DOZENS of electric fans have been delivered to a struggling prison to help inmates cope with the upcoming heatwave.
The £17.50 devices arrived at Victorian HMP Bedford this week — with temperatures set to reach 31C this weekend.
The crumbling prison has two inmates to each cramped cell, leading to baking temperatures in hot weather.
An inspection last year found filthy conditions, with calls for the jail to go into emergency measures.
The Category B prison holds some 420 men and has had a series of problems, with riots in 2016.
Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor said conditions were “some of the worst” he had seen.
The Sun visited the site with the Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood last year and saw piles of contraband vapes and cigarette packs, with the smell of cannabis present.
Wardens showed improvised weapons including loo brushes fitted with blades and toothbrushes melted to form spikes.
A Prison Service spokesman said: “Fans can be purchased by prisoners using their own money.”
The Prison Watchdog this week warned that lags in Britain’s jails are spending their sentences getting high and watching daytime TV.
A menu of substances including cannabis, cocaine, and steroids is on offer, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor says.
Drones used by criminal gangs are so accurate that they can deliver drugs and weapons, such as zombie knives, directly to specific windows.
SHELBOURNE are on the march in Europe after defeating Linfield – but insist there is still work to be done.
The League of Ireland champions were dominant against their northern counterparts at Tolka Park but it took changes off the bench for them to clinch the win.
One of the substitutes, Seán Boyd, got the better of two opponents to set up Mipo Odubeko who scored for the third game in a row.
But O’Brien – in his first European game as manager – said: “I thought in the first half, it was a really good performance.
“We attacked the game really well and we created a lot of chances.
“In a European tie, it’s four halves of football. Sometimes you don’t get what you deserve but it was about resetting. I thought we had chances again and we were happy to get the winner.
“It was a tough team to pick because I know how important these games are for players but I said the bench would be important.
“And Boydy was a handful when he came on. He did brilliantly.
“But the game is well alive and it’s all to play for next week.
“Going up there, we’re going to attack the game, play on the front foot, try to dominate and look to win the tie. The game is still in the balance, everything is to play for, I can’t wait for next week.
“They’re at home so it’s going to be difficult with their support. I’m sure the place up there will be rocking as well.”
That was echoed by Harry Wood who said: “It’s a tough place to go, we know only 50 percent of the job is done. We know we have work to do but it is good to go there with a win.
“Our mindset is to go and try to win the game. Whatever the score was here, we were going to try to go there to win.
“This is what you want to be playing in when you’re a kid. It’s the biggest competition in world football, especially club football, and you want to be playing in these, high-pressure moments.”
A delighted Odubeko added: “The first half was really frustrating. I don’t think I really touched the ball so to see the ball bobble into the bottom corner I’m really happy.
“I think we put on a good show. I love playing at Tolka Park, I love playing for Shels and most importantly scoring goals for Shels.”
LOVE Island fans have said that a ‘toxic’ couple ‘deserve each other’ after explosive the very explosive Casa Amor recoupling.
Casa Amor has finally come to an end, and what an epic ride it has been for this years sexy singletons.
The villa hunks and beauties were split up at the start of the week for the ultimate test.
The test came just as Helena and Harry were getting back on track after their on-and-off flirting sessions.
When the guys were sent to the second villa with a new group of stunning single girls, it looked as though Harry might get his head turned.
Not only was he surrounded by beautiful women, but his ex, Emma, was also among the group of singles.
But despite the temptation – and the copious amounts of flirting that Harry partook in with the sexy girls – the recoupling left viewers shocked.
Not only were viewers left shocked by Helena and Harry’s Casa Amor recoupling moment, but they were quick to brand them as “toxic”.
When it got to Helena and Harry’s turn to stick or twist, host Maya Jama asked the blonde beauty if she trusts him.
She said: “Yeah, I think so.
“That boy always surprises me somehow though,” she said while standing on her own, deciding to remain faithful to him.
She then said how they could be in two different rooms with no doors and they’d still find each other.
