This change will affect around 3,500 workers, who are set to transfer to one of two external companies.

The supermarket chain said there are no plans for redundancies as part of the move, which will see cleaning duties in northern England and Scotland go to Bidvest, while NIC Services will take on stores in southern England.

David Lepley, chief operating officer at Asda, said: “Our ambition is to deliver the cleanest stores in retail.

“We continue to review and invest in ways to enhance the customer experience, partnering with industry leaders to deliver the best solutions.

“This latest investment is another important step in our mission to raise the bar for customers.

“Having taken the time to learn from others, by partnering with Bidvest and NIC Services we have access to the very latest machinery and cleaning technology.”

Asda said customers will see improvements such as cleaner toilets, steam-cleaned trolleys and baskets, and greater use of robotic cleaning equipment.

The company notified staff of the proposals on Tuesday, August 11, and expects the transition to be completed by October 1.

All affected employees are expected to transfer to the new employers under TUPE regulations, which are designed to protect workers’ rights during changes of employer.

However, the GMB union has criticised the decision and called for the process to be paused.

Rachelle Wilkins, GMB organiser, said: “Outsourcing companies have a proven track record of slashing pay, terms, conditions and even jobs as soon as they have their feet under the table.

“Now loyal, hard-working cleaning staff will be worried sick about whether their job will still pay the bills or whether the axe will fall on them.

“Morale in stores is already at rock bottom.

“GMB calls on Asda to halt this process now – at least until the other consultations are finished – and consider what is best for its customers and staff.”

The union also said it asked Asda in April if more outsourcing was planned and was told there was not.

This latest announcement follows a similar move earlier this year, when Asda said it would outsource around 1,700 in-store security roles to Mitie.

The owner of the unique house, which has a 25 foot shark sticking out of its roof, has claimed its Airbnb short-term let ban should be lifted on the grounds that it is public art

The owner of a peculiar property featuring a 25-foot shark stuck in its roof has argued its Airbnb ban should be reversed – claiming it is public art.

Owner Dr Magnus Hanson-Heine has marked the 40th anniversary of his distinctive dwelling by urging planners to grant it special status and identify a loophole permitting tourists to experience it.

Known as ‘Shark House’, the unusual four-bedroom, four-bathroom residence in Headington, Oxford, ran for five years as an Airbnb for short-term lettings before the local council banned it from doing so.

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Four decades ago this week, Magnus’ late father Bill Heine built the 25 foot structure which appeared overnight on the roof of his terraced property without formal planning consent from Oxford City Council.

The American-born journalist and broadcaster had arrived in Oxford during the 1960s to pursue studies at Oxford University.

It was constructed over three months, though nobody knew its intended location until it was transported to New High Street on a tractor-trailer where a crane positioned it into the roof. A six-year planning dispute then erupted.

Oxford City Council objected to the installation, claiming it posed a danger to the public, but engineers and inspectors declared it structurally sound.

To safeguard the shark, Bill’s son Magnus purchased the property in 2016, and it became a popular attraction on Airbnb. In March 2025, Magnus was then told he could no longer use the house as a short-term rental – a decision he says would damage Oxford’s wider tourism sector.

Marking the 40th anniversary this week, Magnus expressed continued hope about discovering a solution enabling the public to experience it going forward.

He stated: “The previous planning inspector accepted that the Shark House was an appropriate location for the use and found no evidence that it had caused problems for neighbours or highway safety.

“The main obstacle was Oxford’s general policy against the loss of a residential dwelling. With Oxford’s new Local Plan going through independent examination, we’ve made representations asking for greater flexibility for genuinely exceptional properties such as the Shark House.

“If the planning position changes sufficiently, either through that process or through changes to the national rules, I would certainly look at applying again.

“I think there is a strong case for treating the Shark House a little differently from an ordinary rental property. It is obviously a house, but it’s also one of Oxford’s best-known pieces of public art.

“When it was available on Airbnb, people could actually experience that extraordinary place from the inside and make it part of birthdays, reunions, visits to Oxford and other special occasions, rather than only ever seeing the Shark from the pavement.

