AN Oscar Wilde classic is brought crashing into the 21st century at the Guild Hall next month. Kaos Theatre will showcase its version of the 19th century satire, The Importance of Being Earnest at Preston's Guild Hall, on Tuesday, February 4 and Wednesday
JIMMY "The Whirlwind" White breezed into Bury last Thursday and entertained an audience of snooker enthusiasts at the Elizabethan Suite. The superstar played againse eleven local players and gave a dazzling display of his snooker skills. The scene was
Bury...0pts Oldham...44pts ONLY the masochists within the Bury faithful could have looked forward to last Saturday's match between high-flying Oldham and Bury, languishing at the bottom of the division, propped up only by Kirby Lonsdale. Oldham have always
NOW that Blackburn with Darwen councillors have, by their own admission (LET, January 8), no useful function to carry out, it surely must be time to consider a drastic reduction in their numbers. Why are we still paying out thousands of pounds for surplus
RESIDENTS in Tyldesley are firmly against plans to build an industrial estate on farm land. Their concerns include increased noise and pollution, extra traffic, and loss of greenery and wildlife which they claim would result from Peel Developments' proposals
TALK to Paul Nicholas and his distinctive voice immediately conveys a golden depth to suggest a man of rich experience. His colourful career in musical theatre spans more than 30 years and Paul has enjoyed recognition and acclaim on the big and the small
BURY ambulance crews who have notched up five years service or more have enjoyed their own golden moment. They have been presented with the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal which is being made available to police, fire and ambulance personnel. A number of
POLICE are hunting a gunman who attempted to rob a 24-hour petrol station. Detectives said a man wearing a balaclava face mask walked up to the service window at the BP garage in Rochdale Road, Bury, at 3.40am on Friday (Jan 17). He pulled a handgun on
TOWN Hall top brass will not have their fines waived if booked for a parking offence. Councillor Wayne Campbell, deputy council leader, said they would not receive special treatment. His promise came after the Bury Times revealed that borough engineer
A TERRIFIED teenager fought off a man who attempted to abduct her. The 19-year-old kicked the man before freeing herself from his grasp. He fled in a red Fiat Punto. Police say the incident happened in Market Street, Tottington, between 6pm and 6.10pm
GARRY Flitcroft is desperate to reach the FA Cup final after hopes of retaining the Worthington Cup were ruined on Wednesday night. The Rovers captain was keen for a swift return to the Millennium Stadium after missing last season's final through suspension
COUNCILLORS today issued a defiant message to the government as they backed a 9.1 per cent rise in council tax in Lancashire and said: "Stop short-changing Lancashire." The rise, equivalent to £70 a year on the average Band D bill, comes despite nearly
A TEENAGER has been cleared of two counts of indecent assault after a four-day trial at Burnley Crown Court. Damien Finch, 19, was found not guilty of the two charges. The jury has not yet completed its deliberations on a further two indecency charges
POLICE today have ruled out any suggestion of foul play in connection with the death of a man whose body was found at his Burnley home. Detectives were called to the home of Roger Ellerton, 56, on Wednesday by friends concerned for his welfare. His body
COUNCILLORS today issued a defiant message to the government as they backed a 9.1 per cent rise in council tax in Lancashire and said: "Stop short-changing Lancashire." The rise, equivalent to £70 a year on the average Band D bill, comes despite nearly
A MAN who was stabbed by a hospital patient suffering from mental illness has slammed the system which let his attacker back into the community. Tariq Hussain, of Queensberry Road, Burnley, was stabbed in the hand at his home by Gavin Willis after he
BURY Reserves, featuring former Manchester City skipper Andy Morrison, lost 3-2 to Avon Insurance League leaders Preston North End at Stainton Park on Wednesday afternoon. The Shakers goals came from Lee Connell and an own goal.
THE Mayor of Pendle attended a meeting of the town's youth council and said she was "impressed" by the members. Coun Pauline McCormick was invited to the youth council on Wednesday to see how they operated. She said: "It was very encouraging to see a
THE nationally renowned Alpha course is running again at St John's Church, Barkerhouse Road, Nelson, from Thursday, January 30 at 7pm. This popular 13-week course is designed to give a practical introduction to the Christian Faith and help explore the
PUB regulars are to raise cash for Bury Hospice at a charity night. The Towler Inn, in Walmersley Road, Bury, will hold the charity sing-a-long on Saturday night from 9pm. The pub has already raised more than £530 and hospice officials are to accept another
THERE might have appeared to be nothing special about a group of eight friends enjoying a five-star meal at the home of Ken and Susan Harvey in Bradley Fold, Radcliffe. But they had it dished up by a top chef working exclusively in their kitchen for the
A SNOOKER starlet is hoping to play snooker champ 'Rocket' Ronnie O'Sullivan as he gets set to compete the North Lancashire Training Group (NLTG) Charity Snooker Event 2003. Neville Whalley,15, of St Gregory's Road, is a regular at Riley's American Pool
A FORMER van driver banned for drink driving has had his disqualification cut so he can get back to work. Neil Southworth, 39, had been ordered off the road for 18 months by Burnley Magistrates but had the ban reduced to 15 months on appeal. Judge Christopher
THINGS are looking up for actor Michael Mears in the new production coming to Bolton's Octagon theatre next week. "The last three times I've played at the Octagon my character's ended up dead," he said. "At least this time, I just think I'm dying." Michael
WHAT has Paul Daniels got hidden in his attic? Why did he agree to let Louis Theroux make a documentary about him? If you want to know, go along to Oswaldtwistle next week and ask the man himself. For the magician, who quit TV six years ago to tour the
FROM Land's End to John O' Groats -- nowhere is too far for one local pensioner who will go miles to raise cash for St Catherine's Hospice, Lostock Hall. Nellie Rhodes, from Much Hoole, who celebrates her 89th birthday next month, is a real trooper when
BLACKBURN British Telecom operators rang up a bumper £1,100 cheque for the Macmillan Cancer Relief Fund. The cheque was the culmination of a year-long series of fund-raising efforts, from abseiling challenges to coffee mornings.
