Archive

  • Group brew up 'the Scottish play'

    THEATRE goers can experience one of Shakespeare's most famous plays in a new production by Leyland's C'est Tous Theatre Company. Macbeth is a tragedy set in the castles and highlands of Scotland. The play -- known to actors as 'the Scottish play' for

  • Haka helps to spread peace

    THE origins of the newest 'subject' on the curriculum of teenagers at a Burnley school could hardly lie further from their classroom -- as its roots are located 12,000 miles away in New Zealand. For girls at Ivy Bank High School are learning the Haka

  • Sajjad's family deserved better

    ALMOST four years ago the parents of missing teenager Sajjad Mahmood complained that their fears had not been treated seriously enough by police. The boy's father Arshad Mahmood said: "We went to the police every day but they kept telling us to go away

  • Hello, it's Bob the Builder

    COULD they fix it? Yes they could! A visit of Bob the Builder to South Shore's Arnold Junior School Kindergarten, that is. A group of 40 excited 2-4-year-olds at the Lytham Road school dressed up as fairytale and cartoon characters to welcome the famous

  • College offers students a second chance

    BLACKPOOL and the Fylde College is launching a new course to give 16 to 19-year-olds a "second chance" in education. The "Link Up" course is designed to prepare young people for further study or improve their job prospects, said a college spokesman. "

  • Sick but still clicking

    SICK children in Blackpool will be able to keep up with their school work thanks to a donation of new computers. Youngsters in hospital can use the PCs to keep up to date with the curriculum, access the Blackpool schools' intranet, link up with their

  • Just go where music is

    IT'S not every mail drop that brings a particularly interesting letter but I have received such a one from Nick Jackson, a lecturer at Blackburn College. Mr Jackson wrote to tell me about his 17-year-old son Adam, currently studying for A-levels at the

  • Just Jamie: Driven round the bend

    I AM in the throes of car hunting and I have made a huge mistake -- I have told the Folks. Ever since I casually mentioned that I want to off-load my battered Peugeot 106 for something a tad more modern, I have been pestered on a daily basis. Sometimes

  • Rob set to roar back for Lions

    SWINTON Lions welcome back hooker Rob Barraclough, thus allowing harassed coach Tony Humphries the opportunity to switch Karl Fitzpatrick to loose forward for the game against second in the table Workington at Gigg Lane on Sunday (kick-off 3pm). "We will

  • Trophy surprise guys will test Boro

    CUP shock troops North Ferriby United stand in the way of Radcliffe Borough and a much-needed victory at Stainton Park tomorrow. The East Yorkshire side knocked big guns Altrincham out of the FA Trophy last Saturday in a thrilling game at Grange Lane,

  • It's a Stand stunner!

    North West Counties Division Two Bootle 1 Stand Athletic 0 STAND'S 21-match unbeaten run came to an end at Bootle's Kirby Sports Stadium. Latics battled hard against a determined and physical Liverpool side whose robust approach and hard work rate never

  • Beth looks to distance glory

    SONIA OXLEY meets a Bury athlete with a great chance of a Commonwealth Games medal this summer BURY athlete Beth Allott is hoping to hear local voices cheering her on when she represents England in the marathon at the Commonwealth Games in July. Beth

  • Bury show that party spirit

    Bury 15 - Burnage 7 BURY turned out on a wet and wide Burnage pitch at Parrs Wood, but could not take advantage of the conditions because of ring rust brought on by partying over the festive season and not training enough to compensate. This lack of training

  • Shakers seek Rovers double

    BURY aim to pick up their first double of the campaign tomorrow ehn Tranmere Rovers are the vsitors to Gigg Lane (kick-off 3pm). Goals from Jon Newby and Paul Reid gave the Shakers a 2-1 opening day victory at Prenton Park that shocked the pundits. But

  • Park pack a top punch

    Preston Grasshoppers...18, Sedgley Park...37 LESS than two months ago Sedgley beat Preston at Park Lane by 17 points to 12, scoring in the last minute of a very close game. So a difficult Saturday was envisaged at Lightfoot Green but all the pundits were

  • Shakers must stop seeing red

    Bury...0 Huddersfield Town...0 THE New Year is traditionally the time to make resolutions - Bury's should be clear. . . try and keep eleven men on the field! For the third consecutive match the Shakers ended the game with ten men after Jamie Stuart was

  • You can help to protect animals

    CHEMICALS used to treat cancer in humans were discovered by inducing cancers in animals and research charities in the UK have not discovered one useful treatment for humans. Public money is being wasted. Make 2002 a year of more kindness to animals and

  • Niceties didn't deter attackers

    On the face of it, Mr L Lawes (Letters, December 31) is right to question my reasoning in comparing the Twin Towers attack and the Pearl Harbour attack in 1941 The response in both cases had to be draconian. Yes, kangaroo courts for the culprits in the

  • Motorists have a right to moan

    IF Lisa Brooks (Letters, January 3) thinks roadworks do not cause traffic jams, then she is the one who should 'get real.' She says that instead of moaning, we should get out of our cars and use buses, trains, bikes and our feet. I will gladly use trains

  • House blaze attack probe

    POLICE are investigating a suspected arson attack at a house in Leigh. The front door of a terraced house in Twist Lane, leading to an upstairs flat, had been kicked open and large quantities of paper had been set alight in the hallway. A woman occupant

  • Closure has decimated town trade

    IHAD a phone call from a cherished client of very long standing who had not been in my salon for about nine months. This could not have been an easy call for him to make as he knows that I had battled hard and long against the closure of Church Street

  • Richard happy 'just to be me'

    "ALL By Myself" is just how musical star and all-round entertainer Richard Swerrun likes it on stage these days. And lucky Blackpool fans can catch the former star of hit musicals Joseph, Y and West Side Story in his dazzling one-man show at Blackpool

  • £1,600 raid at cricket club

    A £1,600 burglary has been carried out at Elton Cricket Club. Raiders forced a fire door to enter the Leigh Lane club in Bury between 7.45pm on Friday (Jan 11) and 11am the following morning. Cash and spirits were taken together with a safe which was

  • Monster mush!

    MONSTERS of all descriptions had them quaking in the aisles at Radcliffe's Asda store on Saturday (Jan 12). To celebrate the forthcoming release of the Disney film Monsters Inc, face-painters were in store to apply their talents, and their paints, to

  • Pop star to wed?

    PRESTWICH pop star Jenny Frost is reported to have started the New Year with a romantic wedding proposal from her boyfriend. The Atomic Kitten star, who has been dating London DJ Dom T for two years, is said to have accepted his offer of marriage while

  • Arrests at school, more may follow

    POLICE have arrested two pupils at Moorhead Secondary School following the fighting earlier this week which saw police mounting a guard to prevent further trouble. An investigation was launched following the trouble which has led to the arrest of two

  • Receivers called in at nursing home

    RECEIVERS have been called in at a Radcliffe nursing and residential home. Around 145 residents are cared for at Rose Court in Water Street, but they will not be asked to move. The home is apparently not under threat of closure, and residents and their

  • Driving ambition pays off for student Darren.

