A shop assistant became suspicious of a shopper because she recognised him as having been banned from a number of stores in the area.

The assistant then heard a loud snap coming from Darren Richardson’s direction and realised he had taken a security tag off some footwear.

Richardson, 43, of North Promenade, Cleveleys, pleaded guilty to theft.

He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £20 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Jim Mowbray, prosecuting, said Richardson was detained by staff at Shoemarket, Cleveleys, after taking a £20 pair of steel toecap boots on June 6 at 9.40am.

A further 18 people are in a critical condition and French president Francois Hollande said the country's state of emergency would be extended for a another three months.

A lorry hit crowds who had gathered to celebrate the French national day in the Mediterranean city on Thursday night.

Mr Hollande led a wave of tributes from world leaders saying: "France has been hit by a tragedy once again. This monstrosity of using a lorry to deliberately kill people, many people, who only came out to celebrate their national day.

"France is in tears. It is hurting but it is strong, and she will be strong, always stronger than the fanatics who wish to hurt us."

He also said that a military operation was in place that would allow the mobilisation of 10,000 military officers and that police from across the country would be called to assist their colleagues in Nice.

The country borders will be tightened and would show "real force and military action in Syria and Iraq", Mr Hollande said.

Regional hospitals have been warned to expect an influx of the injured and the president urged citizens to be aware of security over the busy national holiday weekend.

In a press conference at the scene, French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said that the identification of the criminal was in progress, refusing to confirm reports that an ID card was found after police shot dead the lorry driver, and added that more information on the issue would come from the prosecutor's office.

"We are in a war with terrorists who want to strike us at any price and in a very violent way," the minister said.

French prosecutors earlier said they had launched a terrorism investigation after the lorry careered through the packed seafront for hundreds of yards as crowds watched fireworks.

Nice regional president Christian Estrosi said guns and grenades were found in the lorry, whose driver was shot dead by police.

The politician, who was at the celebration when the carnage happened, said: "This is the worst Nice drama of history.

"We are terrified and we want to present to all the families our sincere condolences.

Nice prosecutor Jean-Michel Prette said bodies were strewn about along the road.

Mr Brandet said no hostages had been taken and the lorry driver had been "neutralised", adding that authorities were investigating if he acted alone.

Pictures and footage shown on social media showed crowds fleeing in terror from the scene on the Promenade des Anglais, which was busy with revellers celebrating and watching fireworks.

Eyewitnesses reported hearing gunshots and pictures on social media showed armed police with weapons trained on a badly damaged white lorry with bullet holes in the windscreen.

France is still on alert after the Paris terror attacks on November 13, in which 130 people were killed at sites including the Bataclan Theatre and Stade de France.

The state of emergency initiated after those attacks which has now been extended was due to be lifted later this month.

Lawyer Harjit Sarang was among those caught up in the terror with her children.

The Londoner tweeted: "Running through crowds in Nice with kids and terrified. Never taking kids to a public event again. Finally back to hotel. Hate this!"

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are deeply concerned about reports of an incident in Nice and are in touch with the local authorities to seek more information.

"Our thoughts are with those affected and we stand by to help any British nationals."

A Downing Street spokesman said: "The Prime Minister is being kept updated on reports coming in from Nice.

"We are shocked and concerned by the scenes there. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this terrible incident on what was a day of national celebration.

"The FCO are in touch with the local authorities to seek more information and we stand ready to help any British nationals and to support our French partners."

New Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson tweeted that he was "shocked and saddened by the appalling events in Nice, and the terrible loss of life".

A Rihanna concert scheduled for Friday night at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice has been cancelled, as have the city's jazz festival which was due to run from Saturday to Wednesday and some of the Bastille celebrations over the weekend.

Briton Will Shore told BBC Radio 4: "It was quite chaotic really. There was a lot of people screaming, running around and people were kind of being pushed over, I think, from people just being so frightened about what was going on especially after hearing the gunshots.

"I had to help a couple of people up who were in distress on the floor because everyone was in such a panic."

Kevin Harris watched the attack unfold from his balcony.

He told the BBC: "I saw what appeared to be be bodies in the lying in the road.

"I spoke to my neighbour who said the lorry had ploughed through the people.

"It's a terrible scene."

A popular pub was caught selling counterfeit vodka to customers, a court has heard.

Trading Standards officers visited the Dockers Bar in Fleetwood in December to carry out formal sampling on products and found a spirit being sold as “Glen’s Vodka” was not strong enough to be legally classed as vodka, Blackpool Magistrates’ Court heard.

Firm Fleetwood Dockers Ltd, based in Sale, Cheshire, admitted displaying a label which falsely described the food as Glen’s Vodka.

