pubs have joined forces with grand stately homes with acres of sweeping land, and farmers able to spare a field or two, to ask the government to extend the length of time a makeshift campsite can run, from two months to six months. 56 days is difficult because, generally, the biggest demand is at weekends, so it's difficult to kind of spread out 56 days, so it would be better if it was unhindered and it could run right through the summer season, because, often, we get really good septembers and there is high demand then for camping. a few extra weeks of campers buying more meals and drinking more pints are crucialfor fiona. it's the money that you can generate in the summer that helps us through the lean times in the winter. the government says it's keeping the rules under review and, with such huge demand for camping pitches, there should be plenty

of business to go round. coletta smith, bbc news, in the peak district. time for a look at the weather. here's helen willetts. some pretty decent camping weather across the east of the country but not plain sailing for everyone. this is how it looks along some of our coasts. we have some sunshine for central and eastern areas but further west these weather fronts are invading with some patchy rain to come as well. particularly drizzly around some of the irish coasts. but most central and eastern areas hold on to the strong sunshine. the med, to high 20s. even with cloud and rain it is still warm. overnight that rain and cloud

continues in the north and west and the cloud will move further east. with all that cloud cover it is going to be a muggy night for many parts of the country because we have this south—westerly flow. the weather fronts are looming large towards another west soap more clad tomorrow coinciding with the partial eclipse of the sun. south and east the better chance of seeing that. but again be aware not to look directly at the sun because it can seriously damage your eyes. eventually the cloud clears away across the southern and eastern areas through the afternoon. the breeze is picking up. temperatures may be just a bit up on today with those breaks in the cloud. but not expected to be quite as high. on

friday that active weather front in the north west slip south and introduces some fresh air. temperatures will be lower as we go into friday and starting to feel fresher but still warm. still average or a bit above for the time of year. when that week weather front drifts away the high pressure re—establish itself at the weekend with more sunshine to construe. and temperatures building once again. a bit fresher on saturday by pretty hot on sunday towards 30 degrees. looking warm for most. a reminder of our top story... surge testing and a push to get people vaccinated in england's covid hotspots in the north—west. that's all from the bbc news at one — so it's goodbye from me — and on bbc one we nowjoin the bbc�*s

news teams where you are. good afternoon, it's 1.30pm and here's your latest sports news. the so—called big six clubs involved in the failed plans for a breakaway european super league have been fined a total of £22 million by the premier league. there were major protests afer arsenal, chelsea, liverpool, manchester city, manchester united and tottenham announced themselves as founder members of the competition in april, and they quickly withdrew. uefa have already issued fines — it's understood the premier league money will go to grassroots and communnity projects. england have been training ahead of their opening game at the european championship, against croatia at wembley on sunday. former defender rio ferdinand says he's excited to see the side's young players in action —

but he's aware of the pressures that social media can bring. he says he'd probably switch it off if he was playing now — and the platforms still aren't doing enough to combat abuse. we need to get to a place where online hate is dealt with the way that it is being dealt with at times in the stadium. there has to be a consequence. at the moment people can go online and spout the abuse they want to spout but they are hiding behind an emoji. there is no identification process they have to put in place to make sure they are visible. so people can feel safe and comfortable spouting abuse. wales are the first of the home nations in action. they take on switzerland on saturday in baku. the welsh are the third—youngest squad in the competition, with just eight players remaining from the side that made the semi—finals in paris five years ago. joe allen is among them — and he's been talking to our reporter hywell griffith

this morning. with this morning. three days to go before the first with three days to go before the first fixture of the players are right and the sun to register the temperatures. there has been a lot of discussion as to whether the squad can match the heroics of 2016 when wales made it all the way to the semi—finals. i have been catching up with a key member of that squad who was an a team of the tournament in 2016. can these players go just as far? the tournament in 2016. can these players go just as far? players go 'ust as far? the ambition and the players go just as far? the ambition and the target _ players go just as far? the ambition and the target has _ players go just as far? the ambition and the target has to _ players go just as far? the ambition and the target has to be _ players go just as far? the ambition and the target has to be to - players go just as far? the ambition and the target has to be to do - players go just as far? the ambition and the target has to be to do that. | and the target has to be to do that. in terms of how we prepare i think if you look beyond the group stages it can be a distraction. it probably doesn't help you so i think the group stages is where the focus is that and seeing how we approached it last time certainly worked for is that time round so i do not think we will be changing.— will be changing. inevitably there are big changes _ will be changing. inevitably there are big changes from _ will be changing. inevitably there are big changes from 2016. - will be changing. inevitably there are big changes from 2016. the l are big changes from 2016. the

