Archive

  • Miners in shock Lock out!

    LEIGH MR frittered away a healthy lead to stumble 33-31 at home to Castleford Lock Lane. With just 10 minutes remaining, Miners had been in command at 27-16. But fortunes in this game can change so quickly. Lock Lane began well, but, with Mick Warburton

  • High five for magic Mark

    CHURCH INN were on top Mark at the weekend. They blasted AFC Limelight 5-1 in Division One of the Leigh & District Amateur Football League. And all five goals came from hotshot Mark Spencer. The reply came from Dave Renshaw. Hag Fold WMC went one

  • Today's the Day!

    A look back at events through history on September 3 with Mike Badham 1189: Richard the Lionheart was crowned in Westminster Abbey. During the ceremony, a Jewish moneylender entered the building with a gift for the king, his best customer. He was immediately

  • Fire bomb attack on halal butcher's shop

    A PETROL bomb thrown at a window set light to carpet inside a halal butcher's shop on Devonport Road, Blackburn. Fire station officer Tom Davies said the device was thrown at an upstairs window and some of the petrol splashed through the broken window

  • New probation chief

    SOCIAL science graduate Colin Dearden is on a mission to protect the public and reduce crime as Lancashire's new deputy chief probation officer. His role includes overseeing the supervision of 6,000 offenders in the community, in prisons and after release

  • David's crock-ets! Severed artery skipper talks

    PLAYERS at Bacup Cricket Club are falling faster than England wickets, says captain David Thompson. Painter and decorator David is recovering at home after severing an artery in his arm in a works accident which will put him out of action for the rest

  • DNA trapped pet shop raider

    A BURGLAR was linked to a break-in three years after the offence thanks to DNA profiling of blood found at the scene Darren Hadaway, 33, of Railway Street, Barnoldswick, was conditionally discharged for 12 months by Burnley magistrates and must pay £50

  • Tracey's nightmare a dream kitchen

    A FURIOUS housewife is involved in a long-running dispute with a furniture store after claiming plans for her dream kitchen turned into a nightmare. Tracey Teasedale, 23, of Union Road, Haslingden, decided to buy the kitchen more than two months ago from

  • £5,000 in bid to keep cool at centre

    LEISURE staff in Pendle are turning up the heat in a bid to find ways of preventing keep-fit enthusiasts from getting hot under the collar. Council officers have been asked to find £6,000 to cover the cost of installing cooling equipment at West Craven

  • Son paid fine with stolen cheque

    A MAN who was terrified of going back to prison stole one of his father's cheques, forged his signature and used it to pay off fines owing to Blackburn magistrates. And the same court heard that the timely payment, which had been honoured by the bank,

  • Morgan gets an American-type send-off

    WHEN four-year-old Morgan Murphy started her first day of school, her mum and dad were there to make sure she settled in - thanks to American retail giant Wal-Mart. Mum Annette Threlfall, 25, works as an administration clerk at Asda in Blackburn. And,

  • Best dressed pub in the borough

    FORGET pool tournaments and domino contests, the results of the most prestigious pub competition have been announced. And the winner of South Ribble's Best Dressed Pub is - last year's runner up! The Seven Stars pub, in Leyland Lane, Leyland, came out

  • Rising pay-outs for hospital negligence

    HOSPITAL bosses have paid out almost £120,000 for clinical negligence in the first three months of this financial year - more than double the bill for the same period last year. But Malcolm Cowen, financial director of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  • Hodgson blasts Rovers

    BLACKBURN Rovers flop boss Roy Hodgson has launched a snide attack on his former club. The former Switzerland boss was sacked by Rovers in November last season after a disastrous start to the season and dressing room unrest. After being linked with a

  • Bank Holiday blues for league leaders

    PRESTON 125-8 DARWEN 126-2 LEAGUE leaders Darwen hammered Preston by eight wickets to give the South Meadow Laners a real case of the bank holiday blues. Put in to bat, Paul and Antony Mann took the score on to 16 before Paul Mann had to retire hurt after

  • Dedicated Norman's healing hands

    EVERYTHING comes to he who waits . . . especially if he's a keen customer of this column. Back in July, a veteran Newton-le-Willows reader wrote to see if anyone could confirm that a wartime first-aid post had been set up in Holy Cross infant school,

  • Brassed off over name for bridge

    NONE of the suggested highfalutin' names for the new Lune Bridge reflects its actual purpose. Far from being the "people's bridge", this expensive monument will provide questionable benefits to only a tiny two-wheeled minority group who already enjoy

  • Events in Lancashire and Manchester on Saturday, September 4th

    Flower Festival, Hillside Methodist Church, Brinscall, 10am-7pm. Coffee Morning, Arthur Wilson Centre, Pickup Street, Accrington, 10am- noon. Ladies' Town Bowling Tournament, Roe Lee Park, Blackburn. Rossendale Male Voice Choir, St Mary's Church, Rawtenstall

  • Getting to grips

    A BUNDLE of red balloons awaited the Mayors of Preston and South Ribble as they popped into town for a balloon race to mark the opening of the first Virgin Active Life Centre, in Preston. To celebrate the occasion in style South Ribble Mayor Margaret

  • Search for Ice Factory members

    TEN years ago I played in a band in the Morecambe and Lancaster area called 'Ice Factory'. We had moderate success with appearances on tv and radio, but never quite managed to catch the elusive record deal. We split up in 91 when everyone went their own

  • A whiff of chips

    JIGGLE the old vinegar bottle and swish the salt shaker. Because we're going on a sentimental trip back in time to an era when you could buy a split of chips and peas, together with a battered cod, for about one and a tanner, or 7p in today's money. Memories

  • GIFT goes electric

    PRESTON'S furniture recycling charity GIFT 92 is now able to donate electrical equipment to the the needy. The charity which supplies furnishings to people in need, offers the new service thanks to Louise Ellis, a student at Keele University on placement

  • CHANGES are afoot at the Preston Well Women Centre.

    It has changed its name to The Women's Centre Preston and District, and is also under new management. Ruth Lambert, previously deputy chief executive of Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Council for Voluntary Service, took on the role of centre manager this summer

  • Top award for young achiever

    A RUGBY and guitar-playing schoolgirl received the top prize at an award ceremony for young achievers. Alice Houghton, 11, of Barrow Controlled Primary School, starred in Clitheroe 2000 Young Achiever awards for 1999. The event, at the Old Post House

  • Let's see who is right

    THE situation regarding the plans for the fair on The Rock in Bury appears to have been hijacked by total irrelevances and mud-slinging. Let us all wait and see whether the realists or those wearing rose-tinted spectacles are proven right. Oh yes, Councillor

  • Mayoral launch into cyberspace

    THE Mayor of Preston is preparing to launch himself into cyberspace. Mayor, Councillor Geoff Swarbrick, will officially open the the borough council's new website at Moor Nook County Primary School next week. It will be launched in the Preston school's

  • Peter's pit tally hunt

    AN avid collector is appealing for colliery lamp discs from the Leigh areas' defunct mines. Peter Wall, from the West Midlands, is seeking brass embossed lamp tallies which bear a miner's number. He wants samples from Bedford Colliery, closed 1967, Astley

  • There's no talking to them

    THIS summer, living on Willow Street in Bury has been a truly horrid experience. Up to 20 teenagers congregate on the school field every evening until well past midnight, doing the usual things that teenagers do - swearing, shouting, drinking and sometimes

  • Players plan for Millennium

    WITH the Autumn Playbill just around the corner, St Joseph's Players are planning ahead. Auditions for the 2000 pantomime 'Sleeping Beauty' will be held in the Leigh church presbytery on September 15 (7.30pm). The script, written by director Doreen Johnson

  • Great turnout

    I WOULD like to thank the Citizen for publicising events at South Ribble Museum and Exhibition Centre, in Leyland. You recently publicised a walk which I was leading around Walton-le-Dale and seventy people turned up! David Hunt curator Converted for

  • Head start for pupils

    I AM writing to express my appreciation to all participants in this year's Summer Literacy Schools held throughout the borough. Broad Oak, Coney Green, Parrenthorn, Prestwich and Radcliffe high schools hosted the literacy schools - now in their second

  • It's a gas and green!

