More than 120,000 people signed a Parliamentary petition calling for the personal allowance for state pensioners to rise to £25,140, forcing ministers to respond in Westminster Hall.

Campaigners argue that the annual increases to the state pension under the triple lock are being undermined because the HMRC personal allowance has remained frozen, dragging more people into paying income tax despite relying on modest retirement incomes.

Opening the debate, prompted by the petition, Conservative MP John Lamont said increasing numbers of pensioners were being caught by frozen tax thresholds.

He highlighted the case of petitioner Tim Mason, who said he receives a small Royal Mail pension alongside his state pension and believes many retirees are now paying tax on pensions they spent decades saving for.

Lamont told MPs that many pensioners were receiving unexpected tax demands from HMRC as the state pension continues to rise while the personal allowance remains unchanged.

He said: “The triple lock has increased the state pension year on year, while personal tax allowances have remained frozen.”

He added that many pensioners were living on limited incomes and found unexpected tax bills both “distressing and deeply worrying”.

Why the HMRC personal allowance is becoming a bigger issue

The HMRC personal allowance currently stands at £12,570.

Meanwhile, the full new state pension has risen to around £12,547.60 a year, leaving a gap of just over £20 before retirees begin paying income tax if they receive any additional pension income.

That means even relatively small workplace or private pensions can push retirees above the tax-free threshold.

During the debate, Conservative MP Alison Griffiths said many pensioners feel frustrated because they see their pension increase each year only for more of it to be taxed.

She said: “They are asking a simple question: why are more and more pensioners being drawn into paying tax?”

She argued that the issue was not that pensioners had become wealthier, but that frozen tax thresholds meant “the tax system reaches further into people’s incomes each year.”

Calls for an HMRC personal allowance increase

The petition asks ministers to introduce a separate, higher personal allowance for state pensioners.

Supporters argue this would ensure retirees are not paying tax on income that many see as intended to provide a basic standard of living in retirement.

During the debate, Conservative MPs pointed to the party’s previous proposal for a “Triple Lock Plus”, which would have increased the tax-free allowance alongside rises in the state pension.

Liberal Democrat MP Charlie Maynard also criticised the continued freeze in tax thresholds.

He told Parliament: “Raising tax thresholds is the best and fairest way to cut taxes.”

He warned that hundreds of thousands more people have been pulled into paying income tax because thresholds have remained frozen.

Government rejects higher HMRC personal allowance

Pensions Minister Torsten Bell acknowledged the strength of feeling behind the petition but ruled out introducing a higher tax-free allowance for pensioners.

He said no political party was proposing to double the personal allowance because it would cost the Treasury billions of pounds each year.

Bell told MPs: “The reality is that no political party will deliver a doubling of the personal allowance for pensioners.”

Instead, he said the Government’s priorities remained protecting the state pension through the triple lock and reducing NHS waiting lists.

However, he confirmed that ministers still plan to stop pensioners with only small amounts of tax to pay having to deal with HMRC’s simple assessment process from 2027, with legislation expected in the next Finance Bill.

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Why pensioners are worried

Although the state pension continues to rise each year under the triple lock, frozen tax thresholds mean more retirees are expected to become taxpayers over time.

Many campaigners argue that without an increase in the HMRC personal allowance, future state pension rises will increasingly be offset by income tax, reducing the value of annual increases.

While ministers rejected the petition’s proposal, the Westminster Hall debate demonstrates growing political pressure over whether the HMRC personal allowance should rise as more pensioners begin paying tax on their retirement income.

John, 41, who works at Nailtastic Beauty on Bury Road, says the council has failed to resume its routine weekly collections and believes his shop has been “forgotten”.

The issue was first highlighted after John said his commercial blue bin had only been emptied once in more than a month, prompting The Bolton News to contact Bolton Council.

John has now revealed that, apart from the one-off collection on June 3, no further routine collections have taken place.

He said: “Usually the collection is every Friday morning, and we put our shop bin out on Thursday night ready for the next day.

“We thought it was back to normal after the follow-up, but the council did not come on Friday, June 12.

“Since the special one-off pickup last time, they haven’t come back as part of the routine collection. It’s been nearly a month.

