Central Radio News

Burnley residents will have new opportunities to discover, celebrate and get involved in the town’s heritage following the official launch of High 5 for Heritage. 

Police have seized a number of illegal e-bikes, e-scooters and off-road bikes from the streets of Preston as part of ongoing efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Lancashire County Council could launch legal proceedings against the government after being left in the dark about the nature of an unexpected pause in plans for a radical local authority shake-up.

Stanley Park has marked its 100th anniversary with a special two-day celebration bringing together generations of Blackpool residents, visitors, volunteers, community groups and the people who help care for the much-loved park.

A man from Garstang has been given a 22-year sentence after abusing and raping a woman.

A man has been found guilty of killing his brother with a punch at a social club in Rossendale.

Residents and motorists are being advised of planned highways improvements on Whalley Old Road – a busy route in Blackburn.

Blackpool is set to receive a share of £10m to improve access to healthy and affordable food for people in need.

A Central Lancashire hotel that has been used as accommodation for asylum seekers for almost five years will be vacated by the end of December.

A major programme of improvements to Rawtenstall town centre is set to get underway as part of the Levelling Up East Lancashire programme.

A new facility will open in Preston next week to support rough sleepers.

Preston’s city centre will be celebrating Christmas in style this year, with a packed programme of festive experiences that will bring festive magic to the city’s cultural Harris Quarter.

Three Blackburn playgrounds are set for major upgrades after Blackburn with Darwen Council secured £270,000 from a government fund aimed at improving play facilities in some of England’s most deprived communities.

A man from Accrington has been sentenced after he engaged in sexual conversation online with a girl he believed was 13.   

The transformation of the Harris museum, art gallery and library in Preston has been caught on a series of short films.

Everyone is invited to Stanley Park this weekend for the main public celebration of the park's 100th birthday.

A pensioner old man has been jailed after sexually assaulting a young woman in the early 1990s.

The much-anticipated renovation of a major sports pitch in Accrington has been kicked into the long grass once again, it was revealed at a meeting of Hyndburn Council.

An agreement has been reached between Lancashire County Council, Wyre Council and the operator of the Fleetwood to Knott End Ferry service to provide additional funding.

Preston City Council wants to be one of the authorities that takes over the running of support services for refugees living in Lancashire.

Preston North End have confirmed Graham Alexander as their new manager.

Investigations have failed to reveal the cause of two sinkholes that opened up during a facelift of part of Preston city centre.

Blackpool’s original 1920s cinema The Regent is playing host to an international festival of short films which is normally staged in Manchester.

A building that has stood vacant on a busy street on the edge of Preston city centre for almost two decades is finally set to be brought back to life.

Thousands of Fylde households are receiving their brand-new food waste caddies from this week.

Stalled plans to build a new multi-million pound magistrates court in Blackpool are progressing with a new developer for the major project announced.

Wyre Council leader Michael Vincent has called on the Government to make an urgent intervention over historic contamination in parts of Thornton by cancer-causing chemical PFOA.

Preston City Council has launched a new Community Health Grant Scheme to support local organisations delivering projects that help improve health outcomes for residents across the city.

A Blackpool woman fears being left broke if her home is sold to the council and demolished as part of a controversial regeneration scheme.

A vital service in Blackpool offering support for people recovering from addictions has staged a special event to highlight the impact it has been having.

A new cycle hub has been unveiled at Preston Station which aims to make riding around the city easier, safer and more inclusive. 

A teacher at a Preston secondary school says the high standards for which it has been recognised risk being unravelled by plans to turn it into an academy – and that staff are fighting “to save our school community as we know it”.

An innovative theatre in Blackpool which had to leave its premises last year is making a splash with its new base.

Blackpool’s public light-art festival, Lightpool Festival returns this October half term - and celebrates its ten-year anniversary.

Residents across Lancashire are being invited to have their say on a plan about making sure the county has enough of the materials, such as sand, gravel and stone to build homes, roads and other things, in the future.

