Crime & Safety
Primark launches app so shoppers can check stock in stores
The app lets shoppers create personalised notifications, including a stock check function, so you can see if the items you want to buy are available before heading to the store.
Plus, Primark has told shoppers that the app also makes its popular click-and-collect service easier to use.
The brand previously rolled out its click and collect service to all 189 UK stores, allowing shoppers to pay for items online and pick them up in stores.
Primark launches app in the UK
Primark first launched its app in Ireland and Italy last summer, but it is now available to download in the UK on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Discussing its new feature, Kari Rodgers, UK Retail Director at Primark, said: “We know our customers expect great value and an effortless shopping experience, wherever they are.
“Our new app puts exactly that in the palm of their hand, from personalised updates on the latest trends to faster, more convenient ways to browse and shop via Click & Collect.
“This is just the next step in bringing everyday value to more UK shoppers in a way that’s simple, seamless and built around their needs.”
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Matt Houston, chief customer and digital officer at Primark, shared: “Following the successful launch of our app in Ireland and Italy, we’re excited to bring an even smarter, more connected shopping experience to the UK.
“Customers are increasingly turning to digital tools that make shopping easier and more rewarding, and we’re confident that our app will deliver an intuitive, personalised experience that’s been carefully designed to help them get the most out of every Primark visit.”
Will you be using Primark’s new app? Let us know in the comments.
Crime & Safety
Jeremy Clarkson treated to birthday surprise from David Beckham
Mr Clarkson celebrated his 66th birthday on Saturday and was given the cake at a football match in Miami.
In a post on Instagram, Mr Clarkson said: “A man I met at a football match in Miami gave me a birthday cake. So kind.”
In a photo, Sir David can be seen holding the birthday cake and wearing an Inter Miami blazer, the team he owns.
Mr Clarkson lives in Oxfordshire, where he bought Diddly Squat Farm, then known as Curdle Hill, back in 2008.
READ MORE: Garden waste collections pocket Oxfordshire council millions
The Chadlington-based spot is the focus of Prime Video’s hit documentary show, Clarkson’s Farm.
With four seasons already under its belt, the popular programme is set to return next month with series five.
Sir David lives near Great Tew, and not far from Soho Farmhouse, an exclusive private members’ club.
Crime & Safety
UK clothing brand enters administration and launches sale
Lifestyle brand, Gandys, has been worn by Prince William and Sir Richard Branson, but due to a sudden withdrawal of funding, it has been forced to enter administration.
Gandys was founded in 2012 as a flip-flop brand by brothers Rob and Paul Forkan.
The brothers later expanded the brand to offer travel-inspired clothing, bags, and accessories.
British clothing brand Gandys enters administration
In 2024, Gandys opened a standalone store in Covent Garden, London, and has had collaborations with McLaren and Liberty London.
The brothers lost their parents in the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, leading them to set up the Gandys Foundation.
A percentage of the business’s profit would be donated towards the Gandys Foundation, which helps build schools in Ghana, Kenya, and Bali.
Following their administration, Gandys has cut prices by up to 75% online and in stores.
Confirming the news, the Gandys website shares: “We’re closing down – shop final clearance with up to 75% off sitewide.
“While stock lasts, prices as marked.”
According to Drapers, the brand filed for notice on March 25 due to a sudden withdrawal of funding.
Gandys customer and marketing professional, Jamie Irving, reacted to the news on LinkedIn, sharing: “Woke up this morning to an email I didn’t expect – Gandys announcing their closing down sale.
“Honestly, it hit harder than most brand news. Gandys | B Corp has always stood for something far bigger than product.
“A genuinely purpose-led business, built from one of the most powerful and personal stories out there, and backed up by real action, not just words.
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“I read the founders’ book a while back and remember feeling genuinely inspired by their journey, what they went through, and how they turned that into something so positive for others.
“What they created through their foundation, and the impact they’ve had on communities, is something most brands aspire to but very few truly deliver.
“It’s a reminder that even the most meaningful, mission-driven businesses aren’t immune to the challenges of today’s environment.”
Will you miss Gandys? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Crime & Safety
Rail bosses launching consultation for East West Rail links
The eight-week consultation by East West Railway Company will run from Tuesday to June 9, 2026, offering communities along the route a vital opportunity to have their say on the latest plans.
Their contributions will help shape the final design of the railway, before a Development Consent Order applicatiion for government backing is submitted in 2027.
The consultation launch follows a petition urging the Government to intervene in delays to the opening to passengers of the East West Rail line between Oxford and Milton Keynes.
READ MORE: Petition to force progress on East West Rail line
A dispute between train guards and drivers and East West Rail line operator Chiltern Railways has caused delays.
Only freight trains are running on the route which connects Oxford, Oxford Parkway, and Bicester to Milton Keynes.
Dave Richardson, of Railfuture (Image: Contributed)
Dave Richardson, a spokesman for campaign group Railfuture, said: “The Oxford-Bletchley-Milton Keynes section is complete but no passenger trains are running, while the Bletchley-Bedford section is operational but needs a major upgrade.
“The Bedford-Cambridge section is a long-term aim as parts of it will need to be built from scratch while some of it will use existing routes. It’s due to open in the 2030s.”
A series of public drop-in events will now be held across the route to provide opportunities to talk with experts from EWR Co to find out more about the updated proposals, ask questions and submit feedback.
David Hughes, CEO for East West Rail Company, said: “This consultation marks a major milestone for East West Rail as we move closer to delivering a once-in-a-generation project that will transform connectivity across the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor.
“East West Rail is about far more than a new railway – it’s about unlocking opportunities for people and places, supporting new homes and jobs, and making it easier, faster and greener to travel between some of the UK’s most dynamic destinations.
“We’ve listened carefully to feedback to shape these latest designs, which include plans to deliver benefits earlier through phased construction, improve accessibility, and support our net zero ambitions through innovative, lower-carbon technology.
“I’d strongly encourage everyone along the route to take part in our last consultation.
“Your views are vital in helping us refine our plans and ensure East West Rail delivers lasting benefits for communities, businesses and the wider region for generations to come.”
One of the consultation events will be at the Kings Centre in Osney Mead, Oxford, on Tuesday, May 12, from 11am to 6pm.
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