UK weather: Millions can’t afford to heat their homes as ‘dangerously cold’ weather arrives

Published

3 years ago

December 8, 2022

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More than three million households cannot afford to heat their homes during the current spell of cold weather – putting their health at risk, according to new research.

It comes as the Met Office warns of the Arctic blast hitting the UK, which could cause overnight temperatures as low as -10C by the end of the week.

Motorists could face treacherous conditions on the roads, with train journeys taking longer than usual.

The UK Health and Security Agency has issued a Level 3 cold weather alert – and says vulnerable people should heat their homes to at least 18C, wear extra layers of clothing, and eat hot food to protect themselves.

But about 710,000 households cannot afford to follow this advice because they cannot pay for warm clothing, heating and food – and another 2.5 million families on low incomes are going without.

The research was carried out by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and its senior economist Rachelle Earwaker said: “The dangerously cold weather on the horizon is cause for concern.

“People are being forced to wager their financial health and whether they can afford more debt, against their wellbeing without sufficient heat, clothing or hot food.”

The survey of 4,251 people in the bottom 40% of incomes suggested that about 4.3 million have cut the amount they spend on heating.

It also found that many families are already behind on their bills, owing more than £1,600 on average. And temperatures are likely to remain low for some time yet.

‘Arctic maritime airmass’: Snow and ice forecast

The Met Office has extended weather warnings through to Saturday, with one still in place for northern Scotland on Sunday.

Large parts of western and northern England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will be hit by snow and ice on Friday and Saturday, with weather warnings in place.

At least five centimetres of snow was confirmed in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire and Altnaharra in the Highlands on Friday morning, with three centimetres falling in Dyce near Aberdeen.

Schools were closed due to freezing conditions in parts of Aberdeenshire and the Highlands, while snow was seen on the ground in Edinburgh.

Met Office chief meteorologist Steve Willington warned there is an “increasing risk of snow as the week progresses”.

“As an Arctic maritime air mass settles across the UK, temperatures will fall with widespread overnight frosts, severe in places, and daytime temperatures only a few degrees above freezing,” he said.

“However, the cold air from the Arctic will also bring brighter conditions, with some dry, sunny spells, particularly away from the coast and where winds are light it could feel pleasant in the sunshine. Some patchy freezing fog is also likely.”

Mountaineering Scotland’s senior mountain safety adviser, Ross Cadie warned people in Scotland not to risk getting into difficulty out walking.

“When winter arrives in Scotland’s mountains, we need to make sure we do our homework before heading out,” he said.

“Planning and preparation from trusted sources and matching your adventure to your level of skill and conditions will help you return home safely.”

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Beware of slippery roads and pavements

Roads, pavements and cycle lanes could all be slippery, the Met Office said, and motorists have also been warned to keep blankets in their vehicles in case they break down.

RAC spokesman Rod Dennis added: “Our advice is to be winter ready – check tyres are properly inflated and with good tread, while topping up oil, coolant and screen wash levels if needed.

“Drivers with older batteries in their cars might also wish to give their vehicle a 20-minute drive before colder conditions arrive to ensure the battery can cope with sub-zero temperatures.

“It’s also worth having a fully charged mobile phone and carrying a blanket in case of a breakdown to keep warm.”

No gas for heating or cooking for five days

Meanwhile in the Sheffield area of Stannington around 1,080 homes have had no gas since a water main burst on Friday night – sending hundreds of thousands of litres of water into the gas network.

At a press conference on Thursday morning, it was announced 400 customers had gas restored overnight, with people in Malin Bridge still waiting for water to be cleared from the system until their gas can be reconnected.

Cadent, the firm which runs the gas network, says 150 people are working day and night to fix the problem, and they have started to reconnect gas to some homes. Yorkshire Water said it is not yet clear who is at fault.

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Sheffield City Council has declared a major incident so that staff can be redeployed to the area.

Asked about the approaching cold snap, leader Terry Fox said: “We’re very worried… but, what we’ve seen, to be brutally frank, is a real deep community spirit where people are helping individuals.”

Sheffield Hallam’s Labour MP, Olivia Blake, has said she has asked Chancellor Jeremy Hunt for emergency funding for the council and raised the issue in the Commons on Wednesday, but said she has not yet received a response.

UK

Two children and a woman die after shooting in Northern Ireland

Published

8 hours ago

July 23, 2025

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Two children and a woman die after shooting in Northern Ireland

Two children and a woman have died in a shooting in County Fermanagh, police have said.

Two people were killed in the shooting on Wednesday morning, and a third, who was seriously injured, died in hospital in the afternoon.

A fourth person, a man, was seriously injured in the shooting in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

All victims were from the same household, Superintendent Robert McGowan, district commander for Fermanagh and Omagh, said at a news conference.

Police have cordoned off the scene in the village of Maguiresbridge, about 75 miles (120km) southwest of Belfast.

“We can advise there is no ongoing risk to the public,” a Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesperson said.

There was no mention of a motive behind the shooting.

A murder investigation has been launched, with enquiries being at an early stage.

Supt McGowan said at the news conference that police don’t anticipate any arrests being made at this stage.

Emergency services were called to the Drummeer Road area of the village at around 8am on Wednesday following a report raised from the property, Supt McGowan said.

Two people were found dead at the scene, and two others seriously injured.

