Brian House in Bispham needs to raise an extra £600,000-a-year just to break even and is appealing for Gazette readers to help support a year of intensive fund-raising.
The centre, which cares for seriously ill youngsters, will host major events throughout the year to raise cash.

Chief executive officer David Houston said: “Turning 21 is an exciting moment for any young person. The whole world seems to be opening up before them.

“But for the children and young people at Brian House, that rarely becomes reality. Many will never reach an age to get the ‘key to the door’ – their lives are just too short.

“That’s why we exist. We help them to enjoy life the way every child should, bringing so much fun and laughter as they create wonderful memories and realise some dreams.”
He added: “To do all this we need help, especially if we are to secure our long term future. The trouble is that, in some ways, Brian House Children’s Hospice is the Fylde coast’s best kept secret.

“We must raise our profile during 2017 as we celebrate our 21st birthday.

“Please tell your family and friends about us, make us your New Year resolution, and join our special events and celebrations – it will be fun!”
Brian House opened in December 1996 and currently supports more than 80 families. As well as end-of-life care, it offers its facilities during the day for free so parents can have some well-needed respite, and round the clock support.

All four bedrooms have a theme, the hospice has a sensory room and corridor, a craft room, kitchen, and large lounge areas.
There are two apartments upstairs for parents to stay in if needed and, poignantly, the Butterfly Suite offers a place of repose when a child or young person dies – even outside the hospice, such as at the Victoria Hospital – and a place for grieving families to stay.
The hospice never charges for use of its facilities, and receives a tiny fraction of its annual running costs, which totalled £1.256m last year, from the government.

Over 80 per cent of the costs relate to staffing, including nurses and health care workers and their training. In addition, there are 31 volunteers, including non-clinical assistants, playworkers, admin assistants, and a driver.

Those costs are unlikely to go down, and pressure on the hospice is increasing. The amount of money left in legacies is falling, and council cuts in social funding means staff are being asked to help where social care is falling short.
Clinical manager, Sister Carol Wylde, said: “A 21st birthday is always a time for celebration, but many of our families at Brian House never see their son or daughter reach that important milestone.

“It’s a poignant thought – and despite many wonderful advances in paediatric care, Brian House actually has more demands on its services than ever before.
“It’s a wonderful facility for the Fylde coast, but without the ongoing support of our community, we would not continue to offer our unique brand of home-from-home care.
“All the staff here are proud to be part of the Brian House story and we are hoping that our local communities will throw their energy and enthusiasm into the Brian House birthday and truly make it a year to remember.”
Bubble Rush, a family friendly 5km course will take participants through four coloured bubble stations, and will be held on Lawson’s Showground in Blackpool from noon on Saturday, April 1.

The Wiggle Trailblaze will be held in partnership with St Catherine’s Hospice in Preston at Scorton on Sunday, April 16, and will see runners enjoy a countryside route.
The Beaverbrooks run will be held on Sunday, May 7, while the fund-raising ball will be held in the Blackpool Tower Ballroom in September.
The hospice has also launched its first ever crowdfunding page, and used it in a bid to cover the running costs on January 1.
Visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/brian-house-21st-birthday for more information.

That Comic Shop, Preston

That Comic Shop, in Friargate, Preston, has recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. The store receives a delivery of new comics every week, including Marvel, DC and other independent publishers. It stocks Magic the Gathering Card games and holds weekly Friday Magic fun nights, as well as regular Magic drafts, pre-release tournaments and friendly games in store. Players are welcome at anytime to have a friendly game in store with drinks and snacks. The store also has a large choice of trade paper backs, magazines, novels, t-shirts, action figures, keyrings, mugs, glasses, stickers, badges and free posters. The owner, Noel Corless, holds regular bake sales to raise money for different causes.

First Age Comics, Lancaster

Located in Moor Lane, Lancaster, First Age Comics stocks comics and graphic novels from major publishers such as DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, IDW and Image. It also supports material from independent publishers, small press and local creators.

In addition to a plentiful back issue section with comics dating from the 1960s onwards, there is also a good selection of action figures, toys, games, as well as film and TV merchandise.

The store, which has been running for 10 years, is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am until 5pm.

Infinity Comics, Blackpool

Connor Mitchel took over the former Thunderbooks, in Lytham Road, late last year and relaunched Infinity Comics. It stocks all the latest comics, as well as related memorabilia. It is open Wednesday to Sunday.

Bat Cave, Blackburn

Bat Cave, in Lower Cockcroft, Blackburn, stocks comics, graphic novels, Games Workshop, Magic The Gathering, memorabilia, Pop figures and lots more.

It is open Monday to Saturday 10.30am until 5.30pm. It also hosts a variety of events.

Wallpaper Supplies, Wigan

Wallpaper Supplies, in Library Street, Wigan, may well be a home decor shop, but located deep within its walls lies a comic store.

It has new releases delivered every week, selling toys, action figures from Marvel Legends and Universe, statues, Manga books, Heroclix and comics.

It also has one of the largest stocks of graphic novels.

The store is open seven days a week.

Police have launched an appeal to trace a young woman who has gone missing from Blackpool.

19-year-old Sophie Richardson was last seen at around 11pm on 30 December on Alexandra Road in Blackpool.

She is described as being of medium build, 5ft 2inches tall with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts should contact Lancashire Police on 101 quoting log reference number LC-20161230-1447

THE battle lines have been drawn as 2017 gets set to usher in an era of shale gas exploration in Lancashire.

On one side stands gas exploration firm Cuadrilla, which has been given the go-ahead by the Government to “frack” at a site in Preston New Road, Little Plumpton.

On the other are local residents and anti-fracking protestors who fear that the industry could ruin the Fylde and Lancashire.

Neither side is prepared to back down - and each side is totally convinced of its own arguments.

Cuadrilla, headed by Francis Egan, has pledged to put Lancashire first when it comes to getting the benefits from a shale gas industry.

Early site clearing and preparation work could start as early as January. And local firms are queuing up to be part of the supply chain, which industry bosses say shows there will be economic benefits to Lancashire.

