Archive

  • World Class Glass

    LEADING national public relations agency, Mason Williams, has been appointed to handle the launch of the new £15 million World of Glass visitor centre due to open in March next year. St Helens has been synonymous with glass for more than 200 years and

  • Ann puts her feet up

    THE woman who taught Sporty Spice to dance is retiring. Pupils and staff at the Winburn School of Dancing have bid a fond farewell to its popular owner, Ann Burns when she retired after 46 successful years. Ann (62) told the Star: "I had always said that

  • 25 years ago

    From the Bury Times, August 13, 1974 DUCK: The Townson family of Openshaw Street, Bury, adopted an orphan duckling which was freezing to death after vandals drove its mother away. They revived it with a hot water bottle. Within days the duckling, Dilys

  • Winfields boss's stormy sea challenge

    COMPANY boss Dale Winfield has handed over more than £4,500 to charity despite being forced to give up a seafaring challenge. Dale, who owns Winfields shopping complex at Haslingden, raised the money though taking part in the first ever Round Britain

  • Pig who trotted off was lovesick

    A PIG which became a local celebrity after being found on a farm is desperate for a mate, his owners have revealed. Alf, a New Zealand kune-kune pig, turned up at Park Gate Farm, Copster Green, last week. Farmer Rose Donkin couldn't work out where he

  • Wheelchair man blasts lunatic drivers

    A WHEELCHAIR user from Radcliffe claims that someone will be killed unless Bury Council introduces traffic calming measures on his road. Mr Peter James-Robinson, who lives on Salisbury Road, Radcliffe, says the road is often gridlocked by drivers looking

  • Focus on Chesterfield

    FORMER Burnley defender Steve Blatherwick has been transfer-listed by Chesterfield and is likely to gain a place on the bench at best for tomorrow's clash at Turf Moor. Blatherwick made only sporadic appearances for the Spireites last season after a loan

  • Phone us dad, pleads daughter

    A WORRIED daughter today pleaded with her missing father: "Please get in touch, mum is ill." Gina Emmott's dad, Brian James Emmott, left the family home in Leicester Road, Intack, Blackburn, on June 23. He had said he was depressed before he went. Apart

  • Focus on Wijnhard

    CLYDE Wijnhard failed to make the same impact at Leeds as his Dutch compatriot Jimmy Hasselbaink but the striker who joined Huddersfield for £750,000 in summer should not be underestimated. Our Carling Opta statistics show that Wijnhard's Premiership

  • Union ballot over action

    WORKERS at a Radcliffe engineering company are to be balloted by their union over possible industrial action. The move follows a dispute between management at Strebor Diecasting and members of the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union over new

  • 'No worry' over visit of Benazir

    ASIAN community leaders say diplomatic tensions in South Asia will have no impact on the visit of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to Blackburn, tomorrow. The two-time Premier of Pakistan will visit the town just days after relations between

  • Luck is on their side

    CHRIS Lucketti will lead out Huddersfield Town in his first home appearance at the McAlpine Stadium tonight knowing that, in other circumstances, he could have been wearing the colours of The Terriers' opponents Blackburn Rovers. A queue of interested

  • Church warned over war graves

    THE oldest church in Prestwich has been given a slap on the wrists over the state of its graveyard. St Mary's in Church Lane has fallen foul of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission after it carried out a spot inspection. It found the area around 29

  • Leave a bitter taste

    I WRITE again as a new resident of Lacaster. A poster at the Storey Institute invites people to visit the 'Tasting' Garden behind the Folly Cafe. What a sad sight! I am told that two years ago it was beautiful. Hard to believe that now. At least the grass

  • £600,000 bid for Ramsbottom

    RAMSBOTTOM is hoping for a £600,000 cash injection to provide new flats and building repairs in the town's conservation area. Town hall leaders have put in a bid for English Heritage money to spark investment in local jobs, houses and town centre regeneration

  • You generous lot!

    WE are writing to thank everyone involved with the Chain Lane Community Centre for the games, bouncy castle, treasure hunt, face painting and all the other activities which we have enjoyed since it re-opened. We are especially thanking you all for the

  • Who runs the place?

    THE Queen's visit to Morecambe was indeed a good day, but was I alone in detecting a fly in the ointment, something ever so slightly rotten in the state of Lancaster? What on earth, I wondered, was a retired town hall official, one Charles Wilson, doing

  • Park and Pride

    THE spotlight will be on Heaton Park in 2002 when it hosts part of the Commonwealth Games - and locals won't need to worry about being shown up. In fact, a £6 million revival plan should help to make sure that Europe's largest municipal park is in tip-top

  • Why criminalise the cyclists?

    I AGREE with the comments and anxieties of 'concerned citizen' (Letters: July 15) and would like to add my own. On a Friday afternoon in mid-June, a group of 60 cyclists rode around the town centre for about an hour. In line with all the latest Government

  • European lesson

    MEMBERS of the Preston Youth Forum have gone on a 'chance of a lifetime' visit to Brussels and Strasbourg. The group, part of the Lancashire Youth and Community Service, already spent months preparing for the visit, including a trip to Westminster. Their

  • Freedom must be earned

    I FIND it surprising that the Good Companion Writers of St Helens wish the honorable of Freedom of the Borough to be endowed with the same mawkish sentimentality and 'pop culture' which has seen fine awards such as the Queen's Birthday Honours List to

  • Bridge that gap

    IN recent weeks some of your correspondants have suggested the new Millenium Bridge should be named after Lord Ashton instead of the late Princess Diana, because she never visited Lancaster. How petty and mean they are. Lord Ashton made a fortune from

  • Group gets funding boost

    PRESTON-based Home-start UK group are set to get a massive £127,935 cash boost. The three-year grant will pay the salary of a full-time worker at the office which provides information, training and support to Home-Start schemes across the North West.

  • Pay row

    PERHAPS Councillor Mrs Gina Lewis can explain why the needs an 11 per cent pay rise. When inflation is so low other public servants, eg nurses and prison officers, get far less. She has got herself on the hospital board at £5,000 per annum for two day's

  • Hospice collection

    MAY thank all those people who helped to make the Bury Hospice town centre collection a success on Saturday. Thanks to all those who helped with the collection and to all the people who gave so very generously. I am pleased to be able to report that we

  • Murgatroyd murder case in court

    PENWORTHAM man Andrew Philip Greenwood appeared before South Ribble Magistrates, in Leyland, on Monday, August 9, charged with the murder of Preston student Janet Murgatroyd. Greenwood, 25, of The Maltings, Penwortham, is accused of murdering the part-time

  • Making money in government

    IT is to be hoped for the South Ribble Council taxpayers' sakes that the formation of their new super-council will be funded from the savings resulting from the local shake-up (Citizen, July 29). Otherwise, they will no doubt be in for yet another above-average

  • Tip could be beautiful

    I WRITE with regard to the controversy over the site at Fletcher Bank Quarry in Shuttleworth. With some foresight, the co-operation of the landowners, and National Lottery funding it should be possible to create an area of lasting beauty for the local

  • Counting the cost

    ORGANISERS behind the Mela have reacted angrily to claims by a local band that they were ignored in favour of an international group. Dilip Kumar, manager of Garam Masala, accused the committee of acting in its own interest by booking Melody Express instead

  • Tenant demands answers

    IN reply to Mrs Sanderson's letter (Citizen, July 29). I am a council tenant living in the Brookfield estate and have been in my house for 34 years. In that time I have seen other estates get double glazing, central heating and modernisation. But every

  • Glad to get back to Oz

    HAVING returned to Bury for the first time since 1980, I am staying with friends in Ainsworth Road and have been amazed at the changes in the area. Sad to report, it is all downhill! What used to be a nice residential area now looks like an industrial

  • Readers' Recollections: Fond memories of first encounter

    SINCE launching Readers' Recollection, the Citizen has been inundated with letters from folk with fond memories. Reader Therese Ashcroft, of Lyndhurst Drive, Preston, recalls when she met her husband more than 70 years while she was a just a tot in her

  • The truth on poverty

    WHAT a great letter in the Citizen, entitled 'What Poverty?' (July 22 edition). At last someone has told the truth. Okay, we may have some problems in this country, but there is no 'real' poverty. Today's greedy, selfish, younger generation want everything

  • Choice? What choice?

