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A MUM was stunned to discover she’d been threatened with a £2,500 fine and court proceedings over simply putting her bin out a day early.

Ariane Sherine, 44, had followed the usual procedure of putting her recycling bag out on the pavement outside her house.

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Ariane Sherine was fined by her local council for putting her bins out a day early[/caption]

Peter Jordan

The mum, who lives in east London, was horrified to discover she had been threatened with a £2,500 over the mistake[/caption]

But the mum-of-one had absent-mindedly done this on Monday rather than Tuesday evening – ahead of collection on Wednesday morning.

The next thing she knew, her local east London council had gone through her rubbish to pin down her identity.

Thanks to packaging from an Amazon delivery inside the bag, they were successful – and slapped her with a £100 fine.

Later correspondence stated that if she failed to pay this off, she could be prosecuted in the magistrates court and charged a whopping £2,500, the author and journalist claimed.

“I thought, oh my god, what if this gives me a criminal record,” she said.

“Then I won’t be able to get home insurance.”

In the initial letter, seen by The Sun, Ariane was instructed to answer a list of questions about the incident – in an “interview under caution” under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

It added that if she did not reply to the letter, she may be forced to pay a £400 fine.

The Londoner told The Sun: “It was pretty scary because it said that I was being interviewed under caution under a specific legal act.

“It was like, wow, I just forgot bin day. That’s all. And I’m suddenly being interviewed under caution.

“I try and be a good person, do the right things, tell the truth, stay within the law.

“It never occurred to me that leaving my recycling out, just getting the day wrong, could lead to this kind of scary letter.”

Ariane protested the decision, but the council informed her it would be pressing on with a fixed penalty notice for the £100.

And when this took a week to arrive, she started to panic that the threats of a £2,500 fine and court proceedings might come to fruition.

She said: “I was just stressing all week.”

Ariane believes the incident was a result of council fears over intentional littering.

She added: “We’ve got a big problem with fly-tipping in our area.

“There’s always discarded mattresses and clothes on the road side. And I think I got caught up in that.”

It comes as a frustrated driver wracked up a remarkable six parking fines in a city he’d never even visited – and was even threatened by bailiffs.

Meanwhile, another motorist was hit with a £145 fine for parking in his own drive.

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Ariane was told forced to take part in an ‘interview under caution’ over the incident[/caption]

Peter Jordan

She was told she may have to appear in the magistrates court[/caption]

Peter Jordan

Ariane put her recycling bag out on the pavement on Monday rather than Tuesday evening[/caption]

M&S shoppers have been going wild for a £6 room spray that they say is “the smell of Christmas”.

The posh shop has released mandarin, clove and cinnamon room spray and fans just can’t get enough of it.

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M&S’ Christmas room spray has been getting a lot of love from shoppers[/caption]

And with just 45 days until the big day, it’s fair to say that its helped many shoppers to get into the Christmas spirit.

Writing in the reviews on the M&S website, one enthusiastic customer said: “A staple every year honestly just screams Christmas.

“Perfect festive scent always complimented on the aroma in the home love it.”

While another said: “This is my regular favourite scent of winter and Christmas.”

And a third wrote: “Smells of Christmas..love this smell.

“I buy three bottles and use it a lot during the year.”

A fourth cried: “Brought four of these before they sell out.

“This is the best scent for the Christmas period ever!!!!

“They sell out fast in store so don’t wait!!!”

The spray combines mandarin with sweet, spicy notes of clove and cinnamon.

It comes in a 100ml glass bottle which is decorated with a festive scene that M&S say makes it a “stylish addition to your decor”.

The scene shows a red front door adorned with Christmas lights and a wreath.

You can buy the scent at M&S where you’ll find it in the homeware section.

If you’re not sure where your nearest branch is, you can find it using the store locator tool on the M&S website.

You can also order it online, but bear in mind you will have to pay a small fee for delivery.

We had a quick Google to see how the M&S spray compared price-wise with other similar items on sale at the moment.

