ever touching your phone.
• Navigation: Get directions from apps like Google Maps just by asking Alexa where you want to go.
• Play music: Listen to your favourite songs and podcasts from services like Spotify or Amazon Music.
• Smart home control: You can ask Alexa to turn on your house lights or adjust the heat while you are driving home.
• Hear your voice: It has special microphones that can hear you clearly over car noise, like the radio or air conditioner.

The 2nd-gen Echo Auto is a small and discreet piece of kit that slots right into your car.

It hooks up to your phone and your car’s speakers to bring a whole new level of voice control to your ride.

Getting it all set up is a doddle too. You just plug it into a spare USB slot, link it to your phone’s Alexa app, and you’re sorted.

This brilliant bit of kit has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with thousands of happy drivers raving about how it’s transformed their motors.

One buzzing punter, who slapped a 5-star rating on it, wrote: “Highly recommend this. Works in my 23-year-old Nissan Micra.

“Voice activated, can listen to a music playlist or podcasts, can make hands-free calls, listen to LBC, etc. Works brilliantly.”

Another shopper commented: “Works seamlessly… very useful as just a Bluetooth pass through to car speakers.”

Another chuffed buyer said: “Great piece of tech, [I] love Alexa at home.

“Now she comes on the road with us and, unlike my phone, she hears very well and plays whatever I want. Terrific.”

A proper ringing endorsement came from a verified customer who simply put: “This is an amazing piece of kit, highly recommend.”

Whether you want to listen to tunes, get directions, or just stay connected on the go, the Auto is a simple and cheap way to do it.

At that sale price, it’s a bit of a no-brainer.

Amazon Echo Auto (2nd gen), £19.99 (was £59.99)

For more savings on other smart gadgets, head to our Amazon device deals round-up.

Earlier this week, we also spotted a great deal on some bargain earbuds on Amazon, which have been slashed from £130 to £22.

This picturesque seaside town in England dates back to Victorian times, and whilst it might be more low-key than other resorts, it has one of the UK’s best beaches

For some people, a trip to the seaside isn’t complete without a crowded pier, exciting rollercoasters, or a trip to the arcade – and the UK has seaside resorts like this across the country.

But this kind of scene is just not everyone’s cup of tea, and if you have been longing for a trip to the coast, minus the loud attractions – then this picturesque town in Devon that is rich with history is well worth considering for your next family holiday.

Especially if the quality of the beach is your number one priority, then this idyllic seaside town is definitely somewhere you need to check out. It’s also a firm favourite with some very famous faces.

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Sidmouth’s beach has been dubbed one of the cleanest in the UK, so it’s a great choice for people who insist on taking a dip in the sea when they are on their holidays.

On the stunning and historic Jurassic Coast, Sidmouth is picturesque, and its pebble beach has been awarded a Blue Flag for an impressive six years in a row.

From hiking in the unbelievable landscapes to relaxing on the beach itself, you’ll never forget the scenery on this beautiful stretch of coastline – Jacob’s Ladder beach is also well worth a visit.

But there is plenty to do beyond the beach itself, including visiting the town’s museum or the local donkey sanctuary.

For the youngsters, there is the Model Toy Museum, and for anyone looking to browse in the shops, they will find themselves supremely well catered to with independent retailers.

Connaught Gardens is a beautifully landscaped place to relax – but if you’re after a bit more action, consider going out on the water in a canoe, paddleboard, or kayak.

The Sun reports that TV star Stephen Fry loves Sidmouth after staying near the idyllic town while filming Jeeves and Wooster. Meanwhile, Jeremy Vine has also been open about his affection for the seaside town.

“What I love most about Sidmouth is that it feels like a town going places. It’s chintzy in places, drab in others, but it feels real. “And real by the sea is a different kind of beauty,” Vine said.

There’s so many famous people who have holidayed or spent time in Sidmouth that there is even a Blue Plaque Trail you can walk to explore all the places notable figures loved most, from literary icons to the Royal Family.

Queen Victoria, when she was still a baby Princess, came to stay in Sidmouth, and it was the sight of a major historical moment. She was staying in the Woolbrook Cottage in 1819 when her father suddenly became ill and died.

Woolbrook Cottage is now the Royal Glen Hotel, and while it wasn’t a happy moment in the young royal’s life, it shows just how rich with history the area is, and also how longstanding Sidmouth’s popularity has been.

Literary legends like Beatrix Potter, JRR Tolkein – who is said to have written the first sections of Lord of the Rings in the town – and Jane Austen, all used to holiday in Sidmouth, going back as far as 1801.

The spa waters, good climate, and chilled out atmosphere have long been part of the appeal.

A small quaint seaside village may be the perfect place for those looking to escape the bustling city life – and the charm comes from the narrow paths where cars and bikes aren’t even allowed

If you’re after some peace and tranquillity, this remote Scottish village may be exactly what you’re looking for.

Crovie, nestled in the north-east of Scotland on the coast of Aberdeenshire is one of the most quaint seaside communities in the country. The slow-pace sleepy village is home to picturesque narrow streets, chunky cottage walls and lots of fishermen – but what makes Crovie so spectacular is there are no roads leading through the cliff-foot village located right on the waters edge.

Cars are to be left outside it and even bikes aren’t allowed in. You can only access the row of some 60 houses on foot, with a steep cliff behind them. Only accessed by a steep hill, the residents of Crovie transport their groceries with wheelbarrows, adding to it’s quaint and secluded charm.

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Visit Aberdeenshire call it Europe’s best-preserved fishing village, as Crovie boasts the narrowest space between shore and cliff in Scotland. It is characterised by it’s unique layout, with many houses built with their backs to the sea to protect them from the quick changing weather patterns on the coast, but still offer a sight found nowhere else on earth.

According to the Scotsman, Crovie is no stranger to visitors. One Aberdeenshire local, who owns a holiday cottage for him and his wife, said there are just five permanent residents in the village as the rest are holiday homes. You can explore holiday homes and self-catering accommodations adorned with brightly painted pebbles and maritime art.

