EAST Lancashire MP Nigel Evans obviously knows what he is talking about when he calls for more policing to protect small shopkeepers from violent criminals. As the owner of a convenience store he himself became a victim of assault by a thief who attacked
ANTI-Europeans peddling myths and falsehoods about Europe in your letters pages are, sadly, to be expected, but their continual packaging of them in the Union Flag has become nauseating. Together with much of the right-wing national Press, they treat
CONGRATULATIONS and a heartfelt pat on the back are definitely due to the Corporation Park Supporters Group in Blackburn on the successful application for a £2.7million lottery grant to restore the park to its former glory (LET, June 4). However, one
FORMER Chelsea star Jody Morris has slammed suggestions that he priced himself out of a move to Blackburn Rovers. Ewood chief Graeme Souness held talks with the player about a possible move to Ewood Park once it became clear that he wouldn't be staying
BLACKBURN Rovers today shot down fresh speculation linking them with a double swoop for Sunderland duo Kevin Phillips and Gavin McCann. Several sources have tried to claim in the last 24 hours that Phillips and McCann are both heading for Ewood this summer
A POLICE investigation has been launched into the mystery surrounding a number of cat deaths in Burnley. Trinity community beat manager PC Adam Gordon is appealing for the public's help to help him get to the bottom of the incidents. Over the past week
A BURNLEY headteacher has been crowned the best in the North West at the regional award ceremony for excellence in education. Stephen Ball, head of Ivy Bank Business and Enterprise College, Burnley, came top of the class by winning the Promethean Award
WORK has started on a flagship regeneration project aimed at improving the quality of life in an area of Burnley. And residents in the Accrington Road area of the town have welcomed the work as the start of a rejuvenation of the district. Last week residents
STALLHOLDERS and council bosses have joined forces in a bid to stave off reports that Lancaster Market could face closure. Lancaster City Council is looking closely at the market and its viability, and has changed its corporate plan to include comments
ANXIOUS family workers are waiting to hear news about their jobs this week - as union and county council officials meet to discuss new contracts. Family Support Service workers in Lancaster and Morecambe, employed by Lancashire County Council, fear new
ENTERTAINER, animal lover and councillor Mort Allan has lost his long battle with cancer. The 66-year-old from Heysham died on Monday at Royal Lancaster Infirmary, leaving behind his long-term partner Joan, whom he married earlier this year. Mort's funeral
A MULTI-MILLION pound mission to regenerate Heysham is under threat after the venture clashed with new planning guidelines. The planned Heysham Mossgate scheme, which includes 400 homes, a library, doctor's surgery, police station and facilities for young
BLACKPOOL boss Steve McMahon has dismissed speculation linking Bury's Jon Newby with his club. The Blackpool boss also questioned the striker's ambition when interviewed on BBC Radio Lancashire. "We have been down that line before," said McMahon. "Jon
SENIOR police officers met with council representatives this week for an urgent meeting to discuss the recent increase in street violence in Nelson. The move came after a 25-man street brawl in Bradshaw Street last month in which one man was taken to
CORONATION Street's Joe Carter will be the star of Bolton Hospice's Yellow Summer Gala this weekend. Actor Jonathon Wrather, who plays the cunning fraudster, will open the event at 11am on Saturday. The yellow-themed family fun day is part of National
A CREDIT union has moved to new premises closer to the town centre to provide easier access for its customers. Colne and District Credit Union has moved to The Open Door Centre, in Great George Street, opposite the town hall. This will allow it to operate
WORKERS at a leading aerospace company are to be tested for drugs and alcohol in the workplace in a bid to prevent works accidents. Employees at Rolls-Royce, Barnoldswick, have asked for more information about the details of the scheme but are likely
ALMOST 12 months ago Garred Simpson suffered a fractured skull which led to the paralysis of one side of his face. If there is no improvement in the next year doctors say the damage will be permanent. But the 11-year-old, who has been nominated for our
WORLD bike ace Carl Fogarty finally passed his driving test! The Blackburn speed king passed with flying colours, despite dreadful conditions on the roads.
A MYSTERY visitor left tots and teachers at a nursery scratching their heads after planting a six-foot tree in their garden. The tree appeared overnight at John Smethhurst Nursery School, St James Road, Blackburn.
