A major surveys suggest driver satisfaction is falling across the North West, with one of the key routes used by Bolton commuters ranking among the worst-rated motorways in England

The M60 ranked 30th out of 32 roads included in Transport Focus‘ Strategic Roads User Survey, scoring 63 per cent for overall satisfaction.

Across the North West, overall satisfaction fell from 71 per cent last year in 2025 to 69 per cent this year.

David Wilkinson, of Bolton and District Group of Advanced Motorists, said: “Driver satisfaction, it’s no longer an enjoyable occupation, driving around.

(Image: Phil Taylor)

“It’s only because of the amount of vehicles that are on the road.

“Couple that with the amount of roadworks that are there, the amount of potholes in the state of the roads.

“Driver satisfaction has got to drop, hasn’t it?”

The independent watchdog Transport Focus surveyed more than 9,500 drivers about journeys on motorways and major A roads managed by National Highways.

While the M60 remained one of the country’s lowest-rated roads, the M56 was ranked England’s third-best motorway with an overall satisfaction score of 78 per cent.

The M62 also scored below the national average with 68 per cent, while the M6 received 65 per cent.

Drivers in the North West were also less satisfied with journey times than the national average, with 68 per cent reporting satisfaction compared with 69 per cent nationally.

Mr Wilkinson said: “There are times when I go into Manchester city centre on the train and pass over the motorway and think, I’m glad I’m not there.

“Because of the volume of traffic.”

(Image: NQ)

Transport Focus said the North West performed better than the national average for road surface quality and the management of roadworks, despite the overall fall in driver satisfaction.

Louise Collins, director at Transport Focus, said: “The M56’s strong performance shows the sort of experience road users want, and it is encouraging that drivers in the North West continue to rate road surface quality and roadworks management more highly than the national average.

“The results also show where there is room for improvement.

“Overall satisfaction has fallen in the North West this year and drivers remain less satisfied than average with journey times.”

The A30 and M20 were the highest rated in England, with the M42 and M27 ranked the lowest nationally.

The M61, another key Bolton motorway, ranks at 20 out of the 35 in the figures, with an overall satisfaction of 70 per cent.

Nationally, drivers who travelled through roadworks reported significantly lower satisfaction levels than those who completed journeys without encountering them.

Donald Trump revived his trade war with Canada on Monday, slapping a 50 percent tariff on America’s neighbors to the north for most Canadian goods.

Trump pulled the surprise on Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney after he met the liberal leader on Sunday at the World Cup final – where the two appeared chummy. 

Carney responded Monday night saying that the tariffs have hurt people on both sides of the border and that he was ready to work to strengthen his country and support Canadian workers.  

The White House said in a fact sheet that the tariffs would go into effect in 30 days and cover ‘products ranging from wine to hockey sticks to cement.’ 

The official said that Trump had also requested that his aides look into additional tariffs on Canada because its wildfires hurt air quality in the US after Trump said they were ‘coming in and poisoning our air.’  

It came after the President declared that Canada has unfairly discriminated against American autos, alcohol and dairy products. 

The move could unleash a new wave of economic chaos, with risks of higher inflation and further fraying of relations between two nations that had been closely woven together before Trump’s return to the White House. 

The administration official previewing the action said that Canada was one of the only nations other than China that retaliated against Trump’s previous tariffs and must be held accountable.

The President declared Monday that Canada has unfairly discriminated against American autos, alcohol and dairy products

The official insisted on anonymity on a call with reporters to preview the president’s actions and said that Trump signed three proclamations to launch the tariffs under Section 338 of the 1930 Trade Act.

Several Democratic lawmakers last year proposed repealing the section because they said Trump could use it to destabilize the economy.

The 50 percent tariffs would exclude energy products, potash, fish and critical minerals, but they would include goods that had previously been protected from import taxes by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. 

That 2020 trade pact recently expired and triggered a new set of negotiations that could run until 2036. 

‘Canada believes in the benefits of free and fair trade, as evidenced by our new government signing more than 20 new economic and security partnerships,’ Carney said in a statement. 

‘This trade dispute has raised costs for families, particularly in the U.S. Canada stands ready to engage intensively to address outstanding issues with the U.S. to the mutual benefit of our citizens,’ he added.

‘In all circumstances, Canada will work relentlessly and take any measures necessary to build our strength at home and to support Canadian workers, farmers, businesses, and families.’

