bbcuk--2020-07-28--Prince William meets Peter Crouch: Duke of Cambridge on lockdown, Twitter and mental health

The guest on this week 's That Peter Crouch Podcast is none other than Prince William .
As president of the Football Association , the Duke of Cambridge has been keen to use his role to start conversations around mental health , including helping to rename the 2020 FA Cup final the Heads Up FA Cup final .
`` We 're hoping that renaming it is a big enough statement that the UK will show the world , and the football world in particular , that mental health really matters , '' William - making his first appearance on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team met William at Kensington Palace before lockdown - and even shared a curry - before a follow-up Zoom call this month .
Here are the highlights : Football is more important to him now he 's a parent Asked if football is his `` release '' , William replies : `` It is now .
Since becoming a dad , without a doubt , football has become way more important than it used to be .
`` I need to go and be amongst other guys and let out some steam , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , joking he stops short of abusing the referee .
`` I 'm the president of the FA and I ca n't do that ! ''
William adds : `` It has become a lot more relevant to me and I need it .
Talking about football helps a lot . ''
Later in the podcast , he says : `` This period of time has allowed us to all revalue things .
The thing about lockdown is that it has been a little bit of an awakening that we maybe take our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there 's a lot of things out there that can wobble all of us at any time .
`` I think particularly now , as a parent , it starts to make you look a bit more to the future at what kind of world we are going to hand over to the next generation .
There 's been a lot of time to think - and you can also have too much time to think , and that 's also what worries me . ''
He is in the 'yes to crowd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missed football during its hiatus .
`` I was trying to pretend I did n't care too much it was n't around , '' he says .
`` But by the end of the third weekend , I was really missing it .
It just goes with the weekend . ''
And he 's all for having crowd noise in empty stadiums .
`` It 's better than hearing the players puffing and swearing at each other , '' he says .
What are among the things a royal worries about during lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , apparently .
`` I found it pretty testing , trying to keep the children engaged and interested in some sort of work , '' he says .
`` It 's been an interesting few months .
`` I 've learned my patience is a lot shorter than I thought it was !
That 's probably the biggest eye-opener for me , and my wife has super patience . ''
He goes on to admit he 's struggled with year two maths .
Comforting .
He chose Aston Villa because he did n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ William is famously a Villa fan .
He says he fell in love during his first trip to an FA Cup game - Villa against Bolton - when he was 11 .
`` I sat there amongst all the Villa fans and I loved it .
I thought the atmosphere was great , '' he recalls .
He says at the time he `` desperately '' did n't want to support `` someone like Manchester United or Chelsea '' - like everyone else at school did .
He was also attracted to Villa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1982 , when they , as English champions , won the European Cup .
`` I felt a real connection with the club , '' he says .
`` I felt Villa was a very proud Midlands club and it felt very special .
`` Only in the last few years have I got a grip of Villa as my real team and I watch them a lot and I get into the stats . ''
After being put on the spot , William says he 's the only person in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In school , I basically got targeted the whole time , '' says William , who says he usually plays at right-back .
Apparently , aged 15 , he once asked a police officer with him to use a laser pen and 'red dot ' one of the opposition players .
`` I kept saying to him , 'see , he 's following you ' , '' William laughed : `` It put him off for about 10 minutes ! ''
He wants Grealish in the England squad When Crouch and the team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as president of the FA , he might get rid of Gareth Southgate were England to have a bad run of games - he concedes that `` that might be a bit difficult ! ''
.
`` Gareth is a legend , I really like Gareth and I think he 's doing a great job with the England team , '' he says .
`` That 's not to say that conversations have n't been had where I give him a little nudge and say : 'Why is n't Grealish in the England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He does n't play Football Manager because he thinks he 'd get too addicted '' That would be the end of my life - you 'd never see me on a balcony again , '' he says .
`` I 'd be locked in . ''
He met Ian Holloway on a stag do William tells a great story about watching Blackpool , then managed by Ian Holloway , on a stag do with friends from the Royal Air Force .
Apparently the manager came to meet the group at half-time , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should probably have been delivering his team talk at that point .
`` He was just like , 'there 's no point doing a team talk , they 're not listening anyway ' , '' William says .
He 's not allowed to tweet from the official @ KensingtonRoyal account '' They deliberately keep me away from that .
When Liverpool won that amazing Champions League semi-final against Barcelona [ in May 2019 ] , I grabbed hold of the Twitter thing and just posted .
`` It was an amazing match , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was one of the best games of football I 've ever seen .
I got completely out of control .
I was like : 'Tweet that !
Get it out ! '
`` And nearly every Villa match we 've won - which is n't many this season - I 've been trying to get hold of it , but they keep it away from me now . ''
`` I 've met a lot of players .
It 's very interesting , how different sports and different teams behave in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Whenever I go into the England dressing room there does always feel a lot more pressure .
I do n't know what it is , but you do notice guys find it much more difficult to relax .
`` We talk about physical fitness .
We never really talk about mental fitness .
We all need to stay mentally fit , none more so than professional athletes who - under special circumstances playing for England under huge pressure - have got to have their heads razor sharp as well as their feet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the question you never realised that you had always wanted to know .
It would be Queen , would n't it ?
`` It 's one of the few songs I know all the lyrics to , '' he explains .

Prince William takes a curry delivery for Peter Crouch
The guest on this week's That Peter Crouch Podcast is none other than Prince William.
As president of the Football Association, the Duke of Cambridge has been keen to use his role to start conversations around mental health, including helping to rename the 2020 FA Cup final the Heads Up FA Cup final.
"We're hoping that renaming it is a big enough statement that the UK will show the world, and the football world in particular, that mental health really matters," William - making his first appearance on a podcast - tells Crouch.
The podcast team met William at Kensington Palace before lockdown - and even shared a curry - before a follow-up Zoom call this month.
Here are the highlights:
Football is more important to him now he's a parent
Prince William says he finds it very important to talk to people about football
Asked if football is his "release", William replies: "It is now. Since becoming a dad, without a doubt, football has become way more important than it used to be.
"I need to go and be amongst other guys and let out some steam, shout a bit," he explains, joking he stops short of abusing the referee. "I'm the president of the FA and I can't do that!"
William adds: "It has become a lot more relevant to me and I need it. Talking about football helps a lot."
Later in the podcast, he says: "This period of time has allowed us to all revalue things. The thing about lockdown is that it has been a little bit of an awakening that we maybe take our lives a bit for granted sometimes and there's a lot of things out there that can wobble all of us at any time.
"I think particularly now, as a parent, it starts to make you look a bit more to the future at what kind of world we are going to hand over to the next generation. There's been a lot of time to think - and you can also have too much time to think, and that's also what worries me."
He is in the 'yes to crowd noise' camp
William says he really missed football during its hiatus.
"I was trying to pretend I didn't care too much it wasn't around," he says. "But by the end of the third weekend, I was really missing it. It just goes with the weekend."
And he's all for having crowd noise in empty stadiums.
"It's better than hearing the players puffing and swearing at each other," he says.
His lockdown experience sounds quite relatable
What are among the things a royal worries about during lockdown? Home-schooling and keeping young kids entertained, apparently.
"I found it pretty testing, trying to keep the children engaged and interested in some sort of work," he says. "It's been an interesting few months.
"I've learned my patience is a lot shorter than I thought it was! That's probably the biggest eye-opener for me, and my wife has super patience."
He goes on to admit he's struggled with year two maths. Comforting.
He chose Aston Villa because he didn't want to be a glory hunter
Prince William is asked whether his son Prince George could be a professional footballer.
Prince William is famously a Villa fan. He says he fell in love during his first trip to an FA Cup game - Villa against Bolton - when he was 11.
"I sat there among all the Villa fans and I loved it. I thought the atmosphere was great," he recalls.
He says at the time he "desperately" didn't want to support "someone like Manchester United or Chelsea" - like everyone else at school did.
He was also attracted to Villa's proud history - William was born in 1982, when they, as English champions, won the European Cup.
"I felt a real connection with the club," he says. "I felt Villa was a very proud Midlands club and it felt very special.
"Only in the last few years have I got a grip of Villa as my real team and I watch them a lot and I get into the stats."
He wears shin pads for six-a-side
After being put on the spot, William says he's the only person in his team who wears shin pads.
There is a good reason.
"In school, I basically got targeted the whole time," says William, who says he usually plays at right-back.
Apparently, aged 15, he once asked a police officer with him to use a laser pen and 'red dot' one of the opposition players.
"I kept saying to him, 'see, he's following you'," William laughed: "It put him off for about 10 minutes!"
He wants Grealish in the England squad
When Crouch and the team ask William if - in his role as president of the FA - he might get rid of Gareth Southgate were England to have a bad run of games, he concedes that "that might be a bit difficult!".
"Gareth is a legend, I really like Gareth and I think he's doing a great job with the England team," he says.
"That's not to say that conversations haven't been had where I give him a little nudge and say: 'Why isn't Grealish in the England squad?'" he jokes.
He doesn't play Football Manager because he thinks he'd get too addicted
"That would be the end of my life - you'd never see me on a balcony again," he says. "I'd be locked in."
He met Ian Holloway on a stag do
William tells a great story about watching Blackpool, then managed by Ian Holloway, on a stag do with friends from the Royal Air Force.
Apparently the manager came to meet the group at half-time, which William says surprised him - given he should probably have been delivering his team talk at that point.
"He was just like, 'there's no point doing a team talk, they're not listening anyway'," William says.
He bought binoculars as a present for Kate
When the team talked about bad presents they had given their wives, William admitted he once bought the Duchess of Cambridge a pair binoculars, despite her not being a keen birdwatcher.
"That was early on in the courtship. I think that sealed the deal," he jokes.
"I even tried convincing myself by saying: 'These are amazing, look how far you can see.'"
Asked about Kate's reaction to the gift, he said: "Kate opened them and said: 'But they're binoculars, what's going on?''"
He's not allowed to tweet from the official @KensingtonRoyal account
"They deliberately keep me away from that. When Liverpool won that amazing Champions League semi-final against Barcelona [in May 2019], I grabbed hold of the Twitter thing and just posted.
"It was an amazing match, I was blown away by it. It was one of the best games of football I've ever seen. I got completely out of control. I was like: 'Tweet that! Get it out!'
"And nearly every Villa match we've won - which isn't many this season - I've been trying to get hold of it, but they keep it away from me now."
He's concerned about England players' mental health
"I've met a lot of players. It's very interesting, how different sports and different teams behave in a changing room," William says.
"Whenever I go into the England dressing room there does always feel a lot more pressure. I don't know what it is, but you do notice guys find it much more difficult to relax.
"We talk about physical fitness. We never really talk about mental fitness. We all need to stay mentally fit, none more so than professional athletes who - under special circumstances playing for England under huge pressure - have got to have their heads razor sharp as well as their feet and legs."
"People talk about physical fitness, we never really talk about mental fitness"
His karaoke song is Bohemian Rhapsody
And the answer to the question you never realised that you had always wanted to know. It would be Queen, wouldn't it?
"It's one of the few songs I know all the lyrics to," he explains.


