Highways England have re-opened the lane on the M6 Southbound motorway between Junction 32 at the M55 Broughton Interchange and J31 the A59 Samlesbury that was closed due to surface water issues and flooding also caused problems on roads and railways across the county.

The Met Office have also issued a yellow weather warning about strong winds with gusts of up to 60mph expected to hit the North West between 2pm today and 3am tomorrow.

A spokesman for the Met Office said: “Southwesterly gales will become severe in exposed areas during Wednesday afternoon and evening.

“Gusts of 50-60 mph are likely over coasts and more exposed inland areas.

“The winds will veer westerly in the evening before easing from the west in the early hours of Thursday.

“Heavy, blustery showers or some longer spells of rain could also lead to some surface water flooding on the roads.

“Be aware of difficult driving conditions and the risk of some minor travel disruption on roads and to ferries.”

National Rail also said that trains from Lancaster towards Barrow-in-Furness and Leeds are unable to call at Carnforth due to a flood near Melling Tunnel.

They said a bus will run between Lancaster and Carnforth until the debris is removed.

Trains between Preston and Carlisle were also affected from around 12pm to just after 4pm due to flooding, whilst a train travelling between Preston and Manchester was sent back to Preston because of overhead wire problems at Wigan.

A spokesman for National Rail said that First TransPennine Express services between Manchester Airport and Glasgow Central and Edinburgh and Virgin Trains between London Euston and Glasgow Central and Edinburgh were impacted.

They said: “Flooding between Oxenholme Lake District and Penrith North Lakes caused delays to journeys between Preston and Carlisle.

“Buses replaced cancelled services between Preston and Carlisle.”

Elsewhere in the county Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service have been called out to rescue a woman from a car trapped in flood water.

At 11.37am one fire engine from Hest Bank was called to the incident on Hatlex Lane, Hest Bank and they managed to free her.

The fire service were also called to incidents involving flooding on Woodman Lane, in Cowan Bridge and in Leck, Shore Road, Carnforth, Borwick Lane, in Warton and in Borwick and Woodman Lane, Leck.

There were also reports of flood water going into people’s houses in Carnforth and Hornby and a number of readers have sent in pictures of flooding affecting Kirkby Road, Sands Lane and Main Street in Warton.

{http://www.lep.co.uk/news/local/breaking-flooding-causes-chaos-on-roads-1-7577314|More about how flooding is affecting roads in Preston here}

Blackpool’s 16-year-olds should be given a vote in the EU referendum, says North West MEP, Afzal Khan.

The Labour Member of the European Parliament is backing moves by the House of Lords in Westminster to give the vote to those “aged 16 or 17 on the date on which the referendum is to be held”.

Mr Khan said: “I strongly believe 16 and 17-year-olds should be allowed to vote in the EU referendum, and in all future elections – they can currently get married, pay tax, be a company director and even change their name, but they cannot vote.

“Blackpool’s 16 and 17-year-olds can work and pay into the tax system, but cannot have a say in how that money is spent – they are paying taxation without being able to choose their representation.

“Only by giving young people the vote can they take control of their future.”

As a regular traveller on trains and planes, and mainly in automobiles, it is hardly surprising my involuntary spiritual home is the highly depressing M6 motorway as I make my lonely and often congested commute to work.

Yes, I do some good thinking as I crawl nose to bumper along a stretch of road with little to endear itself apart from the occasional view across Lancashire.

But it is extremely dull.

As a result, I prefer my forays on planes and trains and the rare opportunity indeed to meet a real person happy to chat, to interact, who is not fuelled by 20 cans of lager or away with the fairies.

So it was with some trepidation I politely returned the conversation from the long haired gent, drinking what was clearly not his first wine on the long bendy train which speeds from Scotland to London.

Well spoken and scruffily well-dressed with a pleasant Scouse twang, he was clearly over the boredom of solo travel and ready to socialise.

Being the nosy journo type I am, it didn’t take many questions (where, why, what..) to discover my new friend was not your usual train traveller.

