I AM very much against these so-called blood sports. I believe all the supporters who attend these meetings are there for the thrill of the kill and there should be a bill to ban entirely the act of killing. No wonder there are so many protests. J OSPREY
POLICE are hunting a tattooed rapist who brutally attacked a woman in an alleyway in Leigh. The 19-year-old woman had left Bar-barellas nightclub at 2am on Sunday morning with a man she had befriended in the popular nightspot. As they walked past Cannings
THE Lancashire hotpot made famous by Coronation Street has been withdrawn from general sale as part of the national Sudan 1 food scare. Bosses at Baxenden-based Holland's Pies, the company which makes the real-life version of Betty's Hotpot, recalled
MORE than a quarter of Burnley's car parking spaces could be lost when a £50million redevelopment is started. And today a town centre chief warned parking could become "unmanageable" if more spaces are not found for shoppers and commuters. More than 400
BELEAGUERED Bury boss Graham Barrow has hit out at some of the club's on loan players after another poor performance. The Shakers were beaten 3-0 by fellow strugglers Rushden and Diamonds, and after the game, Barrow questioned the effort of some of his
TWO teenage thugs laughed as they filmed themselves setting a man alight as he slept at a bus shelter in Radcliffe. Matthew Kitchen almost died when Benjamin Mortenson and David Smolinski piled cardboard on top of him and set it on fire. They captured
PUTTING food on the table was not so straightforward when Allan Crossley was a child. Allan (72), who now lives in Little Lever, wrote down some of his recollections of life as a youngster living on Knob Row, off Bolton Road. He lived there with his parents
LEIGH Athletic's miserable run continued as they travelled to Oldham and came away with nothing after a hard fought 3-1 defeat. With the scores level at half time it was all to play for but Springhead drew first blood when they scored shortly after the
MONDAY TRIOS: Leaders Strike Out were held to a draw against Strike Force but still have a ten point lead over Banana Splits. Banana Splits had a hard fought win over Passed Out. Chambers Crew have moved up to third after a good win over Boom. Holy Rollers
A RECORD 11 Leigh Harriers have been selected to represent Greater Manchester in the Inter-counties World Cross Country trials in Nottingham. Led by senior international Peter Riley they include Karina Tehan (ladies), Thomas Boardman and Alex Urmston
BLACKBURN Rovers manager Mark Hughes has abandoned his plan to sign Canadian international Dwayne De Rosario. The former San Jose Earthquakes striker spent several days on trial with Rovers last week in the hope of securing a free transfer move to the
INTERNATIONAL psychic medium James Byrne brings his Spirit in the Sky Tour 05 to Hindley next month.The Manchester-born celebrity psychic will be at the Monaco Ballroom on March 14. for tickets ring 01942 255138.
A HIGHER FOLDS man has launched an appeal to find his friend who he has not seen in 10 years. Mark Barrow is looking for pal Alan Grant, who used to live on Wigan Road, Leigh. The pair used to go out drinking at the town's pubs and clubs but lost contact
TWENTY Leigh churches will gather together to take part in this year's annual World Day of Prayer Unity Service. Composed by Christians of Poland on the theme "Let our light shine" the service, celebrated in more than 3000 UK churches and 180 countries
A CLUB which was on the verge of closing down 18 months ago has been given a new lease of life. The future for the Twelve Apostles, Westleigh Lane, Leigh, looked bleak, but a committee was formed and the Liverpool Catholic Diocese was so impressed by
GREEN fingered school children from Atherton have been putting the finishing touches to a Community Forest at Colliers Wood in Leigh. Students from Sacred Heart R.C Primary School, Hindsford, planted daffodil bulbs in the forest to add seasonal colour
ATHERTON born "Vicar of Dibley", the Rev Brenda Catherall, has scored an ecclesiastical double for women. On Saturday the former Leigh Journal reporter will be inducted as the first female minister in charge at Bank Street Unitarian Chapel, Bolton, in
RELIEF could soon be at hand for traders at Leigh's Albion Street Market after years of suffering chronic wind problems. Stall holders and shoppers at the popular daily market complained for years of a 'wind tunnel' effect created by the market's canopy
INTERNATIONAL psychic medium James Byrne brings his Spirit in the Sky Tour 05 to Hindley next month.The Manchester-born celebrity psychic will be at the Monaco Ballroom on March 14. for tickets ring 01942 255138.
