James Cave

Southport girl, 6, cuts ribbon at new Home Bargains store

A Home Bargains super-fan from Southport has opened the chain’s new Warrington store. Jessica Howard, 6, who attends Larkfield Primary, was invited to open the new store with her brother, 8-year-old George

21st August 2024

Patrick Hurley: ‘Town’s grief is still raw’

Patrick Hurley said that today’s visit from King Charles III showed that “the nation has our back” after the Hart Street attack and subsequent riot on St Luke’s Road. The MP was

20th August 2024

King Charles to visit Southport on Tuesday

Buckingham Palace has announced that King Charles will visit Southport later today. His Majesty will travel to Southport to “express his continued support for those affected by the 29th July attack, and

20th August 2024

Chester woman held for inaccurate information on Southport attacker

Officers from Cheshire Police have arrested a woman in relation to social media post containing inaccurate information about the identity of the attacker in the Southport murders. The 55-year-old woman from near

8th August 2024

Inquests opened, adjourned, into deaths of Hart St victims

Inquests into the deaths of Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King, and Alice Aguilar were opened and adjourned at Bootle Town Hall this morning. Senior coroner Julie Goulding led the “short and sombre”

7th August 2024

Southport rioter pleads guilty after punching police officer

A Southport man has this morning pled guilty to charges of violent disorder and assaulting an emergency services worker following rioting outside a mosque. Derek Drummond, 58, of Southport pled guilty to

5th August 2024

OPINION | Our personal account of these tragic days

Life is different here now. This is a new reality and there is no returning to how things were before. This is a tragedy and atrocity that will remain with us forever.

2nd August 2024

Hart Street murder suspect charged

Police have formally charged a 17-year-old male with three counts of murder and ten counts of attempted murder following tragic scenes in Southport this week. The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for

1st August 2024

Police confirm third child has died from Hart Street attack

A third child, a nine-year-old girl, has died following yesterday’s attack on Hart Street in Southport. At approximately midday, Merseyside Police announced the third fatality resulting from Monday’s attack, while also confirming

30th July 2024

Southport MP: Town is in shock

Southport’s MP Patrick Hurley says that “the town is in shock” after yesterday’s tragic attack on Hart Street. Two children have died as a result of the attack, while 2 adults and

30th July 2024

Man detained after children attacked with knife on Hart Street

*This breaking news story will be updated – our servers are currently over capacity and we’re working hard to keep our coverage online.* There are multiple casualties after an attack on Hart

29th July 2024

Councillors clash over fire service and enviroment at Town Hall meeting

Councillors sparred over the environment and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service at a meeting of Sefton Council at Southport Town Hall last night. Mayor of Sefton, Cllr June Burn, opened the meeting

12th July 2024

Southport elects Labour MP for first time

Southport has elected its first-ever Labour Member of Parliament. Hurley garnered 17,252 votes, 38,29% of the vote, comfortably defeating the incumbent Conservative MP Damien Moore, who received 11,463 votes (25.44%). Southport has

5th July 2024

Council Conservative leader fails in West Lancs MP bid

Mike Prendergast, Conservative leader on Sefton Council, has been unsuccessful in his bid to become the MP of West Lancs. Labour’s Ashley Dalton successfully defended her seat. Labour has held the constituency

5th July 2024

Candidates face off at hustings event

The six candidates for Southport’s parliamentary seat answered questions from members of the public on Thursday evening at a hustings event at Christ Church on Lord Street, with around 150 local voters

27th June 2024

Council defends covered braille map in Kings Gardens

Sefton Council has said it is “exploring options” after a braille map covered in Perspex by Kings Gardens was widely mocked on social media. A pair of tactile braille maps installed on

26th June 2024

Crowbar-brandishing burglars steal cash boxes from Lord Street Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s on Lord Street was broken into by burglars brandishing crowbars last night, Merseyside Police have confirmed. A number of males broke into the store in the early hours of the evening

26th June 2024

Lib Dem campaign leaflet pulled for misrepresenting election results

Liberal Democrat candidate Erin Harvey will cease distribution of a campaign leaflet after OTS News analysis revealed the leaflet contained inaccurate information. A bar chart appearing on the Liberal Democrat leaflet presented

8th June 2024

Damien Moore: ‘Apology not enough’ for Lib Dem leaflet

Damien Moore says “an apology is not enough” after a Liberal Democrats election leaflet published misleading vote information. Liberal Democrat candidate Erin Harvey has stopped the distribution of a campaign leaflet after

8th June 2024

Independent Sean Halsall launches election campaign

Independent candidate Sean Halsall launched his election campaign last night at the Southport Youth Centre, telling supporters he would stay “rooted to the community” if elected. Mr Halsall currently sits as an

7th June 2024

Report recommends major overhaul for Southport Pier

Southport Pier faces significant structural challenges, according to a detailed report by engineering consultants Thomasons, with some sections requiring “systematic dismantling” to enable repairs. Southport Pier was “temporarily” closed 17 months ago

9th May 2024