Luxury department store Harvey Nichols has announced it will close its Birmingham Mailbox store in January, following its acquisition by Frasers Group. Retail experts have called the closure a huge blow to the city following previous losses like John Lewis and House of Fraser, though some shoppers noted they preferred online shopping or designer outlets.
Summary headline: Shoppers and experts react to the planned closure of Harvey Nichols in Birmingham
Students and student union representatives in Sheffield have shared their experiences and advice for starting university, acknowledging that settling in can be overwhelming, lonely, and cause homesickness. Several students highlighted that joining sports teams, societies, and establishing routines helped them overcome initial challenges and find friends by their second semester. Additionally, student union leaders emphasised that support services and alternative activities are available for those struggling with mental health or considering dropping out.
Summary headline: Sheffield students share tips and advice on how to settle into university life
BBC News highlights a collection of positive and heartwarming stories from the West Midlands, celebrating happier moments in the region alongside its usual coverage.
Summary headline: Positive and uplifting news stories from across the West Midlands
Stagecoach reports that its Peak Sightseer open-top bus service experienced a 9% increase in passenger numbers compared to the previous year, driven by the UK's hot summer. Operating routes around Bakewell, Chatsworth House, and Castleton, the service received positive feedback, encouraged tourism to new locations, and boosted local businesses along its routes.
Summary headline: Peak District open-top bus service boosted by hot summer and increased passenger numbers
Supermarket chain Lidl has replaced car park signs at its Carlton Road store in Nottingham after they were mistakenly installed with Welsh translations instead of English-only text following routine maintenance.
Summary headline: Lidl replaces mistakenly installed Welsh-language signs at Nottingham store
Barrels of firefighting foam liquid containing PFAS chemicals at the former Islip Fuel Depot in Oxfordshire have been removed by the site's developer, Newcore. Campaigners had previously raised concerns after discovering about 40 sealed barrels dating back to 1988 left on the development site, with tests by the Gallos Brook community group suggesting high levels of contamination. However, Newcore CEO Hugo Llewelyn disputed the campaigners' findings, stating that professional testing showed much lower levels and that surveys confirmed no pathway for pollution. The Environment Agency has been in contact with site owners to ensure proper management.
Summary headline: Forever chemicals removed from former Oxfordshire fuel depot, developer says
Arthur Rostron, a captain from Bolton, commanded the RMS Carpathia which rescued more than 700 survivors after the RMS Titanic sank in April 1912. Rostron navigated through dangerous icefields to reach the disaster site and was later recognised with a knighthood and a US Congressional Gold Medal. The story is featured in an episode of Hidden Manchester on BBC Sounds.
Summary headline: The captain from Bolton who helped with Titanic rescue
Birmingham-born actress Bethany Antonia has highlighted the importance of representation after joining Strictly Come Dancing in a same-sex pairing with professional dancer Nancy Xu. Antonia, known for her roles in Doctors and House of the Dragon, stated that watching previous same-sex partnerships on the show helped her feel comfortable coming out, prompting her to request a female partner to support visibility and representation.
Summary headline: Same-sex pairing is important, Birmingham-born Strictly star says
A newly installed pedestrian island on Rearsby Road in Queniborough, Leicestershire, is to be removed temporarily because it left the road too narrow for Arriva Midlands buses to pass without mounting the pavement. The junction upgrade was carried out by developers David Wilson Homes, prompting Arriva to withdraw services from the village centre. Leicestershire County Council announced that the island will be taken out while a new design is drawn up, and a temporary free taxi service is being provided to connect residents to the nearest alternative bus stop 500 metres away.
Summary headline: New pedestrian island in Queniborough to be removed after making road too narrow for buses
Plans submitted by Oxford University Development to demolish a 1970s graduate housing block at 25 Wellington Square and build a 65,000 sq ft academic facility have been approved by Oxford City Council. The project includes modern academic, office, and teaching spaces, new retail space on Little Clarendon Street, landscape enhancements, and the refurbishment of nearby Victorian terrace housing into 99 graduate rooms.
