Archive

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Warning shot to Tony Blair

THE Welsh Minister, Peter Hain, said recently that the Government ignored its heartland at its peril. This was borne out with the results of the European elections when, in the main, Labour voters stayed at home. Tony Blair seems to only bother about

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Our Red Baron

MORE congratulations are in order this week - this time for Wigan Council Leader, Peter Smith. He has become Leigh's own Red Baron. Peter, a Leigh councillor who lives on the Leigh-Atherton border, is one of 22 new Labour working peers, honoured by PM

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Jailhouse Ruby - bring it to Leigh!

DIDN'T you just love 'Ruby's American Pie' on TV on Sunday? Comedienne Ruby Wax went to Arizona to meet the Sheriff of the USA's toughest jail, where inmates have to pay for rotten food, live in tents, join chanting chain gangs and bury unwanted bodies

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County to cut clothes grant

MOTHERS in Morecambe and Heysham told of their shock at the abolition of clothing grants for children of families on income support. Dawn Watson of Sycamore Grove in Heysham and other parents obtained pages of signatures for a petition against the proposal

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Join the garden fun at centre

BENTS Garden Centre in Glazebury is staging a weekend garden party (June 26-27). As part of the second National Garden Party weekend, the Warrington Road centre will open its doors for two days of fun and gardening delights for all the family. Events

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From the little seeds...

HUNDREDS of Atherton schoolchildren have sewn a seed for the future. The town's five primary schools have been presented with a tree growing kit as part of a green project. And they will plant and nurture the seeds until they are ready to be planted out

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Club is just bowled over!

A CRICKET club has been bowled over by a carpet firm's generosity. Gaskell Textiles of Accrington stepped in to help Great Harwood CC when they asked for help for a new practice wicket. Gaskell supplied 70 square metres of specialist sports underlay which

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Plant permission

A HEYSHAM chemical factory was given permission to expand by city councillors this week. That could lead to 50 new jobs being created. Protesters to the expansion of Avocado Chemicals included local primary schools, Heysham Neighbourhood Council and a

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Council pays compensation

AN elderly Morecambe woman who was struck unconscious by falling scaffolding as council workmen took down the "World of Crinkley Bottom" sign at Happy Mount Park has been compensated by the council. The woman was walking her dog in the park in 1996 when

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Mike voices phone mast fears

CONCERNS voiced by Rainhill residents about a 50 foot telecommunications tower on Rainhill Recreational Club grounds have been echoed by the ward's three councillors, Mike Doyle, Joe De Asha and Phil Speakman. Following last week's Front Page story, Councillor

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Brewers guilty of pollution

A BREWERS has been fined £9,500 for allowing two of its Bury pubs to pollute nearby brooks. And Rochdale magistrates also ordered J. W. Lees and Co to pay costs of £650. The Middleton company admitted three charges of allowing excessive effluent from

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Brakes put on park and ride

A MILLION pound park and ride scheme for Blackburn looks set to be shelved following a report from a team of consultants. Blackburn with Darwen Council was hoping to set up the scheme in Whitebirk in a bid to relieve pressure on the town centre's road

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Ex mayor has towering ambition

A FORMER mayor of Radcliffe has launched a campaign to turn part of the town into a tourist attraction. Mr Ronald Morris, 88, of Bury Road wants to celebrate Radcliffe's past as well as develop it for future generations to enjoy. He says the Radcliffe

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Bookie with a golden heart

LEW Willett was a back-street bookie with a heart of gold. A wartime prisoner of the Japanese, he never allowed this horrific experience to embitter him or cloud his affection for his fellow man. Memories of Lew came rushing back for Bernard Wilson of

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Stanley Henig committed political suicide

MANY local people will agree with Pat England's criticism of Stanley Henig's political record in her letter (Citizen: June 18) "not the man I recognise". Those of his personal friends seeking reasons for Mr Henig's humiliating and sudden political fall

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Independents feeding their addiction

ONCE again the Independents are unnecessarily sensationalising issues to feed their addiction to the soundbite. They claim to have uncovered a "financially absurd" capital programme and unbalanced budgets inherited from Labour. There's nothing new in

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Agency cast net for anglers

ANGLERS have the chance to cast their views on the improvement of coarse fishing. To coincide with the start of the river season the Environment Agency has started consultation plans for the development of the sport. A document, Coarse Fisheries Strategy

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Buses, beggars and car parks

I READ with interest the letters on Preston becoming a city (Citizen Letters June 10 1999), and would say it has already got some ideal makings of one. How many cities can you drive into without getting lost? Don't all big cities attract beggars? We don't

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Sponsorship deal gives actor hope

ASPIRING actor Dermot Canavan has been offered a glimmer of hope in his bid for stardom. Dermot, 34, has been given £2,000 towards the £11,500 annual sponsorship he needs to accept a place at the prestigious Drama Studios in London. The training would

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Sporty cops tackle street kids problem

POLICE and sports leaders are joining forces to take youngsters off the streets and keep them away from alcohol and drugs. And the Sport and Alcosense Project will have two local bases -Howe Bridge Sports Centre and Bedford High School. Already 700 youngsters

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SUPERBIKES SPECIAL: Foggy quits testing after safety fears

CARL Fogarty abandoned a special testing session on his bogey track of Misano because of fears over the safety of the surface. The three times World Superbike champion arrived in Italy a week early in order to combine extra preparation with a short break

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Bid to lure tourist traffic

THINK of tourism in Lancashire and images of Blackpool Tower, Camelot and Pendle Hill spring to mind - but none are in South Ribble. But council chiefs are hoping to turn the borough into a tourism honey pot with the launch of their tourism strategy.

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Happily ever after

A LEYLAND man and his Irish bride-to-be, who fell in love in the wake of the Omagh bomb, are to marry this weekend. Mark Blackwell, who moved from Leyland two years ago, will tie the knot with Omagh bomb victim Sandy Smith a year after they first met.

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Saints cash bonanza

SAINTS are to launch a 'Great Big Millennium Draw,' with the biggest-ever cash prize. Lottery agents are also needed and further details may be obtained from Tony Parr on St. Helens 757905. Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and

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Bay sale ends Oyston's radio days

LOCAL commercial radio station, The Bay, has been sold as part of a multi-million pound deal to a Cumbrian newspaper publisher. The station was formerly owned by the Oyston Family Trust which represented the interests of jailed tycoon Owen Oyston and

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Newy's landmark

PAUL Newlove's try against Wigan was the 300th of his career. The breakdown is Featherstone Rovers 122, Bradford Northern 66, Saints 88, and 24 in representative games, including nine tries in Test matches. Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000

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Spotting the signs

SCHOOL nurses in Morecambe Bay have completed a pioneering training course following a shock survey of teenage drug use in the district. Fifteen nurses took part in the scheme which showed them how to spot the signs of drug use and how to talk to pupils

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The road to Odsal

LEAVE M62 at junction 26. Follow signs for M606. Take the second exit left onto A6038 and follow road to the first roundabout. Turn left and carry on for 400 yards. Stadium is situated on left-hand side. Parking is available at Richard Dunn Sports Centre

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The one that got away

Saints 18 Wigan Warriors 24 A STORY of missed opportunity, costly indiscipline, lack of rub-of-the-green, and a magnificent clinching try by ex-Saint Gary Connolly! It added up to Saints' first home defeat for 14 months as reborn Wigan now coached by

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Pair have flight plan

TRAINING for an epic charity event will take place in Fleetwood this weekend as two men are plunged into a wave tank in preparation for a trans-Atlantic crossing. Pilot Mike Libra and co-pilot Tony Elliott, will be attending the Fleetwood Offshore Survival

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New role in computer companies

MARGARET Bell has joined the Blackburn-based CMS group of computer companies. Margaret is responsible for training and marketing at the group's Wordcom Training division. She was previously involved in promoting the Action 2000 campaign to make businesses

