
How much bigger will YOUR town get by 2032? Heat map shows the population trends across England - with Tower Hamlets set to grow by a FIFTH but Gosport shrinking
Official projections suggest the population of England will increase by 6.4 per cent to 60.8million between 2022 and 2032. That is lower than the 7.8 per cent previously anticipated, as net immigration has come down from record highs.
But the overall numbers released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal sharp differences in fortunes between local areas.
Tower Hamlets is seen as growing by 20.4 per cent over the period to accommodate 389,845 people, with 165,687 international arrivals outweighing departures and more births than deaths.
In contrast, Gosport's population is projected to fall by 2.12 per cent to 80,533, primarily because of deaths outstripping births.
Although immigration has been the major driver nationally with natural change broadly balance, some places are seeing dramatic shifts for other reasons.
South Derbyshire is on track to have the second biggest expansion in England between 2022 and 2032, at 19.2 per cent.
That is largely down to people moving there from other parts of the UK, according to the ONS projections.
The data also underscore the ageing population. Pensioners are due to make up 18.7 per cent of England's numbers by 2032, up from 17.6 per cent in 2022.
Only 11 local authorities are projected to have a declining proportion of residents of state pension age.
In a blog accompanying the release today, Head of Population and Household Projections James Robards stressed that the projections 'give an understanding of the potential future size of the population, based on trends'.
'They're not forecasts or predictions. They don't take into account potential future policy changes,' he said.
'They take into account current and past trends, and as those patterns change, we adjust our projections accordingly.'
He added: 'Since that publication, we have produced new data about the main component of population growth – migration.
'May's release provisionally showed that, in the year ending December 2024, migration to the UK had halved compared to the previous year.
'This meant, although in the long term we project annual UK net migration will settle around the 340,000 mark, in the short term our national projections were running too high.'
Mr Robards highlighted that 'drivers behind the projected population increase vary significantly by area'.
'In many local authorities, growth is mainly driven by internal migration. Internal migration of young people would furthermore contribute to the number of projected births,' he said.
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Telegraph
31 minutes ago
- Telegraph
The best hair curlers for effortless, lasting results, including wands and tongs
Perfect curls may seem elusive, but the best hair curlers can transform even the most stubborn strands. With prices ranging from under £30 to over £100 and options that include wands, tongs and multi-stylers, finding the right tool is no small feat. Celebrity hair stylist and salon owner Melissa Timperley, who has tested countless curlers, says: 'Whether you're chasing soft beachy texture, or defined ringlets, the right hair curler can be a total game-changer.' She recommends prioritising adjustable heat settings, ceramic or tourmaline barrels for even heat and selecting a barrel size to suit your style. Top brands such as Cloud Nine, BaByliss and Dyson dominate the market. Timperley warns: 'Always check the temperature range to avoid heat damage.' We update this guide regularly, so you can shop with confidence and find the best curler for your needs and budget, but if you're in a rush, here's a quick look at my top five: The best hair curlers: At a glance JUMP TO REVIEWS How to choose the best hair curlers Choosing the right hair curler for you can be a minefield. Starting with price, on the lower end of the scale, Timperley suggests looking at brands like Remington and BaByliss and spending between £20 and £50. Tools costing between £50 and £120 will get you better tech, as well as faster heat-up times from brands like Hot Tools, Toni & Guy and Cloud Nine. Spend over £120 and you can expect to get high-end tools with more effective, gentle curling tech. Brands like GHD and Dyson jump to mind, but various retailers have brilliant options that push into this category. Most good hair curlers come with a standard set of features that make them effective on all hair types. Timperley recommends looking for adjustable temperatures, automatic shut-offs, swivel cords and a cool tip or heat-proof glove to protect your hands. Similarly, some design features can be detrimental to the finish of your hair. Timperley advises avoiding poor quality materials, or bulky designs. Thankfully, all the options on this round-up are completely comfortable to use, built from safe and durable materials. How we test hair curlers When testing hair curlers, I follow a strict process to ensure only the best make the cut. My hair is thick, long and slightly wavy when rough dried. The ends of my hair are prone to dryness after heat styling, so I keep this in mind during testing Each curler is scored out of ten for ease of use, curl performance and hold, comfort and safety, suitability for different hair types and build quality. I then average these scores for a final rating. Ease of use assesses how straightforward the curler is to handle. Curl performance and hold considers how effectively curls are shaped and how long they last. Comfort and safety cover weight, size, cord length and features like automatic shut-off, heat-proof gloves or cool-touch tips to prevent burns. Build quality includes barrel coating durability and overall feel. When it comes to suitability for different hair types, I focus on temperature range – the wider, the better. If a curler is recommended for a specific hair texture or length, I make sure to test it on that type. From 15 tested curlers, only those creating lasting, frizz-free curls and working well on thicker hair made the selection. After testing, samples are returned to manufacturers, donated to charity or stored for future comparisons, ensuring recommendations remain current and fair. