Morrison's Southport opens mums lanes for Mother's Day

THIS Mothering Sunday, Morrisons Southport on Winter Gardens will open Mums only checkouts to speed up their shopping trip so they can go home and put their feet up.

Morrisons own figures reveal that 37% of mums will visit a supermarket on Mothering Sunday to do the weekly shop. 20% of mums say the special day is normally over by 12 noon as 'normal service' resumes with the average Mother's Day lasting just over 6 hours.

The so called:- 'Mums Lanes' will be dedicated to Southport's mums. Each lane will be staffed by Checkout Assistants specially selected for their friendliness. Assistants will offer to scan items at a speed to suit each individual mum; whether they want a relaxed pace and a chat, or a quick checkout as they are in a rush. They will also will help pack the shopping, should mums wish.

In addition, Morrisons Checkout Assistants will help entertain the children; by asking them to identify different sorts of supermarket products and by inviting them to see how they operate the tills. The aim is to make the shopping experience as easy and enjoyable as possible for mums and their families.

Over 30,000 pink Gerbera flowers from Morrisons Flowerworld will be given to mums as they pass through the checkout on the day. The gesture is designed to say thank you to mums and reignite the tradition of giving mum a flower on Mothering Sunday.

Robert Alexander, Store Manager at Morrisons Southport, said:- "The reality of Mother's Day is that some mums end up doing lots of chores! So, for mums who shop with us on this special day we want to serve them better by creating a 'Mum's Lane' checkout."

Do you think this is just a marketing gimmick or a good idea?  Please email us your thoughts to:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com... We would love to know!

The venue has since remained closed. Within the last 2 weeks, large metal covers have been installed over the windows and all the doors have been fully boarded up. The car park, that is reportedly part of the estate, has a pay and display machine installed on it.

That machine has now been covered and a notice added saying:- "The Sands Pub Car Park. Free Parking. Parking charges suspended until further notice." 

The worry now is that developers might move in and this much loved historic venue, which was originally known as the 'Lakeside Hotel' and built to accommodate those using Southport and Cheshire Lines Extension Railway's Ainsdale Beach Railway Station, might be lost forever. We have tried to get more information, but we have been unable to get in contact with the current owners for comment.  If you know any information about what's going on or you have any thoughts on this, please email us to:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.

Did you know:- The Southport and Cheshire Lines Extension Railway (SCLER) ran from Aintree to Southport from 1884. The line finally closed in 1952. In its heyday, the line provided a special service for those wanting to watch the Total Eclipse of the sun which occurred in June 1927. That eclipse pushed Southport and the local area on the world stage, as it was an unusual early morning Total Solar Eclipse, and also the 1st in England since 1725. Hillside was billed as the most favourable place to watch it and that lead to the building of the 'Round House' at Hillside, which was built specially to line up with the centre line of totality. The house featured prominently on the SCLER posters leading up to and after the Eclipse.

Action packed week of NAW celebrations to showcase 'Apprenticeships Work' at KCC

TO mark National Apprenticeship Week 2018, Knowsley Community College hosted a series of activities giving those interested in an apprenticeship a flavour of what to expect.

The week long campaign was fronted by KCC apprentice Bethan Love, who secured herself a Business Administration apprenticeship. Bethan took to the social media accounts this week with a takeover to showcase her role as an apprentice and raise awareness of how apprenticeships work.

Gill Banks, Knowsley Community College Principal, said:- "KCC is proud to provide a range of apprenticeship opportunities, which are increasingly becoming the route of choice for many people. National Apprenticeship Week helps us to further increase awareness of apprenticeships and the many exciting opportunities they can create."

Events and activities which took place at Knowsley Community College during National Apprenticeship Week included the College's school liaison team providing additional support and guidance to young people at several Schools across the borough including:- Halewood Academy, St Edmund Arrowsmith in Whiston and Lord Derby Academy.

To help shape and enhance the career advice across the Liverpool City Region, Knowsley Community College attended an apprenticeship event along with other providers at the Liverpool Maritime Museum at the Albert Dock, on Thursday. Schools and members of the public were invited to gain advice and speak 1st hand to apprentices and employers about their experiences and upcoming opportunities.

The College also dedicated its social media platforms to an entire week of posts about fantastic apprenticeship vacancies and apprentice success stories including:- Business Administration apprentice, Bethan Love, Electrical Installation apprentice, Peter Orr, Joinery apprentice, Sue Thompson, Mechanical Engineering apprentice, Mateusz Kicinski and Business Administration apprentice, Patsy Connor.

The College also used the week long campaign as an opportunity to highlight industry partnerships demonstrating how 'apprenticeships work' for employers that they work with across the Liverpool City Region.

Knowsley Community College apprentice Patsy Connor said:- "I realised that an apprenticeship was an option for me and I now understand that it is my preferred way of learning. Already at the age of 17, I am earning a steady wage and gaining a qualification at the same time. I have gained so much independence and I no longer have to depend on my parents for money."

Knowsley Community College offers apprenticeships across a wide range of sectors. For more information, please visit:- KnowsleyCollege.AC.UK/Apps.