A Lancashire primary school headteacher has received widespread praise on social media today after her lockdown letter to parents goes viral.
The letter has been described as something that “all parents need to hear right now”.
Sarah White – headteacher at Coates Lane Primary School in Barnoldswick – wrote to parents and carers “surviving the pandemic” at her school last week to highlight that “times are tough at the moment” amid England’s third national coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown, with many having embarked on week four of homeschooling as schools remain closed to all but key worker and vulnerable children.
As a parent herself, who’s own two children “have been set an immense amount of work from their school”, Mrs White said she’s also feeling the strain and acknowledged that parents’ “mental health [is] taking a battering”.
But she praised them for what they are doing to get by, and said they’ll “get through this pandemic together”.
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In the letter – which has amassed hundreds of interactions and shares on the school’s social media pages and via additional posts shared by parents online – Mrs White said: “Whatever your personal circumstances, you are doing a great job. If your child has had lots of microwave meals, stayed up too late, played too much on the Xbox and not finished all their school work… THAT’S OK!
“We know our pupils are safe, loved and cared for and that is the most important thing at the moment.”
She adds: “All we ask is that you do your best” and “if your best is a quick 30 minutes of reading or times tables here and there, that’s OK”.
“Please do not let school work put any extra pressure on you when you are trying to hold down jobs, earn a living and keep your children safe,
“Everyone’s circumstances are very different and we appreciate that.”
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After closing out the letter assuring that while the school “may be closed to a lot of our pupils, we are still here emotionally for all of our families”, and offering up their aid for a “a chat, virtual cuppa, or a cry”, parents and carers have commented on the post to thank Mrs White for the “very important message”.
“So many people and their children are feeling pressure from so many directions right now,” said one.
Another added: “This letter would have helped to ease that pressure for so many of your parents. Sincerely, well done to you as a head and as a school for recognising that the mental health and wellbeing of your parents and children is the priority right now in this crazy world.”
A third simply said: “This is a wonderfully inspirational post”.
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Two North West cities named among the ‘noisiest’ in the UK – including Manchester
Emily Sergeant
A new analysis has revealed a list of the noisiest cities in the UK, and two Greater Manchester locations are in the top five.
From blaring sirens and car horns, to house parties, barking dogs, and loud neighbours, escaping the noise of a city can feel almost impossible – even in your own home.
No matter whether you live in the hustle and bustle, or you’re out in the sleepier suburbs, noise can keep you up at night, disturb your peace, and lead to frustration. But just how loud are Greater Manchester’s cities compared to the rest of the UK? In a bid to get to the bottom of it, Alpine Hearing Protection has done some research to compile a top 10 list.
And both Salford and Manchester have found themselves not just within the top 10, but within the top five… and to make matters worse, Salford has actually claimed the number one spot.
The reason Salford has found itself at the top of the list, according to the research, is because it sits at the intersection of several major transport and urban hubs, with major motorways running through or around the city including the M60, M61, and M62.
Major rail routes also run through the city – including via Salford Crescent – which sees 16 million passengers every year, and also leads to Manchester Airport.
Top 10 noisiest cities in the UK
Salford
Portsmouth
Manchester
Southampton
London
Leeds
Stoke-on-Trent
Wakefield
Newcastle upon Tyne
Bradford
Parts of Salford are also very built-up, making pockets of the city noisy – especially in the concentrated centre where traffic, construction, nightlife and commercial activity get loud.
And of course, like any growing city, construction noises have been noted as ‘particularly bothersome’ for residents where major developments are springing up.
Manchester is third on the list of noisiest cities, due to many of the same reasons as Salford.
But the difference being that Mancunians are noted as one of the many reasons why the city is so loud – with residents making 5,301 noise complaints across Manchester between January 2024 and January 2025, and Hulme identified the loudest area with 304 complaints.
As well all know, Manchester is also home to many universities, which brings an active nightlife scene to the region, especially in the city centre, and in recent FOI data, it was revealed that the University of Manchester saw 2,049 noise complaints in the last five years.
Motorists warned of common winter driving habit that could land them with annoying fines
Emily Sergeant
With the temperatures drastically dropping now as we head into winter, motorists are being warned against a common driving habit.
On a wintry morning when the windscreens are frozen and your hands are equally as frozen too, it’s pretty common for drivers to start the engine, turn the heater right up, and remain stationary for several minutes to warm the car up before setting off on their journey… but did you know that doing this could see you, inadvertently, fall foul of the law?
That’s right – as ridiculous as it sounds, leaving your car engine running ‘unnecessarily’ while parked on a public road is illegal.
And to make matters worse, the rules on ‘engine idling’, as it’s known, apply regardless of whether the driver is using the heating, waiting for someone, or simply sitting in the vehicle.
Known as a stationary idling offence, Rule 123 of the Highway Code states that drivers must not leave a vehicle’s engine running unnecessarily while it is stationary on a public road, and according to the rule, a fixed penalty of up to £80 can be issued, right there and then.
Motorists are being warned of a common winter driving habit that could land them with annoying fines / Credit: PickPik | Wikimedia Commons
Fines will only be handed out if a motorist is stopped by a police officer who asks them to switch the engine off, and they fail to comply.
“However tempting it might be to sit in a vehicle with the engine running and the heater on to warm up, we strongly advice against it,” commented RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis.
“As well as polluting the air and wasting fuel, drivers who leave their engines idling unnecessarily on a public road also risk an on-the-spot fine of £80. On cold mornings, the best approach is to clear any ice or snow properly and ensure windows are fully de-misted before setting off, then get on your way and let the car warm you up.”
There are some exceptions to the rule, however, as keeping the engine running is permitted in certain circumstances.
This includes when a vehicle is stationary because of traffic conditions, when the engine needs to run so a mechanical fault can be investigated, or if certain work is being carried out on the side of the road.
Emily Sergeant -
25th January 2021 
