The organisation have backed the Apprenticeships, Skills and Training Award, which recognises businesses and organisations that are investing in developing talent, creating opportunities and helping people build successful careers.

We Are Bolton is the town’s place brand, dedicated to celebrating and showcasing Bolton as a fantastic place to live, work, study, visit and invest.

The sponsorship reflects the organisation’s commitment to promoting Bolton as a place where businesses can thrive, supported by a skilled workforce and strong opportunities for growth.

Catherine Price, Bolton Place Brand Manager, said: “We Are Bolton is Bolton’s place brand, with the mission of celebrating and showcasing Bolton as a fantastic place to live, work, study, visit and invest.

“One of the key themes of the place brand is that ‘Bolton Means Business’, that Bolton has everything that businesses need to thrive – a healthy pipeline of talent, excellent infrastructure, strong leadership and a clear vision.

“Successful businesses are born and bred in Bolton; they are part of the town’s DNA, and they embody the determination, ingenuity and character that make our town so special.

“The Bolton News Business Awards shine a spotlight on the amazing achievements, innovation and success stories of our businesses, and this is perfectly aligned with the work of the place brand, so this is a perfect partnership.

“We Are Bolton are very proud to support the Apprenticeships, Training and Skills Award as it recognises the organisations that are investing in Bolton’s future, providing opportunities for people to develop, progress and succeed, and strengthening the skills that drive our local economy.”

Richard Duggan, regional editor at Newsquest North West and editor of The Bolton News, said: “We’re delighted to welcome We Are Bolton as a sponsor for this year’s awards.

“The Apprenticeships, Skills and Training Award celebrates organisations that are investing in people and helping develop the workforce of the future.

“We Are Bolton champions many of the same values as the awards, including supporting local success and showcasing what makes Bolton such a great place to do business. Their support for this category is a natural fit.”

The Bolton News Business Awards 2026 will take place at the Toughsheet Community Stadium on Thursday, September 17, with Bolton Council as headline sponsor.

Tickets for the 2026 Bolton News Business Awards are on sale via the official ticket page: https://store.newsquest.co.uk/the-bolton-news-business-awards-2026-tickets.

WhatsApp is boosting the security of its chat app with three new features users should try,

Billions of WhatsApp fans are getting a very useful free upgrade. The Meta- owned chat platform has just announced the release of its latest changes, which are aimed at boosting the safety and security of its users.

“On WhatsApp, your conversations belong only to you and the people you’re talking to,” the Meta-owned company said.

“It’s why we built end-to-end encryption by default, and it’s why we continue adding new ways to keep your account secure and in your hands.”

So, what’s new in this latest release and why should you try them?

First up there’s a big change to WhatsApp’s passkey feature, which uses your fingerprint, Face ID or screen lock code to help protect your account.

The new update allows users on both Apple and Android devices to add multiple passkeys to their accounts, rather than being restricted to just one. It will make things far more secure as chats can’t be read until verification has taken place.

To set this up, just head to Settings > Account > Passkeys.

WhatsApp is also beefing up its two-step verification system. The feature currently relies on a six-digit PIN, but users can now switch to a full password.

That means you can create a longer, alphanumeric password with special characters, making it significantly tougher for scammers to guess.

“Two-step verification is an extra protection layer that helps prevent someone from taking over your account, even if they get hold of your one-time passcode,” WhatsApp said.

“Until now it was a six-digit PIN, we’ve now upgraded it to a full password: longer, alphanumeric, and even with special ch@racters to make it harder to guess.”

Finally, Android users are getting more information when an unknown number calls them on WhatsApp.

The app will now provide extra context, including whether the number is from another country and whether it is already part of any groups you share.

That could prove useful when deciding whether to answer an unfamiliar call, particularly as scammers often rely on creating a sense of urgency.

“When you get a call from someone not saved in your contacts, a little context can help you decide whether to pick up,” WhatsApp said.

“Scammers rely on urgency – now you can take a beat with some more info before answering.”

All three upgrades are rolling out now, so it’s worth checking WhatsApp to see if the new security features have reached your account.

Beyonce, who worked with Parton on her 2024 album Cowboy Carter, said in a statement on her website: “Dolly, you were the barometer. The north star. Bold and brilliant. Talented and tenacious. You taught so many lessons on how to be uniquely oneself. I am grateful for your art, your heart, your generosity, your humor, your entrepreneurship.”

