NOBODY actually likes paying taxes, but householders in one East Lancashire borough have set an immensely high standard when it comes to meeting their obligations. For residents in the Ribble Valley are among the best in Britain for settling their council
IT'S been a busy few months for the Blackburn Martial Arts and Kick Boxing Club. For the Albion Mill-based club in Ewood has been awarded a special certificate from the Japanese Sword School while Sensei Ray Parker, Sensei Simon Jones and Sensei Jimmy
HASLINGDEN Primary School clinched their third National Mini Handball Festival title in one of the most exciting finals in years. Playing in front of a vocal home crowd, Haslingden beat Wirral Handball Club 9-7 at Haslingden Sport Centre to make it a
MAY I thank to all the people who helped me when I fell in Darwen town centre on Friday, June 20 -- those who stayed with me, paramedics and the doctor and nurses at Blackburn Infirmary. Everyone was so kind and helpful. EILEEN JENNINGS (Mrs), St Albans
CONSIDERING that just lately, it seems impossible to pick up a copy of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph without someone either saying that Darwen has had very little invested in it or, on the other hand Blackburners, are telling us to stop complaining
DOES the final draft of the constitution represent the 'tyranny' claimed by some newspapers? I think most people will judge it as a fair attempt to ensure that a Europe of 25 nations can work more openly and effectively than at present. It signals an
BOB and Ilse Splaine are off to a Buckingham Palace garden party next week. The popular Atherton duo are with a civic party from Wigan Council, on which Bob is a Liberal Democrat member. But they could just as easily have been invited as a tribute to
A DEDICATED and selfless beacon of community service has been awarded the Ernest Kay Memorial Award for Achievement by the Rotary Club of Radcliffe. Agnes Tonge, of Countess Lane, Radcliffe, was presented with the award which is given out annually to
IF you are involved in a sports club or organisation, and want a say in the future of sport in Radcliffe, make sure you attend a sports strategy meeting on July 10. Radcliffe Area Board has committed itself to producing a document that considers the provision
BRITISH National Party councillors have been told to come clean over their policies after being accused of failing to take part in a council debate for 14 months. The party was criticised after refusing to put party policy to the test more than a year
BLACKBURN Rovers' chief executive John Williams said the club had no option but to sanction David Dunn's transfer to Birmingham City. Dunn finally brought down the curtain on his Rovers career last night after agreeing a £5.5 million club-record move
BECKHAM may have packed his bags for sunny Spain but a Preston lass is hot footing it to his former Old Trafford club to sing a string of chart-topping hits at a charity bash. Lucky Zoe Dillon, from Cottam, won a 25-minute star role slot at The National
THE strange history of a village football team which once played Manchester United is the subject of a study by a local historian. Peter Holme, of Hoghton Lane, Higher Walton, has a soccer fanatic's dream job, working as a volunteer researcher at the
THE head of Preston College has promised an investigation after an awards ceremony for students with learning disabilities was never organised, despite being approved by him. College chiefs say they are baffled how the presentation, set up in memory of
THE Preston branch of a homeless organisation could be forced to move out of the city if it can't find a site to build on. The local arm of Emmaus, which hopes to give 25 homeless people somewhere to live and work as well as an allowance, has been trying
HUGE allowance rises could be on the way for Burnley councillors after an independent panel recommended increases of 60 per cent. But members are likely to refuse to accept the rise and instead opt for an allowance increase in line with inflation. Last
SPORTING activities for children of all ages are promised by Lancaster city council this summer. Archery, fencing, golf, basketball, tenpin bowling, trampolining and snorkelling are all part of the mix at fun sessions being organised by the council's
BUSINESS leaders in Lancaster are being urged to put their full weight behind county council plans for a new M6 link road to Morecambe. A united front is the only way to ensure progress on building the long-awaited route, says David Taylor, the new President
