#WCNOpinion "Firstly Covid-19 is a disease not a law and police & security should not be treating the public as the enemies." "2nd It can be hard coping with the disease that I or anyone in my family could contract on any day of any year." "And WE MUST WORK TOGTHER NO MATTER OUR DIFFERENCE not just during the Covid-19 Pandemic but also in our everyday lives we should always also help those around us that need our help such as people with #Autism I also have #Autism and that makes it harder for me to cope with a deadly virus running loose and autism makes dealing with things hard but NOT IMPOSSIBLE! and we MUST ALL WORK TOGETHER and support those with Mental Health struggles and with physical disabilities." "WE NEED YOUR HELP! to help others!" "And I have autism and it makes life around seem confusing and questioning and anxious about Covid-19, and not just during Covid-19 am I struggling with life but also during everyday normality and I want to help others around me that feel the same way and have understanding between both mine and there #needs." "WE CAN BEAT THIS TOGETHER!" "Having Mental Difficulties makes everyday activities more difficult and complex and you or I are not alone and there are people to talk to about life and whatever you want." "It`s important we all understand and support one another IGNORANCE IS BLISS and the IGNORANT are IGNORANT of there own IGNORANCE, if WE all understood one another this would make life easier for everyone." "SUPPORT, LISTEN, UNDERSTAND." Dwayne Hards DH WCN news

#bringonthevaccine Coronavirus still poses a significant threat, but there are no vaccines proven to protect the body against the disease it causes - Covid-19. Medical researchers are working hard to change that, and the UK government has ordered 100 million doses of a vaccine that isable to trigger an immune response and appears safe. Why is a coronavirus vaccine important? The virus spreads easily and the majority of the world's population is still vulnerable to it. A vaccine would provide some protection by training people's immune systems to fight the virus so they should not become sick. This would allow lockdowns to be lifted more safely, and social distancing to be relaxed. What sort of progress is being made? Research is happening at breakneck speed. About 140 are in early development, and around two dozen are now being tested on people in clinical trials. Trials of the vaccine developed by Oxford University show it can trigger an immune response and a deal has been signed with AstraZeneca to supply 100 million doses in the UK alone. The first human trial data back in May indicated the first eight patients taking part in a US study all produced antibodies that could neutralise the virus. A group in China showed a vaccine was safe and led to protective antibodies being made. It is being made available to the Chinese military. Other completely new approaches to vaccine development are in human trials. However, no-one knows how effective any of these vaccines will be. When will we have a coronavirus vaccine? A vaccine would normally take years, if not decades, to develop. Researchers hope to achieve the same amount of work in only a few months. Most experts think a vaccine is likely to become widely available by mid-2021, about 12-18 months after the new virus, known officially as Sars-CoV-2, first emerged. That would be a huge scientific feat and there are no guarantees it will work. Four coronaviruses already circulate in human beings. They cause common cold symptoms and we don't have vaccines for any of them. What still needs to be done? Multiple research groups have designed potential vaccines, however, there is much more work to do. Trials need to show the vaccine is safe. It would not be useful if it caused more problems than the disease Clinical trials will also need to show vaccines provoke an immune response, which protect people from getting sick A way of producing the vaccine on a huge scale must be developed for the billions of potential doses Medicines regulators must approve it before it can be given Finally there will be the huge logistical challenge of actually immunising most of the world's population The success of lockdowns has made the process slower. To know if the vaccine works, you need people to actually be infected. The idea of giving people the vaccine and then deliberately infecting them (known as a challenge study) would give quicker answers, but is currently seen as too dangerous and unethical. How many people need to be vaccinated? It is hard to know without knowing how effective the vaccine is going to be. It is thought that 60-70% of people needed to be immune to the virus in order to stop it spreading easily (known as herd immunity). But that would be billions of people around the world even if the vaccine worked perfectly. pandemic: What's the difference? Coronavirus lockdown: All you need to know about new measures Human trial of new vaccine begins in UK How do you create a vaccine? Vaccines harmlessly show viruses or bacteria (or even small parts of them) to the immune system. The body's defences recognise them as an invader and learn how to fight them. Then if the body is ever exposed for real, it already knows what to do. The main method of vaccination for decades has been to use the original virus. The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is made by using weakened viruses that cannot cause a full-blown infection. The seasonal flu jab takes the main strains of flu doing the rounds and completely disables them. Some scientists, particularly those in China, are using this approach. A Russian lab tests for infection with the Covid-19 coronavirus. There is also work on coronavirus vaccines using newer, and less tested, approaches called "plug and play" vaccines. Because we know the genetic code of the new coronavirus, Sars-CoV-2, we have the complete blueprint for building it. The Oxford researchers have put small sections of its genetic code into a harmless virus that infects chimpanzees. They appear to have developed a safe virus that looks enough like the coronavirus to produce an immune response. Other groups are using pieces of raw genetic code (either DNA or RNA depending on the approach) which, once injected into the body, should start producing bits of viral proteins which the immune system can learn to fight. However, this approach is completely new. Would a vaccine protect people of all ages? It will, almost inevitably, be less successful in older people, because aged immune systems do not respond as well to immunisation. We see this with the annual flu jab. It may be possible to overcome this by either giving multiple doses or giving it alongside a chemical (called an adjuvant) that gives the immune system a boost. Who would get a vaccine? If a vaccine is developed, then there will be a limited supply, at least initially, so it will be important to prioritise. Healthcare workers who come into contact with Covid-19 patients would top the list. The disease is most deadly in older people so they would be a priority if the vaccine was effective in this age group. The UK has also said other people considered to be at high risk - potentially included those with some conditions or from certain ethnicities - may be prioritised.

East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton has defended voting against measures to protect the NHS from being included in trade deals. On Monday (July 20), MPs voted to reject a Labour-backed amendment to the post-Brexit trade bill ‘intended to protect the NHS and publicly funded health and care services’ from ‘any form of control from outside the UK’. The amendment was rejected as 336 Conservative MPs, including Mr Loughton, voted against it in a move that appeared to fly in the face of Boris Johnson’s election pledge that the NHS would not be on the table during trade talks once the UK leaves the EU. Mr Loughton accused the opposition of playing games. “As usual this vote was on a Labour amendment designed simply to play politics and re-run the discredited old slogan about ‘wicked Tories wanting to privatise the NHS’,” he said. “I would never support that – as I have said constantly until I am blue in the face – but Labour have never been much concerned with the facts when they can repeat slurs infinitum. As I know from spending many nights outside Worthing Hospital over the last four months, NHS staff really appreciate the support they have received from this government.” Mr Loughton said the NHS was protected by ‘specific carve outs, exceptions and reservations’ in EU trade agreements, that his ministerial colleagues did not plan to alter when agreements become between the UK and EU. “The NHS will also be protected in any future trade agreement,” he said. “The price the NHS pays for drugs will not be on the table, and nor will the services the NHS provides – as per our Manifesto promise which stated ‘when we are negotiating trade deals, the NHS will not be on the table. The price the NHS pays for drugs will not be on the table. The services the NHS provides will not be on the table’. “UK law offers protections for the NHS and any changes would have to come before Parliament in order to be implemented.” MPs, including Mr Loughton, also rejected an amendment ensuring farmed goods meet current UK standards on animal welfare, the environment, food safety and other standards.

The average number of children back in school in West Sussex since the Covid-19 lockdown began is well above the national average, according to the latest figures. Primary and secondary children in selected year groups returned to school last month Nearly 22 per cent of all pupils – a total of 25,226 – were back at maintained schools and academies across the county, according to figures from July 2, significantly above the national average of 16.9 per cent. It comes almost exactly a month after the government asked schools to accommodate pupils from reception, year 1 and 6, alongside key worker and vulnerable pupils who have attended school throughout. The numbers of vulnerable children in West Sussex schools have been consistently higher than the national average during the pandemic. Teachers, staff, pupils, parents and carers have been praised for their hard work, understanding and patience during a challenging time for schools. Nigel Jupp, cabinet member for education and skills at West Sussex County Council, said: “I’ve been impressed greatly by the dedication of parents and carers who continue to look after their children and provide home schooling during these challenging and unprecedented times. “I would also like to share my sincere thanks with schoolteachers and staff who have been in class with many vulnerable children as well as those of key workers. On top of this they have continued to provide excellent resources for home learning to those children who have not been able to return to their schools during the lockdown. “I appreciate the frustrations of those who are eager to return, but we all share the same aim of seeing all children back in school from September.” The county council is assessing the government’s announcement on July 2 on plans to support the safe return of children to school and will be working closely with head teachers and other key stakeholders over the coming weeks to determine how this will be managed in West Sussex. Schools continue to be supported as they plan their future provision, based on their own risk assessments and local circumstances. The figures based on returns on July 2 show 4,617 reception, 3,800 year 1 and 4,996 year 6 pupils attended school. Schools across West Sussex have also continued to meet the needs of the children of critical workers and vulnerable children in all year groups during the Covid-19 outbreak.

