A knife amnesty bin will be set up at Nelson Square of Bradshawgate early next month, on Friday, September 4, between 6pm and 7:30pm.

Amnesty bins have previously been set up elsewhere around the town, including at the junction of Churchgate and Bradshawgate last Saturday.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “You may have unwanted knives at home and are worried about safely disposing them, this is an excellent way to ensure they are responsibly and securely disposed of.

“This is also an opportunity to anonymously hand over knives without fear of prosecution.

“If you wish to hand over a knife, please ensure the blade is safely wrapped in cardboard, secured in place with tape, and placed into an opaque bag whilst on route to the amnesty bin.

“No details will be taken, no questions asked, simply walk over, drop off, and walk away knife free.”

Anyone with any further information or concerns about knife crime in their areas can call police on 101 or 999 in the event of an emergency.

Alternatively, members of the public can call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The gym would have two to three instructor-led classes per day

A new fitness studio and gymnasium may soon be opening in Peterborough. It comes after Peterborough City Council approved a planning application to change the use of a former vehicle repair workshop at Wharf Road Industrial Estate.

Applicant, Jess Croney, stated that the proposed new gym at unit 12 would be operated on a members-only basis. Documents suggested that there would be around two to three instructor-led classes per day, with eight participants per class.

“The classes will be staggered through the day, with sufficient intervals between sessions so that one class concludes and its participants depart before the following class begins,” the plans stated.

“This is a core part of the operating model and is specifically designed to prevent the overlap of arriving and departing attendees that could otherwise place pressure on the parking area.”

The only physical works proposed at the site were internal decoration and refurbishment, with new external lighting and CCTV cameras to be installed.

Internally, the unit would be laid out to provide an open training area for fixed and free-weight resistance equipment and cardiovascular equipment, together with ancillary floorspace. Free-weight and resistance areas would be fitted with resilient rubber gym flooring to control impact noise.

Externally, there would be seven car parking spaces provided (including one accessible bay), two motorcycle spaces, turning space and a designated pedestrian route to the entrance. The previous occupier of the industrial unit, a car repair centre, relocated to larger premises in summer 2025.

The unit was marketed for approximately seven months without securing a tenant.

“Given the established industrial and commercial setting, and the presence of similar indoor sport and fitness uses nearby – most notably the karate gym directly opposite – the change of use is wholly consistent with the character and function of the estate,” the design and access statement noted.

By JOE ROSSITER, REPORTER

Published: 00:01 BST, 16 August 2026 | Updated: 07:45 BST, 16 August 2026

A countryside ranger was involved in a heated conversation with a man using a portable stove in the tinderbox-dry bushes of Buckinghamshire’s Coombe Hill on Saturday.

The ranger sternly reminded the defiant cook that using an open-flame stove in the baking conditions could prove dangerous.

Clad in a light blue patterned short-sleeved shirt, the bearded chef looked glum as the ranger reprimanded him.

The heated exchange on the hill – which overlooks the Prime Minister’s residence at Chequers – came just a day after the Government’s national warning amid the wildfires ravaging the country.

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Andy Burnham was heavily criticised for using the UK’s national alert system to sound an alarm on mobile phones across the nation on Friday night warning of the wildfire risk.

‘There is a very high risk of wildfires nationally,’ the message read.

‘Residents, landowners and visitors should not undertake any activity that could start a fire, including disposable barbecues, firepits, garden incinerators or fireworks.

‘Even a small flame can rapidly develop into a major wildfire placing lives, homes, businesses and emergency responders at risk.’

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Should people face tougher penalties for reckless behavior that could spark wildfires during dry spells?

The would-be chef looked annoyed as his defiance of national warnings against open flames outdoors was questioned by a National Trust ranger on Saturday

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But the exchange came to an amicable end as the pair shook hands on the tinderbox-dry ground

The warning prompted panicked Britons to jam 999 phone lines and startled drivers.

It also sounded on the BBC’s The One Show, which was being transmitted live, startling presenters Alex Jones and Roman Kemp. 

But the blaring warning was clearly not enough for the connoisseur of the Buckinghamshire bistro.

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However after his row with the ranger, the pair amicably shook hands.

The Bolton News exclusively revealed that the water company has taken the next step in implementing car parking charges in Rivington by submitting plans to introduce paid car parks around Rivington Reservoir.

