Fylde MP Mark Menzies said he was disappointed with the decision but would continue to press the Government over regulation and monitoring of the shale gas sites.

He said: “The decision I was looking for was one of refusal. I had hoped that the Inspector would have taken into account the views of Lancashire County Council.

“But that was not the case and the Secretary of State has gone along with the planning inspectors recommendations.

“At Roseacre there are legitimate concerns about the effects of traffic to the site and it is absolutely right that serious questions are asked about that before any approval.”

He said in his view HGV traffic concerns could not be addressed and the Roasecre plan should continue to be refused despite Sajid Javed leaving the door open if road 
safety could be dealt with.

“They keep to it all now is regulation. When I voted for a moratorium on shale gas it was about making sure that all recommendations from the Royal Society and Royal Society of Engineers were implemented before any exploration can go ahead.

“In the coming weeks I will work to ensure the Government does get proper regulation in place before we get to the stage of any drilling.”

He added that he had held talks with the Environment Agency to ensure they would have adequate resources for monitoring and said a separate revenue stream would be put in place.

He added: “This is something I will be pressing the Government on.

“This has to be monitoring ‘on the ground’ not just from behind a desk. I want to see people in high vis vests on the site doing more than just what is necessary. Not only should regulation be in place, but it should also be enforced.”

Wyre and Fylde folk are being asked to consider adoption to grow their families..

An event will be held at Lancashire County Council’s County Hall, to help people find out about the process involved, on Wednesday, October 19.

The event will be held at County Hall, on Fishergate in Preston, from 6pm to 7.30pm.

There’s no need to book – those interested can just turn up, but early arrival is recommended. People attending the information evening are asked to stay for the whole session.

County Coun Matthew Tomlinson, cabinet member for children, young people and schools, said: “We’re looking for people from all backgrounds to offer a permanent home and family to children.”

To adopt, you must be over 21. See www.lancashire.gov.uk/adoption or call 0800 195 1183.

Photographer David Nelson had to snap into action at the Inside Soap Awards, to stop an award-winning soap star tumbling from the stage.

The Blackpool snapper got more than he bargained for when he covered Monday’s award ceremony in London.

He was photographing Eastenders star, Tameka Empson, when things quickly went wrong.

Tameka won the gong for Funniest Female for her performance as Kim Fox in Eastenders – and she lived up to that title with the humorous incident that wouldn’t have looked out of place in the soap itself.

The 39-year-old actress, who is currently starring on Strictly Come Dancing, will be disappointed that her new and improved balance didn’t come in handy, as she started to fall backwards.

That’s when David’s instincts kicked in and he downed tools to run in and save the day.

He said: “I was the official photographer at the Inside Soap Awards.

“Tameka was on stage with Stephen Murphy (the Inside Soap Editor) and I told her to lift her leg up, to make the shot a little more dynamic, as she’s currently dancing.

“She was very giddy and I think she just overstretched. You could almost see the horror on her face.

“I don’t know what would have happened exactly but it’s fair to say, falling wouldn’t have been good.”

Although the event wasn’t televised, ITV’s This Morning picked the clip up and in turn it’s been viewed by hundreds of thousands of viewers, with presenter Phillip Schofield exclaiming: ‘the photographer’s saved her!’

Of his new-found fame, David, normally behind the camera, said: “I watched it back last night and it’s so funny. It’s gone nuts.

“It was quite a responsibility.

“I’ve had people coming up to me saying ‘you’re a hero!’”

Dame Barbara Windsor, who turned on Blackpool’s 2016 Illuminations, also picked up an award for Best Exit at the ceremony, for the tragic storyline that saw her Eastenders character Peggy Mitchell take her own life after learning she had terminal cancer.

The company which employs thousands making aircraft on the Fylde has said trading looks positive ahead of its end of year report this winter.

BAE Systems said the Warton-built Typhoon gave the firm a lift earlier this year after it signed a ten year support deal for the RAF’s aircraft worth £2.1bn.

And it said it had high hopes of securing yet more sales deals for the Typhoon although no firm details were yet available.

In a trading update it said: “Export activity continues to be supported by the UK government and, although there can be no certainty as to the timing of orders, discussions with current and prospective operators of the Typhoon aircraft continue to support the Group’s expectations for additional Typhoon contract awards.

“Discussions between BAE Systems, the UK government and the Saudi Arabian government are progressing to define the scope and terms of the next five-year Saudi British Defence Co-operation Programme.”

It added that on Wednesday it started work on the first of the Successor submarines replace the existing Trident missile subs in a contract with £1.3bn of funding committed for the initial production award.

It said: “In the UK we have made good progress working with our MoD customer on implementing the Strategic Defence and Security Review.

“Group underlying earnings per share are expected to be approximately five to ten per cent higher than last year’s adjusted underlying earnings per share of 36.6p.

