simon calder, our very own — england and scotland.t's look about the row situation across the uk. it look about the row situation across the uk. , .,, , look about the row situation across the uk. , , a, the uk. it is mostly well and caettin the uk. it is mostly well and getting people- _ the uk. it is mostly well and getting people. we - the uk. it is mostly well and getting people. we were - the uk. it is mostly well and | getting people. we were won the uk. it is mostly well and - getting people. we were won by motoring organisations i was going to be really horrible roundabout now. they said get yourjourney done by 11am or start after 6pm. in fact, things are flowing fairly briskly. there are some hold—ups in the big towns and cities, in particular where you have got out of town shopping centres and motorway junctions and so on. the main problem is wind. the national highway saying that the motor mic 48 severn bridge is close in both directions because of the wind. but the prince of wales bridge on the moto mac for is open. many p

simon calder there >> wonderful. simon calder there with the explicit warnings.> good morning. welcome to your latest gb news weather update from the met office. freezing fog out there today could be quite slow to clear, but it will be another dry and bright day for many. but there is a risk of some icy stretches for some of us across northeastern areas as well as northern ireland and in parts of the south—west too . as parts of the south—west too. as i said, freezing fog that you may be with at the moment. it could last a few hours or so. and bringing a fairly grey day for areas of the for some areas of the south—east. elsewhere, though dry plenty of winter dry with plenty of winter sunshine highs though , of only 2 sunshine highs though, of only 2 or 3 degrees. these look more like minimums for this time of yean like minimums for this time of year. so another bitterly cold day, particularly across parts of scotland and northwest england throughout tonight. we'll see many areas seeing dry weather with clear skies. so it's going to temperatures will dive quite qu

live now to london st pancras station and transport correspondent for the independent, simon calder. a worse day. it is an absolutely miserable day, i am very sorry to say, for an estimated 20,000 passengers on eurostar trains trying to travel between amsterdam, paris, brussels and london. 1a trains in either direction have been cancelled so far. they hope there will be services running from the netherlands, from belgium, from france to london and back by sometime in the next few hours. i have been here since 5am, and that has not been anything moving in and out. this has come and a really difficult time. trains are very heavily booked, the last weekend of the year. so many people emotionally invested in trying to get to where they need to be in time for the new year's celebrations. i have been speaking to some people hoping to go to brussels, they have been told they might be able to get on a train tomorrow evening. i'm afraid it is getting towards the end of a festive spell, which in the uk has been incredibly destructive for travellers, that something else has come to upset an awfu

well, joining me now is travel expert simon calder. now, it's not looking great. >> oh, god. um, if i can just bfing >> oh, god. um, if i can just bring you where we are tonight . bring you where we are tonight. right. so we've got really heavy traffic in a number of cities. basically people just shopping and doing all their stuff, um, that we're over the next few days that should sort of dissipate . dissipate. >> but with the terrible weather that we've got, um, heading this way, we've already heard that logan air, the scottish airline, has ended all flights from shetland after noon tomorrow . shetland after noon tomorrow. >> and looking at the yellow warnings issued by the met office, the office they're going to be really tricky for airline passengers, particularly in the south southern part of england . south southern part of england. um, you've effectively got very strong winds coming in at an angle to the runway at heathrow and gatwick . which isn't great and gatwick. which isn't great if you're a pilot. so effectively gatwick airpo

simon calder , thank you very simon calder, thank you very much for joining simon calder, thank you veryoining us. so simon, so you're not in reykjavik , so you're not in reykjavik, unfortunately, or in iceland, but you can tell us a little bit about perhaps compared to the ash cloud we saw in 2010, which disrupted millions of passengers , could this do the same ? , could this do the same? >> no it couldn't. >> no it couldn't. >> i'm very, very glad to say let me just put this into perspective. >> and people will be perhaps looking and thinking, hang on, this volcano is ten miles from a major. your north atlantic aviation hub, keflavik international airport and they're still flights going in and out . and out. >> i mean, there was a pause last night. um easyjet delayed a flight by over five hours. coming back into, um, uh, manchester. and because they just wanted to make sure that things were going to be safe. but flights are going in and out perfectly normally . um, it's perfectly normally. um, it's actually a little bit confused because there's an air traffic control strike that's been