Company director Brian Stokes 50, of Ainsdale Avenue, Fleetwood, admitted the same offence by virtue of his role as director, and told investigators he had bought the bottles from “an off licence down the side of a bar in Spain”.

Receipts confirmed he had bought the bootleg bottles abroad, making a saving of around £30.

But he is now nearly £1,000 out of pocket after he and the firm were fined.

Prosecuting for Lancashire Trading Standards, Claire Box said: “The sample was sent to the county public analyst who confirmed that the sampled spirit was not genuine Glen’s vodka and was deficient in alcohol level.

“The sample contained 34.2 per cent alcohol when genuine Glen’s should contain 37.5 per cent alcohol, this being the minimum alcohol strength prescribed by law in order for a spirit to be described as vodka.

She added: “In the eyes of consumers, it doesn’t matter whether such actions are carried out intentionally or inadvertently, as they are losing out on value for their money and being misled as to what they are actually purchasing.”

The firm was fined £182 and must pay a £20 surcharge and £331.37 costs. Stokes must pay a £185 fine, with a £20 surcharge and £331.37 costs.

The sale of illegal alcohol costs the UK around £1.2bn a year.

In other cases, fake or illegally produced alcohol has been found to contain potentially dangerous chemicals.

Police ended up seizing two cars spotted speeding on a main route.

The cars were pulled over on Amounderness Way between Fleetwood and Thornton on Thursday evening.

One vehicle was seized for having no insurance.

The other was also seized for no insurance.

In addition the driver provided false details, had no licence and was arrested for drugs offences after a search of the car.

The Lowcosttravelgroup today announced it has ceased trading, meaning holidaymakers across the country could face difficulties going on their holidays.

The firm said attempts to rescue its future had been ‘hampered by the recent and ongoing turbulent financial environment’, suggesting the company has become the first casualty of the UK’s Brexit market slump.

This statement was released on its website: “We deeply regret to announce that the lowcosttravelgroup (“LCTG”) ceased to trade on 15 July 2016, following exhaustive attempts by the group’s directors to rescue the group, which has been hampered by the recent and ongoing turbulent financial environment.

“This notice applies to the following companies and brands:

1.Lowcosttravelgroup Ltd

2.lowcostholidays Spain S.L.

3.Hoteling.com part of Lowcostholidays Spain S.L.

4.Lowcostbeds.com A.G.”

The firm’s website suggests that some tickets will still be valid, but some hotel suppliers, transfer suppliers and car parking suppliers ‘may ask you to pay them locally’ which holidaymakers are being asked to ‘pay and reclaim against’.

It also says ‘It would be advisable for you to keep all receipts of expenses incurred in order to claim a refund or compensation.’

Those who have booked a hotel will have their reservations cancelled and must re-book.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A HOLIDAY BOOKED WITH THE FIRM:

Customers who have booked a Holiday combination (Flight plus Hotel)

If you are already on holiday you will be in possession of your flight tickets which remain valid.

You may be asked by the hotel suppliers, transfer suppliers and car parking suppliers (if you have booked these services) to pay them locally which you may have to pay & reclaim against

I.Your Travel Insurance provider (if you have travel Insurance)

II.Govern de les illes Balears (www.caib.es) who is the regulator of the Spanish Travel Agency.

III.Your credit card provider for services not received.

It would be advisable for you to keep all receipts of expenses incurred in order to claim a refund or compensation.

You should also register your claim at lowcosttravelspain@smith.williamson.co.uk

Customers who have booked Hotel Accommodation only

You may be asked by the hotel suppliers, transfer suppliers and car parking suppliers (if you have booked these services) to pay them locally which you may have to pay & reclaim against

I.Your Travel Insurance provider (if you have travel Insurance)

II.Your credit card provider for services not received.

It would be advisable for you to keep all receipts of expenses incurred in order to claim a refund or compensation.

You should also register your claim at lowcosttravelspain@smith.williamson.co.uk

Customers Due to Travel

Customers who have booked a Holiday combination (Flight plus Hotel)

If you have booked a combination flights and accommodation (+ other services, e.g. transfer, car-hire, etc) your contract for the flights will be direct with the airline and payment will have been made to them in most cases at time of booking. If you are in receipt of your flight ticket from the airline you will be able to check-in and travel as normal. If you have not received your flight confirmation details, you should contact the airline directly to determine the status of your flight reservation. If the airline informs you that your reservation is not confirmed then you will need to rebook your flights with another provider and make a claim using the options outlined below:

Your hotel reservation will not be valid so you will have to re-book your hotel accommodation and any other services that you may have reserved via Lowcostholidays.com (e.g. transfer, car-hire, airport parking etc) with another company. You can reclaim lost amounts against:

I. Your Travel Insurance provider (if you have travel Insurance)

II.Govern de les illes Balears (www.caib.es) who is the regulator of the Spanish Travel Agency.

