Pop star Katy Perry and five other women are set to blast into space aboard Jeff Bezos’ space tourism rocket.

The singer will be joined by Bezos’s fiancée Lauren Sánchez and CBS presenter Gayle King.

The New Shepard rocket is due to lift off from its West Texas launch site and the launch window opens at 08:30 local time (14:30 BST).

The flight will last around 11 minutes and take the crew more than 100km (62 miles) above Earth, crossing the internationally recognised boundary of space and giving the crew a few moments of weightlessness.

Also on board are former Nasa rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn.

The spacecraft is fully autonomous, requiring no pilots, and the crew will not manually operate the vehicle.

The capsule will return to Earth with a parachute-assisted soft landing, while the rocket booster will land itself around two miles away from the launch site.

“If you had told me that I would be part of the first-ever all-female crew in space, I would have believed you. Nothing was beyond my imagination as a child. Although we didn’t grow up with much, I never stopped looking at the world with hopeful WONDER!” Mrs Perry said in a social media post.

Blue Origin says the last all-female spaceflight was over 60 years ago when Soviet Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel into space on a solo mission aboard the spacecraft Vostok 6.

Since then, there have been no other all-female spaceflights but women have made numerous significant contributions.

Blue Origin is a private space company founded in 2000 by Bezos, the billionaire entrepreneur who also started Amazon.

Although Blue Origin has not released full ticket prices, a $150,000 (£114,575.85) deposit is required to reserve a seat—underlining the exclusivity of these early flights.

Alongside its suborbital tourism business, the company is also developing long-term space infrastructure, including reusable rockets and lunar landing systems.

The New Shepard rocket is designed to be fully reusable and its booster returns to the launch pad for vertical landings after each flight, reducing overall costs.

According to US law, astronauts must complete comprehensive training for their specific roles.

Blue Origin says its New Shepard passengers are trained over two days with a focus on physical fitness, emergency protocols, details about the safety measures and procedures for zero gravity.

Additionally, there are two support members referred to as Crew Member Seven: one provides continuous guidance to astronauts, while the other maintains communication from the control room during the mission.

The rise of space tourism has prompted criticism that it is too exclusive and environmentally damaging.

Supporters argue that private companies are accelerating innovation and making space more accessible.

Professor Brian Cox told the BBC in 2024: “Our civilisation needs to expand beyond our planet for so many reasons,” and believes that collaboration between NASA and commercial firms is a positive step.

But critics raise significant environmental concerns.

They say that as more and more rockets are launched, the risks of harming the ozone layer increases.

A 2022 study by Professor Eloise Marais from University College London found that rocket soot in the upper atmosphere has a warming effect which is 500 times greater than when released by planes closer to Earth.

The high cost of space tourism makes it inaccessible to most people, with these expensive missions out of reach for the majority.

Critics, including actress Olivia Munn, questioned the optics of this particular venture, remarking “There’s a lot of people who can’t even afford eggs,” during an appearance on Today with Jenna & Friends.

Astronaut Tim Peake has defended the value of human space travel, especially in relation to tackling global issues such as climate change.

At the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Peake voiced his disappointment that space exploration was increasingly seen as a pursuit for the wealthy, stating: “I personally am a fan of using space for science and for the benefit of everybody back on Earth, so in that respect, I feel disappointed that space is being tarred with that brush.”

Additonal reporting by Victoria Gill and Kate Stephens, BBC Climate and Science.

Investigations are continuing into the cause of a house explosion that killed a man and saw dozens of people evacuated from their homes.

Emergency services were called to John Street, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, on Saturday shortly before 20:00 BST.

Disruption was expected around the scene for some time after one terraced house was destroyed and two more partially collapsed.

Police confirmed on Sunday a man in his 50s was discovered in the wreckage having died at the scene.

A major incident was declared by emergency services following the explosion on Saturday evening.

As well as the three houses directly affected, eight other properties and 20 cars were damaged by debris, police said.

One other person was treated for minor injuries.

