Political parties, like the rest of us, are forever confronting choices.

But, also like the rest of us, sometimes those choices are rather limited if maintaining consistency is seen to be important.

It is this that lies at the heart of the latest chapter in the long running saga of Diane Abbott and the Labour Party.

A saga whose central character is pioneering and history making: Diane Abbott was the first black woman ever elected to the House of Commons and is now the Mother of the House, the most long standing female MP, having been first elected in 1987.

The roots of this latest row are traced back to April 2023, when Abbott wrote a 118 word letter to The Observer newspaper.

You can read that letter here.

Her precise words then and her precise words now are worth attention, but what really matters is what led to her suspension as a Labour MP then is the very thing that has led to it now – because, crucially, she has now said she doesn't regret those initial remarks.

So what did she say in 2023?

She wrote: "Irish, Jewish and Traveller people undoubtedly experience prejudice. This is similar to racism. It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice. But they are not all their lives subject to racism."

In other words, she appeared to equate antisemitism with the prejudice experienced by people with ginger hair.

At the time she withdrew the remarks and apologised and was suspended – and so sat as an independent MP.

She was reinstated in the nick of time to stand as a Labour candidate in last year's general election.

Now, in a BBC interview for Radio 4 recorded in May but broadcast this week, she was asked to reflect on the whole row.

Asked if she regretted the whole thing, crucially she said "no, not at all."

She added: "Clearly there must be a difference between racism which is about colour and other types of racism."

This is because, she said, someone's skin colour is instantly, visibly noticeable, whereas being Jewish, for instance, is not.

Her language has changed since that letter in 2023 - she now describes antisemitism as racism, rather than a prejudice.

And she again condemned antisemitism.

But that lack of regret is what is central here, because she is saying she doesn't regret the very words that led to her first suspension.

And therefore if the Labour Party wanted to be consistent, it had little choice but to do what it did last time, and suspend her again.

Political context is crucial here too: Labour was riven by rows about antisemitism during Jeremy Corbyn's leadership and the party was found responsible for three breaches of the Equality Act by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

When Sir Keir Starmer became Labour leader, he promised to "tear out this poison by its roots."

So - as a result of Labour's recent history - an unflinching attitude to dealing with anything regarded as antisemitic has always been central to Sir Keir's leadership.

In a statement reacting to her suspension, Abbott has said "it is obvious this Labour leadership wants me out. My comments in the interview were factually correct, as any fair minded person would accept."

Again she finds herself an independent MP, again the party has to work out what to do, and again she has to work out what she might do next - as her old political friend Jeremy Corbyn, himself outside the Labour Party, works to set up a new party on the left.

An ice core that may be older than 1.5 million years has arrived in the UK where scientists will melt it to unlock vital information about Earth's climate.

The glassy cylinder is the planet's oldest ice and was drilled from deep inside the Antarctic ice sheet.

Frozen inside is thousands of years of new information that scientists say could "revolutionise" what we know about climate change.

BBC News went inside the -23C freezer room at the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge to see the precious boxes of ice.

"This is a completely unknown period of our Earth's history," says Dr Liz Thomas, head of ice core research at the British Antarctic Survey.

Red warning lights flash above the door, and inside there is an emergency escape hatch into a tunnel in case something went wrong.

The rules say we could only go inside for 15 minutes at a time, wearing padded overalls, boots, hats and gloves.

Our camera's electronic shutter froze shut and our hair started to crackle as it turned icy.

On a worktop next to stacked boxes of ice, Dr Thomas points out the oldest cores that could be 1.5 million years old. They shine and are so clear we can see our hands through them.

For seven weeks, the team will slowly melt the hard-won ice, releasing ancient dust, volcanic ash, and even tiny marine algae called diatoms that were locked inside when water turned to ice.

These materials can tell scientists about wind patterns, temperature, and sea levels more than a million years ago.

Tubes will feed the liquid into machines in a lab next door that is one of the only places in the world that can do this science.

It was a huge multinational effort to extract the ice cores in Antarctica, at a cost of millions. The ice was chopped into 1m blocks and transported by boat and then in a cold van to Cambridge.

Engineer James Veal helped to extract the ice close to the Concordia base in eastern Antarctica.

"To hold that in my carefully gloved hands and be very careful not to drop the sections - it was an amazing feeling," he says.

Two institutions in Germany and Switzerland also have received cross-sections of the 2.8km core.

The teams could find evidence of a period of time more than 800,000 years ago when carbon dioxide concentrations may have been naturally as high or even higher than they are now, according to Dr Thomas.