VENTURE down to the dark leafy glades of Williamson Park and you're sure to be in for a surprise. Witches, woodcutters and wicked stepmothers lie in wait as The Dukes' prepares its annual open air production to go 'walkabout' in the shadows of the Ashton
A MORECAMBE born artist now working in London has come back to his roots for a new exhibition. Anthony Padgett's 'Divine Illuminations' will be on show at the resort's Winter Gardens theatre every Sunday between now and September as the historic building
RESIDENTS in Morecambe were celebrating this week after planners threw out a bid to create 20 new houses on the site of a 1930s fire station. There were fears that deprivation would increase if Lancashire Fire and Rescue Services won support to demolish
PLANS for a cyber cafe in Brierfield are a step closer following the handing over of the keys for the building to the project's developer -- Brierfield Action in the Community. Once the building in Colne Road has been refurbished and fitted with at least
A CELEBRATED Edwardian beauty, Lady Monica was presiding over afternoon tea on the terrace of multi-millionaire mill machinery magnate Sir George Bullough's opulent retreat of Kinloch Castle when one guest accidentally dropped a sandwich. He bent to pick
AN early hours rumpus in the garden led to a man being arrested and spending the night in the cells. Burnley Magistrates heard how Lee O'Neill, 27, was shouting and swearing at the police. O'Neill, of Cedar Close, Barnoldswick, admitted threatening, abusive
NIGEL White, commercial director of Holland's Pies, said: "I think that in some ways the Outstanding Volunteer Award sums up the great strengths of East Lancashire. "We are looking for people who will roll their sleeves up, sacrifice their time and their
IN EAST Lancashire there is a multitude of community groups and charitable organisations which make life better for thousands of people. But these organisations would be nothing without the hardworking volunteers who give their time freely to enable them
TODDLERS and mums can benefit from woodland walks and picnics at Borsdane Wood in Hindley. Tuesday sessions are part of the Sure Start programme held throughout July. Meet at 11.30am at the Danes Avenue entrance. Mums have the chance to meet new friends
HUNDREDS of thousands of pounds was earmarked for new classrooms and energy efficient measures in East Lancashire schools. Blackburn with Darwen was set to get £100,000 while schools covered by Lancashire County Council shared in £1.4million.
ST Mary's Catholic High School, Astley, is currently preparing a bid for submission to the DfES in October to become designated as a Mathematics & Computing Specialist School. Not only does such a venture demand the very highest of standards from
A PENSIONER has gone hi-tech in the battle over Lancashire's care homes after the strain of writing 1,000 letters broke his typewriter. Norman Hickey used a second-hand electric typewriter for more than a year to harangue the Prime Minister, MPs and council
SILENCE is not golden for a majorette troupe which has been left with no music to twirl their batons to after thieves stole the group's only generator. And the 30 girls could be forced to pull out of future carnivals if nobody comes forward to help them
MARKET traders are kicking up a stink over faulty drains near stalls because they say the smell of dead fish is driving away customers. Fishmongers in Accrington's new Market Pavilions say the problem is preventing the waste water from their kiosks from
ANDY Burnham will swap the rigours of Parliament for the challenge of an assault course next month when he takes part in It's a Knockout. The Leigh MP will lead a team of 10 to take part in the hilarious competition -- just one event in this year's Leigh
SCRAMBLES bike riders ferried paramedics across colliery wasteland in a frantic race to save the life of a seriously injured teenager. Fifteen-year--old Martin Felton was riding a Honda MT50 trail bike involved in a head-on collision with another machine
AN EX-SOLDIER who claims to be suffering from Gulf War Syndrome said he is elated with the High Court ruling which recognises the so-called illness. Dave Morrison, who served with the Third Royal Fusiliers in the 1991 conflict, welcomed the decision to
I REFER to your recent article and subsequent letter from Cllr John Harrison regarding the 'Teenmeet' shelter at Skerton. We all share concerns about the negative behaviour of a minority of young people, and in this particular case the reported youth