But opponents fear only a handful of jobs will be created, and their villages and environment could be tainted by fracking, earth tremors, water pollution fears and traffic problems. They are also angry that the Government stepped in to grant Cuadrilla’s appeal even though county councillors had rejected the plans. Demonstrations by protesters at fracking sites are inevitable, bringing major policing problems.

Cuadrilla has vowed it will publish details of how many jobs are created, where the work is going, and how much money is invested in the local community on an independently audited tracker online.

And it says that says that by moving its HQ to Lancashire, it has created 14 full-time jobs and nearly £700,000 has directly gone into the Lancashire economy.

But Hannah Martin, energy campaigner at Greenpeace UK, said: “With public support for fracking at an all-time low, and hundreds of campaign groups like Frack Free Lancashire all across the UK, the Government and fracking companies shouldn’t underestimate the strength of feeling on this issue. The people of Lancashire have been fighting for their communities for more than five years. It’s clear their calls for local democracy and prioritisation of clean energy will continue in 2017.”

A Blackpool solicitor has been named the head of commercial property at regional law firm Napthens.

Paul Hardy, who joined the commercial property team as a partner earlier this year after 17 years at a Manchester firm, steps up to the new role with immediate effect.

The 39-year-old, who was born and brought up in Blackpool and still lives in the area, will oversee the running of the growing department.

The move follows a number of senior appointments to the dedicated property team including retail specialist and partner John Lomax.

Paul (pictured) advises clients on a range of commercial property issues, and has expertise in areas including landlord and tenant issues, and lease and development.

Paul said: “The Commercial Property team and our colleagues in the wider Real Estate division are benefiting from a busy property market which is increasing demand for our services.

“Since I joined Napthens I have enjoyed getting to know the team here and the clients we act for, and as head of department I’m looking forward to playing a part in shaping the direction of the firm and building on this successful foundation.”

How do you find the next Oscar-winning costumier or award-winning filmmaker?

That was the mission for students and staff from Blackpool and The Fylde College Creative Arts and Digital Industries department, who recently hosted a stand at the UCAS Design Your Future event at Manchester Central.

The event was aimed at people looking for a career in the creative industries and B&FC’s stand attracted a great deal of interest from potential candidates who wanted to know what the Ofsted Outstanding-rated College could offer them.

Nigel Brown, Head of Creative Arts and Digital Industries at the college, said: “We have attended events like this for a number of years and it is always interesting to speak to potential students about their career goals and look at how we can help them fulfil them.

“At Blackpool and The Fylde College, our whole ethos is about teaching students technical and professional skills which are industry relevant and prepare them for a successful career.

“That is always something which will interest driven, career-focussed candidates who are serious and passionate about working in the creative industries.”

Two notable success stories from B&FC’s Creative Arts and Digital Industries department have been Sarah Young, who was recently part of the Oscar and Bafta- winning team which created the costumes for Mad Max: Fury Road, and award- winning director Peter Chelsom.

Peter’s next film The Space Between Us features an all-star cast led by Asa Butterfield and Gary Oldman and is due out in February.

Nigel added: “Make no mistake, these are competitive industries where you will be up against many candidates for a small number of jobs so it is important to make the correct choices from the outset to stand out from the crowd.

“We believe in what we do and can point to a large number of successful people across a wide range of creative industries who began their careers at B&FC.”

The Design Your Future event offered people the opportunity to speak to representatives from various organisations about the prospects available to them

within the creative industries.

It included more than 100 exhibitors, workshops and demonstrations in subjects covering art, design, media, fashion, architecture, ceramics, 3D animation, mobile phone technology, multi-media and many more.

A tumble dryer burst into flames in the garage of a home

The incident happened in Birchwood Drive, Hambleton at around 9.55am today.

One fire engine from Bispham and one from Preesall attended.

Firefighters used two breathing apparatus to enter the garage and one hose reel to extinguish the fire. There were no injuries reported.

At around the same time firefighters from Fleetwood were called out to an incident at a commercial property.

Two fire engines were sent to tackle a fire in a drying and washing room at a property in Fleetwood.

Firefighters used a ventilation unit to clear smoke from the scene. There were no injuries reported and the cause is under investigation.

It was the second call out of the day for Fleetwood's crews who were involved in the early hours of Tuesday at an address in the port.

Firefighters from Bispham attended the kitchen fire on Bold Street, which broke out at around 2.30am.

One person was still inside the property at the time of the fire and they were rescued by firefighters and later treated by paramedics.

Firefighters used a ventilation unit at the scene.

This follows an earlier police appeal for information after 25-year-old Edward Ruane disappeared on 21 December 2016.

His mother had issued a heart-felt appeal for her son to return home.

Sara Flynn said at the time of his disappearance: “It is breaking my heart. I need my son back.”

Dogs have always been described as ‘man’s best friend’.

Now a life-saving cocker spaniel has been nominated for a top award thanks to his devotion to his sick owner.

Anita Castellina, 63, put forward husband Laurence, 65, and pet pooch Freddie for the Kennel Club’s Giving Longevity Through Assistance award for the bond they have developed over the past four years.

Mr Castellina, who lives in Cleveleys, is deaf and also suffers a medical condition which sees his blood pressure drop rapidly, putting pressure on his heart.

But in Freddie, the former engineer has his own orange roan cocker spaniel carer.

Freddie can recognise the early signs of his owner’s condition worsening and is able to fetch medical equipment to keep Mr Castellina safe until help arrives.

And Mrs Castellina has seen first-hand just how vital the relationship is.

Freddie was trained with the help of charity Dog Aid to help Mr Castellina.

The organisation provides help dogs for the elderly and disabled, specially trained to deal with their owner’s personal difficulties.

Now the pair are nominees for the award category of the Eukanuba Friends for Life award at Crufts – the world’s largest dog show.

And Mrs Castellina feels it is the bare minimum Freddie deserves after his life-changing impact in the world.

“The way Freddie and Laurence have changed each other’s lives is really something special,” she said.

“He was struggling for confidence before, not wanting to leave the house too much but when you’ve got a pet there that you can truly rely on, it’s quite magical.

“He’s so attentive, knows exactly what is needed and when and we’re all very fortunate, so to be able to get recognition for the work he has done – I can’t really believe it at all!”