A man has been given a nine-year sentence for sexually assaulting and attempting to rape a young girl.

There’s a new name on the Blackpool street map, and it leads to a whole lot of Happiness.

There’s less than two weeks to go until Stanley Park marks its 100th anniversary, with a spectacular day of family fun, entertainment and a dazzling drone show.

A former magistrate has hit out at how the long-term closure of a court building in Central Lancashire has been handled.

Burnley Council has scrapped plans to spend £436,000 building padel courts at Towneley Park, just six months after they were announced.

The countdown is on for Encounter Festival, as the full programme is unveiled for a packed day of free outdoor performances, interactive installations, family activities and a spectacular Torchlight Procession in the centre of Preston.

A teenager from Haslingden has been sentenced after driving in excess of 150mph on the M65 earlier this year.

Essential repairs will be carried out on the paddling pool at St Annes after funding was agreed by Fylde Council.

Burnley has been awarded £20 million through the Government’s Pride in Place programme to support investment in the town over the next decade – and the first funding awards have now been approved.

An Accrington man has been jailed for raping a young woman. 

Burnley Council still needs to find almost £1.7 million of savings over the next three years despite having already delivered £29.5 million of cuts and efficiencies since 2010, new financial planning documents reveal.

Blackpool Transport is on the lookout for a suitable location from which to temporarily display the town’s iconic and much-loved heritage fleet.

A lush meadow which has been part of people’s childhood memories in the Kirkham and Wesham area for generations desperately needs saving from a massive housing scheme, say campaigners.

Police are appealing for witnesses, CCTV and doorbell footage following a burglary in Chorley in which more than £20,000 worth of bikes were stolen.

A damning CQC report on Blackpool’s Adult Social care last year has ended up being a positive wake-up call which has improved services, an annual report concludes.

A man has been jailed after pleading guilty to possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply, after being caught with 1kg of cocaine in his car in Nelson.

Lytham Assembly Rooms, home to Lytham Library, is set to remain in the hands of the community that has cared for it for decades, after Fylde Council’s agreed to transfer the freehold of the historic building to Lytham Town Trust.

Contractors working with Blackpool Council have joined forces to create a new community space in South Shore, aiming to upskill residents and help create a more resilient community.

An initiative to offer free bulky waste collections to Blackburn with Darwen’s 150,000 residents has become the ‘victim of its own success’, a council report has admitted.

A government decision to approve a controversial cabling scheme to connect a pair of offshore windfarms near Fylde to a power station in South Ribble will leave the local landscape it cuts through changed forever, campaigners against the plans have warned.

Cheering crowds of excited children waved union flags as the Duke of Edinburgh paid a special visit to Blackpool’s Stanley Park to help celebrate its centenary year.

Plans to install a series of new ‘communication hubs’ in Preston city centre have been refused for a second time.

A vehicle ‘chop shop’ and a significant quantity of parts have been found after a police discovery in Accrington.

Police are appealing for witnesses and footage following a serious road traffic collision in Freckleton.

A trader from Blackburn has been ordered to pay customers £43,700 in compensation after leaving customers across the North West 'significantly out of pocket' following unnecessary or poor-quality work.

The hunt is on for a new person to oversee the delivery of a huge £20m Government funding pot earmarked for Accrington over the next decade, following the resignation of the town’s neighbourhood board chair.

A Preston woman who suffered serious injuries from jumping out of her bedroom window when her abusive ex-partner set her home ablaze is fronting a new trauma awareness campaign.

The Duke of Edinburgh is set to visit Blackpool’s award-winning Stanley Park tomorrow as the Grade II-listed park celebrates its centenary year.

Leisure operators are being invited to help transform one of Fylde most loved destinations, as Fylde Council opens its formal tender for a padel and tennis concession at Fairhaven Lake and Gardens.

A man has been jailed for carrying out a robbery at a Blackburn bookies. 

