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Drone display in honour of Manchester Arena attack victims cancelled as city is battered with rain

Manchester has been placed under an amber weather warning.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 22nd May 2024

A drone display that was set to take place tonight as a mark of remembrance of those who died in the Manchester Arena attack has been cancelled.

The digital art show of more than 100 glowing drones had been created by Andrew Roussos, whose eight-year-old daughter Saffie-Rose was the youngest person killed in the attack.

But due to a severe weather warning that’s now in place in Manchester, the display has been called off.

The region has been placed under an amber weather alert for rain through Wednesday and into Thursday, with ‘flooding and disruption likely’.

The Met Office has issued a ‘danger to life’ warning due to the likelihood of flooding in parts of the country.

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Manchester is already being battered with heavy rain, and the downpour is forecast to continue all day.

Thursday also has a high change of rain, though it should be lighter by tomorrow morning.

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The drone display that was due to take place tonight would have marked the seventh anniversary of the terror attack at Manchester Arena.

It was due to take place at the same time as the bomb was detonated, along with a minute’s silence.

A drone display that was set to take place tonight as a mark of remembrance of those who died in the Manchester Arena attack has been cancelled.
Manchester has been placed under an amber weather alert for heavy rain. Credit: The Manc Group
Manchester has been placed under an amber weather alert for heavy rain, causing a drone display to be cancelled. Credit: The Manc Group

In an interview with the BBC, he said: “It’s in danger of becoming just another church service and another minute’s silence, which is important, but if you’re not careful, you end up only remembering the attack.

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“They were at a music gig, they were all vibrant lively people, a light show is more fitting with their personalities.

“It would be lovely to remember them in a positive light, rather than what happened to them.”

There will still be a minute’s silence at 10.31pm, as well as another one and a remembrance service at Manchester Victoria at midday.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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Kate Middleton issues statement on cancer journey and confirms she’ll make public appearance very soon

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Kate Middleton reveals she has cancer

Kate Middleton has released a statement confirming she’ll be making her first public appearance in several months, and updating the public on her cancer diagnosis.

The Princess of Wales revealed announced that she had been diagnosed with the disease back in March, several months after stepping back from the public eye.

The 42-year-old has now said that she has been ‘making good progress’ with her cancer and is still undergoing treatment.

She said that chemotherapy has left her having ‘good days and bad days’ and experiencing symptoms including fatigue.

Kate Middleton added that she has been enjoying school life and has been taking time ‘on the things that give me energy and positivity’ as well as beginning to do some work from home.

But the Princess of Wales stressed ‘I am not out of the woods yet.’

She will make her first public appearance in months this coming weekend, for the Trooping The Colour parade.

Kate Middleton statement and cancer update in full:

I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months. It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.

I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days.

On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.

My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months.

On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.

I’m looking forward to attending The King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.

I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.

Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me.

Read more: The Hardest Geezer is back at it again as he begins his run to Germany for Euro 2024

Featured image: Kensington Royal / Matt Porteous, 2024

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Labour says it will look at stripping ‘woeful’ Avanti West Coast of its contract if elected

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Labour has said it will look at stripping Avanti West Coast of its contract, if elected next month, due to the company’s “woeful service”.

Ahead of the upcoming General Election due to take place on Thursday 4 July, Labour and its leader, Sir Keir Starmer, have been outlining the Party’s vision for the both the immediate and long-term future of the country – and now, Shadow Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, has been having her say on a topic that continues to affect many Greater Manchester residents.

Avanti has been operating the West Coast Main Line service – which is one of the most important railway corridors in the UK – since December 2019 after taking over from Virgin, and was controversially awarded a long-term contract to continue operation in September of last year.

Before this, the train company had previously been given until 1 April 2023 to continue running the route from London to Glasgow, but had been told due to its chaotic past that it needed to “drastically improve” its services if it was to stand any chance of having the contract extended further beyond that date.

Labour says it will look at stripping ‘woeful’ Avanti West Coast of its contract if elected / Credit: Avanti West Coast | Flickr

Office of Rail and Road figures show that Avanti West Coast had the third-worst reliability of all operators in Britain in the year to the end of March – with the equivalent of one in 15 trains (6.9%) cancelled.

A new study published in April even revealed it as Britain’s “most unreliable” train operator overall.

Despite many customers continuing to voice discontent with level of services during this time, the Department for Transport (DfT) still went on to award Avanti another six-month contract extension from the start of April onwards, after it deemed “significant improvements had been made since October”.

Following DfT reviews, once again, Avanti’s long-term contract to operate the line was subsequently awarded in mid-September 2023.

When asked about Avanti West Coast’s future, and pressed on Labour’s plan to bring train services into public ownership during an interview with Kay Burley on Sky News yesterday morning (13 June), Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh explained: “Our commitment is to bring in those contracts as they expire or when they are breached.

“I anticipate I will be seeking advice early on whether Avanti has been in breach of its contract, given the woeful service that it’s been providing to passengers down the West Coast Main Line.”

Ms Haigh then insisted that October 2026 would be Avanti’s cut-off date, if Labour’s elected.

“No ifs, no buts, October 2026 will be the last date Avanti will have notice of that contract ending,” she added, “But I will ask for early advice about whether they have already breached their contract and whether it can be brought in any earlier.”

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Labour’s voicing of its intent to strip Avanti West Coast of its contract also comes after the Party announced its vision to transform the country’s childcare and early years education system earlier this week.

The Party pledged to convert more than 3,000 vacant school classrooms across England into nursery facilities if elected next month.

Featured Image – Avanti West Coast

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