A MAN who attacked a traffic policeman when he tried to arrest him after a high speed road chase has been jailed for 20 months. Burnley Crown Court heard how PC Charles Wright' s children were traumatised by seeing their father's injuries, the officer
GAS blast! That's a Manchester-based energy watchdog which has accused British Gas of "greed." Energywatch North West has slammed the company after a survey disclosed 2.7 million British Gas users are set to leave after its decision to increase prices
THIS year's Commonwealth Games will allow far-sighted companies to get a run for their money. To pave the way for national and international networking, a Commonwealth Games Business Club has been launched. The club, initiated by the Commonwealth Economic
WHEN Kate Alexander wanted to return to work after raising a family, the finger pointed firmly towards a career as a nail technician. But you've got to hand it to the enterprising businesswoman, whose marketing skills helped shape a new career within
ROBBIE BLAKE has completed his £1million move from Bradford, equalling the Turf Moor club's transfer record. He passed a stringent medical at Turf Moor yesterday afternoon and officially signed for the Clarets on Friday morning. The £1million move, with
ROBBIE BLAKE passed a stringent medical at Turf Moor yesterday afternoon and officially signed for the Clarets this morning. The £1million move, with an additional £250,000 if the Clarets go up during Blake's contract, ends manager Stan Ternent's patient
FARINGTON art group are meeting on Thursday, January 31, from 7.30pm at St Paul's CofE school, Croston Road, Farington, Leyland. The theme of the meeting will be 'Landscape -- snow scenes.' THE next event on Pretson's Feast of Jazz calendar is a show
WYRE Borough Council's tourism team will be attending national and international tourism shows to put the borough back on the maps as a tourist destination. The team will be joining forces with other local authorities and private sector businesses to
BLACKPOOL Winter Gardens is continuing with its facelift in readiness for the 2002 conference and show season. The exhibition, conference and theatre complex has already been subject to extensive renovations including last year's up-date of the Stage
SKATEBOARDERS in Poulton were wheel-y flipped out this week with the opening of their own skate park. Last September a team of 25 young people approached Lancashire Youth and Community Service to ask how they could develop somewhere to practise their
BLACKPOOL residents have been meeting to decide who will chair their new area forums. Members of the public in Layton, Revoe and Marton areas attended their second area forum recently to elect a chairman and hear feedback from Blackpool Borough Council
I REFER to the contribution "Parasiting the innocent driver" (Your Letters, Jan 15) from Fiat Lux and wish to respond to the writer's inaccurate comments regarding speed cameras. The council, in conjunction with the police and other organisations, is
AN assault victim turned to hard drugs to cope with his deteriorating mental health. However, an inquest at Bury heard how Paul Thomas Burrows took a cocktail of prescription drugs and heroin which caused his death in September last year. The hearing
FOUR hundred houses, 1,000 jobs, a cricket ground, nine-hole golf course and recreation centre. These are some of the suggested target ideas for the defunct East Lancs Paper Mill, which could be considered by site owners St Regis Paper Company. Plans
ROVERS enter the Lions Den tomorrow but Graeme Souness insists his players won't be intimidated as they look for more Cup glory. Blackburn face First Division promotion hopefuls Millwall in the fourth round of the FA Cup with the elation of clinching
LYTHAM put in a good performance against a strong Rotherham side and started well with lots of possession. Dave Robbins was a constant threat in his role up front. Lytham have now lost Ben King -- who has flown back to Australia -- and Paul Hans -- who
BURY player-boss Andy Preece this week fired himself into contention for a starting berth - at his home town club Blackpool writes Phil Thorp The boss scored two goals in the reserves midweek 2-1 Avon Assurance Cup tie at Lincoln City and should he recall
THE supporters' group for Bold Venture Park enjoyed a well attended meeting and the group is now concentrating on ways to improve the maintenance of the park. The group was set up in October last year to try to deter gangs of youths from drinking in the
RESIDENTS on Darwen's Birch Hall Estate are celebrating after hearing that £100,000 has been allocated to the area for traffic-calming measures. The area has been beset by traffic problems over the years. A public meeting attended by 40 was held in November
A MAN who had battled alcohol addiction since the age of 15 hanged himself after returning to binge drinking following 12 months on the wagon. An inquest heard that Christopher Taylor, 33, was found by his partner Elizabeth Anderson, hanging by a silk
AN area's new bobby on the beat is holding two police surgeries to get to know residents. PC Clare Foster, the community beat officer for Bacup, plans to hold the events regularly to address any concerns about policing and so she can get to grips with
ROSSENDALE shoe firm Winfields has hailed the success of sponsorship deals to help Lancashire Police fight crime. The discount store in Haslingden sponsors some of the constabulary's motorway patrol cars, which now bear the company logo . The deal comes
HE may be used to the pressure-cooker environment in the kitchen of a busy restaurant. And he may have featured in live television broadcasts where anything can - and does - go wrong. But nothing could quite prepare top chef Andrew Nutter for a celebrity
I WOULD like to say how pleased we are that planning permission has been granted this week and I would like to take this opportunity to thank The Citizen for raising the profile of the accommodation difficulties at Sherwood School and the many parents
ON DECEMBER 13 and 20, amid the hustle and bustle of Christmas shoppers, members of the Preston Seventh-Day Adventist Church sang Christmas carols in the St George's and Fishergate Shopping Centres, Preston, to help raise funds for the Preston Pathfinders
I WANTED to say how pleased we all were with the article in The Citizen (January 17) regarding our handyperson service. It strikes just the right note -- jolly, informative and pitched at the right level. We had been nervous about publishing the service
YET another hike in council tax is forecast for the coming year -- well what's new? However, it's strange how every year about this time the bad news leaks out. Indeed, soar or rocket are the favourite adjectives used by the media, so we brace ourselves
