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28/08/2026

Tomorrow's weather forecast for Oxfordshire

đŸ›»As thousands of city dwellers prepare to head for the countryside over the August bank holiday weekend, new research fr...
28/08/2026

đŸ›»As thousands of city dwellers prepare to head for the countryside over the August bank holiday weekend, new research from Nextbase has found widespread confusion over the rules that apply on country roads, from speed limits and single-track lanes to passing horses and farm traffic.

⛔The survey found that nearly three quarters could not identify the speed limit on a rural single-carriageway road with no speed limit signs, with just 27% correctly answering 60mph, decreasing to 21% of those living in urban areas.

The findings come as rural roads continue to account for the majority of road deaths. Official Department for Transport figures show that 923 people were killed on rural roads in Great Britain in 2025, accounting for 60% of all road fatalities. Single-carriageway roads alone accounted for 77% of road fatalities.

Confusion was also clear when it came to farm traffic. When a car and tractor meet on a narrow lane, both should slow down, with the vehicle closest to a passing place reversing where necessary. Yet 62% of urban respondents got this wrong, with 15% saying they wouldn’t be sure what to do.

City-based respondents were also unsure about right of way on hills, with seven in ten unaware that uphill traffic should generally be given priority on a single-track road. The findings also highlighted wider gaps in knowledge around safe driving in rural conditions. More than a third of urban respondents thought it was acceptable to park on the side of the road in a passing place for a break, compared with 25% of rural respondents.

A lack of understanding around when to give way or where it is safe to stop could lead to unnecessary delays and congestion on narrow rural roads, while also creating additional risks for drivers and other road users. And while 47% of rural respondents knew to match their speed on unlit roads to the distance their headlights illuminate, only 39% of urban respondents did. More concerningly, 15% of urban respondents thought drivers could travel at whatever speed they felt comfortable with.

The Highway Code was strengthened in January 2022 to require drivers to pass horses at a maximum of 10mph and to leave at least two metres of space. However, fewer than three in ten UK adults correctly identified the 10mph maximum, and 38% of city respondents incorrectly thought they could pass at more than 10mph, with a further 17% saying they didn't know what the limit was.

On distance, nearly half of urban respondents would give a horse less than two metres, against 42% nationally.

Separate Nextbase research earlier this year found the confusion extends beyond how to pass. More than a third of drivers did not know that a collision with a horse must be reported to the police within 24 hours if details are not exchanged at the scene.

Bryn Brooker, Head of Road Safety at Nextbase, said, “Some of these rules might seem minor or easy to brush off, but they are in the Highway Code for a reason. Knowing the rules and understanding how to follow them properly helps everyone use country roads more safely and efficiently, whether you’re driving a car, tractor, or riding a horse.

“That matters even more over a bank holiday weekend, when millions of people will be heading out on roads they may not regularly use and traffic levels will increase. Taking ten minutes to refresh yourself on the Highway Code before setting off could make a real difference, helping drivers know what to do, avoid unnecessary delays and, most importantly, keep themselves and other road users safe.”

✍Neil Shaw

The children of some of the country’s biggest stars will perform at the Reading and Leeds Festivals this weekend.Cruz Be...
28/08/2026

The children of some of the country’s biggest stars will perform at the Reading and Leeds Festivals this weekend.

Cruz Beckham, Gene Gallagher, Moses Martin and Violet Grohl will all be taking to the stage as they follow in the footsteps of their famous parents.

Beckham, the son of Spice Girl Lady Victoria and former England captain Sir David, will perform at Reading Festival on Saturday with his band, The Breakers, and at Leeds on Sunday.

Liam Gallagher’s son Gene, the lead singer and guitarist with Villanelle, will perform at Reading on Friday and Leeds on Saturday.

The band, who have been performing since 2024, released debut single Hinge last year.

Moses Martin, the son of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and his ex-wife actress Gwyneth Paltrow, will play at both sites with his band, People I’ve Met.

The trio, originally known as Dancer, changed their name and then released debut single Promise in December 2025.

Dave Grohl’s daughter Violet has followed her Foo Fighters’ father into the music industry, releasing debut album Be Sweet To Me in May.

She is also due to perform at both festivals this weekend.

Gene Gallagher previously spoke about the “nepo baby” label in an interview with The Sunday Times, saying: “People say to me: ‘Ooh it must be so easy for you to get a band together.’ It’s not. We’re earning our stripes.”