III.Your credit card provider for services not received.

It would be advisable for you to keep all receipts of expenses incurred in order to claim a refund or compensation.

You should also register your claim at lowcosttravelspain@smith.williamson.co.uk

Customers who have booked a Holiday combination (Hotel Only)

Your reservation will be cancelled by the hotel supplier and you will need to rebook your accommodation.

You can submit your claim for the amounts paid to Lowcostholidays.com using any of the following options

I.Your Travel Insurance provider (if you have travel Insurance)

II.Your credit card provider for services not received.

It would be advisable for you to keep all receipts of expenses incurred in order to claim a refund or compensation.

You should also register your claim at lowcosttravelspain@smith.williamson.co.uk

Hoteling.com Customers

You may be asked by the hotel suppliers, transfer suppliers and car parking suppliers (if you have booked these services) to pay them locally which you may have to pay & reclaim against

I.Your Travel Insurance provider (if you have travel Insurance)

II.Your credit card provider for services not received.

It would be advisable for you to keep all receipts of expenses incurred in order to claim a refund or compensation.

You should also register your claim at lowcosttravelspain@smith.williamson.co.uk

More information is available at www.lowcostholidays.com

Have you been affected, email lep.newsdesk"lep.co.uk

Blackpool North MP Paul Maynard has been awarded a top ministerial position by new Prime Minister Theresa May.

As under secretary, he will be responsible for major rail projects, rail safety and security, passenger services, transport funding, accessibility, and rail fares and ticketing.

He said: “I’m very, very honoured to be asked and I’m certain there will be a big challenge ahead of me in transport. There will be no lessening of my work in my own constituency - I will just have to work that bit harder.

“I’m always keen to make sure that no matter what situation I find myself in I continue to work on behalf of the people I represent.

“It will be a great challenge and an opportunity to serve my constituents and the country.”

Mrs May announced a number of ministerial positions over the weekend.They included Penny Mordaunt and Mike Penning, who became ministers at the Department for Work and Pensions and Ministry of Defence.

The daughter of a man brutally murdered in his garage in a random attack said his killer “should never be allowed to walk in society again.”

Schizophrenic Robert Kay – who claimed he was the ‘son of Satan’ – was yesterday sentenced to life in prison after knifing engineer Ian Dollery at least 30 times in a ferocious attack.

Mr Dollery’s wife Andrea and daughter Grace interrupted the brutal attack and fought Kay off.

Mr Dollery’s family – who were in court yesterday to see him convicted and sentence – told how the murder had changed their lives forever.

Grace, 22, said: “I didn’t just lose my father that night – my mother can never be the person she was before.

“I may have saved her life that night however I am fully aware she would rather have died there with my dad.”

Andrea, 51, added: “My life, and that of my family and friends, has been shattered into tiny pieces never to be restored. For me, life without Ian is a daily torture.”

Kay, 49, knifed engineer Ian, 51, at least 30 times in a ferocious and unprovoked attack in the garage of his £450,000 seaside home in York Road, St Annes.

Mr Dollery’s wife Andrea and daughter Grace interrupted the brutal attack and fought Kay off but Mr Dollery died in hospital in the early hours of June 19 last year.

His daughter Grace, 22, said: “Kay should never be allowed to walk in society again.”

On June 18 Mr Dollery was in his garage cutting his hair in preparation for a holiday with his wife Andrea the following day.

Grace and her boyfriend were visiting and the family had enjoyed a meal together.

But Kay, a schizophrenic and chronic drug abuser, had been drinking and injecting amphetamines at a bedsit nearby.

Armed with a large kitchen knife, jobless Kay went out onto the street and upon seeing the garage door open launched the frenzied and unprovoked attack on Mr Dollery - a complete stranger.

Dollery’s defence lawyer, Andrew Webster QC said: “It was in reality every citizen’s worst nightmare, to brush up against someone in a state like this - completely motiveless and completely unpredictable.

“The reality is that he was in far from a normal state of mind.”

During the trial friends described Kay as having a split personality - and knew him as Robert when he was behaving nicely and Rob when he was psychotic.

On June 18, Kay had been asked to leave a friend’s house around lunch time when he started ranting about being the son of Satan and claiming he could communicate with the devil through a TV digi-box.

But Kay, of no fixed abode, moved on to the house of a fellow drug abuser where he spent the afternoon injecting amphetamine and drinking super strength lager.

As Kay’s ramblings escalated, his friends said they feared for their lives as he picked up a large kitchen knife and claimed to have a list of jobs to carry out for Satan.

