National News

Here are the latest stories from the team at Radio News Hub. The links will open in a new page and take you to their website.

• Twenty wickets tumble on frenzied first day at MCG as England trail by 46 runs

  Chaos ruled in front of a record Ashes crowd as Australia got the better of the Boxing Day madness at the MCG.

• Tracy Ann Oberman returns to EastEnders as Chrissie Watts

  Actress Tracy-Ann Oberman has spoken about her emotional return to EastEnders, as her character is back on screens to “create havoc” in Albert Square.

• Cold health alert issued for Christmas Day

  A cold health alert has been issued for Christmas Day, as forecasters said the prospect of a white Christmas was “highly unlikely”.

• Flu hospital admissions fall as health officials warn virus still with us

  Hospital admissions for flu in England are falling for the first time this winter, though health officials have warned the virus is “still with us” and that infections could “bounce back” in the new year.

• Tributes paid to 13 year old girl as police continue to investigate death

  The family of a 13-year-old girl have said they are “heartbroken” by her death, as police continue to investigate after arresting a teenage boy on suspicion of harassment.

• Passengers face rail disruption during Christmas Eve getaway

  Passengers travelling home on Christmas Eve have faced travel difficulties after railway services from a major airport were disrupted because of a lack of staff.

• More shoppers hit high streets and retail parks for late Christmas purchases

  Shoppers descended on UK high streets and retail parks to buy last-minute gifts on Christmas Eve, boosting retailers amid a challenging consumer backdrop.

• More than a million expected to be working on Christmas Day

  More than one million people will be working on Christmas Day, often in low-paid jobs, according to new research.

• Kings pilgrimage themed Christmas message filmed in Westminster Abbey

  The King has chosen Westminster Abbey as the location for his Christmas broadcast, which will have the key theme of pilgrimage.

• Pregnant women urged to get flu vaccine as soon as possible

  Royal Colleges representing more than 90,000 health professionals have joined forces to urge pregnant women to get their flu vaccine as soon as possible.

• Jofra Archer ruled out of Ashes tour as England dealt fresh blow

  England’s demoralising Ashes tour lurched to a fresh low as their player of the series, Jofra Archer, was ruled out with the latest in a long line of injuries.

• Baby boy who has spent the majority of his life in hospital home for Christmas

  A baby boy who has been in hospital for the majority of his life is preparing to spend his first Christmas at home after finally being discharged.

• Man accused of drugging and raping ex wife remanded into custody

  A man accused of drugging and raping his ex-wife over a 13-year period has been remanded into custody, with five other men due to appear in court over alleged sex offences against her.

• Injured police officer wakes from coma after Bondi terror attack

  A police officer injured in the Bondi terror attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia has woken from a medically induced coma, his family said.

• Free prescriptions for youngsters leaving care in bid to tackle barriers

  Young people leaving care will benefit from free prescriptions, as well as free dental and eye care, until their 25th birthday under new measures announced by the Government.

• Christmas Eve set to be busiest day in 2025 for ATM withdrawals says Link

  Christmas Eve will be the busiest day for cash machines in 2025, with nearly £370 million set to be withdrawn on December 24, ATM and cash access network Link predicts.

• UK backed project turning Kenya tea waste into clean energy and fertiliser

  A UK-backed initiative is working with farmers in Kenya to turn tea waste into clean energy and fertiliser.

• Barry Manilow will have surgery for cancerous spot on lung

  Singer Barry Manilow has revealed he has a cancerous spot on his lung and will undergo surgery.

• Driving Home For Christmas singer Chris Rea dies at 74

  Singer Chris Rea, whose songs include the festive hit Driving Home For Christmas, has died at the age of 74, a spokesperson for his family said.

• Artwork thought to be by Banksy appears at foot of London skyscraper

  Two people lie on the ground looking up at a London skyscraper in the latest artwork thought to be by graffiti artist Banksy.

• David Walliams dropped from Waterstones Childrens Book Festival

  Children’s author and comedian David Walliams has been removed from the line-up for the Waterstones Children’s Book Festival, the book chain has said.

• Russian general killed by bomb under his car in Moscow

  A Russian general was killed on Monday morning after an explosive device detonated underneath his car in Moscow.

• Jimmy Kimmel to deliver Channel 4s 2025 Alternative Christmas Message

  US chat show host Jimmy Kimmel will deliver Channel 4’s 2025 Alternative Christmas Message, saying it has been a “great year” from “a fascism perspective”.

• Job vacancies fell for fifth month in a row in November report

  Job vacancies fell for the fifth month in a row in November as employers remained cautious amid ongoing economic uncertainty, according to a report.

• DVLA action doesnt touch side of whats needed for number plate crackdown

  Driving authorities must crack down on a “number plate wild west”, an MP has said, after figures showed just a fraction of suppliers faced an audit this year.