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best product. No manufacturer ever sees Telegraph Recommended reviews before publication and we don't accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles. All reviews are based on independent expert opinion and our hands-on testing. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. The best hair curlers of 2025 1. Best Buy Hair Curler: Cloud Nine The Curling Wand Ask most people about their biggest hair curling frustration and you'll hear the same complaints: curls that fall flat or hair that gets damaged by high heat. With Cloud Nine's The Curling Wand, I can safely say those issues are a thing of the past. This is the best curling wand I've tested. The barrel is infused with sericite, a mineral that helps lock moisture into the hair as you style, resulting in smooth, shiny curls without unwanted kinks. The wand offers three temperature settings: high (175C), medium (150C) and low (125C). These are lower than the usual curling wand, which usually exceeds 200C. The lower heat setting means less heat damage, reduced frizz and healthier hair over time. Using the medium setting, I achieved shiny, bouncy curls that lasted all day, even after a humid trip on the London Underground. That's without any hairspray or styling products, which is remarkable for my straight hair that usually needs 180C to hold a curl. If your hair is fine, bleached or damaged, go for the low setting. For thicker or textured hair, the high setting works beautifully. The wand's lightweight design, swivel cord and long cable made it comfortable to use for the 15 minutes it took to style my hair. Extras include a heat-proof glove, a smart carry case and a built-in kickstand, which takes away the need for a heat mat, though the stand occasionally gets in the way when curling larger sections. A minor gripe in an otherwise flawless product. Key specifications 2. Best Value Hair Curler: Mark Hill Pick 'N' Mix Score: 8/10 We like: Easy to use, affordable, interchangeable heads available We don't like: Only one heat setting, no heat-up indicator If you're on a budget, the Mark Hill Pick 'N' Mix Curling wand is my value pick. The Pick 'N' Mix range consists of one main body handle, with 13 different heated styling attachments, including the 32mm medium curling barrel I tested. It's also dual voltage, great for holidays abroad. This barrel was great for creating big voluminous, bouncy curls with plenty of space to curl my long hair. For tighter curls, I'd suggest investing in the 25mm barrel or, you could use the bubble barrel to create textured, beachy curls. After styling, the curls lasted a full working day without dropping. After this, the curls dropped to form a subtle faux-blowout wave, which meant I didn't have to top up my style between washes. The end of the wider barrel doesn't have a cool-touch tip, but the main handle comes with a heat-proof glove to keep your hands safe from burns. Sadly, the curler only has one heat setting, which varies depending on the attachment. The 32mm curling barrel reaches 195C, which is still low enough to be safe to use with a heat protection spray. However, I would recommend people who have bleached, fine or damaged hair to consider other options with a range of temperatures. Still, you can't beat the Mark Hill Pick n Mix on value. Bundled together, the barrel and handle cost £35 and each attachment costs an additional £20, meaning you can create an excellent styling kit without breaking the bank on attachments you won't use. Key specifications 3. Best Hair Wrap Curler: Dyson Airwrap Complete For beauty fanatics, the Dyson Airwrap needs no introduction. It's a brilliant choice for those who are conscious about their hair health, but don't want to compromise on convenience. This wet-to-dry multi-styler allows you to style your hair using airflow alone. The absence of hot plates, paired with lower styling temperatures mean you'll get far less heat damage, compared with using a hair dryer and curling iron separately. The real magic happens when it automatically wraps the hair around the curling barrels using airflow, drying it into a curled position in the process. In my experience, it takes practice to master the technique, but in time it can create gorgeous, voluminous curls. Add onto that two smoothing brushes, a round blow dry brush and a flyaway smoothing attachment and you've got a comprehensive styling tool that takes the dread out of hair wash days. Now to address the elephant in the room – this beauty will set you back almost £500. That's a huge amount to spend on your hair. And, if you don't use the right products, Airwrap curls won't last as long as traditionally heat-styled hair. That said, no air curling alternatives quite live up to the Airwrap's curling power in my experience. Key specifications 4. Best for