A PLEA for a reprieve for Atherton's doomed Mayfield Street baths has been denied, but the fight to save them will go on. The town's two Lib Dem councillors appealed for a lifeline, an extension of the closure date to coincide with the opening of Leigh
TRADING standards officers have backed a national campaign to make people more aware of the dangers of jumping into credit deals. The campaign, which is also being supported by former Hear'Say singer Kym Marsh, suggests that young adults ask themselves
PATIENTS at Bealey Community Hospital were treated to a carol concert by friends, relatives and even the Mayor and Mayoress of Bury, Councillors Barry and Sharon Briggs. The civic couple visited the Radcliffe centre to help spread festive cheer, along
Water detectives are on the case to sniff out pollution problems in streams and bathing waters. United Utilities is organising a region-wide survey to tackle the problem of wrong drainage connections which lead to environmental pollution. If drains are
TEENAGER Catherine Harvey will definitely be at the ball. The 18-year-old ice skater from Tyldesley will take the principal lead role in Cinderella this Christmas at the famous Blackpool Pleasure Beach Arena. Catherine, who began ice skating as an eight
BUSINESS people are being offered a qualification and a chance to enhance their skills through Lancaster University. It is launching an MA in developing professional practice - one of the first courses of its kind in the country. The work-based learning
PLANT life in a quiet country corner close to Lancaster has been earmarked for special protection. Calf Hill and Cragg Woods, near Quernmore, is included on a new list of the European Commission's 'Special Areas of Conservation'. It is one of more than
LANCASTER'S historic castle is about to shine bright at night...for the first time in FOUR years. A castle has stood proudly in the city since Roman times and the current buildings - from the 12th Century Norman Keep to the 19th Century female penitentiary
TWO top city councillors are locked in a war of words over repair work needed on Lancaster's Millennium Bridge. Council leader Ian Barker has fired a broadside at prospective Tory MP James Airey - demanding his fellow councillor apologises. He wants Cllr
BRING out your creativity skills with a craft afternoon in Close Park. Bury Council's park rangers will be in a marquee in the Radcliffe park on Sunday between 2pm and 4pm, offering the chance to create anything from Christmas cards to festive tree decorations
Father Christmas will complete his tour of Radcliffe over the next seven days, prior to his big day. On Thursday night he will be in Bradley Fold, before travelling to Higher Ainsworth Road on Friday, Dumers Lane and Cross Lane on Monday, Ainsworth Village
GREEN-minded-residents in Radcliffe have helped a recycling mill become the largest in the country. UPM Shotton works with Bury Council to buy magazine, newspapers and junk mail collected from kerbside schemes and recycle it into newsprint which it then
AS a resident of Bolton Road, Radcliffe, for 25 years, I feel I need to put pen to paper regarding its dangers. We feel the road is just a conveyor belt of traffic from morning until night, made worse by speeding drivers who consider no-one but themselves
RADCLIFFE CRICKET CLUB WEEKLY DRAW: Week No 5: No 32, Brenda Finlow. Bonus Ball: No 1: Bryce Brooks.
