Archive

  • Starbuck fury at RMI home slump

    Leigh RMI 1 Scarborough 4: NEW Leigh boss Phil Starbuck was left exasperated as his team conceded three goals in the last 15 minutes at home to Scarborough in the Nationwide Conference last night. Starbuck had seen two encouraging performances since taking

  • Conquering County could be a kick-start

    IF LIGHTNING really does strike twice, can someone please point it in the direction of Pride Park? Right now we are in need of a win and I think everyone in the camp remembers that when we went to Derby a year ago it changed our season. We had lost the

  • Gauntlet of fear

    POLICE today warned that a teen craze for pelting stones at cars could lead to a 'catastrophe'. Officers said they had received a spate of recent reports about the latest trend of throwing stones at moving cars including several over the weekend. Police

  • Did she have to die?

    A GRIEVING dad today asked: "Did my daughter have to die?" Joseph Shorrock was speaking after an inquest heard that 16-year-old Mary was discharged from hospital just three days before her death from liver failure caused by an overdose of paracetamol.

  • Rovers' double victory

    BLACKBURN Rovers' two Academy sides both enjoyed thrilling victories over top class opposition at the weekend. Rob Kelly's Under 19s performed brilliantly to overcome Manchester United in a game they won 2-1 at Brockhall. And not to be out-done, Ian Miller's

  • Injury affected my form, says Amoruso

    BLACKBURN defender Lorenzo Amoruso claims he carried his knee injury for months before going under the knife - and that is why his form slumped. The Italian went under the knife last month and is expected to be sidelined until January. Before undergoing

  • Gally ready to go

    GRAEME Souness today hinted he's ready to unleash exciting youngster Paul Gallagher on unsuspecting Premiership defences after the teenager seized his chance to sparkle against Everton on Monday night. Gallagher provided Souness with a glimpse of his

  • Fergie will profit from Rovers switch

    SCOTLAND midfielder Paul Lambert believes Barry Ferguson's decision to leave Rangers for Blackburn will benefit the former Gers skipper in the same way as the Celtic star's switch to Borussia Dortmund. Lambert left Motherwell in 1996 to join the star-studded

  • Villagers' praise for wind farm

    CLIVIGER Parish Council has urged a public inquiry to say yes to a moorland wind farm that is being opposed by Burnley Council. Coun Steven Smith, chairman of the council, said similar concerns about the impact the turbines would have on the landscape

  • Jacobite Day turns back time

    LANCASTER is to turn the clock back more than 250 years next weekend - to remember the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745. Jacobite Day on Saturday, November 22, will include a performance by folk trio The McCalmans and TV presenter Isla St. Clair but will also

  • Home builders challenge plans block

    HOUSING developers are set to go to the High Court next week in a last ditch bid to win consent for a huge new housing development south of Lancaster. Countryside Properties want to overturn a planning inspector's recommendation - accepted by the Government

  • Thieves pick only the best

    THIEVES made off with two caravans worth £34,000 from a site near Carnforth. A cream coloured Bailey Gator Wyoming and a white Lunar 2003 were snatched from Redwell Fisheries caravan site, in Arkholme, in the early hours on Monday. The vans, which had

  • Watch what's cooking!

    PUMPKIN seeds overheated and ignited when they were left frying in deep fat at Lancaster University. Fire crews were called out to tackle a smoke-filled kitchen and adjoining corridor at Pendle College at 7pm last Thursday. And they returned two hours

  • Vandals threaten bus service

    BUS services to Heysham village may be suspended at night, a bus company has warned. It follows a growing number of attacks on vehicles in the area. In one attack, a window was broken with a stone and the engine shut-off button on the side of the bus

  • Guilty plea at murder trial

    A MAN who admitted murdering a 48-year-old in an alleyway could soon be facing life imprisonment. Gareth Downham, 21, of Lancaster Road, Carnforth, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to the murder of Kevin Steven Pedder at Carnforth on February 15 this year. He

  • Rescue plan for 'blight' house

    A DERELICT property that has blighted a community for 15 years could become the first to be rescued under a new council scheme. Pendle Council is looking to give empty and rundown properties a new lease of life by buying them under a compulsory purchase

  • Walkers get back bridge to beauty

    WALKERS in Trawden will this weekend be able to use a new footbridge, which replaces one that was washed away more than two years ago. The bridge is part of a footpath near Alderhurst End Farm. It has been closed since the old crossing collapsed into

  • Management ban on 'unfit' director

    THE sole director of a failed company in Colne which built up a £248,000 debt has given an undertaking not to take part in any company management for seven years. The Insolvency Service has announced that James Harrison, 60, of Swindon, in Skipton, will

  • 10 years ago...

