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www.bbc.com
> Sir Ken Dodd's joke books, tickling sticks and other artefacts are to be preserved in a new £15m centre dedicated to the late comedy legend in his home city of Liverpool. > >The Sir Ken Dodd Happiness Centre will provide a permanent home for his archive, as well as hosting comedy performances and events. > >The four-storey centre will be attached to the city's Royal Court theatre, where Sir Ken regularly performed during his career. He died in 2018. > >The plans were submitted in November and were approved by Liverpool City Council last week. > >His widow Lady Dodd told BBC News he would be "honoured" and "amazed".
www.independent.co.uk
> It’s unlikely that Elon Musk has ever heard of Southport, far less visited it. He has five or six companies to run, after all, and has been busy this week sounding off about Venezuela, Kamala Harris, puberty blockers, and why the legacy media lie to you. > >So it’s probable that some ugly riots in a seaside town somewhere in northwest England will not have registered with the strange genius who may well be the richest man in the world. > > And it’s equally probable that, if you told Musk that he was in some way responsible for these riots, 5,000 miles away from the seven homes he owns/owned in California, he would scoff. > >But that’s how it is. When Musk decided to splash out $44bn (£35bn) to buy what was then called Twitter, he took ultimate responsibility for the speech of 350 million-odd users of the platform. And Twitter – now called X – is where a foul virus spread in the wake of the horrendous stabbings of numerous children in Southport on Monday. That virus led to the rioting the very next day – and since. And Musk enabled it. > > ... > > Musk, whatever else he is, is not a stupid man, so maybe one shouldn’t take him too literally when he proclaims Twitter to be a truth engine and the MSM a swill of lies. But I think it’s possible he is an unthinking and arrogant man who would simply shrug at what happened on his platform – and elsewhere – this week. > >This is what happened: within hours of a local 17-year-old boy being arrested for the mass stabbings, untrue narratives started circulating on social media naming him as “Ali al-Shakati” – a Muslim migrant to the UK – alleging that he was on an MI6 watchlist, and that he was an asylum seeker who was known to the Liverpool mental health services. > > None of this was true, but research by Dr Marc Owen Jones, an expert in digital authoritarianism, has traced how this kind of speculation rapidly notched up 27 million impressions on social media. > > The self-proclaimed misogynist and alleged rapist Andrew Tate, who has nearly 10 million followers on X, posted a false image of the supposed attacker, claiming he was “straight off a boat” – even though by then the police had told us he had been born in Cardiff 17 years ago. But that, according to Tate, was a lie promoted by what he calls “the Matrix”. > >One of the most prominent amplifiers of this untrue information was a shadowy organisation calling itself Channel3 Now. Quite who is behind this outfit is unclear. Investigative journalists soon found that it had started life as a place for Russian car rally videos. It may now be run from an address in Pakistan or the US. That’s the joy of Musk’s beloved “independent media” – you haven’t got a clue who half of the fabulists are. [Archive](https://archive.is/OuJxG)
www.mirror.co.uk
> Supporters of the English Defence League have thrown items at a mosque during a protest in Southport this evening, according to police. > >A police riot van has also been set on fire as crowds, believed to include supporters of the far-right group, gathered at a protest that turned violent in the Merseyside town. One police officer has also suffered a broken nose after being hit with a object thrown by the crowd. > > ... > > Video on social media showed more police arriving in Southport, where officers with riot shields are in a stand-off with protesters. Some police officers were seen walking through crowds with police dogs towards lines of officers who are stood in front of police vans. Debris can be seen on the ground around the vans while police have been using their shields to deflect missiles thrown from the crowds. Smoke canisters have also been used. Multiple police cars and vans, blue lights flashing and sirens blaring are patrolling local streets, with hundreds of onlookers gathering in the area. > >One witness at the scene said a man has been seriously injured after being hit by a flying object. They said: "A man knocked on our door screaming for help, his head was split open and pouring with blood. He was asking for a towel to help stop the blood. Someone had thrown a brick towards police and it hit him in the face. It was terrifying, my young child was stood behind me and seen it." Fundraising: * [Swifties for Southport](https://justgiving.com/page/swifties-for-southport) on JustGiving * [Southport Dance Group Emergency Fund](https://www.gofundme.com/f/SouthportDanceEmergencyFund) on GoFundMe
