Historic former Blackburn church to host major beer festival

More than 30 ales will be on offer at Holy Trinity Church in Mount Pleasant, Blackburn, on April 22 and 23. The Grade II-listed gothic structure, built between 1837 and 1846, has been empty for more than 30 years since it closed as a place of worship in 1981. The festival, with free entrance, is the latest in a series of events designed bring life back to the church.

‘Wrong on every level’: Councils urge Government to give up plans for …

Pressure is mounting on the Government after a “damning” Parliamentary report shows it has not proved the Heathrow expansion can achieve legal environmental limits. The report, issued on Thursday, February 23, by the cross party Environmental Audit Committee, is a follow-up of its first report and states it has seen “little evidence so far of the ‘step change’ in the Government’s approach to environmental mitigation”, which the committee had originally called for.

Ghosn outlines Brexit, NAFTA uncertainties facing Renault-Nissan

Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn acknowledged that uncertainties surrounding Britain’s exit from the European Union and a possible renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement under President Donald Trump posed “risks” for Renault and its Japanese partner, Nissan, in 2017. The Nissan plant in Sunderland, England, became a political flash point last year ahead of the Brexit referendum after Ghosn warned that the company might halt investment there if a “leave” vote prevailed.

Ghosn outlines Brexit, NAFTA uncertainties facing Renault-Nissan

Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn acknowledged that uncertainties surrounding Britain’s exit from the European Union and a possible renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement under President Donald Trump posed “risks” for Renault and its Japanese partner, Nissan, in 2017. The Nissan plant in Sunderland, England, became a political flash point last year ahead of the Brexit referendum after Ghosn warned that the company might halt investment there if a “leave” vote prevailed.

Brixham to save red phone boxes earmarked for removal 1

The telephone kiosks in Rea Barn Road, Great Rea Road and North Boundary Road are all in poor condition, with the latter missing a door, but the council is planning to refurbish them and hand two of them to community groups. A report presented to the council at its February meeting stated that BT had provided information to prove that the kiosks were no longer being used by the community and BT was proposing to sell them off.

Bot out, Ukip tells Putin, as pro-Russia tweeters attack Paul Nuttall

Ukip has told Vladimir Putin to keep out of the Stoke by-election after typically pro-Russian Twitter accounts turned on party leader Paul Nuttall. The social media profiles have generally posted positive messages about the Kremlin’s bloody intervention in Syria while praising the Russian president, who has been accused of interfering in the US election.

Travel latest: One lane closed and queueing traffic on M5 due to accident

So, if you’re looking for a stress free journey and want to avoid the rush hour hot-spots – why not use our traffic update? A quick glance around the Black Country and North Worcestershire suggests the roads are looking okay in general, apart from the below: One lane closed and queueing traffic due to accident on M5 Southbound at J5 A38 , congestion on M5 to J4a M42. In the roadworks area.

a Patients urged to have say on healthcare in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire

Doctors are calling on patients and local people in northern Staffordshire to sign up to a scheme to ensure they have a voice in the way healthcare services are delivered in the area. Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Groups – the organisations responsible for buying healthcare services in the area – launched the “Our NHS” membership scheme as part of their continued commitment to putting patients at the front line of decisions about local care.

Weymouth Beach named best in UK by travellers

The three-mile long stretch of sand was also ranked number nine across the whole of Europe, travel site TripAdvisor said. We’re proud to announce #Weymouth Beach is number 1 in @TripAdvisorUK Travellers’ Choice Awards for Beaches ???? pic.twitter.com/2cz1oxua4b It was praised for offering traditional seaside attractions such as Punch and Judy and donkey rides, as well as live music and free summer firework displays.

Suffolk Armed Forces Weekend at Felixstowe will also mark resort’s unique place in English history

Launch of Suffolk Armed Forces Weekend at Felixstowe – members of the team orgainsing the event gathered on the seafront after a meeting to look at the latest programme for the event being staged on June 24-25 Armed Forces Weekend at Felixstowe will be a chance for people to show their appreciation for the forces and also to mark the 350th anniversary of the last attempted invasion of England’s shores by a foreign force. It had been planned for the event – costing around A 50,000 to stage – to be one day, but now it has been expanded into a weekend, June 24-25, at various seafront venues.