A few streets away Mr Dollery and his wife were preparing for a family holiday the following day and enjoyed a family meal with their daughter Grace and her boyfriend, who had just moved in to their first home together.

The Honorary Recorder of Preston, Judge Mark Brown, said: “It was a good time for all (the Dollery family) however very quickly - almost in an instant, fate changed everything.

“This was a savage and brutal attack upon a wholly innocent man who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“He had no chance of surviving and attack was witnessed in part by his wife and daughter. With some considerable courage they intervened to try to protect him but by then it was too late.”

Kay fled the scene and was arrested at around 11pm after threatening another woman on the street in the seaside town.

During the week long trial at Preston Crown Court, Kay accepted he had killed Mr Dollery but claimed his responsibility was diminished due to his schizophrenia – which was formally diagnosed following his arrest.

The court heard Kay had been reporting symptoms such as hallucinations and hearing voices for more than 20 years but those symptoms were consistent with chronic drug induced psychosis.

Schizophrenia was formally diagnosed at Ashworth Secure Hospital where he has been detained since his arrest.

Handing down a sentence of life with a minimum term of 23 years, Judge Brown said: “Although you have a long standing mental illness you have failed to co-operate with the mental health services over the years and have continued to take drugs despite knowing they are bad for you.

“At the time of the killing you had taken a lot of amphetamines after others had warned you about that drug and appreciating its effect on you.”

A pervert who attacked a nine-year-old girl after watching pornography of children and animals has been jailed for nine years.

Gary Cookson, 38, was convicted of sexual assault and possession of indecent and extreme images following a trial at Preston Crown Court.

In a harrowing victim impact statement, the girl’s dad – who can not be named for legal reasons – broke down in court as he told of the devastating impact of learning his nine-year-old daughter had been abused by the family friend.

He said: “It was heartbreaking having to sit and wait, knowing my children would have to go through being questioned and called liars all because of what he had done.”

Cookson, a former Highways Officer for Lancashire County Council, was cleared of charges of abusing the girl over a number of years but convicted of a serious sexual assault on her.

Chris Hudson, defending, described Cookson as an “inherently-decent but flawed” man who had started watching criminally inappropriate material due to loneliness.

He said: “In that context he committed this single assault on a young girl.

“He is a man whose moral compass had gone askew.”

A search of Cookson’s home in Grasmere Road, Knott End, following his arrest uncovered computer equipment containing abuse images of children and a dog.

Richard Haworth, prosecuting, also told the court Cookson has a previous conviction for having sex with a girl under 16 when he was 25.

Judge Stuart Baker, sentencing, said: “The offence was committed quite brazenly in the presence of her mother when the girl was of such an age that she was embarrassed and did not know what to say or what to do.”

The girl’s dad said he was left feeling guilty that he had not been able to protect his children from Cookson and hoped his daughter – who had been attacked – and another child in the family were able to forget about their ordeal in time.

He said he and their mother had become protective and restrict their freedom in terms of playing out and accessing the internet.

He said: “What he did to my children and family will stay with me forever. I don’t want to see him again and I hope my children never have to go through anything like that again.

“This will never leave my life. I can only hope my children can forget about this over time as I know I never will.”

Speaking after the sentence, Det Con Ian Wright from the Lancashire Police Public Protection Unit said: “Cookson is clearly a dangerous individual and I welcome the sentence.

“The possession of these vile images and the physical abuse of a young child is frankly disgusting.

“Protecting the public, especially children, from harm and abuse is an absolute priority for Lancashire Constabulary and with our partners we will continue to proactively target offenders who use the internet to view or exchange indecent images of children and help safeguard those children who have become, or are at risk of becoming, victims.

“I would urge anyone who feels they may have been the victim of abuse to come forward and contact us via 101 safe in the knowledge that they will be treated sensitively and professionally.”

A new service designed to make it easier for patients to get health advice and treatment for minor health problems has been launched in Fleetwood.

The Pharmacy+ Clinic scheme means people with a minor illness can visit their local participating pharmacist, instead of booking and waiting for a GP appointment.

Under the scheme, pharmacists will offer patients a confidential consultation to talk through their symptoms and the medications they are taking, before offering healthcare advice and medicines where appropriate.

Fleetwood GP and vice chair of NHS Fylde and Wyre clinical commissioning group (CCG), Dr Adam Janjua, said: “The scheme has been designed to help local people get the most appropriate health advice and medication quickly and conveniently for minor health problems.

“The demands on general practices are continuing to increase due to a rising population and people living longer but with more complex health conditions.

“If everybody went to a pharmacist with minor health problems, GPs would have more time to deal with patients who have more serious and complicated illnesses.

