2,000 homes across Greater Manchester were evacuated on Wednesday as emergency services worked overnight to protect locals from Storm Christoph.
Heavy rain and snow continued to fall across the region throughout the night – forcing residents in East Didsbury, West Didsbury and Northenden to temporarily leave their properties.
Emergency services have been helping those affected whilst Environment Agency teams deploy temporary flood defences and close flood barriers.
Severe flooding alerts – meaning ‘danger to life’ – remain in place in four local areas: Little Bollington, Heatley, East Didsbury, and West Didsbury & Northenden.
The Environment Agency has warned that heavy rain is expected to continue on Thursday (January 21) and into the weekend.
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Water levels on the River Mersey also remain high.
Well that all happened very quickly. ❄️
From the rainiest day of the year to the snowiest in a matter of minutes. Today has been crazy to say the least!
Graph ⬇️ shows impact of opening of flood gates on Mersey at Sale Ees (for 1st time since early 90s) – huge volume of water pouring into Sale Water Park to prevent Mersey bursting banks. Levels in lake ⬆️ 3/4m in 4 hrs – see vid of flood gates from c. same time. 🙏 @EnvAgencyNWhttps://t.co/9Z9s7CgfO8pic.twitter.com/wrnsLNuX4f
“Please do not travel in the North West if possible”
People right across the Greater Manchester region and beyond are being urged to avoid all forms of non-essential travel.
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Rain, snow and freezing temperatures have created extremely challenging driving conditions – with more bad weather on the way later today.
Some public transport in the area stopped entirely on Wednesday, with local train operator Northern cancelling the majority of its services due to “increasingly poor conditions”.
More than 40 services were cancelled by 8am on Thursday morning, with Northern confirming that “disruption is expected until the end of the day”.
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East Midlands railway is still unable to run morning services between Liverpool and Manchester.
Manchester Piccadilly Station said that all services between London, Liverpool and Manchester are currently cancelled, with engineers “working out how long it’s going to take to clear all the flooding”.
Manchester Metrolink services also experienced disruption on Wednesday due to a fallen tree on the line between East Didsbury and West Didsbury.
Metrolink reps have since said the incident has been resolved and that “services will run as timetabled”.
Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service said that people “should only travel today if it’s essential”.
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“Our brave emergency services”
As Environment Agency workers, police, paramedics, and fire workers waded into the eye of the storm last night, one takeaway worked late to whip up food for the emergency services personnel keeping people safe.
Staff from local Palestinian restaurant Baity teamed up with Didsbury West Councillor Greg Stanton to cook and send out the food with just a few hours notice – delivering over 100 meals.
Thanks to all the teams from @gmpolice@manchesterfire and @mancitycouncil working to support residents in south Manchester. Please follow their advice and stay safe everyone
IKEA is launching its own online marketplace full of second-hand furniture
Emily Sergeant
IKEA has announced it’s launching its own online marketplace full of second-hand furniture.
Just like the ever-popular Facebook Marktplace, the IKEA second-hand marketplace is a dedicated space where pre-loved IKEA products can find a new home.
In bid to make affordable second-hand home furnishings easily accessible, the new online platform will enable customers across the UK to connect with one another directly, so they can buy and sell pre-owned IKEA items locally.
Designed specifically for IKEA products, the marketplace will provide everything shoppers need in one place.
The Swedish retailer is already known and loved for its ‘functional’ and ‘affordable’ home furnishings, all produced with care for people and the environment, but the launch of the new IKEA second-hand market place will make it just as easy to pass on an old favourite as it is to find a new one.
IKEA is launching its own online marketplace full of second-hand furniture / Credit: Supplied
“At IKEA, we are always looking for new ways to make life at home even better and help our customers discover products they love,” a spokesperson for the retailer said.
“With the launch of IKEA second-hand marketplace in the UK, we’re taking a meaningful step toward creating a destination that simplifies access to pre-owned IKEA furniture.
“Our goal is to make passing on beloved IKEA pieces as seamless as possible.
“We’re creating a trusted and vibrant space to make it quick and easy for our IKEA Family members to trade directly with one another. We want the process for buying and selling pre-owned IKEA products to be simple, accessible and rewarding.”
Detailed information regarding the official launch and how customers can get involved will be made available in the coming months.
Featured Image – Supplied
News
NHS urges people to book flu jabs ahead of winter as A&E attendances hit record 2.5 million
Emily Sergeant
The NHS is urging people get their flu jabs booked ahead of the upcoming season.
After A&E attendances hit a record 2.5 million in July, and staff experienced the three busiest months ever recorded between May and July in emergency departments, the NHS wants to do everything it can to ‘ease demand’ ahead of winter flu season arriving.
Flu season usually peaks in December and January, so the health service is starting to administer the vaccinations from autumn onwards to ensure fewer people are hospitalised.
Flu can cause significant issues for children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with some long-term health conditions – with issues including hospitalisation and, in certain cases, severe respiratory failure or even death.
It’s estimated that around 104,000 hospitalisations could have been avoided last year, which is why the NHS is keen to cut that number this winter.
From today, the national booking system is open for those eligible to book their flu vaccine, with appointments starting from 1 September.
Those eligible will be able to get their flu vaccination from a variety of places in their local community, including their GP practices and participating high street pharmacies.
The jab is given in injectable form in the vast majority of cases, while a nasal spray is provided for most children.
“Vaccinations play a vital role in protecting those most at risk from flu and they are also crucial for relieving pressures on our NHS over the winter months,” explained Health Secretary Yvette Cooper.
“Everyone who is eligible for a free vaccination will be notified through their phone or in the post, and the system for booking appointments is now open. Together, we can save lives, support the most vulnerable, and ensure our NHS is there for everyone who needs it this winter.”
The national booking system is now open so that eligible people – including pregnant women and children – can pre-book their flu vaccinations when appointments start on 1 September.
The Manc -
21st January 2021 