The parents of a little girl with a serious degenerative illness are in a battle to try and slow down its progression in any way they can.

Blackpool Council insists it has not ruled out the prospect of a top arena for the town, despite the proposals not being explicitly included in an update on its ambitious Blackpool Central proposals.

Bus passengers in Lancashire will be able to enjoy a discounted fare for longer than previously planned after the date it was due to end was pushed back until after Christmas.

A joint multi-agency operation has led to multiple arrests, vehicle seizures and proactive activity aimed at disrupting County Lines drug dealing in Preston.

New laws regulating e-bikes and e-scooters could be introduced by the Government amid growing concerns over their misuse, with Lancashire among the most active areas in the country for enforcement action.

The owners of a Cleveleys pub which has been closed for more than three years have confirmed it is to reopen.

The future of a large and prominent hotel on Blackpool seafront remains uncertain after the operators went into liquidation.

A family have paid a loving and emotional tribute to an ‘inseparable couple’ who were found deceased at a house in Hardman Street, Blackburn.

Part of the former Fleetwood Hospital building could be used for student accommodation in the face of a shortage of suitable provision in the area.

A long-planned new railway station for suburban Preston is finally set to get off the drawing board after the cash needed to build it was secured.

Lancashire Police has launched Fake or Real? Know the Deal, a campaign designed to help young people and families recognise and respond to the growing threat posed by artificial intelligence generated deepfakes.

Blackpool Council is being recommended to continue with a procurement exercise to find a developer for the Blackpool Central site.

Demolition work has been carried out on an unsafe fire-damaged play ship in Anchorsholme Park which was targeted by arsonists last December.

There are calls for a wholesale rethink of plans to abolish and replace all of Lancashire’s councils after ministers announced the process had been paused while checks are carried out to ensure it is lawful.

Plans to abolish Lancashire’s 15 councils and replace them with four new authorities have been put on hold by the Government, pending a future review.

Vehicles are to be driven out of several Preston city centre shopping streets at the busiest times of the day.

Blackburn with Darwen’s council leader has called for East Lancashire politicians to unite ahead of local government reorganisation, amid continuing tensions with Burnley over the creation of the new Pennine Lancashire authority.

Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone continues to see significant progress, with major infrastructure projects completed, new development land released and further investment planned to support business growth and create new jobs across the Fylde coast.

Dog owners who fail to clean up after their pets could face a £250 fixed penalty notice under new measures approved by Wyre Council.

A woman has been found dead in a pond at Lowther Gardens in Lytham.

Police have launched a murder investigation after two people were found dead inside a house in Blackburn.

Blackpool’s RNLI sent a powerful message to planners that proposed rock groynes could directly lead to lives being lost in the sea.

A Blackpool mental health charity has reopened its South Shore hub almost a year after massive storm damage left it uninhabitable.

A Fleetwood man has been jailed for assaulting a woman and engaging in controlling behaviour towards her. 

The latest phase of improvements to the children's playground at Memorial Park in Fleetwood have been unveiled.

One of East Lancashire’s most recognisable landmarks could be set for a major overhaul after Burnley Council submitted plans to improve access to the Singing Ringing Tree ahead of the borough’s Year of Culture celebrations in 2027.

Lancashire County Council has indicated it could be willing to pay more to keep the Fleetwood to Knott End ferry in operation – but first wants convincing that an increased subsidy for the service makes sense for the public purse.

The County Council will withdraw from its role as the coordinating authority for refugee resettlement schemes across Lancashire.

Controversial plans to build almost 80 new affordable homes in the Over Wyre village of Stalmine have been given the green light by Wyre Council.

Specialist CCTV cameras are to be installed at Lancashire County Council’s household waste recycling centres to ensure businesses are not also using the facilities to dump their rubbish.

Parents and carers can now apply online for children who are either starting primary school or moving to secondary school in September 2027.

