THE remarkable recovery of our region's rivers and waterways is such that, now, the Environment Agency says they are cleaner than at any time since the Industrial Revolution. And, encouragingly, East Lancashire is leading the way in fighting pollution
A PIONEERING scheme is again providing local coaches with a chance of being named Coach of the Year. Wigan Sports Development Unit, in partnership with the Wigan Borough Sports Council, have launched the search for the areas top coach. The scheme aims
THE Shakers will be looking for an increased attendance for tomorrow's home clash against Port Vale. For their last home match against Colchester only 2,577 spectators paid to get through the gates a figure that is very disappointing given the club's
RADCLIFFE BOROUGH are in safe hands -- now that Alex Ferguson has joined their ranks, writes STEVE BOTT Premiership titles, FA Cups and European Champions League trophies will be adorning the shelves at Stainton Park before too long now that Fergie's
THE fuel crisis put paid to Stand Athletic's game with Salford outfit Willows at Ewood Bridge, leaving them free to concentrate on prepararations for tomorrow's trip to Prestwich Heys. The fixture should see a large crowd attracted to Sandgate Road to
ATTACK: A woman of 57 was brutally attacked in her bed by a masked raider. The intruder broke into the house in Shuttleworth and shone a torch into the victim's face before punching her about the head. Police described the attack as abominable. DEBUT:
A FARMERS' group is raising funds for sufferers of lupus, a disease which affects around 20,000 victims in the UK each year. The Preston branch of the National Farmers Union ladies' section launched their appeal at Whitbread Social Club in Samlesbury.
CHARITIES have benefited from celebrations to mark the new millennnium The South Asian Millennium Committee held an event at Jan's Conference Centre in Blackburn to thank people who had helped with several events staged as part of Blackburn with Darwen's
A REGENERATION scheme in Blackburn has been praised by social security secretary Alistair Darling. He said the Single Regeneration Scheme was an example to other areas of how to combat poverty and social exclusion. As the cabinet minister launched the
I WAS in Arnside recently and came across a group of ladies looking at the bus timetables. They were all laughing and saying that the timetables were useless as they could not see to read them. I had to agree, because the print is so small and, as you
UNSCRUPULOUS British governments have taken it upon themselves to involve Britain ever further into Euro union, without the permission of the British people who resent the Euro interference in this country's laws and heritage and want out of Europe altogether
CUSTOMS and Excise officers seized £135,000 worth of smuggled alcohol after raiding an industrial unit in Radlciffe. They discovered 1,315 cases of vodka, gin and whisky, as well as 280 cases of beer, hidden in six rented containers. Two transit vans
WORRIES about the petrol crisis were blown away when Bury's traditional September fair opened in a blaze of colour and noise. One thing that certainly wasn't in short supply was fun. And pals Leanne Thomas, pictured left, and Jennifer Braithwaite, both
A RADCLIFFE teenager had two tendons in her hand severed after being attacked with a broken bottle. The 18-year-old was dragged into a back alley and sustained the injuries when she put up her hand to protect her face. Now, police are appealing for witnesses
A GUANACOS could win a Radcliffe man a holiday for two to the paradise island of Mauritius. And for those who don't know what a guanacos is, it's a South American relative of the llama. Mr David Bonney (36) of Victoria Street, pictured with his camera
BURY'S musicians are being given a chance to nurture their talent and perform at the town's Met arts centre. Acoustic music and original songwriting are top of the agenda at the new series of Acoustix sessions, which run on Thursday nights. These are
TALENTED sisters Emily and Laura Bancroft are celebrating success after seeing their names in print. The pair from Bolton Road, Bury, both had work published in the glossy children's magazine "Young Writer". Emily (8) wrote a "tall and spiky" poem describing
STEVE Lee has been appointed general manager of the £12 million Village Hotel and Leisure Club which is to open its doors in Bury next year. The Village Bury complex is being built at a five acre site close to junction two of the M66, on the Waterfold
PLAYERS from a new pub football team have come to the aid of two little girls in Ainsworth. After hearing of the plight of three-year-old twins Jessica and Melissa Allan, who suffer from cerebral palsy, the Old White Horse players put their heads together
PINT-SIZED Ben Taylor is feeling on top of the world after completing a sponsored hike to raise cash for Bury Hospice. Five-year-old Ben, of Holly Edge Drive, Prestwich, has collected more than £180 for the charity after scaling almost 3,000ft to the
