Clients left 'stunned' as solicitors cease trading

Clients say they have been left "stunned" after a solicitors firm announced its sudden closure after the sale of the business fell through at short notice.

BLB Solicitors, based in Trowbridge in Wiltshire, confirmed in a letter sent to some clients that it will cease trading from midday on Thursday after being placed into administration.

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BLB Solicitors has offices in Bath, Bristol, Bradford-on-Avon, Swindon, Almondsbury and Trowbridge, and employs more than 40 lawyers across its six locations.

A letter sent by the firm to clients on Tuesday read: "We would strongly recommend that you instruct another firm of solicitors to continue to act on your behalf."

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Brand-new battery-electric multiple units will eventually operate on EWR, with an order for a new fleet expected soon.

Urgent repairs needed to city railway station pub


Greater Anglia has applied for permission to the roof of the former ticket office, which is now a pub at the Cambridge station - Image © Getty Images

"Urgent repairs" were needed to ensure the future of a city railway station's pub, a train operator said.

Greater Anglia has applied for permission to Greater Cambridge Shared Planning to make changes to the roof of the former ticket office, which is now a pub at the Cambridge station. It said work would include replacing flashing, slates and improving drainage.

The work was necessary, it said, because of widespread defects in the roof and water damage affecting the toilets and other internal areas of the building.

The Old Ticket Office is part of the original 1845 Cambridge railway complex and was converted into a pub in 2018.

In its application to the partnership between Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council, Greater Anglia said: "As a matter of urgency, Greater Anglia are looking to address any progressive damage such as timber decay and mould to the existing structure."

It stressed the importance of the structure, saying: "Cambridge Station is a prominent building with extensive sightlines from the Station Square and beyond. Failure of the roof materials is resulting in water ingress that is impacting on the existing building structure and operation of the Old Ticket Office public house."

The application stated that the scheme "is to refurbish a section of station roof located to the north of the main station building, over the public house". It added: "The pub is in daily use by the tenant, and they will continue to require access during the duration of the works."

A Greater Anglia spokesperson told the BBC: "We have submitted for listed building consent to carry out essential repairs to the Old Ticket Office pub at Cambridge railway station. These works will address areas of deterioration and are being progressed as a priority to protect the building and support the tenant. Subject to listed building consent, we expect work to begin later this year and take around three months to complete. The pub will remain open during this time and we do not expect any impact on customers using the station."

I have also noticed that you have to re-enter a username/password each time you use it. The login screen is not mobile friendly and probably doesn't meet accessibility guidelines.

GWR also appear to have removed the option to pay via Google Pay/Wallet.

17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19

17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19 will be starting late from Swindon.
This is due to congestion.

Mary McCool
BBC Scotland

I discovered last weekend that the SWR website has been subjected to the same 'improvement'.

Homeworking has increased considerably since COVID too, which may have changed commuter patterns.

Homeworking has increased considerably since COVID too, which may have changed commuter patterns.

Hmmmm, well I remember it used to be fairly popular, and flexi-time working has on course increased since Covid.  And it would take a bit of pressure of what is, I agree, the actual 'perfect' commuter train half an hour before. 

Trams museum shuts as building deemed unsafe


The Rigby Road building is set for demolition - Image © LDRS

A museum which houses heritage trams is being forced to close after the building was found to be unsafe.

The public entrance to Blackpool's Tramtown museum on Rigby Road was deemed unsafe after a structural engineer's survey, Blackpool Council leader Lynn Williams said.

"We can't gamble with the safety of volunteers and visitors by opening an unsafe building," she said.

Williams insisted it was "not the end for heritage trams" but said there was no safe or affordable alternative other than demolition of the site.

She said her and Blackpool Transport's new managing director Lea Harrison were looking at "every possible solution to find a pop-up site for it to reopen as soon as possible".

It comes after the attraction had been forced to shut due to an issue with an electric cable.

Councillor Paul Galley, who is also leader of Blackpool's Conservative opposition group and a Tramtown volunteer, said he was "gutted it was the end of the line". He added his fellow volunteers at the museum had been "amazing".


Tramtown volunteer and councillor Paul Galley says he is "gutted" it will close - Image © LDRS

Galley has previously said the resort's fleet of heritage trams were "fundamental to the DNA of Blackpool".

