EVERY new parent fears the threat of cot death - the syndrome that claims so many precious little. Two reasons for the incidence of cot death have been given as babies slipping down the bed and pulling the covers over their heads - resulting in overheating
Marshalling the Minstermen's defence will be former Bury Boys and Manchester United youth team skipper John Sharples, a self-confessed Bury fan who's hoping to put a temporary halt to the Shakers' promotion charge. The former Holcombe Brook CP School
A 61-year-old Lancaster woman narrowly escaped serious injury after an attacker sprayed a caustic substance in her face as she opened the front door. Fortunately the woman, of Slyne Road, was wearing glasses which protected her eyes from the dangerous
AN ambitious £4 million project to develop unused sites along the River Lune for the year 2000 has sailed closer to success. Lancaster City Council's Riverside Park bid is one of 119 schemes selected by the Millennium Commission to stake a share in the
LIFE is anything but quiet right now for a Blackpool buttie shop which recently suffered a nightmare week. And for Kim Hearty at Kim's sandwich and grocery shop on Cookson Street, the only way to cope was through laughter. At 1am on Sunday (January 26
I am writing to appeal to all Morecambe residents, particularly those in Middleton, Overton and Heysham to unite in protest against the Pontin's prison proposal. The plans are to be discussed at a city council planning meeting at Morecambe Town Hall on
RESIDENTS who thought their opencast mining misery was coming to an end could be in for a shock. Blasting operations at the Bag Lane site on the Atherton/Westhoughton boundary are drawing to a finish and the area is due to be reinstated by the summer.
THE Blackpool site of one of the most famous streets in the world will be paved with gold this April - hearts of gold that is - as Fylde folk dig deep to help sick children. The World of Coronation Street will be hosting a giant street market with a difference
PRESTON'S Michael Malcolm helped his team Burnside Seasiders beat Grove II 7-1 in the Friendly Hotels British Table Tennis League. Malcolm was named player of the match for his two wins, including a good all-round performance and win from behind against
A TEENAGER faced a Leyland court on Wednesday (February 5) charged with the murder of Bamber Bridge woman Barbara Morgan. The 17-year-old appeared in Leyland's juvenile court. The body of the 37-year-old was found at her home in School Lane just before
WE'RE the famous Preston College and we're going to Wembley - that's the song of excited students as they prepare for a trip of a lifetime. Thirty-five catering pupils will travel to London on Wednesday (February 12) to prepare food and drink for more
SUSPENDED schoolchildren are harassing their former classmates and creating a drain on police resources, a senior officer has revealed. And Accrington police, who are prosecuting the nuisances, are calling on parents to clamp down. Officers are regularly
A WARM welcome and delicious dishes have always awaited diners at Golborne High Street's Balti Emporium. There restaurateur Sahid Khan explained the great Balti tradition. He said: "Over a billion people worldwide enjoy curry as their staple diet. "India
JUST A YEAR after teenager Stephen Lightbown was paralysed in an accident he is motoring ahead with his life. During those difficult 12 months the brave football fanatic has achieved more than he ever imagined - he's even passed his driving test! Stephen
VOLUNTEERS are needed to take the plunge and raise funds for the BT Swimathon '97. Fulwood Leisure Centre on Black Bull Lane is looking for 100 people to get fit, have fun and take part in the swimming spectacular from March 17 to 23. Leisure centre spokesman
PLANS to build a youth shelter in the grounds of a trouble-hit community centre have been shelved after sparking fury among residents. Police and council officers hoped the shelter - similar to a band stand - would help cut the 600 per cent rise in juvenile
SUFFERERS of three types of cancer will be able to receive treatment at local hospitals now the local NHS Trust has received official recognition as a Cancer Unit. The decision to recognise it was made by the National Health after they decided the area
A SPECIAL school in Tyldesley is only the second of its kind in the country to be removed from "special measures". Highfield School has been officially returned to the normal form of management by its governors after Her Majesty's Inspectors decided the
LANCASHIRE Fire Brigade's new £1 million Command and Control System has been officially opened. County council leader Louise Ellman joined chief fire officer Gordon Russel at the brigade headquarters in Fulwood to see the new hi-tec computerised system
SVEN Goran Eriksson is due to meet Blackburn Rovers officials in England over the next few days. Rovers' manager-elect is taking advantage of the weekend break in Serie A to fly in. Reports have been rife in the Italian press that he wants out of his
A UNHOLY row has forced a Christian church school to close from Friday. The decision to close Leigh's Kings Park School was taken by the Church Council's five members after teachers at the day school resigned en-masse following a crisis meeting. The teachers
A CHARITY was left sickened after a bogus collector used poorly children as a cover for his con. Now police are calling for help to trap the conman. They have appealed for anyone who has seen the man, who has taken money from at least two businesses in
GREEN-FINGERED Gary Grimes is hoping for a bit of Dutch courage when he starts his new job - in Holland! For the 18-year-old from Shadsworth, Blackburn, has just started a 12-month placement at a garden centre near Amsterdam after successfully completing
THE 1997 Mayoral Charity Ball looks set to be Preston's party of the year. Complete with mystery guest, the sensational Blue Moon Dance Band, and the golden voice of cabaret Robert Young, it's a gala dinner with a taste of everything. And for the second
SHOPPING in Preston will be a whole new experience for the town's disabled community thanks to ten new wheelchairs. The battery powered chairs based at The Mobility Centre in Friargate, have been paid for by donations including £1,500 from British Gas
