Central Radio News

Preston is to enter into a friendship agreement with the Palestinian city of Hebron.

The leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council has expressed his enthusiasm for next weekend’s ‘showcase’ Festival of Making.

Drugs worth £80,000 were seized when Lancashire Police officers stopped a car which had been travelling on the M6.

Health secretary Wes Streeting said Blackpool was a place he enjoyed visiting when he was younger but was a place he now needed to visit to highlight health inequalities in the nation.

Lancashire is in line for its first branch of a chicken chain restaurant that has more than 1,500 outlets around the world.

The UK is to buy 12 F35A fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear bombs in a boost to Lancashire’s BAE Systems Air Sector and its supply chain across the county.

Blackpool Air Show is set to return later this summer with two days of spectacular aerial displays from some of the world’s finest military and civilian aircraft over the seafront.

Fylde Council has confirmed it will take over Fairhaven Lake Visitor Centre and shop following the RSPB’s departure next week.

Preston’s Spud Bros look set to be granted permission to replace the city’s iconic hot potato tram with a larger unit.

Blackpool’s three council-run Family Hubs are aiming to reach as many people as possible by launching a new campaign to shine a light on what they offer.

A man has been jailed for a total of 22 years after being found guilty of the rape of two women in Blackburn.

Three people have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was found dead at a home in Blackburn.

A series of trees in Fylde have been saved following strong public support.

Blackpool FC have added a trip to Doncaster Rovers to their pre-season schedule as preparations ramp up for a return to action.

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Illegal tobacco and cash have been seized by Trading Standards in Blackburn.

A kitchen fire in Morecambe caused by a dishwasher has prompted firefighters to issue an urgent reminder about the risks of running appliances overnight or when no one is around.

Engineers from Electricity North West have commenced work which will see £4m worth of upgrades carried out on the East Lancashire power network.  

Police have charged a man following a burglary and attempted burglaries in Nelson.

A major multimillion-pound renovation is proposed for one of Blackpool’s most iconic seafront hotels.

Lancashire’s 15 main councils have been urged to work together in order to agree a vision for what will replace them when they are all abolished.

A ground breaking £2 million youth and community centre has opened in Preston.

Two high schools on the Fylde coast will be able to carry out vital repairs thanks to a share in a regional funding boost of over £54m.

Fleetwood Carnival is back this weekend as the town prepares for one of the biggest community events of the year.

A senior hospital consultant has been convicted of abusing his position to sexually assault female members of staff.

Two men have been jailed after trying to arrange the sale of a deadly handgun over an encrypted global communication service used by criminals.

The Premier League fixtures for the 2025/26 campaign have been released and Scott Parker and his men will kick-off the season away at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday 16th August.

The family of a motorbike rider who died after a collision in Walton-le-Dale this week have paid tribute to him.

A Blackpool charity which provides vital support for vulnerable young people has been awarded £475,000 funding from the National Lottery.

Three friends from Lancashire are aiming to complete an epic charity challenge to climb the ten highest mountains in Scotland back to back as fast as possible.

Senior Preston councillors are being urged to delay plans to demolish an historic pub – and instead consider whether it could be turned to a heritage centre for the city.

Blackpool Council has clarified that a huge ‘pothole’ which held up traffic on the promenade Monday was in fact emergency work by a utilities firm.

A multi-agency day of action by a road safety partnership found that none of the part-worn tyres inspected at a series of garages across Preston met legal requirements.

A man who assaulted two nurses and a paramedic as he caused chaos in a hospital ward near to where a seriously ill baby was being treated, has been jailed.

The Force is definitely with Cleveleys after a new brass marker was unveiled, commemorating the town and Wyre’s connection to one of the most iconic film franchises in history, Star Wars.

Proposals to radically transform a shop front in the middle of Blackpool town centre have been lodged with planners.

A new planning application has been submitted for a multi-million-pound post 16 Special Educational Needs centre in Blackburn town centre.

Police are appealing for witnesses and footage after a teenager was seriously injured in a collision in Blackpool.

Three youths had to be rescued after being swept out to sea near North Pier in Blackpool.

Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw, has joined growing calls for urgent government action to address disruptions on the M6 motorway.

A Leyland man has been jailed after a stop and search found him to be carrying a knife.

Blackpool will travel to the Peninsula Stadium to take on Salford City during pre-season. 