bbcuk--2020-07-28--Fraud: Banks reveal the 10 coronavirus scams to be wary of

Fraudsters are using the pandemic as an excuse to trick people out of their cash , according to British banks .
UK Finance has warned that scamsters are preying on consumers ' financial fears and has named ten Covid-19 scams the public should be wary of .
`` Criminals are impersonating trusted organisations like the NHS or HMRC to trick people , '' the trade body said .
People should stay alert to avoid falling for the sophisticated schemes , it said .
`` During this pandemic we have seen criminals using sophisticated methods to callously exploit people 's financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their money or information , '' said Katy Worobec , managing director of economic crime at UK Finance .
Local councils have recorded a 40 % increase in reported scams since the start of lockdown , while Citizens Advice reckons one in three people have been targeted by a Covid scammer .
Some scams manipulate their victims by urging people to invest and `` take advantage of the financial downturn '' .
Others impersonate well-known subscription services to trick people to part with their cash and personal information .
Some criminals even pose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trace service to fool people into giving away their personal details .
`` We urge people to follow the advice of the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign to keep their money and personal information safe from fraudsters , '' said Ms Worobec .
The campaign encourages people to be suspicious of any unsolicited contact and `` Stop , Challenge and Protect '' when they receive any messages out of the blue .
The ten scams to be wary of 1 .
Fake government emails , which look like they are from government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The emails contain links which steal personal and financial information .
2 .
Scam emails offering access to `` Covid-19 relief funds '' , which encourage victims to fill in a form and hand over their personal information .
3 .
Official-looking emails offering a `` council tax reduction '' .
The emails contain links that lead to a fake government website , which harvests personal and financial information .
4 .
Benefit recipients are offered help in applying for universal credit , but fraudsters grab some of the payment as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 .
Phishing emails claiming that the recipient has been in contact with someone diagnosed with Covid-19 .
They lead to fake websites that are used to steal personal and financial information or infect devices with malware .
6 .
Fake adverts for non-existent coronavirus-related products , such as hand sanitizer and face masks , which simply take the victim 's cash and send them nothing .
7 .
Fake emails and texts claiming to be from TV Licensing , telling people they are eligible for six months for free because of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a problem with their direct debit and are asked to click on a link that takes them to a fake website , which steals their personal and financial information .
8 .
Emails asking people to update their TV subscription services payment details by clicking on a link which is then used to steal credit card information .
9 .
Fake profiles on social media sites are used to manipulate victims into handing over their money .
Criminals will often use the identities of real people to strike up conversation with their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are advertised on social media sites , encouraging victims to `` take advantage of the financial downturn '' .
Bitcoin platforms are using emails and adverts on social media platforms to encourage unsuspecting victims to put money into fake companies using fake websites .
The Local Government Association ( LGA ) also warned about fake coronavirus test kits and hand sanitizers , but said scamsters are also flogging medical products claiming to treat or prevent Covid-19 .
It said local councils have also heard of messages about how to claim school meals funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care home residents offering to do shopping errands .
One scam involves a message sent by text or email stating that the recipient has been fined £60 for leaving their home more than once a day , the LGA warned .
Links in these messages connect to websites that steal a victim 's personal information or hack into their computer or phone .
`` People need to be cautious .
If something does n't seem right or sounds too good to be true , do n't hesitate to end a phone call , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or shut the door , '' an LGA spokesperson said .
Citizens Advice warned that the most vulnerable people are often at greater risk of being contacted by a scammer .
Dame Gillian Guy , chief executive of Citizens Advice , said : `` While so many people have pulled together to help and support each other through the challenges of coronavirus , opportunistic scammers have instead chosen to prey on unsuspecting victims .
`` We 've had nearly a quarter of a million views of our web pages on scams during this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only use trusted sources of information and be on the lookout for signs of a potential scam . ''
The charity 's research showed almost half those with a disability or long-term illness had been targeted , while half of those with an increased risk of Covid-19 or those shielding had been too .
More than half of those who have lost personal income due to the virus had also been contacted .

7. Fake emails and texts claiming to be from TV Licensing, telling people they are eligible for six months for free because of the pandemic. Victims are told there has been a problem with their direct debit and are asked to click on a link that takes them to a fake website, which steals their personal and financial information.


bbcuk--2020-07-28--Coronavirus: Boris Johnson warns of Europe 'second wave' amid Spain row

Boris Johnson has warned there are signs of a `` second wave '' of coronavirus in Europe , as he defended a 14-day quarantine on travellers from Spain .
The PM said the government had to be `` swift '' - and hinted at further action against other countries if necessary .
But airline Jet2 said information from the government was `` contradictory and often comes with little or no notice '' .
It comes after the Spanish prime minister called the UK 's decision to change the rules for Spain `` unjust '' .
Pedro Sánchez said tourists in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from coronavirus than in the UK .
The UK is advising against all non-essential travel to Spain , including the Balearic and Canary Islands .
It also removed Spain and its islands from the list of countries that are exempt from the 14-day quarantine rule .
Mr Johnson said it was up to individuals to decide whether they wanted to take the risk of travelling during the pandemic .
`` These are decisions for families , for individuals , about where they want to go , '' he said .
Meanwhile , Germany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Spain .
• What are the UK 's quarantine rules ?
• Spain travel rules : What are my rights ?
• Why is n't the UK testing travellers on arrival ?
Speaking during a visit to Nottinghamshire , the PM said : `` What we have to do is take swift and decisive action where we think that the risks are starting to bubble up again .
`` Let 's be absolutely clear about what 's happening in Europe , amongst some of our European friends , I 'm afraid you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the signs of a second wave of the pandemic . ''
It came as the UK reported a further 119 coronavirus deaths - taking the official number of deaths so far to 45,878 - but the daily figure is typically higher on Tuesdays due to delays in reporting deaths at the weekend .
An additional 581 positive cases have also been reported across the UK , a small dip on recent days .
Asked about reports in the Daily Telegraph that the 14-day period could be reduced , Mr Johnson said : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which we can mitigate the impact of the quarantine .
`` At the moment you have got to stick with the guidance that we are giving , we have given the guidance now about Spain and about some other places around the world . ''
When asked whether the 14-day quarantine period could be cut , transport minister Baroness Vere said the government was `` looking at a range of options '' including `` testing people on certain days '' after they arrive .
Ministers are also `` certainly looking '' at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather than whole countries , she said during an urgent question in the House of Lords .
Travel industry sources later told the BBC the government was close to backing a trial of double-testing arrivals from at-risk countries - allowing those who test negative twice a few days apart to leave quarantine early .
Mr Johnson said if the UK did see signs of a second wave in other countries , it was the government 's duty to stop travellers returning and spreading the disease .
`` It 's vital that when people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are coming back from a place where I 'm afraid there is another outbreak , they must go into quarantine , '' he said .
`` That 's why we have taken the action that we have and we will continue , throughout the summer , to take such action where it is necessary . ''
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon echoed Mr Johnson 's concerns , saying `` we are currently seeing a worrying resurgence of Covid '' in European countries .
She warned potential travellers not to assume quarantine measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of booking a holiday as when they returned , adding : `` I would n't be booking a foreign holiday right now . ''
The Department of Health said there had been a handful of suspected cases this month where a person had tested positive for the coronavirus after returning to the UK from Spain .
But it added these were not a factor in evidence presented to ministers and that the decision to reintroduce a quarantine for arrivals from Spain was taken because of rising infection rates there .
In an interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Mr Sánchez said his government was `` talking with British authorities to try to get them to reconsider '' the decision .
He said the UK had made an `` error '' by considering the infection rate for the whole country .
He added that `` 64.5 % of the new cases registered are in two territories '' and in most of Spain the prevalence of Covid-19 was `` very much inferior to the numbers registered in the United Kingdom '' .
The rate of infection in Spain is 47.2 cases per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 15 , according to the latest figures from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control .
While the outbreak remains under control in many parts of Spain , certain areas - in particular Catalonia in the north-east , which includes the city Barcelona , and the neighbouring region of Aragón - have seen a huge spike in infections .
According to data from the Spanish government , as of Monday , the infection rates in the Balearic and Canary Islands were 9.22 and 7.06 per 100,000 respectively .
The same data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes Barcelona , was 132.4 per 100,000 , and 28.21 in Madrid .
On Tuesday , the UK government added Estonia , Latvia , Slovakia , Slovenia and St Vincent and the Grenadines to the list of countries which are exempt from the quarantine rule .
Travellers returning to the UK from anywhere not on the list - including Spain - must self-isolate for 14 days at a registered address .
People who do not self-isolate can be fined up to £1,000 in England , Wales and Northern Ireland and those returning to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fines up to £5,000 for persistent offenders .
Government sources told the BBC that there are no plans to introduce testing at airports , and the priority is to get walk-in centres up and running .
Some travel agents say they are struggling to understand the logic of the UK government 's advice .
And MP Chris Bryant , who chairs the all-party parliamentary group for Spain , said : `` Why the Canaries - which are further away from Barcelona than Barcelona is to the UK - are on the list as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't understand .
`` And there are many , many regions of Spain which have much lower infection rates than many areas in the UK .
I think this has been terribly badly handled . ''
• SOCIAL DISTANCING : What are the rules now ?
• BUBBLES : How do they work and who can be in yours ?
• JOBS : Can my boss force me to go to work ?
Labour said the government 's handling of the restrictions had been `` chaotic '' , and urged it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel industry .
Holiday companies Jet2 and Tui were among those to announce sweeping flight cancellations following the UK announcement .
`` What we need now is clarity and consistency from the government , '' Jet2 said .
`` We want to provide customers , who work hard and save hard for their well-deserved holidays , with timely information and we need this from the government . ''
EasyJet , British Airways and Ryanair said they would continue to operate full schedules of flights to Spain , though EasyJet said its holidays would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Sun , sea and sanitiser : What your holiday will be like Among the thousands affected by the change in travel advice and quarantine requirement was Jason Ward who was on holiday in Ibiza with his wife when he heard the rules had changed .
The couple , from Stevenage , in Hertfordshire , arrived on Saturday for a two-week holiday and now face having to self-isolate for the same amount of time when they return to the UK .
`` Both of us are key workers and have worked through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BBC .
`` We feel safer here then back at home . ''
He called on ministers to `` remove the quarantine and allow the businesses here to have a chance to survive '' .
• 'GUIDED BY SCIENCE ' : A dangerous gamble with people ’ s lives or a sound scientific approach ?
• I MAY DESTROY YOU : The groundbreaking drama making headlines in lockdown Have your travel plans been affected due to the new government advice ?
Have you returned to the UK and are facing problems due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spain ?
Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk .
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist .
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Have your travel plans been affected due to the new government advice? Have you returned to the UK and are facing problems due to quarantine? Are you still stranded in Spain? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.


