The environment secretary has vowed to help Lancashire families affected by the Boxing Day deluge wreaking havoc across the county.

Speaking after a meeting of the government’s COBR committee met to access the impact of the floods affecting Lancashire, Elizabeth Truss the government would do all it can to help affected families and businesses.

She said: “This is a very fast moving situation and we have been deploying critical response teams and personnel overnight to where they are most needed.

“The Environment Agency, emergency services and military personnel have sent significant resources overnight to Lancashire and Yorkshire to help protect people, homes and businesses as well as maintaining the response in Cumbria.

“I chaired a further meeting of the government’s COBR committee this morning to assess the impact of the overnight rainfall and to ensure additional support is deployed to where it is be needed today.

“Our priority throughout this period continues to be protecting lives, protecting homes and protecting businesses.

“I would like to again pay tribute to the tireless work of front line staff over the last month and the Christmas period, and the extraordinary resilience of the people affected, which I have seen first hand.

“My thoughts and sympathy continue to be with people flooded out of their homes this Christmas and I can assure them we are doing everything we can to help communities recover from these storms.

“Since early December we have made available £60 million in funding to help householders and businesses affected.”

Seven severe warnings have been issued for locations on the River Ribble at Ribchester, the River Wyre at St Michael’s North and St Michael’s South, and the River Calder at Whalley, where people are already being evacuated.

Heavy rains are expected to continue throughout the day, before easing off slightly in the afternoon and overnight.

Around 50-80mm is due to fall this morning, with more than 100mm (4in) likely to come down over higher ground across the day.

The army has been called in to support efforts to protect flood-hit areas.

Armed forces personnel have been brought in to assist the fire service, police and Lancashire County Council with evacuations after the River Calder burst its banks in Whalley.

Emergency crews are dealing with a number of severe flood alerts across the county.

Elsewhere, the Ministry of Defence said one company from 2nd Battalion Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment (2LANCS), based at Weeton Barracks near Preston, were also deployed to affected areas on Christmas Day morning.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: “Even at Christmas our Armed Forces are keeping us safe. Once again they are responding to the Cumbria floods with a level of commitment that is to be applauded.”

Severe flooding hit Lancashire following torrential downpours over the Christmas period.

Now emergency services and residents are preparing for an extensive clean-up operation as the rain dies off and the full extent of damage is revealed.

The region was hit with up to 100mm of rain yesterday, with seven ‘red’ weather warnings issued by the Environment Agency. Police have now revealed that weather warnings have been lifted and that water is receding in badly-hit areas.

A spokesman said: “There is though a lot of flood damage and so roads are difficult to access.

“All rest centres are now closed and there is no more military involvement. No more weather warnings are in place until Tuesday for the county.”

The most severe flood warnings were put in place in Ribchester and other parts of the Ribble Valley and St Michaels in Wyre. More than 600 homes were told to evacuate by emergency crews battling the flood damage.

Residents in Whalley and Ribchester were invited to visit rest centres at Longridge Civic Hall, Haslingden Leisure Centre, Chorley Town Hall and Whalley Golf Club, with residents in St Michael’s urged to take shelter at the Grapes Pub in Garstang Road.

The car parks and grounds at St Catherine’s Hospice in Lostock Hall were flooded after the River Lostock burst its banks.

The driveway and both car parks for the hospice and The Mill cafe had to be closed after the deluge left them impassable and unsafe.

A clean-up operation of the area is now being planned.

Stephen Greenhalgh, Chief Executive of St Catherine’s Hospice, said: “Fortunately the main hospice building, including our in-patient unit, was unaffected by the flooding and our important work was able to carry on as usual. Our thoughts are with those families who were not so lucky and whose homes have been flooded.”

Chief Insp Dave Mangan, of Lancashire Police, said the flooding had created an exceptionally busy shift for emergency services.

He said: “It has been an incredibly busy day with severe flood warnings with threat to life across Whalley, Ribchester and St Michael’s on Wyre. They have taken priority focus.

“We have also taken and moved vulnerable people across the county. We have been fortunate with football matches being called off, allowing us to move officers from those games to deal with the flood threat and risks.”

Elsewhere, localised flooding caused chaos around the county.

- Rivers burst their banks across the county, including the River Ribble around Preston, River Darwen in Walton-le-Dale, River Calder and River Wyre;

- Road closures were put in place around the county, including Broadgate Bridge in Preston forced to close because of high water levels;

- Flooding in Lostock Hall forced motorists to abandon their vehicles;

- Environmental Agency crews were brought in high water pump to combat massive floods in Croston;

- Events were cancelled across the county, including the annual Longridge Pram Race and Ribble Valley 10km run;

- Avenham and Miller Park and Moor Park were left looking like lakes after hours of heavy flooding.

