There was a spirit of David versus Goliath at Metrocentre’s 40th Anniversary Retailer Awards last night, as the mall’s growing number of independents vied with major brands to be crowned Top of the Shops 2026. The annual awards, which are voted for by the public, recognise the colleagues, stores, restaurants, and leisure venues going above and beyond in their approach.

Further cut would save around 6p a litre at the pumps. AA says lower fuel costs could help drivers, businesses and inflation

Business and university leaders have warned that devolution must strengthen the contribution of places to the UK's innovation economy without fragmenting the national capabilities needed to compete globally.

A prostate cancer expert has said statistics showing cancer rates in men under 50 have more than tripled between 2001 and 2023 “should be a wake up call for the UK’s National Screening Committee.” Prof Chris Booth, founder of men’s health charity CHAPS and a former consultant urologist with more than 40 years’ experience said the statistics from The World Cancer Research Fund “endorse the trend CH…

It boasts some of the best views across the city, arguably one of the most desirable city centre locations, just down the road from Leeds Trinity Shopping Centre and amenities you’d expect from a 5* hotel, but this isn’t a new luxury hotel, it’s the city’s latest purpose-built student accommodation tower.

CrossCountry customers encouraged to plan ahead for Christmas travel: Snow at Birmingham New Street Rail passengers travelling this Christmas are being encouraged to plan ahead, as major engineering work will mean no trains can operate to or from Birmingham New Street between Thursday 24 and Monday 28 December 2026.

Dr Zeineb Djebal, Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at the University of Liverpool Management School and Academic Programme Director for the Help to Grow: Management Course. On International Day of Older People, I’m taking a moment to recognise a group that deserves more attention in conversations about entrepreneurship: the over 50s who are building businesses…

The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) has today announced 25 standout projects as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations. This diverse selection of projects stretches across the UK and illustrates what half a century of heritage-led regeneration looks like in practice.

A Gateshead mum's booked-out children's spa is branching out, with a walk-in wellness venture opening at Metrocentre in time for half-term. A children's day spa that has been fully booked since it first opened its doors is expanding into Metrocentre with a new venture aimed at drop-in customers as well as party-goers.

Teenage girls are spending fewer evenings with friends, feeling isolated in their communities and dodging school sport at higher rates than boys, according to a report into England’s “bedroom generation”.  Polling of 15-year-olds for the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) finds that more than one in five girls (21 per cent) now spends no evenings out with friends during a typical week, compared wi…

After some four decades of silence, "Clotherholme's Big Ben" is chiming again, thanks to a new caretaker who gave up his weekends to bring it back to life. For the better part of half a century, the clock above Ripon Grammar School has been right twice a day. Now it is right all the time.

Passengers with mobility scooters are now able to travel on all of the different types of trains in Northern’s fleet with a free permit. It comes after the train operator updated its rules to allow smaller mobility scooters on Class 158 trains.

Dear Editor, Like most of us, I don’t think twice before hopping on a bus or train to go to work, meet friends or do a spot of shopping. However, for millions of people across the country who are deaf or have hearing loss, barriers on public transport can make even every day journeys feel impossible.

Almost all charities surveyed say current funding levels are not keeping pace with costs. Half are considering redundancies, while three-quarters report falling income over the past year.

Grocery bills that have crept up modestly this year are on course for a far sharper rise, with food inflation forecast to almost double by 2027 as extreme weather, energy costs and supply chain disruption converge on the food system.

New polling by Opinium for Carers UK reveals that 3.33 million people have given up work to care for a family member or friend who is older, disabled or seriously ill, with 1.1 million leaving their job in the last two years alone – more than 1,500 people a day.

Passengers across the North will benefit from faster, more reliable journeys thanks to an around £1 billion investment in new trains, as the government puts passengers back at the heart of the railway.

To support customers affected by airline disruption due to the recent air traffic outage, National Rail has agreed some flexibility for ticket holders. Customers can use their rail tickets to travel at alternative times, or get a fee-free refund.