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Ex-mayoress praises doctors for saving her husband

THE wife of a former Mayor of Hyndburn today praised doctors whose speedy actions helped save his life. Coun Cliff Westell, who was mayor in 1988, was today recovering in Blackburn Royal Infirmary's intensive care unit following heart surgery on Wednesday

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Crash closes East Lancs Road

BOTH carriageways of the East Lancs Road were closed between Windle and Haresfinch on Friday, June 18, following a crash involving four cars and a chemical tanker. The accident happened on the Manchester-bound carriageway near to the Windle Hall Bridge

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People power makes a splash

PEOPLE power has saved the three local swimming pools threatened with closure. Carnforth, Hornby and Heysham pools look certain to stay open following a last-ditch compromise deal between the city and county councils. After the Citizen alerted the public

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Saints face injury battle

DESPERATE to leap-frog into top spot over Bradford Bulls, Saints are battling against injury problems as they prepare to face the Super League leaders at Odsal tomorrow night, kick-off 7.30pm. As with Kevin Iro and Sonny Nickle, Tommy Martyn is suffering

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£1 million shopping boost

BURY'S retail renaissance continues with the good news that £1 million is being invested in the town's popular Littlewoods store. The money is part of a £31.5 million cash injection being made by the company in its high street store operation nationwide

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LOCAL SOCCER: United hit the open age trail

AFTER the success their senior seven-a-side team are having in the Barden Community Association League, Borrowdale United have formed a senior team to play in the open age Burnley Saturday League next season. Most of the players have previously represented

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School bans peanuts for allergy boy

GREENMOUNT CP School has banned peanuts after learning that just the smell of the nut could kill one of their pupils. Mr Peter Parker, head of the Greenmount school has stopped peanuts and foods containing peanuts coming into the school to ensure the

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Views sought on historic scheme

YOU can play your part in ambitious plans to restore Taylor Park to its former glory. A landscape survey funded by a £13,100 lottery grant has now been completed and proposals put together to restore the popular park. Now the council is seeking the public's

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Refugees to be rehoused

KOSOVO refugees could soon be moving into their own homes in the Chesham area of Bury. Empty council houses are being lined up so they can move out of their base at the Geoffrey Kershaw Centre and lead independent lives. Housing bosses are trying to identify

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£4,000 terror raid on garage

A ROBBER threatened to cut a terrified teenage cashier's throat before bundling her into the toilets of a Pendle petrol station and stealing thousands of pounds. Toni Bleakley, 19, was closing up Pendle View service station, Colne Road, Brierfield, above

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It was a huge success

I AM writing to thank all the organisations in your local area that participated and contributed enormously to the huge success of Volunteers Week, June 1-7. It was the biggest ever Volunteers Week. 23,000 organisations took part, more than double the

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No surprise to hear that the cupboard is bare

I HOPE that no one was surprised last week when the Independents revealed that former Cllr Henig and his cronies had left the district's finances in a dreadful state. The moment that a no-increase in the local rate was declared earlier this year, it was

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Night of big band nostalgia

I AM writing regarding your article (May 14) about the Georgina Bromilow Big Band which played at the Longfield Suite, Prestwich, on June 10. I decided to go along and have a listen and what a night it was. Georgina and the band were in full swing, playing

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Social staff help refugees out of hours

MORE than a 100 Council workers have volunteered to help run Kosova refugee centres. Locals will help maintain a shift rota helping run refugee centres set-up by Trafford Council during evenings and weekends. The Wigan Council samaritans will try to reunite

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BOWLS: Tomlinson leads pack

ALEXANDRA number one Brian Tomlinson extended his lead in the Terry Sayers merit awards when he recorded his seventh win of the season to reach 13 points and an aggregate total 43. Peter Wilding has had a remarkable run for Frenchwood in winning five

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BOWLS: Ovalworld Super League

LOCAL teams Ighten Mount and Sunnybank who defeated Bamber Bridge and Fishwick Ramblers 4-2 and 5-1 respectively, had plenty to cheer as they boosted their league totals. The Burnley team recorded their third win of the season and are now undefeated in

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Toole's delighted at first class show

LOCAL youngsters did well at the 11th Greater Manchester Youth Games. They were competing alongside some 4,500 athletes in 16 sports. And, representing Wigan, the team secured a Top 6 finish in 11 of the sports with four firsts and three seconds. It all

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Atherton in a big hurry

ATHERTON produced a quickfire finish to beat Blackrod and a black sky. The Vimto Bolton Association title challengers realised the weather was their only threat to victory. And the in-form side ensured they were not between the wickets long enough for

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Name the children to receive awards

NOMINATIONS from East Lancashire are being sought for the 2000 Child of Achievement Awards. Every year the awards are presented to 150 children up to the age of 16, who by their everyday tasks to help others or who by their ability to overcome illness

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Hall memories

I READ with interest the article about the old town hall, featured in the Citizen. There was an entrance in the Fishergate side, used by the government during the war for the issuing of food coupon books, if my memory serves me right. The entrance overlooking

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Green slams station link-up

UPSET Greens are annoyed about Xanadu inquiry and Kenyon Station appeal timing. Leigh Greens claim confusion reigns and locals aren't being given enough opportunity to vent their feelings about Kenyon rail station proposals. They've made a formal complaint

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Africans proud to wear Bury kits

THE local charity Bury African Outreach donates used football kits to schoolboy teams in Matabeleland because, since 1992, schools there have been without money even for books and pens, let alone soccer kits! Parents are even asked for fees, so some children

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Vandals force toilet to close

PRESTON council leader, Peter Rankin, has blasted gangs of drug dealers and vandals who have forced the closure of Preston Cemetery's only public toilet. Bereaved visitors to the cemetery, in Miller Road, Ribbleton, will have to go on two-mile trek if

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Early celebrations at college

RUNSHAW College celebrated piloting a road safety initiative - by keeping its students off the streets and in the kitchen. The Langdale Road, Leyland, helped Lancashire police and Lancashire County Council test out its Right Start programme in the college

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The dispute busters

THE bear facts have been revealed - and Preston's Panda looks to be going from strength to strength. The Preston Area Neighbour Dispute Action (Panda) celebrated its second birthday with results to show its increasing success. More than 500 neighbours

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Party of the century

ORGANISERS of the Preston Maritime Festival have put together an exciting, fun-packed event to celebrate the Millennium in style. Now Partnership Projects want to hear your views on the proposed plan, which is aimed at making the occasion a memorable

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TEN YEARS AGO: Taxi rank rumpus

ANGRY traders thought a proposed taxi rank would attract a mass of litter. Shop owners said Fleming Square in Blackburn would drown in a sea of takeaway food wrappings and other mess if plans for a night-time taxi rank went ahead. Councillors were recommended

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BOWLS: Alexandra Classic

LOCAL bowlers Colin Campbell and yours truly Terry Connell were the last two qualifiers for the third round of the Alexandra Classic sponsored by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and Scottish and Newcastle Retail. On Sunday, Colin emerged in the last

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Solution at the seaside

I SAW a report on television that Morecambe was the place in the North West where life expectancy was the highest. I could not believe my ears when, on local radio the next day, a report stated people who make a bequest to charity also outlive their contemporaries

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Ex-head's legacy pays for future

A GENEROUS legacy from a former headmaster has allowed a Lytham school to renovate its outdoor pursuits centre in the Pennines. David Heap, headmaster of King Edward VII School from 1982-1993, purchased the Stationmaster's House at Ribblehead in 1983

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Schools tune up for a hit...

POTENTIAL pop stars from four Fylde coast schools are perfectly tuned to record a chart-busting Millennium hit thanks to two professional songwriters. Blackpool's Norbreck Thames Primary School and Bispham Endowed Junior School, Cleveleys' Norbreck Primary

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Dave joins Academy

FORMER Warrington, Saints and Great Britain tourist full-back Dave Lyon has been officially appointed as Academy coach at Knowsley Road. Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.

