YOU won't be hooked, but you will probably be entertained by the latest offering at Blackpool's Grand Theatre, murder-mystery A Gentle Hook. Set in the plumby-voiced world of a wealthy London home, this murder-mystery is a neatly put together work from
TO those in the congregation at the wedding the Osliffes appeared the perfect couple as they pledged themselves to each other 'until death us do part'. Roger was a local lad who had stayed local throughout his life. But, although she had grown up just
LEIGH RMI expect a new manager to be in charge at the weekend after the shock resignation of Geoff Lutley. The Railwaymen are rock-bottom of the Conference with just one win all season and Lutley, who only took charge in the middle of November, decided
WHEN Blackburn Rovers got thumped 4-0 by Chelsea in October, there were few positives to console Mark Hughes and his confidence-stricken players on the long trip back from Stamford Bridge. However, four months on, Dominic Matteo and his team-mates now
BLACKBURN Rovers midfielder David Thompson today hailed the role his former team-mate Damien Duff has played in Chelsea's surge to the top of the Premiership. The Republic of Ireland international, who returns to Ewood Park tonight for the first time
I'M not sure which game I'm looking forward to most - Chelsea or Burnley in the FA Cup. Chelsea are the best, and in a very strong league they're romping it. Didier Drogba's an excellent player, and they've got two of the best wide players in Europe in
LANCASHIRE'S police chief is to move south to take up a top role in London's Metropolitan Police Service. Paul Stephenson, chief constable of Lancashire, was yesterday named new deputy commissioner of The Met by the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police
A WOMAN who has devoted almost 20 years to a support service for drug users and their families has been given a Local Heroes Award from the Home Secretary Charles Clarke. Kath Talboys, 41, of Ingol, helped set up Drugline Lancashire 19 years ago. It has
SCOUTS from across Preston and South Ribble are busy raising funds for an expedition to a village in Uganda where they plan to build a health and community centre. More than 20 scouts, aged 15-25, will travel to Kakomo, south west Uganda in August for
PRESTON City Council is to serve Network Rail with an enforcement notice to clear up a stretch of disused railway line which has been blighted by fly-tipping. Campaigners say the former Preston to Longridge railway which runs through Deepdale behind Burrow
PRESTON'S indoor market will be without an up escalator until March, it emerged yesterday. Although the market's descending escalator is still working, the ascending one broke on Christmas Eve and has been out of action since then. Preston City Council
WHEN I was asked to take part in a ghost hunt I never expected to actually agree. As someone who whimpers at even the tamest of horror films, I could not help but wonder at how I had arrived at the Eagle and Child, Church Road, Leyland, at 11pm, on Saturday
A PILOT scheme to bus patients between hospitals in Preston and Chorley is to be launched. The new shuttle service will be an extension of the hospital's existing staff service which runs between Royal Preston Hospital and Chorley hospital between 7.15am
A VIDEO warning youngsters about internet paedophiles has been launched in Preston. The film, Jenny's Story, has already been piloted in two local schools where one teacher has described it as "gut wrenching". It tells the true story of a teenage girl
A MAN who racially abused security staff at Burnley's benefits department has been made a "prisoner" in his own home. Peter Leslie Abbott, 30, told his victims to go back to Pakistan after he caused a rumpus at Brun House, in Burnley. The defendant, said
EDUCATION and business bosses have come together to discuss the future of a £170million shake-up in Burnley and Pendle. Over 200 dignitaries attended a Building Schools for the Future (BSF) conference at Turf Moor yesterday to discuss how the revamp of
A MENTALLY-ill woman who knifed a fellow hospital patient has kept her freedom - after a judge told her nobody would want to send her to jail. Burnley Crown Court heard how Jacqline Norwood, 42, who had armed herself with a penknife, had been thinking
TWO of the men accused of conspiring to kidnap Burnley businessman Alec Cunningham have denied any part in the plot. Domenyk Lattlay-Fottfoy and Jonathan Chadwick both told a jury at Preston Crown Court they had no knowledge of the alleged snatching of