A number of families have been placed in temporary accommodation, and cordons remain south of John Street and on parts of Sime Street.

On Monday morning, a BBC reporter at the scene said brick and rubble on the road had been cleared, and part of a wall removed.

Vehicles from a demolition company and Bassetlaw District Council housing repair were at the blast site.

Those forced out of their homes have been asking for more information on not only the cause of the explosion and how long they will be out of their homes but also how to retrieve medicine and feed pets.

In a police statement on Sunday evening, Ch Insp Clive Collings said: “I want to reassure our community in Worksop that we are doing everything we can this evening to support residents.

“Officers are working at pace with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service to determine the cause of this tragic incident.

“There will be an increased police presence in the area and a cordon and road closures will remain in place overnight and into tomorrow morning.

“This is a large scene that will take some time to clear, and I want to thank residents for their patience and understanding.”

Residents, who live on and around John Street, spoke of the “chaos” in the wake of the blast, which significantly damaged houses adjacent and opposite to the property.

Joan Smith, who lives on the street, told the BBC: “I’ve never seen so many police, so many ambulances, and I’ve never seen so many fire engines. Nothing usually goes off around here.

“It’s upsetting [that someone has died]. You see these things but never think they’re going to happen in your area.

“We don’t really know what happened yet, and I guess it might take a while.”

Marie Mallion, who lives nearby on Manvers Street, said: “I was sat watching TV with my dogs, and we heard this massive crash, and the dogs went wild, and everyone came out of their doors.

“I felt something had fallen on the roof; it was so loud, it was almost like a bomb had hit it or an earthquake or something.

“It was just the weirdest noise, and everything shook in the house, and things just fell everywhere.”

Purvi Srikenthen, who runs a local shop, said: “We heard there were lots of families affected and children affected.

“So we have tried to give them what they need, especially with food, so what they have asked for we have tried to give them.”

Around 50 people from 35 properties were evacuated and were supported by Bassetlaw District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council.

A number have since returned to their homes but an emergency shelter at Crown Place Community Centre will still be used for those needing support, officials said.

Those still in need of support have been found temporary accommodation.

Everyone in the area has been accounted for, police confirmed.

Fire crews from Warsop, Worksop and Mansfield Fire Station, as well as Clowne Fire Station attended.

Specialist urban search and rescue teams were called in to search the area after the blast, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said.

They had ended their search by Sunday afternoon, a police spokesperson told the BBC at the scene.

Police forces were in several cases unprepared for the level of violence that broke out in riots after the murder of three children in Southport last summer, a report by MPs has found.

It left officers exposed to “significant risk”, the Home Affairs Committee said, in disorder that saw attacks on mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers.

However, the report said the policing response was “entirely appropriate” given the violence and criminality – with no evidence to suggest “two-tier policing”.

The police lead for the national response said the report “rightly praises the efforts” of officers and staff, adding the recommendations will be considered.

Disorder broke out across the country following the fatal stabbing of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga event in Southport in July 2024. Eight further children and two adults were also injured in the attack.

Monday’s report identified 246 events which took place in its aftermath – 88 of which were deemed significant – some turning violent.

As of 22 January this year, 1,804 arrests had been made and 1,072 charges issued, the report said.

Acknowledging this was the worst disorder the country had seen since 2011, MPs said police forces should have “better anticipated the risk of disorder in general” following an initial instance of disorder in Southport.

Officers across the country worked “tirelessly”, the report said, but forces being unable to act proactively left them exposed.

The “bravery and professionalism” of the officers was commended after 302 were injured and between 54 and 69 taken to hospital.

Staffordshire Police Chief Constable Chris Noble told the committee: “This will change some officers for the rest of their lives and they will live with the impacts of it for the rest of their lives.”

The report found no evidence to support claims of “two-tier policing”, finding instead that such commentary “undermined” the efforts of the officers.

“Those participating in disorder were not policed more strongly because of their supposed political views but because they were throwing missiles, assaulting police officers and committing arson,” it said.