inews.co.uk
> Police were forced to appeal for people not to speculate online about the Southport stabbing after an incorrect name for the suspect was shared on social media. > >After the attack, which left three girls dead and five fighting for their lives, misinformation spread on social media, claiming that the 17-year-old unnamed suspect was an asylum seeker. > > ... > > Police were said to be monitoring reports of a far-right rally potentially taking place in Southport on Tuesday evening amid concerns that false information could fuel community tensions. > >Officers have confirmed the suspect arrested was born in Cardiff. It is understood his parents came to the UK from Rwanda, with his father believed to be a black belt in karate. > > ... > > Sunder Katwala, director of the think-tank British Future, said a fake news channel seemed to have invented a false name and story. > >Mr Katwala said:“There are different types of bad faith actor spreading misinformation at pace in heightened circumstances. > >“There may be low quality feeds masquerading as news sites, even scraping social media rumours to produce AI-generated content. > >“There can be more deliberate networks of extreme actors, including far-right groups and foreign intelligence actors.” > > Within hours, social media posts repeating the fake news, had gained millions of likes and engagements. [Archive](https://archive.is/iRjwk)
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
> A Merseyside town has been named as one of the best places in the UK to live by the sea. > > The Sunday Times released the list this week, which includes the Sefton town of Waterloo among its 20 top seaside locations. It ranks among Penzance, Nairn and Ballycastle. > > ... > > The Sunday Times said: "The greatest attractions here are the 100 life-sized cast-iron figures that make up Another Place, Antony Gormley’s mesmerising installation which has transformed the huge sandy Crosby Beach into one of the country’s most uplifting spectacles — even more so if you spot one of the dolphins that are increasingly regular visitors to the Mersey. > > "But there are more down-to-earth attractions in this unpretentious beachside enclave that’s less than 20 minutes by reliable Merseyrail train from the centre of Liverpool. There are good schools, a lively selection of bars and restaurants clustered around the station on South Road and the lovely Plaza Community Cinema. > > "Best of all is a useful stock of Victorian and Edwardian houses, which are both closer to the water and cheaper than in Waterloo’s better-known neighbour, Crosby. A four-bedroom place with a view of the beach will cost £350,000-£400,000. An extra £100,000 will secure a spot right on the beach." > > The average house price in Waterloo is £213,198. Only last year, The Sunday Times named Liverpool as the best place to live in the northwest and singled out Waterloo as one of Merseyside's "best districts".
www.theguardian.com
> The upward intonation, the guttural “ck” and even the cheeky comeback to win the argument: at just 19 months old, baby Orla has mastered the crucial elements of speaking like a scouser. > >Impressively, the toddler who featured in a viral video this week appears to have done so without the need for actual words. > >A clip posted on TikTok, and now viewed more than 20m times, shows Orla babbling in a Liverpudlian accent as her babysitter, Olayka, tries and fails to coax her into taking a nap. Scientists say that the cute exchange is also a vivid illustration of the processes by which babies acquire language – and the surprising role of accents. > > Babies are so tuned in to the musical ups and downs of speech that even as newborns they cry in distinctive ways that reflect the languages that they have heard while in the womb. > >In one 2009 study, Prof Kathleen Wermke, a pioneer in the field of speech development at the Würzburg University in Germany, found that French infants tend to wail on a rising note and German babies favour a falling melody and other patterns have been seen for Mandarin, Swedish and African languages. “When I started 40 years ago, if I told people I was recording babies crying and making high-pitched sounds they’d look at you and think ‘Is this really science?’,” she said.