A person has died after being hit by a train in West Sussex this morning (Wednesday, July 22). British Transport Police officers were called to the line in Chichester shortly after 7am ‘following reports of a casualty on the tracks’. A spokesperson said: “Paramedics also attended however sadly a person has been pronounced dead at the scene. “Officers are now working to identify the person and inform their family. “The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.” According to Southern Railway, disruption is expected until 2pm. A spokesperson said: “We confirm that, tragically, a person was struck by a train between Havant and Barnham at around 7.15 this morning. “Unfortunately, because the police needed to investigate the scene, we were unable to evacuate the 12 passengers on board until shortly before 9am, after a risk assessment had been undertaken in consultation with police and Network Rail to ensure the passengers’ safety. “Supplies of water were taken to the passengers in the meantime. “We arranged taxis to pick up the passengers at the nearest road access. “Replacement bus services are in place between Havant, Chichester and Bognor Regis. Disruption is expected to continue until around 2pm, and we thank passengers for their patience.” Southern said trains and stations may be ‘busier than usual’ during this disruption, which ‘could make social distancing difficult’. “You may prefer to delay your journey until normal service has resumed,” a spokesperson continued. “No trains can move between Barnham and Chichester. Trains that were initially held at stations between Havant and Chichester can now move forward but will terminate at Chichester. “Leave plenty of extra time for your journey today. Trains that run on the following Southern routes are being affected by this incident.” Whilst the emergency services are on site, the power to the track needs to be switched off in the entire Chichester and Barnham area. Southampton Central and Portsmouth Harbour to Brighton or London Victoria trains are only running between Bognor Regis and Brighton / London Victoria. These trains cannot run beyond Chichester so are terminating at Bognor Regis instead. You can use your Southern rail ticket on the Stagecoach bus route number 700 that runs from Bognor Regis to Chichester then onwards to Havant. Rail replacement buses are also running between Chichester and Havant, and Chichester and Bognor Regis. From Havant your Southern ticket can be used on South Western Railway trains to Fratton and Portsmouth, you will need to change at Fratton for trains towards Southampton.

Works on the multi-million pound project to widen the A259 are set to continue following Government intervention in the scheme. Preparation work in Angmering was stopped while a public inquiry was held about West Sussex County Council buying land for the £25.8m scheme, which will see two stretches of the road in Angmering and Littlehampton turned into dual carriageways. The inquiry was held in November, and a decision was published by the Department of Transport in early March, approving the compulsory purchase order – shortly before the country went into lockdown. Works will continue on August 10. Roger Elkins, cabinet member for highways and infrastructure at West Sussex County Council, said: “I’m pleased we can now make progress again with this scheme, which is so important for both road users and the local economy. An artist's impression of what the A259 improvements in Littlehampton should look like “Strategically, the dual carriageway will support the provision of at least 800 new homes and 8.95 hectares of new employment space. It will reduce congestion and so cut both journey times and pollution.” The inspector’s report said eight objections were made to the order before the inquiry began, with three left by the end. Those were Steven Lawrence, his wife, and their neighbours the Lanes, who all live in Toddington Park and whose homes would be affected by the scheme. Windroos Developments Limited, which owned some of the land the council needed, questioned ‘what provision has been made for the payment of compensation’. None objected to the principle of the scheme, the report noted. In response, the council said any detriment was ‘outweighed by the compelling case in favour of the scheme’ and that Windroos’ objection letter ‘was submitted before further information on funding had been provided by the council’ which outlined how it would pay the money. The inspector sided with the council in their conclusions. The work set to resume on August 10 will include tree and vegetation clearance, utilities work and archaeological evaluations between the A280 roundabout and Station Road in Angmering. The same works will also begin between Highdown Drive and the Body Shop roundabout in Littlehampton. None of the trees being cleared are subject to Tree Preservation Orders and an ecologist will be on hand throughout the works to ensure any nesting birds are not disturbed. There will be a replanting scheme at the end of the project, the council said. Minimal traffic control should be needed at this stage, so it is hoped there will be little impact on traffic flow. The main part of the construction work is likely to start in the autumn and will widen the same single-lane stretches of road in Angmering and Littlehampton – totalling about 2km – to dual carriageway. There will also be approximately 2km of new pedestrian and cycle route on the south side of the improved road. Much of this will be segregated from the road by a grass verge.

The A27 was closed in both directions around Southwick Tunnel this afternoon (July 22), causing huge tailbacks in both directions. Traffic queued as far east and west as Brighton and Lancing, as the A27 was closed between the A293 and A270. A spokesman for Sussex Police said a young woman was seen by drivers in a 'distressed state' on the footbridge off Foredown Road in Southwick just before 3.30pm. Officers closed the carriageway in both directions, police said, engaged with the woman and brought her down safely by 4.30pm. Police Vest Photo. The road was then reopened.

The air ambulance landed in Littlehampton yesterday afternoon (July 22). Crews arrived in Caffyn's Field, Littlehampton at around 4pm this afternoon after police said a man had fallen from the window of a nearby house. He was taken to hospital by road ambulance, police added. The air ambulance was not required.

Care home residents in England can begin to be reunited with one of their loved ones, the government has said, as it publishes new guidance. Visits will resume in care homes once local authorities and local public health directors say it is safe. Residents will be limited to seeing the same one visitor, where possible, the guidance says. Some providers began allowing outdoor, socially-distanced visits in June, in the absence of government guidelines. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it was now possible to "carefully and safely" allow visits to care homes, while taking into account "local knowledge and circumstances for each care home". People in registered residential care and those in nursing homes for people with learning disabilities, mental health or other disabilities in England will also be able to welcome visitors under the same guidance. Can I visit care homes now? Older people's rights under Covid to be examined Dementia patients 'deteriorating' without family visits The government said visits could resume after the rate of community transmission of coronavirus had fallen, but staff, residents and visitors should observe its guidance to minimise the risk of spreading the virus. It says care providers should consider whether visits could take place outside, without people having to go through a shared building, and visitors should stick to social distancing guidance and avoid hugs or handshakes. Ad hoc visits should be discouraged and providers should collect contact details of visitors to support NHS Test and Trace, the guidance says. Visitors should also be encouraged to wear a face covering and risk assessments must be carried out before homes reopen. Gifts for residents should be easy to clean by care home staff. "It is unlikely that they will be able to bring flowers but a box of chocolates that could be sanitised with wipes would be allowed," the guidance says. Care England, the country's largest representative body for independent providers of adult social care, said it was "disappointed" the guidance had come so late. Chief executive Professor Martin Green said: "This guidance should have been with care providers last month. "We are at a loss to understand why the Department of Health and Social Care cannot act quickly in a crisis or why it is deaf to the comments and input from the sector." It comes as the UK recorded the deaths of another 79 people who tested positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of deaths to 45,501. 'Mum needs reassurance and affection' Lesley Lightfoot says not being able to be with her mum Blumah, who has Parkinson's dementia, during lockdown has been "the most painful thing I've ever been through". For months, she stood outside her mum's north London care home, talking to her through a ground floor window. In recent weeks, the home has allowed some outdoor visits. But Ms Lightfoot wants clarity on whether the latest guidelines mean she'll be able to see her mum indoors. "To be able to see her outside doesn't solve my problem. I need to get in and be with her in her room," she says, adding that her mum's mental state has deteriorated with the isolation of lockdown. "She needs the reassurance, the love, the affection, the looking at things with her, the going through things with her." The government said it will be down to individual care homes, working with public health officials, to decide whether visits can take place inside people's rooms. In Scotland, visits to virus-free homes resumed earlier this month. In Wales, outdoor visits are allowed and in Northern Ireland, one person can visit a resident, with a second person accommodated "where possible". Sue Parker from Ovingham, Northumberland, who has a 29-year-old son with autism and OCD, welcomed the guidance but said it would not help in her case as it isn't an option to visit her son in his residential care home. She explained he would not tolerate relatives visiting his care home and would only accept leaving to his family home - something he did most weekends before the pandemic. "It seems throughout that it has been a blanket one-size-fits-all policy [for social care], with a focus on the elderly and frail," she said, adding that the new guidance seemed to be "disproportionate" for her son, given that he is young and physically fit.

Harry Dunn died in hospital after his motorbike was involved in a crash outside RAF Croughton The UK and the US have agreed to amend an "anomaly" that allowed Harry Dunn death suspect Anne Sacoolas to claim diplomatic immunity. A court hearing last month heard the "secret agreement" permitted Ms Sacoolas to return to America after the 19-year-old's death last August. He was killed in a crash near RAF Croughton, Northamptonshire. Speaking to the Press Association (PA), Harry's mother Charlotte Charles said the change was a "huge step forward". She said the family's campaign for Ms Sacoolas's return to the UK would continue.

Police in South Africa are investigating the hijacking of a lorry that was carrying Covid-19 samples in the city of Port Elizabeth. The lorry was hijacked while parked outside a clinic on Monday and abandoned shortly after, public broadcaster SABC reports. The samples are reported to be missing. They were contained in cooler boxes filled with ice. Health authorities have warned the hijackers and the public not to touch the samples because they are potentially highly infectious, the News24 website reports quoting an official from the National Health Laboratory Services in Eastern Cape province. Health officials are investigating the number of samples stolen before determining how many people to retest, the website adds. Some 2.5 million coronavirus tests have been conducted in South Africa. The country has the nighest number of confirmed cases on the continent.

