AS yet again East Lancashire is grimly identified as one of the country's worst heart disease blackspots, it is plain that literally-deadly lifestyles of booze, fags and chips are to blame. For heart disease rates have little to do with where people live
CAN readers tell me if 1940-50s 'Forces Sweetheart' singer Anne Shelton OBE ever appeared in this area? I have to write a short essay about her and am curious whether she sang in Lancashire in 1950s or 60s, maybe with 'big bands.' ADRIAN GRADY, 14 Lemonius
PERISH the thought of club owner Margo Grimshaw transforming Blackburn into a revellers' paradise (LET, November 15). One only has to look at one of her premises, the Bar Ibiza, with its gaudy frontage and flashing lights to see what may happen to once-fine
ANYBODY who grumbles about the food in Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn (LET, November 15), must be wrong in their heads. I have been in a few times -- no complaints. You could not have better in a five star hotel, or at home. A bit of toast would be
REGARDING your report (LET, November 15) on hospital meals, I found them very good and plentiful when I was a patient. But I agree with John Holden about the breakfasts -- a bit of toast and marmalade would have made all the difference. As for the NHS
IN response to comments about 'Xmas' and its alleged cutting of Christ out of Christmas, may I point out that in one of Blackburn Diocese's own booklets it states: "An abbreviation for Christ is X." This is not an 'X' or a cross as many people suppose
A TEACHER from Atherton suspended after allegedly hitting a pupil with a piece wire was reinstated last night. Governors meeting at Hesketh Fletcher Church of England School in Atherton decided to lift the suspension against science teacher Anthony Taylor
BLACKBURN Northern Tennis Club is preparing for the proudest day in its history after qualifying for the final of a prestigious national tournament. The club has upset all the odds to reach the final of the A T Kearney Trophy which will be played at the
A WIDOW had happy memories brought back as she attended the second year of her husband's memorial snooker competition. The James Hacking Memorial Snooker Shield, held at the Stanhill Working Mens' Club, commemorated the sporting life of former LET compositor
Gavin Hargreaves About you: Position and age: Centre midfield, 22. Club and league: Ivy Hotel, Blackburn Combination Division Four Your nickname and why: None that the lads call me to my face On the pitch: Best goal scored: I bagged one on my debut for
A REIGNING champion pool team have had to share the honours this year, vowing it will not happen to them next time, but for different reasons than you might expect. Last year's winners of the Hyndburn Cavalier Pool League, the Oddfellows, have had to
at Daisyfield Swimming Pool WESTHOLME smashed two records on their way to another overall swimming championship trophy. The Blackburn school won six events in total but the undoubted highlights were the new records set by Rachel Cunningham-Clarke and
So what do you do when the referee gets in your way on the football pitch. Well the first one that springs to mind will earn you a instant dismal and probably a life time ban. But what about nut-megging him! That is was Grimshaw Park's Mark Johnson did
Grimshaw Park 2 Ivy Hotel 1 I don't know what I was thinking about really. After all, when was the last time you saw John Motson running down the wing with a microphone in his hand. Or how about Murray Walker overtaking Michael Schumacher while providing
THE body of tragic baby Toby Woods may have to be exhumed so that further medical tests can be carried out in an attempt to establish the cause of death. A pre-inquest hearing was told several leading paediatric pathologists have been brought in to try
Leigh Centurions 30, South Sydney 8 LEIGH Centurions posted their intentions for the new season with an impressive victory over Australian tourists South Sydney at Hilton Park last night. With several of their new faces playing key roles, Leigh ran away
I WONDER if anyone is aware that many of the children in countries around the world and in the British Isles have their own commissioner in the Government to speak up for their rights and to help in times of hardship, which unfortunately, is a common
IT would appear that from next season all Saints' home games are to be switched to Friday evenings, as opposed to Sunday afternoons. Once again, the paying spectators have not been consulted. If they had been, the club would know that it was making a
