there are calls for the reform of a levels after a record number of entries were awarded the top grades. almost 45% of entries were awarded a or a*, fuelling concerns about so—called grade inflation. labour says it's also worried about inequality. well worried about inequality. done by the way to all of who well done by the way to all of those who got the results they want, but the gap now is getting bigger and bigger. we'll bring you the latest on the debate. also this lunchtime... us presidentjoe biden says he doesn't regret pulling out troops from afghanistan, despite taliban militants taking over more of the country. prosecutors in germany say a british man who worked at the uk embassy in berlin has been arrested on suspicion of spying for russia.

wildfires are continuing to burn in algeria in north africa, california and parts of greece. and under threat — sea horses off the coast of dorset. divers put this screw anchor into the sea bed, then connect it to these rubber pieces here, dense rubber, this is what replaces the chains on a traditional mooring that are said to do so much more damage. and coming up in sport on the bbc news channel... the premier league's chief executive says he's fully behind players taking a knee when the new season begins on friday.

good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. there are calls for an overhaul of the way a—levels are assessed and graded in the future, after this year's results saw record numbers given top marks. almost 45% of entries in england, wales and northern ireland were awarded a or a*, fuelling concerns that soaring grades risk undermining confidence in the system. ministers are reported to be looking at replacing the traditional a to e grades with numbers, similar to gcses. sean dilley reports. the ring of success could barely resonate louder for many students across the uk, still celebrating a top year for marks, but now the government is under pressure to review the way qualifications are assessed and concerns have been raised about the attainment gap between fee—paying schools in england where around seven in ten students achieved a or a* compared

to state schools where four intended. to state schools where four intended-— to state schools where four intended. ~ ., ., , , intended. well done to the students who not intended. well done to the students who got the — intended. well done to the students who got the results _ intended. well done to the students who got the results they _ intended. well done to the students who got the results they want - intended. well done to the students who got the results they want but i who got the results they want but the gap is now getting bigger and bigger and there is baked in unfairness, and yet again it is the student who most need us. some have backed calls — student who most need us. some have backed calls for — student who most need us. some have backed calls for a _ student who most need us. some have backed calls for a review _ student who most need us. some have backed calls for a review believing - backed calls for a review believing fairness issues are much wider than an attainment gap between state and fee—paying schools in england. n fee—paying schools in england. i think we should be worried, worried about not only the gap at a—levels but the gap we see throughout the system to tackle that and deal with that. we need a comprehensive long—term plan. i don't believe recovery will happen, and we need to do something intentionally about it. students have been subject to teacher assessed grading to help

calculate their grades. in recent pre—pandemic years the government in england has put a higherfocus on exam day performance. the england has put a higher focus on exam day performance. the fairest wa is b exam day performance. the fairest way is by continuous _ exam day performance. the fairest way is by continuous assessment i exam day performance. the fairest l way is by continuous assessment and the only way that can be done properly is if teachers are taught how to assess. the properly is if teachers are taught how to assess.— properly is if teachers are taught how to assess. ,., , ., how to assess. the government is now under pressure — how to assess. the government is now under pressure to _ how to assess. the government is now under pressure to review _ how to assess. the government is now under pressure to review how- under pressure to review how qualifications are assessed in the future, for instance by replacing a—level grades with numbered marks, but there is currently no review. as the uk's top universities warn of unprecedented demand, gavin williamson has acknowledged qualifications will need to look different next year. the clear message from westminster now though is that students impacted by the pandemic are not to blame and they should be able to move on to the next stage and celebrate their success. sean dilley, bbc news. let's talk to our political correspondent, peter saull, at westminster. what are the options being