The fire service were called to the consulate after people were filmed burning papers in the courtyard The US has ordered China to close its consulate in Houston, Texas, by Friday - a move described as "political provocation" by Beijing. The US State Department said the decision was taken "in order to protect American intellectual property". But China's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said it was "outrageous and unjustified". The statements came after unidentified individuals were filmed burning paper in bins in the building's courtyard. Tensions have been rising between the US and China for some time. President Donald Trump's administration has clashed repeatedly with Beijing over trade and the coronavirus pandemic, as well as China's imposition of a controversial new security law on Hong Kong. Then on Tuesday, the US justice department accused China of sponsoring hackers targeting labs developing Covid-19 vaccines, charging two Chinese nationals who allegedly spied on US research companies and got help from state agents for other thefts. Why did the US say it was closing the consulate? The US State Department released a statement shortly after Mr Wang spoke on Wednesday. "We have directed the closure of PRC [People's Republic of China] Consulate General Houston, in order to protect American intellectual property and American's private information," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said. She added the US "will not tolerate the PRC's violations of our sovereignty and intimidation of our people, just as we have not tolerated the PRC's unfair trade practices, theft of American jobs, and other egregious behaviour". Ms Ortagus also pointed to the Vienna Convention, under which states "have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs" of a host country. The consulate is one of five in US, not counting the embassy in Washington DC. It is unclear why this one was singled out. How did China react to the order? China called the decision "an unprecedented escalation", saying it violated international law. Mr Wang went on to say Washington had been "shifting the blame to China with stigmatisation and unwarranted attacks". He urged the US to reconsider, saying if it insists "on going down this wrong path, China will react with firm countermeasures". Liu Xiaoming: China is not the enemy of the US"In reality, in terms of the number of Chinese and American embassies and consulates in each other's countries and the number of diplomatic and consular staff, the US has far more people working in China," Mr Wang said. Chinese state media the Global Times began running a poll on which US consulate to close in response. In danger of a spiralling battle This is clearly a significant development in the diplomatic sparring between Washington and Beijing. The closure of the Chinese consulate in Houston comes soon after news emerged of the unsealing of a US indictment against two men accused of spying on US vaccine development on behalf of China's security services. It is not clear if the two episodes are linked. But it is clear that the Trump administration is determined to step up its very public calling out of Beijing. In the midst of a presidential re-election campaign and with the US economy and society battered by the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr Trump has determined that there is political advantage in playing the China card. It is hard to see how Beijing can avoid some equivalent response. The danger now is of a spiralling tit-for-tat battle, driven in part by US domestic considerations, which can only make the complex and developing tensions between the US and China even worse. What is happening at the consulate? The first signs something unusual may be happening at the Houston consulate emerged on Tuesday, when people overlooking the building's courtyard noticed several bins on fire. Footage shows people throwing what appears to be paper into the bins. It is not known who they were. People were later filmed appearing to pour water on the bins. Emergency services were called to the building on Tuesday evening. However, the Houston police force said on Twitter officers "were not granted access to enter the building", but did see smoke. Mr Wang did not directly address the fires in the consulate's courtyard, simply saying it was operating as normal. What is stoking tensions between China and US? There are a number of flashpoints between Beijing and Washington currently. Some of the most serious are: Coronavirus: President Trump has repeatedly referred to Covid-19, the first cases of which were reported in Wuhan in late 2019, as the "China virus". He has also alleged it originated from a Chinese laboratory, despite his own intelligence officers said it "was not manmade or genetically modified". In response, Chinese officials have suggested that Covid-19 might have originated in the US, without evidence. Trade: Mr Trump has long accused China of unfair trading practices and intellectual property theft, but in Beijing there is a perception that the US is trying to curb its rise as a global economic power. The US and China have engaged in a tit-for-tat tariff war since 2018 as a result of the dispute. Hong Kong: China's imposition of a sweeping new national security law in Hong Kong in June led the US to revoke the region's preferential economic treatment. Mr Trump has also signed a law to impose sanctions on officials who cracked down on rights. Beijing has accused the US of "gross interference" in its domestic affairs, promising it would retaliate.

The UK and the US have agreed to amend an "anomaly" that allowed Harry Dunn death suspect Anne Sacoolas to claim diplomatic immunity. A court hearing last month heard the "secret agreement" permitted Ms Sacoolas to return to America after a crash that killed the 19-year-old last August. #WCNharrydunnrulechange

#WCNBREAKINGNEWS UK and US agree to amend "anomaly" that allowed Harry Dunn death suspect Anne Sacoolas to claim diplomatic immunity.

There have been no new Covid-19 cases reported in MK over the past 24 hours. Over the weekend, two new cases were recorded, bringing the city total to 864 since the start of the pandemic. This figure includes Pillar 2 tests in the community as well as Pillar 1 tests through the hospital. Milton Keynes is in the bottom third of a list of 315 local authorities which reported their total number of cases per 100,000 population during the seven day period up until July 19. MK lies at number 220. But in the same table, neighbouring Northampton is 9th and Bedford is 30th. Nationally the death toll over the past 24 hours was 110 and the number of new cases confirmed during the same period was 445. The total number of lab-confirmed cases in the UK now stands at 295,817 and the total death toll is 45,422.

Face coverings become mandatory in shops in England on 24 JulyImage caption: Face coverings become mandatory in shops in England on 24 JulyThe head of London's Metropolitan Police has said she hopes people will be “shamed” into complying with new rules on wearing face coverings in shops. Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said police would respond as a last resort if shoppers without face masks refused to leave and were getting “aggressive”. She told LBC: "Our approach to the regulations has been throughout to only use enforcement as a last resort." She said the "vast, vast, vast majority of people do comply" with the restrictions. Face masks will become compulsory in shops in England from Friday. Different nations in the UK have different rules on masks. In Scotland, they are already compulsory in shops and on public transport. They're mandatory on public transport in Northern Ireland, and will become so in Wales from next week.

Australia sees its worst day yet in the pandemic, with more than 500 new cases. The head of the Pan American Health Organization says the virus shows "no signs of slowing down" in the Americas President Donald Trump says the pandemic is going to get worse, and urges Americans to wear face masks Leading Democrat Nancy Pelosi dubs Covid-19 "Trump virus" Health experts in the UK have told politicians Sars-Cov-2 virus will be with us for "decades" There have been nearly 15m cases of the new virus worldwide and more than 600,000 deaths.

Schools will reopen to all pupils on a full-time basis in September Schools, colleges and nurseries are to reopen to all pupils on a full-time basis in September, following months of closure due to the coronavirus outbreak. While it’s good news that schools have been given the green light to open their doors as normal for the start of the new term, parents who don’t send their children back could be landed with a hefty fine. ‘It is compulsory’ Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has warned that parents will face being fined if they refuse to get their children back into education. The Department of Education has confirmed that schools and local authorities will be able to issue fines of up to £120 to parents whose children do not attend school "without good reason.” Mr Williamson stressed that the planned return for all pupils in England is compulsory and unless there is a “good reason” for their child’s absence, such as a local lockdown, parents could be liable to a fine. Appearing on Sky News, Mr Williamson said, “We are making schools compulsory. We know how important it is for our children to be going back to school. “We’ve made it clear that it is compulsory - parents need to be sending their children back to school. “Ultimately if they continue to ignore the fact that their children should be in schools, if they continue to fail to work with the schools to get their children back well then at the most extreme level they could be liable to a fine.” Since the UK lockdown was imposed in March, only children in reception, year one and year six have been allowed to return to classrooms, but the rules now include other year groups if there is space. Secondary schools in England have also been allowed to welcome some students back from years 10, 11 and 12, as of 15 June. Plans for all primary children to return to schools before the summer holidays were scrapped by the government, with the full reopening now scheduled for September. How will pupils be kept safe? The government confirmed that current restrictions on group sizes will be lifted to allow educational institutions to fully reopen, as coronavirus infection rates continue to fall. For nurseries, childminders, and other early years providers, restrictions on group sizes will be lifted from 20 July, increasing capacity from the start of the summer holiday. However, schools, colleges and nurseries must keep Covid-19 secure measures in place to help minimise the risk of transmission between children and teachers once they reopen. This will include keeping children and young people in consistent class or year group ‘bubbles’ in schools, and encouraging older children to keep their distance from each other and staff wherever possible. These guidelines are to be implemented alongside other protective measures, including regular cleaning and handwashing, reducing the use of frequently shared items and minimising contact in corridors. The government will also provide schools and colleges with home testing kits for both staff and children who would otherwise be unable to get a test.

Here’s the latest traffic news for East and West Sussex this morning (Wednesday, July 22). According to reports, there is very slow traffic on the A27 at Polegate Bypass both ways between Brown Jack Avenue and the A22 Polegate Road (Cophall Roundabout). In the roadworks area. In Pulborough, sheep are no longer in the road on the A29 London Road both ways between A283 Station Road and Old Rectory Lane, say reports. On the A283 Market Square, in Petworth, traffic reports say the road is partially blocked due to a broken down lorry at Lombard Street. Traffic is said to be coping well. In Hawkhurst, according to reports, there is slow traffic on the A229 Rye Road both ways at the A268 High Street (Royal Oak traffic lights). In the roadworks area.

Emergency services have been called after a person has been hit by a train in West Sussex. A person was pronounced dead at the scene after officers were called to Swanley station at around 6am this morning (Wednesday, July 22). A British Transport Police spokesperson said, “Officers were called to Swanley station shortly after 6am this morning following reports of a casualty on the tracks. “Paramedics also attended, however, sadly, a person was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers are now working to identify the person and inform their family. “The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.” Southern Rail reported the incident on Twitter at 7.20am. The train company said in a series of tweets, “It is with great sadness that we report a person has been hit by a train between Havant and Barnham. “Trains are unable to move between Barnham and Havant. Trains in the area are being held at stations and won’t move forward until the emergency services deem it safe to do so.” Emergency services have been contacted for more information. Southern Rail has arranged for alternative travel including ticket acceptance and rail replacement buses. Tickets are being accepted on the following at no extra cost: Trains between Southampton Central, Portsmouth, Havant and London Waterloo. Stagecoach buses on route 700 between Chichester, Bognor Regis, and Littlehampton in both directions. The following ticket acceptance is in place: South West Railway between Southampton Central, Portsmouth, Havant, and London Waterloo. Change at Guildford for trains towards Gatwick Airport. Change at Clapham Junction for trains towards East Croydon. For more information, follow SouthernRailUK on Twitter.