Williams said: "While the work was ongoing fixing the electrics at Tramtown, an independent structural engineer carried out a survey of the building. That independent report has come back saying the building is unsafe. The only public entrance is unsafe and we can't gamble with the safety of volunteers and visitors by opening an unsafe building."

She said strong winds last month had also ripped "even more panels off the roof which has led to it leaking again".

Williams said everything had been removed from the building and was being stored elsewhere. She said Blackpool Transport's team updated Tramtown's volunteers at the weekend and "discussed the shared vision for the future of Tramtown".

"I want to make very clear that this is not the end of heritage trams in Blackpool. The news will double our resolve to set up a joint steering group to create a better future for Tramtown and our historic trams," she said.

She said Harrison was working on getting our heritage trams back out for people to enjoy "this summer", and she was "determined" to "build back a better Tramtown visitor attraction".

Boy names UK's first electric quarry locomotive


Battery Bill is the first electric locomotive to operate at a UK quarry - Image © Neil Phillips

A schoolboy has named the UK's first electric quarry locomotive Battery Bill.

Five-year-old Cillian Gallagher, from Bishop Henderson Primary School in Radstock, Somerset, won a competition among local schools to pick a name.

The machine will be used at Whatley Quarry, in Frome, which has been in operation since the 1930s and supplies limestone aggregate for rail construction projects.

Cillian's mother Sherree said: "We are so proud of Cillian and his chosen name for the locomotive at Whatley Quarry." She explained that the name Battery Bill came to Cillian's mind "straightaway".

She said: "He chose the name Bill to give the train its own identity and a friendly personality. Perhaps one day there might be a second locomotive to join Bill on the tracks, maybe Battery Ben - a catchy pair, like Bill and Ben the Flower Pot Men."

The Class 08e electric locomotive was converted from diesel by Positive Traction and runs on six battery packs.

The quarry's rail logistics manager Daniel Welch said: "Commissioning the first electric shunting locomotive to operate at a UK quarry is a significant milestone for the industry."

Welch said converting the locomotive was a sustainable solution which supported "decarbonisation goals and demonstrates that zero-emission rail operations are achievable".

During the machine's naming ceremony, Cillian was able to go inside the locomotive.

Director of Positive Traction Polly Bycroft Gregory said: "We are delighted to provide Heidelberg Materials with its first zero-emission shunting locomotive which will contribute to reducing both noise and emissions from rail-related operations at Whatley Quarry."

'It's a symbol of our village' - Victorian bridge reinstalled after public fight


The footbridge has been reinstalled in County Londonderry years after it was removed for repair work which cost £730,000

A Victorian footbridge, described as "the heart of the village", has been reinstalled in Castlerock years after it was removed for repair work.

The bridge, which has spanned the train tracks since the 19th century, was removed for repair work and placed in storage in 2017 at a cost of £730,000. Nine years later it has been returned to its rightful home following a campaign by local people.

Kurt Leege said residents are "delighted" it has returned. "When it was taken away people were very upset," he said. "The community fought hard for its return and it's great to see it back. Castlerock just wouldn't be the same without it. It's a symbol of our village."


Castlerock resident Kurt Leege says the community has fought hard for the bridge's return

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council told BBC News NI work over the past nine years cost a total of £730,000 plus VAT, but declined to comment on why the process took so long.

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The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Oliver McMullan, told BBC News NI "council has worked hard in its investment to bring this important piece of history back".

"It's going to be a big tourist draw," said McMullan. "There aren't many bridges like this left. Council will optimise everything here and from the investment they put into it they will certainly draw out of it."



The wrought iron structure was replaced temporarily by a rusty bridge which was described by local people and tourists as an "awful eyesore".

Resident and local historian Geoff Warke said: "I remember the old steam trains operating and have vivid memories of the trains going below this beautiful Victorian bridge. Children always waved from the bridge and it pleases me immensely that the same thing will be able to happen again. I know it's likely to have cost a substantial amount of money but what I would say is it is valued a lot by the people of Castlerock. It's great to be getting rid of the temporary bridge which was an awful eyesore."