The White Company is selling a 100ml winter home spray for £18 – £12 more than the M&S spray, plus it’s the same size.

Aery Living is flogging a 50ml festive home scent, but it costs £18 and it’s only half the size of M&S’ offering.

We did manage to find two festive spray that was slightly cheaper than M&S’ product.

Dunelm has two £5 room sprays for sale online and in its stores, and the bottle is slightly bigger at 114ml.

There are two variations of the spray – white winter fir and spiced pinecone.

It always pays to compare prices so you know you’re getting the best deal, and remember to factor in the cost of delivery if you’re ordering online.

Prices can also vary day to day and by what deals are on at the time, plus remember you might pay for delivery if you’re ordering online.

You can compare prices on platforms like Google Shopping.

This room spray isn’t the only item that M&S shoppers are raving about this Christmas.

The M&S Light Up Candles have returned to shelves, just in time for the festive season.

The posh shop is also selling a solid milk chocolate presents sleigh for just a fiver and customers say they are “brilliant”.

What else is M&S selling this Chrismas?

M&S is renowned for its Christmas food, it’s the time of year when shoppers upgrade their usual food shop and spend a little bit more as a treat.

We were lucky enough to try M&S’ huge Christmas range with 450 new items including Xmas dinner dip, turkey feast lasagne and hot honey brie.

A dip inspired by Christmas dinner featuring bacon bits, turkey, cranberry and even stuffing will be top of my shopping list this year.

Served up on little crisp breads, or scooped up with crisps, the dish is something you could eat by the spoonful.

Not forgetting the tipples for the big day, shoppers will be pleased to see the return of the original snow globe gin liqueur after being missing from shelves last year.

In previous years the drinks have been so popular that M&S slapped them with a buying limit because of the huge demand.

This year the liqueur which contains edible gold glitter comes in just one flavour, Clementine, and in a new gifting box for £20 (70cl).

White mulled wine (£6, 11%) is another new twist on a winter favourite, with pear, vanilla and mulled spice flavours.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

THIS is the shocking moment two drivers get into a fight in the middle of the road before one is nearly run over.

The bizarre road rage incident reportedly happened on the A6 in Buxton town centre, Derbyshire, on Tuesday.

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The scuffle happened in the middle of the road[/caption]

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Punches were thrown as the two cars were parked up on a roundabout[/caption]

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Other people stepped in to try to stop the altercation[/caption]

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Other vehicles were forced to manoeuvre the incident[/caption]

It was captured by a bystander before being shared with The Sun.

A silver BMW is seen parked over a mini roundabout while the pair scrap it out and an elderly woman tries to intervene.

A silver Ford car sits on the inside lane with the driver door open and indicator flashing.

Other motorists can be heard sounding their horns as they manoeuvre the hold up, while a queue slowly forms.

The Ford driver begins wildly throwing punches at the BMW owner while he’s in a headlock as the woman tries to drag him off.

The BMW driver, having lost his sunglasses but seemingly finding a second wind, then ploughs forward towards the other man as he backs off before several people step in to stop the fight.

It’s unclear what the argument is about, but the Ford driver begins shouting and gesturing with his hands, before getting into his car.

The other man then leans through the BMW window and appears to take out a phone before stepping in front of the Ford.

He appears to prepare to film on his phone but jumps as the car jerks forward and puts his hand on the bonnet.

The Ford driver sounds his horn and a woman, who was in the passenger seat then gets out to confront the man obstructing the way.

The car continues to jump forward and the BMW driver ends up half sprawled over the bonnet.

The driver gets out and says: “You move out of the way, right now. Move now.”

Turning to the woman, he says: “Get in the car.”

He drives away, causing the BMW driver to almost fall over as he stands looking at his phone.

He then appears to film the Ford as it drives off out of view.

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Do you know more? Email: ryan.merrifield@thesun.co.uk

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As one driver tried to leave the scene, the BMW driver is seen trying to block his way[/caption]

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The driver gets out to tell him to move[/caption]

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He is then almost knocked over as the driver pulls away[/caption]

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He films as the Ford drives off[/caption]

THE temperatures have dropped dramatically outside.

