Joe Burton is standing for the Green Party in the ward, which has returned Conservative councillors for more than 20 years. He believes changes in the area mean voters may now be open to something different.

Mr Burton said the area has seen a shift in its population in recent years. He pointed to more family homes replacing older properties and bringing in younger residents.

He said: “Bromley Cross is a fantastic place to live, but I’m hearing on the doorstep that people might be looking for something new.

 “There’s a younger, more family-oriented population in Bromley Cross now, and that can bring different priorities.”

Green Party candidates this election. (Image: Supplied)

Mr Burton works in the charity sector and has done so for around 15 years. He is part of the leadership team at a national youth organisation that supports young people getting into the arts.

He also volunteers with Bolton Lads and Girls Club.

Amy Cowen has decided to give up her spot as a conservative ward councillor ahead of the 2026 May local elections, with a view to Charlotte Cadden being handed the baton.

Traffic congestion is one of the main issues Mr Burton has heard about. He said problems on the surrounding roads often affect Bromley Cross.

He said: “If anything happens in Astley Bridge or Tonge Moor, it has a knock-on effect and Bromley Cross can get backed up very quickly.

 “There can be long queues along Blackburn Road, and it causes frustration for people trying to get to work.”

He said: “It is about having a more joined-up approach so that plans in other wards take Bromley Cross into account.”

Joe Burton. (Image: Supplied)

Mr Burton said he would not promise quick fixes but would push for better coordination across the area.

He also raised concerns about development in the area.

He said Tong Fields is one of the main sites that residents are worried about

Mr Burton said: “People are concerned about the impact development could have on the community and the roads.”

He added: “It is not about being against development but making sure the community is involved in decisions.”

Mr Burton aims to bring a different perspective if elected, working with existing councillors but also offering new ideas.

He said: “After many years of the same representation, even one different voice can bring new thinking.

“I would like to build that momentum so people see the Green Party as a real presence in Bromley Cross.”

Cllr Nadim Muslim, currently representing the ward, said: “At the end of the day, we’re getting a strong team working hard with Charlotte.

“Some candidates are inexperienced and speak of national issues. We are not bringing them into this campaign and keeping it local instead.

Nadim Muslim, currently representing Bromley Cross and Egerton (Image: Public)

“We are prioritising local issues.

“This is for Bolton Council. It should be voting about what we are going to do, like having more police on our streets.”

Taking place in Harrogate from Tuesday, July 14 to Friday, July 17, the event will feature the best of British agriculture, with 8,500 animals, cutting-edge machinery, and entertainment for all ages.

Rachel Coates, show director, said: “I’m really looking forward to welcoming thousands of visitors to the Great Yorkshire Show for four days of celebration as we showcase every aspect of what makes the countryside such a special place.

“As well as being a great day out for all the family, the Great Yorkshire Show puts farming, food and the countryside centre stage to highlight excellence in the way our food is produced and the landscape is managed.

“Behind all of this are hard-working families and innovative businesses who, like everyone else, are battling rising inflation.

“I hope the show encourages people to buy British and back local producers.”

Traditional favourites will return alongside new features to be announced in the coming weeks.

This year’s event will include national shows for Zwartbles sheep and Charolais cattle.

Martin Preston, president of the Zwartbles Sheep Association, said: “It’s the biggest show in England and people come from all over to be part of it.

“The Show is very popular with Zwartbles breeders across the country and for us, it’s the biggest part of our year.

“It’s where we see our friends and there’s great pride in having a show like this so local to us.”

The main ring will feature daily performances by The Bolddog FMX motorbike stunt team, alongside world-class showjumping.

Food lovers can look forward to the popular Food Hall, which includes a dedicated Cheese and Dairy Show.

The Agri-Innovation Village will showcase the latest technologies shaping the future of farming, while the machinery demonstration ring will return with live displays.

Allister Nixon, chief executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, said: “This is a really exciting time, following months of planning at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, with the input of hundreds of stewards and dedicated volunteers as we start the countdown to our flagship event.

“The Society works throughout the year to champion the industry, and it’s all brought together for four days of competition and celebration in support of everyone connected with the countryside.”

