This is despite local speculation that a man with a knife had been seen walking along Blackburn Road in Astley Bridge over recent days.

Officers say that they have been to the area to reassure people but they have not found anyone who seems to match the description of a suspicious knifeman.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “We are aware of reports that a suspicious male, allegedly with a knife had been sighted on Blackburn Road, Bolton, earlier today.

“We can confirm that nothing has been directly reported to us, nor has any suspicious behaviour been identified.

“Officers who have attended the area for reassurance have additionally not located anyone.”

The Bolton News understands that children were brought indoors at nurseries along Blackburn Road to make sure that they were safe when reports circulated in the area.

But no one is believed to have been in any danger.

Members of the public with any information or concerns can call police on 101 or 999 in the event of an emergency.

Alternatively, they can call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Reece Roberts was driving a Volvo XC90 when he struck Diane Jones as she crossed the A690 Durham Road in Sunderland at about 11pm.

The 27-year-old had no licence or insurance and drove off, leaving Diane fatally injured in the road.

Members of the public came to 59-year-old’s aid until emergency services attended, for which her family said they will remain eternally grateful.

Diane was sadly pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.

Diane Jones (Image: Northumbria Police)

He handed himself in the next day after seeing a police appeal online, turning up at a police station with a bag of belongings.

He was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He was charged and admitted the charge plus driving while disqualified and without insurance when he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court.

On Wednesday (May 13), Roberts, of Tudor Grove, Sunderland, appeared at the same court, and was sentenced to ten years and eight months in prison, plus a five-year extended licence.

Reece Roberts (Image: Northumbria Police)

In the days following her death, tributes flooded in for Diane, from Thorney Close, and a GoFundMe page was started to help pay for her send-off.

Inspector Steven Clare, of Northumbria Police’s Serious Collision Unit, said: “It is hard to imagine the pain Diane’s family has endured as they have tried to come to terms with what happened on February 14.

 “They have shown incredible strength throughout and have remained focused on our efforts to bring Diane’s killer to justice.

Floral tributes at the scene. (Image: North News & Pictures Ltd)

 “No-one should have to go through what they have – and it is because of one person’s reckless choices that this family has been left without their loved one.”

He added: “We would also like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who came forward with information following the collision – and supported our investigation.

“We’d ask the family’s privacy is respected as they continue to grieve the loss of Diane.”

The Philadelphia Eagles will play in London as part of the NFL’s international games next season.

The NFL will stage a record nine regular-season games overseas during 2026, with three in the UK while Australia and France are hosts for the first time.

The London series begins on 4 October with the Washington Commanders hosting the Indianapolis Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will then host games on the following two Sundays against the Eagles at Tottenham then the Houston Texans at Wembley.

The first international game will take place during the first week of the season, with the Los Angeles Rams having a divisional match-up against the San Francisco 49ers at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The 49ers will also face the Minnesota Vikings as the NFL returns to Mexico, while the Baltimore Ravens meet the Dallas Cowboys in the league’s first game in Rio de Janeiro.

There will be three games in continental Europe, with the New Orleans Saints facing the Pittsburgh Steelers as Paris hosts its first game at the Stade de France.

The Cincinnati Bengals then face the Atlanta Falcons at the home of Real Madrid while the New England Patriots, who reached last season’s Super Bowl, will take on the Detroit Lions in Munich.

Tina McKenzie, policy chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said: “The formal commitment to legislation to stamp out late payments is an historic moment for small firms, who have spent years battling a culture of poor payment practices by big businesses towards their smaller suppliers.

Openreach’s Stop Sell programme means households will no longer be able to sign up for traditional copper broadband and phone services

Whether you welcome it or not, the traditional copper landlines that criss-cross the UK are firmly on their way out. The nationwide transition to so-called “Digital Voice” services has been scheduled for January 2027, signalling the end of the ageing copper-wire telephone network.

Once the deadline comes into effect, households will make calls via their broadband connections instead. The shift represents one of the most significant overhauls to UK communications infrastructure in living memory, and in a bid to speed up the move away from outdated systems, BT’s Openreach network is pressing ahead with its “Stop Sell” programme.

Under these regulations, providers including BT, Sky, Plusnet, and TalkTalk are no longer permitted to offer new copper-based broadband and telephone services in affected areas.

Stop Sell notifications have already been rolled out across numerous parts of the UK in recent years, and Openreach has now confirmed a further expansion covering 238 exchange locations and approximately 1.69 million premises, reports the Mirror.

