Archive

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Miners ease their relegation fears

LEIGH MR all but ended relegation fears with a tense 23-20 win at Walney Central. Now only defeat by 50 points in both their remaining fixtures could send them spinning through the league trap door. But it was ironic that, in a season of league struggles

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Try Tag Rugby...

THE inaugural Lancashire Primary Schools Under 11s Tag Rugby competition saw Highfield Priory School of Fulwood losing to English Martyrs County Primary School of St Helens by 15-25. Spectators were particularly impressed with the losing side because

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Study condemns NHS helpline

THE new 24-hour nurse-led helpline set to revolutionise local health care has been criticised as inefficient and costly by an independent study. The study claims that the NHS Direct service is failing in its aim to reduce patient demand in GP surgeries

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Hoppers narrowly miss out on the silverware

Under 17 London Irish International Tournament HOPPERS fought two unsuccessful matches on their first day, losing narrowly to Richmond by 7-12 and then 7-17 by Irish side Crescent. On the Sunday, in a the Plate competition, Hoppers won 19-0 against Abbey

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Trolley trip back in time

THE mystery is finally solved! A cluster of customers - including John Bradbury and Tom Picton - identified the impressive building, forming the backdrop to my flashback picture (April 1) featuring a bygone St Helens trolley bus alongside an early motor

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Just too lucky!

SHOP worker Hilda Singleton will have the fate of millions of hopeful punters at her finger tips on Saturday night when she presses the button to start the National Lottery balls in motion. And she will be amazed if number two does not figure prominently

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Betty's in a whirl over windmill

POLICE are on the trail of a gang of Atherton windmill snatchers. The giant decoration was stolen from the Lovers Lane home of Kenneth and Betty Crossley between Thursday night and Friday morning. Furious Betty, 62, (pictured with her landmark windmill

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Rents: answer these questions

I CANNOT help being curious about recent figures published concerning council taxes and rent arrears in Bury. Can someone with an objective, unbiased interest in the running of our town answer a few basic questions? 1: Is £1.808 million in rent arrears

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Sisters are doing it...

MEET the Sisters Afoot, a group of women runners who have come together to ensure they can get fit and feel safe at the same time. The running group, which was formed before last year's Race For Life, is designed to give women of all ages and abilities

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Pedal power is the way forward

STAFF at the Town Hall have been told to get 'on yer bike' quite literally in the latest environmental drive. The council employees will have the chance to get fit while they work by using a bike, bought by the environmental health department, to cycle

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10 YEARS AGO: Water Bill fight

HYNDBURN Labour councillor George Slynn was to put a motion before the full council meeting giving his reasons for opposing the Government's water privatisation Bill. Coun Slynn said the Bill would result in higher water charges, a cut in environmental

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SOCCER: Bolton hope they've turned the corner

COLIN TODD has a point to prove tomorrow when Bolton Wanderers entertain third-placed Ipswich at the Reebok Stadium. Wanderers have all but missed out on automatic promotion, but they have clawed their way into a fifth place play-off spot with a win over

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SOCCER: Darwen Rangers 2 Oswaldtwistle Juniors 2

RANGERS found the going tough in the first half going 2-0 down after 30 minutes, but gradually they started to boss the midfield with Mills and Charnock hustling the Oswaldtwistle midfielders into making mistakes. The second half was nearly all Rangers

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NON LEAGUE SOCCER: Michael is doing grand

WHEN it comes down to pedigree, Darwen's talented teenager Michael Douglas could hardly have come from better stock. The 19-year-old wing-man is the grandson of former Blackburn Rovers legend Bryan Douglas, but after recent performances for the Anchormen

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Donations top £10m

ON behalf of Imperial Cancer Research Fund, British Heart Foundation and Mencap we are writing to thank the Halifax Visa Charity Card holders in Lancashire. The card is now in its 10th year and since its launch has raised more than £10 million nationwide

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Bringing the Bard to life

FOR the past term we have been studying Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, writes Amanda Taylor from Year 9 of St Mary's High School, Blackpool. So you can imagine how pleased we were to find out that 100 seats had been booked for Year 9 to see a live performance

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'Little evidence' of intimidation

THERE is little evidence of intimidation or harassment of the gay community in the Burnley area, according to the chief of a new group aiming to head off intolerance. Burnley councillor Tony Harrison, has been elected chairman of the Burnley, Pendle and

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Lawyers bid to halt execution

ONE of Americas most notorious serial killers, who once lived in Bentham, is facing execution by lethal injection. Charles Ng, who attended Bentham Grammar School as a child, has been convicted of killing six men, three women and two baby boys in a spree

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Take a break from young caring

A NEWLY-formed action group for children with tough family responsibilities is looking for new members. Young Carers, organised by Wigan Youth Service, is designed to help youngsters boroughwide take a break from their tasks - and meet others in the same

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MP: BSkyB block good for Bury

BURY North MP David Chaytor has welcomed the Government's decision to block BSkyB's Manchester United takeover bid. He said yesterday: "If this takeover had gone ahead, it would have started a worrying trend, with more and more wealth concentrated in

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Bury FC: Phillips on fire as Shakers give hope

Bury 2, Sunderland 5 WHOEVER first coined the phrase "football's a funny old game" must surely have had matches like this in mind. Anyone who witnessed this enthralling clash either on TV or at a packed Gigg Lane would have been amazed to think that there

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Robbie, I'm the one that you want

Wright On! - a wry look at life, with Shelley Wright FOR the past few years I have followed Robbie Williams' every move. I have watched him wiggle his tasty bum in Take That, trip the light fantastic with Tom Jones and blow up like an over-inflated balloon

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Who's for Kwiksave site?

THE sale of one of Blackpool's prime shop sites - the former Food Giant in Dickson Road - is expected by the end of the month. The supermarket, which became Kwiksave (part of the Somerfield group) last year, closes on April 26 in preparation for transfer

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Woman found dead on beach

POLICE were still trying to solve the identity of a mystery girl two days after her body was washed up with a panic alarm clipped to her belt on Rossall beach. The fully-clothed young Asian woman, aged 18 to 22, was found on the shore opposite Rossall

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Tie maker sticks his neck out

ORGANISERS of the celebrity tie auction to give leukaemia sufferer Chelsea Noone the holiday of a lifetime were disappointed by the poor response. Despite widespread publicity, only a small number of callers rang to bid for the celebrity ties that went

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Record books!

LIBRARY chiefs in Bury are hoping that soon they will be able to read all about their own success - in the Guinness Book of Records! On Tuesday, April 13, a mass recruitment drive to sign up 1,000 new members for Bury libraries was held. And although

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Airbag to blame for car death?

EXPERTS speaking at a coroner's court hearing have said that an airbag caused the death of legal executive Jenny Riechardt, who was killed in a car crash in January last year. Jenny Reichardt, 47, of Eccleston, died after her Rover 400 was struck by an

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Bus buff's photo bid

TRANSPORT buff David Barrow is seeking photos of Bury Corporation Transport buses (not Selnec etc) dated 1927-1969. Can you help? He is on 0161-797 5993. Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the

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Lice problem not above average

HEALTH bosses have dismissed claims that headlice are on the march in Bury following their study of the problem. A prevalence study commissioned by Bury and Rochdale Health Authority shows that local schoolchildren as a whole do not have a higher than

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Kosovo needs YOUR help

BY now you will no doubt be aware of the Disasters Emergency Committee Kosovo Appeal. Oxfam is one of 12 agencies taking part in this appeal and we are asking for help in fundraising to provide essential relief items such as water and sanitation facilities

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Culling to stop

PRESTON councillors have backed calls to halt the shooting of the town's pigeons. Members of the environment committee has decided to bring an end to the culling - the traditional way of controlling the pigeon population - in favour of a publicity campaign

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SOCCER: Injury blow for derby

