A £30m investment in a Merseyside town, a school named best in the north west and four ‘high priority’ city centre zones are just some of the stories we have published today
Formby High School has been named as one of the best secondaries in the north west (Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)Here are five stories published by the Liverpool Echo you may have missed today.
1) Merseyside schools named in list of best in the north west
A Liverpool specialist college has been named state sixth form of the year in a prestigious national list, while three secondary schools in our region have been named as some of the best in the north west. The UK’s highest-achieving schools have been revealed in the 33rd edition of The Sunday Times Parent power Guide for 2026. The list is widely acknowledged as the most authoritative survey of the country’s top schools and the definitive ranking of the nation’s top primary and secondary state and independent schools. Here in Merseyside, there is good news for the University of Liverpool Maths School, which only opened in 2020 and won the award for state sixth form college of the year in the national awards. READ HERE.
2) Four Liverpool city centre zones identified as ‘high priority’ by police
Four specific zones in Liverpool city centre will be targeted in a new crime and anti-social behaviour crack down. A range of new techniques and technologies will be deployed around the city centre – including the installation of speakers to play classical music in hotspot areas to discourage loitering, vandalism and graffiti. The new measures have been announced by Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell who, in conjunction with Merseyside Police, has secured £300,000 from the Home Office for a series of targeted interventions which will be deployed in four “high priority zones” for crime and anti-social behaviour. READ HERE.
3) He smashed a Carling glass into a man’s face and ruined his life
A man smashed a Carling glass into the face of a defenceless man before knocking him unconscious with a series of punches outside a County Road pub. Dylan Dellot, 37, had taken drugs and had been drinking for much of the day without sleep when he repeatedly punched Patrick Gibbons to the head, knocking him unconscious, outside the Black Horse pub shortly before Christmas last year. Mr Gibbons refused medical attention when he came around and was picked up by his family. But just hours later he collapsed at home because of his injuries and was taken for life-saving surgery, remaining to this day under specialist neurological care. READ HERE.
4) £30m investment in Merseyside town will have ‘unseen’ benefits
People in one part of Merseyside can look forward to a “major investment”, according to Knowsley Council, after plans were announced to upgrade Halewood Leisure Centre. The project is part of a wider £30m investment in the town, and is scheduled for completion during 2026. The local authority confirmed the works will involve internal and external improvements, and a major programme of decarbonisation which will help reduce long-term operating costs and make the centre more energy efficient. The council said initial work has already started which includes the installation of new all-weather pitches, covered spectator facilities, LED floodlighting to reduce light overspill and new acoustic fencing. READ HERE.
5) Woman slashed in street as suspects named
A woman was slashed while walking along a street in the early hours of Thursday morning. Merseyside Police received a report at around 1am on December 4 that a man and woman had assaulted a woman in her 30s on Clanfield Road, Croxteth. Officers said the man was armed with a knife and that both offenders fled the scene. The victim suffered a laceration to her head and hand, as well as bruising to her ribs and face. She was taken to hospital for treatment. Police carried out a search of the area and arrested a man and a woman shortly afterwards. READ HERE.
Read all the latest headlines at Liverpool ECHO.