RIDERS from all over the country contested the eighth annual Astley & Tyldesley Cycle Speedway Festival. The Gin Pit meeting saw local rider David Farley record an amazing maximum 20 points to win the Novices - his first success in his brief spell
TOP COACH - that's Parkside Golborne's Jeffrey Ashton, named Coach of the Year in the NorthWest Counties ARL. But the team just missed out on the silverware. They lost to Orrell St James in the Lancashire Cup Final and were pipped to the Division One
RON GIRVIN has thrown out a grim warning for Rugby League in the 21st Century. The highly-respected NorthWest Counties ARL secretary is scathing in his condemnation of apathy in the amateur game. "I have warned time and again if the open age league shrinks
CHILDREN who are streets ahead in mathematics received their rewards at a presentation night at Ewood Park Conference Centre. They attend the Kumon Maths Club, Blackburn, studying a programme which originated in Japan. There are Kumon Clubs all over Britain
ENVIRONMENTAL improvements which have reshaped areas of Radcliffe have taken on a foreign dimension. Certain projects in the town could soon be replicated thousands of miles away - in Poland. And last Friday, Bury's Business Environment Association welcomed
POLICE cordoned off a remote moorland spot today after a badly burned body was discovered in a blazing car. Emergency services were called to Well Lane, Brinscall, at 10.30pm yesterday where a Vauxhall Astra was on fire. A police spokesman said the body
PRESTON and District's Tennis Tournament has been hailed a massive success - before it has even begun. Tournament secretary Pat Dickinson said: "We have received more than 120 entries for the competition, which dates back to the 1930s. "It is a well established
I WOULD like to express my utter disgust at the decision of "Do It All" to sell live animals at their store. Apart from the obvious cruelty of confining animals in small, unnatural cages for a long period of time, the dangers to the animals resulting
PLANS to relocate the borough's accident and emergency department from Bury General to Fairfield Hospital are to receive a further £250,000 cash boost. Earlier in the year, the Government invested £500,000 in the £1.7 million scheme. And this week, Health
I READ in last week's Citizen the article concerning the pressure group of parents whose children have not been given a place at the school of their choice and who are objecting to being offered a place at Skerton High School. May I through your letters
"I'M feeling okay!" That's the message to Radcliffe from eight-year-old Chelsea Noone (right), who is recovering from a bone marrow transplant. The town has supported Chelsea and her family ever since the Bury Times revealed that the brave youngster's
FEW of the more austere old nonconformist chapels are to be found today. Surviving buildings usually end up being converted into shops and assorted other businesses. But they boomed, especially among mining communities, in bygone times. And a century-old
DEVELOPERS are "determined to turn Bury into a concrete jungle". That is the claim of residents in the town who this week won the first round of their fight to protect one of the borough's last urban wildlife havens. Builders Stately Developments have
GCSE students at Priory High School put their art work on display this week. The students set up their own exhibition boards to give pupils and visitors to the school the chance to see their hard work before GCSE examiners cast their beady eyes over them
I AM writing to thank the St Helens Star for the kind donation of £150 for the Mulitple Sclerosis Society branch of St Helens. Your support for our work really is appreciated. Founded in 1953, the MS Society is the largest UK charity for people affected
IT was almost too much to stomach for a child of seven . . . especially when the castor oil bottle came round in the evening. Yet, more than half-a-century later, Margaret Helsby has strangely affectionate memories of her six-week stay in the Children's
THE highlight of Radcliffe's social calendar takes place tomorrow. Yes, it is the 34th Radcliffe Carnival and organisers are hoping for sunshine. Last year torrential rain conspired with community apathy to make the carnival the worst in memory. Carnival
GARDEN thieves have uprooted a gate and wicker work arch from a Leigh house. The raiders struck over the Bank Hholiday weekend in Eastwood Grove, Leigh, and left owner Colin Hankey fuming. He said: "They were there on Friday, but when I returned home
SCHOOL pupils from Bury and Radcliffe travelled to London last week to present an environmental action plan to Prime Minister Tony Blair at Downing Street. Greenhill County Primary School pupils Christopher Rollinson and Peter Hickford (pictured in London
SQUEALS of delight and screams of terror filled Preston's Flag Market on Monday. Hundreds of thrill-seekers flocked to the Whit Fair for a Bank Holiday treat, sampling the new white-knuckle rides on offer. Of course there was the usual array of traditional
READ Hilton Dawson's statement in the Citizen 6 May 1999 and his letter in the Citizen 13 May 1999. How can he possibly say that the Morecambe Bay Independents' leaflet saying 'A vote for Labour is a vote for Henig', is subtly racist? Has the man completely
MORE than 30 firefighters tackled a blaze at a building site in William Henry Street, Preston. A row of terraced houses were well alight when fire crews arrived after receiving a call at 6.35pm on Tuesday (June 1). Six pumps, an incident support unit
LEIGH Parish Church bells will ring out as part of the town's centenary celebrations and a Community Day. The church is opening its doors to the public on June 12, from 10am to 4pm, when visitors will have the chance to learn a little of the church's
I HAVE lived in this area for more than 20 years and, until recently, I walked in the park on Ainsworth Road every day. But not any more! The park has become a meeting place for under-age drinkers. There can be as many as 50-60 youths between the ages
HAVING visited Bury Art Gallery on numerous occasions to observe the paintings exhibited, I'm disappointed with most pictures on show. Looking at them, I think both Picasso (with his rubbishy side faces, squares, triangles, and circular shapes) and Lowry's
BRIGHT costumes and plenty of wide smiles lit up a dull Bank Holiday Monday as the annual Caribbean Carnival hit town. A handful of floats, decked out in a assortment of calypso colours weaved their way around Deepdale as thousands of people came to Preston
WITH all the superlatives which quite rightly have been used to describe the fantastic achievements of the Manchester United team and manager, can I add my praise of the fans. I think they and the city of Manchester can be very proud that, with going
WHETHER or not to support pro-European integration parties in the forthcoming Euro-election will no doubt be an issue for all voters. For smokers, however, the matter is even more complicated. On the one hand, greater European integration will result
YOUR report on the local election results was quite right to highlight apparent voter apathy as one of the key factors of the poll. Low turnout is becoming an alarming problem in local government elections, particularly in by-elections. Surveys have shown
TORY leader William Hague has blasted Preston's political situation, describing it as a 'farce.' The Conservative Party boss was speaking during a visit to Ashton-on-Ribble High School, in Aldwych Drive, Preston, as part of a morale-boosting tour ahead
CHANNEL 4's new history of the countryside 'Green and Pleasant Land' would like to hear your stories of country living from the 1950s to the 1970s. Families started moving out to live in rural areas, some in remote spots, after the war but they did not
MINDLESS vandals are destroying a haven which provides pleasure to thousands. Staff at Lilford Park in Leigh dread to think what awaits them when they turn-in for work after arsonists struck over the Bank Holiday weekend. A Council Transit van was torched