bbcuk--2020-07-28--Chinook makes 'unplanned landing' in Carmarthenshire

A Chinook helicopter was forced to make an unplanned landing on Carmarthenshire farmland , Ministry of Defence officials have confirmed @ @ @ @ @ incident happened on Tuesday evening near Llangynin , and the twin-engine aircraft crew suffered `` @ @ @ @ @ suspect `` wire strike '' is thought to be responsible for the heavy-lifting helicopter coming @ @ @ @ @ Military chiefs said the Chinook was on a training exercise at the time .
The @ @ @ @ @ with the aircraft to maintain security until it can be recovered .

"Luckily they had landed very safely in a field just a few minutes from the village but unfortunate as they had come down they had hit some sort of electric overhead cables.


bbcuk--2020-07-28--Coronavirus: Double virus tests 'could cut quarantine time'

People entering the UK from at-risk countries who test negative for coronavirus twice within several days might be allowed to leave quarantine early .
The UK government is close to giving its backing to a trial , according to travel industry sources .
Under current rules , those arriving in the UK from certain countries must self-isolate for 14 days .
The Department for Transport ( DfT ) declined to comment .
Details of the new programme are said to be still being worked out , but one key area of debate is the number of days required between tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is keeping all quarantine measures under review .
It is said to be considering an eight-day stretch between tests , whereas figures within the travel sector are keen for a five-day period .
The number of days required between each test is critical in reducing the possibility of `` false negative '' results .
A false negative result is possible if someone who has recently contracted Covid-19 is not showing symptoms .
France is about to launch a compulsory two-test regime for people arriving from 16 at-risk countries , including the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two broad options being considered .
The first would involve someone having a first test several days before they travelled to the UK , with the second test happening the day before they arrive .
However , this might mean that in some cases people would need to be tested abroad .
That option could mean that people would avoid quarantine altogether .
The second possibility is that people would be tested on arrival in the UK , possibly at the airport , and then be required to have a second test several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two tests , the person would have to self-isolate at home in line with government rules .
• Why is n't the UK testing travellers on arrival ?
• What are the UK 's travel rules and which countries can you visit ?
Another question mark remains over how the trial will be funded .
Travel consultant Paul Charles believes that airports will have to foot part of the bill .
`` The onus is on UK airports to invest , as restaurants and bars have done , in the measures which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said .
Like other figures in the travel industry , Mr Charles is frustrated by the fact that the government has still not given its backing to testing as a way of people avoiding the travel quarantine .
`` Substantial investment in testing is the only solution to enable safer travel , keep corridors open to other countries and remove the disruptive need for everyone to self-isolate for 14 days . ''
John Holland-Kaye , chief executive of Heathrow Airport , told BBC News `` the jury was still out '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrival .
`` Not enough work has been done on that and it may be that we need another test after five or eight days to get people out of quarantine early .
`` As the UK 's hub airport , I want to work with the government on some of these things - to try to find a balance to keep people safe but also to get the economy moving again and save as many jobs as possible . ''
The test that would be used is the same Polymerase Chain Reaction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NHS , and can cost about £150 each time .
Any trial of the double-testing scheme would likely initially be focused on one or two specific routes .
The BBC has been told that any trial would not initially be focused on people arriving from European destinations .
The aviation sector has been in discussions with Public Health England about how the testing could work .
If the scheme goes ahead , it is not expected to be implemented for several weeks .
Collinson and Swissport are the two firms spearheading the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Collinson chief executive David Evans said of the potential roll-out : `` I would hope that the government would move and flex on their policy - I think they 've got to have an armoury of tools at their disposal to do this .
`` As soon as they do that , we should get this rolled out in the next couple of weeks . ''

The first would involve someone having a first test several days before they travelled to the UK, with the second test happening the day before they arrive. However, this might mean that in some cases people would need to be tested abroad.


bbcuk--2020-07-28--Oldham coronavirus infection spike prompts new measures

New measures to stop the spread of Covid-19 have been introduced in Oldham following a `` dramatic '' rise in cases .
Residents are being asked not to have social visitors to their homes and to keep two metres apart when outside .
Anyone shielding has been asked to continue to do so until 14 August and care homes will not relax restrictions .
The new measures are essential to prevent a `` strict local lockdown '' like in Leicester , Oldham Council 's deputy leader councillor Arooj Shah said .
`` The best way to avoid infection is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible and to stay home wherever you can , including working from home , '' she added .
Many aspects of the coronavirus lockdown have now eased across the UK but certain areas have introduced new measures to halt the spread of the virus .
Oldham follows Rochdale , its neighbouring Greater Manchester borough , and Blackburn with Darwen and Pendle in Lancashire , in introducing new restrictions .
The new restrictions were agreed `` after the number of cases of coronavirus in the borough increased dramatically over the last week '' , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oldham was on Public Health England 's ( PHE ) `` watchlist '' as an area of concern but was removed last Thursday .
Data published on Tuesday evening by PHE is showing another spike , with 119 cases recorded in the week to 24 July equivalent to more than 50 per 100,000 population .
The week before saw 26 cases recorded .
Oldham has England 's third highest rate of new cases per 100,000 people for the week to 24 July .
PHE 's data shows the number of new cases for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a further 30 cases already recorded for 25 and 26 July .
Blackburn with Darwen recorded 77.2 cases per 100,000 population in the week to 24 July , followed by Leicester with 61.9 and Oldham with 50.5 .
Bradford is fourth with 46.4 per 100,000 and Hyndburn in Lancashire is fifth with 39.6 per 100,000 .
The action being taken in Oldham is , unfortunately , the way of life now .
With infection levels low , health officials want to quickly stamp down on any signs of local flare ups .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ three times lower than it was in Leicester when a local lockdown was announced .
But the point is it had started rising rapidly in Oldham .
By taking what may seem like small extra precautions , the council will be hoping it has a profound impact on the way people are behaving .
There seems to be some real hotspots in the north west of England and parts of the Midlands at the moment .
It is unclear exactly why , although there is certainly a link to deprivation .
People living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs where it is harder to social distance are factors in why infections are bucking the trend .
There is also concern the way public health messaging has been communicated has not been as effective in areas with a higher proportion of ethnic minorities , where English may not be the first language .
The next few weeks will prove crucial for not just Oldham , but other areas too .
Oldham Council said a `` significant proportion '' of recent cases involve multiple people testing positive within a household .
This shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` real issue '' , the council added .
Katrina Stephens , director of Public Health for Oldham , urged residents to `` all do our bit and stick to the restrictions , '' adding `` we can help stop the spread of coronavirus , and protect ourselves and our loved ones '' .
• SOCIAL DISTANCING : What are the rules now ?
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There is also concern the way public health messaging has been communicated has not been as effective in areas with a higher proportion of ethnic minorities, where English may not be the first language.


