NEW research has shown a sharp spike in insurance claims for mobiles and tablets as burglars increasingly target next generation devices.

Figures show such items now account for around a fifth (19 per cent) of all insurance claims.

By contrast, claims for larger devices such as TVs and laptops have fallen by a third to 13 per cent, indicating a clear change in tack from burglars.

Bicycles remain by far the most stolen item, constituting 17 per cent of all claims.

The research highlighted the need for households to be more vigilant as winter approaches, with a fifth of all claims (19 per cent) occurring in January and February.

Top 10 items favoured by burglars (and percentage of total insurance claims):

1. Bicycles - 17 per cent

2. Mobile Phones - 11 per cent

3. Power tools - 10 per cent

4. Laptops - 10 per cent

5. Tablets - 9 per cent

6. Cameras - 8 per cent

7. Golf equipment - 7 per cent

8. Gardening tools - 7 per cent

9. Audio equipment - 5 per cent

10. TVs - 3 per cent

Here are six top tips to help keep your belongings safe:

Tablets and phones now often come with security features that allow users to track their device. Ensure this is turned on as it will help police locate your device should it be stolen. If you are burgled, also call your contract provider immediately and have the line and phone blocked.

Try not to leave packaging for new expensive goods outside your home. It is better to take it to a public recycling bin, as this can attract burglars.

If you leave the house empty for long periods of time, it may be worth investing in timed lights or just leaving an internal light on to deter burglars.

If you keep power tools or garden equipment in an outbuilding or shed, make sure the shed is locked and/or has security features such as an alarm or security light.

If you own a bicycle, make a note or take photographs of any frame numbers that may be present. This makes it easier for police to find and return your bicycle should it be stolen.

Keep receipts of any expensive electrical items, but do not keep them with items. Any unwanted receipts should be shredded.

WITH Fresher’s Week in full swing, new research from alcohol education charity Drinkaware finds that students in the North West want universities to do more to tackle drunken sexual harassment.

The research carried out by ICM for Drinkaware finds more than three quarters of students in the region think universities should take disciplinary action against perpetrators of drunken sexual harassment with over half wanting their university to campaign against it and 54 per cent saying there should be counselling for those affected.

Almost two in five said they had received inappropriate sexual comments or abuse or inappropriate sexual touching on a night out, usually in nightclubs, bars or pubs in the towns they live in while at university.

Almost two-fifths of those who experienced drunken sexual harassment said this type of behaviour happens most times or every time they go on a night out, leaving them feeling disgusted, angry and afraid. The research comes as Drinkaware’s “You wouldn’t sober, you shouldn’t drunk” campaign, aimed at tackling drunken sexual harassment, starts a second run.

I do like to discuss with you the inconsequential frustrations of life though, admittedly, I have been known to go off at the deep end.

This week, I was ready to share with you my rant of the week (I mean, seriously, how can crisp bags get any smaller?) when a favour was asked of me that exposed the deep running of my everyday shallows. In other words I was shallow-shamed.

By a chap who dresses exclusively in primary colours and leaps up and down singing about lollipops and sunshine.

He goes by the name of Mr Yipadeee.

Not having any children under the age of six (though my four nieces and nephews all fit into this category) I am perhaps not as familiar with the world of children’s television and entertainment as I might be.

I know Mr Yipadee better as Dean O’Brien, former local radio producer/presenter.

He is a dad of two (one of his daughters just a month old) who watched on TV the horrific scenes unfolding of fleeing Syrian child refugees - and then woke in the night and decided to do something concrete about it.

In just two weeks (which is some going) he persuaded many stars of children’s TV programmes to warm up their vocals and sing on his Sing-along for Syria album - plus Coronation Street star and mum-of-two Tina O’Brien who gave her time despite her starring live Corrie role this week.

Nobody has taken a penny for the album and when I was approached to help them publicise I was happy to volunteer my services.

Luckily (for everyone) my help was not required in the singing department though I am perfectly able to make a fair rendition of ‘wheels on the bus’ after half a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc.

Seriously though, Dean’s achievement is not to be underestimated and with a little help from his friends he now has the Sing-along for Syria album live to purchase on iTunes, plus a website where you can learn all about the stars.

