Preston, Leyland & Chorley News

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.

Some big changes are planned, a new date and a new venue.

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

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.

Lancaster on Ice is set to return to the picturesque Dalton Square in Lancaster, bringing festive cheer to the city.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

Video

The horrible moment caught on a doorbell camera as a woman is told “I hope you get [cancer]”

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Churchill Support Services, a leader in security solutions, has acquired Sonitech Systems Limited, boosting its capabilities with cutting-edge electronic security.

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.

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.

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.

An announcement will be made before Christmas about whether a third prison is to be built in a Chorley village.

Highways bosses are planning to ban U-turns at a major Preston junction and introduce new parking restrictions on another busy city route.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a woman was left with serious injuries after a collision in Bamber Bridge.

Plans have been revealed to build up to 430 new homes in Cottam.

Duke Street Nursery School in Chorley has once again been rated as 'Outstanding' by Ofsted, marking an impressive 24 years of maintaining this top rating.

Preston Pride returns this weekend, bringing together people from all walks of life to celebrate diversity, inclusivity, and equality.

Chorley’s annual weekend of live music returns on 4 and 5 October, bringing a jam-packed weekend of music and entertainment to Chorley town centre.

The Encounter Festival transformed Preston into a vibrant hub of music and arts over the weekend.

A Preston primary school has become so preoccupied dealing with complaints from parents – and even its own staff – that it has been “distracted” from ensuring pupils learn everything that they should.

Urgent repair work is set to be carried out to fix damage caused by rotting timber in Chorley’s Astley Hall.

Chorley Council is set to buy a group of properties to house refugees from Afghanistan and anyone who finds themselves homeless in the borough.

Around 1,000 pensioners in Chorley are not claiming a benefit that would ensure they keep receiving their winter fuel allowance.

Local dignitaries came together at the new-look Peace Garden this week to mark the official completion of a £14.7m scheme to transform Preston city centre.

New jobs and businesses in advanced engineering, manufacturing, science and technology are the focus of recommendations to update the special planning status of Samlesbury Enterprise Zone in Lancashire.

Plans have been unveiled to build dozens of retirement apartments on the border of Preston’s Moor Park.

Acts who made it big in the noughties could be added to the line-up of Leyland’s annual Music In The Park festival.

Police are appealing for witnesses and footage after a motorcyclist was left seriously injured following a road traffic collision in Barrow.

Two teenagers have died after the car they were travelling in left the road and collided with some trees near Preston.

The newly revitalised Guild Lounge, located within Preston’s iconic Guild Hall, is set to become a hub of entertainment this autumn.

An apartment block that will tower above Chorley town centre is set to be built on the site of the borough’s former magistrates’ court.

A huge nursery could be built in a Preston suburb after plans for a retail and residential development were scrapped.

A man injured in a serious collision in Chorley last month has died in hospital.

A homeless shelter is to be created in the heart of Preston city centre.

A Preston pub that was temporarily shut down after a mass brawl left a man with a suspected fractured skull will not reopen – and is set to be converted into bedsits.

Preston’s Old Tram Bridge was in such poor condition that it took less than half the time to demolish it as had been expected, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) can reveal.

Police are appealing for witnesses and footage following a serious collision in Hoghton.

A much-loved Preston social club has moved to reassure locals that it is not going to be bulldozed to make way for new houses.

An Islamic education facility in Preston is set to be turned into bedsits after the operation moves into a former pub nearby.

Online applications for Lancashire school places are now live.

People will be able to benefit from more frequent bus services in Lancashire from now thanks to increased funding.

An office block in Preston city centre is set to be turned into apartments.

A major part of Preston’s past could be uncovered to create a new wetland and green space in the heart of the city.

Lots of fun and activities for children, families or anyone interested in arts and culture as Encounter Festival has launched its programme for 2024. 

Preston’s free festival of arts and culture, Encounter Festival has launched its programme for 2024.

A shoplifter has been jailed for a high value theft from a store in Preston.

A former farm in South Ribble has gone on the market after permission was granted to turn it into an estate of industrial units designed to house start-up businesses.

Building work has started on a new supported living scheme which will provide long-term affordable accommodation for people with a learning disability and autistic people in Preston.

Plans have been unveiled for the latest wave of new housing to be built on the former Ingol Golf Course in Preston – which would add more than 100 homes to the site than were originally envisaged for it.

The much-anticipated demolition of Preston's iconic Tram Bridge is scheduled to commence on Tuesday, 20 August 2024.

A man has been given a sentence of more than 18 years for raping and assaulting a woman near Preston.

Twenty million pounds of ‘levelling up’ funding for Preston hangs in the balance as the city council considers asking the government for permission to change how the money is spent.

A property in suburban Preston which has been home to a religious community for more than 25 years could be converted into dozens of bedsits.

It is impossible to estimate when Preston’s Guild Hall will be fully operational again – because the extent of the structural problems facing the venue is still unknown.