It was when we got to ‘who’ that it was clear I had dropped a massive clanger and in fact should already know.

Embarking on his first train trip for ages (he normally gets driven) my new train friend was none other than Ian McNabb, rocker and lead singer with Icicle Works, making his way home after his latest gig.

Judging by the straining necks, it became immediately clear that every other person on the train knew who he was apart from me so I was quite red-faced.

But he let me off saying I was ‘probably too young’ (I’m sure I’m not) and presenting me with a copy of his latest CD album.

On parting , and following a special brief rendition of Paul Weller’s ‘You do something to me’, he shook my hand.

What a lovely man.

Upon judicious googling, I found my new pal has played with Neil Young and Ringo Starr but was not really that impressed with his train journey so I doubt I’ll be seeing him on there again.

But I will listen to his album..

Criminal gangs are targeting parked Vauxhall Corsas and stripping them for parts.

Unsuspecting owners are returning to their parked vehicles to find, in some cases, the entire front ends of their cars missing.

The problem, which started in the south in August 2013 has seen parts stripped from about 500 Vauxhalls in Bedfordshire by so-called ‘Corsa cannibals’ in the last two years.

Now the spree has worked its way north with several owners on Teesside waking up to to find bonnets, bumpers, headlights, side panels and other components have gone missing in the night.

The gang is targeting red sports models, in particular, parked on driveways and streets between the hours of 2am and 4am.

Owners are now being warned to be extra vigilant by Police after three Corsas were left unrecognisable by the gang overnight between Sunday and Monday.

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: “If you are the owner of a Vauxhall Corsa, particularly one of the sporty models which have been heavily targeted, please be vigilant.

“Make sure that you park your car in a garage or on a driveway if you have them, or if not try to park in a well lit area.”

Crimestoppers is appealing for help in tracing six North West men on its most wanted list.

Crimestoppers, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, set up Most Wanted on its website to find information on criminals who had fled abroad.

Mark Hallas, CEO of Crimestoppers, said: “Most Wanted appeals to the nation’s ‘arm chair’ detectives – those who want to help fight crime from the safety of their own home and, above all else, anonymously.

“It was quite ground-breaking when it first launched as the first national online source of wanted individuals and it continues to be an important tool for UK law enforcement today.”

Details on the website about the suspects pictured here are:

DAVID McDERMOTT (pictured top, centre) is wanted by police on suspicion of conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to blackmail.

He is wanted by the National Crime Agency on suspicion of conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to blackmail. He is believed to be a member of a Liverpool-based organised crime group involved in a conspiracy to supply cocaine. Approximately 400 kilos of cocaine was found hidden in a container of frozen Argentinian beef in May 2013 at Tilbury Docks. Not knowing the cocaine had been seized, he was observed by NCA officers meeting other members of the crime group. They allegedly discussed the use of violence against anyone who had information.

McDermott is aged 40 - 45 and about 5ft. 10in tall. He is originally from Ormskirk but his last known address was in Liverpool. He has a two-inch scar on his wrist.

HELP IDENTIFY MAN (pictured bottom, right) ... Police need the public’s help to identify a man wanted in connection with a £12m. cocaine haul.

National Crime Agency investigators are appealing for help to identify the man after two separate importations totaling over 47 kilos were been uncovered as part of a two-year joint investigation with West Yorkshire Police. Following the discovery in Rotterdam of about 45 kilos of cocaine in sacks of paprika in August 2012, investigators watched as ‘dummy’ sacks were delivered via Tilbury Docks to a yard at Liverpool Docks. The unidentified man, who the NCA believe could be from Merseyside, Greater Manchester or Lancashire, was spotted unloading a lorry containing the sacks.

DAVID BENNETT (pictured bottom, left) is being hunted by police for conspiracy to commit burglary.

He is wanted for “Failing to Surrender” in relation to a conspiracy investigation into 21 bank and bus depot burglaries throughout England. He was due to respond to bail in Newcastle on June 16th 2015 regarding these matters and failed to appear. Bennett is from the Burnage area of Manchester and is believed to also have links to Wales and Lancashire. His current whereabouts are unknown.

