AMBITIOUS plans to turn Lancaster's famous Waring and Gillow building into a restaurant and nightclub have been given the go ahead. The multi-million pound scheme was approved despite concerns from police and bosses at the neighbouring Sugar House Nightclub
A PROUD Fylde mum was beaming as she saw the daughter she had nominated for a top swimming accolade step on to the stage at a glittering gala dinner to receive an award. Valerie Gore, of Agnew Road in Fleetwood, put her daughter Debi, a former international
THE 'Mr Blobby' fiasco was finally settled this week with the City Council handing Noel Edmonds' Unique Group £1 million of public money plus a humbling written apology. Despite a vitriolic war of words between Mr Edmonds and Council Leader, Stanley Henig
BRADFORD CITY 1 - BURY 0 BRADFORD City may have to consider changing the name of their ground to the Punch Stadium after amazing scenes in the dying seconds of Saturday's game at Valley Parade! A sensational stoppage time free-for-all (see other story
ANIMAL lover Irene Allen is pleading with dog owners to make sure their pets carry proper identification tags. Petsearch UK volunteer Irene spent a frustrating two hours trying to find the owner of a lost Jack Russell terrier which had been seen wandering
IMAGINE if Ashton Gardens was turned into a multi-story car park and if St Annes-on-Sea was renamed Safeways-on-Sea. One St Annes artist did just that and the result was a cartoon showing Ashton Gardens reduced to a fenced-in pond, with the rest of St
Portico Panthers 52 Beech Hill Bulldogs nil PANTHERS overpowered Bulldogs to extend their undefeated sequence to six league games. They raced into a 22-nil interval lead thanks to tries by Andy Mercer, Chris Ashurst, Dave Lee and Mike Hobin, who added
A WOMAN has denied allegations of harassment including one alleging that she sent a parcel by post containing human ashes. Ann Ashurst, aged 49, of Durban Street, Atherton, is accused under the Protection from Harassment Act, 1997, with making abusive
MINDLESS morons have once again struck at Atherton Cemetery, damaging and pushing over 17 headstones. Police are looking into the attack at the Leigh Road cemetery which took place over the weekend. The attack, on older gravestones, has angered local
Widnes Albion 34 Parr Hare and Hounds 4 A DEPLETED Hounds side produced a display full of character against the league leaders. The Widnes side used their big forwards to good effect in the first period and raced into an early 12-nil lead. And although
An award-winning model railway club is on an express route to success just 14 months down the line after forming. For so great has the impact of the Accrington-based 24A Model Railway Club been that the producers of the British Model Railway magazine
A VICAR loved by pupils, parishioners and friends in East Lancashire, has been killed with his teenage daughter in an horrific driving-lesson accident. The Reverend Barry Williams, 56, was instructing 17-year-old Stephanie when their Citroen AX collided
SHOP staff have had lessons in suspicious body language from police as part of a campaign to counter theft and violence. As the Christmas crime season heads for a climax retailers have been to seminars to learn how to deal with crime. Guilty facial expressions
THE Green Party has slammed plans for a busway for Leigh. The environmentalists say the scheme - running into the heart of Manchester city centre - was cheap, nasty and another example of Leigh losing out! Transport bosses, who have launched a detailed
PENNY chocolate bars, racing pigeons and the ice-cream seller's bike spring to mind when Rose Jervis remembers Westleigh Station. Railway memories came flooding back for Rose, of Lakeside, Leigh, when she read a Journal review, and subsequently reader
THE Charter Theatre in Preston was cascaded in colour when hit musical Joseph came to town. I didn't quite know what to expect but quickly realised I wasn't supposed to take it seriously. The cast injected a fair dose of comedy into a very tongue-in-cheek
PUPILS from Lammack Primary School know what their Christmas Number One will be - their own album! Their angelic voices have been captured on tape by professional songwriter Simon Jones, of Moving Music Studio in Chorley - and the schoolchildren have
Widnes 37 - Hoppers 19 from weekend of December 13/14 THE loss of eight players to County sides proved too great a burden for Hoppers to bear on a sticky surface at Widnes. South African full back Jamie Bloem Bloem scored Widnes' first try in the fifth
GLADIATOR Hunter is too big for his boots - that's official! The cast of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs put on full costume to plug the start of the panto at the Charter Theatre but the Prince, played by Hunter, was late, struggling to get into his thigh
A LOCAL man has had his gnome-napping antics ended by an alert policeman. In the early hours of the morning the cheeky thief roamed the streets, taking his pick of the best that local gardens had to offer. However, Graham Hutchinson's mini-crime wave
A HEALTH Care Trust is celebrating a treble victory after winning three prestigious awards. Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust has won a top award for its Health at Work strategy while also being awarded Chartermarks for its Hotel
THE parents of a boy who died in a tragic accident, are campaigning to ensure other families don't suffer like they have. Jamie Foster was killed four years ago after being hit by a car in Blackpool Road, Ashton, Preston. He was eight years old. Since
