Daily Post

Parents Iraq Fears

THE family of a young North Wales soldier heading for war-torn central Iraq last night spoke of their fears. Trooper David Blackburn, 19, from Buckley, is one of 100 Queen's Dragoon Guards being sent to bolster the Black Watch. The tank operator last year survived a rocket attack in Iraq.

Flood Hero Saves Homes ; Ex-Mayor Praised for Swift Action

FORMER mayor Laurence Roberts was hailed a saviour last night after his swift action reduced flood damage to a North Wales town. The Beaumaris councillor summoned a friend with a digger to smash a 20ft hole in a dyke which was preventing the rising flood water draining into the sea.

Arrests in Hall Arson Probe

POLICE were questioning two men last night over an arson attack at an historic North Wales mansion. The men, aged 20 and 21-years-old, were arrested on suspicion of starting the blaze which destroyed the 140-year-old Hafodunos Hall earlier this month.

Pounds 5, 750 Loan That Grew to Pounds 384, 000 ; Southport Couple Face Losing Home Over Massive Arrears

A COUPLE who borrowed pounds 5, 750 face losing their home after their debt spiral led to pounds 384, 000. Tony and Michelle Meadows claim they took out the loan in 1989 to make improvements to their semi-detached house in Southport.

Worker Is Killed by Falling Tree

A 22-year old man was killed after being hit by a falling tree in mid Wales yesterday. The tragedy happened in woodland at Coed y Wig, Dolanog, near Llanfair Caereinion, Powys, at about 9. 50am.

Why We Won't Go to the Cinema

LACK of funding is endangering the future of independent cinemas in Wales. A new study revealed more than half of the 57 cinema sites in Wales are underperforming. And many Welsh cinemas are operating at attendance levels less than one third of the national average.

Cherie Wants Governments to Be More Family-Friendly

CHERIE Blair has called on governments to adopt more family- friendly policies to help workers balance their commitments to their jobs and their families. "This is not as it's sometimes painted just a woman's issue. Everybody should be able to enjoy a full life outside of their work, " she said in a speech to the Women's Economic Club in Detroit.

Council Officers Hid Pounds 1m Overspend ; Rising Building Costs Went Unreported

AN investigation into how costs for a new council building more than trebled, hitting pounds 1m, has revealed that officers knew about the problem four months before they reported it. Workers were questioned at a finance meeting over the project, which will make the Cheshire Lines building in Birkenhead the home of the authority's new call centre.

Knight Petition

Artists' Gifts

Hunting Plea

Grim Warning On Terror

Man Accused of Murdering Teacher

A Healthy Food Charter to Win Over the Heart of Merseyside ; Bid to Reduce Region's High Levels of Disease

NOT SO long ago dining in a restaurant should probably have carried a Government health warning. The guilt-trip was often too much to take as piling on the pounds became an occupational hazard for those who regularly enjoyed the business lunch.

He's Our Saviour ; Town Hails Ex-Mayor for Saving Their Homes From Floods

A QUICK-THINKING former mayor was praised yesterday for his efforts to stop flood water flooding local homes. Town councillor Laurence Roberts called in a friend with a digger to smash a 20ft hole in a sea defence on the town green at Beaumaris.

Woman Dies After Car Swept Away

A DRIVER died when her 4x4 was swept away while crossing a swollen river yesterday. Elsewhere, emergency services carried out a dramatic James Bond- style rescue of a driver whose vehicle became trapped in a flooded ford.

Industry Group Calls for Ban On Alcopop Linked to 'Sexual Success'

PUBS and off-licences have been asked to stop selling a Liverpool- made alcopop after an industry body decided the products made a link to "sexual success". Shooters was found to have breached a number of rules in the code of practice, upheld by the drinks industry-funded Portman Group.

Explosives Missing in Iraq

ABOUT 350 tons of explosives are missing from a former Iraqi military facility that once played a key role in Saddam Hussein's efforts to build a nuclear bomb. The revelation was immediately seized on by Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's campaign team who accused President George Bush of failing to keep the explosives "out of the hands of our enemies. "

French in Fuel Demos

Titmuss Spared Charges After Cocaine Claims

ABI Titmuss will not face drugs charges despite admitting involvement in buying cocaine, police said last night. Scotland Yard announced it is to take no further action against the former girl friend of controversial TV presenter John Leslie.