The robbery witnesses
who stood and watched
by David Skentelbery
DOZENS of people looked on as a thug armed with a knife tried to rob a disabled man confined to a mobility scooter at Warrington.
Some went to his aid ? and put the cowardly offender to flight.
But others, who may have vital evidence which could help police track down the culprit, just disappeared without offering to help.
Now police are trying to trace them as they believe someone must be able to give information that would help bring the offender to justice.
The 51-year-old disabled man was on his scooter outside the Lloyds-TSB bank in Poplars Avenue, Orford at about 10.30am on Sunday, July 22 .
He had just used a cash dispensing machine at the bank when the offender struck. He was riding a cycle and was brandishing a knife which he held at the disabled man?s throat.
The victim refused to hand over his money and passersby ran over, causing the offenders to ride away along an alleyway at the side of the library in Poplars Avenue.
Although the victim was not hurt, he was badly shaken by the incident and members of the public stayed with him until police reached the scene.
Police say the offender was seen to be arguing with a blonde woman, aged about 25, with a pony tail shortly before the incident. She was also riding a pedal cycle.
The offender is described as being about 25, 5ft 10 inches tall and of skinny build with dark hair, dark eyes and a drawn face with prominent cheek bones. He had about a week?s growth of facial hair and was wearing a coat with a fur-lined hood.
DC Stephen Hopkins said: ?Numerous people were passing by at the time and could have seen what happened. Some of them scared the offender off. They could have essential information which would help us.?
Anyone who can help should call DC Hopkins on 01244 614893 or the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.
Youngsters ready for kick-off
YOUNGSTERS from Culcheth Athletic Junior Football Club are ready for the new season thanks to sponsorship from a Warrington company.
Ross Quality Protective and Safety Wear of Kerfoot Street have agreed to support the club.
Chris Ross, of the company, said: “We were promoted the season before last to the first division under 10’s, and in the season just concluded the team finished mid table.
“Next season (under 11s) sees the team move from seven a side to 11 a side with bigger pitches and full size goals.”
School celebrates
“outstanding” results
by Lesley Wilkinson
PUPILS and staff at a Warrington school are celebrating after receiving their SAT (Standard Attainment Test) results.
St Elphin’s (Fairfield) CE Primary School pupils scored 93 per cent in Maths, 100 per cent in English and 100 per cent in Science at Level 4 and above.
The results follow an OFSTED report in March that described the school as “outstanding” – one of only two schools in the town to receive this rating.
A further report from the Statutory Inspection of Anglican Schools said the school is “outstanding at meeting the needs of all learners.”
Canon Mike Finlay, chairman of governors and Rector of Warrington, said: “Pupils and staff have worked extremely hard to achieve these results and should be congratulated.
“We can all now look forward to the new school building which will be a modern 21st Century base which will allow us to continue to provide the best possible educational environment for our pupils and staff.”
School governor and ward councillor Yvonne Fovargue said: “Fairfield and Howley has a school to be proud of and I know that both pupils and staff have worked extremely hard to achieve the results.
“The future for the school is bright given the dedication of staff and pupils and the prospect of a new school opening next year.”
The village that
is camera shy
by John Hendon
ORGANISERS of a community online television channel who plan to broadcast from Culcheth for a week are wondering if local people are camera shy.
For despite repeated appeals for local organisations and individuals to get involved, they are short of material for the project.
The Big Idea want to screen programmes from Culcheth, featuring local people and organisations, for a week from in October.
They broadcast from Orford, in Warrington, for a week last year and managed to get enough material to broadcast from 12 noon to 9pm every day.
So far, despite two public meetings and a circular letter to every organisation in Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft, they have had hardly any response.
Another public meeting is to be held, at Culcheth Library, on August 15 at 6.30pm in an attempt to whip up some enthusiasm.
Organiser James Goodison is adamant the show will go on.
He said: ?I want to hear from local people and local groups. We will broadcast for a week, come what may, although as things stand at present, we will have to repeat a lot of stuff and perhaps not attempt to broadcast for as long each day.?
The Big Idea gives local people an opportunity to appear on TV and also learn a bit about broadcasting techniques, etc.
Mr Goodison can be contacted on 01925 442886.
Anyone unsure what online television is all about can look at our own channel www.warrington.tv
Parish council bids
for litter pickers
by staff reporter
LYMM Parish Council could take over responsibility for grounds maintenance and removal of litter in the village, under a trial scheme put forward by Warrington Borough Council.
Parish councils are being invited to take on additional responsibilities in their areas under the scheme ? and Lymm has opted for litter picking and grounds maintenance.
Under the scheme, the borough would make funding available for the work to be done, but management of the project would be carried out by the parish.
The idea is that the parish council would decide where the work was needed and direct teams sent in by the borough to the appropriate places.
But if too many parish councils bid for projects, Lymm could miss out. A decision is expected from the borough later this month.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
THE winning numbers in Warrington Hospital League of Friends lottery were 7, 8, 11 and 16. There was no winner of the ?641 jackpot which will be rolled over to next week. A ?25 consolation prize went to a member of the hospital staff.
Pot holes
LYMM Parish Council is to press for urgent repairs to pot holes in Church Road and Higher Lane – part of the A56.
Office building
OUTLINE planning permission is being sought for a two-storey office building with 12 parking spaces on land at Common Lane, Culcheth near Warrington.
Prison dish
PLANS have been submitted to the borough council?s development control department for a 1.8m satellite dish at Risley Prison, near Warrington.
