A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Tae-Bo exercise class, Vincent Farrell Centre, Temple Street, Burnley, 6pm-7pm. "Dick Whittington," The Mechanics, Manchester Road, Burnley. Young people's confidential
RICHARD Foster won the 12th winter merit at Pennington Park on Sunday by beating Cliff Berry in the final 21-15. The consolation final was won by John McCaul who beat Dave Taberner 21-20.
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED will be looking to haul themselves off the bottom of the North West Counties League Division One table if their home game against Winsford beats the odds and goes ahead. The Rams will be without loan striker Glynn Barker, who has been
BRYAN Adams scored a hat-trick as Diamonds extended their lead at the top of the table. Hargreaves and Brindle Heath were involved in a thrilling match ending four apiece. Oddfellows under the management of Brian Brooke, are doing well after another hard
LATEST details U11 P W D L Pt B'town Jnr... 7 5 2 0 17 Avro Jnrs... 9 4 2 3 14 Swin Boys... 4 4 0 0 12 Mos Brook... 8 2 2 4 8 Rad Boro... 7 2 1 4 7 Be'field Utd... 9 1 1 7 1 U12 P W D L Pt Br'holme... 9 9 0 0 27 Avro Jnrs... 12 8 2 2 26 W'bank Jnrs...
THE 2002 - 2003 Bury Table Tennis League season reached its half way mark in December and all the players have been taking a well earned break over the Christmas and New year period writes Marlen Faulkner Looking back over the first half of the season
CHRISTMAS time is always a very testing time in the footballers diary. Games come thick and fast and also they have family duties as well. But also it is a difficult time for supporters too. So I have to agree with Eric Whalley's comments a couple of
DETHRONED World and European arm wrestling champion Neil Pickup believes 2003 could be the year local arm wrestlers head for glory. For not only is Pickup looking to regain the two titles he won in 2001, he believes his sister Elaine will once again be
SNOW queen Cindy Meller proved that NO practise makes perfect after winning a top Army snow boarding championship in Austria. For Cindy was crowned overall female champion in the annual Royal Corps of Signals Championships -- despite having little practise
I WAS sitting in a layby north of Glasgow prior to Christmas when my mobile rang. An interruption to my contemplation of my first Boxing Day without football for four years -- I could even taste the festive champagne on my lips. The question went as follows
JUNIOR football is in save hands as long as local leagues have the likes of Alan Greenwood to rely on. For 'Big Al' has been at the helm of the VMI Accrington and District Junior League for the past 10 years and, in that time, has helped one of the few
REGARDING your article "Plan for the mosque going to appeal (LET, December 27), Mr Sheraz Arshad was quoted as saying that there have never been any formal objections to this scheme from public bodies, only from residents, many of whom live outside the
I WAS interested to read your article (LET, December 16) about development of the jet engine being passed from the Rover car company to Rolls-Royce in 1942, as I was one of the tracers who were transferred to Rolls-Royce at Barnoldswick. Most of the tracers
REGARDING the Christmas TV offerings -- or should I say the lack of them? -- I never thought I'd see such a collection of such garbage being considered suitable for peak-time viewing. EastEnders? Never changes does it? -- doom, gloom and violence. On
AFTER the greatest Great Briton and the greatest sporting personality of the year, how about readers nominating some of the most useful inventions? Mine would be the TV remote control. Without having to move from my armchair I can zap out the mindless
IN response to the remarks of Mrs Janet Lockley on town-centre car parking in Blackburn (Letters, December 24), my comments, which you reported previously, were made at a council cabinet meeting about on-street parking on Darwen Street and Church Street
JUBILANT bank staff were celebrating a Lottery windfall today -- won with a ticket they had ripped up and thrown away. The group of 16, who work for Lloyds TSB, collected £152,344 after piecing together the ticket that was thrown into a bin. Each has
I'M not what you'd call a good spectator when it comes to football, so having to sit on the sidelines at Grimsby last weekend was quite difficult. To be honest, although I was kicking every ball when I was sat in the stand, I thought we were quite comfortable
THE Lancashire Evening Telegraph today proved it was a paper fit for a Royal when Prince Charles was told "It's great" by readers in the Ribble Valley. Just before he boarded a Bowland transit bus, bound for Chipping, he spotted Evening Telegraph photographer
LEIGH Centurions full-back Neil Turley will miss at least the first two months of the new season. Turley is still undergoing specialist treatment after being troubled by back problems for most of last season and is unlikely to figure until the Arriva
ROVERS have sent David Dunn to see a group of specialists in Oxford in a bid to get to the bottom of his recent injury problems. Dunn limped out of Tuesday's game against Manchester United with a recurrence of a calf injury and Rovers are now hoping to
Lancaster's thriving live music scene could be wrecked by changes to the law which will prevent pubs and clubs hosting small gigs. Local musicians are seeking to halt pro-posals which could mean pubs without an entertainment licence will no longer be
I read with sheer disbelief comments made by Sean Kelly about the National Lottery draw being fixed. First, the lottery is a televised random number draw, and therefore each of the 49 numbers has an equal chance of being drawn. The fact that consecutive
LUCAS Neill admitted he suffered mixed emotions in Blackburn Rovers 1-1 draw at Old Trafford. The defender was delighted with the result in Rovers' Worthington Cup semi-final first leg clash, but he was disappointed to receive a yellow card for diving
In response to David Uphill's letter last week, the average cost of a workplace car parking space in England (according to the Government) is £400 per year, and this works out at about £2 per day (assuming 210 working days). This figure takes into account
Regarding the letter headed 'What a Waste' published in Citizen on December 19, in which a reader said the city council was wasting money by replacing bins which have been burned out between Asda and the Millennium Bridge. I would like to reassure readers
FIREFIGHTERS are warning people not to play around on frozen waterways. The alert came after fire crews saved a dog stranded on an icy pond in Lostock Hall on the morning of Wednesday, January 8. No time was wasted to save the elderly springer spaniel
FROZEN sections of the Leeds and Liverpool canal in East Lancashire are deathtraps and should not be used as playground. That is the message to from British Waterways which looks after the canal and dozens of others in the UK. With temperatures plummeting
HAPTON residents are hoping their village bowling green will be saved from the axe after parish councillors were told its future looked bleak. The maintenance of the green behind the school could be one of the services cut as part of Burnley Council's
ONE of the longest-running Dramatic Societies in the world - St Joseph's Players - present their annual traditional panto later this month. This year's production is Cinderella - a show packed with comedy, song and dance and brings two weeks of entertainment