A FORMER deputy leader of the Preston Council has quit the Labour Party in an open letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair. Coun Tony Reid was amongst eight party members in the town who quit 'in disgust' at the direction the New Labour Government is taking
A YOUNG musician who endured hours of surgery after slicing off three fingers in an horrific guillotine accident has begun to rebuild his life. Although surgeons saved two of the three fingers using micro-surgery, keen guitarist and keyboard player Richard
PARTY-GOERS in Preston could pub-crawl for free this Christmas - but there is a catch or two. For starters, you must be the driver among your group of pals and secondly, a drop of alcohol must not pass your lips. The offer comes courtesy of a new police
THE borough's police officers have successfully completed a pioneering scheme aimed at breaking down cultural and language barriers. Earlier this year officers set about learning Urdu - the first language of the largest ethnic minority community in the
BLACKBURN MP and Home Secretary Jack Straw is drawing on his own experience of credit card fraud to make sure Britain takes a leading role in combating hi-tech crime. Mr Straw fell foul of so-called credit card "skimming" while on holiday in Italy three
A LANCASHIRE man whose daughter died of cancer has launched an Internet appeal to help raise cash for Derian House. John Ryan of Hindley Green, Wigan, whose daughter Katie died in April 1995 aged just 21 months, has created a web site for the hospice.
A TOP saleswoman returned from a sunshine holiday she had won as a reward for her hard work, to be given the sack by her bosses. She said she was given the push because she was pregnant. Her bosses claimed she wasn't doing her job properly. Now 29-year-old
A RAMSBOTTOM mother is considering taking legal action after waiting since the summer to have her son's special educational needs assessed. Three-year-old Adam Palubiak suffers from Dubowitz Syndrome, a rare syndrome which means his development is delayed
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a 'mystery attack' on a 40-year-old man by a gang of youths on mountain bikes. The man suffered broken ribs and severe bruising and is struggling to breathe properly in the intensive care unit at Royal Preston Hospital
TRADERS expressed delight today as the spending rush neared its Christmas climax while police announced dozens of arrests in a special operation to stop those who steal, steal, steal. While Blackburn's newly-refurbished centre is attracting more shoppers
AFTER loads of persuasion and almost £300 in donations, Gilly eventually agreed to let us shave his tash off. To relax him, we invited Vicky Walker into the studios to give him a massage first. Then came the crunch. Vicky squirted foam on his top lip
HEALTH chiefs have placed an order for the life-saving scanner machine and said a big "thank you" to the caring folk of East Lancashire - nearly a million of them! Fund-raisers have raised a huge £880,000 for the SuperScan Appeal and need just another
SERIOUS health risks could emerge for the Bury population unless appropriate measures are in place to prevent contamination in the water supply. The alarming claim is made in a new report from the director of public health to the Bury and Rochdale Health
PLANS to improve school buildings in Lancashire lay in ruins after a pre-Christmas cash blow. Education chiefs had bid to spend £38.4 million on schemes to replace or refurbish outdated buildings. But the Department of Education announced a capital allocation
THE "old school tie" network made life hell for Bury nurse Andrea Sefton after she got on the wrong side of a hospital doctor. Claims that the consultant anaesthetist had assaulted her sparked off a campaign which lasted for two-and-a-half years and forced
A FILTER firm's latest order has proved just the tonic. Interfilta of Burnley has won a three year national contract with NHS Supplies for filters for hospital air conditioning systems. The NHS spends around £1 million on air filters every year and Interfilta
A HOUSING officer with Burnley council has been sacked after a disciplinary hearing. The dismissal follows allegations about houses being inappropriately allocated. Burnley Council is refusing to release further details or to identify the employee. An
FIRE raced through the roof of Padiham medical centre shortly after midnight on Monday. The fire is believed to have started from an electrical fault on a boiler. The medical centre, owned and run by five doctors, was forced to close because of the damage
A political row over selling a plot of land has led to a censure threat for Pendle from the Department of the Environment. The row concerns land at the corner of Vivary Way and Crown Way, Colne. The DoE says the council should sell land it does not need
CHILDREN at a Burnley nursery are to be encouraged to learn through games in the playground following an OFSTED inspection. The well-behaved youngsters impressed the visiting inspectors with their positive attitude to learning, particularly in maths,
I HAVE been told by "neighbours" to stop feeding the (expletive deleted) birds! No, I have been ordered to stop. They say birds are vermin and should be killed off. This must be the same "vermin" which has vandalised the telephone box, set fire to the
