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  • Stoke-on-Trent charity shop set to host grand opening event

    Stoke-on-Trent charity shop set to host grand opening event


    A local charity is set to host a special launch event for their new Hanley superstore.The all-day event on Saturday 6 June comes after Emmaus North Staffs – who aim to tackle furniture poverty – recently moved into a large store on the lower floor of the Potteries Centre.Shoppers will be able to explore the superstore, which stocks household furniture items such as settees, wardrobes, tables and chairs as well as plus clothing and white goods.They will also be able to join in with performances by the Staffordshire Choir Association, who will be performing several popular classics and parading throughout the centre at hourly intervals throughout the day to help raise awareness for the charity’s ‘Beds for Kids’ campaign.John Webbe, Executive Lead at Emmaus North Staffs, said: “We wanted to do something a bit special, and fun, on the day to encourage visitors and shoppers to explore the centre as well as learning more about our charity, therefore we are delighted that the Staffordshire Choir Association are joining us as we look to welcome visitors and shoppers into our new store.”On the day we will also be sharing news about our Beds for Kids campaign, which we launched in 2022, following rising demands from families who cannot afford to buy their children a bed of their own.”The numbers are staggering and it is estimated that there are 9,000 children in Stoke-on-Trent alone who do not have a bed of their own.”The event is therefore a chance for the public to see the scale of our impact and help us ensure that no child in our region has to sleep without a proper bed.”

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    A spokesperson for The Potteries Centre added: “We are thrilled to welcome Emmaus North Staffs to The Potteries Centre. This new charity superstore is a fantastic addition to our retail lineup, offering our visitors a unique shopping experience centred around sustainability and community spirit.”Beyond great shopping, what makes this partnership special is Emmaus’ commitment to making a real difference locally. Their ‘Beds for Kids’ scheme is a lifeline for families in our community, ensuring that children right here in North Staffordshire have a safe, comfortable place to sleep.”By opening this superstore in the heart of Hanley, we are not only expanding our retail offering but also helping to amplify the reach of this wonderful charity. We look forward to a successful partnership together.” The choir, led by Ashley Mellor who is also director of The Music in You, will start at the shop floor from 10am before heading to the upper floor with performances taking place each hour.Ashley said: “We are really looking forward to supporting Emmaus’s new chapter in the Potteries Centre, and at the same time it is great to support their Beds for Kids campaign – which is an amazing initiative.”The Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent Cllr Joan Bell is also expected to be in attendance as well as some of the charity’s supporters, staff and volunteers.The launch event will take place from 10am unti 4pm on Saturday 6 June at the Emmaus North Staffs superstore located on the lower floor of the Potteries Centre.For more information about Emmaus North Staffs telephone 01782 846 111 or visit the website here.

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    This is a sponsored article. If it wasn’t for sponsors like Emmaus, our news site would not be possible – thank you.If you own a local business and would like to sponsor us, get in touch at [email protected].

  • Pen to paper: Liverpool send Man City running after sealing vital contract for star Iraola will love

    Pen to paper: Liverpool send Man City running after sealing vital contract for star Iraola will love



    Josh Abe has committed his long-term future to Liverpool Football Club.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAYThe 15-year-old attacker turned down offers from a number of Premier League clubs, including rivals Manchester City, to sign scholarship terms.The teenager is understood to have put pen to paper on a pre-contract agreement that will see him start a three-year professional deal once he turns 17 in 2027.It has been reported that Abe was offered as much as £50,000 a week to leave the Merseyside giants this summer.Despite having been injured since February, and having witnessed limited faith put in Liverpool’s young talent under Arne Slot, the youngster has committed to continuing his development at L4.The Spaniard’s reputation certainly precedes him when it comes to improving and handing opportunities to young stars, with the likes of Rayan Vitor, Eli Junior Kroupi, and Dean Huijsen having all benefited.Handy, given that Josh Abe will be available for the club’s pre-season tour of the States ahead of the 2026/27 season.Featuring on the right wing, the teenager has already impressed Liverpool coaches with his natural inclination to invert and fearlessly drive at his opponents with the ball.Footage shared by The Secret Scout on X (formerly Twitter) indicates this isn’t the only facet to his game. He’s evidently just as able to cut inside and utilise his vision to pick out an advancing teammate with a deadly through ball.There’s also a remarkable explosiveness to Abe’s game. The young wide man is happy to stretch play to the byline before receiving the ball and bursting away from a press where he can then impact the game in the final third.This may very well be a talent to keep a close eye on – especially given Iraola’s notable ability to develop young stars.More Stories / Latest News

