Archive

  • 'Spring Greens' award

    THE Out of School Experience Club in Blackburn has won a "Spring Greens" award worth £200. The cash was handed out by the Nescafe Kids' Clubs Challenge -- a partnership between Nescafe and the Kids' Clubs Network, which aims to award a grant to a children's

  • Lost art of the big band sound

    LAST year you were kind enough to print a few letters asking if anyone had any information on the music of Anne Shelton, or may remember if she sang anywhere around Accrington. A few people wrote in to me, one at least has become a penfriend. I am pleased

  • Death riddle probe: 'Brawl' inquiries to be re-opened

    INVESTIGATIONS have been reopened into a brawl which could have led to the death of a Nelson man -- nearly 12 months after the incident. An inquest was adjourned after evidence was given that a fatal head injury to David Jackson, 37, could have been caused

  • Marcus staying-put

    EWOOD hot-shot Marcus Bent today quashed speculation linking him with a move to Wolves by vowing: 'I want to see out my contract with Rovers.' Some sections of the national Press had claimed the 23-year-old was heading for the Ewood exit door following

  • Upset by unjust comments

    LIKE the author of the letter 'Hell-Hole Of a Town?' (Star Letters - May 31st), I have been upset by the unjust comments made by members of the media about our town since the arrival of Shaun Woodward. On one edition of 'Have I Got News For You' (May

  • Grenade found

    POLICE taped off an area near to Booth Court sheltered housing scheme in Daneshouse, Burnley, yesterday afternoon after staff clearing an elderly man's flat found a hand grenade. A police spokeswoman said: "We evacuated one floor of the accommodation

  • Splashing out for volunteers

    VOLUNTEERS are wanted to help run the annual Burnley Splash programme providing sports, play and leisure activities for local youngsters in the summer holidays. The voluntary organisation has been running since 1983 providing activities for over 350 young

  • Flying start for a finer diner

    AN idea for an innovative new restaurant has helped two local entrepreneurs secure the runners up spot in a major competition. Sam Jackson (pictured left) and Warren Sharples were both amazed when they were declared runners up in the Institute of Directors

  • Kids take the reins!

    ONE hundred children from Casterton County Primary School, Burnley, took up the reins when Trigger the mechanical cantering horse paid a visit. Trigger was accompanied by an expert riding instructor from Herd House Riding Centre, Briercliffe, as part

  • Bully for these brave mums

    COLLEAGUES from Burnley's Asda store will be banged to rights next week when they go behind bars ... for charity! Gill Lingard, Fiona Burns and Lia Leone have agreed to be locked up in the cells of Padiham Police Station to help raise money for an anti-bullying

  • Teacher wins award for his enterprising work

    A LANCASTER teacher who helped his pupils sell holidays has won a national award. Andy Davidson, who teaches at Skerton High School, has won the Edexcel 'Outstanding Vocational Teaching Award' for his work. He helped enterprising students to set up holidays

  • Race on to halt harassment

    LANCASTER city council is planning a high profile launch for its new racial incident reporting line. The line, the first of its type in the country, is intended to give race hate victims access to a wider range of support services. Recorded racist incidents

  • Life sentence for 'rejected' lover

    A 31-YEAR-OLD Lancaster University student who stabbed his lover to death after she refused to perform oral sex on him has been jailed for life. Preston Crown Court was told that after the killing, Syrian born Rateb Raslan informed security staff that

  • Revellers have a hoot at fun day

    THE inaugural Blacko Village Fete proved a winner as crowds flocked to the village for a day of fun and entertainment on the recreation ground. The event, born out of the success of last year's Millennium Extravaganza, underlined Blacko's status as a

  • Death riddle: Inquiries to be re-opened

    INVESTIGATIONS have been reopened into a brawl which could have led to the death of a Nelson man -- nearly 12 months after the incident. An inquest was adjourned after evidence was given that a fatal head injury to David Jackson, 37, could have been caused

  • Tommy to return on Friday

    SECOND-placed Saints' chances in Friday's terrace packer against Wigan at Knowsley Road (8pm) have been given a boost with the news that Tommy Martyn may return. Talented stand-off Tommy last played against Bradford Bulls in the Challenge Cup Final at

  • Saints blunt Cats' claws

    HIGH fliers they may be, but supporting Saints this season should carry a Government health warning! They once again had their 'barmy army' of fans on tenterhooks on Sunday by only clinching victory in the dying seconds after Wakefield had a crucial '

  • Bail for mother accused of killing husband

    A MOTHER of five has appeared at Burnley Magistrates Court accused of murdering her husband. Dawn Elizabeth Bracewell, 36, is charged with murdering her husband Gary, 34, at Colne on or about June 18. She was granted bail by District Judge Paul Firth

  • Crash driver left injured brother to save his own skin

    A BANNED driver who crashed a car and left his brother unconscious and bleeding in the vehicle to "save his own skin," was told by a judge he was "beneath contempt." District Judge Paul Firth told Carl Anthony Little, 19, he could not think of an appropriate

  • Memories of old Sutton school gang

    I'M awarding a gold star to Alf Fogarty for his remarkable feat of memory in remembering, after a lapse of half a century, the names of all his classmates at Sutton St Anne's School. The 1950 shot of Alf and his school chums appeared on June 7 when I

  • Bitter end to drummer boy's career

    THERE was a tragic end to the career of a brave little drummer-boy who led British troops into battle during the Boer War when he was just 14 years of age. The story is unfolded by pensioner Margaret Mahon of Saxon Court, St Helens, daughter of the boy

  • Place of operations and encores . .

