An athletic couple from Wing are taking on a big challenge this weekend as they swim six and a half km along the The Bosphorus strait, Turkey.

Keith Esdon, 61, and his wife Jennifer, 53, are taking on the mighty task in order to raise money for the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF), hoping to reach a target of £2,000.

For safety, the husband and wife duo will be completing their charity challenge with Swim Trek, who organise trips for travellers, The Bosphorus joining the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea in Istanbul, and separating the continents of Europe and Asia.

Keith said: “We are flying on Friday (July 21) and swimming on Sunday.

“Jenny and I started open water swimming only two years ago and this will be our biggest challenge yet. We have been training in lakes in UK but never out in deep water.

“We are not youngsters any more so these events become progressively more challenging.

“We felt that by taking on such a challenge in open water we might - fleetingly - understand what it must be like when you have no choice.”

Keith used to work in the field of science (infection and control), previously living in Cyprus and the Middle East, including Qatar and Syria.

He said: “I know a number of refugees and people who come to the UK and make fantastic lives for themselves.

“We have all seen many images of refugees in boats and a child on a beach; the world is becoming desensitised to this continual and growing problem.

“Our aim is to raise as much as we can for this worthy cause to make the seas safer for those in need.

“IMRF is a non political charity that helps fund and offer assistance to organisations around the world.

“It is a really great charity, not just for refugees, but for sailors, holiday makers and fishermen alike, as IMRF rescue those in peril at sea.”

Keith and Jennifer have previously completed the Henley Mile and Great North Swim, but this will be their biggest challenge!

The cross continental swim is around four miles from Asia, under the Sultan Selim bridge then across to the European bank just north of the Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridge.

To donate: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/keithjennyesdon

The countdown is on to Aylesbury Waterside Theatre’s first ever Stage Experience in collaboration with Vivo D’Arte and Aylesbury Vale District Council featuring 126 local performers.

The cast of 126 local performers aged 7 to 23 years will work together with technical participants starting with intensive rehearsals on Mon 7 Aug culminating in performances from Wed 16 to Sat 19 August on the prestigious Aylesbury Waterside Theatre main stage.

Participants are coming from across Aylesbury Vale, wider Bucks and neighbouring counties to get involved with cast members from Bicester, Berkhamsted, Oxford, Waddesdon, Chesham and Bletchley to name just a few of the areas represented.

The rehearsal period will be spent blocking scenes, learning choreographed routines and honing vocals for the much-loved iconic score. Around 300 costumes are being made for the production, and a creative team of nearly 20 professionals ranging from Director to Technical Manager, Set Designer to Head of Makeup will be working tirelessly to get the show up and running.

Oliver! is one of the most beloved and well-known British musicals that vividly brings to life Charles Dickens’ story of the boy who asked for more. With a host of wonderful characters including Fagin, Nancy, Bill Sykes and the Artful Dodger as well as the Workhouse children and Fagin’s gang this show gives many opportunities for all ages to have their moment on stage.

Vivo D’Arte’s Co-Founder and Managing Director Dan Cowtan said: “We at Vivo couldn’t be more excited to get into the theatre and create what we have been planning for nearly a year now. With this perfect cast and a production like no other, Oliver should certainly not be missed!”

Tickets are on sale now from the Aylesbury Waterside Box Office. Alternatively call 0844 871 7607 (bkg fee. Calls cost up to 7p per min plus your phone company’s), or visit atgtickets.com/Aylesbury (bkg fee).

Principal Cast Biogs

Theo Collis – Oliver – Aged 9 from Aylesbury – attends Aston Clinton School

This is Theo’s first performance as a principal cast member, although in his own mind he’s starred in numerous West End and Broadway shows! He is 9 years old and currently attends the Peploe-Williams Academy for Theatre, Dance, TV & Film in Winslow. Theo is a keen contributor to his school plays and assemblies and is an active participant of the school choir. He has performed with them at Young Voices: O2 Arena and the Echoes Concert at the Royal Albert Hall in 2017. He also appeared as the Dog Catcher and ensemble member in Annie Jr. at the Waterside Theatre’s Second Space earlier this year. Theo enjoys drama, singing, playing his keyboard, reading, football and has a great interest in history and politics! Theo is thrilled to have the opportunity to play the role of Oliver and work with Vivo D’Arte and such a talented cast.

Riley Bettie – Artful Dodger – Aged 11 from Buckland – attends Tring Park School for the Performing Arts

Riley studies Drama, Musical Theatre, Singing, Ballet, Tap, Modern and Street Dance at school. Riley has appeared in the West End as Gavroche in Les Miserables. He has also appeared on film in the Netflix production of The Crown and the Universal Studios’ film ‘Top Dog’ and is due to appear in the film of Dumbo later this year.