    YOUNG Peter Tapp was set to find his crooked teeth being talked about in Parliament. The nine-year-old schoolboy of Lynwood Avenue, Darwen, was told he could see a specialist but would have to wait 79 weeks. And a multi-million pound counterfeit clothing

  • 25 years ago...

    A BURNLEY woman may inherit money from the family of American outlaw Butch Cassidy, it was revealed. Dorothy Foster, of Lindale Crescent, believed she was related to Butch Cassidy, who was the grandson of a Burnley textile worker. Meanwhile sixteen-year-old

  • Tenants' jury backs homes sell-off

    THE SELL-OFF of Hyndburn Council's housing stock has moved a step nearer after a jury of tenants voted in favour of a stock transfer. The matter will now go to a ballot of tenants who will decide whether they want ownership of the borough's 3,600 properties

  • Asbestos caused worker's death

    A FORMER maintenance engineer who worked around asbestos for more than 30 years died from a chest infection as a result of a lung tumour. A Bolton inquest heard that Frank Green, aged 78, almost certainly developed the tumour after coming into contact

  • Quick-thinking pupils save grandmother

    TWO schoolgirls are to be honoured for their quick-thinking action which helped to save the life of a 56-year-old Leigh grandmother. Westleigh High first year pupils Ashley Galvin and Chloe Seddon were visiting Mrs Theresa Hammond at her new home in Nel

  • Scrapyard brothers each fined £10,500

    TWO brothers have each been fined £10,500 after pleading guilty to waste offences. Stephen Cleworth of Bow Road, Leigh and Terence Cleworth of Derwent Road, Hindley, were also ordered to pay costs of £1000 each to the Environment Agency, which brought

  • Chemists on Duty

    FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: Moss Pharmacy, 314 Bolton Road; The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst

  • Chemists on Duty

    MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: Moss Pharmacy, 314 Bolton Road; The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst

  • Give us houses

    THE residents of Sandylands are strongly in favour of the housing project proposed by Hargreaves Builders for the former bus depot on Heysham Road. We utterly oppose the suggestion of leisure facilities on the site, as we who live on Sandy-lands will

  • Pensioner's body found in mill lodge

    POLICE have recovered the body of an 82-year-old man from a Clitheroe lodge. Edmond Cambien had been missing from home for two days before the discovery of his body less than a mile from his home. The pensioner was last seen on Monday by a neighbour as

  • It's great to skate

    I WOULD like to respond to the letter published last week under the heading 'Close skate park'. I am one of the people who got it put there in the first place and think the comments are both selfish and unwelcome. A lot of people put a great deal of effort

  • Prejudice and muddled thinking

    STEVE Metcalfe's letter headed 'What is anti-social behaviour' (October 30) was a mixture of unproven falsehoods, prejudices and muddled thinking. He claims the Government's measures against crime and anti-social behaviour seem mainly aimed at the poorest

  • It's wrong to blame council

    I AM sorry that Steve Metcalfe finds enforcement action targeted at people who fly tip unacceptable (Letters, October 30). He is wide of the mark in assuming that measures being introduced by the Government to address anti-social behaviour are aimed at

  • Lottery backs tennis club

    BOWERHAM Tennis Club has won a lottery grant of almost £5,000 to boost its attempts to get more people playing the game. The cash from the 'Awards for All' sports organisation will help the club to form links with local schools, youth clubs and individuals

  • Blues have too much power

    A MUCH-changed Lancaster City outfit still held too much power for North West Counties side Great Harwood Town in the Lancashire County Cup on Monday night, running out 2-0 winners. Five players were rested after the FA Cup exit to Cambridge and manager

  • Personal choice can be preserved

    ONE of my colleagues shouted at me: "There's folic acid in bread". "What about chlorine being put in the water? Are you going to take that out?" hollered another. "You don't have to eat bread; and chlorine is there to make the water safe," I replied.