    A BURY College student is on the road to independence thanks to a local driving school. Darren Mack, who was born with cerebral palsy, has passed his driving test with flying colours. The 17-year-old took lessons with instructor Jane Hogan, from the BSM

  • Cancer run in memory of "a wonderful wife"

    THE dedication of three friends has raised more than £6,000 for research into cancer treatment. Widower Les Lazarus and his pals David Clough and Les Holt put their best foot forward in a sponsored walk in memory of Les's wife, Eve who died from cancer

  • Madness that has to stop!

    CHILDREN are dicing with death at a Radcliffe factory. Teenagers who trespass on the York Street site of Unifi Dyed Yarns play in the dangerous chemical storage area, steal fire extinguishers and even climb into a compactor unit! Bosses are so concerned

  • Springs tame tigers

    YOUNG "tigers" from Elms Bank High roared into action for their first football friendly. The mixed team of players, who have mild learning disabilities, competed under the banner Bury Tigers for the first time, and are now fully kitted out for the future

  • New ambulances for disabled unveiled

    BURY Ambulance Service has taken delivery of four new vehicles to improve its transport of disabled patients. The wheelchair-friendly ambulances were unveiled at Bury ambulance station. The state-of-the-art vehicles, bigger than a car but smaller than

  • Andy backs young starlets for glory

    EWOOD new-boy Andy Cole today backed Rovers starlets Matt Jansen and David Dunn for future England honours. Cole is ready to take the two Rovers proteges under his wing following his club-record move from Manchester United. And, providing the pair continue

  • Berg plans to burst Ruud's bubble

    FORMER Manchester United defender Henning Berg today vowed to succeed where the rest of the Premiership have failed by derailing the Ruud Van Nistelrooy bandwagon. United's brilliant Dutchman goes into tomorrow's clash with Rovers at Old Trafford knowing

  • Rams chaos could be good for Rovers

    BARMY, ridiculous, incredible! Whatever word you use to describe the events at Derby County over the last few days, none come anywhere near to summing up the ludicrous situation which currently exists at Pride Park. For when it comes to shooting themselves

  • Sure way to help is boosted

    YOUNG families in parts of Ribbleton are set to benefit from a £1.4million scheme to help their children have a good start. The Government's new Sure Start programme will see community workers going out into the Fishwick and St Matthew's areas giving

  • Birthday Panthers in party mood

    IT was party time at a Preston sports club when dozens turned up to celebrate a special birthday. Members of Preston Panthers sports club invited civic dignitaries and other guests to the bash on Saturday to celebrate the club's first birthday. Preston

  • Leader tries for new ward

    PRESTON Borough Council is reeling from the news that council leader Ian Hall has been ousted from his seat representing the Fishwick ward. Coun Hall has represented Fishwick since 1978, but following a series of boundary changes, the ward is to be made

  • There's nun better!

    A PRESTON nun has scooped a top award from the University of Central Lancashire. Sister Caroline Mary Kissane, 33, was presented with the Mary Hodkinson Prize for Nurses following her performance while studying for her nursing diploma. Sister Caroline

  • Police in call for reforms

    POLICE chiefs have backed calls for a review of the British court system, claiming hearings have become little more than a game. The Association of Chief Police Officers, who set the code of conduct for police divisions across country, are calling on

  • Beauty spot for lovely Lisa

    A PRESTON student is set to make her town proud when she takes her place in the Miss Great Britain competition. Lisa Marie Ousby, 17, Longton, was entered into the competition by her gran, who sent a picture to the organisers in London. Months later the

  • Bill the builder...he can fix it!

    NEVER mind Handy Andy, builder Bill Farrell is more than happy to help people with a bit of DIY. It is all thanks to the local Care and Repair agency, based at Burlington House, Ribblesdale Place, Preston, who now offer disabled and elderly people a handyman

  • Plea to pubs over cash con

    DETECTIVES in Burnley want licensees and traders who have been the victim of a con trick known as 'ringing the changes' to come forward. Police have received complaints from two pubs in the town centre about a man ordering a drink and then confusing staff

  • The creative approach to Parkinson's

    CREATIVE therapy will be the theme of the next meeting of the Burnley branch of the Parkinson's Disease Society. The group which covers all of East Lancashire will meet at the Temple Street resource centre, Burnley, on Wednesday, January 30, at 7.30pm

  • Revenue clerk on cheque theft charges

    INLAND Revenue clerk Gavin Peter Marr tried to cash a stolen cheque after threats from drug dealers to whom he owed money. Marr, 27, of Lockyer Avenue, Burnley, pleaded guilty to theft, attempted theft and four allegations of forgery when he appeared

  • Family tree's still growing

    A FORMER headmaster who went in search of his roots has traced his family tree back to the 18th century. Jack Stuttard began the quest for his family history after receiving a letter from another Stuttard in Leeds. And the former head of St James' Lane

  • Forgery and drug dealing ring smashed

    POLICE today claimed they had smashed a forgery and drug dealing ring. Detectives executed search warrants at six addresses and arrested five people after seizing credit cards and heroin. Four men and a woman were arrested following the swoops on homes

  • Callon kids in line for a treat

    BUDDING David Beckhams from the Callon estate are to get coaching from their favourite football stars on a new coaching scheme. The scheme is funded by Collingwood Housing Association which has teamed up with Preston North End who will provide the coaching

  • Junior Rugby

    WARRIORS find it tough going in our look at the local rugby scene. Leyland Warriors U15s Girls 10 Bradford Bulls 40 ANOTHER strong performance by all involved but the Warriors girls could not overcome the Bulls. Tries from top tackler Charley Naylor and

  • Hockey - Cup heartbreak for Preston

    IT was a mark of the progress made by this young side that Preston pushed National League Formby to the very wire but also that they were bitterly disappointed not to have beaten them. By paying scant regard to the disparity in playing standards, Preston

  • Roy comes up short

    ROY Wegerle felt he had taken "a good old-fashioned hammering" after comfortably missing the halfway cut at the Dunhill Championship in Johannesburg. Ex-footballer Wegerle fired a creditable four-over 76 in the first round in his first-ever European Tour

  • Support for disabled

    MONEY from the National Lottery has paved the way for a Preston charity to provide vital new services. Pukar, which provides support for disabled people from ethnic minorities, has taken on two new workers thanks to the £200,000 grant. Sara Member and