Waiting with baited breath, Helena looked on as Harry walked in.
He walked in wearing a vest, leaving Helena grimacing over his outfit choice.
She said: “Awww, not the vest.”
Maya then said how they clearly have an “undeniable connection” as Harry was seen solo, opting to remain faithful to Helena.
WHO are the latest bombshells heading into the spin-off villa?
The Sun exclusively reported the identities of the six beauties heading into the ITV2 spin-off villa, after it was teased during last week’s episode.
The Love Island newbies were seen strolling into the compound clad in swimwear – with one already having a connection to Harry.
On the show’s official Instagram page it teased: “Amor the merrier… who’s ready for Casa Amor?” and now we can report the full line-up.
“God I missed you,” Helena said to Harry.
He then said how he missed her too before lifting her up and kissing her on her shoulder.
Fans were quick to react on social media.
One person said: “Harry and Helena really are made for each other like wot why were they both so chuffed with each other exploring connections.”
Another added: “Harry and Helena do match each other’s freak I guess.”
“Helena an Harry actually deserve one another,” penned a third.
While a fourth said: “Harry could’ve married someone and had 3 kids at Casa Amor and Helena would’ve just silent laughed and asked him to go to the hideaway.”
And a fifth added: “harry and helena deserve each other.”
Previously, fans fumed over how Harry and Helena are a “toxic couple”.
“Harry and Helena are the type of couple who have an argument and go out, neck someone or sleep with them to make the other jealous, they’ll be on and off for the next 6months and it will be that toxic relationship you have when you’re 18, yet they’re 30,” wrote one person on X.
BEN ASKREN fought back the tears as he issued his first statement since undergoing a lung transplant, in which he revealed that he died four times.
The former UFC welterweight was hospitalised last month with a severe case of pneumonia, which reportedly stemmed from a staph infection.
Askren was placed in a medically induced coma before successfully undergoing a double lung transplant.
The former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight champion is thankfully on the road to recovery, which will be long and arduous.
And he took to Instagram from his hospital bed on Wednesday to issue an emotional update on his ordeal, which resulted in him losing over a three-and-a-half stone.
He said: “Whenever this is all the way over, I actually just read through my wife’s journal ’cause I don’t remember anything from May 28th to July 2.
“[I have] no recollection, no idea [of] what happened. We’ll kind of go through it all, and I just read through my wife’s journal.
“It’s like a movie, it’s ridiculous. So I only died four times. The ticker stopped for about 20 seconds.
“That’s not ideal. I hope you guys know that, but I got the double lung transplant.”
Dad-of-three Askren is thankful to have survived the horror ordeal and see another day.
“I made it out to the other side of it,” he said. “And I’m gaining quite a bit of strength and learning to use everything again.
“I was actually on a scale yesterday and I was weighing 147 pounds. I haven’t been 147 pounds since 15 years old.
“[It was] like 50 pounds in a 45 day period. So, man, that was a battle. I don’t remember most of it.”
The mixed martial arts and wrestling community rallied around the Askren family in his time of need, with UFC president Dana White making a public appeal to donate to the funds required for the operation.
A £368,000 donation from an unknown doner helped Askren receive the life-saving operation.
He said of the support: “The thing that was most impactful to me was all the love I felt from everybody and it’s almost like I got to have my own funeral.
“I still remember it 30 years ago when Dave Phillips died and you listen to all these older people, you know, recollect.
“[About how much they enjoy them, how much they love them. And you know, obviously, he never had to hear that.”
“The outpouring of love from the wrestling community was just amazing. It felt so good.”
Once he’s fully recovered, Askren plans to return to his day job coaching the next generation of wrestlers in Wisconsin.
He said: “I’m more motivated than ever to keep giving and get back and do what I can and help out the best I can help out.
“I love you guys, I appreciate you guys. It’s been tough not only on me, but my whole family and my close community. So I appreciate everything.
“I hope you guys appreciate the update. And like I said, sometime down the road, maybe Amy and I can detail everything a little more.”