A GROUP of golfers have chipped in to help build a new care centre for Alzheimer and dementia sufferers. The 32-bed residential unit, to be located at Heathlands Village, in Prestwich, came a step nearer when more than 100 golfers hit the fairways. They
A COUNCILLOR accused town hall bosses of behaving like Big Brother after being told what could be on the agenda of his own area board meeting. When a member of the public lambasted the state of roads on the emergency route to Fairfield Hospital, Bury
BROTHERS Paul and Steve Clough wanted to do their bit to fight cancer after their mother lost her battle against the illness earlier this year. So they volunteered to take part in the Great North Run to raise money for Marie Curie nurses. Paul (32), who
CHILDREN are learning while they have fun in an adventure-style outdoor playground at Chapels Nursery School in Darwen (see picture). A bland area of open space in Winterton Road has been transformed with new footpaths, trees, a mini roadway, stepping
THE future of taxi testing in Pendle will be decided by councillors behind closed doors next week. Councillors gave seven MOT stations across the borough a "test drive" to decide who should get the contract to test the area's cabs. The two-year contract
A TREE planting project at a Burnley school is taking root for nature-loving students. The Ivy Bank Environmental Educational Zone has already seen the planting of 350 trees and shrubs with the creation of woodland areas and seating for use by the school
BURNLEY's new town centre manager is Lisa Durkin who steps up from her role as assistant. Lisa has been working as assistant to Burnley's first town centre manager Carl Speight for 20 months and is delighted to step into his shoes. She said: "I am looking
A BLANK wall design for an extension to Towneley Hall, Burnley, has been criticised as "inappropriate". Coun Roger Frost, chairman of the Burnley Civic Trust, told colleagues on the council's development control and highways sub-committee of concerns
PLANS for the change of use of a nursing home to a hostel have been deferred because councillors in Burnley do not know what type of people will be accommodated . Councillors complained they had not been told whether it was intended to house asylum seekers
TAXIS given roadside checks in Pendle to find out if they were roadworthy fared better than cabs in neighbouring districts. Police, council officials and Benefits Agency staff checked 26 cabs earlier this month and found only two were in such poor state
I HEARD Labour backbencher Martin Salter on the radio on Friday supporting Tony Blair's refusal to cut fuel prices in the face of the current protests. Mr Salter said: "You cannot debate with a gun held to your head"! Just remind me again how the Government
I RECENTLY visited Christ Church, Walmersley, where the memorial stone of a relative buried in 1925 was damaged by vandals about 18 years ago. While I was there, my thoughts turned to what the vandals responsible might think today about their handiwork
IN my opinion the Government is quite right not to give in to the demands of the road hauliers and farmers. From what I can see, this whole debacle has been stirred up by certain sections of the Establishment, aided and abetted by reactionary elements
ALMOST 125 years of worship will come to an end on Sunday when the final service is held at Colne Salvation Army. Salvation Army leaders said the decision to close the Market Place citadel was part of a wider re-organisation to help make the most of the
OLYMPIAN Ian Peel was reunited with his son Christopher yesterday -- and all the youngster's friends cheered on their new hero (see picture). Ian, who scooped silver in the trap event, which is similar to clay pigeon shooting, dashed from Manchester Airport
TYLDESLEY girl Claire Shepherd decided to organise a fund raising adventure to says thanks to the hospital that is treating her mum. Mrs Erica Shepherd, 54, of Treen Road, was diagnosed with breast cancer in July last year and is still receiving chemotherapy
A COUNCIL has pledged to make a start on regenerating a run-down area of Accrington by knocking down poor quality housing. But it has warned it will need government cash to complete the work which could cost around £6million. Hyndburn Council leader Peter
CHURCHGOERS today called for the results of an inquiry into whether a gay 'wedding' was blessed by a Methodist minister, to be made public. The Methodist Church, which does not allow its ministers to bless gay unions, launched an investigation after the
LOCAL people are being consulted about traffic calming schemes in the area. Proposed areas for the schemes are Edge Green Lane in Golborne and Holden Road and Siddow Common in Leigh. The schemes are designed to cut the number of road accidents by reducing
WHERE have all the butchers gone? Health watchdogs are getting worried about 83 "missing" butchers shops which will need licences from November 1. A spokesman for Wigan Environmental Health Department warned: "Time is fast running out. We want those missing
A STONEMASON who recently replaced more than a thousand marble floor tiles at an historical East Lancashire College will now transform the outside of the building too. Terry McGough, who works at Stonyhurst College, near Clitheroe, was set the daunting
