Archive

Me and my Girl at the Grand Theatre PRIME SUSPECT star Helen Mirren is on the silver screen at the Dukes this week in the movie Some Mother's Son. The year is 1981 and in the face of increasing paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland, the British Government

Hayes 2 Morecambe 3 ANOTHER nailbiting finish saw Morecambe scratch three points from Saturday's game (March 8) they should have easily won. Two nil up and coasting, the Shrimps looked destined to concede victory yet again when Hayes pulled one back and

A STRAY puppy from Cyprus has found a happy home with a new friend from Blackpool. The bedraggled eight-week-old puppy risked her life crossing a minefield to be petted by Royal Artillery soldiers, including Gunner Russell Walker of Blackpool. Acting

STOCKBROKER Hugh Eaves, Bury's financial saviour, is backing the Shakers to get into Division One but warns that he does not have unlimited funds. The Tottington-born millionaire has ploughed a small fortune into Gigg Lane to help keep it afloat and has

THE DOME at Morecambe will be transformed into a 'New Age' Mecca in April as experts from across the country attend a conference to discuss ways to help the ailing planet. An eminent parapsychologist, a pioneering environmentalist and an expert on the

ACCOUNTANTS Haworths are staging a seminar on retirement planning next week. The Accrington firm has joined forces with Manchester lawyers Kuit, Steinart & Levy to organise the event at the Foxfields Hotel, Langho, on March 18. Further details on

MINDLESS vandals are putting a new community centre project in jeopardy. Young tearaways wreaked havoc at the old St John Ambulance headquarters last weekend, smashing tiles and leaving the place strewn with beer cans. The building, off Slyne Road, is

IN A pre-election blow due to be delivered by a Tory-controlled Commons committee, John Major finds his flagship nursery vouchers education policy being seriously holed. For just as the scheme is set to go nationwide, the MPs say that, rather than expanding

TYLDESLEY brass banders should be forgiven for blowing their own trumpets! The Classic Racing Tyldesley Band have reached the final of the National Brass Band Championships after a wait of 40 years. Conducted by Darrol Barry, the band finished second

BURGLARS fled from a Cleveleys home recently with goods valued at £6,000. His haul included gold jewellery, household electrical equipment and camera equipment after striking the Rossall Road property at around 10am on February 18. A Canon camcorder,

RENTOKIL Initial, owners of the Shorrock security operation in Blackburn, reported pre-tax profits rose 48.2 per cent to £318 million in 1996. The £2.3 billion acquisition of BET in March more than doubled group turnover to £2.304 billion, a 167 per cent

GRASSHOPPERS' top-of-the-table clash with Worcester ended 13-13 - thanks to a dramatic last-gasp conversion from Steve Kerry. The fly-half had given Hoppers an early lead with a penalty, matched by Worcester for a 3-3 interval score. Then Worcester forged

A HEYSHAM rector prayed with members of his congregation for divine help - after a blaze in the church forced his evening service to be called off. The Rev Eric Lacey, of St Peter's Church in Heysham, was in Chorley as a guest preacher when the blaze

I DISAGREE strongly with G Pilkington's complaint (Letters, March 1) about post offices offering non-postal services. They give a great service, especially now with the closing of gas and electricity shops all over the place. Their friendly service is

LYING on the borders of Mexico and Guatemala and the shores of the warm Caribbean sea lies the tropical paradise of Belize. But why, more than 5,000 miles from rain-soaked Blighty, would you find young men parading in the football shirts of almost every

A CLOTHES shop to help hard-up families on a local housing estate has opened its doors and is appealing for much needed donations. Sudellside Community shop opened up for the first time last week after co-ordinator June Maynard realised something had

LECTURER Hubert Ward is seeing red! On Sunday Hubert, 42, a maths, physics and electronics lecturer at Warrington Collegiate Institute, had his hair dyed post box red for Red Nose Day. His wife, Ann, who changed his looks, said: "Hubert is a man who wouldn't

SWANS came out to celebrate a Spring spruce-up at Firs Park. And the Leigh park's User Group members joined them on a sunny Saturday to see the difference a winter of hard work has made to the park lake and surrounding area. A new footpath, tree and shrub

SHAMED mayor Peter Swainston today spoke of his deep regret over a seedy sex case but vowed to carry on as a town hall councillor. Bachelor Mr Swainston, 48, quit as Mayor of Burnley yesterday after pleading guilty at Preston Magistrates' Court to committing

A STAKE of just 60p on the Irish Lottery has scooped a lucky Great Harwood punter almost £11,000. The middle-aged local man, who wants to remain anonymous, is a regular customer at William Hill bookmakers in Queen Street, where he picked up his £10,836.25

DREAMS have come true for Darwen band Nightmare Visions - and they don't want to wake up. The heavy metal group have clinched a deal with German company Rowk, a subsidiary of the well-known record label Milestone Music. The five-year contract, which will

GRANT Aid applications are being invited by Wigan council's social services department. Applications for aid must be from voluntary and community groups whose work complements that of social services. This year's allocation of money will be made available

DETECTIVES investigating the murder of student Janet Murgatroyd have again appealed for help in catching her killer. Police have conducted door-to-door inquiries in Preston, looked at similar crimes nationwide and been on Crimewatch but the murderer is

CRIME fighters are being given spy-in-the-sky helping eyes. The council has attracted security camera funding of £65,565 for Atherton town centre, £36,850 for Golborne town centre and £65,340 for the Borsdane Avenue area of Hindley. Delighted deputy Council

Rovers 1 Nottm Forest 1 "IT was just like the Alamo" was the way relieved Nottingham Forest general manager Dave Bassett described Rovers' second half onslaught. Kevin Gallacher grabbed the goal that cancelled out Alf Inge Haaland's 18th minute strike