BLACKBURN Rover's Premiership status will finally be laid to rest later this year - thanks to a bizarre Bamber Bridge ceremony. According to local legend, whenever either Blackburn Rovers or Preston North End are relegated a mock funeral, complete with
TICKETS to a glorious festival of flowers and gardens could be yours thanks to the Royal Horticultural Society and the Citizen. We have five pairs of tickets to the RHS flower show at Tatton Park, from July 22 to 25, to give away. Set in the historic
THIS year's Leyland Festival looks set to be as exciting as ever, with a spectacular parade followed by a fun-packed day of entertainment in Worden Park. Councillor Margaret Smith, Mayor of South Ribble, says: "No matter what the weather has to offer,
A PRESTON primary school is relying on flower power to attract more wildlife into the school. Pupils at English Martyr's Primary School in Sizer Street spent an afternoon planting flower gardens around the school, with a little help from the British Trust
RESIDENTS living near an historic house which is due to be demolished, are calling for it to be saved. The building (pictured), at 97 Lower Bank Road, in Fulwood, is due to be bulldozed to be replaced with a new property, complete with prayer room. The
TWO major National Lottery grants have been secured by the Community Council of Lancashire. The grants, from the Lottery's charities board (NLCB), will enable the CCL to develop its 'Information, Advice and Technical Support Service' and a community-based
TEACHERS were cleaning up after vandals struck at a Blackburn school. Children were told to stay at home as staff at Cedars Infant School faced a trail of destruction - smashed eggs and sugar thrown around the kitchen, children's art work ripped off the
VOTERS go to the polls for the second time in a month next week, this time to vote for representatives for the European Parliament. But voters face a baffling time when they do reach the polling booth - they will have 110 candidates to choose from, incorporating
ANSDELL Institute registered their first win of the season in the Lytham St Annes Darts and Dominoes Summer League by defeating Our Lady 15-9. Lytham Leisure Centre took maximum 12 points from winning all the darts matches in their 18-6 victory over Sports
TABLE-TOPPING Darwen have the luxury of an unchanged side for their trip to Lancaster tomorrow. The Birch Hall men maintained their unbeaten record in a nerve-jangler against bottom-placed Leyland DAF last Monday but face an unknown quantity in Pakistani
ST ANNES moved to the semi-finals of the Vaux Samson Cup with a comfortable 87 runs win over Lancaster in the second round. Batting first, St Annes made 227-6 courtesy of their professional Dave Callaghan who top scored with 86 and opener Andy Kellett
NEW Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman has pulled off a major transfer coup by snapping up highly-rated Morecambe winger Mark Shirley. And more top players could be on their way to the Crown Ground as the Reds aim to bounce back to the UniBond Premier
EXPLOSIVE action was the order of the day for Thornton Juniors football club on Saturday (May 29). Sporting their new kit courtesy of FA Cup sponsors Axa insurance group, the U9s lined up to smile for the Citizen camera when flash, bang, what a picture
DRIVERS on Rainford By-pass are having to contend with a 'jungle' of four foot high grass covering the central reservation and verges, obscuring vision at junctions and roundabouts along the busy highway. Angry motorists and residents claim its only a
REGARDING Mr G Pilkington's remarks in 'Light up cyclists!' (Letters, May 26), where I live, it's not the cyclists who need helmets, it's the pedestrians - to protect them from the cyclists. When they overtake me (on the pavement, of course), they rush
PEOPLE in politics complain about others not voting. But have the candidates ever asked why? No! A lot of us are fed up of their false promises. They say they will do this and that if we vote for them and then what happens - nothing! It was just the same
LOWERHOUSE professional Martin Van Jaarsveld is hoping for a win double tomorrow as he looks for cup glory on two fronts. Van Jaarsveld will have a key role to play in Lowerhouse's attempts to reach the semi-finals of the Worsley Cup at the expense of
ST ANNES enjoyed their third victory in three days when they beat Preston by eight wickets at South Meadow Lane. Batting first, Preston were restricted to 122-9, with Asif Bukhari top scoring with 33. He was assisted by Trevor Donaldson with 30 and Paul
THE Home Office leaflet sent to all households explaining the voting system for the Euro elections on June 10 risks seriously misleading voters and seriously damaging the interests of new and small parties. It shows how each voter can cast one vote for
GREGG Nicholls led the Fylde U15s to a memorable victory in the Preston Grasshoppers Sevens Tournament. During the event they were particularly pleased to take the scalp of Sedgeley Park who narrowly beat them in last year's Lancashire Cup final. This
AS the author of the alleged 'smears' of Hyndburn Council, may I reply to the remarks of its Director of Regeneration Nigel Rix (Letters, May 21), regarding Safeway's planning application for a supermarket in Great Harwood, earlier reports that I would
IT was very much a case of Bank Holiday blues at Stanley Park on Monday (May 31) as Blackpool were swept aside by Morecambe in their Vaux Northern League Division One game. Blackpool's 77 all out was their lowest total since making 72 against St Annes
A SAFETY poster designed by cubs from Padiham was picked as the best in the North West. Burnley Council's environmental health and cleansing services unit organised the event in conjunction with the North Western Home Safety Council and asked brownie
OFFICIALS at Lancaster City have been in negotiations with ex-Morecambe centre back Kenny Mayers. Management at the club won't sign anyone ahead of their annual general meeting on Saturday, June 19 but confirmed that they have had talks with him. Meanwhile
BIKING bobbies are back on the beat in Blackpool in an attempt to combat crime. Police in the town are taking to two wheels during the summer months as the crime rate hots up. The new team, made up of eleven specially selected and trained officers, was
SHERDLEY Park golf club captain Phil Benyon launched a one-man drive for charity. He embarked in a sponsored 72-hole golf marathon to raise money for the Whiston Hospital Baby Care Unit and for Leukaemia for Children. He returned scores of 81, 74, 75,
DETECTIVES hunting a suspected serial sex attacker in the Padiham Road area of Burnley have renewed their appeal for witnesses, a week after the latest assault. The sex fiend who raped a teenager and then attacked a 38-year-old woman who fought him off
EVERYONE involved with Lancaster City was wishing stalwart of club Mr Robert Lancaster well this week. Mr Lancaster suffered a serious heart attack but was thankfully reported to be feeling much better yesterday. Said club secretary Mike Sparks: "Latest
A PLACE at the same theatre school attended by Kate Winslett is waiting for a Blackpool student - but she faces a Titanic struggle to get there. Lisa West, of Toronto Avenue, Bispham, has already been accepted following an audition at London's Red Ruth
ELECTION-weary voters are urged to turn out for the European elections next Thursday. It is important everyone elegible to vote puts a cross on the ballot paper this time. EVERY single one will count as proportional representation is introduced for the
ANYONE concerned about the state of the world can play a small part by joining in with Jubilee 2000's initiatives over the next couple of weeks. To co-incide with the European elections on June 10, Jubilee 2000 plan to gather the biggest ever petition
GREEN baize wizard Craig Harrison is following the path to the top taken by two world champions. The Scala Snooker resident professional beat his old mate, Wayne Brown, 5-2 to lift the Merseyside individual crown at Old Swan, Liverpool. It's believed