“In surface ships we are progressing towards defining an overall Type 26 build contract and a contract is being finalised for the fourth and fifth new River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels.

“In the US the defence market outlook remains positive and the production ramp up on a number of the Group’s long term programmes is progressing to plan.

“A continuing resolution went into effect on October 1 under which the group does not expect any material disruption in the near term.

The Interim dividend of 8.6 pence per share will be paid on November 30.

He put it in rather more earthy language, but you get the drift.
There were any number of different ways of messing up children’s lives on display in Anne Robinson’s Britain (BBC1, Thursdays, 8pm).
From Annie, who was an attachment parent and didn’t leave her kids alone, to preacher Steve, who seemed to have replaced his kids with impeccably-mannered robots, to ‘lioness’ Sherise, whose children had such a packed schedule of workouts, sports and tutoring, they seemed rendered mute by fatigue.
Anne pressed her strangely motionless face against the windows of all these homes, peering through in an effort to find out what makes a good parent, or in her words: “There is no such thing as a perfect parent... but what sort of mum or dad is good enough?”
A hero did emerge from the show – Tommy, a single dad of five, raising his kids on £300 a week in part-time work and benefits.
On first sight, the kids were an unruly mob and their house was a bomb site. However, as Anne discovered, the children were bright, interested, independent, articulate and helped out around the house, which was clearly a very loving home.
Tommy was doing the nation a service, raising young people who, with luck, will become decent members of society, and should immediately be put on the new £10 note.
As you might expect, the doc didn’t really unearth any new revelations about parenting, except that whatever approach you take – as long as you love your kids and demonstrate that love through support, praise and setting reasonable boundaries – you’re probably doing a “good enough” job.
Quite what the parents of this year’s batch of capitalist running dogs infesting The Apprentice (BBC1, Thursdays, 9pm) think of their offspring is probably unprintable.
In this week’s opening episode, the men ran around bellowing corporatist techno-babble through a fug of Aramis aftershave and testosterone, while the women excitedly sold everything for a tenth of its worth and tried not to fall off their high heels.
Each year, as the contestants become a forlorn parody of successful businesspeople, I say to myself I will not watch it, and each year I am drawn in by Lord Sugar’s tractor beam of tut.
Sorry mum and dad, but it's your fault.

The Onshore Energy Services Group said a fully developed fracking industry would benefit the area due to the jobs created.

OESG co-founder Richard Sands said: “A report by Ernst & Young in 2014 predicted that a successful shale gas industry could one day be responsible for over 64,500 jobs, of which 61 per cent will be in the supply chain.

“We believe that the best way to maximise supply chain job creation is to ensure that small companies - which are much more likely to have to take on and train new people - get a chance to play a big role.

“We look forward to seeing Cuadrilla Resources develop a supply chain in which small companies from across Lancashire and beyond are given the opportunity to thrive.”

Fracking was suspended in Lancashire in 2011 after two small tremors were detected following exploration tests at Cuadrilla’s Preese Hall well.

Since then, every aspect of shale gas drilling has been subjected to intense scrutiny, with regulatory bodies concluding that it can proceed provided that it is adequately regulated and all work is performed to a high standard.

Existing British supply chain SMEs have decades of experience in planning and permitting, well design, drilling and completions, drilling waste management, environmental monitoring and management, and a host of other technical and scientific disciplines that enable those high standards.

The Lancashire fracking decision means that they, and others, will now have a key role to play in demonstrating to the wider public that shale gas wells can be brought into production efficiently and safely, in the same way that conventional oil and gas wells are, both onshore and offshore.

Marketing Lancashire have announced the list of those in the running for Lancashire Tourism Superstar 2016, the only award in the Lancashire Tourism Awards to be nominated and decided by the public.

You can now vote for the candidate that you feel most deserves the title Lancashire Tourism Superstar 2016.

The aim of the award is to highlight those outstanding individuals who make a difference to the visitor experience of Lancashire, through their customer service excellence, their championing of the county - perhaps achieving this behind the scenes or outside the public spotlight.

They are all undeniably passionate about Lancashire and successful in their own sphere; their inclusion, at this stage in the competition, is recognition of the great contribution they make to Lancashire tourism.

Vote here for the person you would like to be Lancashire Tourism Superstar 2016 (Voting closes at midnight on Thursday 20 October)

Simon Entwistle – Top Hat Tours

Simon is an independent tour guide with a knack for story-telling and capturing the imagination of visitors of all ages, at a wide range of attractions and locations across Lancashire. His Pendle Witches, Haunted Inns and Lancashire Ghost Tours are hugely popular with groups and individuals from all over the world. It is not unusual to find Simon out in the countryside, with a film crew from the USA or even China, promoting Lancashire to international audiences and his growing collection of films on YouTube are taking his entertaining storytelling, to an even wider audience. Closer to home, listeners to BBC Radio Lancashire enjoy his stories from the county, on his regular Friday morning slot. He’s a champion of Lancashire and is constantly adding to his portfolio of guided walks, coach tours and events that bring Lancashire history and legends to life www.tophattours.co.uk

