this is bbc news. i'm chris rogers. the headlines at 4... travel disruption at airports, on the roads and in the eurotunnel, as the recent heatwave continues to cause problems. some ryanair flights from stansted have been cancelled. mps warn british democracy is in crisis because of targeted campaigns of hate and misinformation on social media. the chief constable of the west midlands admits his police force is occasionally providing a poor service, and apologises. we are incredibly busy at this time. the level of calls we receive in the summer is very challenging. sometimes that service we provide in the peak times doesn't meet the service people expect. also coming up... australian sailor wendy tuck has become the first female skipper to ever win the clipper round of the world yacht race. thousands watched her team lift the trophy in liverpool, nearly a year after they set out from the city. it is amazing. i can't believe it. i

can't believe we have done it. the reception here in liverpool is amazing. we'll find out in the next half hour whether geraint thomas will become the third brit — and first welshman — to win the tour de france and at 4:30pm, we'll hear what foreign correspondents based in london make of the week's news in dateline. first, it was the hot weather causing disruption, now, it's storms leading to misery for tens of thousands of people. violent storms and lightning strikes have caused the cancellation of flights and trains. among the worst affected have been stansted airport, the eurotunnel, and the east coast mainline. simonjones reports. the holiday getaway from hell, seemingly unending queues

at stansted airport as flights were cancelled, blamed on the thunderstorms that meant planes couldn't fly safely. after waiting for serveral hours, many had to give up and head home. it's just incredible how unaccountable they are, there is no—one here to deal with it. the queues are never ending. people are supposed to wait. it's ridiculous. it was appalling, the plane, poor six hours. they say that the flight is delayed. then we come back here, another queue for ten hours, just to talk with them. the storms that swept in, heralding the end of the heatwave, were supposed to put a stop to this, too, the chaos at the channel tunnel. for three days, trains had been unable to run at full capacity because it was too hot. the air conditioning couldn't cope. now it's much cooler, but delays have gone up, a six and a half hour wait for some. the company says it's taking time to bring back the carriages that had to be taken out of service. lightning strikes have also taken

out some rail services. whoa! and members of the rmt union have walked out on strike on southwestern railway and eurostar. weather alerts remain in place, warning of danger, as the weather continues to claim lives. this morning, a body was found close to the beach at clacton on sea in essex, after a teenager went missing in the water. we can speak to katherine da costa, who's at stansted airport. are there still problems at stansted airport? yes, there are. we have heard that stansted airport has confirmed that 30 flights were cancelled yesterday, affecting ryanair, thomas cook, easyjet and jets 2. because of the cancellations it means planes are not where they are meant to be in that causes knock—on effects into today, meaning thousands of passengers have been

heavily delayed for that we have been hearing from plenty of passengers at stansted, who said they are very tired and frustrated. some of them have waited 2a hours before their next flight. they have had to spend a night on the floor. some of them have very young children. they are not getting much information, that is the frustrating thing. they're waiting for many hours. some said they went onto a plane, only to wait on the tarmac six hours and only being offered water. then to be told the plane had missed its spot and they had to return to the airport to reclaim their luggage. another man said, after 16 hours of waiting with no information, he had had enough. he had spent 1000 euros on another flight had spent 1000 euros on another flight from gatwick, a hotel room, and the taxi because it does not depart until wednesday. many, and the taxi because it does not depart untilwednesday. many, many

people badly affected. stansted airport has said, big huge queues and crowds are worth described, they said that was because passengers decided to stay at the airport to read book after flights decided to stay at the airport to read book afterflights had been cancelled. the queues have gone down in many check—in areas they have gone down. it seems that ryanair is the worst affected. they are still suffering from delays and cancellations although the company has not confirmed how many flights have been cancelled. by looking at the information board, it looks like it is in double figures. stansted airport has said passengers should speak to airlines. as for ryanair, they have blamed the severe weather yesterday and staff shortages, which they say are at a traffic control for the delays that they have apologised to customers and said the fa ct apologised to customers and said the fact is well beyond their control. thank you for that update. and heavy rain has led

