Lancashire - the correct side of the Pennines

The names followed by the average asking price for a home and the average asking rent per month:

1. Woodbridge, East of England, £441,569, £1,478
2. Richmond upon Thames, London, £939,329, £3,131
3. Hexham, North East, £313,147, £840
4. Monmouth, Wales, £320,974, £1,335
5. Harrogate, Yorkshire and the Humber, £394,312, £1,439
6. Skipton, Yorkshire and the Humber, £263,479, £1,030
7. Sevenoaks, South East, £881,061, £2,924
8. Leigh on Sea, East of England, £465,542, £1,796
9. Cirencester, South West, £384,013, £1,495
10. Wokingham, South East, £590,949, £2,120
11. Winchester, South East, £578,760, £2,069
12. Stirling, Scotland, £214,441, £1,227
13. Stratford-upon- Avon, West Midlands, £413,115, £1,604
14. Horsham, South East, £458,641, £1,983
15. Kendal, North West, £285,645, £966
16. Kensington and Chelsea, London, £1,667,573, £5,345
17. Chorley, North West, £197,199, £883
18. Hove, South East, £555,193, £1,993
19. Wandsworth, London, £865,205, £3,159
20. Hitchin, East of England, £510,612, £1,730

Sharing just for "arctic bomb"

He'd caught two thieves trying to steal his quad bike, so he tied them up and brought them to the police station.

The farmer was then arrested for suspicion of false imprisonment.

Apologies for the crappy local news site.

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/18403107

A "truly stunning bird" native to Africa has been spotted at a nature reserve in Lancashire.

As many as 100 hoopoes migrate north to Europe in the spring but are not typically seen this late in the year.

One has arrived at Lower Foulridge Reservoir in Pendle, much to the delight of birdwatchers.

Andy Powell, the chairman of the East Lancashire Ornithologists' Club, said an easterly wind had led to an influx of hoopoe into the country, mainly on the east coast and further south.

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/18055618

A Boltonian filmmaker who has previously worked with Netflix and the BBC is set to debut his first short “horror-comedy” – filmed entirely in Rivington.

Michael Patrick Clarkson, who grew up in Smithills, created the short film, “UPHOLSTERGEIST” with the BAFTA award-winning company Agile Films.

Michael has previously written for Netflix’s The Haunting of Bly Manor (2024), The Wheel of Time (2021) and is co-creator/showrunner of Red Rose which was shot and set in Bolton, now available on BBC and Netflix.

The horror-comedy film, which was shot entirely in Rivington, features a star-studded cast including Game of Thrones’ Tara Fitzgerald, Adam Nagaitis from Chernobyl and The Terror and Aaron Pierre, who will star in the upcoming Disney musical drama, Mufasa: The Lion King later this year.

Speaking on his inspiration for the film, Michael said: “It was during lockdown, and I was watching The Repair Shop on BBC. It was very beautiful with light, heartwarming stories and my mind began to twist it into something darker.

“I came up with the concept of people bringing a dark and haunted item for someone to repair.

“There’s a fine line between comedy and horror, there’s an awkwardness – that’s what I wanted the film to explore.

...

UPHOLTERGEIST was completed earlier this year and has since been submitted for a number of prestigious film awards.

The short movie will see its world premiere at Bolton’s International Film Awards taking place on October 2, will feature at the prestigious North American Austin International Film Festival running from October 4 and will also play at Screamfest LA, New York Horror Film Festival and FREAK SHOW horror film festival in Florida.

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/16224425

An ancient monument uncovered by a team of amateur archaeologists is exciting and puzzling the experts.

Three years of excavations on the side of a hill in Aspull, Wigan have revealed a Bronze Age burial site surrounded by a ring shaped ditch that is believed to be a religious henge.

The find is thought to be unique to the region and potentially of national importance.

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The archaeologists working at the site believe it marks two different points in history.

"From the Neolithic Stone Age period it would have been a ritual holy site," Mr Aldridge said.

"But then at a later date, when the Bronze Age people came along, they thought it was something special and decided to create their own funerary monument in the middle of it.

"You do get Bronze Age barrows in the north, but they’re quite rare. You usually find them down south in places like Wiltshire.

"And you have to go to the Lake District, Yorkshire, Derbyshire or North Wales before you get henge monuments or Neolithic Stone Age activity.

These were the scenes as a Pro-Britain demonstration swept through Blackpool Town Centre. Protestors waved England flags, and wore St George’s Cross face coverings to show their patriotism.

However, the protest was also attended by a few ‘mindless thugs’, who threw objects - including glass bottles - at police, and became violent. The video (click to play above) shows the tension between some of the protestors and police, as a man can be heard raising his voice at an officer.

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Later in the video, the crowds are seen up at St John’s Square, as the rally - which was partly about anti-immigration - moved outside the Winter Gardens, where Rebellion Punk Festival was taking place. Festival-goers can be seen amidst the protestors, some who were counter-protesting with anti-fascist banners while some helped to clean up the mess - including broken glass from bottles that were thrown.

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/15098098

Organisers of the World Gravy Wrestling Championships have said they need more people to take part in this year's event.

The event at the Rose 'N' Bowl Pub in Stacksteads, Rossendale, Lancashire, which is being held on 26 August raises money for East Lancashire Hospice.

Participants wrestle wearing fancy dress in a pool full of gravy in two-minute bouts in front of hundreds of spectators.

One of the organisers, Andy Holt, said judges award points for entertainment value, adding: "It is not about serious wrestling; it is just about having fun."

Mr Holt told BBC Radio Lancashire: "We are struggling a bit [for competitors] this year for some strange reason."

You do not need wrestling experience to take part, he said.

"The judges are marking on entertainment value more than anything.

"It is a great community day," he added.

Previously: Report on last year's event