The Welsh Association of Visitor Attractions (WAVA), which represents more than 80 tourism businesses, said there had been a 'noticeable lull' in visitors across the sector. Almost half of its members saw fewer tourists over the holiday period than they did in the pre-pandemic year of 2019. They said increased running costs including food and energy prices were making it especially difficult for businesses and they now fear for their future. It comes as hospitality chiefs, small businesses and tourism bosses have warned any new levy for foreign holidaymakers coming to Wales would 'decimate' the holiday industry. Visitors to Wales may be forced to pay a tourism levy to stay in the country in the future, if a planned consultation which will be launched by the Labour-backed Welsh Government this autumn is approved. Pictured left: A crude 6ft long banner - written in black paint on a white board - was held aloft by three people in July 2020, over the A30 at Bodmin, one of the main roads into Cornwall. Pictured right: Tourists flock to Fistral beach in Cornwall after the lockdown restrictions eased in August 2020
Boris is set to issue grovelling apology for Partygate photos but vow to cling on with Sue Gray report due TOMORROW - as he prepares to run the gauntlet of the Commons, furious Tory MPs and a press conference
Boris Johnson is again fighting for his political life after visual evidence of lockdown breaches in Downing Street started to emerge - with more expected in Sue Gray's full report as early as tomorrow. Leaked images showed Mr Johnson apparently toasting his outgoing communications chief Lee Cain on November 13, 2020 - a time when social gatherings were banned. One Conservative source pointed the finger at Dominic Cummings , who was ousted the same night after losing a power struggle and has since been waging a campaign for 'regime change' in No 10. The pictures are threatening to reignite a revolt that seemed to have fizzled out when the Met closed their investigation after only handing him one fine, with Tory MPs breaking cover to condemn the premier and suggest he should go. The situation has been inflamed by claims that Mr Johnson held a 'secret' meeting with Ms Gray in recent weeks where he urged her to abandon publication report. Meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has waded into the row over whether Scotland Yard was too lenient on the PM, calling on the force to explain its reasoning. In a round of interviews this morning, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps gave limited backing to the PM - insisting the toast in the latest photographs 'should not have happened'.
Teacher, 42, who died after catching Covid was 'scared' of coming into work at college - which is now first in Britain to be found to have broken health and safety laws during pandemic
A college where a teacher died of Covid-19 has become the first education sector employer in Great Britain found to have to breached health & safety laws during the pandemic. Burnley College (left), Lancashire, was found to have failed to ensure staff safety during the outbreak of the virus in a damning report by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The report followed an HSE investigation into the death of Donna Coleman (right), 42, in January last year.
- Great British Staycation boom is over, tourism chiefs say as numbers drop below pre-Covid levels due to return of foreign holidays and cost of living crisis
- Boris in the danger zone after Partygate photos: Tory MPs demand PM quits and ministers admit they are 'not comfortable' with images of him boozing - amid claims he urged Sue Gray to SCRAP her report which could now come TOMORROW
- Schoolboy, 14, breaks down in tears as he is found guilty of murdering Ava White at Liverpool Christmas lights switch-on as his 12-year-old victim's family cheer verdict in court
- Village pub stab horror: Landlady appears in court charged with attempted murder after barmaid, 18, is knifed twice
- Five children are rushed to hospital as bus crashes into pedestrians outside school
- Rail strike could cause blackouts: Fears over freight supplies to power stations and supermarkets if unions vote for industrial action
- Off-duty police superintendent CAUGHT on CCTV taking part in pitch invasion following Bournemouth's promotion to the Premier League
- College is first in Britain to be found guilty of breaking health and safety laws during Covid pandemic after teacher, 42, who was 'scared' of coming into work died from virus
- Police adviser wants to slash forces' cash: New panel to combat racism includes Labour backers with arresting aims
- Labour MP Jess Phillips comes under fire for breaking rules over declaring outside earnings
- Clarifications and corrections
- Guest at sex party mansion dubbed 'Kinky Towers' is quizzed over 'murder' after 'unexplained' death of man in his 20s whose body was found in the swimming pool
- Elgin Marbles were not 'hacked' from the Parthenon but were rescued from rubble, British Museum claims amid row over repatriation