Casey Bird – Nancy – Aged 23 from Hemel Hempstead – studied at American Musical Theatre Academy, London

Casey’s passion for Musical Theatre was evident from a young age. Her passion and determination have taken her everywhere from the school stage to the West End. Recently studying at the American Musical Theatre Academy of London, Casey hopes to continue to develop her talents at a further drama institute next year. These broadened skills paved the way for her to make her West End debut in May 2014 in the Broadway revival of Godspell at the Lyric Theatre.

Connor Dyer – Fagin – Aged 23 from Aylesbury – studying at Guildford School of Acting

Connor first took the stage at the age of fifteen with Tring Festival Company’s production of Footloose playing Willard Hewitt and since then has been involved in various productions. He has recently performed the role of Action in Vivo D’Arte’s production of West Side Story at Frogmore Paper Mill again after playing Mark in RENT last summer. Connor is currently studying at Guildford School of Acting. Previous credits include: Fagin - Oliver! and Leo Frank - Parade both for Vivo D’Arte at Watford Palace Theatre; Link Larkin - Hairspray (Vivo D’Arte); Danny - Grease; Joseph - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat; and Bernardo in West Side Story.

James Penniston – Bill Sykes – Aged 23 from Chesham – studying at Royal Northern College of Music

James is in his fourth year studying BA Hons Music, Vocal Studies, at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, under the tutelage of Louise Winter. James has recently been accepted to study a Masters in Musical Theatre at the Royal Academy of Music this September. Previous credits include: Nathan Detroit - Guys and Dolls (University of Manchester Musical Theatre Society UMMTS); Benoît - La bohème (Vivo D’Arte); Anthony - Sweeney Todd (Vivo D’Arte); Tom Watson - Parade (Vivo D’Arte, Watford Palace Theatre), Isidor Strauss - Titanic (UMMTS), Chorus - The Merry Widow (Royal Northern College of Music), Raoul - The Phantom of the Opera (Vivo D’Arte), Thenardier - Les Misérables (both for Vivo D’Arte and Hemel Hempstead Theatre Company - HHTC), Anthony - Sweeney Todd (HHTC); Pish Tush - The Mikado (HHTC), title role - Sweeney Todd (Headington Theatre, Oxford).

Ella Chisholm – Bet – Aged 19 from Bovingdon –

Ella has previously performed in amateur productions of Les Miserables, Noah the Musical, and Oliver! (as milk maid). Ella’s credits include: Les Miserables feature film (2012); Monsters vs Aliens (CBBC 2013); Tripped (2015 TV Mini-Series). School production roles include: Isabella in ‘Measure for Measure’; Ado Annie in ‘Oklahoma!’

Kiera Harris – Charlotte – Aged 16 from Oxford – studied at Wheatley Park School

Kiera is a member of Sands theatre arts school based in Wheatley,Oxford and was recently cast as ‘Lola’ in Copacabana which we will be rehearsing for a July performance week. Kiera has also performed in productions of ‘Looserville’, ‘Fame’, and ‘Guys and Dolls’. Through school productions Kiera taken part in ‘Grease’, ‘Back to the Eighties’ and ‘The Wiz’ where she played the part of the tin man. She is also a member of Musical Theatre masterclass based at ‘The Umbrella Rooms’ Shaftesbury Avenue in London which is directed by Michael Xavier.

Finlay Power – Charlie Bates – Aged 12 from Leighton Buzzard – studies at Aylesbury Grammar School

Rare Productions - part of the Ensemble in The Wizard of Oz (2015) and part of the Workhouse Ensemble in Oliver (2016). Played the role of Lumiere in school musical production of Beauty and the Beast (2016)

Mrs Bedwin – Lana Dormer – Aged 19 from Hemel Hempstead

Lana previously attended West Herts college where she studied performing arts and played Kate Monster in Avenue Q. Lana has also performed in Rare Productions: Dorothy - Wizard of Oz and Miss Hannigan – Annie.

Lana is currently taking a year out of education to work and looking to go to university/ drama school in September 2017.

A terrified mother has revealed how “all hell broke loose” as the plane she was travelling on dropped towards the sea.

Nickola Tye was travelling back from a holiday with her friends in Ibiza when the plane she was on began to nosedive towards the sea.

The 39-year-old said that an alarm went off on the plane before she the captain told the crew over the tannoy to “prepare for an emergency descent”.

She said: “It was about half an hour into the flight and families were nodding off but all of a sudden the alarms went off.

