Archive

  • Performance-related pay plan gets a caning from teachers

    TEACHERS from East Lancashire have rejected the idea of performance-related pay along with colleagues from all over Britain. Almost 12,000 teachers took part in a survey at the end of the summer term asking about pay and career issues. Fewer then 30 per

  • Super A&T dent title hopes

    GOLBORNE hopes of retaining the coveted Vimto League title have been given a severe dent. And the denters were the unlikely heroes of Astley & Tyldesley. The perennial Association strugglers pulled off the shock of the day, winning by one wicket.

  • On This Day...

    A look back at events in history on August 28 with Mike Badham. 1790: Convict Kenwick Williams hosted a party in Newgate Jail to celebrate his reprieve from the scaffold. Sentenced to two years for stabbing a girl in the street and to hang for cutting

  • 50 years ago:

    From the Bury Times, August 28, 1948: LABOUR: A local cotton mill turned down an offer from Bury Professional and Business Women's Club. They volunteered to work one evening shift a week to relieve the labour shortage. But the mill said it would take

  • Police phone pest set to appeal

    A TOP policeman convicted of making malicious phone calls is to keep his job until an appeal has been heard. Police bosses have confirmed Inspector Stephen Lawman, a former East Lancashire officer, will stay at work until next February. Disciplinary proceedings

  • £6.7m mental health care unit to go-ahead

    SWEEPING changes in the care service for mental health patients in East Lancashire were given a massive boost today. Hospital chiefs have announced work is set to start on a £6.76 million mental health unit in Blackburn next autumn. Blackburn, Hyndburn

  • Exhaust fume man rescued from car

    A MAN aged 41 from Rossendale was "very poorly" in hospital today after being pulled from a fume-filled car near Clowbridge reservoir. The emergency services were called by a man walking his dog who discovered the car parked on an isolated track, off

  • Starbeat with DJ Darren Proctor

    I'M really glad to be home from my holiday in Turkey - although I can't say I missed the English weather. I've been baking at 118 degrees, and look a bit like an over-done hot cross bun. Incidentally, last time I went to Turkey three years ago, their

  • Survey is a 'waste of cash' claim

    RIVAL councillors from Blackburn with Darwen united to blast the ruling Labour group for spending £38,000 on a survey to find out how people view the council. National polling organisation MORI will conduct the poll of 1,000 people from the borough to

  • Brave Andrea is example to us all

    ANDREA Ferris has won her long battle against leukaemia - and is now in the running to win a national title. The 25-year-old of Burns Avenue, Bury fought the illness for five years during which time she suffered a stroke and missed months of vital schooling

  • Christmas countdown!

    CHRISTMAS is still four months away but Prestwich is already preparing a wish list. For a new task force - Prestwich Partnership Initiative - is in town. With local councillors, council officials, business men, conservationists and interested groups on

  • TRADER CUTS HIS LOSSES

    LEYLAND'S struggling market has been dealt another blow after a long-serving trader packed up and left. Walter Sweeney, who has worked at the market for eight years, quit the site after giving up his battle to maintain his cooked meats stall. He called

  • Troubles DO come in threes!

    TROUBLE came in threes at one Whitefield pub, which suffered a triple dose of disaster in 24 hours. Between the early hours of Saturday morning and the early hours of Sunday morning, August 22-23, the Cross Keys pub on Lily Hill Street.Z.Z. Suffered a

  • High hoops for Matt!

    HOOP dreaming Matt Hogarth takes his game to America later this week in an effort to make it to the big time. The former Manchester Giants and England International will step to the other side of the pond to embark on a four year scholarship at Division

  • Port Vale bid for Cooke and Little

    BURNLEY have rejected an audacious double bid for Andy Cooke and Glen Little from Port Vale. Vale boss John Rudge, who watched Cooke score twice for the Clarets in their 2-1 win over Millwall on Tuesday night having made his approach some time earlier

  • Comrades re-unite in the sun

    OLD comrades Frank Gomme and Frank Leyland, now living half a world apart, have met up again for the first time in 37 years. The pair, who were in the TA together (with 436 LAA at the Mill Street volunteer hall) were reunited when Frank Leyland and his

  • Dahlin ready to fight on

    MARTIN Dahlin is set to fight on for a lead role at Ewood Park - for the time being at least. But manager Roy Hodgson admits it will become increasingly difficult to hang on to players on the fringe of the first-team action. That's not the case with captain

  • Sort out the buses

    THE Festival of Light and Water - brilliant - as I am sure all the other weekend entertainment has been. We had planned to attend so much but had to change our minds due to one major oversight on the part of the organisers... the buses. Last year the

  • Watch out for Arnold

    A FORMER RAF bomber pilot who has led a blitz against crime in Prestwich is in the running for a top award. Pensioner Arnold Hall, co-ordinator of the Oldfield Road Home Watch scheme, is one of 11 divisional finalists in this year's Greater Manchester

  • Kendal hang on

    PRESTON had to settle for a winning draw at West Cliff against Kendal after they lost 10 overs at the start of their innings for rain. Put in to bat, Preston's opening pair of Paul Richardson and Antony Mann gave them a sound start with an opening partnershop

  • Family's thanks after arson horror

    A FAMILY whose house was badly damaged in a suspected arson attack have contacted the Bury Times to thank family, friends and neighbours who have helped them put their lives back together. Firemen rushed to the home of teacher Mr Mark Cullen, 33, and

  • What's all the fuss about?

    WHY are people moaning so much about eating in the street? Are their lives so empty and worthless that is all they have to think about? So many things are wrong in the world - people being murdered, children starving, racism, unemployment. Yet the people

  • 'Street ambassadors' will help fight crime

    BURY is going Dutch - by helping pioneer its very own squad of "street ambassadors." From this autumn, a hand-picked team of eight community safety wardens will be out and about in the town centre, offering advice and assistance whenever required. And

  • Whatever next... the Minstrel Show?

    SO the BBC want to raise the licence fee yet again, and once again this feeble excuse for a Government will probably let them. The thing I do not understand is that they are so against advertising, it's hardly going to effect the quality of programming

  • Goalie Jim dives into past

    GOT a friendly little slap on the wrist from old-time goalkeeper Jim (Jemmy) Barnett. This was for my lack of sporting knowledge concerning a "mystery" soccer shield unearthed in St Joseph's Club, Peasley Cross. A picture of the shield, kindly brought

  • What is happening at Bubbles site?

    RUMOURS currently abound that the Bubbles site has already been sold. We hear that the site has been sold for a retail and leisure development. A retail development on that site is so obviously unsuitable that it is scarcely credible that the council

  • Yacht rescue drama

    A LIFEBOAT landed a doctor aboard a yacht in choppy waters when a Bury woman's first-ever sea voyage almost ended in tragedy. Mrs Eileen Winterbottom, chairman of Bury Ocean Youth Club, became violently seasick and developed hypothermia while aboard the

  • Love stands the test of time

    LONG life and marital harmony reign supreme in the St Helens borough -judging from the fabulous response to my recent challenge, aimed at finding the local couple who have been wed the longest and who have the highest combined age. Moss Banker Paddy Gray

  • Labouring under a misapprehension

    THE arrogance of the current leader of Lancaster City Council is something that at times leaves one breathless. How can anyone so closely involved in the Blobbygate disaster and its cover-up have the brass neck upon hearing the utterly devastating news

  • Not another food store please!

    THE last thing Earlestown needs is another Super Food store. We already have a Somerfields and a Co-Op, so why on earth does the council think we need another one. Yes, the land bounded by Wellington Street, Gable Street, Legh Street and Earle Street

  • Call for council support

    THE proposed redundancies at White Lund and Forbo are a serious blow to the local economy. While the strong pound has not helped matters, the most significant factor in the firm's difficulties is the collapse of the Far Eastern Markets, something the

  • Youth's daylight robbery

    A 14 years-old boy was robbed in broad daylight on Friday. The boy was walking along Egerton Road, Lowton at 4pm on August 21 when the theft took place. He was stopped by three males who threatened him with violence and forced him to hand over a chain

  • LETTER: Thanks Citizen!

