The latest evening ECHO headlines on Thursday, March 17.
Traffic ground to halt after 'unsafe building' closes The Strand
Traffic ground to a halt across Liverpool city centre after The Strand was closed on Thursday afternoon.
The road's southbound carriageway was shut by Merseyside Police due to unsecured glazing on a new build tower, on the junction of Red Cross Street and The Strand - believed to be The Copper House. A spokesperson for Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service said crews arrived on the scene at 12.03pm and found two glass panels on a balcony on the 15 th floor had become loose due to high winds.
Firefighters cordoned off the footpath below and secured the panels using rope access gear. Liverpool City Council warned long delays were likely and a police cordon remained in place, meaning that traffic was unable to head southbound until around 2.30pm.
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Until then, traffic was diverted via James Street and motorists heading south were advised to travel via Leeds Street, Hunter Street, Clarence Street and Rodney Street. The closure led to significant delays across the city centre.
Cars were gridlocked on The Strand and traffic built on James Street. Later, heavy queues formed on Lord Street as cars attempted to avoid the closed stretch of road.
Read the full story HERE
House fire closed roads during rush hour
A house fire on King Street, in Wallasey, forced emergency services to closed multiple roads during rush hour.
Fire crews and paramedics were called to the scene after reports of smoke billowing from windows and doors of the house. Witnesses said the property was overcome by the fire shortly before 4pm.
Six fire engines were called the scene and the road stayed cordoned off for a number of hours. It is not yet clear if any other properties were affected.
A spokesperson for Merseyside Fire and Rescue said: "Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service are in attendance at a building fire on King Street, Egremont, Wirral. Crews were alerted at 15.35 on Thursday 17 th March and four fire engines were on scene shortly after.
"This is one three storey mid terraced property, approximately 5M x 10M involved in fire. At present eight firefighters in breathing apparatus (BA) are using two main branches and two hose reel jets to fight the blaze.
"A further two fire engines are at scene, taking the total to six in attendance. Crews are making good progress with a search of the property underway and firefighting activities taking place on the ground floor of the building."
Read more HERE
Murdered dad said 'tell my kids I love them' with final breath
The last words of a dad-of-two stabbed in the heart were heard in court today as his teenage killer was locked up.
Connor Dockerty was repeatedly knifed in the chest by a then 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons. The murderer, now aged 15, was handed a life sentence, with a minimum of 14 years behind bars.
Liverpool Crown Court heard Mr Dockerty, 23, had staggered into a garden in Huyton, bleeding from four stab wounds, but tragically his life could not be saved. Tania Griffiths, QC, prosecuting, said: "His last words, 'I'm dying - tell my kids I love them', showing even in the agony of death his thoughts were of others rather than himself, his main aim being to seek to comfort his children and those who loved him."
The ECHO today asked for reporting restrictions to be lifted so the murderer could be named, in the interests of open justice and deterring further knife crime on our streets. But the boy's lawyers argued his anonymity should remain, supported by Merseyside Police, which cited a series of vigilante attacks on Boy A's family and ongoing concern over his and their safety, as the reason for opposing our application.
Read the full story HERE
