The NHS is only days away from running out of some supplies because of the Iran war, the head of the health service in England has warned.

Sir Jim Mackey said ‘we are really worried’ about potential shortfalls in the number of critical supplies like syringes, masks and surgical equipment.

Deliveries have been affected by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with shipments either being held up completely or having to be diverted around the world.

Asked about what contingency planning is in place in the NHS because ‘the UK imports 75% of its medicine’, Sir Jim said: ‘We are really worried about this.

‘We’ve already had a couple of supply shocks in the last 12 to 18 months of key supplies.’

He said there is a team in place to ‘focus on where the risks might be through the supply chains’.

Asked on the LBC phone-in how much supply there is, he replied: ‘It depends what you’re talking about.

‘In every area, we’ve got enough to get through for a reasonable period… so generally, a few weeks

‘Because things perish and it costs money to store and various other things go out of out of use, you can’t hold years and years of supply, generally dependent on the product we keep a reasonable period.

‘Some of that is held centrally, some held locally.’

Asked what was at risk, Sir Jim said: ‘Well, everything, honestly – everything’s at risk.’

Asked whether in some instances it would be ‘weeks’ worth of supply’, he replied: ‘Yeah, it could be days for some products.’

On Monday, the Independent Pharmacies Association said the UK was facing a ‘perfect storm of factors exacerbating medicine shortages’.

Chief executive Dr Leyla Hannbeck said: ‘The UK pharmacy sector depends heavily on imports, particularly from India and China, and ongoing pressures, from rising energy costs to constrained raw ingredients from the Middle East conflict, are already disrupting supply and risk worsening shortages without decisive action.’

Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association said: ‘We’re not currently seeing shortages of medicine directly linked to the conflict in the Middle East, but pharmacies are seeing disturbing spikes in prices which can be an early indicator of challenges.

He added that ‘the supply chain is very international’ and said ‘we import a lot of medicines, but it’s an international system’.

‘The Department of Health have issued unprecedented numbers of price concessions designed to cope with price surges, which are likely exacerbated by this current situation.

‘The NHS has driven down the price of medicines over many years, which leaves the UK vulnerable in a global market and contributes to the rising problem of medicine shortages, which are a daily reality for many years for our members.

‘Pharmacies will always do everything they can to ensure patients get the medicines they need but they must do this in an increasingly competitive global market.

‘The Government needs to ensure both that physical supply routes are protected during this conflict but also ensure that the NHS is providing sufficient funding to ensure that Britain is not left behind in the international market at a time when both supply and demand for medicines are very challenging.’

A Government spokesperson said: ‘There are currently no reported medicine shortages as a result of conflict in the Middle East.

‘We continue to monitor the situation closely for any impacts on the medical supply chain.

‘The department actively monitors emerging threats to supply resilience and has established processes in place to manage disruption across the health and social care sector.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: More than 700 dogs may have to be put down by British shelter

MORE: Starmer’s finally rediscovered his backbone – to bottle it now would be disastrous

MORE: Supermarkets have the cheapest petrol and diesel right now — here’s why

Donald Trump has launched another rant at the UK for its stance on his war in Iran, saying the US ‘won’t be there to help you anymore’.

The president called on countries that are struggling to obtain jet fuel to ‘build up some delayed courage’ and risk Iranian attacks by sending ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump is under increasing pressure from rising global fuel prices as a direct result of the Iran war, which he launched alongside Israel at the end of February.

Writing on his Truth Social platform, he said: ‘All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.

‘You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us.

‘Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!’

According to the Financial Times, analysts and industry consultants believe British airlines will start to be hit by a jet fuel shortage at the end of April if pressures on the supply chain continue.

It is expected that the last known shipment from the Middle East will arrive in the UK this week.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is holding his second Cobra meeting in two weeks as his government scrambles to handle the impact of the war on the UK’s cost of living.

He has drawn Trump’s ire by taking an increasingly vocal stance against the US, telling a crowd at his local election campaign launch yesterday: ‘This is not our war and we are not going to be dragged into it.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: Tories held a Muslim iftar event weeks before Nick Timothy’s ‘act of domination’ tweet

MORE: Energy bills ‘to rise by almost a fifth’ in just three months

MORE: American family asked ChatGPT where they could escape Trump – now they live in Devon

The family of a 16-year-old girl who was killed in what was said to be a row over a boy have paid tribute to their ‘princess’.

Chloe Watson Dransfield was found with fatal injuries in Kennerleigh Avenue, Austhorpe, Leeds at 6am on Saturday.