“I’d never heard them on a plane before. That’s when the captain started shouting over the tannoy and all hell broke loose.

“The hostesses didn’t look as calm as you thought they might do in the situation and then the oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling.

“That’s when everything went silent. We were all in a state of total shock and the plane started to drop dramatically.”

The passenger plane was flying from Ibiza to Leeds with 180 passengers on board when what’s been described as a “minor fault” forced the pilot into the emergency dive.

The Jet2 operated plane levelled out as soon as it reached a safe altitude and landed at Barcelona airport.

The airline has since said that the flight was diverted due to a “minor technical issue”.

Nickola said that, during a rational moment, she decided to text her husband Nathan and tell her family that she loved them.

Nickola said: “I didn’t have my two young children or husband with me and all I could think was I’m not going to get to see them again.

“Because we were getting lower I was able to write a text to my husband. I said ‘the plane is dropping and the oxygen masks have dropped down, if anything happens I love you’.

“It was awful after we landed. When it’s all happening your brain goes into shock but when we landed that’s when it all hit us.

“That’s when people started crying. There was a woman at the front who could not be consoled.”

Nickola and her friends Lucy Colley and Kate Broomhead eventually boarded another plane back to Leeds around four hours later but many were too scared to get back on it.

Jet2 has since apologised to those who were on the plane.

Ever fancied a free day out at Alton Towers? Well here’s how - but only if you’re brave enough!

The popular theme park is once again running its Big 6 Challenge - but it’s not for the faint hearted!

To earn yourself a free day out, all you need to do is go to Alton Towers and ride all of the big rollercoasters in one day - easy!

If you want to take part, you need to download the official Alton Towers app, and once you’ve ridden each of the Big 6 - The Smiler, Th13teen, Rita, Oblivion, Nemesis and Galactica - check-in by scanning the QR code at the ride exit.

Complete the challenge and you’ll earn a free ticket to return to the park on a weekday between September 6 and 30.

See the website for more information.

A Leighton Buzzard man has been charged in connection with a burglary which took place in Riddy Lane, Luton, on July 19 (Wednesday).

Kane Lee, 18, of Wheatfield Close in Leighton Buzzard, was charged with four offences including; burglary, attempted burglary, and two counts of handling stolen goods.

He has been remanded in custody and will appear in Luton Crown Court later this year.

Police have identified the body of man pulled from Bedford river on Tuesday (18 July), as Zbigien Lasocki, 39, of no fixed address.

Emergency services were called to the Embankment at about 10.15am to reports of a man in the water. He was recovered from the river but pronounced dead at the scene.

A post mortem carried out on Wednesday (19 July) was inconclusive and the death is currently being treated as unexplained. Further tests are due to be carried out to try to ascertain the cause of death.

Now police want to speak to anyone who knew Mr Lasocki, who was also known as ‘Zibby’, or witnessed how he came to enter the river.

Detective Inspector Lucy Thomson, investigating, said: “We are keen to speak to anyone who was in the area of the Embankment on Monday evening or Tuesday morning. We have released an image of Zibby and I’d like to speak to anyone who saw him on either of those days.

“The details we have of Zibby’s life are also quite limited and we need to build up a much clearer picture of who he associated with and where he stayed.”

Anyone with any information should call DI Thomson in the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit on 101.

If there was one word used to describe the Beech House in Bucks it would have to be ‘buzzing’.

The atmosphere at Oakman Inns’ Beaconsfield venue is one of the best I’ve experienced yet, and not just because there was a 30-strong hen party enjoying a meal there at the time.

Opening a bar-restaurant in Beaconsfield is a difficult balancing act, after all it is officially one of the most desirable places to live in the UK.

Set on the edge of the Chiltern Hills within easy reach of London, Beaconsfield has attracted politicians, footballers and celebrities as a place to live for decades.

The picturesque location is always there or thereabouts when it comes to the Sunday Times’ 100 best places to live list and its reputation also means residents pay on average around £500,000 more to live there than elsewhere in the county.

Given that lofty status the town is also filled with a range of eateries and high class dining establishments and bars, so you have to get it right.

But Oakman - founded in nearby Tring in Herts - know a thing or two about that and the Beech House’s general manager James Stanton and his team have ensured it has become a destination venue for Beaconsfield and those visiting from wider Bucks, Herts and Beds.

The premises has humble beginnings as it started life as a 1960s newsagent. It has been modernised in true Oakman style, though, to make it a vibrant and welcoming place to enjoy a few drinks after work or a family meal.