MARS Attack currently showing at Warner Brothers, Capitol Centre, Walton-le-Dale in Preston. MARS ATTACK is a typical, much-hyped, B-type movie which although funny in parts doesn't live up to expectations. I laughed at it not because it was funny but

WELL-MEANING strangers who have inundated the parents of Blackburn hostage Paul Wells with help offers have been told 'thanks but no thanks.' Paul's father Bob said: "People have called at our house offering to go and look for Paul, but we don't want

HALF a dozen local schools have opted out of the primary league. Schools in Atherton, Westleigh and Lowton refused to provide full information needed to record their position in national listings. And local education chiefs suggested the tables were far

WARRIORS U12s produced their best performance of the season to beat Wigan St Cuthberts 24-20. Tries from MoM John Cookson, top tackler Jonathan Edwards, Paul Lorenzen and James Cowburn 2. Lee Beattie added two conversions. Warriors U9s won 30-0 at Leigh

VIRUS victim Chris Sutton is fighting to be fit in time to lead Rovers firing line against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday. The stricken striker has missed the last two games with a mystery chest infection and is under medication in his battle against the

THE champagne will be flowing on Friday (March 14) when the Guild Hall in Preston hosts the Mayoral Charity Ball - that's if the Bolinger '45 is sold to a thirsty guest! Among the raffles, tombola, and other fund-raising activities at Friday's party will

PROTESTERS opposing the planned Broughton by-pass near Preston were delighted when councillors backed their fight - but the move might be illegal. Lancashire County Council plans would mean a dual carriageway being created to the east of Broughton linking

A TALE of tea but not much sympathy delighted audiences at the Playhouse Theatre last week. Set on a tea-growing estate in India, Ray Cooney and John Chapman's My Giddy Aunt was billed as a comedy thriller, but it was more comic than thrilling - and all

GANGSTERS, violence, fake designer gear and undercover operations - it's all in a day's work for the hardy staff of Lancashire's Trading Standards office. The Preston-based service will go under the spotlight for the Channel Four fly-on-the-wall documentary

GLAZEBURY CC, with sights set on the April launch of their first season in the new North West Counties League, is looking for new members. Junior and senior players are wanted as the club, runners-up in last summer's Cheshire Association, prepare to launch

SO Don Walker, Chairman, Lightshaw Labour Party, thinks our present MP Lawrence Cunliffe has served us well! (Mailbox, March 6) What evidence does he produce to support this - and if so, why did his party recently try to deselect him? The rest of us in

AN ADMIRABLE letter in the Citizen last week by Mr Marsden entitled Darwen's Great Wall. It demonstrates the strength of feeling some older Darweners have in their town and its traditions. However, what the letter fails to take account of is that times

A GROUND breaking pilot scheme aimed at encouraging people to get rid of harmful lead water pipes has had a lukewarm response from the public. Just 37 households in Blackburn and Darwen have accepted North West Water's quotation to have their lead pipes

DRINK-driver Steven White was sent to prison for five months after being told he was a danger to an entire town. Bury Magistrates heard that since 1991 he had been banned from driving three times and was the subject of disqualifications totalling 25 years

I LIVED in Tyldesley's 'Jig' and attended the Mission School (Journal Heart of our Heritage column), but any memories are very mixed. I recall, quite vividly, queueing-up for soup in the classroom during the 1926 strike in the land that our fathers fought

A WOMAN whose life has been rocked by cancer is hard at work training for a race she hopes will help save others from heartache. Marcia Steele lost her 65-year-old mother to breast cancer and her beloved daughter Christine also died aged just 31. Since

HUNDREDS of puzzled stargazers had a close encounter of a third kind - not with a space ship - but with a Peugeot dealer's garage! And the powerful stream of light surging into the atmosphere from Lythgoe Motors in Milnshaw Road, Accrington, was far stronger

RESIDENTS have lost their battle to stop developers building 124 houses on a historic site where Cromwell gathered his troops. Homeowners in Fulwood fought long and hard to save the land close to Eastway and Levensgarth Avenue which they say is not suitable

BURY North MP Alistair Burt was at the heart of the sensational plans to revolutionise the state pension scheme announced this week. Mr Burt was involved with fellow social security ministers in drawing up the radical shake-up, which wrong-footed the

MAY I take this opportunity to thank 'Voice of the People', whoever he/she may be, for their stance on the lack of public conveniences in Leigh town centre. ' Voice of the People's' comments (Journal Mailbox) are quite right - where are the predicted

POLICE across the area are warning pensioners to be on their guard against bogus officials and conning cowboys. Incidents in Blackburn and Huncoat have prompted police to send out another warning to elderly residents about callers preying on their vulnerable

A DISABLED man, paralysed from the neck down, claims he was left at risk after a care agency sent a teenage cleaner to look after him, instead of a trained carer. John Lloyd, 63, almost died in a brutal assault six years ago and now relies on three staff

LANCASHIRE LYNX kicked off their home league season in swashbuckling style - a thumping 50-18 win against Bramley. Simon Smith broke through Bramley's defence after just 10 minutesto signal the start of a fantastic match for the Lynx. Four minutes later

TONY PARKES has set his side the magical mark of 42 points to secure Premiership survival. And if in-form Kevin Gallacher (pictured) has anything to do with it Rovers will achieve their goal sooner rather than later. The caretaker-boss paid the diminutive

TONY Greenwood believes his side is still ahead of schedule - even if Accrington Stanley end up without a trophy in the cabinet this season. Stanley are already in the final of the LFA ATS Trophy and play Gainsborough over two legs in the semi-final of

