It is following an incident on Liverpool Road on March 29.

Jacob Hall of Chapel Street, Leigh, is among the men charged alongside two men from Irlam.

Also charged is Cole Churchill, of Morillion Road, Irlam, and Lee Browne, of Bowness Avenue, Irlam.

Hall, 19, Church, 20, and Browne, 18, are due to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on 21 August 2026.

Donald Trump has spent decades presenting himself as a financial genius. His strongest evidence remains that he managed to bankrupt a casino, a business designed so that the customers are statistically guaranteed to lose.

Now that same grasp of economics has been entrusted with the world’s largest economy, global trade and a war in the Middle East – like appointing the captain of the Titanic because he once claimed expertise in ice. Last night, Trump imposed fresh tariffs of between 10 per cent and 12.5 per cent on more than 80 countries, including Britain, Canada, Mexico, Australia, India and the European Union.

Once again, America’s allies have been spoken to like contestants on The Apprentice, humiliated and punished on a presidential whim. Except this is no television show. The consequences will be measured in higher prices, lost jobs, damaged pensions and greater instability across the world.

OPINION

Trump talks about tariffs as though they are cheques posted to Washington by grateful foreign governments. In reality, they are paid by importers and passed on to families through more expensive goods.

This has been explained to him repeatedly. He either cannot understand it or believes his supporters will never question him. Both possibilities are alarming. After his previous tariffs were ruled unlawful, Trump needed another legal excuse. His administration has now settled on forced labour, claiming dozens of countries were failing to stop goods made through exploitation entering their supply chains.

Yet many of those being punished already ban such imports and have stronger employment protections than America. Trump has discovered workers’ rights with the sincerity of a burglar discovering home security. Forced labour is a grave abuse. Using it as a disguise for another tariff war cheapens the issue and exposes the cynicism beneath his incompetence.

The same ignorance and arrogance are driving Trump’s needless war with Iran.

In both cases, he mistakes aggression for strength, improvisation for strategy and confidence for knowledge. He launches first, boasts second and leaves everyone else to contain the consequences. Trump has no convincing endgame in Iran, no clear definition of victory and no credible path out. The conflict has already cost around £28 billion, with tens of billions more being demanded. Oil has risen beyond $100 a barrel. Petrol has become more expensive. Transport, manufacturing and food costs are being pushed higher.

Trump has created a military crisis, an energy crisis and a trade crisis at the same time, then congratulated himself on the result. It is like setting fire to the curtains and demanding praise for discovering central heating.

This week, he had the audacity to say people were “very impressed”. Americans, let alone the rest of the world, are not. History offers few examples of one man creating so much instability while remaining certain that he is the cleverest person in every room. Markets this morning have tumbled as investors try to measure the combined damage of war, oil prices and tariffs. Yet the real victims are not hedge-fund billionaires with teams of advisers.

They are workers with modest workplace pensions, pensioners relying on small private funds and families who have saved carefully for years.

They followed the advice they were given. They put aside what they could and hoped it might provide some security in retirement. Then Trump dreams up another economic policy between a Big Mac and a round of golf, and another piece of that security disappears. He will not suffer alongside them.

While ordinary people watch their savings fall and household bills rise, the Trump family has used the presidency to build extraordinary wealth through cryptocurrency, licensing deals and businesses tied to political power.

His supporters were promised a man so rich he could never be bought. They received one determined to sell every available surface, including the office itself. The arrangement is brutally simple. Trump creates the uncertainty, working families absorb the losses, and his relatives find another opportunity to profit.

His economic worldview has all the sophistication of a child dividing sweets. If another country prospers, America must have been cheated. If a business imports goods, it deserves punishment. If prices rise, someone abroad must be blamed.

There is no room for supply chains, investment, alliances or consequences. There is only Trump standing amid the wreckage, pointing at the rubble and insisting it proves he is winning. Even his most devoted supporters are beginning to notice. Many MAGA voters blame the Iran war for higher petrol prices, while Republicans facing the midterm elections fear they will pay the electoral price.