I know a lot is asked of us these days but if you can find the pennies to buy the excellent album - every penny will go direct to Save the Children’s child refugee work.

{http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/sing-along-for-syria/id1042240454|You can buy the album direct from iTunes here}

Supermarket giant Asda has fired the latest shot in the petrol price war by cutting the price of unleaded petrol by two pence per litre.

The store says its new national price cap meaning that, unlike other retailers who work on average prices, drivers will pay no more than 105.7 per litre on unleaded while diesel remains at a national price cap of 107.7 per litre.

The supermarket says it is is the only retailer that has a national price cap at all 272 filling stations.

Andy Peake, Asda’s senior director for petrol, said: “We’re now seeing unleaded move back to its traditional place after two months of diesel being the cheapest fuel grade.

“This new drop means drivers across the country will pay no more than 105.7 per litre for unleaded.”

How fuel prices have changed:

{news/business/local-business/petrol-prices-reach-six-month-high-1-7317857|Petrol prices reach six-month high}

{news/business/local-business/petrol-could-fall-to-1-per-litre-in-supermarkets-price-war-1-7426863|Petrol could fall to £1 per litre in supermarket price war}

{news/local/price-cut-makes-diesel-cheaper-than-petrol-1-7367964|Price cut makes diesel cheaper than petrol}

The victim of a vicious racist attack in Blackpool that left him fearing for his life has spoken about the lasting impact hate crime can have.

Street musician Elavi Dowiewas attacked while working on Blackpool mPromenade last month.

His story came to light after an investigation revealed a 30 per cent rise in hate crimes in the county this year.

Hundreds are being committed across the Fylde coast – 1.064 across Lancashire in total

Campaigners and police have welcomed a surge in cases being reported as more victims have the confidence to come forward.

Experts say the latest hate crime figures are only the tip of the iceberg but praised the county’s pioneering work to tackle under-reporting.

More than 1,000 hate crimes – where victims were targeted for their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability – were recorded, a 36 per cent rise in just 12 months.

One victim today told how he thought he was going to die at the hands of racist thugs.

Street musician Elavi Dowie was attacked while he was working on Blackpool Promenade last month.

The former student, who moved to Blackpool for the summer season, said: “They started abusing me, telling me I was dressed like a tramp, and then the racial abuse started.”

He said the group swore at him and used racial slurs before turning violent.

“They just went crazy,” he added. “I was hit with my speaker, beaten around the head and my shirt was ripped off.

“I felt at the time I was fighting for my life – I still have nightmares about it.”

Now he works with several hate crime charities, including the Sophie Lancaster Foundation, set up in honour of the Lancashire teen who was murdered because of the way she dressed, to raise awareness.

In 2014, there were 294 racially motivated incidents alone on the Fylde coast, of which 215 were in Blackpool, a nine per cent increase on the previous year.

Of those incidents, 121 were classed as crimes – 83 of them in Blackpool.

Chief Insp Ian Mills, force lead for hate crime at Lancashire Police, said: “How many times might a person have been a victim of hate crime because they were different since they were born?

“The research around that says it be hundreds and hundreds of times.

“It can be a wide range of things from criminal assault through to harassment.”

Mr Dowie said he had experienced racist abuse many times before but said the physical attack was a “one-off”.

He agrees that under-reporting of hate crime is a serious problem.

He added: “People don’t report it because they don’t see what’s happened to them as a crime.

“They think they need that violent element for it to be a crime. But there is no low level crime.”

Campaigners say a lack of confidence in the police to investigate can also mean many victims stay silent.

But Stephen Brookes, coordinator for the Disability Hate Crime Network and ambassador for Disability Rights UK, said Lancashire is leading the way in helping to break down those barriers.

Third-party reporting centres have been set up across the county to offer independent support.

Home Office guidance highlights the work around disability hate crime in Blackpool as a shining example of how it can increase the number of incidents being reported.

Mr Brookes, who lives in Blackpool, said: “What we do in Lancashire is heavily regarded nationally as best practice.

“We get disabled people who are volunteers, who are trained in the process of taking reports.

