NEWS FROM ALTON TOWERS

Does my ass look big in this?

To celebrate the Alton Towers Resort’s spectacular 80s revival concert taking place on May 23rd, staff across the resort are going back in time with professional 1980s makeovers, which started today on the resort’s resident donkeys, Little George and Granville.

The move aims to pay homage to the wealth of 1980s musical talent, including Rick Astley, Kim Wilde, Midge Ure, Bananarama, Curiosity Killed the Cat and The Christians, who are set to perform their classic hits from the 80s for the resorts one-off concert.

Little George and Granville, who reside on old MacDonald’s farmyard within the resort, were given the makeover by horse hairdressing expert Joan Stott who created the bespoke hairpieces from more than 100,000 strands of real human hair.

The makeover is set to continue in the run up to May 23rd, with all staff being offered a complimentary perm or mullet.

The event is included in the price of a theme park ticket and must be booked in advance, so visit www.altontowers.com to book.

Join in the 80’s fun from 12pm with the acts on stage between 1pm-6pm.

Guests can save up to 20 per cent by booking tickets online at www.altontowers.com. Adult tickets are available for £30.40, £23.20 kids, or £21.60 per person for a family of 3, 4, 5 or 6. With so much to do at the Alton Towers Resort, hotel packages are also available so guests can escape for a short break. Prices start from £69.75 based on four people sharing.

The Alton Towers Resort will continue its celebrations throughout 2010 with a number of other special events. Visit www.altontowers.com for further announcements!

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Notes to editors:

MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS GROUP is the leading name in location based family entertainment, and has seen the most successful and dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last six years. Europe’s No 1, and the world’s second largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin has 60 attractions, 6 hotels and two holiday villages in 13 countries, across 3 continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its 38.5 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and 15,000 employees.

Merlin Entertainments operates the following attractions – SEA LIFE – the world’s biggest aquarium brand, Madame Tussauds, LEGOLAND, The Merlin Entertainments London Eye, Dungeons, Gardaland, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres, Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, THORPE PARK, Chessington World of Adventures, Heide Park, and Earth Explorer. All brands which are distinctive, challenging and innovative – and which have great potential for growth in the future.

NEWS FROM HOVIS

The Great British Sandwich

Hovis creates the ultimate British sandwich for Great British Sandwich Week (9 – 15 May 2010)

Consisting of nearly 100 hearty ingredients from around the UK, Hovis has created the Ultimate British Buttie, for Great British Sandwich Week (9th – 15th May 2010) and to celebrate Hovis’ move to using 100% British Wheat across its entire range.

The mouth-watering sandwich, which is an incredible 1.6 foot high and consists of 18 slices of Hovis Soft White bread, includes a staggering 92 of the best ingredients from across England, Wales and Scotland, although some could be described as an acquired taste. Step forward the jellied eel, hailing from London, or Marmite from Staffordshire! Others however are more widely enjoyed, such as Cheshire cheese – the oldest cheese in Britain, Cumberland sausage or Arbroath Smokie (smoked salmon) from Angus in Scotland.



With Brits eating in excess of 11.5 billion sandwiches a year[1], the sandwich is arguably as much of a British institution as Barbara Windsor, afternoon tea or fish and chips. From the humble cheese sarnie to the breakfast bacon buttie, favoured fillings can be as hotly contested as last week’s election, which is why Hovis has decided to grab the butter knife and use the best to celebrate Great British Sandwich Week!

Despite the busy Brit penchant for ‘grab and go’, this is sadly one sandwich that couldn’t be eaten on your lunch break – not in an hour at least! The ingredients featured were carefully selected to represent the very best of British, and include everything from West Sussex watercress, crab from Orkney, goat’s cheese from Wales, beef from Herefordshire and even Yorkshire pudding amongst others.

Marie Davies, Marketing Manager for Hovis said “There is no denying the British love affair with the sandwich, but what is interesting is the huge range of ingredients available to choose from across Britain. At Hovis we are proud to be the only major bread brand baked with 100% British wheat and think Great British Sandwich Week is the perfect way to celebrate this.”

For further information about Hovis log on to www.hovisbakery.co.uk

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Notes to Editor:

· Hovis has over 600 farmers exclusively growing premium red wheat in Britain to enable the baker to use 100% British Wheat flour across the British Hovis range, the only major bread brand to do so

· All Hovis products are free from artificial preservatives and flavourings.

NEWS FROM ALTON TOWERS

MP- 45

Job hunting firm recommends new jobs for ex-MPs

After a General Election night of tension that resulted in a hung parliament, politicians from all parties have woken up today out of a job. Following one of the most intriguing election nights for decades, leading jobhunting firm MyWorkSearch has created a list of recommendations for high profile MPs including Labour heavyweights Charles Clarke and Jacqui Smith as they begin their hunt for work.