The Great Yorkshire Show has attracted 140,000 visitors and has sold out every year since moving to advance sales only in 2021.

Tickets are available in advance-only at last year’s prices: £36.50 for adults, £13 for children, and £89 for families.

Farmer tickets, which offer flexibility to attend on any day of the show, are available for those who work on-farm.

These are also held at last year’s prices: £27.50 for adults, £10 for children, and £65 for families.

An approved form of ID is required to purchase and use farmer tickets.

To make the day more accessible, The Harrogate Bus Company will run free shuttle buses every 10 minutes from Harrogate Bus Station to the showground’s White Gate, starting at 7.30am daily.

The last bus departs the showground at 7pm.

The show will also be supported by social media coverage from South Yorkshire farmer and YouTuber Joe Seels, North Yorkshire farmer and podcaster Rebecca Wilson, and Cumbrian farmer and YouTuber Charlotte Ashley.

Visitors are encouraged to download the free Great Yorkshire Show App to help plan their day.

The app includes timetables, key highlights, an interactive map, and details of trade stands and shopping.

More information is available at greatyorkshireshow.co.uk.

As reported in The Bolton News the football team which was founded by a Bolton legend Percy Ashley inspired a film which has been showing at The Light Cinema in Market Place.

The footballing legends walked the red carpet for a special screening of the film in Bolton.

The team, The Corinthians Ladies FC stood up to the might of The FA’s 50-year ban on women playing the sport to become global champions. 

A red carpet-style screening took place in Bolton, for the award-winning documentary.

The Corinthians: We Were The Champions was shown at The Light cinema in Market Place Shopping Centre with a special VIP event featuring a green, football-themed carpet, a post-film Q&As, and appearances by former players, the director and guests.

The screening followed a successful earlier run in Bolton, where the film prompted what organisers described as an “outpouring of pride” for the team’s founder, Percy, and his daughter Doris.

Filmmakers said the reaction was sparked in part by local coverage in The Bolton News celebrating the pair’s Bolton roots, which led them to organise a return event focused on their legacy.

Directed by Helen Tither of Manchester-based production company Films Not Words, the documentary tells the story of Corinthians Ladies FC, a team formed in 1949 at a time when women’s football was banned by The Football Association.

Despite the ban, which ran from 1921 to 1971, Percy Ashley – a former Bolton Wanderers scout – established the team so his daughter Doris could play, going on to train a squad that achieved major success both in the UK and abroad.

The team later beat Germany to win an unofficial European Cup in 1957 and defeated Juventus in 1970 and has since been described by the National Football Museum as one of the most successful women’s teams the country has seen.

The film, told entirely in the words of 10 surviving players including Myra Lypnyckyj, Anne Grimes, Pauline Hulme, Marlene Cook, Freda Ashton, Monica Curran, Margaret ‘Whit’ Whitworth, Jean Wilson, Jan Lyons and Margaret ‘Tiny’ Shepherd, combines archive footage, animation and a punk-inspired soundtrack to bring their story to life.

L – R Players Margaret ‘Tiny’ Shepherd, Margaret ‘Whit’ Whitworth, Myra Lypnyckyj, Marlene Cook and filmmaker Helen Tither (Image: Lisa Valentine – Newsquest)

Speaking to The Bolton News on the night, Marlene, 84, from Denton, said: “I played for the Corinthians from 1957 until 1963.

“I went to Portugal, Italy, South America and finished up in Jamaica. We went on 29 planes starting from Venezuela and going all around the Caribbean.

“I always played football with my brother. We saw it [the team] advertised and I went along. He said, ‘Can you kick a ball?’, and that was it, I was in.”

Myra , 90, from Stockport, said: “It was brilliant. I joined in 1954 and went to Portugal twice, Madeira, Germany, Holland and the Isle of Man.

“It all started when I was playing table tennis and a guy came to the door and said that one of his table tennis players was ill and would I mind filling in.

“I went to the WCA and met a girl called Ann Robinson who ran the table tennis team. She told me that she played on a woman’s football team, I told her it sounded interesting and asked to go along.

