LOCAL clubs took seven team and eight individual awards at the Presentation when the Mid Lancs League met recently at the Preston Grasshoppers Club. Gold in the Under 17 Women went to Blackburn Harriers, who dominated this category with four straight
ORGANISING club Clayton-le-Moors Harriers stormed a 1-2-3 in Sunday's Burnley 10K Road Race. This event was new to the calendar last year, and this time attracted an extra 40 runners which guaranteed tough competition to prevent the Harriers from scooping
MORE than 400 of the country's best fell runners were assembled to compete in the second round of the English Fell Championship, for once the stars were not the athletes but the race itself. Saturday saw the staging of the 50th Three Peaks Race, described
CAMERAS that can read car number plates are not a new invention. For some years countries around the world have used them to check if people have the necessary permits to use certain roads. And London's congestion charge would not be effective without
LEIGH Centurions Director of Football, Alex Murphy, is doing his bit to raise money fort disabled rugby players. Murphy is the guest speaker at a sportsmans dinner next month aimed at boosting funds for disabled players the the Rugby League Foundation
LEIGH Amateur Boxing Club introduced another debutant when heavyweight Michael German made his bow on the bill at the prestigious Preston Guild Hall annual show. The Leigh fighter was paired with Preston and Fulwood ABC's Ryan Jones. German showed some
THREE keen games were played in the Atherton Charity Cup last week. The first match, between Hindsford and Atherton Town Reserves , began with Atherton creating good chances until Redshaw sent Town in front. Hindsford equalised with on own goal by Taylor
LEIGH Centurions players will be exchanging their playing gear for fancy dress on Sunday night. When the squad return from their game at Oldham they have arranged a fancy dress karaoke night to help raise money for the Tommy Martyn Testimonial. The fun
ASTLEY & Tyldesley cycle speedway racer Becky Heslop was in excellent form when she made her debut for Great Britain juniors against the USA juniors at Prescott Valley, Arizona. Fred Longworth High School pupil Becky, along with Leicester rider Lucy
LEIGH Harriers' super veteran, Derek Howarth, has won his second World Masters Individual medal. Running in the World Veteran's Road race championships in Auckland, New Zealand, 73-years-old Derek ran an outstanding 10k race. he clocked his fatest time
FOR TWELVE years following the removal of her gall bladder Barbara Dear suffered "terrific spasms of pain' and associated problems. Although she saw several doctors and underwent various scans and procedures no one could find the cause of her suffering
Manchester Association: IT may well be the start of the 2004 season but BROOKSBOTTOMS still possess one of their annoying habits of last year - the inability to capitalise on a position of strength. Having asked Heath to bat first, the Summerseat outfit
Bury District Rounders League: DUE to the Easter Bank Holiday, there wasn't any action until last Tuesday evening. In Division Three, there were away wins for Limefield 185-122, against Tottington A, and for All Saints A over Kings XI. These two, along
THE NHS in East Lancashire is to host a national conference to celebrate good practice in local health services. Tomorrow's conference at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, will showcase examples of innovative ways of improving patient care and access
WHAT on Earth? That was one of the thoughts that crossed my mind seeing your front page (LET, April 24) in the light of this 'Jackass' fiasco. Upon seeing the picture I at first thought someone had been knocked down, seriously injured or killed. Then,
WHILE agreeing with your correspondents that it is unfair to blame the producers of the Jackass show for young boys copying their stunts. I feel that they have failed to comprehend the mentality of the average young male. The fact that a warning is given
FERRIES are being urged to watch their speed in a Scottish sea loch where a Leigh dad and his two sons died in a boating tragedy. The advice was issued by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) in its report into the incident, but the two survivors
A FORMER Radcliffe man and well-known biologist, Mr Tony Wallwork, has died at the age of 71. Mr Wallwork, who studied mites in habitats ranging from polar lands to hot deserts, died last month. He was born in Radcliffe, lived in Morley Road, and attended
A SAILOR from East Lancashire used a mobile phone to ring a friend in the UK when his yacht sank in a mid-Atlantic storm. Frank Walling, 57, from Barnoldswick, made the desperate Mayday alert as the 14-metre yacht began to sink 300 miles off the coast
THIEVES stole a hearse from a Bury undertakers - with the body of a local woman still in the back. The Mercedes van, which is used to pick up bodies from houses or hospitals, was missing for 12 hours. It had been left unattended and with the keys in the