    THE final curtain fell some decades ago but memory's melody still lingers on. For response has come pouring in following the showbiz query from reader K. Bloomfield who had wondered if anyone could remember when Pilkingtons had a thiving works theatre

  • Five years ago

    A SOCCER mad England supporter and her Spanish senor were set for an "ole" love match as England and Spain did battle at Wembley. Janet Whelan, 25, and Shaun Fiano Fernandez, 27, kicked off their marriage ceremony at 2pm before shooting off to their reception

  • Man left for dead in alley

    A MAN was today fighting for his life after being beaten and left for dead in an alley overgrown with weeds and nettles. The 32-year-old was found unconscious on a path off Jacob Street in Accrington last night. Police said he had suffered serious head

  • Patient charged

    A PATIENT at Calderstones has been charged with indecent assault and assault on a member of staff at the Whalley hospital. Paul Andrew Taylor, 37, is alleged to have committed the offences against a nurse at the hospital on June 10. Blackburn magistrates

  • Not all equal

    WITH the drugs debate raging locally it was very interesting to pick up a national newspaper at the weekend which included a front page story about the Metropolitan Police relaxing procedures with regard to cannabis. According to the article, if you are

  • Dad-of-two killed in freak accident

    A GRIEF-STRICKEN family were today trying to come to terms with the death of a father-of-two killed in a freak work accident. Tree surgeon Neil Cooper, 33, of Longridge, died instantly when he was struck by a tree he was felling while working at a site

  • Hay fever pitch

    IF you want some good information about health this summer, especially if you are a hay fever sufferer have a look at www.hon.ch. The site will give you loads of information without all the quackery. It will not give you a prescription for any medicine

  • Site has plenty of food for thought

    A COLLEAGUE and myself are currently under taking strict diets and every day we ask each other what we had for our tea, and all I ever say is pasta and all he ever says is spaghetti, which is very boring. So I have taken to the internet to help find some

  • Bigger picture

    I AM A 36 year old mother of two about to graduate from St Martin's College with a degree in community work. During the last two and a half weeks since police operation 'Bubblewrap' focused on the Warehouse club, the ripples of recrimination and fear

  • Charlie gets me in mood to dig

    THE renowned Charlie Dimmock from the TV programme Ground Force was in East Lancashire at the beginning of the month. The programme has probably inspired a huge number of first-time gardeners to take more of an active role in their outdoor retreats this

  • Awesome display from McGuinness

    MORECAMBE motorcycle racing sensation John McGuinness blew the opposition into the weeds to record his first 600cc Supersport Championship win at Brands Hatch in difficult conditions on Sunday. McGuinness qualified second, allowing him to get away with

  • Marathon man's heart-felt race

    EVERY 2 minutes someone suffers a heart attack and half of those people will die. This harrowing fact has spurred Nick Daves into taking part in a 13 mile half marathon in Liverpool on behalf on the British Heart Foundation. Nick's girlfriend was born

  • Back to heyday for midland

    TWO millionaire businessmen have been revealed as the saviours of Morecambe's Midland Hotel. Work will start next week to transform the neglected promenade building into a five-star, art deco hotel complete with roof-top restaurant. Lincoln Fraser and

  • Crichton off to Canaries

    CLARETS goalkeeper Paul Crichton is set to join Burnley's First Division rivals Norwich City. The Canaries today confirmed that they have had an offer accepted by Burnley boss Stan Ternent and provided Crichton can agree terms he will move to Carrow Road

  • Clarets face early test

    BURNLEY have been handed a tough start to their quest to repeat last season's play-off challenge. When the First Division fixtures were released this morning, Burnley were sent to Sheffield Wednesday for the big kick-off on Saturday, August 11. Their

  • Final spots covered

    IT was a good week for Haydock in the St Helens & District Rounders League as they defeated Bobbies Lane and then went on to book a place in the Stanley Jones Cup Final, with a win against the constantly-improving Canterbury Bells. In a tough tie

  • Earlestown bring home the spoils

    EARLESTOWN visited Mossley Hill and returned with the points mainly due to the batsmen finally hitting form. Batting first, openers G. Jones (20) and P. Harrison (21) did a fine job. Then Dave Ashton (30) and M. Cheshire (72), making his seasonal debut

  • Dangerous drugs stolen in village raids

    POTENTIALLY lethal drugs were stolen during a night of crime in the village of Bolton-le-Sands. Thieves hit seven houses or cars in the Slyne Road and Broadlands Drive area, while a car was broken into in nearby Hest Bank. Police say Severdol-morphine

