300,000 Free Trees Still Up For Grabs For Schools and Communities

SCHOOLS and communities are urged to make their New Year a positive 1, by planting trees. Just days away from the application deadline closing, the Woodland Trust still has 300,000 trees up for grabs as part of its free trees scheme.

Schools or community groups can get their hands on these trees which can bring huge benefits; from:- boosting nature, combating flooding, providing shelter and reducing pollution.

Steve Shill, senior project lead in woodland creation at the Trust urged people to apply now. He said:- "This is an amazing opportunity for any schools and communities to do something really positive for the New Year. Tree planting is a great way to involve lots of people and get out planting can boost mental and physical health during these dark winter months. It only takes a few minutes to apply and these trees could bring several lifetimes of benefits"

Mr Shill said there are many reasons applications could be down, including the busyness of the country returning to normal after COVID, but he added:- "Trees are essential in our fight against climate change and research shows that more trees have a direct, positive effect on people's health. The UK needs millions more trees to reach its 2050 carbon net zero target. By digging in with us, you'll help bring us nearer this important goal. Don't miss out."

The Woodland Trust scheme delivers hundreds of thousands of free trees twice a year for planting in spring and autumn. Millions of trees have been planted across the country over the last few years. Tree packs are generously funded by lead partners Sainsbury's, Lloyds Bank, OVO Energy, Bank of Scotland and Sofology.

Tree packs come in packs of:- 30, 105 or 420 trees and in different varieties to suit their purpose; from:- hedging, copse, for wildlife or wild harvest.

Applications for free trees close on Monday 8th January 2024. Apply now at:- WoodlandTrust.Org.UK.

An investigation underway after shots fired at Showcase Cinema in Liverpool

IN the late evening of Wednesday, 3 January 2024, an investigation into a firearms incident was launched and a man hunt was started. We got told that shots had been fired at 3 locations in Liverpool. At the time a Merseyside Police statement to the media following the incident said:- "At around 8.30 pm we were called to the News and Booze store (known locally as:- Sangha newsagents) which is located on Lower House Lane, Norris Green, to reports that a man had entered the shop at about:- 8pm and threatened the store assistant."

Merseyside Police went on to say that the suspect is reported to have:- "demanded cash before firing a gun and leaving the store empty-handed. The shop assistant was not injured during the incident, but extremely distressed by the ordeal. No damage was caused to the shop."

Merseyside Police continued saying:- "Just before 8.50pm Police received a further call to report that shots had been fired outside the Showcase Cinema, on Stonedale Retail Park, Croxteth. It was reported that a man armed with a gun entered the cinema complex and threatened 2 members of staff in the foyer, before leaving. When he got outside, he then fired several shots in the air before escaping in a car. No one was injured during this incident and no damage was caused."

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police then added within the update that:- "At the time of the incident the majority of people in the cinema were watching film screenings within the complex and they became aware of the incident when officers arrived at the scene and the complex was put into lockdown."

Since then Merseyside Police have recovered a weapon from a property in the Liverpool area and arrested a the susspected gunman.

The firearm that was recovered by Merseyside Police following discharge incidents is believed to be an assault rifle and forensic tests will be carried out to establish if it is a viable firearm.

The 49 year old male, from the Fazakerley area, who was arrested on:- Thursday, 4 January 2024, on suspicion of possession of a:- 'Section 1 Firearm with Intent To Endanger Life and Robbery,' remains in custody. Merseyside Police have also confirmed enquiries into the incident remain ongoing.

Thankfully this was not a terrorism related incident, but it has shocked the local community, and resulted in major disruption around Lower House Lane, Norris Green, and parts of the East Lancs Road, in Croxteth, as the area was cornered off a hunt for the suspected shooter was started, who was at the time at large.

Assistant Chief Constable Jenn Wilson, said:- "I can report that a 49 year old man has been arrested following three firearms discharges in the Croxteth and Norris Green areas last night. Thankfully incidents like this, involving a single offender in three separate shootings in close proximity and quick succession, are extremely rare and this is the 1st time we have had to deal with an incident of this nature on the streets of Merseyside. The shocking and distressing impact these incidents will have had on the shop assistant, the staff at the Showcase Cinema and those filmgoers who found themselves in a lockdown situation in the complex after shots were fired outside the cinema and the residents of Malpas Road cannot be underestimated. Officers were on the ground immediately following the 1st incident and were able to respond swiftly to the subsequent discharges, and a male was identified. located and arrested on suspicion of all three discharges within 13 hours. High visibility patrols will remain in the area to reassure members of the local community. Those affected by the incidents can get help from Victim Care Merseyside, which has trained staff who act as a single point of contact for all victims and survivors, offering access to free, confidential advice and support. This includes access to a range of specialist support services delivered by 10 independent local organizations providing bespoke, dedicated care to victims of crime. You can get further information from:- VictimCareMerseyside.Org. Firearms have no place on our streets, and we are committed to arresting those involved in gun crime and taking firearms off our streets. I would appeal to anyone who has information about those involved in gun crime, or who knows where weapons are being stored to contact Crimestoppers on:- 0800555111 so we can further reduce the harm caused by these weapons in our communities. If you saw what happened or have any mobile or CCTV footage of the incidents, please contact us as a matter of urgency as you may have information that is vital to our investigation. Any information provided will be acted upon. Information from our community is vital if we are to stop people carrying out such attacks in Merseyside that cause such violence on our streets."

Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:- "The 3 firearms incidents in Norris Green and Croxteth were deeply concerning, and my thoughts are with the members of staff at both the News and Booze Store and the Showcase Cinema, as well as members of the public who were inside as events unfolded, and those living in and around Malpas Road. Thankfully, nobody was hurt, and I want to thank Merseyside Police officers and our partner organisations for the way they dealt with a fast-moving and challenging situation. Their swift response in securing the Showcase Cinema to keep people inside for their safety, as well as the other two scenes, helped to minimize any potential risk to members of the public. I also want to thank those people for their co-operation and understanding during this process, this must have been a very distressing situation to have been caught up in. The investigation is ongoing, and an arrest has been made so I would appeal to everybody to refrain from sharing anything online that may hamper proceedings or bring unnecessary harm or distress to innocent members of our community. I would also urge anybody affected by last night's events to contact Victim Care Merseyside. Our hub has specially trained staff who are on hand to provide free, confidential advice and support and can help with a range of bespoke support services to help those impacted by crime. Guns have no place on our streets and Merseyside Police is relentless in its approach to remove them from our streets. While thankfully we have seen a significant reduction in the number of firearms incidents across the region, we cannot stop in our pursuit of those individuals who seek to use dangerous weapons to spread fear and intimidation. If you have any information about this investigation or those involved in gun crime then I would ask you to do the right thing and contact Merseyside Police. Alternatively, you can speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on:- 0800555111."

Anyone with footage or information is asked to DM on Twitter or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on:- 0800555111 quoting:- "log 928 of Wednesday, 3 January 2024."