- Infant who was 'poisoned by nurse, 27, at children's hospital' had deteriorated 'quickly and unexpectedly', NHS letter reveals
- Mother hits out at police as it emerges ANOTHER teenage girl 'was searched by officers while on her period'
- Coleen Rooney poses with Wayne and their sons in Dubai as they await judge's verdict after jetting off on the last day of on Wagatha Christie trial
- Bad news for Amber Heard as Kate Moss is set to appear at Depp defamation trial: Supermodel who dated Johnny from 1994-97 will take stand on Wednesday after actress namedropped her during case
- Boris's boozy Partygate pictures: First image surfaces of PM with drink in hand at bash as Lib Dems demand Scotland Yard explain why Johnson was NOT fined over the leaving party saying it's 'one rule for him and another for everyone else'
- Amber Heard only kept her role in Aquaman 2 because Jason Momoa was adamant she remain, despite her part being radically reduced' after abuse claims, entertainment expert testifies
- UK records THIRTY-SEVEN more monkeypox cases as ever-growing outbreak TRIPLES in size
- Harrowing footage shows killer foster mother 'shushing' baby she was hoping to adopt before she murdered him by shaking him to death when she 'lost it' over his crying
- All aboard the Elizabeth Line! 65,000 take historic journey between Paddington and Abbey Wood as London's newest line finally opens (and despite it being suspended by faulty fire alarm)
- College is first in Britain to be found guilty of breaking health and safety laws during Covid pandemic after teacher, 42, who was 'scared' of coming into work died from virus
- Is THIS Carol Kirkwood's mystery fiancé? BBC Breakfast weatherwoman was seen holding hands with masked man last July... 10 months before flashing engagement ring at Chelsea Flower Show today
- The moment a manhole cover COLLAPSED under 18-month-old toddler who fell down sewage drain to his mother's horror before she jumped in to save him from river of human waste
- Five children are rushed to hospital as bus crashes into pedestrians outside school
- Prince Andrew is visiting the Queen EVERY DAY in an effort to 'make amends for the shame he brought' on the Royal Family following sex abuse scandal - and is determined to prove he is 'still of some use'
- Surgeon testifies that Johnny Depp's sliced fingertip after blowout fight with Amber Heard is 'not consistent' with being cut off by a vodka bottle, as the actor has claimed
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- MOST READ IN DETAIL
Guest at sex party mansion dubbed 'Kinky Towers' is quizzed over 'murder' after 'unexplained' death of man in his 20s whose body was found in the swimming pool
Police have launched a probe into the death of a man, who was in his 20s, after a body was recovered from a swimming pool at a £3million swingers mansion in Hertfordshire dubbed 'Kinky Towers' (pictured main). Up to 200 people reportedly attended the event which saw the man's body recovered from the swimming pool (bottom right). The property is home to retired management consultant Richard Stanley, 74, and his partner Janet Harrison, who have previously appeared on a Channel 4 documentary about swingers.
Coleen Rooney poses with Wayne and boys in Dubai as they await judge's verdict after jetting off on last day of Wagatha Christie trial
Coleen Rooney is enjoying a family break in Dubai after jetting off on holiday on the last day of her high court battle against Rebekah Vardy last week. Wayne Rooney shared his first Instagram post in three weeks on Monday, posting a family snap showing the couple with their four sons, Kai, 12, Klay, eight, Kit, six, and Cass, three at their Dubai resort. The photo shows Coleen still wearing her air boot, which she wore in all of her court appearances this month following a foot injury. Meanwhile eldest son Kai was wearing a matching foot brace after his own injury.
Treasures of Buckingham Palace's Bow Room: This Morning viewers get a rare glimpse of Queen Victoria's portraits and George IV's vases as Holly and Phil swap the sofa for 19th century armchairs for Jubilee broadcast
Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby were joined by former MP Gyles Brandreth in the Buckingham Palace Bow Room for the special Jubilee episode of This Morning today. They were surrounded by treasures including: 1. 19th century armchairs; 2. King George III's dinner and dessert service; 3. Portrait of F rederick William, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz; 4. Princess Augusta of Cambridge, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz; 5. Pair of 18th century Chinese vases; 6. Portrait of Ernst, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg; 7. Portrait of Princess Mary of Cambridge; 8. Set of Victorian-era lights; 9. Portrait of Marie Alexandrina of Saxe-Altenburg, Queen of Hanover; 10. Pair of ornamental mirrors; 11. George IV's candelabra; 12. 19th century occasional table.
