HODGSON High School in Poulton recently launched a special scheme to combat bullying by appointing a team of anti-bullying "mentors". Thirty six pupils, all aged 14-15, were taken for a day of training at Premier Bowl on Central Drive, Blackpool, as part
A WEBSITE for ex-pupils of three Blackpool schools has gone from strength to the strength, thanks to a £200 grant from British Telecom. The site -- www.meliora.com -- is for former pupils of Blackpool Grammar School and the now-demolished Collegiate School
AN extra £1.7 million has been given to Wigan and Bolton Health Authority to make up for "decades of neglect", Health Minister Alan Milburn claimed today. The cash windfall is on top of an above average budget allocation for the local health authority
YOUNGSTERS are more likely to be under the influence of drugs than drink when they get behind the wheel in East Lancashire, police revealed today. Officers say the problem -- particularly bad in towns with a busy nightlife such as Burnley, Blackburn and
DAVE Bradbury's been around long enough not to make any rash predictions. But nothing would give him more pleasure than being part of the Leigh Centurions team that dumps Salford City Reds out of the Challenge Cup on Sunday. As one of five former Salford
I WRITE to say thank you very much to the driver who damaged my wife's car in Cambridge Road, St Helens on Saturday, January 27. The driver involved will have a considerable amount of red paint scraped onto their black plastic bumper. I'd just like people
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness looks set to include new-boy Eyal Berkovic in his squad at Nottingham Forest on Saturday after the Israeli international was granted a work permit yesterday. Rovers have received verbal notification from the Department of
I READ so much about the 'damage' we all do to the environment, with our cars, and aerosol sprays, that I have to ask, what about the other things which never get a mention. Things like all the aeroplanes which can be seen in the sky all day (when the
MARK Hughes wrote another chapter in his glittering FA Cup career last night after playing a leading role in Rovers' stunning 5-2 victory at Pride Park. Hughes -- the only player to have won four winner's medals at Wembley -- led from the front as Graeme
WHAT a fabulous, memorable night to remember. The miraculous event at The Reebok Stadium. Hailstone like manna from heaven fell from the skies. The crowd raised its head and sang its wondrous praises. The Broncos looked up at this phenomenon and were
ON behalf of all the staff and volunteers at the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS), I would like to thank you for your support throughout last year. WRVS is one of the largest and most active volunteering organisations in the country. In partnership
I WOULD just like to say a big thank-you to the heartless driver who ran over our pet Jack Russell on Friday, January 26 and killed him instantly in Southey Road, Grange Park at 6 pm and did not have the decency to stop and apologise. I would just like
ACCORDING to a recent report published in a national newspaper, St Helens is one of the worst areas in the country for people dying in hospital. I would like to ask the health authority what, if anything, is going to be done about this? The health authority
THE family of the man jailed for the murder of pregnant mum Christine Askey have vowed to clear his name. Huma Mirza, 24, says her brother Waseem is a man of "good character" who does not deserve to spend the rest of his life behind bars. She claims crucial
PRESTON councillors have urged people to get 'on yer bike' in a bid to kick-start the council's Green Transport Plan. Members of Preston council's policy and resources committee used pedal power to get to work this week to launch the plan aimed at town
AN MP is pressing the government for a new satellite dialysis unit in his constituency. Burnley MP Peter Pike told Health Minister John Denham there was a lack of facilities for sufferers in north East Lancashire. He said that Health Secretary Alan Milburn
SCORES of new jobs will be created if the Government backs Lancaster City Council's decision to give conditional support for a multi-million pound business and leisure on Caton Road. Councillors at Monday's planning committee recommended an application
A FATHER who lost relatives in the Indian earthquake has organised a special memorial service to pay tribute to the thousands of other victims who were killed. President of the East Lancashire Hindu Society, Rajesh Patel, lost his aunt Aruna Patel, 52
VANDALS have wrecked a level-crossing which is causing safety concerns for local residents. The crossing at Schola Green, which is a vital link in the Lancaster to Morecambe cycle path, has been vandalised three times by youths in the last couple of years
A GOVERNMENT decision to allow bigger lorries on the district's roads has angered local transport campaigners and environmentalists. The Government has given approval to heavier lorries, from 41 tonnes to 44 tonnes, which will now have complete freedom
ARMED police raided the home of a Morecambe man on Tuesday morning as part of a National Crime Squad operation to bust a multi-million pound drugs ring. The 38-year-old was one of eight people arrested in a series of co-ordinated early morning raids carried
AN 18 year-old Lancaster student who caused the death of a friend by driving dangerously has walked free from court. Preston Crown Court was told that the family of victim Andrew James Mullineaux had written a letter expressing a view they did not want
A FAR-reaching basketball team from Penwortham had an extra spring in their step this week after scooping a coveted tournament. For the team from Priory Technical College won the South Ribble School Tournament last month staged at All Hallows college.
