By Business Editor Marks & Spencer Ballymena is celebrating an extraordinary milestone as three dedicated colleagues celebrate 30 years of service with the retailer. Ballymena locals Tracey Adams, Claire Church, and Julie Elliot all joined M&S on the same day three decades ago at the store in Fairhill
By Jill Dando News Cocoa, a tiny echidna puggle, was recently found alone and lying on a busy road, far too young to be without her mum. The Australia Zoo Rescue Unit quickly responded to the call and helped rescue this precious animal. With uncertainty around whether Cocoa had been
By Community Correspondent Forget kids’ movies — Bhutan’s 230-mile Snowman Trek is the kind of breathtaking, high-stakes adventure fit for a Hollywood blockbuster. With a backdrop of snow-capped Himalayan peaks, knife-edge mountain passes, and sub-zero nights, it’s one of the toughest treks on Earth — so perilous that fewer than
By Health Correspondent Pioneering national mobile cancer care charity, Hope for Tomorrow, has been invited to attend a community reception, hosted by His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen, at Buckingham Palace. The exclusive invitation follows Hope for Tomorrow’s own royal event in October last year, held
By Jill Dando News Three donkeys have enriched the lives of their Guardian owners after finding their forever home through The Donkey Sanctuary’s Rehoming Scheme. Monte, Muldoon and Junior spent many years supporting members of the community as part of the animal welfare charity’s Donkey Assisted Activities programme,
By Jill Dando News A rare dragonfly is starting to be introduced to a hidden corner of Cumbria at RSPB Campfield Marsh this week, marking a significant step in conservation efforts for this endangered species. This initiative aims to increase the biodiversity of invertebrates of the South Solway Mosses National
By Education Correspondent Pupils in Scotland on a unique programme, which aims to improve educational opportunities for young people, have seen a positive impact on their rates of progression to university. Now in its fourth year, the ground-breaking partnership between the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow and educational charity IntoUniversity
By Jill Dando News Plastic pollution littering Australian coastlines has dropped by more than a third over the last decade, according to research by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency. Researchers surveyed inland, riverine, and coastal habitats across six metropolitan regions across Australia including Hobart in Tasmania, Newcastle in New
By Jill Dando News Independent inspectors, Ofsted, have rated York’s services for children and young people as Outstanding in all areas. The inspectors reviewed four key areas of the council’s work including how it supports children who need help and protection: children in care, care leavers and leadership.
By Sports Correspondent Opening in Spring 2026 near the Hartcliffe Way and Hengrove Way roundabout, 224 Youth Zone will offer over 20 activities—from football, boxing, and climbing to creative arts, music, drama, and employability training. It’s part of OnSide’s national network and will be the new home
By Health Correspondent Researchers at UCL have tested a new scoring system to better assess stroke risk in patients with narrowed arteries caused by atherosclerosis. This tool could help avoid unnecessary surgeries and stent procedures. Atherosclerosis is a common condition where arteries become clogged and hardened by plaque, including in
By Sports Correspondent Trailblazing wheelchair rugby player and disability advocate Jessica Booth has secured vital funding to launch a groundbreaking new project aimed at transforming the face of Wheelchair Rugby League in the UK. Jess, who represents Wales in the sport and is a decorated ambassador for inclusivity, is now
By Joel ,16, Jill Dando News Correspondent The Science Museum and UK space company Magdrive are running a competition for children to design a mission patch for Magdrive’s first space test! The winning patch will be used on the Going Rogue mission and shown in the museum’s new
By Joel,16, Jill Dando News Correspondent Summer is surely around the corner, as our otter pups have decided it’s warm enough to take their first swims. The Asian short-clawed otter pups, born in January to first-time mum Midge, have spent their first few months tucked inside their nesting
A London Ambulance Service emergency medical technician who has survived cancer three times says her experience has driven her to give back to the NHS that saved her life. Katherine Murrell, 27, has shared how her journey through three separate cancer battles over 11 years inspired her to join the
By Jill Dando News In a thrilling deep-sea discovery, scientists have captured the first-ever video of a colossal squid in its natural habitat. The sighting happened on March 9 near the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, during a research expedition aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s ship,
