News
Lidl reveal Christmas opening times as they confirm most shops will be shut for three-day period
They're keeping their staff's wellbeing in mind during the busiest time of year.
Popular British supermarket chain Lidl has confirmed it will be giving its staff a much-deserved break this holiday season by revealing that almost all of their shops will be shut for three days as part of their Christmas opening times, including Boxing Day.
In addition to being shut on Christmas and New Year’s Day as usual, Lidl has announced that nearly all of their 960 stores around the UK will also be shut on Boxing Day this year as more and more brands are looking to reward their employees with some well-earned rest during the busiest time of the year.
The German-founded European franchise is one of the biggest discount food retailers not only here in Britain but across the continent, with upwards of 360,000 employees worldwide.
With that being said, they are well aware of how much of a toll the long hours can take during the festive period and feel it’s only fair to once again give their workers an extra day off and simply encourage people to get their shopping done ahead of time.
As per Lidl’s own data, the stats from 2022 showed that the busiest time for shoppers during Christmas were around midday, with the highest levels of footfall being recorded between 12 noon and 2pm.
As a result, the supermarket is recommending that customers looking to avoid the crowds shop between 8am and 10am, or from 6pm onwards, which have proved to be some of the quietest times in-store over recent years.
They are also warning that the last Friday before Christmas this year, 22 December, is also likely to be the most hectic day, so don’t leave until too late if you don’t want to risk battling your way through the aisles.
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However, for those of you hoping/needing to do a bit of shopping for whatever reason on Boxing Day, you can use Lidl’s store locator to check the opening times of your nearest branches.
Other affordable supermarkets and retailers such as Aldi, Poundland, Iceland and Home Bargains will also once again be shutting this Boxing Day.
And for anyone working in supermarkets, retail or hospitality during what we all know can be a very stressful and demanding time of the year, thank you in advance and we hope you have a wonderful break wherever it comes.
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Featured Images — Lidl GB
News
Six GMP officers dismissed following racial discrimination allegations
Emily Sergeant
A number of police officers have been dismissed following an internal investigation, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has confirmed.
Following the internal investigation into alleged racial discrimination against an officer on the Bury district – which was launched by GMP‘s Professional Standards Directorate in July 2024 – six officers and two former officers were found to have committed gross misconduct, and a ninth officer was found to have committed misconduct.
The investigation came after a report was made that an officer had been subjected to ‘racist behaviour’ by colleagues in December 2023.
The panel heard how PC Y – who has African heritage and has been granted anonymity – made a complaint after her accent was mimicked by a group of officers. She was also compared to a suspect with similar skin colour, and one of the dismissed PCs made a derogatory comment about her hair.
PC Y was supported and kept updated throughout the investigation, GMP assured, as well as providing evidence at the hearing.
The misconduct hearing lasted just over two weeks, with the panel concluding that the officers breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour relating to Equality and Diversity, Authority, Respect, and Courtesy.
The six officers who have been dismissed are PC Demi Green, PC Heena Rani, PC Lucy Granby, PC Matthew Barlow, PC Matthew Hill, and PC Mohammed Abid, while the former officers who were found to have committed gross misconduct are PC Jake Holt, and former Officer A – who has been granted anonymity.
The panel also found that Sergeant Adrian Bick’s actions amounted to misconduct, as there was no breach of the standard of equality and diversity.
As a result, the six serving officers have been sacked without notice, while the two former officers would have been dismissed had they not already left the force, and Sergeant Bick was issued a written warning.
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“No officer or member of staff should have to come to work and experience discriminatory behaviour from the people they serve alongside,” declared Deputy Chief Constable, Terry Woods.
“Everyone has the right to feel respected, valued and part of the same team with a shared commitment to serving our communities and keeping people safe.”
Featured Image – David Dixon (via Geograph)
News
‘There must be a way’ – Andy Burnham vows to save Jodrell Bank after funding cuts
Emily Sergeant
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has vowed to save the UK’s largest telescope at Jodrell Bank.
In case you hadn’t heard, back in July, theUK Research and Innovation (UKRI) announced that the Jodrell Bank Observatory – which is home to the Lovell Telescope – will not be prioritised for further funding after its current agreement ends in March 2028, despite the telescope standing in its Cheshire home since 1957.
The UKRI said the decision not to continue funding priority was ‘the result of a comprehensive, evidence-based prioritisation process’.
Since the news broke, however, it has been a topic of national uproar and discussion as to how to ensure its legacy lives on.
A proud part of the University of Manchester (UoM), Jodrell Bank had a pioneering role in the development of radio astronomy, and has evidence from its emergence as a new science in the 1940s through to the present day, making it an outstanding part of scientific heritage.
The Prime Minister was pressed to address concerns surrounding the future of the site by Sarah Russell, Labour MP for Congleton, in the House of Commons yesterday (1 September 2026).
Mr Burnham replied: “Every one of my generation went on a school trip to Jodrell Bank, and there is no way that we can see its demise – it won’t happen under my Government.
“I know there’s changes that have been made in relation to research funding, but Jodrell Bank is a heritage asset for the country, as well as a research asset.
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“I will indeed set up the meeting she requires.
“There must be a way to save Jodrell Bank, and I give a commitment today, at this despatch box, we will find it.”
Featured Image – The Manc Group
Danny Jones -
23rd November 2023 
