Some Barbourne Works residents able to return to evacuated flats
A spokesperson for FirstPort said those homes on the upper floors did not currently meet required standards for fire escape."Work is under way to implement the necessary safety measures to enable safe reoccupation of these floors as soon as possible," they said."We fully recognise how disruptive this situation is for residents. However, this action was taken with their safety as the highest priority."We remain committed to working closely with all parties to provide continued support and timely updates as we address the issues raised."
Earlier this week, some residents told the BBC the events of the past week had left them struggling."I feel mentally exhausted, because every day you don't know where you are, what you're doing or what's going on," Anne Eason said.Army veteran Chris Sherwin, 43, and Amy Hawkswood, 40, were also evacuated and are being housed at a hotel in Droitwich.The couple are due to get married next week but Mr Sherwin said the stress of the situation had overshadowed what should be a memorable time."We're getting married, but we don't know if we will be able to do any of the plans we wanted," he said.FirstPort said there had been a comprehensive review of the external walls and an independent fire engineer's assessment carried out on the building.It described the situation as "complex and evolving".
Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
Wales' papers: Festival evacuated and mum-to be attacked woman at funeral
Copyright 2025 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
The Independent
5 hours ago
- The Independent
Pine marten kits spotted in national park for first time in 100 years
Pine martens reintroduced to Dartmoor have successfully bred, with camera-trap footage confirming the presence of young kits scampering through the woodland. This marks a significant milestone for conservation efforts, as it is the first time the species has bred in the South West of England in over a century. Conservationists involved in the project said they were "ecstatic" to witness the reintroduced animals successfully reproduce. The breeding success follows the release of 15 pine martens – eight females and seven males – at undisclosed locations across Dartmoor in autumn 2024. This reintroduction is a key part of a broader initiative to restore the species to the region. Historically, pine martens were common across the South West, but their populations suffered drastically due to the destruction of their woodland habitats and human persecution. The Two Moors Pine Marten Project partnership, a collaborative effort, alongside its dedicated local volunteers, has invested hundreds of hours into tracking the cat-sized animals, establishing den boxes, and checking camera traps to monitor their progress and activities. Two films show young pine martens, known as kits, exploring their new Devon home, with one clip revealing three kits chasing each other through leaves and up a bank in a Dartmoor woodland. Another showed a mother and two kits running along a fallen tree close to a stream. Experts said female pine martens usually give birth to two or three kits in spring, with youngsters spending their first seven to eight weeks hidden in dens before emerging in early summer, and sticking with their mothers until the following spring. The conservationists behind the project said the population in the South West should now grow gradually over coming years, and the team is preparing for a further release of pine martens at secret locations in Exmoor this autumn. 'When our volunteers discovered the footage of pine marten kits on one of our trail cameras we were ecstatic,' Devon Wildlife Trust's Tracey Hamston, who leads the Two Moors Pine Marten Project, said. 'This is a historic moment for the return of a native animal and for the future of the South West's woodlands. 'To have breeding pine martens back after a century's absence signals a positive step in nature's recovery. 'It's also testament to the many hours work undertaken by the project partnership and dozens of local volunteers.' Jack Hunt, Woodland Trust assistant site manager for Devon, said staff and volunteers have been checking camera traps for several months, and over the past few weeks had been 'eagerly anticipating' spotting kits on the films. 'This sighting is wonderful news. 'The work over many years to restore and improve the condition of our woodlands, to support other landowners to do the same and work in partnership on this project has culminated in the return of the pine marten born in its natural environment in Dartmoor, the first of many and the beginning of the return of this missing species.' The partnership involves Dartmoor National Park Authority, Devon Wildlife Trust, Exmoor National Park Authority, Forestry England, National Trust, Somerset Wildlife Trust and Woodland Trust, backed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and supported by the Vincent Wildlife Trust.
The Guardian
5 hours ago
- The Guardian
Sudoku 6,960 hard
Click here to access the print version. Fill the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9. To see the completed puzzle, buy the next issue of the Guardian (for puzzles published Monday to Thursday). Solutions to Friday and Saturday puzzles are given in either Saturday's or Monday's edition.