FORTY-FIVE daredevils will abseil down Leigh Parish Church this weekend to celebrate the end of two years of fund-raising -- and to boost their own charity funds. Among the adventurers are Leigh MP Andy Burnham and registered blind mum Terri Balon who
TWO East Lancashire charity workers are to undertake a sponsored trek with a difference along the Leeds Liverpool Canal. Richard Day, chairman of Accrington Shopmobility, and John Greenop, a volunteer at the outlet, will complete the 127-mile journey
FORTY-FIVE daredevils will abseil down Leigh Parish Church this weekend to celebrate the end of two years of fund-raising -- and to boost their own charity funds. Among the adventurers are Leigh MP Andy Burnham and registered blind mum Terri Balon who
TERRIFIED residents fled when a Rottweiler went on the rampage - attacking one woman and five dogs. One of the animals later had to be put to sleep because of its injuries. Armed police were called in at 9.45am yesterday and cornered the animal in a garden
A HEADTEACHER believes Leigh Sports Village will bring massive benefits and has thrown his support behind the project. John Pout, of Westleigh High School, is adamant that sporting and educational benefits will outweigh any concerns people have on the
A SCHOOL is mourning the loss of a devoted teacher, well-known in community sporting circles, who died after a long illness. A special mass was held yesterday at St Augustine's School, Billington, in memory of PE teacher Sandra Coulter, who died on Sunday
IT IS now clear that the Labour government plans to add fluoride to drinking water supplies in North Lancashire. Fluoridation is an attack on civil liberties and medical ethics - the "patient" should have the right to refuse treatment. Fluoride is a cumulative
I WAS pleased to hear that our newest nightclub, 'Toast', was stopped from showing soft-core pornography in its male toilets by the city council because it did not have a cinema licence. However, I have now heard that Toast has applied for a cinema licence
A RUGBY ace from Lancaster Royal Gram-mar School has been thrust into the sporting limelight. Sean Cox, pictured, wowed officials with his star performances on the recent England Schoolboys' tour to Italy - and has now been singled out for the England
FOUR home games against top class opposition and three short trips to meet smaller fish are on the cards for Morecambe FC as they build up to yet another momentous season. The Christie Park players will report back for pre-season training on July 1 -
BURNLEY Football Club have defended their controversial decision to only offer an extended discount period for season ticket holders in the Family Stand. Sections of the Turf Moor faithful had hoped the club's re-introduction of cut-price tickets, following
PAUL Cook is hoping Accrington Stanley can end the heartbreak of having his Football League career abruptly ended. The former Burnley midfielder is bidding to revive his career at Accrington Stanley after his ties with the Clarets were cut in the aftermath
FORMER Clarets' favourite Michael Phelan believes ex-Manchester United defender Lee Roche would be a sensational signing for Burnley. Phelan, now first team coach at Old Trafford, helped nurture Roche while in charge of the United's all-conquering reserve
THE Turnpike Community Theatre company is busy rehearsing a modern day version of Shakespeare's most famous tale of love and tragedy. The Romeo and Juliet version written by Jo Shepherd and directed by Neil Gredecki with Jo is set against a background
A NEWLY formed Saturday football team is looking for a coach to take charge. Church Inn FC desperately need a coach to help train and lead them into the Wigan & District Saturday league this coming season. New players are also welcome and training
MOTOR cycle road racing brothers Keith and Dave Latheron from Leigh enjoyed leaderboard success at the weekend. On Saturday the classic sidecar duo enjoyed two second places at Ty Croes circuit in Anglesey then travelled to the big Post-TT Classic event
LEIGH Cricket,Tennis and Bowling Club Juniors had four players selected to represent Lancashire in a County fixture against Merseyside at Rainhill. They were Thomas Davies, Craig Gornall, Matthew Lee and Stewart Thompson. Craig and Matthew were reserves
THE spectators were treated to a feast of run scoring at Beech Walk as the batsmen took advantage of the perfect conditions and a flat wicket to amass a total of 463 runs. Unfortunately, EDS Leigh went down to their third league defeat of the season against
Leigh Centurions 39 Whitehaven 18 by Mike Hulme: THE Centurions' final destination in the Arriva Trains Cup will be Spotland and a showdown with Salford City Reds. Leigh steamed into the showpiece final almost as convincingly as the Reds who demolished
