A 15-year-old boy has been banned from being drunk in Fleetwood by magistrates.

The teenager was given a CRASBO, the criminal version of an ASBO, by Blackpool Youth Court after magistrates heard about his behaviour.

Chrissie Hunt, prosecuting, said that under the terms of the order the youth is banned from two shops in Fleetwood and he must follow a designated route to and from his home.

PC Danny Farrell, a community beat manager in the port, told the court that the youth associated with others who had criminal convictions and was involved when a chip shop window was broken in Shakespeare Road.

He ws also involved in riding a mini motorbike around the port’s streets an into an old lady’s garden, as well as trying to get one of his friends out of the back of a police van after his friend was arrested, and racially abusing a shopkeeper on Chatsworth Avenue, Fleetwood.

Patrick Nelligan, defending, said : “There are a number of offences which may be minor in nature but when taken together do cause concern.

“My client will follow the terms of the CRASBO but he may have trouble with the clause banning him from associating with one youth who is his best mate.”

Magistrates were told by the youth’s stepfather that he was educationally bright and had taken 10 GCSEs. He said: “The trouble is alcohol and those he mixes with.”

The other terms of the CRASBO orders the youth does not use foul or threatening language and keep a 7pm to 7am curfew. He must not not associate with a list of named youths. The CRASBO will last for two years while the curfew will last for 10 weeks.

People in Blackpool and the rest of the North West are the most entrepreneurial in the country, according to a new survey.

Independent research from CollectPlus has found that, of those surveyed, more people than ever are selling goods online through websites such as eBay, amazon, Gumtree, notonthehighstreet.com and their own personal pages to earn themselves a wage, last year making an average of £33,000.

Residents in the North West have been revealed by the research to be the most entrepreneurial with average annual profits from their online selling of £42,192 (one and a half times the average national wage). While, for 44 per cent, selling their wares online started as a hobby, for more than half, the money they make is now their primary source of income.

Almost three in every five people (59 per cent) that have set up an online business are reliant on the money to make ends meet, with 44 per cent using the profit from their new business to top up their existing income.

One in five (20 per cent) began selling online when they were unemployed, whilst 11 per cent did so when after being made redundant.

However, not everyone’s motives for setting up a business are financial. Forty-six per cent started selling online because they wanted their own business and the online marketplace gave them the best opportunity to do that.

Almost a third were driven to start trading online because they wanted a better work/life balance and selling online gave them more flexibility.

A teenager accused of hitting a former school friend with a lump of concrete and another man with a wing mirror in a fracas which started on the Fleetwood pitch and putt course has made his first appearance at court.

Brandon Gerrard, 19, of Southfleet Place, Fleetwood, pleaded not guilty to two offences of assault and damaging a wing mirror on a Mercedes.

Pam Smith, opposed an application for bail for Gerrard by defence lawyer Steven Townley.

Gerrard was remanded in custody towards his trial on August 7 by District Judge Margaret McCormack sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

If you recall last week I was talking about my financial gamble to put on a free show on June 28th.

This week I am toasting my success as it was great! In comparison the Caribbean Carnival an annual event I remember as far back as being a young child pulled in around 2000 people so I am told. Preston City Wrestling had 4000! I know as a fact that we had fans come from France, Scotland, London and many other places all over the UK so the day was also a boost to the Preston economy.

We were not the only part of the day with Armed Forces Day Preston hosting a variety of events and numbers throughout the day could be as high as 12,000 people passing through. It was a great day and Councillor Drew Gale the lead organizer on the day deserves a pat on the back for his hard work.

Preston’s Armed Forces Day was also one of if not the highest attending in the whole country and this needs to be celebrated. Looking back through various forms of media it did not get the amount of praise it should. I was mentioned but if another event on a different day gets a fraction of the attendance then surely the big story is Armed Forces Day. Just my opinion and I am biased of course.

After the big day it would not be PCW without an after party! I took Carlito and Chris Masters to see the bars of Preston. Getting towards the end of the night and our group dropping like flies we ended up in the Assembly, our final stop for the night. Chris Masters wanting to fight a midget who was drunk and bumping into him continuously signaled home time on a great day!

Our next event is August 1st and features former WWE Star and current TNA Star Ken Anderson! Tickets from {http://www.prestoncitywrestling.com.prestoncitywrestling.com}

The first group of marine engineers from Fleetwood Nautical Campus have graduated.

They are now set to embark on careers at sea after securing foundation degrees in marine engineering at the Blackpool and Fylde College campus.