The group submitted the application on July 29 for eight new number plate recognition cameras and four new payment machines to be installed in car parks around Rivington.

Parking charges on the site have loomed since 2022, though until now, no firm plans had been submitted.

Rivington Reservoir (Image: Derek Cartwright)

A United Utilities spokesperson said: “The increasing popularity of Rivington creates challenges including congestion, unsafe parking, pressure on paths and heritage assets as well as impacts on local residents and businesses. Without significant new investment, these issues will continue to grow.

“We have been engaging with local residents, businesses and councillors to share a proposal for car parking to be operated by Rivington Heritage Trust. There isn’t a fixed timetable for this, and the level of charges hasn’t been agreed yet. We will take the views of local people into account when setting them. We are in discussions with both Chorley Council and Lancashire County Council to ensure any proposals will help reduce congestion and improve safety for residents and visitors.

“Funds generated from car parking will be ringfenced and used to support improvements such as the creation of new car parks and refurbished car parks with bay marking, upgraded footpaths and signage, new toilets, new visitors centre, restoration of heritage assets including Liverpool Castle, the creation of education and engagement spaces and on-site staff who can help manage visitors, improve safety and protect the landscape.”

Lower House Car Park (Image: Chorley Council)

Even though the car parks fall within the jurisdiction of Chorley Council, the new restrictions will affect nearby Horwich and Blackrod.

Horwich and Blackrod First Cllr Peter Wright said: “It affects us here because Rivington is such a popular area. Many of those people will then end up parking somewhere else, for example side streets in Horwich.

“We know that United Utilities do a good job around here, but we will have to see how it goes.

“I know they’ve been in touch with some of the smaller councils in the area, but it would have been nice for them to contact Horwich council.

“I know they have some good plans going, like extending some of the car parks and making new spaces near Lower House.

Main Drive (Image: Chorley Council)

“Of course we’re going to try and stop it if we can.

“I know Lord Leverhulme left it for the community of Bolton when he died – but back then people didn’t have cars.”

Considering the current Premier League champions play in the game every season it is surprisingly rare for the Community Shield winners to go on to win the league.

Since the Premier League started in 1992-93, only eight of the 34 winners of the Charity or Community Shield have done so.

Five of those happened in a six-year spell from 2005 until 2010.

Manchester City, in 2019, were the last team to do so – and before that it was Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United in 2011.

Only one of the past 15 winners of the Community Shield have gone on to become champions that season.

Since 1992 the teams who lose the Community Shield have won more league titles that season – 10 in total, including Manchester City for three years in a row between 2021 and 2023.

Last year Crystal Palace beat Liverpool and ended up finishing 15th, although they did go on to win the Conference League. The Reds also had a disappointing domestic campaign, finishing fifth.

Some 47% of the time (16/34) the upcoming season’s Premier League winners had not been involved in the Community Shield – like Arsenal in 2025-26.

And 53% of the time (18/34) the Shield winners have finished above the losers in the league that season.

On 10 occasions the two teams have finished as the top two in the Premier League – with four of those times being the Shield winners top and the losers as runners-up.

Chaos erupted across the US on Saturday, with three separate mass shootings threatening to snuff out dozens in Virginia, Kentucky and Chicago. 

In Kentucky, five people were shot, one fatally, when gunshots rang out in a park near a packed downtown bar district Saturday evening. At least 13 shots sent revelers running for cover, footage posted by a local official showed.

‘My heart is broken. This evening we had a shooting at the park with multiple victims and one fighting for his life,’ ONE Lexington Director Devine Carama wrote.

The shooting took place at roughly 6.45pm at Charles Young Park. 

A four-year-old, a 14-year-old and two adults were shot, police said in a subsequent update. All were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

Another victim was declared dead at the hospital, a Lexington Police Department spokesperson told the Daily Mail. The spokeswoman said the incident remains under investigation.

Both Carama, the director of the mayor of Lexington’s youth gun violence reduction program, and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear used the incident to call attention to high rates of gun violence.  

Meanwhile, a mass shooting was unfolding in Chicago, at around 7.15.pm. It left four injured, two critically, after a car pulled up beside a group walking along a sidewalk in the city’s Gresham neighborhood.

The victims, a 43-year-old man, a 34-year-old man, a 32-year-old woman and a man of unknown age, were all injured, after multiple occupants fired shots out of the windows before driving off. The incident is also under investigation. 