BLACKBURN Rovers today shot down fresh speculation linking them with a double swoop for Sunderland duo Kevin Phillips and Gavin McCann. Several sources have tried to claim in the last 24 hours that Phillips and McCann are both heading for Ewood this summer
FRIENDS of Bold Venture Park, Darwen, are celebrating a council grant to brighten up the area. The volunteers welcomed their £2,500 community chest grant which will help buy native British woodland bulbs in place of recently removed rhododendrons. Friends
A 'QUIET family man' has been given a nine-month prison sentence for downloading child porn from the internet. Eric Turner came to the attention of police when his credit card details surfaced during a large scale investigation in the States. In addition
DARWEN residents have been told to 'get off their backsides' and help shape the future of their town after a poor turnout at a vital meeting. Councillors and organisers were dismayed that fewer than 20 people attended the initial workshops to consult
MEMBERS of Rossendale Civic Trust have opposed plans to develop the former Lea Bank School site. Plans have been drawn up by developers for the Rawtenstall site after campaigners battled to protect the site for years before permission was granted to Hurstwood
PROPOSALS for a £50million wind farm scheme in Rossendale are to be cast out to the public in an exhibition of the scheme. Residents living in the valley are being invited to take a first look at the Scout Moor Wind Farm, aimed at providing green power
LEIGH MP Andy Burnham's advice surgeries planned for next weekend (June 20 and 21) have been rearranged. The Hindley surgeries will be combined into one extended meeting at the Bethel, Hindley Green, on Friday, June 27 from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. The Leigh
POLICE are appealing for help to trace a 14-year-old girl who has been missing from her home for three weeks. Laura Hough, was last seen by her mum at an address on Liverpool Road in Hindley at 8.15 am on Wednesday, May 21 when she left for school. She
GREATER Manchester Ambulance Service is delighted that Wigan's Mayor Councillor Wilf Brogan, has pledged to raise funds to buy a life saving emergency rapid response car for the borough. The new vehicle will work alongside the existing rapid response
FOUR litter conscious primary schools are cleaning up their own act. Golborne All Saints, AthertonSt Philip's, Atherton, Lowton St Catherine's and Tanfield at Hindley are among nine borough schools signed up for Wigan Council's Roadside Care Scheme. They
LEIGH MP Andy Burnham is being tipped for a top Government job after just two years in Parliament. And if the Labour member, brought up in Culcheth and now settled in Golborne, secures a ministerial position as part of Prime Minister Tony Blair's expected
LEIGH MP Andy Burnham is helping to fight the war on poverty. He is hosting a lunch in Leigh Town Hall on Friday for Oxfam North West Campaigns at which he will be joined by Nafi Chinery, a community worker in Ghana, and charity workers. They will talk
CHILD'S play is an important investment for the future and cash is being ploughed into transforming Atherton for future generations. After meeting the newly-formed Wigan Cultural Trust, the town's councillors welcomed a new strategy for play. Councillor
AN IRAQI asylum seeker accused of murdering a fellow countryman told a jury how he looked on the victim as his "brother." Samsuddin Farhan Hamad, 20, denied stabbing Mokhler Mostafa to death in Infirmary Street, Blackburn, as he gave evidence on day three
AN ASYLUM seeker today told how he had escaped Robert Mugabe's henchmen in Zimbabwe -- only to be mugged in Blackburn. The man, who would only be identified by his first name, Milton, for fear of retribution attacks on him and his family back home, fled
AT LEAST £100 million is set to be spent on the transformation of Blackburn town centre, it was revealed today. The town's regeneration chief Councillor Andy Kay said that the money would be available to one of three developers shortlisted to revolutionise
PENDLE'S Neil Tattersall is a three time champion after winning the Witton Park Four Mile Trail Race. The Oswaldtwistle athlete won the Europrint 10K last summer and the Winter Warmer 10K in February. He completed his set of Blackburn Road Runners' races
CHORLEY manager Mark Molyneaux is confident his side can bounce back from their UniBond First Division play-off disappointment, writes Suzanne Geldard. The Magpies came back from a 2-0 deficit to force extra time against Radcliffe Borough in the final
