LEIGH MR face a momentous survival battle this weekend. The clash against Lock Lane is their final home game of the season . . . a power-packed prelude to three tough away matches on the trot. And they come on the back of another defeat, a nail-biting
LEIGH RMI extended their unbeaten run to six matches with a 0-0 draw at Bishop Auckland. But one point should have been three. After a poor first half when goalkeeper Dave Felgate kept them on level terms with a trio of super saves, Leigh hit back to
THE future of Leigh's only department store is uncertain. Quality House, a dominant feature of the town's main shopping street, is under review by the Co-operative Retail Society. Bosses have denied the Co-op store has been earmarked for closure. But
RACE relations work in Hyndburn and Rossendale looks set to continue despite the closure of the area's racial equality council. At the final meeting of Hyndburn and Rossendale Racial Equality Council's executive committee, members were told that community
PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice today withdrew his Private Members Bill to give walkers a statutory right to roam across four million acres of mountain and moorland, after the Government promised early legislation of its own on the issue. Environment Minister
DETECTIVES are hunting an armed gang who attacked a security guard with a sledgehammer in a raid on a Royal Mail van. The 35-year-old guard also had a knife held against his throat before the thugs escaped with a "substantial" amount of cash. The four
A 'FLOWER fund' to brighten up the borough has grown this year. Last year over £117,000 was spent on schemes. The total this year has blossomed to £160,000. The most recent schemes have included funding for hanging baskets in Atherton. The Brighter Borough
WHEN Ron Sangster joined the gym to tone up and get in shape, the last thing he expected was romance. But love soon blossomed when he met fitness instructor Gwen Bone, at the Regency Fitness Suite, Blackburn. Ron joined the gym on Blackburn with Darwen
WANTED man Graham Alexander chose the wrong Lancashire club when plumping for Preston rather than Burnley in a £50,000 deal. That's the view of Clarets boss Stan Ternent after he made a late move to sign Alexander from Luton Town before last night's transfer
ADD a Voice, a local group which helps make life easier for disadvantaged and vulnerable people, is appealing for volunteers. The advocacy development group for Wigan and Leigh is aiming to give people, who may not be able to speak up for themselves,
BURY'S thriving Pub and Club Watch scheme is the toast of the town. Every pub in Bury has signed up to the initiative, which aims to call time on troublemakers. To reinforce the message that unruly patrons could face a three-year ban from such establishments
TO all the active members of the pensioners and retired organisations, congratulations on your success, in the fight for a better deal for pensioners. Thank you from the sick, disabled and just too elderly pensioners, who are unable to participate at
A FORMER Leigh man who died in the South is to be brought home for burial at Leigh Cemetery. The ashes of bachelor Fred Bawden, 76, who died on March 11 following a stroke will be interred in the family grave. A graveside service will be conducted by
Spring Market, St Gabriel's Church Hall, Church Walk, Brownhill, Blackburn, 11am-3pm. Dance Night Out with MC's Stan and Olwyn, King George's Hall, Blackburn, 7.30pm. Spring Fair, Accrington Town Hall, 10am. Janet Anderson MP Surgery, Darwen Library Theatre
RETIRED lorry driver Bill Heaton from Lincolnshire has forwarded a blast-from-the-past picture in the hope of attracting the attention of any of our readers who might be able to help boost his prized collection of photographs featuring the lorries of
DJS from Red Rose Rock FM in Preston took the town centre by storm when the launched the station's new CD, Rock the Dancefloor 2. Scores of people flocked to HMV in Fishergate to meet the DJs and get signed copies if the CD, which includes many popular
LOCAL history buff Bernard Murphy has again been beavering through the library archives in his ongoing quest for quirky information from the past. This time, Bernard, who makes a blues-beating hobby out of such things, has come up with an interesting
A NEW rubbish busting squad is to move into Leigh to rid the town of eyesores. And a new specialist sweeper is to be introduced, along with the mobile team which will tackle rubbish dumping, overgrown footpaths and grot spots. The move follows a survey
HI-TECH hardware is the latest weapon in the war on waste as Blackpool schoolchildren are being visited by a recycling robot. Cycler, who raps and talks to children in a fun way and works for environmental body Waste Watch, has already checked in at eight
A SEVEN-year-old Deepdale boy died after being hit by a car on Sunday (March 21). Naeem Patel was in collision with the Ford Granada on St George's Road, yards away from his house, when he crossed the road from between parked cars. He died of head injuries
I WOULD like to take the opportunity to reply to 'Concerned' (Dear Star, March 11) with regards to a fixed penalty notice issued to her sister for allowing her dog to foul on designated land and failing to clean up afterwards. Fixed penalty notices are
A MOBILE phone con warning was issued at the last meeting of Culcheth WI. Members were alerted to the fact that bogus engineers are ringing people and asking them to enter a series of numbers into their handsets - which allows the imposters to make calls
INSIGHT into the Jamaican construction industry was given to pupils at Elmslie Girls' School, Blackpool, recently. Millicent Powell-Reid, director of a woman's construction collective from the Caribbean island, spoke to the girls about her work as a trainer
THE Metro's youth met for a day of action and adventure recently - but there was a serious aim behind the fun. Over 100 took part in the Young People's Council event, one of the aims of which was to encourage more to join the Young People's Action Groups
PARISHIONERS of St Mary's RC Church, Chipping, are trying to raise £700 to provide two sets of solar panels and pumps for wells in the Brazilian communities of Sitio and Varzea Grande. A Water Aid display is being exhibited in the foyer of the church.
I would like to comment on an issue which has reared its head in the past few months, namely the retention of the part-time firemen in Lancaster. I don't think you would find anybody in the area who wasn't for retaining the part-time firemen, whose jobs
THE fight to attract European money to Preston is being stepped up a gear this week. County council deputy leader Frank McKenna is preparing for a round of meetings with North West MPs, MEPs and European officials, as he helps launch a campaign to convince
A SEX shop has opened in Atherton to a storm of protest. Residents are unhappy that their high street has attracted the Market Street "Hot Spot" and have protested to councillors, churchmen and nearby traders. Now Wigan Metro officers are investigating
I HAVE received a polling card for the local elections on May 6 but I have no intention of using it until we get some decent candidates with a caring attitude to the old and disabled. At the end of March council taxes will be raised and the rents are
RECOVERED cancer suffer Alex Farrimond didn't know what she'd let herself in for when she appealed for people to stride out in a Mothers' Day crocus walk for charity. The 68-years-old Atherton pensioner, of Douglas Road, who has conquered both breast
COULD someone from the local education authority tell me why Brandlesholme and Woodbank school cannot be amalgamated. Normally when a school has to close it is because it has a bad reputation but Brandlesholme recently got a marvellous Ofsted report.