a lot of people inside they want to get to where they are going and we have been hearing from simon calder has been in the station talking to people looking to get on a flight or go to dover to get a boat to get to europe to get to real they want to go also a lot of confusion and people arriving and more and more people building up in the station. it's notjust eurostar service being affected. and a weather warning is in place for winds, rain and show for parts of the uk.( our reporter nicky schiller is in the newsroom with more. what services are affected? thameslink which operates out of st pancras is warning of major disruption notjust today but until 5pm on new year's day. it is not down to the weather rather a staff shortage. thames like operate across the south—east of england, from brighton to bedford with services from king's cross towards peterborough and cambridge and they are seeing that you can expect your train to be may be cancelled, it could be running late and it may not run at all, and particularly will not have any services on new year's eve in the evening so a lot of peop

travel expert simon calder says rail passengers must plan carefully . carefully. >> so let's start atondon paddington because we know that all the trains are going to stop as from late tonight. there won't be any until the 28th of december. we are seeing train cancellations to bristol , to cancellations to bristol, to cardiff and coming back in the opposite direction due to shortage of train crew. the nonh shortage of train crew. the north of england is going to be even worse. northern trains has said. do not travel on some of our key routes. we won't have any trains, we can't get the staff to run them . staff to run them. >> simon calder meanwhile, the aa has issued an amber traffic warning for today, 23% of drivers saying they'll be using their cars to do that super saturday christmas shopping, which is tipped to be the busiest in—store shopping day of the year. last year , shoppers the year. last year, shoppers said to have spent over £15 million buying last minute gifts . well, in other news today, the london mayor is calling on the government to help provide aid to ukraine by sen

we can't get the staff to run them . staff to run them. >> simon calder, meanwhile , the >> simon calder, meanwhile, the aa has issued an amber traffic warning for today 23% of drivers saying they'll be using their cars to do that last minute christmas shopping. and today's being dubbed super saturday, tipped to be the busiest in—store shopping day of the yeah in—store shopping day of the year. last year, shoppers . were year. last year, shoppers. were said to have spent over £15 million buying last minute christmas gifts. this now, in other news today, the london mayor is calling on the government to help provide aid to ukraine by sending vehicles that would ordinarily be scrapped under the ulez scheme, said khan has asked the transport secretary to enable those living in the capital to donate their vehicles under the scrappage scheme. londoners with cars that fall foul of emission standards can claim up to £2,000 when they're non compliant. vehicle is scrapped and ukraine will be celebrating christmas on december the 25th. this year. that's the first time since nine 1970 been the holid

only simon calder, because he is so embedded _ today.ation many times before. - boxing day all the christmas period brings about with it a period of reflection, who is bottom at christmas, who is top, this is the point where it is serious. the premier league is quite compelling, there is a title race. there have been 1a times that the lead has changed times, 25 is the record from ten years ago, so we could have a genuine push me pull you... push me pull me. ! genuine push me pull you... push me ull me. ~ , , , , pull me. i think it is push me pull ou. pull me. i think it is push me pull yom what _ pull me. i think it is push me pull yom what we _ pull me. i think it is push me pull you. what we are _ pull me. i think it is push me pull you. what we are saying - pull me. i think it is push me pull you. what we are saying about i pull me. i think it is push me pull| you. what we are saying about no distractions. _ you. what we are saying about no distractions, naga? _ you. what we are saying about no distractions, naga? this - you. what we

this travel expert, simon calder , says expert, simon calder, says people really need to plan their journeysare going to stop as from late tonight. there won't be any until the 28th of december. we are seeing train cancellations to bristol , to cancellations to bristol, to cardiff and coming back in the opposite direction due to shortage of train crew. the nonh shortage of train crew. the north of england is going to be even worse . northern trains has even worse. northern trains has said. do not travel on some of our key routes. we won't have any trains, we can't get the staff to run them . staff to run them. >> police have arrested a man on suspicion of theft after the removal of a banksy in south east london. the piece , a stop east london. the piece, a stop sign covered with three aircrafts that look like military drones, was discovered at an intersection in peckham yesterday. less than an hour after the artist confirmed the installation was genuine. witnesses saw it being removed by a man with bolt cutters. the met police say they have since arrested a man who remains in custody and his

