Central Radio News

Hyndburn Council and Morgan Sindall Construction welcomed County Councillors Aidy Riggott and Carole Haythornthwaite for a site visit to see how the exciting scheme is shaping up.

Police have charged a teenager following disorder in Bacup town centre.

Over 400 knives have been taken off the streets across Lancashire’s South Division as part of Operation Sceptre, a national week-long initiative to tackle knife crime which took place last week.

Abingdon Street Market’s retail area has already reached one year of trading.

A new food outlet is set to open on the site of a former car showroom in Preston – but mystery still surrounds the company that will be operating it.

Council chiefs will start seeking a new developer early next year after plans for a £300m leisure scheme in the heart of Blackpool collapsed.

One of Blackpool’s oldest pubs has re-opened following a £200,000 investment which included rebuilding the front of the venue which was at risk of collapse.

Former Blackpool MPs have paid tribute to John Prescott who was a regular visitor to the resort during his time in government.

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of illegal money lending following an operation in the Blackburn area.

A burglar who targeted homes across Leyland has been jailed.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a collision in Preston left a man with serious injuries.

The restoration of Preston’s Moor Park did not begin in earnest until last week – more than two months after the Radio 2 In The Park gig that left parts of it a muddy wasteland.

Traffic jam-busting technology such as ‘smart’ junctions will be used to improve travel times in Blackpool town centre thanks to a multi-million pound injection of cash.

Police are appealing for information after £10,000 of model trains stolen were stolen from an address in Cleveleys.

Records were once again broken at Darwen’s Christmas lights switch-on with thousands of people turning out for the hugely popular event.

Police want to speak to a number of people after a man was seriously assaulted in Darwen.

Burnley’s annual Christmas Lights Switch-On ‘Burnley Believes ‘proved to be a dazzling success at the weekend, attracting thousands of visitors to the town centre for a day of festive magic.

During the festive period, free parking sessions will be available every Friday and Saturday at Wyre Council car parks.

A burglar who targeted businesses and student accommodation buildings in Preston has been jailed.

Blackpool is preparing to bid a fond farewell to one of the most successful events seasons on record with a free family celebration on New Year’s Eve.

Officers from Chorley and South Ribble’s Neighbourhood Policing team have teamed up with Trading Standards and young volunteers from across the area to conduct an under-age sales operation.

Wyre Council has purchased its first empty home as part of the Affordable Housing Delivery Programme.

A man has received a lengthy prison sentence after he attempted to murder a man in his own home last Christmas.

Blackpool’s spectacular Christmas By The Sea village is open – with a helping hand from the stars of Strictly Come Dancing.

Blackpool has been handed a £6m boost towards two key regeneration projects in the town.

A pub on Cleveleys seafront which has frequently been empty since it was built 18 years ago is now to become a veterinary practice.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s ruling executive board has rubber stamped spending £1.6million on taking full ownership of the Thwaites brewery site.

A new multi-million pound estate of 152 social homes for affordable rent is set to move a step closer this week.

A new apartment block is to be built in Preston city centre in spite of concerns about its height.

A gang of drug dealers have been jailed for nearly 90 years. 

Detectives investigating the murder of Kevin Price in Blackpool have charged two people.

An investigation into a fire which caused significant damage to a building on Church Street, Preston, is continuing.

A long-awaited new Aldi store in Accrington is back on the starting blocks after councillors sorted out a planning conditions blunder.

Uber drivers in Blackpool are charging as little as 36p for a two mile journey, it has been claimed, with fears raised such low fares mean cabbies will not be able to sustain their livelihoods.

The rising cost of baby milk is causing hardship for many Blackpool families – with some even resorting to shoplifting so they can bottle-feed their babies.

Nine groups of volunteers based in Lancashire have been honoured with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

Around two thirds of people in Blackpool who have responded so far to a survey about assisted dying say they would support legislation to allow terminally ill adults to end their life.

A new McDonald’s drive-thru is set to open on the site of a disused pub in Chorley – but councillors have stepped in to prevent it operating around the clock.

As the excitement builds for Chorley’s Christmas Lights Switch On taking place on Sunday, Chorley Council and Chorley FC have made a further exciting announcement about the special guests.

 A former support teacher from Burnley living with a brain tumour was told she had only six months to live – seven years ago.