FRIENDS, associates and colleagues have spoken of their high regard for Mohammed and Bilquis Karim, who were killed as they worked in their jewellers shop in Church Street, Preston. The were described as doting, caring and a couple who would do anything
A TEACHER at Westleigh High School has been short-listed for the North West's Young Teacher of the Year Award. Michelle Dunning (pictured) was nominated by the school where she teaches French. If Michelle becomes a regional finalist she will win £500
GOLBORNE Townswomen's Guild members adopted a life saving baby charity for their fund raising work. After members decided to back The Cot Death Association they set out hopefully to raise half the cost of a £400 monitor. But they worked so hard organising
MARGARET and Bernie Henshaw have always supported the council in the new market venture, unlike some other people who have used every trick in the book to try to get it stopped. I know how hard Margaret and Bernie have fought to get what they are entitled
BIG-hearted bosses at Manchester United Football Club are pulling out all the stops to give Preston schoolgirl Leonie Snowdon a VIP match ticket. They hope to be able to offer cystic fibrosis sufferer Leonie, 11, from Olderfield, Penwortham, the best
WIGAN'S housing department has been given a slap on the back for its work on renovating blocks of old terraced houses - including Bedford. The attractive transformation of homes in renewal areas and action zones in the Ince and Leigh areas was praised
CUB reporter Jenny Louden is the one voice of the Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley area on her youth newspaper. Jenny, 13, played a big part in working on edition five of Youth News, the 11-21 Linc newspaper, which is out now. The Atherton schoolgirl said
I READ with great interest the article by Peter Doherty (Feb 12) regarding the intense pressure exerted on the council by residents and the Open Market Traders Association, resulting in the "U-turn" over the Spring fair. Councillor David Higgin was right
A GROUP of Preston schoolchildren are releasing a song that they hope will raise them up to £5,000 for charity. The fifteen pupils, from Our Lady's High School, in Fulwood, have called their song 'Concern for Chernobyl', in aid of the people suffering
ASTLEY St Mary's RC High students rocked the judges with their up-beat performance in an international arts challenge. The Astley pupils lifted the 1999 Manchester Rock Challenge title after a hard-fought event at the city's Bridgewater Hall. The 38 Year
Many people will be familiar with the name of my lifelong friend, Group Captain Lord Chesire, the wartime piot who thereafter devoted his life to the service of disabled people. Lord Chesire died in1992, but his legacy lives on. There are now140 UK services
I WRITE as a former Bury resident who has just made his first visit to the town in 15 years. Whilst much in Bury has changed for the better - for example the Mill Gate centre and the many retail parks which have replaced run-down areas - all these improvements
TALENTED young trombonist Alistair White has no problem counting time - he's aiming for a degree in mathematics! Adding up his musical triumphs may prove more difficult. His latest success will be featured on a BBC Radio 2 programme at 8pm this Monday
ENVIRONMENT and Wildlife recently announced in the press that we intend to fight the forthcoming local elections. I was surprised, then, that a councillor we have never met should use the same press to make a public, personal and abusive attack. The quote
A member of the Royal Army Medical Corps from Leyland is saddle sore after a charity fund-raiser - and he was nowhere near a horse! Jeff Upton from Bamber Bridge spent four hours on a rowing machine at the West View Leisure Centre to help raise £350 for
I AM very concerned about the effect of the threat of closure of Brandlesholme CP School on my children. I chose this school five years ago because it had - and still has - the best to offer for my children. This was my first choice of school after considering
A FULWOOD resident has blasted the police for failing to tackle what he says is an escalating problem of juvenile nuisance around the Lovat Road area. The resident, who wants to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, revealed he and his neighbours are
The cold-hearted killers of the Karims, pictured, stole the video footage which showed them in the shop, just moments after committing the frenzied double-stabbing. The shock discovery was made as the relatives of Mohammed 'Tony' Karim and his wife Bilquis
A PRESTON vicar believes a controversial new advertising campaign, launched by the church, could attract more people to the pews. A poster, to be put up around the country, depicts the image of Argentinian revolutionary Che Guevara wearing a crown of
POLICE are hunting a teenage sex attacker who hit a girl over the head with a stone before indecently assaulting her in a secluded Fulwood park. The attack is the latest in a string of assaults which have occurred in the area. Now detectives in Fulwood
COUNCILLORS have promised that a colony of bats living on a Leyland building site will not disturbed as a new block of flats are erected. The bats were just one of a number of issues raised at South Ribble Borough Council's development services committee
THE Mayor of Hyndburn, Coun Sonia Bramley-Haworth, opened the Inland Revenue's new headquarters in Accrington. Castle House, a three-storey office block at Eastgate, was opened as part of a nationwide plan to improve service and increase efficiency. It
FLEETWOOD High School pupils showed off their hedge-laying skills at Fylde Community Farm, in Poulton. The demonstration was held to mark Wyre Partnership Against Crime's £500 donation towards the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. Launched last year, the
SUNSHINE and soaring temperatures sent Bank Holiday crowds flocking to the coast and hills. By mid-morning, roads out of East Lancashire were full of families making a last-minute holiday dash. But motoring organisations warned there was chaos ahead as
MORE than 750 people are expected to die over the next three years because they can't afford to heat their homes, grim predictions published this week have revealed. Friends Of The Earth claim the Preston, South Ribble and the Ribble Valley constituencies
A DAY in the life of one of the country's leading race tracks is being explored by Hodgson High School, Poulton. A cast of 50 and a hardworking backstage crew are staging Epsom Downs, by Howard Brenton, which follows the fortunes of various people on
A HOAX e-mail sent to undergraduates at the UCLa, has prompted a student newspaper to run an article warning readers to be on their guard should they go to Australia. The electronic letter describes an elaborate body-part theft operation which, it claims
BAINES School's Year 9 hockey teams are celebrating a double double, after the A and B teams won their respective seven-a-side league and cup competitions. Both sides triumphed at the Blackpool Schools hockey tournament at Stanley Park. They had both
NINE members of a family who were prepared to fake car crashes and the resulting serious injuries were yesterday found guilty of conspiracy to steal £3million. Mohammed Sharif, 57, his children and relatives, were trapped after six years of large scale
ROVERS are on the fast track back into Europe - and a pre-season tournament in France. But it will be more a case of foot on the pedal than foot on the ball when the club's colours go on show in Croix-en-Ternois in June. For the star is a car - the BRFC
REGARDING Brian Kirkbright's complaint about the unfairness of fuel charges going up for the disabled (Letters, March 19), if he is disabled, does he get Motability? If he does, he should consider himself very lucky because he is getting a free car every
WHEELCHAIR tennis ace, Mark Eccleston will be taking on the world when he travels to America next week for the forthcoming Florida Open. Mark from Bridge Road, Clock Face, has been confined to a wheelchair since the age of 16 when he was seriously injured
A GROUP of students from Fleetwood High School have been working with the tourism team to translate Wyre's tourism pages on the Internet into Japanese and Spanish. Danish translation is also in the pipeline and a range of factsheets are already available