A CONCERNED mum who championed her son's cause after his nose was broken when he was punched in the face ended up with her car being damaged by kicks. Blackburn magistrates heard that Felicity Bottomley was driving her son to hospital when she saw the
A FAMILY was dealt a double blow when close friends died within days of each other. Tom Wilcock, aged 73, died while on holiday in Tenerife, and just two days later the Wilcocks' best friend Auntie Em -- Emma Hughes -- passed away, aged 79. Mr Wilcock
A £20,000 village car park scheme has been given the go-ahead by councillors. Members of Ribble Valley Council policy and finance committee heard Waddington Parish Council wanted a £10,000 grant and £10,000 loan towards the cost of improving the car park
STANLEY'S preparations were disrupted with late cry-offs leaving them to travel to Farnworth with a bare 13 men but those that did play showed tremendous spirit against a side four division above them. Having only played once in only the last two months
A FYLDE rugby player faces a lifetime ban from the sport after he refused an after match random drugs test. It is understood to be the first time a UK based senior player has refused to give a sample to official testing teams. Drugs testers working for
THE latest round-up from the junor soccer scene. BLACKPOOL RANGERS 7 WYRE VILLA 0 -- U10s First Game Wyre Villa defended valiantly for the whole game but were unable to cope with Rangers' superior football. Goals by Matthew Berry, Aaron Hinchcliffe, Tom
TALENT TANTRUMS: Chants of "it's a fix" and "rubbish" greeted the result of the first round heat of Radio Manchester's "Town Team" talent competition between teams from Bury and Trafford at Bury Town Hall. When the Trafford were declared winners by one
MORE companies plan to increase staff levels in 2003, with a five percent increase over the same period last year. That is according to research published by recruitment group Reed, following a survey of more than 1,400 organisations across the UK. When
AD41: Roman emperor, Caligula, was assassinated. 1890: The first train passed over the Forth Bridge. 1900: The world's oldest badminton club was founded in Newcastle. 1916: The American Supreme Court ruled that income tax was unconstitutional. 1935: Beer
PARENTS should begin saving £100 per month from each child's birth towards the spiralling cost of university fees, a Bury-based personal finance specialist has warned. Nick Thompson, of DTE Financial Services, fears couples may have to delay starting
AN APPEAL has gone out to St Annes residents to support a petition for a town council in the area. At a public meeting on Friday -- called by the St Annes Town Council Steering Group -- residents were urged to sign and help circulate the petition, which
WITH just three players missing with injury Stan Ternent will have some key decisions to make in terms of personnel and formation - and he is delighted. "The skipper is not yet ready and nor are Paul Weller and Brad Maylett but other than that we are
BRENTFORD boss Wally Downes knows that his side's third round defeat of Derby County will count for nothing tomorrow afternoon, not least because he rates the Clarets a much better side. "I think that Burnley would beat Derby nine times out of ten, they
BUSINESSES are being warned to be on their guard so they are not ripped off. Trading Standards have received a number of inquiries about firms who send invoices stating that bosses must register their businesses for data protection activities. Fees of
RESIDENTS are furious about plans to bring another 180 prisoners to a Leyland jail. An application to extend Wymott Prison in Ulnes Walton was due to go before Chorley Borough Council's development control committee on night Tuesday night. Recommendations
SOMEONE in the Blackpool and Fylde area is unwittingly sitting on a fortune. There's a lucky £102,320 prizewinner in the resort who has not yet put in a claim And National Lottery operator Camelot is urging the area's Lotto players to have a good sort
CULCHETH Strollers present Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs from Thursday, January 30, until Saturday, February 1. Tickets for the panto at Culcheth Parish Hall cost £3.50, available from Mullineaux's Florist or call 01925 811265.
A FYLDE pensioner who posted a teddy bear sparked a bio terrorism scare after a postal worker thought the parcel contained a batch of anthrax. A Burnley town centre post office was evacuated for two and a half hours when a parcel containing the brown-coloured
TAKE one frustrated sales rep, add a pinch of glamour, stir in some ambition, then leave to simmer and six months later you have a thriving business in the heart of Blackpool... This is the recipe for success concocted by 28-year-old Sophie Preston-Hall
A PRO-life group has welcomed the decision by supermarket giants Tesco not to provide the controversial morning-after pill free of charge to under 16s. And at the latest meeting of Bury Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), members heard
PARISHIONERS at a Fairfield church are praying for a change in Government plans to tax social centre concerts. Under proposed laws, church buildings holding more than five concerts each year would be liable for a one-off licence fee of up to £500. Volunteers
TEENAGE cyclist Ian Calderbank nearly died when he was impaled on the handlebar of his BMX bike. Now his mother is warning others to learn by his mistake and make sure their bikes are safe to use. The horrific injury happened last Thursday (Jan 16) when
PUBLICAN'S daughter Michelle Moore has spoken of her ordeal after being wrongly jailed for glassing a female clubgoer. Tearful Michelle walked free from court after appeal judges quashed her conviction for a vicious glassing attack and decided she should
CARLISLE UNITED 3 BURY 2 (Full time 2-2, Carlisle win on golden goal rule) by Phil Thorp BURY'S hopes of a money-spinning trip to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium for the LDV Vans Trophy final fell by the wayside in heartbreaking circumstances at Brunton
STAN Ternent believes that the FA Cup is the greatest knockout competition in the world and that is why he is desperate for success at Brentford tomorrow. "This is a very important match for us and I like the FA Cup, it is a special competition," he said
POPULAR indie band Ten Stone Dead are looking for support bands for a showcase gig at Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre at the end of their UK tour. Lead singer Pete Norman said: "We want to use the night as platform for local bands. We'll be getting people
AUSTRALIAN blues duo Derrin Nauendort and David Downing make their first Blackpool appearance tomorrow, January 24 at Blackpool's Tower Blues club. Club organiser Alan Pearson said: "Derrin and David have been making big impressions at clubs and festivals