HEAVY overnight snow has closed several schools and hampered motorists heading to East Lancashire today. Several inches fell across the area and police warned drivers to stay off the roads because of the hazardous conditions. Council gritters worked through
"READER Keith Brundrett summed up the pub closure situation I commented on last week. He said: "Nobody goes out anymore due to the breweries getting greedy. They have just increased the price by an average of 8 pence per pint and it will probably rise
CONCERNED Manchester Road, Leigh, residents rang me worried about the appearance of a telecommunications mast appearing in the vicinity last week. On investigation I discovered that it was actually erected two months ago and is on Leigh Miners Rangers
ANOTHER young girl's life has been blighted by a sex mad monster who thinks it is his right to defile a woman's body. I can think of nothing worse than being raped and left to suffer by some tattooed beast who deserves nothing less than being banged up
SECOND rower Oli Wilkes is back in the Leigh Centurions squad for Saturday's televised home clash with Salford City Reds. Wilkes missed last Sunday's narrow defeat at Warrington after being banned for one game following his red card against Huddersfield
SCORERS: Warrington - Tries: Clarke (9, 69), Martin Gleeson (38), Wood (42), Briers (74). Gls: Briers 3/5. Leigh - Tries: Kent (23), Smyth (26), Ferris (78). Gls: Jones 5/6. Warrington: Grose; Faafili, Marton Gleeson, Kohe-Love, Gaskell; Briers, Wood;
DAISY Hill earned a superb North West Counties League Division Two 2-0 victory at Flixton. John Saxon scored both the goals.
BURNLEY Organ Concert with Nigel Ogden, Unitarian Church, Padiham, 7.30pm. Luncheon Club, Queen Street Mill, Briercliffe, 12.30pm. Youth Club (eight-13 year-olds), Youth Centre, Burnley Road, Padiham, 6.30pm-8pm. Tae Kwon Do, Padiham Leisure Centre, 5.30pm
THE 18th winner of the Atherton Park Winter Bowling competition is Bill Griffiths who beat Derek Seddon in the final 21-17. The consolation final was won by Cliff Berry who beat Colin Knight 21-19.
I WRITE in response to the letter from Councillor Salim Mulla (LET, February 17) writing in his capacity as General Secretary of the Lancashire Council of Mosques. If a child has been the victim of any form of assault, the police or social services should
FIRST and foremost, I am an Elvis fan. I am also a big fan of Louis Rockafella. But, having read the article in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph on Wednesday, February 16 about Louis, I felt compelled to offer my full support to him and his wife, Janet
HEAVY overnight snow has closed several schools and hampered motorists heading to East Lancashire today. Several inches fell across the area and police warned drivers to stay off the roads because of the hazardous conditions. Council gritters worked through
TOWN centre bosses in Burnley are hoping they will be able to keep their 'vital' town centre wardens after it was revealed funding for the pair runs out in a month. The two wardens, who report problems of litter or vandalism, deal with shoplifters and
A PART-TIME soldier who dashed on to Turf Moor and "scored" against Blackburn was fulfilling a fantasy before "going off to war." Burnley Magistrates Court heard how student Shaun Foxcroft, 20, should have been working in the bar at the football club
PENDLE'S Citizen Advice Bureau is recruiting more volunteers after receiving an Investors in People award. Mohammed Yaqub, training and recruitment officer, said "There has never been a better time to volunteer for Pendle CAB because we can offer complete
LEIGH'S historic Casino Club faces demolition if new plans for the Victorian building are given the go-ahead.. The former theatre in Silk Street, Leigh, which saw The Beatles tread the boards in 1963, could be flattened to make way for housing development
DETECTIVES searching for the body of a murdered Accrington woman have failed in a bid to interview her killer in prison. But they will be talking to his brother, who was jailed for helping him to dispose of her body. Police met with bosses at Preston
RESIDENTS have slammed the council after their cars parked outside their homes were slapped with parking tickets - six years after double yellow lines were removed from their street. Families had successfully won their fight to get the double yellow lines
THIS country must be the laughing stock of Europe. We continually handle law-breakers with kid gloves. We're a soft nation. We dole out laughable punishments for serious crimes - and instead of deterrents, we extend invitations for others to offend. During
SHAKERS 0, MANSFIELD TOWN 2: Shakers boss Graham Barrow gave his side two days off after their battling fightback at Boston last week - he won't be doing it again after this showing. It wasn't so much the fact that his slide slumped to their fifth home
THE fate of two young sailors will be remembered, 60 years after their warship was torpedoed off the coast of Norway. With Remembrance Day approaching Peter Wilkie, chairman of Atherton The Royal Naval Association, believes it is time to remember the