COLLEAGUES and friends have paid tribute to a popular County Councillor who lost his battle against cancer last weekend aged just 48. Leyland man Dennis Golden, Chairman of Lancashire County Council's highways and transportation committee died on Saturday

A CONTROVERSIAL try at the end of a shortened semi-final at Vale of Lune ended the Grasshoppers' U9s 21-match, season-long unbeaten run. With Sam Chard and Garth Dew showing top form, efficient wins against Broughton Park, Durham City and Waterloo came

FIFTEEN staff have lost their jobs after a Blackburn car dealership and petrol station ceased trading. Directors of Devaspeed in Preston New Road, Feniscowles, took the decision "with deep regret" on Tuesday after failing to find the cash needed to keep

CONSULT Dennis Child, masseur and healer extraordinaire, and you'll be confronted by an eccentric middle-aged man in a room full of pyramids. The New Age therapist is a modern day healer who claims to use knowledge dating back thousands of years in an

FURIOUS council bosses have vowed to appeal after losing a landmark court case to the Government. They say the borough could lose £5 million and up to 90 jobs after being ordered to re-tender the lucrative refuse collection contract. A High Court judge

CANINE king of the road "Mad Max" is facing a life in the slow lane. Motorway police couldn't believe their eyes when they spotted the pint-sized Patterdale Terrier sitting contentedly on the petrol tank of John Ogden's high powered motorbike as the pair

A SIXTH-FORMER paraded as a shining example of independent education was revealed to have been taught at a comprehensive. The Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School pupil attacked Shadow Education Secretary Jack Straw over his commitment to abolish cash-assisted

SHOCKED workers were sent home in tears minutes after a Bury company announced it was to axe a quarter of its workforce. Bosses at polythene and paper bag manufacturers Bibby and Baron gave the order to virtually clear two closure-threatened departments

BLACKBURN Hawks come face to face with an old foe tonight as they embark on stage two of the national ice hockey play-offs. Hawks travel north to meet Whitley Warriors in the first of a six-match programme squeezed into just 10 days. And included in the

LEIGH'S Dean Purtill is Top of the Points in the Rugby League. His 26 goals added to six tries puts him ahead of Hull KR's Mike Fletcher, who tops the goalkickers on 35. Purtill has scored one try in each of Leigh's last eight matches, including all five

THE Alliance side at Leigh MR reached the Alliance Cup semi-final with a 23-14 win against Pilkington Recs. They began well, Neil McColloch cutting through 70 metres for the opening TD before Howard Newton and Ian Sanderson swept in, Jason Seddon adding

I AM appealing for help in locating the Thomas/Rogerson family and the whereabouts of Ian or Peter Rogerson, sons of Helen and Harold Rogerson, who were married in Blackburn on September 10, 1945. The Thomas family lived at 319 Preston Old Road, Feniscliffe

MICHAEL EVANS refused to accept the diagnosis. After three marathons, the 25-year-old draughtsman began suffering from knee problems. A specialist told him: "You won't run a marathon again." Now Michael, of Wardour Street, Atherton, is preparing for his

PRODUCTION at Burnley's Prestige factory will end on July 4, the remaining 100 workers have been told. GMU branch secretary Tom Fallows said the only remaining hope was the effort by Burnley Council to persuade new owners Meyers that there was a future

LEE for Leigh was the spark in a thumping Rugby Union 25-5 win against Sandbach. But a scrappy encounter provided Hand Lane spectators with few thrills. Chris Lee, linking from full-back, provided most of them, showing quick heels and quick hands. Leigh

LEIGH RMI boss Steve Waywell refused to be disheartened. Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by Bradford PA saw his side's chances of promotion take another alarming nose-dive. "I still fancy our chances," he said. "There is still time in the title race and there

THE champagne must stay on ice for Church Inn. A shock 2-1 home defeat against Leigh Victoria, Leigh & District Amateur Football League's most imporved club, leaves them still searching for one win to take that elusive Division Two title. Butchers

A DEBT advice service run by the St Helens Citizens Advice Bureau, is to be axed because of a lack of funding. In the last year, the service, which presently supplies a money advisor and clerical support, has fielded up to 73 clients and 900 enquiries

SHAUN BROWN is in line for a shock call-up as Leigh prepare to shoot down high-flyers Hunslet. Brown could be given the vital scrum-half role as Leigh travel to South Leeds Stadium aiming to put a halt to the Hawks' winning start to the season. Dogged

ATHERTON LR boss Steve Hartle was happy to weather Saturday's storm. His side were over-run in the opening 20 minutes by a rampant Whitley Bay - but they held out for a 1-1 draw. "We weathered the storm and at the end of the day we could have pinched

A FINANCIAL firm which described bad debtors as "thieving b******s" has been criticised by advertising watchdogs. Stirling Credit Management & Debt Recovery sent out a faxed advertisement detailing its services warning companies that by giving credit

ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD WHEN Denis Brown was a teenage bopper, the only way to get round the Sunday dancing laws was to head for the Liverpool Pier Head. Denis, of Gerrards Lane, Sutton Leach, is just one among countless St Helens lads who look back with

COUNCIL Leader Dave Watts accused the Government of 'cheating' the people of St Helens before moving a budget bringing in a council tax rise of 13%... the highestin the region. Even working on that figure, the council has still had to come up with certain

HAS the law the right to lock up an anorexic teenage girl and detain her in a clinic for treatment - by force if need be? It is a moot point in law. For unless the girl was declared deranged under the Mental Health Act - and the one detained by the landmark

A SCHOOL hockey team has been devastated after their equipment was stolen just hours after they competed in a tournament. Hundreds of pounds worth of hockey gear was taken by raiders who broke into the school bus after removing a panel from a garage door

BURY have come at the wrong end of a national schools league table, with the sixth worst classroom overcrowding in the country. Figures released this week by the National Union of Teachers show that nearly half the borough's primary school children are