Animals
By Jill Dando News A parade of London’s most fashionable pups turned heads this Easter as they hopped into the spotlight at Love My Human Townhouse for a tail-wagging celebration of style, social media, charity and paws-itivity. The furry fashionistas sported bunny ears, Easter bonnets, pastel bandanas, and enough
Health,
By Health Correspondent An exciting newly upgraded mobile cancer care unit ‘Helen’ has officially launched in Gloucestershire this month, continuing to bring life-saving cancer care closer to cancer patients across the county. The unit, provided by the cancer care charity Hope for Tomorrow in partnership with Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation
Business
By Business Correspondent • M&S has moved all its men’s socks, men’s woven pyjama sets, and selected men’s underwear to paper packaging with paper hooks • The change is expected to remove 5.5 million units of plastic from M&S’ Clothing & Home business • As
Animals
By Jill Dando News Three Endangered African grey parrots have hatched at Bristol Zoo Project after their parents were rescued from the illegal pet trade. Conservation and education charity Bristol Zoological Society, which runs the zoo, took in a group of the birds at the end of 2024 after they
Health,
By Jill Dando News The sharp rise in vaping across Great Britain appears to have levelled off, according to a new study by UCL researchers—offering a positive sign for policymakers aiming to curb youth vaping. Published in Addiction and funded by Cancer Research UK, the study analysed survey data
News
By Jill Dando News The rescue of Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, is attracting support from many different sections of the community. During the many years that it will take for North Somerset Council to restore the Pier structure, Birnbeck Island and the headland buildings, the project is set to
News
By Education Correspondent A new Mathematics and Education Secondary Teacher Degree Apprenticeship has been launched by the University of Nottingham to support the region’s schools to tackle national shortages for secondary maths teachers. The university is among just eight teacher training providers across England chosen to be part of
Animals
By Jill Dando News A group of young donkeys born within a year of each other following their mums’ dramatic rescue from Wales are leading happy and healthy lives in Devon. Rupert, Jonny, Pickle and Wizard were all born at our New Arrivals Unit after the rescue of mums Nelly,
People
By Community Correspondent An innovative programme is teaching young people across West Cumbria financial know-how to help them manage their money and stay out of debt. Citizens Advice Allerdale, Citizens Advice Copeland, and Whitehaven, Egremont & District Credit Union deliver workshops and training sessions to young people aged 11 to
Animals
By Jill Dando News A study led by primatologist Dr. Chiara De Gregorio from The University of Warwick has found that Madagascar’s singing lemurs, the indris (indri indri), sing out of tune in infancy and improve as adults, just like a human child learning to control their voice. Have
People
By Jill Dando News Charity fundraising digital greetings card platform, Hope Spring eCards announced the launch of its Easter 2025 greetings ecards yesterday. In a blog post on the organisation’s website, more than ten of the twenty Easter ecards announced, feature animation of one form or another. Commenting on
News
By Jill Dando News The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) is awarding £4.1 million to a new research centre aimed at responding to the public’s need for the law to be fairer, safer and more inclusive. The £5.8 million Centre for People’s Justice, led by
People
By Community Correspondent When the small team at FSB Insurance Service pledged to support a local charity tackling youth violence, they never imagined it would lead to over £30,000 raised in just one year. But through grit, passion, and community support, that’s exactly what they’ve done, all
Business
By Community Correspondent Boyce Group, a Bristol-based property investment and development company founded by Niall Leighton-Boyce in 2012, has secured planning permission to add two additional levels to a prominent office block in the centre of Weston-super-Mare in Somerset. The development will transform the dated office building into a vibrant
Animals
By Jill Dando News This lovely sunny weather has been great for getting outside, and cheering us all up, but it can make life harder for our local wildlife. Birds, hedgehogs, bees, and other garden visitors may find it tough to get enough water or shade. The good news is
Heart health
By Jill Dando News A local fundraising champion is lacing up his running shoes to help save lives across Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. Alex, a Digital Specialist at Howards Motor Group, will take on the Weston-super-Mare Half Marathon this October in support of the Donate For Defib WsM Project, an initiative focused