The atmospheric acoustics of St Peter’s Church in Fleetwood will help provide a fitting setting for a choral concert.

Performing at the Lord Street church on Saturday, March 29, is the Blackpool Male Voice Choir.

The choir, whose musical director is Fleetwood man Philip Berry, will be singing songs from the shows, a few light classical pieces and a couple of hymns.

Philip said: “We like to keep things varied, and we hope there will be something for everyone.”

Formed in 1923 at the Raikes Parade Methodist Church, the choir celebrated its 90th birthday last year and remain as busy as ever, with engagements across the Fylde coast and as far afield as the Lake District.

The concert begins at 7.30pm and all are welcome.

Admission costs £6.

Money raised from the concert will go to St Peter’s Church funds.

Fleetwood Town Football Club is guaranteed a place playing at Wembley Stadium, thanks to these pint-sized players.

The team from Hambleton Primary Academy will be representing the Cod Army when they play in the final of the Football League Trust Kids Cup in May.

The youngsters are up for the cup after beating Mansfield 2-1 in the regional final – a victory made even sweeter after the side were the only ones they couldn’t beat on first meeting.

They will be playing in the hallowed ground on May 26, ahead of the League Two play-off final.

Team captain Josh Hampson said: “We can’t wait to play at Wembley. To think that we actually get to play on such a famous pitch is a dream come true.”

Proud headteacher Pamela Birch said: “I’m very, very proud of them, for a rural school to be representing the North West is fantastic.

“Now we’re hoping Fleetwood Town get through the League Two play-offs, so they can play before them.”

The junior team won the Fylde and Wyre competition at Stanley Park earlier in the season, to be chosen to represent Fleetwood Town in the League Two North Finals in Chesterfield.

The young Cod Army side were put in Group B with Accrington Stanley, Burton Albion, Mansfield Town, Northampton Town and Scunthorpe United.

Seeing off Scunthorpe in their first match, Fleetwood unfortunately suffered a 2-0 defeat on match day two at the hands of Mansfield.

However, Fleetwood didn’t let their heads drop and responded by winning their final three group games against Burton, Northampton and Accrington, without conceding a goal, to ensure their place in the knockout stages.

Fellow North West outfit Bury were awaiting, and despite impressing in their group, Fleetwood came through to secure their place in the final.

The Cod Army once again came head to head with Mansfield, the only team to beat them so far in the competition, and it turned out to be the perfect opportunity to claim revenge.

Things didn’t start well for Fleetwood as they conceded early on, but a spirited second half display saw the Cod Army score twice to book their place at Wembley.

Team captain Josh added: “None of us could believe it as we kept winning and progressing.

“The other schools were much bigger than us with lots more boys to choose from, so everyone is really, really proud of us.”

Matt Hilton, Fleetwood Town’s director of community development and education, said: “Fleetwood Town would like to congratulate all involved with Hambleton Primary Academy, and hope they enjoy their day out in the capital.”

Fleetwood MP Eric Ollerenshaw has pressed for the approval of the life-extending cancer drug Abraxane by the Cancer Drugs Fund.

Speaking in Parliament, Eric raised concerns over the way the CDF approves life-extending drugs, specifically the criteria used by the CDF for how long a patient’s life may be extended by using a new drug.

The CDF measures whether to recommend a new drug based partly on Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) This is a measurement of the state of health and how long life is prolonged running from optimum health to death.

With the life expectancy of pancreatic cancer patients averaging less than six months from diagnosis, there is a worry that compared to other cancers, the average of two months additional life-expectancy provided by Abraxane may be deemed insufficient.

Eric, who lost his partner to pancreatic cancer, said: “Abraxane provides a real chance for pancreatic cancer patient to fulfil, in the short space of time most are given after diagnosis, some of the many things we take for granted, whether extra time with their family and friends or to simply see out the remainder of their lives with dignity.”

“Abraxane has already been approved for use with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

“It has been described as the biggest advance in pancreatic cancer treatment in almost two decades.

“I hope the Cancer Drugs Fund approves the use of Abraxane more widely and gives pancreatic cancer patients the time they deserve.”

