Archive

A MAJOR jobs boost is heading for Lancaster after city planners sanctioned plans for a new £30 million business park, hotel and restaurant this week. The development, at Cottams Farm on Caton Rd, is expected to create 1,000 jobs and the first tenants

GIGG LANE comes out of its mid-Winter hibernation tomorrow, February 8, with Bury in prime position to make a charge at the two automatic promotion places. A combination of bad weather and other clubs' FA Cup commitments have kept the Shakers out of home

SPRAY and display car parks were all the rage when Blackpool experienced one of its highest and potentially most deadly high tides for years on Monday (February 10). As cruel, icy 70 mph westerly winds blasted and battered the Fylde Coast the cold Irish

THANKS for reporting how police had to go begging, cap in hand to charity for money to pay for equipment needed by a beat officer. The Citizen's front page story Sorry Wrong Number will add to local peoples' doubts whether the police are getting the back

NEW safety rules came into effect on Monday for minibus and coach owners which demand that seat belts for children be fitted to forward facing seats. The law has been welcomed by council safety experts who are anxious to make sure that children are belted

IT'S a sell-out! Three days is all it's taken for the biggest street market in town to be booked up to capacity. Last week your caring Citizen told you about the giant event at the World of Coronation Street which is set to raise funds for Chorley's Derian

A BOY who was taught to drive by Blackpool social workers when he was just TEN used his skills to become a demon behind the wheel. His high-speed driving ability enabled him to outwit experienced traffic police for up to two hours at a time. He also managed

FURIOUS residents fear the value of their homes could plummet dramatically if plans to erect a giant spiked fence in front of them goes ahead. Moorhead High School has submitted a plan to put up an eight feet high galvanised steel perimeter fence along

A RETIRED teacher has swapped his text books for a tube of glue to carve out a model role for himself. Former supply teacher, John Whittaker, of Quaker Lane, Darwen, gave up teaching model pupils in 1992 to teach himself the art of model making. And the

A SUB-POSTMASTER watched in horror as an armed raider smashed his way through a post office security screen and escaped with cash. The postmaster was in the Cattle Market Post Office, Norris Street, on his own when the man burst in with a handgun and

WHEN Sam Little becomes Mayor next year he'll be celebrating 40 years' community service - and more than a few days in jail. Nothing dodgy though - the Tyldesley based councillor was once a regular in a variety of jails as part of his job! Neither Sam

ALMOST one-third of people arrested by police in Hyndburn last year were drunk or had been on the booze. The increasing role of alcohol in crime was revealed by Superintendent Malcolm Rawcliffe in his report to the annual meeting of Hyndburn licensing

ACCRINGTON'S state-of-the-art closed circuit television system is to come under the spotlight in a BBC documentary. The crime-busting cameras - which helped in more than 200 arrests in six months - have been chosen as a prime example of British policing

A CALL to suspend funding of the troubled Burnley and Pendle racial equality council was rejected at a meeting of Pendle's estimates sub-committee. Labour's budget spokesman Coun Roger Abbis said fellow party members unsuccessfully moved that Pendle Council's

A MOTHER who stood with her two young children in the path of a train after a signal failure has blasted Railtrak after the incident which could have cost lives. Beverley McNaul and her daughters Crystal, six, and Tessa, two, were walking the short distance

DOMINO transplant pals Ernie King and Denis Wright have been re-united to help repay their debt of gratitude to the hospital which saved their lives. Ernie, 49, from Lowton was given his new heart and lungs in June 1991 in what was only the second "domino

WHEN I think of Valentine's Day I think of the time the lads and I went clubbing on February 14 . Picture the scene, 10 lads all standing on the edge of the dance floor, eyeing up the talent. Little did the girls know us lads were running our own competition

TONY Parkes summed up Graeme Le Saux's return to the international arena last night in one word - "Smashing!" The Blackburn Rovers caretaker-boss travelled to Wembley for a first-hand look at Le Saux, whose recall was the one bright spot for Glenn Hoddle's

TYLDESLEY Labour Club will close at the end of next month (writes BRIAN GOMM). Founded in the town in 1910, and occupying its main street position since 1928, the club is the latest such victim of changing social trends. Saddened club president Alan Parry

ASTLEY Green's pit headgear may soon become as big a tourist attraction as Blackpool Tower! Visionaries see the village pit site - an unforgettable reminder of seven centuries of coal mining - as the centre of a booming tourist trade attracting hundreds

HOW Preston Grasshoppers were glad of the boot of goalkicker supreme Steve Kerry. The sure-fire shotmaker earned the Hoppers a thrilling 23-23 draw at Sheffield. Hoppers had first use of a stiff breeze, but a 12-8 lead at the break looked as though it

AFTER major refurbishments, two of Bass brewery's most popular Fylde pubs have now re-opened. The Gardeners Arms at Thornton and The Bull in Poulton have both had a face-lift. To fit in with the image of a pub being a home from home, the two now offer

