A customer service advisor from Luton was sent to prison for 16 months today after stealing over £60,000 from her employer.

Lucy Farrelly, 28, of Albert Road, appeared at Luton Crown Court today (Friday) after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation.

The court heard the customer relations advisor stole £60,800.46 from Whitbread PLC, whose headquarters is in Houghton regis, over an 18 month period from November 4, 2014, to 18 April, 2016.

Farrelly had access to the company’s computer system and transferred potential refunds for customer complaints directly into her bank account.

Jailing her for 16 months, Judge Michael Kay QC said a custodial sentence was inevitable.

He said: “At some point you spotted that people who made complaints did not always go through with them.

“You saw that as an opportunity to take money from your employer.”

The court heard Farrelly stole money on 196 occasions to support her lifestyle, which included a three week holiday in Cuba. Other money was spent on family and friends.

Judge Kay went on: “It was not the most sophisticated fraud because the money was going directly into your bank account.”

The fraud eventually came to light when a manager spotted £5,000 worth of refunds going to the same customer.

Farrelly initially denied being responsible but made full admissions when the matter was referred to police.

She told a probation officer she felt like a “scumbag” and had suffered abandonment issues from her childhood.

An ex-boyfriend had also apparently left her with £7,000 debt from payday loan companies. In spite of her large theft, over £3,000 of this remains unpaid.

After leaving Whitbread she has worked as a carer for people with learning difficulties.

Judge Kay added: “It came as a shock to everyone that you were acting this way, no one suspected you were a dishonest individual. Family and friends are clearly very surprised.

“I accept some money went to help family and friends but I’m bound to conclude that other money went towards your lifestyle.”

Farrell will serve half of her sentence before being released on license.

A house in Luton is being searched after three police officers were injured in an incident outside Buckingham Palace yesterday.

Detectives from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command are investigating after the men were injured during a terrorist incident on the Mall last night. A man from the Luton area has been arrested.

Just after 8.30pm, a car deliberately drove at a police van and stopped in front of it in a restricted area on Constitution Hill near Buckingham Palace.

The officers, who were unarmed police constables and from Westminster borough, got out of the van and approached the car, a blue Toyota Prius.

As they challenged the driver, who was the only occupant in the car, he reached for what we now know to be a four-foot sword which was in the front passenger foot well.

The officers acted very quickly to detain him. During a struggle the three officers sustained minor injuries. The man, who repeatedly shouted Allahu Akbar, was incapacitated with CS spray.

Two of the officers were taken by ambulance to hospital with minor cuts and discharged a short time later. The third officer did not require hospital treatment.

The man, who is aged 26 and from the Luton area, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and assault on police. He was further arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 and detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command are now leading the investigation into this incident. He remains in custody at a central London police station.

The incident is being treated as terrorism but we will remain open minded while the investigation continues.

Commander Dean Haydon, the head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “I would like to pay tribute to the bravery and professionalism of these officers who quickly brought this incident under control. Their vigilance, courage and the swiftness of their response demonstrates how our officers are protecting the public at this time.

“Officers from the Counter Terrorism Command are now investigating and searches are being carried out in the Luton area today.

“We believe the man was acting alone and we are not looking for other suspects at this stage. While we cannot speculate on what the man was intending to do - this will be determined during the course of the investigation - it is only right that we investigate this as a terrorist incident at this time.

“I would urge anybody who witnessed the incident or has any information or images that may assist the investigation to contact the confidential hotline on 0800 789 321.”

Commander Haydon added: “This is a timely reminder that the threat from terrorism in the UK remains severe. The police, together with the security services, are doing everything we can to protect the public and we already have an enhanced policing plan over the Bank Holiday weekend to keep the public safe.

“We continue to urge the public to be alert but not alarmed and report anything suspicious to police confidentially on the hotline - 0800 789 321. In an emergency always call 999.”

A range of travel adaptors have been recalled by a major High Street retailer due to the discovery that they could present a serious safety risk.

The Destination adaptors, available at WH Smiths, have been found not to meet all the requirements of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016.

This means an unacceptable level of risk of fire and potential electrocution to the user.