discussed, and how urgent is this? clearly it is notjust this year's co—of a—level students who have had it hard over the last 18 months, it is all year groups so this will be a keyissue is all year groups so this will be a key issue potentially for many years to come. in terms of next year's exams, consultation hasjust ended looking at things like allowing students to take lists of equations into maths and physics papers perhaps only testing them on a small of the curriculum. longer term, the government is not dying reports they might change the grading system so it is numbers rather than letters, similar to the gcses, but that won't be imminent. looking at the results we had yesterday, there is a difference in opinion on what we can read into them. labour saying the gap is growing between the private and state sector, but the government pointing out if you look at the relative increase in students getting the top grades, comprehensives have fared better than the independent sector and they say actually we shouldn't be reading

too much into what has been a very unusual year in terms of exams. but there is this real concern that the pandemic has exacerbated the existing divisions in the education system, and this will be one of the biggest challenges the government will have to get to grips with in the coming years. here in westminster, lots of people questioning whether the education secretary gavin williamson is up to that challenge with rumours swirling of a potential cabinet reshuffle in the coming year.— of a potential cabinet reshuffle in the coming year. a british man has been arrested in germany on suspicion of spying for russia. the man worked at the british embassy in berlin and is said to have passed documents to a russian intelligence agent on at least one occasion in return for cash. let's speak to our security correspondent, gordon corera. give us all the details you have. it sounds a bit like a cold war spying story and it reminds us berlin was once a spying capital and are still the focus of a lot of espionage. in this case the

allegation is that an embassy worker who only goes by the name of david s under german privacy laws, they don't give the full name, past at some point in the last seven or eight months documents to the russian intelligence services in exchange for cash, that is the allegation. we don't know much about david s but the home office say he was a contractor, not a diplomat, he was a contractor, not a diplomat, he was working for the embassy in some capacity. this was an intelligence led operation i'm told, not something the police in germany somehow stumbled across, with m15 involved in the investigation, it appears to have been going on for some time. he was arrested yesterday. his apartment and workplace are being searched, as the investigation continues into this quite serious allegation of espionage. quite serious allegation of espionage-— quite serious allegation of esionaue.~ . ., ,, , ., m espionage. what happens now? we are exectin: espionage. what happens now? we are exaecting him — espionage. what happens now? we are exaecting him to _ espionage. what happens now? we are expecting him to appear _ espionage. what happens now? we are expecting him to appear in _ espionage. what happens now? we are expecting him to appear in court, - expecting him to appear in court, not necessarily in public, and much of the material remains secret because it can be very sensitive where the information came from,

potentially intelligence tip offs and the like, but we may well learn more about him and the kind of access he had two information, may be indirectly what kind of information about the embassy he might have had, which might suggest why he was potentially, allegedly targeted by russians.— president biden has told afghan leaders to unite and fight for their country, as the taliban continue to take over more territory. the militants claim to have captured a ninth provincial capital overnight, the north—eastern city of faizabad. however, afghan officials say air strikes and ground attacks have killed dozens of taliban militants. caroline hawley reports. the afghan president, ashraf ghani, looked vulnerable himself here as he flew into mazar—i—sharif to try to rally forces to repel the taliban advance. his government has faced setback after setback on the battlefield, and the taliban are now closing in on this key northern city. president biden has said it's up to these men now to unite and fight,

but he doesn't regret his decision to pull american troops out. afghan leaders have to come together. we lost... thousands lost, death and injury. thousands of american personnel. they've got to fight for themselves, fight for their nation. but the nation is fractured. this is the town of pul—i—khumri, another provincial capital to fall to the taliban yesterday. some people here wanted selfies with the insurgents, who have been accused by the un of committing possible war crimes as they have advanced, and of punishing women who breach their strict rules. tens of thousands of civilians have already fled in terror in what is a growing humanitarian crisis. many, many more afghans will be uprooted as the fighting goes on. our teams are out in the field in kabul today trying to understand the needs, and really have described to me that this is the worst situation that they have