MORECAMBE biker John McGuinness extended his lead in the British championships last week ahead of the TT races on Saturday. John came second for the fourth time extending his lead to 23 points at Donnington Park on Monday. Meanwhile his rival Jamie Robinson
TWO players from Leigh Rangers and one from Leigh East played for Lancashire U12s in an inter-counties knockout at Blackbrook Stadium, St Helens. The Red Rose (pictured) reached the final, but lost to Yorkshire. And Luke Murfin and Liam Murphy - both
THE St Helens Schools Mixed Rounders Tournament proved once again that rounders is not just a girls' game. In a mini-league of four, namely St Augustines, Rainford, Newton and Cowley High, Rainford came away victors, with Cowley as runners-up. The St
MORECAMBE Football Club announced this week that prices for next season would not be increased. The club also announced two initiatives to encourage younger supporters through the turnstiles. Firstly ground season tickets for children (five to 16 year
SUNDAY is a big day for the rising stars of the Haydock under eights side. For they are playing in the curtain raiser to Saints' clash with Salford Reds. Their opponents for the game, to be played on the training pitch outside the ground, are Ulverston
HAYDOCK CC endured a frustrating draw at home to St Phillips/Southport College. Haydock were put into bat and Billy Hurst (25) and Tony Derbyshire (20) provided a good start. Dave Cross came in and led by example setting the ground alight with a brilliant
Saints Alliance 62 Halifax Blue Sox 16 TEAM-of-the-month Saints passed the half-century mark for the third time this season with this 12-try slaughter in the sun at Knowsley Road on Thursday night. They are now just one point behind league leaders Hull
BLACKPOOL police are winning the battle against holiday crime with Operation Arrival. The operation, launched at Easter to cut crime in Blackpool and Lytham St Annes at peak tourism periods, swung into action for a third time last weekend with the Spring
THE story of a homeless drug addict who lived a life of destitution on the streets of Lancaster is to be made into a major feature film the Citizen can exclusively reveal. Hollywood producer Gary Kurtz, of Star Wars and American Graffiti fame, was so
RAINHILL ran out of time in their effort to beat played Whitefield on Monday. They suffered an early blow when Matt Clifford fell to an excellent catch at first slip for one run. Rainhill recovered before Dominic Sparkes was run out for 29. Some excellent
MY name is Kathy Osornio and my mother who recently died was from Blackpool. I lost addresses of British relatives about 15-20 years ago and I am looking for any members of my mother's family. I have been looking for the past five years and now really
SUMMER is hot, hot, hot for the holidays with the arrival of Kidz MegaFest in Blackpool for the second year running. Organised by Blackpool Borough Council's tourism and services department, the fun festival is bigger and better than ever before and is
OPENING batsman Dalrymple blasted Rainford into a commanding position against current unbeaten leaders Mawdesley. After losing ths toss, Rainford were asked to bat on a home track. However, Mawdesley had bargained without the destructive Dalrymple who
COMMON sense support for retaining hereditary peers came from Frank Field MP speaking on the JY programme (Radio 2, May 21). He expressed the opinion that in the Lords lay the last hope of blocking the highly unpopular Disablement Reform Bill which the
THE dedication of nearly all of those who work for our old people in Lancaster and Morecambe is way beyond doubt. That's why one female carer felt the need to contact this newspaper after two recent articles revealing the stresses on carers at social
RUBEROID Sutton Cricket Club suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of Wavertree on Saturday. After Suttons skipper Andy Brogan lost the toss, Sutton were invited to bat first. Sutton struggled early on a pitch doing more than a bit. SS
BLACKPOOL soldier Aron Lee has proved himself a worthy tour guide for none other than the Prime Minister and his wife. The 21-year-old found himself showing Tony and Cherie Blair around his army camp during their recent morale-boosting visit to front
THE children in Skerton have had enough and have taken to the streets in protest. Youngsters of all ages in and around Whalley Road, Richmond Avenue and Howgill Avenue say they are tired of playing in the streets and want their own play area. This week
TO the readers of the Citizen and other residents of the Fylde - this is a warning to you over the Euro referendum and vote. In the Mirror newspaper the other day Tony Blair stated that Britain will join the single currency and he declared war on his
FYLDE folk go to the polls next week to elect representatives for the European Parliament. But voters face a baffling time on June 10 - there are 110 candidates incorporating 13 political groups. For the first time Britain is using the proportional representation
LIONS boss Tony Barrow believes his club's hopes of winning a top five play-off spot are fading fast - despite a recent upturn in fortunes. Swinton's chief executive admits what started out as a realistic aim now looks like an uphill task, particularly
ST HELENS College has submitted a planning application for a new restaurant, bar, kitchen and associated toilet accommodation at town-centre site in Water Street. Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been
NORTH End have lined up some big-name pre-season opponents. Their friendlies fixture list kicks off with a clash against Premiership new boys Sunderland at Deepdale on Thursday, July 29 (ko 7.45pm). Preston then travel to Bolton Wanderers against First
Workington 37, Swinton 20 FORMER Swinton star Colin Armstrong played a large part in the downfall of Mike Gregory's team at Derwent Park on Sunday. Workington have won five out of their last six games and their performance was built on the foundations
MAGIC moments for a group of soccer-mad local youngsters who went on a victory lap aboard the world's most famous bus. Within 48 hours of Manchester United's treble-winning heroes' homecoming victory tour in front of 750,000 ecstatic supporters, Leigh
DOCTORS were fighting to save the sight of a nine-year-old Heysham boy shot in the eye with a gat gun this week. The boy lives on Nelson Grange Heysham was shot at point blank range in Dallam Avenue. It is not established exactly how the accident happened
CHRISTINA Craig has been appointed as the new manager at the HSBC bank in Accrington. The 38-year-old mother of three was previously business banking manager at the firm's Burnley branch. Christina holds an honours degree in financial services and is
D is for Deepdale - home of Preston North End since 1875 when they moved from Moor Park, and the sheep were allowed to graze on the bankings which doubled up as stands. So popular was this new attraction that women had to be charged admission for games
Drive and Stroll, with Ron Freethy - this week, the heart of Blackburn FOLLOWING last week's tour of Colne several readers have written to me saying that all East Lancashire towns have got an "ancient heart." As the old song days "You've Got To Have Heart
EMPLOYERS in East Lancashire have been urged to make sure they are aware of a new rule. From June 1 the period of continuous employment required to bring a claim for unfair dismissal has been reduced from two years to one. "This change is of enormous
MORE than 1,800 TV licence evaders in the Lancaster area have been collared following a high profile campaign. "Target Zero" has seen a total of 1,886 evaders caught in Lancaster over the past year and has prompted an increase of 2,099 new licences in
ALTHOUGH Lynx had given everyone heart last week that a possible recovery was on the way against Batley Bulldogs, I think they were kidding us as well as themselves, writes Steve Tranter. This performance was back to the lackadaisical, slipshod defence
Wright On! Shelley Wright takes a wry look at life TO the person or persons who chose to break into my brother's new car I have just one thing to say. Thanks very much. I hope you choke on my George Michael CD. My life is now officially on the line because