    I AM writing to thank you for highlighting the damage and parking in your article "No Parking on our Park", that occurred during a recent festival at Moor Park. Coun Michael Moulding, Lib Dem Group, Moor Park Ward Converted for the new archive on 14 July

  • Health watchdog in CAB link-up

    WIGAN and Leigh Community Health Council is extending its services into the Leigh area - thanks to the Citizens Advice Bureau. The benefit will be offered from the Leigh bureau in The Avenue from September 3. An officer of the CHC will be available at

  • LETTER: OAP group

    I AM hoping to form an Old Age Pensioners' Association in the Leyland-Chorley area. I have the support of some local councillors but, unfortunately, no financial support as yet. Anyone wishing to help can telephone me on 01772 463802. WA Coupe Converted

  • Doctor denied bail

    A DOCTOR facing two stalking charges has been refused bail by magistrates. Dr Michael Dale, aged 44, of West Beach, Lytham, has been remanded in custody for seven days by Preston magistrates. The anaesthetist with the Preston Acute Hospital Trust is accused

  • Ex-landlady Alice dies, 88

    FORMER local licensee, Mrs Alice Regan, died on Friday, aged 88. Wife of the late John, she kept The Correction in Plank Lane; the Church Inn, Tyldesley; The Spinners in Atherton; The Union in Butts Bridge, and the Rathalt Hotel in Caernarvon, before

  • Yes, but she has forgotten why!

    DOROTHY Gunther's selective amnesia (Your Letters, August 21) is breathtaking. Yes, Ramsbottom has suffered its share of cuts in recent years. Like many other places in Britain it has had its small schools threatened with closure. It has struggled to

  • Night games for Stephen

    STEPHEN WOODCOCK answered the call when St Joseph's Players launched a Manhunt. "I heard they were looking for actors," said the 38-year-old schoolteacher. "So I just popped in." And Stephen landed a plum role in the Leigh company's first show of the

  • LETTER: Thanks due all round

    I AM writing to thank everyone who donated money for Josh Newsham, whose story was so generously covered in the Citizen. We would like to express our thanks to the South Ribble Lions for supplying the donation envelopes. We were kindly assisted by colleagues

  • Critic displaying his bigotry

    TO attack me through the pages of the Bury Times means that Mr Brereton (August 21) must have thought long and hard and then composed his letter. He is using his free-will - as am I in this reply. In my younger days this form of attack was known as bigotry

  • Buying time for St Cath's

    LOCAL firms and organisations are buying time for St Catherine's Hospice, in Lostock Hall, near Preston, by taking part in a new scheme. Melvyn Carter and John Kenyon, of the Lodge of Concorde No. 343, and Tony Brown of Lancashire Waste Services have

  • Paedophile fear for village

    VILLAGERS at Howe Bridge have launched a campaign to keep 'undesirable' residents out of a proposed homeless housing scheme. And next Tuesday (Sept 1, 7pm) a protest/information meeting will have details of the 24 unit on the former Briarcroft site spelled

  • LETTER: Defamatory comments are wrong

    UNFORTUNATELY I do not get a copy of the Citizen delivered and was therefore unaware of the correspondence relating to the Mansion House at Longton until the Reverend Martin Rogers' letter and my photograph were drawn to my attention following your publication

  • Estate vote is not a union matter

    AS a Unison member and a life-long trade unionist I would like to know what Unison Bury branch are up to. It is not their role to act in such an arrogant and patronising way towards the residents of Dicky Bird estate. If they have concerns about members

  • Getting their teeth into it!

    BOSNIAN toddlers are looking forward to saying 'cheese' thanks to a new scheme run by Captain Jamie Deans, RADC Dental Officer with 5 Field Ambulance. Sponsored by the World Health Organisation, the project, which comes under the G5 community care umbrella

  • Stepping on the gas

    PRESTON Council's vans have gone "green" in a bid to cut costs and pollution. Launched by the Mayor of Preston, Councillor Rose Kinsella, the council has put a fleet of gas-powered vans on the streets of Preston. The environmentally-friendly vehicles

  • Wall of fame

    SIR Tom Finney appearing alongside a man who lived nearly a hundred years ago - a case for Mulder and Scully? No, this rare phenomenon has a simple explanation. It's the work of an army of artists who have invaded St George's Centre, to paint the famous

  • Platt signs for Preston

    IT is the move that will shock the footballing world - David Platt signing for Preston. But there is more to this switch of allegiance than meets they eye and, in true football speculation style, nothing is confirmed! For the former England captain isn't

  • Have wheels will travel!

    FLYING is the only way to travel - just ask this disgruntled tawny owl from Yorkshire. The beautiful bird is definitely keeping to the skies after winging his way from Yorkshire to Preston stuck in the bumper of a lorry! And the driver only realised he

  • Council leader's blackmail rap

    THE leader of Preston Council has been accused of blackmail electioneering ahead of the St Matthew's ward by-election. Peter Rankin, leader of the ruling Labour party, has called on opposition parties not to field a candidate in the election, which town

  • Colleges are on course

    FURTHER education colleges are bracing themselves for a mad dash for places after GCSE results were announced on Thursday. The number of students gaining good results was expected to be up, and local institutions are expecting a last minute rush with

  • Orgy fear irrelevant

    THE sensational report "Nightclub 'orgy' fear" on men and women strippers was as trivial and irrelevant to me as it is to many people. There are far more issues of importance which affect many people daily which we should be concerned about. The public

  • Let Diana rest in peace

    WHEN is the small minority in this country going to let Princess Diana rest in peace, and let her family grieve in their own way and get on with their lives, without being constantly reminded of her death? They are taking it from the sublime to the ridiculous

  • Show is sprinkled with stardust

    FAMOUS actors and actresses who have links with Burnley feature in a new exhibition by historian James Howell. He has collected a variety of photographs, cuttings and articles and they are on show at Burnley heritage Centre, Lower St James Street, Burnley

  • Hard battle for youngsters

    A YOUNG St Annes IV side again battled hard in their Fylde League division 2 game against high-flying Bourne Poacher B whose 83-4 innings was dominated by a fine 42 from Ray Billington. James Wright toiled hard on a slow pitch for little reward and there

  • Police probe unpaid cash for Proms stars

    BURNLEY police have launched an investigation into the finances of Burnley's Last Night at the Proms event after complaints that agencies and artistes have not been paid. The £17-a-head Bank Holiday spectacular in Towneley Park attracted around 1,000

  • Away dismay

    BLACKPOOL'S second league match away from Bloomfield Road indicated that away form could be a problem again this season. Losing 3-0 at Manchester City may have been excused, but getting beat 3-0 at Wigan on Saturday (Aug 22) has already cast doubts on

  • Neighbours demand traffic rat-run action

    ANGRY residents in the Lanehead area of Burnley will tonight confront county council bosses with a clear message: "Make the roads around our homes safe!" Householders say speeding traffic has made their lives a misery and their appeals for traffic-calming

  • Party time for Ashton battlers

    ASHTON Gardens will be alive with the sounds of all the fun of the fair on Monday. The Supporters of Ashton Gardens Group have organised a fun day and garden party to raise funds for the gardens. Family favourites the Roly Polys and singer Linda Nolan

  • This is why we get all UPSET!

