A CONVOY of tractors through the streets of Simister made an impressive sight for villagers recently. But making good use of the farm vehicles for protest reasons is not a new concept for Simister. The latest protest was against a potential business park
ANOTHER one bites the dust. By which I refer to the untimely departure of Big Ron from the commentary box. Now, unlike others in the same predicament, I think Ron Atkinson is really sorry he came out with those comments. He was quick to distance himself
A GUIDE reader is trying to find out information on the former Dye and Bleach Works in Prestwich Clough park. Mr Paul Duxbury said his great grandfather Thomas Delaney worked there for 50 years, between 1910 and 1960. He would like to hear from any readers
STUDENTS at one Prestwich school will take the lead in helping youngsters become model citizens, thanks to a grant of £10,000. Pupils from Prestwich Community High School are to use the money they have received from Barclays New Futures to work on citizenship
HYNDBURN MP Greg Pope failed to make it for the free launch showcasing the North West's finest foods at the House of Commons but has enjoyed the hotpot. He said: "I am delighted that the North West's regional cooking is being honoured at the Commons.
Veteran rocker Marty Wilde has teamed up with Joe Brown, another big name from a fun-filled era, to tour the country. Marty spoke to JENNY SCOTT. . . THEY first met on a TV pop show called Boy Meets Girl. "I was the girl, Joe was the boy," jokes Marty
THERE are still places available on Radcliffe Boro's massive junior six-a-side tournament to be held at Stainton Park next month. The event, over four days, will involve 160 teams ranging in age from under 7s to under 12s and, for the first time, a girls-only
THE deadline for picking up a discounted Bury FC season ticket has been put back to Saturday, May 8. The date coincides with the club's final league game of the season when they entertain Macclesfield Town at Gigg Lane. Club officials report that the
AFTER all the pre-season hype and expectation, the majority of games in the Bolton Association fell victim to the weather. And sadly for Elton, their game against Adlington game fell into this category. The game had been billed as a tricky one, but not
JUNIOR riders took centre-stage last weekend when the first round of the British Youth and Junior League took place at the Goshen track on Saturday and the following day at Heckmondwike, the second round of the Northern Fours and Junior League was completed
North West Counties League RAMSBOTTOM UTD...0 CLITHEROE...2 DESPITE being anchored in 17th place, the Rams will have a huge say in the destination of the First Division title, facing two of the top three teams within the space of five days, the first
A SPECIAL "world cup" was held in Whitefield to help foster understanding between locals and asylum seekers. The tournament, held at Philips High School, was run through the Bobby Charlton Soccer Schools and Soccer Theme Park. Around 150 children from
UNSWORTH Cricket Club get their Central Lancashire League campaign underway when Milnrow visit Pole Lane on Sunday. There's a new look to the side this summer although popular South African professional Robbie MacQueen is still the paid man at the club
IS it because spring is in the air? Blair does a U-turn over Europe, Lancashire Council Council admits it might have contributed to fly-tipping and the police take a more sensible attitude on speeding. Is it possible that the council will re-consider
Lancashire U14 Cup Final SEDGLEY PARK 7 PRESTON GH 15 SEDGLEY were just three minutes away from winning the Lancashire Cup against a multi-talented Grasshoppers side. Park were leading 7-5 when Preston took a scrum against the head and scored wide out
I AGREE with Rob Wilcock that this car-hating government has got to realise the political power motorists have but first motorists have to. Instead of moaning all the time wake up and realise the power you have. There are 30 million motorists in the UK
NEW MILLS 0 PRESTWICH HEYS 3 Air Miles Manchester League Premier Division WITH the destination of the championship decided last Saturday, when Royton Town beat Wilmslow, Heys were playing for second place on Tuesday night at New Mills, while Leigh Athletic
WALKING through the bus station in Peel Street, Accrington on a dreary Monday afternoon, I was amused to see young lovers saying their goodbyes going home from school. For goodness sake it seemed like they would be parting for almost eternity! Not going
IN your article "TV Show Copycat Horror: (LET, April 19) I am quite appalled by the fact that you and the "victim's" mother are blaming the television show Jackass for what happened. I am not saying the young boy deserved it, far from it. I wouldn't wish
A 15-YEAR-OLD girl is recovering in hospital after she fell 50 feet from a coal tip in Tyldesley. Lisa Marie Pector, of Carrfield Close, Little Hulton, was with friends when she tumbled and fell down the side of southern Wharton tip, Common Lane, at 7.40pm
FOOTBALLERS' wives celebrated victory with their loved ones -- but said it was really a victory for benefactor, the late Jack Walker. Partners and children of Rovers players watched from a special box in the stadium and cracked open the bubbly on the
LANCASHIRE Evening Telegraph reporter Ian Singleton has been a Blackburn Rovers fan since he was four. Here he explains what it was like for a life-long fan to see the team lift the cup... IT'S 74 years since Rovers won a major cup, so this is an unknown
FLYING winger Keith Gillespie last night hailed Rovers' Worthington Cup success as the highlight of his career. Before yesterday's 2-1 victory over Spurs, the Northern Ireland international hadn't won any major honour in the English domestic game. So
UNCLE Jack would have been proud of you - that was the message to Graeme Souness' ecstatic team from the Walker family. A number of the millionaire benefactor's family were at the Millennium Stadium to see Rovers' victory, the second major success for
REGULARS at the Knowles Arms, Pleckgate Road, Blackburn, began celebrating straight after the final whistle. Andrew Caton, 34, of Highbank, Blackburn, said: "They played really well and deserved this. It has been a long time coming." His son Cameron,
THE BOSS of a Blackpool shop sponsoring this weekend's sell-out Peter Kay gig at Blackpool Opera House has told of his support for the fund-raising effort. Adrian Parrington, general manager of Originals, Clifton Street, agreed to sponsor the April 19
A MISSING parrot which can whistle the The Great Escape theme tune may have sought refuge in Bury. Bird lover Shirley Badland has offered a £1,000 reward for the safe return of her African grey called Floyd, which can also imitate ringtones. It flew off
A TEENAGER in Ramsbottom is the second to be made the subject of an anti-social behavioural order. Bury magistrates issued the two-year order on the 16-year-old, which means he faces arrests if he is found committing any anti-social behaviour in England
DAREDEVIL Jodie Scanlon will be doing it for dad this weekend when she overcomes her fear of heights: by stepping off a hotel roof. Brave Jodie from Bury will abseil down Manchester's Renaissance Hotel to say "thank you" for the successful treatment her
TOTTINGTON Private Nursery School has received a glowing report from the Government's education watchdogs. Ofsted inspectors said the nursery on Kirklees Street, Tottington, provides "good quality care for children" and offers "high quality pre-school
ASPIRING model Ellie Guadagno is hoping to make waves in the world of water-skiing after battling her way back from a double amputation. Ellie, of Warth Fold, Bury, is in training to compete for a place in the World Disabled Water-skiing Championships