Leyland Warriors U10s 48 v Wolsten Rovers 24 THE Warriors succeeded against the Wolsten side in dreadful conditions. Leyland were never trailing and completely dominated the second half after leading 20-16 at half time. The phenomenal Chris How scored
SPORTS students from Preston College flew out to Lanzarote today (Thursday) to train at one of the world's most revered training venues. Club La Santa is run as a modern complex with all the facilities of a combined sports, holiday and conference resort
Crosfields A 52 UGB 2 WITH the Crosfields first team game postponed, UGB faced a strong home line-up and, perhaps not surprisingly, suffered their heaviest defeat of the season. Having travelled with a bare 13, the visitors were reduced to 12 men when
Widnes Tigers 4 St Helens Vine 18 VINE completed a quick-fire double over the Tigers after their 28-1 win the previous week. Conditions were atrocious as the teams battled wind, rain and mud and although Tigers managed to score the first try against Vine
Blackbrook Bulldogs 4 Castleford Panthers 42 THE Bulldogs' dismal run continued as they slumped to their ninth successive defeat. There was little to choose between the sides in the first half, Mike Morley crossing for the homesters as they trailed 12
Haydock 5 Portico Panthers 1 THIS was another titanic struggle between these two local rivals following their Lancashire Cup final clash a few weeks ago. On this occcasion though it was Haydock who emerged triumphant in yet another defence-dominated encounter
FURTHER golden glimmmers from the good old gaslamp era. Following a hotly-debated taproom session (wrangling over when the last Victorian street lantern of this kind disappeared from St Helens) a gang of bitter-slurpers turned to this page for help. And
IT was hard to get over-emotional at Joe Larkin's funeral. For one thing, this no-nonsense little Lancashire character wouldn't have liked it! And, for another, he'd managed to pack oceans of adventure and experience into his 86 years. Joe had a near-death
THE wife and six-year-old son of a serving Lancashire police officer have both been found dead at their house in Longton. Lucy Anne MacMartin together with son Sam were found at the family home on Orchard Lane, Longton, early on Tuesday evening (February
VETS at a Bamber Bridge surgery are fighting to save the life of a brave little cat who was seriously injured in a road traffic accident. Staff at Withy Grove Veterinary Clinic, in Station Road, Bamber Bridge, are operating on Nelson the cat today (February
A PRESTON farming firm has been fined £1,000 for causing major pollution to a waterway. WC Thornton & Son Ltd were also charged £326.66 costs at Preston Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to allowing pig slurry to pour into a stream leading into
ANGRY residents are to finally get their say on the soaring crime rates affecting the Broadgate and Fishergate Hill areas of town. Drug peddling, burglaries and prostitution are rife, say locals who are now challenging police chiefs to clamp down on '
HEARTLESS vandals have wrecked a garden built in the grounds of a Lostock Hall school in memory of a young schoolgirl who died last year. Nine-year-old Jennifer Waddington was a pupil at Our Lady and St Gerard's RC Primary School, in Lourdes Avenue, Lostock
TEMPORARY warning signs were to be put out after furious motorists fell foul of a new 'no entry' rule on an Accrington town centre street. Police booked dozens of drivers caught out by the new one-way order along Grange Lane, near the police station.
IT is a known fact that Lancaster City Council is in financial difficulties. As a council we need to be open and accountable to scrutiny and learn from mistakes. It would be so much better if we could work together collectively for the future of our city
WITH reference to the letter from Terrie Metcalfe in your February 1 issue and comments about the paddling pool at Happy Mount Park. I clearly remember the MBI's pledge to restore the pool to full use but here our memories are at odds because, if she
I THINK the citizens of Lancaster but especially the bus users and shoppers are due one huge apology from those responsible for the bus station fiasco. It is no longer an inconvenience, one that we were all prepared to cope with in the first few months
As usual Cllr. Westwell chose to resort to insults rather than answer the question I posed and completely missed the point I was making. When companies approach the Council with proposals to run a council facility as he did on behalf of Happy Mount Park
THE debate will continue for a long time about levels of local government finance and how responsible councils can extricate their authorities from the mess left behind by previous irresponsible politicians, mainly Labour. Only when some fundamental problems
I FIND it rather interesting that the SPGB is trying to disprove religion once and for all. I don't go along with it being one of the most divisive and destructive prejudices of all time. I am a trade union branch secretary but I also attend St Barnabus
of 'faulty wiring' FOR around 90 per cent of us, absorbing ourselves in a newspaper or book, reading a menu, following train time-tables and even writing a letter are things we do without thinking. But for people who are dyslexic, these tasks become a
The Wyre U9's A team performed superbly to draw 1-1 at Lytham. For the U10's goals from Luke Walker Chris Rayner and Max Baker-Wardle gave the B squad an excellent 3-0 win over Lytham U-10's. In the Lune League the premier side suffered a big defeat at
STAINING U10s 0 BJFF 9 BJFF took control from the start with two goals from J White and with further goals by D Millard and A Harper. In the second half BJFF dominated and when M Scobie scored the fifth the game looked comfortable. Then J Smith went on
Salford Reds 32 Scorpions 10 Rugby LeagueBLACKPOOL Scorpions Under 13s travelled to Salford with an under strength side due to some of their players being ill. Salford went ahead 14-0 with three tries and a conversion but the Scorpions hit back withgood
Lytham Ladies 1st XI 6 Darwen & Blackburn 1 JOHN Pearson, the Lytham coach, commented that "not even Jane Sixsmith, of Olympic fame and ten other Internationals could stop captain Michelle Singleton marshalling het side right from the first whistle
THE Cellar easily won Group A in the Rossall Monday Sixes winning all of their three matches while Group B saw Blackpool Area divers go through after two wins and a goalless draw with Symbol Social Club. Thompson Tornados won Group C after collecting
REAL Progress. The two words succinctly sum up the last seven days for Blackpool FC. There has been Real Progress off the field at Bloomfield Road with the fabulous news that the green light has at last been given for the new North and West Stands to
THE LEADING councillor at the centre of the childcare allowance row has apologised to the people of the district and offered to pay back some of the money. Housing chief Carol Broad stunned fellow councillors at a meeting on Wednesday by expressing her
Blackpool 6 Scunthorpe 0 By Chris Reece: Scorers: Simpson 11, Murphy 16, 66, Wellens 14, Reid 59, Milligan 62 AFTER a great week for Blackpool FC off the pitch, the players put the cherry on the cake with a fantastic display on the pitch. The Seasiders
BOSSES at Preston North End football club have reacted with unprecedented anger at the news that Canadian international Jason Bent has been denied a work permit after an appeal in Manchester. Chief Executive Tony Scholes and assistant manager Kelham O'Hanlon