bbcuk--2020-07-28--Coronavirus: Spain travel row and a local lockdown

Here are five things you need to know about the coronavirus outbreak this Tuesday evening .
We 'll have another update for you tomorrow morning .
We 've heard from the prime minister , who has defended the UK 's decision to impose a 14-day quarantine on travellers from Spain .
Boris Johnson warns there are signs of a `` second wave '' of coronavirus in Europe and said the government would continue to take further action `` where it is necessary '' .
But Spain 's prime minister Pedro Sánchez says the rules are `` unjust '' , arguing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be safer from coronavirus than in the UK .
You can read more about the quarantine rules - reintroduced for mainland Spain over the weekend - here .
The town in Greater Manchester has introduced tighter coronavirus restrictions following what Oldham Council says is a `` dramatic '' rise in cases .
Measures include keeping two metres apart outside and residents are being asked by the council not to have social visitors to their homes .
There have been 114 cases recorded so far in the week to 24 July - equivalent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than four times as many as the week before .
Find out how many confirmed cases there are in your area here .
There 's been some more gloomy news for the High Street this afternoon as upmarket department store chain Selfridges announces it is cutting 450 staff - 14 % of its workforce .
It says the coronavirus outbreak has led to `` the toughest year we have experienced in our recent history '' .
It 's not yet clear where the job cuts are but the retailer has four stores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and two in Manchester .
Recordings of silent London streets during lockdown show the capital has been quieter than in 1928 , our education correspondent Sean Coughlan reports .
The audio is set to become part of a Museum of London collection and will be kept in a project capturing the experiences of Covid-19 .
The recordings will be made available on the museum 's website alongside audio of the same London streets from 1928 .
Married for an impressive 63 years , Margaret and Bob were unable to see each other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Margaret - who would usually visit her husband at his care home every day - says she was devastated during this time .
But as restrictions eased , Margaret was allowed to visit Bob for a `` wee bit chat '' .
Cameras captured the moment they reunited .
Stay up-to-date with the latest on coronavirus by signing up to our daily news briefing , delivered from the BBC to your inbox , each weekday morning .
You can find more information , advice and guides on our coronavirus page and get all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Plus , our health editor Michelle Roberts considers why the UK does not test travellers on arrival when some countries , such as Iceland , do .
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The town in Greater Manchester has introduced tighter coronavirus restrictions following what Oldham Council says is a "dramatic" rise in cases. Measures include keeping two metres apart outside and residents are being asked by the council not to have social visitors to their homes. There have been 114 cases recorded so far in the week to 24 July - equivalent to more than 48 per 100,000 population and more than four times as many as the week before. Find out how many confirmed cases there are in your area here.


bbcuk--2020-07-28--'Fix your bike' vouchers launch, as cycling to be prescribed on NHS

A government scheme offering £50 bike repair vouchers will launch in England on Tuesday as part of plans to boost cycling and walking .
An initial 50,000 vouchers will be made available online later in the day on a first-come , first-served basis .
The prime minister also announced that access to bikes will be available on the NHS as part of the strategy .
But Labour said many of the government 's proposals were taking too long to come into effect .
It comes after the government launched its obesity strategy on Monday .
GPs in areas of England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prescribe cycling , with patients able to access bikes through their local surgery .
The idea is that GP surgeries will have a stock of bicycles to lend , with training , access to cycling groups and peer support .
In some cases , if they used them enough , patients would be allowed to keep them .
Recent Public Health England research found that being overweight or obese puts people at greater risk of serious illness or death from Covid-19 .
Government statistics showed nearly 8 % of critically ill patients in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been morbidly obese , compared with 2.9 % of the general population .
• Want to start cycling to work ?
Here 's how • Have 20 years of obesity policies had any effect ?
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said cycling and walking have `` a huge role to play '' in tackling health and environmental challenges .
`` But to build a healthier , more active nation , we need the right infrastructure , training and support in place to give people the confidence to travel on two wheels , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the time to shift gears and press ahead with our biggest and boldest plans yet to boost active travel - so that everyone can feel the transformative benefits of cycling . ''
Former Olympic gold medal cyclist Chris Boardman , now a policy adviser to British Cycling , welcomed the plans .
`` There 's a quarter of households in Britain who do n't have access to a car at all and we 've got public transport operating at 30 % , so 70 % of people have got to find another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work , '' he told BBC Breakfast .
`` This can be not only provision for people who do n't have a car now , it 's a consultation for the future . ''
The government 's `` Fix Your Bike '' vouchers are being released in batches `` to help manage capacity '' and so that the scheme can be monitored before being rolled out more widely , the government said .
They will typically cover the bill for a standard service and the replacement of a basic component such as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Downing Street briefing in May , Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the initiative would be `` available from next month '' .
But the Department for Transport ( DfT ) said in July that it would only begin when maintenance shops could handle the expected spike in demand .
Halfords says it has thousands of slots available each day for customers to bring their bikes into stores to identify potential faults which could be rectified under the scheme .
`` We think the government 's 'Fix Your Bike ' voucher scheme will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping their bikes maintained , but will help speed up the cycling revolution , '' said chief executive Graham Stapleton .
The retailer previously reported that bike sales had risen by 57.1 % in the 13 weeks to 3 July , as people sought to avoid public transport during lockdown .
Thousands of miles of new protected cycle lanes , cycle training for children and adults , and the creation of the UK 's first zero-emission transport city are also part of the plans to promote cycling and walking .
The initiative has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They have long argued that Active Travel - the new phrase for walking and cycling - fulfils twin objectives of improving health and well-being , while also reducing emissions that harm people 's health and fuel climate change .
But they point out that the investment is less than a 10th of the £27bn that the government previously announced would be spent on new roads .
There 's now increasing pressure for that road budget to be reduced .
AA head Edmund King told BBC News in April that some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broadband .
And environmentalists have brought a legal challenge against the plans because the construction and use of the roads will increase carbon emissions when ministers are committed to reducing emissions .
A recent study suggested that big carbon savings can be made by constructing cycle lanes in suburbs , to be used by e-bikes .
Other measures to improve the well-being of pedestrians and cyclists include strengthening the Highway Code , improving legal protections , increasing lorry safety standards and working with the police and retailers to tackle bike thefts .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investment announced in February .
Mr Shapps said it was a `` once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a shift in attitudes '' to make cycling or walking part of daily routines .
Matt Mallinder , director of the charity Cycling UK , said the plan `` places cycling at the heart of our towns and cities '' , but he called for even more funding `` to truly shift gears '' .
Kerry McCarthy , Labour shadow cycling minister also said that the Conservative party had `` failed to seize the opportunity this crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is welcome , cyclists will be rightly concerned about how long it is going to take to actually put these plans into practice . ''
Did you take part in a previous scheme where doctors prescribed exercise , such as vouchers for free gym sessions or similar ?
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"There's a quarter of households in Britain who don't have access to a car at all and we've got public transport operating at 30%, so 70% of people have got to find another way to travel or not go to work," he told BBC Breakfast.


bbcuk--2020-07-28--Coronavirus: Why isn't the UK testing travellers on arrival?