As well as the life-saving work Freddie has done, he also makes day-to-day life for the couple that little bit easier following his training with Dog Aid professional Elaine Fairhurst.

But it’s also the fun that’s had at home that makes a big difference for the Castellinas.

Now the family will be hoping for a trip out for the Kennel Club’s Eukanuba Friends for Life showpiece on Sunday March 12 at Birmingham’s NEC arena.

The Kennel Club’s Eukanuba Friends for Life competition celebrates heart-warming stories of friendship in adversity, where dogs have truly earned the title of man’s best friend, through bravery, support or companionship.

And as well as the personal satisfaction it would bring both her and her husband, Mrs Castellina believes it will be the perfect way to pay their thanks to Dog Aid for their initial training.

“Freddie reminds me of comedian Eric Morecambe – he does all this wonderful stuff but is so cheeky too, it’s fantastic,” said Mrs Castellina.

“His ability is just superb, he can completely dry the wet room, something he seemed to teach himself from very early on, and the way he just observes in his training and picks things up is quickly.

“The trainers are amazing, they do some fantastic work and being nominated is recognition for all of that.”

Tributes have been paid to a ‘talented’ Weeton soldier who died in Iraq.

Lance Corporal Scott Hetherington, known to colleagues as Snowball, lost his life following an incident at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad, on Monday, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed last night.

The circumstances surrounding his death have not been confirmed – and an investigation could take months to conclude, it is understood – but it was ‘not the result of enemy activity’, the MoD said.

The 22-year-old, part of the 2nd Battalion the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, based at Weeton since 2011, was in Iraq to help in the fight against the so-called Islamic State (ISIS).

He was a member of the Blenheim company and a vehicle commander in the force protection platoon.

Lieutenant Colonel Rob Singleton, the battalion’s commanding officer, said: “Lance Corporal Scott Hetherington was a superb soldier and a first class leader. Utterly professional and talented, he was full of character, fun and his enthusiasm was infectious.

“The Battalion has lost a huge talent and a real character. He will be missed dearly and we will never forget him.

“Our hearts go out to his parents, his siblings, his girlfriend and his young daughter. They are in all of our thoughts.”

The Middleton soldier’s brother wrote online: “I’ll always love you, kid. So proud of you it’s unreal. I’ll never forget you or your stories. You truly are one in a million.

“Sleep tight little bro, look after Nan for us until we meet again. Love you more than I ever let on.”

Around 150 soldiers from the battalion, known as ‘2 LANCS’ flew out on a six-month tour following extensive training. As well as providing protection to other British troopers in the country, they are training Iraqi and Kurdish security forces as part of a larger 500-strong British Army force.

Lance Corporal Lynch, Force Protection Platoon, Blenheim Company, 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, said: “Snowball was a top bloke. You could always count on him to have a laugh, and he always had an answer for everything.

“He was such a big character. He will be greatly missed by the whole Battalion.”

Major General Rupert Jones, Deputy Coalition Commander, said: “The entire international coalition mourns the loss of Lance Corporal Hetherington. He died helping support our Iraqi partners to defeat Daesh and so protect the United Kingdom.”

Taji is home to Camp Cooke, a coalition forces installation 17 miles north of Iraq’s capital Baghdad.

Councillor John Singleton said the news of the soldier’s death has left Weeton’s two ‘close’ communities – the village and camp – shocked.

“My heart goes out to the family,” he said. It’s horrendous. Nobody expects this, even more so when you are part of a training programme.”

As part of the UK’s role in the 68-member Global Coalition committed to defeating ISIS, 2 LANCS is training the local security forces in infantry skills, weapons maintenance, medical, engineering and counter IED (improvised explosive device) measures.

Welcome to Fishmore Hall, a beautiful Regency style hotel which nestles in the heart of the breathtaking Shropshire countryside.

The hotel is owned and run by Acorn Award winner Laura Penman who purchased Fishmore Hall as a derelict property and in 22 weeks transformed it into a boutique 15 bedroom hotel, which was launched in October, 2007.

This is the perfect location for a relaxing break away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and I was lucky enough to be among one of the first people to try out Fishmore Hall's new rural spa, SPAshell which was officially opened in November.

Nestled in the gardens of the hotel and overlooking the rolling Clee Hill, the spa has been created by renowned designers Spa Creators, a UK based specialist spa design consultancy. The sleek urban design is clad with Siberian larch wood and over time this will blend sympathetically with the surrounding countryside.

The spa offers guests the highest standard of spa and wellbeing treatments by ELEMIS, along with a place to rebalance and refresh both body and mind.

Boasting four treatment rooms, which combine to create two couples rooms, two thermal cabins, a steam room and sauna, as well as an outdoor Cedar wellness pool and oversized hammock on the decking, there is ample relaxation space and the outdoor bucket and monsoon drench shower provides a refreshing and revitalising experience.

SPAshell have created a number of signature treatments for Fishmore Hall including the Lava Shell® massage and there are an array of Lava Shell® massages available as they are the world’s first self-heating massage tool, patented, natural, biodegradable heat technology provides a continuous and seamless body massage.

I could not wait for the back and shoulder massage I was booked in for and it did not disappoint. Feeling very chilled I was joined by my partner for our session in the spa.

The sauna and steam room help to heat away the stresses and strains of the weeks before we retreated to the outdoor jacuzzi which I can highly recommend.

The treatments and facilities are wonderful and it is the extra little touches that make it special such as the snow white fluffy bathrobes and matching slippers.

Relaxed and refreshed we headed to the Brasserie for our evening meal. From the mouthwatering menu we both opted for the smoked salmon, caper, lemon and creme fraiche to start followed by the fish pie with herbs, wholegrain mustard served with seasonal vegetables.

The sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce was too much to resist also!

Chef Andrew Birch joined Fishmore Hall in 2014 and he has recently competed on BBC2’s Great British Menu.

While we chose the relaxed setting of the Brasserie if you are looking for something more formal Fishmore Hall has the 3AA Rosette restaurant, Forelles,

After our meal we ventured into the nearby town of Ludlow, which is just a five minute drive from the hotel, for a quiet drink with the locals.