Long and Thick Hair: Hershesons The Wand Curling long and thick hair can be a battle, with many irons only able to tackle tiny sections of hair at once. Hershesons' The Wand curler is a real powerhouse that can style stubborn tresses without fuss, thanks to its brilliant temperature range and long barrel. That's not to say it won't work for finer hair either, since its temperature range starts at 80C, for fragile coloured hair. It spans all the way to 210C, which gives a better hold on thick, textured tresses. Simply turn the dial at the bottom of the curler, where the swivel cord attaches, and the LCD screen clearly displays the temperature you've selected. Handily, it also lets you know when your desired temperature has been reached so you know exactly when to get styling. In my tests, I found the curler made light work of my thick hair, resulting in voluminous waves when curling larger sections, or tighter ringlets when tackling smaller sections. Thanks to the even heat distribution offered by the ceramic barrel, the finished style was totally frizz-free and stayed smooth and shiny until the next time I washed my hair. I found the right temperature for my hair was around 170C. At this temperature, the curls lasted all day, dropping to beachy waves on the following day. Key specifications 5. Best Automatic Hair Curler: BaByliss Wave Secret Air If you can't wrap your head around a curling wand or tong, but still want curly hair, the BaByliss Wave Secret Air could be your new best friend. This automatic hair curler takes all the guesswork out of hair styling. Simply clamp a section of hair between the two arms and the curler will whizz your hair around its built-in ceramic curling wand. After a few seconds, release the hair and the curler will form a perfect curl. In my tests I was nervous about feeding my hair into this device, for fear of it gobbling it up and spitting out a tangly mess. Thankfully, the curler never pulled or snagged on my hair and if I ever fed it a section it deemed too thick, it would release the hair from its clutches without fuss. Since the heated barrel was fully encased, the risk of burns is dramatically reduced compared to typical curling wands. The resulting curls were soft and shiny and didn't struggle to last throughout the day, only dropping hours later in the evening. I would recommend using hairspray to set the style if you need it to last longer. The curler took a little longer to curl my hair than other curling wands and tongs, but that's partly down to my inexperience. With practice getting the right section size, I'm convinced I would be able to achieve a full head of curls quickly. Key specifications 6. Best Hair Curler Wand for Beachy Waves: Beauty Works Professional Styler Tight ringlet curls aren't for everyone, and if you want to achieve looser, voluminous curls the Beauty Works Professional Styler is a great choice. It's got a fantastic temperature range of 80-220C, making it suitable for all hair types. Like all the other hair curling wands on this round-up, I found it easy to wrap my hair around the barrel. I was grateful for its longer 18.5cm length, since it meant there was plenty of space to wrap my long hair, even when I used thicker sections. The curler comes with a heat-proof glove, but I still thought the cool-touch tip provided stability during styling. The resulting curls were loose and healthy-looking. In my tests, the curls lasted throughout the day without dropping much. When they did drop, the result was a loose, faux blow-dried look. This is typical of wider curling barrels like this one, but you can use hairspray if you're keen to avoid this. Sadly, the ceramic barrel doesn't have any shine-boosting mineral infusions, but that is reflected in this curler's price point. If you want an affordable curler that's suitable for all hair types, the Beauty Works Professional Styler is a great option. That is, as long as you don't want to create tight curls. Key specifications 7. Best Comfortable Hair Curler: Hot Tools Curl Bar Curling hair with a typical iron requires holding your arms above your head, which can make your arms ache over time. Those who struggle to lift curlers above their heads will benefit from the 90-degree shape of the Hot Tools Curl bar. When styling using this tool, you can keep both arms at shoulder height, with the curling barrel held at an angle toward the ground. This, paired with its lightweight construction, minimises arm aches. The curler has a great temperature range of 160-230C, which can be adjusted in 10C increments by turning the control dial at the barrel's rear. A small screen displays the temperature you've selected and its LED ring light lets you know when the curler has reached its target temperature. Hot Tools has also added a built-in timer to the device, which you can set anywhere between five and ten seconds. Once set, press the screen in and the timer will start, emitting a buzz when the desired time has passed. This takes all the guesswork out of curling, meaning any amateur can master the art painlessly. The only gripe I had with this curler is that its cool touch tip is wider than the 25mm barrel. This made it more difficult to slide curls off the barrel. It's not a deal breaker, but it was slightly frustrating. Key specifications For a long time, I thought people who could curl their hair with straighteners were magicians. That was until I tried the Cloud Nine Contouring Iron Pro. This clever design features interlocking curved plates, which make it far easier to curl the hair around