LONG distance swimmer Derek Griffiths has become the first person to swim from Morecambe to Barrow - despite being in pain most of the way from jelly fish stings. Derek, aged 44, accomplished the 14-mile swim from Battery Point on Morecambe promenade
IT was straight out of M.A.S.H. (for younger readers, a cult TV comedy about a field hospital in Korea). The operating theatres were corridors of the terminal building of Kandahar International Airport; more or less clean but not what you'd call sterile
ALL-CONQUERING Lancaster City water polo team - the Manchester United of the swimming pool - has been honoured by the district's civic heads. The men have won the English league five times in the last seven years, the cup seven times in nine years and
FORMER Burnley skipper Steve Davis became Blackpool's third summer signing and says it's all down to Seasiders boss, Steve McMahon. Centre-half Davis, 34, penned a two year contract at Bloomfield Road on the day when the Seasiders returned for pre-season
BURNLEY Football Club have revealed that Chief Executive Andrew Watson is quitting to join Huddersfield Town. Watson, 36, had been commercial manager at Everton for five years before Burnley lured him to the club in April 1999 as part of the Barry Kilby-led
FORMER Burnley skipper Steve Davis is set for a competitive debut against the Clarets after signing for second division Blackpool. The former Clarets skipper last night agreed a two-year deal with Steve McMahon's side after choosing the Seasiders over
LANCASHIRE captain Warren Hegg is enjoying his luckiest ever run with the coin, but he was left wishing he had lost the toss in Chelmsford yesterday. Hegg was handed a nightmare decision when he called correctly against Essex for the sixth time in seven
BUDDING architects at a Leyland school came out on top in a competition to design their dream classroom. The winning 'Pink Princesses' team at Worden High, Westfield Drive, were one of three north west school pupils to enter the Broadway Malyan Architects
HIGH school dance students will step out on the professional stage for the first time next week. Twenty-two pupils from Fred Longworth School, Tyldesley are to perform at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, as part of a two day festival, Celebrating Creativity
LEIGH RMI youth team completed a unique double by winning the NW Youth Alliance league and cup. They achieved this in some style by beating Altrincham in the final by 3-1 with goals from Valentine, Settle and Charlton. In the same week they got the draw
MATCHES against the ultra-competitive Wallasey side, who are the current Littlewood's Gaming Liverpool Competition champions, are never easy and EDS Leigh's third successive win against them was a tremendous triumph. They finally managed to shake off
NEW Burnley keeper Brian Jensen is hoping to kick-start his career after slipping down the pecking order at West Brom. Jensen clearly feels has has something to prove after spending years in the wilderness under baggies boss Gary Megson. And he certainly
BLACKBURN Rovers' chief executive John Williams said the club had no option but to sanction David Dunn's transfer to Birmingham City. Dunn finally brought down the curtain on his Rovers career last night after agreeing a £5.5 million club-record move
"OLDHAM had a very successful period in the 1990s, with Oldham Athletic getting to the cup final in 1990 and two semi finals in 1994, and the band were successful at that time as well." The band in question were the Inspiral Carpets. The man celebrating
CHILDREN and adults are invited to take part in the annual Darwen Tower Trudge. Local organisations are also invited to trek the eight-mile route to raise money for charity. Organised by the Rotary Club of Darwen, entrants are asked to find sponsors and
THE man behind an £8million gardening complex today dispelled rumours it would be turned into a leisure complex -- and declared profits were up by 40 per cent. Lancashire Homes and Gardens, a joint venture between husband and wife Ged and Joanne Clark
A STRAWBERRY fair will be held on Friday, July 11 (1-3pm) at the Jubilee Hall in Atherton. Proceeds will go to Tyldesley and Atherton Society for People with Learning Difficulties.
SHAWLS, flat caps and clogs are desperately needed by Gin Pit villagers who aim to enter a float in Leigh Carnival with a coal mining and pit brow lass theme. If you can help contact Jeanette Finley on 01942 894349.