A SPORTS seminar is being held to help local sports clubs to gain funding and grants to support their organisations. Organised by the council's Recreation Division and St Helens District Sports Council, the Funding for Sports evening will be held at Sutton
Evesham United 0 Morecambe 0 EVESHAM United came within inches of causing one of the biggest cup upsets in their history against Morecambe in the fourth round of the FA Umbro Trophy. With the game deep into injury- time, Mark Wolsey outstripped full back
A FANTASTIC vintage car was used to launch a glossy new guide to attract visitors to St Annes. Mayoress of Fylde, Martine Hayhurst, chairman for tourist and leisure Coun John Longstaff and St Annes on Sea Marketing Consortium chairman Michael Taylor,
THE mother of a Blackpool toddler who died in the early hours of Monday morning has been arrested and charged with murder. Hayley Kershaw, 24, from Keasden Avenue, South Shore, is to appear before Blackpool Magistrates today (Thursday) after being charged
IT'LL be miles better travelling on Blackpool buses between the town centre and Victoria Hospital with a vastly improved service in the pipeline. A number of modifications are being made along Talbot Road, Grange Road, St Walburga's Road, Whinney Heys
LANCASHIRE Constabulary has just recruited their latest ally in the battle to stamp out violent crime -- a 12-year-old schoolgirl! Laura Gasson, a pupil at Lytham St Annes High School, Worsley Road, won a special police competition to design a poster
Ideal Isberg 8 Leigh Miners 20 LEIGH Miners Rangers produced a stirring performance to collect a thoroughly deserved win in mudbath conditions at County Road. In the end, the victory was built on the back of a tremendous work ethic in defence coupled
THOMAS Boardman became the first Leigh Harrier to win the Junior Boys cross-country title at the Greater Manchester Schools Championships at Bolton on Saturday. Thomas, a pupil of Lowton High School, represented Wigan Schools and was an outstanding winner
Hereford United 0 Leigh RMI 0 FA Umbro Trophy Round 4 BOTH Conference clubs will be happy to still have one foot in the FA Trophy as the tie of the round between Hereford and Leigh RMI was bereft of both goals and attacking entertainment. In the most
NATIONWIDE Conference at the moment but Leigh RMI have bigger and better aims. The next step up into the professional ranks is massive indeed but as manager Steve Waywell and his staff continually look to be making real progress out on the field, the
THE NWCL Division Two Cup round one replay between Daisy Hill and Atherton LR has become the cup tie that no one wants. The game to decide a victor after the two clubs drew 2-2 in the initial meeting at Crilly Park has now been postponed so many times
BURNLEY'S prospects of landing top striking target John Aloisi could be helped by Coventry's successful swoop for John Hartson today. The on-off deal for the Wimbledon striker was finally completed when Hartson agreed a three-and-a-half contract with
GRAEME Souness last night hailed his FA Cup heroes after a stunning five-star comeback dumped Derby out of the Cup in front of a shellshocked Pride Park. Rampant Rovers sent shockwaves reverberating around the country after two-goal hero Marcus Bent sparked
TWO St Helens primary schools earned a special mention in the annual Ofsted report. Eccleston Mere and St Peter's CE, Newton-le-Willows were among schools from across the country which had outstanding inspection reports and performed well academically
ST HELENS Youth Brass Band are celebrating after winning three top awards at the National Youth Brass Band Championships at Salford University. In a performance which deeply impressed the adjudicators, the youngsters beat off stiff competition from top
A LIST of authorised charity street collections has been compiled in the fight against bogus collectors. And thirty three permits for street collections to be held throughout the Borough from March to December have been issued by St Helens Council's Licensing
DE LA Salle School is singled out as one of the most successful schools in the country in this year's annual report of the Chief Inspector of Schools published this week. The report highlights a number of schools across the country for their impressive
ST HELENS Citizens Advice Bureau is calling on local people to volunteer in a number of ways. Some 90 per cent of CAB workers are volunteers. Some will work, following training on the national CAB training programme, as advisers, providing free, confidential
GRIEVING family and friends have paid tribute to a talented student who has died at the age of 23. Former St Augustine's and Carmel College pupil Steven Powell (pictured below) died in Leeds General Hospital after suffering a brain haemmorhage. Originally
AN elderly woman is said to be 'absolutely distraught' after thieves stole some of her most treasured property. The burial confirmation certificate of the 76-year-old's late husband was among items taken from her flat in Bowling Green Close, Darwen. A
YOUTH is being given its own say into how teen-gang problems can be cleared up on a massive council estate, traumatised in recent times by hooligan behaviour. The local kids are being invited to suggest measures that could steer youngsters away from vandalism
POLICE stopped motorists to warn them of treacherous conditions after two accidents occurred within 20 minutes today on icy Burnley Road East, Rossendale. Police were at Lumb corner to tell drivers to slow down after three vehicles were involved in the
I WISH to complain about parents who block the pavement while picking up their children from Hillcrest Nursery School, Fulwood. These selfish folk shoult start showing some brains, manners, common sense for other people. R Morris, Fulwood, Preston.
AFTER reading your story about houses being knocked down in Walton-le-Dale to make way for a huge shopping complex, I felt disgusted (Citizen, January 25). I find it outrageous that developers could have offered £2,000 to some residents so they could
I WOULD like to congratulate The Citizen in highlighting the problems of drugs and prostitution in the Broadgate and Fishergate Hill areas of town. It really is about time something was done here. But it's not a new problem as the situation has gradually
AS the mother of five healthy children I'm glad that my youngsters have never had to attend hospital for more than a cut knee after falling off their bike. But for the parents involved in the organs scandal they must really regret taking their children
WHEN is the bottom end of Leyland ever going to look like a town instead of a resembling a derelict building site. I am sad to say it is a complete mess at the moment. Now that the market has moved to Hough Lane and most of the Southern Towngate shops
CONCERNED community groups are urging Wyre Borough Council to think long and hard before deciding on whether to close down Thornton Lecture Hall. The Countryside, Leisure and Cultural Services Committee met on February 8 to discuss the future of the Lecture
HERE is the complete list of winners in the Tourism Awards 2000: Hotel Of The Year (over 100 bedrooms) sponsored by Blackpool Pleasure Beach: Gold Award -- Hilton Hotel Silver Award -- Savoy Hotel Cafe Of The Year sponsored by Irish Ferries: Gold Award
