IT'S little wonder that traffic wardens and parking attendants get a bad reputation. Lesley Shorrock was returning from her Christmas shopping when she caught the attendant putting a £10 fixed penalty notice on her car - a quarter of an hour before her
From warfare to lacy knickers -- few people can have had such a radical career shift. But it happened to Vicky Bradley, who spoke to JENNY SCOTT. . . SHE'S ditched her tank and her Army combats for lacy underwear and sexy chemises -- and she's never been
SO Coun O'Kane thinks the investment in Accrington Stanley is a waste of money. Anybody with any sense knows that £15,000 a year would not even put one street cleaner on the streets of Hyndburn. Street cleaners don't get this amount in their pay packets
DESPITE the failure of the recent European Union summit to agree a new Constitution, the threat to our remaining democratic freedoms is real enough. Indeed, many of the facets of a federal superstate have already been established, or soon will be. Consider
HEARTBEAT would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped make this year's Annual Charity Raffle our best-ever. A record amount of more than £12,500 has been raised! After our weekly charity lottery, Heartbeat's Annual Charity Christmas
MASKED men armed with a large spanner threatened staff and stole cash in a raid on an off-licence. Two men in balaclavas burst into the Co-Op Late Shop, Vernon Road, Greenmount, Bury at 9pm on Monday. One man told staff to hand over cash as the other
YOUNGSTERS in Whitefield can kick off Christmas with a sporting gift from Bury Council. A new ball zone was officially opened on Tuesday (Dec 23), just in time for the festive holidays. The facility in Thatch Leach Lane is just five minutes walk from
A MOTORIST today told of the "infuriating" car park attendant who booked her - 16 minutes before her pay and display ticket ran out. Lesley Shorrock, 49, was returning from Christmas shopping when she caught the attendant putting a £10 fixed penalty notice
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness has recalled Alan Mahon to help bolster his midfield resources over the Christmas period. The Republic of Ireland international has returned to Ewood two weeks earlier than expected after his loan spell with Ipswich was prematurely
GRAEME Souness has called on his players to follow Middlesbrough's Scrooge-like example as the two sides prepare to meet in a crucial six-pointer at Ewood on Boxing Day. While Rovers have leaked goals at an alarming rate this season, Boro have been positively
POLICE in Burnley are appealing for a man who has been reported missing from home to get in touch. Anthony William Pepper, 38, who is also known as Tony, went missing from his home address in Lyndhurst Road, Burnley, at the beginning of December. Now
RESIDENTS are welcome to celebrate Christmas at St John's Church. A children's service of light starts this afternoon at 4.30pm, and the midnight Eucharist starts at 11.30pm with Canon Barnes. On Christmas morning the family Eucharist starts at 10.30am
RETIRED clergyman Alan Gawith has written a collection of 24 poems that he hopes will lead people on a voyage of discovery. Alan, an honorary Canon of Manchester Cathedral and former social responsibility officer for the Manchester diocese and HIV/Aids
DUFFY is the new name of the Duffy Brothers' latest four-piece band. The Leigh-based brothers have just put the finishing touches to a 12 track CD recorded by veteran local producer John Kettle. Lead singer and keyboardist, Conal Duffy has a strong voice
AN EAST Lancashire family today spoke of their emotional Christmas reunion almost 30 years after they last saw one another and said: "This is the best Christmas present we could have wished for." The group of four brothers and sisters, who all grew up
A SCHOOL will remain closed into 2004 after the building was found to have major structural defects. Walsden CE Infant School, in St Peter's Gate, Todmorden, was surveyed by structural engineers after concerns were raised about the safety of the 130-year-old