The village was once a fishing village, until 1953, when a storm washed away some of it and made it impossible for the fishermen to carry on working from there. This led to many fishermen moving along the coast to the larger village of Gardenstown.

For visitors hoping to explore Crovie, there is a car park at the viewpoint overlooking the village and further parking by the final bend as you head towards the village. Drivers are discouraged from driving all the way down and once parked, there is a steep walk down to the houses or you can choose to take the stairs.

It’s an incredibly small place, and those taking the trip to Crovie have shared their thoughts. One visitor took to TripAdvisor and wrote: “Finally made the journey of 9 hours from my hometown. The place is in the middle of nowhere with no shops, cafe, pub etc so you need to take lunch with you[…]Very secluded and no one about.

You get a good view from the viewpoint. It’s a steep walk down and obviously steeper going back up. At the bottom there’s a stoney beach that you can only access at the end!”

While another penned: “Scottish village directly on the sea. Wonderful even just for a visit. You have to walk a very short distance because the cars stop a little further up. There is a small car park, but it’s absolutely worth it. Mandatory stop.”

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Sand’s End – Scandinavia’s seas and sights are an easy win for a no-fly cruise, says Nigel Thompson, who boarded Ambassador’s 1,400-passenger cruise ship Ambience

My left foot is in the Baltic Sea, my right foot is in the North Sea and waves are dancing towards me from opposite directions. It’s wild, wonderful and a little weird as I step off what feels like the edge of the known world into the chilly water.

This is Grenen, in Denmark, at the tip of the Jutland peninsula where a 20-mile long sand spit narrows to nothing as it is swallowed up by the famously treacherous seas of the Skagerrak (North) and Kattegat (Baltic), which meet but do not mix due to differences in salinity, density and temperature (or possibly they are just neighbours who fell out over a boundary dispute). Not so much Land’s End, as Sand’s End.

My wife Debbie and I were on a tour from Ambassador’s 1,400-passenger cruise ship Ambience, which is docked in nearby Skagen, Denmark’s most northerly town.

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It’s a smart, likeable place of yellow-hued, red-roofed homes, shops, hotels and restaurants, which draws two million visitors a year to see the Grenen spit, a church half-swallowed by the omnipresent sand, a fishing and lifeboat museum and memorial to the many lost sailors – and to paint in what is regarded as glorious light for artists.

The fishing port is one of Europe’s largest, it’s the chief local employer and we were amazed by the vast size of some of the trawlers. We’d joined the ship, built in 1991 and given a major refurbishment in 2022, for a voyage to Scandinavia (or should that be Sandinavia?) from the London International Cruise Terminal in Tilbury, Essex. The Art Deco building dates from 1930 and is Grade II listed.

Handily, it’s just a half-hour drive from home for us – Ambassador also offers many convenient regional sailings from ports such as Bristol, Newcastle, Liverpool and Dundee – and it was an absolute doddle with the car park and luggage drop, then a short stroll to the terminal.

It’s worth taking the time to check the displays on the Empire Windrush immigration ship from 1948 and mail and cargo manifests from more than a century ago when Tilbury served the empire by sea.

So, speedily processed in the terminal and cruise cards picked up, we had gone from car park to cabin in a very impressive 41 minutes. Beat that.

And when I say cabin I more mean Manhattan penthouse! I have lived in flats considerably smaller than this and with none of the luxuries such as Occidental amenities, two TVs, a bath and shower, lounge/diner, dressing room, minibar, a vast amount of storage space and a large balcony.

A genuine showstopper and easily the poshest cabin we’ve ever had in a cruise ship. And we’ve had a few. We were still taking it all in (and taking many photos) when the bags arrived, again super-speedy work, and our friendly steward Mario introduced himself and gave us the cabin tour.

Helpfully, all the plugs are three-pin British with USB ports and the tea is Tetley, with a coffee pod machine and daily refilled bottles of filtered water. With a sailaway at 5pm, we had time to explore the 70,285 gross tonnage ship to get our bearings and do musters then watch the journey down the Thames Estuary with a glass of Prosecco on the open deck. Later, we’d be back on deck to look at the vast, mesmerising North Sea wind farms.

After a leisurely sea day (admittedly we’d overslept with the clocks changing and entirely missed breakfast!), day two had us docking in Gothenburg, Sweden’s second-largest city. We’d booked an excursion to Marstrand island, former royal summer retreat of King Oscar II (an Oscar wild for women, apparently) around an hour up the coast from the port.

The island is reached by just a 200-yard ferry journey to the pretty harbour with cobbled streets, upscale shops, cafes, taverns and restaurants. However, just past the (allegedly) randy king’s summer house is one of the most forbidding castles you’ll ever see.

Carlsten fortress dates from the mid-17th century, looks like it escaped from Game Of Thrones and we were not too surprised to learn it was also a prison. Our guide showed us the cells, the display of torture and execution instruments and the separate cells used for five years in solitary.

These are bleak beyond belief and one features a painting of horse and rider on a wall. What did the prisoner use for paint, you ask? His blood. What was his crime, you ask? He had publicly denounced Holy Communion. Harsh, those 17th-century Swedes.

We cheered ourselves up with a visit to the gallows in the keep then took in the view of the coast from the battlements.

Back on board, the avuncular and chatty Captain Egil, from Norway, was on the Tannoy that evening to tell us that the second stop in Sweden, Helsingborg, was now off-limits for cruise ships of a certain size (not that Ambience is particularly large by modern standards) so we would be staying in the Danish capital Copenhagen overnight and an extra day. Not the worst news we’d ever had.

The ship docks in the southern part of Copenhagen port and means a ­30-minute stroll to the city centre, via the ‘‘The Most Photographed Woman in Denmark’’. Yes, of course the Little Mermaid statue, which is slightly underwhelming but draws huge crowds of tourists for that essential Copenhagen photo opp.

It’s a grand-looking city of canals, redbrick older buildings, some modern development around the port mostly, but overall such a handsome, clean place and a pleasure to walk around – not least as the numerous local cyclists actually stop at red lights and pedestrian crossings.

We’d been a couple of times before, but not to the ­world-renowned Tivoli Gardens, a jolly city centre oasis of ponds, gardens, bars and restaurants and 30-plus theme park rides.