A SOLDIER three times the drink drive limit left Burnley Magistrates Court with the minimum driving ban. The bench had been told how gunner Karl Whittaker, 18, had been seen by police in Burnley town centre driving erratically. When he was stopped he
TRADERS have won a campaign against flats and a training centre for homeless young people on the edge of Burnley town centre. The council has agreed not to sell the site in Queens Lancashire Way to the West Pennine Housing Association who wanted to build
THE family of a man from Todmorden found hanged in his cell at Preston Prison are demanding an inquiry into why so many people take their own lives at the jail. In two weeks it will be the first anniversary of the death of former French Foreign Legion
A CAB driver allegedly sexually assaulted a schoolgirl after he picked her up in his taxi outside a Burnley nightclub -- and then tried to meet her again to do the same thing, a jury heard. Burnley Crown Court was told how married Ghulam Hussain, 38,
Blackpool Scorpions 34 St Helens Vine 17 VINE'S promotion bid suffered a setback at the hands of a strong Blackpool side. The visitors had the better of the first half and led 12-6 at the interval, thanks to two tries by Chris Mark, both goaled by Mike
Portico Panthers 50 Rochdale Mayfield A 0 A FIVE-try super show by Mark Rigby was the highlight as Panthers turned on the style to power their way into the semi-final of the Lancashire Cup with this comfortable success. Giassone Delferro opened the scoring
Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks 12 Thatto Heath Crusaders 18 THIS top-of-the-table clash lived up to expectations as leaders Heath took on a third-placed Sheffield Hawks defending an impressive five-match winning run and unbeaten home record stretching back
A DEPRESSED drunkard who "minded " 5,000 ecstasy tablets - worth more than £50,000 - was today starting a four year jail term. Burnley Crown Court heard how James McGeoch, 49, was paid just £50 to keep the stash overnight, and he was told by a judge the
A RIGHT royal visitor is winging its way up to East Lancashire to help boost funds for a charity event. Local pigeon fanciers have organised an auction of birds this weekend and pride of place under the hammer will be a bird sent specially from the Queen's
Show Jumping Trophy Championships HARRIET Williams jumped her way to four trophies at the annual end of the season show -- and picked up three of them riding Midnight Sparkle. For Harriet won the novice and junior competitions, the 13.2 hands and under
EVERY Saturday morning I watching my young son Simon play for Huncoat under 11s. They play in Accrington Boys League and his side is one of seven sides that come under the Huncoat banner. I think it is brilliant that a village the size of Huncoat provides
BUOYANT Burnley powered their way back into the top four last night -- but not without paying a price. The Clarets brushed aside Norwich City 2-0 with second-half goals from Andy Payton and Steve Davis. But injuries to Lee Briscoe and Glen Little and
Michopoulos; (from right) Thomas, Davis, Cox; Little (Weller 23), Mellon, Ball, Cook (Mullin 80), Briscoe (Moore 33); Payton, Branch. Subs not used: Jepson, Crichton (gk). NORWICH CITY (4-5-1 manager Bryan Hamilton) A Marshall; Sutch, Fleming, Mackay,
CORPORATE clothing manufacturer Simon Jersey was toasting its success in clinching a deal to supply uniforms to all 6,500 Brewer's Fayre staff in its 280 pubs across the UK. Altham-based Simon Jersey was given the task of designing and supplying the new
TWO hundred lucky visitors to Farmer's Market on Friday (November 24) could find themselves branching out. In addition to the rural crafts on sale at the market, there will be a tree treasure trail competition as part of Esso National Tree Week supported
YOUNGSTERS from four St Helens schools have taken part in a tree-planting initiative to encourage red squirrels to return to the area. Pupils from Rainford CE Aided Primary, Brook Lodge Primary, Corpus Christi Primary and Crawford Village Primary County
NEWTON-le-Willows Library has been awarded a grant of £20,788 to set up a unique project on the history and heritage of Newton. The cash is a share of £400,000 provided through a partnership between the Government and Wolfson British History Programme
ST HELENS has notched up another year of progress in local schools with a significant increase in pupils earning top grades. In the last three years the average number of pupils gaining five or more A* to C grade GCSEs has risen by seven per cent to 47.4