A mass shooting in Chicago at around 7.15.pm left four people injured, two critically, after a car pulled up beside a group walking along a sidewalk in the city’s Gresham neighborhood

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No arrests have been made in either incident.

A 19-year-old suspect was arrested Saturday evening, though, for a shooting that occurred at Virginia State University early Saturday and injured five, including a student.

The school, however, previously said in a statement that the shooting involved ‘multiple suspects.’

That shooting remains under investigation as well.

Suspected gunman Camron Harris is not a student and is from Virginia, Chesterfield County Police said in a statement shortly after making the arrest. Neither were four of the people injured.

The victims’ ages ranged from 17 to 23. Their names have not been released. The shooting occurred just after 1.30am and sent the campus into lockdown. One of the five wounded suffered critical injuries. 

The park plagued by gunfire in Kentucky, meanwhile, was in the midst of an outdoor concert event slated for six to 8pm, the Lexington Herald Leader first reported.   

Gov. Beshear was the first to confirm reports of the shooting, doing so during a speech in downtown Lexington at the Kentucky Democratic Party’s Moving Forward Together at the Hyatt Regency, not far away from the scene.

A 19-year-old suspect has been taken into custody for a shooting that occurred at Virginia State University early Saturday. The shooting injured five, including a student

‘To stop mass shootings, we have got to elect Democrats that will actually do something about it,’ Beshear said. 

Lexington Chief of Lexington Police Lawrence Weathers gave an update at the park as well, revealing that multiple children were among those shot in an update issued at the scene shortly thereafter.

It remains unclear whether a suspect was apprehended.

Weathers told reporters at the scene that he didn’t believe there was a threat to the public, the Herald Leader reported. 

A Lexington Police Department spokesperson told the Daily Mail the investigation was still active early Sunday morning.  

The University of Kentucky HealthCare reportedly sent an email to employees saying it was providing care to ‘multiple patients’ wounded during the ‘tragic shooting at Charles Young Park.’

Police were filmed making a perimeter around the park with their cruisers before sundown as well.

Chief Weathers told reporters: ‘If you know somebody who might be inclined to use a weapon, please do anything you can do to let us know before something happens.

‘Please let us know.’ 

The park plagued by gunfire in Kentucky was reportedly in the midst of an outdoor concert event slated for 6 to 8pm. At least 13 shots were fired, according to the hectic video

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The poster recalled parkgoers performing CPR and lifting young victims who had been shot 

Police descended on the park, where there was reportedly an outdoor concert in place, after witnesses reported gunshots at 6.48pm, police said – adding that they did not believe there was any more threat to the public

Carama, meanwhile, recalled parkgoers ‘trying to help with CPR,’ one lifting a young victim ‘who got shot,’ and ‘EMS responding to multiple victims in real time’ in posts to Facebook.

In the footage he shared, a woman can be heard screaming ‘my baby’ as bullets whiz by. 

‘This is not normal. We come together every year as a family and kick it on the Eastside and we haven’t had something like this happen, EVER,’ Carama added.

The temporary measure took effect on Friday (August 14) and follows a rise in blazes across England and Wales, which have already seen more incidents in 2026 than in the whole of 2025.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “The temporary ban on barbecues, disposable barbecues, comes in today.

“All retailers will be receiving notification of that ban, and we ask them to, obviously, implement it in full until further notice when we can remove it.”

This evening, an Emergency Alert has been sent to people across England and Wales as the wildfire risk remains very high. The request came directly from Fire and Rescue Services.

I was in Stourbridge today and saw first-hand the devastating impact these fires have had on…

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— Andy Burnham (@andyburnham) August 14, 2026

During a visit to Stourbridge where some houses had been destroyed by wildfire, he urged the public to avoid all open flames.

He said: “I would also want to say to the public, you can see what’s happening: 37 significant fires across England and Wales.

“Please do not light an open fire, a bonfire of any kind.”

The ban does not extend to Northern Ireland.

Disposable barbecues have been banned in England, Scotland and Wales, with Northern Ireland excluded (Image: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)

Which UK retailers have banned disposable barbecues from sale?

Many retailers had already stopped selling the products following advice from the British Retail Consortium and the National Fire Chiefs Council.

These include:

• Asda
• Co-op
• Home Bargains
• Morrisons
• The Range
• Sainsbury’s
• Tesco
• Wilko

Retailers Aldi, Lidl, Waitrose and M&S stopped selling disposable barbecues in 2022.

