The scheme is designed to help people with disabilities or health conditions park closer to their destination.

Additionally, it allows people to park in specified Blue Badge parking spaces at supermarkets and other places.

The Blue Badge is linked to a person rather than a specific vehicle, so it can be used with any car.

If you’re using a Blue Badge to park on the street, you may need to use a clock alongside it.

When do you need to use a clock for a Blue Badge?

When you park on yellow lines or in other places where there is a time restriction, you need to display the blue parking clock to show your time of arrival.

“The clock should be set to show the quarter hour period during which you arrived,” the Government website shares.

“If you need to use a parking clock, you must display it on the vehicle’s dashboard or facia panel, so that the time can be seen clearly through the front windscreen.

“If there is no dashboard or facia panel in your vehicle, you must still display the clock in a place where it can be clearly read from outside the vehicle.”

If you don’t have the clock displayed, you may receive a parking ticket.

The parking clock is usually sent with the Blue Badge.

If not, you can request one from the same council that issued the badge.

Where can Blue Badge holders park?

A valid Blue Badge can provide a range of parking concessions, including:

• Parking in designated disabled bays.
• Free parking at many on-street pay-and-display bays – those on public roads administered by the council, not private companies.
• Parking on single or double yellow lines for up to three hours where loading restrictions do not apply – although check with your local council as this can vary.
• Access to council-operated disabled parking concessions, depending on local rules.

These concessions generally do not automatically extend to private supermarket or retail park car parks.

Recommended reading:

Who can use a Blue Badge?

“The badge is for your use and benefit only,” the Government website shares.

“It must only be displayed if you are travelling in the vehicle as a driver or passenger, or if someone is collecting you or dropping you off and needs to park at the place where you are being collected or dropped.”

It is important you don’t allow other people to use the badge to do something on your behalf, such as shopping or collecting something for you.

Have you used a parking clock alongside a Blue Badge? Let us know in the comments.

The driver and passenger in the car were uninjured

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A man has died in a crash involving an e-scooter and a car in Co Meath.

The rider of the e-scooter, an unidentified male, was pronounced dead at the scene on the Kentstown Road in Navan at about 1.45am on Sunday. His body has been taken to the mortuary at Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan.

The driver and passenger in the car, a man in his 60s and a man in his 20s respectively, were both uninjured.

The road was closed for a forensic examination and local diversions are in place.

Gardaí are appealing to any witnesses to come forward.

In a separate incident, a teenage man died in a single-vehicle crash in Co Tipperary in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The incident took place on the L4101 at Lanespark, Ballynonty, Thurles, and gardaí are also appealing for witnesses.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Manchester Day returns today in a colourful celebration of the city with a host of free family-friendly events taking place. Events kick off from 12 noon across Manchester’s civic squares, before the grand parade which will snake through the city centre’s streets from 1pm.

This year there will be a Catalan twist, to celebrate the city’s cultural ties with Barcelona. Manchester Day has become a huge event in the city ever since it was first launched in 2010.

The parade may be the centrepiece of the day, but there’s lots more happening to with roaming performers, musical performances and free activities across Sunday in the city centre. The main focus of activities will be on St Peter’s Square, Albert Square, St Ann’s Square, Exchange Square, Brazennose Street and Lincoln Square.

Click here for the latest on Manchester’s food & drink scene, gigs and more in our CityLife newsletter

Indeed, the event will be the first time Albert Square has been in use for Manchester Day since the Grade I Town Hall was closed for restoration in 2018. The square will also host the all-singing and dancing finale taking place here at 4.35pm to 5pm.

We will be bringing you live updates from the events across the city, including a full live stream of the event’s centrepiece – the grand parade at 1pm.

The parade will include a host of performers from Spain, in a collaboration follows Manchester’s role as guest city at last year’s iconic La Mercè festival in Barcelona, the first-ever English guest city chosen by Barcelona officials to take part in the annual event.

There will be over 550 performers on the parade, which will feature 25 community groups from across the city and beyond all celebrating Manchester’s rich cultural heritage.

Led by Manchester’s giant-sized Queen Bee and Worker Bee, the parade will also include giant puppets – the gegants – on their first ever trip outside of Spain, as well as bold costumes inspired by Catalan tradition.