Trump appears unconcerned. He cannot seek another term, and loyalty in his world has always travelled in one direction.

America has survived foolish presidents, reckless presidents and dishonest presidents. Trump combines all three with an almost artistic lack of self-awareness. He is financially illiterate yet obsessed with money, intellectually incurious yet certain of his brilliance, and becoming personally richer while millions suffer from his decisions.

His greatest talent has always been converting private failure into public cost. Trump promised to run America like one of his businesses. He has kept that promise. The debts belong to somebody else, the damage is left behind, and he walks away, insisting nobody in history has ever enjoyed greater success.

Wathnan Racing’s son of Frankel came fifth of nine over the straight mile at Royal Ascot in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes.

Previously, he’d also finished in mid-division in top-class company in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

Now the four-year-old returns to an extended mile and a quarter for the £165,000 Group 2 at York.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained colt ran at the course over the same distance when finishing second of 11 in the 2025 renewal of the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes.

The winner that day, Pride of Arras, could again be in opposition.

Racing advisor to his owners, Wathan, Richard Brown said: “He showed a lot of zip when he won the Earl of Sefton (over nine furlongs at Newmarket), and so we’ve had a crack at a mile.

“And he hasn’t got the zip of those top milers, so we’re finally back to a mile and a quarter.

“I think that’s where his future lies.

“He’s still lightly raced and I think York will suit him.

“He’s already run well there in the Dante, and it looks a very good race on paper, as you’d expect for the grade and the prize money.

“John and Thady seem very happy with him.”

Damysus also holds an entry for the £1.5million Juddmonte International, which will be staged at York on Wednesday 19 August.

Mr Brown added: “Reading reports it looks like that’s going to be a clash between Constitution River and Ombudsman.

“We’ve got to be realistic – Damysus is a very nice colt, but we’re quite a long way off that.”

York’s latest two-day meeting is part of the Sky Bet Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival.

The fixture begins on Friday evening when the British EBF Lyric Fillies’ Stakes is the highlight.

Eleven fillies and mares have been entered in the extended mile and a quarter Listed contest.

Saturday’s seven-race card starts at 1.30pm with the Sky Bet ‘Jump Jockeys’ Nunthorpe’ Handicap.

Aston Villa signing Alejandro Garnacho from Chelsea sees several former Manchester United players showing the Argentina international their support on social media

David de Gea has wished Alejandro Garnacho all the best after joining Aston Villa on a season-long loan from Chelsea.

There is an obligation for the transfer to become permanent next summer, should certain criteria be met. Manchester United retain a 10% sell-on clause from their £40million deal to sell the Argentina international less than 12 months ago.

Unai Emery appears to have pushed for the move, saying in Villa’s statement announcing their signing: “We are delighted with Alejandro. He is so talented, young and he showed us his wish to help our project. We are really happy.”

Garnacho, 22, posted several photos on Instagram to mark his move, including one posing alongside his new head coach. Another shows him standing side by side with Jorge Mendes.

Others show Garnacho in Villa’s new home shirt, with No.17 on the back, the same as he wore during his last two seasons at United. There is also a candid image of him aboard a flight from Madrid to Birmingham.

Garnacho captions the post with a purple heart emoji, for the claret in their home kit. He also adds a lion emoji, referencing Villa’s nickname, the Lions, one of which also features on their club crest.

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De Gea is the most notable former team-mate of Garnacho’s to comment on the post, saying: “All the best,” punctuated with a flexed bicep emoji. The pair played together 31 times for United, primarily during the 2022/23 season.

Plenty more ex-colleagues of Garnacho have liked the post. Among those to do so are Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Ayden Heaven, Brandon Williams, Daniel Gore, Facundo Pellistri, Jesse Lingard, Mason Greenwood, Rasmus Hojlund and Sofyan Amrabat.