A STONEMASON who recently replaced more than a thousand marble floor tiles at an historical East Lancashire College will now transform the outside of the building too. Terry McGough (pictured), who works at Stonyhurst College, near Clitheroe, was set
TRANSPORT minister Keith Hill officially opened Clitheroe's state-of-the-art bus and rail interchange. After taking a trip around the interchange he rode on the quality bus route around local villages. Mr Hill said: "This Government is committed to transforming
TRANSPORT minister Keith Hill officially opened Clitheroe's state-of-the-art bus and rail interchange. After taking a trip around the interchange he rode on the quality bus route around local villages. Mr Hill said: "This Government is committed to transforming
SUMMER fever hit Bolton and Bury Chamber as local businesses came forward in record numbers to join up. In June alone, 62 new members joined the area's business support and networking agency. Andrew Ratcliff, director of membership for the chamber, said
DOING the job! That's Bury Business Club. The new organisation, established earlier this year with the support of the Bolton and Bury Chamber, provides a lively monthly forum for discussion and networking for all borough businesses. The latest meeting
CLARETS winger Paul Smith has joined Oldham Athletic on loan as part of the mini-exodus from Turf Moor. Smith was added to the quartet of Chris Brass, Alan Lee, Chris Scott and Michael Devenney who have also completed temporary moves. Chris Brass has
UNFORTUNATELY I'm afraid I have some bad news this week and there's no easy way to say it -- so here goes. I'm off. I've going. Bye bye. In fact, by the time you read this I could well have already gone. So have a good one, as some might say. Now, the
Bolton 22 Tyldesley 44 TYLDESLEY RU made the short trip to Bolton and won a game they never looked like losing. Newly promoted Bolton found that teams one level up are bigger and faster and they punish mistakes with ease. Tyldesley turned on the heat
Leigh East 32 Shaw Cross 22 A TIMELY 25th minute substitution put the brakes on a Leigh East side that was spinning headlong towards a second successive Conference League Division One defeat. Twenty minutes into the game and the East were 16-0 down to
ANDY Hall signed off his Higham Park career on Sunday at Elton. Captaining Atherton in the continued absence of the injured Steve Walsh, Hall lost the toss but when Elton were reduced to 31-6 after 16 overs it seemed that there would not be much need
DIVISION One leaders Higher Folds lost their 100 per cent record last Saturday when the 3-3 draw at Leigh Avenue raised a few eyebrows. It also begs the question - Is the Champions challenge beginning to falter. One thing beyond any doubt is that seven
A RETIRED headteacher and his wife have each been presented with an award for their work for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Derek Walsh, a former head at Ribble Drive County Primary School, Whitefield, and his wife Helen, who used to teach at
TENANTS could save money on gas and electricity bills under a bulk buying deal struck by their council landlord. Town hall bosses say residents will save at least £10 a year, while the council itself will receive money to invest in energy efficiency.
THE next stop for Bury schoolchildren could be a trip on an American-style yellow bus. First Manchester has confirmed it is interested in running a similar school bus operation for youngsters in the borough as it does in the USA. Children would be picked
A VICAR is praying for success after he officially launched a £1.5 million appeal to build a new church in Bury. The Rev Stuart Millington appealed for people to pray and to dip into their pockets so that the All Saints Parish Church, off Walshaw Road
BURY students are helping fellow pupils come face to face with the problems of playing truant -- by being pictured on campaign posters. Three of the Year 11 students chaired a meeting at the Town Hall attended by local education chiefs to launch the new
SEVERELY disabled Arati Bhavsar could lose the two relatives who help provide her with round-the-clock care because they face deportation. Twenty-two-year-old Arati, who has cerebral palsy and extreme learning difficulties, has come to rely on the care
CLARETS winger Paul Smith has joined Oldham Athletic on loan as part of the mini-exodus from Turf Moor. Smith was added to the quartet of Chris Brass, Alan Lee, Chris Scott and Michael Devenney who have also completed temporary moves. Chris Brass has
WORKERS at a packaging firm are taking a trip down Quality Street! RPC Containers of Haslingden Road, Guide, is producing a new pack for the famous sweet brand. The cone-shaped containers are moulded in polypropylene in 900g and 2kg sizes. The two cone
WORK is under way to make sure a new training and education body 'hits the ground running'. The Lancashire Learning and Skills Council comes into effect next spring and will replace the current training and enterprise network which includes ELTEC. A task