Lancashire Police is to launch the use of Live Facial Recognition, helping prevent and detect crime, while protecting the most vulnerable in our county.

Thousands more children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) could benefit from improved support closer to home if proposals to invest a further £23 million in specialist and inclusive education provision get the green light.

Planners at Wyre will meet this week to make a decision on on a controversial application to build 79 new affordable homes in the Over Wyre village of Stalmine.

Community groups, organisations, businesses and local partners are being invited to share ideas for projects that could create a meaningful and lasting legacy for Preston Guild 2032.

Police are appealing for information and footage following a serious collision in Ribbleton.

Blackpool is preparing for one of the most magical nights in its calendar when, for one night only, the six miles of Promenade will be closed to give cyclists a sneak preview of this year’s Illuminations.

Blackpool is pushing for the return of the national Labour conference which would be worth £30 million to the local economy over just one week.

One of the 'most prolific' fraudsters that Lancashire County Council's Trading Standards have brought to justice has been jailed for three years and nine months.

An investigation is underway after a man who was injured during an aggravated burglary died.

A piece of Kirkham's heritage has been saved for future generations after a significant milestone in the restoration of the Grade II listed Hillside on Preston Street was reached.

Work is getting under way at Preston Town Hall to remove asbestos which has delayed repairs to toilet facilities in the building.

Hyndburn’s MP Sarah Smith has welcomed a move to upgrade parks across the borough, admitting that she was ‘shocked’ by the state some had been left in by 14 years of austerity.

The overhaul of a play area torched in a mindless vandal attack is still on schedule, insists Blackpool Council after ward councillors hit out at delays.

Superstar DJ and award-winning producer Fatboy Slim will head to the Lancashire coast next summer to headline the North West’s largest live music festival.

Plans for two new padel tennis courts in Poulton have been put forward to accommodate the world’s fastest growing sport.

The majority of the site once occupied by the Odeon Cinema and Tokyo Jo’s nightclub in Preston could be turned into a permanent car park.

A plan to install 17 rock groynes on the southern end of Blackpool’s beach has been hailed as the saviour of its famous golden sands – but almost 60 people and the RNLI are objecting.

Lancashire’s only Soapbox Challenge of 2026 is racing into Accrington on Saturday.

Blackpool Winter Gardens is throwing open its doors for a new weekender built around the bands and songwriters who soundtracked British guitar music from the tail end of the 80s through the 90s and beyond.

Blackpool is set to host its first-ever Illumination Switch-On Watch Party, giving hundreds more people the chance to be part of the biggest night in the resort’s calendar.

Illicit fireworks, prescription medication and tobacco have been seized in a joint crackdown with the police in Accrington town centre.

A joiner from Chorley who rummaged through a client’s underwear drawers has been sentenced.

Police are appealing for witnesses and footage after a pedestrian died following a road traffic collision with a car on Centenary Way in Burnley.

The team at a Lancashire bakery are celebrating after five of their products were shortlisted in the Great British Food Awards on their first time entering.

Police are appealing for information after a man was seriously injured in a road crash in Blackpool.

Crews have tackled a large vehicle fire in Poulton-le-Fylde.

Police are appealing for witnesses and footage after a motorcycle rider was left with serious injuries following a road traffic collision in Blackpool.

Supporters of Blackpool's North Pier have been asked to get involved in a public consultation into how the town's landmarks should be protected in future.

A singer songwriter from Kirkham has been backed by the legendary Sir Paul McCartney and Peter Kay.

Thousands of spectators lined the route as the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women's elite cycle race came to Lancashire.

Lancashire residents have been warned about a scam where fraudulent messages are sent about unpaid parking charges.

Police have arrested a man after carrying out a drugs raid on a property in Blackpool.

A year ago Peter Franklin was fighting for his life after suffering a massive heart attack while on his honeymoon in the Caribbean.

A programme of road closures will be in place when an elite women's cycling race visits Lancashire in a first for the county.

