Blogs

WIMBLEDON’S gift stores have flogged two giant tennis racquets for £600 each — after shops got into a race to sell them first.

The four-and-a-half-foot bit of sports gear has drawn the attention of thousands of punters since the start of last week.

Paul Edwards

Thomas Godfrey poses with one of Wimbledon’s giant racquets[/caption]

Selling the prop, which is larger than three-and-a-half foot tall TV legend Warwick Davis, has become one of the toughest challenges for temporary workers in SW19’s merchandise stores.

It even sparked a race between three of the gift shops, in the club’s museum, Centre Court and Court No1, to be the first to get rid of one this year.

It is understood that a Canadian couple bought one of the mega-racquets last week and are in the process of trying to get it back across the pond.

Another was sold over the weekend at full price.

The racquets, a replica of Babolat’s official tournament model, are very fragile and can’t be used on court.

They have a light metal frame and use actual string instead of carbon fibre or nylon, making it impossible to hit with.

One worker told The Sun: “We have some very good salespeople, but this has proven difficult to shift so far.

“Every year, we have a race to see who can get rid of it first. It’s a decoration, and for the right person, it is probably worth the money.

BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK

“A lot of people are interested and walk by and say, ‘That’s amazing’.

“But then they see it’s £600 and that kills it pretty quickly.

“If you tried to play with it, it would just fall apart.”

Even for staff who pull off the Wolf of Wall Street-style sales pitch, do not get a bounty or any commission for any items they personally flog.

Another employee said: “We’ve spent lots of time trying to find the best spot for it.

“Nobody could really believe we had actually sold one.

“I suppose, if you have the money, and you love tennis, maybe it’s a worthwhile investment for a big house, but I wouldn’t want it in a tiny flat.”

For fans who can’t quite stretch to the £600 price tag, a tiny desk version, which is just seven inches tall, is also on sale for £20.

DRIVERS are being urged to carry out three vital checks before hitting the road in scorching weather.

As UK temperatures soar, motoring experts say failing to prep your car properly could leave you stranded in the heat.

Getty

The UK heatwave means breakdown rescue wait times are soaring[/caption]

Getty

Three simple checks can prevent you from breaking down in the sweltering heat[/caption]

Breakdowns are already on the rise – leaving thousands of drivers are being left stranded every day.

And with the heatwave chaos, rescue wait times are soaring.

Experts are warning Brits to act now before hitting the road and say a few simple checks could save your motor – and your wallet – from a summer meltdown.

RAC breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “We’re seeing a surge in breakdowns as this latest period of hot weather takes hold, with up to 20% more vehicles failing than expected at this point in July.

“With above-average temperatures in many parts expected for the foreseeable future, very high volumes of breakdowns will persist through this coming weekend and well into next week.

“Our teams are working incredibly hard to help thousands of stranded drivers every day, but waiting times are longer as a result.”

What to check?

Drivers are being urged to check oil and coolant levels, as well as tyre pressure and tread, before setting off.

And if you spot a problem, don’t risk it – get it looked at by a mechanic or trusted garage before heading out, or you could end up broken down on the hard shoulder in blistering heat.

Alice continued: “Drivers should do whatever they can to avoid their vehicles letting them down in these conditions – oil and coolant levels, as well as tyres, must be checked before journeys are made.

“If anything isn’t right, get the problem diagnosed by a mobile mechanic or reputable garage, rather than running the risk of driving.

“Taking plenty of breaks on long journeys, to give themselves and their cars a rest, is also important.”

Breakdown Survival Tips

Motorists are also being told to prepare for the worst – just in case the car does conk out.

Always carry plenty of drinking water, especially if you’re travelling with kids or pets, and don’t forget sun cream, a sun hat, and even an umbrella to provide shade while you wait for help.

Experts say if you do break down, it’s vital to get out safely and seek shade where possible – as sitting in a sweltering vehicle can be just as dangerous as being stuck outside.

Alice added: “Staying safe in the heat, especially if a breakdown is unavoidable, should be in the mind of every driver.

“Carrying plenty of water for all passengers is a must, as is keeping sunscreen and a sun hat or even umbrella to hand to reduce the ferocity of the sun.

“When waiting for assistance, look for a safe location in the shade and well away from moving traffic.”

Getty

Always carry plenty of drinking water and sun cream[/caption]

BRITISH golf star Charley Hull has withdrawn from the Amundi Evian Championship in France after collapsing twice on course.

Hull, 29, was carried off the course in a stretcher after multiple medial issues throughout her round, reportedly caused by a virus.

