These are the latest ECHO headlines this morning.
Families living in fear of 'Balaclava Gang' hire private security firm
Terrified families living in one part of Merseyside have turned to hiring private security in their battle against a local gang.
People living on Leominster Road in Liscard are terrified as their once quiet street has been plagued by brazen balaclava-clad yobs who have spent months terrorising those living in the area. The ECHO has previously reported on the criminal and antisocial behaviour that has led to the destruction of cars and intimidation of residents.
Now, following pleas for help to both Merseyside Police and Wirral Council, people on the road have brought in their own reinforcement in a bid to get rid of the gang that regularly patrols the streets near Central Park in the Wirral neighbourhood.
READ MORE: Furious Brits abroad forced to pay €350 for four drinks
A dad of one who lives on the road told the ECHO they pay the security firm a monthly fee and are given access to a 24/7 hotline in case anything happens, as well as the firm conducting three patrols during the day and three patrols during the night. He also revealed that a number of homes on the road have taken the opportunity to employ the firm to protect both their homes and their families.
The dad, who asked to remain anonymous, told the ECHO: "We all had leaflets through the door from a private security firm so I decided to give them a call and now we pay for the services. None of us have been forced to join the security firm, we just want the protection."
Read the full story here.
Boy, 4, rushed to intensive care after catching chicken pox
A mum was told to prepare for the worst after her son was rushed into intensive care.
Brave Gerard Price, four, has spent the last three years battling cancer, but mum Danielle Riley received the "worst news" at the end of July when chicken pox led to her son being rushed into intensive care. Despite being told he may not pull through, the youngster is now back on a ward after over a week on a ventilator.
Back in 2019, Gerard, known as G for short, banged his head on a baby gate leaving a mark which eventually turned into a lump. But when the lump turned a "funny colour", Danielle said she was back and forth to her GP and hospitals trying to find out what was wrong.
READ MORE: Mum works '36 hours without sleep' caring for her sick boy
The lump continued to grow until it was "over his eyebrow", his worried parents decided to take him to Alder Hey 's A&E department. There tests showed G had Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia with a mutation.
For the next three years, the brave youngster underwent "endless" rounds of chemotherapy and was eventually given the news he was in remission. But G soon took a turn for the worse when last month he became seriously unwell.
Read more here.
Man punched boy, 12, who threw eggs at his car
A dad assaulted a 12 year old after he threw eggs through the open window of his car on East Prescot Road.
Vincent Peters said he launched the “out of character” assault in Old Swan last year after his unwell young child was hit by one of the eggs. But the boy, who was pulled to the floor by Peters before being punched, said the ensuing incident left him bruised, terrified and in fear of being kidnapped.
Tanya Berridge-Burley, prosecuting, said the victim, who cannot be named because of his age, was one of a group of kids throwing eggs on East Prescot Road on August 1, 2021.
READ MORE: Suspect named after £70,000 container stolen from Port of Liverpool
She told Liverpool Magistrates' Court the boy then threw eggs at Peters’ blue Skoda as it came down the road close to the junction with Leinster Road. Peters then got out of the car and started shouting at the group of kids and ran after the boy.
Ms Berridge-Burley said: “The defendant has then stopped the victim by grabbing him and pulling him to the floor and then assaulted him by punching him.” She said Peters then walked the boy around the corner onto Broadgreen Road and hit him again before the 12 year old ran off."
Read the full story here.
