In Hollyoaks, Poulton Sonny Flood played a character who spent a lot of his time on the wrong side of the law.

Now, six years after initially leaving the show, he’s pursuing a career in law himself.

The Fylde-born actor played Josh Ashworth in the soap between 2005 and 2010, getting tangled up in all sorts from drugs, joyriding to attempted murder.

Despite reappearing for three episodes in 2012, the 26-year-old has now swapped acting for the Bar as he studies to become a barrister.

It’s a dream the former Rossall student has always had, albeit one he had to put on hold to pursue an acting career.

Sonny said: “I always wanted to study history first at undergraduate level and then pursue the Graduate Diploma in Law,

“But because I didn’t go to university until I was 22 due to my acting jobs, I decided that now was the right time to pursue law completely.

“I like the complexity, intricacy and detail of law. I like solving problems and thinking of ways through them.

“Couple those aspects with the soft skills that the law requires as well as the ‘theatrical’ side of being a barrister, I see it as a really fulfilling and rewarding profession.”

After graduating with First Class Honours from his Law degree at the University of Manchester, Sonny has now enrolled on the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) at Manchester’s BPP University Law School.

Mark Keith, the programme leader, thinks Sonny has all the qualities required to make it in the profession.

He said: “Sonny struck me as someone who had the potential to be an excellent barrister. He not only has the intellect but also combines it with a commercial edge which is necessary at the Bar these days.

“Sonny is committed, hard-working and personable so is great to have on the course. I am sure he will do very well on the course and at the Bar thereafter.”

Sonny isn’t the first television personality to try their hand at law, with John Cleese, Jerry Springer and Bob Mortimer all boasting law degrees.

It’s something that Sonny has found to be quite a smooth transition.

He added: “Acting and the law both require a certain amount of confidence. In both professions you have to be present, portray and provoke emotions and reactions.

“It’s also defined by hard work and that’s something you need to be prepared for both in acting and the law.

“Acting-wise, I’m still an actor but I’ve bigger things to concentrate on now. I’d never say never to a return to acting, however, I’m really happy where I am right now.”

The most in-demand roles in the North West range from Tax Accountants to Electrical Technicians, according to Clayton Recruitment,.

The latest quarterly analysis by the Lancashire-based multi niche recruitment specialist has outlined the five most in demand roles across the North West region.

The study was conducted by comparing vacancy levels across Clayton’s broad areas of expertise and highlights the ongoing skills shortages affecting many fields.

Tracy Bolan, Commercial Manager at Clayton Recruitment, revealed the full list.

Top are payroll administrators. She said: “Demand for payroll practitioners continues to rise across the North West, with the number of vacancies increasing for the third quarter in a row.”

“This position is crucial, particularly as businesses expand, as they need to ensure that all of their employees and contractors are paid promptly. Support staff such as payroll experts are the foundation of a successful business, so it’s no surprise they are highly sought after.”

Second are pickers/packers. “Pickers and packers are always in high demand before the Christmas period as retailers and distributors prepare for the huge influx of orders in November and December,” said Ms Bolan.

Third: Electrical technicians. Fourth: Practice/Tax Accountants. Fifth, Technical Project Engineers.

“Technical project engineers are responsible for ensuring construction and engineering projects are on time and on a budget, as well as monitoring the projects for fitness of purpose, she said.

Specialist communications agency Rule 5 has been appointed by Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

The Manchester-based firm will work with the Pleasure Beach in-house team on communication around the amusement park’s new £16.25m rollercoaster, Construction MMXVIII, due to open in 2018.

Work is already under way with the agency having worked in collaboration with Blackpool Pleasure Beach to announce news of what will be the UK’s first ever double-launch rollercoaster at a press conference in Waldkirch, Germany, last month.

Journalists were treated to a tour of Mack Rides, where the state-of-the-art rollercoaster is being manufactured.

Its unique features will include 15 interactions with five other rides and two tunnels at what is already the UK’s most ride-intensive theme park.

The agency is also tasked with working with Blackpool Pleasure Beach to develop its national and creative communications strategy with a focus on key seasonal events.

Robert Owen, Director of Marketing at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, said;”Over the last five years we’ve been working quietly on the development of Construction MMXVIII. With the announcement we wanted to create maximum noise. Following weeks of dedicated planning Rule 5 helped us do that. Plans for the next phase of construction are already in development and we’re looking forward to working with the team to promote these here at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.”

Rule 5 Director, Julie Wilson, added: “Opportunities to be involved with a development such as Construction MMXVIII do not come along very often, it’s an incredible brief.

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to play a part in what will be the most exciting roller coaster launch in recent years.”

A pair of killer heels, skinny jeans, a leather jacket, tousled hair – this woman must be a prostitute, picked up by the cops.
Ah, here comes the detective, a pair of sensible leather brogues, a well-cut suit, come to give the broad in the cell her Miranda rights.
Hang on. Now they’re both on the steps of some public building in a bustling US city, giving some sort of press conference – press conferences in US TV dramas are always on steps outside a big building, never in some crummy conference room with peeling lino and stained ceiling tiles.
And the detective is giving the prostitute a top level new job, head of the new Conviction Integrity Unit. Turns outshe isn’t a lady of the night, after all, she’s the daughter of the former president, and a brilliant lawyer, and a university lecturer, and a coke fiend.
Welcome to the new US drama Conviction (Sky Living, Wednesdays, 9pm) in which all kinds of unlikely scenarios are played with the kind of seriousness reserved for a Shakespeare tragedy.
Pretty much the only convincing thing about it was Brit actress Hayley Atwell’s spotless American accent as the troubled, yet brilliant, former first daughter Hayes Morrison – the woman we first encountered stalking the prison cell.
Tough-talking, yet brittle, Hayes is effectively blackmailed by the DA into this new job looking into possible miscarriages of justice – he’ll hide news of her coke bust in return.
She gets an implausibly good-looking team of cops, lawyers and scientists to help her and an office with so many glass partitions the Windolene budget would exceed the GDP of Belgium.
Hayes, outwardly uncaring, but inwardly sensitive, is poorly drawn, with all sorts of ‘issues’ to work out, and it’s clear from this first episode that she’ll learn ‘valuable lessons’ from each case.
It’s formulaic, glossy, unconvincing – basically New Tricks in Christian Louboutin heels and salon sparkling hair.
Talking of sparkling, the funniest thing on TV this week was Ed Balls dressed as a mad scientist attempting a cha-cha-cha on Strictly Come Dancing (Saturdays, BBC1). It should be played after the news every night, to remind us that there is a lighter side to the world, after all.