Leye D.Johns – Viva Blackpool

Leye started his working life in the NHS but as a natural showman, what had been a second job as a live entertainer, took a more serious turn when he and a co-investor set up Viva Blackpool. Transforming a large empty Mecca Bingo Hall into a one room entertainment and events complex, dedicated to providing quality, live entertainment for Blackpool’s many visitors. His first few seasons were tough but with tireless commitment Leye has in four years built audiences to 70,000 visitors, brought much needed jobs to local people and helped support many local charities that are close to his heart. Viva is a year round venue with a huge variety of in-house production shows, is host to visiting performers and with Leye D Johns as resident compere – Viva has become the talk of the town – for all the right reasons www.vivablackpool.com

Sharon Jones – Samlesbury Hall

16 years ago Sharon was asked by a trustee if she could take a look at and offer any help to Samlesbury Hall, as it was in danger of closing. She did and 16 years later she is still there as Director, she simply rolled up her sleeves and set about transforming this historic hall’s fortunes. Today Samlesbury Hall is a popular and thriving visitor destination. Working with the Trustees Sharon has developed the Hall into one of the county’s most sought-after wedding venues, has breathed life into the hall with guided character tours and an array of events, created family-friendly areas, has established a Taste Lancashire accredited restaurant and, this year, has added new accommodation in the shape of Shepherd Huts which suit the landscape perfectly. Through raising much needed funds, hard work and determination Sharon has helped secure one of Lancashire’s historic gems for future generations.

www.samlesburyhall.co.uk

Cedric Robinson MBE – The Queen’s Guide to The Sands, Morecambe Bay

Cedric has been the Queen’s Guide to the Sands for over 50 years and at 83, is still guiding visitors safely across the perilous sands of Morecambe Bay.

His organised walks are now recreational but before the railways speeded the journey around the bay, the low tide routes across the sands were vital to the community. Cedric took on the role in 1963 and since then his walks have attracted many brave visitors to this beautiful location. As well as many celebrity walkers, he has also safely guided the Duke of Edinburgh on a horse-drawn trip across the bay.

In 1999 he received an MBE for his service and to this day he sets a fair pace across the bay, leaving many younger folk following carefully in his footsteps. He is a modest man, who from time to time shares his stories and love of the county more publicly; most recently audiences heard Cedric on BBC Radio 4 Saturday Live programme, broadcast from The Platform venue in Morecambe.

Janet Simpson – Gibbon Bridge Hotel

Janet is from a Lancashire farming background, and it was here that she acquired many practical skills that would stand her in good stead for what was to come. Her parents took over the tenancy of Gibbon Bridge Farm in Chipping and in spite of the many hours dedicated to farming it did not bring great rewards and Janet’s mother Maggie started to sell her home-baked goods on Blackburn Market. Following the death of her father Alf in 1977, new ideas for the future Gibbon Bridge started to emerge. In 1982 Gibbon Bridge with just six bedrooms, a restaurant and bar was born. 2017 is the 35th anniversary of Gibbon Bridge; in that time Janet has nurtured and grown a brand new visitor destination and award-winning hotel with 30 rooms; her investment and boundless energy creating one of the county’s foremost wedding venues, with one of the Lancashire’s must-see gardens (most recently Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park tied the knot here). Janet has always championed local produce and provided consistent dining excellence at the helm of her busy kitchen www.gibbon-bridge.co.uk

Fylde residents have vowed to battle on despite the Government backing the shale gas industry and allowing horizontal fracking to go-ahead at Preston New Road near Little Plumpton.

Pam Foster, from Residents Action on Fylde Fracking, said: “This decision doesn’t surprise us. We are dealing with a Luddite Government that is fixed on drilling for fossil fuels when it should be creating thousands of new jobs by investing in clean green energy.

“By riding roughshod over Lancashire County Council’s decision, Sajid Javid has shown that he cares little for democracy or for the health and welfare of Lancashire’s residents, not to mention climate change.

“The strength of opposition to fracking is immense and is growing daily.

“We will carry on fighting and we won’t stop until we have stopped this dirty, polluting industry.

“The anti-fracking movement will come together to ensure that fracking never happens anywhere.”

John Hobson, from Defend Lytham, stated: “We are extremely disappointed by the government’s pick and mix approach to democracy which seems to involve moving the decision further and further away from local decision makers until the desired outcome is achieved.

“For the local residents at Roseacre and Preston New Road this must come as a bitter blow.

“For other residents in the Fylde, the knowledge that the fracking industry is poised to start its invasion of our area will be a wake up call to those who have so far allowed the potential impacts of this 
invasive industry to pass them by.

“However, getting planning permission is only the first step on a long journey for Cuadrilla.

