uncoordinated sabotage attack has struck the rail system. ——and coordinated sabotage attack has calls for calm as protests break—out on the streets of manchester after a man was kicked and stamped by a police officer. we'll cross live to a press conference shortly held by andy burnham. the health regulator, the cqc, is described as "not fit for purpose" as a review highlights a series of failings. good afternoon. this is bbc news. a series of fires have hit french high—speed rail lines. the french transport minister has described targeted on the malicious acts. we have just been told that the uk prime minister sir keir starmer�*s travel plans have been impacted because of all this disruption on

the eurostar. he flew to paris instead, he was due to get the train from london st pancras. we are being told that the prime minister will be attending a leaders�* reception hosted by french president emmanuel macron before attending the opening ceremony. we have prime ministers, presidents, royalty, of course, amongst the 300,000 people who will be attending the opening ceremony tonight on the river seine, but so many people�*s travel plans now impacted, the rail company sncf says 800,000 customers will be impacted, with destruction expected all weekend, eurostar is now intelligent passengers travelling from london st pancras to postpone travel is possible, with

delays and cancellations to services between the uk and france, hence the uk prime minister having to do away from the eurostar and flying to france instead. 0ur security correspondent has more. as paris prepares to open its olympics, the country�*s rail network has been thrown into chaos. the reason is this, sabotage. this picture shows what appears to be an arson attack on cables for the high—speed tgv line, part of a coordinated attack that has left travellers worried. i was at first a little bit scared to come here, but we already booked it, so we thought, yeah, if something happens, there are enough police people, so it will be ok. translation: i am not particularly afraid, but it is true _ it is still quite worrying. very worrying it happens on the major train lines. i hope nothing happens in paris in the opening. that worries me, actually. three high—speed tgv lines were hit overnight, and an attack on another line

was apparently foiled. the signalling cables now need to be checked and re—connected which will take time. translation: as far as customers are concerned, we estimate around 800,000 customers will be affected. it is a lot. of course the impact on customers will be very significant. the knock—on effects have also been felt in london where there have been delays on the eurostar with one in four trains cancelled on the weekend. i want to get to the olympics tonight, see the opening festivities. hopefully we can get there. they said it might be a delay, but they gave three different options if we wanted to re—book. teams of french police and railway workers have been carefully inspecting the tracks, hunting for clues, as they try to work out who was responsible. ministers say an investigation is under way. translation: today - all the information we have clearly shows it was deliberate.

coordinated nature with everything happening at the same time. vans were found from which people had fled, particularly in the south—east, we found incendiary devices at the site. security has been tight in paris amid concerns of threats to the games. notjust the potential for terrorism, but also disruption by other states, with accusations russia has been seeking to cause trouble. but so far, no—one has been formally accused of this sabotage. tonight, all eyes will be on paris, and those in charge will be hoping the opening ceremony showcases the city and sport rather than worries about security. gordon corera, bbc news.

st pancras is the main terminal connecting the uk to france, so it is busy even on a normal day, but today they were expecting bigger crowds because it is a friday, it is the height of summer, people travel for long weekends, and there are crowds inside building up now, and there�*s quite a long queue of people running down the side of the station�*s concourse. but staff we have spoken to are keen to stress that the crowds are not much bigger than they would have expected for today, especially considering the olympics opening ceremony is happening tonight, they were expecting an increased number of passengers. eurostar is cancelling one in four of its services. just to clarify, that is not just its services between london and paris, but all of its trains across its entire network. that is one in four trains, it estimates, will be cancelled. and that disruption is expected to last over the weekend — today, tomorrow, and sunday. earlier today, as you also said,

they have been urging people to postpone or cancel their journeys if at all possible. despite this, inside, spirits among the crowd are quite high, a lot of people are travelling for olympic events, and they are quite excited still, and they feel that even though they are facing, as you said, those 1.5 hour delays, and hopefully they will get there and are looking forward to having a nice trip. there are also station staff inside the terminal helping people replan theirjourneys if they need to and offering advice about what they can do, how they can reschedule, and eurostar has said if people need to reschedule or cancel their trips, that they can do so free of charge and get a full refund. but for people who planned to see the opening ceremony tonight, or specific 0lympic events, this disruption could impact what would have been of the trip of a lifetime for them.