Beech House is situated just around the corner from the train station making it easily accessible and that’s a good thing because after visiting once you’ll likely return as the food matches the atmosphere.

Beech House has become known locally for its artisan coffee, local beers and charcoal-grilled Mediterranean-inspired cooking.

After this visit I’ll remember it for the atmosphere, service and quality of the food.

The menu is a veritable feast for all tastes. From the handmade pizzas cooked in an authentic wood-fired oven to sumptuous fillet steaks from the Josper Oven.

The Josper oven is not just a gimmick either. The enclosed, charcoal-fired grill allows head chef Andy Hampson and his staff to smoke, slow-cook and roast the most delicious and tender meats, fish and vegetables adding immense flavour to the dishes.

If meat isn’t your thing, though, the menu also features gluten free, vegan and vegetarian dishes and children’s menus so it really does cater for all.

The Saltimbocca Scotch Egg is a personal favourite, in fact it is so good you’ll wish you could have it for starter and main. The dish consists of soft-boiled free-range egg, sage, prosciutto, sausage meat and hollandaise.

But then you would miss out on some other fine mains like the house burger which is a Josper-grilled Aubrey Allen British steak burger with mature Cheddar, smoked bacon, dill pickle, gem lettuce, red onion marmalade, tomato, ketchup and mustard mayonnaise.

The calamari is another must-try served with yoghurt, the lemon and chilli marinated calamari comes deep fried and with a delicious chipotle mayonnaise.

The desserts make life difficult for anyone with a sweet tooth, such is the choice on offer.

The strawberry and raspberry mess is a crushed meringue with whipped vanilla cream, strawberry and a raspberry compote.

But the star of the dessert menu is surely the toasted Belgian waffle with salted caramel ice cream and chocolate sauce.

A succulent and soft pork belly roasted for 12 hours is another big shout but make sure you’re plenty hungry for this one.

There is an impressive drinks menu featuring a host of popular lagers and the Bellini cocktails were prepared to perfection, which is a rarity even in the best bars.

The food and atmosphere is right up there as is the service which is a credit to the pub-restaurant’s excellent team.

But don’t just take my word for it, check out Beech House’s virtual tour online.

A swimmer will attempt to swim the English Channel next month, and raise money for four charities close to her heart.

At the end of August (weather permitting) Rose Hawkins, 24, of Eaton Bray and an ex-Manshead School pupil, will be attempting to swim the English Channel. Rose has always loved swimming, having swum for the county and club whilst growing up, and will attempt to swim the English Channel from Dover to Calais.

She said: “The Channel swim is 21 miles (shortest distance from Dover to Cap Gris-Nez) but there is a big chance I will swim much further than that depending on the tides and I expect it to take between 12 and 16 hours.

“To prepare for this challenge I am swimming about 21 miles a week which is roughly 1,350 lengths. I am not allowed to swim in a wet suit so have practised open water swimming at Lake Windermere and will need to practice eating whilst in the sea.”

Rose added: “It is something I have always wanted to do and although this is a personal challenge, I have decided to try and raise some money for some worthy causes.

“Marie Curie and The British Heart Foundation have already been a support within my family.

“Marie Curie is a charity that my family have personally had experience with and made a huge impact through a very difficult part of our lives.

“I am lucky that I have a big and close family, but for those who do not, Marie Curie can provide services that offer comfort, care and support for those with terminal cancer and loved ones around them.

“The British Heart Foundation is another charity that is close to my heart.

“The work of The British Heart Foundation is and has been central to the discoveries of vital treatments that are helping to change the fight against heart disease and prevent people prematurely dying from the UK’s biggest killer.”

Rose was inspired to raise money for Medical Detection Dogs by her own black Labrador, Tommy.

She said: “We have had Tommy for five years now and he has added so much to all of our lives but for some a dog can be life saving.

“Medical detection dogs can be used for all kinds of medical conditions, from assisting those with disabilities to detecting cancer.”

The final charity she is fundraising for is Willen Hospice, which helped a friend.

Rose said: “I would like some of the funds raised to go towards a local charity. I have chosen Willen Hospice due to the care they provide to those who are terminally ill and the particular help they gave a very close family friend. They also offer support for loved ones, providing comfort during a very difficult time.”

To sponsor Rose go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RoseHawkinsChannelSwim

A football competition for schoolchildren in Leighton Buzzard hit the back of the net thanks to a welcome donation from Taylor Wimpey South Midlands.

The leading local housebuilder, which is currently building at its nearby Roman Gate development, handed £500 to Southcott Owls FC towards the cost of an inter-school football tournament.

The tournament took place on Saturday, July 8, at Southcott Lower School.