A TRIO of Preston stars look set to sit out the Deepdale derby date with local rivals Blackpool tomorrow (kick off 1pm). Recent recruit Neil Clement serves a one-match ban for his double booking at Colchester on Good Friday, while wingers Lee Cartwright

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SOCCER: Survival in Shakers' hands

WITH four games remaining, Bury's fate lies in their own hands. Four wins will ensure safety. The Shakers must win at Grimsby tomorrow where, after a bright early season, the Mariners have run into a poor spell. And with fellow strugglers Port Vale and

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NON LEAGUE SOCCER: Second-half goal rush

Colne 2 Maghull 2 FOUR second-half goals saw Denzil Hart's men share the points with fellow strugglers Maghull. The visitors opened the scoring just after the break when Paul Cronin turned the ball into the Colne goal. On the hour Colne equalised when

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Pike in move to halt soccer thugs

HOME Secretary Jack Straw and Burnley Labour MP Peter Pike today backed a Tory MP's new move to crack down on football hooligans. Simon Burns has introduced a Bill to tighten up the existing rules dealing with soccer thugs. His Football (Offences and

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Raj raring to go

LANCASTER'S brand new professional cricketer, Raj Hans, is reportedly raring to go for the new season - despite last Saturday's opening friendly against Furness being cancelled. As well as a new professional Lancaster have a new captain for the new campaign

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Lancaster tread water

Lancaster 14 Welsh Wanderers 2 HAVING received a bye for the first round of the Amateur Swimming Association Knockout Trophy Lancaster were rewarded with a quarter final home tie against mid-table, second division side Welsh Wanderers. On paper this match

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Shakerley: all estate should get something

I AM writing in response to a letter headed "Shakerley, it's a happening estate". It states that Shakerley is far from being the forgotten estate. In the letter the councillors said the pensioners' bungalows have recently been updated with new windows

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Dogs lead fight to sniff out crime

DRUGS and a gun were found hidden inside Oswaldtwistle Town Hall during a public meeting attended by East Lancashire's police chief Superintendent Eddie Walsh. But no one was arrested - it was a demonstration by Lancashire Police dog handlers, who showed

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Standfast jobs to go

ANOTHER 29 jobs are to go at the Standfast factory on Caton Road, Lancaster the Citizen can exclusively reveal. Workers were left reeling last June when 70 jobs were axed and management are currently negotiating redundancy terms with unions. The furnishing

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Dawson and Lloyd to answer your questions

LOCAL people will have the opportunity to discuss the Kosovo crisis with a senior member of the Government when Foreign Office Minister Tony Lloyd MP visits Lancaster on April 22. The minister has agreed to speak and answer questions at a public meeting

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A touch of road rage

THE latest race game on the PlayStation grid from Sony is Rally Cross 2, a beefed up version of the original to get you rocking and rolling over a dozen courses. But this offering from 989 Studios has quite a novelty up its sleeve - you can design your

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Focus on the young ones

THE lifestyles of schoolchildren in St Helens and Knowsley are being put under the microscope. All schools have been invited to take part in a new study looking at the health and well-being of young people in the two boroughs. As part of the survey, children

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PNE girls hit five

PNE moved into third place in the table after this comfortable win against potentially tricky opposition. (PNE Girls U16s 5 WIGAN 0) PNE took the lead after 10 minutes when Katie Anderton latched onto a through ball to lob the keeper from 18 yards. The

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Factory sell off shock

WORKERS at a Stubbins fabrics factory face an uncertain future with the shock news their company is being sold off. Scapa Forming is among several businesses within Blackburn-based Scapa Group being sold to German firm Voith for £329 million. Although

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Making a big splash again!

ATHERTON gets back into the swim on Monday. (April 19) The popular town centre pool has been closed since January after council surveyors discovered structural faults in the building. Councillors voted to spend £50,000 on making it safe again, and the

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Foul play from dog owners...

AS a resident of Tobermory Close in Haydock, I am disgusted at the level of dog fouling in the area and more particularly, on the field/hill adjoining the close. Some years ago, the local authority, when repairing a vandalised fence, decided to put an

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Join the peaceful gathering

A PRESTON councillor has invited people to meet at Preston's Peace Garden on Saturday morning to give thoughts to all those involved in the Kosovo conflict. Councillor Albert Richardson said: "Everybody wants all the sides involved to stop the fighting

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Forced to flee

A FAMILY has been forced to flee from a neighbour from hell-like existence in Preston. Steve Johnson and his three teenage daughters had spent six years living in Watling Strret Road, Brookfield, Preston, running a gauntlet of abuse, they say, every time

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CRICKET: Lancs boosted by returning England trio

LANCASHIRE could be boosted by the return of their three England World Cup stars for the launch of the new CGU National League Division One campaign at Kent on Sunday. Ian Austin, Andy Flintoff and Neil Fairbrother were not expected to be available for

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Striking the right note

HODGSON High School Band will be striking the right note on April 28. Pupils, supported by the Blackpool Citadel Band, will play at the Salvatian Army centre on Raikes Parade, Blackpool, from 7.30pm. Admission is free but a collection will be taken for

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Musical break

SINGING is on the timetable at two Lytham schools when they take part in Lytham St Annes Choral Society's next concert. On April 24, girls from Queen Mary School will form a gallery choir for a performance of Benjamin Britten's St Nicolas. Three trebles

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Derelict club is alive 'n kicking

I WAS surprised to discover Leigh Round Table's fifth beer festival and other events are to take place at the Leigh Royal British Legion Club in Windermere Road. Believe it or not, but I thought the premises had closed down in the year I spent out of

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Haydock end Heath jinx

Haydock 21 Thatto Heath 19 HAYDOCK finally buried the hoodoo to beat local rivals Thatto Heath for the first time in this Premiership Cup tie. But the result of a pulsating match was in doubt until the last minute. Haydock had the advantage of the strong

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Rugby League: Gregory joins the fold

UNDER pressure Swinton Lions coach Les Holliday was given a timely helping hand this week when former Great Britain star Mike Gregory was appointed as his assistant. The ex-Warrington captain replaces Martin Birkett who stepped down last week due to work

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Vera is re-elected

MRS Vera Stringer was re-elected as vice-chairman of Bury Health Care NHS Trust at a meeting earlier this week. Mrs Stringer, 52, of Brandlesholme, has been a non-executive member of the Trust board for four years and says she is ready to take on her

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Clarets boss pays tribute to striker

STAN Ternent today paid tribute to unsung hero Andy Cooke as the Clarets bid to extend Bournemouth's win drought at Turf Moor tomorrow. Cooke's return from an appendix operation has been largely overshadowed by Andy Payton's Midas touch in front of goal

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Council backs Kosovo cash aid appeal

BLACKPOOL Town Hall has become a collection point for donations for Kosovo refugees. Council chiefs have set up a designated cash point in the main reception in response to a national appeal for financial aid. Council leader Ivan Taylor said the council

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Town set for big party

YEEEEAH, Atherton is gearing up for nine days of festival fun next month. And among the events is a western line dance at the Jubilee Hall. A charity market puts the show on the road on May 15 at the Jubilee Hall, 10am to 1pm. A brass band concert follows

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Fred, 82, gets knitting

FRED Pitt is not letting failing eyesight and old age stop him from helping a good cause. Fred, of Mount Pleasant, Simister, may be 82, but the fact that his eyesight is very bad and the small matter of a stroke four years ago, hasn't stopped him from

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Were you a pupil?