“This should make it easier to get a convenient appointment with your GP next time you need one.”

Any patient registered with a GP in Fylde and Wyre can use the scheme.

Patients who are under 16 years of age can also use the service but should have a parent with them when they speak to the pharmacist.

There is no cost to take part. Visit www.pharmacyplus.clinic for more.

A man punched his former girlfriend in the face in front of their young daughter on Father’s Day.

Christopher Monks said his ex had been mouthy after he asked if he could drop the child off earlier than scheduled and when he saw his former partner he lost it.

Monks, 27, of Parkside Lane, Garstang, pleaded guilty to assault and failing to attend court. He was sentenced to do 120 hours unpaid work, ordered to pay £100 compensation with £85 costs plus £85 victims’ surcharge and put on a 12 months restraining order not to contact his ex except through a family member.

Lancashire County Council’s latest economy drive has left it with an underspend of more than half a million pounds on services, councillors were told this week.

The £601,000 figure for 2015/16 was revealed amid widespread concern over the forthcoming slashing of services ranging from libraries to country parks.

Meanwhile, Tory opposition leader County Coun Geoff Driver claimed in real terms the council had saved more than £20m because opportunities had been taken “to not draw down on reserves.” He demanded to know if the ruling Labour group would have taken a different approach to cuts if it had known these savings would be achieved saying: “People might begin to think the deputy leader (finance spokesman) is a bit like the shepherd who called wolf.”

But councillors were warned by Neil Kissock, the council’s director of financial resources of “difficult times ahead”.

A report to the executive scrutiny committee meeting placed the savings in a wider context, noting the underspend was down to strong financial arrangements and actions.

External accountants are looking to ‘further streamline’ spending not just in the council, but across the county’s public sector.

The committee was told the council is still in a “high risk” position regarding 
its longer-term financial 
viability with a repeated 
prediction that by 2021 it will not be able to meet its legal obligations to provide services. Today, the cabinet will be asked to approve the transfer of the underspend to its reserve.

A woman with cerebral palsy has today spoken of her anguish after a thief posing as a Good Samaritan stole her purse while pretending to befriend her.

The man offered to help Sarah Finlayson cross the road before stealing her bank card.

He ignored her protests that she could manage and escorted her to the Harrow Place tram stop on Blackpool Promenade before saying goodbye.

It was only later, when visiting the bank, that 42-year-old Ms Finlayson discovered her purse had been stolen.

And when she examined her bank statement she realised the thief had used her debit card to go on a spending spree around Blackpool.

Now she has warned other disab led people to be on their guard.

Ms Finlayson, of Crichton Place, South Shore, said: “I was using my electric wheelchair in my street to get to the tram stop when this man approached me.

“He asked me if I needed any help crossing the road, but I said that I was fine, but thanks anyway.

“But he wouldn’t let it go and was getting a bit too close for comfort.

“He insisted on walking with me to the tram stop.

“He escorted me down Harrow Place and then over the road to get to the stop.

“All the time he was really close to me and wouldn’t go away, despite me telling him that I could cope and did this journey all the time.

“When we got to the tram stop he leaned in close to say goodbye, and I found that a bit uncomfortable.

“I was just relieved that he had gone and I was being left alone.

“But when I got to the bank to get some money out of my account, I realised my purse had been stolen.

“I asked the cashier to look for me as well, but it wasn’t in my bag.

“I was shocked and could not believe that anyone would do something as despicable as steal from a woman who is obviously disabled.

“He must have grabbed my purse when he was leaning over me to say goodbye.

“I had no idea it had gone, he must have worked very fast.

“I kept telling the man that I did not need his help but he kept insisting.

“I thought he was just trying to help me like a Good Samaritan, but he must have decided he was going to steal from me as soon as he saw me coming down the road in my wheelchair.”

After getting a bank statement printed out, Ms Finlayson realised the thief had used her card to make contactless payments in throughout Blackpool town centre.

The card enables the holder to spend up to £30 at a time without inputting a PIN number.

Ms Finlayson’s card was used in HMV, McDonald’s, Tesco and various off-licences. She said: “I cancelled the card straight away, but he had already spent more than £100 in that short time.

“Luckily, the bank has refunded me, but the whole thing has left me shaken and feeling very vulnerable.

“Nothing like this has happened to me before. I use an electric wheelchair and it is obvious that I am disabled.

“This man knew that I wouldn’t be able to stop him, even if I caught him trying to take my purse. He knew I was helpless.

“This has set me back and it will take me a long time to recover from this, but he won’t leave me beaten.”

“The man looked like he had perhaps been sleeping rough for some time, but that is no excuse to go stealing from people.