the french pro minister has spoken about the attacks. —— prime minister. translation: a targeted - and coordinated act of sabotage has struck the high—speed rail system. particularly with regard to the east and northern axes, and with a clear aim of bringing it to a standstill. it has had massive consequences, especially for hundreds of thousands of our countrymen, who are blocked and who were thinking only of leaving on holiday and regaining their families or looking at the olympic games. and obviously addressing you, i should like to also address my countrymen and tell them that i share their anger and

their frustration, because as i said once before, all they wanted to do was to leave on holiday, have a bit of a rest, be with their families again and look at the olympic games, so i should like to say that i came here immediately to the crisis unit, together with the minister of the interior, in order to exchange information. and i can tell you that the mobilisation here is absolutely total, everybody is on deck, everybody is at their post, with one clear objective, and that is to propose as soon as possible alternative solutions and work on making sure that the network can recover. this update from a man at a train station. translation: it is extremely _ station. translation: it 3 extremely disappointing that it should happen now. the teams are

particularly under pressure. 0ur priority is to make sure that everything gets back to normal as soon as possible, making sure that our first priority to get people to their destinations is realised. no injuries whatsoever, and of course what we�*re doing is to care of everybody who was shocked or who needed care, reassuring them that they would be taken care of, and we have distributed tens of thousands of bottles of water, for example, and we are doing it with all the means we have available, that is to see all the administrative staff are deployed in stations, and we have got all the volunteers also working with us for the olympic games. and

so we are really working on making sure that the greatest number of passengers get to their destination safely. now, there were four 0lympic now, there were four olympic games trains which were cancelled, but we are getting the athletes to their destination. i am are getting the athletes to their destination. iam not are getting the athletes to their destination. i am not particularly concerned about them because i think they will be taken care of. let's look at the overall picture in france, _ let's look at the overall picture in france, this— let's look at the overall picture in france, this map shows the high—speed lines that have been affected~ — high—speed lines that have been affected. there are three main ones here because of these three attacks in these _ here because of these three attacks in these areas. you will also notice there _ in these areas. you will also notice there is_ in these areas. you will also notice there is one — in these areas. you will also notice there is one attack here in blue, that there is one attack herein blue, that is_ there is one attack here in blue,

that is a — there is one attack here in blue, that is a foiled attack. according to local — that is a foiled attack. according to local media reports in the area of lyon, — to local media reports in the area of lyon, there was an attack foiled in the _ of lyon, there was an attack foiled in the early— of lyon, there was an attack foiled in the early hours of this morning. according — in the early hours of this morning. according to the state—owned rail company — according to the state—owned rail company the sncf, 250,000 people will have _ company the sncf, 250,000 people will have theirjourneys affected today _ will have theirjourneys affected today. 0verall, 800,000 people will be affected across the weekend. so this is— be affected across the weekend. so this is hot— be affected across the weekend. so this is not a — be affected across the weekend. so this is not a one day story. why? well, _ this is not a one day story. why? well, according to the sncf, it is because — well, according to the sncf, it is because these fires affected conduits carrying multiple fibre—optic cables, and those cables were meant to pass on safety information to the drivers. it is going _ information to the drivers. it is going to — information to the drivers. it is going to take days and hundreds of workers _ going to take days and hundreds of workers to— going to take days and hundreds of workers to fix these cables one by one, _ workers to fix these cables one by one. and — workers to fix these cables one by one. and it — workers to fix these cables one by one, and it is going to take a huge concerted — one, and it is going to take a huge concerted effort. now, it is also affecting — concerted effort. now, it is also affecting the eurostar, it has already— affecting the eurostar, it has already been announced that won in four traihs _ already been announced that won in four trains will be cancelled today, and it _ four trains will be cancelled today, and it expects this to happen on saturday— and it expects this to happen on

