Grace Williams

Students at St James’s Church of England High School in Farnworth celebrated strong 2026 GCSE results, with 54% achieving grade 5 or above in both English and Maths and 72% achieving grade 4 or above. Lily Cunningham, Chioma Iloka, Maria Bento, Skyla Redford, Evie Maher and Peter Jide-James described their results and outlined plans for further study, including ambitions in dentistry, medicine, mathematics, psychology, journalism and software engineering. Executive Headteacher Cath Anderson praised the students, teachers, support staff and families for their hard work and support.

A nearly year-long Greater Manchester Police investigation into a suspected organized crime group culminated in 12 dawn raids across Bolton and Tameside. Nine people—eight men and one woman aged 20 to 56—were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. Police seized suspected cocaine, including around two kilograms at a Great Lever property and four bags totaling more than four kilograms from a storage container, along with approximately £50,000 in cash and other equipment. The investigation remains ongoing, with further arrests possible.

Greater Manchester Police arrested nine people during 12 raids in Bolton and Tameside targeting Operation Adela, an alleged organised crime group believed to have supplied more than 200kg of drugs across England, Scotland and Wales. Officers seized about 4kg of suspected Class A drugs, approximately £50,000 in cash, mobile phones, cash-counting machines and a safe. Police said 36kg of Class A drugs had been recovered during the investigation, with cocaine and heroin believed to be the main substances involved. Further arrests are expected as the investigation continues.

Bolton-based charity campaigner Krish Patel has begun a 900-mile journey from Land’s End to John o’ Groats, aiming to become the first person to complete the route by skipping. He plans to cover the equivalent of 40 marathons in 40 days while raising £520,000 for 52 Lives and promoting its School of Kindness. The campaign also invites schools, organisations and the public to participate through Skipathons, sponsorships and stories of kindness.

St Peter’s C.E. Primary in Farnworth launched a four-week summer holiday club with funding from the Holiday Activities and Food programme to address local childcare needs. Children eligible for free school meals attend free, while other places cost £20 per day. Attendance grew to 30–35 children daily, with flexible booking and places for children starting Reception. Existing school staff ran the club, providing continuity for families, while Tesco contributed food and prizes. Headteacher Jenny Scott said the programme had been a significant community success and hoped it could continue.

The Totally Taylor – The Ultimate Tribute Show will perform at Victoria Hall on Knowsley Street in Bolton on August 21 at 7 p.m. The event will feature Taylor Swift hits including “Shake It Off” and “…Ready for It?” and aims to recreate the energy of her concerts. Tickets are available through TicketSource. The announcement also highlights Swift’s global success and the record-breaking $2.077 billion gross of her Eras Tour.

A driver was arrested in Halliwell, Bolton, after allegedly failing to stop for Greater Manchester Police officers, abandoning the vehicle and attempting to flee on foot. Police said the driver had no insurance or substantive driving licence and was arrested on suspicion of failing to stop, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and driving without relevant insurance. The report also highlights a recent Bolton traffic operation in which officers stopped 15 to 20 vehicles and issued 10 tickets.

Greater Manchester Police officers from the Bolton North Neighbourhood Team seized Class A drugs during a Section 8 warrant at a Halliwell property on August 9. A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply and later bailed pending further enquiries. Police appealed for information through Crimestoppers. The warrant followed a separate police response to a suspected knife attack in Halliwell several days earlier.

A man suffered serious injuries consistent with a knife wound during an incident in Spinning Meadows, Halliwell, Bolton. Greater Manchester Police attended alongside ambulance crews and an air ambulance, but no arrests had been made by Saturday afternoon. Eyewitness claims that a machete or bikes were involved remained unconfirmed, and the investigation was continuing.

Bolton’s mobile Holiday Activity and Food programme is providing children with free meals, activities and childcare during the summer holidays, taking services into deprived neighbourhoods through six vans. At a Queen’s Park session, Education Minister Paul Waugh, charity Urban Outreach, MP Kirith Entwistle and Bolton Council representatives highlighted the programme’s role in reducing food and childcare pressures, supporting children’s wellbeing and building friendships. More than 500,000 children benefited nationally last summer, and the government plans to invest £600 million over three years to continue the scheme.

