Crowds of sunseekers gathered across the North West on the hottest day of the year, causing chaos on the beaches.
Many people took the opportunity yesterday to partake in now allowed day trips to beauty spots such as parks and beaches.
Unfortunately, these places became rammed quickly as crowds gathered, as everyone did the same. Many people shared images on social media, with one Twitter user saying: “If this was you today in Southport, don’t worry about clapping tomorrow night.”
If this was you today in Southport, don't worry about clapping tomorrow night. pic.twitter.com/dRriimGYR2
— Mandy Owen đŸđŸđ„ đđ¶đȘđș (@hatemornings) May 20, 2020
Can't believe what I have just seen. Ainsdale and Southport beach 'crammed' with cars and people!! Felt so deflated after everyone's careful efforts. So reckless and complacent of people, acting like this nightmare is over? There are no words!đźđ„ #StayAlert#mindless#keepsafepic.twitter.com/efeQR5VCdX
As part of the lockdown easing plan put in place by the government, restrictions on walks, exercise and time outside were lifted meaning day trips are now allowed – including unlimited exercise and sunbathing.
Beaches in Southport and Blackpool quickly became full with sun-seekers.
Traffic heading to Formby and Southport beaches right now.. This is just coming off M57 from Switch Island and itâs starting to back up a good 4/5 miles from beaches. . This is a still off a video. pic.twitter.com/UcxjVagadW
— Claire Walmsley Griffiths (@cjgriffphoto) May 21, 2020
Roads were also gridlocked with cars and many ended up parking illegally, to get their spot on the beach.
In the south of England, traffic wardens ‘ran out of tickets’ as the beaches became utter chaos, the Mirror reports.
Many people have taken to Twitter to share pictures of crowds and their concerns on the lockdown easing.
This is Southend. within rules, everyone in photo has a right to travel to the beach for a day out. So this was inevitable. No chance of 2m distancing âïž
This is so risky. Thereâs âeasingâ the lockdown. Then thereâs just reverting back to normal! Staggering. pic.twitter.com/oNt7CWHCsr
After the announcements on lockdown easing, Visit Blackpool quickly responded, changing its name on Twitter to Do Not Visit Blackpool and issuing a warning to the public to avoid the town.
They asked the public to ‘think twice before setting off for Blackpool for the day’, adding that they feel it is the ‘right thing, and the safest thing, to do at the moment’.
However, following the government’s advice, many people opted for visiting the beauty spot on this year’s hottest day.
Out on my morning walk along the prom and Iâm disgusted at the amount of litter. Had a conversation with one of our street cleaners whoâs seen a massive increase this week. The laziness of people is staggering,rubbish dropped metres from bins. Visiting Blackpool,bin your litter. pic.twitter.com/BoMI6zVYV5
— Brendan Bunting đŻđČđźđȘ (@DapperArtist) May 21, 2020
@BorisJohnson if you want help on your next decision then just look at the state of blackpool!Stay Alert? we had a blue sea and clear beaches- destroyed in a day. people are more than happy ignore your advice and add stress to nhs but clap on a thursday to support them? đĄ pic.twitter.com/033bRWVx45
One Twitter user KiaTobin raised the concerns that despite lockdown cleaning up Blackpool beach and leaving clearer water, this was ‘destroyed in day’.
as if people have gone blackpool and pure just trashed it again. humans are actual scum bags
Members of the public are being urged to continuously be careful and stringent with social distancing measures despite the latest government advice.
Places such as the Peak District issued clear guidance that people can continue to help the area by giving it ‘crucial breathing space to recover by staying local’. Many parks have kept toilets, information centres and other facilities closed.
Elf Bar vapes have been removed from major supermarket shelves after being found to be 50% over the legal nicotine limit.
The vapes have been taken off the shelves after the company admitted to âinadvertentlyâ selling products in the UK with legal levels of nicotine in them, a Daily Mail investigation has revealed. The disposable ELFBAR 600s were found to have at least 50% more than the legal limit for nicotine e-liquid.
Chinese vaping giant Elf Bar ‘wholeheartedly apologisedâ after independent lab tests by the Daily Mail found its ‘600’ line of its disposable e-pens were at least 50% over the legal limit for nicotine. Experts described the findings as ‘deeply disturbing’ and warned of a risk to young people illegally using the vapes, which are sold by major supermarkets.
UK supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsburyâs, Asda and Morrisons stores, did stock the vapes but most have now confirmed that they have removed them. According to ITV, a Tesco spokesperson said: âWe have temporarily removed one ELFBAR vape line from sale as a precautionary measure, whilst the manufacturer urgently investigates these claims.â
Elf Bar
Sainsburyâs followed suit with a spokesperson saying: âWe are in close contact with our supplier and have temporarily removed the affected Elf Bar product whilst they investigate further.â
A Morrisons spokesperson said: “We are taking this very seriously and we can confirm that we’re working closely with ELFBAR and Trading Standards to investigate this further.” With Asda confirming that they were âworking with the supplier to investigate the matterâ.
It is illegal for under-18s to buy vapes but with the brightly coloured packaging, a variety of flavours and sweet smells, it is no surprise they have become popular amongst young people.
TBEC Review/Wikimedia
A survey carried out by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) found that in 2022, 15.8% of 11-17 year olds had tried vaping, compared to 11.2% in 2021 and 13.9% in 2020. ASH also found that in 2022, 7.0% of 11-17 year olds were current users, compared to 3.3% in 2021 and 4.1% in 2020.
