The Met, Essex Police and Trading Standards officers carried out a large search of the Willow Farm Car Boot Sale in April.

Working with a specially trained dog that can sniff out items marked with synthetic DNA, officers identified and seized around 1,000 tools.

Four men were arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

Inspector Daniel Selby, with Essex Police said, “trading stolen and counterfeit goods is illegal and inexcusable, so we are working with our partners to disrupt supply lines and arrest those who are profiting from crime”.

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The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPHE) is planning to improve access to apprenticeships and retention rates over the next two years.

The trade body outlined its plans in its official manifesto published earlier this month.

CIPHE estimates that 45,000 new recruits will be needed every year until 2030, to fill the current skills gap.

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The Lighthouse Charity delivered over £5 million worth of charitable support last year.

According to the charity’s impact report, it provided to over 5,000 families last year, a 29% increase on 2023.

It also stated that more than 55% of the cases it handled were done by its caseworkers, who navigated complex needs to ensure individuals accessed their statutory entitlements.

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