    I AM sure that as campaign director of FOREST, Martin Ball (Your Letters, July 30) is more familiar with smoking statistics than I. For example, can he tell us how much of every £10 spent on smoking is (a) tobacco tax, and (b) VAT, both of which go to

  • Festive fare

    SAINTS will meet Wigan at the new JJB Stadium on Boxing Day, kick-off 3pm. Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.

  • Honours at the double for mayors

    TWO former Metro Mayors were yesterday made honorary aldermen of the borough. Former Cllrs Sam Little (Tyldesley) and Ron McAllister (Hindley Green) were honoured by ex-colleagues for their years of distinguished public service. Sam became Wigan's 25th

  • How can we stop it?

    CAN anyone help us stop youths from playing football on the bowling green and damaging roof of the bowling house at Ribbleton Park, Preston. We have tried everything. The council repair the fencing, but it is broken again as soon as the repairs are complete

  • Win a copy of Lord's: The Home of Cricket

    WITH just a few weeks left of the cricket season, we are offering readers the chance to relive some special moments in history by winning a copy of Lord's: The Home of Cricket, written and illustrated by Niall Edworthy. The Citizen has teamed up with

  • Boy aged nine on World Cup board!

    FOOTBALL crazy schoolboy Nathan Roocroft won a trip of a lifetime - to help urge FIFA bosses to give England the chance to host the World Cup. Nathan, nine, from Southport Road in Leyland, and three other youngsters this week travelled to FIFA's headquarters

  • Media ignores pensioner stories

    SOMEONE once said that speech was given to us as a power with which to hide our thoughts. To paraphrase that cynical observation, I would suggest that the power of the media is now employed in order to hide the truth. On July 28 more than 150 pensioners

  • Marathon man breathes easy

    TWELVE years ago John McDonald smoked 60 cigarettes a day and weighed fourteen stone. Now the 57-year-old, from Leyland, is celebrating after completing two marathons back-to-back. But Johnny Mac, as he is affectionately known to fellow members of Chorley

  • 'A lovely little girl'

    MESSAGES of sympathy have been pouring in to the family of tragic Karla Rose Selley. Mrs Josephine Lee, chair of governors at Farington County Primary School, in Leyland, where Karla was a pupil, said: "It is a sad loss of a lovely little girl. "I just

  • Football's future

    SPORTING stardom beckons for a 15-year-old from Fulwood. John Hough, pictured, has earned himself a place at the Heinz Ketchup Football Festival at Keele University - the English Schools Football Association course. The course gives 64 talented young

  • CRICKET: Hero Austin

    IAN Austin rammed the words of his World Cup critics back down their throats with a magnificent match-winning performance for Lancashire at Headingley last night. Austin, who was axed by England early in their World Cup campaign and whose selection for

  • Counting the cost

    TRADERS on Leyland Market are left counting the cost of the closure of Kwik Save last weekend, which has forced shoppers to go elsewhere for their supermarket goods. On the same day the supermarket closed for business on Saturday - leaving 56 workers

  • £100 settles grave row

    A PENSIONER has been given £100 by Preston Council bosses after cemetery staff were ordered to knock over his wife's gravestone at the town's cemetery. Maurice Jones was devastated to find his wife's headstone had been flattened when he visited the cemetery

  • Inquiry into dentist death

    SOUTH Lancashire Health Authority, the Coroner's Office and the police have launched an investigation into the death of a five-year-old Leyland girl following a routine tooth extraction. Karla Rose Selley, from the Golden Hill area, suffered breathing

  • BOWLS: Thwaites East Lancashire Premier League

    GREAT Harwood move up into top spot following their 10-4 away win at Rishton Con, Malcolm Wensley winning 21-11 and Harry Moles winning 21-13 for Rishton Con. Colne Cricket drop to second place three points adrift of the leaders after their narrow 8-6

  • Now ban the HGVs

    AFTER taking his new broom to the gridlocked eastern end of the M65, recently-appointed Highways Agency boss Kevin Lasbury now brushes off the road signs that help to make the notorious Grane Road between Haslingden and Blackburn the most dangerous in

  • Skip alert

    A SKIP for the collection of waste paper and cardboard will be in the yard of St Leonard's School, Langho, tomorrow and Sunday. Could users please put their paper in bundles or bags to stop it blowing away? A HOLDEN (Mrs), Pasturelands Drive, Billington

  • Services 'too slow'

    AMBULANCE bosses in Lancashire say they will need extra cash to achieve government targets on reaching life-threatening emergency calls. Now Lancashire Ambulance Service plans to transfer minor 999 calls to the NHS Direct line, to make maximum use of

  • Luck of the draw!

    ST ANNES IV scraped a fortunate draw against lowly opposition Postal in their Fylde League division 2 game thanks mostly to the most resolute of knocks from young opener Paul McCabe (57). Apart from Matthew Wand and Adam Duxbury there was little else

  • BOWLS: Alex keep up chase

    REIGNING Ovalworld Super League champions Alexandra maintained their challenge in the title race when they defeated neighbours Witton 4-2. However, current leaders St Annes dismissed Fishwick Ramblers 6-0 to increase their margin to six points at the

  • Finishing in style

    LYTHAM Ex-Service finished their last game of the season in style in the Lytham St Annes Darts and Dominoes Summer League, beating Ansdell Institute 18-6 to ensure second place in this season's table, finishing three points behind champions British Legion

  • NON-LEAGUE SOCCER: Andy Neild previews the new season

    DEMOLITION expert Andrew Connolly has begun the task of building Rossendale United into a major non-League force. And no-one is buzzing about it more than new signing Andy Grimshaw. The tough-tackling midfielder has seen it all in a non-League career

  • Academy success

    THE Academy team defeated Wakefield 42-30 at Knowsley Road on Sunday. Saints face Warrington at Wilderspool on Sunday, kick-off 4.15pm. Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.

  • Club provides strong base for supporters

    YOU'VE bought the season ticket, obligatory scarf and replica shirt, you're even thinking about travelling all the way to Luton on Saturday - now all you need is to sign up with the Blackpool Supporters Association and you can call yourself a true Seasiders

  • Brett wrecks 'em

    BLACKPOOL defeated visitors Wrexham 2-1 with two identical well-rehearsed set pieces at Bloomfield Road on Saturday (Aug 14). Brett Ormerod started the season with a smile as he twice headed past Kevin Dearden, Wrexham's new goalkeeper signed from Watford

  • Has council seen the light?

    HAVING been thwarted by the electorate in Hyndburn, it appears that Lancashire County Council is now targeting other areas for traffic calming, including further measures on the A59. However, it appears that at long last LCC has seen the light and is

  • Cricket results round-up

    VAUX NORTHERN LEAGUE Division One: Blackpool 118-9, J Marquet 5-27 - *Chorley 117, M Sharp 6-29, P Danson 30; Darwen 168-6, R Petrie 56, N Cordinghley 45 (n.o.) - *Morecambe 162, R Petrie 6-53, M Woodhead 44, P Thornton 43; *Lancaster 220-7 dec, D Heywood

  • Hear Hesketh

    WE could not have had a much tougher start to our campaign than taking on two of the fancied sides for promotion from our division. On Saturday we travel to Stalybridge and next Tuesday night we take on big spenders Leigh at home. Their are likely to

  • Winning smile

    EIGHT-month-old Samuel Worsdale is gurgling with delight after being named as Blackpool's top tot. The youngster is the Bank Hey Street store winner in the Boots Millennium baby competition and has a chance to pitch his infectious smile against other

