| Robbery at Prestige Diamonds, Southport, 
results in staff has been taken to Hospital 
 MERSEYSIDE Police Detectives are investigating following reports of a 
robbery, at Prestige Diamonds, on Lord Street, Southport, at around 9.35am, on 
Wednesday, 31 May 2017.  Merseyside Police was contacted with reports that 
2 men had entered the jewellers and in what is reported to be an attempted 
robbery. 1 of the men is described as white, aged between 40 and 50 years of age 
and of slim build. He was carrying a dark grey rucksack. Both men were wearing 
light coloured clothing. It is believed that staff were concerned about the 
behaviour of the 2 men and activated a fogging device.* 
An unknown substance was then sprayed in the shop.  The men then left the 
shop through an alleyway in the direction of Stanley Street. It is not believed 
at this stage that anything was stolen. A member of staff has been taken to 
Hospital as a precaution after the substance was sprayed. They are not believed 
to be badly injured. An investigation is underway to establish what the 
substance was and CCTV and forensic enquiries are ongoing in the local area.
 Detective Chief Inspector Gayle Rooney said:- "I would appeal to anyone 
who was in the vicinity of Lord Street who may have seen anything suspicious to 
contact us. It would have been busy in the area at the time and members of the 
public may have seen the 2 men either close to the shop prior to the robbery or 
leaving the area afterwards."
 
 This incident has left locals and visitors to Southport shocked, as well as the 
local business community. Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside 
Police on:- 0151 777 3847 or the Crimestoppers line anonymously on:- 0800 555 
111.
 
 * Fogging devices are security devices used helping to foil offenders and act as 
a deterrent.
 
 
 
 No Brainer earns coveted spot in UK's top 
100 start ups A pair of Cheshire based entrepreneurs who launched a creative PR and 
communications agency in 2015 have seen their company leap into a list of 
Britain's 100 best start ups.
Gary Jenkins and Lee Cullen formed No Brainer in Warrington less than 2 years 
ago and since then have seen their PR, social media and content marketing 
business grow rapidly, garnering a clutch of national clients and top industry 
awards.
Independently judged, The Startups 100 2017 Index highlights the UK's most game 
changing and pioneering new businesses. Compiled by:-
StartUps.Co.UK 
and AXA Business Insurance, the list reflects the country's thriving start up 
community and innovative concepts which demonstrate:- "innovation, solid 
financials, economic impact and ability to scale." Only 21 businesses outside of London have been acknowledged with the accolade, 
with 'No Brainer' being 1 of only 3 businesses in the North West 
to feature in the index.
Gary Jenkins, director and co-founder of No Brainer, said:- "This is a 
huge achievement for No Brainer and the team are thrilled to have been 
recognised on a national scale. We've worked incredibly hard over the past 2 
years, establishing ourselves as a credible and innovative option for 
businesses, whether household names or SME's, who want support when it comes to 
telling their story in the most effective way possible. In a short space of time 
we've enhanced our abilities and employed new and innovative practises to 
strengthen our offering. We've got huge growth plans for the future and look 
forward to building on this success going forward." 
The agency currently works with a roster of national clients, including 
HomeServe, Northern Powergrid, Sale Sharks and MBNA. It also works with a range 
of Cheshire based clients including Aaron and Partners, Reaseheath College, 
CH1ChesterBID and Results Through Digital.
No Brainer was also recently crowned:- 'New Agency of the Year' at 
the PRmoment north awards and last year picked up the 'New Business of the 
Year' title at the Warrington Business Awards. |  | Local cancer heroes urging others to join 
their fundraising fight
 
  A group of fundraisers from the Sefton area are looking for local people 
to pledge their support and help them raise money for life saving cancer 
research. 
 Each year around 148 people in the Sefton region will be diagnosed with cancer 
and 1 in 3 of those will die from cancer or cancer related diseases.
 
 The Sefton based fundraising group for the charity North West Cancer Research is 
now looking for volunteers to join its group, to act as regional cancer heroes 
and raise money for cancer research.
 
 Jim Brown set up the group earlier this year after working with local cancer 
support group:- 'The Daisy Chain' for 12 years. Wanting to widen 
his support for cancer based charities, he set up the fundraising group for 
North West Cancer Research, with his two friends Kevin Dunne and Hilda Boyd.
 
 Jim who has lived in the Sefton area all his life, was 1st inspired to work with 
local cancer charities after his wife Joan was diagnosed with breast cancer 5 
years ago.  Jim said:- "When we got Joan's cancer diagnosis, it was a 
shock for us all. , but thanks to treatment, which included surgery, 
chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she's now doing much better; although she still 
suffers from post treatment health problems today. Watching her go through her 
treatment was hard,  but she has been so brave throughout it all. It was 
then that I knew I wanted to do something to help others and offer support for 
them and their loved ones. Research is an incredibly important part of the 
cancer journey. It's more than just finding a cure for cancer,  but it's 
also about developing treatments which not only kill cancer , but are easier for 
patients to cope with and do not have the horrendous side effects that many 
treatments do today. I've been to the research labs at the North West Cancer 
Research Centre in Liverpool and spoken with the researchers the charity 
supports. It was great to see what the money we raise will be spent on and 
encouraging to hear some of the advances that their researchers are already 
making."
 
 The Sefton based group is inviting volunteers to join them as they help raise 
money for this life saving cancer research. They are looking for people to help 
organise fundraising events in the local community.  Jim added:- "Our 
aim is to have a group of around seven volunteers; although more are always 
welcome. We are looking for people who can generate fresh and exciting 
fundraising ideas, people who have a genuine desire to help support cancer 
research. You can give as much or as little of your time as you like and any 
contri, bution no matter how big or small goes a long way in helping the fight 
against cancer."
 
 North West Cancer Research is one of the biggest independent funders of cancer 
research in the Sefton and Merseyside region. It has committed to funding more 
than ₤13million worth of research over the next 5 years.
 
 Money raised by fundraisers like the Sefton group will support research such as 
a 2 year project looking at the role of a protein in causing drug resistance in 
the treatment of melanoma, and a clinical trial which will help improve the 
treatment of bile duct cancer.
 
 To find out more how to become a volunteer for North West Cancer Research you 
can contact Jim Brown via 
email or by calling:- 01704 574787. You can 
also visit:- NWCR.Org 
for more details.
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