NEWS

John McLeister, front left, and Phil Owen, with members of the sales team. Wrightbus has made a confident start to 2026 by strengthening its senior sales and leadership structure, with the company’s sales organisation alone now representing more than 200 years of combined service at the Ballymena-based manufacturer. The zero-emission bus builder says the appointments underline both continuity and deep-rooted expertise within the business, at a time when competition from overs

As cold weather warnings are issued by the Met Office across Northern Ireland, Dogs Trust Ballymena has issued a stark warning to dog owners, urging them to keep their pets well away from frozen lakes, ponds and waterways. While many dogs enjoy swimming, the charity warns that familiar splash spots can become extremely dangerous during freezing conditions. Ice may appear solid, but in most cases it is not strong enough to support a dog’s weight. If it breaks, dogs can plunge

Missing man: Taylor Stewart (21) from Cookstown Police have issued a renewed appeal to help locate missing Cookstown man Taylor Stewart, as officers share a direct and emotional message from his grandfather amid ongoing search efforts. Taylor, aged 21, was last seen in the Church Heights area of Cookstown at around 5.30am on New Year’s Day, Thursday 1st January. Since then, police have been carrying out extensive searches across the town, supported by specialist teams and vol

Icicles in the Glens of Antrim. (Image Liz Weir) A yellow weather warning for ice has been issued for Northern Ireland, with hazardous conditions expected to develop from Monday evening through to Tuesday morning, raising concerns for commuters, motorists and pedestrians. The warning is effective from 5pm on Monday 5 January 2026 until 10am on Tuesday 6 January 2026, according to the Met Office. Forecasters say ice formation on untreated surfaces is likely to cause impacts in

Marking work starting on the £5 million redevelopment of Cathedral Gardens are (from left to right): Professor Duncan Morrow from Ulster University, Tzvetelina Bogoina from Cathedral Quarter BID, Reverend Cameron Mack from St Anne’s Cathedral and Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor Tracy Kelly. Work has officially begun on the £5 million redevelopment of Cathedral Gardens, marking a significant milestone in Belfast City Council’s long-term vision to regenerate the city centre. Loca

A man in his eighties has sadly died following a single-vehicle road traffic collision in Bushmills, County Antrim, police have confirmed. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, 3 January, in the Carnbore Road area of the town. Chief Inspector Simpson, from the Collision Investigation Unit , said police received a report at approximately 2.35pm. “Police received a report at around 2.35pm on Saturday afternoon of a one-v

Parents of around 3,000 children across Northern Ireland have joined forces to delay giving their children smartphones until at least the end of Year 10, amid growing concerns about the impact of early smartphone use on mental health, wellbeing and childhood development. The families are among a rapidly growing number signing up to the Smartphone Free Childhood Parent Pact, a digital tool launched by the grassroots movement Smartphone Free Childhood (SFC) , which now counts a

The Food Warehouse store set to open in Ballymena Ballymena is set to welcome a major new retail arrival, with The Food Warehouse , part of the Iceland Food Group, preparing to open its newest Northern Ireland store in the town. The Ballymena outlet will be the fifth Food Warehouse location in Northern Ireland, joining existing stores in Newtownabbey, Belfast, Craigavon and Banbridge. Love Ballymena understands the store is expected to open its doors before the end of March 2

Police in Antrim are appealing for information following an attempted burglary at a property in the town. Officers received a report at approximately 10.35pm on Thursday, 1st January, after damage was discovered at a house in the Randakstiwn Road area. It is believed the property was entered sometime between 3.20pm and 10.30pm that same day. During the incident, a patio door was damaged and a pane of glass smashed, allowing access to the home. While several rooms inside the p

Missing man Taylor Stewart Police are continuing to appeal for information on the whereabouts of missing Cookstown man Taylor Stewart, as officers today released an image of him taken on the night he went missing. Taylor, aged 21, is pictured in the Church Heights area of Cookstown at around 5.30am on New Year’s Day, Thursday 1 January, the last confirmed sighting of him before he disappeared. Officers say concern for Taylor’s welfare is increasing as enquiries continue, with