Some 15 students, including Lewis Singleton from Fleetwood, were among the first to enrol on the new course in September 2011.

They joined almost 100 deck officers of various rank at the graduation ceremony, held at the Marine Hall, who had completed HNCs, HNDs and Foundation Degrees in Nautical Science at the campus.

A college spokesman said: “The degree was introduced after major investment, which introduced a fully-operational marine vessel plant maintenance workshop and an impressive full mission engine room simulator.

“The simulator is just about as close to being on board a ship as you can get without actually boarding.”

A man repeatedly swore at a police officer and told him he was not coming into his home.

Nathan Pulford told the officer: “You’re not coming in here without a warrant,” after he was told a woman had phoned from his address asking for assistance.

Pulford, 25, of Melbourne Avenue, Fleetwood, admitted breach of the peace and was bound over in the sum of £200 for 12 months by Blackpool magistrates.

Alison Quanbrough, said a woman phoned police from Pulford’s address asking for assistance on July 3 at 9.40pm.

Pulford said there was nothing going on and he refused to let an officer in or give his details.

He became threatening towards the officer and was arrested.

Little Kai Hodgkinson is more excited about his new tablet computer than the fact he will have an operation in October to help him walk.

The five-year-old is delighted with the present from his mum Caron – designed to keep him entertained in the days when he has to lie completely still following his surgery.

But for Caron, news that the much-anticipated operation will take place on 
October 2 has triggered lots of emotions.

With Kai’s dad, Brian Roberts, the couple, of Lawnswood Avenue, have waited almost two years for the date.

They have fund-raised to almost breaking point for their family to get enough money together to pay for the operation, which will eventually see Kai walk unaided.

And, although Caron is 
delighted that it is finally going to happen, she is naturally full of trepidation.

She said: “I am really nervous. I’ve had all the paperwork through detailing the operation and about all the bits that can go wrong.

“It’s weird really, I feel a bit deflated.”

Kai has cerebral palsy and, like any other five-year-old, he is constantly on the go.

His cerebral palsy however limits movement in his legs and has always needed aids to help him get around.

But the selective dorsal rhizotomy operation, which involves snipping nerves in the spine which inhibit movement, should relieve the tension in his muscles.

The family initially launched a campaign to raise money to take Kai to America for the surgery. But in the end it was agreed he could have it done privately in Leeds. They have raised more than £40,000.

“We have worked so hard over the last two years with the fund-raising, and it’s all over. This is it, this is what we have done it all for.

“We’ve explained to Kai about the operation and about how he will have to stay in bed for a few days afterwards.

“That’s why we have bought him a tablet, he can play games and watch Cbeebies.

“But he can’t grasp it really, he’s no idea about the hard work afterwards, all the physio and exercise he will have to do.

“We are looking ahead though, it will make the world of difference to him.

“It’s been tough going fund-raising, such hard work on top of everything else. But without the support from the community, from the Weekly News for publicising it, we would never have been able to do it.”

Health chiefs have this week acknowledged the strength of local opinion in Fleetwood over the withdrawal of a cancer treatment service in the town.

The chemotherapy unit operated for 12 months on a trial basis at the Health and Wellbeing Centre on Dock Street, set up with funding from the Rosemere Cancer Foundation.

But when the 12 months of funding was up, at the 
beginning of this year, the service ended, despite being well used and much praised by Fleetwood residents.

It ended mainly because health authorities could not take on the costs of hiring the privately-owned building and transporting the medicines without the temporary Rosemere cash.

Two petitions were set up in a bid to try and revive it.

One was an e-petition set up by Fleetwood woman 
Paula Fowler, which has so far more than 1,600 names and runs until September.

The other, a paper petition set up jointly by community groups and Fleetwood Town Council members, received more than 1,300 names from residents who said it saved cancer patients an arduous journey to Blackpool Victoria Hospital and back.

This petition was handed over by Fleetwood Town Council vice-chairman Bill Barrow to Gary Doherty, the chief executive of the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

A spokesman for the Trust said: “We fully understand the desire for residents to see more services, such as a chemotherapy unit, closer to their homes as shown by the petition.

“The Trust, and the 
local Clinical Commissioning Groups, are working together to look at how we can provide more community-based services over the next few years and will do this wherever it is safe and affordable. The organisations are all working hard to see what services can be provided and where.”

Fleetwood’s MP, Eric Ollerenshaw, added: “The Rosemere Foundation ran the chemotherapy unit for a 12- month trial.

