Tabitha Wilson


I am a reporter for Newsquest and I was previously an MA Journalism student at Sheffield University, also earning my NCTJ here. I have also worked as a maritime journalist, and studied politics at Durham University.

I am open to commissions - please contact me using the form on this page. 

Knutsford Guardian •

We tried a Sunday roast at the pub named best in the northwest

So, with cooler weather arriving and darker evenings drawing in, we paid a visit to The Church Inn in Mobberley, recently named the northwest’s best pub at the National Pub & Bar Awards.

Earlier this year, this pub hosted football legend Wayne Rooney, with the former England captain choosing his local pub as the setting for two special editions of his football talk show.

The Church Inn has welcomed a number of famous faces (Image: NQ)

We visited on a Sunday evening and were instantly...
Runcorn and Widnes World •

Runcorn man bit and threatened binman who refused to empty his bin

Levi Fumu, 26, of Fenwick Lane, Runcorn, pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation, assault by beating, and racially aggravated harassment.

Warrington Magistrates' Court heard Fumu grabbed his victim by the neck before threatening him, saying: "I will stab your family" and "next time you see me you will die."

The incident happened at around 8.30 am on August 27 while the victim was carrying out refuse collections on Fenwick Lane.

The victim, who works for Halton Borough Council, sa...
Leigh Journal •

Inside Pennington Flash, one of Leigh's most loved beauty spots

Nestled on the edge of Leigh, the beauty spot offers something for everyone.

Pennington Flash forms part of The Flashes of Wigan and Leigh, a collection of eight wetland sites that became Greater Manchester's first and only National Nature Reserve in 2022.

The country park is popular with locals (Image: NQ)

The designation was awarded by Natural England in recognition of the area's natural beauty and ecological importance.

Originally created through the flooding of former coal mi...
Warrington Guardian •

I visited the viral Warrington shop drawing crowds from across the UK

Gonk World officially opened at The Hive on Sankey Street earlier this year and has already built up a dedicated following, thanks in part to its huge social media presence and a series of viral TikTok videos.

One of those videos, showing the owner's car, racked up nearly 700,000 views and more than 95,000 likes, putting the business in front of thousands of people across the country.

Gonk World has a dedicated following online (Image: NQ)

When I visited the shop, it quickly became c...
Warrington Guardian •

Warrington youngster completes 50km ride for Women’s Aid

12-year-old Poppy Jones, who attends Great Sankey High School, took on the challenge on September 13.

Women’s Aid helps women and children affected by domestic abuse, and helps survivors to find safety and support.

“I think it’s really important to raise awareness of support like this for people, especially for kids my age,” Poppy said.

Despite never cycling anywhere close to 50km before, Poppy completed the challenge using the determination she has developed through competitive netb...
Warrington Guardian •

Inside the Warrington rescue centre where dogs get a second chance

Despite the attention and care he receives from staff at the charity's Thelwall base, Bruce remains the longest-serving resident at the home and one of dozens of dogs who rely on the team for everything from food and shelter to specialist veterinary treatment.

While many people know Cheshire Dogs Home for its rescue work, fewer see the daily efforts that go into rehabilitating nervous animals, funding their care and helping them find permanent homes.

Dozens of dogs are cared for at the c...
Warrington Guardian •

Inside the award-winning Warrington farm shop named the UK’s best

Their farm shop was recognised as the Best Farm Shop in the UK in Muddy Stiletto’s national awards last September, and we decided to pop down and see if the shop lives up to expectations.

The shop is open seven days a week, all year round, from 9 am to 5 pm.

The shop is open all year round (Image: NQ)

At the shop, you can pick up fruit and vegetables grown on the farm, home-made jams, chutneys, and cakes, and freshly baked bread.

They also sell honey from beehives on the farm, an...
Warrington Guardian •

Inside the Warrington farm shop with ice cream and Highland cows

We headed to the Haybarn Farm Shop, which offers ice cream, coffee, and plenty of friendly farmyard animals.

They have recently welcomed a precious new arrival – a baby highland cow, Clover.

The Haybarn Farm Shop is a great place to visit with the kids (Image: NQ)

When we visited, we decided to try some of the delicious ice cream flavours on offer.