PARENTS have won their battle to fence off a 12ft pond which nearly claimed the life of a two-year-old girl. Little Charlotte Collinson was plucked to safety just in time after chasing ducks into the pond outside her home at Millersgate, Cottam. Her narrow
WHAT'S 13 feet tall, weighs one ton and is made of wood? You may think a yacht, a scout hut or even Kiwi Rugby Union giant Jonah Lomu. But a trip to Witton Country Park on Preston Old Road, Blackburn will unravel the wood-be mystery. Standing tall and
MEDLEY marvels Heather Parker, Michaela Carmen, Isen Hill and Kristy Austin were in golden form for Howe Bridge Aces. The foursome won the 13/14-Year event by more than a half-length at the first Central Lancashire Age Group Gala of 1997. Swimming to
THE head of a school in a deprived area of Preston claims he and his colleagues are being used as scapegoats by education chiefs. Ray Sudlow of the Holy Family in Ingol hit out after chief inspector of schools Chris Woodhead claimed nearly ten per cent
WEST Park came to Lightfoot Green on Saturday February 1, sharing the same unbeaten record that Preston Grasshoppers U14s were protecting. Scrum half James Mahon's darting run from 10 metres out led to the opening score, converted by Tom Sumner. West
I AM sick to death of the negative attitude to good community projects currently coming from Coalfield Challenge! I spend a lot of my spare time working in the voluntary sector on projects which could change the quality of life for the needy, poor and
BLACKBURN Hawks entertain Castlereigh on Sunday knowing victory will secure their play-off place. With only two Northern League games to go, victory for the Hawks would leave them uncatchable in the fourth and final play-off position. And Jim Pennycook's
A DISABLED ex-soldier who endured the horrors of conflict is being terrorised by a gang of vicious thugs. Now 42-year-old Sean Dobson has been forced to put his home in Sycamore Avenue, Radcliffe, up for sale because he can no longer cope with the campaign
Mr. J. H. Leigh of Hunt Street, Atherton writes: I BELIEVE in fair play so I really must reply to the article in the Journal headed "Brian's £20 Blast." In June of last year year I received a personal letter from Tony Blair stating that people like me
FAMILY and former colleagues of the Lancashire father-to-be murdered in South Africa this week told of their grief at his tragic death. Stuart Gaskell, 26, was bound and beaten before being shot twice in the head at the truck company where he worked in
JOHN Farrer (Letters, January 25) asks what the cost would be to the employer if a minimum wage was introduced. Has anyone ever considered what the cost is to the taxpayer by not having a minimum wage? I work full-time hours over six days and my wage
THE sports car market is enjoying a great revival in the UK and there is growing demand for the "two plus two" - a car capable of seating two adults with a small space in the rear for children or adults who don't mind being uncomfortable on a long journey
FOR a week after the blistering performance against Burnley in the all Lancashire local derby, the North End supporters basked in the glory of it all. There was now, surely, the prospect of a chase for a place in the play-offs. The fans responded in the
NINETY-four per cent of 999 calls to Greater Manchester Police are being answered within the target time of 15 seconds. The figure for 1995-96 is the same as the previous year although the level for responding to incidents requiring immediate attention
CAN you believe it? Just over a month into 1997 and already we are being warned of a drought! The reason, say the boffins, is that Britain has experienced its driest January in more than 200 years (that's if you don't count George Best's house of course
TONY PARKES is warning Rovers fans that imminent signing Marek Citko is NOT the new Alan Shearer. The Polish international is set to arrive at Ewood Park within the next few weeks and although Parkes rates him highly he has warned fans against comparing
WHEN Colin Sutherland contemplates a soya bean salad, he doesn't think of dinner, the first thing that occurs to him is how soya can help prevent cancer. Likewise when faced with a plate of vegetables, such as carrots and broccoli, he revels in how they
ANGRY landlords in Bury have vowed to fight housing benefit cuts which they say will mean more homeless on the streets - and businesses going down the drain. Members of the Bury Guest House Association have taken their fight to the top by writing to Prime
TENANTS in the Whitefield blight homes are being used as scapegoats by local homeowners, according to one leading tenant. And, far from tenants being responsible for a crime wave in the area, Mr Mick Higson, chairman of the Whitefield Tenants' Action
FRUSTRATED residents have won their battle to stop a shelter for teenagers being built near their homes. More than 100 people who live in the West End of Oswaldtwistle attended a meeting with police, Hyndburn Council officers and councillors to protest
A NEW police plan aimed at breaking down barriers with the Asian community has been given the go-ahead. From February 20, police officers from across the Bury division will be having lessons in Urdu - the first language of the largest ethnic minority
SELL off your old folk's homes, civic halls and sports centres and leave education alone. So said Tory leader David Higgin, who stunned councillors at Wednesday's meeting with a last-minute call to protect school budgets. "This council has failed miserably
CUE sports firm E J Riley are enjoying a successful term of office for one of their latest products. The Padiham firm is supplying 26 of its "President" American pool tables to European Leisure to be installed in their growing chain of pool bars in the
LEIGH MINERS are hurting - hurting for an elusive point. They crashed 20-19 to Saddleworth, their FIFTH one-point defeat of a season that began so well and is now tumbling into turmoil. This time the decisive moment was in the final minute as the Oldham
AS the prison population grows, we are storing up a rebellious section in society as offenders are alienated from the rest? It may be frustrating for people who are trying to evaluate ways to combat crime to accept this. Is this the way it has to be?
