Hello. Apologies for the lack of updates on the site, this is due to the annual strike by the council’s IT department. This year’s strike has caught us on the hop as it’s occurred a couple of months earlier than normal (coincidentally at the same time as the world cup). This year staff are demanding one day working from home (not really feasible as neither of them have internet at home, although installing Sky is on their list of demands) and they want Friday afternoons off to enjoy both lunch time and happy hour in The Bear & Pumpkin pub. We’re hoping to go to arbitration, which may happen this week as England seem likely to be out of the world cup very soon. Sorry for the inconvenience, G. Grimsby. Mayor

(Above) Beckworth’s striking IT department are joined by sympathetic passers-by on the promise of free cakes and coffee if they mill about about and look vaguely menacing