IN the depths of winter it should not be hard to understand the plight of homeless teenagers. There are many events that lead to teenagers leaving home, from marriage splits and new partners to disagreements that can break up parent-child relationships
ROSSENDALE and Darwen MP Janet Anderson wrote a humble letter to her constituency officials this week after missing a vital meeting. On Friday she was due to attend a general committee meeting of the constituency to discuss among other things the government's
THINK of possible topics upon which to base an evening of stand-up comedy and the events of September 11 will probably be one of the last things you'll arrive at. But for Omid Djalili, who is coming to Blackburn next Saturday, it seemed a natural thing
RFU National League Two Sedgley Park...43pts Harrogate...7pts IT is for days like this that we watch sport. Week after week we turn up to see our team play and, for most of the time, we are happy with their honest endeavours. But occasionally, so rarely
Lancashire Amateur Shield Quarter Final Elton Vale...3 Downall Green United...3 (after extra time. Downall won 4-1 on penalties) ELTON's bid to emulate their 1996 team by winning the prestigious Lancashire Shield was cruelly ended at the last eight stage
ROAD workers in Blackburn were left red-faced after they burst a water main and sent a 30ft arch of water cascading over the road. Construction workers in Barbara Castle Way were digging around the cast iron main at the junction with Preston New Road
UNSWORTH stumbled to a second consecutive defeat on Saturday, against promotion hopefuls, Breightmet. The previous week, carelessness and lack of concentration cost them a victory over a poor Whalley Range side, when a comfortable win was on the cards
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 there's a cracker of a match for two of our
WHEN I was younger if you wanted to make a telephone call you put two old pence in a machine in a telephone kiosk and dialled whoever you wished to speak to. Nowadays, you dial a number and then get five or six options. When you have decided which number
POLICE arrested only five people on the day -- and praised Rovers and Spurs fans for their good nature. Three men from the Blackburn area were arrested after another man from Blackburn complained he was assaulted. A Blackburn man was taken into custody
BLACKBURN Rovers' Worthington Cup triumph was the first domestic soccer showpiece to be played indoors. Officials made the decision to close the Millennium Stadium's massive roof in Cardiff hours before the kick-off as rain set in. Both Rovers and Spurs
FOOTBALLERS' wives celebrated victory with their loved ones -- but said it was really a victory for benefactor, the late Jack Walker. Partners and children of Rovers players watched from a special box in the stadium and cracked open the bubbly on the
FORMER Rovers boss Roy Hodgson was delighted to see his old club lift the Cup - but remembered the man who paved the way for it all to happen. "Blackburn are so much in Jack Walker's debt," said Hodgson, remembering the Rovers benefactor who pumped millions
NILS-Eric Johansson admitted he may have made contact with Teddy Sheringham. Spurs protested loudly for a penalty in the dying minutes after Nissa's challenge on the Tottenham favourite. "My first reaction was that he dived," said Johansson. "I can't
UNCLE Jack would have been proud of you - that was the message to Graeme Souness' ecstatic team from the Walker family. A number of the millionaire benefactor's family were at the Millennium Stadium to see Rovers' victory, the second major success for
REGULARS at the Knowles Arms, Pleckgate Road, Blackburn, began celebrating straight after the final whistle. Andrew Caton, 34, of Highbank, Blackburn, said: "They played really well and deserved this. It has been a long time coming." His son Cameron,
MOSCOW City Ballet conjured up a timeless tale of deceit and doomed love as Swan Lake took flight in Blackpool on Monday. The well-known company, which has given nearly 2000 performances in the UK, stuck to an atmospheric and traditional rendition of
POLICE were called to Mostyn Avenue, Bury on Saturday morning (Jan 4) after a 75-year-old woman was robbed. The victim was approached by a lone thief who snatched a purse from her grasp and ran off. He is described as white, 5ft 10ins, aged in his 20s
TRAFFIC was brought to a standstill in freezing weather after a lorry jack-knifed across Manchester Road, Ramsbottom. The vehicle partly entered a garden close to Park Farm shortly after 6pm on Friday (Jan 3). Motorists heading in both directions were
TWO men are being hunted by police after they stole a shopping bag from a pensioner on Saturday (Jan 4). One of the offenders approached the 63-year-old woman as she walked across the car park of Tesco's store in Valley Park Road, Prestwich, at 1pm. He
MEMBERS of a community church packed a seven-and-a-half ton truck to help the people of Albania. As part of a twice-yearly charity collection for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, Fishpool Seventh-Day Adventist Community Church collected clothes
BURY Inspector David Shepherd has been commended for his dedicated service. The 41-year-old father-of-one has been presented with a Long Service and Good Conduct Award by the head of Greater Manchester Police, Chief Constable Mike Todd. He has notched
PUPILS at a Bury ballet school could be forgiven for dancing on air after their latest success. The Parklands Dance Studio in Victoria Street has triumphed in the English Ballet Championship. Its pupils beat dancers from 32 other ballet schools to take