seen in kabul ever. the scale of people who are arriving from provinces all across the country is really unlike something that we have seen before, with people who have fled their homes with just the clothes on their back and who are scared about relatives who are still in the areas where they're from. the afghan government says it's doing what it can to repel the taliban, but the eu has estimated that 65% of afghanistan is now out of their hands. in some places, afghan forces have given up with barely a fight. this is the city of kunduz, which the taliban took at the weekend. with the militants now taking the battles of the towns and cities of afghanistan, casualties are mounting fast and aid agencies are becoming increasingly alarmed. caroline hawley, bbc news. our correspondent, yogita limaye, is following developments from the capital, kabul. the pace at which the taliban is taking control of provincial capitals has shocked people in this country,

the government of afghanistan and its international partners. the government says that its forces are trying to regain control of some of these cities, but the surge in violence has led to a humanitarian crisis not seen in decades. we were in the north of kabul city today where thousands of people have come in just over the past few days, fleeing areas around the country where there's been intense fighting. on the ground there, there's a sense of desperation. people literally packed up everything they had and left very quickly, so they are not carrying very much. we saw some people coming in to distribute food and they would be surrounded by scores of people immediately. we didn't see the presence of government agencies or humanitarian agencies, so there is a lot of anger as well about people being left to fend for themselves. they have come to kabul because they believe this is the last bastion of safety from here there nowhere else to run.

bastion of safety, from here there nowhere else to run. but increasingly now, there are concerns about how long the government will be able to keep control of the capital city of afghanistan. a senior government adviser has told the bbc that a mass rollout of a third booster dose of the covid vaccine may not be needed. professor adam finn, who sits on thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation, said it is still unclear whether all over 50s should be offered a third jab this autumn. our health correspondent jim reed is here. what has he been saying then? some --eole are what has he been saying then? some peeple are just _ what has he been saying then? some people are just getting _ what has he been saying then? fine people are just getting their second jab of the covid vaccine but already we are talking about the potential third doses in the autumn. there's a reason why some politicians might want to go ahead of this, one is to top up immunity. there are some early signs in research that over time the immunity you gain from taking a vaccine might fade although

research is ongoing. the second reason is the potential emergence of new variants of the virus this autumn, and again a third booster dose might offer extra protection against that. yesterday the health secretary for england was asked about this, and he suggested the plan would probably be all over 50s would be offered a booster shot at the same time as their flu shot this autumn. but before going ahead, politicians in every part of the uk, every nation, are waiting on final advice from this independent group of scientists called the jcvi. advice from this independent group of scientists called thejcvi. on the bbc this morning, professor adam finn said that it's likely a small number of vulnerable patients would get this third dose of the jab, so if they have suppressed immune systems for example, but he said studies to work out if it is worth rolling it out much wider to all those over 50 were ongoing and he

said a final decision on that was still, as he put it, uncertain. we need to review evidence as to whether people who received vaccine early on in the programme really are — in any serious risk of getting serious disease, or whether the protection they have got from those first two doses is still strong. we clearly don't want to be giving vaccines to people who don't need them. this debate is coming at a time when other scientists have raised doubts about whether giving this third booster dose is really worth it, both from a health point of view but also an ethical point of view. the idea of is it really right for people in this country to get a third dose while people in developing countries are struggling to get the first dose. we are likely to get the first dose. we are likely to hear more with a final decision probably taken before september. thank you. our top story this lunchtime... there are calls for the reform of a levels after a record number of entries were awarded

the top grades. and coming up, lionel messi speaks about his dreams for paris saint—germain, afterjoining the french club from barcelona. and coming up in sport on the bbc news channel... officially unveiled — lionel messi holds his first press conference since signing for paris saint—germain. he saint—germain. says his dream is to win the champions he says his dream is to win the champions league once more. wildfires are continuing to devastate parts of europe, north africa and america, amid intense heatwaves and drought. emergency teams in greece are tackling hundreds of blazes, and in algeria, 65 people have been killed in a series of fires, many of them soldiers battling to put them out. california is facing the second largest wildfire in its history, one of nearly a dozen burning across the state. our correspondent barbara plett usher reports.

