LEIGH East Wasps U8s ended the season in style with a flurry of tries to beat Chorley Panthers. They came from a Billy Allred hat-trick, the Brennan twins, Matthew Morrey, Reece Smith, Connor Prescott and Geordie Robertson. A hard game ended in injury
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Formation Dancing, Brunshaw Youth Centre, Morse Street, Burnley, 10am-noon. Blackburn School of Irish Dancing, West End Youth Club, Clayton Street, Blackburn, 10am-2pm
THE Johnny Knowles Leigh Tuesday Canal Open: 1st Kenny Buxton 12lbs 9oz, fished caster on the waggler; 2nd John Barton 7lbs 4.5oz, fished caster on the pole and waggler; 3rd Ian Barton 3lbs, fished bread and squatt on the pole; 4th Ricky Felton 1lbs 11oz
BLACK belt karate students don't come any younger than Lowton First Dan Anya Hoque. The Gilded Hollins schoolgirl has shone at the sport she took up four years ago and achieved more points than any student -- some five years older than her -- at a First
LEIGH RMI are set to renew hostilities with some faces from the past in the FA Trophy after being paired with Stalybridge Celtic. The UniBond League side boast RMI connections through their manager Dave Miller and coach Gerry Luczka who also served under
THE heavy rain that fell on Saturday morning caused the cancellation of Highfield United's home clash against Dukinfield Town. Despite the hard work that has gone into the Seedfield Sports Centre surface over the last 18 months it seems last weekend's
THE year-old BAR-U pubwatch scheme for Blackburn town centre venues has been heralded a success. Crime Reporter IAN SINGLETON went out with police in Blackburn to see what is being done. . . THE crackling message which burst out of the radio was tinny
IT'S not every day a new sports club is launched, but that's what local men Peter Entwistle and John Rooney did recently when they unveiled Fairfield Sports Club. "I was starting to think the day would never happen, what started as a kick about with a
JUST like a certain soap from 'Down Under,' it pays to be good neighbours, as the new manager of Ramsbottom United, Vince Overson found out. His next door neighbour, Ged Walsh, who has been looking after team affairs at the Riverside since Andy Grimshaw
ELTON VALE...2 NEW MILLS...5 ELTON'S tough battle to climb away from the bottom of the table took another setback as they once again found out when you're in that position, little goes your way in terms of luck. Vale peppered the visitors goal in a wind
Since he took over from Neil Warnock in the first week of December 1999 the player-boss has had a real rollercoaster ride of it. Administration, relegation, play-offs, the death of his second in command, Billy Ayre, and a massive reduction in the club's
THE pitch at Littleborough lies in the shadow of the M62, behind Hollingworth Lake, the feeder reserve for the Rochdale canal system. The pitch slopes and not only end-to-end, but it is convex across its width, this allied to a strong wing blowing down
SKELMERSDALE UTD...0 RAMSBOTTOM UTD...1 THE eagerly anticipated first match under the new management team of Vince Overson and Ged Walsh was a trip to Burscough's Victory Park to play Skelmersdale who are awaiting the development of a new stadium. Not
A DRUNKEN pedal cyclist was found asleep on the pavement after falling off his bike. Blackburn magistrates heard Paul Anthony Grunshaw thought someone was trying to steal his bike when police roused him. And his subsequent behaviour resulted in his arrest
SHOPPING on the wrong side of the road cost Joanne Charlson a night in police cells. Blackburn magistrates heard that Charlson was banned from entering an area of Blackburn town centre as part of a condition of bail. But a line indicating the area passed
IN reply to Councillor M Khan's letters (LET, November 25), I would like to know what criteria areas must meet before they are allowed a government funding grant? My area, Little Harwood, is a disgrace and getting worse year by year. Many of the houses
FURTHER Education Minister Ivan Lewis will visit Leigh tomorrow (Friday) to hear first-hand what the Leigh Sports Village means to local people. At Marshall Street College, he will speak to staff and students and see latest plans for the ground-breaking
MUSCLE men are being asked to flex their pecs in a competition to raise money for a Tottington youngster. Cheerz balloon shop, on Tottington Road, has arranged the event to help little Katie Scarlett McIntosh (5), of Scobell Street. Strongmen of the borough
WHO better to switch on Radcliffe's Christmas lights than the town's Boy and Girl of the Year, Roscoe Hastings and Lisa Ryan? They are pictured with the Mayor and Mayoress of Bury, Coun Wilf Davison and his wife Maureen who, like the rest of the crowds
ANIMALS helped spread a little Christmas magic, delighting crowds who had flocked to Bleakholt on Sunday (Nov 30) for the shelter's seasonal fair. Horses joined in the spirit of Christmas for a special "reindeer" parade at the annual fete, which also
BURY'S Mill Gate shopping centre is gearing up for Christmas with a sackful of festive ideas and attractions. Extended opening hours for Sunday will begin this weekend, with shops open from 11am to 5pm. Customers this weekend and the following Sunday