TAXI fares are set to rise by up to 25 per cent in a second East Lancashire town. The rise will affect hackney carriages in Burnley, the only taxis allowed to pick passengers up off the streets, and will see rates rise from £1.60 for the first 1,408 yards
HAPTON'S Parish Council held an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday night to discuss the Parish Review. The purpose of the review is to clarity the existing position of the Parish Council to the Burnley Council and will outline the Parish's formal papers
A GULF war veteran who had been responsible for 'bagging' bodies during the conflict committed a bizarre series of offences after flashbacks were triggered by a fireworks display. Burnley Magistrates Court was told how Carl Johnathon Rivers, 33, was more
GOVERNMENT inspectors have praised hospital services in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale in a new report. The standard of care provided by Burnley Health Care NHS Trust and its executives has been applauded. The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) commended
A NELSON schoolgirl has won a competition to design a theatre costume for a prestigious production. Ashley Lee, a BTEC design student at Burnley College, won a competition to design a costume for a popular stage show. The costume will now go on display
A PARTIALLY disabled man was allegedly attacked by two people after a row over control of a mosque erupted into violence, a jury was told. Mohammed Noor had just finished praying at the Ghosia Jamia Mosque, Nelson, when he was lured into a room by Qados
RESIDENTS on a new housing estate today described their dream homes as "living hell" and staged a rooftop protest aimed at builders Wimpey. Neighbours on Ash Tree Grove in phase two of the Oakridge development, Nelson, claim that windows installed at
ONE thing that I have noticed, despite the fact that I seldom use buses, is that Blackburn Transport has really got its act in order since it changed the routes earlier this year. Its buses on its curiously named Track 12A and 12C (I've not found the
ACCORDING to your report (LET, December 11) there could be three wheelie bins for each household in Blackburn. Has this scheme been really thought out? What about the elderly and disabled dragging out all these bins? Some yards near my home have four
A NIGHT out led to a drunken teenager being locked up when he shouted at police arresting another man in Colne town centre. Burnley magistrates heard how Shaun Little, 18, was told to go away, but offered to fight anybody. He was handcuffed, tried to
BRITAIN'S first Asian priest spiced up his church with a series of cookery classes. Christopher Peter, originally from Pakistan, took the classes to attract more people through the doors of St Peter's Church, Darwen.
A COUPLE who ran a pub for only two weeks came up with a novel way of attracting business. Licensee Jean Taylor and her partner, Steve McClean, of the Hare and Hounds, in Stacksteads, placed a board outside the pub with the message: "Wanted -- Customers
DRINKERS will raise their glasses to toast brave children and make their suffering more bearable. Critically ill youngsters will benefit from the 14th Bent & Bongs Beer Bash being staged from January 30 to February 1 at The Formby Hall, Atherton.
THE Swing Shift Big Band are starting a new residency at Farington Lodge, Stanifield Lane, Leyland. The band will be performing on the fourth Sunday of every month, starting on January 26, at 8.30pm, with guest vocalist Frank Lawson. For more information
PEEL Street in Accrington had to be sealed off for an hour last night as fire crews tackled a building site blaze at the outdoor market redevelopment. Two steel builders' storage cabins were destroyed in the blaze and police had to be called in to close
A CANCER sufferer from Accrington was so pleased with the treatment he received at Blackburn Royal Infirmary that he and his wife decided to skip the usual golden wedding routine. Derek and Brenda Taylor still celebrated 50 years of marriage with family
WALKERS are being warned to avoid muddy areas after a mother and daughter had to be rescued by the emergency services. Wigan Council has issued the request to walkers and ramblers following an incident where a Lowton woman and her daughter got stuck in
ALDERMAN, former Mayor and councillor, Sam Little has died aged 82. Mr Little, who celebrated his 82nd birthday in December, died on Saturday in hospital from complications following a minor operation. Born in Chester-le-Street, County Durham in 1920,
What are the qualities you need to set up your own business and succeed? We find out - from the people who have done it entrepreneur n. a person who undertakes a (financial) enterprise, esp. one with an element of risk. 19C French, from entreprendre to
HUNDREDS of Royal enthusiasts braved the cold to catch a glimpse of the Prince of Wales on his tour of the Ribble Valley. The Prince arrived by Royal train amid tight security at the award-winning Clitheroe Interchange to an enthusiastic reception from
THERE is a great looking web site that takes you around America's ghost towns at www.ghosttowngallery.com. Here you will find some incredible photographs of deserted towns, abandoned mines and dramatic mountainscapes. The site has been put together by
THE government has launched a £1m advertising campaign warning of the dangers of Internet paedophiles. The television, radio and website messages, being broadcast throughout January, aim to make parents and youngsters aware of how to surf the web safely
A WAR of words with outgoing world champion Phil Taylor marred an excellent run to the last four for Lancaster's Alan Warriner in last week's Ladbrokes.com world darts championship. The 'Ice-man' stoked the flames before Friday's semi-final with Taylor
POLICE in Pennine Division will be broadcasting their road safety message much more effectively in 2003 thanks to a donation from local electrical retailer Harry Garlick. The company, which has stores in Barnoldswick, Clitheroe, Nelson, Earby, Burnley
A TRIP to South Wales for the Red Kite Rally gave a first forest outing to the new Chris Allen Garages rally team Escort Cosworth - and answered several questions about both the car and team. Carnforth's Ian Joel and Graeme Wood used the event as a shake-down
A GROUP of Burnley students are looking forward to a hair-raising experience which they hope will raise money for charity. The intrepid travel and tourism students will spend a night at one of Britain's spookiest haunts next month -- Muncaster Castle
Morecambe put their away struggles behind them to claim a derby double against local rivals Southport - but they had to hang on after a fightback from the plucky Merseyside outfit. Final score Southport 2 - Morecambe 3. The result left Jim Harvey's men
JOE Royle will put friendship to one side on Saturday as he brings his Ipswich Town team to Turf Moor. The Blues boss is great pals with Burnley manager Stan Ternent. But while he wants to maintain that friendship, which helped to salvage Ternent's career
A COMPANY founded by a Leigh entrepreneur has scooped 11 top prizes. David Atherton's team at national online retailer dabs.com has enjoyed the most successful year yet lifting high profile regional and national award programmes. Founded by David in 1987
ASDA have launched a gift amnesty for any unwanted Christmas presents. Items can be dropped into the collection trolleys at the front of the Leigh and Golborne stores until the end of January, when the gifts will be distributed to local charities.