A MOTHER has slammed a town's postal system after having to wait three weeks for a birthday present from her son in Australia. Julie Latham, who celebrated her 49th birthday on Sunday, was expecting the gift from her son Karl to arrive just a week after
POLICE have launched an assault investigation after a teenager had his forehead punctured by nails in a prank prompted by a TV stunt show. And today it was revealed that the boy's horrified mother only learned of the incident when a picture of it was
BIRTHDAY balloons helped raise one little girl's hopes at a special birthday party. Katie Scarlett McIntosh turned six on April 15, and shared her big day with friends from across the borough. The youngster, of Scobell Street, Tottington, was diagnosed
MP DAVID Chaytor has praised Tony Blair's decision to call a referendum on a new European constitution. He said it was a high-risk strategy, but was confident that Britons will vote in favour once the matter is given a proper debate. "I'm a great fan
THE £43 million Sports Village plan to transform sporting, leisure and education facilities in Leigh has cleared its first major hurdle. At a three-and-a-half-hour special meeting to consider the scheme -- one of the most important planning applications
BUDDING artists are invited to submit work to a major exhibition in Preston later this year. Preston artist George Melling, 43, who created a masterpiece of playwright Noel Coward for a London theatre, will chair the judging panel at the event at Preston
MANAGERS who announced the closure of a Preston call centre met with union bosses yesterday (Wednesday) to discuss the decision. On Tuesday, financial services company Experian, which is part of the GUS group, revealed its London Road operation would
AN orbital bus route planned to start operating next year could be scrapped if campaigners get their way. Residents in the Fulwood Row area are against the £2 million route which would see 116 buses pass their homes daily from 5am-11pm. The plan is to
A MAN was due to appear in court today after a rooftop protest at Padiham Town Hall last night. John McBreen was arrested for causing a breach of the peace and was due before Burnley Magistrates' Court. A man spent two hours on the roof and police were
TOTTINGTON Private Nursery School has received a glowing report from the Government's education watchdogs. Ofsted inspectors said the nursery on Kirklees Street, Tottington, provides "good quality care for children" and offers "high quality pre-school
COMPUTER equipment, cash and files have been seized as part of a police probe into money laundering offences linking two solicitors and an accountant. The three were among five people arrested by officers on Wednesday morning at their homes and businesses
METROLINK travellers will soon have a new "stop". For a brand new Metrolink Visitors' Centre is being created at the new "One Piccadilly" office development at Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester and is scheduled to be completed by the autumn. The centre
BURY'S racial equality chief is supporting a new "language line" to allow non-English speakers to fight crime. Ms Monaza Luqman, director of Bury Racial Equality Council, teamed up with Granada TV presenter So Rahman to launch the new Crimestoppers' service
WAITING times for patients needing hip or knee replacements are set to to be slashed. More than 400 NHS patients in the area will have their operations more quickly after the NHS signed a deal with the Nuffield private hospital in Lancaster. It will be
LANCASTER'S Green Ayre skate park will feature on TV this Sunday - for all the wrong reasons. Angry locals will be seen complaining about noise and nuisance from the park on BBC-1's Politics Show. Residents have complained to the city council about noise
LANCASTER University will hold its biggest charity event of the year next weekend. Hundreds of local people are expected to raise thousands of pounds for charities as the university's volunteering unit rolls out a massive fun day. The centrepiece next
A SOAP opera set in Morecambe, a local version of Question Time and Shrimps games live could be beamed into front rooms across the globe. That's the £50 million dream of entrepreneur Clive Richardson as he works on a unique business plan to establish
SHAKERS will be aiming for only their second double of the season, after defeating the Gas 2-1 on their own ground back in mid-November, thanks to an Adam Barratt own goal and a Joe O'Neill strike. Definitely missing from the Bury line-up is central defender
A NEW portrait hangs in Bury Town Hall after council bosses agreed to extend a financial lifeline to Bury FC. As reported in the Bury Times, the council will continue as the Shakers' main sponsor for at least another year. It gives the club a £50,000
A DEPRESSED father-of-four who raided the home of his girlfriend's mother's has been given a community punishment. Burnley Crown Court heard that Stanley Gallagher, 29, was caught red-handed by his then partner Suzanne Radcliffe. The defendant was told
A LOCAL man has been arrested in Dover after drugs with a street value of £2.5 million were found on a lorry he was driving. Customs and Excise Officers swooped minutes after the 40-year-old, from Radcliffe, arrived at the port late on Wednesday. Seven
AN error strewn game brought the curtain down on the season before the biggest crowd of the campaign. Both sides were guilty of errors but Hoppers were the main culprits failing to exploit promising situations with dropped passes or wrong options. Fylde
A FORENSIC scientist told a court that a knife found in a back garden in Colne had DNA on it matching both a stab victim and the man accused of his murder. Hasan Mumtaz, 18, of North Street, Colne, denies murdering Sean Whyte, wounding Sean's aunt Agnes
HORSE riders in Trawden are campaigning for improvements to a bridleway which they claim is "unsafe and unpleasant". Trawden and Borders Bridleway Association claims its members have experienced numerous problems on the path, which is off Lumb Lane, in
EVELYN Glennie's is an amazing story. Profoundly deaf since the age of 12, she has gone on to become one of the world's leading percussionists in a field where few had attempted to play solo before. Not content to rest on her laurels, though, Evelyn is
ONE of Germany's most highly regarded orchestras is to give a concert in Preston's Emmanuel Parish Church. The Cologne New Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra is visiting the Brook Street church on April 21. The orchestra recently toured with violinist Nigel
WHEN her mum, dad and brother all died through fat related-illnesses Jacqueline Singleton knew she had to conquer her weight. Weighing 18 stones and wearing size 30 clothes, Jacqueline used to eat chocolate biscuits before breakfast and wasn't even able
A ROW has erupted over the upkeep of Great Harwood's new £150,000 skate park after the area council rejected suggestions it was responsible. The park was officially opened last week by Hyndburn's Mayor, during the Easter holidays. It has jumps for skateboards
RECENTLY, while in Fairfield Hospital, I was admitted to a ward of mixed gender, and although the nursing staff did their very best to maintain the dignity of the patients it was inevitable that some of the more confused patients would frequently be in
AS someone who cares about the environment and also about saving money, I installed a combi boiler and a water meter. Now I am wasting both energy and water by having to wash out tins and bottles for recycling. It is comforting to know our elected representatives
MR Aubrey Isaacson writes (Letters, April 9) as a solicitor, claiming that he foresees many personal injury claims caused by the "defective" black recycling boxes. Does this mean that "where there is muck there is brass"? On a more serious note, whilst
