Masked men in raid
on video rental store
by David Skentelbery
THREE masked men forced their way into a Warrington video store, threatened staff and got away with games consoles and games.
The raid was at the Blockbuster store in School Brow, Warrington just before it was due to close around 10pm.
Two members of staff ? a 21-year-old man and a woman aged 19, were just about to leave having closed the store when the three offenders struck.
They bundled the pair back into the store, threatened them and attacked the man, leaving him with minor face injuries.
Then they left, taking a number of Playstation and X-Box consoles and games.
Police said one man was about 6ft tall, of proportionate build, aged about 25-32 and with mousy hair. He was wearing a balaclava and dark clothing.
The second was about 5ft 4 inches, aged 25-32 with dark hair and was wearing a long-sleeved dark jacket. He also wore a balaclava. The third man was about 6ft 5 inches, stocky and aged about 25-32. He also wore dark clothing and a balaclava.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the robbery to call either DC Jackie Daniels or DC Ian Hampson on 0845 458 0000.
Bingo – welcome
to the college!
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON Collegiate have been adding a little relaxation to the curriculum to help new students settle into campus life.
The Winwick Road college arranged a special bingo session to familiarise freshers with their new surroundings.
Michele Read of George’s Crescent, Grappenhall, who won the star prize of an iPod said the initiative had been a huge success.
“It was bingo with a difference. We could only complete the bingo card by finding out more about the campus. It was really useful and gave all the students a great insight into the help and support that’s available at the Collegiate.”
Michele, a former pupil at Lymm High School, wants to train as a midwife after completing her health studies at the Collegiate. She received her prize from assistant principal Pat Kitto.
To find out more about Collegiate courses telephone 01925 494494.
Shoplifters committed
string of offences
by court reporter
TWO shoplifters were jailed at Warrington after admitting a string of offences from stores and off-licences.
Leon Webster, 22 and Richard Willis, 23, both from Longford, appeared before the town?s magistrates and were jailed for nine months and five months respectively.
The court heard the offences were committed at a number of shops in Longford and Orford.
Police investigations led to the pair and Community Action Team officers swooped to arrest them in the early hours of the morning.
Webster was subsequently charged with two counts of theft with a further three offences taken into account.
Willis was charged with four counts of theft with a further 10 offences taken into account.
Euro MP backs campaign
to save rural post offices
by Lesley Wilkinson
WARRINGTON-based Euro MP Brian Simpson is backing Age Concern is a campaign to retain rural post offices.
Mr Simpson, a member of postal trade union the Communication Workers Union, said the government should support rural post offices because of the “social need” of communities.
The MEP, a former spokesman on postal affairs in the European Parliament, said the government should take a swift decision on continuing the ?150 million annual subsidy to the Royal Mail, to enable the 8,000 rural sub post offices to continue.
“I know the government has set up a special cabinet sub-committee under John Prescott to look at the whole future of the Post Office network including rural offices,” he said.
“That Committee faces the difficult decision of balancing the commercial realities with the social needs; but unless we protect our Post Office network the risk of social isolation becomes greater for many, many people.?
An Age Concern survey showed that 99 per cent of older people living in rural areas consider their local post office a “lifeline” and more than 50 per cent feared that closure would leave them isolated.
The existing agreement has 18 months to run, but Mr Simpson fears that any delay in the government’s decision could have an adverse effect on local sub post offices.
He said: “What I hope the government will recognise is that sub post offices particularly; but not exclusively in rural areas; are a focal point for many people.
“They have a much wider role to play than the mere selling of postage stamps, and that subsidy can be justified on social inclusion grounds alone. For me the subsidy must be renewed to ensure that the essential services provided to the rural areas, including sub post offices, can be accessed not just by older people but by everybody,” he added.
Six new JPs
join the bench
by Lesley Wilkinson
SIX new Justices of the Peace have been appointed to serve at Warrington Magistrates Court.
They have been appointed along with others to serve courts in Cheshire, by The Secretary of State/Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer of Thornton.
Joining the Bench in Warrington will be Michael Stephen Joseph Danaher, Gillian Kay Jones, Jeffrey Loughran, Tom McNeill, Stephen Storey and Stephen Bryan Walton.
Local people interested in becoming magistrates have until November 30 to put their name forward.
Candidates should be between 18 and 65 and able to attend court for about 13 days a year on a voluntary basis.
Lord Lieutenant William Bromley Davenport is chairman of the Cheshire Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace, which recommends suitable people for appointment. He said: “Magistrates are ordinary people from local communities, and with very few exceptions, anyone can apply.
“If you are of good character with social awareness, sound judgement and knowledge of the community you live in, you could be a magistrate,” he added.
Anyone interested in applying should visit www.magistrates.gov.uk website, ring the county council on 01244 602445 or email [email protected]
A chance to
meet the police
by staff reporter
PEOPLE in Warrington have the opportunity to raise their concerns about police work at two public meetings
The Poulton Community Action Meeting (CAM) will be on Monday October 9 from 6.30pm at Fearnhead Community Centre.
The next Sankey South CAM will be on Saturday October 14 from 10.30am at Great Sankey Library, Marina Avenue.
