Cheshire East Council is exploring the possibility of bringing in new operators or transferring control to town and parish councils for its markets in Congleton, Crewe, Macclesfield, and Wilmslow. The council stated it lacks the resources to maximise the potential of the markets, which currently operate at a financial loss, and that the move would reduce financial risk.
Summary headline: Cheshire East Council considers new operators for local markets
Obwohl die Bauzinsen gestiegen sind und sich weniger Menschen den Kauf einer Immobilie leisten können, legen die Preise für Wohnimmobilien in Deutschland weiter zu. Laut Experten liegt dies vor allem an kaufkräftigen Käufern, die hohe Einkommen oder Vermögen besitzen und dadurch die Preise stabil halten, während die breite Masse unter den hohen Kosten leidet.
Summary headline: Immobilienmarkt in Deutschland: Steigende Preise trotz sinkender Nachfrage
Teesside University is distributing period kits to its sports clubs for away fixtures as part of its Period Dignity campaign. The initiative aims to reduce anxiety, break stigmas around menstrual health, and ensure female students have access to products while travelling for sports competitions.
Summary headline: Teesside University provides period kits for student athletes attending away games
West Lindsey District Council is considering a retrospective planning application for an unauthorised car storage and tyre facility on North Street in Gainsborough. Local residents and councillor Paul Key have complained that the site is an eyesore and a fire risk, while planning officers have recommended refusing the application. The owner, Ali Mohammed Saleh, defends the business, claiming it is safe and tidy.
Summary headline: Planning row over unpermitted car storage and tyre site in Gainsborough
Two Hartlepool athletes, Gareth Mallabar and Grant Hammond, helped Team GB secure a bronze medal at the Blind Baseball International Cup in Italy. Competing against international teams including Italy, Cuba, the USA, Czechia, and Chinese Taipei, the pair reached the semi-finals before finishing with a bronze medal. Both athletes play for the Hartlepool Monkeys Blind baseball team, which Hammond founded after returning to Teesside.
Summary headline: Hartlepool visually impaired athletes secure bronze at Blind Baseball International Cup in Italy
Biggy, a giant tortoise and resident at Jersey Zoo thought to be over 100 years old, has been put to sleep following a recurring health issue. The tortoise underwent specialist CT scans at the Royal Veterinary College for a growth around his backside that returned after two previous surgeries. Staff made the decision to prevent further pain after determining further operations would risk permanent damage.
Summary headline: Jersey Zoo announces death of Biggy, an Aldabra giant tortoise estimated to be over 100 years old
Official statistics from Ports of Jersey reveal that Jersey's transport hubs experienced a surge in passenger numbers during the summer months, with over one million people passing through the airport so far this year. Between July and September, Jersey Airport handled more than 472,000 passengers, marking a 4.2% increase compared to the same period in the previous year.
Summary headline: Jersey passes one million air passengers following a summer boost
Fred Vanke, a 103-year-old World War Two veteran who fled Nazi-occupied Poland and secretly worked as a codebreaker supporting Bletchley Park, has finally had his contributions officially recognised. Believed to be the last surviving member of the Polish codebreakers who assisted Britain, Vanke kept his wartime activities entirely hidden from his family and friends for decades due to strict secrecy oaths. Recent historical research has led to Vanke and 26 other Polish codebreakers being added to the Bletchley Park Roll of Honour.
Summary headline: 103-year-old codebreaker Fred Vanke's WW2 heroics recognised after decades of secrecy
A round-up of local news stories from the West of England includes Prince William visiting Somerset accompanied by Ross Kemp to launch an emergency preparedness initiative. Other local reports cover a proposed red route in Bristol to tackle dangerous parking, unauthorized flags on Weston-super-Mare seafront, a forthcoming film about shin-kicking in Gloucestershire, an endurance riding championship win in Wiltshire, and growing resident frustration with tourism in Bibury.
Summary headline: West of England weekly headlines covering a royal visit with Ross Kemp, local news, and tourism issues in Bibury
An experienced Merseyside aid worker coordinating emergency relief in Venezuela following two deadly earthquakes has described the destruction as unprecedented and immense. Anna Fraine, a programme manager for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), noted that up to 80% of buildings in the heavily affected area of La Guaira were severely damaged or destroyed, compounding an existing crisis. Over £23m has been raised for the DEC appeal to support food, medical attention, and water system restoration.