WITH the introduction of the additional waste containers and the now fortnightly collection of non-recyclable material, I thought it prudent to request a replacement grey bin as my existing one had been split by the refuse collectors. On phoning Bury
THE sales team at Bury-based Pennine Telecom have formed their own "fighting force" to wipe out competition. And the move by the Salford Street company, following a management buy-out last September, has seen sales rise dramatically. Seven of the team
HAVING followed the latest debacle by Bury Council regarding the future of the former Brand Centre in Whitefield I feel it is time some questions were asked. It would appear that the priority now is to kill time and drag the whole farce on until the elections
AUBREY Isaacson (Letters, April 9) suggests that the council may be legally responsible for any personal injuries associated with our new recycling scheme and the use of additional bins and boxes. I can only repeat what has been said before, that elderly
MRS Warner's statement (Letters, April 16) that "the council are not listening" about the redevelopment of Whitefield centre is difficult to reconcile with the facts. She knows, of course, that we listened to two packed public meetings, both of which
CHEMISTS on duty on Sunday, May 18, are: Moss Side Pharmacy, Dunkirk Lane, Leyland, 10am-2pm; Boots, Fishergate, 10.30am-4.30pm; Moss Chemists, Asda, Fulwood, 10.30am-4.30pm; The Pharmacy, Sainsburys, Deepdale, 10am-4pm, Boots Pharmacy, Deepdale Retail
I WISH to publicly thank Cllr Sheila Denwood on behalf of all the ex-servicemen and women of our fair city for her action in getting rid of a 'camp site' that was set up in the city's Garden of Remembrance, directly under Lancaster Town Hall. This site
I, LIKE many others, have spent the last three years either in opposition to or at best sceptical of plans for a regional assembly. However, I am now increasingly in favour because of the caustic stance of some MPs and county councillors to the proposed
STAFF and pupils at a school rocked by the death of one of its teachers have held a special assembly in her memory. Heather Schofield, a geography teacher at Moorland School in Clitheroe, died as a result of a diving accident on Easter Monday. The 26-
I HOPE no-one was taken in by the letter from Chris Davies MEP, mis-selling the EU Constitution (Citizen, April 8). Signing up to the EU Constitution would complete the emasculation of Britain which has been taking place, insidiously, since 1990. There
A CLITHEROE school is waiting to hear if it will be granted the funds to turn wasteland into a community garden. St James CE Primary School, in Greenacre Street, has applied for European and community grants worth around £10,000 to regenerate the area
IT USED to be that local people had a say in local planning and development matters - but things have changed dramatically in the last few weeks. It used to be that people were elected to local council chambers where plans submitted were examined and
A HOUSING association has been blasted by councillors after failing to let three houses it bought from the council four years ago. Now Ribble Valley Council has warned Manchester-based Space that it will go to court to seize back the properties unless
A BRIGHT yellow leaflet fluttered out of my Citizen last week. It advertised a healing meeting at an unfamiliar church and one of the testimonies upon it caught my eye. It claimed that someone who had suffered from dyslexia all her life was cured by a
DAVID Flaxington asked 'what is CND really up to' (Citizen, April 8). Allow me to inform him. For several decades CND has campaigned against the possession or use of nuclear and all other weapons of mass destruction. Our method has always been non-violent
THE Lancaster and Morecambe College / Morecambe FC Academy team, which is based at the college, needs a new playing kit for the 2004 / 05 season. Its current kit will be four seasons old by then and desperately needs replacing. Players of the calibre
MORECAMBE crowd favourite Dave Perkins has been impressing more than the fans with his performances this season - he's won the backing of England National Game manager Paul Fairclough. The left-sided defender has been named in the England squad for four
THERE weren't many happy faces after Lancaster City's final home game of the season on Saturday - a 0-1 defeat by Gainsborough Trinity. But earlier the Giant Axe was wreathed in smiles as three charities reaped the benefit of the Dolly Blues run in the
TWENTY-ONE teams of primary school aged children strutted their stuff at Lancaster City's Giant Axe ground over the Easter holidays, competing in the annual William Smith Football Festival. Organised by Lancaster City Council's leisure services division
GUTSY Lancaster City grabbed an unexpected point at high-flying Droylesden on Monday night - and it could have been more. The Dolly Blues worked hard for a point in what was anything but a boring 0-0 draw. And they had the chances to have taken all three
THE extra large lady in the evening gown is warming up in the wings after Morecambe failed to pick up maximum points on the South Coast on Sunday. She will be ready to warble at Christie Park this weekend whether it is win, lose or draw for The Shrimps
BUSINESSES which have been guided on how to build a "roadmap" to help them harness internet-based technologies reach their destination next week. For the latest in a series of meetings by BuryBusiness.NETwork will mark the final in a series of six seminars
A CAR rental company is expanding low-cost vehicle rental business in Bury. That's 4 Wheels has opened its third branch in the town, building on the success of its two existing outlets in Manchester and Oldham. The company has established its latest base
THINGS are certainly ticking over nicely for newly-located Ramsbottom company Clock Creative Communications. The award-wining graphic design and new media firm, based in Buchanan Street, celebrated its fifth birthday in style after winning £150,000 worth
STAN Ternent is certain that Burnley will be a first division side again next season. The Clarets have three games remaining to ensure their survival, starting with a home clash with fellow strugglers Derby County at Turf Moor tomorrow. They follow that
THE FAMILY of a young woman who dedicated her life to helping others is to carry on her legacy after her death. Brian and Susan Lynn, of Prestwich, lost their daughter, Victoria, at the age of 20 after being plagued with health problems from birth. They
PLENTY of hugs await TA soldier Tommy Houston when he returns to his Prestwich home this weekend after serving six months in Iraq . Mum Pauline Houston said: "I just can't wait to see him and hug him. I have been so worried because of the troubles over
STUART Law scored his second century in a week as he put Lancashire in control of their clash with Sussex. The Australian continued his prolific start to the season and finished unbeaten with 171 from 246 balls. It was his 68th first class century and
COLNE have sensationally sacked their professional Mark Cleary for breach of contract after just one game. The Aussie quick bowler had his contract ripped up after walking out on The Horsfield side to play for Leicestershire. The player was notified that
AFTER months of disruption and disturbance, Prestwich precinct is set to become a calm haven as the long-awaited new water feature is launched. The modern glass and granite structure has been named The Retreat, to reflect the ancient name of Prestwich
A WOMAN whose life has been touched by cancer is on track to raise cash in the Preston Race for Life next month. Janet Dalton, of Applefields, Leyland, will be taking part in the 5km fundraising effort for Cancer Research UK at Preston Sports Arena, Tom
