Masked raiders grab
cash from bullion van
by David Skentelbery
MASKED men armed with baseball bats got away with “a substantial amount of cash” in a raid on a Warrington convenience store.
The four raiders struck as a bullion van was delivering cash to the Alldays shop in Lovely Lane.
Terrified staff were threatened with the baseball bats after three of the thugs burst into the shop.
The raiders, all wearing balaclavas, escaped in a blue Vauxhall Zafira and turned into nearby Clapgates Road where they were seen to transfer to a silver Nissan pick-up truck which had been standing, its engine idling, for some time.
This was driven by a man wearing a yellow, high visibility jacket.
Later all four men were seen to abandon the Nissan in Hammersley Avenue, Clockface, St Helens where they transferred to a black-cab type vehicle.
Neither shop staff nor security guards were hurt in the raid, but all were left badly shaken.
Police are seeking help from anyone who witnessed the incidents at the store, in Clapgates Road or at Clockface. Anyone who can help should call DC McManus at Warrington CID on 01244 614893.
New headteacher
arrives at school
by staff reporter
NEW headteacher Martyn Froggett has taken up his duties at Culcheth High School, near Warrington.
Mr Froggett has joined the school after being a deputy head at a school in Colwyn Bay, Wales. Before that he was employed as head of English at the Alun School in Mold.
When he’s not busy at school, the 42-year-old splits his time between his wife, three children aged 12, 10, five, playing golf, badminton, cooking, and reading contemporary fiction.
Mr Froggett replaces Roger Burgess who retired earlier this year.
He said: “Culcheth High School is a popular and successful school with a strong culture of student care. Our role as teachers is to ensure we make the most of the talents of all students and we help them secure the exam results that will give them the best possible start in life.
“I am looking forward to working closely with all students, staff and governors to further develop our strengths and take us to even higher levels of success.”
General Election:
voting is under way
by John Hendon
VOTING has started in today’s General Election to decide who will rule Britain for the next four or five years – and who will be Warrington’s two MPs.
A total of 10 candidates are contesting the two Warrington Parliamentary seats.
Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties are fighting both constituencies, along with the anti-Europe UK Independence Party.
In Warrington North, former Labour leader of Warrington Borough Council Mike Hughes is standing for the Community Action Party.
An independent, Paul Kennedy, is standing in Warrington South.
The Warrington South contest is considered a key fight. Tory leader Michael Howard has already visited the constituency twice and has made it clear it is a seat the Conservatives must win if they are to form the next Government.
Tory candidate Fiona Bruce has already shown she can win by capturing a borough council seat from Labour in the local elections at Penketh.
Conservative supporters say they are confident Mrs Bruce can wrest the seat from Labour’s Helen Southworth, despite her 7,397 majority at the last election. But the Liberal Democrats are also predicting success for their candidate Ian Marks, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition group on the borough council.
The Lib Dems came third in the last election but since then have gained strength with an increased number of seats on the borough council and local parish councils.
The Warrington North seat is likely to remain solidly Labour with Helen Jones protected by a 15.150 majority.
The full election line-up is:
Warrington South
Helen Southworth (Lab)
Fiona Bruce (Con)
Ian Marks (Lib Dem)
Gerald Kelley (UKIP)
Paul Kennedy (Ind)
Warrington North
Helen Jones (Lab)
Andrew Ferryman (Con)
Peter Walker (Lib Dem)
John Kirkham (UKIP)
Mike Hughes (CAP)
At the last election in 2001, the results were: Warrington South: Helen Southworth (Lab) 22,419; Caroline Mosley (Con) 15,022; Roger Barlow (Lib Dem) 7,419; Joan Kelley (UKIP) 637.
Warrington North: Helen Jones (Lab) 24,026; James Usher (Con) 8,870; Roy Smith (Lib Dem) 5,232; John Kirkham (UKIP) 782.
The polls close at 10pm and the results should be known sometime after 12.30am.
Town’s “secret jewel”
opens to the public
by Lesley Wilkinson
A LITTLE-known nature reserve referred to as Warrington’s “secret jewel” is opening its gates to the public on Sunday June 26.
The Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve – hidden between the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal, East of Latchford Locks – is a 600-acre haven for wildlife including birds, roe deer, foxes and amphibians.
One of the organisers of the event, Les Jones, describes the site as an “oasis of wildlife” which offers a mixed wildlife habitat, free from chemical sprays, rich in insect life, and supporting a wide variety of birdlife.
He said: “From the reeling Grasshopper Warblers, to the reserve’s special birds the Black-Necked Grebes, this is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI), with large numbers of visiting wildfowl, and thousands of amphibians that breed in the pools here.
“It provides an important refuge for many of our breeding warblers that fly thousands of miles in the springtime back to Woolston. Often they fly back to the same copse that they nested in last year to breed and raise their young chicks once again,” he added.
Other wildlife seen include stoats, water voles, and even an otter has been spotted as the condition of the river has become cleaner.
The open day from 10am to 4pm is free and is organised by the Woolston Eyes Conservation Group. Visitors will be able to enjoy guided walks along part of the reserve with the opportunity to see Black-Necked Grebes and other bird species, through telescopes.
There will also be demonstrations of the work done on the site, such as bird ringing and moth trapping. There will also be displays by Cheshire and Wirral Ornithological Society, English Nature, British Dragonfly Society, experts on bees and butterflies and the wildlife artist Colin Woolf.
Choir launches
new website
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON Male Voice Choir – one of the oldest choirs in England – is keeping up with the times with the launch of a new state-of-the-art website.
The choir, formed in 1898, is believed to be the country’s fifth-oldest male choir. It re-launches its website this week.
Chorister Gwil Parry has created a new look to the site, designed to keep friends and supporters up to date with choir activities.
Gwil said: “The choir was a pioneer organisation in using the worldwide web. Its website was first created in early 1996 and has been re-modelled a number of times since. It is now a very comprehensive site receiving ‘hits’ from around the world.”
It features photographic archive material from the earliest days of the choir through to details of forthcoming events. The site can be viewed at www.warringtonchoir.org.uk
Patients invited to
hospital open day
by Lesley Wilkinson
PATIENTS who suffer from a stoma, an artificial opening to or from the intestine, are being invited to an open day to learn more about managing their condition.
The ev
ent, on May 19 from 10am to 6pm, is at Warrington Hospital’s Post Graduate Centre and will include an exhibition of equipment for patients and advice from support groups.
Warrington Primary Care Trust stoma care nurse Jayne Shaw said: “This is an excellent opportunity for all stoma patients to see the appliances available and make choices about the products they use.
“Some patients may have had their stoma for many years and need updating about what is on offer. Patients will also be able to get together with relevant support groups to take advantage of their services,” she added.
A stoma is an opening in the intestine, also known as the gut or bowel, on the abdominal wall usually created by a surgeon. They are commonly required in sufferers of inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease, and may be formed during operations for bowel cancer and other disorders.
Arsonists start
nuisance fires
by staff reporter
ARSONISTS started a number of “nuisance” fires at Warrington during the night – causing little damage to property but occupying the attention of firefighters who might have been needed for more serious incidents elsewhere.
A bin compoound was set alight in Alder Lane, Orford. There was no damage to the brick-built compound, but the contents burned quickly causing a smoke hazard in the area.
A wheelie bin was torched at the rear of Amelia Street, also Orford – again causing no damage other than to the bin.
Firefighters were also called to St Rocco’s Hospice, Warrington to deal with flooding in a bathroom caused by a faulty shower.