PAST pupils of Bury Convent Grammar School (Holy Cross) who started in 1974 and left in '79 are having a 20-year reunion at the college on June 19. Details: Alison Vinden. Tel: 01204 593501. Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and

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Waywell looks for quick improvement

LEIGH RMI, a team with title aspirations around Easter, can only feel joy they are not involved in the relegation scrap. A combination of too many games and a sudden dip in form, underlined by Saturday's disappointing 1-0 fall against Frickley Athletic

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Hero's return as estate agency goes golden

A WAR hero who went on to found an estate agency revisited Blackburn to celebrate his business's 50th anniversary. Tom Shaw, originally from Ribchester, was decorated for bravery as a 19-year-old flight engineer in 1944. He escaped when his Lancaster

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Lift off for new air ambulance

THE AA has been unveiled as the backer of a new air ambulance which will help save lives in East Lancashire. The motoring organisation is to sponsor the National Association of Air Ambulance Services in a three-year £14 million deal. The project involves

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Brave tot laid to rest

THE funeral of baby Ebony Johnson was being held at St Mary's CE Church, Rawtenstall, today. Ebony died at her home in Taylor Avenue, Waterfoot, on Monday aged 17 months after a brave battle against heart disease. Regulars at the New Hall Social Club,

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Winning streak?

GOOD to be in touch again after a couple of weeks break. Hope you're keeping well. Hope you were lucky last week at the Grand National. The highlight of the day for me was the streaker who gave the police the runaround. He has now streaked on National

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Bourne again: How Ternent has rung the changes

Burnley v Bournemouth - Pete Oliver's big match preview WHEN Bournemouth manager Mel Machin was on the Cherries' training ground this week plotting how to win at Burnley tomorrow, he won't have looked back to the first meeting between the two sides for

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Saint Chris has the faith

Southampton v Blackburn Rovers - Peter White's big match preview IT'S two and a half years since the spectre of Chris Marsden last haunted Blackburn Rovers. But, if you listen to the Lee Carsley lookalike who now stalks Southampton's midfield after a

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Ternent tribute to Cooke

STAN Ternent today paid tribute to unsung hero Andy Cooke as the Clarets bid to extend Bournemouth's win drought at Turf Moor tomorrow. Cooke's return from an appendix operation has been largely overshadowed by Andy Payton's Midas touch in front of goal

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Let's get back on track

THE railways certainly seem to have been steaming downhill since Alan Winstanley was a young porter. And if John Prescott is ever to persuade us to get out of our cars and on to public transport then he might well take a leaf out of Alan's notebook for

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Court has no power

LAST year we had cause to chase up a tradesman over some shoddy workmanship. After we had agreed on a refund he went back on his word. Both Trading Standards and the Small Claims Court took up the case and we received judgement, but the cowboy operator

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Designs on Cottam's roads

DESIGNS for the improvement of Cottam's road network recently went on display for members of the Commission for New Towns. The works, designed for the CNT by Lancashire County Council, will complete the through-road linking Tom Benson Way and Lea Road

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News from Albania

A CHARITY worker from Leyland has gone to the Balkans to distribute vital aid to Kosovar refugees. Chris Dakas is a pastor working for International Aid, the Centurion Way-based charity, dedicated to helping the people of Eastern Europe. He is currently

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Quality call, not quantity

COMMENTING on the demise of the traditional pub, Mr J A Marsden (Letters, March 31) is right about the 1960s and that spending power shifted to the teenagers. I remember the 'lads' in the vault at that time playing dominoes for a penny a game and a ha'penny

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Safety first for Shrimps

Morecambe 2 Kidderminster 1 MORECAMBE are finally and unequivocally safe after this result. In truth their future in the Conference has not been in doubt for the past fortnight. But real football fans never really sleep well until there is security is

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Recs turn on style

Oldham St Annes under 14s 10 Pilkington Recs 34 Pilks ran out worthy winners in their penultimate game of the season against a plucky Oldham side. Their handling skills were rewarded with tries for St Helens Roofing man of the match Stu Tickle, Mather

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Police probe three assaults

THREE men, one a 70-year-old pensioner, were badly beaten up by thugs in three separate attacks in the area this week. The pensioner was robbed of £300 cash outside the post office on Poulton Road in Morecambe, a 17-year-old was beaten up by eight hooligans

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The Duke back in town

A BISHOP will be coming home to Bury this weekend - literally. Popularly known as "The Duke", the Right Reverend Michael Hare Duke, was the longest-serving bishop in the Anglican Communion serving as Bishop of St Andrew's, Dunkeld and Dunblane in Scotland

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New delay on school decision

A NEW school D-Day has been put back. Planners have deferred making a decision on whether a new school should be built on playing fields at Atherton. They want to study additional correspondence and the legal situation. And Cllr Sue Loudon wants consultations

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Rugby League: Sloppy Lions slip to home defeat

Swinton 24, Barrow 31 A SEVERE case of the defensive jitters were responsible for the Lions losing Sunday's Gigg Lane clash against Barrow but they really should have won the game with ease. Workmanlike Barrow scored several of their tries on the sixth

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MEP: stop this vile trade

CHILD pornographers are turning to the darker side of the internet to ply the vile trade. Local MEP Gary Titley has welcomed new proposals to forge closer links between police forces in the EU to help combat the growing problem. The Greater Manchester

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Homeless put the boot in

HOMELESS worker Tony Hennessy had to gee up his young charges after they suffered an 8-2 defeat in the name of Lancaster to counterparts in Barrow. "They were a bit down," laughed Tony, "but I just told them they had nothing to be ashamed of and that

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Jobs down drain

FORTY jobs are to go with the imminent closure of Birtle Bleach Works, it was confirmed this week. And claims by some staff that they may lose out on redundancy and severance pay have been quashed. The Elbut Lane-based company is currently in administration

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Global outlook

LOCAL organisation, Global Link, is seeking interested people to get involved because the group is taking the first steps towards a more visible profile in Lancaster. The group plans to become an independent charity and a resource centre for all those

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Constance in the Spotlight

A FORMER amateur actress took centre stage this week when she celebrated her 100th birthday. And among the tributes to mark Mrs Constance Hill's big day on Wednesday was a telegram from the Queen. As well as treading the boards, Mrs Hill, a resident at

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Rolls job cut fear: MPs seek talks

ALARMED MPs are seeking a meeting with the Rolls-Royce management over job-cut fears after seeing workers at Westminster. They were told that up to 2,000 jobs could be axed across the company despite record order books. Among those are up to 90 redundancies

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Green Pete the Poet up the poll twice

A GREEN candidate was left feeling red-faced after it emerged he is standing for election in Pendle and Sheffield on the same day. Peter Hartley, who is known as Pete the Poet, has given two different addresses to town hall staff in the two local authorities

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Ambulance cash anger

AMBULANCE staff could have to work through chaotic Millennium celebrations without any extra pay, it was revealed today. And the unhappy mercy crews warned that services will be pushed to breaking point with casualties facing long waits during the end-of-year

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Henchoz battles on through injury

STEPHANE Henchoz is ready to push himself through the pain barrier once again at The Dell tomorrow, as the pressure mounts in Blackburn Rovers' battle for Premiership survival. The Swiss international is desperate for Rovers to clinch safety as soon as

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Facts and figures on Williamson Park

CAN I start by thanking Mr Elliott for his concern and public awareness of the actions of the Williamson Park Co. In answer to his question about why we have a private company called Williamson Park Ltd managing a public asset can I give the following

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I owe everything to my dad

I LIVED and worked in Bury for many years before emigrating to Canada in 1977. The Bury Times was my favourite newspaper and I still read it on the Internet. I am writing about my dad, Stan Cowell, who lives in Whitefield and is currently in Christie

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We need more data on pollution

MPs David Borrow and Audrey Wise should be congratulated for supporting the Access to Environmental Information Bill. At present, it is virtually impossible for people to get an accurate picture of what pollution is being released into their area. The

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Diabolical treatment

AS a parent at Brandlesholme CP school for the last 11 years, I would like to ask why nobody will listen to us. I thought this was a democratic country - obviously not when it comes to closing schools. Brandlesholme CP has more than 40 good years to its

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Pals remember Hillsborough victim Carl