A PAIR of budding thespians are hoping to tread the boards at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival with a little help from local businesses. Becky Edgington, 25, of Clover Street, Preston, wants to take the Ben Elton play, Silly Cow, to the three-week
PEOPLE in Preston are being given the chance to have their say on the future development of Avenham Park. An exhibition of five short-listed designs for a £1million pavilion at the park will be on show at the Guild Hall until Saturday. The new pavilion
IT'S the Wars of the Roses take two, and Yorkshire is streets ahead if the sign on the M6 is to be believed. The red rose of Lancashire has faded to the white rose of Yorkshire on the sign on the southbound carriageway on the Cumbria Lancs border. The
As the grey, cold days of winter give way to warmer, bluer skies, there's no better place to enjoy early spring blooms and plenty of fresh air than by taking a walk through some of the wonderful parkland and countryside at National Trust properties here
A CONTROVERSIAL Great Harwood nightclub has been destroyed in a suspected arson attack. Fire crews were called to Monroes, Wood Street at around 9.45pm last night after a call from a passer-by. Around 40 firefighters from Great Harwood, Accrington, Blackburn
TWO sisters were seriously injured when they were hit by a car after walking to the shop for sweets. They were crossing Blackburn Road, Accrington, close to the junction with Percival Street, when the accident happened, just before 7pm yesterday. Poeple
CORONATION Street actress Casey Lee Jolleys is the proud mother of a baby girl. Halle Rene is the first child of the 30-year-old Bolton star, who shot to fame in Coronation Street as Fred Elliott's Thai bride Orchid Pattaya. Halle - named after the Oscar-winning
THE family of a man stabbed to death with a kitchen knife by his new wife today hit out at her five-year sentence for manslaughter. The brother of Roger Osliffe spoke on behalf of his relatives after a jury of seven men and five women convicted his killer
TO those in the congregation at the wedding the Osliffes appeared the perfect couple as they pledged themselves to each other 'until death us do part'. Roger was a local lad who had stayed local throughout his life. But, although she had grown up just
THE killing of Roger Osliffe hit the community of Whalley hard. The couple had been seen in the Whalley Arms the night before Roger's death and police spent a lot of time in there talking to shocked friends. At the time, Norman Atty, landlord at the nearby
FANS favourite Jamie Hughes reckons Lancaster City can shoot Morecambe down on Saturday - but is warning his side's defenders to be on their game. Prodigal son Hughes, 27, blasted 32 goals for the Dolly Blues last season and has returned to the Giant
FYLDE need to start winning away from the Woodlands if they are to put pressure on the four clubs above them in National Three (North). All four of their defeats to date have been on the road, the last three in succession so they'll make the short journey
PHIL Wilson refused to defend his players after Lancaster City hit skid row a week before their big FA Trophy tie with Morecambe. The manager believes too many of his men may have had an eye on the Giant Axe clash with the Shrimps as City whimpered to
JOHN Oster is urging Burnley fans to be patient as he looks to get his career back on track at Burnley. The former Sunderland winger made a sound, if unspectacular Clarets debut in last weekend's FA Cup victory over Bournemouth, which set up a mouthwatering
RICHARD Chaplow has revealed that West Bromwich Albion offered him a Premiership opportunity he simply could not refuse. The former Clarets midfielder, 20 today, sealed his move to the Hawthorns after Burnley managed to push the asking price to a club
TRUE blue Jim Bentley wants to paint Lancaster City's Giant Axe red on Saturday, just so Morecambe's fans can claim the pub bragging rights. The Shrimps' skipper is aware of the importance of every game - but says the local derby in the FA Trophy fourth
YOUNG striker Joe O'Neill has admitted he is having to look around for other clubs as his Deepdale career threatens to peter out. O'Neill, 21, has made just one start for North End, against West Brom in the FA Cup defeat earlier this month. Since then
A LEIGH charity shop is celebrating its seventh anniversary. The PDSA shop at Bradshawgate is appealing for donations of bric-a-brac and for volunteers to carry on the good work of the animal charity. Gill Baxendale, shop manager, said: "Any ornaments
