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Electricity North West deploys vans with free hot food and drink following power cuts
Postcodes still affected include properties in Bradford, Leeds, Halifax, Huddersfield and Wakefield
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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New study crowns Leeds as one of the friendliest cities in the UK
Clementine Hall
New research has revealed a global ranking of cities with the best customer service, with Leeds taking one of the top spots.
If you've been wondering which cities across the world are the friendliest of them all, then look no further because MoneySuperMarket have done the work for us in a new study.
In a world where social media culture plays a huge part in people's lives, online customer reviews are pretty important to local businesses.
To uncover the global locations that are home to the best customer service, the businesses insurance experts analysed over 100,000 reviews of leisure and hospitality businesses in 107 cities worldwide.
They looked at the language in the reviews to see how often friendly workers and staff were mentioned, building a global ranking of the cities where customer service truly stands out.
Out of a whopping 107, Leeds came in at a very respectable number 12. Now we think that's pretty good going.
Outside of the UK, Hanoi, Paris, Montreal and Abu Dhabi were highlighted for their friendly customer service whilst Edinburgh tops the global ranking, with Liverpool, Birmingham and Bristol also making the world’s top 10.
The top 10 cities in the UK with the best customer service are as follows:
- Edinburgh
- Liverpool
- Birmingham
- Bristol
- Belfast
- Leeds
- Glasgow
- Cardiff
- Manchester
- London
Alicia Hempsted spoke on the study: “As businesses grow and engage with more customers, it’s important to make sure they’re protected. Public liability insurance is an important safeguard for those working with the public, helping to cover costs if something goes wrong, while also showing customers that their experience is taken seriously - from the moment they walk through the door to long after they’ve left.”
Read more from The Hoot Leeds: ‘This Yorkshire city has it all’ – Leeds crowned as one of the UK’s most underrated city breaks
Featured image - The Hoot Leeds
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Prime Minister expected to announce extra bank holiday if England win the 2026 World Cup
Danny Jones
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reportedly set to announce an extra bank holiday if England win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
What a way to sign off from the highest office in Great Britain, eh?
According to Sky News journalist Beth Rigby, the outgoing PM is expected to reveal an extended period of celebration across the country if/should/WHEN (you’ve got to believe) the Three Lions reach this year’s World Cup final and lift the biggest prize in global sport.
Starmer may be gearing up to leave No. 10 Downing Street soon, but he can certainly earn himself a few more points in the pros column should this familiar rumour come to fruition.
As Rigby states in her post on X, this decision would fall just before the transition in leadership, with Greater Manchester’s own Mayor Andy Burnham all but confirmed at the head of the table already within the Labour Party cabinet.
The incumbent announced he would resign last month, with Burnham declaring himself in the running not long after, winning the Makerfield seat and marking his return as an MP after nearly a decade away from Parliament.
Regarding the still only potential bank holiday – Thomas Tuchel’s side still need to make it through the quarter-final and the semis, remember – the Sky reporter states that the following Friday, 24 July, is the most likely date.
Understandably, plenty on social media are already rejoicing over the prospect, but some aren’t content with waiting a week to carry on the post-trophy lift party, with many arguing that it should be the Monday morning immediately after the final next Sunday (19/2/2026).
Let’s be honest, there’ll be lots of people pulling sickies regardless of whether or not their bosses are left to grant a day off.
Many have already rightly argued that such decisions should have been made in the past after the Lionesses won not just one but two back-to-back European Championships; we’re willing to forgive and move on if the powers that be make it happen this time.
Once again, all of this is still yet to be verified by Starmer himself, though both he and Burnham have hinted at a bank holiday previously.
Starmer recently said that despite always believing England will “go all the way”, he didn’t want to jinx anything, simply telling the BBC’s Chris Mason: “Ask me again if we make the final.”
Either way, the general jubilation should England end 60 ‘years of hurt’ will be nothing short of colossal, and it would only feel right given the sheer gravity of the would-be achievement.
We’re even getting excited merely by the idea of some additional and, at present, strictly hypothetical pre- and post-match entertainment…
Read more: Leeds shoppers can take part in a real-life supermarket sweep competition
Featured Images — No. 10 Downing Street (via Flickr)/Ank Kumar (via Wikimedia Commons)
Georgina Pellant -
29th November 2021 