And as winter well and truly sets in, there are some jobs you need to get to work on if you want to protect your garden during the colder months.

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There are some red flags you need to look out for to protect your garden in the winter[/caption]

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Wooden garden furniture can be ruined in the cold temperatures if not stored correctly or, at the very least, covered over[/caption]

According to gardening pros, there are numerous red flags to look out for that could end up landing you with a costly bill.

So they’ve shared the warning signs to look out for, so that you can fix them before winter and stop potential everlasting damage.

First off, sheds.

Rusty hinges are one of the biggest problem areas when it comes to wooden garden sheds.

This is because the hinges can lead to gaps in the doors, meaning that winter winds can get in and cause damage – especially when it snows.

Likewise, it’s important to check your shed’s roof, as cracks can allow rain or snow to get in, leading to mould and potentially structural damage.

It’s also a good idea to ensure your shed has the proper insulation, as it will help keep the contents safe and protected.

There are some red flags to keep an eye on when it comes to your lawn too.

If you’ve got a thin or patchy lawn, it’s more likely to get ‘frost heave’ – a term which describes what happens when the grass is damaged by repeated freezing and thawing.

And don’t forget to clear away leaves or debris from the grass, as the bits blocking the sunlight and trapping moisture in the lawn can encourage the growth of mould.

Try not to compact your soil too much, as doing so can lead to water or ice sitting on top rather than draining below – causing damage to the grass in the process.

It’s also important to keep on top of garden maintenance, with the pros at Crown Pavilions insisting a thorough once over of the green space should be completed twice a year.

Lastly, they explain that you must keep a close check on your fences.

Leaning panels are never good, as a strong storm or winds could lead to it being knocked over, leaving your garden exposed.

Likewise, the fence posts must be secured properly in the ground to ensure they don’t go anywhere when the winds pick up.

And remember to check over the fence panels to look for rot or decay, in the case of wooden fences, or rust on metal fences.

CORONATION Street has sparked intrigue among fans after filming court scenes for an unknown plot.

The iconic Newton and Ridley truck was spotted in Bolton yesterday, with crews stationed at Le Mans Crescent, adjacent to the historic Bolton Magistrates Court.

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While specifics about the new storyline are tightly guarded, the courthouse has previously been the setting for trials within the ITV show.

Currently, the show’s plot centers around a police investigation into the murder of Joel Deering.

The distinctive dark green truck, synonymous with the fictional brewery that supplies the Rovers Return pub, was also present alongside the crew vehicles.

A crew member on site confirmed to The Bolton News that filming was indeed taking place.

Although he did not explicitly mention the soap, he noted that the presence of the green van made it “obvious.”

Signs in the area indicated a parking prohibition for October 31 and November 1.

Bolton has previously served as a backdrop for key Coronation Street storylines, including the trials following the murder of Seb Franklin, which were filmed at the same courthouse in July 2021 and 2022.

Georgia Taylor, known for her role as Toyah Battersby, was spotted in Bolton during the shoot.

The soap has also visited the town multiple times last year, including in April and September, with the Newton and Ridley truck making an appearance during the latter.

ITV has been contacted for comment by The Sun.

In a recent episode, Kit Green dropped a huge hint he’s responsible for Joel’s murder.

Fans of the long-running soap watched as the twisted solicitor was killed off screen, escaping justice.

With channel bosses releasing an official whodunit lineup of potential characters responsible for his demise, Kit hinted he’s to blame.

During Friday’s installment, viewers watched as Kit was placed in charge of the case, after it was decided Lisa’s daughter Betsy’s involvement with Joel meant she was too close to lead the inquiry.

Lisa had told Kit that whoever was driving the red car that crashed into Greg’s wing mirror could have vital info on what happened to Joel.

The revelation left Kit visibly irked as he snapped at Lisa, asking her why she didn’t bring it up until now.

Craig Tinker was tasked with compiling a list of all the red vehicles in the area at time.

