BBC News

In a kitchen in Peterborough, Christmas begins weeks before 25 December. A rich fruit cake is baking, its fruits soaked for more than a month - a tradition passed down through one Indian Christian family for decades."My husband has always baked the Christmas cake," Cathy George, who lives in Netherton, …

It was supposed to be just another Thursday in Laos, where Anthonin's father was born. Instead, the 30-year-old French citizen found himself among more than 140 people, mostly tourists, on a ferry that capsized in the Mekong River. All but three are thought to have made it to safety. Videos …

Dozens of people have been left stranded for Christmas after a giant hole emerged in a section of the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire on Monday.

Families have spoken of their frustration at the lack of specialist Changing Places toilets (CPTs) in Peterborough. The large accessible toilets for disabled people - including hoists, changing benches and space for carers were made compulsory for new buildings in England in 2020.Louise Ravenscroft, a Peterborough mum to two adult …

A family florist has said they are working "twelve to fifteen hour days" to keep up with the demand's of Christmas.

A major incident has been declared at a Shropshire canal where a giant hole has emerged, with boats left stricken in the cavity or teetering on the edge of the drop.

"I felt that warmth again through that cold and I tell you what, the coffee's brilliant."

The complex on Rock Road contains seven community-use units including the Bharat Hindu Samaj, which told the BBC it was one of the bidders seeking to buy the building.The Hindu temple was established in 1986 and is used by worshippers from across Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire.Dinesh Odera, who …

At a Nottinghamshire County Council planning committee meeting on Tuesday, councillors rejected the plans by seven votes to four, despite officers recommending its approval.

Aggregates business Land Logical Limited has applied to create a new sand and gravel quarry plus processing facilities on 210 acres (85 hectares) of land between Clifton and Barton-in-Fabis.

A dog rescue centre is hoping to raise £50,000 to install new blocks of kennels and fix paddock fencing as it meets the day to day costs of caring for more than 50 animals.

Hampers of toys and treats are being prepared by food bank volunteers for families in need this Christmas.

The play area formed part of an agreement signed in 2017 for the 86-home Ashvale Place development in Tuxford.

The family of a man murdered by his estranged wife are calling for new laws governing who has rights over a victim's body.

The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital has unveiled the new spaces for colorectal and gastroenterology patients, and it is hoped they will help take the pressure off other parts of the hospital.

Unlike e-petitions started by members of the public, there is no minimum number of signatures for it to be presented to Parliament.

Residents on a Shropshire street have said their back gardens "look like a pond" after flooding believed to have been caused by a blocked pipe.

Clothing banks are available at the hospital in Nottingham, but officials said these mostly contained summer clothing items.

A young woman has founded a support group for women with reproductive health problems, like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

A judge told a former councillor he "narrowly escaped" jail after crashing into a school's wall while drink-driving at high speed and injuring four people.Shaz Nawaz, 47, of Park Road, Peterborough, claimed to be a "non-drinker" but consumed alcohol to soothe a toothache, Huntingdon Law Courts heard.Nawaz, the former leader …

Jo Yapp has recently returned from coaching the Australia national team, and is now passing on her skills to the next generation of rugby stars.

Nottingham-based Transforming Notts Together, which was founded in 2013, worked with churches around the region to support people affected by poverty.

A city school is launching a swimming project in memory of a teenager who died after getting into difficulty at a lake.Peterborough's Hampton Vale Primary Academy plans to install a portable pop-up pool in its playground by the Easter term, so about 400 pupils can have swimming lessons.Sixteen-year-old Jack Lloyd, …

Joshua Durant, from Rainworth in Nottinghamshire, said he had been unable to make an insurance claim because he could not see the van's number plate in a neighbour's doorbell footage.

Michiel Holemans, who lives in Nottingham, put up about 20 A4 flyers across the city inviting people to take a photo with a printed picture of "Aggie" and send them to him.

Sgt Craig Brelsford, from Chilwell, Nottinghamshire, was killed in action on 8 September 2007 when his patrol was attacked by Taliban fighters in the early hours of the morning.

This included the regeneration of part of Ollerton, which will add new business units, homes, and a cinema.

The 30-year-old said she was walking her dogs with her father when she discovered two dead birds and one in distress at Teversal Trails.

Families of children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) said misuse of disabled parking areas was making life stressful and unsafe. Cambridgeshire charity Little Miracles said it received regular complaints about people using bays improperly, forcing parents "to unload medically fragile children in dangerous areas".One mother from Peterborough said …

A man experiencing homelessness said he hoped the government would focus on increasing accessibility to housing in its upcoming Budget. Josh, 26, who is currently a resident at the night shelter Jimmy's in Cambridge, said the availability of council housing and "move-on housing" - shared accommodation where people can receive …