TODDLERS and mums can benefit from woodland walks and picnics at Borsdane Wood in Hindley. Tuesday sessions are part of the Sure Start programme held throughout July. Meet at 11.30am at the Danes Avenue entrance. Mums have the chance to meet new friends
THE Wigan and Leigh Council for Voluntary Service has set up a drop-in session to help launch new groups. The organisation has linked up with the Community Empowerment Programme to organise the event on Tuesday, July 8, from 4.30pm to 6.30pm at its base
HELP is at hand for epilepsy sufferers in the Leigh area. A new branch of Epilepsy Action will be launched in Wigan shortly providing support, advice and information to the borough's cases. A meeting to discuss the development of the local group will
SPORTS College status has been granted to Lowton High School which is on the verge of a lottery boost. Minister of State for Schools David Miliband's decision has been welcomed by Leigh MP Andy Burnham who said: "This is a major boost for the school and
A NEW art gallery and workshop opened this week at Mornington High in Hindley with Year 8 pupils' work and adult night class exhibits on show. The £50,000 project -- housed in the former caretaker's bungalow --was described by the headteacher as a 'fantastic
DREAMS came true for a young Westlife fan who was plucked from the audience to sing live on stage with her idols. Eight-year-old Chelsey Axon, from Hindley became the envy of all her friends after she was picked at random from thousands of Westlife fans
A CAMPAIGN to save two threatened Wyre post offices is gathering momentum, with the local council and a parliamentary spokesman coming on board. Last week, Wyre Borough Council gave its unanimous backing to a bid to oppose the closure of Lower Green and
A BUDDING Fylde actress is waiting to hear if she'll get a scholarship to make her drama school dreams come true. Freckleton teen Olivia Brown has been offered a place at the prestigious Lamda drama school in London. But without a scholarship the 17-year-old
BLACKPOOL'S tourism industry looks set for a jobs boost after a £6 million deal to sell the resort's biggest hotel was sealed. As The Citizen predicted, the Norbreck Castle Hotel is under new management and set for a major refurbishment. New owners, Cheshire-based
FOUR children were among those pulled to safety from a burning block of flats by firefighters after "mindless" vandals set fire to child's pushchair. Ten people were rescued from the three-storey flats at Devonshire House, Laycock Gate in Layton, following
THOUSANDS of pensioners have proven they have anything but one foot in the grave after braving the rain for the Fylde coast's annual Pensioners' March this week. The march -- from Blackpool's North Pier to the Winter Gardens -- was organised as part of
LOCAL government inspectors have branded a local council's benefits and tax collection a 'one-star service.' In a new report published by independent watchdog, the Audit Commission, Wyre Borough Council -- which collects £60m each year in council tax
BLACKBURN Rovers star Dwight Yorke has launched a High Court appeal after claiming he was wrongly convicted of speeding in his Porsche sports car. Mr Justice Owen was due to give his ruling yesterday morning on Mr Yorke's case and that of another Porsche
A POLICEMAN thought a woman's threats to kill her lover days before her death were "drunken, immature and over-dramatised", a court heard. PC Giles Tipton was sent to the couple's home in Moorgate Street, Blackburn, in the early hours of August 7 last
A BUS driver has spoken of the terrifying moment a road rage attacker boarded his vehicle and punched him in the face. And transport and union bosses today urged courts to get tough to protect drivers after the man who assaulted Roger Gidley escaped a
ONCE again that little Englander, N G Charnley, has put pen to paper, stating that the Euro is universally hated. It's ten to one he has never used it and being a little Englander has probably never been abroad. Last year I used the Euro in Spain and
THE UK Independence Party had the benefit of the 'politics' slot at the end of Channel 4 News on June 26. It seems that the emotional and intellectual basis for their virulent anti EU stance is so bankrupt that the best they could do with this opportunity
FORMER club record signing Iain Anderson has become the third player to quit Deepdale in three days. The pacey winger, who first came to North End on loan during their promotion winning season in 2000, has agreed a package with the club which sees him
IAIN Anderson has been signed by Grimsby Town, less than 24 hours after he agreed a settlement to terminate his contract at Preston North End. The 25-year-old has agreed a two-year deal at Blundell Park after falling out of favour at Deepdale. He was
SPORTS College status has been granted to Lowton High School which is on the verge of a lottery boost. Minister of State for Schools David Miliband's decision has been welcomed by Leigh MP Andy Burnham who said: "This is a major boost for the school and
GREEN Hall Primary's annual Industry Day again proved popular with youngsters captivated by the contrasting features of career occupations open to them. Police dogs and horses and the Fire Brigade were featured at the Atherton school and Leigh Centurions
SCHOOL-CHILDREN remembered the thousands of people who lost their lives during the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers as part of an arts project. The youngsters from Higher Folds Primary School watched news clips and read newspaper cuttings about the