saturday and sunday as well, so this will affect _ saturday and sunday as well, so this will affect their operations through till monday. let's go back to our map— till monday. let's go back to our map to — till monday. let's go back to our map to try— till monday. let's go back to our map to try to understand why the eurostar— map to try to understand why the eurostar is — map to try to understand why the eurostar is being affected. the use this line _ eurostar is being affected. the use this line here from lille to paris, and because of this one attack here, it witi— and because of this one attack here, it will affect — and because of this one attack here, it will affect all trains going each way _ it will affect all trains going each way and — it will affect all trains going each way. and so they have said that, because — way. and so they have said that, because of— way. and so they have said that, because of in their words these acts of vandalism, they are going to have to use _ of vandalism, they are going to have to use the _ of vandalism, they are going to have to use the classic line, that's what they call— to use the classic line, that's what they call it. — to use the classic line, that's what they call it, and that will add an hour— they call it, and that will add an hour and — they call it, and that will add an hour and a _ they call it, and that will add an hour and a half ofjourney time for customers — hour and a half ofjourney time for customers. now, there's a bigger picture _ customers. now, there's a bigger picture here, and that is that the olympics— picture here, and that is that the olympics are going on. the sports mihister_ olympics are going on. the sports minister has said to play against the games is to play against france, it is to _ the games is to play against france, it is to play— the games is to play against france, it is to play against your camp. it said that — it is to play against your camp. it said that france is meant to shine in front— said that france is meant to shine in front of— said that france is meant to shine in front of the world, and these games— in front of the world, and these games do— in front of the world, and these games do not belong to the government, but to be people who have been— government, but to be people who have been working for years, thousands of people, to pull off

these _ thousands of people, to pull off these games. they belong to the people _ these games. they belong to the people of— these games. they belong to the people of france, to the country, they belong to the athletes who have been dreaming of these olympic games — many people caught up in the travel disruption including uk prime minister sir keir starmer, trying to change the travel plans, he has now flown into paris instead of travelling on the eurostar, we understand. 20 more on the chaos in and around paris a little bit later. —— plenty more.

but first, we are expected a news briefing this hour by the mayor of greater manchester andy burnham. this is after an incident on tuesday at manchester airport when a police officer kicked and stamped on a protest on the floor. protesters are being urged to listen to the family of the man who was kicked by the police officer to ensure that calm prevails after a second night of demonstrations. some breaking news on this story, we can go live to our correspondent who is covering this, what is the latest? brute correspondent who is covering this, what is the latest?— what is the latest? we have had a statement through _ what is the latest? we have had a statement through from - what is the latest? we have had a statement through from the - statement through from the independent office for police conduct in the last few minutes, who said that they were investigating the circumstances surrounding this video. foranybody the circumstances surrounding this video. for anybody who was not aware, showed in the clip that had

been widely circulated on social media a man lying on the at manchester airport, media a man lying on the at manchesterairport, his media a man lying on the at manchester airport, his mother is kneeling down by the side of them, then individual you see here is surrounded by a group of police officers, tasers out, and then one officers, tasers out, and then one officer comes in and kicks the man in the head, and then appears to stamp either on or near his head. there is then a further incident later in the video where the same officer appears to pistol another man with a taser —— pistol whip. that video was circulating widely on social media, it was then picked up by the independent office of police conduct, who started an investigation into what happened. they have issued a statement on the last few minutes, saying they have advised the constable he has been criminally investigated over the use of force alone an incident at manchester airport, and he is under criminal investigation for assault. they say that does not necessarily mean that will lead to criminal charges, the be a decision for the crown prosecution service, but they said they can confirm they are

