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NEW police speed camera vans that can spot a drunk driver from as much as a mile away are being rolled out on Britain’s roads.

The vans can also catch motorists not wearing seatbelts and using mobile phones behind the wheel.

SWNS

SWNS

SWNS

Four new vans will be deployed in the West Midlands and can operate 24- hours-a-day, seven days a week.

The vans are marked with camera symbols accompanied by the words “Speed Enforcement Police” to distinguish them.

Each van costs around £47,000 and come packed with the latest technology in a bid to crackdown on bad drivers.

The cameras are positioned at the back of the van and look through a small top-hung outward window.

They can produce hi-res images showing drivers using a mobile phone behind the wheel from a mile away.

Officers also say the powerful cameras can provide evidence of people driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster signed off on a £188,000 of funding for four new vans for West Midlands Police.

He said: “Speeding is a major factor in road collisions, and it’s something I and West Midlands Police are determined to tackle.

“This investment, via the Safer Streets Fund, will significantly enhance our ability to catch speeding drivers and make our roads safer for everyone.

“There is no place for dangerous, reckless driving in our region.

“There have been far too many innocent lives lost as a result of those speeding above the limit.

“I look forward to seeing the vans out in action knowing the huge impact they will have to help improve safety on our roads.”

The new mobile speed camera units will catch drivers who fall foul of the fatal four guidelines – speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, not wearing a seatbelt, and using a mobile phone while driving.

In 2023 a record 1,149 people were killed or seriously injured on the roads across the West Midlands.

This compares with 1,1056 in 2022 and 932 victims in 2021.

The force, which now has eight speed camera vans, is aiming to halve the number of road-related deaths by 2030.

Superintendent Gareth Mason, who heads up the force’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “Our message is clear: if you speed, you will be caught.

“These additional vans allow us to be more visible in communities and at known speeding hotspots, sending a strong message that speeding is unacceptable.

“Doubling the number of speed enforcement vans is a real game changer – this will dramatically strengthen our capacity to enforce the law across our road network.

“I’d like to thank the PCC for securing this level of investment as we all work together to help dramatically drive down speeds in our region.

“Our aim is to change the mindset of motorists. Drive safe and don’t put others at risk.”

SWNS

SWNS

SWNS

SCIENTISTS have discovered mysterious “death pools” that destroy all life where the Bible says Moses parted the Red Sea.

Just below the sea surface in the Gulf of Aqaba are obscure pools of brine which kill any life caught up in them.

Purkis et al

Deadly brine pools were found in the Gulf of Aqaba[/caption]

Alamy

This is the region where Moses parted the Red Sea, according to the Book of Exodus[/caption]

nature.com

Researchers were thrilled to find the rare pools as only 40 have been discovered[/caption]

These natural death traps are 10 times as salty as regular sea water, which is already 3.5 per cent salt, and severely lacks oxygen.

Scientists from the University of Miami uncovered the bizarre find while operating a remote underwater vehicle (ROV).

The ROV was exploring the sea bed for 10 hours and the brine pools were only spotted in the last five minutes of the investigation.

Professor Sam Purkis told Live Science: “We were very lucky.

“The discovery came in the last five minutes of the ten-hour ROV dive that we could dedicate to this project.”

Researchers noticed a “desolate seabed thickly draped with mud” as the sea bed search came to an end, leading them straight to the salty death traps.

The pools were found 4,000 feet below the surface and are said to mimic the merciless conditions of early Earth.

Any creature that currently lives there would be classed as “extremophiles” as they’re able to survive in an incredibly difficult living environment.

Single-celled organisms called prokaryotes were spotted there as well as sulphate-reducing bacteria.

The latter turns sulphate into energy which changes the elemental make-up of the pools so drastically that the sulphate to chloride in the brine was the lowest ever recorded in the area.

Eels, shrimp, and molluscs were also seen lurking in the murky depths.

Purkis added: “Our current understanding is that life originated on Earth in the deep sea, almost certainly in anoxic — without oxygen — conditions.

“Deep-sea brine pools are a great analog for the early Earth and, despite being devoid of oxygen and hypersaline, are teeming with a rich community of so-called ‘extremophile’ microbes.”