A NEW breed of speed cameras will catch criminals on the move as well as motorists breaking the limit in a ground-breaking development. Bosses at the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety have told boffins to integrate automatic number plate readers
ENIGMATIC centre Dale Cardoza could have played his final game for Leigh Centurions. Cardoza began a month-long loan period with NL1 rivals Featherstone Rovers on Monday, a move that looks like ending his two-year stay at Hilton Park. A return to the
RESIDENTS have spoken out on the future of the town as part of the Reinventing Radcliffe project. More than 100 people contacted Bury Council with their ideas for the scheme to re-shape Radcliffe. Last year, the council commissioned independent consultants
NORWEGIAN striker John Carew has urged Martin Andresen to quit Blackburn Rovers and head for Spain at the end of the season. Carew, who is currently on loan at Roma from Valencia, made the move to Spain from Rosenborg in 2000 and he believes a similar
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness has been rocked by the news that Lorenzo Amoruso's season could be over. The former Rangers star has damaged his hamstring in training and Souness fears the powerful Italian will now miss Rovers' last three games. "It's an
BLACKBURN Rovers defender Craig Short has urged Premiership managers to start scouring the lower leagues for talent rather than bringing in cheap foreign imports. Jonathan Stead's meteoric rise from the Third Division to the Premiership has proved the
COMEDY is on the cards for Culcheth Players. They are busy rehearsing their May production Blithe Spirit, a comedy in three acts by Noel Coward. The play revolves around the novelist Charles Condomine and his second wife, Ruth, who invite the medium Madame
PARISH councillors are unhappy that Burnley Borough Council is proposing to close the public toilets in East Street. The toilets are well cared for, the environment committee has planted an alpine garden and they are used by walkers, people on the canal
SHAKERS club shop on Gigg Lane are currently selling off this season's replica kits for half price. Both home and away kits, in all sizes, will be available and can also be obtained on-line through the club's official website at www.buryfc.co.uk
THE Dixons group has announced the closure of its town centre electrical store in Blackburn, with the loss of 15 jobs. The store, in Cobden Court, is one of 106 which Dixons is shutting as part of a national shake-up of its business which will cost the
A SAILOR from East Lancashire used a mobile phone to ring a friend in the UK when his yacht sank in a mid-Atlantic storm. Frank Walling, 57, from Barnoldswick, made the desperate Mayday alert as the 14-metre yacht began to sink 300 miles off the coast
EIGHTY Haslingden youngsters brought out their newly-polished bicycles to take part in a mass rally organised by the Lancashire Constabulary Accident Prevention Council. The annual event was held to reinforce road safety rules to young cyclists. Entrants
MORE than 2,000 Lancashire teachers planned a shock walk-out in support of their pay row with the Government. In an unprecedented move the Assistant Masters and Mistresses Association (AMMA) ordered their traditionally moderate members to stop work at
THE first female High Sheriff of Lancashire was sworn in at a ceremony at County Hall. Mrs Judith Duckworth, of Bleasdale Tower near Garstang, was the first woman to have held the post since it began in the tenth century. Mrs Duckworth said she was honoured
MANAGERS at Accrington Superbowl are rewarding their staff with incentives to carry on giving a high level of customer service. Melanie Ray, of Accrington, was announced employee of the quarter and awarded with vouchers and a trophy in recognition of
BOSSES at the Arndale Centre in Accrington have officially banned smoking. The centre, which opened more than 15 years ago, has always allowed smoking within the centre, except in service areas and car parks. But from Tuesday, May 4, a centre-wide ban
ACCRINGTON man Jon Bee is to take a huge leap of faith to fight the disease which has gripped his father. For the 24-year-old is to jump 10,000ft from a plane to help raise cash for Multiple Sclerosis. The disease affects the central nervous system, controlling
AT Culcheth WI's meeting Mrs Pat Forrest welcomed members and a visitor and thanked Mrs Margaret Hampson for the table flowers. She welcomed the arrival of spring and reminded members who are in the gift aid scheme that any changes in their intentions
TYLDESLEY'S state-of-the-art new clinic was officially opened last Friday. After months of extensive work on major rebuilding and refurbishment the Poplar Street clinic was operational in February - a new and improved building over twice the size of the
