There will be some bright or sunny intervals this afternoon, but there is a chance of a few showers too. A fairly cool-feeling afternoon with some winds and highs of 19C.
North West weather: Some bright spells but risk of rain
BBC Weather
Latest Stories
MP death plot neo-Nazi jailed for life
A neo-Nazi who planned to murder Labour MP Rosie Cooper in a terrorist attack has been jailed for life.
Jack Renshaw, 23, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, must serve at least 20 years in prison.
A judge at the Old Bailey told Renshaw, who earlier admitted preparing an act of terror, he wanted to "replicate" the 2016 murder of Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox.
Renshaw appeared to make a Nazi salute towards supporters as he was led to the cells from the dock.
UK knife crime: The first 100 fatal stabbings of 2019
One hundred people have been fatally stabbed in the UK so far this year.
Fifteen have happened in the North West, including 17-year-old Yousef Makki, a Manchester Grammar School student from Burnage, who died after being stabbed in the street in Hale Barns in March.
Knife crime in England and Wales rose to record levels in 2017-18 with the number of fatal stabbings the highest since Home Office records began in 1946.
The police have made arrests in nearly all of the cases and have charged suspects in 85.
Lancashire need only 16 balls to score the 16 runs they required to beat Northants on the final day at Old Trafford.
Read moreWeather: Dry with lingering cloud
Alex Hamilton
BBC Weather
It is set to be a dry day, however areas of cloud will tend to linger. Cooler than Thursday.
Generally gentle to moderate winds. Maximum temperature 16 to 19C.
Dianne Oxberry's husband praises the garden's theme because "she was always bright and cheerful".
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Northants avoid an innings defeat at Lancashire but the hosts need just 16 runs on day four to secure victory.
Read moreNorth West weather: Clouding over but staying dry
BBC Weather
It should remain largely dry through tonight. There will be some clear periods at times but with rather a lot of cloud heading west too.
Inspectors raised concerns about the organisation's financial state.
Read moreHS2 will 'short change' the North, say peers
BBC Weather
HS2 will not offer value for money and risks "short changing" the North of England, a group of peers has warned.
A report from the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee also said it was "far from convinced" the new high-speed railway will be built within the £55.7bn budget.
It said the project should not go ahead without a new assessment of its costs and benefits.
The government said it "fundamentally disagreed" with the report.
North West weather: Dry and sunny
BBC Weather
The sunshine is back again for another dry day, although it will feeler cooler. Make the most of it before the rain returns tomorrow. Highs of 18C.
Keaton Jennings makes 97 for Lancashire, but the England opener's dismissal sparks a collapse against Northants.
Read moreNorth West weather: Sunny evening and dry night
BBC Weather
Fine this evening with sunshine. Overnight, it will remain dry with mainly clear skies, but there could be a few mist patches forming.
David Attenborough films inspire clean-ups
More than 200 beaches across England have won environmental awards, fuelled by the "David Attenborough effect".
Anti-litter charity Keep Britain Tidy has awarded Blue Flags to 71 beaches and Seaside Awards to 137 in 2019, 18 more than 2018.
Seaside Awards mark "quality beaches" while Blue Flags are for the highest water quality.
Four beaches lost Blue Flag status but received a Seaside Award, including Polzeath in Cornwall, Southwold Pier in Suffolk, Sandhaven in South Tyneside and Blackpool South, which was the only beach in North West England to have a Blue Flag.
Championship club Blackburn Rovers are in talks with former England midfielder Jack Rodwell about extending his stay.
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Beach-goers say they have been inspired to clean up by the legendary naturalist's documentaries.
Read moreGleeson excels for Lancashire against Northants
BBC Sport
Lancashire pace bowler Richard Gleeson excelled against former side Northants on the first day of their Division Two match at Old Trafford.
Gleeson (centre) took the first four visiting wickets to fall and ended with 5-63.
Northants needed lower-order runs from Luke Procter (48) and Luke Wood (66) to lift them to 230 all out, while South Africa Test batsman Temba Bavuma scored 39 on his debut for the county.
Lancashire closed on 29-1 in reply, with Haseeb Hameed out for seven.
Beach loses 'excellent' quality award
Blackpool's south beach has failed to retain an award recognising excellent water quality.
Keep Britain Tidy's Blue Flag sets the international standard for cleanliness and safety, and first recognised South Beach in 2016.
Allison Ogden-Newton from Keep Britain Tidy said the beach was "not far off" retaining its blue flag and the water was still acceptable to bathe in.
John Blackledge, Blackpool Council's Director of Community and Environmental Services, said the beach was on "the cusp" of the award this year.