Inspired also by this year’s National Year of Reading, expect plenty of nods to famous books in the parade too.

A further 55,000 people have been evacuated from six towns in France, as wildfires which have caused devastation across the country pick up pace.

The most recent evacuations took place in towns to the south of Bordeaux, in the Gironde region.

Wildfires have raged across Europe over the past week, primarily France and Spain, where more than 330,000 people have been evacuated.

France has been worst-affected, with an area of 42,000 hectares burnt, making it one of the largest forest fires since World War Two. About 98,000 hectares have burnt across the country since the start of the year.

Captain Nicolas Braz, one of the leaders of the firefighting operation, said the fire had created “its own winds – complete with whirlwinds”, adding it was “erratic and unmanageable”.

France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Sunday the situation in the region remained “very unfavourable” and the wildfire was “moving erratically towards the Bordeaux metropolitan area”.

Dry vegetation and brisk winds are causing the fire to spread, with 60km (37 miles) of the A63 motorway, which leads to Spain, having been closed.

In an interview published on Sunday by La Tribune, Nunez said it “will take a long time to bring under control” and until it is contained “there will be no return” for evacuated residents and tourists.

France has mobilised its military to help with the response and extra reinforcements from the army have been sent to help firefighters by clearing brush and creating fire breaks.

President Emmanuel Macron said France would “rebuild” and his government would “be there for as long as is needed”.

Meanwhile in Spain, fires continue to spread, with more than 90,000 evacuated from the regions around Madrid and Ávila.

Late on Saturday, at least eight municipalities near Toledo were also ordered to evacuate, though it was unclear how many people were involved.

Sunday is expected to bring high temperatures and low humidity, potentially allowing the fire to spread further.

Madrid’s regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso described the situation as the “worst fire in the history of the region”.

Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez admitted there were “complex times ahead”. Meanwhile, authorities in València confirmed the death of a man in a fire.

They have also confirmed the signing of Christos Tzolis and are set to make a £70million bid for Bruno Guimaraes after agreeing personal terms with the Newcastle captain. Defenders Ezri Konsa, John Stones and Jacobo Ramon are of interest too, amid ongoing links to the likes of Julian Alvarez, Bradley Barcola and Marcus Rashford. Man United have been boosted in their pursuit of Aurelien Tchouameni, with Real Madrid team-mate Eduardo Camavinga also on their midfield radar alongside Carlos Baleba, Manu Kone, Sander Berge, Danilo and Tyler Adams.

Midazolam and morphine, both injectable end-of-life medication, were reported stolen from a property on Charles Street in Redcar on Saturday afternoon, July 25.

Cleveland Police said the drugs could cause serious harm in the wrong hands and urged anyone who may have taken them to attend A&E immediately.

A spokesperson for Cleveland Police said: “We’re appealing for information after potentially lethal medication was stolen from an address in Redcar.

“The midazolam and morphine, which were reported as stolen from the property on Charles Street in Redcar this afternoon, Saturday, July 25, are both injectable end-of-life medication.

“They could cause serious harm in the wrong hands and anyone who may have taken it should report to A&E immediately.”

Anyone with information about the incident has been asked to call 101, quoting reference SE26147136.

Andy Burnham has ruled out calling an early general election and said he will ‘honour’ Keir Starmer’s manifesto.

The new Prime Minister insisted he ‘faced the public’ in the Makerfield by-election and had a mandate for his sweeping changes to the country.

Burnham was speaking after a busy first week in the top job, during which he pledged to roll out the biggest changes the UK has seen in four years.

He has already announced a nationwide single fare bus cap at £2 and plans to scrap VAT on household electricity bills.

The BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg put it to Burnham that 48 million people in the electorate had not had a say on his ideas.

Asked if he would rule out an early general election, the new PM replied: ‘There is no general election.

‘People voted for a manifesto. We are in a parliamentary democracy. That is what people voted for and I will honour that manifesto.

‘I have faced the public in Makerfield. At the time I stood forward in the by-election, people said “oh my goodness, that constituency voted Reform in May, that is a risk.”

‘I went and faced the public and I went out onto those doorsteps. I have done that I have got the support of colleagues in Parliament.’

Asked for a second time if he would rule it out, he said: ‘I am going to rule it out. There’s no early general election. I do not think people want it.

