Dramatic photos released by the fire service show the scale and aftermath of a devastating blaze ripping through a primary school in Bolton yesterday.
With only a few weeks of the summer holidays left to go, and thousands of children across Greater Manchester gearing up to start a new school year at the start of September, the return for a new term may sadly look a little different for the pupils and parents of S S Simon & Jude C of E Primary School in Bolton.
It comes after the popular primary school caught fire yesterday morning (17 August) at around 8:30am, and saw a significant blaze rip through the building.
Plumes of thick smoke were reportedly seen by local residents for miles.
🚒 GMFRS crews have worked tirelessly throughout the day to extinguish a major fire at a primary school in Bolton. At the height of the response, 17 fire engines from across Greater Manchester were in attendance.
— Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (@manchesterfire) August 17, 2023
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) confirmed that crews from 10 different branches and a total of 17 fire engines from across the region attended the scene at the Great Lever-based school once the first reports came in, and got straight to work battling the blaze and eventually managing to bring the situation under control.
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Several surrounding streets were cordoned off for a number of hours while crews tackled the blaze, with locals urged to stay away.
GMFRS said in statement that crews “worked tirelessly throughout the day”.
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Photos released by the fire service also show the shell of the school building as the blaze was close to being fully extinguished.
The shell of S S Simon & Jude C of E Primary School after the blaze took hold / Credit: GMFRS
Sharing the shocking drone pictures with the public on social media yesterday, GMFRS explained in a statement: “Our crews have worked tirelessly throughout the day to extinguish a major fire at a primary school in Bolton.
“At the height of the response, 17 fire engines from across Greater Manchester were in attendance.
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“The fire was brought under control by late afternoon [and] crews will be at the scene overnight damping down any remaining hot spots.”
Parents of pupils at the school – which converted to Academy status in 2012, and is now operated by The Vantage Academy Trust – were said to be “devastated” by the fire, and understandably left concerned about the near future and the return for the new school year.
The front of S S Simon & Jude C of E Primary School in Great Lever, Bolton / Credit: Google Maps
The Vantage Academy Trust reassured parents that they will be continuously updated moving forward.
In a public statement shared online on Thursday evening, the Vantage Academy Trust wrote: “We would like to reassure everyone who’s seen the fire at SS Simon and Jude CE Primary, Bolton, today that no one has been hurt.
“Firefighters have worked tirelessly to bring it under control.
“The Principal will keep in touch with parents with further updates – school can be reached if needed via the office email.”
Featured Image – GMFRS
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Amazon is hiding loads of free stuff in lockers next week for Prime Big Deal Days
Daisy Jackson
Amazon will be hiding free gifts around the UK next week to celebrate Prime Big Deal Days.
The online retail giant will be stashing everything from mobile phones and earphones to beauty gift sets and designer watches in its network of lockers.
You might even stumble upon a new, free kitchen gadget when you’re collecting your normal Amazon shopping.
There is a catch though (or a perk, depending on how you look at it).
The Irish star, who just landed his first UK number one album, wants to make customers ‘feel like a big deal’, apparently.
And seeing as he shot to fame with his viral flashmob stunts, he seems like a good choice to be popping up from behind Amazon lockers as people pick up their online shop.
Cian Ducrot comments: “My flash mob performances are all about spreading joy and music, and I loved helping shoppers feel like a big deal at the Amazon Lockers.”
Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Day sales event, which is taking place on 10 and 11 October 2023, will also see the brand hide hundreds of items in Amazon Lockers around the UK.
Over those two days, Prime members who are collecting shopping will be given the opportunity to pick a code, which will open a locker containing a free item to take away.
Surprise locker locations will be in London, Cardiff, Liverpool, Newcastle, Belfast, Glasgow, Birmingham and Manchester on 10 and 11 October.
The giveaway runs alongside a Prime member exclusive shopping event, featuring deals on everything Prime members need for Autumn, from making an early start to festive shopping, to stocking up on seasonal essentials.
Council Tax in Manchester could be raised to support the city’s ‘poorest households’
Emily Sergeant
Manchester City Council has laid out plans to potentially raise residents’ Council Tax to help support the “poorest households” in the city.
Councillors are proposing that, under the city’s current Council Tax Support scheme, the amount owed by a household is reduced by up to 100% for pension-age residents with the lowest incomes, and up to 82.5% for working-age residents with the lowest incomes from April 2024 – with the maximum reduction for working-age residents increased by 2.5% to 85%.
This means the maximum that those eligible for support would have to pay is just 15% of the bill, according to Manchester City Council.
At the same time, it’s being proposed that rules allowing reductions to be backdated, in instances where someone “has a good reason not to have claimed sooner”, are extended to allow up to a year’s back payments, rather than up to six months as is currently the case.
With the proposals all laid out, a consultation has been opened and residents living in the Manchester borough are now being asked for their views.
The Council is proposing changes to the Council Tax Support scheme that would provide more support for Manchester residents.
The Council Tax Support scheme currently provides around one fifth of Manchester households with help paying their Council Tax, but it’s estimated that these proposed changes would cost the Council around £770,000 in 2024/25.
This proposed raising of Council Tax also comes after the Council revealed earlier last month that £50 million in funding will go towards upgrading and improving social housing in Manchester over the next two years – with thousands of tenants living in social housing and Council-owned residential complexes across the city and wider borough set to benefit.
Residents in these properties are set receive what is being dubbed “transformational investment” to their homes before 2026.
Council Tax in Manchester could be raised to support the city’s ‘poorest households’ / Credit: Archello / Rockpanel
“We are acutely aware that some residents are really struggling due to cost of living pressures,” admitted Cllr Rabnawaz Akbar, who is the Executive Member for Finance at Manchester City Council on the proposals, “and this is why we’ve already introduced a range of measures to help people access food, advice and support.
“As part of this wider response, we want to go even further to help the poorest households in Manchester with their Council Tax, and that’s what these proposals are all about.
“We’re keen to hear your views on what we’re suggesting before we make a final decision.”
Emily Sergeant -
18th August 2023 
