Cheshire

Public warned not to approach killer who’s escaped prison for SECOND time

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 25th March 2022

The public are being warned not to approach a convicted killer who has escaped prison for the second time.

Police are appealing for information as they trace the whereabouts of Shane Farrington.

The 39-year-old has absconded from HMP Thorn Cross in Appleton, Warrington.

He was last seen at the prison at around 6.45pm on Thursday 24 March, Cheshire Police say.

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The 39-year-old was found guilty of manslaughter in 2009 after killing a prisoner in his cell at HMP Peterborough.

HMP Thorn Cross, the prison Farrington escaped from. Credit: Google Maps

He has also escaped prison once before, running away from hospital treatment in Norfolk in 2018.

On that occasion the 39-year-old ran through car parks, a farmer’s field and Norwich City’s training ground before being caught by police around two hours later.

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He’s believed to have links in the Peterborough area but was last seen in the north west.

Farrington was wearing a dark top with white writing on the front, blue jeans, black shoes, a dark coat and a dark rucksack last time he was seen.

Read more: Transport Secretary calls on ‘brazen’ P&O Ferries boss to resign after mass staff sacking

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Superintendent Mike Evans said: “We currently have numerous officers carrying out a variety of searches to locate Farrington. 

“While our enquiries are ongoing we’re urging anyone who sees Farrington to not approach him but to instead call Cheshire Constabulary immediately on 999 quoting IML 1230000.

“Officers will be maintaining a presence around the prison and in the local area to provide reassurance to the community. If you have any concerns please do speak to one of them.”
 
Information can also be passed on anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Featured image: Cheshire Police

Cheshire

Hollywood megastar Leonardo DiCaprio heaps praise on Chester Zoo for ‘bringing fish back from the dead’

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

Actual Leonardo DiCaprio has publicly praised Chester Zoo for its conservation work, which saw a fish species ‘brought back from the dead’. 

The Oscar-winning megastar and keen environmentalist posted on Instagram to his 55.6m followers to talk about golden skiffia fish. 

The fish species hasn’t been seen in its native central-western Mexico since the 1990s, but 1,200 were successfully bred and released into the Teuchitlan River this month. 

The reintroduction of the fish coincided with the country’s Day of the Dead celebrations. 

Leo wrote: “This year’s Day of the Dead celebrations included a unique ‘resurrection’ in Jalisco, Mexico, where conservationists released more than 1,000 Golden Skiffia into the fish’s native range in the Teuchitlán River. 

“The freshwater fish had not been documented in the wild since the late 1990s. The events, in the midst of Mexico’s #DayoftheDead celebrations, included formal speeches, traditional dances and the official release of the fish.

The fish that Chester Zoo has brought ‘back to life’, to the delight of Leonardo DiCaprio. Credit: ©Manfred Meiners

“Bringing the species back from the ‘dead’ is the result of collaborative conservation work between Michoacan University of Mexico, @chesterzoo, the Goodeid Working Group and @Shoal_Org (a program of @Rewild and @synchearth).”

Paul Bamford, regional programme manager for Latin America at Chester Zoo, added: “This project is a great example of how zoos can contribute to conservation in the field through conservation breeding and research, utilising the skills and experience that have been developed in zoos to help strengthen existing and new wild populations. 

“By supporting freshwater conservation in Mexico and the ecosystems where the fish live, we’re not only protecting biodiversity and the wellbeing of freshwater environments, but also the people and communities that live alongside them.”

Omar Domínguez-Domínguez, a professor and researcher from the Michoacan University of Mexico, who is leading the golden skiffia reintroduction, said: “The Day of the Dead is a traditional Mexican celebration, when it is believed that people’s deceased ancestors return to the land of the living for one night, to talk and spend time with their families. 

“Releasing the golden skiffia at this time is a metaphor for how the species has come back from the dead to return to its home, not for one night, but forever.

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“Releasing this species back into the wild is a light of hope for this wonderful family of fishes – the goodeids – and for the conservation of freshwater fish more generally. Knowing that universities, zoos and aquarists can come together to fix some of what has been destroyed and return to nature some of what has been lost is an amazing thing.”

The skaffia was pushed to extinction by dam construction, water extraction, pollution and the introduction of invasive species.

Conservationists hope that the fish being released will ultimately result in a healthy, self-sustaining population that can fulfil its important natural role in the ecosystem of eating algae and mosquito larvae, which helps keep populations of those species in check.

Featured image: Sony Pictures

Cheshire

Local coffee shop hits out as Costa opens THIRD cafe nearby

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant

A local coffee shop has taken to social media to make its voice heard as coffeehouse chain Costa opens a third cafe in its neighbourhood today.

In a sassy Instagram post titled “#COSTALIVING”, Macclesfield coffee shop Yas Bean laid out the case for why we should all be supporting local businesses over big chains wherever possible.

It wrote: “Macclesfield has a new @costacoffee opening tomorrow. Our *third* Costa. In fact there are now TWO within 0.3 of a mile of each other?!?!?!

“It will “create 12 new jobs”, but sadly the benefits for the local community end abruptly there.”

It went on to explain that, unlike local businesses, Costa doesn’t use “local dairies, bakers, grocers, coffee roasters, local artists or crafters”, adding: “They don’t support local charities, join initiatives to improve their surroundings or create events.”

It continued to make a strong case for why supporting local business is good for your neighbourhood, writing: “In these days ahead – where you spend your money makes a HUGE difference to your community.

“The above is true of many many other shops in our town, but I can only speak for ourselves. Macclesfield is ruddy rife with wonderful people! Support Local, Support independent. It’s amazing, fun and sexy.”

Image: Yas Bean
Image: Yas Bean

The post, which has been liked over 600 times, then went on to list a number of its local suppliers, including roasters Kick Back Coffee, milk suppliers Jackson’s Dairies, bread wholesaler Masa Bakery, meat supplier Spearings Butchers, sticker creator T.Ink Studio, and grocer The Corner Plot.

Tackling the subject of cost it said, by comparison, that drinks are actually cheaper because they are “better quality, more ethically sourced”, and “don’t taste like the run off from a marmite factory mixed with sugar.”

“When you buy from us you support your local butcher, baker and candlestick maker. Well, not quite but we do have some lovely cards made by locals.

Image: Yas Bean
Yas Bean owners Mika Johnson and Dan Hardman. / Image: Yas Bean

Speaking to The Manc about the post, owner Mika Johnson elaborated: “Independent businesses like us try to use local wherever possible. So when you buy a latte from us you’re not only helping us and our staff but also the local dairy and coffee roaster and their staff too.

“There is a huge knock-on effect for the local economy. Plus seeing local business thrive and running my own shop is such a great confidence boost, it’s been huge for my mental health.

“We are seeing loads of small businesses take a leap and it’s amazing. We often collaborate with others to create fun events, raise money for charity, or help spread the word. This collaboration forms relationships that we really cherish and I think it’s beautiful.”

Read more: A Manchester bar is undercutting the Christmas markets with half-price mulled wine

Asked whether he’d noticed Costa taking much business from the shop, Mika added: “As far as whether Costa are taking custom from us, I don’t think they necessarily are.

“In Macclesfield, we luckily have a strong locally minded community. But that’s not to say it doesn’t limit the potential for individuals to grow. We all need each other now more than ever!”

To find out more about Yas Bean and check out their brilliant coffee shop, you can follow them on Instagram here.

Feature image – Yas Bean

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