Drivers in Ramsbottom have been warned to expect delays as a busy main road is due to shut overnight on Tuesday, March 3. A road closure on Bolton Road West (A676) is taking place so United Utilities can carry out urgent works.
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The block will be put in place between 8pm to 10pm near the junction with Ada Street so the water company can replace an access chamber cover. Diversion will be in place and will be ‘clearly signed’.
Residents will have to access Ada St, Smith St, and Mary St via Alfred St. Drivers can avoid the closure via Lumb Carr Rd.
Bury Council said the works have been planned in the evening ‘to reduce disruption’, including on the nearby Hazelhurst Community Primary School. But motorists are warned to ‘plan ahead and allow extra travel time’.
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The closure coincides with maintenance being carried out by BT between Cemetery Rd and Adelaide St, where temporary traffic lights are also in place.
The works should only take one evening to complete.
Emergency services were called to a crash between a car and train today (Tuesday, March 3)
A person has died after a crash involving a car and train. British Transport Police were called to the crash at around 10am today (Tuesday, March 3) at Dimmocks Cote level crossing in Ely.
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Officers and paramedics attended, but sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene. Another person is being treated for minor injuries.
A BTP spokesperson said: “BTP were called at around 10.15am this morning to reports of a collision involving a train and a car at Dimmocks Cote level crossing in Ely. Officers responded alongside paramedics and sadly a person has been pronounced dead at the scene.
“Enquiries are ongoing to identify the person and inform their next of kin. Another person is receiving treatment for minor injuries.
“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of what happened, any witnesses who haven’t already spoken to police are asked to text BTP on 61016 quoting the reference 198 of March 3.”
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As a result, rail passengers face a “major disruption” through Cambridgeshire.
There are currently no trains running between Cambridge and Ely, and disruption is expected until at least 4pm. The A1123 Newmarket Road is also closed in both directions whilst the incident is dealt with.
Lawn care season has arrived and experts say following four key steps this month will help create healthier grass in the months to come
Ellen Jenne Senior U35 Spare Time Writer and Tom Strowlger
12:15, 03 Mar 2026Updated 12:16, 03 Mar 2026
The lawn care season is upon us, which means it’s time to arm ourselves with the proper equipment and materials to achieve a verdant lawn. Having a few essential tools makes maintaining your lawn considerably simpler.
The process includes scarification, aeration, over-seeding and top dressing. The work you invest in your lawn now will reap rewards in the coming months.
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Your lawn grass is emerging from its winter slumber. If it’s grown long, you can give it an initial high cut. Ideally, we should scarify the lawn using a spring tine rake in early spring or a scarification rake from mid to late spring. Scarification involves raking the lawn to remove as much thatch and moss as you can, reports the Express.
This enables light and air to reach the living grass beneath. Following this, we can aerate the lawn by piercing it with a garden fork or aeration spiker. The holes ought to be four to six inches in depth and distributed across the entire lawn.
These perforations will ease ground compaction and allow fresh air to reach the existing grass roots.
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The ground is then prepared for spreading grass seed over the entire lawn or targeting bare and sparse areas as needed. The seed will settle into the ground and should be topped with a layer of lawn dressing.
Top dressing grass seed will support the germination process, introduce nutrients to the soil and shield seed from birds. Specialists at BLACK+DECKER recently revealed the optimal time to dust off the lawnmower and take on the lawn once more.
If you’re interested in purchasing top-notch grass seed, please visit www.bostonseeds.com and use the promotional code GWTLAWN2026 to receive a ten per cent discount on your order.
You can follow Tom on Instagram, TikTok and Youtube @garden_with_tom for more timely gardening advice and tips.
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One of the best BBC dramas of the late 2010s has just had all three seasons added to Netflix
Netflix is now streaming a three-season BBC drama that has left viewers feeling inspired.
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Starring some very familiar faces from the world of British TV and tackling challenging topics with care and sensitivity, The A Word deserves a place at the very top of your watchlist.
Breakout star Max Vento portrays Joe Hughes, a young boy whose dysfunctional family discovers he has autism.
Originally convinced he simply has hearing problems, parents Paul (played by Lee Ingleby) and Alison (Morven Christie) must learn to cope with Joe’s communication difficulties.