“It gives them confidence, that somebody disabled is listening to somebody disabled.”

Since he started working to support victims of disability hate crime, he said, the number of reports nationally has soared from under 100 a year to around 1,000.

As well as supporting victims, police are working to tackle the causes of hate crime, in part by helping to educate offenders.

A man has made his first appearance at court accused of sending a 15-year-old girl indecent videos.

Anthony Haveley, 24, of St John’s Avenue, Pilling, faces two charges of causing the teenage girl to look at an image of a person engaging in sexual activity.

He is also accused of possessing an indecent picture of the girl.

The offences are said to have taken place at Blackpool between April and September last year.

Pam Smith, prosecuting, asked for the case to be heard at crown court.

Defence lawyer, Patrick Nelligan, said his client would not indicate pleas to the offences at that stage.

Haveley was bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court on October 28 by Blackpool Magistrates’ Court. He must not access any social media sites as a condition of his bail.

Rising numbers of parents are lodging appeals after their children were denied places at a chosen school, with tens of thousands submitted last year, figures show.

In total, 54,600 cases were lodged for consideration in 2014/15, up 8% on the year before. More than a fifth of those heard by a panel were decided in favour of mothers and fathers.

The Department for Education insisted the proportion of appeals heard and upheld is stable amid increasing demand for places, and shows the system is working well.

Many areas of England, particularly major towns and cities, are facing an intense squeeze on places - particularly at primary school level - in part due to a rising birth rate.

A breakdown of the latest government statistics show that, of the appeals submitted over entry to England’s state schools last year, more were concerned with primary school places than secondary.

In total, there were 32,160 appeals over infant and primary schools, while 22,440 related to secondaries.

There was also an increase in cases heard, with 40,014 cases overall taken in front of an appeals panel - up from 36,967 in 2013/14.

More than 9,000 (22.8%) were decided in favour of parents, up marginally from 22.7% the year before.

The data covers both local council-run schools and academies, which are not under local authority control.

A DfE spokesman said: “The fact that the proportion of appeals heard and upheld remains stable in the face of rising demand for school places shows the admissions system is working well.”

All parents have the right to appeal if a school they applied to refuses their child a place.

The current system allows parents to argue that schools broke official admissions rules or there are “compelling” extra reasons why their son or daughter deserves a place.

Matt Richards, at schoolappeals.com, said: “With increased awareness through social and traditional media, coupled with improved and accessible guidance and professional support available to parents, those that are unhappy with the school offered to them are challenging the decision.

“Chances of success for those that prepare properly are also reasonable and an appeal is always well worth considering.”

Figures published earlier this year showed fewer youngsters got their first choice of secondary school this year, with around one in six missing out.

Overall, 84.2% of 11-year-olds got their top preference, according to DfE figures, meaning that around 15.8% did not. Last year, 85.2% got their first pick.

The figures also showed 87.8% of children were offered their first choice of primary school, compared to 87.7% in 2014.

Have you struggled to get your child into the school of your choice? Did you appeal?

If you’re planning to get out and about on the region’s roads between Monday, September 28th, and Sunday, October 4th, here’s a list of planned and on-going roadworks you’ll need to know about.

Highways England has issued the following summary of planned new and ongoing road improvements but stress it could be subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances.

“All our improvement work is carried out with the aim of causing as little disruption as possible,” said a spokesman.

M56 Junction 11 Daresbury

A major project is taking place to tackle congestion at junction 11 of the M56 near Daresbury. Signed diversions will be in place when roads are closed.

M6 Junction 24 and 25 Ashton and Bryn

A £945,000 scheme to resurface sections of the main carriageway and slip roads around these junctions has begun and will be completed by Tuesday, October 6th. All the work is overnight – between 9pm and 6am – involving single slip road closures (junction 24 slip roads and the junction 25 southbound entry slip road) and lane closures on the main carriageway.

M6 Junction 38 Brough to Junction 39 Shap

Work to resurface sections of the southbound carriageway near Tebay Services started last Monday. Contractors will also install new reflective road studs, replace road markings and carry out repairs to two bridges. Two lanes will be open to traffic during the day, between 6am and 8pm, and one lane overnight, between 8pm and 6am. The project is due to be completed by the end of October.