A desperate mum who appealed for money to bring her son’s body home from Peru, where her other son is in prison, faces jail after admitting theft.

Elsie White used diplomatic channels, MPs, the media, and international charity pressure groups to try and get the body of Jason Cato, who died while on parole in the South American country, brought home.

Her other son Jamie is also in prison there, accused of drug smuggling. He became one of the first Britons to be extradited to Peru earlier this year and is awaiting trial.

And White’s solicitor Howard Green, said in court the 62-year-old, of South Promenade, Cleveleys, had been driven to stealing £12,000 of jewellery from a couple she was cleaning for by her family’s ordeal.

He told Blackpool magistrates: “One of her sons died in Peru in March and a girlfriend there had him buried in that country. She wants his body exhumed and returned home.

“At the same time, she wanted money to fund the defence of her other son who is in prison in Peru having denied a drug smuggling offence. Under this duel stress she committed this offence and is ashamed.”

Jason, 39, who was released from the notorious Lurigancho prison in Lima after his family say he was thrown from a balcony, died on March 10 this year.

He had been jailed for smuggling drugs and was behind bars for three years before being released. Following his death, he was buried quickly according to local custom.

Jamie, in Peru from 2007 to 2009 selling time shares, was arrested last year, just days before completing a jail sentence for his role in transporting amphetamine into Cumbria.

He admitted his involvement in that drugs operation, but insists he is innocent of the allegation in Peru, where authorities allege he deposited a parcel containing just over 400g of cocaine at a downtownLima post office in 2009.

In June, he spoke to The Gazette of his relief after winning an extradition appeal, but days later it was overturned and he was sent to South America.

He later claimed through his mum an £8,000 bounty had been placed on his head inside the notoriously-tough prison – a debt allegedly inherited from his brother’s time inside.

White told the Sunday Mirror: “I’d sooner he topped himself here than go over there and go through all this.”

White was arrested after the couple realised the jewellery was missing. It was sold for £3,000 and melted down, the court heard.

The pair, who said the valuables had sentimental value, had offered to lend her money and did not want White to be punished unduly, but said they wanted her wrongdoing noted.

She will be sentenced at crown court at a later date.

The level of care given to patients at a top Fylde hospice has been hailed following an inspection.

Trinity Hospice in Bispham, which cares for children and adults with serious illnesses, has been rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Clinical director Julie Huttley has spoken of her joy at the rating, which she said proves just how caring her staff members are.

She said: “As matron and clinical director I am extremely proud of all the Trinity staff and the contribution they have made to patient care.

“This rating reflects the high quality professional care and support that all the team gives to patients and families not just at the hospice, but also at the hospital and in patients’ own homes.”

The CQC visited the Low Moor Road hospice at short notice in July before publishing its findings last week, and said in its report: “The service was exceptionally caring.

“Without exception, people and their relatives spoke extremely highly of staff and their experiences of care. We found staff were passionate about providing a nondiscriminatory service.

“We toured the service and found it was an exceptionally tranquil, warm, happy, and welcoming atmosphere throughout.”

Inspectors also told of the praise issued by patients and their families. One said the hospice is ‘heaven’, while another said: “The care is phenomenal. There is nothing lacking in care and support.”

Staff’s innovation was also hailed, with managed described as ‘clearly enthusiastic’ about helping people.

Two memory trees have been installed, one for adults and one for children, which feature leaves with names of past patients on to commemorate and remember them.

A book of condolence is always kept with photographs and comments from staff, relatives, and friends about their loved ones.

“We observed staff were patient, courteous, friendly, and highly skilled at quickly developing strong bonds with individuals who accessed the hospice,” the report added.

“They expressed concern and care, without patronising individuals at Trinity, and responded to them with warmth and empathy.”

The CQC inspected five key areas; Safety, effectiveness, level of caring, responsiveness, and leadership, rating Trinity good for safety, effectiveness, and responsiveness, and outstanding for the remaining two, landing it a top overall score.

The CQC’s deputy chief inspector of adult and social care in the north, Debbie Westhead, said: “What really struck us about this service was how person-centred it was.

“Without exception, people and their relatives spoke extremely highly of staff and their experiences of care at Trinity.”

Temperatures will plummet this week and rain will turn readily to snow even at low levels on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Met Office warning states: "Rain will turn to snow in places later on Tuesday and into Wednesday morning.

"This could bring accumulations of 4 to 8 cm across some hilly areas of northern England and Scotland, largely above 200-300 m, with as much as 15 cm possible above 300-400 m.

"Overnight Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, as snow peters out over Scotland, there is the potential for snow to settle to low levels.

"Please be aware of the risk of difficult driving conditions in some areas."

Fleetwood Town’s 0-0 draw at Southport in the first round of the FA Cup was marred by ugly incidents when two flares were thrown from the crowd towards the goal of visitors’ keeper Chris Neal.

Play was held up for several minutes as security men came on to the pitch to remove the flares thrown from the end where Southport fans were assembled.

The match was held up for several minutes after players complained that they could not see properly because of the smoke.

The tie ended in stalemate - if Fleetwood manage to beat Southport in the replay they will travel to Shrewsbury.

There was a crowd of 2,365 at the Merseyrail Community Stadium.

The reply is expected to take place at Highbury next Tuesday.

The historic Duke of Lancaster’s regiment will be based at Weeton by 2022 at the latest, the Defence secretary said last night.

Michael Fallon announced the move as part of the closure of 56 Ministry of Defence across the UK.

The historic sites of Fulwood barracks in Preston as well as Fort George in Scotland and Brecon Barracks in Wales are among the sites due to be disposed of by the Government, under a review of its estate.

