Have you seen Harold Spencer?

SINCE Saturday, 2 January 2010, Harold Spencer also known as 'Lal' has been missing from his home in Bootle. The 71 year old who is from Knowsley Road, was last seen buying a paper from his local shop on Knowsley Road at around 8am on Saturday, 2 January 2010. The shop assistant believes she may have later spotted him walking toward Hawthorne Road, Bootle, along Linacre Lane, Bootle, at 10.45am. This was the last time he was seen. Mr Spencer's family is extremely concerned about his whereabouts as he has a set routine and his disappearance is very out of character. He is described as white, 5ft 9in tall, medium build with short grey hair and long sideburns. He has blue eyes and wears glasses. He has moles on the bridge of his nose and a bandage on his left hand. When last seen he was wearing blue jeans, a blue Berghaus fleece jacket and black shoes. Given the horrendous weather conditions, sub zero temperatures Merseyside Police and his family are becoming increasingly concerned about his safety. Anyone who has seen Mr Spencer, or knows of his whereabouts, is asked to contact Merseyside Police on:- 0151 777 4100 or Missing People on:- 0500 700 700. Also if you have a business and can display a Missing Person's poster, please print off this .pdf file by clicking here and then please display it. Please remember though to remove it when he has been found. Thank you.

Up to 20,000 Liverpool pensioners will miss out on Cold Weather Payments!

UP to 1.7m pensioners will miss out on Cold Weather Payments triggered by the recent weather, according to analysis of Government figures by the Liberal Democrats. This includes 20,000 in Liverpool alone.

Cold Weather Payments of £25 a week are paid to people on low incomes who receive a qualifying benefit, such as Pension Credit, which goes unclaimed by as many as 1.7m pensioners.

A regional breakdown, by constituency, is attached.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Prospective MP for West Derby, Paul Twigger said:- “It is a scandal that pensioners on the breadline are missing out on these payments, worth an estimated £42.5m. Working for Age Concern Liverpool, I see first hand the effect this bad weather has on our city's older people and I am horrified that up to 20,000 pensioners in Liverpool could be missing out on these much needed payments. Fuel prices are at an all time high, making Cold Weather Payments all the more important to people already struggling on a poverty pension. Labour has failed pensioners by creating a complicated system that makes it difficult for them to get the help they desperately need. The Government should be giving a guarantee to pensioners who are missing out and get them this extra cash now.”

Have you been affected by this?  What are your views?  Email our newsroom today and let us know what you think about this issue via emailing:- news24@southportreporter.com.

15 Year Old Girl Still Missing

PLEASE help find Sarah Lewington who has been missing from her home in Buxton since Sunday, 20 December 2009. Sarah travelled to Merseyside to visit family and is believed to be somewhere in the Bootle area. Sarah is described as white, 5ft 4in tall, of slim build, brown eyes and shoulder-length light brown hair and she speaks with a Liverpool accent. She was last seen wearing black baggy trousers, a white top with black felt and a short white bomber jacket. She is known to frequent Bootle and Southport town centres. Anyone who has seen Sarah or who knows of her whereabouts is asked to call:- 0151 777 4100. Also if you can help spread the word by printing off and putting up a Missing Person's poster in your business, then please download this Word .doc file by clicking on here. Please remember though to remove it when she has been found. Thank you.

Lancashire Police Follow up Possible Sightings of Missing Man on Merseyside

LANCASHIRE Police say they are concerned for the welfare of a 36 year old man who has been missing since 10:35 am on 5 January 2010. Matthew Duffield was last seen at Burnley General Hospital on Casterton Avenue Burnley. Given the horrendous weather and the fact that Matthew has none of his medication with him, officers say they are extremely concerned for him. Matthew is described as being 5’8” tall, of large build, with collar length, wavy, mousey coloured hair and a trimmed beard. His is pictured wearing glasses but he isn’t believed to have been wearing them when he disappeared. Matthew is not thought to have any house keys on him, bus pass, or wallet and officers say his lack of medication may leave him feeling depressed and extremely vulnerable. Lancashire Police Officers are currently following up a number of possible sightings of Matthew at a train station in Ormskirk and at Southport Hospital and appealing for people in the South Lancashire and Merseyside areas to look out for him. Inspector Carole Langhorn from Burnley Police Station said:- “The extreme weather conditions and lack of medication mean that we are now very concerned for Matthew’s safety. We have drafted in extra officers to look for him and mountain rescue teams and the force helicopter have also been involved in the search. We are urging anyone who may recognise or know Matthew to get in touch if they see him and likewise, for Matthew himself to get in touch if he hears this appeal. Both the police and his family are very worried about him. We just want to know that he is safe and well.” Anyone with any information which could help the investigation is urged to contact Lancashire Police on:- 0845 1253545.