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

CRIME IN MERSEYSIDE HAS DROPPED FOR THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR according to the latest Home Office figures.

Between July and September last year, overall crime was down by 8.3 percent, equating to 2,393 fewer crimes in Merseyside, compared with the same three months the year before. Which brings us neatly on to....

POLICE NUMBERS MAY FALL as Merseyside Police Authority face a possible budget shortfall of £30m. As the Government tries to make savings across the public sector, MPA estimate they could be facing a funding gap of between £5m and £30m between April this year and April 2013. Despite stressing cutting police numbers would be a “last resort”, they said nothing can be ruled out.

A TAXI DRIVER RAPIST HAS BEEN JAILED for two sex attacks in south Liverpool.

Judge David Harris, QC, said Stephen Ord, 37, carefully planned his assaults on vulnerable, lone women as he imposed an indefinite sentence for public protection.

Ord, who denied the offences, smiled when he was told at Liverpool Crown Court he was to serve a minimum four years before being considered for release for the attacks on the 77-year-old and 58-year-old women.

POT HOLES ON LIVERPOOL'S ROADS, caused by the recent icy weather, will cost up to half a million pounds to repair.

The council’s joint venture partner, Enterprise Liverpool, is also carrying out extra inspections to make sure pot holes are repaired within 24 hours of being examined by staff.

An extra six gangs of Enterprise workers have been dispatched, with the council warning it expects an increase of 30% in the number of pot holes found compared with normal weather conditions.