  • Fortress crumbles

    FORTRESS Christie Park has been breached at last! Morecambe lost at home for the first time in 14 months on Tuesday - and the fact that it was table-topping Chester City who did the damage didn't make defeat any easier to take. But to be fair, Mark Wright's

  • O'Neill in the groove

    BURNLEY reserves fell to another defeat following a seven-goal thriller in Yorkshire. The Clarets second string, including several first teamers given a run-out with Saturday's trip to Derby in mind, were always chasing the game and at one stage trailed

  • May gives Clarets a boost

    DAVID MAY could be back to bolster Burnley's defence for Saturday's tricky trip to Derby. The former Manchester United stopper made a surprise appearance in yesterday's reserve team game at Sheffield United. It was the first action May has seen since

  • Defeating Toffees relieved our blues

    PHEW! What a relief it was to beat Everton on Monday night! After a difficult couple of months, we really needed a pick-me-up against the Blues and thankfully we got it. But my only worry is I might not get back in the team now because I missed the game

  • War memories

    LEIGH and District Family History Society will hear Fred Holcroft speak on "Local Men on the Somme" at their meeting in the Derby Room, Leigh Library, on November 18 at 7.30pm.

  • Talent on stage

    TALENT seekers will flock to Bag Lane Methodist Church at Atherton on Friday (7.30pm) and Saturday (7pm) for junior showtime. Admission is £3, or £3 for senior citizens and children.

  • Cancer bingo night

    HINDLEY Green fund raisers have organised a prize bingo night to help cancer sufferers. Maureen Thorpe, of the Leigh and Wigan branch of the Christie's Against Cancer group, is planning to share proceeds from the event at her cafe, The Coffee Shop, at

  • Gally ready to go

    GRAEME Souness today hinted he's ready to unleash exciting youngster Paul Gallagher on unsuspecting Premiership defences after the teenager seized his chance to sparkle against Everton on Monday night. Gallagher provided Souness with a glimpse of his

  • May gives Clarets a boost

    DAVID MAY could be back to bolster Burnley's defence for Saturday's tricky trip to Derby. The former Manchester United stopper made a surprise appearance in yesterday's reserve team game at Sheffield United. It was the first action May has seen since

  • Brook gets clean start

    ALMOST half a million pounds is to be spent on transforming the area around Waterside Brook, Darwen. United Utilities plans to carry out sewer improvements and renovation work to help clean up the brook and its banks with a £423,000 package of measures

  • Action scheme against racist crimes

    A SCHEME to encourage people to report hate crimes has been expanded in Rossendale. Police said the self-reporting forms for victims of racist crimes were now available throughout the Valley. The Take Action forms give residents another way to report

  • Axe fear museum closes for revamp

    ROSSENDALE Museum has closed for a major refit after it was saved from the axe earlier this year. The museum was saved thanks to a partnership between Lancashire County Council and Rossendale Borough Council and is now closed to the public until late

  • Lauren wins Euro title

    BUNDLE of energy Lauren Brown-Crowther has danced her way to a European title. With three wins at the European Disco Dancing weekend at Pontin's in Prestatyn the 11-year-old Golborne girl has every reason to be jumping sky high. She won the European under

  • Scrap plastic destroyed

    TEN tons of scrap plastic was destroyed in a fire at a packaging warehouse on Bonfire Night Just before midnight firefighters were called to Arrow Flexible Packaging on Bank Street Industrial Estate in Golborne. A handful of people working at the site

  • Band struck right chord

    FORMER Leigh bandsman Harold Roberts was blown away by the response to his appeal for musicians to form a Remembrance Day parade band. Twenty-two men of brass turned up to make Harold and musical colleague Phil Boardman's day. For weeks before the big

  • Natasha's winning message

    HUNDREDS of school children teamed up with Wigan Council in a bid to reduce the plastic waste mountain. Pupils designed a recycling message and nine-year-old Natasha Walker's winning logo, will be used on a number of re-usable shopping bags. The bags

  • Craft Fair

    ST Lewis's annual craft fair at Croft will open at 1.30pm on Saturday, November 22 at the Mustard Lane school.

  • Fair time

    THE Salvation Army Christmas Fair at Dorset Road Community Centre in Atherton opens at 11am on Saturday, November 22. Admission is 20p.

  • Pupils' chance to share views

    PRIMARY school children had the chance to share their views on how their neighbourhoods could be improved thanks to a new borough council project. Children aged between seven and 11 from three primary schools made a video to air their views on the environment

  • Hospice craft fair

    A CRAFT and gift fair in aid of Derian House children's hospice is open from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, November 15 in the Derby Room, Leigh Library.