  • Town to lose its men-only toilets

    PUBLIC toilets are set to be demolished in Burnley - after councillors were told the men-only urinals discriminated against women. Councillors are set to give the go-ahead for the demolition of all 13 surviving men-only toilets, which are scattered throughout

  • Liam receives award

    LIAM Williams, of Blackbrook Royals, who won the 'Top Gun' trophy at last month's under-15 training camp at Ampleforth, was due to receive his trophy at Red Hall, Leeds, yesterday, Wednesday. Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images

  • Feast of family fun

    BLACKPOOL'S biggest ever open-air arts and musical festival takes place in Stanley Park between noon and 4pm this Sunday (August 15). The Grand Family Day Out harks back to the resort's heady entertainment heritage and 19th century roots. There's something

  • Fireworks fun was just right

    I'M a bit of a whinger when it comes to noise, but there are times when there has to be a bit of give and take. Two events have prompted complaints from residents this week - early morning noise from a fundraising dance at Leigh Fire Station, and from

  • Rounders titles in the bag

    ALTHOUGH Windle and Pilkington Spartans have theSt Helens Rounders League First and Second Division titles in the bag, the heat is still on for the two runners-up spots. TNT and Burtonwood are battling it out for the first and Bobbies Lane, Rainhill and

  • Winning draw at Preston

    Lancaster 220-7 dec Preston 146-8 LANCASTER had to be content with a winning draw against bottom club Preston at Lune Road. Batting first, they had a solid foundation when David Heywood and Phil Dennison put on 45 for the first wicket before the former

  • Venture scout writes of Dutch holiday

    A GROUP of 34 scouts, venture scouts and leaders from 1st Carleton Scout Group have returned from their travels to the Netherlands. Venture scout Edward Statham was one of the intrepid adventurers and shares his memories... The coach journey to Baarn,

  • Tough challenge accepted by Harvey

    MORECAMBE kick off their conference season this weekend, and Jim Harvey's men know they have a tough ten months ahead if they are to achieve their dream of making it into the football league. With only one promotion spot available, the conference is surely

  • It's tram-tastic

    THE wheels are back on track for a South African couple eager to make a fresh start in Blackpool. Sharon and Manuel Da Silva Teixeira (pictured), of St David's Road, St Annes, relocated from Johannesburg after fearing for their own and their seven-year-old

  • Reward offered for stolen memories

    A BIRMINGHAM woman is appealing to Morecambe people to help her recover a precious photo album and other personal items stolen by callous thieves in the resort. Barbara Flower, 56, was returning with her husband from a holiday in Northern Ireland and

  • Tangerine and blue!

    TONY Hesketh has added a hint of Tangerine to his new look City side - and he'll be hoping for a dream start to the season this Saturday. The Blackpool cricket club captain will hang up his bat this weekend and concentrate on getting City closer to their

  • Back in saddle

    YOUNG Christopher Walsh is riding high again - thanks to a large helping of Fylde Coast generosity. Offers to get the brave ten-year-old back in the saddle have flooded in since the Citizen revealed his string of setbacks - being diagnosed with leaukaemia

  • Searching for Ken and Ann Houghton

    COULD any Citizen readers help me to trace family friends Ken and Ann Houghton - and their daughter Gayle. Ken used to travel to Manchester, their home town, each day to work on the papers in Deansgate. Ann, or Annie, owned and raced greyhounds at the

  • Pressure play

    SECOND-PLACED St Annes kept up the pressure on Vaux Northern League leaders Darwen as they beat Kendal by 23 runs with only three balls remaining in the match at Vernon Road on Saturday (Aug 7). Put in to bat, Adrian Darlington and Duncan Whalley gave

  • Eccleston take command

    ECCLESTON notched up a comfortable victory at Moorfield on Saturday. Put into bat, Eccleston soon lost opener Connor without scoring. From this disastrous start Eccleston picked themselves up and put together some very useful partnerships contributing

  • Police roar into action

    OPERATION Aslan has roared into Blackpool this summer to sink its claws into late-night drunken yobbery in town centre streets. The operation, named after the heroic lion in CS Lewis's The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, is aimed at stamping down on

  • Bosses move to quell safety fears

    A TOP level report has expressed concern over safety at Heysham's nuclear power stations. A leaked report from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) says staff levels have been reduced so much that safety cover could prove inadequate if an incident

  • Great support for keeping pound

    MAY I thank the many people who supported us on our July 24 Democracy Day. With tables in Lytham, Fleetwood and Cleveleys, in six hours more than 1,000 signatures to keep our pound were obtained. No longer are Euro-sceptics in the minority and we hope

  • Buildings open to all

    MOST of Lancaster's leading buildings will open their doors to the public for this year's Heritage Open Day on September 11. The police station, the town hall, the Conservative Club as well as the city's traditional tourism sites will join 2,000 other

  • Rainford run spree in vain

    RAINFORD First XI maintained their position in the Southport and district league top three when they totally dominated Wigan rivals Norley Hall. On a wet afternoon and after a delay and a surprise invitation to bat, they suffered the early loss of Cook

  • Big boost for birthday bear

    I AM writing on behalf of Britain's most loveable bear - Paddington. He has asked me to thank readers of the Blackpool & Fylde Citizen for helping to celebrate his birthday in style last month by raising lots of money for his favourite charity, Action

  • What eclipse?

    WORKERS in St Annes took a break from work to gaze at the heavens on Wednesday (August 11) but were rapidly brought back down to earth as their expectations of the eclipse were shattered. Office workers from Focal Point in St Annes were disappointed with

  • League leaders!

    LANCASTER is in the premier league of British universities - according to a new survey. Despite years of financial strife, Lancaster is now the North West's only premier league university. Lancaster finished joint tenth, well behind champions Cambridge

  • Tower open day

    THERE will be a Tower Open Day at St Peter's RC Cathedral in Lancaster on Sunday 22 August between 1 and 4pm. The open day will give visitors the opportunity to admire the views from the Tower Balcony, see the bells in motion, and learn about the English

  • Cricketers in derby thriller

    ST HELENS and St Helens Recs had to settle for a share of the spoils in a dramatic derby clash at Windleshaw Road. St Helens batted first and Victor Faul, playing his last game before returning to South Africa, made the early break through by bowling

  • When to give blood

    BLOOD donor sessions will be held at St Austin's Church Hall in Scholes Lane, Thatto Heath, between 2 and 4pm and 5.30 and 7.30pm on Tuesday, August 31. Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the

  • New look station

    CARNFORTH'S new look police station opened its doors to the public this week. Their new look is intended to make the police station a friendlier environment for the public. A phone line has also been installed to contact the police when the station is

  • Leader sorry after church service gaffe

    COUNCIL bosses have issued an apology after wrongly claiming a popular town centre church was about to end regular Sunday services. Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe blamed a mistake in an officer's report for making the announcement about St James

  • Swimming: Pool Britannia in Bury

    SWIMMING superstar James Hickman thrilled young members of Bury's "elite" swimming squad when he called in at the Castle Leisure Centre on Saturday. The multi-world champion passed on his expert knowledge then faced a question and answer session from

  • Capacity increased

    DEEPDALE'S capacity has been raised to 21,067 with work completed on the Town End and Pavilion. Extra crush barriers and lateral gangways have been added to the areas to comply with the current legislation requirements imposed on all football clubs with

  • Cash hit New Era plan will go ahead

    A CASH blow will not jeopardise plans to transform a former Accrington mill into a £2.6million community centre, one of the project's leaders has insisted. The New Era centre in Paradise Street is currently being turned into a home for a range of agencies

  • Rugby League: Lions lose narrowly

    Swinton Lions 22, Featherstone Rovers 24 SWINTON went down in a titanic struggle as former Lions coach Peter Roe retured to Gigg Lane in triumph on Sunday. Roe's Featherstone Rovers side are chasing a top five spot in the Northern Ford Premiership, but

  • College help for the sick

    COLLEGE classes are starting to help workers hit by ill health. Wigan and Leigh College has been awarded funding for an innovative programme designed for those unable to do the job they were trained for, or who have to quit through ill health. Candidates