The devices, sold between 1/3/2017 and 31/7/2017, come in five models - the World Twin USB in Black and White versions (item number: 01161793/01086317); World to UK (01086324); World to South Africa (01086362) and Worldwide adaptor (01086294)

Anyone having one of the products listed is advised to stop using it immediately, and return it to WHSmith for a replacement / refund.

Queries can be addressed to WHSmith on +44 (0)333 6005000 or email customer.relations@whsmith.co.uk

Most recognisable as the creator of family favourite baby products, Johnson & Johnson have been in the headlines for other reasons this week after being ordered to pay $417m (£323.4m) to a California woman who claimed their talcum powder gave her ovarian cancer after allegedly using it for 50 years.

The jury’s decision to award the woman such a huge sum was the company’s biggest compensation payout to date and was a heavy PR blow for the company that sells itself on being a safe and delicate product that even newborn babies can use.

The lawsuit isn’t the only case to come to light though and Johnson & Johnson currently have other lawsuits filed against them. Campaigners argue that Johnson & Johnson did not adequately warn users about the cancer risks of the talc based products but Johnson & Johnson say their product is safe and based on scientific research.

But the case isn’t so black and white and the link between talc and cancer remains inconclusive, so here are the facts.

What is talcum powder?

In its purest natural form, the natural forming mineral talc contains asbestos which causes cancer. However asbestos free talc has been used in everything from eye shadow to condoms and latex gloves since the 1970’s. Most people will recognise talcum powder as ‘baby powder’.

What evidence says talc is safe?

Numerous studies have supported the safety of talcum powder. Most recently (April 2017) the National Cancer Institute’s Physician Data Query Editorial Board wrote on the topic of perineal talc use, “The weight of evidence does not support an association between perineal talc exposure and an increased risk of ovarian cancer.”

Other studies, such as ‘the perineal talc use and ovarian cancer: a critical review’ from the Department of Health Evaluation Sciences at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine discovered that “Talc is not genotoxic”.

What evidence disputes it?

Not all studies have supported the use of talcum powder for genital hygiene though. In a study by the American Association for Cancer Research involving almost 2,000 women in 2013 (Genital powder use and risk of ovarian cancer: a pooled analysis of 8,525 cases and 9,859 controls) found that there was an increased risk of ovarian cancer of between 20 and 30 per cent in women who used it for genital hygiene.

It’s important to note however that studies that have supported the argument that talc does increase the risk of ovarian cancer are often skewed as many women cannot accurately state how much talcum powder they’ve used in the past.

What have Johnson & Johnson said?

Naturally, Johnson & Johnson have categorically denied the connection of ovarian cancer and talcum powder usage.

In a post on their website Johnson & Johnson said, “We do understand your concern linked to recent media reports. We want to assure you, however, that we have no higher responsibility than the health and safety of consumers and the safety of cosmetic talc is supported by decades of scientific evidence.”

“Since the early 1990s, many research papers and epidemiology studies have evaluated talc and perineal use and these studies have found talc to be safe.

“In fact, the Nurses’ Health Study (2010) and the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Cohort (2014), the only two large-scale prospective studies looking at talc and ovarian cancer, found no causal relationship between talc and ovarian cancer.”

So should I keep using talcum powder?

It’s really up to you. There have been no official warnings to stop using the product and whatever risk, it remains very low.

Cancer Research UK says that “The evidence for a link is weak, but even if talc does increase the risk of ovarian cancer studies suggest it would be by around a third”. It also recognises that ovarian cancer can be caused by a multitude of factors including the contraceptive pill and hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

In addition, the ovarian cancer charity Ovacome also acknowledges that the research delivered so far is inconclusive and that more studies will be needed to confirm whether there is a direct link between talc and ovarian cancer.

But if you’d rather not risk it, avoid applying talc to your genitals or underwear over a prolonged period of time.

Soaring cases of drink and drug abuse among people over the age of 50 are causing concern among health officials.

They fear the “baby boomers” generation is turning into the “baby boozers” due to the “rapid” rise of substance misuse among the middle aged.

Researchers at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Flinders University in Australia,say the number of people aged over 50 experiencing problems from substance misuse is growing rapidly, with the numbers receiving treatment expected to treble in the United States and double in Europe by 2020.

They called in The BMJ for a coordinated international approach to tackle the growing problem.

In both Britain and Australia, risky drinking is declining, except among people aged 50 and older, according to latest figures.