“I am still having the issue. It seems like they forgot about my shop and are not coming to pick it up.”

Nailtastic (Image: Public)

John said the business continues to leave its blue commercial bin at its usual collection point at the back of the street every Thursday evening, where it has always been collected from on Friday mornings.

When previously contacted by The Bolton News, Bolton Council said motorists should ensure roads remain accessible on collection days, warning that refuse vehicles may be unable to reach properties if access is blocked by parked cars.

A council spokesperson said: “Residents and business owners are reminded to ensure roads remain accessible on collection days by avoiding parking in a way that obstructs refuse vehicles.

“Our collection crews operate large vehicles which require sufficient space to safely reach properties and collect waste and recycling.

“Where access is blocked by parked cars, collections may not be able to take place.

“We ask motorists to be mindful of this and, where possible, park considerately to help ensure everyone’s bins can be collected as scheduled.”

The postcodes from across the region won £1,000 each in recent draws, with cash prizes going to Peterlee, Ferryhill and Stockton.

One postcode in particular in the region was extra lucky as TS21 1GA in Fairfield, Stockton won a whopping £30,000 with the Postcode Earth Trust.

The Postcode Lottery is a subscription lottery which aims to raise money for charities while also bringing cash prizes to homes across the UK.

Players enter using their postcode as a ticket and pay £12.50 a month to take part in each draw.

It unveils daily prizes for postcodes across the UK, including £30,000 jackpots for every winning ticket in a postcode on weekends, and £1,000 prizes for 20 different postcodes each day.

The lottery not only gives cash prizes but also helps raise funds for charities in the UK and beyond.

To date, players have raised more than £1.7 billion for thousands of charities and community projects.

The Postcode Lottery winners and prize amounts this week are:

• DL17 9LZ – West Cornforth – £1,000
• SR8 2QB – Peterlee – £1,000
• TS21 1GA – Fairfield, Stockton – £30,000
• TS21 1EJ – Carlton, Stockton – £1,000

• DH5 9RW – East Rainton, Tyne and Wear – £1,000
• YO14 0AF – Filey, North Yorkshire – £1,000
• YO21 2BE – Ugthorpe, North Yorkshire – £1,000

The retailer is now selling a pack of picky bits every second

After days of intense heat, nobody wants to be cooking in a warm kitchen, so National Picky Bits Day will no doubt be a welcome relief this weekend.

It’s not a real thing, it’s an M&S thing. The retailer first created it last year in response to the demand for its tasty savoury snacks and this year it’s gone all out for the event on Saturday, June 27.

Step in store and you can’t miss it. The shelves are piled high with all sorts of tempting treats and there’s seemingly something for every palate.

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You’ve got your traditional picnic snacks of pork pies, sausage rolls, quiche and mini sausages, as well as a range of antipasti dishes with olives, cheese and the like, stuffed bell peppers, sweet potato spiced falafels and more.

There’s little packs of meat snacks too like the delicious serrano ham and cheese rollitos we tried. You can get these in chorizo and chilli flavour, as well as salchichon and rosemary with cheese.

If you’ve got fussy ones to contend with then you can’t go wrong with the box of dinky shareable popcorn chicken, which although needs cooking, takes just six minutes in the air fryer.

And there are other bits you can quickly warm in the microwave including the chorizo and cheese tortilla and the Spanish style prawn pil pil dish – a real treat with garlic, chili and paprika oil.

The mini cheese and onion muffins were the biggest hit with my lot. Muffins with sauteed onions, extra mature cheddar cheese and red Leicester cheese, they can be eaten warm or cold, but we liked them better warm and again they take just five minutes in the air fryer.

You don’t have to spend too much to get a meal from it, especially if you add in some typical picky bits like carrot sticks and a few crackers. You could also throw in some sweet treats like the new M&S strawberry sandwich which launched this week, as well as some new sweet dips.

A lot of the products are included in the retailer’s three for £8 offer, which makes them even better value.

With M&S selling a pack of picky bits every second, it’s no surprise they decided to dedicate a day to the snacks. And with picnic season upon us, Brits have officially named M&S as the UK’s home of picky bits according to new YouGov research, with 44% of shoppers naming it their top destination for summery nibbles.