The town itself has a reputation as a foodie heaven so our only regret was that we could not stay longer to sample some of the many restaurants.

* For more information about Fishmore Hall go to www.fishmorehall.com and http://www.fishmorehall.co.uk/Book+online

@FishmoreSpashell and @FishmoreHall www.fishmorehall.com and http://www.fishmorehall.co.uk/Book+online

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

A cyclist who came under police suspicion because he was riding a different bicycle to the one an officer had previously seen him on was found with drugs.

Martin Parsons, 37, of Raikes Parade, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to possessing heroin and failing to attend court.

He was sentenced to a 12 months community order with 12 months drug rehabilitation and fined £50 with £85 victims’ surcharge by magistrates who ordered the destruction of the drugs.

Prosecutor, Kerry Grieve, said a police officer on patrol in the resort’s Hornby Road on December 10 at 3.15am, saw Parsons on a different bike to one he had been riding previously. The officer knew Parsons had a prolific record for theft and was suspicious.

Parsons was searched and a small packet of heroin was found in his pocket. He had a previous record of 143 offences, mainly for theft, and was on a suspended prison sentence at the time of the offence.

David Charnley, defending, said his client had been trying to come off heroin and was on a methadone prescription. His methadone dose had then been reduced by drug specialists. Parsons felt it had been reduced too much and resorted to taking some street heroin to top up.

Since the offence his methadone dose had been upped again.

Claire Snowden, 32, theft

A mother whose miserable Christmas included a lone dinner of just tuna and pasta turned to theft to make ends meet.

Claire Snowden’s world had fallen apart over the last few months after her children were put into care because she had been in a relationship with a man who was abusive and her benefits money was also stopped, the court heard.

Snowden, 32, of Withnell Road, South Shore, pleaded guilty to one charge of theft and asked for two offences of theft to be taken into consideration.

She was sentenced to pay £339 compensation by magistrates who imposed no other penalty.

Prosecutor, Kerry Grieve, said Snowden went into HMV, Bank Hey Street, on December 29 and 30 and January 2, and stole a £169 speaker on each occasion.

She was caught the last time she went into the shop and told police she had sold the other two speakers for £80 each.

Peter Manning, defending, said Snowden’s world had collapsed after her children were taken into care because she had been in a relationship with an abusive man.

She had had no previous involvement with drugs but started taking some because of the stress she was under. A letter from the benefits agency asking her to attend an appointment did not reach her. As a result her benefits were stopped.

Mr Manning said: “She had a miserable Christmas. For her Christmas dinner she had a tin of tuna and some pasta. She has had no support from anyone. She stole items to get money to survive.”

Youth, 16, breach of bail conditions

A teenager who had been allowed out of custody on strict bail conditions after being accused of robbing and stabbing a male victim broke the conditions by being out on New Year’s Eve.

The 16-year-old defendant, from South Shore, who can not be identified for legal reasons, had been allowed conditional bail. One of the conditions was that he kept a 7pm to 7am curfew inside his home.

The company monitoring the teenager’s tagged curfew was alerted he was not at home on December 31. The second time they telephoned his address to ask why, his father admitted he was out and he did not know where he was.

The teenager pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a bail condition. It was his second breach of bail.

Prosecutor, Kerry Grieve, told the court that the boy had been accused of robbery wounding and possessing an offensive weapon and was to appear at Preston Crown Court on January 25.

He had been bailed on the condition he lived at his current address, did not contact a co-defendant and prosecution witnesses and kept an overnight curfew at his home.

On New Year’s Eve the teenager was not at home just after 7pm. He returned home on January 2.

Stephen Duffy, defending, said the teenager had gone out to visit a friend in the afternoon. He then realised it was after the start time of his curfew and was too scared to go home.

He had returned on January 2 and the firm monitoring his tag alerted the police who arrested him. He had been in custody since 10.20am the previous day.

Magistrates agreed to rebail him.

Charlotte Nicholls, 30. assault and criminal damage

A woman accused of biting her girlfriend’s finger and headbutting her in Fleetwood has made her first appearance at court.

Charlotte Nicholls, 30, of Grasmere Road, Blackpool, pleaded not guilty to assault and denied damaging her partner’s phone.

Nicholls was bailed for trial on February 23 by magistrates. She must not contact the complainant or enter Garfield Road, Fleetwood, as conditions of her bail.

Sam Booth, 24, criminal damage

A defendant who said he was ill and unable to attend court has been put on the wanted list.

Sam Booth, 24, of Fredora Avenue, Marton, had pleaded guilty to causing £373 of damage to a motor vehicle belonging to a woman at Blackpool.

Stephen Duffy, defending, said Booth has contacted his firm to say he was ill.

Kerry Grieve, prosecuting, said it was the third time the defendant had said he was ill and asked for a warrant without bail.

In the past he had not produced medical evidence for the times he had not attended court.

magistrates issued a warrant without bail for Booth’s arrest.

Christopher Marfleet, 28, harassment

A man accused of making unwanted contact with his former girlfriend on numerous occasions has appeared at court.

Christopher Marfleet, 28, The Strand, of Fleetwood, pleaded not guilty to harassing his ex in August last year.

He was bailed to February 21 for trial by magistrates.

Arron Malone, 27, harassment

A defendant who failed to attend court has been put on the wanted list.

Arron Malone, 27, of Commercial Street, Briarfield, Nelson, should have been present for the first hearing of offence against him of harassing a woman. He is alleged to have to have harassed a woman at Blackpool by making unwanted phone calls. A warrant for his arrest was issued by magistrates.

The alarming figures follow a Freedom of Information request which also reveals the number of physical attacks on North West Ambulance crews rocketed to almost 400 during 2015/16.

Blackpool has the highest number of notorious addresses in the county where paramedics and ambulance technicians wait for police back-up before answering a 999 call, with 29 on the “risky” list this year compared with 19 in the previous 12 months.

But Preston, with 15, has also been a blackspot in 2016, as has the Lancaster area with 13. The Chorley area had just three, while there were none in South Ribble.

“There are a lot of incidents that we attend where we are quite fearful and quite concerned about our own safety,” said one Lancashire paramedic.