  • Police will justify need for extra tax

    CHIEF Constable Paul Stephenson is making senior officers face the public to justify the need for a 15 per cent council tax increase. And he also pledged to use the extra cash to put more bobbies on the beat if the public back calls for a tax rise. Mr

  • Councillor's query over speed spy cams(THUBNAIL:tspeed1311)

    A COUNCILLOR has been driven to distraction by a new speed camera set up yards from a chicane designed to slow cars down. The camera was unveiled at the beginning of the month but has left Blackburn with Darwen councillor Hussein Akhtar scratching his

  • Contrasting marks for social teams

    TWO social services departments covering East Lancashire have received contrasting marks in new government ratings out today. Blackburn with Darwen social services has been named as one of the highest-performing departments in the country after it rose

  • Council workers enjoying taste of stardom

    ITV's Are You Being Serviced? has made stars of two of Blackburn with Darwen Council workers who unblock drains. Reporter DANNY BRIERLEY finds out why fame isn't going to Derek Wilkinson and Peter Trueman's heads THE Jetting Crew have a secret weapon

  • PADIHAM...1 NELSON...3

    TWO second half goals by Paul Fildes saw Nelson through to the second round of the Lancashire Marsden Trophy at Padiham last night. The Blues deservedly took the lead after 12 minutes when a corner on the left was delivered to the far post where the oncoming

  • Blackburn run comes to end

    BLACKBURN Under 15s failed to make it four wins in a row following their 3-2 reverse against West Lancashire in their Lancashire League match at Edge Hill College, last week. The local lads suffered an early set back going behind after just five minutes

  • She drives me barmy

    HLEIGH-born national newspaper columnist Linda Lee Potter was confined to the annils of Room 101 by eccentric editor and Tory MP Boris Johnson on the BBC 2 programme of the same name on Monday. The reason: "She drives me barmy." In her position I'd be

  • Why does everything break down at once?

    I couldn't believe it when I switched on the central heating for the first time this year and the overflow started to pour. That fixed I returned home to discover within two days that the overflow from the tank in the loft was streaming. Investigations

  • Water advice

    nFAMILIES are being asked not to waste water following the driest summer and autumn on record. During October the area had just 37pc of average rainfall for the month, great for us, but not for the suppliers. On top of poor rainfall in summer it means

  • Clergy should be at war memorial

    BEING a Christian and churchgoer I'm disgusted at what is going on in my home town Great Harwood of which I've always been very proud. Having lost a brother in WW2 and an uncle in WW1 I attend the Cenotaph to pay my respect for them giving their lives

  • Isn't taxi issue discriminatory?

    I WAS disgusted to read that the Gurkhas who fought for us during the Second World War and in several conflicts since can only stay in this country for a couple of years whilst asylum seekers if they claim asylum could get indefinite leave to stay. I

  • 'I didn't see councillor at services'

    AS WE come towards the end of this year's period of remembrance, which I think has been among the best supported locally for many years, perhaps we can reflect on other related matters. It was excellent, if overdue, to see some rightful recognition of

  • 'Live' cameras on all the time

    I FEEL it is imperative that a response is given to the allegations made against Lancashire Constabulary by your columnist Eric Leaver on October 29. Through his column, Mr Leaver says that roadside safety cameras are switched off during the day, only

  • New coach happy with his recruitment programme

    DARREN Abram isn't one for making wild predictions, but the recently-appointed Leigh Centurions head coach is making one promise. "I'm not going to say we'll do this, or do that. But I will promise the fans now that our bid to win the Grand Final won't

  • Fire chief asks for murder bid probe

    A BURNLEY fire chief today called on police to treat a suspected arson attack on a house as an attempted murder inquiry. Station Officer Steve Cope said the fire attack on Audrey Smith at her house in Ardwick Street could have proved fatal. Fire crews

  • Padiham and Hapton bulletin

    PREPARATIONS are going well for the 'Christmas Special' which takes place on November 27. Padiham's lights will be switched on at 6pm by Mayor Bob Clark. Father Christmas will visit and the market will be open for Christmas goodies. Last year's event