Garnacho mentioned United during his first interview. He told VillaTV: “I was looking for a club to get confidence at and to try to be the player I was in my first years at Manchester United. I spoke with the manager, and I think he will give me the confidence to be here and to help the team.”

Emery and European football are also cited as reasons why Garnacho has joined Villa. The winger said: “I saw the Europa League last season, and now we’re joining the Champions League; it’s important to be a part of this.

“I spoke with Unai before I came here, and he gave me confidence. That’s why I’m here.

“It’s important to play in European competitions. The Champions League is the best one, so we’re going to play in that this season.

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There are over 12,672 across the country – including 601 in South Lanarkshire.

Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey has said that Scotland continues to lead the way in the provision of public electric (EV) charging points as new figures showed there are over 12,672 across the country – including 601 in South Lanarkshire.

In 2024, Scotland reached its target of installing more than 6000 public EV charge points, two years ahead of the 2026 target..

Scotland continues to have the highest number of public charging devices per head of population of any UK nation.

The SNP Government is committed to making sustainable travel accessible to everyone.

Ms Haughey saidr: “I welcome these new figures that show there are now over 600 public EV charging points working in South Lanarkshire.

“On the back of scrapping peak rail fares on Scotland’s trains, this is further evidence of the SNP Government’s commitment to making sustainable travel accessible for everyone in Scotland.

“I will continue to work with local businesses and private charge point providers to secure more investment here, so that we can maintain this progress and deliver more public charge points locally.

“By fast-tracking EV infrastructure, we’re paving the way for a more environmentally friendly Scotland.”

Neighbouring North Lanarkshire has 583 public electric (EV) charging points.

EV charging points are accessible stations that allow drivers to recharge their cars away from home.

They are located at supermarkets, motorway service stations, and residential streets.

Charging speeds range from slow (7 kW) for overnight top-ups to ultra-rapid (350 kW) for quick 20-minute highway stops.

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Luxembourgers like to travel.

The country has the second highest rate of outbound tourism in the European Union, with 83% of residents taking at least one international trip each year. But Luxembourg doesn’t attract visitors in the same way.

The Grand Duchy has long been afflicted with a boring reputation.

Described as a ‘ghost town at weekends’ and ‘all work, no play’, it is small, quiet, and a financial hub for the ultra-wealthy… not exactly key ingredients for a tourist destination.

Still, ‘Europe’s most misunderstood’ country has more to it than meets the eye, if only you know where to look.

Pauline Weis wants to help with that.

The content creator, who has a masters in European studies and speaks nine languages, grew up in Luxembourg but left at 18 to see the world.

In recent years, however, she has fallen back in love with her homeland and is frustrated that it doesn’t get more attention on the international scene.

‘There’s a misconception about Luxembourg that everyone is rich and drives a Porsche. I don’t have a Porsche, I know my father certainly doesn’t have a Porsche!’ Pauline, who posts as @PaulinaOnTheRoad, tells Metro.

What they do have, she says, is a country full of luscious forests, medieval castles and some of the most beautiful (and quietest) hiking trails in Europe, not to talk of a thriving food scene.

But more on that later. First, let’s get clued up on the basics.

Luxembourg is Europe’s seventh-smallest nation, with a population of just 699,000. You can cross the whole country in about an hour.

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The capital, Luxembourg City, is built on a rocky plateau overlooking dramatic gorges and a sweeping canyon, which create a striking multi-level cityscape.

It is home to the imposing Bock Casemates, a natural fortress carved into a cliff face that was one of Europe’s most strategic strongholds in the 17th-Century (and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994).

Following the decline of the steel industry in the 70s, Luxembourg was forced to diversify, fast.

Astutely, it focused on services, and today, with the highest GDP per capita in Europe, it’s a great place to do business.

In March 2020, it became the first in the world to offer free public transport across the entire nation.