    WIGAN Metro's green drive is set to move up a gear. Its pollution busting scheme to convert council vehicles to liquid petroleum gas has been hailed a great success. Last year the council converted 10 vans and minibuses to the environmentally friendly

  • Sounds spooky

    I AM collecting information for a book on folklore and the supernatural. May I invite readers to write to me if they have experience of the unexplained, sightings of apparitions, coincidences and the like, also memories of folk-medicine, old remedies,

  • Joanne's hope for ME phone friends

    A 30-years-old Hindley Green woman, housebound by the debilitating condition ME, is hoping to form a link with fellow sufferers. Graduate Joanne Lally, of Atherton Road, wants fellow victims of the crippling Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to ring her in a bid

  • Changing roles of the community

    PARISH Prospect Preston aims to give the parish churches of St John's and St George's new roles to fulfil needs of local people. Work has already been completed at St George's Church, which included restoring the Georgian structure and decorations, and

  • Tottington: we'll wait and see

    AS local residents opposed to the building of more houses in Tottington, we noted Councillor Matthews' "no comment" on planning matters (Your Letters, Aug 20). While appreciating the ethics surrounding his inability to comment on such matters, we would

  • Limited access on 'net for kids

    PRESTON schoolchildren are less likely to benefit from the educational content of the Internet compared to other areas in the UK, a recent report has found. The Kids.net report found that 42 per cent of primary and secondary schools in Preston have computers

  • Group's grief at lack of support

    THE Ebony and Ivory Cultural Group, based in Preston, is closing due to lack of support. But treasurer Maxine Grant is determined to keep up her community-based work - she is already working at the Harris Museum and is hoping to help out with the Preston

  • Assistant Chief Constable to retire

    LANCASHIRE'S Assistant Chief Constable David Smith is to retire, aged 52. Mr Smith, who joined the Force as a 17-year-old cadet, has been given approval by the Police Authority to retire in December. He is currently in charge of policy, planning and performance

  • LOCAL CRICKET: Darwen go for title

    DARWEN aim to give professional Richard Petrie the perfect send-off by clinching the Northern League title against nearest rivals St Annes tomorrow. It's the biggest game of the decade for the Birch Hall club as they close in on their first league title

  • Advice to the faithful

    THE first full time inter-faith adviser for Churches Together in Lancashire is to be the Reverend Dale Barton. Rev Barton, whose Preston parish contains a mosque and a Hindu temple, has been parish priest of St Stephen's in Preston since 1988. The former

  • Should clubs merge?

    IS THERE enough room for two clubs in Lancaster and Morecambe? It's an old question that will not go away as long as we don't have a league club. If only we were to merger, thinks a (very) small minority of Lancaster City and Morecambe fans argue down

  • BOWLS: Great Harwood and District League

    ANTLEY had a good win at relegated Salesbury A to cling on to the top of Division One, but Great Harwood A in second, also won handsomely at Whalley A. Great Harwood need just three points from their final game at Ribblesdale A to snatch the title. Burnley

  • SUPERBIKES: Rivals can't faze Foggy

    CARL Fogarty has turned a deaf ear to the attempts by World Superbike Championship rivals to wind him up. American Colin Edwards was accused of playing mind games in the run-up to last weekend's 10th round in Austria. But Fogarty has maintained a steely

  • Best Dressed Pub in the borough

    FORGET pool tournaments and domino contests, the results of the most prestigious pub competition have been announced. And the winner of South Ribble's Best Dressed Pub is ... last year's runner up! The Seven Stars pub, in Leyland Lane, Leyland, came out

  • FIVE YEARS AGO: Climber cheats death

    CLIMBER Graham Huddleston spoke of the ordeal on Europe's highest peak in which his companion Alan Heywood was nearly frozen to death. An air ambulance was chartered for Alan, 41, of Dill Hall Lane, Church, who was originally pronounced clinically dead

  • Shaking off their blue rinse image

    A PRESTON voluntary group plans to ditch it's 'blue rinse brigade' image after winning a battle to take over a prime town centre location. The Preston Council for Voluntary Service, which acts an umbrella group for more than 100 charities and voluntary

  • BOWLS: Thwaites East Lancashire Premier League

    GREAT Harwood maintained their seven-point lead at the top following their 14-0 home victory over Edgworth, with Tony Dobson winning 21-3. Colne Cricket Club kept in touch with a similar 14-0 home win over Greenhill. Stuart Marshall winning 21-10. Third-placed

  • Ticking timebomb under Blair

    THE Labour Party is reported to have lost 75,000 members since the general election. If this figure is accurate it must be a cause for great concern among the party leadership. For, although Labour continues to extend its lead over the Tories in all the

  • Superb success

    THREE YMCA teams came home victorious from last weekend's BJFF's two-day soccer festival staged at the Bispham Gala Field (Aug 29/30). This annual event attracted more than 100 teams in various age-groups and included clubs from Liverpool, Preston and

  • Parents to blame as yobs attack the life-savers

    THE mentality of thugs who stone fire crews defies any logical explanation. These morons put at risk the lives of firefighters and members of the public. But the people who should be searching their consciences today are their parents. Some of the attacks

  • Getting back in the swim

    AFTER the summer recess, Newton Hall Swimming Club will make their usual pilgrimage to the 15th annual Dukeries Open Meet at the International Ponds Forge pool at Sheffield on Saturday, September 4. With an estimated 700 plus swimmers from more than 70

  • NON LEAGUE SOCCER: Dowe's Dale deal

    COLNE hot-shot Julian Dowe believes he has a bright future in the full-time game after joining Nationwide League outfit Rochdale on a 12-month contract. The 23-year-old forward initially went to Spotland on trial but didn't take long to impress new Dale

  • Ladies who lunch

    A DONATION of £750 has been made to King Edward VII School by Lytham Ladies Luncheon Club. Money was raised throughout the year by members of the group which is open to parents and friends of both King Edward's and its sister school, Queen Mary's. Converted

  • Correctness gone mad!

    I WAS passing Bury Town Hall recently when I noticed the Pakistan flag flying from the flag pole. I believe this was to celebrate Pakistan's Independence Day. While people respect the Pakistani community and other ethnic groups, this gesture was political

  • They're looking ahead...

    SIX Blackpool schools are contributing to a display reflecting their vision of the future. Featuring books, music and multi media, the finished product will adorn the walls of Central Library in time for the new Millennium. Pupils from Park, Highfield

  • Message to a thief

    I WOULD like to address this to the sneak thief who burgled my house on Thursday, July 5, at about 3pm while I was at home. I had returned home from work at about 1.30pm and went into the lounge for a few moments before going into the kitchen to catch

  • Capitulation!

    BLACKPOOL'S batting simply capitulated at Stanley Park in the Vaux Northern League Division One game against Netherfield on Monday (Aug 30). Replying to Netherfield's massive 202-6, they managed a paltry 80 all out to lose by 122 runs with the only real

  • Ken's never too tyred to work

    WORKERS gathered to raise a glass to a colleague who has been a Michelin man for four decades. The celebration marked a major milestone as Ken Lockett, 56, became the first Burnley employee to clock up 40 years service with the company. The factory production

  • 60 new jobs in East Lancs meat trade

    THE end of the British beef ban has brought a major jobs boost in East Lancashire - with one meat processing company looking for an extra 60 workers. KJ Recruitment, of Burnley, has been awarded the contract to find 20 butchers and 40 packers for permanent

  • Success for Joel

    CARNFORTH'S Ian Joel had a successful weekend's testing last Sunday when the local team went to RAF Binbrook in Lincolnshire for the Cope Engineering Torque Back Stages. This Saturday and Sunday's action centres on Ludlow for the Woodpecker stages. From

  • Festive fears for elderly

    THE elderly and vulnerable could be at risk from unscrupulous tradesmen during the long Christmas and Millennium break. The fears were expressed by Coun Margaret Lishman of Burnley who said the elderly may be preyed on if their homes had burst pipes or

  • Happy ending

    A BLACKPOOL couple endured the longest night of their lives this week when their eight-year-old son went missing for nearly 24 hours. John Grimstone (pictured) of Fisher Street, was finally spotted by a holidaymaker outside McDonalds fast food restaurant

  • You moaners!