Getty

Charley Hull has withdrawn from the Amundi Evian Championship in France after collapsing twice on course[/caption]

The Kettering golfer had sat down inside a bunker on the third hole after appearing unwell, before collapsing on the fourth tee.

Hull tried to persist with her round after a 15-minute medical break but collapsed once more following her tee shot.

MORE TO FOLLOW…

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..

The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.

LUCKY punters from Cork and Dublin have collected Lotto prizes worth a life-changing €270,000 this week.

The delighted players revealed how they found out about their winnings at Lotto HQ yesterday.

Getty Images - Getty

Cork’s winning streak continues as another player has secured a €194,616 prize in the Lotto draw held on June 21.

The lucky ticket was a Quick Pick purchased at Circle K Blarney, Tower Filling Station in Tower, Blarney, Co Cork.

The winner explained that they had visited the shop on a sunny day only to buy an ice cream and decided at the last minute to play the Lotto.

And with an error resulting in fewer lines on the ticket, something told them it was worth keeping.

They said: “I remember the day so well, it was an absolute scorcher!

 “I popped in for an ice cream and on a whim, grabbed a Lotto ticket. I usually go for four lines, but the cashier accidentally printed just two.

“I had a feeling I couldn’t let that ticket go!” 

After the draw, the player celebrated quietly with close family members and plans to enjoy the money while keeping life as normal as possible.

Meanwhile, a Dublin-based syndicate of 32 colleagues who claimed a €78,500 prize from the Lotto draw in April revealed how they found out.

The group, who have been playing together for nine years, only discovered the win recently because the notification email landed in an inbox they rarely checked.

Once the news was shared, members were delighted and quickly began planning holidays and special treats with their share of the prize.

They said: “We only found out recently because the email notification went to an inbox we rarely check.

“We sent an email around to everyone in the syndicate, and the replies came flooding in.

“Everyone was just so thrilled, it was such a great surprise!” 

And players are now being reminded of tonight’s Lotto jackpot.

Estimated at a whopping €10.5 million, tickets are available in-store, online and via the National Lottery app until the 7.45pm sales deadline.

€1MILLION TICKET LOCATION REVEALED

This comes after lotto bosses have revealed the lucky shop where a life-changing ticket worth €1MILLION was sold.

The Tipperary village of Clerihan is “buzzing with excitement” after one player struck gold in last night’s draw.

The punter won an incredible €1,000,000 in last night’s special Lotto Plus Raffle.

They purchased their ticket at Ely’s Centra, Clerihan Village Centre, Co. Tipperary, on Thursday.

The Lotto Plus Raffle usually sees between 60 and 120 winners of €500 in each draw.

However, Saturday night’s draw included a special event: every ticket with the winning raffle number was entered into a once-off random draw, where one ticket was selected to win an additional €1,000,000.

While all 104 ticketholders with the winning number received the standard €500 prize, one fortunate Tipperary player walked away with a life-changing total of €1,000,500.

The winning raffle number was: 9416.

A GROOM who is lucky to be alive after a horror motorcycle crash has tied the knot in hospital where he’s being treated for life-changing injuries.

Roddy and Polly McDonald thought they would have to postpone their big day on June 7 after Roddy suffered double-breaks in his arm and leg – as well as a fractured spine.

Facebook / NHS Tayside

Roddy and Polly were all smiles after getting hitched in the hospital where Roddy was being cared for, following a motorbike crash[/caption]

Facebook / NHS Tayside

The bride and groom said ‘I do’ in front of loved ones in the hospital chapel[/caption]

Facebook / NHS Tayside

Amazing staff at Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital went above and beyond to help the couple arrange a wedding in the hospital chapel.[/caption]

But they decided to go ahead anyway – since many of their close friends had travelled to Dundee from across the UK and as far away as Australia and New Zealand.

Staff at the city’s Ninewells Hospital Major Trauma Centre and the Spiritual Care team swung into action to help the lovebirds, both in their fifties, arrange a wedding in the hospital chapel.

Stunning pictures show the happy couple, of Coupar Angus, Perthshire, smiling from ear to ear in the major trauma ward with Roddy donning a kilt as he sat in a wheelchair with his arm in a cast and wearing a supportive leg brace.

Roddy, who is now recovering at home, said: “The whole experience really was incredible. The hospital staff were outstanding, every single one of them went above and beyond to help us.

“We postponed the wedding after the accident as there was no way that we were going to be able to do it the way we planned but then someone mentioned that there was a chapel in the hospital and that we could get married there.

