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The wife of former England rugby player Tom Voyce has said she is “absolutely devastated and heartbroken” by his death.

Anna Voyce paid tribute to the 43-year-old after his body was found on Thursday.

The former international went missing on Saturday after attempting to drive across a flood-swollen river in Northumberland.

Mrs Voyce said: “Absolutely devastated and heartbroken doesn’t even describe how we feel. My main focus now is our son Oscar having done what he asked, ‘find Daddy’.”

In a statement issued via police, she added that since relocating to Northumberland in 2019, her husband had become a successful businessman – but still maintained involvement in the sport he loved.

Mrs Voyce said: “Tom was fully immersed in Alnwick Rugby Club and was much-loved by Oscar’s under 7’s team which he coached with gusto, giving back to the game that gave him so much.

“Oscar is immensely proud of his Daddy and he was the best father and role model that Oscar could have asked for.

“Tom was proud, and cherished, his rugby memories and as an adopted ‘Northumbrian‘ local he leaves a hole in so many of our hearts.

“With his big warm smile, passion and funny stories he loved nothing better than sitting round a table chatting with family and friends sharing his latest creation on his Big Green Egg [a barbecue brand].”

File photo dated 4-02-2006 of Former England rugby player Tom Voyce, 43, who is believed to have died after going into the River Aln in his car on Sunday, Northumbria Police said.. Issue date: Tuesday December 10, 2024.
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Tom Voyce playing for England in 2006. Pic: PA


It came as police confirmed on Friday that his body had been formally identified.

Officers previously said they believed Mr Voyce had been trying to cross Abberwick Ford, about three miles from Alnwick.

His car was pulled along with the current of the River Aln during the recent Storm Darragh.

Mr Voyce’s Toyota Hilux was recovered further downstream and police suspected he was swept away while trying to escape the vehicle.

A major search operation was launched involving drones and a helicopter, along with his friends, family, members of the police, coastguard and mountain rescue teams.

Northumbria Police said they faced “very challenging conditions” due to the river flow and water level following “exceptionally heavy rain”.

His body was recovered near Abberwick Mill on Thursday.

Tom Voyce.
Pic: Northumbria Police
Image:
Tom Voyce was 43 years old. Pic: Northumbria Police

Mrs Voyce added she was very grateful to everyone involved in the search, which she said included “all” of his family.

“Tom would be blown away by the amount of people that were out there helping. We have all been overwhelmed by the support of friends, many travelling from far afield to help with the search.

“We are just so lucky to live in such a special community that pulled together to find Tom,” she said.

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Former rugby players paid tribute to Mr Voyce on Thursday, including former England international Mike Tindall, who played with him at Gloucester.

In an online post shared by his podcast The Good, The Bad, And The Rugby, he wrote: “He epitomised rugby as a game for all shapes and sizes, punching well above his weight.”

“He was a great character off the pitch,” he added.

Members of a search and rescue team at the scene at Abberwick Ford on the River Aln near Alnwick.
Pic: PA
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Teams searched the River Aln at Abberwick Ford. Pic: PA

Members of a search and rescue team during a search operation at Abberwick Ford on the River Aln near Alnwick, Northumberland, for former England rugby player Tom Voyce, who is believed to have died after apparently trying to cross a flood-swollen river in his car during Storm Darragh. Picture date: Wednesday December 11, 2024.
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Police said search teams were exposed to ‘very challenging conditions’ after Storm Darragh. Pic: PA

His podcast co-host, and former England star, James Haskell added: “He was a teammate, a friend and an incredible player… He will be sorely missed by everybody”.

Mr Voyce won nine caps for England during his career, which included spells at Bath, Gloucester and most notably Wasps, where he helped the team win European and domestic titles.

He made 220 Premiership appearances before retiring in May 2013.

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Body found in search for missing jogger Jenny Hall

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Body found in search for missing jogger Jenny Hall

A body has been found in the search for 23-year-old runner Jenny Hall. 

She was last seen leaving her home in Barracks Farm, County Durham, in her car just after 3pm on Tuesday.

Police said there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances after a body was found in a very remote area in Teesdale on Sunday morning, five days after she went missing.

Jenny Hall. Pic: Durham Constabulary
Image:
Jenny Hall went missing on Tuesday. Pic: Durham Constabulary

“We’re sorry to report that officers searching for missing woman Jenny Hall, have sadly found a body,” Durham Constabulary said in a statement.

“Officers carried out an extensive search alongside specialist partners and have been working around-the-clock to locate Jenny after she went missing on February 18.

