Tucked into the West Lancashire plain between Liverpool, Southport and Preston, this compact market town has been quietly doing its own thing for over 700 years — and right now, it’s doing it rather well. Here’s why it deserves a proper day out.

It has one of the strangest churches in England

Before you do anything else, stand outside the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul and look up. You’ll see both a tower and a steeple rising from the same building, something found in only three churches in the entire country.

The Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul (Image: Google)

The church dates to the 12th century and sits at the heart of the town, a few steps from the market square. Even if you’re not a regular churchgoer, it’s worth five minutes of your time just to wonder how that happened.

The market is the real deal

Ormskirk has held a twice-weekly market since King Edward I granted its charter in 1286, and it still runs every Thursday and Saturday in the pedestrianised town centre.

It’s not the kind of market that’s been airbrushed for Instagram, it’s a proper, working Lancashire market with local produce, street food, bric-a-brac and traders who’ve been here for years. Buy some of Ormskirk’s famous gingerbread while you’re at it.

The food scene punches well above its weight

On the outskirts of town in Aughton sits Moor Hall, a Grade II-listed manor house that is home to a three Michelin-starred restaurant, one of the most acclaimed in Britain.

Its sister restaurant, The Barn at Moor Hall, holds a Michelin star of its own and serves a seasonal menu in a rustic setting with views across the lake. Neither is cheap, but both are worth saving up for.

For something more casual, the revamped Ormskirk Food and Drink Market on Aughton Street brings together six street food traders under the roof of the town’s historic indoor market hall, with cocktails and games thrown in.

There’s good pub culture too

The Eagle and Child is one of those proper Lancashire pubs that never feels like it’s trying too hard – solid food, good ales, the kind of place you end up staying longer than planned. The Cricketers near the market square is another reliable option with a loyal local following.

It’s surprisingly easy to get to

Ormskirk has its own railway station with direct services from Liverpool Lime Street (around 30 minutes) and connections toward Preston. If you’re driving, it’s just off the A570 with town centre parking. Go on a Thursday or Saturday to catch the market at its best.

And if you want more…

Martin Mere Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust is just a few miles away near Burscough, one of the best wildlife spots in the North West, particularly spectacular in winter when whooper swans arrive from Iceland.

Rufford Old Hall, a National Trust Tudor manor, is also within easy reach. You could easily make a full weekend of it.

Have you visited Ormskirk? What would you recommend doing? Let us know in the comments…

One of the teenage joyriders who caused the deaths of the two constables by crashing into them on a dual carriageway was awaiting trial on charges of racially abusing and assaulting officers, it has been revealed.

Makai Saddington, 18, one of the five men in the VW Passat that hurtled the wrong way down the A66, was accused of assaulting a sergeant Rooker of Cleveland Police and causing racially aggravated alarm or distress to a PC Chowdhury.

Saddington, of no fixed address, made his first appearance before Teesside magistrates on July 17, when his case was adjourned to a later date.

It has also emerged that the youngster had apparently posted a string of clips in the months before his death showing him involved in other police chases. 

PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, died alongside the five ‘TikTok joyriders’ in the early hours of Saturday in a catastrophic head-on collision.

The group of young men in the car were named as Michael Robert Cahill, 23; Theo Rae, 17; Cole Robert Worthy, 17; Jacob Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18. 

They had been fleeing from police when they decided to drive the wrong way down the A66 near Middlesbrough and smashed into the officers – who were not involved in the chase.

The police pursuit had been called off approximately ten seconds before the crash. 

Close friends Theo Rae (left) and Cole Robert Worthy were both killed in the crash in the early hours of Saturday

Michael Robert Cahill (left) and Jakub Matusiak (right) were another two of the five in the VW Passat

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Meanwhile, the families of the two officers have paid moving tributes to the heroes, and a GoFundMe appeal launched by Cleveland Police Federation to support them  had by Monday morning raised more than £200,000. 

PC Clough’s family said: ‘He was our hero with a fantastic sense of humour. Jumped into action whenever needed, and willing to help anyone for any reason. 

‘Proudly fought for his country to make the world a better place. Always on public duty throughout his short life.

‘We as a family and Tom’s partner would like to express our sincere gratitude for the overwhelming support and condolences from friends, colleagues and the wider community.’

PC Blades’ widow said on Sunday evening that ‘no words will ever feel like the right words to honour our Matt’, who she described as ‘my beloved husband, my best friend, and the most devoted father to our two young boys’.

