Wednesday 20 July 2022

IN COMMON with fire crews up and down the country, Humberside Fire & Rescue Service yesterday declared a major incident due to the unprecedented number of 999 calls being taken during the record-breaking heatwave. In the 24 hours up to yesterday morning the control room received 119 fire calls, the majority on small areas of grassland that were quickly brought under control.

The number of calls continued to build through the day about incidents on both sides of the Humber, including a suspected agricultural chemical explosion at premises in Gainsborough. A spokesperson told us: “We are urging people to only call 999 if they have a genuine emergency or if there’s an immediate risk to life.”

NETWORK Rail have warned of possible continued disruption to rail services today as they deal with repairs to buckled track and damaged overhead electric cables. Teams were working throughout the night but because of the high volume of repairs needed there could be a knock-on effect today and passengers continue to be urged to check before setting out.

WITH Conservative MPs voting today to select the final two candidates to be the next Party Leader and Prime Minister, Beverley MP Graham Stuart has thrown his weight behind Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. Although she trailed in third place after yesterday’s poll, with 86 votes to Penny Mordant’s 92, political analysts suggests she had the momentum going into today’s showdown ballot. Rishi Sunak still leads the race on 118 votes, one short of the required number to go forward to the ballot of Party members.

STAFF at Beverley Fire Station came to the rescue of a guinea pig trapped in a metal grate. The pet was brought to the fire station in New Walkergate and was successfully returned to its owner after officers extricated the animal.