Greater Manchester Mayor Bev Craig announced in Bolton that free Bee Network bus travel will be extended from 16–18-year-olds to all children aged 11–16 from January 2027, potentially benefiting 200,000 young people and saving families up to £500 per child annually. Applications will open later this year, while the existing Our Pass scheme already serves more than 50,000 young people. Craig also outlined new Bee Network routes and expanded night services, alongside a £20 million high-street scheme intended to support small businesses and town-centre regeneration. Young people and dementia campaigner Joy Watson welcomed the measures.

The Saddle pub on Lee Lane in Horwich has reached the top 10 finalists in The Bolton News Best Pub 2026 competition after receiving reader votes. Landlady Chantelle Jones, who took over the Amber Taverns-run pub in 2021, has introduced drinks offers and plans further improvements. The pub is known for its friendly atmosphere, drinks selection, karaoke, live music and televised sporting events, with voting for the overall winner open until August 1.

Laura Tunstall, 31, completed a 43-mile, 15-hour walk across Bolton in memory of her father, Glenn, who died of bowel cancer 15 years ago aged 52. Joined by family and friends, she visited places important to his life and raised more than £3,200 for The Christie cancer centre, surpassing her original £777 target. The challenge took place in temperatures reaching 33°C and formed part of Laura’s continuing fundraising efforts in her father’s memory.

An archaeological excavation of the historic Two Lads Cairns on Bolton’s Smithills Estate will run from August 3 to 14, alongside accessible walks, public open days, guided bus tours and volunteer dig sessions. The Woodland Trust revised restoration plans after public consultation so the cairns will reflect several stages of their development rather than a single historical period. The programme will also promote the history, wildlife and conservation of Winter Hill, with further guided walks and potential school education sessions planned for 2026 and 2027.

A visit to Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm Shop and The Farmer’s Dog in the Cotswolds finds the farm shop extremely busy, with long queues, while the quieter Big View Café offers good-value food, including a British beef burger, and farm-linked drinks. The Farmer’s Puppy, a walk-in tent beside the pub, is praised for its lively atmosphere, large outdoor space and locally sourced menu. The experience is presented as evidence of Clarkson’s success in promoting British farming and supporting related businesses, though visitors are advised to plan ahead for parking and restaurant bookings.

An unauthorised encampment of around 10 caravans remains at Moss Bank Park after Bolton Council issued directions under Section 77 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. The council said it would check compliance and seek a court order if necessary. The park's funfair also closed temporarily after reported incidents of antisocial behaviour involving children. The report notes that the council has spent more than £19,000 removing unauthorised encampments from its land over the past two years, while stressing that Gypsies and Travellers are protected from discrimination under equality legislation.

A 14-year-old boy from Bolton has been identified and is assisting police after a hoax threat was made against a Qatar Airways flight travelling to Manchester Airport. Greater Manchester Police, the Royal Air Force and airport authorities responded, with RAF Typhoons scrambled from Lincolnshire. The aircraft landed safely, no passengers or crew were threatened, and police said the false report could lead to serious consequences.

A 50-kilometre backyard ultramarathon-style fundraiser will take place in Breightmet on Saturday, with up to 100 runners completing five-kilometre loops each hour for up to 10 hours. Organized by Performance Unit owner Joel Cooper, the event aims to raise £20,000 for families affected by the January Wigan Road crash, which killed four people and seriously injured four taxi passengers. Local businesses have provided sponsorship, while stalls, homemade baking and live music will support fundraising throughout the day.

A Place For Us Theatre will stage an outdoor double bill of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet and Hamlet at Smithills Hall in Bolton on Saturday, July 25. Romeo & Juliet begins at 4pm, followed by a new 70-minute adaptation of Hamlet at 6pm. The performances are open to audiences aged nine and over, will proceed in all weather, and include violence, stage blood and suicide themes. Adult, child and family tickets are available, with attendees encouraged to bring picnic seating.