A Department for Social Care spokesperson stated that ‘local enforcement agencies’ are responsible for the regulation of such products.
They added that these agencies also have a duty of ‘taking action’ against non-compliant products including products that ‘do not comply’ with the 2ml nicotine limits.
A lap dancing club in Manchester city centre has recently had its licence renewed despite claims from a local objector that it brings the area into âdisreputeâ and makes it look âseedyâ.
The âsexual entertainmentâ venue based on Whitworth Street West, Deansgate, had its application for renewal granted by Manchester City Council despite objections from a local resident, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.
The resident claimed that the clubâs proximity to Deansgate train station brings the city into âdisreputeâ, and that it âseems strangeâ that visitors and children âhave to walk past the front door of such a repulsive establishment as they form their first impression of Manchesterâ.Â
The sex establishment is located in close proximity to Deansgate Station, where many visitors and commuters get on and off the train in Manchester city centre. Representatives of the club dismissed the objection, arguing that it is based on âmoral groundsâ which are not relevant to the local authorityâs decision.Â
Google Maps
In an email, the objector â whose name is redacted in papers published by the council â calls for the club to move elsewhere, saying: âI live in Deansgate ward and have frequently thought that the presence of the strip club Obsessions, on the doorstep of one of our big intercity stations, brings the area into disrepute. Its exterior is poorly maintained, hinting at the seedy activity that occurs within.
âIt seems very strange that visitors to our beautiful and culturally rich city centre, including international visitors and families with children, have to walk past the front door of such a repulsive establishment as they form their first impression of Manchester.
âI feel strongly that such a business should not be permitted such visibility, and that another location should be found for it. For these reasons, it is the duty of the council to take the opportunity of the licence expiring to rid Deansgate of this unsavoury enterprise.â
Google Maps
Speaking on behalf of the club at a town hall hearing on Monday February 6th, Heath Thomas said Obsessions has been licensed since 2006 and that the character of the area has not changed during that time. He also argued that the objection is on âmoral groundsâ which is not a reason to refuse the licence.
Mr Thomas told the licensing panel that the property is maintained and is not an âeyesoreâ locally, and that the police recently inspected the premises and confirmed it is meeting all of the conditions of its licence. No other objections were received in response to the application to renew the clubâs sex establishment licence, as Mr Thomas added: âIt is just this one email.â
Another lap dancing club in the city centre â Victoriaâs in Dantzic Street â also had its licence renewed on Monday February 6th, with no objections received.
A team of private divers have joined search efforts to find missing mum, Nicola Bulley as last images of her from her doorbell camera have been released.
In what is now into the 10th day of the search for the missing mum-of-two, divers from the private Specialist Group International (SGI) are now assisting Lancashire Police. The firm’s founder, Peter Faulding, said he had offered the team’s services free of charge to the force.
The 45-year-old mum was last seen by a member of the public on a riverside dog walk in St Michael’s on Wyre, in Lancashire, on Friday January 27th. Police believe she may have fallen into the River Wyre.
The mortgage advisor was captured on the doorbell camera of her home as she went on the school run before her disappearance. The images show her getting ready to set off on the four-mile journey from her home. Dressed in her walking boots and hooded raincoat, she is seen opening the boot of the family car as her dog, Willow, jumps in the back.
Family handout
The private team of drivers have already been scouring the water as they join a team of volunteers, along with mountain rescue, sniffer dogs, drones and helicopters, but no trace of Ms Bulley has yet been found. The firm’s founder, Peter Faulding said: “We’re bringing extra divers, and we also bring hi-tech sonar.
“It gives us double the resources so we can cover an extremely large area.”
Police said SGI’s offer to assist in the search was âtaken up after speaking with Nicola’s familyâ, saying: “We continue to lead an extensive and far-reaching multi-agency search using a wide range of specialist equipment and resources.”
Hoping the extra help would bring the family âanswersâ, friend, Emma Wight, added: “Following the theory or hypothesis of the police that Nicola is in the river, we need some evidence to back that up either way.”
Family handout
After she was last sighted, Ms Bulleyâs phone was found on a bench by the Wyre, along with a dog harness, some 25 minutes later.
It was still logged in to a conference call.
Lancashire Police have said there was no evidence of âanything untowardâ happening to her or any third-party involvement.
With Detective Superintendent Sally Riley saying officers were âas sure as we can be that Nicola has not left the area where she was last seen and that very sadly for some reason she has fallen into the waterâ.
Detectives said they were open to new information and criticised the online abuse of people who had been helping their inquiry, declaring it âtotally unacceptableâ.
Ms Bulley’s disappearance has drawn a lot of attention on social media with thousands of people commenting on the ongoing search. Many have wished the family well while some people have been speculating about what might have happened by discussing the family’s finances and relationships.
Family handout
According to the BBC, Ms Bulley’s friend Heather Gibbons said âvileâ theories being shared online were hurtful, and that she was concerned that as Ms Bulley’s daughters get older âthey will be able to look back and they will be able to see everything that was saidâ.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News, a spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: “The speculation and abuse on social media aimed at some people who are merely assisting our enquiry is totally unacceptable.
“We would urge people to remember that we are investigating the disappearance of Nicola, and the priority is Nicola and her family. We want to find her and provide answers to her family.”