30 destinations now offered by easyJet from the airport

THE UK's and Liverpool's leading airline, easyJet, have launched its new route, this week, to the Greek island of Zakynthos. easyJet now has 30 destinations on sale from Liverpool, having carried over 1 million passengers from the airport last year.

The 1st flight which departed Liverpool this afternoon will operate once a week throughout the summer. The airline is expected to fly 6000 passengers between the destinations annually.

Ali Gayward, easyJet's UK Commercial Manager, said:- "We're delighted to be adding Zakynthos to easyJet's range of destinations from Liverpool. It's really exciting to be here to see our first flight depart today and highlights our commitment to providing affordable routes to summer destinations from Liverpool but will also benefit inbound tourism to the City. Our Greek routes are proving extremely popular for those who wish to get some easy and affordable summer sun, and we're sure that our new route and 30th destination from Liverpool will be a success."

Mark Povall, Director of Air service Development, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, commented:- "Zakynthos is a great summer holiday destination and this new service now gives passengers from across the region the added convenience of being able to fly direct from their local airport. This new service will see increased numbers of passengers travelling from Liverpool in 2015 and a further growth in easyJet operations here."

Campaign To Save Lives!

AEDdonate have teamed up with Crowdfunder.co.uk and SADS UK to offer fundraising activities to enable communities to obtain an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) through Community Heartsafe Projects.

This has been run successfully on a number of projects throughout the UK with fundraising activities such as school bag packs, car washes, car boot sales and sponsored sports events etc. The communities have come together to raise enough funds for the Defibrillator to be placed. AEDdonate coordinated all of this providing the fundraising packs, contacting local councils, MP's, getting donations from local businesses and getting involvement from local community groups to ask for help and support for the project. Most importantly it creates mass PR and Social Media awareness so that donations can be given on line through Crowdfunder.

Schools, sports centres, social clubs, pubs, restaurants, villages, high streets basically anywhere that the public use as they should have access to an AED.

Managing Director, Jamie Richards said:- "I am so pleased that we can now offer this throughout the UK due to our unique relationship with SADS UK and Crowdfunder.co.uk. 100,000 people die each year from Sudden Cardiac Arrest, 90% of those patients could of have been saved if they had quick access to an AED. Being a Community First Responder outside of work I see what devastation Cardiac Arrest causes unfortunately on a too frequent basis"

We are now able to accept enquiries for new community projects across the UK.  For more information Please email:- info@aeddonate.co.uk or call them on:- 08458 622527.

LightNight, Liverpool 2015 - Update
Photographer busses Rhian Askinst

THE LightNight, Liverpool's 1 night arts festival returns to illuminate the City for a 6th consecutive year on Friday, 15 May 2015, when thousands of visitors will explore and celebrate the City's world class cultural offer late into the night.

Using the theme Looking to the New World, over 100 organisations are joining forces to offer special free events for all ages from mass dance workshops, exhibitions and walking tours, to light installations, science demos, dress up photo booths and concerts.

2015 will also see 6 incredible vintage buses take to the City streets as Merseyside Transport Trust are providing a heritage bus service that will see their buses travel a circular route every ten minutes, from the Pier Head to William Brown Street via Jamaica Street and the Cathedrals.

Whilst this is essentially a free service, donations are appreciated. Please note that owing to their classic design, buses are not low floor or wheelchair accessible.

Mike Cammack of Merseyside Transport Trust said:- "Our team of volunteers at Merseyside Transport Trust are really looking forward to showing off some of our historic double deckers on LightNight. We work year round to conserve Merseyside's largest collection of preserved historic vehicles, and regularly display our vehicles throughout the region. LightNight is a new opportunity for us, and we look forward to welcoming the LightNight audience to hop on and off our classic buses from the past."

Charlotte Corrie, Director of LightNight organisers Open Culture, said:- "It's great to have the support of Merseyside Transport Trust and their incredible buses for LightNight this year, giving our audiences a new way to move from venue to venue. The classic buses aren't often seen on the streets of Liverpool so it's a great way to experience the City and the festival; and save your feet!"

The bus service also means it's easier for visitors; especially families; to travel from venue to venue. LightNight has always had a strong focus on events for all the family, and this year is no exception. At the Cunard Building children and adults can enjoy Time Liners, a new installation by Make Space Create that brings real stories and experiences of those who worked on the liners to life with projection, storytelling and interactive installations.

Join Altru Children's Theatre for a pop up tea party at Rococo coffee shop and meet some of Lewis Carroll's zaniest Alice in Wonderland characters: 10% of all money raised on the night will go to Altru Arts CIC to allow them to continue their work with young people, so this event is really not to be missed.

At the Open Eye Gallery Urban Canvas host the Light Packets lantern making workshop, inspired by the cargo ships that sailed between Liverpool and the New World. Participants can add a handwritten message to their lantern and, once the sun has set, they'll be launched onto the canal to create a beautiful floating light installation.

Over at the Town Hall, MDI once again lead Liverpool in this year's Big Dance pledge. Learn a fun and simple routine and dance the night away with the young ones; with workshops and performances from a range of dance organisations including Liverpool Theatre School, Chaos and LIPA there is something for everyone to enjoy!

Central Library will also be a hive of activity with readings from Scottie Writers and WOW Fest, storytelling from Petite Ullaloom and the Cryptid Petting Zoo puppetry from Headstrung Theatre.

There's also a writing workshop from Writing Advice Desk, the:- '3rd largest book in the world' and performances from In Harmony, Southport String Ensemble and Ukulele Club Liverpool.

The full events line up is available online and in a printed festival guide which is available to order by post, or from participating venues in the lead up to the festival.  Also to see a trailer for LightNight Liverpool please use this link:- Vimeo.com/120056063.