ONCE again, we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the people in Darwen and surrounding areas. Our recent annual one-week charity shop in the town raised a staggering £2,425. Our heartfelt thanks go to all our supporters who helped in contributing
ROSSENDALE UNITED boss Micky Graham will wait for news on hamstring victims Sean Bursnell, Jason Heffernan and Danny Heys before naming his side for the visit of Prescot Cables. The Dale trio aggravated the injuries in last weekend's 2-1 win at Glossop
THEY say deaths come in threes, but stars are dropping like flies this year. We've lost comedians Ernie Wise, Rod Hull, and Derek Nimmo, violin maestro Yehudi Menhuin, Street star Brian Mosley and Sixties' idol Dusty Springfield in the last few weeks,
ARMY cadets from Arnold School, Blackpool, stood to attention during a recent visit from Lieutenant Colonel David James. The Queen's Lancashire Regiment's commanding officer, based in Northern Ireland, spent the morning inspecting training facilities
THE Lytham Community YMCA Sports Centre, (Old Guardian Sports and Social Club), Mythop Road, Lytham, is opening its excellent tennis and netball court facilities to all from April. Ten-week junior and adult courses are available with qualified LTA coaches
YOU reported (LET, March 8) that, because of social deprivation and low wages, children born in Blackburn and Darwen are destined to be losers in life. I am sorry, but I don't agree totally with this. There are some genuinely poor cases, but what happened
I SEE the 11 & 12 times tables (the two hardest) are being dropped from the primary school curriculum. That's when chanting tables is brought back to all schools of course. It's been decided to stop at 10s because we're now decimal, but it wouldn't
HIGH quality teaching and a very good, effective curriculum has earned a Blackpool special school top marks. Woodlands School was visited in February by inspectors from the education watchdog OFSTED. As well as the management and support from staff, praise
LYTHAM St Annes Hockey Club 1st XI travelled to Timperley for their final match of the 1998/99 season looking for a strong team performance. However, they were unfortunate to lose 6-0 to a well organised and determined Timperley side. The visitors created
CAR parts group LucasVarity, which employs more than 1,000 in East Lancashire, has warned of mixed trading times ahead despite announcing a 15 per cent jump in profits. The firm, which this week announced 120 job losses at its Lucas Body Systems site
DISABLED Fred Gillbanks doesn't want to be a millionaire. But the Westleigh pensioner would have liked the £125,000 he thought he had won. Fred, of Grosvenor Road, checked his numbers in a national daily newspaper millionaire's competition, and last week
IN Division A of the Rossall Sixes small-sided soccer league Sporting QCS still lead by one point after beating David Halsall FC 3-0. Team Macprint are still in second place, they beat Wayvale Warriors 4-0. The Untouchables won 4-1 over Coop Late Shop
A TOP level meeting has been called by Burnley MP Peter Pike over Burnley Youth Theatre's "appalling raw deal" in having its lottery bid rejected. Members of the theatre were shocked and dismayed to learn that their plans for a £3million arts centre had
I'M not an uncharitable person, not by any means, but I am sick and fed up of having appeals rammed down my throat. The last straw came on Friday evening when some kind soul rang up to ask me if I would deliver and collect envelopes in the area - during
Parr Hare & Hounds 16 Saddleworth 34 THIS was a plucky effort by the young Hounds side against a strong Saddleworth outfit. There was little to choose between the teams in the first half and the home side actually finished the stronger, but a scoring
Garswood United 4 Pilkington 1 GARSWOOD collected three valuable points from this derby victory. But with six weeks of the season left, they must play 14 league games and are still involved in two cup competitions. Pilks took the lead from the penalty
St Helens Crusaders 32 Swinton Bulldogs 16 RUSTY Crusaders finally found their touch to run out convincing winners. Playing their first game in a month, Crusaders made a lot of early errors. But once they settled down they were rewarded for their efforts
DESPITE the recent comments of GMPTE transport management head Bill Tyson, it seems to me GMPTE are attempting to ride roughshod over the views of local people in foisting this busway scheme upon us. I have yet to meet anyone who backs the idea, and their
POLICE are appealing to members of a Lancaster gang of thuggish teenagers to shop one of their number after a vicious attack. The 24-year-old male victim was chased from McDonalds to Lune Street by the gang after what a police spokesman described as a
JETSKI wizard Keith Rimmer just can't be caught. He can afford to sit back and watch his rivals do battle in the final round of the British Championship Winter Series. The Sutton Manor businessman has established a massive 91-point lead at the top of
Woolston A 28 Haresfinch 18 FINCH were on the wrong end of a number of controversial decisions as they finished the game with just 10 men. After a scrappy start, the visitors took the lead with a 50-yard solo effort by skipper Andy Hanley, converted by
THE Winter Gardens played host to a pretty hair-raising event last weekend . Hair stylists from all over the British Isles were in Blackpool on Sunday and Monday (March 21 and 22) for this year's International Hairdressing Championships. And the championships
A MAN who fell 40 feet from Central Pier in Blackpool will receive £100,000 in an out-of-court settlement. The money will be paid to Warren Hindley by insurers acting for former pier owner First Leisure Corporation and its security company Northern Securities
MORECAMBE'S troubled Midland Hotel will be given a much needed boost this weekend when a new British film shot at the landmark hotel is screened for the first time. The short film "Orpheus" will be shown at the Midland on Friday night and writer and director
Liverpool Collegiate 20 Ruskin Park 25 RUSKIN were made to fight all the way for this narrow victory in a highly entertaining game. After the respective kickers, Fisher and Walsh, had shared four penalties, Ruskin took the lead, when Jones sliced through
SIR - All credit is due to Baines School's top basketballers for their success in reaching Wembley (Citizen, March 18). For many youngsters, however, basketball may be too static a game to play or watch with lasting pleasure. A new form of handball is
Bold Miners 12 Pilkington Recs 18 A LARGE crowd was treated to a great Hays Chemicals St Helens Cup derby. Pilks ran out eventual winners due to their better discipline in the early stages when Bold had a player dismissed for arguing with the referee
THE all-conquering St Helens Town Amateur Boxing Club notched a seventh national title in three seasons when Martin Murray won the National Schoolboys title at 45 kilos at the weekend. Martin (16) defeated Ian Cochrane from Stowe at the Burnley Metro
IT'S the Year of the Family as the holiday show package for Blackpool's major entertainment venues was unveiled this week. After the resort reeled last year from bad publicity over drunken stag and hen parties, Leisure Parcs, new owner of the Tower, Opera
TV LICENSORS were Roman the countryside and delivering written demands to ancient piles of bricks in the area this week. But when curator of Lancaster City Museums, Dr Andrew White, (pictured) received a letter claiming the unlicensed use of a television
AS the kitten season approaches, may I appeal to anyone thinking of getting a kitten to please be a responsible pet owner by having it spayed or neutered at six months old - there are good reasons why you should. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and
EX-BLACKBURN Rovers star Mike Newell is the latest player to be linked with a move to Preston North End as David Moyes looks to make last-minute additions to his injury-ravaged squad. But if Moyes wants to add any more players to the trio he has brought
Maine Road 0 St Helens Town 1 A SPECTACULAR last-minute half-volley by defender Gary Dooner secured the points for Town and left Maine Road to rue missing an absolute sitter six minutes earlier. The conditions produced a scrappy affair and Town were the