WHEN Little Miss Magic, Hayley Langford, stepped out on to the pitch on Saturday she became the first girl ever to take part in a Leigh District Youth League cup final. The 11-years-old midfield star of Mosley Common United was hoping to score the winner
A LEADING councillor today warned that the Ribble Valley was in danger of becoming a "rich man's theme park" unless action was taken to stop the spread of holiday homes. Coun Frank Dyson, leader of the LibDems on Ribble Valley Council, has called for
A CLARETS fan who flouted a football banning order has been told to stick to watching his team on television. Burnley magistrates heard how gambler Lee Joseph Pickering, 21, who is barred from Turf Moor for life, is subject of a three-year order. He has
A CLARETS fan who flouted a football banning order has been told to stick to watching his team on television. Burnley magistrates heard how gambler Lee Joseph Pickering, 21, who is barred from Turf Moor for life, is subject of a three-year order. He has
BURNLEY Football Club and the police are warning Clarets fans to buy their ticket for the last game of the season in advance, or be turned away. The last fixture, against Sunderland at Turf Moor on Sunday, May 9, is an all-ticket match and anyone without
BURY 2 TORQUAY UTD 1: TWELVE months have elapsed since Dave Nugent scored his last goal for Bury, but Good Friday's winner brought relief not just to him, but to everyone connected with the Shakers. Because the three points gained from the victory over
MICHAEL Hunt had to play the waiting game as he clinched his first Northern Order of Merit title of the year on Sunday. The Pleasington golfer had to sit in the clubhouse for three hours before he knew he'd clinched the Formby Hare, as well as the aggregate
COMMUNITY campaigners are aiming to create a cleaner, greener Golborne - and they want residents to help them do it. The new Golborne and Lowton Township Forum is spearheading efforts to make the area tidier after figures revealed it has one of the worst
ATHERTON CC put their league commitments to one side as they took on Wavertree from the Liverpool Competition in the first round of the National KO. Wavertree scored steadily and after 10 overs reached 25 for 1, Nuttall taking the only wicket. A double
THE uncertainty surrounding Leigh RMI's relegation has deepened this week with news that another troubled Conference club could come to their rescue. A week after the division's governing body confirmed that Margate have until May 31 to prove that their
Barnet 2 Leigh RMI 1: LEIGH RMI have goalkeeper Ian Martin to thank for preventing a trouncing on the final day of the Conference season at Barnet. Martin produced a number of wonderous saves to deny the play-off chasing Bees at Underhill and even saved
Skirlaugh 22 Leigh East 13: SKIRLAUGH became the only side to beat Leigh East twice this season. And in doing so they secured runner's-up spot for themselves in the Arriva Trains Conference League while East, by virtue of Thornhill's surprise victory
PARALYMPIC star Jenny Coughlin has lifted a top title to bring more glory for award-winning Tyldesley Swimming Club. Double world record holder Jenny, who suffers sight problems, collected one of five honours at the recent Wigan MBC annual sports award
THE sun shone down on Leigh RU Hawks as they rounded off a successful season with a dynamic display of running rugby against league rivals Manchester, winning 35-12. Both backs and forwards dominated play, in particular Ross Fletcher at stand-off and
LEIGH suffered a double disappointment against Northern as they threw away a winning position and went down by six runs in the Premier Division Knockout Trophy. They were well beaten in the Cockspur Cup (National Knockout) by seven wickets. At Moor Park
SHAKERS are holding another of their popular Company Golf Days at Walmersley Golf Club on Thursday, May 20. The event - sponsored by Andrew and Mark Smith Metals - includes soup and sandwiches on arrival, 18 holes of stableford golf, a complimentary beer
A HUSBAND and wife business based in Blackburn have been named 'North West Young Entrepreneurs of the Year'. Andy and Samantha Bradshaw, whose business 'Oneighty Creative Ltd' is based in the Business Development Centre, in Eanam Wharf, won the North
POLICE today said they were still pursuing investigations into whether any criminal offence was committed after a boy received injuries as he and friends copied stunts from controversial TV show Jackass. The boy's mother complained to police last week
LEADING Rossendale insurance broker, James Trickett and Son, has expanded into Bacup. Tricketts, who have had a presence in Rawtenstall for more than a century, has opened a new office on Irwell Terrace. Trickett's Stephen Darwen, who is born and bred
FIRE crews have blasted arsonists who are starting fires in a Rossendale car park. The warning comes after the latest arson attack on a paper recycling bin in the car park of Waterfoot Library. A crew from Rawtenstall had to be called to the car park