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
> It was around 5am on Thursday, December 12, 2019. This bleary-eyed correspondent was sat with colleagues in the Liverpool Echo offices after a dramatic and exhausting night. We had watched as Labour's heartlands around the nation had tumbled like dominoes in what could only be described as an unmitigated disaster for the party. > > Boris Johnson, a man largely reviled in this part of the world, had gleefully swept up seats in the North East, in Lancashire and around the country as he marched on towards an 80-seat majority. But despite the Conservatives' devastating pummelling of Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party, there was one corner of the country that failed to be convinced - anything but. > > As is so often the case, Merseyside refused to follow the national trends, in fact it largely rejected them outright. In Liverpool, the red rose party increased its vote share - comfortably returning five MPs in the city. In Wirral former swing seats were easily won by Labour as heartlands in Knowsley and Bootle remained strong. The only flash of blue on the Merseyside map was in Southport. > > Liverpool and Merseyside are used to thinking differently, of doing things differently when it comes to the mood of the nation. This time around, things are a little different. This time, that sea of red is blemish-free. With the Southport seat going to Labour for the first time in its history, the Tories have been banished from Merseyside completely and it can be fairly stated Labour's surge to power has been built on the seeds of hope that remained in this region when so many other strongholds had fallen
www.dezeen.com
> The redevelopment of Lime Street in Liverpool by British studio Broadway Malyan has been named the country's worst new building in this year's Carbuncle Cup. > > Organised by UK magazine The Fence, judges chose the Lime Street redevelopment as the "very worst new building in Britain", since the competition was last run in 2018. > > "From the very first viewing, two of our panel had this as their number one selection, and as the longlist was narrowed to a shortlist, this hideous bit of architectural misadventure continued to stick out," said The Fence in the award announcement. > > ... > > "A bunch of developers have been allowed to knock down a happy, eclectic row of buildings – including the much-loved, sorely-missed Futurist cinema – and replaced it with such nothingness," said Architectural Record contributor and jury chair Tim Abrahams. > > "Such banality that their only option is to cover it with a screen, upon which they have drawn portraits of those same old demolished buildings," he continued. "Greed has rarely looked so greedy."
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
> Liverpool Garston > > In the redesigned Liverpool Garston seat, current MP Maria Eagle is expected to easily remain in post, with a projected 73.9% of the vote. YouGov predicts its a close run for second place between Greens and Lib Dems, followed by Reform and a last place for the Tories. > > ... > > Liverpool Wavertree > > It is a similar prediction in Wavertree, where Labour are expected to win 72.7% of the vote and retain the seat. The Greens are currently in a healthy second place, with 15%. The Lib Dems are third, followed by Reform and the Tories are last on just 1.4%. > > ... > > Knowsley > > Knowsley will have a new MP for the first time in nearly 40 years and looking at the YouGov poll, this will be a Labour MP. The party are predicted to scoop up a huge 75% of the vote. The Greens are currently in second with 8.5%, just ahead of Reform UK, who are on 7.2%. The Tories and Lib Dems are battling it out for fourth place. > > ... > > Bootle > > Labour are projected to win 73% of the Bootle vote and keep the seat red. The Greens are just ahead of Reform in the battle for second place according to the MRP poll. The Tories and Lib Dems are bringing up the rear. > > ... > > Southport > > When it comes to Merseyside, many eyes will be on Southport. The seat has been held by the Tories since 2017 and has never been held by Labour. Keir Starmer's party will be delighted to see YouGov project that they will win the seat with 51.6%. > > The Conservatives are currently back on 29.5%, with Reform set to take a chunk of their vote with 8.2%. The Lib Dems, who have held this seat many times before, are currently back in fourth place, followed by the Greens. > > ... > > Birkenhead > > Birkenhead is set to elect a new MP, with Mick Whitely departing the scene. Things are looking good for his replacement as Labour's candidate, Alison McGovern, who is forecast to scoop up 63.2% of the vote. The Greens, who have seen good results in Birkenhead in local elections of late, are back in second on a predicted 13.3%, ahead of Reform, the Lib Dems and the Tories in last.
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
> Time Out has released its first ranking of the World’s Best Cities for Food according to locals, with Liverpool landing 11th on the list. > > ... > > Time Out editors included only the highest-scoring city for each country to ensure the list reflects culinary cities globally. Liverpool bagged itself the 11th spot on the list, fending off competition from the likes of Spain, Portugal and France. > > ... > > Explaining its decision for Liverpool's ranking, Time Out wrote: "With everything from cult street food vendors to contemporary small plates, it’s no wonder locals were full of praise for their city’s food scene. Their go-to dish? Scouse, of course. This meaty stew is so beloved in Liverpool, it gave the city’s inhabitants the ‘Scouser’ nickname. > > City-based writer Alice Porter said: "Liverpool is perhaps better known for its nightlife than its food, but a clutch of brand-new foodie ventures have earned the city a newfound rep for its dining scene. This is largely down to homegrown talent: local chefs like Paul Durand, who opened Michelin-mentioned Manifest in 2022, and Sam Grainger who owns small-plates spot Belzan and Mexican taqueria Madre. All are well worth making the journey to Liverpool for."