There is also a strong upward trend for “episodic heavy drinking” - or binge drinking - in the same age group.

But the researchers warned that the worrying generational trend is not restricted to booze.

In Australia, the largest percentage increase in drug misuse between 2013 and 2016 was among people aged 60 and over, with that age group mainly abusing prescription drugs.

People over 50 also have higher rates than younger age groups for both past year and lifetime illicit drug misuse, particularly cannabis.

The researchers said that with alcohol being the most common substance misused by older people, under-detection of drink problems is of immediate concern - and may increase further as baby boomers get older because of their more liberal views towards, and higher use of, alcohol.

They fear a lack of sound alcohol screening to detect risky drinking may result in a greater need for treatment, longer duration of treatment, heavier use of ambulance services, and higher rates of hospital admission.

The study suggests that treatment programmes adapted for older people with substance abuse issues were associated with better results than those aimed at all age groups.

But the researchers pointed out that doctors will need improved knowledge and skills in assessing and treating older people at risk of substance misuse.

Study co-author Dr Tony Rao, consultant old age psychiatrist at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, said: “There remains an urgent need for better drug treatments for older people with substance misuse, more widespread training, and above all a stronger evidence base for both prevention and treatment.”

He added: “The clinical complexity of older adults with substance misuse demands new solutions to a rapidly growing problem.

“So far, there has been little sign of a coordinated international approach to integrated care.”

Supermarkets could easily “trick” customers into buying and eating fewer calories, according to new research.

The study suggests major food retailers could make small changes to the recipes of their own-brand food products to reduce the calories contained in the product, without notifying consumers explicitly.

So-called ‘silent’ product reformulation may be a “promising” way by which supermarkets could contribute to lower calorie intake, according to the research published in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity.

Study lead author Professor Jorgen Dejgaard Jensen, of Copenhagen University in Denmark, said: “Silent product reformulation may not achieve dramatic reductions in the population’s calorie intake, but there seems to be little doubt that it can reduce calorie intake, and that it can do so at a relatively low cost.”

The researchers analysed figures from a silent reformulation of eight products, conducted by a Danish retail chain between March 2013 and 2014.

The retailer made changes to the recipes of its own-brand mayonnaise, fruit yoghurt, pumpkin seed rye bread, toasting buns, yoghurt bread, carrot buns, wholegrain rolls, and chocolate muesli.

Nutrition fact labels were updated to reflect the changes, but were not announced to customers.

Drop in calories

The researchers found that for six products, calorie sales in the overall product category - for example ‘buns’ or ‘yoghurts’ - dropped between zero and seven per cent after the changes had been made.

Some customers swapped reformulated rye bread and chocolate cereal for higher-calorie alternatives, which undermined the calorie-reducing effect of the reformulation for the product categories ‘chocolate muesli’ and ‘bread’.

But the findings showed that for the majority of products such indirect substitution effects were outweighed by the positive effect of the reformulation.

Previous studies that assessed similar interventions didn’t take into account if shoppers swapped reformulated products for other products from the same category, for example one type of cereal for another.

But the researchers said that when evaluating the effectiveness of product reformulations, possible changes in consumer behaviour need to be taken into account to avoid overstating the public health effects of such interventions.

Changes in recipes

Prof Jensen said: “The product reformulations investigated in the study can be considered as ‘marginal’ changes in the recipes, focused on maintaining the original taste and appearance of the individual products.

“Larger recipe changes might induce more significant behavioural adjustments.

“Previous research has indicated that through a sequence of such marginal product reformulations, it may be possible to undertake more substantial changes in food products’ nutritional characteristics, and still maintain consumers’ acceptance of the products.”

The researchers also investigated whether behavioural responses would affect the retailer’s sales turnover.

They found that the impact of the product reformulations on the retailer’s sales turnover was “very small” - which indicates that such reformulations can be done at relatively low cost for the retailers.

Prof Jensen added: “Food product reformulation is considered to be one among several measures to combat the rising prevalence of overweight and obesity.

“Food manufacturers are continuously developing and marketing new ‘low-calorie’, ‘low-fat’ or ‘low-sugar’ varieties of processed food products.

“However, the health promotion potential of more ‘silent’ product reformulation has been largely ignored in research.