  • Remuneration for student innovation

    NEW Lancaster University students are being offered a free year of study - for designing their own degree. The university's innovative Department of Independent Studies is offering to pay a year's tuition fees for the student who can come up with the

  • MBI decide on Broad

    THE Morecambe Bay Independent group on the council has decided on a course of action against Cllr Carol Broad in light of the furore over her controversial claims for babysitting allowances. A recent decision by the newly-formed Standards Committee to

  • Clarets face early test

    BURNLEY have been handed a tough start to their quest to repeat last season's play-off challenge. When the First Division fixtures were released this morning, Burnley were sent to Sheffield Wednesday for the big kick-off on Saturday, August 11. Their

  • Cash-flow help offer

    A NEW free guide is being offered to East Lancashire companies which are struggling with late payments from customers. The DTI-backed Better Payment Practice Group says its guide is primarily designed for small to medium-sized firms which tend to have

  • Image concern is a worry for town

    THE biggest-ever survey of companies in Burnley has revealed a complex picture of firms happy about the quality of their workforce, but concerned about the town's image. More than 200 firms were questioned in depth by consultants West Midlands Enterprise

  • Special bus rolls in

    A BUS packed with the latest aids, equipment and specialist advice for the blind and partially sighted is coming to town at the invitation of St Helens Community Library Service. Run by the national charity Action for Blind People, the bus is custom-built

  • Stepping out for the cause

    YOUNGSTERS put their best foot forward as they took part in a charity walk to raise money for a national organisation. Children and parents who attend the toddler group at Sudellside Community Centre, in Sudellside Street, Darwen, entered the sponsored

  • Mosey on down to funday

    A CHARITY Funday, with family entertainment cowboy-style is being held at Morrisons store in Boundary Road, on Sunday, June 24. Centre of attention at the cowboy and indian themed extravaganza will be a nine-foot inflatable cowboy. Members of staff will

  • Spain here we come!

    SIXTY-five pupils from De La Salle High School in Eccleston will be packing their bags for sunny Spain this summer to show off their musical talents. The De La Salle Orchestra, conducted by Miss Donna Manley, and an 'a cappella' choir will travel to Calafell

  • Road crash riddle driver killed

    A MAN was found dead after his car left a winding road and hit an electricity substation. James Joseph Billington, 20, of Blackburn Road, Darwen, was found dead in his car at about 4am today close to the gravel producing works of Darwen Roadstone, Goose

  • Gala day is a first

    IT will be mutts against pooches at the first ever summer gala being run by the Friends of Sunnyhurst Woods. The organisation, which was set up 12 months ago to help protect the woodland area, are inviting youngsters and adults to bring their four-legged

  • Phil's bid to beat disease

    A MAN whose parents both died from heart problems is joining the fight to beat Britain's biggest killer. Philip Fitzgerald is one of the founder members of the newly-formed Haydock branch of the British Heart Foundation and he is keen to recruit more

  • Don't look down, Pat!

    A PROMINENT local councillor took a mighty fall on Thursday... but it was all for a very worthy cause. Plucky Pat Martinez-Williams dived off a platform teetering more than 150 feet over the skyline of St Helens and plummeted earthwards tethered to the

  • Parents in panic after snatch bid

    THE mother of a nine-year-old involved in an abduction attempt today made an impassioned plea for witnesses to come forward. The mum, who cannot be named for legal reasons as it would identify the youngster, said the episode had left the family shocked

  • Ravenhead Community Trust launched

    SHAUN Woodward has lived up to the first of his election promises by helping launch a special community trust to help the Ravenhead workers who saw their jobs axed in March... and he's enlisting some big guns from showbiz to help get the cash rolling

  • Keith's our angel

    ANA Amereini was a prisoner in one room of her humble home in the Carpathian Mountains. Confined to her bedroom for ten years after being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, Ana could have got around so much better if only she had a wheelchair. But wheelchairs

  • Teens urged to say what they need

    YOUNG people in Edenfield are invited to a public meeting when adults will tell them just what community facilities are planned for the village. On Monday from 6.30pm a meeting has been arranged at the community centre by Lancashire Youth and Community

  • Adopt an animal, pleads sanctuary

    A SANCTUARY which is over-run with cats because of the foot and mouth crisis had to accept a further six cats because they would have died if space had not been made available. Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary above Edenfield is appealing for people who want

  • Language status speaks volumes

    STUDENTS at a high school in Rossendale are to sample Mandarin and Japanese after the school was awarded prestigious language college status today. All Saints' RC High School has become the first school within the Salford Diocese to be awarded the status

  • Quick and healthy

    FISH, rice and fresh vegetables are all good for you -- and by putting them together you can make a quick, delicious and nutritious meal. Salmon shouldn't be confined to Sunday afternoon sandwiches and this recipe allows you to add succulent chunks to

  • Step out for day of fun for all family

    ORGANISERS of a fundraising walk on Sunday are promising a fun day out for all the family. The Wishbone Orthopaedic Walk, a maximum one mile sponsored event, will be held at Witton Park, in Blackburn, in aid of orthopaedic research in Blackburn, Hyndburn

  • County in bid to trap bogus firms in the Net

    A PIONEERING £150,000 crime-fighting unit has been set up to tackle internet crime across Lancashire. The scheme, which is the first of its kind in the country, has been established in response to a massive rise in bogus businesses using the world-wide

  • Helen has got stars 'n' stripes in her eyes!

