Stewart Whittingham

Eleven-year-old Emilia from Lancashire, who has a rare and incurable form of brain cancer, has appealed to Prime Minister Andy Burnham to increase funding for brain cancer clinical trials. Her message was inspired by Scottish swimmer Archie Goodburn’s emotional plea after the Commonwealth Games. Emilia is participating in a clinical trial and says her tumour is responding, but she does not know what treatment options come next. Her mother argues that current trials rely too heavily on charities and says more funding could offer hope and progress. Burnham has said he will meet Goodburn after responding to his appeal.

Tributes have been paid to Darren Webb, a much-loved Manchester United fan and co-presenter of the Webby & O'Neill podcast, who died from cancer on 12 August after a long illness. His family described their devastating loss and said memorial plans would be announced later. Music figures Rowetta and Tim Burgess, podcast co-presenter Tony O'Neill, and fellow United fans remembered Webb for his warmth, humour, stories and devotion to the club.

Wildfires in Greater Manchester were still burning two weeks after starting, with more than 100 firefighters and volunteers tackling fronts at Dove Stone and Swineshaw. The fires, which spread from Saddleworth to Tintwistle and affected parts of Derbyshire, have burned hundreds of hectares and remain classified as a major incident despite light rain and mist. UK specialists have been brought in to manage hotspots, while health officials advised people to avoid smoke-affected areas. Shania Care-Slede, 20, has been charged with aggravated arson and dangerous driving in connection with the Dove Stone fire and is due in court on 18 August.

A 17-year-old girl is in critical condition after the e-scooter she was riding with another teenager collided with a Mercedes Vito on Great George Street in Liverpool. The 57-year-old van driver allegedly failed to stop but was later arrested, while the second teenager was also arrested on suspicion of multiple driving offences. Merseyside Police are seeking witnesses and doorbell or CCTV footage.

A Liverpool man diagnosed with bowel cancer was able to walk his daughter down the aisle in Spain after undergoing pioneering precision robotic surgery at Aintree University Hospital. Michael Sellars recovered rapidly after the procedure, becoming the first patient in the UK to receive it, and encouraged others to attend routine bowel cancer screening. Surgeon Shakil Ahmed highlighted the significance of the new technique and its impact on patient recovery and family life.

A Ravenair flying instructor on a routine test flight from Liverpool flew a Piper Tomahawk in a path that spelled out “I’m bored,” a pattern noticed on the flightradar24 tracking app. The two‑hour flight followed replacement of a cylinder on the aircraft, and the airline confirmed the plane was operating normally. Ravenair’s operations manager described the manoeuvre as skilful and said the pilot faces no disciplinary action.

A Ravenair flying instructor conducting a test flight from Liverpool used the flight path to write “I’m bored” in the sky, an action noticed on an online tracking app. The test followed a cylinder replacement on a Piper Tomahawk, and the airline confirmed the aircraft was functioning properly and the pilot was not in trouble. The playful maneuver attracted significant public attention, and the plane has since returned safely to the hangar.

Fans gathered in Manchester to celebrate England’s extra‑time World Cup quarter‑final win over Norway, with large crowds cheering as Jude Bellingham scored twice to secure a semi‑final matchup against Argentina. Former players Ashley Young and Peter Shilton praised the team’s performance, noting the game’s intensity and England’s resilience.

A family leaving a classic car show at Tatton Park was confronted by an aggressive van driver who repeatedly braked in front of them, exited his vehicle and ripped off their car door handle, leaving the children terrified. Dashcam footage captured the incident, which is now under police investigation. The subcontracted driver, linked to Instant Loos and Event Hire, has been removed from work after the firm condemned his behaviour.

Two missing men, William Hutchinson and Stuart Tallis, were found dead in a crashed Peugeot 106 hidden in undergrowth off the A584 near Newton with Clifton. Lancashire Police believe the crash occurred early on 24 June and are supporting the families. Officers are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage as they investigate the circumstances, which they describe as tragic.

UK rescue teams, including two Lancashire sniffer dogs, have searched about 500 buildings in earthquake‑hit Venezuela as part of a 68‑member British deployment. Firefighters from 14 UK services are assisting overwhelmed local responders after twin earthquakes left more than 2,600 dead and tens of thousands missing. Conditions such as heat, humidity and communication difficulties are complicating operations as crews continue wide‑area searches for survivors.

An internet and phone outage affecting about 3,000 customers in Maghull entered a third day after contractors caused significant damage to Openreach’s underground network during sewer works. Labour MP Bill Esterson criticised Openreach for the slow restoration, while local businesses reported major disruption. Openreach said engineers were working continuously and expected service to resume by Saturday evening.

An internet and phone outage affecting about 3,000 customers in Maghull entered a third day, prompting local MP Bill Esterson to call the situation disgraceful. Openreach said extensive damage to underground cables caused by third‑party sewer contractors led to severe disruption, with repairs underway and service expected to return by Saturday evening. Local businesses reported major operational problems, including loss of phones and card payment systems, while Openreach apologised and said engineers were working quickly and safely to restore connections.

Divers continue searching the River Irwell in Salford for a boy last seen getting into difficulty on Saturday, with police recovering bodies in several unrelated water incidents across the UK during hot weather. Emergency services remain at the scene, and authorities warn of the dangers of swimming in open water as multiple fatalities have occurred in recent days.