That was first on the list and we sauntered around, whizzed on roller coasters, flying carpets and swings and wound down in the serene aquarium. Next day, another must-see beckoned – pretty Nyhavn, a canal flanked by colourful buildings which are home to numerous bars and restaurants. Here, you can join a canals and harbour boat tour and we enjoyed the hour pootling around with a guide telling us about the historic and modern architecture and those fascinating snippets you only get from alocal.

He ­recommended the Broens street food market across the harbour (there is a pedestrian/cycle bridge from Nyhavn) where we narrowed down an overwhelming choice to fish and chips, as that seemed to be what the locals were mostly having!

Our Copenhagen sailaway that night took us past Helsingborg and, across the strait in Denmark, Kronborg Castle, which was the setting (as Elsinore) for Hamlet.

Skagen and Sand’s End seen (we noted how the captain gave it a very wide berth), a sea day with a spa treatment and another night took us back to the Thames Estuary, where we docked at Tilbury at 8am, were off the ship to the car park via bag collection at 8.30am and home by 9.15am.

We had such an easy, enjoyable week away and did not have to go to the ends of the Earth to find it. Well, actually…

We visited the top-notch, main included, Buckingham restaurant on five nights and were superbly looked after by servers Adie and Noor with standout dishes including a roast beet tartare with goat’s cheese, walnuts and rocket, a beef Wellington and a roast pork belly.

Our only quibbles were a couple of the grilled fish dishes we had contained some small bones and we sometimes felt a bit rushed. The drinks package allowed us to have the premium Spanish wines, with the zingy rosé proving perilously good. Also included is the Borough Market buffet, which can be very busy at breakfast and lunch but we always found a seat and something we liked.

Ambience has two extra-charge speciality restaurants and our ­seven-course tasting menu at Sea & Grass was fabulous. As the name suggests, it showcases seafood and meat and the smoked salmon, mushroom soup and pulled lamb were especially memorable with superb presentation and service.

Curry house Saffron also impressed, with excellent kebab starters and Thali veggie dishes and tamarind prawn mains. Our cleared plates said it all. The Coffee House is the go-to for that caffeine fix (extra charge), while The Grill by the pool rustles up included hotdogs, burgers and pizzas.

Our favourite bar was the swish and popular Botanical, perfect for anaperitif accompanied by the delightful sounds of classical violin and piano pair Mystic Duo.Version:1.0 StartHTML:000000096 EndHTML:000003119 StartFragment:000000186

We had plenty of variety, including a shocking performance in the interactive pop quiz (at least the winner was on our table!) in the Purple Turtle pub, but better efforts in the natural world and decades quizzes.

In the main theatre, we loved a wryly amusing stage play based on infidelity and a video doorbell and a murder-mystery matinee set in 1963 Cold War Berlin with more smiles via witty audience participation.

Late-night action saw us at the Observatory lounge’s lively Abba night and the brilliant mash-up of all four house bands, which filled the dance floor.

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A SMALL British carmaker behind a motor Jeremy Clarkson said could “destroy your face” is set to build a huge new factory in the UK.

Ariel – best known for its Atom motor – will build the new structure to the east of Crewkerne in Somerset on a recently acquired 43-acre site.

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The carmakers gained the land after five years of negotiation, with the new building set to open before the end of 2028 at the cost of “a few million”, Ariel boss Simon Saunders said.

Simon said the cost of building a new factory had rapidly risen since the idea was first floated, meaning the firm may need to seek external funding.

Ariel currently sells two vehicles, the Atom and the Nomad, as well as the Dash bicycle, according to its website.

The Ariel Atom, tested on Top Gear in 2005, was described by Clarkson as “so quick, it can destroy your entire face“.

Since its launch in 2000, it has gone through a number of alterations, with the Ariel Atom 4 – released in 2018 – being the most recent version available to customers.

It was awarded Britain’s Best Driver’s Car by Autocar in 2020.

With building the new site, Simon said he wanted to “move to no ordinary industrial unit”, keeping in style with the unique designs of Atom’s motors.

He explained: “While we’ve been waiting to do the land deal, we’ve investigated quite a few styles – circular buildings that might work well for production efficiency, or others whose design is reminiscent of old farm buildings you already find in this area.

“We need space for what we do now, plus a museum, a showroom and a design office. And it’s got to be efficient.”

The new site will be placed close to Atom’s existing factory, meaning Ariel will be able to keep its pre-existing workforce while also adding around 60 new staff.

It also means production capacity should be able to almost double from just 80 units per year to around 150, reports Autocar.

The huge new complex will house Ariel’s expanded manufacturing operation as well as a showroom, a spacious service and spares operation, long-term parts storage, a museum, and an office space for design and administration.

Ariel is also putting an emphasis on environmental efficiency for its new vehicles, Simon said.

The new factory will be capable of carbon capture, its roof will gather solar energy, water will come from a borehole, and there are plans to plant 8000 trees on the site.

Ariel started out in a tiny studio in Simon’s home before moving to its current site in 2007.

However, since Ariel handles advanced design as well as spares, servicing, repairs and used car sales on top of manufacturing, it has been constrained on space for years.

This comes after a 2020 Ariel Atom went to auction last year.

Describing a previous version of the car in 2005, Clarkson said he had “never, ever driven anything that accelerates so fast,” describing the Atom as being “fast on an entirely new level”.

The motor started life as a student project at Coventry University before it was originally launched in 2000.

Other iconic versions include the Ariel Atom 500, which is one of the fastest accelerating production cars ever made – taking just 2.3 seconds to get from 0-62mph.

The Ariel Atom was also voted one of Britain’s 50 best cars ever made by a panel of 10 judges earlier this year.

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THIS is the shocking moment a Deliveroo rider pretends to drop off a takeaway — only to swipe it back seconds later after being caught on camera.

The sham delivery was filmed in Bristol, where stunned homeowner Daniel Ali, 19, watched the bizarre scam unfold on his doorbell camera on August 18.

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The footage shows the courier placing the meal on the doormat and snapping a photo for “proof”, before stuffing it back in his bag and cycling away.

