Archive

  • Lord's high praise after comeback

    ATHERTON COLLS manager Alan Lord saw hope for his team's future in their 2-2 draw with Kidsgrove Athletic. "I have nothing but the highest praise for the lads," he enthused, as they move towards the end of a long and testing North Western Trains League

  • Crush man 'stable'

    A 43-year-old man who suffered severe arm and hand injuries in a horrific accident at work is "stable" in the Royal Preston Hospital. Peter Brogan's lower left arm and hand were crushed in a machine press at Channel Master Philips Road, Whitebirk Industrial

  • Mechanics celebrate with The Avenue

    THEY'RE celebrating at the Mechanics Arms where the A team are Division One champions in the Leigh & District Amateur Football League. In the Second Division the silverware goes to Leigh Avenue, who ended the campaign well clear of Ross's Wanderers

  • On this day

    A look back at events in history on May 14 with Mike Badham AD964: Wicked Pope John XII died at 27, after nine years of episcopal debauchery. Female pilgrims who visited him were violated, and he plotted against the emperor, too. Priests who annoyed him

  • Sex charges

    A 36-year-old man appeared before Blackburn magistrates today accused of 11 sex offences against a number of boys under 16. James Warke, of Lincoln Close, Blackburn, also faces a charge of abducting a 12-year-old boy and two charges of common assault.

  • Juniors gather in the silverware

    HINDSFORD JUNIORS U12s have been hitting the high spots. But their latest run began with a defeat, when they lost 2-1 to Cadishead in the Manchester County Cup Final (Grant Willett; MoM Matthew Houlihan). They quickly recovered to win their third trophy

  • Keep it in focus

    TRADERS in Blackburn have been told to make sure store CCTV cameras are in good working order in case police need to look at film from them. Police in London have used store cameras recently to arrest a man linked with the three nail bombings in the capital

  • Sewer work delays road opening

    SEWER work in Hindley Green will take longer than originally planned. And this means the stretch of Atherton Road between Long Lane and Swan Lane will be closed until probably the end of the month. The road was due to re-open on May 9. Following the re-opening

  • Tracey steps out for Ellise

    CORONATION Street star Tracey Barlow put her best foot forward on Saturday - for charity. Actress Dawn Acton, who stars in the nation's favourite soap, joined dozens of sponsored walkers at Cavendish Street Day Nursery in Leigh, to raise cash for the

  • Village stung into protest by 'busy bee' sculpture

    A NEW beehive sculpture has been unveiled on a roundabout in Blackburn based on the "busy bee" image in the town's crest But angry residents in Guide say they have been "stung" by Blackburn with Darwen Council who they say never consulted them about the

  • Davies disco shame

    BLACKBURN Rovers' record signing Kevin Davies is in disgrace having been fined two weeks wages and dumped out of the squad for Sunday's final game at Newcastle by furious Ewood boss Brian Kidd. Swiss midfielder Oumar Konde has been treated likewise with

  • Schools ban book for young people

    AN information book published by young people for young people has been banned by three high schools. Bury schools, Derby High and St Gabriel's RC High as well as St Monica's RC High in Prestwich, have refused to stock and distribute What Now 1999. The

  • Wilcox: If players want to go we are better off without them

    SKIPPER Jason Wilcox today spelled out a clear message to any players thinking of jumping ship, following Blackburn Rovers' relegation - If you are not ready to fight for the cause, go now. Wilcox believes Rovers are capable of bouncing back with players

  • Local voices heard

    WELL done the Citizen and well done Citizen Smith for reflecting and publicising the views of the ordinary man and woman in the street whom local politicians, especially the outgoing Labour group, ignored, as we have seen, it was to their cost. I have

  • Malcolm leads ban the bomb attack

    TYLDESLEY scientist Malcolm Sutcliffe is leading an attack on NATO bomb raids. The Shuttle Street father-of-two (pictured) who has lectured to top Russian scientists is urging Prime Minister Tony Blair to condemn air strikes in the Balkans. Currently

  • Fast-track youth court scheme attacked

    A LEADING magistrate has claimed it is taking longer than ever to deal with young criminals - despite a Government pilot scheme aimed at speeding up youth justice in East Lancashire. The chairman of Hyndburn magistrates, Ivan Smith, attacked the failings

  • Young Fulwood star picked for EnglandU19s

    UP and coming cricket star Atul Sachdeva has got the new season off to a flying start, being picked for the under-19 England squad. The 18-year-old, who hails from Fulwood, was snapped up by Leicestershire County Cricket Club last year after impressing

  • Tongue not fag in cheek

    I HOPE you were writing with your tongue in your cheek when you described your remarkable comments on smoke-free pubs as "considered and balanced". I think smokers should be free to smoke as much as they like, provided they can arrange for others nearby

  • Have a spree on me!

    LITTLE Chelsea Noone went on a shopping spree at Harrods - using Mr Mohammed Al Fayed's credit card! The controversial owner of the most famous store in London had invited Radcliffe girl Chelsea to meet him at Harrods after hearing of her battle against

  • Clogs and maps

    HINDLEY cross stitchers are cobbling up pieces of work for the Millennium Map. Seven women are completing designs for the Wigan Soroptimists' project - including Kim Johnson who is working on the famous Walter Hurst's crossroads clog shop. Lynne Frost

  • Events in East Lancs/North West on Saturday, May 15th

    Environmental Fair Day, Witton Country Park, Preston Old Road, Blackburn, from 11am. Bouncy castle, face painting, Indian dancers etc. Children's Fun Day, Roman Road Community Centre, Blackburn, 2pm-4pm. Proceeds for Crisis in Kosovo. Coffee Morning,

  • Lone voice in the crowd

    IT'S hard for a man to make himself heard when surrounded by a chorus of women. And Alan Winstanley ought to know! For he's the lone male voice in what is intended to be a mixed choir. "Not that I'm complaining about being surrounded by the girls. I'm

  • Taking the party out of politics

    -BREAKING faith with local people is the issue that has driven party politics out of power in the Lancaster district. Thank you to the people of Heysham North Ward for voting to put this Independent voice in Lancaster and Morecambe town hall. A special

  • East Ward waits for £5m bid news

    LEADERS of a multi-million pound bid to transform the East Bury area are nervously keeping their fingers crossed. Details of the ambitious project have now been submitted and a decision is expected next month. If given the green light, the proposals will

  • Zeal trader!

    IN response to your answer to the letter about non-smokers (Citizen: May 6). Firstly, smokers can pollute restaurants, cinemas, theatres and concert hall foyers. Smoking on planes is a fire risk I think. Lots of fuel about you know! Smokers paying 84

  • A different class

    THE headteacher of the first Bury school to be closed is to resign. Mr Ian Young (35) will leave Brandlesholme County Primary School at the end of the summer term to take up the position of headteacher of Christ Church CE Primary School, Walshaw. Mr Young

  • Inflation helps Kosovo refugees

    PIONEERING shelters invented by an East Lancashire designer are now vital for rescue operations both in Kosovo and closer to home. Demand is increasing daily for Richard Bailey's award-winning inflatable buildings which are being used in the Balkans to

  • Bitter recriminations

    LABOUR leader Peter Rankin launched an astonishing attack on controversial councillor Mick Moulding. According to the leader, Coun Moulding's departure from the one-seat majority Labour camp has been cause for celebration, not disappointment. Coun Rankin

  • All things bright and beautiful...