LEIGH RMI's promotion hopes took a jolt when they lost their first league away games of the season. The 2-1 defeat at Matlock was their first league reverse since the home defeat by Droylsden on the opening day of the season. And they followed that with
THE hotline set up by the Benefits Agency to catch cheats has been a tremendous success. In six months, information has been received on more than 5,000 suspected Lancashire fraudsters making false benefit claims, including a man in Blackburn who owned
THERE were howls of indignation from a group of Labour MPs when it emerged that government ministers stand to gain a bonus of £4,000 in their severence pay if the Tories lose the election. The golden handshake bonus would be paid under a technicality
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build a mosque on a derelict garage site in Brierfield has been turned down. Neighbours living near the land off Halifax Road complained of a lack of information about the height and size of the proposed mosque and said there would
LIBERAL Democrats out to woo election voters will name their chosen one on Valentine's Day. The odds are on having an established local name, one of their leading Pendle councillors, as the candidate for the Pendle seat. Activists are angry at what they
A JUDICIAL review is to be held into Rossendale Council's plans to take back control of the services operated by Whitworth Town Council. Rossendale took the decision after wrangling last year over how much money Rossendale was going to allocate to Whitworth
KEITH LATHAM is simply hoping to break a dismal duck! Barely a season goes by without Leigh being paired with Sheffield Eagles in one KO comp or another. On Sunday they clash for the fourth time in eight years; this time in the fourth round of the Silk
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD MINDLESS yobbos have been out in force again at a once highly-picturesque public park. The ornamental duckpond and gargoyle decorated folly at Victoria Park - well over a century old - is being systematically vandalised. A stone arch
BURNLEY could bring troubled Kurt Nogan back in from the cold against York City at Turf Moor. The transfer-listed striker looks set to lead Burnley's attack alongside goalscoring partner Paul Barnes at the weekend. While transfer speculation surrounds
CREATIVE Lois Hancox has been drawing cartoon strips since she could clutch a crayon. Now the talented seven-year-old is hoping to follow in the footsteps of top cartoonists William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, creators of 'Yogi Bear,' 'Scooby Doo' and a
HIGH costs and ultra-sophisticated machinery often scare-off many potential motorcyclists. But sampling the joys of two wheel travel needn't cost you a week's wage every month (writes BRIAN GOMM) With a little effort you can take to the road on a shoestring
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD COULD a humble herbalist have taught patent medicine king Joseph Beecham how to make his world-renowned pills? That's the intriguing thought raised by a fascinating peep into the past, penned by Mrs Winnie Roberts who was raised in
Neil Bramwell Speaks Out SPORT and politics never mix so it would appear safe to assume the same applies to sport and religion. Oliver McCall has a very distinct viewpoint on the issue: "Oliver is a warrior, a real warrior with God in my corner." God,
BEFORE rushing into print, in an attempt to cover up the details in my letter, it would have been better if the Labour councillor from Darwen had actually tried to find out what Labour's true position was. Taken from data which is in the public domain
MORE than 140 council staff were granted early retirement this week in a bid to get out before the cuts. A marathon session of the borough's premature retirement sub-committee on Wednesday saw dozens of applications from staff considered. Chairman Coun
BURY North MP Alistair Burt is set for an international football appearance - playing for Scotland! The soccer-mad minister is playing for the North of the Border side in a charity penalty competition during the Rangers v Hearts match at Ibrox tomorrow
A DERELICT and vandalised empty church is an eyesore and a hazard to children, say concerned local residents. The "disgraceful" state of the former Sydney Street Methodist Church, in Clayton-le-Moors, came under fire at a public meeting. The meeting was
WHAT do pigeons and vandals have in common? They are multiplying at an alarming rate and are a damn nuisance. The good folk of Blackburn and burghers of the borough are in a right old tizz about the 'rats on wings,' as Coun Frank Higham once described
A BURY couple who were seriously injured in an accident within hours of arriving in Spain on holiday have returned home. Mr James Allen (70), and his wife Mary (69), both suffered broken legs when they were mown down by a speeding car in Benidorm. Mr
A MOTHER and her young son were rushed to hospital suffering from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning following a gas leak at their home in Edge Street, Nutgrove, at about 8.40am on Monday, February 3. The 37-year old woman and her five-year-old
VANDALS have destroyed a century-old Roman Catholic Chapel in Leigh Cemetery after setting it alight at the weekend. The altar and front pews as well as the roof and much of the interior were detroyed at the chapel, which hadn't been used for some years
A SENIOR local Pagan has denied any "occult" connection with the gruesome grave-robbing incident in Bircle. The high priest of a Bury-based Wiccan temple says the horrific attack - which saw the head of a woman removed from a grave - was more likely the
POLICE are seeking information after a 91-year-old woman was burgled by two men posing as water board officials. The victim was approached by the men, one carrying a fake identity card, at her home in Kendal Drive, Carr Mill, on Friday, January 31. While
A YOUNG peoples forum is being set-up in Lowton and Golborne. Youngsters aged between 14-21 who live in the locality are invited to a training course to help run the forum themselves. The course is totally free and will consist of seven Wednesday evenings