POSTERS of convicted football thugs could be displayed around the stands at Turf Moor as part of a bid to stamp out hooliganism in Burnley. The posters could form part of a new partnership between police and Burnley Football Club to ensure information
A FIRE was burning for several hours within a Lancaster home before a passing police officer saw smoke and raised the alarm. The bobby forced his way into the detached Kennedy Close property to ensure no-one was inside before fire crews arrived. He was
THE Bishop of Burnley, The Right Rev John Goddard, has spoken of the love around at Christmas and the significance of giving and receiving presents. He said: "Christmas speaks of gifts and receiving. Behind the gift is the person's wanting to continue
A CRUSADE to keep the festive season work-free for all is in full swing - with a local MP urging people to remember the true meaning of Christmas. The campaign to protect shop workers from having to work on Christmas Day is being backed by Morecambe and
A CAR drove past homes in a Nelson street at more than 70mph while speeds were being monitored, according to a council report. A data collection device was placed in Southfield Lane after residents complained to Pendle Council about speeding cars. The
A FATHER whose 10-year-old daughter was killed by a speeding driver has welcomed a new speed camera in the Nelson road where she was run over. Mohammed Aslam spoke at a public meeting called by Whitefield Councillor Ashan Mahmood who hailed the camera
SAFE and easy guided cycle rides are to continue through the winter after proving popular with Pendle residents. Pendle Forest Cycling Club will lead rides on the third Saturday of each month after being impressed with the friendly atmosphere created
A DOWNHAM state enrolled nurse who retired from Clitheroe hospital received a long-service gift. Joan Hargreaves, of New Close Farm, worked in the hospital since 1958. Simon Steed of Darwen had a sweet singing voice. And it won him the EMI Starmaker singing
LEIGH Literary Society meet on Monday, January 5 at 7.30pm in the Derby Room, Leigh Turnpike Centre when Roy Murphy gives an illustrated talk Canals in Camera. Admission is £1.50 for non members.
SCULPTOR Matthew Roby has created a solo exhibition -- from rubbish. His incredible Junkyard Menagerie will be on show at the Turnpike Gallery, Leigh, from January 10 to February 7. Using unwanted machinery and crafted sheet metal, held together with
LAST-minute talks have headed off the threat of people in in parts of Hyndburn facing a three-week wait to have their bins emptied. Councillors and officers at Hyndburn Council could not agree on payments for an extra shift that would cover the lost Christmas
A RADIO soap star is set for a mad dash to be with his family at Christmas. Baxenden-based Marc Finn, who plays gamekeeper Greg Turner in popular Radio Four soap the Archers, will make the trek from Lincolnshire, where he is appearing in the panto Sleeping
A LOTTERY grant of just over a quarter of a million pounds has been given to Wigan and Leigh Council to fund an ambitious Voluntary Service for asylum seekers and refugees. The £250,286 grant will fund mentors and provide valuable services to recruit,
A MOTHER whose four-year-old son became a ball of flames after playing with a lighter today issued a Christmas warning to parents. Catherine Cochrane, 27, described how she found her son Robert Yates on fire in his bedroom in Belfield Road, Accrington
AN office building is earmarked for part of a site Astleyites want as their village green. Villagers want the open space, where Astley Green pit baths and canteen once stood, officially designated a village green. A fifth of the site is subject to a planning
A MAN who has spent 15 years in hospitals and rehabilitation centres after suffering brain damage has finally been allowed home for Christmas. And Karl Swain, 24, said moving back with his mum and dad for the first time since he was nine years old was
ALL horse lovers must have a passport for their animals by the end of June 2004 or face prosecution. Wigan Council is urging owners to act now to help in trading and prevent horses from entering the food chain. The documents contain details of the horse's