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Town centre is county's No 1

BURNLEY town centre is number one in Lancashire and one of the top 50 places to be for retailing in the country. The town has jumped from 74th to 45th in the 1999 retail demand study list out of 1,126 towns and cities nationwide. Nearly 50 retail companies

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Bold return to training

BOLD Miners, who have gained promotion four years running, begin training for the new ARL season at 7pm on Tuesday, July 6. It continues every Tuesday and Thursday and new and old players will be made welcome. The club would like to thank last season's

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Latest victims of social policies

SINGLE mothers are now Mr Blair's latest victims in his infamous social exclusion policies against Britain's most vulnerable and defenceless. Mr Blair has decided single mothers are excluded from council housing - along with mentally disabled - and their

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Andy steams in to boost charity

SINGING sensation Andy Prior steamed into The Fylde recently to raise money for the famous children's charity ChildLine. Andy and co-owner Alan Edgar brought their 12 tonne steam engine called Respite to St Michael's on Wyre last weekend in a bid to raise

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Independence Party grows in confidence

I WOULD like to thank all those who voted for the UK Independence Party in the European Election. The party now has three Euro MEPs and we narrowly missed gaining three more, including here in the North West where 66,779 voted UKIP while 72,006 would

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Haydock ladies' night

IT'S Ladies Night again at Haydock Park Racecourse on Friday, July 2, when there will be half-price admission for all ladies. As well as the usual line-up of top-class racing, there will be plenty of attractions for members of the fairer sex, with all

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Crisis for amateurs

AN amateur football team have been stripped of a vital asset the soccer players were banking on for next season. Disappointed officials at Atherton LR are appealing for help to track down a full football kit which has been stolen. The full replica Bolton

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The ABC of North End

A week by week lookback at Preston North End's history with a slightly different twist... M is for John McGrath, who first arrived at Deepdale in May 1986 when he was appointed manager. Before arriving at the club, McGrath built a reputation for himself

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Strategy for tourism plan

TOURISM businesses across Pendle are being surveyed in a bid to boost the area's economy in the next millennium. More than 150 businesses have been sent a questionnaire which has to be returned by July 5. The survey will be followed by a tourism workshop

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Preston move in for Everton youngster

EVERTON youngster Adam Eaton has become North End's newest recruit. The 19-year-old left-back has signed on the dotted line with Preston and will make the short journey from Merseyside on July 1 for a nominal fee. And while Everton have agreed to part

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Anger at road humps

THE traffic may be calm but residents are positively riled by the humps on Parkhills Road. They claim that heavy lorries thundering past are causing vibrations and intolerable noise. At a meeting last week, council bosses were invited by a local resident

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Vandals attack green

A POPULAR bowling green in Bury has been hit in a new wave of vandalism. Youngsters struck at one of the two greens at the Manchester Road Vets League club and dug three deep holes in the turf. Now the men's section will be forced to use an alternative

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Wildlife haven under threat

DEVELOPERS who were refused permission to build on a wildlife haven have been accused of destroying the very reason the site was saved. Campaigners say the lodge off Newington Drive in the Elton area of Bury is being drained and trees chopped down so

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BOWLS: Colne duo's doubles delight

COLNE pair Glyn Shuttleworth and Alan Handford won the Althams Travel Spring Doubles at Ighten Mount last weekend. The newly-crowned champions had won through several tough qualifying rounds to reach the last four and had to overcome two very good teams

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Charlie has a Chinese takeaway

VISITORS to Newbank Garden Centre got to meet popular television gardening expert Charlie Dimmock on Sunday (June 20). The star of Groundforce spent three hours filming at the Bury Road centre in Radcliffe for her new series, Charlie's Army. It was a

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Money for old roads

ST HELENS Council has announced plans to spend more than £6 million on road repairs and maintenance in the coming financial year. However, the council has not been successful in its bid for cash for the Blackbrook diversion, the traffic relief project

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Smash hits take centre stage

GOLBORNE and Astley are the half-way smash hits of the Leigh & District Tennis League. After seven matches Golborne A have 30 points in Division One, two points clear of Tyldesley A. Rest of the points: Leigh A 25, Astley A 24, Lowton A 23, Leigh

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Crowds greet Eurovision singers Precious

EUROVISION songbird Sophie MacDonald returned to Lancashire with her group Precious and chirped: "It's great to be back among real people." Sophie, from Penwortham, near Preston, was in Blackburn with the rest of the sparkling all-girl singing group to

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Jack's £7m Academy

JACK Walker's vision for the Millennium - a futuristic Youth Academy costing a cool £7m - has been unveiled. But it is no distant dream. For Blackburn Rovers - leading lights in the British youth football revolution - will throw open the doors of the

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Events in East Lancashire on Saturday, June 26th

Summer fair and crowning of Rose Queen, St James Church, St James Road, Blackburn, 2pm. Woodwork for Wildlife - family fun activity, Roddlesworth Information Centre, Tockholes Road, Darwen, 1.30-4pm. A chance to make bird and bat boxes and feeders, all

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Counter attack

I REFER to the letter by councillors Nick Westwell and David Kerr concerning Do It All's planning application to sell animals. Contrary to their claim both Green Party councillors voted very clearly against the proposal (I should know I was one of them

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Decade of entertainment

BURY'S local picture house celebrates ten years of movie-going this month. When opened by Hollywood megastar Liza Minelli in June 1989, the cinema was the flagship of Warner Bros' new multiplex cinemas. Boasting 12 screens and 4,000 seats, it was for

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Overwhelmed by carnival crowds

AS the chairman of Prestwich Carnival Committee I would like to thank all those organisations who helped make this year's carnival a resounding success. I would like to give a special thanks to the many thousands of people whose attendance made the day

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Millennium list for council honours

WIGAN Council are to mark the Millennium by appointing new Honorary Freemen and Aldermen. Senior councillors are drawing up lists of possible recipients for the top civic honours. "The Freemen will be people who have made a major contribution to the life

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Many to thank for Sports Week

I WOULD like to thank all those people who organised and ran the individual events at Ramsbottom Sports Week. The sponsors who play such an important role, the committee of Ramsbottom and District Sports Council, president Melvin Magnall, our wonderful

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Breast screens are vital to life

MUCH recent coverage of breast cancer has questioned the value of breast screening. We feel this may have tainted women's views and may be putting lives at risk. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Breast Cancer would like to take this opportunity to

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COUNTY CRICKET: Crawley gets serious

JOHN Crawley today pledged to cast aside his reservations about the Benson and Hedges Super Cup and go full tilt for Lord's. The Lancashire skipper is on the record as believing that too much county cricket is played in England. And the Super Cup was

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Sneak up to electro city

LOS Angeles hosted the biggest videogame exhibition of all time last month - E3, the Electronics Entertainment Expo. And what a show it was. Sega re-established their presence with the best stand and some great software titles while Sony shied away from

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LOCAL CRICKET: High Hopes

JEZ Hope believes Lowerhouse can get back on the EW Cartons Lancashire League title-trail with a morale-boosting victory at home to Enfield tomorrow. The Liverpool Road outfit made a brilliant start to the season winning six of their opening seven games

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Yuri sure to have fun

CHILDREN from Poulton-le-Fylde CE Primary had a date with a clown last week. Russian clown Yuri was joined by his wife Tanya to help dress up the children as famous clowns from the past much to the delight of the Hardhorn Road pupils. Yuri comes from

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Cheek of £600 a week beggar

ON a recent visit to Bury I had to pass under a subway from the car park to the open market. There was a chap sitting in the coldest spot in the subway, in a draught, with no sun, asking people to put a few pence in his hat so that he could buy a hot

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Good Evans!