Boots will close its Bolton Gates branch on August 21 as part of redevelopment plans for the Crompton Place shopping centre. Staff have been offered roles at other nearby branches, and the retailer highlights continued access to services in the town centre. The closure aligns with Bolton Council’s £250 million regeneration project, which includes new housing, a hotel and workspace. Assistant manager Joanne Hulme expressed sadness over the closure after a decade at the store.

A 75‑year‑old Bolton man, Trevor Hilton, died following an incident at a property on Ormrod Street, prompting a murder investigation. His family described him as a kind and humorous father and grandfather with a “heart of gold,” requesting privacy as they grieve. Greater Manchester Police confirmed a woman has been charged in connection with his death.

An eight-year-old girl from Harwood, Harper Longworth, raised £1,458 and donated 13 inches of her hair to the Little Princess Trust to support children experiencing hair loss. Her contribution will fund the creation of a real-hair wig, while her hair will be used directly for another child. Her mother noted the community support and Harper’s pride in helping others. The charity provides wigs to young people up to age 24 and supports research into childhood cancers.

Castle Street Police Station, a Grade II listed Victorian building in Bolton, has been restored and repurposed as a campus for OLC Europe, the independent higher‑education provider founded in 1998. Under the leadership of Dr Chris Bamber, the organisation has expanded from short engineering courses to full degree programmes across several disciplines while preserving the building’s historic courtroom and prison cells. The site now hosts law moot courts, community events, and educational programmes developed with partners including the NHS and Bolton Council. Marking its 150th anniversary, OLC is inviting visitors and former users of the building to share stories as part of its ongoing heritage efforts.

Bolton HF Walking Club, founded in 1922, is promoting its summer programme of guided countryside walks across Lancashire, Greater Manchester and the Yorkshire Dales, offering options ranging from gentle rambles to full‑day hikes. Weekly and weekend walks are led by experienced leaders, with detailed July routes provided. The club also hosts social activities and invites newcomers to try several walks before joining, with annual membership costing £12.

A family‑run business, My Greek Street Food, has opened its second location on Lee Lane in Horwich, expanding from its original Salford site. The restaurant, known for its yeeros and gyros, has already drawn thousands of customers and created 10 local jobs. The owners say Horwich’s community spirit made it the ideal place to grow, and they plan to serve the area for years to come. Opening hours run Wednesday through Sunday, with contact details provided for bookings.

A lorry driver suffered serious injuries following a single-vehicle rollover at the M61 and M65 Clayton Brook Interchange around 1.15am. The M61 northbound exit slip road at Junction 9 and parts of the roundabout remain closed as police investigate and recovery teams work at the site. AA Traffic News reported closures due to the overturned lorry, while National Highways confirmed ongoing recovery, clean‑up operations and diversions. Drivers faced delays of up to 15 minutes during the morning rush hour, with disruption continuing for traffic approaching both motorways.

Chris Wormald concluded 43 years as Musical Director of Eagley Band with a packed farewell concert at Bolton Parish Church, celebrating his long-standing impact on the local music community. The sold‑out event featured emotional tributes from musicians, former pupils, civic dignitaries and supporters, reflecting his influence through Eagley Band and the Smithills Bands and Community Choir. Celebrations continued with a gathering of around 70 performers before Wormald departed for his first holiday since 2019.

Bolton is forecast to reach 32C during a UK heatwave, surpassing Ibiza’s expected temperature. The Met Office predicts several days of hot, dry weather across the country, with UV levels remaining high. Amber heat-health alerts have been issued for southern and eastern England, while northern regions are under yellow alerts. Authorities advise precautions as temperatures peak late in the week before moderating by Sunday.

Greater Manchester Police requested public assistance in locating the next of kin of Ian Mitchell, a 67‑year‑old man from Bolton who was found dead at his home in Leigh with no suspicious circumstances reported. Authorities asked anyone with relevant information to contact the Police Coroner's Office to help notify his closest relatives.