Crime & Safety
UK passengers issued urgent passport warning as flights cancelled
As Brits prepare to travel over the Easter holidays, experts are warning that a rise in passport-related scams could catch out unsuspecting holidaymakers.
This comes after flights have seen major disruptions in recent weeks due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Cancellations and delays have become the norm, with uncertainty hanging over holidays and trips for UK residents aiming to travel abroad.
READ MORE: All flights cancelled as low-cost airline collapses affecting thousands
Tom Vaughan, travel insurance expert at Confused.com, comments: “Holiday periods like Easter, when more are getting their passports ready to travel, are a prime opportunity for scammers to target those who may be rushing to get documents sorted.
“It’s important to be aware of tricks like fake ‘fast-track’ services to copycat websites that appear legitimate but are designed to capture sensitive personal information.
“Our research finds that over half of UK adults (52 per cent) say they’ve been targeted by scams, so travellers are being warned to be more vigilant with their valuable personal belongings.
“Passport details are extremely valuable to scammers, as they can be used to commit identity theft or access financial accounts.
READ MORE: Thousands of cancelled flights see major U-turn for UK travellers
“Many scams are specifically designed to trick people into entering this information online or sharing it over email or phone.
“It’s important to remember that legitimate organisations will never ask you to provide full passport details or sensitive information through unsolicited messages.
“You should treat your passport and boarding pass as if they were cash: avoid posting them on social media, never leave them unattended, and use secure apps or encrypted storage for digital copies rather than open cloud services.
“If anything does go missing, act immediately by reporting it to Action Fraud. And while a holiday is often the time to relax and unwind, staying prepared and careful before you get to your final destination will avoid any of this unwanted stress or potential extra costs.”
Cherwell District Council is working alongside Banbury Town Council and the Quays Consortium to prepare a formal expression of interest for the new national competition, which aims to celebrate the cultural and heritage contributions of towns across the country.
David Hingley, leader of Cherwell District Council, said: “I’m proud to confirm that alongside our partners we will be submitting an expression of interest for Banbury to be recognised as the UK Town of Culture 2028.
“This competition is our opportunity to show the rich, diverse and historic heritage that makes Banbury so special and unique, and to leave a lasting legacy for the future.
“From our outdoor market, thriving community initiatives, popular festivals, grassroots arts and wellbeing projects, to youth sporting programmes, culture is already at the heart of Banbury, and this bid will help us shine a spotlight on the town, its people and its stories.”
The UK Town of Culture 2028 winner will receive £3 million to deliver a six-month programme of cultural events and activities.
Banbury’s expression of interest will showcase its distinct identity and outline how the programme could broaden resident engagement, increase access to arts and heritage, and involve communities in shaping the design and legacy of the programme.
The council is engaging with partners such as Banbury Museum, The Mill Arts Centre, cultural organisations, businesses, and community groups to strengthen the bid and realise the town’s cultural ambitions.
Helen & Douglas House, which cares for terminally ill children and their families, launched its revamped clothing store on March 12.
The updated shop was opened by BBC Radio Oxford presenter Adam Ball and joins the charity’s refurbished homeware shop, which reopened last September and occupies the other half of the unit.
Baljit Dhindsa, head of retail at Helen & Douglas House, said: “We are delighted to unveil the refurbished space, which has been thoughtfully redesigned to create a brighter, more modern shopping environment while continuing our commitment to sustainability.
“The new layout allows us to showcase an even wider selection of clothing and accessories, with improved displays and more space on the shop floor.
“We have also enhanced accessibility within the shop, including adding an additional accessible fitting room to ensure a comfortable experience for all our customers.”
The reimagined boutique-style shop features a contemporary, urban-inspired design with vintage touches and improved backroom facilities, allowing for increased donations and more efficient sorting.
Proceeds from the store directly support Helen & Douglas House’s hospice care in Oxford and in people’s homes.
Ms Dhindsa said: “When you buy something from our shop for £5, this could pay for arts and crafts materials for local terminally ill children to make Mother’s Day cards whilst staying at the hospice in Oxford.
“Our spring collection is now in store so do pop in to checkout our great range of clothing and accessories and take a look at the wonderful transformation of our shop.”
Cotswold Wildlife Park was established by John Heyworth on the Bradwell Grove Estate and opened on Good Friday, March 27, 1970.
It began with 341 animals and has since grown to house more than 1,500 animals across 250 species.
A spokesperson for Cotswold Wildlife Park said: “We hope you’ll join us in celebrating 56 wonderful years of Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens and we’d like to thank our visitors for their loyal support over the years.
“We must thank them for all their support for more than half a century.”
From its early days on a shoestring budget, the park has expanded to include giraffes, which arrived in 2010 for its 40th anniversary, and rhinos such as D’ora, named during its golden jubilee year in 2020.
George the Aldabra giant tortoise is the park’s oldest and only original resident.
To mark the 50th anniversary, keepers made him a special cake during the lockdown.
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