Summary headline: Aid worker describes 'shocking' earthquake damage in Venezuela
A new documentary titled 'First Born Second: Voices of the Children of the Windrush Era' features personal accounts from seven individuals growing up black and British in Bristol during the 1970s and 1980s. Co-produced by Roger Griffith MBE and directed by Michelle Pascal, the film highlights the triumphs, tragedies, and joy of the children of the Windrush generation as they navigated two cultures, racism, and institutional discrimination.
Summary headline: New documentary explores the lives and experiences of Bristol's Windrush children
Greater Manchester's active travel commissioner, Dame Sarah Storey, has stated that the city region's public transport system is roughly a decade behind London due to an over-reliance on cars. Speaking at an event celebrating 50 new school streets, Storey highlighted the Bee Network's ongoing efforts to encourage shifts towards walking, cycling, buses, and trams to combat traffic congestion, tackle the obesity crisis, and lower carbon emissions.
Summary headline: Greater Manchester public transport a decade behind London, says travel boss
Ruth Hansom, owner of Hansom Restaurant in Bedale, has won the Craft Guild of Chefs' National Chef of the Year award, becoming the first female winner in 50 years. After reaching the final on two previous occasions, the 31-year-old competed against nine other chefs at Le Cordon Bleu London to secure the title with a three-course menu featuring scallop, Angus pure beef fillet, and a Guanaja dark chocolate dessert.
Summary headline: Bedale chef Ruth Hansom becomes first woman in 50 years to win National Chef of the Year
Michael Oakes, a 50-year-old former Royal Marine commando from Andover, Hampshire, is competing in the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii just three years after suffering a severe burst fracture in his spine during a skydive accident. After major surgery involving metal screws and rods, and being told he might never walk again, Oakes used a determined mental approach and daily walking goals to recover. He has since returned to skydiving, completed an Ironman in Barcelona, and is now facing the grueling conditions of the Hawaii event.
Summary headline: Former Royal Marine competing in Hawaii Ironman after breaking back in skydive
A family from Hinckley, Leicestershire, has experienced the devastating shock of having both of their young daughters diagnosed with cancer. Odette was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2022 at the age of three, undergoing 15 surgeries, while her younger sister Eliza was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2024. Genetic testing found no inherited link, with doctors attributing the diagnoses to bad luck. The sisters have supported each other through their treatments, and the family was recently treated to a day trip to Lapland by the When You Wish Upon a Star charity.
Summary headline: Family's shock as young sisters both diagnosed with cancer
Moseley Road Baths and the neighbouring Balsall Heath Library in Birmingham are undergoing a £32.7m restoration project following decades of community campaigning. Dating back to 1907, the Grade II*-listed building is being restored with funding from Birmingham City Council, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and government levelling up grants. The project includes connecting the two buildings, restoring the Gala Pool, converting the second pool into an event space, and reinstalling historic cast-iron baths.
Summary headline: Community spirit keeps Birmingham's historic Moseley Road Baths alive during £32.7m restoration
A rare surviving World War Two floating roadway, known as a whale, has been unveiled at Marchwood in Hampshire following preservation works by Associated British Ports. The structure, which served as a reserve during the D-Day era and later as an Isle of Wight ferry loading ramp, is now on display as a public monument.
Summary headline: Preserved D-Day era floating roadway unveiled at Marchwood
Owners of Mansfield Shoe Repairs in Nottinghamshire considered closing after their shop was broken into and hundreds of pounds worth of stock was stolen. However, an overwhelming community response and messages of support on social media convinced them to stay open, with a local business even offering to replace their smashed door for free. Nottinghamshire Police confirmed that a 42-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident and released on bail while enquiries continue.
Summary headline: Mansfield shop owners defiant and upbeat after devastating break-in
Valerie, a 74-year-old woman from Somerset, became a kinship carer for her two great-granddaughters after her daughter died suddenly, preventing the children from entering the care system. Despite facing challenges, financial worries, and criticism from some friends, Valerie stated that taking the girls in has brought her joy, purpose, and adventures. She has been supported by Somerset Council's kinship team during the process.
Summary headline: 74-year-old great-grandmother becomes kinship carer to save her great-granddaughters from care
