Drivers warned of long delays after major motorway closes
Drivers are experiencing hour-long delays and approximately three miles of congestion, affecting traffic northbound back to the M40 and southbound back to the A45 Birmingham Airport.
West Midlands Police confirmed they are dealing with the incident, which necessitated the motorway closure.
Birmingham Airport has advised travellers to allow additional time for their journeys due to the disruption.
Diversion routes are in place, and drivers are advised to follow the symbols on road signs.
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The Independent
24 minutes ago
- The Independent
Extra bank holiday update as nation celebrates Lionesses' Euro 2025 triumph
England 's Lionesses are set to celebrate their historic Euros victory with an open-top bus parade through central London and a visit to Downing Street, though a bank holiday to mark the triumph is not currently planned. The team successfully defended their Euros title on Sunday, securing a dramatic penalty shootout win over Spain in the final held in Basel, Switzerland. Chloe Kelly netted the decisive spot-kick, following two crucial saves from goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, sparking widespread jubilation among fans across the country and in dedicated fan zones. The King extended the royal family's "warmest appreciation and admiration" to the squad, adding a challenge: "The next task is to bring home the World Cup in 2027 if you possibly can." Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock are scheduled to host the team at a Downing Street reception on Monday. A further homecoming celebration is slated for Tuesday, with a ceremony anticipated to take place outside Buckingham Palace. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed the team's triumph, saying: 'The Lionesses have once again captured the hearts of the nation. 'Their victory is not only a remarkable sporting achievement, but an inspiration for young people across the country. 'It stands as a testament to the determination, resilience and unity that define this outstanding team.' There will be an open-top bus parade along the Mall before the ceremony at the Queen Victoria Memorial, the FA said. Fans can attend for free and it will be broadcast live on BBC, ITV, and Sky. However, it is understood Downing Street has no plans for a bank holiday to mark the Lionesses' triumph. Supporters stood on tables, waved flags, threw drinks in the air and excitedly hugged each other as England claimed victory, while the Prince of Wales and Sir Keir watched on from the stands in Basel. Alessia Russo gave the Lionesses hope of retaining their Euros title with her second-half equaliser after Mariona Caldentey netted the opener for Spain in the 25th minute. In a statement posted on X after the game, Charles said: 'This brings you, your manager and all your support team my most heartfelt congratulations on winning the Euros 2025. 'For more years than I care to remember, England fans have sung that famous chant 'football's coming home'. 'As you return home with the trophy you won at Wembley three years ago, it is a source of great pride that, through sporting skill and awesome teamwork, the Lionesses have made those words ring true. 'For this, you have my whole family's warmest appreciation and admiration.' The King added: 'More than that, though, you have shown through your example over past weeks that there are no setbacks so tough that defeat cannot be transformed into victory, even as the final whistle looms. 'Well done, Lionesses.' A picture of the Prince of Wales with his arm around his daughter Princess Charlotte was posted to X following the presentation of the trophy to the Lionesses, with the caption 'champions of Europe'. The pair congratulated the team in a short statement, saying: 'What a game! Lionesses, you are the champions of Europe and we couldn't be prouder of the whole team. Enjoy this moment England.' The statement was the first message Charlotte has personally signed on the Prince and Princess of Wales 's X account. Tower Bridge was lit up in red and white following the Lionesses' victory, the City Bridge Foundation said. Sir Keir was the first to congratulate England on their win – posting on X: 'Champions! Congratulations Lionesses – what a team. What a game. What drama. 'You dug deep when it mattered most and you've made the nation proud. History makers.' William was spotted in the stands applauding and celebrating with those around him – including Princess Charlotte. As the presentation ceremony took place, the Prince of Wales was among those to congratulate star striker Michelle Agyemang on being named young player of the tournament. William exchanged words with Agyemang, appearing to say 'well played, fantastic, well done'. Agyemang, 19, who had one England cap before the tournament, scored crucial equalisers in the Lionesses' quarter-final and semi-final comebacks. There was non-stop applause in her home town of South Ockendon as fans saw the Arsenal forward step through a guard of honour to pick up her award. Supporters at her old club Brandon Groves AFC danced a conga line to the sounds of Vindaloo after England's victory. The club's vice-chairwoman, Paula Howes, said Agyemang will help give youngsters the 'motivation and drive' to progress from grassroots football to the top of the game. She said: 'I think she (Agyemang) has got that determination and that drive on the pitch, and the girls can connect with that. 'It is also knowing that she is a local girl as well, I think that helps give them the motivation and drive, to know that you can start at grassroots football and progress up to the higher level, if you work at it.' The National Autistic Society congratulated their ambassador Lucy Bronze on the Lionesses victory, adding: 'We hope she has inspired the next generation of autistic girls to follow their dreams.' Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy also gave her reaction to the win, saying: 'What an absolutely extraordinary achievement by our Lionesses – once again they have made history and united the country with pride and joy.' England's path to the final was marked by late drama. They sealed their spot with a last-gasp extra-time win over Italy, following a penalty shootout victory against Sweden in the quarter-finals after nearly crashing out in extra time.
