Barrie White

Plans submitted to Cheshire West Council propose creating a 10-by-20-metre wildlife pond, up to 1.5 metres deep, at New House Farm in Shocklach near Malpas. The pond is intended to benefit great crested newts, amphibians and other wildlife under Natural England’s District Licensing Scheme. The application states that the site has no ecological, archaeological, flooding, landscape or public-rights-of-way constraints, and that construction would involve removing only grassland, with machinery using existing gates and tracks.

The Cheshire Ice Cream Farm has applied to Cheshire West and Chester Council to build four two- to three-bedroom accommodation lodges at its Newton Lane site in Tattenhall. The business says visitor numbers fell to 391,247 in 2023 from 400,000 in 2022 and remain well below the pre-Covid average of about 750,000, creating a need for additional income. The proposal is intended to increase overnight stays, support wider Cheshire tourism and act as an attraction-led pilot for a broader regional accommodation strategy.

Alice Preston of Kelsall, who has terminal breast cancer, and her husband Richard presented a £16,590 cheque to Maggie’s Manchester Cancer Centre at The Christie after a birthday fundraising appeal. Preston had initially aimed to raise £1,000 instead of receiving birthday gifts, but donations from friends, family, school contacts and anonymous supporters exceeded £16,000. She said Maggie’s had provided valuable benefits advice and cancer support, and that the funds would help others and their families access individual and group sessions.

Bishops' Blue Coat CE High School reported GCSE results well above national averages, with 29% of grades at levels 7–9 and 80.9% at grade 4 or above, compared with national averages of 23.1% and 70.7%. English and mathematics pass rates were 86% and 83%, respectively. Headteacher Helen Cairns and the head of Year 11 praised students, staff and families, while several pupils were recognised for exceptional grades, progress and post-16 opportunities including sixth-form places, scholarships and apprenticeships.

The Choir of Man musical theatre production drew a near-capacity press-night audience at Storyhouse Chester and received a highly positive review. Combining pub-themed staging, audience participation, comedy and songs by artists including Guns N' Roses, Paul Simon, Adele, The Proclaimers and Bon Jovi, the show is praised for overcoming the reviewer's initial skepticism about idealized pub culture. Its partnership with CALM also gives the entertainment a broader message about the loss of community spaces and men's mental health. The production runs at Storyhouse until Saturday and receives 4.5 out of 5.

Kieron Hughes, 38, of Pentre, pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates Court to driving while over the legal drug limit after being stopped on the M56 in Chester on March 1. A roadside test detected benzoylecgonine, a cocaine breakdown product, at about 1.5 times the legal limit. Hughes says he was unaware of the drug because he may have been spiked through a cigarette or drink. The court granted him until September 29 to provide evidence at a special reasons hearing.

Four fire crews, including two fire engines and two specialist animal rescue units, responded to Little Stanney Lane near Chester after two bulls became trapped in a ditch. Firefighters freed one bull manually and used farm machinery to remove the other, after which both animals were returned to their owner.

Cheshire Wildlife Trust's Pinc Woodlands campus at Bickley Farm near Malpas offers neurodivergent young people aged 16–24 with Education, Health and Care Plans the opportunity to work toward Level 2 and Level 3 countryside and wildlife qualifications. Students gain hands-on conservation experience in woodlands and other farm habitats while developing confidence and independence. The campus is enrolling for September and offers visits for prospective students.

A Volkswagen car was left hanging over a car park fence on St Oswald’s Way in Chester at around 7pm on Monday. An eyewitness speculated that the driver may have selected Drive instead of Reverse, while police blocked the lane below and spoke with witnesses.

Deva Fest attracted around 10,000 visitors per day during its four-day run at Cholmondeley Castle and organisers estimate it generated up to £3.5 million for the Cheshire economy. Visitor spending benefited accommodation, hospitality, transport, retail and local suppliers. The festival combined headline music performances with comedy, family activities, fairground rides, camping, food and drink, and more than 50 on-site traders. Organisers attributed its growing appeal to strong attendance, high-profile artists and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Marina McHale, a kitchen assistant at Crabwall Hall Care Home in Chester, received a 10-year Service Award from Barchester Healthcare. Colleagues Adele Keenan and Kirsty Jones praised her dedication to residents and the care home, which provides residential, respite and long-term care for 38 people.