‘He was an adored son and brother, a perfect son-in-law, and the most fun uncle. He was loved beyond words by all his family and friends, and his loss has left a space that can never be filled.

‘He gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness. The pain of losing him is beyond words, and our lives will never be the same. Neither will the love he gave us ever fade.

‘Our children will grow up knowing what an incredible father he was and will always be, and I will carry his love, his memory and everything we shared with me always.’

PC Matthew Blades was remembered by his widow as an ‘incredible father’ and ‘beloved husband’

PC Tom Clough has been remembered by his family as a ‘hero with a fantastic sense of humour’

She also thanked all the emergency services and the ‘police family’ for their support.   

In their own tribute, Cleveland Police Federation said: ‘PC Matt Blades and PC Tom Clough were both dedicated and committed Police Officers who left their families and went to work to serve their community and protect the public.

‘They paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. They did not return home to their families.

‘They leave behind heartbroken loved ones who will struggle to come to terms with the loss of their loved one.’

In the wake of the tragedy, previous footage appearing to show the young men driving recklessly and being chased by police has emerged.

A clip shared on TikTok this May seemed to show 23-year-old Jacob Matusiak behind the wheel, with the caption: ‘Unfortunately I’m not a nonchalant boyfriend’.

Filmed by the driver, it shows a car barreling through a neighbourhood before swerving onto a green in the middle of an estate.

In broad daylight, the vehicle appears to career down a footpath as the driver casually spins the wheel with one hand.

The men’s VW Passat going the wrong way down the A66 smashed into an armoured response vehicle

Makai Saddington had also posted a string of TikTok clips seemingly showing him taking part in police chases in the months before his death.

One clip filmed in May and set to rap music showed the 18-year-old being driven in an Audi speeding through a housing estate with the blue lights of a police car in pursuit flashing.

Another video on an account linked to him shows a green Nissan being driven around before it is set alight, while images posted elsewhere show him and a friend posing in cars wearing black balaclavas. 

Their deadly antics have been linked to a TikTok trend where young men film themselves driving dangerously and baiting police into chasing them for thrills and views.

The Middlesborough crash came just six days after a crash in County Kildare, Ireland, when five teenagers died in a head-on crash while driving the wrong way down a motorway and being chased by police.

The masked youngsters were in a stolen BMW that sped off down the wrong side of the M9 to avoid a stinger device.

Three sisters and a seven-year-old boy in the car they struck were seriously injured and remain in hospital.

Craze that claimed five more young lives just a week ago

By Padraic Flanagan

It was feared on Saturday night that the A66 crash may be a copycat tragedy – thanks to the deadly TikTok craze that claimed the lives of five teenagers in a head-on motorway smash in the Irish Republic last week.

In that case, the youngsters, who were all wearing balaclavas in a stolen BMW travelling the wrong way down the country’s M9, died at the scene in Co Kildare in the early hours of Sunday.

The deaths of Joey Carthy, 15, Jack Kennedy, 17, Alex McCarthy, 16, Jeremy O’Brien, 18, and 17-year-old Kamil Pustkowski led to public fury at social media platforms after it emerged that the teenagers were filming themselves in the car.

That anger intensified on Thursday when TikTok declined an invitation to appear before an Irish parliamentary committee on media to discuss the latest craze of posting videos of people driving the wrong way down motorways.

Sisters Ella Hendricken, who is in her 20s, and Niamh and Alma Kinsella, in their 30s, as well as Alma’s seven-year-old son, Yemi, are being treated in hospital for serious injuries after their Hyundai was hit by the BMW.

The innocent victims, from Graiguecullen, Co Carlow, were on their way to Dublin to fly out for a family wedding in the UK when the teens smashed into their car. Three of the five teens killed in the M9 tragedy were buried on Friday. Two more funerals are due to take place today and on Tuesday.

Videos featuring youngsters in stolen cars trying to bait police into high-speed chases have become a macabre trend.

Mary Aiken, a professor of forensic cyber-psychology at the University of East London, told The Guardian: ‘While driving, they’re simultaneously filming and capturing content for posting later or live streaming. They have one foot in the real world and one foot in cyberspace. They’re thinking about the likes… about kudos.’

Jada, a pupil at Thornleigh Salesian College, earned seven grade 9s, one grade 8, and a Level 2 Distinction in dance.

