Updates on Friday 27 January
More news, sport, weather and travel updates from 08:00 on Monday
Live updates from Lancashire have finished for the day, but we'll be back from 08:00 on Monday with the latest news, sport, weather and travel from across the region.
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It will be cloudy and cold this afternoon with some patchy rain in places.
Outbreaks of rain will gradually turn heavier and more persistent this evening, especially over higher ground.
Lows of 5C during the early hours.
Burnley MP Julie Cooper has vowed to represent the views of the majority of her constituents and not oppose the triggering of Article 50 in Parliament, external, which would kick start Brexit.
A 36-year-old man has been injured after being kidnapped by a group of men and held overnight.
He was bundled into a car outside his home in the Frenchwood area of Preston at about 20:00 on Wednesday.
He was held overnight and released the following morning in the Hoghton area, which is about six miles away.
A silver Lexus saloon vehicle is believed to be involved in the kidnapping.
Police have launched an investigation and are appealing for anyone with information to contact them.
Quote MessageThis was a horrendous ordeal for the victim who thankfully only suffered some minor injuries.
Det Insp Jane Webb
BBC Sport
England batsman Haseeb Hameed has been named in the MCC team for the English county season's annual curtain-raiser against Middlesex.
Image source, Gareth CopleyLancashire opener Hameed, 20, made his Test debut this winter.
The four-day Champion County match in Abu Dhabi starts on 26 March and will be a day/night game with a pink ball.
Hameed played the first three Test matches in India, before leaving the tour with a broken hand.
Investigations are under way into the cause of a fire at a town centre pub.
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The blaze broke out on the ground floor of The George's three-storey building in St Thomas' Road in Chorley about 08:00.
The road remains closed and diversions are in place.
A wanted registered sex offender from Burnley has been found, police said.
Tim Padfield
Assistant editor, BBC Radio Lancashire
An Italian-American businessman who is hoping to take over Morecambe Football Club says he is not yet the new owner.
BBC Radio Lancashire understands Joseph Cala is to put money into the club.
Staff including players claim they have not received any wages.
Mr Cala has been speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire outside the Globe Arena.
Morecambe has been contacted for a comment.
Alexandra Hamilton
BBC weather presenter
This evening and overnight will remain cloudy, with outbreaks of rain gradually turning heavier and more persistent, especially over the higher ground. It won't be as cold as recent nights, though.
A cloudy and wet start to tomorrow, but brighter and showery weather will quickly move in from the west. The showers may turn heavy and thundery at times, especially during the afternoon.
Highs of 6C.
A house in Blackpool was burgled less than 24 hours after its owner died, with the thieves snatching a wedding ring and two Army service medals.
The body of Glen Yates, 78, was found at the home in Hudson Road on Tuesday. There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.
The home was completely ransacked and about £600 was also taken, Lancashire Police said.
Officers believe the thieves may have climbed through a window after seeing the emergency services on the scene the day before. The house was completely ransacked.
Anyone who saw anything suspicious is asked to contact the force.
St George’s school in Marton has been told it needs to improve following its first inspection as an academy, external.
A Church of England ruling on gay marriage has been described as "very bad news" by a leading campaigner for change in Lancashire.
The Rev Chris Newlands, vicar of Ripley School Chapel in Lancaster, made his comments after bishops said the church should "change its tone" to be "more welcoming" towards gay people, but that it should not change its opposition to same-sex marriage.
Rev Newlands has been at the forefront of the campaign for LGBT people to be given equal treatment.
BBC Lancashire Sport
Italian-American businessman Joseph Cala is to put money into Morecambe Football Club, the BBC understands.
Image source, Getty ImagesMr Cala, who is based in Houston, Texas, originally showed interest in the club last summer, but earlier this week it was believed his interest had ended.
However, the BBC understands he does intend to get involved with the club.
"Opportunistic" thieves burgled a house after watching the body of the owner being taken away.
Image source, GoogleGlen Yates, 78, was found by police at an address in Hudson Road, Blackpool, on Tuesday. His death is not thought to be suspicious.
The next day officers were called back to the "completely ransacked" property to find cash and Army medals missing.
They believe thieves smashed through a window after seeing the emergency services and the undertaker leave.
BBC Sport
Lancashire have signed former West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul and South Africa wicketkeeper Dane Vilas, both as non-overseas players.
Image source, Getty ImagesOnly Brian Lara has scored more Test runs for the West Indies than Guyana-born Chanderpaul, 42, who scored 11,867 runs and 30 centuries in 164 matches.
He has agreed a one-year contract, while 31-year-old Vilas has signed a two-year deal with the Red Rose county.
The last of Vilas' six Tests was against England in January 2016.
A group of Blackburn Rovers and Blackpool fans are urging supporters to boycott tomorrow's FA Cup match at Ewood Park.
Christine Seddon from BST speaks to BBC Radio Lancashire
Blackburn Rovers Action Group and the Blackpool Supporters Trust have previously staged protests against the club's respective owners.
Christine Seddon from BST told BBC Radio Lancashire why they want to take action.
A Lancashire vicar says he hopes the Church of England will change its stance on same-sex marriage.
Currently same-sex couples are not allowed to get married in church, and gay clergy are not allowed to marry.
Rev Chris Newlands, vicar of Ripley School Chapel in Lancaster, is in a civil partnership and wants the rules changed.
However, the Church of England earlier announced it would not be changing its position on the issue.
A body has been found at a holiday park by police searching for a missing man.
Image source, Getty ImagesAndrew Dickinson, 34, from Blackpool, was reported missing from home last Sunday.
A body was found at Marton Mere Holiday Village and Mr Dickinson's family have been informed.
The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be passed to the coroner.