Ali said: “It was a crazy experience,” after sharing the footage on TikTok, where it quickly racked up thousands of views.

The stunned customer later revealed the rider got in touch after the footage blew up online, apologising and begging for the viral video to be taken down.

Viewers were left fuming with one saying: “Absolutely disgusting, he should be banned.”

Another raged: “This is theft, plain and simple.”

Furious social media users warned the stunt could leave vulnerable people hungry, with some relying on deliveries for their only hot meal of the day.

Calls mounted for Deliveroo to act fast.

The firm has since refunded the cost of the food, and Ali has agreed to remove the video.

A Deliveroo spokesperson told Bristol World said: “Deliveroo is committed to ensuring the highest standards of behaviour and we take customer experience extremely seriously.

“We offboarded the rider and issued a refund to the customer after they alerted us to this incident.”

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TWO more ferocious forest fires have erupted in Portugal – and this time cops suspect the work of arsonists.

Entire villages were forced to evacuate and hundreds of firefighters rushed to the scene of the latest blazes in a disastrous summer across the Iberian Peninsula.

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The two fires sparked nearby within an hour in Pedrógão Grande, central Portugal.

Locals here are already scarred by the memory of a terrible wildfire which killed 66 people just eight years ago.

The first erupted in the village of Pedrógão Grande, terrifyingly close to people’s homes, at around 2:30pm.

A second then burst through trees near the village of Graça at roughly 3:20pm, rousing the suspicion of police who are investigating possible foul play.

Flaming material was reported shooting out of this blaze, endangering the crews tackling it.

Five entire villages in the area were forced to evacuate as smoke cascaded into the sky.

Hundreds of firefighters battled the two blazes with from planes and from the ground.

A firefighter elsewhere in Portugal became the fourth person to be killed by the fires this summer.

Four have also lost their lives in Spain – where the blazes are finally being brought under control.

Daniel Esteves, 45, worked for the forest protection company Afocelca.

He was seriously injured on Tuesday night alongside four colleagues, and tragically died on Saturday.

Daniel suffered burns to 75 percent of his body and was the worst injured of the group – the rest of whom are still in hospital in Coimbra.

Portugal’s president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, sent his condolences to Daniel’s family who “tragically lost his life after directly combating the forest fires in Sabugal municipality”.

The amount of land burnt across the Iberian peninsula has hit a total area about the size of the US state of Delaware, based on EU statistics.

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Spain had lost a record 403,000 hectares, while Portugal lost 278,000 hectares this year, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).

Spanish authorities said the tide seemed to have turned in the fight against the fires, which are mainly raging in the country’s west and northwest.

But the head of Spain’s civil protection and emergencies service, Virginia Barcones, warned there were still 18 “treacherous” blazes alight.

The record-breaking year has been fuelled by dry conditions, heatwaves and strong winds.

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IT’S 3am at The Red Lion pub in Gatwick Airport and British Gas field engineer Sam Singleton is in a French maid’s outfit, waving a feather duster and clutching a pint of Guinness.

His 17-strong stag group is having the typical pre-flight drinks that have become a rite of passage for Brits jetting off abroad.

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While many pubs are struggling to survive during the cost-of-living crisis, those operating at UK airports are reporting that business is on the up and up.

And it’s not just plentiful food offerings and the sociable atmosphere that are bringing in travellers in droves — terminal pubs remain one of the only places where it is socially acceptable to have a pint at 5am.

Sam, 34, from Crawley, West Sussex, says: “I’m dressed like this because I’m getting married in four weeks to my beautiful fiancee, Erin.

“We’ve had a few drinks and a really good laugh. I couldn’t imagine starting a stag in any other way, to be honest.”

The Sun on Sunday spent 24 hours at JD Wetherspoon’s The Red Lion in Gatwick’s North Terminal to see why Britain’s airside bars are hitting new heights.

This is what we found . . . 

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04:00   

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Nicole Briggs, 29, from    Essex, is heading to the Greek island of Mykonos to celebrate her birthday, wearing a pink cowboy hat and matching sash.

Her pal Danielle Grimes, 30, also from Essex, tells us: “Having drinks at this time is just the law of the airport. It’s the only way to do it.”

On the other side of the pub, siblings Alicia, Adan, 17, and Heart Evanelio, 20, from Medway, Kent, are tucking into an early-morning breakfast before they fly to Basel, Switzerland, with 20 family members.

Alicia, 27, says: “We come here because the food is always good. It’s affordable, comfortable, welcoming and the staff are fantastic.”

05:00   

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 Another stag party has    arrived. Robert, James, Jay, Jimmy and John are in their 30s and from different parts of the UK, but they are all flying to Benidorm.

Robert says: “There will be 28 altogether and we’ve had a fantastic day and night already.”

Jay adds: “We came to Wetherspoons because it’s better value and you know exactly what you are getting.”

06:00   

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 Actor David Green, 58,    from Brighton, and Sam Peters, 52, from Croydon, South London, clink pint glasses, having only just met.

Sam says: “The Red Lion is very different to the average pub where people are scared to strike up a conversation with strangers. No-one bats an eyelid here.”

07:00    

Factory worker Jay Law,    34, and Sasha Cross, 35, from the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, are going to Malta for the weekend.

They eat eggs Benedict and drink coffee with Guinness and a bourbon. Jay says: “It is the rule at airports — have a proper drink with your brew.”

08:00  

 Broker Lorna Stevens, 42,    and special educational needs worker Amanda Sargent, 38, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, met in their local pub 20 years ago.

They are drinking pink gin and tonic before flying to Marrakech, and Amanda says: “We always take a photo of ourselves at The Red Lion — the start of the holiday, the obligatory picture.”

09:00   

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Team   leader and    mum- of-two Megan Gardner, 23, from Crawley, West Sussex, does four seven-hour shifts a week at The Red Lion.

She says: “I haven’t a bad word to say about working here — that’s why I’ve been here seven years.”

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Tasha Clements, 28, from    Horsham, West Sussex, has been a bar worker at The Red Lion for two years.