Experts at the firm entered the profiles of the some of the country’s leading politicians using its personalised assessment test tool and came out with a string of startling suggestions for politicians to try now that they are no longer Members of Parliament.

The database found that original ‘Blair Babe’ Jacqui Smith, who lost her Redditch seat, would make an ideal Ann Summers party organiser due to her unique knowledge of education, detention and a husband who enjoys adult films. Ousted former Home Secretary Charles Clarke, famous for his unique ears and off-key remarks, would make a fine Piano tuner.

The jobs portal also found that Esther Rantzen, who failed to win more than 5% of the vote in Luton South would be a perfect school cook, having a history in youth issues and famously devouring creepy crawlies during her stint on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

Lembit Opik, who lost his Montgomeryshire seat by just 1,000 votes, has been advised to try his hand at erotic fiction writing whilst BNP leader Nick Griffin, who is used to being abused in public, would make a perfect traffic warden should he not be elected to parliament.

The full list of recommendations is as follows:

POLITICIAN & CONSTITUENCY

SKILLS,EXPERIENCE, PERSONALITY

IDEAL JOB

Jacqui Smith, Redditch

Original ‘Blair Babe’, knowledge of education, detention and sex laws, husband enjoys adult films

Ann Summers Party Organiser

Charles Clarke, Norwich South

Famous for his unique ears and off-key remarks about Gordon Brown

Piano Tuner

Lembit Opik, Montgomeryshire

Rated most liberal MP in parliament, known for liking twosomes

Erotic fiction writer

Nick Griffin, Barking

Cambridge graduate with good writing skills, likes uniforms, used to daily abuse from the public

Traffic Warden

Esther Rantzen, Luton South.

Has a history in education, famous for eating creepy crawlies on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and is renowned for stirring things up

School Cook

Richard Alberg, Chief Executive at MyWorkSearch said ‘Just because you’re out of a job doesn’t mean you don’t have skills that can be employed usefully elsewhere. Our list of alternative jobs for MP’s demonstrates this and we hope that if any of these MP’s do need further career advice then MyWorkSearch can help them in this search.

If you’re looking for the right job MyWorkSearch can help turn you from a job seeker to a job getter, offering the tools and expertise you need to get a job fast. For more information visit www.MyWorkSearch.co.uk



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For more information contact Frank PR on 020 7693 6999


Note to editors

About MyWorkSearch

MyWorkSearch is an online outplacement service. Devised by a team with a combined 60 years experience in the recruitment industry, MyWorkSearch provides everything from CV writing assistance and training, through to workflow management and interview coaching as well as a comprehensive vacancy search facility. The service costs £250 for 18 months of practical, expert help.

In March 2010, MyWorkSearch won Best Business Startup of the Year at the LinkedIn European Business Awards.

For more information visit www.myworksearch.co.uk

About Richard Alberg

Richard Alberg launched MyWorkSearch in July 2009 after a successful career in psychometric test development. Richard founded Psychometric Services Limited (PSL) in 1990 and under Richard’s guidance PSL became one of the largest publishers of psychometric tests in the UK. In 2006 Richard sold PSL to Kenexa. Richard is a frequent industry commentator and has contributed to print and broadcast media as well as the human resources trade press. Richard was chosen by Personnel Today as one of the industry’s “21 Rising Stars” in the UK. He was also voted Personality of the Year at the annual Online Recruitment Industry Awards.

NEWS FROM ALTON TOWERS

Cassette in free!

Alton Towers Resort swaps old cassettes for free tickets to celebrate 80’s Birthday Concert

Britain’s favourite theme park, the Alton Towers Resort, is celebrating its 30th birthday this year with an 80’s themed amnesty for guests. Visitors to the theme park can swap their 1980’s memorabilia for a free ticket to the spectacular revival concert and theme park on 23rd May to relive one of the most famous musical decades.

Guests who can delve into their record collection to produce a retro 80’s cassette tape of any of the acts that are playing will be rewarded with a free ticket to see the artists perform live. Icons on the line-up include Rick Astley, Kim Wilde, Midge Ure, Bananarama, Curiosity Killed the Cat and The Christians as they transport visitors back to the days of perms and legwarmers to revisit classic hits from the 80’s.

Morwenna Angove, Sales and Marketing Director for the Alton Towers Resort said: “We’re very excited to be celebrating 30 years of the Alton Towers theme park and are delighted to be welcoming some of the stars that made the greatest records of that decade to mark the occasion. We want to share our excitement for all things 80’s with the public, and as such, we’re offering the first 100 people who can provide a classic 80’s cassette tape of one of the acts a free ticket to the concert”.