“Attempting to frack in an area where they have demonstrated that they have no social licence to operate is likely to prove extremely problematic for them, especially now that locally-made decisions have been overturned.”

Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden said Thursday’s thumbs-up to fracking would not benefit Blackpool

He said the industry would damage other existing industries such as tourism.

He said: “Across Blackpool and the Fylde we have heard concerns expressed from thousands of local people, including farmers, business owners and health professionals about safety, the future of our countryside and public health.

“Yet this Government cynically is ignoring all of them to pander to its fracking backers.

“I have consistently attacked this Government over their hypocrisy and double standards in giving communities a say over wind farms but not over fracking and challenged David Cameron in Prime Minister’s Question Time on it.

“This decision flies in the face of all the other developments in our area with the potential of the new Enterprise Zone at Squires Gate and the offshore activity in Liverpool Bay to make us locally a centre for wind, wave,solar, biomass and other sustainable green energy as the way forward. Going down that route would create far more jobs, skills and apprenticeships for a safe low- carbon energy future.

“The number of skilled, long-term sustainable jobs fracking would create locally, despite the exaggerated unsubstantiated claims of its backers, would be negligible.

“I have been calling over this past year for initiatives for a ‘Cleaner, Greener Blackpool’.

“We should continue to fight for that and against this Government and its decision which would condemn people across the Fylde to years of road congestion, noise and pollution , a threat to our rural and seaside tourism.”

But Claire Smith, president of Stay Blackpool and a member of Lancashire for Shale’s steering group, said: “The announcement is good news for Lancashire’s tourism and hospitality sector.

“In 2014, more than 50 Blackpool hoteliers signed a letter calling for its development – saying it had the potential to boost growth and investment in our sector. Evidence from Scotland and America shows a thriving oil and gas sector has also resulted in a positive economic benefit to tourism and hospitality.”

The latest phase of the Mill Farm Sports Village development at Wesham has created 15 new jobs.

The opening of Milano’s Mediterranean restaurant takes the total number of hospitality staff at Mill Farm to 45.

It features indoor seating for 80, along with a further 40 outdoors under cover and a Giotto Cuppone pizza oven costing more then £12,000, which offers diners the chance to enjoy a revolving stone-based pizza cooked before their eyes.

The eaterie joins Bradley’s Bar, which opened in June, as a seven-day-a-week attraction at the Fleetwood Road site, which is centred around AFC Fylde’s new stadium.

The £18m development also includes indoor and outdoor sports facilities and an Aldi supermarket.

Milano’s manager Matthew Nicholson, formerly of Gilpin Lodge in the Lake District, said: “Milano’s is incredibly versatile, catering for everything from a light bite with friends or work colleagues, to a three-course dining experience. We feel the quality of the interior design is reminiscent of some of the best restaurants in London or Manchester.”

Horse owners have been thanked for helping police train up new officers.

Lancashire Constabulary appealed last week for loan horses through the winter, to help train up new mounted officers.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: “Lancashire Mounted Branch would like to say a huge, huge thank-you for the massive response we have had to our request for loan horses to help with our up-and-coming riding course.

“We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the response and inundated with offers from horse owners from all over the country.

“We have now closed the selection process as we have now managed to fulfil our requirements but we have retained some offers on file as reserves should the need arise.

“Once again, thank-you so much to everyone who shared our request and who offered their horses, it is very, very much appreciated.”

The force will stable the horses throughout the loan period, and cover the costs of the owners, as officers are trained.

A spate of crimes involving contactless bank cards has prompted Lancashire Police to issue a warning.

Officers say a number of thefts from cars have resulted in bank accounts being milked by offenders.

A spokesman said: “Recently a number of crimes have been reported to the police involving the theft of handbags from cars that were left on show.

“It appears the cars have had the window smashed and the bag stolen just to get hold of the card.

“The offenders have gone on to use the contactless cards at different shops and stores, buying goods to the sum of £30 each time resulting in financial loss in a very short time.”

Police say account holders should be aware of the vulnerability of contactless cards and take extra care with their security.

“Never leave them in a handbag or wallet in your unattended car even if it is locked,” added the spokesman. At home, keep them in a safe place together with car keys, mobile phones and tablets.”

A major Blackpool road remains closed following a serious accident.

Police and fire officers have cordoned off Devonshire Road in North Shore, between Northgate and Bispham Roundabout, to investigate the cause of the crash, which they say left ‘people with serious injuries including fractures’.

The accident happened at 9.55am on Sunday.

A police spokeswoman said officers were waiting to lift a car, after reports a taxi driver was forced to swerve, before colliding with a wall.

The road will remain closed until officers complete their investigation and remove the damaged car.

The accident is the second on Devonshire Road this weekend, after two cars collided on the road on Saturday.

Anyone who saw either accident is asked to call police on 101.

A Blackpool hotelier ‘recklessly’ put lives at risk by allowing persistent tampering with electricity after his supply was cut off.