The teenager was said to have been stabbed in the back in a dispute over a boy, according to family and neighbours.

A fifth teenager, a 17-year-old boy, was arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday after four others were held over the weekend.

In a statement, her family said: ‘My beautiful princess Chloe. I cannot put into words how I feel that you are not here with me.

‘You are my life, my world, my best friend and I know that I am yours. I cannot live without you – I need you.

‘You are stunning, confident, loyal, honest and my family-oriented princess.

‘When you walk into any room it lights up with your bubbly personality. There is so much I could say. There’s a big hole in my heart that can never be filled.’

They added: ‘Your two sisters and big brother will always love and miss you to infinity. You will always and forever be in our hearts. Love Mum, Connor, Courtney and Cienna.’

Two women, both 18, a man, 19, and a boy, 18, remain in police custody on Monday after they were arrested on suspicion of murder.

A fifth person, a 17-year-old boy, was arrested on Monday on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody.

Her cousin Shantelle Watson wrote on GoFundMe: ‘My 16-year-old cousin’s life was sadly taken in tragedy.

’16 years young. She didn’t even make it to her 18th – her whole life was taken in a flash over a boy.

‘Her mum is distraught; she has left two younger siblings behind.’

She added: ‘I wanted to create a GoFundMe to help give her the best send off possible.

‘She didn’t deserve this; she was so full of life, such an innocent, beautiful soul taken too soon.’

Neighbour Wayne Mallows described how he tried to save the girl but she had been stabbed in the back.

The 64-year-old told the Daily Mail he performed CPR on the teenager on the pavement close to his home.

‘I was called out of the house about 5.50am on Saturday morning by a dog walker,’ he said.

‘She said that my neighbour was outside doing CPR on a young girl. He was getting tired. 

‘I asked if they’d rung an ambulance and then I realised that a phone was on the ground and he had it on loudspeaker. Ambulance control were giving him instructions.

‘I took over until the ambulance arrived 10 minutes later. She had been stabbed in the back and there was quite a bit of blood. Her eyes were just blank.’

Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘Our thoughts remain with Chloe’s family at this incredibly difficult time. Our specially-trained officers continue to provide them with support.

‘Our investigation into her death is ongoing and five people arrested on suspicion of murder remain in custody, as we continue to establish the full circumstances of this incident.

‘I am appealing to anyone with any relevant information to contact us.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: Man found walking alone down motorway reveals to officers his ‘evil’ secret

MORE: Skeletor dealer unmasked as teenager importing weapons to his parent’s home

MORE: Thieves steal £8,000,000 worth of paintings in just three minutes

Millions of drivers could get on average £830 each after a £7.5bn package to reimburse those caught up in the car finance scandal was agreed.

Brits who bought a car since 2007 were victims of unfair car loan deals, which saw dealers receive hidden commissions, with some paying more than is fair for their loan.

The UK finance watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), has now finalised their redress scheme for affected drivers.

The scale of the practice was uncovered after three drivers took their cases to court, but only one of the cases was upheld in the Supreme Court, which was feared to limit how many drivers could get compensation.

This ensures it is fair for consumers and proportionate for firms. The eligibility criteria have been tightened, average compensation increased for older agreements and a minimum 3% compensatory interest rate per annum added.

Payouts will be capped in around 1 in 3 cases to ensure no one is put in a better position than had they been treated fairly.

12.1 million agreements made between 2007 and 2024 are now eligible for compensation, fewer than under the FCA’s original proposals.

But the average payout has increased to around £830 per agreement.

The FCA estimates that 75% of eligible consumers will make a claim. If so, total redress paid would be £7.5bn.

Nikhil Rathi, chief executive of the FCA, said: ‘We’ve listened to feedback to make sure the scheme is fair for consumers and proportionate for firms. It will put £7.5 billion back into people’s pockets.

‘Now we need everyone to get behind it and ensure millions get their money this year. Payouts should not be delayed any longer, especially as household bills come under greater pressure. Delivering compensation promptly also gives lenders the chance to rebuild trust, and means we can draw a line under the past and support a healthy motor finance market for the future.’

This is a breaking news story… More to follow…

MORE: Martin Lewis issues urgent ‘use it or lose it’ ISA warning as deadline looms

MORE: A massive pothole wrecked my van and I’m over £1,000 out of pocket

MORE: Are we really facing ‘temporary shortages’ of petrol?

A gang member serving a life sentence for murdering two young men after mistaking them for rivals has had his sentence increased for battering a taxi driver in a separate attack.