THE new St Helens Open Golf champion is Phil Evans. It's a fitting reward for a player who has devoted 25 years to the host Sherdley Park Golf Club. A member for 25 years, Phil is a past captain and is currently chairman of the greens committee. RESULTS

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Residents demand more bobbies on the beat

A DEMAND for more police for Padiham is to go to Home Secretary Jack Straw, Lancashire Chief Constable Pauline Clare and the Lancashire Police Committee following a heated protest meeting at Padiham Town Hall last night. Pennine Division police boss Chief

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Rainford salute hat-trick brothers

SATURDAY was a historic day for Rainford's cricketing brothers Steven and David Harrison. A hat-trick is rare in any cricket match. But Rainford skipper Ste Harrison achieved one in Saturday's match against Burscough. Remarkably, at the same time in the

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TUC highlight the real scroungers

TRADE Unionists in Morecambe conducted their own street survey this week to find out if the resort's employers are paying the minimum wage. They say they were shocked with what they found. One researcher claimed he was paid just £40 for a six-day week

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Basketball role for Kate

ST HELENS has been chosen to host a new basketball development officer to boost the sport throughout the North West. Kate Lewis is based in the Council's Recreation Division, Century House and can be contacted on 01744 455450. Converted for the new archive

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All things bright and beautiful in village gardens

TWO local charities will dig into the proceeds when four beautiful village gardens open to the public again at the weekend. St Rocco's Hospice and the Multiple Sclerosis Society will benefit from the seventh annual Four Gardens in Glazebury open weekend

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Happy at last

THE Lancaster lad who fell in love with a victim of the Omagh bombing as he helped her back to health is marrying his sweetheart in the city this week. Mark Blackwell's dad - Rev Ken Blackwell of Lancaster's Free Methodist church - will marry his son

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Soccer club attacked again

VANDALS have once again targeted Radcliffe Boro Juniors Football Club. Almost a year to the day since arsonists destroyed its £100,000 changing room complex at Close Park, hooligans have raided and damaged the club's equipment container. Secretary Mr

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Dad fined £500

THE father of a schoolboy persistently absent from lessons has been fined £500. It was the second time he had been prosecuted for his son's truancy. Kevin Crossland of Plover Drive, Bury, failed to attend court and was convicted in his absence. His 12

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'We need commitment'

TALK of the Town End is YOUR chance to have a say about North End, be it bouquets or brick-bats. This week Peter Sotherby of Preston speculates on the price of success... WHILE everybody was celebrating the arrival of Steve Basham to Preston, I was among

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Bobby dazzler for soccer youngsters

FOOTY fans reached for the Sky with a soccer roadshow. It was held at Bedford High, the first of the area's Bobby Charlton Soccer Schools. The free training sessions for 8/14-year-olds came as a result of co-operation between BSkyB, the Bobby Charlton

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Heroin man's knife threat to PCs

IAN Young threatened police officers with an eight-inch knife in a disturbance at his Blackburn home, a court was told. Blackburn magistrates heard that Young lunged at the officers with a knife, shouting that he was going to kill them. The officers had

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School brings in flexitime

FLEXI-TIME has been introduced at Prestwich High School as a reward for good behaviour. Model pupils can look forward to a lie-in as part of positive behaviour initiative - but they will have to collect good conduct credits first. The scheme is the idea

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Man threatened to bite PC's face

A "MOUTHY" concrete sprayer kicked out at a police officer and threatened to bite his face. Burnley magistrates heard how drunken father-of-three, Andrew Smith, 35, refused to leave his girlfriend's home and had to be restrained. His victim, PC Brian

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Poison blamed for pet deaths

PET owners believe a cruel prankster could be behind the sudden deaths of dozens of their cats and dogs. Distraught pet owners from Leyland have watched their animal companions suffer agonising deaths, apparently brought on after they came into contact

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Kilby makes signing vow

CLUB chairman Barry Kilby has reassured Clarets fans that strenuous efforts are being made to reinforce Stan Ternent's squad for the coming season. Some supporters have voiced their frustration at the lack of noticeable summer transfer activity at Turf

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Play away for last time

A LEIGH playgroup is packing away its toys after 12 years. St Joseph's Playgroup, which meets in St Joseph's Hall, Leigh, shuts its doors this weekend - until someone steps in to take over. The group was started by Anne Ganley when her own children were

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Titanic triumph

DANCERS will stepped out for a Titanic performance on Thursday. Following a week of creative work in dance and composition, organised by Wigan Council's education department, 50 students from throughout the borough performed live at Bedford High School

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We do try, but we need help

"DISGUSTED Animal Lover" (Your Letters, June 18) writes of her very sad experience regarding a poor cat being knocked down. As the honorary secretary, for 21 years, of the Bury branch of the Cats Protection League, I would like to point out that our branch

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A tourist town? No

I AM writing with reference to the Citizen's excellent report on the beggars in Preston town centre. But this problem is only the tip of the iceberg which Preston is sailing to very quickly. I am a Prestonian and have been all my life. I am concerned

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We'll fight court closure - council boss

A LEIGH court is under scrutiny in a regional shake-up - and could be closed. As part of a Court Service review, a survey is monitoring usage of Leigh's County Court in Walmesley Road. Everyone attending will be questioned to provide information which

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Don't drink toxic fizz

PRESTON folk are being told to avoid foreign fizzy drinks after some from Europe were contaminated with chemicals. Trading Standards chiefs believe Preston is one of the worst blackspots for bootleg refreshments, which are imported from the continent

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Save our sub-station

THE lives of people using Preston's marina will be put at risk if the Liverpool coastguard station is closed, council chiefs have warned. Plans to shut the coastguard sub-station at Crosby in 2001, have already met with strong opposition from the county

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Where does Dyke take the BBC now?

GREG Dyke's appointment as director-general of the BBC has brought predictable squeals from the Tories. He has donated more than £50,000 to the Labour Party, which he has supported for many years. But most people have political leanings and William Hague

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Sporting a Classic new look

FC Rangers football team are sporting a new look next season - thanks to Classic Tiles in Harrowside, Blackpool. Rangers' Darren Clarke, who is Classic Tiles' assistant manager, asked his boss to sponsor the team. And owner Julia Eastham was more than

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The State opts out

REGARDING your story (LET, June 10), highlighting the problems of Tracy Cullen and her partner, Kevin Taylor, I sympathise greatly with their position. My wife suffered renal failure in February and I have been forced to give up my self-employment to

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'Second class' say shopkeepers

SHOPKEEPERS at the top end of Railway Road, Leigh, are unhappy with what they claim is 'second class' facelift treatment. Although work is being done to improve the grotty, broken pavements in the area, one alleges he was told by workmen that flags used

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Coming to the rescue

LANCASHIRE Fire and Rescue Service HQ colleagues will be heading for the hills, on separate continents, to raise money for good causes. Sharon Aspin, who deals with 999 calls at the Fulwood site, is gearing up to set off from her Preston home to trek

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Under starter's orders

ST HELENS Council is throwing out an open invitation to runners over the age of 16 to take part in the town's first ever Corporate Cup race. Teams of four runners/walkers are being sought to tackle the five-kilometre course to promote health and fitness

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Mystery man in Memorial death plunge

THE search is going on to discover the identity of the man who fell 50 feet to his death off the Ashton Memorial on Saturday morning. No-one saw the fall at 11am on Saturday morning but several people have come forward to say they heard him hit the ground

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St Helens beaten by the weather

ST HELENS looked to be coasting for victory when they were frustrated by the weather. Chasing the 190 set by Orrell Red Triangle, they had reached 162-4 when the umpries decided to bring them off in the light drizzle. Local interest in the Orrell ranks

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Heritage train to festival fun

YOU can step back in time in August with a heritage train trip to Edinburgh. Green Express Railtours is running a special train from Bolton and Chorley on Saturday, August 14 to the Scottish capitol. The 13-coach special train comprising of mostly heritage

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Save our voles on the Glaze!