THE family of a kickboxing mum have launched a fundraising campaign to help her take on the best in the world. Young Vikki Allen has fought her way to a place at the World Kickboxing Championships, in Switzerland, later this year. The 23-year-old has
EAST Lancashire MPs Janet Anderson and Greg Pope have told a fellow-Labour MP to keep his hands off the borough of Rossendale. They spoke out saying David Chaytor's proposal to merge Bury and their borough was a "madcap" idea. Mr Chaytor staged a special
A LOWTON firm has been placed on a shortlist of four for the North-West final of the National Business Awards. Commhoist Ltd has been entered for the small to medium sized business of the year award. Representatives from the company will be at the Palace
A LEIGH-BASED group is celebrating after winning first prize in a writing competition. The Willow project, which offers support to women concerned about their own or someone else's drinking, is delighted with the result. Project manager Jean Stitt, said
LEIGHLIFE is a new web site created especially for people with an interest in the Leigh area. It contains sections where users can post news stories, make announcements or comment on local issues; there are forums, journals, web mail, links to other sites
PATRIOTS from throughout England made a bee-line for Atherton where St George's Day was celebrated in style. The Railway pub in Bag Lane was turned into a national shrine with English flags fluttering and red and white ballooons everywhere as proud patrons
GOLBORNE town centre is becoming cleaner, greener and healthier. Last week eight trees were planted adding more life and colour to the town centre. The Greener Golborne Group worked with Wigan Council to place five maple and three cherry trees as part
A MAN has appeared in court in Bury accused of supplying cocaine to a drug trafficking syndicate operating in Greater Manchester, Lancashire and the West Midlands. Former builder Paul Andrew Robinson, aged 44, of Hardman Close, Radcliffe, denied conspiring
THE chairman of governors at a Blackburn secondary school today gave his backing to the findings of a report which said children were miserable at school. Jack Fairless, of Witton Park High School, has campaigned for decades to improve the support for
THE latest set of quarterly performance figures for Lancashire Police on delivery against key Government targets have been released. The figures show that the Lancashire Criminal Justice Board continues to make steady progress and reflect its achievements
PATIENTS will benefit from around 100 new specialist registrars starting work in East Lancs. The announcement has been welcomed by health bosses who say there is a desperate shortage of consultants. And it is now hoped the specialist registrars - qualified
A NEW hospital development could be blocking television signals to homes in Blackburn, according to developers. The new Queen's Park Hospital building off Haslingden Road is starting to take shape and a steel structure could be the reason homes have had
A JUDGE has criticised police over moves to ban alleged football hooligans from travelling to Euro 2004 in Portugal. District judge Paul Firth asked why it had taken police five months to bring the matter to court and why the prosecution then expected
A NEW breed of speed cameras will catch criminals on the move as well as motorists breaking the limit in a ground-breaking development. Bosses at the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety have told boffins to integrate automatic number plate readers
WE welcome a recycling programme, but it is evident that there are major problems. The main one is the black box; it is poorly designed and too small. Also, it needs to have a lid which will clamp on. Another problem is the bi-weekly collection of the
I FIND it incredible that, despite warnings as early as 1996 of the dire effects of the loss of the Post Office's 350-gram monopoly, and its subsequent removal by the EU, we are still expected to believe that there is no connection between that and the
ENTHUSIASTIC students from Holy Cross College in Bury have helped to raise awareness of a rare form of cancer as part of a charity double-header. Youngsters studying health and social care raised pots of money for VACO (Vulva Awareness Campaign Organisation
A CHARITY which helps serving and ex-servicemen, women and their families in need has appealed for my assistance. SSAFA Forces Help secretary Wilf Isherwood feels that a change of phone number has affected the group's workload and that new clients could
There's nothing more infuriating than two juggernauts driving for miles side by side in the first two lanes, with neither willing to give way. It is becoming an increasingly popular practise, one I've witnessed numerous times recently on the M61. There
CAN you believe the cheek of the hard-faced thieves who waited until workmen had finished laying a footpath alongside a new Tyldesley clinic last week then lifted it? Tonnes of ballast and gritstone had been laid and rolled along a path between Shakerley