A DEEP Vein Thrombosis (DVT) sufferer has lost a Court of Appeal bid to overturn a legal ruling blocking their claims. Three senior judges dismissed an appeal brought by 24 claimants against a decision by a High Court judge that the condition - the so-called
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Summer Walk meet Whalley Methodist Church, 7pm. Barbecue, Disco, Coconut Shy etc., Holy Souls School, Blackburn, 6pm. Colne Camera Club meet Peter Birtwistle Community
GREAT Harwood Tigers are the inaugural winners of the Darwen Lions Gala football competition. The first ever event attracted 10 teams to Darwen Leisure Centre -- now organisers want to make it an annual event. The Tigers tamed a very good Blackburn United
OSWALDTWISTLE St Mary's Football Club have been awarded the coveted FA Charter Standard Club Award. The Saints are only the fourth East Lancashire club to achieve the award following in the footsteps of Great Harwood Rovers, Lammack FC and Clitheroe Wolves
A CENTURY opening wicket stand between Immudi and Imran guided Brookhouse to victory over title rivals Mill Hill. And four wicket hero Kabba ensured Brookhouse leap-frogged Mill Hill to the top of the table after picking up two vital bonus points. It
IT wasn't quite the world championships but for Neil Pickup, winning on his own turf was just as important. The dethroned World and European champion admitted to feeling nervous as the Pro-Grip professional armwrestling series rolled in to town. The Blackburn
IT would be fair to say that Ken Dean is not a man who likes to sit back and watch the world go by -- especially when it comes to sport. For Ken likes nothing more to be at the heart of the decision making -- a decision that has benefited football and
I URGE anybody who is interested in the classics such as Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" to go to Hoghton Tower to see the production currently playing there. What a marvellous setting for the play. We had the good fortune to see the play the other evening
I AM a member of the Muslim community and have lived in Clitheroe a long time. I have supported the trustees for the last four years in their search to find us a suitable place for a mosque. The property on Holden Street is only for the use of children
A BUS driver has spoken of the terrifying moment a road rage attacker boarded his vehicle and punched him in the face. And transport and union bosses today urged courts to get tough to protect drivers after the man who assaulted Roger Gidley escaped a
A GATEWAY to Radcliffe could get a complete overhaul if property developers have their way. Engleford Quality Homes has submitted a full planning application to build a four-storey complex of 28 apartments at the fork of Radcliffe New Road and Stand Lane
A TALENTED Leigh swimmer will rub shoulders with the world's best later this month after being picked to represent Great Britain in the World Swimming Championships in Barcelona. Heather Frederiksen from Clifton Street in Leigh will represent her country
JANET Murgatroyd's father said he was satisfied with the verdict of manslaughter and praised Lancashire police and the Crown Prosecution Service for their dedication to the case. He said: "You never get what you expect. Court is not like a Hollywood movie
IT will be tears of sadness and joy this weekend when Leanne Dollimore is crowned Miss Lostock Hall. After three years of vying for the 'royal' title, the youngster's dreams will finally come true on Saturday, July 5, but her father will not be there
BUDDING stars of tomorrow are to be given a leg up the fame ladder when a new Paul McCartney style 'fame school' opens in Preston later this year. The million pound venture, located in a grade II listed building in West Cliff, will provide a host of courses
THE legal team for Andrew Greenwood, convicted this week of killing law student Janet Muratroyd seven years ago, are considering an appeal against his conviction. Solicitor Peter Roberts, of O'Donnell's Solicitors, Glover's Court, Preston, said: "We are
COUNCIL bosses are to consult residents about plans for some of Burnley's most deprived areas Consultations will be held on the Neighbourhood Action Plans for the areas, including Burnley Wood, Daneshouse and Stoneyholme and South West Burnley. Council
CAR crime has fallen in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale but police have warned against complacency. A recent crackdown on car crime has netted dozens of suspected car thieves and led to a five per cent reduction in the number of offences committed, but
A LANCASTER man has been cleared of raping a woman who invited him to spend the night in her bed. A jury of eight women and four men at Carlisle Crown Court took less than 10 minutes to find 24-year-old David Boone, of Bowerham Road, innocent of the charge
NOSTALGIA will be rife in Heysham this weekend as the community turns the clock back to the 1940s. The festivities, which promise to offer something for all the family, will take place at various venues in the village and run from 11.30am until 4.30pm
BRITISH National Party councillors have been told to come clean over their policies after being accused of failing to take part in a council debate for 14 months. The party was criticised after refusing to put party policy to the test more than a year
A POLICE squad is gearing up for a major clampdown on car crime in south Lancaster. An eight-strong specialist 'targeting team' is going in to Hala and Scotforth to instal hidden cameras and carry out covert operations at hot spots where auto crime has