UP to 25 jobs at a Bury firm have been saved at the last minute after it clinched a £7 million contract for the new Wembley Stadium. Bosses at ductwork company Senior Hargreaves had announced in October that 20 to 25 redundancies would have to be made
WOODLAND wonderment greeted visitors to Philips Park in Whitefield as they followed a new tree trail. The trail, which has an information booklet to accompany it, has been launched to coincide with National Tree Week, which runs until Sunday (December
TWELVE mistakes made by health professionals caring for an elderly grandmother caused her death, a coroner told an inquest. A full inquest involving expert witnesses from across the country threw light on the death of Eveline Birtwell two and a half years
BIRTHDAY girl Margery Eckersall lapped up the life of luxury when she was treated to a limousine ride. And the chauffeur-driven surprise was just reward for Margery as she was celebrating her 101st birthday! Mrs Eckersall still lives in her own home in
FIVE motorists in the borough have been stopped by police for breaking new laws banning the use of mobile phones while driving. One of the drivers was issued with a £30 fine, while the others were given verbal warnings and advice on the current legislation
A FAMILY who escaped a house blaze in Radcliffe has joined forces with the fire brigade to warn of the dangers of novelty cigarette lighters. Seven people, including Carrie Withey and her three-year-old son Scott, were led to safety from a house in Ulundi
ESTATE agent Stephen Burns will be making himself at home in the living rooms of thousands of households across the region. For Mr Burns, who is a partner in Burns McBriar and Hall, is the subject of a fly-on-the-wall documentary to be aired on Granada
A NATIVITY scene handcrafted by children has been restored to provide a traditional touch to a village's Christmas celebrations. Young artists at Elton High School repaired the delicate figures which were created by pupils of the now-closed Affetside
AS Blackburn Rovers prepare to travel to Birmingham, there's no prizes for guessing who'll be the centre of attention at St Andrews tomorrow. David Dunn's much-publicised move to the Midlands in the summer attracted a huge amount of Press attention at
MAY I, on behalf of my members, reply to your article Jimmy is out in the Cold and the letter, Disgusted at Legion's Treatment of Disabled, published over the last two weeks. 1. The front page photo of a seemingly distressed Jimmy Jones caused great offence
A PRESTON man, whose life was turned upside down by a drink-drive car accident, is helping to launch a new police campaign. Kevin Fraser, 24, had his whole life ahead of him when he had a few drinks after work, and ended up in hospital for six months.
ANYONE who thinks being disabled means you can't do certain things is in for a surprise when they see the calendar put together by Preston's Disability Information Services Centre (Disc). The calendar which marks the end of the European Year of Disabled
TERRY Waite, who was taken hostage in Beirut in 1987 and subject to mock executions, came to Preston on Monday to appeal for £50,000 before Christmas. The Citizen reported last week that the former special envoy of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who negotiated
THE winter edition of Burnley Council's civic newsletter, Burnley Now!, is currently available. It gives people the chance to win £100 by answering surveys on the future of leisure centres in the borough and on the council's budget-making process. There
A LEAFLET for women and children suffering domestic violence has been released by Burnley's Community Safety Partnership. It contains information about where they can go for confidential help and support. The leaflet will be available through a number
LOWERHOUSE residents group had another charity night at The Lowerhouse Mills Club to help raise funds for their group. The residents and visitors had a brilliant night of entertainment with male vocalist Paul Ray. A big thank you to everyone who attended
A BURNLEY health visitor who helped a young mum through post-natal depression has won a national award. Jacqui Burrow, who is based at the St Nicholas Health Centre, in Saunder Bank, was named Outstanding Healthcare Provider of the Year at the Mother
RESIDENTS say they fear losing out on £200,000 of regeneration cash, after council bosses dropped the item in this week's Burnley Council executive committee. Householders in the Accrington Road and Trinity areas are worried they could miss out on the
AN East Lancashire MP wants to legislate for a minimum voting threshold for any referendum on an elected North West Assembly. Gordon Prentice, MP for Pendle, hopes to succeed if he gets a private member's bill through to the House of Commons. The last
POLICE were today hunting ram-raiders who tried to steal a cash machine from a Spar shop earlier today. The attempted robbery at the shop in Gisburn Road, Barrowford, at 4.20am led to a high-speed police pursuit across the county line into West Yorkshire
HOPPERS were totally destroyed by a bigger, faster and fitter Blaydon side whose skill levels were on a different plane. Facing the elements in the first half Hoppers struggled from the start and it took the north east side just five minutes to score.