A CLEANER has been jailed for a year after indecently assaulting a female resident at the sheltered accommodation where he worked. Graham Williams (63), of Masefield Avenue, Radcliffe, had pleaded guilty to two counts of the offence at a hearing held
LEIGH East Mustangs were again involved in a end to end thriller with St Cuthberts. Man of the match Adam Ridge, Most tries Elliot Liku, Top tackler Lewis Cullen, Most improved Conor McGuinnes. Other tries Adam Ridge (3), Liku (2), Dan Hilton (1), McGuinness
BOOTHSTOWN U12's promotion challenge took another blow with a 1-1 draw against the Pumas. Andy Woodhouse gave Boothstown a first half lead but the second half was all Pumas as they too are chasing promotion. Pumas eventually equalised in the last minute
KERSAL Vale clinched the Leigh and District Soccer League championship with a last day win over Howe Bridge Mills Reserves. Vale's 2-0 win, thanks to goals from Smith and Flynn, saw them finish one point above Asda Golborne. Vale have the chance to complete
ASTLEY & Tyldesley Road Runners made an impact in the Bolton 10k race. Shaun Moran won his second prize of the season, finishing second in his age catagory and 24th overall in 35min 29secs. The rest of team finished: Gary Stevens 106th 40.34 PB, Bob
EIGHTEEN-year-olds could be turning out as candidates in the next General Election under plans being considered by the Government. But will this really help reverse political apathy among the nation's teenagers? JENNY SCOTT investigates. . . WHEN you
DEFENDING the screening of Jackass, Channel 4 and MTV trot out the excuse the screening is well after the watershed. However the watershed presupposes parental intelligence and there are video recorders. It would appear the watershed is leaking and the
RE Telegraph Comment (April 22) "Question marks are still lingering," I totally agree. For Social Services to pass the deaths of these children off as unfortunate incidents is simply not justifiable. The processes they have in place have failed the families
IN response to Richard Simms' letter headlined 'Don't put the blame on television' about the Jackass programme, I have to say I disagree with him. He didn't specify his age, but I'm assuming that he is not a teenager. He needs to recognise that adults
POLICE in Radcliffe are urging parents to help reduce the number of mobile phones stolen. Inspector Steve Clark, head of Radcliffe Township, told Monday night's area board that mobile phones were involved in about 50 per cent of all street robberies.
ROTHERHAM - it just had to be Rotherham! The two wins last week mean just one more point is needed, and we have to go to, of all clubs, Rotherham to get it! Millmoor is a ground few away teams like visiting and if you were to hope one team was relegated
SPANISH visitors from Radcliffe's retail twin have been on a tour of the town. Representatives from the twinned district in Seville were given a guided visit by members of the Radcliffe Traders' Association and Bury Council. Carlos de Alarcon Rico, Juan
THE social and recreation club at the East Lancs Paper Mill is to remain on the site, after developers quelled fears of its possible closure. P & F Properties, which now owns the site, has stated the club will remain open when the land is redeveloped
ENTHUSIASTIC students from Holy Cross College in Bury have helped to raise awareness of a rare form of cancer as part of a charity double-header. Youngsters studying health and social care raised pots of money for VACO (Vulva Awareness Campaign Organisation
A PROLIFIC thief who snatched a shopper's handbag and pocketed £280 has walked free from court. Burnley magistrates heard Vanessa Daly, 37, offended when she was unhappy in her marriage. She has since divorced. Daly, of Shakespeare Street, Padiham, who
MASKED raiders threatened staff at a take-away in Prestwich on Tuesday night before making off with cash. Two robbers crept into KFC on Bury New Road via a rear door at around 10.20pm and ordered staff to open the safe. The pair stole money before leaving
LANCASHIRE trade unions are campaigning against the British National Party and racist political groups in preparation for the forthcoming local and European elections on June 10. Trade union councils are taking part in protests to stop racists being elected
POLICE are hunting a gang of men who allegedly surrounded a car and attacked its passengers. The woman driver and two male passengers were left shaken after the attack on the car in Harold Avenue, Burnley in the early hours of the morning. During the
TYLDESLEY Little Theatre next production is a traditional northern comedy with a spirited twist. The Norman Robbins comedy "The Late Mrs Early", which TLT first performed in the seventies, is being revived next month. First time director Paul Beardsworth