What Powers do police have to enforce Covid-19 measures? Lockdown rules are changing across the UK. But who is responsible for making sure people follow them? Rules or guidelines? Police have the biggest responsibility for enforcing coronavirus laws - the rules that everyone must follow. These differ across the UK's four nations. But not everything you are asked to do is a legal requirement. Coronavirus guidance describes government recommendations to help control the virus. These are not backed by laws. Ministers have sometimes used the word "rules" to refer to the law and sometimes the guidance. Can police make me cover my face? In England, Scotland and Northern Ireland it's a legal requirement to cover the mouth and nose on public transport (although some people are exempt). Wales will introduce this rule on 27 July. From 24 July, the requirement will extend to shops in England - mirroring the position that came into force in Scotland on 10 July. If you refuse to wear a covering on public transport, police officers can stop you boarding - or direct you to leave. Police officers in England and Transport for London staff can also issue £100 tickets - but it's not clear yet how this will be enforced in shops. The Police Federation, which represents front-line officers, says they can't spend their time patrolling thousands upon thousands of outlets. Shop staff and security guards can already detain shoplifters while waiting for the police to arrive. However, the general power of the citizen's arrest is only exercisable to apprehend criminals committing offences that would go before a judge and jury. A penalty ticket for being socially obnoxious would not cross that high bar. Instead, police leaders hope shop managers will refuse non-mask wearers entry - rather than turning to the police to solve the problem. Can I hold a party? In England, the law allows you to meet in a group of up to 30 people outside, or at home. Outside means any public place - including beaches, parks, streets and the countryside. So if you want to organise a picnic or garden party, you can now invite 29 guests. If you go above that number, the police can turn up and force people to leave. They could issue you with a penalty ticket. Can I hug my grandchildren now? At-a-glance: What can I do now? These start at £100 (or £50 if paid within 14 days), rising to £3,200 for six or more offences. In exceptional cases, the Crown Prosecution Service could take someone to court. But, confusingly, the government wants people to do something different. Its official guidance - not actually a legal obligation - says: "You should only be socialising in groups of up to two households (including your support bubble) indoors and outdoors or up to six people from different households when outdoors." The law in England now allows even bigger formally organised gatherings, providing the people behind it can show they have a plan to minimise the risk of spreading coronavirus. Officers can turn up and inspect the organiser's written plan. They can order people to leave if they decide there are genuine dangers. Lockdown laws in the rest of the UK: Scotland: What can you now do? Northern Ireland: What has changed? Wales: What are the latest lockdown rules? Public places like beaches could close The law gets more complicated still. In England, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has an exceptional new power to completely close a specific public place. Sun-seekers urged to stay away from packed beach Visitors to Dorset beaches must act 'responsibly' And he has also given local councils a suite of new powers to close down premises, stop events and shut down places like parks. This could be used this summer to close beaches or beauty spots if there are concerns about crowds potentially spreading the virus. If the land belongs to the Queen or Prince Charles, a council will first need their permission before it can restrict access. If your favourite beach becomes what the law calls a "restricted area", it would be a crime to go there. Who can force nightclubs or bowling alleys to stay shut? The final part of the revised law in England covers the shrinking list of businesses still closed. These are places where there's thought to be a risk of spreading from close contact - such as nightclubs, indoor skating rinks and bowling alleys. Police have the power to close these businesses. However, in practice they're leaving this to local authorities whose trading standards officers can also enforce the law.

A man has been charged after emergency service staff were assaulted in West Sussex this week. Officers were attending reports of anti-social behaviour in North Street, Chichester at about 6.30pm on Thursday (July 16). Two PCSOs were subsequently assaulted, according to police. A man was charged with two counts of assault on an emergency worker and racially aggravated assault. A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "Police responded to a report of antisocial behaviour in North Street, Chichester, around 6.30pm on Thursday 16 July. "After engaging with the subject, the two attending PCSOs were assaulted. "Mark Bulpitt, 50, unemployed and of no fixed address, was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of assault on an emergency worker and racially aggravated assault. "He was remanded in custody to appear before Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 18 July."

Parents who don’t send their children back to school in September will only be fined as a last resort, West Sussex County Council has said. Nigel Jupp, cabinet member for education and skills At a meeting of the full council, Nigel Jupp, cabinet member for education and skills, was asked what would happen if parents who were worried about the pandemic kept youngsters away from lessons. In a written answer, Mr Jupp said the council understood that parents and children might be anxious about going back and would work with schools to help prepare them ‘for safe and managed return’. He added: “The education and skills service will continue to work with schools to engage with and support parents in getting their children back into school before considering issuing penalties for poor attendance. “Issuing fines for non-attendance is always a last resort.” Confidence was the key word, especially when it came to convincing parents that schools were doing all they could to ‘minimise health risks’ for the children – many of whom would be returning after almost six months away. Mr Jupp said: “We believe that work principally needs to build confidence and support a return. “However, should there be instances where all efforts to engage with and support parents prove unsuccessful in improving a child’s attendance then, in accordance with government guidance, the county council will consider whether fining would be appropriate.” Advice to schools from the Department for Education included: grouping children in ‘bubbles’ based on class or year group and avoiding contact between these groups; making sure those with Covid-19 symptoms stayed away; and not holding group events such as assemblies. Some headteachers, though, have questioned how easy it will be to keep children apart all day. And unions have accused the government of ‘rushing through’ the September restart, with no plan in place should a second wave of the virus hit.

#wcnthankyouNHS Almost 900,000 public sector workers are to get an above-inflation pay rise, including doctors and teachers. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said he recognised their "vital contribution" during the coronavirus pandemic. The Treasury said the money for the pay increases of up to 3.1% would come from existing departmental budgets. Labour said the rise would not make up for years of real-terms cuts and the British Medical Association said doctors had hoped for "far better". Nurses are not included in the announcement because they negotiated a three-year deal in 2018. Not all settlements will be UK-wide. Teachers in England, and dentists and doctors across the UK, will see the largest increases at 3.1% and 2.8% respectively Police, prison officers and National Crime Agency staff in England and Wales will be given a 2.5% rise in pay, while members of the armed forces across the UK will get 2% Members of the judiciary and senior civil servants across the UK will also see their pay topped up by 2%. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: "These past months have underlined what we always knew, that our public sector workers make a vital contribution to our country and that we can rely on them when we need them. "It's right, therefore, that we follow the recommendations of the independent pay bodies with this set of real-terms pay rises." More than 300 NHS workers have died in England alone after contracting coronavirus, many doing so while caring for patients. Remembering 100 NHS workers who have died. But shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds said the Conservatives had frozen public sector pay for seven years, and the rises they introduced after that failed to plug the gap. She said the pay rise was "good news" but added that it "won't make up for a decade of real-term pay cuts" for many front-line workers. "Many other public sector workers - including those working on the front line in social care - won't get a pay rise out of this at all because the Tories haven't made good on their promises to boost local authority funding," the Labour MP said. "That's not fair - and it's no way to reward those who've been at the forefront of fighting this pandemic." Kit Malthouse, the crime and policing minister, said the vast majority of social care workers were employed in the private sector so the government's "ability to influence pay rates there is limited". He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the government had been raising the level of the national minimum wage and it hoped that would "push through to these private sector jobs". After several months of sweating it out on the front line of an unprecedented crisis, this is some welcome news for almost a million key public sector workers. But economists say that once inflation is stripped out, average pay for public sector workers remains below levels seen in 2010, due to pay freezes, or very modest increases, in the years of austerity that followed. And departments won't get extra funding to pay for these rises, a reminder that the government is still having to watch the pennies and pounds as it faces the biggest deficit in its finances in peacetime. The Treasury claims the pay awards are assessed for affordability; that they shouldn't affect the provision of public services. But budgets are already under pressure in some areas - in schools, for example, where extra costs may have arisen and income streams from the likes of clubs may have disappeared. In those cases, these pay rises might well pose some tough questions. Every year, independent pay review bodies recommend pay rises for sectors, and the government said it had accepted all of their suggestions for 2020-21. The pay awards for the armed forces, prison officers, senior civil servants and NHS staff will be backdated to April, the Treasury said. However, the pay rise for police and teachers starts in September due to those professions operating on a different pay schedule running from September to August. Dr David Wrigley, vice-chairman of the British Medical Association, said doctors would feel "disappointed and let down" by the announcement as pay "has fallen way behind" where it should be and "we were hoping for far better" than the 2.8% increase. He told BBC Breakfast: "These are the sort of rises we'd expect to see in normal times, not in a time when many of us have not had a day off in six months and have been putting our lives on the line."

Police Police worked to secure a hospital in Brighton this morning after a member of staff was injured in a stabbing incident. A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the incident at Royal Sussex County Hospital. heavy police presence at the hospital. Police said: “The hospital site was quickly secured while officers have been working with security staff to confirm that nobody else has been injured, and that staff and patients are safe.” Police said the injuries to the victim, a man in his fifties, were not considered to be life-threatening. 1. Police respond to stabbing incident at hospital. 2. Police respond to stabbing incident at hospital. 3. Police respond to stabbing incident at hospital. 4. Police respond to stabbing incident at hospital.

Here’s the latest traffic news for East and West Sussex this morning (Tuesday, July 21). The A259 East Dean Road between Eastbourne and Seaford is partially blocked both ways, according to reports, and traffic is moving very slowly due to an overturned car at Upper Street. Emergency services have been contacted about this incident. More to come as and when we get it. In Angmering, there has been a road traffic collision involving a car and a van on Water Lane near Arun Angling, according to reports. Traffic is said to be coping well. Traffic news And on the A27 Arundel Bypass, both ways are partially blocked, according to reports, due to a fallen sign on the road between the A284 Arundel Bypass and The Causeway (Causeway Roundabout). Traffic is coping well, according to reports.