This could help them understand what will happen in our future as our planet responds to warming gases trapped in our atmosphere.

"Our climate system has been through so many different changes that we really need to be able to go back in time to understand these different processes and different tipping points," she says.

The difference between today and previous eras with high greenhouse gases is that now humans have caused the rapid rise in warming gases in the last 150 years.

That is taking us into unchartered territory, but the scientists hope that the record of our planet's environmental history locked in the ice could give us some guidance.

The team will identify chemical isotopes in the liquid that could tell us the wind patterns, temperatures, and rainfall for a period of time between 800,000 and up to 1.5 million years ago or possibly more.

They will use an instrument called an inductively couple plasma mass spectrometer (ICPMS) to measure over 20 elements and trace metals.

That includes rare earth elements, sea salts and marine elements, as well as indicators of past volcanic eruptions.

The work will help scientists understand a mysterious change called the Mid-Pleistocene Transition 800,000 to 1.2 million years ago when the planet's glacial cycles suddenly changed.

The transition from warmer eras to cold glacial eras, when ice covered a lot more of Earth, had been every 41,000 years but it suddenly switched to 100,000 years.

The cause of this shift is one of the "most exciting unsolved questions" in climate science, according to Dr Thomas.

The cores may have evidence of a time when sea levels were much higher than they are now and when the vast Antarctic ice sheets were smaller.

The presence of dust in the ice will help them understand how the ice sheets shrunk and contributed to sea level rise - something that is a major concern this century.

Shoppers using buy now, pay later (BNPL) will need to pass stricter affordability checks under new rules coming into force next July.

It means some shoppers will be refused this type of credit and the ability to splash out on something potentially unaffordable in a few clicks could be slowed down.

Regulators say it will prevent people from taking on too much debt and being caught out by late payment fees.

Nurse Julie Rowbottom told the BBC that it was "easy to fall into a trap" with this kind of borrowing.

She said having the option at your fingertips made life easier, but the debt "could easily and quickly mount up" so she had managed her finances carefully to avoid falling into a spiral.

BNPL offers shoppers interest-free credit, allowing them to buy something immediately, then repay in 12 or fewer instalments within 12 months or less.

Huge operators such as Klarna and Clearpay have emerged and are offered as a payment method by many of the UK's biggest retailers.

Some 11 million people in the UK have used buy now, pay later in the last year, the City watchdog - the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) - estimated.

Its survey found 30% of adults aged 25 to 34 had used it at least once in the 12 months to May 2024. The most common use was for "lifestyle and beauty purchases" and "treating myself or other people", it found.

BNPL is currently unregulated which means that lenders do not need FCA approval to operate.

'Wild west'

Charities have made repeated demands for extra protection, after seeing increasing numbers of people get into financial trouble.

Vikki Brownridge, chief executive of StepChange Debt Charity, described the new proposals as "a significant step forward" in bringing the sector in line with other types of credit.

"Buy now, pay later users are twice as likely as all credit users to borrow to cover essential bills, and our research also found that BNPL is now as common as using an overdraft amongst UK adults," she said.

In recent days legislation has passed which means the FCA can now consult on its plans to regulate the sector - after years of promises from politicians to control the "wild west" of lending.

The plans should lead to upfront checks on affordability, as well as faster access to refunds for consumers, and the right to complain to the Financial Ombudsman.

It should also lead to clear information about cancellation rights, charges and any impact on credit ratings if a payment is missed.

Over 10 years, regulators estimate consumers will be £1.8bn better off as a result, while providers' profits will drop by £1.4bn owing directly to fewer transactions.

But it said it wanted to give lenders "flexibility" over how they applied the new rules, including affordability assessments.

That could see different lenders using different ways to test if people can cover the repayments.

Alison Walters, interim director of consumer finance at the FCA, said: "We are not prescribing how firms do it, because digital journeys will vary. But the firms must carry out an affordability check to ensure that consumers can afford to repay that borrowing.

"Credit is not right for everybody. There will potentially be consumers who will not be able to access this product and firms can signpost them to other support like debt advice."

'Major win for consumers'

Leading providers have said they are fully supportive of regulating the sector in the UK, but it must allow companies to innovate while also protecting consumers.

A spokesman for Klarna said: "After five years of constructive work with the Treasury, we're entering the home straight to make buy now, pay later regulation a reality - a major win for UK consumers.