M60 Junction 8 Sale to M62 Junction 20 Rochdale

A major scheme is taking place to cut congestion and improve journey times on parts of the M60 and the M62 in Greater Manchester. The scheme will require some overnight closures affecting the full carriageway and slip roads, with a 50mph limit in place for the safety of workers and drivers. The project is due to be completed in autumn 2017

M62 Junction 10/M6 Junction 21a Croft Interchange

The exit slip roads from the westbound M62 onto the northbound M6, and from the eastbound M62 onto the southbound M6 will be closed overnight, between 8pm and 6am while repair work takes place on motorway bridges. Drivers will be able to follow signed diversion routes. Narrow lanes and a temporary 50mph speed limit will also be in place on the slip roads during the day. The scheme is due to be completed in December.

A5036 Litherland

A £1.7m. project to resurface the main road to the Port of Liverpool started in August. A 2.5 mile stretch of the A5036 is being resurfaced from the junction with the M57 and M58, known as Switch Island, to the junction with Hawthorne Road. All of the work will be carried out overnight to keep disruption to a minimum, and signed diversions will be in place when short stretches of the road are closed.

A55/A483 Roundabout, Chester

Work has now been largely completed with the junction fully-open to drivers. Some snagging work and installation of street lights remains, which will be carried out using overnight lane closures only.

A556 Knutsford to Bowdon

A £192m. project is being carried out to create a new dual carriageway linking the M56 to the M6 in Cheshire. A temporary 40mph speed limit is currently in place between Bucklow Hill and Bowdon, and the new dual carriageway is expected to open in winter 2016/17. The project entered a new phase of work last Monday with the following traffic management:

re of Cherry Tree Lane off the A556 for six months

Closure of junction 8 (a single slip road from the A556 onto the westbound M56) for four weeks for bridge works

Overnight closures of the A556 in both directions (week nights only) between Bucklow Hill and Bowdon View roundabout up to Friday (October 2nd.

A585 (Anchorsholme Lane)

Overnight work to resurface parts of the junction between the A585 and Anchorsholme Lane will be taking place between 9pm on Friday, October 2nd, and 6am on Saturday, October 3rd. New road markings will also be provided along with an additional speed limit sign to improve safety. Temporary traffic signals will be in place during the overnight work.

A585 Skippool to Singleton

Work begins on Monday, September 28th, on an 11 to 12-week scheme to improve drainage and paths along this section of the route. Work will take place around the clock but temporary traffic signals will only be used overnight. The project should be completed before December 18th.

A590 Lindal-in-Furness

Temporary traffic lights are in use on the A590, west of Lindal for maintenance work which should be completed by Monday, September 28th.

A595 (south of Workington)

Work to replace drainage and improve paths started at the beginning of September. between the junction with the A66 at Bridgefoot and further south at Winscales, and is due to be completed by Friday, October 16th. Work will be delivered using off-peak traffic signals between 9.30am and 3.30pm and 8pm and 6am each day.

A 21-year-old man from Thornton Cleveleys has been arrested on suspicion of indecent exposure, after a police appeal last week.

Officers asked the public to help identify a man seen seen touching himself inappropriately on a coastal path behind Rossall School, Fleetwood, on August 18.

The man was witnessed with his trousers down and continued touching himself as a woman walked by.

The man was arrested thanks to the public’s help and has been bailed pending further enquiries.

A man who had enjoyed a pleasant day said he suddenly snapped and became angry.

Stuart Bailey said he decided to go for a walk, but he took a knife and started headbutting a metal gate.

Bailey, 36, of Chatsworth Road, Fleetwood, pleaded guilty to possessing a blade in public.

He was bailed for sentence by District Judge Jeff Brailsford sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

Jim Mowbray, prosecuting, said police had a tip-off on September 8 and went to the port’s Princess Way where Bailey told officers he had a knife in his pocket.

Bailey said he had drunk four lagers, a bottle of wine and some vodka, but he was not drunk. He added he was on medication for anxiety.

Brett Chappell, defending, said: “He seemingly out of nowhere just snapped. Nothing took place to warrant his behaviour.”