to severe flooding in parts of northern ireland this afternoon. many roads have been affected and drivers are being advise to exercise caution. there are reports of some businesses being flooded in belfast too. we will get you more information as that comes in. that looks pretty bad, doesn't it? voters are being systematically manipulated by the spread of fake news, according to a group of mps. in a report due tomorrow, but which has already been leaked, the culture, digital media and sport select committee says the uk is facing a "democratic crisis." it's urging tighter regulation of political posts on social media and measures to combat interference in elections. 0ur political correspondent susana mendonca told me mps believe the law needs to change. the laws around political campaigning have not kind of kept up with movement in technology. so, whereas, previously, we obviously have leaflets that go through people stores, with a lot of this online campaign

we don't know where it is coming from and what have you. mps have been looking at this since last year. there were the revelations of course about people's personal data being harvested on facebook by a company called cambridge analytica, which really raised concerns, because that was being used as we understand, in order to influence the us elections. mps had been looking at whether or not something similar may have been happening during the eu referendum. they have also been looking at whether or not there had been influence from foreign countries, like russia, for example. all these are areas of concern. if you look at the wording of this report, it is pretty strong language.

they talk about how the uk is facing a democratic crisis. they say that voters are being relentlessly targeted by online messages that are basically preying on their fears and prejudices, in order to influence the way they vote. so, what are the recommendations. it is not easy to police. it is quite far ranging in terms of what they are suggesting. government would have to decide whether any of these things came into play. they are looking at new online campaigning rules. basically, the idea that you would have to make it clear where adverts come from. at the moment, a lot of those adverts pop—up on social media and you don't know who has generated them. also a public register as part of the new rules, so anybody can see the adverts that are being targeted at other individuals. the point about this is people get targeted according to interests. so, for example, if you are interested in immigration and you are interested in things like animal welfare, you will get targeted with adverts specifically around that. another recommendation is to have a tax on social media networks.

what mps are saying is that social media networks have a responsibility and they cannotjust carry on hiding behind the idea that they are just a platform are not a publisher. what mps are saying is there is something in between and then needs to be a new category for them and that basically they need to be taxed in order for that to fund the new regulations around them and, also, to fund education in schools and education programmes about what fake news is. then, another recommendation is that the electoral commission, the watchdog which basically polices our electoral processes, should be given the power to impose tougher fines. at the moment the electoral commission can only impose fines of £20,000. there have been warnings from some campaigners who are saying that mps risk overreacting and actually impeding peoples right to freedom of will be have also heard from dominic cummings, he is the former director of vote leave, which was the official campaign to leave the eu.

he actually leaked this report that is supposed to come out tomorrow. he leaked it yesterday. he refused to be involved in the report when mps wanted to interview him. he was not interviewed. he has described this is fake news. i have also heard from the government today. this was a report by backbench mps. what would have to happen as the government that had to take on those recommendations for any of these to come into play. the government has said it will consider final recommendations but is looking for new, online safety laws to make being online much safer than it is now. a man travelling by horse and cart has been killed in a collision with a car in south east london. the victim, who's in his thirties, was pronounced dead at the scene on the a2016 near thamesmead this morning. the horse was put down because of its injuries and a 30—year—old motorist has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. we arejust

we are just hearing that geraint has w011 we are just hearing that geraint has won the tour de france. he takes over from chris froome. won the tour de france. he takes overfrom chris froome. he edged closer yesterday in stage 19, the final day in the mountains. there he is. he has done it today in the final proper stage of the tour de france. he remained in the lead. there is a bit more to go in paris but that does not really count. it is more of a kind of ride into paris just to celebrate the success of the tour de france. he has been saying that the tour de france crown is going to be hard work to get and it is not the performance enhancing drugs or methods that have crippled the sport for years that will get him to the finishing line as the winner of the tour de france but