Sure, it was primarily to solve the traffic problem in the capital, but now visitors can zip from the airport to the city centre on a modern tram system without paying a penny.

The capital also boasts free city-wide WiFi and Europe’s second-lowest gender pay gap.

Pauline is proud of what her country has become: a progressive place full of nature, history, and excellent restaurants.

But what she loves most, she says, are the people.

‘Luxembourg is very, very international,’ she says. ‘You hear all kind of languages, and you’ve got all nationalities living peacefully and very happily together in a very limited space.’

While Luxembourg City only has a population of around 120,000, more than 70% of its residents are non-Luxembourgers.

Within that number are citizens from some 170 countries, an eclectic mix that has created an exciting culinary scene.

‘Luxembourgish food is hearty stuff, we like to say it’s the quantity of the Germans and the quality of the French,’ says Pauline.

Alongside places serving traditional fare (such as Kniddelen, dumplings served with fried bacon lardons), the capital boasts a long list of cafes and restaurants that illustrate its cultural diversity, from Italian and Greek to Bangladeshi and Japanese.

One of the biggest success stories is Chiche!, a thriving restaurant that brings Lebanese and other Levantine dishes to the heart of Europe.

The business employs 70 staff, most of them refugees and migrants from Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and beyond, allowing chefs from abroad to integrate and find meaningful work in their new home.

‘The food is unbelievable, the service is great and the prices are okay, affordable for Luxembourg City,’ Pauline says.

Getting there is cheap, too. You can fly direct to Luxembourg from London for as little as £38 return, and remember: it’s free public transport on arrival.

So what should you do when you land?

Pauline’s first recommendation is to get out of the city and onto the Mullerthal Trail, a 112km trek through verdant forest and dazzling waterfalls in a region known as ‘Little Switzerland’. The journey takes just over 30 minutes.

Cool with its own micro-climate and prehistoric rock formations that date back to the dinosaurs, she says it’s where she hides when summer temperatures get too high.

Next, she recommends Vianden Castle, an architectural masterpiece voted one of the world’s most beautiful castles by CNN Travel.

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Around it are beautiful cycling trails and a romantic landscape where Pauline goes when she ‘needs to breathe’.

After that, she says you shouldn’t miss Fond-de-Gras, a preserved industrial heritage site in the south of Luxembourg where a vintage steam train trundles through the old mining landscape.

Covered by dense forest, this area also has a microclimate, keeping it cool while other parts of the country (and the continent) feel the heat.

Back in the capital, Pauline says a good way to start the evening is a stroll through the Grund, the oldest part of the city that feels more like a village.

Try a local beer at Liquid, a lively bar overlooking the Alzette River next to a scenic viewing point.

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Then, she says, move on to the Rives de Clausen neighbourhood, a 12th-Century brewing district that’s been revamped as an entertainment quarter.

For dinner, Pauline recommends Beim Siggy, Um Dierfgen and her favourite, Chiche!, then Hotel Cravat for cocktails and Rock Box bar for a proper night out.

The essentials

Getting there

Ryanair flies direct to Luxembourg from London Stansted. Return fares start from £38 in August.

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Where to stay

In Luxembourg City:

Outside the capital:

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MORE: 7 travel experts reveal their top European ‘coolcations’

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Robin Thicke‘s second wife April Love Geary showed off her incredible bikini body while enjoying a family summer vacation at the commune Saint-Tropez in the South of France on Wednesday.

At 49, the Masked Singer panelist is 18 years older than the model, but they’ve been inseparable ever since they met at a party when she was just 19.

Geary wore a black and white two-piece as she strutted through the surf on a Tropezian beach.

The 5-foot-11-inch stunner and her family love the French Riviera so much, they also vacationed there during the Cannes Film Festival two months earlier.

Geary wore gold hoop earrings and dark sunglasses over her flawless face.

Meanwhile, Thicke went shirtless in black swim trunks while sporting dark shades.