HAVING read in the Citizen (March 4) about the so-called 'parking purge' instigated by the highways chairman Inspector Brian Horrocks, I'm afraid to say that this purge will not get off the ground - because of the problems enforcing it. I can quote instances
RAINFORD North End claimed their place in the St Helens Combination's Garswood Trophies Hospital Cup Final with a 1-0 success over Shoe. They now meet Child at St Helens Town's Hoghton Road ground on Good Friday (11.15am). The all-important goal came
A LANCASTER hospital worker and her sister are both calling "house" after scooping a massive £105,000 win at Gala Bingo. Carol Barnes and Denise Howes, who are both auxiliary workers at Royal Lancaster Infirmary, plan to split their winnings with their
GLOBETROTTING charity fund raiser Peter Galloway has completed a hat-trick of trips - this time on foot. The 59-years-old Atherton computer whizz has recently returned blister-footed from Desert Challenge '99, a trek in Jordan, in aid of FSID, the Foundation
BLACKBURN Rovers boss Brian Kidd is not expected to make Italian midfielder Dario Marcolin a permanent signing at the end of the season. Former boss Roy Hodgson paid Lazio £100,000 to take Marcolin on extended loan until the end of the season with an
Lancaster City 4 Colwyn Bay 1"THIS was a dream start," said new manager Tony Hesketh and he was dead right. Tuesday's victory was their first league for 16 games and their first of the new year and all in front of the new manager - the players must have
WANTED man Graham Alexander chose the wrong Lancashire club when plumping for Preston rather than Burnley in a £50,000 deal. That's the view of Clarets boss Stan Ternent after he made a late move to sign Alexander from Luton Town before last night's transfer
Swinton Lions 19, Dewsbury Rams 29 ANOTHER defeat dumped Swinton in third from bottom spot in the Northern Ford Premiership. The Lions took the lead in the thirteenth minute when Damien Cleary scored by the posts after some good build-up work by Paul
Drive and Stroll, with Ron Freethy visits Beamsley Hospital FROM medieval times until well into the 19th century, alms houses had a role which these days is the responsibility of the welfare services. They were a much more gentle solution to problems
A DISTINCTIVE Chinese ring with a green stone and Chinese writing on the shoulders was stolen during a burglaryat a house in Fleet Lane, Parr,on Friday, March 19. Anyone with information can contact DC Ged Belger at St Helens Police Station on 0151 777
A LANCASTER professor is to travel to America to be the first to read a famous art critic's unfinished book. Nigel Whitely, Professor of Art at Lancaster University, will study the works of architecture, design and art theorist and critic, Reyner Banham
PRESTON came within an inch of losing their second place spot in the league when Bournemouth completed the double over them with this 1-0 defeat. With Walsall winning, the gap between second and third place was narrowed to just one point. North End need
DAVID Bellamy dug in to launch work on a £400,000 building project at an Accrington school. The nature expert cut the first piece of turf at the site of a new two-storey science laboratory at St Christopher's CE High School's Queen's Road West campus.
Watford 0, Bury 0 STILL no away win, but the Shakers leapt two places and out of the drop zone courtesy of their fifth draw on the bounce. Another cool, calm, controlled performance against yet another promotion-chasing side deserved more than a point
AMBITIOUS rugby ground switch plans are going to the vote. A land swap deal would mean Tyldesley Rugby Club moving from its Well Street home to a new ground west of Astley Street (writes BRIAN GOMM). Plans for a new club with playing and training pitches
RAINFORD Parish Council is holding a weekend trip to Paris later this year to raise money for the Millennium Gala Day next summer. The trip, in June, will cost £95 per person and places are limited to just 42 people so need to be booked early. Contact
A MAN has pleaded guilty to the attempted rape of a woman in Lancaster. Michael Bonnick, 30, of Hollgate Street, Ashton Under Lyne, Manchester, admitted the offence which occurred on June 28 last year. Bonnick, who is married with two children, will be
LANCASHIRE Lynx had to work hard in the end for this first away victory of the season after taking a stranglehold early on. The 27-22 victory was as closely fought as the scoreline suggests. After being beaten in midweek by Tamati's Whitehaven Warriors
ELECTRICAL accessory workers are still reeling after the announcement that 96 jobs are to be axed only 18 months after a new factory was built. Workers at electrical cable assembly group Volex had been promised the massive £3million investment would secure
BLACKPOOL Council's sports centre and Moor Park swimming pool have scooped gold medals for quality - the only venues in Lancashire to win the UK's top leisure excellence award. Quest is the number one quality scheme for sport and leisure facilities and
A BUILDER fell more than 15 feet off scaffolding to a boarded walkway only to bounce off and fall another six feet. Paramedics treated 52-year-old Ian Woodward at the scene in Middleton before taking him to the RLI after the fall on Monday. One paramedic
THE first citizens' jury in the country is being called out on school holidays. Local people will sit to hear evidence for and against unifying school holidays boroughwide, before delivering a verdict. At present the council has eight varying holiday
A YOUNG couple living in a normal surburban street in Heysham discovered a bomb in their back yard this week. Residents in 40 homes in Crofters Fold had to be evacuated as the police bomb squad speeded their way up from Liverpool to explode the homemade
A DOUBLE whammy of defeats have virtually put paid to Bamber Bridge's lingering UniBond title hopes. Saturday's slender win by championship-chasing rivals Altrincham was followed on Tuesday by a shock 1-0 defeat at the hands of Whitby Bay. Before Tuesday
A NEW workshop is being set up for budding rock musicians in the area. Under the guidance of former session musician, Gordon Gaynor, the workshop is aimed at teenagers living in St Helens and Knowsley. Any rock musician, whether they play lead, acoustic
PUPILS at Lancaster Girls Grammar have staged a mock election for a new intiative to encourage people to vote. Sixth formers will act as poll station staff and candidates as a way of learning more about the electoral process. The city council and parish
ATHERTONIANS must decide whether a new school can be built on their field. Covenants dating back over 70 years would need to be lifted for ancient Chowbent School to be relocated on a recreation ground. The Education Authority want to replace the old
FINANCIAL assistance is now available to help new and existing small businesses in Bury. Through the Bury Investment and Loan Fund, packages from £4,000 upwards can be made available to qualifying businesses. The fund is administered by economic development
FOUR people were taken to hospital suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation following a fire at a three-storey block of flats in Millom Grove, Thatto Heath. The fire broke out in the kitchen of one of the flats at 12.13pm on Friday, March 19. The
BELEAGUERED householders on a Radcliffe estate have decided enough is enough and they want to form a residents' association to combat troublesome youths. The plan has been spearheaded by Mrs Edith Smith (72) of Ringwood Avenue, who is sick and tired of
LOCAL safety-conscious companies are being asked to follow in the footsteps of Radcliffe-based Trumeter. The Milltown Street company, which manufactures measuring equipment, has put itself forward for a British Safety Council National Safety Award. Now
POLICE have re-issued an appeal for information about an incident in which a 61-year-old woman fought off a youth who tried to snatch her handbag as she walked home after shopping. The woman was walking along Lewis Street, St Helens, at the rear of St
LIKE brother and sister - that's Daud and Safia Asghar - literally! Not only did the siblings get married on the same day, and their spouses were granted residency in the UK on the same day - but now they've also become parents on the same day! Twenty-three-year-old