A holiday in Spain now means two weeks of quarantine on return to the UK to help stop the spread of coronavirus across borders .
Some countries , such as Iceland , offer travellers a choice on arrival if they have stayed in areas with high virus levels .
Anyone entering must either self-quarantine for 14 days or get tested for Covid-19 .
And Germany is planning compulsory tests at its airports for anyone arriving from a high-risk country .
Why is n't the UK doing this ?
The UK government has been looking at the merits and risks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment , it says it has no plans to introduce testing at airports , saying it is not just logistically difficult but risks missing some cases of coronavirus .
It says asking travellers to self-isolate for 14 days instead reduces the risk to public health , but is keeping all quarantine measures under review .
What is the problem with testing ?
Nose or throat swab tests are available that can detect if someone is currently infected with coronavirus .
They are safe and accurate , but can sometimes give a false negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the test may be incorrectly given the all clear when they actually have the virus and could spread it to others .
People who have just caught coronavirus might not yet have sufficient amounts of the virus in their body for the test to detect .
It can take days for the virus to reach detectable levels , meaning someone who tests negative could still be incubating an infection .
Dr Joshua Moon from the University of Sussex Business School said : `` This is concerning as a negative test result may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Doing a swab test correctly can also be a bit tricky - you have to push the long , skinny swab stick deep into the nose or throat .
If it does n't go in far enough then the sample may not be good enough to do the test or get a reliable result .
Could n't it still be useful and more convenient than quarantine ?
The government says it is important to take a cautious approach .
Nobody wants to see rates of coronavirus rising again .
If every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the fortnight of quarantine - by staying at home and not going to the shops or having visitors - then the risk of spreading coronavirus is extremely low .
No policy or test is infallible , however .
It comes down to balancing risks and understanding what is feasible .
Prof Rowland Kao , professor of veterinary epidemiology and data science at the University of Edinburgh , says `` test on arrival '' would not have to be perfect , but would have to reduce the risk of spread sufficiently .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be prepared to introduce quarantine or close borders to many countries , and also be prepared for restrictions to be put in place should UK cases start rising again as could very well happen .
As an alternative , government could fund a scientifically designed pilot , where individuals are tested at the airport in sufficient numbers and monitored thereafter to determine whether such an approach would work . ''
How would it work ?
Private testing companies have suggested doing a pilot study in the UK .
The scheme would allow travellers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airport on arrival by a trained nurse and processed in seven to 24 hours .
In theory , and if the government agreed , travellers with a negative test result could then be released from quarantine and would only need to self-isolate if , like anyone else , they developed symptoms .
A spokesperson for Swissport and Collinson ( which are proposing a testing pilot in the UK ) said : `` This testing on arrival concept provides a safe way to open key trade routes for the UK , and can act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently marked as green [ lower risk ] experience spikes in cases that result in them needing to be reclassified as requiring a quarantine period , as we have seen with Spain . ''
Prof Paul Hunter , an expert in health protection at the University of East Anglia , has reservations : `` Given that the incubation period of Covid-19 is , on average five to six days and maybe the test may become positive about one day before onset of symptoms , and also given that the test is far from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients , airport screening as suggested will miss a substantial proportion of infected people . ''
Prof Steven Evans , from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine ( LSHTM ) , says people testing negative might need a second test a few days later to be sure they were still negative , because some people can have and spread the virus without experiencing any symptoms themselves .
Dr Sam Clifford , also from the LSHTM , has done some research on the topic .
He says doing a week of quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might be a compromise .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• IMPACT : What the virus does to the body • ENDGAME : How do we get out of this mess ?
• WITHOUT SYMPTOMS : The mystery of 'silent spreaders '

Coronavirus: Why is the UK bringing in travel testing? Published 8 January 2021
Image source, Getty Images
The UK will soon require international arrivals to the UK to provide evidence of a recent negative coronavirus test.
Many countries have tightened their entry requirements recently, but already require passengers to be tested in some form, whether on arrival, before leaving their home country or a combination of the two.
So, why has it taken the UK so long to introduce these kinds of checks?
What led the government to change its mind on testing?
From Monday 18 January, incoming passengers will be required to show evidence of a recent negative coronavirus test (taken within 72 hours of departure) before they can travel to the UK.
But some people will be exempt, including hauliers, under-11s and those from countries whose infrastructure doesn't support testing.
The UK travel industry has been campaigning for months for a testing system to replace quarantine measures.
The government says it has acted now because of a new coronavirus variant identified in South Africa. There are concerns that imported cases could hamper the effectiveness of the UK lockdown and the vaccine rollout.
Mark Jit, Professor of Vaccine Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said modelling suggested travel restrictions such as pre-departure testing only made a difference in three scenarios.
These are if a country has very few domestic cases, if the virus is at a tipping point and about to grow exponentially, or "if you are trying to keep a new strain of coronavirus out of your country, and hardly anyone in your country has that strain yet".
But the new rules mean that even with a negative test, passengers will still have to self-isolate when they get to the UK.
Why do people still have to quarantine if they test negative?
Because the test risks missing some cases of coronavirus, the government says.
In November, the Home Office told an inquiry into its handling of the UK's borders that it had decided not endorse testing passengers arriving in the UK, "due to the long incubation period of the virus, which means there is a significant risk of false negative results when testing asymptomatic people, without any isolation period."
For this reason, the government claimed self-isolation was a safer option, with the potential to follow up with a test after a set period.
It now says that pre-departure testing will "provide a further line of defence".
What are the UK's other travel restrictions?
Since June 2020, the UK has required most incoming passengers to quarantine and to fill in a passenger locator form so that they can be contacted.
In December, the self-isolation period was brought down from 14 days to 10, while travellers to England were given the option to cut their quarantine to under a week, if they paid for a private test that came back negative.
People who have recently been in or transited through South Africa or some nearby countries are no longer allowed into the UK, unless they are British and Irish nationals or residents - who must self-isolate.
Image source, Getty Images
Arrivals from so-called "travel corridors", "high value" business travellers and certain professions do not have to quarantine at all.
Breaking quarantine rules is a criminal offence - with fines of £1,000 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and £480 in Scotland.
But questions have been asked about the level of checks and enforcement. By mid-November, police had fined just 223 people in England for breaking quarantine rules, despite investigating more than 1,000 potential breaches.
What are other countries doing?
International travel is increasingly restricted and other countries have closed borders or have increased the level of controls for people from the UK (because of the new UK variant of Covid-19).
France
Entry into France from the UK is only permitted for people resident in France or who must travel for essential reasons
All travellers from the UK, including children over 11, need to present a negative Covid test result (carried out no more than 72 hours before arrival)
UK arrivals must complete a 'sworn statement' form that they are not suffering from coronavirus symptoms and have not been in contact with confirmed cases in the preceding fortnight, and a signed 'travel certificate', with the reason for travel
Italy
Entry into Italy from the UK is only permitted for those with official residency in Italy or for an "absolute necessity", declared in writing
A negative Covid test result, (carried out no more than 72 hours before arrival) is required
You must also take a rapid Covid test or swab test at the airport. Regardless of the result, you have to report to the local health authorities on arrival, and you must self-isolate for 14 days
Germany
You must register your entry online in advance and this information has to be presented to the border authority
People from a long list of high-risk countries must quarantine for 10 days
You can take a Covid test at the airport, at a doctor's or local testing facility. If it's negative, the quarantine can end on the fifth day. Covid testing at airports was free until 15 December 2020, but this is no longer the case
Greece


bbcuk--2020-07-28--Coronavirus: Sturgeon 'increasingly concerned' over resurgence

Nicola Sturgeon is `` increasingly concerned '' about the risk from coronavirus after a `` worrying resurgence '' in several other countries .
The Scottish first minister said people should be `` very cautious '' about foreign travel amid outbreaks in Spain , Belgium , Germany and France .
She said a `` sharp increase in cases '' in any country could see travellers forced to quarantine on arrival in Scotland .
Spain was struck from the UK 's list of `` air bridge '' destinations on Saturday .
It came just days after the Scottish government had added Spain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine rules , which Ms Sturgeon said illustrated the `` inherent uncertainty in everything we are dealing with right now '' .
She added : `` I would n't be booking a foreign holiday right now . ''
• 'Lessons to be learned ' from Spain decision The Scottish government said it was forced to reverse its decision on allowing travel to Spain without quarantine after `` deeply alarming '' data emerged about a rise in coronavirus cases there .
The prevalence of the virus in Scotland is still at a low level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` progress remains fragile '' in light of cases `` accelerating '' around the globe .
At her daily coronavirus briefing , she said the danger of cases coming into Scotland from abroad was `` probably higher than at any time since the start of lockdown '' .
She added : `` I remain highly concerned , possibly increasingly concerned , about the risk from Covid .
`` We are seeing a worrying resurgence in Covid cases in several countries across Europe , for instance part of Spain and Belgium , and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` There are important lessons for us from that - the most immediate is that as the prevalence of Covid in Scotland continues to fall , we must guard against the risk of cases coming in from outside . ''
The first minster said her government would re-impose quarantine restrictions `` if countries see a sharp increase in cases '' , warning people to be aware of this if they are thinking of booking trips abroad .
She added : `` People planning overseas holidays need to be aware of that - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that apply to your destination will remain the same while you are there , or will be the same when you come to travel home .
`` My advice to you remains to be very cautious about non-essential foreign travel at this time , and if you are in a position to have a holiday the safest way of doing so is by staying here in Scotland . ''
Asked if the government would consider offering compensation to people who booked travel to Spain after it was exempted from quarantine rules , Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create any `` expectation '' this would happen .
The Scottish Lib Dems have also called on Scottish minsters to publish the scientific advice which informed decisions made in the `` shambolic '' u-turn over Spain .
Ms Sturgeon said the data involved `` is not ours to publish '' as it came from the UK 's joint bio-security centre , and that she had asked UK ministers to publish it .
She added : `` I know this is really tough , these decisions are not easy and I know the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult as well .
`` There is inherent uncertainty in everything we are dealing with right now , and an inherent unpredictability - the situation with the virus here and overseas can change very quickly . ''

She added: "People planning overseas holidays need to be aware of that - you cannot assume that the rules that apply to your destination will remain the same while you are there, or will be the same when you come to travel home.


