Teenage beauty is
face of North West
by Gary Skentelbery
A 16-year-old Warrington girl has become the town’s “Face of the North West” after winning a beauty contest organised by two beauty queens.
Alysia Wright from Great Sankey, beat off competition from more than 30 others girls to win the regional title at the event organised and judged by Miss Warrington Holly Ikin and Halton Miss Pride Ashley McKeeve.
The charity event also raised ?2,700 for the Institute of Cancer Research.
Commenting on the event staged at the Village Hotel in Warrington, Holly said: “It really was a fantastic event and such a difficult competition.
“We are proud of the money we raised and we are sure Alysia will be a great model. She is only 16 but did fantastic!”
All of the girls were “pampered” by Warrington based Jakata Salon who did all of the hair and makeup.
The winner received some fantastic prizes including St Tropez and Dior products, vouchers for Lexis Boutique, Culcheth and vouchers for Debenhams of Warrington.
These were donated by the Golden Square Shopping Centre – so Alysia can go and celebrate her win on a shopping trip in Warrington! All the top five girls received Debenhams vouchers.
Alysia also secured a 12 month modelling contract and a photo shoot as part of her prize.
Raiders flee empty handed
after shop staff sound alarm
by David Skentelbery
TWO masked raiders fled empty handed after a bungled robbery at a corner shop at Lymm, near Warrington.
The raid was at Burnett?s Premier Store, at the junction of Higher Lane and The Crescent at around 5pm.
Two men ? both of muscular build and around 6ft tall ? entered the shop brandishing a machete and a hammer.
They demanded cash ? but fled when a member of staff activated an alarm.
The pair are believed to have escaped in a red Nissan Micra car ? possibly ?Y? registered.
Police say the two men were both wearing black, thigh length jackets and balaclavas.
One was between 6ft 10 inches and 6ft 2 inches tall and the other between 6ft and 6ft 2 inches tall. One had dark brown cropped hair and the other light brown cropped hair.
Anyone who witnessed the incident on Tuesday or who recognises the offenders from the descriptions is asked to call DC Moira Hay on 01244 613835 or the confidential Crimestoppers Line on 0800 555 111.
College celebrates
“best ever” results
STAFF and students at Warrington Collegiate are celebrating receiving their best ever results in the latest Ofsted inspection.
During 2005/6 the further education college had 19,555 enrolments and, earlier this year, was given an overall “good” rating by inspectors.
College principal Paul Hafren said the result reflected the hard work of everyone at the college.
He said: “I am highly delighted. It is all down to the tremendous efforts of staff and students and it is the best result the college has had.?
The college was awarded “good” across eight subject areas including effectiveness of provision, achievements and standards, leadership and management, creative, media and performing arts.
For those involved with hairdressing and beauty therapy there was further cause for celebration as the course was awarded “outstanding” status.
Delays likely as motorway
resurfacing gets under way
by David Skentelbery
HIGHWAYS chiefs are warning of possible delays on the M6 when resurfacing work starts at Junction 20 near Lymm, Cheshire tomorrow (Friday).
Two overnight projects will also affect the link road between the M6 and the M56 and A50.
Work on the northbound Junction 20 exit link begins tomorrow and will involve overnight closures of all lanes and a 50mph speed limit between 10pm and 5am. Traffic will be diverted onto the hard shoulder at these times.
Improvements to the northbound entry slip road will begin on Friday July 6 when the same restrictions will be in place.
Highways Agency project manager Sujad Hussain said: “The new surface will improve safety at this busy motorway junction. Overnight working will minimise delays but we advise drivers to allow extra time for their journeys.”
Diversion routes for the exit slip road will be in place via Junction 21. Traffic wishing to join the M6 at Junction 20 will be diverted along M56 westbound and exit at Junction 10, Warrington, to join the eastbound carriageway.
All work is expected to be finished by mid July.
Quiz raises ?1,500
for Wolves charity
by Lesley Wilkinson
PROFESSIONALS including accountants, solicitors and insurance brokers took a break from their work to take part in a quiz to raise money for Warrington Wolves Community Learning and Sport Foundation.
The event, organised by the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) commercial banking team in Warrington, raised ?1,500 for the charity.
More than 60 professionals took part in the event at the Haliwell Jones stadium. Entrants were divided into 12 teams and quizzed on a range of subjects including sport, music, films and current affairs.
After seven years as reigning champions, the Baker Tilly team were beaten to the title this year by a team from Warrington solicitors Davies Ridgeway.
Ian Wilkes, director of commercial banking at RBS, said: “It was an excellent opportunity to raise much needed funds for the a locally based charity. Each year the numbers attending this event have increased and it has become a firm favourite on the local business calendar.”
Library will aim for
“business as usual”
by John Hendon
LIBRARY chiefs will aim for ?business as usual? when busy Lymm Library closes its doors for a major facelift.
The library closes its doors to the public at 1pm this Saturday (June 30) but users will be able to use a mobile library during the seven month refurbishment programme.
An all-new facility, complete with a new children’s centre and extended Citizens’ Advice Bureau housed in a purpose-built extension, will open in February.
In the meantime, the mobile library will visit the Davies Way site on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5.30pm to 7.30pm and on Saturdays from 10am until 4pm. A ramp for disabled customers will be provided.
Users are also being encouraged to visit one of the many other libraries in the borough, including Grappenhall and Stockton Heath, where the latest news on the Lymm redevelopment will be available.
Anyone who cannot find a particular book will be able to reserve up to two items free of charge at the mobile library.
Alternatively, books can be reserved on the website www.warrington.gov.uk/libraries.
Lymm Library opened in 1926 and relocated to its present site in the former Congregational Church Hall in 1968. It offers a range of services to visitors, including story-time sessions, reading groups, a junior book club, DVDs and free Internet access.
Coun Roy Smith, the borough council?s executive Member for Community Services, said: “Visitors to Lymm Library range from young people doing their schoolwork to visitors from outside the area seeking community information. The revamped facility is vital to ensure that the high standards of service are maintained and the library evolves with the times.”