LEYLAND licensees Brian and Sam Watmough and their customers are crying into their beer after being asked to change the name of their pub, the Hog's head. That's why Citizen readers have been called to the rescue - to help them come up with a new name

ENFIELD have signed up hard-hitting Aussie all-rounder Shane Lee as they go gunning for Lancashire League glory. The 23-year-old New South Wales star replaces Franklyn Rose as professional at the Dill Hall Lane side and president John Hargreaves reckons

TWO women were shocked to see a cycling flasher during a walk along a secluded Penwortham road. The white male, originally wearing a green bomber jacket and blue jeans, cycled past the women on Valley Road a number of times exposing himself. The incident

A LUCKY granddad had two reasons to be cheerful when he beat cancer and picked-up £100,000 in the same week. After playing Littlewoods spot-the-ball for seven years, Peter Hill decided to go for broke and marked an amazing 1,200 crosses on his coupon.

Concerned Voter (name and address supplied) writes: I READ with interest the letter from Lawrence Cunliffe MP (Mailbox, January 30). I found it very amusing to read about our MP and the seat he occupies, because I've never seen him do any more in the

A MUM-OF-TWO has won her battle for compensation against supermarket giants Wm Morrison after her Mini was damaged in their carwash. Elizabeth Banks of Newton-with-Scales, Kirkham, breathed a sigh of relief as District Judge Ashton ruled Morrison's should

SPARKS are set to fly when local rivals Accrington Stanley and Great Harwood Town come head-to-head in the LFA ATS semi-final showdown. Giant killing Harwood travel to the Crown Ground looking to add another major scalp to their collection, having already

SOUTHPORT is an exciting resort all year round with fun-packed activities for all the family. Set on the beautiful North West coast, it is a perfect destination for a summer day out. But if the British weather isn't up to scratch there's still plenty

FRIENDS of a workman injured in a building site accident in Bury town centre fear he may never walk again. Gary Rowe (32), suffered spinal injuries after he and a workmate were struck by a falling three quarter ton concrete block, which apparently dropped

BLACKBURN Cathedral staff are reeling from the shock news their bid for £4.5 million of Millenium Commission cash has been thrown out. The Millenium Commission confirmed the Blackburn landmark's ambitious redevelopment plans had not been included in the

CYSTITIS is a common, frustrating, irritating and painful illness suffered by millions of women, usually in silence. Although about 50 per cent of women experience cystitis at some time in their lives, out of embarrassment there is often a reluctance

A BUDDING young goalkeeper has netted a place in the England Under 15 squad - and could now play in some of the world's finest stadiums. Leyland schoolboy Michael Bingham could find himself playing in front of 55,000 fans at Old Trafford in April as well

STEVEN McDONALD made his debut for Leyland Warriors U9s in their 28-16 defeat at Lunheath Lions of Widnes. Leyland were unable to make use of any of their positive moves in the game, but man of the match Philip Campbell, Daniel Aspinall, Ben Balch and

FEELINGS were whisked into a frenzy at a Preston nursery as eager young cooks took turns to toss the pancakes. Tots at the Carey Child Care Centre on Pole Street helped staff to whip up the batter and polish off the pancakes to celebrate Shrove Tuesday

DRUG-crazed gangs of youths who have wreaked havoc in a quiet residential area could soon be under lock and key. For several months, people living in Hillcrest Road and Tower Road in Pleasington have been driven to despair by the hooligans - who hold

By Red Rose's Tom Parker. IN MY view, there is no more depressing place than Rotherham to visit. But if you know of somewhere that could be twinned with the bleak market town, then please write and let me know! With six or seven hundred Preston North

EDUCATI0N chiefs are pressing ahead with controversial plans to replace Summerseat Special School. Bury Council want to close the school, which helps pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD) in September, replacing it with units at Radcliffe

PEOPLE were today urged to remember student hostage Paul Wells as his family marked his 26th birthday. It is the second birthday which has passed since Paul, of Bracken Close, Feniscowles, Blackburn, was captured by Kashmiri separatist militants 591 days

TWO Bury primary schools are getting back to normal after coming "under siege" from an illegal gypsy encampment. And taxpayers are also counting the cost of their week-long visit: around £500 in lost parking charges, and money to clear up the mess. Headmasters

HEALTH experts issued a grim warning that almost 4,000 people could be infected with AIDS in the North West. Regional health chairman Sir John Page, estimated that the number of cases would rise to the 4,000 mark within two years. He stressed during a

A BRAVE council worker who continued to trail vicious armed raiders after they blasted two bullets into his van has been hailed as a hero. And breaking his silence for the first time, the 33-year-old has told how he pursued the robbers while giving his

