Motorists in the North West urged to drive safely through roadworks to cut death and injury toll

DRIVERS across the region are being urged to take extra care at roadworks as the Highways Agency highlights its safety message to prevent deaths and injuries among road workers and road users.

Twice as many drivers now recognise that they have a responsibility to drive safely near roadworks compared to 4 years ago, Highways Agency research shows. More than 8 out of 10 drivers say that their driving changes at roadworks, including slowing down and being more careful and attentive.

Between 2005 and 2010, nine road workers were killed and 10 seriously injured while working on England's motorways and major A roads as a direct result of accidents involving drivers travelling through works.

Over the same period seven drivers and 3 passengers were reported to have been killed while driving through road works Roads Minister Mike Penning said:- "Road workers work in a dangerous environment and it's vital drivers show them respect and consideration by driving safely and keeping within the speed limit. I welcome findings that show more and more drivers realise how important it is to take care while driving near roadworks. However, more needs to be done as the death and injury toll is still unacceptable. Driving through half a mile of roadworks at 50mph takes just ten seconds more than at 70mph. My message to road users is clear: Do not risk lives and wreck families for a few seconds of selfishness."

As the summer holidays draw to a close and daylight hours are getting shorter, the Highways Agency is urging more drivers to take extra care when driving through roadworks, both for their own safety and that of workers who keep roads safe and well maintained.

For more information about safety at roadworks can be found online.

MISSING PERSON APPEAL - ROBBIE CROFTS

MERSEYSIDE Police Detectives who are investigating the unexplained death of Hayley Holmes are continuing to search for her boyfriend 21 year old Robbie Crofts.

Hayley's body was found on the beach at Fort Perch Rock in New Brighton, Wirral at 7am on Monday, 29 August 2011. A post mortem examination established the cause of death as drowning.

Robbie was last seen by his parents at around 8pm on Sunday, 28 August 2011. The 21 year old was Hayley's boyfriend and detectives believe the pair had spent Sunday together in Liverpool city centre.

A pair of women's sandals and a pair of men's Converse trainers were found close to where Hayley's body was discovered by a dog-walker on Monday morning, along with a mobile phone.

Detectives strongly believe the trainers and phone belong to Robbie and the sandals were Hayley's. They are extremely concerned for Robbie's safety and welfare and are appealing for anyone who has seen Robbie since Sunday night to get in touch.

Merseyside Police is utilising the North West Underwater search and Marine unit, the Coastguard and North West Air Operations Group in the search for Robbie.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Hassall, said:- "It has now been three days since anyone last saw Robbie and we are growing increasingly concerned for his wellbeing and are continuing to conduct land and water searches for him. It has come to our attention that the Travel Lodge, Marine Point in New Brighton was fully booked over the bank holiday weekend. The hotel is near to place where the shoes were found and I would appeal to anyone who was staying at the hotel on Sunday evening who may have seen Hayley and Robbie to get in touch. We are understandably very concerned about Robbie, as are his family, and we would appeal for anyone with any information, no matter how small, to get in touch. Robbie, who is from New Brighton, is described as being white, aged 21, of stocky build and around 5ft 8ins tall, with blue eyes and short black hair. Anyone with information is asked to call Birkenhead CID on:- 0151 777 2265."

British Superbikes star Ben Gautrey dies in racing crash

18 year old, Ben Gautrey, who was from Southport, has been killed as he raced in the National Superstock 600 race in Lincolnshire, on Bank Holiday Monday, 29 August 2011. Ben was competing at Cadwell Park, nicknamed "the Mini-Nürburgring" when he was involved in a crash and now the full circumstances of the accident will be investigated by the Motorcycle Circuit Racing Control Board (MCRCB) and the Coroners' office. The 18 year old has a massive following both on Merseyside and across the UK after shooting to success in the sport, beating many highly experienced riders along the way.

A statement from race organisers MSVR said:- "On the 1st lap of the National Superstock 600 race at Cadwell Park circuit, Benjamin Gautrey fell on the right hand corner at the bottom of the Mountain section. Gautrey was unavoidably hit by 2 riders immediately following him, five riders fell in total. The race was immediately stopped. Gautrey sustained significant and serious chest and head injuries. He was treated immediately trackside by the BSB medical team before being transferred to the circuit medical centre where further attempts to resuscitate him were made. All other riders involved in the incident were uninjured."

So far over 3 thousand people have paid respect to Ben on facebook, where a page had been set up called:- "RIP Ben Gautrey" Also on Youtube a host of dedicated posts have been made, many of them with lots of photographs and videos of him through out his life.

Thundersport GB race director Dave Stewart, who had worked and trained Ben since he was 13 to the media that:- "Ben was a really nice kid, the kind you would want to live next door. It is really sad."

British Superbike Series director, Stuart Higgs said:- "I am so desperately sad that Ben died from the injuries he sustained at Cadwell Park. He was a really super young guy on his debut season at national level showing plenty of promise having won the Thundersport GB Moto450 Championship the previous year. It was entirely fitting that Ben Wilson was able to dedicate his Supersport win to Ben."

Race winner Wilson, who was a team mate of Gautrey, said that:- "This was a fantastic race and a win that I dedicate it to my team-mate Ben."

Our thoughts go out to his family and friends.

FATAL SHOOTING ON BRAYFIELD ROAD

MERSEYSIDE Police have launched a murder investigation following the fatal shooting of a man in Anfield on Tuesday, 30 August 2011. Merseyside Police have told us that:- "Officers were called to Brayfield Road in Anfield at 10.10pm by a member of the public reporting that a man was lying in the road. On arrival they found a 25 year old man with a serious head wound. He was taken to hospital by paramedics where he was pronounced dead. A Home Office post mortem examination will be carried out on Wednesday to establish an exact cause of death, however detectives believe he had been shot once in the head. The circumstances of his death are now being investigated by the Force's major incident team and detectives are appealing for anyone in the Brayfield Road area who saw or heard anything suspicious last night to contact police. The victim's family have been notified and are receiving support from specially trained family liaison officers."

Merseyside Police have also issued an appeal for information about an incident in the Larkhill Lane and Hedges Crescent area, which was reported to police at 10.05pm.

The force also said that:- "A member of the public walking along Larkhill Lane called police to say they had heard several gun shots and a group of men acting suspiciously around a car in Hedges Crescent. Patrols attended and during a search of the area, found several bullet casings in the street in Larkhill Lane. A Ford Mondeo parked in nearby Hedges Crescent has also been recovered by the police for forensic examination. At this early stage of the investigation detectives are keeping an open mind as to whether the two incidents are linked and what the motive for the murder is. An area of Brayfield Road as well as part of Larkhill Lane and Hedges Crescent have been cordoned off for examination by crime scene investigators. Officers are carrying house to house enquiries in both areas and examing CCTV from local shops and businesses. High visibility patrols have been stepped up in the area to provide reassurance to the public and anyone with information is asked to call the investigation team via the Merseyside Police on:- 0151 709 6010 or Crimestoppers on:- 0800 555 111."