  • Hilton fights for cheaper pensioners' TVs

    LOCAL MP Hilton Dawson has hit out at a new report into the future of BBC funding. Mr Dawson slammed the Gavin Davis report, which he says failed to address the vital issue of pensioners, who have to pay full whack for a much needed TV, which can provide

  • Bury FC: Lethal Lawson sinks Magpies

    Bury 1, Notts County 0 NOTTS County must have been laughing all the way down the M1 after this Worthington Cup first round first leg clash. They had just been taken apart by a Bury side that created almost as many chances in 90 minutes than they did in

  • Police link OAP attacks

    DOORSTEP attacks on elderly women in Tyldesley and Leigh could be the work of the same man. Police have warned people to be suspicious of unexpected callers after an 88-year-old woman was punched in the face as she opened the front door of her home in

  • Red-hot start

    OLDHAM paraded new striker Junior Agogo for an impressive debut but it was go, go, go Preston North End as the Deepdale side took the points on the opening day of the season. Encouraged by a huge travelling army of support, North End, pictured sporting

  • Power to people in borough 'devolution'

    TOWNS in Hyndburn could be given individual councils as early as next year in a major shake-up of decision-making in the borough. Tory leader of Hyndburn Council Peter Britcliffe, has announced plans to split the borough into five separate power bases

  • Degree of success for Mary

    WARTIME bus conductress Mary Wyche Smith left school at 14 without qualifications. Now, at 74, she has a BA Hons degree in English Literature and history. Mary, of Wardour Street, Atherton, left Lee Street School during the second world war. An essential

  • Road train driver Alec honoured

    Morecambe is set to honour another of its local heroes. A plaque will be unveiled on the stone jetty, where Mr Alec Bell drove the much loved blue road train for over five years. Mr Bell, who died in March 1998, is also fondly remembered as the driver

  • Lynx let it slip

    LYNX'S best performance of the season deserved more than the scoreline suggests and with better referring they would have got it. Widnes Vikings won 24-14 but a neutral would have found it difficult to believe that this was fifth against second bottom

  • Lights landau ban to stay

    BLACKPOOL landau owners have lost their bid to ply the promenade on Saturday nights during the Illuminations. The Landau Owners' Association this week formally objected to Blackpool Council's ban on the horse-drawn carriages on Saturdays, the peak night

  • Employers reap their rewards

    A GROUP of East Lancashire employers have been given a pat on the back. The 12 organisations have all been re-recognised under the Investors in People standard and collected their certificates at an awards ceremony. Among the employers represented included

  • No sex please, it's Christmas!

    CHRISTMAS could be an unsexy time in Bury if the town's moral guardians have their way. They are not keen on allowing the Private Shop on Rochdale Road, Bury to open late on several days before and after Christmas, and on several days which are Bank Holidays

  • Busway may be just the ticket!

    A GUIDED busway decision is another step nearer. Now Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority will seek councils and Highways Agency views before deciding whether the Leigh-Manchester Quality Bus Route should go ahead. They have considered GMPTE

  • Insurance workers' fresh job threat

    HUNDREDS of Fylde insurance workers feared for their jobs this week as Guardian Royal Exchange looked set to be sold for the second time this year. Axa Sun Life, which bought GRE in January, was today expected to announce whether it has reached a deal

  • Thieves' designs on your washing

    POLICE have issued a warning following a series of thefts from washing lines. DS Tommy Wright said: "People have been leaving expensive, designer label washing hanging out to dry overnight and making easy pickings for thieves who simply climb over garden

  • Time to walk

    THERE'S still time to volunteer for the Blind Welfare Society's walk across Morecambe Bay on August 21 and 22. The eight mile adventure will be led by the Queen's guide, Cedric Robinson, starting at Arnside and finishing at Grange-over-Sands three hours

  • First Lady digs the good life!

    MAYORESS Evelyne Smith leads the good life - in more ways than one. When she is not taking care of civic business on the circuit as the town's first lady, and attending council and school governors' meetings, self-sufficient Evelyne can be found tending

  • Rain beats Leyland in short match

    LEYLAND DAF were unlucky not to have beaten current league champions Netherfield in a rain-restricted match at Parkside Road. Put in to bat after a delayed start which saw 20 overs lost through rain, Daf lost their first wicket at nine when Alan Murray

  • Polly gone, but not for long

    HILL Street blues became a reality for Elmo the lonesome parrot, whose pal flew the nest. But now his feathered friend, Denzel, has been returned to his home in Hill Street, Radcliffe. Denzel escaped last week by flying through a window while his owner

  • Chopper takes to country skies

    POLICE have a new weapon in the fight against rural crime - the force helicopter. The air support unit will be making a concerted effort to patrol the countryside. Spokesman PC Martin Woods said the new drive was part of a concerted attempt to reassure

  • Keeping up appearances

    THREE St Helens councillors were 'keeping up appearances' when they attended the annual Champagne reception and dinner for honorary graduates at Liverpool University where guest of honour was TV's Patricia Routledge. Councillor Mike Doyle, deputy chairman

  • Puddin' on a good show!

    BURY black pudding champ Martin Brimelow is pig sick after losing his scoffing crown. He secured the title last year, polishing off an incredible nine puddings in 75 minutes. But he had to look on as record breaking Andrew Taylor snatched his title from

  • Town hall plans

    COUNCILLORS have this week made positive moves to implement a new management structure at the town hall. The plans, which will be recommended to the finance committee in a couple of months, will see up to 14 members of staff having to formally apply for

  • Man is cleared of sex assaults on girl

    A MAN has been cleared of sexually assaulting a schoolgirl. William McKenzie, 39, was found not guilty of three allegations of indecent assault by a Burnley Crown Court jury after a three-day trial. McKenzie, most recently of Springfield Road, Nelson,

  • Police sound tablets warning

    POLICE have issued a warning following a theft of drugs and a substantial amount of jewellery from a house in Bluebell Avenue, Haydock, between 10.30am and noon on Wednesday, August 4. The stolen jewellery included rings, bracelets and lockets made from

  • Slower but sharper

    PLANNING bosses in the borough are getting slower - but they're still sharper than many others elsewhere in the country. That's the conclusion from a new set of league tables on how quickly councils decide planning applications. The Government's figures

  • Asian artist big in USA

    AN ASIAN artist from Nelson will fly to the United States later this month to oversee the installation of her work as the centrepiece of a new mosque. Shahiba Haider-Choudhry, 28, caught the eye of the religious leaders behind the mosque scheme in Oklahoma

  • Ethnic economy boost

    BUSINESS Voice '99, the North West's premier business-to-business exhibition, will celebrate the rich contribution of ethnic minority companies to the local economy. The ethnic minority business service, which is part of Bolton Council, will stage a Business

  • More people on waiting lists

    LATEST figures show that more patients are waiting for treatment at Bury Hospitals. Government figures show that the number of patients awaiting treatment at Bury hospitals - run by Bury Health Care NHS Trust - rose by 48 from May to 2,229 at the end

  • Eagles recall for Anderson

    LEIGH loan star Paul Anderson will play no further part in his hometown team's push for the Super League. Back row forward Anderson missed out on Sunday's 66-6 spree over Oldham with a knee injury and has now been recalled by Sheffield Eagles. It's a

  • SOCCER: Still time to join

    A VACANCY has arisen in each of the Under-14s and Under-15s sections of the Hyndburn and District Boys' Football League for the coming season. Boys must have been under the required age-limit on August 1, 1999. Any teams interested in filling either vacancies

  • Latest line in angling for kids

    YOUNGSTERS keen to become anglers are being offered free advice from St Helens Council's Ranger service. There are up to 15 places available on a coarse fishing workshop being held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, August 16, 17 and 18. The course is

  • It Asda be bigger

    RADCLIFFE biggest store is about to get a whole lot bigger. Work is being carried out on a £4 million development at the town's Asda superstore. The 10,000sq ft extension is expected to be completed by November and will include a specialist Chinese food