Ontario Premier Doug Ford saw a possible showdown ahead. 

‘If these tariffs proceed, Canada should respond tariff for tariff, dollar for dollar,’ Ford posted on social media.

Recently, Trump has also been demanding Canada and Carney pay ‘damages’ after wildfires spread down into America.

Trump announced Sunday night that he had spoken with the prime minister about the wildfires in Ontario that have caused massive plumes of smoke to blanket cities across the States.

Donald Trump with Mark Carney, Melania Trump and Mexican leader Claudia Sheinbaum at the World Cup final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday. The President says he told the Canadian premier to ‘pay some damages’ for the wildfire smoke

The President said the conversation at the World Cup final went well, ‘But I told him, ‘You’ve got to stop these fires from coming in and poisoning our air.’ Our air’s being poisoned.

‘I have a good relationship with Mark Carney, but you know, we got to stop the fires up there,’ Trump said. 

‘If we can help them, we’ll help them – but maybe they should pay us some damages or something, or [we] should do some tariffs,’ he then threatened.

Trump went on to call the smoke ‘terrible,’ specifically pointing out the situation in Detroit, Michigan, where assembly line workers at Ford Motor’s Michigan Assembly Plant were sent by ambulance to nearby hospitals on Thursday, according to the Detroit Free Press. 

But the poor air quality was felt in other parts of the country as well, with smoky conditions being felt in Washington, DC and New York City on Thursday evening. 

Trump himself likely experienced the smoky conditions in the capital and while traveling to New York City for a work dinner on Friday evening, as the National Weather Service issued air quality alerts in at least 16 states.

The President then made his first threat to impose tariffs on the US’s northern neighbor that day.

‘We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their forests and brush,’ he wrote on Truth Social Friday.

Recently, Trump has also been demanding Canada and Carney pay ‘damages’ after wildfires spread down into America

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Wildfires began when a July 6 thunderstorm caused more than 1,000 lightning strikes across Northeast Minnesota and Canada

The US is being ‘invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable,’ Trump added.

He vowed to call Carney to demand answers, claiming that the ‘cost is incalculable.’

‘This is willful negligence, and becoming a yearly occurrence, costing the United States billions of dollars, which cost of this pollution must of necessity be added to the tariffs Canada is currently paying,’ Trump said.

At the World Cup final on Sunday, Trump watched the game with Carney, who has openly challenged the US president and has sought to expand Canada’s trade relations with other nations. 

The Trump administration official said their time together at the game was not a working visit to discuss trade and tariffs.

Trump claims in the proclamations that Canada discriminates against American autos, alcohol and cheese relative to other nations, but his argument rests in large part on retaliatory actions taken by Canada after the US president imposed tariffs on Canada under the pretext that it should do more to stop fentanyl smuggling.

Trump noted in his autos proclamation that Canada maintained, starting in April 2025, a 25 percent tariff on the imports of US motor vehicles that did not qualify for preferential treatment under the USMCA.

His proclamation on alcohol notes that Canadian provinces and territories halted the purchase and retailing of American alcoholic beverages last year, which was also a response to Trump’s tariffs and taunts of making Canada the 51st state.

But Trump has long objected to Canada’s treatment of US cheese, saying in his proclamation that Canada discriminates against the US compared to Europe on dairy products.

Trump and Carney have had a frosty relationship, with Carney, a former central banker, winning the premiership last year by promising to stand up for Canada.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January, Carney called out Trump — without naming him — by saying that the ‘most powerful’ countries are using the economy to coerce less powerful nations.

Trump responded at the time by saying: ‘Canada lives because of the United States.’

China‘s leading technology companies showcased hundreds of cutting-edge products at the World AI Conference in Shanghai — from advanced robotics to artificial intelligence systems.

The nation’s annual flagship AI event, which was held from July 17 to 20, took place against the backdrop of a heated U.S.-China tech rivalry. More than 1,100 companies participated.

Chinese companies have developed more than 400 humanoid robot products, more than half the world’s total, state media said. Open-source AI models from China are increasingly challenging leading American ones as they are more widely adopted globally.

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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

A “dark and unpredictable” drama is back for more with season two finally released.

Crime drama fans have been left “gagged” by the return of an “edge of your seat” series.