At 49, the Masked Singer panelist is 18 years older than the Photo/Genics Media-repped model, but they’ve been inseparable ever since they met at a party when she was just 19

At one point, the May-December duo drove a white pedal boat with a large slide attached to the front for more fun in the sun.

Joining Thicke and Geary in the water were their three children – eight-year-old daughter Mia, seven-year-old daughter Lola and five-year-old son Luca.

The Canadian crooner and the Orange County native were engaged for six years before finally tying the knot at Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 14 months ago.

Thicke and Geary went on to honeymoon at a private island resort called The Brando in Tahiti.

The five-time Grammy nominee, who enlists a nanny, shared snaps via Instagram story of their two daughters enjoying a boat cruise on Thursday.

Later, Thicke and the pretty socialite attended a gala aboard a yacht where he and Shaggy performed their new single, Looking Lovely.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the married couple’s reps for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

Thicke and Geary began dating in 2014 – the same year he legally separated from his high school sweetheart Paula Patton following a decade-long marriage.

The Blurred Lines hitmaker and the 50-year-old Actor Award nominee, whose divorce was finalized in 2015, amicably co-parent their 16-year-old son Julian.

But the ex-couple didn’t finalize their custody arrangement until 2017 due to her making allegations against him involving ‘child abuse, domestic violence, infidelity and drug/alcohol addiction.’

Geary wore a black and white two-piece as she strutted through the surf on a Tropezian beach

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The 5ft 11in stunner and her family love the French Riviera so much, they also vacationed there during the Cannes Film Festival two months earlier

Geary wore gold hoop earrings and dark sunglasses over her flawless face

Meanwhile, Thicke went shirtless in black swim trunks while sporting dark shades

At one point, the May-December duo drove a white pedal boat with a large slide attached to the front for more fun in the sun

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Joining Thicke and Geary in the water were their three children – eight-year-old daughter Mia, seven-year-old daughter Lola and five-year-old son Luca

The Canadian crooner and the Orange County native were engaged for six years before finally tying the knot at Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 14 months ago

Thicke and Geary went on to honeymoon at a private island resort called The Brando in Tahiti

The five-time Grammy nominee – who enlists a nanny – shared snaps via Instagram story of their two daughters enjoying a boat cruise on Thursday

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Later, Thicke and the pretty socialite attended a gala aboard a yacht where he and Shaggy performed their new single, Looking Lovely

Thicke and Geary began dating in 2014 – the same year he legally separated from his high school sweetheart Paula Patton (R, pictured in 2014) following a decade-long marriage

The Blurred Lines hitmaker and the 50-year-old Actor Award nominee – whose divorce was finalized in 2015 – amicably co-parent their 16-year-old son Julian (L, pictured April 6)

‘My relationship with Paula didn’t work, but our son is thriving and doing great,’ Thicke told the Breakfast Club Power 105.1 FM in March. ‘She’s an incredible mom. I’ve tried to be an incredible dad’

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Last week, Fox hired the Hotel singer to replace Randy Jackson (L, pictured in 2025) as bandleader on the sixth season of the Jane Krakowski-hosted musical game show Celebrity Name That Tune, which premieres September 21

And in May, Deadline reported that season 15 of The Masked Singer will be filmed in New Jersey (because of tax incentives) rather than California due to the newly hired Fremantle-owned company, Eureka Productions

‘My relationship with Paula didn’t work, but our son is thriving and doing great,’ Thicke told The Breakfast Club Power 105.1 FM in March.

‘She’s an incredible mom. I’ve tried to be an incredible dad. And so now I don’t want to do that again, especially with three kids. You learn that there’s some things I could have done better and some things were just meant to be. I do love my life and I love that I have three extra kids.’

Last week, Fox hired the Hotel singer to replace Randy Jackson as bandleader on the sixth season of the Jane Krakowski-hosted musical game show Celebrity Name That Tune, which premieres September 21.