Many people presume singer Charlie Landsborough is an American. But his origins are much closer to home, writes JOHN ANSON THE first thing that surprises you about Charlie Landsborough is the voice -- not the singing voice which has won him fans all over
FOR someone whose songs are so vividly emotional, Vonda Shepard is surprisingly low-key when it comes to talking about her own rollercoaster success story. It began in Los Angeles six years ago when a woman she describes as "an old friend" came to hear
A CHILDHOOD spent in Africa taught Matthew Houlding the value of recycling -- so much so that he has turned it into an art. He spoke to JENNY SCOTT. . . THERE'S a dream home made out of Burger King boxes and a water tower constructed from a salt shaker
THE idea of fluoridation of the water supply is to prevent tooth decay in children. However, most children these days seem to prefer bottled water. So would it not be better if bottled water were sold with a choice of fluoride added, or not? In this way
LET my experience, and that of my daughter, be a lesson to any brain-dead adult who chooses to buy alcohol for teenagers. My daughter is 13 and was left cold and alone, covered in mud, on a bench in a bus stop after consuming alcohol bought for her. Everyone
SAFE and easy guided cycle rides are to continue through the winter after proving popular with Pendle residents. Pendle Forest Cycling Club will lead rides on the third Saturday of each month after being impressed with the friendly atmosphere created
Residents sound festival blue notes A MAJOR review of the Colne Rhythm and Blues Festival is to be carried out after council bosses revealed community safety was "a major worry." The internationally-renowned event, which has been held for the last 14
UNION leaders have urged council house tenants in Hyndburn to reject a sell-off of council houses. A ballot is set to be held next year after a tenants' jury voted in favour of a stock transfer last month . If the ballot is in favour, ownership of the
A MASSIVE council tax hike and cuts in services could be on the cards in Hyndburn, after auditors found a massive hole in its finances which could make it bankrupt. Council leader Peter Britcliffe held an emergency meeting yesterday to tell councillors
COUNCIL chiefs in Ribble Valley want to crack down on illegal parking -- and create 25 new jobs in the process. In July, parking is set to become decriminalised, which means that the council will take over the responsibility for controlling illegal parking
FORMER East Lancashire MPs David Waddington and Doug Hoyle have clashed over government plans to kick hereditary peers out of Parliament. The row erupted as the House of Lords debated the Queen's Speech setting out the government's legislative programme
AN employment site study and inward investment efforts will come under the spotlight at Bury Economic Forum's meeting at Businesslodge in the town's Barcroft Street on Wednesday (Dec 10) from 10am to noon. Contact Kay Gregson at Chamber Business Connections
DELEGATES at the latest meeting of the Bury-based Greater Manchester Spirit at Work will certainly be playing their cards right! Speaker at the monthly event, to be held on Monday (Dec 8) at the St James' Centre in St James' Avenue, Woolfold, will be
BURY companies are being given the chance to pierce the bamboo business curtain. They are being offered the opportunity to expand their horizons and market their goods and services to potential clients in China later this month. Earlier this year, a delegation
FRENCH defender Arthur Gnohere returns to the Clarets side determined to shut out Sheffield United. Gnohere helped Burnley to a rare clean sheet in the impressive 3-0 home win over Reading, but missed last weekend's 1-1 draw at Sunderland due to a suspension
EDUCATION Minister Ivan Lewis visits Leigh tomorrow to hear first-hand what the Leigh Sports Village means to local people. The Minister will speak to students and staff at the Marshall Street campus of Wigan and Leigh College to get their views on the
A MAN is to be prosecuted for the manslaughter of a mother of two who died in a sand-yachting incident in St Annes. The 49-year-old man, from Doncaster, will be issued with a summons this week and is to be formally charged at Blackpool Magistrates Court
RESIDENTS in Highfield, Hawes Side, Marton, South Shore and Claremont will lose their existing libraries, Blackpool Borough Council has decided. Councillors voted 22 to 17 in favour of closing the libraries at last Wednesday's full council meeting, despite
AN independent expert believes parking fines issued to motorists in Bury could be invalid, regardless of whether the driver was in the wrong. Parking consultant John Squires believes the penalty charge notices (PCN) issued to drivers who over-stay their
WHEN a past pupil of Greenmount County Primary suggested holding a school reunion for those who attended as long as 65 years ago, former headteacher Mrs Sally Crompton joked: "Only if I'm was still around at 90!" And on Sunday (November 30) former pupils
TEENAGERS and students shone at a glittering occasion when they were presented with Duke of Edinburgh Award certificates. A packed Elizabethan Suite saw nearly 60 young people receive their awards from the Mayor of Bury, Councillor Wilf Davison, and education
THE "golden years" of holding health chiefs to account are over, according to Bury's disbanded watchdog group. Monday marked the end of an era for Bury Community Health Council (CHC) which, after 29 years of scrutinising decisions made by the local health
M.E.N. LEAGUE OLDHAM BOYS U15...6 BURY BOYS U15...1 BURY boys produced their worst performance of the season on a wild and wet morning at Chadderton. Problems started as early as the fifth minute when an Oldham player broke up some gentle interpassing
BURY GSOB first and second team players were left without a game when the recent rain surprisingly accounted for their respective Lancashire Amateur League fixtures at Little Lever and Rossendale on Saturday. The 3rd team travelled to Lymm where goals
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today admitted Rovers have missed the attacking qualities of David Dunn this season. Souness and his players will come face to face with Dunn for the first time since he left for Birmingham when the two teams meet at St Andrews
FORGET Knowsley Safari Park, if you want to experience a real jungle get down to Sedgley Park's Park Lane ground to see the Tigers and the Lions get it together. From January 1, 2004, there will be a meeting of the two rugby codes, after Sedgley Park,