  • Cotton story is woven on web

    REMEMBER trudging down London Road after a hard day's work at Horrockses? Perhaps your parents told you stories about working in the noisy hot mills. Stories about King Cotton have been brought to life on a new website charting the history of Preston's

  • Ten years ago

    A MORRIS dancer from Down Under was heading back to Oz with a precious item she just could not get at home -- a genuine pair of Lancashire clogs. Hillary Barrett formerly of Blackburn waited a year to have her clogs specially made from Rossendale clogmaker

  • Jenny's wait to go home nearly over

    COUNCIL bosses today issued an apology to the husband of a stroke victim unable to return home because of building delays. Hyndburn Borough Council promised adaptations needed to the home of Jenny Broome will begin "imminently". The work required on the

  • Neighbours save woman from blaze

    A GRATEFUL woman today thanked the neighbours she says saved her mother's life. Winifred Richards, 81, had been making fish and chips for her evening meal on Wednesday when she slipped on a rug and fell over. She hit her head and lay helpless as the chip

  • Officers face discipline over body in lake

    AN MP today expressed his concern after it was revealed 18 police officers face being disciplined over the investigation into the death of an Accrington teenager whose body was found in a mill lake. But the Crown Prosecution Service has decided that no

  • Club back to business at college

    BURY Business Club kicks off its programme for the new year with a meeting at the town's premier learning venue. Members will gather at Bury College on Thursday, January 31 for the first get-together of 2002. Guest speakers at the meeting, to be held

  • Euro in very good hands with forum

    BURY businesses and those elsewhere in the region are being urged to safeguard their competitive edge by realising the implications and opportunities of euro trading. That is the plea from the North West Euro Forum, a partnership of business representative

  • Top trio are talking tall

    THREE Lytham students have talked their way to top college places at Oxford. Modern language students Greg Coulter, Jo Stephenson and Chris Roberts of King Edward VII and Queen Mary School have won conditional places at St Edmund Hall, Lady Margaret Hall

  • Keeper contest

    PULL on the gloves and get ready for a showdown between two guys who are truly punching their weight in their position this season. Keepers Nik Michopoulos, of Burnley, and the Owls' Kevin Pressman will be rejoicing in their form this term. The clubs

  • Wednesday need to spring back

    SHEFFIELD Wednesday arrive at Turf Moor looking to regain some pride and pick up some precious points. While the Owls improved their League standing with a 1-0 Hillsborough success over Crewe last weekend, they then went to Gresty Road in the FA Cup's

  • Blake set to boost Burnley

    A MEDICAL will decide whether Robbie Blake becomes a Burnley player but boss Stan Ternent sees no problems. With a four-year contract in the offing and a £1million fee, plus a £250,000 pay-on negotiated if the Clarets step up to the Premiership with Blake

  • Prickly position

    AFTER coping with more than 250 sick and injured animals last year, Janis Dean, of Fylde Hedgehog Rescue, Carleton, is enjoying a welcome quiet spell. Or she was until she found she has a shop to stock and run! Explains Janis: "This is our quietest time

  • Young in special variety performance

    A HOST of young talent is to take to the stage for a special variety show next month. Young performers from across the borough will strut their stuff at the 2002 Bury Variety Showcase held at the Longfield Suite in Prestwich. The event is the brainchild

  • Journalist wins six-year crusade

    A JOURNALIST from Prestwich is celebrating victory with the successful conclusion of his six-year crusade to free a man wrongly convicted of murder. Don Hale spearheaded the campaign for justice for Stephen Downing who spent 27 years in prison after being

  • Campaign for hospital emergency route

    A CAMPAIGN to build a dedicated emergency route to Fairfield General Hospital has been launched by Bury Pensioners Association. Chairman of the 100-strong association, Phil Kaiserman told the Bury Times that it was critical that there is another road

  • Mill site vital for town regeneration

    A BID to boost the economic fortunes of Radcliffe is to be spearheaded by the development of the former East Lancashire Paper Mill. Council leaders have singled out the site as the most important factor in the regeneration of the town. And the council

  • Keen to get back, says Cole

    ANDY Cole is relishing the thought of a return to his old stomping ground, just three weeks after making the move to Ewood. And he is hoping for a warm reception from the United fans who used to idolise him. "I left United on very good terms and I was

  • Lytham must make possession tell

    LYTHAM really needed to follow on from their impressive display a week before against the National League side of Formby, but unfortunately this was a poor display from a side which is capable of so much more. Lytham started well and for the first 10

  • Jobe to come up smelling of Roses

    GUITAR band Jobe are starting the year full of hope after securing a management deal with the manager of former Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown. Late last year the Ribble Valley lads' bright, anthemic guitar demos captured the attention and imagination

  • Shakers seek Rovers double

    BURY aim to pick up their first double of the campaign tomorrow when Tranmere Rovers are the visitors to Gigg Lane (kick-off 3pm). Goals from Jon Newby and Paul Reid gave the Shakers a 2-1 opening day victory at Prenton Park that shocked the pundits.

  • Cider drinker found lying in the road

    PHILLIP Davies, 42, of Redmond Street, Darwen, was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £55 costs by Blackburn magistrates after pleading guilty to being found drunk. The court heard that police called to Nancy Street found Davies

  • Lifetime of change for town hall worker Dorothy

    WHEN Dorothy Bury started work with Darwen Council back in 1971, people were just getting used to a new currency of pounds and pence, and the council was its own boss. Thirty-one years later, she has retired after seeing enough local government reorganisation

  • Anger at new delay on statue

    DARWEN'S controversial millennium marker statue will not be in place until the summer - at the earliest. Council bosses have confirmed that the marker, the foundation stone of which was laid last year, would not be put in place until its £30,000 twin

  • Worship leader's lessons in praise

    NATIONAL Christian Worship leader Geraldine Latty held a worship workshop at Kay Street Baptist Church, Rawtenstall. Geraldine has recently released an album, Make Me a Channel of Your Peace, and leads worship both in her local church and at national

  • Bringing theatre to the masses

    VILLAGERS in Crawshawbooth can look forward to a performance by a theatre company which aims to take professional productions into rural areas. Baize is among the touring companies being promoted by the Spot On rural network which enables live theatre

  • Cash is sought for centre courtyard work

    A COURTYARD at the rear of the Mary Hindle Resource Centre in Haslingden could be renovated if grants are found to carry out the work. Haslingden Environment Trust is putting together a project for the courtyard at the back of the former pub premises

  • Bid to grab cash for borough revamp

    A DEDICATED regeneration team could be set up in Rossendale in a bid to secure millions of pounds for the borough. Plans include setting up a two or three-person team, partially from existing staff, to access money and deliver regeneration programmes.