SHE'S got the looks, the talent, a glittering career ahead of her and an infamous boyfriend... but when she wants to put her feet up where does chart newcomer Lucy Carr feel she can relax? Apparently she's not partial to the lure of the big city lights
CHAS Hooper, whose drum shop in Belthorn, near Blackburn, has been well-patronised by drummers of all types and experience, is back at base after a hugely expensive and unsuccessful attempt to run a pub in Bolton. Chas, one of the most popular, enthusiastic
BAE Systems has won a £150m Ministry of Defence contract with its base in Warton, near Blackpool, set to undertake some of the work. The contract will see Warton and the engineering design team at Farnborough, Hampshire, work on an upgrade programme for
DARWEN Vale High School pupils were congratulated this week by mayor Coun Tony Humphrys for completing part of their GCSEs a year early. Thirteen pupils were guided through history, business and statistics qualifications. Head of history Colette Roberts
FRIENDS of Bold Venture Park, Darwen, are planting trees and clearing up the area with the help of volunteers on Sunday week. Volunteers are required for the conservation event in which the Friends will join Blackburn with Darwen Council in tidying the
AN off-duty nurse brought a man back to life after he died for seven minutes at the side of a road. Ronald Harding, 60, was taken ill at the wheel of his car and collided with another vehicle before collapsing with a suspected heart attack. The crash
PLANS for a new surgery in Stacksteads were hanging in the balance today after councillors refused relocation plans. The shock decision was made by members of Rossendale Council's Development Control Committee. The plans involved moving the surgery in
I AM certain that every law-abiding citizen of Preston deserves to see an itemised breakdown that identifies each organisation, or individual, who benefited from the £3 million of their money that was wasted on the dismissed corruption case against Frank
Many of the points raised in your article about the park and ride (January 16) were good, but I'd also like to let you know what we have to live with each day. No one is interested in the park and ride which has cost five million pounds of tax payers'
IT IS a mistake to suggest that Lancashire County Council's new park and ride scheme at Walton-le-Dale is not the success it was intended to be. (January 1) While it is true that the launch and the opening were crippled by the absence of adequate publicity
THINGS are looking up for actor Michael Mears in the new production coming to Bolton's Octagon theatre next week. "The last three times I've played at the Octagon my character's ended up dead," he said. "At least this time, I just think I'm dying." Michael
BLACKPOOL'S most congenial nightclub host Basil Newby has managed to charm councillors into granting him the resort's first 4am licence. The enigmatic boss of the In The Pink Leisure group - which also owns transvestite cabaret bar Funny Girls - scored
A BLACKPOOL head teacher is facing allegations of bullying at a court hearing in London this week. And his school is being sued by a former head of sixth form who quit when the stress became too much. Bill Gillen, head of Arnold School in Lytham Road,
IF anyone is fully aware of the implications of the the Government's call-up order to reservists for a possible war with Iraq it's employment lawyer Keith Cartmell because he's a boss himself. Keith, 45, who is in charge of employment at Keoghs based
A GROUP of high-powered Fylde students pulled out all the stops to create their top prize-winning Formula One entry in a recent national schools challenge. The five 15 and 16-year-olds from Hodgson High School, Poulton, raced against the creme de la creme
A MAN told police he was "sick of being pulled" by them when officers approached him in Stopes Brow, Lower Darwen. But Blackburn magistrates heard tools Lee Holden was carrying and claimed to have bought had been stolen from a garage in Pickering Fold
SOCCER star Garry Flitcroft raised the flag for disabled teenagers yesterday when he made a guest appearance at a local company. The Blackburn Rovers midfielder arrived at Remploy, Blackburn, to officially mark 2003 European Year of Disabled People. And
KENNEL staff are looking for families to rehome three unwanted puppies which were dumped in a Blackburn telephone box yesterday. Glencoe Boarding Kennels is appealing for people to take on the five-week-old border collies. Cathy Dewhurst, kennel manager
CRIME-plagued areas are to get new street lighting, in the latest war on crooks. Hundreds of streetlights are to go up in some of East Lancashire's worst crime spots. Lancashire County Council has consulted with the 12 borough Crime and Disorder Partnerships
AN educational body is to talk to Blackburn College bosses after a complaint over the use of a logo. The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) awarded the Digital Media Centre at the college a Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) award in September 2002
COUNCILLORS today issued a defiant message to the government as they backed a 9.1 per cent rise in council tax in Lancashire and said: "Stop short-changing Lancashire." The rise, equivalent to £70 a year on the average Band D bill, comes despite nearly
A THIEF jailed for stealing rings from the fingers of an elderly hospital patient was caught committing similar offences just days after his release. Blackburn magistrates heard that Raymond Craig, 31, entered the rooms of four nursing home patients,
ROSSENDALE aim to take their fourth UniBond Premier Division scalp of the season when they meet Vauxhall Motors in the League Cup tomorrow. Dale, who are struggling to put a run together in the UniBond first division, have beaten three Premier sides in
ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman will employ no gimmicks in a bid to turn around his side's dismal away form, writes NINA HAIGH. The Reds may top the UniBond Premier Division by five points with two games in hand on second-placed Stalybridge Celtic
NELSON boss Denis Underwood is delighted striker Carl Howarth is sticking with the Blues - even if it is only temporarily. The 13-goal striker is a target for Padiham, Colne and league leaders Bacup at the moment but he has told Underwood he will play
CLITHEROE eased into the quarter finals of the Marsden Cup with a convincing victory over visitors Holker Old Boys. A goal within a minute from Chris Whittingham set the tone of the game, and although it was the only strike in an entertaining first half
ON a wet and muddy pitch good passing football was always going to be difficult for PNE women's game against Rochdale. It was a case of who could stay on their feet the longest and not dive in, and who had the strength to get the ball out of the mud!
