Following huge power cuts across Yorkshire, Cumbria and the North East this weekend, power supplier Electricity North West is deploying vans with free hot food and drink to affected customers in some regions today.
The utility company has sent out vans with hot food and drink across Cumbria from 9am, reaching locations in Coniston, Alston and Ambleside - however, hundreds of homes in West Yorkshire still remain without power and will not see repairs until later today.
Postcodes still affected include properties in Bradford, Leeds, Halifax, Huddersfield and Wakefield, reports the BBC.
Electricity North West has put out a call to businesses within the South Cumbria and Peak region of the North West to help with supplying hot food and drinks to local communities affected by Storm Arwen.
Anyone who thinks they might be able to help is being encouraged to contact the company's customer welfare team via email.
Customers were quick to reply, with some applauding the company for its efforts to help local communities whilst others took to the comment section to complain - with some stressing that they were now facing their third day without power, amidst freezing temperatures.
One follower said, "well done , hoping you get extra resources shipped in to help you".
Another said, "What about those without power still in Buxton SK17??? Its been 55 hours now!!!!"
A third added, "What about BB10 4RR just would appreciate an update, no power since Friday night".
A fourth simply said, "3 days without power".
Storm Arwen has left thousands of people without power in the UK, leaving many without heating or electricity since Friday.
High winds and heavy snowfall brought by the storm did serious damage to the region's power network, leaving almost a quarter of a million people without power at some points over the weekend.
The storm cut off power to 240,000 homes in the north of England alone, as the country was battered with sleet, snow and gale-force winds over the weekend.
Electricity North West described the network damage caused by storm Arwen as "devastating" with 83,000 of its properties left without power at one point.
As of Sunday evening, 72,000 customers on the network had seen their power restored.
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Ilkley crowned the best place to live in the north by The Sunday Times
The beautiful spa town of Ilkley has been crowned the best place to live in the north of England by The Sunday Times.
The results are in, and our very own Ilkley has taken the top spot for the north and north-east category.
The list posted but the Sunday Times every year, features 72 locations across the UK that they deem are the best spots to settle down in.
Judges visited each location to take in the atmosphere, explore the history and chat to the locals to find out what made each place so special.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It's not the first time the wonderful spa town of Ilkley has been praised, having been the national winner back in 2022 it's no stranger to taking home the trophy.
The judging panel said about Ilkley: “It’s not just the fresh air, fantastic scenery, excellent schools and direct trains to Leeds that make Ilkley this year’s pick of the north and northeast. It’s the get-up and go of a community that tackles every challenge with gusto.”
"It's hard to imagine anywhere with more opportunities for youngsters."
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Also getting a mention in the regional category was Horsforth, which was recommended for its transport links, brilliant local schools and thriving social scene.
The guide said: "The city is Yorkshire's economic powerhouse - but for something a bit greener, a bit more family friendly, it's hard to better Horsforth's streets of sandstone houses."
Elsewhere up north, Sheffield got a special shoutout where the judges said: "Burgeoning creative industries and judicious regeneration are igniting interest in previously overlooked postcodes ... Hipsters and happy families alike are celebrating, welcoming, embracing, loving this city-wide vibe."
So if you fancy escaping the hustle and bustle of the city centre, then why not hop on a train and visit the best place to live up north and see for yourselves what the fuss is all about.
Adolescence tops Netflix charts with more than 24 million views in four days
Emily Sergeant
New British series Adolescence has shot right to the top of Netflix’s most-watched TV charts after more than 24 million people tune in.
Hitting the streaming platform just last Thursday, Adolescence is a four-part limited series about a 13-year-old boy who is accused of murdering one of his classmates, with each episode remarkably being filmed in one unflinching and continuous shot.
This truly gripping story unfolds in real time as the main characters search for answers in the wake of a shocking tragedy.
Who is actually responsible? Why did it happen? And could it have been prevented?
Image: Netflix
Co-created and written by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, with Graham starring alongside an ensemble cast of accomplished actors such as Ashley Walters and Erin Doherty, as well as screen newcomer Owen Cooper as the young boy Eddie Miller, accused of murder, the show tells the story of how a family’s world is turned upside.
“We could have made a drama about gangs and knife crime, or about a kid whose mother is an alcoholic or whose father is a violent abuser,” Stephen Graham said ahead of the show‘s release.
Image: Netflix
“Instead, we wanted you to look at this family and think, ‘My God, this could be happening to us.’ And what’s happening here is an ordinary family’s worst nightmare.”
Over the course of the four intense one-shot episodes, the show shines a uncomfortable spotlight on and examines key themes such as male rage, the dangers of social media, cyberbullying, incel culture, and more.
The latest viewing figures show that Adolescence undoubtedly has been a runaway hit, with a whopping 24.3 million views amassed in its first four days of availability, making it the streaming platform’s top show for the week of 10-16 March.
Image: Netflix
As the show continues to garner universal acclaim, standing at 98% on notable critic website Rotten Tomatoes, those viewing figures are set to clock up thick and fast as the days go on.
While Adolescence and Jamie’s story isn’t based on a real person or event specifically, Graham, Thorne, and director Philip Barantini have confirmed that the idea for the series did spring from reports that co-creator Graham had heard about on the news of young boys being involved in knife crimes – particularly the shocking 2021 murder of Ava White in Liverpool.
Much of Adolescence was filmed in Pontefract in West Yorkshire, with the casting of Cooper in the role of Jamie ultimately influencing where the show was shot.
“We knew it was going to be set somewhere in the North of England, and we also knew it would be from somewhere around wherever our Jamie was from – in this case near Warrington – because it would have been unfair to make him do an accent,” explained director Philip Barantini.
All four episodes of Adolescence are now available to stream on Netflix.
Georgina Pellant -
29th November 2021 