But in shock scenes, Kit was caught deleting his car registration from the list back at the station.

Kit hasn’t been revealed as an official suspect for Joel’s murder, so this is a shock curveball.

It remains to be seen just how far his link to the solicitor’s death is and what his next steps are.

Mason Radcliffe recently joined the list of characters in the frame, alongside Dee Dee, Ed and Ronnie Bailey.

Carla Connor is also in the mix, as is DS Lisa Swain.

• Coronation Street continues on ITV1 and ITVX.

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His car was spotted in the area on the eve of his death, and fans watched as he deleted it from the police system[/caption]

A FLIGHT attendant has revealed the grim secrets of plane cabins – and it’s not good news for window seat passengers.

Cher, from Texas, shared the disgusting passenger habits and cleaning shortcuts that may come as a “surprise” to customers.

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Window passengers have been warned to be wary of unclean shades[/caption]

Speaking on her TikTok channel, she warned in particular of barely-cleaned window shades.

She said: “Number one, I’ve never seen the window shade get wiped off ever in my career,’ she shared.”

She added that passengers are prone to touching these shades, saying: “They’re filthy”.

The same lax cleaning efforts apply to seatbelts, according to the Texan – and “not just the buckle part”.

She said: “I’ve seen blowout diapers and vomit on it numerous times.”

She then cautioned against walking around barefoot, as the carpet has probably seen its fair share of vomit too.

Turned her attention to aeroplane bathrooms, Cher revealed that people often vomit in the sink.

She claimed to have witnessed this nauseating event “numerous times”.

But, according to the flight attendant of five years, the sinks barely ever get cleaned.

She said: “If you drop something in there I’d consider it a loss.

“Never have I seen the sinks get cleaned out.”

As a result, passengers should never consider drinking water from the sink, the TikToker insisted.

She explained that the water was “filthy” and had “so much bacteria” in it.

Unfortunately for flyers, this means washing your hands is also a less than appetising prospect, with Cher adding: “Washing your hands with it is probably not great.”

Aside from the sheer disgust of washing your hands in traces of vomit, she also claimed that the water is likely to damage your nails.

Alluding to the viral trend where influencers do their skincare routines on-board flights, the expert concluded that this wasn’t advisable due to the awful hygiene she’s seen in plane bathrooms.

Users rushed to the comments to share their astonishment, with one writing: “So what DOES get cleaned on a plane??”

Another said: “For the price of a ticket the plane should be cleaned well DAILY!!”

A third chimed in with their own advice, saying: “I always bring sanitizing wipes and wipe down every touch point as soon as I sit down. I’m so surprised that I don’t see more people do the same.”

A MUM has revealed how her 12-year-old daughter has saved £5,000 by doing side hustles in her free time.

Milly, who shares her money tips at @budgetwithmilly, revealed this money was on top of the rent and bills she pays being at home too.

tiktok.com/@budgetwithmilly

In a clip, Milly shared: “I said my 12-year-old daughter saved £5,000, and everyone went crazy.”

She showed how the young girl had completed the “100 envelopes challenge”, which is where you tick off numbers one to 100 by adding the number of pounds on the front.

Milly then explained that her daughter has been making money with side hustles, including babysitting, selling sweets, washing cars and washing windows.

The mum continued: “This week, Stiffany made £300.

“We only allow her to spend 20 per cent on anything she wants, and the other 80% goes into her savings challenge.

“We do this to teach her to create positive spending habits so she doesn’t struggle in the real world.

“All the money she saved in her saving book will be a surprise for her when she’s older.”

Milly added that she also charges her kids rent and bills – which has previously caused raised eyebrows from other parents.

She shared: “So let me explain. My kids get a five-pound allowance if they complete their chores around the house.

“We charge our kids for rent, food, and utilities—£1 each.

“With the remaining £2, they put this money in other categories like saving, investing, and spending.

“One question in my previous video was: when did we start charging our kids rent?

“It was when they had a basic understanding of maths.

