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

THE BODY OF a man, believed to be in his twenties, was discovered hanging from swings in the children's play area in Sefton Park this morning. The discovery was made by a dog-walker at around 6.45am. Police said the cause of death was unknown at this stage, but is not believed to be suspicious.

STAFF at John Lewis in Liverpool One and Formby's Waitrose were celebrating today after netting almost eight weeks' salary in the company's annual bonus scheme.

The John Lewis group is a partnership owned by its 70,000 permanent staff, and all of them – from the chairman Charlie Mayfield down to shop assistants and shelf-stackers – get a 15 percent payout. Analysts had expected a bonus pot of £140m.

A MAN in his thirties was in a critical condition in hospital today after apparently throwing himself in front of a bus.

The incident happened in Aigburth Road, opposite the Territorial Army centre, this morning.

The driver of the bumber 60 Arriva bus, who was left shocked, said the male pedestrian seemed to deliberately step in front of the bus.

PUBS GROUP JD Wetherpoon reported record first half profits today and said from April 28 all its pubs will open from 7am to serve breakfasts.

Wetherspoon has 28 Merseyside pubs and has identified sites for proposed new locations in Waterloo, Ellesmere Port, Ormskirk, Liverpool, Formby, Heswall and Maghull.