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just now (392+ words) A project has been launched in the hope of chronicling memories from the disability arts movement. Vici Wreford-Sinnott, from Saltburn, is helping to collect untold stories from people involved. She has been part of disability arts for more than 30 years and runs the Stockton-on-Tees-based Little Cog theatre and production company. Cripping Culture: A Journey into Disability Arts Heritage is being organised by arts charity Disability Arts Online. Call-outs are now in place for artists, activists and audiences across the north-east of England for people to share their written and multi-media testimonies. Ms Wreford-Sinnott said: "It represents safety, a space where I don't have to campaign daily for equality and access, which I do in my daily interactions in mainstream arts." She added without the movement, she would not have been able to pursue her career and described it as "home…...

just now (336+ words) The annual Santa's on a Bike mass motorcycle ride is set to return to the Manx roads, with people encouraged to cheer on those taking part. Hundreds of Santa-clad riders will set off from the capital Douglas before finishing at children's hospice via Castletown. Since it's inception in 2018, the ride has raised over "225,000 for Rebecca House - the only facility of its kind on the island, providing respite, palliative, and end of life care for children. Riders will line up on Victoria Street - outside the headquarters of organisers Plan.com - from 09:00 GMT to fuel up on mince pies and hot drinks before setting off on the ride an hour later. To allow for those taking part to gather safely, police said Victoria Street would be closed to traffic from the junction with Fort Street to the Jubilee Clock between 07:30 to 10:45. Traffic…...

1+ min ago (292+ words) A Lancashire council leader has called for an election in 2027 to choose a county-wide mayor, saying it is essential to unlocking the financial benefits of devolution. Phil Riley, Labour leader of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Leader, said Lancashire should follow in the footsteps of neighbouring areas such as Greater Manchester. Lancashire's 15 councils have submitted proposals for local government reorganisation, with the devolution plans due to take effect in 2028. Mr Riley told the authority's Policy Council this week that several funding announcements in last week's Budget were limited to mayoral authorities, including "9bn for affordable housing. He said: "Whatever people think of the idea of a mayor - given that everybody in the north of England has one and increasing numbers of counties are lining up for pieces of work in this direction - it makes no sense at all not to. "I…...

1+ min ago (866+ words) The years-long investigation into police conduct surrounding the Hillsborough disaster found evidence that police officers had followed a victim's family member. As part of its remit, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigated 27 complaints from 25 people with connections to the 1989 tragedy, relating to alleged police surveillance. The report, released on Tuesday, found 12 police officers would have faced gross misconduct charges if they were still serving. It concluded that South Yorkshire Police (SYP) failed to plan properly ahead of the stadium crush, which killed 97 people, and then tried to deflect blame on to supporters in the years that followed. Those officers included South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Peter Wright and match commander Ch Insp David Duckenfield. Over the years, repeated allegations claimed that Hillsborough families and campaigners had been subject to police surveillance, with many reporting strange clicking sounds during…...

2+ min ago (734+ words) Thousands of Apprentice Boys are to take part in the Shutting of the Gates commemoration in Londonderry on Saturday. It marks the anniversary of the start of the 17th-century siege of the city, during which thousands of people died. The event is held annually to remember the 13 apprentices who locked the walled city's gates against the approaching army of the Catholic King James II in December 1688. Around 2,500 Apprentice Boys and 25 bands are expected for the parade which ends with the traditional burning of an effigy of Lt Col Robert Lundy. The governor of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, William Walker, said the event would be a "solemn day of commemoration". "All those visiting should recall the actions of the 13 young apprentices in 1688 and reflect on how simple courage and determination can change the course of history," he added. The parade…...

2+ min ago (1038+ words) Pauline Collier was a typical working-class girl growing up in Audenshaw - but she was harbouring a "deep secret" that she knew she "shouldn't talk about". She was attracted to women, and after hiding the "toxic secret" for over a decade, Ms Collier was outed as a lesbian in 1965. Believing she was psychologically ill, doctors at Crumpsall Hospital subjected her to Electric Shock Aversion Therapy (ESAT) - a conversion practice where patients were strapped to a chair and given electric shocks while being shown pornographic images. Ms Collier, now 80, has finally received an apology from a doctor involved. "It meant an awful lot," she said. "But it was still a cruel and sadistic treatment." This article contains details of the historical use of electric shock therapy in the NHS. It includes detail of psychological and physical trauma experienced by LGBT+ people which…...

3+ min ago (234+ words) A trivia game has been launched to help encourage families to talk about online safety. NSPCC Jersey's Tea Time Trivia game has been created as part of the Be The First Filter campaign to help improve online safety among young people. The game is made up of cards with questions, covering a wide variety of aspects of online safety, and is designed to be a fun and easy way of opening up the conversation. The cards have been created with input from parents and children in Jersey who helped to decide what topics should be covered. Emma Motherwell, NSPCC Jersey campaigns manager, said: "Tea Time Trivia is a great way for families to talk about a really important subject in a fun and relaxed way. "Talking about online safety is a key way of making sure that children and young…...

3+ min ago (149+ words) Two-hundred special guests were invited to an early taste of Christmas at a festive light and sound show at Chester Zoo. Many of the families invited have children who are supported by charities which provide vital care for children with life-limiting conditions. Liverpool Zoe's Place, The Joshua Tree and Hope House Hospice were invited along. One parent said the event was "magical". A trend for making ribbon Christmas decorations has seen orders flood in to a small Lincoln shop. Small Business Saturday celebrates local, independent traders amid hopes of a "lasting impact". A mix-up over Elvis character led to Oscar arriving at his Christmas concert in the wrong costume. The Cragside tree is more than twice the size of the Angel of the North and was planted in the 1860s. Frustrated visitors say they have instead been offered free tickets to…...

3+ min ago (340+ words) Hundreds of children and their families had a special night at Chester Zoo. Two-hundred special guests were invited to an early taste of Christmas at a festive light and sound show at Chester Zoo. Many of the families invited have children who are supported by charities which provide vital care for children with life-limiting conditions. Liverpool Zoe's Place, The Joshua Tree and Hope House Hospice were invited along. One parent said the event was "magical". Spot yourself in these festive snaps of Liverpool in the 90s Behind the scenes at the beautiful Cheshire Christmas market you cannot miss Meet Alice, our dog of the week who loves cuddles and dreaming of a forever home Husband and wife shocked as Liverpool Council abruptly kick Roger the support pug out of library We've invested heavily in our future, says luxury jeweller with showrooms…...

4+ min ago (955+ words) Apple has introduced the MacBook Pro M4 , a major update that focuses on meaningful improvements rather than flashy changes. After testing it and comparing it with the previous generation, this model feels like Apple has taken years of small lessons and merged them into one polished package. It's faster, more efficient, more comfortable to use, and more reliable for professional workloads. Below is a detailed, human-written deep dive into the MacBook Pro M4 " covering real-world performance, display quality, battery life, thermal behavior, and whether it's worth upgrading At first glance, the MacBook Pro M4 looks nearly identical to the previous models. Apple didn't redesign the chassis, because frankly, it didn't need to. The current MacBook Pro design is already loved by professionals: solid aluminum build, precise hinge, rounded corners, and a clean look that balances beauty and durability. But Apple has refined a…...