A JUDGE who cut a persistent car thief's jail term has slammed the maximum sentences allowed by law as not tough enough. Shaun Andrews, 19, had earlier been sent to detention for six months by magistrates for two offences of unauthorised taking of vehicles
EDUCATION bosses were today setting out how to improve their services after the publication of their own education watchdog inspection. Lancashire County Council was inspected by OFSTED in February and has been told it is on the right track with strong
BURNLEY Football Club and the police are warning Clarets fans to buy their ticket for the last game of the season in advance, or be turned away. The last fixture, against Sunderland at Turf Moor on Sunday, May 9, is an all-ticket match and anyone without
PENNINE Police have overspent by more than £150,000 because of the cost of policing the division. Bosses have now put in place plans to manage the deficit which will be the first call on resources for this new financial year. Bosses at the Lancashire
DEMONSTRATORS are set to march through Burnley during a May Day rally to highlight the town's manufacturing crisis. Trade unionists, MPs and councillors are set to join the march from Burnley Town Hall to Towneley Park on May 3. The aim is to highlight
WORK on demolishing more than 220 houses in Burnley could start in the summer. But Burnley Council first has to agree compensation packages for the people in Burnley Wood, South West Burnley, and Stoneyholme, Daneshouse and Duke Bar. Their homes have
SCHOOLDAYS, they say, are the happiest days of your lives and they certainly left an impression on Lancashire Evening Telegraph reader Colin Murray. Mr Murray, who now lives in Carnforth, has sent in a photograph which was taken when he was a pupil at
THE saga to find a new home for Pendle Croquet Club is over after the club announced it will move to a new ground for the start of next season. The club will leave its present base at Nelson and Colne College at the end of the year and move to a new ground
PAST pupils from Pennington C of E Primary School have arranged a reunion which starts at 7.30pm on Friday, May 14. Pupils of all eras have promised to attend and attractions include photos and memorabilia, news, a buffet and wine. Tickets cost £5 or
HYNDBURN Council is insisting water in the borough should not be fluoridated. The authority's cabinet yesterday reaffirmed its stance adopted in 1987. The move follows the Water Act 2003, which, when operational, will change the powers for adding fluoride
GENEROUS Accrington clubbers helped to raise more than £500 over Easter for a local charity. More than 4,500 people walked through the doors at Accrington bars and clubs during Easter, and handed over spare pennies to staff on the door. The fund-raising
UNION chiefs today called on extra cash for East Lancashire colleges. Accrington and Rossendale College, Burnley College, Nelson and Colne College, and St Mary's College, Blackburn are among a group of North West Colleges calling for an extra £288million
POLICE have issued a stark message to drunken yobs in Accrington over the Bank Holiday Weekend: "You will not be tolerated." Police will be out in force on Sunday night, to prevent bad behaviour from boozy workers who will not have to be up for work the
SPRING has brought the best out of a spruced-up park which more people can enjoy. New fencing, walls and gates leading to the bowling green and a new path and flowering shrubs and bulbs have added to the attraction which has made Bedford Park at Leigh
A COUNCIL leader faces being reported to local government watchdogs after branding an opposition councillor "a liar" at two meetings held on the same day. Hyndburn's Coun Peter Britcliffe launched an attack on the deputy labour leader, Coun David Myles
A TERRIER with character scooped a top award for being most like his schoolgirl owner! Border cross Lakeland Max was a 10th birthday present last May to Tyldesley girl Danielle Tootill from her grandparents. And on Sunday, 18 months old Max beat a host
HYNDBURN'S history will be lost if the public vote for a regional assembly, councillors in the borough claimed last night. The council's controlling Tory group forced through a motion which positions the authority against so-called devolution in the form
HARD-FACED thieves waited until workmen had finished laying a footpath alongside a new clinic then promptly stole it. Forty-odd tonnes of ballast and gritstone were laid and rolled along a well-used pathway between Shakerley estate and Tyldesley, but
TONIGHT he could be joining a select band of sporting elite - to have played both football and cricket at the highest level. For after already turning out for England at cricket, teenager Keith Barker is in line for his first international football cap
PHARMACIST Lisa Tomlinson dispensed with the opposition to win a top horse riding title Down Under. To her delight Lisa, 33, collected the Australian National Arabian Championship trophy in Sydney. The former Bedford High School girl, who is fulfilling
