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The latest Lloyds House Price Index reports that average UK house prices fell by 0.2% in August and by 0.4% on an annual basis. This was the first year-on-year decrease since November 2023. According to Emeritus Professor Joe Nellis, Head of Economic Research at MHA, the accountancy and advisory firm, the housing market has come to a halt at a time of considerable economic uncertainty.

P.ublished 8th September 2026

Ballot For The 2027 AJ Bell Great North Run Is Now Open!

With the biggest ever Great North Run just days away organisers of the world’s greatest half marathon announce that the BALLOT FOR THE 2027 event is now OPEN. The Ballot runs from Monday, 7th September at 8am until midnight on Sunday 20th September, at which point ballot applications close. The draw takes place on Monday 21st September with applicants notified of their results soon after.

P.ublished 7th September 2026

Three Quarters Of A&E Staff Witness Violence And Aggression At Work At Least Once A Week, As 'Safe To Care' Campaign Launched

Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay

Around three in four UK Emergency Department staff have told the Royal College of Emergency Medicine that they experience or witness violence and aggression in their department on a daily or weekly basis.

P.ublished 7th September 2026

Blackpool Is All Lit Up

Liz Coggins
Features Editor

Blackpool's world-famous Illuminations were officially switched on by comedian and presenter Paddy McGuinness, marking the start of another dazzling season for one of the UK's most iconic attractions.

P.ublished 6th September 2026

Ruby’s Law MP Drop-In

Ruby’s Law, which is striving to protect pets in domestic abuse settings, has its second reading in Parliament in October. Ahead of that, campaigners are inviting MPs to a drop-in on 8th September so they can learn more about the proposed legislation and the positive impact it will have on victims of domestic abuse and their companion animals.

P.ublished 5th September 2026

Andy Burnham’s First Month

On Tuesday, Andy Burnham made his first speech as Prime Minister at the PMQ’s, addressing his parliament and outlining his plan of action for a new political and economic model for the UK. Many of his promises are not firm commitments, so what can we expect from this new government, and when can we expect any of this change? Here’s what we know.

P.ublished 5th September 2026

Austerity And Brexit Not To Blame For Sluggish UK Economy, New Analysis Finds

New research from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) by economist Julian Jessop examines two of the most widely blamed causes of the UK's poor economic performance over the past decade and a half: fiscal "austerity" after 2010 and the 2016 vote to leave the European Union. It concludes that the evidence for either being a major drag on growth is much weaker than commonly assumed.

P.ublished 4th September 2026

YouGov/Cebr: Consumer Confidence Increases Amid Rising Optimism Around Business Activity

Consumer confidence increased by 0.9 points movement in August 2026, according to the latest data from YouGov and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr). The Consumer Confidence index rose from 105.5 to 106.4. Any score greater than 100 indicates positive sentiment, while a score of less than 100 indicates negative sentiment.

P.ublished 3rd September 2026

Four In 10 Parents Delaying Saving For Their Children

Image by Nuun Std. from Pixabay

Almost four in 10 parents with children under 18 have no Junior ISA (JISA) open for their children, Scottish Friendly has found. The mutual’s latest Family Finance Tracker research has found that 38 per cent of parents with children under 18 have no JISA in place for any of their children, with everyday pressures and a lack of knowledge among the barriers to getting started.

P.ublished 3rd September 2026

Charity Shops Feel The Squeeze As Donors Turn To Online Sellers

PhotoL Towfiqu barbhuiya on Pexels

Charity shops are under pressure as donors sell higher-value clothes and goods through online platforms such as Vinted, eBay and Depop, rather than donating them, new research from Rathbones, one of the UK’s leading charity wealth managers, shows.

P.ublished 2nd September 2026

Government Now Requires Licenses For One In Five Workers

Image: Markus Winkler on Pexels

A new paper published by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) argues that rapidly increasing regulation of the labour market since the 2008 financial crisis is a key part of the explanation for Britain's poor productivity performance.

P.ublished 31st August 2026

Three In Four Brits Call For Plastic-Free Festivals

Image by Tania Van den Berghen from Pixabay

As festival-goers head to some of the season's biggest events this bank holiday weekend, from Reading and Leeds to Creamfields and Notting Hill Carnival, new research reveals the sheer volume of single-use plastic left behind across a UK festival season.

P.ublished 29th August 2026

Extreme Weather - Cumberland’s Warning For Homeowners

Homeowners are being urged to check their home insurance covers damage caused by extreme weather following this summer’s heatwaves. Research from Uinsure, provided to Cumberland Building Society, reveals 60 per cent of policyholders do not know if their policy covers extreme-heat damage, such as subsidence, cracked walls or damaged pipes and guttering.