“I hope there is ultimately room within the planning system for an imaginative solution which recognises that unusual cultural role.”

After being banned as a short term rental, the property has been listed for a longer term rental at a cost of £4,000 a month.

It’s listing states: “Nestled in the heart of Headington – Oxford, The Headington Shark House isn’t just accommodation; it’s a dive into a piece of living art history.

”Featuring the awe-inspiring 25ft fiberglass and steel shark sculpture that spectacularly ‘crashes’ through the roof, this Victorian marvel offers a one-of-a-kind stay. Experience the comfort of modern living while enveloped in a story that has captivated the world.

”’The Shark House stands as a testament to creativity, freedom, and the voice against conformity. Erected by my late father, Bill Heine, and sculptor John Buckley, it sparked a national debate on public art and personal expression.

”Today, it invites you to ponder its deeper meanings or simply enjoy its whimsical defiance.”

Magnus also said a screenplay adaptation had now been written of his father’s book The Hunting of the Shark, based around the true story of the shark’s creation and the six-year battle that followed.

He added: “It’s really a very British story about art, war, freedom, authority and the right to dissent, all with an American out-of-water at the centre of it.

“There is some comedy there, but also a real weight underneath: the shark was put up against the background of the bombing of Libya, nuclear anxiety, censorship of speech and expression, and the attempt to remove it became a six-year struggle over who gets to decide what people may create, see and do with their own homes.

“Forty years later, the object they fought over has become part of Oxford’s cultural heritage without losing any of the provocation that made it matter in the first place.

“I’m obviously biased, but I think that’s a fairly rare proposition for a film: an extraordinary true story, an instantly recognisable visual identity, an established place in British culture, great characters, humour and conflict, and something genuinely worth saying underneath it all.

“If there are filmmakers, producers or actors out there who know the Shark and see the potential in that story, I’d genuinely love to hear from them.”

Turning his attention to the future of Shark House, Magnus went on to say: “I’m also beginning to think seriously about the Shark’s next 40 years.

“That means looking at professional conservation advice and the longer-term care of the Shark, roof and surrounding structure, as well as investigating what grant funding might be available.

“It’s still early days, but depending on what is needed and the level of public interest, some form of fundraising or crowdfunding might eventually form part of that too.”

The council, however, has stood firmly behind its decision to impose a short-term let ban on the Shark House.

It stated that the growing trend of renting out entire properties for the majority of the year has led to the “loss of valuable homes in the UK’s most unaffordable city”.

The council also highlighted that nearly 3,500 households are currently on the waiting list for social housing in Oxford.

One councillor previously remarked: “Where properties have changed from being residential homes to becoming short let businesses without planning approval, we do take enforcement action.

“We live in one the least affordable places for housing in the UK. There are nearly 800 properties let out entirely as short lets in Oxford and we need those for people to live in and not as holiday accommodation.”

A Syrian court sentenced ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad along with his younger brother to death in absentia today for crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The offences took place during Syria‘s 14-year conflict, which began in 2011 and left an estimated half a million people dead.

The sentences at the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus are the first against Assad or members of his inner circle since the Assad family’s five decades in power came to an end in December 2024. 

His humiliating retreat from the country he once called home saw him cash in a favour with Russian president Vladimir Putin, who airlifted him and his family to Moscow.  

‘Bashar Assad used state agencies to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity,’ said judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan during a court session that was aired live on state TV.

Also sentenced to death in the same case was Assad’s maternal cousin Atef Najib, who was convicted of overseeing a deadly crackdown in the southern province of Daraa that led to the uprising and later the civil war.

Amid tight security, Najib stood inside a cage wearing a prisoner’s uniform as the judge read the sentence. A crowd of people gathered outside the courthouse in central Damascus to hear the verdict.

Assad and his brother Maher fled to Russia after the government’s fall 20 months ago and received political asylum. Syria’s new rulers have asked Russia to hand the Assads over.

Najib, who was sanctioned by the US Department of the Treasury in April 2011, was later detained in rural Latakia, in Syria’s north-west, and is one of the highest-ranking officials to be put on trial.