“The body was found in a very remote area in Teesdale just after 9.30am today.

“Formal identification has yet to take place. Jenny’s family have been notified and are currently being supported by specialist officers. They have asked for privacy at this devasting time.

“It is not believed there are any suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”

A major police search was launched after Ms Hall’s disappearance.

Her car, a red Ford Focus, was found on Wednesday parked on the B6278, near remote moorland between Eggleston and Stanhope.

Mountain rescue teams, specialist drones and sniffer dogs had been combing the Hamsterley Forest and the surrounding areas, where there are a number of running trails, this week.

Digital intelligence officers also carried out extensive inquiries into Ms Hall’s mobile phone, smart watch and running apps.

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Fresh amber warning for rain as Met Office issues alerts for much of UK

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Fresh amber warning for rain as Met Office issues alerts for much of UK

A fresh amber weather warning for heavy rain has been issued by the Met Office – with much of the UK already on alert for high winds and showers.

Northern Ireland, Scotland and the UK’s west coast and the Midlands have yellow warnings for wind on Sunday – meaning the possibility of transport delays and short-term power cuts.

There are also rain warnings in place for several parts of western UK.

The new amber warning has been issued for rain in south and central Wales and is in force from 3pm on Sunday to 6am on Monday.

An amber warning means danger to life from floodwater, homes and businesses are likely to be flooded, and there is a chance some communities will be cut off.

Winds across the west of the UK will increase throughout the morning with gusts up to 70mph in exposed areas, the Met Office said.

Zoe Hutin, a meteorologist at the forecaster, said Sunday is expected to be the “worst day” before conditions improve.

“The wind warning itself for the mainland UK ends at 6pm, but we can expect to continue to see quite blustery conditions even into the evening as the mainland rain itself pushes through.”

She added: “By the time people get up on Monday, we’ll still have some of the residual rain from that front in the far south-east of the country, and quite cloudy across England as well.

“But actually elsewhere, it could be a decent start.”

The Met Office’s yellow weather warnings for much of England and Scotland came into force at 6am and are expected to run until 6pm on Sunday.

A separate yellow warning for Northern Ireland came into force at 3am and runs until 3pm.

Rain and high winds are expected across the west of the UK
Image:
Rain and high winds are expected across the west of the UK

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People who have noticed some slightly higher temperatures the last couple of days may be dismayed at the latest predictions.

“Through the week, those temperatures are trending back down,” Ms Hutin said.

“And so it will be getting cooler each day, but they will actually just be recovering to around average for the time of year. So it won’t be cold.

“It will just be returning back to where we would expect to be for this time of February.”

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Starmer says ‘US is right’ about UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence

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Starmer says 'US is right' about UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence

Sir Keir Starmer has said the United States “is right” about the UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence and security.

The prime minister, speaking at the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow on Sunday, said he is clear Britain “will take a leading responsibility” in protecting the continent.

“Instability in Europe always washes up on our shores,” he said.

“And this is a generational moment. I’ve been saying for some time that we Europeans – including the United Kingdom – have to do more for our defence and security. The US is right about that.”

He added “we can’t cling to the comforts of the past” as it is “time to take responsibility for our security”.

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Sir Keir has said he will set out a path for the UK to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence, up from the current 2.3%, but has not indicated when that will be.

It is believed he may announce the details when he visits Mr Trump in Washington DC on Thursday, bringing forward the announcement that was expected in the spring when a defence spending review is published.

The prime minister reiterated the UK will “play our role” if required in Ukraine following a peace agreement after he earlier this week said the UK would send troops to be part of a peacekeeping force.

Pic: AP
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Sir Keir will meet Donald Trump in the White House on Thursday. Pic: AP

However, his comments caused a row with Germany and Italy who said it was premature to commit to boots on the ground, although France agreed with the UK.

Sir Keir said: “As we enter a new phase in this conflict, we must now deepen our solidarity even further.”

He added: “There can be no discussion about Ukraine without Ukraine.

“And the people of Ukraine must have long-term security.”

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This week has seen US officials meet their Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia to discuss Ukraine – which has been met with indignation by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as none of his team were invited.

No Europeans were invited either, sparking concern the US is pandering to Vladimir Putin.

Sir Keir has promised Mr Zelenskyy he will make the case for safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty when he meets with Mr Trump, who has called the Ukrainian president a dictator.

Mr Trump also said Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron, who will visit the White House too this week, “haven’t done anything” to end the war.

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