ALAN HADCROFT has joined Leigh's growing casualty list. The winger, who scored a crucial try in Sunday's 16-12 win over Featherstone Rovers, was sent to hospital for x-rays on a damaged shoulder. "It doesn't look too promising," reported coach Ian Millward
BURY-BASED solicitors Clough and Willis are celebrating a double achievement. They have been re-recognised as Investors in People (IIP) and once more achieved recognition from the Legal Aid Board for their Personal Injury and Family Law departments. Investors
PUPILS at Newton County Nursery School have been busy planting tree seeds in the school grounds - thanks to The Mersey Forest and North West Water. The two organisations have donated special tree-growing kits and seeds to the school as part of the massive
BURY'S CVS manager will have his head in the clouds for a week when he aims to raise money for the Manchester Children's Hospital Appeal. Chris Langhorn of Oldfield Road, Prestwich, will attempt to climb a staggering 16,345 feet to reach the Point Lenana
AN action plan aimed at helping Bury's autistic schoolchildren has been given the backing of education chiefs. The main thrust is to build two six-place classrooms at Millwood School and Elms Bank High School specifically for autistic children and to
A CHARITY group organising holidays for single parent families in Bury looks set to be saved. As reported in last September, the holiday scheme looked doomed after cash ran out. It had been going in the town for nearly 20 years under the auspices of the
NEIL Warnock moved swiftly to beat the transfer deadline yesterday when he landed Leeds United striker Derek Lilley. The 25-year-old joined the Shakers on loan until the end of the season and was introduced to his new teammates over a game of 10-pin bowling
LEISURE facilities in Wyre are being given a revamp under a £24,000 council programme. The countryside, leisure and tourism committee has given the go-ahead to four specific projects aimed at improving some of the borough's most popular recreational areas
A MOTHER-of-two was left counting her blessings after a car careered through the back garden of her home in Clarence Close, Peasley Cross, before being halted by a lawn roller just four feet from the kitchen where she was making a cup of tea! Michelle
THEY are celebrating silver success at Hindsford Junior FC. The U12s picked up the first silverware of the season in the Leigh & District Divisional Cup, beating WJ Hawks 7-1. Matthew Houlihan hit a hat-trick and other goals came from Dean Edwards
AMATEURS they may be, but St Helens Catholic Gilbert and Sullivan Society once again enthralled audiences with the sheer professionalism of their performances with a five-night extravaganza of music and mirth when they presented 'Trial by Jury' and 'HMS
LEIGH ROYAL OAK are in hot form as they chase the NorthWest Counties Division Five title. They beat Crosfields 38-4, their defence always on top, their pacey attack too hot to handle. MoM was S Fishwick with good support from J Goldthorpe and A Peachey
PIGGERY buildings can be turned in to new homes. David Bowling's application to convert two Landside Farm buildings at Leigh in to a detached house and a four bungalow terrace has been approved by planners. Seven objections to the scheme included one
CASINO dance mates Ruth Radcliffe and Joan Waddington last saw each other nearly 40 years ago. Now Joan would love to meet her friend again. "Ruth had a twin - Robert. She used to live in Wigan Road, Atherton. She married Jimmy O'Neil in 1959 or 60 and
WIGAN'S twin town is inviting a local volunteer to take part in a Mali adventure of a lifetime. Angers in the Loire Valley is twinned with the West African state's capital, Bamako, and every year representatives from five twin towns Wigan, Haarlem, Pisa
LEIGH RU pushed injury problems to one side as they beat Widnes 15-7. With several players out of the reckoning, a reshuffled side did well against strong opposition. Tries came from Lawrence Brickland and David Bullough with Chris Lee banging over a
A plucky customer took on an armed robber who threatened a young shop assistant in a Blackburn store. The masked raider walked into Blackamoor Village Shop, Roman Road, around 8.20pm yesterday and started waving a knife at the 17-year-old cashier. A male
A TV producer is seeking money-mad people from the Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley area to take part in a series "Making Millionaires". The schedule will be a cross between docu-soap and documentary, with each programme containing three elements. The docu-soap
POLICE were called to Atherton LR's Crilly Park ground on Saturday to quieten down a bunch of unruly and drunken away supporters. The troublemakers have already been disowned by Workington following a similar occurrence early in the season. They arrived
WAS it the wind or was it a fan of a rival Lancashire football team bearing a grudge? That's the question on the lips of Rovers chiefs after a 15 foot high straw stuffed replica of a player, complete with official shirt, was found dismembered on the ground
A HOUSEWIFE turned inventor is hoping to take the hairdressing world by storm. Ramsbottom mum-of-two Lorna Roscow has come up with a new system to help people see what styles suit them before the scissors get anywhere near their head! Lorna (34), of Peel
IT'S all hands on deck at Radio City at the moment. For, on Monday, we launch our very own compilation CD. It's called 'Clubzone - Dancing In the City' and comes as a double pack available on CD or cassette. Album One features all the big dance floor
A COLNE GP has been arrested and released on police bail following allegations of financial irregularities surrounding his practice. Dr Shiv Prasad Dey, who runs a single practice in Burnley Road, Colne, was arrested yesterday after a complaint from the
ANGRY Polefield residents are calling for a crackdown on troublemakers they claim made a misery of the last days of an elderly neighbour's life. They want immediate action by Bury Council to deal with youths on the Prestwich estate they allege harassed
GINGER'S Easter Egg run hit the streets on Saturday! Around 1,000 scooters set off from Lowton Civic Hall to take 2 thousand toys and Easter eggs to Manchester Children's Hospital. The brainchild of Kevin 'Ginger' Lawton, of Railway Street, Atherton,
A GRIEVING mother struggling to come to terms with her daughter's sudden horrific death was hit by a second shock this week - she discovered she is a grandma. Lynn Boyle, of Foresters Close, Leyland, had not seen her daughter, Isabella Maria Wilson, for
POLICE in Lancashire have announced a campaign aimed at stamping out gay and lesbian 'hate' crime. The new offensive has been launched after two years of research and talks with the county's homosexual communities. Criminals who attack or harass gays
Liverpool Reserves 1 Blackburn Rovers Reserves 0 A YOUNG Blackburn Rovers side battled valiantly against a near full-strength Liverpool first team at Anfield. A Steve Staunton header from a corner broke the deadlock with 25 minutes remaining. But Liverpool
A SICK Polish boy has been given the chance to walk thanks to the generosity of a local people. Four-year-old Luke Maruszka suffers from a crippling spinal condition which could kill him by the age of 20. But following fund-raising at a variety of events
MURDER squad detectives investigating the brutal slaying of Mohammed Karim and his wife Bilquis were today quizzing two people. The news came on the day police returned to the scene of the killings in a bid to trace vital witnesses exactly a week after
BLACKBURN Rovers boss Brian Kidd is not expected to make Italian midfielder Dario Marcolin a permanent signing at the end of the season. Former boss Roy Hodgson paid Lazio £100,000 to take Marcolin on extended loan until the end of the season with an
BURY'S bid for £200,000 of sponsorship cash for its "Sailing Into the New Millennium" project will go to boardrooms up and down the country. A high-powered initiative to secure the vital corporate funding has been launched following a meeting at the House
CHEWING gum thrown on to Blackpool pavements is coming to a sticky end thanks to an ingenious machine. Dubbed the Gizmo, the cleaner has been brought to the resort in a bid to clean up what has become a plague with streets riddled with discarded gum.