She says: “Every day someone makes the same joke — ‘It’s five o’clock somewhere!’. And it is.”

11:00  

 Jhonny Da Corte has  been    the pub’s kitchen chief leader for five years. He is overseeing 13 people today.

Venezuelan Jhonny, 30, from West London, says: “We go through around 20,000 eggs per week.

“Our most popular dish in the morning will be our traditional breakfast and, at lunch, burgers take over as the top sellers.”

12:00 

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  Spandau Ballet star Steve Norman has popped into The Red Lion ahead of a gig in Leipzig, Germany, with his new band, The Sleevz.

Over a pint of Doom Bar, he opens up about his ambition to reunite the band.

Steve, 65, says: “It would be great, before one of us pops our clogs, to be in a room together at the very least — and maybe, who knows, do a last farewell tour.”

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 Dad Zesh Sadique,    46, and    his wife Sadia are en route to Bodrum, Turkey, for four days with their children, Zidane, eight, and Arya, three.

Tucking into fish and chips, Sadia, 37, from London, says: “We came here because there is a great range of food. We’ll be back.”

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Electrician John    Penny, 38,    and his wife Lucy, who live near Crowborough, East Sussex, are celebrating their first child-free holiday in 12 years.

They’re off to sunny Palma, Majorca, and John is celebrating with a pint, while community helper Lucy, 35, is content with a Pepsi.

She says: “We always come here with the kids, too. You order on an app, so it’s easy.”

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Beccie    Simms, 47, and her    nine-year-old neurodivergent twins Poppy and Ethan are having pizza and chips before flying to Crete.

Maternity ward worker Beccie, from Surrey, says: “This suits the twins. It is relaxed and has a great choice of food. The twins are very picky!”

16:00   

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Portsmouth students    Poppy Davinport, Hannah Wilson and Alice Richardson, all 21, together with Millie Parker, 20, are heading to Majorca.

They are drinking Proseccos, gin and tonics and apple juices. Millie says: “The plan is to get tanned, drink and eat lots of paella.”

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Londoners Olivia Moris-Brown, 19, who works for M&S, and her partner Jason Pham, a 20-year-old insurance broker, are off to Pisa in Italy to celebrate their sixth anniversary.

Tucking into chips and curry sauce, a spicy Korean chicken bowl and fish and chips, Jason says: “We love Spoons, we are fans. The food is always banging.”

18:00   

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Guinness-drinking Leon    Ojukwu, 43, from East London, and his wife Abbie, 40, are primary school teachers.

They’re celebrating their tenth anniversary in Majorca with kids Esme, eight, and Zac, five. Abbie, who has had a Prosecco, says: “We always come here before a flight.

“Everyone has a smile on their face, the drinks come quickly and you don’t need to dress up.”

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Ian Gordon, 62, is waiting    for the Inverness flight, heading home to Lhanbryde, Moray, after a work trip.

Tucking into a ham and mushroom pizza, the salmon fisherman says: “The Guinness is good at Wetherspoons.

“I just came back from Iceland — you’re paying at least double for a pint there.”

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Wearing a sparkly hat,    facilities manager Nicola Sandhu is heading to Vilamoura, Portugal, with nine friends for her 40th.

Nicola, from Bexleyheath, Kent, says: “We’ve got wines, Prosecco and lemon spritzes, nachos, fish and chips and an ultimate burger to set our trip off on the right note.”

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Five pint-sipping friends    from Selsey, West Sussex, are en route to party capital Prague in the Czech Republic.

Yet NHS service manager Mike Brooks, chef Ryan O’Hara, builder Riley Evans, all 25, carpenter Jenson Holden, 20, and carer Will Jenkinson, 26, insist they are “going to see the local sights”.

Riley says: “We will be in bed by 10pm, reading our Kindles.”

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Teaching assistant Millie Horner and HR worker Bella Caesar, both 21, from Hedge End, Hampshire, are eating chicken strips and are on their third round of vodka lemonade and rum and Coke.

They got here early for their Ibiza flight and Millie says: “It’s a debrief before the main event begins.”

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The passengers have all  gone, and now The Red Lion worker Holly Taplin, 19, from Burgess Hill, West Sussex, is mopping up after a long shift.

She says: “I am a bar associate, which means I host, clean, serve, make drinks — the whole lot.”

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Ollie Wilcox, 29, from    Crawley, West Sussex, is a shift manager at the pub.

He says: “We stay open until the last flight goes, then we get ready for the morning shift.

“Passengers start coming through at 2am, and by 4am, the pub’s chock-a-block — there is a queue all the way down to WHSmith.”

THERE is a reckoning coming. The people of Britain have had enough.

A new poll by Find Out Now has Reform UK winning a majority of 140 seats at the next general election. The big poll-of-polls gives us a 10-point lead. People are fed up. And one thing they are fed up with the most is illegal immigration.

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I went along to watch a protest outside the Britannia Hotel in London’s Canary Wharf, now a luxury hostel for asylum seekers, and felt for myself how high feelings are running.

Protesters like the famous Pink Ladies don’t want these illegal immigrants in their communities. Does anybody? Who voted for this madness?

That’s why our party, Reform UK, is backing more peaceful protests and asking people to demand that their local councils take action to empty the migrant hotels. But we can’t stop there.

We need to detain and deport illegal immigrants. Then I think they’re going to stop coming, and we can get back to some sort of peace and normality.

It’s no wonder people are angry. Just look at the shocking numbers that came out this past week.

We learned that, in the year up to June 2025, 110,000 more migrants applied for asylum in Britain –that’s the highest number since records began. More than 50,000 illegal immigrants have landed on our beaches since Labour were elected last July.

At the end of June, 32,100 asylum seekers were housed in hotels at taxpayers’ expense – up another 8 per cent since Keir Starmer moved into 10 Downing Street.

Over that same year, the Labour government spent £4.76 billion managing the asylum mess that they and their Tory predecessors have created.

This outrageous sum is the equivalent of hiring 86,500 more police officers, or 16 million winter fuel payments for British pensioners at the higher rate.