  • Just doing our jobs, say blaze heroes

    A GROUP of quick-thinking bobbies today spoke of the moment they risked their lives to rescue a pensioner from a raging house fire and said: "We were just doing our job." PCs Jacqui Caton, John Woods, Graham Phillips, Martin Legdon, Martin Ward and Michelle

  • Gauntlet of fear

    POLICE today warned that a teen craze for pelting stones at cars could lead to a 'catastrophe'. Officers said they had received a spate of recent reports about the latest trend of throwing stones at moving cars including several over the weekend. Police

  • Messiah is back

    A FULL-ON rendition of Handel's 'Messiah' featuring a full orchestra of semi-professional musicians, choir of 100 singers and specially invited solists is coming to Lancaster at the end of this month. Behind the big production to be staged in the city's

  • It's sickening!

    A WOMAN is demanding action after thieves made off with objects from a family grave. Beverley Blacow, 33, says it is about time Lancaster City Council boosted cemetery security after a flowerpot and flowers were snatched from Westgate cemetery, Morecambe

  • Police net traps 80

    A CRUSADE to drive home the importance of seat belt wearing is being hailed as a great success after 86 people were fined in a Lancaster 'hotspot' operation. Teams of police officers took to the streets as part of Operation Bramble to get the road safety

  • Litfest slaves to reveal dark past

    LANCNEWS A SLAVE whose death has become the stuff of local legend is to be remembered in a specially commissioned poem as part of Lancaster's Litfest. Thousands of children are to receive the poem as part of a project to highlight the city's slave trade

  • Seatbelts swoop

    MORE than 100 people in the Nelson and Brierfield areas have been issued with fixed penalty tickets for failing to wear seatbelts as part of a police campaign encouraging motorists to "belt up". Tickets were issued to 118 people this week by police who

  • Statues old and new add artistic merit

    THE new statues in Church Street have undoubtedly added a touch of artistic panache to the town centre of Blackburn. But the historical and architecturally delightful "Old Bank", now Lloyds TSB, adds an amazing backdrop to the whole project./11 You cannot

  • Lads in print at last

    ONE of the stars of a saucy charity calendar blocked by Lancashire County Council says he's delighted it is now being printed. Lancashire County Council refused to fund the charity calendar, but hundreds of copies of the controversial fundraiser yesterday

  • Christian Aid barn dance

    HTAKE your partners for a Christian Aid barn dance which stomps into life at 7.30pm on Saturday, November 15 at Lowton Civic Hall. Tickets cost £6.50, available from 01942 605117.

  • Fund-raising at the double

    TWO fund raisers have been planned for the same day at Westleigh's XII Apostles' RC Church. A Christmas Fair, with tombola, bingo and stalls, opens at noon on November 22 in the Parish Hall. Admission is 20p. On the same evening a Lancashire Night featuring

  • 50 years ago...

    COMMERCIAL TV was to be on the air in a year's time, the government announced, prompting great excitement. Miss Jean Floyd-Share of Culshaw Street, Burnley, and her friend Miss Barbara Irvine, of Childwall, Liverpool, began a hitch-hiking tour of the

  • Dad denies murder of baby daughter

    A 21-YEAR-OLD man accused of murdering his five-week-old baby daughter has denied the allegation. Andrew Ashurst, of Formby Avenue, Atherton, pleaded not guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to murdering Leah Marie Aldridge on Christmas Day last year. The

  • Brewery star Willie is top of the hops!

    WILLIE Brown has brewed up an attendance record that's hardly pint-sized. For the 56-year-old started work with Thwaites, the oldest surviving brewery in Lancashire, straight from school in 1963, and hasn't had a day off since! In 40 years' service he

  • Peter's final honour

    FINISHING touches to a town square named to honour a king of the ring have been unveiled. Mayor Councillor Wilf Brogan unveiled a decorative railing on Golborne's Peter Kane Square, two years after the memorial to the battling blacksmith first opened.