“She took me with her that Sunday, I spoke to the manager and he said he’ll see how I shape. I must have shaped ok because I was in.”

“It was lovely and I’d do it all again tomorrow.

Margaret, 80, originally from Fallowfield, added: “I started playing when I was 12 in 1958.

“I went to Holland first with the team as I was too young, just to get a bit of experience with them.

“Then when I was 14, we went to South America for three months, then Italy, Tunisa, France.

“It was a fantastic time and I loved every minute of it. I just started playing with the lads when I was young, I’ve always liked football.

“My family are big football supporters so I’ve been born into it. It’s sad when you think I want to do it all again but I can’t!”

Margaret, 79, from Tyldesley, said: “I was Margaret Taylor when I played and was nicknamed ‘Tiny Taylor’.

“I started with the team in 1967 purely by accident. I met a girl playing netball for the civil service and we had a kick about at half time.

“She asked if I played football and I said, ‘No – women don’t play football’. She said, ‘Oh yes they do, I play!’

“She took me along one Sunday and I never looked back. I was very fortunate to get to France to win the European cup against Juventus.”

The Corinthians with players from Bolton Wanders LFC (Image: Lisa Valentine – Newsquest)

Helen said the response in Bolton had been particularly significant.

She said: “We were really blown away by the response to the film in Bolton and how proud people were to have this Boltonian legend at the centre of the film.

“On the day our film has its first national screenings, we wanted to make the Bolton event extra special.

“Percy Ashley was what we would call a true ‘male ally’ these days.

“He founded a women’s football team against all odds, defying the establishment to help his amazing footballer daughter, Doris, play the game she loved.

“Today they are recognised as one of the greatest women’s football teams this country has ever had.

“Unfortunately, Percy and Doris never lived to see the historic apology their story has sparked from The FA, but we want to keep the memory of his contribution alive.”

Percy’s great granddaughters, Alison Norris and Karen Martin were also at the Bolton screening.

Alison said: “We’ve been involved with the Corinthian’s and the making of the film since the beginning.

“Before that, during the Women’s Euro’s in 2022, I saw a mention of Percy Ashley and thought, ‘that’s my relative, what’s his name doing there?’.

“That’s how it all started. I met ‘Tiny’ at one of the Euro games and then she told me what they were trying to do with the film.

“Doris was our great aunt and she didn’t talk about it. We knew there was a connection but we didn’t have clue to what extent.

“I can’t believe what they [the filmmakers] found out and that we can see Percy on screen – that’s amazing.”

Karen said: “I’m really excited to come and be able to see the film as I was away for the premiere.

“It’s phenomenal what they all did. The sad thing is that no-one really seems to know about it, it seems to be a secret almost.

“The story is an amazing, fantastic one. There’s nothing better than a true story and what the achieved at that time and travelling abroad as women was phenomenal.”  

Percy’s great granddaughters, Alison Norris (R) and Karen Martin (Image: Lisa Valentine – Newsquest)

The film has also drawn national attention for its role in prompting an apology from The Football Association for the historic ban on women’s football, after early screenings at HOME in Manchester led to a public campaign backed by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.

In a statement, the FA said: “Manchester Corinthians Ladies FC were pioneers of women’s football.

The pics of the team in South America with the plane has Percy on the left and Doris is five people along to the right wearing a flowery dress. (Image: Films Not Words)

Through their unwavering spirit, talent and determination, they blazed a trail for women’s football around the world.

The pic of the team in Portugal has Percy centre, Doris is front row centre, blond hair and white top with the ball. (Image: Films Not Words)

“We are sorry that a ban on women’s football was introduced in 1921 and not revoked until 1971.

“We recognise the courage of the teams and individuals who continued to play the game during this period.”

The documentary has won Best of The Fest (Feature) at NEIFF and Best Documentary at the Northampton Film Festival and had its London premiere at the Women in Film & TV Festival in Covent Garden.

Marlene Cook playing for the Corinthians abroad (centre right) (Image: Marlene Cook)

Supported by the National Football Museum and backed by England and Manchester United player Ella Toone, the project was funded through crowdfunding, along with sponsorship from BT Group and Tech Mahindra.

