Disabled woman left stranded after Mobility van is stolen
A disabled woman from Ashton-on-Ribble has been left without the vehicle she uses to get around the city. 29-year-old Cassandra Helen says her £46,000 specially adapted Ford Transit was taken […]
She told Blog Preston: “I’ve not slept properly since my van was stolen.
“Others might think it’s just a van but they don’t understand, this is my lifeline.
“Without this, I am housebound and totally reliant on other people and accessible taxis to get me anywhere.
“I’ve already lost so much of my life to my disability and when I got the van in 2020 I got a portion of my life back.
“To have to go back to how I was living back then is soul destroying.
“I just don’t know how somebody could take such a vital piece of equipment and how the police can just stand by and watch it happen.”
Cassandra says she has traced the van – via online tools – to an industrial estate in Greater Manchester and reported this also to Greater Manchester Police as well as Lancashire Police.
The type of vehicle Cassandra has
Preston Police say they were called on 31 May about the theft and anyone who witnessed the theft or who has information should call police on 101 quoting log 0512 of 31 May 2024.
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/a-table-at-la-violon-in-montreal-right-the-interior-of-a-montreal-restaurant-s-dining-room.jpg?id=60144516&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=2%2C0%2C3%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>One of Montreal's rising food stars just hit the big leagues.</p><p><a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/new-montreal-restaurants-locals-need-to-visit" target="_blank">Le Violon</a>, a 50-seat restaurant in the Plateau, has officially been crowned<a href="https://canadas100best.com/list/2025/le-violon-best-new-restaurant-2025/" target="_blank"> Canada's</a><a href="https://canadas100best.com/list/2025/le-violon-best-new-restaurant-2025/" target="_blank"> Best New Restaurant of 2025</a>, according to <em><a href="https://canadas100best.com/" target="_blank">Canada's 100 Best</a></em>. The site dropped its annual rankings on May 5, and this small-but-mighty spot topped the list of new openings across the country.</p><p>The restaurant launched in June 2024 and is run by renowned local chefs Danny Smiles and Mitch Laughren, along with a tight-knit team that includes Andrew Park, Dan Climan, Sara Raspa, and sommelier Esme Millar. Together, they've created what one critic calls "an elegant neighbourhood restaurant" with "an ingredient-driven, seasonally attuned menu and stripped-down cooking that showcases great products, solid technique and an enticing mix of Italian, French and Spanish culinary tradition."</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C-8C8JdxgLZ/?img_index=1" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C-8C8JdxgLZ/?img_index=1" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>One of Canada's 100 Best's culinary experts noted how Smiles and Laughren are rewriting culinary rules "with intent and drawing on their Irish, Italian and Egyptian roots through a modern Québécois lens."</p><p>Some menu highlights mentioned in the award write-up include a Quebec beef tartare inspired by Lebanese kibbeh nayyeh, and a rich spin on potted shrimp made with Newfoundland mussels and cheddar custard. </p><p>The space, which was previously by Maison Publique, is minimalist and cozy, filled with locals and regulars, and anchored by Mid-century modern furniture and a giant Dalmatian painting. It also features a wine cellar in the middle of the dining room, with <a href="https://le-violon.ca/pages/menu" target="_blank">bottles starting at $70</a>. </p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DHl_xDORSw3/?img_index=1" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DHl_xDORSw3/?img_index=1" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>Le Violon wasn't the only new spot to be highlighted by Canada's 100 Best. <a href="https://canadas100best.com/list/2025/juliette-plaza-best-new-restaurants-2025/" target="_blank">Juliette Plaza</a>, a new St-Hubert Street hotspot was also featured in the top 10, landing in seventh place.</p><p><span></span>As for the 100 best eateries in the country, the following 26 Montreal spots made the cut:</p><ul><li>Mon Lapin - #2</li><li>Beba - #7</li><li>Le Violon - #11</li><li>Monarque - #17<br/></li><li>Montreal Plaza - #20</li><li>Alma - #24</li><li>Pichai - #25</li><li>Bar St-Denis - #27</li><li>Casavant - #31</li><li>Parapluie - #35</li><li>Mastard - #40</li><li>Mastard – #40<br/></li><li>Salle Climatisée – #44<br/></li><li>Joe Beef – #46<br/></li><li>Sabayon – #48<br/></li><li>L’Express – #61<br/></li><li>Gia Vin & Grill – #64<br/></li><li>Toqué! – #67<br/></li><li>Au Pied de Cochon – #76<br/></li><li>Juliette Plaza – #77<br/></li><li>Heni – #83<br/></li><li>Kitano Shokudo – #85<br/></li><li>Nora Gray – #90<br/></li><li>Damas – #91<br/></li><li>Claire Jacques – #100</li></ul><div>If you haven't checked it out yet, you can read the full ranking and see more standout new restaurants at <a href="https://canadas100best.com/list/2025/le-violon-best-new-restaurant-2025/" target="_blank">canadas100best.com</a>.</div><div></div><h3>Le Violon</h3><br/><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DDAUKTLxsQ4/" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DDAUKTLxsQ4/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>Price: [💸💸💸 – 💸💸💸💸]</p><p>Cuisine: Italian, Spanish, French fusion</p><p>Address: 4720 Rue Marquette, Montréal, QC</p><p>Why You Need To Go: It's a critically acclaimed spot with creative dishes, a diverse menu and extensive wine list. </p><p><a href="https://le-violon.ca/fr" target="_blank">Le Violon website</a></p>
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