DARWEN Vale High School pupils have taken their first steps in the working world by finding out more about having a full-time job. The final-year GCSE business students are in a mentoring scheme organised by Capita's training and recruitment department
A DRINK-DRIVER knocked a cyclist off his bike and collided with a stationary car after his vehicle went out of control in Queen's Park Road, Blackburn, a court was told. The town's magistrates heard that Mark Parry initially told police that another man
THREE suspected Class A drug dealers have been arrested in Darwen after police swooped on addresses in the town. The raids, which began at 7am yesterday, were co-ordinated by police investigating drug dealers from Merseyside who have been operating in
CONTROVERSIAL plans for a £50million wind farm in Edenfield are looking set to be blocked by councillors. A special meeting of the Rossendale development control committee is being held next Tuesday to discuss the proposals from United Utilities and Peel
A GOVERNMENT agency is to pump £10 million into two major projects to kick-start Blackpool's ambitious £1billion Masterplan. The North West Development Agency will give Blackpool Council £7.8 million to revitalise the area around the main road into the
THERE aren't many politicians who could pack out the Grand Theatre like Tony Benn did last week -- unless a set of stocks and some rotten fruit were involved. Accompanied by a flask of tea and his familiar pipe, Britain's most famous campaigner for socialism
TWO heroin addicts who persistently stole from shops to fund their addiction have been jailed for eight months. But Blackburn magistrates rejected a police application to have Jolene Wesley and Christopher Pagani banned from Blackburn town centre shops
WHEN Accrington Stanley lifted the UniBond Premier Division Trophy last season, Eric Whalley took a break from the norm and treated himself to a sip of champagne. But the Reds' chairman is adamant that, while he would love nothing more than to beat Bournemouth
A POINT from leaders Chester, three points from third-placed Barnet and collecting the Lancashire Sports Personality of the Year award - life couldn't get much better for Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman. But the icing on the cake for what has
ROSSENDALE United boss Paul Lynch is calling on his players to get over their away day blues and bolster his promotion and cup ambitions. While Dark Lane has been something of a fortress this season, Lynch wants his side to improve their results on the
COLNE chairman James Webster has paid tribute to manager Nigel Coates - after he won his second Division Two Manager of the Month award this season. Coates only took over in September when Paul Lynch left for Rossendale United but he has kept the Reds
STEVE Wilkes is expecting a game of two halves when Darwen travel to Holker Old Boys tomorrow. The Anchor Ground boss has good reason to use the tired old cliche thanks to Holker's wind-swept slopping pitch. "The pitch slopes from one goal to the other
NELSON kick off what manager David Hall describes as a "crucial month" against Formby tomorrow. The North West Counties Division Two leaders come to Victoria Park to start a month in which Nelson face a hat trick of big derby games against Darwen, Padiham
GED Walsh has hailed the arrival of next-door neighbour Vince Overson at Ramsbottom United. Overson made an excellent start to his reign at the Riverside after leaving Padiham as his new team won 1-0 at Skelmersdale United on Tuesday. Now his assistant
GREAT Harwood Town take on higher league opposition in the League Challenge Cup tomorrow - and manager John Hughes hopes it's the shape of things to come. Hughes takes the in-form NWCL Division Two side to Atherton LR for the second round clash hoping
LEE Sculpher has cured some back trouble by swooping to sign Rossendale United's Steve Bird on a month's loan. The Clitheroe manager, along with captain Adam Gardner, were the only defenders available for tomorrow's NWCL Challenge Cup second round tie
CHORLEY boss Mark Patterson has swooped to sign former Sheffield United and Bury defender Andy Woodward ahead of the Magpies' trip to table-topping Matlock Town tomorrow. Patterson knows Woodward from his days at Gigg Lane and the versatile 30-year-old
SET the video on Monday evening to capture a moment never before witnessed - John Coleman stuck for words. The Accrington Stanley manager has never been afraid to say what he thinks. His forthright, whole-hearted approach to football is the only way he
IF your child is asking for a pet for Christmas then may I suggest you buy them a book about caring for it as a present instead and buy the pet at a later date when they have had time to read about what is involved in caring for it. Christmas time is
WE are a London based production company running a pilot show called Can a TV Crew Help You? and were wondering whether you might be able to help. We want to make a programme about using the powers of television for a GOOD cause for a change and want
LIKE G Walker (letters November 20) I too await answers to questions concerning landau horses. Especially as one of the horse owners, who hasn't got the guts to answer readers' questions, has written a sprawling, disgruntled letter to Blackpool councillors
INCREASING public outrage at the brutal maltreatment of pensioners and vulnerable, as contemptuously programmed by the anti-Christ Orwellian Blair regime is well evident in the north west whose poorest society is Government experimented upon in rights
PEOPLE in Britain work the longest hours in Europe. In the north west alone 422,000 work more than 48 hours a week, and it's not through choice. Government figures show that 71% of local workers want to work fewer hours. The law is meant to give most
IN response to MP David Chaytor (Letters, December 28) I would like him to consider certain facts with regard to the state pension. The basic pension is now £77.45 single; £123.80 per couple. If the link with earnings had been maintained since 1980 it
ENOUGH of the hype and ideology surrounding wind farms: the warning bells should be ringing out loud and clear. At Ireleth in Cumbria the people are in a legal clinch with the wind farm operating company. Their ultimate goal, through the courts, is the
ELEVEN care homes for the elderly in Bury are under investigation by the Office of Fair Trading amid allegations of "price fixing". The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) recently executed search warrants and carried out on-site investigations at each of the
LEIGH East Mustangs lost by one try to a strong Widnes Moor side at Marsh Playing Fields. Elliot Liku was man of the match. Tries came from Jon Bilsbury, Liku, top tackler Joe Costello and the improving Lewis Cullen.