“Our findings suggest that silent reformulation of own-brand products can be effective in reducing calorie consumption by consumers.”

One in five sunbed users are at risk of becoming ‘tanning addicts’, scientists warn.

One-in-10 people use sunbeds each year despite it increasing the risk of skin cancer - including melanoma, the deadliest form of the disease.

Now a simple new tool has found up to a fifth are at risk of getting hooked on the practice

The Behavioral Addiction Indoor Tanning Screener (BAITS) is a survey including seven questions.

Among 330 current users of sunbeds 19.7 per cent tested positive for symptoms of a potential indoor tanning addiction.

This compared to 1.8 per cent of 553 former users who had not used one in the last 12 months.

Dr Katharina Diehl, of Heidelberg University in Germany, said: “BAITS can be used as a screening tool in large surveys.

“But it may also help physicians and health care providers to identify individuals in particular need of specific counselling to avoid the continuous use of tanning beds.

“By this psychological testing of the BAITS it will be proven how accurate it is in identifying indoor tanning addicted individuals.”

Addiction disorder

The technique was developed based on a model of addiction disorder designed to capture the main features of the behaviours.

This includes diminished control and temptations that lead to urges or cravings.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunbeds has been classified as carcinogenic to humans.

A growing body of research suggests excessive tanning is a behaviour with the potential to become addictive.

The study published in the British Journal of Dermatology used data from the National Cancer Aid Monitoring on Sunbed Use (NCAM) which includes a cognitive pretest and a survey of 3,000 German individuals.

Potential symptoms

Dr Diehl said BAITS is not a final diagnosis of indoor tanning addiction - which would require a more formal assessment - but does identify potential symptoms.

Nina Goad, of the British Association of Dermatologists, said: “This is an interesting pilot study with two important developments.

“The first is a new way of measuring symptoms of tanning addiction in a large population group.

“The second is the finding - on testing this method - that as many as one in five sunbed users may have symptoms of addiction.

“There is strong evidence use of sunbeds increases the risk of skin cancers including malignant melanoma which is the most deadly type.

“For people who start using sunbeds before the age of 35 years the relative risk of malignant melanoma almost doubles.

“If indoor tanning does indeed have addiction potential, being able to assess the scale of the problem will be imperative.

“It certainly would help to explain why so many people continue to use sunbeds despite knowing the risks.”

Skin cancer risk

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. At least 100,000 new cases are diagnosed each year - and the disease kills over 2,500 people annually.

The cost to the NHS of treating non-melanoma skin cancer is expected to rise to £465m a year by 2025 as a direct result of people getting tans on foreign holidays and in salons.

Cancer Research UK says the UV rays from sunbeds can damage the DNA in skin cells. Over time this can build up to cause skin cancer.

It says: “Sunbeds can sometimes be marketed as a ‘controlled way’ of getting a ‘safer tan’. But actually, sunbeds are no safer than exposure to the sun itself.

“And using a sunbed before you go on holiday doesn’t protect against further damage from the sun while you’re away.”

Mediterranean midday sun

One study found the average skin cancer risk from sunbeds can be more than double that of spending the same length of time in the Mediterranean midday summer sun.

The charity says: “IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) agrees there is sufficient evidence to show using sunbeds causes melanoma skin cancer, the most serious form.

“They also state that sunbeds provide no positive health benefits.

“Combining the results of studies on sunbeds and cancer shows that using a sunbed increases melanoma risk by 16 to 20 per cent.”

The wait for The Great British Bake Off is nearly over and now the contestants for this year’s show have been revealed and they include a scientist, an architect and a former Officer in the Royal Artillery.

The 12 contestants will be battling it out weekly to impress new judge Prue Leith and veteran Bake Off judge, Paul Hollywood, alongside new presenters Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig.

Dieters are more likely to keep the fat off if they shed just one pound a week... or even less, according to new research.

The secret to beating the battle of the bulge is a steady - rather than dramatic - reduction in calories, say scientists.

A study of almost 200 people found those whose weight fluctuated most during the first few weeks of a diet were less successful one and two years later.

The men and women who lost a consistent number of pounds each week fared best - despite it being just a little.

For example a participant who lost four pounds one week, regained two and then lost one the next, tended to end up worse off than one who lost a pound each week for three weeks.