ADVANCES in genetic science are throwing up the prospect of a disturbing side-effect - a new underclass in society which cannot get insurance cover. For though genetic tests may be the key to discovering whether people are at risk from hereditary illnesses
HARD work and commitment has paid off for staff at a nursery. Feniscowles Pre-School in Blackburn received a commendable report from OFSTED inspectors. The report said that most children would be likely to achieve in all six areas of learning by the time
LEIGH RU have reached the semi-final of the Lancashire Trophy. And success was even sweeter with the quarter-final 10-7 win against the old enemy of Wigan. In a tight first-half Ross Bullough banged over the only points. Wigan edged clear with a try and
A MAN is in a critical condition after his car collided with an articulated lorry on the East Lancashire Road. The accident happened at 5.15pm on Tuesday as the lorry was turning right onto the Manchester-bound carriageway from Haydock Lane. As it did
NEW Zealand all-rounder Willie Swann wants to join Leigh's Division One campaign. Preliminary talks between the talented scrum-half/hooker and Hilton Park chiefs have already taken place. But any plans to sign Swann and his former Warrington teammate
ZOE Marie Westhead (4) the St Helens Star's Starbud 1997 and Johnathan Griffiths (6) our StarLad will soon be embarking on new 'careers.' For Zoe, from Haydock and Johnathan, from Parr, have been invited to take part in Billy Butler and Wally Scott's
STUART LOCKE scored his first goal for Leigh RMI to extend their unbeaten run to six games - and sound a warning to the other clubs with title ambitions in the UniBond Premier Division. "There is a tremendous buzz at the club," said Locke. "Everyone is
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD THE cenotaph salute issue, raised by St Helens ex-Serviceman John Oates (Dec. 4) has attracted response from A. J. Reid, chairman of the local branch of the Burma Star Association. John had protested that the 'eyes right', during
ROY Hodgson looks set for a triple tonic as he prepares his Blackburn Rovers team for Saturday's vital Premiership clash with West Ham United at Ewood. Wingers Stuart Ripley and Damien Duff have shaken off their injury problems and midfielder Lars Bohinen
UNION ARMS were Five Live on Saturday. As Leigh & District Amateur Football League wrapped up their 1997 programme, the Second Division promotion candidates became the league's first club this season to reach a semi-final. They slammed First Division
TWO men posing as police officers conned their way into a home and stole jewellery. The men called at the house in Sussex Grove, Parr, at about 9.45pm on Wednesday, Dec 10 claiming they were from the CID and were checking for stolen goods. After flashing
LEIGH have been 'promoted' twice in less than seven days! Confirmation finally came through they will be in Division One next season - despite clubs doing a U-turn and voting to retain a three-division set-up. The club had been told they would be included
WE'RE giving a big Star hello to our newest 'recruit'. For every week - starting next week - Radio City's Big Drive Home presenter Darren Proctor will be exclusively giving St Helens Star readers the lowdown on what's new on the music scene. There will
A very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the staff of the Bury Times to all the thousands of web surfers who have visited our site in 1997. We look forward to keeping you up to date with all the news and sport here in Bury in 1998, wherever you
ANTI-bloodsports campaigners have thanked Bury's two MPs for voting to ban hunting recently. Cindy Milburn of the Campaign for Protection of Hunted Animals, said: "This was an historic victory for animal welfare." Both David Chaytor (Bury North ) and
TWO bus companies which operate services through Bury have had their knuckles rapped by transport chiefs. Stagecoach and Rossendale Transport are among six companies warned to clean up their act or face the consequences from the Greater Manchester Passenger
West Sutton 44 Rylands 6 WEST Sutton stay at the top of the North West Counties League Division Two following this convincing trumph. Defiant defence by Rylands kept the home side at bay in the opening stages, but once they had taken the lead with a solo
Sedgeley Park 27 West Park 10 AFTER going 13 games without defeat from the start of the season, Park have now lost this last two. And although the weekend's game was of no consequence, a return to winning ways is essential in this Saturday's Thwaites
YOU'VE heard loads about it, you've read a lot more and you may have actually seen a few pictures of it - now it's time to walk it. Years in the pipeline and the subject of a millions of pounds of Lottery cash, the Irwell Sculpture Trail is nearing completion
DETECTIVES are appealing for a key witness to come forward after three people were charged with attempted murder this week. Their arrests followed a disturbance in the Orange Hill Road area of Prestwich at 11.45pm last Friday, December 12. Police say
PRESTWICH's three "satellite" libraries could retain some community use when they are sold off. Bury Council says that it has to sell the libraries as part of local government savings, but it hopes that all three will retain community use. The council