POLICE are to hand deliver letters to 100 of the area's most active criminals -- and offer to arrange a job interview for them. A letter to Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale's criminal fraternity said they will be watched over the next year but now was their
A SECURITY guard was struck across the head with a hammer during a robbery at a Bury paper mill. Two teenage thugs approached the 36-year-old guard as he sat in a security cabin at the main entrance of Olives Paper Mill on Saturday evening (Jan 4). One
A MAN was convicted of four counts of inciting children on a bus to commit acts of gross indecency. Paul Williams had denied the offences involving four girls aged between 11 and 14. A jury at Bolton Crown Court, heard that Williams, aged 55, of Rydal
EMPLOYERS have a unique chance to find out what flexible working will mean for them and their staff. Free places at a half-day conference are being sponsored by Bury Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP), which is part of the NW Work-life
BLACKBURN Rovers duo Hakan Unsal and Tugay are to be featured on a specially commissioned statue to commemorate the achievements of Turkey's World Cup squad. The Turkish government are planning to erect the work in their main parliament building in Istanbul
HAKAN Sukur scored the fastest goal in World Cup history as Turkey finished in third place after a 3-2 victory over co-host South Korea. Sukur, who had failed to score in Turkey's previous six matches in the tournament, netted the goal just 10.8 seconds
ROVERS supporters and a community's residents face nearly two years of traffic misery because a crumbling bridge needs repairing. They are being asked to be patient following the start of essential work in Mill Hill, Blackburn, today. Waterfall Bridge
FORMER Ewood favourite Jason McAteer today admitted it's agony having to watch Sunderland's on-going relegation scrap from the stands. The Republic of Ireland international is still waiting to show Howard Wilkinson what he can do after complications in
TWO men who ended up in court after an alleged attack over control of a mosque have been cleared -- as a judge called for peace. Qados Ahmed, 47 and Mehdi Khan, 52, were found not guilty of unlawful wounding and battery after a two-day trial at Burnley
THOUSANDS of pounds will be pumped into efforts to improve the health of people living with heart disease and cardiac problems in Burnley and Pendle. The money has been offered to Burnley Borough Council by the National Health Service. Funding, £13,000
BURY will be aiming to register their first double of the season when they make the long trip to South Wales to take on struggling Swansea City. The Swans are currently three points adrift at the foot of the Third Division table and - keen not to fall
POLICE found hard drugs with a street value of almost £2,000 and a stash of cash after following a car in the early hours, a jury heard. Burnley Crown Court was told John Handley, 54, got out, slung a package of cocaine to the ground and tried to run
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 76-year-old woman had her handbag stolen as she walked across a field in Radcliffe. The theft happened at 11.20am on Monday (Jan 6) near to Leafield Close. The pensioner was approached from behind by the teenage offender who escaped with the handbag
AS the prospect of war with Iraq looms closer, a meeting in Bury will examine how individuals can bring peace to the workplace! The first Greater Manchester Spirit at Work meeting of the New Year is to be held on Monday (Jan 13) at the St James Church
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 (Jan 3). He had been in failing health for a number of years. Mr Wilson
A STIRRING performance by Hoppers saw them deprive New Brighton of their 100per cent home record in this impressive victory. Every member of the team and the replacements used gave total commitment with the pack leading the way. The first 15 minutes,
JANUARY is usually a quiet time in clubland, as most of us are tightening our belts, so scout around for the January sales in the North West clubs. Music wise, the tune everyone is going on about at the moment is Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott in
LEADING lights in Preston's community have been named on the New Year's Honours List. Ishwer Tailor, president of the Gujurat Hindu Society, and Edward Topping, chairman of Vine House cancer care centre based on Cromwell Street, Preston, are set to become
A FRANCISCAN friar of fine voice and fast hands entertained shoppers and raised cash for the needy at Nelson's Arndale Centre. Father Francis, based in North Wales, toured the country selling his music tapes and crochet work to help feed the starving.
INVESTIGATIONS are continuing into a blaze which caused £10,000 in damage at Accrington's outdoor market development. A spokesman today said the May completion date for the development would not be affected by the fire and discussions would be held in
A GREAT Harwood couple beat up two teenagers who they claimed had attacked their son who was a victim of bullying, a court heard. Mark and Cheryl Smalley, both 33, George Avenue, appeared at Hyndburn Magistrates facing one charge each of common assault
AS the prospect of war with Iraq looms closer, a meeting in Bury will examine how individuals can bring peace to the workplace! The first Greater Manchester Spirit at Work meeting of the New Year is to be held on Monday (Jan 13) at the St James Church
AN ANAESTHETIST who lived in Lytham will face an inquiry today which will decide if conditions imposed on his registration by the General Medical Council can be lifted. Dr Michael Dale, 48, formerly of Westbeach, Lytham and now of Wain Well Mews, Lincoln
