Cambridge University Botanic Garden has cancelled its popular annual apple day, scheduled for 18 October, because low harvests caused by the summer's drought made it impossible to source enough heritage apples. Ticket holders will receive refunds, and the garden is developing a new irrigation network using harvested rainwater to help protect plants against future droughts.
Summary headline: Cambridge University cancels annual apple day due to summer drought
The RNLI has announced that five lifeboat stations in Devon will receive new vessels by 2030 as part of a 15-year fleet strategy update. Plymouth is set to receive a new Coastal class design in 2030, while Salcombe and Torbay will receive Shannon class all-weather boats. Appledore has already received a Shannon, and Ilfracombe has received an Atlantic 85 Mk3 craft. The charity's decisions are based on data showing that most incidents occur closer to the shore.
Summary headline: Five Devon lifeboat stations to receive new RNLI vessels by 2030
A new free exhibition called 'Restoring Birnbeck Pier' is opening at Weston Museum on 6 November, running until 27 February 2027. It will feature behind-the-scenes photographs taken by the A1 Camera Club, original metalwork from 1867, and unusual finds from the £44m restoration project of the historic Victorian pier in Weston-super-Mare. Closed since 1994 due to safety concerns, the Grade II-listed pier is expected to reopen to visitors next summer.
Summary headline: New exhibition to showcase behind-the-scenes secrets of Birnbeck Pier restoration
More than 120 midwives and maternity workers at Basildon University Hospital in Essex are set to share £735,000 in compensation after being exposed to dangerously high levels of nitrous oxide due to poor ventilation between 2021 and 2023. Staff reported symptoms including chronic fatigue, brain fog, and low B12 levels, and criticized management for failing to disclose test results revealing safety breaches for 16 months. The Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust apologized, acknowledging it should have acted faster.
Guernsey's Committee for Housing is considering penalising developers who sit on land with planning permission without building homes, aiming to increase housing supply and tackle affordability issues. Property prices on the island have risen by over 52% in the past decade, with the average home costing over £600,000, driving young people and families away. While the proposal aims to encourage construction and private sector participation, some developers argue the tax would be unfair if projects become economically unviable.
Summary headline: Guernsey developers not building approved homes could face new taxes
Fran Trathen, a woman who survived a cardiac arrest in Alderney after being saved by local vicar Samantha Martell using CPR, is campaigning for more islanders to learn lifesaving resuscitation skills. The incident occurred in 2025 while Trathen was showing a property to Martell, who had recently completed a CPR refresher course. Amid Restart a Heart week, officials and survivors are emphasising the importance of public CPR and AED training.
A 65-year-old man from Lincolnshire says his GP practice has refused to renew his repeat prescription for co-dydramol, a painkiller he relies on for severe gallbladder flare-ups. NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board states that co-dydramol is on its "red-red" list and is not recommended for routine prescribing, adhering to local clinical guidance regarding opioid analgesics.
Summary headline: Lincolnshire man says GP refused co-dydramol prescription
Following the death of 84-year-old Malcolm Campbell from smoke inhalation after a house fire in South Shields, an assistant coroner has raised concerns with the Department of Health and Social Care. Campbell, who had dementia and regularly smoked in bed, had been prescribed a flammable paraffin-based emollient cream. The coroner highlighted issues including the lack of a prominent fire-risk flag on medical records for prescribed flammable products, the need for care continuity, and considerations around temporary nursing home placements.
Summary headline: Coroner calls for better fire-risk alerts after death of pensioner who smoked in bed
West Northamptonshire Council has made over £100,000 in funding and four returned minibuses available to eligible organisations to help replace the Ability Bus service in Towcester, which closed in April due to financial pressures. The council is inviting applications from community groups, social enterprises, and parish councils by 23 November to restore essential transport for vulnerable residents.
Summary headline: West Northamptonshire Council offers funding and minibuses to fill community transport gaps after Ability Bus closure
The 18th-century Saxtead Green Post Mill in Suffolk has been cut in half and its upper housing unit removed using a crane to address a serious structural issue with its main oak post. Owner Jonathan Sullivan and caretaker Nathan Sullivan discovered wood fragments indicating potential breakdown due to age, climate, or modern grease. Funded by the English Heritage Trust and approved by the government, the historic lifting operation aims to allow inspections and repairs within a targeted 12-month timeframe.
