Flooding again in Formby

STORM Ciara has resulted in flooding as large parts of Britain took a battering, with gales and heavy rain. Yet again, Formby had quite a bit of flooding, a problem that locals say is getting worse, as housing developments keep being built on natural drainage areas and flood plains. Church Road, pictured here, is increasingly being affected, because more run off water is being pushed into the drains and the drainage brook, Dobbs Gutter. However the previous run off fields have been built on, so the low lying area is no longer as protect from flooding. Another issue is the lack of drainage maintenance and cleaning, that is leading to more issues.

West Lancashire Freemasons holiday raises ₤7500 for Charity

FREEMASONS from the Wigan area were joined by colleagues from:- Leigh, Warrington, Eccles, Trafford, Ormskirk and Liverpool lodges on an organized fundraising holiday for 5 days in Scotland. Together with their friends and partners they raised a total of ₤7500 by a series of raffles, bingo and a sponsored walk around the River Ericht and the surrounding countryside of Blairgowrie, Perthshire. The 200 participants had a fun filled week of outings and entertainment, but the serious side was the walk, sponsorship coming from their lodges back in the North West. The money raised is destined for the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is a charity funded by Freemasons, their families and friends, from across England and Wales. The Masonic Charitable Foundation awards millions of pounds each year to local and national charities. Recent awards in the area have included support for medical research, care for the blind, help to prevent suicide as well as individual awards to each of the hospices in the Region. Tony Harrison of West Lancashire Freemasons said:- "West Lancashire Freemasons are making a special effort to support the Masonic Charitable Foundation over the next year, and I'm pleased that enjoying a holiday and good company can be combined with supporting really worthwhile causes."