Summary headline: Oxford approves replacement of 1970s student block with new academic centre
Mount Batten Beach in Plymouth has been fenced off since the summer after tests found asbestos fibres in sand samples, posing potential health risks if inhaled. The issue began over six years ago, with more than 1.5 tonnes of asbestos-containing material cleared from the shoreline and nearby sites. Residents and experts suspect the contamination originates from buried construction and roofing waste linked to the former RAF Mount Batten base, which is being exposed by coastal erosion. The closure has disrupted local swimmers, businesses, and the community, prompting calls for urgent action from local MPs and residents as the council searches for a solution.
Summary headline: Mount Batten Beach closed in Plymouth due to ongoing asbestos contamination mystery
Rex Mackrill, a 65-year-old man from Tetbury, Gloucestershire, diagnosed with incurable stage four prostate cancer, shares his reflections on life, his regret over carrying unrecognised childhood trauma and PTSD for decades, and the importance of seeking help and enjoying every small moment.
Summary headline: Terminal prostate cancer has taught me one lesson I want to pass on
Louise Gee and Ben Clay have spoken about how staying in a family room on the neonatal ward at Bradford Royal Infirmary with their premature son, Alfred, meant everything to them before he died on 29 May 2025. Sixteen months after his death, a charity concert featuring the British Police Symphony Orchestra is being held to raise funds for the Bradford Hospitals Charity's Home from Home Appeal, which aims to build new en-suite rooms and facilities for parents of babies receiving neonatal care.
Summary headline: Parents hold memorial concert to fund family rooms at Bradford hospital where their premature son died
A rescued puffin found weak and underweight on a Cornwall beach has joined the puffin colony at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek. Named Morris after a stop at a supermarket in Penzance during her rescue, the female bird is now integrating well with the other resident puffins.
Summary headline: Rescued puffin named Morris settles into the Cornish Seal Sanctuary
A recovery project for little terns at Chesil Beach in Dorset recorded 66 breeding pairs this year, the highest number since 2001. However, conservation efforts were impacted by a fox attack through a defective fence. Despite the predation, some birds successfully raised second broods, fledging around 20 to 25 chicks which have now begun their migration to west Africa.
Summary headline: Little tern comeback colony at Chesil Beach in Dorset targeted by fox attack
UNESCO assessors have visited the Kent Downs National Landscape as part of an international bid to establish the aspiring Cross-Channel Geopark, which spans the UK and northern France based on shared chalk geology.
Summary headline: UNESCO assessors visit Kent in bid for Cross-Channel Geopark status
Breakfast cereal manufacturer Weetabix has submitted a planning application to North Northamptonshire Council to upgrade its 1932 headquarters in Burton Latimer. The proposals involve demolishing the former Brooklands warehouse site and ancillary buildings to construct a new office hub, alongside updates to car parking, landscaping, and servicing. The existing headquarters offices will be replaced by the new facility once operational.
Summary headline: Weetabix submits planning application for major revamp of its Northamptonshire headquarters
David Hunter, a 59-year-old man from Bradfield diagnosed with lung cancer, praised the care he received from the St Helena Hospice charity in Colchester during a BBC interview recorded days before his death on 2 October. His family ensured his interview was broadcast after his death to publicly thank the staff who helped manage his condition and provided vital support to him and his family.
Summary headline: Man praises Essex hospice in BBC interview days before death
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the military will publicly execute Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 people at the Fort Hood military base in 2009, via a livestreamed firing squad. This marks a return to public executions nearly a century after the last high-profile public hanging in the US in 1936. The decision has drawn mixed reactions, including condemnation from religious leaders and experts who worry about turning capital punishment into entertainment, while President Donald Trump confirmed his approval of the plan.
Summary headline: US military plans public livestreamed execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan
Reality TV star Joey Essex is preparing for his second boxing match against comedian Daniel O'Reilly, also known as Dapper Laughs, following his debut victory against Portuguese influencer Joao Barbosa in August 2025. Essex, whose family has a strong boxing background, wrote a homemade contract in 2023 to manifest his dream of joining Misfits Boxing. Trained by his uncle Tony Sims, Essex stated he wants to test himself and potentially face bigger names in the sport such as KSI, Logan Paul, and Tommy Fury.
Summary headline: Joey Essex prepares for his second boxing match against Dapper Laughs