Later on the day of the Southport attack, police said they had arrested a 17-year-old male. He was named as Axel Rudakubana three days later, when restrictions preventing him from being identified due to his age were lifted.

Misinformation regarding the identity of the suspect spread quickly online following the attack. Forces and the Home Office said it was a “significant factor” in the spread of disorder.

The reports outlines the “difficult position” Merseyside Police faced around publishing details around the suspect but added the lack of information created a “vacuum”.

Merseyside Police’s police and crime commissioner Emily Spurrell told the BBC’s Today programme: “I think possibly there was a lack of intelligence, particularly in terms of that first so-called protest which obviously then escalated.

“I think potentially if we had known some of the intentions of these individuals then and the scale, then there might have been a different response.

“But as I say that response did come but I think it might just have happened a bit too late.

“That is what as PCCs, if that feedback is available for our forces, then we will reflect on that and that making sure that chiefs in particular learn that lesson.”

A recommendation has been made for the Crown Prosecution Service to publish its new media protocol “as soon as possible” and keep it regularly updated after MPs found existing guidance was “not fit for the social media age”.

A CPS spokesperson said work to update that protocol began before the disorder, adding they “are working to publish an updated version later this year”.

“Alongside this, we support proposals for law reform which will make the application of contempt law clearer and simpler.”

Chief Constable BJ Harrington, who led the national response, said: “We are pleased that the report robustly disagrees with the notion of ‘two tier policing’.

“We are also appreciative of the consideration given to the dangerous of mis- and disinformation on social media, which remain substantial areas of risk for policing…”

Committee chair, Dame Karen Bradley, said “lessons must be learned” from the way the criminal justice system worked as a whole.

“It will need to ensure that police forces can improve how they deal with regular policing work as well as supporting them to develop capacity to respond to crises.”

A government spokesperson said they were “working closely” with police to both improve national decision-making and support for officers.

Talks between the United States and Iran over Iran’s nuclear programme have begun in Muscat, the capital of Oman.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Iranian state television his country wanted a “fair agreement”.

US President Donald Trump pulled the US out of a previous Obama-era nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers in 2018, and has long said he would make a “better” deal. Until now Iran had rejected renegotiating the agreement.

It’s not clear if the two sides will sit in the same room, but the talks are seen as an important first step to establish whether a deal can be done, with Saturday’s meetings expected to focus on establishing a framework for negotiations.

Araghchi has repeatedly emphasised that indirect talks are best at this stage.

President Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, who is leading the US delegation, has only spoken of meeting face-to-face. But the most important issue is what kind of deal each side would accept. President Trump has only said that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.

Iran hopes a deal to limit, but not dismantle, its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

“Our intention is to reach a fair and honourable agreement from an equal position, and if the other side also comes from the same position, then hopefully there will be a chance for an initial understanding that will lead to a path of negotiations,” Araghchi said.

He added that the team that came with him was made up of experts “knowledgeable in this particular field and who have a history of negotiating on this issue”.

Witkoff has also been involved in talks around the Russia-Ukraine war and met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Friday.

US President Donald Trump last month sent a letter to Iran’s supreme leader via the United Arab Emirates, saying he wanted a deal to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to avert possible military strikes by the US and Israel.

Trump disclosed the upcoming talks during a visit to the White House on Monday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said on Tuesday that both leaders had agreed “Iran will not have nuclear weapons”.

Trump has warned the US would use military force if no deal was reached and Iran has repeatedly said it won’t negotiate under pressure.

The US president told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday that this weekend’s meeting in Oman would be “very big”, also warning that it would “be a very bad day for Iran” if the talks were not successful.

Iran insists its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful and it will never seek to develop or acquire nuclear weapons.

However, since Trump pulled out of the 2015 agreement – which expires later this year – Iran has increasingly breached restrictions imposed by the existing nuclear deal, in retaliation for crippling US sanctions reinstated seven years ago, and has stockpiled enough highly-enriched uranium to make several bombs.

An extreme wildfire warning covering all of Scotland is in place for a final day, with rain showers due in parts of the country on Sunday.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said crews remained at the scene of ongoing wildfires and urged the public to “act responsibly”.