Meanwhile, Alison’s brother Eddie (Greg McHugh) and his wife Nicola (Vinette Robinson) are having issues of their own, whilst Joe’s grandfather Maurice (Christopher Eccleston), a widower with a rather blunt view of the world, must learn to adapt to the changes in his family.
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Filmed around the Lake District, the drama’s stellar cast also features other familiar faces, such as Death in Paradise’s Ralph Little, Inspector Morse icon Clare Holman, and Coronation Street’s Julie Hesmondhalgh.
Breakout star Aaron Pierre, who will next be seen in HBO’s DC superhero series Lanterns and led Netflix’s hit thriller Rebel Ridge, also makes an appearance in The A Word’s second season.
Fans have been raving about the hit BBC series even after it came to an end in 2020, so it is definitely not one to miss now it’s become even more widely available on Netflix.
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One fan on IMDb called the first season the “Best Program on TV” other than Game of Thrones. They raved in a 10/10 review: “There are not enough dramas featuring this issue, and the lad who plays Joe needs recognition for how well he plays the part – true to life.
“From the start of this program, to the end, it has had me in tears due to how it mirrors my family’s life – with a child who is Autistic, going through the diagnosis, coping with relatives and friends’ views on this. And the strain it places on your relationships is very well portrayed.”
Another fan called it “The best drama I’ve ever seen”, adding: “I have just binge watched the three series over the past few days. Couldn’t stop watching it. It was so well acted by all. So believable.”
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“Wonderful show beautifully portraying a tough topic,” someone else wrote.
“Amazing show, portrays Autism Spectrum Disorder really well,” they went on. “The child playing Joe is brilliant, his acting is so authentic. The entire cast does a wonderful job getting down to the root of emotions that follow a ASD diagnosis.
Get Netflix free with Sky for Bridgerton Season 4
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‘Dearest gentle reader’, as the fourth season of Bridgerton follows second son Benedict love story, there’s a way to watch this fairytale-like season for less.
Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan. This lets customers watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes the new season of Bridgerton.
“The dry humour and authentic setting really draws in the viewer. Such a welcome contrast to the bright shiny TV Hollywood pumps out, this show is television at its best.”
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And a final fan said: “A must watch for every family. The series is very interesting and I believe that every family should watch it because there is lots to learn.
“I enjoy each and every moment of the drama. I am really thankful to all the people who have made this possible.”
Whether you’re keen to learn more about autism or are simply after a compelling new drama for your next streaming session, Netflix has you covered with this eye-opening series.
The A Word is available to stream on Netflix.
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For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website.
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Yesterday, Monday, was National Offer Day, meaning pupils in their final year of primary school have discovered where they will spend the next five years of their education.
The proportion of pupils receiving their first choice is the highest in three years, at nearly 87%. Overall, 97% of Year 6 pupils were offered one of their preferred choices.
Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Cllr Martin Donaghy, said: “An offer has been made to every child who has applied for a place in Bolton.”
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More pupils have received their first choice this year, with the figure now standing at 86.7% (3,688).
Eight per cent (341) received their second preference.
First-choice allocations are up by just over 100 compared with last year, while second preferences are down by around 100.
For third preference, 2.2% (93) of Year 6 pupils received this outcome, down by 13 compared with last year.
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Pupils with no preference accounted for 3.1% (131), a decrease of nearly 70 from last year.
Cllr Donaghy added: “These figures reflect the hard work of the council and local schools to increase both the number and variety of places on offer.”
The total number of pupils was lower this year, at 4,253 — down by 72 from 2025, which had also seen a decline compared with 2024.
Parents or carers wishing to appeal a decision must contact the school’s admission authority, which is responsible for organising the appeal panel.
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Details of a school’s admission authority can be found on the local council’s website.
The panel is independent and considers the case presented by both the admission authority and the parent before deciding whether the school should admit the child.
The deadline for appeals is Monday, March 30.
Decisions by the appeal panel are binding — if an appeal is upheld, the admission authority must offer the child a place at the school.
The actor also played Bert Fry on Radio 4’s The Archers for 25 years
Husna Anjum Senior Live News Reporter
11:49, 03 Mar 2026
Eric Allan, one of the earlier stars of Emmerdale, has passed away after over 25 years on screen. The veteran actor died at age 85, he played Frank Blakey back when the soap was known as Emmerdale Farm.
