A two-year-old boy has died, and five others have been seriously injured after their broken-down car was hit by another vehicle on the A1 motorway.

The collision occurred on Saturday at about 6.20pm when a Toyota Auris was struck by a Volkswagen Touran in a live lane of the A1 northbound, just past the Stibbington junction.

The boy from London was one of six passengers who were in the Toyota.

The five other passengers from London were taken to Peterborough City Hospital with serious injuries.

A 64-year-old man, the driver of the Volkswagen, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been released on bail until 20 March.

He suffered minor injuries.

Cambridgeshire Police are investigating the incident and appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage.

Sgt David McIlwhan said: “Our thoughts are with the parents and family of this young child who has tragically lost his life in this collision. The family is being supported by specialist family liaison officers.

“I would appeal for anyone who witnessed the collision or has dashcam footage but was unable to stop at the scene, to get in touch.”

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A man has appeared in court charged with drugging and raping his ex-wife over a 13-year period.

Philip Young, 49, formerly of Swindon, has been charged with 56 offences, including multiple counts of rape, against Joanne Young.

He is also charged with administering a substance to allow sexual activity, as well as voyeurism, possession of indecent images of children and possession of extreme images.

Young appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court this morning and spoke only to confirm his name and address.

He declined to enter a plea and was remanded in custody until the next hearing at crown court on 23 January.

Five other men have also been charged with sexual offences against Ms Young between 2010 and 2023. The 48-year-old has waived her legal right to anonymity.

The other men are on bail but are due in the same court at 2pm.

They are: Norman Macksoni, 47, of Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire. He is a black British national and has been charged with one count of rape and possession of extreme images.

Dean Hamilton, 47, of no fixed abode. He is a white British national and has been charged with one count of rape and sexual assault by penetration and two counts of sexual touching.

Conner Sanderson Doyle, 31, of Swindon. He is a white British national and has been charged with sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching

Richard Wilkins, 61, of Swindon. He is a white British national and has been charged with one count of rape and sexual touching

Mohammed Hassan, 37, of Swindon. He is a British Asian and has been charged with sexual touching.

The alleged offences took place between 2010 and 2023.

A Sandringham photograph of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the Epstein files has resurfaced at a particularly uncomfortable moment for the Royal Family, just days before they gather at the estate for Christmas.

Andrew is set to move to the King’s private Norfolk estate in the next few months, after he was officially stripped of his titles, honours, and his large home on the Windsor estate.

The picture was among the thousands of Epstein files by the US Department of Justice.

It shows Andrew lying across the laps of several women whose faces have been redacted.

Looking on and laughing is Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend.

The photo was taken in the stately saloon room at Sandringham House in Norfolk.

Although the image is undated, we know Andrew organised a shooting weekend in 2000 for Ghislaine’s birthday.

It is a picture of intimate access to the inner royal sanctum.

Sandringham is a private royal retreat, and no one is invited here by chance.

Royal biographer, Andrew Lownie, said royal residences were used as “party places” by Andrew.

“Epstein and Ghislaine took advantage of this,” he said. “They went to Balmoral, Sandringham and Windsor … This showed people just how close they were to the Royal Family.”

There’s no suggestion the wider family knew Epstein, but the timing is deeply awkward. This week Sandringham will once again host the Royal Family’s traditional Christmas gathering.

And the King will deliver his Christmas message to the country and Commonwealth.

Andrew isn’t invited to Sandringham and will be spending Christmas elsewhere. The Norfolk estate will soon become his new home; it’s understood the move will happen in the first quarter of next year.

For years, Andrew let Epstein and Maxwell into his privileged world.

They were guests at the 18th birthday party of his daughter, Princess Beatrice.

Read more:
Outrage over incomplete Epstein file release
The links between Epstein and UK revealed in new files

Another photo released in the files shows Andrew, Epstein and Maxwell at Royal Ascot, a firm fixture in the royal calendar.

Epstein and his former girlfriend are also photographed at another shooting party, possibly at Balmoral.

We know the pair were once guests at the Scottish castle, pictured in the same lodge loved by the late Queen.

Mr Lownie said the pair enjoyed “extraordinary” access.

“It just shows how close Andrew was to them… for them to be socialising in these very private residences,” he added.

Andrew’s association with Epstein has cost him his royal roles, titles, and his beloved home.

He has always strongly denied any wrongdoing.

The images and documents released and revealed in the Epstein files contain graphic and traumatic content.

It is harrowing and retraumatising for Epstein’s victims.

And what continues to shock – is how a man like Jeffrey Epstein had proximity to the Royal Family. And why Andrew let it happen and stayed friends with him.