    A PRIMARY school teacher is packing up and going Stateside as she swaps places with an American counterpart. Helen Campbell will leave her modest terraced house in Blackburn behind and take up residence at a 10-acre ranch in Wichita, Kansas, as part of

  • ATHLETICS: Katie hopes for German success

    LAST year's English under 16 Fell Champion Katie Ingram has had few chances to practice her skills this season, but fell racing is continuing abroad and she is hoping to be selected for the Black Forest Teenager Games in Germany next month. Last year

  • ATHLETICS: Triple jumper ready for GB bow

    REBECCA White has an extra reason to celebrate her recent 21st birthday after being selected for the Senior Great Britain Team for the first time. The Haslingden triple jumper had originally been picked for Saturday's Norwich Union Under 23 International

  • ATHLETICS: What's on

    ONE of the few opportunities of the summer to compete in a fell race arises tonight with the Skipton Shortbank Olympics. It is three miles long with plenty of climb around the old roman road area beneath Rombalds Moor. Shorter Junior Races (from under

  • ATHLETICS ROUND-UP: Mick 'Potters' to victory in Stoke

    MICK Nester was the winning M45 in Sunday's Potteries Marathon at Stoke. The Blackburn Road Runner finished 23rd of 950 competitors in 2:55:52. Rossendale's Andy Payne was the highest placed local,15th in 2:51:09, while three Accrington Road Runners ran

  • GOLF: Boys contest is another lesson

    ROSSENDALE golfer Ashley Siddle will take a welcome break from his A Level exams this weekend when he represents Lancashire Boys in the Northern Boys Championships. The 18-year-old will join his good friend Ben Scott, who has represented Lancashire's

  • Lee makes his mark

    MARK Lee was disappointed when his club, Portico Panthers, were pipped for the North West Counties League Championship by Simms Cross on the last day of the season. But he got more than consolation when he was named coach of the year at the League's annual

  • Rainhill's run comes to end

    RAINHILL 1st XI's recent good form came to an abrupt end with defeat in the league and cup weekend matches away to Birkenhead St Marys in vastly-contrasting games. On Saturday Rainhill won the toss and put the home side into bat on a lively wicket. Opening

  • St Helens claim a top scalp

    ST HELENS 1st XI claimed a very good scalp in defeating fourth placed Hightown on Saturday. After losing the toss St Helens were put into bat and were 177 all out. Solid knocks from M. Potter (23), C. Horabin (21) and R. Burrows (20) saw the Windleshaw

  • Recs rue dropped catch

    ST HELENS Recs 1st XI travelled to top-of-the-table Liverpool on Saturday and slumped to a four wicket defeat. After losing the toss and being put in to bat Recs struggled against tight bowling by Davies (4-20) and Shah (3-24) with only Lyon and Ford

  • What's On with Sue Gerrard

    IT'S time to strike up the band at The Citadel Street on Friday, June 22 when members of the St Helens Music Collective will be on stage from 8pm. AND on Saturday, June 23 from 1pm The Citadel and Tyrers Department Store, Bridge Street will be holding

  • Appeal for missing cat

    A FAMILY are appealing for information about their pet cat, Tilly which went missing from their home in Chamberlain Street, West Park, on the evening of Friday, May 25. Tilly is a year old and has tortoise shell and white coloured fur. Anyone with information

  • Did you see raid?

    POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a burglary at The Hospice Shop in Bridge Street, Newton-le-Willows, in the early hours of Sunday, June 10. The offenders forced open the front door and stole £130 from the till, a gold watch and a cleaner. Know anything

  • Rails to aid mobility

    FREE banister rails are available for people across the borough who have mobility problems. St Helens Council's Community Safety team, working in partnership with local business Care & Repair, is fitting additonal banisters to staircases to aid mobility

  • Ladies serve up tasty sum

    THE sixth ladies' luncheon held at Knowsley Hall to raise money for Willowbrook Hospice proved a great success. Organised by Enid Oakes, and with Businesswoman of the Year, Diane Thompson as guest speaker, the event raised almost £4,000 for the caring

  • Residents get stuck in

    RESIDENTS of the Avenues Estate in Derbyshire Hill got stuck in when Groundwork St Helens, Knowsley, Sefton and Liverpool organised a hanging basket workshop. The event was held at Bold Miners Welfare, where 14 residents took on the challenge of planting

