Reading

The first Preston Crime Fiction Festival line-up includes [clockwise from top left]: Dorothy Koomson, Vaseem Khan, Mari Hannah, Lesley Kara and Jo Callaghan.

Preston’s first crime fiction festival is nearly here

Yoto has unveiled its new 4th Gen Player and Mini, with a new Green Button designed to make favourite audio easier for children to access.

Yoto's two new kids' audio players have a clever new feature

Mystery surrounds how a book from Preston Library ended up in the USA

Lancashire library book found in USA

The Yoto player gives children stories and music to enjoy during long autumn evenings.

The gadget that could make long, dark evenings easier for parents

The Yoto player is a clever gadget giving children something to do after school without reaching for another screen.

The screen-free gadget for keeping children entertained after school

The Yoto player gives children a screen-free way to enjoy stories, music and educational content after school.

This is an after-school gadget that kids will actually enjoy

A Yoto player can bring screen-free stories into a child's bedtime routine as the autumn evenings get darker.

This simple bedtime addition will help kids on darker autumn nights

A Yoto Player gives children a screen-free way to enjoy stories, music and learning while parents enjoy a little more peace and quiet.

The children's gadget that gives parents priceless peace and quiet

The Yoto player can keep children entertained with stories, music and educational content without relying on a screen.

The children's gadget giving parents some much-needed peace

The woman in the video is currently in custody after being arrested for drink driving with a roadside reading of 64. She is one of 82 people arrested for drink or drug driving offences across Lancashire in the last week.

Moment woman driver is arrested by police in Lancashire

The screen-free gadget that quickly became a favourite with my two and four-year-old nephews. Photo posed by model.

The screen-free gadget my nephews can't get enough of

The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition offers a colourful new take on the classic Kindle reading experience.

Kindle Colorsoft review: Is it worth upgrading?

The Yoto player has become a favourite with both my nephews and their mum. Phtoo posed by a model.

The Yoto player my nephews love and why it's become a family favourite

Preston North End released Keane last month.

Former Preston North End striker joins PFA pre-season training camp

Robbie Brady

PNE retained list: Six depart, one in talks, new contracts

The popular children's tablet is better than half price - for a limited time

Amazon slashes Fire HD 8 Kids tablet by 53%
Amazon’s latest Fire HD 8 Kids tablet has crashed to under £70 in a limited-time deal, giving parents a cheaper way to keep younger children entertained with books, games and videos.
Gareth Butterfield

Will Keane

Reading look to have made transfer decision over PNE loan man

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (newest gen)

Amazon Kindle: New devices on sale as support withdrawn for old models

Stefan Thordarson of Hannover 96

7 first team players to leave PNE this season and how they've fared

Research of 2,000 mums and dads of kids aged three to 12 revealed 35 per cent don’t believe hearing a story has the same impact as reading print books.

Four in 10 parents consider listening to audiobooks as ‘cheating’

Busy Bees nurseries in Preston are taking part in a new initiative to get more children reading

Preston nurseries try to get more children reading as levels hit low

A driver who repeatedly called for help after breaking down on the M6 was found to be more than three times the drink-drive limit

Driver more than three times drink-drive limit after breakdown on M6

A goal this year for 29 per cent is to read a book per week or month.

Reading is set to be the hot new hobby trend for 2026

Will Keane

Will Keane posts goodbye message as Reading move confirmed

Will Keane

New club and next chapter beckons for Preston North End man George Hodgson

Will Keane celebrates PNE's equaliser against Norwich City (photo: Harry McGuire/CameraSport)

Preston North End striker 'set to join' League One promotion hopefuls

Discover the 15 lowest-performing primary schools in Lancashire according to the most recent Key Stage 2 (KS2) results in reading, writing and maths.