  • Much better than Brighton

    LAST week in The Citizen (January 11) Mrs Bolton complained about the park and ride service in Preston. May I suggest that Mrs Bolton takes a trip to Brighton in Sussex to try their park and ride. I did last October and was charged £8 for four people

  • Take it or leave it

    WHAT could be better after an gruelling day at the office than a quick, cheap, fuss-free take-away? Well if that is what's on your menu pop into Marco's and that's just what you'll get. The take-away has been in the town for more than 10 years, but in

  • Group brew up 'the Scottish play'

    THEATRE goers can experience one of Shakespeare's most famous plays in a new production by Leyland's C'est Tous Theatre Company. Macbeth is a tragedy set in the castles and highlands of Scotland. The play -- known to actors as 'the Scottish play' for

  • £10,000 jewellery raid

    IN A daring daylight robbery thieves stole around £10,000 worth of gold solitaire rings from a shop in Blackpool's South Shore. The raid happened at Chard Jewellers in Lytham Road on January 8. A man entered the shop just after midday and asked to see

  • Glory of the Grand is unveiled

    THE CURTAIN will finally be lifted on Blackpool Grand Theatre's £million renovation scheme. Troops of professionals have been painstakingly removing years of grime from the ceiling and balcony fronts of the famous theatre for a full twelve months after

  • Docs on their bikes for Vic

    TWO daring doctors have got on their bikes in a personal attempt to raise vital funds for the Macmillan Windmill Appeal. Consultant haematologist Dr Paul Kelsey and chief biomedical scientist Mark Wrigley from Blackpool Victoria Hospital took part in

  • Just up their street

    A MASSIVE cash injection of £956,000 has been awarded to Blackpool Borough Council to give its streets a new and more people-friendly image. The Government's new Home Zone Challenge is funding the environmentally-minded scheme in the Talbot and Brunswick

  • Inconvenient! -- Council shuts loos

    BLACKPOOL councillors have decided not to spend any more pennies on three of the town's rundown toilets. Blackpool Borough Council's executive committee decided to permanently shut Claremont, Norbreck and Church Street toilets last Wednesday (January

  • 'Ex-con' salesman shock

    THE Citizen's campaign to protect vulnerable people in the community from bogus callers -- launched last week -- prompted a concerned elderly reader to contact the paper about ex-offenders selling goods door-to-door. The 81-year-old Blackpool man, who

  • Poor, poor Blackpool

    BLACKPOOL'S employees are the lowest paid in Lancashire and the town is the 29th poorest locality in the UK. The figures revealing the poor status of people in the resort were highlighted in a Library Plan for this year put together by council staff.

  • Hotel blames it on lack of boogie

    A HOTEL is standing by its decision not to pay a tribute band which failed to rock the house. The Pines Hotel, in Clayton-le-Woods, near Leyland, hosted a talent night on Saturday (January 12) which featured a band, J5, from Beverley, East Yorkshire,

  • Landmark day for hospice

    A COMMEMORATIVE stone will be unveiled at East Lancashire Hospice in Blackburn next week to mark the opening of a new day therapy centre. The £1.3 million centre, partially paid for by local people plus funding from the National Lottery and trustees,

  • Project may benefit farmers

    EAST Lancashire farmers could benefit from a countryside scheme to protect and improve wildlife in the area. Hard-hit farmers could profit from the Biological Heritage Sites (BHS) Project which is designed to enhance important wildlife spots. The project

  • Council repair staff work round the clock

    COUNCIL workers were today praised for working around the clock to repair football pitches wrecked by vandals. Less than a week after a four-wheel drive vehicle was driven over several of the pitches at Pleasington, Blackburn, football teams have been

  • Blow for Willcock

    RAMSBOTTOM'S on-loan forward Chris Willcock will be out of action for the rest of the season. The Rossendale front man has an Achilles injury has been advised to rest. "It is disappointing because we had him until the end of this month and I was hoping

  • Another key game for Dale

    ROSSENDALE play Eastwood Town at home tomorrow in the second 'six-pointer' for the club in the past two weeks. Jim McCluskie's side were beaten 2-1 in the first of the top-of-the-UniBond First Division table clashes at Ossett Town last week. But they

  • Darwen in print

    WHEN Darwen beat a full-strength Morecambe side in the Lancashire Marsden Trophy last week, it was one of biggest nights in the club's history. But for a club that was founded more than 125 years ago, it wasn't the only special occasion. There was the

  • Bad memories for Denis

    DENIS Underwood's last visit to Congleton was not a happy occasion. It was several years ago when Underwood took over at the Showground with just 19 games left and when Harwood were 13 points adrift at the bottom of the table. He helped the team claw

  • Dreaming of cup finals

    CLITHEROE keeper and Rovers fan Kris Richens hopes to see both his sides reach cup finals this season. Rovers are on the verge of the Worthington Cup final with only a semi final second leg tie against Sheffield Wednesday standing between them and the

  • Nice work for farmers

    MARGARET Beckett, speaking on BBC PM about agricultural reform, was asked if one form of subsidy to farmers was being discontinued merely to make way for another. She did not answer the question and for good reason. Now, instead of their being paid to

  • Why blame animal rights?

    PLEASE may I express dismay at your newspaper's decision to do a one-sided article about a "hoax package" supposedly sent to the zoo. Animal rights have been automatically blamed without any group or individual being asked to comment. I can't possibly

  • Casinos are still 'pie in the sky'

    THE Blackpool 1st Alliance rarely shares any of the political views of Mr Stephen Bate. But we totally agree with his verdict on coverage of the controversial resort casino hotels proposal by Leisure Parcs. The fact is that the concept will remain just

  • Privatising railways was a big mistake

    THE current state of our railway system, its recent record of disasters and its inability to provide adequate, reliable transport for our working population, highlights again the mistake of placing part of the nation's infrastructure into the hands of

  • Johnson and Flynn targeted by Moyes

    MIDFIELDER Damien Johnson remains a target for Preston North End. Blackburn Rovers are rumoured to want around £500,000 for the star, and managers at both clubs are said to be mulling over a deal. The midfield has caused problems for Preston, with Mark

  • Standpoint- Let's hope deal is back on)

    PNE's first win at Walsall for 20 years brought a welcome three points last Saturday. But we need to put another long unbeaten run together now if we are to catch up with the division's pacesetters. With away games at the likes of Man City, Norwich and

  • No...

    DELAYS, over-crowding and now strikes. Disillusioned commuters have just about come to the end of the line with government promises over the state of the rail industry. The £33.5billion package promised by the Strategic Rail Authority is hoped to alleviate

  • Yes...

    ALMOST three decades of "consistent under-investment" has led to the problems in Britain's rail system. That is the honest view of the man who is in charge of putting the beleaguered operation back on track, head of the government's Strategic Rail Authority

  • They are gritters, not helicopters!

