News

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Scarily long ago: Wigan Hallowe'en celebrations from the 1980s to noughties

Wigan Little Theatre shroudedin scaffolding

Little Theatre campaign to restore roof, stage and electrics

Stephen Knight's trial over alleged sexual harm preventtion orders will only take place in September 2026 at Bolton Crown Court

Two-year delay before court order breaches trial

Good Trader award recipients celebrate

Borough's top traders are saluted

Police on Wigan Road, Leigh on Sunday evening

Probe launched after 20-year-old man stabbed in Wigan borough

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Zakariya Waqar-Uddin column: Helicobacter pylori

Theatre fans urged to ‘change password’ after data breach

Apple has announced a new iPad mini - and it runs AI! Photo: Apple

Apple has just announced a new iPad - and fans weren’t expecting it

Northern Lights captured in Tromso, Norway. Photo: Matthew Mohan-Hickson

Why do Northern Lights look better on your phone?

Traffic and Travel

National Highways is responsible for maintaining motorways and major A-roads, so closures of smaller roads will not be included in their schedule.

Round-up of motorway and A-road works locally

Garswood Street is one of the Ashton thoroughfares to be affected by the proposals

Have your say on Ashton town centre plans

Sections of the M6 between Wigan and Warrington are nearing completion following years of Smart motorway upgrades

Extra lanes on local Smart motorway starting to open

Wigan Council is asking motorists to be aware of roadworks and plan diversions

Borough roadworks round-up

This route will serve Bolton Road in Aspull, an area that has been without a bus service since the 715 route was cut by Diamond Buses in early 2020.

Councillors welcome new bus route

Wigan bus station

New bus service between Wigan and Middlebrook Retail Park

Crime

Johnny Gentle, aka Kevin Furlong, 'upskirted' a schoolgirl at WIgan bus station

Pervert 'upskirter' sent to jail

Neil Roberts will stand trial in February

Man denies stalking and assault charges

Jailed: Ben Gibson

Father and son imprisoned for rioting at resort

Cade England and the complainant will have to wait until August 2026 before the trial takes place at Bolton Crown Court

Double assault case delayed until August '26

Nicolas Buxton was given a 16-month jail sentence but the judge suspended it.

Suspended jail term for burglar and knifeman

The car was seized in Orrell

Car seized and motorist reported after allegedly driving without insurance

Weather

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Northern Lights gallery

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Wet Wigan: when floods have struck town in decades past

Business

Aldi is looking to hire 210 colleagues across the region in the lead up to Christmas

Aldi recruits dozens of festive roles

Wigan Youth Zone's Careers Fair Stall

Wigan Youth Zone to Host Building Connections Careers Fair for Young People

(Photos: Getty Images)

Labour proposes weight-loss jabs for unemployed to boost workforce

Politics

The Bee Network's yellow buses have been on the roads since September last year

Josh Simons MP: working to make transport system better for you

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband

Households facing a hike in fuel bills

A glucose meter being used to check blood-sugar levels

Worrying increase in young diabetics

Rent prices have increased

Rent in Wigan rises by 10 per cent in just a year

UK Trending

Selection of party food by M&S

Luxury Christmas party with festive treats from M&S and Waitrose

The male white rhino calf with mum Fahari at Whipsnade Zoo in Beds.

Adorable baby white rhino born at Whipsnade Zoo

The top 40 fish and chips shops in the UK named - from Cornwall to Fife (Photo: topntp - stock.adobe.com)

Where to find the best chippies in the Uk according to national awards

The £2m Devon home up for grabs in the Omaze House Prize Draw

Omaze Devon House: Here's what you need to know

Hundreds of escaped sheep were pictured blocking a bypass in the early hours of the morning - after a country gate was left open.

Hundreds of sheep escape...and block bypass

Flock of sheep flee in terror during fireworks display near farm

Flock of sheep flee in terror during fireworks display near farm

Environment

A ceremony to officially open the Memorial Garden on Stubshaw Cross recreation area, off Golborne Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield.

Official opening ceremony for new Wigan Holocaust memorial garden

Making choice to go electric (photo: Adobe)

Going green: ​Facts to help decide whether to go electric

People

Rob Rinder is supporting the cause

Rob Rinder wraps up for dementia

TV judge Rob Rinder is getting wrapped up to support Wigan’s Lewy Body Society.

Sian Jones

1977 - ORRELL HOLGATE INFANTS

A step back in time: pictures from two Wigan schools in the 1970s

Andrew Moakes is making sure all defibrillators in Shevington are working and is fund-raising for new batteries and pads to maintain them

Great-grandad who survived cardiac arrest on defibrillator 'mission'

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All change: vintage aerial pictures of Wigan and Scholes

Children will always enjoy crafts and outdoor toys, regardless of gender

Nanny Diaries: allow your children to choose which toys they would like

Education

Pupils will complete their phonics tests one-on-one with a teacher

What Year 1 pupils are tested on in phonics check, as new results out

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Those were the days: 43 images from Ashton's St Edmund Arrowsmith RC High '96-'0...

CLASS ACT - St Anne's CE Primary School, Standish Lower Ground.

CLASS ACT: St Anne's CE Primary School, Standish Lower Ground

How did the UK's top domestic universities fare against the world?

How the UK's top 10 universities compare on the world stage

Nina with her completed report

Mum goes on a worldwide mission to prevent suicide

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In pictures: Wigan school old girls host 52nd reunion

Health

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Health Column: share your experience

Around 7,500 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the UK every year.

What is ovarian cancer and what are the signs and symptoms?

Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre

Local Carers Centre to host first ever music fundraiser!

Brianna Alexander before, left, she used Simple weightloss app and after, right in yellow dress

'I lost over 4 stones with A.I coach on weightloss app' - binge-eater

Opinion

Hoopoe

Graham Workman column: another rare bird

This time it was a Hoopoe that had turned up not too far away!

Graham Workman
The cast of The Hardacres, Channel 5's new family saga set in 1890s Yorkshire (Picture: Channel 5)

The Hardacres review: This new drama is an insultingly simple schools programme

The Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens)

Graham Workman column: Wild goose chase

Financial Matters with Gary Edgerton: make sure you claim your child benefit

Kellie Rawson

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Zakariya Waqar-Uddin column: Gout – more than an affliction of the affluent

Jo Platt MP

Jo Platt column: delivering on our commitments and announcements from conference

Amazing progress in a few weeks in Marsh Green

Tony Porter Ponders: More trouble for Keir, car manufacturers rolling back on EV...

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Luxury advent calendars on sale now

Best luxury advent calendars: From The White Company to John Lewis

Ad Feature Pizza Hut sponsors the 2024 World Championship Domino Tournament

Ad Feature Take a break, get back to nature and save cash on outdoor equipment

Blown away by Hozier at Lytham Festival