Blackpool is preparing to launch a magnificent programme of Christmas entertainment – with a sprinkling of Strictly stardust!

The University of Central Lancashire has teamed up with the Chorley Taxi Association to capture people’s views on taxi use in the county.

Preston City Council has said it will “vigorously” defend itself after it was threatened with being sued – potentially for more than £2m – by another local authority 240 miles away.

Discover Blackburn has announced the launch of the Festival of the Moon this November, an exciting event series set to transform Blackburn town centre into a radiant celebration of art, light, and community.

A murder inquiry is underway after the body of a man was found in Blackpool.

A primary school headteacher has welcomed vital safety features that have been revitalised as part of a major resurfacing scheme on a busy road in Accrington.

A £65m regeneration project in the heart of Blackpool will be put at risk if permission is not given to clear the site, a public inquiry has been told.

A vandalised and vacant former health centre building has been earmarked for new flats and houses.

Proposals for new sheltered housing in Blackpool have got the go ahead in order to meet an ‘overwhelming need’ for this type of accommodation in the town.

A number of stores across the Fylde coast sold a bladed item to an underage person in a recent test purchase operation.

Fylde Council has approved an extension of their Kirkham Pool Disposal Plan with the YMCA to a backstop date of 17th February 2025.

Blackburn with Darwen has been chosen to take part in a groundbreaking workplace heart health check programme.

Christmas is coming to town as Burnley prepares to light up the season with its most magical event of the year.

A woman has died in hospital following a collision in Bamber Bridge last month.

Preston's Christmas Lights Switch On is set to be a Christmas cracker this year.

Further details have been announced for three spectacular events taking place in Great Harwood over the festive period, with one of the UK’s most popular Taylor Swift Tribute Acts set to perform.

Coronation Street and Benidorm star Tony Maudsley plus singer Nathan Moore have been revealed as the special guests doing the honours of turning Leyland’s Christmas Lights On for 2024.

Blackburn’s much-anticipated Christmas lights switch-on event is set to take place on Saturday, November 23.

Chorley’s Christmas Lights Switch On will return at the weekend, and this year are being switched on by a boyband star.

Vital local bus services around the Accrington area have been revamped including new Saturday services set to be rolled out as part of a reorganisation of the routes.

An estate made up entirely of affordable homes is to be built on the outskirts of Preston.

Lancashire will need to see an eight-fold increase in the number of electric vehicle charging points by the end of the decade, it has been estimated.

A man who stabbed someone before causing a lengthy stand off with police has been jailed.

Hyndburn Police, working together with Trading Standards seized a large quantity of illegal goods from an empty commercial property in Oswaldtwistle.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is set to spend £1.6million on taking full ownership of the Thwaites brewery site.

Controversial plans to turn a large residential home in Cleveleys into a house of multiple occupation (HMO) have been approved by planners at Wyre.

Nearly 900 homes are standing empty across Pendle, of which over 200 are in the Colne area, councillors are informed in a new report.

A man who organised cross-Channel small boat crossings from his home in Preston has been jailed for 17 years after being found guilty of people smuggling charges, following an investigation by the National Crime Agency.

Three men have been arrested after fireworks were thrown at police officers.

Police are appealing for witnesses and information after a man suffered serious injuries during an assault in Accrington.

People are being urged to ensure they dispose of batteries responsibly after an e-bike sparked a blaze which closed down Blackpool’s tip.

It was a place of learning for many years, but 10 years after its closure the site of the former Bispham High School is now being transformed for 21st century living.

A raft of new and refurbished sports facilities are set to be installed in a Preston park as part of a £3.2m revamp.

Blackpool Council is set to launch a consultation into their multi-million pound plans to extend sea defence works in Anchorsholme.

Millions of pounds of drugs have been discovered when police raided a property in Fleetwood.

The speed limits on several roads in Chorley are set to be cut over safety concerns.

The role played by Blackpool FC fans in pushing for new rules for football club owners has been recognised by the government minister at the helm of new legislation.

Proposals for a giant new windfarm on moorland above East Lancashire have been revealed.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas on Blackpool’s famous seafront.

The refurbishment of one of Lancashire’s oldest swimming baths has been branded a “waste of money” after it emerged the general public can now use the facility for just three hours a week.