  • ICE SKATING: Couple coast to bronzes

    BLACKBURN-based ice skating duo Joanne Birbeck and Ian Kemp scooped a bronze double at the Hull Open. Joanne, a pupil at Darwen Moorland High School, landed third place in the girls preliminary category while Ian who goes to St Mary's High School in Leyland

  • Two girls get it write

    TWO pupils from the same school scooped top prizes in the North West section of Royal Mail's Young Letter Writers Competition. Laura Richards and Amanda Hesketh, of Rainford High School, took first and second places respectively in their age group. The

  • Civilian staff to fight cuts

    POLICE support staff from Bury were among hundreds attending a meeting last night, Auguist 12, to protest over planned pay cuts. Many of Greater Manchester Police's 3,100 civilian staff are said to be "devastated" by the fact they could face reductions

  • Feathers fly after big bangs

    SLEEPING residents had a rude awakening when a container full of compacted feathers was rocked by two huge explosions. And hours later, householders in Leigh Lane, Elton, Bury, could be forgiven for thinking Christmas had arrived early. For the area was

  • BOWLS: Jobsearch Burnley and District League

    RESULTS - A Division: Haslingden 8, Padiham A 2; Springhill 9, CPA 1; Wanderers 9, Towneley A 1; Mount A 7, St Andrew's A 3; St Andrew's B 6, Roebuck A 4; Greenhill A 8, Mount B 2. B Division: Barden A 8, St Andrew's C 2; Causeway A 8, Lowerhouse 2; Burnley

  • What's your view?

    EVERY resident now has the chance to play a part in creating a better borough in which to live, work and play. Leaflets are about to drop through tens of thousands of letter boxes asking local folk for their views on how the future of Bury is to be mapped

  • Knife man talked down

    A 30-year-old man slashed himself with a knife as police tried to talk him down from the roof of Bury's Mosses Centre. And during the early-morning drama, police officers and paramedics were forced to withdraw from the roof when the distraught man continued

  • Families asked to speak up

    THOUSANDS of families across St Helens are being given the chance to have their say on how the town should be run. St Helens Council is launching a community survey with the aim of creating a Citizens or People's Panel which will be consulted on a regular

  • Murray and Fairclough lead charge

    DOUBLE act Anthony Murray and Andy Fairclough are back with a bang - and showing Leigh just what they've been missing for the past few weeks. Murray, back after a three-match ban, and Fairclough - fit again after missing seven games with a shoulder injury

  • Bury FC: Au revoir to D'Jaffo

    BURY'S French ace Laurent D'Jaffo yesterday joined First Division Stockport County in a £100,000 deal. Last season's leading scorer becomes the third Shakers striker to join the Edgeley Park club in the last twelve months teaming up with Rob Matthews

  • Boost for 'green' shopping

    A £53,000 project, which aims to provide a 'greener'way to shop is being launched by St Helens Council. The scheme will improve access and signs to the town centre for cyclists and walkers along the Ravenhead Greenway. Major improvements to the greenway

  • Tot hurt walking on pavement

    A GRANDMOTHER has contacted the Star in disgust after her three year old grandson became the victim of a hit and run motorist. Sheila Corns from Clock Face says little John Corns and his 15 year old next door neighbour, Michelle Pickavance were walking

  • Police seek new leads in Julie killing

    POLICE investigating the murder of a woman whose body was found in a field near Rainford five years ago, have made a re-newed appeal for information. Julie Finley's body was found by a cyclist on the afternoon of Saturday, August 6, 1994, in a field off

  • Prince in shock move to RMI

    LEIGH RMI manager Steve Waywell pulled off a surprise by signing another striker for his side's final pre-season friendly against Clitheroe when he snapped up Prince Moncrieffe from Hyde United. But once again defensive frailties let him down in a 2-2

  • Drivers warned about the blues

    POLICE have warned motorists to avoid Colne town centre during the annual Great British Rhythm and Blues music festival over the Bank Holiday weekend. Sections of the main road through the centre will be closed during the busiest periods of the festival

  • Today's the Day!

    A look back at events in history on August 13 with Mike Badham 1521: Spanish conquistador Cortes took Mexico City and overthrew the Aztec Empire. 1860: Little Annie Oakley was born in Ohio. She earned stardom with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, once shooting

  • Lewis leaves it late

    LEIGH ATHLETIC drew 2-2 with Breightmet United, Tony Lewis equalising with the final kick of the game. Earlier, Scott Lewis had given them a deserved lead. Lapses in defence allowed the visitors back in, setting up that dramatic finale. Tonight, against

  • Roads boss pledges action on M-way rat run

    NEW motorway signs will help cut traffic on Lancashire's most dangerous road, where 83 people have been killed or injured in two years. New Highways Agency boss Kevin Lasbury has vowed to make speedy changes, and thanked the Lancashire Evening Telegraph

  • Music teacher's singing example

    SINGING tutor Judith Briscall is showing her pupils that even teachers never stop learning. Just as her private pupils' latest exam results were coming through, Judith got her own results, to add more sets of letters to her name. Judith, 40, of Skipton

  • Profits plummet

    A SQUEEZE on used car prices and lower fleet sales hit profits at Perry Group which has a major dealership in Blackburn. Pre-tax profits for the six months to June 30 fell to £3.1 million, from £4.9 million in the first half of last year. Turnover was

  • Toxic algae danger

    SWIMMERS have been warned to beware toxic blue-green algae which has formed in Bury's reservoirs, lakes and rivers. Health inspectors say that people could become seriously ill after coming into contact with the growth. They are urging those enjoying

  • Hundreds sing for 'bright and beautiful' Abi, five

    MORE than 200 people gathered at the funeral of Abi Guy, the Colne girl who was killed in a tragic accident on her father's farm. Pupils from Laneshawbridge Primary School, where five-year-old Abi was about to start her second year, sang the hymn "All

  • Four-mile race series

    CHORLEY Harriers four-mile night series notched up a record number of entrants at last Wednesday's event. The race was won in 19 minutes by Nick Jones, of Tipton Harriers. Border Harriers' Paul Taylor was 16 seconds behind. The race series was won by

  • Ternent's aim to get it off his Chest

    AFTER just two games of a new campaign it's premature to be talking of a make-or-break fixture. And tomorrow's first Turf Moor date of the season isn't that. But the visit of Chesterfield is massively important for Burnley after their mid-week cup disaster

  • Light of my life

    SHE'S going to be a proud, confident leader with striking looks ... but eclipse baby Emme Isobel Kettle doesn't know it yet. When Emme was born at 10.26am yesterday (Wednesday), England was preparing for enjoying its first full eclipse for 72 years. But

  • Cruel fate feared for stolen dogs

    SHOW dog owner Karen Tittle fears that two prize-winning Staffordshire bull terriers stolen from her home could be used for the cruel "sport" of dog fighting. She is so worried that she has offered a substantial reward for information leading to the animals

  • Brig get the go-ahead

    BAMBER Bridge's opening league match at Worksop on Saturday will go ahead after the Football Association gave the UniBond League a stay of execution. The FA had refused to sanction the league until UniBond officials agreed to admit Barrow to the Premier

  • Mullin could be fit to face Chesterfield

    CLARETS summer signing John Mullin has undergone surgery on his injured toe to speed his return to action. And the mid-week operation means the former Sunderland man could be included in Burnley's squad to face Chesterfield at Turf Moor tomorrow. Mullin

  • Eyesore homes to be bull-dozed

    A DOUBLE boost aimed at breathing new life into areas of run-down council homes in Blackburn is set to be agreed by housing bosses. More than 100 homes on Blackburn's Roman Road could soon be demolished at a cost of £200,000 to "stem the tide of decline

  • Gally faces uncertain future at Ewood

    KEVIN Gallacher, in line for a probable recall at Huddersfield tonight, is taking a realistic view as he faces up to the prospect that he does not have a long-term future with Blackburn Rovers. But the Scottish international striker, a likely replacement

