Headlines: Merseyside firefighters called out to far fewer deliberate fires on Bonfire Night

Firefighters attended 67% fewer deliberately set fires across Merseyside on Bonfire Night than on the same date last year.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service attended 26 as opposed to 78 in 2020. 

Group Manager Paul Kay said: “It is fantastic to see that the vast majority of people across Merseyside enjoyed a safe Bonfire Night. The reduction in the number of deliberate ASB fires and bonfire-related incidents is undoubtedly down to the work the Service and Partner organisations have done during this period.

“Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service received a very large volume of calls throughout the period, with our Control staff doing a fantastic job of handling them. More than 950 high visibility patrols were carried out by our Arson Team in known hot spot areas, and an additional 1,484 Home Fire Safety Checks were carried out by Prevention teams, ensuring that members of the public were kept as safe as possible.”

New Brian Epstein statue revealed

The contribution of legendary Beatles manager Brian Epstein is to be celebrated in Liverpool, as the statue proposed for the city moves a step closer after being submitted for planning application.

It’s been created by sculptor Andy Edwards, also responsible for The Fab Four statue of John, Paul, George and Ringo at Liverpool’s Pier Head.

House of Fraser earmarked for new Birkenhead market

Huge plans which could see Birkenhead Market move to the site of the town’s former House of Fraser store are set to take a critical step forward.

This follows a significant backlash from traders in response to the proposed move to St Werburghs Square.

The council’s Policy and Resources Committee will meet this week to discuss the proposal. If it backs the idea, it does not guarantee that the plan will go ahead, but it does mean that designs will be drawn up, and the prospect of a new market that traders want so badly will move closer into view.