Malton Museum was given the picture, which was taken during the First World War, after it was discovered during recent renovations at Suddabys in Wheelgate.

John Howard of the Museum Friends, said the photo was taken on the site of the Roman Fort, not far from the drill hall at the corner of Greengate and Maltongate.

He said: “The men are members of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division Royal Engineers Signals Company, and their telephone sets and semaphore flags can be seen in the foreground.

“There was one signals company allocated to a division; at full strength, it would number 162 men commanded by a major.  There were likely several detachments at other drill halls around the county, which came together when the 50th Division mobilised in 1914.

 “The sergeant to the left of the photograph carries two crossed flags above his chevrons, denoting he was a qualified signals instructor and probably commanded the detachment. The major in the centre, perhaps visiting for an inspection.

“There are no Royal Engineers recorded on the Malton War Memorial, but Maurice D’Hooge, Sapper 38614, is recorded on St Peter’s Memorial.  He died on 15 Feb 1919 from the effects of being gassed one year earlier and is buried in Norton Cemetery.”

If you recognise anyone in the photograph, please call into Malton Museum or contact them.

The museum is open Thursday  –  Saturday, 10:30 am  –  3:30 pm.

Phone number: 01653 691262

Email address: enquiries.maltonmuseum@gmail.com

Or message their social media pages: Facebook, Instagram, or Bluesky.

Spending a day at a beach building sandcastles and paddling in the sea is an easy way to keep the whole family happy.

Easington beach is incredibly easy to reach by car from Durham for a day trip away from the city.

After enjoying the beach for a bit, it is also worth exploring the village of Easington for a few hours.

What is Easington beach like?

Easington is a small beach on the Durham Heritage Coast and can be found between Sunderland and Hartlepool.

The beach is made up of a mixture of sand and shingle and is backed by cliffs and sand dunes.

It is often quite quiet but is popular with both fossil hunters and sea anglers.

The beach is described as being “unspoilt” and is known for “its peaceful atmosphere and natural charm”.

Along the beach, you can enjoy views of the rocky coastline and the North Sea.

For those who want to be a bit more active rather than lying on the beach all day, you can find the England Coastal Path nearby, with other walking trails in the area.

Behind the beach, you can visit the Easington Collier Local Nature Reserve to spot some wildlife.

It is also completely dog-friendly, so no member of the family will be left behind.

The area is only a 27-minute drive away from Durham via the A181 and B1283, with there being a car park fairly close to Easington beach.

To complete the ultimate seaside trip, you might want to stop off at Jills Fish and Chips before heading home.

People love that the food is “fresh” and tasty”, with great portion sizes and traditional dishes.

Have you ever been to the village of Easington or visited its beach? Let us know in the comments.

Hundreds more streets are set for lower speed limits, but some have questioned whether it is the right approach.

It’s not long before a car zips past on Hollyhedge Road in Wythenshawe. Supposedly a 30mph area, the road cuts right across the estate from east to west but many locals say there’s a major speeding problem.

It has got to the point where some people ‘struggle to cross the road’ at certain times of day because of how fast the cars go, and the amount of traffic congestion.

But everything could soon change under plans by Manchester council to slash speed limits to 20mph on hundreds of roads around Wythenshawe, including Hollyhedge.

Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter

The move was announced in August to bring Wythenshawe’s roads in line with other parts of the city, and reduce collisions.

Speed limits in many parts of Manchester have fallen in recent years under the same aim, with nearly 70 per cent of the network now at 20mph according to council figures.

Previous changes saw bosses at the town hall announce in 2025 that speed limits on Manchester’s residential and city centre streets would be cut from 30mph to 20mph after a surge in injuries and deaths.

Speed limits were also cut down on some of the city’s faster roads too, such as the A34 Kingsway which dropped from 40 to 30 last year.

All of this has led some residents to say Manchester is becoming a ‘20mph city’ which could become ‘too slow’ to get around by car.

Advertisement

Others welcomed slower speeds on the city’s roads, saying anything that could stop people being injured or dying is worth a go.

‘It will make things safer for everyone’

Speaking on Hollyhedge Road in Wythenshawe, Carl Sutton was out with his mum Pauline and said speeds in the area have to come down.

“I think it’s a good idea, there are a lot of accidents around here,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Carl explained that his mum’s brother was hurt last year when a car came off the pavement and went into him on Hollyhedge Road.

For their family, it brought to life the risks of living near a road where cars often get away with going over existing speed limits.

Advertisement

Pauline added: “I support the lower speed limits, it will make things safer for everyone.”