She told The Bolton News about her efforts.

She said: “I worked really hard for these results, revising for countless hours whilst balancing my dance training and rehearsals.

“I’m incredibly grateful to my teachers for all of their support throughout my GCSEs, as well as my family and friends for their wholehearted encouragement.

“I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Alongside her academic studies, Jada competed in dance events and performed internationally, including at Disneyland Paris just before her GCSE mock exams.

She said: “Some of my best memories from school are rooted in dance — I’m really grateful for the experiences Thornleigh has given me.”

She wants to go into finance (Image: UGC)

Jada now plans to study mathematics, economics, and philosophy at college, with the goal of studying philosophy and economics at the London School of Economics.

She hopes to pursue a career in finance.

Nationally, GCSE results in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland remained broadly stable compared to last year, with a slight increase in the proportion of top grades.

Around 22 per cent of entries achieved a grade seven or above, while more than two-thirds secured at least a grade four pass.

A small improvement in maths attainment was also recorded, though significant regional differences persist.

London had the highest proportion of top grades, while northern regions continued to lag behind.

Girls outperformed boys overall, the figures had shown.

Thornleigh is a co-educational, Roman Catholic secondary school and sixth form located in Astley Bridge.

Educating pupils aged 11–18, it is rooted in the Salesian values of Saint John Bosco, emphasising high-quality pastoral care, community compassion, and inclusive personal development alongside academic study.

The village features in the Domesday Book in 1086

While cities such as Cambridge and Peterborough are home to thousands of people, there are some villages where only hundreds live. One of the smaller villages in Cambridgeshire is Harlton, which is home to around 300 people.

The village was mentioned in the Domesday Book. In 1086, it had a recorded population of 20 households.

The village is home to one pub named The Hare and Hounds. The pub dates back to 1879, but it is believed the building may have been used as an ale house for a number of years before 1879.

This pub is special because it is owned by the community. In 2017, the local community pulled together in a campaign called ‘Help The Hare and Hounds’. A total of 160 people invested in shares in the pub as a Community Interest Company so they could take over ownership. The pub is now managed by tenants who were chosen by the CIC.

As well as the community-owned pub, Harlton is also home to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is the oldest building in the village. The church was built in the late 14th century and has been the place of worship for more than 650 years. The ties between the church and village are “strong”, according to Harlton Parish Council, and the church has hosted many events where the community has come together.

The streets are narrow and quiet, and feature timber-framed and thatched cottages, adding to the feel of a traditional village. Homes in Harlton have an average cost of around £493,000, with some homes costing up to £694,000.

An Australian woman bitten by a shark at a popular Sydney beach earlier this year says she has been given a “second chance at life” and will be making the most of it.

Leah Stewart, 35, was mauled by a shark during a morning swim at Coogee Beach in June, suffering multiple bites to her arms and legs, amid a spate of attacks in Australia.

The mother-of-one was placed in an induced coma and had several surgeries, including having one of her arms amputated.

In an online post on Monday, she thanked her supporters who have raised more than AU$550,000 (US$394,000; £289,000) for her, saying her recovery has been “incredibly difficult” but she is making “remarkable” progress.

“After what has been an incredibly difficult few months, I’m so happy that I’ve progressed enough to build some independence, and I can finally see some light after all of this,” Stewart wrote, in her first comments since the attack.

“I want you to know that I feel like I’ve been given a second chance at life, and I’m not going to waste it.”

Stewart said she had been “overwhelmed” by the support from family, friends and “even strangers”, adding that the “you’ve inspired me to get better, not bitter”.

An online fundraiser for her would now be closed, she wrote, with the money raised giving her the chance to recover at home as well as “options for further medical treatment down the road”.

“I still have a long way to go, but my recovery has been remarkable, and a huge part of that is because of the absolute army of love, support, prayers and encouragement surrounding my family and I from all over the world.”

There have been a spate of shark attacks in Australia this year, with four attacks over a two-day period in January, including one on a 12-year-old boy who later died from his injuries.

In May, a man was killed by a shark in Queensland while spearfishing and in Western Australia, a father-of-two died after he was attacked by a 4m (13ft) shark.

Three years after the tragic passing of Sandra Bullock‘s longtime partner Bryan Randall from the degenerative condition ALS, the beloved Hollywood star has finally begun to open up about Randall’s ‘traumatic’ diagnosis and her journey through grief.