Jason Furtado, 29, helped plan the ambush that saw Leonardo Reid, 15, and Klevi Shekaj, 23, stabbed to death at a music video shoot in Archway, north London, on the night of June 29, 2023.

He was jailed for at least 34 years at the end of a long-running trial at the Old Bailey.

But the killer was back in court on Thursday after pleading guilty to GBH with intent in relation to an attack on an Uber driver three months before the murders.

District judge Emma Deacon KC gave Furtado a consecutive three-year sentence for the attack at Wood Green Crown Court.

She told Furtado: ‘This was an explosive piece of violence from you against Mr Edwards without any proportion to the reality – which was that you were challenged by a taxi driver for banging on his windscreen.’

Furtado, who had been among a group of people inhaling nitrous oxide, had lashed out at Mr Edwards after he dropped off a passenger outside a club in Islington, north London, in March 2023 at around 3.30am.

The judge said Furtado ‘threw a gas canister at him and you hit him over the head with it’.

Mr Edwards fell to the ground but Furtado hit him multiple times, including to the head, and ‘stamped on his head at least twice’.

He then rolled from the pavement to the road.

Mr Edwards was then run over by a car driven by Furtado’s girlfriend Charlotte Sibley, the court heard.

Furtado had pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent while Sibley, 28, of Hackney, east London, had pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving.

Prosecutor Martyn Bowyer said: ‘Mr Edwards remembers nothing until he woke up in hospital.’

Sibley was fined £750 and disqualified from driving for six months by the judge who said it was nothing short of “miraculous that he did not sustain injuries as a result of your driving”.

Sibley, who was three months pregnant at the time, later told police that a fight between some men had broken out and she was in a ‘frightened and confused state’ when she fled and drove over Mr Edwards’s leg.

The judge described Sibley’s driving as ‘utterly irresponsible’, involving an ‘unsafe manoeuvre’ and that the fight had stopped by the time she decided to drive away.

The judge told Sibley: ‘You had run over him. You must have felt something. You had driven over someone’s body.

‘In driving away, you were thinking of yourself.’

Sibley was also ordered to pay a statutory surcharge.

The prosecution said no evidence was being brought regarding an attempted murder charge against Furtado while not guilty verdicts were recorded in relation to allegations of assisting an offender and dangerous driving against Sibley.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: Teen robber who threatened to behead Aled Jones with machete strikes again

MORE: Benefits cheat who claimed she had ‘extreme anxiety’ caught ziplining on holiday

MORE: Owner of XL bully that started eating pensioner alive ‘didn’t think dog was dangerous’

The Royal Navy will start seizing Russia’s shadow fleet vessels when they slip through UK waters, the prime minister has announced.

Sir Keir Starmer said the UK would join northern European allies in intercepting the tankers as part of a drive to ‘go after’ the sanction-breaking ships fuelling Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine.

He said: ‘Putin is rubbing his hands at the war in the Middle East because he thinks higher oil prices will let him line his pockets.

‘That’s why we’re going after his shadow fleet even harder, not just keeping Britain safe but starving Putin’s war machine of the dirty profits that fund his barbaric campaign in Ukraine.

‘He and his cronies should be in no doubt, we will always defend our sovereignty and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.’

Moscow’s shadow fleet is reported to be made up of more than a thousand ageing tankers.

They illicitly ship oil and other goods out of Russia by flying the flags of other countries, with the aim of evading sanctions imposed by the West since the conflict began.

The Prime Minister has given approval for the UK to start seizing shadow fleet vessels as he travels to Helsinki, Finland, for a summit with national leaders from the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

The JEF, a military coalition of 10 northern European countries led by the UK, aims to defend against Russian incursions.

It also includes Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.

British forces have already been involved in tracking shadow fleet vessels for several years and have supported operations by other countries to seize the ships.

In January, the UK assisted in the seizure of the oil tanker Marinera by the US.

Previously known as the Bella-1, the Russian-flagged vessel was captured by American forces aided by RAF aircraft and the British supply ship RFA Tideforce in the Atlantic.

Later that same month, Royal Navy patrol boat HMS Dagger helped the French seize another sanctioned ship, the Grinch, in the western Mediterranean, shadowing the vessel through the Strait of Gibraltar.

Last week, the French intercepted the Deyna oil tanker in the Mediterranean, supported by the UK.

Libyan authorities have meanwhile towed a suspected shadow fleet oil tanker found drifting in the Mediterranean which was believed to have been hit in a drone strike.

The tanker, carrying liquefied natural gas, was towed to avoid a spill in the Mediterranean.