Central Radio is proud to announce its donation of an exclusive advertising package as a raffle prize for the highly anticipated Galloways Charity Ball, set to take place on November 9, 2024.

Preston City Wrestling’s annual spectacle returns to Preston Flag Market on 17 August 2024.

Penwortham is set to welcome an exciting addition to its community this summer with the opening of *Playspace*, a new children’s play centre and café located on Liverpool Road.

This revitalised venue aims to fill the void left by The Guild Hall's closure and will enhance the local entertainment scene with a diverse events programme running from October 2024 through March 2025.

Plans have been unveiled for a new apartment block on the site of a closed-down shop in Preston city centre.

Local city life will be discussed in a series of new podcasts.

A man described by the Judge as a "violent thug" has been jailed for 15 years and a half years.

A 33-year-old man has died following a collision on the M6 between Lancaster and Preston this week.

Mystery surrounds the identity of a food retailer that is eyeing up a vacant car showroom in Preston for a new outlet.

Dozens of road changes are being planned between South Ribble and Preston which highway bosses hope will encourage more people to cycle, walk and use public transport.

Lancashire Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage after a collision on the M6 which left five people with serious injuries.

Two Preston villages are to get new sports grounds and a new community venue – replacing a facility that has been standing for more than 70 years.

Plans to make major safety improvements at a zebra crossing near Cardinal Newman College in Preston have been approved, with work due to take place over the summer holidays.

A new all-year-round homeless shelter could be set to open in Preston city centre.

South Ribble Borough Council has a new leader after the man who led the district for the past five years became the area’s MP.

More than a hundred flats are set to spring up on the one-time site of a Preston mill which burned down in the 1960s.

People will enjoy more frequent and later bus services thanks to improvements taking effect from this week.

Preston City Council, in collaboration with the local charity Red Rose Recovery, has successfully supported over 160 people in Preston through the transformative 'Changing Futures' programme.

More than 100,000 journeys a week are being made on Preston’s newest road, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) can reveal.

In the last 12 months, more than 2,600 people have been arrested for drink or drug driving offences in Lancashire.

A bus stop is to be moved from outside a popular Penwortham takeaway, because it is so often blocked by vehicles whose owners have stopped off for something to eat.

The cost of transporting pupils with special needs to school and providing financial support to the families of vulnerable children were amongst the biggest pressures on Lancashire County Council’s budget last year.

A bid to finalise controversial plans to build hundreds of new homes in Chorley has been delayed.

The operation of a recently pedestrianised route on the edge of Preston city centre has been rethought – over concerns that it could damage the very businesses it was designed to help support.

A Chorley GP whose patients launched a campaign to keep her as their doctor has been told by NHS bosses that she can remain at the helm of the surgery she has run for more than a decade.

Police have arrested a man following the discovery of a large cannabis farm in Chorley.

Preston is to get its second set of courts on which residents can play the increasingly popular sport of padel.

A long-awaited new service station in the suburbs of Preston is fully operational after Greggs became the last of the site’s outlets to begin trading.

An executive housing estate could be built on land that was originally intended to form part of a new park in suburban Preston.

A zebra crossing in Preston is to be redesigned and relocated – a year after a young schoolboy was launched into the air while cycling over it.

The newly-elected MP for South Ribble says he never aspired to end up in Parliament when he first entered the political fray as a borough councillor 17 years ago.

Lancashire's local radio station is gearing up to host the Adlington Carnival this 13th & 14th of July with a host of family fun and entertainment planned.

Police have arrested a man on suspicion of drugs offences following a proactive vehicle stop on the M6 near Chorley.

As thousands of people were enjoying their night out across Preston City Centre this weekend, officers from Preston Task Force were carrying out a plain-clothed operation in the pubs and clubs.

Lancashire Police are appealing for witnesses and information following the death of a 57-year-old man in Chorley.

An extensive renovation project at Astley Hall, Chorley, has scooped a prestigious Heritage award.

The trust that runs the Royal Preston and Chorley and South Ribble hospitals has brought in what it describes as “specialist support” in order to achieve a £58m savings target.

Highways bosses are considering the creation of another new bus lane in Preston – a move that would bring the total number of bus-only zones in the city to 10.

Preston City Council has given the green light for the refurbishment of the nine iconic red phone boxes on Market Street.

Lancashire County Council and other local authorities across Lancashire will raise a special Armed Forces Day flag on Monday 24 June.

Police are continuing to investigate the incident where two grenade-type devices were found in Fulwood, and are appealing for help in the enquiries.

With a jammed packed schedule, Windrush 76 promises to be bigger and better than ever, when it returns this weekend.

Lancashire fire service latest anti drink-driving message parody’s the latest series of Netflix hit, Bridgerton.

Two controlled explosions have been carried out after bomb disposal experts were called out to a street in Fulwood.

A Preston man has been ordered to pay almost £23,000 after being caught selling illegal vapes.

Police are appealing for witnesses, CCTV and dashcam footage following an assault in Preston yesterday.

