Two women injured
in street robberies
by John Hendon
TWO women have been left battered and bruised after being attacked by handbag snatchers in Warrington.
One, aged 80, had to be taken to hospital for treatment after being attacked as she walked along Bedford Street, Stockton Heath.
She was knocked to the ground and struck her head on the kerb, suffering nasty injuries.
Police said the woman had crossed Walton Road and paused for breath in Bedford Street.
She was attacked from behind by a youth riding a mountain bike at speed. Her bag was snatched and she was knocked over.
Three unknown men went to her assistance after the attack ? and police would like to speak to them in case they have valuable evidence.
The youth, about 5ft 7 inches tall, of medium build, was wearing a dark sandy coat.
He rode off along the Bridgewater Canal towpath, leaving it at Thorn Marine, near London Road Bridge. He was still riding the mountain bike at this point.
The second woman, aged 57 was attacked in Boydell Avenue, Latchford, just after she had turned into it from Richmond Avenue.
She felt her bag pulled from behind and was pulled to the ground as the bag was snatched from her. She suffered bruising to the lower part of her body.
Her attacker was between 5ft 9 inches and 6ft tall, of thin build and with dark brown collar length hair and a large, broad nose. He was wearing dark coloured tracksuit bottoms and white trainers.
Anyone who can help police in connection with either incident is asked to call PC Amanda Guerin on 01244 613834.
Police merger plan –
the opposition grows
by David Skentelbery
OPPOSITION continues to grow to the proposed merging of police forces to form even larger organisations.
Warrington Community Action Party ? which plans to field a number of candidates in the next council elections in the town ? has called for a re-think on the proposals.
CAP leader Mike Hughes said: “While there may be a need for a regional ?strategic” level of police services, to deal with serious crime, there is also a vital need for local community police services, to provide low tolerance policing of low level crime on our streets.
?In my opinion, this requires a two tier form of policing similiar to the USA and other countries.
?This of course, would require more manpower and financial resources, which indicates the real reasons for New Labour’s rush to amalgamate police and other emergency services.
They merely want policing on the cheap, which will not resolve the growing trends in yobbery and anti-social behaviour in our town centres and on our housing estates.”
Warrington Borough Council has already expressed concern at the proposals ? as has the Cheshire Police Authority.
If the proposals go ahead it would mean Cheshire would be merged with another force ? probably Merseyside.
“Recycle those cards”
says councillor
by staff reporter
A COUNCILLOR and a supermarket giant have joined forces to encourage Warrington residents to recycle Christmas cards.
Coun Yvonne Fovargue said: “People will have sent more than a billion cards this Christmas, but amazingly one in five of us ? 22 per cent – still throw our Christmas cards in the bin!
“I want to recycle as many of these as possible to raise funds to help the Woodland Trust save woods and trees, and help cut down on the amount of waste that traditionally gets binned at this time of year.?
Coun Fovargue and Tesco have joined forces to back the Woodland Trust in a campaign to persuade people not to bin their cards.
A special recycling bin has been provided at the Tesco store in Winwick Street, Warrington.
Similar facilities are being provided at WH Smith stores.
Coun Fovargue said 58 million cards were recycled nationally last year but this year she wants to see 60 million reached.
She said: ?Just think – if each of us in the country recycled just two of our Christmas cards we’d smash the target and save thousands of trees.”
All the cards collected during the campaign are taken to paper mills where they are recycled into brand new paper products, with the money raised helping the Woodland Trust to save woods and trees.
Helping young people
cope with diabetes
by staff reporter
MORE special events are planned to help young people cope with diabetes, following the success of an inaugural social evening for Warrington youngsters with the condition.
The well-attended event was held at Bank Quay Sports and Social Club in Warrington.
Young people aged 17-25 were able to access a wide range of information and advice about diabetes from specialist nurses, dieticians, podiatrists, a psychologist and a substance intervention worker.
The evening was organised by Susie Prestt, a diabetes nurse at Warrington Hospital’s Young People’s Diabetes Service.
She said: “We are always looking for new and innovative ways to get key messages about diabetes across to young people. This event proved a very effective way to do that while having a bit of fun at the same time.
“In an informal setting we were able to share knowledge and give advice relevant to the individual. We had a fun quiz with prizes such as CDs, DVDs, a family ticket to a Warrington Wolves game and vouchers to some of the large stores in Warrington. I would like to thank all those who contributed to making this event so successful”.
Susie added work has now started on planning other events for later this year.
“We hope to put on our next event before the summer, this time looking at topics such as overseas travel and managing your diabetes in different climates.”
Cyclists go into
bat for juniors
by staff reporter
A FIVE strong contingent from Glazebury Cricket Club cycled to Old Trafford and back to raise money for the thriving junior section.
After completing the 32-mile round trip, junior coach Simon Green, club secretary Sean Caine, under- 15?s captain Jack Warhurst and supporter Rick Hampson arrived home with ?451.51p in the bank.
The four were supported on their cycle ride by would-be Freddie Flintoff John Hobson aged six, who cycled the entire 13 miles to the Lancashire ground and was most put-out when he was told he could not do the return journey home!
?This was a fantastic effort by all the lads, ? said club chairman Paul Warhurst. ?We are delighted by their fund raising efforts, indeed by the efforts of all our club members who have done so much during the past couple of years to develop the junior section.?
Further information about Glazebury Cricket Club junior section is available from Mike Durrington on 01925 764697 or Simon Green on 01925 637014.