YET another hike in council tax is forecast for the coming year -- well what's new? However, it's strange how every year about this time the bad news leaks out. Indeed, soar or rocket are the favourite adjectives used by the media, so we brace ourselves
I HAVE read that South Ribble Borough Council roughly calculates that it is losing nearly £1million a year in benefit fraud (Citizen, Jan 3). What they are really saying is that they cannot believe that so many people are actually living off the abysmal
THE Milltown Brothers are set to make a sensational return to the live circuit next month, InsideOut can exclusively reveal. The band, who shot to fame in the early Nineties with hit singles Here I Stand and Which Way Should I Jump?, will play their first
IAN McMillan uses words in the same way an artist may wield a brush or a sculptor a chisel. Standing on stage silhouetted under a spotlight, he can hold an audience enthralled, fuelling the imaginations of young and old alike by taking them on a magical
LANCASHIRE Police Authority wants to see more people in jail -- but only as volunteers to join its independent custody visitors scheme. Those chosen will play a vital role in checking the welfare of people in police custody. An ideal candidate will be
BURNLEY-based tenor saxophonist Geoff Kelly brings his combo Sounds 18 to the Rhythm Station at Rawtenstall next Tuesday when lovers of big band jazz are in for a real treat. This East Lancashire outfit has been delighting fans for an astonishing 31 years
A BLACKPOOL taxi driver is calling for more council help to cash in on Euros. Hackney cab driver Les Wilson, of Mere Road, wants Blackpool Borough Council to give more guidance -- possibly through workshops -- to taxi drivers and small traders faced with
TROUBLESOME teenagers are facing a booze ban in Anchorsholme's parks in a bid to stop rowdy and threatening behaviour. At a meeting of Blackpool Borough Council last Wednesday (January 16) councillors unanimously supported a proposal by Anchorsholme Ward
A POPULAR green space near Norbreck could be built on after Blackpool councillors voted to keep the site earmarked for new offices. At a meeting of Blackpool Borough Council on Wednesday, January 16, members threw out a bid by Coun Peter Callow to have
CHEAP drink deals at Blackpool nightclubs are contributing to town centre violence and under-age drinking, according to police. Deals such as all inclusive, double your money or even triple your money nights, held weekly at some nightclubs in town, could
A MEETING was called in Poulton this week after traders voiced concern about the trail of vandalism and damage left on their shop doorsteps by late night revellers in the town centre. The latest spate of damage occurred at the weekend and involved a whole
RAIL passengers faced a second day of frustrating strikes today after commuters spent much of yesterday struggling to get to and from work. Arriva Trains Northern suspended its normal timetable again as conductors in the RMT Union continued to strike
A BUS company is speeding ahead of the opposition to honour royalty by claiming to have launched Britain's first Golden Jubilee double-decker. Blackburn Transport raised £2,500 in sponsorship back in June to pay for one of their buses to be sprayed gold
A FORMER occupational therapist who suffered severe injuries in an IRA bombing has made a national appeal to other disabled people: "Liberate yourself and learn to fly". Sue Hanisch lost part of her right leg in the London Victoria Station outrage in
POLICE today defended their actions during Blackburn Rovers' Worthington Cup semi-final victory and denied they had used excessive force. Sheffield Wednesday fans have lodged complaints with the police and claim they were beaten as officers in full riot
NELSON boss John Bailey breathed a sigh of relief after his side chalked up only their second NWCL Division Two win in 14 games. A 1-0 win over bottom club Castleton is something the Blues need to build on when they welcome league new boys Norton United
DENIS Underwood has gone for experience in a bid to move Great Harwood out of the relegation fight in NWCL Division One. He has signed former Morecambe, Lancaster and Clitheroe midfielder Dave Sharples who will go straight into the action for tomorrow's
ROSSENDALE UNITED have released the former Leigh RMI striker Troy Hayder. Dale manager Jim McCluksie accused the young forward of not working hard enough and has signed a loan replacement in the Vauxhall Motors striker John Stanhope. "I have had a good
ST JOHN Ambulance in Lancashire would like to express its sincere gratitude for The Citizen's support over the past year. Publication of the news releases we submitted has been invaluable in recognizing the commitment and achievements of our volunteers
WHILE Blackpool Council is eagerly awaiting a decision of the impending £15 million grant to get it out of the hole it has dug itself into, if this money materialises will we, like all the other monies that have come into the Town Hall, see it squandered
AS a local animal rights campaigner who does not hide behind anonymity, I challenge Tony Williams of Blackpool Zoo to name the group he claims are responsible for the hoax anthrax scare. It is obvious that the police have been careful not to mention animal
WHAT an indictment of New Labour is Rachel Sills' report "Poor, Poor, Blackpool," (Citizen January 17). The 1991 report, "Housing, Homelessness and Health in Blackpool." had Dr A G Irving, Director of Health for Blackpool at the time, telling of the appalling
AS a campaigner for animal rights I would like to reply to the article on the "Anthrax hoax" at Blackpool Zoo, about which I am deeply offended. I continue to be amazed by the utter nonsense that Blackpool Zoo is so fond of dishing out. Why on earth they
DAVID Lucas is set to be missing from action for several weeks after collecting a strain in training. He pulled a muscle at the top of his heap as he jumped for a high ball. Tepi Moilanen was forced to return to the nets at the weekend despite having
WELL they didn't do us any favours did they? Once again Gillingham proved too strong for PNE. What we couldn't understand though was why Gregan was left on the bench. Surely a fit Sean Gregan should have played from the start, especially against Gillingham
WHILE Orange, Hyndburn Council and councillors have praised the mast for being well disguised, people who live near it are furious. They say the tree-mast sticks out 'like a sore thumb' -- it doesn't sway in the wind, is an evergreen in an area of deciduous
A RED Ford Escort was being driven madly around the estate off Hazel Avenue, Bury, Wednesday and Thursday night, Jan 9-10. It started at 11.30pm until 5.30am. It was frightening to lie in bed and listen to the revving engine. Did anyone see anything?