    I RECEIVED a letter this week from an Atherton reader, I will not name him, asking why is it we women get so upset about such a little thing as men leaving the toilet seat up. He asks if it is such hard work to put it back down. No, it's just an infuriatingly

  • Applications on the up

    LANCASTER University has received more applications than ever - despite a drop in applications nationally. Lancaster had a 16 per cent increase following last week's A level results. Nationwide there was a four per cent drop. Lancaster came out of the

  • Sex drug is put to the test

    TRADING Standards bosses say they will know the results of medical tests into Viagrex, a pill claimed to rival the impotency drug Viagra, by the end of the week. The tablet - which The Citizen exclusively revealed was being sold from an adult shop in

  • Party stripped of power

    BURNLEY Labour Party has been stripped of its power to select council election candidates - in a bid by regional party bosses to stamp out factionalism and in-fighting in the troubled group. The sensational move has angered some local party members who

  • Soccer legend at Christie Park

    SIR Bobby Charlton is coming to Morecambe Football Club. The world cup winner will attend the Shrimps' big match with Southampton on Wednesday night, itself something of a coup for the club. Matt Le Tissier and Mark Hughes are pledged to play in the game

  • Park in the wars

    West Park 12 Rumney 38 AFTER being disappointed by Wirral, Sedgley Park and Widnes in their attempts to find pre-season warm-up games, West Park were no doubt pleased to find strong opposition in visitors Rumney who had similarly been let-down by Fylde

  • Waste not! Valuable find in skip

    HAVE you ever picked up a map only to find the place you're looking for isn't on it? Most people would be irritated by the inconvenience. But workers at Lancashire Waste Services were over the moon when they found the global map in a skip in Salt Ayre

  • Cricket: St Helens hit by Bootle blitz

    ST HELENS CC suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of free-scoring Bootle on Saturday. Bootle's opening pair remained unbeaten with the score on 204 after only 35 overs. John Bean, dropped on seven, went on to score 115 not out, while John Hitchmough made

  • More gloom for council's legal team

    COUNCIL chiefs could soon find themselves in court again with old adversary, TV personality Noel Edmonds, the Citizen can exclusively reveal. As the battle of Blobby rumbles on beleaguered officers have once again incurred the wrath of the star and could

  • Cricket: Rainford held up

    RAINFORD had to settle for a draw as they continued their promotion push against league leaders Litherland on Saturday. Winning the toss, skipper Harrison invited the visitors to bat and then rolled out the big guns in the shape of Finney and Schofield

  • Disgrace at Starr Gate

    DISGRACE, awful, disgusting, intolerable - what am I referring to? The compound of trailers, tractors, concrete sea-bed stacks, dust, noise and vibration from Starr Gate car park and Promenade. Letters to Blackpool Council go unanswered, telephone calls

  • Tennant tamers Daf

    ST Annes recorded their second 15 points win of the season with a 16 runs victory over high-flying Leyland Daf on Saturday (Aug 22). Brian Tennant, the St Annes captain, won the toss and elected to bat. Adrian Darlington and Eldine Baptiste put on 25

  • Denis Whittle talks with Saints coach Shaun McRae

    JOURNEY into the unknown. That was Shaun McRae's assessment of his forthcoming move to newly-franchised club Gateshead. WHITTLE: So Super League's most successful coach is heading for pastures new. When did you actually put pen to paper? McRAE: It was

  • Fox on the runs!

    'FOX stopped play' for the Gregson Cricket Club last week. After a long day's play the Lancaster team were close to victory. All they had to do was bowl out the last batman from the Sussex outfit, Bexhill... the only trouble was they only had four balls

  • Here's lookin' at you kid!

    MARY Mellor was just 14 when she waved goodbye to her friend, Edna Roworth, after the war had thrown them together for their high school years. This week, Edna crossed the Atlantic from New York to Blackpool to look up her closest wartime friend, in a

  • Inquiry into estate repairs

    HOUSING chiefs have promised a full inquiry following a catalogue of complaints about modernisation work to council homes. Angry tenants and councillors have joined forces to demand answers to a number of worrying questions about slipshod work and the

  • Football: Comb set for kick-off

    THE St Helens Combination's 1998-99 season begins on Tuesday September 1 when St Helens Star Premier and Division One matches kick off at 6.15pm. Globe FC who were relegated to Division One last season have changed their name yet again and will now go

  • Football: Points in the bag for Town

    Holker OB 1 St Helens Town 4 A ROARING start and a big finish wrapped up three more points for Town. But in between they huffed and puffed around a situation which was always theirs for the taking. Subs Glen Walker and Paul Clarke will remember this one

  • Lining up the winter warmers

    THERE'S a cracker of a Christmas just around the corner at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Not only can you be entertained by some of the country's finest comics and voices, the spectacular show Eclipse is being reintroduced as a winter warmer. Starring the

  • Port Vale bid for Clarets stars

    BURNLEY have rejected an audacious double bid for Andy Cooke and Glen Little from Port Vale. Vale boss John Rudge, who watched Cooke score twice for the Clarets in their 2-1 win over Millwall on Tuesday night having made his approach some time earlier

  • Cricket: Resurgent Rams hit third place

    RAMSBOTTOM'S rapid rise up the LANCASHIRE LEAGUE table continued on Saturday with an eight wicket triumph over Accrington. The Thorneyholme Road club clash was the only game with a result and took the Rams up to third place. With ten overs lost to the

  • Raids fail to find Louis' attacker

    EARLY morning police raids failed to find the men police believe are responsible for the Samurai maiming of Louis Makin. Mr Makin's condition is still giving grave cause for concern at Bolton Royal Infirmary where he had a 40-pint blood transfusion following

  • Tree plan takes root in the park

    A TREE-planting scheme in Blackpool's premier park has put down roots with people wanting to commemorate their loved ones. The Friends of Stanley Park, aiming to plant 200 trees in time for the millennium, has appealed for people to donate trees in memory

  • Robber drags woman victim, 78, on ground

    A VICIOUS mugger dragged a woman in her 70s along the ground before making off with her handbag and a large amount of cash. The 78-year-old woman was attacked as she walked along an alleyway with her sister. The two elderly women were visiting a friend

  • Joe saves last bus

    LEIGH'S late night 658 bus service has been saved - for now! But if passengers don't use it over the next three months it could be lost forever. Transport chiefs stepped in to save the 11.05pm service after operator FirstManchester decided to withdraw

  • England cricket selectors let us down

    JUST when I think the England cricket selectors are getting it right by opting for youth they make another drastic error. They have failed to keep a consistent side together, after dropping Andrew Flintoff, even though they won two Test matches. It was

  • Riddle of body found in house

    A 54-year-old man who died after a fire started at his home may have been overcome by fumes, it has been revealed. The body of James Ingham, of Higher Antley Street, Accrington, was discovered in an upstairs room after a fire on Tuesday night. Neighbours

  • Bury FC: Positive Shakers in shut-out mode

    BURY 1 - CREWE ALEXANDRA 0 THREE league games - no goals conceded, the Gigg Lane goal-misers are back in business! But don't let that statistic fool you into believing the Warnock revolution has instilled a large chunk of negative thinking into the Shakers

  • Danni is highlight at music feast

    AUSTRALIAN babe Danni Minogue is one of the star attractions for a feast of music at Hilton Park over this Bank Holiday Weekend. The singer cum actress cum presenter is just one of the big names who have confirmed their appearance at Hilton Park '98,

  • Bugs rubbish!

    A STOMACH bug scare over sandwiches dropped on Blackpool beach was slammed by a resort health chief. Holiday Which? magazine carried out a survey of health risks on ten British beaches by dropping bread rolls, butter-side down, on the sand and analysing

  • Safety seminar

    A SEMINAR will be staged next week to help firms deal with hazardous substances. The Business Environment Association will host the event at Burnley Business Centre on Wednesday. Speakers will include representatives from the Health & Safety Executive

  • Tom Parker with World Cup '94

    THE land of baseball and basketball landed the World Cup finals with apparent disinterest in the United States, while the rest of the world lapped it all up. Brazil arrived with a new team and a new style. The all-out attack had gone, now it was a mixture

  • Search for field of hope

    A FIELD of Hope to help cancer sufferers has been given the go-ahead. It follows an approach from Marie Curie Cancer Care, but appropriate sites have still to be found and sufficient sponsorship promised. The field is an area of land for which individuals

  • Little problems when dining out

    Food News, with Christine Rutter A THIRD of British adults eat out at least two or three times a month. But when it comes to dining out with children, the majority of parents claim British restaurants are anything but child-friendly. The days of youngsters

  • Wheel of fortune

    A MOTHER and her daughter are turning circles to raise money for the hospital which saved their singing hero. Mary and Michelle Lowe, pictured, will climb aboard Blackpool's Big Wheel for a 12-hour marathon in aid of the Joe Longthorne Gene Scanner Appeal

  • Plumber goes it alone

    PLUMBER Chris Ormerod has tapped into business support to launch his own venture. After working for Pendle Council for 11 years Chris decided to realise his lifetime ambition and start his own business. Chris went through the FirmBase programme for small

  • Caring cabbies get help for disabled

    ALL local cabbies are to receive a caring new handbook which should help make travelling for the disabled more comfortable. The Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority has launched the new publication "The Taxi and Private Hire Drivers' Handbook

  • A little ray of sunshine

    A HUGE teddy bear brought a ray of sunshine into the life of brave leukaemia sufferer Harriet Sharp when they met on a shopping trip. The seven-year-old from Thornton, who has been fighting her illness since being diagnosed last December, found Sunshine

  • The bug is coming...and they're not ready!