Parents across the Fylde have been left in limbo as teachers get set to take part in national strike action.

Thousands of children will miss lessons after families across Blackpool and Wyre were warned schools can and will be closed tomorrow as part of the industrial action, with parents at 11 schools already told to keep their children at home.

But in Fylde parents have been left in limbo as schools say they are unable to make a decision on closures until the last minute. And families at a further three Blackpool schools face the same potential childcare problems.

Dozens of schools are anticipated to be closed as members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) head to picket lines in an ongoing dispute over pensions, pay and opposition to the Government’s education reforms.

However, many parents will not know until later today if they have to make alternative arrangements for children tomorrow as school bosses have to respect teachers’ rights not to declare their intentions for the strike.

Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT, said: “Teachers deeply regret the disruption caused by this strike action.

“The Government’s refusal, however, to engage to resolve the dispute means that we have no alternative.

“Teachers’ levels of workload are intolerable. Destroying the national pay framework means that in every school headteachers and governors have to worry about developing a pay system instead of focussing on teaching and learning. And teachers do not believe they can work to the age of 68 or even later for a full pension – and they don’t believe it is educationally desirable either.”

Nine schools today told The Gazette they would be forced to close tomorrow: Bispham Endowed, Boundary, Christ The King, Devonshire, Revoe, St John’s CE, St Nicholas, St Teresa’s and Thames.

These schools explained they had taken the decision to close last week, notifying parents to give them time to make alternative arrangements.

Of the resort’s high schools, Montgomery will be open, St George’s will be open to Years 10 and 11 only and Highfield for Year 11 only, while Collegiate will be closed entirely. Bispham, St Mary’s and Unity Academy were unable to give a definite answer.

All pupil referral units will be open.

A further five primary schools will be partially closed, with between two and eight classes off each: Baines Endowed, Claremont, Hawes Side, Kincraig and Stanley.

Meanwhile, 15 primary schools confirmed to The Gazette they would remain open: Anchorsholme, Layton, Marton, Gateway, Highfurlong, Holy Family, Mereside, Moor Park, Our Lady, St Cuthbert’s, Park, Roseacre, St Kentigern’s, Unity and Westcliff.

But some schools, Woodlands Special School and St John Vianney Catholic Primary School, told how they will be forced to give parents only a few hours notice due to teachers rights not to declare their action.

In Fylde, parents at St Michael’s CE Primary School, Kirkham, have been told to expect at text at 8.45am on Wednesday morning to tell them whether or not school is open.

Also using technology, staff at Lytham St Annes High School tweeted the school will be closed to Years Seven, Eight and Nine only.

Larkholme Primary School, in Fleetwood, is also due to close, as well as St William’s Catholic Primary School in Pilling.

However, Caridnel Allen, in the town, will be open to Years 10 and 11 only.

County Coun Matthew Tomlinson, cabinet member for schools, said: “In the main, schools manage themselves, so heads must decide how to deal with the upcoming strike.

“We will, of course, offer support and advice, but it will be up to heads to make their own decisions.”

How will you be affected by the strike action? Email: katie.upton@blackpoolgazette.co.uk

A Fleetwood woman has hit out after callous thieves stole from the grave of her husband and daughter.

Lynn Mosson went to Fleetwood Cemetery to put some fresh flowers on the grave where her husband Brian and daughter Jacqueline are buried.

But when Lynn and other relatives arrived, they discovered the two pots which hold the flowers had gone.

It is the second time in just 12 months the grave has been targeted.

Last year, several ornaments were smashed and flowers strewn about.

Lynn’s husband Brian died, aged 65, from chronic lung 
disease in September 2011.

Jacqueline died tragically young – at the age of just 22 – after suffering an epileptic 
episode 18 years ago.

Lynn, 60, who is well known in Fleetwood and the chairman of West View Community Association, said: “There is no way they could have been blown away, 
because they were secured very strongly.

“There is only one explanation – they have been stolen.It is just a shame that people can stoop so low.”

Wyre Council said its staff would be extra vigilant regarding any suspicious behaviour, but warned that “anything placed on headstone plinths is left there at the owners’ risk”.

A bowling club in Fleetwood is being plagued by vandals who have caused hundreds of pounds of damage.

