Drugs seized as
police raid house
by John Hendon
POLICE seized a large quantity of Class A drugs after raiding a house at Culcheth, near Warrington.
The raid, on a property in Wigshaw Lane, followed a tip off from members of the public.
Two men were arrested ? a 25-year-old who was suspected of being in possession of drugs with intent to supply ? and a 28-year-old who was cautioned for being in possession of cannabis.
The younger man was later freed on police bail pending further enquiries and will be questioned again by officers later this month.
A large quantity of what people believe to be amphetamines and ecstasy tablets were seized, as well as a small amount of cannabis.
Police also recovered several large knives, along with a metal pole, during a search of the property.
Officers from the local Community Action Team and the Neighbourhood Policing Unit investigation team were involved in the 7am operation.
A police spokesman said: ?A large quantity of Class A drugs has been taken off the streets of Culcheth as a result of this raid, made possible due to information from the public.?
Daring abseilers
raise ?3,200
by staff reporter
MORE than 30 intrepid abseilers raised ?3,200 for charity by making a daring descent from the top of the 80ft tower of St Thomas? Church, Stockton Heath.
Hundreds of people watched the action in glorious sunshine and gave warm applause to each of the abseilers as they safely reached the ground.
The event was in aid of the leukaemia charity Anthony Nolan Trust, which manages and recruits no donors to the UK?s most successful bone marrow register and also conducts pioneering research into improving the effectiveness of bone marrow transplants.
A team of trained instructors was present to ensure the abseil was as safe and enjoyable and, although some first-time abseilers were understandably nervous about stepping backwards from the top of the tower and there were a few cries of ?I can?t do it? no-one failed the challenge.
A spokeswoman for the Anthony Nolan Trust said: ?We have had quite a few appeals in the Warrington area and have quite a few local people on our bone marrow register so we thought it would be a good idea to have an event in the town.
?Most of the abseilers were local and we would like to thank them and the people who supported them for making it a highly successful day.?
50 knives handed over
to police in one week
by David Skentelbery
MORE than 50 knives and other weapons were handed in to police at Warrington during the first week of the national Knife Amnesty campaign.
Of these, 31 were domestic knives, 12 were classed as ?weapons? and one was a 26 inch ornamental sword.
Chief Inspector Chris Clarke said: “Thanks to the public 54 knives and weapons have been taken off the streets of our neighbourhoods preventing them from falling into the wrong hands.
“If you have a knife or weapon of any kind there’s still plenty of time to go along to your local police station and drop it into the knife amnesty bin. Make sure it’s packed in cardboard or something similar and securely fastened for your own and other’s safety.
“You won’t be questioned. We just want to take as many blades as possible off the streets to reduce the chances of someone using them to hurt others and commit crime.”
Police have broken down the number of knives handed in by Neighbourhood Policing Unit (NPU) as follows: Warrington Central: Domestic knives: 4; Non-domestic knives: 4; Weapons: 4. Total: 13.
Warrington East: Domestic knives: 7; Non-domestic knives: 0; Weapons: 0. Total: 7.
Warrington South: Domestic knives: 19; Non-domestic knives: 2; Weapons: 5. Total: 26.
Warrington West: Domestic knives: 1; Non-domestic knives: 4; Weapons: 3. Total: 8.
The Knife Amnesty runs until Friday June 30.
The number of knife related incidents recorded by Cheshire police last year topped 700 with offences ranging from murder and grievous bodily harm to threatening behaviour harassment and possession.
Carrying a knife in a public space that has a blade over three inches long is illegal. Anyone caught carrying a knife in a public place who cannot give a satisfactory explanation can be arrested for possession of an offensive weapon.
MP in campaign
to help carers
by Lesley Wilkinson
WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones is backing a national campaign to help improve conditions for carers who look after sick or disabled relatives or friends.
Celebrities such as Fiona Phillips, Gloria Hunniford, and David Jason are helping to mark National Carers Week from June 12.
The MP has tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons, which recognises that many carers wish to work as well as providing care.
She is calling on the government to extend the right to flexible employment alongside the caring role by abolishing the “gainfully employed” rule that prevents carers from earning more than ?84 per week whilst claiming carer’s allowance of ?46.95 per week.
Ms Jones said: “One in 10 adults is a carer and the majority perform a hugely valuable role without any financial recognition.
?However many wish to work and need to do so to make ends meet. Abolishing the ‘gainfully employed’ rule will give carers a better chance of securing flexible and fulfilling jobs alongside their caring role as well as giving employers the flexibility that they need from their staff.”
Lorry drivers tied up
and left in own truck
by staff reporter
TWO lorry drivers were found tied up in a lorry on the A49 at Winwick, near Warrington.
Neither of the men could speak English, and it is believed they are from Slovakia.
The lorry?s load of 500 LCD television set had been stolen.
Police sealed off a 500 yard stretch of the northbound carriageway of the A49 while crime scene investigation officers investigated the incident.
As a result there was traffic chaos, with long tailbacks stretching into Warrington. Traffic was diverted along Golborne Road.
A police spokesman said it was believed to men had been hijacked somewhere else and then driven to Warrington and dumped on the A49 Newton Road, near the junction with Hollins Lane, Winwick.
The two men had both suffered cuts and bruising. They were taken to Warrington police station for questioning.
Garden party helps
abandoned orphans
by Lesley Wilkinson
A SUMMER garden party in Orford, Warrington, helped raise ?700 for a charity supporting children abandoned in orphanages in China.
Secretary of Warrington Male Voice Choir Ian Scholes and his wife Jean, held the party at their home for the Chinese orphanage charity, Childhood Friends.
The charity, co-founded by Warrington-based Julia Hopper. has assisted thousands of children who have been abandoned and live in basic conditions, without mental stimulation.
Julia’s husband Geoff is a member of the choir, and it has supported the charity for several years. The charity aims to provide local workers to befriend the children.
Firework finale for
“blues in the park”
by staff reporter
AN extravagant Blues on the Park evening complete with firework display is being held at Arley Hall, near Warrington.
Performing are Dave Finnegan’s Commitments, supported by the Bootleg Blues Brothers, a hit duo. Both bands will entertain crowds with popular hits.
Shelagh Bebington, business development manager at Arley, said: “It’s going to be a fantastic blues party on the historic park.
“Picnics, dancing, great music and wonderful atmosphere, all finished off with a spectacular firework display to ‘Mustang Sally’ and ‘Land of a Thousand Dances.'”
Money raised by the event on Saturday, July 1, will go to Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Gates open at 4.00pm and the headline performances start at 7.30pm.
Adv
anced tickets, at a reduced rate, are adults ?20.00, children (five to 16) ?10.00, family ticket ?54. Tickets include parking and entry to the gardens before the performance.
Tickets are also available on the evening. Further details are available contacting Shelagh on 01565 777353 ext 28.