HILLSBOROUGH Disaster victim Carl Brown will never be forgotten. The spirit of the 18 year-old Liverpool supporter from Leigh - one of the 96 football fans who died as a result of the Sheffield tragedy 10 years ago on Thursday - carries on. Lifelong pal

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Dreams can come true

THE first steps towards creating Leyland's town centre millennium dream were taken this week as the bulldozers moved in. South Ribble chief executive Phil Halsall turned up to watch work begin on the Southern Towngate site. The existing run down buildings

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Dreams of Trumpton

JOHN Porter's parochial dream (Letters, April 8), for down-structuring Britain (or is it 'Little England' he has in mind?) to a sort of glorified 'Trumpton,' immune from the problems of the outside world, is pure utopianism. The competitive jungle of

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Same again Ma'am

HERE'S a sight you won't see every day - the Queen supping a few pints and whooping it up in a Blackpool nightclub. Her Majesty will be doing just that tonight (April 15) when she mixes with partygoers at Brannigans, turning tenth birthday celebrations

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Licensed to skill

A FYLDE student has won the the trip of a lifetime to represent England in the international Skill Olympics. The event will be held in Montreal and 20-year-old Jenna Bailey will be there after beating 17 other hopefuls to win the national final of the

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Rough luck for Brook

Blackbrook 16 Hull Dockers 20 HULL Dockers wiped out the memory of Brook's early season 14-12 victory on Humberside with an enthusiastic and occasionally fiery display at Boardmans Lane on Saturday. However, their enthusiasm often boiled over into indiscipline

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Resort should clean up its act

WE have just been for a day trip to Blackpool and enjoyed the amusements, rides, Tower, shops and trams on the sea front. However the amount of litter was a disgrace. As a child I was taught by my parents not to throw down rubbish. I now teach my children

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A Funny Thing DID Happen

HER performers have dubbed her the Mistress of Wit. Dorothy Galvin loves to laugh, to make laughter and to make people laugh. So it was natural when St Joseph's Players decided to honour the lady who has guided them through more than half-a-century they

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Borough on Kosovo alert

HOUSING chiefs in Bury have put themselves on the alert to help Kosovo's helpless. Should the British Government call upon local authorities to provide homes for refugees, Bury leaders are keen to ensure they are more than ready to do their bit. While

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Big night for Frank

CHARITY fund-raiser Frank Cunningham will be holding one of his famous charity shows at Haydock C&B Club on Friday, April 23. There will be a minimum of four class acts in a grand TV preview talent show and top comedian Dave Barron will also be providing

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New phone system for jet company

A FLEET of executive jets is flying high with help from a revolutionary cordless telephone system supplied by Bury-based Pennine Telecom. Instant contact via telephone handsets, operating similarly to cellular phones, is now possible anywhere within the

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Attacker asked for light

POLICE are appealing for witnesses to an apparently unprovoked attack on a 46-year-old man on Good Friday. The victim was walking along the East Lancs Road, at Carr Mill, at about 8pm when he was approached by a younger man who asked him for a light.

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No weeping in willow garden

A WILLOW artist has made a tree-mendous improvement to an award-winning school garden. Miss Cherry Chung, from Manchester, worked closely with Mr John Tyldesley, a gardening teacher to transform the sensory garden at Elms Bank High School in Whitefield

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Warriors wrap...

HALTON HORNETS 30 WARRIORS 12 IN the first half Warriors held their own but a lapse of concentration allowed the opposition to run in some tries which were converted. Warriors attempted to put further points on the sheet but the damage had already been

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Rovers fan's bombing ordeal in Belgrade war zone

A BLACKBURN Rovers fan in Serbia has told of the horror of living in a war zone under the threat of nightly NATO air attacks. Jelena Pasic, 29, lives in the capital city Belgrade, which has been targeted by bombers in recent weeks. She has been receiving

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Citizen Smith is bang on

I HAVE never written to a paper before but I have to agree with Citizen Smith in the April edition regarding the police. The other night I witnessed an incident at Bare village club and I saw several police cars attend an incident to keep one club member

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New shops for old!

PLANS have been drawn up for new shops to be built on Whitefield's Elms Square precinct - just weeks after it was flattened by bulldozers. Bury Council's planning department has been told by the precinct owners - Isle of Man-based Anglo International

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Put the party into politics

The current local elections are the first to be held under a new law which permits the official registration of political parties. Readers may like to know that as well as Labour, Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and Greens another party has been officially

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Putting the boot in!

I NOTE with interest the comments in your newspaper by a Mr Briggs of Heysham Neighbourhood Council (Citizen: April 8) on the car boot sale chaos in the village at Easter. Can Mr Briggs explain to village residents the following: 1. What on earth has

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Village Hall open to all!

WITH reference to a letter printed on April 8, 1999 from Mr A Cunliffe, putting his theory that the Rainford Village Hall is only obtainable for able-bodied people, I can assure him this is totally untrue. To gain easy access to the building we have a

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New group in Scout leaders plea

A NEWLY re-formed Scout group in the Butts Bridge area has issued a desperate appeal for leaders. The 23rd Leigh (Bedford Methodist) Troop has been defunct for several years, but an attempt is being made to re-establish the gang. Boys are already waiting

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Thanks for support

CANCER Help (Preston) Ltd and Vine House would like to thank the staff and customers of Asda, Fulwood, for their generosity during our Easter collection in the store. We raised £2,375, for which we are grateful. With a grant from the National Lottery

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House not fit for animals

AS tenants in the Willow Street flats move out, Bury Council are making no attempt to ensure the place is safe for those people remaining in the flats and in neighbouring properties which are not being demolished. They began to brick up some of the empty

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Granny booted out of house

A 58-YEAR-OLD grandmother has been given 28 days to quit her home after her landlord won an eviction order. After a three day county court hearing, the woman, who has not been named, was told she has less than a month to quit her home. Her daughter and

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Idle Toad joins the field

THE battle lines have been drawn as South Ribble's four political parties prepare to go to war in a bid to win power in the borough. Unlike many authorities, South Ribble Borough Council holds elections once every four years for all councillors - instead

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NON-LEAGUE SOCCER: Weekend preview

ACCRINGTON Stanley boss Wayne Harrison has defended his managerial record in the wake of the Reds relegation to the UniBond First Division. Harrison took over from Billy Rodaway at the end of December when Stanley were already rock-bottom of the UniBond

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No Aldo - no fire power

BLACKPOOL 0 BURNLEY 2 BLACKPOOL'S first North West derby of the week didn't go quite as planned - despite the Tangerines having the lion's share of play on Tuesday (April 13). The home side started well in this all-ticket encounter and looked as strong

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Cops are tops

LANCASHIRE Constabulary has been given a massive vote of confidence by the public according to latest figures. The performance statistics - to be presented to the Police Authority today (April 15) - reveal that more than 92 per cent of people helped by

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Go-ahead for church car park

PADIHAM Unitarian Church has been given the go-ahead to open a new car park behind its Church Street chapel - despite fierce opposition from neighbours. The council's development control committee last night also gave listed building consent for changes

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Improving bus appeal

HERE are two ways for Blackpool Transport to get a favourable response from passengers. The first is to erect shelters at all the bus stops - there's nothing worse than standing in the wind and rain for getting your journey off to a bad start. Secondly

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Super Saints tame Broncos

London Broncos 18 Saints 34 SUPER League leaders Saints made it five wins in as many games - three of them in a week - with this seven-try show at The Stoop. But they were yet again slow to click into top gear - the result of a gruelling programme no

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Pride of the JOL

THE St Helens McDonalds JOL celebrated its 80th anniversary with success in the Flanders Cup international tournament in Belgium. The under 12s, 14s and 16s all reached the finals of their repective competitions. The under 12s won their event; the under

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Elsie has 100 reasons to celebrate

A BURY pensioner is celebrating her birthday today - at the grand age of 100. Mrs Elsie Ivatt, of Chestnut Court Nursing Home, Bury, where she has lived since 1995, is celebrating in style. Guests at Elsie's party, including relatives, friends and the

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Election: the candidates

ABRAM: Marion Green (Con), Orrell Road, Orrell; *Barry William Hampson (Lab), Bickershaw Lane, Abram; Pauline Murphy (Green), Rugby Road, Leigh. ASHTON/GOLBORNE: *John Edward Hilton (Lab), Hazel Grove, Golborne; Linda Maile (Green), Swan Meadow Road,

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Police sound warning

POLICE are warning people to beware of buying second-hand power tools following a break-in at an industrial unit. Thieves broke into the unit at Sutton Oak drive, Sutton, between 4pm on Sunday, April 11, and 8am on Monday, April 12, and stole a considerable

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Today's the Day!