At the JEF summit, the Prime Minister and other leaders are expected to discuss shared security in the so-called High North and the war in Ukraine.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: Farage and Reform MPs storm out of Commons during Prime Minister’s Questions

MORE: Moment Russian drone wave hits Lviv destroying UNESCO church and killing six

MORE: How Putin’s troops were targeted with boobytrapped boots rigged with explosives

People living in a Norfolk village say their lives are being blighted by an ‘eyesore’ dump where tons of rubbish has been fly-tipped.

The site in Clenchwarton is piled high with furniture, caravans, insulation, pallets and oil tanks. In recent months, there have also been a spate of fires.

Villagers believe much of the flytipping is the work of one man and are furious the problem has been dragging on for years.

Keith Stapleton said: ‘It’s not nice for the village – but what can we do? I go to work at five in the morning and when I come back home at nine or ten o’clock, rubbish has appeared in those few hours.

‘You could do more patrols or have cameras – but people are very crafty.’

Mr Stapleton’s mum Lorraine said: ‘People who do it don’t really care about their country, that’s all.

‘They’re not bothered by the mess – but I don’t know what the solution is.’

She explained that some homeowners have taken to litter picking themselves, which is a ‘shame.’

‘I don’t think you should have to pay to bring in your rubbish to a centre. People don’t want to pay so they dump it anywhere,’ Ms Stapleton said.

Malcolm Ward added: ‘I used to live in that area – but it didn’t cause me any trouble. Now I know he’s constantly having fires, and there could be all sorts of fumes.

‘It’s not nice for the kids to be taking in. It is a bit of an eyesore.’

One person could be seen unloading more rubbish onto the site this week as witnesses watched on in fury.

Clenchwarton is a historic village dating back to Anglo-Saxon times and is mentioned in the Doomsday Book.

In August 2022, the fly-tipping area was made subject to a restriction order prohibiting access to, and the bringing in of waste, to the land.

The action was taken after a major fire ripped through the dump, prompting the Environment Agency to issue the landowner with a stop notice. The court order was lifted in February 2023.

Earlier this month, 65 tonnes of fly-tipped rubbish was cleared by West Norfolk Council.

A statement from the authority said: ‘We share the community’s concerns about this completely unacceptable dumping of waste, and we are liaising with the Environment Agency as lead authority on this matter.

‘We will investigate and take action where we can whenever fly-tipping is reported.

‘To report illegally dumped rubbish, or help with an investigation, please visit our website.”

West Norfolk councillor Steve Bearshaw, who represents the ward, declined to comment, as did the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service.

County councillor Alexandra Kemp, who also represents the area, said: ‘I would like to thank the borough council for clearing up the mess – but no one should ever be dumping rubbish in Clenchwarton in the first place.

‘It is selfish, thoughtless and dangerous. The Government’s promised new powers to tackle fly-tipping need to be sped up, andintroduced immediately.’

The Environment Agency and Clenchwarton Parish Council have also been approached for comment.

Earlier this year, a ‘putrid’ mound of illegally dumped rubbish was found on a site just off the M57.

In October, one of the UK’s biggest ever fly-tipping sites measuring more than 500ft long was found in a field next to the A34.

MORE: Undertaker found crushed to death by scissor lift used to move bodies from fridge

MORE: ‘I’m stranded in Cyprus because the DWP thought I was dead – now I’m being taken to court’

MORE: Test your knowledge with Metro’s politics quiz – week 4

A former Metropolitan Police employee used fake sick notes to claim 200 days off work, costing the police force nearly £20,000, a court heard.

Natasha Fountain, 29, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday by video link, where she admitted committing fraud by misrepresentation.

Fountain, of Union Road, Portsmouth, submitted fraudulent sick notes to her line manager for a period of just under two years, costing the Met Police around £19,000, the court was told.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Fountain worked as a communications and engagement officer for the Met from June 2022 until August 2024.

While the first sick note Fountain submitted to her work was genuine, the court heard she later forged several notes between November 4, 2022 and May 3, 2024, which resulted in her taking around 200 sick days.

Prosecutor Fahmida Azad said there was ‘no record’ of any appointments between Fountain and her GP practice between the dates in question.

The court heard the practice had also moved address during this time, a change which was not reflected in the correspondence the defendant claimed to be from her doctor.

The court heard that Fountain faced physical and mental health issues, including severe anxiety, which prevented her from returning to her GP to receive ongoing treatment and genuine sick notes.

District judge Briony Clarke described Fountain’s crime as ‘quite sophisticated’.

She noted that the defendant went beyond ‘just lying’ by actively forging the notes.