ATHERTON LR's plight is beginning to look desperate. They crashed 4-1 at Matlock Town on Saturday and the worries were multiplied by the second half sending off of Kenny Quigg and Tony Pemberton. LR manager Dave Morris gave a debut to goalkeeper Danny

THE Northern Ireland peace process lies in tatters today following the murder of a British soldier in Co Armagh. In the light of this, how can anyone believe that the IRA and their political supporters in Sinn Fein have any ambitions to make the process

PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice says he will press for a debate on Further Education funding, after being told that the crisis at Nelson and Colne College is a matter for management to deal with. He fumed that the reply from the Further Education Funding Council's

HEALTH chiefs have been given a major cash boost to cure the increasing headache of "bed blocking" by elderly hospital patients. The £350,000 windfall, which has come from the Government's Challenge Fund, will also be spent on improving mental health

GOLDENHEART pupils at Haydock High are helping raise money for schoolpal Derek McDonald who suffers from an ultra-rare medical condition known as Ondine's Curse which means the 14-year-old can't fall asleep or even become drowsy because he will stop breathing

LEIGH MINERS were sent crashing out of the BNFL/BARLA National Cup. And this week the lads from Twist Lane will be shaking their heads in disbelief. Their 25-14 Round Two dismissal by top NorthWest Counties side Farnworth was just too much to take in.

ALMOST a third of households in Pendle are without central heating, putting the area near the bottom of the comfortable home league. Pendle ranks 66th worst out of 563 Parliamentary constituencies in an assessment about heating compiled by MP Gordon Prentice

SKIPPER Bobbie Goulding has made his peace with Saints and withdrawn the transfer request he made 11 days ago - and the club say they are 'delighted.' The Test scrum-half met the board of directors on Tuesday afternoon and, in confirming Goulding's wish

PAUL WHEELER's first goal since October ended a run of three games without a victory for promotion-chasing Leigh RMI. Their 1-0 victory against Whitley Bay, coupled with Radcliffe's defeat and Lincoln's draw, sees them claw back some of the deficit at

POLICE are hunting a violent thug who robbed a pensioner of £30 in her own home after threatening her with a gun. The incident happened at about 1.50pm on Saturday, February 8, when the 80-year-old victim answered the front door of her home in Dunmail

HOT COTT battered Punch into submission. And Royal Oak have the scent of success in Leigh & District Amateur Football League's Davenport Cup. They powered into the semis with a 7-0 thumping of poor Punch Bowl with four goals for strike star Paul Cottrell

DAVE Watts couldn't resist a wry smile when a 'begging letter' dropped through his letterbox. For the plea, asking St Helens Council's Labour leader for a £20 donation, was from none other than Dr Brian Mawhinney - chairman of the Conservative Party!

VERY few Irwell Vale residents will be able to relate to the character I am referring to who lived in our village many years ago. This elderly scrooge-type gentleman had gas mantles high above the fireplace and kept numerous boxes of matches piled upon

FOOTBALL crazy MP Alistair Burt scored a "grand" goal at Ibrox stadium - his spot kick scored £1,000 for charity! The Bury North MP was playing for Scotland in a half-time penalty shoot-out during the Rangers v Hearts match on Saturday, February 1, organised

THE General Election in Blackburn should be very interesting; well, even more interesting than usual. We learned recently that a party calling itself the National Democrats announced they would field a candidate, Cumbria-based mum of three Tina Wingfield

THE battle between Ainsworth villagers and Bolton Road Sports Club has developed into a paper war. Bury Council has received almost 500 letters of objection to plans by the sports club to relocate to the village. Residents fear the development would scar

MASKED intruders who forced their way into a warehouse on Haydock Industrial Estate, escaped with computer equipment valued at £30,000. At least three men broke into the warehouse of Hayes Express, through the side delivery doors, between 2pm and 4pm

A PURPOSE-built low-energy office building, the first of its kind in Britain, may put Accrington on the architectural map. Plans for the new Ormerod Street centre will be unveiled for Hyndburn councillors tonight. The council is seeking European Union

HUNDREDS of jobs could be brought to Bury if a multi-million pound leisure complex is given the go-ahead. The development at Pilsworth, Bury, will include a 72-bed hotel, two restaurants, a pub, fast food take-away, and a massive bingo complex. Bass Development

TOWN hall staff have started down the road to industrial action over the council's multi-million pound budget cuts. Hundreds of workers packed into the Elizabethan Suite in Bury on Monday, February 3, night and voted unanimously to oppose planned cuts

BELLRINGER Mavis Wilson had to rescued by firemen and paramedics after a freak accident left her dangling seven feet in the air in a church bell tower. Pensioner Mavis, 62, became entangled in her bell-pull rope during bell ringing practice in the belfry

ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD TEENAGER Graeme Mitchell thought he'd waved goodbye to his wallet - containing cash and his bank and phone cards - when he lost it in St Helens town centre. But Graeme, a Cowley School student from Burnell Close, St Helens, hadn't

