Good afternoon, these are the latest ECHO headlines this lunchtime.
Married couple out for morning walk slashed and punched by yob
A married couple out for an early morning walk were set upon by a coked-up yob wielding a kitchen knife.
John North asked Kewal Singh and Surjit Kaur for a lighter, who said they didn't have one and started to walk away.
The 26-year-old pulled out the blade, followed the pair and attacked Mr Singh from behind, slashing his left cheek.
Mr Singh realised North was behind them and looked around, when "his face was then slashed with a knife below his left eye".
Read more: Mum spots unwelcome change to her house on Homes Under the Hammer
Read the full story here..
Updates as police close industrial estate after 'explosion'
Merseyside police and fire crews have blocked off the entrance to an industrial estate this morning after reports of an explosion.
Crews confirmed they were alerted at 4.59am and on scene at 5.05am at Argyle Industrial Estate, in Birkenhead.
Members of the public are being warned to avoid the area as emergency services assess the scene.
Read the ongoing liveblog here.
Read all this lunchtime's best stories here.
Buses hit by 'perfect storm' as services across Liverpool are cancelled
Staff shortages caused by sickness, the HGV crisis and tonight's Champion's League game have caused many bus services to be cancelled across Liverpool.
Posts uploaded on Twitter by bus operator Stagecoach over the past few days have said "staff shortages" are behind the cancellations.
This morning, the 86 and 86C South Parkway services and the number 17 services to and from Aintree Hospital have been affected.
Read the full story here.