Members of the Belmont Bowling Club, on Fleetwood promenade, say yobs have been attacking six wooden sheds on a regular basis.

Panels on five of the sheds have been kicked out, and in the worst cases the whole sides have been knocked out.

The vandal incidents have been going on since late last year and have continued in recent weeks.

A spokesman for the club, who did not wish to be named for fear of reprisals, said the club had contacted the police on several occasions, but it appeared that the culprits had not been caught.

The spokesman said: “We paid £3,000 for the six sheds for the comfort of our bowlers, and that was a considerable 
investment for a club like ours.

“Our members are really angry and upset about this mindless vandalism.

“We are currently repairing the sheds ready for the new season, and thankfully we have enough people who can do that kind of work. If it wasn’t for that, the bill to repair them would be enormous.

“We are just asking that if anyone sees anything suspicious, they 
report it to the police straightaway.”

The club leases the ground, located close to the paddling pool, from Wyre Council.

Sgt Dan Whitaker, the Fleetwood and Thornton Cleveleys neighbourhood sergeant, said officers would contact the club about the issue.

He said: “This club is very close to the Marine Hall which has also been a hot spot for anti-social behaviour, and youths gathering, over the last six months.

“We are increasing patrols and monitoring CCTV footage to help deal with these issues.”

Fleetwood residents have been hit harder by the controversial Bedroom Tax than is commonly believed, says a prospective parliamentarian.

Cat Smith, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Lancaster and Fleetwood, points out that more than 400 people in the Wyre district have been hit by the Government’s controversial benefit cap, according to new figures.

Ms Smith says that given Fleetwood’s high percentage of social housing across the borough, the port’s residents will be bearing the brunt of it.

The figures, released on the first anniversary of the introduction of the charge, show that 416 people in the district were affected by the tax between May and November last year.

Ms Smith said: “Labour has already pledged to scrap this cruel and unfair tax if we win the next General Election.

“The Bedroom Tax hits vulnerable people in Fleetwood, some of whom are already really struggling to make ends meet and the Government’s own figures show that two-thirds of people affected nationally are disabled.”

The tax, also known as the under-occupancy rule, affects people living in social housing, except for pensioners. It means the amount of rent used to calculate how much housing benefit people receive will be cut by a fixed percentage – 14 per cent of the full rent – if the claimant has one extra bedroom. The amount rises to 25 per cent if they have two extra bedrooms.

The Government has defended the spare bedroom tax, stating that there are 1.8m families waiting for social housing and yet there are eight million spare rooms across the sector.

Lancaster and Fleetwood MP Eric Ollerenshaw says that if people live in private rented accommodation and receive Housing Benefit, these rules already apply and have done for nearly 20 years.

He said: “Hundreds of people in Wyre live in overcrowded accommodation and desperately need more bedroom space. This measure frees up the homes where people don’t need spare bedrooms, and I think a lot of people understand that.”

However, Ms Smith said: “A recent BBC survey suggested that just six per cent of those affected in the UK had been able to downsize to a smaller home. The Conservative-led Government has known all along that there were not enough smaller homes for people to move to and its figures show it intended to use the tax as a cash cow.”

Earlier this year, a loophole was discovered which exempted people who had been living in their social housing home for 17 years or more. However, this loophole has now been closed.

One Fleetwood resident affected, David Scarfe of Lindel Road, said: “One week I was exempt, the next I had to pay it again. It just isn’t fair.”

Tributes have been paid to a much-loved former headteacher who inspired a generation of youngsters.

Dr Stephen Winkley, who ran prestigious Rossall School and spent 40 years working at independent boarding schools across the country, has died aged 69.

Rossall’s current head, Elaine Purves, said Dr Winkley would be “fondly remembered.”

She added: “He was a charismatic and strong head, who had an undoubted impact on the history of Rossall School, leading it through a time of change and growth with great courage.

“He will also be fondly remembered for his approach to life, his insightful wit and occasionally eccentric dress sense – most notably his penchant for red shoes.

“With his incredible mind, love of people and great faith in the power of education, he was a very 
special man.”