P.ublished 27th August 2026

Drivers Face Flash Flooding Risk As Yellow Thunderstorm Warnings Follow Hot Weather, Cautions The AA

Drivers warned to expect sudden surface water and localised flooding as heavy, thundery showers follow the recent hot, dry weather. Hard, compacted ground following prolonged dry conditions can increase surface run-off during intense rainfall. “Conditions can change incredibly quickly when a thundery downpour hits.” - AA expert patrol

P.ublished 27th August 2026

Letter To Editor: Protect Your Hearing Health

Dear Editor, Some of life's best moments come with a soundtrack – whether it's at a music event, a festival or a night out with friends. It's how many people connect, celebrate, and make memories. To keep it that way it's really important to protect your hearing health.

P.ublished 27th August 2026

Caldbeck Transmitter Celebrates 65 Years On Air

The UK’s third tallest structure, Caldbeck transmitter station, is celebrating 65 years of keeping communities across Cumbria and South West Scotland connected through television and radio services. The transmitting station, which first went on air on 1 September 1961, serves around 280,000 homes and has become one of the UK's most important broadcasting locations.

P.ublished 26th August 2026

Computer Says No!

Photo: El Jundi on Pexels

Car tech computer confusion has become one of the UK’s top five causes of breakdowns, the AA reveals. Whilst people might be used to ‘computer says no’ at home or work, many are being flummoxed by the technical complexity of their vehicles.

P.ublished 25th August 2026

Better Tomorrows Awards 2026: Nominate Your Youth Work Heroes

Last year’s winners at the Better Tomorrows Awards celebration event

Nominations are now open for the Better Tomorrows Awards 2026, a celebration of outstanding youth work across Cumbria. The awards will shine a spotlight on the people and projects making a real difference in the lives of young people. Public nominations are now open for three categories: Youth Worker of the Year, Youth Project of the Year, and Young Volunteer of the Year.

P.ublished 24th August 2026

Britain’s Tax System Has Become More Economically Damaging Since The Financial Crisis, Says New IEA Briefing

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Britain’s tax system has become more economically damaging since the financial crisis, says new IEA briefing. The worst may be yet to come. Taxes on investment have risen sharply on two occasions in recent years – immediately after the financial crisis, and once more after the pandemic. This time, there is little prospect that they will fall again.

P.ublished 24th August 2026

Twenty One Week Driving Test Backlog Locks Neets Out Of A Job, New Research Reveals

Image by Robert Fotograf from Pixabay

Britain’s young people are being locked out of work by an entrenched driving test backlog, a leading think tank has revealed. Learners in England must now look around 21 weeks ahead to find an available driving test, more than four times the five-week wait in 2020, according to analysis of new Department for Transport data by the Centre for Social Justice.

P.ublished 24th August 2026

Leeds Team Delivers UK First With Breakthrough Treatment For Life-Threatening Abnormal Tangle Of Blood Vessels In The Brain

A man from Bradford has become the first patient in the UK to benefit from a groundbreaking new treatment for a disabling and life-threatening arteriovenous malformation (AVM).

P.ublished 24th August 2026

CrossCountry To Run A Full Train Service On Monday 24 August

Long-distance train operator CrossCountry will run a full train service on Monday after a power outage affecting its control centre resulted in major disruption across the network on Sunday 23 August. The operator plans to run a very limited number of trains from around 18:00 today and a full service tomorrow (Monday 24 August).

P.ublished 23rd August 2026

428,000 Miss Making Tax Digital’s First Filing Deadline – Azets

Almost half the people eligible for Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax have missed the first filing deadline, according an analysis from international accountancy and business advisory group Azets. Figures from HMRC showed 436,000 taxpayers filed their first MTD for Income Tax quarterly update on time on August 7 – 50.5% of those who should have.

P.ublished 21st August 2026

Revolutionary Yorkshire Water-Saving Device To Feature On National Television

Jason and Belle Richardson's SealStop device, born out of a smallholding frustration, has already picked up 12 awards and sales in six countries — now it's heading for prime-time television. A device dreamed up to solve an everyday nuisance on a Pocklington smallholding is about to be pitched to some of the sharpest minds in British business.

P.ublished 21st August 2026

Three In Ten Drivers Now Have A Dashcam And Are Using Footage To Support A Claim – The AA

Image: Bruno Massao on Pexels

A study carried out by The AA’s Accident Assist claims service found that 30% of drivers now have a dashcam, compared with 20% in 2018. This 10 percentage-point rise means dashcams are becoming an increasingly common source of potential evidence following road collisions.

