NEWS

Sunday 20 September 2026 M&S has confirmed its newly expanded Aldergrove store will reopen at 9am on Thursday 8 October following a major transformation that has increased the shop by 50%. The expansion into the neighbouring service station unit will bring more than 2,000 additional products to the store, alongside new facilities and a significantly wider M&S Food range. Bigger store and wider food range Among the changes will be a larger in-store bakery, upgraded coffee-to-g

Hannah Buchanan, Haematology Clinical Nurse Specialist Blood cancer can affect people of all ages and its symptoms can sometimes be mistaken for other illnesses, prompting the Northern Health and Social Care Trust to urge people to know the warning signs and seek medical advice if something does not feel right. September marks Blood Cancer Awareness Month, with health professionals using the campaign to highlight symptoms including unusual bruising or bleeding, extreme tire

Together for Families launch at St Comgall's Belfast. L-R: Paul Sweeney, Northern Ireland Chair, The National Lottery Community Fund; Naomi Long MLA Minister of Justice; Kate Beggs, Northern Ireland Director, The National Lottery Community Fund; Robbie Butler MLA Minister of Health; Jacinta Linden, Together for Families Co-Director; Eilis McDaniel, Director of Social Care Reform, Department of Health; Dame Julia Cleverdon, Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund, Emma Li

Baby Saoirse with proud parents Emma Walsh and Adam Martin Baby Saoirse has become the first baby born in Antrim Area Hospital’s new £5.7 million Midwifery-Led Unit, which gives women with straightforward pregnancies another choice over how they give birth. Parents Emma Walsh and Adam Martin welcomed their daughter safely on Friday 11 September, marking the first birth in the purpose-built facility. For Emma, the experience was everything she had hoped for: “The whole experie

Police are appealing for witnesses after a suspected petrol bomb attack caused extensive damage to a car in Antrim late on Sunday night. Shortly before midnight on Sunday, 13 September, police received a report of an attack on a vehicle in the Barra Street area of the town. Officers attended alongside crews from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, who extinguished the blaze. Suspect fled towards Durnish Road Police believe the suspect was dressed entirely in dark cl

Asda Community and Customer Champion Ashley with ladies from the Antrim Community Support Hub Women from Antrim Community Support Hub have helped raise £116 for breast cancer charities during a special afternoon tea at Asda Antrim. The gathering brought members of the local group together for an afternoon of conversation, refreshments and fundraising as Asda marks 30 years of its Tickled Pink campaign. Friendship and fundraising Tickled Pink raises money to support the breast

Land-based Engineering students Emily Scott (Garvagh) and Oliver John (Ballycastle) invite you to attend Greenmount Campus Open Day. Young people considering a future in agriculture, agri-food or land-based engineering will have the chance to explore courses, career opportunities and campus life at a special Open Day at CAFRE’s Greenmount Campus next month. The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) will welcome prospective students to its Antrim campus on

Almost 900 complaints were made to the Northern Health and Social Care Trust during a nine-month period, as new figures reveal a sharp rise in complaints across Northern Ireland’s health service. The Northern Trust recorded 896 complaints between April and December 2025 — 17% of the 5,222 received by all six Health and Social Care Trusts, including the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. Across Northern Ireland, the total was up by 1,208 — or 30% — from 4,014 during the same

Jailed: 48-year-old Alan Potter A 48-year-old Antrim businessman who sexually abused young female employees over a period spanning more than two decades has been jailed for four years. Alan Potter, from Antrim, was sentenced at Antrim Crown Court on Friday (11 September) for 13 non-recent sexual offences, including gross indecency, sexual assault, sexual communication with a child and causing a child to engage in sexual activity. Potter owned a local takeaway food business an

A man has required hospital treatment after suffering a suspected blade wound to his face during an altercation in Antrim town centre. Police said the man, aged in his 30s, sustained two deep lacerations during the incident in the High Street area on Tuesday evening, 8 September. A 27-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent and remained in police custody as enquiries continued. Police investigate possible altercation inside van