State pension is set to soar 10 PER CENT after Government confirms triple lock will be restored... but No10 warns public sector workers not to expect pay hikes to match inflation
The state pension could soar by 10 per cent next year while public sector workers have been warned not to expect pay rises to match rocketing inflation. Ministers today expressed concerns that awarding large pay boosts to public sector workers could risk worsening the current inflation crisis. Downing Street acknowleged that sky-high inflation was a 'significant challenge' when it came to deciding on future pay rises. It raises the prospect of nurses, doctors, teachers, soldiers and others in the public sector having to suffer a real-terms pay cut. Inflation recently soared to a 40-year-high with the headline CPI rate rising to an eye-watering nine per cent in April. The Bank of England expects the annual rate will get even worse, peaking at 10.25 per cent during the final quarter of this year. This means that, while public sector workers face warnings they will have to endure pay restraint, pensioners are in line for a large boost. Number 10 today confirmed the pensions 'triple lock' is to be restored after a one-year suspension.
Short, sharp thunderstorms with HAIL hit south and central Britain today as rain sweeps the county before 'unseasonably windy weather' arrives mid-week bringing lows of 10C (50F)
Short thundery downpours have been reported in the south and southeast of the country today, as unsettled weather moves across the UK bringing spells of rain and gusty winds. The Met Office said today that some of the showers will be heavy and mixed with hail, and Brits shouldn't be surprised if they hear a rumble of thunder. Temperatures are expected to remain between 14C in the north, and 19C in the south, with central areas seeing temperatures of 16C to 18C. Met Office forecaster Grahame Madge told MailOnline that drier conditions will appear this afternoon, with showers fading in the east and central areas of the country.
On board the historic first Elizabeth Line service from Paddington: MailOnline joins hundreds of die-hard rail enthusiasts who dyed their hair purple, brought novelty cakes and queued since MIDNIGHT to get a seat on 6.33am service to Abbey Wood
It's been delayed by four years, cost £4billion more than planned and faced numerous setbacks that had left many Londoners wondering whether it would ever run at all. But the cheers that erupted as the gates opened at Paddington today for the hundreds of passengers eager to travel on the first Elizabeth line service suggested few were worried about what had led to this point. In fact, they had little time to ponder the many construction difficulties and complications installing signalling systems that have hindered the Crossrail project and seen the budget balloon to £18.9billion. The journey time to Abbey Wood took just 29 minutes, with many of those on board the 6.33am service being rail enthusiasts who had been gathering outside Paddington from the early hours of this morning. These included people who had been queuing since midnight, one man who had flown in from Canada and hundreds of Britons who wanted to be a part of railway history at the station dating back to the 1850s.
Mother is 'accused of doing drugs in a bar's toilets as she expressed breast milk in a cubicle - before male manager broke her pump and threw her and her friends out'
Natalie Read (left and right in an animal print green top), 39, who had given birth nine weeks ago was expressing milk while on her first night in Portsmouth when the bar manager entered the women's toilets, it's claimed. Her friend Natalee Cooper said the 39-year-old mother-of-four was in a toilet cubicle at the Emporium Bar (inset) while some of their party (left outside the bar) - all mothers aged 29 to 39 - used the bathroom, laughed and joked and waited for her to finish. Ms Cooper then claims the male manager entered the women's bathroom to 'check' on the group as he believed they were 'up to no good' and told them to leave the toilets. Back in the bar, she said her friend 'dripped' some of the washed breast pump onto the floor and the manager came over a second time. He then made a comment about drugs, she claims, and 'sent us home'. Sam Spreadbury (right), another friend, also said it's 'unbelievable' to accuse 'average mums on a mums' night out of doing drugs'. Under the Equality Act 2010, service providers must not discriminate or harass breastfeeding women.
Couple are jailed over killing of little Kemarni Watson Darby who suffered 'car crash' injuries after weeks of beatings: Drug dealer jailed for 24 years for murdering girlfriend's three year-old son - as mother is sentenced to 11 years for allowing death
Nathaniel Pope has been jailed at Birmingham Crown Court for life with a minimum term of 24 years for the 'brutal' murder of his partner's son, three-year-old Kemarni Watson Darby. Pope, 32, was found guilty of murder in April, following a five-month trial which heard that Kemarni had 34 separate areas of external injuries. Kemarni's mother, 31-year-old Alicia Watson, was cleared of murder but found guilty of causing or allowing his death. She was today jailed for 11 years for child cruelty and causing or allowing the death of her three-year-old son. The toddler was kept in a room locked with an electrical wire in the cramped property in West Bromwich, Birmingham , as he suffered 'a catalogue of horrendous injuries' - likened to those of a car crash victim - in the weeks before he was killed.