He is aged 35 - 40, of medium build with light brown, receding hair.

AHMED SALIM KHEZRI (pictured top left) is wanted for non-payment of duty on cigarettes.

A member of an organised crime group which supplied non-UK duty paid cigarettes at various UK locations, Khezri was found guilty in absentia at Manchester Crown Court and sentenced to six years in jail in April 2014. The cost to the taxpayer is estimated to be over £2.2mi.

An Iranian citizen, he is aged 25 - 30.

KELVIN RILEY (pictured bottom, middle), from Wigan, is wanted by Greater Manchster Police for breach of his electronic curfew and is wanted on warrant.

He is aged 30-35

KRISTOPHER MICHAEL AYRE (pictured top, right), from Wigan is wanted for recall to prison. he is aged 25-30

Recognise any of these suspects? Call Crimestoppers free on 0800 555 111

Flooding and strong winds battered the region earlier this week and now the MET Office say ‘wintery showers’ of rain, sleet and snow and more strong winds are set to hit the North West this weekend.

The MET Office has just issued a Level 2 Cold Weather Alert and a Yellow weather warning for snow and strong winds.

The UK’s national weather service warned people that there is a 60 per cent chance of severe weather, with average temperatures of 2C or below, the possibility of wintry showers, overnight frost and a chance of icy patches over the next 48 hours.

A spokesman said: “The region is going to see quite a change in the weather over the weekend as cold air spreads South from the North.

“Temperatures have been quite high and quite mild this month going well into double figure Celsius readings.

“But they will drop down to somewhere around four or five degrees on Saturday and Sunday.

“With that cold air coming the region will see some wintery showers of rain, sleet and snow.

“Hills may get a little bit of cover but the ground is still quite warm and so I don’t think anything will stick too long.

“There is quite a strong North wind so there will be a wind chill on Friday and Saturday.

“The showers will clear and it should be dry during the day on Saturday but more wintery showers are expected on Saturday night.”

Because of the warning Public Health England North West is reminding people to look out for vulnerable others and take care when out and about.

Dr Rosemary Mc Cann, Deputy Director for Health Protection, PHE North West said: “People should check weather forecasts before heading out, ensure they wear lots of thin layers, and have plenty of warm food and drinks to stay warm. “They should also wear shoes with a good, slip-resistant grip to prevent any accidental falls.

“When indoors it’s critical that people stay warm, particularly if they are 65 or over, have long term health conditions or young children.

“As there is a likelihood of ice and snow this week, it’s also advisable to be aware of risks and clear snow and ice from pavements if possible.”

The Government has published advice on what people should do in the event of a “firearms or weapons attack” in a public place.

According to the National Counter Terrorism Security Office, victims of a terrorist attack like the Paris shootings should try to run away from the scene first, as long as doing so would not expose them to greater danger.

They should also insist others leave with them, and make sure belongings are left behind.

If running isn’t a possibility, the next option should be to hide from attackers and find cover from gunfire – instead of lying down in full view.

However, the NaCTSO guidance warns bullets can go through brick, glass, wood and metal, meaning it is safest to hide behind heavily reinforced walls.

Victims are advised to remain quiet, silence their phone, be aware of their exits and, if they are in an enclosed space, lock or barricade the door before moving away from it.

The refreshed guidelines, {https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/crowded-places|which can be viewed online}, come as security is heightened across Europe in the wake of the assault on the French capital last week.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Have your say below

Gritting teams are gearing up to treat Lancashire’s roads for the first time this winter, following forecasts of freezing conditions.

The county’s 49-strong fleet is ready to be called into action to grit the roads ahead of a cold snap predicted this weekend, which is set to involve freezing rain showers and possible snow over higher ground, with conditions made more difficult by high winds.

People are being warned to stay alert for very changeable conditions, which could make roads treacherous even after they’ve been gritted.