A VALENTINES Cabaret for Christie's is being staged by Wigan and Leigh fund-raisers. The event begins at 7.15pm on February 14 at Hindley Conservative Club. Star TV comedian Jimmy Cricket will head a show supported by talented locals Tina Summers, Lyndsey
TOURISTS from across the country are being tempted to visit Lancaster and Morecambe by an all new 2003 holiday guide. The glossy brochure is now available from Tourist Information Centres nationwide offering a comprehensive free guide for holidaymakers
LONG-awaited plans for a new YMCA centre in Lancaster's former Pye Mill building could finally get the go-ahead from planners on Monday. The YMCA hopes to convert the run-down grade two listed building in Fleet Square - op-posite the city's bus station
The Lancaster area's new police chief is promising to take a high-profile role in the fight against crime - and expects her staff to do the same. But Chief Superintendent Wendy Walker says the force can only succeed with the help and support of the public
A Morecambe petrol station owner was robbed at gunpoint as he locked up his business on Friday night. Robin Dixon, 61, was closing the gates at Regent Park filling station, Regent Road when he was confronted by three young men - one holding what appeared
THE latest 'sexy' idea to improve life in Morecambe's West End is a waste of time and money, claims a leading local councillor. Newly installed alley gates designed to deter and cut down on crime have been fitted in the West End, using European regeneration
A LANCASTER com-munity has just one month to save its Post Office - in the face of controversial plans to close it down. The move - at Primrose Hill - is in-tended to improve prospects for other local post offices, in particular Ullswater Road, 350 yards
GOLBORNE Cricket Club is organising junior coaching sessions at Golborne High School every Saturday morning until the end of March. For further details contact Kim Lyon on 07714 146673 or Denis Ormshaw on 07970 678562.
LEIGH Miners 'A' beat Haydock 16-8 despite fielding a makeshift team. After an even first period, Miners led 8-2 at the break with tries by Orange and Hodson. Second half tries from Hulme and Hindley completing the scoring. All the Miners players deserve
Castleford Lock Lane 17 Leigh Miners Rangers 24: LEIGH Miners Rangers maintained their challenge for the National Conference Premier Division Minor Premiership with an impressive victory at Lock Lane. The day's top clash was a mouth-watering affair with
THE Boro Supporters' Club are organising a coach to Workington on February 1. Anyone wishing to book a seat should contact Graham on 0161-725 9352.
RADCLIFFE Boro have chalked up a first with the appointment of football and community development officer Robin Drummond. Mr Drummond, who has previously worked with Newcastle United and Manchester United, is believed to be the first such appointment
MANCHESTER City FC will be continuing with their popular after-school football training at Radcliffe Borough FC this month. The City in the Community soccer centres delivered by former players and qualified coaches offers opportunities for girls and boys
IT was a Happy New Year a few days early for Papermakers as they stayed in top position at darts, and inflicted a much-needed defeat on rivals Staff, to widen their domino lead. Old Cross did them a favour by beating Bird. The games were close, all but
AEROSPACE bosses have been accused of sexism over an advert depicting their fighter pilots being nagged by a woman. But an investigation by Britain's advertising watchdogs has cleared defence giant BAE Systems, with their verdict -- Nagging Nora is innocent
IT was no wonder Ken Mansfield's last day of work was such an emotional occasion -- he had worked at Trumeter for an astonishing 42 years! Mr Mansfield (63) arrived at the Milltown Street firm in Radcliffe as a 21-year-old. He started off as a toolmaker
LEARNING was a piece of cake for a Radcliffe bakery. Val and Gary Newman, who own Newman's on Turks Road, signed up for an accounting course at Bury College where they were so impressed, they put their entire workforce through Basic Health and Safety
REMPLOY worker Janice Lloyd was given a New Year surprise -- an MBE. The 51-year-old was named in the Queen's Honours List for services to the community in Bury. But the accolade left Janice, who works as an admistrator for Remploy in Eton Hill Road,
A GRIEVING psychiatric nurse was told her by boss to "lock herself in a room and cry on her own" as she struggled to come to terms with the death of her parents in separate tragedies, an inquest heard. Less than four months later, Amanda Shapland was
THE first Asian officer to join the ranks of Greater Manchester Police 29 years ago has retired with the parting words: "I'd love to do it all again". Mohammed 'Mo' Shafiq, who lives in the Radcliffe area, launched his crime-fighting career with the Lancashire
A PARISH councillor is needed urgently for Belmont ward. North Turton Parish Council says it is seeking an enthusiastic and community-spirited person. Council clerk Geoff Hughes said the post had been vacant since August. "We have put notices in parish
ATHERTON Heritage Society members will hear Elaine Taylor speak on "Smithills Gardens (Medieval to Regency Period)" at their January 14 meeting at 7.30pm in St Richard's Jubilee Hall.
