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

THE SON OF THE OWNER OF LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB has resigned as a director of the club after sending an abusive email to a concerned team fan who, in turn, had sent him an extract of a Liverpool Echo article.

Tom Hicks Junior called Stephen Horner “an idiot”, then sent another email, with Liverpool’s financial and commercial directors Philip Nash and Ian Ayre copied in, telling Horner: “Blow me f*** face. Go to Hell. I’m sick of you.” Hicks then sent an email apologising for his “kneejerk” reaction. The Spirit of Shankly supporters' group who are committed to ridding the Anfield club of its American owners, had issued statement over the weekend calling for Hicks Jr to resign, as well as expressing wider concerns about the state of the club.

PEOPLE ARE RISKING THEIR LIVES by walking across frozen lakes. Liverpool’s city wardens have herded more than 100 adults and children off the ice after lakes in parks froze over during the cold weather. Over 10 years, more than 20 people have died after falling through ice, with City Watch officer Mike Hindley saying, “At the end of the day, how do you know how thick it is?”

OVER 22,000 PEOPLE are on the social housing list in Liverpool, double the number waiting in 2005. The council insists the increased figures reflect all housing associations pooling their lists together, but one Labour councillor has called for more empty housing to be used for social housing.

COMPANY ‘REGRETS’ A MAN HAVING HIS FINGERS SEVERED while working. Wesley Dickinson, 22, was trying to remove a guillotine jam at Centriforce Products Ltd in Liverpool, May 2008, when his fingers became trapped. The firm, which was fined £2,500 by Liverpool Magistrates' Court, said it was now revising its health and safety procedures.

**WORD OF THE DAY: Snow bong
(n): A bong packed with snow. No water in the chamber, just snow packed all the way up to the mouth. As the snow cools the smoke, the bong hits extremely smoothly.

*Taken from the Urban Dictionary