  • Eye see no eclipse

    DID you miss the non-event of the year? Well, you certainly weren't alone. Despite hype reaching fever pitch with tales of dramatic views and emotional experiences during Wednesday's (August 11) 'spectacle', the reality was quite different. Those who

  • Toss backfires in runs chase

    PRESTON returned from Lune Road with 2 points from a losing draw with Lancaster. Preston captain Manoj Parekh's decision to put Lancaster into bat misfired because openers David Heywood and Phil Dennison added 45 runs for the the first wicket. Dennison

  • Race chief quits

    THE man who has spearheaded racial harmony in Bury for the past 11 years has resigned on medical grounds. Mr Nasrullah Khan has been forced to quit his post as full-time director of Bury Racial Equality Council (BREC) because of his worsening diabetes

  • There are more deserving cases

    I SEE St Helens has been given £25 million to invest in the town, but can anyone tell me why £11 million should go on a new rugby ground for the Saints board. I would have thought there were many more deserving cases about such as MS sufferers or the

  • What's on: Events on Saturday Aug 14

    Activity Weekend, Clitheroe Castle Museum, 11am-5pm. 50/50 Dancing with Duncan and Margaret, Tony's New Empress Ballroom, Town Hall Street, Blackburn, 7.30pm-11pm. Sixties Soul and Motown, Queens Park, Burnley, 8pm. Summer Fair, St Edwards Community Hall

  • Churchc petition over poster

    HILLOCK parishioners are up-in-arms over "offensive" language used in posters for the new Austin Powers movie. Now members of St Andrew's Church on Ribble Drive have organised a petition against the billboards which boast the slogan "Austin Powers - The

  • Thanks a lot!

    I WOULD like to thank all those people who supported Willowbrook Hospice during the St Helens Flag Day on Saturday, July 24, 1999. Willowbrook Hospice - formerly St Helens & Knowsley Hospice - is situated in Portico Lane and offers free treatment

  • Why won't the police explain?

    I WRITE in response to the recent flurry of correspondence condemning the levels of policing and surveillance at the recent day of action against the social and environmental destruction of capital and in particular multinational corporations. As someone

  • A blind eye?

    IN answer to the letter concerning Cherry Tree Drive Estate (Star, July 29) I would like to know what these people expect. A quiet, dignified life? Forget it! With the bleeding hearts and do-gooders in charge, the values that the older generation grew

  • Staring at the sun

    THE solar eclipse finally arrived on Wednesday after all the hype, anticipation and expectation. While Bury could only claim 90 per cent of the eclipse, thinner cloud meant a better view of the once-in-a-lifetime treat than for many in the total eclipse

  • E. coli: Council considering whether to prosecute

    IT could be some time before council chiefs decide whether to press charges against a food outlet at the centre of an E.coli alert, say environmental health managers. The Ribble Valley outlet is thought to be the source of three of six cases which caused

  • Corner shop is safer

    CYCLING it now a regular part of life's hazards in Bury's shopping precinct. To-day I have been "attacked" again by these speed hogs on wheels, having only just recovered from my last bruising encounter. Is it that I changed direction too quickly? Or

  • Hope the meter's not running!

    AGAIN, may I ask for space to answer your article 'turning defence into a personal attack' in your last edition of your newspaper. If this situation continues it could become a bestseller. I would contradict what Mr Hodgson implies that I wasn't defending

  • Jobs at risk

    TONY Blair has claimed that the Government strongly supports small businesses - especially in the hi-tech sector - with measures such as lower taxes. Sadly, the reality is quite different. The Government is trying to force through some little-publicised

  • Thanks to Tesco

    AS vice president of Help the Aged's celebrity support committee, Stage For Age, I would like to thank the staff and customers at Preston's Tesco store for adopting Help the Aged as their Charity of the Year in 1998. The tills have been ringing for Help

  • Beggars are conning us

    AS a regular visitor to Bury Market I have finally had enough of all the beggars conning people out of their money. I was moved to write after witnessing a group of beggars behaving in a threatening way towards as young lad who was busking in one of the

  • Export support for small business

    A NEW programme of business support has been launched to help small and medium-size companies in the Deepdale area. The marketing-based scheme is designed to help companies looking to expand their customer base and seek out new marketing opportunities

  • Win wine coolers by Paul Masson

    THE Citizen has teamed up with Paul Masson Winery to offer ten readers a wine cooler. Celebrity chef Ross Burden recently created some delicious new recipes to complement Paul Masson California Wines - as they are perfect for summer drinking. The range

  • Scots Guards gathering

    ON behalf of the Scots Guards Association, Preston Branch, I would like to inform you of the following events. The Scots Guards Gathering 1999 will take place at a venue near Edinburgh on Sunday September 5, from 11.30am to 4.30pm. All former Scots Guardsmen

  • Nightmare on Spring Street

    IT was 4pm on Thursday, August 5, and there I was in Asda, in the queue for ten items or less, when somebody said: "It has just started raining". Well we all know what happened after that. "Rain" was an understatement. It was bucketing down! Then the

  • Dark side of the sun

    WHILE around 80,000 people hit Cornwall for the total eclipse, around 500 chose to view the partial eclipse at the observatory in Moor Park. Preston and District Astronomy Society set up camp at the observatory to give people the chance to see the eclipse

  • £9m hospital unit open

    PATIENTS with a mental illness are settling into a new £9 million unit built on the old Whittingham Hospital site, in Goosnargh, near Preston. The purpose-built Guild Lodge, in Guild Park - formerly the site of Whittingham Hospital which closed four years

  • Wrong to build on this land

    AS a nature lover who also appreciates historic sites, I was horrified to read of the destruction of the Barracks Lodge in Elton and the mess made by other developers in the area of the former Greenmount convent. Surely it is time a law was passed to

  • Nuisance summit

    NUISANCE neighbours could become a thing of the past, if a special summit with Liverpool City Council proves fruitful. Representatives from Liverpool's anti-social behaviour unit, set up to tackle problem neighbours, have agreed to visit Preston in September

  • Same old problems

    I HAVE just read the article, "Angry Dad in crossing plea" (July 30). I lived on Hillock estate, Whitefield, in Douglas Close, from 1966 to 1972. Our rear garden backed onto Mersey Drive, near to the Lord Clive pub. I therefore know about the traffic

  • We'll meet again. . .

    AN EX-navy man from Preston is set to meet his old crew mates for the first time in 48 years - thanks to an appeal lodged in the Citizen. Austin Lee, pictured, acted immediately when he saw a letter from Tom Boden in the Citizen on July 22, trying to

  • 'Driver asleep'

    A DRIVER who was injured in a lorry smash, may have fallen asleep at the wheel, said police. Leyland man Charles Edward Ashworth, 34, of Bristol Avenue, suffered serious head and back injuries when he was thrown from the cab of his 7.5 ton Mercedes flat-back

  • Kindred spirits

    TOPPING the charts with a number one hit is going to be no problem for Leyland girl band Kindred, who are already taking audiences by storm. You've heard the Spice Girls now check out the girls of Kindred - one of the hottest bands around. With their

  • Readers' Recollections: Photographer in the frame

    STROLLING through the well-trodden streets of Winckley Square, in Preston, is a regular pastime for many local people content to bask in its splendid gardens and fine buildings. As Citizen readers will know, many people with fond memories of the square

  • Ambition drives him to drink

    AMBITIOUS Alec Morris was barely old enough to drink when he had his first taste of pub management. Now the hard-working 22-year-old, pictured, hopes to change the image of the Victorian Church Street Tavern, in Preston, after taking over the reins. Despite

  • SWIMMING: Morton's magic

    BARBARA Morton ruled supreme in the ninth Wolverhampton Masters swimming championships where she competed in age group 65 to 69 years. The Darwen swimmer completed an impressive weekend's swim with nine gold medals and all coming in meet best times. Not

  • Radio wars

    JUST who is the number one radio station in Lancashire? A war of words has broken out between the county's two leading radio stations - with both claiming to have more listeners! Radio Lancashire and Preston-based Rock FM are both claiming a ratings victory

  • What's the attraction of a prison?

