Celebrity chefs auction picnic experiences for NSPCC

6 of the UK's most exciting celebrity chefs have teamed up with the NSPCC to hold a week of picnic experiences in picturesque spots across Cumbria's beautiful Lake District.

The picnic experiences will all take place during National Picnic Week from 16 June to 22 June 2014. Each one will be auctioned online to raise money for the children's charity and anyone can log on to bid for the unique prizes.

Lucky picnic guests will work up an appetite and take in some stunning views on a guided walk (ranging in distance from 7km to 12km) before enjoying a scrumptious picnic hosted and prepared by a top chef.

Peter Sidwell, star of ITV's Britain's Best Bakery and executive chef at Rheged helped to mastermind the week and has used his connections to bring other celebrity chefs on board. Great British Bake Off winners Frances Quinn and John Waite; award winning chocolatier Paul A Young; Juliet Sear owner of Fancy Nancy cake boutique and cake maker to the stars; and award winning legendary chef, Steven Doherty of The First Floor Café in Windermere, are also supporting the week.

Peter Sidwell said:- "It's an amazing privilege to be involved in Picnic Week, I'm sure it will be a really fun event that will hopefully raise a lot of money for children. The week is a personal challenge for me, as I attempt to complete all seven of the walks and help prepare all seven picnics. It will also be a great showcase of local produce and my picnic will certainly be a celebration of our fantastic Cumbrian produce. We've got some excellent chefs on board and I'm sure our picnic guests will have a fantastic time, so go on challenge yourself and get bidding!"

Each picnic experience is for ten people and NSPCC fundraising manager Kim Kimberlee Smith says they would make a great treat for a family gathering, a unique challenge for a group of friends or colleagues, or a memorable way for businesses to entertain clients.

Kim added:- "We are very excited about this event as it's the first of its kind for the NSPCC. We've got some really well known chefs on board who are looking forward to the challenge and are busy preparing their picnic menus. Most importantly, we hope the auction will raise £10,000 and every penny raised will support our services for vulnerable children, young people and families across the UK. There are seven unique prizes up for grabs in the auction and I hope local people will get bidding."

The experiences will be auctioned online from 24 May to 30 May 2014. More details, including how and where to bid can be found at:- nspcc.org.uk/picnicweek.

Southport Social Club caught without TV Licence ordered to pay £750

SOUTHPORT'S St. Theresa's Social Club, on Upper Aughton Road, was fined £500 for the offence of using a TV without a licence on the business premises. The club was also ordered to pay £200 costs and a £50 victim surcharge at the hearing on Wednesday, 21 May 2014, at Wirral Magistrates' Court.

Any business that shows television programmes as they're being shown on TV, whether for customers' use or in staff areas, must be covered by a valid TV Licence. If there is living accommodation on the premises where a TV is also in use, this must be covered by a separate licence. Those without a valid licence are breaking the law and run the risk of a court prosecution and fine of up to £1,000 per offence, plus costs. Businesses found guilty are also required to buy a TV Licence at £145.50, or they could face a potential 2nd prosecution.

According to research, long term business reputation is more important than any gains made by cutting corners, particularly when it comes to keeping on the right side of the law. A survey of over 250 managers at UK businesses, conducted with the British Chambers of Commerce on behalf of TV Licensing, showed that where a business needs to make cutbacks, just 14% would consider not paying for a TV Licence where one was needed. The BCC survey also showed that, of those asked what would motivate them to ensure they were correctly licensed, 98% answered the potential reputational damage from negative press coverage of a prosecution for TV Licence evasion.

Matt Thompson, TV Licensing spokesperson for the North of England, said:- "We appreciate these are tough times for businesses, but to be fair to the majority who do pay the licence fee, we have to take action against those who watch TV illegally. As our survey shows, those businesses who do try to get away with it might find the price of being caught to be higher than just a fine. We'd rather businesses think ahead and check if they need a licence than risk being prosecuted. A licence costs £145.50 and can be bought in minutes online."

TV Licensing is also reminding other businesses to make sure they are aware of their licensing requirements, to avoid the risk of prosecution and a large fine. In 2013 TV Licensing enquiry officers visited more than 33,000 businesses across the UK, ranging from takeaway restaurants and holiday parks to garages, hair salons and sports clubs, to confirm if they were correctly licensed.