A TALENTED trio from Astley Youth Band gained places at two of the country's top music schools. Euphonium player and trombonist Tom Berry, aged 12, won a place alongside two current band members, at Chetham's School of Music where a third of their time
WHEN men invented flying machines they were noisy, but when God made songbirds they could sing the purest music on earth! Genesis 1:21 The sophisticated song mechanism of birds leaves scientists speechless. Birds are such skilled musicians that it often
TWO long term, partially-deaf friends claim a local college barred them from a sign language course without proper explanation. Paulene Scott and Alan Gordon suffer from a condition known as Neurofibromatosis which has lead to total deafness for 54-years-old
RETIRED maintenance worker Billy Yates died of multi organ failure following surgery. An inquest heard that doctors at Blackburn Royal Infirmary had declined to operate on several occasions because of Mr Yates' previous history of heart disease. But eventually
SIR, I have lived in Leigh all my life and over the years I've watched Wigan Council neglect, shut down and sell off parts of this town. To me, and no doubt to a lot of people from Leigh, it feels like Wigan Council has been eating all the pies over the
What region of the United Kingdom has a larger population than 11 member states of the European Union, and larger than that of Scotland and Wales combined? (Clue: the eleven countries include Finland, Ireland and Cyprus.) Answer - where we are, the North
A LATE fight back could not save the Clarets reserves from defeat in their penultimate Pontin's League Premier Division outing of the season. Ronnie Jepson's young side and had early chances with Marc Pugh and Tom Ince going close, but Stoke took the
BURNLEY are hoping to burst through the crucial 8,500 season ticket sales barrier tomorrow. And if they achieve this target, it could pave the way for a more financially secure campaign next season. The club's discount period for season tickets ends at
BURNLEY chairman Barry Kilby is ready to step up his efforts to persuade manager Stan Ternent to sign a new contract. Ternent's current deal runs out this summer, six years after totally transforming the fortunes of the club. And Kilby is desperate to
IN CELEBRATION of the 120th anniversary of Gilbert and Sullivan Princess Ida the Three Town's Operatic Society are performing this wonderful show, complete with professional orchestra, at Lowton Civic Hall from May 18-22. Directed by David Kay - who also
Bury 0 Bristol Rovers 0: DON'T be fooled by the scoreline - this was no sterile end-of-season encounter to send the fans home yawning. Despite the sunshine and their comfortable mid-table placing, the Shakers did more than enough to take three points
A GOLF trip of a lifetime awaits amateur Robert Ginley and his Chorley PGA professional Mark Bradley if they can come through the next stage of Europe's biggest pro-am competition. In this year's Lombard Trophy, Ginley took his first big step towards
DELIGHTED Darwen manager Steve Wilkes has hailed his committed band of players for securing a return to the North West Counties Division One. The Reds' fate was confirmed last night as rivals Ashton were thrashed 6-1 at home by Division Two champions
SOAP stars and sports personalties will be doing battle on the soccer pitch on Sunday to raise money for a famous cancer centre. Emlyn Hughes' All Stars Team will be testing their football skills and aiming to secure a win against Culcheth's Daten FC
BURNLEY chairman Barry Kilby is ready to step up his efforts to persuade manager Stan Ternent to sign a new contract. Ternent's current deal runs out this summer, six years after totally transforming the fortunes of the club. And Kilby is desperate to
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness has been rocked by the news that Lorenzo Amoruso's season could be over. The former Rangers star has damaged his hamstring in training and Souness fears the powerful Italian will now miss Rovers' last three games. "It's an
Whitby 2 Radcliffe 2 (Radcliffe won 8-7 on pens): GOALKEEPER Danny Hurst was Radcliffe Borough's hero as they won a nerve-wracking Unibond Premier Division play-off penalty shoot-out at Whitby to keep alive their promotion hopes. Hurst saved Graham Robinson's
A BRIDE-TO-BE today warned internet shoppers to beware when using their computers to buy goods. Support worker Adele Cooper, 34, of Blackburn Road, Darwen, said she was forced to pay more than £30 extra for a pair of wedding shoes she ordered from America
IT may look like just another terrace house in East Lancashire - but the price tag puts it among Darwen's most expensive properties. Only last year, Darwen was singled-out for falling property prices in a report. But a four-storey stone terrace house
LOWTON WI meets on Wednesday (May 5) in the Barwell room at Golborne High School. Margaret Johnston will talk about fair trade from 7.15pm.