If I were a young male over the Channel in a migrant camp, I’d be thinking to myself it doesn’t matter where I’m from or what I’ve done in the past, get on a small boat to Britain and within 24 hours I could be in a four-star hotel, three meals a day, wifi, mobile phone, free to roam the streets and do pretty much whatever you want, because the authorities haven’t got the foggiest who you are.

What have we done as a nation? We see it in the news every week now, that an asylum seeker has been either charged or found guilty of disgusting attacks on women and girls.

The door’s open, we’ve invited these people in, some of them serious wrong ‘uns, and treated them like honoured guests.

But the tide is starting to turn. Last week the decent people of Epping in Essex won a big victory for us all, when the high court ruled that asylum seekers must leave the town’s Bell Hotel.

Parents and concerned residents had been protesting outside the hotel since an illegal migrant housed there was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.

They were slandered as “far-right” lunatics by Labour and the BBC, and attacked by leftie “Antifa” thugs who we saw being bussed in by the police! But they bravely stood up and won, despite home secretary Yvette Cooper shamefully hiring expensive lawyers to attack them in court.

People around the country are now protesting outside migrant hotels and telling their councils to take action. Nigel Farage was the first to call for more peaceful protests, and the councils that Reform won in the May elections will do everything in their power to follow Epping’s lead.

Now we need to go further. Next week, Reform UK will announce our proposals for mass deportations that will finally stop the boats and tackle the crisis.

And we are very clear that, to make this happen, the UK will need to quit the European Convention on Human Rights, which lets liberal foreign judges override the sovereignty of our parliament on immigration law.

National emergency

This is a national emergency. Labour’s latest scheme, to move migrants from hotels into homes into our communities, can only make matters worse.

But let’s not forget that the last Conservative government started the problem. So it’s a bit rich for them to start attacking migrant hotels now.

When I was a Tory MP, I spoke up asking the government to detain illegal immigrants in secure camps ready for deportation. Instead, they housed them in hotels.

I was constantly told to shut up by the “One Nation” lot of Conservative MPs. This is of their making, and they should all apologise right now.

Reform Uk stands foursquare with the people protesting peacefully across Britain. And we will defend free speech against the authorities that want to lock up anybody who speaks out.

On a protest in my constituency of Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, some women in their sixties and seventies came up to me and said Lee, are we really far-right? And I said no, you’re just right.

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A WOMAN has been fined £116,000 for chopping down a tree over ten years ago.

Claire Rands, of Allt-yr-Yn, Newport in Wales, hadn’t realised she was doing anything wrong.

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She had instructed a tree surgeon to chop down the tree after a number of serious grass fires behind the houses in the cul-de-sac.

It left her concerned that the tree could pose a fire hazard.

The mother-of-four took a precautionary measure and had the tree chopped down in 2012.

At the time, she hadn’t realised the 100-year-old lime tree would land her a colossal fine.

In articles in the South Wales Argus and the Telegraph the same year, the couple said that their tree had caught alight during the summer.

Claire said it was the result of alleged deliberate grass fires that had spread.

Several neighbours were also impacted by the fires.

It prompted Claire and her husband to file a planning application that would enable them to chop the tree down.

This required a legally-binding tree preservation order (TPO) to be lifted.

It prohibits the cutting down, topping, lopping, uprooting or wilful damage or destruction of trees without explicit consent of the local planning authority, even on private land.

The couple’s lime tree was protected because of its age and amenity value.

However, the couple chopped the tree down despite the planning applications not being approved.

They planted another tree in its place.

The council said that one of its ecologists was walking past the property when they noticed the tree was no longer there.

Recently, Newport City Council sent the couple a letter saying they would be prosecuted for causing or permitting the destruction of a tree protected by a TPO.

While husband Damon Rands was cleared of wrongdoing, it resulted in a trial at Newport Magistrates’ Court for Claire.

Yesterday, Claire lost her appeal and was sentenced.

It followed a long dispute over the TPO’s wording, with Claire’s lawyers arguing that the crime is written into law in England, and not Wales.

Instead, they argued she should be convicted of a lesser offence, as she didn’t personally chop down the tree.

Tim Straker, representing Newport Council alongside Elizabeth Nicholls said: “There is no dispute that Rands engaged somebody and secured the large lime tree of considerable amenity value to be removed from her garden, to use the vernacular, lock stock and barrel.

“It is said that in Wales you cannot be guilty of an offence of causing or permitting the destruction of a tree protected by a TPO. But it is unsatisfactory that someone could order a protected tree to be cut down on their land but then run free from any responsibility.”

It led Judge Celia Hughes to convict her of the more serious offence.

She said before sentencing:  “It would be contrary to common sense that a householder could be prosecuted for a more minor offence when they are the person who directed the tree to be removed in the first place.”

The council estimated their property value had increased by at least £50,000 by removing the tree.

As such, she was dealt a £16,000 fine, as well as being ordered to pay £100,000 in prosecution costs.

She has 12 months to pay the fines.

The case has helped to define how the English law applies in Wales, determining that “causing or permitting the felling of a protected tree is an offence” according to Sarah Dodds of Tree Law UK.

Families are being warned of several dangers

The Foreign Office has issued new advice for people travelling to Turkey. New guidance was published regarding swimming and beaches on August 22. The advice is crucial to note if you are heading to the coast as there have been fatal incidents.

The advice says: “Every year, people drown in the sea and in swimming pools in Turkey. Always supervise children, even if they can swim or there is a lifeguard present.”

Families are warned of several dangers when going for a swim in the ocean in Turkey. The guidance says: “Take care when swimming in the sea. Some beaches may have strong undercurrents.

READ MORE: Bank holiday weather: The UK counties where temperatures will soar past 30C

“Hidden rocks or shallow depths can cause serious injury or death. Do not dive into unknown water. Follow local advice if jellyfish or urchins are present.”

Holidaymakers are also advised that many beaches have a flag system that you may want to look out for. The Foreign Office advises: “Make sure you understand the system and follow any warnings (a red flag means you must not enter the water). Follow instructions from lifeguards.

“Take extra care and seek local advice if there are no lifeguards, flags, or signs.” Another rule you may want to note if you are in Turkey is that it’s illegal not to carry some form of photo ID.