DAMAGE valued at £600 was caused when vandals smashed the main display window of Debbie's Toyz shop in Butterstile Lane, Prestwich. The damage was caused between 6.30pm on Friday (Jan 3) and 7.30am on Saturday. It is not yet known if anything was stolen
ST MARY'S Church was the setting for a high-profile soap funeral this week. Leading the mourners was Coronation Street killer Richard Hillman as his latest victim, Maxine Peacock, was laid to rest. The scenes were filmed on Monday (Jan 6) at Prestwich's
DETAILS of sports and arts organisations will be at your fingertips when Fylde Borough Council produces a comprehensive directory. With over 90 sports clubs and leisure providers currently on file the Council is looking to add to this number to provide
THE silver screen had already faded to grey for the last time, bringing an end to more than 90 years of cinema history in Whitefield. And this week, the Mayfair building was finally razed to the ground. Bulldozers have been at the Bury Old Road site for
LAST year's Manchester Commonwealth Games will leave a lasting legacy for the economy, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The organisation, which represents more than 17,000 members in Lancashire, Cheshire, Cumbria, Merseyside and
BURY companies which received support from their local enterprise agency in the early stages are not only more likely to have survived, but often outperform competitors, according to a tracking study published by Barclays. Research by Barclays and the
BUSINESSES in Bury are missing out on profits by ignoring advice, a study just published shows. Small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) seeking and using advice typically make double the profits of those that don't; but more than half of businesses in
BURNLEY have signed a French defender ahead of tomorrow's game with Ipswich Town at Turf Moor. Drissa Diallo has signed a one-month contract after receiving international clearance. Burnley boss Stan Ternent completed the signing late yesterday afternoon
THERE are many knock-on effects of sides being struck down by injuries and suspensions, one of the biggest perhaps being footballers playing out of position - Graham Branch knows all about that. Given the choice, the 30-year-old would probably start on
ANDY Payton could return to the squad to take on fellow play-off chasers Ipswich Town tomorrow. The Clarets striker has only had 14 mintues of first team action this season, when he replaced Alan Moore in the 77th minute of their 1-0 defeat at home to
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
COUNCILLORS on Wigan MBC will hold the following advice surgeries: FRIDAY, January 10: Leigh Town Hall (7-8) M Whiteside, K Cunliffe; Tyldesley Town Hall (6.30-7.30) B Wilson; St John's School, Mosley Common (6.15-6.45) A Stephenson; Astley St Stephen's
SEALOCRETE, the Ainsworth chemical storage firm blamed by villagers for polluting their air, has been given the seal of approval by health and safety bosses. Now residents have been invited on a guided tour of the Church Street depot in an effort to allay
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
MRS Bessie Warren, who had a lifelong commitment to the teaching and development of young, local swimmers, has died at the age of 89. The president of Bury and Elton Swimming Club, she was was heavily involved in teaching generations of children swimming
TWENTY-THREE stone baker Paul Willan was told he had four years to live unless he lost weight. Now Paul (46) has become the first person in the UK to undergo groundbreaking keyhole surgery to help him win his battle of the bulge. Since the landmark ten-hour
ANDY Payton could return to the squad to take on fellow play-off chasers Ipswich Town tomorrow. The Clarets striker has only had 14 mintues of first team action this season, when he replaced Alan Moore in the 77th minute of their 1-0 defeat at home to
THESPIANS from the Teresian Players and the Phillis Davies School of Dance will host a magical, musical pantomime version of Beauty and the Beast at Fleetwood's Marine Hall from January 14-18. Tickets are priced at £5 for adults, £4 for children and OAPs
THE Highways Agency has received 16 letters of complaint from Darwen residents about the Blackburn Services M65 sign, a spokesperson revealed today. The month-old campaign started when residents found that the new station, built off the motorway link
SICK and dying trees in Sunnyhurst Woods, Darwen, are set to be cleared under a £74,000 boost to make the beauty spot a better place for visitors. Blackburn with Darwen Council and the Forestry Commission have awarded £37,000 between them to clean up
IN researching my family history I have found that my great-grandfather in the 1880s owned a grocer's shop at 9 Bridge Lane, Preston. This was passed on through three generations. However I cannot discover where Bridge Lane is or perhaps was (if it has
THINK of possible topics upon which to base an evening of stand-up comedy and the events of September 11 will probably be one of the last things you'll arrive at. But for Omid Djalili, who is coming to Blackburn next Saturday, it seemed a natural thing
TWO hairdressers from a top Blackpool salon hope to earn the title of cream of the crop after being shortlisted for a nationwide competition. Stylist Wayne Scott and salon junior Natalie Baker -- who work for Saks Hair and Beauty on Queen Street in the
GIVEN the freezing winter weather, you might be forgiven for thinking Scottish soccer stars would jet off to warmer climes for their mid-season training break. But not Partick Thistle players: they're heading for their favourite UK holiday hotspot...