“We had so many of our friends and family here and we just took the opportunity to go for it. It was very special, Polly looked beautiful in her dress and I even managed to wear my kilt.

“I am very grateful to everyone who helped us. The care, the banter, the compassion shown by everyone was exceptional.

“I know that I have a long road ahead in recovery but I am a positive person and I will keep going forward.

“I know that I am very lucky to be alive and I am so happy that I got to marry my beautiful wife on the date we originally planned.”

Polly said they ceremony was beautiful and emotional, despite being so different to their original plans.

She added: “Roddy is my absolute soulmate and ours is a real love story.

“It really was wonderful, I feel like we’ve beaten the odds. At one point, I really thought I was going to lose him so to be able to marry him on the day we had planned was really special.

“All of the staff we came across were just incredible, from the consultants to nurses to the physios to the domestic staff, everyone has been lovely and were so supportive.”

East of Scotland Major Trauma Network manager Fiona Hutcheson said: “We were privileged to support Roddy and his family during his time in hospital and were delighted to help him and his new wife have their special day.”

SCOTLAND’S worst city for people cheating on their partners has been revealed.

Two hotspots north of the border have been identified as being among the worst in the UK for unfaithfulness.

Alamy

Two Scottish cities have been named among the worst in the UK for cheating[/caption]

A dating expert claims there are three ages at which you’re most likely to cheat, combined with living in one of 20 cities that have the most affairs, and the chances of you or your partner’s head turning are much higher.

The place in the UK where people are most likely to get steamy between the sheets with someone outside their relationship is Salford, according to Ashley Madison.

The Lancashire city was followed closely by its larger neighbour, Manchester.

Over on the northeast coast, Newcastle upon Tyne was named as the third worst city place in the UK for cheating.

North of the border, the two largest cities were listed among the 20 most notorious in the UK for cheating.

Edinburgh was ranked 16th, while Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city by population, came in 18th.

Christoph Kraemer, managing director Europe for Ashley Madison, said: “It’s great to see Salford and Manchester claiming their rightful places as the non-monogamous capitals of the UK once again.

“But our 2025 ranking shows that it’s not just the big cities where people are exploring relationships outside of the traditional norm.

“We’re very happy to see so many additions from smaller locations such as Oxford and Lincoln this time around, indicating that more and more people are looking to release the age-old chains of monogamy and explore their own needs this summer, regardless of where they live”.

Why do people cheat?

People cheat for a variety of complex and often overlapping reasons— emotional, psychological, situational, or even cultural.

Whilst there are many cheating red flags to look out for, the most common reasons for someone cheating are outlined below.

Unmet emotional needs

They feel neglected, unappreciated, or unloved in their current relationship.

Cheating can be a way of getting validation, attention or intimacy they feel is currently missing.

Opportunity and temptation

Sometimes it’s less about deep unhappiness and more about acting on impulse, seizing an opportunity, or the lack of self-control and boundaries.

Boredom or desire for novelty

Long-term relationships can lose excitement, combined with a craving for newness, thrill, or variety.

Several men have revealed the real reason they cheated on their partners, and it wasn’t because they were bored.

Ego and insecurity

Cheating can boost self-esteem or ego temporarily.

Poor communication

Perhaps the relationship hasn’t been clearly defined – are you “seeing each other”, dating, dating other people, exclusive, in a relationship?

BROOKLYN Beckham has broken his silence on sister Harper’s birthday as he makes moves to ‘end’ the family feud.

As Harper turned 14 today, her big brother Brooklyn took to social media to share a photo wishing her a happy birthday.

Instagram

Brooklyn Beckham Harper Birthday..[/caption]

He could be seen standing with wife Nicola Peltz in the throwback, with sister Harper in the middle.

Brooklyn wrote: “Happy birthday Harper, we love u x.”

A TEN-YEAR-OLD boy has died following a collision with a delivery van – police are urgently appealing for dashcam footage.

Wiltshire Police rushed to the scene on Oak Close, Tidworth, at around 7:05pm on Wednesday.

Sadly, the child passed away at the scene.

A man in his 40s was driving the van and stopped at the scene.

Police have confirmed no arrests have been made.

EIGHT people have been rushed to hospital after a car smashed into a care home.

The BMW vehicle collided into Highcliffe Care Home in Witherwack, Sunderland, at around 9.40pm yesterday evening.

NCJMedia

A BMW smashed into the side of Highcliffe Care Home in Witherwack, Sunderland, yesterday evening[/caption]

North East Ambulance Service, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and Northumbria Police all attended the scene, where a hole was left in one of the walls of the care home.