in the remote eastern mountains of california the dixie fire devours acre after acre of wild land. exhausted firefighters are battling a blaze unlike any they have seen before. a perfect storm of severe heat, drought and wind, plus the slope of the tinder dry terrain, is driving its rapid spread. this week, scientists directly linked such conditions to climate change. climate change doesn't cause wildfires or heatwaves or drought. what it does is make them a lot worse. that is what is happening in california, and the forecast does not look good. so people are learning the hard way how to live with the new normal. the fire has left a ghostly landscape in its wake. days ago, dixie tore through greenville, an historic gold rush town, forcing its residents to flee for safety. no—one died, but homes and businesses were reduced to ash and rubble. evacuation warnings for other communities under threat have been

issued in four counties. some greenville residents took shelter in a nearby town, traumatised by loss and dazed by displacement. it's gone. there's several times in the last week i wished i could just go home. and then i remember i can't go home. there's nothing to go back to. even if the house survived, like, pretty much the rest of town is gone. there's no water, there's no, you know... everything is gone. i don't even know, i have no idea what to do, or where to go. i'm kind of lost. and, erm... and my personal situation on top of it, i'm just overwhelmed. i'm completely overwhelmed. leaning on the help of neighbours is not as rare as it might once have been. fires have become so frequent and so intense, the traditionalfire season no longer seems to exist. normally it reaches its worst only later in the year. some of the folks that have been evacuated, have been evacuated many times over the past couple of years. we have seen some folks

who have come to a shelter forjust a few days, to return home, to come back again, because of those evacuation warnings. so there's a lot of uncertainty for some folks who might not know what the status is of their home, or what they are going back to. it may take weeks to contain dixie, with still more months of smoke and fire ravaging the west after that. right now, the priority of firefighters is to defend lives and homes, to prevent another greenville from happening. barbara plett usher, bbc news, los angeles. a group of former gurkha soldiers, who are on hunger strike outside downing street, say they are getting weaker by the day. they are calling for gurkas who retired before 1997, to be eligible for a uk armed forces pension. ministers say they're committed to ensuring the gurkha pension scheme is sustainable and fair. our correspondent lebo diseko reports. british and gurkha troops are

battling to split the terrorist into isolated bands and then wipe them out one by one. isolated bands and then wipe them out one by one-— out one by one. they are a force that has served _ out one by one. they are a force that has served the _ out one by one. they are a force that has served the crown - out one by one. they are a force that has served the crown for. out one by one. they are a force i that has served the crown for more than 200 years, fighting all over the world. but these gurkha veterans do not receive a full uk armed forces pension. they are now on hunger strike and say they are willing to die to write what they see as an historic wrong. gurkhas who retired before 1997, were part of the gurkha pension scheme. they receive less than those in the armed forces pension scheme because it was thought they would retire in nepal. the gurkhas are coming! but thought they would retire in nepal. the gurkhas are coming!— thought they would retire in nepal. the gurkhas are coming! but in 2009, after a high-profile _ the gurkhas are coming! but in 2009, after a high-profile campaign - the gurkhas are coming! but in 2009, after a high-profile campaign backed l after a high—profile campaign backed by the actressjoanna lumley, most gurkhas were allowed to settle in the uk. many now say they are struggling to survive on pages that don't meet the cost of living here. my don't meet the cost of living here. my counterpart gets nowadays over