County Coun John Fillis, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “We’re as ready as we can be for the coming winter with over 30,000 tonnes of salt in stock and 49 gritters ready to go from nine depots based around the county.

“We get very accurate weather forecasts and grit whenever a freeze is forecast.

“It isn’t practical to treat every road, however we treat all the A roads, all B roads, and some C roads, which adds up to around 1,500 miles of road – about a third of the total in Lancashire.

“Last year we experienced some very changeable conditions, including incidents when hail fell on freezing roads and turned to sheet ice in a few minutes.

“Rain falling on freezing surfaces can also create black ice which is virtually impossible to see, and can happen even when a road has been gritted.

“The very wet conditions we’ve had this week will also mean that run-off from fields or springs flowing up could create ice patches on rural roads.

“From the forecast it looks like we could expect these kind of conditions over the weekend.

“I’d like people to remember that just because a road has been gritted it doesn’t mean it won’t be icy as it takes time and the action of tyres to mix the salt with the ice and make it work by lowering the temperature at which the water freezes.

“I’d ask people to use their judgement as to whether their journey is necessary.

“If you do decide to travel, drive according to the conditions and be aware that the state of the road can change over relatively short distances.”

Lancashire County Council has a fleet of 49 frontline gritters which can treat the 1,500 miles of the county council’s priority road network within around four hours, but may take longer in severe conditions.

When it snows, it can cost up to £100,000 a day to keep the operation going. The county council also has on standby a number of agricultural contractors ready to clear more remote rural roads in the event of heavy snow.

We all know that festive season has become a big deal for retailers and the Christmas advert can now make or break a shop’s year. We take a look at our Top 10 favourite ads of 2015.

Which is your favourite? {https://preview.qmerce.com/interaction/564db5bcb8db3ddc5e45f211 Vote here}

1) SAINSBURY’S - Mog’s Christmas Calamity - Simply hilarious, Mog sets off a chain of unfortunate events which almost ruin Christmas for the Thomas family. Can she pull it all back to save the day?

2) TESCO - If you’re a teenager you hate how embarrassing your parents are, and if you’re a parent you might secretly take a little pleasure in embarrassing your kids from time to time. Tesco’s new Christmas add is a light hearted look at the family dynamic, a desperate teenage son useless with the ladies and some well timed intervention from mum and dad. {https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nzLTkKd9Q0|Watch here}

3) JOHN LEWIS’ Christmas adverts have become an institution in recent years. They have partnered with Age UK for its 2015 Christmas ad with a reminder to consumers to consider those who will be alone this year.

The full two-minute ad features the whimsical story of a young girl named Lily as she strikes up a connection with an elderly man who she spies through her telescope living alone on the moon. {https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuz2ILq4UeA|Watch here}

4) LIDL - How many of us have had to learn these Christmas lessons at one time or another? From untangling the tree lights to buying a turkey that’s too big for the oven, Lidl’s advert takes a light-hearted look at the dos and don’ts of the perfect family Christmas. {https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4jwTtGLZEg|Watch here}

5) COCA COLA - For some, Christmas just would not e complete without the seasonal Coca Cola award and the sight of that big red truck. Well it does not heavily feature in the 2015 advert which instead urges people to share at this time of year. {https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuMGR5jMKKs|Take a look here}

Which is your favourite? {https://preview.qmerce.com/interaction/564db5bcb8db3ddc5e45f211|Vote here}

6) ASDA - It has everything from Santa Claus doing the worm to ice skating snow men, the supermarket’s Christmas advert is loud and in your face and features a soundtrack from 2014 X Factor finalist Fleur East - {https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE7KOmkGcjo|check it out here}

7) ALDI - Julie Andrew’s classic song My Favourite Things given a festive twist makes Aldi’s Christmas advert worth a watch {https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6qx7U_SuQE|here}

8) BURBERRY - Forget the fact that Romeo Beckham, Sir Elton John, Julie Walters, James Corden, Naomi Campbell and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley all star in this simple but effective production for the clothing brand - for us the soundtrack of T-Rex’s classic Comsic Dancer makes this Christmas advert - {https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=961k-cHjMLk|watch it here}

