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Notre Dame Cathedral has gone up in flames this evening in a roaring blaze that devastated the Parisian landmark, leaving the city, France , and the international community distraught. Flames that began in the early evening burst through the roof of the centuries-old cathedral and engulfed the spire, which collapsed, quickly followed by the entire roof. While a huge plume of smoke wafted across the city and ash fell over a large area, Parisians and tourists watched on (pictured centre) as some (pictured bottom) gathered together to pray.

Notre Dame is an enduring gothic masterpiece, a place of pilgrimage for Roman Catholics from all over the world and symbol of French nationhood. Its two huge Gothic towers, unique rose windows, rich sculptural adornments and menacing gargoyles are at the centre of one of the most recognisable urban vistas on the planet. The ribbed vault (bottom centre) was built with groundbreaking techniques and the rose windows (bottom right) are among the largest in the world. The 13th century spire was replaced in the 1850s (pictured main under construction) after interest in the building was reignited by Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame (played in 1939 by Charles Laughton, pictured inset). Sixteen huge copper statues which stood on its walls were removed days ago (pictured bottom left) as part of a renovation project.

An architectural feat that led Paris’s famous Notre Dame Cathedral to be known as ‘The Forest’ is now likely a major contributor in its destruction, as a fire rips through its all-wood frame. A fire broke out at the 12th century cathedral around 6 p.m. GMT (2 p.m. EDT) Monday and quickly grew to engulf the entire wooden interior; the spire collapsed not long after the blaze began, and officials say the frame will be completely destroyed. The entire frame of the 850-year-old building is made from timber, with an estimated 1,300 trees used for the construction of its beams.

With a gap-toothed smile, an eye-catching Afro hairstyle, and a picture of Bart Simpson embossed on her faded blue jeans, Meghan Markle looks the epitome of high-spirited Californian youth at her 11th birthday party. Sitting bedside her in orange shorts and a top that shows off her toned midriff, her mother, Doria, then 36, almost looks young enough to be her sister. As these charming photographs reveal, as Meghan emerged from the chrysalis of childhood and entered adolescence, she remained, at heart, a devoted family girl.

The Home Secretary and Tory leadership hopeful spoke in London today as politicians scramble to tackle the spiralling problem of knife attacks in the UK. He said: 'Stop and search saves lives. There are people that are alive today because of stop and search. I cannot say this clearly enough.' Father-of-four Javid (right, with his wife, Laura) told of his own fears when he lies in bed at night waiting for his children to come home. He also told how he too could have turned to a life of crime when, as a schoolboy, drug dealers approached him at his school gates.

The Prime Minister stopped at the Welcome Break on the M54 in Shifnal, Shropshire on Saturday as she and Philip made their way for a walking holiday in one of their favourite parts of the British Isles. Witnesses said the ladies loos were declared 'out of bounds' to the public as she 'freshened up' for several minutes as they arrived at lunchtime. The normally smartly-dressed Prime Minister was dressed down in a casual black waterproof coat with jeans  - but with  trademark leopard print trainers - as she enjoyed a break from Parliament.

A 'bulldog' that mauled a nine-year-old boy to death at a caravan park had been left alone with the youngster despite a history of attacks, it was claimed. Frankie MacRitchie (pictured hours before his death with his mother, left) was killed by a 'bulldog-type breed' while on holiday at Tencreek Holiday Park in Looe, Cornwall. The youngster had been staying at the park with relatives and friends, but they were in an 'adjacent' caravan (inset) when he was attacked at around 5am on Saturday. Frankie's mother, Tawnee Willis, 30, was reportedly seen crying and screaming in her dressing gown after the tragedy. The seven-year-old dog called Winston is owned by 28-year-old family friend Sadie Totterdell (right pictured with a similar dog), who was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and having a dog dangerously out of control before being released under investigation. A source claimed the pet is often muzzled after being involved in four less-serious attacks in the past, including one that happened just a few weeks ago.

The Ordnance Survey named England's top five steepest streets with Vale Street in Bristol claiming the top spot. With a 22 degree slope the residential road is at the same angle as the average advanced intermediate ski run. While those who have to walk up and down the slope daily complain of sore legs the road has become a popular challenge for cyclists. And there is even an annual egg rolling challenge down the hill (pictured) - with the speediest egg crowned the winner.

Natasha Kaplinsky has spoken for the first time about the near fatal boat accident that left her youngest child with permanent scars. The newsreader's nine-year old daughter Angelica suffered 'severe burns' after their boat exploded into a 'fireball' during a family holiday on the Greek island of Corfu in June 2018. Appearing on Monday's edition of Loose Women, Natasha, 46, revealed the horrifying accident, caused by a leak in the boat's fuel pipe, resulted in the family being fished from the ocean after being seriously injured in the blaze.

Climate change protestors were moved on and arrested in the closing hours of a day-long demonstration today which left commuters leaving London facing a chaotic journey home with thousands of demonstrators blocking key transport hubs during a co-ordinated day of action at five landmarks. Some activists glued themselves to the windows and smashed glass revolving doors at Shell's headquarters near Waterloo (bottom centre). Workers returning home from areas around Waterloo Bridge, Oxford Circus, Marble Arch and Piccadilly Circus struggled to get through by road to Underground stations thanks to the Extinction Rebellion protests. At the end of the day protestors were escorted or carried (pictured top) off Waterloo Bridge which was left strewn with plants and graffiti (bottom left and bottom right) after the crowds dispersed following a police restriction.