My friends went for cookies and cream and a Mr Whippy-inspired flavour.

I opted for the pistachio, and it was definitely the righ...
Warrington Guardian •

Inside Hilden - why Warrington's twin town is worth a visit

Situated on the outskirts of Düsseldorf, Hilden is a town of around 60,000 people, known for its peaceful streets, thriving town centre, and annual jazz festival.

The friendship between Warrington and Hilden stretches back to the 1960s, when a British Army regiment with links to Warrington was stationed in the German town.

Friendships formed between soldiers and local families, leading to a youth exchange in 1965 and, three years later, the signing of an official partnership between the...
St Helens Star •

Why these St Helens twins will never share the same birthday

Oaklan was born at 11.58 pm on July 25, with his younger twin brother Rowan following at 12.55 am the next day - an extraordinary ending to what had already been a high-risk pregnancy for parents Jade and Matt Smith.

For Jade, who had endured multiple pregnancy complications and a traumatic first birth, welcoming the twins safely into the world was "an amazing experience" she had fought hard to have.

Doctors decided to induce Jade when, at 36 weeks pregnant, Oaklan was measuring below th...
Wirral Globe •

‘You don’t have to face it alone’ - tributes to Wirral’s 'superwoman'

But behind the scenes, she was battling severe mental health struggles during perimenopause - struggles her husband, Dale Jones, hopes other families might be spared by sharing her story.

Angie sought help from Wirral Menopause Well Woman Hub, where volunteers say she finally felt listened to after months of feeling unheard.

Following her death two months ago, the group is sharing her story to raise awareness of the support available to women while warning that, without more funding, the...
Runcorn and Widnes World •

We tried a new riverside café in Widnes and this is what we thought

We paid a visit to the newly opened Esposito’s at Pickering’s Pasture to try some of its popular sweet treats.

The café, which welcomed its first customers last month, is the fourth site for the well-loved deli chain, joining its existing locations in Victoria Park, Runcorn Hill Park, and Court Hey Park.

The new café opened in June (Image: NQ)

Esposito’s has built a strong reputation for its homemade ice cream, alongside a menu featuring freshly baked cakes, artisan sandwiches, and a...
Runcorn and Widnes World •

Grandad’s vintage scooter sidecar gives Runcorn teen a prom to remember

Now, just weeks later, the 16-year-old from Runcorn has another reason to celebrate after being scouted straight through to the finals of Miss Teen Galaxy UK.

Hollie, who attends Sandymoor Ormiston Academy, was taken to prom by her grandad Dave Smith, 78, in one of his vintage scooters.

Hollie arrived at her prom in style (Image: Supplied)

Dave, who lives in Talacre in North Wales, is part of Denbighshire Scooter Club and always wanted to take one of his grandchildren to prom in one...
Runcorn and Widnes World •

Inside the butterfly haven transforming a much‑loved park in Widnes

We paid a visit to the Butterfly House at Victoria Park in Widnes to see what visitors can expect.

Open from May to September, the attraction welcomes visitors every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10.30 am to 1 pm.

The Butterfly House can be found in Victoria Park (Image: NQ)

It is closed on the first Saturday of each month, and admission is free.

The butterfly house is staffed by friendly, engaging volunteers who are passionate about conservation and wildlife.

 We visi...
Warrington Guardian •

How a Warrington prison garden is helping inmates rebuild their lives

But at HMP Thorn Cross, an open prison in Warrington, the gardens are doing far more than providing a pleasant landscape - they are helping to change lives.

Opened to the public through the National Garden Scheme, the award-winning grounds showcase how horticulture, wildlife conservation, and practical training are equipping prisoners with confidence, qualifications, and a renewed sense of purpose as they prepare to re-enter society.

The gardens equip prisoners with a sense of purpose (I...
Warrington Guardian •

Inside the hidden Cheshire church drawing visitors from across the globe

Yet almost every week, visitors from across the globe step through the doors of All Saints' Church in Daresbury in search of the same thing - a closer connection to Lewis Carroll.

Here, where Charles Dodgson was born in 1832 while his father served as curate, the creator of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is remembered not only as a literary giant but as a local boy whose story continues to captivate people nearly two centuries later.

