These are the latest ECHO headlines this morning.
Heart attacks, bags of urine and the enormous pressure on Amazon delivery drivers
More claims have emerged about the pressure heaped on delivery drivers distributing packages for Amazon.
The ECHO recently reported on the case of Neil Martin, 46, who suffered a heart attack while working for an agency contracted to deliver packages for Amazon. Mr Martin had phoned his boss at Deva Logistics asking if someone could come and collect his packages as he was experiencing concerning symptoms including chest pains, dizziness and sweating.
However he claimed his boss said they could only spare a driver to collect half of Neil's remaining route, so the dad-of-two, from Prescot, felt he had no choice but to carry on working. Neil and his wife drove to Whiston Hospital after his shift where stunned doctors told him he had in fact suffered a heart attack and "could have died".
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Deva denied it had refused to relieve Neil of his route and said it was taking his claims "very seriously", before suggesting he had contacted the firm asking for money - a claim denied by Neil.
Now WalesOnline has report ed how an anonymous driver, working for another Amazon sub-contractor called AM Logistics, describes working conditions as "horrendous" with colleagues in Wales feeling unable to even take a break to go to the toilet. The man told reporters he had taken the job after being furloughed during lockdown.
Read the full story here.
Desperate holidaymakers travelling hours to queue in Liverpool for new passports
Holidaymakers faced ‘nightmare’ queues for passport appointments as people faced missing out on their travels.
T hose waiting for appointments at the passport office on Old Hall Street had been queuing since it opened at 9am. Many had travelled hours to be seen but hadn’t been given an update about their application.
The government has seen an unprecedented surge in applications as five million delayed applying for a new passport during the pandemic. The huge backlog means people are struggling to get a passport in time for their travels.
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Those urgently in need of a new passport can make an appointment to visit their local office to have one issued. There are just seven Passport Customer Service Centres dotted around the UK, one of which is based in Liverpool.
The ECHO spoke to people queuing for an appointment on Old Hall Street. Ellie Smith had got up at 6am and travelled four hours from Newcastle to get a passport for her holiday to Greece. She was told to come to the Liverpool passport office but hadn’t been seen, despite arriving when it opened at 9am.
Ellie is due to travel in two weeks’ time. Despite waiting 11 weeks, she hasn’t had an update on her application since March.
Read more here.
'Small cottage' transformed into 'outstanding' property up for sale
A new home has come on the market in Merseyside that has been completely ‘transformed’ by its current owners.
Originally the property was described as a ‘small cottage’ but it is now listed for sale as an ‘outstanding’ three bedroom house with an annexe. The cottage has undergone extensive redevelopment including a new fitted kitchen and bathrooms.
Highlights include the extension annexe which features its own shower room and bedroom. On Southport Road, in Lydiate, the home is for sale for £300,000 with North Wall estate agents.
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Images of the property shows it boasts an open plan sitting room and kitchen area with a central island. Described as being great for ‘entertaining’ this area has floor to ceiling windows and bi-fold doors that open into the garden patio.
The ‘bespoke’ kitchen has been fitted with Caple appliances and the sitting area is decorated with brightly coloured panelled walls. There’s also a feature fireplace and a flat screen TV has been fitted on the wall.
On the ground floor there’s also a utility room that leads to the new annexe which has a shower room and additional bedroom. This bedroom has floor to ceiling windows that overlook the lawn in the back garden.
View images and more information here.