Why have disposable barbecues been banned?

Government guidance describes single-use barbecues as the cause of “a number of serious wildfires across the country over the summer months”.

This has been exacerbated by the prolonged hot and dry weather experienced recently in the UK.

The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade said on Friday: “Disposable barbecues cannot be considered a safe product in the context of the ongoing weather and environmental conditions and must not be made available for sale either in store or online at the current time.”

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “We want everyone to enjoy summer safely.

“With wildfire risks exceptionally high, we’re taking common-sense steps to protect lives and the environment.

“Disposable barbecues pose an obvious threat in the extreme conditions we’re experiencing, so we’re telling retailers who haven’t already stopped selling them to do so now.”

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Jon Pearce, Labour MP for High Peak, who campaigned for the ban, welcomed the decision and praised retailers who acted early.

He said: “This is an important step to help protect our countryside, wildlife, homes and communities.

“I will continue to push for action to reduce the risk of wildfires in the Peak District and across the country.”

Have you used a disposable barbecue before? Let us know in the comments.

Emergency services, including police and firefighters, were called to North Railway Street in Seaham after a fire broke out just before 9pm on Friday (August 14). 

Pictures taken from the scene showed roaring flames and thick black smoke pouring from the van, which was located at the back of the supermarket, as the sun went down. 

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service group manager Jon Singleton said the fire spread to nearby properties and fencing, but the extent of the damage is not yet known.

Two fire engines were sent to the scene and left at 10.30pm.

Mr Singleton said: “The time of call was 8.47pm and it was a van fire near the Aldi in Seaham.

“Two fire engines were sent to the scene because we received a call top say that it had spread to nearby properties and fencing. We left at 10.30pm.”

Flames were spotted pouring from a fire behind Seaham’s Aldi supermarket (Image: CONTRIBUTOR)

Dalton and Dawdon ward councillor Jack McGlenen said he was “saddened and extremely concerned” by the incident, which he described as a “very serious matter”. 

The cause of the blaze remains unknown at this time.

Cllr McGlenen said: “I will be contacting Cllr Chris Fairs and Cllr George Anderson to raise this with the relevant officers at Durham County Council. 

“I will also be speaking with our colleagues in Durham Police to understand what action is being taken and how we can work together to prevent incidents like this from happening again.

“Residents deserve to feel safe in their own community, and I will continue to raise these concerns and push for action. 

“I’ll keep residents updated as soon as I have further information.”

The force has been contacted for more information.

The number of pensioners living in poverty has been climbing steadily since reaching its lowest point in 2013/14, according to a major new analysis from LCP.

And the research suggests single pensioners are facing a particularly serious squeeze, with poverty rates now almost twice as high as among pensioner couples.

The report, Being single in retirement – a key issue for the Pensions Commission?, also found that two thirds of single pensioners living in poverty are women.

Steve Webb, report author and LCP partner, warned that the idea pensioner poverty had largely been dealt with was wrong: “Some of the discussion of the position of pensioners seems to imply that pensioner poverty is largely solved.”

But he said the figures showed the opposite was happening: “Since 2012/13, pensioner poverty has been rising steadily, predominantly amongst single pensioners.”

The overall pensioner poverty rate rose from 15.7% in 2012/13 to 18.6% in 2023/24, based on the consistent figures used by LCP.

Single pensioners face biggest risk

The research found poverty among single pensioners is now nearly double the rate recorded for pensioner couples.

While poverty among pensioner couples has remained relatively stable since 2012/13, it has climbed sharply among those living alone.

The fastest rise has been among people who have never married, followed by divorced pensioners.

There were 1.5 million divorced single pensioners in England and Wales in 2024, triple the number recorded in 2002.

There are also now around 800,000 single pensioners who have never married.

Sir Steve said the figures raise important questions about how the pension system deals with changing relationships and family structures: “Issues such as inadequate pension sharing at the end of a relationship and the continuing gender pension gap mean that women in particular are at higher risk of poverty in old age.”

Women are particularly vulnerable to pension poverty, says the report

With two thirds of single pensioners in poverty being women, LCP said policies aimed at increasing women’s independent retirement income could help reverse the trend.

Sir Steve said there were practical steps the Government could take: “But there are things we can do about this problem, including encouraging couples to share their pension wealth more easily.”