Psychologist Professor Michael Lowe, of Drexel University, Philadelphia, said the findings illuminates a potential method for sticking to goals.

This would be based on a mathematical formula, or algorithm, that would calculate

weekly, or even daily, weight variability.

He said: “Settle on a weight loss plan that you can maintain week in and week out, even if that means consistently losing three quarters of a pound each week.”

Personalised dieting

The research could lead to improvements in personalised diets based on a mathematical formula, or algorithm, that would calculate weekly, or even daily, weight variability.

Most people maintain their weight inconsistently and fall into the vicious cycle of losing and then gaining weight.

More than six in ten British adults are overweight, with a shocking quarter obese.

Experts predict by 2025 four in ten will be obese with Type 2 diabetes continuing to soar.

Research has revealed two thirds of all dieters pile their weight back on within three years of hitting their dream targets.

In fact 40 per cent of those who lose more than 7st put on at least that much again.

It is called the Fat Trap.

Women put themselves on an average of 16 diets during their lifetimes, fuelling a £2 billion diet industry in the UK alone.

Slow and steady

Now principal investigator Prof Lowe and colleagues have shown shedding consistent pounds each week is the key to overcoming the problem.

They said: “When it comes to losing weight, it is not necessarily slow, but steady, that wins the race.”

In the study published in Obesity, they enrolled 183 participants aged 18 to 65 - eight in ten of them women - in a weight loss program and followed them over a two year period.

Lead author Emily Fieg, a PhD graduate student, said: “It seems that developing stable, repeatable behaviours related to food intake and weight loss early on in a weight control program is really important for maintaining changes over the long term.”

The psychologists were interested in studying what makes some people less successful at dieting - and identifying predictors that could improve treatment outcomes in the future.

To find out they recruited overweight or obese volunteers into a year long weight loss program that used meal replacements along with behavioural goals such as self monitoring, calorie counting and increasing physical activity.

The participants attended weekly treatment groups during which they were weighed, and returned for a final weigh in two years from the start of the program.

The participants also reported on food-related behaviours and attitudes like cravings, emotional eating, binge eating and confidence in regulating intake.

The researchers found that higher weight variability over the initial six and 12 weeks of weight loss treatment predicted poorer subsequent, long-term weight control at 12 and 24 months.

Binge eating bad

Interestingly individuals who reported lower emotional eating, binge eating and preoccupation with food at the start showed higher weight variability and less weight loss overall.

The researchers said: “This suggests initial weight change, rather than relationships with or behaviours toward food, is much more important in predicting who will succeed in weight loss and maintenance.”

Exactly why some people have more weight variability than others is a question the researchers are interested in exploring in future studies.

If these can replicate the results then measuring weight variability may be a way to identify individuals who are less likely to achieve meaningful and sustainable weight loss, and who may benefit from a stronger, more tailored focus on consistency.

Prof Lowe said: “Higher variability in weekly weights during the first 6 and 12 weeks

of treatment predicted poorer subsequent weight loss 1 and 2 years

after treatment initiation.

“If found to be reliable and useful, weight variability early in treatment may be cause for supplemental intervention.

“An algorithm could be created to calculate weight variability after each week - or even after each day, given the development of new technologies to monitor weight at home - of a weight loss program to be used by program leaders as a clinical indicator for risk of poor outcomes.

“Future research should also examine the behavioral and/or metabolic basis for weight variability and whether increasing the stability of week-to-week weight losses improves long term outcomes.

“If this is the case, behavioural interventions may benefit from a stronger focus on consistent weekly weight losses.”

A campsite in Henlow was turned into a makeshift shipyard as 250 Luton Scouts faced their latest challenge – to build and race a flotilla of sailing boats out of cardboard.

Organiser Alan Burnham is well known for setting Luton Scouts incredible challenges, and his latest brought over 250 Scouts and leaders to a small lake in Boyd Field campsite to race DIY boats made from cardboard boxes and waterproof tape.

Two Muslim adult volunteers, Monica Davis and Medina Saeed, from Beech Hill ISB Scout Group, said: “We didn’t win but what a marvellous adventure.”

Two groups, Saxon and Beech Hill, combined forces to field a 12-strong crew which threatened to capsize their boat at any moment but it stayed the course.