FIRE-CRAZED criminals in and around Blackpool are getting away scot-free because members of the public are not using a national hot-line set-up to combat arson. The Arson Hotline was set up alongside the Crimestoppers service in 2001 as a joint venture
TRADITIONALISTS and police officials are poised to attack a top Poulton nightspot when its public entertainments licence comes up for renewal next week. Since its opening in March 2000 The Residence nightclub, on Vicarage Road, has helped to put Poulton
A DESPERATELY ill teenager, who was rushed hundreds of miles for a heart and lung transplant only to find the organs were infected, now faces an agonising wait for a new donor to be found. Leonie Snowdon from Penwortham suffers from the crippling condition
CONMEN posing as water board officials struck twice in the space of an hour after tricking their way into elderly people's homes. The first incident happened in Swift Close, off Barbara Castle Way, Blackburn. An 80-year-old man let two men into his home
A BLACKBURN man caught with heroin wraps tucked into his socks was told his life will be cut short unless he kicks his drug habit. The warning was given to Richard Gregson, 24, after a judge at Preston Crown Court sentenced him to 30 months in jall for
A LOOK at the key stats and figures from the Worthington Cup victory over Spurs. ROVERS: BRAD FRIEDEL: Arise Sir Bradley of Blackburn! Deserves to be knighted after pulling off a string of top saves...10 MARTIN TAYLOR: Had his hands full against Ziege
ROUNDABOUTS, bridges and borough boundaries are all to be sponsored by businesses in a bid to increase a council's road maintenance kitty. Blackburn with Darwen Council is now on the hunt for a firm which will find businesses prepared to splash the cash
STARS from Rovers' past joined in the celebrations of the glorious Worthington Cup triumph and were quick to heap praise on Graeme Souness and his players. And Matt Woods, a player in the last Rovers side to play in a major final in 1960, claimed the
PEOPLE in East Lancashire are being asked to put homeless teenagers up in their homes as part of a pioneering new project. Blackburn Cathedral is seeking volunteers in East Lancashire to give homeless young people a fresh start through a new Church of
THE cheers of celebration almost lifted the roof off the Millennium Stadium. But after the first throws of ecstasy, the Blue and White Army hugged each other with relief -- the margin between success and failure was far too close for comfort. Every fan
BLACKBURN goal-hero Andy Cole last night said he felt 'over the moon' after scoring the goal which clinched Rovers' first major Cup triumph in 74 years. Cole wrote his name in Ewood folklore after firing Rovers to a 2-1 win over Spurs in the Worthington
PARENTS of a 20-week old baby left with brain damage after contracting meningitis today warned parents to always be on alert for signs of the virus. Just five days after Eva Heeks was born in her home in Blackamoor Road, Blackburn. she became ill with
BLACKBURN is set to get Lancashire's first Muslim state school within three years, it was revealed today. The 700-place girls' school for 11 to 16-year-olds will be created by bringing one of the town's seven private Muslim schools within the control
AN emotional Graeme Souness last night hailed his Worthington Cup heroes - and backed them to win their fight for Premiership survival. Even though he has won every honour in the book in his illustrious career, Souness choked back the tears as he led
ERIC WHALLEY will be 'gutted' if Accrington Stanley don't win promotion to the Conference this season. And that is not surprising. The Reds are five points clear with three games in hand on their nearest rivals Stalybridge and look odds-on for the title
I really must question the rationale of compulsory HIV testing of substantial numbers of NHS staff recruits. What is the cost / benefit analysis? There has never been a single reputed case of any UK patient being infected by HIV as a result of contact
IT'S extremely disappointing to go out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle. It's even more disappointing to go out at the hands of a club such as Rochdale. No disrespect to them, but we thought we had left all that sort of thing behind us. It just shows
OVER the last 15 years, Blackburn has undergone massive regeneration projects, according to town leaders. They believe anything other than a top hotel for businessmen and tourists to stay in will send out negative signs. Margo Grimshaw, who owns several
THE wives of two Leyland artists saw the opening of a special exhibition dedicated to their husbands, a year after they died. Charles Catterall, 82, and Harry Procter, 62, who were members of Farington Art Group, painted hundreds of scenes featuring Leyland
BAD weather took its toll again last weekend causing the cancellation of Heys' game against Wilmslow Albion. The lack of action was unfortunate, but it did give an opportunity for a full-scale training workout as manager Adie Moran had the foresight to
IF I had a day off work and decided to go shopping, which is what most OAPs use the bus for, I would not do it between 8am and 9am when the buses are full of school children. Old people get on the bus and complain that the kids have no manners but they
EVERY weekday around 8.30am, I travel along Manchester Road from Whitefield to Bury, and on one occasion I almost killed a cyclist who had to swerve out of the cycle lane to avoid a car parked in the lane during restricted hours. On further observation
RAY Honeyford (Your Letters, Dec 31) states all the reasons why, in his opinion, we do not want the BNP in Bury. The BNP have changed considerably over the years and are trying to rid themselves of the bad image that the media and other political parties
STANLEY D. Parr (Dec 17) clearly does not understand how our 30 years of influential membership of the EU will be affected by the enlargement. Britain will have 9.8 per cent voting power, as will France. Germany will have a slightly larger percentage
A TALENTED company of ice skaters who hold 285 competition medals between them is bringing a spectacular new show to Preston. Russian ice stars from Wild Rose International are some of the world's best skaters, and include an Olympic gold medal gymnast
HE presides over one of the weirdest collection of performers ever assembled since the days of the Victorian freak show. As the Ringmaster from Hell, Doktor Haze is the driving force behind one of the most innovative shows around -- the Circus of Horrors
REMEMBER in the weeks leading up to Christmas, Robbie the Bobby, the Bury FC mascot, was making public appearances at venues in and around town. He and his friends were handing out sheets for a colouring competition for children. Robbie had a very good
