Melanie Crosby won “Student of The Year Award 2013″ at the BABTAC & CIBTAC Beauty Awards.

Melanie graduated last year and has since emigrated to Australia where she now works as a Spa Therapist at the Noosa Springs Golf & Spa resort in Queensland.

She was nominated for the award for her commitment, ambition and outstanding level of skills shown during her time at the school.

Melanie said: “My time at the International School of Beauty Therapy taught me that attention to detail is imperative to maintain high standards and meet client expectations.

“The support & encouragement I received from Louise and the team was second to none and I’m thrilled to have won!”

The awards, held at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington in London, are the biggest in the beauty industry calendar.

Hundreds of contestants enter each year for the chance to win a highly-prized trophy.

CIBTAC is a leading international body that recognises graduates and beauty establishments and finalists come from all over the world.

The International School of Beauty itself was also a finalist in the Award for “Best International Centre 2013″.

Louise Leach, founder of the business on Marsh Lane which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, said: “I feel we are winners already to be selected as a finalist!

“We continue to work really hard with every student intake to set an exceptional standard for our students to deliver meticulous treatments and care for their customers.

“We continue to see exceptional exams results and we’re really proud that our graduate Melanie Crosby has won Student of the Year – she thoroughly deserves it.”

The outlet, on High Street, donates 100% of its takings to help the fight against heart disease.

And it has issued another appeal to coincide with its birthday for more goods to sell and keep going for another 21 years.

Jayne Booysen, British Heart Foundation area manager, said: “We’ve enjoyed a fantastic 21 years of business in Nantwich.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our loyal customers and volunteers who really make this Shop special and help the BHF fund its life-saving research.

“We are looking forward to welcoming ever more customers in Nantwich and making the next 21 years equally as successful!”

The shop is urgently appealing for good quality clothing, accessories, handbags, shoes, books, records, videos, DVDs, CDs and homewares.

It is also offering volunteering opportunities to help with stock sorting and pricing, window dressing, sales assisting and much more.

To find out about volunteering or to donate unwanted quality items, call in and see the shop manager or call 01270 610534.

The bears are being handed out by the Leighton Hospital League of Friends team, which celebrates 40 years since its launch in 1973.

It is also celebrating 30 years since the League’s shop was opened in the hospital which treats thousands of Nantwich and Crewe residents every year.

So they have chosen to hand out free bears to babies born on May 15 and June 12 – the two dates which celebrate the anniversaries.

The gift will also include a keepsake box.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the League can visit www.leighton-league-of-friends.org.uk

The local Motor Neurone Disease Association has organised the annual event for Saturday June 15 from 7.30pm.

Guests will tuck into a cheese and pickle board followed by a selection of delicious strawberry-themed desserts.

Entertainment will include a quiz and DJ, and there will also be raffle with a host of top prizes to raise more cash for the cause.

Organiser Hazel Francis, from Nantwich, said: “This is always a popular event in our fundraising calendar and this year promises to be no different.

“We’ve moved to a bigger venue and introduced a DJ and dancing which we are confident will make it a night to remember.

“All money raised will go towards supporting people living with MND in Cheshire and their families.”

MND is a progressive muscle wasting disease which claims the lives of 35 people a week in the UK.

It causes the death of neurones that send messages from our brains to our muscles.

Once the neurones die, muscles waste away, and with them the ability to move, speak, swallow and breathe.

Tickets are £10 and must be bought in advance. Contact Hazel Francis on 01270 626222 or email johnfrancis41@hotmail.co.uk

Mr Burnham looked around the department which serves thousands of Nantwich and Crewe residents.

He spoke to staff about their roles, and how they cope with rising numbers of admissions.

Latest figures show there were 83,320 admissions to A&E and minor injuries unit in 2012-13. That’s a rise of almost 4,000 compared to the previous year, and nearly 8,000 compared to 2009-10.

Mr Burnham also visited as figures also show Leighton Hospital is one of only a few units in the country to achieve the desired standard of 95% of A&E attendees waiting a maximum of four hours from arrival to admission, treatment or discharge.

Denise Frodsham, chief operating officer at Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Like most hospitals in the country, we are feeling the pressure of increased numbers of people attending A&E.

“However, despite the significant increases in activity we have seen, we are still seeing the majority of our patients within the four-hour standard and offering them the best care and patient experience possible.

“We have achieved this by working closely in partnership with our local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and social services to ensure patients are being managed and treated in the most appropriate place for their illnesses or injuries.”