  • Churches are targeted by 'disgraceful' raiders

    CHURCHES in Accrington have become the target of thieves after a spate of break-ins. St James Church has been targeted three times in five weeks, with the burglars entering through the stained glass windows of the church each time. The latest incident

  • Joan recalls Churchill letter

    AS 80 years-old Joan Kavanagh paid her respects at Leigh's war memorial, she reflected on she and her BICC colleagues' fund-raising role for the war effort which received special recognition. For four years during the war she was employed making cables

  • Leigh artist's picture could fetch £20,000

    A TWO-HUNDRED year old painting by a Leigh-born artist is expected to fetch up to £20,000 at auction later this month. The Joseph Farington picture of "The Gatehouse on the Bridge over the River Severn at Bridgnorth", was painted in 1791, and over the

  • Crossing patrollers honoured

    THE spotlight shone on faithful school crossing patrollers when their road safety work was recognised at an awards ceremony. Deputy Mayor of Wigan Councillor John Hilton and cabinet member for the environment Cllr Lynne Liptrot joined Wigan Road Safety

  • TV spotlight for bargain hunters

    A PAIR of bargain-hunting sisters are set to appear on the latest popular TV antique show "Boot Sale Treasure Hunt". Maureen Ratcliffe and Josie Spence, who live together in Warrington Road, Leigh, were called up to Blackpool after answering an advert

  • Chemists on Duty

    SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9 BLACKBURN: 10am-1pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road; 10.30am-4.30pm: Superdrug Pharmacy, 5 Stonybutts; noon-1pm: Moss Pharmacy, 98 Audley Range. DARWEN: noon-1pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 103 Blackburn Road. ACCRINGTON: 11am-1pm: Lloyds

  • Chemists on Duty

    THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohens Chemist, 63 Whalley Range; To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 6.30pm: Donald Wood Ltd, 53 Fishmoor Drive

  • Chemists on Duty

    WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; The Surgery (Chiropody), 132 Lammack Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: The

  • Chemists on Duty

    TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst Road; Geloo Bros, Cleaver

  • Keep the faith

    IT WAS quite refreshing to see that the new Aldi store on Morecambe promenade does not open on Sundays. In these days when money is often the god of our society, many other problems are caused by this false worship. Our national day for worship, rest

  • Don't moan alone if you want peace

    I URGE everyone who is trying to work out how anyone can enjoy fireworks peacefully, as suggested by Mr Tinning of the Lancaster Fireworks Factory in the Citizen (October 30) to stop moaning among themselves and start grumbling where it will count. We

  • Evans slams the Red Cross

    AN East Lancashire MP is leading a Commons condemnation of the British Red Cross for banning Jesus and the Nativity from its 392 stores. Ribble Valley Tory Nigel Evans has tabled a Parliamentary motion attacking the move as "political correctness gone

  • WHAT a sham democracy we have.

    For once we have a councillor who is not scared to act in the public interest and what happens - she gets suspended, labelled as untrustworthy and convicted by what is little more than a kangaroo court. Out of interest, I went to see Cllr Gina Dowding's

  • Record breakers praised

    RECORD-breaking students at Bowland High School last night paid an emotional tribute to a disabled fellow pupil in a show of support which highlighted the school's close-knit community. At the school's annual prizegiving ceremony, head teacher Maurice

  • Champ returns to his roots

    OLYMPIC Gold Medallist Jason Queally came back to his roots last week to help out his old university. The man who struck gold in the one kilometre sprint cycling event at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney is a Lancastrian and former student and member of staff

  • Church coffee time

    A CHRISTMAS coffee morning with stalls, opens at Wigan Road Methodist Church, Leigh, on Saturday (November 15) between 11am and 1pm. Admission is 20p.

  • School fair

    rTURKEY teas, raffles, tombola and an early visit from Santa are features of the Christmas Fair. Starts at 2.30pm on Saturday, November 22 at St Paul's School, Westleigh Lane, Leigh. Admission is 10p.

  • Art exhibition opens

    OVER 100 pictures will go on show at Culcheth Art Group's annual exhibition at the end of the month. Works in various mediums will be available for sale at the Jackson Avenue Day Centre, Culcheth, on Thursday November 27 between 7-9pm, Friday the 28th

  • Three goal blast shatters RMI's chances

    Leigh RMI 1 Scarborough 4: RMI's hopes of picking up vital points in their relegation dogfight were shattered by a three goal blast during the last 15 minutes by Scarborough. The Railwaymen took the lead in the eighth minute when Wayne Maden headed past

  • Starbuck plots Conference escape route

    PHIL Starbuck said he is delighted to become the new manager of Leigh RMI after a successful stint as caretaker boss. Starbuck was officially named by the Leigh RMI board as the successor to former boss Mark Patterson, who dramatically resigned last month

  • Did she have to die?