Sir Michael Fallon said the estate is too big and costly to run, and releasing the land could enable the building of up to 55,000 new homes.

That means the HQ of the 42nd Infantry Brigade, which comprises the 2nd and 4th Battalions of The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment and the 2nd and 4th Battalions of The Mercias, will be moved to Weeton.

Announcing the closures in the Commons, Sir Michael said: “This strategy looks ahead to 2040 to provide a better defence estate.

“An estate that supports a more efficient and effective military capability, an estate that gives our armed forces a world class base from which to work, and an estate that helps defence keep Britain safe and to promote our prosperity.”

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) estate currently covers nearly 2% of the UK’s land area.

Sir Michael told MPs it costs £2.5 billion a year to maintain, and 40% of the MoD’s built assets are more than 50 years old.

It is hoped selling the sites could save £140 million of running costs over the next decade.

Sir Michael said the strategy is part of efforts to consolidate military units, as well as moving them closer to population centres, to provide access to jobs and facilities for families.

Preston North MP Ben Wallace, who successfully campaigned for a regular unit to be moved into the barracks two years ago, said: “I am deeply disappointed with the announcement. Fulwood Barracks is an important part of the history and culture of Preston and it is vital as a link between the local regiment and the population. The North West recruits more than 20% of the armed forces yet we are devoid of bases.

“It is an especially odd decision given a couple of years ago the MOD moved back a regular unit of the Royal Medical Corp.

“I am going to take this to the minister responsible and make a robust case to reject the closure. I shall also be approaching the Duke of York’s Regimental Association to ask for their support in battling this move.”

Fylde MP Mark Menzies was not available for comment last night.

Last year’s Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) outlined the MoD’s aim to reduce the size of its estate by 30% before 2040.

The latest announcement takes the number of sites due to be closed to 91.

Among the other sites due to be sold are parts of Britain’s largest Army garrison - Catterick in North Yorkshire - as well as Invicta Park Barracks in Maidstone and Imphal Barracks in York.

Sir Michael said the changes would mean the Royal Navy remained focused on port bases and naval stations.

MPs heard that surface ships would be based in Portsmouth and Devonport, with all the United Kingdom’s submarines based on the Clyde.

There will be a specialist amphibious centre in the South West, based around Devonport, with helicopters based at Yeovilton and Culdrose.

Sir Michael added the Army would have “specialised infantry” at Aldershot, mechanised wheel capability in Catterick, air assault forces in Colchester, armoured vehicle units around Salisbury Plain, medical services in the West Midlands and hubs of light infantry battalions in London, Edinburgh, Lisburn, St Athan, Blackpool and Cottesmore.

In the RAF, combat units will remain in Coningsby, Marham and Lossiemouth, with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance services remaining in Waddington.

Air transport will be based at Brize Norton, force protection will be based at Honington, and support enablers will be based at Wittering and Leeming.

In Scotland, eight sites will be released over the next 15 years, Sir Michael said.

He said investment in specialised centres would focus on Lossiemouth, Faslane and Leuchars, and Kinloss will be retained.

In Wales, the estate will be brought together into “capability clusters”, Sir Michael said, with a specialist light infantry centre at St Athan.

In Northern Ireland, three sites will be released.

High street giant Marks & Spencer has said it will close around 60 clothing and home stores as it focuses on food, and warned of more than 2,100 job losses under plans to axe 53 overseas shops.

The retailer said the UK closures come as part of an overhaul which will affect around 100 stores as it looks to cut back on clothing and home while boosting its Simply Food chain.

Details of the restructure came as it said underlying pre-tax profits fell 18.6% to £231.3 million in the six months to October 1, while bottom-line profits crashed 88.4% to £25.1 million.

Chief executive Steve Rowe also outlined plans to shut 53 stores across 10 international markets - including 10 in China and seven in France, while pulling out of Belgium, Estonia, Hungary and Lithuania - putting around 2,100 jobs at risk.

M&S said it will close around 30 of its 304 full-line stores - selling clothing and home as well as food - and downsize or replace around 45 shops to Simply Food outlets.

It will also relocate some other outlets, while opening other stores in so-called under-served areas.

The group remained tight-lipped on the number of UK staff impacted by the plans, but said that, where possible, it would keep "job continuity" for affected employees.

The group insisted it would have more stores overall after the revamp, with already-announced aims to open more than 200 Simply Food outlets by the end of the 2018/19 financial year.

Mr Rowe, who took over from Dutchman Marc Bolland in April, said: "Over the next five years we will transform our UK estate with around 60 fewer clothing and home stores, whilst continuing to increase the number of our Simply Food stores.

"In the future, we will have more inspiring stores in places where customers want to shop."

He added: "These are tough decisions, but vital to building a future M&S that is simpler, more relevant, multi-channel and focused on delivering sustainable returns."

The latest restructure moves come as M&S revealed more sales falls in its embattled clothing division, with like-for-like sales down by 5.9% in the first half.

But it narrowed the sales decline from 8.9% in the first quarter - its worst performance for a decade - to 2.9% in the second quarter.

Same-store food sales fell 0.9% over the half-year, while it saw growth of 0.3% at M&S.com, leaving overall UK like-for-like sales 3% lower.

Changes are to be made to a recycling plant in Thornton in a bid to improve working conditions at the site.

An application was made to Lancashire County Council to increase the height of a chimney and amend an air extraction and filtering system at Lancashire Waste Recycling in Thornton.

The authority’s development control committee heard the current situation meant there was often a build-up of heat during peak hours, “making the working conditions difficult” at the waste transfer and processing site.

Councillors were told the current extraction system dealt only with dust and odour, but the proposed new system, including dust collectors, fans and ducting, would also tackle the issue of a build-up of heat, to improve conditions and “future-proof the operations”.

Fears were raised over the impact of smells from the site on the nearby Cala Gran Caravan Park, but the plans were given the green light.

A report to the committee said: “The amended air extraction system would enable greater control over the internal conditions of the building.