People check the damage at the scene of a Syrian regime airforce strike that targeted a neighbourhood in Syria’s rebel-held northern city of Idlib on December 1, 2024

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A member of the security forces loyal to the interim Syrian government guards a checkpoint previously held by supporters of deposed president Bashar al-Assad, in the town of Ayn Shiqaq, in the coastal province of Latakia, on March 11, 2025

Najib is a former Syrian army brigadier general who was head of the Political Security Branch in southern Syria’s Daraa province under Assad in 2011.

During his tenure, more than a dozen teenagers who scrawled anti-government graffiti on a school wall in Daraa were arrested and tortured. The case became a catalyst for mass protests against the repressive policies of Assad’s security forces.

The protests were met by a brutal government crackdown and spiralled into a 14-year civil war that ended with Assad’s ouster in a lightning rebel offensive.

Maher Assad was a former commander of the Syrian military’s 4th Armoured Division – which Syrian opposition activists have accused of killings, torture, extortion and drug trafficking, in addition to running its own detention centres.

The court sentenced six former military and security officials in absentia to death. Those convicted included former defence minister Fahd al-Freij and Louay al-Ali, who headed military intelligence in Daraa province in 2011.

Al-Assad, whose brutal treatment of his fellow countrymen gave him the nickname ‘The Butcher’, fled Syria when he was toppled in December 2024 by a collection of rebel forces led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), whose leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani is now the president of the country. 

Under al-Assad’s rule, Syrian government forces killed civilians en-masse as part of its strategy to defend against the civil war that decimated the nation between 2011 and December 2024. 

The government is believed to have been responsible for killing 90 per cent of the more than 300,000 civilians estimated to have died in that period. 

Between 2011 and 2023, an additional 154,000 were forcibly disappeared or arbitrarily detained by government forces, while more than 135,000 people, including women and children, were tortured, incarcerated or killed in Ba’athist prison networks. 

Images of Assad wearing speedos generated ridicule on social media following the fall of his regime

Exiled Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad reportedly spends his days playing video games in his luxury Moscow flat

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Armed groups opposing the Assad regime seizing control of Aleppo on November 30, 2024

But Mr al-Assad is perhaps most infamous for his forces’ use of chemical weapons during the civil war. According to a study by the Global Public Policy Institute, pro-Assad forces carried out around 330 chemical attacks between 2012 and 2019. 

The most common chemical used was chlorine gas, though Sarin gas and sulphur mustard were also used as well. All three are banned from use in war by international law. 

Stephen Rapp, the US’ former Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues, said in 2014 following the release of evidence of torture under the Assad regime: ‘This is… the kind of machinery of cruel death that we haven’t seen, frankly, since the Nazis.’ 

He added at the time: ‘If it is as it appears thus far, we’re talking about more than 10,000 individuals being killed in custody over the period from 2011 to 2013, including largely men but also some very, very young men and boys and women… It’s shocking to me, as a prosecutor. I’m used to evidence not being so strong.’

The civil war also saw the exodus of 6.6million people from the country, who all fled for fear of their lives. 

These refugees contributed to the European migrant crisis that dominated the mid-2010s. UNHCR, the UN’s refugee agency, received almost one million asylum applications in Europe by August 2017. 

Many European nations also had to temporarily host vast numbers of refugees. Turkey was the largest host nation, in 2023 holding 3.3million Syrian refugees in 2023.

The deposed ruler is now believed to live in three apartments in a luxury high-rise with a mall downstairs in Moscow after his former ally Vladimir Putin airlifted him and his family out of the country. 

One picture found following the regime’s fall shows Assad in nothing but white pants and a vest, clearly posing for the camera

A picture showing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is taken by Rebels following the capture of his palace in Aleppo

A car burns following clashes between Syria’s new authorities and supporters of deposed president Bashar al-Assad near the town of Jableh in the coastal province of Latakia on March 10, 2025

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Since fleeing, he took up his old job as an eye doctor – a role he trained for in London as a young man – to treat the elite of Russia’s capital. 

