Britain’s security agencies have raised their alert level amid concerns that Iran could be linked to further terrorist activity in the UK, after a farmer helped disrupt an alleged plot targeting US bombers at RAF Fairford.

MI5 and counter-terrorism officers are working to identify those behind the suspected attack after five men were arrested. Security sources said the group may have been close to launching what was described as a “very big attack”.

Elite SAS personnel were also reportedly sent from Hereford to the Gloucestershire airbase, according to sources.

Claims that British authorities knew about the alleged plot in advance have been rejected. Whitehall sources said the arrests were not arranged beforehand, despite remarks from President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Wes Streeting that appeared to indicate otherwise.

Sources suggested the additional security presence at RAF Fairford was more likely connected to the continuing threat against US military sites.

Wes Streeting said the farmer who appears to have helped prevent the suspected terror attack has seen only a “partial picture” of the wider security operation.

The local farmer was driving back from a party in the early hours of yesterday when she came across three large white vans blocking a road just yards from RAF Fairford. The base had recently been used by US bombers involved in strikes against Iran.

She later said she noticed more suspects who appeared to be of Middle Eastern origin fleeing the area than the five men eventually detained by police.

Describing herself as “absolutely staggered” to have become the “plucky amateur” who raised the alarm, the farmer also said no one answered when she called a Ministry of Defence hotline intended for local security concerns.

“Thank God we spotted them. I’m just really keen to highlight that it appears someone really dropped the ball on this,” she said, as counter-terrorism officers investigated whether Iran could have been behind the suspected plot.

Streeting praised the woman’s swift response and sense of civic duty, but said she did not have the complete account of what happened and declined to provide further information.

He said: “She has done exactly what we would hope that someone in that extraordinary situation would do, and I’m really grateful to her.

“I think she acted, by her own admission, quickly and thoughtfully, and she did the right thing. With respect, though, she does only have a partial picture, and that’s as far as I wish to go this morning.”

Asked why a 24-hour Ministry of Defence hotline for Fairford residents had not been answered when the farmer called, Streeting said he could not comment because the investigation was still under way.

He again expressed his gratitude to the police and security services, saying Britain must not be “cowed by sabre-rattling from Iran” or allow Tehran to determine the country’s foreign policy. He added that it was too soon to draw conclusions about the suspected plot’s wider aims.

When reporters asked Donald Trump last night whether the suspects were migrants, the US president appeared to nod. He did not answer the question directly, saying only: “We know all about them.”

The farmer’s return from a night out with friends reportedly prompted the balaclava-wearing men to flee into nearby woodland and across the fields surrounding RAF Fairford, which was recently used by US aircraft involved in strikes against Iran.

She said she was astonished to have been the person who raised the alarm, despite President Trump’s claim that the group were known to authorities and under surveillance.

One resident said of the local farmer: ‘She is a hero. She has almost certainly prevented a terror attack.’ 

The ‘masked’ men were later filmed shirtless amid reports they may have been on a suicide mission armed with explosive vests, allegedly targeting a fleet of US B-1 Lancer bombers based at Fairford.

The farmer, who has not been named, was forced to stop when she found three white vans blocking the road.

As the men fled in different directions, she called 999 before sending a message to the local WhatsApp group in the village of Whelford.

Within 25 minutes, the five suspects had been rounded up and arrested by armed counter-terrorism officers, who are now investigating whether the alleged plot was linked to Iran.

‘They probably thought we were the police and panicked,’ the farmer said last night.

‘A plucky amateur shouldn’t be spotting unusual activity at 1am when the air base is on high alert. I think it’s absolutely astonishing.

‘Thinking about it now, and what could have happened if they had tried to stop me from driving away, I am quite lucky.’

She added: ‘It is pretty incredible, realising you had a face-to-face brush with potential terrorists and may have foiled a terrorist plot. It was clear they had only just arrived. Thank God we spotted them.’

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Monday morning she said: ‘I was coming home late from a party. On reaching our farm, I found both the driveway and the road blocked by three white vans.

‘We were aware that RAF Fairford was operating at a high security level and that civilian staff had been evacuated.