“To do this, it is necessary to bring more fresh air into the building than is possible with the current system.”

But objections had been raised from neighbours and representatives from the caravan park, raising fears over odours.

Speaking at the meeting, independent county councillor Paul Hayhurst, who represents Fylde West, said the caravan site was “crucial to the tourism of the area”, and said a system needed to be implemented to control odours.

He added: “I find this unacceptable”.

The report said objections had been raised by Wyre Council, neighbours and Cala Gran Caravan Park.

Highlighting some of the issues raised by the caravan site, it said: “The proposed extraction system could potentially represent a significant improvement compared to the existing system in terms of odour emissions from the facility. “However without odour abatement technology fitted to the extraction system, it is extremely unlikely that the proposed system will reduce the odour impacts upon nearby sensitive receptors such as Cala Gran Holiday Park.”

It raised concerns that, without specific technology, “the amenity of Cala Gran Holiday Park’s visitors would continue to be negatively impacted upon”.

The report said: “To control odour, the applicant advises that the air from the existing system will be able to be passed through the carbon filter (odour abatement system) contained in the shipping container at times of extraordinary high odour.

“Air from the new line will have no specific odour abatement.”

Further objections from neighbours included concerns around noise, and the visual impact of a taller chimney.

It was proposed that the application be deferred to look into odour abatement technology and a carbon filter system, but the vote was lost.

County Coun Barrie Yates said: “To defer this again would be an injustice to the people that work there, and to the firm.”

County Coun Terry Aldridge also described the conditions within the plant as “awful”.

Following the discussions, the application was approved with conditions.

Permission was granted to amend the existing air extraction and filtration system, consisting of replacing a 16.6m chimney with a 25m one, three dust collectors, three fans, cyclones, ducting and relocating a container housing a carbon filter unit.

Today, America will finally find out who will lead it for the next five years.

For those planning to stay up and watch the results roll in tonight, here is what you need to know.

By the day’s end, more than 130 million Americans out of an eligible 225 million are expected to have cast ballots across the 50 states. But the voting system is nothing like the UK’s.

Instead, the election is determined by the mysterious Electoral College – a group of people known as “electors”, appointed by each party. Their total number is equal to the number of members in Congress – 535 – plus three electors from the District of Columbia. But the number in each state varies, depending on the size of its population.

As the largest state, California has 55 electoral college votes, while sparsely populated Wyoming and tiny Washington DC have only three each. So if Hillary Clinton were to win Wyoming, she will get all three electoral votes. The goal is to get to 270, which is just over half of 538.

All but two states – Maine and Nebraska – use a winner-takes-all system. So if you win the most votes in a state, you take all of its electoral college votes.

The drama is likely to unfold in swing states such as Arizona, Colorado, Ohio and Florida, where the election has been hardest fought.

The first polls close at about 11pm GMT in Kentucky and Indiana, home to Mr Trump’s running-mate Mike Pence. Voting in the crucial battlegrounds of Florida and Ohio closes soon after midnight.

Look out for Florida in particular: a Clinton win there would probably spell curtains for Mr Trump. If you are willing to believe the exit polls, you might even have a (relatively) early night.

Ms Clinton starts with an advantage in the Electoral College and she could afford to lose Ohio and Florida, but if she were to fall short in North Carolina and Pennsylvania, Mr Trump would probably succeed.

Safe Republican and Democratic states will probably declare their results early, but it could be well into tomorrow morning by the time the results become clear in swing states.

One thing to watch out for is voter turnout, particularly among Hispanic voters in places like Arizona, Florida and Nevada, and African-American voters in states like Ohio and North Carolina. If their numbers are low, it could pose trouble for Ms Clinton.

After Barack Obama won the past two elections comfortably, John McCain and Mitt Romney gave concession speeches at about 5am. But if neither Mr Trump nor Ms Clinton reaches the 270 mark, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives will decide the outcome – and we could end up with President Trump after all.

The Fylde coast’s bathing waters have been given a clean bill of health for the first time ever in the latest Government classifications.

In the annual Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) inspections Blackpool South was rated Excellent with Blackpool Central rated good and Blackpool North rated sufficient.

St Annes and St Annes North were both rated good as were Bispham, Cleveleys and Fleetwood.

It is the first time that all Fylde coast bathing waters have passed the tougher standards that were introduced last year, and proves a huge improvement in sea water quality across the region.

The results mean Blackpool is expected to retain it’s hard-earned Blue Flag status for Blackpool South, opposite the Pleasure Beach, with the waters rated excellent for a second successive year.

Other areas saw a marked improvement with Cleveleys upgraded from poor and Bispham and Blackpool Central bathing waters improved from sufficient.

Coun Fred Jackson, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member responsible for bathing waters, said: “I’m absolutely delighted at this year’s results, which means we should be able to retain the resort’s Blue Flag for a second year, as well as encouraging everybody who comes to the Fylde coast to swim and paddle in the sea.

“The improvement in our sea water over the last few years has been huge. Not only is that good for the town’s local economy but it also has big health and environmental benefits too.

“The turnaround in our fortunes hasn’t happened by chance but by close working with our partners, heavy investment from United Utilities and excellent work from local businesses and communities.

“Thank you to everybody who has helped to improve our water quality. From picking up after your dog’s mess to not putting the wrong thing down the toilet, it all makes a difference.”

The classifications are the result of a remarkable turnaround for the resort’s beaches, where heavy investment coupled alongside work with businesses, communities and public sector partners has contributed to making sure the town has a coastline to be proud of.

Since 2011 the Fylde Peninsula Water Management Partnership, made up of public and private sector companies, has worked to increase investment in the area’s sewer network, as well as creating teams of volunteers and businesses to look after the quality of the Fylde Coast’s seas.

At the same time, the Turning Tides partnership in the North West is creating bathing waters that the region can be proud of by working with key local authorities across the region, along with environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, United Utilities, Environment Agency and the National Farmers Union.

Since its inception in 2012, the partnership has helped reduce the impact of pollution in our sea water from inland, coastal and river sources, protecting bathing water quality and helping to sustain seaside economies.

