The change means thousands of local residents will no longer have to wait until mid‑morning to board a bus without paying, giving them more flexibility for hospital appointments, work, volunteering and childcare.

What exactly is changing?

From Friday, March 1, anyone with a Greater Manchester Older Person’s or Disabled Person’s concessionary pass will be able to travel free at any time of day on Bee Network‑operated buses.

Until now, free travel was only available after 9.30am on weekdays, with early‑morning journeys charged at full fare.

Who benefits?

The change applies to:

• Older Person’s Pass holders (from state pension age)
• Disabled Person’s Pass holders

Bolton has one of the highest numbers of concessionary pass users in Greater Manchester, so the impact will be felt across the borough, from Farnworth and Horwich to Westhoughton, Breightmet and the town centre.

Why is the restriction being lifted?

Transport for Greater Manchester says the move is designed to:

• Help with the cost of living
• Make early‑morning travel easier for medical appointments
• Support older and disabled people who work or volunteer
• Encourage more people to use buses as the Bee Network expands

Local leaders say the change will give residents “more freedom to travel when they need to”.

Bolton pensioners can travel for free from March 1.

Do I still need to tap my pass?

Yes, the rules for using your pass stay the same: tap your pass on the reader when boarding.

Residents should remember to carry the physical pass and renew it when required.

The only difference is when you can travel for free.

What about trams and trains?

The March 1 change applies to buses only.

Concessionary rules for Metrolink and rail services remain unchanged.

What this means for Bolton?

For many older and disabled residents, the change will make everyday life easier, whether that’s getting to Royal Bolton Hospital for early appointments, helping with school runs, or simply travelling while it’s lighter in winter.

From March 1, if you’re travelling on a Bee Network bus, you’ll be able to board free of charge at any time of day.

Viewers have been left stunned after realising where they’ve seen BAFTA winner Mia McKenna-Bruce, who plays Jane Andrews in ITV’s The Lady, before

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Audiences have been astonished upon discovering where they recognise the actress portraying Jane Andrews in ITV’s The Lady.

The new four-part royal true crime series chronicles Jane Andrews, a working-class woman from Grimsby who secured the chance of a lifetime when she became Sarah Ferguson’s Royal dresser.

Jane served alongside Sarah for nine years before her existence took a devastating turn. Three years following her departure, she faced charges over the death of her partner, Thomas Cressman.

In The Lady, Jane is brought to life by actress Mia McKenna-Bruce. Ed Speleers, recognised for his portrayals as Stephen Bonnet in Outlander, Jimmy Kent in Downton Abbey, and Rhys Montrose in Netflix’s You, assumes the part of Jane’s partner and victim, Thomas Cressman.

Sarah Ferguson, meanwhile, is depicted by actress Natalie Dormer, celebrated for her performances as Margaery Tyrell in HBO’s Game of Thrones and Anne Boleyn in Channel 4’s The Tudors, reports the Mirror.

As for Jane actress Mia McKenna-Bruce, she is well-accustomed to gracing television screens. Earlier this year, she portrayed Bundle Brent in Netflix’s Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials Mystery alongside Helena Bonham Carter.

Mia also featured in the highly praised How To Have Sex in 2023, earning her a BAFTA Rising Star Award.

Nevertheless, it is her stint in EastEnders during her younger years that has sparked conversation. Mia portrayed Penny Branning in the BBC soap opera, daughter of Jack Branning (Scott Maslen).

Mia appeared in the soap during 2008 before departing the same year. In 2024, however, the character of Penny returned, this time portrayed by Kitty Castledine.

Responding to a trailer for ITV’s The Lady, and mentioning Mia, one viewer exclaimed: “That’s Penny from EastEnders!” Another added: “Ah, it took me a whilst, but it is.” A third wrote: “Recognised her face, just couldn’t place where.”

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Meanwhile, discussing the ITV drama The Lady, writer and executive producer Debbie O’Malley said: “There’s a saying that ‘truth is stranger than fiction.’ I’m not sure I’d always agree, but when I first heard about the case of Jane Andrews, it was immediately clear that her true story was every bit as intriguing, compelling, and tragically heartbreaking as any fabricated thriller.