Warren Peak and James Dean are out through injury. Dean was brought off at half-time in Great Harwood's 0-0 draw against Colne after straining ankle ligaments. However, Andy Taylor, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, could return after being
COLNE will finally get their reward for the gruelling schedule of games they have endured over the past month when they lift the championship trophy tomorrow. The North West Counties Division Two winners have played at a rate of more than a match every
BRENT Peters re-united the Rossendale valley with the North West Counties League Challenge Cup last night after a 10-year separation. He repeated the feat of 1994 when he was in charge of Rossendale United, as his current team Bacup Borough saw off Newcastle
BURNLEY has a history of hard work, which is reflected in its town emblem of a busy bee. It still carries what have been described as the "Scars of Industry" but most residents and visitors agree that its industrial archaeology is second to none. Queen
DURING the 1960s many towns had their hearts ripped out of them by planners intent upon making all settlements look the same. Fortunately, some towns turned back from the brink, with Blackburn and Darwen having the good sense to retain some of their character
PLENTY of hugs await TA soldier Tommy Houston when he returns home this weekend after serving six months in Iraq . Mum Pauline Houston said: "I just can't wait to see him and hug him. I have been so worried because of the troubles over there. He is relieved
THIS area is full of optimism at the moment. The beaches are starting to pass the European bathing water standards and Blackpool is set fair to become a major casino resort. There is a tendency to compare all the other Fylde resorts with Blackpool but
A NEW portrait hangs in Bury Town Hall after council bosses agreed to extend a financial lifeline to Bury FC. As reported in the Bury Times, the council will continue as the Shakers' main sponsor for at least another year. It gives the club a £50,000
CLOSE schoolfriends who suddenly found themselves on opposite sides of the globe were reunited after 50 years apart: by the power of television. Melvyn Evans and John Hutchinson were both pupils at East Ward infant and secondary schools in Bury in the
WHEN it comes to male grooming, Trimmers, offer that all-important personal touch. And owners and partners, Phil and Neil are filling a niche in the grooming business. "Although it's possible for men to undergo hair removal treatment at many of the Blackpool
FOR something a bit different, step into Blackpool's Clubwear 2000 UK, the hotspot for cool clothes. Boy bands, DJs, singers, strippers and even Covent Garden dancers frequent this alternative clothing specialist shop in Dickson Road, Blackpool, as well
YOU may never have heard of Gareth Parry of Simister. You may also never have heard of bouldering, a discipline of climbing. And that's perfectly excusable because it's not as popular a sport as football, cricket or rugby. Thirty-one-year-old Gareth has
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today warned it's still very much 'game on' in the battle to stay in the Premier League. Rovers go into tomorrow's match with Everton holding a five-point advantage over Leeds United, who currently occupy the third relegation
ASPIRING model Ellie Guadagno is hoping to make waves in the world of water-skiing after battling her way back from a double amputation. Ellie, of Warth Fold, Bury, is in training to compete for a place in the World Disabled Water-skiing Championships
RESIDENTS who stopped an amusement arcade opening at the M65 services have set their next target: juvenile nuisance. They have complained since the services opened about a path to Redvers Road, Darwen, where youths hang around day and evening and, it
PEOPLE have been banned from entering a house in Bacup that was being used as a 'drugs den', a court was told. Magistrates in Reedley adjourned a hearing to consider implementing East Lancashire's first closure order at a private rented address in Yorkshire
TWO quick-thinking neighbours have been nominated for a bravery award after they saved the lives of two children. Tim Justice and Andrew Lynch rescued a young brother and sister trapped in their burning home in Thorn Street, Rawtenstall, as firefighters
IT WILL be business as usual in Blackpool on Friday following Labour' s clear victory in the town' s first all-postal local election. More than half (50.43 per cent) of Blackpool' s electorate voted, returning Labour to power with 25 seats compared with
THE BNP grabbed a massive foothold in East Lancashire on a night when it became the official opposition in Burnley and won thousands of votes elsewhere. But MPs and political leaders today urged people to continue the fight against the far right after
A YOUNG man suffered serious head injuries after he was run over in Green Lane, Leigh, on Thursday at 6.50pm. The 24-year-old was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital where he is in the intensive care unit. The injured man and the driver, a 39-year-old
PRINCE: Musicology - HE'S renowned for tracks such as Purple Rain and When Doves Cry, and is a monumental force and influence in '80s popular culture. Prince has also always prided himself on introducing new sounds and genres to his music, and juxtaposing
* Denotes oxygen therapy service available. Blackpool: Boots*, 28-38 Bank Hey Street, 10.30am-4.30pm; Co-op Pharmacy (in Asda), Cherry Tree Road, Marton, 10am-4pm. Moss Chemist, Morrisons, Squires Gate Lane, 10am-4pm; Lloyds Pharmacy*, 110 Talbot Rd,
A NEW voice for Blackpool's residents is to be officially launched this week. The new Blackpool Residents Federation, an organisation uniting residents' groups across the town, holds its inaugural meeting on Friday. The deputy mayor of Blackpool, Cllr
A RADCLIFFE rector will take to the airwaves next week to present a show about the tenth anniversary of the South African elections. Rev Chich Hewitt, the area dean and team rector of Radcliffe, is a white South African, born in Johannesburg. He came
HE'S HELPED his team to the Superbowl, one of the world's great sporting events, but one of American Football's leading off-field lights has revealed that his road to fame started in Blackpool! Tony Softli is now director of personnel with the NFL's Carolina
A MENTALLY ill man died in a Blackpool street surrounded by people after taking an overdose of sleeping pills, an inquest heard last Thursday. Anthony Terence Horne, 36, of Central Drive, Blackpool, died on August 5 last year, slumped in the driver's
VOLUNTEERS are needed to help in the Hoghton Bottoms River Clean Up. For the 11th year running the Darwen River Initiative (DRI) will clear litter and debris from the River Darwen at Hoghton Bottoms tomorrow . The initiative to prevent pollution coming
A LOOK at the key stats and figures from the Worthington Cup victory over Spurs. ROVERS: BRAD FRIEDEL: Arise Sir Bradley of Blackburn! Deserves to be knighted after pulling off a string of top saves...10 MARTIN TAYLOR: Had his hands full against Ziege
THE family and friends of a young man in desperate need of a life-saving blood stem transplant are appealing to members of the Blackburn Asian community to help save his life. Zahier Kazmi, 23, from Bradford, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma three
BUSINESS leaders today claimed Rovers' magnificent triumph in the Worthington Cup would help to put Blackburn back on the international map. With victory at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium guaranteeing a place in European football next season, they said
THE chief executive of a housing company today apologised to a 77-year-old woman who has lived with a stench-ridden bathroom for weeks. Hilda Walmsley, of Swift Close, Larkhill, Blackburn, said the stomach-churning problem, caused by a leak from the flat
