Daily Post

Academic Stands by Attack On North ; Leunig Says Sorry - but Insists People Should Move South

THE under-fire academic who said Liverpudlians should give up on their city, yesterday said he would not change a single line of his controversial report. Dr Tim Leunig caused outrage in August when he said Liverpool had lost its raison d'etre . He advised policy makers to build millions of homes in the South East to house the droves who should move there. But, while he apologised for "upsetting" people in Merseyside, he said no one had challenged the facts underpinning his argument.

Illustrious Crew Ready for Warm Welcome Home

Mersey Wardens' Jobs Under Threat ; Service 'Not Fit for Purpose'

THE entire Neighbourhood Warden Service in a Merseyside authority has been put on 90-day notice and faces being axed. The 66 Knowsley neighbourhood wardens were to be permanently funded with a new investment of pounds 1.6m from April.

In Brief: Princes Sad at Death of Army Comrade

PRINCES William and Harry were "deeply saddened" by the death of a former comrade in Afghanistan, Clarence House said last night. Trooper James Munday, from Birmingham, was killed on Wednesday afternoon in a blast during a routine patrol in Helmand Province.

In Brief: Couple Plunge From Balcony

TWO Britons are in hospital in Spain after falling six floors from the balcony of their holiday apartment. The man and woman, named as Lee Cook, 28, and Jemma France, 18, plunged from the sixth floor at around 3am yesterday and were discovered lying outside, covered in blood, by the hotel's night porter.

In Brief: Murder Charge

A 15-YEAR-OLD boy, charged with the murder of two-year-old Demi Leigh Mahon, in Salford, has appeared in court. The child was found with serious head injuries at an address in Liverpool Road on July 15. She died in hospital two days later.

In Brief: Optic Miracle

Artist's Dock Fountain of Fun ; Biennial Event Is Tribute to Jules Verne Book

CITY-BASED international arts organisation and collective Jump Ship Rat have thrown themselves into the 2008 Biennial with a variety of experimental projects, both of their own and by commissioning foreign artists. But the piece de resistance for this year's event is the stunning Mobilis in Mobilie JSR U-51, a "giant mobile infinity fountain" travelling around the Albert Dock.

Robbers Attack Security Guard in City Centre

A 60-YEAR-OLD security guard was attacked and robbed yesterday morning in Chester city centre. Police are appealing for witnesses following the vicious and unprovoked attack which left the victim with extensive facial injuries.

Man Arrested

A 19-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated attack in Toxteth. The 24-year-old Arabic victim was stabbed in the stomach outside the Park Road News store at 8.30pm on Tuesday.

No Comeback for Lily Savage - Not Even for Prince Charles

BIRKENHEAD-BORN entertainer Paul O'Grady collected his MBE from the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace yesterday. The 53-year-old was wearing top hat and tails to meet Prince Charles and admitted: "It's a long way from Lily Savage."

Madrid Game to Go Ahead After Uefa Change of Heart ; Travel Plans Relief for Liverpool Fans

LIVERPOOL FC fans breathed a sigh of relief last night after a Uefa U-turn allowed the club's game with Atletico Madrid next week to go ahead in the Spanish capital. Atletico had been ordered by Uefa to play their next two Champions League matches at least 300 kilometres away from the Vicente Calderon Stadium after trouble during their match against Marseille on October 1.

In Brief: Pedestrian in Lorry Tragedy Is Named

A PEDESTRIAN who died after being hit by a lorry in West Lancashire has been named. Neil Hardy, 30, from Chorley, was hit by the vehicle on Halsall Road in Halsall, near Ormskirk, at 8.35am on Wednesday.

In Brief: New British Army Chief

A GENERAL calling for more troops in Afghanistan will be appointed as head of the British Army today, it was reported last night. General Sir David Richards will be confirmed as General Sir Richard Dannatt's replacement, according to newspaper reports.

In Brief: Shorter Week

In Brief: Cheap Petrol

PETROL prices fell by 6.5p a litre in the past month. It is the second biggest monthly squeeze on fuel costs ever, beaten only by the one witnessed at the end of the Lebanon crisis in 2006.

In Brief: Prize Loser

Dirtiest Hands Found in Liverpool

LIVERPOOL residents have among the dirtiest hands in England, according to new research. And researchers blame the filth on a lack of hand washing after people answer calls of nature.

Famous Faces and Places of the Past Go On Show ; Photographer Brings City History to Life

EVOCATIVE images capturing Liverpool in the 1950s and 60s have gone on display in the city for the first time. Black and white photographs showing famous Liverpool streets and local heroes are just some of the images on show at the National Conservation Centre.

A Naked Lunch - Japanese Style

SOUTHPORT'S exclusive Vincent hotel launched its sushi bar in style last night. Guests ate sushi off a naked model and were served saki by sexy Geisha girls.