Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service opens new control room after move
The project took 18 months to complete, which the council said was "a short timeframe for a project of this scale". Twenty-three new members of staff have been hired to work in the control room.
The council said it would be collaborating with Norfolk and Hertfordshire fire services, which were adopting the same technology systems. It said the control room could see calls being handled in those counties during busy periods or during larger emergencies such as flooding. The new technology allows control room staff to work remotely, however the BBC understands it would only be used where necessary, such as if the building needed to be evacuated or weather conditions stopped staff from getting to work, rather than routine working from home.
Jon Lacey, the chief fire officer for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, said: "This project is about making sure every call for help is answered with speed, precision and care. "Bringing services back into the county was a decisive move to put Suffolk's residents and public value at the heart of emergency response."
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BBC News
12 minutes ago
- BBC News
Dog rescued after living in Cotswold countryside for months
A lurcher dog that had been living as a stray for several months, has been caught by an animal rescue Ark Rescue worked with staff at O'Neill Racing to trap the female lurcher after it began to be regularly spotted in the grounds of the horse racing training yard in Temple Guiting, near is thought the dog had been hunting wild animals to survive but nearby farmers had become concerned that it may disturb sheep as they were preparing to lamb."They know how to survive. They live on rabbits, hares, everything - they don't want to come near people," said Jen Coles, founder of Noah's Ark Rescue. Staff at the race horse training centre, owned by successful trainer Jonjo O'Neill, had been feeding the dog to gain its trust and lure it closer into the dog was caught in a modified pen, with a laser beam to trigger the cage to close when an animal trap has recently been used to catch two other dogs, including another lurcher in Nailsworth that had survived alone for two weeks. 'The right home' Ms Coles said the dog will "get a new home," after being assessed and quarantined with a dog warden."They'll figure a bit more out about her and see how her temperament is and then its a case of finding the right home," she said."Running in the wild is all adrenaline fuelled - they're sort of in a panic mode but as soon as she was in the van she just slept."Lurchers are a greyhound cross so they're built for speed and can cover miles in minutes - they know how to hunt but she was obviously hungry that night because she took the food," Ms Coles added. Ms Cole said she had been trapping dogs alongside her partner for about 20 rescue service works with a drone company to locate lost and stray District Council said that anyone who encounters a lost or stray dog should check the area for an owner before reporting the dog to them. They also reminded dog owners to ensure their pet is microchipped, which is a legal requirement.
The Guardian
12 minutes ago
- The Guardian
The best kettles to save energy and speed up your cuppa, tested
Despite the march of progress, the humble kettle remains a kitchen staple. It's what we turn to in times of strife, when spirits are flagging, or to start our day. And when a visitor calls, one of the first things we do is put the kettle on. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. While many small appliances have evolved beyond their original form, the kettle's basic principles remain largely unchanged. Water goes in and heats up until a thermostat switches it off; the water then pours out, and we enjoy a cuppa. However, the technology that goes into a kettle has been slowly improving: better insulation to keep water hotter for longer and reduce reboils; different temperature settings to suit every drink from green tea to herbal brews; and more features such as filters and concealed elements to keep scale out of our cups. When your existing kettle makes its last brew and must be taken to the big recycling centre in the sky, it pays to check out what's on offer to replace it. The next one you buy may make more of a difference to your day than you might think. Best kettle overall: Bosch Sky kettle£76 at Amazon Best budget kettle: Kenwood Ripple kettle£29.99 at Kenwood The forever kettle Dualit Classic kettle£140 at Currys Best quiet kettle:Zwilling Enfinigy Pro kettle£139 at Zwilling Best budget variable temperature kettle: Lakeland Digital