A CRUCIAL meeting to discuss Bury's financial crisis with the Government has been missed because council leaders blundered with their timetable. They missed the deadline to take an all-party delegation to London to argue Bury's case, say Bury's two MPs
LOCAL bakers John Pimblett and Sons Ltd. were among a select band of Merseyside-based examples of commitment to training saluted at the National Training Awards regional presentation at Manchester Airport. Also honoured were Knowsley Council's finance
COACH Ivor Tattum has discovered the magical recipe for success. And his formula has brought a host of honours for his pupils. Now Ivor's know-how has been recognised at the highest level. For he's been named coach of the year by the Amateur Swimming
WHEN Liverpool Airport decided to sell off four old St Helens Corporation Transport vehicles, Carl and Sean Naylor were determined not to miss the bus! So the bus-mad brothers from Billinge bought one of the old 'Corpy' buses for £500. The airport had
Nantwich Town 4 St Helens Town 1 DON'T be fooled by the sorry scoreline! Beleaguered Town had a day of woe with events off the field dictating their fate, while controversy on it denied a battling effort some recognition. A traffic accident involving
DEPUTY leader of St Helens Council, Mike Doyle has described a top-level meeting with Shadow Ministers in London as "encouraging." Senior councillors and officers from across the five district councils on Merseyside were in Whitehall to meet with Frank
THERE'S a chance to rekindle old friendships and reminisce about the 'old days' at Howe Bridge School. On February 15. the school is hosting an open day and gift day. And with a whole range of exhibits, including old school registers and log books, maps
BIRTHDAY boy Bobbie Goulding will put contractual differences aside as he leads Saints into Challenge Cup action against Wigan at Knowsley Road on Saturday, kick-off 3pm. Test star Bobbie, who was 25 on Tuesday, told a packed press conference at the ground
MRS Emily Lomas will receive an extra-special treat to celebrate her 100th birthday when she meets St Helens North MP John Evans. Life-long Labour supporter Emily, of Newton-le-Willows, is believed to be John's oldest follower, having voted for him every
A MAN who, for over a year, has had no home or job to call his own, has landed a top position in the former Soviet Union state of Moldova with the help of your favourite local newspaper. Skilled glass worker Carl Pickavance (45) has been living at the
Denis Whittle talks Rugby League with Saints' coach Shaun McRae PREPARATION almost complete, attitude right, morale high, and ready for what is always a daunting task when tackling Wigan! So said Saints' boss Shaun McRae when we resumed our weekly face-to-face
A TALENTED song and dance troupe are looking for a songwriter and manager to help them hit the big time. Best Before have been performing in St Helens and surrounding areas for more than a year now and already have an impressive pedigree in the shape
A CHERISHED dream became reality on Tuesday when the first patients stepped over the threshold of the Burnley and Pendle Hospice. Years of hard work by dedicated supporters across the area helped to build and equip the £1.3 million hospice at Colne Road
IHAVE just got to write this letter, because I honestly do not feel I am alone in the disappointment I experienced with Blackburn public transport. We do not all possess cars, and so we use the next best thing, public transport. But the staff's approach
RESEARCH into children's services in Burnley has been launched in a week when the nation debated whether youngsters' schoolwork suffers when both their parents work. Burnley council's urban regeneration team has begun consultation with parents, childcare
BURNLEY'S security-TV system is set to become one of the biggest in the country. Twenty-five new cameras will keep watch on crime blackspots after the government awarded the borough £193,000 on top of £168,000 from the private-sector and council funds
HABERGHAM High School, Burnley, is celebrating after being named as one of the country's best state schools. Habergham is among 63 English secondary schools to be given special praise in the annual report by the Office for Standards in Education, published
Rushden and Diamonds 2 Morecambe 1 TWO late killer strikes saw Morecambe fall to their third successive away defeat last Saturday. Following an entertaining first half which amazingly produced no goals, Morecambe went to a lead early in the second half
THE man who is the public face of a college board which has rocked local education says what happened on the day 47 jobs were slashed should remain a secret. Former Pendle Mayor, Liberal councillor John David, is one of 15 people on the Board of Incorporation
A LEADING church minister spoke out against the National Lottery yesterday (Wednesday) as thousands of Burnley and Pendle people bought tickets for the new midweek draw. In an interview with the Citizen, the Rev Keith Richardson, superintendent of the
Morecambe 2 Great Harwood 3 THE Lancashire ATS Trophy will not be returning to Christie Park this season after an embarrassing cup exit at the hands of a lower division side. The silverware slipped away in extra time when Shrimps keeper Andy Banks fumbled
Accrington Stanley 4 Barrow 1 EVEN after conceding a goal as early as the eighth minute, Stanley were not to be denied a place in the ATS semi-final. Berryman's kick went straight to Marginson who coolly rolled the ball into the net to give Barrow an
ANXIOUS relatives are fearing for the future after being told that respite care for the sick is being axed at Burnley General. Hospital staff say the move is necessary because a ward in the Elderly, Senile and Mentally Infirm unit will be out of action
Lancaster 0 Leek Town 3 DESPITE another inept City performance and rumours surrounding the future of new manager Gordon Rayner, the board this week gave a vote of confidence in the man they appointed eight weeks ago. A press statement released by Chairman
THIS is the happy smiling face of brave leukaemia sufferer Gemma Makemson all set for the holiday of a lifetime. Since the Citizen stepped in to help the Makemsons raise money to take the family to Florida they have been inundated with offers of help.
