The Nifty 250: News of the day in so many words

THE RAIL WATCHDOG has warned Network rail to improve train services on Liverpool’s West Coast mainline link to London. The Office of Rail Regulation said Network Rail “must rise to the challenge” and reduce disruption to passengers from planned engineering works by 37% by March, 2014, otherwise, failure to perform will result in substantial fines.

THE PUBLIC OF LIVERPOOL will be asked for their views on whether to adopt an elected mayoral system for the city. If a resolution to adopt the system is passed by December 31, the change would see a mayor being directly elected and scrapping of having both a council leader and cabinet. However council leaders have said there was still not a strong enough case to introduce the reforms.

A MAJOR DRUGS CHARITY has gone into administration. The Lighthouse Project, which helps thousands of addicts across Merseyside, was set up 40 years ago and has offices in Bootle, Liverpool city centre, St Helens, Southport, Knowsley and Croxteth. Liverpool City Council confirmed its financial difficulties but said it was trying to ensure all patients continued to receive treatment.

TWENTY-FOUR people, thought to be from Liverpool, have been arrested in a drugs raid in the Ibiza resort of San Antonio. Police seized large quantities of drugs, including ecstasy and cocaine, as they targeted an alleged organised dealing and distribution network, including a pub being used as a base by the gang. The Foreign Office has confirmed that a number of Britons were in custody in Ibiza.