Nick Smith

Nick Smith ITV News journalist producing and presenting feature reports on issues and consumer affairs across the UK.

I've given my YouTube channel a bit of a re-jig and will be posting some of my best content which has featured across the @itvnews.bsky.social regional programmes and @itvx.com.

Check it out here: www.youtube.com/@NickSmithITV

Glastonbury hit the headlines over the weekend as festival season gets into full swing from now until September

But many smaller independent events across the country are battling huge cost rises and audiences struggling to afford tickets.

Watch my investigation here:

www.itv.com/watch/news/c...

Have you started noticing fewer bug splats on your car windscreen than in decades gone by?

Is it a concerning sign of a serious decline in insect numbers?

Catch my report on @itvanglia.bsky.social, @itvcentral.bsky.social, ITV Meridian, @itvtynetees.bsky.social, ITV Westcountry & ITV Calendar...

Disposable vapes in England & Wales will be illegal to sell from Sunday.

Polling suggests users have been stockpiling and 1/3 may even turn to the black market post-ban.

More on @itvanglia.bsky.social, itvcalendar, @itvcentral.bsky.social, itvmeridian, @itvtynetees.bsky.social & itvwestcountry.

More than a third of UK households now drink plant-based milk and oat milk now dominates half of this market, with a big boost for British crop farmers.

Catch my report on @itvanglia.bsky.social @itvcalendar @itvcentral.bsky.social @itvmeridian @itvtynetees.bsky.social & @itvwestcountry at 6 ... 🌾🥛

@festivalsounds.co.uk Hi there, I'm looking to get in touch with Bilal from the podcast! Currently working on a news report for ITV on challenges facing the festival industry and looking to interview a festival superfan! Either drop me a message on here or an email nick.smith@itv.com if interested.

Pleasure to interview former WW2 code-breaker Patricia Davies to interview her about the importance of celebrating #VEDay80 tomorrow.

She would intercept German naval transmissions and send order codes to Bletchley Park.

I honestly could have spoken to her for hours on end.

Cross Country train service … nothing like peak time and barely even standing room. Luckily I’m only going two stops … but why do we put up with this? Why is such an in-demand service only running with four carriages (with one used up by first class)?

Should more parents be supported in walking their children to school?

Less than 1/2 now arrive by foot. That drops to 1/4 in rural areas.

Back in 1974 3/4 children walked to school.

Hope you caught my report earlier tonight on the
@itvnews.bsky.social regional programmes ... 🏫🚶‍♀️🚶🚶‍♂️

7% of students have experienced homelessness during their degree according to a recent survey by charity SaveTheStudent.

As rent in many areas of the country far exceeds the normal maintenance loan.

Catch my report across the @itvnews.bsky.social regional network at 6pm ...

The Warwickshire Hunt Ltd was acquitted of the same charge during the same trail

But this is the first time a member of this hunt has been convicted of breaking the laws u
nder the Hunting Act 2004.

The incident in Oct 2023 was all filmed by a hunt saboteur monitoring the hunt.

A member of the Warwickshire Hunt has been found guilty of illegal fox hunting.

24-year-old Benjamin Halsall was convicted of hunting a wild mammal with hounds after a two-day trial at Coventry Magistrates.

He was fined £1,000 with a further £1,000 in costs.

www.itv.com/news/central...

The lowest 10% of UK earners are worse off than most equivalent EU counterparts. They earn £3000 less than low earners in Germany & £1500 less than the French.

They are poorer than the poorest parts of Slovenia (average disposable income is £900 higher), Malta (£1000) & Ireland (£2300).

Beautiful walk along the River Avon this evening 🌅

According to government figures, the percentage of road fatalities where drugs have been found in a deceased drivers' system has nearly doubled since the law was introduced, from 11% to 19%.

It's been ten years since drug driving became a specific offence.

But some police forces say it is now more common than drink driving.

Catch my report on @itvanglia.bsky.social @itvcentral.bsky.social @itvtynetees.bsky.social, ITV Calendar, ITV Merdian & ITV Westcountry at 18:00 this evening.

The @leagueacs.bsky.social is handing a 104,000 signature petition to Downing St today calling for a timetable on implementing stronger anti-hunting laws.

The Countryside Alliance says a total ban on trial hunting would cost jobs and eliminate "a social glue that keeps rural communities together".

I joined the West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs observing a hunt in Warwickshire in November and witnessed a fox being chased through a village by hounds.

The sabs intervened to ensure the hounds were put off the foxes scent.

The hunt involved claims the hounds had "strayed during an exercise".

But there have been no further details of how or when such a ban would be enforced.

Pro hunting groups like the Countryside Alliance and the British Hound Sports Association claim it will "penalise the majority of hunting groups who participate in legal trail hunting".

Trail hunting is a legal activity if done correctly.

A real or artificial animal scent is laid across a defined route. This should avoid coming into contact with fox habitats.

Labour stated in their manifesto it's a 'smokescreen' for illegal hunting and pledged to ban it.

20-years ago today, hunting foxes with hounds became illegal in England & Wales as the Hunting Act came into force.

I recently investigated claims that is still 'prolific' in the countryside under the guise of trail hunting...

www.itv.com/news/2024-11...

📽️ We spoke on regional ITV News last night about the urgent need for mental healthcare reform for men and women in prison.
#MentalHealth #PrisonReform #SaferPrisons

The number of Britons saying the UK was right to vote to leave the EU has hit its lowest level since the referendum, ahead of the fifth anniversary of Brexit on Friday

Right to vote to leave: 30% (-3 from Nov)
Wrong to vote to leave: 55% (=)

yougov.co.uk/politics/art...

Murdoch's News Group Newspapers:

"Offers a full & unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for serious intrusion by The Sun between 1996 and 2011 into his private life

**including incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun**"

It's just two weeks to go until the 7th Invictus Games, hosted in Vancouver & Whistler.

The event is including both summer and winter sports for the first time, many competitors have overcome horrific injury or personal trauma.

Catch my report across the @itvnews.bsky.social regional programmes.

Can drones be used to fight wildfires?

I've been given exclusive access to Windracers testing their autonomous air vehicle to track and drop water or suppressant on flames.

Catch my report on across the ITV regional news programmes at 18:00 ...

It’s a late one! Join me at 10:35 for your late night update on ITV Westcountry 📺

I've been investigating the rise of the retro gaming market for @itvnews.bsky.social - it turns out some copies of iconic titles are selling for hundreds of thousands, or even millions of £££!

Maybe it's a sign that the skill and complexity involved in game design is recognised as a true art form.

Watch my report in full and read more here:

www.itv.com/news/2024-12...