Emergency services were called to Cobb Hall Road, in the village of Newton Longville, to a report of an explosion, fire and collapse of a property around 9.45am on Sunday.

The man in his 60s, who a local MP has named as Stephen Woodward, was taken to hospital after the explosion but later died.

The MP, Callum Anderson, claimed a gas explosion had caused the "devastating incident" near Milton Keynes.

Thames Valley Police and the Health and Safety Executive are investigating the explosion and collapse of the building.

Lead investigating officer Detective Inspector Philip Turner-Robson said on Thursday: "This is a tragic development, and our thoughts are with the man's family and friends at this extremely difficult time."

"Enquiries remain ongoing" to establish what happened, he added.

In a post on X, local MP Mr Anderson said: "I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Stephen Woodward following the gas explosion in Newton Longville last Sunday.

"This is an absolute tragedy, and my thoughts are with Stephen's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time"

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Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said four fire engines, a command unit, operational support unit and two officers had attended the "suspected gas explosion".

The potentially deadly disease, which affects ruminant livestock like sheep and cattle, was first detected at the Johnson family's Kirkmabreck Farm in Dumfries and Galloway on 8 August.

A single lamb tested positive.

Two more cases of bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) have now been confirmed at another neighbouring farm in south-west Scotland.

The nation's chief veterinary officer, Sheila Voas, said two sheep were infected.

She added: "Both farms are under restriction while investigations, including testing other susceptible animals, are ongoing.

"Vaccination remains the best way of preventing disease in animals and I encourage all farmers to discuss this with their vets."

All three animals have been euthanised.

National Farmers' Union (NFU) Scotland said a further three suspected cases are currently under investigation - two in the same area, including one premises bordering the original case, and one in Fife.

In an update on Facebook, the Johnson family said the rest of Kirkmabreck Farm's stock had tested negative for the disease.

The post added: "Obviously that's not so say we will not have any further cases but for the time being the rest are okay and can return [to] grazing as they should.

"We will still be under movement restrictions [understandably] and will hear, hopefully in the next few days, how long they will remain in place.

"But for now at least we can breathe a sigh of relief that we caught it early and hope and pray that our neighbours remain unaffected."

Bluetongue - an insect-borne viral disease - does not affect humans or food safety.

It is mainly spread by biting midges, although it can also be spread by natural or artificial breeding, and through the placenta from mother to their offspring.

It is a notifiable disease, meaning any suspected cases are legally required to be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

Symptoms include nasal discharge, redness and swelling of the lips, nose and muzzle, lameness or reluctance to stand, decreased milk production and diarrhoea in cattle.

NFU Scotland said: "A further three suspected cases are currently under investigation, two in the same area, including one premises contiguous to the original case, and one in Fife.

"While it remains too early to determine the full extent of BTV-3 in Scotland, these latest results mean the situation is developing and underline the importance of continued vigilance, surveillance and testing."

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A spokesperson added: "Our message on vaccination remains clear. We strongly encourage livestock keepers with susceptible animals to speak to their vet about vaccination, with those in the south of Scotland taking particular priority.

"We are aware that availability of vaccine is currently a concern for some producers.

"The Scottish government is engaging with vaccine manufacturers over potential additional supplies, and NFU Scotland is working to establish the level of demand from livestock keepers across the country."

Patrice Motsepe is the first FIFA vice president to give an interview since the controversy erupted over Mr Infantino trying to sell off shares in the World Cup to private investors.

"If anybody has got any problem against anybody, whether it's Gianni, whether it is anybody else, follow the process, follow the FIFA process, simple as that," Mr Motsepe said in an exclusive interview.

"If you want to take him out, go for elections; let the 211 member associations decide. Do that and the vote will express whether they've got confidence in him or not."

Mr Motsepe spoke after flying to Salzburg to hold talks with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, who has been leading the charge for Mr Infantino's departure over the secret scheme.

UEFA joined forces with the Asian and North American confederations this week, decrying "deception" and a "breach of trust" by Mr Infantino.

Sky News understands the joint letter was an attempt to force Mr Infantino into resigning before the FIFA election in March.

"You've got to be very careful. There are elections taking place next year," Mr Motsepe said.

"Shouldn't we allow that process to continue? And let the 211 members decide."

Mr Motsepe, a South African tycoon, did not directly criticise Mr Infantino, nor did he offer clear backing.

"I've heard so many stories about various issues and am careful to pass judgement on anything," the Confederation of African Football (CAF) president said.

"Everybody has a right to be heard. Let's have a hearing, and a proper forum, a proceeding, a court, or whatever it is, or a tribunal … everybody is entitled to fair judgement, to fair treatment."

He said CAF had consulted lawyers and claimed there was no breach of rules over the secret World Cup sell-off talks, because the proposals would be submitted to members for final approval.

"There's a lot that's problematic and negative that they have to fix," Mr Motsepe said.

"But he has apologised and said maybe there's a different way these things should have been done, but we also take advice."

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FIFA has a one-member, one-vote system in the presidential election.

UEFA's 55 members are said to be aligned against Mr Infantino's plans, as well as 34 voters from the CONCACAF region, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean.