bbcuk--2020-07-28--Recordings show lockdown London quieter than 1928

Recordings of silent London streets during the lockdown are to become part of the collection of the Museum of London .
These soundscapes will be kept in a project capturing the experiences of Covid-19 .
They are being made available online alongside sound recordings of the same London streets from 1928 .
And it shows how the lockdown streets of 2020 were far quieter than almost a century before .
The recordings of London 's streets in 1928 , being made publicly available on the museum 's website , were gathered in the middle of outrage over excessive traffic noise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Daily Mail , complained about `` irritating '' and `` unnecessary '' hooting - and criticised the `` screeching '' and noisy acceleration of `` so-called sports cars '' in London 's West End .
• Deserted city centres around the world captured by photographers The newspaper , which gathered recordings with the Columbia Graphophone Company , warned of hospital patients being unable to sleep and the constant sounds of `` engines , bells and whistles '' .
The September 1928 recordings published by the Museum of London include a commentary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motorbus '' or the rumble of a `` motorcoach '' , alongside the rattle of horse-drawn carriages .
`` There 's a motor bicycle without a proper silencer , '' says the commentator .
In contrast , the recordings from May 2020 , at London locations such as Piccadilly , Brompton Road and Leman Street , show the emptiness of streets during the Covid-19 lockdown .
There are cars still audible , but they are separate enough to be distinguished , with gaps in between rather than a constant roar .
And the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tins group of sound engineers , show that even in a much emptier city , there is still a wash of background noise .
The reduction in traffic noise and the absence of flights overhead became a talking point during the lockdown , with suggestions that it was a return to a much quieter time .
But that quieter time was not 1928 , according to the museum 's recordings .
In clipped tones , the commentator , a former naval officer , takes issue with the blaring horns and says how difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ craws '' ) the road .
Even though car ownership in the 1920s was much less common than now , driving was much more dangerous .
The first official road death figures were gathered in 1926 - and there were almost 4,900 fatalities , compared with about 1,900 in 2019 .
Foteini Aravani , the Museum of London 's digital curator , said the 1928 recordings were made when the `` effects of sound pollution in central London were only starting to be understood '' .
A century later , she says the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sound , which had become a `` distinct aspect of London in lockdown '' .
`` We felt it was our responsibility to capture this rare and significant moment to not only contrast the 1928 recordings , but to also provide a record of London 's rarely 'silent streets ' for future generations , '' said Ms Aravani .
Or as the Daily Mail said in 1928 : `` We have become so used to the perpetual noise around us that many of us fail to appreciate what our poor brains are being @ @ @ @ @ @

Or as the Daily Mail said in 1928: "We have become so used to the perpetual noise around us that many of us fail to appreciate what our poor brains are being called upon to endure."


bbcuk--2020-07-28--Coronavirus: How can I use the 'eat out to help out scheme'?

Diners will soon be able to get money off their bill on certain days in August to encourage a return to cafes , pubs and restaurants .
It 's hoped the `` eat out to help out '' scheme will provide a boost to the struggling hospitality industry , now that the national lockdown is easing .
But the scheme , which has been launched alongside the government 's healthy eating strategy , has faced criticism from some anti-obesity campaigners .
How does the scheme work ?
The promotion gives people a discount of up to 50 % when eating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurant or other food establishment .
It is valid all day Monday , Tuesday and Wednesday from 3 to 31 August , in all parts of the UK that are not in a local lockdown .
The maximum discount available is £10 per person when you eat or drink in .
Food and drink will appear on the menu at full price , and the restaurant will deduct the money off the bill and claim it back from the government .
How do I get the discount ?
The discount is only available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to consume on the premises , and can be used as many times as you like .
There is no limit on how many people can use the discount in one party , and it includes children .
Participating venues are supposed to offer the full 50 % discount all day Monday to Wednesday and across the whole food and soft drink menu .
There 's no minimum spend and you do n't have to order food to be eligible , for example a £3 coffee would cost £1.50 under the scheme .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with any other promotions and discounts being offered by the venue .
• Can my boss force me to go back to work ?
Which food and drink places are taking part ?
More than 53,000 businesses have signed up to the promotion , which covers participating : • Restaurants ( including those in hotels leisure centres and holiday parks ) Lots of local , independent pubs restaurants and cafes are taking part , as well as big chains .
Establishments can choose whether to sign up , and can join the scheme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ register online and will be able to claim the money back and have it refunded within five working days , To be eligible they must have a designated dining or drinking area , or access to one , and have been registered with their local authority since at least 7 July 2020 .
Businesses that have used the furlough scheme can apply .
A full list of places taking part has been published , allow people to search for participating venues within a five-mile radius .
Chains that have signed up so far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The discount can not be used on alcoholic drinks , service charges or food for a private function or event .
As the idea is to encourage people to eat in , establishments that are takeaway-only are not eligible .
Neither are catering services , bed and breakfasts or mobile food vans .
Businesses must have the facilities for people to dine in to take part , so venues offering informal seating in an area that does not belong to them are not included .
Why is 'eat out to help out ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cafes , restaurants and pubs back on their feet .
Hospitality is one of the biggest employers in the UK and has been hit especially hard by the lockdown measures .
In April 80 % of venues closed , and 1.4 million hospitality workers have been placed on furlough , the highest proportion of any sector .
Some venues have been able to provide a takeaway service during lockdown .
But this often means lower average spending per head and fewer people employed , and it is not an option for some businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have reopened , the government hopes diners will be enticed in by the discount on offer .
It also wants it to boost confidence in going out , and increase footfall at the quieter end of the week .
A recent survey suggested that many Britons felt uncomfortable about eating at a restaurant .
The Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) said just over two-in-10 adults were happy to have a sit-down meal .
The scheme is being used alongside other targeted help such as a cut in VAT for hospitality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheme been criticised ?
Several fast-food chains are taking part in the scheme , which has drawn criticism from some anti-obesity campaigners .
The National Obesity Forum , for example , has said it would be a `` green light to promote junk food '' .
The discount scheme sits alongside the government 's healthy eating plan that bans `` buy one get one free '' deals on unhealthy food , amid growing evidence of a link between obesity and an increased risk from coronavirus .
When asked if the government was promoting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told LBC Radio that under the healthy eating plans , large chain restaurants will have to publish calorie breakdowns of their meals , helping diners to make an `` informed choice '' .

Coronavirus: Will the 'eat out to help out scheme' be extended? Published 28 August 2020
Image source, Getty Images
The "eat out to help out" scheme, which gives diners up to 50% off their bill, is due to end on Bank Holiday Monday (31 August).
Designed to boost the struggling hospitality industry, 64 million discounted meals were ordered during the first three weeks of the scheme.
The Treasury has resisted calls to extend the scheme but several restaurants say they will carry it on at their own expense.
Which restaurants say they will offer the discount for longer?
Chains pledging to continue offering some form of discount include:
Pizza Pilgrims
Tesco Café
The Real Greek
Until 9 September:
Harvester
Toby Carvery
Stonehouse Pizza
A longer list - including independent venues taking part by region - can be found here.
This is separate from the government scheme, so the discounts on offer may vary or change.
How has the Eat Out To Help Out scheme worked?
The UK-wide government promotion gives people up to 50% off when eating - or drinking soft drinks - in a participating restaurant or other food establishment.
The maximum discount is £10 per person.
It is valid all day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday throughout August.
Food and drink appear on the menu at full price, but the restaurant takes the money off the bill before claiming it back from the government.
Image source, Getty Images
Can I eat and drink anything?
The discount is only on food and soft drinks that you intend to consume on the premises.
It does not apply to takeaways.
There is no limit on how many times you can use the discount, or for how many people, including children.
There's no minimum spend and you don't have to order food to be eligible. For example, a £3 coffee would cost £1.50 under the scheme.
The offer can be used in combination with any other promotions and discounts being offered by the venue.
Which food and drink places are taking part?
More than 83,000 businesses have signed up to the promotion. These include:
Restaurants (including those in hotels, leisure centres and holiday parks)
Cafes
Bars and pubs that serve food
Canteens
Food halls with a seating area
Members' clubs
Catering services, bed and breakfasts and mobile food vans are not eligible.
Image source, Getty Images
Lots of local independent pubs, restaurants and cafes have been taking part, as well as big chains.
To be eligible they must have a designated dining or drinking area, or access to one. They must have been registered with their local authority since at least 7 July 2020.
A search tool allows people to search for participating local venues within a five-mile radius.
The search tool may not include big chain restaurants taking part, a list of which can be found here. They include:
Ask Italian
Benugo
Bill's
Burger King
Caffe Nero
Costa Coffee
Cote Brasserie
Five Guys
Franco Manca
Giggling Squid
Honest Burgers
KFC
Leon
M&S Cafe
McDonald's
Nando's
Pizza Express
Prezzo
Pret a Manger
Starbucks
Subway
Turtle Bay
Wagamama
JD Wetherspoon
Zizzi
What are the rules for eating out?
Pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants can now reopen indoors, with guidance issued for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on measures they must take to keep customers and staff safe.
These include social distancing, controlled access to toilets and the option of ordering food on apps.
Hospitality venues must also collect and keep the details of at least one person in your party for 21 days. This is in case they are needed for contact tracing.
You do not have to provide your details, but bars and restaurants have the right to refuse you service.
Why was 'eat out to help out' introduced?
Hospitality is one of the UK's biggest employers and has been hit especially hard by lockdown. In April, 80% of venues closed, and 1.4 million hospitality workers have been placed on furlough at some point since then.
Some venues have been able to provide a takeaway service during lockdown. But this often means lower average spending per head and fewer people employed.
The scheme has been used alongside other targeted help, such as a cut in VAT for hospitality and tourism businesses.
Why has the scheme been criticised?
Several fast-food chains have taken part in the scheme, which has drawn criticism from some anti-obesity campaigners. The National Obesity Forum, for example, has said it was a ''green light to promote junk food''.
The discount scheme sits alongside the government's healthy eating plan that bans "buy one get one free" deals on unhealthy food, amid growing evidence of a link between obesity and an increased risk from coronavirus.


bbcuk--2020-07-28--Coronavirus: 'Mum died while we were at dad's funeral'

