Author: James Anderson, FRSA, CMgr MCMI

Tile specialist Topps Tiles reported its fifth consecutive quarter of like-for-like sales growth on Wednesday.In the 13 weeks to 27 December, revenue excluding CTD – the tile business it bought in August 2024 – rose 3.7% year-on-year, outperforming the market. Revenue in the Topps Tiles brand grew 2.0% on a LFL basis, supported by a continued strong performance in trade and growth in the company’s “Mission 365” strategic category extensions. This marked the fifth quarter in a row of LFL growth for the brand, helping to mitigate the impact of the continued cost inflationary environment, it said. Including CTD, group…

Jessica Tutton, 33, and Grant Tutton, 41, of Chippers Close, Tarring, Worthing, received the orders after repeatedly stealing from stores across Worthing. Police said the pair would commit the offences together, entering a shop and targeting products in different parts of the store before leaving. Over £700 worth of beer, meat, chocolate and other products were stolen throughout their spree which began on August 19, 2024, and ended with their arrest on February 15, 2025. Police were called to a report of shoplifting on February 15 at a shop in Rectory Road. The couple were arrested at the scene on…

Active Eastbourne and Lewes, a collaboration between One You East Sussex and East Sussex County Council, is launching the Fit for All Festival, featuring physical activity sessions in Eastbourne and the Lewes district to encourage people to get moving and try something new. The festival will run across the weekend of Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15, 2026. To view the full programme, stay updated and book free sessions, visit active-el.org.uk/fit-for-all-festival. Mark Beresford, lead of the Active Eastbourne and Lewes partnership, said: “It’s great to see so many local organisations and instructors from the Active Eastbourne and Lewes partnership…

It’s not known when the school will reopenShannon Brown Senior Reporter13:19, 06 Jan 2026Berkeley Primary School(Image: Google Maps)A primary school in Gloucestershire has been forced to close due to an electrical fault.In a message to parents and guardians on Facebook, Berkeley Primary School has confirmed it will be closed today (Tuesday, January 6) due to health and safety concerns, citing a lack of heating or electricity.The school issued a statement stating that phone lines and internet access are currently down, which is why school officials are posting updates on Facebook.Parents have been asked to collect their children at 1.20pm, after…

One of the biggest hurdles to expanding the global nuclear power sector is the concern over how best to manage nuclear waste. While some believe they have found sustainable solutions to dispose of nuclear waste, there is still widespread debate around how safe these methods are and the potential long-term impact of waste disposal and storage. In the United Kingdom, the government has put nuclear power back on the agenda, after decades with no new nuclear developments; however, managing nuclear waste continues to be a major barrier to development. Nuclear waste remains radioactive for around 10,000 years, meaning it is vital…

Image Alt Text: Marble mosaic tile flooring in a luxurious dining room designImage File Name: polished-calacatta-gold-thassos-marble-mosaic-tile.jpgIn recent years, maintenance and repair costs for rental property have risen, increasing the number of private landlords who face a financial burden. New research from Towergate Direct shows that property maintenance costs for UK landlords have risen by 26.24% since 2022, with the average landlord now spending £1,374.07 annually, which is £285 more per year than in 2022. Regular maintenance, such as wear and tear on fixtures and fittings, has landlords swimming in empty pockets. The most significant contributor to these rising expenses is…

Henry Boot plc has completed the sale of its construction arm to a firm led by three of its former directors.The deal was officially completed on 31 December, the parent firm said today (5 January).The management buyout (MBO) of Henry Boot Construction (HBC) was originally announced last September, when the parent group confirmed a £4m all-share deal with PWS Construction Ltd.At the time, Henry Boot said the divestment marked a strategic shift to focus on property development and housebuilding.It added that HBC was no longer essential to the group’s medium-term growth plans and made a limited contribution to its earnings.“The…

A planning application to fit telecommunications equipment to the roof of the former Gala Bingo on Alice Street, Keighley, was submitted to Bradford Council last year. It was a joint application by telecoms companies MBNL, H3G (UK) Ltd and EE (UK) Limited, and would replace an existing array on the roof of New Devonshire House – an office building in the town centre. Wrangle over re-location The application said that the array needed to be re-located, and the roof of the bingo hall was seen as the best option for the new “base station.” But planning officers at Bradford Council…

A disturbing video shared online showed the moment a gay man wearing makeup was harassed for using the men’s bathroom.Zachary Willmore, an influencer who documents his life as a feminine gay man with HIV, shared the video of his experience on New Year’s Eve with the caption: ‘Happy new years, I guess I can’t win.’In the video, which was viewed more than 13 million times on TikTok alone, Willmore -wearing glitter on his face – could be seen being confronted by an apparently drunk man in the bathroom.’I don’t like a dude, a dude with f***in’ – show your face,…

The Amarillo Brick Convention is coming back to the Amarillo Civic Center on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 10-11. According to a news release sent by the company, it will be the “ultimate event” for LEGO lovers of all ages, described as one of the largest LEGO events in the United States. Whether you’re a fan of the giant builds, city displays, specialty creations from the “Star Wars” universe or even just the beautiful botanical sets, the event promises to have something for everyone.Since 2023, the Brick Convention has made charitable contributions valuing more than $65,000. Once again, the event will…