‘We had noticed some activity from what I assumed were plain-clothed police officers for the previous few days, so initially I thought perhaps this was more of the same.

‘I had no choice but to turn my vehicle around and return back the way I came.

‘On driving a short distance from the vans, I saw a large group of hooded and masked men.

‘When they saw me, they ran ahead of me, some into the field and some towards the neighbouring village of Kempsford.

‘I then realised that something highly unusual was taking place. In light of my awareness of a security threat to the base, I immediately called the MoD (Ministry of Defence) police, the phone rang out and they didn’t answer.

‘At 1.36am I called 999 to report what I had seen. Within 10 minutes, the village was full of armed police.

‘I think it was pure luck that I arrived in the village at a similar time to the vans.

‘I am absolutely staggered that it was left to me, as a member of the public, to see and report this.

‘The airbase were operating a roadblock close to the entrance to the base, but not on any of the other roads.

‘But we assumed someone would be monitoring the roads around the base perimeter and taking regular patrols in the village.

‘Clearly, this was not happening, and I believe that my 999 call foiled whatever plans they had.

‘Even more surprising that, following my call at 1.36am, the police were aware of the presence of the three vans, but didn’t evacuate the village until 6am.

‘No one from the police has been in touch to ask me anything about it.

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‘I think they were hyper-focused and vigilant about the base itself, and had absolutely no regard for our village.

‘The vans were within metres of houses, and those people were left unaware, apart from the fact that I sent a message to our village WhatsApp group, hoping that some people would be awake and could make sure their doors were locked.

‘It all happened fairly quickly. My impression was that they were fit and young, they were all wearing similar dark clothes.

‘I’m just really keen to highlight that it appears someone really dropped the ball on this.

‘Also, I am finding it strange that at the press conference, the police are saying they responded to a call at 12.45 about three suspicious vans travelling towards the base.

‘If this is the case, why did they not know they were in Whelford when I called almost an hour later?’

Last night as he landed back in Washington from Illinois, President Trump hailed US-UK co-operation to foil the attack – and insisted that the group were known to police and were ‘looking to do big damage’ to US forces.

When asked if the US knew about the attack, he said: ‘We know all about them. You’ll be hearing about it very soon. We caught them.’

Earlier in the day he said: ‘It was fantastic. Working with Britain, it was an amazing job. We had them under investigation. They were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great. 

‘It may have been Scotland Yard, I don’t know. We worked with a lot of them. We had them under view for a long time, and we got them. Thank you.’

The five arrested men are in custody and can be questioned for a fortnight under UK anti-terror laws. 

RAF Fairford was used by the United States Air Force for operations against Iran. The base, which is already on high alert and had ramped up security in recent weeks, is less than a mile from the centre of the village.

Minutes after the farmer’s call, armed police descended on the quiet Cotswolds village of Whelford – home to just 100 – and arrested five men. Dramatic video and pictures from the scene show the young, shirtless men sitting on the ground – arms handcuffed behind them.

The woman, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said she believed her headlights had startled the men, prompting them to try to flee.

She told the Sun: ‘The worst thing is that we saw more than five people and they kept saying they arrested five. They had the helicopters searching.’

It comes as Temporary Chief Constable for Gloucestershire Police, Maggie Blyth, has indicated the force is not looking for anybody else in connection with the incident. 

The farmer revealed she had been driving along a quiet lane through the village while her husband was sleeping beside her as she prepared to drop a friend home.

She said the vans struck her as being suspicious because a phone number and lettering on the back of the vehicles appeared to be fake.

She added: ‘I just thought what the hell are they doing… I saw a group of Middle Eastern–looking young guys running off through the trees. Some of them had masks or balaclavas on, and they all scattered ahead of us as we drove back past.

‘Some of them ran into the fields, and some of them turned to run towards the air base. We realised this was something pretty serious.

‘We knew the air base had a credible threat of a terrorist attack before last night. So as soon as I saw them I was worried.

‘I mean, you don’t see masked men running around at half-one in the morning in the countryside near a secure air base and not have concerns.

‘It’s bloody preposterous that they weren’t on it and I had to phone up. I’d like to think it’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing.’

