Wildfire Travel Disruption, Picky Bits, Flooding

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Large wildfires are burning in south-western France and parts of Spain right now. In France, the fire has reached the outskirts of the city of Bordeaux, which is usually a very popular destination for British tourists at this time of year. Local authorities are urging travellers to stay away from the region. From October, the 5% VAT charge on home electricity will be lifted. Estimates suggest that it will reduce the price that the average consumer pays by around £45 a year. It is going to be very welcome news for people who can charge electric vehicles at home, but there is concern that it may exacerbate the class divide when it comes to electric vehicle ownership. As the temperatures rise, more of us are turning to so-called picky bits. What was once a meal of leftovers to make food go further has now become a grazing-food craze. Unsurprisingly, supermarkets are at the heart of this and are creating all sorts of snack combinations to lure us in and go viral on social media. The Government has committed to spend almost £8 billion on flood defences over the next decade - but is it time to accept that some properties simply can't be protected? That's what's happening in Chesterfield in Derbyshire, where a row of flood-threatened homes is being bought by the council to be demolished and the residents re-housed. So far this year there have been three heatwaves in the UK and its changing how we spend our time and our money. According to the British Retail Consortium, shopping visits fell by 3.4% year-on-year in June. We’ll hear how businesses are adapting to changing consumer habits in the hot weather. Presenter: Winifred Robinson Producer: Charlie Filmer-Court