Jessica Mckeown

St Helens is expected to have a largely dry and increasingly sunny weekend. Friday will bring sunny spells and the greatest chance of showers, particularly in the afternoon and early evening, with temperatures around 18°C. Saturday should become dry and sunnier after a small early risk of light rain, while Sunday is forecast to be the warmest and brightest day, reaching about 19°C with only a slight chance of morning precipitation. Winds will remain generally light, and pollen levels are expected to be low.

Rugby league supporters attending St Helens RLFC’s match against Castleford Tigers are being asked to bring donated food for the Hope Centre St Helens Foodbank. The St Helens Borough Mobile Pantry will collect items such as tinned meals, pasta and cereal outside the BrewDog Stadium from 1pm, while donations can also be made at several supermarkets, community centers, a post office and libraries. Organizers say more than 90% of the food distributed by the foodbank comes from public donations.

Merseyside Police is trialling road-legal Stark Varg electric bikes until October 2026 as part of Operation Gears, an effort to combat crime and anti-social behaviour involving illegal e-bikes, e-scooters and off-road motorcycles. The bikes can reach 85 mph, operate quietly and help specially trained officers access difficult areas while tracking, disrupting and seizing vehicles. Police say more than 1,600 two-wheeled vehicles have been seized since the operation began in June 2025, amid concerns about dangerous riding, intimidation, theft, robbery and drug-related activity.

Ten Newton-le-Willows organisations will receive grants from a new Community Pot funded through a £250,000, four-year programme supporting not-for-profit groups and projects aligned with the town’s regeneration plan. The initiative is part of the UK Government’s 10-year Pride in Place Programme, with the local Neighbourhood Board deciding how funding is allocated alongside the MP and council. Local officials said the grants will help sustain and expand community activities and deliver lasting improvements for residents.

World of Glass will host Glass Makers’ Week from August 19 to 23, featuring a summer art trail, hands-on glass artwork, educational sessions about Pilkington Glass, play activities and stained-glass-style suncatcher crafts. The programme forms part of the Summer Explorers initiative, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with several activities free or available for a small charge.

Southport Flower Show returns to Victoria Park from August 20 to 23, 2026, with show gardens, floral displays, celebrity guests, cookery demonstrations, live entertainment, family activities and hundreds of retail stands. New attractions include the Lakeside Reset wellbeing zone and a Buskers’ Corner stage, while the LFC Foundation will offer activities and photo opportunities with the UEFA Champions League Trophy. The accessible event expects more than 50,000 visitors, with children under 16 admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Proceeds from the registered charity are reinvested in maintaining Victoria Park.

WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre in Lancashire has announced its first Goosefest, running from September 5 to October 18 to celebrate the autumn migration of tens of thousands of pink-footed geese from Iceland and Greenland. The programme includes dawn and dusk viewing sessions, workshops, family trails, bird feeds, photography competitions and an art workshop. The celebration will conclude with the North West Bird Watching Festival on October 17 and 18, featuring speakers including Sacha Dench and Lucy Lapwing.