After leaving the show in 1974 after his character married Janie Harker in Emmerdale’s first ever wedding, Eric became a soap familiar after playing farmer, Bert Fry, on Radio 4’s The Archers for 25 years. He took over the role of Bert from Roger Hume, who had died the previous year.
The Mirror reports Eric reflected on his career in 2021, saying of Bert: “He’s the character the production team tend to turn to if the storylines are getting too depressing and a bit of light relief is called for.”
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The star, who leaves behind wife, Susan, and their son and daughter, was also known for film, Bleak Moments and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series. His other notable TV roles included playing tabloid sports editor opposite David Warner in the BBC series Hold the Back Page in 1985.
Eric also starred as Les Fox, one of Bet Lynch’s boyfriends in Coronation Street in 1977 and also played guest roles in Z Cars, The New Avengers, Bergerac, The Bill and EastEnders. Born in 1940, Eric grew up in Yorkshire and Wolverhampton, but his family moved to Canada when he was 15.
The actor returned to the UK when he was 18 to study at famed drama school, RADA. He started out in the industry in Leicester and Nottingham theatres, before spending several years with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
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There, Eric worked with director, Mike Leigh, and played the lead in his controversial first feature film, Bleak Moments. In the film, Eric played Peter, the repressed suitor of socially awkward Sylvia (Anne Raitt).
The film was notorious for its scenes of toe-curlingly awkward dating, but, still, audiences loved the characters: “When Anne Raitt says to Eric Allan, ‘I was thinking it would be great if you took your trousers off,’ Leigh recalled of one screening, “well, the audience let out the most almighty cheer.”
Eric also played the quarryman in Leigh’s television film Nuts in May (1976), and appeared in many of Leigh’s stage plays. Writing in his book Mike Leigh on Mike Leigh, the director shared: “Eric is an extremely nice man.”
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Upcoming episodes will see her character Diane tell friends that she’s been diagnosed with ovarian cancer before finding the strength to tell her husband Tony
Hollyoaks star Alex Fletcher says she has ‘mixed emotions’ about leaving the Channel 4 soap after 16 years, but is excited to do something ‘completely different’ in the future.
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The actress – best known for her role as mum-of-four Diane Hutchinson – made the tough decision to quit the show last year. She’s now eyeing up roles on a comedy or period drama.
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She told the BBC: “My agent’s working really hard behind scenes. It’d be nice for me to do something completely different. I’d love to do a comedy or I’d like to be a scullery maid in the kitchens in a period drama.”
Alex, who found fame as Jacqui Dixon in Brookside in 1990, said it was her choice to leave the show. She explained: “I just thought the character has done everything. Life is really not a rehearsal and I thought ‘if I don’t do it this year, when am I going to do it?’”
Upcoming episodes will see her character Diane tell friends Nancy Osborne (Jessica Fox) and Leela Lomax (Kirsty-Leigh Porter) that she’s been diagnosed with ovarian cancer before finding the strength to tell her husband Tony, played by Nick Pickard.
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Whilst chemotherapy is an option, the doctors are not sure how affective it will be. Unfortunately, ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at a later stage, when survival is at its lowest.
At the earlier stages, symptoms can be subtle and often mistaken for other issues such as IBS or menopause, and symptoms of late-stage disease can still be nonspecific. Alex says it’s been difficult to film the storyline but hopes it’ll encourage viewers to “prioritise their health”.
She previously said: “This storyline has been a completely new challenge for me and something I’ve never explored before. Unfortunately, in some way or another many of us have been touched by cancer, I know my family certainly has this past year, so the storyline can be very relatable.
“At times it’s been difficult to film but I’m glad that Hollyoaks are telling this story and raising awareness about ovarian cancer, with the hope that it encourages people to prioritise their health.”
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Hollyoaks have worked closely with the charity Ovarian Cancer Action who have advised on the storyline throughout the writing process. According to their studies, more than 75% of affected women are diagnosed at an advanced stage of ovarian cancer.
Cary Wakefield, Chief. Executive of Ovarian Cancer Action, said: “Ovarian cancer frequently goes unseen and undiagnosed until it’s too late, and often with life-changing consequences.