A WAREHOUSE premises within Altham Business Park is now available, following the pending relocation of Flexible Steel Lacing Company Ltd. It comprises a detached warehouse with integral two-storey offices. which were built in 1992 by Eric Wright Construction
THE FAVOURITE landlady of a bricklayer who died this week following a 15ft fall told today how she had watched him grow up. John O'Keefe, who would have been 30 today, died in hospital on Wednesday after falling over railings outside his Holcombe Road
HOSPITAL security is being stepped-up to reduce the risk of violence against staff. Trained security officers have been appointed by Wigan and Leigh Health Services NHS Trust to combat crime at Wigan Infirmary. The service will begin on October 2. Other
A DOUBLE tragedy has struck a Leigh family. Great grandmother Rhoda Hooson, 86, died in Hourigan House on the day her husband, George, was buried. Mr Hooson, 87, died in Wigan Infirmary and his wife died the following week. On Wednesday the couple were
A FORMER recording star is reforming his band to raise funds for Wigan Hospice. Ronnie Carr, who sang with The Beat Boys in the 60s on the Decca label, will play his final concert with the band on October 20 at Leigh Miners. The one-off gig ends three
THE sound of brass will reverberate on Saturday in Ellenbrook Church, 125 years ago after the village band first struck a note there. Saturday's celebration concert, as part of Ellenbrook and Boothstown Band 125th anniversary, promises to be pure nostalgia
A GRANDMOTHER injured in the King Street bus crash has given heartfelt thanks to first aiders who helped her. Josie Morris (82) of Imperial Drive, Higher Fold, was a passenger in her son's car when the bus "appeared out of nowhere" and crashed into it
LANCASHIRE Chief Constable Pauline Clare today pledged to tackle the huge problem of police officers taking early retirement on the day it was revealed crime rates in the county are plunging. Following a week of publicity over police officers leaving
AN 11-YEAR-OLD girl fought off a man who tried to kidnap her as she walked home from school. The girl's school was today put on alert and teachers have been warned to be extra vigilant following the attack . The victim was walking home from Queen's Park
EAST Lancashire is leading the way in fighting pollution in its waterways, according to a new report. Walverdon Water in Nelson is one of the most improved rivers in the North West according to a survey by environment experts. And the Leeds and Liverpool
DUCATI supremo Davide Tardozzi today led the tributes to four-time World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty. The Blackburn ace announced his decision to retire aged 35 following his horrific arm injury in April. Tardozzi, manager of the Italian-based team
I READ with some sympathy of the problems Mr Stephen Bridge has had with Bury's refuse service (September 8). I watched a TV programme about the refuse crew in Birmingham who seem to work a lot harder than those in Bury. The people of Birmingham do not
NOW that the obstacle course for cyclists between the Magistrates Court and Bury Bridge is complete, will the council tell us: (1) How much it cost and (2) When do we get to see the cyclists? I motor around the streets of North Manchester eight hours
IS there any justice in life or in politics? In three successive General Elections, in 1979, 1983 and 1987, the British public gave its support to the most divisive, disruptive and uncaring government in living memory. The Thatcherites pandered to selfishness
THE controversial issue of admissions to high schools in Bury comes under the microscope next week. Parents, many of whom claim the admissions policy is unjust, are being invited to make their views known as town hall bosses hold two special meetings
LEIGH angler John Hynes hit the jackpot with a bronze medal and £1351 cash prize by finishing third in the Embassy Division Two National Individual Angling Championship on the river Nene in Peterborough. Bus driver John from Ennerdale Road, who fishes
Thornhill Trojans 22 Leigh Miners Rangers 8 A BLISTERING opening, in which the Trojans crossed for three tries, put the skids under Miners Rangers. They never recovered from a slack defensive start and need to quickly get back on track when they meet
Drive and Stroll, with Ron Freethy CHIPPING is a wonderful old village and its name actually means a market. You can tell as you drive towards the settlement that all roads lead to Chipping. In medieval times farmers would follow tracks to the market
RADCLIFFE BOROUGH face World Cup winners West Auckland in the next round of the FA Cup, writes STEVE BOTT. The County Durham outfit made history early last century when they took on the mighty Juventus, representing England in what was regarded as the
BURY North MP David Chaytor is fighting European Commission proposals to scrap the football transfer fee system writes PHIL THORP. The Labour man has written a stiff letter to European Competition Commissioner Mario Monti pointing out that a ban on transfer