A BUILDING firm boss who snatched a pensioner's purse on Christmas Eve has escaped jail -- even though a judge admitted she almost sent him there. Judge Lesley Newton told Peter Roach, 40, she had been planning to send him to prison but she had just been
CHRISTIE'S are grateful for Leigh town centre pub and club customers whose fancy dress collection raised £335.69. The Christmas raffle raised a further £400. Winning numbers: 3271, 3550, 3640, 0582, 4000, 3541, 1603, 1531, 1756, 3712, 3598, 3723.
A DISABLED pensioner who was robbed of her £1,700 life savings broke down in tears after local pub regulars raised money to help her. Ellen Adcroft, 75, formerly from the Carr Road area in Darwen, was duped by a conman two weeks ago. Now regulars and
BRYAN Jones is retiring after 42 years as proprietor of Colliers Photographics, in Leigh. He would like to thank his many regular customers as he hands over to Mike Eldon and his wife Angie who look forward to welcoming customers old and new to the Railway
SISTERS Diane and Jamie Eatock seized at a chance to open a creche in an area crying out for childminding facilities. They produced their own business plans to run a commercial creche at Platt Bridge Youth Zone headquarters in Ribble Road and it's proved
TALENTED twins are set to make history by becoming the area's first young musicians to win places with the prestigious National Children's Orchestra. Leigh CE Primary School pupils, eight-year-old James and Julien Doublet-Stewart, are members of Leigh
COOKER fires forced two families to make alternative Christmas dinners. On Christmas Day firefighters were called to Sycamore Avenue, Golborne and later dealt with a similar blaze in Glebe Street at Leigh. In both cases the grill pans overheated and caught
HUNDREDS of organisations across Rossendale have joined forces in a bid to combat juvenile nuisance in the area. A new directory, aimed at young people, was launched yesterday. Nearly 300 organisations are listed in the one inch-thick folder, which was
ACTIVE volunteers are sought to lead others into the great outdoors. Wigan Council's Outdoor Education and Duke of Edinburgh's Awards team is seeking 12 people, aged 18-plus, to take part in a special, nationally recognised training course -- the Basic
CHARLOTTE Lowndes has done it again. The twice national dance champion has now won the Slowdance of the Year competition, beating people twice her age. The nine-year-old Lowton St Mary's Junior School pupil dreams of becoming a dance teacher herself in
REV Gary McGowan, formerly minister at Grange United Reformed Church, Higher Bebington, has been inducted as joint minister of Leigh Baptist Church and Leigh United Reformed Church. Saturday's service, attended by members of both churches and representatives
PERSEVERANCE paid off for a Hindley Green couple who managed to raise £328 for Wigan and Leigh Hospice despite repeated attempts by vandals to curb their efforts. Vinny and Norma Corcoran decorated the outside of their Lulworth Drive home with hundreds
LEIGH Citizen's Advice Bureau dealt with £2 million worth of debt problems last year. Thirty-six per cent of difficulties handled by volunteers related to money owed and there were 1530 calls to the debt support line. During 2001-2 overall inquiries increased
LEANN Baines is preparing to gallop off into the sunset . . . well, to the Royal Stud Farm at Sandringham, later this month. The horse-mad 18-year-old has been riding since she was five and landed this job after successfully completing an eight-week course
LEIGH Education Action Zone is investing in a new and revolutionary technique for the teaching of mathematics. Students in the Zone's three high schools -- Bedford, Westleigh and Kingshill -- will reap the rewards of the innovative MathsAlive programme
A COMPANY founded by a Leigh entrepreneur has scooped 11 top prizes. David Atherton's team at national online retailer dabs.com has enjoyed the most successful year yet lifting high profile regional and national award programmes. Founded by David in 1987
REGARDING the proposed waste disposal plant in Farington, Leyland. (Citizen, November 28) Building of a waste disposal plant in Longton (in a green belt area) was cancelled after a well-organised campaign from the people in that area in autumn last year
KEVIN Glendon also gave an insight into how he dealt with what had happened on the day after the North Ferriby game. "In relation to my thoughts on what happened I thought it was obvious to see -- we showed a complete lack of discipline which cost us
THE cricket season still seems a million miles away as we prepare for the worst of the winter weather during the next two months. But the Central Lancashire League fixtures for the 2003 season are out and Radcliffe begin their bid to lift the CLL championship
SHOPPERS and traders in Preston are disgusted at the state of the chewing gum splattered streets and say they would welcome a clean-up. Many city centre pavements are littered with discarded gum which sticks to shoes and is trampled into homes and shops
ATHERTON Heritage Society members will hear Elaine Taylor speak on "Smithills Gardens (Medieval to Regency Period)" at their January 14 meeting at 7.30pm in St Richard's Jubilee Hall.