Dr Winkley started his career at Surrey’s Cranleigh School in 1969 and, 16 years later, became second master at Winchester College, in Hampshire.

In 1991 he took on the headship of Uppingham School, in Rutland, and in 2008 he came out of retirement at the age of 63 to take on the headteacher position at Rossall. In the years that followed, he attracted record numbers of pupils and improved the school’s finances, before retiring in 2013.

He died at his home in Kettering, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife, Jenny, his sons Leo and Mungo, and his daughters Imogen, Isabella and Jess.

Fleetwood Police are reporting a rise in thefts from unlocked cars and burglaries from sheds and garages.

A spokeswoman said: “While we are doing everything we can to either prevent them from happening in the first place or trying to solve them if they have, we need the public’s help. Simple steps to secure your own property are vitally important to make sure you don’t become a victim.”

Police advise to lock cars, remove valuables from display, use security lighting where available, lock sheds and garages, lock away gardening equipment and tools and use good quality locks and alarm if possible.

Report suspicious behaviour on 101. Call 999 if you suspect a crime is in progress.

Plans have been put in motion to improve the River Wyre’s water quality.

The views of farmers, fishermen and residents living next to the river flowing through the heart of Wyre are needed to help improve it.

As part of European Union law, a Water Framework 
Directive is being put together by Wyre Waters.

They are hosting a number of workshops over the coming weeks to collect ideas about how to add to or change parts of the 28-mile river.

They will be put in place by 2027.

Tom Myerscough, science project officer from Wyre 
Waters Catchment 
Partnership, said: “People can suggest what they want doing, but obviously there are a number of pressures on the river that have an effect on the water and stop things from moving up and down.

“The aim is to get the river to a good ecological status by 2027, which every river has to have under European Law.”

Mr Myerscough has a number of changes in mind, but will wait on residents 
before forming a plan.

He added: “We can plant trees or fence access off to prevent bacteria entering the river.

“In terms of fish, we can add gravel to rivers to make it more spawning friendly for salmon and sea trout.

“This will help the fishing clubs that are there because there’s more money going into their coffers.”

Coun Tom Balmain, a Wyre councillor for Garstang, added: “Any scheme which improves the layout of facilities on the River Wyre has to be welcomed with open arms.”

Fleetwood’s Cardinal Allen Catholic High School is celebrating after landing a top eco role.

The school, on Melbourne Avenue, has been selected to hold the prestigious role of Eco-Schools Ambassador, along with 11 other schools across the country.

Eco-Schools is the largest sustainable education programme in the world, and is run in England by Keep Britain Tidy.

To date, more than 17,000 English schools are registered with the programme, with more than 1,700 holding the International Eco-Schools Green Flag award.

Last month, Eco-Schools announced it had selected 12 new Eco-Schools to hold the Eco-Schools Ambassador role for the next two years.

Cardinal Allen’s own eco co-ordinator, Andrew Harding, acknowledged the accolade was not just for his school, but Fleetwood’s others schools.

In Fleetwood and Wyre, Cardinal Allen heads an eco cluster, which sees many primary schools get involved in a number of green events.

Mr Harding said: “This is recognition for all the collaborative work from all the schools in our eco cluster, and shows that this area is one of the top areas in the country for eco work.

“We are all delighted with this accolade, because it shows all our hard work has paid off and been recognised at a national level.”

Each year Eco-Schools choose exceptional schools to represent their programme and encourage new schools to join.

Schools hold the role for two years, and must have held the Eco-Schools Green Flag award for four consecutive years to be eligible to apply for the role.

The Government-founded Green Flag scheme’s criteria includes promoting conservation and sustainability, making schools welcome and safe places and creating flourishing green spaces.

Regarding the green space aspect, Cardinal Allen has launched a programme of tree-planting at the edge of its playing fields, with a broad range of species introduced.

The school’s busy eco group and work with other Fleetwood schools also helped with the Green Flag status.

However, Eco-Schools Ambassadors are also expected to work above and beyond the expectations of the Green Flag award, going that extra mile to demonstrate that sustainability is core to the schools’ culture; that they show inspirational leadership and an initiative approach to working towards the Eco-Schools programme.