“My daughter Stephanie started at the age of seven.”

tiktok.com/@budgetwithmilly

Many people took issue with this, with one saying: “RENT AT 7.”

A second commented: “Do they lose their house if they don’t pay rent?”

However, others praised it, with one writing: “tbh i wish my parents wouldve done this.”

Others were impressed with Stiffany’s side hustles at the age of 12.

One wrote: “300 quid a week is mad.”

ENERGY bills higher than ever and temperatures outside are falling even lower.

So we’re all looking for cheap hacks to keep the house warm without turning the heating on.

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If your radiator isn’t performing as efficiently as you would like, there’s a few steps you can take to improve it[/caption]

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You need to start by turning the heating on the radiator down, and allowing it an hour or so to cool down[/caption]

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A radiator brush is vital to cleaning it properly, but you can make one if you don’t already have one[/caption]

But if we do have to resort to turning it on, there are some steps we can take to save ourselves hundreds in bills.

According to one expert, ensuring your radiator is thoroughly clean is a game changer when it comes to retaining heat inside the home.

“We don’t always think about cleaning radiators or towel rails during our usual cleaning routines but actually it’s crucial during winter to ensure they work efficiently,” Nancy Emery, from Only Radiators, said.

“Poor performance from your heating will drain energy and you’ll start to see bills getting more expensive.

“In fact, just by keeping your radiators clean during winter could mean saving hundreds on your gas bill every year.”

In addition to the cost implications, a dirty radiator could mean that more moisture collects in the room, as the heat output is blocked.

“If left this can start to build up quite quickly, exposing you to damp risk,” Nancy added.

“Unfortunately, this will only get worse over time and may even lead to mould.

“So it’s really important to not only clean your radiators but understand how to clean them properly.”

First of all, you need to turn off your heating.

Turn the TRV (Thermostatic Radiator Valve) if you have one to zero and allow your radiator a couple of hours to cool down.

“This will not only stop you burning yourself, it will help prevent the convection currents drawing any more dust into the radiator as you clean,” Nancy explained.

Next, grab your hoover and start vacuuming, starting from behind and getting inside the radiator as much as you can – using the extendable hose if your hoover has one.

If you don’t have one, use a long-handled duster or radiator brush.

Once you’ve cleaned the outside, try and use the vacuum hose to point inside the top of the radiator to suck out as much loose dust as possible.

“A great tip for cleaning behind the radiator is to get a hairdryer and give it a good blast on the highest setting to help push out all the hidden dust you can’t reach,” Nancy smiled.

Once you’ve removed as much of the dust as you can, get to work with your radiator brush.

The long tool, with a brush on the end, allows you to get to the hard to reach places of your radiator and remove any dust.

But if you don’t have one in your cleaning cupboard, you needn’t worry, as there’s an easy way to create your own.

“Find a long piece of wire, or something similar such as an unravelled wire coat hanger and attach a duster to the end,” Nancy advised.

“This should allow you to clear out most of the dust from inside the radiator.”

And remember to put a towel or dust sheet under the radiator when you’re doing this to catch any dirt that falls out.

Then it’s time to clean the outside.

“Mix some washing up liquid inside a bucket of hot water until foamy,” Nancy said.

“Dunk your sponge and wring out excess water until damp.

“Wipe down the outside of your radiator, pipework, and valves until they are dust and grime free.”

Once you’ve got your radiator sparkly clean, the last step is to clean up the area around it.

“If you live in a home with smokers or moulting pets, then the heat of your radiator can sometimes cause the smoke, dirt, and hair to stick to your walls,” Nancy said.

“In any case, giving the walls directly around the radiator a wash with soapy water is a good idea.

“It’s likely you’ll have pulled a lot of dust and dirt out from behind the radiator during the clean, so make sure you also wipe down the skirting boards and the floor too.”

The final step is to perform a radiator flush – to get rid of any remaining sludge inside.

To perform a flush, you need to remove the drained radiator completely and run water through it using a hose to flush out the sludge. 

THE late Queen planned to kick Meghan Markle and Prince Harry out of Frogmore Cottage and move Prince Andrew in, according to reports.