COUNCIL bosses were warned they would take the blame for any problems inflicted on the town centre this year -- because they failed to take down the Christmas lights in time! Despite all the Twelfth Night superstitions which say that festive lights must
PRIMARY school pupils are to be given lessons on how to behave on buses -- and will face prosecution if they flout the rules. Videos will be shown to youngsters spelling out the potential consequences of their actions if they misbehave. Blackburn with
THE number of drink drivers on Lancashire's roads over the Christmas period fell slightly this year. Statistics released today show six per cent of drivers failed breath tests compared with 8.6 per cent last year. But police chiefs say the number was
MUSLIMS looking to make the annual pilgrimage to Mecca are being warned they will not be allowed to travel unless their meningitis vaccination is up-to-date. All travellers planning to make the Hajj next month to Saudi Arabia will need to have been inoculated
BUILDERS are being warned they face getting the boot -- if they annoy residents by smoking, swearing and wolf-whistling!. Contractors working for Twin Valley Homes, which owns Blackburn and Darwen's 10,000 former council houses, have been issued with
THIS month's round of the Mid Lancs Cross Country League is on Saturday at Lancaster University. The Under 11 Girls start at 12.30pm with the Boys setting off at 12.45pm. The Under 13 Girls run at 1pm with the U13 Boys running with the U15 Girls at 1.20pm
LOCAL clubs punched well above their weight when Blackburn's Witton Park staged the Lancashire Cross Country Championships last Saturday. Four of them - Blackburn Harriers, Hyndburn AC, Pendle AC and Chorley AC - produced winners in the junior ranks,
CRAIG Brown has solved his keeper crisis by signing Celtic stopper Jonathan Gould on a free transfer. The 34-year-old is the second player to join PNE from Celtic Park this week after striker Simon Lynch made the move on Tuesday. Gould has joined for
I THOUGHT it was April Fools' Day when I read that boxes had been painted on the ground below hole-in-the-wall cash machines -- in a bid to give customers space and protect them from robbery. Yellow paint, now that really will keep determined muggers
A WORD I've not heard for ages cropped up while I was reading recently. It brought back many happy memories. In my younger days if anyone got anything new, be it a pair of shoes or a car, envious admirers called them a SWANKPOT! Anyone still use it today
THE peace and goodwill message of the season didn't get through to some people. Hoodlums stoned a Santa on a sponsored run while shunned carol singers found their tyres slashed. Nearer home the vandals hit before Christmas got underway, wrecking Atherton
LEIGH Education Action Zone is investing in a new and revolutionary technique for the teaching of mathematics. Students in the Zone's three high schools -- Bedford, Westleigh and Kingshill -- will reap the rewards of the innovative MathsAlive programme
WELCOME new laws are to be brought in to limit the height of the dreaded Leylandii hedge. I have one which I always cut to a reasonable height -- just tall enough to conserve privacy. However, earlier this year my neighbour decided to try and tell me
WEEKS ago two shopping trolleys were dumped in a lay-by near my home. They were in excellent condition and obviously some head-the-ball pranksters had pushed them two miles from town. Thankfully they had Netto emblazoned on the handles, so I thought I'd
THE secret life of the car driver has been revealed. While scuttling from A to B in our tins on wheels we forget we are on display to fellow road users and enter a world of our own. According to a Vauxhall motoring moments survey 43 pc of us admit to
PARENTS are shunning celebrity names for their babies in favour of old favourites. Top of the national charts for the second year running are Chloe and Jack. But while there are no Romeos after Beckham or Poppy Honey after Oliver in the list of Leigh
AINSWORTH residents have had their Christmas mail stolen -- but the Post Office hasn't told them. Villagers say they only found out about the theft of two mailbags over gossip in a local pub. Some people have lost important documents, and many others
STANDARDS in this country's service industries have improved enormously in the past decade as the words 'customer care' have begun to count. And the building industry is no exception - doing a two-day job on a house and leaving the householder with two
THOUSANDS of former council house tenants across East Lancashire have a new landlord -- from the private sector. But does it really make any difference? Local Government reporter David Higgerson looks at the transformation... NOT many job changes involve
All games postponed due to weather conditions. FIXTURES CHALLENGE CUP The Heywood v Roach FC; White House v Garsdale. PRESIDENTS TROPHY Rostrons v PC World Direct; Trafalgar Hotel v Huntley Mount; White House v Elton View. PREMIER DIVISION Bury FC Social
SHAUN Livesey enjoyed a New Year's Day win after victory in the David Cole Memorial Five road race in Littleborough. The Clayton Harrier beat a field of 112 runners in the five mile event when he crossed the line in 27min 38 secs -- beating Stuart Heaton
IAN Greenwood was the pick of the local runners as hundreds of athletes started their New Year's Eve celebrations on the hills surrounding Haworth. Greenwood came home in ninth place in the annual Auld Lang Syne fell race which attracted 336 runners for
I WONDER what Howard Wilkinson is thinking at this moment? There he is fighting relegation with Sunderland, the crowd on his back and all over the Premiership there are young academy players not only making their debuts but are receiving rave reviews.
EVER scored a last minute goal to win a cup final? What about a stunning save to keep your team in the game? Do you know that feeling...it's good isn't it! But what about missing an open goal, putting past your own keeper, letting the ball through your
I WISH to clarify the purpose of the campaign recently launched with the aim of increasing usage of shops in Darwen. Your article (LET, December 28) was very positive in terms of raising awareness of the campaign. However, it did create the false impression
SINCE motorists think they are being unfairly treated by the increase in the provision of speed cameras can I suggest that the police concentrate the placing of cameras to catch 'light jumpers' at traffic lights instead? If cameras were linked to the
AS concerned Beardwood, Blackburn, residents we attended the recent meeting of the council's planning and highways committee in the hope that common sense would prevail regarding the proposed developments of the Beardwood Garden Centre land. However,
I FIND it quite amazing that anyone would even consider building Darwen's new health centre in such an inaccessible place, at the same time disrupting the very-well-used facility of the leisure centre. There are several alternatives with easy access.
