Headlines: Man jailed for trying to kill wife who said she wanted a divorce

A man from Southport has been jailed for attempted murder after he stabbed his wife multiple times after she told him their marriage was over.

Leslie Marshall, 51, has been sentenced to 19 and a half years in prison, with five years on extended licence. 

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Matt Caton said: “Although his victim survived this appalling attack, there is no doubt that the actions of Leslie Marshall in June have devastated the lives of not only his victim but the entire family.

“To investigate domestic abuse Merseyside Police has a number of specialist resources it can call upon to investigate the crime and support the victim of this heinous, under-reported and often hidden crime.”

Hundreds of thousands enjoyed River of Light

Post-event figures show around 150,000 people visited River of Light in Liverpool this year.

The free, outdoor trail was on for 17 nights and proved a boost to the local economy. Liverpool BID Company recorded their highest footfall rates since the start of the pandemic.

Each evening saw thousands of people take in the 12 large-scale, illuminated artworks which spanned a 2km route.

Celebrating the theme’ Rhythm of the Light’, each work was inspired by the relationship between the city, music and light, and included commissions such as Dance Together – a massive tribute to legendary nightclub Chibuku - and Light Piano – an all-in-one instrument and a light display which wowed crowds in the Mann Island atrium.

Visitors flock to Liverpool theatres since reopening

Five Liverpool theatres welcomed a huge number of audience members back into their venues as people returned to enjoy live theatre post-lockdown.

The Liverpool Empire, Everyman, Royal Court, Playhouse and Unity Theatre sold 169,767 tickets from May to October.

Liverpool’s Royal Court returned with brand new comedy Ellen & Rigby, and the Playhouse sent a love letter to the city with their production of Love, Liverpool.

Unity showcased a range of local talent through the Open Call Programme, and the Everyman returned to full-capacity audiences with the return of Jonathan Harvey’s Our Lady of Blundellsands.

Theatre-goers were not only able to celebrate the work of local artists, as national and international talent returned to the city.

At the Liverpool Empire, touring theatre shows returned, and in September, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast wowed audiences in their droves.

The Playhouse showcased Matthew Bourne’s brand new production, The Midnight Bell, on its stage.