and what do you think it tells us about how we were living back in that time? so i don't like the term dark ages, which is quite often associated with the anglo—saxon period, and it is finds like this and the quality and craftsmanship that really highlights the fact that they weren't the dark ages. people lived in clearly quite some style. for some, even important archaeological discoveries do not justify the construction of h52. but others see it as an opportunity to understand and explore periods of our hidden history. jo black, bbc news. time for a look at the weather. here's elizabeth rizzini. we saw a little bit earlier on how hot it isn't getting even hotter? certainly is, we are talking about the exceptional heat in europe and the exceptional heat in europe and the heat and humidity moving northwards over the next couple of

days. we are forecasting a0 celsius in paris on saturday, that's very early in the season. it won't be in —— it won't be as hot in the uk is paris. it's a brief spell of weather because there is a cold front sinking southwards introducing fresh conditions for all over the weekend but also for some, heavy, thundery downpours. in summary, here's the headline. hot and downpours. in summary, here's the headline. hotand humid downpours. in summary, here's the headline. hot and humid across the south with temperatures peaking tomorrow. further north it's cool and cloudy. there will be outbreaks of rain and also sunshine at times. let's take a look at the rest of this afternoon. 0utbreaks let's take a look at the rest of this afternoon. outbreaks of light patchy drizzle for western areas of scotland. perhaps brightness for the east got in. the lion's share of sunshine and england and wales, temperatures into the 20s. there are high pollen levels, hay fever sufferers beware. this evening and overnight and uncomfortable night's sleep for many. the air will turn muggy. temperatures may not drop

below 15—16 c in the south. further north, heavy rain, some strong, gusty winds for western scotland, northern ireland, and then the cold front here will think southwards as we head through the day on friday. its weakening as it goes so the rain is lightened patchy by the time it gets to northern england, north wales through the afternoon and it's not a bad afternoon for scotland and northern ireland, brightening up but some fresh feeling air. a word of warning, they may be low cloud towards the coastal areas of the south—west of england and south wales but here we've got all the sunshine, england and wales, lots of blue sky and temperatures peaking at 32-33 c blue sky and temperatures peaking at 32—33 c for london and east anglia. we might get a local 3a and that is well above the seasonal average but well above the seasonal average but we are returning to the fresh conditions of course by the end of the weekend. this is how we get here. fresherair the weekend. this is how we get here. fresher air in the north, warm air pushing in from the south. is that meets the air turns very unstable, there will be some heavy, thundery downpours for many, probably in these sort of areas.

hanging on for the heat for one more day only in the south—east, highs in london of 26 or 27 degrees. more showers, mostly towards the south this time, all into the fresh conditions and there will be some sunny spells, temperatures peaking between 16—20 . that's all from the bbc news at one. so it's goodbye from me. 0n 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. an independent report into widespread abuse at all levels of british gymnastics will be published in the next few hours. the review has taken nearly two years to complete and contains allegations from hundreds of elite athletes, down to grassroots gymnasts. here's our sports

correspondent, natalie pirks. for the last two years, british gymnasts have been telling us of a sport where they say mistreatment was the norm. i would absolutely describe it as a culture of abuse. where weight was heavily controlled. how would you feel if you were 21 years old and given ultimately a baby plate to eat off of? and where hard training often meant ignoring painful injuries. i was told to carry on as if nothing happened and i couldn't carry on. it was up to me to ring my dad to pick me up and take me to the hospital, where they told me i had broken my foot in four places. this afternoon, after several delays, anne whyte qc will tell us whether she believes gymnasts�* welfare really is at the centre of the culture of gymnastics in the uk, or whether, as many have claimed, medals have been valued above well—being. i would like to thank each and every one of you who has come forward to share your story. i'm very grateful that so many

gymnasts, parents, coaches and others involved in the sport of gymnastics responded to my requests, often in difficult circumstances. those circumstances were wide ranging. since august 2020, the whyte review has received more than a00 submissions with more than 90 clubs and 100 coaches name. 39 cases were considered so serious they were passed to local authorities. anne whyte says the allegations of abuse described to her team range from bullying, belittling, and extreme weight management, to the use of excessive physical force, coercive control and people being made to train on serious injuries. today is an unprecedented opportunity to address the historic wrongs that have been created in gymnastics and to reform the sport that we love for the better. and we hope that today is going to bring about various recommendations that will be acted

on by uk sport, sport england and british gymnastics to improve training conditions and competition conditions for gymnasts in the future. it's expected today's 300 page report will make wide—ranging recommendations for reform. this could be gymnastics�*s day of reckoning. ryan penistone is going to save can keep the british flag flying for a tennis at queens later on today. the british number seven beat the french open finalist casper ruud at queens on tuesday and today, in the second round, he faces world number a6 francisco cerundolo. he he's going to be one after this match, these are live pictures from queens. the player and black as the defending champion, the first italian to win at the tournaments.