One patient was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, by air ambulance and the other to South West Acute Hospital by ambulance. Supt McGowan said the third person died at the South West Acute Hospital.

Drummeer Road is currently closed, police said, warning that this could lead to delays on alternative roads.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn said: “The news from Maguiresbridge is tragic and deeply distressing.

“My thoughts are with the victims, their relatives and the local community in Fermanagh. I would urge the public not to speculate and to allow the PSNI to continue their investigation.”

Sinn Fein MP Pat Cullen has expressed her deep shock over the shooting, saying: “Firstly, my thoughts are with the victims and their families at this tragic time.”

DUP MLA Deborah Erskine, who represents the area in the Northern Ireland Assembly, said that the community was “stunned” by the shooting in “a rural, quiet area”.

“Everyone is deeply affected by what has happened this morning,” she said.

UK

Five ‘dangerous’ gang members guilty of murdering boy and man at music video shoot

Published

11 hours ago

July 23, 2025

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Five 'dangerous' gang members guilty of murdering boy and man at music video shoot

Five “violent” and “dangerous” gang members have been found guilty of murdering a boy and a young man at a music video shoot in a north London estate.

The men had gone to the Elthorne Estate in Archway “with the intention of killing anyone they could”, the Metropolitan Police said.

And the group mistook those they attacked for rival gang members.

Lorik Lupqi, 21; Jason Furtado, 28; Abel Chunda, 29; Xavier Poponne, 22; and Eden Clark, 31, were convicted of murdering 15-year-old Leonardo Reid and 23-year-old Klevi Shekaj and attempting to murder 28-year-old Abdullah Abdullahi.

Leonardo and Mr Shekaj were fatally stabbed and Mr Abdullahi was badly hurt when knifemen descended on the event on the night of 29 June 2023.

Leonardo and his brother had been watching a music video being filmed with friends.

Police said Lupqi, a gang member from Islington, saw the gathering at around 8.30pm and took it as an opportunity to hurt those he thought were gang opponents.

He messaged his girlfriend stating that “opps were outside”. She advised him to remain inside, but Lupqi decided to contact his close friend and gang associate Jason Furtado.

They formed a plan and recruited gang members Chunda, Clark and Poponne to travel to the estate.

Lupqi had booked a taxi to pick up the three men from the area of Furtado’s home address in Canonbury, north London, telling the cab firm: “I’m in a little bit of a rush,” the jury heard.

They had worn masks and were armed as they went to the Elthorne Estate where they met Lupqi, the court was told.

By the time they arrived, the filming had ended, and most people had left, but some local children and teenagers remained in the area.

The group then carried out their deadly attack.

The alarm was raised as a black-clad figure wearing a balaclava was spotted crouching down and moving towards Leonardo, his brother and others, with a large knife.

Three more males in black stood up from where they had been hiding behind cars as they edged towards the group, the court was told.

Leonardo was stabbed in the chest, with the wound cutting through his left lung and one of the major blood vessels in his body, causing fatal blood loss.

Leonardo’s brother had run away from the scene but later looped back and saw his sibling lying motionless on the ground, the court heard.

Mr Shekaj was stabbed in the back, with the wound cutting through his left lung and deep into his body.

He was driven to Whittington Hospital by members of the public but he died on arrival.

Detective Inspector Jim Barry said: “These violent men went into this estate with the intention of killing anyone they could, under the false impression that those there were rival gang members.

“This was a senseless, violent act which has shattered the lives of so many, especially Leonardo and Klevi’s loved ones.

“This dangerous group of men will now spend a long time behind bars but the effect of what they did will be felt by the victim’s shattered families for longer.”

The five killers will appear at the same court on 25 and 26 September for sentencing.

UK

Third person dies after shooting in Northern Ireland

Published

11 hours ago

July 23, 2025

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A third person has died in a shooting in Co Fermanagh, police have said.

Two people were killed in the shooting on Wednesday morning, and a third, who was seriously injured, died in the afternoon.

A fourth person was seriously injured in the shooting in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

All victims were from the same household, Superintendent Robert McGowan, District Commander for Fermanagh and Omagh, said at a news conference.

They have cordoned off the scene in the village of Maguiresbridge, about 75 miles (120km) southwest of Belfast.

“We can advise there is no ongoing risk to the public,” a Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesperson said.

There was no mention of a motive behind the shooting.

A murder investigation has been launched.

Supt McGowan said at the news conference that police don’t anticipate any arrests to be made at this stage.

Emergency services were called to the shooting in the Drummeer Road area of the village at around 8am on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said.

They confirmed that two people had been injured.

“Following assessment and initial treatment at scene, one patient has been taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, by air ambulance and another to South West Acute Hospital by ambulance,” the spokesperson added.

Drummeer Road is currently closed, police said, warning that this could lead to delays on alternative roads.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn said: “The news from Maguiresbridge is tragic and deeply distressing.

“My thoughts are with the victims, their relatives and the local community in Fermanagh. I would urge the public not to speculate and to allow the PSNI to continue their investigation.”

Sinn Fein MP Pat Cullen has expressed her deep shock over the shooting, saying: “Firstly, my thoughts are with the victims and their families at this tragic time.”

DUP MLA Deborah Erskine, who represents the area in the Northern Ireland Assembly, said that the community was “stunned” by the shooting in “a rural, quiet area.”

“Everyone is deeply affected by what has happened this morning,” she said.