ISN'T life great? Bundh Bundh Bundh! Hey don't look at me like that. If they can be cheeky enough to name a sauce after it why can't I say it over and over again? For those of you not in the know Sharwoods, the sauce manufacturers, have been trying to
AS Christmas draws nearer, shoppers are crowding into East Lancashire's shopping centres on weekdays as well as weekends. That brings traffic problems as drivers jostle for spaces or park thoughtlessly blocking entrances, bus stops and the approaches
CENTURIONS' coach Darren Abram would be happy to see a return to a 'first-past-the-post' format for promotion to Super League. But the Hilton Park boss also believes that the play-off system should stay - but only to promote a second team into the elite
JACK Straw has apologised publicly, twice, for missing his Blackburn constituency's annual Christmas dinner. The Foreign Secretary did it first in the House of Commons and then on BBC Radio Four's Today. Sadly, he had to attend a European Union summit
BOYS from Bury Gymnastics Club completed four weeks of intensive competition with resounding success. Following excellent performances in the British Men's competition where the U-14 team finished fifth and the U12 team seventh, teams were entered in
However, in much kinder conditions on Sunday, the Island Lodge, topped up with the rains from the previous day, fished well for the Christmas Cup. Dave Jowitt Snr, fishing peg 11 on the roadside, had a splendid net of small fish backed up with two quality
CINEMA-GOERS in East Lancashire will be taking in a hard-hitting anti-smoking campaign as well as the latest blockbuster from this weekend. A new drive from the Department of Health highlighting the danger to children when adults smoke near them will
I MUST reply to Mrs Windras and her letter 'Minister couldn't, not wouldn't.' If she will read my letter again I never said him or her or any other gender. My letter was written from the heart -- No clergy was at the service of remembrance at 11am. We
BRING on next year, after watching the Christmas lights switched on and firework display I can only say thank you to the council and all those involved. From start to finish, my wife and I agreed this show would have cost us at least £50 in a theatre.
WOW! The council really pulled out all the stops for Darwen for our lights switch-on. We would like to thank Blackburn with Darwen Council, Terry Longden, Karen Turner, Anne Ellwood and all employees who put 120 per cent effort into making this an excellent
THE proposed EU Constitution attempts to lock us into an anti-democratic mega-state where our country would have no guaranteed rights and from which it would be difficult to break free. Article 10 of the EU Constitution states: "The Constitution, and
HAVING recently found myself having to donate to the NSCP (National Safety Camera Partnership) and also to have my 35 year unblemished driving licence endorsed by three points, I felt that a little research was necessary into this speed camera situation
TRIPLETS are all set to make a big splash this weekend to raise money to buy their paralysed cousin a new wheelchair. Thirteen-year-olds Catherine, Annamarie and Suzanne Davin are taking part in a sponsored 300-length swim at the LA Fitness Centre in
A NEW report into children missing education has been welcomed by Bury South MP Ivan Lewis. Mr Lewis, who is the minister for skills and vocational education, said the Government was determined to tackle the causes of children losing out on their education
LADIES from Christ Church in Walmersley have undertaken the marathon task of producing button holes for 90 choristers. The Rossendale Male Voice Choir, Ladies' Choir and the Rossendale Festival Choir will attend the annual Christmas Concert on December
AN appeal has been launched to find a new home for Bury's Lancashire Fusiliers. Falling membership and spiralling running costs of the Lancashire Fusiliers Association Club at Wellington Barracks has triggered the search by ex-LF Michael Rae. Mr Rae,
CHORISTERS have plenty of notes in store for a new repertoire when they stand in for cathedral counterparts. Members of Bury Parish Church choir are on their way to Worcester next summer after landing £6,000 from the United Co-operative Charitable Foundation
THE CLYNES family can sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labour after 55 years in the retail business. Simon and Sonia Clynes sold their last apple and orange last week as they retired from their fruit and fish store in Prestwich. The Windsor Fruit
A CHARITY shop is getting all revved up in time for Christmas with an extra special gift to sell. 'Gift It' is a charity shop with a difference and likes to stock the more unusual type of items. But even manager Ian Shears was taken aback when a regular
A TRAIN driver told of the terrifying moment he realised he was about to hit a farmer and his daughter as their vehicle crossed the line in front of him. Colin Wrangles told an inquest into the death of farmer Thomas Holt how a Land Rover appeared on
CRAFT skills will be "growing" in popularity at Bury-based allotments. For a new craft centre, complete with a range of tools and other equipment, has opened at the Walnut Avenue allotments. It's the latest addition to the thriving horticultural training
SIMISTER villagers are encouraged to register their concerns over a proposed development on neighbouring land. A pre-public inquiry meeting has been arranged by Rochdale Council on Tuesday, December 9 to discuss plans to develop a large industrial park
LEIGH Centurions have pulled off a record shirt sponsorship deal with the UK's second largest brewery, Coors. The two-year deal will see the Worthington's logo on the front of the Centurions new strip, which is to be manufactured by Kukri. The sponsorship
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness has hailed Andy Todd's role in Rovers' revival as they prepare to face Birmingham at St Andrews tomorrow. The former Bolton and Charlton defender has been outstanding since he returned from a loan spell with Burnley two months
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today admitted Rovers have missed the attacking qualities of David Dunn this season. Souness and his players will come face to face with Dunn for the first time since he left for Birmingham when the two teams meet at St Andrews
BIRMINGHAM City boss Steve Bruce today insisted his high-flying Blues still face a battle for survival as they gear up for the visit of Blackburn Rovers tomorrow. City have been one of the Premiership's surprise packages so far this season after making
PRESTON City Council is to spend £100,000 transforming ten grot spots. The cash will be used to target areas blighted by anti-social and criminal behaviour. It will also tackle litter and fly-tipping problems, in particular problems with shrub beds, which
RESIDENTS in Frenchwood, Preston, have been invited to the launch of a multi-million pound renewal programme which will see a massive facelift for the neighbourhood. The launch comes on the back of the latest grant of £2.6million secured by Avencentral
COUNCIL leaders have teamed up to slam the next step of proposals in the move towards regional government. This week the government's Boundary Committee announced its draft recommendations for the North West if next year's referendum supported the reorganisation