It is a welcome shift for Bullock, who, up until her appearance on pal Jason Bateman’s Smartless podcast this week, had been on an almost total disappearing act for the last two years. 

The Oscar-winning actress, 62, and mother of two had practically dropped off the radar after Randall’s death, only recently making public appearances to promote her upcoming film Practical Magic 2.

Indeed, the sequel to the 1998 cult classic film – which will mark Bullock’s first leading feature role in four years – has arrived at a time when Bullock finally feels ready to open up about Randall’s death, sources told the Daily Mail.

‘Sandra is finally doing better, which is why she made Practical Magic 2,’ the first insider said.

‘She felt it was time to talk about Bryan, like it is okay now. She doesn’t mind opening up about him, as she wants to honor him in the best way with sweet memories,’ they said. 

It was August 2023 when Randall, a former model and photographer, succumbed to the fast-progressing nervous system disease at 57, his family revealed in a statement at the time.

For Bullock, the three years she spent caring for her long-term partner, who was diagnosed with ALS amid the Covid-19 pandemic, were marked by ‘pretty dark’ periods of isolation, she shared. 

‘Sandra really closed herself off when Bryan got sick, she was all about him and her kids. Her personality changed too, the laughs stopped coming. She was a much more serious person,’ the source continued.

The couple, who met in 2015 when Bullock hired him to photograph her son Louis’ birthday party, had already been together for five years and raised her two adopted children together at the time of his diagnosis.

But Randall’s desire to keep his deteriorating health private left Bullock feeling ‘isolated,’ between organizing his medical care and parenting her kids during the pandemic.

‘During Covid, Sandra was really scared. She was always isolated and lonely during that period and the couple of years that followed,’ a second insider told the Daily Mail.

Bullock confided in her sister, Vermont-based pastry chef Gesine Bullock-Prado, and her sister’s husband, storyboard illustrator Ray Prado, who she said were the only people who ‘knew for a while’ about Randall’s diagnosis.

Eventually, Bullock said she also informed Hollywood pal Jennifer Aniston, along with Bateman and his wife Amanda Anka, about her partner’s condition. 

Randall, a former model and photographer, met Bullock in 2015 when he was hired to photograph her son’s birthday party. The source said her children referred to Randall as ‘dad’

Pictured in 2018: Bullock said she felt ‘isolated’ as Randall was diagnosed with ALS during the Covid-19 pandemic 

Despite being ‘very close’ to her sister, however, the source acknowledged that Bullock was still ‘pretty isolated’ during that time.

It likely didn’t help matters that Randall had become an important ‘father figure’ to Bullock’s two adopted kids, son Louis, 16, and daughter Laila, 12.

The actress became a first-time mom in January 2010 when she adopted three-month-old Louis, and again in December 2015 when she adopted two-year-old Laila. 

Bullock was previously married to motorcycle builder Jesse James in 2005, though their marriage ended in a highly publicized divorce in 2010 after it was revealed James had cheated.

Randall marked Bullock’s first serious, public relationship since the devastating divorce, as she shared on the podcast that her daughter saw Randall as ‘a father figure.’ He also has an adult daughter named Skylar from a previous relationship.

‘Bryan was an extremely nice person,’ the second source added.

While Bullock and Randall were never legally married, the Daily Mail exclusively revealed the pair exchanged ‘vows’ on the beach in the Bahamas back in 2017.

Three years after his death, some fans may now be left wondering how Bullock will be able to move on from the tragic loss of her life partner, who she previously described as the ‘love of [her] life’ in 2021. 

Bullock is set to make her long-awaited return to the big screen with the September release of Practical Magic 2, her first feature film role in four years (pictured in April 2026)

The source said Bullock is ‘finally doing better’ and ‘felt it was time’ to talk about Randall’s death (pictured April 2026)

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But it appears that part of Bullock’s healing journey includes returning to work, as she’s set to make her return to the big screen this September with Practical Magic 2.

The Daily Mail previously reported that Bullock, who hadn’t starred in a movie since the 2022 adventure-comedy The Lost City, would make her long-awaited return to acting ‘in her own time and on her own terms,’ especially if there was a project she couldn’t pass up.