Stargazers across the UK observed a blood red “supermoon” in the skies above Britain last night, and it was the first time in 30 years that a Supermoon and a total lunar eclipse happened on the same night.

If like us you weren’t able to stay up for the spectacle, you’ll be pleased to know that many amateur astronomers and photographers did.

Here is what they saw from around the UK.

George Orwell’s dystopian masterpiece 1984 has beaten Harry Potter to the top of a list of books that every student should read before leaving primary and secondary school.

And Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was the top choice for children to have read by the time they leave primary school.

The selection, from the Times Educational Supplement is dominated by classic literature and was chosen by 500 teachers.

Top 10 books that every student should read before leaving secondary school:

• Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

• Animal Farm by George Orwell

• Lord of the Flies by William Golding

• Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

• The Harry Potter series by J K Rowling

• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

• The Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger

• Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

And, top 10 books that every student should read before leaving primary school:

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

• Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian

• Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

• Matilda by Roald Dahl

• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson

• The Chronicles of Narnia by C S Lewis

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

• We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen

• Dogger by Shirley Hughes

• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

See the full {http://j.mp/1IDcbWu|top 100 books for primary school children|go to www.tes.co.uk}, and the {http://j.mp/1IDcrVeZ|top 100 for secondary school pupils|go to www.tes.co.uk} from The Times Education Supplement website.

The finalists for the 2015 Lancashire Tourism Awards have been announced – with a comprehensive shortlist ranging from big hotels to small family-run eateries, peaceful nature reserves to the vibrant music and dance festivals hosted in the county.

The businesses on the shortlist will now be invited to interviews with the awards judging panel.

Ruth Connor, Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire said: “The quality of applications for the tourism awards never fails to impress and this year the judges have a real challenge deciding on the winners in each category.

“Lancashire has seen consistent growth in visitor numbers over the last six years and these visitors are now spending more in the county, making a £3.68billion contribution to Lancashire’s economy.

“The visitor economy is vital to Lancashire’s success and each year the Lancashire Tourism Awards is our way of celebrating the huge effort and investment made by our industry colleagues across the board.

“I wish all the finalists luck in the next stage of the awards process and look forward to congratulating Lancashire’s best in class at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on 5 November.”

The full list is as follows;