BARKING dogs and excessively loud music make up the bulk of noise complaints which are referred to St Helens Council's Noise Control Section. For the past couple of years, after the council invested in noise monitoring equipment, the number of complaints
THE family of the late Ron Heavey, MBE, have paid a moving tribute to the man who dedicated his life to encouraging young people with special needs through drama and dance. Ron (66), who lived in Marshalls Cross Road, became a familiar figure to Star
A SOLICITOR who milked more than £57,000 from the accounts of dead clients has been struck off. Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal chairman, Anthony Gibson found all six charges proved against David James Pilling, who worked from Bacup. Mr Gibson said:
A MINI police station set up to try to stamp out violent attacks on hospital staff is celebrating its first birthday. And staff at the station -- believed to be one of the first in the UK when it was opened by Home Secretary Jack Straw -- have vowed to
A PUB landlord needed 30 stitches when he was attacked with a pint glass at his Blackburn premises. Michael Booth was struck to the left side of his face while asking some people to leave the Havelock pub. The man responsible was given a three and a half
A MAN who launched a "gratuitous" attack on another man, jabbing him in the throat with broken glass, has been jailed for five years. James Keller smashed a bottle or glass before striking out, after victim Peter Doward asked him to leave his flat. The
FLEETWOOD 4 CLITHEROE 0 MANAGER Dave Burgess refused to be despondent after promotion-chasing Clitheroe crashed to a shock defeat in the North West Countries First Division last night. A trip to the seaside turned into a nightmare but Burgess said: "It
WEST Park's scheduled league game at Widnes on Saturday became yet another victim of the recent inclement weather, the low-lying Heath Road pitch being declared unfit as early as Friday afternoon even though it had not been played upon in the previous
FOLLOWING the week's latest bad weather, grounds were again declared unfit to play, and only two games of any description took place in the St Helens Combinationon Saturday. In the Garswood Trophies Hospital Cup third round ties, Bold Miners, with goals
DULCET-toned Haydock Male Voice Choir are tuned up to give three carol concerts over the Christmas period. They are at St Mary's Club, Birchley, on Friday, December 15; West Park RFC, Saturday, December 16, and Haydock Conservative club, Friday, December
TWO youths were arrested and released without charge, pending further inquiries, following a chase involving a stolen car through St Helens town centre. Police officers in marked cars chased the stolen vehicle through the town centre at about 8.15pm on
A 100-year-old drain, which runs under Burrows Lane on the St Helens/Prescot border, collapsed after heavy rain on Saturday, November 18. The drain caved in leaving a 14 ft hole in the road and Highway engineers were called to carry out emergency repairs
POLICE are appealing for information about a fire which caused considerable damage to the back of a fish and chip shop in Wythburn Crescent, Carr Mill. Waste paper bins at the back of the 'Chip Shop' were set alight at about 2.15pm on Saturday, November
PATAK Spices, the Haydock-based Indian food manufacturer is aiming for a hat-trick after receiving its third nomination for a prestigious 'Food from Britain' export award. The company, based on the Haydock Lane Industrial Estate, has been short-listed
ST Helens Flower Club are holding a Christmas Gala evening at the Centre for the Deaf, Dentons Green Lane, on Tuesday, December 5, at 7.15pm. John Wareing, who is a retired Lancashire policeman, and his wife Bett, will give a talk about 'The Spirit of
LOCAL band Korova have won through to the semi-finals of a competition which gives them the chance to play at the world-famous Cavern Club in Liverpool. The four-strong guitar-based band beat three other bands to win their regional heat of the 'Play the
A MAN armed with a crow bar walked into an off-licence, threatened staff and escaped with cash and cigarettes. The robbery happened at 9.30pm on Sunday, November 19, at the High Spirits Off-licence in Wargrave Road, Newton-le-Willows, and police are appealing
