Ainsdale Show 2012 is the 100th show!

ON Saturday, 7 July 2012 it will be the Ainsdale Show and this will be their 100th show! The event runs from 10.00am to 5.00pm, and offers a wide range of activities, like craft stalls, children's games, gymnastic displays, trade and charity stalls, a grand raffle, exhibits inside and out, from flowers arranging to fruit and vegetable displays, not forgetting other floral arts, handicrafts and even a photographic exhibition. Opening the show will be Christine Walkden after a procession lead by The Skelmersdale Brass Band and the Floral Queen. The event also has a fully Licensed Bar, Hog Roast and much more... Pre-Show tickets:- Adults: £4.00 | Children (5 to 14 years) 50p | Family (2 Adults & 2 Children) £8.00.  Saturday Admission:- Adults: £5.00 | Children £1.00 | Family £10.00. Do not miss out on the £100 prize draw as well. To find out more go to:- ainsdalehorticulturalsociety.org.uk

Fire At Liverpool's Punch and Judy Pub

MERSEYSIDE Fire and Rescue Service along with Merseyside Police, where called to the well known Punch and Judy Pub on Bolton Street, Liverpool City Centre at 1.10am on Thursday, 28 June 2012 following 14 reports of a Fire. An appliance from City Centre Community Fire Station was reported to have been the first on scene and they requested 3 more fire engines including an aerial platform to tackle the fire. At its hight, 5 fire appliances where on scene. The pubs first and second floor of the pub was severely damaged by fire. There was also extensive damage to the first floor wall and roof. 2 nearby buildings also where affected by smoke damage. Group Manager Paul Murphy, the incident commander, said:- “When I arrived at the scene there was a severely developed fire in the middle of the pub, which had a restaurant on one side and a café and taxi rank the other. There were also buildings behind the rear of the pub. Firefighters acted quickly to prevent the fire spreading to the neighbouring buildings and to buildings to the pub’s rear. It was difficult to access the rear of the pub to tackle the fire due to its location. It was a severe fire and the front of the pub had collapsed in on itself with parts of the wall falling onto Bolton Street. The fire caused a partial building collapse. Firefighters opened a roller shutter at the front of the pub to extinguish a fire that had developed in the extension of the building. The Search and Rescue Team was mobilised but they were stood down following information and intelligence at the scene.” Thankfully there were no reports of any injuries. A joint investigation between Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service's Incident Investigation Team is now underway.

Access to basic banking is a consumer right not just a service says Euro MP

EURO MPs have voted through a report calling for the European Union to establish a right for EU consumers to open and run a basic payment account. It is estimated that over 30 million individuals over the age of 18 across the EU do not have access to a bank account. Local Labour Euro MP and Vice Chair of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, Arlene McCarthy said:- “Increasing numbers of people in the UK who are going through bankruptcy are being denied access to a basic bank account despite there being no legal reason why. If you prevent people from being able to hold a bank account you are in effect excluding them from the ability to benefit from financial products and services, deals and discounts and perhaps most importantly certain jobs which require access to a bank account. It creates an unnecessary social divide between those who hold bank accounts and those who don’t. In the UK the move towards universal benefits payments means that bank accounts are going to become an increasing important way for people on benefits or with low incomes to manage their money. Credit Unions are ahead of the game and are already helping people to manage their monthly payments and ensure that they have enough money at the end of the month, banks too should be playing their part.”