conducting a criminal investigation into the use of force during events which took place on the 23rd ofjuly at manchester airport. i should also say, there have also been meetings taking place this morning to try to reassure the local community, there a great deal of distress over what has been seen, the family is said to be deeply traumatised by what they saw. this morning, there was a meeting between andy burnham, the metro mayor of greater manchester, who oversees greater manchester police, the deputy mayor for policing, and also the local mp for rochdale. they all met with members of the local community, to try to reassure them over this independent office of police conduct investigation, and after the meeting ended, i spoke to the rochdale mp outside the town hall. brute ended, i spoke to the rochdale mp outside the town hall.— ended, i spoke to the rochdale mp outside the town hall. we were there to listen as well _ outside the town hall. we were there to listen as well as _ outside the town hall. we were there to listen as well as to _ to listen as well as to communicate what was _ to listen as well as to communicate what was going on with the independent police operation at the moment _

independent police operation at the moment. the independent office for police _ moment. the independent office for police conduct obviously has its own process _ police conduct obviously has its own process which is ongoing at the moment. — process which is ongoing at the moment, and we have to respect the independence of that, and the fact that it _ independence of that, and the fact that it will— independence of that, and the fact that it will hopefully proceed at a decent _ that it will hopefully proceed at a decent pace, but this meeting was about— decent pace, but this meeting was about engaging with the community and making sure that andy burnham and making sure that andy burnham and his— and making sure that andy burnham and his deputy were here in rochdale and his deputy were here in rochdale and listen _ and his deputy were here in rochdale and listen to people, the whole point _ and listen to people, the whole point about this is not just listening but engaging with people. what was the feeling like in the room? . ., what was the feeling like in the room? , .,, _, room? some people in the committee felt very strongly _ room? some people in the committee felt very strongly about _ room? some people in the committee felt very strongly about the _ room? some people in the committee felt very strongly about the video, - felt very strongly about the video, and many— felt very strongly about the video, and many of us share that deep concern — and many of us share that deep concern that people have, people like me _ concern that people have, people like me have called it out for what it is. _ like me have called it out for what it is, deeply shocking and disturbing, and andy wanted to underline — disturbing, and andy wanted to underline that and so did i. it is important — underline that and so did i. it is important that you do call that out, because _ important that you do call that out, because obviously there's a lot of anger. _ because obviously there's a lot of anger. and — because obviously there's a lot of anger, and the key for me, having talked _ anger, and the key for me, having talked to— anger, and the key for me, having talked to the family at the centre of this. _ talked to the family at the centre of this, they said to me they don't want _ of this, they said to me they don't want to— of this, they said to me they don't want to see — of this, they said to me they don't want to see any sort of political agenda — want to see any sort of political agenda out of this, they don't want to take _ agenda out of this, they don't want to take part— agenda out of this, they don't want to take part in any protest, but what _ to take part in any protest, but what they— to take part in any protest, but what they do want to see is just

they— what they do want to see is just they also— what they do want to see is just they also want to see the welfare and the _ they also want to see the welfare and the well—being of their family being _ and the well—being of their family being a— and the well—being of their family being a priority. we and the well-being of their family being a priority-— being a priority. we have heard those messages _ being a priority. we have heard those messages repeated - being a priority. we have heard. those messages repeated across being a priority. we have heard - those messages repeated across the community today, from everyone from george galloway took local residents, from andy burnham, everybody has basically appealed for calm. they want to keep the situation as calm as possible because they are aware of the tensions underline some of this. there were protests outside andy bannon�*s office in greater manchester yesterday afternoon, previously we have seen protests taking place here in rochdale, and they are keen that those things do not spiral out of control. tell they are keen that those things do not spiral out of control.— not spiral out of control. tell us a bit more about _ not spiral out of control. tell us a bit more about what _ not spiral out of control. tell us a bit more about what the - not spiral out of control. tell us a bit more about what the family i not spiral out of control. tell us a i bit more about what the family have been saying, rowan, because they have been appealing for calm and saying they would be taking part in any process. saying they would be taking part in any process— saying they would be taking part in any process. saying they would be taking part in an rocess. . , ., ., any process. yeah, they have made it clear that they _ any process. yeah, they have made it clear that they want _ any process. yeah, they have made it clear that they want any _ any process. yeah, they have made it clear that they want any protest - any process. yeah, they have made it clear that they want any protest to i clear that they want any protest to be peaceful, they don�*t want anybody to sort of hijack the situation for any sort of political ends. paul waugh made it clear that he was speaking on behalf of the family