the father >> simon calder, now the father of a four year old boy who was stabbed in east london, hasute to his young son, koby macaria. dooly was found with knife injuries at home in hackney on wednesday. he later died in hospital. his dad says he'll be dearly missed and that the joy and laughter he brought to the world has been taken too soon. his mother, kasia macaria, has been charged with murder has been charged with his murder and is due to appear in court on thursday . the london mayor is thursday. the london mayor is calling on the government to help provide aid to ukraine by sending vehicles that would ordinarily be scrapped under the ulez scheme. sadiq khan has asked the transport secretary to enable those living in the capital to donate their vehicles if they wish, under the scrappage scheme, londoners with cars that fall foul of emission standards can claim up to £2,000 when they're non—compliant. vehicle is scrapped and ukraine will be celebrating christmas on december the 25th. this year. that's for the first time since 1917. the holiday is usually held on the 7th of jan

simon. calder thanks, simon. now >> right. thanks, simon.our we're joined by two of our reporters. carson, we're joined by two of our report at. carson, we're joined by two of our reportiat birminghamarson, we're joined by two of our reportiat birmingham new street who's at birmingham new street station theo chikomba, station, and theo chikomba, who's a saint pancras international. welcome to you first, theo. what's it like there today? yes >> well good morning to you. the queues are still here at saint pancras. uh, to train station, but that's mainly because people have decided to come slightly earlier than they would have normally had to, because of what they saw yesterday. and lots of those people are attempting to get onto the eurostar. but we have been told by a member of staff who works for eurostar that they're put on two extra trains today to try and help people who are trying to get into mainland europe. but in terms their services, all of terms of their services, all of them are running as normal . so, them are running as normal. s

travel expert simon calder says people really need to plan their journeys carefully . journeys carefullys start at london paddington because we know that all the trains are going to stop as from late tonight , right? as from late tonight, right? there won't be any until the 28th of december, where we are seeing train cancellations to bristol , to cardiff and coming bristol, to cardiff and coming back in the opposite direction due to shortage of train crew. the north of england is going to be even worse for northern trains. has said. do not travel on some of our key routes. we won't have any trains, we can't get the staff to run them . get the staff to run them. >> police have arrested a man on suspicion of theft after the removal of a banksy in south—east london. the piece , a south—east london. the piece, a stop sign covered with three aircrafts that look like military drones, was discovered at an intersection in peckham yesterday. less than an hour after the artist confirmed the installation was genuine. witnesses saw it being removed by a man with bolt cutters. the met police say they

. >> joining us now is travel expert simon calder . afternoon, expert simon calder. looks like you had a good afternoon . looks like good afternoon. looks like you're at a train station. what's uh, which station are you at? and any news on cancellations? i understand edinburgh in particular has been suffering this morning . suffering this morning. >> yes. um. >>- >> yes. um. >> good afternoon to you. i am in london. waterloo. really busy commuter station. and i'm glad to say that things here appear to say that things here appear to be working pretty well. um, no significant cancellations here, but in the midlands and in particular the north of england and into scotland , it's a very, and into scotland, it's a very, very different story. um, basically scotrail, which runs trains throughout that country, has said we're going to cut, uh, actually services on a number of highland routes. so there's entire lines which are out of service, um, early morning travellers, for instance, from inverness , needing to get to the inverness, needing to get to the caphal inverness, ne

knows simon calder, who always knows exactly what's happening? to air travel. air travel? um, but i want to know what's happening on the roads. there are going to be more trips on the roads than last year, previous years, and is it looking like gridlock ? is it looking like gridlock? >> it's looking pretty horrible . >> it's looking pretty horrible. i'm actually at, um, london king's cross station . i've come king's cross station. i've come here because obviously we had big problems here yesterday. i've been down at heathrow though, so all they're transport terminals are going, um , have terminals are going, um, have a good look around. so i'm sorry if i've confused things there anyway. yes. on the roads . um, anyway. yes. on the roads. um, it is going to be a really, really tough afternoon soon if you didn't get in and sort of sort out your, uh, drive to your family or your loved ones, wherever you are going for christmas, by about 10:00 in the morning, please put it off till tea time, because you are going to get all the usual commuter traffic,