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
> A woman has sent a big thank you to the people of Merseyside for their "non-stop kindness" during a recent visit. > > Christine Veitch, 75, from Cumbria, was on her way to visit her poorly brother in Neston when her train to Liverpool Lime Street terminated at Preston, leaving her in a rush to get the next train to the city > > Speaking to the ECHO, Christine said: "We all got thrown off at Preston with six minutes to get the next train. We had to rush across the station onto an alternative train, which was already crowded." > > It was then the "wave of kindness" began. She said: "First of all, I was offered a seat, which I was more than grateful for. I'm a pensioner, but I'm not a doddery old lady or anything, so that was nice to begin with." > > Then a kindly stranger called Keith sat next to her and gave her reassurance about her onward journey. Christine said: "We got chatting, and I mentioned I was worried about whether or not I'd make it to the train for Neston. He said to me, 'don't worry pet, I'll take you'." > > Keith guided Christine through Lime Street Station, then checked the timing of the trains and waited until she was safely on board before waving her off on the platform. "He was so so kind," said Christine. "He even gave me a kiss when he left!" > > But it didn't stop there. Keith passed on the kindness baton to a lady called Jane, who was waiting on the same platform as Christine at Bidston. Christine said: "We got on the train and she saw me looking at a piece of paper I'd brought along with my journey times on. She said to me, 'I know where it is you're going - I'll tell you where to get off'. > > When they arrived at Neston, a couple of lads lifted Christine's case off the train for her, and Jane showed her to the high street, from where she was able to make her own way to her brother's house.
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
> The organiser of a Viking festival has sought legal representation amid a row over events set to clash on the upcoming bank holiday weekend. > > Two different Viking-themed festivals are due to take place on Wirral at the end of this month. The Wirral Viking Festival, to be hosted at Leasowe Castle on May 25 and 26, promises to be "an immersive, inclusive, family friendly event that celebrates the Norse heritage of the Wirral peninsula." > > Meanwhile, an event described online as Wirral Viking Festivals - Brimstage Farm will be held between May 25 and May 27. That event is organised by a local re-enactment group, the Wirral Vikings, also known as Wirhalh Skip Felagr. > > Solicitors for the Leasowe event's organisers described the proposed Brimstage Farm event as a "flagrant breach" of their intellectual property rights. The Brimstage event is set to include combat displays, crafts and a "viking village."
www.bbc.co.uk
> Speedo Mick, whose full name is Michael Cullen, is best known for walking the length and breadth of the UK for charity in his unique attire. > > He has also swum the English Channel and climbed four mountains as part of his fundraising activity. > > "I'm absolutely thrilled," Mr Cullen said, adding that the Citizen of Honour certificate would take pride of place in his front room. > > He added: "I'm over the moon about it because it's from the city of Liverpool it makes it all the more special to me. > > ... > > Mr Cullen has raised money for over 120 organisations including charities which support disadvantaged young people and homeless people as well as mental health and wellbeing projects. > > He said it was a way to thank the people who helped him with his own mental health challenges.
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
> Bootle is ready to rock and roll after a major new music and arts venue officially launched last night. > > Salt and Tar made its long-awaited debut with a sun-soaked event overlooking the canal in Bootle town centre. > > To mark the occasion, surprise guests Red Rum Club performed live to an excited crowd who were able to enjoy an evening of music, family activities and plentiful street food options. > > The launch party represented the opening salvo in a jam-packed events programme this weekend including the Bootle International Festival which will feature worldwide cuisine and a host of live entertainment The event has been organised by more than 15 local community groups and entry is open and free to everyone. > > In addition, guests will also be able to see Bollywood dancing, Congolese music and public workshops put on by the Ukrainian Welcome Centre. Sunday will see more talent from Bootle and Beyond who are all set to take to the stage as part of Salt and Tar’s Live Lounge. > > Artists will have the opportunity to share their music with the public in the same venue as local legends Red Rum Club and break in the stage [ie open] for Tom Jones, who will perform later this year. > > Red Rum Club have been a pivotal part of getting Salt and Tar opened and have worked extensively with Sefton Council and other stakeholders - they even have a huge mural up on the wall overlooking the performance space. > > Francis Doran is the lead singer of Red Rum Club and he spoke passionately about the importance of venues such as Salt and Tar. He said: "We're celebrating the launch here today and the journey we've been on to get to this point.