when they said they were appealing for calm and they wanted the process to be left to run its due course. you can see that the iopc are really try to keep the family and the rest of the community on board, so for example they have met already twice with the family to keep them abreast of developments. i think they�*re hoping that the more open and constructive dialogue we can have the family, the more that that can help ease the tensions over what circulated on that video, because as paul waugh pointed out, that might be a viral video that has been viewed millions of times around the world, but for a family, they are people who know the individuals in that video and have been deeply traumatised by what is in them. {lilia traumatised by what is in them. ok, thanks very — traumatised by what is in them. ok, thanks very much for updating us. we will be back with you later, just keeping an eye on that press conference, the microphones on the podium are there some expecting to hear from andy podium are there some expecting to hearfrom andy burnham, podium are there some expecting to hear from andy burnham, the mayor of greater manchester who came out very quickly within hours of this incident to reassure people that it would be investigated thoroughly, is to wait for all the evidence to

present itself. so we will return to that scene as soon as he takes to the podium. what is the threshold for the criminal investigation, without wanting to prejudge anything that happens here?— wanting to prejudge anything that hauenshere? , ,, . ., happens here? reasonable suspicion, we have that — happens here? reasonable suspicion, we have that already, _ happens here? reasonable suspicion, we have that already, but _ happens here? reasonable suspicion, we have that already, but i _ happens here? reasonable suspicion, we have that already, but i think - we have that already, but i think they feel that they have sufficient evidence now for this to be a criminal investigation. so that means that they have looked at all the footage, potentially possibly the footage, potentially possibly the officer himself, now facing criminal charges. i have to be honest, that is super—quick action by the iopc, it is not anything i

have heard of where they have made that decision as quickly as they have. so i think that should be very welcome news by the local community, hopefully. i doubt it is a question of the two being connected, more so the fact that i think there was some very strong evidence in the first instance, and therefore they might have prioritised that along with any other evidence gathering before they made that ultimate decision. the iopc have said _ made that ultimate decision. the iopc have said they have served three police constables a disciplinary notice, which does not necessarily mean criminal charges will follow, but at the end of the investigation, they will decide whether to refer the matter to the crown prosecution service, and they will decide, also whether or not the iopc will decide whether or not the author should face disciplinary proceedings. as you have said, it is very quick, and within a very short time frame, this incident only happened on tuesday night. in terms of timeframe for the rest of this, for an investigation and

disciplinary proceedings, if they happen, how long do you think that could take? . happen, how long do you think that could take?— happen, how long do you think that could take? , , , ., .,. could take? these will be protracted inauiries, could take? these will be protracted inquiries, unless _ could take? these will be protracted inquiries, unless of— could take? these will be protracted inquiries, unless of course _ could take? these will be protracted inquiries, unless of course they - inquiries, unless of course they speed up the investigation, particularly with the officer himself. going through it misconduct proceedings or a criminal investigation, that can change very quickly, so in terms of the fact that they have now decided this will be a criminal investigation, and as you say, that does not mean to say he is guilty of anything, it needs to process, meaning that he will be interviewed, as it would have done interviewed, as it would have done in any case, there was a gross misconduct, caution, but it might be that now that he has been serve it speed up the process for the iopc, and i think what is very important is that this will be taken on board by the community. the family have already been very clear that they don�*t want to be involved in protests, they have asked for calm to be maintained. you have the mp, you have andy burnham, i think they