Those wishing to take advantage of the offer will need to provide a cassette upon entry and should visit the pre-booked ticket collection window on arrival. A max of 1 guest will be admitted per cassette, and the offer ends at 10am on 23rd May.

For further details of the concert or to book tickets, please visit www.altontowers.com.

For further information, please contact the Alton Towers Resort team at Frank PR on 0207 693 6999 or email altontowers@frankpr.it

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Notes to Editors:

o Offer valid only on Sunday 23rd May and only applicable to the first 100 guests through the theme park gates. Offer ends at 10am.

o Visitors must provide their cassette on entrance to qualify. A max of 1 guest per cassette will be admitted.

o Offer does not include hotel, theme park and waterpark

o For more information on the Alton Towers Resort, visit www.altontowers.com

MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS GROUP is the leading name in location based family entertainment, and has seen the most successful and dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last six years. Europe’s No 1, and the world’s second largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin has 60 attractions, 6 hotels and two holiday villages in 13 countries, across 3 continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its 38.5 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and 15,000 employees.

Merlin Entertainments operates the following attractions – SEA LIFE – the world’s biggest aquarium brand, Madame Tussauds, LEGOLAND, The Merlin Entertainments London Eye, Dungeons, Gardaland, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres, Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, THORPE PARK, Chessington World of Adventures, Heide Park, and Earth Explorer. All brands which are distinctive, challenging and innovative – and which have great potential for growth in the future.

NEWS FROM ALTON TOWERS

Politics just got interesting - Alton Towers Resort launches new 'poll-ercoaster'

Guests at the Alton Towers Resort can now express their political preference in a unique poll which will run right up until May 6th – dubbed a ‘poll-ercoaster’.

At the ride entrance to THI3TEEN, the Resort’s newest attraction, masks of Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg have been made available to wear whilst riding. It is hoped that the numbers in which they are picked will provide a daily snapshot of the nation’s voting intentions with ride operators providing daily updates.

Morwenna Angove, Sales and Marketing Director at the Alton Towers Resort, comments, “Politics can be a rollercoaster at the best of times and it’s hard to know who’s up and whose down. The poll-ercoaster aims to provide a daily snapshot of our visitors voting intentions. With many young voters feeling alienated and disenchanted with the electoral process, we hope that it will be an exciting way for them to show their allegiance. Who knew politics could be such fun!”

TH13TEEN, the ultimate rollercoaster at the Alton Towers Resort is the world's first free fall drop coaster. TH13TEEN takes riders on a gruelling journey through The Dark Forest, where they will battle the overwhelming force of the woods through a series of twists and turns, before plummeting into the unknown.

Having been two years in development, ground-breaking technology makes TH13TEEN every ride you could ever dream of in one. Built on an unearthed ancient burial site, riders are taken on an exhilarating adventure, experiencing adrenalin-pumping speeds, rapid reversing and terrific twists as they attempt to escape the clutches of the all-consuming forest. Never before has so much theme park technology been combined in one fantastically thrilling ride.



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NEWS FROM THE BODY SHOP

Beauty isn’t skin deep for British women

Lacklustre state of nation’s skincare laid bare in the Nutriganics™ Skin-spiration Report

British women are hoarding more than 50 million* redundant skincare products in their bathroom cabinets, according to research released today by The Body Shop® new Nutriganics™ organic skincare range.

Despite British women spending an average of £5,940** on skincare products over their lifetime, 55% admitted having a skincare product they have never used and more than three quarters (81%) hang onto two or more skincare products they have no intention of ever using. One in ten (11%) women also admits to owning products that are over four years old.

The Nutriganics™ Skin-spiration Report which was commissioned to investigate the skincare routine and habits of British women, also reveals that half of the nation’s women (49%) spend only five minutes or less on their skincare regime per day, with one in 20 (5%) not devoting any time at all to their complexion.

From oily to dry, 93% believe they know their skin type and 85% are confident they are using the right products, despite more than two thirds (67%) never having had a skincare assessment. Almost 15% use the same skincare they used as a teenager, while one in ten (10%) women between 45 and 54 years old has been using the same products on their face for more than three decades.

Women even admit to sharing products with husbands and boyfriends with almost a third (32%) prone to sharing skin creams and treatments with the men in their lives.

Skincare Product Director from The Body Shop International, Stephane Chambran: “This research shows that many women are worryingly unaware of the importance of looking after their skin throughout their lives. While many ladies wouldn’t think twice about going to their hairdresser, having a manicure or dedicating time to their make-up routine, this study reveals that many women have never had a skincare consultation – with almost a fifth (18%) admitting they don’t know what a skin consultation is.