    ALMOST one in four firms have not started to tackle the Millennium problem in their computer systems, a shock report has revealed. The North West Chambers of Commerce survey, including firms in East Lancs, found close on 25 per cent had either not begun

  • Pretty as a picture

    MEET the St Helens Star's winning First Baby of 1998... delightful Mary O'Neil. Baby Mary is pictured with proud parents Steve and Catherine receiving their prize of a 10x8 portrait from sponsor Terry Brunskill of J. Brunskill and Associates Photographers

  • Dancing queens

    THEY'RE destined to be real dancing queens, or at least princesses. For Hannah Smith, 9, and Rebekah Jones, 6, are already dance champions. Hannah won a junior dance bursary at Morecambe's Dance Festival while Rebekah won two baby cups and a bunch of

  • Turning green to gold(Pic:derekandcath)

    GREEN could soon be turning to gold for urban rangers Cath and Derek Lomas. The Lilford Park-based couple (pictured) have been spearheading a campaign which could see Wigan Council being named the country's Greenest Council. Their work has already pitched

  • Bumpy roads ahead for access group

    LOCAL disabled drivers claim the increasing use of speed humps on the district's roads is making their lives a misery. Lancaster District Access Group want the local authority to rethink its traffic calming plans after disabled drivers described how going

  • Thieves grab property worth £1,000

    PROPERTY worth more than £1,000 was stolen from a house in Hoghton Road, Sutton this weekend The intruders broke the glass in the front door and stole electrical goods including a TV, video recorder, hi-fi system as well as various ornaments. Anyone with

  • Margaret beats the shame

    WHEN Margaret Case saw photographs of herself at her son's wedding two years ago she was ashamed of herself. She was so horrified that she geared herself up for slimming action. Now she has lost six and a half stones - and is so proud of herself (pictured

  • Calling all our local Fusiliers

    CALLING all Lancashire Fusiliers who served in Osnabruck. This year's reunion is at the Castle Armoury, Bury, on Friday, September 11. Invitation to attend is for all LFs. and anyone interested should muster at the Royal Naval Club, Volunteer Street,

  • Service for bereaved parents

    THE Compassionate Friends will be holding a service for bereaved parents at the United Reformed Church, Ormskirk Street, on Wednesday, September 2, at 7.30pm. The local branch of the organisation was founded in 1985 by Pat and Ken Muskett and Norma and

  • Head over heels for a bit of fluff!

    A HALTON cyclist had to be taken to hospital after a sheep knocked him off his bike this week. The 67-year-old bike enthusiast was cycling at speed near Hornby when the sheep appeared and knocked him to the ground. Ambulancemen had to rush the pensioner

  • Fond memories of the last trolley

    READER Enid Kennerly loaned The Journal this photographic memory of her father, Harry Greenall. For many years he was a maintenance worker at the LUT Atherton Depot. Harry, who died aged 80 in 1995, is pictured after making late adjustments on The Last

  • Police probe chain of thefts

    A YOUNG cyclist who left his bike in a relative's front garden couldn't believe his eyes when he left to make his way home. For his bike had been stolen and replaced with another one. And when he contacted the police it was discovered the bike that had

  • Holiday fun at the Mill Gate

    BANK Holiday shoppers will be entertained by a host of musicians in Bury's Mill Gate on Monday. The centre is open for business from 10.30am to 4.30pm and a range of attractions has been lined up for the Funday. Music will come from Dean Torkington, an

  • Fears over derelict land

    THE threat derelict land in Bury poses to potential land contamination will come under the spotlight at a major seminar. And the event will also focus on impending government regulations which could cost companies "significant amounts of money." The Business

  • Tina's a star performer

    Superstar! Tina Yu, a Bury CE High pupil, was one of the top performers in yesterday's GCSE exams - she gained 11 straight A* grades! Youngsters across the borough were yesterday finding out how they had done in this summer's GCSE exams, and there was

  • Bike thugs rob boys

    POLICE are searching for two youths, in their late teens, who picked on a 12-year-old boy and his nine-year-old brother. The two younger boys were walking along West End Road, Haydock, after going to a local store at about 3pm on Thursday, August 13.

  • Man of steel for Leigh

    LEIGH will this week unveil their very own Man of Steel. Ian Millward is set to become coach at Hilton Park. Widely regarded as one of the best up-and-coming young coaches in Australia, he was yesterday (Wednesday) on the brink of signing a contract.

  • Bury FC: Shakers duo off to Turf Moor

    BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent has swooped to solve his defensive inadequacies by signing Shakers stars Peter Swan and Gordon Armstrong. The duo move over to Turf Moor for an undisclosed fee, believed to be worth over £40,000 to the Gigg Lane club. While transfer-listed

  • Eagles nearly bowled over

    THE Eagles (Leigh last year when they were Division One runners-up, Bowling Green for this new season in the Leigh & District Amateur Football League) were almost bowled over as a new campaign kicked off. Two early goals saw them struggling at Atherton

  • Pride Guys show the way

    PRIDE was restored for Astley & Tyldesley Cycle Speedway riders on Saturday. They clinched third spot in the final round of the British Junior League - with Damien Hack scoring a maximum 16 points at U16s. Good scores too from Robert Black (U13s)

  • Workmates team up for brave tot

    TWO local firms are teaming up in aid of a worthy cause. Staff from distribution company Bookers and food company Pataks - both based at Haydock - have organised a sponsored soccer match to raise money for two-year-old Megan Calveley and Manchester Childrens

  • Wet, wet, wet!

    FORMED in 1848 it is Leyland Cricket Club's 150th anniversary and a poster inside the pavilion advised patrons that the Hoghton Weavers would shortly be appearing in concert for one of their celebratory events. On Saturday (Aug 22) at Fox Lane it would

  • Houses cleared in gas leak scare

    HOMES were evacuated and a busy main road closed following a major gas leak in Darwen today. A main pipe was struck at the junction of Hollins Grove Street and Blackburn Road at 9.30am by contractors who are replacing sewers. A section of the A666 was

  • Pearson's tops for Bond Street

    BEST darts of the week in the Old Lowton D&D League came from S Pearson of Bond Street Caths (7) and Lowton Labour's A Morris (10). Results (domino scores in brackets): Leigh East 0 (8) Bond Street Caths 7 (1), Bridge Inn 5 (2) Leigh Bowling 2 (7)

  • On the war path!