Nantwich-based event rider Michael Owen is preparing for his 13th appearance at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials in Lincolnshire, where he will ride his 11-year-old gelding Darwin. The pair previously completed their first five-star event at the Badminton Horse Trials, finishing 28th, and Owen believes Darwin’s jumping ability and carefully managed preparation make him well suited to Burghley. The 2025 event is scheduled for September 3–6.

Cheshire Police confirmed that an investigation remains ongoing after a phone camera was allegedly pushed into a neighbouring changing-room cubicle where a 16-year-old girl was getting dressed at Chester’s Northgate Arena on June 24. The phone’s holder had not been arrested by August 17, and police appealed for information through their 101 service or website.

Countess of Chester Country Park has won a Green Flag Award for the ninth consecutive year, joining 2,391 recognized sites across the UK. The award acknowledges the park's high standards of management, community value and contribution to health and wellbeing. Volunteers, the hospital, Parkrun and other partners were credited with supporting the site, which also won Community Space of the Year and recently marked 10 years of hosting Chester Parkrun. A new flail mower, loaned by the Life for a Life Memorial Forest charity, will assist with maintenance.

Natalie Goode and her family say Joel Golding’s three-year prison sentence for inflicting grievous bodily harm is inadequate and want it reviewed or increased. Golding attacked Goode, his former partner, after months of court delays caused by changes in legal representation and a late guilty plea. Goode says she continues to suffer severe physical and psychological effects, including further surgery, and feels denied the chance to make her victim impact views known. The Crown Prosecution Service dropped an assault-by-beating charge but said the remaining guilty pleas properly reflected the seriousness of the offending. Golding is also subject to a ten-year restraining order preventing contact with Goode.

Two Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service engines from Crewe and Congleton attended an electrical pylon fire on Lawton Road in Alsager at about 6:50 a.m. on Friday. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used a hose reel to extinguish the blaze and cool the surrounding area, while thermal imaging cameras checked for hotspots. The road was closed during the incident.

Kyle Nolan, 25, of Crewe, was arrested on suspicion of new sexual offences and breaching a sexual harm prevention order. Cheshire Police said he was charged with two breaches of the order, making indecent images of children, and possessing prohibited images of children. He was remanded in custody pending an appearance at Chester Crown Court on September 3.

Zizzi restaurants in Chester and Cheshire Oaks are offering A-Level and GCSE students a free Classic Pizza on Results Day, subject to showing their 2026 exam results and buying a soft drink. The offer is limited to the first 30 students at participating locations, with 50% off a Classic Pizza available until 5pm if the free pizzas run out. Students can choose from several pizza varieties, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

Pura, the Chester-based baby-care business founded by Guy and Abi Fennell, has appointed Dave Lawson as managing director. Lawson, who previously led AO.com and advised e-commerce businesses, will oversee day-to-day operations and focus on expanding Pura internationally through retail partnerships, Amazon and complementary product categories. The founders expect his appointment to accelerate revenue growth, improve profitability and strengthen the brand's position in global markets.

Speedy Freight’s Chester operation, based in Tarvin, has been shortlisted for two 2026 national awards: Franchisor of the Year (Established) at the British Franchise Association Awards and the Customer Service Award at the Supply Chain Excellence Awards. Group franchise director Michael Wilson credited the company’s franchise owners, colleagues and support teams, as well as investment in technology and operational support. The business won a bronze award in the BFA category in 2025, with this year’s winners due to be announced in November in London and Telford.

Beresford Adams is marketing a four-bedroom detached house in Hough Green, Chester, for £650,000 with no onward chain. The property backs onto open parkland and includes multiple reception rooms, a sunroom, kitchen, utility room, integral and detached garages, ample parking, a private garden and potential for modernization or reconfiguration.

A car fire on Riverside Walk in Neston prompted a response from fire crews from Ellesmere Port and Chester at 3:55 p.m. on Friday. The fire was already out when crews arrived, but firefighters used a thermal imaging camera to check for hotspots and make the scene safe.

Beresford Adams is marketing a renovated two-bedroom home in Higher Kinnerton for £215,000. The property has off-street parking, a garden, upgraded kitchen and bathroom, new flooring, and no onward chain. It is located near Chester, the Chester Business Park, the A55 and Broughton Retail Park, with local shops, schools and public transport nearby.

A Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service engine from Chester attended a small fire on a footpath near River Lane in Saltney after 10:40 p.m. Firefighters extinguished it using a water backpack and checked for any spread with a thermal imaging camera.