    VICAR'S wife Karen Lindop is hoping to change the image of the congregation at St John's Church, Mosley Common. She has joined up with parishioner Lena Crowe to open a House of Colour studio in Worsley. The two style gurus are now accepting clients, giving

  • Warm welcome promised for refugees

    KOSOVAR refugees could arrive in the Ribble Valley within the next 10 days if a top-level meeting tonight decides to give the go-ahead. Calderstones Hospital has been on stand-by to house Albanians fleeing the trouble-torn Balkans since April after the

  • Learn all about adult education

    OUR literary past will be brought vividly to life as part of the borough's Adult Learners' Week celebrations. A huge book will be erected outside Marks and Spencer and at 12.50pm each day next week you can hear extracts from classic works by authors with

  • Xanadu bosses in rail probe appeal

    XANADU developers are forcing an inquiry into plans about Kenyon Station because planners have delayed their decision. Warrington Council planners want more consultations about the Xanadu developers' Manchester-Liverpool rail link proposals and for the

  • Thanks to voters

    WE would like to express our sincere and heartfelt thanks to the people of Victoria ward for their confidence and trust placed upon us at the recent local elections. We are all very grateful to have been re-elected to serve as councillors on Lancaster

  • All in a day's work

    THERE are many things to be said about last Thursday's stunning victory for the Independents, the thrashing of Labour, the lamentable performance by the Conservatives and the long overdue and well deserved eviction of Stanley Henig. I shall try to say

  • It's Over was just start

    COLLEAGUES of company director Dave Dawson did a double-take when he walked into work on Monday. The hard-working businessman, pictured, had shed his suit and tie, and looked so much like his hero Roy Orbison that workers at First Group Ltd, in Hough

  • School helps refugees

    CHOWBENT Primary School at Atherton have rallied in support of the Kosovan refugees. Some of the Chowbent pupils are pictured here with articles collected to help relieve suffering in the Balkans. 35/135/21 Food is a Number One priority in the mercy mission

  • I will never see my friends

    I HAVE spent a lot of time at Brandlesholme CP School. I am now in Year 5 and I have grown very attached to it. I am 10 years of age and every second of my learning has been fun. We have always done all we can to help others, such as the RSPCA and the

  • It's in the stars

    THE Citizen's astrologer foretold the fairytale fortune of a sensational football result on Saturday. Mark Anderton-Wilson told a Carlisle United fan last Wednesday not only that his team would win its crucial match against Plymouth to stay in the Football

  • Bowling along nicely!

    LEGS eleven took on a new meaning for Preston heart transplant recipient Peter Frost when he celebrated the 11th anniversary of his operation with a brisk walk. Peter, and wife Anne, headed off for a bracing walk in the Yorkshire Dales on Monday to mark

  • 'Solicitors let me down'

    DAVID Sharples, regional secretary of North West Law Society, claims legal support for poor people is under threat from government plans to reduce the number of law firms who can help people on legal aid (Citizen, April 29). Actually legal aid has been

  • Poor response by Gigg Lane police

    I FEEL compelled to put pen to paper, having finally lost patience with the policing at Gigg Lane. I cite the Sunderland and Port Vale home games as examples of inept work on behalf of the police. Not only did they fail to ensure that sufficient numbers

  • When PNE won the cup

    AS a boy John Croston grew up in Preston where his mother was a weaver. He has fond memories of going to the mill to have lunch with his mum, sitting between the looms, munching on pies. His mother, Suzie Farnworth, used to work in Horrocks Mill in Stanley

  • Mum's second dead tragedy

    AN ASTLEY mum fighting for justice after her disabled son died at a council home has been hit by another tragedy. Just minutes after Brenda Rowley told The Journal of her plans to sue Salford Council over the death of her 30 years old son Malcolm, her

  • Realist blames buses

    WITH regard to the report by David Higgerson 'Bus Drivers Blame Our Roads' Citizen April 29, I note that the managing director of Preston Bus, Peter Bell, blames everything and everybody except his own drivers for the various accidents in town in which

  • I've never felt so ashamed

    I HAVE never felt so ashamed to be British as I am today. This war, in which bombs and Cruise missiles rain down indiscriminately on innocent civilians, is totally illegal. It is against Article 51 of the Atlantic Charter and even in contravention of

  • Sweet FA on display

    THREE local teenagers are among 16 university students who have taken their work out to the general public with an exhibition in Preston. Kate Astley and Janine Barton, of Eccleston, who both attended Runshaw College, and Colin Grand, of Charnock Richard

  • Bogus official steals ring

    IN Crimestoppers this week, the police are seeking help in tracking down a bogus official who targetted the elderly, an opportunist thief who stole from a car hire office and a burglar. A man claiming to be from 'the waterboard' was allowed into sheltered

  • On the oche

    THE Lytham St Annes Darts and Dominoes Summer League is now under way with seven teams taking part. Last year's champions British Legion made a good start to the season with a resounding 19-5 victory over runners-up Lytham Catholic. In the other matches

  • Bitter recriminations

    LABOUR leader Peter Rankin launched an astonishing attack on the controversial councillor Mick Moulding. According to the leader, Coun Moulding's departure from the one-seat majority Labour camp has been cause for celebration, not disappointment. Coun

  • Marathon run pothole fears

    LEYLAND'S Millennium Marathon runners could be hobbling their way to the finishing line if the route remains potholed and uneven, a local councillor has warned. Mark Alcock, Farington's new councillor, fears that if Preston Road is used for the stretch

  • FIVE YEARS AGO: Geoff's in the pink

    MADCAP Geoff Small was tickled pink over his latest bit of paintwork. Geoff had brushed off a neighbour's gripe and painted his house bright pink. And he planned to smear his home in Richmond Terrace, Darwen, with Mr Blobby-style yellow spots! His next-door

  • Now only memories remain...

    IT was the end of an era for residents in Leyland this week as the bulldozers moved in to demolish the old Co-op building in Southern Towngate. Almost 30 years after it opened in December 1970 the landmark building, opposite Leyland Market - which opened

  • LOCAL CRICKET: Premier League breakthrough

    THE ECB Premier League Assessment Panel has accredited the Liverpool and District Cricket competition as Lancashire's Premier League from the season 2000. This will be the first Premier League in Lancashire. John Brewer the Chairman of the LCB said today

  • Youngster Jack steals the show

    IT was so nearly a case of "We're all right, Jack" as a superb one-man show from 13-year-old Jack Kelleher went mightily close to bringing off a fine win for St Annes IV team in their Fylde League division 2 match against Stanley. First, he steadied a

  • LOCAL CRICKET: Northern League

    DARWEN take on Preston in the first round of the Vaux Samson Cup at Birch Hall tomorrow, hoping to extend their 100 per cent winning run. The two sides stand first and second in the Northern League and Darwen are boosted by the return from injury of Neil

  • Small-sided soccer update

    IN Division A of the Rossall Sixes league Kings Arms FC are in the lead by three points after they beat Wyvale Warriors 4-0. The Untouchables are in second place on goal difference as they won 2-0 against Supreme Plastics. Also with four points are Macprint

  • On yer bike with anti-car mantra

    IT really is incredible that the people in local government charged with keeping town centres thriving have also glued themselves to a policy of driving shoppers away. But now we see the "Car - bad. Bus - good" mantra, that they evidently chant in their

  • New name will soon be old

    ACCORDING to your report on its refurbishment (LET, May 4), the Library Theatre in Darwen also needs renaming. Why? This year, it would be the easiest thing in the world to rename it: the Millennium Theatre, Theatre 2000, or the 'new' whatever theatre

  • Labour lose control in Preston

    HUSBAND and wife team Terry and Joyce Cartwright have been crowned the borough's kingmakers after a week of activity on Preston's political merry-go-round. Mrs Cartwright's victory as a Labour Independent in Deepdale has given the independents the deciding

  • Fast-track useless if they can dodge it

    HAS Home Secretary Jack Straw's pledge to fast-track youth justice been driven into the slow lane? For, as a leading East Lancashire magistrate complains of it taking longer than ever to deal with young offenders and of cases going on for months we are

  • LOCAL CRICKET: Bhave quickly back in swing

    HAVING caned the Bombay attack for over 200 runs in two innings towards the end of his domestic season, Surendra Bhave was expecting great things when he arrived back at Settle. And the Indian run-machine hasn't disappointed with two tons and two half-centuries

  • Crazy logic is amazing

    THE British Government never ceases to amaze me. Not only have they found billions of pound to wage war, it has now decided to welcome 1,000 refugees a week and find houses and accommodation for them. But when it comes to finding a few billion pounds