RETIRED clergyman Alan Gawith has written a collection of 24 poems that he hopes will lead people on a voyage of discovery. Alan, an honorary Canon of Manchester Cathedral and former social responsibility officer for the Manchester diocese and HIV/Aids
LOWTON and Golborne people who formed a Friends of Byrom Wood group to support their new community woodland, have made sure visitors can take a breather. With Forestry Commission staff they have spent the past year transforming the former farmland site
YOBS won't get an easy ride in 2004. Leigh MP Andy Burnham has pledged there will be no let up in the war on yob culture and says new powers will be introduced to step up the fight against unacceptable conduct. A new Bill will give councils power to crack
MORE than two-thirds of respondents have given Ribble Valley Borough Council the thumbs-up in a postal survey. Local authorities are required by law to carry out a Customer Satisfaction Survey every three years. The council sent its postal survey to a
I HAVE recently read in the Citizen that there are proposals to turn parts of Greaves Park, Lancaster, into a 'wooded area'. Could I, through the paper, give the following information. Some of the existing specimen trees there were planted by the Trades
WITH proposals for wind farm projects generating much public concern, why did the Chancellor give no encouragement to energy saving in his December statement? The Government admits that 30 per cent of our energy is wasted and the Energy Saving Trust has
CRIME prevention bosses in Ribble Valley have put forward seven areas in the rural borough for the creation of 20mph speed restriction zones. The Ribble Valley Crime and Disorder Prevention Partnership, spearheaded by Ribble Valley Council, has proposed
I AGREE with Cllr Sear's observation on tree felling on Willow Lane (Letters, December 11). Planning consent, and any other conditions imposed, need to be adhered to or the whole process is pointless. However, the latter part of his letter suggests that
THE hunt is on this yuletide to track down one of England's rarest breeding birds. Staff working on the RSPB Birds of Bowland project are asking people out enjoying themselves in the countryside over the Christmas and New Year period to keep their eyes
DESPITE the collapse of the recent European Union summit to agree a new Constitution, the threat to our remaining democratic freedoms is real enough. Indeed, many of the facets of a federal superstate have already been established or soon will be. Consider
AS COUNTY Cllr Jonathan Sear continues to peddle misleading statements with regard to Park and Ride for Lancaster (Citizen, Decem-ber 11), we feel it is necessary to respond. To our knowledge there is no plan to sell off car parks in Lancaster. Indeed
GIANT Axe favourite Paul Haddow came back into the Lancaster City line-up to help fans celebrate a happy Christmas. Haddow went to Southport last summer but never made his mark through poor form and injury - but put that behind him as he helped City dump
PARENTS and children in Burnley have been making books come to life as part of a scheme to improve literacy. Daneshouse and Stoneyholme Sure Start has been holding sessions in Stoneyholme aimed at encouraging parents to read to their young children and
STAFF at Burnley Council have donated more than 40 cuddly toys to two local charities this Christmas. Town Hall employees took part in a scheme run by Boots to collect vouchers that could be swapped for the soft toys. But instead of keeping the vouchers
ROBBIE Blake and the cavalier Clarets have vowed to carry on entertaining this Christmas! Having conceded 43 goals in their 24 league games, you might expect manager Stan Ternent to batten down the hatches for the festive season. But Burnley are having
DANISH World Cup keeper Jesper Christiansen is on trial at Burnley in the hope of resurrecting his career. The Glasgow Rangers ace, 25, has been unable to force his way into the reckoning at Ibrox since his £1.7m move from Odense in October 2000. Now
LEIGH RUFC Fixtures for Saturday 1st XV: Oldham at home, meet at 12.30 pm. 2nd XV: Aldwinians away, meet at 12.30 pm. 3rd XV: Heaton Moor at home, meet at 1.00 pm. Tofts: No Game. Vets: Northwich away, meet at 1.00 pm.