- Army teams, Bowland Mountain Rescue crews and Bay Search and Rescue teams using amphibious Hagglund vehicles used in recent Cumbria floods were all drafted in to assist emergency services.

Lancashire’s deputy chief fire officer took to Twitter to assure residents everything was being done to tackle the problems. He said: “We have resources active across the county with a focus on life risk.”

Lancashire was hit with the rainfall that was expected to fall in Cumbria and forecasters said up to 100mm fell in some area of the county throughout Boxing Day.

Tony Pounder from Lancashire County Council said: “We’re working closely with the emergency services to respond to what is a serious situation in several parts of the county.

“Our role has included setting up rest centres where people can stay warm and dry if they’re stranded from their homes.

“At the moment we have rest centres up and running at four locations although people haven’t attended in large numbers so far.

“Our highways teams are working hard to clear debris that’s contributing to localised flooding on the road network. We have had a number of enquiries about flooded roads and we’re dealing with them as quickly as we can.

“The road conditions are dangerous in places and we’re advising people not to travel unless they really need to. It’s essential motorists drive with extra care and we’d ask people not to take the risk of driving through anything that looks like deep water - this can cause cars to become stranded but also poses a threat to homes and businesses at the road side, which can suffer damage when passing vehicles create waves.

“A less visible but vital task has been to identify vulnerable people who may be in need of extra support because they’re not fully independent, whether they live alone or in supported accommodation.

“We’re making efforts to ensure contact with these people in the worst affected areas and give them any extra support they might need.”

An Environment Agency spokesman posted online: “We have seen heavy rainfall over Lancashire with totals of up to 45 mm of rain which has already fallen on the higher ground. The latest forecast suggests that over the next 24 hours we can expect another 70mm over the wider area and up to 100 mm locally over the higher ground.

“The ground is saturated and rivers have already risen throughout the night. With this recent forecast we are concerned about areas that have already been affected over recent weeks and ask people to be prepared, move valuables and take advice from emergency services about evacuation.”

The weather warnings are a another blow for people whose homes were badly affected by flooding earlier this month.

Highways England experts, backed by £40m of emergency government funding, will help communities recovering from floods by assisting with repairs to damaged transport links, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced today

The Department for Transport (DfT) will provide the funding to help communities in Cumbria and Lancashire recover from the effects of Storm Desmond and Storm Eva by helping to fund the repairs to key local transport infrastructure.

Highways England will start design and construction work to repair the A591, and investigate what is required to restore Pooley Bridge and Eamont Bridge, in Cumbria, in the New Year. This follows assessment work that has already been undertaken.

The additional funding and the deployment of a Highways England construction team are part of the government’s wider commitment to help support communities dealing with the effects of the extreme weather over recent weeks.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “We are determined to help families and businesses in Cumbria and Lancashire get back on their feet as soon as possible. This has been a very difficult time and I have enormous sympathy for people flooded out of their homes at Christmas. We will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the local communities as they strive to return to business as usual.

“A good local transport system is the lifeblood of this region and Highways England’s engineering expertise, backed by £40 million funding from the Department for Transport, will support the work already being done to repair local roads and bridges damaged by the storm.”

Jim O’Sullivan, Chief Executive of Highways England said: “We understand the difficulties of people trying to travel in an area hit by flooding and we are doing everything we can to help Cumbria.

“On behalf of Cumbria County Council we and our supply chain partners will be working to rebuild the damaged section of the A591 as soon as possible so it is safe for road users, and to investigate what we can do to repair the A6 Eamont Bridge and the B5320 Pooley Bridge; this will allow the council to concentrate on other priorities to help its residents.”

The government has been supporting the efforts of the local authorities ever since the extreme weather hit, as they have begun repairing the region’s transport network.

Today’s announcement builds on the government’s provision of up to £2 million in the initial aftermath of the severe wet weather to enable Cumbria and Lancashire authorities to carry out an initial assessment of what repairs were required to roads and bridges.

The Department for Transport will continue to work closely with the local authorities in Cumbria and Lancashire in recovery efforts.

Highway England has already been assisting Cumbria with the assessment of the extent of flood damage to the local transport network. They will now focus on three key engineering projects across Cumbria:

· Rebuild the crucial A591, the road which runs north to south through the heart of the Lake District, to allow it to be reopened as soon as possible.

· Investigate what can be done to replace Pooley Bridge, situated at the northern end of Ullswater, after it was completely swept away by flood water.

· Examine how the Eamont Bridge, near Penrith, can be rebuilt to be more resilient against future flooding.

The new funding package is in addition to the £6.1 billion the government has committed to local authorities across England to help maintain the condition of local roads, between now and 2021.

More rain is forecast to hit Lancashire after the Boxing Day deluge that left a trail of chaos across the region.

Forecasters from the Met Office have warned more rain is on the way from tonight and into next week.