VICTIMS of a burglary in Morecambe were surprised when the housebreakers returned part of the booty via post this week. The burglars posted back a driving license from Cheshire to the victims on Woodlands Drive. "I've never heard of anything like this
RADCLIFFE town centre is to get a new heart. Planning chiefs in Bury have formally approved a scheme to revamp Dale Street with a new bus station and retail store. As part of the project, the existing bus station will be demolished to make way for a retail
LEIGH, Atherton and Tyldesley have two new town centre champions. Retailers and shoppers in the borough's largest towns will have allies in the new co-ordinators. Helen Toher, 24, will be responsible for Leigh, Golborne and Platt Bridge, while Annette
SIX teenagers are flying the flag for Blackpool when they travel to a youth conference in Europe. Bryan Hall, Wezley Irwin, Nicola Holt, Keith Munnery, Nousheen Ahmed and Corinna Keelan will spend a week in the resort's twin town of Bottrop from June
THE annual general meeting of the St Helens branch of the Citizens Advice Bureau will be held in room 215 of St Helens College on Thursday, June 17 from 12.30pm. Mayor of St Helens, Councillor Pat Jackson, will preside and the main speakers are community
MAKING the most of your natural colouring and body shape is the subject of a special evening organised by the Lancaster branch of the Business and Professional Women's Club. The event at Lancaster House Hotel is open to all local working women and the
MITCHELL'S Brewery in Lancaster is to close after 118 years brewing beer in the city. The shock announcement comes as the independent, family business faced falling orders for its range of cask beers. The brewery closure will mean the loss of local jobs
BIG-hearted pupils from Haydock High School boosted a a worthy cause to the tune of £52.50 when they organised an Easter Egg raffle in aid of local youngster Conor Marsden who suffers from the skin condition Epidermolysis Bullosa. Students of Form 7.1
CAMPAIGNERS are trying to organise a rock concert and fun day called Lancaster Against Racism. The inspiration for this event is the national 'Rock Against Racism' events of the early eighties. The aim is to raise the profile of local efforts to combat
A BUSINESSWOMAN is determined to continue trading despite a heartbreaking £15,000 raid on her shop early on Wednesday. The robbery at designer children's wear shop Hippee Chick in Parr Lane, Unsworth, was the latest to plague owner Miss Deborah Corris
THE morning after Manchester United powered their way to the treble Tom Procter completed the finishing touches to his milk float shrine to the club outside his Bolton-le-Sands home. Said Tom, 49, of Coastal Road: "I just did it because my family are
OUTLINE approval has been granted to build new homes at Castlebrook High School. Part of the grounds to the north of the Unsworth school has been earmarked for development of an unknown number of properties. The land offers little value in terms of providing
THE Tyldesley Twelve will be putting in a peak performance this month. The team from the Bulls Head, Manchester Road, Astley, are going all out to conquer The Three Peaks challenge to help six-years-old leukaemia sufferer Ryan James Philbin, and hundreds
PRESTWICH Ladies Bowling League are hoping to jack-up funds to send a local girl to Florida. Fifty-one players will tomorrow, June 5,compete in a charity bowling competition and fund-raising day in aid of the Emma Berman Florida Fund. Emma (11) of Polefield
WITH millions in the bank the future should have shone bright for Leigh's 'lucky' lotto winners. Four years ago Ken White, his late wife Sheila and their sons David, Stephen and Richard (pictured with their families) were on top of the world sharing £6,600,000
A BURGLAR has been given a month to 'behave himself' - and possibly save himself from his first custodial sentence. Darren Quinn, 20, who broke into two homes in Nelson, was told by Judge Reginald Lockett that the chances for the bench were 'stark.' He
THE Council's largest group has written to the district auditor asking what the latest position is regarding their investigation into the Crinkley Bottom disaster. "We are determined that the truth will be put into the public arena as soon as possible
ST HELENS Council's Ranger Service have organised a nine-mile walk this Sunday at 10am. Starting at Sankey Valley Visitors Centre, Blackbrook, walkers will go through Sankey Valley to Crank Caverns and Kings Moss where lunch will be taken before climbing
DETECTIVES are hunting a gang who ram-raided a supermarket. The thieves drove a stolen car through an entrance at the Kwik Save store in Bury before stealing a large quantity of cigarettes. The Vauxhall Astra car was left at the scene and it is believed
LOCAL businesses joined the fight to keep the pound. Leading North West businessmen and women have launched the campaign to keep the pound and highlight the threat that the Euro posed to jobs and growth in the region. The launch of the new Business for
A DRUG addict who spent a life of destitution on the streets of Blackpool and London is about to see his story turned into a Hollywood blockbuster. Twenty years ago Stephen Smith rummaged around resort dustbins for food. Today, with a lot of help from
BURY businesswomen have been given a rare insight into the world of a top female newspaper features writer. Forthright Daily Mail columnist Lynda Lee-Potter was one of the speakers at a special "Women in Business" seminar held in the town. She entertained
SUPER League pace-setters Saints will be bidding to complete their first double of the season when re-born Salford Reds visit Knowsley Road on Sunday, kick-off 3pm. Saints won 30-12 at The Willows on the opening day of the season but - after struggling
A 53-year-old woman was pulled to the ground when a thief snatched her carrier bag at a Metrolink station. Now, police are anxious to talk to anyone who witnessed the incident at Besses o' th' Barn. Police say the woman was on her own on a platform when
HARD though it may be to take, Leigh got just what they deserved on Sunday. Just seven days after their whirlwind win against Hull KR, the game went sour as they crashed to their most comprehensive defeat of the season. Fourth-placed Hunslet simply gave
CERTAINLY in safe hands - that's two local companies which have each won a major award. Scapa PMC, based at Stubbins Vale Mill in Ramsbottom, and Radcliffe's Trumeter have lifted coveted British Safety Council awards. And it's the ninth successive award
IF you want to live to be 100 take Mrs Hilda Massey's advice and avoid all alcohol - except sherry. That was her tip on Wednesday when she celebrated her 100th birthday at Half Acre Nursing Home in Radcliffe. Born and bred in Radcliffe, Mrs Massey (right
SMALL voluntary groups are being encouraged to cash in on Millennium money. Bury Council is keen to ensure organisations involved in arts, sports, heritage, Millennium, or charity activities do not lose out on grants of between £500 and £15,000 to help
BURY'S Mosses Centre is seeking to become a registered charity in order to survive. The centre, which is used by community groups, was shortlisted for closure as a means of reducing the £178,000 shortfall in Bury Council's community education services
STAFF at an off-licence were forced to open the shop till after being threatened by a man wielding a crowbar. Two young men walked into the Nevins store in Cambridge Road, St Helens, just before 10pm on Wednesday, May 26. One of them stood in the shop
SHAKERS ever-present Nick Daws is poised to sign a new contract and end speculation that he is ready to join Burnley. The 29-year-old star has been given assurances of the club's ambition to make an immediate return to Division One next year and is all
POLICE believe a prominent and distinctive tattoo could help them to track down a man who robbed a pregnant woman of £165 in cash at knifepoint. The attack took place between 11.30 and 11.45am on Wednesday, May 26, as the woman was walking along the St