A friend of the family told The Guardian in 2025, a year after he was deposed: ‘He’s studying Russian and brushing up on his ophthalmology again.  

‘It’s a passion of his, he obviously doesn’t need the money. Even before the war in Syria began, he used to regularly practice his ophthalmology in Damascus’.

He trained in ophthalmology in London in the early 1990s, but was recalled back to his home nation following the unexpected death of his brother in a car crash in 1994.

Shortly after, he entered military academy and took over as the heir apparent to the regime. 

Now he spends much of his time playing online video games, despite being freely allowed to move around Moscow and his country villa outside of the Russian capital.

He has been provided with bodyguards from a private security firm paid by the Russian government.

The friend said he now lives ‘a very quiet life’, adding: ‘He has very little, if any, contact with the outside world. He’s only in touch with a couple of people who were in his palace, like Mansour Azzam [former Syrian minister of presidency affairs] and Yassar Ibrahim [Assad’s top economic crony].’

Atef Najib, wearing a striped prison uniform, sat seemingly emotionless on Sunday in a cage in a courtroom in Central Palace of Justice, in Syria’s capital, Damascus

Najib was a former brigadier-general and head of political security in the southern province of Daraa, where uprisings against the oppressive regime first erupted in 2011

One image shows him in a khaki hunter costume with a gun and fur accessory, standing alongside friends who are also in costume

The fall of the Assad regime in Syria was widely seen as being a major embarrassment for Putin, who offered him refuge

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A general view shows hundreds of people gathered in Al-Assi Square during celebrations marking one year since the city’s liberation, in Hama, Syria, December 5, 2025

Part of this comes from Putin’s apparent dismissal of Mr al-Assad following the fall of the regime in Syria.

A source close to the Kremlin told the newspaper: ‘Putin has little patience for leaders who lose their grip on power, and Assad is no longer seen as a figure of influence or even an interesting guest to invite to dinner.’

In April, Atef Najib, al-Assad’s cousin who was also sentenced to death, was paraded in a cage wearing a striped prison uniform as he went on trial accused of mass shootings and torturing children. 

He was seen perching on the corner of a wooden bench as hordes of people filmed and took pictures of him through the metal bars at the Central Palace of Justice, in Damascus.

In February 2011, he ordered the arrest of perpetrators who graffitied walls in the city of Daraa, calling for the end of the regime. 

Police apprehended two teenage boys after they found their names scribbled next to offending graffiti, which was sprayed on a wall outside their school.

The teenagers were tortured and beaten while imprisoned, until the actual culprits, aged between 18 and 30, confessed.

The treatment of the school boys, under Najib’s command, catalysed further demonstrations, leading to police firing on protestors on March 18 and killing several people.

In April 2011, a separate teenage boy called Hamza al-Khateeb vanished after a protest. The body of the 13-year-old boy was returned to his parents heavily mutilated. 

Najib was removed from his role by Assad, branded the ‘Butcher’ for killing his own people, after the atrocities. However, he was reinstated in the same role in the north-west Idlib province.

The crackdown by security forces on peaceful pro-democracy protests sparked the civil war, which killed more than half a million people and displaced millions of others. 

As the civil war progressed through its 13 years, Najib was increasingly sidelined by the regime. 

He stayed in Damascus after Assad fled the country in December 2024, following the toppling of the government by rebels, and was arrested in January 2025.

A 26-year-old healthcare worker said she tried to help a man who was lying on the ground with “lots of blood around him”.

She said members of the public were assisting the man before officers arrived and took over.

She added that there was a large emergency services response, including armed police at one stage.

The woman said she had initially believed the gunshots were the sound of a car backfiring.

Det Ch Supt Emma Bond, central south borough commander, said: “We understand that this incident will cause concern within the local community, and an increased police presence will remain in the area throughout the day as our inquiries continue.

“Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family for their tragic loss.”

Police are asking anyone with any information that could help the investigation to come forward.

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Tamzin Outhwaite has revealed that she moved her dad into a ‘luxury cabin’ on her property several years ago when she thought he wouldn’t ‘last the year’

Tamzin Outhwaite has revealed that she moved her father into a ‘luxury cabin’ in her garden nearly 9 years ago as she reveals the benefits of multi-generational living.