The woman said she hoped the police ‘sort themselves out and this doesn’t happen to us again’ – insisting there would be some ‘red faces in the highest levels of command at Fairford anyway’. 

One of the white vans was labelled ‘FUEL 2YOU’ in red lettering, with a phone number that was one digit short.

A company with the same name said it had two vans and they were both in London yesterday. After the men were detained a 400m cordon was thrown up around the vehicles – which appeared to have been laden with barrels – while police went door to door, evacuating the 85 homes in the village.

Residents told how they were initially woken by a helicopter at 1am and then again by bangs on the door before being taken away in their pyjamas and dressing gowns to a leisure centre.

Jo, who did not want to give her surname, has lived in Whelford for 18 years. She said she was evacuated from her home at around 7am, adding: ‘We were asleep and they were just banging on our door. They said it was a critical incident and we’ve got to leave straight away, and they basically wouldn’t leave the doorstep until we left.

‘We just had to throw our clothes on and come. We didn’t know anything. (The police) literally waited (at the door). I didn’t even brush my teeth.’

Another Whelford resident said they were woken by a helicopter at 2am. They were then woken again at 6.30am by police officers banging on their bedroom window telling them they needed to evacuate. The local said: ‘We’d gone to bed as normal around 10pm and heard the helicopter above the house at 2ish.

‘You get used to aircraft living so close to the base, but not at that time in the early hours. So we knew something was happening.

‘We sleep downstairs and heard a banging on the window at 6.30am. We must have slept through the doorbell.

‘It was the police, they were armed and in masks. They very calmly said there was a ‘serious incident’ and that we needed to leave for our own safety.

‘We grabbed some things and headed to the leisure centre. We haven’t been told when we can go back. It’s been a very scary day.’

Those evacuated were taken to Cirencester Leisure Centre – ten miles away – where areas are also being set up for people’s cats and dogs.

Two uniformed officers had earlier gone to collect one worried resident’s dog. They dropped off the small black terrier to her in the foyer of the centre.

Julian Tudsbery, who has lived in Whelford for 30 years, said: ‘Evidently, they phoned the airbase police, who didn’t answer the phone. It just rang out so she dialled 999.’

He said he was evacuated at 7am, adding: ‘[The police] were then banging on the door, so I went downstairs in my dressing gown.’

After six decades of performing, Rod Stewart has announced that he is retiring from the stage, declaring that it is “time to say farewell” as he unveiled the dates for what he has called his “final tour ever”.

The 81-year-old singer underwent heart surgery last month after doctors discovered a blockage linked to an undisclosed “underlying heart issue”.

Following the coronary stent procedure, Stewart was forced to cancel the remaining dates of his US tour.

Now, in an update shared today, Sir Rod has confirmed plans for a final run of shows across the UK and Europe.

The Final Encore Tour will begin in Ireland next April before continuing through Europe and concluding in Germany on July 24.

In a video message, Sir Rod said: “After much deliberation and sadness I have to announce that next year will be my last tour forever ever. This will be the last rock and roll tour.”

“So I want to thank you for everything you have given me and hopefully I’ve given you something in return.”

He then moved to a piano in the corner of the room and began to play as he sang: “Come and see me on the tour!”

Sir Rod, who is married to Penny Lancaster, captioned the post: “Well, here we go… one last time!

“Come and see me on my One Last Time Tour for one more round of rock ‘n’ roll. I’m really looking forward to it. Get your tickets now with link in the bio.”

In a separate statement, he added: “My dear friends, the time has come to say farewell to life on the road. After more than six decades, The Final Encore will most definitely be my last.

“I’ve been singing the music I love since I was 19 years old, and I’ve had the privilege of taking it around the world to all of you.

“It has given me a life beyond anything I could ever have imagined, and I hope I’ve given you some fond memories in return.

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“So, may I take this opportunity to thank you for making this extraordinary life possible. I hope you’ll join me so I can thank you the best way I know how… with the music and one hell of a show. See you there.”

Tickets are currently available through the Fanclub presale, while general sales will begin on October 2.

Howard Jones – best known for his Eighties hits What Is Love? and Like To Get To Know You Well – will be the support act for the UK and Ireland dates. 