A 47-YEAR-OLD mother-of-three with a long history of depression killed herself by taking a massive overdose of prescribed medication. An inquest heard that Christine Wright had been a voluntary psychiatric in-patient at Queens Park Hospital, Blackburn
BLACKBURN goal-hero Andy Cole last night said he felt 'over the moon' after scoring the goal which clinched Rovers' first major Cup triumph in 74 years. Cole wrote his name in Ewood folklore after firing Rovers to a 2-1 win over Spurs in the Worthington
ONE of the greatest days of our lives - that was the verdict of Rovers fans as they left the Millennium Stadium with the widest smiles in Cardiff. Anthony Brine, 31, a teacher, of Mill Hill, Blackburn: said: "This is great for the town. "We're back in
BLACKBURN woke up today with a smile as wide as the Jack Walker stand after Graeme Souness's heroes put Rovers in wonderland. Thirty thousand ecstatic fans who made the journey to Cardiff and tens of thousands more back home began a giant party when the
AN emotional Graeme Souness last night hailed his Worthington Cup heroes - and backed them to win their fight for Premiership survival. Even though he has won every honour in the book in his illustrious career, Souness choked back the tears as he led
ANYONE who thought there was no future in 'Cole' in this part of Wales was not at the Millennium Stadium to see Andy Cole re-ignite Blackburn's flagging season. For the red-hot Rovers striker not only fired the goal to deliver his new club's first major
ACCRINGTON Stanley chairman Eric Whalley is adamant he will not let the club's ambition to regain their Football League status put them in financial jeopardy. Whalley has shown his commitment to the Reds' bid for promotion from the Nationwide Conference
FANS of grassroots football will be supporting David Cairns as he competes in the Greater Manchester Run next month. The 29-year-old was a keen player for Tottington United Football Club before he contracted Crohns disease early in 1997. Now David sits
I SEE from your letter page of April 8 that Mark Hamer has got it wrong "again". Joan Humble MP attended the meeting of Wyre Planning Committee at the Marine Hall, Fleetwood on April 5 which considered the application for a gas storage facility Over Wyre
PLEASE allow us once again to remind the responsible councils of Blackpool and Fylde that we, the public, are still waiting for the replacement of the tram shelter at Cleveleys. The old shelter was removed over three years ago when we were informed that
LYN Fenton and Pat Naylor, the local fundraisers for Marie Curie Cancer Care, would like to thank everyone who helped with the collections on their annual Daffodil Day in Blackpool, Bispham and Thornton Cleveleys. The collections which took place in the
THE proposal to move adult education from Broad Street to Haymarket Street is not destroying the service, as some correspondents suggest. In fact, the services will move from an old, unsuitable building, completely unacceptable to people with disabilities
IF the parking spaces for disabled drivers in the multi-storey car park at Mill Gate in Bury are full, are disabled people allowed to park in the Parent & Toddler spaces? I have every sympathy for disabled people but I recently had a disagreement
I WAS heartened to read that Nancy Steele (Letters, April 16) was willing to join "low paid" cleaners from Fairfield Hospital on the picket line. I have no doubt they have a justifiable grievance, and I wish them well, though being backed by their trade
I SEE that Councillor Roy Walker has again demonstrated his agility by jumping on yet another passing bandwagon: or should I say refuse collection truck. However, his claim that he would "restore weekly refuse collections" is unrealistic since he knows
BURY'S schools are to receive £9 million to pay for new classrooms and better facilities for children with autism and special needs. The sum includes £3 million which is going directly to schools for their own building and repairs projects. The investment
WE welcome a recycling programme, but it is evident that there are major problems. The main one is the black box; it is poorly designed and too small. Also, it needs to have a lid which will clamp on. Another problem is the bi-weekly collection of the
PROBLEM spots in Brandlesholme could be among the first zones in the country declared off-limits to nuisance teenagers. The measure is being considered following a major crackdown on anti-social behaviour in the district. The topic was raised at a meeting
HINDLEY Town FC is setting up a new youth section. They are looking for players who are in Year 4 and Year 7 at school. For further details e-mail brian@hindleytownfc.co.uk or ring 01942 522504 or 0795 125 6318.
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. DJ Phat Pat, Chicago Rock Cafe, Burnley, 9pm. Craft Club (age seven-16 years), The Mechanics, Manchester Road, Burnley. Victorian Industrial Landscape, The Weavers' Triangle
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Bacup Folk Club, Conservative Club, Bacup, 8pm. Rossendale Writers' meet the Weavers' Cottage, Bacup Road, Rawtenstall, 7.30pm. Second and fourth Monday of each month
From the Guide files of Friday, April 27, 1979: A FAMILIAR face at Whitefield post office was to disappear with the retirement of sub-postmaster, Mr John Wilkinson. Mr Wilkinson was appointed to the office on Bury New Road in 1957 where he worked alongside
PUPILS will be taking to the stage next week at Philips High School in Whitefield with their performance of Sweeney Todd. The tale of the demon barber of Fleet Street will run from Tuesday (April 27) until Thursday (April 29), starting at 7.30pm. Pupils
TODAY you can fly to Australia in less than 24 hours so it's hardly surprising that Burnley mother Julie Latham is upset that her birthday present took three weeks to arrive by post. It appears the package wasn't held up at an airport, railway station
HOW do you squeeze 80 performers on to a theatre stage? Audiences can find out tomorrow when Blackburn People's Choir And Jam Factory crowd the platform in Darwen's Library Theatre. With the two groups joining together for their first public collaboration
THE foot and mouth outbreak that swept the country three years ago may no longer be making headlines but its effects are still felt by the East Lancashire farming community - particularly in the Ribble Valley. Reporter DAVID HIGGERSON looks at how the
Manchester Association IT may well be the start of the 2004 season but BROOKSBOTTOMS still possess one of their annoying habits of last year - the inability to capitalise on a position of strength. Having asked Heath to bat first, the Summerseat outfit
HOLCOMBE Brook Sports Club have been voted the number one club in Lancashire by Tennis Lancashire. They have also been presented with a 'Best Practice Award' in recognition of its junior development programmes and facilities project. This Sunday (April
Bury District Rounders League DUE to the Easter Bank Holiday, there wasn't any action until last Tuesday evening. In Division Three, there were away wins for Limefield 185-122, against Tottington A, and for All Saints A over Kings XI. These two, along
ON SUNDAY, Island Lodge at Tottington was the venue for the Adcock Cup. The lodge, with a normal water level, returned to top form with four weights over the 6lb mark. Top weight fell to Dave Waggler, fishing peg 13 on the steps, with nine skimmers plus
YOU may never have heard of Gareth Parry of Simister. You may also never have heard of bouldering, a discipline of climbing. And that's perfectly excusable because it's not as popular a sport as football, cricket or rugby. Thirty-one-year-old Gareth has
PRESTWICH Cricket Club's title ambitions have been boosted -- before a ball has even been bowled. The Heys team play their first game of the Lancashire County League season on Saturday away at newcomers Flowery Field, strengthened by the return of Chris