The star, best known for her role in EastEnders as Mel Owen, appeared on Women’s Hour this week and spoke about why she decided to move her aging father into a cabin on her property.

“He doesn’t live in the house. So I had a a cabin. I can we can only call it a cabin, I’d say it’s a luxury cabin, It’s not like a shed. But eight and a half years ago, he wasn’t very well, and we moved him in because he lived quite far away in a bungalow.

“And what what multi generational living has done for us is it’s it’s given me a chance to be able to take food to him. You know, whenever I’m cooking, make sure he’s got stuff.”

She admitted that she didn’t expect her father to live for more than a year in the property because of his declining health. However, he has now been there for over eight years.

“To be honest, when I moved him in nearly nine years ago, I didn’t think he was going to last the year, and we’ve had nine, eight and a half years since.”

She added that she believes that having him so close has meant that he has become ‘brighter’ and his health as improved. He’s also been able to become much closer with her young children.

“They have a very special bond. My youngest and my dad. I mean, he’s been doing chemo quite a lot lately, and he’s not. He did had a bad day yesterday, but then he might have a great day tomorrow.

“So, but knowing that we are at the end, 10 steps away, has kept him brighter, I think, and so I do think the multi-generational living has worked for us. I can see why it wouldn’t for a lot of people.”

Tamzin’s father, Colin, has shared his close bond Tamzin’s two children, son Flo, 18, and Marnie, 12, with her former husband, Tom Ellis, from whom she separated in 2014.

Celebrating Flo’s 18th birthday earlier this year, Colin took to the comment section of Tamzin’s celebratory post and, shared an emotional message to his grandson, who came out as trans 8 years ago, Colin said: “I’ve feared for you for 18 years. I need never have worried. Thanks for educating me and being such a special grandson.”

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Skygazers have been met with empty shelves after rushing to buy protective eyewear in time for tomorrow’s solar eclipse – amid warnings they could go blind without them.

Several high street stores have sold out while online shoppers are being told they may not receive the glasses until the end of the week.

Up to 96 per cent of the sun is set to be obscured during the stunning display – which will begin shortly after 6pm – as the moon drifts in front of it.

Another eclipse as deep will not be visible from the UK until 2050.

And astronomers wanting to see a total eclipse from Britain will need to wait until September 23, 2090.

Sky watchers have now been scrambling to get hold of a pair of solar eclipse glasses after several retailers listed the product as ‘out of stock’.

One person said on X: ‘Has anyone seen any shops selling solar eclipse glasses? Archie’s wanting them and Amazon have none for delivery until Friday.’

Another added: ‘Incredibly short notice but has anyone got any spare solar eclipse glasses? Ideally a pair or three but any would do?’

The UK will miss out on the path of totality, but up to 96 per cent of the sun will be obscured during the eclipse 

But a third person commented: ‘There’s no sun in the UK.’

The Royal Observatory Greenwich said it was aware of a shortage of glasses.

A spokesman added: ‘We have sold out of solar eclipse glasses, both online and in our shops, due to an unprecedented volume of orders.’

British retailer Robert Dyas had been offering Bresser eclipse glasses for £2.99 but there was an ‘out of stock’ message on its website.

Neil Sanders, founder of Go Stargazing and the UK coordinator of Astronomers Without Borders said there was no shortage – rather, people had not planned ahead.

He told The Guardian: ‘I’m getting loads of calls, text messages, emails with people asking “Do you have some glasses?”. Everyone’s suddenly realising we need glasses for Wednesday.’

Another distributor said: ‘We have good stocks, our issue is everybody has left it until the last minute to order and we only have so many people we can put into packing at a time.’

The solar eclipse will begin shortly after 6pm, but the exact timing will vary based on location.