Bury...8pts De La Salle (Salford)...44pts CONTESTS against De La Salle are always hard-fought, and though the scoreline flatters the visitors, neither side was prepared to compromise. The pre-match assessment by the Bury coaching staff was correct, the
COUNCILLORS have ordered further investigations into the way decisions are taken by Blackburn with Darwen's Labour executive board. The move, at last night's policy and review committee, followed the presentation of a report which showed that many decisions
A SOLICITOR defending a man charged with possession of cannabis warned of the danger of "post code justice". Elliott Taylforth told Blackburn magistrates that had his client lived in London he would not have been arrested for possessing £15 worth of the
A MAN was seriously injured after he was hit by a car following a pub fight last night. Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident outside The Swan Pub, Astley Gate, Blackburn, at around 7pm. Inspector Neil Hunter said that early indications showed
A FROZEN Old Alts' pitch put paid to any football last Saturday as Unsworth tried to trigger another run of good results. After two defeats, this was going to be as good as anywhere to return to form. Like most of the local football in the area, and most
THE bad weather that has persisted throughout Christmas brought about the postponement of Heys final game in 2002. The cancellation of the home game against Irlam MS gave the opportunity for a full training session on Saturday afternoon and the response
DO the PCs who are that PC and sensitive over the Union flag (LET, December 21) not know it is a symbol of their employer, the Crown and, ultimately, the Queen? They should be reprimanded themselves for bringing the police force into disrepute by implying
I WOULD like to register my protest regarding the fluoridation of the water supply. Apart from forcing the public to take unwanted and unneeded medication with possible side-effects, it will make no difference to the dental health of the young as very
JOHN Holden (Letters, December 28) is evidently more upset over Blackburn bus station than I am. The whole layout was obsolete from the start. It would have been better for the buses to draw up head-on to a platform as they do at Preston bus station,
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
SUSPENDED battler Garry Flitcroft watched the game from the stands but lifted the trophy along with captain-for-the-day Henning Berg. He was obviously delighted to see his team mates win the game against the odds without the suspended trio Tugay, Craig
LANCASHIRE Evening Telegraph reporter Ian Singleton has been a Blackburn Rovers fan since he was four. Here he explains what it was like for a life-long fan to see the team lift the cup... IT'S 74 years since Rovers won a major cup, so this is an unknown
IT was a fantastic homecoming for Welsh boss Mark Hughes who more than enjoyed clinching the Worthington Cup on his home turf. The veteran striker moved into midfield in the absence of the suspended Garry Flitcroft and Tugay and proved an absolute revelation
FLYING winger Keith Gillespie last night hailed Rovers' Worthington Cup success as the highlight of his career. Before yesterday's 2-1 victory over Spurs, the Northern Ireland international hadn't won any major honour in the English domestic game. So
BLACKBURN is set to get Lancashire's first Muslim state school within three years, it was revealed today. The 700-place girls' school for 11 to 16-year-olds will be created by bringing one of the town's seven private Muslim schools within the control
NORTH Manor could be the rather grand name given to a new ward which may be established in the Ramsbottom and Tottington area. The Boundary Commission is in the process of carrying out a review to establish if another ward is needed in this constituency
WOMEN in the borough are being urged to put their best foot forward and join former Bury Woman of the Year Marie Caldwell in the Great North Run. Veteran runner Marie will be running alongside a number of staff from Bury Hospice, for whom she is raising
SO that is it, it's all over for another four years. The best team won and we can't always say that so no matter what weaknesses there have been, it has not been a bad World Cup. But what a finish -- the best keeper in the tournament makes a tragic error
IF Sunderland plan to beat the drop, then much will depend on the goalscoring form of Tore Andre Flo and Kevin Phillips during the remainder of the season. So far, Howard Wilkinson's little and large strike duo have failed to find the spark necessary
RONALDO scored two second half goals as Brazil won the 2002 World Cup with a 2-0 triumph over Germany. Brazil, the only nation to qualify for all 17 tournaments, improved upon its own record haul by winning a fifth World Cup title. "I feel happiness and
A PRESTON bus driver has a very special passenger on Thursday, January 10. He is ferrying Prince Charles around Lancashire. Bus boss David Wilson, 44, was chosen to drive the Prince of Wales around the county when he arrived for a series of flying visits
POLICE have called Preston's Miley Tunnel a potential death trap following an accident that killed a Fulwood student who fell 40ft beside the disused line on Christmas Day. Mark Bateson, 21, spent Christmas Eve at Tokyo Jo's nightclub, Church Street,
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. No time was wasted to save the elderly springer spaniel, aptly named 'Lucky', which was out for
NEARLY 2,000 graves are being moved from a former Preston burial ground in a project to transform an ancient landmark church into a multi-million pound community and leisure centre. Plans are in the pipeline convert the former St Augustine's Church, Austin's
FRIENDS and colleagues at Burnley General Hospital waved goodbye to an old friend this week. Maura Haworth has worked as a domestic assistant for 26 years with spells at Marsden Hospital, the former Victoria Hospital and Burnley General. She plans to
ST AUGUSTINE'S RC School pupil Michael O'Brien won first first prize in a competition to design a Christmas card for the Pennine police division. Around 40 schools took part in the competition and Michael was presented with his prize, a remote control
A POLICE chief who played an important role in the inquiry into the Burnley riots is leaving Lancashire for the Metropolitan Police Service. Superintendent Alfred Hitchcock has been appointed a commander with the London force -- the equivalent of assistant
THE leader of Burnley Council today vowed to oppose council officers' recommendations and back a group of Burnley residents fighting against controversial plans for industrial development in their neighbourhood. Two campaigners spoke out against plans
A SOCCER thug attacked a 17-year-old girl after his Giro went missing, a court heard. David Sean Parkinson's teenage victim had to have her lip stitched and also lost a tooth while other teeth were knocked out of alignment causing her to need a brace.
