Two Major Robberies in Southport in 2 Days!

THERE have been two, high profile, robberies in one week in Southport.  The first happened on London Street, Southport at around 5:20pm, Wednesday, 12 November 2008.  Reports have been given that four men, wearing balaclavas, using a black Audi,
ram raided the front doors of the Lloyds TSB on London Street.  Three men are reported to have run into the building and demanded money.  The group got away with what is reported to have been "a substantial amount of cash". 

Police were on the scene very quickly following emergency calls and they then cordoned off the crime scene.  The robbers are reported to have made their escape in the Audi, dumped the getaway car and set fire to it.  The other incident occurred the following night, Thursday, 13 November 2008, this time at around 5:00pm.  This group, again were reported to have been wearing balaclavas.  Three thieves are reported to have smashed the inside display window of Peter Jackson The Jewellers, on Lord Street using a brick.  They then grabbed handfuls of jewellery from the window display.  It is also reported that they then proceeded to run down the side entry of the shop, scaled a six-foot wall and disappeared into the rear gardens.  Thankfully nobody was reported injured during the raids.  On Friday, 14 November 2008, Police were questioning two men in connection with robbery at Peter Jackson The Jewellers.

Anyone who witnessed the incidents is asked to call Southport Police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

MANCHESTER AIRPORT ISSUES FESTIVE WARNING!

MANCHESTER Airport has issued a timely reminder to festive passengers to check the security rules before they travel.

Passengers travelling with Christmas gifts, decorations, party poppers and crackers have been urged to check the security restrictions before they travel.  Gifts such as perfume and alcohol have to be placed in hold baggage as liquids of more than 100mls are not allowed in hand baggage.

And although the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) allows Christmas crackers in the cabin of an aircraft, if in the retailer's original packaging, many of the airlines that operate out of Manchester do not allow them in the cabin or the hold.

Mike Fazackerley, Manchester Airports Customer Services Director, said:- "In the run up to the festive period lots of passengers will be wanting to take festive items and wrapped gifts away with them.  However before you travel you really need to check the rules.  Liquid gifts such as perfume and alcohol can only go in hand baggage if they are less than 100mls and even then they have to be on display in a resalable plastic bag so no wrapping paper.  And items like party popper and crackers, which contain real explosives, are very often banned by the airlines.  Passengers can buy perfume and alcohol from the tax and duty free stores at the airport once they have cleared security."

MANCHESTER AIRPORT UNVEILS NEW SIGNINGS...

MANCHESTER Airport has unveiled the first new retailers that are to open in its £80 million redeveloped terminals.  Work on the three terminals is expected to be complete by Summer 2009 and the first signings have this week been announced.  In terminal one passengers will be able to visit a new department store called Attitude which will stock brands including Hugo Boss, Escada, Hillfiger, Kenneth Cole, Burberry, Bally and there will be a large sunglasses and jewellery store called Temptation.  There will also be outlets from high street names such as Mango, Fat Face, Monsoon and Accessorize, Dixons, Starbucks, Body Shop, Tie Rack and WHS Books. And there is to be a new spa called Be Relax Spa where passengers will be ableto receive treatments before they fly.  In terminal two there will be a Biza - a large tax and duty free store - and Brodericks Love Coffee, a successful local firm that will offer drinks and food. There will be a WHS Books, Dixons, a large new bar area and a new food courts with Burger King, Soho Coffee and the Real Food Company's self service refectory.  These latest signings will add to the existing outlets in terminals 1 and 2 and have been specially selected in response to passenger feedback on what facilities they want to see in airports.  Manchester Airport's Commercial Director Andrew Harrison said:- "We've listened closely to our passengers and we've tried wherever possible to give them the type of shops, bars and restaurants they want and we've invested more than £80 million in state-of-the-art security systems and the redevelopment of all our terminals.  These new signings represent a massive leap forward in what Manchester Airport is offering our passengers and I'm really proud that we are able to offer such a strong range of high street name here in the airport."