A hall which was flooded in the rains of Storm Desmond is set to hold a re-opening event.

Kirkland and Catterall Memorial Hall near Garstang was ruined in the floods of December 2015 but is set to reopen its doors to the public next month.

The event will take place on Guy Fawkes Night on Saturday, November 5 with tea, coffee and cakes being served.

It will run from 2pm until 4pm and anyone who would like to attend can do so.

The hall was originally built as a war memorial following the First World War.

It receives no government funding, and unlike most village halls which have some council input, it is run solely by voluntary trustees for the benefit of the community.

Trustees started a programme of refurbishment to mark the centenary of The First World War in 2015.

Fortunately the only work which had been completed before the flooding was a new ceiling, which was not affected by the flood.

It is hoped the hall will continue to serve the community for the next 100 years. The hall is now ready to be rented by interested parties and for more details on prices and availability you can call 01995 603625.

Here is a round-up of some of the cases at Blackpool Magistrates Court from October 26.

Clifford Kirkham, 76, breach of a pet banning order

A lonely old man has had his only companion taken from him by order of a court.

Clifford Kirkham, 76, had a cocker spaniel dog in defiance of a previous 10 year pet banning order imposed by Blackpool Magistrates in 2014.

Kirkham who lives alone in Norcliffe Road, Blackpool told magistrates: “I have lost my dog and two cats I was looking after for a woman have been taken.

“Now I have no cats there are mice coming in. Are these animals going to be taken away too?”

Kirkham, who lives on £220 pension credit a week, admitted breaching the previous order.

Magistrates ordered the cocker spaniel be taken from him.

Kyra Badman, prosecuting for the RSPCA, told the court a dog warden had noticed the spaniel living at Kirkham’s home.

As a result the RSPCA went to house and found the dog – which was smelly and had fleas.

Gerry Coyle, defending, said that Kirkham was an ‘extremely lonely old man’ who was unkempt and bedraggled in appearance.

“He does not remember getting any paperwork about the 2014 10-year banning order which related to another dog,” he told the court. “His home is not in a good state – it is like something from the TV programme “Hoarders. He should really be being looked after but he is not. The only reason he has animals is loneliness.”

Matthew McGlynn, 30, sending a menacing message via a public communication network

A man phoned his former partner and threatened to kill her and her boyfriend.

Matthew McGlynn, a father of two, left his ex worried about what he might do to her and the children, a court was told.

McGlynn, 30, of Crooklands Crescent, Hambleton, pleaded guilty to sending a menacing message via a public communication network.

Prosecutor, Andrea Fawcett, said McGlynn had made a phone call to his previous partner on October 21 and said: “I’m going to kill you and your boyfriend.”

She did not believe he would kill them but was worried about what he might do to her and the children.

At the time of the offence, McGlynn was on a suspended prison sentence for possessing cannabis with intent to supply the drug.

Peter Cave, defending, said McGlynn and his ex had been together 16 years and had only split-up in July this year. They had two children aged 10 and 15 who he saw every day.

McGlynn had mental health problems and had been waiting for six months to be tested to see if he had Bipolar disorder, the court heard.

McGlynn was bailed to appear for sentence on November 23 at Preston Crown Court by Blackpool magistrates. He must not contact his ex and must only arrange contact with the children through a third party as conditions of his bail.

Marcus Seddon, 18, five thefts

A teenager stole almost £500 of whisky and vodka from shops on the Fylde coast.

Marcus Seddon either drank the booze himself, or sold it to pay to fund a drug habit.

Seddon, 18, of Osborne Road, South Shore, pleaded guilty to five offences of theft and asked for five similar offences to be considered.

Pam Smith, prosecuting, said Seddon stole more than £400 of alcohol from Sainsbury’s, Booths and Aldi in Lytham and St Annes and also Burlington’s Food and Booze, Blackpool, between October 15 and 21.

Mitch Sarangi, defending, said Seddon had a limited record for shoplifting. He had been doing well but recently had started to drink and take heroin.

Seddon was sentenced to a 12-month community order with up to 25 days’ rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service, put on six months’ drug rehabilitation, fined £20 and ordered to pay £499 compensation by Blackpool magistrates.

Fakhrul Islam, 28, breach of a community order

A man who failed to carry out payback work helping out at an animal charity shop was described by a magistrate as “wilfully frustrating a court order.”

Fakhrul Islam, a restaurant bar and IT worker, 28, of Hardhorn Road, Poulton, pleaded guilty to breaching a community order.

He was sentenced to six months’ prison suspended for 12 months, and ordered to do 100 hours’ unpaid work for the community.

Presiding magistrate, Eileen Oldroyd, told him: “You put in sick notes for lower back pain and yet you work in a bar from 6pm to 1am. That does not bode well with us and we consider you are wilfully frustrating the order.”

Neal Brookes, prosecuting, said Islam had been sentenced to an order to do 120 hours’ unpaid work for driving while disqualified without insurance.

Islam was first allocated to group work but after he sent in sick notes about having lower back pain he was given lighter duties to work in the PDSA charity shop.

He had failed to attend work appointments at the shop and completed only 41-and-a-half hours of work. It was his second breach of the order.

Ann-Marie Bradwell, 38, assault

A woman accused of assaulting a police officer in a garden has denied the charge.

Ann-Marie Bradwell, 38, of Southfleet Avenue, Fleetwood, pleaded not guilty to assault and had her case adjourned for trial by Blackpool magistrates.

Paul Fitton, 35, theft and drunk and disorderly

A man who had struggled with an alcohol problem throughout his adult life broke into a car to steal to fund his habit.

