Daily Post

Pop Icon Enthrals City Fans

SUPERSTAR Elton John brought his larger-than-life Red Piano Tour to the Echo Arena Liverpool last night. His back-catalogue of hits - including Your Song and Candle in the Wind - received howling applause from the sell-out crowd.

Collapse of Port Firm 'Could Be First of Many' ; Exclusive City Company Folds Ahead of Pounds 1.3m Tax Bill

THE collapse of a Merseyside stevedoring firm could be the "first of many" dockside casualties in the region, port industry champions warned last night. Thomas Nichols Brown (TNB) has this week become the first Liverpool firm to call in administrators since the introduction of crippling new port rates. Its smaller Wirral-based sister company, Dobro, also went bust. It is feared they could be the first of dozens of companies to fall under the combined strain of the economic downturn and huge n...

Pensioner Victim of Youths' Attack Suffers Brain Clot

A PENSIONER who confronted two rowdy youths at a tourist destination on the Wirral peninsula suffered a blood clot on his brain weeks after they attacked him, police have said. The 67-year-old victim had been walking with his wife in Parkgate when he challenged the two hoodie-wearing youths about their loutish behaviour.

Police Chief Up for Met's Top Job ; Hogan-Howe Among Four On Shortlist

MERSEYSIDE police chief Bernard Hogan-Howe is among four candidates shortlisted for Britain's top police job. The high-profile role of Metropolitan Police Commissioner has been vacant since the resignation of Sir Ian Blair last month.

In Brief: British Soldier Killed in Afghanistan

A BRITISH soldier was killed yesterday in Afghanistan. The soldier, from the 1st Battalion The Rifles was hit by enemy fire in Southern Helmand.

In Brief: Man Admits Gun Robbery

A MERSEYSIDE man has admitted robbing a couple at gunpoint. David Mousley, 37, used a firearm to force the couple to hand over their possessions at a Wirral "lover's lane".

In Brief: Police Shot At

In Brief: Pooh Record

Going, Gone - Brookside Close Sold for Pounds 735,000 ; Mystery Developer Buys Tv Soap Cul-de-Sac

THE cul-de-sac that once staged Liverpool-based soap Brookside was yesterday snapped up inside three minutes at auction for pounds 735,000. An unnamed Liverpool-based developer bought all 13 properties of Brookside Close in Croxteth Park.

Future Strikes at School On Hold

FURTHER strike action at a Liverpool school has been suspended after union talks with the headteacher who staff accused of bullying. The governing body of St Julie's Catholic High, in Woolton, headteacher Sister Ann Marie Gammack and the NAS/UWT union held a meeting and have agreed a process for the New Year.

Unions Abandon City Post Strike After Injunctions ; Industrial Action Would Affect 800 Workers

UNIONS have called off a postal strike that was set to hit Liverpool tomorrow after a legal challenge by the Royal Mail. The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said two injunctions had been served over a ballot of workers in the city.

A Ministerial

In Brief: Merseyrail Near Foot of Refunds Table

THE amount rail passengers get on refunds for late trains varies enormously, according to Which? magazine. Passengers on First TransPennine and on London Overground services get a full refund for a 30-minute hold-up, Which? found.

In Brief: We Failed to Pursue Madoff

In Brief: More Buyers

In Brief: Panda Plans

Field Fails to Reverse Vat Cut

REBEL Mersey MP Frank Field poured scorn on Gordon Brown's VAT cut, describing it as "spitting in the face of an economic hurricane". But just two fellow Labour MPs joined the Birkenhead MP in an attempt to reverse the temporary reduction in VAT - from 17.5% to 15%.

Ruling Win for Ryanair

Residents Ready to Move On After Rhys Killer Jailed ; Community Puts Effort Into Memorial Centre

THE community torn apart by Rhys Jones's murder can attempt to move on now his killer has been brought to justice. That was the view of community leaders in Croxteth Park yesterday, as the impact of Sean Mercer's minimum 22-year sentence for the 11-year-old's murder began to sink in.

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BLOG Want to know which comedy DVDs you should be wrapping up this Christmas, and which you should avoid? Vicky Anderson has the answers at: www.comedyblog.merseyblogs.co.uk