9) PAYPAL - This is quite a sweet Christmas advert firstly as it shows how much the traditional Christmas shop has changed with the rise of the internet and secondly as it revisits that great theme of Christmas sharing - {https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdu0WKIhjeU|take a look here}

10) LITTLEWOODS: We like this advert for a couple of reasons, it’s calmer and soothes the senses compared to many of the others, plus, it features gifts that seemingly wrap themselves, handy! {https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq09SkmCeIw|Watch it here}

Which is your favourite? {https://preview.qmerce.com/interaction/564db5bcb8db3ddc5e45f211|Vote here}

More than £20,000 was raised by volunteers and through sponsorship to allow the streets and iconic Mount to be lit in a blaze of Yuletide colour.

A torchlight parade through the town, which included an illuminated tram, led crowds to the Marine Hall gardens where a carol service was performed by local schoolchildren.

Dignitaries including Lancaster and Fleetwood MP Cat Smith, mayor of Wyre Coun Tom Balmain and leader of Wyre Council Coun Peter Gibson were in attendance.

Terry Rogers, chairman of Fleetwood Town Council which organised the event, said: “It was a brilliant night. To see the streets so full of local people supporting the town was superb.

“I want to say a massive thank you to the volunteers as well as our sponsors, none more than BES Utilities, for their generosity which made this event possible.”

Michelle Davidson, director of commercial power company BES Utilities which gave £8,000 to the lights fund, said: “It was great to see the streets so full of families all getting in the Christmas spirit. As a Fleetwood-based company we are proud to be associated with an event which has brought the whole town together.”

“Black pudding, black peas, and Blackpool” are to be immortalised in a new song by comedy folk group The Lancashire Hotpots, which will be released on Lancashire Day.

The new single, ‘Lancashire’s For Me’, has been written by the group to help mark the annual celebration of all things Lancastrian, which takes place on November 27.

Group member Dickie Ticker says: “We took to Facebook and Twitter to ask our fans what they loved most about Lancashire and we got loads of responses.

“A lot said how lucky we are to be living in the country’s most beautiful countryside but most said how friendly everyone is in Lancashire, of course.”

The Lancashire Hotpots are a five-piece band whose hits include ‘Chippy Tea’, ‘Mek Us a Brew’ and ‘eBay ‘eck’.

The group is based in St Helen’s but considers Preston its second home: “It’s wonderful that Preston has taken us to its heart; the people are the best part of Lancashire”, says Dicky.

The Hotpots are currently performing across the UK on their ‘50 Shades of Gravy’ tour which will end on Saturday December 12 at the 53 Degrees in Preston.

Dickie says: “Preston will be our last gig of the tour so it will be a big party. We have a big knees up as it’s the last one of the year so we go in all guns blazing.

“It’s going to be a right good northern knees up. You can leave all your inhibitions at the door and as long as you like a good party and the chance to sing along, let your hair down and have a good time, then the Lancashire Hotpot’s concert is for you.”

Lancashire Day commemorates the day on which representatives from the county were sent to Parliament in 1295 for the first time. A range of celebrations are set to take place across Lancashire on Friday November 27.

{https://soundcloud.com/the-lancashire-hotpots/lancashires-for-me|Listen to the Hotpot’s new single here}

Plans to axe council support for bus services have been branded ‘deplorable’ by opponents who blasted the idea.

Scrapping funding for all subsidised routes in a bid to save £7.5m a year is among a raft of measures put forward by Lancashire County Council (LCC) as it tries to balance the books. The move will affect more than 1,000 journeys a week on the Fylde coast, across more than a dozen services.

A document prepared for LCC cabinet members warns the decision could force bus companies to scrap the routes altogether. However, campaigners say the buses provide a vital lifeline for residents and urged council chiefs to hold a well-publicised consultation over its proposals.