that's simon calder there. thank you very much for joining simon calder there. very much forjoining us. and a very much forjoining us. and a very year to you and very happy new year to you and yours . well, i mean, thankfully , yours. well, i mean, thankfully, eurostar is operating, but i thought what simon was saying there was appalling that the people that couldn't travel yesterday are now the back of the queue . the queue. >> yeah. i mean look i do agree with the sympathy with airlines because and because it's a business and that's free market works. that's how a free market works. but the fact that the trains are such a mess, i mean, the such a mess, i mean, one of the main is that main reasons, of course, is that today's a sunday and you've had months of these disputes between the unions, the government the trade unions, the government and companies, particularly and the companies, particularly of avanti coast. so it of avanti west coast. and so it relies on train drivers being willing to do overtime and so, because new year's eve has fallen on a sunday day

simon calder — travel correspondent for the independent — is at the station. ll take them all day. and it some people just getting in at the car and driving to dover and who think they can find a ferry. pretty miserable here. one more impact on the saint pancreas, the times that line from brighton to gatwick to luton and bedford through central london have dozens of cancellations, and they are warning there will be no service on new year�*s night. of course, that would be for revellers wanting to head home or people wanting to head home or people wanting to head home or people wanting to get early to gatwick or luton airport on new year�*s day. what are people supposed to do? if you have eurostar booked later today or maybe tomorrow, obviously check, but you are going to have reservations, hotel reservations. suddenly everything starts to unravel quite quickly, hence the emotion you are talking about. yes. emotion you are talking about. yes, ve much emotion you are talking about. yes, very much s0- _ emotion you are talking about. yes, very much s0- in _ emotio

good independent, simon calder. good morning to you, simon. what what are the effects on travel? very latest there ? the very latest there? >> yes, i certainly can. now this eruption is taking place just ten miles from keflavik international airport. that is one of the really key , uh, north one of the really key, uh, north atlantic hubs . it connects atlantic hubs. it connects europe , um, in particular the uk europe, um, in particular the uk with the us and canada, and normally there are dozens of flights in and out, actually , flights in and out, actually, there was a really long delay and there may well be passengers who were on the easyjet flight out to manchester. um, it was due out, um, in mid—air evening yesterday actually took off, um, shortly before 2 pm, 2 am. and arrived about five hours late round about 4 am. at manchester. perfectly safely, easyjet told the passengers. um, yep- easyjet told the passengers. um, yep. we're delaying this because of volcanic activity . and of volcanic activity. and safety, of course is um are our top priority . we yet there are top prio

travel expert simon calder says people really need to plan their journeys carefully . carefully. >> so at london paddington because we know that all the trains are going to stop as from late tonight. there won't be any until the 28th of december. we are seeing train cancellations to bristol, to cardiff and coming back in the opposite direction due to shortage of train crew. the nonh shortage of train crew. the north of england is going to be even worse. northern trains has said. do not travel on some of our key routes . we won't have our key routes. we won't have any trains. we can't get the staff to run them. >> the father of a four year old boy who was stabbed in east london, has paid tribute to his son koby macharia. dooley was found with knife injuries at a home in hackney on wednesday and later died in hospital. his dad says he'll be dearly missed and that the joy and laughter he brought to the world was taken too soon. his mother , kasia too soon. his mother, kasia macharia, has been charged with his murder and is due to appear in court on thursday . bells rang in court on thursd

travel journalist simon calder said it's a bleak start to december.whole series starting tomorrow of rolling strikes. >> one region at a time, one day at a time. the train drivers belonging to aslef are basically wanting to say we can cause an awful lot of problems to travellers . and then the worst travellers. and then the worst day of december, i predict, is going to be on sunday when there won't be any trains from here on avanti west coast or on london, north western railway . north western railway. >> and those posting cards and letters this christmas are in for a festive surprise , thanks for a festive surprise, thanks to singing post boxes . royal to singing post boxes. royal mail says special post boxes are placed in london, swansea, glasgow and belfast and respond to post with festive tunes. this includes jingle bells. we wish you a merry christmas and deck the halls . this is gb news the halls. this is gb news across the uk on tv, in your car, on your digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play gb news now it's back to cameron and