I WRITE in response to your anonymous correspondent "Fiat Lux" (Your Letters, Jan 15) who gets the prize for complacency for thinking that speeding is not really a problem. Any road user can get it wrong, but excessive speed turns those errors into fatal
BRIAN Attree (Your Letters, Dec 21) suggests that people who are dissatisfied with the way that Bury Council deals with them, should contact the Local Government Ombudsman. I have some advice, born of bitter experience: don't bother! The person who holds
I SEE that our local councillors are shedding their usual crocodile tears over the closure of the East Lancs PM. "How sad," they lament, "a real blow to the town. But don't forget we can build hundreds of new houses there which will provide a large amount
A FRIGHTENED ten-year-old boy was left stranded at a bus stop on a busy main road for being 10p short for his fare. Now his furious father is demanding answers after the youngster was forced to run home and collect some more money, making him late for
THE NEXT production by Leyland's St Ambrose Players is Curtain Up on Murder, running from Wednesday, February 13 to Saturday, February 16. Tickets for the play, at St Ambrose Church Hall, Moss Lane, are £4 for adults, and £3 for children, from Francis
A SERIES of mask-making workshops in Preston are being held by the African Caribbean People's Art Project over the next two weeks. The project is being run to support the work of black artists in the area. Any black artists over 18 are welcome to join
THE South Ribble museum and exhibition centre is holding a new exhibition, Lancashire Monochrome, from Tuesday, January 29 to Saturday, February 23. For further information contact the museum, at the Old Grammar School, Church Road, Leyland, on 422041
FOOTBALL fans are in for a treat with a new production by a Preston theatre company. The Broughton Club Players drama group are staging 'The Love Match', a comedy with a difference, this week. Set in the North of England during the 1950s, The Love Match
OUTSTANDING Fylde Coast teachers could win special awards -- and nominations are being sought from residents, schools and teachers. Organisers of this year's Education Resources Awards are seeking nominations for the awards, which will be presented at
A GROUP of Norbreck pupils made a splash by winning a swimming gala this month.. The 13 youngsters from years Five and Six at Norbreck Primary School, Norbreck Road, won the Blackpool Inter-Schools Swimming trophy at a gala held at Moor Park Pool, Bispham
IAN McMillan uses words in the same way an artist may wield a brush or a sculptor a chisel. Standing on stage silhouetted under a spotlight, he can hold an audience enthralled, fuelling the imaginations of young and old alike by taking them on a magical
I'M TREADING the stairs of my home stealthily every night at the moment, straining my ears for any untowards sounds. The Long Suffering Marjorie gets home long before me and it is her I'm listening out for. I'm listening for sickly groans emanating from
STRIKER Jamie Taylor returns from suspension for Ramsbottom United's trip to Highbury tomorrow. No, the Rams aren't filling in for Liverpool in the FA Cup, they are taking on Fleetwood Freeport in the North West Counties Division One at their ground,
THE latest multi-million pound bid for Bury Football Club has been officially recognised by the High Court. As exclusively reported in the Bury Times a Leeds-based consortium lodged three cheques totalling £15 million with the High Court as a show of
THE Singapore Sling could be all set to throw Radcliffe Borough a lifeline as they seek to get back on track in their bid for UniBond League Premier Division status. Four games without a win, three of them defeats have put a bit of a dampener on things
HOGHTON Players are presenting Dick Whittington and his Cat in Hoghton Village Hall tonight and tomorrow and next Friday and Saturday, February 1 and 2. Evening productions start at 7.30pm and Saturday matinees will be presented at 2.15pm. The pantomime
MYSTERIOUS happenings are taking place tonight in the shadowy recesses of Farndale Castle -- otherwise known as Darwen Library Theatre. Darwen Library Players have been busy all week with final rehearsals for their production of The Haunted Through Lounge
COUNTY Councillor Ruth Henig, Lancashire County Council's cabinet member for Cross Cutting Issues, has been re-appointed by the Government to the European Committee of the Regions for a four-year term of office. A distinguished academic, she has been
THEATRE-goers can look forward to a variety of performances being staged at Darwen Library Theatre in January and February. Darwen Library Players are taking to the stage tomorrow with a comedy called The Haunted Through Lounge and Recessed Dining Nook
THE everyday problems of theatrical "luvvies" are brought sharply into focus as Burnley Garrick Club presents Kindly Leave The Stage tonight and tomorrow at Burnley Mechanics. The farce, by John Chapman, is a play within a play and presents two couples
MORE than the widow will be merry at Blackburn Gilbert and Sullivan Society's next production at the Civic Theatre in Oswaldtwistle, especially on gala night. For short break for two to Paris will be on offer in a free draw during the gala evening on
WILL dog owners in Little Harwood, Blackburn, please clean up their pets' mess? I am sick of cleaning it off my husband's wheelchair and carpets. S SALTER (Mrs), Coniston Road, Little Harwood, Blackburn.
