Bootle Stands Up seeks people who can make people laugh to try stand up comedy challenge

DO you love to make people laugh? Would you love to stand on stage in front of a supportive audience?

'Bootle Stands Up Comedy Workshop 2025' sponsored by Dowhigh Civil Engineering is now looking for the comedy stars of tomorrow.

People from the local community are invited to come and join Big Comedy UK and have the chance to perform at this year's:- 'Salt and Tar Fringe Festival,' in Bootle which this year takes place across the May Bank Holiday Weekend.

It is free to take part and you will be supported in learning new skills through a 6 week comedy course, led by Big Comedy UK Director and established comedian Brendan Riley.

The initiative will help to raise funds and awareness of Bootle Tool Shed, a community workshop based on:- Derby Road, Bootle.

If you are interested please email Brendan Riley. at:- bigcomedyuk@gmail.com, or call:- 07770591625.

You can also apply online at:- BigComedyUK.Com.

Brendan Riley said:- "Bootle Stands Up is a brilliant way of improving your confidence and also improving your public speaking skills. You will be well supported along the way through our 6 week comedy workshop, which takes place across 6 Monday evenings at:- Bootle Tool Shed, starting on:- Monday, 31 March 2025. It's a fun experience which is exciting, scary and exhilarating all at the same time! It will culminate in a gig at the:- 'Salt and Tar Fringe Festival' in Bootle on:- Bank Holiday Monday, 26 May 2025. Come and challenge yourself and at the same time help raise funds for the brilliant local charity. The 6 week comedy course is absolutely free. We held the first Bootle Stands Up event last year and it was a huge success. We can't wait to do it all again! It's part of a great festival. It's always exciting to see people learn and develop along the way. The process involves different skills, including creative writing, and performance skills. Some people can be strong on one, and need help developing the other. Some people can be anxious about public speaking, but it's all about good preparation. At the end of the process you will be ready and looking forward to delivering a 10 minute set of your own material on stage, which is really rewarding. I have been running these workshops for 30 years, and no 2 workshops are the same, because the people who come to them are always so different. But it's always a really fun experience and you'll learn lots of new skills along the way."

A Dowhigh spokesperson said:- "Dowhigh are proud to be supporting Bootle Stands Up for the second year after a successful 2024. Last year saw 9 brave souls take to the stage after 6 weeks training with Brendan from Big Comedy UK and perform live in front of over one hundred people and the year looks to be even bigger and better; whilst supporting Bootle Tool Shed, an organisation that Dowhigh have helped in the past. We wish all of the budding comedians the very best of luck and we can't wait to see how well they do this year!"

Formerly known as the:- 'Comedy Weekender' the  'Salt and Tar Fringe Festival'  has grown into a celebration of diverse entertainment, attracting top talent and drawing hundreds of visitors over the last 2 years. The Fringe Festival promises to be even bigger and better in 2025 celebrating all things comedy, music, and the arts.

Clinton Baptiste, Mick Miller and Maisie Adam are among the headline comedy stars coming to Salt and Tar, Bootle as part of the incredible line up at the:- 'Salt and Tar Fringe Festival,' this Spring Bank Holiday Weekend, that rill be held over:- 23 May to 26 May 2025.  So, book your tickets online at:- SaltAndTarBootle.Com today!

Shop owner fined for blocking highway with furniture

A shop owner who repeatedly placed furniture and household items on a street in Anfield has been hit with a bill of more than £1,600.

Elliott James of Belmont Drive in L6, was found guilty at Liverpool Magistrates Court of depositing items on Rocky Lane between:- July and December 2024, blocking the highway.

The Council brought a prosecution under:- Section 137 (1) of the Highways Act 1980.

He failed to appear in court for the hearing on:- 23 January 2025, and in his absence he was fined £660, plus a victim surcharge of £700 costs, meaning he will have to pay a total bill of £1,624.

The prosecution was brought with the support of the City Council's Environmental Crime Enforcement Team, which was appointed last year to identify and take action against offenders who blight our local communities, be that by fly tipping, littering or as in this case, causing obstruction of the highway. The team patrol the streets every day of the week to educate local communities on correct waste management and investigate environmental crimes.

Working closely with Merseyside Police, the team also check waste carriers to make sure they are disposing of waste correctly and carry the right licence to be able to do so.

They are set to double in size in the coming months, providing more capacity to work with residents and businesses to prevent future fly tipping.

The Council is about to appoint an external partner to work closely with the taskforce to increase awareness of correct waste disposal and clamp down on:- illegal dumping, littering and dog fouling.

Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said:- "Mr James repeatedly placed furniture and large household items on a residential street, blighting the area and causing inconvenience and nuisance to people using the footway. This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable and the action we have taken outlines our determination to prosecute when we have the necessary evidence. We know residents are sick and tired of people abusing our streets and often using them as a dumping ground, and we are committed to stamping it out."