Christmas Stars come out at the Town Hall

REMEMBER a loved one this Christmas at a special event taking place at Liverpool Town Hall up until Christmas. The annual Lord Mayor's Charity Christmas Stars event returns until Friday, 23 December 2022, from 9am to 4pm each day. During these times, stars can be hung from a special Christmas tree, within the Town Hall's Entrance Hall as a mark of remembrance for lost family and friends. Residents who would like to take part are invited to drop into the Town Hall, collect a star and write their own personal message before hanging it on the tree.

Donations are also being collected in aid of the Lord Mayor's charities:-

►  Liverpool Veterans HQ.

►  Options for Supported Living.

►  Liverpool Domestic Abuse Service.

►  South Liverpool Domestic Abuse Services.

Lord Mayor of Liverpool Cllr Roy Gladden said:- "Christmas is a joyful time, but it is also a time for reflection as we remember the loved ones we have lost, particularly in the last 12 months. The annual Christmas Stars event is a wonderful way to honour those who are no longer here to share the festive period. I would encourage anyone to come along and spend some time in the Town Hall when it looks its most beautiful. Donations to the Lord Mayor's charities are also very welcome. This year I have chosen organisations which do so much to help some of the most vulnerable people in in our communities and I know that they are also working hard to make Christmas as good as it can be for the people they support."

WaterSafe warning to find your stop tap in case of emergency this winter

WITH winter weather sweeping across Merseyside, it's essential to know where your stop tap is if you need to turn the water off in an emergency. However, latest research* from WaterSafe, the UK register for approved contractors working with drinking water, indicates that nearly half the nation doesn't know where their stop tap is to turn the water off at the mains.

Of 2,000 people questioned, only 54% knew the location of their stop tap, sometimes also known as a stopcock or stop valve. The most common places are under the kitchen sink, in a kitchen cupboard, in a downstairs bathroom or toilet, garage, utility room, cellar or under the stairs.

Julie Spinks, Director of WaterSafe, said:- "WaterSafe is a partner of the Met Office's 'WeatherReady' campaign, which encourages everyone to think about what they can do to prepare for, and cope with, severe weather. My number one recommendation is find your stop tap, check it's working and label it. This will help you to quickly shut off the water supply in an emergency, such as a leak or burst pipe. Note that it should be turned clockwise to turn off. Pipes can freeze and burst in very cold temperatures, particularly if we have a sudden freeze and thaw. It's also common for water to freeze in hosepipes attached to outdoor taps, leading to ice backing up into pipes and cracking them. I'd also advise everyone to have the number of a WaterSafe approved plumber handy for emergencies. Our survey showed only just over a quarter of people do this."

WaterSafe's survey also revealed that, of the people who do actively prepare for the winter months, the most common actions are checking their boiler has been serviced (37%), checking where their stop tap is (33%) and draining or disconnecting the hose attached to outdoor taps (31%).

Julie said:- "Winter can lead to costly issues for some people, so I'd recommend being as prepared as you can be; most people aren't! Nearly ¾ of respondents told us they don't fix dripping taps, turn off the water if they're going away or leave the heating on low to help prevent bursts. There's lots of winter advice on our website."

WaterSafe is the national register of qualified, approved contractors, supported by all UK water companies and the drinking water regulators. It was set up to promote competent plumbers and water contractors and help keep the UK's drinking water safe in homes and businesses.