“Here in Fleetwood, it has proved a success and I am 
determined to do all I can to see a return of an oncology service to our area.”

Paula Fowler, who met with Mr Ollerenshaw to 
discuss the issue, said:“The meeting went well and Mr Ollerenshaw seemed hopeful but said things may take 
time.”

A special event to mark the centenary of the First World War is being planned for Fleetwood in November.

Wyre Council is organising The Homecoming, a community parade in Fleetwood on Armistice Day, Tuesday November 11, to mark the milestone of the Great War.

More than just a parade, a Wyre Council spokeswoman said: “We hope the event will include schools, community groups, organisations, veterans and any other willing residents of Fleetwood and the surrounding area. It’s an artsbased event and the intention is that people will be dressed as of the time and the town centre will be decorated with murals, bunting, flags and other memorials of many homecomings that occurred during the war.”

The event is still in planning stages but more information can be found at www.wyre.gov.uk/homecoming where people can also express an interest in taking part.

Meanwhile, the council has also created a commemorative floral display on The Mount, in the shape of a giant poppy, which pays tribute to those who died in the 1914-18 conflict.

A man accused of being concerned in an offer to supply anabolic steroids and diazepam tablets has made his first appearance at court.

Warren Young, 23, of Beryl Avenue, in Cleveleys, is also charged with attempting to possess diazepam.

The offences are said to have taken place between December 13 last year and March 15 this year, a magistrates’ court was told.

Martine Connah, prosecuting, asked for the case to be heard before a crown court.

Defence lawyer, Steven Townley, said his client would not enter pleas to the offences at this stage.

Young was bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court in October 15 by District Judge Pamela Baldwin, who was sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

A Fleetwood man was arrested after punching the walls in a flat and bouncing around on his toes.

Alex Jackson, 21, of North Albert Street, Fleetwood, pleaded guilty to breach of the peace and was bound over in the sum of £100 for 12 months by District Judge Huw Edwards sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

Alison Quanbrough, prosecuting, said police were called to North Albert Street on July 10 at 8.20pm.

Jackson, who had been drinking, was aggressive and refused to come out of the kitchen.

As an officer took his arm and escorted him out, Jackson shouted: “I’m not going anywhere until I get my rent back off him.”

Steven Townley, defending, said it was a row between friends about money, which got out of hand.

A controversial plan to move fire control operations across Lancashire from Preston to a regional centre in Warrington has had “teething problems” but will save the county £800,000, according to a report.

The move of call handling from the existing control room to a joint fire control at Warrington took place at the end of May.

The North West Fire Control Centre now handles calls for Lancashire, Cumbria, Cheshire and Manchester Fire and Rescue Services.

A report due to be considered by Lancashire County Council’s full council meeting on Thursday states: “As with any project of this scale and magnitude there were always teething problems which had now been largely overcome.”

It adds the centre, which uses the latest technology “would provide a saving to Lancashire of £800k.”

TV presenter and aviation enthusiast Carol Vorderman has launched a drive to boost the number of young people studying for a career in engineering.

The former Countdown presenter, who has a degree in engineering from Cambridge University, used her visit to the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire to make the call.

The 53-year-old has teamed up with aerospace, defence and security firm, BAE Systems, one of the country’s largest employers of engineers, to encourage young people to look at ‘STEM’ subjects in science, technology, engineering and mathematics as a career choice.

She met with around 1,000 local schoolchildren at RIAT where she took a seat in one of the world’s leading fighter jets, the Eurofighter Typhoon, built by a four-nation consortium including BAE Systems in Lancashire.

Carol told the youngsters: “You only have to look around you to realise what can be achieved by engineering, whether it is the cars we drive, the gadgets we use or the homes we live in – they are all products of 
engineering.

“A product like Typhoon shows you what can be achieved through world-class engineering and that is why I believe it is so important that we continue to push STEM subjects with young people.

“We need to act today to ensure we get the engineers of tomorrow.”

Alongside the television presenter, famed for her lightning mental arithmetic, to meet the schoolchildren at RIAT was Flt Lt Noel Rees, the RAF pilot hand-picked to show off the skills of the Typhoon at air shows throughout Europe this summer.

Typhoon is the world’s leading swing-role fighter aircraft, meaning it can switch seamlessly between air-to-air and air-to-ground attack, which is used in frontline action by air forces including the RAF.

The Royal Academy of Engineering’s report on ‘Jobs and Growth’ forecasts that, between 2012

and 2020, the UK economy will require 830,000 professional scientists, engineers and technologists.