Hannah Richardson
BBC News education reporter
What is it like to live in the Bastwell area of Blackburn?
Read moreWeather: Sunny day ahead
BBC Weather
Any early mist patches will lift to leave today dry and fine with sunshine.
The sunshine will be hazy as times due to high cloud. It will be a warm day for most.
Maximum temperature 22C.
The Lancashire landmark, inspired by the Eiffel Tower, opened to the public on this day in 1894.
Read moreIt opened in 1894 and still attracts huge crowds in the Lancashire seaside resort.
Lancashire pace bowler Richard Gleeson takes 5-63 against his former side Northants on day one at Old Trafford.
Read moreNorth West weather: Late sunshine and dry overnight
BBC Weather
Fine this evening with lots of late sunshine. It will stay dry overnight with mainly clear skies. A few mist patches may form overnight ahead of another dry, fine and sunny day tomorrow.
In pictures: Birth of a seaside landmark
Blackpool Tower was the dream of local council and former mayor John Bickerstaff, who fell in love with the Eiffel Tower on holiday to Paris.
He simply thought: "I want one of those. This is just what Blackpool needs."
Bickerstaff formed the Blackpool Tower Company in 1891 and raised the £290,000 (£40m in today's money) from Lancashire cotton barons.
He commissioned two architects from Manchester, Maxwell and Tuke.
The project took three years, using some 2,500 tons of steel and five million Accrington bricks, opening on 14 May 1894.
Blackpool Tower celebrates 125 years
Blackpool Tower is hosting a day of events to celebrate its 125th birthday.
Staff are dressing in traditional Victorian outfits worn when the Eiffel Tower-inspired landmark opened in 1894.
The Tower Ballroom's resident organist for more than 40 years, Phil Kelsall MBE, will play Happy Birthday at a special afternoon tea.
The Tower Circus will give a preview of this year's show, while BBC Radio 1's Danny Howard headlines this evening's Sky High Celebrations in the Tower Eye.
Speeding driver 'thought she was only going 110mph'
A motorist who was caught driving at up 115mph on a Lancashire motorway told police she "thought she was only going 110mph".
Traffic officers stopped a Range Rover which had been "driving well in excess of the speed limit" on the M55 eastbound just before 12:00 on Monday.
A force spokesman said her "excuse" for going so fast was that she was "going to pick up a new puppy".
He added that she had been "reported for the offence".
Lancashire Road Police say the woman, who was driving at 115mph, was "going to pick up a new puppy".
Read moreBlackpool Tower marks 125 years
Celebrations are under way to mark the 125th anniversary of the opening of Blackpool Tower.
There will be a special afternoon tea in Blackpool Tower Ballroom, with staff dressed in Victorian clothing, to pay homage to the landmark's opening in 1894.
Resident organist for more than 40 years Phil Kelsall MBE (pictured) will lead a special congregation in a rendition of Happy Birthday.
The 518ft tall, Grade I-listed tower was modelled on the Eiffel Tower in Paris at a time when it was fashionable to build viewing towers in the late 19th century.
Travel: Police incident causes delays on M6
There have been major disruption on the roads in north Lancashire this morning after a police incident resulted in the closure of the M6.
Both carriageways on the M6 at junction 34 in Lancaster were closed with the southbound carriageway closed to junction 35 at Carnforth.
Some commuters have been reporting they were stranded for more than two hours at junction 34 with Kate Holt tweeting she had missed a flight due to the delays.
The M6 has now been reopened.
Weather: Dry with plenty of sunshine
Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter
Any early mist patches will lift to leave today dry and fine with plenty of sunshine, although high cloud will make the sunshine hazy at times. Warm with a light breeze.
Fine this evening with lots of late sunshine. It will then remain dry overnight with mainly clear skies. A few mist patches may form overnight. A light breeze.
Maximum temperature 21C.
North West weather: Late sunshine and dry overnight
BBC Weather
Late sunshine to end of the day - which saw pleasant highs of 19C. It will stay dry overnight with mostly clear skies and just a little wispy high cloud.
'Dangerous' sex offender sent paedophiles to woman's home
A sex offender who sent paedophiles to the address of a woman in south Cumbria with the promise of sex with her child has been jailed for eight years.
Preston Crown Court heard Stuart Callum Westwood, 46, of Andover Street in Barrow, faked an identity on a dating website and used photos of the woman in Disneyland to attract men to her profile.
He was found guilty after a trial earlier this year of stalking, breach of a sexual harm prevention order and six counts of possession of obscene material.
The court was told at least 10 people turned up at the woman's house, believing they had been invited to engage in sex acts.