HEALTH watchdogs are poised to seek a High Court injunction to prevent the East Lancashire Health Authority from starting a new drug abuse service. Community Health Council chiefs in Burnley have won support from local MPs and town councils in their challenge

HAT-TRICK hero . . . that's hard-hitting Kevin Dolder, who has again won the Liverpool Open Table Tennis championship following previous successes in 1994 and 1995. That first triumph gave 18-year-old student Kevin, of Kensington Avenue, Sutton, the additional

Walsall 19 Liverpool St Helens 29 THE LSH improvement continued at Walsall in a game of contrasting periods swinging from mediocrity to brilliance. LSH started well and scored after 10 minutes when a defensive kick by Walsall was fielded by winger Paul

ENTERPRISING pupils from Sutton Oak Primary School are going into business to help boost school funds. The hard-working pupils are launching a video lending library, as part of their own innovative business venture, called Sutton Oak Landscapes. Money

MAKERS of a Channel Four TV documentary on the history of education hope Ramsbottom people will help them make the grade. They want to talk to anyone who was a pupil of Sir Rhodes Boyson when he taught at the town's Peel Brow Secondary Modern School in

A SEASON of soaring success, in which Saints lifted the Challenge Cup and Super League Championship, ensured a bouyant mood when the club held its annual meeting of shareholders on Monday. While not quite euphoric, the packed audience was reminded by

POLICE are hunting a pervert - with 'screwed up eyes' who tried to entice a 10 year-old boy into his car by offering him money. The incident took place as the youngster was walking home from school at about 3.30pm on Wednesday, March 5. He was about to

LEIGH mum Barbara Priestman has received a BIG boost in her bid to give Russian orphans the holiday of a lifetime. Following a Journal story last week, Barbara received £500 towards her fund-raising and calls from two prospective host families. Now she

VISITORS from Palestine's West Bank and Gaza Strip were guests of Hindley Mornington High School. Four Palestinian study fellows spent five days on a pilot project to observe school and staff development and change in a project funded by their National

Salford City 0 St Helens Town 1 THE common denominator in both meetings between the two clubs this season was glorious sunshine. But although Saturday's encounter at Moor Lane lacked the sweltering temperatures of the season's opening day, Town were too

Keighley Cougars nil Saints 24 CHALLENGE Cup holders Saints stand just 80 minutes away from a second successive Wembley appearance following this highly professional performance at Cougar Park on Sunday. As in the previous round against another Division

WHEN Kevin Clough won a Child of Achievement award, his parents were proud - but he didn't know what all the fuss was about. Kevin, 16, of Parkstone Avenue, Thorton, devotes much of his spare time caring for muscular dystrophy sufferer Kevin Mooney, but

POLICE in Lancaster and Morecambe took part in a county-wide operation last week to track down criminals and stolen property Operation Quest led to the arrest of about 50 people in the area wanted by Police. About £20,000 of drugs were seized as well

POLICE in St Helens are investigating two incidents in which what appear to have been home-made bombs exploded in the Eccleston area. The first was reported on Wednesday, February 26 in the grounds of Eccleston Methodist Church in Burrows Lane when a

A HEYSHAM man was blasted into the air in an explosion on Monday morning after he used a blow torch to burst open a container storing dangerous gases. Albert Coultas, aged 49, was taken to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and treated for cuts to his head

THE story of Charlotte Bronte's visits to Gawthorpe Hall is told in a new exhibition at the Padiham museum. It is 150 years since the novelist's best-known work, Jane Eyre, was published, and the exhibition highlights one aspect of the fame which the

THE music festival which turns Colne into Mecca for rhythm and blues fans will also be a three day feast for devotees of fine beer. Plans unveiled for the latest Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival in August include a CAMRA Beer Festival at Pendle

TWO students from St Martin's College have fulfilled their all time dream by directing and producing their very first musical - Chess. Mark Edgington and Adam Friend who are both studying Performing Art degrees said they came up with the idea after listening

POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a 46-year-old Morecambe man was threatened at knife-point in the early hours of Monday morning. The attack took place by a cycle track on Out Moss Lane between 11.45pm Sunday and shortly after midnight. The victim

SHOPS next to the site of Morecambe's old market are being forced to close following a dramatic drop in trade. A baker and a butcher in Poulton Road have shut up shop after the town's market was relocated to Central Drive. Edward Nightingale, owner of

A BOARDED-up pub in Accrington town centre is to reopen as a nightclub after a £150,000 refurbishment. And it aims to appeal to a better class of customer with a membership card scheme to discourage "undesirables" and a smart, but casual dress code. Plans

A MORECAMBE granny has struck it rich on the lottery - only a matter of days after a Lancaster couple did exactly the same. Lucky Marion Currey scooped £34,900 on Saturday night's draw after matching up five numbers plus the bonus ball. Marion, 66, was

EXCEPTIONALLY good teaching and the well-behaved, hard-working pupils at an Accrington high school have been praised by a team of inspectors. Head teacher AlasdairCoates at St Christopher's said the results of their recent OFSTED report had given the

BRENTFORD away promises to be Burnley's toughest game of the season. But all is not well with the division-two leaders. Manager David Webb has tendered his resignation despite the fact that his team has lost just five games this season and look to be

TO say the Morecambe Warblers have an admiring and dedicated throng of followers has got to be something of an understatement. They are well known throughout the region for their talented off-spring such as Dame Thora Hird. This year marks their Centenary

CLEAN air campaigners are calling for concerted efforts to block Castle Cement's latest attempts to vary the waste products it uses to make fuel. They say the planned changes could have a serious impact on fumes from the Clitheroe-based plant into the