HOUSE! Just one word but the one that made a lucky Lytham bingo player £105,869.25 richer. Pamela Headley, 62, couldn't believe her luck when she found out she'd won not only the national prize but also the regional and the house prizes too! She said:
CASH strapped police officers went cap in hand to a Morecambe community group because they haven't got two coppers to rub together! When local bobbies asked the Morecambe Neighbourhood Council if they could have a share of a £1,000 windfall to buy a mobile
LIZ Parker is a shining example of how to climb the career ladder. She joined law firm Forbes & Partners as a clerk seven years ago without previous legal experience and is now an assistant solicitor with the firm's criminal law team. Soon after joining
THE trip to Bootham Crescent will prove something of a sentimental venture for three of the Bury squad for former City players Rob Matthews, Dean Kiely and Adrian Randall are all expected to be on the team coach. Matthews was the first of the trio to
FORMER EastEnder Michael Cashman brings the Bard to the boards of Blackpool next week with an award-winning show at the Grand Theatre. Cashman takes the role of Prospero in the Shared Experience Theatre's production of The Tempest, Shakespeare's mystical
HEYSHAM Port has set a new record for freight traffic with three new ships operating from the port. In 1996 the port handled 200,000 freight vehicles for the first time, an increase of 16 per cent on the previous year. The additional traffic was generated
WANDERLUST, the travel bug, itchy feet - call it what you like, but Linda Greenway's got it! The intrepid traveller has seen most of the world - 49 countries to be exact - not a bad accomplishment for a 31-year-old. The Lytham woman has visited some of
HATS off to Runshaw College art students Sue Bates and Jennie Pawson. Two of their creations were chosen to feature on the BBC's Clothes Show and are now among a display in the college's exhibition at the Harris Art Gallery. Jim Smith at the college said
PEOPLE caught drinking alcohol on the streets of Leigh could soon face prosecution. The move was revealed at the annual magistrates' licensing meeting when it was reported that more women are appearing before the courts for drink related offences than
STAFF and pupils at Ashton-on-Ribble High School have scored three out of three in the Schools Curriculum Award programme. Schools can enter the scheme only once every five years and Ashton has been successful every time it's been eligible. Headteacher
YOU can tell there's an election coming - the Tories are jumping on the bandwagon again - this time literally! The Evening Telegraph of January 25, depicted Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans as having some kind of serious connection to the music industry.
WORD of our stories of the Briarcroft has spread far, wide and fast. William Frost caught the stories in Los Gatos, California, USA, and told us of his memories, writes DAVID HODGKINSON. "I was interested in your articles on Briarcroft and saddened about
HOME-grown wonder women no longer need international links to scoop a title. As the closing date for entries to their Woman of the Year Appeal draws near Darwen Soroptimists have moved the goal posts - and say that candidates do not need to be involved
SCORES of furious football fans are stepping up a campaign to force their club's East Lancashire-based chairman to quit. Supporters from Brighton and Hove Albion will bombard Bill Archer and the FA with angry faxes and air their grievances on TV for a
COLLEGE bosses will be invited to put their case during a public debate on proposed job losses at crisis-hit Nelson and Colne College. Principal Kath Belton and members of the college board will have their say on plans to axe 47 posts during the public
A DISMAL first half saw Preston Grasshoppers trail their Cumbrian opponents 6-3. Mike Scott, with two penalties and a series of probing touch kicks, had given the visitors the upper hand with a single Steve Kerry penalty Hoppers' only response. Early
A 'MEN Only' charity group which desperately wants more members has come under fire - for banning the fairer sex. The Great Harwood branch of TOC H - an organisation dating back to the First World War - has just 20 members on its books and is the only
FORMER policeman Peter Collins claims he has been victimised after suggesting beat bobbies could do a traffic warden's job. Leigh newsagent Mr Collins was booked for parking in front of his shop. Two days before he had openly proposed increasing the number
WHEN bachelor boy Steven Hunt met Barbara Byrne on a busy market he knew they were heading for good times, better times! And the Cliff Richard fan turned out to be the high class baby and sunny honey girl Steven wanted to be with constantly - even until
ROYAL OAK have that title feeling. The all-conquering Leigh outfit moved two points clear in the Burtonwood NWC ARL after battering Breightmet 78-1 - just better than the last time they met when the scoreline was 74-4. A last-minute drop goal was the
GROWING up with eight brothers and sisters proved the perfect training ground for foster mum Jo Smith. Jo and her husband Tim, a former youth worker, have three children of their own but usually have at least six pottering around their Lostock Hall home
KEVIN KEEGAN was back in the driving seat yesterday - in Darwen! No, he hadn't taken over from Ian McGarry as manager of the Anchor lads, he was picking up a new luxury horse box from local firm Maudsley Horse Boxes, of Ellesmere Road. Keegan is enjoying
A HISTORIAN has called for a battle against the bulldozers to save Preston's history before it is too late. Paul Garlington, head of history at St Mary's Hall, Stonyhurst, hit out after reading last week's Citizen article about plans to build over Cromwell's
POLICE are appealing to the bowling fraternity to be on the lookout for stolen bowls after a second club was broken into within a week. After thieves cleaned out Queens Park Bowling Club on Sunday, January 26, raiders struck again at the nearby Burnley
HAVE you ever noticed those swanky couples having a romantic meal out, gazing lovingly at each other, while he keeps a beady eye on the swelling bill? But this St Valentine's Day you can indulge yourself, and your sweetheart, to your heart's content .