PARISHIONERS in Bamber Bridge look set to have their prayers answered. The Station Road Methodist Church will be knocked down next autumn to pave the way for a new scallop-shaped church and school building. Preston-based architects Cassidy and Ashton,
PRESTON is set to be at the centre of the biggest shake-up in the way births, marriages, deaths and official ceremonies are recorded for more than 150 years. Plans for the service could see hospitals being used to register births and deaths. County Hall
PUPILS in Burnley are using their artistic talents to give yobbish behaviour the brush-off. Junior and senior pupils have taken part in a competition to design a poster organised by Burnley Community Safety Partnership's anti-social behaviour action group
A THERAPEUTIC Tai Chi class for people suffering from rheumatic and muscular conditions has proved so successful that organisers are planning to set up a second session. Burnley council's Tai Chi classes started in September and since then attendance
LEIGH'S Apple Dance Players are busy rehearsing their fifth pantomime. Following their successful September play, Mike Harding's "Fur Coat and No Knickers", the company is hard at work on the traditional family panto "Beauty and the Beast". The show will
A MOTHER and her five-month-old baby were treated for smoke inhalation after a blaze at their Burnley home. Beverley Cudworth, 33, of Lowerhouse Lane and baby George were taken to hospital after the fire at 9.20pm yesterday. Fire crews were called to
BURNLEY Council has rejected a government scheme aimed at reducing the number of empty houses. The owners of vacant properties currently get a 50 per cent discount on their council tax, but from April 1 next year the Government is giving council's the
A TRAIN driver told of the terrifying moment he realised he was about to hit a farmer and his daughter as their vehicle crossed the line in front of him. Colin Wrangles told an inquest into the death of farmer Thomas Holt how a Land Rover appeared on
PRESTON took the lead against the run of play when Nicola Rawlinson forced the ball home after a goal mouth scramble. But the lead did not last long and Bury soon levelled. After half-time Charlotte Gregory scored the goal of the game, she won the ball
AL Murray's brand of common sense has sometimes been labelled xenophobic by those who didn't get the joke. For Al's tirades against the French, in particular Marcel, the Parisian bar owner for whom his wife left him, all take the form of rants from his
Soap star Steven Pinder has nothing but praise for the East Lancashire school that launched him on his acting career, writes JENNY SCOTT SOMEWHERE in cyberspace lurks a picture of a slightly dishevelled-looking Steven Pinder as a Rishton schoolboy, circa
IT'S rare to find a singer who reveres his fans almost as much as they worship him. But then Daniel O'Donnell has never been one to take his enormous popularity for granted. The clean-cut Irish star has become known for spending hours after each concert
THE government has been warned not to go ahead with plans to extend the postal voting in elections following allegations of fraud and abuse in East Lancashire. Pendle peer Lord Greaves branded proposals to turn all public election into all-postal voting
MOST people have grown up to the delights of fictional favourites from children's author Roald Dahl. A host of classic stories including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach and The Twits have proved a real hit for both youngsters
A SERIAL sex attacker was feared to be on the loose after two more women became victims. Detectives were hunting a man who had struck four times in the Church and Oswaldtwistle during the last five weeks. Transport chiefs in Lancashire were calling on
BLACKBURN and other parts of East Lancashire were hit by the outbreak of foot and mouth disease at Kearsley in Bolton. Movement of livestock within a fifteen mile radius of Kearsley was banned by the Ministry of Agriculture. Bacup Rotarians began their
FOR the fifth year in succession the directors of Manufacturing Engineering Co Ltd, Blackburn, gave a Christmas party for members of Highfield Park Veterans' Bowling Club. And two-year-old Kelly Flood of Belfield Road, Accrington, was overjoyed at meeting
THE chief executive of struggling package tour operator MyTravel resigned today in the wake of the firm's second profits warning in just over three months. The company said Duncan Wilson felt his role had come to "a natural conclusion" and the board had
THE conviction of a Great Harwood man for assault was safe, despite jurors seeing a witness in the case being arrested immediately after giving evidence, Appeal Court judges in London ruled. They said that the conviction of Thomas Henry Smith, 26, of
FYLDE RUFC's captain has been given a 12-week ban from the game -- and one of his team-mates has been arrested by police over an alleged assault. Dylan O'Grady has been suspended by the RFU following his sending off for his part in a mass brawl during
STANLEY'S recent poor run of form continued with a dogged and determined Clock Face doing the double over a Stanley side that had more than 60 per cent of the play but just could not find their way over the line. From the first whistle Stanley laid siege
BLACKPOOL go to Oldham at the weekend hoping to carry their recent impressive form into the FA Cup. A good turnout is expected at Boundary Park as the Seasiders seek a place in the third round draw for the third consecutive season. The Tangerines beat
CLARETS front-runner Robbie Blake is backing himself and Ian Moore to fire a charge up the table - if the pair can hang on to the striking berths. Both players have found themselves operating in deeper, in Blake's case, or wider, in Moore's case, roles
THE announcement that Paul Weller is to have a testimonial came as something of a surprise to me, I have to admit. But not because I don't think the lad deserves one - far from it. I just honestly thought those traditions had been done away with as far
A LEYLAND author has been filmed for the Antique Roadshow after discovering hidden treasures while researching a book about Farington Cotton Mill. Joan Langford, 63, was exploring the history of the mill, built in 1833, when she stumbled upon the old
BLACKPOOL'S Macmillan Windmill Appeal is edging ever closer to its fundraising target as the March deadline approaches. The latest round of donations brings the total to £2,363,947 -- less than £100,000 away from the original target to build a new cancer
IT DELIGHTED millions of TV viewers in the 1980s -- but Mr and Mrs is set to become a surprise hit in Iceland! "That's the country, not the store," said the show's St Annes based presenter, Derek Batey, who signed a deal last week which will take the
TWO young boys have admitted starting a fire which caused £7 million worth of damage to a Blackpool school. The boys, brothers aged 10 and 12, pleaded guilty to arson. The 12-year-old, who lives in Blackpool and the 10-year-old, who lives in Preston,
HWIGAN Jazz Club Big Band and Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra directed by Ian Darrington will feature at the Christmas jazz club from 12.30pm on December 28 at the Mill at the Pier, Wigan.