Paul Fitton, 35, of Clinton Avenue, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to theft and being drunk and disorderly.

He was sentenced to a 12 months community order with 60 hours unpaid work for the community and ordered to pay £157 compensation by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said a woman found two windows on her car had been smashed and some coins, a phone charger and a satellite navigation system charger had been stolen on August 3.

Blood at the scene was tested by forensic scientists and found to match Fitton’s. He told police he could not remember committing the crime but he was an alcoholic and it was the type of thing he would do when drunk.

On October 8 at 12.45pm police were called to the Hounds Hill Shopping Centre where Fitton was causing a disturbance.

He told officers: “I will bite your faces off.” The area was busy with families and Fitton was arrested after he started shouting threats at passersby.

Brett Chappell, defending, said his client, who was on licence from a prison sentence, wanted to apologise to everyone concerned.

Mr Chappell added: “At the time of the offences he was drinking copious amounts of cider. He has now massively reduced his alcohol intake and has been accepted on a residential detoxification course.”

A campaigning couple who raised thousands of pounds for charity after the tragic death of their baby son are celebrating the safe arrival of a daughter.

Will Norris, 27, and Nichole Taylor, 28, were left devastated after their son James died in September last year, just 30 minutes after he was born.

Following his death, the Kirkham couple threw themselves into raising funds for the hospital where Nichole was cared for, raising around £15,000 in less than a year.

The couple made a promise to James when he died that he would become a guardian angel big brother to either a baby girl or baby boy.

And they delivered – Annabella Elizabeth arriving safely, weighing 8lb 14oz, last week.

Nichole said: “When I first saw her I collapsed on the bed in relief – she is definitely James’ little sister, they look so alike, she is the double of him. She was due on the 20th but arrived five days early which just happened to be Infant Loss Awareness Day.

“We found out we were pregnant on the same day as my friend Dani had her little boy Oliver James. so it was just amazing news.”

Will said: “We always said we would make James a big brother and the whole thing was magical. There was an overwhelming feeling of relief but also excitement about the next chapter in our story.”

Their first son developed lethal skeletal dysplasia in the womb and was born three months premature.

Since his death, the pair supported a Baby Beat appeal at Royal Preston Hospital, which aims to sound-proof the delivery rooms in the maternity suite. Their fundraising efforts rounded off with James’ Angel Ball at Ribby Hall helping their fund pass the £15,000 mark.

Nichole underwent more scans and tests during her pregnancy following James’ death but the couple were not anxious about Annabella as there was only a very slim chance of it happening again. Nichole added: “The midwives were just incredible and we want to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts.”

A free pumpkin carving event for Halloween is being staged at Fleetwood’s Memorial Park this Saturday.

The Friends of Memorial Park, supported by Wyre Council and Heritage Lottery funds are organising the spectacle, which takes place from 11am until 1pm.

Each child will be given the opportunity to carve a pumpkin in the park’s demonstration garden and see the free Creepy Crawly Road Show in the Pavilion.

The Friends of Memorial Park have grown a large number of pumpkins throughout the year in the garden and a large number of them were donated by Steve Jinks, Liz Jones, Christina Coulbeck and other volunteers from Fleetwood Larkholme Allotment Association.

Kate Baird, the park development officer, said: “Without the help of Fleetwood Larkholme Allotment Association, Friends of Memorial Park and our demonstration garden volunteers this free community event would not be possible. It’s been a team effort.”

The Friends of Memorial Park will also sell tea, coffee, biscuits and hot Vimto and providing scary lucky dip and face painting to raise additional funds which will be put back into the park, for a small charge.

Co-ordinators advise there are a limited number of pumpkins and this event is based upon a first come first served basis

Anyone interested in volunteering at the Memorial Park can contact Kate Baird on (0125) 891000 for further information.

Here is a round-up of some of the cases at Blackpool Magistrates Court from October 27.

Hugh Stillie, 56, theft

A man’s life of crime started when he was 12-years-old and had spanned more than 30 years, magistrates were told.

The majority of Hugh Stillie’s offending as an adult had been to fund an addiction to heroin,defence lawyer, Hugh Pond, said.

Stillie, 56, of Palatine Road, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to theft.

Martine Connah, prosecuting, said CCTV captured Stillie stealing four boxes of Ariel Liquitabs from Wilkinsons, Dickson Road, on June 13.

Hugh Pond, defending, said his client had a lengthy list of convictions which started when he was 12. Stillie had become addicted to heroin at the age of 24. 
He was now on a daily prescription for the heroin substitute methadone.

Stillie was ordered to pay £20 compensation by Blackpool magistrates who imposed no other penalty.

Jordan Howarth, 27, possession of cocaine, drunk and disorderly, breach of a conditional discharge

A drunken customer threw flowers at a pub after being ejected from there on three occasions.

Jordan Howarth, who estimated he had drunk £100 of alcohol that night, was then found with drugs.

Howarth, 27, of Thursby Avenue, South Shore, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, being drunk and disorderly and breaching a conditional discharge for cannabis possession.

Martine Connah, prosecuting, said police were called to the Duke of York pub, Dickson Road, on August 27 in the early hours, where Howarth had been throwing flowers from planters outside after being thrown out three times. 
A small amount of cocaine was found on him when he was searched in custody.

Howarth told police he had little recollection of the night but he believed he must have had about £100 of alcohol as he had gone out with £300 and had £200 left.

Steven Townley, defending, told magistrates his client said he did not drink regularly and described himself as ‘not a good drinker’ as he drank to excess.

Howarth said he would never touch Class A drugs like cocaine and the only explanation for him having it was he must have found it.

Howarth was fined with £80 with £50 costs and ordered to pay £30 victims’ surcharge.