RADCLIFFE Borough boss Kevin Glendon is looking to concentrate on the football side of things now that the club's financial situation is out in the open. "I think it affected everyone. I know I was horrendous as a manager for the first two or three games
RADCLIFFE BOROUGH fan Peter Latham has called on local businessmen to come to the aid of the club -- at no cost to themselves. Peter Latham, or Wiggy, as he is more commonly known down at Stainton Park, wants any local millionaire with a yen to run a
1780: Captain William Lynch immortalised his name with a proclamation stating that citizens of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, had sustained "great and intolerable losses" at the hands of "lawless men and abandoned wretches". Along with a posse he believed
MEMORIES of life in East Lancashire's textile mills are being sought so that future generations can learn about the area's industrial past. An audio CD recording is to be made by Nick Harling, the keeper of social history at Blackburn Museum. Anybody
A GRANDMOTHER'S case against Blackburn with Darwen Council's decision to take away her pet monkey has been adjourned until November 29. Mary Stanton, 73, of Harrison Street, Blackburn, was refused a dangerous wild animals licence to keep her pet, Joe,
FOR over 30 years, I have always voted Conservative. However, after witnessing the recent chaos caused by the farmers and HGV tanker drivers, I will at the next election change my allegiance to Labour. I have been so impressed with the way that Tony Blair
The petrol crisis proved one thing -- that we are too dependent on petrol and diesel. It's time we harnessed alternative sources of power, such as electricity, gas and steam. During the war, cars ran on gas. We had trolley buses, which I remember seeing
I NOTE that William Hague and his friends have drawn level in the opinion poll -- some even say they have taken a small lead. This is good because I believe the people of this country deserve another taste of Conservative Government. Just look at the
I'M HAPPY the fuel crisis seems over, but, as a user of public transport since I was seven, I was gladdened by the sight of so many besuited individuals on our local train. Nonetheless, we were subjected to that curse of the London-to-the-North train
INTIMIDATED into silence by the hyped-up media, those of us who did not support the blockades can now speak. This was not Tony Blair's fault. Had it been, we would not have seen identical protests all across Europe. There are two powerful bodies who made
WEDNESDAY, October 11 sees the opening of the public inquiry called by the Welsh Assembly into Castle Cement's plans to incinerate the chemical waste Cemfuel at its Padeswood plant in North Wales. The first of the five items for consideration is "the
RAYMOND Goldstone (letters, 15 September) accuses me of impatience and of having little good to say about Blackburn. Yes, I am impatient -- impatient for the planned redevelopment of Blackburn town centre and impatient to see the rot stopped before Blackburn
LABOUR Party bosses have lifted the suspension on Leigh MP hopeful Mark Hale, writes Malcolm Ryding A meeting of the National Executive made the decison with immediate effect when they met at a pre-Labour Party conference session. And yesterrday Cllr
CHILDREN'S lives are being put at risk by "killer toys" in food products, according to Euro MP Gary Titley. He warned parents to be "on the guard" against the toys, which often appear buried deep in chocolate eggs and other packaged foodstuffs aimed at
ANTIQUE lovers can buy, sell or exchange goods and collectables when the Bury Antiques Fair hits town. There will be 100 stands at the Castle Armoury, Castle Street, on Saturday, (Sept 23) between 10am and 4pm, where specialist dealers will be on hand
LANCASHIRE Chief Constable Pauline Clare today pledged to tackle the huge problem of police officers taking early retirement on the day it was revealed crime rates in the county are plunging. Following a week of publicity over police officers leaving
TOTTINGTON actress Lisa Riley has become the victim of a death threat after being branded "too fat" for TV. And the teenage sender of a hate mail letter threatened to "hack to pieces" the 24-year-old who plays Mandy Kirk in TV's popular Emmerdale soap
AN 11-YEAR-OLD girl fought off a man who tried to kidnap her as she walked home from school. The girl's school was today put on alert and teachers have been warned to be extra vigilant following the attack . The victim was walking home from Queen's Park
A HUGE pall of thick smoke hung over much of Bury on Wednesday night (Sept 20) after firebugs set fire to a large pile of rubbish. And so intense were the fumes that they triggered several smoke alarms over a wide area, including the detector at the town's
TWO Bury sports instructors are appealing for sponsorship to help them scale Britain's highest mountain. But they say that the fuel crisis might make it harder to get to the bottom of Ben Nevis than the top! The climb, in aid of the Mayor's Charity Fund
