ROOF Blog

Thousands of people have begun relying on food handouts to free up money to spend on heating during the recent spell of freezing conditions. The Trussell Trust, a Christian charity that runs a network of food banks across the UK said the cold has led to an unprecedented demand for its parcels, which contain enough donated items to keep a family fed for six days. And research by Age Concern has shown that, despite government relief, one in five older people skip meals to save money for heating. The charity has urged ministers to do more to ease pressure forcing elderly people into the ‘cruel choice’ between food or warmth.

Millions of pounds of bridge and road repair funding was announced yesterday for Cumbria, as residents picked their way back into soaked and stinking properties for the first time.

Work will start as soon as is practicable on temporary crossings at the site of wrecked bridges, whose collapse is forcing long detours for people trying to get to work or school.

Priority action is meanwhile targeting structural and power safety checks, as well as clearing debris from rivers.

About 11,000 households north of Workington were warned last night to make arrangements for emergency telephone links if, as expected, the Calva bridge across the Derwent collapses.