2015 Lancashire Tourism Awards Finalists

B&B/Guest Accommodation Award

The Bromley, Blackpool

The Kings, Blackpool

The Millstone at Mellor

No 1 Crow Wood, Burnley

Holiday Park/ Holiday Village Award

Bay View Holiday Park, Carnforth

Claylands Park, Garstang

Sunset Park, Hambleton

Small Hotel Award

Bartle Hall Hotel, Preston

The Shireburn Arms, Clitheroe

The Villa Country House Hotel, Wrea Green

Large Hotel Award

Barton Grange Hotel, Preston

Best Western Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex, Blackburn

The Dalmeny Resort Hotel, Lytham St Annes

Elgin Hotel, Blackpool

The Imperial Hotel, Blackpool

Macdonald Kilhey Court Hotel, West Lancashire

Macdonald Tickled Trout Hotel, Preston

Wrightington Hotel & Country Club, West Lancashire

Self-Catering Holiday Award

Breck Apartments, Poulton Le Fylde

Brickhouse Farm Holiday Cottages, Hambleton

Queens Mansions, Burbage Holiday Lodge, Blackpool

Wolfen Mill Country Retreats, Chipping

Conference/Meeting Venue Award

Barton Grange Hotel, Preston

Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston

Macdonald Kilhey Court Hotel, West Lancashire

West Lancashire Investment Centre, Skelmersdale

Winter Gardens Blackpool

Wedding Venue Award

Bartle Hall Hotel, Preston

Barton Grange Hotel, Preston

Browsholme Hall and Tithe Barn, Clitheroe

The Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Preston

The Midland, Morecambe

Mitton Hall, Whalley

The Villa Country House Hotel, Wrea Green

West Tower Exclusive Venue, Ormskirk

Taste Lancashire Award

Aspect Bar and Bistro, Morecambe

The Bay Horse Inn, Lancaster

Bertram’s Restaurant, Burnley

The Fish House Fleetwood

La Locanda Ristorante Italiano, Gisburn

The Midland, Morecambe

Twelve Restaurant and Lounge Bar, Thornton

Tourism Pub Award

Assheton Arms, Clitheroe

The Cartford Inn, Little Eccleston

Eagle and Child, Ramsbottom

The Sparrowhawk, Burnley

Retail Experience Award

Cedar Farm, Mawdesley

Freeport Fleetwood

Oswaldtwistle Mills

Heskin Farmers Market & Craft Centre, Chorley

Whalley Warm & Dry Ltd Outdoor Clothing & Footwear Specialist, Whalley

Tourism Event Award

Blackpool Dance Festival

Chorley Flower Show

Countryside Comes to Town, Blackburn

The Dukes Park Show, Lancaster

Fleetwood Festival of Transport

Lancaster Music Festival

Lancashire Science Festival, Preston

The Lightpool Project, Blackpool

Light Up Lancaster

Lytham 1940s Wartime Festival 2015

Lytham Festival

Tour of Britain Stage Two, Clitheroe to Colne

Small Visitor Attraction Award

Browsholme Hall, Clitheroe

Carnforth Station Heritage Centre

The Grand Theatre, Blackpool

Leighton Hall, Carnforth

St Annes Beach Huts, Lytham St Annes

The Woodland Spa, Burnley

Large Visitor Attraction Award

Blackpool Zoo, Blackpool

Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston

Farmer Ted’s Farm Park, Ormskirk

Oswaldtwistle Mills

Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool

Cultural Venue/Organisation Award

The Dukes, Lancaster

The Grand Theatre, Blackpool

Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool

Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston

The Whitaker Museum + Art Gallery, Rossendale

Winter Gardens Blackpool

Sustainable Tourism Award

Best Western Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex, Blackburn

Browsholme Hall, Clitheroe

Mrs Dowsons, Clayton-le-Dale

Access for All Award

Brickhouse Farm Holiday Cottages, Hambleton

Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool

Wheels for All, Lancashire

Luxury Experience Award

Breck Apartments, Blackpool

Lady Teal, Burnley

The Woodland Spa, Burnley

Visitor Experience Award

Bay Cycle Way, Morecambe

Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours

Blackpool Resort Pass

Farmaggedon, Ormskirk

Footgolf at Best Western Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex, Blackburn

Customer Service Award

Barton Grange Hotel, Preston

Best Western Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex, Blackburn

Go Ape Rivington

Lancaster and Morecambe Visitor Information Centres

Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool

VisitBlackpool Tourist Information Centre

Visit Garstang Centre

New Business Award

Aspinall Arms, Clitheroe

The Dearden Tea Rooms, Haslingden

Guild Promotions, Preston

The Higher Buck, Clitheroe

The Hunters, Preston

Best for Groups Award

Clifton Park Hotel, Lytham St Annes

Impact Blackpool

Leighton Hall, Carnforth

Oswaldtwistle Mills

POLICE have issued a warning after receiving reports of people trying to sell jewellery on the M6.

North West Motorway Police said they received several reports yesterday of people begging and trying to get cars to stop on the hard shoulder to buy jewellery between junction 26 at Orrell and junction 20 at Lymm interchange.

They tweeted: “We’re getting reports of people trying to sell jewellery. Beware this is a scam don’t stop, don’t hand money over ring us.”

Discount retailer Aldi is to move into online sales in the latest headache for more established rivals in the fiercely competitive grocery sector.

The firm said revenues in 2014 surged 31% to £6.89 billion though operating profits fell 4% to £260.3 million as it created more jobs and kept prices low.

It is accelerating store openings, with 65 sites due to open in the current year, up from 54 in 2014.

Aldi said it was planning to launch an ecommerce website to sell wines by the case from early next year, followed by non-food in the spring. Customers will be offered a home delivery option as well as collection from other locations.

The supermarket said the move “formed part of its long-term growth and investment strategy in the UK”.

Chief executive Matthew Barnes said Aldi was maintaining a price gap of at least 15% with rivals on an average basket of goods and offering high quality, driving customers to come back “time and time again”.