Mr Burnham is seen talking with Consultants Dr Shirley Hammersley and Adrian Heald, as well as Verity Lockett, service manager for emergency care, and

Admission figures for the last four years:

2012/13 – 83,320
2011/12 – 79,579
2010/11 – 77,416
2009/10 – 75,461

(All pictures courtesy of Simon J Newbury Photography)

It is feared 16-year-old Cheshire student Ellie Jones may have died from an overdose on PMA.

Traces of the drug were found in her system from initial toxicology tests.

And if it is confirmed as the cause, it will bring the number of deaths across Cheshire associated to the drug to four this year.

Cheshire Police is working with partners in health, schools, colleges and drug agencies to warn people about the dangers ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend.

PMA (Paramethoxyamphetamine) is an amphetamine which comes in tablet, powder and crystal form, and is not absorbed as quickly as other drugs.

This means users have been known to take excessive amounts in the mistakenly belief it is not taking effect.

It is an illegal substance and possession, use or selling the drug is a criminal offence.

Supt Martin Cleworth said: “Ellie’s death shocked everyone and now we have the initial toxicology results back indicating she had taken PMA.

“We have a duty to warn people about the potentially fatal consequences taking this drug can have and would urge people to obtain urgent medical assistance on behalf of anyone suspected to have taken PMA who suffers difficulty breathing, muscle spasms, nausea or starts to vomit.

“This is the fourth death we have had this year in Cheshire alone that is associated to PMA, and we are working together with our partners in health, colleges,schools and drug agencies to get warnings out to as many people as possible.

“If anyone has any information about who may be supplying this fatal drug across Cheshire I would urge them to contact police, or alternaltively call Crimestoppers anonymously so we can continue to do all we can to remove them from our streets and prevent anyone else going through the heartache Ellie’s family have gone through.”

Ellie, from Warrington, was taken to hospital experiencing breathing difficulties shortly after 3.30am on Saturday May 18. She died a short time later.

Six people have been arrested in connection with the death and have been bailed pending inquiries.

Anyone with any information about the supply and distribution of the drug is urged to call police on 101 or alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Matthew Naylor, Mike Auld and Emily Stephenson will be joining 40,000 other runners on Sunday (May 26).

The trio are hoping to raise £1,500 for The Christie – a charity close to Matthew’s heart as his close friend Oliver Wilson lost his dad, Manchester legend Anthony H Wilson, to cancer in 2007.

Sales director Matthew said: “We all think The Christie does an amazing job and wanted to raise as much money as we could for them by doing the run.

“Seeing how they looked after Anthony made me determined to give something back and help make a difference.”

Matthew, Emily and Mike have been training hard before and after work by running around Tarporley and the Cheshire countryside.

Friends and family will be supporting them along the 6.2 mile course as the trio run through Manchester city centre.

For 21-year-old Emily, who has never run before, the nerves are kicking in.

The Land Rover experience manager said: “I’m a little nervous as I’ve never done anything like this before.

“Matthew and Mike have been great at motivating me plus they’ve promised to give me piggy back if I am struggling to get over the finish line!”

To show your support and donate, visit their justgiving page.

Staff from Three Circles are working with University Hospital of North Staffordshire as part of a new “Medical Devices Alliance”.

Two specialist businesses Haughton Design & Linki are also involved in product development for the medical industry.

Three Circles, based on Pillory Street, is the driving force behind the alliance targeting clients from technology start-ups to international pharmaceutical companies.

Matthew Theobald, a director of Three Circles, said: “Companies developing new medical devices and combination products will be able to access a ‘one stop shop’ for support and guidance throughout their projects.”

Dr Darren Clement, research and development manager at University Hospital, said: “This is great for University Hospital but more importantly for our patients and staff as they will be able to inform and contribute to the look, feel and functioning of these products before they get in to clinics.”

David Mills, managing director for Haughton Design Limited, added: “Our focus is on helping our clients to speed up medical device development so products reach the market more quickly and therefore benefit a patient’s health.

“Launching within three months from our first exploratory meeting shows we are all totally committed to getting things done efficiently.

“Personally, I am very proud to have been involved in creating the MDA. We have already had strong interest in our services from a number of international companies so it’s very exciting for everyone involved.”

For more information visit www.medicaldevicesalliance.eu

Prostate Specific Antigen testing for men aged 55 will be carried out by fully trained operators at Nantwich Civic Hall.

It consists of a small finger prick and a result is given within 20 minutes of the test being taken.

The session is limited to 60 men and is by appointment only.

The PSA test is not diagnostic but should it give a reading that is elevated to that expected on an age-related scale, patients will be advised to seek further investigation.