1200. i'm getting somewhere like three and £50. this 1200. i'm getting somewhere like three and 60-— 1200. i'm getting somewhere like three and £50. this man “oined the gurkhas at the h three and £50. this man “oined the gurkhas at the age _ three and £50. this man “oined the gurkhas at the age of _ three and £50. this man “oined the gurkhas at the age of 17 h three and £50. this man joined the gurkhas at the age of 17 and - three and £50. this man joined thej gurkhas at the age of 17 and served for 20 years. we gurkhas at the age of 17 and served for 20 years-— for 20 years. we wanted to be treated equal _ for 20 years. we wanted to be treated equal to _ for 20 years. we wanted to be treated equal to the _ for 20 years. we wanted to be treated equal to the british i for 20 years. we wanted to be treated equal to the british in | treated equal to the british in every aspect. according to the tripartite agreement spirit. that is what we want. —— liberties government does not want this. thea;r government does not want this. they sa the government does not want this. they say they have — government does not want this. they say they have been _ government does not want this. they say they have been failed by successive governments. i say they have been failed by successive governments. i want a cross party — successive governments. i want a cross party to — successive governments. i want a cross party to find _ successive governments. i want a cross party to find a _ successive governments. i want a cross party to find a solution. - successive governments. i want a cross party to find a solution. it i cross party to find a solution. it cannot — cross party to find a solution. it cannot be — cross party to find a solution. it cannot be right that the government is treating _ cannot be right that the government is treating gurkha veterans this way, _ is treating gurkha veterans this way, that— is treating gurkha veterans this way, that they are resorting to going — way, that they are resorting to going on— way, that they are resorting to going on hunger strike. parliamentarians need to step up and take action _ parliamentarians need to step up and take action. ben wallace needs to look at _ take action. ben wallace needs to look at of— take action. ben wallace needs to look at of his window, walk the ten minutes— look at of his window, walk the ten minutes to — look at of his window, walk the ten minutes to this protest and take action — minutes to this protest and take action at— minutes to this protest and take action. �* , ,, ., action. a spokesperson for the ministry of _ action. a spokesperson for the ministry of defence _ action. a spokesperson for the ministry of defence said - action. a spokesperson for the ministry of defence said in - action. a spokesperson for the ministry of defence said in a i ministry of defence said in a statement...

these gurkha veterans say they want the british and nepalese government to set a date for talks about their plight and say they want a gurkha representative to be there. if that happens within three months, they are willing to postpone their hunger strike. there's been a rise in the proportion ofjob adverts that offer people the chance to work from home, according to a recruitment firm. before the pandemic, 1% ofjob vacancies advertised by reed allowed remote working, but it had risen to 5% by this summer. many office workers shifted to flexible working during the coronavirus lockdowns. deliveroo says demand for its services has strengthened, despite the easing of covid restrictions. the food delivery firm saw orders double to 148 million in the first half of this year, and the value of its transactions also doubled. despite the rise, the company made pre—tax losses of more than £100 million.

winchester is the least affordable city to buy a home in, according to a survey by the halifax. its figures suggest buying a home there costs 1a times average earnings, higher than greater london. buying a typical home in a uk city will now cost buyers eight times their average earnings, with prices continuing to rise faster than wages. lamb reared on the salt marshes of the gower peninsula in south wales has become the first food in the uk to be granted protected status after brexit. other products already protected under european law, such as cornish pasties, are also included in the scheme. let's speak to our wales correspondent, hywel griffith. so, what difference will this make? well, from the farmers's point of view it at least puts them on the