WHILE not absolving any past or present administration from neglect of the rail industry, it is not forgotten or forgiven that Margaret Thatcher was anti-rail to almost a point of paranoia. Convinced that any worthy Tory would be a car owner anyway, she
THE people complaining about Blackburn with Darwen not doing a good job gritting the roads don't know what they are talking about. The weekend the weather was bad -- December 29 and 30 -- the gritters were out non-stop. I should know because I was one
A POLISH Army veteran suffered severe head injuries when her handbag was snatched in a drive-by attack. The woman, who is in her 70s, was injured in Ainsworth Road, Radcliffe, shortly before noon on Wednesday (Jan 23). According to initial reports, a
PUPILS from five local schools have had their science projects exhibited. St Andrew's CE Primary School in Radcliffe, Whitefield Community Primary School, Elms Bank Community High School, Tottington High School and the Pupil Learning Centre had displays
NEW hands have taken up the reins at Bolton and Bury Riding Club. After eight years John and Audrey Collier have stood down for health reasons. Now businessman Gary McClung and his wife Sandra, together with veterinary surgeons Gus and Rosie MacKenzie
A NEW anti-bullying policy is to be introduced in Bury. Education bosses hope that it will enable a consistent approach to be taken by the borough's schools when tackling the bullying problem. Currently, individual schools already have their own policy
A FATHER and son from Bury had to be rescued after getting lost in the Lake District. The 48-year-old and his teenage son were caught in rain and gales and became disorientated during a walking trip in the Margale area of Haweswater. The alarm was raised
THREE pubs in the south of the borough were visited after time by thieves during the early hours of Saturday (Jan 19). Cash was stolen from two of the inns, while all three suffered damage. The first break-in happened between 1am and 10.30am at the Colliers
RADCLIFFE Cricket Club will finally unveil full plans for its proposed relocation at a public exhibition on Sunday (Jan 27). On display will be designs for the new £500,000 multi-sports centre it wants to build at Cams Lane running track as well as plans
BUDDING linguists who made their love of languages understood received warm words of praise for their efforts. Almost 130 adult learners completed German, Spanish, Greek, French, Italian, Portuguese and Urdu courses with Bury's lifelong learning service
WORSENING relations between India and Pakistan over the long-standing Kashmir dispute came under the spotlight at a special Eid celebration party. Around 170 guests, drawn from the borough's ethnic community, attended the event at the Jinnah Day Care
OWNERS of high powered and luxury cars are being warned to be on their guard against carjackers. The warning from Bury Police follows a spate of raids throughout the borough where motorists have been forced to hand over their vehicles. Prestwich and Whitefield
THEY are hardly on a wing and a prayer, but both Rovers and the Lions will be praying their wingers are on top of their game. Republic of Ireland international Damien Duff has hit top form and every defence Rovers have faced recently knows he is a hard
BLACKBURN ROVERS' Academy starlets are in action in the AXA FA Youth Cup against Swindon Town at Ewood Park tomorrow. And the minnows of the Swindon Centre of Excellence are likely to be gunning for the Academy big boys of Rovers. "It is the equivalent
A PRESTON woman has scooped a top engineering award at a glitzy ceremony in London. Gillian Beamish, 23, of Britannia Drive, Ashton, won a special merit in the Young Woman Engineer of the Year category for her work as an electrical engineer at BAE Systems
SHE lived her life for others and was perhaps one of the most proud Prestonians that ever lived. That was one of the emotive tributes paid to former Preston Mayor Mary Rawcliffe who died of cancer earlier this month aged 84. More than 200 people attended
THE UNIVERSITY of Central Lancashire is preparing up to commemorate National Holocaust Day. The second of the annual commemorative days, on Sunday, January 27, will give people the chance to remember the horrors of the Second World War. And to mark the
COUNCILLORS today slammed the Government for under-funding, as Lancashire council tax rates look set to hit 7.96 per cent. A meeting of Lancashire County Council's cabinet was told that rather than the 5.8 per cent predicted in the agenda papers released
RESIDENTS will get an opportunity to put members of the Burnley Task Force under the spotlight at an extraordinary meeting to be held next week. The first part of the special meeting of Burnley Borough Council will offer people the chance to quiz members
JOHN Sumner was able to tell the inquest into his own death about the working conditions at Padiham Power Station that ultimately led to his demise. The former maintenance foreman made a statement before his death in which he said he understood he might
CHRISTIAN and Muslim leaders in Burnley today unveiled a united front in a bid to promote an understanding between the two faiths in the wake of rioting in the town. Representatives of both faiths decided that more should be done to strengthen relationships
RESIDENTS in Brierfield who attended a public meeting to discuss improvements to the town centre were told they would begin to see work taking place within the next two weeks. A group of around 30 residents gathered in Brierfield Youth and Community Centre
POLICE in Nelson have warned motorists to keep their cars locked and valuables out of sight after an increase in car crime. DC Peter Greenwood said: "There has been quite a lot of car crime recently and we want to make people aware that they need to make
PRESTON Hockey Club are aiming to set an amazing unbeaten record in the league this season after recording their twelfth victory so far on Saturday. Their confidence in achieving this will have been boosted after they breached the Plas Coch defence, boasting
BAMBER Bridge FC have been thrown into turmoil following the shock resignation of manager Jimmy Willis. Willis quit the post less than two months after replacing Tony Greenwood, who was sacked as boss of the cash-strapped Unibond Premier League outfit
THE social club at Manchester Road Park in Bury was broken into again on the weekend of Jan 12-13. A dishwasher, microwave and water heater were removed. Did anyone see anything? MRS P. HIGHTON
DARWEN travel to Blackpool Mechanics in NWCL Division Two tomorrow. Darwen manager Steve Wilkes has a number of players out including himself, Andy Walsh, Mark Heys and Scott Derbyshire. New signing Lee Slater - who last week returned to the club for
INACTIVITY usually spells trouble for most teams but for the NWCL Division Two leaders Stand Athletic it has proved a Godsend. Two postponements, last weekend and on Tuesday, have seen Stand kicking their heels but manager Nick Davis is not too perturbed
THREE Preston playgroups are to be axed as social services chiefs look to modernise their support for young children. Nurseries at St Jude's in St George's Road, Deepdale, Brookfield in Crowsdale Avenue, Ribbleton, and St Joseph's in Skeffington Road,
A KIND winner who scooped £100 of gift vouchers has handed the lot to a Preston homeless shelter. George Pritchard, of South Meadow Lane, Preston, was entered into a prize draw when he filled in a questionnaire last year. To his surprise he scooped £100
A SMALL family butcher's shop in Oswaldtwistle beat off the competition to become the first in Britain to win a top quality award. Libberton's Butchers passed stringent tests to get the International Quality ISO 9000.
A STUNNED estate agent arrived at work to discover the front of his shop had been destroyed by an out-of-control stolen van. And a window cleaner was speechless when he arrived at the chartered surveyors estate agents in Railway Road, Darwen, to find
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Children's Nature Club meeting, Pepper Hill Barn Study Centre, Wycoller, 10.30am. Medieval Banquet, Park Hall Hotel, Charnock Richard, Chorley, 7.30pm. Geoff Lee, vocalist
FOR one night only four of the world's most famous and best-loved musicians are teaming up to play a special concert in Preston. But Rockin' on Heaven's Door is a show with a difference and stars four of the most talented tribute artists in the world.