LEGAL action was threatened this week following the 'ruthless' way 22 workers in Morecambe were made redundant. News of the job cuts at the Imperial Home Dcor site at White Lund came on the same day that Lancaster's Acordis Cellulosic Polymers operation
FORMER pupils of Nelson Grammar School in the 1950s and 60s are being tracked down to attend a reunion. The Rev David Wiseman, who attended between 1951 and 1956, has organised the event which will take place on Saturday, November 8 at the James Hargreaves
TOWN centre publicans and traders have strengthened their resolve to stamp out crime in Radcliffe. Their partnership with police and the local authority has already helped reduce crime and anti-social behaviour through security cameras in the town. To
BMX biker Shaun Calvert has a wheely good reason for celebrating after being selected for the Great Britain BMX squad for the European and World Championships. The 40-year-old, from Dalmore Road, Ingol is the UK's number one racer in the over-30s category
A STRAWBERRY fair will be held on Friday, July 11 (1-3pm) at the Jubilee Hall in Atherton. Proceeds will go to Tyldesley and Atherton Society for People with Learning Difficulties.
BIKERS will gather in Atherton for the Fenrir MCC annual charity rally and music festival on July 11 and 12 at Atherton Collieries Football Club. Stall space is available, to book call 01942 877457 or 07880 870404.
THE Wigan and Leigh Council for Voluntary Service has set up a drop-in session to help launch new groups. The organisation has linked up with the Community Empowerment Programme to organise the event on Tuesday, July 8, from 4.30pm to 6.30pm at its base
ST JUDE'S Church in Blackburn was dedicated by the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Alan Chesters. The service was recorded by the Blackburn Diocese televideo unit and was the first to be televised on the local 7 network.
ANDY Burnham will swap the rigours of Parliament for the challenge of an assault course next month when he takes part in It's a Knockout. The Leigh MP will lead a team of 10 to take part in the hilarious competition -- just one event in this year's Leigh
A COUNCIL watchdog has called on residents to come forward with ideas to improve the way the council works. Councillors on Hyndburn Borough Council's overview & scrutiny committees are drawing up a list of topics to keep a check on the quality of
A GREAT Harwood man has appeared alongside two others to face large scale drug smuggling offences at Liverpool Crown Court. The court was told Daniel Green, of Lomax Street, will plead not guilty to the charges together with Paul Doughill, of Normanby
GREEN Hall Primary's annual Industry Day again proved popular with youngsters captivated by the contrasting features of career occupations open to them. Police dogs and horses and the Fire Brigade were featured at the Atherton school and Leigh Centurions
VOLUNTARY groups celebrated their past year's community achievements on Friday at a 'thank you' gathering in Leigh Town hall. Around 100 representatives from local groups including St Joseph's Over 60's, Higher Folds-based childcare organisation Agape
REDUNDANT engineering workers who haven't been paid for five weeks will this week start to receive redundancy payments from the Government. More than 160 lost their jobs on May 28 after the Peter Miles Engineering firm in Leigh went into liquidation and
SCHOOL-CHILDREN remembered the thousands of people who lost their lives during the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers as part of an arts project. The youngsters from Higher Folds Primary School watched news clips and read newspaper cuttings about the
A TALENTED Leigh swimmer will rub shoulders with the world's best later this month after being picked to represent Great Britain in the World Swimming Championships in Barcelona. Heather Frederiksen from Clifton Street in Leigh will represent her country
FOR some time I have been puzzling the pros and cons of a regional assembly to replace the county council. For instance, if highways had been a district or regional responsibility, would the debacles of the Chapel Street cycle lane or the top Market Street
DEPUTY Prime Minister John Prescott has announced that the North West is to hold a referendum next year on whether to have a regional parliament. I predict now that it will be given a knock out punch. It is quite simply unwanted, unnecessary and utterly
RESIDENTS in Ribble Valley are among the best in Britain at paying their council tax, according to new Government figures. Figures from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister place the rural borough in the top 15 best performing local authorities in
I READ about the efforts of the council's traffic group to improve traffic flows within Morecambe and Lancaster with a wry smile. Any motorist who travels regularly between the two towns knows that the single most beneficial act towards achieving this
LANCASTER City will kick off at the Giant Axe this summer in a pre-season friendly against Welsh League outfit Cefn Druids . The match - the first home tie for the Blues under new boss Phil Wilson - is scheduled for Saturday, July 26 at 3pm. But before
TOP striker Wayne Curtis has finally signed on the dotted line for Shrimps... The 23-year-old, pictured, who was Morecambe's top goal-scorer last season and fourth in the Conference goal charts, had been attracting interest from a host of other clubs.