travel expert simon calder says people really need to plan their journeys carefully . journeys carefullylet's start at london paddington because we know that that all the trains are going to stop as from late tonight. there won't be any until the 28th of december. we are seeing train cancellations to bristol to cardiff and coming back in the opposite direction due to shortage of train crew. the nonh shortage of train crew. the north of england is going to be even worse . northern trains has even worse. northern trains has said. do not travel on some of our key routes. we won't have any trains, we can't get the staff to run them . staff to run them. >> police in florida say multiple people have been injured after a shooting at paddock mall in ocala. it is understood the suspect is believed to have fled a curler. police say the mall is being evacuated and are asking people to avoid the area. as the investigation continues , police investigation continues, police have arrested a man on suspicion of theft after the removal of a banksy in south east london. the piece, a stop sign covered with

simon calder.our minds! it says more about him than us. stay at home and do not tell anyone. two busy to travel. now the news where you are. hello, good morning from bbc london i'mjim wheble. financial firms in the city could soon be made to collect and report diversity data on their staffing. it comes as a recent report found that white men from higher socio—economic backgrounds are 30 times more likely to succeed in financial services than working class ethnic minority women. the regulator says the industry needs to be more inclusive. i think the industry has made and is making progress. ifeel there is a realisation that there isn't enough representation, there isn't enough diversity and cultures need to become more inclusive. i think that varies across the industry and from firm to firm. independent retailers are fearful of a big spike in shoplifting over the festive and new year period. the british independent retailers assocation says that it could cause some shops to close as they feel like t

that's simon calder, travel expert. 's going to be chaos and not him personally. but he's always reporting from horrible hotspots and he cycles everywhere. yeah. >> i feel a bit guilty now >> and i feel a bit guilty now celebrating the fact that my family get through from family can get through from nottingham saint pancras. nottingham to saint pancras. i'm sorry is nottingham to saint pancras. i'm sorrterrible, is nottingham to saint pancras. i'm sorrterrible, terrible is nottingham to saint pancras. i'm sorrterrible, terrible news, is the terrible, terrible news, terrible time of year for this to happen. if you're going through difficulties, through through difficulties, you sorry for you know, i'm so sorry for what's happening you. and, what's happening to you. and, you we need have you know, we need to have a proper investigation about this. how people take so how can so many people take so much sick time off the same much sick time off at the same time we need them and time when we need them most and not chastised f

travel expert simon calder says it's thrown many people's new year's plans into disarray. >> eurostarwill be with severe delays , but will be with severe delays, but some people will get their as it is. we've had i calculate , 28 is. we've had i calculate, 28 trains from london to paris, brussels and amsterdam and in the other direction cancelled so far today that represents about 20,000 people who are not going to get where they need to be. >> around 86% of crimes reported this year have gone unsolved, in many cases because police failed to find a suspect , new many cases because police failed to find a suspect, new figures reveal. 4.7 million crimes went unsolved this year and 1.7 million of which were of a violent nature. a further million were due to criminal damage or arson . labour says the damage or arson. labour says the conservatives record on solving crimes is disgraceful and accused the government of letting criminals off and letting criminals off and letting victims down. a man has been charged following the death of a 46 year old father, who was hit by a car in sheffield,

so joining us now from waterloo station is the independent's travel correspondent, simon calder. isruption today ? how bad is the disruption today? >> i think we're probably now at about a seven. we were at an eight or a nine yesterday. i've just been rounding up where the latest problems are, if i may, and on the railways it remains scotland . scotland. >> that has been worst hit. scotrail has cancelled a large number of trains, in particular on the west highland line, linking glasgow with fort william , mallaig and oban . we're william, mallaig and oban. we're also seeing lots of cancellations on the northern railways from dundee and perth to aberdeen and inverness. of course, we saw huge problems in northern scotland yesterday with motorists stranded in snow. um, the for lack of availability of buses, as i'm concerned, one person who's been in touch with me, who says i've been in stirling since um, yesterday afternoon when all the trains were were cancelled and there aren't any hotels tonight. help! what can i do? i think there are going to be buses available, but as can see, t