Delaying sentencing for further details to be gathered about Fountain’s health at the time of offending, the judge said: ‘There should be a deeper exploration of her issues and to what extent any genuine medical ailments were going on at the time.

‘If there are, or were, genuine health issues that may have meant she was unfit to work at that time, (the defence) may well wish to explore that.’

Fountain, who was given unconditional bail, will be sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on April 20.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: Soham child killer Ian Huntley won’t get a funeral after his family refused to give him one

MORE: Inside the plush Manchester suburb where gangsters live side-by-side with celebrities

MORE: Three more men accused of raping woman ‘after she had been drugged by husband’

Britain’s early spring warm spell is set to come to an abrupt end this week with the arrival of rain and colder temperatures.

Much of the country will see the mercury return to single figures after an unusually dry and sunny interlude to March.

An early heatwave saw temperatures rise as high as 20C last week in parts.

Scotland had its hottest day of the year so far on Friday, with a high of 20.2C recorded at Fyvie Castle in Aberdeenshire.

But it may be too early to put away the winter coats as the country is set to experience a ‘cold plunge’, the Met Office has said.

From Monday, colder air and winds will see temperatures fall along with some showers towards the middle of the week and even possibly snow in Scotland.

Meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said a new weather system coming in from the north west would turn conditions colder for most.

But he added that temperatures would stay in the mid teens for the vast majority of southern England until Wednesday.

He said: ‘Wet weather continues to spread south and eastwards through Tuesday.

‘Colder weather moving in from Wednesday. A notable drop in temperatures, wintry showers, particularly across the north of the UK and staying chilly into Thursday as well but a little drier.’

Forecaster Alex Deakin said conditions would return to around average for the time of year later this week, Sky News reported.

But he added that the drop could be a ‘shock to the system’ for some after the warm spell.

He said: ‘Temperatures by Wednesday (will be) single digits for many, and that’s the max, so it’s going to get cold at night.

‘Probably the peak of that cold will be on Wednesday night, that’s when the cold plunge really comes in.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: Northern Lights set to light up the sky – Will they be visible tonight?

MORE: Tenerife and Gran Canaria hit with ‘significant danger’ weather warnings

MORE: ‘I’m in storm-hit Tenerife – there are 6ft waves and rocks falling off mountains’

John Terry appears to have endorsed a policy to ban the burqa in public spaces in Britain.

The former England and Chelsea captain popped up in the comments of an Instagram post declaring the stance had been adopted by right-wing party Restore Britain.

Party leader Rupert Lowe shared a post pledging to ban the garment worn by some observant Muslim women.

Lowe, a former chairman of Southampton FC, also said he would outlaw signs in foreign languages at stations.

His post featured a woman wearing a burqa outside Whitechapel Station with its sign in Bengali, a nod to the area’s Bangladeshi community.

Mr Terry appeared to support the views, replying with a post containing three clapping emojis, the Daily Mail reported.

The Restore leader later leapt to the defence of the former England captain, writing: ‘I see that England/Chelsea legend John Terry is taking some flak for applauding Restore Britain’s policy of banning the burqa and ensuring that all London stations use English, and English only.

‘This is the position the vast majority of the British people support.

‘There is now a political party that will say exactly what people think and fight to make it happen. Restore Britain.’

Mr Lowe, 68, was elected as MP for Great Yarmouth for Reform UK but was later suspended from the party following allegations of bullying.

He denied the claims and insisted the investigation was a ‘witchhunt’ instigated by Nigel Farage. Last month, he lost a bit to prevent the parliamentary watchdog from investigating the complaint.

Mr Terry has occasionally divulged his political leanings, including when he held a St George’s Flag in his left hand while skiing in the French Alps.

Calls by politicians to ban the burqa have proven extremely controversial in the past.

The move has been adopted in France, which practices a policy of national secularity.

The issue previously came to the helm when Reform MP Sarah Pochin used a PMQ to ask Sir Keir Starmer if he would back the policy.

Her words were rebuffed by Reform leader Nigel Farage, who insisted the comments were ‘wrong and ugly’.

Reform’s then chairman, Zia Yusuf, who is Muslim, resigned from his post days later before returning to another role in the party days later.

Mr Yusuf denied his resignation was connected to Ms Pochin’s comments, instead attributing his decision to quit to his own fatigue.

Metro has approached John Terry’s representatives for comment.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: ‘We’re showing that Islam can be an inclusive religion – here’s how’

MORE: Nigel Farage stops doing Cameos after being duped one too many times

MORE: I tricked Nigel Farage on Cameo – it seems he’ll say anything