  • Marie's back as council leader

    MARIE Rimmer has been elected new Leader of St Helens Council for the second time. She succeeds Mike Doyle, Leader for the past two years, who has announced his intention to concentrate on his growing responsibilities in regional affairs. Mike, who is

  • Lorin has Rossall in a spin

    YOUNG left-arm spinner Lorin Smith came to the rescue of King Edward School in Lytham by securing victory for his team in their first local derby of the season. King Edward had crashed to just 10 runs for five wickets against Rossall School, but recovered

  • BOWLS: Witton impress

    WITTON made up valuable ground in the OVALWORLD SUPER LEAGUE when they defeated Fishwick Ramblers 5-1 while the rest marked time with draws apart from Stacksteads who took four points off Lostock. Apart from a poor start in their opening fixture, Witton

  • Poulton clinch U9s Colts Cup

    AS the curtain came down on the Poulton & District Seven-a-Side League season last Thursday (May 6), the annual cup finals for both the U9s and U10s were contested. In the U9s final Poulton Youth played Clifton Rangers. In the A game Poulton produced

  • Benefits of staff parking

    MRS W Gregory (Letters, May 4) indicated that staff employed by the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust are charged £3 a day for parking. This is simply not true. Staff are actually charged 30p per day, or less, if charges are

  • Bookworms vote Nigel's story number one

    THREE Fylde bookworms have helped to devour this year's best children's literature and have bestowed the title of Lancashire Libraries National Westminster Children's Book of the Year 1999 to Nigel Hinton's Out of the Darkness. Laura Wilson, from Lytham

  • Theory goes down t' suff

    I AM happy that Eric Beardsworth (Letters, May 4), enjoys my writings and I do try to be accurate. 'Up t' suff' is not a saying of mine - I only quoted what my father said it was. As for being 'cove-licked,' my uncle pronounced it that way and some farmers

  • A war we can't win

    CAN MP Tony Benn be right for once? Why is it that NATO, a defensive organisation, has started to wield a big stick and, having failed in the first instance, is now embarking on a blitzkrieg to virtually annihilate a sovereign state in its own right without

  • Geoff on target

    ST HELENS Archers secretary Geoff Burrell is setting high standards for the rest of the club to live up to. In recent competition he broke a long-standing record for the Hereford. And in an amazing 60-yard shot he also managed - Robin Hood-style - to

  • Football's going West

    WELL, at least it was a start for the lads (and lass) from the West End - despite a 7-1 defeat at the hands of Bare Rangers. This team from the West End has been formed by community minded people of the West End working to help the young people of the

  • Aid wagon hits the road

    A LARGE consignment of goods for Kosovo left Burnley yesterday. Sainsbury's provided a vehicle from their Middleton depot to take the goods including donations of food and items provided by the store staff and customers to the international aid depot

  • Soccer school plans for June

    MORECAMBE FC is staging another of its successful half term soccer schools at the beginning of June. The three day school runs from Tuesday, June 1 to Thursday, June 3 at Christie Park and costs £20. The sessions are open to boys and girls aged between

  • Down in the dumps!

    FOR the past five years this Morecambe woman has paid about £1,000 to clear away rubbish dumped by people using her business as a tip. Jean Taylor who owns the Astra Ballroom on Green Street even built a wall to stop the illegal tippers - but they just

  • Final countdown for youngsters

    SUNDAY is a big day in the junior football calendar. For the St Helens McDonalds JOL is staging its Spring Cup Finals at Whiston Juniors' Lickers Lane ground. Meanwhile, the league stages its presentation day at St Helens Town's Hoghton Road HQ on May

  • St Helens make their point

    ST HELENS CC secured the point they neeeded to progress to the quarter-finals of the Penketh Trophy by virtue of an abandoned game against Wallasey. The game was abandoned with St Helens on 143-7 with three overs of the innings left. Roger Burrows (21

  • Old folk nurse banned

    A COURAGEOUS nurse and care assistant have been praised for blowing the whistle on a nursing home owner who left patients covered in diarrhoea and porridge and ordered staff not to clean them. Margaret Thresa Saunders, joint proprietor and registered

  • Oldest swingers in town

    MORE than 200 golfers, aged 50 and over, proved they could still swing a club with the best of them when they competed in a charity tournament at Morecambe Golf Club. The event raised between £1,600 and £1,700 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution

  • Teachers call on parent power to fight pay battle

    LOCAL teachers are seeking the support of parents in their battle against Government plans to introduce performance related pay. Teachers claim Education Secretary David Blunkett's proposals to pay teachers according to the academic performance of their

  • Curb your speed

    KILL your speed or kill someone - that was the stark message from a new campaign group after 16 people died and more than 1,000 were injured on Blackpool's roads in the past year. This traffic carnage also cost the taxpayer up to a whacking £30m in insurance

  • Must try harder!

    AN angry father is looking to form a pressure group after his daughter's appeal for entry to Morecambe High School was turned down. George Fox of Torrisholme explained that his daughter Jennifer was "distressed" because the authorities had refused her

  • Juniors collect silverware

    THE successful Whiston Juniors club added two more pieces of silverware to their collection at the weekend. Their triumphs came in the Rainhill Byrne Hire League's Cup Finals. Meanwhile, the league presaentation night takes place at Sutton Community Leisure

  • Happy ending at home

    LESS than 30 seconds after Blackpool fans were treated to seeing a match from the Kop, they were celebrating yet again when Brett Ormerod slid home a Steve Garvey through-ball to put the Seasiders 1-0 up at Bloomfield Road on Saturday (May 8). On five

  • Water wonderful world!

    Huddersfield Giants nil Saints 11 FOR Rugby League read water polo! For soaking Saints squelched through a monsoon to maintain their 100 per cent record in Super League at the McAlpine Stadium on Friday. Despite non-stop torrential rain before kick-off

  • Woof justice!

    A LANCASTER mother this week blasted magistrates' decision not to put down the dog which savaged her three-year-old daughter. The dog, 'Scamp,' lives just three streets away from little Jessica Edmunds who has to visit a child psychologist as a result

  • Double glory for Heath

    Thatto Heath 13 Farnworth 10 THATTO Heath claimed their second piece of silverware within four days at Blackbrook on Saturday. Following the A team's midweek success in the NWC Division Six B play off, the first team clinched the Premier Division Championship

  • Your job's safe

    MORE than 1,300 Fylde insurance workers breathed a sigh of relief this week at the news their jobs were safe. As French insurance giant Axa announced 2,000 job-cuts nationwide in the wake of its takeover of Guardian Royal Exchange, it pledged to keep

  • NO sacrificing our freedom

    YOUR correspondent Torquil Dick-Erikson (Citizen, April 29) refers to Corpus Juris, proposed for the European Community, giving national judges power to arrest and hold people for six months without public hearing. This is only a proposal at present,

  • Police brake on speeding tickets!

    LANCASHIRE Constabulary are revoking more than 300 speeding fines because they want to be fair to motorists. The drivers concerned we're all caught speeding on a new speed detection camera around the Lancaster, Morecambe and Wyre areas over the last 14

  • Anchor weigh in

    THE St Helens Combination's D H Griffiths Cup final saw the Anchor overcome St Helens Star Premier Division rivals the Rifle. The Anchor opened the scoring when Andy North drove in a great volley and only two minutes later Robbie Stroud had an easy tap

  • Giant puppets take to the streets

    WHAT happens when Big Heads clash with Chinese lions and dragons, not to mention Punch and Judy? Find out when a grand street-parade of puppets forms a clamourous climax to Blackpool's Puppet Up '99 Festival on Saturday (May 15). Giant puppets will thread

  • Tole bars the way

    WITH St Helens Recs' First XI match against Formby at Ruskin being rained off on Saturday it was up to the Second XI to provide the major cricket of the rain affected day. Batting first Recs made good progress with Pilkington (22) but it was Tole and

  • Soccer: Chairman allays supporters' fears

    THERE was still no sign of Shakers majority shareholder Hugh Eaves breaking his silence following this week's disclosure of his part in a stock market scandal. The City of London financier has reportedly lost millions of pounds of former colleagues' money

  • Cricket club's sorrow

    A MINUTE'S silence was observed at Ruberoid Sutton Cricket Club for John Lawton who passed away the previous week. John was a popular member of Sutton Cricket Club and will be sorely missed. The club's condolences are extended to John's wife, children

  • Rugby League: Twelve-man Lions give coach a great start

    Lancs Lynx 10, Swinton Lions 56 VICTORY for the Lions at Victory Park on Sunday saw them get back to winning ways and give new coach Mike Gregory the best possible start. Allowing for the fact that the Lynx are a poor side, the Lions displayed an eagerness

  • High noon for Blackburn speed ace Fogarty

    BLACKBURN bullet Carl Fogarty enters spaghetti western territory this weekend aiming to gun down his Superbike rivals in a Spanish showdown. The Ducati king arrives at Albacete - scene of the 60s movies - in mean mood after opening up a 23 point gap in

  • We are the champions!