RESULTS Sn Cd Do Bury Br WMC 6 5 3 F'pool Lib A 1 2 4 F'pool Lib B 2 5 3 S'seat Lib 5 2 4 Hollins SC 5 5 5 Gr'mount CC 2 2 2 LEAGUE TABLES SNOOKER W L Fr Ag Tl Bury Br WMC 7 3 26 14 40 F'pool Lib B 5 5 29 10 39 F'pool Lib A 6 4 26 12 38 Huntley Un 5 5
RADCLIFFE Boro have been boosted by the news that influential midfielder Scott Wilson has rejected the chance to join Stalybridge Celtic. The 24-year-old hub of the Boro engine room was approached by the Conference North strugglers but decided against
A CHURCH congregation taking part in a unique Christmas celebration is issuing a "come all ye faithful" invitation. Pennington Parish Church is one of 100 venues playing host to "North West Sings" at 6pm on Sunday, December 19, which will see up to 100
BURY HF: Saturday walk (6 to 8 miles). Meet Tenters Street car park (Law Courts) at 1pm. Impromptu. Sunday walks: Meet on Belle Vue Terrace car park at 10am for Burrs CP. Bring lunch and flask. Tuesday walks: Meet B & Q car park, Crostons Retail Park
BABY rabbits belonging to a six-year-old girl were stolen then savaged to death by dogs. Now the schoolgirls' horrified parents are asking people living on Westleigh's "trees" estate to make sure their pets don't suffer a similar fate and have called
One man who has left the club in the hope of forcing his way into the manager's thoughts is Paul Challinor. The 28-year-old defender has struggled for form and fitness in the past few months and has gone on loan to Mossley to play regular first team football
A FORMER Leigh mum fighting for the return of her children is to lobby Downing Street on Saturday. The mother of three daughters, who she claims were taken from her by social services, has joined Purple Hearts, a new sub group within the prominent Fathers
AT this time of year the Christmas lights remind me that among the festivity and good cheer, a little care and common sense can help make the season safer and more secure. For local police it is one of the busiest times of the year - a time when officers
SO THE police are to have a crackdown on cyclists without lights... There are 365 nights in a year, and on any one of those nights cyclists can be seen without lights. Why does it take a so-called 'crackdown' to get the police out of their nice, warm
ALISTAIR Darling, the Government minister in charge of transport, has announced that he intends to launch a 'passenger services review' on many rural rail routes in Britain. This is unacceptable. The review will include 13 routes in the North of England
MORECAMBE aim to continue their improvement on Saturday as Northwich Victoria travel to Christie Park. The Shrimps have survived a sticky spell in the Nationwide Conference after a couple of harsh defeats - but the visit of crisis club Northwich should
FIXED penalties were dished out to more than 20 motorists during a pre-Christmas roadside operation in Morecambe. A total of 23 drivers were given fines for offences including not wearing seat belts and driving while using mobile phones at a checkpoint
THE borough's library service has booked itself a place at the top. It has been hailed as one of the best in the country in a newly-published Government assessment. The Bury Council-run service has earned four "stars" for the first time in the national
Sensible drinking over the festive holidays is just what doctors in the borough have ordered. Local GPs fear that the four-day Christmas break will lead to more accidents and violence as revellers hit the bottle in pubs, clubs and at home during the Yuletide
WALSHAW A did their bit to help their B team to the top of the table when they defeated last week's leaders St Mary's. Walshaw A also narrowed the points difference to just five to put them into championship contention. All other teams seem to be well
MASONS, Old Tower and Wellington all won their Cliff Hugill Memorial matches by the end of the fourth game. It was much tighter atStaff of Life, where the home side took the first, lost the next two to Wellington, pulled themselves back with a 91-90 win
A WOMAN arrested for driving while disqualified in Radcliffe is due to appear in court next month to be sentenced for a second similar offence. Karen Dawn Greaves (35), who works at a card producing firm in Radcliffe, admitted before Bury magistrates
NURTURING skilled workers for the construction industry has been achieved through a course at Bury College. And Radcliffe teenager Luke Johnson will be heading into the New Year with brighter job prospects thanks to the scheme. Luke was part of a group
PENSIONER Phil Kaiserman has been given the chance to make an emotional return to Vietnam, 60 years after he served there during the Second World War. In August, Phil, who lives in Radcliffe, will travel to Saigon thanks to the Big Lottery Fund's Heroes
ONE of the few remaining Leigh residents who were alive in Victorian times, Evelyn Eden, celebrated her 104th birthday last week. Three generations of her family, along with the Mayor and Mayoress of Wigan, Cllr John Hilton and Margaret Hilton, were visited
BRASS band favourites, Christmas music and carols will feature at a concert by Fred Longworth School Band which starts at 7.30pm on Monday, December 20. Admission payable at the door is £3 adults, £2 children, including refreshments.