THE gnomes of Zurich, otherwise known as the moneybags of Europe, had strong competition this week - from Westleigh High School! For a group of year 10 and 11 students and two teachers were in Brussels showing off their latest gnome-ware efforts and were

St Helens Town 2 Burscough 0 St Helens Town 4 Mossley 3 FOURTEEN goals from their last four home games is Town's impressive record from four straight wins. But last week's effort against two of the leagues high flyers was something special. Last Wednesday

STUDENTS have been experiencing the long arm of the law in an innovative new video designed to give an insight into local magistrates courts. The video is the brainchild of St Helens Magistrates' Service, who enlisted the help of HND students from the

STRENGTH of character when all appeared lost. That was the key to Saints' monumental RL Cup win over Wigan according to team boss Shaun McRae. WHITTLE: Given the 12-man scenario no supporter of sound mind would have backed Saints at 3.50pm on Saturday

CREATIVE youngsters at a Whiston school are shedding new light on science lessons - thanks to a dazzling computer-generated light show which they have designed themselves. Talented ten-year-olds at Southmead Primary School in Lickers Lane designed the

THE old bell tower from the original Robins Lane School site has been given pride of place in the courtyard of Sutton Community High School. The bell tower, which weighs more than a ton, was lifted by crane from the old Robins Lane School building when

IT would appear that you have gone into print with your opinion (February 11) without first checking the facts. There is a distinct difference between an amusement centre and an amusement arcade; and the difference is defined in the Home Office circular

A DESCENDENT of 19th-century Burnley emigrants to America is searching for long-lost relatives. Mark Driver, from Walla Walla, Washington State, USA, seeks information on the side of his family which remained in Britain after his ancestors crossed the

LECTURERS at Accrington and Rossendale College were today deciding whether to strike on Tuesday next in support of colleague Pat Walsh, who lost his job. A branch meeting of lecturers' union NATFHE was being held at the college's Sandy Lane site, Accrington

THERE has been a massive increase in the number of mature students over the years but none fit that category better than Margo Fleming from Hest Bank. At 90-years-old, Margo is living proof that you are never too old to learn and last week she celebrated

GLENN Hoddle's England are eyeing Burnley's wing wizard Paul Smith. And the Lancashire Evening Telegraph can exclusively reveal that England's Under-21 coach Dave Sexton has watched Smith in action several times this season. Now if Smith's development

ANOTHER jobs bombshell hit Burnley on Tuesday as Hurel-Dubois UK prepared to sack 90 workers. Unions say the announcement at the aerospace engineering firm arrived like a bolt from the blue. The cuts come just a month after 216 people were made redundant

PENDLE and Burnley Samaritans say they are 'staggered' with the number of people who are turning to them for help. More people are calling the charity's help-line than ever before. On average one person rings every 25 minutes. Some 20,500 calls were received

A MORECAMBE schoolboy used his knowledge of fire safety which he learnt at school to save his family from a blaze at their home. Frazer Henderson, 13, sprung into action after his he woke up in the early hours of Sunday morning to find his electric blanket

CLOSED Circuit Television: is it the dawn of Big Brother? Well to listen to some tales it is more like a re-run of Candid Camera. Since the police installed CCTV cameras across Lancaster and Morecambe they have proved invaluable - already recent figures

REFURBISHMENTS at one Fylde crematorium have meant a waiting list for services at the only other crematorium in the area. Park Crematorium on Regent Avenue, Lytham St Annes, is working from 9am to 4pm on weekdays, with services every half hour. Normally

ENGLISH cricket may be upside down in the Southern Hemisphere but local clubs have their feet firmly on the ground. With the new season becoming visible on the horizon, plans are well in hand for what promises to be another exciting summer and club officials

ONE of Britain's finest comedy writers is on his way to Blackpool in his first tour for almost four years. Ben Elton, the star who co-wrote such hits as The Young Ones and three series of Blackadder, will be in town next month with his stand-up comedy

FYLDE folk are being asked to go walkabout to help raise much-needed cash for a cancer charity. Imperial Cancer Research Fund wants local people to put their best foot forward to organise sponsored walks for its appeal. Walkers of all abilities from hikers

DESPITE carrying a bottle of Atherton-made Irn-Bru into the European Parliament, MEP Terry Wynn didn't bend a single lamp-post! But he did bend an ear or two when he made his latest complaint about the Common Agriculture Policy. For Mr. Wynn, toting the

The prison issue is obviously causing concern. It becomes more sinister when we hear contrary to what we've been told, that a holiday firm are interested in the site. By this we can assume it's a foregone conclusion that the Prison Service and the government

Canine-crazy Vivien Alker and her 10-year-old daughter Kara are completely dotty about dogs. So much so, they raced to a car accessory store to buy sticky black fabric and turned the family Ford Escort into their very own Pongo-mobile after watching Walt

REGARDING your Opinion column "Cold hearted villains should be banged up" (LET, January 28). I agree with what you wrote wholeheartedly. Anyone who can do such a despicable thing as steal play equipment from children and toddlers with special needs, in

DEVASTATED fencing champion Neil Ross is asking eagle-eyed Journal readers to see red and help him win gold. The British wheelchair sabre champion desperately needs your help if he is to represent his country in April's European Fencing Championships.