Christopher Grundy, 36, handling stolen phone

A man who was found with a vital piece of equipment which had been stolen from an ambulance has been jailed.

Christopher Grundy had a phone which alerted medics to appointments and pick-ups they had to make. The phone was stolen from the cab of an ambulance after a patient had been dropped off at Fleetwood Hospital.

In separate incidents Grundy was found with other patients prescriptions he had stolen from a chemist and he also used another person’s prescription to get tranquillisers.

Grundy, 36, of Bold Street, Fleetwood, pleaded guilty to handling a stolen phone valued at £500 belonging to the NHS, theft of prescriptions, fraud and two offences of shoplifting.

He was sentenced to 24 weeks imprisonment and ordered to pay £115 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Steven Birdsall, 54, committing an act outraging public decency

A man’s habit of doing his weekly housekeeping naked backfired, a court heard.

Steven Birdsall, 54, forgot he had taken down his net curtains to wash them. 
So when he stood at his front window performing a sex act he was in full view of the elderly residents of the sheltered accommodation opposite. Magistrates heard how Birdsall, who lives in Cherry Tree Court, would do his housework on Mondays, his day off from his driving job. He was seen pottering around his flat by two witnesses in another flat.

At first they thought he was wearing shorts. But when he stood full length in his lounge window performing the act, they realised he had nothing on.

The shocked duo called the police and they arrested Birdsall, who admitted committing an act outraging public decency in April this year.

He was placed on 12 months’ supervision during which he must complete 20 days rehabilitation as directed by the probation service.

He must also pay £220 in costs and fines.

Pam Smith, prosecuting, said Birdsall was seen by a man and woman who were cleaning another flat in readiness for their 84-year-old mother to occupy.

“The defendant had taken down his curtains to wash them and was waiting for them to dry,” she said.

“But before he had hung them up again he was seen naked at his window in clear view of the sheltered accommodation opposite.

“The two witnesses were appalled and shocked at what he was doing. They were horrified and said anyone would have been offended for what went on for up to 10 minutes.”

John McClaren, defending, said: “He is contrite and thoroughly embarrassed by what he has done.

“He has just had an operation on his arthritic hand which has not worked.”

Michael Hennessey, 55, theft

A man accused of theft has been put on the wanted list.

Michael Hennessey, 55, of Dean Street, South Shore, who is said to have stolen eight rump steaks, failed to attend court and a warrant without bail was issued for his arrest by Blackpool magistrates.

James Gardner, 33, order breach

A man accused of breaching a court order by contacting his estranged wife and his son has appeared at court.

James Gardner, 33, of Hackensall Road, Knott End, pleaded not guilty to breaching a restraining order.

His case was adjourned to January 3 for trial by Blackpool magistrates.

Deborah Gee, 52, driving over the limit

A woman has made her first appearance at court and pleaded not guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

Deborah Gee, 52, of Sandy Lane, South Shore, had her case adjourned for trial by Blackpool magistrates.

Leon Norton, 21, driving over the limit

A learner driver told police he had drunk 25 to 30 vodkas before setting off in his mother’s car.

Leon Norton was apprehended after a woman reported him to police when he crashed into two parked cars in his home road.

Norton, 21, of Leaford Avenue, Layton, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol without insurance and not in accordance with his provisional licence.

He was banned from the road for 20 months, fined £120 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £30 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Parents – and some youngsters – got into the Halloween spirit with a pumpkin carving session.

The special session at Morrisons on Squires Gate Lane offered artistic tips and creative hints to create the perfect terrifying pumpkin face.

The ‘tricks of the trade’ sessions were put on by the supermarket after 64 per cent of parents questioned revealed that they were not confident when it came to creating scary faces on the seasonal orange vegetables.

Andrew Kendall, store manager at Morrisons Blackpool, said: “Halloween is a big occasion for our customers with the perfect pumpkin taking centre stage in most UK households.

“We know that some of our customers dread the annual carving, so it we thought it useful to roll out our greengrocers – who can help turn their pumpkins into the perfect ghouls, ghosts, witches and Jack-o’-Lantern.”

Those who like a ghoulish fright can also head to Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach for a series of scary specials, including pumpkin carving on Saturday and Monday.

There is also a Halloween fancy dress competition on Saturday, and after 4pm the park will change into a ghastly and spine-chilling place where hordes of zombies and vampires have broken free from their prison in the catacombs of Blackpool Pleasure Beach and can be found roaming the park in search for victims.

A charity has revealed the devastating affect the recent killer clown craze has had on children.

And as Halloween approaches it is feared the troubling craze of creepy clowns will reach its peak – with individuals dressing up in clown costumes to intentionally threaten or harm passers-by, including children.

In the last three weeks Childline has been contacted 462 times by children afraid of creepy clowns – providing 84 clown-related counselling sessions on one day alone.

Nearly a third of counselling sessions on the subject of clowns were with children under the age of 11 - reaching 139 in total - and three quarters of those who got in touch over clown fears were girls.

The deluge of contacts to Childline reflects a flurry of reported creepy clown incidents across the UK.

The NSPCC is advising children who are concerned about creepy clowns to:

Talk to a parent or a teacher or trusted adult;

Call Childline if they want to discuss their worries or get advice and support;

Block and report abusive messages from people posing as creepy clowns on social media;

Contact the police if they are threatened by a creepy clown in the street.

Call Childline on 0800 1111 or via chidline.org.uk

Halloween has become quite the thing, hasn’t it? You can’t move for pumpkin spiced lattes – pumpkin, by the way, is not a spice – sexy skeleton costumes, and various ghost-shaped sweets jostling for supermarket shelf space alongside family-sized tins of Quality Street and festive cream cracker selections.