SMALL change can make a big difference - that's the message for this year's Red Nose Day which promises to be bigger and better than ever. There are dozens of local events taking place around the district and this year's theme for the fun-packed day is

ARNSIDE brothers Wayne and Neill Sisson will be taking part in this weekend's opening round of the British Rally Championship, the Vauxhall Rally of Wales. It is the second year the brothers have entered the rally and start the season as Junior Champions

VICKI OYSTON, whose husband is serving six years for rape, met the Home Secretary this week. The wife of Lancaster millionaire Owen Oyston was in the House of Commons as a member of a group lobbying MPs for a change in the new rape law. Vicki travelled

THE number of families in and around Morecambe with no breadwinner has soared to 5,500 according to new figures. Morecambe and Lunesdale Labour Party claim 27 per cent of local households of working age have no one in employment - a far higher figure

FIRST-NIGHT nerves at the Hot Ice Show's diamond jubilee year will not only be felt by the performers. Wardrobe manager Sue Nutbeam is also making her debut and will be anxiously waiting to see if her costumes are a success. Not only is 1997 Sue's first

Lancaster city 0 Boston United 1 BOSTON are becoming something of a bogey team for Lancaster. Despite matching their Lincolnshire opponents they never seem to get a result. In twenty clashes against Boston, City have lost 13 and it was a rocket of a shot

GLAMOROUS grandma Irene Green of Thornton has touched our hearts at the Citizen with her warmth and kindness. So much so, she was voted the winner of our Mum in a Million competition for her unfaltering love and dedication to grandchildren Leanne, 11,

Bury 2 Shrewsbury Town 0 TWO goals in thirteen minutes were enough to rekindle automatic promotion hopes, but it remains to be seen whether the Shakers have reawakened interest amongst the town's floating fans. There wasn't just a shortage of fire-power

CARNFORTH emerged victors in a topsy-turvy game (Saturday March 8) against visitors Silloth. The home team started the stronger with persistent forward pressure enabling scrum-half Jones to score a try. From the restart creative back play won Carnforth

SEASIDERS fan Terence Westhead is getting the chance to don the first team strip this April for one of the sporting events of the season. But the 33-year-old British Aerospace worker will be pounding the London streets rather than the Bloomfield turf.

YORK'S hopes of escaping relegation shone brightly in the sun at Bootham Crescent on Saturday (March 8). But Blackpool FC's hopes of a play-off place became dimmer as the Seasiders slipped to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Minstermen. The Seasiders

A TEAM of Korean businessmen visited East Lancashire as part of a major mission to the UK. The five industrialists toured the Lucas Varity site in Accrington and the Polygram compact disc plant, Blackburn, during the visit, organised by the DTI and INWARD

GOVERNMENT ministers are set to ignore council opposition to a prison at Middleton - despite a massive demonstration against the plans. Home Office minister Ann Widdecombe said on Tuesday she would be appealing against the council's overwhelming decision

TRANSPORT bosses are forging ahead with their plans for better bus links in Leigh. Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority have released £300,000 to continue the development of Leigh's busway transit proposals. The scheme will provide special

DUE to popular demand, it's going to be even bigger and better than planned. Hordes of you wanted to book stalls at the World of Coronation Street's big street market in aid of Derian House Children's Hospice at Chorley, but unfortunately all the spaces

THE Penwortham St Mary's Amateur Dramatic Society closes its 40th season with Three Men, a passion play written by founder member Betty Haworth. The story centres on a trio of men whose lives are radically changed by the events of Good Friday. Members

A PLANT and hire firm from Leigh run by two brothers has won a national award. Astley Hire Limited, whose office is on the Moss Industrial Estate in Sandy Lane, Leigh, has been judged Hire Company of the Year for 1996 in the prestigious contest which

IT'S something of a conundrum and a bit of a sticky situation considering they're supposed to be good with letters. A Preston Scrabble club is stuck for words. They don't have a name. Players at a new club at the Bridge Centre in Eldon Street are struggling

QUATERBACKS and quarter pounders are replacing full backs and Bovril at Darwen Football Club's Anchor Ground. Penalty areas are being swapped for touchdown zones as American football fever sweeps through the town. As of April, the ground is the new home

PRESTON firefighter Rick Matthews reached new heights when he tried out the county's new aerial ladder platforms. The new appliance based at Preston cost £350,000 and is built to last 15 years. Four firefighters can work from a height of more than 100

PRESTON Labour MP Audrey Wise has revealed some Preston residents are paying more council tax than millionaires living in mansions in Mayfair. She says Government grants to Westminster Council mean thousands of residents who live in houses worth at least

PEOPLE power could stop plans to bulldoze homes in Burnley. Residents in the Rectory Road area packed the public gallery at Burnley Town Hall last night for a housing meeting and told councillors: "We want to stay." They are protesting about a plan to

SACKED lecturer Pat Walsh has been boosted by the news that he is to remain branch secretary for union NATFHE. The history lecturer is preparing to take his former Accrington and Rossendale College bosses to an industrial tribunal, claiming unfair dismissal

STRICKEN sword champ Neil Ross has been backed to the hilt by the might of the British Army. Britain's top wheelchair sabre swordsman had his dreams of Euro gold shattered when thieves grabbed all his fencing gear in a raid on his Tyldesley home. Special

TWO former classmates have been reunited 15 years on thanks to the Preston Citizen - they have both started working for your favourite weekly newspaper! Reporter Nicola Jolly, and sales executive Samantha Whalley, both 24, drifted apart after being friends

KURT NOGAN ended his two year Turf Moor career today and admitted: "I hope Burnley get promoted." Nogan joined red rose rivals Preston North End in a cut-price £175,000 deal earlier today, writes TONY DEWHURST And he said: "The last few months have proved