The Government guidance says: “Always carry your passport or residence permit. In some busy areas, especially Istanbul, the authorities may stop people for ID checks.

“There are also several police checkpoints on main roads across Turkey. Cooperate with officials conducting checks.”

What travel restrictions apply in Turkey?

The Foreign Office advises against any travel to within 10km of the border with Syria. This is due conflict in the area and “a heightened risk of terrorism”.

READ MORE: Jet2.com makes major announcement for families flying with children under two

The guidance explains that most terrorist attacks to date have happened in southeast Turkey, and in Ankara and Istanbul. Visitors are advised: “You should remain aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities.”

The advice page includes further information about the risks and restrictions that apply in certain regions of Turkey.

The picturesque seaside town is facing growing tension over the impact of second home ownership and overtourism, with locals expressing their frustration.

Hunstanton, a delightful coastal town on the Norfolk cost, is grappling with mounting tensions surrounding second home ownership and excessive tourism.

Renowned for its unique striped cliffs and picturesque coastline, Hunstanton has remained a beloved spot for holidaymakers for generations.

Yet residents are growing increasingly angry about the escalating numbers of second homes, which they claim are inflating house prices and making it nearly impossible for locals to secure reasonably-priced accommodation.

Throughout recent years, Hunstanton has witnessed a flood of second-home purchasers drawn to the resort’s idyllic location and peaceful ambience.

Figures revealed that almost 20% of homes in the vicinity are now second homes or holiday lets, reports the Express.

This boom in second-home purchases has triggered alarm amongst residents, who believe their neighbourhood is being stripped of its soul by vacant properties and that essential services are buckling under pressure from the seasonal tourist invasion.

Jane Matthews, a lifelong Hunstanton resident, expressed her frustration: “I’ve seen my hometown change dramatically over the past decade. With so many houses sitting empty for most of the year, it feels like we’re losing the heart of our community. And when the tourists do come, the town is overwhelmed and the streets are crowded.”

The problem of excessive tourism has worsened the difficulties confronting the resort.

Throughout busy periods, Hunstanton’s population balloons, resulting in jammed roads, packed beaches, and heightened strain on community services. The boom in short-term rentals, driven by platforms like Airbnb, has intensified the pressure, with some locals arguing that the town’s distinctive character is being stripped away.

Yet, during quieter months, the explosion of second home ownership and holiday lets has resulted in a dwindling population in Hunstanton, creating what another resident, Mark Fuchter describes as “mini-desert areas” around town where most of the houses are unoccupied for much of the year.

This drop in permanent residents has had a visible effect on the local economy and community spirit. “There is less of a sense of community in these circumstances,” Fuchter noted. “More worryingly, this affects footfall in our shops and use of local services.”

The predicament has sparked comparisons to other British towns grappling with similar issues.

Whilst Hunstanton may not be as deserted as some locations branded as “ghost towns,” like Lyme Regis, Fuchter describe the town as a “kiss-me-quick” town.

He explained: “I like the fact that the town provides holidays for those who may not be able to afford to jet off on foreign holidays. I suspect it is probably busier even in the off-season compared with places that are more highly desirable and upmarket.”

Fuchter recognises that the town’s year-round attraction to budget-conscious tourists may be the reason it remains somewhat livelier during the off-season. However, he also expressed concern about the rising poverty levels in the area, which are often masked by the presence of expensive homes and tourist attractions.

“I volunteer at the local foodbank and have run a Helping Hands warm space community hub. I was shocked by the level of poverty and hardship in this are which I always thought was part of wealthy North Norfolk. Of course, it is both.

“Personally I’m worried that there is nothing effective to stem the growth of second homes and holiday lets. Many vested interests do okay out of it.”

Mike Ruston, another local, offered a contrasting viewpoint, recognising the financial advantages tourism brings whilst also urging for equilibrium. “My personal opinion is that this area is a holiday destination,” Ruston said.

“Out of the holiday season, the villages can be quite quiet, but in the holiday season, they’re absolutely heaving, and that is a very important part of the local economy. You’ve got to be a bit careful what you wish for.”

Ruston highlighted the contradictions within local opinions regarding second home ownership and holiday rentals.

“We don’t raise an eyebrow about renting somewhere abroad, but there are plenty of people who, rather hypocritically, might go abroad on a self-catering holiday but don’t want them here. It’s all a matter of balance,” he said.

He also drew parallels with other UK tourist hotspots like Cornwall and Devon, where locals often voice concerns about affordability and the impact on their communities, yet oppose new housing developments.

A town councillor from Hunstanton said last year that the council hasn’t broached the subject and doesn’t have a policy in place.

However, they have been in talks with Norfolk County Council who have commissioned research into the matter, but no report has been produced as of yet.

A travel expert has opened up about the hotel rooms he always avoids – and it might surprise you

A hotel expert has revealed why he never books a room ending in the number 01. Javier Sobrino, founder of Descubriendo Viajes, a Spanish travel platform specialising in handpicked accommodations, warns that all rooms ending in 01 – such as 101, 201, 301 etc, should be given a wide berth if you are after a peaceful stay.

Picking a room at your holiday destination might seem like a minor detail, but factors like the room number can actually make a big difference – and it is not just down to superstition. In the United States, the number 13 is considered unlucky, making it the most commonly dodged number when it comes to room and floor numbers, according to Javier.

Another somewhat mysterious number is 237, due to its link with Stanley Kubrick’s film The Shining, which made it synonymous with eeriness and mystery. There is also 622, which is often avoided thanks to the renowned mystery novel “Room 622 by Joel Dicker.

But leaving aside these numbers associated with legends or fictional stories, there are others that should be avoided for more well-founded reasons. During his appearance on Cadena COPE radio, Javier stated that all numbers ending in 01 should be avoided as much as possible if you want a more peaceful stay.

But, putting aside these numbers linked with legends or fictional tales, there are others that should be sidestepped for more concrete reasons. During his chat on Cadena COPE radio, Javier advised that all numbers ending in 01 should be avoided as much as possible for a quieter stay.