On the Isle of Arran mountain rescuers said pockets of fire continue to burn on Glen Rosa and have told hillwalkers to avoid the area.

A fire has also been burning for two days in Acharacle in the Highlands, and two fire crews at the scene.

Police Scotland has also asked people to avoid the area of a wildfire on Isle of Bute. The blaze began at about 11:40 at the Rhubodach Loop, just off the A886.

The SFRS issued the wildfire warning during a long period of unseasonably dry weather.

Temperatures have been well above the April average and Thursday was the warmest day of the year so far in Scotland – reaching 23C (73F ) in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire.

Sunday will mark a return to more typical April conditions.

Met Office chief meteorologist Jason Kelly said: “A change is on the way this weekend, as we say goodbye to the wall-to-wall sunshine.

“High pressure sinks southwards and allows low pressure to take hold bringing more cloud, rain and showers, and also lower temperatures.”

The Glen Rosa fire on the Isle of Arran was reported at about 13:00 on Thursday. Three crews were sent to the scene, with one remaining on Saturday morning.

A helicopter is expected to assess the damage from the air later.

Police have told hillwalkers there will be no access to the popular Goatfell walk due to public safety.

Meanwhile, dampening down work has concluded after a large grass fire in Cumbernauld in Lanarkshire, which had been burning since Thursday.

It led to the overnight evacuation of a dog kennel and cattery.

Owner Eran Yehudai told BBC Scotland News he had to evacuate 25 dogs and 10 cats from the premises.

The SFRS said the last crew left the scene at 08:30.

On Friday, firefighters contained a wild blaze on an area of dunes and grass near near the St Fergus Gas Terminal in Peterhead.

• Thurso Moors, Thurso: Three fire engines were sent to a large area of gorse and heather measuring approximately 250m.

• The Gramps, Aberdeen: A major outdoor fire on Kincorth hill was reported on Thursday night. Two fire engine were sent.

• John Kennedy Drive, Thurso: Smoke was reported in undergrowth on Friday morning. Crews worked to extinguish a fire in a moorland area.

• The Pentland Hills near Edinburgh: On Thursday evening a large area of grass about 1 km long caught light. Crews were at the scene until Friday night.

• Rothesay, Isle of Bute: A grass fire was reported on Tuesday morning. The blaze covered a square mile, with crews at the scene until Thursday afternoon.

• Bonhill, West Dunbartonshire: Six fire crews extinguished a blaze on Tuesday that affected an area of grass measuring approximately 1.5 miles.

• Glendale area, Isle of Skye: A wildfire on Tuesday affected an area of grass approximately two miles long.

• Loch Dee, Galloway Forest Park: A large grass fire was reported on Thursday 3 April, with crews still working in the area until Tuesday evening.

SFRS deputy assistant chief officer Kenny Barbour, said the risk of wildfires remained while the warm and dry weather continued.

He said: “Wildfires have the potential to burn for days, as we’ve seen this week in Dumfries and Galloway, and they spread through vast areas of land in our countryside, which is devastating for those who live nearby.

“Our firefighters will continue to work with local landowners and other partners to bring these fires under control.”

He added: “We are asking the public to exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame.”

Organised crime gangs are behind a sharp rise in scams linked to fraudulent QR codes, experts say.

The national fraud reporting centre Action Fraud received 1,386 reports of people being targeted last year, compared with 100 in 2019.

Contactless payment hotspots – like parking meters and restaurant menus – are common targets of criminals who stick their own QR codes on signage.

Katherine Hart, lead officer at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, said: “We’ve seen huge amounts lost this way. People have seen their life savings gone and that money is going to finance criminals.”

She said quishing was significantly under-reported and presented a “huge challenge” to authorities globally.

Fraudulent and misleading codes have also been spotted on parcels, in emails and on television.

People who scan them using mobile phones and other electronic devices are directed to websites controlled by the scammers and tricked into handing over data such as bank details.