double-walled kettle£44.99 at Lakeland When a friend heard I was writing this, she asked me, 'Aren't all kettles the same? They all boil water, don't they?' And while she's right about the second part, it took me at least 15 minutes to explain why she was wrong about the first. I've been testing kettles for years and they vary greatly – in design, weight, ease of maintenance, ease of use and build quality. Some will last for decades while others will barely make it past the basic guarantee period. In short, yes, all kettles boil water – but they are far from being all the same. As you can imagine, I boiled a lot of water. Litres upon litres of the stuff. Enough to turn my kitchen into the steamiest hammam and clear my pores of blackheads I've had since I was a teenager. But testing wasn't just about making gallons of tea and having a deep skin cleanse on the cheap. I also brought a lot of gadgets to the party: a power meter to assess electricity use for each kettle when boiling exactly one litre of water from cold; a timer to measure how long that took; and a probe thermometer to gauge how long it took for the kettle to click off once it had reached boiling point. External temperature was measured using an infrared thermometer and the highest reading noted, while maximum noise levels were recorded with the Decibel X app. After boiling, water temperature was checked at the 30-minute, one- and two-hour points to see how much it had cooled. I tested 12 kettles in total. Those we tested but haven't included are Currys Essentials C17JKW17 jug kettle, which is a snip at £8.99 but lacks durability, and the Russell Hobbs Travel Light white small kettle 23840, which is probably one of the best travel kettles you can buy at £20, but took almost six minutes to boil its 850ml. The ones that made the cut were selected on the basis of good energy efficiency or low minimum fill, plus ease of use or maintenance. Value for money has also been considered, as have longer guarantees and durable build quality that should translate into a lengthy lifespan for the appliance. All samples have been returned to their supplier or donated to Caterham Round Table to raise funds for local causes and charity projects. £100 at John Lewis£76 at Amazon Offering variable temperatures and a double-walled stainless-steel housing, the 3kW Sky is a brilliant blend of robust form and function. It boasts a low minimum boil (300ml), a keep-warm setting and touch controls. Why we love itI found it difficult to select a best kettle from so many that performed well, but the Bosch Sky clinched it because it's such a good all-rounder that will suit most people. It pours well, has a button that's within easy reach of the handle so it's simple to open the lid without touching it, and it's insulated so the exterior doesn't become too hot to touch. From a design perspective, it has a more industrial feel than many others – no frippery here – but not too modern that it wouldn't fit into most kitchens. Its display is thoughtfully designed, easy to keep clean and lights up as it heats. The exterior doesn't get too hot (up to 40C), and while it wasn't the fastest to boil in testing, it was only seconds behind the Dualit below. It clicked off at boiling point, and the water was still a toasty 78C 30 minutes later. At the hour point, it was 66C, and two hours 52C, meaning you'll spend less time and energy reboiling. It's a shame that … its premium look ends at the handle, which seems cheap and plasticky next to the sleek aesthetic of the rest of it. Time to boil one litre: 2mins 22secsMinimum fill: 300mlPower use: 0.112kWh = 3p at 25.73p per kWhMatching toaster? YesMaximum noise recorded: 59dBTemperature settings: 70C, 75C, 80C, 85C, 90C, 95C, 100C, keep warmWarranty: two years £29.99 at Kenwood£29.99 at Amazon Available in four 'ocean-inspired' shades – eggshell blue, storm blue, pure white and midnight black – Kenwood's Ripple kettle has a subtle design that belies its affordable price tag. It's practical, too: there's a 3kW element, a wide pouring spout to prevent drips, and two water windows showing cups on one side and litres on the other (making it left-hander friendly). Why we love itMore affordable kettles tend to demand a higher minimum fill – usually 500ml – but the Ripple enables those on a budget to boil a single cup (200ml), providing excellent energy economy. There's even a plastic marker inside for one and two cups and max, so you don't need to watch the water window as you're filling. It's lightweight at 950g without feeling flimsy, has a pull-off lid for easier filling, and it boiled quickly in testing, retaining its heat well for the first 30 minutes (72C) and hour (60C). It's a shame that … the