In 1988, only 18 per cent of the North West’s bathing waters met minimum standards for cleanliness. This year, all 31 bathing water sites in the North West have passed the tough new standards.

And improvements in Cleveleys, Fleetwood and St Annes show Blackpool is not the only town to benefit.

Coun Roger Berry, Cabinet member with responsibility for bathing waters at Wyre Council, said: “This is really good news for Wyre and the whole Fylde Coast. Fleetwood and Cleveleys are rated as good which, combined with three Seaside Awards for clean beaches, means our coast is an attractive and enjoyable place to visit.

“This has been achieved by joint working with our partners, our staff and our residents and I would like to thank those who took part in beach clean ups throughout the year.”

Coun Ben Aitken, Chairman of the Environment, Health and Housing Committee at Fylde Council, said: “It is fantastic that all eight Fylde bathing waters have passed this year. We’re always striving to ensure the quality of the bathing waters is the best it could possibly be with regular monitoring. With the introduction of new technologies taking place we expect our results to go from strength to strength.”

United Utilities has invested more than £600m along the Fylde Coast on schemes to capture and treat wastewater since the early 1990s. Most recently, this included a huge storage tunnel system at Preston to improve the Ribble Estuary.

The water company is carrying out a further £100m worth of infrastructure improvements across the Fylde coast, including the storm water storage tank and new outfall pipe at Anchorsholme Park.

Sarah Jenner, United Utilities’ Environmental Strategy Manager said: “It’s fantastic news that all designated bathing waters on the Fylde coast have met tough new standards this year.

“We’re continuing to invest in major infrastructure projects that contribute to cleaner seas and beaches. Our storm water detention tank at Anchorsholme Park and Harrowside outfall pipe were both up and running throughout the most recent bathing water season – helping to reduce sewer overflows during storm conditions. And there is more investment to come in 2017.

“Creating a cleaner coastline is essential for the regional economy and the environment, and we’re proud to play our part.”

The ratings are based on up to four years’ worth of samples, taken by the Environment Agency, with bathing waters classified as excellent, good, sufficient or poor.

Sir James Bevan Chief Executive of the Environment Agency said: “Water quality at beaches has improved again this year, over 98% passed the high standards and there are 287 Excellent English beaches.

“The Environment Agency has led successful work to protect people, tourism and the environment. We will continue to ensure bathing waters are maintained and improved further, so we need partners and the public to work with us to reduce pollution.

“We encourage all beach-goers to check water quality advice, this is available at every bathing beach and on our Bathing Water Data website.”

For some, having Trump at the helm of the USA is a frightening thought.

Outgoing President Barack Obama has said he is “uniquely unqualified”. But he does find support in some quarters. Trump is an “agent for change,” according to Nigel Farage.

Trump in many ways is a unique presidential candidate. No career politician, he is a businessman – his wealth is estimated at £3.7bn (£2.96 billion) according to Forbes – who has dabbled in reality TV and has not an ounce of political experience. But this doesn’t mean his run in office, if elected, would be a disaster.

Trump will find it hard to make good on the various controversial and divisive visions for the US he has set out, including the now infamous Mexican wall.

Limited powers

That’s because although presidential powers have been expanding, if elected, Trump, like those before him, will encounter many limitations in bringing about change. He will be able to make treaties (official agreements with other nations), but only if two-thirds of senators agree.

This is according to Article II of the US Constitution, which sets out presidential powers. However he would be able to make executive agreements with foreign governments without congress weighing in.

He could break international agreements such as the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate accords, and he would have control over the US nuclear arsenal. There could be one hell of a stink from Congress though, and if there wasn’t public support for his policies, and if there is enough of an outcry, they may still not happen.

Trump can’t make laws – these have to be agreed in the House of Representatives and the Senate – but he can veto bills. Ultimately this can be overridden by Congress. He can’t raise or lower taxes without Congressional approval.

He has to fund things according to what Congress has approved. So if things need funding, he’s going to have to convince Congress.

What would he bring to the table?

Laws and bills aside, there’s plenty Trump could bring to the Oval Office desk that voters find appealing. He wants to hold Washington to account – his whole campaign has been riding the anti-Establishment wave.

This is attractive to voters because they believe a rich businessman will be impervious to corruption.

Thomas Leeper, an assistant professor in Political Behaviour at LSE, has previously told our sister paper i: “He is able to work on that [anti-Establishment] theme effectively because he can claim that he is a very successful businessman and therefore bring skills and experience that are useful potentially in changing Washington.”

Business

To those in Trump’s inner circle, business and the classic skills associated with being in the industry are his strengths.

His adviser Anthony Scaramucci recently told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that after the media has gone “bonkers crazy” over Trump’s election win, “they’re going to find… he’s a deal maker, negotiator”.

“He’ll bring a magnanimous side to his personality out that will shock everybody.”

Surrounded by ‘the right people’

High on Trump’s agenda will be to “cut a deal” with the Democrats and discuss with international allies how they can have a better relationship, says Scaramucci, adding: “This is a very, very good man and this is a guy that can run the country because he’ll surround himself with the right people.”

One international ally keeping a close eye on the race for the White House is the largest foreign investor in the US: the UK.

Naturally the UK has a vested interest in keeping the “economic special relationship” between both of the countries alive and John Dickerman, the CBI head of the US, says the industry finds both Trump and Clinton’s commitment to “building on, and developing, this unique political and trading partnership” encouraging.

Running a business and running a superpower are two different things. However, one would hope that Trump’s grand claims about his business empire – some of which have been contested – mean he is a man who understands the economy.

His vision to create a “dynamic booming economy that will create 25 million new jobs over the next decade” should be welcomed if it’s deliverable.

International relations

US presidents tend to have more control over foreign policy than domestic policy. And Trump plans to apply his business skills to international relations by taking a more transactional approach.

He wants to make sure the US benefits from its international alliances. This attitude is most summed up by his frustrations over the military alliance Nato – a Cold War-era agreement between nations to help one another if one comes under attack – saying the US cannot afford to pay for countries in Europe without compensation.