    LANCASTER and Morecambe College's Men's Cross Country team are the National Champions. The team won the 21st BCS National Championships held at Witton Park in Blackburn recently. The team which won the gruelling 7.5 km were Lee Siemaszko (who came 5th

  • It's the clutch, mate!

    A GARAGE'S breakdown truck has had some unusual passengers over the past week. For a bird, believed to be a robin, built a nest and laid six eggs inside its engine bay. Now Finney's Garage Services proprietor, Mr David Hurcombe, is hoping he gets no more

  • Boro join transfer race for Rovers star Sutton

    MIDDLESBROUGH today declared an interest in Blackburn Rovers striker Chris Sutton, if he becomes available this summer. Relegation could cost Rovers their prize asset and another major Ewood star Stephane Henchoz might well be on the move to Liverpool

  • Cowley head for New Zealand

    COWLEY'S rugby players are set for a ground-breaking tour to New Zealand. They plan to travel there in 2001 to compete against their Kiwi counterparts in both codes. And it's believed they are the first British school to undertake such a tour. Cowley

  • Basham goes but Moyes vows to keep tabs on him

    PNE have vowed to keep tracking Steve Basham despite his decision to ditch Deepdale after three months in Preston. By saying no to a contract at Deepdale the 21-year-old has missed out on a possible Wembley appearance, but Basham insists it is nothing

  • Soccer: Captain Fantastic comes to terms with relegation

    CAPTAIN courageous Chris Lucketti held back the tears as he embarked on his last lap of honour for the Shakers on Sunday. Still coming to terms with the reality of relegation despite a final day 1-0 victory over Port Vale, he led his teammates back out

  • Head faces new school challenge across town

    HEADMASTER Stephen Preston (pictured) is on the move. But the Westleigh High chief does not have far to go. He will be transferring across town in the summer to take charge at Bedford High when the new academic year begins in August. Stephen, 47, who

  • Shares to snap up

    SHARES in several East Lancashire firms have been rated as worth buying. Blackburn-based Scapa, Silentnight of Salterforth and Skillsgroup, which owns Acuma in Haslingden, are all in a strong position say Henry Cooke Lumsden in its latest report. Crown

  • Jackson is Citizen Player of Season

    MICHAEL Jackson was modest and reluctant to take credit for Preston's impressive season as we awarded him the Citizen Player of the Season Award, voted by you, the readers. "I would like to class this as an award for the whole team," said Michael, pictured

  • Soccer: Shakers relegated despite victory

    Bury 1, Port Vale 0 THIS had all the makings of a thrilling, nail-biting final day of the season. The adrenalin was pumping, the transistor radios were dusted down. Everyone connected with Bury Football Club was anticipating an emotional rollercoaster

  • Worthy Worthington: Little lake district between two towns

    Drive and Stroll, with Ron Freethy WORTHINGTON Lakes are situated between Chorley and Wigan, near Standish and just off the A49, which was one of the earliest turnpike roads in Lancashire. Keep a sharp lookout and you will find some of the original iron

  • Clean-up tips at seminar

    A SEMINAR is being staged next week to help firms ensure they don't fall foul of new legislation. The Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive comes into effect on October 30 and sets out measures to tackle pollution. It will affect an estimated

  • PNE's Moody blues

    IN a mind-blowing 13-minute salvo, Fulham's Paul Moody crushed North End with a classic hat-trick which now leaves Preston with a semi-final play-off against in-form Gillingham. Champions Fulham came to collect the trophy and to have a party - North End

  • Rocket lands in Bury

    A ROCKET landed in the town this week when a replica of one of the world's first steam locomotives arrived. It will be full steam ahead at the East Lancs Railway this weekend when a replica of the famous George Stephenson's Rocket Steam Locomotive will

  • Roar 'em on to Wembley!

    IT'S do or die for PNE on Sunday when they take on Gillingham in the first leg of the play-offs - and the players will need no motviativg before they run out on to the Deepdale turf. For, unlike their counterparts down the road at Ewood Park, Preston's

  • Bogus gas callers warning

    BRITISH Gas is urging Morecambe homeowners to be vigilant following a series of bogus caller incidents in the region. The warning comes as electricity advisers from British Gas prepare to visit homes in Morecambe, providing information on energy bills

  • Parent classes given a boost

    BROAD Oak High School is to give its adult learning programme a boost. The move follows the successful completion of a computer literacy and information technology course by 11 parents. The course is aimed at giving pupil's parents an introduction into

  • Doctor probe MPs want tough 'strike off' rules

    TOUGH rules to stop family doctors striking whole families off their lists have been proposed by MPs who investigated the case of a Leigh GP who refused to treat three members of the same family. The House of Commons Public Administration Committee quizzed

  • PNE's Moody blues

    IN a mind-blowing 13-minute salvo, Fulham's Paul Moody crushed North End with a classic hat-trick which now leaves Preston with a semi-final play-off against in-form Gillingham. Champions Fulham came to collect the trophy and to have a party - North End

  • All aboard

    DISABLED people have given the town's first "bendy bus" a firm thumbs-up. Members of Bury Local Transport Group tried out the new articulated bus which First Manchester have just introduced on the 135 route between Bury and Manchester. Among the party

  • College gets top praise

    LANCASTER and Morecambe College has received high praise from its recent inspection by the Government's Inspectorate. The college underwent a rigorous inspection by the Further Education Funding Council's team of inspectors in February and their report

  • Singers sought

    PILKINGTON Choir, who meet every Tuesday evening at the Lady Pensioners Building in Ruskin Drive from 7.45 to 9.30pm, are looking for new members. The group perform concerts throughout the area and anyone interested in joining should contact Alec Wallace

  • Tallow spill reignites row

    A LANCASTER road was sealed off last week after a wagon bound for Nightingale Hall Farm spilled tallow onto the highway. The spillage on Quernmore Road made it difficult to drive with a number of vehicles slipping on the greasy road surface. Two cars

  • Mums in cab office rumpus

    TWO young mums have paid the price of a midnight taxi office rumpus by landing themselves with criminal records. Burnley magistrates court heard how a night of 'joviality' ended with Nicola Jane Ellis, 30, who used to work there, and Lois Solessi, 28,

  • Katrina chips in for hospice

    A BIG-hearted schoolgirl has done her 'bit' for the St Helens and Knowsley Hospice by organising her own raffle. Ten-year-old Katrina Kilshaw from Cambridge Road, Newtown, raised £53 by offering prizes including a box of LPs, a box of chocolates and an

  • That's me, me, me, me and me!

    JOURNAL telephone lines were red hot after we published the 1966 picture of a child feeding ducks in Leigh's Firs Park. Just one little problem . . . FIVE women reckoned it was them. For sure! Through the powers of modern technology, certainly not available

  • Happy 107th birthday!