The winners were Josh and Shay from Hydra Explorer Unit. They said: “It was like an M25 traffic jam out there. But what a challenge.

“We’ll definitely be back next year.”

Alan Burnham said: “I was pleased how successful the regatta proved to be.”

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A man with learning difficulties and mild cerebral palsy is going from strength to strength in his new job.

Niel Barnard, who works as a porter at Asda Luton branch, was left in dismay after the local sheltered workshop where he spent over 20 years of his working life closed.

Niel was left redundant by the closure. It proved difficult for him to find another job and he remained out of work for two years. Three years ago, he landed a job with Asda Luton, where he has been ever since.

Asda Luton was closed in March due to a fire and he was one of the colleagues who moved to the Dunstable store, while it was renovated.

He said: “I enjoy my job, it’s really rewarding when customers praise you for helping them. I don’t let my disabilities affect my day to day life.”

Niel and his mother, Barbara, attended the store’s reopening last month as VIP guests.

Barbara, 74, said: “Niel has been working at Asda for three years and really enjoys his portering job. They really look after those who have special needs.”

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A man with more than 20 years’ experience of the waste management industry has become a director.

Phil Gudgeon joins the board of Cawleys Waste Management as director of waste collection and logistics.

He began his career in waste management as a drivers’ mate at the age of 19, then as a loader and a dustcart driver, to leading the sales team and depot manager.

In 2013, Phil joined Cawleys as waste collection manager and was most recently head of waste collection.

He now oversees and maintains Cawleys’ 70-strong waste collection fleet and was instrumental in the recent expansion including two new glass collection vehicles – the first of their kind in the UK.

Phil said: “As Cawleys celebrates its 70th anniversary in business, I couldn’t have been asked to join the board at a more exciting time. Seeing our recent fleet additions arrive, decked in the special Cawleys’ 70th platinum livery, was a special moment indeed.”

Managing director Jon Cawley said: “I’m proud to welcome Phil to the board.”

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Luton woman Bharulata Kamble has completed her charity solo, one-day drive from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

She is the first woman to ever undertake and complete this non-stop solo driving expedition to two extremities of Great Britain.

Bharulata completed her expedition without crew, back up team or a support vehicle.

Legal executive Bharulata, 44, covered the 874 miles in 14 hours 33 minutes.

She made the trip to raise awareness of the Save Girls, Educate Girls campaign that seeks to put an end to gender selective abortion.

Bharulata is involved in charities that provide free education and support to children from tribal areas in India, and she said: “Just providing education to girls is not sufficient; they need to have an equal say and decision making opportunities.”

Last year, she drove solo from the UK to India, covering 35,383km across 32 countries.

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A cot mobile has been recalled by its manufacturer due to fears that a part could present a choking hazard.

The Babies ‘R’ Us Jungle Friends Cot Mobile, with item number 171271, and marked mfr. 7731, could present danger following the discovery that the raindrops that form part of the toy can detach.

Customers should stop using the item immediately and return them to any Babies ‘R’ Us store for a refund.

No other products sold by Babies ‘R’ Us are affected.

Babies ‘R’ Us have today (Tuesday Augusy 29th) released the following statement: “On 15 June, we issued a voluntary recall of Babies”R”Us Jungle Friends Cot Mobile in the U.K. due to a potential choking hazard from 3-tier raindrops suspended from the centre of the mobile.

“We immediately stopped selling the item and have replaced it with our Babies”R”Us Jungle Friends Mobile, currently available on Babiesrus.co.uk. The tiered raindrops that were of concern in the initial recall are not featured on this product.”

The BBC is looking for people to take part in a new series which will follow people who are planning to spend winter abroad.

So if you live in the UK but are tired of miserable winters, Friel Kean Films are interested in hearing from you.

Anyone planning on renting a property for a couple of months or more between September and April 2018 can contact the makers of the show, who will then be helped in finding their dream winter home.

The TV producer, who are making the series for broadcast on BBC One, are looking for people from all walks of life - whether they’re taking their work overseas, or fulfilling a retirement fantasy.

The producers have already filmed the BAFTA-winning documentary The Scheme, as well as Money For Nothing, The Street, and Cashing In.

You can get in touch via escapeforthewinter@frielkeanfilms.com or by calling 0141 331 0318.