P.ublished 21st August 2026

Aldi Calls On Families To Apply For Its New Superfam Pass

Families can now apply to get their hands on Aldi’s brand-new Superfam Pass, which offers one lucky household a full year of free groceries. Aldi is launching a Superfam Pass to give one lucky household a full year of free groceries. Britain’s biggest discounter is on the lookout for a household of devoted Aldi shoppers, offering them the chance to have a year’s shopping covered.

P.ublished 21st August 2026

Live Facial Recognition To Be Used At Leeds Festival

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

West Yorkshire Police will deploy Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology on the external perimeter of Leeds Festival for the first time this year as part of the wider operation to help keep festivalgoers safe, prevent crime and create a secure environment for everyone attending.

P.ublished 20th August 2026

UK Inflation Rises To 2.9% As Energy Bills Bite — Economists Split On What Happens Next

Image by Markus Winkler from Pixabay

Experts agree the jump was driven by the Ofgem price cap rise, but disagree sharply on what government and the Bank of England should do about it UK inflation rose to 2.9 per cent in July, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, with economists and commentators broadly agreed on the cause but divided on the remedy.

P.ublished 19th August 2026

North Yorkshire Moors Railway Opens Its Doors For Heritage Open Days 2026

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) is inviting visitors to discover the people, places, and stories that have shaped the heritage railway as it takes part in Heritage Open Days 2026 with a programme of free events across Pickering, Goathland, and Grosmont.

P.ublished 19th August 2026

Young Savers Twice As Likely As Baby Boomers To Delay Life Events Due To Money Worries: 67% Vs 31%

Two-thirds of young savers have postponed a significant life event they could genuinely afford, held back not by a specific bill or shortfall but by a broader unease about their financial position, new research from LHV Bank has found.

P.ublished 19th August 2026

Job Vacancies Sink To Near Six-Year Low As Pay Squeeze Tightens

Unemployment holds at 4.9% but economists warn of a "stuck" labour market, with private sector wage growth at its weakest since 2020. Britain's jobs market showed fresh signs of strain this morning as official figures revealed vacancies have fallen to their lowest level in more than five years, even as pay growth in the private sector slowed to a near six-year low.

P.ublished 18th August 2026

Record Number Of Patients Wait On Trolleys In England’s A&E, Overcrowding Remains Widespread

The latest Emergency Department (ED) performance figures from NHS England, covering July 2026, show that last month was the worst July on record for 12-hour waits, with over 150,000 patients waiting more than half a day in major (Type 1) EDs. It also shows that more than 47,000 patients who attended major EDs spent over 12 hours waiting on a trolley.

P.ublished 18th August 2026

‘It Was My Twin Brother’, TPE Reveals Excuses Heard From Customers Travelling Without A Valid Ticket

Revenue Protection Image: © TransPennine Express

From blaming a twin brother to eating the evidence, TransPennine Express (TPE) has revealed some of the more unusual excuses its revenue protection team has heard from customers travelling without a valid ticket. Among them was a customer caught using a child ticket for the second time.

P.ublished 17th August 2026

Government Must Be Honest About UK Energy Demand In Its Response To Rosebank Consultation

Image: Jan-Rune Smenes Reite Pixabay

The government must be honest about the UK’s energy demand in its response to the public consultation on the Rosebank oilfield, says David Whitehouse chief executive of Offshore Energies UK The government response to the public consultation which closes today [Monday August 17th] will set the direction of the UK’s future energy policy, industrial resilience and its route to net zero.

P.ublished 17th August 2026

Fifth Heatwave Set To Increase Water Demand As Yorkshire Water Urges Using Water Wisely

Scout Dike Reservoir summer 2026 Photo: Yorkshire Water

Yorkshire Water is reminding customers to use water wisely as the UK’s fifth heatwave of the year arrives, with temperatures in the region set to reach more than 30 degrees. Yorkshire Water is preparing for the increased demand expected during the latest heatwave.

P.ublished 14th August 2026

The Government Has Moved Power North. Now Britain's High Streets Need Better Local Intelligence

Image by Narcis Ciocan from Pixabay

Devolution has just gained a scoreboard.

P.ublished 14th August 2026

Vet Issues Urgent Warning To Dog Owners After Toxic Giant Hogweed Discovered In Preston

Following reports of giant hogweed being found in Preston, dog owners are being urged to learn how to recognise the dangerous plant and know what to do if their pet comes into contact with it.

P.ublished 13th August 2026

Armexis Urges Swift Action To Keep The UK Safe

ARMEXIS, the Harrogate-based armoured vehicle designer and manufacturer, has called for the UK to move swiftly beyond spending announcements and to rebuild its defence manufacturing capacity to keep the country safe.