Its picky bits sales have actually grown by 27% year-on-year, with the retailer predicting its biggest ever summer for picky bits.

“We know everyone loves M&S picky bits so decided to declare it as a national day because… why not?” a spokesman told us.

Why not indeed.

The green has a fascinating history

A city park, described as “iconic” by previous visitors, offers a scenic area where you can look out for cows grazing. Laundress Green in Cambridge offers a beautiful green area to indulge in picnics, sunbathing, or a walk.

The city can be quite overwhelming at times, with all the hustle and bustle – particularly in the busy tourist season. Laundress Green offers a place to escape just a few minutes from the heart of the city.

Although today it is a beauty spot, it has a history of hard work – and the name ‘Laundress Green’ hints at its past. Local washerwomen would frequent the area to use the city council washing lines for the laundry staff at the Cambridge colleges.

According to Capturing Cambridge, on Mondays and Tuesdays the ground was free from grazing animals, so that women from Granta Place and Mill Lane could safely hang out their laundry there to dry. For this privilege, they likely had to pay a shilling a year and put up their own posts.

In those days, people used this part of the River Cam when the best source of water for washing was the river, long before the era of a much simpler method – a washing machine. Eventually, clean water was made available in homes throughout the city and this function at the river became no longer necessary.

Situated next to Lammas Land and near The Granta and The Anchor pubs, the green has become a popular place to visit throughout the year, but especially in the summer. A previous visitor to the park described it as “one of the most iconic” river places where “you can find cows grazing in the morning” from spring to autumn.

Another wrote on Google: “The banks of the river Cam and the grounds surrounding are a beautiful park to go for a walk, picnic or have some drinks on the pubs around the area. The pound mill is a very beautiful spot with swans and other birds and trees.”

An application has been submitted to Bolton Council for seven four-bedroom houses on land at 226-228 Wigan Road in Deane.

The proposal would see the brownfield site redeveloped with two blocks containing a total of seven homes, alongside parking and landscaping.

The planning application was received on June 19 and validated by the council on today, June 22. Residents now have until Monday, July 13, to have their say.

Planning documents say the site was previously occupied by a nursing home but has remained vacant for years after the building was demolished.

The design and access statement submitted with the application says the development would provide “a small but significant housing contribution” while bringing a redundant site back into use.

The proposed site boundaries. (Image: Bolton Council)

The plans propose seven three-storey, four-bedroom homes with 10 parking spaces, including three visitor spaces.

Documents submitted with the application state that the scheme has been revised following discussions with Bolton Council and has been reduced from earlier proposals.

A previous planning permission for a four-storey apartment block containing multiple apartments was granted on the site in 2006.

The current application says the proposed houses would better reflect local demand and the surrounding residential character.

Planning documents state the development would retain the existing access from Wigan Road and include new landscaping across the site.

Residents can comment on the application through Bolton Council’s planning portal.

A decision on the application will be made by Bolton Council at a later date.

We take a look at some of his most shocking moments.

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Paul Ferris has lived a turbulent life of chaos, violence and crime.

The former Glasgow gangster-turned author is perhaps one of the most recognisable figures from Scotland’s modern true-crime history. From enforcing for “Godfather” Arthur Thompson to an intense feud with rival kingpin Tam McGraw, his life has taken dark twists and turns with stints in jail and involvement with firearms.

We take a look at some of his most shocking moments.

Early Revenge Knife Attacks

Growing up in Glasgow’s notorious Blackhill estate, Ferris endured years of physical bullying by a local criminal family, the Welshes. But by his late teens, he decided to stop hiding.

He launched a series of extreme, calculated knife attacks against his former tormentors, which led to his arrest at the age of 17. His teenage knife assaults resulted in his first stretch at a Young Offenders Institution.

This sudden and ferocious pivot to violence completely shifted his reputation, instantly drawing the attention of the city’s ruling underworld.

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Becoming the “Robot” Enforcer

By 19, Ferris was recruited as debt collector and enforcer for Glasgow’s undisputed crime lord Arthur “The Godfather” Thompson.