FOUR litter conscious primary schools are cleaning up their own act. Golborne All Saints, AthertonSt Philip's, Atherton, Lowton St Catherine's and Tanfield at Hindley are among nine borough schools signed up for Wigan Council's Roadside Care Scheme. They
MEN are the worst people in the world to shop for. The poser what to buy for Father's Day on Sunday has again reared its head for sons and daughters everywhere. After racking my brain for something different but suitable, I'm afraid I've drawn a blank
I WAS in Market Street, Leigh, on Monday, when an injured pigeon obviously carrying a broken, trailing wing decided to walk across the road. I kept my fingers crossed that the poor thing would make it, but alas three quarters of the way to its destination
WILL the idiots who let fireworks off all year ever stop to think of the upset they cause? A furious Astley resident tells me his octagenarian mother-in-law was in bed at 10pm on Friday, May 31 when she was awakened by the sound of banging, and was scared
THE funeral has taken place at Leigh Sacred Heart Church of former Leigh RL forward Tony Peters, aged 51. Self-employed joiner Tony signed for Leigh in 1971 after playing for the club's junior sides then transferred to Oldham in 1973. He moved to Swinton
LEIGH RMI have a mouth-watering line-up of pre-season games to prepare them for a fourth season in the Nationwide Conference including visits from Bury, Everton and Blackburn. "There will be plenty of quality on show", said manager Mark Patterson. "Bury
THEIR pre-season training already well underway, Leigh RMI boss Mark Patterson has pulled off a major coup by re-signing central defender Martyn Lancaster on a one-year deal. Lancaster was one of Patterson's immediate recruits on putting pen to paper
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Rossendale Hospice "Woman of the Year" Ladies Luncheon, St Mary's Chambers, Haslingden Road, Rawtenstall, 11.30am-5.30pm. "89 Minutes to Save the NHS," with Dr Phil Hammond
ALL I can say about the Graham Pound scandal (LET, May 29), is: Shame on all of you. A great number of Conservative voters supported the party through thick and thin and helped bring attention to the shocking mismanagement of services under Labour, but
THE proposed £75million Leigh Sports Village has reached a crucial stage after the project was submitted before the Council's planning committee. Work on the multi-million pound flagship scheme, based on land between Marshall Street and Atherleigh Way
A MAN in handcuffs was led away from a Blackburn house today after police found a body in a flat near the town centre. The dead man - understood to be aged 69 - was discovered after police were called to a flat in Preston New Road near the junction with
AT LEAST £100 million is set to be spent on the transformation of Blackburn town centre, it was revealed today. The town's regeneration chief Councillor Andy Kay said that the money would be available to one of three developers shortlisted to revolutionise
NEW communication guidelines aimed at keeping the public better informed about the work of the council are expected to be given the seal of approval next week. Burnley Borough Council has drawn up a blueprint to guide the way it drives forward its communication
AMBITIOUS plans for a multi-million pound revamp of the Lancaster Canal are to be unveiled. The project to restore the canal will be the hub of attention when the Northern Reaches Restoration Group outline its ideas in a talk to be held at Lancaster Town
TWO rowers poised to take on the world's toughest race are staging a black-tie ball to help raise funds for the challenge. Lancaster's Adam Murfitt and Paul Nelson, from Chorley, are embarking on the gruelling Atlantic Rowing Challenge in October. They
FORMER Shakers assistant boss Kevin Blackwell's appointment as head coach for Leeds United boss Peter Reid, has been confirmed. After allowing former head coach Brian Kidd and assistant manager Eddie Gray to leave Elland Road, Reid has taken his time
PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice has chosen Carers Week to call for better support to be given to carers. The MP said: "There are thousands of carers in Pendle looking after loved ones and without them there would be massive extra demands on the NHS and Social
IT must have been a case of "sing as you go" when these folk dressed up in their finery and sailed off along the canal on a pleasure cruise from Blackburn about 100 years ago. For, as can be seen at the left of group standing on the prow of the barge,
ATHERTON Churches will stage a non-denominational walk of witness around town on Saturday afternoon. Organisers extend an open invite to join in the procession which leaves Bag Lane at 2.45pm. Meet outside Bag Lane Methodist Church at 2.30pm.