Angela Tibke, an Eco-Schools programme delivery Officer, said: “We are excited about working with our new Ambassador Eco-Schools over the next two years.”

A hospitals trust is out to dispel fatal misconceptions about ovarian cancer - and hopes women from Fleetwood and Wyre will get the message.

Many women believe ovarian cancer has no symptoms until it’s in the final stages.

However, this is not the case.

Ovarian cancer used to be known as the silent killer due to this belief. It meant many women would be showing symptoms without even realising it and would dismiss them as just irritations.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is now dispelling the myth by making women more aware of the early symptoms.

Women should seek advice if they suffer from one or more of the following symptoms for more than three weeks, especially if accompanied by extreme fatigue: weight loss, back pain, changes in bowel habit or rectal bleeding.

These other symptoms include persistent bloating, abdominal swelling, pelvic or abdominal pain, feeling full quickly or loss of appetite.

Julie Fothergill, 52, from South Shore, Blackpool, didn’t spot any symptoms at first, but saw her GP following a complaint of sharp pains.

Her cancer was detected by an ultrasound and treatment was started immediately.

She underwent surgery and treatment and was followed up regularly in clinic. Unfortunately, the cancer returned, but it was detected early and a further operation performed.

She is currently undergoing treatment.

Julie said: “Once I was diagnosed and in the system everything happened so quickly and efficiently.

“The symptoms are easy to miss or overlook, but I would say to all women; if in doubt get it checked out.”

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common form of cancer and is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death in women.

Debbie Curwen, associate nurse in gynae oncology at Blackpool Vic, added: “We are committed to the early diagnosis, and we have systems in place that will fast track referrals from the GP to the team here at Blackpool Vic.”

Patients of health services in Fylde and Wyre are being urged to contact Lancashire Healthwatch to share their experience.

Working alongside Blackpool Healthwatch, the Lancashire body was set up last year and now has a board in place to help pass on feedback received to the relevant services.

Members, who are volunteers, also attend health organisations around the region and report on how the services are coping.

Chairman Gail Stanley OBE said: “I feel very strongly that we have to be an independent patients’ voice.

“Our job is to gather people’s views and experience of health and social care in the county – we are their voice and we have to know what they are thinking.

“We collate those views and present them to the relevant health services.

“If there’s a problem, and we can’t sort it out locally, we have a number of national organisations we can report to, including the Care Quality Commission and Public Health England.”

The organisation has spent the year setting up a board and creating as many ways as possible for people to get in touch with their views, including social media.

Dr Vas Vasudev has been appointed a board member at Healthwatch Lancashire, and said: “We really want to let people know we are here.”

Healthwatch Lancashire is keen to hear from would-be volunteers.

Write to Chorley House, Lancashire Business Park, Centurion Way, Leyland, PR26 6TT, or call 0300 303 8811.

A busy Wyre road was blocked to traffic after a three car crash.

A VW Golf, a Citroen Berlingo and a Chrysler 300C were involved in the incident on Amounderness Way, Poulton, at 13.45pm on Monday.

Police said the incident was being dealt with as “damage only” and no persons were injured. The road was blocked to traffic for some time while police worked at the scene.

The quality of bathing water found at Blackpool’s beaches has improved, according to a new survey.

However, despite the improvements in the resort neighbouring Fleetwood and St Annes beaches are considered to be failing.

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) today publishes its annual Good Beach Guide, compiling its ratings of the nation’s beaches.

Of 734 nationally, 73 per cent are classed as having as having ‘excellent’ water quality, meaning 100 per cent of samples did not exceed 2,000 E.coli per 100ml.

But on the Fylde coast the highest rating achieved was ‘mandatory’, meaning 95 per cent of samples did not exceed 2,000 E.coli per 100 ml.

Where Blackpool North, Blackpool South and Cleveleys beaches last year failed minimum requirements, they have this year improved to the mandatory rating.

Fleetwood and St Annes, are among the 14 areas nationally failing to reach minimum water quality standards.

The Fylde coast’s beaches at Bispham, Blackpool and St Annes North continue to be rated as mandatory, meaning they hit the minimum water quality, as they did in 2013.