THE Police say increasing council tax to pay for extra bobbies is what the people want. And this 'demand' has now been satisfied after it was announced that bills will rise by 27p a week to pay for 80 new community beat managers. Policing services in
BURY Lions Club would like to thank the management and staff at Argos, Asda, Au Naturale Interiors and Tesco for allowing us to collect for charity before Christmas. The total raised over the three weekends was a fantastic £1,817, all of which will go
NOW that the Tories have launched their new policy of cutting public spending by 20 per cent, could our local Tories please spell out what effect this would have in Bury. What impact on school budgets, policing, home care for the elderly? How many community
AS a mother with young children, I wrote two years ago in these columns about the neglected area of Lower Walmersley. I am still very concerned regarding the lack of improvements to spare land, street lighting, back alleys and the appearance of the local
IMMIGRATION is fast emerging as a key political issue as public concern grows about the prospect of a further two million immigrants over the next ten years. Ten countries aiming to join the European Union by 2004, including the Czech Republic, Poland
I NOTE the comments by See Jay (Your Letters, Jan 3) about the number of "paper pushers" and nurses "tending" specialists at Fairfield, which seems to be stripping much-needed nurses from the wards. Perhaps See Jay would like to see the specialists themselves
I HAVE been following recent letters concerning GMPTE's proposals for a tram stop and park-and-ride at Buckley Wells and I hope to be able to address some of your readers' concerns. Our proposals are an active response to increased passenger demand for
BURY South MP Ivan Lewis will visit Bury Grammar School for Boys today (Fri Jan 24). He will meet staff, pupils and governors and will be taken on a short tour of the site.
PARENTS should begin saving £100 per month from each child's birth towards the spiralling cost of university fees, a Bury-based personal finance specialist has warned. Nick Thompson, of DTE Financial Services, fears couples may have to delay starting
COLOURFUL costumes and some spectacular ice skating will be the order of the day in The Nutcracker on Ice, at Preston Guild Hall. Talented Russian skaters from Wild Rose International will star in the new production. Preparations were made to stage this
AIR MILES Manchester League Premier Division Willows...1 Elton Vale...3 VALE returned to league action for the first time since the end of November following their extended run of cup games and postponements. The excitement generated from those cup-ties
THE recent statement by Jack Straw that Muslims understand that Saddam Hussein is bad is true enough. But Mr Straw should also try to understand that Muslims are not in favour of war for the Government's agendas, because we are not stupid. The Government
REGARDING the experience related in 'Tale of horror at festive time' (Letters, January 16), what is this world coming to? All right, the old man he mentioned may have had too much to drink, but for him to be dumped in the middle of the road was wrong.
WHAT a wonderful poem was 'The Burglar's Charter' by Keith Ellel (LET, January 15). Every word, every nuance was so true and symbolic of our changing society and behaviour, or, more like, misbehaviour by so many young people. With four tiny grandsons,
REGARDING your report (LET, January 15), I would like to correct and clarify a few points regarding Darwen Townswomen's Guild's vandalised tree, a special hawthorn which was planted to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Guild, which
FUNFAIR boss Henry Hill died on Saturday from a heart attack while on holiday in the Canaries. Henry senior -- or Big Henry as he was known in the showman's world -- was 58 and well-known to funfair lovers and responsible for the 1980s revival of Tyldesley
THANK goodness moments of weakness are few and far between in the latest offering of the same name at Blackpool's Grand Theatre. Donald Churchill's sharp and witty play stars Gwen Taylor, Michael Jayston and fresh-faced Clare Buckfield as estranged divorcees
A WOMAN posing as a nurse tricked her way into the home of a pensioner. Once inside, the thief searched a number of upstairs rooms at the house in Downham Crescent, Prestwich, before making off with a small amount of property. The 78-year-old victim raised
BURY'S young sporting volunteers have had their achievements acknowledged at the highest civic level. The group of Millennium Volunteers were presented with certificates of excellence at Bury Town Hall by the Mayor and Mayoress of Bury, Councillors John
AN off-duty nurse brought a man back to life after he died for seven minutes at the side of a road. Ronald Harding, 60, was taken ill at the wheel of his car and collided with another vehicle before collapsing with a suspected heart attack. The crash
ROVERS misfit Ciccio Grabbi scored twice to dispose of a Newcastle Reserves side with a number of first-teamers on duty yesterday. An inexperienced Rovers Reserves came out 2-1 winners at Gateshead Stadium against 10-man Newcastle, who had goalkeeper
A COMMUNITY has teamed up to fight plans to extend a motorway junction. Residents in Fulwood fear that if junction 31a on the M6 is extended, it could double the amount of traffic in the area. At the moment only traffic from the south can exit the motorway
A BUDDING young angler has been left high and dry after thieves stole thousands of pounds worth of fishing gear. Twelve-year-old Sean Boyle was left with nothing but a pair of wellies after his family's camper van was trashed and all his equipment taken
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Sequence and Ballroom Dancing with MCs Denise and Frank Kellett, Tony's New Empress Ballroom, Town Hall Street, Blackburn, 7.30pm-11pm. Annual Bingo Night, St Bartholomew's
THEATRE fans can look forward to a varied programme in February. The Club Players are set to pack the Broughton and District Club, Whittingham Lane, Preston with their latest production Sylvia's Wedding. The spirited comedy tells the tale of Gordon and
DESPICABLE is an overused word - but it is hardly strong enough to describe the conduct of Raymond Craig. Just one year after being sentenced to three years in prison at Burnley Crown Court for stealing rings from the fingers of an elderly hospital patient
WORTHINGTON CHALLENGE TROPHY Quarter-final Ramsbottom United...2 Newcastle Town...4 THERE was no respite for the beleaguered Rams as Newcastle stormed into a 3-0 lead to add some Trophy torment to Ramsbottom's league woes. Newcastle got off to a great
IN THE light of recent events, I agree with the Home Secretary that the time has come to ignore the views of those who take the moral high ground on the introduction of identity cards and to bring one in that can be used to access a host of services.