"We are looking forward to working with the FCA on rules that protect consumers while keeping choice and innovation at the heart of the UK credit market."

However, the proposals come in the same week as Chancellor Rachel Reeves said less regulation was needed in financial services. The FCA said some of the buy now, pay later protection will come under current FCA regulation schemes.

Consultation on the FCA's plans will run until late September.

There will be a temporary regulation regime in place before new rules take effect next July. This means firms will need to follow FCA rules and will be able to continue to trade before they are fully authorised.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country "deeply regrets that a stray ammunition" hit Gaza's only Catholic Church, killing three people sheltering there.

"Every innocent life lost is a tragedy. We share the grief of the families and the faithful," he said in a statement.

The incident happened on Thursday when an Israeli strike hit the Holy Family Church in Gaza City. Several people were also injured, said the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem which oversees the small parish.

Pope Leo XIV said he was "deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury", renewing his call for a Gaza ceasefire.

In his statement, Netanyahu said Israel was "investigating the incident and remains committed to protecting civilians and holy sites".

In a statement later on Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said: "An initial inquiry into reports regarding injured individuals in the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, suggests that fragments from a shell fired during operational activity in the area hit the church mistakenly. The cause of the incident is under review.

"The IDF directs its strikes solely at military targets and makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and religious structures, and regrets any unintentional damage caused to them," the statement added.

Earlier in the day, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said US President Donald Trump did not have a "positive reaction" to the attack on the church.

Trump called Netanyahu to discuss the incident on Thursday morning. During the call, Netanyahu described the attack as a "mistake", Leavitt cited him as saying.

The Patriarchate said the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, was a part of those who had been injured in the attack.

It said that people found a "sanctuary" in the church "hoping that the horrors of war might at least spare their lives after their homes, possessions, and dignity had already been stripped away".

It added that the "war must come to a complete end".

A child has died and two others have been seriously injured after a coach bringing pupils back from an end-of-term school trip overturned and fell 20ft from a road.

Avon and Somerset Police declared a major incident after the accident at Cutcombe Hill near Wheddon Cross in Somerset at about 15:00 BST.

The coach was carrying about 70 people, many of them pupils from Minehead Middle School, with 21 passengers in total taken to hospital.

Ch Supt Mark Edgington said: "Today's events are truly tragic. We know the community will be utterly devastated by this news."

Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer said on X: "A heartbreaking update on the school bus crash in Somerset. There are no adequate words to acknowledge the death of a child.

"All my thoughts are with their parents, family and friends, and all those affected. Thank you to the emergency workers who are responding at pace — I'm being kept up to date on this situation."

In a joint press conference involving police, the fire service and ambulance service held at Bridgwater Police Station at 21:00 BST, journalists were told the coach fell 20ft (six metres) down a slope near Wheddon Cross, and firefighters had to work to free dozens of trapped passengers.

Three air ambulances were sent to the scene, along with more than 20 ambulances.

Wayne Darch, Deputy Director of Operations for South West Ambulance Service, said: "Sadly one child was pronounced dead at the scene."

Many passengers either sustained minor injuries or were physically unharmed and were transferred to a rest centre, police added.

An off-duty firefighter who was travelling behind the coach was able to help the passengers before the emergency services arrived.

'Extremely difficult circumstances'

Gavin Ellis of Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service told the assembled media: "Our crews carried out a number of extrications and rescues in extremely difficult circumstances, and they also supported our ambulance colleagues with casualty treatment."

Police said the large majority of passengers were taken to a rest centre in Wheddon Cross and that the authorities were working with Minehead Middle School, where officers have been posted, to help return them at the earliest opportunity.

Avon and Somerset Police said an investigation into the cause of the crash will take place and they have urged witnesses to come forward.

Peter Prior-Sankey, director of coach company Ridlers, said their 70-seater vehicle was involved in Thursday's crash.

"We have since been liaising with both the school, and the emergency services, while we try to understand the extent of the incident," he said.

"Our hearts of course go out to the school pupils and to our driver. We will be doing everything possible to understand what has happened."

A resident who lives near the crash scene has described the incident as "horrendous".

They told the BBC: "The coach has gone down the slope. It's pretty steep around here and it's a big coach.

"There are no barriers along there or anything. We're used to it, you don't even notice it."

Local MP Rachel Gilmour said in a statement: "It's just unimaginable. You wave your children off, on an end of term school trip and then this happens.

"I visited Minehead Middles School about six weeks ago. It's a fantastic, loving kind school, with enthusiastic and confident children. I just know that our community will pull together."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country "deeply regrets that a stray ammunition" hit Gaza's only Catholic Church, killing three people sheltering there.