He added: “Our launch online is another exciting chapter in our story. This will enable us to introduce the Aldi brand and some of our best-selling, best-quality and best-value products to thousands more customers across the UK.”

Aldi and discount rival Lidl have seen surging sales in recent years, gnawing away at the market share of more established rivals Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons, prompting a ferocious price war that has hammered sales and profits at the big four.

The latest surge in Aldi’s sales represented an extra £31 million in sales revenue every week in 2014, it said.

German-owned Aldi, which opened its first UK store in 1990, said it had more than doubled sales in the past three years alone. It said its £2 billion balance sheet would underpin continued investment.

The retailer said it created 7,000 jobs last year, and currently employs 28,000.

It now operates 598 stores in the UK and said it remains on course to achieve its target of 1,000 by 2022, recruiting 35,000 more people.

Mr Barnes said: “The past 25 years has been an incredible journey for Aldi in the UK. During that time, the grocery market has changed beyond recognition - and changed for the better.

“At present, there are still 47% of households that don’t shop with us. We’re hugely excited about the enormous scope for growth over the next 25 years.”

Julie Palmer, partner at consultancy Begbies Traynor, said: “Today’s disappointing results show that even Aldi can’t escape the clutches of the ongoing supermarket price war.

“As its bigger rivals have committed to investing billions of pounds worth of price cuts over the next few years, Aldi has been forced to react in kind, causing its operating profit to fall by 4% last year, compared to stellar profits growth of 65% during 2013 and 124% in 2012.

“Still, the Big Four UK supermarkets could learn a lot from Aldi’s business model, which saw the group boost sales by 30% last year, as it continues to appeal to higher value middle-class shoppers.

“And with new online sales channels launching in 2016, Aldi adds yet another string to its bow that will be a major worry to the likes of Ocado, Sainsbury’s and Tesco, who have so far been leading the way when it comes to home delivery.”

Just two compensation claims have been paid out by council chiefs in the last year for damage caused to vehicles by potholes on Blackpool’s roads.

Figures released by the RAC Foundation show only three claims were made with Blackpool Council last year, with the two successful claims totalling £1,089.

Meanwhile, Lancashire County Council bosses have shelled out £36,000 in compensation for the same year, with almost £200,000 paid in the past three years.

Coun Fred Jackson, Blackpool Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for highways, said: “As everyone knows, we have invested heavily in our road network via Project 30.

“This has significantly upgraded the quality of our road surfaces which, in turn, will reduce the number of vehicle damage claims and personal injury claims which can be a significant strain on our ever diminishing resources.

“A lot of this money ends up in the pockets of solicitors who, sadly, now make an industry out of such claims.

“That is something that is now a fact of life so to be ahead of the game is absolutely vital and Blackpool is already feeling the benefits by being better protected.”

Over the three years since 2012/13, 17 successful claims have been made against Blackpool Council.

Blackpool ranks 195th in the list of local authorities, based on the number of claims made in 2014/15, compared with Lancashire which ranks 19th.

A total of 378 claims were made with Lancashire County Council in the last year, with 101 of those being successful.

County Coun John Fillis, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “Our highest priority is the safety of people using Lancashire’s roads.

“We’ve significantly reduced the amount paid out in legal claims as a result of damage to vehicles.

“Over the past few years, we’ve seen year-on-year reductions in the number of claims being made against the council, and the number of successful claims has reduced by 50 per cent in just two years.

“We introduced a new system in 2013 for dealing with problems on Lancashire’s roads, which fixes potholes more effectively and efficiently.

“Although we’re ranked 19th in this list, we’re the 12th largest highways authority out of the 207 in England, Scotland and Wales.

“We have a rigorous system to inspect the roads, pick up on any faults and carry out repairs. We’re doing everything we can to keep Lancashire’s roads in a safe condition.”

On Monday night the world ended. For 40 minutes anyway.

Then it started again.

And when I say the world I mean Facebook.

Yes those well paid folks at FB HQ had to halt their games of pool and foot massages and leap up wearing their brightly coloured casual attire to sort out the complete collapse of the network which saw both Facebook and Instagram stop working worldwide.