Based on a Swedish book by writing duo Erik Axl Sund, this “enchanting” crime drama follows a detective and a psychotherapist as they join forces to track down a brutal serial killer.

But it doesn’t take too long before their investigation unravels a web of historic child abuse and trauma.

The Crow Girl originally came out last year on Paramount Plus and now DCI Jeanette Kilburn (played by Eve Myles) and Dr Sophia Craven (Katherine Kelly) are back for season two.

The entire eight-part drama dropped on Monday, July 20, and it hasn’t taken long for fans to start singing its praises.

“I am GAGGED at the end of s2 ep3. Need to go and stare at a wall for an hour now”, someone said on X, formerly Twitter.

Another wrote: “The first episode… oh my GOD. Show of the year for real.”

While someone else said: “Okay so I’m absolutely OBSESSED with this show!

“Literally praying for a season three because I need more.”

Commenting on the first sex scene between Jeanette and Sophia, another added: “More shows should open their second seasons like that.”

For those who didn’t tune into The Crow Girl when it first came out in 2025, season one is now airing on Channel 5 with the first episode coming out tonight, Monday, July 20.

The first three episodes are airing consecutively this week with the second half picking up from where it left off next Monday to Wednesday.

The Crow Girl is also available to watch via Channel 5’s streaming service 5.

Following on from the first series, DCI Jeanette Kilburn is on the hunt for someone killing young male asylum seekers.

Not only does she find a body in a freezer but a mummified body hidden in a church wall, revealing a chilling connection between the two.

Meanwhile, Sophia continues to juggle her identities, completely unaware that she is secretly serial killer Victoria Burkeman that everyone’s hunting down.

But how long will it be until the truth about Sophia’s past is finally exposed?

The Crow Girl is available to watch on Paramount Plus.

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for information after a crash that took place at around 10.15am today in the A19 at Balne crossroads – just south of Selby.

The crash involved a black Audi A3, a grey Range Rover, and a white Hyundai Santa Fe SUV and saw emergency services – including three road ambulances and an air ambulance – attend the scene.

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The driver of the Audi, a 39-year-old from Selby, remains in hospital in critical condition, after he and a passenger were freed from the vehicle by firefighters.

“Crews extricated the casualties from the vehicles and left in the responsibility of the ambulance and police on scene,” said a spokesperson for the fire service.

They also confirmed that crews from Selby and Snaith attended the scene.

A police spokesperson added: “The passenger and the drivers of the other vehicles were also taken to hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life threatening.”

The A19 is currently closed between the M62 and Bull Lane and is expected to remain shut until around 7pm while collision investigators examine the scene.

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to email Mark.Patterson@northyorkshire.police.uk or Richard.Ellis@northyorkshire.police.uk.

Please quote reference number 12260138218 when providing details.

Blur bassist Alex James, backed by the Manchester Concert Orchestra, reworked a string of era-defining hits into sweeping, cinematic arrangements, without losing the punch and swagger that made them famous.

Blur’s Alex James brings Britpop classics to Scarborough. (Image: Cuffe & Taylor)

From the opening bars, the high-energy set struck a balance between nostalgia and reinvention, with crowd-pleasing staples including Supergrass’s Alright, Pulp’s Common People, The Charlatans The Only One I Know, and Disco 2000, and The Verve’s Bitter Sweet Symphony.

Fans descended on Scarborough Open Air Theatre for Blur bassist Alex James’ acclaimed Britpop Classical show. (Image: Cuffe & Taylor)

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Oasis anthems drew some of the night’s loudest reactions, with Don’t Look Back in Anger and Wonderwall prompting mass singalongs across the open-air venue. Blur’s own catalogue featured prominently, with Parklife, Girls and Boys and a punchy orchestral take on Song 2 standing out.

Fans descended on Scarborough Open Air Theatre for Blur bassist Alex James’ acclaimed Britpop Classical show. (Image: Cuffe & Taylor)

Guest appearances added further weight and star power to the bill. Ocean Colour Scene’s Simon Fowler opened with The Riverboat Song, Republica’s Saffron brought high-octane energy to Ready to Go, and Reef’s Gary Stringer led a crowd-rousing Place Your Hands.

The evening closed with Blur’s The Universal, as all performers returned to the stage for a celebratory finale that capped a night built on collective memory and enduring appeal.