    MARIA Margeurie has this week given everyone who moans about din a rap over the knuckles. She believes we ought to be grateful that we have our hearing and can pick up noises! Marie, of Astley, says she would give her right arm to hear the clip-clop of

  • Ride sale sparks theme park speculation

    THE future of a Morecambe theme park is in doubt after it emerged that two of its most famous rides are up for sale. The Texas Tornado rollercoaster and the Wild Mouse ride are being advertised in a trade magazine and could be moved out of the resort.

  • Saturday Shrimps

    Hednesford 1 Morecambe 3 MORECAMBE'S unbeaten start to the season continued with a win over a highly rated Hednesford outfit. The Midlanders have been in the top half of the conference for a couple of years now, but the club which had to preserve a newt

  • Bond bloomer

    A BLACKPOOL MP has called Premium Bonds to account for a mix-up which denied winners of £350,000 worth of prizes for months on end. The 815 winners, who bought bonds in £5,000 blocks in August and September last year, were mistakenly recorded as ineligible

  • Sutton's record breakers

    RUBEROID Sutton faced a bank holiday programme that would give a clue as to whether they are title contenders or merely pretenders. Prestatyn were the visitors to New Street on Saturday when Sutton won the toss and elected to bat and in a day that rewrote

  • Burglar fled police through house lofts

    A BURGLAR trying to escape from police made his way through the lofts of a terrace row and emerged in a house further down the street, a court heard. Burnley Crown Court was told how John Hogg, 23, left behind a collapsed ceiling at one home and cracks

  • Gelling's Bay bound

    Marine 0 Lancaster City 0 LANCASTER City players Stuart Gelling and Paul Fleming were sold before this match on Bank Holiday Monday. City fans will have the chance to see their old favourite Gelling again at home on Tuesday night when the team take on

  • Panthers pounce on Pilks

    Portico Panthers 22 Pilkington Recs 8 PORTICO'S first game of the season in the first division could not have gone much smoother. Two early penalties from Pilks gave the City Roaders a early lead, but strong defence kept them from crossing the line. Portico

  • Wonder seawall unveiled

    BLACKPOOL council chiefs have been celebrating the unveiling of the second phase of a £22 million wonder-wall. The futuristic replacement for the old weather-beaten seawall at South Shore built in the 1920s, is 1 metres higher than the original, offering

  • Make Newton-le-Willows station for Xanadu

    THE current debate on whether or not to build a train station for Leigh at Kenyon seems to ignore two vital points. 1 There is already a station in the area that could serve the needs of the Leigh community and the desired Park and Ride for Xanadu. 2

  • A new conduct code for the rank and file

    TAXI drivers in Lancaster and Morecambe will have to do follow a new code of conduct councillors agreed this week. City councillors on the licensing committee approved the code after a number of complaints about taxi drivers were received. One firm failed

  • Jo to go

    A LANCASTER and Morecambe College tutor is heading for Canada in an all expenses paid dream trip. Jo Swarbick, a lecturer in Travel and Tourism and manager of the college's travel shop, heads for Ontario as a guest of the state's tourist board. She will

  • Carl's day of glory

    BILLINGE CC captain Carl Stockley lifted the final piece of silverware at the weekend, as his side completed the cup double by beating Goodlass in the West Lancashire League's Hanson Cup final at Haydock CC. On winning the toss, the Billinge skipper elected

  • Car takers let off but owner pays up

    IT WAS bad enough when teen thieves stole Frances Fairclough's car from outside her home. But she was astonished later to find police had let off the thieves with a caution - but she still had to pay £105 to reclaim her vehicle. Frances, of Lee Street

  • Boot deal

    MORECAMBE striker Justin Jackson has landed a five-figure sponsorship deal with Umbro, it was announced today. The deal, which will see Jackson wearing boots and clothing bearing the sportswear giants name, is the first of its kind outside major league

  • Miners make flying start

    Bold Miners 52 Widnes Albert Park 2 THIS was a great win to open the season for the Miners. Dave Scott opened the scoring for Bold with a well taken try after only five minutes and Ian Marsh added the gaol. Gareth Hill hoodwinked the Park defence for

  • Students urged to get jabs

    MORECAMBE Bay Health Authority is urging local teens to take a new vaccine against meningitis. The killer disease has already claimed the lives of over a dozen students in the last two years and Health chiefs wants youngsters heading for college or university

  • Joy as Blues sign up Morton

    Lancaster City 2 Frickley Athletic 0THE fans were given a nice surprise when Neil Morton ran out as City's new number nine on Saturday. Morton, 30, who signed for an undisclosed four figure sum from rivals Shrimps, performed well and his signing bodes

  • Saints' Tiger feat

    Saints 42 Castleford Tigers 14 SECOND-PLACED Saints twisted the Tiger's tail with a vengeance in this seven-try super show in midweek. Such a performance must have boosted their hopes of a first-ever Grand Final appearance, and extended Saints' winning

  • Strong finish

    ST ANNES enjoyed their second victory in three days in the Vaux Northern League on Monday (Aug 30), scoring 146-2 against Leyland's total of 144. Russ Bradley won the toss and put Leyland in to bat. The decision appeared to have misfired on him when Ian

  • Brook are quick off the mark

    Millom 2 Blackbrook 28 AN excellent team performance by Blackbrook was more than enough to shatter the opening day victory aspirations of their Cumbrian hosts. Blackbrook eventually broke the deadlock on 18 minutes when impressive second row man Chris

  • Contacting the Star Sports Desk

    You can now e-mail the Star sports desk. The address is rwinstan@lancashire.newsquest.co.uk Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.

  • Saints left thunder-struck

    Saints 32 Gateshead Thunder 36 SAINTS' slender top-spot hopes lay in ruins and runners-up place in jeopardy as Thunder roared to a cliff-hanging but deserved victory at shell-shocked Knowsley Road on Sunday. Ending of an eight-match winning run spelled

  • Our relief at killer's hanging

    RELIEF - that was the reaction of a Blackpool couple's family after their suspected serial killer was found hanged in his remand cell. Stephen Akinmurele, 21, had been due to appear at Preston Crown Court on September 27 charged with the horrific double

  • Plans to re-develop pit site

    THE owners of the former Parkside Colliery site near Newton-le-Willows are undertaking a study of the site with a view to redeveloping the land. Railtrack, who bought the site last September, plan to use the study findings in a public consultation programme

  • Here we go . . .

    IT'S the moment thousands of youngsters have beenwaiting for. The St Helens McDonald's JOL kicks off its new season tonight (Thursday). FIXTURES Tonight (Thursday) Under 16s: Basildon v Whiston Juniors, Cuerdley Cross v Blackbrook, Dunnes Rovers v St

  • Brass band on cine film hunt

    AS part of the Poulton-le-Fylde Brass Band's 125th anniversary, the band would like to hear from any Citizen readers who may have any old cine or video footage of the band from 1965-1985. The band would like to put together a compilation of its various

  • Succesful types

    Garswood United 1 Linotype 0 A FIRST-half strike by Barry Edwardson gave Garswood the points which take them to the top of the Mid Cheshire League. It follows their six-goal romp against Rylands. Man of the match was Kevin Blundell. This Saturday Garswood

  • Tribute to Jim

    A COMMEMORATIVE plaque to Jim Anderton CBE, the local mineworker and colliery manager, was unveiled yesterday (September 1) by leader of St Helens Council, Councillor Marie Rimmer. Jim was the designer of the world-renowned Anderton Shearer Loader which

  • Pushing the boat out!