map. unfortunately, the elements are against us, because otherwise i would be showing this glorious coastline. out there somewhere, the sheep that gets a grave on samphire and sea lavender. that is what gives the salt some of its flavour. what makes these lambs are unique and worthy of special status? we makes these lambs are unique and worthy of special status?— makes these lambs are unique and worthy of special status? we have a wonderful area _ worthy of special status? we have a wonderful area on _ worthy of special status? we have a wonderful area on the _ worthy of special status? we have a wonderful area on the march. - worthy of special status? we have a wonderful area on the march. therej wonderful area on the march. there are so— wonderful area on the march. there are so many— wonderful area on the march. there are so many unique herbs and grasses that grow— are so many unique herbs and grasses that grow there. lambs are out there for most _ that grow there. lambs are out there for most of— that grow there. lambs are out there for most of the year. the flavour of the herbs _ for most of the year. the flavour of the herbs give our lambs are spectacular. the herbs give our lambs are spectacular-— spectacular. what practical difference _ spectacular. what practical difference does _ spectacular. what practical difference does the - spectacular. what practical difference does the status| spectacular. what practical- difference does the status give you? it only applies within great britain and not in europe. it it only applies within great britain and not in europe.— and not in europe. it could be massive for— and not in europe. it could be massive for us, _ and not in europe. it could be massive for us, to _ and not in europe. it could be massive for us, to be - and not in europe. it could be| massive for us, to be fairness. and not in europe. it could be - massive for us, to be fairness. we have _ massive for us, to be fairness. we have got— massive for us, to be fairness. we have got to — massive for us, to be fairness. we have got to expect an increase in demand — have got to expect an increase in demand. wonderful publicity for wonderful product. in demand. wonderful publicity for wonderful product.— wonderful product. in terms of exort, wonderful product. in terms of exoort. at _ wonderful product. in terms of exoort. at the _ wonderful product. in terms of export, at the moment - wonderful product. in terms of export, at the moment you - wonderful product. in terms of| export, at the moment you are wonderful product. in terms of. export, at the moment you are a small scale supplier, you are not looking to export to the eu. who buys your produce? irate

looking to export to the eu. who buys your produce?— looking to export to the eu. who buys your produce? we have people cominu buys your produce? we have people coming here- _ buys your produce? we have people coming here. most— buys your produce? we have people coming here. most of— buys your produce? we have people coming here. most of what - buys your produce? we have people coming here. most of what we - buys your produce? we have people coming here. most of what we do i buys your produce? we have people coming here. most of what we do atj coming here. most of what we do at the minute — coming here. most of what we do at the minute is people online all over the minute is people online all over the uk, _ the minute is people online all over the uk, going on the website and clicking _ the uk, going on the website and clicking away, and we to them overnight _ clicking away, and we to them overnight. is clicking away, and we to them overnight-— clicking away, and we to them overniaht. , , . ., ., , overnight. is there such a thing as imitation salt _ overnight. is there such a thing as imitation salt marsh _ overnight. is there such a thing as imitation salt marsh lamb? - overnight. is there such a thing as imitation salt marsh lamb? it - overnight. is there such a thing as| imitation salt marsh lamb? it could be a problem _ imitation salt marsh lamb? it could be a problem but _ imitation salt marsh lamb? it could be a problem but i _ imitation salt marsh lamb? it could be a problem but i think— imitation salt marsh lamb? it could be a problem but i think the - imitation salt marsh lamb? it could | be a problem but i think the product is so good _ be a problem but i think the product is so good it— be a problem but i think the product is so good it speaks for itself. thank— is so good it speaks for itself. thank you _ is so good it speaks for itself. thank you very much. unfortunately, the elements are against us. but this is a premium product that you find in some restaurants. and people from as far afield as scotland click online and by gower salt marsh lamb. other produce are looking for this new labelling within great britain include dundee cake, sussex wine and wiltshire cured lamb. the uk government, keen post brags it, to put its own stamp on produce. others will argue it is yet more paperwork forfarmers who want will argue it is yet more paperwork for farmers who want to protect their unique and authentic produce. thank you. never tried it but i will now. an 11—year—old boy has just completed his 500th night sleeping in a tent to raise money for charity. max woosey originally set out to raise £100 for the north devon hospice,

which cared for his neighbour. but since then, he's raised over half a million pounds. the argentinian football star lionel messi has said he dreams of winning the champions league again, afterjoining his new club, paris st—germain. the 34—year—old has signed a two—year deal with the side, following his emotional departure from barcelona, where he started his career. our correspondent, laura scott, is in paris. laura, it's been a whirlwind week for messi? it really has been. it was a very different legal messy we saw today to the tearful press conference he gave on sunday. —— lionel messi. as he waved goodbye to his boyhood club barcelona. today he was unveiled at p56 barcelona. today he was unveiled at psg as their new star signing. he said he was very happy to be here. take a listen to what he had to say area. —— earlier.