    MARY Mayne, one of the borough's oldest residents, will add to her collection of telegrams from the Queen today, May 14. Mrs Mayne, celebrated her 107th brithday and received her eighth telegram at her present home, the Moorfield Residential Home in Tottington

  • Labour slip

    LAST Thursday's local elections saw the Liberal Democrats party claim three seats from the ruling Labour party. In all, Labour lost four seats, with the Liberal Democrats reigning supreme in the Moss Bank, Newton East and Sutton and Bold wards while the

  • Dean in plaster for six weeks

    CRAIG DEAN today starts the long haul back to full fitness. The Leigh skipper is unlikely to figure again this season after he had an ankle reconstruction operation on Friday. But coach Ian Millward says the surgery went well. "The injury is just as the

  • All that jazz . . .

    A LOCAL jazz band is looking for two new trombonists and a rhythm guitarist to join the group. The Jazzpack has been going since 1979 and plays a variety of well-known swing favourites as well as jazzed-up versions of modern pop music. The band already

  • Viagra climb-down welcomed

    GOVERNMENT guidelines on prescribing Viagra - the "miracle cure" for impotency - have been welcomed by Bury health bosses. Earlier this week, Health Secretary Frank Dobson made the wonder drug available to men who have been treated for prostate cancer

  • Leigh's surge from rags to riches

    LEIGH'S rise to the top is complete. From basement blues to penthouse pleasure. It's the stuff of which dreams are made - and coach Ian Millward reckons a movie mogul should be scripting a film of Leigh's remarkable transformation. Leigh are suddenly

  • Salute for loyal listeners

    RAINHILL-based Radio Briars Hey station has closed after almost eight years. Staff at the Mill Lane station paid tribute to their loyal listeners for their enduring support since Radio Briars Hey was first established back in 1992. Since then, the station

  • Kosovo victims on way

    BURY is preparing to welcome 150 Kosovar refugees who should arrive within days. And residents will be asked to come forward and volunteer to help the traumatised people seeking a safe haven in the borough. A team of social workers, health service staff

  • Irwell to flow more sweetly

    ONE of the most improved rivers in Europe - the Irwell - is going to get better. On top of news that the Irwell and other rivers in the Mersey Basin area are the most improved, a new government drive will see North West Water cleaning up the Blackford

  • Irish jig lands dream job

    THE United States beckons for teenager Gillian Walsh (pictured) who has danced her way into the hit show Lord of the Dance. The 16-year-old flies out to the States on Sunday, May 23, to join director Michael Flatley and the cast of the Irish dance show

  • Nato bombing hits China trip

    THE trip of a life-time for Prestwich student Richard Halward is under threat after NATO bombed the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade. The 18-year-old is due to fly out to China on June 30 on a Thwaites Travel Scholarship. Part of the itinerary would involve

  • Tony salutes gains

    TORY leader on St Helens Council Tony Brown welcomed the outcome of last week's elections. But he pointed out there was still room for improvement as far as his Party was concerned. The Conservatives made gains on the borough and parish councils. Councillor

  • Leigh's surge from rags to riches

    LEIGH'S rise to the top is complete. From basement blues to penthouse pleasure. It's the stuff of which dreams are made - and coach Ian Millward reckons a movie mogul should be scripting a film of Leigh's remarkable transformation. Leigh are suddenly

  • Soccer: Daws offered big money deal

    SHAKERS midfield star Nick Daws has been offered a new 'mega-money' deal which will make him the highest paid player at the club. Chairman Terry Robinson and manager Neil Warnock spent a full day hammering out the improved offer in a bid to keep the ever-present

  • Chance to give for Kosovo refugees

    ST HELENS Council has set up a bank account for donations from people of the town who want to help the people of Kosovo. Former Council Leader, Mike Doyle, decided to set up the account at the NatWest because of the high degree of concern expressed by

  • Talk of the Townend

    LINDSEY Alcock from Leyland believes that the fans should now get behind PNE to push them into Division One... Come on you lot, get behind the team. Don't you want to be in Division One? We only have three games now to prove that we should be in Division

  • Teachers get royal seal of approval

    HEAD teachers from two St Helens schools, voted among the best in the country, have been invited to meet Prince Charles at his Gloucestershire home. John Leake of Birchley St Mary's RC Primary, Billinge, and Elsie Mullen of St Mary's RC Junior, Newton-le-Willows

  • Top duo ride for England

    TWO riders from Astley & Tyldesley Cycle Speedway carry the flag for England on Saturday. Lee Phillips and Damien Hack will be competing in the big international in Edinburgh. Phillips, at 29 and recapturing his best form this season, wins his first

  • Alan heads for New York

    A MAN who took up long-distance running at an age when many prefer armchair and carpet slippers is bidding to boost the funds of a children's charity - trans-Atlantic style! For super-fit 55-year-old Alan Davies is set to take part in the gruelling New

  • High-flying pair reach for the sky

    DAREDEVIL skydiving duo Ian Chick and Steve Houlker have won a place in an elite parachute team which will attempt to shatter a British record. Initially they intend to build a freefall formation of 100 people falling at 120mph and then they will attempt

  • Rob's ten out of ten

    QUICK bowler Rob Bannister fired a rip-roaring opener salvo to the new cricket season. The Westleigh Methodists hero (pictured) ripped through the opposition - claiming all TEN wickets. His astonishing feat of 10-39 set up a resounding 156-run victory

  • Wet welcome for top Aussie

    LEIGH gave new overseas player Tim O'Sullivan a warm welcome on his arrival from Australia. But the weather didn't match that greeting. It rained! His first match was the Liverpool Cup Competition final group game at Bolton, where the home side managed

  • Alan on fairway to success

    WHEELCHAIR golfer Alan Campbell (pictured) is the national champion. On a cold and wet day in Scunthorpe he won the title at the Normanby course by two strokes. Alan ended last season - his first on the tour - as the country's third ranked player after

  • Vandals hit sports club site

    LIVES - and Bolton Road Sports Club's new home - are being put at risk by "professional" yobs. Systematic damage by vandals is threatening to delay the construction of the controversial new sports complex on land off Elton Vale Road. Developers Mallinsons

  • Kill threat to dad on school run

    AN angry motorist threatened a school-run dad in a "road rage" confrontation. Burnley magistrates heard how haulier Craig Hopkinson, 28, threatened to kill Abdul Majid and racially abused him in front of three sobbing children. Hopkinson, a father of

  • Celebration as action zone hits cash target

    EDUCATION chiefs are celebrating after hitting their target - thanks to a £12,000 windfall from a lottery firm. GTECH, which supplies terminals for the National Lottery and owns Blackburn-based Europrint, has donated the cash towards the borough's Education

  • Rovers youth out of cup

    BLACKBURN Rovers went out of the Blue Star international under-20s tournament in Switzerland yesterday when they were beaten by Dutch champions Feyenoord on penalties in the quarter finals. The club took a very young squad, including seven of their Academy

  • Eaves probe hits Shakers

    A DECISION is imminent over whether Bury FC's major shareholder Hugh Eaves faces a police probe in the wake of his reported £20 million loss in a stock market gamble. The City of London police are currently talking to solicitors of the alleged victims

  • Back to storm the Castle

    THE electorate has spoken and Castle ward now has three new councillors. We congratulate our opponents on their victory. We also wish to thank the thousands of voters in the ward, our friends and supporters, who have backed us for the best part of two

  • Bloom town time again

    SOROPTIMISTS are planning a special Leigh in Bloom to mark the town's centenary. This year's bloom has the backing of the 100 and 2000 group, Leigh Business Partnership, the Brighter Borough initiative and People & Places scheme. Town centre lamp

  • Soccer chief's terror threats

    PRESTON North End football club has held talks with local police following claims that racist group Combat 18 has threatened to target Irish footballers playing in this country. Among the massive Irish contingent playing in Britian is PNE assistant boss

  • Car park squeeze wrecks store plan

    A MAJOR £2million retail project on a prime town centre site has been left in limbo after the council upset developers by cutting down the amount of parking spaces allowed. Planning experts at Blackburn town hall gave the go-ahead to a scheme to build

  • Millennium dream sunk

    THE Borough's Millennium voyage to America has been sunk after town hall bosses refused to bail it out. Despite months of appeals, organisers have failed to come up with the £250,000 needed to steer the sailing ship "Phoenix" to Woodbury. It's the end

