Other News In Brief

Mother And Child Rescued From Fire

A young woman and her disabled child have been rescued from a house fire.

The fire broke out at a property on Hallidays Road, north Belfast, around 4.30am on Tuesday.

A passerby heard the smoke alarm ringing and phoned the emergency services from a pay phone.

Gerry Lennon, Fire Commander of South and East District, said the fire started in the kitchen.

He explained: "On arrival, crews noticed that there was a small fire coming from the cooker," adding that they used a ladder to gain access through a bedroom window before the occupants were led to safety.

"It was very important that the passerby had heard the smoke alarm and that a working smoke alarm was sounding and used inside the property."

Man Found Outside Leisure Centre Dies

A 34-year-old man who was found unconscious outside Shankill Leisure Centre in Belfast has died, UTV has said.

The man was found around 7.30pm on Sunday morning and then taken to hospital, but it was thought he could have been lying in the street for a number of hours.

He had injuries to his head and face.

A post-mortem examination will be carried out, but the death is not being treated as suspicious.

Yesterday, Shankill DUP Councillor Brian Kingston supported police calls for anyone with information to come forward.

Dickson Welcomes NI Water Investment

East Antrim Alliance MLA, Stewart Dickson, has welcomed news that NI Water is to invest £3.5m in the area.

Mr Dickson said: "This is fantastic news for the residents of East Antrim. This £3.5 million investment programme will mean that the upgraded water mains will improve the reliability and security of the local water supply and the quality of drinking water. In the long term, this investment will benefit not only local infrastructure, but also public health.

"This programme is due to start in late July and will run right through until November 2014. NI Water have assured me that, in conjunction with DRD, they will try to keep disruption around these works to a minimum. Local residents affected by the works will be updated by NI Water in due course."

A majority of the improvement works will take place in the Larne area and include the Mill Brae Road, Drumahoe Road, Linn Road and Ballyhampton Road areas of Larne.

The work will also take place in Newtownabbey, including the Doagh and Ballyclare Roads, and in Ballyclare, including the Ballyeaston Road and the Longshot.

(JP/CD)