    I AM the driver of a council gritter and in our defence I have to say that we try our best. But we can't do anything about it when the roads are gridlocked, which was the case with Bolton Street and Bolton Road West in Ramsbottom during the recent snowfall

  • Both provide a great service

    I COMPLETELY agree with correspondents Mr Harry Grewer and Mrs E. Bishop of Whitefield (Jan 4) regarding Fairfield Hospital and the Ring and Ride service. Some time ago, I was a patient on Norris Ward in Bury General Hospital until I was transferred to

  • Bury streets better than Amsterdam

    IN response to the various criticisms of Barbara Wilkinson (Your Letters, Jan 11) I would point out the following. I use Bury town centre frequently as a pedestrian and it is one of the most user-friendly layouts for pedestrians I have come across. And

  • Racism threatens club's proud name

    HAVING followed Bury Football Club for 40 years and having seen everything from the sale of Ray Pointer to the present financial woes, there is only one thing that has persistently made me think of walking out of a match and not bothering to go again.

  • What's On

    A LOOK at clubs and events taking place across the area. CALLING budding DJs. The Corner Club, on Corporation Street in Preston, are holding an 'Open Deck' night on Thursday, January 24. Budding DJs can practice their skills in front of a live audience

  • Top trio are talking tall

    THREE Lytham students have talked their way to top college places at Oxford. Modern language students Greg Coulter, Jo Stephenson and Chris Roberts of King Edward VII and Queen Mary School have won conditional places at St Edmund Hall, Lady Margaret Hall

  • Open House: Getting new lease of life

    BEING an MP has unexpected benefits, as East Lancashire Labour backbencher Peter Pike discovered when he decided that he would buy the freehold of his constituency home. The Burnley MP revealed in the House of Commons that he had spent years advising

  • Give us a chance, says chairman

    TUESDAY night's attendance for the visit of Huddersfield Town was a massive disappointment to Bury FC officials. The gate of 3,462 was substantially down on what could have been expected on the Saturday two weeks ago when the fixture was frozen off. What

  • Today's the day

    1644: A UFO was sighted in America for the first time by pilgrims in Boston. 1879: England beat Wales 2-1 in their first international football match at the Oval in London. 1909: Brewers in New Zealand decided to abolish barmaids. 1911: The first landing

  • This week in 1977 25 years ago

    HOUSE CLEARANCE: Two blocks of terraced houses off Heywood Street, Bury, were declared a clearance area following a ceiling collapse that trapped one of the occupants as he lay in bed. The houses, number 4 to 28 Nuttall Street and 1 to 31 Oxford Street

  • You've got to hand it to her

    AWEEK after taking delivery of her replacement vehicle, my daughter arrived home complaining that other drivers were honking their horns and mouthing abuse at her because the indicators on her car had stopped working. Her father then asked: "Why didn't

  • MP Pope's trial remarks 'naive'

    HYNDBURN MP Greg Pope is remarkably naive if he thinks the collapse of the prosecution and trial of Colin Povey, an experienced and respected teacher, is not a matter for MPs (LET, January 10). Mr Pope's professional background is in education. He is

  • Egyptian treasures coming to Blackpool

    SEE the spectacular treasures of ancient Egypt without heading off to the Valley of the Kings -- a new £3.5 million exhibition of replicas is coming to Blackpool Winter Gardens from February 2 to March 2. Tutankhamun and the Treasures of Pharaohs features

  • Cream of the crop re-opens

    KICK off 2002 in style this Saturday as Liverpool's legendary superclub Cream re-opens its illustrious doors for business after extensive refurbishment Radio One DJ Pete Tong and techno supremo Laurent Garnier will be headlining a night that promises

  • Des on his way to Blackpool

    BIG musicals top the bill for Blackpool's 2002 season from Leisure Parcs with two resort premieres joined by two old favourites at the Opera House. Sunset Boulevard rolls into town on January 23 with Faith Brown as fading film star Norma Desmond. And

  • Thieves escape with cash haul

    ROBBERS escaped with what is believed to be £2,500 worth of cash and cigarettes in a raid on a Prestwich shop. The two men entered the Spar store in Whittaker Lane at 9.25pm on Tuesday (Jan 15), and grabbed the contents of the till and a large quantity

  • Girl (6) breaks leg

    A SIX-YEAR-OLD girl is recovering in hospital after breaking her leg in a road accident. The girl, from Ainsworth Road, Radcliffe, was in collision with a Citroen Xantia driven by a 38-year-old Bury man. The accident happened at 12.30pm on Sunday (Jan

  • Gary signs for Malta

    GARY Neville has signed a two year deal, but it's not with Manchester United. The Bury-born defender has become an ambassador for the Malta Tourism Authority and will be promoting holidays to the Mediterranean island. Gary Neville (26) visits Malta every

  • Taxi driver injured

    A BURY taxi driver was injured when his Vauxhall Omega cab was in collision with another car owned by compensation company Accident Direct. The 42-year-old cabbie suffered whiplash injuries and was taken to Fairfield General Hospital following the accident

  • Christopher and Jessica are real scholars

    IT was all academic for Bury Grammar pupils Christopher Bryant and Jessica Shepherd, who were rewarded with framed certificates for proving themselves top of the class. Outstanding entrance exam results and interview performances meant that 11-year-old

  • Family anguish after murder evidence stolen

    THE distraught family of a woman who died of stab wounds on New Year's Day have delayed plans for her funeral after a thief stole vital information about the death. Charlotte Flanagan, 22, a former pupil at St Wilfrid's High School, Blackburn, was found

  • Women trapped in crash

    TWO female taxi passengers were freed by firefighters after a three-car collision in Bury. The 40-year-old cabbie from Bradford was also treated at the scene after it was in collision with a Ford Escort at a junction in Bridge Street. The Escort driver

  • Exercise and therapy

    MORE unhealthy residents are set to benefit from the borough's exercise on prescription project. Bury's Exercise and Therapy Scheme (BEATS), launched last July, will be expanded so it has a healthy future ahead. Patients are referred to BEATS by their

  • Project success is backed with award

    THE borough has won national recognition for a pioneering scheme to make the workplace safer. The local authority earned a coveted HELA Award for Innovation from the Health and Safety Executive for its pilot "Back in Work in Bury" project. Some 110 businesses

  • Waywell stays at RMI

    LEIGH RMI last night gave a massive boost to manager Steve Waywell, as they confirmed that he would be the man to take them through their battle against the drop by Martyn Hindley. Waywell has been a highly successful manager since coming to Leigh from

  • Blanc and Cole battle could be key

    ALL eyes might be on Ruud Van Nistelrooy and his attempt to set a new Premiership record at Old Trafford tomorrow. But at the opposite end of the pitch, another battle altogether could hold the key to Rovers' chances of coming away with a result. Club-record