“We contact the police before we go. Obviously that puts a big strain on the police as well – they aren’t there to be our bodyguards.”

Statistics released by NWAS show there were 323 addresses across the region which had a “flag” alert against them this year, 111 of those in Lancashire.

Overall, the blacklist had 72 fewer homes than 2015 in the North West, but rose by around 10 per cent in the county.

Physical attacks on crews went up from 376 to 393 last year compared with 12 months earlier. Verbal assaults on staff showed an even bigger rise from 311 in 2014/15 to 389 in 2015/16.

Other statistics show ambulance staff have a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder rate of more than five times that of military veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Our ambulance crews work extremely hard to help people and save lives,” said an NWAS spokesman. “And it is unfortunate that the trust has to put such measures (police escorts) in place to protect our crews from violence.

“The trust has a robust system for the application and review of violence and aggression address markers in the region.

“Violence and aggression flags are applied to specific addresses to ensure the safety of our staff, allowing the trust to understand where violent or aggressive patients reside.

“Flags applied to a specific address may be a result of previous experiences of our crews when responding to incidents.

“Flags applied to addresses are supported by incident reports, providing evidence as to why the flag is in place and are regularly reviewed.

“When responding to incidents at such addresses our staff will be informed if a patient has a history of violent or aggressive behaviour and will proceed with caution.

“If crews attend incidents at the addresses of patients with a history of more serious violence the crews may be escorted by the police.”

Another paramedic said: “It’s always at the back of your mind, definitely, so you’re more cautious.

“You are safer in a way because you’re a lot more cautious. The ones I personally think get you, and when you are potentially more vulnerable to being attacked or being in a dangerous situation, is in public.

“It’s hard to put a warning on an address where it’s not private, and that’s where I’ve heard of a couple of colleagues being caught out before.”

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: “We work in partnership with the ambulance service and provide assistance and support to them when attending incidents where necessary.

“Any deliberate attacks on staff can endanger emergency service workers who are often working in high pressure, life or death situations and as such we take the matter very seriously.”

Of the 15 no-go addresses in Preston during 2016, two were in Ribbleton, two in Ingol, two in Fulwood, two in Ashton and seven in central Preston.
Chorley, Coppull and Eccleston all had one each. And the Lancaster area’s “risky” addresses were in Skerton (1), Scotforth (1), Primrose (1), Carnforth (1), Lancaster (2) and Morecambe (7).

They arrived at around 12.30am to find a tent on fire on a covered sports pitch.

The fire was extinguished using a hose-reel.

The fire is thought to have been started deliberately, say fire services and investigations are ongoing.

Crew Manager Mark Preddy said: "Fires should not be played with or started for fun. This was a potentially serious incident and people could have been hurt."

No one was injured in the incident.

The last contact between the police and Julija Dubovika, who is also known by the name of Julia Belova, was on Sunday 25 December 2016 via her mobile telephone.

Julija, who has links to Blackpool and Preston, was last believed to have been in the North Devon area, quite possibly the Braunton area in particular but her current whereabouts are now unknown.

She previously lived in Leicestershire and also has links to Leicester, Derby, Lancashire, Nottingham and Bristol.

Julija is described as white, 5ft 7ins tall, of a slim build, with very long, blond hair and green eyes. Julija also has an Eastern European accent and a tattoo on each wrist.

If you have seen Julija or have any information that can assist the police with their search, please contact 101 quoting police log 0892 for the 23rd December 2016.

Lovingly holding Johne Johnson’s hand for the last time, wife Debbie and her family remember the moment as a symbol of hope despite their overwhelming sadness at losing him.

It was their last photograph before Johne was taken away to have his organs removed for donation after suffering a fatal brain haemorrhage.

Debbie, 45, of Heeley Road, St Annes, explains: “I always loved Johne’s hands and they were very special to me.

“I am a proper romantic and big softie and I always thought my hands fitted perfectly with his.

“Before Johne had to leave us for organ donation, I knew we needed a picture of all of our hands together.

“The photo shows Johne’s hand with my hand, the hands of my three children and the hand of Johne’s daughter from his previous marriage Frankie who is 22.”

Johne, 54, who was a builder, had always been healthy and well but Debbie revealed Johne predicted he would die at the age of 54 after his own dad died at the same age.

Debbie, who had been together with Johne for seven years, would have been celebrating her third wedding anniversary on May 5 2015.

Instead, almost three years to the day, she walked down the same aisle as her wedding day with her husband’s coffin.

Debbie explains: “Johne’s dad died when he was 54 and Johne thought he would die at the same age and often talked to me about it.

“When Johne and I got together, he brought up my children Lucy, now 14 and Jordan, now 13 as his own and we had Jack together, who is now six.

“When Johne was 53, he said: ‘I’ve not got long now’ but I told him not to be silly as he wasn’t going to die and that Jack needed him as did we all.”

Johne had shown no signs of ill health until April 2015 when he had been suffering headaches for about three weeks. However, he thought they were just caused by stress.

Debbie recalls: “Johne didn’t really think anything of the headaches, but on the Friday, he had a bit of a blackout so I took him to the doctors.

“The doctor checked him over and told us to come back on the Monday for more tests including blood tests and an ECG.

“However, Johne died on the Saturday. It was a huge shock to everyone.”

Debbie, a manager of a cafe in St Annes, was with Johne at the time of his death. On the Saturday morning, he told her he was feeling exhausted so she gave him a painkiller and told him to try and get some rest.

Debbie remembers: “Johne told me he couldn’t sleep as all sorts of things were going on inside his head. I wish I’d asked him what sorts of things were going through his mind.

“I then told Johne I was going shopping and would only be a couple of hours and would be back about 3pm.

“At 3.05pm, Johne rang me and said he felt sick. I told him I was only five minutes away.

“When I got home, I went upstairs and found Johne keeled over on the bed and his T-shirt was wet through.

“He said: ‘Debs, I am gone’ but I told him to keep breathing and I put him into the recovery position and waited for the ambulance to arrive.

“Johne’s breathing was going and as I was looking at him, the colour was draining out of his body and I knew things weren’t looking good.”