The worst of the rain is expected to hit the region in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

But John Hammond, Met Office advisor, said things aren’t expected to be as bad as they were over Christmas, when torrential rain caused widespread disruption across the county.

He said: “As far as Met Office alerts and warnings go, attention next focuses on another deep and vigorous Atlantic depression – and its associated rain and strong winds as these approach the UK around the middle of the week.

“On Tuesday winds look like strengthening across the region with gales possible on some coasts and hills. These increasing winds herald the arrival of another area of rain, which based on current timing arrives around midnight Wednesday – and finally clears during the small hours of Thursday.

“Compared to Boxing Day’s heavy rain, a subtle shift in wind direction towards a more southerly, could mean that Cumbria may receive the higher rainfall totals. Alternately, Lancashire and Greater Manchester may be somewhat sheltered, so perhaps seeing the less high rainfall amounts.”

Tougher penalties for drivers caught using mobile phones at the wheel have been welcomed by a leading motor insurance broker.

AA Insurance has described the increase in fixed penalty charges and penalty points as “a victory for common sense.”

Drivers face a £150 fine and four points – up from £100 and three points – as the Government looks to tighten up on the use of hand-held phones while on the move.

“Drivers using a hand-held mobile phone are at four times greater risk of having a crash than a driver not using one,” said Michael Lloyd, director of AA Insurance, who said the Government was finally catching up with the insurance industry’s view of phone use.

“I’m delighted that the penalty will now better reflect the seriousness of this offence.

“Insurers already reflect this in the premiums of offenders who can expect an average premium increase twice that imposed for a speeding conviction.

“While drivers may mistakenly exceed a speed limit, no-one uses a handheld phone by mistake. It’s a deliberate act that seriously diverts attention from driving, significantly heightening the risk of a crash.”

Insurers now routinely increase premiums for drivers prosecuted for using their phone. At present the court penalties are the same for those caught speeding.

A survey of eight insurance companies by AA found that while premiums rose by an average of 12.2 per cent for motorists convicted of speeding, those found guilty of using a mobile at the wheel suffered increases of more than 25 per cent.

Mr Lloyd added that a few insurance companies might overlook a first speeding offence, while most will ignore those who opt to take a safety awareness course instead of a fine and licence endorsement.

“But all insurers will penalise those who commit a mobile phone offence and some may even decline to renew cover when a policy comes up for renewal,” he said.

“Offenders are much more likely to make a claim. So their premium will reflect that risk.”

Another survey, conducted online amongst 30,000 drivers, found almost a third found phone use at the wheel was the “most irritating” driver behaviour. It ranked alongside tailgating for the danger drivers felt it created.

A man accused of stamping on his girlfriend’s head, fracturing her eye socket, has made his first appearance at court.

Steven Maddox is then alleged to have repeatedly kicked her in the head and stomach before dragging her to the fridge so she could get him some beer.

Maddox, 52, of Southfleet Place, Fleetwood, is charged with wounding his partner with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm on December 18.

He is also accused of assaulting her causing her actual bodily harm and damaging car windscreen wipers and a wardrobe.

Pam Smith, prosecuting, asked for the case to be heard at crown court.

Defence lawyer, Alan Cobain, said his client would not enter pleas to the offences at that stage.

Maddox was refused bail and remanded in custody to appear at Preston Crown Court on January 20 by Blackpool magistrates.

Britain became the first country in Europe to offer regular programming in colour back in 1967, yet almost 10,000 black and white licences are still in force across the UK.

But a spokesperson for TV Licensing has reminded viewers that they need a licence, however dated the model.

Said Jason Hill: “It’s astounding that more than 9,000 households still watch on a black and white telly, especially now that over half of homes access TV content over the internet, on smart TVs.

“Whether you have the latest 4K TV or a black and white set from the 1970s, if you are watching or recording live television, then you do need a TV licence.”

Regular colour broadcasts began on BBC2 in July 1967 with the Wimbledon tennis tournament – three weeks ahead of West Germany. 
The number of black and white licences issued each year has been in steady decline since.

The cost is £49 compared to £145.50 for a colour licence.

Jim McLauchlan from the Museum of Communications, in Fife, Scotland, said there are an increasing number of collectors of old black and white sets.

He said: “It is now some years since I have come across anyone using a black and white television, though the occasional person has one tucked away in their attic.”

Around 25.4 million licences are currently in force, the highest ever since the levy was introduced.

Fake vodka and other spirits can not only upset the stomach but cause permanent blindness, kidney or liver problems, cancer and death.

It contains a lethal cocktail of chemicals that will do more than get your head spinning.

The bogus booze contain industrial strengths of isopropanol more commonly found in antifreeze, lotions and cosmetics which can lead to dizziness, vomiting, numb the sensations, blindness and even leave the drinker in a coma.

Other substances found in fake bottles of spirits include ethyl acetate normally found in glues, nail polish removers and cigarettes which causes organ damage.