SANTA'S helpers have had a change of shift and will now be in Tyldesley's Bodmin Road area on Monday, December 20. A spokesman for Tyldesley Rotary Club who have organised the festive rota said: "The union of elves, goblins, reindeer and gnomes persuaded
RADCLIFFE Boro goalkeeper Barrie George has taken time out from his Stainton Park career to represent England in the World Cup. The 18-year-old from Wythenshawe is back-up to Danny Hurst under Kevin Glendon but has been impressing between the sticks for
LEIGH Centurions' stand-off Radney Bowker has joined Rochdale for a second time. He spent most of 2003 at Spotland on loan from Salford. Young winger Gary Rourke who made a couple of senior appearances last season, is another new recruit for Blackpool
I DIDN'T know whether to laugh or be incandescent with rage at Mrs Jones's insane response (Letters, November 18) to Mr Thomas's sensible views on banning smoking. It shows you what a tenuous basis these hardened smokers have to argue on when they have
I FEEL I must respond to Mr Hill's letter (November 25) about providing smokers with designated areas so that they can indulge in their insensitive habit. Such amateurish demarcation will not cure the problem. Smoking is an addiction; addiction is a disease
WHEN it was discovered by the wider public that the effects of inhaling asbestos dust were deadly (like smoking, we were kept in the dark by those who had a financial interest) in no time at all its use was outlawed, production ceased and steps were taken
THERE was always plenty of Christmas fun to be had for children whose mums and dads worked for Mather and Platt in Radcliffe. More than 200 excited and happy children crowded the canteen at the firm's Radcliffe works where the annual party for employees
I WAS trying to point out some of the rules of spelling to my vowel dyslexic friend - like i before e except after c. And he came back with "who told you that, Keith from Leigh". Point taken..
ELVIS memorabilia fans will have difficulty keeping the latest tribute to the king in their collection. Kingsmill is creating a limited edition loaf shaped in his image for what would have been the long since brown bread stars 70th birthday next month
THE borough's library service has booked itself a place at the top. It has been hailed as one of the best in the country in a newly-published Government assessment. The Bury Council-run service has earned four "stars" for the first time in the national
I WAS parked in Lime Street, Tyldesley, on Friday and as I returned to my vehicle I noticed a white van in front showing a home made statement of hope in the front window made me smile - This time next year we'll be millionaires. Chance would be a fine
AS a long-standing gold member of a book club I was amazed to receive a bill for 1p, so I decided to wait until I got my next one and add it on. When that arrived it was said to be overdue and I must pay it immediately, but with my shiny status I was
I'VE just returned from a week's break supposedly to prepare for Christmas. Did I bother, did I thump. The holiday started with his lordship losing the garage door key on Friday. After searching high and low between the house and the garage for hours
Bargain hunters were disappointed when organisers of a "mock auction" at St Phillip's Methodist Mission on Dean Street departed in a van without handing over the goods customers had paid for. Radcliffe's municipal Christmas tree was erected at a new venue
A fire crew was called to Hamer Street at 8pm on Sunday after an Austin Metro had been abandoned and torched by thieves. And at 6am on Monday, the same crew responded to calls from residents in Belgrave Road to deal with a stolen Ford Escort which had
Father Christmas will complete his tour of Radcliffe over the next seven days, prior to his big day. Tonight he will be in Bradley Fold, before travelling to Higher Ainsworth Road tomorrow, Dumers Lane and Cross Lane on Monday, Ainsworth Village on Tuesday
CHILDREN giving evidence in court will soon be receiving greater support, thanks to funding from Greater Manchester Police's Criminal Investigations Division. The funding, totalling £875, will be used by Victim Support and Witness Service Greater Manchester
