Other News In Brief

Man Charged In Connection With Kay Diamond Murder

Police have charged a 52-year-old man from Toxteth with the murder of Kay Diamond at a flat on Greenhey Gardens on Saturday, 28 February.

Anthony Blye, of Greenhey Gardens, Toxteth, will appear at South Sefton Magistrates Court today, Monday.

A 48-year-old man from Toxteth arrested on suspicion of the murder of Kay Diamond has been released without charge.

Mr Diamond died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head.

Police are appealing to anyone with information to contact them.

Police Appeal Following Assault In Blackburn

Detectives are appealing for information after an assault in Blackburn.

Police and paramedics were called to Parkes Way in the town at shortly before midnight on Saturday to reports that a man had been found injured and lying in the street.

The victim, a 37 year old local man, was taken by ambulance to the Royal Blackburn Hospital suffering from cuts to the face and possible fractures to the cheek and jaw. His condition is not life threatening.

Police believe the victim disturbed his attacker trying to break in to cars on Parkes Way and was then assaulted. Police are now trying to trace the assailant. Det Sgt Andy Brown, of East CID, said: "This was a vicious and sustained assault which has left a man with serious injuries. I would appeal to anyone who heard or saw anything suspicious in the area last night to contact us."

Scheme Launches Offering First-Time Buyers 20% Discount

The Prime Minister will launch a new scheme that will offer 100,000 first-time buyers new homes with a 20% discount, as part of a major push to help people onto the housing ladder.

Home owners will be asked to register their interest in buying via the Starter Home initiative from the start of next year – at least 6 months earlier than planned. And many of the country’s leading house builders and councils are already looking at sites that could be used for new homes.

The government is today setting out how the scheme will work with a change to the planning system to free under-used or unviable brownfield land from planning costs and levies in return for a below market value sale price on the homes built on the site.

Developers and councils are being asked to respond to the proposals to ensure the changes will unlock a range of sites across the country.

100,000 homes will be available to first time buyers under 40 as part of the Starter Homes initiative.

(CD/MH)