Researchers were thrilled to have come across these pools as they’re very rare, with only around 40 discovered ever.

By inspecting the undisturbed sediment, scientists are able to get a glimpse of the region’s history.

Details about tsunamis, flash floods, and earthquakes can be uncovered by carefully examining the sea floor.

The Gulf has long been considered a mysterious location as it’s extremely deep and often affected by volcanic activity.

It’s also mentioned in the Bible as the region where Moses parted the Red Sea when leading the Israelites to the Promised Land.

The coastline is divided among four countries –Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia and sits at the northern tip of the Red Sea.

Given that the Gulf of Aqaba is deeper and wider than other parts of the Red Sea it could be where the Book of Exodus describes Moses’ voyage.

Passages describe the journey including walking through the wilderness before arriving the famous coast.

That is because the Gulf of Aqaba is deeper and wider than other regions of the Red Sea, which could align with the story of Moses in the Book of Exodus.

The Bible also shares how the Israelites travelled through the wilderness before reaching the sea, and some routes near Aqaba may fit the description.

Using data from the sediment, scientists were able to gauge what kind of weather events occurred in the region over the past 1,000 years.

They calculated an “unbroken record of past rainfall” and reports of earthquakes and tsunamis.

nature.com

Only extreme organisms can survive in the harsh brine conditions[/caption]

Getty

The Bible describes areas of wilderness which could line up to regions of the Gulf of Aqaba[/caption]

De’Aaron Fox has been playing with a nagging injury on his dominant hand for virtually the entire season. The San Antonio Spurs knew about his injured left pinky when they dealt for him shortly before the NBA trade deadline. But when both the Spurs and Sacramento Kings granted Fox’s wish of a trade, all sides […]

The post De’Aaron Fox’s blunt take on finishing Spurs season with lingering hand injury appeared first on ClutchPoints.

It’s time to continue our College Basketball odds series with a Hawaii UC San Diego prediction and pick. Find out how to watch Hawaii  UC San Diego. The UC San Diego Tritons have been one of the special and inspiring stories in college basketball this season. Earlier this decade (the 2020s), the Tritons were a […]

The post Hawaii vs UC San Diego prediction, pick, college basketball odds appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Although the Los Angeles Lakers look different, Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon has no concerns. Despite the Lakers trading for Luka Doncic, it doesn’t phase the NBA champion. On NBA Today, the Denver forward explained how he has no concerns at all about the new-look Los Angeles team. “[The Lakers] definitely have a new look […]

The post Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon gets brutally honest on new-look Lakers appeared first on ClutchPoints.

A CARAVAN park bingo caller is hitting the Britain’s Got Talent stage tonight months after singing at his tragic brother’s funeral.

Vinnie McKee, 29, was left devastated after sibling Frankie, 47, suddenly passed away in May from a suspected irregular heartbeat.

Tom Dymond

A Scots bingo caller is set to entertain the masses on Britain’s Got Talent[/caption]

Supplied

Vinnie McKee lost his beloved brother Frankie to an irregular heartbeat[/caption]

But following the tragedy, the singer is convinced that his brother is “watching over him” as his bid for stardom becomes a reality.

The musician, from Glasgow‘s tough Ruchazie scheme, said: “My brother was like a dad to me. He loved my singing and always encouraged it.

“It’s been a really difficult year for us all and when Britain’s Got Talent came around I thought ‘Oh my God’ everything seems to be looking up a bit.

“My brother is an inspiration. When I was a kid, he taught me how to swim and took me to the cinema.

“Everybody used to say ‘Oh, is that your boy?’ and he’d laugh and say ‘No, it’s my wee brother’.

“His funeral was a tough day and I sang one of my favourite songs The Prayer by Andrea Bocelli.”

He added: “I’m just a normal boy from the East End of Glasgow with a big dream, but now it’s becoming a reality

“I never thought something like this would happen to somebody like me.

“I’ve always wanted to be a singer. And to be honest I was ready to maybe stop dreaming about pursuing it.

“I thought I was getting too old and was convinced it was never going to happen.”

Vinnie was dealt the bombshell news of his brother’s death during a shift at Thurston Manor Holiday Park in Dunbar.

The Glasgow lad works on the entertainment team and hosts karaoke, bingo, cabaret and games nights.