Even after energy chiefs dug up the road to disconnect Lolly’s Hotel on Regent Road from the electricity supply, a cable to tap into electricity from a neighbouring premises was set up, a hearing was told.

At one point, clingfilm was used to twist wires together to bypass a meter.

A council licensing hearing was told the actions put the lives of hotel guests and residents of neighbouring properties at risk if a fire had broken out.

Owner Kamran Iqbal had his licence to sell alcohol revoked, and was warned a criminal prosecution is pending.

Prohibition notices have already been issued against the hotel which is now closed.

The licensing review panel at Blackpool Town Hall was told Corona Energy had disconnected the electricity at Lolly’s Hotel in February for non-payment, but when licensing officers visited in June they discovered the supply had been reconnected using a rogue meter not registered on the network.

This was removed, but just weeks later in August it was discovered the electricity had been reconnected again.

This time “wires had been twisted together with cling film”.

Public Protection Office Jacqui Harrison said: “They had used normal cling film that you wrap your sandwiches in to connect the wires.

“Due to the dangerous nature of the installation, which had been reconnected on two separate occasions, Electricity North West took the decision to dig the pavement up outside the premises and disconnected the supply in the street.”

A prohibition notice was issued ordering the hotel to close. But two weeks later a licensing officer drove past the hotel and noticed the lights were back on and guests were inside the hotel.

Ms Harrison said: “This time it appeared they had tapped into next door’s electric.”

A cable was found running through the floorboards from the neighbouring property at 26 Regent Road.

Mark Marshall, licensing manager at Blackpool Council, said: “Those running the hotel were intentionally reckless and these actions have put the public at risk of serious harm and neighbours at risk from a potential fire.”

Mr Iqbal told the hearing he had been away for much of the year studying for a law degree in Leeds and had left the running of the hotel in the hands of a manager.

He said: “I have been away from the hotel and things went wrong.

“I am sorry for the electricity being in this state, but with regard to the tapping I was not aware of what was going on.”

Revoking the licence, licensing panel chairman Coun Adrian Hutton said: “The fact you put all your residents at risk by allowing this type of activity to take place is beyond our comprehension.

“We believe Mr Marshall is right in taking a prosecution out for reckless endangerment of people’s lives.”

Mr Iqbal has 21 days in which to lodge an appeal.

When Marilyn Moorhouse gave up work on medical grounds, she believed she had just a few years until being eligible for her state pension.

But new rules meant actually she had a full decade to wait.

The 62-year-old, of St Ives Avenue, South Shore, is among hundreds of thousands of women nationwide who have been caught unawares by changes made by the government to the pension age.

The 1995 Conservative Government’s Pension Act included plans to increase women’s SPA (State Pension Age) to 65, the same as men’s, while the 2011 Pension Act speeded up the process.

But what has angered people like Marilyn is the government failed to notify those affected until just two years before the change impacted on them, leaving it too late for many of them to plan for a comfortable retirement.

Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) is a national movement calling for fairer transition to the new timescale.

They are not calling for the pension age to revert back to 60, but say compensation should be paid to those who say their retirement plans have been shattered.

They also say the implementation of the new pension age has been too quick to enable women to make alternative financial arrangments.

Women born in the 1950s are particularly affected.

WASPI says 2.6 million women born in that decade have paid a total of £255bn in National Insurance Contributions during their working lives but are having to now wait between one and six additional years for their state pension.

Pauline Duncan, 62, of Douglas Avenue, Layton, is helping lead the campaign here on the Fylde coast where many have signed petitions due to be handed to the Pensions Minister.

Figures show more than 4,000 women in Blackpool North and Cleveleys constituency, and more than 3,600 women in the Blackpool South constituency are affected by the change.

Pauline said: “We are against the unfair way the Acts have been implemented, and the lack of fair notice given to the 2.6 million women and their families.

“The 1995 Pensions Act increased the State Pension Age to 65 for any woman born after April 6 1951.

“Unfortunately no-one contacted these women directly to inform them.

“There were a few articles in the time in the news, but these were tiny, and women living busy lives caring for their families were far too busy and exhausted long before the late night news.

“They should have sent these women including me a letter.”

WASPI is claiming maladministration because women were not individually notified of the change with proper notice.

Pauline, who worked as a nursery manager as well as bringing up her two children, added: “My letter arrived in February 2012, two years before I expected to receive my state pension, and certainly not enough time to plan for the six additional years I will have to wait.”

Pauline will not receive her state pension until July 2020, a loss of around £37,000 to her household income.

Some women are bridging the gap by trying to get jobs, or claim benefits, or else must live off company pensions.

Another anomaly is the way the changes are being phased in.

Marilyn is just six months older than Pauline but will get her state pension a year earlier, in July 2019.

She worked as an administrator in the prison service and paid into her pension for 40 years.