And in May, Deadline reported that season 15 of The Masked Singer will be filmed in New Jersey (because of tax incentives) rather than California due to the newly hired Fremantle-owned company, Eureka Productions.

In January, Parade estimated that Thicke earned $100,000 per episode to serve panelist duties on the Fox celebrity singing competition, but prior reports had him earning up to $2.5 million per season paychecks.

The Close to You singer will also soon launch a High-ABV canned espresso martini brand called Mimá.

Thicke, who pulls 7.1 million monthly listeners on Spotify, hasn’t released a full-blown record since his eighth studio album On Earth, and in Heaven in 2021.

But the Bitter Sweet singer certainly had a nepotistic leg up in the industry thanks to his late father, Growing Pains alum Alan Thicke.

BANGKOK (AP) — Shares skidded Friday in Asia after Brent crude shot to its highest price since May as heavy fighting in the Middle East again threatened to slow the global flow of oil and gas.

U.S. futures were little changed after tumbles for two of Wall Street’s most influential companies, Alphabet and Tesla, yanked U.S. stocks to their worst loss in a month.

Looming over markets: The deepening crisis in the Middle East, worries over the a potential bubble in investments in artificial intelligence and another round of tariff hikes by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The U.S. is imposing taxes of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 trading partners, accounting for 99% of U.S. imports, saying they failed to fully enforce bans on goods produced by forced labor, the Trump administration said Thursday.

That move came just as the clock was running out Friday on stopgap levies the president imposed after a stinging defeat for other such tariffs at the Supreme Court.

Such uncertainties have helped push the U.S. dollar to a 40-year high against the Japanese yen. A dollar bought 163.79 yen early Friday, down from 163.85 yen and a level last seen in 1986. The euro rose to $1.1387 from $1.1377.

South Korea’s Kospi stuttered lower, falling 5.7% to $6,690.62. Samsung Electronics sank7.6% and shares in computer chipmaker SK Hynix dropped 8.3%.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 declined 2.7% to 64,611.15, led by losses for technology companies. SoftBank Group, which has massive investments in artificial intelligence, tumbled 7.4%.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 1.4% to 24,861.44, while the Shanghai Composite index shed 1.4% to 3,822.13.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.8% to 8,772.30.

On Thursday, the price of Brent crude shot to as high as $102 per barrel and settled at $100.69 per barrel, up 7%. Early Friday in Asia, it was down 0.8% at $99.87 per barrel. Before the Iran war began in late February it was trading around $72 per barrel.

U.S. benchmark crude slipped 1.1% to $91.23 per barrel.

The cause for the latest spike in prices: attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. That threatens another avenue that oil companies use to move their crude from the Middle East to customers worldwide, along with the Strait of Hormuz.

Underscoring the importance of the sea route for the economy, Trump threatened “major military punishment” against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are backed by Iran, if they keep attacking ships.

U.S. stocks fell under the pressure of rising oil prices, which raise costs for businesses and cut into their customers’ ability to spend.

The S&P 500 fell 1.2% and is on track for its first back-to-back weekly loss since March. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 506 points, or 1%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 2.2%.

Higher inflation could push the Federal Reserve and other central banks to raise interest rates, which would slow economies and undercut prices for stocks and other investments.

The European Central Bank held its main interest rates steady at its meeting Thursday.

Gasoline prices tend to follow oil prices higher, and a gallon of regular costs an average of $4.09 across the United States, according to AAA. That is still below highs of roughly $4.56 in May, but it was at just $3.93 a month ago.

Tesla tumbled 14.5% after Elon Musk’s electric-vehicle company reported a weaker profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Because Tesla one of the largest stocks in the S&P 500 by market value, its stock has more influence on the index than nearly every other.

One of the few that is larger is Alphabet. Its stock fell 7.1% even though the parent company of Google delivered stronger profit and revenue than analysts expected.

Investors focused instead on how much Alphabet is planning to spend on AI after the company raised its forecast for capital spending.

