Locals have been warned by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service about Haier-manufactured tumble dryers today (Friday, May 1).

A statement from the service said: “Urgent safety check for 85,000 tumble dryers.

“Households with specific tumble dryers manufactured by Haier must check if their machine needs an urgent safety repair.

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“Please go to: https://www.gov.uk/…/urgent-safety-check-for-85000… to check if yours is on the list.

“It will be good to also visit: https://www.gov.uk/…/haier-heat-pump-tumble-dryer… for information on the Corrective Action Programme for Haier Heat Pump Tumble Dryers presenting a serious risk of fire.”

This follows a similar notice back in December 2025, as Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service issued a warning to residents about tumble dryers.

The statement said: “We have been made aware of a fault affecting Haier Heat Pump Tumble Dryers.

“Haier has resumed its corrective action programme after updating the modification. Repairs are now being arranged for the remaining 85,000 affected machines.

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“Affected brands include Baumatic, Candy, Caple, Haier, Hoover, Iberna, Lamona and Montpellier.

“Stop using the appliance immediately and unplug it if possible. Check the model and serial number online using the official links below.

“Contact the manufacturer to arrange a repair.”

This came after UK residents were warned by the Office for Product Safety and Standards about the tumble dryer fault.

According to the government department, that is responsible for the safety of consumer products, a total of 85,000 integrated heat pump tumble dryers made by Haier are affected by the problem.

It can cause the machine to catch alight, and owners have been told to stop using them immediately.

Landlords can presently impose blanket bans on the keeping of pets in private rental properties – without providing a justifiable reason.

But as of today, more people than ever in England have the opportunity to own an animal. 

That is all changing today thanks to the Renters Rights Act, which will give all tenants in the private rented sector the legal right to request keeping a pet, with such requests unable to be unreasonably refused by landlords.

The change comes as the RSPCA faces a capacity crisis – with many of its animal centres “full to bursting”. 

But the new legislation will mean many more families will have a chance to adopt pets – in a move which could “revolutionise” pet ownership numbers in England.

David Bowles, Head of Public Affairs at the RSPCA, said: “This is an historic day for pet ownership.

“For too long, renters in England have been unfairly denied the potential joy of pet ownership.

“That ends thanks to this new law.

“This change is a lifeline – not just for families wanting to add a loving pet to the household, but for the many thousands of animals currently stuck in many full-to-bursting centres, who will now have many new opportunities to find loving adopters.

“Pet ownership is such a big commitment – but can be so rewarding.

“At the RSPCA, we are celebrating that the Renters’ Rights Act will facilitate happier, healthier tenants right across the country – and help us tackle a pet rehoming crisis.”

In recent weeks, the RSPCA has been working with the UK Government to highlight what the new law could mean for prospective pet owners.

And the new legislation also means many existing pet owners will no longer face the heartbreaking choice between keeping their beloved animal and getting a new roof over their heads.

David added: “There are gut-wrenching examples of people having to surrender their pets to access somewhere to live, because their tenancy agreement will not allow pets.

“Thankfully, those situations too will soon be a thing of the past.”

Do you have problems owning a pet? Let us know in the comments

After two trials, the former Spandau Ballet singer was remanded in custody, with Judge John Dodd KC ordering a report in February to assess the danger Davidson would pose in the future, setting his sentencing date as Thursday, April 30.

This morning, the 37-year-old appeared at Wood Green Crown Court in London, where he received his sentence.

In a statement shared with Metro, Shikha Verma, senior Crown prosecutor in CPS London, said: “Ross Davidson is a predatory sex offender who targeted multiple victims over a number of years.

A former frontman of Spandau Ballet who carried out a string of rapes and sexual assaults has been jailed for 14 years. Ross Davidson from Aberdeen – who was part of the 80s group in 2018 and 2019 – attacked six women over several years.

— LBC News Scotland (@LBCNewsScot) April 30, 2026

“Several of these offences were committed against women while they were asleep.

“I want to pay tribute to the victims for their immense courage in supporting the prosecution, and Davidson has now been held accountable for his horrific crimes.

“We understand the courage it takes for victims to come forward and would like to reassure any victims that the CPS will continue to work tirelessly with partners across the criminal justice system to ensure sexual abusers face the full extent of the law.”

Davidston insisted that his contact with the women, whom he met on the Tinder dating app, was always consensual and described himself as ‘sex positive’.

He told the court earlier this year that this was about “open dialogue, open-mindedness about people’s predilections, just an openness to trying different sexual appetites”.

This could include bondage, restraint, and group sex, and he had “once or twice” attended a sex party.

In contrast, the court heard that he carried out the assaults because he felt he could get “sex on demand” if he wasn’t “given what he thought he deserved”.

Prosecutor Richard Hearnden said Davidson had been thought of as “a bit of a sex symbol”.

Two of the victims said he had a “much darker side”.

One woman told the jury that Davidson attacked her while she was asleep in his bed and recalled feeling “helpless” and “scared to react”.

Before assaulting her, Davidson “mentioned he liked the idea of having sex with a mannequin, a person in a helpless state, someone not moving”.