    IT'S one of the district's most absurd but amusing scenes. Groups of tourists knocking at the doors of Lancaster Castle Prison asking to be let in! The visitors are always politely directed to the rear of the building where there are guided tours of the

  • BOWLS: Great Harwood and District League

    THE Ted Tomlinson Trophy will be held at Waddington Bowling Club on Saturday and Sunday, August 14 and 15. Will all competitors please report at the time stated. Scratch time will be 15 minutes. 9am: C Campbell (3) v H Woodward (2); J Gillibrand (3) v

  • Modern look for guides

    THE announcement of a National Lottery grant literally brought the house down for Lostock Hall Guides. Members of the five Lostock Hall units, pivtured, are looking forward to saying goodbye to their 25-year-old wooden headquarters and hello to a new

  • FIVE YEARS AGO: Gunman alert

    ARMED police hunting a gunman sealed off terraced streets near a town centre for more than two hours in a dramatic siege. Officers wearing body armour swarmed into the Peel Park area of Accrington shortly after 9.30pm. The alert started after two police

  • Build it and they will thrive

    IT will be the house that Cath and Cliff built - or at least helped build. The Greenlees', pictured, are dedicated to helping Christian Aid construct a new home in a South African shanty town called Vygrond, in Cape Town. And the Longton couple's latest

  • Builder for the people

    PRESTON entrepreneur and businessman, William 'Bill' Harrison, has died. Bill, who lived in Walker Lane, Fulwood, was chairman of Ribby Hall Holiday Village. He died of a heart attack in Alexandra Hospital, Manchester, on Tuesday, while convalescing following

  • TEN YEARS AGO: 'Stay away' warning

    BEER tent boozers forced the bars to close at Old Trafford cricket ground as Lancashire battled for the Refuge Assurance championship. Club secretary Chris Hassell issued a "stay away" message to the hooligans who threatened to wreck a bumper day for

  • BOWLS: Terry Sayers Merit awards

    MICK Lee moved into his highest place in the Terry Sayers Merit Awards when he took over number two spot following his valuable 21-15 win over current leader Brian Tomlinson. This was a vital win for the Witton man who is enjoying a great season and is

  • Game File: Battle of the consoles

    AS SONY emerges victorious from the current console battle, the heat is on to see who can get the upper hand in the next next-generation console war. The revolutionary Playstation, ironically developed as a CD-rom drive for Nintendo, wiped the floor with

  • GOLF: Townend is in sight

    WILPSHIRE's Simon Townend revived memories of three years ago when he powered into a share of the first round lead in the £18,000 De Vere Hotels PGA North Region Championship at Heron's Reach, Blackpool yesterday. Townend tacked a 68 to his opening 65

  • Colts missing key players

    THE Vaux Northern League U18s play the Cheshire County League U18s at Cheadle Hulme on Sunday (Aug 15) in the final of the Sun & Alliance North West Colts competition. Unfortunately, they will have a weakened side because some of their players, such

  • GREAT HARWOOD AND DISTRICT LEAGUE

    LEISURE Hour B secured promotion from Division Four with a whitewash of Milnshaw Wanderers. Immanuel look the more likely to join them, as they beat the Grange whilst their closest rivals Sydney Street went down heavily at Mercer Park. Antley had a good

  • Move puts clock back to accountability

    IT MAY, in a sense, be putting the clock back to the era of the old urban districts, but the plan at Hyndburn to give back to the borough's towns the kind of individual councils they lost in the shake-up of local government 25 years ago is a forward-looking

  • Ada's still in the swim

    TO update readers on my progress in the Sharron Davies swim challenge for cancer research, I have raised £421 in sponsorship so far and have only 458 lengths to do to complete the challenge of 2,000 lengths So I reckon I will have to do eight more stints

  • Where is the justice?

    I READ with surprise the recent story about the rape of a woman 45 years ago when she was only six years old. She only recently found the courage to report it and the police arrested the man concerned, Alan Guthery. He confessed to the crime saying: "

  • Cycle track 'breakdown' clue in violent attack on widow

    OFFICERS investigating the robbery at the home of the widow of former Merseyside Chief Constable, Sir Kenneth Oxford, are appealing for the driver of a dirty, white Peugeot 405 car to come forward. Lady Oxford is recovering from the terror ordeal after

  • Small-sided soccer leagues round-up

    A FULL turnout of teams battled well in the Rossall Sixes League cup competition. One of the few teams to score plenty of goals were David Halsall FC in Group A, who progressed to the semi-finals with three straight wins and six goals. Group B included

  • Station is torture

    IN response to the 'Chinese torture' method of the release of information regarding the demolition of Blackburn railway station, the latest item of which was your report (LET, July 28), have trains to Clitheroe, Colne and Yorkshire been cancelled as no

  • NON-LEAGUE SOCCER: The Ins and Outs round-up

    NEW Chorley boss Ken Wright has spent a busy summer wheeling and dealing in the wake of the Magpies' relegation to the UniBond First Division. A total of 11 players have quit the club following the acrimonious departure of former boss Dalton Steele and

  • Worthy winners

    IT'S not often you get only two games into the new campaign before you see a contender for goal of the season, but thanks to Blackpool skipper Ian Hughes, the 3,298-strong crowd at Bloomfield Road saw just that in this Worthington Cup first round game

  • Rethink call on 'too big' mosque

    REGARDING the proposals for the mosque in Stoneyholme, Burnley, a huge monolith totally out of keeping with its surroundings, according to your report (LET, July 31) it will take light off adjoining properties. One can't help comparing this with the saga

  • Grey areas of orange badge

    ON the evidence of previous occasions when your correspondent Dino Christodoulou has been mentioned in the Telegraph, he is a charitable man. He should be aware, therefore, that his remarks concerning wrongful use of the orange disabled badge (Letters

  • Fixture switched

    THE home match against Gateshead Thunder, which was due to be played on Sunday, August 29, will now take place next day, Monday, August 30, kick-off 12.05pm. Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost

  • Tickets on sale

    TICKETS for the game at Wigan on Sunday, September 5, remain on sale at Knowsley Road. Prices are popular stand £12, ground £9 adults and £5 concessions. Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the

  • Guest stars

    FRANKIE Barrow, Dave Chisnall, Ken Kelly and Brian McGinn are among former Saints stars to feature in the 'Game of My Life' programme on Radio Merseyside on Sundays at 5pm. Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may

  • Wheels in motion to combat lycra louts

    LANCASHIRE Police are supporting moves to clamp down on so-called "lycra louts" by imposing fines on cyclists who ride dangerously or inconsiderately. New legislation has been in place since the start of August meaning that the offences of cycling on

  • Lights plan for Haydock

    HAYDOCK Park could be on course for installing floodlights. The bold moves follows the growing interest in the tracks evening meetings. Managing director Richard Thomas said: "Evening racing at Haydock is immensely popular - and we'd like to do it more

  • Going down fighting

    Darwen 168-6 Morecambe 162 MORECAMBE went down fighting to league leaders Darwen by 4 wickets. Batting first, Mark Woodhead and Karl Hansson put on 37 for the first wicket before the latter was caught by Graham Parkinson off Jeff Hacking for six. Mark

  • Clean up your act!

