These are the latest ECHO headlines this morning.
Arriva bus strikes across Merseyside will cause 'absolute chaos'
People are warning of "absolute chaos" as all Arriva buses in Merseyside will not run from today and for the foreseeable future as a continuous strikes begin.
Arriva has confirmed they will not be able to run any services across the region from 2am on Wednesday, July 19, when the continuous walk-out gets underway. The action comes after talks between Arriva and the Unite and GMB unions failed to reach an agreement over pay.
There will be no planned Arriva bus services operating within Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire or Cheshire, except for local Macclesfield services which will all run with the exception of service 38. For the duration of the industrial action journey planning in the north west region on the Arriva website and Arriva UK Bus App will be disabled.
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Arriva customers with pre-paid tickets travelling in Cheshire will be able to use them on buses operated by D&G Buses. The special Liverpool Clatterbridge Hospital Shuttle service will also continue to operate during this time.
Howard Farrall, North West & Wales Area Operating Director for Arriva UK Bus said: “We are very disappointed that we were unable to reach an agreement with Unite and GMB, who have confirmed they plan to hold a strike for an indefinite period across services in the North West from 2am Wednesday July 20. Our people play a hugely important role keeping Merseyside moving and they fully deserve a fair pay rise – especially with the cost-of-living increasing so much."
Read the full story here.
Girl, 13, arrested after police attacked as 'hundreds' gather at docks
A 13-year-old schoolgirl was arrested for hitting a police officer after hundreds of youths gathered at the Royal Albert Dock.
Merseyside Police rushed to Gower Street in the Royal Albert Dock at around 6.40pm on Tuesday, July 19, following reports a fight broke out between a large group of kids. Once dozens of police cars arrived at the scene officers found 'hundreds' of children in the area involved in antisocial behaviour.
A 15-year-old boy was rushed to hospital with a cut to his arm and police officers worked to move kids away from the area.
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While moving kids away from the docks, a 13-year-old girl reportedly attacked a police officer and was arrested. Merseyside Police have now confirmed a dispersal zone is in place around the Albert Dock and officers will remain in the area to provide a visible presence and deal with any further incidents.
The order comes under Section 35 of the Anti-Social Behaviour & Policing Act 2014, which gives police officers and police community support traffic officers powers to direct people they suspect are causing or likely to cause crime, nuisance or anti-social behaviour to members of the public to leave a designated area and not return for up to 48 hours. CCTV images were obtained and will be reviewed and any offences dealt with.
Read the full story here.
Man attacked with machete after pulling out knife in front of kids in corner shop
A knifeman pulled out a blade in a corner shop in front of shocked children before he was attacked with a machete.
Michael Walker made threats with the weapon at the Go Local Extra store on Roughwood Drive in Kirkby "while vulnerable persons were present", Liverpool Magistrates' Court heard today. The ECHO understands that the the 34-year-old was then pursued down the street in a car and had a machete pulled on him at the junction of Gilescroft Avenue and Jarrett Road.
He suffered a head injury and was rushed to hospital as a result. But Walker - of Stavordale Road in Moreton, Wirral - "refused to assist a prosecution" against his attackers.
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He appeared for sentence this afternoon, Tuesday, after admitting affray and possession of a bladed article in a public place in connection with the incident - which occurred at around 2.30pm on June 2. But the defendant was sent onwards to Liverpool Crown Court due to the seriousness of the case.
Walker was warned by a judge that he is likely to be handed a prison sentence. He will next appear on August 16, and has been released on bail until that date.
Read the full story here.