Acetaldehyde, another compound used in large-scale industrial processes and which occurs naturally in alcoholic beverages, is potentially cancerous if found in too high a volume.

In a bid to stop people buying dodgy drink or spotting if they are being served counterfeit liquor Trading Standards chiefs are urging New Year’s Eve party goers to be wary.

Telltale signs that bottles are fake including unfamiliar brand names, sediment, wonky labels, spelling mistakes, different levels in bottles and very low prices which are “too good to be true.”

People being served vodka in pubs and clubs should also check the smell - fake vodka will often smell of nail varnish.

The alert came following a series of raids on rogue premises and successful prosecutions in the run-up to the festive season.

Over 130,000 litres of counterfeit vodka worth around £1.7m was seized from a factory in Wigan while bottles of fake vodka containing chloroform were seized from an Colchester shop.

In December a Middlesbrough nightclub owner was given a suspended sentence and ordered to pay more than £4,000 in fines and costs for selling counterfeit vodka.

In November the owner of two bars in Consett, Durham was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £2,000 in costs after selling fake vodka.

Trading Standards seized more than 300 bottles of the counterfeit alcohol which was found to be made from industrial alcohol unfit for human consumption.

The Local Government Association which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales today launched a campaign to stamp out rogue traders and landlords

Cllr Simon Blackburn, Chair of the Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: “Everyone likes a bargain, especially at this time of year, but drinking cheap, fake alcohol could seriously harm your health, and even kill you, so people should avoid it all costs.

“Trading Standards teams at councils across the country have been cracking down on businesses selling illegal, fake alcohol and we will continue to target rogue outlets.

“Some shopkeepers clearly have questions to answer about how these items arrive on their shelves.

“They need to think twice about stocking these products as we will always seek to prosecute irresponsible traders.

“Not only does fake alcohol present a significant danger to health, illegal sales undermine local businesses and threaten genuine jobs.

“Anyone suspicious about a supplier or who thinks they may have bought an alcoholic drink which may not be legitimate, should contact their local council as a matter of urgency.”

Anyone who thinks they have consumed fake alcohol should seek medical advice and report it to the local environmental health officer, by calling Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06, or the Customs Hotline on 0800 59 5000.

Homeowners and businesses hit by the recent flooding are being warned by insurers to beware of “flood exploiters”.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says these could include tradespeople promising to carry out “quick repairs”, which may not be to a decent standard. Your insurer should be able to arrange repairs to be carried out by reputable tradespeople.

Another issue to watch out for is loss assessors or claims management firms offering to take on your insurance claim and deal with the insurance company on your behalf.

The ABI says you should always speak to your insurer first and make sure you understand the fees and charges of a loss assessor or claims management firm, and never be pressured into signing anything.

It says that using one of these firms should not be necessary as insurers are dealing with flood claims as a priority. Loss assessors should not be confused with loss adjusters, who work for the insurance company in assessing your claim and arranging repairs.

Areas of the North West already hit by severe flooding are set to be assaulted by a fresh wave of misery as Storm Frank sweeps in this evening.

The Met Office has issued amber “be prepared” warnings for rain in the North West, plus Strathclyde; Central, Tayside and Fife; Galloway, Lothian and Borders, and Dumfries.

However, Cumbria and south and central Scotland are the areas at at most risk, with a total of nine “danger to life” flood warnings in place in England and Wales. These mostly focus on the area around York, already badly damaged by a weekend of severe flooding.

Sweeping in from the West, Storm Frank will bring more rain to already saturated areas with a greater risk of more flooding with 4.7in (120mm) of precipitation expected.

The monthly average for western England in December is between 11.8 and 13.8in (300 to 350mm)

Shap in Cumbria has so far seen the most rain enduring a record of three and a half times its average rainfall of a staggering 28.6 in (728mm) from December 1 to Boxing Day.

By comparison, Monday and Tuesday were forecasted to be fairly uneventful, with temperatures remaining fairly mild for this time of year, in the low teens.

The balmy weather is down to a jet stream allowing warm air to come up from the south.

But it’s Wednesday that everything changes with a cold front expected to hit Cumbria tonight bringing with it 1.5in (40mm) with higher ground seeing between 3.1in (80mm) and 4.7in (120mm).

The mid belt of Scotland from Glasgow and Edinburgh could even see up to six inches (150mm).

Forecasters said the weather was down to bad luck, as a system we would normally avoid in other years hits.

However, Thursday should bring clearer spells and only light rain for affected areas.

Sophie Yeomans said: “We do have a yellow weather warning for parts of Wales, Northern Ireland and Western England on Wednesday.

“Widely there will be 20 to 40mm of rain but this could be between 60 and 80mm in higher grounds.

“Gale speeds could reach up to 70 mph.