MISSION week began on Sunday when Atherton churches, schools and the Church Army combined with visitors from Africa in a week of events. Organiser the Rev Keith Baines has thrown out an open invitation to Athertonians to join in and support the events
NEEDY children in Hyndburn could be given the chance to have a seaside holiday after councillors agreed to provide £1,000 to fund five breaks for up to 12 children each. The Holidays for Children initiative is organised by national charity Harvest Trust
RESIDENTS worried about revived plans for the shelved A5225 Orrell to Atherton link road can see the scheme for themselves at a series of public exhibitions. All roads will lead to Wigan with the launch of the new transport corridor project which was
A NEW £25,000 sports facility has been opened to help people who want to get fit in the fresh air. . The Trim Trail, around the perimeter of Hyndburn Sports Centre, will provide a 519-metre hard track with three exercise points featuring horizontal bars
A MAN who grabbed a burglar as he left a neighbour's kitchen has been praised by a judge. Wayne Unsworth, who was with an unknown man and a woman, had been seen in the kitchen of a house in Walmesley Road, Leigh. When challenged Unsworth tried to bluff
A TINY terror with an "angelic" face who plagued residents for years has turned over a new leaf. Details of the change in Aaron Stoddard's behaviour were revealed when Hyndburn magistrates were asked to drop an application for an Anti Social Behaviour
A WOMAN systematically milked elderly people's bank accounts and paid most of the cash into her partner's account. Julie Powell stole a total of £9,600 from customers who banked with the Halifax Bank at Castle Hill Properties in Lowton. Powell was suffering
MP Andy Burnham has highlighted in Parliament the plight of 160 employees from a Leigh firm who were sacked without pay while on holiday. The Leigh MP raised during the Department of Trade and Industry's Question Time last week the situation facing workers
A CRISIS-HIT theatre group is appealing for new members to help keep the show on the road. The curtain is threatening to fall on the Culcheth Players after 45 years because of falling membership. The Players have been unable to stage a play since "My
NEXT month's merger of Leigh and District Citizens Advice Bureau with Wigan CAB is a shotgun marriage, claims the chairman of Leigh CAB board of trustees. In response to Wigan Council Leader Peter Smith's comments regarding the situation with Leigh CAB
TEACHERS demoralised by a poor inspection report five years ago are now looking forward to leading the country in revolutionary new teaching methods. Twenty five staff at Hesketh Fletcher High School, almost half the teachers, have won government research
CLLR Denwood's concern about litter bugs (Citizen letters last week) must be shared by many. Litter, however, does not usually block the use of pavements. In contrast, cars parked for long periods, either partly or wholly on the pavement, are a major
SO, according to the British Dental Health Foundation, two-thirds of people don't know the true cost of NHS dental charges! If the present parlous state of NHS dentistry is anything to go by two-thirds of people would like to know but are unable to, as
MUSLIMS in Clitheroe are poised to resubmit plans for a mosque at the back of a town centre terraced house. But residents today accused the community and Ribble Valley Council of not doing enough to find an alternative site. A four-year bid to build the
JUST which bran tub has the Europhile Gary Arthurs (Letters, May 29) had his head in for the last 30 years? We were told that trade and industry would benefit from membership of the European 'Union' but what has happened? Steel making has gone, as have
TRADERS are backing an MP's call for more police action to protect corner shops from violent criminals. Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, whose family runs a convenience store in Swansea, also wants tougher prison sentences to deter attackers. He told a debate
NETWORK Rail, the Government's replacement for Railtrack, has failed to improve the situation on the railways - and the railway operating companies' answer to poor performance is, apparently, to cut services. This will directly affect passengers in Lancaster
BLACKPOOL Sea Eagles won their first match in the Rugby League Conference on Saturday dumping the new Lancaster RLFC team to the bottom of the league. Blistering 15 minute spells either side of half time overcame stubborn resistance at the Giant Axe as
WHEN I was a lad -- which to me seems like yesterday but was in those wonderful 60s with the Beatles, the Stones, the Hollies, and of course the Four Pennies -- going abroad was a serious big deal. Aside from the cost, in real terms, there was the fact