I AM trying to locate a young couple who attended a car boot sale on March 20 at St Mary's Church, Billinge. They bought a hamster cage from me and we have discovered that there is a vital missing part which I am desperate to give them. My conscience
PNE Girls Under 16s footballer Katie Anderton, left, has been selected to represent England in a forthcoming tournament to be held in the Republic of Ireland. Katie, who attends Corpus Christie High School, is in the squad of 16 girls who will fly out
VILLAGE charity champion Edith Wilcock has stepped out for another dance success. Edith, of Walthew Lane, Platt Bridge, organised the old time event at the Monaco Ballroom last month, and raised £700 for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. It follows
THE once rustic village of Billinge is changing . . . and not, I'm afraid, for the better! Much local dismay was registered (though not too much fighting spirit) when the historic stone-built former council offices were demolished. This was just one landmark
Where has Mr Pearson been living in the last four years? In response to his letter March 18 - the people of Morecambe do not credit him. Mr Pearson blatantly fails to identify in his letter that Morecambe declined under the control of a Conservative council
TWO Bury police officers, both killed in the line of duty, are to be remembered at a special service next month to mark 25 years of policing in Greater Manchester. Candles will be lit at Manchester Cathedral in memory of the 10 police officers who have
THIS letter is addressed to the thoroughly inconsiderate dog owners who regularly allow their dogs to foul the pavements in School Lane, Rainhill, and in particular the owner who this week has allowed their dog to make a mess right in front of the gate
Scotforth residents will remember the packed public meeting in the Unitary Church in November 1997. When Labour councillor, Ian Barker, told us that we needed a huge housing development on the green fields to the south of Lancaster. Due to people living
RACIAL equality and discrimination came to the fore on Wednesday (March 24) when Bury hosted a special event. The day, entitled "Young and Equal", was organised specifically to allow youngsters in the borough to have a direct input into a proposed Bury
THREE people escaped a horrifying arson attack on a flat in Brant Road, Farringdon Park, at 4.45am on Sunday, March 21. The arsonists trapped 45-year-old Brian Salisbury and two girls, aged 17 and 19, in the flat by jamming a wheelie bin against the door
HOW many more schools have to be closed to save money on useless projects? Children are punished, dragged from pillar to post, and are then expected to get good grades in SAT tests. Manor School is a small community school where the children are happy
THE day he guzzled down a pint of Guinness from an over-sized baby's bottle, to the encouragment of a roaring audience, remains vivid in the mind of Brian Thompson. Touching upon the showbiz scene of the 'fifties, Brian recalls that his performance took
Speaking as the fiancee of Neil Eastwood, an ex-Lancaster Market Hall stall holder, I am writing to express my sadness at the article "A Market Of Opportunity" in "LA Views", a local magazine produced by Lancaster City Council, and delivered through my
EDUCATION bosses in Bury have pre-empted a nationwide move to improve schooling for ethnic minority children. A new Ofsted report has revealed that, nationally, there is serious under-achievement of some minority ethnic groups in schools. Pakistani, Bangladeshi
I have recently observed a dramatic change in the behaviour of the Labour-controlled Lancaster City Council; through the local newspapers. The introduction of schemes such as 'Listen to Lancaster', the 'Book of Rights' and most significantly the scrapping
A REARGUARD action to thwart the School Street caravan park for fairground families has been defeated. Despite earlier public opposition, planning bosses gave conditional permission on Tuesday (March 23) for Salford businessman Mr Derek Hackett to develop
ASIAN radio and television journalist Tazeen Ahmad is backing Lancashire police's campaign to curb reckless driving during Eid, which starts this Saturday, March 27. Tazeen, ethnic affairs reporter for Radio 4 Live and a familiar face on BBC2's Asian
AFTER amicably agreeing to part company with the Saints last week, I would like to comment on my time at the club. Thanks must go to the Saints for appointing me in May, 1996. After starting with a blank piece of paper I believe the town of St Helens
In response to the letter from Matthew Steeples (Citizen: March 18) - Mr Steeples should not get carried away over Nightingale Farm. After all, I think that we have achieved more in the past two years than the previous MP managed in 27. If Matthew checks
I WOULD like to sincerely thank the honest person who handed in my watch which I lost in the South Stand at the recent Bury FC home game against Crystal Palace. I did not expect to see my watch again so I was delighted to learn at the following home match
THE air in Preston could soon be cleaner following the decision to run all council-owned vehicles on a new type of fuel. Preston Mayor Rose Kinsella launched the use of ultra-low sulphur diesel fuel at an exhibition of vehicles on Preston's flag market
AS a member of Hollins Conservation Group I regularly receive the group's newsletters. In the December 1998 issue the chairman stated: "Our local councillors, Gordon Sharkey, Sylvia Mason and Jean Howcroft, are behind us in the campaign to prevent the
HORRIFIED Prestonians have blasted a leaflet which has been sent to hundreds of households offering readers the chance to become an escort. The leaflet, sent out by the Sunshine Escort Agency, offers locals the chance to earn £60 an hour "socialising
PRESTON town centre is set to be transformed into a multi-stage theatre as Christians prepare to re-enact the Easter story to mark the Year 2000. Local churches have joined forces to draw up plans for the massive pageant, which will involve various locations
A XANADU re-think has targeted transport and reduced the giant leisure complex's environmental impact. Amendments to the planned proposals include reducing car parking by half. Hot on the heels of Kenyon Junction station revelations come details of modifications
LIKE so many other householders in Preston, have recently received my community charge demand for the coming year from the council. It has, as seems inevitable in this day and age, gone up by more than the rate of inflation. My major concern, however,
A GRIEVING mother struggling to come to terms with her daughter's sudden horrific death was hit by a second shock this week - she discovered she is a grandma. Lynn Boyle, of Foresters Close, Leyland, had not seen her daughter, Isabella Maria Wilson, for
AFTER reading your article "Bad review for Arts Centre" (Bury Times March 19) I feel compelled to write in support of Alan Oatey and his team. Some years ago the Met hosted a large and wide-ranging programme of events, including dance and jazz. Some of
AMBITIOUS plans have been unveiled to mark the 25th anniversary of a Leyland community. Residents in Moss Side plan to hold a week-long celebration to mark a quarter of a century in existence, culminating in a day-long festival on the Village Green on