the straightener without snags or pulls. Other straighteners, like the Cloud Nine Original straighteners can be used to create curls, but I find the flat plates on this more difficult to use. It still took me a few tries to get the twisting and turning technique right, but once I'd mastered the art I could get my thick head of hair curly in under 20 minutes. And, like the Cloud Nine Curling Wand I recommend above, it's got a brilliant temperature range that's not only suitable for all hair types but can style hair at lower temperatures. I particularly like the styler's 'revive' mode, which reduces the temperature to 150C and adds a subtle vibration to the plates. This allows a smoother glide over the hair and gives longer-lasting styles at lower temperatures. Thanks to the straightener's mineral-infused plates, the results in my hair were always glossy and healthy. Further, these created some of the longest lasting curls I've ever encountered. If you're on the hunt for a versatile styling tool that can curl and straighten hair, this is a top contender. Key specifications 9. Best Heated Rollers: BaByliss Thermo-Ceramic Rollers Imagine a world where your hair could style and set itself in the time it takes you to do your makeup. That isn't too distant a reality when you use heated rollers. The best I've tested are the BaByliss Thermo-Ceramic rollers. This convenient kit comes with 20 rollers ranging between 20 and 33mm in diameter. The smallest create tight ringlets, while the largest work beautifully to create a bouncy, curly blow-dry effect. The rollers come in a heating box with variable temperatures. My thick hair was best styled using the higher temperatures but I wish the dial was clearly labelled with temperatures, since all you get is a vague indication of heat level. Inserting the rollers took a bit of practice. Since each is covered in a soft fabric, the rollers could easily grip onto the hair after the first turn, but getting the ends of the hair wrapped was trickier. Thankfully, I didn't find the heated rollers too hot to touch. That meant I could hold the cool end in one hand and wrap my hair with the other without burning myself. The set comes with 20 pins which secure the rollers to your head. I only managed to secure a roller with these pins once, as they're very tricky to insert into the hair and roller without losing tension. I much preferred using the plastic clips to secure the rollers, since these could clip over the top of the rollers. It's just a shame there's only ten of these included in the set. All in all though, securing a full head of rollers took under five minutes, and I loved being able to carry on with the rest of my routine knowing my hair was sorted. Removing the rollers left me with gorgeous bouncy curls that, without hairspray, lasted a good half day without dropping. Key specifications Hair curler FAQs What type of hair curler is best for the style I want? Most hair curlers can provide a range of styles depending on how you use them. However, as a general rule these are the tools that celebrity stylist Melissa Timperley recommends using to achieve the style you want: How do I choose the right barrel size? Barrel size is just as important as curler design when it comes to achieving the right look. Thankfully, it's simple to understand. Timperley says, 'The larger the barrel, the looser the wave.' Below is a more specific list of styles and the barrel size you need to achieve them. How can I curl my hair without causing too much heat damage? Heat damage is inevitable when styling your hair with a heated curler, but there are steps you can take to prevent heat damage. Timperley recommends always starting with heat protectant. 'Always use a heat protectant when the hair is wet before drying and add another one like an aerosol spray when the hair is dry for double protection. Unite 7 Seconds Glossing Spray is my favourite for dry hair,' she says. Her other tips include using a low temperature for your hair type, not holding curls on the heat for longer than 10 seconds and letting the curls cool before brushing. What's the difference between ceramic, titanium and tourmaline curling barrels? Ceramic curling barrels are great for most hair types, since they heat evenly and help to reduce frizz. That's why most of the curlers on this round-up use ceramic barrels. Titanium curling barrels are better for thick or coarse hair. They 'heat quickly and stay hot. The plates also stay super smooth so it doesn't snag the hair,' says Timperley. Tourmaline, on the other hand, is best for frizzy or dry hair. 'Tourmaline helps add shine and reduce static due to working with negative ions,' she says. This works in a similar way to the 'ionic' technology you might find in a hair dryer, where negative ions help provide a smoother, frizz-free finish. How do I use a curling wand safely? Do I need a glove or mat? Curling irons heat up to very high temperatures, so accidentally burning your skin on a curler can be extremely painful. Likewise, your hair curler can singe and melt the furniture it rests on, so it's always a good idea to use a heat-proof glove and mat. Timperley says: 'When working with hot tongs it's advised to use a glove especially if you're a newbie to styling your hair. Heat-resistant gloves help you build confidence without burning your fingers.' Her other tips include using curlers on clean, dry and protected hair, curling away from the face at the front, letting the curler cool down before packing it away and never leaving the curler on unattended.