www.bbc.co.uk
> A £15m transformation of city docks that date back to 1765 has been given the go-ahead. > > Liverpool's Canning Quaysides and Dry Docks will be revamped as part of the Waterfront Transformation Project by National Museums Liverpool (NML). > > The south dry dock, built more than 250 years ago, will become accessible to the public for the first time. > > The project, set to begin construction in autumn 2024, has been described as a "once in a lifetime opportunity". > > Architects Asif Khan Studio and internationally renowned artist Theaster Gates will change Canning Dock into what has been described as a space for education, contemplation and recreation. > > As part of the plans, supported by a £10m contribution from the government’s £4.8bn Levelling Up fund, a new stop wall will be built behind the existing timber gates in the south dry dock. > > A staircase and lift will let visitors go down into the dock for the first time. > > The area was used to clean and repair ships, including those that were destined to traffic enslaved people across the Atlantic.
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
> A tree presented to the city 40 years ago to take pride of place at the International garden festival has been hacked up. > > The snake bark maple tree - also known as an acer davidii - has stood in the Oriental Gardens within Liverpool's Festival Gardens in Otterspool for nearly 40 years. In the autumn, its beautiful red foliage is a sight to behold. > > The tree was presented as a gift to Liverpool by the Japanese government as part of the International Garden Festival, which was held on the site from May to October 1984. > > On Sunday, Kate Parry, Secretary of the Friends of Festival Gardens association, was working in the gardens when she was approached by a member of the public, who told her the tree had been vandalised. She went to investigate and saw the damage for herself. > > Speaking to the ECHO, Kate said: "Half of the tree had been torn off - the part that was easily accessible by climbing onto stones. There were a couple of areas where branches had been burnt, and at the top of the cascade, branches from the tree had been piled up to be burnt." > > Kate said she felt "shocked and upset" when she saw the extent of the damage. She added: "It's an iconic tree - it's our sycamore gap tree. It was an established tree when it was donated - so it's more than 40 years old."
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
> People out walking along the banks of the Mersey were treated to an amazing sight on Monday as a pod of what appeared to be dolphins were spotted in the river. > > The creatures were clearly visible as they leapt above the surface of the water together at around 5pm in Otterspool. > > The magical moment was caught on camera by Dave Evans, who was walking his dog near Liverpool Cricket Club when he spotted the pod "passing by so effortlessly". > > ... > > Dolphins and porpoises have been spotted in the Mersey before. Thanks to decades of clean up work, marine life is returning to the river. Speaking to the ECHO in in 2023, John Sanders from the Mersey Rivers Trust said: "We do have dolphins, sharks and other fish starting to return into the Mersey estuary, but sewage is a big issue, we've still got these Victorian sewer systems which when heavy rain arrives, overflow into our rivers. > > In 2020, at the height of the covid lockdown, several people reported seeing a pod of around 10 dolphins in Otterspool. However, according to an expert, they were probably harbour porpoises, rather than dolphins.
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
> According to research from Savills and Telegraph Money, Hightown, in Sefton, is one of the most desirable villages in Britain to live in. The report looked at a number of aspects including highest house prices, best lifestyle factors, connectivity and aesthetic appeal. > > ... > > Hightown is desirable because it's close enough to transport including a train station, on the Southport line, but also between Formby and Crosby beach and the National Trust pine woods. The Times report said: "Commuters can work in the city and retreat to the coast where there are sandy and shingle stretches, dunes and wetlands teaming with wildlife such as natterjack toads. > > "The nearby Sefton Coastal Path provides views of sprawling farmland and coastal vistas." The Pheasant Inn, on Moss Lane, is also a much loved gastropub that has been named among the top 50 pubs in the UK, by Big 7 Travel.