    MORECAMBE'S brand new lifeboat station will be officially opened in a special celebration next week. The station, which came into operation last December, has already handled 15 call-outs this year. 1998 was the busiest in the Morecambe station's history

  • Joy at Skerton

    THE headmaster at Skerton High School was overjoyed with this year's exam results. Peter Doyle commented: "On all indicators, our results have exceeded the Local Education Authority's targets for the school. "Many students have attained distinctions in

  • Town go top

    Salford City 2 St Helens Town 3 St Helens Town 3 Salford City 2 AS a result of the bank holiday weekend fixtures Town go into this Saturday's AXA FA Cup first qualifying round tie against Pickering Town at Hoghton Road as joint leaders of the First North

  • Happy memories come flying Dak

    A FLIGHT down memory lane was enjoyed by 12 former air hostesses who returned to the skies on Friday (August 28) in a Dakota DC3 aircraft - popularly known as a 'Dak'- a type on which they once worked. The dozen, who flew from Blackpool Airport during

  • Addicts are new target

    DRUG addicts who steal constantly to feed their £150-a-day habits are top of the target list for Blackpool police this autumn. Since they began Operation Arrival in the spring - zooming in on known offenders, areas and times of high crime - police have

  • A tribute to 'daft' Albert!

    EVERYONE had to agree with Morecambe's favourite comedian Albert Modley when he said "EEEEEEEEHHH! isn't it grand when you're daft!" They also had to agree that he was the daftest, and the grandest of them all. And they still do. That's why - after the

  • "Give me Blackpool any day"

    A YORKSHIRE woman who won a dream holiday to Paris spurned the most romantic city in the world in favour of her beloved Blackpool! Sharron Davison, of Wakefield, turned down the four-star trip to the French capital, where she was set to visit famous tourist

  • Bumper crowd see Shrimps' blistering start falter

    Morecambe 0 Scarborough 1 A BANK holiday bonanza brought a bumper crowd to Christie Park at the weekend. Almost two and a half thousand fans turned up only to witness their team's narrow defeat by Scarborough. Hopes were high following The Shrimps' excellent

  • Church looking to the future

    LYTHAM'S St Cuthbert's Church may soon be transformed following the announcement of a number of planning possibilities. A series of consultations involving parishioners about the way forward will start on September 14. However, the church announced it

  • Red card rage

    PRESTON boss David Moyes is still seeing red after watching his second player in a fortnight sent off the pitch, again in dubious circumstances. Just seven days after Sean Gregan was dismissed against Wycombe Wanderers, David Lucas was giving his marching

  • Points the priority in Clarets' Friday night showdown

    BURNLEY could go top of the Second Division by beating Bournemouth at Turf Moor tonight. But manager Stan Ternent isn't concerned about league placings at this stage of the campaign, concentrating instead on trying to repeat his formula for success to

  • Write on Harold!

    BLACKPOOL pensioner Harold Palmer is hoping to grace the book shelves again with his fifth book in 15 years. Harold, 82, only started writing after he retired as a credit salesman from the Blackpool Co-op aged 67. And when the Grange Park community association

  • Filter order coup

    AN air filter firm has scooped a major contract. Burnley-based Interfilta has been awarded the contract to supply filters to John Lewis and Waitrose buildings through the UK. The contract will cover 25 department stores and 120 supermarkets as well as

  • Pitched for panto

    PNE 1 WIGAN ATHLETIC 4 THIS Lancashire hot-pot reached pantomine proportions as North End quite simply blew it all in a demolition job in the space of two minutes either side of half time. North End dominated the first half, playing their best football

  • Fired up for charity

    THE spark has now been lit for Radcliffe Round Table's annual bonfire. Members will begin this week selling admission programmes for the October 2 charity event. As always it will be held at Close Park, and the bonfire will be lit at 7.30pm. Organisers

  • Jobs on offer

    A JOBS Fair will be held at St Helens Town Hall on Thursday, September 9 between 10am and 3.30pm when there will be recruitment for a range of about 300 full and part-time Christmas jobs. Companies looking for Christmas staff will include Argos, Woolworths

  • A game of two halves

    READING 2 PNE 2 PRESTON threw away a two goal lead as they struggled to contain a strong second-half performance from lowly Reading at the Majeski stadium. North End had hoped to bury Saturday's nightmare with an emphatic performance and also show Nicky

  • Miners' home is in limbo

    THE future of Bispham's historic miners' home is in limbo once more after a deal with a Salford housing developer fell through. Williamson Homes, which had bid £1.75m for the majestic seafront building last year, has pulled out of its scheme for 64 luxury

  • Men charged in Oxford case

    A MAN has been charged with assaulting and threatening to kill Lady Muriel Oxford following an incident at her Rainford home earlier this month. Gary Monks (aged 42) of Derbyshire Hill Road, Parr, who was also charged with aggravated burglary, made his

  • There's nowt so great as folk

    FOLK music fans from all over the world are flocking to Fleetwood this weekend to enjoy the final Fylde Folk Festival of the Millennium. Now in its 27th year, the festival attracts people of all ages and walks of life. Even the locals get carried away

  • Discount group's shares are up

    OUT-OF-TOWN discount clothes retailer Matalan saw sales soar over the last half-year as shoppers took advantage of its bargain offers. Shares rocketed 18 per cent at the Lancashire-based retailer, which operates stores in Accrington and Bamber Bridge,

  • ID parade for attack suspect

    A SUSPECT to a vicious assault on a disabled man is to take part in aN identification parade as police continue their search for four attackers. A man has been arrested in connection with the assault on Martin Nolan, who is blind and has cerebral palsy

  • Leading role for copycat catcher

    THE man responsible for making sure rivals don't copy Ultraframe's bright ideas has been made a main board director. Structural engineer Chris Richardson has been technical director of the Clitheroe conservatory roofing firm since 1997 and has now been

  • Don't be a bully victim

    PARENTS worried their children may become victims of school bullies can now get help to stop it happening - thanks to Healthwise. The North West's Health Information Service have produced a 20-page guide, 'Preventing Bullying' which explains how to spot

  • Horror crash verdict

    A CORONER heard how an Ingleton man and two friends were killed in a horrific car crash - whilst the driver was banned for previous offences. The inquest at Lancaster coroner's court heard how Scott Bonsall, 20 was past the drink drive limit while behind

  • Face-lift for M&S

    WORK has started on the £100,000 refurbishment of the Marks & Spencer store in The Square, Bury. It is one of more than 100 M & S stores across the UK to undergo an internal modernisation programme which will include new window displays and a

  • Best feet forward please...

    LOCAL people are being asked to put their best foot forward to raise money for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. A sponsored four-mile walk in and around Newton-le-Willows has been planned for Sunday, September 12, as part of the Top Walks Challenge

  • Van thieves demolished garden wall

    THIEVES stole a local businessman's van and destroyed his front wall when they struck on Tuesday, August 24 at White House Farm, Burtonwood. The theft happened at about 10pm when the thieves stole a white van which belonged to Michael Tattum from the

  • Teenagers torch TV boxes

    POLICE are continuing their hunt for a gang of teenage arsonists who torched cable TV junction boxes in a spate of weekend arsons in Bury. Four youths, who were in a car, struck three times in quick succession within a one mile stretch on Saturday night

  • Boost for bike boys

    LITTLE James Rawsthorne is riding high after winning a bicycle in a competition organised by St Helens Council's Road Safety Unit. The four-year-old from Fox Place, St Helens, won the bike, plus a helmet and a set of lights, after entering a free prize

  • Lottery cash boost

    STAFF and members at Bury's Asian Women's Centre were celebrating after receiving a much-needed £190,142 cash boost from the National Lotteries Charities Board. The mayor and mayoress, Councillor John Costello, and wife, Anne, joined in the celebrations

  • Paul rises to challenge

    BUSINESS student Paul Lawrenson has led a team to win a top management prize after taking part in a business simulation game. The former Carmel College pupil is in the third year of a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree at Lancaster University's