THE Longton Players have captured infamous highway man Dick Turpin for a brand new production. The new pantomime is the Longton Players' 30th annual pantomime. Set in rural northern England, the colourful play tells the tale of loveable rogue Turpin and
THE grim warning being sounded in East Lancashire today is that a child may die from measles because too few are being vaccinated. Vaccination rates for children in the area have dropped to a dangerously low 84 per cent. That's against the Government's
HOUSEHOLDERS in East Lancashire will surely gasp today at the forecast that the county's council tax is set to rocket by almost eight per cent. For even the previous prediction of a 5.8 per cent increase -- put forward in County Hall agenda papers only
BURY Grammar School pupil Natalie Woolley has been selected for the England Under-17 netball squad for the FENA European championship in Belfast. Sixteen years old Natalie plays club netball for YWCA Bury and represents Lancashire at both Under-16 regional
A TEENAGE boy's pierced nipple has led to a health and safety clampdown at the Ramsbottom Rascals swimming club. Coaches have pledged to enforce rules which will mean the 15 year old having to cover his body jewellery with a plaster when training or competing
SWINTON LIONS won't need motivating for Sunday's Rugby League Challenge Cup tie against Skirlaugh -- the opposition have already done it for them. The Lions haven't managed to win a match so far this season, suffering four straight defeats in the league
Sedgley Park...34pts Stourbridge...24pts: A CLEAR, but very windy day looked to be perfect for rugby, but the wind was blustery -- from quiet to gale force in a moment -- and this led to many passing errors and some unusual touch kicks. However, it didn't
YOUR Letter of the Week prize rightly went to Ms C Smith, whose tale (Letters, January 18) really made me laugh out loud. I thank her for sharing it with us. On a more serious note, are hand signals not part of the driving test anymore? M HARRISON (Mrs
COUNCILLOR Ashley Whalley should be sacked. His attitude towards the recent chaos and ineptitude on the Darwen Street and Bolton Road roadworks in Blackburn and the minimal gritting carried out on our roads during the snow and ice is a disgrace. Recently
EVERY school has its own individual circumstances, but the current malaise affecting Moorhead High, in Accrington, is reflected in every town in England and can be directly attributed to the Kenneth Baker Reform Acts of just over a decade ago. Tory policy
A MALE pedestrian died after a bus careered into a shop in Tyldesley this morning. The single-decker bus is believed to have collided with a wall before crashing through the front of an empty shop in Elliott Street. The Blue Bus vehicle mounted the pavement
LOVE, betrayal and murder. Revel in them all in Tosca and Nabucco, two spectacular operas coming to Blackpool's Grand Theatre next month. Both operas -- which are traditionally staged productions -- will be performed by the 170-strong critically acclaimed
DON'T PANIC Mr Mainwaring! Private Pike (aka Ian Lavender) may be on The Ghost Train at Blackpool Grand Theatre this week but it's all in fun. And he'll be well looked after by his Dad's Army pal Godfrey -- for the actor Arnold Ridley is also the author
BILL Smith is feeling chirpy after being elected president of a local budgerigar society. Mr Smith (71) of Kilner Close, Unsworth, has more than 70 birds in the aviary in his back garden and has taken over the presidential role at Rochdale and District
A HUGE model of the planned £6million new market and museum complex for Radcliffe will go on show this Saturday (Jan 26th). Bury Art Gallery and Museum will also be displaying plans of the ambitious development as part of a three week exhibition. Designed
POLICE are trying to trace a man who could hold the key to snaring the Darwen rapist. The man was captured on CCTV running away from Sandringham Road - where the rape took place - five minutes after the attack. Officers believe he could hold vital clues
A LETHAL mix of painkillers and alcohol killed father-of-one Paul Walsh. The 51-year-old Ainsworth man's body was discovered on a park bench in Kay Gardens on September 7 last year. Bury student Andrew Fitzsimmons was walking through the town centre on
A CHILD may die from measles in East Lancashire if there is an epidemic because too few are being vaccinated, parents have been warned. Dr Stephen Morton, director of public health for East Lancashire Health Authority, made his prediction after vaccination
A PILOT scheme has been launched in Bury to avert a hospital beds crisis. During the winter, there is often a shortage of beds because many are taken up by older people who are recovering from hospital treatment. The new scheme, Step Down, enables older
YOUNG pups are being sought to take part in the Commonwealth Games. Greater Manchester Police has launched an urgent appeal to bolster its dog handlers sections throughout the region by recruiting new hounds. The force is looking for male German Shepherd
A POLICE officer suffered a broken finger and a football fan was arrested following Bury's home clash with Tranmere Rovers on Saturday (Jan 19). A large group of visiting fans was being escorted along Knowsley Street by police when fighting broke out.
