Ayrshire Hospice reveals total raised at Colour Dash

Ayrshire Hospice has revealed that a popular annual event raised £31,715.84 for the charity. The Colour Dash fundraising event in June drew more than 700 participants, and the hospice has now confirmed the final total and thanked everyone who participated or supported the runners. The Hospice also thanked event sponsors including Urquhart Opticians, Thistle Credit Union and M&M Theatrical Productions, as well as the volunteers who helped make the event possible. The money raised will help Ayrshire Hospice continue providing […]

05/10/2026 20

News

Council introduces new firework policies

East Ayrshire Council has introduced a new policy covering bonfires and firework events on council-owned land. The arrangements were agreed at a recent cabinet meeting to improve community safety while reducing the risk and distress such events could cause. Organisers must contact East Ayrshire Council in advance and obtain permission before holding an event on council-owned ground. Public events will also require a Public Entertainment Licence, while small private gatherings of residents of a single street will not need one.

05/10/2026 17

News

Ayrshire sides bid for Scottish cup fortune

Ayrshire teams are preparing for the first round of the Senior Scottish Cup this weekend, with local rivalries and the chance of making history all on the agenda. The action gets underway tonight (Friday 2 October), with arguably the standout Ayrshire fixture as Cumnock welcome fierce rivals Auchinleck Talbot to Townhead Park. The sides' meet just week after Talbot ran out 4-0 winners against Cumnock at Beechwood in the Lowland League West. Tommy Sloan's men now make the short trip […]

02/10/2026 30

News

Fire crews called to early morning Ayr fire

Firefighters were called to a van fire in Ayr in the early hours of Thursday 1 October. A trail of flames was reported running from a path beside a block of flats to the van at Viewfield Road at around 1.11 am yesterday morning, with residents heard screaming as the blaze took hold. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said one appliance was sent to the scene and firefighters extinguished the fire affecting one van. There were no reported casualties […]

02/10/2026 54

News

September ranked joint-fourth warmest month

September was the UK’s joint-fourth warmest September since records began, according to provisional figures from the Met Office. The average temperature was 14.6 degrees Celsius, with a spell of unseasonably warm weather towards the end of the month helping it up the rankings. It was the sixth consecutive month where the UK’s mean average temperature was high enough to rank in the top ten. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all recorded above-average rainfall during September, while England received just 65 […]

02/10/2026 26

News

Ayr electrician made Top Tradesperson 2026

An Ayr electrician has been named Screwfix’s Top Tradesperson 2026. Neil Claxton won the title at Screwfix Live in September, receiving a prize bundle worth £20,000. Claxton was recognised for his high standards of work, support for apprentices and commitment to the local community through his company, Test My Electrics. He also regularly visits schools to promote careers in the trades and gives time and resources to community projects, including helping convert a bus for a charity supporting disabled children.

02/10/2026 26

News

New homes proposal across North Ayrshire

A wider study suggests more than 9,000 homes could potentially be built across North Ayrshire, including the North Coast and Irvine. More than 5,000 new homes have been proposed across the Three Towns, Kilwinning, the Garnock Valley, West Kilbride and Arran as part of the region's latest Local Development Plan proposals. Plans include 400 homes at Portencross Road in West Kilbride, alongside a community healthcare practice, care home, hotel and leisure complex and a new site for West Kilbride Primary […]

02/10/2026 44

News

CalMac vessel night stop due to high winds

The crew of CalMac’s MV Caledonian Isles were forced to spend a stormy night at sea after an attempt to berth at Greenock was abandoned because of high winds. The vessel was due to head to the Inverclyde port after berthing at Troon or Brodick was ruled out because of the weather. The ferry was unable to safely berth at Greenock Ocean Terminal and instead returned to the waters off Arran to seek shelter. CalMac said that the vessel would […]

01/10/2026 20

News

Gavin and Stacey star makes Irvine book festival appearance

Actor and writer Larry Lamb became closely involved with the Tidelines Book Festival, spending all four days at the event and helping behind the scenes at the Harbour Arts Centre. He was seen making cups of tea for volunteers and joining the audience at a number of events. Larry Lamb closed the festival on Sunday night in front of a full house, reflecting on his career and roles in shows including Gavin and Stacey, EastEnders and Taggart. He also read […]

01/10/2026 25