lightweight plastic body meant that the external temperature was very hot after boiling (80C). Its two-hour temperature (44C) was also much cooler than the one-hour point, meaning more energy is needed to reboil. Time to boil: 2mins 30secsMinimum fill: 200mlPower use: 0.118kWh = 3p at 25.73p per kWhMatching toaster? YesMaximum noise recorded: 57dB Temperature settings: 100CWarranty: one year £140 at Currys£149.99 at John Lewis Although it comes with a higher initial outlay, Dualit's Classic kettle is more of a 'buy right, buy once' appliance. It's as robust as they come, with a durable stainless-steel body, hinged lid, anti-wobble feet and non-drip spout. But it's the repairable nature of this kettle that makes it an eco-friendly buy. The 3kW element is replaceable, so a pro can swap it for a new one or repair it if it wears out, meaning you may never need to buy a new kettle again. Why we love itRepairability aside, the Dualit Classic kettle also makes it easy to boil only as much water as you need, with a low minimum fill (250ml) and dual water windows indicating cups and litres via multiple markings. There's no button to raise the lid, meaning one less thing to go wrong; instead, it has a heatproof plastic handle. It was also the fastest boiling of all the kettles tested and clicked off bang on boiling point. It's a shame that … the exterior gets hot after boiling – our sample reached 71C. It also lacked a choice of temperatures and a keep-warm function, despite the higher price. Time to boil one litre: 2mins 15secsMinimum fill: 250mlPower use: 0.114kWh = 3p at 25.73p per kWhMatching toaster? YesMaximum noise recorded: 57dBTemperature settings: 100CWarranty: one year £139 at Zwilling£139 at Currys Taking variable temperature kettles to new heights, the Enfinigy Pro kettle doesn't just feature different temperatures for your tea and a keep warm option, it also boasts a baby bottle sterilisation setting. Add in the wipe-clean touchscreen, fast boiling and insulated dual-wall body to maintain the water's heat, and it makes a better gift for new parents than all the nappy cakes in the world. Why we love itWhile the 500ml minimum fill is higher than many, I liked the robust feel and sleek look of this kettle, with its cup and litre measurements marked neatly inside the jug. I also appreciated the clear display and choice of temperatures, as well as the reassuring lifetime warranty. It was easily the quietest when boiling and didn't grow hot on the exterior, reaching a cool-touch 31C. Heat retention was brilliant: after 30 minutes, the water was still 81C, dropping to only 71C after an hour and 57C after two. It's a shame that … it's a seriously slow boiler, due to its 1.85kW element, and it continued to boil for three seconds after reaching 100C. Time to boil: 4mins 7secsMinimum fill: 500mlPower use: 0.121kWh = 3p at 25.73p per kWhMatching toaster? YesMaximum noise recorded: 43dBTemperature settings: 40C, 60C, 70C, 80C, 93C, 100C, keep warmWarranty: lifetime £44.99 at Lakeland£44.99 at Amazon Lakeland's Digital double-walled kettle proves you don't have to splash the cash for a well-insulated, variable temperature kettle – or one with a decent warranty length. With a powerful 3kW element, a wide choice of temperatures and a keep-warm setting, plus easy controls, it's hard to ask for more at this price. Why we love itWhat impressed me most about this kettle, aside from its choice of 13 temperatures, was its large, clear display. It's easy to read from afar, and the temperature is easy to set with plus and minus buttons. The kettle looks and feels premium for the price, with its measurements all marked on the interior. The double-walled construction served it well: the exterior reached only 27C, while the water was still 78C after 30 minutes, dropping to 67C after an hour and 53C after two. However, it did take a couple of seconds to click off after boiling. It's a shame that … this kettle's lid catch isn't as well engineered as the rest of it: its flimsy feel makes me worry that it may not go the distance. Time to boil: 2mins 30secsMinimum fill: 500mlPower use: 0.112kWh = 3p at 25.73p per kWhMatching toaster? YesMaximum noise recorded: 57dBTemperature settings: 40C, 45C, 50C, 55C, 60C, 65C, 70C, 75C, 80C, 85C, 90C, 95C, 100C, keep warmWarranty: three years Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion £60 at Ao£79.99 at Swan Best for: energy efficiency This wifi-connected kettle won't be for everyone, but it might appeal to those who, hands full with kids or shopping, would like Alexa to put on the kettle for them. Beyond its smart features, it's a decent kettle, using the least energy of those tested and letting you easily set different