    MEMBERS of the Sealed Knot have re-enacted the 1648 Battle of Red Bank between Oliver Cromwell's Roundheads and the Royalists at the historic site in Newton - almost 350 years on. The battle was part of a bloody three-day running fight from Preston through

  • Gas leak leaves mum with a giant headache

    A SINGLE mother today claimed one headache has turned into another after she reported a suspected gas leak at her council home. Kerry Liddle, 18, says she and her 12-month-old daughter Chantelle Cooney have been left in the cold since a leak was discovered

  • Double delight as Miners run riot

    LEIGH MR posted early notice of their title ambitions. On the opening day a new Rugby League season, they hammered Heworth 64-6 - to the delight of coach John Webster. Ex-professionals Andy Collier, Paul Daniel and Steve Flannery showed super class, MoM

  • £7.5m decision to seal police station's future

    THE FUTURE of Blackburn's Victorian police station looks set to be decided at County Hall tomorrow. Home Office officials confirmed earlier this year that £7.5million has been set aside for a new police station in Blackburn. The scheme has been given

  • Seven up and down

    EVERGREEN Tom Milmine's Seven Up spurred Glazebury to a great win. They beat Vulcan by three wickets with Milmine's 7-25 destroying the opposition who finished on 100. Glazebury, too, found runs hard to find, but won at 102-7 with skipper Gareth Banks

  • Doctor loses cancer battle

    A DOCTOR who provided medical help to the crowd at Blackburn Rovers games has lost her fight against cancer. Susan Elizabeth Holroyd, a GP at Montague Health Centre, died on Sunday at her home on Pleasington Lane, Blackburn, aged 45. John Newsham, safety

  • Three off as the ref sees red

    EX-Super League ref Colin Morris could be standing on a Red Carpet himself. His handling of Sunday's Battle of Hilton Park will be a major cause for concern for RL bosses. In a sensational final 15 minutes he sent off three Widnes players in a procession

  • Top crown as A&T land title

    THEY'RE feeling champion down at Astley & Tyldesley. They were clear winners of the Leigh & District Midweek Bowling League, six points ahead of closest rivals Leigh Bowling A. Also in the frame: Hindley Green Social 69, Atherton Libs A 57, Leigh

  • Bumble's sin is in the eye of the Lord's

    GLENN Hoddle really must have God on his side - just ask David Lloyd. Where Hoddle may escape from his abuse of the sanctity of the confessional, Lloyd, it would seem, must play by a completely different set of rules. And the worry for local sports fans

  • Arson-hit school prepares for pupils

    TWO-thirds of fire-ravaged Coney Green High School at Radcliffe will be out of action when the 550 pupils return for the new term next Thursday. A major portion of the Spring Lane building will be closed off to staff and children as repair work continues

  • Top priority for ice blackspots

    MOTORWAYS and a main road plagued by accidents are to be given priority over other East Lancashire routes as part of a scheme to combat winter ice. And Lancashire County Council is set to adopt a policy promising that, in bad weather, the M65 and other

  • It's time to cheer Saints

    ALL I ever read is people moaning about the Saints board. Last week Mr Ellard invited me to meet the players on the same day I phoned him. I phoned after reading the Star to ask him what was going on, because I was upset. Him and Mr Kay and Mr Hughes

  • Late winner sinks second string

    Sheffield Wednesday Reserves 1 Burnley Reserves 0 TRIALIST goalkeeper Frank Petter Kval was beaten five minutes from time as the Clarets went down to their first defeat in Pontins League Division One. Alan Quinn won a free-kick on the left which he hit

  • TV documentary brings new hope to hostage dad

    THE father of Blackburn hostage Paul Wells is hoping a documentary series about his son's disappearance will prompt the release of new information about the case. Bob Wells and relatives of Paul's fellow captive, Keith Mangan from Middlesbrough, were

  • Nursing is so stressful

    I'VE just read the letter in the paper headed 'Bloody Smokers'. I know smoking is bad for you, but nursing is a very stressful job and I'm sure if (God forbid) Mr K Swinton ever needed one of these nurses in a life or death situation would he refuse their

  • Bizarre sex secrets of park rapist

    A FIEND who carried out a horrific rape told his victim about a bizarre catalogue of sex secrets which police believe could still lead to his capture, three years after the attack. Detectives investigating the Billinge Woods rape have revealed that the

  • Thanks a million folks...

    COULD you possibly find space in the St Helens Star, to thank all the sponsors who have supported my efforts to raise money, through the St Helens and Warrington branch of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, for the Stroke Society based at Windle Pilkington

  • Sound of pubs' golden era

    PENSIONER Ann Parker had her thoughts whisked back to the golden era of the pub singing room by recent mention of 'fifties keyboard king Jack Harrison. Jack tickled the ivories at the Travellers Rest at a time when most local pubs basked in a warm family

  • Different types of noise nuisance

    I WOULD like to point out to "all open air events should turn it down" (Letters Aug 13) that I am not against people airing their views but the corespondent is wrong to put the open air concerts in the same category as noisy neighbours. I, like most people

  • Events in East Lancashire tomorrow (Friday, Sept 4th)

    American Line Dance, Accrington Town Hall, 8pm. Voulez Vous, Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre, 7.30pm. Concert by Colne Orpheus Glee Union male voice choir, with guest soloist Lynn Slater (soprano) Foulridge Village Hall, 7.30pm. Women's Centre offers health

  • Glass sticks and old timepieces

    HERE are a couple of teasing yedscratters to set the grey matter in motion. Firstly, Peter Rutherford, one-time manager of St Helens Town, tells us that he faintly recalls that an old St Helens watering hole once had a display of glass walking sticks

  • Chamber's concern over vandalism to resort's businesses

    THE Morecambe and Heysham Chamber of Trade is seriously concerned about acts of criminal damage and vandalism against commercial property in the area. We are particularly interested in cases where the offender has been apprehended by the police but not

  • Joy of seeing children's faces

    I APPEARED at the Theatre Royal for the first time in the 1950s with the Pilkington Choral Society in Merry England when the Theatre Royal reopened after Pilkington took over the running of the theatre. Later I joined the South West Lancs Operatic Society

  • Hands across the Ocean

    A TWO-man delegation is travelling to meet city fathers in Woodbury, America, as part of Bury's ambitious plans to sail into the Millennium. Bury Council chief executive Dennis Taylor and Millennium co-ordinator Adrian Frost will lay the foundations for

  • Copter down near death crash spot

    A HELICOPTER owned by a Clitheroe firm made an emergency landing in a field just 300 yards from where millionaire football tycoon Matthew Harding was killed in a crash two years ago. The aircraft, owned by Griffair Helicopter Services of Bolton-by-Bowland

  • Funding crisis for kids' scheme

    A PIONEERING Bury scheme to help young victims of sexual abuse is in desperate need of funding. The KYPASH Project (Keeping Young People Active, Safe and Happy) is an arts based programme which provides vulnerable youngsters with a week of fun activities

  • We do care about theatre

    REGARDING the article 'Who Cares About Theatre' by Miss E Rigby. Not everyone would agree with your comments. What about the young people and people of all ages who rehearse solidly for a year in order to perform for one week on the stage at the Theatre

  • Deadlock in rumpus over new mosque site

    MUSLIMS and councillors have failed to find a site for a mosque in Clitheroe. Muslims are appealing against Ribble Valley Council's decision to turn down their plan to build a mosque in the centre of town. Mohammed Arshad wants to erect the structure

  • We will have the best not the last resort!

    I WAS interested in the letter from DJ Evans of Gringley Road (August 20). In thirty-five years living in this area I have never seen crowds like those attracted to major events in Morecambe during this summer. I'm even wondering whether we will be able

  • This government has misled the pensioners

    THE National Pensioners Convention together with Trade Union Congress are to make representations to the government concerning the way it has misled pensioners. Our older people were sold the idea that the so-called minimum income guarantee, due to come

  • Same old Wisdom, lost direction

    Shelley Wright reviews Lee Evans at King George's Hall, Blackburn. WHEN I first saw Lee Evans five years ago he was the brightest star on the circuit, hailed as a comic genius who was all set to become the next big thing. He had arrived on stage in Oldham

  • Teens in top G&S tune

    THE critics were simply bubbling with enthusiasm. St Mary's RC High youngsters again grabbed the headlines as their production of "Pirates of Penzance" packed the Opera House at the annual international Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Buxton. And,

  • LETTER: Criticism way off the mark

    THE writer of the letter entitled 'Police a Joke' (Citizen, August 6), has no conception of police officers or the work they do. They should have found out before writing in. Police suffer verbal and physical abuse from the public. Then there is the frustration

  • Don't forget the environment!