Established by parents and run by a committee at Southcott Lower School, the football club is open to pupils in Reception through to Year 4 and regularly competes in local league matches and contests.

“The event is a way of raising funds for both the club and the school,” said Michael Monger, chairman of Southcott Owls FC and organiser of the competition.

“We strongly believe that every child should be given the chance to get involved with and discover a passion for football.

“As a parent, I’m keen for my children to have fun outdoors and be active, and I think that this is something that many others want for their kids. If the children discover a love for the game, we encourage them to come along to the club and train with us.

“Not only does playing at the club get the children active, we’re also strong advocates of respect in the game, which helps students with their understanding and tolerance of others.”

The club’s support for youngsters in football goes beyond the players – it also gives refereeing opportunities to local young people.

During the tournament, four local Sports Leaders – two Year 8 pupils from Leighton Middle School and two Year 10 students from Cedars Upper School – gave up their day to referee the matches.

Taylor Wimpey’s donation helped to cover the cost of the medals and cups presented to participants in the tournament.

Mr Monger added: “On behalf of the club and the school, I would like to say a huge thank you to Taylor Wimpey. Their donation was a huge boost for the club and helped us to promote the importance of grass-roots football.”

Gareth Jacob, regional sales and marketing director for Taylor Wimpey, said: “As a responsible housebuilder, we are committed to the communities in which we build our new homes, so we were delighted to make this donation to Southcott Owls FC.”

Managers and team members from 150 pubs are embarking on a fundraising journey into the City of London on July 30 in aid of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice.

Decked out in Spartan regalia, 300 managers and team members from Stonegate Pub Company’s Southern region will set off at 1pm on the 12.5-mile walk from the Danson Stables in Bexleyheath, taking the London Road into the City and arriving at The Alice in Houndsditch some six hours or so later.

Robert Hucker, general manager of the Lancer in Leighton Buzzard, said: “We are really excited to be joining the Spartan Journey into London in aid of Noah’s Ark. Our team at the pub have been gathering sponsorship and our customers can’t wait to see pictures of the impressive sight of 300 Spartans taking to the street in full dress in aid of charity.”

Adam Stothart, Stonegate area manager and organiser, said: “We see the tremendous amount of courage these young children have in fighting life-limiting conditions and thought it appropriate to honour that bravery dressing as Spartans. We will also be fundraising en route to add to the sponsorship money our teams across the south have already raised.”

Daisy Wilson, from Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, said, “We are delighted that the Stonegate pubs in the south have chosen Noah’s Ark as the beneficiary for their fundraising.”

As we head into a bit of a video game lull until things start to heat up in September let’s take a look at some interesting bits of gaming news doing the rounds at the moment.

From a new character for Street Fighter V gamers to a PlayStation 5 announcement and a look ahead to what is shaping up to be one of the most interesting games of the decade Days Gone.

Street Fighter V gets all new character

Abigail, the biggest lad in all of Metro City, is the next character to join Street Fighter V as part of the Season 2 Character Pass.

Previously appearing in the classic Capcom beat ‘em up series Final Fight, Abigail joins the Street Fighter gang on the July 25, and brings with him a fearsome set of bulked biceps and a passion for cars.

His skill set is said to utilise his considerable belly with the ‘Hungabee’ V-Skill, charge up your heavy punch through the ‘Max Power’ V-Trigger, or drive your opponent over the finish line with Abigail’s Critical Art.

Gamers will also get his Metro Bay Area stage as well as his Story and Premium Battle costumes.

PS5 is confirmed but no date set... yet

There was good news and bad news for PlayStation fans recently.

Rumours began circulating that the PS5 would be released in 2018 to compete with the Xbox X - which is due out in November.

And while there was confirmation a PS5 is in the pipeline, Sony’s Shawn Layden suggested the wait could be much longer.

Layden said that it would “probably be some time” before the PS5 is released, which suggests that talk of a 2018 launch is premature.

Days Gone alternate trailer

At this year’s E3 Sony showed off a gameplay demo of its action-adventure survival horror, Days Gone.

There was another version of this demo shown behind closed-doors, showing off the game’s dynamic events, and Sony has now released this version for all and sundry to see for themselves.

And I recommend checking it out on YouTube because Days Gone - due out early 2018 - looks like a video game landscape changer.

Could your kids be playing with a hidden fortune? According to new data, households across the UK could contain more than £50 million worth of highly-collectable LEGO.

The iconic building block toy has seen an average year-on-year increase of 12 per cent in value since the millennium, according to Zapper.co.uk.