UP to 500 trees are to be planted in the grounds of Sutton Manor Primary School on Thursday, November 30, as part of Esso National Tree Week. The event is being supported locally by environmental charity, Groundwork St Helens with funding from Mersey
A LOCALLY-born couple who had been married for almost 50 years have died within four days of each other. Frank Brookes and his wife May, of Tracks Lane, Billinge, who were both aged 77, formerly lived in the Lowe House area and leave four children and
STAFF from the Minor Injuries Department at St Helens Hospital will be taking part in a national campaign to make people aware of the work they do. Starting on Monday, Minor Injuries Awareness Week (November 27), will be carrying out a health promotion
A TEENAGE motor-cyclist was killed and nine other people were taken to hospital following an accident on the M62 near its junction with Rainhill Stoops. The accident happened at about 9.45pm on Tuesday, November 14 when the victim, an 18-year-old woman
LOCAL businesses are always striving to reach the peak of perfection.... and now St Helens Mayoral Appeal and the National Meningitis Trust, are to benefit by donations of £1,800 each -- thanks to the blistering feat of nine local firms who took part
BURY'S crumbling roads have been given a huge financial boost to pay for repairs. Main streets, bridges and, for the first time, minor roads will all benefit after ministers increased the money that the council can spend on highway maintenance. For next
I HAVE been in Blackburn Infirmary four times over the past two years and can only endorse what patient Eileen Davies said (LET, November 15) about the food. I had no complaints at all. The menu is very varied. I also tried curry and chilli which was
I CAN hardly believe the hypocrisy of the Tory party and supporters like D Pearson (Letters, November 9), who says people should vote Labour out because of the fuel crisis. Maybe he thinks everyone has short memories. The mass protests and rioting over
AMONG those who viewed the BBC's Question Time, held at King George's Hall, Blackburn, on November 16, there must be many like myself who were aghast at the extraordinary attack by Blackburn with Darwen Tory councillor Eddie Harrison on the former Labour
EAST Lancashire-based Kano-Bushi Ryu martial arts club are celebrating after coming away from the AMA Sports Ju-Jitsu British championships with five gold medals. The club underlined its potential for producing some of the finest young fighters as eight
SCOTT Threlfall scored five times as Red Rose went on the rampage against Byerden Hotel in the Burnley Sunday League. Red Rose romped to a 7-0 victory in the only game to survive the weather. Matt Harvey and Mick Hannis also found the net. Only three
Blackburn Kestrels 0 Bradford Buccaneers 1 BLACKBURN Kestrels slipped to a shock defeat against Bradford Buccaneers despite totally dominating the league match. The Blackburn side were expected to win to cement their position on top of the Northern League
BLACKBURN misfit Keith Gillespie put himself firmly in the shop window last night after firing a stunning hat-trick to send Rovers' reserves up to third in the table. Gillespie, handed a free transfer by manager Graeme Souness, made a stunning comeback
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness is closing in on Sheffield United hot-shot Marcus Bent. Ewood chief executive John Williams today revealed Rovers have held preliminary talks with the Blades about a possible deal. And Souness could be granted permission
I RECENTLY had a knee replacement operation in St Helens Hospital and I would like through your newspaper to express my gratitude and thanks to all the people involved from the pre-op planning to the after care. After my operation I was admitted to Pilkington
THE furious mum of an 11-year-old girl, who was stabbed by another child with a pin from a poppy pushed into a pencil, is urging other parents to warn their children about the perils of needles. The schoolgirl was taken to St Helens Hospital straight
DETECTIVES investigating the shotgun killing of Iain McKay are anxious to trace a woman who rang Lloyds TSB Bank to report that her daughter had found one of his missing credit cards. The find was reported 11 days after the shooting but the link with
SAINTS have hit back at suggestions that they are dragging their feet regarding the building of the new stadium. The club was responding to an article in the Independent Supporters Association newsletter in which spokesman Russ Fairclough accused the