LEIGH RU U11s competed in a round-robin against Bury and Tyldesley. They defeated Bury 21-7 with tries from Thomas Lloyd (2) and Patrick Paine, plus a conversion from James Wilkinson. Neighbours Tyldesley were hammered 49-0 with tries from Same Peet (
LEIGH Miners Rangers hopes of yet another Powergen Challnege Cup run came to an abrupt end when they were beaten 18-12 at Oldham St Annes in Saturday's second round tie. Miners' chances faded when substitute Danny Galvin was sent off for an alleged use
BURNLEY boss Steve Cotterill was today looking to tighten the net on transfer target Ade Akinbiyi. Cotterill hopes to finally meet the Stoke City striker almost a week after the two clubs agreed a £600,000 fee matched by Sheffield United. The Blades have
WORK to create a state-of-the-art new £5.5million health centre for the people of Bacup and Stacksteads has now been completed. And the key to the door was due to be officially handed over from the builders today. Jim Heyes, chairman of the Burnley, Pendle
TECHNOLOGY pioneered by an Atherton scientist could be used to create a 300mph railway link between Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham and London. Professor Eric Laithwaite came up with the idea of using power of magnets instead of fuel to run trains nearly
RETIRED businesswoman and charity worker Muriel Withington never forgot a Park House, Tyldesley, residents' birthday. For 25 years she sent cards on the right day to every single pensioner in the care home where she was an active supporter. Its residents
A 25-YEAR-old Blackburn man died as a result of heroin abuse just days before he was due to go into residential rehabilitation. An inquest heard that Warren Melling, a "happy go lucky" and popular individual, was determined to beat his addiction and had
THE NEW owners of Blackburn Shopping Centre have confirmed they will redevelop it -- but they won't say when, or how much they will spend. The Mall, which bought the centre -- including rundown Lord Square -- last September, has confirmed its plans after
THE family of a childminder who admitted the manslaughter of a boy in her care today said the horror of what happened would live with her forever. Relatives of Wendy Barlow, of Eightacre Avenue, Sabden, said they were speaking out because they disagreed
GREEN fingered school children from Atherton have been putting the finishing touches to a Community Forest at Colliers Wood in Leigh. Students from Sacred Heart R.C Primary School, Hindsford, planted daffodil bulbs in the forest to add seasonal colour
A MAN has appeared before Bolton magistrates charged with the murder of a father-of-four from Bury. Ryan McLoughlin, aged 23, of Fairfields, Egerton, was accused of killing 39-year-old Robert Johnston. He was remanded in custody until March 4. Mr Johnston
BOOTHSTOWN Under 13s returned to league football after a two week break to a rousing 3-0 victory over Unicorn B. The scores were level at half time after a missed Boothstown penalty and other squandered chances. Boothstown continued to pressure the Unicorn
I AM appealing for information on a book I am writing. Provisionally entitled 'Pierrepoint: A Family of Executioners', it chronicles the history of a family who carried out executions between 1901-1955. Albert Pierrepoint was the last in a dynasty of
REGARDING your article 'Website racists target star Julie' (LET, February 16) I would like to make it clear that the British National Party has no connection whatsoever with this website. It is not our policy to name or shame, publish photographs, home
BLACKBURN Rovers manager Mark Hughes has abandoned his plan to sign Canadian international Dwayne De Rosario. The former San Jose Earthquakes striker spent several days on trial with Rovers last week in the hope of securing a free transfer move to the
THIS country must be the laughing stock of Europe. We continually handle law-breakers with kid gloves. We're a soft nation. We dole out laughable punishments for serious crimes - and instead of deterrents, we extend invitations for others to offend. During
THE postmortem following Burnley's FA Cup clash with Blackburn Rovers was that the Premiership club will start favourites in next week's replay. Replace the rutted Turf Moor pitch with a velvet Ewood Park surface and the cream will rise to the top. That's
HEAVY overnight snow has closed several schools and hampered motorists heading to East Lancashire today. Several inches fell across the area and police warned drivers to stay off the roads because of the hazardous conditions. Council gritters worked through
A FORMER professional boxer who streaked during the East Lancashire derby at Turf Moor has been banned from matches for three years -- and dumped by his girlfriend. Burnley Magistrates Court heard how Mark Hargreaves, 34, had gone on to the pitch naked