Fans of Frankie & Benny's can soon click and collect, order delivery or dine in, as some of the chain's restaurants have been given dates to reopen. Fans of Frankie & Benny's can soon click and collect, order delivery or dine in, as some of the chain's restaurants have been given dates to reopen. Further to the six restaurants that opened for dine in customers on 13 July, Frankie & Benny’s has now released a list of the branches set to reopen for dine in, click and collect, or delivery over the next few weeks. Restaurants that opened on 13 July Chesterfield Dudley Lincoln Merryhill Peterborough Doncaster Click and collect and delivery starting 20 July and dine in from 23 July Aspects Cribbs Causeway Stevenage Croydon Greenwich Retail Park Birmingham - Great Park Birmingham - Plaza Stockton On Tees Edinburgh - Fort Kinnaird Falkirk Hamilton Glasgow - Springfield Quay Click  and collect and delivery starting 27 July, and dine in from 30 July Basildon - Festival Park Burleigh House - The Strand Feltham Trowbridge Exeter - Marsh Barton Swindon Birmingham - The Fort Northampton - Riverside Eldon Square Newcastle York - Clifton Moor Metrocentre Glasgow Fort Basildon Click and collect and delivery starting 3 August, and dine in from 6 August Bristol - Cabot Circus Click and collect and delivery starting 10 August, and dine in from 13 August Ashford Maidstone Rochester Thanet Tunbridge Wells Soke - Festival Park Liverpool Edge Lane Cheshire Oaks Denton Scunthorpe Bury - The Rock Castelford Leeds Kirkstall Surrey Quays Romford Wembley Plymouth Bournemouth West Central Carmarthen Nottingham Leicester Kettering St Davids Cardiff Edinburgh - Ocean Terminal Glasgow - Braehead Aberdeen - Union Square Livingston Edinburgh - Royal Mile Lenton Click and collect and delivery starting 17 August, and dine in from 20 August Portsmouth - Gunwhaf Quay Great Yarmouth Norwich - Riverside Harlow - Watergarden Gillingham - Hempstead Valley Peterborough - Pavilions West Giltbrook Sheffield Arena Bridgend Merthyr Tydfil Oldham Warrington - Burtonwood Blackpool Leeds - White Rose High Wycombe Fareham Orpington Taplow Manchester - Printworks Chester - Broughton Park Trafford Centre What to expect when visiting Frankie & Benny's staff have commented that they are currently "following the strict Government and Public Health England guidelines and have worked incredibly hard to put measures in place that guarantee guests feel safe and enjoy great experience." "Guests will notice a number of measures in place to ensure theirs and our team’s safety. These include clear social distancing guidelines and signage, enhanced cleaning practices, mandatory health screening for team members and increased hand washing. The menus are single use and contactless order and payment will be encouraged as well," they said. Diners are asked to book in advance and will be encouraged to pay at the table. Guest contact details will be collected through the online bookings or order at table service and stored for 21 days as per the government track and trace programme. During the first days and weeks of reopening the teams will be asking guests for feedback through surveys, so that the dining experience is improving and evolving. Last month it was announced that several several Frankie & Benny's outlets were to remain closed permanently after lockdown, as certain sites are deemed "no longer viable to trade” due to the pandemic.

Letter from: Adrian Towler, Connaught Avenue, Shoreham. Your regular correspondent Eric Waters makes a very valid point about direction signs to toilets – something I have remarked on before. Yes, if you’re shopping in Shoreham High Street the toilets are not far away but is there a sign? No sir. One or two by the Marlipins would do the trick, especially for visitors to our town. Councillors, can we please stretch to it? The other popular topic, cyclists versus pedestrians, keeps cropping up and is there a solution for our nice Ferry Bridge? What might work is for ‘ped-east-rians’ to stick to the east side (Brighton side) and cyclists ‘go west’ (go on the Worthing side of the bridge). Again like the toilets, a few simple signs would not be prohibitively expensive and could make a big difference. No lines painted on the bridge – just people keeping to one side and avoiding cyclists.

Worthing credit union Boom! has donated 21 bags of groceries to Worthing Food Foundation, and given a pledge to continue with ongoing support. The foundation, formerly East Worthing Foodbank, helps families that are struggling to pay for essential food, and since March, has supported more than 200 people a week through lockdown. Graham Mayes, Boom! manager, said: “As an organisation, we are committed to being responsible lenders and making life better for our members and our communities. This is why we were keen to reach out and support the Worthing Food Foundation and the residents who use them. “We have more than 8,000 members and have provided more than half-a-million pounds in affordable loans to local families since the start of lockdown, all of whom now save regularly. “Boom! is continuously evolving as we aim to ensure that our fair and safe alternative to high-interest credit can be accessed by as many people as possible. We recently launched a new loan for key workers and our Family Lift-Off Loan gives families access to credit using child benefit. We now want to be able to support Worthing Food Foundation in a way that best supports its clients.” Boom! is a not-for-profit credit union for people who live or work in Worthing, giving them access to affordable loans, savings accounts and prepaid cards. It will maintain close ties with the foundation as it develops its services, giving foodbank users access to much-needed further support. Caroline Baxter, from the foundation, said: “We really appreciate this incredible generosity. Going forward, it’s going to be so important for organisations in the town to work together to support people who are struggling to afford the basics. “This donation and future collaboration will be a real lifeline for some of the families we support with food.” Volunteer Su Turley said the donation would make a real difference to the many families who are struggling to make ends meet. For support from Worthing Food Foundation, telephone 01903 442149 or fill in the Worthing Food Foundation enquiry form.

A Sussex mother and her three daughters who were reported missing have now been found and are safe, says police. Sussex Police said Hayley Williams, 42, and her three daughters aged seven, five and five, who were all reported missing from Brighton on Sunday (July 19) have been found and are all safe. Officers said this is a result of a media appeal issued by Sussex Police on Monday (July 20) and they thanked the public for their assistance.

Hundreds sign petition to save Rustington respite home for war heroes. On July 13, it was revealed that Princess Marina House in Seafield Road would be shutting its doors for good due to the pandemic and visitor numbers being expected to dwindle. The news sent shockwaves through the village and beyond, as the care home which acted as a holiday destination for RAF veterans and their families had been an institution since 1969. On Sunday, Ava Holland started a petition on Change.org to the board of trustees of the RAF Benevolent Fund charity, urging them to keep the home open. It picked up 1,400 signatures in less than 24 hours. On the post, she said she started it for her great-grandmother, who was a regular visitor. She said: “Family can come and stay too, and the people who stay can meet a lot of people who were also in the RAF in World War Two. This helps them make friends and relate their experiences with others.” She added: “This is such a wonderful place for people who helped save our country in World War Two and gives them the care and lovely holidays that they deserve. “We can’t let them close because my great grannie, along with many other people, absolutely love coming here, and after everything they did for us, it’s the least we can do for them.” Susan Moss signed the petition. The 58-year-old healthcare worker from Woodlands Avenue, Rustington, worked a few shifts at the home and described the staff as ‘well-trained, caring, considerate and friendly’ and has since taken other clients there for lunch. Susan’s father John Stickings, 82, was in the RAF for 14 years has also stayed at the home for the last three years when he comes to visit her and her family, because he struggled with the two flights of stairs up to her flat. Susan said: “I know one of the things which has got him through the Covid crisis is to think about coming down to Rustington and staying at Princess Marina when we finally meet up again. “My father lives in Derby so there is no way I can see him at the moment; it’s heartbreaking knowing it’s a possibility he will have nowhere to stay when the Covid crisis finishes.” Jon Street, chairman of Rustington Parish Council and army veteran, said: “I’m very saddened to see it going, and I hope that people who normally visited can find somewhere else to enjoy themselves.”

#coronavirus #wcn #worthing A Ford Prison inmate has gone missing while the open prison was in 'lockdown' due to the coronavirus pandemic. Police are searching for James Hutton, 30, who is wanted for absconding from Ford Prison on Tuesday, July 14, where he was serving a sentence for burglary, assault on an emergency worker and dangerous driving, a force spokesman said. He was described as being 6ft, of slight build, with short dark hair, clean shaven and with a scar on his face. He is also believed to have taken clothes with him and is likely to have changed soon after leaving prison, police said. A spokesman said: "Hutton has links to Eastbourne and Mitcham in south London, and members of the public are urged to keep an eye out for him in these areas in particular. "Anyone who sees him is advised not to approach him, but to dial 999 immediately." This comes as a recent inspection of the open prison in Ford Road, Ford, found that a temporary ban on prisoners going out to work in the community or seeing family was taking its toll on their wellbeing. Hutton absconded a day before bars, hairdressers and restaurants were allowed to reopen by the Government. Witnesses can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report their information online.

A man has been arrested over an incident involving a bloody machete, police said. According to a police spokesman, officers were called to Elizabeth Road shortly after 2.45pm today (July 20) after a member of the public found a machete covered in blood. One person has been arrested nearby on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a knife / bladed article in a public place, police said. Officers are searching for any person injured in the incident. Later this afternoon, forensics officers could be seen collecting the weapon from the scene of the incident, and a cordon was in place being guarded by the police. Witnesses can contact police online or by calling 101 quoting serial 774 of 20/07. A bloody machete was found today (July 20).

#wcnblacklivesmatter Footage on social media appears to show an officer with his knee on a man's head during an arrest The Met Police must formally apologise to a man who was detained while a police officer appeared to kneel on his neck, his lawyer has said. Marcus Coutain, 48, was filmed telling officers "get off my neck" as he was arrested in north London on Thursday. His lawyer Tim Rustem said the events "mirrored almost identically what happened to George Floyd", who died after being restrained in the US. One Met officer has been suspended and another placed on restricted duties. The Met "quickly assessed the incident" and referred it to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is conducting an investigation. The force said it would not be issuing any further statements. A protest against the arrest was held outside Islington police station on Saturday. On Saturday, Mr Coutain pleaded not guilty at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court to possessing a knife in public. Police said officers were called to reports of a fight in Isledon Road on Thursday. Footage posted on social media that evening shows two officers holding a handcuffed black man on the pavement. In court, Mr Rustem said the police should apologise. 'Deeply disturbing' Speaking outside court, Mr Rustem said the Crown Prosecution Service should review the case, drop the charges and offer a "formal apology" to Mr Coutain. Mr Rustem said his client was legally carrying a blade for the purposes of repairing his bicycle. "Essentially Mr Coutain was stopped and searched for matters for which he has not been charged," he said. "It is the use of what I would regard as excessive force, a knee being placed on his neck ... references which mirror exactly what happened to George Floyd in America. "A man saying 'I can't breathe' and 'get your knee off my neck', while he was already handcuffed and while he was restrained by two police officers." He said his client was lucky to have only "minimal" injuries to his wrists and neck, adding: "Fortunately it didn't lead to the tragic consequences that we saw in America." Deputy Commissioner Sir Steve House described footage of the arrest in Islington as "deeply disturbing" and said some of the techniques, which were "not taught in police training", caused him "great concern". In a statement, the Met Police said it had quickly assessed the incident, including the body worn video footage from the officers and their statements and justification for their use of force, and referred it to the IOPC. In Islington, about 30 people gathered outside the police station in protest against how Mr Coutain was arrested. The case has been sent to Snaresbrook Crown Court on 17 August.