TWO local schools are among the best in the country after receiving top marks from OFSTED inspectors. Blackburn schools St Bede's and Our Lady and St John were among only 63 secondary schools praised for receiving outstanding inspection reports. Inspectors
WARRIORS U8s took on Eccles in an exciting game. Richard Brown scored two tries and best tackler Jamie MacMillan scored an astounding five. A late try by Eccles took the game to Eccles 32-28. Man of the match was Matt Shepherd. The close score of Orrell
KWIK-Fit apprentice Simon Taylor needs a quick fix to his financial affairs - he has to raise £1,000 by February 14! But it isn't for himself or to pay off debts, the 19-year-old cyclist needs the money as sponsorship for a 250-mile bike ride across the
WHEN engineers working on Sappi Europe's new £30 million paper machine sit down for lunch, there's at least four ways to ask for the salt. For the workers, busy putting together a machine which will almost double paper production at the Blackburn mill
BURY, the town that banned boxing, has a British champion. "Mighty Atom" Ady Lewis, 4ft 10ins and just eight stones, became Bury's first holder of a Lonsdale Belt when he won the British Flyweight title with a points decision over Scotland's Keith Knox
FOR the first 43 minutes of this top versus bottom match the 34-point difference between Bamber Bridge and Hyde United seemed an illusion. In an evenly balanced, if uninspired contest, Brig matched promotion favourites Hyde blow for blow - and it was
RUGBY League at Deepdale has finally arrived. The final score could have looked healthier, but judging by Lancashire Lynx's performance against the world club champions, many Division Two sides will be unpleasantly surprised by the opposition that they
A POLL tax bill from Pendle Council was sent thousands of mile to South Africa. Helen Waterworth and her professional cricketer boyfriend Craig Norris, had been spending the summer in Colne and winter in South Africa. And the council said that meant she
TEENAGER Suzanne Liddle, 15, was named as Blackburn's youngest mayoress. The Pleckgate High School pupil was the given the job of the borough's First Lady when her mother was named as Mayor. Her mother, Councillor Sylvia Liddle, at the age of 39 became
JAMES Peterson today agreed terms with Bacup Cricket Club to become their professional next season in the Lancashire League. The 23-year-old from Sydney, Australia, takes over from Roger Harper who is keen to pursue business interests in America. "What
SOUTH African police are still hunting the killers of Stuart Gaskell, shot by robbers in Cape Town on Friday . Stuart, 26, and wife Estelle, who is pregnant, emigrated from East Lancashire last year in the hope of finding a better life in the sunshine
GROUP B of the Carl Brown Memorial Trophy is proving a real battleground. Three Crowns hold top spot after a 2-2 draw with Royal Oak, but Union Arms A are closing in after a 6-1 romp against Rileys - Paul Monaghan striking a terrific treble. There was
MEDALS galore as Tyldesley SC featured prominently in the Central Lancashire Age Groups. Samantha Thompson, 10, won the 50 butterfly with Michelle Greensmith on bronze, both in PBs. Bests too for 12-year-old Khalid Jhugroo (1st) and James Gendall (2nd
POLICE are warning schoolchildren to beware of strangers following a number of incidents involving a man in a blue car, who has been seen acting suspiciously around children. Officers are investigating the incidents - there have been 11 reported cases
POLICE are appealing for family and friends to identify the man who indecently assaulted a woman on her way home from a night out in St Helens town centre. Because of the victim's violent struggle, he will almost certainly have bite and scratch marks
DERBY RU rivals Leigh and Tyldesley provided a clash of the titans. There was passion a plenty as both sides gave their all in a physical and explosive match at Well Street. And, after being under the cosh, Leigh came out 13-10 winners - rocking the home
DRY roads and clear skies are important elements in a recipe for perfect motorcycling. Throw in good roads, breathtaking scenery and a lack of holiday-time traffic and there's a two wheel meal worth indulging to excess! So when the opportunity came to
ACCORDING to Paul Brennan of St Helens Disability Network, thousands of workers and unemployed people are rushing to beat a March 31 deadline set by the Government for claiming disablement benefits. The new regulations, which come into force on April
THE Blackburn Means Business exhibition later this month is now almost fully booked. Blackburn Business Club, in association with Blackburn and District Enterprise Trust and with the support of Blackburn Regeneration Partnership, is staging the event
THE leafy village of Rainford has been the scene of a massive military funeral, which created traffic diversions, such was the volume of old comrades among the congregation. They were at Corpus Christi Church to pay their last respects to former Irish
SAM Woodcock, the man who steered two Labour MPs to overwhelming General Election victories, has died. Mr Woodcock was a former chairman of Tyldesley Council and agent for Tom Boardman and formerly for Leigh's present MP, Lawrence Cunliffe. Paying tribute
TYLDESLEY teenager Maria Howard has spent her life dedicated to others. And it led to her winning a £100 runner-up prize in a young citizen of the year ceremony - which she gave away to the Tyldesley branch of St John's Ambulance Brigade! Maria's success
A WOMAN who was killed instantly when she fell from a bridge onto a motorway had been treated by six psychiatrists, an inquest heard. Mrs Joan Morris (50) suffered from compulsory obsessive behaviour which made her fear certain words and was a patient
A COUNCILLOR is questioning a District Auditor's inquiry into £19,000 debts run up by the people who used to run the council-owned cafe at Towneley Park. Harry Brooks says he is unhappy that the auditor - the local government watchdog - chose not to challenge
PEOPLE making emergency 999 calls in the Lancaster and Morecambe area are likely to have their pleas answered within 10 seconds, according to national police figures. The police performance indicators - the definitive nationwide survey of police achievement
CAMPAIGNERS who fought to save a Ribble Valley beauty spot from being quarried have been applauded for their success. Coun Chris Holtom told planning and development colleagues that land at Sawley Brow had been saved because of the hard work of local
THE Crinkley Bottom saga took a new turn this week with an out of court agreement securing an 11th hour stand off between Noel Edmonds' Unique Group and the City Council. Both sides were due to meet in the Appeal Court on Monday to agree how the council's
