the energy regulator ofgem has asked suppliers to pause the forced installation of prepaid metres. it follows revelations that a debt collection company working for british gas broke into the homes of vulnerable people to install the metres. prepayment metres require customers to pay for their energy in advance. it s more expensive than paying by direct debit, but are sometimes the only option for people who have struggled to pay and are in debt to a supplier. ben king has more. an undercover reporter from the times newspaper joined a team of debt collectors, entering the home of a single father with three young children. they count as vulnerable. but, these workers from arvato financial solutions, working for british gas, opened the door and installed a prepayment meter anyway. installing prepayment meters by force is legal, but it s meant to be a last resort, and should not be done to vulnerable households. if people cannot afford to top up the meters, they will be left wit
no way out, the ukrainian military says it has encircled russian forces in the strategic eastern town of lyman in the donetsk region, a day after russia annexed the area. the uk s biggest controlled explosion for 75 years as redcar steelworks is demolished. we ll have a report from the teesside site. these beavers have something to celebrate. and these beavers have been recognised as a protected species in england, making it illegal to deliberately capture, kill or disturb them. if you have just joined if you havejustjoined us, welcome to bbc news. more than 50,000 rail workers are walking out today, causing the biggest strike disruption on the railways this year. 0nly around 11% of the usual saturday timetable will be able to run. in some parts of the country, there are no trains at all. members of four unions are taking part in the strike in a long running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. 0ur transport correspondent, katy austin reports. another train strike, and it s
explosion for 75 years, as redcar steelworks is demolished. we ll have a report from the teesside site. and these beavers have been recognised as a protected species in england, making it illegal to deliberately capture, kill or disturb them. good afternoon. welcome to bbc news. more than 50,000 rail workers are walking out today, causing the biggest strike disruption on the railways this year. 0nly around 11% of the usual saturday timetable will be able to run. ba rely barely any trains are operating in some parts of the country. members of four unions are taking part in the strike in a long running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. 0ur transport correspondent, katy austin reports. another train strike, and it s the biggest yet. karen from staffordshire is running the london marathon tomorrow to fundraise for the hospital where she had breast cancer treatment. news of the strike meant she had to make other plans to get there. so, for me, thisjust blew everything apart.
in the donetsk region within the last hour russia s military defence has confirmed its troops have left lyman. millions of people will pay more for gas and electricity from today as the new energy price cap comes into force. it doesn t apply in northern ireland. a man held in iran for nearly five years on spying charges, before being released alongside nazanin zaghari ratcliffe, says he s dedicating his london marathon run to the people of iran and its prisoners. we ll be speaking to anoosheh ashoori live. do stay with us on bbc news. 0n the more than 50,000 rail workers are taking industrial action today, causing the biggest strike disruption on the railways this year. 0nly around 11% of the usual saturday timetable will be able to run. .in . in parts of wales there are only trains around cardiff. there are no connections to the south west of finland. across scotland and england board and many parts of england too. south west of england. members of four unions are taking