Summary headline: Saxtead Green Post Mill split in two for urgent structural repairs
Victims of car theft in Essex have highlighted the severe personal and financial impact of the crime, which they describe as ruining lives. Home Office data shows Essex recorded the fourth highest rate of car theft per head in England and Wales between 2025 and 2026, though local police figures indicate a recent decrease in offences and an increase in solved investigations. Security experts note that thieves continue to adapt their tactics to bypass vehicle security measures.
Summary headline: Essex car theft victims describe devastating impact as police report falling rates
Cumbria Constabulary has increased its number of community beat officers from 58 to 84 to address rising concerns over anti-social behaviour, vandalism, and intimidation affecting local businesses and communities across urban and rural areas.
Summary headline: Cumbria Constabulary increases community beat officers to tackle anti-social behaviour
Footballer Mal Benning, who recently received the South Asian Pioneer Award after making over 500 senior appearances, believes more must be done to help South Asian players break into professional football. Benning argues that the sport is still far from achieving proper representation and that the scouting system frequently overlooks South Asian talent. Now at AFC Telford United, the 33-year-old aims to act as a role model and mentor for young players from similar backgrounds, offering his support and advice to help them succeed.
Summary headline: Barriers can be broken, says pioneering South Asian footballer Mal Benning
Campaigners in Suffolk express concern that residents' objections to a proposed chicken farm at Cross Green Farm in Thelnetham have been ignored. West Suffolk Council's Development Control Committee is set to approve the application to replace pig housing with four poultry sheds holding up to 39,999 chickens, following a petition with over 1,000 objections and a previous council vote of seven to six.
Summary headline: Campaigners fear Suffolk chicken farm plans will be approved despite local objections
A 16-year-old boy from Suffolk named Michael has gained confidence and independence after participating in a "try a train" supported journey run by Suffolk County Council. The initiative aims to help post-16 students, particularly those with additional needs, transition to college by teaching them essential travel skills such as using tickets, timetables, and navigating public transport.
Summary headline: Suffolk teenager feels confident after taking part in supported train journey scheme
Plans for a two-storey extension at Werrington Surgery in Peterborough have been recommended for approval by planning officers, despite opposition from the local highway authority and residents regarding parking shortages and increased traffic congestion. The expansion aims to accommodate growing patient demand following the closure of Werrington Health Centre in August 2025.
Summary headline: GP surgery expansion in Peterborough recommended for approval despite parking concerns
Preston City Council has adopted a new planning advisory note to make it harder to gain planning permission for converting residential properties into privately-run children's homes. The move follows a surge in applications, with 90 proposals approved between January 2024 and August 2026. Under the new guidance, full planning permission will generally be required instead of a lawful-use certificate, and applications will typically only be approved if there is a genuine, evidenced need to support local children, aiming to avoid placing excess pressure on local services and existing infrastructure.
Summary headline: Preston City Council introduces tougher planning rules for new children's homes
A motion has been submitted to Peterborough City Council calling for a crackdown on abandoned, uninsured, and untaxed vehicles that cause a visual blight and safety risks in neighbourhoods. Labour leader Shabina Qayyum is urging better collaboration between the council, police, and the DVLA to tackle the issue, target hotspots, and simplify reporting for residents.
Summary headline: Motion to crack down on Peterborough's abandoned and uninsured vehicles
A new exhibition at Norwich Castle Museum featuring 21 rare medieval items on loan from the Wyvern Collection has opened to coincide with the arrival of the Bayeux Tapestry in England. The display includes period reliquaries, sculptures, and metalwork that help illustrate the material culture of the Norman Conquest and the historical events depicted in the tapestry.
Summary headline: Rare medieval artworks go on display at Norwich Castle to tell the story of the Bayeux Tapestry
New ePaper audio bus displays in Northampton have been praised as a game changer by visually impaired passengers. A group of 20 people from the charity NAB Sight Support for Northamptonshire, including 34-year-old blind resident Hugh Spence, tested the new Stagecoach Midlands displays featuring braille buttons and spoken information. The technology, installed as part of West Northamptonshire Council's Bus Service Improvement Plan, helps address the challenge of quieter electric buses and aims to improve independence and accessibility for visually impaired travellers.
Summary headline: Northampton audio bus displays hailed as a game changer by blind passenger