“There will be a risk of flooding in Cumbria because the ground is already saturated. It does depend on how each river responds though.

“Lancashire will face some localised flooding, but York looks like it is just outside that yellow weather warning.

“We have an amber warning in some parts of Scotland including Glasgow and Edinburgh for heavy rain and wind.

“Some exposed parts of Southwest Scotland could receive between 100mm and 150mm of rain. Widely it will be between 20mm and 40mm.

“It’s just a case that a weather system that would normally pass to the North or maybe South of us in other years, has affected us this year.

“We’ve not made any scientific assumptions on climate change.

“It’s mostly western areas as the rain will break up and become less heavy as it moves east.

“Once the front has pushed through and reached Eastern areas there will be quite a few clear spells around.

“There is a small band of light showers that will mainly affect Western areas, parts of Wales and Western England.”

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A second man has been arrested in connection with an incendiary device found at the Fishergate shopping centre in Preston earlier this month.

Lancashire Police said a 24-year-old man from Ingol was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life yesterday afternoon.

He is currently in custody.

A 27-year-old man from Preston, who was also arrested in connection with the investigation, was released on police bail until January 28.

At this stage there is not thought to be any connection between the two men.

An investigation was launched after police were called to the centre on Thursday, December 17, shortly after 9am, following reports that a crude incendiary device had been found in toilets.

The device had ignited but caused no real damage and no injuries.

DI Jane Webb, from Preston CID, said: “We have carried out a thorough investigation and as a result of our enquiries, we are satisfied this was an isolated incident with no wider, on-going threat to the public.

“A 24-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident and we would like to thank the public for their continued support and co-operation at the time of the incident and our subsequent investigation.”

A fundraiser has been named as the person that most inspired Brits in 2015.

An internet appeal launched by Katie Cutler, in aid of disabled pensioner Alan Barnes, raised more than £300,000 this year. Mr Barnes was mugged outside his home and January.

Katie, who has since received a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, received donations from around the world for her campaign.

Research by the Discovery Channel has shown more than a quarter of 2,000 British adults feel personally inspired by the woman, from Gateshead, in the North East, who could not believe how much her appeal took off.

Those also taking a place in the top five are Tim Peake, the British astronaut currently aboard the International Space Station, and “John” who can be heard shouting, “you ain’t no Muslim, bruv,” in footage of a stabbing at a London station.

Top 5 inspiring people of 2015

1. Katie Cutler (26%) – helped raise £300,000 for a disabled man who was the victim of a mugging

2. Chris Norman, Anthony Sadler, Spencer Stone and Alek Skarlatos (26%) – prevented a terrorist attack on a train in France

3. Tim Peake (25%) – astronaut, who become only the seventh British-born person in space

4. Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs (20%) – allowed homeless people to stay in the Manchester hotel they are renovating

5. “John” (20%) – the man who said “you ain’t no Muslim bruv” in reaction to a stabbing at Leytonstone station, in London

Fleetwood-based Energy supplier BES Utilities today offered financial help to businesses hit by the recent floods.

More than 6,000 homes and businesses were flooded by Storm Desmond alone and many companies now face an uncertain future, and even closure, due to damage to buildings and ruined stock.

In a bid to help those businesses get back on their feet, BES has written to all its customers in the affected areas with the offer of financial assistance.

It is offering to freeze or write off gas and electricity bills and replace damaged metering equipment free of charge.

BES director and co-founder Michelle Davidson said: “The floods we have witnessed over the past fortnight have been horrendous and many businesses now face closure.

“We are keen to support our customers and there are various ways we may be able to help, either through replacing metering equipment or by offering financial support to businesses until they are able to get things back up and running. “Through our market leading BES Fund we can help with payment of electricity and gas charges so customers can get their business back on their feet.”

The BES Fund – the first of its kind in the UK for non-domestic customers – was launched in September. It supports self-employed and small business customers who find themselves in financial difficulty and struggling to pay their utility bills.

It is independently administered by Charis Grants, experts in the field of hardship funds.

BES, which has more than 40,000 non-domestic customers across the UK, is asking customers hit by flooding to contact them via email at fundqueries@besutilities.co.uk or by phone on 0844 5678 427.

After the rain comes the snow!

The Met Office has issued a weather warning for snow and ice in the North West.

The yellow warning has been given for Cumbria.

It says showers of rain, sleet and snow will lead to local accumulations on hills above 200-300m, mainly over Scotland.

They will ease during the night but will leave a risk of icy patches which lasts into New Year’s Day.

The Met Office’s chief forecaster’s assessment states: “A cold, showery airstream will bring wintry showers across the region.

Whilst most showers at low levels will be of rain, they will turn to snow locally in heavier bursts.

In Scotland, local accumulations of 4cm or so are expected above 200m, with around 10cm above 400m.”

The warning is valid from 6pm this evening until noon tomorrow.