  • Hospital Breach Affects Nearly 33,000 Patients | Silicon UK Tech

    Hospital Breach Affects Nearly 33,000 Patients | Silicon UK Tech


    Personal data on nearly 33,000 patients was stolen and shared online, in June 2024, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has revealed.
    The trust said it was “possible” that data on patients who had laboratory or diagnostic results between 2011 and 2020 from the hospitals it operates, Bedford Hospital and Luton & Dunstable Hospital.
    The breach affected an organisation that provides essential services to the trust, as part of a broader incident affecting other healthcare bodies, the trust said.
    Image credit: Pexels
    Diagnostic results
    As the data was fragmented across multiple databases, it took nearly two years for specialist analysis to clarify what information was present and what organisations it related to.
    Data on the 32,927 affected could include name, date of birth, NHS number, postcode, and test results, the trust said.
    “During the attack, criminals unlawfully accessed internal systems and extracted a set of files, which were later published on online forums known for sharing stolen data,” the trust said in a lengthy statement on Tuesday.
    “In October 2025, the supplier informed us that some data relevant to our organisation was included in the material they had recovered and analysed. We have since undertaken our own review of that material.”
    The trust said it believes the risk of the data being misused is low, as it is fragmented and historic.
    Historic data
    It said the supplier has obtained a court injunction to help prevent third parties from sharing the information.
    It noted that publication alone did not mean the data had been used in a harmful way, adding that it was not aware of evidence that the information had been accessed or used inappropriately.
    But it acknowledged there was a “limited risk” of personal data being used in unsolicited contacts by potential scammers.
    The trust said it liaised with the NHS England information governance team and notified the Information Commissioner’s Office.

  • Midsomer Murders stage adaptation to return for 2027 tour

    Midsomer Murders stage adaptation to return for 2027 tour



    Daniel Casey (Barnaby) in The Killings at Badger’s Drift, © Manuel Harlan
    The Midsomer Murders stage adaptation will tour in 2027.
    Based on Caroline Graham’s book and the hit ITV series, Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift, the stage play is adapted by Guy Unsworth. It follows Inspector Barnaby and his trusty sidekick, Sergeant Troy, who investigate a murder after the well-loved Emily Simpson is found dead in the picturesque village of Badger’s Drift.
    Produced by Nicholson Green Productions and Colin Ingram Ltd, Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift is directed by Unsworth, with design by David Woodhead, lighting design by Matt Haskins, music by Max Pappenheim, sound design by Ella Wahlström and casting by Ginny Schiller.
    Daniel Casey, who created the role of Sergeant Troy in the ITV show from 1997 to 2008, played Inspector Tom Barnaby in the world premiere stage show and will reprise the role for the second tour. Further casting is to be revealed.
    In 2027, the tour will play at the Alexandra, Birmingham from 23 to 24 April, before visiting Edinburgh Festival Theatre (28 April to 1 May), Milton Keynes Theatre (5 to 8 May), Orchard Theatre in Dartford (12 to 15 May), Hull New Theatre (19 to 22 May), Theatre Severn (25 to 29 May), Belfast Grand Opera House (1 to 5 June), Aylesbury Waterside Theatre (23 to 26 June), York Grand Opera House (30 June to 3 July), Liverpool Playhouse (6 to 10 July), Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (14 to 17 July), Bradford Alhambra Theatre (21 to 24 July), and Newcastle Theatre Royal (27 to 31 July). More dates are to be announced.
    The 2026 leg of the tour is currently playing in Dublin, with the final date at Theatre Royal Bath from 9 to 13 June.
    The stage show is produced by Nicholson Green Productions and Colin Ingram Ltd.

  • Parents ’50-50′ on Leicestershire term date changes, council says

    Parents ’50-50′ on Leicestershire term date changes, council says



    Leicester City Council is also carrying out a simultaneous consultation on future term time calendars,Poland added he was concerned the two authorities were proposing term times that were not exactly aligned.He said this could be a problem for families living near the city and county border with children who go to schools in both.Both the city and county councils have said they will work closely together to co-ordinate future term times where possible.The county council’s Reform UK cabinet member for children and families Charles Pugsley said he was pleased both options kept the July Fortnight. “It [the July fortnight] defines part of who we are as a county,” Pugsley said.”Generations of families have built their summers around the fact our schools on average break up a couple of weeks earlier than anywhere else.”It’s something people in Leicestershire evidently really value so whichever way the consultation goes the early summer break is safe.”A final decision on future school term dates is expected in September.

  • Cambridge cyclist left bleeding at crash scene waiting for police

    Cambridge cyclist left bleeding at crash scene waiting for police



    Campis, who is 27 and from Brazil, has been in the city for five months. He was riding home on the narrow path which runs between the Mill Road area and Cherry Hinton.”The first moment I thought it might be an e-bike, so I reduced my speed and kept going, then I saw them going full speed and I managed to stop but they hit me,” he said.”It blew up my tyre and broke my front wheel.”He said he fell, injuring his arm and both of his hips, and was left “in shock”.

  • Stone residents urged to nominate outstanding carers for Staffordshire awards > A Little Bit of Stone

    Stone residents urged to nominate outstanding carers for Staffordshire awards > A Little Bit of Stone



    People in Stone are being encouraged to nominate outstanding carers for this year’s Dignity in Care Awards before the deadline on Wednesday 1 July 2026.

    The Staffordshire County Council awards are now in their twelfth year and recognise the compassion and dedication shown by professional and unpaid carers across the county.

    The awards aim to highlight people who go the extra mile to make sure others are treated with dignity, kindness and respect. That could include paid care workers, unpaid family carers, care home staff, newcomers to the care sector, or long serving care professionals.