  • Boss posts a reward

    A COMPANY boss whose premises have been broken into for the second time in a year is offering a substantial cash reward for information leading to the successful prosecution of the offenders. Steve Grady, managing director of The Window Factory in Monastery

  • Geoff's memory will stay

    A CHARITY golf day in memory of a popular police officer who died from skin cancer last year has raised almost £2,000 for charity. The event was organised by friends and colleagues of DC Geoff Dempsey, who was based at St Helens and Earlestown stations

  • EVENTS taking place in East Lancashire on Friday, June 22

    Ribble Valley International Piano Week with Lukas Vondracek, Centenaries Theatre, Stonyhurst 12noon. Accrington Beer Festival, Accrington Town Hall, 12noon-4pm and 6-11pm. Selection of real ales, ciders and perrys, with food and entertainment. Craftsmen

  • School logic doesn't add up

    OFTEN, whenever a pupil is refused a place at the school preferred by his or her parents, the education authority's ruling stems not from harsh and faceless bureaucracy but from the difficult constraints they face in managing demands on school resources

  • McVeigh would be free in Ulster

    WHATEVER your views on the death penalty, Timothy McVeigh is now dead. In his last hours on earth he must have bemoaned the fact that he had not committed his act of terrorism in his ancestral homeland Northern Ireland. For not only would be still be

  • Heart of our country being ripped apart

    LAST Friday (June 15), I attended a protest meeting about the foot and mouth disease crisis, not because I am a farmer's wife, or involved in animal rights -- I'm just a housewife. Twenty-eight years ago I was a townie with little experience of the country

  • More sense than to fall for spin

    WITH regards to the somewhat euphoric comments by Mr Riley (Letters, June 13) he must realise now that the general public of Blackburn, and indeed many towns and cities simply choose to ignore the spin. I watched with great interest the comments of national

  • Man left for dead in alley

    A MAN was today fighting for his life after being beaten and left for dead in an alley overgrown with weeds and nettles. The 32-year-old was found unconscious on a path off Jacob Street in Accrington last night. Police said he had suffered serious head

  • No-go for Aussie

    ROVERS have dismissed talk of a move for Australian international defender Tony Popovic. The 27-year-old centre back is currently out of contract at J-League outfit Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Rovers had been linked with a move for the player, along with

  • Blake linked with Derby, McAteer not Tyneside bound

    PREMIERSHIP rivals Derby County, who Rovers play in their first game of the new season, are reportedly the latest club to be showing an interest in Rovers striker Nathan Blake. Blake has been persistently linked with a move away from Ewood despite the

  • First home game against Man U

    BLACKBURN Rovers first home game back in the Premiership will be against defending champions Manchester United. Rovers kick off their campaign with a trip to Derby County on Saturday, August 18 but will entertain United the following Wednesday at Ewood

  • Sign of the times

    IT is good to see, lately, that some of our local buses display the number of the route on the side or back of the bus, as well as the front. How many people have run like mad from the back of a bus, looked up after lunging past, only to find it is not

  • Reflect on low turnout

    FOR the past few weeks we have been bombarded with messages from all political parties, appeals for support, boasts about questionable past achievements, character assassination of competitors, and promises, promises, promises! The electorate have been

  • Cut out the attacks

    MARIE Rimmer is never a woman to mince her words. Now she is firing off a warning to the national media ... "leave our town alone". Marie's blunt message comes after a concerted campaign on TV and in the national press depicting St Helens as a northern

  • Drivers' tax warning

    IT could be a taxing time for motorists in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale if they don't pay their road tax. Fines of up to £1,000 could be issued by police who are clamping down on motorists who don't pay their road tax. Last year 76,000 warning notices

  • Byte-sized high-tech courses

    THE world of computers is being brought back to basics in manageable 'bite-size' courses. Burnley Telematics and Teleworking Centre, at Elm Street Business Park, Burnley, is organising courses all over the town to introduce new technology to residents

  • Teddy bears' supermarket day

    STAFF at Asda, Burnley, are taking their teddy bears to work on Saturday. The teddies are being allowed a day out at the Princess Way store to mark National Bring Your Bear to Work Week. The event marks Paddington Bear's "birthday" and will raise money

  • Getting the point across

    FOOT and mouth access restrictions for cross bay walks are lifted from the end of June and North Lancashire Friends of the Earth are celebrating with a Cross Bay Walk from Hest Bank to Grange over Sands on Sunday, July 1. Registration for the walk takes

  • Racing team are nobody's fuels

    A LANCASTER team is planning to take part in a unique motor racing event. Instead of trying to clock up the fastest time, the team, from Cockerham based Evergreen Engineering will see how far they get on one gallon of fuel. Backed by Heysham power stations

  • Revving up against forecourt criminals

    POLICE are revving up for action against petrol station forecourt thieves. Pennine police who cover Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale have joined forces with filling station bosses to target 'drive off' thieves who cost petrol stations thousands of pounds

  • Ryelands plan on hold

    IMPROVEMENT work on the Ryelands estate is on hold after councillors ordered more consultation on the latest controversial scheme. Under proposals put forward by consultants PEP, 30 homes would be demolished in the centre of the troubled estate. However

  • Your say on the road ahead

    LANCASTER City Council is backing the Western Bypass but the public still has a chance to have its say. The local authority is recommending inclusion of the controversial road link in the District Local Plan and the public now has until August 3 to take

  • Street soul music

    FROM singing for the Pope to singing as Madonna - Natalie Street has hit the big time! The 20-year-old St Martin's student - who this Easter was in Rome singing as part of a choir at the Vatican - took the £1,000 first prize in the Thwaites' Stars in

  • Doing it by the book!