it's on the bbc iplayer, red button and on the bbc sport website, and bbc two from 1pm. next season's premier league fixtures have been published. it's the earliest start to the top division, because of the winter world cup in qatar. it gets going on a friday night, with palace taking on arsenal on the 5th of august. champions manchester city are away at west ham on the opening weekend, as they go for a fifth premier league title in six seasons. none of the so—called big six clubs will play each other on the weekend of november 12th and 13th, that's at the request of the fa to protect the core of the england squad before heading to qatar on the 15th. elsewhere, liverpool travel to fulham. it's the fourth season in a row thatjurgen klopp�*s side open the season against the championship winners. newly promoted bournemouth start at home to aston villa, and nottingham forest's first premier league match this century will be away at newcastle united. that's all the sport for now. you can find more on all those

stories on the bbc sport website. the us open golf is under way in the pretty early stages there. the england cricket squad has been named for the third test event against new zealand, i will be back with updates throughout the afternoon. i hope you are not suggesting the fixture list is fixed in the favour of liverpool! i fixture list is fixed in the favour of liverpool!— fixture list is fixed in the favour of liverpool! i knew you'd bite! it is a bit odd, _ of liverpool! i knew you'd bite! it is a bit odd, though, _ of liverpool! i knew you'd bite! it is a bit odd, though, isn't - of liverpool! i knew you'd bite! it is a bit odd, though, isn't it? - is a bit odd, though, isn't it? thank you very much! let's ta ke let's take a look at some of the stories making use right across the united kingdom. for

families coming to the uk from the ukraine there are many adjustments to make. at a school in poole, there have been many more applications and there are places. at a primary school has welcomed a number of ukrainian children and a report has been to see how they are settling in. here, pupils up in welcoming classmates from ukraine in recent weeks. we met chris, his family fled kyiv in the early days of the war. his mother says it is a huge relief to see him and his brother settling in. ~ ., ., , , , in. we are only 'ust settled in, it was hard for — in. we are onlyjust settled in, it was hard for him _ in. we are onlyjust settled in, it was hard for him because - in. we are onlyjust settled in, it was hard for him because he - in. we are onlyjust settled in, itj was hard for him because he had in. we are onlyjust settled in, it i was hard for him because he had to start at 7am because of the time difference. it'sjust good start at 7am because of the time difference. it's just good to have this routine for them, go to school, do lots of interesting stuff here.

make some friends. it's just more like normal. make some friends. it's 'ust more like normal.— make some friends. it's 'ust more like normal. another new arrival is oral, his family _ like normal. another new arrival is oral, his family were _ like normal. another new arrival is oral, his family were sheltering . like normal. another new arrival is oral, his family were sheltering in | oral, his family were sheltering in a bunkerfor some time before being able to make it here to safety. she has very little english but the staff here say that each pupil six achievements are rated in a toy. i5 achievements are rated in a toy. i3 about giving them opportunities to develop friendships, so, additional pastoral care in the school and it being a sensitive to their situation and the traumas they have been through as well, not separating them, not making the difference, but including them and giving them a bit of time when they need it. the council says — of time when they need it. the council says it _ of time when they need it. the council says it has _ of time when they need it. the council says it has so far had 127 applications, 30 children are still waiting for school places. they a very recent and they are confident they have capacity in their system

to accommodate all applicants. members of an angling group in derbyshire say they want to inspire more people with disabiliites to take up the sport. wardens at ladybower reservoir are trying to encourage more children and adults to go along and try fishing. 0ur colleagues went out on the water with them. it's a confidence boost. it's given me loads because i have not been out of the house for so long. and just being here hasjust totally changed my life. for the better. i initially came here to watch my husband fish, just to get out of the house, really, because i've got me and fibromyalgia. i've been fishing here now- with the british disabled angling association for two years now. i started fishing about a year ago, just here. i used to fish all the time when i was a kid. i lived down by the seaside and i... it never crossed my mind that i would be able to fly fish, it seemed eminently two—handed. i've been keeping a friend company