The UK’s first children and young people’s bereavement charity, Winston’s Wish , has launched a new text-based support service designed to make grief support more accessible to young people who may struggle to speak about their feelings out loud. The new service will allow bereaved young people aged 13 to 25 to access specialist support through WhatsApp or SMS, offering what the charity describes as “grief support in your pocket”. Available weekdays from 3pm to 8pm , excludi

Marks & Spencer Food has unveiled a new “Nutrient Dense” range aimed at tackling widespread nutrient deficiencies in the UK, as figures show 96 per cent of the population are failing to meet the recommended daily intake of fibre. Launching in M&S Foodhalls from 5 January 2026, the Nutrient Dense range brings together 20 products spanning salads, meals, snacks, drinks and bakery items, all designed to deliver high levels of fibre, vitamins and minerals without excessive calori

Detectives are appealing for information following a violent aggravated burglary at a residential property in Ballymoney late on Thursday night, 1 January. Police were called to an address on Charlotte Street shortly after 11.40pm after reports that a number of men had forced entry to a home and assaulted the occupant. The victim sustained serious injuries during the attack and was taken to hospital, where he remains under medical care. Detective Inspector Ballentine said the

Mike Nesbitt speaking at the UUP annual conference in 2025 The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has confirmed that Mike Nesbitt MLA will step down as Party Leader, triggering a leadership transition as the party looks towards the 2027 Assembly elections. The announcement marks a significant moment for the UUP, which says it is seeking to build on what it describes as strong organisational and political foundations while accelerating towards a “bold, forward-looking vision” for the

The Met Office has issued two consecutive yellow weather warnings for snow and ice across Northern Ireland, warning that prolonged wintry conditions could lead to travel disruption from Friday afternoon through the weekend and into Monday morning. The first warning is in effect from 3:00pm on Friday 2 January 2026 until 12:00pm on Saturday 3 January 2026 , with a second warning following immediately from 12:00pm on Saturday 3 January until 12:00pm on Monday 5 January 2026. Fo

Missing person: 21-year-old Taylor Stewart Police are growing increasingly concerned for the welfare of a 21-year-old man reported missing in Cookstown, prompting an urgent public appeal for information. Taylor Stewart was last seen in the Church Heights area of Cookstown at approximately 5.30am on Thursday, 1 January, sparking fears for his safety as the search continues into the day. Taylor is described as being approximately 5ft 8in tall, of medium build, with dark hair an

Ballymena Runners have announced the return of their popular Cosy Sofa programme for 2026, offering local people the chance to take their first steps into running in a friendly, supportive and community-focused environment. The eight-week programme will run from Tuesday 6 January to Tuesday 3 March 2026 , with weekly sessions beginning at 7:00pm in the Sports Zone Hall at Northern Regional College (NRC), Ballymena. Parking will be available at the Ballymena Showgrounds, acces

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has put forward a motion to rename a park in Dervock. At December’s Leisure and Development Committee meeting, a motion proposed by TUV councillor Allister Kyle , and seconded by TUV councillor Jonathan McAuley , called for Riverside Park in Dervock to be renamed McKinley Park, in memory of William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, and to “commemorate the deep ancestral ties between Dervock and the McKinley family”. Th

Farmers across Northern Ireland are being urged to familiarise themselves with newly introduced Farm Sustainability Standards (FSS), which came into force today, 1 January 2026 , and will underpin eligibility for a wide range of agricultural support schemes. The new standards form a central pillar of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme (SAP) and are designed to ensure continued access to the Farm Sustainability Payment (FSP) and other key schemes supporting the agri-food se

Missing since 2006: Belfast man Martin Kelly Police have renewed their appeal for information on the disappearance of Belfast man Martin Kelly, marking 20 years since he was last seen. Martin, who worked as a plumber and part-time barman at the Priory Inn in Holywood, went missing in January 2006 after a night out with friends over the New Year period. Despite extensive police investigations, searches and appeals, his whereabouts remain unknown. Detective Inspector Stephen Ha