Redhill 48 Blackbrook 10 NATIONAL Conference first division pace-setters Redhill kept up the pressure at the top at the expense of Brook on Saturday. Without four key players from the start, Brook battled bravely throughout. But they had no answer to
Liverpool St Helens 6 Leeds 21 FULL-time professionals Leeds were considerably flattered by the scoreline at Moss Lane on Saturday. Three tries to none certainly did not reflect the balance of play. LSH were determined to show their illustrious opponents
THE 'will he, won't he sign' guessing game regarding Paul Sculthorpe rumbled on this week. Saints and Warrington still locked in negotiations to bring the Test forward to Knowsley Road as the Star went to press. Size of transfer fee and which Saints'
LEIGH'S oldest resident has died, aged 106. Ida Molyneux who was a self-confessed 'chocaholic' credited her love of the confectionary for her longevity. Widowed in the First World War she lived in later years at Hourigan House in Leigh where she entertained
St Helens Town 4 Blackpool Rovers 4 THERE have been many games at Hoghton Road of a higher quality over the years. But for sheer entertainment and drama Saturday's contest takes some beating. In a bizarre twist of events the complexion of the game changed
BURNLEY vicar Fr Alan Taylor died suddenly on Saturday evening after babysitting his young grandchildren. Mr Taylor, 63, was one of the longest serving members of the clergy in the area and had been at St Mark's for 33 years. He was a private, family
THE organisers of a top town criers' competition have plenty to shout about - they need money! Clitheroe has been chosen as the venue for the 1998 National Town Criers' Guild Championship next May. The competition is expected to attract up to 40 top-quality
A thug who sprayed what is believed to be CS gas into the face of a man is being hunted by police. The attack took place in the early hours of Sunday morning at the Alex public house on Thurnham Street, Lancaster where the victim was drinking. Following
A SPECIAL school criticised for unsatisfactory leadership in an inspector's report has already taken steps to remedy the problem. The inspector from the Office for Standards in Education noted that Townhouse Special School, Nelson, had held a recent management
TWO of East Lancashire's biggest employers today reported healthy results after their 'divorce' earlier this year. Christmas and greetings cards manufacturer Creative Publishing said festive orders were higher this year following its October separation
PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice is fighting for a seat to decide the future policy of the Labour Party. His decision follows the uproar caused by the Government's decision to cut lone parent benefit and proposed changes affecting sick and disabled people. He
LANCASTER City Council has taken a firm stand against the family of a youth on the Ryelands Estate by securing a possession order. The youth has been convicted of violent disorder and having an explosive substance with intent to endanger life. The possession
Cheltenham 2 Morecambe 1 MORECAMBE lost their unbeaten away league record by failing to take advantage of a Cheltenham side reduced to 10 men for the majority of the match. Cheltenham started off well early when a poor pass from Keisuko Takano was picked
FIREFIGHTERS are warning Fylde folk about the extra dangers of fire during the festive season. Lancashire's chief fire officer Gordon Russel said: "Christmas is here again and sadly we always seem to have fire tragedies at this time of year. "At Christmas
BURY and Bradford City face disciplinary action after an astonishing stoppage time brawl marred Saturday's game at Valley Parade. Referee Graham Frankland will be reporting both clubs to the FA for 'general misconduct' following the incident which involved
BURY'S talismanic midfielder Andy Gray is all set for a return to action after his six-match suspension and the timing couldn't be better! The last time the influential former England ace pulled on a Bury shirt was for the thrilling 2-0 victory over Nottingham
IT may be a long way to travel from the East End, but a top soap star did not hesitate to come to Blackpool and promote a drama centre's new show. For Jacqueline Leonard, alias EastEnder Lorraine Wicks, learned her trade at that same centre - Whittaker's
FROM public houses to private schools, all are joining in this year to make it a special Christmas for the homeless and needy on the Fylde. O'Neill's Irish bar on Talbot Road, Blackpool, and a top Lytham school have both made particularly concerted efforts
VANDALS have ruined the hard work of green fingered youngsters - by uprooting trees they planted near their school. Pupils from Claremont School were devastated when up to 100 of the saplings they planted for a borough-wide initiative were dug up and
A Morecambe woman has appeared in court charged with the murder of a 41-year-old woman. Beverley Burrow, 37, of Clarence St, appeared before Lancaster Magistrates charged with murdering Senga Kelly of Cartmel Place. Mrs Kelly's body was discovered in
MEMBERS of St Annes Parish Operatic Society are celebrating after winning a string of prizes in the North West National Operatic and Dramatic Awards. Actress Karen Deakin took the first award for her performance as Aladdin in last year's panto, while
THE nobleman, old Etonian, former cavalry officer, and crook, Lord Brocket, serving five years for an insurance fraud, told the Appeal Court that life in gaol is too tough. To someone used to butler service, I expect it is, but for the thieves and blackguards