A GUTSY grandmother regained the will to live after taking charge of a community group on a Darwen council estate. Adopted Darwener, Lillian Scott, of Whalley Crescent, Ellenshaw, was on the brink of suicide after her son tragically died seven years ago

VOLUNTEERS have vowed to press on after yobs set fire to a Leigh community centre. On Monday night arsonists set fire to Butts Bridge Action Group's Butts Street pavilion headquarters, just weeks before it was due to open. Group spokesman Trevor Harrison

PINING pooches can now find the perfect partner thanks to a new dog-dating agency. For the prayers of lovelorn labradors and desperate dalmations have been answered by Canine Companions. The unique free service - the first of its kind in the country -

A CHARITY which has fund-raised for two successful years has ceased, leaving behind a number of happy memories, friends and a legacy of hope for the future. The Darwen Friends of the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust has finally ended its fundraising activities

A 59-YEAR-OLD Preston woman has been found dead after a blaze at her home. Barbara Walmsley was discovered by firefighters in the bedroom of her detached house in Regent Drive, Fulwood. A neighbour, an off-duty policeman, raised the alarm just after 8am

AMBITIOUS plans for the development of one of Preston's most rundown suburbs was put up for public scrutiny this week at the launch of the Deepdale Renewal Strategy. More than £12 million is to be spent over the next 10 years on revitalising the area,

BACK in the pre-TV days the amateur stage flourished throughout the UK, writes DAVID HODGKINSON. Here stage-struck groups kept up a constant and flowery flow of productions, both dramatic and operatic. None were more enthusiastically received than those

YOUNG entrepreneurs are showing off their talents this week at St George's Shopping Centre in Preston. A Trade Fair organised by the Young Enterprise board, gave pupils the chance to develop skills, design items and as market and sell them. Among some

BLACKBURN Hawks go in search of their first silverware of the season when Altrincham travel to the Arena on Saturday for the second leg of the Challenge Trophy. The Hawks hold a slender 10-9 lead over the Cheshire side from the first leg but player-coach

LOCAL companies are needed for Europe's most gruelling inter-business sporting event when it sets up camp at Stonyhurst College in July. The Mitel Challengers Trophy offers non-stop action for competitors - and Sky TV will be there to record every pain-staking

DEDICATION to public service has earned Labour councillor Richard Evans the borough's top job. Councillor Evans has just been appointed Mayor elect after 19 years representing the people of Moor Park ward, including three years on the old county borough

A BURY teacher was killed and his girlfriend seriously injured in a horrific car smash at the weekend. Pupils at Unsworth CP School were shocked to hear the news that 30-year-old Year 6 teacher Gordon Walker was dead. Mr Walker, of Timberhurst, Bury,

MASKED raiders escaped at high speed across fields with nearly £1M in used notes after an armed attack on a security depot. Two vehicles were used to block off the Securitas unit in Roman Way Industrial Estate, Ribbleton, in an attack policed described

PLUCKY pensioner Derrick Whalley described how he was shot at point blank range - after literally giving the raiders "stick" and with his horrified wife looking on nearby. He had gone to the offices with his 69-year-old wife Mary to pay their council

AVENHAM Park in Preston will be teaming with soldiers, old and young, this Sunday when they commemorate the siege of Kimberley. The four and a half month battle which secured the British stronghold in South Africa nearly 100 years ago, was a victory to

THE Super League arrived at Deepdale for the second time in seven days. And, after the success of the pre-season challenge against Wigan, Lancashire Lynx drew a crowd of more than 700 to their Preston home for the visit of London Broncos in the Silk Cut

MORE than 32,000 Bury people have said "No" to massive cuts in school budgets. Parents have handed a huge petition to town hall chiefs demanding that the borough's proud education service is left alone. It follows last Saturday's massive public protest

THOUSANDS of people took to the streets on Saturday, Febraury 1, for one of the biggest protest marches Bury has seen. Police estimate 4,000 teachers, parents and children marched from Bury Athletic Track to the town hall in protest of massive cuts to

ALMOST everyone has heard of the Internet but few understand what it can do and how it can help them if they are not already linked up. The Internet started life as a tool for the academic community to allow the rapid sharing of information but has grown

LEADING Pendle Liberal Tony Greaves is set to be the constituency's Liberal Democrat choice for the General Election. The deputy leader of Pendle Council, who has spearheaded his party's efforts locally for more than 25 years, is expected to be the selected

