Two men have been robbed at knife point in Wilmslow.

They had been walking along Hawthorn Lane when they were followed onto Kennerleys Lane by three hooded men.

The robbers took wallets, a mobile phone and a wristwatch after threatening their victims with knives.

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Councils Asked to Help Teenagers Get Work and Training

It’s being claimed the problem of so-called NEETS – teenagers not in education, employment or training – is worse than officials think.

The Audit Commission has found up to one in four young people in Cheshire will be in that situation at some point.

It’s recommending low-cost early interventions by local councils to reduce the risk of long-term joblessness, ill-health and criminality.

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Hosepipe Ban ‘First in 14 Years’

Households in Cheshire will have to observe a hosepipe ban from Friday.

United Utilities has imposed the ban on the North West because only half the average amount of rain has fallen so far this year.

The company says people can still water their gardens and wash their cars with a bucket.

A Cheshire man is among twenty-six fugitives being sought in a global manhunt.

32-year-old Christopher More is wanted in connection with the death of a man at a farmhouse in Cheshire.

It’s thought he could be living in Spain.

Interpol is asking the public for help in tracking him down, along with other people suspected of carrying out serious offences across the world.

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Housing Advice Service for Northwich

A new service has been set up to help people with housing problems in the Northwich area.

The Council has trained advisors in all aspects of housing legislation so they are able to help people resolve issues.

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Wimbledon Success for Stockport Youngster

The Wimbledon dream may have eluded Andy Murray for another year, but there was British success on the final day of Wimbledon.

Liam Broady, from Stockport, and Tom Farquharson won the boys’ doubles – beating fellow Britons Lewis Burton and George Morgan in the final.

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Fred Perry Tribute  Being Planned

Stockport is planning an everlasting tribute to one of its most famous sporting champions, Fred Perry.

Councillors want to name the new £12 million-pound, BREEAM Excellent, civic complex in honour of the three times Wimbledon tennis champion.

The building will be home to around 500 Council employees and a brand new Stockport Direct facility for residents.

Leaked Treasury figures suggest up to 1-point-3 million people could lose their jobs over the next 5 years because of spending cuts.

The unpublished estimates have been obtained by The Guardian.

It puts the figures at up to 120-thousand public sector and 140-thousand
private sector jobs being cut each year.

It’s thought some of those losses may affect Cheshire.

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Bridge Death Investigated

Cheshire Police have launched a witness appeal after a man died when he fell from a bridge in Runcorn.

He fell onto the Knutsford bound carriageway and collided with a double decker bus on Tuesday.

The bus driver was taken to hospital with shock and has since been released.

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 Public Asked to Support Armed Forces Day

It’s Armed Forces Day.

Servicemen and women are being honoured across Cheshire for their work and sacrifice.

It follows a week of events supporting those currently serving, as well as veterans.

A man has died after falling from a bridge at Runcorn onto the A533 Northwich Bound Carriageway below.

The Runcorn Expressway was closed in both directions while emergency services cordoned off  the scene.

Police are trying to establish the man’s identity.

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Alsager Woman Dies after Stabbing

A woman has died after being stabbed in Alsager.

The 66-year-old was found with chest wounds at a house last Thursday but died on Monday.

A 70-year-old man, arrested in connection with the incident, has been detained under the Mental Health Act.

A post mortem will take place later.

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Soldiers from Cheshire Regiment in Repatriation

The bodies of seven servicemen, including Cheshire-based soldiers, are being repatriated back to the UK later.

Three marines from 40 Commando, three members of 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment, and Lance Corporal David Ramsden of 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment all died in Afghanistan.

Their coffins will arrive at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire.

The cortege will pass through nearby Wootton Bassett, after a private
ceremony.

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Parents Given Drink Warning

Parents in east Cheshire are being warned they could be encouraging their children to drink over the summer.

Research from charity Drinkaware found over half of parents are planning on giving their children alcohol during post exam breaks.

Some are planning to give their children five or more bottles of spirits or wine to celebrate their exams. 

Research shows mums and dads could be unintentionally fuelling summer drinking among 16 and 17 year olds.  

More than a third prefer their children got drink from them rather than an
unknown source.

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Police Numbers ‘Could Fall’

We are set to be told the number of officers on the beat could be halved – as a result of Home Office budget cuts.

The president of the Association of Chief Police Officers will be making the claim when he delivers a speech to their annual conference later today.

Sir Hugh Orde will say the numbers of police patrolling our streets is simply not sustainable.

There are fears domestic abuse incidents may increase following England’s exit from the World Cup.

Support groups and organisations have issued the warning after the 2006 tournament saw an increase of over a thousand incidents being reported.

Cheshire Police, who have launched a campaign targeting violence both at home and on the streets, are urging people to report offenders.

The force is also stepping up their  patrols and have specially trained officers on stand-by.

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Cheshire Soldiers Killed in Accident Named

Four Cheshire based soldiers who were killed in an accident in Afghanistan have been named.

34 year old Colour Sergeant Martyn Horton, from Runcorn,  26 year old Lance Corporal David Ramsden, from Leeds, 20 year old Private Alex Isaac from the Wirral and 20 year old Private Douglas Halliday, from Wallasey, died last week.