Bold Miners 68 Mayfield nil THE Miners hit top form to outclass their rivals. Nick Joseph celebrated his return from injury with a blockbusting try after two minutes, with Darren Anders adding the goal. Mayfield hit back, but could not pierce the Bold
THE state of Blackpool North station has come under fire from one of the resort's MPs. Gordon Marsden, who has received complaints from many of his constituents in Blackpool South and is himself a regular passenger, has blasted North Western Trains, particularly
SMOKERS' rights group Forest have named the disbanded Leigh Folk Club in its annual roll of honour and dishonour for "seeing the light too late". London-based Forest spokesman Martin Ball said in a newspaper interview a club spokeswoman had admitted the
A HYNDBURN animal shelter will be playing host to an unusual visitor over the festive season...a ferret. The 15 inch white creature was dropped off at the Altham RSPCA shelter last week by Pauline Long, of York Street, Church. She explained how she came
CHRISTMAS Day promises to be a festive affair for lonely people in Higher Folds. Instead of staying 'Home Alone', they are being invited to join in festive fare at St Gabriel's Annexe, Kensington Drive, from 11.30am to 3.30pm. There will also be entertainment
THE NATIONAL Labour Party will launch its own investigation into council house queue-jumping allegations in Burnley, it was revealed today. Top regional officer Howard Knight will travel from party headquarters in Walworth Road, London, on Monday to address
EAST Lancashire's long awaited motorway lifeline is finally open - after a last-ditch demo by protesters who spent weeks trying to stop its construction at Stanworth Woods and Darwen. Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw cut the ribbon at Guide
A MULTI-million pound snowfall follows Euro backing for Xanadu. Santa Claus opened his sack early to announce a £4.5million Christmas cracker for Leigh in the shape of an EC grant. Funds distributors were impressed with the latest estimate that the snow
WHEN council workmen turned up to remove laurel bushes from the side of Ian Hilton's Atherton house, they wished they had taken another 'root'. For as they started to take up the bushes, they also brought a six foot high brick wall down around their heels
A POSSIBLE big-money move for Burnley winger Paul Smith to Aston Villa looks a non-starter, despite continuing speculation linking him with the Premiership giants. Villa boss Brian Little is looking for new blood but is believed to be searching at the
LEIGH has a Christmas tree to be proud of - at last! And it's all thanks to The Journal and Bents Garden Centre at Glazebury. The town's third Christmas tree in as many weeks - a 25ft Norway Spruce worth £250 - was erected on Wednesday. And Leigh Business
LOOKING through The Journal last week, I couldn't help smile at the article by Brian Gomm about the book which Dennis Sweeney has written on the Lancashire railways, especially the Parsonage Colliery. Yes, I remember it well. As a girl working at J&
From weekend of December 13/14 LATEST results from the Leyland Warriors Amateur Rugby League Fc fixtures: Warriors U10 12, Haydock Warriors 24; Warriors U11 10, Ince St Williams 18; Warriors U12 10, Saddleworth 30; Warriors U13 24, Haydock Warriors 12
A PUB is celebrating after being named as the top watering hole for Rovers fans on their way to the match of the day. According to national football magazine Tackle!, The Aqueduct, on Bolton Road, Blackburn, is tops when it comes to serving a tipple to
PUPILS took their parents on a whirlwind tour of the world when they put on their Christmas show. The production by Lostock Hall High School, Preston was based on festive celebrations around the globe, a theme which was inspired by a Citizen competition
HOW crass of Cllr Stephenson to publicise his new job for the boys, at a payment of £15,000. There was no mention in the article that he had any actual service in running an ambulance station. Lucky Cllr Stephenson, with three sources of income, his salary
PLANS are being drawn up for the former Xceptions store in Blackburn after store TJ Hughes announced it is to move to the town and create more than 100 jobs. The Liverpool-based discount chain, which has an outlet in Preston and a more recent site in
A JAIL praised for cracking down on drug smugglers has put its success down to a four-legged member of staff - Scooby the sniffer dog. Officers at Garth Prison say a drastic decrease in narcotics finds is due to the four-year-old Labrador who has become
I AGREE with the comments made in The Journal regarding the roundabout at Twist Lane. It is a death trap and it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured. In the evening the rush hour, I approach the roundabout from the East Lancs Road
LANCASHIRE'S police horses are living in the lap of luxury after a major upgrade of their stables. Their old wooden home has been demolished, to be replaced by some of the best facilities for police horses in the country. The new £240,000 stables make
ALL Graham Harwood wants for Christmas is the return of missing Max the macaw! The pigeon-sized green bird was snatched from its cage - before later being offered for sale to a local pet shop. Staff became suspicious and declined the offer. Now, Max's