temperatures. It's well insulated too, with the exterior only reaching 32C after boiling and the water still registering a balmy 57C after two hours. It didn't make the final cut because … its 1.8kW element meant it was slow to boil, and it took about six seconds to click off after reaching boiling point. The display is difficult to read in bright light, and there's a 500ml minimum fill, with no markings between that and the max fill. Time to boil one litre: 3mins 59secs; minimum fill: 500ml; power use: 0.107kWh = 3p at 25.73p per kWh; matching toaster? No; maximum noise recorded: 55dB; temperature settings: 40C, 60C, 85C, 90C, 100C, keep warm; warranty: two years £99.95 at John Lewis£104.99 at Lakeland Best for: hard water If you live in a hard-water area, you'll know that descaling a kettle can be a chore. Sage's the Smart kettle makes it slightly easier thanks to its wide mouth and removable washable filter. It also features variable temperatures, which can be set with dedicated buttons for particular drinks and dual water windows clearly marked with cups and litres. It didn't make the final cut because … the minimum boil is 500ml, and its 2.4kW element meant it took longer to boil than others. In addition, the external temperature rose to a fairly hot 61C. Time to boil one litre: 2mins 40secs; minimum fill: 500ml; power use: 0.12kWh = 3p at 25.73p per kWh; matching toaster? Yes; maximum noise recorded: 56dB; temperature settings: 80C, 85C, 90C, 95C, 100C, keep warm; warranty: three years £49 at John Lewis£49.99 at De'Longhi Best for: personalisation Putting the fun into functional, De'Longhi's Eclettica kettle is one for those who like to be different. Available in colours including 'whimsical white' and 'playful pink', its USP is personalisation, with a fluted saucer accessory that you can add and remove as you please. Fortunately, it's a good, robust kettle too, boiling quickly thanks to its 3kW element and low minimum fill of 300ml. It didn't make the final cut because … heat retention was disappointing: although the water temperature was 70C after 30 minutes, it dropped to 42C after two hours. The exterior also reached 98C after boiling. Time to boil one litre: 2mins 28secs; minimum fill:300ml; power use: 0.114kWh = 3p at 25.73p per kWh; matching toaster? Yes; maximum noise recorded: 59dB; temperature settings: 100C; warranty: one year From £128 at John LewisFrom £149 at Smeg Best for: vintage style Instantly recognisable, Smeg's 50s-style kettle has a vintage aesthetic that has won it a legion of fans. However, there's no getting away from the fact that it's one of the priciest while not offering much more than the others. The good stuff: it's stylish, has excellent build quality and a 3kW element that boiled very fast. It also clicked off as soon as it reached 100C, and has a base that allows the cable to emerge from anywhere it pleases. There's an extensive choice of colours, too, plus a soft-rise lid for minimal splashes. It didn't make the final cut because … minimum fill appears to be 500ml, although it's not marked as such, and the external temperature reached a sizzling 99C after boiling. Heat retention was decent at first – 70C after 30 minutes – but after two hours, it had reduced to a tepid 41C, meaning more energy is required for a reboil. Time to boil one litre: 2mins 17secs; minimum fill: 500ml; power use: 0.114kWh = 3p at 25.73p per kWh; matching toaster? Yes; maximum noise recorded: 60dB; temperature settings: 100C; warranty: two years £24.99 at Tower£24.99 at Wayfair Best for: an affordable luxury kettle If the price of the two stylish kettles above has you wincing, fear not: you can bag an attractive kettle for less than £30. Enter Tower's Scandi kettle, available in black or two shades of matt grey, all of which have faux wood and chrome-effect detailing. There's good stuff besides the design, too: it's lightweight (940g), has a speedy boiling 3kW element, and water windows on both sides that are marked with cups and litres. It didn't make the final cut because … the minimum fill is 500ml, and it took six seconds to click off after reaching 100C. It's also not very well insulated: the exterior reached 84C after boiling, and while the water temperature was 72C 30 minutes after boiling, it registered at only 44C two hours later. Time to boil one litre: 2mins 21secs; minimum fill: 500ml; power use: 0.117kWh = 3p at 25.73p per kWh; matching toaster? Yes; maximum noise recorded: 59dB; temperature settings: 100C; warranty: one year How you use your kettle will probably dictate which functions you'll find the most useful, but generally, any feature that helps to save energy is valuable. For example, kettles that are dual-walled help to trap