REGARDING the siting of the new health centre in Darwen, I can't help feeling there is a hidden agenda in this proposal. The site chosen is so obviously wrong for so many people as to be ridiculous and this is shown all the more by councillors wanting
RENEWED plans have been submitted to Wigan Council for 30 new homes on the former Albion Nurseries site at Newton Road, Lowton. Hope Carr ward Councillor John O'Brien has told planners he will oppose the application on the site which in 1989 was the subject
SCHOOLS Alive returns to Blackpool Grand Theatre to showcase the unique talents of schoolchildren throughout the Blackpool area from Monday, January 27 to Wednesday, January 29. A total of 24 schools representing primary, secondary and special needs schools
FIREFIGHTERS spent three hours tackling a blaze involving a load of discarded kitchen units. The outbreak, the latest in a series of fires at the same location, happened on land at Elbut Lane, Birtle. A fire crew from Bury extinguished the blaze which
MORE people will be paying council tax in Bury next year. Finance chiefs estimate that 1,784 new houses will be built over that period, along with more "affordable" properties. All told, there are 77,644 taxable houses in the borough. This figure is then
THE British National Party has announced its plans to stand in more Burnley seats at the next council elections in May. The BNP said it had already found at least five candidates who will contest seats across the town. But party strategists are still
WORK is already underway to prepare the ground for Environment Week. Among the planned events is Bury Environment Fair on May 24, which will celebrate green initiatives, activities and events taking place across the borough. Staged at the Castle Leisure
A PUB could be the toast of the town if it scoops a hat-trick of awards. David and Gill Heyes, who have run the Garsdale Hotel, in Woodhill Road, Bury, since 2000, are up for three top industry awards. On Wednesday (Jan 29) they will travel to London
A GARDEN centre manager has hit out at thieves who snatched wheelchairs from the front of his store. David Yewdall, general manager at the Stephen H Smith Garden Centre in Radcliffe Moor Road, Bradley Fold, was given the two chairs by his head office
HEALTH centres throughout the borough are to become leaders in their field. Bury Primary Care Trust (PCT) has been given a cash injection of more than £280,000 to be allocated to 12 local practices to pioneer improvements in patient care. The news builds
DAVID Dunn could be in a line for a recall against Sunderland for the first time since the club effectively put him up for sale. Dunn has missed the last three games through injury after limping out of Rovers' Worthington Cup semi-final first leg against
A BABY girl, who was less than two weeks old, died after suffocating in her parents' bed, an inquest heard. John Holmes, now of Westfield Drive, Preston, was at Preston Coroner's Court on Thursday, January 16, for the inquest into the death of his newborn
A POST Office worker from Preston has scooped £60,000 after placing a bet of just £2. Robert Sterritt, from Longton, decided at the last minute to put a bet on in his local bookies. When he got home he checked the results, and found that all six of his
LAST month the Plungington Road shopping area was the scene of 95 street crimes. That marked an increase of five from December 2001. But now traders, shoppers and police are hoping for a U-turn in this disturbing trend. The area has been earmarked for
TWO Preston-based soldiers proved they were a class act after scooping bronze in the British Bobsleigh Championships in Austria, where they were caught on camera by the BBC's Blue Peter crew. Privates Stuart Garnett and Paul Thompson, of the Lancastrian
BUS drivers heading out of Preston along Leyland Road say traffic congestion in Penwortham is so bad, it's causing a 20-minute delay every journey. And bosses at the bus company, John Fishwick and Sons, say they now have to send out two extra bus every
A PRIMARY school gutted by an arson attack is to have a state-of-the-art sprinkler system installed in its new building. Pupils at Gregson Lane, Hoghton, have been in temporary classrooms since fire destroyed the original buildings in 2000. The new buildings
HEALTH chiefs in Preston are urging people not to panic after revealing that a hospital worker, suffering from tuberculosis (TB), treated hundreds of patients. The member of staff from Royal Preston Hospital, who has not been named, is currently taking
THE annual general meeting of Rosegrove Action Group will be held on Thursday, January 30 at the Junction Hotel on Rosegrove Lane at 7.15pm. Any member of the public is invited to attend. Anyone interested in being elected to the group in an official
THE British National Party has announced its plans to stand in more Burnley seats at the next council elections in May. The BNP said it had already found at least five candidates who will contest seats across the town. But party strategists are still
A WOMAN cabbie was allegedly groped by a drunken passenger in an early hours row over a fare, a jury heard. Burnley Crown Court was told how Mark Rinaldi, 38, was said to have made obscene comments to the driver, suggesting she commit a sex act on him
The event launches a partnership between Bury FC and Bury Girls and Ladies FC as part of the Nationwide League's Supporters of Tomorrow scheme. A number of initiatives designed to promote women's soccer in the town have been arranged and it is expected
MUCH-TRAVELLED striker Colin Cramb has jumped on board the Shakers' promotion bandwagon. The talented Scotsman made a massive impression on loan at Gigg Lane while a Crewe Alexandra player two years ago. Forming a superb partnership with Jon Newby, who
SHAKERS boss Andy Preece reports no new injuries ahead of Saturday's match at Kidderminster Harriers. Definitely out are Gareth Seddon (back), Matt Barrass (knee), Nicky Hill (hamstring) and Simon Whaley (knee). Tests on Whaley's knee have thankfully
FIRST, a sort of apology - last week the Bulletin announced there was going to be a membership drive on Saturday. Anyone who went to Gigg Lane clutching their membership fee, ready to sign on the dotted line, must now be aware that it failed to materialise
SHAKERS boss Andy Preece wants his players to use Tuesday night's LDV Vans Trophy elimination to spur them on to promotion. The manner of the 3-2 golden goal defeat, via a deflected shot two minutes from the end of extra time, left them stunned and bitterly
PENDLE Council's park ranger service held a bird box making day at Barrowford Park at the weekend. The boxes were made by volunteers and then either taken home or put up within the park where the ranger service will number and monitor the box and send
VOLUNTEERS with ideas on how to spend a £20,000 cash pot have been invited to get involved to help boost their local community. Pendle Partnership's Community Chest needs people who know the area and its needs to sit on a management committee and earmark
A NATIONAL Lottery winner yesterday won a cut in a 10 year jail term for sexually abusing six young children, but will still have to pay his victims £60,000 compensation out of his jackpot. Steve Robert Maund, 43, of Coronation Road, Nelson, was jailed