Coun Fred Jackson, Blackpool Council cabinet member for urban regeneration, said water quality in Blackpool is the best it has been for years.

He said: “It’s great news that Blackpool’s beaches continue to improve and we’re pleased with how far we’ve come.”

Now council bosses and environmental groups have told of their work to improve water quality through the Turning Tide partnerships.

All three borough councils, Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre, are part of this, along with the Environment Agency 
and United Utilities.

This work includes a storm storage tank being built at Poulton to reduce discharges into the Wyre Estuary as well as storm storage at Fleetwood waste water treatment works and Anchorsholme.

Sewerage arrangements at large caravan and chalet parks along the Wyre Estuary are also being investigated at as well as looking at farming areas close to bathing waters.

A spokesman for Fylde Council said St Annes beach fell victim to its geography being located at the estuary of the River Ribble which can carry waste down from Blackburn and Preston after heavy rainfall.

The spokesman added: “We have the effects of agricultural land and water treatment plants further up the Ribble, when it rains hard animal droppings and overflow from the plants get into the river which can have an adverse effect on the water quality here.”

Failing tests now means beaches risk having to have warning signs displayed advising against bathing in the sea from 2016.

The Turning Tides partnership is now urging residents to do their bit by clearing up dog foul and litter and not pour fats and oils down drains.

Fleetwood’s oldest surviving pub is enjoying a welcome trade revival after it was refurbished for the first time in more than a decade.

The Steamer, on Queens Terrace, has undergone a major facelift in time for the start of the tourist season.

The once-thriving pub had become run-down before Ian and Geraldine Northwood took over around five months ago – but the pair say the new look is already bring in more customers.

Geraldine, known to punters as Gerry, said: “It took about three weeks refurbishing the place inside and then a month to get the outside done. I think it looks absolutely brilliant – everybody is really impressed. We have had lots of compliments from people saying what a difference it has made and how good it is to see it looking like it’s being cared for.

“It has only been finished a week but we are already getting more people come in off the coaches.”

The couple say they are glad to have the work done in good time for the start of the season as they work to restore the pub back to its former glory.

The duo ran the place from 2001 until 2007, before returning last year following a brief closure. In their absence the pub had got into difficulty but the pair say they are up to the task of getting it back on track.

Gerry added: “It’s been a big challenge but slowly but surely, the word is getting out that we are back.”

A busy road was closed after a motorcycle and a car collided.

The incident happened on Mains Lane, Poulton, shortly before 8pm on Wednesday.

Police said the motorcyclist suffered serious but not life threatening injuries and was taken to hospital.

The road was closed off for accident investigators to establish the cause of the collision and traffic advised to steer clear of the road between the River Wyre roundabout and the junction to Shard Bridge.

The number of Fylde coast people claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance fell between February and March.

Total JSA claimants in the Blackpool North and Cleveleys parliamentary constituency dropped from 2,234 to 2,148 - 4.3 per cent of the working age population.

The number fell from 3,151 to 2,960 in Blackpool South, 5.8 per cent of those of working age.

The number of young people claiming JSA in both constituencies had risen for a fourth consecutive month in February, but this time the numbers fell.

In Blackpool North and Cleveleys the figure for 18-24-year-old claimants fell from 510 to 460 - 21.4 per cent of all claimants, while in Blackpool South the figure went down from 765 to 705, 23.8 per cent of claimants.

The number of people claiming for more than a year also fell, from 640 to 605 in Blackpool North and Cleveleys and from 825 to 795 in Blackpool South, but in both areas more than a quarter of all claimants fell into this category of being long-term unemployed. The claimant count for people claiming JSA for between six and 12 months increased, from 285 to 315 in Blackpool North and Cleveleys and from 410 to 420 in Blackpool South.

Blackpool North and Cleveleys MP, Paul Maynard, said: “I am pleased that unemployment continues to move in the right direction in the constituency, with drops in both overall JSA claimants, and those aged 18-24.

“Progress is always welcome, but numbers will always be too high as long as anyone who wants to work struggles to find that work.

“That’s why we need to keep focusing on the infrastructure we need to attract investment, and developing the skills base we need to attract those better-paid jobs that will improve our overall economic health locally.