www.theguardian.com
> The subject of the painting gazes at the viewer, alone and barefoot in loose and torn clothing. Known only as The Black Boy, his identity has been a mystery for nearly 200 years. > > A museum is appealing for information about the mysterious sitter, who is rumoured to have stowed away on a ship to Liverpool – possibly to escape slavery in America – after research about the artist, William Lindsay Windus, and X-rays of the painting revealed potential clues to the boy’s identity. > > ... > > X-rays have revealed that Windus, a pre-Raphaelite artist who was only 22 when he painted The Black Boy in 1844, painted “four or five” other faces on the canvas before making the unconventional decision to settle on an individual Black child as his final subject. > > “He kept working until he created this image,” said Haselden. “This is the one he wanted to keep.” > > She said that Windus also paid an unusual amount of attention to the child’s dark skin tone, giving it depth. “When you look closely, you see there are pinks and reds, and that is very rare,” she added. > > By portraying the child gazing directly at the viewer, Windus is trying to invoke empathy for his pitiful subject, but in a dignified and slightly confrontational way, she said. “He’s making direct eye contact, he’s holding your attention and he’s making you look directly at him.” > > At the same time, Windus uses the light shining in from the right-hand side of the portrait to illuminate the child’s face and convey his innocence and purity, she said. “It’s very ahead of its time – and it’s really showing off Windus’s skills as a painter.” > > In 1891, nearly 50 years after the painting was created, a listing in a catalogue claimed the boy was a stowaway whom Windus had met on the steps of the Monument hotel in Liverpool. According to this narrative, Windus took pity on the boy’s condition, employed him as an errand boy and sent his portrait off to a frame-maker’s shop. Serendipitously, a passing sailor spotted it, realised the child was his missing relative – and reunited the boy with his parents. > > This charitable tale, with its unlikely happy ending, would have made the portrait more appealing to wealthy Victorian art buyers. > > “It’s a wonderful story, but I’m quite sceptical,” said Haselden. “This child may have been a native Liverpudlian. Black people have been living in Liverpool since at least the 1730s.” > > ... > > The museum has put up an appeal online for information about the sitter, asking people to use a Google form to share their clues. > > “When we think about Black presence in art, there is so much anonymity there,” said Haselden. “There are so many figures that are unnamed.” > > As a curator of mixed-race heritage in Liverpool, she said she wanted to “do justice” to the sitter and call The Black Boy by his name. She added: “His story is central to the development and history of our city, and he deserves to be more widely acknowledged.” > > Any documents relating to the Liverpool Academy of Arts in the 1840s, which Windus was a member of, and any letters Windus wrote, would be of particular interest.
electrek.co
> The City of Liverpool, England, has unveiled advanced proposals to build the world’s largest tidal power generator on the River Mersey. > > If it’s built, Mersey Tidal Power would become the largest tidal range scheme in the world. It would power more than 1 million homes for more than 120 years. > > The dam-like Mersey Tidal Power would be a barrier between the Irish Sea and a tidal basin. It would be fitted with turbines and tap into one of the UK’s largest tidal ranges to generate power with two-way generation. > > It would connect Liverpool and the Wirral peninsula and could become a pedestrian and cycling link across the Mersey. It could also provide future flood defense.
theconversation.com
cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/9062135 > Huge volumes of toxic and cancer-causing forever chemicals are flowing into the River Mersey in north-west England. With a busy, industrialised skyline and both Manchester and Liverpool nearby, it’s the second-most populated river catchment in the UK after the Thames. > > None of England’s rivers are in good chemical health. The recent State of Our Rivers 2024 report from The Rivers Trust found that one of the most concerning groups of synthetic chemicals, per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS), contaminates almost every river in England.
www.theguardian.com
cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/8393231 > > Atomic Pro Wrestling stages fights in venue where viewers can enjoy craft beer and get close to the action
www.bbc.co.uk
> A boy is being treated in hospital after being bitten in the head by a dog, believed to be an XL bully. > > The eight-year-old was attacked in a communal area of flats near Wadham Road, Bootle at about 17:20 GMT on Saturday, Merseyside Police said. > > He was taken to hospital where he is in a stable but serious condition. > > A 49-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man, who are not related to the child, have been arrested, while the dog has been seized by police. > > The pair were detained on suspicion of being a person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and causing injury. > > ... > > Det Insp Gary Stratton, from Merseyside Police, said: "I want to reassure people that [the boy] is receiving the best possible care and treatment for his injuries, which are described as life-changing."