“The fascinating tale of a working-class girl who became the dresser to a duchess, with a dramatic twist that ultimately sees her on trial for murder.

“This story looks beyond the headlines whilst remaining high stakes and uniquely British. It also poses thought-provoking questions about class and entitlement whilst exploring issues around mental health that have never been more relevant than they are today.”

The Lady premieres on Sunday, February 22, at 9pm on ITV.

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This charity shop was voted as the ‘best’ by CambridgeshireLive readers.

After a visit to the ‘best’ charity shop in Cambridgeshire, I was impressed with the bargain prices of high end brands – but there was one thing missing. CambridgeshireLive readers were asked to vote for the best charity shop in the county last month.

After totalling up the votes, there was one clear winner, and that was the Scope charity shop in Burleigh Street, Cambridge. Readers described it as “amazing” with “very friendly staff”.

With £10 in my pocket, I headed to Scope to see if I agreed with our readers. As I walked down Burleigh Street, I saw a lot of other charity shops, so it had a lot of competition to contend with.

Before going inside, I admired the shop’s window display. It was very stylish, with three mannequins showcasing a range of different clothes on offer. As I entered, the shop went back further than I thought. This was a very good sign as it meant there would be plenty to look at.

The shop’s organisation was very impressive, with men’s and women’s clothes neatly set out on each side. For both genders, there were also lots of clothes on offer.

I browsed the women’s tops and straight away one stuck out to me. This was a cute baby blue top from H&M’s Divided range. Its puffed sleeves and button up detail in the middle added to its adorable look. I thought it would make a good top for daytime, but also nights out.

For £4.25, I wasn’t going to let this bargain slip away, so I decided it was coming home with me. Before browsing more clothes, I searched for a book shelf as I always love to try and find a bargain book in a charity shop.

The more I searched, I realised there were no books on offer. So far I had been impressed by Scope, but the fact there were no books left me a little disappointed. I felt this was an important thing missing, since there are lots of readers out there who love to scour the shelves for their next read.

I went back to browsing the clothes. The more I looked, the more I noticed that there were a lot of higher-end brands on offer such as Zara and Miss Selfridge.

I looked through the bags and stumbled upon a great bargain. Hidden at the back was a Dune London black and brown clutch bag. I’m not someone with many branded items in my wardrobe, but I knew Dune was an expensive brand. This bag cost £6.50 and was in a very good condition.

I searched online and saw a bag like this can sell for around or near to £100. I didn’t buy it myself, but it showed me that there were some hidden bargains in this shop.

As I headed towards the back I noticed the sale rack. I looked through here and again, recognised some classy brands. However, looking at some of the sale prices I wasn’t overly impressed by the price of them.

I then turned to the bric-a-brac section. I wasn’t on the lookout for anything in particular, but I always like to look just in case. There were some quirky items on offer, with one that caught my eye.

This was a small pair of clogs, painted in white with an eye-catching red and green design. These clogs were cute and unusual, but it wasn’t for me this time. While I browsed, I could hear the shopkeeper chatting away with customers. It was apparent some of the customers were regulars, and it created a friendly atmosphere in the shop.

Ultimately, I agree with our readers that this charity shop has a great selection of clothing, with some hidden bargains waiting to be found. The staff are also very friendly and welcoming. The only thing missing was some books, but with plenty of other charity shops almost next door, you’re sure to find a good read elsewhere.

The MV Isle of Islay arrived in Greenock on Sunday morning after a journey taking around a month.

CalMac’s newest ferry has arrived on the Clyde after a 3,000-nautical mile voyage from the Turkish shipyard where it was built.

The MV Isle of Islay arrived in Greenock on Sunday morning after a journey taking around a month. The vessel will serve residents of its namesake island, as well as the Isle of Jura in the Inner Hebrides.

It has a capacity of 450 people, 100 cars, or 14 commercial vehicles. MV Isle of Islay is the first of four 95-metre-long ferries being built at Turkey’s Cemre shipyard.

It was handed over to the government agency CMAL in January. During the voyage to Scotland, the crew on board the ferry took part in a dramatic rescue near Gibraltar.