WHEN most sensible people are keeping warm and dry inside, one Fylde man is fighting gale force winds, being seasick and pulling wet, heavy sails on a heaving foredeck. Andrew Smith of Ashwood Close, Lytham, is currently in training for "America's toughest
UNION bosses are claiming that the first in a series of one-day strikes in protest at the treatment of Blackpool care workers was a success. And they are telling social service chiefs to heed the warnings that members are unhappy at the way they have
BLACKPOOL is Grand! And that was certainly the overall feeling after Friday's Tourism Awards 2000 which honoured the great and the good of the resort in a dazzling dinner at the De Vere Hotel. And The Citizen was at the forefront of applauding achievements
A TREASURED collection of football medals worth £14,500 and England caps once belonging to a Blackburn Rovers winger are to go under the hammer next month. Joe Hulme was an integral part of the Arsenal team which dominated football in the 1930s and his
POLICE cars are losing their go-faster stripes in favour of high-visibility "Battenberg" designs. All Lancashire Constabulary cars are to be painted with large blue and yellow squares between the door trim and windows, replacing the old red stripes. The
A LABOUR councillor has slammed a council department for failing to respond to his complaint -- that it was too slow responding complaints. Coun Simon Danczuk, who is standing down at the next local elections in May from Earcroft ward, has hit out at
OPERATING theatres and hospital clinics are to open from eight till late as part of a drive to slash waiting times over the next four years. Chief executive John Thomas, of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble NHS Trust, said they wanted to ditch the nine-to-five
TODMORDEN have signed Western Australian pace bowler Matthew Nicholson as their new professional for this summer's Transco Lancashire League campaign. Last year's Worsley Cup winners lost the services of Dan Marsh to Leicestershire but have snapped up
WITTON Park staged it's second major cross country fixture in a week when the Blackburn venue played host to the Lancashire Schools Championships. The thousands of pairs of feet which had ploughed through the mud during last week's Northern Championships
GARSWOOD Juniors FC have become one of only 40 clubs nationwide to receive the new Charter Standard awarded by the Football Association. Club chairman Colin Jones and secretary Tommy Nugent travelled to Leyland to receive the award from Jamie Redknapp
Trafford MV 3 West Park 19 LANCASHIRE Trophy holders West Park were made to struggle in this previously-postponed second round tie by a Trafford side determined to disrupt any continuous pattern of play by their more senior visitors. The decision to rest
THE cream of staying steeplechasers on both sides of the Irish Sea have been entered for Haydock Park's De Vere Gold Cup, the premier trial race for the Aintree Grand National, on Saturday, February 24. They include the 2000 Grand National and Irish Grand
Dudley Kingswinford 44 Liverpool St Helens 31 LSH gave up a 16-point half-time lead in this exciting National League Division Three clash. Events in the first 15 minutes of the second half conspired against the visitors, enabling Dudley to overhaul the
MAY I through your column say a huge thank you to all the schools, churches, organisations and individuals who remembered the young homeless at Streetlife this Christmas. The night shelter has been full almost every night over the Christmas and New Year
I WONDER if your readers are aware that their unwanted jewellery and similar items can help the Royal National Lifeboat Institution save lives at sea. Since 1986 our Jewellery Appeal has raised over £400,000 for lifeboat funds, a sum which would buy five
AS I sit here watching my children playing and growing up I think back to my childhood growing up in Blackpool. In those days my family, like many, worked in the tourism industry and we were very privileged to do so. They also knew, as I did, that out
THE St Helens Combination's under-18 Inter League outfit reached the final of the Lancashire FA Inter League Championship after a hard-fought 5-3 extra time success over Wigan Amateur League at Robin Park. And they will be looking to make their appearance
SOUTH Ribble council is facing some tough decisions soon as councillors meet to debate budget proposals for the financial year. At a meeting of the council's cabinet on Wednesday, February 7, leading councillors will be considering options and agreeing
A STAGGERING £50,000 is being spent on a sex education puppet show for secondary schools in Blackpool at the same time as a national survey reveals spending on books in schools is well below target levels. Pupils from Bispham High School Arts College,
FIRE CREWS were alerted when a small fire broke out at the back of a convenience store, in West End Road, Haydock. The incident happened at about 2.45am on Thursday, February 1, when large pieces of plastic guttering caught fire. Anyone with information
THE Asda store in Kirkland Street is saying knickers to the dreaded British winter as it kits out staff in thermal underwear. Asda has become the first supermarket chain in the UK to provide staff with free undies in the form of stylish, short-sleeved
A TEAM of energy-saving experts from British Gas will be in Safeway supermarket, Chalon Way from Monday to Sunday, February 12 to 18 giving shoppers advice how they can save money on household bills during 2001. Local people who can't visit the roadshow
THIS week's £2,000 jackpot winner in the Willowbrook Hospice Lottery draw was Mr J. V. McGuire of Haydock. Other major prize winners were William Tottie of Rainhill, who won £200; Mrs P. Tomkinson, St Helens (£125); Mrs Angela Jeram, Eccleston (£75);
TEENAGERS in the town are set to go orange for the day on Friday, February 16 to raise money for a worthy cause. Pupils from Broadway, Cowley, Haydock, Parr, Rainford, St Augustine's and Sutton high schools are taking part in Orange-a-peel, a fund-raising
A NEW scheme to make the town's parks safer has been launched in Taylor Park. 'Park Watch' is a combined venture between St Helens Council, its Ranger Service, Merseyside Police and the community to encourage members of the public to report incidents.
SUTTON Table Tennis Club has seen a turnaround in its fortunes -- after teaming up with St Helens Council. For just nine months after joining forces with the local authority to promote table tennis to youngsters, the club has doubled its junior membership
TEAM leaders and helpers are required to join the team organising the National Census in April. Successful candidates will be responsible for delivering and explaining census forms to households and chasing up non-returns. The work will be part-time,
EURO MP Terry Wynn has accused the European Union of "ripping off"consumers on big-name branded products. The MP, whose North West constituency includes St Helens, said: "Consumers have been ripped off for far too long by the EU regulations which keep
FIVE bars in St Helens town centre have been granted late-night public entertainment licences which will allow them to play music until 1am. Following a successful application by The Dali Bar last summer when it became the first bar in the town centre
COLLECTORS and treasure hunters are in for a bargain buy when they visit their local Barnardo's shop in St Helens. Silverware, pottery, china, collectibles and quality linen are just some of the riches on offer to eager shoppers. All are high-class items