heat inside, so the water stays warmer for longer while the outside stays cool to the touch. Those with low minimum fills enable you to boil just enough water for a single cup, so you don't waste energy heating more than you need. Some kettles also have a keep-warm function that stops the water cooling below a certain temperature, which is ideal for those who become distracted after boiling or drink consecutive cuppas. It's a good idea to check for safety features too, such as an auto shut-off to prevent it from boiling dry if there's not enough water. Other features are more 'nice to haves': variable temperature models enable you to choose water heated to lower temperatures than boiling, such as 70C or 80C, for other types of tea or for filling a hot-water bottle. Concealed elements, which are easier to keep scale-free, and removable, washable limescale filters will be useful for those who live in hard-water areas. Then there's connectivity. While wifi-enabled and voice-controlled kettles can feel a little gimmicky, they can be a gift for busy parents who usually have their hands full. Rapid-boil kettles don't have a strict industry definition, so while a rapid-boil kettle should boil water quickly, it may not differ much from one that's not labelled as such. A more reliable indicator of how fast a kettle will boil is its power rating: this is listed either in watts (eg 3,000W) or kilowatts (eg 2.2kW). The higher the number, the more power its element can use to heat water quickly. However, this isn't the whole story: boiling times can also be quicker in double-walled kettles (as they lose less heat to their surroundings) and those with concealed or flat elements (which provide more surface area to heat the water than a coil). Limescale reduces your kettle's efficiency, costing you more to boil each time, and shortening the appliance's lifespan. Descale it monthly, especially if you live in a hard-water area. Standing water encourages the buildup of limescale, so try not to leave water in the kettle after use. While you can buy descaler in the supermarket, a lower-cost and more eco-friendly option is to combine a weak food-safe acid, such as white vinegar or lemon juice, with water. Fill the kettle three-quarters with either water and the juice of one lemon or equal parts water and vinegar. Let it soak for an hour, then boil the kettle (once for vinegar, three times for lemon). Once it's cooled, rinse thoroughly. If your kettle has a removable filter, take it out and rinse it under running water at the same time. Rachel Ogden has worked as a consumer journalist for decades, becoming an expert unboxer before it was a thing, although she's much less adept at repacking. Her home has hosted hundreds of small appliances, from kettles and toasters to robot vacuums. When outside, you'll find her messing about with pizza ovens, barbecues and heaters. It takes a lot to impress her – many appliances have tried and failed
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
New Forest donkeys spark backlash from furious locals after raiding council wheelie bins for leftover food
Donkeys in the New Forest have sparked a furious backlash from locals after the animals have been found raiding council wheelie bins for leftover food. Residents living in the National Park in Hampshire are demanding that their council be fined as an ongoing row between locals and the authority surrounding bins persists. Tory-run New Forest District Council [NFDC] caused uproar earlier this year by introducing food waste bins. Since the expensive rollout, which cost the authority £5.6million between April and June, the forest's free-roaming animals have been eating from them. Although they are common across the UK, homes in the New Forest have never had them. Brian Tarnoff is part of an association helping protect the New Forest, and he is urging neighbours to 'tally up' every donkey seen chomping on scraps during bin collection day. He argues this data could then be used to fine the NFDC for violating a bylaw banning the feeding of livestock. New pictures show even more instances of 'feeding frenzies' as the free-roaming donkeys, of which there are 200 in the Forest, gather around toppled over food waste bins and feast on the contents. As well as donkeys, other animal which roam free in the forest, such as ponies, are also joining in on the feast left outside on bin collection days Some members of the equine breed can even be seen eating the bright green bin liners themselves, a huge choking hazard. Mark Timbrell, from the village of Sway, said he had to pull one of the plastic bags out of the mouth of a baby donkey. He said: 'I had to physically pull a green waste bag out of a baby donkey's mouth - it had approximately two thirds of the bag in its mouth and would have choked. 