A decade or so ago, October 31 was a mere sideshow before the riot of gunpowder, toffee apples and unfortunate sparkler incidents which was Bonfire Night. You were lucky if you got to bob an apple or two.

But now, thanks to the Americanisation of our festivals, Monday – no, the whole weekend – will be spent answering the door to children dressed as The Walking Dead demanding sweets.

Of course, this Yankee Doodle Dandy approach to things isn’t confined to our great pagan events.

Schools seem to have increasingly fallen foul of this trend, with the loathsome ritual of the ‘prom’ centre stage.

Which brings us to Class (BBC3, iPlayer and online), the latest spin-off from the world of Doctor Who.

Like the previous extension of the Whoniverse, Torchwood, this is aimed at a slightly older audience than the original series, which allows it to include some handsome gore when a minor character is run through with an alien sword, and a couple of swear words.

Based around the Autumn ‘prom’ at Coal Hill Academy – a name to conjure with for Who fans – this first episode introduced an archetypal group of teen students, recognisable from an array of ’80s John Hughes movies – the jock, the nerd, the brain, himbo, etc, etc.

The whole thing was – to put it charitably – an homage to the 90s teen horror classic series Buffy The Vampire Slayer, a debt they at least acknowledged in a neat throwaway line about the ‘Hellmouth’.

The problem is that Buffy had a lightness of touch, a chemistry and an inventiveness that will be hard for Class to match – Buffy episodes The Body and Once More With Feeling, to name just two, were really, really great TV.

A number of plot threads were hammered into place, setting up various story arcs for the series, but it was noticeable that the story only hit its stride when the Doctor himself appeared, in the nick of time.

When he’s not in Class, there may be more tricks than treats.

A brave boy who fought the odds to survive a heart transplant has urged people to follow in the footsteps of his little brother and promise to make a priceless donation.

Eleven-year-old Ollie Alderson from Thornton still holds on to a mechanical heart, similar to the one which kept him alive as he waited for a donor, as a reminder of his 10-month hospital ordeal.

But he made clear the £25,000 technological marvel, known as a Berlin Heart, is nothing compared to the gift of life an organ donor can give.

Little brother Josh, nine, is on the register.

And the Alderson family, who welcomed Ollie home last month, know the difference on small decision can make.

“I wouldn’t be here, wouldn’t be home,” said Ollie who in September was still seriously ill in Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital, his body initially rejecting the new organ.

Mum Anne, 43, who kept a near-constant vigil at Ollie’s bedside, described the gift of a new heart as ‘priceless’.

She said: “We feel lucky as you never know when or if there is going to be a donor.

“People need to register, but not just register.

“They need to tell their families too.

“They need to know you want to give others the gift of life.

“You wouldn’t bury your most treasured possessions after your death.

“So why would you want to bury something truly priceless?”

In November, last year Ollie was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a chronic disease affecting the heart muscle.

He spent months in hospital awaiting a life-saving transplant, first at Liverpool’s Alder Hey then at the Newcastle Freeman.

For weeks, a mechanical Berlin Heart kept him alive while he waited for a donor.

Anne said: “This time last year we were just a normal family, Ollie was just a normal boy playing football and golf, enjoying school with his friends.”

“Everything has changed, but we’re just grateful to have Ollie home.

“Now it’s just a case of little targets, one step at a time.

“He’ll be on anti-rejection drugs for a long time possibly for the rest of his life.

“A new heart doesn’t last forever, 10, maybe 15 years. You don’t know what advances there will be in medicine and technology in that time.

“It’s not the end, but he’s home, with the family.”

And for Ollie, whose rejection of the new heart is currently only classed as minor, coming home to his family has been a dream come true.

“What I missed the most was Josh,” he said. “It’s good being able to play with him and my best friend Hayden.

“I’ve got a top five wish list of what I want to do... Florida, Malta, Center Parcs, the Pleasure Beach and the Sandcastle.

“And I can play golf.”

Ollie returned home a month ago and has already been out on the golf course at Poulton, carding 54 and winning his first competition back. “He was clapped onto the first tee,” said dad Jason, 44, a financial advisor.

“It was great to watch, and then to go out and play like that!

“The support from Poulton Golf Club and from Thornton Cleveleys Football Club has just been incredible.”

Ollie, who was visited by hero Lee Westwood during his hospital stay, said: “It was good playing golf again.

“The club even let me have a buggy to get around.Now I want some new club, like Lee uses and to be able to beat my brother again.”

The next big milestone for Ollie will be a return to school - an issue complicated by his age.

Ollie, who is currently being tutored at home, was at Anchorsholme Academy but moved into year seven in the summer, meaning he’ll be starting secondary school at Millfield when he’s fit to return.

Anne said: “Millfield have been brilliant, they’ve let Ollie go in and have a look around.

“It’s not too far away and a lot of his friends from the football club are there.

“He’s still very poorly and tired at the moment but we’re hoping he’ll be able to start back soon.”

Millfield staff are so supportive of Ollie, staff have combined their Christmas party night with a charity event his family are hosting at the Village Hotel in Blackpool next month.

Jason and Anne are keen to raise vital cash for the Children’s Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital and charity the Sick Children’s Trust, which provided accommodation for family members in the North East.

The night, on December 3, is officially a sell out and Anne knows more than anyone the importance of funding such causes.

She said: “Without the Sick Children’s Trust, I wouldn’t have been able to stay with Ollie.

“They were amazing, so were the NHS. The drugs alone have cost thousands of pounds. We just want to help however we can.”