This works out at over 100,000 new professionals each year.

Earlier this year, Carol flew in to Warton, Lancashire where BAE Systems’ Military Air and Information (MAI) business assembles Typhoons, to launch its new Engineering Higher Apprenticeship which is due to begin next year aimed at A-Level students.

It is one of a number of schemes run by the company to boost the number of high-quality engineers in the country.

Little later than planned to submit my column this week due to finally getting my unit lease agreed by Preston City Council.

It’s a big weight of my mind as it’s dragged on for far too long. Now I can focus on training the youths of Preston and create my own local stars. I really think the academy will be an asset to the City of Preston with students coming from all over the county and a real demand for spots. With Preston City Wrestling being one of the top promotions in the UK, everybody wants in. But the fun can’t start yet. I have about three weeks worth of painting and preparing the unit when I finally get the keys.

We also have record sales for our big November show. The show is named Supershow Of Honor as it’s a joint show with Ring Of Honor. You might be thinking Ring of what? Well Ring Of Honor are one of the biggest wrestling promotions in the world. CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Samoa Joe, AJ Styles etc all come from Ring Of Honor. The fans who follow them certainly know who they are with tickets sold all over europe!

My next show is our 3rd Anniversary show on August 1st. Yes all what we have achieved has been in under three years! I have plenty of grey hairs popping up with the stress and strain of wrestling but it sure is fun. I hope as many people come to celebrate PCWs birthday as possible as I always have something up my sleeve on the anniversary shows.

Remember to check out our website at {http://www.prestoncitywrestling.com.prestoncitywrestling.com} and if your on the fence about PCW, just give it a try. I promise you will love it.

Two men accused of being involved in an incident in which a man’s ear was partially severed have made their first appearance in court.

Andrew Benson, 28, of Homestead Drive and Patrick Bowker, 27, of Macbeth Road, both of Fleetwood, pleaded not guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The offence is alleged to have taken place in Ma Kelly’s bar, Fleetwood, on April 27.

The defendants were bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court on October 22 by District Judge Huw Edwards sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

Opportunist thieves ransacking cafes to steal charity boxes, petty cash and bacon have swept through Fleetwood – and police today warned other businesses could be at risk.

Yobs are using dark alleyways to go unnoticed before smashing their way in to the properties, often making off with a haul that is worth less than the damaged they caused.

Police are now urging traders to install external lighting, which they say has already helped stop one cafe falling prey to thieves.

In the past week, officers in the port have been called out to four town centre break-ins and one attempted break-in, but say they believe there could be far more that went unreported.

Colin Hind, who runs Capricorn Cafe, on Lord Street, said his business was broken into a couple of months ago.

He said: “They took next to nothing but it’s the damage that’s the most annoying thing. It cost me £400 for a new door.

“It’s so disheartening – it makes you wonder why you bother. I had to replace my stock because they left the freezers open. They could have had all that but all they took was £50 in change and a pack of bacon. What’s the point?”

What’s the point?”

Lia Stefani, whose mum Anna runs the Ferry Cafe, on The Esplanade, said when thieves targeted them three weeks ago they took out a window to get their meagre haul.

“We had two charity boxes near the till,” she added. “They cut through the chain to get them.

“As far as we know that’s all they took. They took the window out so they could get in but they even left that behind.

“It would be nice to see someone get caught for this.”

Police say they are still gathering information and believe the places targeted are all cafes in the town centre – but they fear the thieves may widen their scope.

Now they are warning other businesses to be vigilant and report anything suspicious.

PC Lorna Bolton said: “My concern is they will start targeting other businesses in Fleetwood and it’s not along stretch from there to go after residential properties.

“It’s mostly opportunistic – they are after things like petty cash but it’s the damage cause getting into the premises that is the biggest impact.”

She urged businesses to keep buildings secure and to remove cash and valuables overnight.

Police are working on the assumption the various incidents may be linked but say they have no firm evidence to support the theory yet.

PC Bolton added: “We know of nine or 10 attempted break-ins that were not reported but that is still vital information.

“We have also been conducting CCTV enquiries and going hose to house to gather as much information as we can.”

Anyone with information should call PC Lorna Bolton at Fleetwood police station on 101.

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A wanted man is believed to be in Fleetwood or St Annes, police have said.

Michael Bennett, 60, failed to attend Preston Crown Court on June 23 for a trial for sexual offences, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

The trial continued in his absence and Bennett was convicted of two counts of child abduction and two counts of sexual assault against two 11-year-old girls.