The Bolton screening also marked the film’s first nationwide release, with showings planned at 14 Light cinemas across the country.

Paul Inkum, 31, of Barwick Street, Scarborough, pleaded guilty to driving without a licence and without insurance in Scarborough and was banned from driving for six months. He was fined £457 and ordered to pay £90 prosecution costs and a £183 statutory surcharge.

Philip Clarkson, 45, of Moorside, Newby, Scarborough, pleaded guilty to failure to inform police who was driving his car when it allegedly committed a traffic offence. He was banned from driving for six months, was fined £666 and ordered to pay £120 prosecution costs and a £266 statutory surcharge.

Robert Rose, 32, of Scholes Park Avenue, Scarborough, failed to respond to a court summons and was convicted in his absence of careless driving and driving with an obscured numberplate in Scarborough. He was fined £440, ordered to pay £130 prosecution costs and a £176 statutory surcharge and given six penalty points.

Sam Haupt, 23, of Church Lane, Dunnington, York, was convicted of failure to tell police who was driving his car when it allegedly committed a motoring offence.  He was banned from driving for six months, fined £660 and ordered to pay £120 prosecution costs.

John Walker, 27, of Fransham Road in Middlesbrough, received a four-year banning order following an incident at a Middlesbrough game against Derby at the Riverside Stadium in February 2022.

Walker was involved in fights in Middlesbrough town centre both before and after the game.

He pleaded guilty to a public order offence and was issued the four-year banning order at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, April 29.

The order means that Walker cannot enter the Middlesbrough FC stadium for any games, or any premises for the purpose of attending football matches throughout the UK for the next four years.

Paul Hunter, aged 65, of Wallington Walk in Billingham, also received a three-year banning order on Wednesday, April 29.

Hunter attended a Boxing Day match in 2025 at the Prestige Group Stadium.

Hartlepool United FC played Scunthorpe United when he shouted racial abuse at a player.

He was arrested and later charged with racially aggravated public order.

The 65-year-old must also carry out 120 hours of unpaid work within the next twelve months.

Hunter can no longer attend Hartlepool United FC matches or attend any premises for the purpose of attending football matches throughout the UK for the next three years.

PC Chris Hilton said: “No matter the passage of time, we will continue to pursue banning orders for those who are intent on becoming involved in violent and unwanted behaviour at football matches in Cleveland.

“Those people can expect to be put before the courts.

“Most people want to attend football matches for enjoyment, and they shouldn’t have to put up with violence or vile racist incidents as a result.”

This has been inevitable for quite a few weeks, and the announcement comes as no surprise. No matter what would have happened against Coventry yesterday (and it was another abject performance) Still was on his way.

In the past two months the results have been awful, the performances dreadful and tactically the Hornets have lacked structure and recognised game-plan.

The players have looked fed up as well – morale, confidence, belief and team spirit is at rock bottom and there was no way that Still was going to survive this.

Owner Gino Pozzo doesn’t hang around if the situation gets close to this point, let alone reaches it, and he was on the wrong end of chanting from home supporters in yesterday’s defeat.

Like so many other ex-Watford head coaches, Still will argue that his chances were slim given the chaotic and misaligned culture of the club which has hampered them for so many years.

He certainly has a point. But, for me, he’s been way out of his depth as a motivator and tactical coach and lacked the aura to lead at such a dysfunctional club.

From Tuesday (May 5), Coupon Plus will no longer be available in the supermarket’s app.

Instead, it will be replaced by Lidl Plus Points.

However, due to this “new way to save”, existing Coupon Plus customers have until Monday (May 4) to hit their April 2026 spend targets.

Lidl axes popular Coupon Plus on supermarket’s app

In an email to Lidl Plus customers, the supermarket said: “As a Lidl Plus customer, we’re just letting you know about some important changes.

“From Tuesday 5 May, a new way to earn rewards with Lidl Plus begins.

“This means Coupons Plus ends on Monday 4 May and will no longer be available in the Lidl Plus app after this date.

“You have until Monday 4 May to reach your April Coupon Plus targets.

“There will be no change to Personalised Coupons and Weekly Offers.