THE receiver at Prestige says there will be no announcement this week on the firm's future. Sue Watson is still trying to seal a deal with one of the 200-plus firms which have shown interest in taking over the housewares manufacturer. Rumours that an

THE Labour Party is trying to force John Major into an early general election by forcing a vote censuring Douglas Hogg that could in turn lead to a motion of no-confidence. The only surprise is that it has taken so long. There have been protests from

LEIGH are back on the Wembley beat this weekend. Defeat against Sheffield Eagles on Sunday merely opened another door for the Hilton Park side. They automatically went into the hat for losers other than those from the Super League. And they will be hoping

SKIPPER Gordon Walker led the front as Leigh Athletic blasted bottom club Burnley GS 4-0. Walker, who opened the way with a penalty, and Steve Kidd dominated midfield. The second strike came from Rob Lysons, his 20th of the season a deft flick, while

STALLHOLDERS are soldiering on at Lambert's Market, Nelson, after a fire which wrecked part of the roof and some of the stalls. Trading went on almost as normal after the blaze, which police and the fire brigade are treating as suspicious. Market boss

TOP spot for Atherton SC in their first 1997 visit to the Central Lancashire Age Groups went to the 11/12-Year 4x50 freestyle team. Amy Jones, Cheryl Hall, Rhiann Jackson and Heather Frederiksen combined to strike gold. Amy then grabbed silver in the

A MULTI-million pound package of new build and improvements at Haydock is sign-posting growing confidence in the economic success being enjoyed by St Helens. And advertising the way will be a 17-metre high advertisement tower on the Yew Tree Trading Estate

FOR four glorious minutes Leigh were in dreamland. But almost as quickly they plunged to the depths of despair. Keith Latham's brave battlers had to pinch themselves as they swept into a 10-4 lead against the big spenders of Sheffield Eagles. The Super

ST HELENS College chiefs are toasting their good fortune after the Government reversed a decision to axe vital higher education funding. The Government's promise of £2 million for the college, in return for a 25 per cent increase in student numbers, was

FOLLOWING a year in which land prices in the St Helens area reached an all-time high of £150,000 per acre, signs are that 1997 is also likely to be a good year for land and property development in the borough. Work is underway on the former Yew Tree Industrial

BUSINESSES are suffering in the aftermath of last week's huge water burst in Hammerton Street, Burnley. Trade has dipped because buildings beside the collapsed road and pavement are cut off from traffic while a mammoth repair operation is carried out.

AN angry Morecambe resident who claims young tearaways have turned his street into a "no-go zone" has launched a personal crusade which could land the City Council and local police force in the dock. Legal advice has been sought by the man who is determined

LANCASTER'S famous Waring and Gillow showroom on North Road is to be sold to a successful local businessman, the Citizen can exclusively reveal. Trevor Bargh of Bargh Estates, based in Penny Street, is putting the final touches to a deal which will see

KEVIN Emmott has won himself a full-time PR job after taking part in ELTEC's Graduate Into Industry scheme. Kevin, from Burnley, was taken on by Blackburn-based Paul Agnew Public Relations after a six-month work trial. Paul, a former journalist and chief

UNIFILLA CUP QUARTER FINAL Radcliffe BoroM-I5, Lincoln UnitedM-I1 THERE is no disputing who the top club in the UniBond Division One is - and on this display Boro will strike fear into the hearts of most Premier sides. The Blues, after a slow start, outplayed

CONTROVERSY over police attempts to use Morecambe community coffers to buy themselves a mobile phone invoked a wave of sympathy from local readers. Cash donations and offers of help came flooding in after the Citizen revealed how a police application

BLACKPOOL Football Club this week said a "sad farewell" to two of its directors as Billy and Rebecca Bingham quit. Mr Bingham has also resigned from his post as director of football and the couple's departure means the club will need to line up a new

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

WATCHING snowdrops bloom in the garden inspired a house-bound Lancaster pensioner to put pen to paper and write her first ever poem. Some months later, 86-year-old Winifred Lund was delightfully surprised to discover her lyrical debut published in an

THERE'S a Grand time in store for Fylde folk this month with plenty of great stage shows to enjoy. For the Grand Theatre has a great line-up of comedy, dance and music. Until Saturday (February 15), three top UK actors are starring in Forty Years On,

FAMILIES were evacuated from their homes for the second time in six months as a huge blaze wrecked a plastic recycling plant. Eight fire crews tackled Monday night's blaze at County Plastics Recycling, Barnfield Mill on Union Street, Tyldesley. As gale

A ROAD safety campaigner has called for drivers to take more care after emergency vehicles were involved in two serious accidents in three days. In one case two police cars collided with each other. Preston Councillor Jean Al-Serraj said the incidents

INVESTIGATIONS are still continuing into a tragic accident where a young woman died after falling down the cellar steps of a Preston pub. Health and safety chiefs are interviewing witnesses and inspecting The Stone Cottage pub, Shaw Street, after Claire

