As Preston prepares for a heatwave (fingers crossed!) we’ve had a lot of news to bring you this week.

From a Preston Hospital patient urging people to get vaccinated as soon as possible, to Preston’s Ranvir Singh speaking passionately about anti-racism in football, there’s been a lot of animated debates surrounding many topics.

Here are five of the stories you may have missed.

Primary school pupils in Lea pen letter to Marcus Rashford 

St Bernard’s Catholic Primary School and Nursery in Lea have responded to the online abuse aimed at Marcus Rashford by writing him a letter telling him how valued he is.

The letter detailed how proud the pupils are of Marcus Rashford and all he has achieved.

They wrote: “You campaigned passionately to secure us a meal at the table every single day throughout lockdown. We have since researched all the charitable work that your team has done and we are amazed at all the lives you have improved.”

Read the full letter and story here.

Preston police welcome tougher laws on gun and knife ownership being brought in 

Changes to legislation, brought about by the Offensive Weapons Act 2019, mean that from Wednesday July 14, all weapons banned in public by the Criminal Justice Act 1988, including zombie knives, shuriken or death stars and knuckledusters, will now also be banned in private too.

This means that people can no longer keep these weapons at home.

Other sections of the act include a new definition of flick knives, banned since 1959, also take effect, resulting in more of these bladed weapons being outlawed.

Read the full story here.

First physical exhibition to be held at UCLan since the start of the pandemic led by Preston Threads

An exhibition celebrating Lancashire’s mill heritage has opened at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).

Synergy, by local textile group Preston Threads, will be the first physical exhibition held at UCLan since the start of the pandemic.

Visitors to the University’s PR1 Gallery will be treated to a textile display with the industrial chimneys of the North West acting as a centrepiece.

Read the full story here.

Preston and Chorley staff volunteer at Rainbow Hub to make the charity’s grounds safer 

A team from Network Rail and Cornthwaite Tree Care recently volunteered at Rainbow Hub, the Lancashire charity supporting children with physical and neurological disabilities.

Seven staff members from the two companies recently worked in the charity’s grounds at Mawdesley to remove trees making the area safer for the children and to improve the appearance.

Network Rail staff from their Works Delivery team, based in Preston and their sub-contractor Cornthwaite Tree Care from Chorley deliver woodland management works on the railway across the North West.

Read the full story here.

Coffee house and deli open as Worden Park restoration continues

South Ribble Borough Council have taken to social media to update people about the Worden Hall project.

They said: “You may have seen some activity over the last couple of days around Worden Hall.

“We’re edging closer to the start of works and in readiness, The Folly Coffee House & Deli has moved to its temporary location in the courtyard.”

Read the full story here.

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