Ferris earned nicknames like “The Robot” because of his cold-blooded and detached precision when he carried out his duties.

His daily “business” operations on behalf of the Thompson family involved orchestrating or directly executing violence. “The Godfather” and had links to London mobsters, the Kray twins.

The Murder of Arthur “Fat Boy” Thompson Jr

By the late 1980s, Ferris believed the Thompson family had betrayed him to the police, sparking a vicious turf war. On 17 August 1991, Arthur Thompson Jr was shot dead outside his father’s home.

Ferris was immediately pinned as the prime suspect, accused of executing the son of his former mentor in a direct challenge to the Godfather’s crown. But Ferris was found not guilty of the murder after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow in 1992.

At the time, it became Scotland’s longest murder trial.

The case remains officially unsolved.

The MI5 Gun-Running Bust

In 1997, Ferris’s criminal career came to an abrupt halt following a massive, two-year joint surveillance operation by MI5 and Special Branch.

He was ambushed and arrested in London while transporting submachine guns, Uzi magazines, silencers, and live ammunition hidden inside an Opal Fruits sweet box. MI5 spent six months on Ferris’s trail, using all their skills in human and electronic surveillance to help police track his every move.

And they got their reward in May 1997 after Ferris made a call to a London gun dealer – on a tapped mobile phone. Ferris was the first gangster MI5 had ever gone after. The service usually focused on fighting threats to Britain’s security.

He was sentenced to ten years at the Old Bailey.

Feud with Tam McGraw

The feud between Paul Ferris and Tam “The Licensee” McGraw was one of the most toxic power struggles in Scottish true-crime history. Initially allies under Arthur ‘Godfather’ Thompson, the two became bitter adversaries, turning the streets of Glasgow into a warzone.

The feud broke out after Ferris’ conviction that McGraw was a police informant. McGraw earned the moniker “The Licensee” because rival criminals believed the police gave him a literal “license” to build a drug empire without fear of arrest, in exchange for intelligence on other gangsters.

While serving a prison sentence in the late 1990s, Ferris penned his first autobiography. He used the book to very publicly humiliate McGraw, explicitly naming him as a police grass and stating that McGraw should “fear the onslaught that will follow.”

In May 2002, a violent altercation occurred involving Ferris and McGraw, where McGraw was slashed and Ferris suffered knife wounds.

Following the knife attack, a meeting involving Ferris caught on police surveillance led to Ferris having his parole revoked and being sent back to prison. McGraw subsequently spent time living in Ireland and Spain to avoid the underworld backlash sparked by the feud.

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Lindsay Sykes, Richmondshire deputy district lead volunteer, has been nominated for the Defence Inclusivity Award at the Soldiering On Awards, which celebrate individuals and organisations supporting the Armed Forces community.

The award recognises her “outstanding commitment” to fostering inclusion, equality, and opportunity within both scouting and the wider community through her “dedication, leadership, and determination.”

A spokesman for Richmondshire Scouting said: “Lindsay has been a passionate advocate for creating environments where individuals from all backgrounds can thrive.

“Her work has helped to strengthen community connections, encourage participation and ensure that Scouting remains open and accessible to all.”

Ms Sykes has earned praise from colleagues and volunteers across the district for her “unwavering commitment to the values of service, respect and teamwork.”

Her ability to “inspire others, champion inclusivity and support those around her has earned her admiration throughout the Scouting movement and beyond.”

The Soldiering On Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and organisations who “support and strengthen the Armed Forces community.”

Being shortlisted for the Defence Inclusivity Award is a “significant national achievement” and reflects the “positive difference Lindsay has made through her work and leadership.”

The spokesman said: “Everyone at Richmondshire Scouting District is immensely proud of Lindsay’s nomination and the recognition it brings.

“Her dedication to helping others, fostering inclusive communities and embodying the values of Scouting makes this honour thoroughly deserved.

“As the awards ceremony approaches in September, volunteers, young people and supporters across Richmondshire will be cheering Lindsay on and wishing her every success.”

The Soldiering On Awards ceremony will take place later this year in September.

The young men, both 22, were left with serious injuries in the incident.

Two students who were stabbed in a terrifying ‘anti-muslim knife attack’ have spoken out on the heartbreak of their ordeal.