Fans at the Scarborough Open Air Theatre waiting for Blur bassist Alex James’ Britpop Classical show. (Image: Cuffe & Taylor)

The show forms part of a record 28-date run at TK Maxx presents Scarborough Open Air Theatre, which continued with Irish pop star CMAT on Saturday, July 18.

The venue has been hosting a series of concerts this summer, including Rick Astley, Madness, Paul Weller, The Kooks, Skunk Anansie, Garbage, Anastacia, Heather Small, Pete Tong, Richard Ashcroft, Billy Ocean, Bowling for Soup, James Arthur, David Gray, Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé, Deacon Blue, and Bastille.

Upcoming shows include James Taylor, Tom Jones, The Streets, the Sex Pistols, the Scissor Sisters, and Nile Rodgers & Chic.

The ferry, MV Barima, departed from the capital, Georgetown, on Saturday afternoon local time, headed for Port Kaituma, in the north of the country.

The 40m-long (131ft) vessel was built in 1939, according to a listing on VesselFinder.

A survivor, Elena Moonsammy, told local news site Kiskadee Watch, external that the ferry had tilted after being hit by a large wave, with water quickly rushing in.

It started to take on water within seconds, she said.

A distress call was received at 23:01 (03:01 GMT Sunday), triggering a search operation involving government teams and privately owned boats.

Moonsammy said she had survived by clinging to a box floating amidst the debris.

She had tried to hold on to the hand of her two-year-old child but they had been separated.

Moonsammy said she had managed to save a woman, whom she urged to also hold on to the floating box.

At least 15 children were among those rescued. Small private boats were key in pulling at least 17 survivors from the sea.

The French army sent 12 divers, two doctors and a mechanic from nearby French Guiana to aid the search-and-rescue operation.

Guyana’s Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, said three of the survivors remained in hospital with minor injuries but the others had already been discharged.

Most, he added, had cuts and bruises from clinging to debris for hours.

Isabella Nicholls’ family said they were ‘ absolutely shattered by this unimaginable loss’, describing their heartbreak as ‘beyond words’ – police are now investigating the fire

A tiny tot is set to grow up without his mum after she tragically passed away in a fire now being investigated by police.

Isabella Nicholls, just 21-years-old, managed to escape the fire at a home in Buderim, on Australia’s Sunshine Coast. She was taken to Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital, where she sadly died from the serious burns.

Queensland Police said the blaze took hold at 7:30pm on Sunday (July 19) and officers are now appealing for information as they investigate the cause of the inferno.

Isabella’s death has ‘absolutely shattered’ her family, her loved ones said. Her young son, Elijah, will now have to grow up ‘without his mummy’, they added.

“Isabella was a devoted and loving mother to her beautiful baby boy, Elijah, who will now grow up without his mummy,” her family said in a post on GoFundMe to raise cash for her funeral.

“Our family is absolutely shattered by this unimaginable loss, and the heartbreak is beyond words.

“Isabella was a vibrant, kind, and beautiful soul with her whole life ahead of her. She had a smile that could light up any room and a contagious laugh that none of us will ever forget.

“She touched the lives of so many people with her warmth, compassion, and beautiful spirit, and her absence has left an irreplaceable void in all of our hearts.”

Images shared with the statement show Isabella, originally from Kallangur in Queensland, playing in a paddling pool with Elijah. Her family also shared a photograph of the duo shortly after the tot was born.

Cops are now probing the fire, asking witnesses to come forward.

A spokesperson for Queensland Police said: “Police are investigating a fatal fire at a unit complex at Buderim overnight, July 19.

“Emergency services were initially called to the King Street address around 7:30pm following reports one of the units in the complex was fully engulfed.

“A 21-year-old Kallangur woman who was inside the unit was able to escape and was initially transported to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital with serious burns but has since died from her injuries.

“Residents of neighbouring units were also evacuated.

“The cause of the fire remains unknown, and investigations are ongoing. Anyone who may have relevant information or CCTV/dashcam footage to come forward.”

Another woman, 32, was reportedly injured in the blaze, but has survived her wounds.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting .

Quote this reference number: QP2601400544

Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers . Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au .

Robotaxi firm Zoox has issued a software recall after one of its vehicles drove into smoke near a fire scene in Las Vegas.

About 100 vehicles from the Amazon-owned company were potentially affected by the software issue, which was discovered after the June 20 incident, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall report submitted Thursday.