Suffolk Armed Forces Weekend at Felixstowe will also mark resort’s unique place in English history

Launch of Suffolk Armed Forces Weekend at Felixstowe – members of the team orgainsing the event gathered on the seafront after a meeting to look at the latest programme for the event being staged on June 24-25 Armed Forces Weekend at Felixstowe will be a chance for people to show their appreciation for the forces and also to mark the 350th anniversary of the last attempted invasion of England’s shores by a foreign force. It had been planned for the event – costing around A 50,000 to stage – to be one day, but now it has been expanded into a weekend, June 24-25, at various seafront venues.

Mr Nuttall said he had spent three hours speaking to officers with Operation Resolve

The under-fire parliamentary hopeful, who faced the resignation of two senior officials on Monday in protest at the party’s “crass insensitivity” over the tragedy, said he had spent three hours giving a witness statement to Operation Resolve. Mr Nuttall faced a fierce backlash and calls to resign as an MEP after it emerged claims that he lost close personal friends at Hillsborough were false.

Town centre road to go traffic-free

Tarrant Street will be closed to cars every third Saturday of the month, coinciding with the farmers’ market, beginning on March 18. From 10am pedestrians will be able to explore the shops, galleries, restaurants and bars in a relaxed, vehicle-free area. Arundel Town Council and the Arundel Chamber of Commerce have chosen the same days as the award-winning Arundel Farmers’ Market, which already draws people from the surrounding towns and villages to Arundel.

Primark pulls “shocking” and “racist” Walking Dead t-shirt from stores after angry complaint

Primark has removed a t-shirt promoting hit US TV show The Walking Dead from its stores after it was branded “fantastically offensive” and “racist” by an angry shopper. Outraged Ian Lucraft was so offended by the “explicit” t-shirt that he complained directly to the discount clothing store’s chief executive – and Primark has now apologised and removed the men’s t-shirt from its branches.

Three-year-old boy falls out of lorry on Rugby roundabout

A three-year-old boy fell out of a flatbed lorry and went under the vehicle after the nearside door flew open as it went round a Rugby traffic island. Driver Brian Medcraft jumped from the cab and scooped the badly-injured boy up in his arms, put him back inside and drove off before being stopped by the police.

PM steps up Brexit Bill pressure as she sits in on peers’ debate

Prime Minister Theresa May sits behind the Speaker, back row, as Baroness Smith of Basildon speaks in the House of Lords The House of Lords will conclude the first stage of a crucial Brexit debate after Theresa May and Boris Johnson ramped up pressure on them not to block or delay Britain’s exit from the European Union. In a highly unusual move on Monday, the Prime Minister sat on the steps in front of the Royal Throne in the Upper Chamber as Lords Leader Baroness Evans of Bowes urged peers not to frustrate the passage of the Brexit Bill.

Two senior Ukip officials quit over party’s ‘insensitivity’ about Hillsborough

The resignations are another blow to Ukip leader Paul Nuttall just days before the Stoke-on-Trent Central by-election where he is hoping to oust Labour Stuart Monkcom, the chairman of leader Paul Nuttall’s own branch in Liverpool, and Adam Heatherington, chairman of the Merseyside regional branch, comments made by party figures had been “upsetting and intolerable” for the victims of the families. The announcement is another blow to Mr Nuttall just days before the Stoke-on-Trent Central by-election where he is hoping to oust Labour.

Children urge drivers to slow down outside school as part of road safety campaign

Pupils from St Michael’s RC Primary in Chatham, Maudene Primary in Walderslade, and St Margaret’s Church of England Junior in Rainham, had a visit from the council’s road safety team to teach them about the importance of road signs and zig-zag lines to help keep them safe. Every child also had the chance to design a poster aimed to encourage drivers to slow down near the school and to park safely.