“I would like to warn everyone to watch out for this man and not allow him to get too close. If he can steal from someone who is disabled then he is capable of anything.”

The thief is described as being in his late 20s or early 30s, bearded and of a scruffy appearance. He has a scar over one eyebrow.

Call police on 101.

The North West’s clinical commissioning groups (CCGS) — responsible for organising healthcare throughout the county — could be handed a £7.5 million penalty, it has been revealed.

The 33 CCGs face losing top-up funding, paid out for hitting key targets, because the North West Ambulance Service did not get to 75 per cent of life-threatening calls within eight minutes last year.

Health bosses have pleaded for leniency from NHS England after the service still managed to get to 74.83 per cent of red one calls — where a patient is not breathing or their heart has stopped — despite a 40 per cent hike in emergency callouts and paramedics being caught up in handover queues at A&Es.

Talks are now being held over the Quality Premium payments.

Members of Blackpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)’s board were told at a recent meeting the target was missed by 50 cases, but would have been hit if calls answered by the fire service in Greater Manchester, which attends cardiac arrest cases, had been counted in the figures.

“Members were informed that this would affect the 20 per cent Quality Premium across all the CCGs in the north west, and £7.5m would be lost as the target had failed,” published minutes from the meeting said.

“This had been formally raised with NHS England and further information was awaited on the impact of this on the Quality Premium payments.”

The Quality Premium is intended to reward CCGs for improving services, NHS England said, though some see it as a measure to punish services struggling to hit targets.

“As in previous years, a CCG may have its Quality Preimum award reduced,” NHS England guidance said.

“For each measure where the identified quality threshold is achieved, the CCG will be eligible for the indicated percentage of the overall funding available to it.”

As well as red one response times, targets include maximum waiting times of 18 weeks referral to treatment (worth 30 per cent), four hours in A&E (30 per cent), and 14 days for suspected cancer referrals (20 per cent).

Next year, the proportion of Quality Premium linked to ambulance response times will increase to 30 per cent, which could put bosses at NWAS under more pressure.

A spokesman for NHS England said: “We are in the process of validating and analysing the data provided.

“This is in line with all other data returns where there is a Quality Premium attached across all CCGs, and the outcomes will be communicated later in the year to all CCGs.”

Darts fans and families hit a weather bonanza bullseye as crowds flocked to Blackpool Promenade on the resort’s hottest day of the year so far.

With temperatures soaring into the high twenties before peaking at 31 degrees , the seafront was packed with families taking advantage of temperatures normally found on the Spanish costas.

And with more sunshine – albeit punctured by the occasional storm – forecast, council chiefs have reminded residents and tourists alike to take care in the sun.

With clear blue skies, temperatures on Tuesday peaked
at seven degrees higher than the previous day and the highest since July 2006.

With some schools already broken up for the summer there were plenty of children splashing around in the water.

Jill Abour-Okoh, from Falkirk, was soaking up the rays with children Sarah, eight, Kayla, 13, and Abie, 17.

And the family were enjoying a super start to their Blackpool break.

“We couldn’t have asked for any better,” said Jill.

“The children are loving it.

“We were saying before that you’d usually go to Spain for sunshine like this.

“I’d not be surprised if it was a record-breaking day.

“With this weather we’re already talking about booking our next trip.”

With the family baking on the Promenade, the three children were brave enough to take the plunge.

“It’s still really cold,” joked Abie after a quick dip.

Morag Wilson, 51, from Fife was on her family’s annual trip to the World Matchplay Darts at the Winter Gardens.

“We’re here with the grandchildren,” she explained.

“We come every year for the darts.

“What a brilliant bonus to get this weather.

“We live near the beach in Scotland.

“But it doesn’t get like this.

“We’re here every July and the weather is usually good, but rarely this hot.”

But would grandson Tyler, 11, rather be playing in the sun or taking in the action at the oche?

“When it’s like this, I’d rather be outside,” he told The Gazette.

It wasn’t only Scotland which had sent darts fans turned sun-seekers.

Ruth Lee, 57, Chris Lee, 55, Caroline Eccleston, 56, and Tom Eccleston, 59, were in town from Birmingham.

“We get the best of both,” said Ruth. “The darts and the sunshine.”

With temperatures topping 30, some opted to enjoy the shade.

But not this midlands quartet. Ruth added: “Of course it’s not too hot. To enjoy it for one day, it’s great.”

Kate Shane, head of Merlin’s Blackpool cluster of attractions, which include The Tower, Madame Tussaud’s and Sea Life, said: “It’s great to see the sunshine at long last and to see the Promenade packed with visitors enjoying what we have to offer in Blackpool.

