THE VIRUS IN BRIEF
FOUR-YEAR-OLD Dexter Lee whose birthday holiday had to be scuppered has been cheered up by a visit from the boys in blue.
Dexter wants to be a policeman and mum Anna through friends asked if officers could drive past and wave. In fact, Sergeant Mark Wilson and Merseyside Police mascot Bobby paid a visit, with a goodie bag and a superhero card.
Dexter’s grandparents joined from their cars, along with neighbours.
The youngster and his big brother Freddie tried out the blues and twos in the police van, while baby brother Mason, aged six months, looked on.
Anna and dad Rob said: “We are so overwhelmed by the effort the police went to today.
“It has brought a lot of cheer to us and the whole neighbourhood.”
THE Harrogate International Festivals’ summer season is the latest cultural victim of the pandemic.
The organisers of the North Yorkshire spa town’s not-for-profit festival announced “with deep regret and sadness” that this year’s season – including the Harrogate Music Festival,Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, and Children’s Festival – had been cancelled.
But the prestigious Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2020, supported by the Daily Express and WH Smith, will still take place, with the winning novel unveiled in late July.The crime-writing festival will be rescheduled for next year.
Harrogate International Festivals will be launching a virtual festival experience for fans to enjoy at home.
For more information, visit www. harrogateinternationalfestivals.com.
CORNER shops and convenience stores have enjoyed a massive surge in sales as shoppers avoid supermarket queues to buy their groceries locally, a report said yesterday.
Data from analysts Kantar shows that grocery sales at independent retailers – including Spar, Nisa, Premier, Londis and Costcutter – have outpaced the record growth of supermarkets and discounters after coronavirus-related stockpiling left many shelves bare.
Fraser McKevitt of Kantar said: “Lots of people are combining their daily exercise with going to the local shop which is disproportionately benefiting independent retailers.
“Regular trips to smaller local stores are also likely to continue.”