IN SPITE of the spurious claims of the losing Green Party candidate that he had the support of the whole of Leigh, the common sense and vision of the voters of Hope Carr Ward has prevailed. Their overwhelming YES to Xanadu is a tribute to them for the
A PARAGLIDER was airlifted to hospital with spinal injuries after a horrific fall on Pendle Hill. Timothy Wright, aged 31, of Marlfield Close, Ingol, Preston, also suffered chest, wrist and groin injuries in the accident last Sunday afternoon (December
WHILE correspondents are taking the Stagecoach management to task as they reap the inevitable reward for driving away the majority of Hyndburn Transport drivers and having to employ frustrated strangers who know nothing of the routes, may I paint the
ADVERSITY often unites the most unlikeliest of allies - none more so than Charlie and Cassie, Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary's latest Christmas casualties. The plight of the two abandoned animals has tugged the heart strings of the staff and volunteers at
A FORMER police chief from Lostock Hall, Preston, has died following a motorbike accident at the weekend. Brian Sanderson, 53, died in Chorley Hospital after losing control of his 1100cc BMW Belmont bike on Rivington Lane, Rivington. He retired from Lancashire
ROVERS take on the Jekyll and Hyde team of the Premiership at Ewood Park on Saturday, looking to add to travel-weary West Ham's away-day claret and blues. For while only Manchester United can rival the Hammers' home form this season, on the road even
A ROAD maintenance time-bomb is ticking away under Bury's streets - and it may never be defused. While scarce money is switched to desperate schools and social services, the roads are crumbling away. Officers admit they do not see the problem getting
LAST-minute shoppers are invited to spend their cash in Pendle and enjoy a host of festive fun at the same time. Pendle Council is laying on a Christmas treat for shoppers on Saturday. In Colne there will be a free "Bene and Hot", the traditional East
PNE 1 Northampton Town 0 from December 13 THE first half performance by North End was as good as anything that they have produced all season and they deservedly went off to applause from all sections of the crowd. The only thing that was missing was a
A HIGH flying councillor has stepped down as chairman of his local party and quit other leading posts after saying his Labour colleagues needed a "wake up" call. Pendle Labour councillor Roger Abbiss blamed differences in approach between himself and
HOSPITALS are trying to avert a winter crisis with a "traffic lights" emergency admissions policy. Red, amber or green will determine where patients are taken and treated. Health bosses hope the colour code system will combat "bed blocking" - which has
A VERDICT of accidental death was recorded on a 90-year-old woman who died after a fall at a Blackburn nursing home. Mrs Mary Ashworth, formerly of Harwood Street, Blackburn, died after hitting her head on a sideboard at the nursing home in Whalley New
TAXI drivers are organising a mass revolt against "heavy-handed" licensing inspectors. They are disgusted with what they see as a ruthless "zero tolerance" policy towards minor infringements. And they are threatening legal action unless Bury Council sits
PENSIONER Nora Cowgill, 75, was killed after she wandered on to the railway track at Brierfield and was hit by a train. She had earlier been reported missing from Hollybank home for the elderly, Colne Road, Brierfield. Previous news story Converted for
MRS Thatcher named Cabinet minister Ken Clarke as her inner cities supremo - a job for which Darwen and Rossendale MP David Trippier had been tipped. Mr Clarke's appointment ended the growing rivalry among senior ministers over who should mastermind the
LABOUR veteran Tommy Bradley has died aged 80. Mr Bradley, a Burnley councillor for 20 years, was found at his home in Venice Avenue on Saturday. He turned down the honour of being Mayor three times during his service on the council where he represented
THE family-owned Burnley stationery firm of FH Brown is to merge with one of the UK's biggest stationery firms. Joint managing directors David and Andrew Brown have traded ownership of FH Brown for a share of Dudley Stationery Limited. They will continue
IT is wonderful that the MRI Scanner is to be installed at Blackburn Infirmary - all paid for by public donations. Like all hospital equipment paid for by the public, it should have a brass plaque on it saying who gave the money. Perhaps, then it won't
MORE than 200 people responded to a survey of Trinity Ward, Burnley, to find out public opinion about what needs to be done to improve the area. Information supplied will be used by staff at the council's Community Development Section to identify problems
REGARDING your article "Cricket club bats bouncer" (LET, December 10) about the £330,000 package of improvements, put together by East Lancs CC, they must be joking. They could do with improving their own financial situation first, with a balance sheet
THE senior cricket leagues throughout Lancashire have joined together in a new "Confederation'. And that makes the prospect of the proposed Premier League even slimmer. Lancashire League secretary Rod Slater believes the Lancashire Cricket Board's attempt
Neil Bramwell Speaks Out THE Lancashire League should have no trouble finding a sponsor when the current agreement with EW Cartons expires. Every major computer software company will be clamouring for a slice of the action if new proposals are passed.