REDUNDANT engineering workers who haven't been paid for five weeks will this week start to receive redundancy payments from the Government. More than 160 lost their jobs on May 28 after the Peter Miles Engineering firm in Leigh went into liquidation and
A POPULAR former South Ribble councillor has died after a long illness. Gordon Thorpe was 78 when he died in hospital from a lung disease on Friday. He had been fighting against the illness for three years. Mr Thorpe retired from politics in 1995, after
A TRIO of singers from The Three Towns Operatic Society have been honoured following their recent performances in Orpheus in the Underworld. Jane McGee collected the Best Newcomer trophy, Viv Warbis received the Chorus Trophy and the Orchestra Trophy
LEIGH East Under 12's are looking to recruit a few new players for the new season starting in September. No prior experience is needed just willingness to play for the team and enjoy yourself. Any 11 year old who would like to try rugby league should
All the results Tuesday, June 24: DIVISION ONE - A&T A 194, Leigh RU 149; Bedford L:ibs 211, Morgans A 185; Botanical Gardens B 207, Leigh CC A 209; Leigh Bowling A 192, Botanical Gardens A 163; Leigh Miners 196, Brunswick 189; Tamar 173, Gardeners
LEIGH Harriers won second place in the Fourth Division 1 West of the Fourth National Young Athletes League at Preston on Sunday. The Harriers U17 boys and girls scored heavily in the match with a series of first and second places, Amanda Fearnley winning
ATHERTON CC's season was consigned to mediocrity when defeat at Little Hulton on Saturday ended any hopes of mounting a title challenge while on Sunday their Cross Cup hopes were ended with defeat at the semi-final stage against Clifton. The defeat at
DARWEN Vale pupils will take to the air for a week. Students from the high school will launch DVR (Darwen Vale Radio) on Monday and will go live across the world until Friday. Damon Welsh, school learning mentor, said: "This is an innovative project for
CORONATION Street's Les Battersby has escaped his prison cell to reach St Edward's School fair in Darwen today to raise money for the school. The soap favourite, 50-year-old Bruce Jones, will host an auction at the summer fair to raise much needed funds
THE receivers called in to salvage the crisis-hit Crown Wallcoverings plant in Darwen have insisted they had no option but to axe 177 jobs. Ernst & Young were brought in as administrative receivers by Imperial Home Dcor Group after its UK operations
A CANCER research volunteer who has made 8,000 peg dolls for charity is celebrating 40 years of helping. Dorothy Grills, 76, of Sarah Street, is the longest serving member of the Cancer Research UK Darwen branch. The former Darwen mayoress has helped
COUNCILLORS have offered a charitable trust the chance to lease their own AB and D Centre at a nominal rent. The centre has been disposed from the council to the AB and D Trust, which has been running the centre since Rossendale Council announced last
ROSSENDALE Hospice received a funding boost of £500 when the Manchester United Supporters' Club made an official presentation. The money was presented earlier this week at the AGM of the supports club held at the Royal Hotel, Waterfoot. Phil Neville,
ROSSENDALE'S Strongest Man competition kicks into action this weekend with special appearances from internationally renowned talents. The competition has grown in popularity so much over the years that this year it has been moved to a bigger venue. It
A POPULAR Rossendale Councillor has resigned, sparking a by-election that could tip the town hall balance into the Tories' favour. Stacksteads Councillor Dale Connearn, 38, who joined the council 14 months ago, left earlier this week. The Rossendale-born
UNION bosses today welcomed news that a fire authority is to be prosecuted over the death of a Lancashire officer who drowned during an underwater rescue attempt. The Health and Safety Executive said it intended to prosecute Greater Manchester Fire and
BIKERS will gather in Atherton for the Fenrir MCC annual charity rally and music festival on July 11 and 12 at Atherton Collieries Football Club. Stall space is available, to book call 01942 877457 or 07880 870404.