A new recruit has joined the team policing Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale and can't wait to get her teeth into her new role. With four legs, a wet nose and a mean bark she's not your average police recruit but eventually, after training, she will share
I READ with dismay the remarks of Mr L Lawes (Letters, December 30) bemoaning the work of Blackburn with Darwen Council in its bid to free-up town-centre traffic congestion. We might all agree with Mr Lawes that there are problems with traffic on Railway
BUILDERS are being warned they face getting the boot -- if they annoy residents by smoking, swearing and wolf-whistling!. Contractors working for Twin Valley Homes, which owns Blackburn and Darwen's 10,000 former council houses, have been issued with
PAUL Ramsdale has taken the British title in a sport described by his coach as "the most violent in Britain." Leigh fighter Ramsdale took the Extreme Brawl 'no holds barred' 72kg national championship after beating Cornwall's Kris Hughes in the Bracknell
BLACKBURN Rovers have failed in a bid to land Monaco defender Philippe Leonard. I can exclusively reveal manager Graeme Souness was told the proposed deal had collapsed during a phonecall last night. And that means the Rovers chief will now focus his
ADMIRERS of Lancaster's crown, Williamson Park, will have been pleased to read the local news concerning a £650,000 injection of public money, proposed for a five-year improvement plan starting in April. I refer to the front-page propa-ganda article in
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness will consider taking legal action against the Football Association if he fails in a bid to overturn his latest misconduct charge. Souness is facing his third touchline ban in the space of nine months after the FA yesterday
This is a plea to all those people in the area who would like to have ASDL Broadband Inter-net but can't because our local BT exchange can't support it. The answer to the problem is relatively easy -if 400 people register their interest with BT then it
I AM happy to respond to the questions on Iraq put to me by Nick Bliss via Citizen letters. The House of Com-mons is to have a further substantive vote on this matter and it is important that I reflect on the views of constituents in deciding what I should
I would like to comment on the Citizen article about a possible regional assembly for the North West, and where it should be based. Of the places competing ,Lancaster is far too north, too small and does not have the infrastructure or experience to hold
SHOPPERS and traders in Preston are disgusted at the state of the chewing gum splattered streets and say they would welcome a clean-up. Many city centre pavements are littered with discarded gum which sticks to shoes and is trampled into homes and shops
THE Fishergate Shopping Centre is being sold for nearly £50million, and rent increases are expected to follow the handover. The new owners have denied the change will mean a sudden rise, but admit ongoing rent reviews could mean higher rates. And more
A FORMER mill, which once employed 6,500, is up for sale to the highest bidder. Offers are invited on the grade II listed Centenary Mill, in New Hall Lane, Preston, which was one of the first cotton factories of its kind in Britain. The mill was built
AEROSPACE bosses have been accused of sexism over an advert depicting their fighter pilots being nagged by a woman. But an investigation by Britain's advertising watchdogs has cleared defence giant BAE Systems, with their verdict -- Nagging Nora is innocent
A THIEF left an 81-year-old woman on the ground after snatching her bag as she walked home at night with her husband. The woman fell after a man approached her and her husband from behind in Pump Street, Preston, on Saturday, December 28, at 10.10pm.
TWO raiders who struck at Burnley Woolworths three times, taking property worth more than £4,000, are awaiting sentence. Gary Bailey, 23, and Lee Smith, 18, were caught red handed by the police on the final raid and then owned up to the other two break-ins
GOVERNMENT inspectors have praised hospital services in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale in a new report. The standard of care provided by Burnley Health Care NHS Trust and its executives has been praised. The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) commended
TWO East Lancashire MPs have clashed over TV sporting rights. Peter Pike wants the Government to increase the number of major events that have to be shown on terrestrial TV. But Greg Pope has dismissed the idea as wrong. Burnley MP Mr Pike tackled broadcasting
TRAFFIC problems are an "accident waiting to happen" according to people living near a Burnley convenience store. Lack of parking spaces and an inadequate junction are just two of the problems highlighted by residents who are calling for action to end
LIAM George looks set to re-ignite his stop start Shakers career this weekend, just days after being told he had no future at Gigg Lane writes Chris Hall The midfield ace suffered a downbeat Christmas period, playing no part in the visits of Kidderminster
A DRIVER who failed to stop after an accident in Hallam Road, Nelson, is wanted for questioning by police. The accident happened on Tuesday at 1pm close to a junction with Belgrave Street. Police said the driver of a grey Honda Civic failed to stop after
UP to 130 workers at a Radcliffe confectionery manufacturers could become casualties of a Stateside slump in sales. Bosses at Dumers Lane-based Adams, which makes the famous Hall's Mentho Lyptus and other popular brands, want to cut its 450-strong workforce
THE latest brainwave by the council is for the illumination of Darwen Street bridge in Blackburn (LET, December 21). But the bridge is on the fringe of the town centre and is out on a limb as far as attractions go. It goes against the grain to see money
I WOULD like to thank all who helped to make the day patients' Christmas party at the Hospice in Park Lee Road, Blackburn, on December 18, such a wonderful day. Many people worked so hard to make us all feel very special. Also, people may be unaware of
CHILDREN from Fisher More High School, Colne, were thinking of others less fortunate than themselves in the lead-up to Christmas, when they raised £1,040 for Pendleside Hospice. The Gibfield Road school held a concert featuring the traditional Christmas
A LEADING councillor has called for a change in sports leases, after a Pendle football club revealed it faces a rent rise of more than £1,000. Margaret Bell, chairman of Pendle Council's West Craven Committee, heard how Barnoldswick United could be forced
FORMER pupils of Mount Carmel RC High School and the two Hyndburn schools which amalgamated to form it are invited to a reunion dinner at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel in Clayton-le-Moors. Paddock House and Holy Family joined together in 1979 and former pupils
Nelson's Column by Dt Sgt Bill Nelson DRIVERS taking short cuts through housing estates could face prosecution. In response to complaints about motorists breaking rules to avoid peak time congestion police are targeting areas regulated by "no entry except
RESIDENTS of an East Lancashire borough have been applauded for their part in helping police to combat crime in 2002. Tip-offs from concerned residents in the Accrington area between April and December led to the execution of around 40 drug warrants.