    A GRIEVING dad today asked: "Did my daughter have to die?" Joseph Shorrock was speaking after an inquest heard that 16-year-old Mary was discharged from hospital just three days before her death from liver failure caused by an overdose of paracetamol.

  • Digging deep for school success

    PUPILS at Darwen Vale High School could soon be taking a step back in time with the more unusual subject of archaeology being offered on the curriculum. Headteacher Lynn Dunning announced, during her speech at the annual prize night last night, that the

  • Friends' tributes to 'one of life's nice guys'

    THE friends of an East Lancashire businessman who died while on a golfing holiday in Spain have paid tribute to "one of life's nice guys". Kevin Collinge, 59, of Bracken Grove, Helmshore, died overnight on Monday during a four-day trip with eight pals

  • Fighting talk...

    WRESTLER Tommy Walsh told members of Tyldesley Probus Club about his life and times in the ring. His interest began in Billy Riley's Wigan gym. He spoke with humour about his job as a professional, wrestling at holiday camps and moving on to compete against

  • Former Mayoress dies, aged 74

    A FORMER Mayoress of Wigan, Doris Jones, of Higher Folds, Leigh, has died aged 74. Doris, wife of Alderman and former Mayor Jimmy Jones, was born in Wigan Road, Leigh and educated at St Peter's and Leigh Central schools. She left school at 14 to work

  • Band at carol concert

    GOLBORNE Brass Band will lead the singing at Lowton, Golborne and Ashton Mencap Society community carol concert being held from 7.30pm on Wednesday, December 10 at Lowton Civic Hall. Pipes and drums of the Manchester Branch of the Scots Guards Association

  • Designer Amy wins prize

    TALENTED Amy Hawkins is a runner-up in the National Young Designers Awards sponsored by leading electrical manufactures Texet. The 11-year-old from Newton Westpark Primary School in Leigh beat of hundreds of entrants from across Britain to be short-listed

  • Young enineers make their mark

    YOUNG engineers Warren Lyons and Samuel Smith are almost the best in Britain. The talented duo, built a bridge out of paper tissue that would hold a two pound weight, then crafted a tissue tower with a rotating cafe on top. Their creations placed them

  • E Lancs MPs in favour of ID cards

    EAST Lancashire MPs have welcomed the idea of compulsory identity cards, despite the Cabinet opposition of their Blackburn colleague Jack Straw. The Foreign Secretary led hostility to an early adoption of the idea by the Government, but yesterday his

  • Council tenants get vote homes sell-off

    COUNCIL tenants in Hyndburn are to be balloted on whether or not to sell off the council's housing stock after a panel of their representatives voted in favour of a stock transfer. The borough's 3,600 properties could now pass into the ownership of a

  • It's OK for you to do well

    A HEADTEACHER has celebrated his school's achievement in becoming one of the top-performing educational establishments in the country. At last night's annual prize giving ceremony, Witton High School head John Gosling told parents and pupils how the school

  • Reds star Procter rises to the challenge

    THE challenges just keep coming for Accrington Stanley and young midfielder Andy Procter is loving every minute of it. It has been a week that has seen them despatch League outfit Huddersfield Town from the FA Cup last Sunday and then beat Conference

  • Triple time for Emmett

    BACUP produced a stunning display of quality football to progress to the second round of the Marsden Trophy last night. Karl Stanley, Darren Emmett and Stuart Telfer all had early chances before Rhodri Giggs gave Bacup a 10th minute lead, Nicky Taylor

  • PADIHAM 1 NELSON 3

    THE match started with Padiham under pressure from Nelson. On 11 minutes a left wing cross and a Howe's header was well saved by the Nelson goalkeeper. On 12 minutes a Nelson corner taken by Fildes allowed Sconce a free header and Nelson went one up.

  • My belts have shrunk!

    THE wide leather belts with big buckles I used to wear in the 70s are back in fashion and I still have a drawer full. I wonder how many of you have as well. Isn't it a pity they have all shrunk by six inches?

  • A big thank you to British Gas

    IT never ceases to amaze me where this column gets to. Following an article two weeks ago in which I reported that a 76-years-old Atherton couple claimed they had been harassed for six weeks by British Gas canvassers, the article somehow ended up on the

  • Memories of wash day

    WHILE on the subject of broken washing machines, a verse written in the latest edition of Linkline by a new Hindley Green pensioner, brought back many memories of washing days when they were tough. I remember watching my grandma toiling over a dolly tub