DISABLED golfer Alan Campbell is back on the winning trail. He followed his victory in the National Championships with success in the Bob Reynolds Memorial Handicap at Southport. On a windy course, the Leigh man took the event by one stroke with a four-under-par
GLAZEBURY CC lost their 100% record with a draw against Vulcan. The visitors hit 188-9, four of their batsmen getting into the 20s - but Paul Warhurst picked up FOUR catches in the field. And there were three wickets each for Jon Gibbons and Gareth Banks
CHRIS ACKERS' boots are definitely made for walking! And he is now putting the finishing touches to preparations for a mammoth 24-hour June walk - covering SIXTY miles over 20 Lakeland peaks and 17,000 feet of ascent. The sponsored walk, starting on June
A PAPER mill worker who became the first patient in Britain to have all his fingers sewn back on after they were sliced off in a horror accident said today: "I'm fine!" Harry Fishwick, 56, spoke from his bed at Withington Hospital, Manchester, after undergoing
GOLBORNE swept to the top of the Vimto Bolton Association as Astley & Tyldesley took their eye off the ball. They were all out for 112, never able to cope with the likes of Ian Critchley (3-25) and Chris Benbow (3-23). A weakened Golborne then had
BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent has set Mark Robertson a mid-June deadline to decide on his Clarets future. Ternent wants Robertson to stay and has offered him a new deal after his current contract expires this summer. He is hoping to see the midfielder report
What a trolley-load of goodies. The Journal's search for the Child of Year came to a climax at Tesco's Atherton store. Pictured are the six winners - Bethany Boardman, Zachery Jones, Nathan Whyte, Shelley Felton, Lee Gregory and Charlotte Fletcher - with
A PAPER mill worker who became the first patient in Britain to have all his fingers sewn back on after they were sliced off in a horror accident said today: "I'm fine!" Harry Fishwick, 56, spoke from his bed at Withington Hospital, Manchester, after undergoing
BLACKBURN Rovers midfielder Billy McKinlay revealed today that he has "never been happier" at Ewood Park. The Scottish international, currently in rehabilitation after an injury-plagued season, also explained for the first time why he had felt it necessary
THINGS can only get better for Leyland Cricket Club after they suffered a humiliating Bank Holiday Monday defeat. They only managed to notch up 48 runs against Chorley in what, at best, can be described as an embarrassing defeat. Chorley's Keith Eccleshare
LEIGH's Grasmere Street health centre is a shining example for others to follow. The NHS Beacon award of £4,000 has been given to the centre for the excellence of its family doctor Primary Care service. Announcing the award Health Minister John Denham
NOSTALGIA, they say, is a thing of the past. But bygone times certainly stay alive in the minds of the many readers who chip in to this column each week. Two of them, Joe Jones of Irwin Road, Sutton, and I.M. Cook of the local Writers Circle, have both
MAYORESS Evelyne Smith loves Shakerley. And the Hindsford councillor is encouraging other Shakophiles to join her in a Spring clean-up. Evelyne (pictured) was among the locals who cleared litter and household waste in a Council-backed campaign to make
Car Boot Sale, Dog Inn car park, Belthorn Road, Belthorn, 10am-4pm. Proceeds of which go to village funds. Start of the Fellsman Classic Tour, with SS class cars, 9.30am, Waddington Arms, Waddington. Finishes 5pm at the same venue. Coffee Morning, Mind
IN A recent issue of the Citizen you kindly published my comments upon the lack of management skills in local councils in general and of the last administration here in Lancaster and Morecambe in particular. This was followed up in you letters page, under
WE would like to say a big thank- you to all the staff of H4 Ward at Whiston Hospital. By all the staff, we mean the doctors and nursing staff, cleaners, kitchen staff, the tea ladies and anyone who was involved in the running of H4. We had a fabulous
TO most folk over the age of 60, this brave new computerised world is not only baffling, but downright infuriating. And these emotions must have escalated into the realms of hate and despair for thousands of newly-fledged old age pensioners. These are
CORRECT! this thick, politically incorrect, fat, auld Scotsman does not understand the subtle and complex issues raised by Hilton Dawson. I have read and re-read his letter of May 27 and still think the same as I did the week before. If race, culture
AS the 82 Kosovar refugees settle into their temporary home at the Geoffrey Kershaw Centre in Bury, horrific tales are slowly emerging of life at the mercy of Serb soldiers. Villages have been razed to the ground, people executed on the spot for no reason
HIGHER Folds has copped a £100 gift from the police. PC John Burns, the estate's community bobby recently presented a cheque to Lorraine Hutchings, co-ordinator of the Heart of the Community Shop at The Centre. The shop acts as a community focus and promotes
I HAVE just read your comments on the letter that protested against smoking in public (May 6). I find your opinions wilfully blind to the facts. The really bad news about smoking is (1) it stinks, (2) it harms not only those who use tobacco but also the
THE bowler hat and cane are unmistakable - Preston's answer to cheeky Charlie Chaplin (pictured). With his trademark moustache and distinctive walk, the famous entertainer amused shoppers at St George's Shopping Centre during the half-term break. Charlie
AS a follower of Rugby League, I must say that, generally, the coverage in the Star is excellent, particularly the space devoted to Saints' first team and the town's many talented amateur clubs. However, there is one area in which both the Star, and,
WE recently heard with some dismay that the Do It All store on Westgate in Morecambe are intending to market a range of animals as pets. The thought of people deciding on impulse to "pick up a pet" while in a store to buy tins of paint and rolls of wallpaper
WHAT a hotch-potch of planning we seem to get in our town. We get pedestrianisation by instalments and new shop fronts on the crumbling buildings years after St Helens has been 'centrally' rebuilt. A third giant supermarket appears almost overnight in
TEAMWORK has paid off for a high-flying Leigh travel agency which operates a 'warts and all' policy. Co-op Travelcare is celebrating winning the coveted Investors in People award. To win the award, the agency, part of the largest independent travel chain
A POPULAR TV personality was the guest of honour at a lunch to raise cash for children with cancer. Jean Fergusson, Marina from 'Last of the Summer Wine,' was the guest speaker at the event, hosted by the Ribble Valley Ladies' Luncheon Club. The club
THANKS to Citizen Smith for acknowledging that I work hard on behalf of constituents. That work would be assisted if he would report facts rather than completely mis-representing me: I have never 'suggested that some subtle form of racist campaign resulted
GOLBORNE High School pupils have won a £3,000 grant - to entertain pensioners. The school has been successful in its Barclays Bank "New Futures Award" bid to launch a project which will bring senior citizens in for lunch and entertainment once a week
FORMER Golborne woman Sylvia Taylor is back on home ground in the next week. Her hard-hitting play "Point of Impact" will be performed by the Trojan Theatre at Leigh College's Theatre Upstairs on Monday. It will then be staged at Golborne High on Wednesday
PRESTON Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has been awarded Beacon status by the Department of Health for initiatives to reduce waiting lists and times. Health Minister John Denham described the Preston Trust's work as 'a shining example of good practice'. He
IT'S BEEN a century of change in Lancashire as, of course, in the rest of the world. But a few things have been constant - we still enjoy a day at Blackpool and the Pleasure Beach; Pendle Hill still holds a strange fascination; soccer and Rugby League