players have to stay within their bubble so lots of table tennis, pool and card games to keep themselves occupied not to focus too much on the first game against switzerland on saturday. 12—year—old skateboarder sky brown has made the gb team for tokyo. it was only a year ago that she suffered life—threatening injuries in a training fall but she said that made her even more determined. 15—year—old bombette martin will also represent team gb, as the sport makes it's olympic debut. some big names in action at roland garros today. both rafa nadal and novak djokovic play their quarter—finals — but first on court was the american 17 year old coco gauff. she is the youngest grand slam quarter finalist for 15 years and started very well, against the czech barbora krejcikova. but she lost that first set on a tie break and things went downhill from there, gauff really struggling at times, krejcikova eventually winning 7—6, 6—3

that's all the sport for now. you can find more on all those stories on the bbc sport website. including that kane williamson will miss the second test against england which starts tomorrow, he is resting his injured elbow. well that gave england a chance? we will find out tomorrow. talks to try to resolve a dispute about post—brexit trade arrangements in northern ireland have ended without an agreement. the brexit minister, lord frost, said the meeting with eu officials was "frank and honest" — and the two sides would continue their discussions. we had very important meetings today with the united kingdom and i thank david frost for hosting then here in london. it is the first time the european union and the united kingdom met in the context of the

partnership under the trade and co—operation agreement and it was already the eighth meeting of the joint committee. i will start with thejoint committee. we joint committee. i will start with the joint committee. we discussed two issues that are at the core of this global agreement and are in fact the necessary foundation of any solid relationship between the eu and the uk. the implementation of the protocol on northern ireland and the protocol on northern ireland and theissue the protocol on northern ireland and the issue of citizens' rights. the deadline of the 30th ofjune for residence application by eu citizens in the uk and uk citizens in the eu is fast approaching. our citizens must have legal certainty as to whether they are covered or not with this agreement. we agreed to work together to ensure that this is the case. i also raised the very sensitive issue of the detention of

eu citizens that the uk border. i sought reassurances from lord frost that all outstanding issues will be solved. turning to the protocol on northern ireland, the eu repeated its unwavering commitment to the good friday belfast agreement. the uk agreed to the protocol as being the best solution. afterfour years of intensive negotiations to address the unique situation on the island of ireland and the challenges created by brexit and the uk's choice to leave the eu single market. the eu and the uk agreed the protocol was the only way to protect the good friday belfast agreement in all its parts. over the past years the eu has engaged creatively and tirelessly to find solutions that

will provide businesses and people in northern ireland the stability to minimise disruption caused by brexit and protect the eu's single market. in december last year we agreed solutions with the uk including grace periods for certain products orflexibilities grace periods for certain products or flexibilities regarding documentation because the uk was not technically ready to implement the protocol for its entry into force. since then we continued working on permanent solutions, for example on the continued supply of medicine to northern ireland, something i personally take very seriously, especially in the same as pandemic. here we stand ready to go and amend our laws to ensure supply. i can

also mention guide dogs, vat on second—hand cars or certain flexibility regarding the movement of livestock between great britain and northern ireland, steel and many other examples. but we cannot undo the core of the protocol. the controls have to be performed between gb and northern ireland since this is a necessary condition to ensure the absence of controls between northern ireland and ireland. this element has been discussed at length with the uk before agreeing on the protocol. in this context the eu agreed exceptionally to subcontract the controls of goods entering it single market to a third country, the united kingdom. the uk has to abide by its legal operations and perform these controls. unfortunately there are still numerous and fundamental gaps in the uk's implementation of our agreement. these gaps need to be