She said: “I am living off my small works pension and have no other income at all.

“It is ridiculous that I have paid into the system for 40 years and suddenly they change the goal posts.

“I got a letter in March 2012 telling me my state pension date had changed. That was only two years before my 60th birthday.

“By then I had given up my job because I wasn’t in the best of health and I was expecting I would get my state pension at 60.

“There are many women we speak to who don’t know their pension age had changed, It went totally under the radar.”

The change also means women do not qualify for other benefits such as free bus travel and winter fuel allowances.

Pauline added: “WASPI has received many true stories from all over the UK.

“Single and widowed women with no other source of income forced to sell their homes.

“Women who took part-time jobs had no opportunity for private pensions. They are having to look for work again, but at 62 who wants to employ you?”

Local MPs including Gordon Marsden, Paul Maynard and Cat Smith are supporting the WASPI campaign.

Last month, Blackpool Council also agreed to back the WASPI campaign following a presentation by Pauline to a meeting of the full council.

Council leader Coun Simon Blackburn said: “It is completely unfair to withhold state pensions from women who have paid into the system, many of them for their entire working lives.

“It was compelling to hear the strains and hardships this policy creates.”

An All-Party Parliamentary Group has been set up to consider the issue and is due to meet with Pensions Minister Damian Green at the end of October.

The House of Lords is also due to debate the issue on November 2.

Anyone who wants to find out more about the campaign should email Pauline at auntypaus@yahoo.co.uk

It was an interesting co-incidence this week that during the start of Pinktober, otherwise known as Breast Cancer Awareness month, the subject of mastectomies was pushed into the public consciousness through TV show Strictly Comes Dancing.

This is something very personal to me.

My mum had full double surgery as a breast cancer patient and never had reconstructive surgery.

Her choice and a brave one, particularly considering she did briefly return to her career as a swimming teacher before the disease put paid to her sporty lifestyle.

The fantastic Anastacia is appearing on Strictly, proving there is life after mastectomy and breast cancer.

However, she opted for reconstruction and when she suffered a related injury, the format was changed slightly, which was fair enough.

The furore around this was disconcerting, with some disparaging and frankly ignorant remarks about her reconstruction.

Her decision was her own, and frankly, her bravery in taking part in this physically challenging and high profile show is a huge step toward awareness of breast cancer, living with it and surviving it.

She will undoubtedly provide inspiration for some of those diagnosed with a disease and facing decisions and complications they could never have dreamed of.

For every Anastacia conquering the disease, there are hundreds, thousands, of other women who need to see that and know it is possible.

More importantly that they can tackle control of the decisions that matter to them.

I clearly remember my own mother, newly diagnosed and facing radical surgery aged 41, sitting on a sofa and trying to explain what was happening to her three school age children.

I know that seeing somebody like Anastacia in the public eye, would have given her hope and strength and knowledge there is life during and after cancer.

My mum did eventually succumb to this dreadful disease, surviving another 18 years during which she studied for two degrees, took a year off abroad and saw her children to adulthood.

She very much lived despite and not just with the cancer and though her story will not be told in lights on a Saturday night primetime show, it is survivors like Anastacia who do it for her.

Tesco is to introduce fines for people who wrongly park in disabled or parent and child bays at its stores.

The supermarket giant is to use a mobile app to allow staff to report the misuse of parking spaces. Anyone who is reported for incorrectly using the spaces will receive a fine of £40, if it is paid within 14 days. If not, the amount could rise to £70.

A Tesco spokesperson said: “Many of our disabled customers rely on our disabled parking bays, so we’ve introduced our self-monitoring initiative to highlight the importance of using the bays properly, making it fairer and easier for everyone to find a parking space in Tesco.”

The scheme has been trialled in 81 stores where the company say colleagues and customers have noticed a positive impact. It is now being rolled out to over 200 stores.

The company says it makes no money from running the scheme but is doing it to help customers who need to use the spaces. The handheld devices are shared and will move between stores.

Pub-goers will be able to enjoy five real ales from across the world alongside a selection of up to 25 beers from the UK during a 12-day festival at eight pubs across the Fylde coast.

Each of the beers has been brewed using only British hop varieties, including Fuggles, Challenger, Sovereign and Phoenix.

The festival will run from Wednesday to Sunday October 23 inclusive.

The participating pubs are; The Albert and The Lion in Bank Hey Street, The Layton Rakes in Market Street and The Velvet Coaster in New South Promenade all in Blackpool, The Trawl Boat Inn in Wood Street, St Annes, and The Railway Hotel in Station Road, Lytham, together with The Thomas Drummond in London Street, Fleetwood, The Poulton Elk in Hardhorn Road, Poulton, and The Jolly Tars in Victoria Road West, Cleveleys.

Layton Rakes manager, Lee Thelwell, said: “The festival is the perfect opportunity to showcase the wonderful range of British-grown hop varieties and support British hop farmers.