Chris Dale, chairman of TravelWatch North West, said, “These savage cuts to public transport lifelines will exacerbate the loneliness and isolation of many people living in rural areas and are deplorable.”

The group, which represents public transport users, warned the plans will increase the burden on other services and could see the bill for unemployment and housing benefits rise.

County-wide, the plans would affect all 59 services in the county that receive taxpayer support because they are not profitable.

Similar plans have been put forward twice in the last two years and both times dropped in the face of fierce public criticism. Earlier this year, a Gazette petition against cutting bus subsidies was signed by more than 750 people in under two weeks.

Mr Dale added: “The council has a legal duty to consider social needs in supporting bus services and many people without access to a car rely on their bus for work, education and healthcare.

LCC is proposing to use £2m of the cash saved by scrapping subsidies to support ‘parish and community-based transport provision’.

Mr Dale said he is not convinced that would be a viable alternative, adding: “The money would be better spent on conventional scheduled bus services.” Coun Jennifer Mein, leader of LCC, said savage Government cuts, and the threat of more to come, means the council is having to make ‘difficult decisions’.

She added: “We will do all that we can, and are targeting our resources towards those with the greatest need, but we will have to reduce or stop services and people will notice the difference. Our priority will remain to protect the most vulnerable people in communities across Lancashire.”

Three people are in custody after a one-month-old baby boy suffered a serious head injury.

The child has been admitted to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool where his condition is described as “poorly.”

Police have launched an investigation and have arrested two men and a woman on suspicion of wounding.

Officers were called to an address in Charles Street, Blackpool in the early hours of today.

Paramedics raised the alarm before taking the injured baby to the town’s Victoria Hospital. He was transferred to Alder Hey shortly afterwards.

A police spokesman said they had been “contacted by the ambulance service at about 1am to report that a one-month-old baby boy had been injured at an address on Charles Street.

“Three people, two men aged 18 and 33 and a woman aged 34, all from Blackpool, have been arrested on suspicion of wounding.

“Inquiries are continuing.”

The Chancellor has today been urged to think twice about planned cuts to the police budget in Lancashire in the wake of the terror attacks in Paris.

Fresh warnings over the danger of the Government’s austerity measures come as George Osborne prepares to announce the outcome of his comprehensive spending review on Wednesday.

The Home Office, which funds police forces, has been told to prepare for cuts of between 25 and 40 per cent.

Rachel Baines, chairman of the Lancashire Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said: “In light of the recent terror attack, it seems perverse to be cutting police budgets.”

She said officers on the ground are “absolutely vital” in the fight against terrorism.

Lancashire Police has lost more than 700 officers since 2010, with hundreds more predicted to go in the next five years. Ms Baines warned losing more experienced officers will have a damaging effect. She added: “Once the police are gone, they are gone.

“The Government seems to have got itself in a really entrenched position around police cuts – it needs to listen to what everybody is saying.”

Her comments follow reports a leaked document warned Home Secretary Theresa May that the expected level of cuts would ‘significantly’ affect the UK’s ability to respond to a Paris-style attack.

And it comes after HM Inspectorate of Constabulary published a report showing Lancashire Police has seen its budget fall faster than most in recent years. The Value for Money report showed comparable forces have, on average, £8m a year more to spend.

Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw, who called for police cuts to be put on hold, said the report shows the force provides ‘an excellent service at great value for money’.

The Church of England has said the policy preventing them from showing an advert featuring the Lord’s Prayer did not exist at the time they were trying to get the video into cinemas.

The advert received clearance from the British Board of Film Classification and the Cinema Advertising Authority, but the Digital Cinema Media (DCM) agency, which handles adverts for Odeon, Cineworld and Vue cinemas, which have venues across the North West, has refused to show it.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has said it is “extraordinary” that Britain’s biggest cinema chains have banned the advert.

The CoE has threatened legal action and said it is the victim of religious discrimination after they were told the minute-long video could cause offence.

The advert, produced by JustPray.uk, shows the Lord’s Prayer being recited by a members of the public ranging from bodybuilders to children, and also features the Most Rev Justin Welby.

