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.

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

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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.

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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

An outdoor cinema is screening a Wicked sing-a-long this autumn

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

There’s an outdoor cinema screening a sing-along version of the global phenomenon Wicked later this year near just outside of Greater Manchester.

Arley Hall, in Cheshire, is hosting a very special screening of one of the biggest films of 2024, Wicked, where guests will be allowed to sing along during the film.

This one-off event will come as a relief to some fans of the movie-musical, as back when it was released, one attending was encouraged not to sing along as it may disrupt the film itself.

With a musical stacked with hits like ‘Popular’, ‘Dancing Through Life’ and obviously the huge number that is ‘Defying Gravity’, how could you not take a moment to test out the vocal cords?

Wicked screening Arley Hall
Maybe we’ll see some mini Elphabas and Glindas showing up at the Wicked sing-a-long, Arley Hall.
arley hall events
Sit back, relax, and defy some gravity.

Now, Arley Hall has teamed up with events and entertainment company Adventure Cinema for an outdoor experience that promises to be a fantastic, family-friendly day out watching Elphaba and Glinda on the big screen.

There are various ticket options available for this Wicked sing-along showing, which are all priced under a reasonable £30 range.

The standard ticket, which requires you to bring your own camping chair or blanket, is only £17.37, while the premium ticket (including a premium deck chair and prime position) costs £25.21.

Throughout the weekend, Adventure Cinema are making themselves comfy in Arley Hall‘s grounds, as they are set to play some huge movie titles and host even more wonderful events.

For instance, there will be an ‘Outdoor Cinema ExtrABBAganza’ courtesy of Mamma Mia!, a double-whammy thanks to ‘The Gruffalo’ and ‘The Stick Man’ playing back to back as well as ‘Andrea Bocelli 30: The Celebration’ and ‘Pretty Woman’ too.

ABBA event at Arley Hall
There’s an ExtrABBAganza coming to Arley Hall the same weekend.
arley hall screenings
Just you, your blanket and a crowd of Wicked fans ready to sing their hearts out.

While we wait eagerly for the second part of the Wicked movie-musical adaptation, why not let yourself loose and see if you can out-sing the witches of Oz – Think I’ll leave the singing to Cynthia and Ariana.

The movie-musical became one of the backbones of pop culture in 2024, generating various quoted phrases and viral moments, including the unforgettable ‘Holding Space’ meme alongside many others.

Anyone looking to attend the Wicked sing-along at Arley Hall on Friday, 19 September from 6pm to 10:15pm can find all ticket prices and more information HERE.

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Featured Images – DreamVisions86 (Deviant Art)/Jeff Buck (via Geograph)

Cheshire

Chester Zoo has been given £4m lottery funding to ‘transform’ the local environment

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Chester Zoo nature

Chester Zoo has been awarded a £4 million grant of lottery funding to help ‘transform’ the local environment.

Merely months after being named the UK’s best zoo for the second year running, thanks to receiving more than 11,000 ‘excellent’ reviews from TripAdvisor, Chester Zoo has now been awarded a whopping £4 million – £4,073,372 in total – by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support its Networks for Nature initiative.

The Networks for Nature initiative is described as being an ‘ambitious project’ to restore wildlife habitats across the Cheshire and wider North West region.

The funds will be used to either create or restore 20 ponds, nearly 3,000 metres of hedgerow, and more than 100 hectares of habitat.

Chester Zoo helping the Cheshire countryside to flourish
Chester Zoo has been given £4m lottery funding to ‘transform’ the local environment / Credit: Chester Zoo

4,500 students will also be able to take part in year-long school projects to improve their school grounds for wildlife and people through the grants – which have been made possible thanks to money raised by National Lottery players – while 90 young people will have the chance to be trained in an environmental leadership course.

On top of this, 14 new jobs will also be funded through the money, 18 community groups will be worked closely with to improve their outdoor spaces for natural heritage, and the zoo’s network of trained ‘Wildlife Champions’ will continue to be supported.

Hannah Brooks, who is the Senior Community Participation & Engagement Manager at Chester Zoo, said The National Lottery Heritage Fund grant was a ‘massive boost’ for the zoo’s community groups.

Chester Zoo helping the Cheshire countryside to flourish
The funds’ll go towards an ‘ambitious project’ to restore wildlife habitats across the North West / Credit: Chester Zoo

“As a charity, we’re so grateful that this funding has come through,” she commented.

“This is an exciting moment for the project, there has been a lot of work behind-the-scenes to bring people together and find out what these community groups need to take action to improve spaces for wildlife and people, and now, we will be able to support people to make real change across a vast landscape.

“This could really transform things for the environment in Cheshire and for the people who live here.

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“Individual action can be difficult, but collectively we can inspire each other and provide a network that will keep having impact long into the future.”

Featured Image – Chester Zoo

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