Latchford U/9s 4 Haydock Warriors 34 KYLE Braithwaite scored four tries for Haydock with others coming from man-of-the-match, Aaron Lloyd, Jordan Gibson, Scott Hale, Luke Edwards, Gary Anderton and Josh Turner. Top tackler was Nathan Halliwell, coaches
St Helens Schools U/11s 16 Warrington 4 THE schoolboys bounced back from an early deficit to confirm their place at the top of the league with a hard-fought win against a well-drilled Warrington outfit. Top tackler was Dave Houghton, Philip Whyte was
Leigh East U/10s 8 Blackbrook Royals 16 DESPITE the absence of a number of players, Royals produced an excellent performance, defying the muddy conditions to defeat one of the stronger teams in the age group. West Bank Bears U/9s 6 Royals 36 Royals continued
Pilks Recs U/10s 16 Wigan St Judes 18 PILKS suffered only their second defeat of the season in a very tight game against a competitive St Judes. In a good all-round effort, man of the match was Ryan Hilliard (goal), coaches award Matthew Twist and top
A NATIONAL advertising campaign has begun in an effort to attract big brand names to new shops to Accrington. Helical Ltd, the firm developing the town's outdoor market site, has advertised in national property magazines to promote its £7million project
THE body of tragic baby Toby Woods may have to be exhumed so that further medical tests can be carried out in an attempt to establish the cause of death. A pre-inquest hearing was told several leading paediatric pathologists have been brought in to try
LANCASHIRE will be looking to win the Inter County finals for a record fifth time later this month -- and judging by the talent on show they look a safe bet. A total of 10 schools took part in the annual six-a-side competition held at Blackburn Rovers
ESTONIAN national captain Martin Reim will play for Burnley's reserves at Turf Moor tonight. The midfielder has been training with the Clarets and manager Stan Ternent will take a closer look at the player in competitive action before deciding whether
ON TARGET: Skipper Steve Davis (above) heads home the Clarets second goal against Norwich last night, after (left) Andy Payton puts Burnley 1-0 up. Pictures: PHIL RADCLIFFE RECORD signing Ian Moore was a happy man after enjoying a winning Burnley debut
Norwich City0 Payton 56 mins, Davis 65 mins The goal machine CLARETS goal machine Andy Payton is delighted to have new million-pound man Ian Moore on board at Turf Moor. But that doesn't mean he will easily relinquish his mantle as Burnley's predator-in-chief
FOOD and drink manufacturer Nichols Foods Ltd. has triumphed in this year's Manchester Evening News Business of the Year Award. The Haydock-based company won the prize in the category for companies with a turnover of more than £35 million after being
BURY boss Andy Preece today reflected on what could have been after his side stumbled to a disappointing draw against non-league Northwich Vics. A mistake from keeper Paddy Kenny gifted the part-timers a draw but Northwich fully deserved a replay. And
HELP the Aged in Parr, St Helens, has set up two new schemes to make sure that elderly people remain safe and secure in their homes. The HandyVan and SeniorSafety schemes both provide home safety devices for older people to help increase confidence and
ST HELENS-based glass manufacturer, Pilkington achieved a double whammy when they coincided the official opening of their new high-volume mirror silvering production line with the launch of the Optimirror Plus, which is a new, environmentally friendly
THIS year's St Helens Remembrance Day took on a special significance for one local family after a relative's name was added to the war memorial, almost 60 years after he was killed in the Second World War. The relatives talked to Star reporter RACHEL
DOGS have long been thought of as man's best friend -- but in Vicky Lee's case they are most definitely a woman's too. Perched perilously in her 'rig' -- which looks like nothing more than a converted bicycle -- Vicky puts her life in the hands of the
A TOP local chef will be putting some festive ingredients through their paces on Friday during a special cookery demonstration in Blackburn Market. Neil Hogg, an experienced and renowned chef who is now a tutor at Accrington and Rossendale College, has
ANOTHER excellent year of achievement was celebrated at St Wilfrid's High School, Blackburn, prize night. Acting head teacher at the Blackburn school David Whyte, welcomed pupils, staff, governors, parents and special guest, the Archbishop of York, to