On that day, an unoccupied Zoox vehicle encountered heavy smoke, obscuring a fire scene that was not blocked off with traffic cones. The report didn’t specify where the incident took place, but a person with knowledge of the matter told The Independent that it happened in Vegas.

After entering the fire scene, the robotaxi braked hard as it attempted to steer away. Guided by a remote operator, the vehicle reversed, and then first responders placed cones to block off two of the three lanes of traffic.

Within days of the incident, Zoox notified federal regulators and launched its own investigation into the matter. The probe found that the June 20 incident was the “only event of this kind that Zoox has experienced” and no injuries were discovered.

Federal regulators said Zoox developed a software update that “enhances existing capability of detecting and responding to heavy smoke including active EV [emergency vehicle] scenes.”

A spokesperson for the California-based company told The Independent, “Safety is foundational at Zoox. We value our work with first responders, city officials, and regulators to continue to ensure we’re driving safely in the communities we serve.”

This is not the first time Zoox vehicles have been subject to a recall.

A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall report from December noted that Zoox had to update its robotaxi software after discovering its vehicles crossed lanes “unnecessarily” at or near intersections in certain circumstances.

Amazon acquired Zoox in 2020, about six years after the company was formed.

Zoox officially launched its robotaxi service on and around the Las Vegas Strip in September. The company started offering rides to the public in San Francisco in November.

The loved ones of a teenager who died at a festival following a ‘severe medical emergency’ have paid tribute to the ‘caring, funny, clever’ young woman.

Lucy Halpin, 18, attended the Tonnau festival in North Wales last Saturday but was rushed to hospital following the unspecified medical emergency, where she later died.

It is unclear what caused her death, with police treating it at the time as unexpected. 

Ms Halpin’s sister, Jessica Mariee, shared a message of her devastation, confirming in a tribute that the teen died just a few weeks following her 18th birthday.

Tonnau festival, an independent music and arts festival aimed at families, said paramedics, who arrived around 1.45am on July 11, did ‘everything they could’ to treat Ms Halpin.

The event, held annually on the Carreglwyd Estate near Llanfaethlu on Anglesey and featuring international bands and DJs alongside culture, food and drink, later closed and attendees were asked to leave the site following the teenager’s death.

Ms Halpin’s friends have launched a GoFundMe to help support her family during this period, with donations also towards giving ‘her the best send-off she deserves️’.

Meanwhile, Ms Halpin’s workplace, Breeze Hill Bar, Eatery & Hotel, shared their condolences, writing that they are ‘a broken pub full of broken hearts’. 

Ms Halpin’s workplace described her as ‘caring, funny, clever and always smiling’

It described the ‘wonderful’ Ms Halpin as ‘caring, funny, clever and always smiling’, as well as being a ‘treasured’ ‘member of our extended family’. 

It added: ‘Lucy was exceptionally good at looking after our customers, many of whom will miss her lots.

‘Our thoughts are very much with Lucy’s family and friends. 

‘Lots of her closest friends have visited The Breeze this last week and their pain and sorrow is clear to see. Lucy was like a glue between them, a magical bond.’  

In a statement immediately following Ms Halpin’s death, the event’s organisers said: ‘Everyone at Tonnau Festival is deeply saddened to confirm that a festival attendee tragically passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning following a severe medical emergency.

‘Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the attendee’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.

‘​From the moment the attendee became unwell, our on-site welfare teams, security, and emergency medical staff responded immediately.

‘Paramedics and welfare personnel did everything they could to provide emergency care, but unfortunately they later died in hospital.

‘​The safety and well-being of our audience is always our highest priority. Following this tragedy, and to allow emergency services and local authorities to conduct their necessary work, we made the decision to close the remainder of the festival and have asked people to vacate the site when it is safe for them to do so.’

They added the festival was cooperating ‘fully’ with the police investigation and added: ‘Our thoughts and hearts are with the family.’

North Wales Police said emergency services arrived at the festival early on Saturday morning ‘following reports of a medical emergency’.

‘Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, sadly, the 18-year-old woman later died in hospital.

‘The death is being treated as unexpected whilst investigations are ongoing and the coroner has been informed.’

Detective Inspector Iolo Edwards said: ‘Our thoughts remain with the woman’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.

‘We urge members of the public not to speculate on the circumstances of the death, and anybody with information that could assist our enquiries should contact us via our website or by calling 101.’