DEWSBURY RAMS 8 SWINTON LIONS 35 National League Two WITH no bulls to lock horns with in this division, the Lions took on the Rams in their own backyard and gave them a few lessons in the subtle art of rugby league. "Our players were totally committed
I READ with interest the article on children copying the show Jackass. I am myself a teen and watch this show, as do a lot of my friends and I have never carried out scenes from this show because it is simply a bad idea. Though the things they do on the
POLICE arrested only five people on the day -- and praised Rovers and Spurs fans for their good nature. Three men from the Blackburn area were arrested after another man from Blackburn complained he was assaulted. A Blackburn man was taken into custody
BLACKBURN Rovers' Worthington Cup triumph was the first domestic soccer showpiece to be played indoors. Officials made the decision to close the Millennium Stadium's massive roof in Cardiff hours before the kick-off as rain set in. Both Rovers and Spurs
FORMER Rovers boss Roy Hodgson was delighted to see his old club lift the Cup - but remembered the man who paved the way for it all to happen. "Blackburn are so much in Jack Walker's debt," said Hodgson, remembering the Rovers benefactor who pumped millions
NILS-Eric Johansson admitted he may have made contact with Teddy Sheringham. Spurs protested loudly for a penalty in the dying minutes after Nissa's challenge on the Tottenham favourite. "My first reaction was that he dived," said Johansson. "I can't
SUSPENDED battler Garry Flitcroft watched the game from the stands but lifted the trophy along with captain-for-the-day Henning Berg. He was obviously delighted to see his team mates win the game against the odds without the suspended trio Tugay, Craig
IT was a fantastic homecoming for Welsh boss Mark Hughes who more than enjoyed clinching the Worthington Cup on his home turf. The veteran striker moved into midfield in the absence of the suspended Garry Flitcroft and Tugay and proved an absolute revelation
A BENEVOLENT Bury man's cash legacy will benefit sick babies at Fairfield General Hospital. For the hospital's special care baby unit has taken delivery of ten monitors worth a total of £6,500. The gifts were presented by former councillor Mrs Pam Walker
FANS of grassroots football will be supporting David Cairns as he competes in the Greater Manchester Run next month. The 29-year-old was a keen player for Tottington United Football Club before he contracted Crohns disease early in 1997. Now David sits
ROSSENDALE'S first ever Liberal Democrat councillor could find himself playing kingmaker after the 2003 elections left Rossendale a hung council. Along with independent Alan Neal, Lib Dem Philip Young could hand either the Tories or Labour control after
BURY Carnival is coming back with a bang. The town's premier annual event will be staged by Bury Lions club at the Mosses car park in Cecil Street on Sunday, June 6 between 11am and 4pm. It will be a welcome re-appearance for the carnival which did not
IF the far-right British National Party's ground-breaking three-seat victory in Burnley last year was a shock, then its grasp last night of six seats to become the second-largest party on the council can only be described as startling. But it is stark
BURY'S racial equality chief is supporting a new "language line" to allow non-English speakers to fight crime. Ms Monaza Luqman, director of Bury Racial Equality Council, teamed up with Granada TV presenter So Rahman to launch the new Crimestoppers' service
YOUNG children were forced to walk past obscene graffiti as they made their way to Bury's Salvation Army Citadel which had been targeted by vandals. The gable end of the building in the town's Brookshaw Street was scrawled with offensive words of a racist
A TEACHERS' union has called for anonymity for staff facing "malicious allegations" in the wake of the nine-year suspension of a Tottington schoolmaster. At its annual conference, the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today warned it's still very much 'game on' in the battle to stay in the Premier League. Rovers go into tomorrow's match with Everton holding a five-point advantage over Leeds United, who currently occupy the third relegation
IT'S often said in football circles that players tend to find it harder to shine in their second season than they did in their first. That would appear to apply in the case of Wayne Rooney, who's not exactly set the world alight at Everton during the
GRAEME Souness is ready to pin his faith in the 'odd couple' as Blackburn Rovers gear up for a frantic fight to the finish. A buoyant Souness believes he's struck upon a winning formula at the heart of his revamped defence in the shape of Lorenzo Amoruso's
FIREBUGS are being blamed for starting a blaze which extensively damaged the bedroom of an unoccupied house. Officers stopped the blaze from spreading at the house in Coniston Avenue, Whitefield, and used a high-powered fan to ventilate the building.
SLAM dunking pensioners and crown green bowls playing youngsters have come together to help transform a recreation ground which had fallen into disrepair. Smith's Rec, off Selbourne Street, Frenchwood, which had been used by vandals, drug dealers and
FIREBUGS are believed to have caused a blaze inside an empty semi-detached property in Glendevon Place, Whitefield. The outbreak gutted a downstairs bathroom and caused extensive damage to the remainder of the unused house. Arson is suspected. Fire crews
CELEBRITY stargazer Sir Patrick Moore and some of the world's top scientists will descend on the small village of Much Hoole this summer to observe a once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event. The transit of Venus, which takes place every 120 years, will
BLOOD donor sessions are to be held in Whitefield and Prestwich next month. The main hall at All Saints Church in Church Lane, Whitefield, will stage blood collecting sessions on Friday, May 14, between 1.30pm and 3.30pm, and between 5.30pm and 7.30pm
THREE adults were treated for smoke inhalation after a weekend bedroom blaze. The fire, involving a quantity of clothing, happened in the bedroom of a house in Standmore Road, Whitefield. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus put the burning material
CALL centre worker Genieve McDonald is hoping to make the right connection with judges as she bids to be Miss British Isles. The 21-year-old from Sefton Street, Whitefield is a finalist in the competition on Sunday after winning a regional heat in Manchester
A HOMELESS man who died after being found engulfed by flames in a park was due to be the first person to be offered a place in a new shelter planned for Preston. Paul Harte, 46, had agreed to the offer of help from world renowned homeless campaigner,
A SPECIAL "world cup" was held in Whitefield to help foster understanding between locals and asylum seekers. The tournament, held at Philips High School, was run through the Bobby Charlton Soccer Schools and Soccer Theme Park. Around 150 children from
RESIDENTS, the police and youth service locked horns this week over problems with young people on the Hillock estate in Whitefield. A group, mainly elderly residents claimed they had been harassed by local youths. One man claimed teenagers had thrown
ANOTHER great performance from the Greenbrook Methodist Operatic Society at Greenbrook Church has been enjoyed this week. The audiences have been treated to a great performance of Calamity Jane, if you have not seen the show you still have the chance
ELMS Bank High School is to receive £800,000 to build new classrooms and improve existing accommodation. Other local schools will also share in a £9 million cash boost from Bury Council. Specialist teaching accommodation for science is to be improved
