Man beaten up by
gang of youths
by David Skentelbery
A MAN was savagely beaten by a gang of young thugs at Warrington after asking them to keep quiet.
The attack took place at the Sankey Valley Sports Ground ? formerly Crosfield?s Recreation Ground ? off Sankey Way.
A 32-year-old man was walking his dog on the recreation ground shortly after midnight when he saw a group of youths on the car park, creating a nuisance.
He asked them to be quiet and move on ? and was attacked, suffering kicks and blows, He was taken to hospital suffering from a fractured cheek, cuts and bruises.
Police say there were six or seven youths in the group, in the 16-17 age range and wearing tracksuits. All spoke with local accents and one had short, dark shaven hair, feathered at the front.
Anyone who can help with information is asked to call police on 01244 613845.
“Every child matters”
campaign unveiled
by Lesley Wilkinson
INNOVATIVE plans to ensure that every child in Warrington is healthy, safe and achieves its full potential have been unveiled.
The new Children and Young People’s plan is being introduced by Warrington Borough Council to show that every child matters.
It is being supported by key partners including Connexions and the Halton and Warrington Youth Offending Team, and plans are to work more closely with agencies such as health services, to ensure children reach their full potential as they enter adult life.
Staff will be asked to look at how information can be shared across services to provide the best care for children.
The consultation process will continue in November with five events across the town, to include schools, parents, carers, Warrington Primary Care Trust, voluntary organisations and other partners, to look at the future of children’s services.
Coun Colin Froggatt, the borough council?s executive member for children’s services, said: “The Children Act 2004, and the accompanying guidance contained in ‘Every Child Matters Next Steps’, represents the most fundamental change in 30 years in the way children’s services are designed and delivered.
“This is an exciting time for the council and its children’s services directorate as we will be working with key partners to bring about a change in culture and develop services, including the children and young people’s plan, to help ensure that every child does matter in Warrington.? Results of the consultations will be included in the children’s plan for Warrington, which will be available in draft form by January.
Swing band says
thanks – with music
by David Skentelbery
THE Vintage Swing Big Band is appearing in Culcheth for a second time this year ? thanks to the eagle eye of pensioner Bob Linaker.
A full afternoon of big band music for listening and dancing will be staged at Culcheth Sports Club on Tuesday, November 22 ? and the band will be playing for free.
On their last visit, in March, the second trumpeter lost his whole repertoire of music ? much of which was irreplaceable.
A search was made of the stage area at the club, but to no avail. But Bob, a member of organisers Risley and Culcheth Nuclear Retirement Fellowship, returned to make another search two weeks later and found the priceless music hidden behind a radiator.
Band members were so grateful they offered to put on another show without charge.
Bob said: ?We have decided to take advantage of this to expand the event. We?re calling it an afternoon tea party and the ?2.50 entrance fee will include a tea.?
Car thieves strike
six times in a month
by John Hendon
IN just a month, car thieves struck six times in Warrington, stealing vehicles worth a total of ?44,200 from outside people?s homes.
Six vehicles ranging in value from ?2,000 to ?12,000 were stolen by thieves who first broke into homes to steal the keys.
Crime reduction advisor Neil Jukes said: “Due to advances in vehicle security offenders now need to obtain keys in order to steal modern cars. This is why it’s so important to keep your car keys in a safe place, out of sight from opportunist thieves.
“It only takes a few seconds to think about a safe location for your keys and it could save you the hassle and inconvenience, not to mention the upset caused by having your car stolen from right outside your own home.?
He advises people not to leave keys on hall tables which can be accessed by letter boxes, or to leave them on window ledges or hanging on key racks. Keys should always be taken upstairs at night.
Mr Dukes advises people to get window locks fitted and ensure windows are closed, and to fit good quality deadlocks on all exterior doors. He advises people to keep doors and windows locked in unattended rooms and when the property is unoccupied.
Other precautions include making sure alarms are used, vehicles are locked and parked in a garage or behind locked gates where possible. Thieves may use DIY tools to break into a property so people are advised to lock sheds and garages and ensure tools are locked away.