KERSAL Vale stepped up the pressure on Leigh and District Soccer League leaders Asda Golborne with a resounding 4-1 win in one of only two games to survive the weather. A hat-trick from Renshaw and another by Arnison, in reply to a Hill effort for Golborne
LEIGH cross country star Peter Riley made a dream start to his senior international career when he led the Great Britain team home in the European championships. Competing in Edinburgh on Sunday he crossed the line in 16th position leaving the country's
DANISH World Cup keeper Jesper Christiansen is on trial at Burnley in the hope of resurrecting his career. The Glasgow Rangers ace, 25, has been unable to force his way into the reckoning at Ibrox since his £1.7m move from Odense in October 2000. Now
A POLICE chief visited a father-of-two to apologise after officers mistakenly carried out a drugs raid on his home. Richard Ellison, 47, of Ivinson Road, Darwen, was watching television when police smashed through the front door and pinned him to the
A FRIENDS-style caf-bar is set to open its doors in the heart of Rossendale in the New Year. The Artisan is the brainchild of Michelle Booth, former head chef at the Digby Trout restaurant in the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in
A STYLISH effort to transform a shop front into a winter wonderland has earned a salon a top honour. The salon, shared by Antony and Patricia's Hairdresser and Ayesha's Nail and Beauty on Bank Street, Rawtenstall, won the Rossendale Chamber of Commerce's
A MAN who threatened to kill a petrol station owner's son has been warned he could go to jail if he breaks the law again. Aimen Tajouri, 22, also threw a cigarette on to the forecourt during the incident at the Texaco garage in Blackburn Road, Haslingden
WORSHIPPERS at a closure-threatened church have been dealt another blow just before Christmas. The congregation at St Joseph's in Stacksteads was recently told it would amalgamate with St Mary's in Bacup as part of a major shake-up of churches across
LEIGH Literary Society meet on Monday, January 5 at 7.30pm in the Derby Room, Leigh Turnpike Centre when Roy Murphy gives an illustrated talk Canals in Camera. Admission is £1.50 for non members.
STAGE starlet Natalie Aspinall danced off with the European Freestyle Disco dance championships and under 10s' champ Natalie also came runner-up in the slow dance section at Pontin's, Prestatyn. Nine year-old Natalie and younger sister Rebecca (6) are
POTENTIALLY life-saving flu jabs are still on offer to those most at risk from the virus. Anyone who has yet to get a jab is being urged to visit their GP by Lancashire's champion for older people, County Coun Dorothy Westell. Coun Westell said: "The
RESEARCHERS are looking for an East Lancashire connection to one of the First World War's strangest tales. Amid the killing fields of 1914 Europe, Christmas Eve is supposed to have brought a strange peace to the trenches, as soldiers from the German and
LITTLE Bradley Dewsnap is a Christmas cracker. It is just 12 months since Bradley was born on December 23 - three months premature and weighing just 1lb 15oz (878.8g). Doctors gave him only a 50-50 chance of survival after it was discovered he had a hole
ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman is looking for nothing less than a 100 per cent return from the Christmas programme as his side prepare for two meetings with Lancashire rivals Morecambe. The Shrimps come to the Interlink Express Stadium on Boxing
CLITHEROE manager Lee Sculpher can't wait to get stuck into a local derby. But the Blues player-boss will have to bide his time before taking on a neighbouring team after having their second derby of the season postponed. After their showdown with Bacup
BACUP Borough are set to raid Chorley again, in a bid to sign Billy McCartney. If he joins he will be the third player to make the move from Victory Park to West View in recent weeks, following in the footsteps of Lee Wilkinson and Darren Emmett. Bacup
Leigh Centurions 40 St Helens XIII 22 by Mike Hulme SAINTS may have chosen to keep all their big guns under wraps, but there was no sign of any ill-feeling from Tommy Martyn. The absence of the Longs, Sculthorpes, Cunninghams etc may, in some quarters
Leigh RMI 1 Accrington Stanley 2 by Robert Johnson: LEIGH RMI boss Phil Starbuck branded his team a disgrace after they slumped to a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Lancashire neighbours Accrington Stanley. The Railwaymen were simply not good enough as Stanley
THESE days we are conceited enough to think that we invented the terms conservation and a multipurpose environment. Take Stanley Park in Blackpool for example. Should we consider it as just a park or should naturalists of Lancashire in general and the
COMEDIAN or statesman? Jack Straw says his biggest dilemma before attending the latest Brussels bash was how many shirts to pack (LET, December 11). Little wonder the good ship Britannia has foundered on the rocks with politicians like Jack Straw at the