MASKED robbers fled with a quantity of cash after raiding a Radcliffe post office. The men burst into the Chapelfield branch in Stand Lane at 5.30pm last Thursday (Jan 16) and attacked the security screen. They then stole a quantity of cash before making
HOPPERS made it two away successes in a row with a convincing win at fourth placed Tynedale. Resolute defence and some fine running by backs and forwards alike produced one of the best performances of the season against a side who had lost only one home
RESIDENTS in a street where an armed siege took place, today claimed they were suffering a living hell because of hooligans and vandals. And people living in Midgeley Street, Colne, said despite repeated calls to the police nothing had been done to clear
A NEW community safety officer has been brought in to try and boost the number of Neighbourhood Watch groups in the centre of Preston. Rachel O'Brien hopes to add 20 new groups to the 133 schemes currently in Preston. She said: "The main sector that needs
FLAG wavers who gathered on Leigh Town Hall Square for a filming session feature in a new exhibition at the Turnpike Gallery. The large scale projection work of commissioned artists Emma Rushton and Derek Tyman show moments of the crowd scene and explores
HYNDBURN Council is halfway through an unprecedented experiment to take its budget plans to the people. And acting leader Coun Jean Battle said the roadshows, which explain the process for setting the budget and ask residents for their views, have been
RESIDENTS on a troubled estate have had extra security measures fitted in their homes to help reduce their fear of crime. Twenty-four houses on Walmsley Close estate, Church, have had door chains and bolts, spy holes, door alarms, and window locks installed
HYNDBURN'S leisure and bereavement services have been told by government inspectors there is room for improvement . A report into facilities provided by the council gives them a one-star rating on a scale of 0 to 3, saying the service was "fair". The
WORKAHOLIC Steve Waddington just can't keep away from his job -- even after a serious road crash. The engineer is celebrating 25 years with the same firm and has hardly missed a day. His idea of a good time is not dancing the night away -- he would rather
THE first intake of police community support officers has hit the streets. The new bobbies on the beat will assist regular police officers in their fight against crime and help to provide high profile patrolling. The first 32 of 160 recruits have passed
A PUB could be the toast of the town if it scoops a hat-trick of awards. David and Gill Heyes, who have run the Garsdale Hotel, in Woodhill Road, Bury, since 2000, are up for three top industry awards. On Wednesday (Jan 29) they will travel to London
A 32-YEAR-OLD man was attacked and robbed as he used a cashpoint machine. The victim lost consciousness after being punched in the face during the incident which happened in Bury New Road, Prestwich. Police say he was assaulted after hearing a noise as
A TERRIFIED pensioner had a gun held to her head during an armed raid at a Whitefield store. The 69-year-old woman was working at the Late Shop in the town's Fountain Place when a gunman entered. He demanded money from the till and left with the contents
COMMUNITY artist Andrew Williams offers an open invitation this weekend to join him and help create a little art in the park. Andrew will be in Philips Park, Whitefield, putting together a sculptural piece which will be made from natural objects gathered
A BUSINESSMAN was slashed with a machete as he tried to fight off four raiders. The 57-year-old, who has asked not to be named, was struck on the head and the arm during the attempted robbery at his Mail UK shop in Bury Old Road, Whitefield. His son activated
FIREFIGHTERS lifted a 200 metre exclusion zone early today after it was put in place following a fire. Around 200 people were evacuated from their homes in Prestwich at midnight on Wednesday after a garage containing an acetylene cylinder was set alight
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after thieves targeted a Royal Mail sorting office in Clitheroe. The Chester Avenue sorting office was targeted by three offenders at 9.40am on Wednesday. They drove a silver Ford Fiesta into the compound and pulled
A TEENAGER is heading to Africa to teach children about the dangers of AIDS and HIV. Sarah Roscoe, 19, who works with adults with learning difficulties at Stanley Grange, Hoghton, flies to Lesotho in March as part of a project run by Christian organisations
A COUNCIL leader has called on traders to help fund the running costs of a £600,000 state-of-the-art CCTV system in Clitheroe. Nine CCTV cameras installed in the town centre in 1994 have been replaced and an extra 11 cameras sited in Clitheroe and Whalley
A STREET-drinking ban comes into force in three Ribble Valley villages next month after councillors agreed to call time on drunken youths. The ban, in Sabden, Read and Simonstone, is the first on small villages in Lancashire and possibly the UK. It was
BUSINESSES are being warned by trading standards staff of a new cash scam. Officers have received complaints from firms who have been sent invoices and demand letters stating that they must register their business for data protection purposes, for a fee
PRACTICAL ways in which people can contribute towards world peace were explored at the latest meeting of the Bury-based Greater Manchester Association for Spirit and Work. The event, held at the St James's Centre, began with delegates identifying personal
SAYING it loud and clear is hearing aid audiologist Edwin Slater, who celebrates 50 years in the business next month. Edwin, who has many clients throughout the Bury, Radcliffe and Whitefield area, has just become a Fellow of the Society of Hearing Aid
A VACUUM packing company hopes to have it all sealed up when it comes to capturing the potentially lucrative food store sector for its products. Supplying supermarkets is now on the shopping list of the Vacuum Pouch Company, after being awarded a major
CLARETS fans who plan on making the trip to Brentford tomorrow are being reminded that the game is strictly all ticket and there will be no admission on the day without a ticket. The tickets are on sale from the Turf Moor ticket office until 4.30pm this
IF any cup tie is likely to have a sting in the tale this weekend it is the Clarets against Brentford - and that is before a ball is kicked. This is because Burnley's Bertie Bee is set to go wing to wing with the Bees' mascot Buzzbee in search of a place
STAN Ternent believes that the FA Cup is the greatest knockout competition in the world and that is why he is desperate for success at Brentford tomorrow. "This is a very important match for us and I like the FA Cup, it is a special competition," he said
FIREFIGHTERS lifted a 200 metre exclusion zone early today after it was put in place following a fire. Around 200 people were evacuated from their homes in Prestwich at midnight on Wednesday after a garage containing an acetylene cylinder was set alight
