Thousands of people are still not connected to the National Grid and rely on generators for power, according to the energy regulator. Ofgem estimates up to 2000 properties in the UK are still off-grid. Some have been asked to pay hundreds of thousands of pounds if they want a connection. Now a charity in Northumberland, where Ofgem identified a particularly large cluster of off-grid households, says the government should do more to help.

Despite higher than average rainfall across some of the country, other areas are still in drought, following the exceptionally dry and hot summer. The National Drought Group has reported that record breaking rainfall in November helped the Midlands move out of drought, but parts of Sussex remain in drought.

Rural roads are significantly more dangerous than urban ones. The latest figures from the Department for Transport show that 956 people were killed in 2024, that's 72% more than on urban roads. The figures have been analysed by NFU Mutual insurance and it's now calling for more specific training for driving on rural roads, especially for those who break the law.

All week we're catching up with rare and native reeds. Longwool sheep of which there are several breeds, are on the priority list of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. There are just 99 registered flocks of the distinctive Lincoln Longwool and the number of sheep has declined to around eight hundred.

Presenter = Anna Hill