News

Police pull over ‘family going on holiday’ on the M6 and find children hiding in the boot

Not your average motorway sight.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 26th July 2023

A family said to be “going on holiday” were stopped by police on the M6 yesterday after reports there were children hiding in the boot of a moving vehicle.

And those reports turned out to be true.

Schools are now out for the summer across Greater Manchester, and while the North West Motorway Police are more than used to seeing cars bundled up high with suitcases and luggage at this time of year as families make their way to airports and holiday destinations all across the UK, what officers aren’t usually expecting to see is a five-person car carrying seven people.

But that’s exactly what was reported earlier this week, when fellow motorway travellers noticed two children in the boot of a moving Volkswagen Arteon on the M6.

North West Motorway Police confirmed that officers stopped the vehicle “following reports of seven people on board”.

The driver was reported for committing two other offences, as well as the children in the boot, as several other passengers in the car were also found to be wearing no seatbelts, and police believed the vehicle was being used for an “unsuitable purpose”.

Taking to social media to share the shocking and unexpected discovery, alongside pictures of the stopped vehicle in question, North West Motorway Police explained: “VW Arteon stopped following report of 7 people on board, 2 children in the boot.

“Vehicle sighted on the M6, taken off Junction 20, driver reported for 3 offences, carrying 2 passengers with no seatbelts and using a vehicle for an unsuitable purpose. Family going on holiday”

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The pictures shared by police showed the car boot filled with what appeared to be pillows, duvets, and sleeping bags where the children had been sleeping.

Featured Image – NWMP (via Facebook)

News

Tatton Park makes decision to temporarily close gate after visitor is attacked by rutting deer

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Tatton Park has made the decision to temporarily close one of its gates after a member of the public following a ‘recent change in deer activity’.

It comes after ‘a couple of injuries’ despite warnings and a large amount of signage across the park.

The decision to close the Knutsford gate had to be taken by Tatton management with input from Cheshire East Council’s health and safety manager, and its director of growth and enterprise, along with ‘expert advice’ from the leading deer vet who works across many deer parks in the UK.

The Knutsford gate will be closed to pedestrians and vehicles ‘until further notice’, but the Dog Wood entrance and the main Rostherne entrance will remain open.

Tatton Park cited a current ‘larger number’ of stags than usual found feeding on fallen acorns near the Knutsford entrance, and an overall ‘recent shift in our deer herd’s behaviour during the rutting season’ as the reason for the gate’s closure in a statement shared to social media this week.

Rutting season – which refers to the autumn deer breeding season, typically from late September to early November in the UK – is when deer herds may exhibit aggression if approached.

“If you come across wild deer whilst visiting, we strongly advise you take an alternative route,” the park said in its statement.

The park’s Operations Team added in a statement, as reported by the MEN: “Despite all warnings, a large amount of signage, staff being on hand to advise people to avoid the deer, and all efforts to try to re-route people and get them to stop approaching the deer, we have unfortunately had a couple of injuries.”

One of the ‘injuries’ referred to was an incident involving 67-year-old man named Rod Savage, who was reportedly hurled up in the air after a large stag suddenly appeared and charged at him with his antlers, puncturing his stomach.

Tatton Park temporarily closes its gate after a visitor is attacked by rutting deer / Credit: Diana Parkhouse (via Unsplash)

The terrifying ordeal happened just 300 yards inside the Knutsford entrance, contributing to the gate’s temporary closure.

Tatton Park has now issued warnings and advice to all future visitors.

People are being told to ‘never walk between the deer’ and ‘never put yourself between deer and a fence’, while always maintaining a safe distance of 50m or more when possible, and ultimately remaining vigilant and fully-aware of your surroundings at all times.

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“We’ll be monitoring the situation daily and continue to provide updates,” the park concluded in its statement on social media.

“We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.”

Featured Image – Diana Parkhouse (via Unsplash)

News

Shocking new study reveals that almost 100 people a day are caught drink-driving

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Nearly 100 drivers a day in Britain have had ‘drink-drive endorsements’ added to their licences in the past three years, a shocking new study has revealed.

Alarmingly, it’s people between the ages of 25 and 39 that are the most frequently penalised for drink-driving – with around 48,000 drivers in this age bracket being handed endorsements, followed closely by 40,000 drivers aged 40 to 65.

In contrast, only 15,000 drivers aged 17 to 24 were penalised, and a mere 3,000 over-65s received points on their licence between 2022 and 2024.

It’s all according to a study by road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, using data obtained from the DVLA via a Freedom of Information request.

A shocking new study has revealed that almost 100 people a day are caught drink-driving / Credit: Pexels

Drivers caught over the alcohol limit face automatic licence revocation, potential imprisonment, and unlimited fines, while the endorsement remains on a driving licence for 11 years.

Another shocking revelation from the study is that fatalities linked to drink-driving have climbed over the past decade, peaking in 2022 at the highest level in 13 years – with the RAC saying this trend ‘raises alarms’ about the effectiveness of current road safety measures.

RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis called it ‘completely unacceptable’.

“These disturbing figures show the twin evils of driving under the influence of drink and drugs are behind a frightening number of lives lost on the UK’s roads every year,” he commented.

A third of Brits want police to immediately ban drink drivers at the roadside / Credit – Vladimir Proskurovskiy (via Unsplash)

“A new approach to tackling these repugnant crimes is desperately needed. We hope this will be a key part of the Government’s forthcoming road safety strategy, [as] we’ve consistently been calling for a change in approach when it comes to reducing alcohol-related road deaths, as it’s clear the status quo isn’t working.”

The RAC has been campaigning for courts being given the powers to mandate the fitting of alcohol interlocks (‘alcolocks’) to offenders’ vehicles to prevent them driving drunk again.

It is also ‘supportive’ of the police being given the powers to immediately disqualify any driver who fails a drink or drugs test at the roadside.

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“This has the potential to reduce drink-drive casualties, especially among habitual offenders,” Rod concluded. 

Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons

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