CROSBY & LITHERLAND
4 September 2019
Teenager arrested after hooded yobs stole bike from 12-year-old A TEENAGER has been arrested after a 12year-old boy had his bike stolen from hooded yobs in Crosby. A 16-year-old male will be questioned by officers after the robbery on Wednesday, August 21 when the boy was targeted by a group of yobs in Moorside Park. An appeal was made on social media for information after three youths with their hoods up had approached the youngster and his friends before taking his bike. A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: “Officers were contacted following reports that a group of children in Moorside Park had been approached earlier that day by three unknown individuals and one of the boys had had his bike stolen. “The 16 year-old is currently in custody where he will be questioned by detectives.” There have been a number of bike thefts in the Crosby area over the summer and it has prompted Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson to urge parents to think twice before buying their children expensive bikes because it could make them a ‘target.’ The MP says a constituent told him that his teenage son was threatened by five people who stole his bike, and also similar incidents occurred with two of his nephews. He said: “My constituent was concerned that if a young person stands up to these thugs they could become the victims of something much more sinister than a stolen bike. “Our borough's streets should be safe for our children and young people and they should not go out fearing that they will become the victims of crime.” He added: “Unfortunately there will always be some with criminal intent so parents may want to think about whether an expensive bike is appropriate for a child. “I spoke to Merseyside Police and their view is that unfortunately expensive bikes do make young people a target for thieves.”
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CLUB WHICH HOSTED THE BEATLES TO CLOSE
Venue which hosted the Fab Four eleven times is set to shut its doors for final time after 135 years Report by Tom Martin
A SOCIAL club in Seaforth which hosted early concerts by The Beatles is to close after 135 years. The Lathom Hall club is due to close its doors for a final time this month after owner Brian Corrigan told the Champion “the time is right” to call time on the venue. It was built as a social club, but later became a cinema, face cream factory, and stained glass window workshop before it was turned into a dance hall in the 1950s. Perhaps its biggest legacy will be hosting performances from The Beatles on no fewer than 11 occasions between 1960-1961, before they went on to find international stardom. Brian told the Champion: “I’ve been here for 31 years and I’m in my 70s now so the A band playing on the main stage at Lathom Hall, and the Beatles playing at the venue, inset right. time feels right to close it. “It will be very sad to see it go because it’s events such as birthdays and anniversaries. George Harrison. been such an important part of the community for After news of the closure was spread on social After the popularity of Merseybeat subsided, the so long.” hall became used as a Royal Navy club before lying media, hundreds of locals shared their memories of Lathom Hall became synonymous with Mersey- derelict for a number of years. Lathom Hall, with some saying they remember beat in the 1960s and The Fab Four first played In 1989, it was purchased by Mr Corrigan who watching The Beatles perform and others revealing there when they were known as The Silver Beats on renovated the hall and reopened it as a bar and they had their marriage reception in the function May 14, 1960. function venue decorated with Merseybeat memor- room. Their last show in Seaforth was on February 25, abilia. A whole host of rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia will be 1961, which happened to be the 18th birthday of In recent years, the venue has been used for social auctioned in October.
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