The Duke of York, 64, was also described as a “bully” in a new book by royal writer Robert Hardman published in the Daily Mail.

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The late Queen planned to kick Meghan Markle and Prince Harry out of Frogmore Cottage[/caption]

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Queen Elizabeth II wanted to find Andrew another home[/caption]

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The Duke of York, 64, was also described as a ‘bully’[/caption]

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Ian Whittaker

Prince Andrew driving his Range Rover today[/caption]

Mr Hardman claimed Queen Elizabeth II wanted to find Andrew another home away from the Royal Lodge – a 30-room mansion in Windsor Great Park.

Such a move would have involved booting The Duke and Duchess of Sussex out of Frogmore Cottage.

Citing an insider source, Mr Hardman writes: “‘Had she lived another year, he would have been out,’ says a former adviser to Elizabeth II firmly.

“‘It was her plan to move him out, to end the lease for the Sussexes at Frogmore Cottage and to move Andrew in there.

“‘It was mainly a money thing, as she could see it was becoming unsustainable.'”

Mr Hardman also alleged that the late Queen’s staff were “more than happy to make it happen”.

When his rooms were taken over in Buckingham Palace, one staff member recalled: “‘No one felt guilty about taking over his office because he and his people had become bullies by the end.'”

It follows reports the King is cutting financial ties to the disgraced Duke of York.

Andrew’s annual £1 million “living allowance” has been withdrawn by Charles.

The move will be seen as another step the King has taken to publicly distance himself from his younger brother following his association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Mr Hardman claimed the keeper of the privy purse was “instructed to sever his living allowance” after Andrew reportedly refused to move out of the Royal Lodge into the nearby smaller Frogmore Cottage.

The duke was said to have signed a 75-lease on the Royal Lodge.

Mr Hardman writes: “‘The duke is no longer a financial burden on the King,’ confirms one familiar with the situation.

“‘He claims to have found other sources of income related to his contacts in international trade, sufficient to cover all his costs – which would be a welcome outcome for all parties if that turns out to be the case.

“‘But as to whether this funding can be relied upon in the long term is another matter.'”

The Sun on Sunday reported in August that the King was axing Andrew’s security at the Royal Lodge.

It had been privately funded by Charles after his brother lost publicly-funded police protection in 2022.

In July, palace officials confirmed that Frogmore Cottage remained empty more than a year after the Sussexes officially vacated the property.

Pressure mounted on Andrew earlier this year after the unsealing of hundreds of pages of court documents connected to the Epstein scandal.

They detailed how the financier’s former housekeeper Juan Alessi claimed the duke had daily massages when he spent “weeks” at the paedophile’s Florida home.

Previous allegations that Andrew sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre three times when she was 17 years old, including during an orgy, also resurfaced in the court documents.

He has strenuously denied the allegations, saying he never met her, and in 2022 paid millions to Ms Giuffre to settle a civil case out of court.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story by Robert Hardman, to be published by Macmillan on November 7.

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Andrew hasn’t received an income since becoming embroiled in sex allegations[/caption]

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King Charles laid off Andrew’s ten-strong private security detail earlier this year[/caption]

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It is unclear whether he received any major windfall from his late mother’s will when she passed away in September 2022[/caption]

A BIOTECH startup believes its nanoparticle injections could be used to heal the many ails astronauts will face on deep-space missions.

Nanotics has recently been selected to participate in the SPACE-H Accelerator programme, backed by Nasa’s Human Research Program and Microsoft Federal.

The initiative is designed to advance medical capabilities that can minimise the health risks in human spaceflight.

In just a six-month space station stay, astronauts are at the mercy of cancer-causing radiation and immune system dysregulation, which can lead to sepsis.

The likelihood of succumbing to either life-threatening condition is only heightened the longer astronauts are in space.

A trip to Mars – which the likes of Nasa believe humans will be making sometime in the 2030s – takes about nine months one-way, but roughly three years for a round trip.