‘Well, the opinion polls might say some people do, some people don’t. What I need to do is get Britain focused on getting the country back where it should be.’

Burnham’s vow means the country should not face a general election until 2029, five years after Keir Starmer swept to power in 2024.

There had been speculation that the new PM would want to go to the polls after he wiped out Reform’s poll leader almost immediately after entering No 10.

According to research from DeltaPoll, both parties are now on 28%, ahead of the Tories who languish behind on 18%.

However it could now be politically tricky for Burnham to break his promise not to hold an early ballot.

Theresa May repeatedly ruled out an early election after she became leader in 2016, and then faced backlash when she called one a year later.

During his interview, Burnham was also grilled on his relationship with Donald Trump.

He twice refused to answer the question whether he trusted the US president.

Instead, he answered: ‘It’s a changing world isn’t it, and you just obviously have to call things as they develop.’

Burnham added: ‘I can’t at any point say that I won’t take a different opinion from him [Trump], that I will need to voice a different idea that is right for Britain.’

Speaking from No 10 North, Burnham would also not commit to a date when the government would spend 3% of GDP on defence.

His new Chancellor, John Healey, resigned from Starmer’s government over their refusal to hit the benchmark.

Burnham said: ‘I appointed my new chancellor very aware of what he had said about the critical importance of defence spending and the position that he had taken about that.

‘The first challenge facing us both is to ensure that the defence investment plan is fully funded and that’s the thing that’s right in front of us and we need to work that through as we go towards the budget later this year.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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Nina Fallon said her 14-week-old son Enzo-Adane was a ‘perfectly healthy’ baby when he died unexpectedly just a day after a nurse said the infant was ‘thriving’

A mum has described her heartbreak after her baby son died just one day after a nurse said he was “thriving” at a routine check-up.

Nina Fallon said her 14-week-old son Enzo-Adane was a “perfectly healthy” baby when he died unexpectedly from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Just a day earlier, the infant had attended his three-month health check where a nurse reassured Nina, 24, that he was developing well. The next morning, Enzo-Adane was tragically found unresponsive by his father, Adane-Joshua, 25.

“The day before he passed away, he had a visit to the nurse for his three month check up and she said he was perfect and thriving,” Nina, a hotel chef from Dublin, said.

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“Me and his dad are together but not living with each other at the minute so the last time I saw Enzo-Adane, I dropped him off as usual.

“Everything was normal. He would wake up twice in the night and nap through the day. Adane-Joshua gave him a bottle at 5am and when he checked on him at 8am he was unresponsive.”

She added: “I was having my morning coffee and he called me in hysterics saying that Enzo-Adane wasn’t breathing. I was freaking out and just wanted to get to the hospital as fast as I could.”

Emergency services arranged a police escort to get Nina to her son as quickly as possible. When she arrived, around 15 medics had surrounded the tot and were desperately trying to save his life.

Nina, who is also mum to three-year-old Eden-Asher, said: “Seeing him surrounded by all those doctors was petrifying. He was so fragile and tiny. They worked on him for an hour and I told them to leave him alone.

“I knew he wasn’t coming back after an hour of them trying and his body was so little. I didn’t want them on him pounding anymore. I just wanted him to be left alone.

“They’d done everything they could but he’d been gone for too long. Enzo-Adane wasn’t coming back, I knew that in my heart and I just wanted him to be at peace.”

The mum said she was in “overdrive” as she struggled to come to terms with the child’s death, which came 10 days before he was due to be christened.

“They handed him to me and I held him and kissed him for half an hour,” she said. “It was heartbreaking. I was so confused and I just didn’t understand. Then we had to wait for answers and that was hell.

“He was supposed to be getting christened 10 days after he passed away so I went from arranging his christening to arranging his funeral. I was in overdrive.”

An autopsy carried out after Enzo-Adane’s death in September last year eventually confirmed that he had died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Nina said: “It was just complete shock. We’d never experienced SIDs in our family. It broke my heart even more when we found out.

“It was hard to accept and even harder that there was no one to point the finger at. I’ll just always have to question why this happened.”

Nina said the reality of losing her son has only recently begun to sink in.

“Life without him is so hard,” she said. “I miss him every day. He was such a happy baby and he loved socialising. He was so advanced – he was laughing at two months old.