“Seaside resorts definitely benefit from good weather and the Merlin attractions in Blackpool are seeing a growth in visitor numbers on last year.

“As the main English school holidays start later this week we are looking forward to numbers increasing further still.”

Claire Smith, who runs the Number One in St Luke’s Road, is head of hoteliers group Stay Blackpool.

She believes the sunshine is a welcome boost at the start of a busy summer and told The Gazette the resort had been busy this week, with schools north of the border already breaking up.

She said: “Isn’t it wonderful having the darts in town, always a bumper event, and sunshine for all those attending to enjoy?

“They’ll go home and tell people what a wonderful time they had and spread the word.

“This kind of weather at the start of the summer is just what we needed. People’s habits have changed.

“They make last-minute decisions and the weather is a big factor.

“The timing for this spell of sunshine is brilliant for us.

“Why go abroad?

“Why go through all he hassle at the airport when you can go an hour down the road and everything is there for you.”

Blackpool Council has reminded those enjoying the sunshine – and those working outdoors – to take basic steps to avoid long-term damage.

Their beach patrol team and other outdoor workers have been given hats and SPF50 sunscreen to protect against over-exposure.

Coun Amy Cross said: “Everyone is at risk of sun damage and skin cancer but outdoor workers are at a higher risk as they spend more time exposed to UV radiation.

“Getting painful sunburn just once every two years can triple the risk of the most deadly form of skin cancer, malignant melanoma which means sun safety at work is essential.”

With holidaymakers stripping off on the sands, those working for extended periods outdoors have been reminded to stay covered up, wear a hat covering their ears and neck, use at least factor 30 sunscreen and drink plenty of water.

Today’s forecast is for cooler conditions, around 23 degrees, with showers throughout the day.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for potentially heavy rain connected with thunder storms.

For the rest of the week temperatures are expected to remain in the low twenties with dry but cloudier conditions.


A 12-year-old girl has died after being found unresponsive at Cala Gran Holiday Park in Fleetwood at 9.40pm on Monday.

The girl was treated by paramedics before being taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, where she died a short time later, a spokeswoman for Lancashire Police said.

Her death is currently being treated as ‘unexplained’, and a post-mortem examination is due to be carried out to establish a cause of death, she added.

Eyewitnesses said a caravan at the park was taped off by police, and officers remained at the scene throughout Tuesday.

No arrests have been made.

A spokesman for Cala Gran Holiday Park said: “Emergency services were called to the park on Monday evening to tend to a 12-year-old female guest who later passed away.

“This is a tragic incident, and our heartfelt condolences go to the girl’s family, who we have offered our support to.”

A Fleetwood man drove with drugs in his system a court decided.

David Hawkes, 52, of Broadway, denied driving a Nissan Micra on Peel Road, Fleetwood, on March 4 while unfit through drugs but he was found guilty of the offence by Blackpool magistrates after a trial.

He was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment suspended for 18 months with up to 30 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service, banned from driving for 48 months and ordered to pay £200 costs with £80 victims’ surcharge.

• A man was unable to attend court because he was ill.

Peter Bandy, 41, of Salisbury Avenue, Knott End, who is accused of being drunk and disorderly had his case adjourned.

• A drunken driver seriously injured a pedestrian while committing his third offence of driving with excess alcohol.

Christopher Pawson collided with a man walking along Tithebarn Street, Poulton, after losing control of his car one afternoon when he was two-and-a-half times over the limit.

Pawson, a 28-year-old joiner, of Mains Lane, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

He was sentenced to a 12 months community order, told to do 100 hours unpaid work for the community, disqualified from driving for 40 months and ordered to pay £85 costs with £60 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

The court was told that on January 16 about 4.30pm Pawson was driving a Fiat Punto in Poulton when he collided with a pedestrian on the pavement, knocking him down an embankment.

Prosecutor, Jim Mowbray, said: “He collided with a pedestrian and that person suffered serious injuries and has been in hospital for a significant period of time.”

Police smelt alcohol on his breath at the accident scene and a breath test showed he had 56 micrograms of alcohol in his body - 35 is the limit.

He had two previous convictions for drink-driving from 2006 and 2008

Stephen Duffy, defending, said the day of the accident there had been torrential rain and it then turned very cold. Water tended to pool on that road and Pawson did not know whether his car skidded on ice or hydroplaned.

Pawson had tended to the victim and called an ambulance. At the police station his thoughts were not for himself but only for the accident victim and he repeatedly asked about his injuries and welfare. He had now written the victim a letter.

Pawson had suffered from depression previously, been prescribed anti-depressants and gone to Alcoholics Anonymous.

In a report to the court, probation officer Lesley Whittaker, said the day of the offence Pawson had drunk two cans and two bottles of lager.