The soldiers were part of a Police Advisory Team, travelling in a two vehicle convoy.  

They were responding to an incident at a nearby Check Point when their vehicle rolled into a waterway.

They were all serving with the Mercian Regiment apart from Lance Corporal Ramsden who was with the Yorkshire Regiment.

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Triathlon Boosts Help for Heroes

Hundreds of competitors took part in the Cholmondeley Triathlon at the weekend.

Although a challenging race, the event was open to people of all abilities from across Cheshire and beyond.

The triathlon also raised money for Help for Heroes, and had gathered a thousand pounds ahead of the race.

Drivers across east Cheshire are being reminded not to drink and drive.

As the World Cup tournament continues, police are increasing patrols to deter motorists from getting behind the wheel after drinking.

They think both the event and warm weather might act as a temptation.

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Stockport Child Safety Week Underway

A rang of agencies, including Stockport Council and the NHS, have banded together to try to reduce the number of children injured through accidents.

More children are hospitalised because of a serious accident than any other cause.

The week-long campaign aims to reduce the numbers across the area.

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Cheshire County Show Another Success

This year’s Cheshire County Show is being called another big success.

Organisers say that over the past two days, up to eighty thousand people attended the event.

The Cheshire provides a big boost to the economy as well as support for local food producers.

The Government’s new budget is not doing enough to support children in Cheshire who are living in poverty.

That’s according to Save the Children.

The organisation fears increases in taxes such as VAT could see some of the poorest families having to turn to loan sharks.

The hikes were announced by Cheshire MP and Chancellor George Osbourne in an attempt to tackle the country’s huge deficit.

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Mountain Challenge for Cheshire

A mountain challenge has been organised by the British Heart Foundation- and they want the people of Cheshire to get involved.

The National Three Peaks Challenge involves climbing Britan’s three highest mountains in one weekend.

The event is being supported by adventurer and TV presenter Bear Grylls who thinks it will be the experience of a lifetime.

All proceeds will go to the Charity.

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Special Constable Numbers Rise

The number of people in Cheshire volunteering with the police force has doubled.

Their new scheme to recruit volunteers has seen the number of new special constables go from an average of seventy to an average of one hundred and fifty-one.

Their new process is now being used by 30 more forces across the country.

Two soldiers from a Cheshire regiment killed in a firefight in Afghanistan have been named.

Corporal Terry Webster from Chester and Lance Corporal Alan Cochran from Hollywell died during a gun battle with Taliban soldiers in Helmand province on Friday.

They were both with the 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment.

24-year-old Corporal Webster’s family said he “died a true hero and will be
with us forever in out hearts.”

The fiancee of 23-year-old Lance Corporal Cochran said he will be “sadly
missed but never forgotten”.

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Guns ‘Essential’ for Cheshire

As the investigation into the Cumbria shootings continues, the British Assocation for Shooting and Conservation says law-abiding gun holders should not be penalised.

BASC – which is based in Cheshire - has issued the response as our gun laws come into focus.

Taxi driver Dereck Bird first killed his twin brother David before going on to kill eleven other people last Wednesday.

He was licenced to use the guns which were used during the rampage.

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Lap-top Scheme Criticised

There are calls to make a free lap-top initiative more available to pupils across Cheshire.

The Home Access Scheme promises children from poorer backgrounds a computer and free broadband connections.

It’s so pupils can do their school homework more easily.

But some parents are complaining that their child is missing out because there is a ‘postcode lottery’ approach.

Residents in Cheshire are losing thousands of pounds every year to hustlers.

A campaign has been launched to raise greater awareness of the techniques used by criminal gangs.

Cheshire Police say people are often too embarrassed to admit being conned out of money.

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Summer Crime Surge Warning

Cheshire Police are warning residents to lock up their homes and cars.

It comes after a spate break-ins in the past few weeks.

A big surge is expected in the next few months as the weather gets warmer, and opportunist thieves take advantage of unlocked windows and doors .

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Recruitment Drive Underway

The British Heart Foundation are appealing for volunteers in Cheshire.

Their ’Hand on Heart’ recruitment campaign kicks off today.

Over five-thousand people came forward last year and helped to raise £25 million pounds.

This year, BHF are hoping to increase their volunteers numbers to seven-and-a-half thousand.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service are reminding the public to install smoke alarms.

It follows the escape of a woman and her five-year-old daughter from a fire at their flat.

They were alerted by their smoke alarm.

A fire service spokesman said it undoubtedly saved their lives.

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Design Plans for Bridge in Macclesfield

The design of a new bridge in Macclesfield is underway.

The Gurnett Bridge suffered damaged during the cold weather in January, so foundations need to be laid for a new bridge.

Designs will be presented to the council in the next few weeks, and it is hoped a new structure will be in place by December.

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Jiffy Bag Campaign for Troops

We are being asked to show support for our Cheshire soldiers in Afghanistan.

As 1st Battlion Mercian Regiment continues its six-month tour of duty, residents are being encouraged to take part in the ‘Jiffy Bag’ campaign.

Items like small tins of food can be put in a bag and then sent to the front line.