“We’re proud to partner with Hollyoaks to highlight the realities of this awful disease through a character so many viewers care deeply about. Our hope is that this powerful storyline prompts more women to recognise the symptoms and be empowered to seek help sooner.”
Alex’s uncle, John, is undergoing cancer treatment himself. She says “thankfully the treatment is working” and hopes the family “will be ringing the bell soon.”
Expert said prices are soaring now and he told energy customers to switch off price cap to fixed tariffs immediately
Martin Lewis has urged customers of energy firms including E.On, British Gas, OVO and Octopus to switch their tariffs ‘right now’. The money-saving guru issued the warning as gas and oil prices rocketed amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
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Oil prices have climbed further as the Middle East conflict entered its fourth day, triggering stock market falls across the UK and Europe on concerns about a protracted war. Gas prices on Monday also jumped at their fastest rate since the Ukraine war began, surging 52% after Qatar suspended liquified natural gas production following Iranian attacks, with a further 20% rise on Tuesday.
Fears are growing over steep increases in petrol costs and household energy bills, which could hit UK families hard in the months ahead.
Writing on X, Mr Lewis warned: “Important: If you can get off the Energy Price Cap right now, you should and urgently!”
“The wholesale gas rate is spiking due to the Iran conflict, and it is a prime driver or UK elec prices. If that’s sustained (big if), it will likely push the Price Cap rate up from July
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“- Some of the cheap fixes from before the weekend haven’t (yet) been pulled, so you can still lock in a rate at around 14% less than the current Price Cap, both saving you money and giving peace of mind that the rate can’t rise. You can do a whole-of-market comparison via http://cheapenergyclub.com
“- However, many firms are reassessing their fix prices today and may reprice their deals upward. There’s a risk many of the current cheapest fixes will be gone by this time tomorrow””- Plus, fix now, and unprecedentedly the rate you lock in at will be reduced on 1 April. This is because govt is changing the underlying way energy bills work and moving some policy costs to general taxation. That reduces the elec and gas unit rates even for those already on fixes. So even if you fix now the amount you pay will drop by 7% to 9% on typical usage on 1 April.
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“- Fixes are available for most payment methods except prepay. Those on smart prepay can look at the EDF Simply Tracker tariff, which is effectively a price cap tariff with £100 lower Standing Charges (and £70 extra cashback on top via the link above)””PS How to know if you’re on a Price Cap? The Price Cap only applies to firms’ Standard Variable tariffs. It’s the default tariff you’re on if you haven’t chosen another deal, or your deal (eg a fix) ended and you did nothing. If you’re fixed, on an EV tariff, a time of use tariff, or other specialist tariff, you are not on the Price Cap.”
Meanwhile, Brent crude climbed a further 4% on Tuesday, reaching a 12-month peak of almost 81 US dollars per barrel following Iran’s move to obstruct a vital shipping channel for oil tankers, whilst London’s FTSE 100 Index tumbled sharply, dropping over 2% during morning trade. An Iranian official has reportedly issued warnings to vessels in the Strait of Hormuz that no ships would be permitted passage, forming part of Tehran’s retaliation to a US and Israeli military offensive against Iran, which has persisted following an initial attack that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday.
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Oil prices surged by as much as 13% during Monday trading, climbing above 82 dollars per barrel, before retreating slightly. Across financial markets, the FTSE 100 plunged 2.2% or 240.2 points to 10539.9, following a 1.2% fall on Monday, with comparable drops throughout Europe as Germany’s Dax shed 3% and France’s Cac 40 declined 1.8% on Tuesday.
This follows US President Donald Trump’s caution that military action against Iran might extend “far longer” than the originally anticipated four-to-five-week period. Aviation shares faced continued battering due to flight cancellations stemming from the crisis, whilst banking stocks also weakened amid concerns about wider economic consequences.
Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at the Wealth Club, commented: “Downbeat sentiment is pervading equity markets as the conflict in the Middle East escalates, with global repercussions. “London’s FTSE 100 has fallen deeper into the red as the war widens and companies assess the impact of severe disruption across the region on their operations. “
Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, suggested the slowdown in oil price increases indicates “a more sanguine approach to the implications of the US/Iran situation”. “Oil price spikes usually follow conflict outbreaks, but the fact remains that escalation and duration is more of a concern than the immediate outlook,” he said.