DOCTORS were unable to save a mother-of-three after she swallowed 120 tablets, an inquest heard. Alison Jayne Warrington, from Cross Street, Radcliffe confessed to taking a huge dose of prescribed drugs when she rang the Samaritans. And in a mobile phone
LEIGH RMI head into tomorrow's Conference clash at Northwich with the motto 'If it's not broken, don't mend it'. The Railwaymen are in peak form at present having successfully brushed aside Telford United and Emley on their last two outings and manager
MILLWALL keeper Tony Warner will miss tomorrow's game against Blackburn Rovers after he was handed a one match ban -- for his argument with a ball boy! Warner received his ban during a hearing at the Football Association earlier this week. The ban takes
ROVERS can expect a hostile reception when they enter the Lions den in their FA Cup fourth round clash at Millwall. But one man who is hoping he might turn the home crowd from jeers to cheers is former Millwall ace Lucas Neill who is returning to the
A SCHOOL in one of Preston's most deprived areas is to open up its playground at night in an effort to keep local children off the streets. St Matthew's CofE Primary School, New Hall Lane, Ribleton, was considered the perfect location for a new after-school
A DISABLED Preston man, who has raised the equivalent of nearly £8 each day for the last seven years for charity, has been awarded a special accolade for his dedication. Over the years Ray Kirkham, of Newlyn Place, Ingol, has amassed £20,000 for Preston's
IF you fancy learning a trick or two in a new job then a Preston illusionist has just the thing. Sarah Collins, of Brydeck Avenue, Penwortham, has been a professional illusionist for three years, but will need a magical new assistant this summer when
A GROUP of local firefighters are teaming up to launch a life-saving operation in far-flung South America. The volunteer team are part of Operation Florian, a country-wide group of firefighters who give up their free time to help train fire crews in impoverished
HEALTH chiefs have warned that the epidemic sweeping through schools and colleges in Preston and South Ribble could be 'winter vomiting disease'. Dr John Cheesbrough, consultant microbiologist in charge of infection control for the Chorley and South Ribble
HEALTH workers fear patients could lose out if plans to abolish Preston and South Ribble's health watchdogs get the go ahead. Under the Government's national health policy, Community Health Councils (CHC) face the axe despite a Commons revolt by Labour
BURNLEY's deputy mayor has been appointed to a national panel to help the government improve deprived neighbourhoods. Coun Rafique Malik will join 19 other members of the Community Forum. The panel met for the first time on Wednesday at the Department
A DRINK driver caught outside his home had just collected his wife from hospital after she took an overdose. Burnley Magistrates heard how Colin Coward, 40, was arrested but police officers then had to call an ambulance when his wife took more pills.
PEOPLE with empty properties or a second home in Pendle could face paying between £350 to £1,000 more council tax if the council is allowed to scrap its 50 per cent reduction. Pendle Council has supported government proposals which would allow local authorities
HOPPERS slumped to another heavy away defeat leaving them deep in relegation trouble. A third minute penalty gave the Yorkshire side the lead but their next attack saw Hoppers take a surprise lead. When a Wharfedale handling movement broke down, Hoppers
A LOOK at the latest single and album releases. Singles: HELL IS FOR HEROES: You Drove Me To It (Wishakismo) THIS new band were born after splinter members of Symposium, joined their like minded mates, creating a thrash metal group to be proud of. Better
LEE CHAMBERS has re-signed for Padiham - but won't be available for another month because of an ankle injury. As expected, Chambers left UniBond First Division side Kendal - the club who 'poached' him from Padiham just months ago - to return to the North
MEMBERS of the public will be given advice on protecting their property during a two-week crime prevention campaign at Colne Market Hall. It will kick off on Monday led by new community beat officer, PC Phil Davies. A display providing the public with
THE leader of Preston Borough Council has been given a second chance to stand at the next elections after being deselected in his own ward just weeks ago. Due to a series of boundary changes affecting the town's political wards, Fishwick ward has been
A WOMAN described in court as a "career shoplifter" was caught stealing cosmetics worth £75 from Superdrug in Accrington. Blackburn magistrates heard that Audrey Thomas had a total of 219 previous offences on her record, 113 of them for theft. But the
AN urgent meeting has been called after it was revealed two major projects are to begin in Accrington at the same time. Gas company Transco is set to move into the town centre as part of a multi-million pound package to improve the gas supply system in
ACCRINGTON businesses were today bracing themselves for a traders' nightmare after it was revealed that two major development projects are due to begin at the same time. Gas company Transco is set to dig up part of Accrington town centre next month as
MOVE over Nicole Kidman -- make way for the ex-Moulin Rouge dancer now inspiring theatre students to stardom! Blackpool-born drama teacher Danell Dearden has been hailed "an inspiration" by 17-year-old Fylde twins Laura and Rebekah Mansfield, who along
THIS was the Scorpions' worst performance of the season. The small pitch didn't lend itself to open rugby but it was the Scorpions' poor ball control which nearly led to their downfall. In the first half they were struggling to complete their sets of
A LOCAL woman is climbing the career ladder. Louise Turner, who lives in Ramsbottom, has been promoted to associate partner within Lopian Wagner Solicitors' personal injury department. She qualified as a solicitor in 1998 and specialises in housing disrepair
LOCAL business leaders are urging the Government not to have its head in the clouds over the future of air travel. Bolton and Bury Chamber has joined together with its British Chamber colleagues, air users, the travel industry and trade unions to launch
CRIME has emerged as a major concern for Bury businesses. That's according to Bolton and Bury Chamber, which has just surveyed its members in an effort to count the true cost of business crime. The research was part of a wider survey by the British Chambers
FYLDE solicitor Clive Marquis-Carr has been been elected President of the Lidunians Association, the society for former students and staff of King Edward VII and Queen Mary School, Lytham. Mr Marquis-Carr, who is a former pupil of the school, said he
FYLDE residents are being invited to inject their ideas on future health care at a special seminar. Along with GPs, nurses and other health professionals, local people are invited to an evening seminar and workshop on January 30 at the Clifton Arms Hotel
FORMER Clarets favourite David Eyres has been the victim of an FA Cup upset at Cheltenham's Whaddon Road but he is backing Burnley to triumph on Sunday. Eyres was in the Oldham side that lost to the Robins in the third round and set up the fourth round