WHAT a difference a decade makes! Ten years ago 11-year-old Radcliffe actress Jane Danson was just breaking into television with an appearance in Alan Bleasdale's drama, GBH. And as her mother, Lynn, told us at the time: "She wants to be an actress and
BURY Grammar Girls and Boys schools have been selected by the Ogden Trust to offer bursaries to academically gifted pupils from next September. The two schools join a small elite of just 24 other leading independent schools in the national scheme which
PEOPLE power has brought a haven of safe play into the heart of a local community. Parents and residents in Brandlesholme have long campaigned for a proper play area, and their calls have prompted the council to act. The first phase of the new area, at
MICKEY Higham's future will be decided this weekend. And Centurions' coach Paul Terzis is 'quietly confident' that his outstanding young hooker will still be in Leigh colours next season. Higham, along with full-back Stuart Donlan, have been transfer
AN elderly disabled man found hanging in his garage had left instructions and telephone numbers in respect of the administration of his affairs, an inquest was told. Bury District Coroner Mr Barrie Williams said 70-year-old widower and retired driver
BIG Sam Allardyce today turned the heat up for tomorrow's top of the table Division One derby between Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers. Bolton arrive at Ewood Park on the back of six straight league wins and with a club record of four straight away
ACCLAIMED playwright Alan Bennett is to launch the grand finale of this year's Canal 2000 festival tomorrow. The festival, which celebrates East Lancashire's waterways through arts, has been part-organised by Burnley's Mid Pennine Arts, and a host of
AN argon plasma coagulator may sound like something from Star Trek but for patients at Burnley General Hospital it is a vital piece of equipment. The machine cost £17,000 and is only the second to be installed in hospitals in Lancashire. The League of
THE success of the Spar Shop at Pike Hill had led to nightmare traffic problems, Burnley councillors were told. Coun Philip Walsh said the congestion was especially bad on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with people going to put on their lottery tickets. The
PEOPLE are being asked to co-operate with a new household waste collection scheme in Pendle to make it a success. Refuse collectors will collect bags from the front door rather than the back street during a pilot scheme in parts of the borough. The scheme
FILMS made by young producers from Pendle will be shown at a national festival in Bradford on October 13 and 14. A group of 11 and 12-year-olds from Gibfield School, Colne, have filmed The Creepy House which catalogues a visit to an old house on a hill
A LEIGH-based bobby is getting on her bike for charity. WPC Lisa Kelly is swapping her local beat to take part in an adventure of a lifetime -- a bike ride across Africa -- and raise much-needed cash for Cerebral Palsy charity Scope. Lisa will be joined
A VIDEO made by women in Leigh to promote a health project has been reaping good results. The WISH young women's health project was awarded grants by the Halifax, Coalfield Challenge and Wigan Council's Youth Arts Challenge to make the video promoting
TALENTED, young poets are going on a nationwide Arts Council tour. Poets Ink, who meet in Leigh, have been asked to write and perform at conferences later this year being held in Bristol, York, Birmingham and London. Poet Pat Winslow, who supports and
A FORMER missionary convent and listed building is set to be converted into luxury apartments at Holly Bank on Orchard Lane. Abbeyvale Management Ltd plans to convert the building into 20 apartments and erect two three-storey buildings for a further 13
By Paola Alvino POST office work fled from masked raiders and barricaded herself in an adjoining house during a bungled robbery attempt. Shop assistant Karen Culff was behind the counter of the post office shop when two robbers burst in with sledgehammers
A FOOTPATH preservationist has blasted the council for its plans to close a public right of way in an area he dubs the "forgotten backwater." A public inquiry was opened in Golborne after Donald Lee, of the Open Spaces Society, refused to withdraw objections
RETIRED GP Dr John Thompson has died, aged 84. Dr John, a member of a family which has treated Atherton people for almost 80 years, died on Sunday in the Royal Bolton Hospital, 10 days after suffering serious injuries in a fall at home. Born in 1916 in
MORE than £100,000 is to be spent on a "wish list" of housing projects across the Ribble Valley. Councillors will be asked to draw up a priority list of developments so that the money will reach as far as possible. The decisions are due to be made at
A 25-YEAR-old man crashed into the back of a parked taxi after drinking eight or nine pints of lager on a Sunday afternoon. Blackburn magistrates heard that when police eventually caught up with Mark John Selway he gave a breathalyser reading four times
A PRESTWICH company is helping change the face of the vending industry. Bury Old Road communications specialists Appleby Bowers have produced a striking new design concept for the machines. And their efforts have delighted Wittenborg, one of the world's