The session will start at 9.30am and end at around 1pm.

Booking an appointment is essential, and organisers say an alternative date could be arranged if the session is over subscribed.

Anyone interested in making an appointment can contact the Leighton Hospital Cancer Support Group or Kevin Hammersley on 01270 624496, email kevin.hammersley@hotmail.co.uk

Donations to the group will be appreciated.

The Middlewich Road supermarket chose the appeal as its charity of the year for 2012.

It has spent 12 months raising funds through bake sales, bag packing and collections in store.

The One in Eleven Appeal, which aims to create a new neo-natal unit at Leighton Hospital.

The Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity appeal has already raised £1.8 million it needs, but additional funds will provide more enhancements or new equipment.

Store PR ambassador Olwyn Payton presented the cheque to the appeal’s fundraising manager Laura Bailey.

Olwyn said: “Customers and colleagues voted for the One in Eleven Appeal to be our charity of the year and they supported it throughout.

“It means a lot with so many good causes around and in tough financial times that people have given so much to the appeal.

“It was amazing how many people told us their children or grandchildren were cared for at Leighton, it really has connected with everyone. It has been inspiring to see how people have got behind this cause.”

Laura added: “We have been overwhelmed with support for the appeal and even though we have now reached our target, these funds will help us make our new unit even better.”

(Pic: Deputy store manager Dean Baksh-Jones, Mid Cheshire Hospitals charity fundraising manager Laura Bailey, Sainsbury’s Nantwich PR ambassador Olwyn Payton)

Sienna Malley’s parents have so far raised £75,000 for the North West and North Wales Paediatric Transport Service (NWTS).

Sienna, now three, was just eight months old when she contracted the deadly virus.

She was admitted to Leighton Hospital in Crewe where doctors said she needed to be transferred to Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

The specialist NWTS team was called in and they battled for 10 hours to stabilise Sienna, whose system had gone into toxic shock, before the transfer in the service’s high-tech ambulance could be completed.

Sienna’s family was so grateful for the life-saving care she received, they’ve spent two years fundraising for specialist equipment.

Her parents Kerri and Adam raised enough to buy a £14,000 ventilator and two training mannequins costing over £20,000.

Now the family wants to buy a Sonosite portable machine enabling doctors to place drips in infants for drug and fluid therapy.

And they are bidding to reach their £100,000 target with a James Bond themed ball at Nantwich Civic Hall on May 10.

Tickets for the event, which includes a charity auction, are £20 available from Enzo coffee shop in Nantwich or from Jennie Johnson on 07515 788889.

Kerri said: “We consider ourselves very fortunate Sienna was put in the care of such an incredible and dedicated team of people and are well aware without appropriate specialist infant equipment the NWTS team employs, our story could have had a very different ending.

“We have been overwhelmed by the support of our friends, family and local community and now ask everyone for their support for one last push towards our ultimate £100,000 target – we know that this money truly can save young lives.”

Sarah Santo, lead nurse at NWTS, said: “We are amazed and incredibly grateful for the tireless efforts of Sienna’s family to raise both funds and awareness of the work carried out by the NWTS team.

“The equipment their fundraising has already purchased has made a difference to hundreds of young lives from across the region.”

NWTS is a team of Paediatric Intensive Care doctors and nurses who stabilise and transport very ill children to specialist hospitals including the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

For more details about forthcoming fundraising events, email kerri.porter@conceptcarcredit.co.uk

Louise Leach, who founded the International School of Beauty Therapy, has seen therapists jet off to ply their trade around the world.

Louise founded the business on her 25th birthday in Tarporley before moving to a new facility on Marsh Lane.

She said: “When I started training beauty therapists 20 years ago, I never thought that we’d have our courses and graduates in such demand worldwide.

“We make sure our students are meticulous with their professional appearance and in the way they treat and care for customers.

“We’ve seen exceptional exams results and last September was our largest intake ever for private students.”

It trains students in skills like massage, waxing, manicure and pedicure and aesthetic treatments, as well as commercial and personal skills.

Many graduates are working in prestigious 5-star and 6-star spas around the globe – as well as closer to home at venues like Rookery Hall in Nantwich, Crewe Hall, and The Grosvenor Spa, Chester.

Graduate Amy Taylor, manageress of The Grosvenor Spa, said: “I’m so pleased I went to The International School of Beauty Therapy.

“The extra focus on things like attention to detail, professionalism and client care that Louise and the team instilled in me has made me much more commercially ready for a busy, demanding role.”