1,800 properties estimated to have flooded in England, as forecasters warn of colder weather on the way
The misery and chaos caused by flooding in England is set to continue until at least Monday, according to authorities.
In its latest update, the Environment Agency estimated that more than 1,800 properties had flooded after the heavy, intense downpours brought by Storm Henk.
Continue reading...The National Flood Forum says flooded communities face future misery if they can’t make a business case for help
People affected by this month’s floods will face the same problems in future because their communities cannot access government support, campaigners have warned.
Small towns and villages affected by floods in England and Wales can ask for flood defences and mitigation through their council or the Environment Agency (EA), but are being turned down because they cannot make a business case, according to the National Flood Forum.
Continue reading...Environment agency says ‘significant surface water and river flooding impacts are possible’ on Friday
The highest rainfall totals recorded on Thursday were 35.2mm at Otterbourne in Hampshire, with a wide range of 20-30mm across much of the southern counties of England.
The Environment Agency said the impact of surface water and river flooding would continue to be “significant” across parts of England over the next five days.
Continue reading...Warning of ‘significant’ impact of surface water and river flooding across England, as showers forecast for Friday
Hundreds of flood warnings are in place after widespread heavy rainfall across the UK.
Homes across the Midlands were inundated on Thursday while parts of southern England including Gloucestershire were also submerged. On Friday morning, 302 flood warnings were in place in England, as well as 13 in Wales, with forecasters predicting showers could continue.
Continue reading...Latest attempt to tackle pupil absences criticised as failing to tackle the magnitude of the problem
The government is to make a new effort to repair sagging school attendance figures in England, with the education secretary to announce funding for “attendance mentors” in some of the worst-affected areas.
Pupil absences remain stubbornly higher than before the Covid pandemic, and during a visit to Liverpool on Monday Gillian Keegan is expected to announce plans for caseworkers to offer one-to-one support for pupils in 10 areas including Blackpool and Walsall, where rates of unauthorised absences remain far above national levels.
Continue reading...Paul Harwood, 42, and Zara Kasory, 32, charged with arson with intent over fire in shed at constituency office in Finchley, say police
Two people have been charged with arson over a fire at the constituency office of the Conservative MP Mike Freer, police said.
Paul Harwood, 42, and Zara Kasory, 32, both of no fixed address, were arrested on Wednesday and have been charged with arson with intent over the fire in a shed at the office in Ballards Lane in Finchley, north London, on 24 December, the Metropolitan police said.
Continue reading...Train operators say services face delays and cancellations after rain and strong winds batter UK
More than 300 flood warnings are in place across England as travellers face transport delays, with train services struggling to get back on track after rain and strong winds from Storm Henk lashed large parts of the UK.
The Environment Agency said on Wednesday there were 368 active alerts in England for possible flooding, 322 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected and, in Northampton, one danger-to-life severe flood warning.
Continue reading...Damage to buildings and floods likely as first named storm of 2024 sweeps across southern Britain
Commuters faced misery on roads and rail networks and people were told to prepare for flooding as the first named storm of 2024 – Henk – swept across parts of southern Britain, bringing winds of up to 80mph (128km/h).
About 2,000 homes in Cornwall experienced power cuts and trees were brought down by the wind. People were asked to stay away from coastal areas hit by the storm and in some areas police advised people not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
Continue reading...Hospital bosses worry BMA will not honour agreement to return junior doctors to work in event of major incident
NHS bosses fear patient safety could be compromised during this week’s junior doctors strikes if medics do not honour an agreement to abandon picket lines if hospitals become overwhelmed during the winter crisis.
Hospital bosses can ask the British Medical Association (BMA) to allow junior doctors to return to work to help if an emergency arises during their six-day strike starting on Wednesday.
Continue reading...A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder at scene of stabbing on Primrose Hill
A 16-year-old boy stabbed to death as he waited to watch the fireworks on London’s Primrose Hill just before midnight on New Year’s Eve has been named as Harry Pitman.
Onlookers described ambulances racing to the scene and paramedics performing CPR on the schoolboy but, despite their efforts, he could not be saved.
Continue reading...Met Office issues yellow warnings, as heavy rain expected in Wales and strong winds across England
A “widely wet” start to the new year is expected for many areas, with heavy rainfall predicted for parts of the UK and dozens of flood warnings in place.