That’s a better return than you’d get with gold, say the tech trade-in company, who in 2017 have traded tens of thousands in LEGO already.

However, they estimate that a potential £54m fortune – based on average LEGO trade-in prices – is sitting in attics, disused toy boxes and cupboards across the UK.

In total there are around 48 million pieces in the UK - enough to build a life-size replica of Buckingham Palace (and even a little Royal Family to sit inside).

The company say that loose LEGO still holds value and can be a great money maker for enthusiasts. However, it’s the rare and collectable items which are causing the spike in value, with some figurines and sets are selling for staggering amounts.

LEGO’s most valuable figurines

1. Mr Gold Figurine - £1,799.99

2. The Hobbit: Azog - £1,756.66

3. Star Wars: Boba Fet (Cloud City) - £280

4. Guardians of the Galaxy: The Collector - £278.27

5. DC Legends of Tomorrow: Atom - £170

6. Star Wars: White Boba Fet - £170

7. Star Wars: Lando Calrissian (Cloud City) - £115.94

8. Lord of The Rings: Bilbo Baggins - £75

9. Harry Potter: Professor Trelawney - £59

10. Harry Potter: Beletrix Lestrange Dual Face - £49.99

11. Harry Potter: Hagrid - £49

LEGO’s most valuable sets

1. Star Wars: Ultimate Collector’s Millennium Falcon – selling for £3,113.02 (RP £342.49)

2. Café Corner – selling for £2,499.96 (RP £89.99)

3. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Castle 5378 – selling for £1,617.46 (RP £69.99)

4. Harry Potter: The Knight Bus – selling for £221.03 (RP £29.99)

5. Star Wars: Death Star 10143 – selling for £3,189.99 (RP £249.99)

6. Green Grocer 10185 – selling for £1,629.95 (RP £99.99)

7. Lego Batman: The Tumbler, Joker’s Ice Cream Surprise – selling for £679.99 (RP £39.99)

8. Emerald Night Train Set – selling for £989.95 (RP £69.99)

Patrick Neill, CEO of Zapper, commented: “There’s more than 48 million pieces of LEGO in the UK, which means the potential for re-sale is huge. If the whole of the UK were to cash in on their collections, it would mean seriously big money. Of course, that’s not going to happen, but what our data does reveal is that there’s huge potential for those with LEGO collecting dust to make some fast money.”

Many loft-diggers have already got wise to the golden bricks, with some unusual ‘hot-spots’ in the top ten - which in total have shifted 624,500 pieces of LEGO this year to date.

Two pack sizes of Doritos have been recalled by their manufacturer due to allergy concerns.

The Chilli Heatwave snacks have been pulled from shelves by parent company Pepsico, because they contain milk, which is not mentioned on the label.

This means the product is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents.

The affected product details are: Doritos Chilli Heatwave, pack size: 150g with a best-before date of 07/10/2017, batch codes: GBC209 166 and GBC209 167 (time code affected between 23:47 - 01:00) 7174

And, 90g Doritos Chilli Heatwave, with best-before date of 07/10/2017 and batch codes: GBC207 166 and GBC207 167 (time code affected between 23:47 - 01:00) 7187

No other PepsiCo products are known to be affected.

A company statement read:

“If you have bought the above product and have an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents, do not eat it. Instead please call PepsiCo’s consumer care line on 0800 274777 for a full refund.”

Most of us can’t tell what’s wrong with a faked picture - underlining the threat to democracy by the spread of made up propaganda, a study shows.

A study of more than 700 people found four in ten couldn’t tell a fake picture from a real one.

Their success rate at detecting a phony image of a real-world scene was only 60 per cent, said scientists.

And even then those that did notice something wrong could only spot what it was 45% of the time.

The findings shed fresh light on the growing problem of fake news - seen during the recent UK and US elections.

Lead author Sophie Nightingale, a PhD student at Warwick University, said: “Our study found although people performed better than chance at detecting and locating image manipulations, they are far from perfect.

“This has serious implications because of the high-level of images - and possibly fake images - people are exposed to on a daily basis through social networking sites, the internet and the media.”

She said the phenomenon could endanger national security as well as democracy.

Ms Nightingale said: “The rise of photographic manipulation has consequences across almost all domains from law enforcement and national security through to scientific publication, politics, media and advertising.

“Currently however science knows very little about people’s ability to distinguish between original and fake images.

“The question of whether people can identify when images have been manipulated and what has been manipulated in the images of real world scenes remains unanswered.”

The study published in Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications used a bank of 40 images created from 10 originals sourced from Google Images - six of which were changed in five different ways.

These included both plausible and implausible physical manipulations to create 30 altered pictures.

