Somerset in Pictures: Sunrises and a lunar eclipse
Purple sky: Somerset photographer Matt captured this beautiful night sky above the Stanton Drew Stone Circles.
Early sunrise: As spring is springing, the sun is rising earlier and turning the sky pink and orange.
Beach days: Last weekend saw people flock to the beach in Weston-super-Mare, as they enjoyed the warmer weather.
In bloom: More springtime views were captured in Blue Anchor as apple trees are starting to bloom.
Support dog: Anne Herbert, a senior law lecturer at Bath Spa University, has Ehlers Danlos syndrome, which gives her skeletal instability. Without support dog Rafa, his owner may well be facing life in a wheelchair.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ITV News
5 days ago
- ITV News
Ormskirk powerboat driver's bid for F2 world championship glory
ITV Granada Reports journalist Lauren Ostridge has been speaking to Mat Palfreyman who is due to compete in the second round of the F2 World Powerboat Championships. A British powerboat driver, who reaches speeds of up to 120mph when he competes, says the sport is a "huge adrenaline rush" - but his mum can't watch his races in person. Matt Palfreyman, from Ormskirk, is hoping for back-to-back wins as he travels to Lithuania for the second round of the F2 World Powerboat Championship. The 32-year-old dad, and member of the Lancashire Powerboat Racing Club, claimed victory in the opening round of the competition in Italy in June, beating teams from Sweden, France, Norway and Abu Dhabi. But the competitive amateur sport is not for the faint-hearted, with Matt admitting his own mum will not watch him compete at high speeds. "My mum comes to the races but she'll watch it on a live-stream on her phone - it's a bit baffling for me", Matt said. "It is an adrenalin rush. We've done the record run in boats at 138mph, but that is just holding on for dear life." Matt drives for Team Kingfisher, owned and managed by businessman and fellow powerboat driver Ian Blacker, and trains at Carr Mill Dam, near St Helens. When the team competed in Brindisi, Italy, Matt says he felt "right at home" because the conditions on the water were choppy, but he was not prepared for the heat. He said: "I think it was 35 degrees and we had a weather warning, plus you're in a fireproof suit in an enclosed cockpit - you can add another 15 degrees at least. "But to be honest when your helmet is on and you're in the race, you're just trying to beat whoever is in front of you and get to the end of the race." "You can't beat the feeling of winning and being the best," said Ian Blacker. "There's a team that's sponsored by the Abu Dhabi government and a team sponsored by the Saharsa government and we beat them." Power-boating is a highly regulated sport and, in order to operate at high speeds, drivers have to pass an annual "dunk test" to ensure they can escape the cockpit if the vessel flips on water. "Simulated and the real thing are two completely different things", Matt explains. "When I was competing last year, with five laps to go, we did end up losing and putting it over backwards. "Suddenly you can see sky and the you can see water and then sky again. There are a lot of safety features to keep you safe but I promise you they don't come into your head in the moment - you're just trying to get out." The second round of the F2 World Powerboat Championships take place in Lithuania from Thursday, 17 June, with the final scheduled between 12-14 September in Portugal.
BBC News
24-06-2025
- BBC News
Terminally ill sailor in tears during storm winds on challenge
A terminally ill 26-year-old woman from East Sussex who is sailing solo around the British Isles has said a "horrific week of bad weather" left her "crying for hours". Jazz Turner, an engineer from Seaford, has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a debilitating genetic condition that affects connective tissue and means Ms Turner uses a left Brighton Marina on 2 June and hopes to complete the 2,070 mile (3,331km) trip within four to eight from Petershead on the east coast of Scotland she described the last 24 hours as being "battering" but also "rather thrilling". Ms Turner said the wind speed on day 24 of her challenge on Monday had reached gusts of over 34 on Instagram she said: "It made for some quite exciting but rather battering sailing."Secretly I was loving it."She added: "It's calmed down a little this morning, so today's focus is on resting my body."Everything is wet and damp and I am very fed up of it raining."Ms Turner has already sailed around Cornwall, Ireland and up to Shetland in northern Scotland. She was diagnosed with her illness, which causes fainting and seizures, when she was to complications, doctors have told her that her condition is now Turner is raising money for Sailability, a charity that enables people with disabilities or who come from a difficult background to get into surpassed her fundraising target of £30,000 within two weeks of the challenge and is now hoping to raise than £50,000.
Daily Mirror
21-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Vet tells dog owners 'don't use ice' as heatwave mistake can prove fatal
As temperatures are set to soar to 33C this weekend, The Yorkshire Vet's Matt Jackson-Smith has warned pet owners of one major mistake that people make during heatwaves As temperatures soar past 30C this weekend, The Yorkshire Vet star Matt Jackson-Smith has issued a stark warning to pet owners about a potentially dangerous mistake many are making - and it could be putting dogs ' lives at serious risk. While it might seem like the perfect solution, plunging an overheated dog into a paddling pool or ice bath could do far more harm than good, the Channel 5 vet has warned. "You shouldn't use ice wash to cool them down when they are showing signs of heatstroke, or plunge pools - that can induce shock," he explained. "You want them to cool down gradually. Get some cool wet towels and put them down." Matt, who stars in the hit show The Yorkshire Vet, says knowing your dog's breed is also crucial when it comes to keeping them safe during a heatwave. "The first thing to do is look at the breed of dog you have. Certain breeds of dogs struggle more than others. Bulldogs and mastiffs can have heat stress at lower temperatures than others," he said. "Even in the early 20s, these bigger dogs and flat faced breeds can really struggle. The bigger the dog, they can't bear the heat as well because of heat loss. Dog breeds with flat faces like pugs and bulldogs can really struggle due to breathing issues when panting." Once inside, it's not always much better. Homes can become stifling - especially conservatories - and Matt recommends providing shaded areas and cool surfaces. "If the inside of the house is reaching high temperatures, you have to look for stone floors that provide a cool area for dogs," he added. "If you have a freezer, you can put peanut butter in toys and lickimats and freeze it. Ice cubes in the water can help. "Cool pads and masks can also help, and those you can use outside too. Temperatures in a conservatory can reach well into the 30s so keep them well away from there." When it comes to walks, Matt says it's best to skip them entirely during extreme heat - especially in the middle of the day - and look out for early warning signs of heatstroke, like heavy panting. "In this kind of heat, you want to be staying inside really. They will survive without a walk. When you're getting over 25C, you're into the risk area for any dog. Hot pavements as well - if it's too hot to touch, your dog's paws could get burned. "Some dogs will just sit in the heat and get themselves into a real mess. One of the first signs is uncontrollable panting and that can lead to collapse. You always want to monitor, keep an eye on the breathing and if you are concerned, move them to the shade.' If you suspect your dog is suffering from heatstroke, don't wait. "Straight to the vet if they have signs of heatstroke,' he stressed. "If the dog will let you look at the gums, they can go bright red with heat shock. If they are very pale or very red, that could be a sign. Vomiting, diarrhoea - those are also signs." And it's not just dogs that can suffer in the sweltering heat - cats can be affected too. But dogs, especially larger or woolly ones and flat-faced breeds like pugs and bulldogs, are most at risk. Lastly, Matt recommends using suncream on pets who are particularly exposed. "Suncreams are good for pets - there are pet friendly ones. The whiter the animal and the more exposed the skin, put suncream on." Matt is an ambassador for Butcher's nourishing food for dogs, go to
