wirral

WHEN football fan Geoff Jackson entered a competition to find the 2010 World Cup song the last thing he expected was to become a recording artist. But thanks to an article in the Wirral Globe earlier this year, the 43-year-old from Wallasey has done just that. His song, Shout For England, made it onto iTunes and is to be released as a single in time for the World Cup. Our story on Geoff's bid for music fame was published in January and spotted by Wirral-based R'n'B singer and producer, Mikey Matteo.  

THE search continues for a 39-year-old man from Birkenhead who has been missing since the end of January. Brendan Taaffe was last seen by his family on January 25 and has not been in contact with anyone since then. He has been suffering from depression lately and his family and friends are concerned for his safety.  

INSPIRED by a sparkling hat trick from Mike Burke, West Kirby served notice on their rivals in the race for the Carlsberg West Cheshire League's Division One crown, after they posted a 4-2 result over runaway leaders, Runcorn Town. A Lee Gibson penalty rounded off a 4-2 victory, as John Brett's invincibles strove to emulate Cammell Laird's four consecutive top flight titles from 1989 to 1992. Second-placed Heswall stayed in contention, after a solitary strike from Danny McNicholas earned maximum spoils  

A MERSEYSIDE governor was sent to the top of the class – by the Pope. His holiness Pope Benedict XVI bestowed a special honour on Bert Suffield for his outstanding service to Catholic education. Mr Suffield has been a governor at Bebington's St John Plessington Catholic College in its various guises for more than 40 years – including, up until his recent retirement, an eight-year spell as chair of governors. Now in his seventies, Mr Suffield is also a valued volunteer and member of the congregation  

MORE than 1000 women have signed up for this year's Wirral Race For Life in aid of Cancer Research UK. So far, more than 935 have registered for the 5k race, which will be held in Birkenhead Park on Sunday, July 4, starting at 11am. And 169 are on the list for the 10k event, which will take place in the same venue at 2pm.  

DEADLY asbestos dust was found at a major motorway construction site forcing scores of workmen to down tools. Contractors closed the site under the M53 Bidston viaduct yesterday amid fears for workers' safety. More than 55,000 cars also use the flyover, which is near the Wallasey tunnel, every day.  

PRINCE Edward came to Merseyside yesterday to visit a local hospice and open a new school building. The Prince chatted with staff and patients at Woodlands Hospice, on the site of Fazakerley Hospital. He also got the chance to take a look at the hospice's latest facilities, which include 15 palliative care beds.  

A MAJOR hotel revamp hoping to serve the Open golf market is likely to be approved by councillors in Wirral tonight. The £6.5m plan for Kings Gap Hotel, in Hoylake, could see the popular hotel rebranded as a Holiday Inn ahead of the Open, which is to return to the town in 2014. The proposal involves the demolition of a block fronting The King's Gap, which is an annex to the hotel, the removal of extensions to the rear and the building of a further wing fronting onto Valentia Road. The hotel is withi  

POLICE are appealing for help in their search for some rare Zippo cigarette lighters that hare been stolen from a house in Eastham. They were part of a collection of 40 Zippo lighters, which included four very rare ones that when put together formed a forest scene displaying the faces of jungle animals. They are worth around £700.  

POLICE are appealing for the owners of some rare Zippo cigarette lighters, that were stolen from a house in Eastham, to contact them. They were part of a collection of 40 Zippo lighters, which included four very rare ones that when put together formed a forest scene displaying the faces of jungle animals. They are worth around £700.