A NEW junior gymnastics club has been set up at Preston College Sports Centre for youngsters between five and 17. And now coaches David Hanson, who is a qualified gymnastics coach, and his wife Sheila, who is also qualified to teach girls, are looking
ANOTHER major step in the area's 'greening' was taken with the opening of a third nature reserve. Mayor of St Helens, Councillor Pat Robinson planted a commemorative tree when she officially opened the new reserve at Sidings Lane in Rainford on Wednesday
A PILOT scheme has been set up by St Helens education officials to root out pupils behaving badly on school transport. The LEA, with the help of Rainford High School, is developing a 'Behaviour Policy', which aims to provide safe, reliable and stress-free
A CHILDREN'S dental health project, pioneered in St Helens, is now being taken up in other parts of the country. The Barrow Milk Foundation invited the town to pilot its fluoride in milk scheme in infants schools in 1993 and Ashurst Primary School, Blackbrook
PRODUCTION at a Radcliffe cigarette paper-making factory may be stubbed out with the loss of 170 jobs. Robert Fletcher's, based at Market Street, Stoneclough, since 1823, has announced the proposed closure of its paper mill. It is yet another worrying
A PENSIONER involved in a road traffic accident at the weekend has died as a result of her injuries. Vera Richardson, 78, died in the Royal Preston Hospital yesterday afternoon, following the accident on Saturday, when she was in collision with a car
I WOULD like to add to the praise of Pilkington Ward, St Helens Hospital. At the time of writing my husband, who is a patient there, has had the kindest of care and understanding from Pilkington and also Hulme Ward. The hospital is clean with good food
GRAEME Souness last night hailed his FA Cup heroes after a stunning five-star comeback dumped Derby out of the Cup in front of a shellshocked Pride Park. Rampant Rovers sent shockwaves reverberating around the country after two-goal hero Marcus Bent sparked
I FEEL so privileged because I am a supporter of both the Saints and Wigan Athletic. I also attend quite a few St Helens Town matches as well. Now that the fantastic Saints are World Club Champions, I'm waiting for the Latics to be promoted to the First
DERBY COUNTY 2 ROVERS 5 DERBY COUNTY (1)2 Riggott 3, Eranio 70 BLACKBURN (0)5 Flitcroft 48, Bent 56, 71, Dunn (p) 64, Jansen 77 EYAL Berkovic looked slightly bewildered last night as he boarded the team bus after watching rampant Rovers destroy Derby
DURING the war years 1940 to 1945 I lived in St Helens. I was evacuated from Guernsey in the Channel Islands to the UK as the Germans were about to occupy our island. My age at that time was six years. We lived in a house with other Guernsey people for
A POWER failure late at night is bad enough for any of us, but if you are getting on in years and live on your own it can be distressing, disorientating and leaving people feeling quite vulnerable. Manweb, like all electricity and gas suppliers, operate
I AM a parent of teenage children and I am very concerned about various items of destructive legislation recently passed by the Government. I am particularly concerned about the so-called 'morning after pill.' The Government is almost aggressive in the
TRADERS at Preston's historic market say they're ready to plug the gap left by the Tesco Metro closure. Preston's indoor market, which has more than 200 stalls specialising in fresh food, now wants to provide an alternative to the store which closed last
FIREFIGHTERS returned home to a hero's welcome this week after working round the clock to help rescue people trapped under rubble after the horrific Indian earthquake. Divisional commander Peter Halleron from Preston described the devastation as "complete
A THREE-YEAR trial scheme to fund a kerbside waste collection project in Preston and Leyland has been given the 'green light'. South Ribble Business Venture has secured £1.5 million funding from Lancashire Waste Service's environmental fund to finance
A RECORD deal could be on the cards for Preston and Leyland's very own pop wannabes. Jessica Taylor, of Penwortham, and Kevin Simm, who grew up in South Ribble, just missed out on joining the band, Inner Spin, created by ITV's popular hit show, Popstars
HOMEOWNERS in Preston could face a 4.5 per cent jump in their council tax. A report on the council's budget proposals for the coming financial year will be considered by councillors at a full cabinet meeting later this month. It gives a range of options
A MAN who tried to kill his son's brother-in-law by running him down and setting him alight has been sentenced to 14 years in prison. Ratan Singh, 48, of Docking Hill Road, Doncaster, was jailed on Monday after Liverpool Crown Court heard how he hit 26
POLICE are warning shop owners to be on their guard for a sneaky thief. At 2.10pm on Thursday, February 1, a man entered the Pet Grooming Parlour in Lovat Road, Preston, and struck up a conversation with the owner. While the owner was distracted he climbed
A DENTIST and anaesthetist have been cleared of manslaughter over a five year old girl's death after she had a baby tooth out. The prosecution halted the trial of dentist Michael Lane and Dr George Vanner following cross examination of a pathologist who
THE probe into the child organ stripping scandal at Alder Hey Childrens Hospital has seen painful memories resurfacing for the relatives of young victims across St Helens, with many claiming that the report doesn't go far enough to answer their questions
TWO women have been charged with manslaughter following the discovery of a man's body in a flat in Morecambe. Derek Kenna, 27, was found dead in a flat in Whitmoor Close. Jacqueline Morrison, 34, of Thornton Road and Sharon Glaister, 27, from Whitmoor
HOSPITAL worker Marjorie Ellis of Burnley lay in the path of a tube train after travelling to London to commit suicide, an inquest in London heard. Mrs Ellis, 53, a hospital ward clerk, died on Friday, October 13th, after walking into the pitch black
A 10-strong Lancaster syndicate has scooped a lottery win worth £150,638. The lucky group from Texicare had five balls and the bonus ball for Saturdays draw but had to wait until Monday morning to get their hands on the winning ticket which was locked
LOCAL people are rallying round to support the victims of the Indian earthquake. Collection tins around the district are filling up and various fund-raising schemes have been organised to boost the coffers of the Indian Earthquake Appeal. Students at
WORKMEN have had to dig up a newly resurfaced road next to the bus station to carry out emergency sewer repairs. When a property in Wood Street was flooded an investigation by city engineers discovered that a sewer had collapsed. Environmental Engineer
THERE are no plans to close Lancaster City Museum and both Litfest and Ludus will get their usual grant, it was claimed this week. Following claims and counter-claims in council chambers over what exactly is proposed for the district's cultural services
PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice will be dropping in at the Open Door Centre in Colne tomorrow to talk about funding issues. The scheme is run by Colne Churches Together as a drop-in and welfare centre. The project also provides food, clothing and furniture
