Pop star Kerry
lends a hand
by Gary Skentelbery
SHE may have been voted “Queen of the Jungle” but pop star Kerry Katona has not forgotten her mates.
The Warrington born celebrity, who fronted Atomic Kitten was on hand to open a new nail bar in her home town run by her friend Hayley Rose.
Wherever she is in the world Kerry always waits until she is back home in Warrington before having her nails done.
“Hayley is the best in the world when it comes to doing nails,” said Kerry. “I know I can relax and be myself with all the girls.
“If I am feeling depressed I know I can share my troubles with them without it going any further. They are a great team.” Kerry performed the official opening of the new Akira Nail Bar situated within Stuart Callaghan’s Hair Salon on Sankey Street, Warrington.
It is Hayley’s second salon, after opening her first on Padgate Lane, close to where Kerry was born and brought up.
Kerry added: “I love coming to the salon because they are all dead down to earth, just like me!
“I often get asked if I would like my nails done in other salons, but I always have to turn them down so I can come home, relax and have a bit of gossip with the girls.”
Hayley started her business when she was just 17 and has already scooped a business award for her enterprise.
Meanwhile Kerry has another important engagement when she switches on the town’s Christmas lights this Sunday. (Nov 20)
Heartless thieves steal
war veteran’s medals
by David Skentelbery
HEARTLESS thieves have stolen a Warrington war veteran?s medals ? robbing him of the chance of wearing them during the town?s Remembrance Day parade.
Police are appealing for information about the six missing medals stolen from 83-year-old former submariner Harold Gray, of Longford.
Mr Gray discovered the medals were missing from his home when he went to get them ready for the Remembrance Day parade from the Town Hall to The Cenotaph at Bridge Foot on Sunday.
It is believed they were stolen from his home some time between October 21 and November 10.
The medals were The Defence Medal, the Atlantic Star, the Burma Star, the End-of-the-War Medal, the Korean War Medal and the Korean United Nations Medal.
The two Korean War medals were the first to be presented by the Queen after she came to the throne.
PC John Clark, who is investigating the theft, said: “Mr Gray had been planning to attend a ceremony in Warrington, at the Town Hall, on Sunday, and parade to the Cenotaph. He would have proudly worn his medals. He was due to meet old colleagues from the submariners, however these heartless thieves have left him to parade without the medals.?
Mr Gray was a Gunner Captain in the Royal Navy. He served in various theatres of war all over the war.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0845 458 0000, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Caring Claire wins
Queen’s Scout Award
by Lesley Wilkinson
A WARRINGTON woman has achieved one of the scouting movements top awards after taking part in an international scout camp in Taiwan.
Claire Irons, 23, of Grappenhall Road, Stockton Heath, a member of Warrington Scout Network has gained the Queen’s Scout award.
It is awarded to those achieving a high standard of personal commitment, self-discipline and achievement in community service, activities and interests. Every Queen’s Scout receives a Royal Certificate bearing a message from the Queen.
Claire had previously gained the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and some of the work for that has been taken into account. This includes being a leader of the Beavers in Stockton Heath, taking part in athletics and completing a five-day walk in the Lake District.
For the Queens Scout award she also attended the Taiwan camp in August with scouts from all over the world.
She said: “I was really pleased to achieve the award and it will be presented at a ceremony in the future.”
Claire, who works for Joy Days Link Club, an out-of-school club in Appleton, is the first local person to achieve the award since the Warrington Scout Network was set up in September.
She said: “It’s a Queens’ Scout privilege to be chosen to attend the annual National Scout Service and St George’s Day parade held at Windsor castle on the Sunday nearest to St George’s Day.”
Claire is a former student from Priestley College, Warrington, where she won the North of England student of the year title in a national child care competition. She studied for a BTEC National Diploma in Early Years.
Police arrest 174
offenders in a week
by John Hendon
POLICE in Warrington arrested 174 offenders in the space of the last week.
Those arrested were people suspected of offences such as burglary, theft, assault, possession of an offensive weapon, harassment and criminal damage.
The arrest were part of ?Crackdown on Crime? – Cheshire Police’s autumn and winter initiative aimed at putting more criminals behind bars.
A number of pro-active operations are taking place to target offenders throughout the force area, including Warrington.
Supt Gary Finchett, Operations Manager for the Northern Area, said: “This operation aims to make life as difficult as possible for criminals and to bring them to justice.
“We will continue to proactively target offenders and arrest them at every opportunity. The success we have achieved so far highlights our determination to arrest those people who are a threat to our local communities.”
Police are working alongside partner agencies on the iniative which includes operations such as Crackdown on Drugs, Crackdown on Burglary and Crackdown on Car Crime as well as other operations specific to local areas.
Town police may be
run from Merseyside
by David Skentelbery
POLICING in Warrington could in future be carried out by a new amalgamated Cheshire and Merseyside force.
This seems the most likely outcome of the Government?s proposals for restructuring of police forces across the country, according to the Cheshire Police Authority.
Cheshire?s Chief Constable, Peter Fahy and members of the Police Authority say they are ?very disappointed? at the prospect of such an outcome.
They had favoured a North West Regional Force, allowing local identity and accountability.
The Home Secretary is now asking Police Authorities in the North West to further develop two options.
Two forces, one covering Cheshire and Greater Manchester, the other covering Lancashire, Merseyside and Cumbria.
Three forces, one covering Cheshire and Merseyside, one covering Lancashire and Cumbria and Greater Manchester remaining as it is.
A statement issued by the Cheshire Authority says: ?Great Manchester has made it clear they wish its force to stay as it is. Lancashire and Cumbria would appear to favour the three force option.
?At this stage, therefore, the most likely option left for Cheshire is a merger with Merseyside.? The statement concedes that there are strong cross-border criminal links between Cheshire and Merseyside and that the two forces have similar policing styles. They also operate similar computer systems ? a crucial factor in minimising the costs of a merger.
But they say it is important that Cheshire, Warrington and Halton retain local accountability and build on the strengths it has developed in local policing.
?We will continue to propose that many specialist police services should in future be provided at a regional level to achieve savings and higher degrees of expertise,? the statement adds.
There will be further consultation with local people.
The Government hopes a new shadow police authority to be in place by April 2007 which will then commence the implementation phase.
?It is crucial that we continue to build on our new neighbourhood policing system and recent performance improvements in
respect of arrests, detections and anti-social behaviour.
?Whatever the outcome it is essential we maintain public confidence and that of our own staff during this period of potential uncertainty.?
Loan seekers
may get a shock
by Terry Johnson
WARRINGTON people who have not returned Register of Electors forms sent to them by the Town Hall could be in for a shock if they try to borrow money.
Their credit-rating will be lower and they could be refused loans. They would also encounter problems in trying to open a bank account.
The borough council, which compiles the Electors’ Register, says that being denied a vote for 12 months is just one of the difficulties in not returning registration forms.
Data is supplied by the council to credit reference agencies – so cash problems could hit hard.
Households are urged to register quickly – by ‘phone or the Internet.
Bank blaze
FIRE crews were called to the Lloyds TSB Bank in Town Hill, Warrington after fire was discovered in a boiler room.
The blaze involved lagging on the boiler and only minor damage was caused. The bank is expected to be open as normal today.