are both very on—board, very much out there with the public and giving them regular updates, so hopefully this will defuse any escalation of tensions, but certainly you will still probably get protests, and six months potentially this could take, or it could take a lot less. brute months potentially this could take, or it could take a lot less.— or it could take a lot less. we also heard from _ or it could take a lot less. we also heard from the _ or it could take a lot less. we also heard from the mp _ or it could take a lot less. we also heard from the mp for _ or it could take a lot less. we also heard from the mp for rochdale, l or it could take a lot less. we also - heard from the mp for rochdale, paul waugh, who said that there is an unfortunate history of division in our town, we don�*t want to go back to those days, and he said he was aware, the family is acutely aware, that there are extremists of all sides keen to hijack this incident to their own ends, and that is something police and politicians will have to deal with now as well, isn�*t it? will have to deal with now as well, isn't it? , ., ~' isn't it? they will work on information _ isn't it? they will work on information and _ isn't it? they will work on i information and intelligence, isn't it? they will work on - information and intelligence, and you�*re absolutely in any protest, there will be those who come along with their own ideologies, their own agendas, they will try to hijack this and be more destructive. i

would appeal personally to the community is built to maintain their calm, to keep their dignity, as they have done, and focus on the areas that are really important. this does notjust that are really important. this does not just affect the communities of greater manchester, this type of policing will affect the entire uk, thousands of people, the vast majority, are appalled and mortified by the video footage they have seen, so it is imperative that the iopc are notjust looking at a singular unique area, they are considering what is going on across the entire uk globally as well as internationally, remember the world has descended on this particular footage. this has descended on this particular footaae. �* . . has descended on this particular footaae. a ., ., has descended on this particular footaae. ., . has descended on this particular footaue. ., . . footage. as a former police officer, how will other _ footage. as a former police officer, how will other police _ footage. as a former police officer, how will other police officers - footage. as a former police officer, how will other police officers in - how will other police officers in greater manchester police, do you think, be feeling right now? i greater manchester police, do you think, be feeling right now? i have soken to think, be feeling right now? i have spoken to a _ think, be feeling right now? i have spoken to a number _ think, be feeling right now? i have spoken to a number of _ think, be feeling right now? i have spoken to a number of officers - think, be feeling right now? i have spoken to a number of officers in l spoken to a number of officers in the met police, including firearms officers, they are very disappointed with the footage they have seen.

they are not going to comment, they are concerned about the trust they have from the public. police officers do their business, they work very hard to serve the public, they will also feel the brunt of what is going on, these are the issues that need to be addressed with the police and the community leaders, because there are as many good police officers out there that want to do the job, so good police officers out there that want to do thejob, so it is a really sensitive and difficult time for greater manchester police. hopefully they will be working with other forces and taking some advice from them in terms of how they can move forward and how they can build that trust and confidence. this is a very difficult time, i think today will be a really good turning point for communities in terms of the announcementjust now from the iopc that this will now be a criminal investigation. the public have to also understand that the things they want, arrests and sackings, it doesn�*t happen just like that,