BBC News
39 minutes ago
- BBC News
Prestbury car park back on market after controversial sale
A former council car park is back on the market, for more than double the price it was sold for, as a plot with planning permission for a 1,000 people signed a petition to keep Idsall Drive car park in Prestbury in 2024 but Cheltenham Borough Council decided to sell it for £282,500 because it was "surplus to requirements" and cost £4,000 a year to Gillman has secured planning permission for a five-bedroom self-build property on the site, which is now on the market for £600, Stan Smith said parking had been a problem after the closure of the car park with residents "fuming over the chaos it has caused". Smith said the parking situation was set to get worse after proposals for double yellow lines in the to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the proposals include Mill Street, Linden Avenue and The said the council "rode roughshod" over the petition to keep the car park and did not listen to concerns over the proposed new property."It's chaos in there now. Residents are fuming. People are parking on the bank by the war memorial opposite the Idsall Drive car park," he said."If they put double yellow lines on the road, where are people going to park then?"Nobody has thought this out. The council just doesn't care," he added. A council spokesperson said: "Taking into account the market at the time, along with planning and other costs and risks, the council is satisfied that it secured best consideration for the local taxpayer."The sale also removed the financial liability of ownership, allowing those savings to be diverted into front line services."The purchaser has since obtained planning consent for a single self-build dwelling, meaning that the future owner must live in the property for a minimum period of time."


The Independent
44 minutes ago
- The Independent
Police accused of ‘assault on right to protest' after less than 3% of nuisance arrests result in charges
Less than three per cent of all protest arrests result in charges, according to new research, as campaigners are calling for an end to anti-protest measures. Data obtained by Greenpeace via Freedom of Information requests shows that only 18 arrests out of a total of 638 made by the Metropolitan Police for conspiracy to cause public nuisance over the last six years have resulted in charges. Their research also showed an almost tenfold rise in the number of arrests in the capital since 2019. There were 67 arrests and charges for conspiring to cause a public nuisance between 2012 and the end of 2018, compared with more than 600 arrests and 18 charges since 2019, as the rate of arrests resulting in charges dropped from 12 per cent to less than three per cent. Greenpeace UK's co-executive director, Areeba Hamid, accused police of 'routinely dragging protesters off the streets for a crime they almost always fail to charge them with', which she said 'amounts to an abuse of their powers and an assault on the right to protest'. She added: 'Arresting law-abiding people because they're politically inconvenient is a frightening development in any democracy, and is a direct result of the government's instinct to shut down free speech and prevent people from standing up for issues they care deeply about.' Campaigners noted that the sharp increase in arrests coincided with Extinction Rebellion and Fridays for Future bringing thousands more people onto the streets of London in calls for action to tackle climate change. The findings come as four leading environmental and human rights organisations - Amnesty International UK, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and Liberty - are starting a nationwide campaign to stand up for the right to protest, as they call on the home secretary to restore people's right to express themselves by reversing anti-protest measures in two key pieces of legislation passed since 2022. Khalid Abdallah, an actor from The Crown, was interviewed under caution by police in March after his role in a pro-Palestinian protest in January. As part of the campaign to stand up for the right to protest, he said: 'I think a lot of people don't realise that the crackdown on protest isn't just about tougher laws on disruptive civil disobedience, it's about creating a climate of intimidation. The right to speak out against the actions of the government is an important test of whether you live in a free, democratic country. 'I have lived in countries where rights we hold dear in Britain do not exist, and my family has paid the price for speaking out. So I did not expect Britain to be the country where I would first be investigated by police for my participation in a public protest. For six months, I lived under the threat of being charged, until it was confirmed the police would not take further action. Clearly, these statistics show I'm not an isolated case.' A Met Police spokesperson said: 'We recognise the importance of the right to protest, however where protest crosses the line into criminality, we have a duty to intervene using the powers available to us. 'The threshold for arrest is reasonable suspicion that an offence has occurred. The threshold to charge someone is significantly higher, with officers needing to show that there is enough evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction at court. 'Proving that an individual has conspired with others to cause a public nuisance, to that standard, is particularly challenging. This is reflected in the limited number of charges for that offence.' Suspicion of conspiracy to cause nuisance is an offence under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, which is used by police to arrest protesters. The bill caused controversy when it passed, with a number of 'Kill the Bill' rallies across the UK to fight against it. The campaigners have also asked ministers to strike out certain protest clauses in the Crime and Policing Bill, which is making its way through parliament. One clause that has caused particular concern is one which allows police to request that people remove items used to conceal their identity if certain authorisations are in place, which could incur a maximum penalty of one month in prison, a £1,000 fine, or both. Written evidence submitted by Big Brother Watch, Liberty, Privacy International, and Stop Watch called these new clauses 'unnecessary' and warned they could 'significantly threaten our right to protest safely and freely.'