Image Credit: CDC A coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford appears safe and triggers an immune response. Trials involving 1,077 people showed the injection led to them making antibodies and T-cells that can fight coronavirus. The findings are hugely promising, but it is still too soon to know if this is enough to offer protection and larger trials are under way. The UK has already ordered 100 million doses of the vaccine. How does the vaccine work? The vaccine - called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 - is being developed at unprecedented speed. It is made from a genetically engineered virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees. It has been heavily modified, first so it cannot cause infections in people and also to make it "look" more like coronavirus. Scientists did this by transferring the genetic instructions for the coronavirus's "spike protein" - the crucial tool it uses to invade our cells - to the vaccine they were developing. This means the vaccine resembles the coronavirus and the immune system can learn how to attack it. What are antibodies and T-cells? Much of the focus on coronavirus so far has been about antibodies, but these are only one part of our immune defence. Antibodies are small proteins made by the immune system that stick onto the surface of viruses. Neutralising antibodies can disable the coronavirus. T-cells, a type of white blood cell, help co-ordinate the immune system and are able to spot which of the body's cells have been infected and destroy them. Nearly all effective vaccines induce both an antibody and a T-cell response. Sample from patients are analysed as part of the trial. Levels of T-cells peaked 14 days after vaccination and antibody levels peaked after 28 days. The study has not run for long enough to understand how long they may last, the study in the Lancet showed. Prof Andrew Pollard, from the Oxford research group told the BBC: "We're really pleased with the results published today as we're seeing both neutralising antibodies and T-cells. "They're extremely promising and we believe the type of response that may be associated with protection. "But the key question everyone wants to know is does the vaccine work, does it offer protection... and we're in a waiting game." The study showed 90% of people developed neutralising antibodies after one dose. Only ten people were given two doses and all of them produced neutralising antibodies. "We don't know the level needed for protection, but we can maximise responses with a second dose," Prof Pollard Is it safe? Yes, but there are side-effects. There were no dangerous side-effects from taking the vaccine, however, 70% of people on the trial developed either fever or headache. The researchers say this could be managed with paracetamol. Prof Sarah Gilbert, from the University of Oxford, UK, says: "There is still much work to be done before we can confirm if our vaccine will help manage the Covid-19 pandemic, but these early results hold promise." What are the next steps in the trial? The results so far are promising, but their main purpose is to ensure the vaccine is safe enough to give to people. The study cannot show whether the vaccine can either prevent people from becoming ill or even lessen their symptoms of Covid-19. More than 10,000 people will take part in the next stage of the trials in the UK. However, the trial has also been expanded to other countries because levels of coronavirus are low in the UK, making it hard to know if the vaccine is effective. There will be a large trial involving 30,000 people in the US as well 2,000 in South Africa and 5,000 in Brazil. There are also calls to perform "challenge trials" in which vaccinated people are deliberately infected with coronavirus. However, there are ethical concerns due to a lack of treatments. When will I get a vaccine? It is possible a coronavirus vaccine will be proven effective before the end of the year, however, it will not be widely available. Health and care workers will be prioritised as will people who are deemed at high risk from Covid-19 due to their age or medical conditions. However, widespread vaccination is likely to be, at the earliest, next year even if everything goes to plan. Boris Johnson said: "Obviously I'm hopeful, I've got my fingers crossed, but to say I'm 100% confident we'll get a vaccine this year, or indeed next year, is, alas, just an exaggeration. "We're not there yet." What progress is being made with other vaccines? The Oxford vaccine is not the first to reach this stage, with groups in the US and China also publishing similar results. The US company Moderna was first out of the blocks and its vaccine can produce neutralising antibodies. They are injecting coronavirus RNA (its genetic code), which then starts making viral proteins in order to trigger an immune response. The companies BioNtech and Pfizer have also had positive results using their RNA vaccine. Image Credit: CDC A technique similar to the Oxford one, developed in China, also also seems promising. However, all these approaches are at the absolute boundary of science and have not been proven to work before. More traditional methods of vaccine development are also being investigated. The company Valneva is taking the whole coronavirus, inactivating it and then inject it. In total there are 23 coronavirus vaccines in clinical trials around the world and another 140 in early stage develoment. Will the UK get a coronavirus vaccine? The UK government has struck deals for 190 million doses of different vaccines. This includes: 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine made from a genetically engineered virus 30 million doses of the BioNtech/Pfizer vaccine, which injects part of the coronavirus' genetic code 60 million doses of the Valneva inactivated coronavirus These have been paid for even though it is uncertain which, if any, of the vaccines may prove effective for immunising a nation with 66m people. Kate Bingham, chairwoman of the UK Vaccine Taskforce, told the BBC: "What we are doing is identifying the most promising vaccines across the different categories, or different types of vaccine, so that we can be sure that we do have a vaccine in case one of those actually proves to be both safe and effective. "It's unlikely to be a single vaccine for everybody. "We may well need different vaccines for different groups of people."

A small primary school near Worthing will be able to remain open after it was granted permission to become an academy. Clapham and Patching school The Regional Schools Commissioner confirmed today that Clapham and Patching primary school in Worthing can convert to academy status and join the South Downs Education Trust, which includes Worthing High School. It comes after West Sussex County Council’s cabinet agreed to close the school in April, deeming it to be ‘financially and educationally unviable’. The decision came despite a council scrutiny committee asking for the proposals to be dropped. However in a letter sent today to the county council, Claire Burton Regional Schools Commissioner, South East and South London, confirmed the school could remain open. She wrote: “After careful consideration of the genuine cases for and against the closure of Clapham and Patching CofE Primary School and the academisation proposal brought forward by South Downs Education Trust, the Parliamentary Undersecretary for State for the Schools System, Baroness Berridge, has decided to issue an academy order. “In doing so she has approved the application for Clapham and Patching CofE Primary School to convert to academy status and join South Downs Education Trust, thus allowing the school to remain open. “The strength of feeling from multiple parties on both sides of this argument has been acknowledged throughout this decision making process. “Now certainty has been provided, I hope all parties can now move forward positively to make a great success of the school. “My office will shortly formally issue an academy order to the school’s governing body, and work with the academy trust and local authority officals to begin the process of converting the school into an academy.” Pan Panayiotou, the headteacher of Worthing High School and chief executive of the South Downs Education Trust, said he was ‘delighted’ by the decision. He said: “The news comes at a very challenging time for all our school settings and we know as a trust, that this news, will look to provide some clarity for all of the pupils, staff and parents with the Clapham and Patching community. “We are mindful of the journey ahead and are excited to be working with Clapham and Patching, staff, Governors, Diocese and the local authority in helping to keep the school open. “South Downs Education Trust will ensure that Clapham and Patching retains the Christian ethos and values that make it such an important part of the community and gives its unique inclusive, friendly and supportive environment.” The decision was also welcomed by Andrew Griffith, MP for Arundel and South Downs, who said: “After a long fight in support of parents and staff this is really excellent news. “I warmly welcome South Downs Education Trust who put forward a credible proposal to help save the school, and as the Minister says, I hope all parties can now move forward positively to make a great success of this historic school.” Mr Grifith had strongly opposed the decision to close the school, calling it ‘the wrong decision made with distasteful timing’. Parents were left ‘absolutely devastated’ and ‘angry’ by the decision and the prospect of having to find new school places for their children amid the lockdown – see more here. Responding to the news today, Jane Foster, whose five-year-old Christopher attends Clapham and Patching, said she and parents were ‘elated’ by the news. “We are all extremely happy that the school is going to stay open,” she said. “That’s got to be better than closing it down and saying goodbye to 200 years of history. “It’s a lovely school, it’s a beautiful building.” While she said parents did not know exactly what to expect from the conversion into an academy, she said they were heartened by the fact the trust wanted to retain the ethos of the school. “We are massively excited and happy with it staying open and just glad our children have a chance for a decent future there,” she said. West Sussex County Council has issued the following statement: “In October last year we started a consultation on the future of five small schools, in accordance with the Department for Education guidance and our 2018 School Effectiveness Strategy. “After considering all of the information available, Cabinet decided in April to issue closure notices for Clapham & Patching and Rumboldswhyke Schools. “Following these decisions, applications were made, independent of the council, to the Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) to academise the two schools. “We have now been informed that these bids have been accepted and it is the RSC’s intention for both schools to become academies. “The Department for Education did not comment on and were not critical of the County Council’s work and planning in relation to school effectiveness but have simply responded to requests from individual academy sponsors. “The concerns we raised around the viability of the schools still stand and we remain committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability of West Sussex schools. “We will continue to support the children and their schools and we look forward to working with the schools, the academy trusts and the RSC to support the process through the coming months. “We wish the children well in their future.”