Johne was taken to hospital where doctors told the family they suspected he had suffered a massive brain haemorrhage and sadly nothing more could be done for him.

Medics asked Debbie if the family had considered organ donation and told her Johne was registered on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Debbie says: “It was such a horrendous time and I was trying to absorb the information that my husband was dead.

“I felt like my heart had been ripped out and was in total shock and could not believe what had suddenly happened.

“It felt so surreal and sad.

“Until the subject of organ donation was broached, I had not really thought about it.

“Even though Johne had talked about his fear of dying at the age of 54, we had not discussed organ donation.

“Being told that he was on the organ donor register made the decision easier. I felt we were fulfilling Johne’s wishes and we agreed to his organs being donated.”

Debbie says even at the moment of intense grief, she recalls getting some solace from knowing her husband’s organs would be making a massive difference to someone else’s life.

Debbie says: “I remember thinking: ‘While I am here now, somebody at this moment in time is receiving a telephone call telling them that doctors have an organ which will either save or dramatically improve their life.

“I realised that as hard as it was for us going through such pain and loss, that it was a good thing that something so positive and amazing could come out of a tragedy.

“You don’t realise how many people are waiting for organ transplants and what a huge impact organ donation can make on their lives.”

Before Johne was taken to have his organs removed for donation, the photograph featuring his hand with the hands of his wife and children was taken and it is an emotional image which they treasure.

Debbie says: “We know that somebody received Johne’s pancreas and another person received a kidney and someone else received a heart valve.

“Losing Johne was terrible and since his death, I wasn’t sleeping properly and I kept having dreams about him.

“I wish Johne was still here, but he is not and nothing can change that.

“But it does make me feel better knowing that other people have gained from our loss and that Johne’s organs went to helping other people.

“It is heartening to know that there are families out there who are not going through the pain that we went through because Johne’s organs are helping them keep their loved ones for longer.

“I feel like part of me died with Johne and I haven’t been the same since losing him.

“Johne was just such a lovable guy and was a very funny man who was always cracking jokes and he was a real people’s person.

“If someone asked him, he would have given them the shirt off his back as that was the type

of kind person he was.

“I know organ donation is what he would have wanted and even though I would sooner have Johne, I do feel some comfort from knowing he is helping other people even after death.”

The headlines are certainly eye-catching.

“UK cops too unfit to walk the beat,” one screams.

“Blobby Bobbies” says another.

Police fitness has never been under greater scrutiny.

In March last year reports claimed overweight officers faced the boot if they failed basic tests of their abilities.

But just how fit do you have to be to walk the streets as one of Lancashire’s finest?

One man who knows is physical training instructor PC Paul De Wilde.

Based at the force’s headquarters in Hutton he’s one of the men charged with getting and keeping the boys in blue in shape.

And, as it turns out, there are strict standards.

As a 37-year-old father of three, former smoker, couch potato and self-appointed pie officianado (not to mention The Gazette’s official biscuit correspondent) agreeing to be put through my paces may not have been the wisest idea.

And Paul very quickly makes clear he won’t be going easy on me as he demonstrates just what is needed to be cleared to step out on patrol.

The first thing that is made clear is there is not one fitness standard.

“There is a basic level, one we need every recruit to meet,” explains Paul.

“But beyond that you’ve got different levels based on the role, the specialism you might want to take.

“To be a riot officer you need to have a higher level of fitness, the same again for a firearms officer.

“Dog handlers, mounted officers, again there are different, higher standards.”

The test is simple, run a 15m course, between two cones in time to a bleep.

It’s a standard in many fitness fields, one I’ve seen professional footballers put through and punished by in pre-season.

The minimum standard, it is explained, is to reach level five and manage four legs.

Anything beyond that and it’s a case of seeing how high up the pyramid a middle-aged man might push.

In fairness Paul, an experienced instructor, knows there’s no use in shouting at me and his gentle encouragement seems to be doing the trick as I breeze through the first two sections.

It’s only then Paul points out that was just the warm up.

Trying hard to hide my disappointment at effort wasted there is time for a final few stretching exercises before lining up for real.

Anyone who has done a bleep test will know how quickly the pace can pick up and having initially been well ahead of the clock, it’s soon clear how close I’m cutting it on each leg.

And still things get faster.

Onto level five the turns are getting shorter, fractions of a second.

And even when the minimum level is reached there’s no time for celebration.

“Let’s see how far you can get,” shouts Paul.

It barely registers, the only focus on beating the bleep.

Level six, that’s good enough to be part of the Police Air Service.

“One more and that’s a response officer,” comes the call.

I push on, reaching the line.

But the test has taken its toll, there’s a wobble in my left calf and I decide it’s time to stop before I do myself any harm.

For a moment I’m impressed but Paul’s quick to bring me back to earth.

“You’ve made the basic standard, what we’d expect of a recruit,” he explains.

“But where you’ve got to, that level on the test, we’d expect officers at that level to perform the test carrying all their kit, in full uniform.

“That makes it tougher and it’s a level we expect them to maintain.

“In training it’s a level the need to attain all the time.”

Proving, as a one off, you have what it takes to join the force is very different to the day-to-day reality of training and life on the beat where that fitness level might be called into question at any point.

Officers are regularly tested and the level is far from basic.

I’ve managed barely four minutes on the test.

Officers at the peak of fitness might manage seven or more.

And, despite my decision not to make any flippant remarks about coffee or donuts, Paul is keen to show how officers and other police staff are kept in shape.

He runs regular boot camp sessions in the Hutton gym and has set up a special circuit.

It might all be familiar business to gym-goers.

But to a man whose greatest sporting achievement is finishing 96th in the Northern School’s Cross County Championships (1995) it’s a real test.

Having breezed through the ‘wall ball’ exercise I hit the bricks in spectacular fashion with tuck jumps, 15 of which nearly floor me.

With my chest burning I’m ready to quit.

But Paul can see the pain and he wants me to push on... to the weights.

Each of the 15 lifts feels a punishment, even more so when Paul points out the force press officer who is watching on does this kind of thing every week, once she’s finished a three mile jog.

With burpees - a squat thrust come push up to the uninitiated - still to go even the toughest of police instructors can see I’m spent, ready to collapse on a handy pile of gym mats.