The 15 worst-performing primary schools - top June reads
Your top reads in June included school news, a closed A&E department, retro and celebrity.
Claire Lark

Over half of teens say they read less for fun since starting secondary school, while a quarter only ever read because they have to

Exclusive Secondary pupils are reading less for fun - and 'need more support'

Harrison Armstrong with Ben Whiteman

'Why not?' - Former Reading man's verdict on PNE this season

The Churchtown playground opening with Bluey, Heather Small, families and pupils

Celebrity guests open playground dedicated to Southport victims

Morecambe have signed former Walsall, Accrington Stanley and Gillingham winger Jack Nolan Photo: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Morecambe sign former Walsall, Accrington Stanley and Gillingham winger

More than 1,000 pupils in Florida, Philadelphia, Arizona, Oklahoma, Indiana, Texas and Connecticut. Educators say it is proving a powerful way to spark curiosity in science whilst keeping children entertained

Ad Feature Children’s book Making Science Magical reaches #1 on Amazon in US & UK

Take a look at the 15 best Lancashire primary schools for pupils reading, writing and maths

15 best Lancashire primary schools for reading, writing and maths

Tony Vettesse opened The Old Pier Bookshop in 1990, and is now crammed floor to ceiling with books including many over 50 years old. All photos credit Lucinda Herbert

'It's a living being I feed with books' Inside the Old Pier Bookshop

Take a look at the worst Lancashire primary schools for pupils reading, writing and maths

The worst Lancashire primary schools for reading, writing & maths

Could the cryptic clues that Slipknot have left with their new website mean an extended re-issue of their self-titled debut?

Slipknot fans try to decipher what new cryptic website is about

Amadou Mbengue

PNE reportedly rivalling QPR for defender - but deal doubtful

The 15 best-performing primary schools in Lancashire

The 15 best-performing primary schools based on KS2 scores

The 15 worst-performing primary schools in Lancashire

The 15 worst-performing primary schools based on KS2 scores

9 Preston primary schools ranked by latest reading, writing and maths scores

9 primary schools ranked by latest reading, writing and maths scores

Bedtime stories can do much more than just improve a child's sleep

3 ways bedtime stories benefit your child, according to a scientist

The Kindle Scribe combines distraction-free reading with powerful digital writing tools

Kindle Scribe drops to £279.99 in rare Amazon deal

David Walliams at Churchtown Primary School

I can't believe I met David Walliams - renowned author visits school

Amanda Holden at The McVities Chocolate Digestives Experience

Amanda Holden attends star studded Chocolate Digestive party

Despite the line-up for Leeds and Reading having been revealed, could one of these 13 artists make a surprise appearance at either event?

13 'wildcards' who could make an appearance at Leeds and Reading

Digital magazines are very easy to read on a tablet or smartphone, and there’s a massive selection to choose from

How I'm saving cash every month by switching to digital magazines

Shopping bags.

Easter Monday opening hours for UK shopping centres

Parents dedicate 48 minutes to reading the most loved book each week

Parents read the same bedtime story to their children 416 times a YEAR

Tom Johnson and Lord Sugar

Brabners advises on purchase of Lord Sugar’s stake in multi-million pound busine...

Has the younger Leeds Festival now become "the" go to festival site for Reading and Leeds Festival over the years?

Explainer Has Leeds overtaken Reading? Festival popularity analysis revealed

Baby Dinosaur with our Learning Support team

Jurassic Lunch Break! Giant T-Rex Roams Garstang Community Academy

Elizabeth Sasse, Victoria Ray, Donna Allsopp and Naila Shah dressed up as their favourite characters during World Book Day at Lancaster Lane CP School in Clayton le Woods, Preston.

13 brilliant World Book Day pictures back to the 1990s

Thousands of Pompey FC fans flocked to Southsea Common to celebrate the team's League One title and promotion. Pictured: John Pompey Westwood Picture Credit: Keith Woodland

I'm known as UK's biggest football fanatic...but books are my passion

WIN: £250 voucher or all-inclusive holiday with icelolly.com’s new competition.

Forget the Brit Awards, the Brit Abroad Awards are here

About two in five parents struggle with primary school maths terminology

The homework subject parents dread helping with the most uncovered

News you can trust since 1886

© 2026 Iconic Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved.Terms and Conditions Privacy notice