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Tehran’s warnings regarding the Strait of Hormuz have raised concerns that oil prices will keep climbing steeply, given the waterway handles roughly a fifth of global oil supplies and seaborne gas transported by tankers.Gas prices on Monday also jumped at their fastest rate since the Ukraine war began, surging 52% after Qatar suspended liquified natural gas production following Iranian attacks, and climbed a further 20% on Tuesday.
Worries have intensified over sharp increases in petrol costs and household energy bills, which could hit UK families hard in the months ahead. The effect on fuel prices has already been severe, with the Strait of Hormuz blockage pushing the cost of chartering an oil supertanker to transport crude from the Middle East to China to a record high of nearly £300,000 on Monday.Ms Streeter said: “The resilience of global shipping is once again being tested and, as the crisis widens, more carriers are halting transits through the Red Sea.
“”This will add significant time and cost to journeys, risking further snarls in supply chains. “.
Get Funded, part of the Mayor’s Business Innovation Fund and backed by £200,000 in funding, launched today (Tue) and will run for the next two years until December 2027.
The programme offers small and medium businesses practical support to help them understand their funding options, strengthen financial planning and prepare competitive applications for grants, loans or investment.
It is open to businesses based in York and North Yorkshire looking to grow, whether it’s scaling capacity, expanding operations, or improving their chances of external funding.
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David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “We’re home to incredible businesses with great ideas, but they need more than that to grow, they need investment.
“So we’re backing business by giving them the tools they need, taking a big step forward in my mission to back ambition and make this region the best place to start and grow a business.
“Get Funded is about breaking down one of the biggest barriers that holds back too many of our small and medium businesses back.”
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The Get Funded programme begins with a short introductory webinar and continues through a structured series of specialist workshops.
In addition, 24 businesses will be selected for in-depth one-to-one coaching to accelerate their investment readiness.
York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority has appointed business finance and advice company UMi to run the programme.
Nicki Clark, Chief Executive at UMi, said: “We are excited to be working with the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority to bring the Get Funded Programme to the region, improving access to finance and the opportunities that presents to local businesses.
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“UMi has a strong track-record of working within the funding ecosystem, and with our extensive experience in grant delivery and investor readiness, we believe this is a fantastic opportunity to help businesses overcome financial barriers and receive the specialist support they need to grow.”
Small and medium businesses across the region are encouraged to register early to secure their place.
The Business Innovation Fund is made up of five programmes, supporting Sector Activity, Spin-Out and Start-Ups, Get Exporting and Great Ideas. Get Funded is the final of the programmes to launch.
The facilities at Seaton Carew, located next to Sandy Car Park, were targeted overnight on Friday, February 27.
A hammer is believed to have been used to smash the card reader units on each door, although the vandals did not gain access to the toilets themselves.
A hammer is believed to have been used to smash the card reader units on each door. (Image: Hartlepool Borough Council)
The Seaton Carew toilet block was opened by Hartlepool Borough Council in 2024 as a replacement for outdated facilities at the nearby Clock Tower.
Councillor Owen Riddle, Chair of the Council’s Neighbourhoods and Regulatory Services Committee, said: “The toilets are a cashless facility so there is no money on site.
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“I can’t believe that people would stoop so low as to damage valuable public facilities in such a mindless way.
“I would ask anyone who witnessed the vandalism or who noticed anyone acting suspiciously in the area on Friday night/Saturday morning to contact Cleveland Police on 101.
“We will strive to get repairs carried out as quickly as possible, but it is inevitable that the toilets will be closed for a period of time.”
The damaged card readers will need to be removed and repaired off-site before being reinstalled, meaning the toilets will remain out of use for several weeks.
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The risk of further vandalism makes it unsafe to leave the facility unlocked during repairs.
The new single-storey building includes nine standard unisex cubicles, two accessible cubicles, and a Changing Places unit that caters for people with significant disabilities.
The Changing Places unit, which operates with a Radar key instead of a card reader, remains open.
Anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area around the time of the incident is urged to contact Cleveland Police on 101.
Since 2020, Osman has written his cosy crime series of novels, publishing its latest edition The Impossible Fortune in September last year, having released The Thursday Murder Club (2020), The Man Who Died Twice (2021), The Bullet That Missed (2022), and The Last Devil To Die (2023).
