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
Holly Willoughby delivers honest and emotional statement addressing Phillip Schofield scandal on This Morning return
Danny Jones
Holly Willoughby has officially addressed the ongoing Phillip Schofield scandal on her return to This Morning on Monday.
Making her first appearance since the pair both dropped off the show following Schofield’s admission that he had a relationship with a younger man who worked on the show, his former co-presenter jumped straight into the issue at the top of the show.
“Firstly, are you OK? I hope so. It feels very strange sitting here without Phil and I know that you might be feeling a lot like I have: shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the wellbeing on all sides of what’s been going on, and have lots of questions.
“You, me and all of us at This Morning gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth, who acted in a way that they themselves felt they had to resign from ITV and step down from a career they loved. That is a lot to process and it’s equally hard to see the toll that has taken on their own mental health.”
Holly Willoughby’s opening statement on her This Morning return.
The 42-year-old went on to say, “I think what unites us all now is a desire to heal for the health and wellbeing of everyone. I hope that as we start this new chapter and get back to a place of warmth and magic that this show holds for all of us, we can find strength in each other.
“From my heart, can I just say thank you for all your kind messages and thank you for being here this morning. Myself, Josie, Dermot, Alison, Craig and everyone who works on this show will continue to work hard every single day to bring you the show that we love.”
Stand-in host Josie Gibson then hugged Holly and said: “All we can do now is be the family that we are”.
After making it through the statement, Holly and Josie then jumped back into the regularly scheduled programming as usual.
As for the scandal itself, Schofield recently gave an exclusive interview with the BBC admitting that his “career is over” and had “suicidal thoughts” after the story broke, as well as insisting that he hasn’t spoken with Holly since apart from sending her an apology via text following his own statement.
The 61-year-old continues to deny allegations that he groomed the man he maintained a relationship with for a number of years but ITV has stated that they are continuing to investigate the situation following his resignation.
Tribute paid to gran, 51, stabbed to death in broad daylight in Tameside
Daisy Jackson
A 51-year-old woman who was stabbed to death in broad daylight last week has been named as Michelle Hodgkinson, as her family issue a heartbreaking tribute.
She has been described as ‘the most amazing, loving, selfless and funny daughter, mother, mother-in-law, sister, auntie and most recently a nanna’.
Michelle, or ‘our Shelly B’ had been walking along Edge Lane on Friday 2 June when she was approached by a male and stabbed.
Emergency services rushed to the scene but tragically, Michelle died at the scene.
She had just been going about her day, walking to meet her mum so that she could take her shopping.
A 28-year-old man has been arrested arrested on suspicion of murder and has since been detained under the Mental Health Act.
Michelle was a community-driven individual with a long history of charity work and volunteering, as well as being her family’s ‘biggest cheerleader’.
#TRIBUTE | Family pay tribute to ‘amazing’ ‘loving’ and ‘selfless’ Michelle Hodgkinson who was killed in Droylsden
Michelle Hodkinson (51) has been named as the victim of the attack on Edge Lane in Droylsden on 2/6/23
— Tameside South and West Police (GMP) (@GMPTamesideS) June 4, 2023
In tribute to her issued through GMP, Michelle’s family said: “Everyone who knows Michelle is in utter shock at the attack she endured and how horrific her last moments were. Our Shelly B was the most amazing, loving, selfless and funny daughter, mother, mother-in-law, sister, auntie and most recently a nanna. It was a privilege to have been known and loved by her.
“She loved helping people in her community and was known for volunteering as an appropriate adult, her charity work and loved creating hampers to make people smile. She would be there for anyone and the day she was taken from us, she was doing just that – walking to meet her mum to take her shopping and to go for a coffee.
“Our family and friends are heartbroken. In one moment our world has crumbled and will never be the same. We will support each other, and we thank and appreciate the love and support shown by our family and friends. Please hold your loved ones close, tell them you love them and make memories.
“Words cannot describe how much she will be missed. Our biggest cheerleader, our confidant, our rock – she will never be forgotten. We love you to the moon and back! We’ll do everything we can to get justice. Love you forever and always!”
The Manc -
21st January 2021 