TYLDESLEY'S Olympic silver medal hero Paul Ratcliffe will be going for gold again in four years time. That's the prediction of one of his coaches, Alan Edge, who helped steer Paul's course to silver in Wednesday's K1 canoe/kayak slalom in Australia. Edge
ATHERTON Colls were left kicking themselves after going down 1-0 to Witton Albion in the first qualifying round of the AXA FA Cup. Managed by ex-Manchester City favourite Nigel Gleghorn, UniBond Division One side Albion were stunned by Colls' positive
Pakistan spin ace joins Leigh LEIGH CC expect to have their rivals in a spin next season! They've captured former Pakistan international wrist spinner Iqbal Sikander to help the Beech Walk club to even more silverware. For several seasons Sikander has
FRUSTRATED Leigh RMI boss Steve Waywell has dipped into the transfer market in an effort to stop an alarming slide down the table. At the end of last month the Railwaymen were third in the Nationwide Conference. But after a dismal run of two points from
LEIGH Centurions' whizz-kids play the biggest game of their lives tomorrow when they make a return trip to Hull Kingston Rovers for the Academy Division One Grand Final. And the stakes are high with the Final winners being promoted to the Academy Super
Nuneaton Borough 2 Leigh RMI 1 RMI suffered another Nationwide Conference setback, this time falling victim to two second half goals from Borough's £35,000 record signing Marc McGregor. The match did little to impress a modest gate of 1145 and never reached
BURY South MP Ivan Lewis has been enlisted to fight red tape that is costing a non-profit making organisation unnecessary time and money. He has been approached by Bolton and District Hospital Saturday which runs a low cost contributory health benefit
A BURY father-of-two was one and a half times over the legal drink drive limit when he was killed in a motorcycle crash on the motorway. And this, combined with the speed of his Kawasaki, may have been factors to explain why John Simon Lee lost control
COMPANIES in Radcliffe are to get a huge boost in the crackdown on crime. Next month a new Business Security Initiative will be piloted in the town thanks to a partnership between Bury Council and GM Police. Under the scheme, grants will be made available
A GROUP of Bury students were stunned into silence when they learned they would be going on a trip to Kenya next February. The 11 students from Bury C of E High School and Holy Cross College were wide-eyed with disbelief when teacher Jackie Vet revealed
BIG Sam Allardyce today turned the heat up for tomorrow's top of the table Division One derby between Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers. Bolton arrive at Ewood Park on the back of six straight league wins and with a club record of four straight away
HOW do you choose the particular commercial property you need to carry on your business? This is not as simple a question as you might think. The answer has many facets, including the sheer matter of economy. Will your business, in fact, support the cost
HIGH-FLYING Bury have been rocked with the news that full-back Matt Barrass has suffered a cartilage injury in training this week. The highly-rated home grown defender whose consistent performances have made him a firm favourite with the Shakers fans
A MAN who plunged more than 15ft off a roof has died from his injuries. John O'Keefe, of Holcombe Road, Helmshore, suffered head injuries after the fall at 7pm on Sunday. He was taken to Bury General Hospital and was later transferred to Hope Hospital
LYNDA Hickey (pictured) will be working through the night tomorrow gearing up for Rossendale Motorbike Show. The proprietor of Ant Em's Bakery in Waterfoot has produced special recipes which she hopes will appeal to bikers who will converge on Rawtenstall
AN organisation which aims to provide better information, advice and legal services for residents and groups in the Rossendale Valley and other parts of East Lancashire is staging a free seminar at the Astoria, Rawtenstall, on Thursday, October 5, from
REGULARS are baring all at a pub for poseurs . . . For the Crown Inn, at Bacup, has won artistic acclaim since pub regulars joined professionals to pose in the nude for a painting group's weekly meeting. Upstairs at the pub, in Greave Road, 15 artists
SALFORD Council this week backed plans to link Leigh and Manchester via guided buses as plans were revealed to connect Bolton to the Metrolink. Adrian Dunning, spokesman for six Salford community groups opposing the busway, said: "The decision is much
A TORONTO woman needs help in tracing some Leigh descendants. Helen Battersby is looking for information on two Robert Battersbys who lived in Leigh in the 18th century. The first was born November 24, 1748, and married Alice Ackers (born October 29,
BEREAVEMENT, separation and divorce all involve personal trauma, emotional distress and a radical change in personal circumstances and lifestyle. During the last few years the Liverpool Beginning Experience Team have helped many 'single again' person.