LOWERHOUSE have signed one of the most promising young cricketers in South Africa as their new professional. The Transco Lancashire League club are eagerly anticipating the arrival of 20-year-old prospect Jaques Rudolph, who has recently broken into the
BURNLEY'S new pro Pierre Joubert is the man to continue the good work started last season by fellow countryman Dale Benkenstein. The Turf Moor club finished a lofty fourth in the Transco Lancashire League last season after finishing bottom the previous
IT was a great night at Ewood on Tuesday as we secured our place in the Worthington Cup final and the only disappointment was that I was not fit enough to be involved. Now my target has to be to get fit and ready for selection in time for the final against
THE NEXT production by Leyland's St Ambrose Players is Curtain Up on Murder, running from Wednesday, February 13 to Saturday, February 16. Tickets for the play, at St Ambrose Church Hall, Moss Lane, are £4 for adults, and £3 for children, from Francis
BLACKPOOL'S hotels and guest houses are hoping to shoot to the stars with a little help from a local inspection scheme. H.O.A.S.T is a series of quality measures that have been introduced to ensure hotels and guest houses meet a required level of Hospitality
COO, fancy that! Pigeon fanciers from all over Britain flocked together in Blackpool at the weekend for the British Homing World Show. And the generous birdmen and women donated thousands of pounds to local charities. The show, in its 26th year, took
A MIDLANDS man is searching for lost branches of his family tree that may have blossomed in Blackpool. Peter Barber, 52, is a primary school teacher who has been working on his family history and discovered photographs taken in the 1920s and 1930s. Some
CONCERN is growing for a Bispham mother who failed to pick her daughter up from school. Angela Haywood, 36, of Birkdale Avenue, Bispham, left for work at 9am on Thursday, January 17. She failed to collect her daughter from school later that day and has
TWO Blackpool employees were honoured for their long service last week. The High Sheriff of Lancashire, Mrs Gloria Oates OBE, dropped in on Tony Taziker and Luigi Amatiello of Gledhill Water Storage to present them with engraved gold watches to mark 25
HEALTH visitors with the Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Community Health Trust are holding a health market for the over-60s and their carers. Around 24 stalls will exhibit on January 30 from 10am to 4pm at St Christopher's Church, Hawes Side Lane, providing
LANCASHIRE Crimestoppers has enjoyed a record-breaking year yet again with 172 people being arrested. Stolen property valued at almost £18,250 has also been recovered along with £72,400-worth of illegal drugs. In 2001 the anonymous phone line produced
FYLDE pensioners are facing a £10 fee for senior railcards from this week. The passes -- which were formerly provided free by Fylde Borough Council to all Fylde women aged 60 and over and men aged 65 without charge since last year -- allow pensioners
RESIDENTS have won their campaign to stop a Radcliffe pub getting a public entertainment licence. More than 60 neighbours of the Ainsworth Arms had objected, citing fighting outside the pub, drunken noise and bottles thrown into their gardens. Mr David
AGEISM is on the increase in Britain, according to a survey carried out by Age Concern. Results revealed that 70 per cent of people believe that age discrimination exists in this country. It included tales of how people over 50 found it difficult to get
MANCHESTER, Bolton and Bury Canal, closed nearly 70 years ago, is set to be restored. And the ambitious scheme is expected to give a huge boost to the economic regeneration of the area. North West Euro MP Chris Davies has revealed the news that the 15
ACTOR Peter Adamson's final exit was a sad last chapter in a success story which propelled him to national stardom. Adamson (72), who lived in Bury for more than 30 years, died a virtual recluse at a hospital in Lincoln where he had been treated for cancer
ROBBIE BLAKE has completed his £1million move from Bradford, equalling the Turf Moor club's transfer record. He passed a stringent medical at Turf Moor yesterday afternoon and officially signed for the Clarets on Friday morning. The £1million move, with
THE Milltown Brothers are set to make a sensational return to the live circuit next month, PULSE can exclusively reveal. The band, who shot to fame in the early Nineties with hit singles Here I Stand and Which Way Should I Jump?, will play their first
BLACK Rebel Motorcycle Club are a classic American rock band in every sense of the word. Next month the dark, psychedelic San-Francisco-based rockers join the NME Carling tour, and if you're planning to see them, grab the chance to see them while you
RHYTHM Skatepark in Gillibrands Mill, Darwen, is open as usual after an explosion blew off part of the roof of the complex. Police are waiting to question a man taken to hospital after the blast and a 29 year-old woman was arrested in connection with
POLICE are trying to trace a man who could hold the key to snaring the Darwen rapist. The man was captured on CCTV running away from Sandringham Road - where the rape took place - five minutes after the attack. Officers believe he could hold vital clues
A MAN accused of stealing £81,000 from his dead brother's estate claims it disappeared when he fell ill in Thailand, a court was told. And James Astley denied using the missing cash for business purposes. Astley, 60, said his brother and sister's share
TWO cyclists completed a 260-mile trek on a exercise bike to raise sponsorship now they plan to do it for real. John Allan, of Manchester Road, Accrington, and Matthew Parkes, of Selbourne Street, Blackburn, both employed by Rossendale Transport, hope
THE fate of Preston's bus station has been debated a lot recently and some have condemned it as a place frequented by potential muggers and assailants. Surely this is a problem in any urban area -- should we dig up Avenham Park and Moor Park because of
MR HUNT proclaimed 'Let's put the heart back in the town,' pointing out that 'once proud Preston is seen by many as run down, shabby and unpleasant' and 'leave the bus station alone, as there are far more pressing problems needing solutions' (Citizen
HAVING already enjoyed an award winning pizza from Santa's, it seems this part of Burnley is absolutely brimming with top class takeaways. Only a few hundred yards down the road is Spice Island, and from the minute you enter the helpful staff do their
THE female characters in the plays of Steven Berkoff never have it easy, but their lives are brought to life in the latest Library Theatre production. Berkoff's Women sees acclaimed actress Linda Marlowe tackle a collection of some of the most exciting
BLACK Rebel Motorcycle Club are a classic American rock band in every sense of the word. Next month the dark, psychedelic San-Francisco-based rockers join the NME Carling tour, and if you're planning to see them, grab the chance to see them while you
BLACKPOOL'S taxi drivers are a step nearer to getting funding for CCTV cameras in their cabs. At a meeting of the full Blackpool Borough Council last week councillors voted unanimously to look at ways of finding money for the cameras. A proposal was put
THE Citizen's campaign to help elderly Fylde folk combat bogus callers this week highlights a service offered to older people to increase security in their homes. The service, provided by charity Age Concern, gives information, advice and some grants