The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for rain and wind for large parts of England and Wales on Tuesday. The heaviest rain is more likely across parts of Wales, the Midlands towards eastern England and Yorkshire while gusts could reach 60mph in coastal areas or 40 to 50mph elsewhere, the forecaster said.
Continue reading...Joe Outlaw is one of 2,921 inmates still on IPP sentences, which were abolished in 2012
It should be impossible to escape from a high-security prison, doubly so for prisoners held on the segregation unit, who are allowed only to exercise in a caged yard.
But on 21 June, the summer solstice and the hottest day of the year at that point, Joe Outlaw managed to break through the cage and get on to the roof of HMP Frankland, a Durham prison dubbed “Monster mansion” due to many of its inmates being convicted murderers, terrorists and sex offenders.
Continue reading...Pioneering initiative to consider children’s addresses after coroner ruled air pollution a factor in death of Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, nine
Doctors at Great Ormond Street are being encouraged to consider air pollution levels at their patients’ home addresses when assessing the causes of their illnesses, under an innovative pilot scheme.
Data showing the average annual air pollution rates at patients’ postcodes has been embedded in patients’ electronic files, so that clinicians can help families understand whether their child has been exposed to elevated risk.
Continue reading...From Sunday it is illegal to rehome, sell or transfer ownership of the dogs in England and Wales
A judicial review hearing has been granted for campaigners seeking to overturn the UK government’s ban on XL bully dogs, with owners of the animals now subject to tight restrictions as the legislation comes into force.
From Sunday, it is illegal to rehome, sell or transfer ownership of XL bully dogs in England and Wales, and they must be muzzled and kept on a leash when in public, with animal rescue centres fearing they could be forced to euthanise hundreds of dogs.
Continue reading...New Year’s Eve revellers told to prepare for near-freezing conditions as parts of UK recover from Storm Gerrit
Gusts of up to 75mph (120km/h) are expected to batter the coasts of southern England and Wales this weekend as other parts of the UK continue to recover from the ravages of Storm Gerrit.
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for high winds in the south-east, south-west, East Anglia and Wales from 11am on Saturday until 3am on Sunday, New Year’s Eve.
Continue reading...Average of 3,631 patients in hospital with Covid during Christmas week, data shows, a rise of 57% in a month
A surge in the number of flu and Covid admissions to hospitals in England is adding to a “storm of pressure” facing the health service, NHS leaders have said.
Figures released on Friday showed that in Christmas week, there were on average 3,631 patients with Covid in hospital, up 57% from the same week in November.
Continue reading...Antonia Hay has had multiple surgeries following infection her father believes came from food bought in Buckinghamshire
A 17-year-old student has been in intensive care for two weeks after she caught a strain of E coli.
Antonia Hay, who has had to undergo multiple surgeries, is believed to have caught the bacterial infection from food at a Christmas market in November.
Continue reading...South Yorkshire police say 46-year-old father-of-two died after coming to aid of a stranger during disturbance
A father-of-two who died after a car was driven into a crowd of people during a disturbance in Sheffield was a “Good Samaritan” who was trying to help a stranger, police said.
South Yorkshire police named the 46-year-old man who died in the incident in College Close, in the Burngreave area of the city, as Christian Marriott.
Continue reading...Thousands of homes without power and rail travel in chaos after strong winds, heavy snow and rain
A major incident has been declared in Greater Manchester, where a “localised tornado” has swept through the Tameside area, damaging about 100 properties and leaving thousands of homes without power.
Storm Gerrit, the latest named storm to reach the UK, has also caused heavy snow, high winds and rain in parts of Scotland, where fallen trees, branches and other debris have brought down power lines.
Continue reading...Party has asked former Ofsted head Sir David Bell to find new ways to increase levels of childcare
Labour is considering creating thousands of nursery places inside existing primary schools in England and has tasked the former Ofsted head Sir David Bell with finding new ways to increase levels of childcare.
In the latest evolution of Labour’s policy in an area that still has a widespread shortage of spaces, plus a lack of affordability and staffing, Bell will advise on potential ways to tackle this, with detailed policies set out nearer the election.
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