Local News

Consumers will see the price of alcohol rise from Saturday when a hike in tax and duties comes into effect.The alcohol tax itself will rise in line with the Retail Price Index at 3.6%, but a new system to tax wines and spirits based on strength will be introduced at the same time. This means the duty on a bottle of gin will rise by 32p, while wine at 14.5% […]

An 18-year-old who crashed his car into a bus stop and seriously injured a four-year-old was sentenced to two years and two months in a young offenders institute.James Doherty, 18, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Friday for causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Judge Peter Blair described the teenager as an "idiot" whose "terrible driving" had led to the incident.He was also banned from driving for four years […]

The UK's benchmark stock index has reached another all-time high, in a month of record breaking.The FTSE 100 index of most valuable companies on the London Stock Exchange closed at 8,666.65, breaking the record set on Thursday night after four consecutive days of rises. January has been the best month in more than two years for the FTSE 100.Money blog: Cheap supermarket tea beats Yorkshire to be named tastiestNot since […]

The judges who oversaw family court proceedings involving Sara Sharif in the years before her death have been named following a Court of Appeal ruling.Judges Alison Raeside, Peter Nathan and Sally Williams were all involved in proceedings related to the 10-year-old between 2013 and 2019.Sara was placed in the home of her father, Urfan Sharif, and her stepmother, Beinash Batool, following the last of three sets of proceedings.The 10-year-old was […]

The furore surrounding Michael Matheson's near £11,000 iPad data roaming bill was "completely blown out of all proportion", according to the shamed MSP.The SNP politician stepped down as Scotland's health secretary last year after questions were raised over the eye-watering invoice. The Falkirk West MSP had initially billed taxpayers before U-turning, claiming the device had only been used for parliamentary work during a family holiday to Morocco.It later emerged his […]

Singer and actress Marianne Faithfull has died at the age of 78.A spokesperson said: "It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of the singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull. "Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family."She will be dearly missed." Image: Marianne Faithfull in 1995. Pic: Reuters Faithfull was best known for her 60s hit As Tears Go By, written […]

It will take "several years" to know "with certainty" the impact of the default 20mph speed limit in Wales, the country's transport secretary has said.But, speaking to Sky News, Ken Skates said new figures released by the Welsh government on Thursday were to be "welcomed". The default speed limit in Wales's built-up areas was reduced to 20mph in September 2023.The latest data shows the number of casualties between July and […]

Sir Keir Starmer has hailed John Prescott's "fighting spirit" ahead of the former deputy prime minister's funeral. Labour grandees, government ministers and MPs, prominent party supporters and trade union leaders are gathering today for the service in Hull Minister. Lord Prescott, who died on 20 November aged 86, was MP for Hull East for 40 years, deputy Labour leader for 13 years and deputy prime minister for the 10 years […]

A small number of Coca-Cola, Sprite and Appletiser cans in the UK have been recalled.It comes after high levels of a chemical by-product from chlorine disinfectants were found in some of the drinks in overseas tests. Batches of Appletiser, Coca-Cola Original Taste, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke and Sprite Zero were pulled from shelves in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands after testing revealed "elevated levels" of chlorate, according to Coca-Cola […]