THE National Blood Service is calling for people in Radcliffe to give a little bit more this Christmas. In previous years, blood stocks have dipped by as much as 10 per cent in December as regular donors struggle to find time to donate in the busy festive
TRADING standards officers in the borough are warning people to be wary of callers knocking on their door offering to carry out work on houses, driveways or gardens. They say that householders, often elderly people, are being targeted by firms quoting
YOUNGSTERS are having a ball, thanks to new sports facilities in Radcliffe. The multi-use games area, at the King George's field in Outwood Road, is proving to be a huge success with a number of youth clubs and projects in the town using the equipment
BURY Council is cracking down on environmental criminals by appointing two specialist officers to fight against litter, graffitti and fly-tippers. The two environmental enforcement officers have been given new powers to investigate and take action against
A HANDY leaflet about health services in the borough is to be delivered to all households in Radcliffe. Entitled "Your Guide to Local Health Services", the glossy pamphlet contains information on all of the area's doctors, dentists, chemists and opticians
TOMMY Martyn will be Leigh's top man on Boxing Day Assistant coach Martyn will make an emotional return to St Helens - the club he served with such distinction - in sole control of the Centurions for their first warm-up game in preparation for their debut
NURTURING skilled workers for the construction industry has been achieved through a course at Bury College. And Radcliffe teenager Luke Johnson will be heading into the New Year with brighter job prospects thanks to the scheme. Luke was part of a group
DOH! Mean thieves tried to remove the Christmas spirit when they stole an eight-foot high inflatable Homer Simpson. The Springfield cartoon character was dressed as Father Christmas when he was lifted from a garden in Fairfield Road, Heysham. And amazingly
A LANCASTER businessman has spoken of his relief after being cleared of threatening to kill city council officers. Bernd Koenemann says a jury at Preston Crown Court got the decision spot on and adds: "I feel totally vindicated. I can't thank the jury
PUNKS are all ready to get wasted - and they are coming back to their favourite seaside resort to do it. The 2005 'Wasted' Festival is shaping up as one to give them every reason to descend on Morecambe. It will take place between May 18 and 22... and
'HEARTLESS' youngsters snatched more than 40 boxes containing gifts due to be sent to sick and orphan children for Christmas. Two young girls and a boy broke into International Aid Trust on Albert Road, Morecambe, in the early hours last Friday, filled
A DRIVE to slash the number of homeless people nationwide has seen £46,000 pumped into the area. Lancaster City Council has been given the cash to improve the conditions of hostel accommodation and services they provide to help rough sleepers move off
CHRIST Church Ainsworth is staging a another service of readings and carols on Sunday. The Mayor of Bury, Coun Barry Briggs, will also be at the church, at 6.30pm, to see his wife, the mayoress, Coun Sharon Briggs, read Housman's Light Looked Down. There
YOUNGSTERS can enjoy their Christmas holidays with the BLAST festive club. Sessions will be run for children aged eight to 14 from December 20 to December 23 at Radcliffe Cricket Club, between 8.30am and 5.30pm. Places are limited and will be allocated
A TRUFFLE expert who travels the world sampling exotic dishes still yearns for a bag of chips from Atherton. Dr Ian Hall, scientist, teacher, author and world authority on truffles, recalled the delights of his childhood. "My first five years were spent
TEENAGER Catherine Harvey will definitely be at the ball. The 18-year-old ice skater from Tyldesley will take the principal lead role in Cinderella this Christmas at the famous Blackpool Pleasure Beach Arena. Catherine, who began ice skating as an eight
AFTER being dumped and left to die in a cardboard box, three crossbreed terriers on well on the road to recovery. The litter of pups had been left for dead, abandoned on a local footpath, when they were rescued and taken to Leigh Animal Sanctuary. The
EARLY years helping on his dad's milk round have stood Matthew Dickinson in good stead. And now teenager Matthew from Leigh has been acknowledged as one of Britain's top three young retailers. At the prestigious Nurseryman and Garden Centre Awards ceremony