A BIG thank-you was the welcome to 71 volunteers who give up their time for St Catherine's Hospice. The charity workers had each completed 10 years service - 900 years between them - dedicating their time to helping at the charity's shops, support groups
LEIGH town centre is to be further improved to attract both shoppers and businesses. Wigan Council has unveiled a package of developments aimed at continuing the quality of work carried out in Bradshawgate, and improving business and investment confidence
AS the successful candidate for Unsworth in the recent elections, I must reply to "Ever Bin Had?" (Your Letters, May 28). I will attempt to mollify him/her and the many people of Unsworth who are unhappy with the present system of refuse collection, which
ARMED bandits terrified staff at a Preston supermarket before fleeing with a quantity of cigarettes. Two raiders threatened a cashier with a handgun and a claw hammer at the Spar shop in Kent Street and demanded cash. But when they realised the cashier
AN ex-dental company director has sunk his teeth into writing poetry. Leigh man Phil Isherwood's first book "Life Behind the Petunias" has just been published by Towpath Press. It offers the fresh and funny, punchy and provocative. A committed Christian
HIGHER Folds residents face a doorstep survey on the quality of life on the estate. Over the next few weeks they will be able to have their say on what services are missing and what can be improved. A team of local people are aiming to reach 1,000 households
AS a disabled person, and also the manager of Bury and District Disabled Advisory Council (BADDAC), I have great fears about the proposals to cut disability benefits contained in the Government's Welfare Reform Bill. These would leave thousands of disabled
STAFF at a Preston retail park were advised to be extra vigilant on Bank Holiday Monday, after it was revealed their shopping complex could been targeted by bombers. Security guards at Deepdale Retail Park alerted workers in the morning that they had
PLANS for the first ever Party in The Park, in Winckley Square, are taking shape with a host of exciting activities already in the pipeline. More than £700 of the Friends of Winckley Square committee's cash has already been earmarked for a host of entertainments
I FELT I must put pen to paper to comment on your article 'Council leader's a kerb crawler.' At first I thought it was an advertisement from a proud grandparent about a recent birth of their grandchild, but then I read on and find it is about Councillor
WHAT an interesting read the Bury Times was on Friday, May 21. I read with interest the articles dealing with problems in local schools. As I continued I found myself becoming angrier and angrier. I am a parent of two young children who are still in the
JANET Shaw (Your Letters, May 21) seems to have forgotten that the borough's Woodbury Millennium project included a bid to the National Lottery Millennium Commission for a quarter of a million pounds to fund the chartering of the "Phoenix" from Square
I WAS saddened to read Mr P. J. Billington's attack on me (Your Letters, May 7) and I must now add his description "arrogant" to the list of adjectives thrown at me by Socialists over the years. He is entitled to support cycle lanes, though I would be
CHILDREN in Bamber Bridge are being ordered indoors after a massive factory inferno resulted in white asbestos being deposited across the town. The blaze, which started at 1pm on Sunday at packaging firm Avalon Packaging on Walton Summit, raged for most
THE chairman of Lancashire's education and cultural services committee has congratulated the staff, governors and pupils of Eldon County Primary School on a glowing Ofsted report. The school, in Preston, had been subject to 'special measures' imposed
THE Royal International Air Tattoo, held in partnership with British Aerospace, will send you into orbit with high-flying airshow entertainment. And you and a friend can win tickets to the Gloucestershire event courtesy of the event organisers and the
CHILDREN in Bamber Bridge are being ordered indoors after a massive factory inferno resulted in white asbestos being deposited across the town. The blaze, which started at 1pm on Sunday at packaging firm Avalon Packaging on Walton Summit, raged for most
THE Rev Eric Joselin planned a 45-mile walk of witness to raise cash for Ribble Valley churches. The 70-year-old prepared to walk the Pendle Way carrying a wooden cross, a feat he had accomplished 21 years previously when he covered 80-miles on a similar
AN undertaker who 'disappeared' without returning the ashes of a man's father, has contacted the Citizen, telling of his sorrow at the distress he has caused. In an emotional interview, Steven Poole revealed the reason behind his 'disappearance' and apologised
THE magnificent structure of the old Town Hall building in Preston, is the focus of this week's recollections after receiving these amazing photos taken by Citizen reader, Jim Cowell. Jim, of Clifford Avenue, took these wonderful snaps of the Town Hall
A TITLE-winning Penwortham biker has been killed in a horror smash during a warm-up session for the TT Races on the Isle of Man. Simon Beck, 28, was killed as he travelled round a notorious stretch of track during an evening practice on Tuesday. He is
THE magnificent structure of the old Town Hall building in Preston, is the focus of this week's recollections after receiving these amazing photos taken by Citizen reader, Jim Cowell. Jim, of Clifford Avenue, took these wonderful snaps of the Town Hall
THREE teams went nap this week - Globe A, Rushton Street E and Gatty Park. Globe A beat their own E team 10-0 to go two points clear at the top of Division One, Rushton Street E achieved the same result against Whalley A to maintain the pressure on Salisbury
ON an unresponsive artificial track, a winning draw in this Fylde League division two game seemed scant reward for St Annes IV's hard work against Blackpool IV. The innings was given a firm foundation with two fine half-centuries from Vijay Chandrasekar
MR D Bullen (Letters, May 28) was correct - there is little democracy in the European Parliament. However, it does not follow that there is no point in voting in the Euro elections on June 10. The United Kingdom Independence Party is putting up candidates
OVER 50 girls from four local high schools took part in the second Girls Tag Tournament held at Nelson and Colne College, Colne. The eventual winners were Mansfield High School who won all three of their matches. The Brierfield school were able to draw
MILOSEVIC backs down, Serbia's parliament votes for peace, Belgrade agrees to all NATO's demands - victory and vindication for the allies' air war. On paper. For this peace to be real and complete, there has yet to be the fulfilment of the war's essential
I WOULD like to raise public awareness of the potential dangers of Whinney Lane, from Mellor to the dual carriageway at Lammack, Blackburn, with cars swerving to avoid potholes and eroded areas. I have nearly had two 'head-on' collisions on my morning
GREAT Harwood's lead has been cut to six points this week following their 8-6 defeat at Haslingden. Ian McNeill won 21-15 for Haslingden with Norman Hill winning 21-2 for the leaders. Colne Cricket Club and Sunnybank are in joint second place, Colne had
WHAT a mean, selfish person Gladys Robinson sounds (Letters, May 26). Does she not understand the difference between our old people and those poor refugees? I agree it was a shame to close the old people's homes, but at least the residents had somewhere
FRENCHWOOD number one Mick Nelson continues to lead the Terry Sayers individual merit awards after his latest 21-15 win. Undefeated after seven games is a unique record for Mick who has helped in the overall performance of the team who are in second place
ENGLAND have put Dav Whatmore on their list of candidates to take over as coach from David Lloyd. Lord's officials have made an official approach to Lancashire, and have asked Whatmore to prepare his CV for an interview sometime in the next fortnight.