'I then cleared up all the waste and put the bins behind a gate. This will happen time and time again. It's dangerous. 'I reported the incident to Forestry England, who also believe this is now a danger to livestock.' There are concerns that the discarded scraps could spread diseases such as foot and mouth or African swine flu among livestock which would be catastrophic for farmers. The controversy began with the delivery of new plastic caddies for leftovers and wheelie bins for general waste - common in most of the country - to homes across the national park between April and June. The new containers have already been delivered to homes in Brockenhurst, New Milton, Lymington, and surrounding areas, with those in and around Ringwood, Fordingbridge, and Hyde will receive them from October, and those in Totton, Lyndhurst and Lepe getting them in March 2026. NFDC told residents that these bins, which are supposedly livestock proof, must be kept outside of property boundaries, unlike the old system where waste was kept in sacks behind gates and therefore away from animals. Some fear the problem will only worsen in the coming months as the pannage season begins in autumn, when pigs are released into the New Forest to feed on acorns and other fallen nuts - but this year they may be more drawn to the food waste. Sarah Neild, chair of the 168-year-old New Forest Association, told the Verderers' court that the instructions from the local council have been 'totally inconsistent'. She said: 'In the past, New Forest District Council as part of the Shared New Forest Project, agreed with the Verderers and the Commoners' Defence Association that waste bags should be placed inside the gate or cattle grid of New Forest properties. 'As a resident of Brockenhurst, I find the New Forest District Council guidance totally inconsistent. 'The website says one thing and leaflets distributed to residents says another. The latter says bins should be placed at your property boundary - that could be within your gate. 'However, online guidance says it should be beyond the gate - inconsistency is also evident in New Forest District Council's public space protection order against feeding stock, and their own actions which do just that.' She added that the change in receptacle shouldn't mean switching where bins are stored and that the 'so called' locks to prevent livestock getting in are 'totally inadequate'. The Verderers' court 'regulates and protects the New Forest's unique agricultural commoning practices'. Andrew Parry-Norton, chair of the Commoners' Defence Association, has raised concerns about the impact panage season will have on the food waste concern and urged talks to sort the issue before it begins in September The Commoners' are a more than thousand-year-old body made up of locals with the right to graze their animals, including the 200 free-roaming donkeys, in the national park. He said: 'We now have a problem that needs a very fast solution; soon pannage season will start and pigs will be even quicker in opening the bins than the donkeys. 'Urgent discussions need to take place involving all interested parties, maybe suspending the separation of waste food from general waste until the problem is solved.' In a statement, the New Forest District Council said the new system was a 'big step forward' in managing the area's waste and would make things more 'environmentally responsible'. A spokesperson said: 'The waste collection service is undergoing a major transformation, including new vehicles and different waste containers, plus the re-routed collection rounds so that they become more operationally efficient. 'These changes are all to bring the service up to date with modern practices, so that the recycling rate for the area can increase... 'Thank you to residents in the first phase for their participation in the new system, now still only five weeks in, and continued patience and support towards our staff during this period of major change. 'These changes are a big step forward in how we manage waste across the New Forest and are helping us build a more efficient and environmentally responsible service for the long term.' Some who are still on the old system of refuse sacks have also reported problems with weeks of missed bin collections as there is now confusion between the different areas. Households in the national park have been given a 23-litre brown outdoor food waste recycling caddy and a five-litre grey indoor food waste recycling caddy. The council said food waste will be taken to an anaerobic digestion facility where it will be used to create fertiliser and renewable energy.