“It will give people the opportunity to enjoy a superb selection of beers, many of which have not been served in the pub before.”

Here is a round-up of some of the cases at Blackpool Magistrates Court from October 10.

Daniel Thompson, 35, possession of cannabis

A dad of two young children was found with cannabis valued at more than £2,000 in the back garden of his home and in his car.

Daniel Thompson told police, called to the address because of a domestic incident, that the drugs were all for his own use.

Thompson, a 35-year-old ground-worker, formerly of Grange Road, St Annes, now living in St Albans Road, St Annes, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis.

Sarah Perkins, prosecuting, said police were called to a report of a domestic incident at Thompson’s then-address in Grange Road on September 18.

Thompson’s two children aged six and seven were present.

Police found six bags of cannabis with a weight of 23g with an estimated value of £2,270, in the back garden and in his car.

When interviewed, he denied any knowledge of the drugs, claiming they belonged to his ex partner, which she denied.

He had two previous convictions for cannabis possession and was on a suspended prison sentence for assault at the time of the offence.

Mitch Sarangi, defending, said Thompson said the cannabis was all for his personal use and that he could afford to buy in bulk because he had a good job.

Thompson was bailed to appear for sentence at Preston Crown Court on November 9 by District Judge Jeff Brailsford sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

Amanda Holvey, 30, driving with excess alcohol

A woman who received an emergency call from her sister crashed her car as she set off to go to her.

Amanda Holvey was more than twice over the alcohol limit when she hit a neighbour’s parked car in the cul-de-sac where she lived.

Holvey, a 30-year-old mum, of Mornington Road, Lytham, pleaded guilty to to driving with excess alcohol.

She was banned from the road for 20 months, fined £120 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £30 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Sarah Perkins, prosecuting, said police were called to Mornington Road where Holvey had hit a parked car in her BMW on September 18 at 12.10am.

She told police she had drunk some wine. A breath test showed 84 micrograms of alcohol in her body – 35 is the limit.

Steven Townley, defending, said his client had had no intention of going out but she received an hysterical call from her sister who had been involved in a domestic incident.

As she set off and attempted a three-point turn in the cul-de-sac she lived at, she hit the parked car. 
As a result of the incident she had lost a job because she could not get to it without being able to drive. She had also had to sell the car and lost £4.500 on it.

Dean Finegan, 28, assault causing actual bodily harm

A doorman accused of knocking a man unconscious with one punch has made his first appearance at court.

Dean Finegan, 28, of Vicarage Mews, St Edmunds Road, Marton, pleaded not guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and asked for trial at crown court.

It is alleged the victim needed plastic surgery and was left with permanent scarring to his lip.

Finegan was bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court on November 9 by District Judge Jeff Brailsford sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

Harley Bowker, 25, driving with excess alcohol

A woman who has admitted drink-driving aims to be able retain her licence and keep on driving.

Harley Bowker, 25, of Warley Road, North Shore, pleaded guilty to driving a Citroen on Blackpool Road, St Annes, with 144 micrograms of alcohol in her blood – the legal limit is 80.

Bowker claims her drink was spiked and her case was adjourned to November 21 by District Judge Jeff Brailsford sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court, for her to show special reasons why she should not be disqualified from driving.

Stuart Howarth, 42, assault

A joiner accused of hitting his girlfriend in the face with his toolbox cutting the bridge of her nose has made his first appearance at court.

Stuart Haworth, 42, formerly of Hilton Avenue, South Shore, now living at Lord Street, Blackpool, pleaded not guilty to assaulting his partner on October 9.

He was bailed to December 15 for trial by District Judge John Maxwell sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

Haworth must live at his given address and not contact the complainant or go within 50 metres of her address as conditions of his bail.

Stephanie Harrison, 28, breaching the peace

A woman has admitted breaching the peace on Sunday at Blackpool.

Stephanie Harrison, 28, of Dinmore Avenue, Grange Park, was bound over in the sum of £100 for 12 months by District Judge John Maxwell, sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

Yolands Kershaw, 39, breach of the peace

Police were called after a woman was reported as causing a disturbance on Blackpool’s Hill Street.

Yolanda Kershaw, 39, of Clifford Street, North Shore, pleaded guilty to breach of the peace and was bound over in the sum of £100 for 12 months by District Judge John Maxwell sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

The court was told that on October 9 police were called to an address on Hill Street where Kershaw was shouting and screaming.

Police officers gave her a lift home but a few hours later she was back screaming and shouting again.

Daniel Taylor, 24, burglary

A 17-year-old boy was part of a gang who raided a house in Cleveleys and stole approximately £3,000 of property, a judge was told.

The teenager was also the getaway driver as the gang got away with a haul of computers, phones and personal items from the address on Manor Drive. 
The burglars drove from Burnley to the Fylde coast on what the judge described as “a burglary expedition which had all the hallmarks of a professional escapade and in which a significant amount of property was stolen.”