Antrim Castle Gardens will be transformed into a festive wonderland for almost four weeks this Christmas as the popular Enchanted Winter Garden returns with bigger displays, new features and four additional nights. The outdoor illuminated experience will run from Wednesday 2 December until Monday 28 December 2026, with discounted admission available to residents of Antrim and Newtownabbey borough. Organisers say visitors can expect bigger and brighter lights as they follow th

E-scooters seized by police in Antrim over the weekend. Seven e-scooters have been seized by police in Antrim as officers step up enforcement against their illegal use in public places — prompting a local MLA to issue a warning to parents ahead of Christmas. The PSNI said Antrim Neighbourhood Policing Team, supported by the District Support Team, Local Policing Team and Probationer Support Team, seized the seven machines during an operation in the town. Police said files will

Two police officers sustained minor injuries and several police vehicles were damaged after a car allegedly failed to stop for officers twice in the Antrim area on Sunday afternoon. A 31-year-old man was arrested following two vehicle pursuits and a subsequent foot pursuit, with police saying a stinger device and vehicle tactics were used to bring the white SEAT Ateca to a controlled stop. Vehicle failed to stop twice The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the Ateca fail

The controversial proposal to move emergency general surgery from Causeway Hospital to Antrim is set to face a tougher ministerial test after Northern Ireland’s new Health Minister pledged to challenge the evidence behind major hospital changes and warned that reform cannot simply mean centralisation. Robbie Butler has also put proposed new hospital categories on hold and announced plans for an independent expert committee to scrutinise major or controversial changes to Healt

A “significant improvement” in lengthy ambulance handover delays at Antrim and Causeway hospitals has been highlighted by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. Figures presented to a recent Trust board meeting show the number of patients waiting more than two hours to be handed over to hospital staff fell substantially compared with earlier in the year. Interim chief executive Suzanne Pullins acknowledged the “commitment and hard work of the emergency teams”. Two-hour wa

The Northern Trust has agreed £50 million of savings and confirmed it is now working to wind down Phone First — but says much of the detail showing what its wider financial plan will mean for patients and frontline staff is still being worked through. Love Ballymena put 12 detailed questions to the Northern Health and Social Care Trust after examining its 2026/27 Savings Plan, seeking clarity on a 23% reduction in winter planning funding, a targeted 25% reduction in enhanced

Pictured (L-R) is Paula McIntyre, Pamela Minford (Castle Mall centre manager), Shona Burke (Head of Customer Service Operations at Choice) and Robin Swann MP. Families from Stiles Way in Antrim picked up ideas for making nutritious meals on a budget during a community cooking event with television chef Paula McIntyre. The demonstration, organised by Choice Housing as part of Shared Housing Week, focused on affordable, hearty food and practical advice residents could use in t

Dairy Conference Partners pictured (L-R) are Glenn Cuddy, Deputy President at Ulster Farmers Union, Joe Mulholland, Head of Dairy at CAFRE, Jason Rankin, Senior Industry Advisor at Agrisearch and Ian Stevenson, CEO of Dairy Council for Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland dairy farmers will hear how genetics, research and better use of farm data could help improve profitability while reducing environmental impact at a major industry conference this autumn. The Dairy Council for

Antrim Area Hospital Monday 31 August 2026 The Northern Trust is preparing to reduce winter-pressure funding by 23%, target a 25% reduction in enhanced patient observation hours, move selected surgery between hospitals and seek the closure of Phone First as it attempts to make £50 million of savings this year. Millions more are being targeted through reductions in agency and locum spending, tighter controls on vacant posts, changes involving care-home costs and almost £600,00

Antrim Area Hospital The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has approved £50 million worth of savings as it attempts to balance its books by March 2027, amid warnings from trade unions about the potential impact on patients, services and an already stretched workforce. The savings plan was approved by Trust board members at a meeting at Antrim Area Hospital on Thursday (August 27), with members reminded that the organisation has a statutory duty to break even by the end of