just hard work. his comments follow a very difficult tour de france, at least perception wise. some team—mates have been booed and spat at as well. let's speak to steve williams. he talked to guarantee thomas at his high school. —— geraint thomas. you did notjust teach him put your people at the school is well. this must be a fantastic moment for you and the rest of the school. it is unbelievable. i am just coming back down. i have it on the screen here. we're all so proud of the success of geraint. we share in the delight of his win in what is the most famous cycle race in the world, if not the most major sporting event in the world. it is a massive tribute to his commitment and his character, determination, all the things you wa nt to determination, all the things you want to think about. he is the best

man on two wheels. as for wales, it is probably up there is one of the greatest moments in welsh sporting history, perhaps the greatest. to go from 140 in 2007 are now first in 2018. that is what you call commitment. it is unbelievable.“ he wins today, he will win the race. tomorrow, it is more of a procession around paris where the leader eases off and allows eve ryo ne everyone to enjoy themselves. he has not officially won it but it is as good as did think it is time the un ‘s others in wales to— out to paris to cheer him in? —— for you and others in wales to pop out to paris and cheer him in? i think you others in wales to pop out to paris and cheer him in? ithink you might be better to watch on tv due to the weather. your school is

extraordinary and how many world beating athletes it has churned out. what is going on in your school? is there something you need to tell us? we do not have a private water fountain, special phantom. this has been going on for many years since the school started in 1938. not at this level. we're up there with gareth and sam and the six pupils who work in the commonwealth games that she with two gold medals and a silver. you're talking about gareth bale and sam warburton, aren't you? we have not been at that level before. i remember, back in 1983, it was a long time ago and there were 27 welshjunior was a long time ago and there were 27 welsh junior international is in the school at that time. there is that depth of sporting excellence but nothing like this. so, geraint began cycling with a cycling club at

the age ten. he then rode featured tea m the age ten. he then rode featured team sky team—mate luke rowe before going on to write for other local clu bs. going on to write for other local clubs. did you get the feeling that cycling was his passion? 0h, clubs. did you get the feeling that cycling was his passion? oh, yes. we knew that. he did take part in all school sports and represented the school sports and represented the school in athletics. he played in the rugby team i coached up to year 9.i the rugby team i coached up to year 9. i remember his dad saying, the cycling is getting pretty serious 110w. cycling is getting pretty serious now. i think he will need to concentrate on that. he is going all around the country. he was a good by around the country. he was a good rugby player and a very good athlete as well. a good 1500 metre runner. really good to talk to you. i'm sure there will be lots of champagne pimping, there will be lots of champagne popping, particularly in wales. geraint williams was a pupil at the high school. geraint thomas is set

to win the tour de france after retaining the yellowjersey at to win the tour de france after retaining the yellow jersey at the 20th stage. he has done it, he has w011 20th stage. he has done it, he has won the race, which means he has won the tour. still more to go in paris but that is more of a procession as bill eased back. more on that from the sports centre very shortly. the headlines on bbc news... travel disruption at airports, on the roads and at eurotunnel, as the recent heatwave continues to cause problems. some ryanair flights from stansted have been cancelled. mps warn british democracy is in crisis because of targeted campaigns of hate and misinformation on social media. the chief constable of the west midlands admits his police force is occasionally providing a poor service, and apologises. he has blamed budget cuts. in the last few moments, geraint thomas will become the first welsh man to

win the tour de france. he hasjust one stage 20 and will ride into paris tomorrow to be confirmed as champion. lewis hamilton romps home in the rain to claim the 77th pole position of his career, while championship rival sebastian vettel will start tomorrow's hungarian grand prix from fourth. liverpool welcomes the return of the round—the—world yacht race led by wendy tuck, the first female to skipper the winning team. briton‘s nikki henderson came second with her team in the 40,000 mile race. i'll be back with more on those stories. we are going to stay with that breaking news with geraint thomas winning the yellowjersey. he is as good as one it.

