The family of a man found dead on a residential street have paid tribute to him, as police confirm he was the victim of a fatal gunshot wound and an acid attack.
Liam Smith, 38, was found deceased on Kilburn Drive in Shevington, Wigan, at around 7pm on Thursday 24 November, with early reports suggesting there were ‘potentially hazardous substances’ on his body.
A Home Office post-mortem has indicated that Liam was the victim of an acid attack and a shooting.
The hazardous substances aren’t believed to pose any further risk to the public, though anyone who has been in direct contact with the body should speak to officers or seek medical advice immediately.
Kilburn Drive, where Liam Smith was found dead. Credit: Google Maps
The public have also been told not to be alarmed if they see specialist officers wearing protective clothing, which is ‘purely precautionary as per the standard procedure at the scene’.
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A murder investigation has been launched with a scene still in place at the location, and his family are being supported by specially trained officers.
GMP say the murder took place in ‘unique and shocking circumstances on a quiet residential street.’
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#TRIBUTE | Following a Home Office post-mortem, the identity of the body found on Kilburn Drive in Shevington, #Wigan on Thursday 24 November 2022 has been identified as Liam Smith, aged 38.
Paying tribute, Liam Smith’s family said: “Liam was kind-hearted, funny, the life and soul of the party.
“He was the most devoted dad, much loved son, brother, grandson and uncle.
“He will sorely be missed by all who knew and loved him.”
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Detective Chief Inspector Gina Brennand from GMP’s Major Incident Team, who is leading the murder investigation said: “This is a shocking murder of a much-loved family man.
“I have a team of detectives working around the clock and I urge anyone who has seen anything unusual or out of the ordinary near to the victim’s home during the day and early evening of Thursday 24 November to contact the Major Incident Room.
“This is the first fatal shooting in the Greater Manchester area for over two years and we are determined to recover the weapon and find Liam’s killer.”
Detectives investigating Liam’s murder have urged members of the public not to approach or contact anyone suspected to be involved, and should instead contact the police.
Anyone who witnessed anything unusual, including between the times of 8am and 7pm on Thursday 24 November on Kilburn Drive, that relates to Liam Smith’s murder should contact GMP in one of the following ways:
Chester Zoo announces return of its £10 tickets for limited time only with extended opening hours
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo has announced the return of its popular £10 tickets deal for a limited time only.
You may remember that earlier this summer, Chester Zoo invited people from across the North West to visit for just £10, and as the offer proved so popular, they’ve now brought it back again for a limited time.
For the past three years running now, Chester Zoo has officially been named the UK’s best zoo thanks to tens of thousands of positive TripAdvisor reviews, and now as the summer draws to a close, you’ll get to see exactly what makes it such a special place worth visiting for a cut price.
With the offer only applicable to afternoons this summer, Afternoon Tickets allow entry to Chester Zoo from 2pm onwards – with the last entry being one-hour before it closes.
Chester Zoo is offering £10 tickets to visitors this summer / Credit: Chester Zoo
Without this offer, standard admission tickets to Chester Zoo usually cost up to £38 for adults, £37 for students, and £28 for children, all including a 10% donation to the zoo’s conservation efforts, while babies and carers go free.
So it really is worth making the most of these limited-time £10 tickets while you still can – with the offer now running until 6 September.
The best bit about the offer returning? The zoo is currently operating its extended opening hours until 6pm too, so included for the bargain price of a £10 ticket, you’ll even get to see all the animals while the sun goes down.
Afternoon tickets are only available online and must be booked in advance to claim the £10 offer.
Tickets can only be purchased online before 4pm on the day of your visit, and standard admission tickets can be purchased from our ticket office at the main entrance.
Find out more and book your £10 tickets online here.
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
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Major travel warning issued ahead of Manchester Pride this bank holiday weekend
Emily Sergeant
A major travel warning has been issued ahead of the upcoming bank holiday weekend.
Of course, Manchester Village Pride returns to the city centre this weekend from Friday 28 to Monday 31 August – with four days of music, live performances, and entertainment taking place to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, and of course, the annual Pride Parade will be taking to the streets from 12pm on Saturday too.
Starting at midday on Liverpool Road, the Pride Parade will travel through the city centre via Deansgate, Peter Street, Oxford Street, Portland Street, and Whitworth Street, all before arriving in the Village and closing out at around 4pm.
Pride may be the biggest event in Manchester this weekend, but given the fact it’s a bank holiday too, it’s by far the only thing happening.
A major travel warning has been issued ahead of this bank holiday weekend / Credit: TfGM
As thousands of visitors gear up to visit the city in the next few days, travel warnings have been issued by Manchester City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), as road closures are in place and major traffic congestion is expected across the city centre.
For the celebrations to all take place as safely and seamlessly as possible, a full list of road closures and parking suspensions have now been published.
Drivers are advised to avoid travelling into the city centre by car if possible, particularly on Saturday, and should use other modes of transport – such as buses, trams, and trains – instead to best avoid all the closures.
But for those who do need to drive, they’re being strongly advised to ‘allow plenty of extra time’ for their journeys and check routes before setting off.
🏳️🌈 On Saturday [29 August], it's the #PrideParade so you'll see plenty of rainbows in the city centre.
To allow the parade to take place: – There will be road closures in place – Some buses may operate on diversion – Trams in the city centre may experience minor delays
Wherever possible, drivers are advised to park on the same side of the city as their route, as travelling across the city to reach a car park could add additional time to the journey.
“Plan ahead if you’re travelling over the bank holiday weekend,” Manchester City Council said in its travel warning.
“A number of other major events are taking place across the city, including live events at Wythenshawe Park and Manchester United’s first home game of the season, which are likely to increase demand on tram services and roads in and around the city centre.”
Daisy Jackson -
27th November 2022 