Now officers are appealing to help trace the man, formerly of Tensing Street, Oldham, asking members of the public to contact them if they see him or know of his whereabouts.

He is described as bald, having a round face and a large build.

Det Con Marc Amstrong said: “We have recent information to believe that Bennett has been in the Fleetwood and St Annes areas and he also has connections to Ashton-under-Lyne and Oldham.

“We would urge him to hand himself in to police and I would appeal to anyone who may have seen him or who knows of his whereabouts to contact police on 101.”

This week’s announcement on falling unemployment is a further sign that our economy is on the up.

More people in work and fewer people on benefits is good news for business, local people and government balance sheets too.

From a local perspective we should be pleased that while Blackpool still has a higher rate of people out of work than the regional and national averages, that gap is decreasing.

Employers will no doubt have been encouraged with the introduction of the National Insurance Contributions Allowance, which means that from April this year all employers are taken out of paying the first £2,000 of National Insurance for their employees, a move which the FSB campaigned for and is pleased that the Government has taken forward.

This is likely to be encouraging self-employed people and micro businesses to consider taking on their first employee or an additional employee respectively, encouraging new vacancies to be advertised and helping to create new opportunities for people out of work.

We remain concerned however that employers can no longer reclaim the costs of paying out Statutory Sick Pay, so in some cases what is given with one hand will be taken back, at least in part, with the other. Employers will need to get their head around these changes and ensure that sickness management policies are in place and be aware that the right to request flexible working may also have relevance in the area of productivity and attendance at work.

Government needs to make it easier for small firms to grow and with it create new jobs for local people. While we at the FSB continue to push for these sorts of growth-friendly policies, let us at least be pleased that the trends continue to show signs for optimism.

Its been a slow week for me as far as news goes.

After the Council agreed our deal for the unit 31 St Mary’s street I have one more hoop to jump through. We need to change the unit from Industrial to Gymnasium use and this involves around 50 forms to fill in. We wont be changing the structure or doing anything at all to change the unit but it’s a nice £400 hole in my pocket to follow the paper trail. Love to know how they work out the cost of that but its not going to get me anywhere arguing. So my new not for profit venture is already not in profit haha.

Next week is also unusually quiet for me too! But I am enjoying my time to get all my affairs in order and chase up all the outstanding little things I keep putting off. One big task I had planned was my stock take! Typically my cat has decided to give birth behind the stock so that’s one thing I cant do or risk having squashed kittens in my stock boxes for the next show. I can’t see them selling too well so I will find something else to do.

So all in all it’s a quiet week. They are nice to have from time to time as I am sure I will be doing nothing but complain when I have to spend a week in the unit with a paint brush. Its now only two weeks off the next show on August 1st and things are looking good for the show. TNA star Ken Anderson is in action so order a ticket from {http://www.prestoncitywrestling.com.prestoncitywrestling.com} and come join us for a fun night of wrestling!

Tens of thousands of revellers packed into Fleetwood yesterday for the port’s annual Tram Sunday.

The festival, which brings between one and two million pounds into the town each year, saw parades, stalls and the wonder of transport take over the streets.

Organiser Robert Brown said: “I didn’t think we could do any better than last year,but it looks like the figures this year are better than every previous year.

“The general feedback from stallholders is that they’ve had a good day.”

The event, officially know as the Fleetwood Festival of Transport, featured a huge display of classic cars and other vintage 
vehicles on Lord Street.

The highlight of the day was the spectacular parade down London Street, Lord Street, Victoria Street, Mount Road and The Esplanade to the Marine Hall.

It is thought between 70,000 and 80,000 people visited the port for the festivities.

Mr Brown said: “You couldn’t get down the street, it was that packed. The visitor numbers are what the town needs to try and get increased footfall for the businesses.”

Mr Brown has also raised tentative hopes for an expanded festival next year, adding: “It’d be nice if we could have a weekend event then more people would get a chance of seeing everything they want.”

Tourists and locals alike enjoyed the spectacle, including Garry and James Rayner, from Meadow Crescent, Poulton.

Ten-year-old James said: “I’ve found it really interesting because there’s a lot of different things to look at. There could be a few more trams though, there were more cars than trams.”

Garry, 47, added: “There’s a reasonable amount of stuff to see.

“It’s good for the town because it brings more people here than any other day of the year.”

Diane Thompson, 58, from Abercrombie Road, said: “It’s brilliant and a lot better this year, there’s lots to see.”

Six-year-old Harriet Whitaker added: “It’s good, I like the carousels.”