“Any existing coupons that you have will be valid until the date shown on the coupon.”

It added: “You don’t need to do anything. Your Lidl Plus app will update with these changes automatically.”

Lidl’s Coupon Plus was a way for customers to receive rewards throughout the month, often free items (including bakery treats, vegetables, chocolate, nuts) when reaching certain spend targets, such as £10, £50 and £100.

How will new Lidl Plus Points work? What customers need to know

On its website, Lidl details: “Starting Tuesday 5 May, a new way to save will land in your Lidl Plus app!

“From the big shops to the small, now every time you shop and scan your Lidl Plus app, you will be able to collect points that can be spent on 100s of rewards in our Rewards Marketplace.

“Turn points into possibilities! From coupons for free products to money off your next shop, it’s up to you what you spend your Lidl Plus Points on.”

How often do you use your Lidl Plus app? (Image: Lidl)

Customers can make the most of Lidl Plus Points by following the below steps:

• Step one – shop and scan the Lidl Plus app at checkout
• Step two – collect Lidl Plus points with every purchase (£1 = one point)
• Step three – enter the Rewards Marketplace on the Lidl Plus app and choose from 100 awards or money-off coupons
• Step four – exchange points to receive a coupon (activate your coupons before you use them)

Lidl will also be celebrating the launch of the new loyalty scheme by allowing shoppers to get double points on all fresh fruit between May 5 and May 22.

Additionally, consumers will be able to receive 100 welcome points from May 5 to July 31.

Lidl explains: “Open the app, click ‘Start now’ and follow the instructions to collect 100 points.

“That’s a FREE product worth up to 100 points in our Rewards Marketplace!”

Louise Weise, chief customer officer at Lidl GB, told The Sun: “We’ve done a big piece of work to listen to customers and it was clear from the feedback that they wanted more freedom to decide the rewards that suit them.”

On Reddit, customers have been reacting to the axing of Coupon Plus, with many saying they will miss the “free big bag” of potatoes.

Referring to the current rewards set-up, someone commented: “So sad the coupons and freebies are going away.”

Another wrote: “I believe it may be changing next month which is sad, I loved the free big bag of tatties.”

This person shared: “That’s sad to hear, free sack of spuds each month was a big help with the cost of living.”

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Meanwhile, a shopper put: “Best supermarket loyalty scheme for the type and amount of shopping I do.”

You can find more information about Lidl’s new Plus Points loyalty scheme on the supermarket’s website.

Newsquest has contacted Lidl for comment.

What do you think of Lidl Plus Points replacing Coupon Plus? Let us know in the comments below.

The officer will be dismissed without notice after being found to have committed gross misconduct

A Cambridgeshire Police officer faced a misconduct hearing accused of drink-driving to work. The accelerated hearing, held on April 17, found that the officer breached the standards of discreditable conduct and fitness for duty.

It was alleged that the officer drove to Cambridgeshire Constabulary Headquarters on December 23, 2025, while over the prescribed limit. Officers attended with a breath test machine, the accused officer provided a positive breath test, and they were arrested for driving over the limit.

In interview, the officer admitted to consuming alcohol in the early hours of December 23 and driving into work later the same morning, according to the public notice of the hearing.

The officer was then charged with driving a motor vehicle on a road after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in their breath exceeded the prescribed limit. They appeared at Luton Magistrates’ Court on January 15, 2026, where the officer pleaded guilty.

Evidence considered at the misconduct hearing included footage of the officer driving to work, witness statements from police colleagues, and the officer’s admission that he consumed ‘three bottles of wine’ in the early hours.

The hearing concluded that the allegations were proven “on the balance of probabilities”. The officer’s representative reportedly said that the officer did not accept their conduct amounted to gross misconduct.

The officer was found to have committed gross misconduct and the panel concluded that the officer will face disciplinary action and be dismissed without further notice. This decision was made to “maintain public trust and confidence and to deter misconduct”.

What is self-pollination?

How can I hand-pollinate a tomato with a paintbrush?

Any other tips?

The nurse’s needle sank into my skin without resistance. 

It hurt on entry, but I didn’t flinch.