HOUSING organisation Space is holding a series of meetings with tenants to mark its first anniversary. The first meeting will be held in Blackburn a week today for East Lancashire tenants and others will be held elsewhere in the North West. Space has
KNIFE expert Frank Kay is fascinated by one of the world's legendary weapons -- the Gurkhas' kukri. And now he has set up a unique trade agreement with the Gurkha people of Nepal to import the knives and help one of the world's poorest countries earn
Tetley Walker 0 TWO goals from centre half Andy Walsh sent Darwen through to the next round of the Second Division Trophy. Steve Wilkes's side were fortunate to go in at the break with the score goalless. Darwen's form improved after the break and just
COLNE 1 RAMSBOTTOM 5 STRUGGLING North West Counties Division Two side Colne were no match for Ramsbottom, from the league above, in the Marsden Trophy first round last night. Two goals inside a minute early on through Danny Goodall and Steve Orrell killed
BACUP BOROUGH 0 NELSON 1 NELSON'S Stuart Mulligan fired home his eighth goal of the season to boost their North West Counties League Division Two promotion charge against local rivals Bacup at West View. The Blues striker scored the only goal of the game
SOCCER: Preston have failed in their bid to bolster their defence with Sheffield United's Rob Kozluk. The 23-year old looked set for a move to Deepdale when the Blades accepted a £200,000 bid from North End -- but the player has failed to agree personal
Dale epic win ROSSENDALE 6 ATHERTON 4 BOTH teams dished up a perfect antidote to the shivering conditions to send the fans home with a warm glow after a ten goal thriller in this Marsden Lancashire Challenge Trophy tie. From an unimpressive first half
IF greatness in sport is measured by how far any given performer is ahead of their peers, then Tiger Woods is undoubtedly the world's number one sporting star. The golfing colossus is also a magnificent ambassador for his profession and golf is lucky
THE weather once again played havoc with the St Helens McDonalds JOL programme at the weekend with only one game being played in the under 14s section where Rainford Rangers defeated Captains Lane 5-2. RESULTS Under 14s: Captains Lane 2 Rainford Rangers
THE entire Rainhill Junior League programme was washed out on Sunday as the wet weather continues to cause chaos for the town's young soccer players. FIXTURES Saturday, November 25 Under 10s Mini-Soccer: 9.30am Division One: Eccleston United v Captains
Bedford Athletic 19 Liverpool St Helens 20 ONCE in a while there is a defining moment in a match, a moment which has a profound effect on a whole season. At a bleak, damp and cold Bedford Athletic ground on Saturday there was, perhaps, such a moment.
Prescot Cables 5 Seaham Red Star 2 (aet) PRESCOT finally got to stage this Carlsberg FA Vase second round game and despite the atrocious conditions the quality of football remained high. The visitors started in lively fashion and after having a 'goal'
HAVING played just two games in the last month St Helens Town will be hoping for a break in the weather on Saturday when they are scheduled to travel to Manchester to face Abbey Hey in a North West Counties League game, kick-off 3pm. The weather, however
POLICE are investigating a fire at Bleak Hill School in Hamilton Road, Windle, which was started some time between 5.45pm on Tuesday, November 14, and 6am on Wednesday, November 15, causing minor damage to the school premises. Anyone able to help with
AN ex-services group has issued an urgent appeal for wheelchairs. St Helens branch of the Royal Air Force Association, a registered charity, need them for people disabled by sickness and advancing years. Anyone who can help is asked to contact RAFA chairman
SUSIE the 13-year-old black cat, whose disappearance from her home in Eccleston was reported in the Star, is back and is now set to re-join her owners who emigrated to Australia a fortnight ago. Debbie Baxendale of the St Helens Lost and Found Pet Register
THE World of Glass was the venue this week for a conference to review progress in the regeneration of the North West's coalfields. About 150 representatives from local communities, local councils and development agencies attended the meeting. Keynote
MERSEY Fire Brigade were called in to tackle the fifth flood in three weeks at the Wheatsheaf pub in Mill Lane, Sutton last Thursday, November 16. Landlord Phil Banks called out the emergency services after discovering that heavy rains had caused the