A CoE spokesman said it was initially believed their minute-long advert had been approved and would be played before showings of Star Wars: The Force Awakens from December 18.

They were later informed that, due to a DCM policy not to run adverts which could potentially cause offence, the video would not be shown.

When asked for a copy of that policy, CoE was told there is no formal policy document but it had been agreed with the DCM’s members.

There is now a formal policy on the DCM’s website, which states: “To be approved, an advertisement must ... not in the reasonable opinion of DCM constitute political or religious advertising.”

As further clarification, it reads: “Religious advertising means: advertising which wholly or partially advertises any religion, faith or equivalent systems of belief (including any absence of belief) or any part of any religion, faith or such equivalent systems of belief.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury told The Mail on Sunday: “I find it extraordinary that cinemas rule it is inappropriate for an advert on prayer to be shown in the week before Christmas when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

“Billions of people across the world pray this prayer on a daily basis. I think they would be astonished and deeply saddened by this decision, especially in the light of the terrorist attack in Paris where many people have found comfort and solace in prayer.

“This advert is about as ‘offensive’ as a carol service on Christmas Day.”

The Rev Arun Arora, director of communications for the Church of England, said the Church is “bewildered” by the decision.

“The Lord’s Prayer is prayed by billions of people across the globe every day and in this country has been part of everyday life for centuries,” he said.

“In one way the decision of the cinemas is just plain silly but the fact that they have insisted upon it makes it rather chilling in terms of limiting free speech.”

Stephen Slack, the Church’s chief legal adviser, warned the banning of the advert could “give rise to the possibility of legal proceedings” under the Equality Act which bans commercial organisations from refusing services on religious grounds.

Terry Sanderson, the president of the National Secular Society, said: “The Church of England is arrogant to imagine it has an automatic right to foist its opinions upon a captive audience who have paid good money for a completely different experience.

“The Church does not hesitate to ban things that it deems inappropriate from its own church halls - things like yoga. The cinema chains are simply exercising the same right.”

DCM were unavailable for comment.

A builder who stole £4 worth of beer protested to magistrates when they ordered him to pay of £250 in penalties for the crime.

Gareth Bibby told the bench at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court: “I just think it’s a joke. All for the sake of £4.

“What if I don’t pay. It’s not like I do it every day. I’m not a bad person and I work.”

Bibby, 32, of Crescent East, Cleveleys, pleaded guilty to theft.

He was given a 12- month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a £150 court charge with £85 costs plus £15 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Martine Connah, prosecuting, said Bibby stole four cans of lager from Iceland, Lord Street, Fleetwood. Police spoke to him and he had apologised and paid for the lager.

A man looking for pieces of fish in bins opened an insecure door at business premises in Fleetwood and set off the alarm.

Richard Sleet, 32, of Balmoral Terrace, Fleetwood, pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal and theft of meat. He was sentenced to a 10 weeks curfew from 8pm to 6am Sundays to Thursdays and ordered to pay a £180 court charge with £35 compensation plus £60 victims surcharge by Blackpool magistrates. Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said Sleet stole £30 of meat from the Co-op, Fleetwood on August 24. On October 6 at 4.30am the alarm went off at The Fish House, Fleetwood. CCTV showed Sleet outside trying a delivery van door and then opening the door of the premises and stepping inside.

As cold weather grips Britain, bookmakers have cut odds of a White Christmas this year.

Temperatures dropped as low as minus 6c in parts of the UK over the weekend, with some areas above 150m experiencing snow for the first time this winter.

Traditionally, the definition of a white Christmas in the UK is “a single snowflake falling during the 24 hours of Christmas Day’ at the Met Office building in London” according to the Met office, but many bookmakers will now offer odds of Christmas day snow at a variety of locations across the country.

Paddypower 3/1 for Leeds and Manchester and 9/4 for Edinburgh. Ladbrokes are currently offering odds of 7/4 for Aberdeen, 5/2 for Newcastle, 4/1 for Doncaster and 4/1 for London. A Ladbrokes spokesman said: “The mercury looks like dropping as fast as the odds in a brutal winter.”

