Central Radio News

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 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.

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.

An influential committee has formally asked Lancashire County Council’s cabinet to provide the extra cash needed to keep the Fleetwood to Knott End ferry afloat.

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.

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.

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.

The creation of a new council for Preston, Lancaster and Ribble Valley has been welcomed by the leaders of the three existing authorities that will merge to form it.

Following the recent fire at the former ex-catalogue shop on Lord Street in Fleetwood, Wyre Council has taken action against the owners of the building to try and make the building safe as soon as possible.

Some of the biggest names in international blues are heading to Colne this August as the award-winning Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival celebrates its landmark 35th anniversary.

Plans to create one of Blackpool’s most innovative food destinations are pressing ahead as 19 converted shipping containers were moved on site for the first time.

Three teenagers have been sentenced after a stabbing in Blackpool which left a man with serious injuries.    

The leader of Lancashire County Council says more time is needed to implement sweeping changes to local government – or else they will pose a risk to vulnerable residents.

The leader of Blackpool Council has expressed disappointment at today’s decision on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Lancashire – and fears the town will ‘lose its identity’.

A pervert who sexually abused two young boys over more than 20 years has been jailed.

A man has admitted harassment towards Blackpool South MP Chris Webb.

A teaching union claims that plans to force every Catholic school in the Diocese of Lancaster to become an academy will drain vital funds away from the classroom – and could see teacher numbers cut.

The operator of a chemicals facility in Thornton which is part of a pollution probe has vowed that its possible closure will have no bearing on the investigations.

Lancashire will be split up into four new council areas when the county’s 15 existing local authorities are abolished in less than two years’ time.

Work is underway to reinstate the windmill sails that have welcomed people to Blackpool for generations.

The skyline at Norcross is already starting to change as building work gets under way on huge new 21,500 sq ft Marks and Spencer Food Hall.

Attempts to increase Blackpool’s rail connection with London have stalled – despite coming at a time when the resort is enjoying massive multi-million investment.

There is “evidence” to support consideration being given to reopening the accident and emergency department at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital 24 hours a day, the government has revealed.

An Accrington man has been jailed for controlling and coercive behaviour.  

A support worker from Leyland is taking on a huge challenge to swim from Dover to France.

Hazardous counterfeit toys have been being seized from shops across Blackpool.

New rules are to be introduced to crack down on the menacing use of e-scooters, powered bikes and pedal cycles in and around Chorley town centre.

A number of parks across Blackpool and the Fylde coast have earned a Green Flag Award.

Blackpool Council is set to deliver a programme of resurfacing works to St Annes Road, helping to protect and improve this key route for the long term.

More than 200 jobs in Thornton are hanging in the balance as the operators of the former ICI plant have revealed proposals to cease production.

Lancashire is gearing up for one of the most consequential weeks in its local government history as it awaits the outcome of an overhaul that will see the county’s 15 main councils abolished.

The government is being urged to make a regional outpost of one of its biggest departments the centrepiece of a long-planned transformation of Preston city centre.

A man who sexually assaulted a woman in Bacup has been jailed after he attempted to derail the investigation into his offending from inside prison. 

The man who led Blackpool Council as it became a unitary authority, oversaw the roll out of Sure Start centres, and set up the town’s first publicly run leisure centre, has died.

Students in Blackburn with Darwen have become the first in the country to complete a pioneering new digital and technology scholarship scheme.

A Blackpool off-road racer is staging a major cross-Atlantic campaign, trading the Fylde coast for the gruelling deserts of the Baja Peninsula.

A Blackpool charity which helps seriously ill children has sent out an SOS after heartless burglars broke in and caused massive damage.

It seems to have been a long time coming, but the first sign of construction of Blackpool’s £65m Multiversity campus has finally appeared.

The government has rejected criticism of its response to calls for support to secure the future of Preston’s Guild Hall.

Everybody on the Fylde coast is being encouraged to back a bid for Blackpool to be named the UK City of Culture 2029.

Police are appealing for information and footage after two people died following a collision earlier today in Wrightington.

A man has been jailed after killing a grandfather on a pedestrian crossing in Cleveleys.

Work is now under way on site at Haslingden Old Road, marking a major step forward in reopening the route following the major landslip that forced its closure.

A new padel facility is set to open at Stanley Park offering a new sports option for residents and generating funds to be reinvested in the park.

An immersive art installation that allows visitors to walk through a psychedelic world of art and colour is coming to Accrington later this month.

A wholesale review of Preston City Council’s waste collection service is under way in an attempt to rectify problems that emerged following a recent overhaul, the Local Democracy Reporting Service has learned.

The government has been accused of giving a lukewarm response to lobbying efforts to secure support for the replacement or refurbishment of Preston’s Guild Hall.

The extra costs of improvement work needed on a new £18.5m access road after lorries struggled to turn onto it will not be borne by Blackpool Council or council tax payers.

The Victorian-era conservatory in Corporation Park that has been closed to the public for the past 10 years could finally be reopened, under one of three possible futures guises.

Blackpool Council is looking to take steps in case it will need Compulsory Purchase Orders to get an ambitious but controversial regeneration project off the ground.

The Reform UK group that runs Lancashire County Council says Nigel Farage has done “the right thing” by quitting as an MP to trigger a parliamentary by-election.

A long-awaited upgrade of one of the main routes linking South Ribble and Preston will not be scrapped to help pay for increased defence spending – but it will be another year yet before work on the scheme begins.

The Blackpool South MP says he is hopeful that opportunities can arrive in the future to revive the town’s airport – but that moment isn’t ready yet.

A public inquiry is to be staged tomorrow to decide on Blackpool Pier Company’s appeal against Blackpool Council’s decision to reject plans for new rides on South Pier.

Lancashire Police joined with other agencies as part of a crackdown on organised immigration crime.

The bodies of two Preston men reported missing more than a week ago have been found in a crashed car.

There's just one year to go until the world's top cyclists race through Lancashire and our county is showcased to a global audience.

Two men have been jailed after a teenager was threatened with an imitation firearm and assaulted in Brierfield. 

Two men who burst their way into a house in Blackpool and robbed the householder of his mobile phone, have been jailed. 

Blackpool Victoria Hospital has been granted planning permission to permanently retain a prefab building which was originally used for the Covid pandemic but has continued to be used.

Plans to close down a number of major roads near Burnley FC’s stadium on match days have been slammed by the town’s MP.

Ziggy played guitar…and now you can see it up close at Blackpool’s Showtown museum.

Residents impacted by unwanted odour in their homes from a Fleetwood landfill site are urged to continue to record incidents while an abatement notice is in place.

A multi-agency action plan launched in December to tackle retail crime and anti-social behaviour in Preston City Centre is already delivering positive results, six months on.

A Preston retailer who sold a knife to a 15-year-old during test purchasing has been fined £10,000.

North Pier, Blackpool's oldest and most iconic pier, has entered a new chapter, with a £10million investment programme planned.

Five, along with Lucy Spraggan and The Feeling have been revealed as the musical acts performing at this year’s Blackpool Illuminations Switch‑On.

Controversial plans to build 350 homes on the former Camelot Theme Park site in Chorley have been given the go-ahead – 12 years after the first bid was made to redevelop the derelict site.

Some Preston households may see their bin collection day changed for a second time since the spring in order to resolve problems that have arisen following a major shake-up of the city’s waste service.

The Blackpool South MP says the government has pledged to fund the first steps in building a world-class arena in the resort.

Owners of a Blackpool hotel where a child died after suffering an electric shock in the lobby have been fined £120,000 over health and safety offences.

A man who killed a teenage girl while driving at more than 110mph on the M65 has been jailed.