CAMPAIGNER Mary Lavelle has written to the top in her fight to end abortion. In a letter to Prince Charles and the Prime Minister she appeals to them not to allow the atrocity to continue. Mary, of the Village on the Green, Leigh, has also sent copies
MEMBERS of a community have been 'immortalised' in a manner usually reserved for saints and scholars. St Joseph's RC Church, Accrington, was built by locals half a century ago as there was no catholic church in the Belgarth Road area at that time. Work
DISILLUSIONED Leigh Councillor Brian Thomas is to stand down after serving three terms on Wigan Council. Elected to Leigh Central Ward 12 years ago he feels the new cabinet system leaves ordinary back benchers like himself with little input into decision
PLANS to close Hindsford Post Office would be a big blow to senior citizens say local politicians. Atherton councillor Sue Loudon is afraid elderly people will suffer if Post Office bosses proceed with March shut down plans. And Hindsford councillor Mark
PLAIN clothed and uniformed Police will ride free on buses in a bid to boost safety and security. Greater Manchester's transport and police chiefs aim to make bus travel safer and from next month officers will be able to ride free on buses on production
BURY-based DTE Insurance Brokers has launched a new insurance package for karting enthusiasts. The company says it had hundreds of inquiries when it unveiled its KartGuard product at the International Kart Show in Telford. Associate Director Lee Caraher
THE Lancashire Evening Telegraph today proved it was a paper fit for a Royal when Prince Charles was told "It's great" by readers in the Ribble Valley. Just before he boarded a Bowland transit bus, bound for Chipping, he spotted Evening Telegraph photographer
WEB users are bidding at online auction site eBay (www.ebay.co.uk) for pieces of wood from Brighton's West Pier, which collapsed last week into the sea. People are selling pieces of driftwood and other fragments from the historic West Pier, built in 1866
TWO men and two women from the Burnley and Padiham area have been charged with drug offences after being arrested outside Preston Prison. Scott Grant, Andre Grant, Yolandis Stacey and Nicky Stacey are alleged to have thrown drugs into the prison yard.
A 23-YEAR-OLD man has been cleared of an "unprovoked" hammer attack after a three-day trial at Burnley Crown Court. Ben Almond, of Sefton Terrace, Burnley, was found not guilty of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and an alternative allegation
Who'll take derby honours? I couldn't hazard a guess. HAPPY New Year (and all that) - and what an exciting year it promises to be, starting with this weekend's Lune derby. Last season - or the season before - I'd have been tipping Lancaster to take the
LANCASTER City endured a miserable start to the New Year - with two heavy defeats against north-west rivals. City were beaten 5-1 at Giant Axe in a humiliating afternoon against derby rivals Barrow and then went down 3-0 at Altrincham in a game which
MORE than140 people visited Burnley College this week to celebrate wide-ranging achievements in information technology. The evening was attended by information technology students and their guests. College principal John Smith, head of division Karen
MORECAMBE'S brave FA Cup glory run finally came to an end at Portman Road, Ipswich, on Saturday. An estimated 2,000 fans cheered the Shrimps onto the Division One club's pitch - but it took just two minutes for reality to rupture the excitement. A well-taken
A YOUNG Burnley reserve side came up against Huddersfield's more experienced second string, and the difference told as the Clarets suffered a 4-1 defeat at the McAlpine Stadium. The visitors took the lead midway through the first half, but Huddersfield
WHAT a way to start the New Year! A vital win in the league against Middlesbrough, a superb victory at Villa in the FA Cup, then an outstanding performance at Old Trafford on Tuesday night. Life just doesn't get any better than that! Or does it? Although
LANCASTER and Morecambe football fans are preparing for the first big derby clash in six years - if the weather doesn't intervene. Fans are being reminded to get their tickets early for Saturday's FA Trophy clash, with Giant Axe likely to attract its
A bold campaign to make Lancaster the capital of the north west of England will be officially launched next month. The bid is seen as being of 'enormous and possibly historic' benefit to both the city and surrounding district. And everyone in the area
Lancaster University wants to give away £1 million to small businesses across the north west - and quickly. Forty companies have received free business support totalling £115,000 from the university since it launched its Entrepre-neurship Unit last year
COUNCILLORS on Wigan MBC will hold the following advice surgeries: THURSDAY, January 9: Golborne Library(10-11) B Strett, D Kelly; Lowton Civic Hall (6-6.45) P Franzen; Abram Library, Vicarage Road (10.30-12) A Bennett. FRIDAY, January 10: Leigh Town
LANCASTER film lovers will be able to enjoy the latest releases again in just over a week's time. The former ABC cinema, which closed in September, is to open its doors again on Friday, January 17, after being bought by Northern Morris Associated Cinemas
LISA will be holding their first meeting of the new season tonight (Thursday) in the Mick Martyn Bar at 7.30pm. Topics up for discussion will be events for the year and the possibility of buying into Sporting Club Leigh Ltd following on from the consortium's
LEIGH Centurions have announced that the discounts on all 2003 season tickets are to be extended up to and including Saturday, January 18. As an added incentive and to ease with the post Christmas expense, all family season tickets can now be purchased
Penrith 20 Tyldesley 0: TYLDESLEY RU got back to the serious business with a 200-mile round trip visit to second placed Cumbrian outfit Penrith. Near freezing conditions and a blanket of snow does not make Penrith a welcoming place to visit at any time
FIVE Leigh Harriers stars have won county honours following their performances in the Greater Manchester cross country championships. Title holder Tom Boardman, Anne Powell, Adele Swanton, Gemma Farley and Lauren Howarth have been selected for the teams
DAVID Bean has been presented with a cheque for £2,000 after a series of successful money-raising events held during the Boro defender's testimonial season.
RADCLIFFE Borough centre back Simon Kelly took a dive for charity and landed with over £1,000! The 24-year-old defender leapt out of an aeroplane from the incredibly dizzy height of 10,000 feet on Sunday as he and two mates carried out their promise to
Late results Brown Cow B 5, British Queen A 2; Spotted Cow 2, Thrush Hotel 5; Eagle & Child 3, Seven Stars B 4; Derby Hotel B 5, Bridge Tavern B 2; Bridge (Dumers) 3, Brown Cow A 4; Roach Hotel B 4, Swan Hotel 3; Bridge Tavern A 3, Hare & Hounds
CRAIG Brown has solved his keeper crisis by signing Celtic stopper Jonathan Gould on a free transfer. The 34-year-old is the second player to join PNE from Celtic Park this week after striker Simon Lynch made the move on Tuesday. Gould has joined for
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness will consider taking legal action against the Football Association if he fails in a bid to overturn his latest misconduct charge. Souness is facing his third touchline ban in the space of nine months after the FA yesterday
THE Rotary Club of Radcliffe has raised a record amount in its Christmas collection. During the 15 nights that Santa's sleigh toured the town, and the two days spent collecting outside Asda, a total of £7,700 was raised. The money will be used by the
RADCLIFFE Carnival Committee will make its annual selection of carnival royalty later this month. Anyone interested in being considered should attend the East Lancs Club in Cheetham Street (off Cross Lane), Radcliffe, for 1.30pm on Sunday, January 19.