THE decision by the national Labour Party to hold its own investigation into claims that councillors in Labour-run Burnley helped families jump the queue for council houses is a correct one. Notably, it is in keeping with the Blair administration's determination
THE Government has given councils a £5.5 million Christmas bonus to spend on housing in East Lancashire. The figure was announced by Government minister Hilary Armstrong in Parliament earlier this week. Blackburn with Darwen Council has been allocated
TASTY tots of Bene and Hot, one of the area's best loved winter tipples, will be helping shoppers with their last minute buys on Saturday. Market traders in Colne will be dispensing the drink, and there will be horse and carriage rides around the town
A SEX advice charity is warning young people to be wary of the tempting combination of alcohol and a festive fling at this year's Christmas parties. The charity fears that too much "party spirit" could leave hundreds of teenagers at risk of unwanted pregnancy
ST HELENS Concert Band is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its formation in style with a grand night out at the Royal Navy Club in Volunteer Street. The event takes place on Monday, December 22 starting at 7.30pm. And band chairman John Henderson is
THEY think it's all over. It is now! Leigh MR lost 20-19 at Oldham St Annes - after leading 19-14 on the 80-minute mark. Those final, fateful four minutes of injury-time cost Miners dear. They looked in charge until those final cruel seconds of a dramatic
A BILLINGE woman is in a critical condition in a Wigan hospital as the Star went to press, after sustaining head injuries in a road accident. The accident happened at 6.30pm on Tuesday when 50 year old Jacqueline Brennan and her 23 year old step-daughter
LAW firm Ramsbottom and Co decided to do things a little differently to celebrate getting a national award - with a trip to the circus! Staff from the practice's three offices in Blackburn, Great Harwood and Darwen responded to the 'roll up, roll up'
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD THOUGH it never hit the headlines in those wartime days of strict censorship, the whole of Moss Bank was abuzz with excitement when an American fighter plane crash-landed at the edge of the village. It happened around 1943-4 when
PICTURED: MURDER victim John Haselden POLICE need to talk to a mystery woman seen at a pizza takeaway with murder victim John Haselden as they fill in the gaps on the last movements of the 23 year old car dealer from Newton who was killed by a single
WALLY ASHCROFT'S Wonder of Pets CHRISTMAS is only a week away. The shops are groaning under the weight of shoppers buying last-minute presents for their families and friends. It is a frenzied time, I know, but if you are considering a pet as a present
I WOULD like to point out some inaccuracies in your story about the fence in Buncer Lane, Blackburn (LET, December 13). A right of way already exists for this pathway under section 31 of the 1980 Highways Act 1980, under 'presumed dedication.' The Ramblers
TWO young boys have been left heartbroken after thieves stole their Christmas tree. Joshua McKinley (4) and his brother Kane (1) had spent ages trimming the 6ft tree which stood in the front garden of their home in Raven Street, Bury. But on Saturday
CAMPAIGNING activities on behalf of student hostage Paul Wells have been largely put on hold until the New Year. But campaign director James Bowman said calls to the campaign's Middlesbrough office would still be monitored. He added: "The families of
A HIGH-PROFILE police offensive against Christmas criminals has led to more than 70 arrests in the space of 18 days. Extra uniformed and plain clothes police officers have been drafted in to Blackburn town centre since Operation Christmas Cracker started
BURY'S MPs are keeping up their top-level campaign for a fair funding deal. Although schools are safe from further cuts next year, the council still has to find another £5-6 million of savings. David Chaytor and Ivan Lewis have now met with Alistair Darling
A CALL for Government cash aid for Lancashire farmers hit by the beef crisis has triggered a political row. Independent Councillor Tom Sharratt called for immediate aid for farmers losing out because of the BSE crisis. But the plea, at a stormy meeting
Clock Face Miners 22 Leigh Royal Oak 24 CLOCK'S unbeaten home run came to an end in this exciting encounter on Saturday. However, Clock took the lead when full-back Graham Leadbetter scored near the posts, allowing Paul Cooney a simple conversion. But
A LOCAL activities club for teenagers has vowed to battle on for the sake of the children despite a lack of support from their parents. With about 200 young members registered, the president of Radcliffe Girls' and Boys' Club, Mr Ronald Morris, this week
Halton Simms Cross 22 Pilkington Recs 10 THIS was a spirited Recs effort against an over-physical Simms Cross side. The first half was one to forget for a makeshift Recs side who struggled for cohesion, resulting in a string of errors. From such mistakes
Haydock 8 Farnworth 20 DEFEAT at the hands of last year's champions was hardly the ideal preparation for Haydock's Silk Cut Challenge Cup encounter with Waterhead this Saturday. But it could so easily have been a different story. Haydock dominated the