“Enzo-Adane was spunky and he completed the family. Only the last couple of months has reality kicked in that he’s no longer here.

“Luckily, Eden-Asher was so young that he didn’t know what was going on, but I let him see Enzo and kiss him goodbye before the funeral.

“He knew in a way – you could tell because kids are smarter than we think. Eden-Asher is the only thing that’s kept me going. If I didn’t have him, I don’t know where I’d be.”

Enzo-Adane was born on June 5, 2025, following a healthy pregnancy with no complications.

Nina said: “Enzo-Adane was a surprise and I was nervous because Eden-Asher was still young and I would have two under two.

“It was a quick, smooth birth that only took an hour and there were no complications or issues. When I held Enzo-Adane for the first time, all the nerves faded away. He was perfect.

“I’d been hoping for a boy for my older son and Eden-Asher was over the moon when he met his little brother,” she said.

Nina hopes her story will raise awareness that SIDS can strike without warning.

“There’s just no warning,” she said. “I was so strict. There were no toys or blankets in the cot and he was always flat on his back.

“You can do everything you’re supposed to do and this can still happen.”

The government watchdog has issued its lates verdicts on schools across the region

Government watchdog Ofsted has released its last school gradings before the summer break. Education settings across Greater Manchester have received a mixture of praise and cautions, as some schools are told to do more to tackle low attendance or combat incidences of bullying.

Schools such as The Greens ENS and Progress Schools Gorton were celebrated for helping youngsters who’ve suffered disrupted schooling rediscover a joy for learning by approaching pupils with ‘patience, care and humour’. And St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Stockport was named a ‘safe haven’ for Greater Manchester pupils of all backgrounds for its pupils ‘abundance of tolerance’.

Other headteachers were told aspects of their schools – from achievement to behaviour – ‘need attention’.

The schools are graded using Ofsted’s ‘new look’ report cards. The watchdog has moved away from one-word summaries like ‘good’, ‘outstanding’, or ‘requires improvement’.

Instead inspectors give a descriptive assessment aimed at guardians that ‘gives a clearer picture of what’s working well and where the next steps for improvement are’. The report cards show colour-coded grades for different areas like ‘attendance and behaviour’, ‘achievement’, ‘personal development and well-being’, and ‘inclusion’.

These areas on a new scale of ‘exceptional’, ‘strong standard’, ‘expected standard’, ‘needs attention’ and ‘urgent improvement’.

Here are all the inspections published for Greater Manchester SEND, primary and secondary schools in the period between July 10 to July 24. The reports are by borough in alphabetical order. Not all boroughs are inspected during each period.

Manchester

The Greens ENS

202 Droylsden Road, Newton Heath, Manchester

Report published: July 15

Expected standard:

• Attendance and behaviour
• Personal development and wellbeing

Needs Attention:

• Achievement
• Curriculum and teaching
• Inclusion
• Leadership and governance

Inspector’s Comments:

Many of the kids at Greens ENS had very low attendance at their previous schools, but now attend school regularly. The trusting relationships between staff and pupils help the kids feel safe and reach out for help in times of need.

They also benefit from tailored support to learn how to self-regulate their emotions. As a result, the school is typically calm and orderly, with pupils engaged in their learning activities.

However, pupils do not consistently receive the support or high-quality teaching that they need to learn successfully.

Progress Schools Gorton

Hideout Youth Zone, 1 Queens Avenue, Manchester

Report published: July 15

Expected standard:

• Achievement
• Attendance and behaviour
• Curriculum and teaching
• Inclusion
• Leadership and governance
• Personal development and wellbeing

Inspector’s Comments:

Pupils at this school typically arrive after disrupted schooling and don’t value education. Yet, with patience, care and humour, staff help pupils to feel safe, welcome, understood and cherished. Pupils develop a deep sense of belonging to the school, which they describe as a family. They know that staff will not give up on them and, over time, many strive to make staff proud.

All of the pupils have special educational needs that are well understood by staff. Youngsters receive the support they need to progress through the curriculum and many successfully transition back into mainstream education once leaving the setting.