  • Harriers staging fun run in park

    CHORLEY Harriers are holding a two mile fun run on Sunday, May 23 in Worden Park, Leyland. The event will raise cash for Derian House, the running group's adopted charity. So far, they have raised £2,000 for the Astley Village-based hospice. The fun run

  • Eastwood vows to fight back

    STRIKER Phil Eastwood is vowing to kick-start his career in new surroundings after his five-year Turf Moor grounding was brought to a close. Eastwood is looking for pastures new following his release from Burnley where he has spent the last five years

  • Boro join transfer race for Sutton

    MIDDLESBROUGH today declared an interest in Blackburn Rovers striker Chris Sutton, if he becomes available this summer. Relegation could cost Rovers their prize asset and another major Ewood star Stephane Henchoz might well be on the move to Liverpool

  • Thanks to all our Castle Ward voters

    ON behalf of myself and the other Castle ward Green councillors Gina, Dowding and Sandra Greaves I would like to thank all those Castle ward voters who elected us with such an overwhelming majority last Thursday. The real work now begins, to ensure that

  • School leavers excluded before GCSEs

    AN entire school year has been kicked out of Bury CE High School. The shock exclusion happened yesterday when headteacher Mr Philip Grady ordered Year 11 off the premises. It is believed the action was triggered after a fire alarm was deliberately set

  • Don't worry - hall to stay civic!

    LOWTON Civic Hall won't be turned in to a night club (writes Brian GOMM). Wigan Leisure chief Rodney Hill has scotched rumours about the Hesketh Meadow Lane hall. "There is no truth whatsoever in the rumour," he said, assuring nearby residents that they

  • Ernie the Pill Town pugilist

    MY sporting knowledge has been added to by local driving school proprietor Christine Holland. Having spotted my earlier piece about the legendary old-time Sutton boxer, Ernie Proudlove, she points out that this was her grandad who was often billed as

  • Danger as Nick swings in

    NICK BENNETT hasn't played a game of golf in his life. But he swung to the rescue to keep St Joseph's Players on the fairway for next week's production of the Francis Durbridge thriller "A Touch of Danger". He stepped into the role of enigmatic golf pro

  • Hey-day of posh Charlie

    SEED merchant Charlie Kinns was considered quite a toff in his hey-day. Always immaculately dressed, his military-style moustache neatly waxed, a trademark stetson-style hat on his head and a freshly-cut flower in his button-hole. "Oh, yes, he was regarded

  • There's more to do

    IN the past year paranoia at the town hall amongst senior officers about leaked information to the Press particularly your paper has reached silly levels. I know having witnessed it first hand. Now that there has been a change I would expect that you

  • Regulars fight against managers last orders

    LOYAL pub regulars have launched a campaign to save its popular managers from losing their livelihood and home. After seven years running the Papermakers in Church Street East, Radcliffe, Mr Steven Timothy (41) and his partner, Miss Julie Taylor (33)

  • A new open door policy

    ON behalf of all members of the Independent Group I would like to pass on our sincere thanks to all those residents who gave us their overwhelming support on May 6. We have been given a clear mandate from the people of the district that they wish for

  • The final score (aet)

    THE only thing that remains constant in Preston Town Hall is the rate at which councillors shift their allegiances. The results of last week's election almost saw Labour lose the balance of power with its 28 seats; compared to 14 Lib Dems; 13 Conservatives

  • Riverdance man kicks off folk fun

    TWO international performers will take to the stage in a launch concert for the Clitheroe Folk Festival tomorrow. And folk music enthusiasts can win CDs in a competition being run by festival organisers. The main festival, supported by the Lancashire

  • A game of two halves as soccer fanatic marries

    BLUSHING bride Lynn Carroll made it a game of two halves when she said 'I do.' The football fanatic, from Preston, couldn't help but shed a tear when she walked out of the St Andrew's Church as Mrs Anthony Lynch - and under a soccer-style arch, pictured

  • Walker dies on Welsh hillside

    A DRAMATIC helicopter lift failed to save the life of a former Atherton walker who had a heart attack on an isolated Welsh hillside. Ray Jones, 70, died after collapsing while out walking on the Llangollen hills in North Wales. Members of the Bolton Holiday

  • MP calls for an open minded debate on racism

    DEMOCRACY is a jolly fine thing and it should certainly teach politicians humility in the face of the electorate. Nevertheless, I think Stanley Henig is a good man, of intelligence and courage and I'm deeply sorry he lost his council seat in such circumstances

  • Business bid to 'stop the rot'

    CONCERNED business people in Golborne want to give the town a voice (writes Paul Smith). And they've formed a new business partnership to do just that, with the first full meeting starting at 7pm on Tuesday, May 18 in Golborne Catholic Club. Almost 60

  • Time for pigeon licences

    SO, Mrs Wood (April 23) thinks she has got a problem with pigeons. My garden furniture, windows, car, children's playthings, washing - indeed anything in their path - regularly gets covered in excrement from these "vandals". Why doesn't the council introduce

  • We can't fight the giants

    A COUPLE who ploughed their life savings into buying a corner shop say competition from a new supermarket giant has forced them to abandon their dream. Gary and Caroline Cargill, pictured, claim to have closed the Family Store, in Blackpool Road, after

  • Bright ideas needed to cheer-up town

    ATHERTON councillors are appealing to residents to put their thinking caps on. They are seeking original ideas to help cheer up the wards. This year the Brighter Borough cash pot has been made bigger, allowing the areas extra funds to spend on projects

  • Only 2,147 bothered to vote

    MAY I express my thanks to the 283 voters of Redvales Ward who supported me in my attempt to become their Independent council representative. I would like to wish John Smith, the successful Labour candidate, every success and in doing so I would remind

  • French firm's new HQ

    ONE of France's biggest distributors is setting up HQ in Leigh. Norbert Dentressangle is to build a new 26,000 sq ft base on Leigh Commerce Park. Arrowcroft Northwest, the strategic development partner of United Utilities plc, has secured the company

  • Hard times?

    READING the article 'Hard Graft at the Mill' (Citizen, May 6), that was real poverty in those days - unlike today, with Jobseekers Allowance, child benefit and family credit. People had to go out and work damned hard for what little they had. People talk

  • True friends supported me

    AS the founder of the Greenmount Wild Bird Hospital, I would like to thank the true friends who have stayed with me through the past two difficult years, putting their efforts and their own resources into our combined action to save wild bird casualties

  • Lights signal change at blackspot

    TRAFFIC lights have changed at Leigh's biggest accident blackspot. The danger junction at St Helens Road with Atherleigh Way has been made safer. On Sunday the council's traffic engineers altered the settings of the lights to separate vehicles going straight

  • Church 'not in disrepair'

    I WAS concerned to read E Sanderson's letter (Citizen, April 29) about the involvement of churches in community activities. As minister of the church referred to, Ashton Methodist Church, I would like to clear up several issues. The church has not 'fallen

  • A win for the whingers

    I WANT to thank all those who did their civic duty on May 6 and voted in support of Labour's work for Ramsbottom. In the event, it was the narrowest of wins for the Tories - a majority of only 32 votes after two recounts. As the unsuccessful Labour candidate

  • Plea for warning signs on river

    A PRESTON councillor is campaigning to stop incidents of drowning in Preston following the death of a teenager on Bank Holiday Monday. Coun Ken Cole has asked the council's Leisure Services directorate to erect warning signs along the River Ribble near

  • WRVS look to the future

    LEIGH WRVS are helping children see into the future. A £500 gift from their Leigh Infirmary tea bar has bought equipment to help diagnose early sight problems and ensure that defects are spotted and treated early. The charity has run the bar for over

  • Making the grade!