THE plop of a water vole slipping in to a meandering brook is becoming less common. Now evidence suggests voles are declining to the extent they may soon cease to figure in riverbank tales. So the Clear Glaze Partnership is joining forces with the Environment

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Lock, stock and wet sponges

MIKE Pilkington's number was well and truly up when staff at his Hippodrome bingo club coaxed him to take part in a fund-raising event for Alder Hey's Rocking Horse Appeal. For little did he know that the main fund-raiser planned by staff and regular

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Asking for your views

A NEW citizens' panel to pass verdict on council services could be set up. And thousands more residents are to be asked for their views as town hall bosses try to discover what people's priorities are. The local authority has conducted postal surveys

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Birthday girl 'back home'

DURING most of her young life birthdays for Svetlana Papsouev have been forgotten. They were just like any other punishing day in a pitiless existence in the polluted air of Belarus. But all that changed for 'Svieta' two years ago. She came to England

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Bonus for talented student Brian

A CARMEL College student has put his enterprising skills to good use, winning three top achievement awards in a national business competition. Brian Unsworth (17) and other students have been taking part in the Young Enterprise Scheme and have formed

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E Coli girl recovering in hospital

A SIX-year-old girl from Bury is still recovering in hospital after contracting the potentially deadly bug E.Coli. The youngster became infected with the disease after visiting Foel Farm in Anglesey, North Wales. The youngster, who did not return to school

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Leader views Newton regeneration projects

ST HELENS Council leader Marie Rimmer has been witnessing the multi-million pound regeneration of Newton following her elevation as chairman of the Newton 21 Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) board. Marie was given a tour of a selection of the 70-plus

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Wonders of wildlife

YOUNGSTERS are hoping to learn about the wonders of wildlife with a new environmental area at their school. Children from Lowerhouse Junior School in Liverpool Road, Burnley, have transformed an area of the school grounds with plants. The aim is to provide

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What a great double act!

THERE were never such devoted sisters as Alicia and Rebecca Peacock... and to prove it, the talented pair have each won a top prize in our Young Stars of Tomorrow talent competition. Eleven year old Rebecca started the ball rolling when she won in the

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Walker wins top player award

PLAYER of the season at Leigh Athletic is Gordon Walker. He was handed his award at the club's annual prize night. Second team players' player was Rick Scott while Neal Keegan received the manager's vote. Youngster Paul Wilkinson collected the Third team

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Harrop shines despite first defeat

GLAZEBURY'S bid to win promotion to the NorthWest Counties First Division faltered with their first defeat. They struggled for runs against some tight bowling by a tight Shell Westminster Park attack, only opener Graham Harrop - who hit a solid 36 - showing

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Crashed slipper maker brothers banned

TWO brothers have been disqualified from being company directors for three years after a court heard how their slipper firm failed. The order was made by Salford County Court for their conduct as directors of Glentop Slippers Ltd. Warren Vincent Weldon

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In love and in war

IT was a fairytale come true. Two young Kosovo sweethearts, torn apart by the war in the Balkans and reunited in Bury, ensured their love was everlasting when they married in the town on Monday. Their dream day, organised by the Bury Times and backed

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Clubs rally to banished bowlers

AS you are aware, due to the lack of a written lease, the Liverpool Archdiocese were entitled 'legally' to repossess the St Austin's clubrooms, off Heath Street in Thatto Heath. Despite the fact that over the years the members were responsible for the

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Kosovo horrors are real

P. KAISERMAN (Your Letters, June 18) and I seem to be missing some of each other's points whilst agreeing on others. I am not so naive as to suppose that leading politicians of any nation are motivated by altruism. My original letter gave them the perhaps

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Legal Aid under threat

E Sanderson has highlighted the frustration and problems that many members of the public (and their solicitors) experience when trying to take on the might and intransigence of powerful institutions and businesses such as insurance companies, health authorities

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Seasiders face cup clash with Tranmere

BLACKPOOL Football Club face Tranmere Rovers in the first round of next year's Worthington Cup competition. The Seasiders will play host to Tranmere in the first week of the season, probably on Tuesday, August 10. The away leg at Prenton Park will most

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I don't belieeeeeeeve it!

MY Victor-ia Meldrew persona has taken over. Summer is barely here and already Christmas is upon us. I do not belieeeeeeve it. It's fair enough receiving annual Christmas Club leaflets just days after one festive season is over, but to be advertising

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Rounders aces in grand national

RUSKIN Drive provided centre stage for the country's rounders enthusiasts on Sunday. For it was hosting the National Ladies Club Tournament. And St Helens had two sides taking part in Pilkington Spartans and Pilkington Vikings. They did the town proud

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Rainhill's Peter the great

A TREMENDOUS effort by Peter Mercer failed to prevent Rainhill slipping to defeat at Liverpool Nalgo. They were in deep trouble at 94-9 when Peter took centre stafed. His brilliant innings of 77 not out saw him unleash 13 fours and two sixes to take the

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Leon's a sex symbol

IT'S official - Leon Galston is the sexiest schoolboy in Britain. The handsome hunk, who attends Rossall School in Blackpool, was selected from thousands of entries to appear in Bliss Magazine as one of the five finalists in a competition run by the teenage

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Vote of contempt

THE sparse turnout for the European Union elections demonstrates absolutely the contempt the British have for the EU and MEPs. So why does the prime minister and the other sinister europhiles keep trying to drag us deeper into Europe? Could it be that

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Council ought to kerb complaints

SIR, - NOT so long ago I read about Blackpool Borough Council complaining about people damaging kerbs by parking and driving on them. Last week a council van was parked outside the driver's home, as usual, when a grid cleaning vehicle came along. Not

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Brewery staff to help the refugees

WHITBREAD is pulling out all the stops to help thousands of Albanian refugees still stranded on the outskirts of Kosovo. Tomorrow Whitbread staff based at the Shadsworth distribution depot will be waving off a lorry-load of Murphy's, Stella, Heineken

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Search on for the firms who excel in their field

ENTRIES are now being invited for the autumn quarter of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph East Lancashire Business Awards. The awards build on the success of previous years but this year we have introduced a quarterly award scheme in addition to the annual

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Attacker left man with broken jaw

A MAN enjoying a Bank Holiday night out with his wife ended up in hospital after being attacked from behind and knocked to the ground. The incident occurred as the victim was leaving the Railway pub in Queen Street, Earlestown, at about 8pm on Monday,

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GOLF: Roses calamity

LANCASHIRE crashed to an 8-1 defeat by Yorkshire yesterday - Clitheroe's Kim Andrew being the hosts' only winner over her home course - as Yorkshire retained the Northern Women's Championship. Meanwhile, Burnley's Simon Eaton shot a one-over-par 72 to

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Storm over unholy holy

A BLACKPOOL couple are furious at the state of the cemetery where their little girl is laid to rest. Francois Bruneel and his wife Jennifer saw their eight-year-old daughter Amanda buried at Thornton Parish Church Christ Church C Of E, on Meadow Avenue

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Smart move on the buses

TRAFFIC measures aimed at clearing the route for new SMART buses at Haydock have been approved by St Helens councillors. They agreed amendments to the original proposals to meet objections from some residents in Clipsley Lane who say they would lose parking

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Wet, wet, wet but Harrison slams his first half-century

EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD Newcastle University student Ben Harrison slammed his first half century for Preston but rain robbed them of their third victory of the season against Fleetwood at Broadwater. Put in to bat, the Mann brothers - Paul and Antony - gave

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Young athletes do us proud

BURY'S 400-strong squad did the town proud by finishing third in the biggest-ever Greater Manchester Youth Games event held at weekend. The talented local athletes were among 6,000 from ten local authority areas competing in 16 different sports over two

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Carnival a real knockout

THOUSANDS flocked to St Mary's Park to make sure that Prestwich Carnival wasn't hijacked by the typical British summer weather. Fun seekers turned out in force after a slow, rain-soaked start, with visitor numbers well up on last year's sun-drenched event

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Down your way...