Sir Rod will perform in cities including Manchester, London, Berlin and Prague.

He has been on the road with his One Last Time tour since March, but pulled out of a number of concerts in June after suffering from an acute upper respiratory infection, laryngitis and vocal strain.

He then cancelled more shows after undergoing the heart surgery last month to allow himself time to recover and being told to stay off the stage for at least four weeks.

His spokesman said in a statement at the time: ‘Doctors are pleased with his recovery, and Rod is doing very well and has returned to his normal daily activities.

‘On the advice of his doctors, he will take the next four weeks to recuperate and regain full fitness before returning to the stage. Unfortunately, this means he will be unable to continue his current tour dates.’

The Maggie May singer was said to have been ‘feeling better and very much on the mend’, and apologised to fans for cancelling his tour.

He added in a statement: ‘I want to thank the doctors, nurses and everyone who has taken such wonderful care of me.

‘I’m deeply disappointed to miss these shows and sorry to let my fans down, but I look forward to getting back on stage and having a good time with you all again soon.’

A glass-fronted Grand Designs mansion once mocked by neighbours and likened by presenter Kevin McCloud to a university research facility has gone on sale for almost £5million.

Paul and Penny Denby’s bold modernist property sparked plenty of debate when it appeared among the traditional mock-Tudor homes of the prestigious Keston Park estate near Orpington, Kent.

Planning approval took five years and required two full redesigns. The architect behind the project later recalled that some residents were so opposed they appeared ready to confront the scheme “with picks and forks”.

Completed in April 2011, the expansive home featured a cinema, library and dramatic six-metre-high living space. On Channel 4’s Grand Designs, McCloud described its curtainless design as resembling a “Miami art-deco house”.

He said some people living on the estate might believe the property was “a mistake”, suggesting it had been built in the wrong setting.

“From the front, it certainly gives off a scent not of suburbia, but of a research centre on a university campus — or perhaps the headquarters of one of Paul’s companies,” McCloud told viewers.

“Yet behind that anonymity is a genuine family home created for Paul and Penny,” he added.

The couple, who demolished the neo-Tudor property they had occupied for nearly two decades, named their new creation Sylvan Glade.

Their ambitious self-build, however, was hit by financial difficulties as work progressed.

The project was initially expected to cost £1million, but the final bill rose to approximately £1.6million. When their bank declined to lend more money, the couple turned to their son Mark, a fund manager, for a loan.

Although the completed house showcased vast glass walls and flowing curved interiors, its exterior did not completely convince McCloud.

“Cosy is not a word that comes to mind when looking at the outside of this house,” he said.

He argued that the elaborate grid across the exterior failed to reflect the curves inside, while the overall building appeared oversized for its plot.

“This level of scale and complexity has come at a considerable price,” McCloud added.

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Fifteen years after its Grand Designs debut, Sylvan Glade has returned to the spotlight with a guide price of £4,999,995.

The chain-free detached property includes six bedrooms and approximately 6,949 sq ft of living accommodation.

According to the Rightmove listing, Sylvan Glade is aimed at buyers looking for a highly individual, design-focused home that combines seclusion with ample space for entertaining.

Its extensive glazing allows morning sunlight to fill the interiors, while the open-plan rooms lead out to landscaped gardens and terraces designed for summer parties, al fresco meals and everyday family life.

‘The architectural transparency of the home creates constantly shifting natural light throughout the day, while the woodland surroundings provide a unique sense of calm and seclusion rarely found so close to London.’

There is also a self-contained one-bedroom apartment and the potential to create a further ground-floor apartment.

The property was this month reduced to its present asking price from £5,750,000, according to Rightmove.

Despite the rows that had accompanied its creation, Penny insisted most residents eventually came around.

She said at the time: ‘I think the vast majority are happy about it. There are some people who aren’t happy about it but they are in the minority.’

Keston Park is one of the South East’s most desirable private residential enclaves, with gated entrances, CCTV and 24-hour security patrols.

Former residents have included late Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman.

The Rightmove listing adds: ‘Featured on Grand Designs, this striking six-bedroom residence has been thoughtfully designed to maximise natural light, with extensive glazing, spacious open-plan living areas and high-quality finishes throughout.