who fishes he very kindly asked me how i got on with fish and i said i don't fish _ i'd not even thought about fishing with one arm. i didn't initially have enough- energy or do it as everybody else does it but troy managed to get me a fishing winch that enables me - to not fatigue as fast as i normally would. | with the kit, you learn how to do it my way, as you have to do when you are one—handed or if you've got any differently abled kind of thing going on. slots in there, like that. when you are playing a fish, you just sort of bring the line in nice and gently now. that's why we are saying about the change you get in some people who are really difficult at school. they come out here and, all of a sudden, their whole environment's changed. the place itself. it'sjust so... therapeutic, being away, just being out there on a boat and even on the bankside. it's somewhere different.

it's out in the countryside, out in the fresh air and it's amazing the difference you can see in people. just... a good atmosphere. my anxiety, my depression, everything is lifting through just sitting here. the anticipation of the fish and everything isjust... it's a sport that i can do. and do 0k. a student from bristol has designed a unique sensory pod to be used by people with autism and other sensory differences. angharad, who studies architecture at uwe, has adhd herself, and created thejoey pods as a response to the anxiety attacks her son can experience. harriet robinson reports. this is the pod designed by my mother. joey is a confident i2—year—old. but sometimes he gets overwhelmed. ifind it a bit harder

to control my emotions, so sometimes, when it's really crowded and really loud or people are being a bit, yes, i start to freak out a bit. you can sit in the pod and just relax and chill out. whenjoey�*s mum had to design a structure for her degree, she thought about how she could help him. joey is currently home—schooled and that is due to sensory overloading in classrooms and there aren't any safe spaces for children to go to in school due to lack of space and funding and staffing. thejoey pods are of made wood which can be reshaped and resized in minutes, with lights and headphones playing calming sounds. bristol's autistic community advised the designer. all autistic individuals have some | kind of sensory processing issue. i the joey pod offers a separation. between you and the outside world that provides a safe i space in itself, so it's

reducing that sensory- overload by putting a barrier between you and what's happening outside _ i feel quite comfortable, quite relaxed quite safe in the pod away from everyone else, just listening to noises and music. angharad says existing pods are often large, inflexible, plastic structures, so she's trying to make surejoey pods are adaptable and affordable. i didn't realise how many people felt isolated to to the fact that they have autism in their family and the lack of awareness about autism and meltdowns and also poor design in architecture and the city centre. while this is just a prototype, the plan is to introduce them into schools by the end of the year. and by next year, you could be seeing them at festivals and other large events. i feel really proud of my mum, i feel really happy that we're having an impact on the world.

the slump in digital currencies has continued, with bitcoin falling close to $20,000 dollars on wednesday, before recovering slightly. bitcoin has now lost 70% of its value since its record high back in november. the crash is being felt in the central american nation of el salvador, which has poured millions of dollars into bitcoin and encouraged citizens to use it for everyday transactions. joe tidy reports. it's hard to get an appointment in el salvador�*s newly opened pet hospital. the reason, animals are given all the care they need forjust 25 cents. the only catch, it has to be paid for with bitcoin.

the pet hospital is the latest idea from the government to get people to embrace bitcoin. it's been nine months since the country's cryptocurrency loving president made bitcoin an officially legal tender alongside the us dollar. acceptande coin? si. many businesses now accept this digital currency, that started on niche internet forums. the novelty has created an uptick in so—called bitcoin tourists, and the idea is spreading. the central african republic has also made bitcoin legal tender. for el salvador, bitcoin take—up is being led by a highly marketed and heavily subsidised app called chivo. everyone in this poor central american country gets $30 of bitcoin free just for signing up. gilberto sandoval is accepting money from his sister in guatemala through the app. it's saving him a fortune in cross—border fees.

but gilberto, like many people we spoke to, rarely uses bitcoin in chivo, preferring the stability of the digital dollar option. and surveys suggest usage of the app is waning and that salvadorans are confused about this technology. there's also a feeling that, if people do accept a worry about the volatility. the price of bitcoin goes up and down so fast, people are scared to accept it. the government has spent at least $200 million encouraging people to use bitcoin through chivo, and president bukele has spent almost $100 million buying bitcoin, celebrating each purchase with a tweet. the coins have plummeted in value, thanks to recent crypto crashes.