Ollie’s online appeal has already raised more than £2,000, with a little help from comedy star Justin Moorhouse who headlined a special night at Anchorsholme Academy earlier this year.

Ollie said: “I was told all this was happening because of me.

“It’s weird when you think about it.”

For more on Ollie and his appeal visit www.facebook.com/Olliesventure.

St Helens Council’s Trading Standards team is warning residents about businesses targeting local people and offering to claim back council tax.

Several residents contacted the council after receiving unsolicited telephone calls from people offering to check their property is in the correct council tax banding and then to pursue any possible refunds on the householders behalf.

But with upfront fees of up to £180 demanded by the callers – along with sometimes 25 to 50 per cent of any money recovered – council officials are concerned about vulnerable residents paying for a service that can be done for free.

Councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron, St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Green, Smart and Sustainable Borough, said: “The message is simple – do not pay for this service! You do not need to employ a company to claim back council

tax overpayments! Anybody who thinks they have been paying more council tax than they should have can have their case reviewed – and it’s completely free!”

To enquire about benefits or refunds on council tax, residents should contact the council’s Revenue and Benefits Contact Centre on 01744 676666.

If residents believe their property is in the wrong council tax band, they need to contact the Valuation Office on 03000 501501.

Trading Standards Officers are urging residents who receive unsolicited telephone calls never to give their card or bank details out over the phone.

Darrell Wilson, Chief Trading Standards Officer added: “It is worth remembering if anyone does agree to use the revaluation services offered they have, by law, up to 14 days to change their mind.”

A veteran nurse has been awarded the title of Queen’s Nurse for her work.

Jane Baulcombe, a community nurse at Lancashire Care NHS Trust, which provides mental health care across the county, was given the title by The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI).

The honour reflects Jane’s commitment to high standards and patient care, the trust said, and was given the award for her work with other health professionals to highlight inequalities experienced by those with learning disabilities.

Jane said: “It makes me proud to know my contributions make a real difference to people’s lives.

“I hope gaining this award will promote recognition of the positive contribution community learning disability nurses make toward enhancing the quality of health and life of the people they care for and support.”

QNI chief executive Dr Crystal Oldham added: “Congratulations are due to Jane for her success. Community nurses are expert professionals who make a vital contribution to patient health and wellbeing.”

Jane, the fourth member of Lancashire Care staff to get the award, will attend a ceremony later this year.

Comedian Joey Blower has raised almost £150,000 for charity by encouraging people to shave their heads.

The Blackpool-based comedian, whose real name is Mike Simmons, has been encouraging random people and his audiences at North Pier’s Merrie England bar to get on stage and shave their head for Cancer Research UK for the past 10 years.

And recently he was presented with a certificate from Cancer Research UK for his efforts revealing he has helped raise £146,515 to date.

Speaking about his fundraising Mike said: “It all started in 2006. I was on stage and a man with a comb-over was in who was a regular. I remembered I had a set of barber’s clippers in my car so I said I was going to shave his hair off and he replied saying I could if it was for charity, so right there and then it became a regular weekly part of the show.

“I reckon more than 1,400 people have done it for me over the years including boxer Ricky Hatton. It’s really very simple, I get people up on stage when I’m performing and we then pass a bucket around asking for donations.

“I have to admit I was surprised when I discovered so much money had been raised over the years but I’m absolutely delighted.

“When I started doing this I knew very few people who had cancer but now that has changed and I know a lot more.

“Unfortunately, I feel everyone is affected by someone suffering from cancer at some point in their lives and they can relate to those people losing their hair. Cancer Research UK is a fantastic charity and if I can help by raising money in this way then that is brilliant and hopefully it helps by not just raising money, but awareness as well.”

And Mike says the fundraising is not going to stop. He now plans to carry on with the head shaves to continue to raise money for the national charity.

Cancer Research UK Lancashire local fundraising manager, Natasha Patel, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to Joey Blower for his fabulous fundraising efforts. He has helped to raise a tremendous amount of money. Cancer Research UK receives no Government funding and relies entirely on the generosity and dedication of supporters such as Joey.”

Winter Gardens Managing Director Michael Williams is a friend of Mike’s and praised his relentless efforts.

He said: “This is an incredible amount of money for one individual to have raised and to have done it through something so simple is brilliant.

“When he asks you to do something like this you really can’t say no and the amount raised clearly shows that people want to help.

“Not only has he raised the funds in the Merrie but he also supports other organisations and charities by compering events and acting as auctioneer at a number of fundraisers.”

Shoppers at county supermarkets are facing a headache after one major chain’s card readers failed.

Asda stores across the country are caught up in chaos at the tills because all of the supermarket chain’s card machines have gone into meltdown.

All card readers in every store in the country are currently not working.

Stressed-out customers around the country have posted complaints and pictures of long queues at store ATMs this afternoon.

An Asda spokesman tweeted: “We’re so sorry about this! We are aware of the issue and working to get this resolved ASAP.”

A lack of charging points for electric cars in Wyre has left a taxi driver feeling powerless.

Simon Sharples, 46 has been a driver for 15 years but wanted to go green to protect the environment.

He said he spoke to Wyre Council while researching a new car and was told that electric points were going to be installed in the area for the public, thanks to Westminster funding.

But two months after buying a Nissan Leaf, he said he is frustrated with the lack of charging points across the Fylde coast despite Government funding being available.

He said there was just one effective one in Blackpool – at the Talbot Road car park – and none at all in Wyre leaving him with either a six or 12 mile round trip to power up.

Mr Sharples, of Elm Avenue, Poulton, said: “This is a major problem for anyone wanting to be environmentally friendly and move to electric vehicles.