    THREE Lancaster teachers are off on an incredible expedition to the Amazon to search for a mythical "Lost World." And Dave Clark, Derek Roddenburg and Simon Chapman will be sending up-to-the minute details of their adventures direct to their school pupils

  • Man made threats to staff in front of pupils

    A 25-YEAR-OLD man who caused a rumpus at a school in front of children and later at his home, was bound over in the sum of £200 for 12 months. Burnley Magistrates' Court had heard how Mark Sharples, 25, had been making threats to members of staff at Primet

  • Heath seeking new coach

    BARLA National Cup winners Thatto Heath Crusaders are looking to recruit a new head coach for the 2001/2 season. The club are getting ready for life in National Conference Division One after last season's promotion and are looking for applicants with

  • Joynt to equal record

    CHRIS Joynt, who will equal the club record of 86 successive appearances when he plays against Wigan on Friday. The record was set by hooker Harold Smith from October 1927 to October 1929. Joynt's run includes two as a substitute. It began with a substitute

  • Chemists on weekend dispensing duty

    THE following duty chemists will be available for dispensing services on Sunday, June 24, between noon and 1pm (unless stated otherwise): Boots The Chemists, 42 Eccleston Street, Prescot; Taylor's Chemist, 191 West End Road, Haydock (10am to 8pm); Lloyds

  • Donkey-stone in the spotlight

    MY souvenir donkey-stone is to have its five minutes of fame. It is to appear as a 'prop' in a look-back documentary film being made for television. For those of you too young to know, I had better explain that donkey-stones were small whitening blocks

  • Ten years ago

    THE football world was reeling at the shock news that Blackburn Rovers had made an audacious £2m bid for England captain Gary Lineker. But Blackburn Rovers fans had to make do without him as the bid was rejected by the Spurs board.

  • Pedestrian in collision with bus

    A PEDESTRIAN was in a serious condition today after a collision with a bus. The man, thought to be in his 30s or 40s, suffered serious head injuries and was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary after the accident on Blackburn Road, Accrington at 6am. Rush

  • Scouts are going for live music

    CLAYTON-LE-MOORS scout group will be holding a live music event on Saturday, from 2pm. The entertainments will be held at Sparth House Hotel, car park, Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors and there will be a bouncy castle and stalls. Admission is free, but

  • Garage robbery victim feared for her life

    A WOMAN was left fearing for her life when a gang robbed a petrol station of £3,000. Now police are appealing for sightings of the getaway car used in the raid on the Queen Street Filling Station, Great Harwood. The incident took place on Sunday morning

  • Holland's will be a pie-light at the seaside

    HOLLAND'S pies are helping to make Blackpool Illuminations a tastier event this year. The Baxenden-based company has sponsored a section of the six-mile coastal strip for the next four years. They have named the quarter-of-a-mile stretch in the south

  • Fury as landlord gives artists the brush-off

    ANGRY artists are homeless after being told to leave their no-rent studio. It follows a row with their landlord over the quality of work. Accrington Art Co-operative members were told to remove their belongings after businessman Kevin Cosgrove said the

  • Work on cinema complex under way

    MORE than 100 new jobs are expected to be created when Accrington's long-awaited cinema complex opens next summer. Work began last week on the Moreton Street site in the heart of Accrington, which, within 12 months, should be transformed from a derelict

  • School's in sight, but out of reach

    A BOY has been told he cannot go to a school just fifty yards from his home because youngsters living further away take priority. Jack Lord, four, now faces a 30 minute trek each morning to another school after council bosses told him there was no place

  • Memorial fund hits £4,000 mark with wine event

    FORMER schoolmates held a cheese and wine evening to raise money for a fund set up after a father-of-two died of cancer last June. The Kenneth MacMillan Memorial Fund was launched in memory of the 37-year-old to raise cash for the East Lancs Hospice Appeal

  • Why inflict dud laws on students?

    I WAS disappointed to read the letter in the Citizen from someone who suggested that the police should raid the university and the end of term parties. Yes there are some drugs on campus as there are everywhere in society although from my experience,

  • Weighty problems

    IN conjunction with the health issue, if you want some more advice about weight loss and healthy eating have a look at weightwatchers.co.uk. The site has weight loss programmes, motivation and success stories all within your locality. Take a look at the

  • UKIP gained most in Labour territory

    WILLIAM Hill (Citizen letters, 14 June) argues that if there had been no UK Independence Party candidate on June 7, Steve Barclay would have been elected, not Hilton Dawson. Nearly all my votes were taken from Steve Barclay, he says. This is far from

  • Extra homes plan for hospital site

    A SECOND developer is set to build luxury homes within the grounds of Calderstones Hospital. Just two days after developer Alfred McAlpine revealed that its 300-home development on land once occupied by several wards of the mental hospital was set to

  • Crime's rising up by the week!