RIVERSWAY councillors have devised a new way to keep in touch with the residents in their ward. Labour councillors Marcus Johnstone, Elaine Abbot and Renee Black launched the initiative, dubbed Down Your Way in Mersey Street, Clyde Street and Dart Street

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Crash chaos

CHAOS reigned at Preston Railway station after the main West Coast route was shut following a crash in Cheshire. Trains between Glasgow and London Euston were halted following the collision on Wednesday at 8.52am which left 45 people injured. Customer

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War of the weapons

BRITISH Aerospace has declared war on the Americans! Matra BAe Dynamics are up against US opposition Raytheon in the competition to supply the Eurofighter Typhoon with a mid-distance air to air missile. And Matra's Meteor missile is the revolutionary

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Matrix sun spex up for grabs

THE Citizen has teamed up with Warner Village Cinemas to offer ten readers a pair of sunglasses as sported by the stars of The Matrix. The Matrix is the latest big-budget sci-fi blockbuster which has been wowing audiences on both sides of the Atlantic

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Battle of the 'bots

A LEYLAND engineer could have a TV star on his hands - and it can travel at 35 miles an hour, has a pneumatic spear and can lift a grown man off his feet. Glyn Jones helped pals John Pocock from Darwen and John Turnbull from Wigan create Schumey 2, their

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Good win for Ansdell

ANSDELL Institute secured their second win of the season in the Lytham St Annes Darts and Dominoes Summer League when narrowly defeating second-placed Lytham Ex-Service 13-11. British Legion lead the table by four points. Results: Lytham Ex-Service 11

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LOCAL CRICKET: Kershaw looks for lift-off

SLOW-STARTING Edenfield face fellow Jennings Ribblesdale League strugglers Blackburn Northern tomorrow with opening batsman John Kershaw hoping that the runs will continue to flow for him and his team. Kershaw ended his lean spell with an undefeated century

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Stump up for stamps

THE East Lancashire Hospice is still collecting used postage stamps to help boost the funds for its £1.3 million appeal. If any readers would like to save used postage stamps please could you hand them in or send them to: East Lancashire Hospice, Park

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Thugs rob cancer boy at canal

A TEENAGE leukaemia sufferer was robbed of fishing tackle valued at £1,500 by two brutal thugs. The youths approached the victim and a friend, both aged 16, as they were fishing on the canal near to St Helens Linkway between 1 and 2pm on Thursday, June

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BOWLS: Vaux Classic

BRIAN Tomlinson and John Eborall qualified for the last 16 in a very competitive and drama-filled event in the 1999 Vaux Classic last Friday night. Blackburn bowler Brian Tomlinson who also plays for the County side, started his campaign against Joe Burns

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NHS a sick joke

NOT before time, Councillor Frank Clifford, chairman of the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Community Health Council, is looking into the scandalous state of the cardiology services across the North West (LET, June 7). I wish him luck. The situation in

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Crackdown on rogue traders

BLACKPOOL'S consumer champions are aiming to crack down on fake designer goods as part of a hard-hitting campaign in the resort. Trading Standards chiefs will be swooping on premises of known offenders in Blackpool as part of Operation Seagull, confiscating

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Dr Jack drops in

CABINET Minister Dr Jack Cunningham made a swooping visit to Blackpool this week as part of the Government's hard-hitting anti-drugs strategy. Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden joined the Labour Minister as he met former addicts and their helpers, including

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Penalty for noise nuisance

WHILE on Preston Old Road at the Cornwall Place end I could hear a little dog howling pitifully and it was most distressing to hear its cry for help. First and foremost I am concerned about the welfare of the animal, but it may interest Citizen readers

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Family in cab firm warning

A HAPPY holiday turned into a nightmare for a Lancaster family after they were left stranded at Manchester Airport when their pre-booked taxi failed to turn up. And now the Lambert family have warned other holiday makers to double check their travel arrangements

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Friendless crook's cycle of jail, drugs, crime

A MAN without a soul in the world to call a friend has been given four months to get his life in order. Simon Anslow, 24, was told by Judge Raymond Bennett at Burnley Crown Court, that the ball was now in his court and he had to stay out of trouble. Anslow

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Oyston sells a radio station

JAILED Blackpool Football Club owner Owen Oyston has sold Morecambe-based commercial radio station, The Bay, to a Cumbrian newspaper publisher as part of a multi-million pound deal. The station, formerly owned by the Oyston Family Trust, which represented

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Walking tall in old Bedford

THIS lovely old picture was taken around the turn of the century in Bedford. It was loaned to us by John Corbett, a regular contributor to the Heritage series. Women are to the fore in this stunning view of Bedford St Thomas's walking day procession,

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Trench warfare as Millward boys slug it out

VICTORY at York wasn't pretty - but it was pretty effective as Leigh ground out another two crucial points in their chase for the leadership of the Northern Ford Premiership. After a feast of attacking rugby in their previous two games, Leigh had to roll

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Leigh ready to rock 'n roll

STRAP yourselves in for a rollercoaster ride against Dewsbury on Sunday. That's the message from Leigh coach Ian Millward as he prepares his side for a major title battle. "Make no mistake about it, this is a big, big game for both clubs as we both chase

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Can you help?

A Mr Tony Malone, who lives on the South Coast, seeks information about relatives in the Bury and Radcliffe areas. He has traced James Malone, a wheelwright, who married Ann Carter in 1809 at Radcliffe Parish Church. Their children Thomas and John were

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Missing man's body found in canal

THE body of a man who had been missing from home for five days has been found in the Leeds and Liverpool canal. Allan Yates' body was discovered yesterdaynear Finnington Lane, Blackburn, and police said there were not thought to be any suspicious circumstances

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25 years ago

From the Bury Times week ending June 24, 1974 LOTTERY: Mr Henry Cliff of Bury Chameber of Trade suggested that a council-run lottery could drastically cut rate bills. FIRE: The east wing of Daisyfield Mill in Wellington Street, Bury was gutted by fire

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Pet plan is a good idea

AFTER reading the article and letters regarding the opposing plans for a Pet World section at Focus DIY in last week's edition can I just ask has anyone who is protesting ever visited any of these stores in other towns? I have been to several pet superstores

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Brian's search for a good buddy

A FIFTIES' ex-serviceman is trying to trace a Leigh buddy with a re-union invitation. Brian McCarthy, who served with the 1900 Air O.P. Flight in Hong Kong 1953-55, is looking for Derek Holden from this area. Already 31 members have been found for the

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Military search for comrades

ROYAL Military Police Old Comrades link-up are seeking men and women with previous Army service in the following: CMP, MMP, Airborne Provost, RMP-SIB-ATS, and WRAC. To contact your former Army friends send stamped addressed envelope to the co-ordinator

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Sealed with a thank you

NEARLY six years ago a friend of mine placed an advertisement for me in the Citizen's Two's Company column, hoping I would meet someone. Having split up with my husband six months earlier, I wasn't too sure I could go through with it. But I plucked up

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Star Wars mania

PRESTON got its first taste of Star Wars fever when nearly 200 sci-fi fans turned up at a local toy shop to buy the new Phantom Menace - at midnight. Dedicated fans of the Star Wars trilogy queued outside Toys R Us for up to six hours last week, desperate

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Turnover passes £118m

TURNOVER at Bamber Bridge-based gas heating giant Baxi soared to £118.6million for the year prior to March 1999 - an increase of 15 per cent. Figures released in the company's annual report also show an increase in group operating profit up 11 per cent

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Solid display reaps reward

A SOLID all-round team performance brought St Annes IV 109-4 as their reward in this Fylde League division two match against Comrades who finished on 106. Six bowlers shared the wickets with Nigel Connolly, Andy Taylor and Adam Duxbury especially effective

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Well versed!