Amid stormy conditions, the vessel had to leave its berth and take to sea, where the crew spotted a man in the water.

A fast rescue craft was deployed to save him and he was handed over to authorities in Morocco.

The First Minister welcomed the arrival of the ferry on Sunday. Posting on X, John Swinney said: “Delighted to see MV Isle of Islay arrive in Scotland – a welcome addition to @CalMacFerries fleet.

“My warmest thanks to the crew for handling a challenging journey with great skill and to everyone who has played a part in making this happen.”

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The seaside resort has plenty of things to do for children and adults alike

Staycations have become increasingly popular with Brits for a range of reasons including convenience and being more pet-friendly. A popular seaside town that is easy to reach from Cambridgeshire has been named the second most affordable staycation spot in Britain.

Staycation specialist Sykes Holiday Cottages has revealed Great Yarmouth in Norfolk as one of the most affordable places to go for a break away from daily life. Great Yarmouth could be a great spot for families thanks to the many attractions in the town and sandy beach.

James Shaw, Chief Commercial Officer of Sykes Holiday Cottages, said: “Affordability has become one of the biggest drivers behind how people plan their holidays, and staycations offer real value for money.

“With our latest findings naming some of the country’s most popular locations as the most affordable, it just shows you don’t need to compromise on your overall experience to stay within your budget. Whether you’re after a seaside reset in Blackpool or Scarborough, a culture-packed city break in York or a short escape in Newcastle to recharge, these destinations all offer an array of amenities without the big price tag.”

Sykes Holiday Cottages describes the area as having “old-school seaside charm” with a “lively seafront and plenty of day-out staples”. Britannia Pier has been around since 1901 and features a range of rides for children to enjoy and an amusement centre for a classic seaside experience.

The pier also has three bars for adults to relax in and a fish and chip shop to keep you going throughout the day. Britannia Pier has its own theatre with shows on throughout the year so it might be worth checking out its website before your trip.

You can also find the Merrivale Model Village where you can spend a few hours walking around and looking at the different scenes. The site has a mini golf course and an old fashioned penny arcade.

In terms of food, you could visit the Box Tree, which can be found in Hotel Ocean, for breakfast, lunch, or dinner with seating outside to enjoy the fresh sea air. The White Swan is highly rated by tourists and residents in Great Yarmouth and has an extensive menu offering seafood dishes.

If you are looking for somewhere to stay during your trip, Sykes Holiday Cottages recommends staying at Walpole House, which features a “generous” living space and two bedrooms to suit a small family and can be found just a short walk away from the seafront. You can book to stay at the mid-terrace cottage by visiting the Sykes Holiday Cottages website.

If you are looking for somewhere a bit bigger to stay in, you might like the Little Barn at Bradwell Hall, which can sleep up to six guests. You could also stay at this self-catered hotel, which has free Wi-Fi, a mini fridge, and an ensuite.

Great Yarmouth is around a two hour drive away from Cambridge via the A11. The seaside town can also be reached by taking a Greater Anglia train to Norwich and changing there to get to Great Yarmouth.

Forest are just two points above the relegation zone after West Ham drew yesterday. But Liverpool face a tricky test against a side buoyed by the appointment of Vitor Pereira, who led Forest to an impressive win away at Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Thursday. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog.

Town hall chiefs have confirmed that an objection has been received against a tree preservation order (TPO) made last September on land off Templecombe Drive, Belmont Road, after concerns that trees would be removed for development.

There now stands an objection to the order, with residents worried that if granted it would take away the natural beauty of the area.

Cllr John Walsh OBE, representing Astley Bridge, said: “I’m terrified. We shouldn’t be removing trees unnecessarily.

“Woodland areas should be protected, not cut down. We need to start preserving them before we lose them.

“They can’t be replaced overnight.”

This woodland area differs to other types of spaces commonly found when development comes into discussion.

It’s not the same as “belts,” such as Green Belt or Grey Belt land, instead it’s protected just by Bolton Council.

Though the trees are on private land, the site owner would need permission to cut down, damage or uproot the trees.