There is also a variety of yellow warnings for: Central, Tayside & Fife, Dumfries, Galloway, Lothian and Borders, Grampian, Highlands and Eilean Siar, North East England, Northern Ireland, South West England, Strathclyde, Wales.

Met Office early warnings are issued more than 24 hours ahead of severe weather.

There are three categories of event red, amber and yellow - the most severe is red.

A deaf rights campaigner has accused the county council of ignoring the needs of Lancashire’s deaf community.

Len Hodson, chairman of Lancashire Deaf Rights Group, has spoken out following a council decision to end funding for an advocacy and help service which includes a British Sign Language (BSL)translation service.

Mr Hodson says the service, provided under the banner of the Lancashire Deaf Service, has helped deaf residents to live independently in the community and enabled them to access information and services.

Now he has taken his campaign to the top, writing to Lancashire County Council leader County Coun Jennifer Mein and its chief executive Jo Turton.

He said: “At LCC they seemed to think providing us with technology will solve the problem, what the whole deaf community want is direct service.”

In his letter, Mr Hodson expressed concerns about the research the council used to inform its decisions and wrote: “It is vital the deaf communities all over Lancashire continue to receive this service.”

But county council cabinet member Tony Martin said the council remained committed to providing deaf residents with access to services.

He said he had been in correspondence with the LDS for more than a year, and added: “The bottom line is that we have to save £262m by 2020 and in that context we are not renewing our existing contract.

“We are introducing a service where LCC services will have access to BSL interpreters when they are dealing with appointments and enquiries from deaf people.

“There will also be a new cutting-edge online interpreter service available to help deaf people when making enquiries or searching for information on our website.

“We’ve put these measures in place following research into services we need to provide for people with sensory impairments.

“We took advice from organisations that provide support for people with hearing and visual impairments.”

ONE in every 10 card payments we make is now contactless, according to figures from a trade body.

In October, 10.3 per cent of all card transactions were made using “tap and go” contactless technology, marking the first time the 10 per cent milestone has been passed, the UK Cards Association said.

In September, 8.9 per cent of card payments were contactless - and a year ago just 3.7 per cent of card payments were made with a single swipe against a reader at the till.

Some 120.5 million contactless card payments took place across the UK in October, with a total of £929.8 million spent during the month in this way.

The average value of a contactless payment has increased to £7.72, up from £7.35 in September.

The upswing comes after the maximum limit for a single contactless transaction was increased in September to £30, from £20 previously.

Richard Koch, head of policy at the UK Cards Association, said: “With one in 10 card payments now contactless, it’s clearly the preferred way to pay for millions of consumers.

“The rise in the contactless limit to £30 earlier this year means there are now even more opportunities to make a fast, easy and secure contactless payment.”

Meanwhile, Barclaycard said that its data shows that contactless spending in service stations, pubs and bars has nearly doubled since August, as the higher £30 contactless limit has enabled more people to pay in this way.

Paul Lockstone, managing director at Barclaycard said: “We’re expecting 2016 to be another recording-breaking year for contactless.”

Remember 2015 like it was only, erm, yesterday? Put your knowledge to the test in our bumper quiz of the year.

{http://renderer.qmerce.com/interaction/5683e3584a54333d71dc2a3a|Click here} to take part - and don’t forget to post your results below!

In the manner of royalty, it is time for me to dish out my entirely undemocratic random honours for 2015 - those things, people and issues which kept us all jabbering for the wrong, right and sometimes no reason.

So in no order at all I bestow the Jabbering Journo New Year honours to:

1. The first jabbering crown goes to THAT dress. The complete non-story of an internet puzzle that kept everyone talking and arguing for the best part of a week.

As a marketing ploy it was genius - only it really wasn’t intentional.

If it was it would be winning every award going.

And all for a dodgy-looking white and gold frock..

2.The most noble order of jabbering goes to (Dame) Caitlyn Jenner.

From the most outrageously overpublicised family of them all, the inexplicably mega-famous Kardashians, the lady formerly known as Olympic athlete Bruce Jenner revealed her new identity and got the world talking about issues previously left on the fringes.

By identifying as Caitlyn, she started a conversation and whatever you think of the internet dominant family as a whole, for that she is due respect - and a jabbering honour.

3. The biggest numpty of them all award goes to Donald Trump.

There are no real words to describe the man who really could be the next US president but he has achieved something no-one else has managed quite so well, making even the most controversial of our British politicans look caring, sharing and intelligent.

4. And finally.

The OBE (Oh bye ‘eck) award goes to Water.

This wet stuff is quite useful really but has dominated the news agenda this year and not always in a good way.

We remembered it fondly when a crypto bug left us Lancastrians without the tap water we take for granted.

We went off it a bit in recent days when it flooded us out across the county causing chaos, misery and making Boxing Day considerably less festive.