A YOUNG boy, no more than eight years old, stood in a field, the cricketing whites he had borrowed were trailing on the floor, getting muddy and grass-stained. Jonathan Clare had been drafted in at the last minute by his father, John, to sub field for
CHELTENHAM. Nine members sent 94 birds. Mr & Mrs Hilton & Son 1672.97; Mr & Mrs Jones 1672.72; Mr & Mrs Hilton & Son 1668.68; B.Walsh 1667.74; K&E Shaw 1658.19; Mr & Mrs Dickens 1649.32; K&E Shaw 1639.66; S.Thompson 1638.53
LEIGH Miners Rangers U7s had to work hard to maintain their unbeaten record since Easter as they edged out Westbank Bears 11-5. There were tries from Parry, Tyson, Marsden and Hall. The Best Supporting player was Marc Parry; Most Improved Joseph Mapleston
EXCELLENT fielding and wicket-keeping from Lyon, helped Golborne CC U15s to their second win of the season. Golborne were soon in trouble, losing Hart and Pownall early on. Carr made 16 and Whittaker 38 before retiring and Golborne's total was boosted
ATHERTON CC are fast becoming one of the most generous teams in the Bolton Association. For the third time this season they threw away a winning position and gifted the match to Adlington. After restricting their opponents to a gettable 167, the Higham
FORMER Clarets' favourite Michael Phelan believes ex-Manchester United defender Lee Roche would be a sensational signing for Burnley. Phelan, now first team coach at Old Trafford, helped nurture Roche while in charge of the United's all-conquering reserve
A TEENAGER who took part in an attack on a cabbie also went out with a gang that was armed with a machete, a court was told. Burnley Magistrates heard how Gareth Lee Peter Cooper, 18, thought the weapon had been taken along two months earlier for "bravado
ATHERTON Churches will stage a non-denominational walk of witness around town on Saturday afternoon. Organisers extend an open invite to join in the procession which leaves Bag Lane at 2.45pm. Meet outside Bag Lane Methodist Church at 2.30pm.
FIREFIGHTERS battled for an hour to put out a blaze at a timber factory in Leigh. Fire crews were called to the Pine Products factory, off Mather Lane, at 7.30pm last Wednesday after a passer-by noticed smoke coming from the factory. They managed to stop
FED-UP Tamar people fear further disruption is around the corner through more road works in the Wigan Road and Nel Pan Lane area of Leigh. Local chip shop owner Glenn Hitchen claims he's been told pavements and roads in the area are scheduled for resurfacing
A WARTIME romance blossomed into 60 years of successful marriage for a Blackburn couple. Luke and Edna Hunter, above, will spend today celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary at their Shear Brow home with their three children, nine grandchildren
BLACKBURN Transport is to end its Coachlines service after a decline in the market for its holidays. The managing director of the business said the service had steadily reduced and was unlikely to run next year. Michael Morton, managing director of Blackburn
A MAN in handcuffs was led away from a Blackburn house today after police found a body in a flat near the town centre. The dead man - understood to be aged 69 - was discovered after police were called to a flat in Preston New Road near the junction with
BUYING a pair of ill-fitting running shoes was a happy accident for Brian Cole - it led to him winning his first England vest. The 31-year-old marine from Darwen has been one of East Lancashire's top performers in the London Marathon for several years
ROSSENDALE United are coming out of the doldrums and gearing up for a promotion assault next season. The Dark Lane outfit are revamping things on and off the pitch, with a new board of directors and a host of new players, in an effort to earn UniBond
TEACHERS demoralised by a poor inspection report five years ago are now looking forward to leading the country in revolutionary new teaching methods. Twenty five staff at Hesketh Fletcher High School, almost half the teachers, have won government research
FORMER colleague Dave Dutton appeared in my life again on Sunday -- this time in Heartbeat's sister TV programme "The Royal". The former Leigh journalist and scriptwriter to the stars, turned agent and actor, played a minor role in a major storyline in
I'VE discovered why jewellers Prestons are moving out of Leigh -- they're going more upmarket. The Bolton-based high class purveyors of precious diamonds have sold the Bradshawgate premises they have occupied since 1955 and are using the cash to refurbish
TWO conmen posing as undercover police officers stole cash from an 84-year-old man after telling him they were investigating reports of counterfeit notes in the area. He allowed the thieves into his home in Scobell Street, Tottington, at noon on Wednesday