PUPILS from King Edward VII School, Lytham, have rhymed their way to victory in the school's annual poetry and prose reading festival. Paul Tognarelli, of Preston, won the senior section with Michael Holdsworth, of Lytham Road, Lytham, a close second.

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Pensions a disgrace

RECENT correspondents on pensions (Letters, May 27 and June 11), while vigorously defending their own political party's current position on state-funded pensions, seem to have forgotten where the debate started from. This is extraordinary considering

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School site is the issue

LET'S tell it as it is. Rose Hill School is termed an EBD school - ie. one for pupils who are emotionally and behaviourally disturbed. This fact is conveniently omitted by the Parent Governor (Journal Mailbox), who writes solely about 'learning difficulties

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Millennium man Harvey!

IT'S business as usual for Morecambe boss Jim Harvey after signing a new three year contract this week. The signing ends months of speculation about Harvey's intentions as a contract has been on offer for some time. The Irishman who steered the Shrimps

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Kids swing into action for charity

TUMBLE Tots in Blackpool, Poulton and Lytham are becoming kings of the swingers as they jump into action to raise money for Children Nationwide. As part of the Tumble Tots 20th Birthday Celebration, children at the 480 centres around the country will

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All in a day's work

RENOVATE an attic space and turn it into a counselling and computer room in a single day. That was the challenge which faced builders merchants' Jewson, who chose Revoe School on Grasmere Road in Blackpool for their Anneka-style Community Challenge. The

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Date with the champions for Lancaster

ON Saturday Lancaster entertain the current league champions Netherfield at Lune Road. The Cumbrians are having a poor season and have lost three games. They were only saved by the Lakeland weather last Saturday when they were already well on the road

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Clarets chairman makes signing vow

CLUB chairman Barry Kilby has reassured Burnley FC fans that strenuous efforts are being made to reinforce Stan Ternent's squad for the coming season. Some supporters have voiced their frustration at the lack of noticeable summer transfer activity at

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Party of the century

ORGANISERS of the Preston Maritime Festival have put together an exciting, fun-packed event to celebrate the Millennium in style. Now Partnership Projects want to hear your views on the proposed plan, which is aimed at making the occasion a memorable

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Kelly in line to replace Hume

A PRIEST from Morecambe is in the running to become leader of the Roman Catholic church in England and Wales. Archbishop of Liverpool Patrick Kelly was born in Morecambe in 1938 and attended St Mary's RC Primary School. He has been named by several national

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Housewife wins £206,000

A BLACKPOOL housewife has scooped a massive £206,000 playing bingo after buying a strip of six tickets costing only £2.40 from the Mecca Club in Talbot Road. The lucky winner, who has asked not to be named, won the National Bingo Game prize of £200,000

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Dozen jobs to go at Hawkshead

OUTDOOR clothing company Hawkshead is to close its Lancaster warehouse with the loss of 12 jobs. Management say the firm, part of the Arcadia group which includes high street stores such as Top Shop and Dorothy Perkins, has been a victim of its own success

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Arson probe into home fire

FIRE services believe that a huge fire which caused severe damage to the roof of a house in Enford Drive, Sutton, may have been the work of arsonists. The fire was reported early in the morning on Tuesday, June 15 and started in the timber shed before

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Pressure on firm to clean up its act

A LANCASTER factory named as one of the "filthiest in Britain" by a national newspaper is being pressured to clean up its act. Officers and councillors from the city council are pressing the government Environment Agency to force Acordis Acetate chemical

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Just the ticket for cricket

TWO people from St Helens Chamber and J.A. Consultants of Scarisbrick Road, Rainford, enjoyed a day out at the cricket World Cup semi-final between Pakistan and New Zealand after winning a regional draw for New Business Start Ups. The competition, organised

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Morris gals step out for TV

THREE talented local teenagers are set to step out in front of the TV cameras after being spotted by the makers of a popular light entertainment programme. Morris dancers Karen Potter (18) from Blackbrook, Mandy Riley (14) from Haydock and 13-year-old

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Rugby League: Barrow backs merger

SWINTON Lions supremo Tony Barrow is supporting calls for the Gigg Lane club to merge with Super League side Salford Reds. The chief executive has backed chairman Malcolm White's proposal for the creation of a new team called Manchester - bringing an

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Post office to move

RAMSBOTTOM'S main post office building is to close with all services being relocated to the new town centre Co-op store. The news, which was announced this week, has been met with anger by traders and councillors. They fear the move will take trade away

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Upper crust salute for bakers

I HAD to really rub my eyes when I came across a name with a rather familiar ring to it nestling in the pages of a top peoples' gourmet guide. For there rubbing shoulders with the likes of Harrods and Fortnum and Masons... was our very own Pimbletts.

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Man in panic drove into post office

A MAN who panicked while trying to avoid another car ended up causing more than £26,000 in damage by crashing into a Post Office. Preston Crown Court heard that police found the Toyota Celica, which had been driven by Imran Khan, embedded in the Bastwell

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Steward kicked in mouth by soccer fan

A BLACKBURN Rovers steward was kicked in the mouth as he helped remove Shaun Colin Bolton from Ewood Park during the game against Manchester United. Blackburn magistrates heard that Bolton, a Manchester fan, had gone into the Walker Steel Stand where

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Storm over unholy mess

A BLACKPOOL couple are furious at the state of the cemetery where their little girl is laid to rest. Francois Bruneel and his wife Jennifer saw their eight-year-old daughter Amanda buried at Thornton Parish Church Christ Church C Of E, on Meadow Avenue

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Quest: three peaks, one day

FIREFIGHTERS are putting their best foot forward to scale the heights of Britain's three biggest peaks - in just 24 hours. Intrepid teams of Fire and Safety Officers from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, based in Preston, are taking part in the 1999

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Music store blaze

YOUNG firebugs are being blamed for a blaze at one of Leyland's best-known shops which destroyed more than £150,000 worth of stock. Owners of Rimmers Music, Chapel Brow, Leyland, now face a massive clear-up operation after the arson attack on Tuesday

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Happily ever after

A LEYLAND man and his Irish bride-to-be, who fell in love in the wake of the Omagh bomb, are to marry this weekend. Mark Blackwell, who moved from Leyland two years ago, will tie the knot with Omagh bomb victim Sandy Smith a year after they first met.

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SUPERBIKES SPECIAL: 'Yo Foggy' superstar

Neil Bramwell with Carl Fogarty in Italy IT'S not hard to spot Blackburn world champion Carl Fogarty on the beach at Cattolica. For one, everyone looks so bronzed, beautiful and, well . . . Italian. Secondly, there is hardly a British accent to be heard

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European triumph for Clifton U14s

MANCHESTER United are not the only English team to return home with a European trophy after beating the Germans. Clifton Rangers U14s team from Blackpool can do no wrong since being given a new football strip from the Co-op Late Shop at Mereside. On Friday

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Eccleston made to suffer

ECCLESTON suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Grange on Saturday. Batting first, Grange posted a total of 171 all out, with Carter the top scorer with 46. He was well supported by Peters (36), P. Swindell (26), Hunter (20) and Melia (16). Pick of

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Dynamic duo

TWO Fylde people have found themselves among Lancashire nominees in the search to find the most active over 55 year olds in Britain. And Peter Duffy, of Lockerbie Avenue, Thornton, and Sheela Hawkins of Cleveleys, have both been entered in the top competition

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There's no guarantee of space after paying £10

I WAS absolutely disgusted by the letter from a Buchanan Street resident who was quite willing to pay the £10 permit fee. I also live in Buchanan Street and it is very rare that we have a problem finding somewhere to park, even if it is at the other end

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Full steam ahead

THE money to regenerate the dilapidated station at Carnforth could be found after all. The Trust trying to save the station were dealt a severe blow recently when Lottery bosses said they almost definitely couldn't support the station which was the setting