But Trump is not the only one to vent about Nato. The alliance requires members to spend two per cent GDP on defence and in March, outgoing US President Barack Obama called on the then UK Prime Minister David Cameron to ensure the UK paid “its fair share” on defence.

Trump has suggested he will rethink the US’s relationship with Nato, which has been worrying for some including Clinton, who said pulling out could make America less safe. But Labour’s former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon suggests it’s all talk.

“I don’t think that Trump will necessarily cut off ties with Nato. The rhetoric of a candidate is not necessarily carried through to the Oval Office.”

Turn up for the books

“What a candidate is like as a candidate is not a reliable guide to what they are like as a US president,” says Hoon. He cites Ronald Reagan who was viewed critically before being regarded as one of the great presidents.

Michael Cullinane, a reader in US History at Northumbria University, shares the widespread scepticism over whether Trump will make a successful president.

“The only way Trump could make a success of his presidency is by entirely remaking his images, softening his rhetoric, seeking compromise and bi-partisanship, and finding a way to stay on message,” he told i.

“If Trump was less Trump, and managed to find a way of harnessing his populist appeal in a socially responsible way, he could surprise those Americans that refuse to vote for him,” he adds.

The 2016 US election campaign has been a turn up for the books. It has been dogged with insults, threats, sexism, sexual assault allegations, deliveries of mysterious white powder, unlikely allies, likely allies, walls, u-turns, pussy-bow blouses, vote-rigging allegations, video tape leaks, email leaks and FBI investigations. We never thought this would happen on the campaign trail. And we don’t know what Trump will be like in the White House.

Lancashire was today welcomed into the Northern Powerhouse “family” after the signing of a landmark agreement.

In a major leap forward for the county’s economic fortunes, the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership signed up to officially become a Northern Powerhouse partner.

At an event held at Burnley FC’s Turf Moor stadium, Northern Powerhouse Minister Andrew Percy called on other businesses to pledge their support to the Northern Powerhouse to promote jobs, growth and prosperity across the region.

It comes as new figures today show that across the 
north, nine Enterprise Zones have attracted £1.3bn of private sector investment over the past four years and around 9,000 jobs.

Lancashire’s Enterprise Zones are sited at Samlesbury and Warton (next to BAE Systems sites), Thornton and at Blackpool Airport.

Mr Percy said he would ensure Lancashire’s voice would be heard in Westminster.

And he urged more businesses and organisations to sign up to the Powerhouse partnership.

The LEP is the first Enterprise Partnership in the country to sign up.

Mr Percy said in Burnley: “Building the Northern Powerhouse is central to our plans to create an economy that works for everyone.

“We’re backing the North with the investment and powers it needs to fulfil its huge untapped potential and I’m pleased to see businesses here, working alongside the Lancashire LEP, are pledging their support.

“Today’s figures show that Northern Powerhouse Enterprise Zones are attracting the skilled workers businesses need to help them take on the world with an extra 800 jobs in just three months – and with eight more zones due to open for business by 2017, long may that continue.”

Edwin Booth, chairman of the Lancashire LEP said: “The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership is delighted to be the first LEP in the country to confirm its position as an official Northern Powerhouse partner and to play a full and active role in the Powerhouse initiative.

“We wanted to mark this occasion by inviting the Minister to Lancashire so he can see for himself the continuing, credible progress of the Lancashire LEP and partners are making across a wide range of sectors and markets.”

By becoming a Northern Powerhouse Partner, Lancashire LEP has joined more than 30 other firms who have signed up by pledging their support.

This network champions
the north’s strengths, as well as promoting jobs and 
growth.

With record investments in transport, strong support for science and infrastructure schemes, and more than £2.8bn invested into locally determined projects through Growth Deals – the north is thriving.

Enterprise Zones offer world-class infrastructure alongside financial incentives to help businesses grow.

Businesses moving to an Enterprise Zones also benefit from a range of tax breaks 
and local support, such as simplified planning, to help them grow – including business 
rate discounts worth up to £275,000 per business over five years.

Due to their success the government established five new Zones in the north in April, with three more due to start in April 2017, bringing the region’s total to 17.

Two of the new zones created this year are at Blackpool Airport and Hillhouse in Thornton.

Today at a ceremony in Blackpool, the Minister was signing a Memorandum of Understanding with local partners to help accelerate development of the new zones.

More than 400 new jobs have been created at the Blackpool Airport and Hillhouse Thornton enterprise zones – and hundreds more are in the pipeline.

The Fylde coast is set for business take off, according to Northern Powerhouse Minister Andrew Percy, who spoke of his hopes for the sites, as he signed a memorandum of understanding to officially launch them.

After addressing more than 200 Lancashire business leaders and stakeholders from across the county at a Lancashire Enterprise Partnership conference in Burnley he visited Blackpool Airport to sign the memorandum which officially launches the two sites.

Enterprise zone status offers businesses huge incentives to move their operation to the sites at Squires Gate and the former ICI site on the banks of the Wyre.

Rob Green, from the Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Economic Development Company, charged with the masterminding of the two zones, said since their launch in April they had already created 400 jobs and 25 new businesses have relocated to the Blackpool site alone.

The first to move in , hi-tech springs maker Force Technology, started with three people and now has 20, with a view to going on to create 150 in coming years.

He said the Squires Gate business park development had stalled, due to road access issues and the state of the economy in recent years but as soon as the enterprise zone status was announced interest rocketed.

He said: “It is a great start but there is a lot more work to be done to realise the potential.”

Minister Andrew Percy said: “Enterprise Zones are very attractive to businesses.

“Lancashire has four and it is absolutely vital that they are all working together under one brand. That is vital for international investors.”

Asked whether the creation of the zones would simply mean the displacement of jobs from elsewhere in the region, he said that was not the case in his experience.

He said: “If that was the case we would not have seen the increase in employment that we have today from the existing zone in the North.”

Today, the Government announced new figures showing that across the North, nine Enterprise Zones have attracted £1.3bn of private sector investment over the past four years and around 9,000 jobs.