KURT Nogan is likely to figure in a player-swop deal between Burnley and Scottish premier league side Hearts. The want-away Welsh striker has a good chance of signing for the Edinburgh team after spending two impressive days in training with the club
IMPERIAL Cancer is calling on Fylde Coast horse-riding enthusiasts to take part in its Canter Against Cancer appeal. Dedicated to the understanding, prevention and cure of all forms of cancer, this renowned charity is asking equine-orientated Fylde folk
Sweet charity turns sour as volunteers shut up shop THE city's thriving Imperial Cancer Research Shop closed its doors this week after 68 volunteers walked out in protest at plans to install a salaried manager. The staff, many of whom have suffered with
PLANS to build five incinerators at Nightingale Hall Farms must be challenged with sound scientific facts, was one of the verdicts to emerge from a packed public meeting last week. Lancaster's Gregson Centre was crammed with protesters from all parts
HAIL King Ady - pride of Bury! Ady Lewis, the man they call the Mighty Atom, did just what he said he'd do on Monday, January 27, night and became the first boxer from the town ever to win a British championship. And he did it the hard way, defeating
CHILDREN at a local school can now cross the road in safety thanks to their parents concern and your caring Citizen. On January 2 we reported on the plight of the children of St John Vianney School and the impending threat of them losing their crossing
WHEN David Willetts resigned from his cabinet office post in the Autumn, implicitly acknowledging that he had been found 'wanting' in his advisory remarks to the Parliamentary Selection Committee dealing with the Neil Hamilton cash for questions issue
FOUND! After two weeks on the road, Jeremy the beloved cat has returned home to his overjoyed family. Last week, the Citizen told you how the small white cat disappeared without trace, causing great distress to his owners, the McCullochs. Three-year old-Jeremy
GLOBETROTTING grandma, Trish Taylor, sets off for the tropical islands of the Maldives on her latest charity mission. But the daring Darwener, of Robin Bank, will not be sipping cocktails by the pool or bronzing herself under palm trees. Intrepid Trish
A POLICE team were searching a Tyldesley bungalow for drugs when two visitors strolled in through the rear patio doors, carrying £8,000 in a plastic shopping bag. Later, the police search team found 32 lbs of cannabis with a street value of £75,000, in
IT IS the end of a chapter for Leyland bookworms as a town centre bookshop closes. Jim Dobson, who owns the Leisure and Pleasure shop at Leyland Cross, Towngate, said his shop would shut because of sewer work being done on his doorstep. North West Water
DETECTIVES are hunting firebugs who deliberately tried to set fire to Blackburn Central Library. Quick-thinking staff prevented a blaze developing into a major incident - which could have resulted in thousands of pounds worth of damage and serious injury
RED-FACED animal rights activists found only earthworms when they broke into the University of Central Lancashire (UCLa) hoping to sabotage experiments. The protesters, believed to be from the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), smashed through the roof of
YOUNGSTERS are flocking to the borough's latest club - to do their homework. Scholars aged from eleven to 18 have been dropping into Whitefield library to study in a specially created environment. They have been attending the new Homework Club, open at
BREWERY chiefs at Thwaites are remaining tight lipped about the controversial sale of twenty six pubs. Furious tenants were dumbfounded after it was announced last week that the pubs were being sold off to one company - despite bosses promising licensees
BURY could go all the way to the European Court to retain its multi-million pound bins contract. The council is making history by fighting the Government in a challenge which could have massive implications. Its lawyers have been called back to the High
SHOP assistants were getting hot under the collar this week as lotto fever hit the streets once again. The first week of the National Lottery's new 'Winsday' draw has sparked frenzy among lottery-lovers, who have been queuing to put money on the new mid-week
PAULINE Bilsborough may look like a normal, healthy, middle-aged woman, but appearances can be deceptive. For the last 20 years, Pauline has suffered from a little-known debilitating disease called lupus which has destroyed her immune system and almost
SCOUTS from football league clubs continue to check the form of Accrington Stanley's ace marksman Brett Ormerod, whose goal against Marine on Saturday earned his side the points. Fans believe Stanley are ready to turn the corner after the superb 1-0 victory
BURY'S thriving Home Watch scheme has become a victim of its own success. Now, the structure is to be reshaped to allow police to significantly improve its input into the community crime watchdog borough-wide. With a staggering 560 Home Watches up and
KIT Pompey, who figured as one of the leading contenders for the British Empire middleweight title in the 1950s era, has died at the age of 73. For more than 40 years, Pompey lived at Gargrave, near Skipton, but he worked for much of the same period at
LEIGH chairman Mick Higgins has defended his decision to charge full admission prices for the club's two pre-season friendlies. "We've come under a bit of criticism from fans who thought the £6 admission charge was excessive in view of the weakened teams
NEW figures have revealed that crime is on the increase at pubs and licensed premises in Blackburn, Darwen and the Ribble Valley. There were steep increases in the number of arrests for drunkenness and drunkenness with aggravation. This is a very worrying
KEITH LATHAM played his cards close to his chest last Friday. He played a mish-mash of trialists and youngsters for the friendly against Oldham - and that kept spies Phil Larder and John Kear in the dark. The Sheffield Eagles coaching duo had been hoping
IT was a night to yell 'Yee-Ha', slap your thigh and swing your partner when dance instructors, Keith and Marie Morris held their American Country Western Night on Friday, January 31, supported by your very own Star newspaper. The couple, who run Silhouette
PLANS for an industry and shopping complex on North Valley Road in Colne look set to go back on the drawing board. Gregory Developments want to build the complex on the site of the recently cleared Stonebridge Mill and has come up with some new ideas.