An eclipse happens when the moon aligns perfectly between Earth and the sun, so that it blocks out the light from our perspective. Pictured: A partial solar eclipse in Germany, 2003

If you want to see the eclipse safely, be sure to use proper eclipse glasses that will protect you from the harmful brightness of the sun. Pictured: The crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission wearing eclipse glasses to view an eclipse from space

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Maximum coverage will occur roughly an hour later, plunging the UK into premature twilight, before the eclipse comes to an end just after 8pm.

First contact – the moment the moon’s shadow will first appear on the sun – will kick off at 18:06 in Glasgow and Edinburgh, 18:13 in Manchester and Liverpool, 18:15 in Birmingham, 18:17 in London, Bristol and Cardiff, and finally at 18:18 in Cornwall.

Viewers, taking the appropriate safety precautions, will see a small ‘bite’ disappear from the sun’s right-hand corner before slowly spreading to cover most of the disc.

At the point of greatest coverage, observers will see only a tiny inverted crescent of fire hanging in the sky.

Dr Megan Argo, an astrophysicist from the University of Lancaster, told the Daily Mail: ‘From the UK we’ll see a deep partial eclipse rather than a total eclipse, with just over 90 per cent of the Sun covered in many locations.

‘Even though the sky won’t go completely dark, it’s still an unusual and memorable sight, and it’s set to be one of the best partial eclipses visible from the UK for many years.’

Exactly how much of the sun vanishes will depend on location within the UK, with areas towards the Southwest seeing a deeper eclipse.

The best place in the UK to see the eclipse will be Bishop Rock in the Isles of Scilly, where 96.5 per cent of the sun will be obscured.

Meanwhile, viewers in Land’s End and Lizard Point on the mainland will see over 95 per cent of the sun obscured.

That drops to just over 90 per cent for viewers up in Inverness, while London, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh will all see roughly 91 per cent.

However, even in the very far north of the Shetland Isles, the eclipse will still be deep enough for 88 per cent of the sun to vanish from view.

The eclipse can also be viewed indirectly using any household item with small round holes, such as a colander or small piece of paper, to project an image of it on to a flat surface. 

Octopus Energy, the UK’s biggest energy supplier has encouraged customers to use less electricity during tomorrow’s phenomenon – because solar generation will plummet.

The company urged its 8million customers not to use washing machines, ovens, dishwashers and other plug-in devices between 6pm and 8pm.

It warned customers the eclipse will ‘briefly knock out a chunk of Britain’s solar power’ and possibly require more fossil fuel power generation.

The National Energy System Operator (Neso), which runs the UK grid, said the eclipse could cut solar supply by up to 1.3 gigawatts tomorrow – enough to power at least 500,000 homes.

Extra gas power stations may therefore have to be fired up, but Octopus said this need will be reduced if enough households delay using electricity for a short time.

The firm said it would monitor those who use less electricity than usual during that two-hour window and give them one hour of free daytime electricity this Sunday at a time to be confirmed.

Bosses said solar power generated a record 14.4 per cent of Britain’s electricity last month, meaning two hours without sunshine will ‘leave a gap that has to be filled’.

Spectators have been advised to ensure their eclipse glasses are legitimate and they have the safety certification ‘ISO 12312-2′ or ‘ISO 12312-2:2015’ printed somewhere and that they carry the CE or UKCA mark.

By DAVID CHURCHILL

Published: 13:17 BST, 11 August 2026 | Updated: 13:54 BST, 11 August 2026

Firefighters are currently at the scene

Large plumes of smoke have filled the air as firefighters tackle a large fire in Cambridgeshire. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue were called to a building fire on Marston Road, Eynesbury at around 10.52am today (Tuesday, August 11).

A video captured by Lee Curtis shows lots of smoke filling the air, with visible flames seen in the distance. Fire crews are currently at the scene.

A fire spokesperson said: “Please close your windows and doors if you are affected by the smoke and stay away from the area.”

Cambridgeshire Police is also at the scene alongside fire and rescue. A spokesperson said: “Police are currently on scene assisting with a fire at the recycling centre in Marston Road, Eynesbury. Fire are advising all local residents to keep windows and doors shut due to the smoke.”