Proposals to build more than 50 homes in Preesall are this week to go before Wyre planners for the third time.

Work will continue on plans to build brand new hospitals for Preston and Lancaster as Lancashire NHS bosses await the outcome of a government review of the schemes, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands.

The Blackpool South MP has been mugged by a gang in London.

A sniffer dog has hunted down thousands of hidden illegal vapes and cigarettes as part of a crackdown at shops across Preston.

Blackpool should follow in the footsteps of Manchester to build an indoor concert arena, according to one of the town’s MPs.

One of Blackpool’s oldest pubs was in danger of collapse after its historic frontage was found to be crumbling away.

An organisation aiming to strengthen community cohesion, tackle youth problems and boost people’s health with gym, cafe, games and meeting spaces is asking Pendle Council to help tackle a £100,000 shortfall for a new garden and youth centre in Nelson, citing rising costs.

Blackburn with Darwen Council Leader Phil Riley has written to Northern raising “significant” concerns regarding the frequent Sunday train cancellations at Blackburn train station.

More reports of noise, damage, anti-social behaviour, sex in public areas, drugs and drunkenness in Whalley have been raised at Ribble Valley Council.

The number of patients admitted to hospital in Central Lancashire with malnutrition has leapt in the space of a year.

Councillors are calling for an urgent safety review of the M65 through East Lancashire after a string of fatal crashes.

The family of a man who was left with life-changing injuries following an assault in Blackpool have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

Police asking for your help after a 12-year-old boy suffered serious injuries following a collision.

A man is in hospital with burns after an explosion at a house in Preston.

Ambitious plans to tackle town centre congestion in Blackpool have been given the green light by the Government.

Planners have reined in proposals for a stable block to house Blackpool’s famous landau horses on a residential street, despite the area’s history for keeping the animals.

Lancashire businesses may have to make staff cuts and put up prices as a result of some of the measures announced in the budget, a group representing many of them has warned.

A man from Lytham St Annes has appeared in court in connection to an investigation into a multi million pound PPE fraud.

A family have paid an emotional tribute to a motorcyclist from East Lancashire who died following a collision at Burrow, near Kirkby Lonsdale.

A man has been jailed after raping a woman in her own home. 

In winter, seasonal flu can cause thousands of people in the UK to receive hospital treatment every day.

Starting in December, Preston City Council will introduce a new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in partnership with Preston Police to address crime and anti-social behaviour in key areas of the city centre.

A new programme of 124 live gigs to boost Blackburn’s nightlife will hit the town centre over the next six months.

Questions have been raised over the addition of fluoride to school milk in Blackpool after claims on social media the practice is unsafe.

Preston’s long-awaited youth zone is expected to be built by next summer and open just months later, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands.

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb is calling on the government to overhaul taxi laws following a meeting with the minister in charge.

The operator of a student accommodation facility in Preston wants its tenants to be able to stay on once they have graduated and got a job.

New powers are to come into force banning the use of tents for sleeping in shop doorways and on the Promenade in Blackpool.

Blackpool’s newest MP has pledged to be at the heart of the community after criticism from some quarters she has not been visible enough since her election in July.

A number of internationally renowned light sculptures descended on Accrington for a remarkable light event over the weekend, which was attended by 5,000 people.

Police are appealing for witnesses after an elderly pedestrian was seriously injured in a collision in Thornton Cleveleys.

A women’s charity in Chorley in its 40th year has been given a £10,000 boost to improve its centre.

A primary school that promises to offer its pupils “activity-based learning” is set to open in a Preston suburb.

A former betting shop in a residential area of Preston could become a microbar.

Lancashire Police, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) are once again joining forces to tackle anti-social behaviour and promote safety ahead of this year’s Bonfire Night celebrations.

Concerns have been raised over the security of one of Preston’s most significant historical buildings after it was struck by vandals and fly-tippers.

Two brothers have been given prison sentences totalling almost 30 years after raping and sexually assaulting a number of children.

Police are appealing for information and footage after a woman was left with serious injuries following a collision in Bamber Bridge.

It would cost £100m more to carry out all of the maintenance work needed at the Royal Preston Hospital than official figures suggest.

Blackpool has received a further £1.7m from the government’s Household Support Fund – with £300,000 being set aside to help vulnerable pensioners including those who have lost their winter fuel allowance.

