We’ve had plenty of news to bring you from Preston over the past week.

It was announced this week that lockdown 3 will be eased in phases, Preston residents were warned of a new council tax scam and Preston’s coronavirus infection rates spiked again.

Here are five of the stories you may have missed.

Bhailok Court decision set to be made next week

Planning applications for 200 new flats to be built in the former Bhailok Court building are set to be decided next week.

Preston City Council will sit to discuss and decide on whether the application will be approved on Tuesday 2 March.

Submitted by the Heaton Group, the original plans stated that there would be 109 one-bedroom apartments and 67 two-bedroom apartments.

Read the full story here.

Preston tops list for most new companies formed in Lancashire during 2020

Lancashire has been named as one of the top ten places to start a new business.

More than 12,600 new companies were started during 2020, with Preston leading the way with more company formations there than anywhere else in the county.

Research produced by Inform Direct shows that the number had increased on 2019’s figures, despite the pandemic.

Read the full story here.

Tree works along Broadgate as part of River Ribble flood protection scheme

Work has began on the first phase of the Preston and South Ribble Flood Risk Management Scheme.

The Environment Agency, who have been working alongside Lancashire County Council, Preston City Council and South Ribble Borough Council, have started the tree works along Broadgate and Riverside.

The £49 million scheme is set to reduce the flood risk to 4,800 homes and 300 businesses.

Read the full story here.

Appeal for information about three males riding bikes dangerously in Ingol

Following on from the news that reports about off-road bikes has increased, police are now appealing for information about three young males.

The three young males pictured have been reported to be riding a bike dangerously and on the wrong side of the road in the Ingol area of Preston.

Read the full story here.

Police appeal for information after shot fired in Plungington

Police are appealing for information after a gun was fired at a Plungington house.

Officers were called to a report a window had been damaged in Dallas Street at around 6.50pm on Sunday (21 February).

Following investigations, police believe a handgun was fired towards the property from a white van in a targeted attack, with the wrong address damaged. No one was injured.

Read the full story here.