LATEST results U9 Section A Ladybridge Crusaders 1 Worsley Juniors 0; Elton & Walshaw Cheetahs 3 Boothstown Bullets 5; Hindley Junior Jets 5 Ladybridge Athletic 0; Horwich St Mary Apaches 0 Horwich RMI Whites 1; Our Lady of Lourdes 1 Bromley Cross
JANUARY is the traditional time to make resolutions, and if any reader has resolved to give some time to voluntary work, may I suggest they consider WRVS. WRVS is currently seeking volunteer drivers and helpers, men and women to deliver hot meals to the
HAVE you ever driven along a road that has completely different speed limits on either side? I think I have, namely Euxton Lane. Anyone who drives along this road on a regular basis as I do, will fully understand and appreciate what I mean. From the Westway
I READ with interest your lead story on proposed council tax increases, and agree with Mr Goldsworthy that action should be taken to reduce costs at the Town Hall. Perhaps we could do without a chief executive's department for 12 months just to see if
RADCLIFFE Borough threw away a 3-1 lead in the Marsden Trophy to crash out 4-3 at home to Bamber Bridge. Ciarron Kilheeney, Martyn Forrest and Steve Foster had put Kevin Glendon's side in charge, but Bridge delivered the sucker punch on 115 minutes.
A NEW version of a controversial gas storage plan for Wyre has 'barely changed' from the original, according to a top council official - but the scheme has won support from a Government department. Wyre's head of planning, Mike Gee, will recommend that
BLACKPOOL supergramps Bill Bentley says exercise is the key to living to a ripe old age. The sprightly centenarian has just celebrated his milestone 100th birthday - and he says he's 'no intention of taking it easy' from now on. Exercise is a habit for
A BLACKPOOL man faces nine years in prison for his part in a £760,000 international drug smuggling operation. Sales manager, Fazale Mirza, from South Shore, played a 'leading role' in the operation, busted by customs officers in Southampton. Officers
A FYLDE women's refuge worker has praised bosses at top ITV soap - Coronation Street - for highlighting domestic violence issues. Shelan Holden, of the Fylde Coast Women's Aid, describes the storyline between Rovers bar manager, Shelley, and plumber boyfriend
A FYLDE pensioner with an "appalling driving record" has avoided jail despite admitting to abandoning his crashed car across a busy A-road. Edward Walsh, 67, of All Hallows Road, Bispham, was sentenced to a three-year ban and a two-year community rehabilitation
SUPERGRAN Jan Hartley today relived the eight days she spent cycling in 100-degree heat to rise money for medical research. The Women's Institute member, who suffers from arthritis, raised £2,600 by completing the gruelling ride along the banks of the
DRUG dealers were today warned that the police were homing in on them after a man caught with drugs worth £26,000 was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail. Graeme Roy Brindle, aged 27, pleaded guilty to supplying drugs after the stash of ecstasy,
ACCRINGTON Stanley booked their place in the Lancashire FA Marsden Trophy semi-finals by overcoming Conference rivals Morecambe at Christie Park. The Reds, who were last season the bridesmaids of this competition when they lost in a two-legged final against
I AM VERY surprised that Frank Clarkson includes UKIP in his justifiable tirade against the impotence of our political parties to free our fishing industry from the EU ( Citizen Jan 20). He is fully aware that the only way our fishing industry stands
YOUNG striker Joe O'Neill has admitted he is having to look around for other clubs as his Deepdale career threatens to peter out. O'Neill, 21, has made just one start for North End, against West Brom in the FA Cup defeat earlier this month. Since then
THE body of a man has been discovered on a remote footpath near Bury. Police were called to Middle Ridge on Holcombe Moor near Hawkshaw after a cyclist came across the body at 7.50pm on Monday evening. It is thought that the 67-year-old man may have suffered
POLICE investigating the unsolved murder of a 14-year-old girl more than 20 years ago received 27 calls after BBC1's Crimewatch programme featured the incident on Tuesday. Some of them were from women concerned about the behaviour of their husbands or
The events of the past few days may prove highly significant as to how the remainder of the season pans out for the Clarets. The FA Cup win over Bournemouth brings about the mouth-watering prospect of a fifth round clash with Blackburn Rovers. But Richard
THE family of a man stabbed to death with a kitchen knife by his new wife today hit out at her five-year sentence for manslaughter. The brother of Roger Osliffe spoke on behalf of his relatives after a jury of seven men and five women convicted his killer