STAFF at Bury College will take part in a national strike on January 30 if pay talks fail. The three main unions in further education colleges, NATFHE, the ATL and UNISON, are set to join forces for industrial action. The strike will go ahead if the employers
POLICE are to hand deliver letters to 100 of the area's most active criminals -- and offer to arrange a job interview for them. A letter to Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale's criminal fraternity said they will be watched over the next year but now was their
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
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 CYCLIST said to have followed a young mother in a park told her she had a nice bottom, a court was told. Burnley Magistrates heard how drunken Shahid Latif, 29, denied he was following the woman, who was with her young son. When she told him she would
A PAINTER and decorator drove his ex-partner to an isolated moor and attacking her, a court heard. And Peter Ashdown, 35, would have left Catherine Burrows there "bruised, battered and beaten" if a worried passing motorist had not intervened. Burnley
SHOPPERS in Nelson are being urged to have their say on proposals to revitalise Scotland Road, during two days of consultation next week. Consultants Chesterton want views on a number of designs for the future use of vacant shops in one of the town centre's
FUNDING of at least £60,000 over three years will be allocated from Pendle Council's capital budget for the proposed Barnoldswick Stream 'n' Steam Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme (HERS). English Heritage invited bids for the schemes and a council
A COUNCIL leader and a planning chief have been told to keep their noses out of Barnoldswick's business after a play house planning row. Area committee chairman Coun Margaret Bell faced calls for her resignation this week after the "fiasco" about whether
A TWELVE YEAR OLD boy has been hit by a car on a main road in Preston. The boy was crossing Garstang Road, just south of the crossroads at Broughton, when he was struck at around 8am this morning (Friday). Police closed the road, and a traffic warden
A FULWOOD couple, who blame the deaths of their three daughters on radiation from the nuclear industry, claim they are being fobbed off by Prime Minister Tony Blair. Stella McMaster and her husband Joe, a former chemist at BNFL Springfield, near Preston
FOR a Leyland family about to up sticks and head for a life of sunshine in Australia, one thing will be shore-ly missed, and that's good old fish 'n' chips! The Chamberlain family are nearly all packed ready to leave the rain of the North West to emigrate
SPEEDY pupils from a Preston school will be putting their nerves to the test this week in a racing challenge. A team of six Year 11 technology pupils at Archbishop Temple School, St Vincent's Road, Preston, have put their heads together to design their
OSCAR the boxer proved he was man's best friend after he trekked two miles to see him in hospital. The clever canine couldn't bear to be parted from Michael Ince -- so he set off from his home in Hodder Grove to Blackburn Royal Infirmary.
THE Broughton Players are performing a comedy by Simon Williams, Laying the Ghost, from February 5 to 8, at the Playhouse Theatre, Market Street West, Preston. For tickets and information call 862787. THE next recital hosted by the Harris Music Club will
A TEENAGER was seriously injured when he was crushed between two conveyor belts in a fertilizer factory. An investigation has been launched into the incident at Joseph Metcalf Ltd, Vine Mill, Brookside Lane, Oswaldtwistle, at 3.20pm yesterday. Paramedics
SHE'S more commonly associated with the National Lottery, but the country's most famous stargazer has linked up with a local hospice to promote its own version. Astrologer Mystic Meg is backing East Lancashire Hospice's bid to raise £120,000 a year to
GOING for "brokers"! That's Bury-based Moscrop Robinson and Chadwick. The insurance brokers, which is located in the town's St Mary's Place, has recently joined the Broker Network Ltd (BNL), the UK's leading network of independent insurance brokers and
AN enterprising Bury woman is providing a range of personalised dietary services over the Internet. Louise Calland, who is a state registered dietician, founded her Eating4health dot com company in 2000, combining her role as businesswoman with that of
THE next meeting of Whitefield and Unsworth area board will be held on Monday, February 3, at Castlebrook High School, from 7pm.