Ms Hart said some of those placing the codes were likely to be at the bottom of a hierarchy of organised criminals and may not be aware of the implications of their actions.

Action Fraud statistics obtained by the BBC’s Shared Data Unit suggest a rapid growth in this kind of scam, with recorded incidents more than doubling in the UK between 2023 and 2024.

Over the past five years, Action Fraud received almost 3,000 reports in total, with a fifth of those linked to the Metropolitan Police force area.

Milton Haworth used his mobile phone to scan a QR code at a council-run car park in Castleford, West Yorkshire.

It directed him to download an unauthorised app, from which he agreed a 90p fee to verify bank details.

But instead of paying to park, he found himself signed up to a subscription service with a £39 yearly fee and no refunds offered.

“I’d assumed I’d paid for my parking but realised it was a scam when I noticed the next day that £39 had gone out of my account,” he said.

“The sign said to use the code to park and I hadn’t ever heard of QR codes being used as a scam.”

Mr Haworth blames the spike in cases on authorities “not taking this seriously enough”.

He said: “Nobody seems to care, there doesn’t seem to be anyone trying to find these people.

“It’s incumbent on the authorities to go after them but I don’t think they do because it’s small amounts taken, not multimillions.

“But if it’s £39 a month, what if there’s a million people being duped?”

Ms Hart said victims often lost small amounts initially as those responsible gathered the data they needed to launch a “secondary scam”.

“You might lose £2.99 and a lot of people won’t report that and don’t realise they’ve passed on their information to a criminal organisation,” Ms Hart said.

“Days or weeks later, they get a call telling them they’ve been the victim of a fraud and they can pinpoint a day, because they already have all of the information you shared with them earlier.

“They convince you using very coercive tactics that they’re from your bank, police or Trading Standards and they want to take everything you’ve got.”

Experts including the National Crime Agency and the National Cyber Security Centre say it is vital that people “stay vigilant to cyber criminals”.

Kirsty Blackman, Scottish National Party MP for Aberdeen North, spoke to the BBC after removing fake QR codes from parking machines in the city.

She said tackling the problem was “genuinely difficult”, adding: “Organised criminals are there to make money in whatever way they can and I think they’ll scam people whatever we do. It’s about trying to whack the moles as they pop up.”

She said the more victims filed reports with Action Fraud, the better police could take action.

“QR codes can be really useful,” she said. “My kids’ school sends them out regularly to share information, for example. That’s why it’s difficult for people to tell the difference between a legitimate code and a fake one.

“When you’re scanning a code to pay for something, that’s when you really need to stop and think.”

Joe Hall’s girlfriend inadvertently scanned a fraudulent QR code when trying to pay for parking in Luton before Christmas.

The couple now refuse to use QR codes after £400 was taken from her bank account the next day.

Mr Hall said: “I drove back to the car park and found the code she scanned was a sticker. They print them so everything’s the same font and colours as the signage and it blends in.

“If you know what you’re looking for, you might spot it but a lot of the time, you might not even think about it.

“It’s so easy for them to make money out of it – there were four others behind my girlfriend doing the same thing as she did.

“She got her money back but that’s not always the case. They could easily just empty your bank account.”

National Car Parks, which runs 800 car parking sites across the UK, is considering removing QR codes from its signage.

It said a “rigorous process” had already been introduced to prevent its QR codes being compromised, with signs inspected and codes checked every day.

A spokesman said two of its car parks had been targeted by scammers and the business was “reviewing options” to reduce the impact of fraudulent QR codes.

He said: “This could include removing a QR code from our signage that directs customers to a payment page, and instead emphasising the use of our website.

“We understand the value of QR codes and will still look to use them where we can safely.”

Det Supt Gary Miles, head of the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, encouraged users to “stay alert” to signs of fraudulent codes.

“You should stop and check before scanning one,” he said. “If you’re in person, check for signs it has been tampered with, or online, look out for phishing emails or rogue social media posts with QR codes.

“We know that QR codes can be used in all aspects of life, online and in-person, however this doesn’t stop fraudsters finding new ways to target members of the public.”