  • Giggs sure Cole will boost Rovers

    WELSH winger Ryan Giggs has hailed Andy Cole as a unique goalscoring talent ahead of the former Manchester United striker's return to Old Trafford with Blackburn tomorrow. Giggs was sad to see Cole leave last month in an £8million deal after playing alongside

  • Stig ready to dig-in against Becks

    VETERAN defender Stig Bjornebye is relishing the prospect of keeping the man dubbed 'Golden Balls' quiet when Rovers descend on Old Trafford tomorrow. United winger David Beckham was affectionately christened with the tag by his wife, Victoria, during

  • Stig ready to dig-in against Becks

    VETERAN defender Stig Bjornebye is relishing the prospect of keeping the man dubbed 'Golden Balls' quiet when Rovers descend on Old Trafford tomorrow. United winger David Beckham was affectionately christened with the tag by his wife, Victoria, during

  • Anthrax hoaxer strikes

    POLICE have confirmed a suspect envelope containing powder sent to the Armed Forces Careers Office was a hoax. And they believe the attack, which prompted an anthrax scare that shut Preston town centre down for more than four hours on Friday, January

  • Firm battles for army contract

    LEYLAND Trucks could be on the brink of securing a billion-pound contract to supply trucks for the army to use on the front line. The Leyland-based firm are one of South Ribble's biggest employers -- and the largest employer in Leyland -- with around

  • Remember the best days of your life

    FORMER pupils and staff of a Preston nursery are to take a trip down memory lane to celebrate a special anniversary. Preparations for the 70th anniversary celebrations at Stoneygate Nursery School are hotting up thanks to last week's appeal in The Citizen

  • Drunk wife's threat to kill

    A COURT heard how a "drunk and emotional woman" armed with a large kitchen knife threatened to kill an occupant of a house. Beverley 0'Riley, 40, of Mitella Street, Burnley, was still screaming threats as she was arrested and went on to erupt at the police

  • £40,000 bike theft - link not ruled out

    DETECTIVES investigating the theft of more than £40,000 worth of specialist motorbikes today said they could not rule out a link between two similar thefts which occurred less than half a mile away in the past week. The latest haul was stolen from a lorry

  • Sale car 'lost' 67,000 miles

    A BURNLEY motor dealer who bought a car with 140,000 miles on the clock sold it just days later with almost half the recorded mileage, a court heard. Christopher Dean Spokes bought the L-registered Audi estate car for £3,000 and sold it a few days later

  • Link-up lifts hopes for TB treatment

    STAFF shortages in the TB service covering East Lancashire have left patients with a skeleton service which is only able to cope with emergencies, health watchdogs have claimed. Organisers hope the service for Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale will be staffed

  • County bosses face up to flak

    LANCASHIRE County Council are a "shower" and a "bunch of liars" according to one Burnley resident who took the chance to vent his spleen at a public meeting last night. Life In Lancashire was billed by the authority as an opportunity for people to come

  • Girls prove they can Haka it

    WHILE most adolescent girls are dancing to the sounds of Robbie Williams, a group of Burnley teenagers have been getting to grips with a war dance from the southern hemisphere. Pupils at Ivy Bank High School have been learning the New Zealand rugby team's

  • Hockey - Preston show ruthless streak

    PRESTON resumed customary service following their winter break as they handed out a nine goal thrashing to lowly Winnington. Both Philip Bowman and James Blackburn scored hat-tricks as Preston enhanced their already impressive goal difference with their

  • Rugby Union - Spirited effort by Hoppers

    THIS game was won and lost up front where the visitors' pack regularly disrupted Hoppers' ball. As a result scrum half Charlie Du Pre spent the afternoon valiantly trying to catch Park off guard with what little possession came his way. Park took the

  • An unpleasant job

    WHILST sympathising with correspondent "Disgruntled Householder" (Your Letters, Jan 4) may I say that all those who work responsibly have to do extra at holiday time. The bin men work very hard at an unpleasant job and should not be considered an exception

  • CD reviews

    A ROUND-UP of the latest CD singles and album releases. A1: Caught In The Middle (Columbia) I'M no fan of this boy band but at least they've written this acoustic track themselves. More Take That than Travis, it's unoffensive and how should pop should

  • Slater heads back, again

    LEE SLATER has returned to Darwen for a third time. The left-winger has signed for the NWCL second division side from first division Great Harwood. "He is like a bad penny," joked Darwen boss Steve Wilkes. "He keeps coming back but he will have to fight

  • Blaze school head positive

    THE headteacher of a village school destroyed by teenage arsonists has spoken out as two boys await their punishment for the crime. Viv Clark, head of Brindle Gregson Lane Primary, Hoghton, said: "We are going to feel the shockwaves for years to come.

  • Five years ago

    AGE limits on taxi and private hire cars were to be scrapped following Department of Transport recommendations despite fears for passenger safety and comfort. Earlier in the year tests revealed that older vehicles had a larger number of faults.

  • Patients missing out on NHS cash - MP

    LEIGH MP Andy Burnham has uncovered shocking figures showing Leigh patients are missing out on NHS funded private health treatment. Andy quizzed Health Secretary Alan Milburn at a health select committee in London, over Department of Health data that

  • Joan's hopes for her crisis school

    A NEW building -- a new beginning. That's the unofficial school motto acting head Joan Hayselden is championing at Moorhead High School. Mrs Hayselden is clear that a large contributory cause of this week's violence is the school's wide-open split-school

  • Candidates line up for by-election

    VOTERS in St Annes are gearing up for the Kilnhouse Ward by-election. Seven people have been nominated to stand for the Fylde Borough Council by-election which will take place on January 24. Conservative Party candidates are Christine Akeroyd and William

  • Battle over mansion plan

    COUNCILLORS are to fight plans for a £2million rural mansion and have blasted the company behind the project for taking advantage of the foot and mouth outbreak to support the application. Watched by more than 50 members of the public, Ribble Valley planning

  • Savaged by sharks

    THE Scorpions faced a mammoth task against National Conference side Shaw Cross Sharks in the first round of the GMB Union National Cup and so it proved. The first time the Sharks had possession they scored a converted try, and Darren Knight kicked a penalty

  • Support for women

    A NEW initiative to support and encourage businesswomen in Bury and North Manchester will be launched today (Fri Jan 18). Bolton Business Ventures is staging the unveiling of Women in Business North Manchester. The event, at Bolton Business Centre, will

  • Booklet gives clear advice

    EMPLOYING disabled people is good for business. That's the message from Remploy, the UK's largest employer of disabled people, which has a significant base in Eton Hill Road, Radcliffe. The company has launched a booklet, Positive Employment: A Practical