LOCAL Police Specials are going high-tech! A new computer-based training package developed by Greater Manchester Police is being introduced to further develop the quality of training given to Special Constables. Now basic legal knowledge and policing

I WOULD like to point out to Citizen Smith that calling people vagrants is against the law. As an ex-beggar who found it hard to get back on his feet, I am sick and tired of people calling beggars various names. It would be much more worthwhile if the

BLACKBURN Hawks start a hectic two-week play-off programme tonight with a trip to Whitley Warriors warning they could be the surprise package. The Hawks play three times in the next four days to determine which side will face the champions of the Southern

QUESTION:What does the controversial bronze statue on Blackburn's boulevard have in common with Iraq's evil dictator Saddam Hussein, and the late Sir Matt Busby? ANSWER: Mick Major! For the 64-year-old art foundry worker from Hampshire has worked on the

I REFER to the Wainhomes spokesperson's comment in last week's Journal, about the vandalism to their site office on the Wesley Guild. He passed off the incident as "children being children", neatly skirting round the issue of how controversial the proposed

IN RESPONSE to the letter about Blackburn Council's new tenancy agreements (March 6), no one in the past has been evicted from their home without a great deal of discussion between the tenant and the council. Tenants have always been given the opportunity

BLACKBURN businessman Frank Kay is feeling the force of Hollywood's spending power after securing a lucrative deal to supply guns for a new Star Wars movie. The 43-year-old, who runs a gun shop on King Street, Blackburn, has made a fast buck from a film

RESIDENTS in Cottam are furious over plans to build a supermarket the size of a football pitch on their doorstep. Instead of the small shops and health centre that were originally intended for the Preston housing estate, a complex one and a half times

NO birthday is complete without a party at Jungle Jim's indoor adventure play area in Blackpool Tower. Now Jungle Jim's parties are even wilder! Jungle Jim is coming live to Blackpool Tower and will be there to meet all the children who have a birthday

HOPES were high after the midweek win over Lancaster City that Bamber Bridge could climb further out of trouble. But Brig's drive to safety was stalled by a dogged performance from bottom-placed Buxton, the Derbyshire side scrapping every inch of the

A CITIZEN reader is urging council bosses to bring a bit of history back to Blackburn Boulevard. John Johnston was walking in King George's playing fields, at Pleasington, when he spotted the old drinking fountain which once stood at Salford Bridge, near

BATTLING neighbours are being urged to fight it out face to face - armed with only words. Housing associations have joined forces to set up Lancashire's first mediation service aimed at resolving disputes peacefully between residents. Volunteer mediators

PLANS to demolish three multi-storey blocks of flats in Mill Hill and refurbish Larkhill flats are still being pursued by Blackburn Council. Despite the governments's failure to offer financial support, the council intends to knock down Livesey, Griffin

AN eleven-year-old boy has missed five weeks of school - because he had his ear pierced. Special needs pupil Paul Cowley, of Dove Drive, Bury, was told not to return to St Gabriel's RC School, unless he took his earring out. The school, which has different

COUNCILLOR Michael Barrett (Letters, March 6) says I should be congratulating councillors on their running of Blackburn. What a nerve! This is a council which hounded Tommy Ball out of town for opening his store on Sundays, took high court action to prevent

IAN BRYSON sent Preston hopes sky high at the weekend. His golden goal, 11 minutes from time, broke deadlock - and broke Brentford's stubborn resistance. This proved to be one of the season's most inspiring performances by North End. Preston supporters

BOLTON Road Sports Club has denied double crossing the community which supported it in its fight for survival. Residents claim the club has left them in the lurch since it was offered brand new facilities in Ainsworth in exchange for leaving the Bolton

THE Minister who has helped Frances and Thomas Mayor come to terms with the death of their beloved daughter-in-law Gwen, says the horrors of Dunblane should never be allowed to be forgotten. As the nation joined together to mourn the first anniversary

I hear that America is thinking of putting together a team of cricketers to compete against the world. I hope their team is based inside Disneyland. That way, if our national side played them on their present form, we could always say it isn't the first

GOOD services provided at a pittance - that's the verdict of council leaders on new national performance leagues. Division tables show that Bury is near the bottom for funding, yet outscores other local authorities in key areas. Bosses say this again

BAMBER Bridge's hopes of staying in the Unibond Premier League received a huge boost with this great result at close neighbours and arch-rivals Chorley. The 3-1 win at Victory Park moved Brig one step nearer to league survival. Playing a high tempo passing

ANGRY Citizen readers have flooded our new Talkback phone line, demanding a longer prison sentence for a drug-crazed kidnapper who terrorised a young mum and her baby. They are backing Darwen MP Janet Anderson's pledge to take up the matter with the Attorney

LABOUR leaders have "gagged" Bury's housing chief from telling tenants their days with the council are numbered. The claim was made by housing committee member Sam Cohen after the ruling group virtually ignored the most important housing report for many

WHERE Pigeons are concerned, where do you stand, are you a friend or foe? Pesky pigeons are at the top of Blackburn Council's pecking order. And the latest idea to control their numbers is none other than a version of the contraceptive pill. Citizen Reporter

A BURY couple are living in a hostel for the homeless and surviving on £50 a week after making a mercy dash from Australia to care for their badly injured son. Each day, caring parents Gerry and Sylvia Howard say they must choose whether to eat or visit

A SUPER-FIT former East Lancashire man collapsed and died while playing basketball in America. Gentle giant Jason Jacobs, 30, suffered a heart attack and died on the court during a game in a gym near his home in Aberdeen, North Carolina. Stunned colleagues

A HIGH-TECH link-up across Europe marked the launch of a £120,000 information technology centre at a Burnley high school. Pupils at Ivy Bank linked up with students in Finland and Berkshire via a video conference link set up as part of the computer resource