TWO potty PNE fans have sent a trans-Atlantic message of thanks to bosses at North End after a recent trip to Deepdale nearly ended in disaster. Ken and Chris Nicholls, ex-Prestonians who now live in New Hampshire, decided to give their mother a present
PARENTS in Ashton who spent years campaigning for a new high school in their area have been told their children won't be allowed to go there. Scores of parents, many living within one mile of Ashton-on-Ribble High School, have been told their children
RESIDENTS in Farington have launched a campaign to ensure they get a pharmacy in their area. Last month chemist Patricia Hill was given permission to open a pharmacy in Stanifield Lane, Farington, after residents said their area was missing out. The South
IT used to be the job all councillors clamoured for, but it was only the third choice candidate who agreed to don the chains for a year as Preston's Mayor. Coun Veronica Afrin has provisionally been named as Preston's new first citizen - providing Labour
FAIRIES at St Mary's High School, could this be true? Were Lionel Vinyl, the Phantom of the Opera, Minnie Mouse new students perhaps? The reason had to be Comic Relief. For the 'relief'' of donating 50p, many Blackpool students donned fancy dress and
PLANS to make the county's police stations more user-friendly are taking shape. Refurbishment work has already started at the Preston headquarters and a new front entrance for Penwortham is in the pipeline. The move is part Lancashire Constabulary's improvement
THE family of murdered Preston jewellers Mohammed and Bilquis Karim had been the target of villains FOUR times before Friday's horrific double stabbing at their Church Street shop. The most recent attack came just four weeks before Friday's murder, which
Paddy McKeown and Mike Watkinson linked up to keep Lancashire on the winning trail in South Africa. Merseysider McKeown hammered an unbeaten 79 as Lancashire crushed a Combined Academy side by seven wickets in a 45 overs game - and early boost for an
RISHTON are still expecting Corrie Jordaan to play as their overseas signing this summer, despite reports from South Africa that he won't be returning to Lancashire. Jordaan was re-engaged by Rishton after taking 79 Lancashire League wickets last season
YEAR 10 students from Hodgson High School, Poulton, got an insight into the world of work in the leisure industry by taking part in Whitbread's Education Challenge project. A team of 15 pupils spent an evening working in the Millers Arms, in Singleton
THESE are testing times for Europe. For the first time in more than 50 years there is armed conflict on the continent; the commissioners recently resigned en masse following the "wise men's" devastating report on their performances; the newly-launched
IN TV programmes, there are items which are five or 10 minutes long which are of no entertainment value. Then, when a film is advertised, you switch on and the first thing you see are cautions that it is not fit to watch. There is enough filth in the
GREAT Harwood look to continue their great escape from the bottom of the Unibond League First Division when they entertain mid-table Radcliffe Borough tomorrow (kick-off 1pm). Harwood looked dead and buried before Denis Underwood took charge. But three
BLACKPOOL Council's successful Walk To and From School event, the Midsummer March held last year, has been followed by the 1999 Spring Walk which took place on Monday (March 22). And the class or the year group which made the greatest contribution, could
HOT-SHOT striker Billy O'Callaghan wants to quit Accrington Stanley at the end of the season. The Reds 25-goal leading scorer will walk out on the Crown Ground side when his contract runs out in May unless Stanley stay up AND chairman Eric Whalley makes
I AM not surprised "The Three Wise Men", Messrs Lewis, Doherty and Badham of the Bury Times, triumphed yet again in the Clough and Willis They must seek sterner challenges. They display erudition, wit and style in their columns which give pleasure to
KING Edward's U12s rugby teams enjoyed a double double when they entertained local rivals Arnold School. The Lytham sides were keen to repeat last October's convincing victories at Arnold. Free-scoring centre Tom Brooks scored two tries and further scores
NOW that the dust has settled following the Budget and people begin to realise that everything is not as rosy as they first thought, they are about to be hit by another broadside from Downing Street. A Green Paper, to be published before the end of the
AFTER mad cow disease and the beef on the bone ban, salmonella in eggs and listeria in cheese comes another declaration. That the food we have been told is good for us all our lives can damage our health. The nutritional laboratory in York has declared
THE hunt to find the UK's Storyteller of the Year is on, and youngster Chris Tierney, of St Bede's RC High School in Lytham, is well on his way to the title. Reading an excerpt from Goodnight Mr Tom, by Marjorie Magorian, on to audio tape has won Chris
I AGREE with Councillor David Pearson (Letters, March 2) who accused the Prime Minister of doing a massive U-turn on his attitude towards Europe. In 1983, Mr Blair was against the Common Market and, indeed, he would have been in favour of Britain pulling
CHORLEY and South Ribble District General Hospital could be in line for a massive cash injection following a statement by Health Secretary Frank Dobson. Mr Dobson, who visited the hospital recently, announced that all accident and emergency departments
THE search is on to find someone with the right face and voice to captivate visitors to a new £500,000 attraction at Blackpool's SeaLife Centre. The centre is looking for someone with the sage-like qualities to convincingly portray the ancient Greek philosopher
HOW is it that when we get something good in the town someone comes along and spoils it? When the new market hall was opened, we were very pleased to welcome and fully appreciate the ten feel wide shopping aisles. We are now very disappointed to note
A MORECAMBE territorial soldier has been commended for bravery after assisting at the scene of a serious road traffic accident. Darren Smith, 28, was at the headquarters of the field hospital volunteers in Manchester when a serious traffic accident occurred
INDEPENDENT research this week revealed that a helpline piloted in Preston has been a resounding success. The survey, conducted by Sheffield University, showed that 97 per cent of callers to the NHS Direct nurse-led 24-hour helpline were 'satisfied',
TEN workers at Burnley factory Burco Dean have gained nationally recognised qualifications after the company signed up to the Burnley Challenge Funded Employment and Training Charter. The charter offer a subsidy of up to £50 a week for 26 weeks to enable
BLACKPOOL'S mayor says Sooty needs to sweep up his ideas after a TV rap over sniffing aromatic oils. Sooty, the cuddly bear puppet who was made mayor of Blackpool for the day on his 50th birthday last year, was censured by the Independent Television Commission
MAY I through Journal Mailbox tell those women who dug up a bin bag full of daffodil bulbs from Firs Park, facing St Peter's school playground, they were stealing. And thanks for the mess. Recently a couple were taking daffodils for Mother's Day. Her