  • Businesses bring tonic to GPs

    BUSINESSES in Bury hit by short-term sickness among staff could help reduce the burden imposed on hard-working GPs. Bolton and Bury Chamber is backing a new Managing Absence initiative co-ordinated by the Doctor Patient Partnership and involving a host

  • Education centre is top of the class

    A BURY-based education centre will literally be opening up vital learning opportunities for schoolchildren throughout the North West. The town's Kip McGrath Education Centre has taken top marks to be selected as the organisation's head office for the

  • Event on the beach

    THE Parakarting World Championships will take place on St Annes beach in front of Fylde International Sand Yacht Club on Clifton Drive from September 24-28 and not in Lytham as reported in last week's Citizen. The opening ceremony will also take place

  • Taylor sets sights on owls

    GARETH Taylor will return to the Clarets line-up for tomorrow's home clash with Sheffield Wednesday and will be hoping to repeat his opening day salvo. Former Sheffield United striker Taylor opened Burnley's account for the season with a textbook header

  • Aussie all-rounder goes to Church

    CHURCH Cricket Club have signed highly-rated Australian all-rounder Mark Higgs as their new professional. The 25-year-old, who plays for New South Wales, is a left-hand bat and orthodox slow left-hand bowler. He replaces South African James Bryant. He

  • The village author-ity

    A RETIRED charity worker is bringing the history of Leyland to life in a new book. Joan Langford moved to Farington seven years ago and instantly fell in love with the leafy village. The area fascinated her so much that she has just finished her third

  • Case against casino hotels to be aired

    THE first public meeting of BCAGE -- the group formed to campaign against the introduction of casino hotels in Blackpool -- will be held on January 21. BCAGE -- Blackpool Coalition Against Gambling Expansion -- will be discussing their case against the

  • Raiders set home ablaze

    HEARTLESS thieves raided a Blackpool house and then set it ablaze on January 14. Mother of two Catherine Houghton, 41, came home to find her hallway on fire and the house full of smoke, just after midday. The callous burglars had even smashed the three

  • Pied Piper of Mereside

    AN RSPCA inspector turned into the Pied Piper to care for almost 100 rats after the pet rodents had been left to breed in a Blackpool house. Kath Mayberry removed 31 rats from a Mereside address after owners could no longer cope. But the nightmare snowballed

  • Waiting lists down months ahead of schedule

    HOSPITAL waiting lists in Bury are meeting Government targets months ahead of schedule. Figures released for November of last year show that no patient under Bury Health Care NHS Trust is waiting more than 15 months for treatment. And the total number

  • Tip closure strengthens local case, say group

    A PRESSURE group fighting controversial plans to turn a disused quarry into a tip say their case has been strengthened with the closure of a site in Wales blamed for causing birth defects. Rhondda Cynon Taff Council suspended waste disposal at the Nantygwyddon

  • Trusts merger to boost services

    THE trust which governs Fairfield General Hospital to be merged with others in Oldham, Rochdale and North Manchester. Hospital watchdogs in Bury have welcomed the move, saying it will improve services to patients. The Government has agreed that Bury Health

  • More support for victims

    THE head of Bury police has joined a national call to shake up the judicial system to give more support to victims and witnesses of crime. Chief Superintendent Phil Hollowood is backing the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Superintendents

  • Death crash driver had "no thought for safety"

    A CORONER said an uninsured driver had no regard for the safety of his passengers and other motorists when he drove at speed, killing Radcliffe teenager Linzi Gunning. Graham Lowe (25) was not wearing a seat belt and was killed instantly along with his

  • £1m safety plan for blight estate

    AN estate containing 522 homes is to undergo a complete redesign to improve safety, costing nearly £1 million. Residents and tenants on the blighted Victoria estate in Whitefield will see the area transformed under the "home zone" project. The area is

  • Blake set to boost Burnley

    A MEDICAL will decide whether Robbie Blake becomes a Burnley player but boss Stan Ternent sees no problems. With a four-year contract in the offing and a £1million fee, plus a £250,000 pay-on negotiated if the Clarets step up to the Premiership with Blake

  • Lilywhites look for revenge

    REVENGE tastes best served cold - so how nice does a win over the team who drubbed North End 5-0 in August sound? Gillingham make the long trip up the M6 to Deepdale tomorrow knowing that there is more than just points at stake - there is a good degree

  • Family anguish after murder evidence stolen

    THE distraught family of a woman who died of stab wounds on New Year's Day have delayed plans for her funeral after a thief stole vital information about the death. Charlotte Flanagan, 22, a former pupil at St Wilfrid's High School, Blackburn, was found

  • Protesters accused of 'nimbyism'

    HASLINGDEN residents objecting to a childcare team's plan to use a house in Yarmouth Avenue for a small children's home have been accused of 'nimbyism'. Chairman of the development control sub-committee Coun Christopher Wadsworth said he thought the reason

  • Seizure of cannabis from car

    A MARKETING manager with a Rossendale hair salon has appeared in court following the seizure of £60,000 of cannabis in a car. Christopher Watson, 26, of Heys Close, Cloughfold, Rawtenstall, and Ian Lomax, 33, of Bell Lane, Bury, were arrested after a

  • The proud town is signing in

    THE anonymous town of Waterfoot is to get not just one sign, but two, after a long-standing campaign by traders. Shopkeepers and business people submitted a petition to the development and environmental services committee of Rossendale Council. Businessman

  • Thanks for the help

    ON behalf of the Preston and District Ex-Services Council we wish to thank you for the front page story in The Citizen (January 3) and the photograph of myself. Regrettably, although much sympathy has been expressed and some tentative offers made regarding

  • Award judges yet to meet

    IN response to a letter, No Status Without Access Group, from John Coxhead of Preston DISC, published December 20, 2001, about the Annual Access Award 2002, the Trustees of Preston Council for the Voluntary Service (Preston CVS) would like to correct

  • Spare spaces for parents

    AS a new parent I have been getting to grips with the available facilities for parents and children in and around Preston. St George's has to be highly recommended for their baby room but places such as Boots, while providing excellent facilities, still

  • Richard happy 'just to be me'

    "ALL By Myself" is just how musical star and all-round entertainer Richard Swerrun likes it on stage these days. And lucky Blackpool fans can catch the former star of hit musicals Joseph, Y and West Side Story in his dazzling one-man show at Blackpool

  • Sunset's a new dawn for Faith

    MULTI-TALENTED entertainer Faith Brown spent New Year in Edinburgh enjoying Hogmanay with her family -- but desperately missing her Buckinghamshire home, her dogs and her cat. Although she had turned down other touring opportunities, she felt she had