The nurse followed up with another, then another, which my arm dutifully filled. By the fourth and final tube, the nurse was labelling everything, remarking that I was remarkably ‘chill’ about needles. I just laughed. 

It was easy to make light of it in that moment, but she couldn’t have known what a big deal it really was for me, how afraid I’d have been in the past.

I felt proud at how far I’d come, and how I’d got there. I’d been afraid of needles since I was a child. The thought of a sharp object piercing my skin had terrified me, and I had to be held down by dentists and nurses for injections on many occasions.

Looking back, I don’t begrudge that fear. It’s rational and understandable. But for a trans person, when a phobia of needles suddenly means that you might not be able to become the person you know you really are, it becomes something that you know you must overcome. 

My gender transition began in 2020. The pandemic had left me with too much time to reflect, and after a week of anxious pacing about the living room, I looked at my then-girlfriend, Cara* and blurted out, ‘I think I might be trans.’

That sentence arrived after two weeks of intense lockdown reflection. I never thought of gender dysphoria affecting me because my experiences weren’t as ‘obvious’ as my friends and online personalities I followed. 

I just lived my life thinking that some degree of discomfort with my gender was normal and acceptable because that’s all I knew.

It wasn’t until I immersed myself into support groups of people who were also questioning their identity that I realised that feeling discomfort over my gender presentation was actually unusual. 

When I thought back to my childhood experiences and adulthood dabbling in crossdressing, the fact was cemented for me. 

Cara was very open to my changing reality and was mostly concerned with supporting me through it. She was an ever-present pillar in my life and always wanted to know more. 

I was initially scatterbrained about the specifics. Things like my planned transition timeframe and whether I wanted surgical intervention weren’t fixed yet. Still, I was certain about pursuing it. 

At the time, I didn’t know that I would have to overcome one of my biggest fears – but I’m glad I did. 

My transition journey makes me feel quite fortunate – so many trans people are subjected to intolerable cruelty and judgment, simply for wanting to exist. It saddens me to think my positive experience is unusual. 

I talked to my doctor once I realised that I wouldn’t be able to allay the discomfort without prescription estrogen. 

She listened to my case and was very accommodating to my circumstances. After a year of supervised hormone replacement therapy (HRT) via oral estrogen, she noted that I might get better physiological results if I switched to weekly injections. 

I was unenthused, to put it lightly. We discussed alternatives and weighed out the potential benefits versus the very obvious cons and I only begrudgingly agreed to try injections. My interest in a smooth medical transition outweighed my dread of pointy objects. 

I delivered my first injection after receiving my doctor’s instructions and taking copious notes about each step. It was slightly terrifying. Cara excused herself from the room because she was anxious and didn’t want to make it harder for me – it was a sensible decision because I was terribly anxious and having more eyes on me wouldn’t have improved things.

That first jab was shaky. I was incredibly tense, which worsened the pain, but got it done in the end. I was proud of my modest success but apprehensive that this was going to be my foreseeable future.

The months that followed were difficult. Sometimes I felt too anxious and scared to complete my injections, leaving part of my dose in the syringe. 

Yet, I felt more free compared to when I was a child, I had the choice to stop when I wanted and could feel my courage developing. 

There were plenty of unpleasant firsts that I hadn’t seen coming. 

The first time I hit a nerve cluster (unspeakably painful). The first time I reached an unseen blood vessel and spent the next ten minutes dabbing away the droplet of blood that refused to clot. The first time I accidentally delivered an injection into the still-healing site of the previous week – ouch.

The process was undeniably challenging, but as time passed, all the moments of discomfort became a microcosm of my wider transition: unpleasant but memorable learning moments that contributed to my growth.

Delivering my own injections has given me a new appreciation for my body, which I’ve seen flourish with the benefit of estrogen. The changes I’ve observed in myself become palpably real when traced back to the discomfort of an injection site.

If this experience has taught me anything, it’s that longstanding difficulties can be addressed in unforeseen ways. 

The answers won’t always be easy, but if I approach them with an open mind, I will always discover new and wonderful things about myself and what I’m capable of.

*Names have been changed.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jessica.aureli@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.