BLACKBURN Rovers manager Mark Hughes today spoke of his disappointment at the way Barry Ferguson engineered a move back to Rangers. Hughes thought he had won his battle to keep the Scotland captain at Ewood after Rovers rejected two separate bids from
A CHARITY which has been collecting for the tsunami appeal, has been so overwhelmed by donations of clothes, they cannot accept any more for the time being. International Aid Trust, based in Preston, has four warehouses full of clothes waiting to go,
PUPILS from a school in Preston are to feature in a film to be broadcast on a new digital television channel for teachers. Three actors from the London-based theatre company, Forward, presented a production about road safety to 120 pupils from Brookfield
A WOULD-be airman from Oswaldtwistle who booted a man in the head has kept his freedom - but was warned to cut down his drinking. Burnley magistrates heard how drunken Steven Christopher Mercer, aged 18, who is hoping to join the Royal Air Force in April
A MAN today spoke of his horror when a man burst into his house with his clothes on fire. Peter Sumner was in his Lynwood Road home in Huncoat when the man ran in. It is believed the 31-year-old had set himself on fire after throwing petrol on a bonfire
COUNCILLORS will make a final decision on whether to contract out 150 staff to a private company tonight. Pendle Borough Council is preparing to sign on the dotted line for a 15-year £75million contract with Liberata which would take on a quarter of the
BLACKO farmers are keeping their family business going by setting up a four-star holiday home business on the side. Rachel and Andrew Turner decided that if they were going to keep their 100-acre farm running, they needed a second income. And what better
EVERY night, Samina Kauser wakes up from a dream of washing bodies in a mass grave. The horror of seeing corpses piled on both sides of the road and 400 miles of destruction has left a lasting impression on her. Samina, 30, of Every Street, Nelson, said
As the grey, cold days of winter give way to warmer, bluer skies, there's no better place to enjoy early spring blooms and plenty of fresh air than by taking a walk through some of the wonderful parkland and countryside at National Trust properties here
A BEREAVED dad is hoping speed cameras on the road where his schoolgirl daughter died will be given the go-ahead in time for the anniversary of her death. Natalie Pickwick-Jones died after she was hit by a speeding driver as she crossed Bolton Road in
THE University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has been awarded funding for a multi-million pound centre to help graduates' chances of getting a job. Bosses at the university netted the £4.5million sum from the Higher Education Funding Council for England
THE Royal Preston Hospital has been chosen to hold a pioneering new course for doctors and medical students. The training, using £70,000 mannequins that speak, breathe and react like a real person, will be the first of its kind in the North West and one
A PUB which just a few years ago was boarded up and looked set to be demolished is now a thriving local and has scooped a top regional award. The Plungington Tavern, Plungington Road, Preston, was named the North's number one Tenanted/Leased Pub of the
HEALTH chiefs have praised the owners of a Preston pub for proposing a complete ban on smoking. The Greyfriars, Friargate, is expected to be a no-smoking boozer by May next year, if a pilot scheme, by owners JD Wetherspoons, is successful. The chain already
IAN ROGER OSLIFFE married Catherine Marie Johnson on Friday, April 30, 2004. Seven weeks and six days later, the same congregation, along with many others, were back in Whalley Parish Church ' this time for Roger's funeral. No one could have predicted
MORECAMBE are helping out rivals Carlisle United after flooding put Brunton Park out of action. The pitch has been cleared of water but there is structural damage to the stadium so Carlisle will play their FA Trophy clash with Barnet at Christie Park
LANCASTER pool practitioner Wayne Corless has been picked to play for England in the World Championships. Wayne will break off in April as part of England's 11-man team against the likes of Scotland, Wales, Ireland, India and France. The call up is the
MORECAMBE'S first game in the FA Trophy did not give them the best start to the competition as they lost 4-2 in the first round against Bangor City. And the year after they crashed out in the third qualifying round to Chorley before things started to