Oldham

Bright Future School

Friezland Lane, Greenfield, Oldham

Report published: July 10

Strong standard:

• Personal development and wellbeing

Expected standard:

• Achievement
• Attendance and behaviour
• Curriculum and teaching
• Inclusion
• Leadership and governance

Inspector’s Comments:

Pupils at Bright Future School rarely miss a day and are keen to learn. The staff are caring and understand pupils’ special educational needs well. Leaders ensure that activities are expertly adapted to meet pupils’ differing needs, strengths and interests.

Christ Church CofE Primary School

Ellen House, Waddington Street, Oldham

Report published: June 23

Expected standard:

• Attendance and behaviour
• Inclusion
• Personal development and wellbeing

Needs Attention:

• Achievement
• Curriculum and teaching
• Early years
• Leadership and governance

Inspector’s Comments:

This is a friendly and nurturing school where pupils demonstrate positive ‘can do’ attitudes’. There’s a warm and trusting relationship between staff, pupils and families create a secure sense of belonging.

But at times, kids don’t learn as well as they could because some lessons are not carefully considered. This includes children in the early years, who sometimes find the content of the curriculum too challenging.

Salford

St Luke’s RC Primary School

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Swinton Park Road, Salford

Report published: July 14

Strong standard:

Expected standard:

• Achievement
• Attendance and behaviour
• Curriculum and teaching
• Inclusion
• Leadership and governance
• Personal development and wellbeing

Inspector’s Comments:

Kids feel they belong at St Luke’s, where relationships with adults and peers are warm and friendly. They achieve well and talk confidently about what they learn.

Staff provide good pastoral care, supporting pupils who are more vulnerable to gain self-confidence. The school’s “LUKIES” values, which include being loving, kind and inclusive, help to shape a culture where everyone is welcomed, cared for and valued equally.

The school also successfully removes barriers to learning, including for disadvantaged kids and those with SEND.

St Paul’s CofE Primary School

Nevile Road, Salford

Report published: July 16

Strong standard:

Expected standard:

• Achievement
• Curriculum and teaching
• Early years
• Leadership and governance
• Personal development and wellbeing

Needs attention:

Inspector’s Comments:

Youngsters arrive at school happily and quickly settle into learning. They practice important skills such as handwriting and mathematical skills, and perform well in national tests. Pupils are supported well, including those who experience barriers to learning.

Pupils enjoy school. However, attendance is currently a concern for some.

Stockport

Greave Primary School

St James Way, Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle, Cheshire

Report published: July 10

Expected standard:

• Achievement
• Attendance and behaviour
• Curriculum and teaching
• Early years
• Inclusion
• Leadership and governance
• Personal development and wellbeing

Inspector’s Comments:

Greave Primary School has calm and purposeful routines and a harmonious playground. Kids are encouraged to take on roles of responsibilities such as ‘rights rangers’ and ‘restorartive champions’ who help settle disputes between their peers. Staff also help kids sensitively with pastoral issues, supporting them to make their own decisions.

Leaders are ambitious for pupils to excel academically and personally, and most kids have a positive attitude to learning. Pupils’ attainment has improved over time and is now broadly in line with national averages.

Acorns School

19b Hibbert Lane, Marple, Stockport

Report published: July 14

Expected standard:

Attendance and behaviour

Personal development and wellbeing

Needs attention:

• Achievement
• Curriculum and teaching
• Inclusion
• Leadership and governance

Inspector’s Comments:

Whether playing games together, such as ‘chase’ or chess, or sitting quietly and talking, the warmth and high regard between staff and pupils shines through their interactions. These positive relationships play a vital role in helping pupils who have typically had disrupted, and often negative, experiences of school in the past to re-engage with their education. Over time, pupils attend school more regularly.

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School

Jacksons Lane, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire

Report published: July 16

Expected standard:

• Achievement
• Attendance and behaviour
• Curriculum and teaching
• Early years
• Inclusion
• Leadership and governance
• Personal development and wellbeing

Inspector’s Comments:

The watchdog describes this school as a ‘safe haven for pupils’. A warm and nurturing environment helps kids feel a sense of belonging and security.

Most attend regularly and behave well. From the early years, children are taught to be curious and interested learners. And with an ambitious curriculum, they tend to leave well prepared for the next stage of their education.

Pupils are taught how to keep themselves safe online and develop confidence and independence through roles of responsibility such as school councillors, playground leaders and librarians.

