The Up and Under Foundation is organising two bike rides on June 9 in a bid to raise cash to take young carers on well-earned breaks.

One of the rides is a gentle cycle to a café in Audlem then a return through Wrenbury, Nantwich.

The second is a more challenging 60 mile ride over lumpier parts of Cheshire, taking in Malpas and Beeston.

Supporters include Mornflake, who are providing breakfast at the start, and Nantwich-based Chatwins will have something special for us at the end.

A spokesman for Up and Under said: “All money made from the ride will be used to take less well off local youngsters on adventurous trips, giving them confidence boosting and potentially life changing experiences.”

The group has just returned from a trip to Conway Centre on Anglesey.

Youngsters aged between 8 and 15 and part of the Cheshire Young Carers Group enjoyed much-needed respite.

They took part in tree top rope course, canoeing, camp fires, bushcraft and climbing.

“For many it was their first time away from home on their own and it was an experience they all said they wanted to repeat,” the spokesman added.

“We can make this happen with your help, get on your bikes.”

Closing date for entries May 29. Visit www.foundationrides.co.uk to enter and get helpful advice about preparing for your ride.

The fair was held next to St Michael’s & All Angels Parish Church and Marbury Big Mere, near Wrenbury, Nantwich.

The American Civil War Society re-enacted combat displays between the Union and the Confederates and featured muskets, sharpshooters, cannons and pyrotechnics along with a living history village.

Other attractions and events included a classic car and motorcycle parade, dog and terrier racing, craft and gift fair, trade stands, vintage motor cycles, classic cars and vintage tractors.

There were also fair stalls and tombola, cake stall, refreshments, ice cream, children’s activity area, Pinxton Puppets show and model aircraft flying display.

Other displays included Newfoundland dogs water display, The Little Green Men Morris Dancers, and Maypole Dancing.

Attractions in the church included floral decorations and an art exhibition.

Despite the poor weather over the weekend hundreds of people attended and enjoyed the event.

All proceeds go towards the upkeep of the St Michael’s & All Angels Parish Church in Marbury.

(Words and pictures by Jonathan White)

The slaughterhouse in Sound Heath, Wrenbury, has failed to meet requirements for safe production of meat.

Owners High Peak Meat Exports Ltd had applied to change the facility’s name and rules meant they had to re-apply for a licence to operate within a certain time period.

But a spokeswoman for the Food Standards Agency told Nantwichnews the application had been refused and the abattoir must cease to operate.

The spokeswoman said: “The Food Standards Agency has informed High Peak Meat Exports Ltd of its decision to refuse the business approval to operate as a slaughterhouse.

“This is because the establishment did not meet all the infrastructure requirements which permit the safe production of meat, and could therefore be a risk to public health.

“FSA vets had carried out a number of appraisal visits to the plant to help the business prepare for re-approval. Advice was given on how to rectify a number of issues.

“However, when the approval visit was undertaken in February this year, the evidence indicated that not all the improvements that were needed had been done.

“The business must stop operating at 12 noon on Monday 8 April 2013. There is a right to appeal within one month.”

A spokesman for High Peak Meat Exports has said they will not appeal the FSA decision.

“The company will substantially invest in the premises for what is a necessary industry and thanks the Food Standards Agency for the assistance given,” it told the BBC.

The abattoir has been at the centre of two major controversies in recent weeks.

Two slaughtermen lost their licences after an undercover film by Hillside animal sanctuary showed alleged cruelty to horses before and during the slaughter process.

This led to strong demonstrations by animal campaigners in Nantwich town centre and outside the facility itself.

The abattoir was also linked to the recent Irish horsemeat scandal. The FSA confirmed the current closure is not linked to the horsemeat issue.

The accident happened on Nantwich Road in Wrenbury and fire crews were called out to tackle the car blaze.

No one was trapped in the vehicle but one person was injured and treated at the scene by paramedics.

Fire officers said the saloon car was well alight when they arrived and crews had to use breathing apparatus and a hose reel jet to put out the blaze.