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/6813451 > > The event takes place in the spring and autumn of each year, and for the last few years it has been held at the ACC Exhibition Centre on Liverpool’s waterfront. However, taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday, January 14, the official page announced that May’s event would also take place at the M&S Bank Arena, making Comic Con into a “city wide festival” comparable to Eurovision with tens of thousands of extra places available. > > > > ... > > > > “When we came to Liverpool, the dream was to open all three venues at one time, involve the whole city, and make this event one of the best Comic Con events in the world and at that time, not many believed it could happen. That's what makes this evolution so special! > > > > “We made the impossible dream come true and Comic Con Liverpool now stands as one of the world's biggest and best conventions that attracts the biggest celebrities in the world!
www.independent.co.uk
> The ex-health secretary said: “Joe Anderson – unfortunately, no longer with us – he was incredibly supportive. > > “And we ended up in Liverpool having a package of measures that was effective after a very constructive negotiation.” > > Mr Anderson, who was the city’s mayor from 2012 until December 2021, responded on social media: “Just took my pulse and I seem to still be here and I feel ok.”
www.birkenhead.news
> The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority report, seen by the LDRS, outlines various plans for a potential tidal barrage project, which could be built across the Mersey, a long-term vision that is considered crucial to reducing carbon emissions across Merseyside. If it goes ahead, the multi-billion project is expected to power one million homes and create thousands of jobs. > > The combined authority hopes to have the project delivered by 2040 to operate for 120 years alongside four new offshore wind developments expected to be up and running by 2030 – although this will require substantial government backing. > > ... > > The report published in October said the project would be “a first of a kind project in the UK, and involve constructing a barrage with turbines, sluices and marine navigation locks in the Mersey. > > ... > > The report adds, “A tidal project on the Mersey will create a major new piece of infrastructure – linking the left and right bank (Wirral and Liverpool) – with the potential to provide more clean energy, provide protection against inevitable sea level rise and can be deployed to help create and enhance natural habitats. This will require assessment and agreed mitigation plans.” > > The report said the tidal range turbines proposed would have the capacity to generate 25 megawatts each with 28 turbines. The turbines will generate electricity by turning as the tide goes out and comes back in though sluice gates would also be used to let water quickly pass through the barrage if needed.
www.theguardian.com
> A Penny Lane street sign stolen by drunk students has been returned to Liverpool, 47 years after the theft. > > The sign of the Mossley Hill suburb was taken in 1976, nine years after the road was made famous when the Beatles’ single Penny Lane was released as a double A-side single with Strawberry Fields Forever. > > Earlier this year, the Beatles Story museum in Liverpool was contacted by a man who said he wanted to send the “totally pristine” sign back to the city. > > The former student, who described the petty thieves as “worse for wear” when they stole the sign, said: “Because I am getting on a bit now, I want to return it to the Pool, where I spent six very happy years as a student, undergrad then postgrad, including meeting my wife of 44 years. > > “Obviously, Liverpool is where the sign should now spend the rest of its days.” > > The sign is not the only one to have been stolen from the road but museum bosses said it was the oldest to be returned. > > Dan Barrington, Liverpool city council’s cabinet member for transport, said: “The removal of street signs is a criminal offence which can lead to a prison sentence. > > “However, given the history of this case and the fact this Penny Lane has got back to where it belongs after what looks like a long and winding journey, then I think we can all agree to just let it be.”
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/4954060 > > Sector-Con, co-created by mega-fan Phillip Larner will be arriving at New Brighton's Floral Pavilion on Sunday (November 26), bringing with it a host of family-friendly activities and over 70 traders and cosplayers. The event is set to be organiser's Empire Sector's biggest yet. > > > > ... > > > > "At our previous events, we've ensured that our Bazaars are a relaxed and welcoming space for all. This one will be no different! Empire Sector events are a space for anyone to come and wear the geek badge with pride! Our events will always be an open and welcoming space for fans of horror, comics, manga, anime or cosplay. > > > > "If you are a fan of any geeky media this is the event for you. We always strive to bring a wide variety of traders so whether you're looking for anime earrings or horror artwork we have a stall for you. > > > > "Sector-Con will be a chance to browse and shop from independent sellers who have a wide variety of products from Funko Pops to comic books. You can also meet and chat with local artists and writers." > > > > Tickets cost £4 for an advance ticket or £5 on the door. Children under the age of ten will enter for free (must be accompanied by an adult).