The 707 participants in the online test were shown 10 images at random that included each of the five manipulated types and five originals and were never shown the same one twice.

An average 60 percent were correctly identified as being manipulated when participants were asked “Do you think this photo has been digitally altered?” - just over the chance performance of 50%.

But of the people that answered “yes” only an average 45 percent of manipulations could be correctly located when a grid was placed over the image and participants were prompted to select the regions where a change had been made.

Co-author Dr Derrick Watson explained: “We found people were better at detecting physically implausible manipulations but not any better at locating these manipulations, compared to physically plausible manipulations.

“So even though people are able to detect something is wrong they can’t reliably identify what exactly is wrong with the image.

“Images have a powerful influence on our memories so if people can’t differentiate between real and fake details in photos, manipulations could frequently alter what we believe and remember.”

In a second experiment using an image set created by the researchers 659 people completed an online task that tested their ability to locate manipulations regardless of whether or not they said there was one present.

The results revealed ability to detect something wrong was similar - an average 65 percent of the time - to the first experiment.

But manipulations were accurately located in the image 39 percent more of the time than expected by chance.

This suggests people are better at the more direct task of locating manipulations than the more general one of detecting if a photo has been manipulated or not.

Dr Kimberley Wade, another of the researchers, said: “People’s poor ability to identify manipulated photos raises problems in the context of legal proceedings where photos may be used as evidence.

“Jurors and members of the court assume these images to be real, though a manipulated image could go undetected with devastating consequences.

“We need to work to find better ways to protect people from the negative effects of photo manipulation, and we’re now exploring a number of ways that might help people to better detect fakes.”

Last year a study found up to 80 percent of students in the US couldn’t tell the difference between sponsored content and a real news story.

Fake news refers to news from dubious sources, advertising content, or stories that are just totally made up - but which still go viral on Facebook and Twitter.

Messages claiming to be from WhatsApp are being sent by fraudsters intending to steal banking and personal information.

Action Fraud - the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime - has received reports of emails and texts being received by long-term users of the messaging app, claiming that their subscriptions have expired.

However, WhatsApp stopped charging users in 2016 following the company’s acquisition by Facebook, who took over after buying it for £11.4bn in 2016.

The claim your “subscription will be ending soon” and ‘bill’ for a fee of 0.99p is an attempt to gather banking information.

It follows other problems for WhatsApp customers - last year some users were being tricked into downloading a fake ‘gold’ version of WhatsApp which infected Android devices with malware.

Users are advised that if they receive one of these emails or text messages, not to click on any links. Instead, they should delete it and report it to Action Fraud at http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud. Anyone who does click on one of the links, should run antivirus software to ensure your device has not been infected with malware.

The UK could be set to bask in three months of hot weather as an ‘African blast’ of hot air heads north to Britain.

Forecasters say the UK is likely to enjoy higher than average temperatures between July and September with highs of as much as 36 degrees predicted for the three month period

The first few days of this week will be unsettled with some areas experiencing showers, but following this, highs of around 30C will be reached in some parts of the country.

The Met Office’s prediction for July to September says: “The chances of a very hot summer are increased compared to normal, although relatively low overall.

“There is a shift in likelihood towards warmer-than-average conditions.

“For July-September, above-average temperatures are more probable than below-average.

“The probability UK average temperatures fall into the warmest of our five categories is 30 per cent. The coldest category is 10 per cent.”

And Brian Gaze, forecaster at The Weather Outlook, said: “Highs of 36C are on the cards this summer, with warm air expected to blow in from Africa. After a superb start to summer, bursts of heat ahead have the potential to be hot, hot, hot.

“A plume of very warm air could arrive from midweek, with temperatures approaching or exceeding 30C in the south.”

Discount clothes retail giant Primark has recalled pairs of flip-flop over fears they contain a chemical linked to cancer.

Three pairs of flip flops sold in the store for almost six months this year have been recalled by the clothes store.

A Primark spokesman confirmed the flip flops contain chrysene, which is commonly used in dark-coloured dyes.

The following product codes are affected:

Kimball Numbers:

Khaki - 02387/07, 08, 09

Black - 02387/01, 02, 03

Blue - 02387/04, 05, 06

The product was on sale in stores from the 4th January 2017 to the 2nd June 2017.

A statement issued by the firm said: “It has come to our attention that the footwear product detailed above does not meet the Primark usual high standards for chemical compliance. We have found levels of a restricted substance in the product in excess of the 1.0 mg/kg requirement.

“With the safety of our customers and respect for the environment at the forefront of our minds we have taken the decision to recall this product and are therefore inviting you to return this item for a full refund.