His uncle, Oasis founder Noel Gallagher, also discussed “nepo babies” – when children are helped in their career by parents in a show of nepotism – when his own daughter Anais was starting out as a model and photographer.

Speaking to the Radio X Evening Show about how she took photos of him in the recording studio, Noel said: “The whole nepotism thing, I mean it’s human nature to help your children out.

“She’s good at what she does, her photographs are really, really good, and if she was terrible, I wouldn’t be doing it for the sake of it, because I think if you’re knowingly just giving your kids something to do and they’re not really good at it, I don’t think that’s very healthy.”

✍ By Sean O'Grady, Press Association Deputy Entertainment Editor

đŸ„šCertain people are being advised to steer clear of particular foods during the current outbreak of Salmonella Enteritid...
28/08/2026

đŸ„šCertain people are being advised to steer clear of particular foods during the current outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis t5.9411 in the UK.

👉The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), working with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and other public health partners, is continuing its investigation, with indications that the outbreak may be connected to eggs imported from overseas.

Cases, according to the UKHSA, are linked to eating out at small cafés, restaurants and takeaway establishments. As of Tuesday, 25 August, there have been 474 confirmed cases and two deaths resulting from the outbreak.

The UKHSA said that the risk to the general public from Salmonella remains low. However, certain groups are more susceptible to experiencing more serious illness - very young children, elderly people, pregnant women, and those who are immunocompromised.

According to FSA guidance, older adults, pregnant women, young children and people with weakened immune systems can safely consume raw or lightly cooked hen eggs, or foods containing them, if the eggs carry the British Lion mark or are produced under the Laid in Britain assurance scheme.

Professor Ian Young, Chief Scientific Adviser for the FSA, has stated the precise causes of these outbreaks have not yet been determined, but investigations thus far have identified connections to imported eggs, and that there is no evidence that UK-produced eggs are affected. Those who are severely immunocompromised and require medically supervised diets should continue to follow individual medical advice, he added.

Prof Young went on to say: "If you're eating out or buying food that contains eggs, you may not know if these carry the British Lion mark or are Laid in Britain assured.

"If this is the case, when eating out the safest approach for vulnerable people is to ensure they're thoroughly cooked and to avoid dishes containing raw or lightly cooked egg, such as mousses, fresh mayonnaise or hollandaise sauce.

"As with any foodborne illness, good hygiene remains your best protection: store and cook food according to the packet instructions, wash your hands thoroughly before handling food and always after handling raw meat, poultry and eggs."

Salmonella symptoms
Symptoms usually include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and occasionally vomiting and fever. These typically emerge between 12 and 72 hours following infection, with illness generally lasting 4 -7 days.

For most individuals, Salmonella triggers a bout of gastroenteritis that resolves itself. However, certain people face a higher risk of more serious illness, including bloodstream infections, sepsis and, in rare instances, multi-organ failure.

✍Kate Lally

đŸ„„An NHS GP has urged people to add a cheap ingredient to their meals that will "change their health." đŸ„˜You can add it to...
28/08/2026

đŸ„„An NHS GP has urged people to add a cheap ingredient to their meals that will "change their health."

đŸ„˜You can add it to things like pasta sauce or spaghetti bolognese and you might not even taste it.

👉Dr Karan Raj, also known as .karanr on TikTok, is a No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller, appearing on BBC Morning Live, Good Morning Britain, BBC News, and more. In his video, the doctor encouraged people to add white beans to their meals, explaining the ingredient can boost fibre, lower cholesterol and help with weight loss.

Dr Raj explained: “If you eat a lot of meat like I used to, this simple swap could change your health. Scientists at the University of Helsinki instructed 51 men to reduce the amount of red meat and ultra-processed meat they were eating to just 200 grams a week - that’s seven ounces, equivalent to five per cent of their total protein intake.

“Meanwhile, the men ate more legumes specifically, peas and faba beans, equivalent to 20 per cent of their total protein intake, and they continued eating chicken, eggs, fish and other protein sources as normal.”

He continued: “Beyond the beans swap, the men were not told to eat any less or restrict any of their calories. But after just six weeks, they lost an average of one kilo or 2.2 pounds of weight, and the changes didn't stop there.

“By the end of the study, the men who had eaten legumes had low levels of total and LDL cholesterol [‘bad’ cholesterol], suggesting that the diet swap reduced their risk of heart disease. At the same time, the men's iron levels improved, which is surprising given that red meat is considered to be a good source of dietary iron.”