    STUDENTS at a Preston college are celebrating a mass upgrade of exam results. Dozens of students at Cardinal Newman College, Lark Hill Road, have had their English A-level exam marks improved after lecturers queried the results last year. Three papers

  • Mayor elect may be ousted

    PRESTON mayor-elect Veronica Afrin could have the mayoral chains snatched from her before she even reaches office after calls to invite an opposition councillor to be the town's first Citizen. Coun Veronica Afrin had been pencilled to become the town's

  • It's the bridge of sighs

    HUNDREDS of residents in a local village have petitioned council bosses to increase safety on a busy stretch of road. People in Clayton-le-Woods, backed by local councillors, are concerned about speeding traffic and the lack of a pavement at Sandy Lane

  • Don't worry, it's only Whitefield

    LOTS of attention has quite rightly been given to the plight of Radcliffe and Prestwich, with their loss of local amenities. However, little is said about the dreadful neglect of Whitefield. The prevailing attitude of officialdom is invariably: "It's

  • Train ride from hell for locals

    A VISIT to Weston-super-Mare to make a donation to a Jill Dando charity fund turned into a train ride from hell for a group of Preston day trippers. Instead of spending a day beside the seaside, carriage-loads of local sun seekers were forced to endure

  • Rangers romp home

    BLACKPOOL Rangers U14s won the LFA one-day competition held at YMCA on Sunday (May 9). Only three local teams were involved in the 12-team competition. Rangers beat Hesketh Bank 4-2 in an excellent final in which Lee Wilson starred by getting all four

  • Lazy voters threaten our democracy

    SURELY every person named on Bury's electoral register must be aware of the consequences in Kosovo of government by dictatorship. Yet the failure to cast votes by some 70 per cent of the local electorate would seem to indicate that they do not value our

  • A basketful of success!

    YOUNG stars of the netball court reaped the rewards of a successful season when they received a special trophy. Moss Side County Primary's top-class netball team were presented with the District Netball Award at their Paradise Lane school, Leyland, by

  • Soccer club is making a stand...

    BAMBER Bridge Football Club plans to shoot itself into the new Millennium with a new 500-seater stand. Club bosses at the Irongate ground plan to erect to the stand as part of their quest to climb into the Football Conference from the Unibond Premier

  • Dragon game students take win the fantasy stakes

    PROTECTING a convoy of caravans from raiders hiding in a forest is the sort of pastime you find most students participating in, but one group of pupils have got it down to a fine art. And what's more, it wasn't even dangerous - because it was all pure

  • They think it's all over... it is now!

    THE political post-match talks after last week's astonishing election results would have made interesting spectacles I feel. The Greens no doubt would have been spraying the dressing rooms with champagne (organically produced of course) and shared a few

  • Alert as rare virus strikes

    AIDS sufferers - and other victims of certain rare conditions - are being alerted following the outbreak of an infectious disease. Health chiefs say they believe the disease - cryptosporidiosis - has peaked locally. The normal symptom is mild diarrhoea

  • Councillor in road safety plea

    ONE of Preston's newest councillors is calling on the council to install a pelican crossing on a road he has dubbed a 'death trap'. Councillor Marcus Johnstone, who was elected to serve the Riversway ward following last week's elections, wants to see

  • 10 YEARS AGO: Tommy presses on

    SUPER-grandad Tommy Gildert succeeded in his last world record attempt before retiring when he performed an amazing 150 press-ups in just 60 seconds before 6,000 soccer fans at Burnley's Turf Moor ground. Tommy, 48, beat both the Superstars' and world

  • On the warpath over sale of courthouse

    HORRIFIED historians are calling on Preston Borough Council to preserve the town's historic courthouse, which could be transformed into a restaurant under plans to be announced this week. Council chiefs have decided to let the prominent landmark go for

  • Money rolls in for top festival

    PREPARATIONS for the third Preston Mela have got off to a flying start, with the announcement that the event has attracted big money. Organisers behind the colourful festival of South Asian Culture have received confirmation of major funding and sponsorship

  • Labour lose South Ribble

    LABOUR has lost overall control of South Ribble after a disappointing night in the local elections. It lost six seats on the night - losing some influential councillors, including the deputy party leader, in the process. The Conservatives gained two seats

  • Calm as can be

    REGARDING the 'nightmare' rail excursion to Bath and Weston-super-Mare, chartered by St James Church, Blackburn (LET, May 6), I and three friends were passengers in the third coach and the people who ran the trip said thanks to us for being so calm. These

  • Park and pride

    VEHICLE theft and car crime have been drastically reduced by car park schemes at Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. Lancashire Police presented the Trust with three awards for the introduction of safety measures at Royal Preston Hospital, where on average

  • SOCCER: Blackburn Boys 1 Rossendale Valley Boys 0

    THIS was the game that confirmed Blackburn Boys as the Under 10s League and Cup double winners. In a first half that Blackburn Boys totally dominated, Mark Ratuzniak put in the perfect corner for Lee Smith to head home and put Blackburn Boys into the

  • CRICKET: Wasim in the money

    LANCASHIRE today announced that Wasim Akram earned £99,505 from his benefit year. While that compares badly with the last three Old Trafford beneficiaries - Neil Fairbrother (£206,000), Mike Watkinson (£209,000) and in 1997 Mike Atherton (£307,000) -

  • Mortensen hailed as legend

    LEADING football writers and broadcasters chose the late Stan Mortensen for their list of eleven legends. The award will be presented to Blackpool FC this Saturday at 2.30pm (May 15) when Stan Mortensen will become an AXA FA Cup Legend before Blackpool

  • BOWLS: Classic kicks off

    THE Alexandra Classic sponsored by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and Scottish and Newcastle Retail, has this year gained valuable additional support from Royton Precision Engineers. There's no doubt this tournament has developed into a major event

  • Stanley boss pledge

    NEW Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman has vowed to lead the Reds back into the UniBond Premier Division next season. The former Morecambe hitman became Stanley's ninth manager in two years when he replaced Wayne Harrison in the Crown Ground hot-seat

  • Woodland wonders

    YOUNGSTERS from Layton Primary School were in for plenty of surprises when they went down to the woods recently. Parks staff from Blackpool Council arranged for the children to take part in a nature treasure hunt and picturesque walk in Stanley Park and

  • Rain ruins promising encounter

    RAIN at Stanley Park robbed Preston of any opportunity of a third consecutive victory in Division One of the Vaux Northern League. Manoj Parekh, the Preston captain, won the toss and put Blackpool in to bat. Robin Bracewell and Chris Cornall put on 43

  • It may pay to be sharp(les)

    I WONDER how many readers are aware of the T and R Sharples Charity established in 1928 to provide small annuities to elderly people who can show their legal entitlement to use either the surname Sharples or Hesmondhalgh. To qualify, they must be over

  • SOCCER: Ribchester 2 Rolls Royce 1

    WHEN asked to deliver, Ribchester rose to the challenge in fine style to win the BEP Cup for the second year in succession. In the Cup Final, when it mattered, they played just about their best game of the season against a heavily-fancied Rolls Royce

  • Internet 'taster'

    STARTING next week Blackpool and the Fylde College will take part in a new initiative to help newcomers get to grips with the Internet. The BBC Webwise campaign is aimed at giving people the confidence to start using the Internet by offering "taster"

  • Tim tops fun run

    THE Lytham St Annes Road Runners celebrated the club's first anniversary with an excellent turn-out at the Blackpool 10K fun run. Fourteen members of the club took part in the charity race and Tim Gibson was the first home in 39 minutes and 86th place

  • EQUESTRIANISM: Hyndburn Saddle Club

    RESULTS (May Show) - Best turned out: 1 Julie McMillan (Heart of Gold), 2 Jerry Ashworth (Golden Shadow), 3 Chelsea Smith (Silver Charm); Ridden showing: 1 Zoe Eglin (Rio), 2 Jenny Foreman (Cosmic Charm), 3 Julie McMillan (Heart of Gold); Lead rein equitation

  • SUPERBIKES: High noon for Foggy

    BLACKBURN bullet Carl Fogarty enters spaghetti western territory this weekend aiming to gun down his Superbike rivals in a Spanish showdown. The Ducati king arrives at Albacete - scene of the 60s movies - in mean mood after opening up a 23 point gap in

  • Swimming to success in style

    NEWTON Hall Amateur Swimming Club members continued their early season success with convincing wins in the North West Micro League for 9 to 12-year-old swimmers. For the local derby event at the Lido pool against Rosegrove, Blackpool and Clitheroe, Newton

  • Tories in a tangle

    HAS the Conservative Party ever been at a lower ebb in its history, with squabbling and in-fighting disputes over policy? To the public, the appearance seems to smack of a party in turmoil, pressing the self-destruct button. The shadow prime minister

  • LOCAL CRICKET: Nash has cricket in his blood

    BRENDAN Nash could end up playing his cricket on one of three continents. But Todmorden are glad that, for now, the Queenslander is plying his trade at Centre Vale. Nash qualifies for the Lancashire League through an Irish grandfather. And although he

  • Trunk call!