Has anyone else had trouble with their post this year? I thought it was weird that I stopped getting letters a while ago, and recently ordered some new bank cards but 3 weeks later they aren't here. I checked with bank and they were sent weeks ago. I also got a letter and a follow-on letter from a solicitor at the same time, like they'd been bunched up somewhere. Maybe I annoyed my postie? 😬
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cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/2193585 > > With the age of the home has come its intriguing qualities, one of those being a series of bricked up doorways believed to lead to tunnels in the cellar of the house, as well as the c[e]ll bars in the cellar. > > > > Another is the fact the house may be haunted. She added: "My house is haunted but not in the Airbnb because that's an extension. > > > > "It's in our cellar, we catch them mimicking our names and the dogs growl at the cellar and won't go down. > > > > "It doesn't happen that often. The last time it happened I was in the kitchen, I heard my husband shout Dee and I turned and he wasn't there he was in the garden. > > > > "Things go missing and come back when we asked for it. It's a really fun house to live in." > > NB: copy editted because they couldn't be arsed.
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> Horror-fest Farmaggedon returns to Farmer Ted's on October 6. > > The monster-filled adventure park is back with a terrifying new experience for 2023. This year, guests can take on the zombie warzone, an adrenaline-filled, pyrotechnic, zombie shoot-em-up experience that puts you on the frontline. > > Firm favourites including 'the beast of terror', 'the meat locker', 'maze of death', and 'the fear-go-round' will also return in one of the country's top scare attractions. > > Across the Farmaggedon grounds, guests can enjoy a range of live music, dancers and street performers as well as on-site food and drink. Kicking off on October 6, horror fans can book tickets for varying dates up until Halloween.
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* Helena Bonham Carter * Simon Pegg * Bella Ramsey * Jensen Ackles * Gwendoline Christie * Cary Elwes
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> Two people have died after becoming trapped in their car in a flooded road in Liverpool. > >Police said officers were called to Queens Drive in the Mossley Hill area at 21:00 BST on Saturday night. > > Passers-by fought to help the man and woman who were stuck inside a black Mercedes in deep floodwater. > > Emergency workers took them to hospital, but they were pronounced dead. > > Amateur footage filmed in the area appears to show water gushing on to the road - which dips under a bridge. > > Met Office data shows heavy rainfall at more than 32mm (1.25 inches) an hour near where it happened > > ... > > People living in the area told the Liverpool Echo the road has been problematic for some time. They said several cars had become stuck in deep water in the area over the last few months. > > Liverpool's deputy lord mayor Richard Kemp said he had repeatedly raised the alarm about flooding at the spot for about 20 years.
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> Tickets for Merseyside's only horror film festival have today gone on sale. > > The Dead of Night Film Festival has been running for the past four years and is Liverpool's only film festival dedicated to horror. The aim is to bring new independent horror short and feature-length films to the general public. > > The festival will take place at Southport's Bijou Cinema and will run from October 7 to 8. This year, seven films will be screened and twenty short films. A one-day ticket for the festival is £12, while a weekend ticket is £20. > >The Bijou Cinema is a community cinema tucked into Post Office Avenue with 75 seats and an Optoma 8000-lumens projector.
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> The Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz star will attend the event, which will take place at Liverpool Exhibition Centre on October 21 and 22. > > ... > > Helena Bonham Carter and 'The Boys' star Jensen Ackles have already been confirmed to appear at the event
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> The long-empty landmark in Liverpool's city centre was once the home of Liverpool's Irish Centre but has been empty since the late 1990s. Constructed in 1816, the Wellington Rooms served as a ballroom for much of its history. > > The once-grand building, situated on the corner of Great Orford Street and under the shadow of the Metropolitan Cathedral, was then formerly operated as Liverpool Irish Centre from 1965 to 1997. It was once a place that staged elaborate dance events and operated as a function room, but closed down in the late 1990s and has not been in use since. > > Since its closure, the Grade II* listed building has fallen into a significant state of disrepair, with the centre being a central focus of the ECHO's Stop the Rot campaign. Urgent works were carried out on the neoclassical building in a bid to plug gaps in the roof and slow the impending decay on the structure. edit: the Echo's typo in the title was niggling me
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> Liverpool's International Slavery Museum has cut ties with the company run by Sir David Adjaye but it will still use his design for its redevelopment. > > Adjaye Associates had led the architectural design of the museum's £57m plans. > > It follows reports in the Financial Times (FT) three women had accused Sir David of sexual assault and harassment. > >BHe has previously denied the allegations. > > Three women, all previously employed by Sir David, have accused him of different forms of "exploitation", the FT said, and have claimed their dealings with him had disrupted their careers and caused serious mental distress. > > Earlier this year he admitted he had "entered into relationships which though entirely consensual, blurred the boundaries between my professional and personal lives," adding, "I am deeply sorry".