reshmin chowdhury is in salford. she has been following the tour de france at the sports centre. there is still a stage to go for the bid is still a stage to go for the bid is more of a procession in paris, isn't it? he is confirmed as champion. he started the individual time trial, which is very good outcome he started with a two minute and five seconds lead which looked to be unassailable but anything can happen in the tour de france. he could have fallen off his bike. he had a shaky moment but kept going. he did finish 14 seconds behind the leaders in this particular stage but it does not matter because he will be crowned champion. it is really interesting web geraint thomas. we have seen a real renaissance in british cycling in recent years. in 2010, david brailsford, head of team

sky, said he would expect there to bea sky, said he would expect there to be a british winner of the tour de france within the next five years. the rider he had in mind back then was actually welshman geraint thomas. sir bradley wiggins one in 2012 and chris froome has swept eve ryo ne 2012 and chris froome has swept everyone aside since then, only not winning in 2014. it is almost like it is the time for geraint thomas was that he is the first welshman to win the tourfor was that he is the first welshman to win the tour for the lots of celebrations in his home city of cardiff. iam celebrations in his home city of cardiff. i am sure he will everyone tomorrow in paris. thank you for that. much more from the sports team later on bbc news. the chief constable of england's second largest police force says budget cuts mean the current level of policing in the west midlands is not sustainable. dave thompson has apologised to people who feel they've received a poor service from his officers, whose numbers have fallen by around

a quarter since 2010. mr thompson says he's having to prioritise which crimes to investigate. sima kotecha reports. a taxi driver doing hisjob, and then attacked. one of the guys came and smashed the windscreen wipers, threw more bricks, and one of the guys, i did not even see from where he came, he threw a pile of bricks on me. and first it hit me, i was like that, in this position, so it hit me on my elbow, and then on this side, then ijust lie down and i saw them running. he says he was repeatedly targeted in a matter of minutes. his arm and waist were severely bruised. but he claims the police response was nil, leaving him feeling afraid and deflated. i don't feel safe. they're not scared of the police because they feel they will not get caught. that is what they told you to your face. west midlands police admits at times it's struggling to cope and that it simply cannot investigate every crime because of a lack of resources. sometimes that service that we provide in those peak times does not meet what the public expect, i get that. sometimes that service will be a poor service.

sometimes, actually, the service is what we can and say we will offer. and sometimes that might not always be what the public want to see. the head of the country's second—largest force goes even further and says sorry. demand on the service is going up because actually local authorities and other services have been reduced. some more vulnerable people are coming to the police and we are absolutely at a point where that is not a sustainable position for policing any more and i'm sorry about that, but that is the reality where policing is now. west midlands police has experienced the biggest budget cut of any other force in the country. it has 2,000 fewer police officers today than it had in 2010 and over the next few years, it expects to lose hundreds more. new figures show the number of front line police officers in england and wales has reduced by 20,000 over the last eight years. the government says this force will get millions of extra cash over

the next year and that it expects the police to investigate every crime thoroughly, but according to the officer who leads the force, that's simply not possible. sima kotecha, bbc news, in the west midlands. tens of thousands of people have fled their homes in northern californiam as a huge wildfire continues to burn out of control. two people have been killed and hundreds of buildings have been destroyed. thousands of firefighters are battling to control the blaze that's been likened to a tornado of fire. courtney bembridge reports. firefighters say they are battling a fire tornado. gale force winds uprooting trees and fanning the flames. fuelled by high temperatures and large pockets of dry vegetation. the fire has destroyed 500 homes in california, and threatened thousands more.