‘The versatile layout includes a self-contained one-bedroom apartment, four bathrooms, a lift serving all floors, underfloor heating throughout and a double garage with three-phase EV charging.

‘Set behind secure gated entrances with 24-hour security patrols, the property enjoys a peaceful setting while remaining within easy reach of Locksbottom’s amenities and Orpington station, offering fast connections into London. Offered to the market chain free.’

Nathan Cleary has spoken from his hospital bed after undergoing surgery for the horrific ankle injury he suffered during Penrith’s preliminary final defeat by the Newcastle Knights on Sunday.

The Panthers captain sustained a confirmed compound fracture of the tibia and fibula in his left leg.

Cleary shared an emotional update on Instagram, thanking those who had contacted him and promising to return to the field. In the accompanying photo, he raised both thumbs.

‘Surgery done… Thank you so much to everyone that has reached out, the support has been unbelievable.’

The Penrith playmaker acknowledged that the day after the injury had been among the most difficult of his career as he started to come to terms with the setback.

‘Yesterday sucked but it’s all part of the journey and it’s made me even more grateful for the people I have around me.’

He finished the post with a determined message: ‘I’ll be back.’

Cleary confirmed that the operation was complete but did not reveal any details about the procedure.

He also stopped short of offering a potential timeframe for his return to rugby league.

Instead, his message centred on the gratitude he feels towards those supporting him through the ordeal.

Cleary described the reaction to his injury and the messages he had received as ‘unbelievable’.

Several club sources told The Sydney Morning Herald that it was the worst leg break they had witnessed. In the immediate aftermath, Panthers medical staff helped paramedics keep Cleary’s leg straight because of fears that the injury could cut off the blood supply to his left foot.

The force of the injury caused a bone to break through the skin near his ankle. A Panthers source compared the bleeding wound to a ‘bullet wound’.

Multiple club sources described Cleary’s injury as the worst leg break they had seen.

Cleary’s foot was left pointing in a different direction, prompting urgent concern about circulation and the risk of serious complications.

Some Penrith staff reportedly only realised the extent of the damage when they saw the tackle replayed on Accor Stadium’s big screen before reaching him.

There were also fears the trauma could have caused syndesmosis damage, although that injury has not been confirmed.

The halfback was taken by ambulance to hospital for emergency surgery after Phoenix Crossland’s hip-drop tackle ended his afternoon.

Adding to his ordeal, Cleary had entered the match with a broken fifth metatarsal in his right foot, a separate injury that also requires an operation.

‘He will have to get the other foot done as well, because that was broken,’ his father and coach Ivan said.

The Panthers had previously described that problem as a ‘stress-related bone issue’, with Cleary starting on the bench before entering the game in the 26th minute.

Less than 10 minutes later, he was receiving urgent treatment as shocked teammates and opponents gathered around him.

Newcastle’s Francis Manuleleua immediately signalled for medical assistance, while Cleary was given pain relief through a green whistle.

The Herald reported he could spend up to six months on the sidelines, provided there were no surgical complications.

His mother Bec was reportedly in tears in the crowd, while Ivan faced the distressing task of continuing to coach after watching his son suffer the injury.

‘That’s why I was probably even more emotional, because I knew how hard he worked and what he put himself through to actually get himself to play today,’ Ivan said.

The Panthers coach visited Nathan and their family at half-time, and later revealed his son had watched the remainder of the loss in the ambulance.

‘He watched the game in the ambulance apparently and made him feel worse,’ Ivan said.

Penrith captain Isaah Yeo described Cleary as ‘one of my best mates’ and ‘your brother out there’ as he reflected on the distress among the players.

Crossland was sent off and subsequently referred directly to the NRL judiciary, leaving his grand final availability unresolved.

Referee Gerard Sutton told the Newcastle hooker he had made a ‘definite action to twist’ before bringing his weight down on Cleary’s leg, creating an ‘extreme risk of serious injury’.

Despite playing the entire second half with 12 men, Newcastle won 22-14 to book a grand final clash with the Sydney Roosters.