Drivers in Accrington are being warned of disruption later this month.

One person was treated for minor injuries after a crash in Accrington.

Plans have been unveiled to build a block of flats alongside the depot where Preston Bus is based.

A new building is planned for Blackpool and The Fylde College to accommodate the high number of students enrolling on its construction course.

Prayers have been held at a Hindu temple in Preston to remember those who lost their lives in the Air India crash this week.

A new initiative aimed at empowering talented young athletes in Fylde has been launched.

A number of well-known local figures have been recognised in the King's Birthday Honours list.

Nigel Farage has told the new Reform UK administration at Lancashire County Council that how they perform will play a part in how well the party does at the next general election in 2029.

Police have charged two men as part of an ongoing investigation into the death of a baby boy in Blackpool.

Lancashire Constabulary is set to benefit from an additional 53 Police Officers, as well as 30 new Police Community Support Officers and 20 Special Constables, thanks to extra Home Office funding.

A rogue trader who scammed elderly and vulnerable residents out of more than £500,000 has been hit with further sanctions to prevent him preying on more victims in the future.

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb says he is helping inform pensioners of their entitlements in the wake of the Winter Fuel Allowance U-turn by the Government.

A review is currently underway into the effectiveness of a multi-million pound bypass hailed as the answer to chronic congestion, a road campaigner has been told.

A new indoor sports centre in Preston will be based around padel and five-a-side football, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) can reveal.

King Charles has visited Lancaster Castle, his first engagement in Lancashire since he became Monarch.

People in Preston aged 55 to 74 who have ever smoked and are registered with a participating GP practice, will soon be invited for potentially life-saving lung cancer screening.

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb has urged the Government to go further in its new free school meals initiative – by expanding the offer to ALL children.

A man has pleaded guilty to causing the death of a baby by dangerous driving.

A burglar who targeted homes in Preston, including that of a pensioner in his 90s, has been jailed.

A new housing development on the outskirts of Preston is set to include a school and care home – if it gets the go-ahead.

Blackpool’s bus service is a shining example of how a council-run amenity can be run in the right way, a Government minister said after visiting the resort.

Lancashire County Council is next on the list to get a visit from a Reform UK team that has modelled itself on Elon Musk’s controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the United States.

Proposals to set up a new banking hub in Garstang have now reached the planning stage, with an application lodged with Wyre Council.

More attractions have been announced for next month’s Blackburn’s National Festival of Making including TV architect George Clarke.

King Charles will make an official visit to Lancaster next month, his first trip to Lancashire since becoming monarch, Buckingham Palace has announced.

Chorley Police have teamed up with Lancashire Trading Standards and young volunteers from across the area to conduct an under-age sales operation as part of Operation Sceptre – a national, intensive week of action to tackle knife crime. 

A Blackburn man has been given a 14-year sentence for robbing women in Blackburn.

Community and voluntary groups in Preston have been told they will not be left in limbo after it emerged government cash earmarked for local projects will take longer to come through than first expected.

Residents fighting to protect a precious greenspace in front of their homes will make their case at a key council meeting next week.

The opening night of the Lytham Festival has been cancelled after it was revealed the lead singer of Kings of Leon has suffered a serious foot injury.

Preston City Council has announced Asian inspired Japanese restaurant, Wagamama is to open at its newly launched £45million Animate leisure scheme.

Blackpool Council now has the green light to use compulsory purchase powers for its plans to tackle poor housing after a key decision was taken by the authority’s executive committee.

A veteran Blackpool taxi driver says more could be done to keep out of town Uber drivers out of town and protect home-grown operators.

Some big star names, a modern screening of a world famous silent film and the creation of a new mural – it’s all happening at Fleetwood’s Marine Hall this year as the iconic venue celebrates its 90th anniversary.

A Leyland man has admitted kidnapping and raping a woman at knifepoint.

Blackburn with Darwen Council are looking for as many people as possible to share their views on the future of the iconic Corporation Park conservatory. 

TV royalty Ant and Dec’s wax figures have returned to Madame Tussauds Blackpool after a transformation.

Preston “desperately needs” more of the top quality office space that could attract government departments to the city, according to a local business group.

A remarkable piece of Blackpool’s transport heritage has been discovered on the edge of Blackpool’s Grade II listed Stanley Park.

Police are appealing for witnesses and footage after a car was deliberately driven into a house in Great Harwood.