A look at events through history on April 16 with Mike Badham 1746: Bonnie Prince Charlie was beaten at the battle of Culloden by a mixed English and Scottish army. 1828: Slapdash Spanish painter Goya died. When on form, he could paint your portrait in

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11th CARD: Captain Gregan goes before the FA today

IT'S going to be trial by video for North End skipper Sean Gregan as the club try to clear him of his fourth suspension this season. Manager David Moyes was due to defend his player's corner at an FA disciplinary hearing in Manchester today (Thursday)

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Bubble and squeak days

A HUBBY and wife whose memories stretch back to the 1930s have given me a team answer to last week's yedscratter concerning the origins of the old Lancashire term, 'Bally Ann Day.' This was the description given by hard-up mothers on the eve of pay day

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Sunday opening for market

RADCLIFFE Market could open on Sundays. There are plans to revive the ailing market and make it once again a focal part of town centre trading. Hoping to recreate the bustling market of the past, Councillor Barry Briggs, chairman of the Radcliffe Renewal

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Thanks for two teachers

A MEMORIAL service to mark the life and work of a former Atherton teacher will be celebrated on Sunday, April 18. Evensong at Atherton Parish Church at 6.30pm will take the form of thanksgiving for John Kenneth Lyon, who spent most of his working life

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Store points to help refugees

THREE Leigh Good Samaritans are organising collections to ease the plight of the Kosovar refugees. Linda Easton and Christine Gerrard, and their friend Janet Darwell have been saddened to see what is happening and decided to do something to help. They

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Don't be naive, officer

PC Dave Taylor's comment that speed enforcement work is targeting at accident blackspots is naive and he knows it. The police target areas where they'll catch motorists and secure convictions, such as Tom Benson Way, where there are no junctions, no pedestrians

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Elections: John goes Indy!

LOCAL election candidate John Sumner aims to play Indy music on May 6! That's the day John, 41, of Platt Street, Leigh is standing in Leigh East as an Independent. The ex-Leigh Grammar School pupil and Parsonage Pit electrician said: "People say 'you'll

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Other stars don't share opinion

THE report in the Bury Times (April 1) that Bury footballer Kemajl Avdiu, who is from Yugoslavia, supports the bombing of his country is in sharp contrast to the attitude taken by a number of other players from Yugoslavia. Vladan Lukic, who plays for

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Cops the tops

LANCASHIRE Constabulary has been given a massive vote of confidence by the public according to their latest figures. The performance statistics - to be presented to the Police Authority today (Thursday) - reveal more than 92 per cent of people who were

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Retailers: 'we cannot compete'

TRADERS in a thriving district of Preston fear a new supermarket which has opened on their doorstep, could drive them out of business. Shopkeepers on Blackpool Road, in Lea, were amazed when a Somerfield shop set up in a petrol station. Now they fear

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Pay claims out of rises

REGARDING your report (LET, April 2) about Blackburn with Darwen Council's horror at the amount of claims for accidents in the market, this is only half the story. There are also claims for compensation going in from people who have tripped and fallen

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Failures in true light

CONDEMNING your editorial which accused Blackburn with Darwen Council of burying its head in the sand over the future of its council houses, housing chairman Councillor Mohammed Khan and vice-chairman Councillor Dave Hollings (Letters, March 31), of course

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Splashing time for Newton

NEWTON Hall amateur swimming club continued their early season success with yet more wins in various competitions. The Sub League A team, for swimmers aged 12 and upwards, swam against Chorley and Fleetwood recently and in an exciting gala came out winners

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Compromise needed on new school plan

I AM writing in response to an article in the Journal on March 25, concerning the relocation of Chowbent Junior & Infant School to recreation ground just off Douglas Street. Another local resident, Terry Taylor, described as spokesman, says objectors

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Finch sent crashing

Haresfinch 36 Saddleworth A 37 FOURTEEN points in the last five minutes was not enough to prevent Finch crashing to their fifth home defeat of the season against a mediocre Saddleworth outfit. The homesters scored seven tries to the visitors' six, but

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Report holds no fear for head

AN Ofsted inspection report is something dreaded by some schools - but the new head of St Theodore's in Burnley is looking forward to receiving the document. John Tat, 47, took over as head of the Roman Catholic high school on Monday and will receive

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Contest to stretch gymnasts

LOCAL gymnasts are being given the chance to go for glory. For St Helens MBC Sports Development team is hosting the St Helens Gymnastics Championships at Sutton Leisure Centre on Saturday. May 1. The event has been organised in conjunction with the town's

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Blues need to win

Guiseley 1 Lancaster 0 CITY still aren't safe after this defeat and must win at home to Leigh RMI on Saturday. Third bottom they're still seven points clear of relegation placed Chorley - still close enough to danger to worry. What made it worse was the

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The job savers

GOOD news could be on the way for the Fylde's 1,500 National Savings staff. For Siemens Business Services (SBS), which took over the running of National Savings from the civil service on April 1, has promised not only no redundancies but prospects of

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Caretaker needed for the Grand ...and not Pinter's!

LANCASTER'S historic Grand Theatre faces an uncertain future unless it can meet the challenges of the new millennium, claim the theatre's management. The third oldest working theatre in the country is run by amateurs and volunteers and receives no regular

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No end to parking agony

BLACKPOOL drivers face months more parking pain before a £1.1m restoration of the town centre's crumbling car parks is complete. Parts of four multi-storey car parks have been shut off and a fifth demolished since dangerous "concrete cancer" was diagnosed

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Oyston's early release blocked

OWEN OYSTON, Britain's richest prisoner, will not be released from jail for another year - because he refuses to admit that he raped a former fashion model at Claughton Hall, Lancaster, the baronial hall where he lived until he was jailed for six years

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Shrimps go cup in hand

Morecambe 2 Darwen 2 (Morecambe win 4-2 on penalties) "ANY cup is worth winning," said Morecambe manager Jim Harvey of this second successive Lancashire cup triumph. Judging by the smiles on the players' faces they completely agreed with him - to say

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On the right track!

LANCASTER Train Station has been given a £200,000 revamp. The facelift includes a new improved car park, CCTV cameras, security fences and better waiting rooms. Jane Brammer of North West Trains said: "The station won the best kept station of the year

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Duo cop awards

TWO detectives based at St Helens police station are to be presented with Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medals at a ceremony to be held at Knowsley Hall, Prescot. DS Tommy Wright and DC Martin Reeves will be presented with their awards by the High

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Seminar on new health and safety laws

THE impact of new health, safety and environmental laws will come under the spotlight at a special seminar later this month. The event is being staged by Bury's Business Environment Association (BEA) and will be held at Bury FC's Starkies Suite on Wednesday

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It's grand to talk!