“The only useful one is at Talbot Road but they close the car park at times so it is not available 24 hours. It is three hours out of my working day and costs £1 for two hours charging but £3 for the parking.

“There are three types of charger – slow, fast and rapid.

“The slow ones are of no use at all as it can take 10 hours to fully charge your car.

“The fast ones take around four hours and the rapid three.

“Premier Taxis have a rapid one for their Leaf cars but of course that is not open to the public.

“Because I am a customer I can use the ones at the Nissan dealerships but it is not convenient to drive all that way and then sit there waiting for the car to charge. When my sister and I were researching the Leaf we spoke to Wyre Council and they said they had plans to install them but they have not been taken forward. Lancashire County Council has not installed any either despite the Government supporting the environmental scheme since 2013.

“I don’t understand why any of the councils are not putting these in at all their car parks.”

A spokesman for Wyre Council said confusion had arisen with County Hall as to whether charging points were going to be put in car parks, as they wanted, or at other sties.

They said: “Approximately 12 months ago we were looking into installing chargers in a number of our car parks, however Lancashire County Council was also seeking funds to install charging points throughout the county.

“As a consequence our plans to introduce charging points were dropped. Now we understand that LCC is no longer planning to provide charging units to local authorities for car parks so, we are now revisiting our plans.”

Daniel Herbert, highways network manager for Lancashire County Council, said: “We made a successful bid to the Department for Transport to invest in new technology, including LED streetlights and electric charging points for Ultra Low Emission Vehicles.

“We’ve been installing the new streetlights for the past three years and are currently in the planning phase of the part of the scheme which aims to establish at least 150 new charging points by the end of March 2018.

“The installation of charging points has always been scheduled for the final year of the scheme as it will be funded from savings achieved by having more efficient streetlights.

“Our plan is to create a network of charging points across the county so that electric vehicle users can be sure they’re never too far away from a charging point. It is hoped the first charging points will be installed in early 2017.”

Scary ghosts, killer clowns, and a nurse with blood-soaked clothes.

This house of horrors on Derbe Road, St Annes, captures the spooky spirit of Halloween while raising cash for a charity cause.

Horror fans Martin and Penny Wilkinson decorated their house to raise money for the National Aids Trust, which champions the rights of people living with HIV in Britain.

Penny said: “There’s a lot of stigma towards HIV and people with HIV, and it’s important for young people not to grow up ignorant about it.

“Blackpool is one of the highest in the UK for people living with HIV.

“As a mother myself I feel it’s important that we raise awareness and encourage people to get tested and practice safe sex.

“It’s something I feel strongly about.

“People have all been very supportive and some people were even putting £20 notes in the donation buckets - so I’m hoping to raise a good amount.

“We just want to raise as much as we can.”

Here is a round-up of some of the cases at Blackpool Magistrates Court.

Garry Haigh, 53, and Kelly Dawson, drugs offences

A couple accused of intending to traffick class A drugs valued at more than £10,000 have made their first appearance at court.

Garry Haigh, and Kelly Dawson, both of Horncliffe Road, South Shore, are charged with possessing heroin and cocaine at Blackpool with intent to supply the drugs.

Prosecutor, Malcolm Isherwood, asked for the case to be heard at crown court. Defence lawyer, Suzanne Mugford, said her clients had indicated they would plead not guilty to the offences. The defendants were bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court on November 23 by Blackpool magistrates.

Daniel O’Rourke, 28, cannabis production

A man caused £6,000 of damage to a house when a tent in which he was illegally growing cannabis caught fire.

The electricity being used to assist the growth of eight cannabis plants was also illegally being taken from the mains by Daniel O’Rourke who had by-passed the meter of the house he was then renting on Cliff Place, Bispham.

O’Rourke, 28, now living at Argyll Road, Bispham admitted growing the drug and abstracting an unknown amount of power.

The owner of the house submitted a victim’s impact statement to Blackpool Magistrates Court in which he said it cost him £6,000 to repaire the damage caused by the fire whidh started in the tent which had been put up in a bedroom.

His statement said what had happened had given him anxiety and stress and the 60-year-old said O’Rourke had been arrogant and aggressive towards him after the fire.

Pam Smith, prosecuting, said the defendant had admitted what he had done during a police interview.

Police had been called to the property by fire officers who discovered the plants and the illicit wiring of the electricity meter.

O’Rourke admitted to police that he knew the wiring he had been used had been sparking in the days before fire broke out.

Steven Townley, defending, said: “No doubt he would not win a prize for being tenant of the year but he has not been charged with anything to do with damage to the property.”

O’Rourke was given an eight week jail term suspended for a year. He must pay £85 costs and £115 victim’s surcharge.

Oliver Major, 23, drunk and disoderly

A man who had been drinking was involved in disturbances at venues around Kirkham.

Oliver Major, 23, of Marsden Street, Kirkham, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly.

He was fined £40 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £30 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said police were told Major was first involved in an altercation at The Stables Bar on October 8.

Friends told police they would take him home.

At 1am police were told Major had been threatening to fight people at Antonio’s takeaway. They saw Major on Poulton Street.

He was being followed by a group of males who said Major had been offering to fight them.

Gerry Coyle, defending, said Major had previously been beaten up by a group and was bruised and bloody. When he went into the takeaway the same group who had attacked him was there and he admitted he did shout at them. No-one else was arrested and Major spent a night in police custody.

Gary Bell, 30, assault

A man told his mother he was going to kill her and gripped her round the throat a court was told.

Gary Bell then punched his mum several times in the face and pushed her down on the sofa when she tried to get up.

Bell, 30, of Stirling Road, Layton, pleaded guilty to assault.