PROUD parents Nick and Amanda Bond celebrated the precious gift of life on Wednesday (December 3) when they marked the first birthday of the children they thought they would never have. It really was a case of third time lucky for Amanda who conceived
CONTROVERSIAL plans to site a wind farm on moors north of Bury look set to go to a public inquiry. Rossendale Council's planning officers have recommended councillors on its development control committee to reject the application when they meet next Tuesday
A BURY kneeboarder is celebrating after he helped create a high watermark in a little-known sport. David Webster was a member of the successful UK kneeboarding team which beat the Americans on their own soil at the inaugural International Kneeboard Rider
SHOPPING giant Westfield have been given the green light to proceed with a £150 million plan to transform Bury town centre. But many market traders are angry with the council for approving the masterplan in principle, claiming that it could destroy the
PRIMARY schools in Bury remain among the top third in the country, despite dropping almost 30 places in national league tables. Figures released yesterday show the borough performed third best in Greater Manchester and sixth in the north west. Among the
FRENCH defender Arthur Gnohere returns to the Clarets side determined to shut out Sheffield United. Gnohere helped Burnley to a rare clean sheet in the impressive 3-0 home win over Reading, but missed last weekend's 1-1 draw at Sunderland due to a suspension
BLACKBURN band The Rising will be performing at Manchester's Life Cafe on Wednesday at a prestigious showcase gig. Record company executives from London are expected to be at the gig organised by HMV. As well as playing live, the four-piece will also
WHEN Francis Rossi teamed up with Rick Parfitt over 35 years ago, everyone thought they were gay. "Rick was in a trio called The Highlights and he used to mince about on stage," explained Francis. "So people thought we were gay, which was a big no-no
A GROUP of martial art students from Darwen have drawn in the crowds at charity events across the country, helping to raise £100,000 for good causes. The Darwen School of Kung Fu has volunteered its services at various events throughout the last 12 months
A TEAM of Spanish delegates made a flying visit to Rossendale to strike up a £1million deal with a Whitworth based company. BCH Limited, based in Spring Place, who make machinery used to manufacture liquorice, secured the deal with Spanish company Sanchez
AMBITIOUS plans to develop an area of open space in Rossendale were considered by councillors last night. Rossendale Borough Council's corporate policy sub-committee discussed the possibility of granting a 99 year lease of land at Hareholme Lane, Cloughfold
SCHOOLCHILDREN will have a chance to score free football tickets for good behaviour after Blackpool FC signed up eight school buses. The new signings will soon be a familiar sight on the streets of the resort, painted in the club's colours with a player's
TWO Fylde Coast primary schools are among the top 100 in this year's league tables. Our Lady of The Assumption Catholic Primary School, Blackpool, ranks joint 29th and Bispham's Kincraig Primary School is joint 94th in the tables due to be published today
DON'T shiver in silence this winter is the advice for older people. If you are aged 60 or over you could be entitled to £200 to help pay extra heating bills during cold winter months under the government's Winter Fuel Payment scheme. The scheme is available
THE REGULARS of a Blackpool pub are giving a brewery both barrels in a bid to stop their landlord being moved on. Customers at the No 4 on Newton Drive are so against landlord Bobby Woods being transferred to a Liverpool pub that they've started a petition
IT WAS lights, camera, action for budding filmmakers as the first Blackpool Schools' Film Festival rolled into action. Pupils from seven schools joined teachers, parents and festival organisers for an afternoon screening of their short films at the town's
POLICE are still investigating the cause of an horrific trike accident in which a Blackpool bride-to-be was so badly injured her legs had to be amputated. Accident investigation officers could take several weeks to report on Saturday's accident, in which
BLACKPOOL Council could disappear from the local government map -- and borough residents will not get a chance to vote on it. A referendum takes place next year on a proposed North West regional assembly, with voters in Fylde and Wyre also voting on two
SPACE lovers will be able to go all starry-eyed next year when a brand new planetarium and astronomy centre opens at Rossall School. Plans for a new visitor centre, including planetarium, lecture theatre and classroom, look set to go ahead after the school
THE search is on for more volunteers to join Lancashire's army of police independent custody visitors. Lancashire already has 60 lay visitors who turn up unannounced in police stations across the county to check on detainee treatment and conditions. The
SHE was a Popstars 'reject' -- but try telling that to school pupils who were wowed by singer Javine. Best known to TV viewers as the girl who just failed to make it into group Girls Aloud, she visited St Wilfrid's High School, Blackburn, to perform for