the government says it's confident in its long—term plan. in fact, president bukele is doubling down bitcoin. he's planning to build a state—of—the—art city shrine to cryptocurrency, but the project is months behind schedule and has not yet been paid for. i'm joined now by kate baucherel, cryptocurrency expert and author. thank you for being with us. does this show you it has been a bit of a disaster in el salvador, investing so heavily in bitcoin? i disaster in el salvador, investing so heavily in bitcoin?— disaster in el salvador, investing so heavily in bitcoin? i don't think so. the intentions _ so heavily in bitcoin? i don't think so. the intentions behind - so heavily in bitcoin? i don't think so. the intentions behind it - so heavily in bitcoin? i don't think so. the intentions behind it havel so. the intentions behind it have

been quite sound and quite interesting.— been quite sound and quite interesting. been quite sound and quite interestini. , ., , ., interesting. 0k, tell us a bit more what were — interesting. 0k, tell us a bit more what were the _ interesting. 0k, tell us a bit more what were the intentions - interesting. 0k, tell us a bit more what were the intentions why - interesting. 0k, tell us a bit more what were the intentions why is i interesting. 0k, tell us a bit more what were the intentions why is it| what were the intentions why is it still a good idea? it’s what were the intentions why is it still a good idea?— what were the intentions why is it still a good idea? it's more... the actual adoption _ still a good idea? it's more... the actual adoption of _ still a good idea? it's more... the actual adoption of bitcoin - still a good idea? it's more... the actual adoption of bitcoin is - actual adoption of bitcoin is controversial but it's interesting to see. el salvador doesn't have its own currency but it has been using the dollar. it doesn't have any monetary control, like we do in the uk with pounds sterling, so bringing a second option that is under no one's control is an interesting way of detaching from the power of washington's decisions and possibly bringing a bit more stability, the choosing one of the most volatile available currency are slightly altered decision. what they're also bringing with the wallet is the idea of financial stability, some access to the fintech and the options we have here in europe. talk to the fintech and the options we have here in europe.— have here in europe. talk to is about why _ have here in europe. talk to is about why bitcoin _ have here in europe. talk to is

about why bitcoin has - have here in europe. talk to is about why bitcoin has fallen i have here in europe. talk to is| about why bitcoin has fallen so dramatically? it has been an interesting 5; dramatically? it has been an interesting— dramatically? it has been an interestini ., ., ., interesting a few weeks, have to sa ! interesting a few weeks, have to say! there _ interesting a few weeks, have to say! there have _ interesting a few weeks, have to say! there have been _ interesting a few weeks, have to say! there have been a - interesting a few weeks, have to say! there have been a numberl interesting a few weeks, have to l say! there have been a number of factors, them economic conditions are in the world with inflation rising and the challenges to stocks and shares as well, that was always going to be an issue for something which is now part of a large investment portfolio. so, as investors dump their stocks and shares to mitigate risk, so they are also dumping bitcoin, and then we obviously get a larger supply than demand and that affects the price. but a 70% fall in its value, that's huge. and you said yourself, volatile, it really is, so there are other countries considering this, like the central african republic, doesn't that make it unsustainable for countries to think about going down this road? i for countries to think about going down this road?— down this road? i think there are caveats. down this road? i think there are caveats- for— down this road? i think there are caveats. for a _ down this road? i think there are caveats. for a start, _ down this road? i think there are caveats. for a start, the - down this road? i think there are j caveats. for a start, the all-time caveats. for a start, the all—time high was very high and we had a very

fast rise to it, and overall, the trend in terms of value is generally upwards. the central african republic system an interesting one, because they have very low internet adoption, around 7% of the population has online access, so i don't see how digital currency is going to work well there in any way. but the point with the start at el salvador say start of the closed ecosystem, so there wasn't any conversion backwards and forwards between bitcoin and dollars, they were just paying each other in bitcoin like cowrie shells, in the old days. bitcoin like cowrie shells, in the old da s. ., ., bitcoin like cowrie shells, in the old da s. ., ,, bitcoin like cowrie shells, in the old da s. ., ~' , bitcoin like cowrie shells, in the oldda s. ., ,, , . bitcoin like cowrie shells, in the old da s. ., ., , . thank old days. thank you very much. thank ou. a new charity is being set up to look after service animals when they retire from active duty. the national foundation for retired service animals has been set up by lady bathurst in cirencester, who will be working with the police, fire and prison services