“Every six months, according to Nasa’s own data, astronauts are exposed to the equivalent of 1,000 chest X-rays,” Lou Hawthorne, founder and CEO of Nanotics, told The Sun.

“And on a three-year round-trip journey, you’re looking at 6,000 chest X-rays.

“That’s extremely tumorigenic, meaning it induces tumors.

“It’s also extremely pro-inflammatory, so it induces these profound inflammatory responses which can lead to sepsis.”

“[Space] is probably the most challenging environment to be in from a health maintenance perspective,” said Hawthorne.

“We have no evolutionary context for zero gravity. It’s completely new to the human body. So the body reacts to that in unpredictable ways over time.

“It’s fun and games for a few days, but over time, the body is very confused and certain systems at an organ, tissue, cell and signal level don’t work exactly as they do in normal gravity.

“Radiation is a huge factor. It’s far beyond anything that humans are used to on Earth, and that’s going to promote all sorts of diseases.”

On a long duration space flight, all of these problems are going to be amplified.

Lou Hawthorne, founder and CEO of Nanotics

People can go to space healthy but have ‘sleeping’ diseases suddenly awake due to the environment.

“On a long duration space flight, all of these problems are going to be amplified,” he added.

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Astronauts won’t have access to Earth’s array of medicines and healthcare tools in deep-space[/caption]

‘Great potential’

Hawthorne previously worked in animal cloning after a billionaire wanted to replicate his dog.

But after losing a mentor to cancer, Hawthorne took his savings to buy him a couple of years to research how tumors work.

Nanotechnology in healthcare, also known as nanomedicine, is already being used to combat it has been used to combat common conditions like conjunctivitis and glaucoma.

But a study, published in August by Nature, argued that it shows “great potential” for cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Hawthorne’s nanomedicine, called NaNots, essentially targets signals which tumors send to the immune system that say ‘don’t kill me’ – the signals which allow it to grow.

The tech, he claims, will then allow a human’s immune system to shrink the tumour, or tackle a sepsis infection.

“We have shown that it works in various animal models of disease,” he explained, with testing done on humanised mice alongside the Mayo Clinic.

Hawthorne claims NaNots also worked against the molecules responsible for sepsis in a mouse model.

But Nanotics’ medicine is preclinical, meaning that it can’t be used on astronauts today – but possibly in the future if human trials go well.

The experimental treatment is exactly that: experimental.

The Nature study noted that the application of nano-drugs is “unhurried”, with less than 10 per cent of medicines being approved due to safety issues in preclinical and clinical studies.

But the technology, while in its early stages, gives us an insight into how future astronauts might be able to survive deep-space missions, in which they will leave Earth for several years at a time.

We don’t have large machines like MRIs, CTs, big radiation machines, cyclotrons and gamma knives and things like that… in space.

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NaNots, while still experimental, would come in syringe form[/caption]

‘Incredibly compact’

The medicine comes in syringe form, making it “incredibly compact,” according to Hawthorne.

He added: “So, you could pack enough for five years for a dozen astronauts easily in a package the size of a microwave oven.

“We have a massive [amount of] infrastructure and talent available on Earth.

“We don’t have large machines like MRIs, CTs, big radiation machines, cyclotrons and gamma knives and things like that… in space.

“So, you need something that treats disease at the molecular roots and is super compact and doesn’t require returning to Earth.”

The idea is that an astronaut could take a simple finger-prick blood test, which goes into a device that spot can abnormalities like cancer.

These devices, called ELISA kits, already exist, and are currently being modified by other companies to work in space, according to Hawthorne.

Nanotics wants to make a syringe for several conditions deep-space astronauts might encounter.

Astronauts would then pull the right syringe off the shelf for whichever ailment they have, and administer it themselves through an IV.

The company, which secured $1million from one investor just weeks ago, is trying to raise $300million to fund human studies.

Should the company be successful in scraping together that much cash, Hawthorne believes it can begin human trials in 16 to 18 months.

“Anywhere people go, I think this should be in the toolkit,” said Hawthorne.