  • Uni library costs set to double

    LOCAL readers have attacked plans by Lancaster University to double the cost of using its library. Although students and staff can use the Bailrigg library for free, local people who want to borrow books must pay a fee. Last year, the cost of borrowing

  • GOLF: Brothers are reunited

    THREE brothers from Darwen were reunited on a golf course for the first time in years when the ELGA Seniors Championship took place at Rossendale GC. Ian, Colin and Eddie Oates all started their golfing careers at Darwen several decades ago. But when

  • Top class effort

    TAKE a bow you kids! The town's 11-year-olds have recorded significant increases in this year's Key Stage Two examinations. The core subjects of English, maths and science have seen a marked improvement in results both on figures for 1998 and against

  • Fashion Week hits the streets

    BURY Fashion Week's creative team hit the streets of Manchester at the weekend for a whistle stop promotions tour. The team chose the Mardi Gras weekend to promote the fund-raising events with a fashion shoot in the city's Castlefield area. A Breakfast

  • SOCCER: Shakers' confidence high for Luton trip

    Division Two: Luton Town v Bury BURY travel to Kenilworth Road to take on Luton Town who are one of the early-season pacesetters. But Neil Warnock's men will be full of confidence following their thrashing of Colchester last week, after having at last

  • Man threw glass at his girlfriend

    AN angry boyfriend smashed a window and threw a piece of glass towards his girlfriend and police during a disturbance in the early hours, a court was told. Burnley magistrates heard how Stephen Doyle's partner was standing in front of their home, barefoot

  • Work underway on supercampus

    CONSTRUCTION work has started on the site of Bury College's new state-of-the-art £7 million super campus. The college has awarded a £5.8 million contract for the building of the 70,000 sq ft new teaching and learning facilities on the Peel site, off Market

  • Kieron misses Leigh's final flourish

    LEIGH stand-off Kieron Purtill is out of the bid for Grand Final glory. He suffered a fractured jaw in an accidental clash of heads with Howard Hill during Sunday's crucial win over Swinton and will miss the play-offs. The game was held up for six minutes

  • SOCCER: Ludden the missing link?

    Division Two: Preston North End v Chesterfield DOMINIC Ludden could hand David Moyes a welcome selection boost in the left-back berth ahead of tomorrow's Division Two clash with Chesterfield at Deepdale (kick-off 1pm). And he could provide a vital missing

  • Bury firm honoured

    MARSHALLS Mono, which has a site at Fletcher Bank, Ramsbottom, has won awards at a prestigious national competition. Six street designs, featuring materials made by the company, have taken the honours. They have been given accolades in the Street Design

  • GOLF: Taylor on the pace

    ENGLAND'S Kirsty Taylor stepped out of her sick bed to finish one shot off the early pace as stiff winds and a soggy course sent scores sky high in the first round of the Donegal Irish Open at Letterkenny. Playing the course for the first time, the 28

  • Saints bring curtain down on Central Park

    WITH Wigan's Central Park ground poised for the bulldozer, Saints appear for the last time there on Sunday, kick-off 4pm. Victory is particularly vital for Saints as they bid to hold off the challenge of Leeds for second place in Super League, while the

  • LOCAL SOCCER: Rammy home at last

    RAMSBOTTOM UNITED stage their first home game since a freak accident threw their pre-season preparations into chaos when Fleetwood Freeport are tomorrow's visitors in the FA Cup. Storms during the summer blew off man-hole covers near their Riverside ground

  • Bus plan to beat the jams

    BUS commuters will have an easy ride when Bury gets connected to the future of commuting. Under the plans announced this week, new "quality bus corridors" (QBCs) will link Bury to Manchester, Bolton and Rochdale. The scheme will see the extension of Bus

  • BOWLS: Cairns' crown

    ROSSENDALE player Andrew Cairns won the Riley Greenmaster Classic at Ighten Mount for the second time in four years when he overcame three tough opponents on finals night. Besides three rounds he also had to contend with a heavy downpour that flooded

  • BOWLS: Race for Player of Year

    THE race for the Player of the Year Award could not have been closer as several players contest an exciting climax after closely fought competition. During the last few weeks, six players have jostled for top position, but with just one fixture remaining

  • Police hunt woman's attacker

    A WOMAN was indecently assaulted in broad daylight after getting off a bus. The assault took place on the bridge in Junction Lane, Newton, at about 9am on Wednesday, August 25. Shortly after getting off a bus in Earlestown bus station, the woman became

  • Bury battle for Bhutia

    BURY are ready to fight all the way to secure the signing of Indian star Baichung Bhutia as fears mount that there could be problems over his work permit. And Bury MPs David Chaytor and Ivan Lewis have added their weight to the cause, with Chaytor calling

  • Gardens project is a growing success

    A PROJECT which helps people who can no longer look after their gardens is going from strength to strength. The Ribble Valley Community Gardening Project is so much in demand that there is a waiting list for its services. Co-ordinator Mark Taylor said

  • Lifting patient caused injury

    ST HELENS and Knowsley Hospitals Trust have paid an out-of-court settlement to a former employee who had to leave her job after suffering permanent back damage while lifting a patient. Sixty-year-old Pat Richards was working as a care assistant at Whiston

  • Meeting over nuisance problem

    A COUNCILLOR is urging residents of a troubled Darwen estate to make the most of a chance to air their concerns to community leaders and police. A meeting of Blackburn with Darwen Police and Community Forum is being held at St Cuthbert's School, St Alban's

  • Firecrews stoned by estate gangs

    YOUNG thugs and arsonists who have stoned fire crews on a blighted Blackburn estate have been warned that they could kill someone. Mercy crews have been called out several times a night to the Fishmoor Estate, where more than 60 houses are being demolished

  • East up 'n down Dale

    LEIGH EAST held their nerve to blast Rochdale Mayfield 50-26. Missing eight regulars, they had to dig deep after a devastating opening which saw them down 18-2 after 15 minutes. But, with master craftsman John Gunning in great form at No 6 and brother

  • Can you help?

    Mr Roy Woods would like to trace his old comrade Derek Riley, who lived in Radcliffe and who used to play in a band there. The pair served together in the Second Battalion band, Lancashire Fusiliers 1950-55. If you know where Derek Riley has got to, please

  • Atherton let title chance slip

    JUST when it mattered most Atherton produced one of the Bolton Association season's lacklustre displays. They fell to Walshaw on Sunday, wiping out hopes of faint hopes of grabbing the title. And on Monday, as Walshaw clinched the crown, Atherton were

  • 25 years ago

    From thw Bury Times, September 3, 1974 SMASHING: Robert Hamilton, 18, accidentally walked through the plate glass window of a Holcombe Brook launderette - and landed unhurt on the pavement. "The sun was in my eyes", he said. CARAVANS: Bury Council was

  • RMI get that sinking feeling

    LEIGH RMI are reeling from two losses on the bounce - and a major injury blow. Beaten on Saturday by Leek, they lost their Premiership top spot to Emley - the side they visit on Saturday - when they were beaten 1-0 by Guiseley on Bank Holiday Monday.

  • Divers in search for missing teenager

    POLICE fear for the safety of a teenager from Hoghton who has been missing for more than three days. Alex Graham Kenyon, 18, was last seen on Tuesday when he set off for work as usual at 7.30am from his family home in Bank Head Lane. Alex never arrived

  • Bournemouth away blues

    Division Two: Burnley v Bournemouth BOURNEMOUTH will be looking to cure a severe bout of travel sickness when they arrive at Turf Moor tonight. The Cherries have lost all three of their away games so far this season, including a 3-2 reverse at Third Division

  • Atul's county debut

    EX-PRESTON player Atul Sachdeva made his county debut for Leicestershire yesterday (September 1) - after Citizen cricket correspondent John Richardson recommended him to them. Atul, who played for Preston Cricket Club last season, was signed by Leicestershire

  • Crichton wants a bunch of fives

    PAUL CRICHTON is hoping to be £5 richer tonight by keeping another clean sheet and helping Burnley bank the points against Bournemouth. The Clarets keeper struck a wager with club chief scout Cliff Roberts at the start of the season with Crichton being

  • Points the priority in Friday night showdown

    BURNLEY could go top of the Second Division by beating Bournemouth at Turf Moor tonight. But manager Stan Ternent isn't concerned about league placings at this stage of the campaign, concentrating instead on trying to repeat his formula for success to

  • Firecrews stoned by estate gangs

    YOUNG thugs and arsonists who have stoned fire crews on a blighted Blackburn estate have been warned that they could kill someone. Mercy crews have been called out several times a night to the Fishmoor Estate, where more than 60 houses are being demolished

  • What about little Ern?