BOURNEMOUTH, £4,000,000 in debt, rocked North End with a goal after just 19 minutes. No one picked up Jason Brissett from a set piece situation, and in a flash he had the ball beyond Kelham O'Hanlon into the net and Preston were chasing the match. Bournemouth

TOP DJ Chris Evans is rumoured to have quit his prestigious radio slot because he couldn't have Fridays off - but Rock FM disc spinner Kev Seed reckons it might be because of him! Record audience figures put the Preston-based station top of the league

A SELF-HELP group is appealing for volunteers to join their ranks. Regardless of whether you are in your twenties or a pensioner, the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Darwen branch of Home-Start needs your help. Home-Start provides support and friendship to help

J.Colloby BA (address supplied) writes: I ATTENDED a meeting which was to discuss the closing of Tyldesley College. Having attended various classes over a number of years and thoroughly enjoyed them, I was hoping that some way could be found to keep the

LECTURERS could face pay freezes or job losses as college bosses thrash out cuts totalling £500,000. Blackburn College is being forced to make the drastic savings as a result of government "efficiency gains" over a three-year period. And a long list of

BLACKBURN eventually get back on the Wembley Way on Saturday having had to wait three weeks for their FA Cup cruncher against Coventry City. Replays and postponements have hampered Rovers' Cup quest but caretaker boss Tony Parkes insists his side is rarin

-A CARE worker who received a police caution for stealing from helpless disabled people in her charge will keep her job with Bury social services. Joanne Davidson was suspended with pay from a residential hostel in Radcliffe for five months after financial

THE possibility of introducing a registration scheme for pub and club doormen in Accrington has been put on ice for the time being. Police have been in discussion with the local authority about the merits of introducing a scheme where staff employed as

PUPILS will pay the price after Bury's MPs "chickened out" of getting the borough a better deal. Council leader John Byrne accused Alistair Burt and David Sumberg of betraying the people in a crucial Commons debate this week. He was furious that, despite

THE full extent of mortgage misery in East Lancashire was revealed in a new league of shame. The Council of Mortgage Lenders showed that Accrington was 7th in the top 10 of mortgage repossession blackspots.There had been a 156% increase in repossessions

LANCASHIRE police's new strategy on crime prevention is to be adopted by forces throughout the country. It has been co-ordinated here on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers and aims to blow away the belief among some officers that crime

MORE than 1,000 people have signed a petition demanding a council extends a multi-million pounds housing action to cover the whole of Daneshouse in Burnley. Over 50 attended a protest meeting last night and formed an action committee to pressure the council

LEIGH RU began brightly against Old Aldwinians - but they ended solidly in defence. They were second best in a one-sided second half as the Old boys took charge for a 29-7 victory at Hand Lane. A superb individual effort from Mark Hudspith, breaking clear

CHARITY fund-raisers are onto a racing certainty thanks to design engineer Peter Isherwood. Six electronic horses are under starter's orders at Eaglehawk Electronics Limited, Blackburn. The radio-controlled runners and riders have been designed and made

A TROUPE of toe-tapping teeny dancers have raised £800 for charity with a one-off show - despite having to move practice base midway through rehearsals. The youngsters from the Alhambra Academy of Dance and Drama faced a dilemma when they were told they

PEOPLE who fancy making extra cash by taking in a lodger will soon be able to charge £80 a week in rent without paying tax. The tax exemption, known as "rent-a-room relief", is about to be increased by £1,000 to £4,250 from April 5. And because the limit

ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD TO most folk, the mention of the famous Royal Iris ferry boat conjures up memories of traditional jazz echoing across the Mersey and of the strict-tempo dances held on board. The jazz sessions and little hops brightened up the 'fifties

ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD THE computer age could eventually key us into a sort of 'civil war' situation, according to a 60-year-old customer of this column who'd like to see much of today's modern technology chucked on the scrapheap. Peter Haselden of Park

FIVE more high schools in the borough are helping consolidate Bury's pioneering approach towards the issuing of drugs information to pupils. Twenty young people, attached to the five schools, have just completed their training course. The information

A BUS operator based in the Ribble Valley has been banned from increasing services after four vehicles were found to have dangerous defects. Department of Transport examiners found some East Lancashire Motor Services buses had faulty brakes, steering,

SCHOOLBOY David Kelly was so concerned over cuts in local education that he raided his own piggy bank in the hope his donation would resolve the problem. Six-year-old David, of Bradshaw Road, Tottington, was so upset that teachers at Greenmount County

LANDLORD Steve Kay is a man with a mission - he is hoping to trace the history of his pub, the Rams Head in Church Street, Haydock. Says Steve; "The pub has just celebrated its 100th birthday and to be honest I know nothing of its origins. The only reason