RUGBY League legend Alex Murphy OBE joined in the celebrations with Mayor of Wigan Cllr John Hilton as 12-weeks of high-octane activities came to a close this week for Leigh Prince's Trust Team 09. In a successful team challenge the team donned fancy
Benjamin Nathaniel Dugdale, aged 18, Knowsley Avenue, Golborne. Breach of Community Rehabilitation Order. Fined £200. Andrew Smith, aged 40, Maple Avenue, Atherton. Breach of the peace. Bound over to keep the peace in the sum of £100 for 12 months. Linda
HAS anybody else noticed that vandals have struck yet again in the very heart of the city centre? Standing by the fountain in Market Square is a wonderfully strange sculpture of a donkey. How I used to smile as I walked by and admired its red and green
AS THE e-champion for Lancaster City Council, I am mildly surprised that the Green Party's Cllr John Whitelegg has announced that he is pushing for the council to turn its back on Microsoft software. If he had bothered to contact me before issuing his
IN MY capacity as a rail user I must complain about continuing engineering works on the West Coast main line. As a frequent passenger between Manchester and Lancaster I see at first hand the level of disruption that people are having to put up with until
SHOCK Horror... local builder drives car. It seems that my means of transport has been deemed news-worthy (Citizen letters last week). Yes, I drive a small car as part of my work as a local builder. I also walk, cycle, catch the bus, use the train, hop
VALE of Lune ladies will kick off 2005 as National League Two leaders after a battling display to beat Saracens at the weekend. The 5-0 scoreline tells its own story as Vale were forced to dig deep in a rough and tough physical game. Vale were reduced
VALE turned in one of their best performances in weeks - but still crashed to defeat at Birkenhead Park on Saturday. Birkenhead had lost their last two games, a fact that gave Vale added hope as they headed to Merseyside, but those dreams turned into
PEOPLE power has triumphed - and forced Lancaster City Council to backtrack on three sets of plans. There will be no building in the Battery and Promenade areas as part of the long-awaited West End Masterplan. And both the Morecambe weather station and
RADCLIFFE firm A&J Hoyles was certainly punching with the heavyweights when it came to making textiles. George Worthington (86), of Stopes, heard that the firm had a very famous customer when, long after the concern had closed in 1968, he worked at
TWO points out of a possible 12 doesn't appear much to write home about - but if points were awarded for bravery and grit, well that's a different story. If that was the case, City would be champions of the Nationwide North a week before Christmas. With
JOBS could be under threat at one of the area's oldest employers after an announcement that part of the operation may be transferred to Preston. Sources within Lancaster and Morecambe Newspapers say the pre-press department is going to be moved from Morecambe
A PLEASANT evening out at the "dogs" turned sour when a Radcliffe man pushed his partner out of the house in her pyjamas, a court was told. David Booth (30), of Morton Street, admitted at Bury Magistrates court that he assaulted his partner, Kirsty, causing
BURY Substance Misuse Service which caters for those with drug and alcohol problems, their carers and families officially launched its users group this week. An open day took place at Oddfellows House in Manchester Road, Bury, to inform the public of
LAST Wednesday, the guest speaker was Margaret Curry. Margaret has visited us on numerous occasions and this time she had chosen as her subject "In The Steps of the Brontes". Her knowledge of the Bronte family was something special and her slides to accompany
APPARENTLY, there is an old adage that says "good things come to those who wait". Well, Boro waited an hour to commence battle with Blyth after a power failure meant that kick-off was delayed until 4pm and the wait proved to have a negative effect as
RESULTS PREMIER DIVISION Masons A 4, Hamers 3; Rose & Crown (Ram) 5, Rainsough Brew 2; Roach A 5, Riley's 2; Welcome A 3, Victoria A 4. FIRST DIVISION Summerseat Lib 3, Queen Anne 4; George & Dragon 4, New Inn A 3; Bridge Tav A 3, Derby Hotel