THE Mayor, Cllr Ken Pye, opened the new Wigan and Leigh Hospice on Tuesday. The £2 million hospice, in Kildare Street, Hindley, opened its doors after moving from their old home of 13 years, the former St James' Vicarage in Poolstock Lane, Wigan. And
THE ENTERTAINERS St Helens Town 4 Blackpool Rovers 4 THERE have been many games at Hoghton Road of a higher quality over the years. But for sheer entertainment and drama Saturday's contest takes some beating. In a bizarre twist of events the complexion
A WILDLIFE group is asking people to watch birds instead of the telly this Christmas to help with a survey of our feathered friends. Burnley Wildlife Partnership want residents to put some food out in the garden and make a note of the species which visit
EIGHTY members of the St Helens Smokebusters Club danced the night away at their annual Christmas Party held at Saints. Members of the 800 strong club - run by St Helens and Knowsley Community Health Trust (NHS) Trust - are all aged between nine and 11
FIRST, it was reported that all elderly people were being offered 'flu and pneumonia vaccines so that they did not become ill in winter and block hospital beds. Many wards for the elderly have been closed or are short term. This means that they have to
POLICE are still hunting the masked silent robber who raided a post office in Colne. He used a wooden cosh to smash the security screen guarding the counter at the Alkincoats sub post office in Parker Street and snatched a cash box full of notes. The
REGARDING the remarks about the bus services in Blackburn (Letters, December 10) I use both Stagecoach and Blackburn Corporation buses every day. I have always found the Stagecoach drivers very polite and helpful, and mostly the buses I have used have
BANNED Sunday tea-dancers are being backed by their MP in their battle to get the law changed. Some 250 people have signed a petition calling for the government to repeal the 217-year-old Act which has been invoked to stop weekly tea dances at Barden
A CONVICTED fraudster has quit within days of being appointed to the Burnley Health Care Trust. Management consultant Arshid Khatana, of Massey House, Massey Lane, Brierfield, was called to meet hospital trust chairman Brian Foster after complaints were
FORMER Conservative councillor Vera Kirkby has died after a brave fight against illness. Mrs Kirkby was elected to the Council in 1987 after serving on councils in the down south and was the leader of the Conservatives from '91 until her resignation in
HERE'S a man who knows he's in for a white Christmas - Private Simon Fegan, serving with the NATO stabilisation force in snowy Bosnia. Sending his greetings home, Simon says: "Merry Christmas to my wife Sarah and my children Naomi and Abby. Also my nephew
BUTCHERS in Burnley and Pendle had a rush on T-bone steaks and ribs of beef at the weekend as shoppers stocked up before Tuesday's ban came into force. "Sales have more than doubled," said John Haffner, of Haffner's butchers, on Monday. "A lot of people
Union official representing council workers held a meeting with management this week to discuss the redeployment policy Town Hall bosses are hoping to adopt as they shape up to meet a £2million budget deficit for the coming year. Proposals include a three
BACUP Borough manager Brent Peters has signed former Manchester City striker Paul Moulden in a bid to add more firepower up front to the NWCFL outfit. "This has got to be one of the biggest coups for Borough in recent times," said Peters, after landing
Lancashire's Chief Fire Officer, Gordon Russel, is reminding people in Lancashire of the need to take extra care in the festive season. "Remember that at Christmas risks are higher! Traditional festive trappings such as decorations, wrapping paper, candles
BURNLEY Visually Impaired Sports and Athletics Club have two reasons to celebrate. They've just won £1,000 and a bronze medal in BT's awards for community sporting achievement. And they're now benefiting from superb facilities at Burnley's newly refurbished
A CAMPAIGN to win pensioners a better deal at Christmas has been launched in Burnley and Pendle. People across the area are being urged to support a push for the old-folk's festive bonus from the government to be increased from £10 to £70. The crusade
A MAN who sexually assaulted a woman after breaking into her home in the middle of the night has been jailed for four years. Michael Walton climbed into the house in Morecambe through an open window and carried out the assault while the woman slept on
Lancaster City 0 Leigh RMI 1 A WEAKENED Lancaster City side lost yet another player through suspension on Saturday when midfielder Matt Flanagan was sent off. There was just two minutes remaining on the clock when Flanagan was shown the red card for mouthing
BUSINESSES are being offered the chance to brush up on the latest health and environmental law in the New Year. The seminar is being staged by the Business Environment Association at Ewood Park on January 21. Speakers include representatives from the
PARENTS of pre-school children are being asked to give their views on a scheme to offer nursery places to all four-year-olds by next September. Education chiefs in Blackpool have set up an early years task group to plan the introduction of the project