    ONCE again the puzzling raid on Lancaster's Warehouse Nightclub continues to baffle and mobilise public opinion, with well argued and reasoned responses of outrage and bewilderment from all sectors of the community. All which will surely embarrass the

  • Hoyle is key in Kendal plan

    FORMER Lancaster City assistant boss Mick Hoyle has quit the manager's job at Fleetwood to join Kendal Town. Hoyle had 12 years at City and is still runs the Squires snooker club. Kendal have struggled to hold on to their place in the Unibond league first

  • Shrimps reach for new play offs

    MORECAMBE will be reaching for the play-offs next season after all. Although the League is still refusing to allow a second promotion place for Conference outfits, the clubs have decided to extend their season. Under the current proposals, agreed at an

  • Wargrave's title clincher

    IN Division A of the St Helens Sixes League Wargrave clinched the title with a 2-1 win over second-placed Finchers FC. Backfield United had a 2-1 win over League Of Gentlemen; Rubber Soul FC beat bottom-of-the-table Millstone 1-0; and The Booters collected

  • Wakefield v. Saints

    Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: Pearson; Sovatabua, Westwood, Brooker, N. Law; Dorahy, Davis; O'Neill, Rauter, Jackson, Poching, Hudson, Field. Substitutes: Watene for O'Neill (31), Price for Hudson (36), G. Law for Poching (50), O'Neill for Watene (60),

  • Park's recruits for North test

    WEST Park are already well advanced in their preparations for next season's campaign in North Division One to which they return after an absence of 10 seasons. Although still intending to recruit new players to meet the requirements of the higher league

  • Morecambe narrow the gap

    MORECAMBE closed the gap at the top of the Northern Premier Cricket league to just one point with a crushing victory over struggling Fleetwood on Saturday. Morecambe, bolstered by the recruitment of former Blackpool professional Rudra Singh, are on a

  • First home game against Man U

    BLACKBURN Rovers first home game back in the Premiership will be against defending champions Manchester United. Rovers kick off their campaign with a trip to Derby County on Saturday, August 18 but will entertain United the following Wednesday at Ewood

  • Flying the flag in Hungary

    OFFICIALS of a St Helens company have enjoyed a successful trade mission behind the former Iron Curtain. Lo-energi Lighting, based on the Jackson Street indusrtial estate, was a key player in the largest trade mission to leave British shores this year

  • Chris honours uncle's memory

    CHRISTOPHER McConville was devastated when his beloved uncle, Bill Gibbons, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the heartbroken youngster was determined to honour his memory and when Bill died, he decided to pedal off on a sponsored bike ride. The

  • Bury's top start

    BURY have been handed a tasty start to the new campaign, taking on the three teams relegated from Division One - all favourites to go straight back up. The Shakers kick off on August 11 at Tranmere, Queen's Park Rangers visit Gigg a week later and then

  • Girl, 8, in roof rescue

    AN eight-year-old girl was rescued by firemen after she climbed on to the roof of a house in Two Gates Drive, Darwen, to retrieve her hair band. The incident happened about 7.30pm yesterday after the item was thrown on to the empty house by a gang of

  • We get Russians' vote

    A TEAM of high ranking Russian MPs and diplomats got a feel for democracy British-style when they arrived in St Helens as part of a fact finding mission on the way the UK parliamentary system and electoral process works. St Helens was chosen as an "interesting

  • Rescue centre owner's appeal over cats

    THE owner of a Darwen animal rescue centre today issued an emotional appeal for new pet owners to come forward after it reached bursting point with cats and kittens. Moggies cat shelter, in Stansfield Street, Darwen, is full to the brim with dozens of

  • Landmark inspires a thriller

    A NOVEL based on an historic Darwen landmark could be hitting the town's bookshelves if it proves popular with readers. Author Chris May, from Wiltshire, is hoping his first published piece, Silent Light, will be a nationwide best seller after already

  • School's Euro vision for pupils is a hit

    WHILE some politicians have spent weeks knocking Europe, children at a Bacup primary school have loved learning more about it. The European Awareness Week was organised by Mrs Susan Riley who teaches year-one pupils aged five and six at Britannia Primary

  • Vicar takes a back seat

    A VICAR has retired from his Constablelee parish after 21 years leading the congregation. The Rev Peter Heywood, 55, has been forced to retire from St Paul's Church on of health grounds. St Paul's was his first church after two curacies in Higher Blakeley

  • Cadet 'mother's' pride

    A SEA Cadet Instructor has been awarded a prestigious medal after giving 12 years of service to their youth organisations. Petty Officer Ann Rogerson, of the Blackburn Sea Cadets, Whitebirk, is nicknamed "the social worker" because of the way she mothers