A 21-YEAR-OLD man 'went berserk' in a Blackburn takeaway and pelted customers and staff with salt shakers, vinegar dispensers, sauce bottles and a can of cola, a court heard. But defence solicitor Daniel King said drink had made Paul McPhee behave out
A TOP East Lancashire health official today said women who have been taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) should not panic about new information relating to the treatment. The Committee on Safety of Medicines has issued advice saying that although
A PROJECT to transform Blackburn's Cathedral Quarter into a magnet for business and visitors has won two prestigious awards. Work has taken place over the last few years on Church Street, Darwen Street and Fleming Square and renovation of the Waterloo
LEADING Lancashire environmentalists have staged their own mini-version of the Rio Earth Summit to discuss a new green strategy for the Red Rose county. Now a new environmental blueprint is being drawn up to build on and replace Lancashire's Local Agenda
EXTROVERT businesswoman Margo Grimshaw is to prove gap years are not just for teenagers and students. The Lancashire Evening Telegraph columnist is preparing for the trip of a lifetime to far-flung countries, including Thailand, Sri Lanka and Singapore
A BLACKBURN man who shared in his sister's Lottery win spent huge sums on drugs -- then went burgling when the money ran out. Following his arrest, Nicholas Allan told police that he had intended to get himself arrested because he felt it was the only
TWELVE mistakes made by health professionals caring for an elderly grandmother caused her death, a coroner told an inquest. A full inquest involving expert witnesses from across the country threw light on the death of Eveline Birtwell two and a half years
ANDY Gouck hasn't been fazed by the attention he received after his screaming volley handed Accrington Stanley a ticket into the FA Cup second round. As a former Blackpool captain, who still lives in the resort, he's used to getting recognised in the
ASHLEY Hoskin has been there, done it and lapped up the occasion. And the former Accrington Stanley winger has urged John Coleman's side to enjoy their FA Cup second round weekend in Bournemouth, whatever happens. Hoskin was in the Reds' side which suffered
HOW many civil servants does it take to change a light bulb? Does it matter as long as the taxpayer pays the bill. I saw recently five firemen and a fire engine going round checking the hydrants in Cleveleys' footpaths. Once upon a time this was a job
Re: Pioneering Housing Scheme, November 20. Housing Associations provide the less fortunate with good quality accommodation at true cost. Accommodation is built to a very high standard with due consideration to safety and quality of life. The private
THE Lockerbie bomber must serve 27 years in jail for killing 270 people. How many people has Blair killed with his lies about Iraq? How many years ought he to serve? Eduard Shevardnadze, ex-president of Georgia, has been forced from office by the will
INSTRUCTIONS for an identity card: 1 A Plastic card; 2 DOB; 3 Thumb print; 4 Photograph; 5 National Insurance number; 6 Passport number; 7 Biometric data; 8 DNA Profile; 9 Blood group; 10 Allergies; 11 Nationality; 12 EU status; 13 Infectious disease;
Oh dear! We've really set the cat amongst the pigeons -- the Cleveleys Curtain Twitchers are coming from behind their nets. Firstly, how can anyone feel justified in classing us as 'anti social' when our only misdemeanour was to hold a party in our own
WE recently attended a Christmas party organised by Fairfield special care baby unit for children who spent time in there. While I was there I was horrified to here that the unit is under threat of closure. Our nearest unit would then be at North Manchester
THE report on sickness rates within Bury MBC (November 28) certainly packed in the statistics, but the underlying message throughout seemed, to me at least, to imply that our actions were to no avail. I accept that you referred to how we had tackled long-term
PENNINE Acute Hospitals NHS Trust seem to be saying (Bury Times, December 28) that the issue of a new access road to Fairfield Hospital is not an important one by refusing to help fund a feasibility survey. The implication of their refusal is that rumours
I DROVE along the by-pass coming into work on Wednesday and "sang" along to an early 60's hit I've not heard for ages -- "Sheila" by Tommy Roe. It took me back to when I was 12, lived at the top of Higher Folds, and had been given an amazing Grundig TK
I HAVE to agree with the National Heritage theory that homes are losing their character. Terrace rows are being ruined as front gardens galore are dug up and turned into car, boat and caravan parks. It's not only that but DIY fanatics too are changing
On dialling 1471 the caller's number is revealed as 01142813816. I am certainly not giving the person the satisfaction of ringing back and maybe helping to make him or her a fortune out of premium rate call scam. No thank you. I read recently about call
G-WIZZ Garden Railway Display Team is holding its popular festive railway exhibition, G-Wizz It's Christmas Again!, on Saturday, December 13 at Lytham's Assembly Rooms, Dicconson Terrace. The event runs 10am-4.30pm, admission £2 adults, £1.50 seniors