Once these changes come into force, customers looking to upgrade, switch, or take out new services will be required to move to full fibre broadband and digital telephone services, rather than the outdated copper network.

Openreach explained: “Stop Sell is triggered when a majority (75%) of premises connected to a particular exchange can access ultrafast Full Fibre. Customers wanting to switch, upgrade or re-grade their broadband or phone service will then need to take a new digital service over our Full Fibre network.” By early June, Stop Sell regulations will come into force across 1,432 exchanges throughout the country, affecting around 14.2 million properties.

James Lilley, Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Director, said: “Our Stop Sell programme is a vital step in accelerating the UK’s transition to a modern full fibre future. As copper’s ability to support modern communications declines, the immediate focus is moving people onto newer, future-proof technologies.

“By phasing out legacy copper-based services in areas where fibre is widely available, we’re helping customers and providers migrate to faster, more reliable digital infrastructure. This also reduces the cost and complexity of maintaining both old and new networks ahead of the nationwide shutdown of the legacy copper-based Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), which is now less than eight months away.”

Full list of locations

Farnsfield • Quor • Sileby • Tibshelf • Layton • Hetton Le Hole • Marton • Pinxton • Spofforth • Cudworth • New Ollerton • Rottingdean • Castle Donington • Blidworth • North Carlton • Jarrow Bilsthorpe • Illingworth • Strensall • Harefield • Cosham • Donnington • Ramsbottom • Shettleston • Brediland • Filton • Dudley • Cheetham • Dinsdale • Garston • New Oakley • Bingley • Maltby • Upton Park • Markyate • Potters Bar • Churchdown • Pollok • Shawbury • Polmont Brierley Hill • Epping • Cowley • Wembley • Strood • Scotstoun • Dunfermline • Headington • Halifax • Parsons Green • Haworth • Darwen • Radcliffe On Trent • Cuckoo Oak • Newton Mearns• Farnworth • East Herrington • Earl Shilton • Atherstone • Winterbourne • Braunstone • Kenilworth • Collyhurst • Wigton •Jedburgh • Wester Hailes • Langside • Godalming • Norwich City • Aberdeen Kingswells • Welwyn • Hurley • Wareham • Maryport • Cleator Moor • Mold West

Braintree • Ridgewell • Saint Osyth • Moreton Morrell (MXL) Lighthorne • Slade Green • Gravesend • Repton • Castle Douglas • Annan • Lanchester • Cockfield • Rushyford • Epworth • Finningley • Ranskill • Keadby • Bewdley • North Berwick • Walkerburn • Drymen Killearn • Falfield • Coleford • Bredon • Alton • Southwold • Mauchline • Lochgelly • Kirkby • Kirkby Lonsdale • Oakham • Narborough • Wrexham North • Ruthin (RGH) • Tynygongl • Stow • Barwick In Elmet • Bearsted • Woburn Sands • Great Barford • Forth • Tinto • Burnopfield

• Ebchester • Bedlington • Dudley (DYE) • Corbridge • Tuxford • West Haddon • Bozeat • Machen • Swanton Morley • Martham • Terrington St John • Warboys • St. Michaels • Burghfield Common • Stocksbridge • Bishopston • Glantawe • Crynant • Pencader • Pembroke • Knebworth • Wilmslow Chapel En Le Frith • Corsham • Borth • Henlade • Hawick • Heathfield • Castleham • Camborne Wychbold (WYG) • Whitby • Needham • Watton Dummy • Holme On Spalding Moor • Holbrook • Hightown Caerleon • Cockermouth • Hebden Bridge • Otham (OTM) • Gourock (GHU) • Folkestone • Harrington • Pentyrch • Ferndale • Scartho • Birchwood • Corby • Bloxham • Clydach • Keswick • Nelson • Measham • Ambleside • Cinderford • Treharris • Llanfairfechan • Amble • Mundesley • Broseley • Flookburgh • Brackley • Penclawdd • Hassocks • Braithwaite • Cardigan • Tenbury Wells • Waltham • Hexham Swanage • Washingborough • Norwich West • Tiptree • Leabrooks • Belper • Welwyn Garden • Mablethorpe • Heckington • Stottesdon • Penybont • Machrie • Pilling • Trefeglwys •

Tummelbridge • Capel • Cotheridge • Hanmer • Bratton Clovelly • Temple • Auchengray • Kilcreggan • Pilning • Menmuir (MUR) • Auchenmalg • Buchlyvie • Aberfoyle • Arden • Canon Pyon • Back • Dalchreichart • Craigie • Crosshill • Latheron • Llanfairtalhaiarn • Great Whittington • Hartburn • Penhow • Nantyderry • Madderty • Cairngorm • Plaistow • Dormans Park • Llangennith • Cynghordy • Hilderstone • Cressage • Cleehillstone • Dunscore

What is Digital Voice?