The incident happened at about 10.15pm yesterday (Wednesday April 3).

John Dwyer, a former Crewe & Nantwich Borough councillor, is visiting every station across the county to introduce himself.

He will chat to Insp Dave Smithers, head of Nantwich Neighbourhood Policing Unit, and other officers.

It’s aimed at familiarising the PCC with the challenges different areas of the force face on a daily basis.

On the same day, the Nantwich police “community bus” will be  in the town square as officers hold a public surgery.

Insp Smithers said members of his team will be available for residents to drop in and chat with from 10am to midday.

The “community bus” idea is designed to reach out more to people in different parts of the Nantwich force area.

“We want to increase our community engagement both in the town and rural areas, and the “bus” gives us a fixed presence,” said Insp Smithers.

“It’s like a mobile police station and often it encourages members of the public to raise issues that they otherwise wouldn’t think to call us about.

“Our Nantwich team covers over 130 square miles from Bickerton to Audlem and Wrenbury to Wybunbury. It’s important we have a visible presence in these areas.”

Sandfield Court is a new development of eight two-bedroom bungalows aimed at people over 55.

The development, which was built in just 12 months, cost £1 million including grant funding of £152,000 from the Homes and Communities Agency.

The first new tenants moved in last week.

Wulvern development officer Adele Sumner said: “These properties have been designed to mature with their residents.

“Everything from taps to light switches have been fitted to accommodate changes that later life can bring.”

Each bungalow includes a wet floor shower room, under-floor heating and air source heat pumps to reduce energy bills by 15% and carbon emissions by 20%.

The Red Lion Abattoir, at Sound Heath near Wrenbury, is being probed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the RSPCA.

It comes after a secret video filmed slaughtermen at the abattoir, which was broadcast by Sky News.

People from around the country travelled to Cheshire to take part in the protest, which also included a two-minute silence outside the abattoir.

TV crews from ITV and Channel 4 covered the demonstration, as Cheshire Police officers looked on.

One of the organisers Nicola Allen, who was at today’s protest, told Nantwichnews: “The fact the abattoir is still trading after this with only two staff having their licences revoked has upset a lot of people.

“We as a horse community have heard horror stories about this place for years with no proof. We’ve had people from as far as Glossop, Bristol and all over at this protest.

“The campaign is growing daily and attracting huge support from general public and horse owners alike.”

The abattoir’s owners High Peak Meat Exports has declined to comment.

Campaigners want to see a change in the law to prevent slaughter of horses and to install CCTV cameras in all abattoirs in the future.

The secret film was made by Hillside Animal Sanctuary, based in Norfolk. The film allegedly shows horses being beaten with sticks, a rope and iron rods to move them into metal pens.

Two slaughtermen have had their licences withdrawn by the FSA while the investigation continues.

(Video by Drew Kirk Productions)

(Pictures by Jonathan White)

Hundreds are expected to gather in Nantwich town centre before travelling to the Red Lion abattoir, at Sound Heath near Wrenbury.

The abattoir hit the national headlines last week after secret films showed how staff were treating horses before they were slaughtered.

The filming, by Hillside Animal Sanctuary, was screened by Sky News, leading to two abattoir workers having their licences revoked by the Food Standards Agency.

Meat from horses slaughtered at the abattoir is shipped across to be sold on the European food market.

But campaigners have launched two petitions in a bid to get the facility closed down, and to install CCTV in all abattoirs in the UK to reduce alleged cruelty cases.

Jackie Winaston Jones, of Nantwich, her sister Ruth, from Anglesey, and friend Nicola Allen, from Staffordshire, are spearheading the protest.

Nicola said: “The fact it is still trading after this with only two staff having their licences revoked has upset a lot of people.

“Wwe as a horse community have heard horror stories about this place for years with no proof.

“We have had people respond that they are coming from as far as Glossop, Bristol and all over.

“The campaign is growing daily and attracting huge support from general public and horse owners alike.”