Emergency services have been called to a road crash in Buckshaw Village.

Crews have tackled a fire at a property in Blackpool.

Crews have been called to a building fire in Preston.

A registered sex offender has been jailed after indecent images of children and extreme pornography were found on devices belonging to him.

A Blackburn Rovers fan's love of her favourite team helped her get through to the next round of the UK's most popular TV sewing show.

Lancashire County Council has hailed "fabulous results" in today's A-levels and offered support for students thinking of their next move.

Firefighters freed a person from a vehicle following a road crash in Burnley.

Crews have tackled a fire at a house in Buckshaw Village.

A new initiative has been launched at Preston Market to help make sure that shoppers are buying genuine products and stamping out counterfeit sales.

Councillors have demanded more evidence to show that plans for dozens of new homes in a Chorley village will not increase the risk of flooding – before they decide whether to approve the development.

Proposals have been made to install 18 EV charging stations at Blackpool’s largest Tesco store in Marton.

Hyndburn Borough Council has approved plans to knock down a derelict historic hospital in Accrington, making way for a new health and care hub.

Converting most of Preston’s Miller Arcade into apartments is the “best opportunity” to guarantee the building’s future – and ensure it is fully used.

A mum whose son vanished without trace 10 years ago in St Annes is desperately waiting to hear from him to tell her he’s alright.

A major new public art initiative is transforming Preston's streetscape, with the first striking mural, Northern, unveiled at the former BHS site on Fishergate.

One of the UK’s most exciting indie-rock bands, The K’swill headline the grand reopening of Blackburn’s iconic King George’s Hall.

The revival of Blackburn’s town centre has taken a major step forward, with the selection of a constructor to deliver the £45 million first phase of the wider £250 million regeneration plan.

A teacher has been jailed after grooming and engaging in sexual activity with a teenage girl in Lytham St Annes.

Blackpool has unveiled a dazzling array of new, family-friendly features set to illuminate the resort’s famous 2026 Illuminations display, created in collaboration with three acclaimed female artists.

The huge housebuilding scheme Huncoat Garden Village is already six weeks behind schedule before a single brick has been laid, but council chiefs have said everything is going according to plan.

Blackpool is in with a brilliant chance of of being named the UK City of Culture 2029, says council leader Cllr Lynn Williams.

Volunteers who played a vital role in the success of the 2026 National Festival of Making have been honoured at a special celebration event at Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery.

Residents, businesses and anyone interested in making the switch to electric vehicles are invited to attend Electric Preston, a free electric vehicle showcase.

A Blackpool councillor has called for a crackdown on the increasing number of camper vans parking up for free on a main seafront road.

A community cafe in the middle of a Fylde coast park is to close permanently at the end of this month.

Plans have been put forward to set up an enlarged traveller site in Blackpool’s Marton Moss area.

A Lancashire fire search dog who has helped rescue people around the world has retired after nine years of outstanding service.

Blackpool Council is holding several fostering information events this month.

Plans to convert the upper floors of Preston’s historic Miller Arcade into apartments are set to be given the green light by councillors later this week.

Fleetwood is gearing up for its first Food, Fish and Music Festival, offering three days of free entertainment, food, live music and fun for all ages.

Blackpool and The Fylde College (B&FC) and Furness College have formally merged – marking the beginning of a new chapter for education across Lancashire and Cumbria.

Marks & Spencer wants to build a food store on the edge of Colne, saying it will boost the town and create 70 jobs.

Fylde Council say St Annes swimming pool and gym will remain closed ‘for an extended period’ while extensive renovation works are carried out.

Dozens more roads have been added to the number that will be resurfaced by Lancashire County Council this year.

Almost two dozen new council homes in Leyland are now available for prospective tenants to apply to live in them.

A man who blew up his Hambleton home has been jailed.

Television and radio presenter, comedian and author Paddy McGuinness will perform the honour of switching on the world-famous Blackpool Illuminations at this year’s Switch-On event.