A MAJOR jobs coup is set to provide a staggering 2,000 new opportunities for local people. Mobile telecommunications giants Cellnet has chosen the town as the site for its regional Call Centre. Bosses say it is the sound of the local accent that played

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War declared on violence

A PROJECT aimed at offering support and protection for the victims of domestic violence is being set up in St Helens. Ann Clarke has recently been appointed as the Education and Training Officer for the Domestic Violence Preventative Project. Violence

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Burke retains his title

PAUL Burke celebrated the 27th victory of his career at the weekend when he retained his Commonwealth title against Bernard Paul. Preston's lighter-welterweight, 32, looked comfortable as he emphatically beat his opponent for the second time at the MEB

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Royals reach for top crown

LEIGH'S Royal Oak are a point away from clinching the NorthWest Counties ARL Division Five title. And they reached the tip of the winning post with a champion-style performance to beat derby rivals Culcheth Eagles 40-30. In a match of free-flowing rugby

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JOHN Wallwork Volvo, of Preston, have sponsored a new seniors golf league which will cover the entir

The league will get under way this month with Wilpshire Golf Club (Blackburn) hosting Ingol Golf Club in the inaugural match. Ray Shannon from Ingol, who is the president for the inaugural year, said: "I am delighted John Wallwork approached us to ask

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Woman found dead on the sand

POLICE were still trying to solve the identity of a mystery girl two days after her body was washed up with a panic alarm clipped to her belt on Rossall beach. The fully-clothed young Asian woman, aged 18 to 22, was found on the shore opposite Rossall

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Glory days are long gone

I AM surprised at the letter from Cllr Stanley (Citizen: April 8) referring to the private enterprise in the park. I am amazed that Morecambe Tourism allowed it to happen and secondly at the whole Crinkley Bottom farce, which must be classed as one of

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Picture power from the past

HAPPY memories came surging back for Linda Casadei when she spotted a flashback photo (this page, March 25) featuring a massive load being transported, push-and-pull style, along the East Lancashire Road by two mighty Scammel lorries. For, prominent in

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Off the rails

TSK, tsk, tsk, not Bill Chadwick on about trams again (Citizen April 1)? While I agree with the use of former disused railway lines, there remains some very salient problems, particularly with regards to wheelchair acess - that's my 'hobby horse.' Pardon

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Tallies make a great show for S&S club

ATHERTON'S old seamen stripped recently for a memorabilia display at their HQ. They pulled the tallies from their caps to adorn the walls of the High Street Sailors and Soldiers' Club. The collect it idea originated following a visit to another branch

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He's looking for 60 daredevils...

MY name is Greg Searle, the British Olympic rower. I am writing to ask Citizen readers to sign up for a charity event with a very big difference! I am looking for 60 daredevils to join a fantastic white water rafting expedition down the Zambezi River,

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Ghosts take their place at the bar

REGULARS at a Leyland pub are sharing the bar with a different kind of spirit - the sort that goes bump in the night. Three ghosts are believed to have made the Halfway House, Preston Road, Clayton-le-Woods, their home. Two of them are friendly, but the

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CRICKET: Aussie stand-in

RISHTON have signed Australian Greg Dimery as substitute professional for Sunday's opening Lancashire League game at Rawtenstall. Dimery, now resident in this country, is professional at Elton, near Bury, and played for Leigh last summer, scoring around

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Probation team gets in 'shape'

LANCASHIRE'S Probation Service is undergoing an internal reorganisation geared to further improving and raising the standards of its services to courts and local communities. Staff at the service are being organised into specialist teams to focus their

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Only one man to blame

THE horrors of the war in the Balkans are brought home to us several times a day. But right in the middle of the conflict Jelena Pasic, a citizen of Belgrade and a Blackburn Rovers fan, is receiving comfort via the Internet from other Rovers fans. It

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SUPERBIKES: Corser has the edge on Foggy

TEAM-MATE Troy Corser is proving the biggest threat to Carl Fogarty's 100 per cent start to the World Superbike Championship campaign. The championship today moved to Australia's Phillip Island for the second round of races with Fogarty riding high on

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SOCCER: Blackburn Dynamos Under-13s 4 Oggy Hospur Under-13s 0

DYNAMOS Under-13s turned in an excellent performance in their penultimate league game, which made a mockery of their league position. On an extremely heavy pitch both teams struggled to find any kind of rhythm, but Dynamos looked the more dangerous. On

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Schoolboy's flying start

A LANCASTER teenager is flying high after landing a solo flight in a Piper Warrior light aircraft for his 17th birthday. Jonathan Smith's ambition to become a pilot is soaring after being given the chance to fly solo by his parents as a birthday treat

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Helicopter crash remains unsolved

THE cause of a helicopter crash which narrowly missed the busy M6 near Nether Kellet remains a mystery, an accident report has concluded. Two men were killed in the helicopter crash but the reasons why the aircraft broke up in flight before plunging to

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You are with the force

THE performance of the local police force has rated very highly in a survey of people who have used the service over the last 12 months. The results have been received as a "massive vote of confidence" in Lancashire Constabulary, with 92 per cent of people

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Town bounce back in style

Glossop 0 St Helens Town 1 St Helens Town 4 Leek CSOB 0 TOWN bounced back from their lamentable Easter in style with two fine wins in the space of three days. And they kept clean sheets on each occasion as confidence and determination returned. Thursday

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Oyston refuses to admit rape guilt

OWEN OYSTON will not be released from jail for another year - because he refuses to admit that he raped a former fashion model at Claughton Hall, Lancaster, the baronial hall where he lived until he was jailed for six years in 1996. The media tycoon and

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Cricket: Willow wielders back in action

SNOW, torrential rain, hailstorms and gale force winds - it can only mean one thing . . . the 1999 cricket season gets underway this weekend! Ramsbottom get their Lancashire League campaign up and running on Sunday with a fixture against last season's

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New training for our ambassadors

WIGAN and Leigh College is offering free training for the town's front line ambassadors - people who welcome tourists to the area. The scheme, funded by Europe, offers a qualification to the vanguard which includes receptionists, taxi drivers and stadium

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Award for brave police officer

A POLICEMAN who was stabbed with a pair of scissors as he attempted to arrest an violent man has been commended for his bravery. Constable Graham Farrer, 32, of Accrington will be presented with his award for extreme courage and fortitude by the Chief

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Adam's dolphin trip worth every penny

LITTLE Adam Foulkes' swims with Miami dolphins has paid off. The three weeks Florida trip, which cost £8,200 for therapy alone, has helped to improve 11-years-old Adam's concentration, speech and mobility. "We prayed for a miracle, but we had no idea

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Take over the hot seat in the world of soccer

ARE you one of the legion of armchair soccer pundits? Do you reckon the manager of your soccer team would be better off sticking to knitting? Do you think you could make a better job of running the side? If the answer is yes, yes and yes, then why not

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Rescuers at the double!

MORECAMBE lifeboatmen made an unexpected 'double rescue' this week while answering an emergency call. First they rescued a sailor having a suspected heart attack at Sunderland Point and then found time on their way home to save a driver who had crashed

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Daddy's boy Daniel dies in skateboard accident

A SIX-YEAR-old boy was killed after careering into a road on a skateboard. Daniel Marsh shot off the pavement into the path of a car on a quiet Tyldesley estate. The schoolboy of Merton Grove, Astley, suffered head, neck, chest and other injuries. He

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Winning team!

