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

THE MOTHER of Britain’s Got Talent winner George Sampson was cleared today of flytipping.

Lesley Sampson, 40, was accused of ditching rubbish, which included dance star George’s fanmail.

But the prosecuting authority Warrington Borough Council offered no evidence after two days of legal wrangling at Chester Crown Court.

LIVERPOOL COUNCIL HAS BEEN ‘NAMED AND SHAMED’ FOR FAILING to sign people from the dole queues as apprentices.

Communities Secretary John Denham questioned why Liverpool only had one apprentice for every 354 staff, compared to St Helens, who has one for every 83 staff.

Other councils to be shamed include Wirral and Halton. Mr Denham said, “Councils should be making use of the Government funding available to help people now.”

A ROW HAS ERUPTED BETWEEN ONE OF THE CITY’S OLDEST PUBS AND THE COUNCIL after it was banned from taking daytime beer deliveries. Thomas Rigby’s and its sister pub, The Lady of Mann, said the ban will play havoc with the businesses after being told by municipal officials that delivery vehicles are not allowed to park outside their Dale Street premises, a stone's throw away from their offices, between the hours of 8am and 6pm.

CASES OF MUMPS CONTINUE TO RISE in the North West among teenagers and young adults. Confirmed cases of mumps in the North West soared from 395 in 2008 to 1376 in 2009, with 900 of those cases involving people aged 15-24.