ST ANNES had an easy eight wickets victory over Leyland at Vernon Road on Saturday (May 29), finishing on 112-2, with Leyland's reply 109-9. St Annes captain Russell Bradley won the toss and put Leyland in to bat and the visitors found runs difficult
LAST year's finalist John Metters cruised through his qualifying group in the Alexandra Classic sponsored by LET and Scottish and Newcastle Retail last weekend. The other 1998 finalist Mick Chapman also went through, along with Kevan Shaw from Westhoughton
ALTHOUGH we are rivals in the elections to the European Parliament on June 10, we have united to correct an injustice and clear up great confusion. The dummy ballot paper in the Government leaflet sent to every household explaining the new proportional
TWO seconds was all that separated first and second place in the 731-mile Prutour cycle race. After seven days of racing around the streets of Britain, Belgian Mark Wauters, 30, emerged victorious by the narrowest of margins in the final leg in Edinburgh
FOLLOWING on from last year's world premier event in the town, St Helens is to play host to the European Kick Boxing Championships on Monday, June 21. As well as the European title fights, there will be British title events and an international ladies
A SEASONED car booter who has stood Leigh Miners' many times changed his venue to my local on Sunday. He tempted me to add an ancient washboard to my collection of kitchen equipment, and I was a bit miffed when he checked my tenner. "Can't be too careful
WHEN Indian cyclist Debojyoti Ghosh set off from India on a nine year cycle ride across the world he didn't even know that Lancaster existed. But since the 29-year-old pitched up to the university on Tuesday he's more than impressed with the area. Said
AN "institutionalised" house breaker has been jailed for two years. Drug addict Wayne Oxley, 27, had spent nine years of his life locked up and each time he had been released, he would go back to heroin and end up back in prison, Burnley Crown Court heard
HAYDOCK rounded off a great season when they clinched the UGB Lions' sevens title on Monday. It happened after they had coasted past Thatto Heath in the semi-final and then beat Blackbrook 24-16 in the final. In the other semi-final Blackbrook needed
GET set for the last Poulton Gala of the Millennium This Saturday (June 5). And this year organisers promise a bigger, better and more exciting festival than ever before. Around 40 floats will proceed through Poulton's streets accompanied by bands and
THERE'S two great new exhibitions at Folly Gallery this month. Sandy Gardners "Pathways of the Imaginary" uses computers to overlay, change and meld different images to create rich brew of symbols and fragments of narrative. The precise photographic quality
LANCASHIRE County Council could face prosecution over the death of a forestry worker who was crushed by a dumper truck on what an inquest heard was a "dangerous", "unsuitable" and "very steep" access road. The Health and Safety Executive is still investigating
ON behalf of doctors and nurses I think our medical people should have lots more money if they work on New Year's Eve. With all the celebrations there are bound to be accidents, not forgetting heart attacks, etc. Intensive care departments will be working
TRIBUTES poured in for a young Bispham priest whose body was being flown to a final resting place in his native Bermuda today (June 3). The Rev James Morley, of All Hallows C of E Church, Bispham, died last Friday (May 28) at the age of 40 after suffering
OLD people in Lancaster and Morecambe received a nasty shock last week when a county council letter hit their door mats - it stated they would have an 80 per cent increase to pay for home helps. The elderly will have to pay £9 per hour instead of £5 for
AFTER two maximum scores, two second places and a third overall 1999 looks as though it could be a good year for Ian Joel's rally aspirations. Second on Saturday's Red Dragon Rally in South Wales allowed Joel and co-driver Graeme Wood from Carnforth to
CHANNEL 4's new history of the countryside, Green & Pleasant Land, would like to hear Citizen readers' stories of country living between the 1950s and the 1970s. Families started moving out to live in rural areas, some in remote spots, after the war
AS escapes go, Blackpool's in their Vaux Northern League Division One game at Netherfield on Saturday (May 29) ranks with the greatest. Staring defeat in the face at 55-8 in reply to Netherfield's modest 148 all out, Blackpool veteran slow left arm bowler
SIGNED by Saints in February 1981 and still going strong - admittedly with another club! That's the proud product of Thatto Heath and Grange Park School Paul 'Buffer' Forber. He put pen to paper at Knowsley Road after serving his apprenticeship with Saints
LIBERAL Democrat big gun Cyril Smith was in Lancaster last week to boost the fortunes of his party's candidate for the Euro elections, Chris Davies. Said Sir Cyril: "It doesn't matter if you are keen on Europe or not. The fact is we are part of it and
Halifax Bluesox 22 Saints 28 LEAGUE leaders Saints stumbled but didn't quite fall at the 13th hurdle at The Shay on Sunday. But negotiating the final obstacle was far too close for comfort. Riding high in leading 18-0 at half-time and with their noses
BLACKPOOL'S Sitting Service is to receive a very special thank you this week from social service chiefs and council members. Coinciding with National Volunteers' Week is the tenth anniversary of the vital volunteers who help people caring for elderly
SIR, - IN reply to the letter from Councillor Horrocks (Citizen, May 20), I frankly admit that I do not understand the intricacies of local government. I know there are always wheels within wheels, but from his statements it appears the council has no
THE chances of David Moyes still being at Deepdale at the start of the new season seem to be a lot greater, with club staff more confident that their man is staying. Following the appointment of Ebbe Skovdahl to the Aberdeen job and Dave Bassett at Barnsley
ST HELENS CC completed a great Bank Holiday hat-trick. Their Echo Cup win at Wigan started slowly with 37 runs off 10 overs. Ian Mackus (27) increased the tempo and with Steve Kenny (28) and Adam Friar (23 not out) treating the bowling in cavalier fashion
A LANCASTER grandfather has spoke of his guilt after failing to report a dog which he says bit him. The dog went on to savage a three-year-old girl. Mr Keith Wakeham claims he was protecting his four-year-old grandson, Joshua Edwards, when he was bitten
ST HELENS Recs slipped to a narrow defeat at the hands of Huyton on Saturday. Captain Morrison decided to bat first but runs were hard to come by against a tight attack as Recs struggled to 71-3 off 34 overs. Tole, the top scorer with a hard earned 37
BLACKPOOL'S casualty department has won a £450,000 tonic to help boost patient facilities. Staff at Victoria Hospital's busy accident and emergency department were jubilant this week after receiving one of the top allocations in the North West as part