More about this story

The Shared Data Unit makes data journalism available to news organisations across the media industry, as part of a partnership between the BBC and the News Media Association.

Read more about the Local News Partnerships here.

Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa has been cast in a new play as Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe, the Royal Shakespeare Company has announced.

Born With Teeth will explore the relationship between a 27-year-old Marlowe and rising star William Shakespeare, as they are forced to work together on a new piece of work.

Gatwa said he was “so excited” to be appearing in the play, which he said was “like no version of Shakespeare and Marlowe that I’ve ever seen before”.

Shakespeare will be portrayed by Edward Bluemel, who has starred in Killing Eve, A Discovery of Witches, and alongside Gatwa in Sex Education.

The show will play for 11 weeks at the Wyndham’s Theatre from 13 August.

Born With Teeth, written Liz Duffy Adams, will take an “irreverent” look at the “high-octane world of two of the theatre’s greatest literary icons”, the RSC said.

Set in the backroom of a pub in 1591, the show sees Marlowe and Shakespeare forced to come together across three secret meetings to collaborate on a new play.

It’s a dangerous time for artists in England, a country rife with paranoia where spies are everywhere, and as the rivals duel with each other, they become increasingly tempted by the idea of betrayal.

The play premiered in Houston in 2022 and has since been performed around the US in Oregon, California and Florida, but this will mark its West End debut.

The UK production will be directed by Daniel Evans, whose previous stage credits include a production of American Buffalo starring Damian Lewis and John Goodman, and the James Graham play Quiz, about the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire coughing scandal.

In a statement, Bluemel said he felt “incredibly proud and excited” to be working with Gatwa and Evans.

“To be stepping into the shoes of a young William Shakespeare is a huge thrill for any actor and I can’t wait to get started,” he said.

“When I read Liz Duffy Adams’ script, I was instantly drawn into the high-stakes world of these two rival playwrights and the incredible, creative chemistry they share.

“There’s a real freshness and vitality to Liz’s writing that speaks directly to our world, and I can’t wait for West End audiences to experience it for the first time.”

Gatwa said: “Liz Duffy Adams has written an exceptional play that is smart, dark, sexy, sharp and funny! There’s a lot to get one’s teeth into.

“This is like no version of Shakespeare and Marlowe that I’ve ever seen before, and I can’t wait for audiences to join us for the ride”.

In a review after the play’s Texas premiere, Broadway World’s Christian Gill said: “It’s one part fan fiction, one part examination of egos, and another part commentary of the destructive capabilities of societal expectations.

“We spend ninety minutes watching a game between the best writers of their time.”

Rohan Preston of the Minnesota Star Tribune added: “The play cuts to the bone as Kit and Will trade barbs, ambitions and, ultimately, places in a history play that rewrites our understanding of these two figures.”

Gatwa got his breakthrough role playing Eric in Netflix’s Sex Education and has also appeared in Barbie.

He was cast in Doctor Who in 2022, taking over the lead role from Jodie Whittaker. His second season as the Doctor due to begin airing this weekend.

Gatwa’s casting in Born With Teeth comes after unconfirmed reports that he is set to leave Doctor Who, and that the show may be facing the axe. Neither Gatwa, the BBC or Disney+ have commented on the reports.

The UK economy grew by more than expected in February, according to the latest official figures.

The economy expanded by 0.5%, with the services sector having a strong month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

Economists had predicted growth of just 0.1%, but the ONS said several factors contributed to the surprise rise which was driven by a boost in manufacturing and production.

The better-than-expected figures come as the UK economy braces itself for the impact of tariffs imposed on goods being imported to the US, with analysts warning that growth could prove short-lived.

The UK is subject to the blanket 10% tariff on nearly all of its goods being brought into the US, which is expected to hit British exporters and also affect economic growth.

The government has made growing the UK economy its top priority in its effort to improve living standards.

Liz McKeown, director of economic statistics at the ONS, said February’s surprise growth was due to computer programming, telecoms and car dealerships in the services sector all having “strong months”.