Pubs, restaurants and guest-houses in Blackpool are facing a ‘cliff edge’ if business rates relief runs out in April next year as currently expected.

A Lancashire council leader has launched a defence of private school arrangements amid government plans to introduce VAT on their fees.

Work is underway on a project to build 154 new homes in Thornton on a site which has proved controversial due to archaeological finding there.

The rich history of a part of East Lancashire will go on display next month.

The Kentown Wizard Foundation has announced a significant milestone - surpassing £20 million in grant-giving.

A man has been sentenced to seven years in jail after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a young girl over almost a decade.

A 20-year-old Blackpool man has been jailed for the role he played in the disorder in Blackpool in August. 

A controversial proposal to partially fill in a moorland beauty spot for a fishing lake put on hold in October 2023 is back on the agenda.

A controversial housing development in Thornton which was granted planning approval two years ago is no longer going ahead and a completely new scheme by a different group has been lodged with Wyre planners.

There is only one unit left to be filled within Preston’s new cinema and leisure complex as it nears the final stage of its development, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) can reveal.

Blackburn town centre will be hosting a series of Hallowe’en events on Saturday.

The popular free family event, Astley Illuminated, returns next month with magnificent light displays, entertainment and more.

Blackpool has unveiled an extraordinary programme of light-based art as the annual Lightpool Festival gets underway.

A Preston man has been jailed for raping and strangling a woman following an investigation by Lancashire Police.

Part of Preston city centre is to get a new night-time look with the installation of dozens of distinctive streetlights.

A run-down sports facility in Chorley is set to get a new pavilion which will mean football can once again be played on the site.

More than 50 Lancashire funeral homes have so far been inspected after the government recommended local councils check up on the undertakers operating in their area.

Blackpool Neighbourhood Policing Teams have executed two Misuse of Drug Warrants at addresses in the Brunswick area.

BLACKBURN with Darwen Council has no current plans to sell the site of the closed Daisyfield Pools complex when it is demolished, councillors have been told.

EMERGENCY accommodation for some of Blackburn with Darwen’s most vulnerable homeless people will be retained for another winter.

Residents across Lancashire are being welcomed into their local libraries to get a hot drink, meet new people and to stay warm as temperatures drop.

The Hyndburn Neighbourhood Policing Team, in collaboration with multiple partner agencies, carried out Operation Rally this week.

A Chorley traveller community who moved onto greenbelt land in the borough 15 years ago and have been fighting for the right to stay there ever since have been granted their wish by councillors.

Blackpool Council’s finances are ‘on the edge’ the town’s opposition leader has warned after new figures showed reserves have dropped to just £76,000.

A driver who crashed a car into a police vehicle after travelling the wrong way on roundabout has been jailed. 

A man has been jailed for 40 months after we found a large amount of drugs and cash in an address in Burnley.

People travelling in and around Rawtenstall are being reminded to plan journeys and allow extra time ahead of roadworks starting this week.

A campaign urging people to clean up after their dogs is being relaunched in Blackpool to coincide with the arrival of darker nights when many people walk their pets closer to home.

Thousands of tourists arrive daily in Blackpool by coach – boosting the resort’s tourism economy by hundreds of thousands of pounds each day, new research has shown.

Blackpool Council has been forced to write off almost £1.6m of debt with around half of that due to unpaid business rates.

Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage after a man died in a collision on the M61 motorway.

A new housing scheme for Poulton will see 300 homes built in 2025 after planners gave the full scheme the green light.

A man has been jailed after numerous shoplifting offences in Preston.

Plans to build hundreds of houses on the edge of Blackpool are back on the table after proposals have stalled over many years.

A Preston architect says the city could stake its claim as an alternative shopping destination to Manchester and Liverpool by bringing big brands to the high street – but in miniature form.

A rubbish mountain has appeared outside the former fracking site in Fylde after the spot became a magnet for fly-tipping.

Four members of a drugs gang who conspired to flood the streets of Accrington with heroin and crack cocaine they trafficked from Cheetham Hill have been jailed for just over a quarter of a century.

More flats are on the way for the stables of the former Thwaites Brewery in Blackburn town centre.

A planning application to upgrade Rawtenstall Market Hall has been approved by Rossendale councillors, linked to levelling-up funds.

Police appealing for information and footage after collision between a car and a cyclist in Blackpool.