Add it to your spaghetti bolognese
Addressing his followers, he urged people to top up their diets with more beans. He said: "Let's face it, we collectively eat more saturated fat than we should be. And replacing a small portion of meat with beans is something every person could do.

“For example, when you're next making spaghetti bolognese, use half the amount of beef mince and top it up with beans and you’d barely notice it because beans virtually taste of nothing and you're sneaking in fibre, polyphenols and a saturated fat-free protein source.”

45p white beans
According to Healthline, these are a type of common bean first grown in North and South America. There are several kinds, but the most common are cannellini beans, also known as white kidney beans, which are soft with an earthy, nutty taste, and are great in soups, stews, chilli and other dishes.

The experts say that these beans are a good source of protein. Alongside regular exercise and a balanced diet, they can help support healthy muscle growth. It adds: "White beans have a high nutrient density and fairly low calorie count.

Combined with their high fibre and protein content, these attributes may promote a healthy body weight. Foods high in fibre and protein have been shown to promote feelings of fullness, leaving you less likely to overeat."

Other experts also hail these beans, which can be bought from Morrisons for 45p, as Holland and Barrett says: "The B vitamin folate is very important for our bodies, especially if you’re pregnant and contributes to the production of amino acids – the building block for proteins.

"Cannellini beans are a great source, so if you’re watching your folate levels, it’s worth keeping some to hand in your kitchen."

But before you add them to your meals, the experts caution people to read the label. Healthline explains: "Keep in mind that canned beans may contain added salt, so you should check the product label - or seek out low-sodium or salt-free options. You can also reduce their sodium content by rinsing them before use."

✍Sophie Buchan

👑Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were whisked away in an exclusive private security convoy as they prepared to start thei...
28/08/2026

👑Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were whisked away in an exclusive private security convoy as they prepared to start their new life in Britain.

✈The Sussexes landed at Birmingham Airport yesterday on a private plane from sun-soaked California.

👉They were not met by any taxpayer-funded close police protection or had a police convoy - something they previously had when working royals - and were supported by their own private security team.

Security experts said the private motorcade could run into thousands of pounds everytime Harry and Meghan need to use them for public appearances. Former royal protection chief Dai Davies said the "bills are going to run up if this is how Harry insists on travelling around the UK now he is back".

New pictures have shown how they were met by three vehicles - a large ÂŁ80,000 black Mercedes van as well as two black Range Rovers - which whisked them away from the airport and to their new home.

The Sussexes are not seen in the images but sitting in the front seat is believed to be David Langdown, who previously worked with Harry when he was a working royal.

Mr Langdown, known as ‘Langers’ is now working for a private security firm after retiring from the Met Police and is believed to be helping the family establish a security team in the UK. The vehicles turned up at the airport shortly before the Sussexes' plane landed and left with the family and their team shortly after they arrived.

They travelled to the UK on a Bombardier Global Express XRS luxury long-range business jet for the overnight flight. The plane is owned and chartered by Planet Nine Private Aircraft, an aircraft rental company and the cost of hiring such a jet is believed to be an estimated $12,000 (ÂŁ9,000) an hour.

A spokesman for the duke and duchess declined to comment on their travel movements, citing the importance of privacy and security. “This is not something we would comment on,” the spokesman said.

Despite the lack of clarity surrounding the Sussexes’ return, the spokesman did however confirm that the couple’s brood of chickens would be staying in Montecito to be cared for there, but that they were bringing their dogs Mia and P**a with them.

The decision to keep on their house across the Atlantic and their beloved chickens there is being seen as a sign that they will still spend time in California. Yesterday, Meghan posted her first Instagram story since news of the move in which she chuckled at what appeared to be a tea towel with the message: “People who take care of chickens are literally chicken tenders”.

Harry and Meghan, who are remaining as non-working royals, quit the monarchy six years ago amid the Megxit crisis, relocating to the US from where they criticised members of the royal family and the institution.

When the duke headed to Los Angeles from Canada in 2020, he filmed himself on the plane for his Netflix series, calling the journey their “freedom flight”.

The Sussexes’ dramatic U-turn was revealed last week, but the pair have yet to speak publicly about their plans. Harry previously insisted it was too dangerous to bring his wife and children to the UK with the security he was entitled to post-Megxit.

A long-awaited risk assessment, carried out on the orders of the royal and VIP executive committee (Ravec), is said have taken place at the end of July, but Harry reportedly does not know the result. The duke, a former soldier who served in Afghanistan, is said to have pleaded with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood for answers.