In desperate scenes reminiscent of when Take That broke up the first time and when they stopped making Wispas, folks across our planet were desperately jabbing their useless phones, rebooting theirlaptops and throwing tablets at the wall.

Why?

Because in some cases, they actually had to TALK to someone.

All was not lost though as Twitter - owned by different rich blokes probably in California - was still up and running which meant that for a glorious 2,400 seconds the social media world had to be summed up in 140 characters or less only - something appreciated greatly by journalists like myself.

Forced to precis complex issues in a sentence constantly, Twitter is manna to heaven for us and we suddenly had the social media world’s rapt attention for our pithy remarks.

Of course, the fact that the scenario is a very sad state of affairs goes without saying.

But how, over a period of about 10 years, have methods of communication changed so rapidly that the removal of a mechanism which required us to hashtag things, boast about our number of friends and say LOL a lot - became the only way in which we can spend time talking to our friends and loved ones?

In so many ways it is fantastic, but it makes you realise how we have also gone backwards.

In many ways picking up a device and actually hearing someone else’s voice is so much more idealogically modern than a typed message.

And as for meeting someone in actual person - it’s like going to the cinema and seeing human people appear on the screen - but in see, hear and feel 4G.

It is amazing what we can do these days eh?

Or we could just Tweet.

Aldi is withdrawing its Specially Selected Yogurts as some pots may contain hazelnut yogurt, which is not mentioned on the product label.

The Food Standards Agency has reported the product as a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to hazelnuts.

Product details

The names of the products are:

Specially Selected Scottish Luxury Yogurt, 150g

Specially Selected Canadian Blueberry Luxury Yogurt, 150g

Specially Selected Fudge and Cream Luxury Yogurt, 150g

The product code to watch out for is 64284 and the items have a ‘use by’ date of October 20th 2015

Aldi is advising customers: “If you have bought one of the above products and have an allergy to hazelnuts, do not eat it.

“Instead, return the product to the store from where it was bought for a full refund.”

Notices are being displayed in stores that were sent the yoghurts and Aldi is contacting allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall.

No other Aldi products are known to be affected.

A father has made his first appearance in court accused of hitting his son on the hand with a metal dumbbell bar.

Wayne Robinson, 53, of Lindel Road, Fleetwood, pleaded not guilty to assaulting his son in their home town on September 8 this year, Blackpool Magistrates Court was told.

An application for bail was considered by magistrates ahead of the case being adjourned.

Magistrates agreed to bail Robinson as long as he complies with the conditions he lives and sleeps at Lindel Road, Fleetwood and he has no contact with the complainant or goes within 100 metres of Chatsworth Avenue, Fleetwood.

Robinson was bailed until November 13 for trial when he will reappear at the Chapel Street based court.

Susanne Johnson FSB Chairman for Blackpool and Wyre

News of a record fine for a cold-calling company offering supposedly free solar panels this week is both welcome and a likely to be a concern to some businesses.

We have all at one time or another been subjected to phone calls from agencies or organisations offering us the world, to save us a fortune or sell us the 21st Century equivalent of Jack’s magic beans from the famed fairytale.

I know some people who now apply the two-second rule when answering the telephone. That is to say that if the other end of the phone is silent for more than two seconds when you answer, you are very likely awaiting the next available operator in a multi-landline outgoing system, and should not feel guilty about hanging up.

Making an example of one of these nuisance operators is a good way of firing a warning shot to others operating similar schemes.

The frustrating thing is that it tars genuine businesses who have legitimate customer lists with the same brush.

Perhaps a wider communications strategy is the way forward for businesses wanting to broaden their customer base.

Social media is a great way of small businesses being able to compete with the bigger players, a real leveller of the playing field, though we do sometimes need some help in knowing how to harness its true potential.

It seems an age too since we moved away from hard copy mailing communications to emailing.

It was free and quicker ... I say was, it still is of course, but emails are so easily deleted that many agencies are now exploring other means, even reverting to mailing customers.

We are less likely to not open a letter than we are to delete an email, unless it is blatantly unsolicited mail, which then puts the onus back on creative marketing!