THE distinctive corporate brand of the newly-created Bolton and Bury Chamber has won a national public relations award. The powerful blue, red and white image was introduced last October when Bolton Bury Training and Enterprise Council (TEC) and Business

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Craig plays a waiting game

CRAIG DEAN must wait another two weeks before finding out if his season is over. The Leigh skipper is still on crutches after further damaging his suspect ankle in the Easter Monday win at Oldham. He saw a specialist last Thursday but a full diagnosis

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BT backs Millennium voyage

"BANNER" headline has taken on a new meaning for the Bury Times Group. To show its support for the town's ambitious "Sailing Into the Millennium" project, the Group has sponsored the siting of a high-profile publicity banner. It is being hung at Bury

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Alert on school parking hazards

A NEW video highlighting the dangers of parking outside schools is being launched at Bleak Hill Primary School on Thursday, April 22. Merseyside Police, St Helens Council and St Helens College have jointly produced a hard-hitting road safety video aimed

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Joan will walk tall

STAFF nurse Joan Jones is preparing to swap her uniform for some woolly winter clothes and stout walking boots for an arduous trek across the Himalayas in November this year. Joan is taking part in the trek to raise money for 'Give Us A Break', a scheme

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Shake-up for health

HEALTH care in St Helens has received its biggest shake-up in 50 years. Family doctors and nurses are being given a bigger say in how funds will be spent following the introduction of new Primary Care Groups (PCGs). These replace the GP fundholding system

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David's 24-mile Peaks challenge

INTREPID fell walker David Bratt has thrown out a June challenge. He will, for the second time, be tramping the White Rose peaks in the 24-mile Three Peaks of Yorkshire Walk. And David, 57, a keen walker with the Ramblers Association, is hoping to have

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Disasters led to drink drive offence

A DRINK-driver's life had lurched from one disaster to another, culminating in the death of his son from a heroin overdose, Blackburn magistrates were told. Heating engineer Michael Teirney had been made bankrupt, owing £180,000, and his wife had left

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Events in East Lancs/North West tomorrow (Saturday, April 17th)

Festival Jumble Sale, Goosnargh Village Hall, 2pm. North West Federation for the Hard of Hearing meet Ardley Centre, Bent Street, Blackburn, 2.30pm. Clear Speech and Lip Reading Competition for all hearing impaired people. Burnley 5th Boy's Brigade Company's

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Wondering about town centre seats

ON a recent stroll through the LaGrange shopping arcade I was struck by the number of teenagers sitting on the seats near to British Home Stores. I would say that 90 per cent of the seating was occupied by teenagers. Now don't get me wrong, I am not complaining

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ELR rolls back the years

FORTY-SEVEN years after its closure the northern line from Bury's Bolton Street Station has been partly restored by East Lancs Railway engineers. It was full steam ahead for the ELR on Saturday when the back platform at the station was used for the first

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Never again

THE plight of the Kosovo refugees and their struggle for life has brought back chilling memories for a Whitefield man who survived the horrors of the Holocaust. And this week, Mr Meyer Hersch, spoke about his harrowing ordeal with Prestwich High pupils

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New voice for minority

ETHNIC minorities now have a local voice following the establishment of the Leigh and Wigan Ethnic Minority Group. At an inaugural meeting, in Leigh Town Hall, Group officers elected were: chairman Mohammed Anwar; vice chairman Shabbir Ahmed; secretary

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Xanadu fight warm-up

THE No Xanadu campaigners are organising a mock inquiry on Saturday (April 17) at the Pennington Hotel. The event, part of an open day at the Bonnywell Road, pub will start at 12 noon. It will be an opportunity for the public to meet the 'No Xanadu' team

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Read all about it

PRESTON schoolchildren, who find learning to read difficult, are to benefit from a new scheme designed by researchers at Oxford Brookes University. The Catch Up Project is designed as a manageable, effective programme for teachers to help seven and eight-year-olds

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Busk was a blockbuster

I WOULD like to thank everyone who contributed to our 'Comic Relief Busk,' in Burnley town centre on Saturday, March 13. Thanks to their generosity, we made a grand total of £41.45. CHRISTINE CRAMSIE (Secretary, Blowjangles Street Band), St Philips Street

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Surely we can afford this payment?

MOST people who work through the New Millennium celebrations will receive handsome financial reward. But Lancashire Ambulance staff have been told they may not receive any extra cash and that there could be no funding available to put extra ambulances

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Ray of light

BLACKPOOL 2 READING 0 JUST when the Tangerines needed it, along came an easy three points on Saturday (April 10) which should ensure Division Two football next year. Martin Aldridge was back in form to put the Seasiders in front from the penalty spot

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Vale hammer Yorkies

Vale of Lune 97 York 10 VALE of Lune set a new club scoring record after hammering an already relegated York side in their penultimate game. The Vale's 15 try romp gives them a slight chance of gaining promotion but it would require some bizarre results

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Animal cruelty

I HAVE previously had no qualms about visiting a circus with animals in it. But I soon changed my mind after seeing a stomach churning television documentary about the way some animals were cruelly treated by Mary Chipperfield. It made me wonder whether

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Tangerine avengers

FORGET the FA Cup final, the league and relegation battles. If there's one match Blackpool fans want to see their club win, it's the derby against Preston. The only accolade left for the Seasiders this season is three points from their arch rivals. A

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Resort strikes gold in sport

BLACKPOOL has sprinted, kicked, thrown and jumped its way to the number one spot for sport in the community. The resort's sports development programme is being used as a national pacesetter by Sport England (formerly the English Sports Council), showing

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Charity Express!

PEOPLE from across the North West were seen wandering around one of the area's tiny villages with black bin bags full of booty this week. They did so on the advice of The Express newspaper which asked its readers to donate jumble for the victims of the

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Falling girder fells two staff

TWO Lancaster workmen had a lucky escape this week after a metal girder fell onto their heads as they worked at Storeys Wallpaper on White Lund. Both men escaped serious injury but were taken to hospital where they both received stitches to head wounds

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Millennium Mayor!

IT'S official! Bury's Millennium Mayor is to be Elton ward councillor John Costello. His nomination was ratified at Wednesday's full council meeting. The Labour councillor, who lives in Westgate Avenue, Holcombe Brook, has represented Elton for almost

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Rovers defender battles on through injury

STEPHANE Henchoz is ready to push himself through the pain barrier once again at The Dell tomorrow, as the pressure mounts in Blackburn Rovers' battle for Premiership survival. The Swiss international is desperate for Rovers to clinch safety as soon as

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One point out of six tells its own story

IN a breathtaking, all action Lancashire hot-pot of a match, both teams treated their supporters to a football feast that had the nerve ends jangling. (WIGAN ATHLETIC 2 PNE 2) We should have received a Government health warning to help us cope with the

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Bath time in Atherton

THEY'RE splashing at Atherton Baths again this weekend with the re-opening of the old building. And, in celebration, the town's swimming club is hosting a junior swim league gala. The club meets every Tuesday and Thursday; new members are welcome. Call

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Teenage girl was knocked out

POLICE are appealing for witnesses to an assault on a teenage girl in the early hours of Saturday, April 10. The incident happened in Duke Street, in the town centre at about 2am. As the 16-year-old victim waited for her boyfriend who had ordered a pizza

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'Jinxed' Martin has bike stolen

A YOUNG boy is heartbroken after his bike was stolen - just a week after he got it for his birthday. And for 11-year-old Martin Everett, from Cartmel Avenue, St Helens, the bike is the latest in a long line of treasured possessions taken by thieves. His

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Disco delights at the double

THERE was a blaze of colour and non-stop dancing at Silhouette Dance Club when the St Helens Star/Silhouette Dance Club Disco Dance competition took place. This event (contestants and organisers seen above) at Boundary Road, was to raise money for ChildLine

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Leigh pay price for defensive errors

LEIGH RU, with six enforced changes, just failed to hold Netherall. Ross Fletcher's early try kept them in the picture; then he intercepted on his own line to hand a TD to the supporting David Bullough with Chris Lee adding the goal. But Leigh kept handing

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Warning as cult moves in

A RELIGIOUS cult which has been criticised for targeting vulnerable, lonely students has begun operating in Preston. The group, part of the global International Churches of Christ, is believed to be recruiting members into its religion, a form of Christianity

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Blunting Stanley's knife

NO doubt some of your readers will have been as shocked and saddened as I was by last week's gratuitous and nasty personal attack on me by Labour Cllr Derrick Stanley in your letters pages. Shocked because, although Cllr Stanley may be many things, few

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A load from an old cobbler!