UTILITY back Anthony Stewart is likely to be handed the Saints' full-back berth for Saturday's 'battle of the giants' Challenge Cup tie against fierce rivals Wigan Warriors -- provided Paul Wellens isn't given a last-minute reprieve by a specialist. Wellens
PRESTON'S Katie Anderton has reached new heights in her football career. For the first year Leisure and Recreation scholarship student at Preston College has hit the big time with a place in the European Championships, a place at Tranmere and the offer
SOUTH Ribble's Sports Development Team is celebrating the success of its girls' football development programme. The scheme was introduced to encourage girls to take part in what has been traditionally seen as a boys' sport and took the form of a ten-week
Milnrow 48 Parr Hare & Hounds 0 AFTER three encouraging displays in recent weeks Hounds travelled to take on promotion-chasing Milnrow with optimism, only to produce their worst performance of the season. A late arrival and hurried preparation didn't
Clock Face Miners 10 Pilkingtons A 15 PILKS eventually ran out winners in this hard-fought local derby to complete a double over a spirited Clock Face. The visitors opened the scoring on 20 minutes when Mark Forber went under the posts for a try which
Kirkholt 18 Bold Miners 2 BOLD were on the wrong end of a couple of crucial decisions as their Division Two title bid suffered a setback with this defeat by old rivals Kirkholt. Despite the atrocious conditions, the visitors started well and good work
Haresfinch 38 Saddleworth A 2 FINCH returned to winning ways with this comfortable victory over a struggling Saddleworth side. Loose-forward Anthony Seabrook opened the scoring for Finch with a penalty and then provided the pass for second-row Ste Thompson
Thatto Heath Crusaders 14 West Bowling 11 HEATH finally put paid to West Bowling at the second time of asking in this replayed League Express BARLA National Cup second round tie. Last week the visitors had raced into an early 16-point lead and they again
THE following duty chemists will be available for dispensing services on Sunday, February 11, between noon and 1pm (unless stated otherwise): Moss Chemists, The Health Centre, Old Colliery Road, Whiston; Taylor's Chemist, 191 West End Road, Haydock (10am
TELEVISION star Claire Nielson joined forces with East Lancashire school children to give them some tips from the top on their acting skills. The actress, who has featured in the BBC1 Sunday-night drama Monarch of the Glen, was invited to a one-and-a-half-day
BLIMEY, we're back on the old 'blue moon' topic again! It's really amazing how even the most obscure of subjects manage to capture the eager interest of followers of this page. For all sorts of weird and wonderful theories flooded in after I'd asked how
THE day that crooner Frank Ifield -- he of 'I Remember You' and the yodelling song fame -- came to town, proved a traffic-stopper. The Aussie heart-throb (if you can't recall him, ask your granny) was making a whistle-stop visit to the Rothery Radio record
PRESTON council are looking at selling off sheltered accommodation in Deepdale in order to house ex-prisoners. Newton House, off Deepdale Road, home to a dozen elderly residents, is rumoured to be on the brink of being sold off to the Prison Service.
PRESTON council are set to make a substantial profit out of stopping people spending a penny! At a meeting last Thursday councillors agreed to sell off a toilet block on Parkside, near Deepdale Road, for a sizeable, yet undisclosed sum. This is the latest
WORKERS at Brook Bond Foods, the 'Oxo' factory in Hartley Street, Great Harwood, were told the factory would cease production at the end of the year with a loss of 450 jobs. It was announced the company would relocate in Worksop, Nottinghamshire.
ARTIST Rachel Dejnowycz, 21, has been offered the chance to display her work in a top Manchester watering hole. Rachel, 21, of Whitewell Road, Accrington, graduated from Liverpool John Moores University arts course in May and has been looking for somewhere
FOLLOWING a successful bid to achieve Technology College status, staff from Hollins High School in Accrington will join sponsors and partner schools for a power breakfast in Accrington today. The meeting will be held at Horizon's Restaurant at the town's
A STAGGERING £50,000 is being spent on a sex education puppet show for secondary schools in Blackpool at the same time as a national survey reveals spending on books in schools is well below target levels. Pupils from Bispham High School Arts College,
IN LAST week's Citizen you asked the question 'who could take over from the MBI regime' ? In many respects the answer is simple - anyone (and I do mean anyone) could do better then the current MBI group as they are a loose coalition of political wannabes
I AGREE strongly with the points raised by Mrs G Read (Citizen: January 4 ) I and many thousands are in favour of the by-pass going ahead, and like most of us, the sensible thinking types, realise it should have been built at least ten years ago. The
A YEAR-eight pupil at Ribblesdale High School Technology College, in Clitheroe, has proved to be a wizard of computer games and pocketed £100 into the bargain. Jon Brookes rose to the challenge put forward by the school's Young Enterprise business, Eminence
I'd like to thank Yvette Bierbaum and Phil McGrath for responding to my letter "Nailing the Myth". I agree with Mr McGrath that you can't write off the most influential man in history, mainly because he's never been written into history. In fact the first
I'VE read the debate about Jesus in your letters section with interest, and thought I may as well add my thoughts. And I'm not very impressed with the arguments on either side. On the one hand we have the Socialist Party of Great Britain members, with
AN INDOOR bowls team whose members have disabilities are looking for opponents to play against. Whitegate Woodsman are based at Whitegate Drive Community Centre and played Blackpool LMS Loco Club on Sunday for a challenge match. If you would like to arrange
LYTHAM Chess Club first team scored their first win of the season in Division A beating Poulton first team by 3-1. Doug Williams and Leo Ainsworth won, while John Cooper, Peter Jowett and David Newton all drew. The fourth team lost 3-1 to Lytham High
YOUNG footballers from all over Europe will gather in April for the eighth Blackpool International Youth Football Tournament. Teams from Holland, Germany, Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland and, for the first time, the Czech Republic
YOUNG cricketers from a Lytham school are to follow in the footsteps of the England Test team by touring Sri Lanka in July. Captained by 18-year-old Tristan Thompson the King Edward VII and Queen Mary School are going on an eight match tour which includes
CARLETON A scraped a 6-4 win over Ansdell Arena B to go top of the Premier Division of the Lytham St Annes and District Table Tennis League by seven points. Previous leaders St Annes YMCA A, beat Marton Institute A, but have played two games more. Lytham
Lytham 1st XI 5 Durham Uni 2nd XI 2 IT just gets better! Once again LSA produced a polished and highly professional first 25 minutes which saw them three goals to the good. An excellent pick up and turn created space for Craig Nuttall to finish with great
YMCA A U10s 2 SOUTH SHORE A 1; YMCA B U10s 3 SOUTH SHORE B 1 YMCA gave their championship ambitions a boost with this four point haul against their closest challengers. In the A game a double-strike from Jordan Douthwaite edged YMCA to victory. In the