everybody, including those police officers, is entitled to a fair hearing and a fair trial. very interesting _ hearing and a fair trial. very interesting to _ hearing and a fair trial. very interesting to get _ hearing and a fair trial. very interesting to get your - hearing and a fair trial. very interesting to get your thoughts and analysis, thanks very much for being with us. we are still waiting for that news conference to go ahead. in the meantime, greater manchester mayor andy burnham and rochdale mp paul waugh met people in the town this morning to offer reassurance. let�*s take a look at that. holding up let�*s take a look at that. holding up placards, around 200 people protested last night in the centre of manchester.— protested last night in the centre of manchester. , ., of manchester. somebody on the floor caettin their of manchester. somebody on the floor getting their head _ of manchester. somebody on the floor getting their head kicked _ of manchester. somebody on the floor getting their head kicked in _ of manchester. somebody on the floor getting their head kicked in as - getting their head kicked in as totally unacceptable. abs, getting their head kicked in as totally unacceptable.- totally unacceptable. a lot of minorities — totally unacceptable. a lot of minorities within _ totally unacceptable. a lot of minorities within manchester totally unacceptable. a lot of - minorities within manchester have very little — minorities within manchester have very little faith in the police, but this has— very little faith in the police, but this has shocked everybody across the board — this has shocked everybody across the board. . . this has shocked everybody across the board. , ., . , ., . the board. greater manchester police are a responsible _ the board. greater manchester police are a responsible body _ the board. greater manchester police are a responsible body who _ the board. greater manchester police are a responsible body who will- the board. greater manchester police are a responsible body who will get . are a responsible body who will get the facts, present them to the public, so i don�*t want tojump public, so i don�*t want to jump to any conclusions. public, so i don't want to “ump to any conclusionsfi public, so i don't want to “ump to any conclusions. authorities have asked people _ any conclusions. authorities have asked people not _ any conclusions. authorities have asked people not to _ any conclusions. authorities have asked people not to rush - any conclusions. authorities have asked people not to rush to - any conclusions. authorities have - asked people not to rush to judgment asked people not to rush tojudgment over these videos from our this

week, showing armed police officers at manchester airport. when it kicks and stamps on a man before moving over to another man sitting on a bench who is stamped on, then appears to be hit by a taser. —— one kicks and stamps on a man. greater manchester police described the incident is truly shocking, and say that three officers were assaulted before the filming began. however, it says it understands that the use of such force creates alarm. a police officer has been suspended from all duties, and the force has referred itself to the independent office for police conduct, who have promised a robust investigation. we will return it to that story as similar as any movement and we see the mayor of greater manchester andy burnham take to the stage to address the waiting media. in the meantime, some of the day�*s other news. mel stride has confirmed he is standing

in the conservative leadership contest, joining robertjenrick, tom tugendhat and somebody else. i tugendhat and somebody else. i believe i am in a very good position to address those issues. somebody who will unite the party is required, people will not vote for a party at each other�*s throats all the time. i am respected, party at each other�*s throats all the time. iam respected, i party at each other�*s throats all the time. i am respected, i think, right across the parliamentary party, i was chair of the parliamentary select committee, leader of the house of commons, all those things are rules about bringing people together. == those things are rules about bringing people together. -- the other person _ bringing people together. -- the other person was _ bringing people together. -- the other person was james - bringing people together. -- the | other person was james cleverly. drivers are still paying too much forfuel, while supermarkets have seen their forecourt profits double in the last five years —

that�*s the finding of the competition watchdog. it�*s asking the government to do more to enforce a data—sharing scheme, which helps motorists compare prices. but the body representing many fuel retailers said it was committed to keeping prices as low as possible. our transport correspondent katy austin has the latest. driving around any area, you will probably come across a range of petrol and diesel prices, but people we asked in basingstoke this morning felt filling up was costing more than it should. you see it rise, obviously it will go with what has happening in the world at the time, but in this country especially, we are being stung. it fluctuates quite a lot, up and down. i am most looking at where the best place to go is. it does not go down very quickly. it goes up faster. today the competition and markets authority says drivers are paying too much forfuel at the pump still and said supermarkets margins were double what they had been in 2019, and such increases had cost drivers over £1.6 billion last year alone.

historically, supermarkets and particularly asda tended to be the cheapest retailers in this market. a few years back, asda took a decision to target higher margins, and rather than other retailers reacting and offering better prices, more retailers have let the margins drift up and drivers have paid the price. now there are several apps available to help find the cheapest price, and a number of retailers contribute to a voluntary price data sharing scheme, but the competition watchdog wants a compulsory system, enabling motorists to see real—time price information. this could save drivers up to £4.50 each time they fill up as it would make it easier to find cheaper fuel. the british retail consortium, which speaks for major supermarkets, told us they were focusing on delivering the best overall value for customers across all products and will continue to work closely with the regulator. the department for energy said the energy secretary would consider

today�*s report and give further updates in due course.