Daily Post

Women's Hospital in Staff Bullying Claim ; Exclusive Trust Clamps Down After Survey Reveals Second Worst Harassment Levels in Country

LIVERPOOL Women's Hospital was forced to bring in actors to help staff recognise bullying behaviour, after it was revealed it had one of the worst rates of harassment from management. According to the latest data from the Health Care Commission, 14% of staff at the trust which runs Liverpool's Women's experienced bullying or harassment from managers or team leaders in the past 12 months.

Householders Face Pounds 100 Fines for Rubbish Blunders

HOUSEHOLDERS in Wirral who contaminate recycling bins could be hit with pounds 100 on-the-spot fines - soon. The council is expected to approve plans which will see people being given three warnings before being penalised.

'Wife Asked Friend to Find a Hitman' ; Court Told of Anti-Freeze Poison

A WOMAN from Wirral accused of poisoning her husband with anti- freeze for his pounds 250,000 life insurance had asked her neighbour if she knew a hitman, a jury was told. Kate Knight, from Moreton, is pleading not guilty to the attempted murder of her 37-year-old husband, Lee, at the home they shared at Meir Hay, Stoke, between January and April 2005.

In Brief: Man to Face Trial Accused of Murder

A SKELMERSDALE man facing a murder charge has been remanded in custody at Preston Crown Court. Jason Moran, 24, of Firbeck, is accused of murdering Ian Aitken on December 7 and will enter his plea to the charge at another hearing on March 10.

In Brief: Memento of a Queen for Sale

In Brief: Culture Pages

Haven't I Just Counted You, or Are You a Ringer? ; - and If You Think They're Tricky, Try Ants

ZOO keepers had their work cut out as they tried to carry out the annual head count to meet their licensing obligations. Chloe Inskip, a conservation research assistant at Chester Zoo, somehow managed to arrange a single file roll call, after being given the task of carrying out the audit in the ring-tailed lemur enclosure.

Hired Assassin Theory Abandoned in Murder Hunt

THE weapon used to fatally shoot Derek Stevens through the windscreen of his gold Land Rover was not a high velocity rifle, Merseyside police confirmed yesterday. Mr Stevens was found slumped at the wheel with a gun shot wound to his head on Saturday night.

Hunt for Man Accused of Assault

AMAN is being hunted by police after allegedly grabbing a 13- year-old girl who he pinned up against a window and threatened because she was giggling on a bus. Cheshire police last night released a CCTV image of the man, believed to be in his 50s, which was taken from the 82AArriva Runcorn to Widnes bus on December 22.

Seizure Theory

ADRIVER who died after his car ploughed into the back of another vehicle in Wirral might have suffered a heart-attack. Police are investigating whether 59-year-old Dennis Frances from New Ferry had a seizure or cardiac arrest before the crash.

1,400 Women Join Battle for City Council Equal Pay ; Concern Over Wages Review 'Slowness'

MORE than 1,400 women at Liverpool City Council have lodged compensation claims for equal pay against the authority. The numbers were revealed in a damning report into the council's finances by district auditor Tim Watkinson, who said the council had been slow to carry out an equal pay review it was required to implement by March, 2007.

In Brief: Arsonist Set Curtains at House Alight

POLICE are investigating an arson attack on the home of a woman who had moved out following threats. Someone leaned through an open window at the unoccupied house in Whitecross Road, Warrington and set fire to curtains in the kitchen.

In Brief: Fresh Charges for Canoeist

In Brief: Historic Trip

In Brief: 'We May Wed'

In Brief: Beat the Touts

Summit to Decide On Liverpool's New Home ; Owners Consider Rival Designs

THE designs for Liverpool Football Club's new home are expected to be released today after a crunch meeting in America. Owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett were joined by club chief executive Rick Parry in New York yesterday to receive presentations from two architectural firms pitching their plans for Stanley Park.

Developer Urges Inquiry Into Everton Stadium

A DEVELOPER has threatened to push for a public inquiry into plans to build a new stadium for Everton FC and a Tesco supermarket in Kirkby. Tesco and Everton submitted plans for a joint pounds 400mscheme.

A Painfully Slow Leaving of Liverpool

RUSH-HOUR chaos came to Liverpool city centre as travellers made their way home yesterday evening. Commuters leaving Liverpool faced the normal obstacles created by road works as they tried to make their way home along The Strand past the Royal Liver Building.

Discount Shop Bid Set to Go Ahead

A FIRM'S plan to create 700 jobs in Liverpool goes before councillors next week and is likely to get the go-ahead. Discount store Home Bargains, which has shops all over Merseyside, wants to massively expand its Croxteth distribution centre, increasing its staff from 400 to 1,100.