By Jeremy Laurance Cancer PATIENTS in the metropolitan borough of Knowsley, Merseyside, can count themselves fortunate in one respect. Unlucky though they are to have the disease, they live in the area with the highest spending on cancer treatment in the country.

By BEN TURNER; VICKI KELLAWAY ALMOST a fifth of Knowsley primary schools will close under plans released today. Ten face the axe affecting more than 2,200 pupils, and some will be merged into new schools.

By RICHARD DOWN A MERSEYSIDE school which was promised a pounds 6.5m rebuild now faces closure as part of a massive shake up of primary school education. Knowsley Council is drawing in pounds 22m to revolutionise primary schools in the borough.

Max, Biffo and Arthur have been making a splash in their new home. The stars of the sea lion show at Knowsley Safari Park in Merseyside are now enjoying a much larger pool, rocks, beaches and waterfall effects.

THE publication of GCSE league tables today reveals a decidedly mixed picture in the Merseyside area. Most notably, Knowsley has picked up the unenviable distinction of its schools coming bottom of the country for GCSE results including Maths and English.