A PSYCHIATRIC patient set fire to a cupboard at the Leigh Infirmary last week. Two fire engines were called to the Lindamere Ward to tackle the blaze, which took an hour to bring under control. Patients and staff were evacuated safely and no one was injured
PARISHIONERS are pulling out the stops to repair a roof leak which has put a dampener on organ music at a village church. Rain has been seeping through a hole in the roof at Mosley Common St John's At St John's - right above the organ - and vicar Julian
rCREATIVE Lowton High students impressed the top judges when they finished runners-up in a national art competition. More than 230 Year 8 pupils took part in the prestigious Art-Works competition back in March, and they beat 500 schools to finish second
TALENTED teenager Heather Boden will compete in the Royal International Horse Show. Nineteen-years-old Heather qualified with a win at Birmingham in the working hunter pony class to gain her chance of a lifetime ride at Hickstead and it will be a welcome
'WHEN you go home, tell them of us and say, for Your Tomorrow, we gave Our Today.' It is almost half a century since this immortal epitaph became an international symbol of the courage, strength and sacrifice of men and women during the two world wars
AN ALL-MALE lap dancing bar and a new soul music venue have been given the go-ahead for late night opening by Blackpool licensing officials despite police objections. The two clubs, Wicked and The Soul Suite, were both granted a Public Entertainments
A PUBLIC meeting is to be held to discuss fears over plans to build fast food outlets, a cinema and bowling alley on a prime seafront site in Cleveleys. There are fears that the plan, which would take in part of Jubilee Gardens, would bring traffic chaos
THE relatives of a man celebrating his 100th birthday gave him happy returns with an extra bit of 'tiddly om pom pom'. When Tom Yates found out he couldn't make it to Blackburn on his uncle Jim Hoghton's special day, he sent a 20-piece brass band instead
A SENIOR policeman has been called up to serve in Iraq -- after 14 years waiting for his first posting with the Territorial Army. Chief Inspector Steven Gregson, officer in charge of community safety in Eastern division for two years, will fly to Iraq
THE 'Burn singer Mick Spencer today spoke of his devastation at being "sacked" just 10 days before the gig of a lifetime. Mick was set to join fellow members of the Blackburn band -- Danny Davidson, Graham Rogerson, Jason Place and Lee Walsh -- in Paris
TWO schools in East Lancashire are celebrating after being awarded prestigious Leading Edge status. St Augustine's Roman Catholic School, Elker Lane, Billington, and Our Lady and St John Catholic Arts College, North Road, Blackburn, will receive £60,000
LOCAL LASS: Vanessa Peacock defends her women's title in the Aggies Staircase race Will Peacock pip Dodds to top spot? Which Clayton Harrier is pick of England's over 50s? THE best woman fell runner over 50 in the country is undoubtedly a Clayton Harrier
WITH the advent of the season upon us we are seeing more and more illegal parking in the town, Talbot Road is mostly single line traffic as a result of the laxity of the system. Coach drivers parked on bus stops are another hazard and ought to be stopped
PAUL Mullin is confident his eye for goal will be just as sharp in the Nationwide Conference. The Accrington Stanley centre forward netted 24 league goals in a fearsome partnership with Lutel James last season - a significant strike-rate which helped
CONEY Green High School has been cherrypicked to be a specialist school in technology and will receive £100,000 to make it a leader in the field. The news was announced by Education minister David Miliband on Tuesday (July 1), and means that from September
Leigh Centurions 54 Hull KR 4 by Mike Hulme: WHAT a difference a week makes! Just seven days after being blitzed by Salford, Leigh rediscovered the sort of form that could ultimately take them into Super League. All they've got to do now is reproduce