John and Mary Boxer should have been celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary this week - marking 60 years of marriage .
Their family had planned to hold a big party for all the family .
They died of Covid-19 within days of each other .
`` They both came from big families and both were one of seven children , '' says daughter , Elaine .
`` Four boys and three girls .
Dad worked in telecommunications and mum was a cleaner and then a dinner nanny at Sunderland Royal Hospital . ''
The couple had been friends since childhood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Sunderland , in the north-east of England .
`` My mum stopped work to look after her mum who lived with us and my sister all our lives .
My grandmother was 103 when she had to go into a care home after my mum 's hips deteriorated .
She was 106 when she died . ''
Elaine and her sister Glynis had been planning their parents ' 60th anniversary .
`` We were thinking about booking a hall and have my brother-in-law , who is a singer , to perform , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that my parents enjoyed his singing and would have loved to listen to him sing .
But because of lockdown , we put our plans on hold . ''
On 10 April , John fell ill and was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital , the same hospital his wife had worked in .
It was Good Friday .
Staff found nothing wrong with him and sent him home .
But on Easter Sunday he returned and the hospital ran Covid-19 tests .
On Easter Monday he tested positive .
`` The hospital was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when my brother-in-law picked him up , he could n't stand up , '' says Elaine .
`` Dad had diabetes and Parkinson 's but he said he felt tired and exhausted . ''
John stayed in hospital , but his health deteriorated and on Friday 17 April - seven days after falling ill - he passed away .
`` I could n't believe it , '' says Elaine .
`` I spoke to him on the [ Maundy ] Thursday and he seemed fine - he was chatting away and laughing as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer 's , initially found it hard to process what had happened .
`` She stopped eating , but we put it down to grief , '' says Elaine .
A few days before her dad 's funeral , Elaine went to town while her sister went to see their mum .
`` My sister rang me saying that I needed to come over straight away .
Mum was distressed and her temperature had risen .
She had no cough or other symptoms to do with Covid-19 but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mary went into hospital that afternoon , where she tested positive for coronavirus .
She was kept in hospital and the family was able to see her via a video call .
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John 's funeral was held on Saturday 2 May at St Hilda 's Roman Catholic church , in Sunderland - but only seven people could attend .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sister , my brother-in-law , my dad 's oldest brother , my cousin and his wife .
We all had our phones switched to silent , '' Elaine says .
`` After the funeral , we went back to my sister 's .
My brother-in-law checked his phone and saw there were missed calls .
He rang the number and was put through to the hospital ward .
He told my sister what the hospital said . ''
`` We both fell in each other 's arms and started crying .
We knew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age there was n't much they could do .
But it was a shock that it happened on the day of dad 's funeral .
`` There were tears and sadness , but my sister and I went into automatic pilot .
We rang around to let the family know .
We also called the priest and he said that the church held prayers for mum earlier that day .
`` We called the funeral directors we had just left - they could n't believe what happened either . ''
You may also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was on VE Day on 8 May .
By that time , the rules on funeral attendance changed .
Sixteen people were allowed at the funeral and it was played over the internet for friends and family .
`` Mum and dad both have big families and I feel they were cheated from funerals they would have had , '' Elaine says .
`` Mum and dad loved each other very much and they would do anything for one another .
If one was in hospital the other would constantly be by their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For their 40th wedding anniversary they went to America and had a wonderful time in Florida and Las Vegas . ''
The family is now planning to celebrate John and Mary 's lives next year .
`` We were going to have a big celebration for my parents ' 60th wedding anniversary and get all the family together .
We will have a joint memorial for them later in the year . ''
`` We need some closure , '' Elaine adds .
`` The small comfort we have is that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together . ''

"My mum stopped work to look after her mum who lived with us and my sister all our lives. My grandmother was 103 when she had to go into a care home after my mum's hips deteriorated. She was 106 when she died."


bbcuk--2020-07-28--Staycation: 'I would if I could find somewhere'

Every summer since her 11-year-old daughter was born , Rachel Douglas has visited family in the Caribbean .
Not this year , though .
Travel restrictions and the continuing coronavirus uncertainty have now persuaded Rachel it might be simpler to stay closer to home .
But she never expected that finding somewhere to stay would be so difficult .
`` There just seems to be so little availability , at least not in Cornwall and Devon where I 've been looking , '' she says .
`` And the accommodation that is free is so expensive . ''
This summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a surge in bookings for UK holiday rentals and hotels .
And last week 's news of fresh restrictions on Britons returning from Spain seems to have given a fresh spurt to demand .
Since Friday , Sykes Holiday Cottages , one of the UK 's big cottage rental sites , has seen bookings jump more than 50 % year-on-year .
At hotel group Point A , bookings are up by the same amount .
It explains why Rachel , 35 , who lives at Enfield , north London , has found it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last few days .
The youth worker , who will soon return to university to complete her final year of training , said : `` I just wanted somewhere for a couple of weeks , may be with an activity centre that would be suitable for my daughter .
`` I was looking at Cornwall and Devon , something with half-board and near a beach .
I ca n't believe how little was still free , '' Rachel said .
`` Either the dates are n't available , or it 's a ridiculous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,000-£3,000 .
Maybe that 's normal , but I would n't spend more than that if I 'd spent the summer with family in St Vincent and the Grenadines .
I can literally fly round the world for this kind of money . ''
She 's now resigned to staying in north London , where she has been since the start of lockdown in March .
`` I 've given up trying to find a place .
It 's the Costa del Enfield for us . ''
Her experience is unlikely to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so rental firms naturally expect accommodation to fill up .
But what has surprised firms is the pace of demand .
One of the biggest websites for the rental and hotel market , Booking.com , has more than doubled business for many regions of the UK .
For example , in the east of England , bookings in Norfolk are up 169 % on this time last year .
In Suffolk , it 's 116 % up and Essex is up 109 % .
Sykes ' chief executive Graham Donoghue said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the roof '' over the last few weeks .
In particular , many people are opting for self-catered accommodation so that contact with others can be limited , he said .
`` Our bookings are up 114 % over the last four weeks , compared to the same period last year , and on the day the government announced that UK travel was to reopen , we saw a year-on-year jump of 221 % .
`` News of Spain 's travel restrictions at the weekend resulted in a 53 % year-on-year rise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And there are signs that the staycation trend will continue , he said .
`` We 're also seeing a steady stream of bookings for holidays in 2021 too . ''
But it 's not just holiday cottages that are being snapped up fast .
At boutique hotel chain The Pig , bookings for August and September are about 22 % ahead of this time last year .
And October is also slightly ahead , mainly driven by extended weekend breaks , says the company 's founder Robin Hutson .
Most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % full .
A new hotel opening on Friday in the beautiful Cornish coastal village of Harlyn is fully booked .
`` There was already pent-up demand , but the continuing uncertainty is persuading people it 's just not worth the risk of going abroad , '' he said .
`` A lot of people do n't want to make long-term plans and seem to have decided on extended weekends . ''
At Point A Hotels , which operates in London , Edinburgh and Glasgow , there are signs that people may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncertainty of splashing out on the standard two-week summer holiday .
Managing director Nic Wenn said : `` The government 's snap decision on UK travellers now having to quarantine upon arrival from Spain demonstrates just how unpredictable foreign travel is at the moment .
`` Bookings have more than doubled across our nine UK-based hotels since Friday . ''
With more restaurants and attractions opening their doors , he thinks the city break has become more attractive .
It 's all good news for the beleaguered UK tourism industry , but companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are still struggling financially .
`` They 've had a torrid few months , '' says The Pig 's Robin Hutson .
`` My company has lost a lot of money . ''
Without the recently-announced VAT tax break , and furlough support for staff , things could have been critical .
Social distancing rules mean his restaurants can only operate at about 75 % capacity .
So , while the rental and hotel sectors are enjoying unprecedented summer demand , it comes after months of lockdown when no money was being made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to normal , '' Mr Hutson said .

The youth worker, who will soon return to university to complete her final year of training, said: "I just wanted somewhere for a couple of weeks, may be with an activity centre that would be suitable for my daughter.


bbcuk--2020-07-28--'Coronavirus has delayed my career prospects'