“That’s my focus, and what I will keep working on”

Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden, said: “There is very little change from the previous month and the rate at which long term unemployment has been coming down has slowed.

“Youth unemployment has come down a bit but the overall position with nearly a quarter being aged 18-24, is not being addressed.

“I’ve been to two events involving young people recently and the message coming across loud and clear is that they are finding it very difficult to get decent jobs and when they do they are not necessarily full-time.

“The JSA figures do not show part-time jobs and they do not show people on zero hours contracts.”

Mr Marsden said that while new figures showed that UK average weekly pay increased at a rate of 1.7 per cent, on a par with inflation for the first time in six years, the recovery was happening less quickly in the North than in the South, where he said Government funding cuts had in many cases not been so severe.

The most recent North West figures, for October-December 2013, show that average full-time wages were static year on year at £499 per week.

In Fylde, the number of JSA claimants fell from 1,021 to 947, while in Lancaster and Fleetwood the claimant count fell from 1,312 to 1,252.

It’s not easy to pose for a picture with a goat and a sheep when they insist on headbutting each other!

But Sophie Wells and John Dearden, of Farmer Parrs in Fleetwood, managed to show great composure under the circumstances.

They were there, along with Will.i.am (the African pigmy goat) and Vamp the sheep for a special event to promote community groups and volunteers in Fleetwood and Wyre.

Along with the Farmer Parrs contingent, there were around 70 different organisations at the Wyre Together Showcase event, held at Fleetwood’s Marine Hall. Members of the public were invited along, and it was also a chance for the various groups to make new contacts and network.

Will.i.am (so named as he dances to songs by the Black Eyed Peas) and his pal were doing a grand job of networking, with a little animal magnetism, on behalf of the farm attraction.

Sophie Wells, marketing manager at Farmer Parrs, kept a firm grip on the lively Vamp, and said: “Apart from promoting Farmer Parrs, we are also letting people know that our Country Life Museum needs a few more volunteers.

“The ones we have do a brilliant job but we need a few more, including one or two younger people.”

Inside the hall, organisations as varied as the Stroke Association, Care and Repair and Fylde coast Men’s Support had stands to promote their services. The air was filled with the sound of singing, accompanied by a strumming guitar.

This turned out to be the Warblers on T’Wyre, a Fleetwood-based singing group who are more about friendship and fellowship than being note-perfect, but who produce an agreeable sound all the same.

Joan Ratcliffe, who was providing guitar accompaniment, said: “Other organisations and agencies realise how helpful our group can be to their clients, such as people on their own. They can come along and socialise, and they don’t have to be brilliant singers!”

The Warblers, who also perform at public events, meet at the North Euston Hotel every Friday from 10am.

Jane Williams, the Wyre Together manager on behalf of the Council for Voluntary Services (CVS) said: “The whole point of this event is to set up links between groups who don’t know each other but who could end up working well together.

“Many of them work with volunteers, so it’s useful to have those kind of groups under one roof. And the public are here too, so that’s a bonus.”

The Wyre Together awards are being staged on June 4 to recognise the efforts of volunteers and community groups.

To nominate deserving candidates or find out more, visit www.cvsbwf.org 
or phone Jane on (01253) 887437.

Son in park brawl with his father after 24 cans of lager

Dylan Ferguson had had 24 cans of lager, a number of vodkas and then went drinking a the caravan park’s bar before the brawl.

Ferguson, 19, of Scot Lane, Aspull, Wigan, pleaded guilty to assault and causing damage.

He was bailed for pre-sentence reports and will be sentenced at a later date by Blackpool magistrates.

Martine Connah, prosecuting, said Ferguson was at Fleetwood’s Broadwater Caravan Park when he fell over, breaking the rear window of his father’s partner’s car, because he had drunk so much, on April 12 about 11.30pm.

His father was angry and both dad and son started grappling.

They were flailing their arms about and Ferguson twice caught his father’s girlfriend in the face, causing a cut lip and black eye.

Steven Townley, defending, said Ferguson was extremely drunk. He had had no intention of causing the damage or hitting his dad’s girlfriend, but he had been reckless.