Archive

Previous news story Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.

THE teenager whose headless corpse was found in a bin had been due to celebrate the New Year with his parents at their Burnley home, it has been revealed. The naked body of Christopher Hartley, 17, was found in two pieces at the back of a Blackpool hotel

APPRENTICE jockey Carl Lowther must have been hoping that 1997 would never end! For Carl, 23, has emerged with a vengeance from the shadows of Jack Berry's Moss Side Racing stables at Cockerham, near Garstang, and is already halfway to the 95 winners

REGARDING the much-publicised strippergram incident at Lancashire Police HQ, there isn't much quibble from the public as to the ethics and propriety required of the police. But much worse was the knee-jerk reaction by the constabulary hierarchy, which

HAVING read your Opinion (LET, December 19) on the action taken by Blackburn taxi drivers, as the wife of one such 'selfish, spiteful, vindictive' etc person, I felt it is only fair to put the other side of the argument. I wonder, have you ever taken

WHATEVER 1998 brings, one thing already seems certain - it will be hard-pressed to match last year for the kind of momentous events that changed us all. Who can forget the two epic highlights of 1997 - one of triumph; the other of tragedy, but both so

A VULNERABLE woman in her 80s awoke to find an intruder prowling around her home. The terrified 82-year-old, who lives in Lingmell Avenue, Clinkham Wood, was awakened by the sound of a window in her house being forced open. When she got up to investigate

ST HELENS Council is considering how to support people who suffer the effects of criminal and anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhood. If approved the initiative would be run as a pilot scheme, which could be used as a model for other authorities

AN ambitious new tourist attraction in St Helens has been earmarked for more than £8 million of National Lottery funding. The news follows the official completion of contracts between the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the board of World of Glass, which

A GRANDFATHER from St Helens was able to give his family the best Christmas present ever when he hit the jackpot in Littlewoods and Vernon's Spot the Ball competition - a cool £100,000. Over the last few years, Jack Clarke (57) has regularly submitted

ST HELENS Council's Trading Standards Section is warning members of the public about the danger posed by some kinds of ceramic candle burners which are used to heat aromatherapy oils and pot pourri. The warning comes after a spate of complaints in which

LIVERPOOL St Helens have rung the changes in their coaching set-up. Club captain Brian Wellens has agreed to take over from Paddy Mortimer and hopes to involve former playing colleagues and coaches Terry Morris and Dave Buttery, assisted by Jeff Hitchen

Wigan Warriors 46 Saints 2 OVER the years these traditional derby clashes have proved the season's high-point, but this latest meeting at Central Park on Boxing Day was reduced to a festival farce before a ball was kicked, writes DENIS WHITTLE. For a

A ST HELENS woman died in a traffic accident on the M65 motorway near Houghton, Chorley. Twenty eight-year-old Angela Farren, from Clifton Terrace, Prescot Road was travelling along the west-bound carriageway at 7.11pm on Saturday, December 22 when she

GORDON Wilson, whose daughter Marie died in the IRA Enniskillen Poppy Day massacre, received double recognition of his courage and forgiveness. Listeners to the BBC Radio 4 programme Today voted him Man of the Year. And an organisation in the Irish Republic

A ROWDY, hectic but generally peaceful introduction to 1993 was reported by police and ambulance officers in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale. Extra police were on duty in all three districts as thousands of happy revellers at pubs and parties saw in the

BUDDING marathon cyclist Maureen Nixon swapped pedal power for foot power at the weekend. Maureen, a 43-year-old customer service manager from Ontario Close, Lammack, Blackburn, plans to ride 375 kilometres through the Holy Land in April, despite not

POLICE and ambulance workers were at full stretch last night as New Year's Eve celebrations turned sour. Police say more than 80 people were arrested in Blackburn, Darwen and Accrington alone for a mixture of drink-driving and public order offences. A

A MOTHER of three who spent Christmas battling against cancer was given a seasonal surprise when four Manchester United stars visited her in hospital. Leukaemia sufferer Denise Brooke, who is being treated in Manchester Christie Hospital, came face to

PEOPLE on the social services department's books in Blackburn and Darwen will be allowed to see their own personal files from next spring. Blackburn with Darwen Council is setting up its social services department in time for the split with Lancashire

THE 17-year mystery surrounding the sinking of the biggest British vessel ever lost at sea could be solved within a month, say experts. Results of surveys on the bulk carrier, MV Derbyshire, which sank off Japan with the loss of 44 lives, including that

THE provision by Blackburn Museum of a play area for children is excellent. On a few visits recently, our four grandchildren have thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Lots of space and puzzles are provided and it is a pleasure to sit and watch the activity.

REGARDING your article (LET, October 31) on the levels of lead in our drinking water and the proposal to introduce phosphate to supplies to reduce the lead content rather than replacing lead pipework, this was hailed as 'new technology' but phosphating

A MAN was injured in a completely unprovoked attack as he walked along a road in the early hours. The 39 year old was walking along Parr Stocks Road at midnight when another man approached him and delivered a karate-style kick to his face. He then punched

THE mother of murder victim Helen McCourt has spoken of her relief following the decision by an Appeal Court judge to prevent Ian Simms, the man convicted of Helen's murder, speaking to journalists. Marie McCourt travelled to London for the appeal hearing

ST HELENS Council leader Mike Doyle went back to school to thank the Class Four children at St James' Church of England (Aided) Primary School, Haydock. The 33 youngsters had sent him handwritten letters expressing their views on the Snowdome and other

RESIDENTS are celebrating following the decision by the Countryside Commission to approve plans for major environmental improvements in the New Street area. The project involves transforming the derelict former adventure playground in Gerards Lane into

WONDER OF PETS with WALLY ASHCROFT HOPE you have all enjoyed the Christmas festivities. With all the family around me, I certainly have. This week I would like to round off my little series of articles on fish keeping by looking at the problems of correct

ON telly, he's the chef who makes verbal mincemeat out of waiters. But at home, grumpy cook David Smith is just a big softie! Dave, from Darwen, shot to fame giving out tongue-lashings along with the food at Liverpool's Adelphi Hotel. His 'colourful'

SAINTS finally landed the speedster they have been chasing for weeks when they signed Castleford winger Chris Smith from Castleford. A Great Britain under-21 cap, prolific try-scorer Smith has put pen to paper on a two-year deal at Knowsley Road, and

ST HELENS Town's Saturday showdown with Prescot Cables fell victim to the weather. And the game will now be re-arranged for later on in the season. But now Town turn their attention to re-establishing their title challenge when they visit Kidgsrove Athletic

A MAN has appeared before magistrates in Liverpool charged with the murder of Sharon Lynch, whose battered body was found in a derelict warehouse in the city centre on Nov 27. Sharon (22) from Fingerpost, moved to Liverpool over a year ago and earlier

LITTLE Wigan Athletic will bring a 5,000-strong army of fans to Ewood on Saturday and a firm belief that they are in with a chance of pulling off one of the biggest FA Cup shocks in their history. And, if they are looking for another triumph for David

THE company handling a £1 million bid for control of Burnley Football Club have attacked the "blinkered" attitude of the board. Apax Partners, acting for a consortium of potential investors, say their offer is still on the table. New York-based tycoon