She added that manufacturing, electronics and pharmaceutical businesses performed well, and the car making industry also picked up after “its recent poor performance”.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves called the latest growth figures an “encouraging sign”, but added the government was “not complacent”.

“We must go further and faster to kickstart economic growth, provide security for working people and put more money in their pockets,” she added.

She said the government would “remain pragmatic and cool-headed” in its efforts to secure a trade deal with the US.

Alongside the better-than-expected growth, the ONS revised up its figure for January from a contraction of 0.1% to no growth.

But February’s figure comes ahead of the impact of tax rises on businesses and household energy and water bill increases on the economy, along with US tariffs.

Ruth Gregory, deputy chief UK economist, said the UK’s “surprisingly strong growth will prove short lived, as rises in tariffs and taxes bite”.

“The big picture is that the economy has grown in only four of the last nine months and it’s hard to see the economy strengthening much from here,” she said.

Mitchell Barnes runs a 3D printing company in Warwickshire, designing and manufacturing parts for the automotive industry.

Half of the parts made here are exported to the US.

But rather than Trump tariffs, he says it’s domestic factors that are hitting his business.

Mr Barnes says this month’s changes to National Insurance contributions and the minimum wage mean he may need to rethink his plan to create new jobs at the site.

He had hoped to increase the number of staff from 27 to 100 over the next 18 months, but has now lowered that to between 30 to 40.

The business is now looking to accelerate plans to expand in the United States instead. “Ultimately, for us, it’s all about innovating in order to control our own destiny.”

Additional reporting by Adam Woods

At 01:00 on Tuesday morning Carwin Javie Molleja was dancing with his mother in Santo Domingo’s Jet Set nightclub when he noticed something fall from the ceiling.

At the time, he didn’t think much of it. “No-one thought that because a small stone fell the entire roof was going to collapse,” he says.

The percussionist, who had moved to the Dominican Republic eight years earlier, was out with his mother, Carmin, and friends to see a concert by merengue singer Rubby Pérez.

It was the first time Carwin, 32, and his mother had seen each other in three years and it was meant to be a night of joy and celebration.

But in the early hours of Tuesday morning, disaster struck.

“What I have in my head are the screams, the loud sound of the ceiling falling in, my mom’s screams asking me if I’m OK, me asking her if she’s OK,” Carwin recalls.

“Everything happened so fast. I guess I closed my eyes and my instinct was to hug my mum.”

Both Carwin and his mother, who had been standing near the stage, were struck on the head by pieces of falling ceiling, but were lucky to avoid serious injury. Rubby Perez was among those killed.

In the chaos that quickly unfolded, Carwin managed to find a door through which he and his mother escaped outside.

But his friend Jessica and her sister were still in the club. Desperate to find them, he decided to go back inside.

Inside the club, Carwin desperately shouted Jessica’s name but no one answered.

He says he felt powerless to help those who had become trapped under the debris.

“The stones were huge. I felt useless.”

Carwin says he then repeatedly went out of the building, where he’d try to call paramedics, then return inside to shout his friend’s name and call her phone.

“After that, the calls stopped going through.”

Carwin describes the aftermath of the collapse as “total chaos”.

“People were going crazy,” he says.

“They were pulling out injured people. I saw when they pulled out the saxophonist who died.”

Within minutes of the collapse, emergency services arrived, as ambulances and stretchers “kept coming”.

Carwin says he remained at the scene for about an hour and a half after the collapse.

In that time, he says he didn’t see any machinery arriving to remove the debris.

He says he wanted to continue trying to find his friend, but needed to take home his mother, who was in pain.

“I needed to get her home and calm her down.”

Later that day, Jessica and her sister’s lifeless bodies were found among the rubble. At least 221 people were killed in the disaster.

Carwin says he regrets not having been able to do more for his friend.

“It was horrible not being able to help her. I yelled her name, but she didn’t answer. It feels awful not being able to do anything.”

With reporting by Isabel Caro and Alicia Hernández.