TWO budding princesses found themselves part of a special fairytale when 'Prince Charming' got down on one knee during a visit to their village yesterday. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales bowed to little Elena and Hanna Charles, from Hurst Green
1828: The Bank of England issued a one penny banknote. 1840: Sir Issac Pitman began the first correspondence course for his shorthand system. 1868: The last deported convicts landed in Australia. 1920: The Treaty of Versailles was ratified, officially
Soccer night misery: A 600 name petition was drawn up by fed-up Fishpool residents who said match nights had become reminiscent of the wartime blitz. People living near to the Gigg Lane football ground blacked-out their homes and sat on the stairs in
DIVERSIONS are in place on St Annes Road West until January 13 after Fylde Borough Council were forced to undertake emergency sewer repairwork on behalf of United Utilities. It is suspected that a collapsed sewer is to blame for the problem between Park
A ST ANNES landlord has been found guilty by Blackpool magistrates of obtaining housing benefit payments from Fylde Borough Council by deception. Geoffrey Booth, 60, of Lake Road, Ansdell, leased a flat in October 2001 to a person who was in receipt of
SHE was arguably Britain's first sex bomb and her face and figure launched a strip cartoon in the Daily Mirror that became a national institution during the Second World War and now the hunt is on for information about Chrystabel Leighton Porter or 'Jane
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
THE popular three-day Bent and Bongs Beer Bash will be held at Atherton's Formby Hall, starting Thursday, January 30. The 14th beer festival is organised by Atherton and Tyldesley Round Table. More than £100,000 has been raised for local charities by
A BLIND man has told how he feared for his life as he was punched, kicked and robbed by a gang of heartless thugs after getting on the wrong bus. Paul Mainwaring, from Bury, was learning to use public transport with the use of his white cane on Saturday
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 who
A POLICE officer gave neighbours on a plush housing estate a cold wake-up call on Tuesday morning (Jan 7). PC June Ritchie, of Bury Police, knocked on the doors of 25 houses on the Whittingham Drive estate in Ramsbottom telling owners to take the keys
THE silver screen had already faded to grey for the last time, bringing an end to more than 90 years of cinema history in Whitefield. And this week, the Mayfair building was finally razed to the ground. Bulldozers have been at the Bury Old Road site for
BURY FC are holding another of their popular Shakers' Party Nights at the town's Chicago Rock Cafe on Wednesday, January 29. Star of the show will once again be the fabulous Steve Ferringo Band and all Bury fans are urged to get along for what is sure
Prestwich Heys...0 Atherton Town...2 - VISITORS Atherton Town have been regular winners against Heys and last Saturday was no different as they not only took away Heys' unbeaten home record, but inflicted on them their first defeat in the last ten games
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. The midfield ace suffered a downbeat Christmas period, playing no part in the visits of Kidderminster and Hull City
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 there's a cracker of a match for two of our
GRAEME Souness today said David Dunn can leave Blackburn Rovers. Speaking exclusively to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, Souness revealed he decided to put the England midfielder up for sale after growing increasingly frustrated at the player's high-profile
BIZARRE website of the moment award goes to Moby, who brought the house down several times in one night in Manchester last year. While most music stars settle for sites which just give details on new releases, their last haul of awards and some titbits
HE'S the cult star who has been taking university dance events by storm over the last few months. Forget Chesney Hawks and Jason Donovan. Zippy is the man -- or puppet -- to have at your bash in the next few months! Along with Bungle and the slightly-camp
WHILE most teenagers were buying football kits or tickets for the big local games, 14-year-old Jodie Finch was saving up for his first set of decks. "I was never really sporty, but I was into dance music," confesses Jodie, who, at the age of 23, is now
MEMBERS of Bury Sports Advisory Council are reminded that the next meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 14, in the Castle Leisure Centre, at 7.30pm. Representatives from all sports organisations are cordially invited to attend.
ONE of the longest established bowls leagues in the area is on the verge of extinction because they can't find anyone to fill the role as secretary. The Ramsbottom Bowling League has been in existence for more than 70 years but it could be forced to fold
MAGISTRATES fined contractors building a gas pipeline across East Lancashire a total of £32,000, after they caused a series of river pollution incidents in the Blackburn area. McConnell Dowell Limited, based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, pleaded guilty
MEMBERS of the Friends of Rossendale Museum will hold their annual general meeting on Thursday, January 23. The meeting will be held from 7.30pm in the museum at Whittaker Park, Rawtenstall. Anyone interested in the future of the museum is welcome to
EAST Lancashire MPs were today hopeful that a settlement of the firefighters' dispute was within reach after meeting local fire brigade members at Westminster. And they pledged to pressure the government to find the extra cash needed to "pump prime" any
ROSSENDALE residents have been warned about the dangers of using 'unadopted streets' after a woman was injured when she slipped on ice. A councillor heading a campaign group calling for action says the problem of unadopted streets in the Valley is 'huge
ON behalf of the staff and patients at St Catherine's Hospice, can I say a sincere and heartfelt thanks to all those people who supported us so generously during 2002. Whether you gave time as a volunteer or by organising events, or donating to us, your
A MASSIVE hike in council taxes is forecast again for the coming financial year. What's new? Indeed, it's the same old chestnut every year. Maybe the grants system and those exempt from paying should be changed. Michael Jack highlighted the concerns of
HE'S the cult star who has been taking university dance events by storm over the last few months. Forget Chesney Hawks and Jason Donovan. Zippy is the man -- or puppet -- to have at your bash in the next few months! Along with Bungle and the slightly-camp
THERE is a wide variety of entertainment lined up at Colne Municipal Hall during February which will see an '80s chart-topper and a festival favourite both putting in an appearance. On Saturday, February 1, one of Britain's finest vocalists, Paul Young
