BBC Local Live: Merseyside on Wednesday 9 March 2016

Summary

Updates on Wednesday 9 March
Merseyside and Cheshire Live returns at 08:00 on Thursday with more news, sport, travel and weather updates

Live Reporting

Jenny Coleman

PC murder trial: Stolen pick-up truck 'was driven at me', says colleaguepublished at 13:39 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Dave Guest
Chief reporter, BBC North West Tonight
A young police officer has told a court how the stolen pick-up truck which killed a colleague then appeared to be coming for him.
PC Thomas Birkett told Manchester Crown Court he'd been running to help his fallen colleague, PC Dave Phillips, but then realised the vehicle was heading towards him. He said he ran to get away but could feel the truck was close behind him.
The man at the wheel of the stolen vehicle was Clayton Williams. He denies murdering PC Phillips.
He also denies a second count of attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to PC Birkett.
Premier League ticket price boost for away fanspublished at 13:28 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Good news for Liverpool and Everton fans - Premier League clubs have agreed plans to cap away tickets at £30 for the next three seasons.
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
BBC Sport has been measuring the price of attending football for the last five seasons
The top flight's 20 clubs have "unanimously agreed" that more should be done to help visiting fans.
The price cap will be introduced from next season.
Rugby League: Widnes make changes ahead of Hull gamepublished at 13:20 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
BBC Sport
Super League leaders Widnes Vikings have made three changes to the squad ahead of Hull FC's visit on Thursday (20:00 kick-off).
Winger Patrick Ah Van, prop Alex Gerrard and centre Chris Bridge are all available, while Connor Farrell is missing with a knee injury.
Image source, SWPIX.COM
Beatles Legacy group observes minute silence for George Martinpublished at 13:05 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Musician Peter Hooton has tweeted that the Beatles Legacy group observed a minute silence for George Martin at its first meeting.
The frontman of Liverpool band The Farm was chosen to lead the group which was launched following research claiming The Fab Four boost the Liverpool's economy by £81.9m a year and supports 2,335 jobs.
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Driver will not face charges over death of Widnes mumpublished at 13:05 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Runcorn and Widnes World
A police investigation into the death of a Widnes mum in a collision has concluded that the driver will not face prosecution, external.
Weather: It's going to brighten up a bit - but don't forget your brolly!published at 12:50 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
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Flowers left at Cavern in memory of Sir George Martinpublished at 12:38 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
People have started leaving tributes outside the Cavern in memory of Sir George Martin who has died aged 90.
Latest headlines in Cheshire and Merseysidepublished at 12:32 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Today's top stories in Cheshire and Merseyside:
- Sir Paul McCartney has described Sir George Martin as "like a second father" following the death of the record producer at the age of 90
- Two women have been charged after a video was posted on social media appearing to show a group of women racially abusing a Liverpool doorman
- A man and a woman have been shot in the legs inside their house in Liverpool
Book of condolence opens for Sir George Martinpublished at 12:05 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
A book of condolence has opened for Sir George Martin at the Beatles Story, external in Liverpool.
Junior Doctors on picket line outside Arrow Park hospitalpublished at 11:46 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Junior doctors are on the picket line outside Arrow Park hospital in Wirral today in what is the third strike by junior doctors in England in a contract row with the government.
The walkout started at 08:00 and will last 48 hours - the longest one so far - but medics are once again providing emergency cover in hospitals.
More Liverpool musicians pay tribute to George Martinpublished at 11:22 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Lightning Seeds frontman Ian Broudie and The Farm's Keith Mullin pay tribute to "genius" Sir George Martin who has died aged 90.
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Travel: A horse on the M56 is causing disruptionpublished at 11:14 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
BBC Travel
There is a horse on the M56 causing slow traffic in both directions between Junction 14 and Junction 15 for the M53. Road users are asked to approach with care.
Sir George Martin 'was like a second father to me' - Paul McCartneypublished at 10:58 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Sir Paul McCartney has paid tribute to Sir George Martin on his website.
He described the record producer known as the "Fifth Beatle" who has died aged 90 as "true gentleman and like a second father to me".
Read the full tribute on his website., external
Image source, PA
Latest headlines in Cheshire and Merseysidepublished at 10:46 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Today's top stories in Cheshire and Merseyside:
- Two women have been charged after a video was posted on social media appearing to show a group of women racially abusing a Liverpool doorman
- Junior doctors are on pickets lines in Merseyside as the third strike in their contract row with the government in England is under way
- Record producer Sir George Martin, known as the "fifth Beatle", has died, aged 90
Two women charged after 'racially abusing' Liverpool doormanpublished at 10:34 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Two women have been charged with racially aggravated public order offences after a video was posted on social media which appeared to show a group of women abusing a Liverpool doorman.
A 40-year-old woman from Kirkdale and a 21-year-old woman from Anfield are due to appear before magistrates next month.
In Pictures: Sir George Martin and The Beatlespublished at 10:21 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Martin, pictured here with the Beatles in 1963, was knighted in 1996.
Image source, Getty Images
Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, George Harrison with producer George Martin during the recording of "Free As A Bird".
Image source, PA
Ringo Starr and Sir George Martin share the stage at the 2008 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
Image source, AFP
Football: Iranian's Everton investment formally approvedpublished at 10:10 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer
Farhad Moshiri's 49.9% investment in Everton has been formally approved by the Premier League.
Image source, Rex
The Iranian billionaire, 60, has been announced as the club's new major shareholder after selling his 15% share in Arsenal to Alisher Usmanov.
The deal, and its ratification, ends a decade-long search for investment by chairman Bill Kenwright.
Man and woman shot in legs in Spekepublished at 10:02 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
A man and a woman are in hospital after they were shot inside a house in Speke.
Image source, Google
Both have serious leg injuries after the gun attack on Addenbroke Drive last night.
Detectives don't have a motive at this stage but say they believe it was a targeted incident.
Music producer Steve Levine recalls meeting Sir George Martinpublished at 09:54 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Liverpool music producer Steve Levine has shared his memories of Sir George Martin on Twitter.
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Including this picture with Paul McCartney and George Martin at LIPA which is home to the George Martin Studio - the performing arts institutions flagship recording studio.
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Martin let Beatles songs 'speak for themselves'published at 09:45 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2016
Beatles expert Spencer Leigh said George Martin was 'the fifth Beatle' because he added something unique to their music.
The BBC Radio Merseyside presenter added: "The Beatles wrote songs in all different styles and moods and he knew exactly how to showcase them - he let the songs speak for themselves and knew exactly how to arrange them."
He also noted: "There was a lot of friction between The Beatles particularly between John and Paul - he knew how to handle them and make sure they didn't fall apart.".