Jessica Barnes

Widnes resident Amanda Seddon lost two stone and 11 pounds after joining Slimming World at Ditton Community Centre in January. Motivated by a desire to be a healthy grandmother, she reportedly feels more confident and healthier and encourages others seeking weight loss to join the programme.

A Widnes primary school celebrated year five pupil Elliott Buckley ringing the hospital bell to mark the end of a phase of treatment for paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma. After months of intensive care and time away from school, Elliott gradually returned as his condition improved. Headteacher Karl Landrum praised his bravery and the unwavering support of his family, highlighting how their openness strengthened the school community.

Fire crews from Widnes and Penketh responded to a home on Albert Road after a smoke alarm alerted to a kitchen fire caused by an unattended pan. The fire was already out when they arrived, and a high‑pressure fan was used to clear remaining smoke.

The YMCA charity shop at Runcorn Shopping City will close permanently next Thursday after years of serving the community. Retail operations manager Clare Glynne-Jones expressed sadness over the closure and thanked local supporters for their donations and patronage. Residents are encouraged to continue supporting YMCA programmes through nearby locations, including the Rainhill charity shop in St Helens.

Halton Libraries is offering more than 100 free holiday events for families, including craft sessions, story times, circus workshops, table tennis and Junkbot building. The programme encourages families to take part in varied activities aimed at promoting learning, creativity and enjoyable shared experiences.

A bereaved Widnes couple lost access to Child Bereavement UK counselling after the charity’s merger with Winston’s Wish, leaving them without support despite ongoing trauma following the death of their baby. Their scheduled sessions were abruptly cancelled, including in-person appointments, and they received no further communication. The couple expressed distress at being turned away, while Child Bereavement UK apologised, explaining the transition to a new digital-first model intended to expand access and maintain high-quality bereavement services.

A Widnes family moved home after repeated threats from neighbour Michael Maloney, who shouted violent threats at them in front of their child. Maloney pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour at Warrington Magistrates Court, where prosecutors described a long‑running dispute and the impact the incident had on the family’s anxiety and daily life. The court imposed an 18‑month community order, 200 hours of unpaid work, financial penalties and a restraining order preventing further contact.

A Runcorn-born entrepreneur, Liam Gallagher, has launched Stamplo, an online pen pal platform designed to recreate traditional letter‑writing for children aged seven to fourteen while prioritizing safety. The system requires parental identity verification, dual parental approval for messages and connections, and removes real‑time communication features. Safeguards include encrypted data, stripped photo metadata, and visible Childline access. Stamplo has grown to users in more than sixty countries, with notable engagement between children in the US and UK, as well as Hungary and Japan. The platform is also being explored for corporate use and adopted by schools in France and Kenya for language learning.