Have you ever thought about owning and running your own company ?
Building up a business , maybe one at the cutting edge of latest technology , creating not just jobs but well-paid , highly-skilled , careers ?
Well , with all that success also comes great responsibility , as Andrew Churchill knows well .
The businessman has had to let 50 of his total staff of 140 go , and it hurts .
`` It was , and it should be , the worst part of any director 's job to take the livelihood away from anybody , let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - let alone somebody whose knowledge and experience you value enormously , '' he says .
Mr Churchill is the grandson of the founder of JJ Churchill , set up in the 1930s to build parts for aero engines .
Bombed out of Coventry during the Blitz , its founder was killed during the war when his Spitfire was shot down .
The firm survived that and more over 80 years , but this has been the biggest and deepest recession it has ever encountered .
The firm specialises in high-tech and cutting-edge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rolls-Royce , but with airlines around the world virtually grounded demand for parts has disappeared .
JJ Churchill has made these cuts even though the government is paying 80 % of the wages of people on furlough , and is also offering companies £1,000 for every member of staff they bring back to work and retain until the end of January .
Mr Churchill knows the work is not there any more , and thinks the recovery will take years .
With more than nine million people in the UK on furlough the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at JJ Churchill , many of those jobs wo n't be there to go back to .
Many companies have already announced huge numbers of redundancies , for example 3,000 at Rolls-Royce , 2,000 at Royal Mail,700 at Harrods and 12,000 at British Airways .
It means that there are now millions of people chasing scarce jobs .
At the Alexandra pub in Wimbledon , south-west London , they recently advertised for two new bar staff and had 484 applicants , many with decades of experience in catering and hospitality .
But while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or looking for it , one part of the workforce is being especially hard hit - the young .
The number of new apprenticeships has halved and in small businesses they are down by 80 % , while existing apprentices are losing their jobs .
The young are also being hit in other ways , already almost a third of all graduates do n't get graduate level jobs when they leave university .
Lorna Ramm is leaving Edinburgh University with a degree in linguistics and English language and hopes to get a job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • What jobs are available post-lockdown ?
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`` It 's hard , '' the 22-year-old says .
`` I 'm acutely aware that it will take me a long time to get to the professional level that I might have been pre-Covid . ''
That 's because not only are opportunities drying up , but next years ' graduates will also arrive on the labour market come what may .
Competition for places is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who were already unemployed before the coronavirus struck .
Shula Jenkins , 25 , from Southampton , was doing work experience at Marks & Spencer through the Prince 's Trust when Covid-19 shut down UK High Streets .
`` I was disappointed , '' she says .
`` I understood the situation but I was sad that it was cut short .
`` At the moment I 'm trying to figure out what my next steps are as ... it does n't seem like I 'm going to get back to M @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're not hiring any staff . ''
M & S is to cut almost 1,000 jobs , and if and when they do start recruiting again , there will be no shortage of unemployed shop workers with excellent CVs looking for work .
The government 's own financial watchdog the Office for Budget Responsibility calculates unemployment could peak at close to 12 % .
It last did that in the 1980s and it took 20 years to get unemployment back down to 1979 levels .
So what can the government do ?
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job retention incentives , there is a kickstart scheme which will pay employers to create work placements for 16-24 year olds .
Firms in England will also be given £1,000 for each new work experience place they offer , and there are plans to train many more career advisors .
Unions and charities have called for an extension to the furlough scheme until next year and for the government to pay at least half the wages of all apprentices .
Others want to see government grants to encourage people to start their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how long the furlough scheme is , plus whatever else the government can do to stop the loss of jobs , it knows more must be done to provide new training and skills for millions of people to get them back to work .
`` The worst recession has typically knocked about 4 % off demand , '' says Andrew Churchill .
`` We 're looking more like 40 % , 10 times worse than ... anything we 've seen before . ''
And Mr Churchill says it will be hard for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` They 're great engineers , '' he says .
`` They may be able to find work in other engineering sectors .
`` But in their sector , the sector they 've grown up with , the sector that their experience resonates with , which is aerospace.
, those jobs are going to be like hen 's teeth . ''
The government can retrain , educate and support people , but what will create jobs is demand for their labour .
Previous recessions have shown it can be a painfully slow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means millions of people taking less-skilled , less well-paid work because it is the only type around .
You can hear Jonty Bloom 's full Jobs Challenge report on In Business on BBC Radio 4 at 2030 on Thursday , 30 July , or at 2130 on Sunday , 2 August .
Or download the podcast .

But no matter how good and how long the furlough scheme is, plus whatever else the government can do to stop the loss of jobs, it knows more must be done to provide new training and skills for millions of people to get them back to work.


bbcuk--2020-07-28--PMDD: Thousands of women share their experiences

PMDD ( Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder ) is an extreme form of premenstrual syndrome ( PMS ) where women can fall @ @ @ @ @ , suicidal thoughts and feelings of being out of control in the run up to @ @ @ @ @ include hormone treatments and , in rare cases and if recommended by a doctor , @ @ @ @ @ .
It affects an estimated 1 in 20 women of reproductive age and last year @ @ @ @ @ Health Organization .
As part of BBC Research , around 4,000 women shared their experiences @ @ @ @ @ you 've been affected by any issues raised in this piece , visit BBC Action @ @

PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) is an extreme form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) where women can fall into severe depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and feelings of being out of control in the run up to their period.
Treatments can include hormone treatments and, in rare cases and if recommended by a doctor, the removal of the ovaries.
It affects an estimated 1 in 20 women of reproductive age and last year was recognised by the World Health Organization.
As part of BBC Research, around 4,000 women shared their experiences of the condition.
Reporter: Daniela Relph
Producer: Georgie Bevan
Filming: Ross Miklaszewicz
Editing: Tony Smith
If you've been affected by any issues raised in this piece, visit BBC Action Line.


bbcuk--2020-07-28--Will a £50 bike repair voucher get Wellingborough cycling?

The government is to introduce £50 bike repair vouchers to encourage cycling .
But what difference will it make in places where people do n't already cycle ?
When it comes to cycling , Wellingborough does n't exactly lay out the red Tarmac .
`` I ca n't actually think of where the places to lock up your bikes are in town , '' says mental health nurse Joey Woodage .
She has just driven to the outskirts - then walked the rest of the way .
`` It 's really over-populated in terms of car traffic here , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also a complicated one-way system which is just not designed to facilitate cyclists .
From where I live I ca n't cycle - it would be down a dual carriageway . ''
According to government statistics , the Northamptonshire town is bottom of the England league team when it comes to walking and cycling .
Hot on the heels of its obesity strategy , the government is trying to coax England back on two feet - and two wheels .
An initial 50,000 vouchers will be made available online on a first-come , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made available on the NHS .
Across the land , families are dusting off fossilised frames , pumping up tyres and testing brakes in earnest .
Not so much in Wellingborough .
But is there a way forward ?
Chris Francis , who works in insurance and lives within five miles of the town , is already a convert to pedal power .
He gets on his bike every day `` for the fitness , but also because it 's just easier to get around . ''
But he says it is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ horrendous for cyclists , '' says Mr Francis .
`` Drivers are not vigilant towards us , and the council 's cycle paths are half-hearted , stopping in certain places altogether . ''
He believes the voucher scheme has `` potential '' , but only for existing cyclists .
`` Wellingborough is a low-income town .
Where 's the support ?
Even with £800 you ca n't source a good bike .
You have to make it affordable .
`` The voucher is nice - but only if you have a bike in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says he feels `` lucky '' that he was able to get a bike through the government 's cycle-to-work scheme , which allows him to get around quicker .
`` The amount of dirty looks and people who judge you for cycling is quite bad .
But we need to break down the stigma here . ''
Wellingborough is known as a medieval market town steeped in Anglo-Saxon history , with a church dating from 1160 .
It 's also name-checked in the Domesday Book .
But it 's also a town with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of snooker world champion Peter Ebdon - as well as fellow snooker stars Rory McLeod and Jamie O'Neill .
It has football teams , a rugby team and one of the UK 's biggest basketball clubs , Wellingborough Phoenix .
On top of that , it is home to the annual International Waendel Walk , which has seen thousands of ramblers snaking through the borough every May for more than 40 years .
However , there was little evidence of cycling in the streets on the day of the government 's announcement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ England , with its brick tiled market - in the shadow of All Hallows ' Church - beyond its heyday .
Despite the draw of out-of-town shopping parks like Rushden Lakes , The Swansgate is the county 's second biggest shopping centre .
Cycling UK , which has a five-year strategy to get more people on their bikes , says cycling levels in most parts of the country remain `` stubbornly low '' .
Only 2 % of people regularly make trips by bike , according to the charity .
The biggest barrier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK , it says , is `` the feeling that it 's not safe and easy '' .
You may also like : • Vouchers and bikes on NHS to boost active travel • How can I protect my bike ?
• ' I was living in a tent in a graveyard' Wellingborough - with a population of 50,000 - has 2,500 registered businesses .
But only one independent cycle shop .
Cycling , it appears , is not a thing here .
Chris Airby , 65 , loves nothing more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walk around the town .
`` I do n't cycle , not at all , not at my age , '' he says .
`` It 's a decent idea to get people more active , but maybe a better thing would be some kind of sugar tax to nudge people in the right direction to eat more healthily .
`` There 's not an awful lot of provision for cyclists round here , like cycle lanes or places for kids to cycle safely . ''
Derek Balmer , 83 , has chosen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spot of shopping because `` you can get closer to the shops , it 's easier '' .
But it was not without its perils .
`` There 's too much traffic , it 's dangerous , '' he says .
`` The potholes are terrible .
It 's very frightening sometimes . ''
But there may be good news ahead for the town 's cycling prowess , with a possible gear change imminent .
The borough council says its `` network of cycle ways '' is `` currently being considered for improvement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town will stage its first `` Critical Mass '' ride - a meet-up of enthusiasts that organisers hope will enhance participation locally .
`` Wellingborough is not a nice place to cycle , '' says Samuel Shoesmith , an avid rider .
`` There is a worry that local councils wo n't listen , but this will push forward a radical change to the way people get about .
`` For decades there has n't been any move towards any investment here . ''
Mr Shoesmith , an NHS worker , has organised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the council to `` make cycling and walking better . ''
`` There is still a need to protest , '' he says .
`` This is an opportunity to make everyone realise there is a need for better infrastructure .
It 'll be a ride around to protest - but more to celebrate - cycling and its wonders .
`` This is a call for change . ''
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Derek Balmer, 83, has chosen to cycle in to town for a spot of shopping because "you can get closer to the shops, it's easier". But it was not without its perils.