He lost a legal battle against the Home Office over the security arrangements for him and his family while in the UK, after his level of protection changed when he stopped being a working royal.

After losing his appeal 15 months ago in May 2025, Harry stated there was little chance of the family coming back to the UK after his automatic taxpayer-funded police protection was taken away when he and Meghan quit their royal roles.

At that time, in an interview, he said: “I can’t see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point.” Meanwhile, several months earlier, during an onstage chat at the New York Times Book Summit in December 2024, he also shut down speculation about a move to Britain when he was asked if he planned to remain in America for good. He said: “I do. I very much enjoy living here and bringing my kids up here.”

Rumours have abounded as to where Harry and Meghan will choose to settle, with suggestions including rural locations in the Cotswolds in Oxfordshire or Gloucestershire, amid speculation over which schools they have chosen for their children, with it only marking the third time five-year-old Lilibet has been to the UK.

The couple are understood to have secured a home outside of London, which is a non-royal residence. Rumours have also swirled around Meghan’s plans to return to acting, with speculation she is in talks to star in the third series of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix gangster series The Gentlemen.

✍Russell Myers, Jennifer Newton

👉Simple has issued an urgent recall warning for its customers as some of its products pose a contamination risk. The ski...
28/08/2026

👉Simple has issued an urgent recall warning for its customers as some of its products pose a contamination risk.

The skincare brand, which is stocked across major UK stores and supermarkets, said the items present a "microbiological risk".

It means the affected batches may cause eye inflammation. As a result, customers with the products have been urged to stop using them "immediately", and they have been pulled from shelves.

The Simple Kind to Skin Micellar Cleansing Water in 200ml, 400ml and 730ml bottles are affected. A recall alert was issued earlier this month for just one size of the cleanser; now more have been added.

Customers must check if they have the affected bottles.

Recalled Simple products
Simple Kind to Skin Micellar Cleansing Water

Product size: 200ml Batch codes: 610041, 611641, 615941
Product size: 400ml Batch codes: 611141, 611341, 611441, 613341, 613441, 614541, 614741, 614841
Product size: 730ml Batch codes: 613841, 613941, 611041, 616641, 616741
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has issued a recall notice for the items. It said: "It has been identified that affected batches may be microbiologically contaminated, which may cause eye inflammation.

"The affected batches do not meet the requirements of Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 (the ‘Cosmetics Regulation’)."

The OPSS added: "The product has been withdrawn from the market and recalled from end users by Unilever. Consumers in possession of an affected batch should stop using the product immediately.

"Please access Simple Kind to Skin Recall Notice or contact your place of purchase for instructions on returns, disposal, and refund/redress."

The recall applies in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Simple said: "We are recalling these products because the safety of the people who buy and use our products is our top priority.

"Other Simple products are not affected by this issue. We understand that product recalls can be concerning, and we are sorry for any concern or inconvenience this may have caused."

Batch codes can be found on the bottom of the bottle. Customers can contact Simple's Consumer Careline by email on [email protected] for further guidance and a refund, or call 0800 146 252 (UK) or 1800 604 060 (ROI).

Proof of purchase is not needed, but you need to send a photograph of the product and the affected batch code.

Simple explained: "The recall has been initiated following testing which identified the possible presence of bacteria in some units (within specific batches), which has the potential to cause eye inflammation for some consumers.

"If you have any concerns about your health, we recommend seeking advice from a medical professional."

✍Mia O'Hare

👉A woman with tongue cancer had half of it replaced with a piece of her leg after initially being told she had mouth thr...
28/08/2026

👉A woman with tongue cancer had half of it replaced with a piece of her leg after initially being told she had mouth thrush.

Elaine Sawyer, 54, was diagnosed with Squamous cell carcinoma in February 2024 after finding an ulcer on her tongue. Initially, Elaine was told by a doctor she had thrush of the mouth, but, unhappy with that opinion, she decided to get a second.

Another doctor referred her to a specialist ward at Queen Victoria Hospital, West Sussex, where she was given her diagnosis. In April 2024, Elaine underwent a 13-hour surgery to remove half of her tongue, which was replaced with a section of her leg.

Following the operation, Elaine grew a small amount of hair on her tongue, but this was stopped by the daily "brutal" radiotherapy she had for six weeks. She also had her lymph glands removed as the cancer had spread into her neck.