REGARDING your report 'Four months not enough for a life' (LET, December 15), I am sure many of your readers, like myself, were appalled at the lenient sentence imposed on a Kurdish Iraqi asylum seeker who fled the scene leaving a young girl trapped under
THE stage performance of Alice in Wonderland at Darwen Library Theatre is a must-see. Alice's Wonderland is brilliantly portrayed by the actors. The characters portrayed are bizarre, amusing and magical. Particularly memorable is the Mad Hatter's Tea
HERE at www.thisisleigh.co.uk we would like to wish all our readers and advertisers a Happy Christmas. We are having a day off tomorrow but will be back with all the news and sport on Boxing Day including a Christmas story.. So, if you want to keep up
LEIGH'S town centre booze ban zone is to be extended early in the New Year. The move follows protests by churches, schools and residents affected when street drinkers, hit by the pioneering Civic Square prohibition two years ago, moved on to their locality
AN EAST Lancashire family today spoke of their emotional Christmas reunion almost 30 years after they last saw one another and said: "This is the best Christmas present we could have wished for." The group of four brothers and sisters, who all grew up
FROM Hilton Park to the World Cup. Leigh's former favourite Steve Jones plots England's downfall in the World Cup qualifiers. He talks to MARTYN HINDLEY. IN the future, Leigh RMI fans will sit down with their grandchildren and tell them about the legend
BOXING Day fixtures are the ones I always look forward to, as you probably find there's more turkeys about then than on Christmas Day itself. You always look for that funny result, the real thrashing that tells you which club's players were out until
THE Bethel Crowd Amateur Dramatic Society present the pantomime Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs from January 17-24 (excluding Sunday and Thursday) at Westhoughton United Reformed Church. Performances begin at 7.15pm plus Saturday matinee. Ticket details
SICK children stuck in hospital for Christmas were given some festive cheer when their footballing heroes dropped in for a visit. Players from Burnley FC took time out from their festive training schedule to visit youngsters in the Deerplay ward at Burnley
A MOTHER has spoken of her heartache after burglars stole presents for her five-year-old son. Veronica Nolan, 35, of Arran Street, Burnley, returned from breakfast at her son's school to find his Christmas presents had been taken from under the tree in
A MERRY make-over has transformed the Three Musketeers into the Three Kings - but they won't be offering Tony Blair any presents this Christmas. Instead of gold, frankincense and myrrh, the only present the Prime Minister will get from the Burnley threesome
A MUSLIM leader has welcomed the "weakening" of the British National Party's hold in East Lancashire as part of his Christmas message. The chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, Ibrahim Master, said the fact that the far-right party had lost ground
CHRISTMAS does not provide many presents for the environment - with tonnes of extra rubbish being produced. But Lancaster folk can do their bit by recycling Christmas trees on January 11 from 11am at the White Lund Depot, Morecambe, and taking away the
EDUCATION services and recycling in Lancashire have improved, according to the latest Audit Commission report. The national body annually assesses how well councils are performing in terms of the public services they provide to local residents. Lancashire
A PRESTIGIOUS military medal has been returned to its roots - thanks to a Lottery grant. The Army Gold Cross is now on show in Lancaster after the King's Own Royal Regiment museum secured it for more than £40,000. The medal, which went under the hammer
ZERO HOUR: Morecambe will be raring to go on Saturday night as Club Zero and Solar join forces in the resort's Dome for what is billed as a music and fun-filled festive evening. It all kicks off at 9pm. CAROL TIMES: The festive season comes to Lancaster
PENSIONERS will not get any help to pay their council tax bills from Lancaster City Council. A Green Party plan to cap bills for older people in the district has been rejected by the city's Cabinet. The Greens, led by Cllr John Whielegg, wanted officers
TINY tots have thrown themselves into the spirit of Christmas by staging their first ever Nativity Play in a village hall in dire need of repair. Galgate Institute played host to the production by Galgate Pre-School Play Group, which is behind a village
A BREWER and a publican have teamed up to spice up pints in Lancaster and give punters a new beer sensation. George Palmer, of Heysham-based Brysons Brews, and Matt Jackson, owner of the Sun Hotel, Lancaster, have spent the last six months concocting