A SPONSORED walk in aid of Epilpsy Action begins at 1.30pm on Sunday, May 23 from Lowton Labour Club. More information from Kathleen Roberts on 01942 741472.
A MAN accused of raping and falsely imprisoning a woman appeared at Liverpool Crown Court. Geoffrey Jones, aged 43, of Milton Close, Atherton, pleaded not guilty yesterday to twice raping the woman and falsely imprisoning her on February 17. He was remanded
A CULCHETH man accused of indecently assaulting an eight-year-old girl appeared on Monday at Liverpool Crown Court. James Franklin, of Hampson Avenue, pleaded not guilty to the offence which allegedly occured between March 31 and December 1, 2002 in Leigh
LEIGH MP Andy Burnham wants a Commons debate on the report into the Loch Ryan tragedy following meetings with the survivors. He said: "I am studying the report by the MAIB very carefully and will be meeting the family soon to discuss next steps. "The
THE case of a Leigh man accused of aggravated weapon possession and driving offences has been sent to the Crown Court by Rochdale magistrates. John Martin Flatley, aged 44, of Maple Crescent, Leigh, faces charges of being a man who had served a six-year
FIVE people accused of involvement in a £160,000 cocaine supply plot appeared for the first time at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday. They are alleged to have conspired to supply the drug between October 1 last year and April 15 at Manchester. In the dock
AN EXERCISE in bulb-planting is paying off with more than half a million daffodils flourishing around Leigh. More than 650,000 bulbs were planted as part of last year's Cleaner Greener Borough venture between Wigan Council, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust
DANCERS from Leigh beat the best at the Pontins British Dance Championships. Twelve years-old Leah Frain, six year-old Amy Houghton and her sister Kirstin Houghton, 9 and 11-years-old Lauren Crowther-Brown flew the flag at Prestatyn for the Apple Dance
TALENTED entertainer and much-travelled Irishman Colum Sands will appear at Leigh Folk Club's next meeting. Singer, songwriter and raconteur Colum is a member of the internationally renowned Sands family from County Down. He released his first solo album
ASTLEY Youth Band will perform in St Peters Church in Firs Lane, Leigh on Friday, May 7. The show starts at 7:30pm. Admission is £3 for adults and £1.50 for children.
THREE men arrested yesterday on suspicion of laundering the profits of drug dealing have been released on police bail until June 16. Another man, thought to be from the Bolton area, was also arrested yesterday in connection with the investigation and
EAST Lancashire people are among those leading the way in cutting down car use and pollution by getting the bus instead. 'On The Move', a report from the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK has highlighted the area as one of the country's main hotspots
THE Dixons group has announced the closure of its town centre electrical store in Blackburn, with the loss of 15 jobs. The store, in Cobden Court, is one of 106 which Dixons is shutting as part of a national shake-up of its business which will cost the
TOTS in Blackburn and Darwen are to be put through their paces in the latest initiative to combat obesity. Children as young as 18 months are to get personal trainers in a bid to get them started early on exercise. Blackburn with Darwen Council will hire
FORMER Burnley defender Steve Davis could be a summer transfer target for Accrington Stanley. Reds boss John Coleman has made no secret of his frustrations with his side's defending on occasions this season, and has already stated he hopes to hold talks