filled by mutually agreed path with concrete deadlines and milestones for the uk to fulfil its existing obligations. there is no other way round this. as you know, the name of protocol as the protocol on ireland and northern ireland. i saw some rumours in the press today about ireland and i want to clarify something. we have always showed solidarity with ireland and we will continue to stand by ireland, which is the member state most affected by brexit. this is a matter between the eu and the uk, not between the eu and ireland. we have always said the eu's objective is to preserve the uk good friday belfast agreement and the integrity of the single market including ireland puzzle —like place including ireland puzzle —like place in it. today i can say we are at a

crossroads in our relationship with the uk. trust, which should be at the uk. trust, which should be at the heart of every partnership, needs to be restored. that is the eu approach and the eu preference. if the uk were to take further unilateral action over the coming weeks the eu will not be shy and acting swiftly, firmly and resolutely to ensure that the uk abides by its international law obligations. i will continue to speak regularly to businesses, civil society and politicians in northern ireland to hear from them about their experience. i believe we all have a jetty in brussels, london, belfast, to focus on politics that unites rather than divides. i am calling on the uk government to work together on this. and i am positive we can find solutions. where there is a well there is always a way. on

partnership council, the european union and united kingdom launched the work of the partnership council under the trade and co—operation agreement today. as you know, the full implementation of the withdrawal agreement is a prerequisite for a close, solid relationship based on trust. the implementation will actually be equally if not more important than its negotiation. therefore i am glad that we agreed today on an indicative timetable for the upcoming meetings, variousjoint upcoming meetings, various joint committees upcoming meetings, variousjoint committees established under this agreement. at the same time i raised some of the issues that have arisen in recent months. notably fisheries. where we agreed that our experts would meet before august next year, at the tca is fully respected, we have already seen some problems

around jersey and we do not want to see that repeated. behind every license not issued by the uk as a fisherman or fish are women and theirfamily and fisherman or fish are women and their family and livelihoods. fisherman or fish are women and theirfamily and livelihoods. i fisherman or fish are women and their family and livelihoods. i also stated clearly that we will not accept discrimination between the eu citizens on long—term visas. we have requested the uk to extend the visa fee reduction to the five member states currently excluded. let there be no doubt the eu wants to build the strategic and enduring and mutually beneficial partnership with the uk and ptca is the basis for this partnership. thank you. that was the eu _ this partnership. thank you. that was the eu vice _ this partnership. thank you. that was the eu vice president of the commission. giving that press conference after talks that were held between the eu and also the uk. listening to all of that was our

reality check correspondence. i should say that the press conferences still going on and questions are being taken that you have been listening on. what did you of it? it have been listening on. what did you of it? , ~ , of it? it sounds like neither side walked away. — of it? it sounds like neither side walked away, clearly, _ of it? it sounds like neither side walked away, clearly, but - of it? it sounds like neither side walked away, clearly, but the i of it? it sounds like neither side | walked away, clearly, but the eu of it? it sounds like neither side - walked away, clearly, but the eu did not get what it wanted out of this discussion this morning. after that opening statement, he was asked some questions and he said our patience is wearing very thin. his argument, this has been the argument of the eu for some time, is that we have offered a deal on veterinary arrangements which will get rid of about 80% of the checks needed on food, a bit like the deal the eu has with switzerland, but the eu is rejecting that because it means the uk following eu laws which clearly doesn't melt very well with the idea of taking back control of your laws. the uk has been saying we are happy to have a discussion about an agreement on veterinary issues and

food and so on but not on your terms. he said he was hoping for a breakthrough and in response to the legal concerns the eu has already set out they have only had political statements in response. we heard earlier from statements in response. we heard earlierfrom lord frost to statements in response. we heard earlier from lord frost to give a statement on camera. his argument broadly is that the eu is insisting the northern ireland protocol, at the northern ireland protocol, at the heart of all this, should be operated, in his words, in a purist way, in other words they are not willing to cut corners, to be sensible, to seek pragmatic solutions, and he said there is a need for a better balance. the problem we have got is that the protocol is being implemented in a way causing disruption in northern ireland and we had frank and honest discussions today. there were not any breakthroughs. there were not any breakdowns either and we are going to carry on talking. we need to very urgently find some solutions which support the belfast good friday agreement and the peace process in northern ireland and allow things