A COUNCIL has been slammed for rearranging the date of one of the year's most important meetings because it clashes with East Lancashire's FA Cup derby replay. Hyndburn's full council meeting will see every councillor meet at the town hall to discuss
PENDLE'S Citizen Advice Bureau is recruiting more volunteers after receiving an Investors in People award. Mohammed Yaqub, training and recruitment officer, said "There has never been a better time to volunteer for Pendle CAB because we can offer complete
HYNDBURN council tenants can get a glimpse of how their homes will be improved if they vote 'yes' to the authority's plans to transfer its housing to a social landlord. Hyndburn Homes, the not-for-profit housing organisation that would own and manage
A PACKET of cigarette papers helped save the life of a labourer after fire ravaged his house only minutes after he nipped to the shop. The blaze in Monk Street, Accrington is being blamed on foam-filled sofa cushions which burst into flames after being
ROTARY Club members are stretching their hands across the sea to help tsunami survivors in Sri Lanka get their lives back together - thanks to two of the organisation's top award winners. Paul Harris Fellows and neighbours Trevor Barton, a long-standing
WHAT makes a fit, single lad of 23 want to leave home and move to the other side of the world? For former Hindley footballer Tony Gallagher, he remembers exactly why the decision was easy. "It was the Thatcher era and she was good at putting a lot of
Keith Philip McNab, aged 36, Dakins Road, Leigh. Assault. Community Rehabilitation Order for 24 months, costs £150. Tracy Eckersley, aged 28, Radnor Drive, Leigh. No insurance. Conditional discharge for 18 months, disqualified for 18 months, costs £42
THE death of a dear friend has inspired four women to write a book about growing up together in East Lancashire. The foursome, who have been friends for nearly 50 years, were prompted to write 'Remnants of a Youth Club', after a fifth member of their
BURNLEY boss Steve Cotterill was today looking to tighten the net on transfer target Ade Akinbiyi. Cotterill hopes to finally meet the Stoke City striker almost a week after the two clubs agreed a £600,000 fee matched by Sheffield United. The Blades have
THE postmortem following Burnley's FA Cup clash with Blackburn Rovers was that the Premiership club will start favourites in next week's replay. Replace the rutted Turf Moor pitch with a velvet Ewood Park surface and the cream will rise to the top. That's
BURY Football Club are looking to turn the forthcoming Good Friday into a Great Friday when Grimsby Town are the visitors on March 25. As part of the ongoing crucial fundraising activities, and to celebrate the club's uninterrupted 120 years at Gigg Lane
LEIGH MP Andy Burnham has signed up to run for the Asian Tsunami Appeal. He will join members of Leigh Harriers, Astley and Tyldesley Road Runners and the Wigan Development Unit on a three mile fun run around Leigh. The race on Sunday, March 6, was the
FORMER Home Secretary David Blunkett will visit Atherton next week to visit the proposed site of a new guide dog training centre. Mr Blunkett and guide dog Sadie will be joined by Leigh MP Andy Burnham at Gibfield Park on Friday March 4 for the tour of
1st XV: Rochdale at home, meet at 12.30pm. 2nd XV: Blackburn away meet at 1pm. 3rd XV: Bolton at home, meet at 1.30pm. Tofts: Trafford MV away, meet at 1pm. Vets: Rossendale at home, meet at 1.30pm.
LEIGH Amateur Boxing Club is knocked out by selection news for two members of its junior squad. Leigh St Mary's RC High School middleweight, 16-years-old Robert Bordon, has been accepted into the prestigious Hopwood Hall Boxing Academy on a two year course
LEIGH RU Put themselves back into the promotion frame with a 39-9 win at Southport. Leigh took an early lead when a quickly taken tap penalty resulted in Ian Wood crossing in the corner, the touchline conversion going narrowly wide. Despite their lowly
AN ATHERTON homeowner had the shock of his life when he dug up a World War Two mortar shell in his Oxford Road garden on Tuesday. He immediately called the police and a bomb disposal team raced to the scene. They took the mortar shell away to dispose
RADCLIFFE has a proud history of swimming and 50 years ago said farewell to one of its greatest champions. It was in February 1955 that David Billington, who had broken many records in the sport,died. Right until the last, he had been a swimming instructor
A FAST growing manufacturing company has won the first grant awarded in the borough to help its expansion programme. Hilltop Products Ltd, of Golborne, which specialises in electrical insulation and sleevings, is the first to benefit from SFI, Selective
A FAMILY bible dating back more than 100 years has turned up in Leigh. Now the new owner Bernard Cox, wants to re-unite it with it's original family. The bible contains the names of James Henry Ivill who was born in Pendlebury in 1888 and his wife Alice
FOLK group founder Joe Roberts has never been forgotten by the community he loved to help and entertain. Every year since his death in 2001 his group Calico have organised an annual "Joe's Night" to raise funds for charity. This year the event at St Joseph's