A SECOND local motorcyclist has died in a road accident in the North Wales. Mark Lewis, a 38 year-old father of two from Twist Avenue, Golborne, died in hospital in St Asaph over a week after crashing on the A494 near Bala. A helicopter was called to
LEIGH bakers Waterfields are going for triple glory in this year's Baking Industry Awards as they defend their prestigious Baker of the Year title. Managing director, John Waterfield, has been shortlisted for the for accolade he won last year, while Peter
A MOTHER and grandmother have issued a warning to parents after a drunken man approached children on Lilford Park. The women, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said the man had his coat pockets stuffed with whisky bottles and hid behind
CO-OPERATION between health and council organisers brought Government praise as workers battled to beat the fuel drought. Local MP and Government Cabinet Minister Ian McCartney praised the interchange between the sectors which meant doctors, nurses and
A £3.2m police campaign to stamp out street robbery has been launched in Greater Manchester. More police officers and an additional 200,000 hours of policing are being allocated across the region in Operation Hawk. A robust mixture of high-profile policing
A WOMAN who called for the installation of dog waste bins in Leigh has been told the idea wouldn't work. The council, responding to a Journal story, said that while dog bins were a very good idea, initial trials proved they were "little used". Bob Saunders
POLICE went in search of William Preston after his partner phoned to say he was driving a vehicle and had been drinking. Blackburn magistrates heard that Preston, 35, of Waterloo Close, Blackburn, was stopped as he drove into the street where he lived
MORE people than ever before are pleased with the help they get from Lancashire's welfare rights service, according to a new survey. Lancashire County Council carried out the postal survey, targeting a sample group of 750 people who had used the service
DARK room technician Joanne Naylor (pictured) got more than she bargained when she picked up a piece of fresh broccoli from a supermarket. She was about to chop up the vegetable and add it to a pan of home-made vegetable soup when a large green caterpillar
BETTER facilities for cyclists, pedestrians, horse riders and the disabled are outlined in a new Government strategy published this week. The Highways Agency is planning a range of measures including cycle paths, footpaths, traffic calming schemes to
RAILWAY police are winning a war to cut trespassing and deaths on the tracks in East Lancashire. The number of deaths on the tracks is falling thanks to better fencing and an awareness programme, according to British Transport Police. Speaking as the
STAFF at a petrol station saw a man slumped over a pump after driving on to the forecourt late at night. Blackburn magistrates heard that as security staff went to speak to Andrew Peter Walker two children, aged about 10, got out of the car. Walker, 36
LANCASHIRE Chief Constable Pauline Clare today pledged to tackle the huge problem of police officers taking early retirement on the day it was revealed crime rates in the county are plunging. Following a week of publicity over police officers leaving
PRESTON skipper Sean Gregan predicts second from bottom Sheffield Wednesday will find their form soon -- but hopes it's after the two sides clash at Hillsborough tomorrow. "They've come down from the Premier League and have had a bit of a nightmare at
MAY I thank three people who are strangers to me? On September 5 I was taken ill near to the weir on the River Irwell. A young woman named Jennifer telephoned for an ambulance and left a message for my wife via her mobile 'phone. Despite being heavily
AS our elected representative, I hope that David Chaytor MP is taking note of the strength of public opinion concerning the fuel situation. I have taken to car-sharing for part of the week and plan to continue after the current crisis is over. But this
I HAVE just read the Bury Times front page (September 12) and was shocked by the jailing of the bus driver who caused the death of a teenage girl. Going around Bury Interchange in a vehicle is like negotiating an assault course, except that the obstacles
ON behalf of farmers, hauliers and taxi drivers I would like to thank the people of Bury for their fabulous support during the fuel price demonstration. I would also apologise for any inconvenience. Tony Blair and his Cabinet should be ashamed of their
I WISH to offer my sincere thanks to all who have helped me to turn the play area at Brandlesholme from a dream into a reality. When I started my petition, I was unaware quite how many people felt as I did, that this area had been left as a "backwater
ANDREA Hughes (Your Letters, September 8) highlights how easy it is to forget the achievements of the Conservative administration from 1979-1997 and the reason why they were elected in the first place. In 1979, under a Labour administration, the country
IN June the Bury Times printed a letter we sent regarding our daughter's high school placement. After a long uphill struggle, which has involved the Local Government Ombudsman, a second appeal and months of worry and anxiety for this family, we finally