JUNIOR LEAGUE RESULTS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE U12 Bury Jnrs 3, Horwich St Marys 9; De La Salle 2, Radcliffe Jnrs 1. DIVISION TWO U12 Forest Wands 9, L. Lever 1; Rossendale Utd 1, Heywood Rangers 7; Ladybridge 5, Tootal Boys 0. DIVISION ONE U13 L. Lever L
Father Christmas will complete his tour of Radcliffe over the next seven days, prior to his big day. On Thursday night he will be in Bradley Fold, before travelling to Higher Ainsworth Road on Friday, Dumers Lane and Cross Lane on Monday, Ainsworth Village
RADCLIFFE Boro manager Kevin Glendon has taken steps to help address his side's worrying run of results by bringing in some help on the training ground. He has enlisted the help of former Newcastle, Arsenal and Bury star Pat Howard, Manchester City youth
A GROUP has been set-up with the aim of giving food producers in developing countries a fair deal. Lowton and Golborne Fairtrade Steering Group member Mary Waterworth explained: "Fairtrade is an organisation that ensures food producers in developing countries
ATHERTON has a positive view of the church according to an action day survey - but it has been challenged to meet more needs in the community. A poll among shoppers undertaken by members of Churches Together in Atherton in September reveals that 85 pc
WALKING your way to fitness has never been easier, thanks to a new series of relaxing treks across Bury parks. Organised by Bury Sports Development unit and the park rangers, the afternoon walks are designed for anybody, of any age, wanting to improve
FOLLOWING the record deal sponsorship for the club, Leigh Centurions have announced a new sponsorship deal with Keg Watch for the renovation of the club gym and renaming of the corporate suite - The Keg Watch Suite. The sponsorship deal is a five-figure
WALKING your way to fitness has never been easier, thanks to a new series of relaxing treks across Bury parks. Organised by Bury Sports Development unit and the park rangers, the afternoon walks are designed for anybody, of any age, wanting to improve
I WAS disappointed by the Christmas lights switch-on in Radcliffe, performed by Coronation Street stars "Jason" and "Candice". A lot of young children had waited in the cold to see them but after the switch-on they just disappeared into a nearby shop
TWO recently reported court cases surely bring the ethics of road traffic law into question. Patrick Fanning, helplessly drunk and with no driving licence or insurance, careered the wrong way up the M66, killing an innocent driver when their cars met
CONGRATULATIONS to Bury's primary schools on their excellent achievements again this year. The Government should take some interest in how Bury schools achieve so much with so little. Bury pupils do very poorly in terms of cash per pupil, and Mark Sanders
HAVING just read the letters regarding the tragic road death of Natalie Pickwick Jones I feel compelled to write with my feelings on the matter. I am a hard-working parent who has been driving for 20 years and the perils involved in being a driver are
LAST Wednesday I parked my car in Bury town centre on Silver Street and was issued with a parking ticket which indicated a time of 13.46pm. I double checked my wrist watch with a passing traffic warden and we agreed that the actual time was 13.50pm. The
MEN bored with trudging round the shops can take refuge in a creche where they can watch TV and play games. M and S has created areas in six stores equipped with everything to keep men entertained for hours. They can sit on sofas, watch TV and play with
HEARTLESS vandals have struck again at Astley - stealing bulbs off the village Christmas tree in Higher Green Lane. Its a senseless act, because, for safety reasons, the bulbs are powered by an 110 volt supply and useless to 99.9 per cent of the population
IT was good to read that Bury police are going to "get tough on louts" this Christmas. But why just at Christmas? Why not all year round? It was not that long ago that Tony Blair was blaming the increase in crime on the liberal 1960s. He now says that
BURY Council has outshone most of the country and moved up the performance league for the second year in a row. The Audit Commission says people are getting better services than ever, and has given the local authority a good rating, up two places from