  • Cousins thank hospital through donation

    BIG- HEARTED cousins Sanjay and Sanjeev Asal have donated £151 to the eye clinic at Blackburn Royal Infirmary. The money is in appreciation of a sight-saving operation carried out on relative Surinder Asal. Sanjay explained: "My uncle had a corneal graft

  • Man tried to head-butt and bite police

    SADEQUATE Baig tried to bite and head-butt police officers called to a disturbance at his girlfriend's home in Fountains Avenue, Blackburn. The town's magistrates heard that Baig began banging his head on the floor when the officers first approached and

  • 'Teachers leaving in droves' claim

    STRESSED-OUT teachers are leaving their jobs in droves and creating a recruitment crisis, says the new Lancashire leader of a top teachers' organisation. But a spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen Council said that schools in the town appeared to be better

  • Stars of India set to shine

    CHART-TOPPING megastars from the Asian music world will converge on Blackburn to entertain a gathering of up to 30,000 people. Blackburn Mela -- a free outdoor festival -- boasts a breathtaking line-up of acts from across Britain and abroad. The so-called

  • Lottery jackpot for after-school clubs

    SCHOOL'S out - and Blackburn youngsters have hit the Lottery jackpot to the tune of £140,000. Three out-of-school-hours childcare projects in the town have been awarded the cash by the New Opportunities Fund, which distributes National Lottery money to

  • ATHLETICS: Stonyhurst celebrate success

    FOUR of Hyndburn Schools' six victories in the recent Lancashire School's Championships were by boarders at Stonyhurst College. Senior boys Debo Ademuyewu who won the 100m and 200m, long jumper Mwai Kumwende, and triple jumper Nguib Yusufu are Nigerians

  • Sutton athletes show versatility

    THE senior girls and ladies of St Helens Sutton AC took part in the most recent round of the Northern Women's League held on the track at Edge Hill College, Ormskirk. There was nearly a full turn-out of under-15 year girls with them all tackling either

  • Robinson continues hot streak

    RAINFORD skipper Andrew Robinson's hot-streak continued on Saturday and with it the performance of his side as they combined to brush aside an under-performing Eccleston outfit in a match sponsored by Winstanley's Off-Licence. The visitors arrived amid

  • Homing News

    TAKING the honours again this week are M. R. A .D. Lofts who won both the Thatto Heath HS and Rainhill HS races from Portland. Haydock RPC racing from Plymouth 16/6 1. A, Greenall 1087.992 2. Naylor Bros 1082.067 3. A. Greenall 1054.605 4. T. Hazelden

  • Spirited Yick go down

    HAYDOCK 1st XI entertained Skelmersdale on Saturday and despite some spirited play went down to a four wicket defeat. After being asked to bat Haydock soon found themselves in trouble with the loss of two early wickets. A sense of stability was established

  • Battle for top prize continues

    FIRST and second round matches in The £7,000 Hamlet Bowling Championship at the Carr Mill Hotel continue this week with play on Sunday and Monday, June 24 and 25. Fixtures Sunday, June 24 (1pm start): S. Frith (Weaverham) v G. Marsh (St Helens), P. Fielding

  • Jones throws down the gauntlet

    REIGNING Star Darts champion Steve Jones threw down the gauntlet to pretenders to his crown with a blistering display of arrows in his opening round tie at Chapel End Labour Club, Billinge. He took the first leg of his game with Mark Anthony Owen with

  • Council offers free rails

    FREE banister rails are available for people across the borough who have mobility problems. St Helens Council's Community Safety team, working in partnership with local business Care & Repair, is fitting additonal banisters to staircases to aid mobility

  • Invite to tuck in

    AGE Concern St Helens are staging a 'Super Summer Bar-B-Q' at the Mansion House, Victoria Park on Friday, June 29 from 7 to 10pm. The event is being supported by the Saints and mascot, St Bernard will be present, along with the club's three major trophies

  • 'Noisy' bottle bank closed

    ENVIRONMENT friendly residents in Rainford are miffed because they no longer have a bottle bank in the area. In recent months a bottle bank had been stationed in the village allowing people to dispose of their empties. But people living near to the bank

  • Cadets look to take off

    CALLING all ex-RAF men and women! Due to an influx of new recruits, 969 (St Helens) Air Cadets are in need of more cadet Instructors. Any ex-RAF servicemen or women with a couple of hours a week spare and who have a particular skill they would be willing

  • Raising funds for expedition

    SIXTH formers from Rainford High Technology College are organising fund-raising events for an expedition to South East Asia. The students have set their sights on raising cash to travel to Malaysia in summer 2002 on a trip organised by World Travel Expedition

  • Club stumps sale rumour

    THE chairman of Radcliffe Cricket Club has dismissed speculation that the Racecourse ground is to be sold. However, an extraordinary general meeting is to be held on Monday (June 25) to discuss the long-term interests of the 109-year-old club. A letter