A Sussex mother has gone missing with her three young children, police said. According to Sussex Police, Hayley Williams, 42, was reported missing from Brighton on Sunday (July 19) with her three daughters - seven-year-old Frankie Langley, and Betsy and Bobbie Langley, both aged five. A police spokesman said: "We are growing increasingly concerned for their welfare and are appealing for anyone who sees them to get in touch. "Hayley is white, 5ft 6ins, of heavy build with brown hair. The three girls are also white, and all with brown hair. It is not known what they are currently wearing." Hayley Williams, 42, from Brighton, and her three daughters. Picture: Sussex Police Hayley is known to have access to a light blue Mercedes car, and has links to the Twickenham and Isle of Wight areas, police said. Anyone who sees them or who has any information as to their whereabouts is asked to call 999 quoting serial 927 of 19/07. Seven-year-old Frankie Langley, and Betsy and Bobbie Langley, both aged five. Picture: Sussex Police

Some young people in Shoreham are running wild with drink, drugs and vandalism during lockdown, according to an Adur councillor. Joss Loader, independent councillor for Marine ward and head of the Shoreham Beach Residents’ Association, said she has received reports of, and witnessed first-hand, under-age drinking and drug use, late night noise and anti-social behaviour. While she accepted lockdown has been particularly difficult for secondary school pupils at a loose end, she said she was concerned by the rise in crime across the town. “I totally understand that life has been difficult for young people and nobody wants to stop them meeting their friends and enjoying the open air, now restrictions are being eased,” said Ms Loader. “The majority are well behaved and courteous and it’s great to see them socialising in the sunshine. “However, I’m really concerned by the level of under-age drinking and drugs use. If you walk out of The Co-op on Shoreham High Street you’re often hit by the stench of weed being smoked on Coronation Green. This is in broad daylight and in plain sight.” She said beach visitors were leaving litter including laughing gas canisters around open spaces and young people were regularly climbing into cars under the influence of drink and drugs. The fort was regularly vandalised – a recurring problem for well over a year – and vehicles were driving around the car park at speed, causing disturbances late at night. Teenagers had also been reported jumping off the Ferry Bridge into the Adur, she added. Joss encouraged residents to report all non-urgent incidents to police via 101 or online and to call 999 if people under the influence were seen at the wheel of a vehicle. Last week, 16 people were arrested after a police officer was attacked in the town centre. Superintendent Miles Ockwell, of Sussex Police, said: “We appreciate the concern this behaviour from a minority group of people is causing within the community and additional resources will be deployed to areas where groups are known to gather to deter such behaviour in the future. “We have a strong working relationship with local authorities and as a result of this close working, two boys from the local area were issued a Community Behaviour Order by the courts earlier this month. “Together as partner agencies we can, and we will, use a wide variety of powers, including criminalisation where other options are inappropriate, to tackle those who persistently cause anti-social behaviour and disorder. “We want people to go out and enjoy themselves in a way that is safe and doesn’t impact others and I would like to commend the young people who have been, and continue to be, behaving themselves during the Covid-19 lockdown.”

A man has been charged with the attempted murder of a Sussex hospital worker. Sussex Police said Connolly Mellon, unemployed, of Wilson Avenue, in Brighton, has been charged with the attempted murder of a 56-year-old man, who is a member of staff at the Royal Sussex County Hospital. Police said Mellon, 30, was charged on Sunday (July 19) and is due to appear in custody at Brighton Magistrates’ Court today (July 20). The victim was treated for several stab wounds and was discharged from hospital on Sunday evening, say police. #NHS

Letter from: Ron and Polly Lander, Cleveland Road, Worthing. "My wife and I visited the John Selden in Half Moon Lane, Worthing, on Saturday, opening day, and enjoyed a lovely lunch and much missed drink." "The welcome was great as always, and although all the required regulations were in place, nothing much had changed." "The following Monday evening we booked for our regular weekly evening meal, and found our normal table had been reserved." "It was great to catch up on some of the regulars and to feel life is beginning to get back to normal."

Staff volunteers at The Littlehampton Academy have delivered their 10,000th meal to vulnerable students and their families during the coronavirus pandemic. After the lockdown began in March, staff formed a team to make, pack and deliver hot meals to around 30 families for the first two weeks of lockdown, followed by the weekly delivery of food boxes. Freddie Tandy, who is a teacher at the academy and also a Littlehampton Councillor, said: “In our last few days in school before we closed back in March, we were already having discussions about how we could support our vulnerable students and their families in what was to become a totally unprecedented situation. “We managed to deliver more than 1,000 hot meals in the two weeks that followed lockdown, but when demand for the service continued to increase rapidly, it quickly became clear that there was no way we were going to be able to safely sustain such a service.” The Littlehampton Academy has delivered its 10,000th meal to vulnerable students and families As a result, the team of volunteers turned their attention to creating food boxes that would allow families to complement the free-school meal vouchers they were receiving, enabling them to create two freshly-cooked, nutritious meals at home. Paul Sanderson, the chaplain at the academy, explained “The food box idea started when we were contacted by Morrisons in Wick, who offered us access to around £1,000 worth of stock each week, which we were delighted to use as the basis for our food boxes, before passing what was left to Littlehampton Food Bank for them to use for their own fantastic work.” The volunteers from the Academy are now packing around 85 boxes each Thursday, feeding more than 300 mouths each week, with teachers and support staff from across the academy volunteering to be part of a small team that delivers the boxes. In the three months the project has been running, 47 separate members of academy staff have volunteered to be part of the programme, on top of their efforts to continue to provide education through online learning and platforms. Paul Sanderson explained that the delivery aspect was particularly important: “I think the fact we are delivering these directly to students’ doors in a socially distanced manner is hugely beneficial, as it means we get to check in with our students and their families each week, identifying any issues or concerns that might have developed, and doing anything we can to make this really horrific time just that little bit more bearable for our community. “We’ve already helped beyond food with provisions like sanitary products, books to read, and even white goods like fridge-freezers and washing machines!” Freddie added: “TLA has always tried hard to be at the heart of our community. These months have helped us build stronger relationships with our families, which has in turn helped us to understand how best to respond to their needs by listening, caring and reaching out.” In addition to the weekly support from Morrisons, the project has also been financially supported by Sussex Community Foundation, Sussex Police and the Tesco Bags for Life scheme, along with a number of generous donations from TLA staff, local residents and local churches, including All Saints Wick, Parkside Evangelical Church as well as the Rotary Club of Littlehampton. Reflecting on the generosity of spirit that the pandemic has brought out in the community, Freddie said: “It really has been an incredible response from the Littlehampton community to what we are doing, from the really generous financial support we’ve been given, which has allowed us to add further products to the boxes each week, right through to the waves we received and pictures we’ve had drawn for us by some of the young people benefitting from the food boxes.” As the summer holidays approach, the programme will slowly be wound down over the coming weeks, finishing with a summer special box, including treats and goodies to help the families see through the holidays, before a return to some sort of normality in September.

One Stop York treats elderly support group with their own Christmas party! Christmas came early for a community group, which support the elderly in York, thanks to One Stop. Over the last few months, the retail giant has asked its 10,600 colleagues – the length and breadth of the UK – to nominate a group or charity within their community who they felt deserved a traditional Christmas dinner. From a huge number of nominations, One Stop selected an elderly support group, which was founded and nominated by One Stop York store manager, Jo Stephenson. A group of 31 elderly residents were treated to a roast turkey dinner with all the trimmings, followed by bread and butter pudding. The meal was provided by Premier Chefs, who whipped it up at the Merchant and Taylors’ Hall in York, using many of the ingredients readily available at One Stop stores. Jo, who has worked at One Stop in York for more than 20 years, founded the group 10 years ago after realising a lot of her customers were elderly and could not get out and about much. She also helps them with daily tasks, such as getting their groceries home, picking up their prescriptions and even taking them for days out to the seaside. Commenting on the support group Jo selflessly founded she said: “They deserve it. A lot of them haven’t got anybody or they can’t get out for health reasons. We try to get them from A to B, getting family members involved, giving them lifts to places and we’ve even started to fundraise to be able to take them on day trips. “The meal meant everything; it was just the best! They enjoyed it so much and it felt so wonderful to give them something to really look forward to and enjoy. They even had their own One Stop Mini Eddy the Elf to take home with them and thanks to the support of Nestle, each guest was given a delicious chocolate treat. Liz Fox, Head of Store Support at One Stop said: “It’s the second year we’ve run a community Christmas meal for a group nominated by a colleague and we felt the York group were more than deserving. “The work that Jo has done there over the last decade is incredible and has brought joy to so many and it’s been wonderful for us to be able to support her further. It’s a testament to the community spirit that is at the core of our One Stop values.” Jo Added: “I’d like to think that if my mother or gran was still here that somebody would do it for them. We like to know that they have somewhere to go and people around them who care.” This year One Stop is supporting The Alzheimer’s Society through its fundraising efforts and a representative from the charity attended the event to show their support and join in on all the Christmas fun. #OneStopCommunity

Nearly three in 10 eligible jobs in Worthing have been covered by the Government furlough scheme, new figures show. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak departs 11 Downing Street, in Westminster, London, to deliver a summer economic update at the Houses of Parliament Figures from HM Revenue and Customs show around 14,100 claims to furlough jobs were made in Worthing by the end of June. That was 1,900 more than at the end of May, and means 28 per cent of eligible jobs had been furloughed. Under the job retention scheme, launched by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in March, the Government pays 80 per cent of employees’ wages, up to a maximum of £2,500 per month per employee. Jobs at firms which are unable to operate or have no work for their employees because of coronavirus are eligible for furlough. Across the South East, 29 per cent of eligible jobs were furloughed by the end of June, while the rate was 31 per cent across the UK. The figures show 9.4 million employments across the UK had been placed on furlough by the end of June, at a cost to the Treasury of £26.5 billion. The scheme will be scaled back in August, when firms start making contributions to the costs, and will close in October. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called on leaders to provide more support for businesses to ‘stem the tide of redundancies’ when the scheme ends in October. Mr Sunak recently announced that employers will receive a one-off bonus of £1,000 for each furloughed employee who is still employed by January 31 next year. However, the TUC warned it ‘falls short’ of what is needed to prevent job losses. General secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Mass unemployment is the biggest threat facing the UK. “Struggling businesses need more than a one-off job retention bonus to survive in the long run. “The more people we have in decent work, the faster we can move out of recession.” The Institute of Directors, representing business leaders in the UK, said broader measures are needed to help companies which have “fallen through the gaps” of support throughout the pandemic. A report from the Office for Budget Responsibility, the UK’s spending watchdog, predicts that 1.3 million furloughed workers may lose their jobs once the scheme ends. Furthermore, different figures show around 4,700 people in Worthing had applied to the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme by the end of June. From May 13, eligible self-employed workers could claim a grant worth 80 per cent of their average monthly profits for a three-month period, limited to £7,500. Claims made by people in Worthing amounted to £14.4 million, or £3,000 per person on average, with 78 per cent of those thought to be eligible in the area having asked for support. Self-employed workers can claim a second and final grant in August, lowered to 70per cent of profits and capped at £6,570. The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed said there was a ‘noticeable absence’ of support for the self-employed in Mr Sunak’s announcement. Andy Chamberlain, IPSE’s director of policy, said: “While the Chancellor has announced a measured and sensible end to the employee furlough scheme in October, freelancers are left to face a cliff-edge in August.” A tapered end to the SEISS would “address the imbalance” between employees and self-employed people, he added. A Treasury spokesman said applications for the final grant will remain open until October 19, making it “among the most generous schemes in the world”. “Many self-employed people will benefit from the jobs created through the Plan for Jobs,” he added.