Having never smoked or drunk, Elaine isn't sure what caused her diagnosis, but she is now on the mend and tries to "keep active". Elaine is now in remission as she continues with her recovery.

Elaine, a former caterer from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, said: "My tongue doesn't move as they removed half of it and rebuilt it from my leg. I still have problems eating now.

"There are certain things I can't eat as it affects your throat - meat is very difficult, salad. I can't have anything spicy and I can't have wine as it's acidic.

"Talking can also be a problem when I'm tired. They took all the lymph glands out in my neck, so it's been pretty horrific."

Elaine initially noticed she was feeling exhausted, but put it down to her chronic fatigue, which she has had since she was 12. But when she noticed the ulcer on her tongue, she decided to go to the doctors.

Elaine told Sell Us Your Story: "I felt very unwell, then I noticed a little ulcer on top of my tongue. It was the tiredness I noticed first and then I couldn't swallow certain foods.

"I had flu-like symptoms as well. Firstly, it was misdiagnosed as thrush of the mouth in October 2023, which I knew I didn't have.

"My sixth sense kicked in and thought I had to get a second opinion in February 2024. She sent me to Queen Victoria Hospital - a top head and neck ward.

"They didn't like the look of it and said they'd need to send me down the cancer path and I thought 'what the hell?' He could tell it was cancer as it had grown and split - it was also the fact I couldn't swallow certain foods."

Elaine spent another three weeks in hospital after her operation before undergoing radiotherapy.

She said: "I was on a food tube for weeks. I had to learn how to walk again as the leg had such a mass taken out of it.

"I was given a whiteboard after the op to communicate, which I tried not to use too much as I wanted to get my mouth moving. But it was very difficult as my tongue had swollen to three times the size.

"I grew some hair on my tongue as it was from my leg, but the radiotherapy zapped that. The cancer in my neck was contained within the lymph glands, so I only needed radiotherapy.

"But it was six weeks of daily radiotherapy - it was pretty brutal. They put a cage mask on you with a gumshield to keep the tongue still - it's like something from a horror movie."

Elaine believes the rise in mouth cancer cases could be down to people not visiting the dentist as frequently. Data released by the NHS in the autumn of 2025 revealed the number of annual mouth cancer cases in England reached 9,293. This is an increase of 37% increase in the last decade and more than double the number recorded a generation ago.

She said: "Tongue cancer cases are on the spike in the young. They don't know why.

"I feel that the youngsters aren't going to the dentist, so it's not being picked up. It looks like a normal ulcer to begin with. I asked my surgeon and they have no idea what's causing the spike."

✍Steven Smith

🍳You know it's the sign of a great meal when your hob is left in an absolute state afterwards.đŸ«§And somehow, even after w...
28/08/2026

🍳You know it's the sign of a great meal when your hob is left in an absolute state afterwards.

đŸ«§And somehow, even after whipping up something straightforward — like a simple bowl of pasta — it still looks like a mess once the washing up is done.

👉Greasy oil stains are an obvious offender, but watermarks and even burn marks from the flames can seriously spoil the look of your hob. I tend to give it a quick wipe each evening after cooking, but it had been quite some time since I'd given it a proper deep clean.

So, I decided to put two well-known cleaning methods head-to-head to find out which one reigned supreme.

As usual, I went for one well-known cleaning brand alongside a more natural, budget-friendly alternative. My hob was looking worse for wear following a particularly chaotic cooking session, so I was really counting on at least one of them to deliver — and I'm pleased to report that they did.

When it comes to hob cleaners, most people's minds will immediately jump to Cif cream cleaner, which is exactly what I reached for. I picked it up from my local Savers for around ÂŁ1.50, which was more reasonable than I'd expected.

On the opposite side of the hob, I opted for white vinegar. I always keep a bottle tucked away in the cupboard, ready to tackle anything from stubborn marks and streaks to limescale — white vinegar really is a household essential.

But how did it measure up against Cif? Here's how I got on.

Cleaning my hob with Cif
As usual, I opted to begin with the specialist cleaning product. Over the years, I've tested numerous cleaning products from brands such as Astonish and the Pink Stuff, and have generally been quite happy with the results.

The bottle claims it removes 100% of the toughest dirt — an incredibly bold statement. Both sides of my hob were equally grimy, so I removed the guards, cleaned them separately by soaking them in water and washing-up liquid, and set about spraying.

I applied a generous amount to the surface, then took a damp cloth and began working it in. While I was pleasantly surprised by the lemon fragrance, there was one issue — it quite literally went everywhere.