Police are appealing for witnesses and footage after a man was seriously assaulted in Darwen.

Highways bosses are drawing up plans to improve the safety of a busy route between Preston and Lancaster.

A vacant Preston city centre shop that is feared close to collapse will be demolished, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) can reveal.

THE final death knell on Blackburn’s Daisyfield Pools complex is due to be sounded by councillors on Thursday.

A new method of filling in potholes on Lancashire’s roads has proven so quick and successful that it has enabled a backlog of repairs to be reduced sooner than expected – and should help them last longer.

Work could begin to build Blackpool’s £65m multiversity in May or June next year providing the site has been assembled.

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb has called for urgent action to address the demands of the Waspi women campaign after raising the issue in Parliament.

Accrington Stanley has lost its appeal over the refusal of backdated planning permission for its hospitality suite and supporters bar.

THE reconstruction of second floor and roof of an ‘eyesore’ Victorian cotton mill has been approved by councillors.

Police have charged two men following 12 burglaries across East Lancashire.

A man who posted a racist comment about a Premier League footballer online has been given a three-year football banning order.

A man who raped and indecently assaulted a teenage girl has been jailed for almost 10 years.

Two men have been jailed after a man was left in a critical condition in hospital.

National children’s charity, Dreams Come True, has been awarded a five-year £867,500 grant to deliver dreams to children in the greatest of need across Blackpool and the North West.

New research announced this week shows more money is spent in hospice charity shops across the UK than hospices receive from the government.

In the early hours of yesterday, officers from the South Rural Task Force responded to reports of poaching in the Coppull area.   

Following a successful bid for once in a generation funding of £20m from the UK Government, Chorley Council has appointed a design team to progress proposals to transform areas of Chorley town centre.

With the days getting shorter and the nights drawing in, Police across Pendle and the Ribble Valley are warning people to make their belongings as hard a target as possible for thieves to hit. 

Work to build Blackpool’s £40m new magistrates court is to face delays due to the collapse of the main contractor.

THE former Pizza Hut restaurant in Blackburn town centre can now become a McDonald’s outlet.

A bid for a further £11m to protect Blackpool from the risk of rising sea levels has been successful.

A proposed £10m culture hub in Blackpool town centre has got the go ahead from councillors.

A pyrotechnics team from Poland have been crowned champions of Blackpool’s annual World Fireworks competition after wowing record crowds.

Free parking will be on offer in several parts of Preston city centre in the run-up to Christmas, the Local Democracy Reporting Service can reveal.

Blackpool’s spectacular Christmas By The Sea village is returning for 2024.

A man has been jailed after a theft from a motor vehicle and numerous shoplifting offences in Accrington.

With the colder temperatures just around the corner, Blackburn with Darwen Council want to get you involved in naming their two brand new orange gritters.

St John Ambulance is set to return to Darwen after the charity’s base was bought by a generous donor and gifted to them to use for free.

A new branch of coffee brand Starbucks could be coming to Blackpool town centre.

Blackpool Airport is flying high two years into its 10-year master plan – but the return of commercial holiday flights is still being ruled out.

The number of children being home schooled in Blackpool has jumped with more than 500 now having lessons at home – but there are fears they may be missing out on opportunities.

An investigation is to be held into whether Blackpool Council should run its own children’s homes in future after the spiralling cost of using private residential care was revealed.

Plans for a new East Stand at Blackpool Football Club are due to be submitted next month – while work on community pitches next to the stadium will begin next spring.

A management company is stepping back from running a Rossendale market which is set for a multi-million pound upgrade.

Showtown & Blackpool Council have announced the acquisition of the Charlie Cairoli Collection - celebrating the legacy of laughter from one of the 20th century's most iconic clowns.

Ambitious plans to create two new schools in Preston have taken a crucial step forward.

Police have arrested a man on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving as part of our ongoing investigation into a serious collision in Bamber Bridge.

Plans to restore Blackpool’s historic Little Marton Windmill have stalled after all four existing sails from the landmark were found to be rotten.

Lancashire bus passengers could eventually be able to buy a single ticket that can be used on all services in the county – regardless of the firm operating them.

A proposed new ten-year £20million regeneration fund for Nelson has been paused as part of a national review by the new Labour government, Pendle Council has announced.