Protesters are due to gather in Nantwich town centre at around 12 noon this Saturday February 2, before then travelling out to the abattoir.

Nantwichnews contacted abattoir owners Derek and Valerie Turner and we are awaiting a reply.

However, in their initial statement, the owners declared scenes shown by Sky News from the secret film were “isolated incidents”.

The film, made at the Red Lion abattoir at Broomhall, near Wrenbury, shows images of horses being beaten and neglected.

Animal welfare group Hillside Animal Sanctuary carried out the secret filming, which Sky News revealed online today (January 18).

And it comes in the wake of the row over horse meat being found in burgers bought in UK supermarkets such as Tesco.

Two slaughtermen have now had their licences revoked by the Food Standards Agency, according to the Sky News report.

The video shows horses being beaten with rods, crammed into pens three at a time, and sick and injured horses left overnight rather than being put down swiftly.

The news report states that under The Welfare of Animals Act 1995, horses should not be slaughtered in sight of one another because of the distress it causes.

Organisations including the RSPCA, World Horse Welfare and British Horseracing Authority all moved to condemn the actions seen in the video.

One of the Hillside investigators said it had been the most “harrowing experiences” he’d come across.

In the report, the Red Lion Abattoir said the incident viewed in the film was 0f an “isolated nature” and that disciplinary action had been taken against the individual involved.

They also said in the report that it viewed “animal welfare and public health with paramount importance.”

Horses slaughtered at the facility are destined for the European food markets.

Teams of year 5 and 6 pupils from Crewe and Nantwich schools battled it out in a series of heats.

Heat winners were Pear Tree Primary in Stapeley, Audlem Primary, Leighton and Gainsborough primaries in Crewe.

They will be joined by the three best runners up, which were Weaver Primary in Nantwich, Stapeley Broad Lane, and Oakefields in Crewe.

Teams were tested on a range of field events such as standing long jump, triple jump and javelin, and track events including obstacle relay, 1 + 1 relay and over and under relay.

Heats took place at Brine Leas High School, Malbank High School, Sir William Stanier High School and South Cheshire College.

The final is scheduled for Monday January 28 2013, between 4pm and 6pm, at South Cheshire College.

The overall winner will go forward to compete in the Cheshire Sportshall Athletics county final.

Zoe Leydon, aged 10, of the winning team for Pear Tree, said: “I really enjoy going to competitions like this, being part of the team and trying out different events. I can’t wait for the final and I really hope we do well.”

Organiser Niall McGregor, of Crewe & Nantwich School Sport Partnership (CNSSP), said: “The provision of opportunity for comparatively large teams to represent a school is a key factor in the success and appeal of Sportshall.

“The focus is placed firmly on the achievements of the team and the importance of supporting each other.”

South Cheshire College students were also praised for helping to officiate at all the heats.

Heat details:

Heat 1 – Audlem 673 points, Stapeley 615, Acton 590, Sound 583, Wrenbury 575, St Oswalds Worleston 564.

Heat 2 – Pear Tree 665, Weaver 660, St Annes 604, Highfields 557, Willaston 546, Millfields 536,  Wyche 467.

Heat 3 – Leighton 706, Oakefields 646, Monks Coppenhall 628, Hungerford 589, Beechwood 551.

Heat 4 – Gainsborough 682,  St Marys 658, Wistaston Green 653, Vine Tree 599.

(picture courtesy of Pear Tree School)

The Wingate Centre in Wrenbury gives out thousands of toys to children who stay at the centre throughout the year.

The facility offers respite care for youngsters with disabilities who value the soft toys they are given and is a reminder of their stay.

Richmond Village, Sainsbury’s and local community-based Cat Radio are supporting the appeal.

Soft toys can be taken to Sainsbury’s store on Middlewich Road, Nantwich or Richmond Village, off London Road.

Olwyn Payton, Sainsbury’s spokeswoman, said: “We hope this year’s appeal will result in as many toys as last year.

“The toys can be new or second hand, as long as they are in good condition.”