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 9.41pm on Wednesday 9 July to reports to a vehicle colliding into a premises in the Whitechurch Road area of Sunderland.

“We dispatched three emergency ambulance crews, a specialist paramedic, a duty officer, a clinical team leader, three crews from our Hazardous Area Response Team (Hart), our tactical advisor, our tactical commander, and two crews from our patient transport service (PTS) to the scene.

“We assisted with the evacuation of residents at the property and eight patients were conveyed to hospital.”

More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online

Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.

Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.

NCJMedia

Eight people have been rushed to hospital[/caption]

IT was the sweetest show of sibling love – a carousel of five intimate, unseen photos of Brooklyn Peltz-Beckham and his wife Nicola with his beloved baby sister Harper Beckham.

“We love you so much,” reads the caption, “The best little sister in the whole world.”

Getty

David Beckham/Instagram

The rift came to light when Brooklyn skipped all of David’s 50th birthday celebrations earlier this year[/caption]

Shutterstock

Fast forward 12 months on from Harper’s 13th birthday and sources tell us Brooklyn could today end his long-running feud with his family – by reaching out to his little sister Harper as she turns 14.

The aspiring chef has had no contact with his famous parents David and Victoria for months after a row over money tore a wedge between them.

Those close to Brooklyn, 26, said they believed he would reach out to Harper because of their close bond.

If he posts publicly, it will be the first time Brooklyn has referenced his family in months – with him accused of snubbing Victoria and David on social media on significant days, including Mother’s Day and David’s 50th.

“Brooklyn and Harper were always incredibly close,” a source tells us.

“He adores her and so does his wife Nicola. They had an incredibly close bond and despite everything that has gone on, Brooklyn idolises her.

“Brooklyn could end this nonsense by reaching out to Harper, both privately and publicly, and many believe he will do this today.

“Harper means the world to Brooklyn. Although things have been strained between him and his parents, there is no way he’d want it to affect Harper.

“He is her big brother and nothing will ever change that.”

PARENTS SNUBBED

The Sun revealed how Brooklyn and Nicola, 30, had returned to London to film a huge Moncler advert campaign in London in May.

He was just minutes away from the Beckhams’ home in Holland Park but failed to reach out.

Those close to Brooklyn said at the time the shoot had a quick turnaround and that their schedules had not lined up.

But many believe Brooklyn’s decision to not see his family was another slight – after he missed all three of David’s 50th birthday celebrations in Miami, London and France.

Last month, insiders told The Sun about the real reason behind Brooklyn’s rift with his parents, explaining it was sparked by a row over money.

Brooklyn and Nicola, who wed in April 2022, have bought a palatial new home in the states which cost them just over £10.5million.

Those close to Brooklyn and Nicola claimed that David and Victoria were “tight” and hadn’t helped out with financing the move.

But those close to the Beckhams claimed this was “nonsense,” adding: “David and Victoria will always support Brooklyn if and when he needs it.

“When he was setting up on his own, they would regularly help him out — as parents do — but they won’t spoil him. They still help all their grown-up kids.”

SOCIAL MEDIA DIGS

Earlier this year The Sun told how David and Victoria were “anguished” by how far the feud had gone.

A social media post by Brooklyn, which those close to the Beckhams said felt “pointed”, saw Brooklyn saying to Nicola: “I always choose you baby.”

Insiders close to the former Spice Girl and ex England captain said they were “devastated” by the lack of contact and said they believed Nicola was “controlling” Brooklyn.

Instagram

Getty

Instagram

A source added: “It shows how much this situation with his family has escalated.

“It’s very sad for everyone involved, especially David and Victoria who love him very much. This isn’t the Brooklyn his family knows and loves.

“This post was like a dagger to their hearts but they will always be there for Brooklyn.”

Those close to Brooklyn however insisted there was nothing sinister about the post, telling The Sun: “They are unbelievably smitten, and for him, social media is another way of showing his love.

“Brooklyn would be happy to meet his parents behind closed doors and hopes for a reconciliation.”

HARPER’S HELPING HAND

Now it is hoped that Harper’s birthday could prove to be the antidote to the ongoing feud.

“If Brooklyn doesn’t reach out it would be astonishing,” our insider added.

“But everyone who knows him knows how much he loves his sister.

“No matter what is going on with the rest of his family, he is devoted to Harper.

“To not message her would be awful but Brooklyn’s friends are convinced he will reach out.”

Instagram