Daily Post

Mum, 31, Dies Christmas Shopping

SHOPPING A FAMILY has been left devastated after a fit young mum collapsed and died while out Christmas shopping Shepherdess Eleri Thomas, who had a 15month-old son - had just finished her shopping in Denbigh when she collapsed on the pavement and died. She was 31

Liverpool Captain Shows the Pain of Defeat

Anger As Tesco Wins Store Expansion Fight ; City Suburb Site to Grow by 50

SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has won a planning appeal which will allow it to increase the size of its flagship store in south Liverpool by more than 50The Government's Planning Inspectorate has reversed a decision by Liverpool's planning committee which refused to allow the expansion. The news is a body blow to campaigning local residents who for two years battled against the expansion plans for the store in Mather Avenue, Allerton.

Blair Faces Flak Over Eu Budget Deal

TONY Blair is facing a rough ride in the Commons after the pounds 7.2bn EU budget giveaway. The PM won the praise of European colleagues for achieving an early hours agreement at the end of marathon negotiations in Brussels on Saturday.

Celebration As Pounds 1.3bn Cash Pot Heads to Wales

A MASSIVE European budget deal safeguarding major development projects and protecting jobs in some of the poorest parts of Wales was welcomed as a vital boost last night. One council boss, who was lobbying in Brussels, admitted he breathed a huge sigh of relief after vital Objective 1 cash aid was guaranteed for Wales.

Shopping Spree Will Beat Last Year's by Almost Pounds 2bn

SHOPPERS are poised to spend pounds 9.58bn on presents in the final week before Christmas - pounds 1.91bn more than last year, new research shows. Around 19% of this money will be put on credit cards, while an estimated 8.9m people will pay for at least half of their last- minute purchases using plastic, according to Sainsbury's Bank.

Heat Failure Puts Elderly Out in Cold

ELDERLY patients in south Liverpool had to be moved between hospitals last night when a heating system broke down. Two wards of patients from Sir Alfred Jones Memorial Hospital, in Garston, had to be moved after the heating failed.

Fire Alert

Woman Killed in Motorway Fall

A WOMAN was killed last night after she fell from a bridge over a busy motorway in Knowsley and was hit by several cars. Police were called to the scene on the M57 at 6.12pm last night.

15 Hurt in Minibus and Car Crash

Row On Delay by Us Officials

Axe Man Shot

Bronze Winner

How Rugby Giant Jonah Compared Scars with Charlotte ; Brave Eight Year Old Meets Sports Legend As He Tour S Hospital

THE proud parents of a brave North Wales girl told how she compared scars with rugby great Jonah Lomu. Little Charlotte Speddy met the New Zealand giant at University Hospital, Cardiff - just hours after undergoing a ninth operation on her spine and rib cage.

Booze Ban to Crack Down On Town Yobs

A CRACKDOWN on drunken yobs terrorising a North Wales market town is being stepped up this morning with the introduction of booze- free zones. Reacting to a string of complaints, council chiefs in Anglesey vowed to get tough by banning drinking on the streets of Llangefni.

Church Echoes to Sound of Christmas Camel Service

THE annual carol service at St Nicholas' Church, at the Pier Head, yesterday provided a final stop-off point for one of the region's more bizarre seasonal visitors. The "Sailors' Church" was the latest place to welcome Callum the camel, who has enjoyed a hectic round of social engagements since his arrival on Merseyside at the end of last week.

Missing Boy Scare at Beach Nativity

A PARTIALLY sighted boy sparked a panic when he went missing before watching a nativity play on Saturday. The 12-year-old Crosby boy was separated from the group of friends he was with, while watching the church-organised performance on Crosby beach.

Violence Leads to Pub's Closure

A TOWN centre pub was refused a licence after councillors were shown footage of violent clashes outside its doors. Police opposed Holywell's Victoria Hotel being granted a licence to open from 11am until 11.30pm seven days a week with 30 minutes drinking-up time.

Busy Christmas Fear for Lifeboat Volunteers

WELSH lifeboat volunteers last night said they expected to be busier than ever over the festive period. Lifeboat launches off the North Wales coast have almost quadrupled over the past 25 years.

Flee Your Burning Home Like This ; Distant Residents to Get Safety Advice

A NEW initiative will see rural North Wales householders given advice on how to flee their homes should a blaze break out. They will also be issued with free smoke alarms while fire officers will conduct enhanced safety checks.