EVERY May the same images of the gutted football fan flashes on our screens as the season ends. The despairing eyes set firmly on the middle distance, tears streaking the face paint, shrugging off the consoling arm around the shoulder - and that's what
ST HELENS Council has received a planning application for a 12-bed secure unit at St Catherine's House, Blackbrook Road, Blackbrook. Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
AN ATHERTON-based swimmer will be ensuring his ambitions do not sink when he takes part in a 28.5-mile swimathon in nine days time. Mark Blewitt, a 32-year-old marketing manager, has been training hard to achieve his dream of swimming in the Manhattan
BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent has set Mark Robertson a mid-June deadline to decide on his Clarets future. Ternent wants Robertson to stay and has offered him a new deal after his current contract expires this summer. He is hoping to see the midfielder report
NEXT meeting of the Cowley World War Two Veterans Club will be held at the Royal Navy Club in Volunteer Street on Wednesday, June 9 starting at 1.15pm. Members are asked to contact Sam Bagley on 01744 27829 to book lunch. Ladies welcome. Converted for
INJURY-hit Lancashire Lynx failed to overcome a strong Hull KR side on Sunday, containing them for the first half but eventually losing 48-12. Coach Steve Hampson said "We looked good in the first half but after that they proved to be too strong for us
POLICE have praised revellers in Accrington for creating a friendly atmosphere for visitors enjoying a night out in the town. An operation over the Bank Holiday weekend has been hailed a success after just one person was arrested on a busy Sunday night
BURY'S chances of holding onto their First Division status in the wake of Crystal Palace and Portsmouth's financial problems look to be zero. That much is certain after both clubs, along with Luton Town and Chester City, were threatened with expulsion
THREE Romanian children's nurses are hoping to build better hospital services in their homeland...with a little help from their friends. When housebuilders, Beazer Homes, heard the trio needed cash to come to the area to study at Leigh Infirmary the company
PLUMBING student Chris Jones (18) from Sutton Leach, who works for Bartons Heating Contracts, has been awarded a national prize by plumbing and heating merchants Plumb Center for high standards of craftmanship on his NVQ course at St Helens College. Converted
GRADUATE art students at St Martin's College will be exhibiting their work to the public in June. The exhibition will include an innovative cross-section of work in a variety of media, from painting and printmaking to sculpture, ceramics and digital imaging
NEARLY 90 new homes look set to be built on the outskirts of Clayton-le-Moors, despite protests from a councillor that schools in the area are already "full to breaking point". The protest by Tory councillor Russell Davies comes while parents in other
BURY boxing sensation Ady Lewis is two fights away from a second national title. The "Mighty Atom" is gearing up for a final eliminator for the British bantamweight crown against Castleford's Nicky Wilders at the Corn Exchange, Ipswich on Tuesday, June
BUILDER John Wood is swapping his cement mixer for a pushbike and is pedalling off to help others. The self-employed Lowton grandad is taking two weeks off work to pedal over 1,000 miles from Land's End to John O'Groats. Big-hearted John of The Grove
PRESCOT police are trying to contact a taxi driver who picked up a fare in Cross Lane, Prescot, at about 4.30pm on Monday, March 29. The driver took a 40-year-old man, who had been severely beaten to Prescot police station. Anyone who can help with inquiries
MOVES to make life more bearable for vulnerable members of the community are progressing well. The Council's Housing Committee has been reviewing its Community Care Strategy established 18 months ago in partnership with Wigan and Bolton Health Authority
JACQUELINE Shackleton has become a first lady of textiles. She has become the first textile technician in the North West to achieve a new qualification. Jacqueline, who works for Witton Mill Co in Blackburn, studied for the level three textile technician's
BED and furniture giant Silentnight has reported trading ahead of target. The Salterforth-based firm said that the first three months of the financial year had seen results ahead of internal targets and of last year. "Our UK Bed sales have recovered from
BUSINESS agency boss Richard Bindless went back to the "shop floor" to experience life at the front line of his organisation during "Learning at Work Day." Richard, chief executive of Bolton and Bury Chamber, broadened his horizons and boosted his knowledge
WIGAN Council has surveyed all the grass playing fields in the borough with a view to netting a sports lottery grant. It wants to improve facilities in the area, and has compiled a 40-page dossier which shows the area is short of 73 hectares of playing
THINGS can only get better for Leyland Cricket Club after they suffered a humiliating Bank Holiday Monday defeat. They only managed to notch up 48 runs against Chorley in what, at best, can be described as an embarrassing defeat. Chorley's Keith Eccleshare
THE quality of life is to be improved on some of Leigh's clogged up housing estates. But it will mean residents losing their grassy areas. Improvements were given the green light by councillors this week. They have agreed a number of schemes which will
ST HELENS Council is urging all eligible residents to ensure they are registered to vote in the European Elections to be held on Thursday, June 10. If you are registered to vote you should receive a poll card by Tuesday, June 1. You do not need this to
A DRINK-DRIVER stopped by police just before midnight was unable to walk, Burnley magistrates were told. Magistrates heard Keith Wilson, 36, was stopped because he had no car lights on. He could not walk and smelled strongly of alcohol. Wilson, of Bradley
THE Government has invested an extra £550,000 to improve services at Whiston Hospital's Accident and Emergency Department. The money is part of a £115 million investment in A and E departments throughout the country, announced by Health Minister, Frank
THE ARMY Cadet Force in the Lancaster district has become so popular with local youngsters that two new detachments have been opened. The new detachments have been opened at Hornby and Galgate and numbers at the other detachments are on the up. The increase
THE annual Prescot Carnival will be held on Saturday, June 5 in Browns Field, Carr Lane. Organised by Prescot Town Council and Prescot Round Table, the fun starts with a procession at noon and from the field site at 1pm. Admission is free and among the
AN ELECTION row continued today as Pendle MP Gordon Prentice urged Paddy Ashdown to order an Liberal Democrat Euro election leaflet to be corrected. Mr Prentice wants a correction slip inserted into the official European Parliamentary election leaflet
COUNCILLORS have been accused of turning their backs on 140 new jobs, after rejecting plans for a 66-bedroom hotel and leisure complex in Pendle. Disappointed brothers Jonathan and Clive Seedall, who want to build the hotel as an extension to the Forest