P.ublished 13th August 2026

Alison Brooks Architects To Lead £30m Restoration Of Gisburne Park Estate

Grade I-listed Ribble Valley hall set for hotel, members' club and wellness centre, with planning applications expected in November Alison Brooks Architects has been appointed to lead a £30 million redevelopment of Gisburne Park, a 1,000-acre estate near the Ribble Valley, converting the historic house into a members' club, boutique hotel and wellness centre.

P.ublished 12th August 2026

Aldi Urgesshoppers To Donate These Everyday Items To Help Local Foodbanks This Summer

Foodbanks are calling for donations of everyday essentials this summer as families face extra pressure during the school holidays. To help shoppers support their local communities, supermarket Aldi has revealed the products charities say are needed most, making it easier for customers to donate while doing their weekly shop.

P.ublished 12th August 2026

Property Expert Warns Affordability Remains Biggest Obstacle As "Cautious Optimism Returns To UK Housing Market".

Image: Lewis Kang'ethe Ngugi on PExels

A property expert says improving confidence is encouraging buyers back into the market, but affordability remains the biggest barrier to a sustained recovery. Jonathan Rolande believes the UK housing market is showing signs of stabilising after a prolonged period of uncertainty.

P.ublished 12th August 2026

Almost A Fifth Of Britons Have No Clear Long-Term Financial Priority

Image by mejiamelissa from Pixabay

Almost a fifth (18 per cent) of UK adults do not have or cannot identify a long-term financial goal, new research from Scottish Friendly has found. Nearly one in five people surveyed told the mutual they did not know what they wanted their finances to achieve over the next five years or more, according to its latest Family Finance Tracker research.

P.ublished 11th August 2026

Britain Spends More On Planning Applications Than Japan Spends On Extending High-Speed Railways Through Earthquake-prone Mountains

Image: Enes Beydilli on Pexels

New research from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) reveals the true scale of Britain's infrastructure crisis, showing that the UK pays several times more than its European and Asian peers to build major transport infrastructure, and waits far longer for it to open.

P.ublished 10th August 2026

Young People Given A Break Into Veterinary Careers In Lancashire Project

Veterinary Summer Schoo

A pioneering summer school aimed at breaking down barriers for young people aspiring to become vets is taking place this week (starting 3rd August) in Preston, backed by one of the country's largest veterinary firms.

P.ublished 6th August 2026

Kendal architects to lead restoration of one of Cumbria's at-risk medieval churches

The architects overseeing repairs to St Mary’s Church in Kirkby Lonsdale have welcomed a major funding boost towards securing its future. The National Lottery Heritage Fund has announced £370,446 towards an ambitious programme of repairs and improvements to the 900-year-old building.

P.ublished 5th August 2026

Younger Savers Turning Back On ‘Outdated’ Rainy Day Savings Approach, Research From LHV Bank Reveals

Younger savers increasingly feel the concept of ‘saving for a rainy day’ is outdated, and are focusing their efforts on saving for specific goals, new research from LHV Bank has revealed. The survey of more than 2,000 savers found 44% of respondents aged 18-24 felt the idea of rainy day savings was outdated.

P.ublished 5th August 2026

Waspi Campaigners “Absolutely Determined” In Fight For Justice As Calls For Talks With New PM Grow

Campaigners have written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey, urging them to meet for talks on compensating millions of WASPI women. In a letter sent today, WASPI chief Angela Madden presses the new Labour leadership to urgently meet with campaigners to ensure 1950s-born women receive “fair redress”.

P.ublished 4th August 2026

YouGov/Cebr: Consumer Confidence Index: Perceptions Of Household Finances Improve

Overall consumer confidence saw incremental movement in July 2026, according to the latest data from YouGov and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr). The index rose from 105.3 to 105.5 (+0.2). Any score greater than 100 indicates positive sentiment, while a score of less than 100 indicates negative sentiment.

P.ublished 3rd August 2026

Britain's Housing Crisis "Entirely Self-Inflicted" Warns Economist

Image by Gino Crescoli from Pixabay

A new briefing from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Buildings: In defence of ‘stupid growth, is written by Kristian Niemietz, the IEA's Editorial Director, and forms part of a forthcoming IEA book, The Great Stagnation: Why Britain Stopped Growing, which brings together contributions from multiple authors, each examining a different explanation for Britain's growth malais…

P.ublished 3rd August 2026

Switch On Star Revealed

Liz Coggins
Features Editor

BBC Radio 2’s Paddy McGuinness is set to light up Blackpool’s biggest night of the year on Friday 4 September. Beloved 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 on Friday 4 September 2026.

P.ublished 1st August 2026

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