    LOCAL businesses are being asked to face up to their environmental responsibilities as the 21st century approaches. The move comes from Preston Borough Council as part of the Local Agenda 21 Initiative, a project which derived from the 1992 Rio Earth

  • Peak practice!

    EXPERIENCED climber Bill Roberts might not have climbed every mountain - but it's not for want of trying. The BNFL employee is hoping to become part of a breathtaking record attempt this month when he takes to the Scottish mountains in aid of charity.

  • Full marks in A levels

    STUDENTS across Lancashire are preparing to pack their bags and head for university after local colleges reported a bumper crop of A-level successes. Leyland's Runshaw College looks set to consolidate its position at the top of the further education college

  • His Highway Code is out of date

    W. WHITEHEAD (Your Letters, August 21), feels that 50 years of cycling gives him the right to speak with some authority on the subject. Unfortunately, the current version of the Highway Code has not been around for that length of time. So if he wishes

  • Music festival faces the axe

    A CHILDREN'S music event which has attracted audiences for more than half a century could be axed due to lack of cash. Organisers behind the Preston Music Festival for Schools, which has been held in Preston for 52 years, say the event could be called

  • Flag day for crooks!

    PRESTON Police are urging homeowners to be on their guard for back-yard thieves. Ten incidents of thefts from back-yards in Preston have been reported in the past three weeks, the latest involving the theft of stone flags and garden equipment from the

  • Statistics support gay condemnation

    CHRISTINE Holt (Your Letters, August 7), complains about myths surrounding homosexuality. But I fear she is herself guilty of simply repeating gay lobby propaganda. She ignores the crucial distinction between the individual homosexual, for whom I can

  • Treasure found in skip

    HAVE you ever picked up a map only to find the place you're looking for isn't on it? Most people would be irritated by the inconvenience. But workers at Preston-based Lancashire Waste Services were over the moon when they found the global map in a skip

  • 'Lovejoy' conmen alert

    PENSIONERS are being warned to be on their guard for a group of conmen posing as Lovejoys - the TV series about an antique dealer. Following a spate of incidents in the Bamber Bridge and Lostock Hall areas of Preston, police have urged elderly residents

  • Price of free speech

    SPARE a thought for the elderly folk living in Lancaster's Fair Elms and Dolphinlee Old People's home. They like living where they are, it's their home and the last thing they want is to be forced to leave because of a county council cost cutting exercise

  • FIVE YEARS AGO: Luxury homes plan

    PLANS to convert a former paper mill site into a luxury development of more than 100 detached homes were put before Blackburn Council. Sun Paper Mill, Feniscowles, was closed by owners SCA in 1992 with the loss of 160 jobs. Negotiations between property

  • Who said romance is dead?

    Not the Citizen - just ask wife-to-be Janet Bamber who gets hitched later this year. Just months after Janet left her number on the Citizen's lonely hearts voicemail, she was preparing to tie the knot with love-struck Blackburn man John Walsh. And as

  • TEN YEARS AGO: Nurses set to strike

    ANGRY nurses in East Lancashire were set to mount their first-ever strike next week - and deliver a piercing protest to visiting Junior Health Minister Edwina Currie. Nursing staff were set to walk off the wards for two hours in Burnley and Rossendale

  • Stepping out for peace

    WE always knew that our local lads and lasses serving in Bosnia had hearts of gold - but now it's official. Under the watchful eye Major Tracy Carter at Sipovo, 5 Field Ambulance runs a community care project for the people of Bosnia known as G5. Going

  • Listen, but don't ignore

    OPPOSITION councillors have slammed Blackburn with Darwen's ruling Labour group for spending £38,000 on a survey to find out what people think of the council. But we believe it is right for local authorities to "listen" as much as they can. And there

  • A small town which will not let the bombers win

    JUST over six months ago former Preston Citizen reporter Chris Kershaw visited the Northern Ireland town of Omagh, scene of the worst atrocity in the country's troubled history. He spoke to a Preston girl who was caught up in the bomb blast which claimed

  • Hospital plan welcome, but is it enough?

    AGAINST the grim background of turned-away and discharged patients committing suicide and, in one case, also killing someone else, the improvements to mental health care at Blackburn's Queen's Park Hospital in the form of the new £6.76million unit are

  • ICE HOCKEY: Hawks swoop to land exciting new imports

    NEW-LOOK Blackburn Hawks are ready to take the English Premier League by storm. Hawks today revealed two more import captures just days before the new campaign fires off - bringing the number of new faces at the Arena to seven. Highly-rated Canadian forward

  • Student success sweeps St Helens

    STUDENTS from St Helens have soared to super A-Level success. Their results showed an overall pass rate of 86 per cent - five times larger than the national increase. Education director Colin Hilton enthused: "This is excellent news. It means many students

  • CRICKET: Crawley storms to top of the run charts

    JOHN Crawley is the leading batsman in English county cricket - official. The Lancashire run machine continued his wonderfully consistent season with a ton against Derbyshire, taking his tally for the summer to 1,495 - in the process passing Middlesex's

  • Althorp a delight

    ON THURSDAY, August 20, my husband and I visited the final resting place of Princess Diana at Althorp Hall, in Northampton. We arrived soon after 10am and were encouraged to wander round at leisure and stay as long as we wished. All the staff were local

  • CRICKET: Neil's top ten

    As Lancashire prepare for Saturday's NatWest Trophy Final, one player has special reason for relishing the challenge NEIL Fairbrother goes into his record-breaking 10th Lord's final on Saturday remembering a piece of advice given to him by David Hughes

  • Questions go unanswered

    THE recent annual general meeting of Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale NHS Trust was well attended - mainly by NHS staff 'coralled' specially for the event - unlike the normal bi-monthly board meetings, which rarely provoke any public interest. One reason

  • Super chance for town

    IF REPORTS are true that Safeway is considering opening a supermarket in Great Harwood (LET, August 26), it would be a vote of confidence in our town. We have been crying out for inward investment. However, there will be a number of implications. There

  • Gate pipped at the post!

    SQUIRES Gate's home game against Tetley Walker in division two of the Nowrth West Trains League got off to a slow start, with a swirling wind affecting control on both sides. The visitors were the first to attack, but Gray in the home goal kept out all

  • 'Experts' lack knowledge

    AFTER the spate of serious motor cycle accidents throughout our region, how sad and inappropriate were the remarks of Hyndburn Council's group engineer Mr David Law. Following complaints of speeding motorists and eight previous accidents - including one

  • Sainsbury claim public support for new store

    SAINSBURY'S is claiming public support for its plans to redevelop Burnley's former Prestige factory site into a major shopping centre. The company and partners Thornfield Developments say local consultation has shown 80 per cent of 136 people who took

  • Vine talent hunt

    REBORN amateur Rugby League side Vine Tavern are looking for players for their junior squads. Anyone interested should ring St. Helens 615117. Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion

  • Blues in row over Marshall

    LANCASTER City are caught up in a row with Scottish club Gretna over their two want away players Mark Dobie and Lee Marshall. City want £1,000 for last season's top scorer Dobie but Gretna are refusing to pay. Now City won't release Marshall to the scots

  • McRae joins Gateshead

    ONE of Rugby League's worst-kept secrets finally came out in the open yesterday (Wednesday) when Saints' Shaun McRae was named coach of Super League newcomers Gateshead. McRae will see the remainder of the season out at Knowsley Road. But he is being

  • Martial arts: Dave lands title

    KICK-BOXER Dave Wilson is on top of the world. It follows his success in clinching the International Kickboxing Federation's North West Light Heavyweight title at St Helens Town Hall. Dave, 23, has been training at the St Helens Martial Arts and Fitness

  • Watchdogs lose day hospital battle

    PATIENT watchdogs have admitted defeat in their 14-month battle against the closure of Burnley General's day hospital for the elderly. Community Health councillors won a temporary reprieve for the centre following a public outcry last year, but last night