It is unclear how many of the 47 Asian voters would turn on him even as CAF signed the joint statement this week expressing concern about Mr Infantino's leadership.

So Africa's 54 votes could be key to determining who wins.

"There are many times when I want the candidate to win and doesn't win," Mr Motsepe said.

"Whoever wins, I've got to support him.

"I get too many telephone calls from too many member associations worldwide. And I like to focus on the unity, the cooperation.

"How do we continue to develop and grow football in the midst of the challenges we have? Deal with those challenges. We will resolve them and we'll move on."

Thousands of employees at Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) - which is part of the Ministry of Defence - had been expecting the settlement, including bonuses, to start being received this month, a source said.

The delay means morale is "through the floor", the source added.

There had already been widespread unhappiness and disagreement at the size of the pay increase, which is well below the above-inflation 3.6% boost agreed for military personnel.

Trade unions that represent impacted workers are understood to be in negotiations with the Ministry of Defence to try to change minds, with one saying it is "alarmed" at the situation.

But the defence budget is overstretched, despite the government repeatedly boasting about how it is giving UK defence the biggest boost in funding since the end of the Cold War.

In a sign of the strain, a failure to secure a larger uplift from the treasury over the next four years prompted John Healey to quit as defence secretary in June, when Sir Keir Starmer was prime minister.

Mr Healey is now Andy Burnham's chancellor.

DE&S is the legacy equipment and support branch of a newly-formed National Armaments Director Group at the Ministry of Defence.

Its workforce - partnered with industry - is pivotal to the successful delivery of an array of weapons and other equipment programmes set out in a major Defence Investment Plan.

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union called on DE&S to implement the pay award as soon as possible "at a time of financial hardship for our lowest-paid members".

It also described the overall pay settlement as "falling well short of the standards set out in our national pay policy, so we cannot accept it".

The union said in a statement: "We are alarmed to hear from DE&S that pay increases will not be received until the early part of 2027. While PCS will attend any meetings that could potentially lead to an improved offer, these delays do not help with the immediate situation, and DE&S should have proceeded with an initial payment to staff, as we requested."

In a further dent to morale, there was speculation that the senior leadership team at DE&S would still be receiving their salary increases and bonuses on time even as the majority of staff suffered a delay.

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A defence source, however, said it was thought that this was no longer the case and everyone would have to wait.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said: "Our staff work around the clock to help keep the country safe and we are committed to finding a resolution for this year's pay award.

"Discussions with the trade unions are ongoing and support is available for colleagues who may need it in the meantime."

Hundreds of thousands of people are thought to have died - possibly up to a million. Millions have been displaced.

As one analyst put it this week on Sky News, a population the size of the entire metropolitan area of New York and its five boroughs has had to get up and flee the fighting.

It is also a war that has been overlooked, not attracting the same amount of attention or coverage as Ukraine and Gaza, for instance.

Outside powers are accused not only of ignoring it but also meddling in the conflict.

The role of the United Arab Emirates and its American and British allies is under increasing scrutiny.

The UAE claims it is not involved in any military sense in the war in Sudan, but fewer and fewer people believe them, and evidence is stacking up against those claims.

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Nathaniel A Raymond, executive director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health, said: "The UK has not once called on the United Arab Emirates to stop arming the RSF with extremely advanced weapons, including a tier one drone system, including electronic jamming, missile launch and suicide drones.

"It was those drone systems and artillery systems that we know US intelligence concurs came from the United Arab Emirates, which allowed rapid support forces to take out Al Fashir. And slaughter tens of thousands of civilians."

Al Fashir witnessed a genocidal massacre a year ago.

What can the UK do?

Britain potentially has a key role in ending the conflict thanks to its clout at the UN and its close relationship with the UAE.

With a new prime minister, the UK has a chance to make amends, says Mr Raymond, and help end the war by reining in its Gulf allies.

"Prime Minister Burnham should walk out in front of 10 Downing Street and say one sentence," he said.

"The UK and its allies have concluded that the UAE is arming the Rapid Support Forces, who have been credibly accused of committing a genocide in Al Fashir and that there will be immediate and sustained economic consequences for Mohammed bin Zayed and his family until their support for the Rapid Support Forces ends. Period.

"That's the sentence and that's the sentence that could end this war. It's the sentence that the United Kingdom has refused to say for now over three and a half years."

Sky News has approached the UAE government for comment.

Both the UK and US are reported to have received intelligence assessments showing the UAE is supplying military and other support for the RSF and thus extending this brutal war.

A year ago, Sky News reported evidence the paramilitaries are being given lethal support by the UAE despite their genocidal record.

A former RSF intelligence officer confirmed the Gulf state was funnelling weapons to the rebels, including armoured vehicles in return for lucrative mineral contracts.

British military technology and parts are also reportedly ending up on the battlefield in Sudan, having been supplied to the UAE.

British officials say internal reviews found no explicit breaches of the existing UK-Sudan arms embargo or standard export control regulations in these specific tracing reports.

Britain has extensive economic and military ties with the UAE and sees it as part of an allied counterbalance to the power of Iran in the region.

This may partly explain its reluctance to criticise it in public despite growing evidence that a close ally has been aiding and abetting the genocidal rampage of the RSF in Sudan.