AN old shoe-maker in Cyprus has come to the rescue of a foot-weary young Preston schoolgirl. Eleven-year-old Rebecca Shore-Robinson has an astonishing size 11 feet. And while her pals were parading round in fashionable platforms, all she could find to

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The unfunniest 'knock-knock' joke in history!

This is an important public safety announcement... your blood pressure and your boredom threshold could be put under severe strain. Reports are coming in of hordes of wannabe councillors operating throughout the district. The public has been warned to

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Bid to quell fire cut fears

A COUNCILLOR has desribed a crunch meeting between fire chiefs and councillors as 'a shambles'. Chief fire officer designate, Graham Thompson, attended Tuesday's meeting of the policy and resources committee to explain the cuts to Leyland's fire cover

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Council agrees to radical shake-up

PLANS to revolutionise South Ribble Borough Council have been backed by local councillors. At a meeting of the policy and resources committee this week, councillors gave their approval to the far-reaching plans, which could see power shifted way from

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Relative values

PRESTON'S political arena could become a real family affair after this year's local elections. For among the candidates standing are the spouses of three prominent councillors, who would like nothing more than to join their partners in the council chamber

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CRICKET: Now where is Nawaz?

RIBBLESDALE Wanderers will make a decision on the future of professional Shahid Nawaz over the weekend. Nawaz, who smashed the Ribblesdale League's batting record last summer, has failed to get in touch with the Church Meadow outfit to confirm his availability

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Rail cuts spark fury

MERSEYSIDE'S transport chiefs have condemned new job cuts by a major train operator, which they claim could spell worsening service levels for customers. First North Western (FNW) are axing six front-line staff on the busy Liverpool-to-St Helens service

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Students have the answer

LIFE is a picnic at Park School, Blackpool, thanks to trainee chippies. Two hardwood picnic tables have been designed and created for the school grounds by carpentry and joinery students from Blackpool and the Fylde College. They responded to a request

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Care home plan sparks new guidlines

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a home for disruptive children in South Shore have been put on hold after massive public protest. Blackpool regeneration and development committee on Monday (April 12) decided to seek more information and draw up proper planning

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Shock for West Park

Lymm 29 West Park 10 WITH nothing at stake this friendly fixture at Lymm's Crouchley Lane should have been an opportunity for a relaxed display of open rugby and the chance to blood new players in the first team. But an indifferent display by some of

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MP joins North Shore facelift fight

BLACKPOOL North MP Joan Humble is going into battle after a £4.5m North Shore Coastal Park scheme was turned down for lottery cash. The MP is backing pleas from North Shore councillors, businesses and residents that the long-neglected seafront is not

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Toddler group on the go

A GROUP for Asian mothers and toddlers in the Bury area is now up and running. The group, which has been established for six months, is the first of its kind in the area, offering mothers and pre-school children from Asian families a chance to get together

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'Nobody dresses up to go out in Accrington'

NOBODY dresses up for a night out in Accrington because there are no clubs worth dressing up for, a businessman from Burnley told licensing justices. And Mick Cookson, owner of banqueting suite Berkley Manor, Willow Street, Accrington, said a mistake

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Abbey road to ruin: Easy to walk through history so close to home

Drive and Stroll, with Ron Freethy A LETTER in this week's postbag got me thinking. It was from Ralph Whitaker, of Orchard Street, Great Harwood, who writes: "I ENJOY reading your articles in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph but from time to time you

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New phone won't stretch patients

PATIENTS telephoning Bury General Hospital will have to communicate with a computer after May. The hospital decided to introduce a digital switchboard at a meeting on Tuesday April 13. The £21,000 scheme was proposed by David Clements, hospitals manager

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Wizard pinball action

IT'S finger flippin' good. Yes, you can really get your digits whirling with Pro Pinball: Big Race USA the latest and most impressive pinball offering from Empire. The colours and graphics are superb and Pro Pinball is as good - if not better - than other

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Brig hope to go out with a bang

ANOTHER year in the life of topsy-turvy Bamber Bridge Football Club comes to a close on Saturday - and what a difference a year makes! This time last year Brig had just managed to protect their status as a UniBond Premier League side. This year, the team

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Cheeky thief

A BRAZEN thief stole a cyclist's mobile phone after pulling up alongside him at a set of traffic lights. The thief, driving a blue car, part registration B5, pulled up alongside the cyclist at traffic lights at the junction of Sutton Road and Jackson

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Tough rules set to stop benefit cheats

COUNCIL chiefs are cracking down extra-hard on benefit cheats. Bury Town Hall has adopted a tough set of rules to tackle dishonest tenants who cheat on their housing benefit claims. And the council's finance spokesman, councillor John Byrne, has vowed

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Bury FC: It's all-out attack

SHAKERS boss Neil Warnock has vowed to go on all-out attack in the club's crucial final four matches. And that means sticking with the same side and 4-4-2 formation which produced two stunning goals in defeat against champions-elect Sunderland on Tuesday

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Tidying up our act

ST HELENS has been voted fourth cleanest of all the 36 Metropolitan Authorities in the country in a survey carried out on behalf of the Tidy Britain Group. The surveys, carried out by trained surveyors, covered a one-kilometre diameter circle from the

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Crufts winner bit woman and boy

A GERMAN Shepherd dog which had won at Crufts bit a woman and a 13-year-old boy in two separate incidents. Blackburn magistrates also heard that the dog's owner had a previous conviction for keeping a dangerous dog. Paul Anthony Kenneth Turner, 38, of

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Crime victim gets cash back

A FRAIL pensioner who was attacked and robbed of £80 in her own home has been given a gift by kind-hearted traders. Their £80 gesture has helped restore Mrs Ivy Bleakley's faith in human nature after two men forced their way into her Whitefield flat (

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Foo Foo sees the funny side

COMEDY fan Sandra Lambert will be one of the stars of the show at legendary drag star Frank Lammar's night club next week - even though her car was involved in an accident which left his luxury Rolls-Royce a write-off. The star, best known as drag queen

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Village willing to take Kosovo refugees

REFUGEES fleeing the war-torn Balkans will find a warm welcome in the Ribble Valley, a parish council chairman said today. Health bosses have revealed that homeless Albanian Kosovars could be found a new home at Calderstones Hospital, Whalley. The NHS

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Not in our front garden

RESIDENTS living near a blighted bus shelter say they will dread summer until the bus stop is moved. Council bosses plan to rotate the shelter on Aldfield Avenue, Lea, in a bid to discourage troublesome youths, who have made the spot a regular haunt.

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Internet an eye-opener

IT'S learning, but not as we know it! Blind people across the globe are being given the chance to gain new skills and qualifications thanks to a Preston-based charity. But the 'students' won't have to step into the classroom at Action for the Blind's

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Red tape bungle leaves group homeless

A CASH-strapped ethnic disability centre which has won Lottery cash is appealing for an eleventh hour decision from council bosses to prevent it being turfed out onto the street. The Pukar Disability Resource Centre, run by wheelchair-bound Poppy Tanna

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Hawks need to re-think

FOLLOWING a number of incidents concerning the Blackburn Hawks and their coach Bobby Haig, I was appalled to read (LET, March 13) that he had been convicted of burglary when he is in such a high-profile position. I have watched the Hawks on numerous occasions

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Sympathy for driver

IF Alexander Gore (Letters, April 5) took the trouble to read Adrian Shurmer's letter he would see that he did not suggest the driver of the overloaded council lorry (LET, March 2) should be fined 10 per cent of his salary, rather that drivers of all

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Agony and ecstasy

WE'RE on the brink of a third World War And what does the radio news report? A new world record for kissing. A couple in Tel Aviv, with nothing better to do, clocked a 30hrs 45min snog (defeating the old record of 29hrs 37min) but I don't know how they

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But where are our election women?

WHAT'S the matter with the women of the Leigh area? Where is their fighting spirit? Election day has come round again and they're again leaving it all to the men. There's a noticable dirth of Labour women. Only one female independent Labour candidate