Widespread parts of Greater Manchester have woken up to a blanket of snow this morning, as amber weather warnings continue.
After sleet and snow that didn’t really give much of an indication that it would stick – apart from on higher ground, maybe – falling across most of the region over the last day or so, and after a night of windy and blizzard conditions, Greater Manchester has this morning woken up to a blanket of snow – with snow still falling in many places.
With the snow coming down heavy overnight, coupled with the strong winds to create blizzard conditions branded “awful” and “treacherous”, many major roads around the region remain closed or impassable this morning.
Multiple crashes were reported in Greater Manchester and Lancashire late last night, with jack-knifed lorries blocking parts of major routes.
Greater Manchester wakes up to blanket of snow as amber weather warning continues / Credit: Geograph | Pexels
Drivers were also left stuck for several hours on the M62, and the motorway is still being described as “chaos” this morning.
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Dozens of primary and secondary schools in Oldham and Bury have already announced they will be shut today due to the “adverse weather conditions”, with the number growing as the hours go on, and schools in other boroughs expected to announce closures throughout the morning as important access roads remain closed.
The significant snowfall today comes after a number of National Severe Weather Warnings were put in place by the Met Office across the UK at the start of this week, as Storm Larisa continues to batter the country.
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Amber warnings have been issued, highlighting further snowfall for central and northern England, northern Wales and eastern parts of Northern Ireland.
Three amber warnings have been issued by the Met Office for parts of northern England, the Midlands, North Wales, and Northern Ireland – which means “significant” travel disruption is likely, as well as possible power cuts, and a chance that some rural communities could become cut off.
An amber snow warning for parts of Greater Manchester and the Pennines is set to remain in place until 12pm today.
A yellow warning for snow and ice also remains in place until 2pm.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
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Millions of UK workers to get pay rises from today as National Living and Minimum Wage increases
Emily Sergeant
Millions of workers across the UK are set to begin receiving substantial pay rises from today.
After the Government announced back in November that it would take the recommendations made by the Low Pay Commission, and increase both the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage, those changes have now come into force in a bid to ensure people on lower incomes are ‘properly rewarded’ for their work.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Low Pay Commission, it’s an independent body made up of employers, trade unions, and experts whose role is to advise the Government on the minimum wage.
As mentioned, the rate recommendations introduced today were agreed unanimously by the Commission.
This means that the living wage, for eligible workers who are aged 21 and over, has now risen by 4.1% from today to £12.71 an hour.
For a full-time worker, that means a pay increase of £900 a year.
Millions of workers in the UK are getting pay rises from today / Credit: John Kakuk (via Unsplash) | Pexels
The National Minimum Wage rate for workers aged 18 to 20-year-olds has also increased today by 8.5% to £10.85 an hour, and then for 16 to 17-year-olds, and those on apprenticeships, the rate has increased by 6% to £8 an hour.
“The recommendations we made last autumn sought to balance the need to protect the economy and labour market, whilst providing a real-terms increase for the lowest-paid members of society,” commented Baroness Philippa Stroud, who is Chair of the Low Pay Commission.
“A lot has changed since we gave our advice to the Government last autumn, and we are now beginning to gather evidence for recommendations later this year.
“The current economic uncertainty makes it essential that the Commission hears from those affected by the minimum wage and builds consensus for evidence-based recommendations.
Workers aged 21 and over are now legally entitled to the National Living Wage after the age threshold for the highest rate was lowered from 23 in 2024.
National Minimum Wage rates are available to workers aged 16 upwards.
Featured Image – Israel Andrade (via Unsplash)
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Delays on M60 continue after man dies falling from bridge near Trafford Centre
Daisy Jackson
A man has tragically died after falling from a bridge on the M60, near the Trafford Centre.
Police closed the motorway in both directions at around 10am this morning as they responded to the concern for welfare.
The man was on Barton Bridge on the M60, but tragically fell and passed away at the scene.
The motorway was shut anti-clockwise between junction 12 for the M602 and junction 10, and on the clockwise carriageway between junction 9 and 11, with a huge diversion in place.
Although the motorway has reopened as the afternoon has worn on, disruption is ‘likely’ to continue for several hours yet.
National Highways is reporting up to two miles of congestion on the M60 around Barton Bridge.
In a statement released earlier today, a GMP spokesperson said: “Officers are currently responding to a concern for welfare on Barton Bridge on the M60, reported at around 9:40am today (Tuesday 31 March).
“The M60 remains closed in both directions while emergency services are in attendance. Significant delays are expected and drivers are advised to avoid the area where possible.”
GMP later added: “Earlier today, officers responded to a concern for welfare on Barton Bridge on the M60. The man sadly fell from the bridge and passed away at the scene.
“The road remains closed while enquiries continue. Please avoid the area and plan alternative routes where possible as disruption is likely to continue for the rest of the day.”
Emily Sergeant -
10th March 2023 