"Every innocent life lost is a tragedy. We share the grief of the families and the faithful," he said in a statement.

The incident happened on Thursday when an Israeli strike hit the Holy Family Church in Gaza City. Several people were also injured, said the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem which oversees the small parish.

Pope Leo XIV said he was "deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury", renewing his call for a Gaza ceasefire.

In his statement, Netanyahu said Israel was "investigating the incident and remains committed to protecting civilians and holy sites".

In a statement later on Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said: "An initial inquiry into reports regarding injured individuals in the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, suggests that fragments from a shell fired during operational activity in the area hit the church mistakenly. The cause of the incident is under review.

"The IDF directs its strikes solely at military targets and makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and religious structures, and regrets any unintentional damage caused to them," the statement added.

Earlier in the day, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said US President Donald Trump did not have a "positive reaction" to the attack on the church.

Trump called Netanyahu to discuss the incident on Thursday morning. During the call, Netanyahu described the attack as a "mistake", Leavitt cited him as saying.

The Patriarchate said the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, was a part of those who had been injured in the attack.

It said that people found a "sanctuary" in the church "hoping that the horrors of war might at least spare their lives after their homes, possessions, and dignity had already been stripped away".

It added that the "war must come to a complete end".

A British trader who was jailed in the United States for allegedly manipulating foreign exchange rates has had his conviction overturned after a nine-year struggle for justice.

Former HSBC trader Mark Johnson, 59, has fought to establish his innocence ever since he was convicted of fraud in 2017 in connection with a large foreign exchange trade six years earlier.

He served time in jail in US federal prisons and in Wandsworth prison in the UK, exhausting avenues of appeal before being released on license in 2022.

After the US courts in 2023 overturned a law that was used to prosecute him, he launched a fresh appeal, which has now been allowed by a US appeal court, granting him a full acquittal.

Mr Johnson's US lawyer Alexandra Shapiro said: "We are delighted that justice has finally been achieved for Mark Johnson, after a nine-year ordeal. This is a case that never should have been brought."

Prosecutors at Mark Johnson's trial alleged he had conspired with a colleague to increase the price of sterling against the dollar before executing a huge foreign exchange trade for HSBC's client Cairn Energy, converting $3.5bn into pounds.

They alleged that on behalf of HSBC, Mr Johnson arranged to buy sterling in advance, inflating the currency's value so that the bank made a quick gain before executing the trade for its client at a higher price – so called 'front-running'.

Following his conviction a foreign exchange industry body, ACI Financial Markets Association, petitioned the court, protesting that purchasing a currency ahead of a large trade was a normal industry practice to manage a bank's risk, known in the industry as 'pre-hedging'.

"Mr. Johnson carried out the Cairn transaction consistent with industry practice and in violation of no law or rule, and he looks forward to moving on with his life," said Ms Shapiro.

Mr. Johnson, a father of five from Hampshire, was originally arrested on 19 July 2016 as he accompanied his son and a friend to JFK Airport on his way home to the UK and was later tried and convicted on 18 October 2017.

His arrest took place three days after demands in Congress for the US government to pursue the prosecution of HSBC employees who had avoided facing justice.

Those calls were prompted by a congressional report, Too Big to Jail, which revealed that the British government had secretly intervened on HSBC's behalf in 2012, when the bank face the risk of prosecution for helping a Mexican drug cartel launder £881m and for facilitating trades with US-sanctioned countries such as Iran, Libya and Sudan.

Senior executives at HSBC had urged him to accept a new role in the US in March 2016, four months before his subsequent arrest. Because he was arrested in the US, it meant that there was no need for extradition proceedings.

By contrast his alleged co-conspirator, Stuart Scott, contested extradition to the US and won his hearing. The US Department of Justice later withdrew the charges against him.

Children under seven years old should not have shop-bought slushies over health concerns about a chemical they contain, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said.

The government watchdog said slushed ice drinks containing glycerol - a type of sweetener - were unsafe for young children, and consumption of them should be limited for children aged between seven and 10.

Most slushies contain naturally occurring glycerol instead of sugar to stop them freezing solid, giving them the slushy effect.

The FSA said consuming large amounts of it can cause side-effects, including headaches and sickness, low blood sugar levels, shock, and loss of consciousness in children.