AMIR Khan insisted on Thursday he is happy to box as an amateur as speculation mounts that the Olympic silver medallist will soon move into the professional ranks. The 18-year-old has pulled out of Saturday's ABA Championship quarter-finals at the Ocean
HINDLEY Green resident Ashley Stokes was crowned Apprentice of the Year at a glittering ceremony. Mr Stokes received the coveted prize after successfully completing his training to become a paviour in the council's highways section. Phil Grogan of Hindley
AN elderly computer whizz from Darwen is hoping for £3,000 to save a computer class aimed at the over 50s. Gloria Simpson, 74, of Blackamoor, is chairman of Darwen Over-50s Computer Club which has been running for three years -- but without extra funding
A PROSPECTIVE Rossendale MP today branded a building site a "death trap" and called on the council to take urgent action to protect children. Michael Carr, the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Rossendale and Darwen, raised the
FORMER Home Secretary David Blunkett will visit Atherton next week to visit the proposed site of a new guide dog training centre. Mr Blunkett and guide dog Sadie will be joined by Leigh MP Andy Burnham at Gibfield Park on Friday March 4 for the tour of
AN ASTLEY couple held a joint birthday party with a difference after they raised hundreds of pounds for charity. Husband and wife Ann and Norman OMalley asked guests to make a donation to Diabetes UK instead of give presents at their birthday bash at
From the Radcliffe Times, February 25, 1955: A motion that urged Radcliffe Town Council to divulge meeting minutes to the press before they were formally confirmed was passed by Radcliffe Trades Council. 63-year-old Radcliffe Power Station charge hand
ASTLEY WI meetings take place on the first Wednesday of each month in the Pensioners' Centre, Manchester Road, Blackmoor, at 7.30pm.
FOLK group founder Joe Roberts has never been forgotten by the community he loved to help and entertain. Every year since his death in 2001 his group Calico have organised an annual "Joe's Night" to raise funds for charity. This year the event at St Joseph's
TWENTY Leigh churches will gather together to take part in this year's annual World Day of Prayer Unity Service. Composed by Christians of Poland on the theme "Let our light shine" the service, celebrated in more than 3000 UK churches and 180 countries
A PART-TIME soldier who dashed on to Turf Moor and "scored" against Blackburn was fulfilling a fantasy before "going off to war." Burnley Magistrates Court heard how student Shaun Foxcroft, 20, should have been working in the bar at the football club
A FORMER professional boxer who streaked during the East Lancashire derby at Turf Moor has been banned from matches for three years -- and dumped by his girlfriend. Burnley Magistrates Court heard how Mark Hargreaves, 34, had gone on to the pitch naked
A COUNCIL has been slammed for rearranging the date of one of the year's most important meetings because it clashes with East Lancashire's FA Cup derby replay. Hyndburn's full council meeting will see every councillor meet at the town hall to discuss
A COLLEAGUE doing a great stand-in job to cover for injury absence in the office is not too impressed by the low lifes of Leigh. He parked his car in Boughey Street on Monday 21 and returned to his silver Vauxhall Corsa to find no good thieves had snatched
LEIGH Centurions have failed in an audacious bid to sign French international forward Jerome Guisset. Leigh revealed they were close to a striking a deal with the 26-years-old back rower but were beaten at the last minute when Wigan moved in with a late
WARRINGTON WOLVES 26, LEIGH CENTURIONS 22: Disappointed coach Darren Abram forced a smile as he considered Leigh's unlikely bracketing with heavyweights Bradford at the foot of the table. That smile would have been even wider had Leigh not missed a golden
HINDSFORD FC won 4-0 away at Pennington on Saturday. The match was played in difficult conditions but Hindsford soon took control went ahead after 20 minutes when Dave Fashou scored from the penalty spot after a period of pressure. Neil Critchley made
ATHERTON Colls travelled to second from top Newcastle Town where an inspired first half performance by the Potteries side sent the local side home pointless. Colls made a dreadful start to the match, going a goal behind after five minutes, when slack
LEIGH Soccer League leaders AFC Tyldesley suffered a shock Carl Brown Memorial Trophy semi-final defeat. The table-toppers were sent crashing by lowly Leigh Legion who scored through Holmes and Sweeney for a 2-0 victory. Asda Golborne find themselves
LEIGH RMI U10s kept up their title ambitions with a 4-1 away win against fellow contenders, Rooftec Rangers. Both sides pushed for the opening goal, but it was Leigh who struck first when Matty Wilkinson and Ryan Holland combined a number of passes together