HE presides over one of the weirdest collection of performers ever assembled since the days of the Victorian freak show. As the Ringmaster from Hell, Doktor Haze is the driving force behind one of the most innovative shows around -- the Circus of Horrors
WHILE most teenagers were buying football kits or tickets for the big local games, 14-year-old Jodie Finch was saving up for his first set of decks. "I was never really sporty, but I was into dance music," confesses Jodie, who, at the age of 23, is now
CONSERVATIONISTS from Wyre Borough Council are among 30 local authorities who have received an award for their work under the Tree Warden Scheme. The scheme was set up after the great storms in 1987 and 1990 caused hundreds of years' worth of damage to
A BLACKPOOL Baptist is swapping the pulpit for pen power in an attempt to make people think more carefully about their views on refugees. Ken Paskin, minister at Blackpool Baptist Church, is taking a sabbatical from his church duties to write a book called
ANIMAL rights activists are calling on council officials to launch an inquiry into the welfare of animals at Blackpool Zoo following the death of one of its best loved apes. Kukee, a 34-year-old western lowland gorilla, is thought to have died in the
BLACKPOOL football legend Sir Stanley Matthews is one of the favourite names being considered for a new memorial statue outside the new Wembley stadium. The game's governing body, the Football Association, is proposing to conduct a national poll of the
IT'S HARD to believe that cute and cuddly bunnies could be abandoned -- but the RSPCA says a "rabbit crisis" is looming because so many of the creatures are being left at its centres. In Blackpool alone Longview animal centre has 14 rabbits in its care
A STRUGGLING Anchorsholme post office could be shut down after regional bosses decided to force customers to use other venues in the area. Regional officials from Post Office Ltd -- the body which runs all 9,000 post offices in the UK -- plan to close
THE amount of gun crime in Lancashire was still unclear today after police and government figures differed. According to the Home Office, the number of firearm offences almost doubled from 59 to 103 in one of the biggest increases in the country. But
MAN of the match Brad Friedel was quick to play down his impressive role in Rovers' Worthington Cup success. The American goalkeeper pulled off three stunning world class saves to keep out Spurs, with former England striker Les Ferdinand the man denied
A GREAT grandmother has taken the poetry world by storm after winning an international contest -- aged 94! Margaret McHugh, a regular contributor to Poet's Corner in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, won the International Poet of Merit at her first attempt
BUSINESS leaders today claimed Rovers' magnificent triumph in the Worthington Cup would help to put Blackburn back on the international map. With victory at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium guaranteeing a place in European football next season, they said
ROVERS supporters and a community's residents face nearly two years of traffic misery because a crumbling bridge needs repairing. They are being asked to be patient following the start of essential work in Mill Hill, Blackburn, today. Waterfall Bridge
A NEW brand of young driver has hit the streets since Christmas and put pedestrians at risk by turning pavements into virtual race circuits, police say. Many miniature motorised scooters, which can sell for as little as £140 and travel at speeds up to
ONE of the greatest days of our lives - that was the verdict of Rovers fans as they left the Millennium Stadium with the widest smiles in Cardiff. Anthony Brine, 31, a teacher, of Mill Hill, Blackburn: said: "This is great for the town. "We're back in
BLACKBURN woke up today with a smile as wide as the Jack Walker stand after Graeme Souness's heroes put Rovers in wonderland. Thirty thousand ecstatic fans who made the journey to Cardiff and tens of thousands more back home began a giant party when the
ANYONE who thought there was no future in 'Cole' in this part of Wales was not at the Millennium Stadium to see Andy Cole re-ignite Blackburn's flagging season. For the red-hot Rovers striker not only fired the goal to deliver his new club's first major
THE next meeting of Whitefield and Unsworth area board will be held on Monday, February 3, at Castlebrook High School, from 7pm.
"SOCIAL Justice and Fairness to all" claims Blackpool MP Gordon Marsden's hollow words (Citizen, 2/1/03) for his party policies while hypocritical as to the increasing distress and cross-the-board poverty his party has inflicted on many of society's most
IN regard to the firemen -- I say, give them the money and let them get on with the unique job they do of saving lives. How many of us have already forgotten about September 11? Consider all those incredibly brave men who lost their lives because they
IT was Blackburn with Darwen Council's opposition regeneration spokesman that first suggested the idea. Having visited Dusseldorf a major European conference city -- several times, Coun Alan Cottam has seen for himself the vetted scheme where delegates
FYLDE Rugby Club has been given the go-ahead for a housing development on its grounds which could save it from possible closure. The club, on Blackpool Road, Ansdell, faced an uncertain future with current debts believed to be around £750,000. But members
WHAT did the police achieve with their upheaval of traffic approaching the town centre the other day? Why were so many men and vehicles deployed in an operation of such magnitude, armed to the teeth? As a taxpayer, can the police, or whoever was responsible
I AM concerned, for a number of reasons, that three interpreters of Punjabi and Mirpuri are being employed at Fairfield Hospital, funded through the Health Action Zone: This is not encouraging the integration or the learning of English which I understand
AFTER commenting to a friend that Tommy Handley was probably as well remembered a figure of World War Two as was Winston Churchill, I began to reflect on how many personalities of sound radio are still remembered. Flanagan and Allen perhaps, and that
RECENT correspondence from Nicole Ivanoff, Roger Thompson and A. R. Airey displays a mixture of ignorance, prejudice and personal spite. Moreover, it demonstrates that they have not studied the full Audit Commission report, but rely on potted summaries
IT should perhaps have been a salutary experience for Bury Council to be branded as "weak" by the Audit Commission, but obviously not. Council chiefs understandably don't like being criticised and feel the outcome of the inspection was unfair. They have
38-YEAR-OLD cyclist has died following a collision with a heavy goods vehicle in Bury. The man cycled passed stationary vehicles waiting at a set of traffic lights in Manchester Road at about 6.15pm on Thursday when the accident happened. As he neared
