Author: James Anderson, FRSA, CMgr MCMI

BBCSome of the containers carried bananas, avocados, and plantainThree shipping containers remain missing more than two weeks after they fell overboard and started washing up on the West Sussex coast.The containers fell from the Baltic Klipper cargo ship in the Solent shipping channel off the coast of Bembridge on the Isle of Wight on 6 December.Seatrade, which owns the ship, says 13 of the 16 containers have been recovered in West Sussex, but work remains ongoing to clean up the remaining parts of the cargo and debris.The company said it had been working closely with UK authorities, the Maritime and…

Kimberly Rickerby, 35, pleaded guilty to harassment without violence when she appeared before Workington Magistrates Court. Rickerby harassed the woman, who lives in Maryport, between May and August this year.  Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order with a 26-day rehabilitation programme and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days. A restraining order was granted which bans her from contacting the victim by any means, for three years, or from going to a named street in Maryport. Rickerby, of Newlands Gardens, Workington, must pay £85 costs.

The Labour leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, Bella Sankey, and the Conservative leader of East Sussex County Council, Keith Glazier, are scheduled to share a platform in the new year. They are expected to discuss the pros and cons of the planned local government reorganisation, part of a national programme of reforms currently out for public consultation. The event at St Martin’s United Reformed Church, in Longridge Avenue, Saltdean, comes four days before the end of the government consultation, with four proposals on the table for Sussex. It looks likely that, from 2028, the existing county and district…

Matthew Prior Electrics LTD based in St Helens received the award in a ceremony earlier this month. The honour recognised for their positive reviews for their commercial and domestic electrical services. Owner, Matthew Prior, 41, said: “It means the world, we’re just a small local business that I built it from nothing.” The father-of-two started the business in 2017, after seeing the success of similar businesses in the area and offers domestic and commercial services across the North West as well as 24 hour call-out services. The father-of-two collected the award at a ceremony earlier this month (Image: Matthew Prior)…

Theo LeggettBusiness correspondent, BBC NewsBBCSubmerging nuclear waste containers in water helps block radioactive emissionsIn deep, astonishingly clear, blue-lit ponds some 40m (130ft) beneath the Swedish countryside, lies decades worth of high-level nuclear waste.It is an oddly beautiful and rather disturbing sight. Row upon row of long metal containers, filled with used nuclear fuel from the country’s reactors, lie below the surface near Oskarshamn, on Sweden’s Baltic coast.It is both highly lethal and entirely safe. Lethal, because this material is intensely radioactive; safe, because it sits beneath 8m of water, a very effective barrier against radiation.Waste can be kept like this…

Only a handful of chores inspire you to breathe in deeply and say “Ahh!” upon completion. Mopping your floors is one of them, largely because this household task quickly nixes tons of gunk from a pretty substantial surface. The result is fresher air and an instantly cleaner-looking space.“Mopping removes dust and debris, bacteria, and other contaminants from the floor’s surface, contributing to a healthier environment with better air quality,” notes cleaning guru Robin Murphy, founder of ChirpChirp. “It’s not only nice that homes look clean, but cleanliness is important for the health and well being of the people living in…

THE Muppet Show is making a 50th birthday comeback — with pop superstar Sabrina Carpenter joining as a special guest.  Disney has revealed Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and the gang are back for a one-off special, more than four decades after the curtain came down on the beloved original series. Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter Thank you! Sabrina Carpenter will be a special guest on The Muppet Show as well as serving as an executive producerCredit: Getty The Muppet Show is making a 50th birthday comeback on Disney+Credit: Alamy The show will stream on Disney+ from February 4,…

Customer relationship management (CRM) is a core part of the roofing business. From the moment a business connects with a customer to the journey of long-term retention, a roofing business depends on the consistency offered by its relationship with a client. A contractor who relies on a CRM tool, particularly a specialized roofing CRM, is equipped with a competitive edge. What Does a CRM Do? Simply put, a CRM is a strategy combined with a set of technologies businesses use to manage customer interactions. A CRM keeps all customer communications—emails, calls, and job notes—in one place to make it easier…

The dehumidifier helps reduce damp and condensation in bathrooms without needing electricity, and it’s currently on sale with express free delivery12:20, 23 Dec 2025Updated 12:22, 23 Dec 2025This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn moreThis dehumidifier doesn’t use any electricity.(Image: ProBreeze)As Britain’s temperatures take a nosedive, condensation and dampness are increasingly likely to run riot – particularly in poorly ventilated bathrooms. One method to tackle this menace is with an affordable and effective dehumidifier, with one budget-friendly option currently discounted at Debenhams.Usually priced at £29.99, Debenhams has slashed the…

Seven recruits are taking on a new position within County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue ServiceThe seven new apprentice firefighters at County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service(Image: CDDFRS)Seven apprentice firefighters from County Durham are starting new careers after undergoing five months of intensive training. A former bricklayer, electrician and personal trainer are among the recruits taking on a new position within the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service.Chosen from hundreds of applicants for the coveted positions, they have learned life-saving skills such as water rescue, trauma care, working at height and dealing with road traffic…