Saiqa Chaudhari

A historical feature remembers Blackburn pubs that once served as important community gathering places. It notes that the town had 495 licensed houses in 1893 and that railway development followed by major redevelopment in the 1950s and 1960s led to the disappearance of many historic venues. The King's Head, the Griffin and the Oozehead Inn are profiled, including their locations, histories and later fates: the King's Head was restored for office and community use after fire damage, while the Oozehead became a private residence. Readers are invited to share memories of Blackburn's lost pubs.

The UK Government sent an emergency mobile alert across England and Wales because firefighters reported an exceptionally high wildfire risk during extreme heat. The public was told not to use disposable barbecues, firepits, garden incinerators, fireworks or other potential ignition sources, and to report fires immediately. The alert followed a wildfire in Stourbridge that destroyed 19 homes and spread across more than 500 acres. Authorities announced the deployment of 100 military personnel, a temporary ban on disposable barbecues and plans for a summit on future fire response. The alert also disrupted a BBC One Show anniversary broadcast.