Families across Hyndburn are invited to enjoy another summer of free outdoor fun as the popular Let's Move Hyndburn Parks Events return for a fifth consecutive year.

Fylde Council has announced the latest round of Community Projects Fund grants, with thirteen local groups set to benefit from funding.

A closure order has been issued for a shop in Chorley after they were caught selling illegal vapes.

Burnley College is hoping to build on its success training the next generation of tradespeople, with a brand new workshop facility.

Residents, landlords and community organisations are invited to have their say on proposals to introduce a Selective Licensing scheme across three Preston wards.

Four men from Blackburn have been jailed after a pursuit led to their drug enterprise being uncovered by police.

Lancashire NHS bosses are staying tight-lipped about the likelihood of Chorley and South Ribble Hospital’s A&E department reopening 24 hours a day – after the government revealed local leaders were considering “evidence” for the move. 

A family have paid an emotional tribute to a 'beautiful inside and out' mum following her death in Longridge.

Children’s services in Blackpool have been rated outstanding by Ofsted.

With everything from Bon Jovi to a bit of Blackadder - Robin Hood in Williamson Park is an absolute riot, says GREG LAMBERT.

One of the top-rated GP surgeries in Burnley is set for a major overhaul that will effectively double it in size and allow it to see more patients, after receiving approval from the town’s planning committee.

A campaign to save a former church building on the Fylde coast from demolition has been boosted by national recognition of its heritage value.

Preston Bus says it does yet know whether it will take part in the £2 fare cap reintroduced by Andy Burnham.

A roofer who Padiham who misled, threatened, and took thousands of pounds from an elderly victim in Blackpool has been jailed.

Police say a body has been found in the search for a missing man from Bamber Bridge.

Blackpool Council is taking the next major step in delivering the first data centre as part of plans for Silicon Sands, a flagship digital infrastructure project at the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone. 

A man who carried out an armed robbery at a bookmaker’s shop in Burnley has been jailed for eight years.

The Chorley Flower Show returns next weekend.

Multi-award-winning musician KT Tunstall will join Manchester’s renowned Hallé Orchestra a free live concert to celebrate Blackpool's bid to become UK City of Culture 2029.

Thousands more children across Lancashire will be eligible for free school meals from September.

Families are invited to enjoy a day packed with free activities as National Play Day comes to Burnley next month.

Police have charged a man with drugs and weapons offences following a series of warrants in Preston earlier this week.

The names of the four new councils that will cover Lancashire from 2028 have been approved by the government.

Major proposals to extensively revamp Fleetwood’s Marine Hall – including the provision of a new café and outdoor seating – have been given the green light by Wyre planners.

On the fourth anniversary of Kiena Dawes' death, her mother, Angela Dawes, is calling on the public to support the campaign for Kiena's Law, urging decision-makers to strengthen the response to coercive and controlling behaviour before more lives are lost.

32 e-bikes and e-scooters have been seized in Blackpool, after a day of action by the local Neighbourhood Team and Roads Policing Team.

What starts as a round of golf will become a true test of endurance for three local lads, who are taking on one of the toughest challenges in the sport.

Planning approval has been secured for the £13.2 million Samlesbury Innovation Hub, giving Lancashire a new development opportunity to present to international investors and businesses at this year’s Farnborough International Airshow.

A Preston park has been left strewn with rubbish and building waste after travellers set up an unlawful encampment.

EG on the Move is now all set to expand its presence in its hometown, with plans for a large new retail destination getting the sign off from Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Andy Burnham’s pledge to end rough sleeping as one of his first main policies as Prime Minister has struck a political chord with Blackpool.

International pop megastar Robbie Williams is heading to the Lytham Festival in 2027.

The establishment of a new council for South Ribble, Chorley and West Lancashire has been welcomed by the leaders of the three existing authorities that will be merged to form it – although one of them would rather have seen parts of his district moved out of Lancashire altogether.