Daily Mail
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Will Britain's most popular car ever make a comeback?
It was officially axed only two years ago but speculation has been brewing that Britain's most popular car name of all time could make a comeback. Almost five million examples were snapped up by UK drivers during its 47-year availability between its arrival in 1976 to the end of its production in July 2023. So, it's unsurprising to see numerous reports talking up a return for Ford's Fiesta. And despite gradually disappearing from showrooms over the last 24 months, roughly 1.5 million are still used on our roads today - more than any other motor. Loved by learners, collected by enthusiasts and popular among senior motorists; this is a name that is deeply ingrained in hearts of drivers of all ages and passion levels for cars. If the nameplate is to make a dramatic reappearance, it will surely be stamped onto a very different vehicle to the one we've known and loved for decades. Without question, if Ford is to bring the Fiesta name back, it will not be used for a combustion-engine model. And the brand's existing deal with another car-making giant could fast track its return as it has done former iconic names associated to the brand with the blue oval badge. Ford-VW deal could be key to Fiesta comeback Ford and Volkswagen currently have an agreement in place. It sees Volkswagen granted access to its rival's commercial vehicle platforms - like that of the Transit - in return for sharing its electric vehicle architecture. The tie-up has already sparked the return of the Explorer nameplate as well as the highly-contentious return of the Capri badge in 2024 after a near 40-year hiatus. Both are underpinned by VW platforms, with the pair sharing DNA with the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 respectively. Volkswagen's head of sales and marketing, Martin Sander, who left Ford to join the German automotive powerhouse, told Auto Express that the collaboration with Ford on EVs has already proven to be 'very, very, very successful,' and suggested the partnership could extend into the future. During a recent interview, he told the automotive title that he did 'not want to rule out' any future opportunities to 'share technology again'. And VW's plans for smaller models could potentially instigate a return of the Fiesta nameplate. Volkswagen's 2026 EV the ideal Fiesta candidate Volkswagen is due to launch a compact ID.2 in 2026 - and a year later, an even smaller ID.1 is scheduled to follow. While Ford itself has not signalled the possibility of building a new entry-level electric hatchback smaller in dimension to its Puma Gen-E, Auto Express has hinted that the Fiesta name would be a logical option if the larger of these two EVs were part of the shared-platform arrangement. Ford has also said it is 'confident in its ability to compete in the right segments' - and currently with no small models at all, this could be a possibility. The ID.2 - based on the ID.2all Concept revealed in 2023 - is a mere 18mm longer than the last-generation Fiesta sold in Britain and too shares a practical five-door layout. As such, it seems the perfect fit for a reborn battery-powered Fiesta. Ford has only one model that could qualify for UK's new Electric Car Grant What could also accelerate Ford's appetite to bring smaller EVs to market is the recent announcement of the UK Government's Electric Car Grant. This will be available to models priced under £37,000. However, brands also need to meet specific manufacturing emissions criteria in order to qualify for the full £3,750 subsidy - and even a lower £1,500 allowance. While Chinese brands are expected to be excluded due to their heavy reliance on coal power stations for manufacturing, there are some European marques that are expected to have a number of eligible vehicles below this price point. Not Ford, though. Only the Puma Gen-E is listed below the £37k threshold. Explorer, Capri and Mustang Mach-E are all steeper. It is currently unknown which EV models will be accepted into the scheme, though the DfT exclusively revealed to This is Money that the initial list of eligible battery-powered cars would be shared before 11 August. The final Ford Fiesta emerged from the brand's Cologne factory in Germany on 7 July. Having first arrived in 1976 and been sold across seven different generations, the plucky small car has topped Britain's annual sales chart 16 times and leads the Cortina and Escort as the nation's all-time favourite model. It is still the most common car on our roads today and remains a staple of Britain's streets. Ford confirmed to This is Money in summer 2023 that the last two Fiestas off the line have been kept by the company. One - which was signed by the whole factory workforce when it came off the assembly line - is retained in its international fleet in Germany while the final right-hand-drive model has formed part of Ford UK's heritage collection.
BBC News
24 minutes ago
- BBC News
Sheffield-Doncaster rush-hour trains disrupted by signalling failure
Rail commuters travelling between Sheffield and Doncaster face rush-hour disruption due to a signalling Rail said services could be cancelled or delayed for up to 40 minutes, although operator TransPennine Express warned that passengers could be delayed for up to an disruption, caused by a fault in the system near Meadowhall, is expected to continue until about 09:00 Rail said rail replacement transport had been "requested" for passengers travelling between Sheffield and Doncaster. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
