Secondary School Tables 2009

Leeds have confirmed the appointment of Blackpool boss Simon Grayson as their new manager.

The man accused of kidnapping Shannon Matthews today denied pushing the young girl into his car.

Budget airline Ryanair is to stop services from one of its departure airports in protest at a £10 charge being introduced there in the New Year.

David Weir waited 12 years to become a Paralympic wheelchair champion – now the Briton is celebrating a second success in three days at the Bird's Nest Stadium.

The North-west is experiencing a boom in luxury accommodation. Fiona Griffiths reports

Are you more likely to rent Trainspotting if you live in Edinburgh? Do coastal towns prefer pirate flicks? To find out if geography determines our taste in films, Tim Walker analyses the choices of over 600,000 British movie lovers

Thousands from across the Bristol Channel watched fire destroy Weston-super-Mare's Edwardian landmark in less than 90 minutes yesterday. With a column of smoke rising 1,000m, it could be seen from 60 miles away

Ellery Hanley's Doncaster were on the receiving end of 10 tries as Salford took the first major trophy of the season with a 60-0 win in the Northern Rail Cup final at Blackpool.

Harlequins and St Helens have contrasting fortunes at half-back for their meeting at The Stoop this evening. Saints are able to bring back Leon Pryce, who was rested last weekend after starring for England in Toulouse. But Quins, beaten in four of their last five matches, are without an equally important player in Danny Orr, who is out with a hamstring injury.

The Rolling Stones said it was only rock 'n' roll, but the people of Blackpool didn't like it and promptly banned them from the town. But now, 44 years after their gig at the Empress Ballroom ended in a riot, Blackpool has lifted the ban on the Stones playing a gig in the town and apologised to the band.

Daredevil climber and photographer Mike Robertson scaled the outside of Blackpool Tower earlier this year and took pictures from nearly 158 metres up while hanging on to the steelwork.

The ministerial future of Peter Hain depends on the outcome of the inquiry by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.