Daily Post

Welcome for 7,500 Mersey Migrants ; Vital to Liverpool's Economic Renaissance, Say City Leaders

ALMOST 7,500 economic migrants from as far away as Congo and Angola moved to Merseyside last year, new figures revealed last night. City leaders welcomed the news of the area's new arrivals, and said they were vital to the success of Liverpool's economic renaissance.

Workers in Shock As Glass Firm Folds ; 'We Were Told to Carry On As Normal'

STAFF at St Helens Glass last night left work in tears after being told the company had gone into voluntary liquidation. The company's 200-strong head office workforce told how bosses kept telling them to carry on working as normal while cars outside were being filled with boxes by managers.

Labour Snatch Seat From Lib-Dems

LABOUR last night won a marginal seat from the Liberal Democrats in a by-election for the Speke and Garston ward. In what was seen as a "dress rehearsal" for May's council elections, Labour candidate Colin Strickland overturned a 760-vote Lib-Dem majority to take the seat. Speke-Garston was seen as one of Labour's key targets.

In Brief: Duchess Back Home After Operation

THE Duchess of Cornwall left hospital last night to continue her recovery at home, three days after undergoing a hysterectomy, Clarence House said. The Prince of Wales collected his wife from King Edward VII Hospital in central London and the couple returned to Clarence House, a spokeswoman said.

In Brief: Student Rape Man Jailed

In Brief: The X-It

In Brief: Debt Challenge

In Brief: Worker Killed

Comic Legend Helps Old Floral Pavilion Bow Out ; Popular Theatre Will Reopen Transformed

IT WAS opened by Lord Derby in 1913 as a bandstand but, over the decades, has turned itself into one of Merseyside's best-loved theatres. The Floral Pavilion, in New Brighton, has seen many of the big stars and numerous lesser ones. One of comedy's biggest stars, Ken Dodd, was there yesterday to sing the praises of one of his favourite theatres, which will close temporarily at the end of the month after his own Happiness Show.

Tory Mp in Army Race Row Sacked

A TORY MP sacked from the front bench over comments about Army racism suggested last night his words had been misinterpreted. Patrick Mercer plunged the Conservative Party into a furious row yesterday after implying racial abuse was part and parcel of Army life.

In Brief: Snowdonia Walker Falls to Death

A MAN died after falling while walking in Snowdonia yesterday. The walker was in the Crib Goch area of the mountain range when he fell just after 11am.

In Brief: Cheers From the Terraces

TERRACE houses have risen in value faster than any other property type, according to a report. Research from Halifax Estate Agents revealed that over the past 10 years, the price of a typical terraced house in the UK rose by 239%, compared with an all-property average of 205%.

In Brief: Reward Offer

In Brief: Number's Up

In Brief: Star Encore

In Brief: Parents Learn

Car Conman Left Friends Thousands Out of Pocket

A FORMBY man who sold two stolen cars and duped a friend into buying an expensive BMW on his behalf has been branded a "conman." Liverpool Crown Court heard that the friend, who agreed to enter a hire purchase agreement on William Brennan's behalf, has had his credit rating wrecked as a result of Brennan selling the car.

Man Killed As Metal Sheets Fall From Crane ; Inquiry Into Estate Factory Death

A WORKER was killed on a Merseyside industrial estate when metal sheets fell from a crane and crushed him The 41-year-old Merseyside man died as he was working in a factory on Kirkby Industrial Estate.

Whitehall Acts to Protect World Heritage Sites ; Plans Will Have to Go Before Government

NEW planning rules to control projects around Liverpool's World Heritage site were proposed yesterday by Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell. Powers being sought by the minister would mean major schemes automatically being called-in by the Government, rather than being left in the hands of local decision-makers.

Cocaine Test Star Banned for Year

FORMER Widnes Vikings star Dave Allen has received a 12-month ban from rugby league after testing positive for cocaine. The RFL had initially accepted 21-year-old Allen's claim he had taken the drug accidentally but the punishment was doubled after a landmark challenge by UK Sport.