And were all forced to re-examine our values, compassion and generosity when thousands of migrants started to risk their lives to flee across it in search of a better life.

Happy New Year.

THE last 12 months was all about emojis, selfies and bingewatching TV, but what can we expect from 2016?

The forecasting company JWT Intelligence has been busy predicting the biggest trends of 2016, and its report makes for some interesting reading. As well as some unsurprising entries like the rise of apps and gaming, there are also some less likely additions, none more so than underarm hair. So throw away your razors, ladies, beauty is going au natural.

Empathy: technology gets a soul

If there is going to be one buzzword

for 2016, empathy is likely to be it. There’s even been speculation that Facebook’s forthcoming “dislike” button will actually be closer to an empathy button, so people can express support for friends who may post distressing status updates without appearing to “like” them. As technology, in particular, becomes more embedded in our lives, the successful brands will be those which understand human behaviour and emotion.

Chimerica: China takes on the film industry

China is becoming more dominant in Hollywood as a source of investors and customers. Most recently, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation was funded by Chinese e-commerce behemoth Alibaba. “China is one of the biggest challenges for Hollywood studios. It is the fastest growing movie market in the world, while US box-office attendance stagnates,” explains Anousha Sakoui, entertainment reporter at Bloomberg Business. “One estimate is that China overtakes the US as the biggest box office by 2020.”

Under arm hair: beauty goes hirsute

Remember the outrage when Julia Roberts showed off her unshaven pits at the 1999 Notting Hill premiere? Turns out she was just ahead of her time - 2016 will be the year of underarm hair. Young women have been dyeing their underarm hair a rainbow of colours and posting photos on social media channels from Instagram to YouTube. You have been warned.

Responsible icons: celeb culture comes to an end

While millennial celebrities were predominately from reality TV, generation Z is demanding a new heroes. Meet the generation Z icons, who combine making music, acting and modelling with a social or political message. Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, as well as 18 year old Bella Thorne, who has published her first young adult novel—about dyslexia and singer Lorde, just 19, who writes songs that deal with friendship and alienation are all likely to see their profiles rise this year.

Space: the final frontier enters popular culture

Thanks to the exploits of, among others, British astronaut Tim Peake, who has just spent Christmas on the International Space Station, interest in space is rising in popular culture. The Matt Damon-fronted film The Martian, which opened in October has raked in $460m. A new Google VR tool for schools also allows students to take virtual field trips to Mars.

Online universities: education goes virtual

Online universities are set to rise as education costs soar. It is likely that the UK will take the lead from America where the traditional education system has already come under fire from leading Silicon Valley voices, like PayPal founder Peter Thiel, who compared universities to “a Studio 54 nightclub that’s got an incredibly long line outside and a very small number of people let inside.”

Self-healing materials: technology helps itself

The prospect of self-healing technology speaks to anyone who’s made do with a cracked smartphone screen. A team at the University of Bristol, UK, announced in June 2015 that it had created airplane wings that could repair themselves in mid-air, and was even contacted by L’Oréal, which registered interest in developing self-healing nail polish. A team at TU Delft in the Netherlands, scientists have also created bio-concrete that heals itself using bacteria.

Apps that nag: wearable technology goes up a gear

It started with fitness, then it was stress, diabetes, and a whole manner of health concerns. Now the latest wearable tech concept is a band that keeps track of carbon emissions. Worldbeing is an app and wearable wristband, made of recycled electrical components, that helps consumers stick to daily carbon footprint targets. “In the same way that fitness bands are an inward look at how you’re doing, a band is an outward look at how you’re doing,” designer Benjamin Hubert told the New Statesman.

The end of email: apps take over communications

Email is falling by the wayside as people turn to more informal mediums, even for business communications. Consumers are increasingly bypassing email, search and web altogether, going directly to apps for everything from hailing a car to getting a restaurant recommendation. The group messaging platform Slack, which boats that it can help teams cut email by 48.6 per cent, has recently grown more than 10 per cent per month and now has 1.7m daily active users.

Cuba: mass tourism arrives in Havana

Since the December 2014 announcement that the United States and Cuba had agreed to restore diplomatic ties, travellers have been rushing to see the last of the old Cuba even as brands are competing to be the first in. Airbnb announced in February that it would move into Cuba and Chanel plans to show its cruise 2017 collection in Havana - the first major fashion production in the country since the restoration of diplomatic relations.

The Faroe Islands: unspoilt Nordic beauty

The island chain that T Magazine calls “the next great Scandinavian destination” and a “sort of spectacular Nordic version of Hawaii” has taken a long time to achieve such praise. But by virtue of its isolation and the rising cultural cachet of all things Scandinavian, it’s now recognised as one of the more unspoiled destinations accessible to European and American travellers. In the capital, Tórshavn, diners can feast on some of the world’s freshest catches at the sushi bar Etika, while enjoying the unparalleled natural beauty of the Arctic region.