Police have renewed appeals for help as they investigate the circumstances which led to the death of a man found unresponsive in Little Plumpton.

The operators of the Fleetwood landfill site at the centre of thousands of complaints over stinking emissions say the site is playing ‘only a small role’ in the overall odour profile of the area.

A Nelson man has been jailed after raping and sexually assaulting two teenagers.

A burglar who targeted a home in Preston has been jailed.

The family of a teenage boy who died after getting into difficulty on the River Wyre in Garstang have paid a loving tribute to him.

The county council's new leader and cabinet have been announced at its full council meeting.

Police are appealing for witnesses and footage after a cyclist suffered serious injuries following a collision in Barnoldswick.

Officers from the Blackburn with Darwen Neighbourhood Team were joined by Trading Standards this week to conduct an underage sales operation.

A man has been jailed for five years after killing a football fan in Blackpool.

A man has today been found guilty of murder, after stabbing a man to death in Blackpool, before stealing items from his home.

A new date has been set for the start of demolition work on three tower blocks on the outskirts of Preston city centre.

People in Blackpool affected by addiction can now get help at a safe and dedicated space offering holistic support.

Ambitious plans to revitalise Fleetwood are still in the pipeline despite missing out on a vital share of £1.5 billion of Government funding.

A pensioner has died following a collision in Burnley earlier this month.

A Burnley fan has been given a five-year banning order after invading the pitch.

Asian-inspired restaurant chain Wagamama is set to open an outlet in Preston’s Animate cinema and leisure complex, it has emerged.

Police are investigating an assault which left a man with serious injuries over the weekend.

A teenager has died after getting into difficulty in the river near Garstang.

A former Blackpool woman has co-produced a documentary film which charts the rise of the resort’s drag and LGBTQ+ scene and it is to be screened in the town next month.

A leading Blackpool hotelier says problems with the over supply of holiday bed spaces in the town is being made worse by the council’s promotion of big new hotel brands in the town.

The owner of a farm which her family have worked on for over a century has blasted the council, claiming they are trying to ‘persuade’ her to sell up her land to make way for a huge development.

The famous heritage trams will return to Blackpool promenade this autumn.

A man has been jailed after killing a woman in a fatal collision in Nelson last year.

Rossendale Police, in collaboration with partner agencies, conducted a successful day of action this week to address concerns raised by the local community.

Lancashire Police have provided an update on the moorland fire in the Rivington area earlier this week.

Police are appealing for your help following a fatal collision in Blackburn yesterday afternoon.

A Preston shop, trading under the name of PR1 Euro Mini Market, on Church Street, has been banned from selling any tobacco or vaping products for 12 months.

East Lancashire men who volunteered to fight fascism in the 1930s Spanish Civil War have been honoured in a new memorial in Burnley.

A transport advisor on disability issues has raised concerns after hearing that services to London from Blackpool are to be reduced to just one train a day by operator Avanti.

Blackpool Neighbourhood Police and Task Force teams joined forces with partners to crack down on crime in Blackpool town centre.

Police are appealing for information after a collision in Blackburn left a man with serious injuries.

The next leader of Lancashire County Council is set to be Cllr Stephen Atkinson.

The chief executive of a cash strapped East Lancashire football club which last week closed its academy for aspiring young players has said its financial position is ‘grim’.

A care worker from Hyndburn has been jailed for sexually assaulting a vulnerable woman.

A woman has been charged with attempting to abduct a baby in Blackpool town centre.

Police are appealing for witnesses and footage after a man was seriously injured in a collision in Blackburn.

The redevelopment of Colne Market Hall, which could include a new food hall, bar, arts and crafts, is progressing well, Pendle councillors are being told.

A free shuttle bus that ferries staff between the Royal Preston and Chorley and South Ribble hospitals is to be scrapped as part of a cost-cutting drive.

Lancashire Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage after a man was seriously injured in a collision in Preston.

A £1.5million expansion to Blackburn’s thriving Making Rooms creative and technology hub can now begin after it was given planning approval.

Police have arrested 15 people during an operation to tackle the illegal supply of ketamine in Burnley and Padiham.

The defeat suffered by the Conservatives in last week’s Lancashire County Council elections was more a reflection of the national political mood than the result of discontent with local services, according to the new leader of the Tory group on the authority.