ROBBERS threatened shop assistants by brandishing kitchen knives at Healds Day and Night store, Kilnhouse Lane, St Annes, on January 13 at 10.40pm. The two thieves, who were also wielding what appeared to be a firearm in a carrier bag, forced the terrified
A MERESIDE hairdresser was left "devastated" after her business was destroyed by flooding this week-- believed to have been caused by mindless burglars. Debbie Gilmour, who owns Snipper Clips on Langdale Place, was shocked to discover her shop flooded
AN elderly deaf woman is recovering after a cruel thief sneaked into her home and stole a necklace given to her by her daughter who died of cancer. Edith Savage, who lives on the Broadfield estate in Leyland, says she was tricked into believing the 'smartly
SEVEN members of the same family have made a further appearance before Blackburn magistrates over two alleged incidents which resulted in people needing hospital treatment. In the first incident, in Audley, Yasser Ghalib was allegedly stabbed and in the
AN East Lancashire teachers' leader has slammed an inflation-busting 3.5 per cent pay rise for teachers. Blackburn-based Simon Jones, divisional secretary with the National Union of Teachers, said the increase was not enough to end the recruitment crisis
A 24-year-old Blackburn woman was drawn into a major, national benefit fraud involving forged giros. But Blackburn magistrates heard that Fiona Michelle Ward was no more than a 'stooge' for others far more involved in the wide-reaching organisation. Ward
A SEX attack victim has spoken of the moment when she heard a pervert walking up behind her, preparing to pounce. The Darwen woman -- whose identity must be protected -- said the man approached her in the multi-storey car park, in Blackburn town centre
PLANS to build a state-of-the-art office complex for the firm which has pledged to bring 500 new jobs to Blackburn have been unveiled. Cardiff-based Atlantic Property Services has submitted a planning application for the five- and six-storey building,
A CHILD may die from measles in East Lancashire if there is an epidemic because too few are being vaccinated, parents have been warned. Dr Stephen Morton, director of public health for East Lancashire Health Authority, made his prediction after vaccination
BRENT PETERS is turning to youth in a bid to turn his Bacup side from draw specialists to NWCL Division Two winners. Bacup have drawn ten matches this season and, although they have plenty of games in hand, are at the wrong end of the table. They make
CLITHEROE travel to Nantwich tomorrow hoping to pick up three vital points as they look to push back into the title race. The Blues have slipped down the league in recent weeks as St Helens have taken a hold of the NWCL first division lead. But boss Lee
FORMER racer Eskil Suter has signed a deal to develop the race engines for the Foggy Petronas Racing team and the associated road-going machine. Suter Racing Products, the Swiss native's company, have assumed responsibility for the ongoing manufacturing
ANNA Newell is on trial in Nottingham this weekend as she looks to get into the England netball squad. With the Commonwealth Games coming up in July, a Test series has been organised at the Manchester Evening News Arena in the next few months. There England
COLNE manager John Lister is hoping to give new signing Jonathan Irvine his debut at home to Squires Gate tomorrow. Lister said Irvine was the only member of the squad who was disappointed that last week's game at Daisy Hill was called off. "The pitch
RAMSBOTTOM manager Mike Kelly has hit back at suggestions that he is on his way out of the club. Former Rams player Chris Willcocks is being touted as a possible replacement if Kelly got the boot but Kelly slammed the suggestion. "Everybody wants my job
THIS morning's draw for the 2004 European Championships has set up the intriguing possibility of Blackburn team mates Tugay and David Dunn going head to head. Sven Goran Eriksson's England have been grouped with Turkey, Slovakia, Macedonia and Liechtenstein
I AM the local contact for the War Research Society, run mainly by retired and serving police officers and ex-servicemen as a charitable hobby. It was founded many years ago and supports a number of charities including the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal
MILWALL keeper Tony Warner who lost his rag with one of PNE's ballboys during September's game at Deepdale, has been handed a one-match ban by the FA following a disciplinary hearing. He was seen shoving North End trainee Michael Kewley towards the end
NO surprises here, but North End's trip to Manchester City on Sunday, February 10 is set to be all ticket. The televised game kicks off at 2.15pm. North End fans have been allocated 2,009 seats in the North Stand at Maine Road that are priced at £15 for
MOBILE communications company Orange has endured struggles to build masts across Europe. Indeed, the original planning application for a pylon-mast at Clough Bottom was rejected by Hyndburn Borough Council because it would spoil the appearance of the
WITH pictures of African plains on his living room walls and a dog named Zulu, local poet, Bob Allen's South African roots have certainly influenced his current life. Since his birth in Australia in 1927 Bob, who now lives in Clayton-le-Woods, near Leyland
ALARMED staff at a Blackpool benefits office are still working in potentially life-threatening conditions, says a union rep. Almost two years ago The Citizen highlighted safety fears at the Norcross Department of Work and Pensions building in Bispham
RADCLIFFE & Whitefield Lions Club wish to thank the landlords of several hotels in Radcliffe, Whitefield and Little Lever, their staff and customers, who supported our Christmas effort which raised several hundred pounds. This money, as always, will
I WOULD like to thank all the nursing homes and community centres, etc where we gave 65 charity shows during last year. It really doesn't seem possible. Altogether we have raised £2,000 for Bury Hospice and this year we would like to do even better. But
WATCHING the Bury Juniors under 10s football team one Saturday morning I was disgusted by the amount of dog muck that was all over the field at Lower Gigg Lane, Bury. Do the owners of these dogs have no consideration at all ? The majority of residents
A YOUNG woman was recently shot in the head by a mugger in the process of stealing her mobile 'phone. Thank goodness she survived. But were we not told by the Home Secretary that the removal of handguns from licensed members of gun clubs would see the
THE article in the Bury Times (Jan 11), headed "Every Second Counts", provided a perfect slogan for the campaign being organised as a result of a well-attended meeting at Bury Town Hall on Wednesday, Jan 9, organised by Bury Pensioners Association. The
AT the Radcliffe Area Board meeting on November 29, I asked if there was a covenant on Radcliffe Cricket Club's ground. A council officer said there wasn't and representatives from Radcliffe Cricket Club remained silent. After a lot of persistence it
FIVE primary schools could be closed as falling pupil numbers leave classrooms empty across the borough. Schools in Ramsbottom, Bury and Radcliffe are under threat, and could follow Brandlesholme primary school into extinction. Councillors are to consider