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Hmmmm......Very few offices/workplaces can be reached from the station in 20mins....pushing it. It can take 5mins to get off the platform & out of the station to Park End Street. Most would stick with the arrival at 0815 as they do now.

Those that start after 0900 or are on flexi-time might avail themselves however.

And the 'perfect' commuter train that reaches Oxford at 08:39 from Leamington would be a particularly useful service from Banbury, but it will sail through at 08:20!

'Thomas the Tank Engine was written for me'


Christopher Awdry was two years old when his father wrote Thomas the Tank Engine

The boy who inspired his father to write Thomas the Tank Engine eight decades ago has recalled his earliest memories of the books being written.

Christopher Awdry, who is now 85 and lives in Poole, Dorset, was two and grappling with a bout of measles when Rev Wilbert Awdry made up the first tale of the long-running series.

He was of course too young to remember the characters' inceptions. "My first memory of The Railway series? I suppose it was when I was in prep school," he tells BBC Radio Solent.

"Father sent me a copy of his first book when it was published and the other kids were all going around and saying 'Awdry's family writes stories'. I was a 10-day wonder and after about 10 days it all calmed down."

That first book was published in 1945. Thomas himself turned up in the second book a year later, and over the following decades another 40 books appeared.

Christopher started writing them in the 1980s, the same decade the beloved TV series, narrated by Ringo Starr, aired for the first time.

In 2025, 3.6 million Thomas toys were sold worldwide, or about one every minute in the UK.

"I think father hit the absolute right note because he made the characters of the engines into children," Christopher says, talking about Thomas's enduring popularity. "They do silly things like kids do, and they get reproved or punished by the Fat Controller."

Last year, events were held for the 80th anniversary of the publication of the first book, including the unveiling of a blue plaque at the family's former home in Gloucestershire, but health issues prevented Christopher from attending.

So in June, he is participating in an onstage event at the Hammersmith Apollo with famous train aficionado Pete Waterman.

"The stories got to me," the record producer says. "There's this little tank engine that can get up a hill. If he can do it I can do it. It must have been the late '40s or early '50s when my dad read me this Thomas the Tank Engine book, and it's stuck with me all my life. Those books had a moral because it was the reverend that was writing them, and he was teaching his children moral stories."

Apart from a very occasional public appearance - he drew a crowd of hundreds to a Swanage Model Railway Gala in April - Christopher has been retired for 15 years.

Is there a chance then that appearing in front of an audience of thousands in London might ruin his anonymity? "Like father I'm quite pleased that people don't stop me in the street," he says. "They don't do that thank goodness, but who knows? Maybe my face will get a bit more familiar after June, I don't know, I hope not!"

Why some trains will not be stopping at Banbury


New services between Oxford and Leamington will not stop at Banbury

An MP has written to a train company asking them to reconsider plans for new train services that will skip the town he represents.

Train operator CrossCountry announced a new timetable from 17 May, which includes new services running directly between Oxford and Leamington Spa - without stopping at Banbury.

The town's MP, Sean Woodcock, has questioned the decision, saying that overcrowding issues were "already a source of frustration" for commuters, and that having services skip the station could "only make things worse".

CrossCountry defended its new timetable, saying that its customers would "see no change" in the number of services from Banbury. It said the trains concerned were four extra long-distance services that would "provide more seats for people travelling long distances."

The rail company's service delivery director, Nick Westcott, said that having services skip Banbury would encourage "people travelling locally to use other trains. He added that Chiltern Railways was currently planning a "significant increase" to services between Banbury and Birmingham.

But Woodcock said the new trains were "plugging the gap" left by train services cut during the Covid-19 pandemic, which once contributed to a half-hourly fast service between Banbury and Oxford. The decision to skip Banbury means there will still be an hour's gap in services between the two Oxfordshire stations at certain times of the day.

"Passengers in Banbury will not see the same improvements in frequency and connectivity as those at other stations along the route," the MP said, in a letter to Cross Country's managing director Shiona Rolfe. "I would urge you to reconsider this approach and explore options to ensure that Banbury can share in the benefits of the revised timetable."

In response, the operator said that it "will continue to monitor passenger demand" at Banbury, and "welcome feedback on the changes".

A £16m pound scheme to improve access to Banbury Station was completed last year.