He also highlighted the changing nature of relationships in Britain, particularly the growth in couples who live together without marrying: “We also need to look at social changes such as the growth in cohabitation and understand what these means for later life finances.”

What could change and how could it influence pension sharing rules?

LCP has suggested several measures for the Government’s Pensions Commission to consider.

These include making it easier for a higher-earning partner to contribute to the pension of a lower-earning spouse or partner, with the lower earner potentially benefiting from higher-rate tax relief.

The report also calls for pension-sharing rules to be examined when long-term cohabiting relationships end.

Currently, there is no formal mechanism for pension sharing when an unmarried couple separates.

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Sir Steve said the issue should be given serious consideration as part of the Government’s review: “It is vitally important that the Pensions Commission looks in depth at these issues when drawing up its blueprint for the future of pensions.”

LCP also suggested reviewing whether the introduction of no-fault divorce in 2022 has affected pension sharing, while considering whether joint-life annuities should become the default.

The research comes as pension policy faces increasing scrutiny, with the figures highlighting the potential risks facing people who reach retirement without a partner’s pension wealth to rely on.

If you’re a fan of spaghetti bolognese (spag bol), there’s a simple method to make it even more decadent and flavourful. All you need is a key ingredient to take your dinner to the next level

Spaghetti bolognese (spag bol) is a firm favourite for many — yet there’s a straightforward technique you can use to make it even more delicious. All it takes is a key ingredient to elevate your evening meal to new heights, while simultaneously lending the sauce a far richer, deeper flavour.

For those who love food and take pleasure in cooking, this is a tip well worth keeping in mind, as it can truly transform the finished dish. After all, most of us occasionally seek out simple ways to breathe new life into our favourite recipes, and this particular method is a genuinely brilliant trick to have up your sleeve.

This isn’t the first time such advice has done the rounds, either. Previously, it was also claimed there is an additional ingredient capable of boosting the dish’s flavour considerably.

Allison Brentnall of Slimming World Kitchen believes the secret to a truly outstanding bolognese lies in a single ingredient that could make all the difference. She said: “Adding dried porcini mushrooms to this classic recipe adds depth of flavour in the sauce, and is good if you’re short on time.”

And that, it seems, is all there is to it. The technique is remarkably straightforward, and there’s a very good reason why it works so effectively.

Why it works

Adding dried porcini mushrooms to your spaghetti bolognese can significantly intensify its flavour profile. The ingredient introduces a wonderful umami depth while helping to develop a beautifully rich, complex sauce that is well worth the minimal effort involved.

Bear in mind that the mushrooms must be soaked in warm water prior to use. Upon purchase, the packet will contain instructions detailing exactly what to do.

Once they are ready, drain and roughly chop them before incorporating them into your dish. Adding them to the pot while it is simmering should result in an even more flavoursome meal.

Sometimes the smallest adjustments can have a significant impact on our cooking — and it turns out this is one such instance.

The recipe

You’ll need:

• 1 onion
• 1 pepper
• 1 carrot
• 120g chestnut mushrooms
• 2 garlic cloves
• 50 smoked bacon medallions
• ½ beef stock cube
• 5g dried porcini mushrooms
• 250g beef mince (5% fat or less)
• 200g pasta (wheat)
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• 400g chopped tomatoes

The recipe, according to Slimming World, is as follows:

• Peel the onions and finely dice, then deseed the pepper and dice into 1cm squares. Finely dice the carrots into 1cm cubes, and quarter the chestnut mushrooms. Peel and crush the garlic.
• On a separate board, trim any visible fat from the bacon medallions then roughly chop.
• Dissolve the stock in 200ml boiled water, add the dried porcini and leave to soak.
• Spritz a large non-stick frying pan with cooking spray and put it over a medium-high heat. Tip in the bacon and fry for two minutes. Add the mince and fry for five minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned all over. Remove the meat from the pan and set aside.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta in boiling water and then drain. At the same time, scoop the porcini from the stock and finely chop. Put the frying pan back over the heat and fry the onions, pepper, carrots, chestnut mushrooms, garlic, porcini and oregano for four to five minutes.
• Return the bacon and mince to the pan, add the tomato purée and cook for one minute. Pour in the stock and chopped tomatoes, lightly season and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Stir the pasta through the bolognese and serve.