  • Chris in run for his life

    LANCASTER youngster Chris Stoves will be running the race of his life on Sunday. Chris, 14, a member of Lancaster Athletic Club, will compete in the McDonald's Young Athlete League race at the prestigious SPAR British Challenge at Scotstoun Stadium in

  • Rugby feast in store

    A FEAST of junior Rugby League is in store on Bank Holiday Monday when the FAM Soft Drinks-sponsored Blackbrook Royals seven-a-side competition takes place at Boardmans Lane. Many of the stars of the future in the age groups from under sevens to under

  • Injury benefit

    A HAIRDRESSER from Poulton was the first patient to reap the benefits of the new MRI scanner this week. Cheryl Lawn, pictured with nurse Jane Kilkenny, sustained a knee injury more than 18 months ago which has worsened despite a long history of treatment

  • Cheers, but not here

    IF I remember rightly the idea for a French connection came from the Leigh side of the borough...via the French Circle at the Atherton Centre. It's now 10 years since the Metro link with Angers was made, and this week the borough is celebrating a decade

  • Opposition to kiosk plan grows

    PROPOSALS to create new fast food joints on Morecambe promenade by the city council has met with opposition. One owner of a nearby restaurant has said there is already opposition from cafe owners to the idea of building permanent food kiosks on the prom

  • Cricket: Shock defeat for Haydock

    HAYDOCK CC suffered their first defeat in six outings against bottom-of-the-table Dalton on Saturday. They suffered a blow minutes before the start with the loss of the Cross brothers. And worse followed as early wickets tumbled. Anthony Croston, a late

  • Shopping boss insists: 'We don't fear Trafford Centre'

    BURNLEY area shoppers have been given a direct link to one of Europe's largest retail parks - with Stagecoach offering a bus service to Manchester's massive new Trafford Centre. But an official responsible for the commercial life of Burnley was in a bullish

  • Vale in new bid for league status

    VALE of Lune rugby club's bid to claim their rightful place in the premier division starts a week on Saturday away at Preston GH. The club just missed out on promotion on the last day of the season last season - and still could have gone up when it emerged

  • Exiles head for LSH

    LIVERPOOL St Helens face attractive opposition in London Welsh as they stage their sponsors day at Moss Lane this Saturday. The action starts at 2.30, but the game will be divided into four quarters of 20 minutes. The Exiles boast a strong squad that

  • The show goes on!

    A LAST-MINUTE revamp was needed for the Grand Theatre's summer show when one of the stars needed quadruple heart bypass surgery. Graham Walker, one of The Grumbleweeds, underwent the life-saving operation at the end of last week at a Leeds hospital and

  • Million reasons to put on your thinking caps!

    THE race to spend a 'Million for the Millennium' hotted up this week with the formal launch of the city council's capital challenge scheme. Over the next four years there will be £1 million in the kitty to spend on the ideas generated by local people

  • Cricket: Champs hold Rainhill

    RAINHILL held on for a draw in their vital encounter with champions Caldy at Victoria Terrace on Saturday. After a delay due to rain, Caldy were invited to bat. And the opening pair completely dominated the Rainhill bowling, with the innings closing at

  • Just the (lottery) ticket!

    GET your tickets ready - the National Lottery is coming to Blackpool. Saturday's show will be televised live from the Grand Theatre for the final programme of a national tour, and guests will include Irish girl-band B*witched, pop veterans Culture Club

  • Food for thought as Leeks devour battered Shrimps!

    MORECAMBE boss Jim Harvey (pictured) refused to criticise his players after their embarrassing seven to nothing mauling - their worst defeat for 45 years. He admitted that his side were "way below par" after their second half collapse, but ascribed the

  • Great start for Brook

    Dewsbury Moor 6 Blackbrook 20 BLACKBROOK got their season under way with a comfortable 20-6 victory at Dewsbury Moor on Saturday. Despite a makeshift look about their line-up and a six-point deficit after just two minutes, the visitors were far more committed

  • A weird (and wonderful) weekend of folk

    TALL tales, sparking clogs and the worst singer in the world are just a few of the reasons to visit Fleetwood next weekend. Seventeen venues across the town will play host to more than 200 singers, dancers and artists for this year's Fylde Folk Festival

  • War vets act to save club

    BLACKPOOL'S White Eagle Club could soar into the future with the help of a rescue appeal. Users of the Hornby Road venue, known popularly as the Polish club, have launched an appeal committee to raise £21,000 needed to ensure its future. Founded as a

  • Cricket: Sutton clinch cracker

    SUTTON won a remarkable game against Ainsdale at New Street on Saturday to boost their fight against relegation. The visitors put Sutton in on a wet wicket but Hodgson and Das constructed an opening stand of 40 against the lightning pace of Simon Murphy

  • Rein in the Landaus

    SIR, - Like Councillor Peter Callow, I too would like to see Blackpool's landaus trotting off into the sunset for humane reasons. They may well be part of our Victorian heritage, but in this day and age they are nothing more than a pitiful sight, working

  • Saints' Boulevard bonanza

    Hull Sharks 6 Saints 20 Report by DENIS WHITTLE LINGERING doubts regarding Saints' top-five credentials must have been finally dispelled after this totally professional performance on Humberside on Sunday. A visit to the daunting Boulevard, and with its

  • Ban dogs from Cleveleys beach

    CLEVELEYS is a lovely seaside town, but why must it be spoiled by people letting their dogs mess on footpaths and on the beach. I thought by law dog owners are supposed to clear up and put it in the bins provided. Don't dog owners have any consideration

  • Lynx are stung

    TITLE hopes were given a big knock after Lynx suffered last minute heartache when the Wasps scored an injury time drop goal in the match which ended York Wasps 21 Lancs Lynx 20. However the only similarity to last week's loss was that a much improved

  • Aled returns for special songs of praise

    ALED Jones will be winging his way back to Blackpool to hold a thank-you concert for everyone involved in the MRI Scanner Appeal in November. Production and technical requirements are being discussed for the show which will take place at the Paradise

  • Bubbling under!

    NINE companies are waiting in the wings to bid for the multi-million pound redevelopment of the Bubbles site in Morecambe. A development brief for the Dome/Bubbles complex on the promenade has been drawn up and councillors hope an ambitious scheme will

  • Having a laugh at the library

    I WORK in the town centre and have watched the recent transformation to the outside appearance of the central library on Queen Street. Many people commented on the wisdom of such an expression of art in an area known for windy conditions. Several workmen

  • Fylde blooms reap awards

    BLOOMING marvellous! The Fylde Coast has come out on tops for its efforts to brighten up the North West. The region took four main trophies in this year's North West In Bloom competition. And if that wasn't enough, Poulton and Staining have been put forward

  • MPs in joint coastal bid

    MORECAMBE and Lancaster's best chance of getting Government cash to help bolster the local economy would be to team up with other Lancashire resorts, claims Geraldine Smith. The Morecambe MP has already contacted neighbouring MPs in a bid to put together

  • Cricket: Recs collapse

    A BATTING collaspe at Bolton consigned St Helens Recs to defeat on Saturday. Recs won the toss and asked Bolton to bat first. And, despite good bowling from Ford, the home side reached 100 without loss before Sackfield had to retire, hurt having dislocated

  • Minor accident sparked carnage

    A MINOR accident on the M6 turned into carnage with a Lancaster women being fatally injured, an inquest has heard. Following a collision on the M6 at Barnacre, Abid Patel got out of his car to warn other drivers but, unknown to him, his 25-year-old wife

  • Bury FC: Irish call for Kiely

    SHAKERS 'keeper Dean Kiely has been called up into the Republic of Ireland squad for their Group Eight European Championship clash against Croatia at Lansdowne Road, Dublin next Saturday. And that means he'll be unavailable for the Shakers difficult Birmingham

  • Question the big money man!