travel journalist simon calder said it's a bleak start to december.a day today is only the start because we are going to see a whole series starting tomorrow of rolling strikes. >> one region at a time, one day at a time. the train drivers belonging to aslef are basically wanting to say we can cause an awful lot of problems to travellers . and then the worst travellers. and then the worst day of december, i predict, is going to be on sunday when there won't be any trains from here on avanti west coast or on london, northwestern railway . northwestern railway. >> the former health secretary says he was in despair that the government had announced a tier system it knew would not work. speaking at the covid inquiry, matt hancock said the rule of six and tiers didn't go far enough to help stop the spread of the virus . mr hancock also of the virus. mr hancock also accused boris johnson of being not willing to go further in terms of national restrictions. in the autumn of 2020. he said school closures could have been avoided in 2021 if the government had a

we are nowjoined by simon calder, travel correspondent for the independent, who is at london heathrowover what is happening with flights. mostly back to normal. british airways has actually cancelled 20 short—haul european and domestic flights today, including links to and from newcastle, manchester and glasgow. people will be rebooked on other services. unfortunately, for a planeload of people flying from gatwick to mauritius, well, they were supposed to be flying out last night. instead of waking up in the beautiful indian ocean islands, they find themselves in hotels in crawley, not necessarily a great start to their trip. they should be flying later today. it is looking relatively calm, although of course it is incredibly busy. a quarter of a million people flying to and from london heathrow today. that is the equivalent of a busy day in the summer. everybody wearing heavy coats, many bearing gifts. if you are going through an airport, expect long waits for security. and of course be terribly nice to the front line staff, who are just trying to get you to your destination. bristol

travel expert simon calder says that it's throwing many people's new year's plans into disarray. you're star says they are hoping to run some trains today. >> they will be with severe delays, but some people will get there as it is. delays, but some people will get there as it is . we've had there as it is. we've had i calculate , 28 trains from london calculate, 28 trains from london to paris, brussels and amsterdam and in the other direction cancelled so far today that represents about 20,000 people who are not going to get where they need to be. >> around 86% of crimes reported this year have gone unsolved. in many cases because police have failed to find a suspect, new figures reveal. 4.7 million crimes went unsolved this year, a 1.7 million of which were of a violent nature. a further million were due to criminal damage or arson . labour says the damage or arson. labour says the conservatives record on solving crimes is disgraceful , conservatives record on solving crimes is disgraceful, and accused the government of letting criminals off and letting criminals off and lettin

traveljournalist simon calder explains why it is so appealing for families to take their children away then you will if you can travel a week later. you can understand the temptation for parents to think, we will take a £60 penalty, because frankly we are still going to be quids in. simon explaining the economics around this, which is an argument thatis around this, which is an argument that is often put forward. we are joined now by children's commissioner rachel de souza and darren morgan, headteacher at kings road primary school. good morning to both. i think we should get it from the horse's mouth. the situation your primary school, simon, explain it to us. is it an issue for you, and i say issue rather than problem. is it an issue when parents take their children on holiday out of term time? yes. when parents take their children on holiday out of term time?— when parents take their children on holiday out of term time? yes. at my school it is a — holiday out of term time? yes. at my school it is a big _ holiday out of term time? yes. at my school it is a big issue. _ holiday out o

joining us now is travel agent at the independent, simon calder. oh, look, i am so sorry. i've spent the morning going round some of the main , um, uh, rail some of the main, um, uh, rail stations trying to see what's happening, and i'm afraid it is a tale of pretty desperate times . these are the intercity hubs in in london. okay, so let's start at london paddington , start at london paddington, because we know that all the trains are going to stop as from late tonight. there won't be any until the 28th of december. that's due to engineering works. um, that are being carried out on the part of hs2. yes yes. that um, famous london to birmingham high speed line. anyway as a result of that, everybody needs to make their journey today the busiest train of all the 1003 um from london paddington to penzance is going out in about an hour. but before that and after that we are seeing train cancellations to bristol to cardiff and coming back in the opposite direction due to a shortage of train crew. and that is being replicated in many other places as avant