Muscles aching, it’s a chance to reflect on the fitness levels needed.

A man can walk off the street with no training or preparation and reach the basic standard.

But to match that level day in and day out, as the force expects, is not easy.

It’s something Paul knows: “People do fail the tests,” he said. “But we’re here to make sure they hit the standard.

“It can be tough but the standards, for every different role, are there for very important reasons.”

Green campaigners have been rapped over a poster making unsubstantiated claims about fracking.

The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) has said that a leaflet published in 2015 by Friends of the Earth (FOE), which featured a photograph of a prominent local campaigner, made claims which it could not back up with evidence.

The leaflet was distributed in September with the slogan “Pat (Davies) saved her home from fracking, you can save yours too”.

Shale gas exploration company Cuadrilla complained to the ASA, as did other campaigners, and now after FOE asked for time to put together evidence to back their claims, the ASA has said FOE has agreed not to republish it.

Francis Egan, CEO of Cuadrilla, said: “After many attempts by Friends of the Earth to delay this decision, the charity’ admission that all of the claims it made, that we complained about, were false should hopefully put a stop to it misleading the UK public on fracking.

“Friends of the Earth’s repeated falsehoods have been exposed as nothing more than scaremongering designed to frighten the public into giving it money.

“It is the unacceptable face of the charity sector.”

A spokesman from the ASA today confirmed the decision.

Donna Hume, senior campaigner, Friends of the Earth, said: “Cuadrilla’s complaint isn’t surprising from a profit-driven fracking company, after all, they have shareholders to keep happy.

“They started this process to distract from the real issues about fracking, and how burning fossil fuels is dangerous for climate change.

“This is a pro-fracking company doing all they can to shut down opposition to fracking.

“It hasn’t worked though. What’s happened instead is that the ASA has dropped the case without ruling.

“We continue to campaign against fracking, alongside local people, because the process is inherently risky.”

Bat enthusiasts were called out to rescue a common pipistrelle which was found on the promenade on New Year’s day.

It was found by a walker who initially thought it was a leaf tumbling about in the wind.

However, when she discovered it was a bat she called North Lancashire Bat Group (NLBG), its first call of 2017.

It had suffered minor injuries and had a swollen wrist, a broken finger and a hole in its wing.

Volunteer bat carer Gail Armstrong said: “We have to make sure that it is hydrated and just let it rest for a few weeks until it’s wounds heal.

“It should be in hibernation this time of year.

“He’s very lively, he’s taken water and he can still use both his wings so we hope he’ll be OK.” The adult male bat is being cared for by Louise Whalley in Poulton.

The common pipistrelle is one of the most common bat species in the British Isles.

Fracking is coming to the Fylde coast.

The debate goes on about how safe it is and the possible consequences of something going wrong.

So what are the main arguments on both sides? How is fracking monitored and by whom? DAVE NOWELL reports.

The monitoring process

The Government has spent years working with other agencies to come up with a framework that will allow shale gas exploration to go ahead safely.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change has been at the forefront of planning. In April 2015 certain functions passed from DECC to the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) a newly created executive agency of DECC that works with partners to make sure any exploration and development activity associated with the development of new energy resources is safe and sustainable.

The process of obtaining consent to drill a well is the same whether the well targets conventional or unconventional gas. Operators bid for exclusive rights to an area in competitive licence rounds. They then need the landowner’s and planning permission, which may require an environmental impact assessment. They also need environmental permits from the relevant environment regulator – the Environment Agency, in England . The Environment Agency ensures that any shale gas operations are conducted in a way that protects people and the environment.

The Environment Agency’s environmental permitting regulations cover:

l Protecting water resources, including groundwater (aquifers) as well as assessing and approving the use of chemicals which form part of the hydraulic fracturing fluid

l Appropriate treatment and disposal of mining waste produced during the borehole drilling and hydraulic fracturing process

l Suitable treatment and management of any naturally occurring radioactive materials

l Disposal of waste gases through flaring.

The Environment Agency is also a statutory consultee in the planning process and provides local mineral planning authorities – normally the county or unitary local authority – with advice on the potential risks to the environment from individual gas exploration and extraction sites.

The operator must notify the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of the well design and operation plans at least 21 days before drilling is due to start.

The HSE inspects the well design to ensure that measures are in place to control major hazards to people from well-related activities and accidents.

The HSE and Environment Agency meet all new or first time shale gas operators and advise them of their legal duties under the relevant legislation and conduct a joint inspection of the key operations at site. The operator then seeks final consent from the OGA.

One of the key parts of regulation is the so-called “traffic light” system, where operators will have to scale back or stop hydraulic fracturing in the event of any seismic activity. DECC’s Regulatory Roadmap publication provides detailed information on the process operators must follow when seeking to drill for any form of onshore oil and gas in the UK.

Pro fracking

Statement from Francis Egan, CEO of Cuadrilla

At the beginning of December at a packed event at AFC Fylde’s Mill Farm stadium, Cuadrilla launched a new initiative called Putting Lancashire First.

This represents our commitment, as a company based in Lancashire, to putting the county first when it comes to generating new jobs, economic growth and community benefits, promoting prosperity for current and future generations of Lancastrians.

To back this up we announced a series of six Cuadrilla Commitments, or promises, about how we will conduct our business as we re-commence exploration and how we can start to bring real benefits to Lancashire from the shale gas deep beneath our feet.

I’d like to take this opportunity to tell you a little about each of these Commitments to Lancashire:

We will carry out our operations to the highest safety and environmental standards and communicate openly. We will monitor all aspects of our operations to protect the local environment and publish the data in an easy to access online Environmental Portal so everyone will be able to satisfy themselves that our operations are safe.

We will increase energy security for Lancashire and Britain as we become operational. As this New Year commences I don’t think any of us need reminding that energy security is critical for Lancashire as it is across Britain in an increasingly unpredictable world. We urgently need to reduce our ever growing dependency on gas imported from the Middle East and other foreign sources. As our exploration progresses we will start to put natural gas into the grid and contribute to UK energy security.