    IN view of the fact that the Eric Morecambe statue has been such a success I would like to suggest that a statue of Ernie Wise is erected close to Eric. The pair were so close that I feel they should be remembered together, for surely that's the way we'll

  • Secret passage to the past

    THE ever-dependable Bernard Murphy has come up trumps once more! This avid researcher into local history picks up on the miniature whisky jug theme which has run through this page for several weeks past. Regular customers will recall that reader Carl

  • My life has gone to the dogs!

    AFTER several hurtful replies to my letter about my dog, Rex - do give me the opportunity to reply. These same patronising folk I suppose never break the speed limit or tape tapes and probably regularly attend church to place themselves on a higher moral

  • A novel line in jewellery

    WITH strife-torn Sierra Leone so much in the headlines recently, it has brought memories flooding back for Denis Woods of his own soldiering days out there. He was a member of the Royal West African Frontier Force, operating around Freetown and up in

  • Farmers to challenge minister

    AGRICULTURE minister Nick Brown could be on his way to the Ribble Valley to discuss the latest crisis to hit farming. Peter Redpath, Conservative leader of Ribble Valley Council, decided to move a motion to invite Mr Brown after discussing the problems

  • Police must take action

    THE police must maintain the drugs raids on a regular basis because it is inevitable that more drug offenders will continue to move into the area. The British Housing Association should be monitoring their tenants and refusing tenancies for ex-drug offenders

  • Equal rights for children

    THE government has just announced that every school must have an anti-bullying policy in place from today. Parents all over the country are breathing sighs of relief. Well don't! Bullying policies on their own don't work - they are only as good as the

  • Explain the fire dispute

    WHILE I have great admiration for the work of the fire service, your correspondent Mr Tony Harris is not likely to drum up much public sympathy by his letter complaining of the way that HQ staff were used to post leaflets explaining the employers side

  • Work well done

    I WAS pleased to see the Citizen highlight the efforts of councillors to improve the standard of council homes offered to new tenants (Better Homes Appeal, August 26). Although my comments were reported accurately, I feel they may lead to misunderstanding

  • Elms: just do something

    COUNCILLOR Derek Boden does well to say he is "concerned" about the state of Elms Precinct and that the council may be moving "down the path" towards legal action. They said that months ago. Having reduced the north end of Whitefield to a disaster area

  • I had this cabbie in the back of my paper once!

    WE are again confronted bt a letter from Mr Harrison, Hope the meter's not running which doesn't advance his argument one jot! Throughout this saga I have tried to quote facts and the legal position as opposed to supposition, distortion and half-baked

  • Couple's overseas calling

    A COUPLE from Fulwood are heading out to Zimbabwe next month, as part of a volunteer scheme. John, 56, and Barbara Hughes, 55, have had a long-standing ambition to work in a developing country. The opportunity arose when they signed up to help the development

  • Tory criticism not helpful

    WILLIAM Hague's carping and sniping at the Government's handling of the Northern Ireland peace process is both unstatesman-like and inconsistent with the national interest. Labour, when in opposition, maintained unequivocal support for John Major's commendable

  • Blind society plea for tapes

    AN audio library set up for blind people needs more tapes to keep the service running. The library, set up just under a year ago by the Preston and North Lancashire Blind Welfare Society, sends out pre-recorded story tapes to blind and partially-sighted

  • Just the place for youngsters

    PLATT Bridge youngsters have designed a Teenmeet-ing place of their own. Their plans have gone on display to the public this week. The area's young people were invited to help the council decide what to do with an under-used piece of land near the community

  • Grand day out at the fair

    IT was a fine day at the fair. A fine day at the fair I say! That was the message from Coronation Street butcher Fred Elliott, who visited Much Hoole Country Fair as his alter-ego, actor John Savident. John visited the 14th annual show at Goose Green

  • We think you are great

    MAY I offer heartfelt thanks from all the members of Connections, a social group in Bury, who owe a great debt of gratitude to Judith and Peter Taylor. Once again they have been hard at work organising lots of activities for a group whose disabilities

  • History coming to life

    THE colourful annual Historical Fayre will brighten up Preston's Flag Market tomorrow and Saturday (September 3-4). Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the History comes to life... features traditional hand-made crafts and demonstrations. Even stallholders

  • Make it a better world

    I HAVE put a list of 10 things together that would make my world a better place: Major television stations would not show repeats at weekends and Christmas; Junk mail would be abolished; There would be no smoking in all hairdressers; Preston's buses would

  • Local opposition often ignored

    I READ with interest, and approval, the two recent letters from an ex-Bury man on a visit from Australia (Aug 13) and the other from H. Silver (Aug 20), relating to the deterioration of this town. I would echo their sentiments in placing the responsibility

  • Counting cost of party of century

    MILLENNIUM street parties will cost organisers £350, according to a new council report. And the report, which was presented to South Ribble's development services committee on September 1, revealed that only cul-de-sacs which are not on bus routes can

  • Traders call for six-pack stations

    TRADERS have called for SIX new railway stations to be built instead of the controversial guided busway. Now they have called on chief planning officer John Sloane to back the proposals to re-open the former Leigh rail link. The ideas will be looked at

  • Give us some answers

    I HAVE supported North End for nigh on 60 years, attending every match I could and supporting them in every way possible. I even used some of my wife's legacy to buy shares in the Club several years ago. I hoped that, with the correct management structure

  • September date for Maritime Festival

    IF you're waiting for your ship to come in, don't worry - there's one just around the corner! In fact more than 100 vessels will soon arrive at Preston Dock, ready for the town's Maritime Festival on September 11/12. Preston Dock, thought to be the largest

  • Plea to RSPCA over cats

    NEIGHBOURS of a cat-loving Whittingham woman calling on the RSPCA to intervene after she was given permission to keep two dozen felines in her back garden. Brenda White, of Halfpenny Lane, has been told she can erect a 2.4 metre-high fence around part

  • Further neglect of Lido

    COULD I express my utter disgust at the council in Bury who, in their infinite wisdom, have decided not to do anything about the toxic algae on the Lido (Bury Times, Aug 20). They are evidently hoping that the weather will change and sort out the problem

  • Lodge inquiry: our secret strategy

    I WRITE in response to the letter from the chairman of the Barracks Lodge Community Association (Bury Times, Aug 27) seeking assurances about the council's position in respect of the appeal by Stately Homes against the council's refusal of planning permission

  • No promotion for Preston

    EX-COUNCIL leader Harold Parker has blasted Preston's borough authority for showing a lack of vision in promoting the town. The prominent politician took his vicious swipe at the council's bigwigs during last week's planning meeting. He accused council

  • Make the future bright

    IF you have any doubt about the importance of the Divine Light Appeal - to floodlight St John's Church - here's why you should put your hand in your pocket to help restore a piece of Preston's history. The Parish Church of St John's the Divine was erected

  • Summing up of recorded crime

    VIOLENT crime has almost tripled compared to last year, according to the Lancashire Constabulary's annual report. The report shows a huge rise in acts of violence committed against people - 10,145, compared to 3,706 last year, including wounding with

  • TEN YEARS AGO: Front's rally threat

    THE National Front threatened a rival rally at any planned Satanic Verses protest march in Blackburn. Banner-waving NF supporters were to be bussed in from West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester branches to "heckle and boo" anti-Salman Rushdie protesters

  • Ice maiden picks up the prizes

    A MAGNIFICENT trophy proved the icing on the cake for Leyland lass Laura Hill. Laura took second place in the ladies' silver competition at the Blackburn Open ice skating competition last week - the 29th trophy she has collected in her career. The 16-

  • LOCAL CRICKET: Title deciders

    IT'S make-or-break time for Jennings Ribblesdale League title hopefuls Great Harwood tomorrow when they face defending champions Padiham at the Arbories. Defeat for Harwood will end their chances of winning the championship for the first time since 1900

  • Church in full bloom

    FORGET traditional flower shows, here's one which broke the mould and created a New Beginning'. That was the theme of St Andrew's Parish Church's floral show, which was open to the public of the Bank Holiday weekend. And the star of the New Beginnings

  • COUNTY CRICKET: Crawley signing off season in style

    LIKE his Lancashire team, John Crawley is ending a disappointing season in impressive style. Crawley has been unable to reproduce his amazingly consistent 1998 form in his first year as Lancashire captain, failing to score a century until the trip to

  • Jollies gain their stripes!