“Factors such as age, health, hormones and even the weather can all have an effect on women’s skin, making skin consultations and regular skin check-ups important at whatever time in life. The right skincare regime is just as important to health and beauty as the right bra, shampoo or foundation.”

To help the nation face up to their lack of skincare knowledge, The Body Shop is offering free skincare consultations. Available in all stores and online at www.thebodyshop.com, the simple skin care diagnosis will help find a natural solution to meet all skin care needs.

Stephane continues, “We realise how daunting it can be to find a new skincare regime, as well how infuriating and costly it can be to try a new product only to find you don’t like it. At The Body Shop we offer complimentary skincare consultations where women can take home free samples to test their effectiveness and with over six ranges, we cover all skin types from teen to post menopause.”

The Nutriganics™ range features independently organically certified formulas by ECOCERT and at least 95% of ingredients are of natural origin. The first certified organic range from The Body Shop, Nutriganics™ helps to meet the growing demand for organic skincare ranges with clinically proven results.

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For further information on the report or case studies please contact
Frank PR on Tel: 020 7693 6999 or email bodyshop@frankpr.it

Notes to Editor

THE SKIN-SPIRATION STUDY

Survey conducted on 1,886 British women by Tickbox, March / April 2010



· * Calculation of the adult female population of the UK based on Office for National Statistics: Key Population and Vital Statistics 2007

· ** Calculation based on average spend per month (£7.50) x 12 months x average female life expectancy according to ONS (minus 16 years)

NEWS FROM NPOWER

npower teams up with Denise Van Outen to bring urban schools ‘green’ spaces
npower launches its Climate Cops Green Fingers competition, as research reveals a quarter of kids spend less than 3 hours a week outside

LONDON 19th April 2010 – Denise Van Outen today launches the npower Climate Cops Green Fingers campaign to help primary school children develop ‘greener fingers’ by giving kids in urban schools access to growing spaces.

As it launches Climate Cops Green Fingers, npower finds that almost three quarters (72%) of today’s children want to spend more time enjoying themselves outdoors.

The average amount of time spent in the garden by our youngsters is just 4 hrs a week. In contrast, their parents spent an average of 12hrs outdoors. Unsurprisingly, nine out of ten parents think they have a better appreciation of nature and the environment than their child as a result.

To reverse this trend and help kids understand the science of growing, npower Climate Cops is offering ten urban schools the opportunity to win a growing makeover worth £5,000. The ten winning schools will have an area developed by environmental regeneration charity Groundwork into a ‘greener learning space.’ This could be anything from a window box to a roof allotment, working with even the smallest urban spaces to create something for kids to nurture, grow and learn from.

Garden enthusiast and mum-to-be Denise Van Outen comments:

“With a baby on the way I’m very aware of how important it is that the younger generation understand how important it is to protect the environment. Getting outdoors and seeing how plants grow is the first step kids can make in learning about nature and how valuable it is. We know kids love being outdoors, but they don’t always get the chance – my own niece and nephews can’t recognise vegetables picked straight from my vegetable garden! That’s why I’m supporting npower’s Climate Cops Green Fingers campaign to help under-7s learn about gardening and growing in the way they learn best - hands on and hands dirty!”

npower Climate Cops Green Fingers hopes to transform areas of grey built-up school environments into spaces that allow the children’s eco- imaginations to bloom. As part of npower’s Climate Cops environmental education programme, this living outdoor classroom aims to help pupils learn about energy through the science of gardening in a fun way.

For more information, visit www.npower.com/climatecops.

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For further information, images and interview requests please contact:
Frank PR: 020 7693 6995


About npower Climate Cops Green Fingers
npower Climate Cops Green Fingers is an inspiring project from npower focusing on bringing the learning of energy to life for four to seven year olds through science.

About npower
• npower is one of the UK's largest electricity suppliers and has 6.6 million customer accounts across the UK.

• npower sponsors the Test Match Series in England, Women's Test Series and the Village Cup.
• npower has been awarded platinum status in Business in the Community’s CR Index and is one of twenty-nine companies to have achieved the CommunityMark since its launch. All CommunityMark achievers have been recognised for demonstrating excellence in their holistic and strategic approach to community investment.

About Groundwork
• Groundwork helps people and organisations make changes in order to create better neighbourhoods, to build job skills and to live and work in a greener way. We operate across England, Wales and Northern Ireland and our charities work on thousands of projects each year. We focus our activity on disadvantaged communities where we can make most difference
www.groundwork.org.uk