Instagram: pictures tell a thousand words

Instagram’s user base reached 400m in September and as more brands pile in, it is now featuring more diverse forms of content. Dazed magazine has taken advantage of the high character limit on Instagram captions to publish “instastories,” bite-sized articles that feature a strong visual lead. Literary magazine Virginia Quarterly Review commissions one writer each week to create three to five stories to be published on Instagram.

Natural junk: fast food reinvented

At a time when consumers are becoming distrustful of major food companies, brands are taking the bold step of reimagining junk food with a focus on natural ingredients. PepsiCo has already announced the launch of a naturally flavoured line of drinks, to be called Stubborn. We will also seeing a wave of new confectionery brands that champion natural ingredients.

Inhalable flavours: spirits hit the clouds

The breathable cocktail recently hit the London bar scene, so expect it to move north soon. Food and drink innovators Bompas & Parr created a pop-up called Alcoholic Architecture that allowed guests to immerse themselves in a cloud of gin and tonic, absorbed via the eyes and respiratory system. Meanwhile, at Café ArtScience in the US, a device called Le Whaf turns spirits into flavourful fogs that provide an interesting amuse-bouche but don’t get drinkers intoxicated.

Algae: superfoods go green

While headlines herald seaweed as the next superfood, few have yet realised the game-changing potential of algae. Thrive, the first culinary algae, hit the US market in October and could soon become the next everyday cooking staple this side of the Atlantic. The product has very low levels of saturated fat, and can be grown in tanks without the large agricultural footprint necessary to produce other cooking oils.

Chachaça: flavour of Brazil goes global

Once seen as a cheap drink for the masses, Brazil’s national spirit is going global amid rising Olympic-fuelled interest in the country. Cachaça, the main ingredient in the caipirinha cocktail, is distilled from sugarcane and ubiquitous in Brazil, where it has more than 2,000 colloquial nicknames, but has been little known outside the country until now.

Metabolism boosters: miracle cures

Superfood companies are launching new ranges of ingestible products that promise to simultaneously boost metabolism, wellness, vitality—and thus beauty from within. Botanic Lab in London already delivers plant-based tonics to customers’ doors, including Plantmilk made from “high-functioning, protein-rich, 100 per cent organic plant sources” and more are likely to follow suit.

Freckles: redheads fight back

Part of fashion’s general celebration of all things redheaded, freckles are a must-have and can be added if they don’t appear naturally. In the London Fashion Week spring/summer 2015 shows, Preen and fast-fashion giant Topshop featured freckles applied by renowned makeup artist Val Garland. For Rag & Bone and Edun’s SS 2016 fashion shows, make-up artists Gucci Westman and Charlotte Tilbury added freckles to models’ faces.

Second-hand clothing: reuse and resell

Online retailers focusing on second-hand items, have raked in investors’ cash in the past year. While Amazon struggles to break into the category and eBay offers an uneven experience, new companies in the space promise curation and quality control. Analysts estimate that the secondhand clothing market is growing by six per cent each year, a figure that could expand as more consumers discover online options.

Sound baths: music for the soul

In New York and Los Angeles, people are gathering for “sound baths,” group experiences where participants focus on the vibrations of tuning forks and singing bowls. It’s kind of a step on from traditional mediation and is targeted at young people, who are accustomed to constant stimulation, are sometimes intimidated by the total silence.

Talking toys: artificial intelligence for children

In November 2015, Mattel began selling Hello Barbie, described by the company as the “first fashion doll that can have a two-way conversation with girls.” Featuring speech-recognition technology and a wifi connection, the doll is programmed with more than 8,000 dialogue lines and 20 interactive games. The CogniToys startup has gone even further, creating a dinosaur that can respond to a child’s vocabulary, interests and other traits.

Gamethletes: gaming becomes a profession

The phenomenal rise of online gaming is giving rise to a new breed of professional gamers, commanding celebrity salaries. The League of Legends world championship final was played in South Korea last year, in the stadium built for the 2002 FIFA WorldCup. While 40,000 people watched live in the stadium, 27 million people tuned in via live-streaming sites.

Lifestyle beers: new chapters for brewers

Tapping into the changing desires of young male consumers, beer brands are softening their images and diversifying into lifestyle categories, from premium grooming collections to clothing. Carlsberg has recently launched a new grooming range which, resonating with its well-known beer tagline, it describes as “probably the best men’s grooming in the world.”

Extreme dining: artificial intelligence for children

The latest dining experiences to entice luxury consumers are extreme and about accessing remote settings amid the wonders of nature. Earlier this year, pop-up restaurant Raw:Almond was built over a frozen river in Canada and in June 2015, architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron completed a restaurant on top of Switzerland’s Chäserrugg mountain.