Vinnie writes his own music and has performed at music festivals but the closest brush with stardom has been singing to guests in the on-site clubhouse.

And he’s revealed that the holidaymakers and residents have been encouraging him to apply for the ITV talent hunt – not knowing he’s already auditioned at Blackpool‘s Winter Gardens.

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The singer-songwriter posed for a selfie with hosts Ant and Dec[/caption]

The rising star tonight plans to surprise hundreds of guests at the park by beaming his debut performance on big screens in the clubhouse.

He laughed: “I’m going to see all their reactions live.

“All the guests plus loads of my family are going to be there but none of them have a clue that I’m going to be on the telly.

“I can’t wait to surprise them and pop it up on all the big screens when it kicks off at 7pm.”

Vinnie will reveal his exciting song choice on STV tonight after the “impossible” task of whittling his shortlist of 72 tunes down to one.

CELTIC are back in this game through Daizen Maeda after Hibs led through TWO Josh Campbell goals at half time as they bid to inflict more misery on Celtic after their European heartache in midweek against Bayern.

The Hoops came so close to a remarkable knockout stage win over European big hitters Bayern Munich this week but only ended up with tears for souvenirs after Alphonso Davies‘ late strike – and they’ve conceded another goal to Hibs’ Josh Campbell.

And Brendan Rodgers freshens up his line-up for the challenge of taking on an in-form Hibs side at Easter Road.

In come the likes of Luke McCowan, Greg Taylor and Adam Idah from the start.

There’s three changes too for Hibs boss David Gray, who is dreaming of taking a massive scalp.

• Hibs are taking on Celtic at Easter Road TODAY, Saturday February 22
• Hibs vs Celtic has been selected for live TV coverage by Premier Sports
• The game will be shown live on Premier Sports 2 and can be streamed on the Premier Sports player.
• Hibs XI: Smith, Miller, O’Hora, Rocky, Iredale, N. Cadden, Moriah-Welsh, Triantis, Campbell, Bowie, Boyle. Subs: Bursik, Ekpiteta, Newell, C. Cadden, Obita, Hoilett, Gayle, Molotnikov, Kuharevich.
• Celtic XI: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor, McGregor, McCowan, Engels, Kühn, Idah, Maeda. Subs: Sinisalo, Scales, Jota, Yang, Schlupp, Kenny, Hatate, Ralston, Bonnar.

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

FINDING condensation and mould in your home is not ideal.

Not only does it look unsightly, it can be dangerous as well.

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A home expert has shared how to prevent mould and condensation[/caption]

The NHS states if you have damp and mould in your home you’re more likely to have respiratory problems, respiratory infections, allergies or asthma.

Damp and mould can also affect the immune system.

Trying to get rid of mould is no easy task and there are plenty of pricey products that swear to banish the problem.

But one expert has revealed you don’t need to spend a fortune to clean up mould and condensation.

According to Scott Evans from Pink Storage: “Mould thrives in damp environments, and salt is a natural moisture absorbent.”

He suggests that salt can serve as an effective, chemical-free solution to combat mould, a method that many may not have considered

Scott explained how salt works: “Salt absorbs moisture in your home through a process called osmosis, which you may remember from your time in school.”

By drawing out water from the mould, you effectively stop its ability to spread.

Plus, salt possesses mild antimicrobial properties, making it an excellent option for preventing mould’s return.

“Many people store belongings in damp areas like basements or garages without realising they are storing their items where mould can grow,” Scott warned.

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Simple table salt can stop mould in its tracks[/caption]

Mould thrives by producing tiny particles called spores – these are airborne and can spread quickly in your home.

Condensation forms when warm, moist air comes in contact with a cold surface, such as a window, which can lead to water droplets.

Salt, however, can stop this process because it is a natural desiccant and can draw moisture from the air.

This means it diminishes condensation and dampness and locks excess water into the salt.

Placing bowls of salt along the window or in damp places in your home can stop condensation and prevent mould growing.

And it can be used to kill mould that has already grown.

First wipe away any excess moisture on affected surfaces with a dry cloth, then generously sprinkle table salt over the mould and let it work overnight.

The salt will draw moisture from the mould, breaking it down effectively.