  • Just go where music is

    IT'S not every mail drop that brings a particularly interesting letter but I have received such a one from Nick Jackson, a lecturer at Blackburn College. Mr Jackson wrote to tell me about his 17-year-old son Adam, currently studying for A-levels at the

  • Just Jamie: Driven round the bend

    I AM in the throes of car hunting and I have made a huge mistake -- I have told the Folks. Ever since I casually mentioned that I want to off-load my battered Peugeot 106 for something a tad more modern, I have been pestered on a daily basis. Sometimes

  • Jobe to come up smelling of Roses

    GUITAR band Jobe are starting the year full of hope after securing a management deal with the manager of former Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown. Late last year the Ribble Valley lads' bright, anthemic guitar demos captured the attention and imagination

  • Hot dogs recalled

    COMPLAINTS about foul smelling and spoiled hot dogs have prompted warnings about a possible problem with a brand of canned hot dog sausages. Cans of Ye Olde Oak Food's own brand hot dogs have been recalled following a small number of complaints. Wyre

  • Anger as GP's surgery closes

    A CLEVELEYS woman has spoken out against the closure of a GP's surgery which she says will upset hundreds of people who will now have to find a new doctor. Vivian Wallace-Dand, 60, of Fleetwood Road, Norbreck, said she received a letter on January 14

  • Council faces the bald facts

    DETERIORATION of an artificially constructed Blackpool sand dune could cause flooding according to a recent report highlighting the importance of preserving Blackpool's dunes. The Scoping Study Report was put before the council at a meeting held earlier

  • Cinderella's funny turn

    AN alternative production of the classic fairytale Cinderella is sure to have the audience in stitches after being given the comedy treatment for a charity performance. The rags-to-riches tale, famous for its two ugly sisters, being played this time by

  • Designer found unconscious after street attack

    A MAN was left seriously injured and lying in the street after being attacked after visiting a takeaway. Blackburn police said Anthony Grogan was assaulted on Jasper Street, in Blackburn, around 6.40pm on Wednesday. The 36-year-old, of Douglas Place,

  • Burglar broke into works three times

    A BURGLAR was sentenced to more than two years in prison after targeting a Blackburn company three times in two-months. Alan Huddleston escaped with £1,500 worth of tools the first time he broke into North West Tippers and although he did not manage to

  • What to do on Saturdays

    Weekly: Popular sequence dancing: Greenmount Old School. Details 724 8225. Sequence dancing 7-9.30pm. Prestwich OAP Club, Church Lane. Children's dance classes. Ballroom, Latin, disco. St Bernadette's Social Club, Whitefield. Ages 3-15yrs. 10am-1pm. Tel

  • Roy plays a cracking first round

    FORMER Blackburn Rovers striker Roy Wegerle began his first major professional golf tournament in fine style with a birdie in the Dunhill Championship in Johannesburg yesterday. The 37-year-old, who qualified to play in the tournament on Tuesday, looked

  • Blast from boss

    STAND lost their first league game in 23 against Bootle last weekend but this is not the start of a slide down the table, says manager Nick Davis. The table toppers - still 12 points clear at the top of NWCL Division Two despite Saturday's defeat - have

  • Chambers may head back

    LEE CHAMBERS could be on his way back to Padiham just months after signing for UniBond first division side Kendal. Ironically, Kendal were fined £100 for illegally approaching the 27-year-old, but now he is on the verge of a return. "His partner is pregnant

  • New challenge for Irvine

    JONATHAN Irvine has done the non-League equivalent of moving between Rovers and Burnley - and moved from Nelson to Colne. The striker, who scored more than 100 goals for Nelson as they pressed for promotion over his four seasons there, has decided to

  • Defender defends himself

    JONATHAN Smith has defended himself following his controversial sending off against Burscough which saw the end of Stanley's 14 game unbeaten run. The tall defender was shown the red card after just 20 minutes for a second bookable offence. But he and

  • Absurdity of these cannabis sanctions

    LAST month the Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies made a political protest which led to him being formally arrested for possession of cannabis. Although we do not support his deliberate breaking of criminal law we do support his campaign to raise the public

  • Gudjonsson deal not dead

    DAVID Moyes says he has not given up hope of signing Thordur Gudjonsson, admitting a longer loan than first anticipated remains a possibility. The move appeared dead as the Icelandic star would not have been able to join for the just one month, as Moyes

  • New lease of life-saving

    A ST JOHN Ambulance group which was facing closure just over a year ago has been given a new lease of life. After more than a century of helping local people, members of the Leyland Quad Division feared their life-saving service would be axed after the

  • Lights go out on Joe

    WORKMEN twice stormed a brand new Blackpool cabaret bar and turned out the lights on entertainer Joe Longthorne. The outside of the Music Hall Tavern was left in darkness after electricians went onto the roof and cut power cables to a giant £8,500 lighting

  • Preece deserves congratulations

    CONGRATULATIONS to Andy Preece on his two years in charge at Gigg Lane and on his success in turning a "hoof team" into a football team. Thank God the shades of Warnock have passed and that Bury Football Club is producing footballers once again. Let us

  • Did you work at Bibbys?

    ON December 8 a reunion was held at Bury Football Club for former employees of Bibby and Baron which closed last year after 132 years. More than 150 ex-employees attended, a good time was had by all, and we raised £206 for Bury Hospice on the night. There

  • "Martyrs" delay is no surprise

    MANY readers may be wondering what has happened to the case of the "Metric Martyrs" which was heard before the Court of Appeal in mid-November. We are still awaiting the judgement which, we were told, the judges would begin working on immediately. It

  • Anyone can use internet

    I HAVE just read about plans by the council to spend more than £500,000 on projects to spread the internet learning process. I am a regular internet user, and find it funny that the council can waste half a million pounds on something like this while

  • Aussie reminder of home

    AS an "ex-pat" living in South Australia, I was interested to read an article on Peel Tower in the police force's "Down Under" magazine. It brought back happy memories. As a boy, I assisted my father to train gun dogs on the nearby grouse moors. He was

  • Metro ride cost my daughter £15

    MY 16-year-old daughter, who attends Tottington High School, went to Manchester from Bury by Metrolink on Friday, Dec 28. As on previous trips, she bought herself a half-day return ticket for £1.50. At Crumpsall, a female ticket inspector boarded and

  • Brigade may face charges over death

    CHARGES of corporate manslaughter could be brought against Greater Manchester Fire Service over the death of firefighter Paul Metcalf. The brigade's fate now lies in the hands of the Crown Prosecution Service which is examining files concerning the 1999

  • Rising to the top!

    RISING to the top . . . that's a thriving Bury bakery machinery company which has been bought for a staggering £12.8 million. Millers, which has an enviable turnover of £8 million, has been bought over by the Birmingham-based Aga Foodservice Group. The