He was sentenced to a 12 months community order with 25 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service, ordered to do 40 hours unpaid work for the community and pay £85 costs with £85 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Malcolm Isherwood, said Bell had been drinking and at 10.30pm argued with his mother over tidying the house on October 7.

He said he would kill her, pushed her onto the sofa and gripped her by the throat before punching her several times in the face. Bell had three previous convictions for assault.

Bell’s mother later withdrew her complaint to the police about the incident which had been reported by another person.

Stephen Duffy, defending, told magistrates his client said he did not try to strangle his mother and he hit her with the back of his hand in the face just once.

He needed help to tackle his anger management and drink issues.

David Martin, 27, indecent images

A man accused of making and distributing pornographic pictures of children has made his first appearance at court.

David Martin, 27, of Park Road, pleaded not guilty to three charges of making, one charge of distributing and one charge of possessing indecent photographs of children.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between August last year and March this year at Blackpool.

Martin was bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court on November 23 by Blackpool magistrates.

Tracey Drinkwater, 43, drunk and disorderly

A drunken woman banged on the doors of flat tenants at Bispham offering to fight them.

Tracey Drinkwater, 43, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly. She was fined £40 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £30 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Matthew Roddy, 26, drugs offences

A man has made his first appearance at court accused of intending to traffick class A drugs.

Matthew Roddy, 26, of St Bedes Avenue, South Shore, pleaded not guilty to possessing heroin and cocaine with intent to supply the drugs.

Prosecutor, Jim Mowbray, asked for the case to be heard at crown court.

Roddy was bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court on November 23 by Blackpool magistrates.

Gareth Winstanley, 29, driving over the limit

A learner driver was over the limit when he was stopped after police saw him swerve on the M55 at Blackpool.

Gareth Winstanley, 29, of Leigh Road, Leigh, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol without insurance or a licence. He was disqualified from driving for 15 months, fined £120 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £30 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Energy consultancy Inenco Group has announced Gary Stokes as its new chief executive.

Gary will commence his role with immediate effect, replacing interim CEO Patrick Macdonald who will remain on the board and move to the role of chairman.

Gary, a chartered accountant by training, joins the Lytham-based firm, which has over 400 staff across the UK, after more than twenty years’ experience leading organisations through transformation and growth.

He previously held the role of CEO of Atex Group, a global developer of enterprise systems, where he is credited for delivering growth in a challenging market place, as well as CEO roles at Regenersis and LINPAC.

Inenco Chairman Patrick Macdonald said: “I’m delighted to welcome Gary as Chief Executive of Inenco.

“He has a strong track record and will be an excellent leader of the company as we continue to invest in and build a stronger business for our customers. I look forward to working with Gary.”

Mr Stokes said: “Inenco is an award-winning company serving many of the largest and best known organisations in the UK.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to build on Inenco’s existing capabilities and continue its growth by providing best in class business energy solutions.”

Blackpool Council is launching an initiative during Global Entrepreneurship Week to help residents who are considering starting their own business.

Get Started in conjunction with Blackpool Libraries are providing an opportunity for start-ups to explore their business idea online using the library facilities, as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, which runs from Monday, November 14 to Sunday, November 20.

Held in libraries across the town, potential business owners can research their ideas and explore their potential during drop-in sessions.

Help will also be on hand for those that would like to talk through their business proposals in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

The drop-in sessions will be held from 1-3pm at Central Library and 2-4pm at Moor Park Library on Tuesday, November 15, between 2-4pm at Palatine Library on the Wednesday, from 1-3pm at Revoe Library and 2-4pm at Anchorsholme Library on Thursday, November 17, and 2-4pm at Layton Library on the Friday.

The Get Started service, based at the Enterprise Centre, is now in its 10th year and has assisted more than 1,000 businesses to start trading.

Whether you are someone that has an interest in crafts and fancy selling your work online or have practical skills such as building or carpentry and can offer a handyman service, the Get Started message has always been that anyone can start a business.

Debbie Leech, a fully qualified massage therapist, said: “Get Started gave me the confidence to start a business and with some initiative and forward thinking, and support from my family, I am now the proud owner of my own therapy salon.

“Get Started has supported me from day one and recently assisted with training on how to gain online and social media presence.

“It makes such a difference when you are a sole trader to know someone is there for you.

Aaron Dickinson, gardener, said: “I wasn’t sure where to start and contacted the Get Started team for guidance.

“They were a great help with getting everything ready, planning how it would work and making sure I understood about self-employment. The council also supported me to access funding from the Start-Up Loan company – this allowed me to invest in professional equipment.”

Coun Mark Smith, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Business and Economic Development, said: “This is a great opportunity for those who want to take that first step into self-employment, open their own business and achieve their ambitions.”

Here is a round-up of some of the cases at Blackpool Magistrates Court from October 31.

Inoke Momonakaya, 37, assault

A fomer soldier assaulted his pregnant wife after she intervened to stop him attacking a 12-year-old boy.

Inoke Momonakaya pushed his 23 weeks pregnant wife into a wall after kicking and spitting on the boy.

Momonakaya, a 37-year-old father-of-three, of The Close, Kirkham, pleaded guilty to two offences of assault.

He was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment suspended for 18 months with up to 25 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service and ordered to pay £85 costs with £115 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said Momonakaya and his wife had been married for 15 years.

On July 4 the defendant accused a boy of being disrespectful to him. He banged the boy’s head on a wall, kicked him and spat on him.

When his wife tried to intervene he put his hand over her mouth and pushed her into a wall. 
Neither the boy or his wife were injured.

