Violence remained “excessively high” across the prison estate last year driven by overcrowding, inadequate mental health support and a surge in drug use, an independent watchdog has warned.

Emergency services have been spotted at a seafront beauty spot after reports of a man getting stuck in the mud. Fire crews and the coastguard were called to Long Rock in Whitstable at about 10.30am.

Details of proposals from a council for housing and infrastructure over the next 15 years have been published.

Scotland’s First Minister has accused the leader of the Tories of a “demonisation of young people” after he pushed for more exclusions to tackle disruption in schools.

Kent’s heat-health warning has been upgraded to amber with temperatures expected to exceed 30C today and amid forecasts of 34C by the weekend.

The Government has announced two schemes designed to ease the flow of veterinary medicines from Great Britain into Northern Ireland when a post-Brexit grace period expires at the end of the year.

Farming leaders warning of the need to invest in water infrastructure to make food production more resilient to climate change.

Gagandeep Gulati had his sentence for rape increased from six years to nine years at the Court of Appeal on Thursday.