The last White Christmas in the UK was in 2010, with snow being recorded on the ground at 83 per cent of UK weather stations, and snow falling at 19 per cent of stations on the day.

Only three out of the last ten Christmases in Britain have been considered white.

The first suspected UK case of a parent giving their child industrial strength bleach as a “cure” for autism has sparked a health warning.

According to a report in the Independent, officers from Thames Valley Police received a complaint that a young mother was using doses of MMS or “Miracle Mineral Solution” on her young son who has autism.

There are now fears use of MMS could be more widespread and parents are being warned of the dangers.

MMS involves giving children two chemicals – sodium chlorite and hydrochloric acid – which combine to form bleach. It is usually sold to be taken orally, but parents are also told to use it as an enema.

The potentially lethal mixture is being touted as a cure for autism, cancer, HIV, malaria and Alzheimer’s by the US-based Genesis II Church.

The organisation describes itself as “non-religious church of health and healing” and claims MMS is no different from giving sacrament in church services. Medical experts have rubbished the healing claims while the “cure” has already been linked to one death.

MMS was banned in Canada after it caused a life-threatening reaction in an elderly man.

Here in the UK the solution is classified as a food supplement and is therefore under the jurisdiction of the Food Standards Authority. The FSA has warned that MMS should not be taken as it can cause vomiting and diarrhoea as well as damage to the gut.

However, the product is widely available on the internet, and social media groups which promote it have more than 1,000 members.

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Black Friday is almost upon us. Here’s 12 top tips to help you survive - and pick up the best bargains.

1. If you are worried about safety, do your Black Friday shopping online. For the last two years fights have broken out in stores because everyone is trying to bag a bargain. If possible, don’t take the children.

2. Do your research on items on your list beforehand. Check out reviews and see if there is an alternative product that is cheaper and does the same job. Also, keep price-checking the products in the run-up to the event in case they go on special offer and work out cheaper.

3. Make a list of items you would like or want. Don’t impulse buy, as this will just make you will end up spending more money, cancelling out any amazing savings you could have made.

4. Map your shop. If there is more than one retailer you want to go to, work out which store has the items you would like the most, which store will be busiest and check to see if the opening hours will change for Black Friday.

5. Eat breakfast and set off early. Shopping can be tiring at the best of times, but Black Friday is intense. A 30-minute shopping trip can burn lots of calories, and getting hungry means tempers fraying. The police have already warned shopping outlets they could need security and fights could break out. So keep hydrated and put a bottle of water in your bag.

6. If you are doing your Black Friday shopping online, log on early. Last year a major electrical retailer had one of the highest discounted Black Friday online sales. They put a queue system in place and people were still sitting in the queue several hours later and missed out. Not just on that, but on all their other shopping too. More than 2,000 people were queuing before me. I opted out at this point.

7. Top retailers and shopping centres send insider information to AMS every day, so I am able to put out unique information listing retailers discounted events and sales (20% off days etc) before they happen.

8. Make your lists of products in the event, a price list and photos of the item/s before you leave. This is perfect when you are doing your preparation and price checking. This could sound over the top, but when you are battling with the crowds, hot and tired, this helps you focus and not get distracted.

9. To reiterate, if you are at all worried about safety, do your Black Friday shopping online. If you must go bargain-hunting in person, don’t take the children.

10. It is also handy to know that many large department stores price-match their competitors, and that includes Black Friday. Do your research and price match for an even bigger saving.

11. This year, you can expect bargains from across the board. Research your favourite websites ahead and even your favourite hairdresser. Just ask ahead and they even put up a discount just because you have highlighted it to them if you are a regular customer.

12. If you miss out on Black Friday, don’t panic. Cyber Monday, which is all online bargains, starts on Monday, 30th November.

* Tips courtesy of consumer champion Ashleigh Swan, who founded her {http://ashleighmoneysaver.co.uk/|money-saving website} after being made redundant.