Digital Voice is BT’s next-generation home telephone service. This digital calling system, which connects households via broadband technology, provides modern features unavailable on traditional landline services, including Multi Call, three-way conference calling, and call diversion to any other phone number, including mobile phones.

Call quality should also be significantly enhanced with Digital Voice, although you will require a compatible Digital Home phone to benefit from these improvements.

For the majority of households, switching to Digital Voice will make no difference to how they use their telephone. The cost of the new Digital Voice and broadband service is incorporated within a single package price, with no additional charge for Digital Voice.

The iconic snooker gameshow is returning to our screens after nearly 25 years away

Iconic snooker gameshow Big Break is returning to our screens after more than two decades, with the BBC confirming that the much-loved programme is being revived with presenter Paddy McGuinness and seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry at the helm.

In the announcement made earlier this week, the corporation confirmed that the revamped series will have a “brand-new look and feel” while retaining the spirit of the original show, with professional snooker players from across the circuit joining contestants in a bid to win cash prizes and Hendry showcasing a range of trick shots.

The original show became a cult hit after it launched back in 1991, with comedian Jim Davidson and former snooker champion John Virgo forming an unlikely but hugely popular partnership, with the former presenting and the latter starring as a referee.

It ran for over a decade and proved a huge hit with viewing figures peaking at almost 14 million people, before it aired for the final time in 2002.

Virgo – who was known as ‘The Voice of Snooker’ after moving into commentary for the BBC following his 18-year playing career – tragically passed away earlier this year at the age of 79, leaving the sport in mourning.

Tributes poured in from across the the worlds of snooker and television, with Davidson among those to remember him as a “great snooker player, great dad and a great bloke”.

Virgo and Davidson’s friendship may have been an unlikely one, with the two men at opposite ends of the political spectrum, but it was one which lasted beyond the show’s final broadcast as they continued to team up to do pantomime together for eight years.

However, Davidson has since been widely criticised for a series of controversial remarks and incidents, including making numerous offensive jokes about women, racial and ethnic minorities and members of the LGBTQ+ community during his stand-up performances.

Now 72, the comedian has claimed he was unfairly “cancelled” by the BBC, alleging on GB News that he was paid £1 million by the corporation to “go away” after finding success as a presenter.

In an interview with the Daily Express, Virgo previously shared his true feelings on Davidson and the show that helped to build his career in the media, admitting he had been sceptical about its chances of success when he was first offered the opportunity.

“All of a sudden, I get this phone call, ‘Would you be interested in doing this TV show, a quiz show with snooker, with this comedian, Jim Davidson’,” he recalled. “I’d met him once a few years previously, but I didn’t really know him. It was funny because we got there and he didn’t know much about snooker.

“In all honesty, after doing the first couple of shows, I was thinking, ‘I don’t see how this works’. Anyway, we did eight [episodes]. We took over the slot from A Question of Sport on a Tuesday night and the viewing figures were better! That shows you the popularity of snooker at the time.

“Then I got another phone call and they wanted us to go back into the studio to do another 18!,” Virgo added. “We ran for 10 years and peaked at nearly 14 million viewers. It was remarkable.”

On his friendship with Davidson, the late BBC commentator added: “It’s a funny thing about life. He’s your crafty Conservative comedian and I’m your dour northern socialist. How do you come up with that? But obviously the chemistry worked.

“Although Jim didn’t know much about snooker, what a funny man and a very generous man to work with. We really got on well. Besides, when you’re in those positions, the most important thing is that the show works.”

As for the controversies surrounding his former colleague, Virgo later admitted that Davidson no longer being on TV was “understandable” but also a “waste of talent”.

In an interview with The Telegraph in 2022, he added that the pair no longer spoke regularly, but shared “a warmth that I don’t get with many people” whenever they happened to cross paths.

“Jim is a comic genius and yet he can’t appear on television, because he has a black mark against his name,” said Virgo. “It’s understandable. I just feel it’s a waste of a talent.”