that is a home, i believe, some kind of structure and currently on fire right there. oh, my goodness. the blaze has been burning for six days. so far it has scorched more than 48,000 acres of land, an area larger than the city of san francisco. further south, another fire rages, this one deliberately lit, forcing thousands to flee their homes. i didn't realise how much my home means to me. and the community. while many seek shelter in evacuation centres, others have been able to return to where homes once stood. we came around the corner and saw this and it was pretty... heartbreaking. we knew if a fire came up it was going to take it. well, it took it. it has taken ten years for it to happen but, yes, it's sad. it is the worst start to the fire

season that california has seen in a decade. we have had the drought issue for years now in california. the wildfire aspect has intensified over the years so we've experienced more and more damaging wildfires, fires that start rapidly. it is like throwing gas in these fires. they spread so fast. in december, california's governor said devastating wildfires fuelled by climate change have become the new normal and that large fires could happen every year. almost 3500 firefighters are battling to control the carr fire, working through the night to try to contain the blaze, but authorities warn many homes more may be lost. it is not just

it is notjust british success in cycling that we are celebrating today, there has been success in sailing as well. female skippers have taken first and second place in the clipper round the world yacht race — a first in team ocean racing. australian wendy tuck became the first female skipper to win the 40,000 nautical mile event. her boat — sanya serenity coast — beat eleven other teams to the title. there was also british success at the event — as skipper nikki henderson, who is only 25, came second with her team visit seattle. more than seven hundred sailors took place in the race. well, earlier our correspondent peter harris spoke to wendy tuck at the finish line in liverpool. this is the prize—giving for the crews who have completed the round the world yacht race. wonderful scenes here. we arejoined by winning skipper, wendy tapp.

congratulations. what does it feel like to be here? it is amazing. just extraordinary. big reception at liverpool is amazing. you are the first female skipper to win this event. how does it feel? amazing. it has not sunk in yet. what message do give to women to give it a go as you have done? if your heart is in it, you can do anything if you believe in yourself, you can do anything. you are a professional, those on board with you are not. what challenges does that bring? the hardest part is getting the team to jail was a bit is trying to get them all to come together. —— to gel. it is about making the team come together which is the hardest part. what is next to you? i do not know. a holiday and lots of champagne. thank you very much forjoining us. thank you very much forjoining us.

thank you. that is the skipper of the winning yacht. here in the round the winning yacht. here in the round the world yacht race. finally, we all knew that mary berry is a culinary queen, but it seems she's also been hiding another talent. the former bake 0ffjudge joined rick astley on stage at camp bestival to play the drums. it's not clear why the tv chef ended up onstage, but the ‘never gonna give you up' singer earlier tweeted he had "bumped into" her on the site. maybe he just invited maybe hejust invited her up maybe he just invited her up on the stage to play the drums. even so,

what was she doing there? now it's time for a look at the weather with tomasz schafernaker. for a time this morning the clouds looked like this. a rapid change in the last 24 rows. a blustery weekend with showers and very heavy rain in places. —— the last 24 hours. there is an amberwarning places. —— the last 24 hours. there is an amber warning in force from the met office with torrential rain coming and going. check the local weather. elsewhere across the uk hit and miss showers with sunshine as well. 0vernight another spell of heavy rain and strong winds to south—western parts of the uk that there could be a lot of rain around there could be a lot of rain around the brecon beacons will subside western parts of england as areas on sunday and through the afternoon. they could see gusts of 40 to 50 miles an hour. the rain sweeps northwards and eastwards across the country for the rain in the south

east. temperatures in the high teens, around 24 most. —— 20 four most. the headlines... geraint thomas is set to win the tour de france. travel disruption at the airports, the roads and the eurotunnel is the weather continues to cause problems. some ryanair flights from stansted have been cancelled. mps have warned british democracy is in crisis because of targeted campaigns of hate and misinformation on social media. the chief constable of the west midlands police force admits his forces that time is providing a poor service and blamed budget cuts. now on bbc news, it's time for dateline london. hello, a warm welcome

to dateline london, i'mjane hill. this week, we're discussing the british prime minister's summer charm offensive in europe and asking, what is the new deal in the middle east? we'll discuss syria, iran and the us's approach. my guests this week — the british political journalist steve richards, with us before he heads off to the edinburgh festival with his one—man show. from germany's die welt, stephanie bolzen. the editor of the abu—dhabi—based daily the nation, mina al 0raibi.