In the video, which was posted on Twitter, Ryan Clark films from a dashcam as he drives his car behind the struggling woman in Wolverhampton. He shouts: 'This massive f***ing space here and you're still clocking on down the road aren't you,' before beeping his horn. When he adds 'move! move!' at the top of his lungs, the woman turns to confront him. When he repeats his demand for her to move, she hits his bonnet with her crutch (left) as he beeps his horn. Clark then gets out of his car and continues to swear at the woman, who hits his car again. The pair engage in an angry exchange and the woman then appears to hit Clark with her crutch. He later posted an Instagram photo of himself on the road (right), alongside a message which boasted about the video's '15k retweets' and '37k likes on Reddit' (inset).

Vicki Turner, of Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, was told last month the cancer she thought she had defeated had returned, with there being nothing doctors could do. The 24-year-old, who was initially diagnosed with the disease in 2016, has been told she could live anywhere from three-to-30 years. Miss Turner endured a double mastectomy and six months of chemotherapy to try and beat the disease, only for it to spread to her spine. Determined to make the most of the life she has left, Miss Turner hopes to marry her fiancé Simon Eastaugh, 25, (pictured together in the inset) next year at Leeds Castle in Kent. Miss Turner is pictured left after a double mastectomy on December 8 2016 to prevent the disease spreading to her right breast and right after losing her hair to chemotherapy.

Messages alleged to have been sent by Alice Cutter (pictured centre), 22, to Alex Deakin, a convicted member of National Action, reveal she celebrated the brutal killing, writing: ‘Rot in hell, b****’. She is also said to have sent a 'kill, kill, kill' text to her boyfriend after talking about gassing synagogues, Birmingham Crown Court heard today. Cutter, who is accused of being a member of banned group National Action, received messages from her partner Mark Jones (inset) about how to make lethal chlorine gas from household chemicals in texts between them on June 22, 2016.

The city came to a standstill at 3.06pm, (main) the exact moment the FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest was stopped on April 5, 1989. Flags on civic buildings were flown at half mast and the bells of the Town Hall tolled 96 times, one for every Liverpool fan killed in the tragedy. Traffic going through tunnels linking the city to the Wirral was stopped and the Mersey Ferries marked the anniversary by sounding their horns. Earlier Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp led his players in paying tribute to the victims, as the first team squad laid wreaths at Anfield in memory of the 96 supporters who died (top left). They were joined by the Liverpool Ladies team, academy sides and chief executive officer Peter Moore ahead of a minutes silence at 3.06pm, the moment the match was abandoned exactly 30 years ago.

Tiger Woods, 43, was tied for second going into the final round on Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, but pulled into the lead on the back nine and won as his family looked on. It is the first time Woods has won a major when he did not have a lead or co-lead after 54 holes, his first win at The Masters since 2005, and his first majors title in 11 years. On the 18th green, the patrons went wild and began chanting 'Tiger, Tiger' as Woods sunk his final putt to win the tournament, completing a dizzying final round and one of the biggest fairytale comebacks in sports history. The champion's mother Kultida Woods, 75, his two children Charlie (hugging him inset left) and Sam, and his girlfriend Erica Herman, 35, embraced him as he walked off the green. 

New Zealand-born Louisa Akavi, 62, was traveling in a Red Cross convoy in Idlib, north-western Syria, when she and several other volunteers were taken hostage by gunmen on 13 October 2013. Seven people were snatched from the convoy, and despite four being released the following day, the whereabouts of Ms Akavi and two other volunteers, Alaa Rajab and Nabil Bakdounes, are still unknown. Since the last patch of ISIS resistance in Syria was wiped out last month, the Red Cross has launched an appeal to trace them over fears they may have been executed.

A father-of-four has shared heartbreaking photographs of his five-year-old in her hospital bed (left) after she was left brain damaged in the Christchurch terror attack. Wasseim Alsati and his daughter Alen (bottom right) were both shot during the attack on the Al Noor mosque. A brave bystander launched into action and rushed them both to a nearby hospital. Mr Alsati also shared a picture of the bullet that was removed from his stomach (top right). New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also took time out to visit Alen and her family in the hospital (left).

Surveillance footage shows the collie outside playing fetch with her owner and two of her canine pals. A woman is then seen walking over to her vehicle and quickly backing out of a driveway. In that same moment the chihuahua tries to run over to his collie friend, but was unable to get through the snow fast enough. Within a matter of seconds, the collie rushed to the dog's rescue, snatching him off the ground and out of the way of the SUV. The incredible moment took place in Gaspé City in Québec, Canada.

The tomb is located south of Saqqara, a vast necropolis south of Cairo, and belongs to a senior official named Khuwy. The 4,300-year-old tomb was made for a Fifth Dynasty nobleman and is adorned with colourful reliefs and well preserved inscriptions a month after being discovered. It is mostly made of white limestone bricks and is adorned with ornate paintings that contain a special green resin and oils used in the burial process. It comes a week after British engineers completed a £7 million ($9 million) restoration project on Egypt 's oldest pyramid that is also located in Saqqara.