Katie Price won't face jail for speeding in her BMW just days before drink drive crash: Reality star will not appear before magistrates today as case is dealt with under 'single justice procedure' that rules on minor driving offences
The troubled celebrity (left pictured in April, also inset) was allegedly clocked driving over the 60mph speed limit in a BMW close to her mucky mansion in Horsham, West Sussex last September - just 11 days before she crashed her car (scene of the crash right). Mother-of-five Price, 43, was set to appear at Crawley Magistrates' Court charged with speeding and failing to provide information to the police. But her fresh driving offence will now be dealt with under the little-known 'single justice procedure', which allows for adults to have their cases dealt with remotely by a magistrate. The outcome is expected to be published later today, though the procedure may mean simply that a date is set for the next hearing, or Price could enter a guilty or not guilty plea. She is due to appear at Lewes Crown Court tomorrow for allegedly breaching a restraining order by sending foul-mouthed texts aimed at her ex Kieran Hayler's partner Michelle Penticost.
The moment a manhole cover COLLAPSED under 18-month-old toddler who fell down sewage drain to his mother's horror before she jumped in to save him from river of human waste
Amy Blyth, 23, (middle and right) was strolling with her 18-month-old son, Theo Prior, (far right) when he disappeared through a drain cover, which terrifyingly flipped over and then closed on top of him on Sunday afternoon. The footage, captured on CCTV from a neighbouring house, showed the moment the quick-thinking personal trainer jumped into the drain to rescue the tot and quickly plucked him from a river of human waste in Tenterden, Kent. The mother-of-one stood on ledges at the side of the sewer to reach down to her toddler son who had fallen to the very bottom. Luckily, she was able to grab hold of him and lift him out - but his clothes were left covered in human waste. Describing the 'horror film' moment, Ms Blyth said: 'My first thought was "Oh my God, he's dead.''' The incident happened on a public pavement and Southern Water have since apologised to the family and said they are 'taking the matter very seriously'.
'Where did that think mane come from!?' Social media users mock Royal Mint's £5 coin featuring 3D portrait of Prince William that appears to show full head of hair
The Prince's 40th birthday next month will be marked with a new limited edition gold coin (pictured right) featuring a 3D portrait of the future king. The celebratory gold coin was created by designer and engraver Thomas T Docherty who set the Prince's portrait in his royal cypher - his initial W - and the number 40. It is the first time the Duke of Cambridge (pictured left), who is second in line to the throne, will appear alone on an official coin struck by the Royal Mint. But eyebrows have been raised among social media users (pictured inset) over the portrait on the commemorative coin, with some saying the Royal Mint has 'hair-brushed' the Prince's image. One Twitter user wrote: 'The £5 coin to mark Prince William's 40th birthday has more hair than he does!'
Moment staff member sang 'It's Raining Men' at illegal Christmas karaoke bash held at first college in Britain to be found guilty of breaking health and safety rules during Covid pandemic after teacher's death
Burnley College is the first education employer in Britain to be found guilty of breaching health and safety laws during the pandemic following the death of Donna Coleman, 42 (pictured). She died in January last year after catching coronavirus on December 14 2020 while working at the Lancashire FE college, whose staff were encouraged not to report their 'close contacts' if they caught the killer virus. On December 18, just four days after Donna tested positive - along with at least one other colleague - a boozy and illegal Christmas party was thrown 'for all staff' when there was a strict ban on gatherings - the same day as an infamous Downing Street bash where dozens of No 10 staff downed wine and scoffed cheese while swapping gifts. Footage of the Burnley College party later emerged showing a staff member wearing a Santa jacket and elf's tights doing a painful karaoke rendition of 'It's Raining Men' in front of an assembled cheering crowd of teachers and staff who sang along. A fireworks display on the sports pitches followed, but it is not clear if people there were fined by police. Donna was already ill in bed at home having caught Covid while working in an office with two other staff with no social distancing and inadequate ventilation - even after one of tested positive.
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