Brett Chappell, defending, said his client had been in the Army serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and this had resulted in an impact on his mental health. 
He suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and had used cannabis and alcohol as a coping mechanism.

Momonakaya was now working with the organisation “Walking with the Wounded” which provided a report to the court about the problems the defendant had.

His wife was at court supporting him and hoped if any good came out of what her husband had done it would be that he got the help he needed.

Debra Paton, 52, assault and threatening behaviour

A woman hit a community support officer on the arm and bared her bottom at a police officer.

Debra Paton had been drinking and argued with neighbours before calling the support officer “a blurt.”

Paton, 52, of Lowrey Terrace, South Shore, pleaded guilty to assault and threatening behaviour.

She was sentenced to a 12 months community order with up to 25 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service, ordered to do 20 hours unpaid work for the community and told to pay £85 costs plus £85 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said a support officer was called to Lowrey Terrace after a complaint Paton was shouting and screaming in the street on October 13 about 10pm.

The officer followed her and she asked him “who are you?”.
She then tried to slap his face and as he raised his arm to protect himself she hit him on the arm. 
A police officer arrived and Paton bared her bottom at that officer.

Brett Chappell, defending, said Paton, who had been having problems with her neighbours, was very remorseful for what she had done. 
Her downfall had been her inability to resist her alcohol intake.

Jack Easter, 20, burglary

A man burgled a garage in St Annes after going there to ask if they had any jobs available.

Jack Easter stole a laptop computer from a desk at the Quick Save Motorist Centre, St Albans Road.

Easter, 20, of Windsor Avenue, South Shore, who now has a job in a factory, pleaded guilty to burglary.

He was sentenced to a 12 months community order with 120 hours unpaid work for the community and ordered to pay £100 compensation with £85 costs plus £85 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said a £100 laptop was taken from the St Annes garage on August 31.
CCTV was checked which showed Easter going into the garage.

The CCTV images were posted on Facebook and the article was tagged identifying the defendant. 
Easter said he would bring the laptop back but he failed to do so.

When interviewed he said he had sold it for £80 because he had no money.

Brett Chappell, defending, said his client had a poor record due to a previous addiction to cannabis which he had now conquered.

He had been released from custody in February and been doing well on post sentence supervision.

Easter had gone to the garage to see if they had any jobs going. 
At the time he was not receiving benefits and had no money to live on. When he saw the laptop temptation got the better of him and he reverted to type.

Ashley Grundy, 25, threatening behaviour

A man shouted and swore in the street saying “Do you know who I am?” when he got involved in a row with a father and son.

Ashley Grundy, 25, of Sycamore Drive, Wesham, pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour.

He was given an 18 months conditional discharge and ordered to pay £25 compensation with £85 costs plus £20 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Martine Connah, said a father and son were setting off for work in the morning and reversing their cars down the driveway of their home in Hunter Avenue, Freckleton on September 27.

Grundy pulled up in front of the father and son’s vehicles in a car with three other men.

He swore repeatedly and was extremely aggressive saying:”Do you know who I am, do you know who my family are?”

Grundy, who had a record of 65 previous offences, was on licence from prison at the time of the offence.

Paolo Passerini, defending, said Grundy had been out with some mates and they had gone to visit friends.

The father and son took issue with where Grundy parked his car and it was essentially a row about parking.

Leighton Faith, 40, sexual activity in a public place

A sex offender has gone on the run and been put on the wanted list.

Leighton Faith, 40, of Carshalton Road, North Shore, committed a sex act in the toilets of the busy McDonalds restaurant in the resort’s Bank Hey Street on August 12 this year.

Faith denied a charge of committing sexual activity in a public place but was found guilty of the offence after a trial in his absence.

He should have appeared at court to be sentenced yesterday but did not turn up.

Blackpool magistrates issued a warrant without bail for his arrest.

Paul Hughes, 34, breach of the peace

A factory worker refused to leave his own home after an argument with his girlfriend.

Paul Hughes, 34, of Burlington Road, South Shore, pleaded guilty to breach of the peace and was bound over in the sum of £200 for 12 months by Blackpool magistrates.

Steven Townley, defending, told magistrates his client had been drinking and said they had argued over money.

A charity evening successfully fluttered by as hundreds of people attended a Butterfly Ball.

The ball, which was inspired by the Butterfly Scheme – a national initiative to identify patients living with dementia in a sensitive and discreet way – was held at the Hilton Hotel and raised £6,750.

The amount is expected to increase as people purchase photographs from the evening. It was organised by Francesca Maria Chiappe Hall, a Dementia Champion at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Shelley Cooper who also works for the Trust.

The proceeds from the event will go towards Blue Skies’ Peace of Mind appeal, which aims to enhance the care patients living with dementia receive across the Trust.

Guest of honour was the Butterfly Scheme’s founder, Barbara Hodkinson, who said: “What a fabulous evening of celebrating dementia care excellence we had.

“It was superbly organised by Francesca and Shelley and ably supported by the wonderful “Team Butterfly” - but my overwhelming impression came from the constant stream of people coming up to talk about their passion for dementia care. It was just brilliant.”

Special guests on the night were Anne Nolan and Bobby Ball, who helped draw the raffle and entertained guests. Entertainment was provided by local band Touch The Pearl, and DJ and Compere Paul O’Brien who donated his time free of charge.

Francesca and Shelley said: “We’re so pleased with how the event went and how much we’ve raised for this very important charity.

“But it wasn’t just about raising money; it was also about raising awareness of dementia and promoting the Butterfly scheme.”

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals Chief Executive (Interim), Wendy Swift, said: “Thank you to Francesca and Shelley for their hard work in putting on such a fabulous evening.”