Appeal after £60,000 worth of stock stolen from West Sussex toy store. The items are reported to have been stolen from Smyths, at Acorn Retail park, in Betts Way, Crawley, on several occasions between March and June, police said. A spokesman added: “Police released a CCTV image of a suspect, who has made himself known and is assisting officers with the investigation. “One suspect – a 27-year-old man from Crawley – voluntarily attended police interview in connection with the investigation. Sussex Police. web standing-images SUS-180108-084653001 “A further two suspects – a 31-year-old man from Crawley and a 25-year-old man of no fixed address – have been arrested on suspicion of burglary.” All three suspects have been released under investigation, pending further enquiries, he said. Police are urging anyone with any information to report it online or call 101, quoting serial 860 of 23/06. People can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report information online.

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Benyfit Natural Pet Food recalls various brands of raw dog food products containing beef. An urgent product recall has been announced by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) over fears some dog food products might contain salmonella. Usually sold through various independent pet food stores and online, the recall affects 11 packs of Benyfit Natural Pet Food. In a statement from the FSA, it said: "The products listed might be contaminated with salmonella. Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause illness in humans and animals. The products could therefore carry a potential risk because of the presence of salmonella, either through direct handling of the pet food, or indirectly, for example from pet feeding bowls, utensils or contact with the faeces of animals. Some of the dog food products might contain salmonella "In humans, symptoms caused by salmonella usually include fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps. Infected animals may not necessarily display signs of illness, but symptoms can include diarrhoea." The items being pulled are: Benyfit Natural 80-10-10 Beef Meat Feast - 1kg pack size Benyfit Natural 80-10-10 Beef Meat Feast - 500g pack size Unique Raw Duck, Beef & Ox Recipe - 1kg pack size Benyfit Natural Beef & Tripe - 1kg pack size Benyfit Natural Beef & Tripe - 500g pack size Benyfit Natural Succulent Beef - 1kg pack size Benyfit Natural Succulent Beef - 500g pack size Embark on Raw Natural Working Dog Food Beef Complete - 454g pack size Neew Dog Premium Beef - 1kg pack size Neew Dog Premium Beef - 500g pack size Unique Raw Chicken, Beef & Ox Recipe - 1kg pack size The statement added: "If you have bought any of the products do not use them. Instead, return them to the store from where they were bought for a full refund. When handling and serving raw pet food it is always advised to clean utensils and feeding bowls thoroughly after use." For more details of the best before dates, visit here.

Social distancing means keeping apart from people to restrict the spread of coronavirus. The rules and guidance are being relaxed across the country. Rules are different in each UK nation - and they will not ease in Leicester, which is currently under a local lockdown. What is social distancing? The original rule across the UK was that you had to stay 2m (6ft) away from anybody who was not a member of your household. Those rules have now been relaxed. You should still ideally stay 2m (6ft) apart, but if that's not possible, you can stay 1m (3ft) apart with extra precautions such as face coverings and not sitting face-to-face. In Scotland the exemptions to the 2m rule are only in some premises such as pubs and restaurants, and face coverings are compulsory in shops. And in Wales, while the 2m rule remains, the guidance is changing to reflect the fact that it is not realistic to stay that far apart in somewhere like a hairdresser's shop. The only people you do not have to distance yourself from are those you live with and those you have linked to in a support bubble. In England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, single adults living alone - or single parents with children under 18 - can form a bubble with one other household of any size, and visit each other's homes. In Wales, two households of any size can now join up in a similar "extended household". Also, in Scotland, children aged 11 or under no longer have to socially distance with others outside. Who can I meet outside? Outdoors in England, up to 30 people from two households can meet, or a maximum of six people can meet from multiple households. People from different households must maintain social distancing throughout. People who are clinically vulnerable and are "shielding" can now gather in groups of up to six people outdoors, including individuals outside of their household. In Scotland, up to 15 people from five different households can meet outdoors. In Northern Ireland, up to 30 people who are not in the same household can meet outdoors. In Wales,any number of people from two different households can now meet outdoors. How do I safely host guests in my home? In England, two households up to a maximum of 30 people can meet indoors and overnight stays are allowed. In Scotland, up to eight people from three different households can meet indoors while social distancing. In Northern Ireland, groups of up to six people not in the same household can meet indoors. In Wales, indoor meetings are still not allowed, but with indoor bars and restaurants due to reopen in August that will presumably be relaxed. The guidance encourages people to keep windows and doors open for ventilation. If you have guests coming for a meal, put crockery and cutlery in a dishwasher or hot soapy water (and then rinse in cold water) immediately after use. Experts recommend the following: Wash hands before and after preparing food, eating and washing up Put food straight on plates and don't use large serving bowls Avoid serving cold food which needs "handling" before and during meals, like cold meats or salads Use detergent or soapy water to regularly wipe down tables and chairs where people put hands, fingers and elbows - then wash the cloth. What about a socially-distanced meal out? Pubs, restaurants and cafes have been able to reopen indoors in England and Northern Ireland, as long as they follow safety guidelines. You should expect to: Book ahead Give contact details Follow a one-way system Be offered table service only Staff should practise good hand hygiene and social distancing, but they don't have to wear face coverings. The government advice to employers includes: avoiding face-to-face seating monitoring crowd density, and reducing the number of people in enclosed spaces improving ventilation changing shift patterns so staff work in set teams Read the government guidelines for staff in pubs and restaurants and hotels and attractions. Indoor parts of pubs and restaurants will reopen in Scotland on 15 July, while in Wales they can open outdoors from 13 July and indoors from 3 August. What is self-isolation and who should do it? Self-isolating means staying at home and not leaving it. People who have symptoms of coronavirus should isolate themselves for seven days and arrange to get tested. Symptoms include: a new continuous cough a high temperature a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell Other members of their household should isolate for 14 days and not leave their homes. If you test positive you will be contacted by contact tracers, who will establish who else you might have passed on the infection to. Anybody they deem to be at risk will have to isolate themselves for 14 days from the point of contact. In England, until recently, those categorised as "clinically extremely vulnerable", or "shielders" have also been self-isolating, but they can now go outside for exercise and meet up to five other people outdoors while social distancing if they want to. They can also form a support bubble. From 1 August, shielding in England will be "paused". The guidance in Northern Ireland is similar, but different in Wales and Scotland.

Scientists have drawn up a so-called ‘planetary health diet’ detailing the optimal eating plan for protecting both human and planetary health. If everyone were to follow the recommendations, red meat consumption would have to fall by around 50 per cent worldwide, but more than 80 per cent in developed countries like the UK and the US. In addition to this, dairy and sugar consumption would also have to dramatically decrease worldwide. The proportion of vegetables, nuts, fruit and legumes - such as chickpeas - consumed would need to roughly double. What would the meal plan look like? The report, from the EAT-Lancet Commission laid out what a typical “planetary health plate” would look like, representing 2,500 calories of intake per day. Half of the plate is made up of fruit and vegetables, around 500 grams, with whole grains such as rice, corn and wheat making up the next largest portion - roughly 811 calories per day. Plant protein sources, like chickpeas, as well as unsaturated plant oils also make up a significant portion of the plate. Dairy, animal protein (meat), added sugars and starchy veg should be kept to a minimum, according to the report. That would mean around one glass of milk per day, and just seven grams of red meat or pork - equivalent to less than two cocktail sausages. Just 1.5 eggs per week would be recommended. Perhaps controversially to some proponents of the vegan lifestyle, the diet does not suggest totally cutting out meat or dairy, with the option to eat it in small quantities. ‘Meat should become a weekly or fortnightly treat’ If the diet was successfully implemented, it’s estimated that it could prevent around 11 million premature deaths a year while also minimising the damaging effects of climate change, species loss and deforestation. “We are currently getting this seriously wrong,” said Professor Tim Lang, one of the authors from City, University of London. “We need a significant overhaul, changing the global food system on a scale not seen before in ways appropriate to each country’s circumstances.” The Eat-Lancet Commission brought together 37 experts from 16 countries specialising in sustainability, health, nutrition, economics and politics to develop the diet. They’ve stressed in the report that variations based on local availability, need and culture should be made, but in all cases meat would have to become a weekly or even fortnightly treat. Shifting to sustainable food production requires less food waste and not giving any more land to agriculture - as is currently happening in the case of palm oil production and animal agriculture, for which rainforests are being destroyed. The report’s authors suggest that livestock and fishing subsidies would need to end in order to successfully implement the diet. Marine conservation zones would have to be expanded, while encouraging shopping changes among populations would also be essential. WCN news

Residents in Sussex can look forward to a day of sunshine and pleasant temperatures. It will be a dry day with sunny spells, becoming locally very warm, according to the Met office. Temperatures will be reach 20 degrees celsius, and there will be a gentle breeze. This evening is expected to remain clear and dry. The sun will set at 9.05pm.