Simon Mulligan

A motorcyclist sustained serious injuries in a collision on the East Lancashire Road near Golborne and Haydock Island. The rider was taken to hospital and remained in stable condition, while the road was later reopened by Greater Manchester Police.

Residents on Avon Road in Astley with postcode M29 7HN won £1,000 in the Postcode Lottery’s Friday draw, provided they were registered participants. The subscription lottery costs £12 per month, offers daily and larger regular prizes, and says it has raised more than £1.7 billion for charitable causes in the UK and internationally.

The former Cineworld site at The Loom retail park in Leigh is set to be converted into a bulky‑goods retail store following approval from Wigan Council. Realty Income Limited’s proposal includes exterior alterations, a new service yard, reduced internal floorspace and removal of the former cinema layout. Despite a loss of parking spaces, assessments confirmed adequate capacity and acceptable traffic impact. Environmental and noise conditions were added, along with biodiversity measures delivering a 10.88% net gain. The operator has not been named but is expected to be a national DIY or home‑improvement retailer, with usage restricted to bulky goods to protect Leigh town centre.

Police in Hindley and Westleigh stopped 28 vehicles during a road safety operation, issuing eight offence reports for seatbelt and mobile phone violations, seizing one uninsured vehicle, and initiating a court summons for another driver as part of ongoing efforts to reduce risks to road users.