A total of nearly 500 roads in Wythenshawe are part of the plans to get new 20mph speed limits. Bosses at the council say it could bring massive benefits, with fewer crashes and less pressure on the NHS in the long run.

They’re also hoping it could encourage more people to walk and cycle, and get more people out of the house speaking to each other in local areas.

Advertisement

The data on speed limits in Manchester paints a clear picture – council-shared figures showed that 30mph residential streets have ten times more collisions than 20mph local streets, with a similar situation for high streets.

Most pedestrian casualties (77 per cent) on residential streets in Manchester also happen on 30mph roads, the council figures revealed, despite 30 zones only making up 26pc of the total residential road network.

Some in Wythenshawe were not convinced that changing speed limits is the right approach, though.

Thomas Razniewski, 49, said: “If you drive safely, then I think everything on the roads should be fine. There are more cars on the road now so it can be dangerous, but for me, we should be focusing on education for kids, and drivers should stick to the existing speed limits.

Advertisement

“It’s not good to have a 20mph city, and as long as drivers aren’t doing anything dangerous then it should be fine as it is. Maybe it’s to push people to walk more or use public transport.”

As Manchester’s population continues to grow, the future of transport is becoming a bigger issue in the city.

Some parts of Manchester already suffer ‘gridlock’ at rush hour, and public transport users have complained that traffic congestion is slowing down buses in some areas.

Advertisement

‘It’s important to reduce speed limits’

Harry Gray, from active travel group Walk Ride GM, said Manchester has to follow the lead of other large cities by reducing car use.

He said: “I think it is important to reduce speed limits, especially in urban settings. A lot of these roads that are being reduced to 20mph are roads that won’t ever have dedicated cycling infrastructure on them, they’ll be designated as quiet roads where cyclists and pedestrians and drivers need to share the space.

“You can only really share spaces when the speeds are dropped to 20mph, especially if you’ve got children cycling or walking to school.

“These environments need to be safer really so kids can have that autonomy. If Manchester is to grow into a big city like other European cities or London, then we’re gonna have to reduce our car use, because there isn’t enough space for people to drive cars in every part of the city.

Advertisement

“It’s one of those natural progressions that we’ve seen in cities across the world and Manchester’s just a part of that story.”

Councillor Mandie Shilton Godwin is Manchester’s lead on transport issues and said: “The council’s position on road safety is that one injury or death on the road is too many.

“No matter how a person chooses to travel we want to ensure that when they use the road network in Manchester their journey is a safe one.

“There are many ways that road safety can be improved and the transition to 20mph limits is one that has a track record of helping to reduce collisions and serious injury.

Advertisement

“Currently around 68pc of the road network in Manchester already has a 20mph speed limit, covering around 74pc of residential streets. However this coverage is not evenly distributed, with lower coverage in northern wards as well as in Wythenshawe when compared to central, eastern and southern wards of Manchester.

“People’s safety should not be a postcode lottery which is why we are working to improve safety across the city.”

The father of a civil service employee who took her own life the day after a meeting with her managers has said the lack of support given to her by the Treasury “beggars belief”.

Chloe Moffat, 26, a personal assistant to a Treasury director, died on 20 May last year, after she was told of allegations she had shared sensitive confidential information about colleagues, which she denied.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, David Moffat said he did not feel the Treasury had taken responsibility for its part in her death.

He added that her loss was “devastating”, and had “torn such a big hole in our lives”.

The Treasury said “it will learn the lessons from this tragedy”.

On 19 May 2025, Chloe went to what she thought was a routine one-to-one with her line manager, but a more senior manager was also present.

“Chloe’s first comment was, ‘Oh, this must be serious, there’s two of you here’”, David told Today’s Emma Barnett. “So that’s the first time that she was aware of anything [that] might be a to do.”

“And then they worked through and put several allegations to her that she’d shared confidential information.”

During the meeting, David said she had asked on several occasions if she would lose her job, and if she could have a friend there – both of which were refused.

A coroner found at an inquest earlier in August that the Treasury did not apply written disciplinary policy, which would have made clear that if the allegations against Chloe were proven, the likely penalty was a written warning, not dismissal.

“Even though she asked, they said they could not determine the outcome,” David said.

Straight after the meeting, Chloe was locked out of her emails. “That was all part of the shock and awe of it all for Chloe,” David said.

The coroner found that the meeting between Chloe and her managers “materially contributed” to her death.