Gun teacher starts hunger strike

Linda Walker's lawyers will return to the Court of Appeal in May

A teacher jailed for firing a pellet gun at youths she claimed vandalised her house has reportedly started a hunger strike.

Linda Walker, 48, a special needs teacher from Urmston, Gtr Manchester, was jailed for six months for firing at the group.

Her partner John Cavanagh told BBC's North West Tonight she was not eating to protest against being refused bail.

Her appeal against sentence is set for May but she remains in custody.

Mr Cavanagh said: "Linda is refusing food. She was extremely disappointed to hear she would not be allowed bail.

We do not know how long this will last, she is just taking it day by day John Cavanagh

"This is a protest against her treatment. She has been very quiet throughout this whole business, she has kept silent in the hope that this would help her get bail.

"But now she feels she must make some gesture to make her feelings about the situation known.

"We do not know how long this will last, she is just taking it day by day."

Mr Justice Royce said he recognised her case was "unusual" and that she had a "great deal of public sympathy".

But this was "not a case for bail", he said.

Supporters of Ms Walker, who is in Styal Prison, Cheshire, have been collecting signatures for a petition in Manchester.