Yobs in attack on
rail tragedy mourners
by Lesley Wilkinson
A GANG of yobs disrupted a vigil being held for an 18-year-old man who died under the wheels of a train at Padgate, near Warrington.
Mourners, including grieving relatives, had gathered on the platform at Padgate Station two days after the tragedy.
A gang of about eight youths approached them and one confronted a friend of the deceased and asked for a cigarette.
When the distraught friend refused he was set on by the youths, was knocked to the ground and then kicked, suffering a broken nose and badly bruised eye. A friend who tried to intervene was also punched, receiving a chipped tooth.
The first victim, an 18-year-old from Woolston near Warrington, was detained in hospital overnight as a result of the attack.
Now British Transport Police are seeking witnesses of the attack which took place at about 10.15pm on Monday. Anyone who can help is asked to call PC Jeffrey Wadsworth on Freefone 0800 405040 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A spokesman said: “This was an appalling incident in the circumstances and we are anxious to trace the culprits.
“Here we had a group of people who had gathered to pay their respects to a loved one and they were treated in a completely insensitive way.”
Police are not treating the death of 18-year-old, Matthew David Syms, of Padgate, as suspicious. It occurred early on Saturday morning. Emergency services attended but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The offenders are described as youths aged about 17-18, wearing tracksuit bottoms and hooded tops. They said they were from the Longford area of Warrington.
Baby bunnies go
down a Storm!
by Gary Skentelbery
TWO young sisters who were left heart broken when their new pet rabbit did a runner and disappeared in local woodlands are now in seventh heaven!
While avoiding an array of predators including hawks, owls and foxes, their pet made friends with a wild rabbit – and has now delivered a litter of seven baby bunnies.
It was not the first time Norwegian Dwarf “Storm” had made a bid for freedom but she normally returned in search of food within 24 hours.
But despite a few “sightings” Amy and Hannah Skentelbery had almost given up all hope of getting their bunny back after it had been on the run for two weeks.
Undeterred and with the help of their mother Janet, Amy aged 12 and Hannah aged 10, from Appleton, Warrington, set a trap using a camouflaged fishing net with food in the middle.
Now after great patience the girls are in “seventh heaven” after recapturing Storm – who is now the proud mother of seven baby bunnies!
Janet explained: “A few of the neighbours said they had seen Storm sitting with a wild rabbit.
“We were amazed that as a domesticated rabbit she had managed to stay alive out in the wild for so long – particularly when neighbours had told us how their cats sometimes caught wild rabbits and left the remains on the kitchen floor!
“Amy and Hannah were so upset after losing their rabbit I decided not to give up trying to catch her. She gave me the run around a few times so I hit upon the idea of using a fishing net.
“I placed the net in long grass and put her favourite food in the middle – and sure enough it worked. We wondered whether she may have mated with a wild rabbit but as the weeks passed she showed no signs.”
But a month later Storm was the proud mother of seven baby bunnies who will shortly be looking for new homes – although Amy and Hannah are still in “seventh heaven” and working on their parents to keep at least one of the litter.
Anyone interested in providing a caring home for one of the baby rabbits should email [email protected].
Motorists use roads
as a “racetrack”
by Lesley Wilkinson
CARS using roads at Birchwood, Warrington as a short cut and a “race track” are causing a danger according to concerned residents.
People from Gorse Covert attended Birchwood Town Council to ask for support in tackling speeding traffic on Killingworth Lane.
They are particularly concerned about drivers coming straight across Risley Moss roundabout from Ordnance Avenue. Residents say drivers use it as a short cut through to the school in the mornings, and others use it as a racetrack to and from Gorse Covert Road.
A spokesman for the council said: “Killingworth Lane has several sharp bends and there is limited visibility in places for residents as they try to exit their driveways.
“The Town Council has in the past put up signs advising drivers that there may be children playing and asking them to slow down. One resident commented that the signs are no longer effective, citing a lack of respect for both the law and fellow residents as the main reason for the potentially dangerous behaviour of some drivers.” The town council has reported concerns to the police and the highways department at the borough council, and have been told that the police have warned drivers about speeding and will focus on the area with the mobile speed camera.
Members of the Town Council are urging people to drive carefully and observe speed limits form the safety of the community.
Mersey planning brief
must be bold, imaginative
by John Hendon
A PROPOSED planning brief for the River Mersey frontage should be “bold and imaginative” according to the Warrington branch of the Community Action Party.
The group welcomes the news that the borough council is preparing the brief.
Party leader Mike Hughes said: “We cannot criticise ideas that we originated in our election leaflets and are pleased to see that we have a listening council prepared to adopt our suggestions.
“However, a design brief for the frontage of the river needs to be bold and imaginative, and encompass all aspects of our linkage to the river, including leisure and recreational needs, as well as residential.”
He said the brief should extend the town centre focus towards the historic river crossing, with ideas including provision of a piazza at the bottom of Bridge Street.
“This would call for a re-designing of the Bridge Foot area and possibly another crossing of the Mersey to open up the south west quadrant of the town and provide an alternate route for traffic. Any such ambitious scheme should be subjected to consultation and approval by the people of the town,” he added.
Council warning on
Bonfire Night safety
by staff reporter
A WARNING to Warrington people to take care with fireworks and sparklers on Bonfire Night has been issued by the borough council.
Officers say that many people are unaware of the safety precautions they should take with fireworks.
Last year 990 people throughout the country suffered injuries from fireworks and sparklers – about a third of them children under 13.
Advice to local people using sparklers includes not giving them to the under fives, always to wear gloves and to hold them at arms length and have an adult light them.
People are advised not to wave sparklers about, not to hold them if they are holding a baby and to put the sparkler in a bucket of water when it is finished.
For firework displays people are urged to plan them to ensure safety, to keep fireworks in a closed box and to ensure instructions are followed. Users should light the firework at arm’s length with a taper and stand well back, keep cigarettes away from fireworks and not to return to a firework once it is lit.
Other tips include not putting fireworks in pockets, not to throw them and to direct them away from people. Officers also advise people not to drink alcohol when using fireworks and to keep pets indoors.
Trading Standards are also asking people to look out for potentially unlicensed traders, selling fireworks on the street or in pubs, or sales to anyone under the age of 18.
Fireworks should meet British safet
y standards, and have BS 7114 printed on the box.
Coun Roy Smith, executive member for community services said: “It is important that residents of Warrington play a part in keeping their community safe by reporting these traders who aim to profit from sales of fireworks that are clearly illegal and dangerous. I urge everyone to support Trading Standards in their work, and keep Bonfire Night this year safe as well as fun.”
Anyone who suspects that a local trader is selling fireworks illegally should contact Trading Standards on 01925 442678.
Computer firm rated
a “top company”
by Lesley Wilkinson
AN INTERNATIONAL computer firm, which has a base in Warrington, has been included in the top company’s list by The Sunday Times.
VIP Computer Centre Ltd (VIP), one of the UK’s leading independent distributor of computer components and peripherals, achieved a place in the newspaper’s HSBC Top Track 250 league table.
The list ranks Britain’s biggest middle-market private companies based on sales figures in their latest accounts. VIP, which has a base at Hardwick Grange, Woolston, was ranked at 125.
Jatti Sahni, VIP chairman said: “This league table provides recognition to privately owned companies and gives private owners the confidence to use their own funds to grow successfully, rather than seeking the backing of funds from the City.”
