The family of a Staffordshire teen who suffers from a rare terminal muscle wasting condition have appealed to the public to send him cards for his 16th birthday.
15-year-old Luke Hesketh lives with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).
Despite being one of the most common types of Muscular Dystrophy – usually affecting boys in early childhood, with about 100 born with the condition each year and around 2,500 people living with it in the UK at any one time – it is one of the most severe forms, and people with the condition will sadly usually only live into their 20s or 30s.
Luke is currently in hospital at the moment, and his family have recently received the shattering news that his heart is failing and no further medication will help.
The hospital are therefore keeping him comfortable and pain free.
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But with it being Luke’s 16th birthday tomorrow, his mum, Tracey Hesketh, has appealed to members of the public to send him a birthday cards in an attempt to make his birthday as special as it can possibly be, and one the whole family will never forget.
After hearing the devastating news, friends of the Hesketh family have also since set up a GoFundMe page in Luke’s name that is dedicated to helping him make the most of the time he has left.
The funds raised will also go towards helping Luke tick off the activities on his bucket list.
The description on the fundraiser reads: “[Luke] has written a bucket list and his family really want to try and grant his wishes, [so] your help to do this would be greatly appreciated.
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“At a time when the future seems so uncertain and frightening for the family, let’s give them some moments to smile about [and] every single donation, no matter how big or small, will go towards giving Luke and his family the chance to make precious memories”.
Luke’s bucket list activities include a trip to Legoland Windsor, a stay on the London River boat, a visit to the lwgo shop in London, a holiday to Benidorm, a ride in a helicopter, and more.
If you would like to send Luke a card to make his 16th birthday a special one to remember, then you can send it the following address:
Luke Hesketh, 8 The Doves, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 6RB.
You can also find out more about Luke’s battle with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) via the GoFundMe page set up to help the Hesketh family here.
All donations are greatly appreciated.
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Two North West cities named among the ‘noisiest’ in the UK – including Manchester
Emily Sergeant
A new analysis has revealed a list of the noisiest cities in the UK, and two Greater Manchester locations are in the top five.
From blaring sirens and car horns, to house parties, barking dogs, and loud neighbours, escaping the noise of a city can feel almost impossible – even in your own home.
No matter whether you live in the hustle and bustle, or you’re out in the sleepier suburbs, noise can keep you up at night, disturb your peace, and lead to frustration. But just how loud are Greater Manchester’s cities compared to the rest of the UK? In a bid to get to the bottom of it, Alpine Hearing Protection has done some research to compile a top 10 list.
And both Salford and Manchester have found themselves not just within the top 10, but within the top five… and to make matters worse, Salford has actually claimed the number one spot.
The reason Salford has found itself at the top of the list, according to the research, is because it sits at the intersection of several major transport and urban hubs, with major motorways running through or around the city including the M60, M61, and M62.
Major rail routes also run through the city – including via Salford Crescent – which sees 16 million passengers every year, and also leads to Manchester Airport.
Top 10 noisiest cities in the UK
Salford
Portsmouth
Manchester
Southampton
London
Leeds
Stoke-on-Trent
Wakefield
Newcastle upon Tyne
Bradford
Parts of Salford are also very built-up, making pockets of the city noisy – especially in the concentrated centre where traffic, construction, nightlife and commercial activity get loud.
And of course, like any growing city, construction noises have been noted as ‘particularly bothersome’ for residents where major developments are springing up.
Manchester is third on the list of noisiest cities, due to many of the same reasons as Salford.
But the difference being that Mancunians are noted as one of the many reasons why the city is so loud – with residents making 5,301 noise complaints across Manchester between January 2024 and January 2025, and Hulme identified the loudest area with 304 complaints.
As well all know, Manchester is also home to many universities, which brings an active nightlife scene to the region, especially in the city centre, and in recent FOI data, it was revealed that the University of Manchester saw 2,049 noise complaints in the last five years.
Motorists warned of common winter driving habit that could land them with annoying fines
Emily Sergeant
With the temperatures drastically dropping now as we head into winter, motorists are being warned against a common driving habit.
On a wintry morning when the windscreens are frozen and your hands are equally as frozen too, it’s pretty common for drivers to start the engine, turn the heater right up, and remain stationary for several minutes to warm the car up before setting off on their journey… but did you know that doing this could see you, inadvertently, fall foul of the law?
That’s right – as ridiculous as it sounds, leaving your car engine running ‘unnecessarily’ while parked on a public road is illegal.
And to make matters worse, the rules on ‘engine idling’, as it’s known, apply regardless of whether the driver is using the heating, waiting for someone, or simply sitting in the vehicle.
Known as a stationary idling offence, Rule 123 of the Highway Code states that drivers must not leave a vehicle’s engine running unnecessarily while it is stationary on a public road, and according to the rule, a fixed penalty of up to £80 can be issued, right there and then.
Motorists are being warned of a common winter driving habit that could land them with annoying fines / Credit: PickPik | Wikimedia Commons
Fines will only be handed out if a motorist is stopped by a police officer who asks them to switch the engine off, and they fail to comply.
“However tempting it might be to sit in a vehicle with the engine running and the heater on to warm up, we strongly advice against it,” commented RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis.
“As well as polluting the air and wasting fuel, drivers who leave their engines idling unnecessarily on a public road also risk an on-the-spot fine of £80. On cold mornings, the best approach is to clear any ice or snow properly and ensure windows are fully de-misted before setting off, then get on your way and let the car warm you up.”
There are some exceptions to the rule, however, as keeping the engine running is permitted in certain circumstances.
This includes when a vehicle is stationary because of traffic conditions, when the engine needs to run so a mechanical fault can be investigated, or if certain work is being carried out on the side of the road.
Emily Sergeant -
16th February 2021 