AN ARTIST from East Lancashire has become one of only 20 people across Britain to be the latest to join the prestigious Chartered Society of Designer Craftsmanship. Work by Shahida Haider-Choudhry, 26, of Hibson Road, Nelson, was spotted by the society
POLICE officers have praised the courage of a sub-postmistress whose brave actions thwarted a trio of would-be armed robbers. The incident - first reported in last week's Star - happened at about 9.20am on Wednesday, January 29 when the three men entered
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD EVER wondered why so many of the old terraced houses around town have a distinct dip in their stone front-parlour window sills? Well, the ancient mystery is now solved for us by veteran reader Phil Reid. He explains that this bow-shaped
CALLING old boys and girls of Whitefield's Philips High School. If you were a pupil at he school between 1979 and 1984 there is to be a school reunion in April. The reunion will be at the Masons, Whitefield, on Saturday, April 12. Tickets are £5, including
MORE cuts and higher council tax bills are on the way. Town hall leaders are furious that Bury's financial settlement, just confirmed by the Government, is even worse than originally announced. Bury's SSA (Standard Spending Assessment, or the amount the
THE parents of three youngsters who rampaged through a Jewish cemetery causing £37,000 damage have been ordered to pay compensation for their children's crimes. More than 40 headstones were knocked over and smashed as the vandals stormed through Rainsough
A MAJOR £300,000 sporting boost for Golborne has been opened by local MP Ian McCartney. The opening of Golborne Sports and Social Club's new all- weather, all-sports, pitch and two tennis courts was made possible thanks to a £230,000 National Lottery
EVELYN County Primary School in Prescot has received special recognition from OFSTED, the Government education watchdog. The school in Evelyn Avenue, one of just seven Merseyside schools commended for high standards, received special mention in OFSTED's
THE work of Leigh born novelist James Hilton is being revived by a top American publicist (writes June Fairhurst). Hilton, who was born in Wilkinson Street Leigh in 1900, was the only son of John Hilton, a local schoolmaster and moved from his home town
FOUR borough libraries could be closed as Bury council battles to find £12 million. Ainsworth branch, along with Brooklands, Carr Clough and Polefield in Prestwich, have once more been put back in the firing line. Local authority leaders, who have already
HOME-BUYERS held the key to a prestigious accolade for Harwood Homes - the company which created Golborne's popular Summerfields and Inglewood Fields developments. Customers voted for the developer in a unique award which lets home-buyers have their say
Food News, with Deborah Yewdall A BUNCH of bananas, a madeira cake, a miniature bottle of rum and six shallots presented TV chef Kevin Woodford one of his toughest challenges. He was given just 20 minutes to transform the strange mixture of ingredients
THE dispute between Leigh Centurions RL Club and sacked Hilton Park football director Allan Rowley has been settled out of court. Rowley, now commercial manager at Wigan RLC, said he was "more than happy" with the outcome of a meeting between legal representatives
ARE holders Saints about to exorcise the Wigan Challenge Cup ghost which has haunted them for 20 years? For if they come up with the goods on Saturday by causing the Warriors to fall at the first hurdle their loyal fans will feel perfectly justified in
THE Women's Outreach Service in St Helens and Knowsley, which offers support and advice to women with alcohol-related problems, has received a boost of £2,000 from BNFL. The service is run by Merseyside and Cheshire Alcohol Service which can provide counselling
FORD Quarry has been granted a 10-year extension to carry on quarrying at Cliviger. The Lancashire County decision came despite local council opposition and allows jobs expansion at the business which sends local stone all over the world. A list of 34
THE man who is the public face of a college board which has rocked local education says what happened on the day 47 jobs were slashed should remain a secret. Former Pendle Mayor, Liberal councillor John David, is one of 15 people on the Board of Incorporation
AFTER years of frustration a Lancaster mum will see her pioneering new epilepsy support group launched in the city later this month. Maxine Atkinson, whose nine-year-old daughter suffers from the traumatic condition, met with a wave of sympathy after