The church is set in the beautiful Cheshire countrys...
Warrington Guardian •

Warrington riders celebrate 35 years of inclusive cycling charity

But as the inclusive cycling charity celebrates the milestone anniversary, volunteers fear the future of the much-loved sessions is in jeopardy as rising venue hire costs threaten to make them financially unsustainable.

Wheels for All is a national charity that delivers inclusive cycling opportunities across England, helping everyone to experience the joy and benefits of cycling.

L to R: Sue Couplands, Malcolm Angus, and Phill Lodge (Image: NQ)

Adapted bikes give disabled people the...
Warrington Guardian •

How one Warrington man's fascination with tills became a TikTok hit

But for Teddy Taylor, every colourful button, menu layout, and point-of-sale system tells a different story.

The 28-year-old from Warrington has spent years photographing retail and hospitality tills, building a collection of more than 6,000 pictures and videos.

Teddy has a large collection of retail and hospitality till photographs (Image: Supplied)

His unusual passion has even attracted more than 26,000 followers on TikTok, where he reviews the technology most customers never get t...
Knutsford Guardian •

Meet ‘the man in the woods’ who became Cheshire's wildlife whisperer

Known affectionately as “the man in the woods”, Ray estimates he has taught around 60,000 children during his nearly 40 years at the reserve.

Alongside more than 30 volunteers, the wildlife hospital now cares for around 3,000 injured and orphaned animals every year.

The hospital cares for a variety of animals (Image: NQ)

But when Ray first arrived in the late 1980s, he never imagined any of it.

“I don't have any qualifications in natural history,” he said.

“I just learned stu...
Leigh Journal •

"It completely took over my life" - Leigh woman shares endometriosis battle

By the time doctors finally discovered the truth, severe stage four endometriosis had fused her organs together, forcing surgeons into a 12½-hour operation that removed part of her bowel and left her with a temporary stoma.

Now, after years of being dismissed, the 30-year-old from Leigh is determined to make sure no other woman has to fight as hard as she did to be believed.

Abbie’s symptoms began at the age of 14, as soon as her periods started.

“I remember fainting and throwing up...
Warrington Guardian •

Warrington bikers step in after dad’s stroke to take teen to prom

Layton Harrison, from Birchwood, had been looking forward to arriving at his prom on the back of his dad Kevin's motorbike.

But those plans were heartbreakingly cut short after Kevin, a keen biker, suffered a devastating stroke.

Layton's dad Kevin was unable to take him to prom (Image: Supplied)

Determined to make sure Layton's special night wasn't overshadowed, family friend Lisa Burgess turned to Facebook for help.

“With the power of Facebook, I appealed to the biker community...
Northwich Guardian •

Students make unforgettable helicopter arrival at Northwich prom

Junior Day and Kyle Hilton flew to the event at Vale Royal Abbey on June 24, celebrating the end of their five years at school and turning heads in the process.

Junior flying to prom (Image: Supplied)

After the boys headed inside to party with their friends, three lucky members of the school’s leadership team, Claire Thomas, Jill Martland, and Laura Measures, were able to go for a spin, taking in the beautiful Cheshire countryside.

Students arrived in style (Image: Supplied)

“It...
Wirral Globe •

Meet the Wirral woman turning dog walks into lasting friendships

Wirral Dog Chat & Walks was founded by Angie Parsons, 54, from Bebington, who lives with her husband Damien and daughter Ellie, who has severe learning difficulties and autism.

The family also includes their beloved dog Hettie, and Angie's other daughter, Grace, who moved into her own place a few years ago.

Angie had wanted a dog for years, but finding the right one was important because Ellie was frightened of unfamiliar dogs approaching her.

After researching breeds and considering...
Warrington Guardian •

Warrington man completes 270km ultra-marathon to raise money for street dogs

Sean Callander, 30, from Great Sankey, took on the Marathon des Sables - a gruelling 270km ultra-marathon staged over seven days in extreme desert heat - in aid of Karma Animal Trust, a rescue charity based in Rishikesh.

The recruitment company owner said the challenge was inspired by Mojo, a paralysed street dog he rescued after finding him severely injured while travelling in India in 2023.

Now living together in Warrington, Mojo became the driving force behind Sean’s attempt to comple...
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