He had arranged a night out in Manchester and was on his way to the train station.

He said he had felt fit to drive.

An elderly driver raced down the M55 at speeds of more than 115mph and ignored the flashing lights of a chasing police car – because he was desperate for the toilet.

The man, who police say was in his 70s, was seen tearing down the motorway in his Hyundai before pulling into Tesco supermarket at Clifton Retail Park to use the loo.

He told police he saw their flashing lights but didn’t stop because he was so desperate to spend a penny.

But his decision will now likely cost him much more – and possibly his licence – after he was hit with a summons for speeding offences.

Bemused officers with Lancs Road Police tweeted after the incident: “Car doing over 115mph on the M55 and then refused to stop for the Police as the driver needed the toilet.#Team3Rpu.”

They published a picture of the car parked up in Tesco.

A Lancashire Police spokesman could not confirm today whether the man, who has not been named, was allowed to use the toilet before he was collared by police.

A spokesman said: “A patrol car came on to the M55 at junction 3 and saw the Hyundai in the outside lane at high speed driving towards Blackpool. We followed him and signalled for him to stop at junction four.

“He didn’t stop – but didn’t speed off either – and turned towards Tesco.

“We again signalled for him to stop and caught up with him at the retail park.

“A man in his 70s has now been reported for summons for speeding offences.

“He told us he knew we were there but was desperate for the toilet so didn’t stop.”

In a notorious case, former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was been found not guilty of illegally driving on a motorway hard shoulder after he told a court he was rushing to get to a lavatory.

Magistrates agreed with the Manchester United manager’s defence that it was an “emergency,” and they cleared the 57-year-old.

Bury Magistrates Court had been told that Sir Alex had been suffering from severe diarrhoea when the incident took place in February 1999 on the M602, in Eccles, Greater Manchester.

A tip-off put police on the trail of a drink-driver.

James Booth, 38, of Thornton Hall Mews, Skippool Road, Thornton, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

Jim Mowbray, prosecuting, said police received information about a VW Golf being driven in Blackpool town centre on July 3 at 5.10am.

Minutes later, a patrol spotted Booth driving the car on Dickson Road. He was in the wrong lane going straight ahead.

A breath test showed 42 micrograms of alcohol – 35 is the limit.

Booth, who had no previous convictions, said he had gone into town to meet friends. He said he had stopped drinking about 11pm.

He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £120 with £85 costs by magistrates.

Unemployment has remained flat across the Fylde coast despite national figures for June showing a record number of people in work.

But staff at local Jobcentres have said vacancies locally are coming up and a series of schemes to help people find work are to be run.

Nationally, 1.65 million people were unemployed, down 201,000 compared with a year ago, giving a jobless rate of 4.9 per cent – the lowest since the summer of 2005.

The employment rate reached a record high of 74.4 per cent, with 31.7 million people in work of some kind.

In the Blackpool North and Cleveleys constituency 1,430 were claiming work age benefits ,the same rate as last year.

In Blackpool South the figure was 2,040, 0.2 per cent up on the same month last year.

Fylde’s figure was 615 claimants, 0.1 per cent up, Lancaster and Fleetwood was 930, 0.1 per cent up, while Wyre and Preston North was 360, unchanged on last year.

Karl Worsley from Blackpool’s Jobcentre Plus said 20 more people had become benefits claimants in the area since the previous month.

He said: “We have been really busy with a number of new jobs coming in. We have just had a woman who runs care homes come to us today and ask us to put on a jobs information day in the next few weeks as she is looking to recruit. We have been working with a local training provider on sector-based work academies to get people trained up for the workplace.

“In the coming months we will be working with the DWP on recruitment for the Personal Independence Payments programme.

“They will be looking to recruit around 50 staff in August and a further recruitment in September. We are going to run some sessions in the Job Centre on civil service recruitment, to show what it takes to get a career in the civil service and about helping people assess the skills they have got, the things they have done while in employment and recording those transferable skills to help get a new job.”

Police have suggested their search for a ‘body’ in a garden in Thornton may be wound down.

Officers arrived at the semi-detached house in Knowsley Crescent last Monday having received what they described at the time as ‘credible’ reports a body might be buried there.

Since then a team, led by Detective Inspector Paddy O’Neill, has been digging in the garden at the rear of the property.

Police officers and crime scene investigators have been at the scene 24-hours a day during the dig.

After more than 10 days at the scene, Lancashire Police confirmed today that nothing significant had yet been found.

A spokesman said: “After an extensive search operation using specialist search techniques there is so far no indication of anything of significance at the address.

“While we keep an open mind and remain at the address the operation may be wound down over the next couple of days.”