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Haydock bounce back

HAYDOCK bounced back as both first and second elevens took on Dalton CC in the Southport and District League. The first had home advantage against Dalton and looked set for victory until the weather intervened with just 10 overs to go. Batting first,

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Recs' crushing crew

ST HELENS Recs inflicted a crushing defeat on Bolton at Ruskin Drive on Saturday. Winning the toss, skipper Morrison elected to bat on a good track. Ericson looked in good form until he was dismissed for 20 and Recs were in trouble as wickets started

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Battling Lynx do double

A BATTLING Lancashire Lynx side chalked up a double over Bramley as they produced fluid rugby in an entertaining 45-32 win. Lynx's second win in just over a week has helped them open up a five point gap at the bottom of the table - a remarkable result

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Kingdom and heaven

Drive and Stroll, with Ron Freethy - this week, around Rimington THE walk from Downham to Stopper Lane and Twiston is one of the most historic in Lancashire - indeed its origins take us back prior to the foundation of Lancashire as a county. My route

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I'm nearly famous. . .and it's a worry

Wright On! Shelley Wright takes a wry look at life LAST Friday night I walked into the pub to be greeted by a shout of "Oi! Shelley! Where's Vikram Desai?" from someone I have never met in my life before. I could quite easily have died on the spot. There

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£4,000 terror raid on garage

A ROBBER threatened to cut a terrified teenage cashier's throat before bundling her into the toilets of a Pendle petrol station and stealing thousands of pounds. Toni Bleakley, 19, was closing up Pendle View service station, Colne Road, Brierfield, above

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Cash to fund green scheme

VITAL funding has been captured to help Bury companies "go green". Bolton and Bury Chamber's Business Link has won Euro cash to start the Bury Environmental Scheme, aimed at local small and medium-sized enterprises. Working in partnership with Bury Business

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Leigh ready to rock 'n roll

STRAP yourselves in for a rollercoaster ride against Dewsbury on Sunday. That's the message from Leigh coach Ian Millward as he prepares his side for a major title battle. "Make no mistake about it, this is a big, big game for both clubs as we both chase

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Jobs saved

A TOTAL of 25 jobs in Bury and Whitefield have been saved with the rescue of convenience store operator Dawn Til Dusk. United Norwest Co-op have stepped in to acquire the group from receivers. In all, the Co-op has saved 26 Dawn Til Dusk stores which,

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Face of the knifeman

POLICE have issued a computer image of a man who forced a pregnant woman at knifepoint to hand over a rucksack containing £165 in cash. The incident happened some time between 11.30 and 11.45am on Wednesday, May 26, as the woman was walking along the

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SNOOKER: Three Towns Association

RESULTS - Division One: Whalley Con 6, Brass Band A 4; Park View A 4, Platts Social 6; Clayton Con 6, Crown Berger 4; Guide Con A 6, Sydney Street 4; Globe Bowl 2, Poplar WMC 8. Highest break: C Morton (Poplar WMC) 84. Division Two: Clitheroe Con 4, Leisure

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Big crackdown on benefits fraud

ST HELENS Council is to work with the new Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) in a crackdown on local benefit fraud. The council is one of a growing number of local authorities working with the inspectorate to identify improvements that could be made to

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Brakes put on park and ride scheme

A MILLION pound park and ride scheme for Blackburn looks set to be shelved following a report from a team of consultants. Blackburn with Darwen Council was hoping to set up the scheme in Whitebirk in a bid to relieve pressure on the town centre's road

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Hawks provide premier test for Miners

SOME of the top amateur Rugby League teams in the country are heading for Leigh. The 19th year of the Champions Challenge kicks off on August 7 for three weekends of first class sport. Leigh MR again host the event, sponsored by Tetley Carlsberg, which

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Madge is back on the box

A ROLE in a new television comedy managed to lure former Blackburn actress Madge Hindle back to the screen from the verge of retirement. Madge said she could not resist the role in the new six-part ITV comedy Barbara, which starts on Sunday. Gwen Taylor

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Happy days shufflin'along . .

HAPPY days spent shuffling along with Mrs Shufflebottom are brought back into focus by old-timer Daniel Cunningham. Mrs S and her hubby taught the basics of the waltz, foxtrot and tango to novice young dancers at the Primrose Rooms in Lacey Street, Thatto

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Hero gets first Dando award

A POST office manager who foiled armed raiders has been given the first Jill Dando Award for public service bravery. Yet Mr Derek Hill (pictured) was kept in the dark about the honour, presented at a ceremony in London. When he arrived at the Savoy for

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Spread a little happiness

GIVE us this day our daily spread! That's the message from 75 per cent of British households who buy marmalade. The Citizen has teamed up with Duerr's to offer readers the chance to have breakfast on us and win six jars of marmalade, to celebrate the

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Big cats I have evidence

I MAY be able to assist Mr Percival's research into the sightings of big cats in the North West (Your Letters, June 11). I have been interested in the phenomenon since I took up gardening some 50 summers ago and, although never actually sighting "The

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Anybody hear the alarm bells ring?

LAST week the Morecambe Bay Independents launched a broadside against the outgoing Labour administration claiming that all was not well with the authority's finances - nothing particularly new in this, the incoming have blamed the outgoing for crippling

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BOWLS: Thwaites East Lancashire Premier League

GREAT Harwood hold a 12-point lead at the top following their 10-4 home victory over East Lancs, Tony Dobson winning 21-7 and Paul Sutcliffe 21-14 for East Lancs. Colne Cricket Club share second spot with last year's champions St Andrew's. Colne Cricket

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New martial arts class at YMCA

BUJINKAN Budo Taijusu, a martial art system comprising of nine different schools including use of weapons and unarmed form, now joins the YMCA programme. Taijusu does not rely on speed or strength but more on natural body movement and is a non-competitive

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Andy's back at Knowsley Road

ANDY Leathem has returned to Saints following a month's loan to Warrington. Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.

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Bid to end nightmare for Mal

THE end of Mal Hussain's nightmare on the Ryelands estate could be in sight. The Independent group has instructed council officers to re-open discussions with Mr Hussain with a view to find a solution to his grievances. The Ryelands shopkeeper has suffered

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Six reasons to call halt to more new homes

A NUMBER of households in the Hindley Green area have recently received notification of a planning application to develop 9.5ha. of land for residential purposes (outline) at Belvedere Farm, Carr Common Road, a sizeable area of land behind the Taylor

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Call for market rethink

IT could be the beginning of the end for Lancaster Market. That's the verdict of leading councillor Jon Barry who says a major rethink is needed to save the city's ailing indoor market. Cllr Barry claims plans to attract a High Street store to take over

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Laurie is going into print

ST ANNES scribe Laurinea D'Arcy will be celebrating her 90th birthday in an amazing way - she is having her first book published. Laurinea, now of Sefton Court, St Annes, was born in Rossendale in 1909 and is looking forward to the publication of Deep

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Predictable! - Blackpool well beaten

IF anything in the game of cricket can be predictable it was that second-placed St Annes would defeat eighth-placed Blackpool in their Vaux Northern League Division One game at Vernon Road on Saturday (June 19) and also that, at some point in the game

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Soccer: Shakers fixtures announced

BURY will take on promotion rivals Gillingham in their opening league fixture of the 1999/2000 season. The Kent side, painfully beaten by Manchester City in the Division Two play-off final, kick off the new campaign at Gigg Lane on August 7. Four days

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Swimming: Clubs unite for Commonwealth Games assault

BURY'S elite swimmers are teaming up in a bid for Commonwealth Games glory. The town's three swimming clubs, Ramsbottom Rascals, Bury and Elton and Radcliffe, have come together for the first time in a concerted effort to produce representatives for the

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Three of the best

BLACKPOOL has done its own version of the treble by scooping three North West Tourist Board awards. Boosting its reputation as one of Europe's favourite attractions, Blackpool Pleasure Beach has been voted the North West's favourite day out after investing