BRAVE Vale of Lune slipped to another Powergen North One defeat - but did enough in their latest loss to suggest they can avoid relegation. Lune have managed to show battling qualities in recent weeks and that mental and physical toughness was called
MICHAEL Twiss scored twice to re-ignite the flame of Morecambe's play-off torch as promotion rivals Halifax Town were sent back over the Pennines pointless. The outstanding Twiss lifted the gloom from a game that never really reached the heights - but
JOHN Oster is urging Burnley fans to be patient as he looks to get his career back on track at Burnley. The former Sunderland winger made a sound, if unspectacular Clarets debut in last weekend's FA Cup victory over Bournemouth, which set up a mouthwatering
BLACKBURN Rovers manager Mark Hughes today spoke of his disappointment at the way Barry Ferguson engineered a move back to Rangers. Hughes thought he had won his battle to keep the Scotland captain at Ewood after Rovers rejected two separate bids from
AN 18-year-old flew into a rage when he thought his girlfriend was involved with another man. Blackburn magistrates heard that Darren Cooper twice assaulted him before launching an attack on his car which resulted in the vehicle being written off. And
A MAN sexually abused children he came into contact with over a number of years, it has been claimed. Alan Healey is alleged to have carried out a number of sex offences, including indecency, attempted rape and rape. When later interviewed by police,
CHURCHGOERS have welcomed a new team rector to Anglican churches in Bacup and Stacksteads. The appointment ends a 17-month spell without a dedicated rector after the Rev Michael Holt retired from St John's in Bacup in September 2003. The Reverend Garry
ON behalf of Unicef, we would like to thank all your readers for their most generous response to our Asia Tsunami Children's Emergency Appeal. These donations have enabled Unicef to continue its vital life-saving work in all the tsunami-affected countries
MR Steve Roe, headteacher at City of Preston High School, rightly sprang to the defence of his school serving Preston east. No one can dispute that Mr Roe is anything but a good head, faced with a difficult task. His school provides secondary education
FOR most people across the Fylde Coast, helping Tsunami victims means putting cash into collecting tins or supporting fund-raising events. But environmental health officer, Stewart Petrie, will be on the ground helping deliver clean water to the children
A HOMELESS family of ten were unfairly treated by Blackpool Council - according to an independent watchdog. A report, by Local Government Ombudsman, Patricia Thomas, found 'maladministration causing injustice' to the family of two adults and eight children
A GANG of teenagers which included two 13-year-old girls acted like 'savage wild beasts' when they carried out a horrific homophobic attack. The six teenagers, who had been drinking, split open a 38-year-old homosexual man's skull with a beer can, before
A CLARETS-mad priest has more reason than most to pray for a Burnley win in their FA Cup clash with Blackburn he preaches to a congregation of Rovers fans! Canon Jude Harrison, of St Alban's RC Church, Larkhill, Blackburn, has told how his signed Burnley
EIGHT schools in East Lancashire are celebrating after being named among the most outstanding primary schools and nurseries in the country. Burnley's Wellfield Methodist and Anglican Church Primary School, Padiham's St Leonards Voluntary Aided C of E
I AM currently researching for a book about the Blackpool professional light heavyweight Simon McDougal who died of a blood clot in 2002, aged 34, leaving four children. The book is a charitable venture to represent a lasting memory for his young family
ON behalf of us all at UNICEF, we would like to thank all your readers for their most generous response to our Asia Tsunami Children's Emergency Appeal. These donations have enabled UNICEF to continue its vital life-saving work in all the tsunami-affected
NORTH End needs you! That's the message from a group of Preston supporters who have launched a poster campaign to bring back the missing fans to Deepdale. North End are currently flying high in the Championship and are now in seventh place after winning
BLACKPOOL'S wounded warriors can look forward to a two-week break after a battling victory over Milton Keynes Dons on Saturday. The likes of Peter Clarke, John Murphy and Mark McGregor were far from fully fit in Saturday's hard-fought victory against