The young men, both 22, were left with serious injuries in the incident, which took place at Sighthill Park in Edinburgh moments after they had left evening prayers at a city mosque at around 8.50pm on June 19.

Lewis Hawkes, 36, has since appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court charged with five counts of attempted murder aggravated by reason of having a terrorist connection after three other men aged 24, 27 and 29, were also later injured in incidents in the Telford Road and Leith Walk areas of the city.

The students, who arrived in the capital from India to study masters degrees just four weeks ago, say they are now to scared to leave their homes after the horror incident Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said appeared to be motivated by “anti-Muslim hatred”.

One suffered seven stab wounds across his body and face and required 35 stitches, while the other sustained five stab wounds and needed 17 stitches.

They told the Record they came to Scotland expecting to be welcomed into a safe and inclusive country, but have now been left unable to sleep, eat or speak to loved ones back home as they struggle to come to terms with their trauma.

Speaking publicly for the first time, one of the students, who have asked not to be named, said: “It’s hard to comprehend what happened.

“Coming to Scotland is the worst decision I have ever made.

“Before we arrived, I’d heard a lot about this being a safe country and a beautiful place.

“That’s why I picked Edinburgh when I was deciding where to study.

“Now I am thinking, is this what happens here?

“I can’t even describe the pain I’m in.

“I can’t eat or sleep and I’m finding it hard to speak to anyone about it.

“I can’t talk to my friends because I’m unable to tell them what happened to me.

“No one back home in India knows what happened to me either, because I don’t want to tell them.

“I’m afraid to go out now and I don’t know when I will be able to.”

The second student added: “I’m traumatised and I don’t want to leave my room. I’m so afraid.

“I could never have expected that a terrible incident like this would happen here.”

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The men are being cared for by their friend Syed Tajammul Hussain, who told how he was the first witness at the scene.

He said: “I was the first person they called and I rushed there quickly.

“All I could see was blood on the ground and my brothers were crying. It was horrific.

“I called the police and the ambulance immediately but every minute felt like an hour until they got there.

“We are all very traumatised and physically they are in a lot of pain.

“Physically there’s a lot of damage, but they have also been damaged mentally.

“I don’t know if they will recover.”

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Counter-terrorism officers were called in to investigate after the five men were injured during the series of incidents across Edinburgh last Friday.

Footage posted online showed a bare-chested white man roaming the streets of Edinburgh with a large weapon.

Another video appeared to show a topless man on the ground shouting that he was “protecting the country” as he was held down by an officer.

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Syed said it had been devastating to watch two young men who arrived in Edinburgh excited to begin a new chapter in their lives struggle to recover from their ordeal.

“I don’t know how other Muslims are feeling here now, but I don’t personally feel safe,” he said.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe and for everyone to be kind to each other.

“That’s what we expect from people – but it didn’t turn out like that for my friends here.”

First Minister John Swinney met the two students privately this week and later described them as “traumatised” by what had happened.

Swinney said he was “deeply concerned” by the incidents and insisted there was “no place for violence, racism or intolerance in our country”.

He later said he wanted to send a message of “solidarity and sympathy and empathy” to those affected and to the wider Muslim community in Scotland.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was “horrified” by news of the attacks and said there was “no place for hatred and violence against Muslims”.

Superintendent Neil Wilson, of Police Scotland, made clear that “there is no place for violence, hatred, or intimidation in our communities” in light of Friday’s incidents.

Officers have has spoken to more than 90 multi-faith organisations since.

The Muslim Council for Scotland said they welcomed the engagement of Police Scotland as well as politicians.

They said: “Edinburgh’s Muslim community will not be cowed by those who seek to sow fear and division. We are deeply grateful for the many messages of solidarity and support from people of all faiths and backgrounds.”

There are strong winds on the Britannia Bridge in north Wales this morning. The bridge remains open, but a speed restriction is in place.

According to traffic monitoring service Inrix: “Strong winds on A55 Britannia Bridge in both directions between J9 A487 (Treborth) and J8 A5 (Llanfair P.G.). Matrix sign set to 30 mph. The bridge remains open to all traffic but extra care is required.”