BURNLEY fireman and SAS: Are You Tough Enough champion James Barrow impressed the town's mayor with a show of strength. James, known to friends as Jimmy, was accompanied by his family when he met councillor Lilian Clark in the Mayor's parlour at Burnley
BURNLEY MP Peter Pike has promised to continue his campaign for justice over the death of former paratrooper Christopher Alder. He has put down a Commons Motion calling for a full public inquiry following the horrific footage shown in the BBC programme
A TEACHERS' union has called for anonymity for staff facing "malicious allegations" in the wake of the nine-year suspension of a Tottington schoolmaster. At its annual conference, the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT
A TEENAGER was taken to hospital after plunging 20ft into the River Calder in Burnley. The boy, who is believed to be 15, broke his ankle when he fell from a bridge, rolled down an embankment and into the river near Berwick Drive, Stoneyholme. Fortunately
A FORMER Special Constable was injured in a glass attack while on a night out with two police officer friends, a jury heard. Burnley Crown Court was told how Paul Anderson was hit so hard the glass, or bottle, smashed on impact in the assault in Burnley
BURNLEY's run-down canalside area could benefit from £2million lottery cash. Burnley Council is to bid for the money to restore historic mill buildings alongside the canal for new uses. Development land would also be used to create a new leisure and employment
A MOTHER has slammed a town's postal system after having to wait three weeks for a birthday present from her son in Australia. Julie Latham, who celebrated her 49th birthday on Sunday, was expecting the gift from her son Karl to arrive just a week after
POLICE in riot gear raided a 'drugs den' in a Morecambe street after residents banded together and pressed for it to be shut down. Officers stormed into a flat on Kensington Road where they found a 'significant' quantity of used needles. They immediately
BIG-HEARTED Citizen readers rallied round to help a Morecambe war veteran head back to the battlefields of France for the first time since June 1944. The Citizen office has been inundated with calls from well-wishers wanting to help 80-year-old Jim Johnstone
A PENSIONER suffered an angina attack after he was mowed down by a cyclist as he walked to the shops. Robert Mitchell, 64, was making his way to Netto on Lancaster Road, Morecambe, when the thug zoomed along the pavement and slammed into him. Mr Mitchell
A NEW warning has been sounded about the deadly sands of Morecambe Bay after two groups of cockle pickers became stranded. Morecambe's RNLI lifeboat and hovercraft were launched and coastguard teams scrambled twice in three days when cocklers became trapped
SHAKERS Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 at Starkies Restaurant, Gigg Lane, commencing 7pm.
FOREVER Bury - the Bury FC supporters' trust - will be holding their annual Player of the Season Night at the club's Social Club, Gigg Lane on the evening of Tuesday, May 4. Doors open at 7.30pm.
SHAKERS club shop on Gigg Lane are currently selling off this season's replica kits for half price. Both home and away kits, in all sizes, will be available and can also be obtained on-line through the club's official website at www.buryfc.co.uk
ONE interested spectator at Saturday's match at Gigg Lane is expected to be former Oxford United manager Ian Atkins. Atkins, who was rumoured to be a target of former Shakers' chairman Albert Doweck earlier in the season, was suspended by U's chairman
IT'S three games to the end of a traumatic season, but there is still plenty to keep Graham Barrow's Shakers on their toes. With contracts to be played for, and the spectre of finishing in their worst ever league position still to occupy the mind, there's
A YOUNG dad who beat up the mother of his baby girl after a funeral has been told he will not be going to jail. Burnley magistrates asked for a pre-sentence report on Carl Harker, 33, after being told he was receiving psychiatric treatment. They told
BURY Carnival is coming back with a bang. The town's premier annual event will be staged by Bury Lions club at the Mosses car park in Cecil Street on Sunday, June 6 between 11am and 4pm. It will be a welcome re-appearance for the carnival which did not
PNE Women's FC continued their winning run in both cup and league matches, with three victories in twelve days. The Whites travelled to their closest league rivals Bolton, and came away with a 5-2 victory. They then travelled to Darwen where they had
RAIN caused the abandonment of all matches on the first day of the new Northern Premier League season on Saturday. But not before Leyland Motors grabbed eight points in their match against Kendal Motors secured a winning draw at Thurston Road before the
PRINCE: Musicology - HE'S renowned for tracks such as Purple Rain and When Doves Cry, and is a monumental force and influence in '80s popular culture. Prince has also always prided himself on introducing new sounds and genres to his music, and juxtaposing
ANGRY residents are protesting about proposals to demolish their homes in Colne and Brierfield. Last month it was announced that Pendle had been given £12million in Government funding under the Elevate housing renewal programme. Proposals on how to spend
Morecambe: 12.30pm -1.30pm Sunday - Cohen's Chemists, 99 Lancaster Road Morecambe. Lancaster: 6-7pm Sunday - J N Murray Ltd, 2 Broadway, Skerton, Lancaster. Carnforth: Mon, Tues Wed Thurs (except Bank Holiday). Forest Pharmacy - 24 Market Street, or Co-Op
NO flag flew over Darwen Municipal for St George's Day because it had been stolen. The Union Jack was last noticed flying from its new pole outside the market hall entrance as darkness fell on the Saturday night, having been hoisted to mark the Queen's
TODAY is St George's Day, but where is the beef of England? That is what a number of East Lancashire butchers wondered as they waited for their weekend allocation. Easter holidays had delayed deliveries and at times the joint seemed in jeopardy. A Great
WINNERS of three St George's Day competitions were presented with prizes during a street party in Accrington town centre. Accrington Young People's Library ran three contests to coincide with the celebrations. A design-a-dragon challenge for paintings
A 44-YEAR-OLD man found dead at his Accrington home had taken a lethal mix of heroin and alcohol, an inquest heard. Stephen Jefferson Ball returned to his home town in September after living in Ireland for about 12 years. But on his return, he quickly
AROUND 800 animals found new homes last year thanks to the East Lancashire branch of the RSPCA, figures out today have revealed. Of that total, 295 were dogs and 363 were cats, with the rest falling into a 'miscellaneous' category including everything
THREE pupils were arrested and reprimanded by the police after being found with cannabis at an Accrington school. The three are all boys at Mount Carmel RC School, Wordsworth Road. One student has been suspended and will only be allowed back in school
WAR has been declared on Hyndburn's rats amid fears the borough's rodent population is due to rise by a quarter in the next year. The prediction, in a Hyndburn Council report, came as the borough's top environmental officer said rubbish on streets and
SINCE rubbish is very much on the agenda, I wondered if anyone had seen a road sweeper lately? Our road is filthy and will soon be mistaken for a municipal dump. I got so sick of it that I went out and cleaned it myself, armed with a bin bag and a pair
IN theory I have no problem with this new recycling idea; however, my kitchen and garden now look more like a waste disposal site. It was our turn to have our regular black bin emptied and as we had had to wait two weeks we had one extra bin liner full