Tameside

Audenshaw Primary School

Ash Street, Audenshaw, Manchester

Report published: July 20

Expected standard:

• Achievement
• Attendance and behaviour
• Curriculum and teaching
• Early years
• Inclusion
• Leadership and governance
• Personal development and wellbeing

Inspector’s Comments:

Kids at Audenshaw primary describe their lessons as ‘interesting, enjoyable and challenging’. The pupils are taught to be resilient and eager to learn. This helps them to develop the knowledge and skills they need for success.

Pupils are proud to be part of the Audenshaw Primary School family.

Wigan

The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College

Frog Lane, Wigan, Lancashire

Report published: July 15

Strong standard:

• Personal development and wellbeing

Expected standard:

• Achievement
• Attendance and behaviour
• Curriculum and teaching
• Inclusion
• Leadership and governance
• Post 16 provision

Inspector’s Comments:

Pupils behave with maturity and a quiet confidence that they can be themselves at this school. At social times, pupils treat each other with respect and tolerance. There’s a sense the school is a safe haven for everyone.

The youngsters also achieve well and benefit from effective teaching, even those who find learning difficult. They also have ‘expansive’ opportunities to develop their skills beyond the classroom. From leadership programmes to sports, such as the Year 7 rugby team recently playing at Wembley stadium, the teens are helped to become well-rounded young people.

Sacred Heart RC Primary School

Lodge Lane, Hindsford, Atherton

Report published: July 17

Expected standard:

• Achievement
• Curriculum and teaching
• Early years
• Inclusion
• Leadership and governance
• Personal development and wellbeing

Needs attention:

• Attendance and behaviour
• Leadership and governance

Inspector’s Comments:

Pupils have positive attitudes to learning and do well in their exams. They’ve been supported to attend school regularly and staff are adept at identifying barriers to learning and wellbeing needs.

However, though many kids behave well, some aspects of pupils behaviour are not dealt with appropriately. Although uncommon, some incidents of bullying are not addressed well enough.

Bryn St Peter’s CofE Primary School

Downall Green Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan

Report published: July 17

Strong standard:

• Personal development and wellbeing

Expected standard:

• Achievement
• Attendance and behaviour
• Curriculum and teaching
• Inclusion
• Leadership and governance

Inspector’s Comments:

Pupils thrive here academically, socially, and emotionally. The school offers large grounds with plenty of activities for pupils to enjoy, creating a lively and engaging atmosphere. Pupils get along harmoniously. They encourage each other in a variety of activities such as sports, music and games.

Kids are keen to attend school and most do so regularly. They’re attentive and curious, and are encouraged to work hard and to be resilient.

Southern Co-op has launched its “Pop in and Win” campaign, which will see customers spending at least £1 on qualifying products automatically entered for a chance to have their qualifying shop completely free.

The promotion, running until August 21, will pick winners at random through the retailer’s till system when paying at staffed or self-service checkouts, as reported by creatorzine.com.

There’s no need for shoppers to register or use a special voucher, but staff will not be involved in selecting winners.

What Co-op stores are getting involved in the giveaway?

Some items, such as alcohol, tobacco, baby formula, lottery tickets, gift cards, fuel, and certain other products and services, are not included in the giveaway and must still be paid for.

The campaign is active in 173 company-owned Southern Co-op food stores across the south of England.

Franchised Welcome stores and home-delivery orders are not included in the promotion.

Customers can also enter a separate online prize draw without making a purchase.

Fifty winners from the online draw will each receive a £30 Southern Co-op gift card.

Southern Co-op will also donate £1 to the Retail Trust for every free shop awarded, up to £10,000.

The charity provides financial, emotional and practical assistance to people working in the retail industry.

What is the Co-op and how did it start?

The Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives and is owned by more than 5 million members.

The Co-operative Wholesale Society was formed in 1863 to produce products to sell in the Co-op’s stores.

Anyone is able to become a Co-op member by subscribing for just a £1 share with the brand being jointly owned by individual members and Independent Co-operative societies.

The Co-op now has around 2,397 Co-op food stores in the UK and more than 4,000 Co-op stores when including the number of independent societies.

The brand employs nearly 70,000 people and is known for its social goals and community-led programmes.

Do you think this initiative is a good idea? Let us know in the comments.