After returning to their home town the youth tried to evade police in a pursuit. The 17-year-old, of Padiham, Burnley, who can not be identified for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to burglary, failing to stop for police and driving a Ford Ka on West Park Drive, Burnley, without insurance and not in accordance with his licence.

He was bailed for sentence at Burnley Youth Court on November 7 by District Judge John Maxwell sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

The teenager must live at his given address and not enter Blackpool or contact his co-accused as conditions of his bail. Pam Smith, prosecuting, said the burglary took place on October 8. Police recovered all the property which had been stolen.

Dominic McEvoy, unemployed, of Trinity Close, and Daniel Taylor, a barber, of Elizabeth Street, both 24 and of Burnley, who are also charged with the burglary, indicated they would both plead not guilty to the offence.

The prosecutor asked for their case to be sent to crown court and opposed bail for the duo. They were refused bail and remanded in custody to appear at Preston Crown Court on November 9 by the judge.

Nuclear convoys carrying warheads routinely drive on the M6. If one crashed, or was attacked by terrorists, more than 260,000 people could be in danger of contamination, according to a new report.

Nuclear bomb convoys on the M6 are putting more than a quarter of a million people at risk from radioactive contamination in Lancashire, according to a report by campaigners.

Anti-nuclear campaigners warn 165 schools, seven hospitals and four railway stations could all be affected if transporters carrying Trident warheads crashed along the route through the county.

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons UK, which compiled the report, is demanding an end to the road convoys which routinely pass close to the city en route from the South of England to Scotland.

It claims an accident or an explosion could pose a serious threat to people in a 10-kilometre radius.

That puts Fylde coast towns and villages including Pilling, Garstang, Great Eccleston, Elswick, Inskip, Wharles, Treales, Newton, and Clifton, within the radius.

“Yet most of the millions of people in the communities they pass by are unaware of what’s happening - and the risks they could be facing,” said the report’s author Rob Edwards.

The “Nukes of Hazard” reveals that the Ministry of Defence has confirmed there were eight accidents involving nuclear weapons convoys between 1960 and 1991.

But, following Freedom of Information requests, the MoD has now revealed a further 180 “safety incidents” have happened between 2000 and 2016. The report says convoys have crashed, broken down, got lost and have suffered brake failure and other mechanical problems.

“A terrorist attack on a nuclear convoy, according to the MoD, could cause considerable loss of life and severe disruption both to the British people’s way of life and to the UK’s ability to function effectively as a sovereign state.
“ Convoy accidents could spread radioactive contamination over at least 10 kilometres, depending on the direction of the winds.

“Hundreds of thousands of people could find their lives seriously disrupted as communities are evacuated, essential infrastructure disabled and emergency services overwhelmed.

“Contamination and worries about cancer would linger for decades.”

While there are no recorded incidents involving the convoys passing through Lancashire, the report estimates as many as 265,959 people in the Preston area could be affected if one happened on the M6 near Ribbleton and Deepdale.

Responding to claims that emergency services across the UK were not adequately prepared to deal with a major incident, an MoD spokesman said: “The transport of defence nuclear material is carried out to the highest standard in accordance with stringent safety regulations.

“In over 50 years of transporting defence nuclear in the UK, there has never been an incident that has posed any radiation hazard to the public or to the environment.

“The transportation of defence nuclear material is kept to the minimum required to support operational requirements.”

Preston Council was quoted as saying it was given no warnings of convoy movements past the city and had “no plans to respond to any radiation leak from a nuclear weapons convoy,” explaining it did not have the assets to deal with such an incident.

A spokesman told The Gazette: “Preston City Council does not have a specific emergency planning role for this type of situation. 
“Hence the response we gave.

“However, there is a fully-prepared and well-tested major incident plan for the whole of Lancashire which is co-ordinated by Lancashire County Council in partnership with Lancashire Constabulary, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and all Lancashire-based councils.”

The campaign group Nukewatch says the 20-vehicle convoys, made up of huge dark green trucks accompanied by military Land Rovers and police, carry warheads from a bomb factory at Berkshire to the Royal Navy armaments depot near Glasgow.

The 900-mile round trip is carried out between two and six times a year and has two routes, one via Leeds and Newcastle and the other past Birmingham and Preston heading north to Glasgow.

Components for the

warheads are made at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) at Aldermaston in Berkshire. From there they are transferred to nearby AWE Burghfield to be assembled, before making the long road journey north to Coulport on Loch Long, north of Glasgow.

At Loch Long the carriers are unloaded and the warheads placed in underground bunkers.

When needed they are moved to the explosive handling jetty at Coulport and fitted into the Trident submarines.

Nukewatch says that the frequency of the convoys varies from year to year.

In 2016, up to September, the group claims there have been six loaded convoys travelling to Scotland, although there is no record of how many of those went past Preston on the M6.