Lois Dean

The Met Office has issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for Mid Cheshire from 7pm Wednesday until 10am Thursday. Heavy showers and thunderstorms could produce 15–20 mm of rain in an hour and up to 30–50 mm over six hours, creating risks of flash flooding, lightning, hail, and damage to homes, businesses, and structures. Travel may also be disrupted by spray, standing water, and hail, while conditions are expected to ease from the northwest on Thursday morning.

Ideel Shad, 22, was sentenced at Chester Crown Court after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and driving without insurance. He drove a BMW at speeds approaching 100mph, evaded police on the M6, and collided with an HGV, rupturing its fuel tank and spilling diesel across the motorway. The resulting closure caused severe gridlock and delays exceeding 90 minutes, although the HGV driver was uninjured. Shad received a 10-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, alongside rehabilitation and drug treatment requirements, and was disqualified from driving for 12 months with an extended retest.