across the country. steve knibbs reports. i was told by the police at this dog training session this morning that the only real way to understand it was to take part. so, quick bit of training in how to be aggressive. get off! that brings the dog up. and the dog will definitely go for that and not another part of my body. well, hopefully. what is the name of the dog? psycho or fang. so with him ready, bring on the overacting. come on, send the dog, if you like. this is your last chance. come on! put the stick down. stand still. i would not want to be on the end of that for real. good boy, that's better.

what a lot of power you have. there is no doubting that he is at the peak of his career but pc rich hunt has another dog, holly, a 15—year—old retired search dog who is now a family pet. they are your best mates and we spend more time with the police dog than with family. they are at home, they live with us, so when they retire, really, we just want to repay them for everything they have done for us and we think they deserve a really good life, at home, and i could not think of giving her up or sending her anywhere, she deserves a good retirement. but retirement comes at a cost, and lady bathurst, who is passionate about service animals, has set out a judge to help out ——up a charity to help financially across the police, fire and prison service. they need help and no insurance companies will touch them and if they will, the premiums are extremely high because of the work that they have done. and it means that on a police or prison or fire officer's salary,

they are looking at some pretty high veterinary bills later in life when they will inevitably need help. 0ther charities like this one in the west country help police dogs already at a local level. but the new foundation aims to plug gaps across the uk, helping all service animals when they finally put their paws up. and reward. that was steve knibbs reporting. now it's time for a look at the weather. hello there. plenty of blue sky and warm sunshine again today across england and wales, but it's here where we'll see the peak of the heat tomorrow. it will feel hot and increasingly more humid and muggy, too. further north and west, it's cooler, it's cloudier, there'll be some outbreaks of rain, and that's because there's weather fronts draped across scotland and northern ireland. this front will gradually sink southwards throughout the course of the weekend, introducing those fresher conditions eventually for all, but also some heavy, thundery downpours too, particularly

across southern areas, and the winds will start to pick up as well. let's take a look in a bit more detail, then. so, overnight tonight, it's a lovely evening to come across england and wales. further north, then, there's some outbreaks of quite heavy, persistent rain moving into western scotland, eventually pushing eastwards throughout the night. it's feeling muggy, humid, uncomfortable for sleeping. for much of england and wales, temperatures won't drop much below ia to 16 degrees celsius. and then into friday morning, a cold front is sinking southwards, that's going to introduce some outbreaks of light, patchy rain and drizzle for many across southern scotland, the borders, into northern england as we head through the afternoon, but some sunny skies developing behind it. further north, the temperature peaks in the south, lots of sunshine, 32 or 33 degrees celsius. watch out for some low cloud, misty conditions towards north devon and cornwall, the coasts here, possibly the coastal areas of pembrokeshire as well. so, here are the highs for tomorrow. they are a good 12 degrees celsius, in many cases, above the seasonal average.

but it's quite a brief peak of the heat because temperatures will be dropping, remember, over the weekend. along with all of that sunshine come some very high pollen levels and of course, the uv levels will also be high. so, this is what happens on saturday. 0ur cold air towards the north meets warm air pushing in from the south. lots of instability, strong winds and some heavy, thundery downpours, probably in this sort of position. sunshine behind further north. towards the far southeast, the heat may well hang on for another day. the focus of those heavy, thundery downpours will be a little further south, probably, on sunday. still some uncertainty. it remains quite windy towards the south. further north, fresher conditions, yes, but there will be some sunny spells on and off throughout the day too. temperatures generally peaking on sunday between 16 and 20 degrees.

this is bbc news. the headlines... boris johnson's former ethics adviser says he resigned last night because the prime minister put him in an "impossible and odious" position over a plan to risk breaking the ministerial code. last night, after making clear his frustrations he would consider revive —— resigning before. also told mps it was reasonable to suggest the prime minister may have breached the ministerial code. in his resignation letter, lord geidt says he came close to quitting over the partygate scandal. interest rates up again to 1.25% — the highest in more than a decade. the transport secretary has described next week's rail strikes as an act of self—harm

by the union leadership.