A town in Greater Manchester with a textile heritage and evolving economy.
AO World has offshored about 150 call centre roles to South Africa with a further 50 planned offshore by next year, while posting a 145% rise in pre-tax profits to 50.5 million pounds. The group expects annual savings of around 4 million pounds from the move and is trialling robotics and AI to drive efficiency amid inflationary costs.
NATS has received a threat about a Qatar Airways flight, prompting police, the RAF, and airport authorities to respond. RAF Typhoons were scrambled from Lincolnshire to intercept the aircraft; it landed safely with no threat to passengers. A 14-year-old from Bolton, not on the flight, is assisting investigators.
The Information Commissioner’s Office has executed warrants across Bolton, Burnley, Liverpool, London and Swansea, seizing devices and documents as part of a crackdown on firms behind mass text messages about car finance mis-selling. Regulators say more than 12 million complaints have been logged since September 2025, with up to 100,000 reports daily.
The Greater Manchester mayoral by-election has been held following Andy Burnham’s move to Parliament. Labour’s Bev Craig has led, with Reform UK’s Sian Astley and the Green Party’s Geraldine Coggins among the contenders. Counting is underway under the supplementary vote system, with results expected Friday afternoon after 10pm close of polls.
Sir Ian McKellen has sent a video message to Wigan Pride, expressing love and support. The actor recalls his Wigan grounding and celebrates today’s Pride as a sign of change that lets LGBTQ+ people live openly. The festival marks a shift from past times when Pride did not exist in Wigan.
The prime minister has told Manchester mayors that a British Isles bid for the World Cup is possible, potentially spreading hosting duties across multiple nations as part of a broader sporting push.