“Today’s figures show that Northern Powerhouse Enterprise Zones are attracting the skilled workers businesses need to help them take on the world with an extra 800 jobs in just three months – and with eight more zones due to open for business by 2017, long may that continue.

“Lancashire, and Blackpool and Hillhouse in particular, have this extraordinary potential to create jobs and boost the economy.”

At the Conference in Burnley, he heard about the untied message that the county was selling to the rest of the country and the world about its potential for industry and innovation.

He gave an update on progress regarding the Northern Powerhouse initiative and highlighted the key role Lancashire can play in helping to boost the economic prosperity of the whole of the North.

He said it was not a case of Lancashire fighting the big cities of Manchester and Liverpool, but rather the county playing its part in driving the powerhouse, with all the industry it can offer.

He said: “Healthy local rivalry is fine but people need to change their point of reference.

“A successful Lancashire is good for Manchester and Merseyside and vice versa.”

He was joined on the tour by Blackpool Council leader Simon Blackburn, who is also chairman of the shadow Lancashire Combined Authority, as well as Edwin Booth, chairman of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, and Jennifer Mein, leader of Lancashire County Council.

They shared the latest details on the proposed Combined Authority, and discussed the major strategic and economic priorities, opportunities and challenges which Lancashire faces.

The conference also saw the Lancashire LEP become the first Enterprise Partnership in the country to sign-up to the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.

This means the LEP will join a diverse range of companies and organisations who have formally committed to work with government to help the North achieve its full potential, including generating new jobs and securing more investment for the whole of the Northern region.

The minister said the Government was still fully committed to the project and said: “Building the Northern Powerhouse is central to our plans to create an economy that works for everyone.

“We’re backing the North with the investment and powers it needs to fulfil its huge untapped potential and I’m pleased to see businesses here, working alongside the Lancashire LEP, are pledging their support.”

Coun Simon Blackburn said the signing of the memorandum to put the official stamp on the two enterprise zones was one of the biggest steps to secure the future of the coast’s economy for generations to come.

He said: “This is hugely significant.

“We have had an opportunity today to showcase everything fantastic about Lancashire and the Fylde coast that Lancashire people like me and the readers of The Gazette already know about.

“We demonstrated that to the minister, top civil servants and the private sector.

“This is a huge opportunity for growth not least in Blackpool and the surrounding area.

“The enterprise zone has already created around 400 jobs and we look to create 3,000 over the lifetime of the project.

“Having that dual offer of the aviation and energy sectors with the airport right next to them presents a fantastic opportunity for growth and jobs in the future.”

But he added that it was key that Lancashire presents a united front to play a leading role in the Northern Powerhouse and that would include having an elected mayor to unlock Government funding worth up to £1bn.

Edwin Booth, chairman of the Lancashire LEP, said: “The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership is delighted to be the first LEP in the country to confirm its position as an official Northern Powerhouse partner and to play a full and active role in the Powerhouse initiative.

“We wanted to take mark this occasion by inviting the Minister to Lancashire so he can see for himself the continuing, credible progress of the Lancashire LEP and partners are making across a wide range of sectors and markets.

“We also wanted to use the Minister’s visit to mark the launch of the Lancashire narrative, a series of clear, engaging messages and themes which capture Lancashire’s world-class offer.

“The narrative, which has been shaped and driven by the people and businesses of Lancashire itself, is designed to give all partners and stakeholders a succinct, distinctive and compelling Lancashire story which can be used to promote the county’s assets, celebrate its successes, and highlight its investment potential at every possible opportunity.”

The minister was given a tour of the construction site where Blackpool and The Fylde College’s £9.8m Energy College is being built.

Daryl Platt, Executive Director of Commercial Development at Blackpool and The Fylde College, said: “We estimate that the college will safeguard and create 3,180 jobs and have 1,000 students.

“It is due to open in September 2017 and will have some of the most advanced training facilities.” He said it would mainly cater for the renewable energy sector but would also be the centre for onshore oil and gas.

He said that anyone wanting to work in that industry had to have HSE training before they can step on site so the college was hoping to be the main source for that.

He said: “Currently for the off shore industry we train tens of thousands of people a year.”

Coun Peter Gibson, leader of Wyre Council said the potential for the Hillhouse site with its focus on hi-tech chemicals, polymers and energy was on an international scale.

He said: “We have had two delegations from China and are arranging two more coming up.

“They are looking at the opportunities for a power station on the Hillhouse site.”

Arran Cameron, from Hillhouse site owners NPL Group ,said that interest in the site had galvanised since the announcement of the enterprise zone status.

He said: “Interest has grown 10 fold since the announcement. It is a huge success story in such a short space of time.”

But he added that support for infrastructure work was vital and that although work to improve the A585 was under way more was needed and they would like to see an increase in urgency.

It might be time to don your best teddy boy quiff or dig out your bobby socks as Dreamboats and Petticoats comes to Blackpool Winter Gardens next year.

The West-End sell-out sensation is inspired by the smash hit multi-million selling albums Dreamboats and Petticoats One, Two, Three, Four and Five.

It will run at the Opera House from Monday, April 24 to Saturday, April 30.

In 1961, emotions run high as young musicians Norman and Bobby compete to win a national song writing competition - and, more importantly, the attention of the gorgeous Sue.

But when Bobby discovers that shy Laura is no slouch on the piano, love and rock ‘n’ roll fame beckons.

Produced by Bill Kenwright, the hit musical features some of the greatest songs of the Rock ‘n’ Roll era.

It includes classic tracks such as Let’s Dance, Shaking All Over, Bobby’s Girl, Little Town Flirt, Only Sixteen, Runaround Sue, Great Pretender, Let’s Twist Again and many more.

Winter Gardens Managing Director Michael Williams said: “Dreamboats and Petticoats is a fantastic show to welcome to the Winter Gardens next year.

“This is one of the ultimate feel-good shows and is guaranteed to get audiences up on their feet and dancing in the aisles.

“This may be the music of the 50s and 60s but Dreamboats has a wide appeal and whether you want to reminisce about a bygone era or you are hearing this music for the first time, you are certain of having a great time.”