THORNTON CLEVELEYS SHARKS U9s 2 OUR LADY 2 WITH changes due to illness, Thornton fell behind within five minutes. The equaliser came when Chris Lamb fed a good ball for David Heeley to cross to Liam MacDonald to score. Our Lady went 2-1 up before Chris
Gainsborough Trinity 1 Lancaster City 1 GAINSBOROUGH'S Brian Linighan could afford to smile as the final whistle blew on Saturday. After giving the Blues the lead with an own goal in the 24th minute, he waited to the dying second to redeem himself and
A FANTASTIC vintage car was used to launch a glossy new guide to attract visitors to St Annes. Mayoress of Fylde, Martine Hayhurst, chairman for tourist and leisure Coun John Longstaff and St Annes on Sea Marketing Consortium chairman Michael Taylor,
TIME is running out in the battle to refurbish the old St Annes Community Arts Centre and save it from being turned into a block of plush apartments The St Annes Community Arts Centre Trust has plans to turn the listed part of the building into a modern
BURNLEY'S prospects of landing top striking target John Aloisi could be helped by Coventry's successful swoop for John Hartson today. The on-off deal for the Wimbledon striker was finally completed when Hartson agreed a three-and-a-half contract with
SUTTON Table Tennis Club has seen a turnaround in its fortunes -- after teaming up with St Helens Council. For just nine months after joining forces with the local authority to promote table tennis to youngsters, the club has doubled its junior membership
Orrell Anvils 10 Ruskin Park 5 RUSKIN made an early exit from this season's Lancs Plate competition at a wet and windy Edge Hill Road. Facing the elements in the first half, Ruskin were often under severe pressure. But thanks to some sterling defence
RESULTS Under 16s: Crosfields 1 Knowsley South 3, Eccleston United 0 Bleak Hill Rovers 3, Penlake Juniors 0 St Annes Rovers 5. Under 14s: Blackleyhurst 4 Wilmere Hawks 2, Rainford Rangers 3 Alder Athletic 6, Young Gate 15 Lane Ends Athletic 0, Captains
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to help them find a gunman who terrified staff in a Blackpool bank raid this week. Bank bosses are offering counselling to staff and customers at the HSBC bank, Oxford Square, after they were made to lie on the ground
LEIGH RMI defender Iain Swan must rest for three weeks while he recovers from an horrific head injury. Centre-back Swan was stretchered off and rushed to hospital in Hereford after being hurt in last Saturday's FA Umbro Trophy game at Edgar Street. Swann
ATHERTON Colls go into tomorrow's away game at Manchester side Abbey Hey still looking for a first win since Chris O'Brien and his assistant Paul Kirkham took over the managerial reigns. But the news at the club is all upbeat rather than doom and gloom
THE number 13 proved to be anything but unlucky for Astley Villa. After nine defeats and three draws in the opening dozen Division One fixtures, Villa's patient wait brought its reward with a first victory of the season by a 4-2 margin at Union Arms.
POOL manager Steve McMahon is to confirm his future at Bloomfield Road by signing a two year contract with the club. Just a few details need to be worked out before the deal is finalised. The manager is delighted the stadium development is finally going
A NEW junior gymnastics club has been set up at Preston College Sports Centre for youngsters between five and 17. And now coaches David Hanson, who is a qualified gymnastics coach, and his wife Sheila, who is also qualified to teach girls, are looking
THE science class at one local high school is conducting a very special experiment... and all the results are looking highly positive. Achievement is a key target at Parr Community High School where science teacher Kath Hunter is encouraging Year Seven
RELAX and let the lotions soothe your stress away. That's the advice for Kay Leatherbarrow and Denise Kelly after winning free sessions of alternative therapy at 'Stress Buster'events staged in Haydock and Newton. The prize-winning pair had their names
WIND in the Willows Day Nurseries of Newton-Le-Willows and Haydock have been highlighted by St Helens Chamber as leading examples of learning and development in the workplace. The nurseries provide childcare facilities for children between the ages of
ST JOHN Ambulance in Lancashire would like to thank The Citizen for highlighting our cause over the past year. As a charity we are very dependant on good publicity to ensure successful recruitment and fund-raising. Any publicity enables us to continue
I AM writing to congratulate The Citizen for the super coverage given to Preston North End this season. Many fans are genuinely surprised to see their team doing so well, even though Preston have never looked out of their depth in Division One. Your sports
INTERESTING offering this week from one of our readers who claims that just about anybody could run the council better than the current MBI party... maybe that's true but the claims should carry a caveat so it reads: anybody other than the mob they replaced
BISPHAM charity worker Shaun Walsh is a long way from home at the moment. He's in India trying to help with the aftermath of the earthquake in Gujurat which has killed tens of thousands of people Shaun, 39, from Norfolk Avenue, is vice president of the
BLACKPOOL's crime-hit council estates look set to become safer places to live with the installation of CCTV cameras. A total of seven cameras will be installed on the Grange Park, Queens Park and Mereside estates as part of Phase 4 of Blackpool Borough
BIG laughs will be par for the course this summer at Blackpool Grand Theatre as cheeky Scouse comic Jimmy Tarbuck leads the way in a packed new season. Just days after scooping the Tourism Award 2000 Entertainment Venue Of The Year, The Grand unveils
IT'S top marks for a troubled Blackpool estate with the development of a brand new, up-to-date primary school. Grange Park Infant and Junior School on Dinmore Avenue, Blackpool, is to be either fully or partly replaced by one single community primary
POLICE are hunting a heartless thief who stole more than a thousand pounds of a Kirkham pensioner's savings. The incident happened at 11.30am on January 30 when a man claiming he was a Housing Association official gained entry into the home of an 89-year-old
BOSSES at Preston North End football club have reacted with unprecedented anger at the news that Canadian international Jason Bent has been denied a work permit after an appeal in Manchester. Chief Executive Tony Scholes and assistant manager Kelham O'Hanlon
A CORONER insisted he was right to issue a cot death warning to parents after a mother told an inquest his words had left her feeling accused. MacKenzie Lee Shaneen Archer died as a result of sudden infant death syndrome, which still baffles medical science
FIREFIGHTERS have praised a window cleaner who prevented a blaze spreading after he spotted it while doing his rounds. And the grateful occupier promised she would buy the hero a bottle of wine as a thank-you. Heath Blackledge, 33, was cleaning the windows
YOUNGSTERS are more likely to be under the influence of drugs than drink when they get behind the wheel in East Lancashire, police revealed today. Officers say the problem -- particularly bad in towns with a busy nightlife such as Burnley, Blackburn and