to return to normal. he was pushed on whether boris johnson's government did not understand the implications of what it signed up to audit was ignoring them. he didn't really answer that but we have this difficult situation with the eu reserving the right to take further legal action and step up take further legal action and step up the pace of its legal action. that was reconfirmed in their press conference. and we have the uk reserving the right to consider all our options, which i suppose would be walking away from the agreement altogether and simply renewing these grace periods, which means all these checks do not have to take place, again and again and again, but people say they want to find a pragmatic negotiating solution, but in public at least it is difficult to see where that is going to come from. it to see where that is going to come from. , ., to see where that is going to come from. , ~ ., ., from. it feels like we have gone back six months. _

from. it feels like we have gone back six months. six _ from. it feels like we have gone back six months. six months, i from. it feels like we have gone l back six months. six months, five ears. it back six months. six months, five years it is — back six months. six months, five years. it is five _ back six months. six months, five years. it is five years _ back six months. six months, five years. it is five years since - back six months. six months, five years. it is five years since the - years. it is five years since the referendum. from the beginning it was clear one of the most difficult patches was going to be northern ireland and the land border with the republic which is the border between the eu and the uk now and we haven't really solved it. that is no surprise in a way because it is a very complex issue. there are some things on which progress has been made. he went out of his way to say the supply of medicines, we will make sure that can continue in the middle of a pandemic. we have had quite a long statement from the uk government setting out a whole series of areas where it says substantive progress has not yet been made. one of them as chilled meats, about whether there is going to be a ban on sausages, but it also talks about veterinary arrangements in general, pet travel from great britain to northern ireland, the sending of parcels from great britain to northern ireland. the problem is all of these things are

basically set out in eu law and that eu law appears in the northern ireland protocol and that is the problem for the government, that they signed up to something perhaps rather hastily which carried all sorts of implications and the chickens are kind of coming home to roost from a deal that was done to push brexit through, this is the reality of how the eu was always going to interpret it. the eu says, here are the rules, we are a community of rules and you have agreed to abide by them in an international agreement. the problem is of course it is destabilising northern ireland. both sides clearly have a responsibility to try to prevent that destabilisation getting any worse. prevent that destabilisation getting an worse. . ~' prevent that destabilisation getting an worse. . ~ prevent that destabilisation getting an worse. . ., ., any worse. thank you as always for throwin: any worse. thank you as always for throwing light _ any worse. thank you as always for throwing light on _ any worse. thank you as always for throwing light on that _ any worse. thank you as always for throwing light on that issue. - a group of mps is calling on the government to introduce tougher measures to stop people smoking — and to consider banning cigarettes for under 21s. the all party parliamentary group

has commissioned a report which says tobacco manufacturers should pay for projects to help people stop, particularly in communities where smoking does the most damage. fiona trott reports. when i walked into that room to have my radiotherapy, i was thinking, "what am i doing to my body? it's burning from inside out." the consequence of a0 years of smoking. sue was treated for cancer of the larynx. it still affects her speech today. the pictures on the cigarette packets, i remember looking at them and, at first, going urgh. and then you get immune to them. you switch off from them, you really do. if the age limit had been 21 when i was 11 buying cigarettes, i wouldn't have ever got cigarettes. here in the north east there are thousands of patients like sue and figures from public health england suggest there are more deaths attributed to smoking in this region than anywhere else in england. it is why consultants like ruth sharrock welcome today's report. she says smoking has caused more

damage here, where there are existing health inequalities. we have always been facing a hard deal in the north east with the burden of smoking—related disease. we have had a high prevalence of smokers across the patch and in communities around the hospital here in gateshead, where the prevalence is 25%, up to 30% in sunderland, and then covid has just grossly exacerbated the problems. the report says schemes to help people stop should be paid for by tobacco manufacturers through a change in the health and social care bill. and, for young smokers, it recommends a consultation on raising the age at which people can buy tobacco from 18 to 21 years old. the fact that this report is out today, is getting political attention, is being discussed, can only be a good thing and can't come soon enough for us as clinicians. a government spokesperson said smoking rates were at a record low and it was on track to deliver its ambition to make england smoke—free with the new tobacco control plan