    There are nine categories in this year’s awards, including awards for newcomers, long term care professionals, unpaid carers and care home staff.

    Martin Rogerson, Cabinet Member for Health and Care at Staffordshire County Council, said

    “I’d encourage anyone who knows a carer who goes the extra mile to take a few minutes to submit a nomination before the deadline on 1 July.

    “These awards are a chance to recognise the compassion and dedication that carers show every day, often without expecting anything in return.

    “By sharing their stories, we can celebrate their achievements and highlight the outstanding standard of care we value across Staffordshire.”

    The awards are open to nominations from across Staffordshire, including Stone and the surrounding villages.

    Residents can submit nominations through the Dignity in Care Awards webpage. Nominations close on Wednesday 1 July 2026.

  • Images show inside first new Mersey ferry in 60 years

    Images show inside first new Mersey ferry in 60 years



    The new ferry features open-plan decks, new seating areas, and bars.It has also been fitted with dedicated event spaces that transform the ferry into a venue for conferences, corporate functions and private celebrations, the authority said. The design is intended to be “fully accessible”, including a dedicated lift providing easy access to the upper deck. Rotheram added: “Just like our new publicly owned trains and modern bus fleet, this new ferry sits alongside the very best of our transport investments. “We want people to step aboard and be genuinely wowed from the moment they arrive.”The Royal Daffodil was built as part of a £26m investment in modernising the Mersey Ferries fleet. It replaces the Royal Iris, which featured in the 1965 film Ferry Cross the Mersey, starring the band Gerry and the Pacemakers, who also sang the legendary title song.Over the coming months, there will be a programme of captain and crew training, ahead of its launch later this year.

  • Bedfordshire hospital patients affected by cyber attack in 2024

    Bedfordshire hospital patients affected by cyber attack in 2024



    The spokesperson said an organisation that “provided essential services to us and other healthcare bodies” experienced the attack in June 2024.It formed part of a wider incident affecting other organisations that supported the healthcare sector, they said.The trust said criminals extracted files which were later published on online forums known for sharing stolen data.It said: “The files taken were not organised as a single database and were highly unstructured, incomplete and fragmented.”As a result, it has taken more than a year of detailed analysis by specialist teams at the supplier to reconstruct and understand what information was present and which organisations it related to.”In October 2025, the spokesperson said the supplier told the NHS that data relevant to the trust had been included, recovered and analysed.In total, data linked to 32,927 individuals was shared.They said they decided to share the information after completing a review. The trust said it had liaised with the NHS England information governance team and notified the Information Commissioner’s Office.It added: “While the data remains present in those places, publication alone does not mean that it has been used in a harmful way. At this time, we are not aware of any evidence that the information has been accessed or used inappropriately.”The supplier had obtained a court injunction in an attempt to stop third parties sharing the data, the spokesperson added.The trust runs the acute hospitals of Bedford, and Luton and Dunstable.

  • Council acts to stop anti-social behaviour at Lee Circle car park

    Council acts to stop anti-social behaviour at Lee Circle car park



    LEICESTER City Council has started legal proceedings to enable it to secure Lee Circle car park, which closed in March when NCP went into administration.
    The council says neither the owners, administrators or NCP have taken action to ensure the site is not accessible to members of the public, which has resulted in anti-social and criminal behaviour there.
    The council has today issued a legal notice to the owners of the car park, and will make an application to Leicester Magistrates Court on Thursday 4 June for an order to enable it to secure the car park.
    Nicola Odom, head of the city council’s safer communities service said: “We have made numerous attempts to get the owners of this site to make it safe and secure, and prevent it from being a hazard to the public, but they have failed to do so.
    “We were not able to seek this order at an earlier stage as the court will require evidence of the likelihood, and where possible evidence of, anti-social behaviour taking place there. We now have this evidence which will be presented on Thursday.
    “If the court grants the order, the council will make the site safe and inaccessible, and will re-charge the owners for all costs incurred.”
    The city council has been working alongside Leicestershire Police to try to prevent ASB at the site. Inspector Ryan Ludlam, commander for the Central Leicester Neighbourhood Policing Area (NPA), said: “Leicestershire Police fully support the council’s action to secure this site, which has been linked to ongoing anti-social behaviour and criminal activity.
    “This is a positive step in protecting the public and preventing further incidents while longer term solutions are put in place. We would continue to encourage our communities to report any such issues to us by calling 101 or visiting our website.”
    Lee Circle is one of five car parks which closed when NCP went into administration. Three of these – Abbey Street, St Nicholas Circle and East Street – have been re-opened by Euro car parks. The Rutland Centre car park, which is located near to Curve theatre in the city’s cultural quarter, remains closed, and has been secured by its owners.
    Martin Fletcher, the council’s highways director said: “We know there is interest from operators in both of these car parks, and we are hopeful that they will eventually re-open. In the meantime we are working to increase the number of on-street parking bays, and dedicated disabled parking spaces in the cultural quarter.
    Details of all parking spaces and disabled parking spaces in Leicester are on the council’s website at leicester.gov.uk/parking