    FOOTBALLERS from Jollies Bar have secured themselves a trophy after winning Monday's UFORIA five-a-side tournament (Aug 30). The event, to celebrate the opening of the new sports centre at Collegiate High School in Blackpool, attracted more than 50 teams

  • Pregnant, isolated and alone

    A HEAVILY pregnant woman was left isolated when a telecommunications firm cut off her telephone twice. Diabetic Julia Sevin's telephone had been 'temporarily suspended' by communications giant Telewest, just weeks after the cable line had been installed

  • A tame draw

    A TAME draw with Bourne Poacher B brought a vastly improved Fylde League division 2 season to a close for St Annes IV - finishing a creditable fourth. Although young bowlers Ben Hall, Adam Duxbury and Tom Bolus all did well, it was the older guard of

  • Knife man threatens pensioner

    POLICE are linking two burglaries which happened within just five minutes at Carr Barn Brow, Bamber Bridge. Between 2.35am and 2.40am on Monday, August 16, a white man in his early thirties climbed through the open window of a 73-year-old woman's flat

  • BOWLS: Don't think it's all Oval just yet

    ST ANNES drew two points clear in the Ovalworld Super League following their 5-1 win over title-chasers Lostock while Alexandra lost ground after being held to 3-3 draw by Sunnybank Helmshore. Although reigning champions Alexandra have not given up hope

  • LOCAL CRICKET: Accrington triumph

    ACCRINGTON won the final of the Hyndburn Mayoral Challenge Six-A-Side competition by defeating Attock, winner of the preliminary competition, by five wickets at Thorneyholme Road on Bank Holiday Monday. The late withdrawal of Baxenden meant that both

  • Lights delight

    HOW wonderful it was to pass so easily through Darwen Street bridge in Blackburn without the traffic lights working most of last week. On passing through on numerous occasions, I never saw any vehicles stopped at any junction. Bring back the old days.

  • Call for probe into Scott Clinic

    ALLEGATIONS have reached the St Helens Star that psychiatric patients at the Scott Clinic in Rainhill are being allowed out into the local community and that drugs may also be circulating among inmates. The allegations were brought to the attention of

  • Dismal affair

    ABSOLUTELY dismal - the Tangerines thoroughly deserved to lose 2-0 at Brentford on Saturday (Aug 28) as they were comprehensively outthought, outpaced and outplayed by the home side. Nigel Worthington was fuming with his side's performance which he rightly

  • Dance, the poor relation

    A NUMBER of us have wondered for some time why dance, when it is a healthy exercise as well as being mentally stimulating, is so often overlooked and when compared to sports such as athletics, football and so on, appears to occupy the position of a poor

  • NON LEAGUE SOCCER: Team news

    ACCRINGTON STANLEY boss John Coleman may name himself in the starting line-up again for tomorrow's FA Cup first qualifying round tie at Consett. Coleman led from the front in Monday night's 4-1 thrashing of Netherfield Kendal, scoring a screamer before

  • A rally to arms

    SEASIDERS boss Nigel Worthington has sent a rally cry to all involved with Blackpool Football Club following their poor start to the season. "We're all in this together," he said. "The blame lies with no individual for our position." After a string of

  • Trees with a touch of class

    PUPILS from King Edward VII School in Lytham are learning all about nature first hand after planting commemorative trees. Each new class planted a hawthorn last autumn to mark their arrival and the school's 90th anniversary. And the interest from the

  • Motivations political

    WEEK after week, the same correspondents have their letters published and yet it is clearly apparent to those of us in the know that many of the letters are drafted with political motivation and campaigning behind them and are not written by truly independent

  • Pupils star in TV show

    OPINIONATED schoolchildren have helped to put Blackpool on the small screen by attracting television cameras to the resort. Channel 4 researchers scoured schools before the summer holidays looking for would-be subjects for their Wise Up teenage programme

  • Tables turned

    BLACKPOOL and Morecambe met for the second time in two weeks at Woodhill Lane on Saturday (Aug 28). In the first cup encounter Morecambe easily overcame their visitors but in the Vaux Northern League Division One game on Saturday, Blackpool completely

  • Decision lies with the court

    THE court hearing into three alleged breaches by Castle Cement of the Environment Agency condition that there must be "no haze and odour causing offence outside the site boundary" has now been put back to September 13. Originally set for July to consider

  • VAUX NORTHERN LEAGUE (results Aug 28)

    Division One: Chorley 120-1, N Bannister 53 (n.o.), R Horridge 50 (n.o.) - *Leyland 119,I McDonnell 57; Darwen 149-3, G Ainslie 47, R Petrie 40 (n.o.) - *Leyland Daf 148-8, A Richardson 34 (n.o.); *Lancaster 164-8, D Derham 52 (n.o.), R Hans 40, N Gregson

  • Rainford pay penalty

    WITH six regulars missing Rainford paid the price when they visited fellow title contenders Eccleston. Asked to bat Rainford were bundled out for just 88 with only Andy Robinson putting together anything approaching an innings. But Robinson was run out

  • Lancaster retain crown

    LANCASTER have retained their crown after defeating numerous top water polo sides. The victory came after an unofficial British championship was held to commemorate the Centenary Year of Radcliffe Borough, wherein Lancaster defeated Scottish team Portobello

  • Double blow for Recs

    ST HELENS Recs twice suffered defeat at the weekend. On Saturday they played hosts to Fleetwood Hesketh and batted first on a firm dry wicket. Despite losing early wickets the middle order rallied with Martindale (38) and Lyon (21) and when these were

  • Arsonist blamed for a dozen blazes

    AN URGENT hunt was launched today for a fireraiser who is being blamed for a dozen blazes in 48 hours - as fire chiefs warned the culprit could kill. Padiham's Co-op store had to be evacuated and firefighters were put at risk when it became one of the

  • Saints' rush job

    TEACHER and qualified coach Mike Rush has been appointed development officer at Knowsley Road in succession to Nick Halafihi. Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.