Accrington Stanley have announced the sudden closure of their Academy, due to current financial pressures the club faces.

Police are appealing for witnesses and footage following a fatal collision in Blackburn earlier this year.

Thursday 8 May 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day – the historic date in 1945 when World War II ended in Europe.

Blackpool is preparing a series of events as the town joins the rest of the nation to celebrate the anniversary of VE Day next week.

Preston City Council will proudly mark both VE Day and VJ Day in 2025 with a series of commemorative events in the city centre, following requests from local veterans and community members.

The third stage of a scheme to replace traffic lights at key junctions in Preston is set to begin over the weekend.

The Reform UK group that now controls Lancashire County Council will elect a leader this Saturday, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) can reveal.

Two of Reform UK’s victorious candidates in the Lancashire County Council elections have admitted to being shocked to find themselves as part of the group that will now take charge of the authority.

A man has been jailed after approaching schoolgirls and making sexualised comments in Blackpool, in 2023.

A man has been jailed for life following the rape of a woman in Burnley.

Reform UK is set to take control of Lancashire County Council following the local elections.

A tribute has been paid to a man who ‘had his whole life ahead of him’, who died in a collision in St Annes last week.

Police have charged two people following a string of shop thefts in Rawtenstall.

Three burglars who targeted homes across Chorley have been jailed for a total of 10 years.

A man who mowed down and seriously injured a pedestrian on Blackpool prom has been jailed.

Two people have been charged as part of an ongoing investigation into a collision in Bamber Bridge which left a baby boy dead and his mother seriously injured.

On Friday, the historic setting of Lancaster Castle will host a prestigious Honours ceremony.

Burnley Football Club will mark their return to the Premier League during a civic celebration next week.

Details have been revealed of the £6.8million new relief road key to one of East Lancashire’s biggest ever housing developments which will come with its own orchard.

Two arrests have been made following a drugs raid on a property in Fleetwood.

A man has been jailed for engaging in sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder impeding choice.

Lancashire Police are looking to trace the family and friends of a man who was very sadly found dead in Preston last week.

The ground floor of the prominent and distinctive Blackburn apartment complex dubbed ‘Margo Towers’ is now to become a church.

Planners have run the rule over proposals to demolish three old dockside buildings in Fleetwood – but the possibility of roosting bats have had to be taken into consideration.

A former social club in Preston is to be turned into a snooker hall after planners ruled the sport was sufficiently quiet for the residential street where it will now be played.

Police are investigating following the discovery of a large cannabis grow in Preston.

The renovation of Stanley Buildings in Blackpool town centre is nearing completion, transforming previously disused space into a contemporary business centre to be named ‘The Robinson’.

A 17-year-old was arrested after a 135mph pursuit along the M6 and M65.

Rossendale Police, alongside partner agencies, were out this week, where they conducted a successful day of action to address pressing community concerns.

A man has been jailed for assaulting a woman in Blackpool. 

A service will be held in Blackburn next month to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man died following a collision in Lytham last night.

One of Preston’s favourite live music venues, 53 Degrees, is set to make a triumphant return in August after nearly a decade of closure.

Government inspectors who three years ago downgraded Blackburn with Darwen Council’s children’s services department to ‘requires improvement’ have restored it to a ‘good’ rating.

A 44-year-old man who groomed a schoolgirl on Snapchat before drugging and then engaging her in sexual activity has been jailed for 17 years. 

To help residents make informed choices when getting a tattoo, Blackpool Council introduced their Tattoo Hygiene Rating Scheme.  

Preston’s famous hot potato tram could be in line for its biggest facelift in the 70 years since it was established, as its current social media-star operators plan a huge overhaul.

A Chorley man who saved a stranger’s life by donating stem cells, and is calling on others to sign up to do the same.

Nelson could potentially have new town centre murals, plaques, a history trail or even a statue highlighting its heritage and people, in small art or community projects linked to the £25million Nelson Town Deal.

Proposals have been revealed to install two new fairground rides on Blackpool Promenade.

More than £4m of funding is set to be spent on improving bus services in Blackpool including upgrading shelters.

Emergency accommodation for some of Blackburn with Darwen’s most vulnerable homeless people will be retained for next winter and town hall bosses will now look at a longer term provision.

A new town centre car park has been branded a ‘tarmac desert’ by a councillor who had called for the space to be transformed into a green space instead.