BUSINESSES are being warned of the dangers of "work rage" in the office. "North-west employers need to tackle both the symptoms and the root cause of work rage to protect themselves and their business," says solicitor Sue Jenkins, partner in the employment
CHILDREN in the Moss Side area of Leyland are on track to get a skateboard park and BMX course. South Ribble Council chiefs want to plough a staggering £105,000 into the village centre and plans include a kick-about area and youth shelter. Yesterday (
THOUSANDS of pigeon punters winged their way to Blackpool's Winter Gardens last weekend for the British Homing World Show of the Year. The 32nd annual flutter, which featured 200 stalls, auctions, bird 'beauty' parades and specialist equipment sales,
FOREIGN Secretary Jack Straw cemented links between Blackpool and central government by lending his signature to an agreement which will bring a £3.74m boost to the area. The leading politician took time out from his busy schedule to sign Blackpool Council's
BLACKPOOL'S Macmillan Windmill cancer unit officially opened its doors this week -- and got the thumbs up from its first patient. Annette Sefton became the unit's first lady when she attended an appointment there on Monday morning. She was presented with
BLACKPOOL could receive a massive boost to its economy after being picked to participate in a new government pilot scheme designed to breathe new life into shopping and business areas and surrounding communities. The resort is one of only 23 UK towns
IT SOUNDS like a plot straight out of the movies, but a Blackpool sandgrown'un has just been named president of worldwide company, Warner Home Video. James Cardwell, who used to lived at Cherry Tree Road, Marton, said he was "honoured" to be promoted
COMPLAINTS from local residents about fast drivers and inconsiderate parking have prompted a week long operation to educate motorists. After receiving complaints from Anchorsholme and Norbreck Residents, PC Colin Howorth organised the scheme, which began
JIGSAW, a social group for widows and widowers is keen to welcome new members, especially men. The friendship group has more than 50 members, aged between 50-80, who meet monthly at Leigh Miners Club in Twist Lane, where they organise monthly day trips
THUGS brutally attacked a man during an early morning orgy of destruction in which £5,350 worth of damage was caused to four parked cars. The vandals turned on the good neighbour after he apparently went out to confront the group of men. He was assaulted
A FOREST of remembrance where trees are planted in memory of a loved one is now a prime root of finance for Bury Hospice. Last year, the hospice in Dumers lane, Radcliffe, joined the growing "Life for Life" scheme which established the Woodgate Hill Memorial
DAVID Dunn could be in a line for a recall against Sunderland for the first time since the club effectively put him up for sale. Dunn has missed the last three games through injury after limping out of Rovers' Worthington Cup semi-final first leg against
CARLISLE UNITED 3 BURY 2 (Full time 2-2, Carlisle win on golden goal rule) ROLLERCOASTER rides are well noted for leaving people feeling sick, but this footballing version only left one set of thrillseekers with a sinking feeling in their stomachs. It
THE rising profile of indie band Jobe gained momentum this week, with a little help from some well-known players on the Manchester scene. Last week the unsigned band from the Ribble Valley gave the media a sneak preview of their new Love Buzz EP. Top
WHY celebrate your 16th birthday by getting you tongue pierced when you can shock your nearest and dearest just as much by releasing a dance track? Fair enough, it's not an option open for most of us, but Charlotte Church, the teenage opera singer with
A BAND are set to perform a disappearing act in a bid to get the recording of their new material spot on. Missed Her Bliss -- who have been around in different guises for nearly seven years -- will be quitting the live scene in order to concentrate on
THE name might not be too familiar but the chances are you'll have definitely heard of one of the singers when Tex-Mex rock band Los Pacaminos come to Colne Municipal Hall next Saturday night. For among the line-up is '80s chart-toppper Paul Young, famous
A CONWOMAN stole £200 cash from a pensioner in Blackburn Road, Darwen, between 1pm and 1.30pm yesterday. The woman pretended to be from a loan company, and stole the money when the homeowner went upstairs for documents. She was in her late 30s with blonde
SHOP owners today urged council bosses to reinstate parking on a pedestrianised street before dwindling trade puts them out of business. Traders in Bridge Street, Darwen, claim they have suffered since it was pedestrianised 19 years ago. They now want
ROSSENDALE Museum has been saved from closure thanks to a lottery grant and a deal with Lancashire County Council. The museum was set to be axed as part of budget cuts imposed after Rossendale Council was named the worst local authority in the country
I FELT compelled to write about the subsequent responses last week to the letter 'Laws Favour Minorities' (Citizen, January 2 ). Why should Christmas Day become a normal working day like any other? Yes, there are organisations that are open on Christmas
LIKE them or loathe them, Manchester United are a successful football team both on and off the park. However, they would never win the most sporting trophy if one was available. Indeed, they appear to have a win-at-all-costs appraoch which is quite a
I AM writing in response to your front page article about the new Park and Ride at Walton-le-Dale, Citizen January 16. Park and Ride is a long-term project that is already showing signs of success. We already have 200 regular users and have provided more
I REFER to the letter from Mr Samir Vohra stating that Christmas is no longer a Christian day and that on Christmas Day there is a decline in church going (Citizen, January 16). If Mr Vohra wishes to visit my local catholic church in Fulwood for either
WHILE accepting the increasing problem of waste disposal and the need for more recycling facilities as a way forward to help combat the problem, I feel that Lancashire County Council's proposal to site a 'Waste Technology' site at Leyland must certainly
POPULAR indie band Ten Stone Dead are looking for support bands for a showcase gig at Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre at the end of their UK tour. Lead singer Pete Norman said: "We want to use the night as platform for local bands. We'll be getting people
THE rising profile of indie band Jobe gained momentum this week, with a little help from some well-known players on the Manchester scene. Last week the unsigned band from the Ribble Valley gave the media a sneak preview of their new Love Buzz EP. Top
WHY celebrate your 16th birthday by getting you tongue pierced when you can shock your nearest and dearest just as much by releasing a dance track? Fair enough, it's not an option open for most of us, but Charlotte Church, the teenage opera singer with