    EVERYONE knows an elephant never forgets - but two classmates couldn't believe it when they were invited to take part in a road awareness reminder with a difference. Blackpool Council's road safety chiefs wanted to make sure local youngsters would remember

  • Taylor shines as rain falls

    ST ANNES captain Russell Bradley won the toss put Morecambe in to bat on Saturday (May 8) in their Vaux Northern League match. It appeared a prudent decision when St Annes professional Dave Callaghan bowled Morecambe opener, Mark Woodhead for three. However

  • Palatine's bright idea nets £3,000

    PALATINE High School's Internet initiative has received a massive cash boost thanks to a national award scheme. Students submitted a plan to create a website for a local blind organisation, and a training package to enable disabled members of the community

  • Cricket results round-up

    VAUX Northern League Division One: *Blackpool 210-4, R Bracewell 70, G Armstrong 46 - Preston 22-0, rain stopped play; *Darwen 125-9, G Hacking 46, G Cordingley 45, N Gregson 4-42 - Fleetwood 31-3, rsp; Lancaster 28-2 - *Leyland Daf 110-7, S Catterall

  • Singh on song

    BLACKPOOL skipper Rudra Singh scored a timely half century and took three wickets to lead Blackpool to a 38-run victory over Fleetwood in the second round of the National Knockout Cup at Stanley Park on Sunday (May 9). Blackpool won the toss, batted and

  • Helping hand in the House

    SOUTH Shore schoolgirl Jennifer Emmess (pictured) swapped her lessons for London when she turned MP's assistant for a day. Thirteen-year-old Jennifer, of Kingston Avenue, was invited to Westminster by Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden on a recent Take

  • Becky sharp

    THE NatWest Tournament heralded the start of the rounders season in St Helens. And it brought a new rule whereby batters reaching second or third post from their hit, score a half a rounder. This in itself has changed the emphasis from preventing full

  • Time of their life

    FYLDE youngsters who enjoyed a weekend in London hosted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, have returned to their churches with renewed faith. Churchgoers from the Blackburn diocese, which included St Thomas' in Blackpool, St Chad's in

  • Police warn of car sales risk

    CARS being offered for sale on the highway run the risk of being towed away police in Burnley have warned. Sergeant Eric Marshall said: "It is an offence to sell cars from the highway. It is something which is on the increase. "They can cause a nuisance

  • Lancaster drop point

    Lancaster 7 Stretford 7 LANCASTER dropped a point in their latest Northern counties match last weekend as they continue to warm-up for their National A.S.A Knockout Trophy Final on the 23rd May. It all augured well for the home side as they went 2-0 up

  • Mystery girl in rescue drama

    A MYSTERY teenager involved in a dramatic sea-rescue on Monday evening (May 10) was still refusing to give her name yesterday. Blackpool RNLI inshore lifeboat plucked the young woman, who looked about 16, unconscious from the waves and transferred her

  • Man stabbed for a tenner

    A YOUNG man was stabbed just off a crowded Morecambe street in broad daylight and robbed of of just £10 this week. Jamie Benn, 23, of Albert Road, was knifed in the lower abdomen outside Frontierland at about 1.30pm on Saturday. The muggers ran off with

  • Stargazer Mark on target

    A BLACKPOOL astrologer foretold the fairy-tale fortune of a sensational football result on Saturday (May 8). Mark Anderton-Wilson told a Carlisle United fan last Wednesday (May 5) not only that his team would win its crucial match against Plymouth to

  • Rainford edge home

    WITH Rainford Cricket Club's point from their rain abandoned match at Eccleston ensuring their passage into the quarter-final of the Sandhurst Shield all attention shifted to the Jubilee Recreation Ground as the second XI played hosts to Haydock. The

  • Here comes the rain again

    Lancaster 28-2 Leyland DAF 110-7 RAIN brought a premature end to the game at Lune Road with the match delicately poised. Lancaster captain David Heywood won the toss and put Leyland Daf in to bat. The visitors reached a moderate 110-7 from their allotted

  • Town cup showdown

    HAYDOCK and Blackbrook meet in the final of the St Helens Hays Chemicals Cup at Knowsley Road tonight (Thursday). The action begins at 7pm and admission is £2 (children and OAPs £1). Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting

  • Blueprint for Town Hall revolution

    POLITICAL leaders in Blackpool have approved plans to revolutionise the running of the borough council. With the overall aim to cut back on bureaucracy and pave the way for citizen-centred services the plans include a massive shake up abolishing some

  • Park's impossible dream

    Wigan 23 West Park 12 ALDWINIANS' 70-point win at Birkenhead Park effectively destroyed any hopes West Park had of snatching promotion. A 54-point win at Audenshaw Park on Saturday is now the impossible task of Park to gain the solitary promotion spot

  • Frustrated youngsters need exciting sports

    VIOLENCE against social services staff has hit an all-time high according to a Blackpool social worker (Citizen, April 29). We also read that Health Minister John Hutton has announced action must be taken to protect social services staff. Action must

  • Window shopping!

    LOCAL tradesmen have been left reeling following a decision by Lancashire Constabulary to use a national company to secure properties instead of local firms. For 17 years the police have operated a rota system using local joiners, glaziers and locksmiths

  • Sutton are beaten by the weather

    SUTTON CC's bid for victory against Aigburth on Saturday was frustrated by the the weather. Overnight rain had soaked the ground. But groundsman Eric Lanchin did his best to get a game started and Sutton fielded first. Sutton bowled and fielded well and

  • Refugees dilemma

    BLACKPOOL is struggling to identify a location large enough to house Kosovan refugee communities. Councils throughout the country are being asked to identify sites where communities of Kosovans could be housed together but, though Blackpool has more guest-beds

  • Birthday wishes from down under

    SIR, - ON Tuesday, May 18 it will be my father's 60th birthday, and as I am currently on the other side of the world, having been travelling since last August, I would just like to use your columns as a surprise to say Happy Birthday Dad! He is Barry

  • Independents give Labour pains at vote

    THE district's political map was painted red, white, blue, yellow and green with a touch of lilac following one of the most extraordinary local elections of modern times last week. When the counting had finished even the victors couldn't quite believe

  • We are the champions!

    CHAMPIONS! That's the Bury Times which has just scooped a top award. The 20p Tuesday edition, which was relaunched as a paid-for newspaper in 1996 after 14 years as a free publication, won the Newspaper Society award for its 24.5 per cent sales increase

  • Firemen face up to burning questions

    FYLDE Coast firefighters could launch strike action for the first time in 22 years. The Fire Brigades Union this week voted at its annual conference to hold a national strike ballot if their employers go ahead with an efficiency drive to change long-held

  • It's just not good enough!

    A GRIEVING Morecambe man has been left stunned and upset after Lancaster city council sent him a £12,600 bill for refurbishments to his late mother's house. Mr Gary Gibbons claims the council pressured his elderly mother into having the work done and

  • Soccer: Neil vows to stay

    NEIL Warnock looks set to stay on as Bury manager next season. After the club's relegation from Division One on Sunday he spoke of his determination to get the club back up at the first attempt. And chairman Terry Robinson has already hinted he does not

  • New plans for Elms centre

    PEOPLE can get their first look at plans for a new shopping parade set to rise out of the demolished Elms Precinct in Whitefield. An application by owners Northwestern Properties to build a parade of shops at Green Lane adjacent to the square is available