IT'S heartbreaking for anyone who has toiled to see their work spoiled by some selfish halfwit. Members of the Firs Park User Group are livid this week after spending hours in the winter cold preparing the community for a brighter spring. In order to
LANCASTER's MP Hilton Dawson has met with Home Office Minister George Howarth to tell him that proposals to cut the retained fire service in Lancaster defy reason and common sense. Mr Dawson is concerned that the Standards of Fire Cover report claimed
THE Preston Primary Care Group will be launched on April 1 - one of four which will help prioritise the area's healthcare needs. The groups have been set up by North West Lancashire Health Authority, as part of a government strategy to improve the community's
TWO families in the Duke Bar area of Burnley are making life a misery for other residents councillors were told. Coun Arif Khan told colleagues on the policy and resources committee: "There is a problem in the Duke Bar area." Police, he said, were called
IT WAS top marks for Blackpool as three education experts converged on the town to address a conference. More than 100 delegates from the town gathered yesterday (March 24) at the Imperial Hotel for a full day of discussion, entitled Celebrating and Developing
PATIENTS could be turned away from hospitals if a Government cash freeze leads to the closure of beds, a health chief warned today. Burnley Health Trust has been told the £1 million it received last year to deal with high demand in the winter months,
MILLHEAD'S Ian Joel will this weekend be looking to make up for his last outing as the British Trial and Rally Drivers Series heads to North Humberside for the third round. Based in Hull, this round includes some of the fastest forests in the Series,
WITH the Millennium approaching I would like to help make the world a better place, but I'm not sure of the best way to go about it. Therefore I would be delighted to receive sincere suggestions from Citizen readers. I have time, energy and commitment
THE overwhelming majority of Lancaster shoppers want GM food banned, according to a "people's poll" held in Lancaster's Marketgate Shopping Centre on Saturday. Nearly four hundred shoppers took part in the poll organised by North Lancashire Real Food
Rochdale 8 West Park 14 WEST Park reached their third Lancashire Trophy Final in five years thanks to this hard-fought victory. They now meet Wigan, who defeated Warrington in the other semi-final. Rochdale were clearly out for revenge after their narrow
Morecambe 2 Rushden & Diamonds 3 MORECAMBE ended their 500 minute goal drought in spectacular fashion on Saturday only to cruelly denied by a late winner from a capable Rushden and Diamonds side. But manager Jim Harvey was still full of praise for
SIR, - I WAS pleased to read the letter concerning free TV licences for pensioners (Citizen, March 11). Gordon Brown promised pensioners a better deal this year, but again we are getting a pittance of a pension rise of little more than £2 per week which
Saints 34 Gateshead Thunder 22 SAINTS' performance in this first clash with the North Easterners was like the curate's egg - only good in parts! And it could be argued that it was mainly through the brilliance of Saints' centres Kevin Iro and Paul Newlove
BLACKPOOL'S clash with the breakaway leaders of Division Two, Fulham, at Craven Cottage on Saturday (March 20) was always going to be a mammoth struggle for the Seasiders. Manager Nigel Worthington said after the match that he had a lot of thinking to
AN Australian man traced his roots back to Lytham on the Internet and has made the 12,000 miles journey 'home' to find out about his mother. Michael Harding was separated from his mother, Grace Connaught Reid (nee Kelly), at an early age and never really
A MAN who was accused of being a "police grass" was tied to a chair and beaten before being threatened with a knife, a jury has heard. Graham Jackson told a Preston Crown Court jury that he was bundled into his Morecambe flat, secured to a chair with
WHILE spending millions to promote the unwanted Euro, the Government is considering a new range of taxes on motorists. These include car parking levies, tolls on motorways, VAT on tolls and even compulsory tagging of cars. Many local authorities with
West Sutton 12 Blackbrook 44 BROOK safely negotiated a potentially tricky tie to move into the last four of the St Helens Hays Chemicals Cup. During the opening 40 minutes the homesters gave pretty well as much as they got against their National Conference
THE sharpshooters from Pilkington fired their way to a cup success. After falling behind to Bluebell Boys, they hit the target four times to clinch a place in the third round of the St Helens McDonald's JOL's Midland Bank Cup for under 12s. RESULTS Under
LAWYERS were the only winners after a Blackpool man lost an eight-year compensation fight for the loss of his leg following heart surgery. London's Appeal Court on Monday (March 22) ruled that neither Blackpool Victoria Hospital nor Guy's Hospital, London
ENGLAND expects Morecambe schoolboy football sensation Ryan Elderton to do his best against Poland at Wembley this weekend. The 15-year-old Morecambe High School pupil has just been picked to play for Lancashire. But when a letter arrived saying he has
PLANS to axe a direct Blackpool to London train service should be de-railed, say resort transport chiefs. First North Western has announced the withdrawal of its daily direct Blackpool-Euston service from May, though the resort will still have Virgin's
A LANDLORD of a city centre pub told how he was held to the ground and beaten in a totally unprovoked attack this week. Licensee of the Water Witch, Nigel Keene, was shocked by the attack because trouble is so rare in the pub. He remembered: "The whole
COME and join the fun this week as the second festival of British puppetry, PuppetUp! 99, rolls into Blackpool. PuppetUp! 99 is an open access community event developed as a unique partnership between schools and local residents working alongside regional
THE lowly Lions welcome back Sean Casey for Sunday's trip to Whitehaven Warriors. Coach Les Holliday has been robbed of the back's services for seven weeks due to a hamstring injury, in which time Swinton have tumbled to third from bottom in the Northern
MORE than 400 years of rugby tradition came to an abrupt end at the weekend and it's all down to a 12-year-old Prestwich girl! Young Sarah Brockway plays tight head prop for Sedgley Park's Under-11 team and when she ran out against St Mary's Hall Preparatory
A LOWTON couple have filmed the 'mystery guest' spot on the nation's favourite sporting quiz. Bill and Elizabeth Alderson (pictured), of Newton Road, will find their 15 minutes of fame appearing on the BBC's Question of Sport - in the section in which
THERE are no two ways to put it - Preston have to win this weekend if they wish to remain second in the Second! And North End have a perfect opportunity to get back to their winning ways when Northampton arrive at Deepdale. Currently third from bottom
PEOPLE come under the focus of Leigh photographer Dave Walker from this weekend. "Long Time No See" is a celebratory look at the people who live and work in Leigh and it goes on show at the Turnpike Gallery from Saturday until May 15. Dave's past exhibitions