translation: i'm very happy to be here. - i'm eager to get going. i still want to play and still want to win just as much as when i started my career. with these players and the staff, i think the club is ready to fight for all of the trophies. i want to keep growing and winning titles, and that's why i have come to this club. well, it's died down here outside the park the plants. earlier there were a couple of thousand fans here to catch a glimpse of the new star signing. fans letting off flares and even knocking over barriers, so keen were they to get closer to him. many of them said they are so excited for this historic day for the club, to have one of the greatest players, if not the greatest player, playing for their club. he will be part of a formidable squad, perhaps the strongest front line ever assembled in football, alongside neymar and kylian mbappe. it raises the

question how psg can afford such a squad and comply with the financial fair play regulations. i asked the club president that exact question and he insisted they are complying with the rules and wouldn't have signed messi if they couldn't. but he pointed to the commercial benefits of having a player like messi. we have seen proof of that today with the long queue outside the club shop, fans eager to get the new messi shirt. theyjust want to know when they are going to see messi playing for their club for the first time. i watch them play on the pitch inside with his children. that was a gentle knock about. it could be a few weeks before we see him play for the club. when he does, the question will be whether it can translate all the success and trophies he won for barcelona, to his new home here at psg.- trophies he won for barcelona, to his new home here at psg. seahorses off the coast off dorset that are at risk from the anchors of boats could be protected by new eco—moorings instead. the installations at studland bay are safer for creatures living below the water's surface — like sea horses — whose habitats

are damaged by traditional anchors. john maguire reports. these underwater meadows of seagrass provide a vital habitat teeming with wildlife, and it's where you can find the spiny seahorse. normally up to around 16 centimetres long for an adult, they come here in the spring, to feed on plankton or small shrimp, and to mate. famously, it's the male that gets pregnant. it's a protected species, and studland bay is a marine conservation zone. but boats in this popular area of the dorset coast can create problems. we've counted up to a50 boats here in one day. it's the noise, the anchors, the general movement of everything seems to affect the seahorses. they're very prone to stress, and so if you can sort of reduce that stress, then they're quite happy, relaxed seahorses. if they have a lot of stress,

then they move back out to sea. the wildlife presenter steve backshall has dived here, and says boat anchors and mooring chains can damage the sea bed. they completely destroy all the substrate around it, which means that all the seagrass dies, and it gets rid of that binding substrate, which then washes away as sand. and so you just end up with these big, barren circles around all the moorings. and within that, nothing can live — and particularly not seahorses. so here's a solution. the seahorse trust is installing this environmentally friendly design. instead of a chain, the mooring is attached to a fixed point in the sea bed via a large rubber line that stretches with the tide and minimises damage. divers put this screw anchor into the sea bed. it goes in around seven feet deep, into the sea bed, then connected to these rubber pieces here — thick, dense rubber.

this is what replaces the chains on a traditional mooring that are said to do so much of the damage. this is held vertically by these floats here. there's then another rubberised cable that goes up to the buoy, which obviously floats on the surface. a boat can come up and clip onto there. the university of southampton is monitoring the efficacy of the eco—moorings. and, if proved to be beneficial, it will mean seafarers and seahorses can co—exist successfully. john maguire, bbc news, dorset. time for a look at the weather. here's louise lear. hi, there. good afternoon. a weather lottery at the moment. if you have got the winning ticket you are in the east. beautiful morning for a round of golf in east anglia. further west, just as stunning but it has been cloudy and wet at times. rather breezy as well. you can see where the heaviest of the rain sitting across western scotland into north—west england. fairly light and

patchy as it moves further south.