Tickets, priced from £17, go on sale at 10am Friday, November 11.

For more information and to buy tickets go to www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk.

As the drama of a looming Brexit takes another dramatic turn in the High Courts, over in Spain the sun is shining.

It shines pretty much every day in southern Andalucia, any pesky clouds soon chased away, any unexpected rain welcomed with an air of surprise.

Over there, and with Spain home to an estimated 800,000 ex-pat Brits, you would expect panic or at least a repressed worry to be permeating the air.

After all, the ramifications for Brits abroad are unclear under Brexit.

This should be concerning both for them and the Spanish who benefit hugely from the constant influx of cash from middle-aged to retirement age adventurers who relocate – and holiday home investors.

I travelled over with a family member to explore property, at possibly the worst ever time with the pound’s value against the Euro plummeting and for no explicable reason, house prices on the rise.

Over there, the estate agents – mostly British, Spanish speaking and assimilated into a multi-cultural society – seem pretty unconcerned by Britain’s looming exit from the European Union.

They admit buyers are thinking about Brexit, but with volumes of house sales and prices actually rising since the vote, they are bullish about the future.

This situation works for both countries and they see no real reason it won’t post exit.

Agents talk of positivity within the ex-pat community, admitting that many even voted for Brexit.

Why? I asked.

They are against immigration into Britain, they want to protect the fair shores of their homeland from incomers, the irony of which appeared to have escaped some of them.

I also spoke to many residents selling their homes.

Their stories were all too familiar.

Many relocated 13 or 14 years ago in the boom and now, facing their twilight years and, in some cases, serious illness, were moving back home to be near children and grandparents.

The healthcare system is excellent in Spain, that is not the issue.

They have loved their adventure.

Not one mentioned Brexit, it is merely a pesky fly in the ointment of an endless summer for Brits indulging in their own personal series of ‘House in the Sun’.

Until the storms begin.

Single mums in Fleetwood have hit out after a benefits scandal left them – and thousands of low paid workers across the country – in danger of losing their homes.

Fleetwood MP Cat Smith has demanded the Government backs up its decision to ensure there will be no repeat of the Concentrix Tax Credit fiasco, which saw claims frozen or rejected due to shocking mix-ups over personal details.

This week, low-paid mums in the town spoke of their own harrowing experiences with US firm Concentrix.

Self employed nail technician Mary Stirzaker, 48, of Shakespeare Road, said: “I thought I would lose my home when they froze my payments.

“I couldn’t understand why they had done it.

“I had to take out a loan which I am still paying back.”

Another Fleetwood mum, who works as a teaching assistant, was even falsely accused of cohabiting with another woman in a lesbian relationship after a bizarre mix-up of addresses, and went six weeks without her vital weekly payments.

Their cases were only addressed after they sought help from Ms Smith, their MP.

After an uproar following a string of inaccurate details about the claimants, Her Majesty’s Revenues and Customs (HMRC) chief executive Jon Thompson told a committee in Parliament last week that tax credits claimants would never again have to deal with a private company.

Mr Thompson told the Treasury Committee HMRC will no longer look for a third party to help it with the tax credit system.

Concentrix, which was hoped to save the government £1 billion by reducing tax credit fraud and overpayment, had its contract terminated in September.

Ms Smith, the MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood, said: “I have been shocked by the level of mistakes being made locally in Fleetwood and it’s ordinary working families that are really losing out, unfairly.

“I’m being increasingly-contacted by constituents who have been badly affected. So I’ve demanded straight answers for the people of Lancaster and Fleetwood.

“While I welcome that HMRC has finally taken action in announcing that the Concentrix contract will not be renewed after pressure from the public, it is regrettable that it has taken so long to reach this decision.”

Mrs Stirzaker, a mum of five who has two dependents still living at home, said: “The Tax Credits pay for my mortgage and the utility bills and my job pays for everything else.

“But when I separated from my husband and the beginning of the year, the payments stopped when I told the HMRC of a change of circumstances.

“I spent five weeks trying to get to the bottom of that and it was only through the help of Cat Smith’s team that I got it sorted out.

“But I still had more trouble with them and I had to take out a loan.

“I think it is diabolical and if I hadn’t known about going to the MP I don’t know what I would have done.”

Another Fleetwood claimant was a 31-year-old single mother-of two, who works as a teaching assistant in Fleetwood.

She is paid £167 a week to help cover her mortgage and bills, but for six weeks between August and October she had no payments after her eligibility suddenly came into question.

She said; “It was a nightmare. They kept sending my payments to another woman at the wrong address and eventually they told me I was cohabiting with her at my address, which was totally wrong.

“For six weeks I had no payments at all and I got absolutely nowhere when I tried to phone them. I was passed from one number to another.

“The only way I survived was by having a supportive family who bailed me out.

“Now that I’ve finally got my payments, back-dated, I am paying my parents back.

“I only got it all sorted through Cat Smith.

“It is an absolute disgrace.”

Mr Thompson was told by MPs HMRC should consider launching its own internal investigation, but he replied his priority was sorting out customers who had lost money.

But the National Audit Office has also indicated it will investigate the contract between Concentrix and the revenue-gathering body.

A car has smashed into the front of two homes in Fleetwood.

The incident happened today at around 2.15pm in Belmont Avenue.

A silver-grey Audi A3 collided with the front doors of two terraced houses causing significant damage to the building and vehicle.

Both front doors have caved in and brickwork between the two houses has been smashed.

The front of the Audi has also sustained significant damage.

Fire crews and police attended the scene.

At least one person was seen running from the car.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service sent two fire appliances from Fleetwood to the scene.

Crews assisted in removing the car from the property and members of the urban search and rescue team made the building safe.

A building inspector has visited the homes to survey the damage.

Lancashire Police confirmed a quantity of what is suspected to be cannabis had been found inside the crashed car.

A 37-year-old man from Fleetwood was arrested on Clifton Road at around 3.10pm on suspicion of possession of a drug of class B and is in police custody.

Belmont Road and Park Avenue were closed as a result of the incident.

The Audi has been recovered.