ONE of the biggest stories of this month was our exclusive on Roger Mercer - the former soldier in a wheelchair who used his military training to fight off knife-wielding robbers.

The dad-of-five had been on the Millenium Greenway path in Blacon, training for the Chester Half Marathon when he was jumped - and sent his assailants flying.

Roger served in the Army for almost 11 years before sustaining a serious spinal injury while on tour in Afghanistan.

He told our reporter: “I’m used to to the rough stuff. They must have thought ‘easy pickings’ but they got more than they bargained for!”

April also saw the tragic news of a fatal house fire in Hoole, which rocked the community and the announcement that a jewellers was set to close after 248 years of trading in the city.

Lowe & Sons closed for five months but in November was saved and reopened by neighbouring jewellers Powell’s Fine Jewellery.

We also revealed how a group of students had endured a catalogue of issues at the supposedly ‘luxury’ Chronicle House accommodation block, including two floods and a fire.

The managers, Fortis Lettings, said it was “regretful that so many isolated incidents had occurred”.

This month also saw crowds turn out for the Cheshire Food, Drink and Lifestyle Festival and the St George’s Day Parade.

The Countess of Chester Hospital was also counting the cost of missed hospital appointments with £3m lost every year due to patients who don’t bother to turn up or call in advance to cancel.

Finally, we carried the story of pensioners Peter and Joy Stanton, of Boughton, who found themselves marooned in their own home after a fly-tipper left a BOAT blocking the route to their door. Luckily the council stepped in to remove it.