SHAKERS caretaker manager Graham Barrow does not want the saga surrounding Andy Preece to distract his players when Carlisle United visit on Boxing Day. Preece is not allowed to play against the Shakers this season as a result of an agreement reached
TRANSPORT bosses are encouraging people in Bury to use public transport over the festive season. Details of services are now available in GMPTE's annual Christmas and New Year timetable booklet and on www.gmpte.com Commercial public transport operators
THE big Christmas rail rush was on. Luggage laden crowds jumped on the Yuletide specials bound for London and the South from East Lancashire stations. And rabbits, not thieves, were to blame for the disappearance of flowers from the graves at Pleasington
THERE was no shortage of toys and cuddles at Christmas for little Glenn Challenger but the best present he could receive was a bone marrow donor. For Glenn of Nares Road, Blackburn, had a rare form of leukaemia. Frightened families were keeping their
A FORMER Hyndburn councillor is behind a new bar in Clayton-le-Moors. John Burke, who lost his Clayton council seat in May, has taken over a former restaurant yards from his last pub, The Albion, in Whalley Road. John said The Basement in Mill Street
A DEAF woman has spoken of her anger after an animal refuge said she would not be able to look after a cat. Blackburn Cat Rescue told Emma Stevens she was not a suitable person to give a cat a home because she would not be able to hear when it needed
A CROOKED businessman, jailed for swindling Mecca pilgrims out of £150,000, has been banned from acting as a company director for the next four years. Mohammed Adris also received a further four month prison sentence, but it will not add to the sentence
SCULPTOR Matthew Roby has created a solo exhibition -- from rubbish. His incredible Junkyard Menagerie will be on show at the Turnpike Gallery, Leigh, from January 10 to February 7. Using unwanted machinery and crafted sheet metal, held together with
KERB side recycling has saved over nine thousand trees since September. Now Wigan Council will extend its paper recycling operation borough-wide after a successful pilot scheme. Cllr Lynne Liptrot thanked those who had taken part in the trial scheme and
AS reward for a quarter of a century's service Mick McCarthy received a £250 cheque and had lunch with his bosses at the world's biggest Indian food factory in Leigh. Patak's, one of the UK's leading manufacturers of authentic Indian food, certainly spiced
POLICE are hunting a stolen van which has been used in a series of thefts. The Ford Transit Van, registration MA03 FUP, was used for the fourth time overnight Friday to Saturday at Rose County Foods abattoir, off the A59 at Gisburn. Two men were in the
SADLY Mrs Sidwell (Letters, last week), I believe it is the shortage of cork that means we get plastic stoppers in our wine bottles these days. If a farmer in the Altanejo (Portugal) plants a cork oak, it will be his grandchildren that sell the cork bark
A COUNTRYSIDE open day is due to be held at a Ribble Valley beauty spot next month. Lancashire County Council is staging the event to raise people's awareness of new land laws and show how the changes will affect them. The new legislation - which regards
HEYSHAM Atoms ended their 2003 programme in rugby league's North West Counties League Two on a low - beaten 13-8 at home by Latchford Albion. The Warrington side scored early thanks to the dominance of their bigger pack, and it was an advantage they never
SUNDERLAND boss Mick McCarthy has admitted an interest in signing Burnley hot-shot Robbie Blake, writes DARREN BENTLEY. But contrary to newspaper reports, the Black Cats boss has NOT yet tabled a £600,000 bid. McCarthy admitted: "Robbie Blake is a player
IN ANY business, if you lose your best assets then you expect to struggle. To improve and move forward, you have to speculate to accumulate. Keep adding, refining, moulding, strengthening, reviewing; building on a sound foundation. Get the blocks in place
THE 10th winner at Pennington Park Winter Bowling is Richard Foster who beat Jimmy Prescott in the final 21-18. The consolation final was won by John Platt who beat John Thompson 21-20.
Leigh 1st XV 30, Wigan 0: In wet and windy conditions, the Leigh pack soon established control over the visitors in this local derby sponsored by The Leigh Arms. Powerful play by Liku set up a good attacking position, allowing the backs to move the ball
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness has recalled Alan Mahon to help bolster his midfield resources over the Christmas period. The Republic of Ireland international has returned to Ewood two weeks earlier than expected after his loan spell with Ipswich was prematurely
AN application for a Thursday-Saturday public entertainment licence for The Lion Hotel, Bolton Road, Atherton will be considered on January 9 by Wigan Council's regulation committee.