“If you have purchased this product then please return it to any Primark store where you will be offered a full refund. You will not be required to provide proof of purchase.

Whether you are a thrillseeker yearning for the great outdoors,or just fancy a more sedate break in calming surroundings, Britain’s 15 National Parks offer the chance to spend some time with nature.

And this year’s National Parks Week (Monday 24 to Sunday July 30) offers the chance to enjoy “Britain’s breathing spaces” - an ideal time to get acquainted with our stunning countryside.

Over the next seven days there’ll be farmers’ markets, treasure trails, seaside safaris and local food and drinks – and there are plenty more throughout the year. Check them out at www.nationalparks.gov.uk/visiting/national-parks-week

Around the country there are special events - in the Cairngorms National Park the Glenmore Summer Challenges run every day and include a Mini beast hunt; Tree bingo; and Wild art.

The Broads National Park has family events from July 23 -26 at Whitlingham Country Park, including music, food, family activities, displays crafts and more.

On Saturday July 29 Northumberland National Park will officially open its £14.8m state-of-the-art visitor centre on Hadrian’s Wall.produce and arts and crafts, there’s plenty to keep everyone happy for a visit or a stay.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park has its Wild Wednesday on July 26, a free drop-in event for accompanied 5 to 12 year olds from 11am to 3 pm at Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria.

From July 25 - 28 South Downs rangers will be bringing free family fun and a little bit of the National Park into towns around Sussex and Hampshire, offering lessons on making a bug hotel, testing your animal knowledge on giant jigsaws, and getting crafty making wildlife sashes.

Kathryn Cook, UK Director, National Parks UK says: “Our 15 National Parks are great places to visit all year round with space for the whole family to enjoy – so check out our top 15 lists for ideas, pack up a picnic and get out into your favorite National Park or visit one that you haven’t been to before.

“And if you’re stuck for ideas to keep the children occupied this summer check out our Mission: Explore National Parks adventure book – with 49 missions to keep them entertained all summer.”

Matt Adcock reviews Dunkirk (12A), directed by Christopher Nolan

Strong hearts are required for Christopher ‘Dark Knight Trilogy’ Nolan’s homage to and reverent retelling of the desperate evacuation of the Allied forces who found themselves cut off, surrounded and hunted by the German army. With roughly 400,000 men stuck on the beaches of Dunkirk in France, under constant attack from German planes and with very limited access for ships to land and pick them up, the situation was dire.

The sheer hopelessness of the Allies' position is tangible as the viewers are thrown straight into the plight of young Tommy (excellent newcomer Fionn Whitehead). As his squad are mown down, he finds himself alone and daunted when he makes it to the beach only to find thousands of men queuing for to take their chance on a ship – most of which are picked off by enemy U-boats and aircraft before they get far.

Tommy comes across private Gibson (Aneurin Barnard) and together they try to find a way off the beach. Their story is just one of the three main perspectives from which the historic tale is told – the others being a small civilian boat whose crew answer the call to try and get across the channel and help picking up the soldiers and the brave attempts of the RAF Spitfire pilots to try and keep the German planes at bay.

Told in a powerful non chronological order, the non linear plotting keeps you guessing as the intensity of the events unfolding before you – who (if anyone) will make if off the beach and what will be left of them physically and mentally.

The film-making is of the highest order, some of the cinematic shots will stay with you for the rest of your life and they are made even more powerful by an incredible score from Hans Zimmer which encompasses heartbeats, stopwatches and the screech of machinery.

I had the honour of watching this a few seats away from an actual Dunkirk survivor who was in his 90s. He cried throughout the film and I can’t imagine what it must have been like to experience the fear, confusion and utter turmoil of these desperate events brought back so vividly.

It slammed home that this wasn’t a dramatic plot dreamt up to thrill audiences but rather a terrible reminder of a time when hell came to earth and thousands of men lost their lives.

No one character carries this film – sure there are Harry Styles and Tom Hardy on hand but everyone does their part in fine style, without glorifying the situation.

This is a must see cinematic event – we will not forget those who died for our freedom.

A man who stalked a singer from Leighton Buzzard has been handed a restraining order.

Leslie Rix, 69, of Brocket Court, Luton, was sentenced at Luton Magistrates Court on July 11 after stalking jazz singer Tina May in Leighton Buzzard over a five month period.

Rix’s stalking began in December last year. He turned up at Ms May’s home on two occasions, left various voicemails and also attended numerous gigs she was performing at.

Rix was made to pay £85 costs. Ms May has been approached by the LBO for comment.