More people will die in fires caused by faulty white goods - such as tumble dryers - unless the Government takes urgent action, fire chiefs have warned.

The London Fire Brigade said that in the wake of the Grenfell Fire and following a series of devastating white goods fires in the capital over the past six years, the Government have yet to introduce any safety recommendations.

The call for action also comes one year on from a blaze caused by a faulty Indesit tumble dryer which spread through homes in a tower block in Shepherd’s Bush.

Now London Fire Brigade, the Mayor of London and other campaigners have written to Prime Minister Theresa May demanding action before more people lose their lives.

The brigade says one fire a day in London involves white goods, and June’s tragic fire at Grenfell Tower was started in a fridge freezer in a flat on the lower floor.

Between 2010 and 2016 there have been nine fire deaths and 298 injuries as a result of fires involving white goods in London.

Life-saving action

London Fire Commissioner Dany Cotton said: “What the Government needs to do to save lives is clear. London’s fire crews go to around one fire a day involving white goods, and it’s only a matter of time before there is another tragedy.

“How many more devastating white goods fires do there have to be before the Government makes it easier for consumers to check whether their fridges and freezers are on the recall list?

“Worse still, the second hand white goods market is under regulated and there is little to stop people buying kitchen appliances which pose a serious fire risk.

“We also want business to step up and change how some fridges and freezers are manufactured. All new refrigeration and freezing appliances should have a non-combustible backing as standard.

“Many models still use a flammable plastic backing, which offers very little protection against the foam inside catching alight if a fire starts.

“This is not the time for further reports and recommendations, it’s time to take action.”

Mayor speaks out

Joining the call for a government response is Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who said: “The Government’s delay in implementing these recommendations is simply inexcusable.

“With on average one white goods fire every single day in London, if an item is on the official ‘recall’ list, this information must be easily accessible so these fires can be prevented.

“The terrible tragedy at Grenfell Tower in June is a stark reminder of just how devastating a fire caused by faulty white goods can be.

“Now, a year since the tragic fire in Shepherd’s Bush which led to these important recommendations, the Government and manufacturers must urgently act to help prevent any further tragedies and keep Londoners safe.”

The Brigade has made a series of recommendations calling for action to make white goods safer as part of its Total Recalls campaign.

A coroner at the inquest of Santosh Benjamin Muthiah, who died after saving his wife and two children from a fire which was caused by a faulty Beko fridge freezer a their Harrow home, recommended a series of measures to improve product recalls in 2014.

However, the Fire Brigade say the changes are also still to be made.

London Fire Brigade’s recommendations include a single, publicly accessible register of product recalls, with international recalls to be included on the UK recall register, and for recalls to be better publicised to reduce confusion.

They have also called for greater regulation of secondhand appliances, changes to the way fridges and freezers are manufactured and for all appliances to be marked with model and serial number.

The Bank of Mum and Dad will fund £2.3 billion of rent for their offspring, contributing on average £415 to every payment.

Parents now helps 9 per cent of renters across the UK with their financial commitments to their landlords on nearly 460,000 properties.

The research, from Legal & General,shows that the Bank of Mum and Dad now funds over a quarter (26 per cent) of all UK property transactions, putting it on a par with the ninth largest mortgage lender in the UK (up from tenth last year).

Previous Legal & General/Cebr research showed the Bank of Mum and Dad will support £6.5billion of lending to first time buyers to get on the property ladder this year, meaning parents will fund some £8.8 billion in 2017 helping children to either rent or buy a home.

Dan Batterton, Fund Manager, Build to Rent at LGIM Real Assets, said: ““It is a real challenge for young people who are reliant on parental handouts just to make the rent. The intergenerational inequality that creates the demand for BoMaD funding continues to widen and now it’s affecting renters too.

“The lack of affordable housing, low wage growth relative to inflation and burdens of student debt mean that many kids can’t even rent somewhere without significant contributions from their family.

“Parents want to help their kids get on in life, and the Bank of Mum and Dad is a testament to their generosity, but it is also a symptom of our broken housing market.”

Luton Council will be resurfacing Dunstable Road, between the junction of Cardiff Road and the Telford Way Roundabout, as part of the highway improvement works.

The works will commence on Tuesday, August 29, for six nights.

They will be resurfacing the road from Inkerman Street to Telford Way and Inkerman Street to Alma Link.