GREATER Manchester's Deputy Chief Constable John Stalker ended his 28-year police career 'with a clear conscience.' He resigned a year after being reinstated following an investigation into accusations that he had been associated with criminals and misused

MIKE PYKE is going for gold in Oklahoma. The Hindsford sports ace is now physically and mentally prepared for the United States National Weightlifting contest later this month. He began weightlifting only 18 months ago. But already he has a silver from

POLICE tracked down and arrested a total of 16 wanted criminals in the Accrington area during a two-day police swoop. Among them were 13 burglary suspects, Hyndburn Police and Community Forum was told. But Hyndburn JP Roy Gaskell wanted to know why some

A QUARTET of Tyldesley SC water polo players have been selected for the England Junior Squad. Paul Cowburn, Michael Cowburn, Philip Stout and Jonathan Stafford travel to Bath this weekend to train with the squad. They will be preparing for the Home Nations

A PARTY boss today demanded the resignation of shamed mayor Peter Swainston from Burnley Council for "obnoxious" conduct. Liberal Democrat chief Gordon Birtwistle said the former civic leader had betrayed the trust of the people and should not show his

A BRAVE mum has battled against the pain barrier to earn a degree with the Open University. Joan Bryant (52) from Sutton Heath, suffers from a spinal condition, as a result of tranquilliser withdrawal, which means she is constantly in pain and unable

LECTURERS at Nelson and Colne College are striking today (Thursday) over jobs cuts they say will have a disastrous impact. The one-day walk out and picket follows massive support for action. Branch members of the lecturers' union NATFHE had urged and

'ADULT' shows and alcohol will not be getting any more encores at the Theatre Royal. But members of the St Helens Theatre Royal Trust have moved to dispel fears that the imminent takeover of the tenancy by Independent Methodists will result in the theatre

HEALTH officials have today assured residents in Clayton-le-Moors that a long-established health centre will not close. But a spokesperson for CommuniCare NHS Trust has admitted that Clayton Clinic could be relocated. The Trust is said to be in the early

POLICE are hunting a conman who tricked his way into a pensioner's home and stole a wallet containing £2,500. The 76-year-old wheelchair-bound victim had just arrived back from a stroke rehabilitation class at the Age Concern headquarters in the Mansion

BLACKBURN Rovers chairman Robert Coar strongly denied reports today that Graeme Le Saux was poised to join Premiership rivals Arsenal for £4 million. The England full back is believed to have held talks with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger in Hertfordshire

ST HELENS has been highlighted as providing some of the best public services. Government statistics show that the council provide first-class services across a wide range. As well as outperforming its Merseyside counterparts in many areas, it also beat

A PROFOUNDLY deaf man has beaten all the odds to achieve his dream of reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak. Father-of-two, Shaun Hamblett (33) is a member of the St Helens Deaf Society and the Deaf Mountaineer Club. He was previously

IT'S a long way from driving a battered VW Beetle and £300 in the bank to having a £4.5 million turnover.... but that was just one of the local success stories in the spotlight at a special business conference, led by Business Link Division of the new-style

ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD KATHY Hughes still chuckles about the crowded 'penny dip' sessions once held at Boundary Road Baths. And, in particular, about the comically ill-fitting bathing costumes that the young lasses were provided with. Picking up on 86-year-old

ARE there any proud parents with babies aged up to 18 months who would like to enter into Boots Baby of the Year Competition and help fund vital medical research at the same time? This year, the competition is raising money for the national charity, Tommy's

RADCLIFFE film director Danny Boyle has scooped a major award for his controversial film, "Trainspotting". Danny, whose father still lives in the town, was named Best British Director in the Empire Awards last week, voted for by readers of the nation's

IT is a fact that many of us are living much longer and healthier lives than our ancestors did. But unfortunately, as the proportion of us living to ripe old ages increases, so does the problem of long-term care. Through my own experiences I must say

TORPEDO boat seamen who died for Britain's freedom in the last war are finally to be remembered. A special memorial will be erected in the heart of Bury at Whitehead Gardens, next to the Fusiliers monument. Councillors have given their approval following

COUNCIL bosses in Hyndburn are being encouraged to get to work and to business meetings by bike in a go-green initiative. The idea has won the backing of county hall and a series of special events is planned for this summer. Lancashire County Council

BRITISH boxing champion Ady Lewis will defend his title in his home town. Bury Council have agreed the 21-year-old can defend his British Flyweight title against Liverpudlian Peter Culshaw at Castle Leisure Centre in May. But they have still to formally

ONE battle in the war to balance the books has been won by local health chiefs. Bury and Rochdale Health Authority have put the brakes on their plunge into the red by making £680,000 of savings. Last November they announced there would be a £2.85 million

PLANS for the installation of crime-beating closed circuit television cameras in Radcliffe town centre have taken a giant step forward. Yesterday the Home Office announced funding of £20,000 for the ambitious project, which involves total capital of £50,000

SUPER League champions Saints launch their defence of the title with a daunting trip to London Broncos on Sunday, kick-off 6.35pm. The intriguing clash will be played on the Harlequins ground at The Stoop, where Saints made their only appearance in 1995

MEMBERS of a project which aims to help the town's homeless are hoping to turn rags into riches when they take to the catwalk next month. St Helens Accommodation Project (SHAP) aims to raise £1,000 from a combined nearly new-fashion show and clothes sale

A LEADING amateur Rugby League squad are making a historic move. Thatto Heath are moving in with Rugby Union neighbours West Park. And they will play their first game at the Red Rocks venue this Saturday (March 15). It's one of the first cross-code sharing

POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a teenage girl claimed she was sexually assaulted on Bosworth Field over the weekend. The 14-year old girl was walking home at about 10pm on Saturday, March 8 when she was grabbed from behind by a man who pinned

ST HELENS Council is celebrating news that its bid to carry out £90,000 worth of new safety schemes, involving close circuit television, has been approved beating hundreds of other contenders. The Home Office money will be used to put CCTV in four new

FOUR Thornton family members are performing together in a special concert in memory of a beloved relative. Brass 'n' Swing will see the Thornton Cleveleys Band and Sixteen Men Swinging raise the roof of Fleetwood's Marine Hall in aid of Trinity Hospice

AROUND an old oaken table a sombre group gather for the reading of the will; the hushed silence is broken only by the tired defiance of a creaking chair and the shuffling of papers on a uncluttered surface, writes DAVID HODGKINSON. Finally, a sullen-faced

A CONFIDENTIAL report on Sutton Manor School has led to the suspension of its headmaster. The school, on Forest Road, is now the subject of a formal investigation following criticism about standards at the school and concern over management from OFSTED

SAINTS were on a hiding to nothing at Keighley, but sheer professionalism told its tale in a comprehensive victory. That was the opinion of Shaun McRae as his team marched into the Cup semi-finals. WHITTLE: As of right supporters are entitled to a grouse

ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD CAN anyone shed some light on an ancient, inscribed block of sandstone standing close to the much-vandalised duck pond in Victoria Park, St Helens? The request comes from Harry Carter of Dentons Green who spotted the unusual monumental

SARAH Wheatcroft (Letters, February 27) has got some of her facts wrong about Third World debts to rich nations. The sum of £800 billion is owed to all the western banks, including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and Japanese banks. Britain

THE biggest sporting fixture of next week is the Spalding Cup semi-final clash between Morecambe and conference leaders Macclesfield Town. Sammy McIlroy's side are evens to lift the title this season and Morecambe will be hoping they can make the most

ONLY one man stood up in favour of the prison. Controversial Councillor Charles Grattan. The Skerton ward councillor was not afraid to put his neck on the line and said he was a realist. He said: "We have an opportunity to put £30 million into the economy

A TEENAGE choir from Canada will visit Pendle next week to sing and make new friends on an exchange visit. Thirty boys and girls aged 14 to 18 from Collingwood School, Vancouver, will spend four days of their two-week UK tour with families of children

MAJOR rebuilding work has started at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary. Over the next 12 months workmen will be developing a number of sites to take the hospital into the 21st century. The first phase of the ambitous plans will see the current accident and

FLOYD the albino ferret was back with the youngsters of Pendle Martial Arts Club this week after his brief flight from home. Owner Ray Stokes, who founded the club, travelled to the RSPCA offices in Preston to pick up his prized pet after Floyd went missing

PUBLIC health workers in Pendle say they intend to take a close look at an investigation into the outbreak of E.coli 0157 food poisoning in Scotland. The outbreak co-incided with two cases reported in Pendle, and led to a team of local experts being gathered

ANOTHER jobs blow hit Burnley this week as Tenneco-Walker (UK) announced 69 redundancies - a quarter of its workforce. The car exhaust manufacturer, which has been in Burnley for 26 years, is restructuring its European operations and is transferring all

MORECAMBE'S summer season is set to be the best ever with a packed programme of festivals and events. The highlights include a soul music spectacular starring Jimmy Ruffin and Odyssey and a stunning firework display launched from a Norwegian ferry for

THE mystery Premiership bidders for Paul Smith are poised to increase their offer before transfer deadline day, writes TONY DEWHURST. The identity of the club is still shrouded in secrecy but they have already tabled a whacking offer of £500,000 for the

A CITIZEN report on canal-bank thugs has prompted a campaign to stop the waterway turning into a no-go area. In January we revealed how people were becoming too scared to venture on to the towpath in parts of Burnley and Pendle because of gangs of stone-throwing

LOCAL protestors stood firm against the Prison Service in a demonstration outside Morecambe Town Hall. Members of the MAGPIE (Middleton Action Group Against Prisoners in our Environment) packed into the planning committee and cheered when councillors

Lancaster city 2 Witton Albion 1 LANCASTER boss Gordon Raynor called on the Blues to "stand up and be counted" before this six-point, relegation showdown at the Giant Axe on Tuesday night (March 11). With an eye on the transfer deadline of March 31, Raynor

CAT owners in Halton have been warned to keep an eye on their feline friends after the deaths of two cats in suspicious circumstances. Gillian Goodger of Sykelands Avenue has sounded the warning after four of her moggies went missing. One of the missing

POLICEMAN Andy Duncan has this week swopped his handcuffs for handlebars to cycle 400 miles under the sweltering Egyptian sun for charity. Andy, 38, can normally be seen on patrol on Lancashire's motorways, but this week he is on a sponsored bike ride

A SPATE of thefts has spoilt the Mother's Day celebrations of a number of local families. Residents in and around Princes Avenue woke up on Sunday morning to find their gardens dug up and flowers uprooted. Thieves had moved in during the cover of night

PARTY-LOVING people are needed to help make this year's Cleveleys Jubilee Day the event of the summer. The committee running the day is looking for people to come up with ideas for what promises to be the biggest and best Jubilee Day yet. Vintage and

A GREEN business group has won a major award for its work with East Lancashire businesses. The Groundwork Business Environment Association was presented with the Business Commitment to the Environment Award by Labour leader Tony Blair at a ceremony in

TONY Rigby will come back to Gigg Lane at the end of his March loan spell at Scarborough. Bury boss Stan Ternent scuppered the Seasiders' hopes of extending the midfielder's unbeaten stay by announcing that he wanted Rigby back. "He went there to get