A PLUCKY pensioner who was involved in a collison with a van in St Helens town centre wants to say a big 'thank-you' to three mystery women who went to his aid. Eighty-two-year Harry Griffiths from Parr was left badly shaken and suffering minor cuts and

STAFF at Elms Bank High School were overjoyed yesterday (February 7) when they learned their dreams of a £100,000 hydrotherapy pool would come true. The Whitefield special school wants the pool to help boost the development of physically disabled pupils

ONE of St Helens' brightest Rugby League prospects has joined Wigan. Blackbrook Royals prop Mark Costello has joined the Central Park outfit at the tender age of 13. Wigan fought off rival bids from several other Super League clubs for the St Cuthberts

ST HELENS Council is appealing to the public to help them crack down on road grid cover thieves following a marked increase in this type of crime. More than 100 cast-iron grid covers, known as gullies which help drain the rain water from the road surface

LITTLE Laura Heyes is jumping for joy after being told that she has been accepted as the youngest member of the National British Gymnastics Squad. The talented nine-year-old from Sutton regularly trains at Broadway Leisure Centre in Eccleston under the

WOULD-be magistrates should be obliged to declare membership of a Masonic lodge, the magistracy's policy-making body has decided. The Council of the Magistrates' Association, which represents the vast bulk of the 30,000 magistrates in England and Wales

DRAWN away in every round last season, Silk Cut Cup holders Saints were again first out of the hat this year when the fifth round pairings were made on Monday. For after defeating Wigan at home on Saturday, they will now face the winners of the Hull-Huddersfield

A PIECE of Leigh mining history has come back home - thanks to the initiative of an amateur artist. For when Gilbert Higgins was given several large wooden picture frames containing delapidated photographs, he stripped them down and was astonished to

Saints 26 Wigan 12 REPORT by Denis Whittle LIKE every Saints' supporter of mature vintage I have tasted the heady brew of success and the bitter gall of defeat these last 50 years, but rarely have I felt as proud as I did at 4.30pm on Saturday. For, along

A NEW community and youth centre at Bryer Road, Prescot, will be officially opened by Mayor of Knowsley, Councillor John Gallagher, on Wednesday, February 19 at 2pm. Knowsley Council has spent £60,000 on refurbishing the building which now has first-class

ROMANCE is in the air as Valentine's Day is here again. And for one happy couple it's an extra-special occasion - they're getting married. Noel Curry and Helen Condie are tying the knot on the most romantic day of the year. They were destined for a February

HOUSING problems in Daneshouse and Stoneyholme would cost £40 million to put right, a survey has revealed. But Burnley council will make a start on improving the area with £3.1 million in government loans. The council will begin to tackle the problems

ADRIAN Heath says a little luck is what's needed for his Burnley side to get back on the promotion trail. He's hoping for a confidence-boosting win at troubled Bournemouth on Saturday (February 15). The squad had a two-day training break at Keele University

THERE has been a lot of discussion on the topic of whether or not it is safe to live in Nelson. I live in Harrogate, and after spending a holiday in Nelson I can say that I certainly don't feel safe in the town, and I am a young person. As an example,

Heysham Atoms 32 Leigh East 28 HEYSHAM Atoms recorded a tremendous BNFL National Cup victory against a side four divisions above them on Saturday. The biggest game ever seen at Trimpell saw a classy Leigh East launch straight into attack and score a converted

A NEW project to restore native flora and fauna which formed part of the local countryside from the Middle Ages has got a cash boost. The project, organised by people living in Lomeshaye village, Nelson, is based on the Loamy Wood nature reserve and has

Bradford Park Avenue 0 Morecambe 1 MORECAMBE are set for a plum home tie against Dagenham and Redbridge after digging in for a deserved and hard won victory on Saturday. Last week's shock ATS cup exit at the hands of lowly Great Harwood had left the Shrimps

A GOLDEN gourmet celebration with a difference will give ice cream connoisseurs good reason to visit a Ribble Valley village shop in 1997. It is half a century since the first scoop of Hudson's ice cream was served from the shop in Chatburn and owners

LOCAL companies are needed for Europe's most gruelling inter-business sporting event when it sets up camp at Stonyhurst College in July. The Mitel Challengers Trophy offers non-stop action for competitors - and Sky TV will be there to record every pain-staking

COME on then Sven speak plain English, writes Neil Bramwell. I believe that you owe it to Blackburn Rovers fans to tell them what is going on. This paper gave you the chance to put minds at ease just this week. But I'm afraid Rovers supporters want a

FINAL touches are being put to legal moves to force the owners of an empty Accrington mill to clear the building of toxic waste and dangerous chemicals. Hyndburn Council hopes to be in the High Court next month seeking an injunction requiring Bury-based

Lancaster City 1 Barrow 0 IT'S been a while coming but Lancaster finally celebrated their first victory of 1997 on Tuesday night - happy new year lads! And they chose a tough derby match against high flyers Barrow to end their recent run of defeats. It