Liverpool choir strikes gold with top ten hit!

LIVERPOOL'S newest chart stars have been awarded a prestigious Gold Disc after scoring a big hit with their Euro 2004 single.

The S.F.X. Boys' Choir Liverpool have cracked the top ten, just a week after releasing England's Euro anthem 'All Together Now' with fellow Liverpudlians, The Farm.

The boys will be presented with their Gold Disc by record company, Demon Music Group, tomorrow.
After the presentation at St Francis Xavier's College in Woolton, the choir will head for the bright lights of London, where they will tune up for a live national television performance on 'Top of the Pops' this Friday.

Twenty-four members of the 42-strong choir, aged 11to13, recorded vocals for the track, that is already a hit for The Farm on two previous occasions in the 1990's at Elevator Studios, Cheapside in Liverpool City Centre, before filming a promotional video.
Head of Music, Keith Knowles, who formed the choir in 1994, said:- "I am beginning to run out of words to describe how incredible this whole experience is. 

The boys are thoroughly enjoying themselves and I am very proud of the fact we have made the top ten in our first week."

DEREK TWIGG MP SUPPORTS FOREST

THE environmental transformation of Halton through the Mersey Forest programme was proudly shown off today by MP for Halton Derek Twigg, who opened the project after a lengthy and painstaking effort to complete it several years after it began.

The project first planned in 1992 has seen a rapid reclamation of land in which 79 percent of woodland cover has increased in the Halton area.

A major focus on planting upon the gateways of the town along major road ways and motorways that includes Speke road has seen locals become green fingered with enormous enthusiasm to make the town a much greener place environmentally, which has seen school ground projects winning major awards recognised nationally and regionally. 

Derek Twigg MP said:- "The difference to areas where The Mersey Forest is being created is inspiring. Getting local people involved in The Forest creates a great sense of pride and well being that is a key to its success. We must all do our bit to ensure that this great work continues long into the future."

There has been a £50,000 tree and wildflower planting scheme, including woodland copses along the Weston Point Expressway and, in central Widnes the streetscape is being enhanced with new tree planting and garden landscaping as part of the Home Zone, cleaning up derelict land. 

Some of Halton's former problem areas are becoming beauty spots through the energy of local people in Murdishaw Valley, who have formed a group. The Friends of Murdishaw Valley to address fly tipping and restore the area. They have developed a five-year action plan, secured funding from INEOS through the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme and held litter picks, a bat walk, seed collecting, coppicing and schools' nature walks.

Paths have been refurbished with grants from the local authority and now the group is conducting a study of local flora and fauna with a view to gaining Local Nature Reserve status.

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NEW BT DIGITAL PHOTO KIOSKS TAKE OFF

TO get a "real" photograph from a digital camera does not necessarily mean a visit to the chemists or camera shop any more, but just a quick stop at a new photo kiosk from BT and Fujifilm. 

The first "Digital Photo Kiosks" have just been installed at London Luton Airport, the Blackpool Tower, St John's Shopping Precinct in Liverpool, the Coppergate shopping centre in York and in the Corus hotels, at Hyde Park in London and Stratford-upon-Avon.

Initially ten kiosks are planned for a six-month trial across the UK. The kiosks will be rolled out nationwide to major tourist attractions, hotels, airports and shopping centres if the trial is successful.

BT and Fujifilm have developed the kiosks to offer digital camera users a more convenient way of processing their pictures. Digital imaging specialists, ePOINT, are supplying the touchscreen terminals. 
The kiosks are the first to use high speed BT Broadband for customers to transfer their photos and send them for processing. 

Customers insert their camera memory card or CD into the terminal to copy their files. They can view and edit the images on the colour screen and order prints and CDs of their photos. Their files are not deleted from their camera media card.

The images are processed using Fujifilm equipment and delivered to the door, anywhere in the world. 
The new kiosks are ideal for tourists away from home, people without access to a PC with the right software, or anyone who wants a quick and convenient way of getting prints from their digital camera. 

It means digital camera users do not have to stop snapping and miss out on those all-important moments when they reach the limit of their memory card.

Users can bring their photos to life by cropping and enlarging selected images, removing redeye, adjusting colour, and adding captions and text. 
Photos can be reproduced in a range of formats, as standard prints on photographic paper, template prints for calendars and photographs, and as digital images on a CD.

The finished results will be delivered by mail order. A wide range of print sizes and formats are available as well as photo CDs, at great value prices. Payment is made there and then at the kiosk by credit or debit card. During the trial BT will also be running a series of promotional offers.

Paul Hendron, director of BT Payphones, said:- "This is the fastest growing and most exciting branch of photography. This new service is fantastic and really will bring your photos to life. It's easy to use, handy and timesaving. 

The Digital Photo Kiosk trial is just one of a number of new developments that will bring great value services to our customers."

The new Digital Photo Kiosks will display both BT and Fujifilm branding. Peter Bennett, Equipment and Systems manager for Fujifilm, said:- "This has the potential to make digital photography even more convenient for our customers.

It brings a quick, quality service to where the customer needs it and delivers the results anywhere in the world."

Gordon Venters, CEO of ePOINT, said:- "We're delighted to join with BT and Fujifilm in this trial. 
The digital photo printing market is a huge growth area and this trial will demonstrate how easy it is to access a high quality photo-finishing service from any convenient location."

BT is also looking at other options for the kiosks.