Blackburn is at risk of becoming the new coronavirus hotspot in Britain, new data reveals.
According to Public Health England, the number of positive cases in the town have doubled during the past week, with 79.2 COVID-19 infections recorded per 100,000 people overall.
These figures suggest that Blackburn may have the highest infection rate in the country.
Mass testing has already been introduced in the region, with residents required to wear face coverings in all enclosed public places.
People are also being urged to avoid handshakes and have been advised to reduce contact with other households.
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Leicester / Wikipedia
The new measures were brought in last week in an attempt to prevent Blackburn being forced to enter a local lockdown.
Currently, only the city of Leicester has unable to open up in the same way as the rest of England, with all non-essential premises forced to remain closed.
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This includes pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, outdoor gyms, playgrounds, cinemas, museums, galleries, theme parks, arcades, libraries, social clubs, places of worship and community centres.
Recent statistics have shown that the local lockdown in the East Midlands region is proving effective, with cases falling to a rate of 77.7 per 100,000 people.
New cases have also dropped from 429 to 276 in the space of a week.
However, Prof Dominic Harrison, Public Health Director of Blackburn with Darwen Council, has commented that they would only execute these measures as a “very, very last resort” and would be “very reluctant” to do so.
He also said these recent results were “expected” and that cases were likely to rise further in the coming days.
The UK recorded 726 new cases on July 19, with 27 new deaths.
More than 290,000 people in the country have tested positive since the outbreak began.
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Trains halted after car crashes onto Manchester to Liverpool line in Salford
Danny Jones
There is set to be some significant travel chaos for the remainder of the day after a car crashed onto a section of the train tracks in Salford, resulting in major rail delays.
At present, all trains running along the line between Manchester city centre and Liverpool have been cancelled while the vehicle is removed from the tracks.
The incident is said to have occurred in the early hours of Friday morning (7 February) and while the exact details surrounding the crash are still scarce, the car landed on its roof and the driver has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.
These were the scenes late last night/this morning:
#ARREST | We responded to a collision on Regents Road in #Salford this morning at around 2am, following reports of a road traffic collision involving one car on the railway line near Regents Road roundabout.
According to reports, the 30-year-old is said to have been rushed to the hospital for further assessment, though their injuries are not thought to be serious.
Fortunately, there were no other drivers involved in the accident which took place at around 2am on the roundabout at Regent Road in Salford.
Nevertheless, the Greater Manchester rail network and beyond will still be impacted well after the car has been removed from the tracks.
Transpennine Express has stated that travellers can expect disruption until around 1pm at the earliest but with the knock-on effect cancellation and delays will have on local lines, not to mention the congestion that will follow on further North West lines and other public transport, the situation is less than ideal.
You can see more footage from the scene this morning down below:
‼️There’s major disruption to the trains between Manchester and Liverpool this morning – after a car smashed into train tracks in #Salford.
Providing the latest updates to passengers online, Northern Assist has stated that those “Liverpool Lime Street who require Manchester Victoria/Piccadilly/Oxford Rd can travel via Warrington Bank Quay. Passengers at Manchester stations who require Lime Street can travel via Warrington Bank Quay.
“Passengers at Chester who require Manchester Victoria can travel via Stockport or alternatively travel on Transport for Wales services between Chester and Newton Le Willows where a bus service will operate towards Manchester Victoria…
“Passengers at Manchester Piccadilly who require Chester can travel via Stockport or alternatively, travel to Manchester Victoria, where a replacement bus service is operating to Newton le Willows and travel on the next available Transport for Wales service to Chester. Ticket acceptance is in place with Transport For Wales, via any reasonable route.”
Fingers crossed that the car is removed from the track promptly, the debris is cleared up as quickly as possible and the situation in Salford is resolved soon – keep your eyes peeled on social media for information on services.
⚠️If you are travelling between #liverpool and #Manchester today please be aware of disruption due to a police incident
Top-rated Manchester chippy Hip Hop Chip Shop confirms it will soon be closing
Danny Jones
Not the news we wanted to go into the weekend writing but, sadly, we have word of yet another loss to Manchester hospitality as The Hip Hop Chip Shop have announced they will soon be closing.
Rated not just one of the top-rated chippies in Greater Manchester but having been named the second beast in the UK back in 2023, Hip Hop Chip Shop‘s success story is one we’ve loved watching.
First opened back in 2014 (how time flies), the chippy started out as nothing more than another street food stall serving out of a converted trailer designed to look like a boombox; it was cool, great value for money and absolutely delicious.
However, now over a decade later and having opened their brick-and-mortar site in Ancoats, the present financial pressures of the sector have taken their toll just like they have so many others and Hip Hop Chip Shop confirmed they will be early closing next month.
Bidding an emotional goodbye on social media, they wrote: “After 11 years, we’re unfortunately joining the chorus of independent businesses in Manchester and beyond, calling it a day.
Although Ancoats was an amazing area for us to embark on our bricks-and-mortar dream, the cost increases from Brexit, Covid, energy, VAT (halving it would save a lot in the industry), BB Loans etc. has meant it’s unviable in its current form – we would’ve had to increase prices much more than we’d be comfortable with to get the margins we need to keep going.
“It’s an extremely tough decision given it’s 15 years since the idea was born in my early 20s – then three mates whilst working other jobs began building it from scratch every weekend, to then quitting our jobs and taking a leap of full-time faith. Ultimately, we need to listen to the head, not the heart.”
Founder Jonathan ‘Ozzie’ Oswald goes on to add, “We wanted to give enough notice to support our amazing team in finding new jobs, making sure all our suppliers are paid up and provide our supportive customers with the last chance to eat/drink/party with us.”
Although they started they are exploring the possibility of keeping their trailer (which made its Christmas Markets debut just this past year) going at regular locations like the Etihad Stadium, the rest of the business as we know will be shutting down in a matter of weeks.
How it all started.The food’s been unbelievable since the start.Credit: The Manc Eats
Sharing a lengthy farewell message in honour of their fellow contemporaries and competitors, equally lauded Chips @ No.8 in Prestwich said: “We honour those who dared to do it differently. The Hip Hop Chip Shop in Manchester city centre were inspirational to us when we were setting out.
“They turned fish and chips on its head and did it how no one else thought possible. Centred on community with a high-quality product that championed sustainability and the alternative, we deemed them Gods of the fish and chip world and untouchable…
“Yet another independent food-based business to succumb to the economic crisis that has enveloped us and to date, the one that has hit us hardest. This latest closure most certainly won’t be the last. The government need to wake up fast and support small independent businesses before there are no more…
“If you haven’t been before then you really should, before it’s too late.”
You can find their remaining opening hours in the full Instagram post and the staff have assured all they’ll be open as normal in Manchester and at the Carlton Club in Whalley Range until their closing party on Saturday, 2 March, where guests can come along and have one last bite – and more than a few beers.
Responding underneath the post, one person commented: “The doors might be closing, but what you’ve done for us will never ever be forgotten. It’s impossible to talk about Manchester Hip Hop without talking about the Chippy.
“From Manchester to Vegas, tales of a Chippy that supported a culture, community and served dam good food will be told with smiles on our faces and heavy hearts.”
As for the Hip Hop gang, they signed off simply by saying: “It’s been a privilege to be able to feed you all whether it’s been at a music festival, kitchen takeover, wedding, corporate party and also put on some top events in a chippy! HUGE thanks for your support!
RIP to HOP, you were the modern Manchester chippy OGs and we sincerely hope it’s not forever.
Nothing short of a perfect plate – you will be missed x