CHILDREN from Stanton Road After School Club in Bebington have been chosen from hundreds around the country to become young judges in this year's Nestlé Smarties Book Prize, the UK's biggest children's book award, now celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Stanton Road After School Club is among 150 schools and 50 clubs chosen from than 35,000 school children, to help judge the books which have been shortlisted by a panel of adult experts. The club was chosen through a nationwide competition for young judges, which started earlier this autumn. Children were asked to draw a picture of themselves, their friends and food at a party.

The children will decide which author should win the "4 Children Special Award", by voting for their favourite book and completing a project based on their choice of winning book.

The results will be announced at an award ceremony on December 8 at the British Library in London, and the winning club will be invited to attend.

Chris Meade, Chief Executive of Booktrust, the charity which administers the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize, commented:- "I am delighted that young people from Stanton Road After School Club have been chosen as young judges for the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize and hope the children will gain huge enjoyment from reading the shortlisted books, choosing their favourite, and taking part in the competition.

64 pages packed with healthcare advice and information on dealing with accidents in the home, adult and childhood illnesses as well as common medical conditions are now included in the new Southport & Ormskirk Thomson Local directory.

The Department of Health has joined forces with Thomson Directories to publish its extensive NHS Direct self-help guide called, yes you guest it... "Not feeling well?". It provides easy to use, step by step advice on the best course of action when faced with a range of common healthcare problems. It can be used at home or at work, with advice ranges from contacting NHS Direct for experienced help from professionals to simple self-care options which can be administered, on the spot, easily and quickly. This is hoped to save lives in the future.

CHRISTMAS shoppers are being urged not to buy cheap DVDs from sellers wandering around the borough's streets.

Illegal sales of DVDs in Warrington are rife at present and gangs are continuing to target people right across the town.

Trading Standards have already clamped down on a number of people who are believed to have been peddling the poor quality copies on the streets and within shops and pubs.

However, keeping on top of the problem is proving to be a never-ending task and the call is going out to the public to urge them not to buy DVDs illegally.

Cllr Mike Hannon, Executive Member for Community and Wellbeing, said:- "Illegal DVD sellers are not hard to spot. They are usually peddling very poor quality copies of DVDs to people on the streets, in shops or in pubs from rucksacks. This is a national problem and a major issue for us in Warrington.

There appears to be a link between these sellers and organised crime. Many sellers are working for people who traffic people into the country.

It is absolutely vital we do everything we can to combat this problem. But we cannot do anything whilst there is a market to sell to."

Trading Standards officers are regularly out on patrol in areas of the town as part of the team's drive to combat the problem and can be contacted on 01925 442678 if members of the public have real concerns.

Sadly this is not just a problem in Warrington. It is also affecting the who of Merseyside. Southport has had gangs selling illegal DVD's and even in Formby! So be warned. Help stop crime. You can start by helping to stop this trade.