Prof Robin May, the FSA's chief scientific advisor, said: "While these drinks may seem harmless and side effects are generally mild, they can, especially when consumed in large quantities over a short time, pose serious health risks to young children."

The fresh FSA guidance comes following research indicating children under eight should completely avoid drinking slushies.

It studied the cases of 21 two- to seven-year-olds in the UK and Ireland who needed A&E treatment after becoming acutely ill within an hour of having the drinks, mostly between 2018 and 2024.

The children all recovered and were discharged from hospital.

Dr Duane Mellor from the British Dietetic Association told the BBC that it was "relatively rare" for children to suffer ill side-effects after drinking slushies containing glycerol.

The registered dietician said the "heat of the day", dehydration and a child being excited could "exacerbate" symptoms linked to consuming the drink.

He recommended that children have water or cold milk as alternatives to slushies - or if they want a sweet drink, fruit flavoured water with ice cubes, a diet drink or a low-sugar ice lolly.

The FSA's updated guidance is stricter than its previous advice, which said that under-fives should avoid slushies.

It now also says children aged seven to 10 should have no more than one 350ml slushy drink - "roughly the size of a fizzy drink can" - a day.

"We are asking parents and carers to take extra care when buying drinks for young children, particularly during warmer months when consumption of 'slushies' typically increases," said Prof May.

This guidance also applies to ready-to-drink slushy pouches and make-at-home kits of slushy concentrates.

The FSA says its guidance should be on a "written warning at [the] point of sale" and that producers should make the drinks with the "minimum quantity" of glycerol "technically necessary to achieve the required 'slush' drink effect".

It also recommends against vendors offering free slushy refills in venues where children under the age of 10 would likely consume them.

A prop central to the celebrated opening scene of Citizen Kane - widely regarded as one of the best films ever made - has sold at auction for $14.75m (£11m).

The wooden Rosebud sled, one of at least three known to have survived, was long thought to have been lost until it was given to director Joe Dante in 1984, saving it from destruction.

He went on to use it as a reference for fans (known as an Easter egg) in films he directed, including Gremlins 2: The New Batch.

It is now the second most expensive piece of memorabilia to have ever been sold - a pair of ruby slippers used in The Wizard of Oz sold for $32m (£23.9) in December.

"Along with Dorothy's ruby slippers, the Rosebud sled from Citizen Kane is one of the most iconic objects in Hollywood history," Joe Maddalena, executive vice president at Heritage Auctions, which held the action, told its magazine the Intelligent Collector.

The identity of the sled's buyer was not revealed.

Other Rosebuds made for the film have been sold in the past, including one to legendary director Steven Spielberg, who later donated it to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.

However, the version sold on Thursday had not been seen for many years until it ended up in the hands of Dante.

He told Heritage auctions how he was making the film Explorers in 1984 on the same studio that was formerly owned by RKO Radio Pictures, which produced Citizen Kane.

Dante said crews were on site clearing out storage areas when one worker, who knew he liked vintage films, asked if he wanted it.

"I was astonished...Since I am a huge fan of the movie, I said, 'Yeah, I'll be glad to take it."

"Citizen Kane may be the greatest film ever made, and Rosebud is the linchpin of the story – the whole heart of the plot and the focal point of the mysterious drama in Kane's life.

"As a director, to own the prop that represents such a vital element of a cinema treasure is particularly meaningful."

US President Donald Trump is suffering from a chronic vein condition, the White House announced on Thursday, after days of speculation regarding photographs showing bruising on the president's hand.

After recently experiencing swelling in his legs, Trump underwent a "comprehensive exam" including a diagnostic vascular study, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Leavitt said Trump's bruised hand was consistent with "tissue damage from frequent handshaking" while taking aspirin, which she said is "part of a standard cardio-vascular prevention regimen".

Trump, 79, has regularly touted his good health and once described himself as "the healthiest president that's ever lived".

The vein condition discovered in the recent exam is called chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that occurs when leg veins fail to pump blood to the heart, causing it to pool in the lower limbs, which can then become swollen.

The condition is considered common, particularly in people over the age of 70, Leavitt said, adding that there was "no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease" and that all results from the test were "within normal limits".

The full medical report will be released to reporters, the White House said.

Photographers captured what appeared to be Trump's swollen legs during the Fifa Club World Cup final in New Jersey on 13 July, with subsequent photos taken earlier this week showing his bruised hands during a meet with Bahraini Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the White House.

A bruised hand on the president had previously been photographed during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in February.

The swollen legs and bruising prompted online speculation and rumours that the president may have been experiencing an illness he hadn't made public.