Dunstable Road will be closed to traffic on these days from 8pm to 6am and any changes to the timing of these works will be displayed.

Traffic Marshalls will be positioned at the boundary of the works if drivers need assistance, pedestrian access and emergency vehicle access will be available at all times.

There will be no vehicle access to property within the works area.

For more information on Luton’s road works visit: www.luton.roadworks.org.

It’s official - trusting your gut instinct is the way forward for major life events.

A poll of 2,000 Brits revealed that instinct is the best judge when it comes to making big decisions such as buying a house or taking a job.

One in three admit setting aside logic and advice and ‘going with their gut’ on important life choices.

The survey also found three quarters believe their gut instinct usually leads them to a correct decision.

On average, the nation has had to trust its inner decision-maker four times per year - with three of those choices turning out to be the correct ones.

Nearly every Brit polled believe there is such a thing as gut instinct - with 93 per cent admitting it exists.

Correct decisions

A spokesman for online casino Casumo.com, which conducted the study, said: “It’s amazing how many Brits believe in gut instinct, and the perception that going with your gut usually leads to correct decisions.

“Our poll found that Brits are usually confident in going with their guts, and many people will go with their initial instinct despite advice otherwise.

“Almost all of us have, at one point or another, trusted our gut when it comes to a decision - whether it was a big one or a small one.”

The most common areas for us to trust our gut instincts are in relationships, at work and deciding on whether to become friends with someone.

Most found trusting their instincts paid off in other ways.

One man booked a once-in-a-lifetime trip for himself and his wife, who was unwell, to the USA. It proved to be their last trip together before she became too ill to travel.

Nightmare scenario

Another interviewed a candidate for a job who on paper appeared to have all the right attributes.

The employer’s gut instinct, however, said to pass. That candidate then went to work for a rival company, and turned out to be a nightmare.

Many suggested their gut instincts had paid off when making a bet, with one coming up trumps with a 250 to 1 winner in a horse race.

One in five Brits has had their gut instinct proved right by following their internal reactions despite advice telling them to do the opposite - although a tenth say this didn’t turn out well for them.

Half of the population believe people who have a habit of listening to their gut instinct are typically happier than those that don’t.

And when we have a really big decision to make, gut instinct is the second most important factor to help us decide - after seeking advice from partners.

It usually takes a week’s deliberating over a big decision like buying a house, a car or taking a new job, with smaller decisions like buying clothes reached in under two days.

The Casumo.com spokesman added: “Gut instinct is such a difficult thing to define. It’s just something within you that feels right or wrong.

“Some respondents described it as feeling like a compelling force, guiding the right direction - most usually coming from the pit of the stomach.

“And although gut instinct doesn’t always steer us in the right direction, the overwhelming majority of Brits think that their gut is trustworthy enough to follow, most of the time.

“Gut instinct can be an important part of reaching a decision - but make sure that you take on board advice from friends and loved ones as well.”

A cyber-attack on Electronics retailer CeX has compromised the personal data of up to 2 million customers, the company has confirmed.

Hackers walked away with names, addresses and phone numbers of 2 million CeX customers but no financial details were stolen.

In an e-mail to affected customers on Tuesday, August 29, CeX confirmed that they had suffered an online security breach that compromised personal data belonging to millions of customers.

Hackers behind the cyber-attack could not get their hands on any financial data but managed to compromise encrypted data from expired credit or debit cards that CeX stored prior to 2009.

Data compromised by the hackers includes first names, surnames, addresses, email addresses and phone numbers of registered CeX customers. Following the breach, CeX admitted that even though they had a robust security programme in place, additional measures were required to prevent such a sophisticated attack. The same have been implemented by the retailer with the help of a cyber-security specialist.

CeX has advised all registered users to immediately change the passwords for their webuy online accounts and to ensure that the old passwords weren’t used in any other accounts.

“Although your password has not been stored in plain text, if it is not particularly complex then it is possible that in time, a third party could still determine your original password and could attempt to use it across other, unrelated services. As such, as a precautionary measure, we advise customers to change their password across other services where they may have re-used their WeBuy website password,” the retailer said.

The retailer is now working with the police and other relevant authorities to find out who conducted the cyber-attack and exactly how much data was stolen.