To keep your home protected, you can mix two spoons of salt with warm water and use a clean cloth to wipe it over the walls.

It creates a thin protective layer to discourage mould growth but needs to be repeated once a month.

Thankfully, the handy tricks are super cheap to buy as well as you can buy a pot of table salt from Tesco for as little as 75p.

CATHERINE Tyldesley vowed to take on “varied” jobs before announcing her exciting return to Coronation Street.

The actress, 41, left the cobbles seven years ago – and soon starred as a celebrity contestant on Strictly Come Dancing.

auntiecath17/Instagram

Catherine Tyldesley is on her way to the cobbles[/caption]

ITV

After quitting in 2018, the 41-year-old went on to play Karen Norris in the BBC comedy Scarborough alongside Jason Manford with before it was axed after one series.

Catherine found success reuniting with her Corrie co-star Shayne Ward in Channel 5’s The Good Ship Murder.

Its third series launches later this year.

Despite plans for a more varied career in the industry after leaving the cobbles, The Sun exclusively revealed that actress she’s making a bombshell return as Eva Price to Weatherfield.

Speaking to The Sun in 2018, Catherine said: “I’m super excited.

“It’s a whole new era of my life. It’s all top secret at the moment, but there are some very exciting things happening.

“I love film, I love television, I love theatre, I love radio and I love dipping my toe into the presenting world as well so there’s lots of nice things happening.

“I think all any actress wants is a varied career with lots of different characters to play and that’s what I’m aiming to do.

“I can’t say too much about it, but watch this space.

“It’s strange because I was there for seven years and I loved my time there. I’m really grateful for my time there.

“I’ve been so busy since I left, but of course I miss it.

“It was a family. We’ve all kept in touch so I still see everyone.”

Revealing what she would do if her acting career didn’t go to plan, Catherine added: “If I wasn’t an actress I’d probably be a really bitter drama teacher..

“Only joking. I’d probably be in the fitness sector as a PT or nutritionist I think.”

FOUND yourself at a loose end this weekend? We have just the thing to keep you and your brain busy.

This clever restaurant-themed brainteaser, devised by Tombola, is designed to put your observational skills to the test.  

Tombola

Can you spot the knife and fork hidden in this scene?[/caption]

Somewhere in this bustling restaurant scene, filled with happy diners, a sneaky fork and knife are cleverly concealed.  

But beware – this optical illusion is no easy feast for the eyes.

On average, it takes a whopping 38 seconds to spot the hidden cutlery, and one in five people have thrown in the towel altogether. 

Think you’ve got what it takes to crack this tasty challenge in record time?  

You must bring out your best game to crack this challenge otherwise it will leave you pulling your hair out as you race against the clock.

But did you know that solving optical illusions is a great way of training your brain and improving creative thinking?

Brainteasers are purposefully designed to trick our vision and can be used as simple determiners of intelligence.

So you might want to try The Sun’s wide range of optical illusions created to stimulate the deepest parts of your brain.

The answer to our original puzzle is coming up, as well as some more challenging tasks to try.

In this mind-bending image, everyone can count the ducks but if you can find the hidden needle among the reeds in less than seven seconds you may have 20/20 vision.

Another tricky brainteaser features a gnarled tree but only those with high IQ can spot a sleepy cat hiding on it.

If that’s still not hard enough for you, then have a go at spotting the hidden broom amongst the clothes in less than five seconds.

Or you can have a go at figuring out the hidden message in this band’s cover art that has confused fans for years.

Lastly, puzzle fanatics have been left scratching their heads trying to find the lost feather in just 12 seconds.

Coming back to our challenge – were you able to solve the mind-bending optical illusion?

If you are still scratching your head trying to figure out the confusing picture, we’ve marked the solution for you – scroll down to find it.

SpinGenie

Can you spot the heart-shaped nose on the cat?[/caption]

jagran josh

Can you spot the mistake in this serene scene?[/caption]

LA Travel

Spot the hidden match tickets in less than nine seconds[/caption]

SpinGenie

The cat you are looking for is highlighted in the heart[/caption]

jagran josh

The river isn’t flowing on the other side of the bridge[/caption]

LA Travel

Were you able to spot the tickets in less than nine seconds?[/caption]