The Cumberland's Barrow branch is set to temporarily close next month for refurbishment. The branch on Dalton Road will shut after its last day of service on Friday 6 February until work is complete, with the cash machine also out of use during the period.

AVA: The Vending & Automated Retail Association has welcomed the government’s announcement of the UK deposit return scheme, officially named 'Exchange for Change'. The AVA has played a significant role in the scheme’s creation, ensuring the full representation of the needs of vending and automated retail operators.

The Bishop of Blackburn, the Right Reverand Philip North, is travelling to Kenya to find out more about the issues and challenges facing communities there.

Missing People today announces the launch of SafeCall, a new free and confidential support service designed to keep children and young people safe before harm escalates. SafeCall is available to children and young people up to the age of 25 who are at risk of going missing, being exploited, or who feel unsafe and unsure where to turn.

Some huge developments have been unveiled as talks about Greenland continued this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos. President Trump also took the opportunity to reveal his ‘master plan’ for Gaza while launching his ironically titled ‘Board of Peace’, telling the press that this is ‘something the world has never seen before’.

British Wool has officially unveiled its 2025 Sheep of the Year, following an enthusiastic public vote celebrating the very best of Britain’s woolly wonders. Each week, British Wool shares its ‘Sheep of the Week’ to Instagram, showcasing photos sent in by farmers from across the UK.

Last Wednesday's White House meeting between Marco Rubio and his Danish and Greenlandic counterparts wasn't your typical diplomatic gathering. They were there to discuss the United States essentially 'buying' Greenland.

Dear Editor, Many people want to give back to their communities, but sometimes finding the time to volunteer can be a real challenge. It’s not always easy to commit to a traditional volunteering shift, at a specific time or on a regular basis. Balancing giving back with work, family, and other responsibilities can be difficult.

Millions of UK households may already have an important financial safety net built into their life insurance – and many don’t even realise it. Research from life insurance expert MoneySuperMarket shows that millions of policyholders aren’t aware that many life insurance policies include terminal illness benefits.

New analysis suggests gross costs of net zero could exceed even the highest official predictions of £7.6 trillion. Official estimates of the cost of net zero are often driven by “fantasy assumptions”. Public bodies have consistently underestimated the cost of renewables, heat pumps and electric vehicles, while assuming implausibly low borrowing costs. New analysis warns that misleadingly low figures risk shutting down serious democratic debate over one of the most expensive policies in British history.

Columnist Claire Kenny paid a visit to South Leeds charity Women’s Whispers, a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping women and children who’ve experienced domestic violence, other types of abuse, ill-health, and other gruelling situations.

Every year the AJ Bell Great North Run is a bucket list event for runners across the globe – will you be one of the 60,000 people running the iconic 13.1 course from Newcastle to South Shields on Sunday 13 September? This is your chance as the January ballot for this year’s AJ Bell Great North Run is now open, but be quick, the ballot closes this Sunday 11 January at midnight.