    A MORECAMBE businessman says his life and work are becoming intolerable because of the build up of illegally dumped rubbish outside his cafe. Ian Campbell runs Tomlinson Sandwich Bar on Albert Road in the resort and he claims residents in nearby multi-occupancy

  • 'Glass of wine' driver over limit

    AN electrician, almost four times the drink drive limit, told police he had had a glass of wine with his tea, a court heard. James Francis McGeehan, 49, smelled strongly of alcohol when he was stopped by police - and had knocked back up to nine pints

  • Super Sully

    ANTHONY Sullivan's recent scoring burst has taken him to second place in the charts with 21, leaving him five behind Toa Kohe-Love of Warrington. "Sully'" is now eighth in the all-time Top Ten with 153 tries. Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000

  • Swarm terror for boy

    A SUMMER evening game of hide and seek almost ended in tragedy as a young boy suffered wasp stings after accidentally disturbing a nest. Seven year old Rhys Robison of Ruskin Road, Skerton, was playing with friends near the River Lune last Sunday when

  • Sutton sparkle

    SUTTON Cricket Club claimed to third place in the league with victory at Cheshire Lines on Saturday. After a delayed start the New Street side were asked to bat on a rain-soaked wicket. And they soon found themselves in trouble at 30-3. But Martin Harvey

  • Clarets winning fight against hooligans

    BURNLEY FC's "tough tackle" policy on hooliganism is paying off - with the club bucking the trend on arrests both at home and away. A new national survey today reveals soccer arrests rising again - but not among clarets' fans whose soccer-related offences

  • Alliance on song

    SECOND-placed Saints' Alliance side won 28-23 at Wakefield. Their tries were scored by Braddish (2), Bithell (2) and Bennett, while McCully kicked four goals. Saints travel to Bradford in the second round of the Challenge Cup on Saturday, kick-off 2.30pm

  • Bitter blow for Billinge

    A DEPLETED Billinge CC tasted defeat for the first time in 10 matches at the weekend, when they lost by seven wickets to title-chasing Goodlass. After being put in to bat, the hosts lost early wickets, due to poor shot selection and some controversial

  • Dangerous parking

    ON behalf of residents and visitors to St Annes, I would like to protest at cars parking on the cycle track on Clifton Drive. It is not only highly dangerous but also bad manners. John Hughes, St George's Road, St Annes. Converted for the new archive

  • RL plea to girls

    GIRLS, fancy tackling a new sport? Golborne Girls Rugby League team are out to spread the gospel of the 13-a-side code. And they're recruiting youngsters aged between 13 and 17 to join them. They're also extending a helping hand to anyone wishing to set

  • Lib Dems welcome new leader

    LOCAL Liberal Democrats say they have high hopes for the future after the election of Charles Kennedy as the party's leader. Cllr Pat Quinton, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Lancaster City Council, said "I think he's fine." While admitting that

  • Town set for big kick-off

    ST HELENS Town's North Western Trains division one campaign begins at Hoghton Road on Saturday when Ramsbottom United provide the opposition. Kick off is at 3pm and admission is Adults £3, juniors and OAP's £1.50. Having finished eighth last term in a

  • Rugby crusade

    THE newly merged Thatto Heath Crusaders (St Helens Crusaders and Thatto Heath) are now in full training for the forthcoming season. Their junior section, who run teams from under sevens to under 18s extends an invitation to players old and new who wish

  • Sports centre set for kick-off

    BLACKPOOL's brand new state-of-the-art sports centre will see its first phase up and running on August 30. Uforia, located at Collegiate High School on Blackpool Old Road, will play host to games of short hockey, kwik cricket and five-a-side football

  • Thug sentenced in his absence

    A LANCASTER man responsible for a vicious attack has been given a three year sentence - in his absence. Paul Dawson, 20, of Laburnum Grove, absconded as his trial at Preston Crown Court was coming to an end. He had denied causing grievous bodily harm

  • Trying to trace Jackson family

    I WOULD be grateful if Citizen readers could help me trace some of my relatives. Levi Jackson of Farnworth (1849 - 1939) went to live in Thornton in the early 1920s when he was 70 years old. His address was Sharon, Briar Road, Thornton. He was a devout

  • Saints survive a scare

    Saints 42 Wakefield Wildcats 34 WHICH other team could be cruising to what hinted of a massive victory just after half-time and then be left hanging on? Look no further than unpredictable Saints after an almost-fatal collapse that transformed a 32-6 cushion

  • Haydock victory stroll

    HAYDOCK strolled to victory over Hesketh Bank thanks to some good batting and bowling performances. Having won the toss Haydock invited the visitors to bat and soon reaped the rewards of that decision. Adrian Barr, now fully recovered, and Darren Mathews

  • A chance to be bride

    PRESTON'S injury crisis - and curse of the left-back position - could pave the way to a full contract for Rob Edwards. The Welsh international has impressed manager David Moyes by filling in for the injured Ryan Kidd (thigh), Adam Eaton (toe) and Dominic

  • Fylde groups are lottery winners

    THREE Fylde groups are celebrating after being awarded lottery grants totalling £357,863. Chairman of Wyre District Citizens Advice Bureaux Service, Derek Timms said the money advice service run by the bureaux has been guaranteed a future thanks to £135,983

  • Hoteliers dismiss low crime figures

    MORECAMBE hoteliers have reacted with disbelief to police claims that the battle against crime in the town is being won. Local Police Commander Stephen Watson claims that crime rates in the resort have been slashed by 21.7per cent. But hotel bosses insist

  • Bring treatment to sick mum

    A LYTHAM diabetic mum who has suffered 80 operations in five years is now too ill to go to America for the treatment she desperately needs. But fundraisers who have been trying all summer to raise £7,000 to pay for her trip are undaunted - they are now

  • A new approach

    IN an effort to combat drug and alcohol related crime, a new and innovative service has been launched by police in the Lancaster and Morecambe area. For the first time, qualified mental health nurses will become part of the custody team. The Bay Community

  • Rugby League: Lions wait on skipper

    MIKE GREGORY has a handful of injury problems hampering his selection plans for Swinton Lions' trip to Barrow on Sunday. Skipper Sean Casey, forced off with a ripped leg muscle in the defeat against Featherstone at Gigg Lane last Sunday, may make it with

  • Don't forget reunion tickets

    ANYONE wishing to attend the Rainford High School Reunion (1969-76) on Friday, September 24, who hasn't bought tickets yet should contact Meryl on 01744 637626, or Linda on 01744 607266 as soon as possible. Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000

  • Georgie returns to his roots

    LEIGH'S most Fame-ous son is coming home. World class entertainer Georgie Fame, alias Clive Powell from old Cotton Street, St Peter's and Leigh Council schools and Hayes's Mill, returns to his home town on September 2. Georgie, who topped the charts with

  • What's the score?

    THE Unibond League has been thrown into chaos on the eve of the new season. The disarray could leave Lancaster City fans without a game to watch this Saturday as the league programme looks set to be cancelled. The FA has ordered the Unibond league to

  • Fire crew frees boy

    FIREFIGHTERS were called out to a house in Gibbons Avenue, Eccleston at about 5.45pm on Friday, August 6 to free a four-year-old boy trapped in the railings of a garden gate. The boy was uninjured in the incident. Converted for the new archive on 14 July

  • Bully for you!

    ART lovers can take the bull by the horns next week when top artist Simon Bull visits Kendal. He will be appearing at a preview night on Sunday August 15 between 6:30pm and 9pm. The Penrith based artist, who works in Oil, watercolour, pastel, charcoal

  • Spirit of Christmas

    OFFICIALS of the Rotary Club of Newton-le-Willows are looking for some goodwill in the run up to Christmas. The club is looking for a secure compound or premises to store its Christmas float. If you can help, or know of anyone who may be able to, call

  • Knife edge clash

    THIS Worthington Cup tie is balanced on a knife edge for when the teams meet for the second leg at Wrexham's ground in two weeks. Whether or not North End have already done enough, with a 1-0 win, to snuff out the fire of the Red Dragon of Wales for a

  • Refugees are homeward bound

    THIRTY-two Kosovo refugees left Bury yesterday morning, August 12, on the long and emotional return to their homeland. The party of three families flew from Leeds/Bradford airport to the Kosovo capital of Pristina, following in the footsteps of 11 fellow

  • Major store 'set for town centre'

    PLANNING chiefs in charge of a multi-million pound shopping development in Accrington claim they could be close to a deal with a national retailer - but have refused to say who it is. Hyndburn's director of regeneration Nigel Rix refused to confirm rumours