UK regions hit by fresh restrictions
A GOLDEN weathercock that has perched atop a cathedral’s spire since the 18th century has been returned to its lofty position after it was brought down to be re-gilded.
Conservationists Chris Milford, 72, and his 31-year-old son Sam scaled the 315ft-tall spire of Norwich Cathedral with a system of ropes to reach the cockerelshaped wind vane last month.
They then returned it to the cathedral’s highest point this week, after it was covered with a thin coating of gold.
The spire is the second tallest in the country after Salisbury Cathedral.
The current project is thought to be the first time
HUGE parts of England’s North West, West Yorkshire and the Midlands face tough new restrictions from Tuesday as Matt Hancock refused to rule out a national lockdown.
Ministers announced a tightening of rules in response to “major increases” in Covid-19 cases in large areas of the North West and Yorkshire and parts of the Midlands.
In Merseyside, Warrington, Halton and Lancashire (excluding Blackpool and Greater Manchester), the following restrictions will be enforced from Tuesday: since 1963 that the weathercock has been brought down to ground level.
Chris Milford, describing working on the spire, said: “You go into a bubble and you don’t even know that you’re that high because it becomes so focused with the challenges that you could be just two metres off the ground. or support bubble in private homes and gardens from Tuesday.
And in West Yorkshire, people in all parts of Bradford, Kirklees, Calderdale, will also be banned from socialising with other people outside their household or bubble.
Health Secretary, Matt Hancock said: “We are seeing cases of coronavirus rise fast in Lancashire, Merseyside, West Yorkshire, Warrington, Halton and Wolverhampton.
“Local leaders in these areas have asked for stronger restrictions to be put in place to protect local people, and we are acting decisively to support them.
“You don’t notice anything around you. I love the challenge, the fact that I can still do it at 70-plus, the physicality of it, the views, just being able to keep going is one of the things I love.”
Mr Milford, of Bristol-based WallWalkers, said he had no plans to retire, adding: “I just love the steeples.”
“I know these restrictions will make everyday life harder for many, but I know residents will work together and respect the rules so we can reduce rates of transmission.
“I urge local people to isolate and get a test if you have symptoms, follow the advice of NHS Test and Trace, and always remember ‘hands, face, space.’ By sticking to these steps, we will get through this together.”
The announcement comes after Mr Hancock said a second national lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus has not been ruled out but the “great hope” is that people will heed current advice to help manage a “very serious” situation.
He said a national lockdown was the “last line of defence” as he responded to reports that ministers are considering further national measures, even for just a twoweek period.
The Government is still under fire over the NHS Test and Trace system, which has seen up to four times the number of people trying to book a test as the number of tests available. Experts have said that, without effective testing and tracing, it will be much harder to control the spread of the virus and pinpoint larger outbreaks.