So far, there have been letters and emails from the locals at Templecombe Drive area to the council about the objection to the order.

A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “An objection has since been received from an agent acting on behalf of the site owner(s), in addition over 30 letters of support have also been received.

“As a formal objection has been submitted, the TPO must now be referred to Planning Committee for determination.

“The matter is currently scheduled for 26 March, when Members will decide whether the Order should be confirmed, confirmed with modification, or not confirmed.”

TPOs is an order made by a local planning authority in England to protect specific trees, groups of trees or woodlands in the interests of amenity.

An Order prohibits the: cutting down, topping, lopping, uprooting, wilful damage or wilful destruction of trees without the local planning authority’s written consent. If consent is given, it can be subject to conditions which have to be followed. In the Secretary of State’s view, cutting roots is also a prohibited activity and requires the authority’s consent.

The former England and British and Irish Lions back row was not happy with the performance against Ireland on Saturday, labelling it ‘one of the most disappointing Twickenham has ever seen’

Rugby great Lawrence Dallaglio has admitted he is “devastated” and “angry” after England were hammered at home by Ireland.

Steve Borthwick’s men suffered a humiliating defeat against the Irish at Twickenham on Saturday – a second successive loss which leaves their hopes of challenging for a Six Nations title in tatters.

With France still to come, it’s likely that England will be scrapping to see where they finish in the bottom half, whereas they had hopes of winning the tournament just two weeks ago after they pummelled Wales in the English capital.

Former England captain Dallaglio said while the team has promised much over the past 12 months it has all been for nothing as a huge gulf in class was evident at Twickenham when Ireland ran in five tries and racked up 42 points.

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“Every single player was beaten and bettered by their opposite number,” Dallaglio wrote in his Times column.

Dallaglio, who was capped by England on 85 occasions, called Saturday’s performance “one of the most disappointing Twickenham has ever seen”.

He also questioned the side’s mental toughness, writing: “Every Test side loses games. I lost plenty. But there are minimum requirements when you pull on an England jersey: it’s about the mental approach to winning Test matches.

“You need to find your own motivation to play for your country. Man for man, England failed to do that.

“Their best player was Henry Pollock and he was on the field for only 70 minutes. To lack emotional intensity once, away from home, is forgivable. It happens. For it to happen twice in a row, and to do it here – at Twickenham? That is a long way past acceptable.”

Dallaglio did heap praise on a “magnificent” Ireland side, and said Andy Farrell’s men had proven they were not over the hill yet.

But, the former number eight said “you can’t put it all down to Ireland”, writing that England made basic mistakes time and again.

As for the short-term future of this England side under Borthwick, Dallaglio thinks they need to beat Italy and France to salvage something from the 2026 Six Nations campaign.

“After Murrayfield, I wondered if England’s performance was an aberration or the sign of something more deep-rooted,” he said.

“Having conceded the bonus-point try early in the first half on Saturday, I know what I think now. There is something serious that needs to be looked at.

“In the middle of the championship, the only people who can answer all of these questions are the players and coaches. And if they want to pull something respectable out of this disaster, they not only have to win in Rome, but in Paris too.”

A man with a distinctive Scottish tattoo is fighting for his life following the alleged assault early on Wednesday morning

Two men have been charged in connection with an alleged serious assault which left a man fighting for his life in hospital in Dublin.

Emergency services were called to Cope Street in the Temple Bar area of the Irish capital shortly after midnight on Wednesday, February 18.

A man, who has a distinctive Scottish tattoo on his arm, was allegedly attacked before an e-bike was dropped on his neck.

The victim was taken to Beaumont Hospital where he remains in a critical condition.

Gardaí, the Irish police service, issued an appeal to identify the man from his tattoo – a blue and white saltire with the words ‘Ceol is Beatha’, Gaelic for music and life – as they attempted to find out who he was.

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It proved successful and Gardaí have thanked the public and media for their help. No details of the man’s identity have been released.

The two men, aged in their 20s and 30s, were arrested on Friday evening – before the identity appeal – and they have now been charged in connection with the attack.

Both men are due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Monday morning, February 23.

A Gardaí spokesperson said “investigations are ongoing”.