A TODDLER who had spent most of his life dependent on a machine to help him breathe died after a tube on his ventilation system became detached. An inquest heard that an alarm would have sounded within 15 seconds of the incident but a computer record
Vulcan 13 Capenhurst 14 A LATE penalty try consigned Vulcan to the narrowest of defeats after a battling display. The home side had much the better of the first half and built up a 13-0 lead with a try by Rigby and two penalties and a conversion by Holland
ST HELENS Sutton AC members took part in the Northern Counties Cross-Country Championships at Witton Park, Blackburn, probably the toughest park course in the North West with a steep hill to be tackled on every lap. The under 13s ran a 3.1 km course with
Darwen 3 Prescot Cables 2 PRESCOT'S involvement in this season's Worthington Challenge Trophy ended at the second round stage on a wet, murky night in Lancashire. The first division visitors dominated for much of the game but were unable to turn this
AS someone who is concerned about animal suffering, I sincerely believe that animals in war should be recognised, but not in the way that the director general of the RSPCA, Peter Davies, is about to achieve this. He has set up an outside committee with
FIXTURES in the Rainhill Junior League on Sunday were once again hit by the weather with only nine games being played. RESULTS Saturday Mini Soccer Week Three Premier Whiston Juniors Rangers 3 Whiston Juniors Celtic 0, Blackbrook Juniors 0 Young Gate
Skelmersdale United 2 St Helens Town 3 TOWN got back on track after an inexplicably poor showing in midweek when they could only draw at Knowsley Road against lowly Nantwich despite getting off to a flying start with Terry Fearns bagging his 23rd goal
ONE of Preston's most valued players looks set for a return to the cut and thrust of Division One football as PNE look to run 'Hoops' around Queens Park Rangers on Saturday (February 10). Right back Graham Alexander, who has been Preston's linch pin for
ON the banks of the River Solent, Preston North End picked up their first points of the year, a 1-0 win over Portsmaouth, and hope they have now turned the tide on a recent run of poor results. Playing a four-three-three formation, North End brought the
VALENTINE'S Day isn't the only reason to celebrate this week as there are some great shows coming our way! Youngsters can enjoy a treat at the Theatre Royal on Sunday, February 18 when 'The Ugly Duckling' comes to town for one day only with shows at 1.30
THE BRONCOS Western Line Dance Association is holding a Family St. Valentines Night at St. Teresa's's Old Church Hall, off Rivington Road, St Helens on Tuesday February 13 at 8.00 pm. Tickets priced £2.50 (adults) and £1.50 (under 16's) include a Hot
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a 'ram-raid' incident which took place at the Kwik Save store in Rainhill on Sunday, January 28. Some time between 9 and 10pm a red Vauxhall Astra car ploughed into the shutters of the store in Warrington Road. A
A NEW reading club is being set up in Knowsley schools to help promote out-of-hours learning for pupils across the borough. The club will be aimed initially at Year Seven pupils, encouraging them to read more widely, both after school and at lunchtime
POLICE are investigating a robbery which took place at the Co-op Late Shop, Blackbrook Road, Blackbrook. The incident happened at 10.20am on Friday, February 2, when a man entered the shop and threatened staff with a knife before making off with contents
A CHARITY night in memory of popular police officer Geoff Dempsey who died last August aged 44, has raised £1,000 for the Melanoma Cancer Trust. The event, at the Holt Arms, Billinge, was organised by licensees Tina and Dave and members of the pub's darts
GERRY Bermingham has supported an Early Day Motion calling for the introduction of hearing screening for all new-born babies in the UK. In December the Government announced the first 20 health authority areas to pilot the screen. The motion called on
AN elderly woman who answered the door to a man claiming to be from the council later discovered the contents of her purse had been stolen. The man called at the house on Burnage Avenue, Clock Face, at 9.20am on Wednesday, January 31. He claimed he had
A HAYDOCK primary school has joined forces with an award-winning local brass band in a bid to encourage more pupils to take up music. Richard Evans Primary School, in West End Road, has formed its own school band with the help of Haydock Youth Brass Band
YOUNG people are being invited to go on a 'blind date' with a book at Newton-le Willows library as part of Valentine's Day promotion. As part of the Reading Lifelines initiative, which encourages 16 to 25 year-olds to take a greater interest in books,
SIX high-flyers from St Helens are celebrating after gaining a BTEC award in aviation studies. The six members of the 969 Squadron of St Helens Air Cadets, who passed these challenging exams with flying colours, were CWO Devonport, CWO Dorrington, Flt
ON Friday, February 16, pupils at Nugent House will be changing their uniform for a very special reason - to change lives. They'll join schools all over the country as they take part in the UNICEF Day for change, National Non-uniform Day. It's the one
THREE weeks ago seven-year old Marc Witton was really down in the dumps when the scooter he was given as a Christmas present was stolen... but now thanks to a little help from The St Helens Star and Scottish Power, he is all smiles again. Scottish Power
FORMER St Helens College student Jackie Unsworth and a friend are flying high in the world of corporate hospitality. Together they formed their own company. And one of their recent ventures was to organise an event aboard a hot air balloon. Jackie, who
A NEW labelling device will help blind shoppers distinguish between products they have bought at a town centre supermarket. Customers can be accompanied by a friend or member of staff at Asda in Kirkland Street, St Helens, who can help with their shopping
A ROADSHOW is being launched to set up more carer support groups across the borough. The St Helens branch of the Carers National Association has teamed up with the local Health Promotion Team and Primary Care Groups to set up special teams to give carers
PAUL Terzis puts Leigh's amazing early season success down to one simple fact - hard work. The Centurions' work ethic has brought them nine wins on the bounce since the start of the season and has rewarded them with a crack at Super League neighbours
THE people of Parr have been praised for welcoming an innovative scheme -- one of the first in the country -- to improve services for young children and their families. Since its launch in November, 'Sure Start Parr', which is supported by St Helens Council
LEIGH Centurions flexed their muscles for this Sunday's Challenge Cup tie against Salford - one in which they have a genuine chance - with a performance that again underlined their domination of the Northern Ford Premiership. They took their tally of
A ST HELENS councillor is calling on train operator First North Western to improve its station staffing levels after Eccleston Park was named as second on a 'list of shame' for unstaffed City Line stations which should be fully operational. Terry Hanley
POOL manager Steve McMahon is to confirm his future at Bloomfield Road by signing a two year contract with the club. Just a few details need to be worked out before the deal is finalised. The manager is delighted the stadium development is finally going