RADCLIFFE schoolgirl Lindsay Agg has been crowned Bury Schools Cross Country champion. Lindsay, 15, attends Coney Green High School and has represented them in the cross-country championships for the last five years. Every year Lindsay has been placed
A BAND are set to perform a disappearing act in a bid to get the recording of their new material spot on. Missed Her Bliss -- who have been around in different guises for nearly seven years -- will be quitting the live scene in order to concentrate on
THE name might not be too familiar but the chances are you'll have definitely heard of one of the singers when Tex-Mex rock band Los Pacaminos come to Colne Municipal Hall next Saturday night. For among the line-up is '80s chart-toppper Paul Young, famous
WHAT has Paul Daniels got hidden in his attic? Why did he agree to let Louis Theroux make a documentary about him? If you want to know, go along to Oswaldtwistle next week and ask the man himself. For the magician, who quit TV six years ago to tour the
AS Blackpool is routed off the mainline map, councillors are vowing to get the resort back on track by demanding a reinstatement of the London Euston service from Virgin Trains. The Strategic Rail Authority's recently announced that from May 18 there
FYLDE Coast animal lovers with totally enclosed gardens are being asked to help solve a prickly problem in Scotland. Thousands of Hebridean hedgehogs could be culled by order of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) in the spring after being blamed for a drop
PUPILS at a Poulton primary school spread their wings and turned bird-spotters this week to take part in the RSPB's Big Schools Birdwatch. Chris Batty, RSPB Ribble Discovery Centre assistant, helped children at Poulton C of E School to identify the birds
COUNCILLORS are to be banned from guzzling complimentary tea and biscuits while on planning site visits in a bid to avoid allegations of bribery. The new instructions, which also cover sandwiches, restrict Lancashire County Council members and officers
ANGRY nightclub bosses in Poulton have questioned the legality of an unofficial poll presented to council officials. More than 4,000 questionnaire surveys were distributed among the town's residents by members of the Poulton Historical & Civic Society
HALLS, Balls and Catheralls will come under scrutiny when Leigh Local History Society meets at 7.30pm on Wednesday in the Derby Room at Leigh Library. Fred Holcroft will talk about Lancashire Surnames.
TYLDESLEY East community beat officer, PC Andy Wright will hold surgeries on: Tuesday January 28 (2-3pm) at St John's School, Mosley Common and Wednesday -- January 29 (3-5pm) at Garrett Hall School, Tyldesley.
THE age of steam came to life for the second time at Atherton Probus Club when Norman Astley gave part two of his illustrated talk on steam locomotives. At the next meeting on Tuesday, January 30, at 2pm in the Jubilee Hall, Eric Howe will speak on Wigan
COUNCILLORS have rubber stamped a new move to allow "sensitive decisions" to remain behind closed doors. Lancashire County Council's cabinet backed plans to end Press access to documents relating to those decisions. The authority has given the Part Two
PARENTS suffering disrupted nights because their babies and toddlers have problems sleeping can take advantage of a new group in Blackburn. The Sleep Group teaches mums and dads the latest techniques on how to encourage their children to bed down for
BACUP manager Brent Peters was delighted to see his side shoot to the top of the league with a 6-0 rout of Chadderton at home on Wednesday night. After going into second spot with a win over Padiham last weekend, Bacup made the last leap to the summit
GREAT Harwood manager John Hughes has told his side to stop playing as individuals and start playing as a team. Harwood are 12th in NWCL Division Two after an inconsistent season and they face the league's whipping boys Leek CSOB tomorrow. "We have learned
ANDY Grimshaw says there will be no room for sentiment as Ramsbottom United fight against the drop. Grimshaw, joint manager at the Riverside with Jimmy Clarke, says players will be picked on merit and their ability to keep the club in the North West Counties
A TUG-OF-WAR has broken out between four rival NWCL second division clubs over Nelson striker Carl Howarth. Padiham put 'seven days' on the player last week - gave the mandatory seven days notice to Nelson that they intended to speak to Howarth about
WOLVES striker Michael Branch has emerged as Craig Brown's latest target in his hunt for a new frontman. The former Everton players was included in a reserve team which took on Bury. This season, he has been frozen out at Molineux and has been on loan
ANOTHER defeat, the sixth in a row in the league, this time at Ipswich, really puts the pressure on Craig Brown to turn things around. We think he probably can turn it round given time, but has he got enough time left? At Ipswich a very depleted North
RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans said more officers could be put on the beat if unnecessary bureaucracy was cut. He believes police are so bogged down in paperwork that they can rarely leave their desks. Mr Evans reacted with anger to the council tax increase
IT was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to enjoy themselves over the festive period and to celebrate the new year with a big bang! I wouldn't have it any other way, nor would the thousands of other people who bought fireworks to celebrate. How can
A MAJOR constitutional change could have a significant effect on the lives of all of us and we can have our say. The opportunity to have our own regional government in the north west is being offered by the Government. This would mean more of the big
I WRITE in reply to the letter from Sally Warren of Greenmount, Bury, headed: Fed-up of these racist letters (Jan 10). I have read this page keenly over the past month and have never seen a letter with racist content. Which page has she been reading?
BURY'S schools have been ranked in the country's top 30 and are the second best in the whole of Greater Manchester. The GCSE performance league tables released this week show that an average of 56.3 per cent of pupils sitting exams in Bury's 18 secondary
KNOWLEDGE-hungry children can't get enough of arithmetic. Pupils at St Thomas' in Leigh are even turning-up early for a spot of breakfast schooling in the primitive art of sums. The magnet drawing an ever-increasing number of children to pre-school lessons
GRAB a bargain at Blackpool Central Library's sale of old books and recorded sound. Hardback fiction is available from 25p and non-fiction from £1. Non-fiction paperbacks are 50p and junior books 25p. Cassettes are 50p, CDs £1 and music scores £1. Maps
FORMER Lance Todd Trophy winner Leroy Rivett has joined the Centurions. Winger Rivett won the award for his four try Wembley final show in 1999. He has been released by Warrington and joins Leigh on a match-to-match basis. Coach Paul Terzis said of his
HOSPITAL patients were sent home after cash-strapped health bosses were forced to close a psychiatric ward in a bid to balance the books. Now furious health watchdogs are to write to Mr Alan Milburn, Secretary of State for Health, asking him to intervene