We will work with local partners to promote Lancashire as a hub for the UK shale gas industry with new jobs and economic growth. Just as Aberdeen made itself the centre of operations and of excellence in North Sea oil and gas, we believe Lancashire has the capacity to do this for the emerging UK shale gas industry and we will prioritise local recruitment and encourage apprenticeship opportunities in our industry.

We will prioritise Lancashire suppliers and publish the amount we are spending. Although we were only in the planning stages for exploration site at Preston New Road in 2016 we invested nearly £700,000 in the Lancashire economy and this is just the start as we continue to develop a local supply chain. We will support local training opportunities for young people including with the National Onshore Oil and Gas College based at Blackpool and The Fylde College.

We will share the benefits of shale gas by sponsoring educational and sporting projects and through a local community benefit scheme, and further announcements are scheduled on these initiatives early in the New Year.

Babs Murphy, chief executive of the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber is delighted that Cuadrilla has publicly announced its wish to put Lancashire first. This is because putting Lancashire first is exactly what the Chamber has done since its inception just over one hundred years ago. It runs through the Chamber’s DNA and we’re both pleased that Cuadrilla has chosen to follow in our footsteps.

The brilliant thing we all see within the local business community is a resolute desire to transform uncertainty into opportunity. Business opportunities afforded by the development of an onshore gas industry in Lancashire are substantial and we absolutely believe that this potential resource can be exploited safely and responsibly with no long-term adverse effects on local communities and the environment.

And to this end, one of the first steps that we sought to take with Cuadrilla was to create a supply chain portal for Lancastrian businesses seeking to get involved in a future local shale gas industry. In early 2015 both county Chambers, working alongside Cuadrilla, launched a basic local supply chain portal in anticipation of exploration getting under way again later that year. We were delighted with the response at the time as several hundred local businesses signed up. Following the Secretary of State’s decision to grant planning permission for Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site this October, interest has spiked again, with the total number of businesses registered on the portal now standing at over nine hundred with over 80 per cent of those businesses coming from Lancashire.

So in preparation for the start of work at the Preston New Road site, we are in early January relaunching an updated local supply chain portal with more information for local businesses. Our message to local businesses who may have an interest in future work with Lancashire’s shale gas industry, is to register at www.shalegaslancashire.co.uk Cuadrilla has already demonstrated their commitment to Lancashire Businesses by selecting and appointing local suppliers.

AFC Fylde supremo David Haythornthwaite has also spoken in support of the shale gas industry

He said recently: “I am a passionate supporter of shale gas. I am standing here at what is the epicentre of the shale gas industry of Britain and the whole of Europe. It is important that we take this opportunity with both hands.

“Blackpool is just down the road with areas of high deprivation and a low wage economy.”

He added that it was not just economic and energy supply benefits, money from the industry could support community projects such as AFC Fylde’s Community Foundation where up to 300 children from deprived areas next summer were expected to take part in football related activities thanks to extra sponsorship.

Anti fracking

Barbara Richardson of the Roseacre Awareness Group

I, like many other residents on the Fylde, am extremely worried by the news that Cuadrilla will soon be starting work at the Preston New Road site just outside Blackpool, where they intend drilling, and hydraulically fracturing, up to four exploratory wells for shale gas.

The impacts of ‘unconventional’ fossil fuel extraction are far greater than those of ‘conventional’ fracking which the industry keep referring to in effort to make it seem more acceptable. This type of fracking has only ever been done once before in the UK and that was at Preese Hall, which resulted in two earthquakes.

The process involves 24/7, 365 days a year drilling and even more invasive (high volume, high intensity) fracking and flaring of methane gas for over two years – possibly a lot longer should it move to full production.

This will have significant impacts on those communities living near the well sites including thousands of HGV movements (bringing in equipment, sand, chemicals), 24/7 noise and light pollution, using 5-8m gallons of water per well and the creation of tonnes of hazardous waste which has to be disposed of at special treatment centres elsewhere in the UK.

I do not believe many people in Lancashire realise that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Preston New Road is just the first site but it certainly will not be the last. Literally hundreds of well pads and thousands of wells would be needed right across our precious countryside if this industry is to be economically viable.

They are not pretty. These are industrial complexes each surrounded by a four-metre high security fence topped by razor wire resembling prison camps.

Is this our vision for the Fylde? Do we want to be known as the ‘largest gas field in Western Europe?’ These are Cuadrilla’s words not mine.

I am proud of the Fylde, of being a born and bred Lancashire lass. I love living here and enjoy the peace and tranquility the countryside affords. I admire the scenery and fantastic wildlife. I get pleasure from walking and cycling along our country lanes.

I do not want our countryside littered with hundreds of industrial well sites, with all the resultant noise and traffic let alone the risks to our health, our air and our water. Just imagine huge HGV’s trundling up and down our quiet country lanes posing a real danger to other road users especially those most vulnerable such as walkers, cyclists and horse riders. This is a relatively short-lived industry. Once a well has been fracked they just move onto the next well. The jobs are few, just 11 at each of the proposed sites, and mainly temporary.

The industry quotes figures, but these are for the whole life of the industry across the whole of the UK. Cuadrilla has even scored an own goal – the first jobs for site construction going to a firm in Greater Manchester not Lancashire as they promised.

I just do not understand why the Government is forcing this industry upon us when it has been rejected at every level from the residents to our County Council.

It is clearly not wanted and definitely not needed.”

Hannah Martin, energy campaigner at Greenpeace UK

Fracking doesn’t make environmental or economic sense, and the Government has a duty to represent the thousands of people across Lancashire who oppose it.

They should consider why this technology is so unpopular with local communities, and be far more rigorous in scrutinising the negative impacts of fracking like air, noise and light pollution, and harm to our climate.

With public support for fracking at an all time low, and hundreds of campaign groups like Frack Free Lancashire all across the UK, the government and fracking companies shouldn’t underestimate the strength of feeling on this issue.

The people of Lancashire have been fighting for their communities for more than five years, and it’s clear that their calls for local democracy and prioritisation of clean energy will continue in 2017.

Lancashire needs innovation and job creation, not noise, air and light pollution.

We will campaign until all levels of government show support for renewable technologies and stop prioritising 
fracking.”