___

Associated Press Business Writers Matt Ott in Washington and Stan Choe in New York contributed to this report.

The head of the airline says anyone who can’t make it to their boarding gate on time, should not be allowed onto the plane

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The head of Ryanair has criticised the European Union’s new travel rules, which have already caused chaos for British holidaymakers. Speaking on The Travel Expert podcast Michael O’Leary said if a flight has finished boarding and all passengers are not at the boarding gate, it should leave without them, even if they were delayed by new passport control systems.

He said it is travellers’ responsibility to arrive for flights on time. He also called EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen ‘stupid’ during his appearance on the podcast, reports the Express.

British holidaymakers have had to add the add the stress of the EU’s entry-exit system (EES) to their travel plans after a change to the digital borders scheme took effect in April.

This has led to waits of up to three hours at Schengen Area airports.

“We will not wait for anybody,” he said. “Our priority is to those passengers who are at the boarding gate when boarding starts.

“If you’re not at the boarding gate when we finish boarding, the plane is going without you.”

Hundreds of travellers on a range of airlines have missed planes since April, including Ryanair who watched their flights take off without them because of extreme delays at passport control.

READ MORE: “My wee boy was mowed down by a dangerous e-bike rider – we need to clamp down on these thugs”

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Stranded travellers have spent hundreds of pounds on replacement flights and hotels, only to find that neither the airline nor travel insurers will cover the cost.

Mr O’Leary called the lack of passenger rights “regrettable”.

He said that Ryanair will not delay flights for passengers.

“We’re not delaying our flights for people who are stuck in passport control queues,” he said.

“They have to show up at the airport earlier [and] be at the boarding gate, otherwise they’re not flying.”

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George Cox and Sons Ltd – Chris Cox (Managing Director), Matthew Edwards (Contracts Director), Mark Holroyd (Finance Director), John Walsh (Contracts Director) and Jovan Ristov (Operations Director) (Image: George Cox and Sons Ltd)

George Cox & Sons Ltd, a specialist civil engineering and highways contractor, delivers projects across the North West.

Founded in Farnworth in 1947, George Cox & Sons began when George Cox left his job as a street mason and started a flagging business using little more than a handcart to transport his tools and materials.

The company became George Cox & Sons in 1953 and has since grown into a leading North West civil engineering and highways contractor.

Still based in Farnworth and now run by the fourth generation of the Cox family, they have carried out recent work developing in cities and towns throughout the region.

Recent projects include developments on Stockport Interchange, Lancaster University’s Health Innovation Campus and the Leigh Cycleway in Wigan.

The family-run business has been recognised for its continued growth nearly eight decades after it was established.

Managing Director Chris Cox said the achievement reflected the efforts of the company’s workforce and its longstanding approach to customer service.

He said: “We’re extremely pleased to be recognised for this achievement, it’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of the staff that have got us into this position.

“We have been around 79 years and we’re a fourth generation family business and our head office is based in Bolton.

“We believe that this growth is a testament to the values we have always maintained.”

Mr Cox added that the company’s professional, reliable, and collaborative approach helps it stand out in a competitive market and encourages clients to return.

Clothing brand Represent were listed as one of the fastest growing in the North West (Image: Represent)

Joining George Cox & Sons on the list is Represent, the premium fashion brand founded in 2011 by brothers George and Mike Heaton.

Operating from Northgate Close in Horwich, Represent has grown from a local start-up into an internationally recognised clothing label.

The brand’s designs have been worn by celebrities including Justin Bieber and 21 Savage and has collaborated with major names such as Liam Gallagher and Metallica.

Represent now has around 150 stockists worldwide, including leading retailers Selfridges, Harrods, and Nordstrom, offering contemporary menswear inspired by street culture.

The recognition of both firms showcases the success of businesses from Bolton across very different industries, with one building on generations of engineering expertise and the other establishing itself as a major name in global fashion.