Eight defendants were sentenced at Chester Crown Court for defrauding five vulnerable and elderly people in Ellesmere Port, Rochdale, Coventry and Corby. Michael Doran received 55 months in prison and Liam Bayley 43 months, while Terri-Lee Readman, Rebecca Field, Bradley Carroll, Lynn Strange and Jessica Strange received suspended sentences; another defendant, who was 16 when offending, also received a suspended sentence. The fraudsters posed as roof workers, pressured victims into handing over cheques or withdrawing cash, and stole tens of thousands of pounds, including approximately £66,000 from Richard Thurstans. Cheshire Police detective Rob Mackay was praised for leading the lengthy investigation, and police urged other fraud victims to report offences.

University of Chester students Ruby Jones and Sam Gill won first and second place, respectively, in a marketing competition focused on attracting more 18- to 25-year-old visitors to Chester Zoo. After developing strategies through field research and a zoo visit, they were rewarded with the chance to feed Humboldt penguins. Chester Business School and Chester Zoo said the project gave students practical experience in research, creativity and strategic thinking while supporting the zoo’s marketing and conservation-related visitor engagement.

Eight defendants were sentenced at Chester Crown Court for defrauding five vulnerable people in 2023. Michael Doran and Liam Bayley received immediate prison sentences of 45 and 43 months respectively for targeting victims, including Ellesmere Port resident Richard Thurstans, who has learning difficulties, and Leith Burkes, who has dementia. The offenders used claims about roof repairs to obtain blank cheques, bank cards and cash withdrawals, leaving victims with substantial losses and lasting distress. Six other defendants received suspended or custodial sentences for their roles in facilitating the fraud or handling its proceeds. Judge Steven Everett condemned the crimes as “truly despicable and utterly shameful.” A proceeds of crime hearing is scheduled for January 2027.

Neil Jones, 48, of Liverpool, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court to two years and three months in prison after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, assault, common assault and threatening people with a hammer during a road rage incident at Coliseum Shopping Park in Ellesmere Port. He nearly struck a family while driving at speed, confronted one of the adults, brandished a claw hammer and then reversed into another vehicle, trapping a man before fleeing. Jones also received a separate two-year sentence for causing death by careless driving in an unrelated Merseyside Police case, bringing his total sentence to four years and three months.

Beresford Adams is marketing a four-bedroom, three-storey home at Devana Gardens in Chester for £425,000. The property features an open-plan kitchen and living area, bi-fold doors opening onto a private rear garden, a family bathroom, additional facilities, and a driveway for three to four vehicles. It is located in a quiet cul-de-sac near Chester city centre, schools and local amenities.

Tyler Mairs and Alfie Balaam, both 19 and from the Wrexham area, pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates Court to affray arising from a six-man fight in Eastgate Street. The court heard that both men punched others after an altercation began with another group. They had no previous convictions, and their lawyer said they accepted responsibility and were employed. Magistrates ordered all-options pre-sentence reports and granted unconditional bail, with sentencing scheduled for August 21.

Residents at Prospect House Care Home in Malpas took part in their first gentle Zumba class, led by instructor Maritza Santos de Taylor. The session used upbeat music and movements adapted for seated and standing participation, enabling residents with different mobility levels to join in. The care home said the activity promoted enjoyment, confidence, social interaction and emotional wellbeing as part of its broader programme.

Children aged five to 15 will be able to travel free on participating bus services across Cheshire West and Chester throughout August 2026 under the Government’s Summer Bus Fare Offer. The scheme includes iTravel routes and council-funded Park & Ride services, requires no registration, and is intended to reduce holiday travel costs, congestion and car use. Families are advised to check participating routes with local bus operators.

Panda Mami on Newgate Street in Chester has been shortlisted for the 10th International Asian Restaurant Awards in Manchester, alongside four other restaurants from Cheshire. The awards, organized by the Asian Catering Federation, will recognize restaurants and takeaways across a wide range of Asian cuisines, with winners selected by a judging panel after a popular vote. Federation chairman Yawar Khan also called for continued government support for small hospitality businesses, including cuts to business rates and food costs and changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain rules.

Terrence O’Neil, 42, of Crewe, was sentenced to five years in prison at Chester Crown Court after pleading guilty to arranging sexual activity with a child, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He had communicated online with someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl, made sexual comments, and arranged to meet her. Police arrested him after evidence of the communications was passed to them.

Chester Racecourse will host its Midsummer Meeting on Saturday, July 25, featuring seven races, a pony race for young riders, live entertainment and seasonal floral displays. Gates open at noon, with racing scheduled from 1:53pm to 5:33pm. Chester Race Company chief operating officer Steve Davies described the meeting as a popular summer fixture, with admission, hospitality and dining packages available through the racecourse website.