Judge Robert Altham, sentencing, said Westwood was “a dangerous offender with a febrile, sexual, perverted imagination".
James Anderson injured as Hampshire beat Lancashire
BBC Sport
England World Cup hopeful James Vince scored 79 as holders Hampshire beat Lancashire by four wickets to book a One-Day Cup final with Somerset.
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But the match was overshadowed by Lancashire and England seamer James Anderson limping from the field mid-over after being struck on the leg.
Soon after, Hampshire reached their target with an over in hand having earlier dismissed the visitors for 241.
"It is a nasty blow in a painful area," Lancashire head coach Glen Chapple said of Anderson's injury.
"We don't know but we think that it will be a nasty bruise that will settle down in the next few days. The physio will see him in the morning.
"He walked off there but it is a difficult area. As soon as there is any swelling in there it will restrict your movement and limit your strength. I imagine it will be painful for a few days."
Police probe suspected attack in Blackpool
Police in Blackpool are trying to find out how a man found on a street in the early hours of Sunday came to be seriously injured.
The 53-year-old man, who suffered a broken jaw, was found on Dale Street Mews without his shoes, mobile phone and wallet.
He is being treated in hospital for his injuries.
Lancashire Police said he was last seen in Ma Kelly's at about 16:00 on Saturday.
Thomas Parkinson, who stabbed a man to death in 2007. spent almost three weeks on the run.
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Lancashire and England seamer James Anderson is hit on the leg while bowling in Hampshire's four-wicket One-Day Cup semi-final win.
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Lancashire survive Middlesex's rescue bid at Lord's to book a One-Day Cup semi-final against Hampshire on Sunday.
Read moreNorth West weather: Sunny spells but rain later
BBC Weather
This afternoon there will be some sunny spells but showers will break out later which will be heavy and thundery at times. Cool with light winds and highs of 11C.
Judge visits serial rape accused in jail
A man accused of 21 offences including eight rapes has been visited by a judge in prison after refusing to appear in court.
Joseph McCann, of Aylesbury, is charged with the kidnap and rape of eight alleged victims aged between 11 and 71.
The offences are alleged to have been committed between 20 April and 5 May, in London, Watford, Cheshire, Manchester and Lancashire.
Mr McCann was arrested in Congleton in Cheshire following a police manhunt.
North West weather: Cloudy with patchy rain
BBC Weather
A mostly cloudy start with some patchy rain, but cloud will gradually break during the morning and rain will ease as sunny spells develop. Showers, heavy and thundery at times through the afternoon with highs of 13C.
Joseph McCann, who faces 21 charges including eight rapes, has refused to appear in court.
Read moreWeather: Rain and light winds tonight
Tonight will be mainly cloudy with some rain at times, although it may turn drier and clearer later in the night.
Winds will be light and of variable direction, with lows of 6C.
Read more on BBC Weather
How love for presenter inspired charity
The "overwhelming" outpouring of love and affection after the death of BBC North West Tonight presenter Dianne Oxberry inspired an ovarian cancer charity in her name, her husband said.
The former Radio 1 host died from ovarian cancer aged 51 at the Christie Hospital in Manchester in January.
Her husband Ian Hindle said he set up the Dianne Oxberry Trust to raise awareness for the "silent killer".
North West weather: Cloudy with some rain
BBC Weather
The rest of the day will be rather cloudy and there will be occasional showers or rain - with some heavy and prolonged. Gentle winds and feeling cool with highs of 11C.
First statue of women's football star
One of the first stars of English women's football is to be immortalised with a life-sized statue.
The sculpture of Lily Parr, who played professionally in the 1920s, will be unveiled at the National Football Museum in Manchester in June.
Parr, who died in 1978 aged 73, was the first woman to feature in the museum's Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
A spokeswoman for the Football Association said: "She deserves recognition as a true pioneer."
The "overwhelming outpouring" after TV presenter Dianne Oxberry's death inspires a cancer charity.
Brothers wanted over £1m organised crime spree
Two "dangerous" men are wanted by police over thefts and burglaries across northern England after six others, believed to be members of an organised crime gang, were arrested.
Brothers Brian and Ronald Thexton, 43 and 35, fled in a silver Mercedes during raids in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.
Police believe the gang has stolen more than £1m by taking cash machines and a high value industrial vehicle.
The pair should not be approached, Lancashire Police warned.
Championship side Preston North End release six players following the conclusion of the 2018-19 season.
Read moreNorth West weather: Cloudy with showers
BBC Weather
Another cloudy day with showers sticking around. The winds have dropped though and we are in for highs of 10C.