A LIFELONG Conservative, who escaped injury in the Brighton bombing in 1984, has died, aged 66. Mr Roy Wilson died suddenly at his home in Chapelfield, Radcliffe, on Friday evening. He had been in failing health for a number of years. Mr Wilson, a widower
CHRISTMAS was much brighter for a group of young children in Romania thanks to the generosity of children at a Radcliffe school. Local charity Transglobal Humanitarian Aid delivered more than 120 gift boxes that were kindly donated by the children of
A DARWEN councillor has revealed a proposed scheme for residents to rent out their spare bedrooms to tourists was the LibDems' brainchild - not the Conservatives'. Coun Karimeh Foster, of Whitehall ward, said that it was her party's idea for people to
OBJECTORS to a controversial footpath have forced a council re-think. Residents have won a review of the siting of the path from Redvers Road to the new M65 McDonald's. Campaign leader Linda Chelton told Blackburn with Darwen planning bosses that residents
STAFF from NatWest's Leigh branch are celebrating after being voted one of the nation's best. The Leigh Road bank has been short-listed for one of the company's National Service Excellence Awards after being nominated by its customers.
THE British National Party has confirmed that it is eyeing council seats in Lancaster for the local elections in May. The controversial nationalist party, which has recently won seats in Blackburn and Burnley, is looking to strengthen its presence throughout
FIREFIGHTERS spent three and a half hours extinguishing a chip shop blaze in Leigh last week. The chip range at the Happy Haddock in Railway Road caught fire but flames spread through an extractor fan to the enclosed basement where it ignited large quantities
DICK Whittington heads for Bacup this weekend. He is at the Royal Court Theatre, Rochdale Road, in one of the most famous pantomimes of all time. Dick Whittington and his trusted cat open on Saturday. Bacup Amateurs are staging the production, with panto-goers
ROSSENDALE residents are reminded about a series of public meetings to be held next week. Rossendale Borough Council has set up the events to discuss the Council Tax for 2003/04. Four venues have been chosen, starting with Bacup on Monday, when senior
A FAMILY tree researcher is seeking help to find Leigh connections. Martin Riley, of Shaw, is appealing to anyone with information on Napsali Waterworth, a miner, who married Elizabeth in 1892, and lived in Henry Street, Jury Street and Fairhurst Street
A VILLAGE store has scooped two awards in a competition for independent shops. Culcheth Provision Stores won silver in the Neighbourhood Shop of the Year (North of England and Borders section) then lifted the special prize for most nominations. Delighted
THE Rev Russell Smith treasured a bottle of wine he received years ago from Leigh mill owner Jonathan Hayes. But at the Hayes' Mill ex-employees 12th annual Christmas reunion of employees former mill engineer Russell raffled the valuable 1957 vintage
COUNCILLORS on Wigan MBC will hold the following advice surgeries: THURSDAY, January 9: Golborne Library(10-11) B Strett, D Kelly; Lowton Civic Hall (6-6.45) P Franzen; Abram Library, Vicarage Road (10.30-12) A Bennett. FRIDAY, January 10: Leigh Town
RADCLIFFE BOROUGH boss Kevin Glendon has cracked down on indiscipline on the pitch as he sets his sights on the second automatic promotion spot in Division One of the UniBond League this season writes Steve Bott A series of dismissals in recent matches
A RUSSIAN piano tutor who has trained internationally acclaimed pianists has started teaching in Blackburn. Svetlana Westall, 56, from St Petersburg, now teaches children at the Yamaha Music School. She moved to Blackburn after marrying her husband Kevin
A BRAND new series of five races over six days is being promoted by Horwich RMI Harriers and sponsored by On the Run. To be called The Countryside Tour of Horwich and Rivington, it starts on Tuesday June 17 with a six mile trail race at Lever Park and
PRESTON North End have signed Celtic keeper Jonathan Gould on a one and a half year deal. The 34-year-old, who joins on a free transfer, is the second player to join the Lilywhites from Celtic Park this week after striker Simon Lynch made the move. More
AMBITIOUS plan to forge international links with a Chinese community could soon be unveiled by Whittle-le-Woods Parish Council. The village is looking at ways of establishing a 'twin town' in China, following Chorley Borough Council's successful 'sister
I'M not resolving to slim this year, it doesn't work. My aim is to collect all the named fast food packaging I find in my way and post it back to the shops minus stamps!
THE 18-years-old genius who won the Countdown final had the most amazing knowledge of words. The student, who must be blessed with a photographic memory, even defined the rarely heard of answers to a 'T'. But didn't you just want him to get one wrong?
A NEW national celebration joins the booked-up calendar of silly promotional events in 2003 -- National Faggot Week. Five days of activity is planned from January 27 to 31 to highlight the food, which dates back to the Middle Ages. Many unadventurous
CENTURIONS' fans are being given a voice on how to improve their club. New director Phil Coffey wants fans to come up with a top 20 list of ideas on how to improve things at Hilton Park. Phil says: "Obviously I am looking for money- generating opportunities
LEIGH Centurions will come up against a host of familiar faces when their new season kicks off on January 19. Oldham, with four of last season's Centurions in their squad - Paul Anderson, Chris Morley, Chris Irwin and Simon Svabic - will kick off the
FORMER Bolton Wanderers favourite Peter Nicholson will be on the touchline for Leigh RMI on Saturday giving his old mate Mark Patterson a helping hand writes David Magilton The Conference side's new manager has the added responsibility of being coach.