Hospital’s new clinic
for chronic snorers
by Lesley Wilkinson
SNORING may not just be a source of annoyance for a partner – it may also be a health risk for the snorer.
It can be a sign of a more serious problem, that of sleep apnoea – a condition meaning sleep without breath, which can be caused by anything that makes the throat narrower such as enlarged tonsils, a partially blocked nose or being overweight.
To help patients cope there is now a new clinic at Warrington Hospital. Previously they faced up to three trips to Halton General Hospital for the same service.
Since it started in summer more than 60 patients have attended the Warrington clinics, after being referred by their GP or another health professional.
The clinics were made possible by the hospital’s League of Friends who bought four pulse oxymeters, costing ?2,500 in total.
Dr Ana De Ramon, respiratory consultant, who runs the Warrington clinic, said: “When we sleep, our muscles become less active. Sleep apnoea, or obstructed sleep, is caused when the muscles relax in the throat and the airway narrows. This can cause snoring, which is no laughing matter, but snoring is the tip of the iceberg in some cases.
“The major problem is because the airway is obstructed, in extreme cases a person can stop breathing. When this happens, they automatically wake up to let the body correct the problem with a few deep breaths.?
Dr De Ramon said the cycle of waking may happen many times during the night, leading to drowsiness during the day. She said the consequences can be serious if someone nods off whilst driving or operating machinery at work.
After being assessed in clinic, suitable patients take a pulse oxymeter home with them. It is attach to a patient’s finger when they are in bed to measure the flow of oxygen in the bloodstream, with oxygen levels dropping every time the airway narrows.
If a patient is found to have sleep apnoea, they are referred for further tests and eventually Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment at University Hospital, Aintree.
Dr De Ramon said: “CPAP uses a slightly pressurised flow of air to keep the airway open during sleep, delivered through a mask from a small pump by the side of the bed. After trying it at hospital, patients take the pump home with them and use it from then on. It is very effective in returning breathing to normal, meaning people are no longer drowsy during the day.”
The new clinics will only treat sleep apnoea, not just snoring, however.
“Sometimes snoring is just that, in which case sleeping on your side, losing weight and drinking less alcohol at night can help to cut it down to some extent,” Dr De Ramon added.
Pervert strikes in
supermarket toilets
by staff reporter
POLICE at Warrington have issued a warning to pare
nts and young children following two incidents involving a pervert in supermarket toilets.
They believe the two incidents could be linked although there is no firm evidence that the same man was involved.
In the first, a 14-year-old boy went into the toilets at a supermarket and saw a man put his head under the cubicle door.
The offender was about 5ft 8 inches tall and had a distinctive hairstyle.
A second incident took place in the toilets at Tesco. A father took his three-and-a-half year-old son into the toilets.
There were other people about at the time and the father left his son briefly to go to the baby-changing area. When he returned the toilets were empty and his son claimed a man had indecently assaulted him.
The offender is said to have been about 45, of average height with wavy hair, a squat face and pointed chin with a mark or mole on his face.
Anyone who can help in either incident is asked to contact DC Jackie Daniels or DC Ian Murray on 01244 613845.
50 evacuated
from hotel
by staff reporter
FIFTY people were evacuated from a hotel at Warrington early today after an automatic fire alarm triggered an alert.
Guests and staff fled from the Travel Lodge in Kendrick Street and fire crews raced to the scene.
A search of the building using a thermal imaging camera revealed that the alarm had been activated by a smouldering fuse box in the lift operating system.
Guests were allowed back to their rooms after about half-an-hour.
In another incident, fire crews dealt with a car fire in Sandy Lane, Orford. An electrical fault is believed to have started the blaze.
Disco for
charity
by staff reporter
A 60s and 70s disco night to raise funds for the Warrington and District Branch of The Multiple Sclerosis Society will be held on Saturday November 5.
The event at Alford Hall, Manchester Road, will feature a professional DJ and a hot pot supper. Dress from the era is optional and there will be a prize for the best costume.
A similar event last year raised ?1,700 and organisers are hoping to raise more this year.
Tickets are available from Julie Richards on 573980 or Peter Travers on 492970.