    LEIGH area businesses have an exclusive chance to quiz former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke about what a single European currency will mean to them. Mr Clarke is the guest speaker at this year's North West Business Lecture at Wigan Investment Centre, the

  • Tinsley fumes as City blow it

    CITY boss Alan Tinsley fumed at his team for 'throwing away' two points after this game "I'm extremely disappointed. Their equalising goal came from a mistake by our defender in the last five minutes. If we don't learn to hold on to our leads we will

  • Dahlin fights on for Rovers first-team place

    MARTIN Dahlin is set to fight on for a lead role at Ewood Park - for the time being at least. But manager Roy Hodgson admits it will become increasingly difficult to hang on to players on the fringe of the first-team action. That's not the case with captain

  • PNE 3 STOKE CITY 4

    FOR over a century these two teams have been doing battle against each other, but surely there can never have been anything to match this for excitement Preston stormed into action and inside the first five minutes had two chances to open the scoring.

  • Cricket: Sloppy Greenmount pay high price

    THE strains of Des O'Connor's "Careless Hands" could be heard in the Greenmount dressing room after their four wicket BOLTON LEAGUE defeat by title-chasing Tonge. After being restricted to 105 for 9 by the home club the village side contrived to spurn

  • Trio in the spotlight

    THREE stagestruck Fylde teenagers will be in the spotlight in Manchester. The actresses are all taking part in the Manchester Youth Theatre's three productions until September 5. Ruth Hage, 18, from South Shore, Suzy Rendell, 18, from Cleveleys, and Sarah

  • ST ANNES 122-7 LEYLAND DAF 106

    WITH league leaders Chorley beaten at Netherfield, Leyland Daf lost a chance to go back to the top of the table after St Annes beat them by 16 runs at Vernon Road. St Annes captain Brian Tennant won the toss and elected to bat. Adrian Darlington and Eldine

  • Empire pillaged

    BURGLARS broke into closed Morecambe nightclub The Empire at the weekend. The thieves cut telephone wires and stole an amount of property, including bottles of alcohol. Police are still waiting for owners Barnfield Construction to come up with a full

  • Thug mugs pensioner

    A TEENAGE thug lay in wait in a back alley in Morecambe before attacking a 74-year-old woman. The 16-year-old boy ran into the old lady who dropped her bag. He then made off with her leather handbag, spectacles, purse with £20 and house keys. He was described

  • Tops in the country at A-level

    ST Mary's RC High School, Astley, students have excelled in the recent A-level examinations. Three have won places at Cambridge University and the school has produced two of the top candidates in the country in A-level communication studies. Heading for

  • College on target with A-levels

    WIGAN and Leigh College students are on target for their first choice university places. An overall pass rate of 85pc for fulltime students at Wigan campus and 83pc at Leigh includes 139 grade A passes across the college. Twenty two subjects achieved

  • Missing woman found in canal

    THE body of a 57-year-old woman has been found in the St Helens Sankey Canal at Newton-le-Willows two days after her family reported her missing. Doreen Hamnett, from Wargrave Road, Newton, was discovered in the canal at the back of Newton Cottage Hospital

  • Thieves target pubs

    BURGLARS are targeting pubs in and around Carnforth. The George Washington at Warton was broken into on Friday and thieves stole £400 cash and £450 worth of cigarettes from the vending machine. They smashed open the charity box. Later The Nib pub was

  • Gang of 12 stole man's trainers

    AN 18-year-old man needed hospital treatment after being set on by a 12-strong gang of thugs as he waited for a taxi outside the Woodlands pub in Woodlands Road, Haresfinch. The attack happened at about 11.40pm on Friday, August 21 when the man was knocked

  • Looking at other lands...

    YOUNGSTERS in Newton were given the chance to learn about their neighbours in different countries when they took part in a Multi-Cultural Day at Newton Family and Community Centre. Volunteers representing various countries including China, India, Spain

  • Tops of the ops!

    WAITING lists for operations at Blackpool Victoria Hospital are on target to be cut by 1,000 by next Spring. As health secretary Frank Dobson announced a national cut of 45,000 from April to July, a Victoria hospital spokesman said its list had gone down

  • Mark's not good enough

    CAMBRIDGE University have told a top Preston student who scooped SIX As at A level that he hasn't made the grade. Mark Fryer, Hutton Grammar School's top A level student, was this week shocked by the snub, after celebrating his astonishing results. The

  • 'Father of Council' on mend

    BURY'S most senior councillor is now recuperating in Fairfield Hospital following a recent accident. Coun David Davies (90), the "Father of the Council", was first taken to Bury General Hospital after he broke his right arm and suffered extensive bruising

  • MP drops in on Chadwicks

    A BURY-based company, which has won two significant export awards, was visited by local MP Ivan Lewis. The Bury South MP was a guest of foil top lid and drinking straw manufacturers Chadwicks when he visited their headquarters in Villiers Street. And

  • Super League race hots up

    WITH the race for places in the Super League top-five entering the home straight, fourth-placed Saints will seek to extend their winning run to five games with the visit of Halifax Blue Sox on Sunday, kick-off 3pm. Further incentive for Saints is they

  • Such a real source!

    THE Introduction to Sources for Local History course will be running again from the middle of September. The course aims to make people aware of the range of documentary evidence available for local history study in the St Helens Local History and Archives

  • New horizons for pupils

    PUPILS in St Helens have been enjoying extra tuition during the summer break as part of St Helens Council's New Horizons summer school. The summer school is in operation at both St Cuthbert's RC Community High and Parr Community High and the aim is to

  • Baby born 22oz home and well

    MIRACLE baby Madeline Maye Jones is back home - three months after being born weighing just 22 OUNCES! And for mum and dad Gina and Vinny it was an emotional moment after the heartache of losing baby Chloe Louise nine years ago. Tiny Madeline arrived

  • Hair today, none tomorrow!

    DO you wanna be a record breaker? The chance is there for the taking as long as you DON'T keep your hair on! The Wishing Well Appeal is organising an attempt at the world record for the biggest number of people having their heads shaved in one hour. The

  • Heart-attack landlord recovering

    A PUB landlord who collapsed while telephoning police to report a burglary was yesterday (August 27) still in hospital. Police had to force their way into the Black Bull pub on The Rock, Bury, where they found manager Barry Pope slumped on the floor.

  • Funday to help brave Luke

    THE Luke Bryan Appeal Fund committee has decided to hold its second August Bank Holiday Fun Day at Haydock Cricket Club to helkp the brave Haydock boy paralysed in a freak rugby accident. Last year's event was attended by 2,000 people and the organisers

  • Bone of contention!

    RAMSBOTTOM mongrel Jaytee is at the centre of a row that is splitting the scientific world! The nine-year-old dog, pictured with owner Miss Pamela Smart (41) of Kay Brow, Ramsbottom, gained national fame with his uncanny ability to know when his mistress

  • Night out ended in terror

    POLICE are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed an indecent assault on a 34-year-old woman in the early hours of Friday, August 21. The woman was making her way home from a friend's house in Union Street, St Helens, at about 3am after a night out

  • MP welcomes waiting lists drop

    BURY North MP David Chaytor has welcomed news this week that hospital waiting list figures are falling nationally - and locally. He said: "Across the country hospital waiting lists have fallen by more than 45,000 over the last three months. I am delighted

  • Residents mark 25 years of community spirit

    ONE of the borough's biggest and oldest residents associations is to hold a celebratory meal to mark its Silver Jubilee. Members of the Brandlesholme Residents Association are to gather at the Bulls Head in Greenmount in October to mark the 25th birthday

  • Knifemen strike at petrol station

    TWO men escaped with the contents of a service station till after threatening the female cashier with a knife. The men walked in to the Elf Service Station on Piele Road, Haydock, posing as customers, and when the cashier opened the till one walked round

  • Shape of things to come

    OUTLINE plans have been submitted to St Helens Council for a commercial leisure scheme on land currently held by St Helens College. The scheme has been put forward by the Manchester-based developer CTP Limited and illustrations submitted show a futuristic

  • Housewife scoops bingo jackpot

    A 47-year-old housewife from St Helens has scooped more than £105,000 playing bingo at the town's Mecca Club - the third National Game winner at the Kirkland Street venue in in less than 10 weeks! Mecca manager Chris Wrigley said: "A few days before the