Back in April, Bullock surprised fans when she made her debut on Instagram, sharing behind-the-scenes photos and videos from the Practical Magic 2 set. She has also slowly begun to re-enter the public eye, attending events like CinemaCon with Kidman last April and appearing on Bateman’s podcast. 

While the first insider suggested that Bullock may feel a little ‘awkward’ diving back into Hollywood after her years-long hiatus, the star’s return to the spotlight is a welcomed change for fans.

‘She has to do press again, which she has not done in a while, so that is awkward for her,’ they said. ‘That is why she started her Instagram page. Everyone was like, “You have to do it.”‘

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Bullock for comment.

The incident has drawn commentary about videos of children driving dangerously circulating on social media platforms

Social media companies are “endangering” society by failing to remove content depicting dangerous and illegal activity, a government minister in the Republic has said.

There has been increased attention on social media regulation in the week after five teenagers died when the car in which they were travelling the wrong way down the M9 motorway collided head-on with another vehicle, seriously injuring three women and a boy in the same family.

There was further tragedy on Sunday in England when two men and three teenagers died when their car travelling the wrong way down the A66 crashed and killed two police officers.

The two brave policemen, PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were killed when their patrol car was hit. Now Cleveland Police have released the names and ages of those who died in the VW Passat.

They are: Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 16, Jacob Matusiak, 23, and 18-year-old Makai Saddington. A police spokesman said: “Family Liaison Officers are continuing to work with the families all of those who sadly lost their lives in the collision. “

The M9 incident in the Republic has drawn commentary about videos of children driving dangerously circulating on social media platforms. The Republic’s Enterprise Minister Peter Burke said social media companies have a “very significant responsibility” to ensure that they are moderating dangerous content.

Mr Burke told RTÉ’s This Week: “We’ve seen how many people have been let go from social media companies over the last number of months, and yet this content keeps appearing.

“This moderated content is not properly taken down on time – which is not good enough. I’ve always been very clear on this: Irrespective of what money the State ever takes in terms of tax receipts from any company or social media companies, that our children are most precious and most important in any society and they always come first.

“And Government will never, ever, ever be behind in taking action on our social media companies when they endanger our society like they are doing in this case.”

After the M9 crash, funerals were held for teenagers Joe Carthy, Alex McCarthy and Kamil Pustkowski on Friday, while services for Jeremy O’Brien and Jack Kennedy will be held on Monday and Tuesday. A child and three women from the same family, who were in the other car, were taken to hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

Ella Hendricken and Niamh and Alma Kinsella were travelling with the child to the airport for a holiday. A vigil in support of the family took place in Carlow on Friday, while an online fundraiser had raised 730,000 euro by lunchtime on Sunday.

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The pledge covers more than 500 essential items and forms part of the retailer’s latest strategy to win back shoppers in the highly competitive UK grocery market.

The Bradford-based supermarket chain, which operates around 500 stores and 1,700 convenience outlets, has seen its market share decline in recent years.

In the 12 weeks to August, Morrisons held an 8.5% market share, according to Worldpanel, placing it behind Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Aldi, and Lidl.

Morrisons has since launched its new “unbeatable prices” promise, ensuring that customers will not pay more for selected items than they would at any of its five main competitors.

Alex Paver, customer and marketing director at Morrisons, said: “Customers shouldn’t have to choose between great prices and great quality – and at Morrisons, they don’t have to.

“Our unbeatable price commitment means customers can trust that the prices on these products simply won’t be beaten by Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi or Lidl.

“And uniquely at Morrisons, that unbeatable value comes alongside the quality, freshness and expert service we’re famous for – from bread baked fresh in store to food prepared by our skilled Market Street colleagues.”

The price promise covers a range of fresh produce, including bananas, tomatoes, and carrots, as well as everyday staples like bread, butter, and chicken fillets.

It also applies to fresh food prepared at Morrisons’ Market Street counters, including products from its in-store fishmongers and bakeries.

The move comes two years after Morrisons launched a price match scheme against Aldi and Lidl in an effort to stem customer losses to the German discounters.

It also follows recent financial disclosures revealing that the retailer cut nearly 5,000 jobs last year as part of wider efforts to stabilise the business and improve performance.

What supermarket do you shop at? Let us know in the comments.

Speaking about whether she believed their discussion could impact people around the world, she said: “It’s a private matter, but nobody should ever feel that they can’t intrinsically be themselves, but also nobody should be made to feel that they have to declare anything about themselves, sexuality, religion, their age, nothing.