“Those rooms are typically situated in the corner – that is, near the lift and also close to the exit to the hotel stairs,” he clarified. While this may not always hold true, based on his own experiences, he’s found this to be the case in many hotels.

“Every time a guest passes by or someone comes down the stairs, you’ll hear it. I’ve even heard, staying in rooms on this corner, that you can hear the lift,” he said. “So, if you’re planning on getting some rest, try to avoid that room.”

Most hotels don’t let you pick your room, so Javier suggests that if reception has allocated you a room with that number ending, ‘you should immediately ask if they can give you the one at the end of the hall, for example, or one that’s quieter’.

MIGRANT protests have broken out across UK cities today, as demonstrators clash with police.

It comes following a landmark ruling on the use of the Epping hotel.

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A number of cities will see demonstrations over the weekend, primarily centred on so-called asylum hotels, with an estimated 27 protests expected over the bank holiday weekend.

A protest at Castle Park in Bristol saw mounted police officers clashing with demonstrators.

The demonstration was led by Abolish Asylum System, with anti-racism counter protesters also present.

Another protest in Horley, Surrey saw around 200 anti-immigration protesters draped in St George’s and Union flags.

They were opposed by roughly 50 Stand Up to Racism protesters.

Those on the anti-racism side chanted “say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here”, with signs called for an end to deportations.

They were met with abuse from the anti-immigration group, one of whom yelled through a megaphone “you’re all scum and you should be ashamed” claiming it “wasn’t about racism”.

Police are separating the two groups.

Further protests are taking place outside the New Bridge Hotel in Newcastle.

Anti-immigration could be seen carrying Union Jacks as they faced off against police.

One woman could be seen carrying a sign that reads “fairness isn’t extremism”, with a St George’s flag donned like a cape.

The protests come following a ruling earlier this week on the use of the Bell Hotel in Epping.

Following weeks of protests outside the hotel, the High Court ruled that it must remove migrants staying there.

The Home Office has since launched an appeal against the decision in the hopes of continuing its use as a home for asylum seekers.

It covers all new reservations made from Friday, August 22 onwards

Leading leisure carrier Jet2.com has bolstered its family-friendly credentials by revealing that children under two will now fly for free. The move makes Jet2.com the only UK airline that does not charge for children under two travelling to spots across Europe, the Canaries and the Mediterranean.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays said: “As a family-friendly airline and tour operator, we are always looking at how we can make the experience even better for families travelling with us. By putting our customers first and making these changes, meaning that all children under 2 now travel for free whether on a package holiday or a seat-only flight, we are making travel even more accessible for millions of families.”

This fresh policy covers all new reservations made from Friday, August 22, with youngsters needing to be under two at the time of travel for it to be valid.

Given that children under two already travelled free with Jet2holidays, this now ensures that all under-twos fly free with Jet2 – whether on a package break with Jet2holidays or on a seat-only journey with Jet2.com., reports Bristol Live.

Additionally, Jet2.com has brought in a new family-friendly amendment to its child and infant equipment allowance, ensuring that no extra baggage fees will be levied for child or infant kit being checked into the hold.

This policy takes effect straight away. In addition to an extra 10kg baggage allowance for children under two, customers can bring up to two items per child under two free of charge to be checked into the hold.

These can include a collapsible pushchair, pram or buggy, car seat or booster seat, baby carrier, or travel cot and the 10kg weight limitation no longer applies to these items.

SATURDAY’S Premier League action kicks off with a blockbuster clash between Manchester City and Tottenham at the Etihad!

Pep Guardiola‘s side got their season underway with a 4-0 win away at Wolves, with new boy Tijjani Reijnders stealing the show.

Meanwhile, the Thomas Frank era at Spurs kicked off with a bang as they recorded a 3-0 win over newly promoted Burnley.

• Kick off time: 12.30pm BST
• TV channel: TNT Sports 1
• Live stream: discovery+
• Man City team: Trafford, Lewis, Stones, Dias, Ait-Nouri, Nico, Reijnders, Bobb, Cherki, Marmoush, Haaland
• Tottenham team: Vicario, Porro, Van de Ven, Romero, Spence, Sarr, Palhinha, Bentancur, Johnson, Kudus, Richarlison

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MILLWALL were given a rude awakening ahead of their Championship clash with Sheffield United as their hotel was evacuated in the middle of the night.

The Lions’ squad piled onto the streets of Sheffield at 3:55am on Saturday morning when the siren started blaring out.

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It is not clear what set the alarm off, though players were left huddled outside both entrances to the Radisson Blu hotel for approximately 20 minutes while fire crew investigated the cause of the alarm.

A few players appeared bleary-eyed and fed up, while one player was overheard describing the situation as a ‘farce’.

Another FaceTimed his partner to show her his discontent at being sat on the pavement in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Millwall had made the 144-mile from south London by coach on Friday ahead of their trip to Bramall Lane.

The Lions started the season with a victory over Norwich City before being hammered by Middlesbrough 3-0 last time out.

Between those results, they did progress in the League Cup by beating Newport County 1-0 at Rodney Parade.

They will face a Sheffield United side who have endured a nightmare start to their Championship campaign, propping up the bottom of the table with bitter rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

Manager Ruben Selles confessed last week that he is already fearing for his future just three games into the job.

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His team have started the campaign with three successive defeats – including a 4-1 thrashing at home to Bristol City.

Selles said: “We know when you work and you play for Sheffield United, you know that you need to win every match.

“Then if not, and especially if it’s consecutive, then you’re going to be under massive pressure.”

Meanwhile, Millwall captain Jake Cooper is eyeing up promotion to the Premier League.

The defender has been at The Den since his move from Reading in 2017.

He said: “It would be a dream to be a Premier League player with Millwall and everything at the club is geared to get there.

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“There’s more expectation on us now because we finished well last season and the recruitment we’ve done.

“So you can see why people are getting excited.

“It’s important to have lads like Massimo (Luongo) and Alfie (Doughty), who have experience of securing promotion to the Premier League and understand what a winning culture feels like.

“Our new lads have integrated well.

“Alfie knew a few of the guys already while Massimo is very experienced and has been around the Championship for a long time.”