Police in hunt
for sex attacker
by David Skentelbery
POLICE have released CCTV pictures of a man they believe may be responsible for a serious sex attack on a teenage girl in Warrington more than two months ago.
They have also appealed to two other men who were with him shortly before the attack to come forward.
The girl alleges she was subjected to a serious sexual assault in an alleyway near a car park at the rear of Market Way, Warrington on the evening of November 4.
She was in Warrington with a girl friend at about 9.15pm when they met three young men they had not seen before.
After chatting for a while they went to the car park at the rear of Market Way where the victim and one of the men became isolated from the rest of the group in an alleyway.
It was here the alleged offence took place.
A police spokesman said enquiries into the incident had been continuing ever since.
Hours of CCTV footage had been examined ? and as a result two pictures of the man police believed responsible had been released.
He was about 20, 5ft 11 inches tall, of medium build and with brown hair, spiked on top but in a fringe at the front. On the night, he was wearing light blue jeans, a green round-necked tee-shirt with white lettering on it and a blue, hooded jacket, which he wore open. His first name could have been ?Thomas.?
One of the other men was tall and skinny, with long dark hair in a mullet style. His name may have been ?Richard.?
The third man was about 5ft 11 inches, muscular and had a shaven head.
Police say if either of the two other men recognised themselves from the description they should contact police.
Anyone who can help is asked to contact Det Con Moira Hay on 01244 613835.
Bus company doing a
great job, say passengers
by John Hendon
BUS passengers in Warrington think the town?s bus company is doing a great job ? and that it is getting better.
The results of the first ever independent survey of Warrington Borough Transport customers show high levels of satisfaction.
In the survey, which was undertaken by specialist bus industry market research firm BestChart, 88 per cent of respondents said they were satisfied or very satisfied overall with the service provided by the company.
At the same time, respondents who feel the service getting better outnumbered those who feel it is getting worse by 3 to 1.
The top performing satisfaction indicators included the quality of bus information – which ensures passengers know when, where and how to catch a bus – the quality of the company?s new low floor buses, bus cleanliness and driver friendliness.
More than 98 per cent passengers said they feel safe travelling on buses – a figure that may be due to the increasing use of on-bus CCTV.
Managing director Nigel Featham said: ?Recent months have seen bus services affected by a temporary bus station and unusually high levels of road works in the town centre so, under the circumstances, we are very encouraged by the results. They show customers feel buses are getting better.
?However, we are not complacent. With the new bus station opening in June and, town centre road works now complete, we will be aiming for even better results next year.?
Back home – after
3,699-mile ordeal
by David Skentelbery
ALAN Jaques and Geraldine Murphy, of Stockton Heath, are back from competing in the world’s ultimate banger race – after a 3,699-mile drive through nine countries, including hundreds of miles through the Sahara Desert.
They raised nearly ?2,000 – including the sale of the 1973 Mercedes 280 in which they tackled the journey for ?530.
The couple took part in the Plymouth to Dakar Challenge, a take-off of the famous Paris to Dakar Challenge.
About 200 old cars took part in the race, raising money for a number of Gambian charities.
The object of the race was to buy an old banger for ?100, spend around ?15 “doing it up” and complete the journey. The cars are then auctioned off in Africa.
Eight out of the 48 cars in the group Alan and Geraldine were in failed to complete the trip. One blue up and another rolled down an embankment.
Biggest problems for the Stockton Heath couple were the carburettor – which repeatedly got blocked up with sand – and the exhaust. They were also repeatedly flagged down for a lift as most white Mercs in Africa are taxis!
Soft toys they took with them were much appreciated by youngsters along the route and most of the couple’s toothpast was given to an orphanage.
A shepherd dropped in on the couple while they were camping in the desert and they gave him clothing for himself and his sister.
“It’s a hard life in the desert,” said Geraldine. “Plenty of dead animals and abandoned cars.”
At the end of the race, the white Merc – christened “Four weldings and a Funnel” was sold for ?530 to a Mr Kebba Sambou, who plans to use it as a family car.
Said Geraldine: “The car looked fab when we last saw her, although she was sounding a bit throaty due to massive holes in the exhaust.”
Alan and Geraldine send thanks to all who helped through sponsorship.
During the trip they kept in touch with home by sending text messages and mobile phone pictures to www.warrington-worldwide.co.uk
“One person can
make a difference”
by staff reporter
?ONE person can make a difference? is the theme of this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day event in Warrington today.
Holocaust Memorial Day is a annual national event when thousands of people across the country hold various activities to raise awareness and understanding of the Holocaust.
Warrington Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) has organised an event at St Elphin’s Parish Church where children from a number of schools across the borough will come together to present the theme through drama, music, pictures and reflections.
Central to the service, and to reflect the theme for the day, will be the little known story of Sempo Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat who was responsible for saving the lives of up to 40,000 Jewish people during World War Two by issuing exit visas via Lithuania, against the orders of his government.
Members of school councils from across the borough have been invited to present a paper crane as part of the service and to reflect on one of the most valuable lessons of the Holocaust and the theme for the day – that ?one person can make a difference.”
Pupils from Oakwood Avenue Primary, Fairfield CE Primary, Sacred Heart RC Primary, Bridgewater High and Lymm High will be involved.
Common sense can
beat the common cold
by John Hendon
HEALTH bosses are urging people across Warrington to use “common sense for common colds”.
The campaign will see 80,000 leaflets distributed across Warrington to public buildings, GP surgeries, pharmacies and to people’s homes.
They highlight the symptoms of a cold and flu and give people handy tips about how to relieve them.
Dr Marioth Manche, Warrington Primary Care Trust’s deputy director of public health, said: “We want to remind people that the best way to get over a cold or flu is to treat the symptoms, rest, drink plenty of fluids, and keep warm.
“Antibiotics have no effect on viruses, which cause coughs and colds. Using them when you don’t need them makes them less effective when you do.”
The leaflet also gives people advice about pandemic flu. If there ever was a pandemic, the advice to rest, keep warm and drink plenty of fluids would be the same.
Dr Manche added: “We would urge people who have a cold or flu to get advice about the best medicines to take from their nearest pharmacist, or from NHS Direct. If symptoms are severe, or last longer than five to seven days, people should contact their doctor.”
News in brief
Riv
er drama
POLICE and fire crews were called to Bridgefoot, Warrington early today when a man threatened to jump in the Mersey. Firefighters stood by with a rescue boat in case the man jumped but a passerby managed to persuade him not to.
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 6, 9, 14 and 15. There was no winner and the jackpot will be rolled over to next week when it will stand at ?600. The ?25 consolation prize was won by “Brenda.”
Car overturned
A MOTORIST was taken to hospital at Warrington early today after suffering arm injuries when his car collided with a school sign and overturned in Manchester Road, Warrington.
Office plan
PLANS to use a temporary building as offices at Kenyon Lane Nurseries, Croft, near Warrington have been approved by borough council planners.