I've always found this particularly frustrating about cream cleaners. You apply it, begin rubbing it in, and before long, it's an absolute mess.

You then find yourself reaching for multiple cloths or sheets of kitchen roll to clear it all up, questioning whether it's truly worth the effort, which is precisely what happened here.

I ended up with dirty water and cleaning residue all over a T-shirt I'd only just washed, which was irritating. It took two cleaning pads and an endless supply of kitchen roll to finally clear it all away.

That said, it did leave the hob surface looking reasonably clean with a decent shine. It also tackled some stubborn food stains, so it wasn't an entirely pointless exercise.

Cleaning my hob with white vinegar
Moving on to the white vinegar, which remains one of my favourite cleaning products. I've had this Stardrops bottle for years, and while the original product has long since been used up, I simply refill it with white vinegar and water whenever it runs dry, and it continues to serve me well.

Once more, I sprayed this generously over the hob, including beneath the burners and around the controls at the side. I allowed it to sit for a couple of minutes, as I always find this reduces the effort required to tackle any stubborn marks.

This was genuinely far less of a hassle than the cream cleaner. All it required was a couple of wipes with a cleaning pad, and the white vinegar was removed, leaving behind a gleaming, spotless hob in its place.

There was no need to dampen the cloth, as I'd had to do with the previous method, and it was considerably less messy too. My clothing remained cleaned and the hob looked fantastic afterwards.

My only issue with white vinegar is the smell, as I think we can all agree it's not the most pleasant. But fortunately, it doesn't tend to hang around for very long, and I'd say it's absolutely worth it if you want an immaculately clean hob within a matter of minutes.

✍Nicola Roy

🚕A homeowner who returned to find a neighbour's car parked on their drive has explained how they took revenge when the w...
28/08/2026

🚕A homeowner who returned to find a neighbour's car parked on their drive has explained how they took revenge when the woman refused to move their vehicle.

📝In the UK, leaving your car on someone else's drive is a civil matter - meaning police and local authorities are unable to help.

👉But one driver explained how they managed to get revenge with their own car and an early morning phone call.

Writing on Quora, they said they returned home to find a car they didn't recognise parked ion their drive, adding: "I got home around 8pm after a long shift at work. Pulling in, I spotted an unfamiliar car parked right beside my house — hadn't even noticed it until I made the turn. Back then I drove a tiny car (a Suzuki Samurai), and it just barely squeezed in behind theirs.

"I asked my tenant if it belonged to a guest of theirs. Nope. I checked with the neighbours on either side to see if they recognised it. No luck there either."

Noticing the street was packed with cars, the driver worked out that there was probably an event at the school across the road, and went inside to ask. They wrote: "The woman running the meeting, the PTA chair, spoke up: 'That's mine.' I told her she needed to move it right away since it was blocking my driveway. She said, 'We're in a meeting right now, I'll deal with it after.' I repeated that she needed to move it immediately. She just said the same thing again and kept the meeting going. Fine, whatever."

The homeowner said the woman eventually returned at 9.30pm to find her car now blocked in by the Suzuki, writing: "I reminded her that I'd already asked her an hour before and she'd blown me off because of her meeting. So I told her I was also busy at the moment and would move my car once I was done, then shut the door.

"She stayed on my porch, yelling that she needed to go. I opened the door again and told her, 'I don't know you, and I never gave you permission to park in my driveway — especially when the school lot is basically empty. Leave me your number and I'll call when I'm ready to move it.' She stormed off."

The homeowner says the woman returned after 10pm with her husband, who threatened to call the police, writing: "I told him I had no idea who she was and she hadn't asked anyone before parking in my driveway, and that he was more than welcome to call the police — I'd happily explain the situation. I asked again for her number so I could call when it worked for me. He gave it to me, shot his wife a look, and they left.

"I set an alarm for 2am. Then I called them and said I was ready to move my car — if they weren't there within 15 minutes, it was getting towed. They showed up in 15 minutes flat. The look that man gave his wife was worth everything.

"After that, I became known as the woman who refused to let the PTA chairwoman park wherever she pleased. Nobody ever tried that again."

People praised the response, one wrote: "The best way to change bad behaviour is to increase the consequences to the point where that person prefers to do the right thing."

Another added: "Incredibly well played, well done."

A third wrote: "In this situation have a drink, then even the police can’t make you move."

✍Neil Shaw

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