Do you want more of the latest Cambridgeshire news as it comes in from across the county? Sign up to our dedicated newsletter to make sure you never miss a big story from Cambridge or anywhere else in the county. You can also sign up to our dedicated Traffic and Crime newsletters for the latest updates on the topics you are most interested in.

GS Contractors Ltd, operating in an enclosed Pauline Street yard, will construct the 12-metre by 12-metre metal storage and workshop building.

The company, known for industrial cleaning and site maintenance services, lodged their planning application in March this year.

Receiving the decision from Wigan Council on July 31, the proposal was described as a secure storage solution for safeguarding their pricey machinery and vehicles, which have been persistent targets for vandalism and theft, the application states.

The Hindley Green site, accessed from Leigh Road via Pauline Street and safeguarded by existing gates and security fencing, currently accommodates several small structures and stored vehicles.

Council officers found the proposal to be in line with the Places for Everyone Joint Development Plan as it was deemed to have no significant environmental, amenity, or highway safety impact.

Authorities found no evidence that this development would increase the number of vehicle movements to the site.

The new building’s placement at the eastern end of the site within existing boundaries ruled out the need for any changes to vehicular access arrangements.

There were no traffic incidents noted at the Leigh Road and Pauline Street junction in the past five years.

The commercial development’s drainage system was also a feature of the council’s decision.

Being in Flood Zone 1, identified with the lowest probability for flooding, full details of the method of discharging surface water must be submitted for approval prior to commencement of work on site.

The site has been submitted with a Coal Mining Risk Assessment; the Coal Authority raised no objection subject to a condition.

The council has, however, mandated a pre-occupancy statement by a competent person attesting to the site’s stability and safety.

This proposed expansion falls in the North Leigh Safeguarded Land and adheres to the Wigan Local Plan Core Strategy, the council confirmed.

GS Contractors Ltd is yet to commence construction, with planning permission valid for three years from the date of issuing.

The building will be positioned within the current yard boundaries.

For more notices affecting YOUR area, visit our Public Notice Portal: https://publicnoticeportal.uk/leigh-journal

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick and Marcus Rashford have started working together with his stance on that relationship emerging

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is said to be ‘excited’ at the prospect of playing under Michael Carrick. The 28-year-old joined back up with the United squad following the World Cup for their pre-season tour of Dublin despite his future remaining uncertain.

Rashford had hoped to join Barcelona permanently following a successful loan but they opted against activating the buy-option included in his temporary deal. The La Liga giants have since signed Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi but are set to sell Ferran Torres to Paris Saint-Germain.

That transfer could re-open the door for Barca to sign Rashford but in the meantime, he will be working under Carrick, who featured in his United debut back in February 2016. According to The Athletic, Rashford is said to be excited at working under the manager and former midfielder.

He is unlikely to feature prominently against either Leeds United and AC Milan having just started his pre-season, but could certainly play a role in their final two friendlies before their competitive campaign starts against Hull City next Saturday.

United will be hoping to sign more players before then, with the Manchester Evening News’ sister-title football.london reporting they have been offered the chance to sign Myles Lewis-Skelly from Arsenal.

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The Gunners want to sign a new left-winger while United are looking at a midfielder and left-back. As such, a swap deal for those two players could be perfect with ex-Arsenal defender Lee Dixon claiming it would be a good move.

He told BestBettingSites: “Would I swap them (Myles Lewis Skelly and Marcus Rashford)? You know what, I probably would. And that’s nothing against Myles Lewis-Skelly; it’s about giving him the freedom to go and expand his game elsewhere.

“With Marcus Rashford, he’s a player who needs an arm around his shoulder, and Arteta would be great for him. Give him that love, give him the freedom to play on that left side, and yeah, I’d like to see him in an Arsenal shirt.

“I have my reservations about whether he’s consistently a top-class player, but based on what Arsenal have in the squad now, he’d be a good addition.”

A swap deal appears incredibly unlikely but there is no guarantee Rashford stays at Old Trafford, with The Mirror claiming he is still keen on finding an escape route.

Talks are set to take place over his future this week and the England international will likely need to go abroad again if he is to leave with it understood his preference is to find a new club and revive his career.