being published later this year. what i do want is for my grandchildren to hopefully have a smoke—free environment to grow up in. with investment, we can do smoke—free in 2030. fiona trott, bbc news, gateshead. british airways and ryanair are facing action for a possible breach of consumer law, by failing to offer refunds for flights which customers could not legally take because of covid restrictions. the uk's competition and markets authority has launched an investigation. earlier our business correspondent, alice baxter, gave us this update during the three uk covid lockdowns, thousands of would—be travellers across the country were told that they could no longer take the flights that they had booked, so what a lot of the airlines did

in those instances is they offered vouchers, they offered the ability to switch those flights to a later date, they took away those switching fines that they would normally institute. from their perspective they were very flexible and customerfriendly, however what the cma are saying, the competition and markets authority, through the near 150,000 complaints they have received on this issue, is that that simply wasn't good enough. customers made these bookings in good faith on the understanding that if they were not able to take the flights, through circumstances totally out of their own control, indeed a pandemic which had government lockdown restrictions attached to it, they should be entitled to a refund. the head of the cma andrea coscelli has said that while we understand that airlines have had a tough time during the pandemic people should not be left unfairly out of pocket for following the law, so they are saying that the likes of ba and ryanair have broken

customer legislation, that they have broken consumer law. it's the stuff of nightmares — being attacked by a crocodile while swimming. that's exactly what happened to a british woman in mexico. melissa laurie — was with her twin sister, georgia — on the right in this photo — who fought off the creature by repeatedly punching it in the face. they're both recovering in hospital, where melissa has been placed in a medically—induced coma. the twins' big sister — hana — has been talking about what happened. it's a little bit unclear at the moment because, obviously, time difference, and our priority, making sure that they are all right, means we have not been able to chat details too much. but it seems like they were with a group of 25 people on a tour they had booked through their hostel and they asked if the water was safe and were told it was. so, evidently, not the case! we don't... yeah, they are not naive people. georgia and melissa are experienced with animals.

georgia is a great diver, which is of course exactly how we think she has managed to save her life. it is a twin thing, magic twin stuff, meets her amazing training in water safety and just a real big dose of that famous laurie girl attitude. now it's time for a look at the weather with helen willets. the sunshine will linger from the east midlands eastwards. the cloud is expanding further west on this particular weather front, albeit for some. eventually it will bring some fresh air by the end of friday temporarily but for the rest of the day the best of the sunshine will be for the east midlands eastwards and the cloud is thick enough for drizzly rain around the irish sea coasts but even where we have the cloud it is warm. a little bit of brightness through northern ireland but warmer still where we have that unbroken sunshine and moderate

to high levels of pollen. overnight the cloud will continue its progress eastwards with patchy rain in northern and western areas so it is going to be quite a close night, closer than last night, quite uncomfortable with high humidity for some. high pressure still holding on and bringing a lot of dry weather into thursday but weather fronts strung out to the north and west so we have a lot of cloud in close proximity to the uk, more isobars on the chart for tomorrow particularly for northern ireland and scotland, so generally more cloud around although it will tend to thin and break through the day allowing some sunshine for central areas in particular. the cloud breaking up in eastern scotland and it could be warmer than today because we will see some breaks in the cloud but with more cloud to nibble away at the sunshine first thing temperatures might be a degree or two down.

that cloud and its weather front starts to edge further south on friday. again patchy in nature so there will be some sunshine. there is slightly fresher air heading in behind that weather front so even with it will be the sunshine coming through and it will be a bit fresher. as we go into the weekend high pressure re—establishes itself pushing those weak weather fronts and their attendant cloud out of the way so we should see the sunshine returning in abundance. it will of course be strong sunshine. we are only a week or two away from the longest day and it will become hotter despite low humidity with temperatures rising to the high 20s by the end of sunday. there is more online.

this is bbc news. the headlines... surge testing and a push to get people vaccinated in north west england, after a rise in cases of the covid delta variant, first found in india. the thing the government needs to do is also bring forward vaccine supplies in the high case areas, so over the next two to three weeks, have a surge vaccination programme. the high court rules the government acted unlawfully over a covid contract, worth half a million pounds, given to a company run by friends of dominic cummings. "no breakthrough, but no breakdown" — says brexit minister lord frost. but the eu warns its patience is "wearing thin" over northern ireland trade arrangements.

today, i