COAL barges on the canal at Leigh, deep snow in Hindley town centre and a Golborne walking day procession are scenes featured in a 2004 calendar being distributed to 25,000 Council tenants by Wigan and Leigh Housing.
KERBSIDE recycling has saved over nine thousand trees since September. Now Wigan Council will extend its paper recycling operation borough-wide after a successful pilot scheme. Cllr Lynne Liptrot thanked those who had taken part in the trial scheme and
A LEIGH school, which won a national award for its fight against bullying, is continuing to tackle the problem. Bedford High School, which collected a Princess Diana Award for its mentoring scheme, recently organised an Anti-Bullying Awareness Week. The
NEW laws governing the use of fireworks are now in force. The first part of the Firework Act 2003 aims to tackle anti-social behaviour and bans under 18 year olds from having fireworks in a public place and outlaws possession of the powerful devices used
IT HAS often been said that a week is a long time in football, but whoever coined the phrase can never had experienced the transfer merry-go-round witnessed recently by Radcliffe Borough Having sold Jody Banim to Conference promotion hopefuls Shrewsbury
NORTH West MEP Sir Roy Atkins today welcomed a European Union climb down from its threat to end the 700-year-old tradition of hallmarking. Proposed changes to EU laws would have ended compulsory hallmarking of jewellery. But those plans to change the
A HOMELESS organisation has revealed that Blackburn is one of the only places in Lancashire to have a night shelter open over Christmas. A survey carried out by Shelter Lancashire revealed Blackburn, Lancaster and Preston are the only locations to have
A CYBERPET is helping the RSPCA in its battle to prevent unwanted animals becoming neglected in East Lancashire at Christmas. The organisation's website now plays host to an array of cuddly and demanding virtual animals which web-users can adopt. But
A MOTORIST today told of the "infuriating" car park attendant who booked her - 16 minutes before her pay and display ticket ran out. Lesley Shorrock, 49, was returning from Christmas shopping when she caught the attendant putting a £10 fixed penalty notice
ROSSENDALE United could be expelled from the Lancashire FA Marsden Trophy after failing to fulfil their first round tie at Morecambe last night. A club spokesman said yesterday: "Tonight's game at Morecambe is off due to our injury list, coupled with
CHRIS Patterson has been released by Chorley after growing frustrated at a lack of first team opportunities. The midfielder has found it difficult to break into the side since his namesake, Mark Patterson, took over as manager at Victory Park in November
A LEIGH school, which won a national award for its fight against bullying, is continuing to tackle the problem. Bedford High School, which collected a Princess Diana Award for its mentoring scheme, recently organised an Anti-Bullying Awareness Week. The
HERE at www.thisisbury.co.uk we would like to wish all our readers and advertisers a Happy Christmas. We are having a day off tomorrow but will be back with all the news and sport on Boxing Day including a Christmas story. So, if you want to keep up to
A BURGLAR who stabbed a Bury pub landlord several times with a screwdriver during a night-time break-in has been jailed for five years. Jody Michael Allen also dragged a Swinton pub landlady out of bed and held a knife to her throat during another robbery
HINDSFORD FC lost 5-2 away at Heywood St James on Saturday. Hindsford made a great start when Stuart Lomax found Matt Toone with a good ball down the left and he beat the keeper in the top corner. Heywood got back into the game and scored a good equaliser
ALL the results Springview Athletic 1, AFC Hindley Juniors Wolves 6: Goals came from Oliver Hunt 3, Tom Heath 2 and Tom Clark 1. MoM Tom Heath. Golborne Sports 0, Hindley Juniors U11's 4: Goals from Tom Bowen 2, Matthew Riding 1, Brad Gambles 1. The victory
Dagenham and Redbridge 1-2 Leigh RMI by Martyn Hindley DAVE McNiven's second bizarre goal in less than three weeks settled this North-South divide in favour of the Railwaymen and finally offered the Phil Starbuck renaissance the three points it craved