  • 'Corporate vandalism'

    WASP (Wildlife and Social Preservation - on the green) campaigners have delivered a further 440 letters of objection to WMBC Planning Department. Over 300 have already been delivered since Hindley Green's three councillors informed us of their plan to

  • Beware the snatchers

    THERE'S plenty of I'm alright Jacks around. One lot especially are motorists who snatch dedicated parking spots at supermarkets. One annoyed mum reported this week that she was forced to struggle with a full trolley and baby because a young, sprogless

  • Cricket inquiry widens boundaries

    THE Morecambe fast bowler who was arrested after allegedly hitting a Blackpool player during a match was left in limbo this week. Manager at Sainsbury's Farouk Patel will have to wait to find out how the police AND the Vaux Northern Cricket League are

  • Hospital closure plans unveiled

    BLUEPRINT plans to close Sharoe Green Hospital and shift services to the Royal Preston and Chorley and South Ribble Hospital sites have been unveiled by health chiefs. The Business Case document drawn up by health chiefs sets the agenda for concentrating

  • Make it short

    HAYDOCK residents have signed a petition calling for a short cut through to their homes for pedestrians. The petition, signed by people living in and around Church Road, calls for a pedestrian walkway leading from the road through a stable yard to Wrigley

  • Stunner Sarah has sights on title

    A LOCAL lovely has made it into the finals of one of Britain's biggest beauty contests which may lead to a much coveted place in the 1999 Miss UK finals. Sarah Clark, of Willows Avenue, Lytham, entered the Miss Take A Break competition after much cajoling

  • Rescue drama

    NEIGHBOURS rescued a 23-year-old man from his burning house in Poplar Avenue, Downall Green when a fire started in the kitchen. The fire was reported at 2am on Saturday, August 28 and caused severe heat and smoke damage in the ground-floor kitchen. Fire

  • Lip service

    PEOPLE who have difficulty hearing can learn how to communicate better with a course at Lancaster's adult college. Carol Riley, who has been teaching lip reading for 9 years, is teaching local people how to use "All visual information" to supplement poor

  • Shape of things to come

    SUNDAY sees the start of the action in the Byrne Hire Rainhill Junior League. FIXTURES Sunday Under 15s: Blackbrook v Crosfields, Blackleyhurst v Agrevo, Bleak Hill Rovers v Rainhill United, Cronton v Deepwood, Haydock v Knowsley South, Holt v Whiston

  • Finch take off

    Haresfinch 36 Latchford Albion 32 FOLLOWING their surprise promotion during the summer, a new-look Haresfinch side got their new campaign in Division Two of the North West Counties League off to the best possible start with this gutsy victory. In sweltering

  • Chief Constable reports 3,000 fewer crimes

    LANCASHIRE Police are celebrating a successful year with crime, anti-social behaviour and road casualties all falling. The statistics have just been revealed in the Chief Constable's annual report for March 1998 to April 1999. Chief Constable Pauline

  • Anger as trees are felled

    RESIDENTS of Eden Park in Scotforth looked on in surprise as trees at the bottom of their gardens at St Paul's primary school were pulled down on Saturday morning. It turned out one of the trees in the children's playground had been poisonous for some

  • Council back child safety campaign

    LANCASTER City Council adds its backing to the NSPCC's fight for child safety. Councillor Joyce Taylor and David Owen, chief leisure officer are pictured holding a copy of the charity's "Full Stop" campaign brochure. The campaign is aimed at ensuring

  • Our lives in their hand

    WHILE travelling to work by bus down Talbot Road in Blackpool, I noticed the driver was counting his fare money. He was driving with one hand, while counting the money with the other, which I think is a very dangerous thing to do - and not an uncommon

  • Old church faces new dilemma

    THE future of one of Poulton's oldest landmarks is on hold after plans to demolish it were withdrawn at the last minute. Problems at the United Reformed Church, in Tithebarn Street, began last year when some plaster fell from the roof. A structural survey

  • Dog's ill-treatment shocks animal care staff

    A DOG had to be killed after it was found battered and abandoned tied to a post in Lancaster this week. The dog was found in the small hours of Saturday morning malnourished, suffering from mange and with its leg and ribs kicked in. One animal care worker

  • Scaling the heights for hospice

    CAROL Varey and Chris Saxon scaled the heights to raise £1,300 for Willowbrook Hospice when they took part in a 'Bungee Jump and Family Fun Evening' held at The Windle Hotel, Hard Lane. Carol, from the Hospice Campaign Office, Claughton Street and Chris

  • Top job for Colin

    A CARNFORTH man has landed a top job with Lancashire's probation service. Dad of two Colin became the service's deputy chief probation officer on Wednesday, and he now hopes to start tackling crime. Colin, who graduated from Keele University, takes up

  • St Helens promotion boost

    ST HELENS recorded a fine victory over Worsley in their top-of-the-table clash on Monday. The visitors chose to bat first but may have regretted that decision when St Helens restricted the batting side to 46-3 off the first 20 overs thanks to a tight

  • Homes for umarried mothers

    I AM a mature student about to commence my final year of a history degree at the University of Central Lancashire and am looking to study the homes for unmarried mothers during the 1950s and '60s as part of my dissertation. I would be grateful to hear

  • Phantom is anything but a menace!

    A LANCASTER pirate radio station is looking to win a broadcasting licence to fly the flag for the local community. Phantom 107FM has attracted more than 4,000 listeners since it increased power two months ago and in one three-hour set received a staggering

  • Beat it!

    MUSICIANS from around the world visited Morecambe last weekend for the annual worldbeat music festival. Tourism bosses in the resort hailed the event as a big success after the number of revellers grew by a stunning 30 per cent. Jon Harris, of Lancaster

  • Churches praise illuminations centrepiece

    A 21-FOOT illuminated tableau of Jesus Christ will be a centrepiece of Blackpool's special Millennium lights. Resort churches across all denominations were asked how they would like to see the Millennium celebrated in the town's famous seafront illuminations

  • VIP visitors liked what they saw

    AMERICAN bosses came to see what Blackpool had to offer this week - and went away impressed. Blackpool Pleasure Beach played host to two top officials of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, president Mr John Graff and chairman

  • Pensioner's nightmare

    A PARTIALLY sighted pensioner whose home was mistakenly invaded by police in riot gear told of her nightmare this week. The woman from Morecambe's Albert Road said she fully supported the police drug and stolen property raids in last week's Operation

  • Making it safe

    IN the latest attempt to enforce motorcycle safety in the Lune Valley, Lancaster police have been granted a powerful ally - their very own mean machine! The Road Safety Department have acquired a 750cc Kawasaki motorbike to be used as part of the 'BikeSafe

  • Carr Mill sent crashing

    ST HELEN Combination outfit Carr Mill were sent crashing out of the North West Alliance Champions Cup when they were hammered 4-0 by Preston outfit Whitbread. An out-of-sorts Carr Mill lacked bite in attack and their usually dependale midfield could not

  • Join the celebrity golf classic

    GEORDIE actor Tim Healy, who starred in Auf Wiedersehen Pet, will be teeing later this month (September) in aid of The Stroke Association. The Tim Healy Golf Classic will take place in Durham and will feature many of Tim's celebrity friends. Corporate

  • Book a date with the refs

    MEETINGS for the St Helens Referees Society will be held on the first Monday of each month, starting on Monday September 6 at 7.45 pm at Greenalls Social Club, Alder Hey Road, St Helens. All referees or anyone who is interested in becoming a referee are

  • Bus station may go

    BLACKPOOL could be saying goodbye to its eyesore Talbot Road bus station in a multi-million pound regeneration project. London-based Chelverton Properties has proposed a new foodstore, eight-screen cinema, retail warehouse and 1,200-space car park on

  • Would you pigeon fancy that!

    BIG, burly builders working above Blackpool's Funny Girls showbar have proved they are soft as putty when it comes to chicks. For when they found a pigeon had laid an egg on a ledge in an upper floor where they were supposed to be working, they refused

  • Ruth reaches 100 not out

    SPRIGHTLY Ruth Grundy was the star of the day on Bank Holiday Monday when she celebrateds her 100th birthday. Widow Ruth, was brought up in North Road but is now a resident of Parr Nursing Home, Fleet Lane. She had four children but only one, her daughter

  • England ace in coaching session

    ENGLAND'S Rugby Union full-back Jon Callard is set to pass on some of his expertise to local youngsters. He's visiting West Park on Wednesday, September 15. It's one of 12 events being held nationally in a tour sponsored by Endsleigh and Sportsmatch.

  • They're after your blood...

    THE National Blood Service will be holding donor sessions at the following venues this week: Friday, September 3 - St Michael's Parish Hall, Chapel Lane, Burtonwood (10am to 4.15pm); Monday, September 6 - St Helens Town Hall, Victoria Square (2 to 4pm

  • Jim Bowen show to boost RLI unit

    THE area's most famous resident comedian, Jim Bowen, will perform to raise money for the RLI Macmillan cancer unit this month. The variety show will be packed with acts apart from Jim Bowen and will be at The Dome on Sunday, September 26 from 7.30pm.