MUCH has been made of the alleged increased in staffing and new posts within the local authority, and questions have been raised about the number of employees and, unfairly, our failure so far to provide a definitive figure. Those with an insight into
WHEN local bargain hunters were told "everything must go" they took the phrase quite literally. Around 150 people queued up outside the Prestwich home of Colin and Valerie Jeffery to get their pick of antiques and artefacts. And the sale was so popular
THE Tree Council is inviting people to help celebrate its 30th birthday. The 'Walk in the Woods' festival, starts on May Bank Holiday weekend and continues throughout the month. The first event is on May 1 at Beacon Fell Country Park. The walk through
THE red brick Poulton College building is one of the finest in Morecambe, and its white tower topped by a ship weathervane is an essential landmark on the town's skyline. The building has played an important part in many people's lives and must be protected
LANCASHIRE County Council and the RSPB are warning people to "watch the birdie" in the Forest of Bowland to ensure its habitat. This time of year is crucial for ground-nesting wading birds such as lapwings, curlews, redshanks and snipe as nests and chicks
IF Burnley are going to get out of the mire sooner rather than later then they are going to have to start showing more desire. I was at Tuesday night's game against Wimbledon and, while the win was welcome, the lack of effort in certain areas was hugely
CLARETS midfielder Lenny Johnrose has his sights set on a win against Derby at Turf Moor tomorrow - the mathematics of it all can be forgotten. The deadline day signing says he will not allow the machinations of the first division table to trouble him
BUILDING a "brand" new image for the UK's largest distributor of construction products and materials. That was Prestwich-based design and corporate identity specialists Appleby Bowers which masterminded the re-branding project for Wolseley UK. The firm
PRESTWICH Carnival is set to be a right royal affair with this year's carnival queens in place and ready to go. The carnival royalty is an integral part of the day and the annual Court of Queens event always attracts a large crowd. The event gives the
DARWEN will try to kick-start their season with a league and cup double header at Birch Hall this weekend. Chris Bolton takes the wicketkeeping gloves as Graham Parkinson is on holiday for the Northern League home game with Blackpool tomorrow. On Sunday
RESIDENTS of Sherbourne Court in Prestwich can have their say on plans to discourage yobs from hanging about outside their homes. They are invited to the next meeting of Prestwich Area Board on Tuesday (April 27) when the subject will be discussed. In
JUST 12 years ago, Haris Herak fled with his family from their home in war-torn Sarajevo to the safety of the UK. And on Tuesday (April 20) he became one of the first people in the town to take part in a special ceremony to become a British citizen. Haris
HUSBAND and wife team Helen and Robert Pratten took a calculated risk when they ditched their professional careers for a future in the film industry. And it seems their gamble has paid off as they are currently enjoying rave reviews for their first feature
POLICE in South Ribble this week kick-started a crackdown on crime saying: "let's take this fight to the criminals". The hard-hitting words came from Superintendent of Southern Division, Steve Watson, at the launch of Operation Cyclone at Lancashire Constabulary
DAREDEVIL sports enthusiasts have given their backing for a new skate park in Leyland. About 63 fans of in-line roller blading, skateboarding and BMX biking completed a survey about the proposed plan for a permanent skate park in South Ribble. Supporters
I FIND it incredible that, despite warnings as early as 1996 of the dire effects of the loss of the Post Office's 350-gram monopoly, and its subsequent removal by the EU, we are still expected to believe that there is no connection between that and the
JIM McCluskie will finish his spell in charge of Rossendale United at Belper Town tomorrow. McCluskie, who led Dale to the NWCL championship in 200, took over as caretaker when Paul Lynch quit in January but won't continue beyond this season. He said:
CLITHEROE manager Lee Sculpher has admitted he's ready to play dirty if it means Clitheroe clinch the North West Counties First Division championship. The Blues player boss hopes the Newcastle Town players are exhausted after their involvement in last
OVER the next few years there seem likely to be major and exciting changes around the docks of Liverpool. These developments may well push forward its claims to become a City of Culture -- but for those who know Liverpool there is a strong case present
ALTHOUGH it has been used and misused over the centuries, the name Hyndburn suggests what it once was -- a stream where the deer roamed free. Accrington is the unofficial capital of Hyndburn and the river is now culverted beneath the largely Victorian
PENDLE Hill is almost -- but not quite -- a mountain and from its 1,831ft summit there are spectacular views. To the west, Blackpool Tower can often be seen but much closer is the rolling scenery of the Ribble Valley. From the eastern slopes rises Pendle
BURY'S schools are to receive £9 million to pay for new classrooms and better facilities for children with autism and special needs. The sum includes £3 million which is going directly to schools for their own building and repairs projects. The investment
WHATEVER the weather, many of the regulars at a cosy little Blackpool caf, choose to tuck in to satisfying, good old traditional English fare. Although partners, Ian and Ian (sic) have only owned the business in Cheapside for a couple of months, they
A FEMALE stylist who gets on very well with men and a male hairdresser who has a great rapport with the ladies make a great team. Jill Lawrence, 32, opened the gents' salon, Boys2Men, in Lord Street, Blackpool, about three years ago. "I chose to focus
BURY'S parks will share £4.1 million over the next two years in a bid to make the borough a brighter place to live. Three-quarters of the cash, as revealed earlier, comes from the Government after Bury was selected as one of three councils in the north
CONCERNS bubbled to the surface as plans for two commercial fisheries in Bury came up for debate in a packed school hall. About 80 people gathered at St Stephen's CE Primary School on Tuesday to hear proposals for new facilities at Whitehead Lodges in
BOOGIE on down to Blackpool's best-kept secret venue! Predominantly gay, particularly straight-friendly on some nights, Churchills Bar, in town-centre Topping Street, is open all day, every day. Here you can relax, chat, drink, dance, sing, eat good pub
BLACKPOOL'S newest independent gay venue, ConnXtions, is on the lookout for new talent. Following in the true tradition of the club motto "Dare to be Different", ConnXtions is launching a new comedy night in September. The series of comedy nights at the
ALAN Dean walked down the aisle with a beautiful bride recently. But he's still searching for his own soulmate. He was delighted to be a 'bridesman' at his best friend's wedding, but wearing a dress was unthinkable to straight-acting Alan Dean. Alan,
HORSE racing fans in Bury may soon have a racecourse on their doorstep. Plans have been unveiled for a £100 million course to be built on a 1,700 acre site at Salford Forest Park in Worsley and Boothstown. It would boast the first all weather racing track
GREENMOUNT kick-start their Bolton League season with a tough trip to Westhoughton. And it's a back-to-the-future look about the first eleven going into the new campaign. They welcome back wicketkeeper Paul Blinkhorn from Little Lever while there's a