Following an annual physical exam in April, White House physician Sean Barbabella wrote that Trump "exhibits cognitive and physical health".

Trump was 78 years and seven months old when he was inaugurated for his second term in January, making him the oldest president to ever be inaugurated as US leader.

The Metropolitan Police plans to close half the front desks at its stations to save money, the BBC has learned.

The move would reduce the number across London from 37 to 19, and break a pledge to have a counter staffed 24/7 in each of the capital's 32 boroughs.

A Met Police spokesperson said the plan was subject to consultation and no changes would be made until later this year.

"Given the Met's budget shortfall and shrinking size, it is no longer sustainable to keep all front counters open," they said.

The Met covers all parts of London apart from the Square Mile covered by the City of London Police.

Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley last month took the unusual step of warning Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer that police forces would face "stark choices" about which crimes to investigate if their budgets were cut.

Concern about funding was such that Home Secretary Yvette Cooper took negotiations with Treasury to the wire, ending up as the last cabinet minister to agree her department's spending.

Labour made manifesto commitments to halve violence against women and girls as well as knife crime.

At the same time, the Met has been struggling with a widespread loss of trust in its officers, particularly among women, following the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer.

There were further revelations about entrenched misogyny and racism, leading to the force attempting to rebuild trust with Londoners with a two-year plan making fresh commitments on community policing, in its A New Met for London strategy.

A key commitment was to have at least one 24/7 front counter in each of London's 32 boroughs to make it easier for people to report crime.

But the BBC has seen leaked plans for the Met Police that show only eight counters will remain open 24/7, and there will also be reduced hours at 11 front counters, closing at 10pm weekdays and 7pm weekends.

A Met Police spokesperson defended the plans, saying: "That's why we have taken the tough choice to pursue some closures and a reduction in hours – allowing us to focus resources relentlessly on tackling crime and putting more officers into neighbourhoods across London."

The spokesperson added that 5% of crimes were reported at front counters in the last year, "with the vast majority of Londoners doing it over the phone, online, or in person with officers elsewhere".

With nearly a million crimes (948,241) reported to the Met in 2024 excluding fraud according to the latest government figures, that adds up to just under 50,000 crimes (47,412) reported at existing front counters.

The Home Office and the Mayor of London have been contacted for comment.

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Children under seven years old should not have shop-bought slushies over health concerns about a chemical they contain, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said.

The government watchdog said slushed ice drinks containing glycerol - a type of sweetener - were unsafe for young children, and consumption of them should be limited for children aged between seven and 10.

Most slushies contain naturally occurring glycerol instead of sugar to stop them freezing solid, giving them the slushy effect.

The FSA said consuming large amounts of it can cause side-effects, including headaches and sickness, low blood sugar levels, shock, and loss of consciousness in children.

Prof Robin May, the FSA's chief scientific advisor, said: "While these drinks may seem harmless and side effects are generally mild, they can, especially when consumed in large quantities over a short time, pose serious health risks to young children."

The fresh FSA guidance comes following research indicating children under eight should completely avoid drinking slushies.

It studied the cases of 21 two- to seven-year-olds in the UK and Ireland who needed A&E treatment after becoming acutely ill within an hour of having the drinks, mostly between 2018 and 2024.

The children all recovered and were discharged from hospital.

Dr Duane Mellor from the British Dietetic Association told the BBC that it was "relatively rare" for children to suffer ill side-effects after drinking slushies containing glycerol.

The registered dietician said the "heat of the day", dehydration and a child being excited could "exacerbate" symptoms linked to consuming the drink.

He recommended that children have water or cold milk as alternatives to slushies - or if they want a sweet drink, fruit flavoured water with ice cubes, a diet drink or a low-sugar ice lolly.

The FSA's updated guidance is stricter than its previous advice, which said that under-fives should avoid slushies.

It now also says children aged seven to 10 should have no more than one 350ml slushy drink - "roughly the size of a fizzy drink can" - a day.

"We are asking parents and carers to take extra care when buying drinks for young children, particularly during warmer months when consumption of 'slushies' typically increases," said Prof May.

This guidance also applies to ready-to-drink slushy pouches and make-at-home kits of slushy concentrates.

The FSA says its guidance should be on a "written warning at [the] point of sale" and that producers should make the drinks with the "minimum quantity" of glycerol "technically necessary to achieve the required 'slush' drink effect".

It also recommends against vendors offering free slushy refills in venues where children under the age of 10 would likely consume them.