Police are appealing for witnesses, CCTV or dashcam footage following an aggravated burglary in Leyland.

A new campaign has been launched to recruit adopters willing to give brothers and sisters a loving home and keep them together.

Police are appealing for information after a lollipop man was assaulted by youths riding antisocially on e-bikes in Fulwood.

A number of local people have been awarded the MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours list.

Book lovers in Chorley are being notified that one of their local libraries is temporarily closed for essential repair works.

A man from Longton who terrorised his neighbours while dressed in Spiderman mask over a number of years has been jailed.

Police have arrested a man following a theft from a shop in Preston City Centre.

Vital late night bus services linking Preston, Brookfield and Red Scar have been saved following a decision by Lancashire County Council to fund them.

Lancashire Police are appealing for witnesses and footage following a serious collision in Longton.

Police have charged a man following a spate of burglaries and attempted burglaries across Leyland.

Preston’s Neighbourhood Policing team and Lancashire County Council Trading Standards have recently conducted a test purchasing operation. 

Traffic marshalls have been deployed to Corporation Street in Preston to help drivers familiarise themselves with the changes to the road network following the introduction of a new bus gate.

Two men have been jailed following a burglary in Preston in which cash and electrical items were stolen.

A man has been jailed for over five years after police found drugs and thousands of pounds in cash in a house in Preston. 

Cricket fans have been given an update on the latest construction work taking place on Lancashire's Farington cricket facility. 

The owner of a Chorley vape shop has been fined and ordered to carry out 150 hours' unpaid community work after admitting selling to kids and stocking illegal products.

A man has been jailed after stealing large quantities of fuel from Lancashire petrol stations. 

A prolific shoplifter who was responsible for a string of offences against a supermarket in South Ribble has been jailed.

Lancashire Trading Standards have been busy undertaking test purchases for knives across the county last week as part of Operation Sceptre.

Police are appealing for information after a boy was shot in the head in Leyland.

Police are appealing for information following a collision in Ribbleton.

The next chapter unfolds for the much-loved Tram Bridge, with some preparatory work starting on site and Preston City Council and Lancashire County Council marking this occasion with the opening of a new public exhibition about the bridge.

The city of Preston has formally welcomed Councillor Philip Crowe as its 696th Mayor for 2024/2025, a position that dates back to 1327.  

A new bus gate in Preston city centre is planned to go live on Tuesday (21 May), with warnings issued to drivers who use it incorrectly.

Lancashire Police have charged a man after a stabbing in Preston.

Lancashire Police are appealing for witnesses and footage after a road traffic collision in Clayton-le-Woods in which a man died.

Investigations continue after a man was stabbed in the chest in Preston.

A 66-year-old man has been jailed after engaging in online sexual conversations with people he believed were schoolgirls. 

This weekend saw the Penwortham night-time economy thrive as South Ribble Borough Council brought Penwortham Live to town with event partners Creative Network.

Police have arrested two men and three teenagers on suspicion of drugs offences following reports of drug dealing in the Moor Park area of Preston.

Chorley's new Mayor, Councillor Gordon France and Mayoress Councillor Margaret France have been formally sworn in.

Preston is gearing up for a significant event on Saturday June 8 as the city prepares to honour the 80th anniversary of the historic D-Day landings.

Preston Police have teamed up with Trading Standards and young volunteers from across the area to conduct an under-age sales operation as part of Operation Sceptre – a national, intensive week of action to tackle knife crime. 

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested as part of enquiries into a report of a rape in Preston.

A man from Preston has been jailed after admitting high value thefts from a vehicle.

As the 50th Preston Caribbean Carnival approaches, organisers are gearing up for a spectacular celebration of Caribbean culture like never before.

Bus service improvements totalling £8.5m, including a discounted fare scheme for 16-21-year-olds and £1 adult fares on Sunday, are set to be introduced in Lancashire.

Lancashire County Council has signalled its commitment to tackling the potholes menace head-on with a further investment of £5m in the county's roads.

A Chorley shopworker has been banned from selling tobacco and vapes for a year, following robust action by Lancashire's Trading Standards officers.

The Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library in Preston is currently reaching a significant phase in its ongoing restoration project.

An off-licence in Preston has had its alcohol licence withdrawn after a hearing last month.

After a hiatus of several years, Preston City Council has announced the reintroduction of Friday trading at the city’s Outdoor Market.

Police have arrested two men after a substantial amount of cash was discovered in a car which had been travelling on the M6 near Preston.

Bus operators have praised a new bus gate set to be introduced in Preston city centre later this month, declaring that it will "significantly improve" bus services in the area.

Encounter Festival, Preston's premier cultural festival, has secured funding from Arts Council England for its 2024 edition.

Police are looking for two people in connection with a high value theft from a car in Preston.

A man has been arrested at an address in Preston as part of an investigation into an organised crime network suspected of organising cross-Channel small boat crossings.