A 22‑year‑old man named Jamie Spencer has been charged with a section 18 assault following an incident in Chester in which a man sustained serious injuries. After appearing at Chester Magistrates Court, he was remanded in custody to appear at Chester Crown Court on August 19. Cheshire Police confirmed the case would proceed to crown court.

A 77-year-old woman, Ann Johnson, died after being struck by a car on Black Lane in Macclesfield on July 2, passing away five days later in hospital. Her family described being devastated and remembered her as a caring mother, grandmother and friend. They expressed gratitude to those who assisted at the scene, the Air Ambulance crew, and staff at Manchester Royal Infirmary. Police continue to investigate and are seeking witnesses or information.

A 19-year-old Ellesmere Port man, William Cubbins, received a suspended sentence at Chester Crown Court after pleading guilty to possessing ketamine with intent to supply, cannabis possession, and possession of criminal property. The court heard he was arrested three times between March and June, with police recovering multiple snap bags of ketamine valued at around £1,000. His defence cited his early guilty pleas, young age, personal difficulties, and drug addiction. Judge Simon Berkson imposed a 12‑month sentence suspended for 18 months, alongside rehabilitation days, unpaid work, and drug treatment, urging Cubbins to avoid returning to court and take the opportunity to change course.

Cheshire firefighters extinguished a small deliberately set fire on Ventora Close in Ellesmere Port and alerted police after confirming the blaze had been intentionally started.

Firefighters from Chester and Powey Lane extinguished a kitchen fire on Somerset Road using breathing apparatus, a hose reel jet and a high‑pressure fan to ventilate the property.

Fire crews from Cheshire and Shropshire extinguished a campervan and horsebox fire in Malpas during the early hours of Thursday, using hose reel jets before handing the incident over to police.

Two University of Chester history students presented research based on archival materials during the Chester Festival of Ideas, highlighting key moments from the institution’s 187-year history. Their work examined student life, teacher education, and early educational reform linked to an 1842 sermon by Canon James Slade. University staff praised the students’ contributions and the hands-on learning opportunities provided through the Curious Chester module.

An 18-year-old from Liscard was fined after admitting two racially aggravated public order offences against Merseyrail revenue officers in incidents at Little Sutton station and two days later on another train. The court heard he used racial slurs, became aggressive, and threatened staff. His defence cited ADHD and autism. The judge imposed a £320 fine, additional costs, and compensation to both victims, noting his youth and lack of prior convictions.

Police arrested 12 people in coordinated early morning raids across Cheshire, Merseyside, Cumbria and Humberside as part of Operation Clocked, a long-running investigation into an organised crime group suspected of large-scale drug supply and money laundering. More than 250 officers executed warrants targeting individuals across multiple locations, including two suspects brought from prison. All remain in custody on suspicion of serious offences. Investigators highlighted the harmful impact of illegal drugs and emphasized efforts to disrupt supply chains and hold offenders accountable while urging the public to report suspected drug-related activity.

A man from Ellesmere Port received a two-year community order and was placed on the sex offenders register for five years after pleading guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with individuals he believed were underage girls. The interactions were with decoy accounts run by a vigilante group, which later provided the evidence to police. The judge cited high culpability due to soliciting images but low harm as none were sent, and imposed rehabilitation requirements, financial penalties, and a sexual harm prevention order.

A 68-year-old man from Ellesmere Port was fined by Chester Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to religiously aggravated harassment for verbally abusing Farhan Patel during a heated allotment meeting. Prosecutors said the comments caused distress, while the defence noted an early guilty plea and disputed some phrasing attributed to the defendant. Magistrates determined the offence crossed the community threshold but issued a financial penalty due to his age and lack of similar previous convictions. He received an uplifted Band D fine, an £80 surcharge, £85 in costs, and £100 compensation to the victim.

Police welcomed an indeterminate hospital order given to Simon Carter for the diminished‑responsibility manslaughter of his mother, after extensive CCTV, forensic, and medical evidence supported the case. Investigators noted Carter’s erratic behaviour and mental health issues, while family members discovered the victim after losing contact. A postmortem confirmed multiple head and neck injuries, and relatives described the victim as strong and protective.

Two Wetherspoon pubs in Chester will run a 10‑day craft cider festival featuring a range of UK ciders priced at £2.99 per pint, with taster options and digital tasting notes available. Manager Shaun Pearce highlights the chance to showcase less familiar craft ciders to customers.