News

Shocking photos show fire crews tackling massive blaze at a Blackburn vape factory

... And they said vaping was safer.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 12th September 2023

Fire crews worked tirelessly throughout the night to tackle a massive blaze that broke out inside a vape factory in Blackburn.

After Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service reported receiving “multiple calls” about the blaze at Shadsworth Business Park in Blackburn just after 8:30pm last night (11 September), 10 fire engines from stations across the region rushed to the scene.

Huge plumes of smoke could be seen from miles away, and local residents were advised to keep their windows and doors closed for their own safety.

A number of road closures were also put in place, but these have since reopened this morning.

Fire crews tackling the blaze at Shadsworth Business Park / Credit: Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service

Once crews arrived on the scene, firefighters got to work tackling the blaze straight away, and worked tirelessly throughout the night to bring the situation under control – with an “aerial ladder platform and stinger” said to have been used.

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No injuries had been reported during the incident.

As of 9am this morning, Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service has confirmed that four fire engines, the aerial ladder platform, and the stinger remain at the incident as firefighters continue to extinguish what still remains of the blaze.

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The fire service’s drone will be flying across the site for most of the morning, and a fire investigation is also set to begin today.

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Blackburn with Darwen Council has also thanked “everyone who helped in the emergency response” to bring the fire under control.

Featured Image – Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service

News

Heartbreaking new figures show 35% of all children in the North West are living in poverty

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Schoolchildren in an assembly

35% of all children in the North West are currently living in poverty, some heartbreaking new figures have revealed.

Some new research carried out to understand regional levels of child poverty, conducted by Loughborough University for the End Child Poverty Coalition, has sadly revealed over a third (35%) of all children in the North West are living in what is called ‘relative poverty’, after the cost of housing is considered – which is higher than the national average standing at 31%. 

Over in the Lancashire authority of Pendle, this figure reaches 45%, making it the second highest rate of all local authorities in the country.

In Greater Manchester, both Oldham and Manchester join Pendle in the list of the 10 council areas with the highest child poverty rates in the UK, as well as Blackburn with Darwen, and Hyndburn, and to make matters worse, the North West features on the list more times than any other region nationwide.

Rusholme was identified as the Manchester area with the highest percentage rating – with more than half (51.3%) of all children there living in poverty. 

88% of constituencies across the North West have a quarter of children in poverty.

This could lead to things like families being forced to use food banks, children going without warm clothes in winter, or living in cold or unsafe housing.

As a result of these shocking statistics being revealed, the End Child Poverty Coalition – which represents more than 135 organisations across the UK – is calling on the Government to meet its manifesto commitment to address these high levels of child poverty, not just in the North West but also across the rest of country. 

“These figures should demonstrate to Government just how important it is to quickly address this so       to prevent another generation of children from growing up in low-income families,” commented Rachel Walters, who is the End Child Poverty Coalition Manager.

“The Government’s strategy to tackle child poverty must invest in children in areas with higher levels of poverty, like the North West.”

Graham Whitham, who is a End Child Poverty Coalition spokesperson and the Chief Executive of Resolve Poverty, added: “No child should go without the things they need to be healthy and happy.

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“The Government’s forthcoming national Child Poverty Strategy must demonstrate a clear ambition to ending child poverty in this country, backed by specific targets and immediate investment in social security.”

Featured Image – RawPixel

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Manchester’s ‘busiest’ road to close for annual safety checks this weekend

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Mancunian Way at night

Manchester’s ‘busiest’ road is set to close this weekend while annual safety checks are carried out, it has been confirmed.

As Manchester City Council looks to maintain and improve what is, by far, one of Manchester’s busiest and most-used roads, given the fact it is the main thoroughfare in and out of the city centre, it has been confirmed that Mancunian Way is set to close overnight this weekend for its annual inspection.

Carried out every year, the Council explains that these closures ensure that ‘vital’ safety inspections can be conducted to allow the major road to continue operating as normal.

The overnight closure will take place from 7-8 June.

From 5am on Saturday (7 June), Mancunian Way will be closed in both directions along its entire length, including all slip roads, between the Chester Road roundabout and Fairfield Street, and this will last until 7pm on Sunday (8 June), after which the road will be open to traffic again as normal.

In the meantime while the closures are underway, the Council assures that a signed diversion route will be in place via the north and eastern ring road sections – Trinity Way and Great Ancoats Street – and a local diversion route will be signed via Bridgewater Street, Whitworth Street West, Whitworth Street, and Fairfield Street.

Manchester’s ‘busiest’ road Mancunian Way is closing for annual safety checks this weekend / Credit: Pixabay

During this period there will also be a lane closure east/westbound at the Deansgate Interchange between 6:30-9:30am, and the inbound lane of Princess Road (heading towards Manchester) between 6:30am and 11:15am.

As is to be expected with these kinds of tasks, Councillors say they are preparing for a ‘level of disruption’ but are intending to keep it to a minimum.

“The annual inspection of the Mancunian Way is a vital job which ensures that the tens of thousands of daily users of this road can go about their journey in safety,” explained Councillor Tracey Rawlins, who is the Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment, and Transport.

“We do expect a level of disruption throughout this process so wherever possible we’d advise people to travel via public transport, or plan an alternate route ahead to avoid the work locations.

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“Safety will always be our number one priority and I’d like to say thank you in advance for the patience of road users during this period of works.”

Find out more information on this weekend’s Mancunian Way closures here.

Featured Image – Geograph

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