Archive

  • I won't forget freedom fight

    I'D like to thank all those who fought for my freedom, those who perished and those who survived, and those who kept the home fires burning! I promise I won't forget your courage and generosity. To the younger generations, how many of us so-called British

  • Double joy for sister-brides

    BLUSHING brides Dolores Haslam and Irene Cowgill were quite happy to share their big day. Both sisters tied the knot with their husbands in acombined wedding ceremony at Bury Town Hall. Delores and sales manager Allan Bennett, from Brandlesholme, had

  • Celebrating 50 years together

    FAMILY and friends are to unite to help a Bury couple toast a golden milestone. On Saturday June 12, Harry and June Smith will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Harry said: "If I could live my life again I would still want to meet and marry June

  • Strike vote is back on the cards

    FIREFIGHTERS across the borough could still be asked to vote for strike action after their pay dispute took a new twist. Crews in Greater Manchester returned to normal duties at the end of last month after a series of suspensions and unofficial industrial

  • On my head, says patriotic Lorraine

    LORRAINE Wagstaff has let the Euro 2004 soccer championships go to her head! For her usual auburn crowning glory has been dyed red and white to mirror the distinctive colours of the St George's flag. Not only is she backing England in the football tournament

  • Teacher jailed in Thailand

    A TEACHER is starting a four-year jail term in a Thai prison after admitting drugs offences. Blackburn man Christopher Egan was facing up to 28 years behind bars after he was arrested carrying drugs in the northern city of Chiang Mai. Today his family

  • Grace (9) steps into mum's running shoes

    WHEN the women of Elton Sailing Club decided to enter a 17-strong team in the Race For Life at Heaton Park, little did they know that their youngest member would be nine-year-old budding sailor Grace Brooks. Grace, from Ramsbottom, stepped into her mother

  • New rangers are ready to park up

    LOOK out, here comes the parkie! Bury's new rangers are set to hit the borough's parks this summer. Bury is one of only three authorities in the region to receive money from the Government's liveability fund, which will partly fund this expansion of the

  • A football finale to Ramsbottom's festival

    FOOTBALL fever hits Ramsbottom this weekend as the town holds its own final championship matches on the day England take on France in Euro 2004. The football five-a-aside finals of Ramsbottom's Sports Week will take place during the town's annual family

  • 6 hour op for sword attack victim

    A MAN who had his hand slashed in two in a Samurai sword attack has undergone a six-and-a-half-hour operation to save his hand. Surgeons at the Royal Preston Hospital operated on the man in his 20s, on Wednesday, to repair the damage he sustained when

  • Police found 100 cannabis plants

    POLICE who raided a man's Burnley home found almost 100 cannabis plants growing, a court was told. Burnley magistrates heard how 94 plants were seized by officers, as well as lights, booklets, fertiliser and plant food. Wayne Bannister admitted to police

  • Burglar caught on CCTV jailed for two years

    A HOUSE-breaker who struck for the tenth time is back behind bars after earlier being warned not to do it again. Burnley Crown Court heard how Conrad Howarth, 24, went back to his old ways after his release from prison. A judge, who yesterday jailed him

  • LibDems big winners on hung council

    LABOUR has lost control of Burnley Council after failing to cling on to its one-seat majority. The party still has the largest number of seats but after losing two to the Liberal Democrats and one to the BNP it does not have enough to hang on to power

  • 'Tacklers Trails' get weaving at canal

    TWO walks to guide people around new 'Tacklers Trails' in Nelson and Brierfield will be held this weekend. The trails, aimed at linking the community, the canals, and the cotton industry, are named after mill overlookers and have been created as part

  • Steve's reputation wins title

    THAI BOXING - STEVE Rogerson is the latest champion to role off the Prestwich Thai Boxing Club production line after scaring off his opponent - and not for the first time! Steve, aged 28, is the new ISKA North West 78kg weight champion, after John Davies

  • Reviews of the latest sounds

    BEBEL GILBERTO: Bebel Gilberto (EastWest) SOME people are simply born to be stars. Bebel Gilberto is one of them. Her father is credited with inventing bossa nova, her uncle was one of Brazil's first pop stars and she's carried on that Latin American

  • History is harnessed

    A PENDLE-based pressure group for riders is appealing for local historians to get in touch to support its campaign. The Trawden Forest and Borders Bridleway Association was founded in March to campaign for bridleways to be opened and maintained. Now it

  • 50 years ago

    A BURNLEY man received an award after saving his neighbours from their blazing home. Hero Herbert Daly forced his way into the house to alert his neighbours and carry their children to safety. The 35th Burnley Rosehill Girl Guide company celebrated its

  • 10 years ago

    FOUR men were jailed for a failed plot to turn a house in Accrington into a drugs factory. The gang was sentenced after police uncovered a scheme to mass-produce amphetamines at Owl Hall on Plantation Street. Haslingden Football Club was fighting for

  • 25 years ago

    ANGRY residents of a Darwen housing estate claimed land next to their homes which was planned as a children's play haven was a health hazard and eyesore. People from Nave Close, Priory Drive and Cloister Drive petitioned the council about the waste land

  • Dangerman attacker is sent down

    A "DANGEROUS" knifeman who slashed a man's face in an unprovoked street attack in Great Harwood is today starting a four-year jail term. Burnley Crown Court heard how Lee Birkett, 21, used a large lock knife with a 4in blade to injure his victim, who

  • I'm not drinking to postal voting

    I AM not a fan of this new postal voting system. It was a nice stroll to the polling booth on Lily Hill Street, Whitefield, to do one's bit for the country, and then to reward oneself with a pint or two in the Cross Keys! STROLLER, Whitefield.

  • Plant pots hit the jackpot

    THE fundraising committee of All Saints Church, Stand, Whitefield, held a plant fair on May 9 to raise funds for the church's restoration, which has a target of £500,000. We would like to thank everyone who came to the fair, which raised an astonishing

  • What about the pedestrians?

    THE owner of a car showroom on Radcliffe New Road, Whitefield complains about traffic wardens giving him tickets because he parks his cars on the pavement (Guide, June 4). He also states that his cars cannot be parked on the road as it would restrict

  • New future painted for Radcliffe Road site

    A FORMER Bury paints factory has a new gloss after changing hands in a massive £4 million deal. The 27-acre site in Radcliffe Road is being hailed as the biggest ever to be sold in Bury. It was formerly the headquarters of Macpherson Paints which shut

  • Consultation on the bins will continue

    I WISH to make it absolutely clear that our decision to return to a weekly collection of grey bins will last for the foreseeable future and it is a distinct possibility it will become permanent. Before, and if, any further changes are made to the scheme

  • Cyclists also have responsiblities

    AFTER reading Allan Ramsay's letter (Letters, June 4) I would like to point out a few things that he may find important in his on-going debate on cyclists' rights and laws to ensure fair treatment for every road-user. Firstly, I pay in excess of £500

  • Let's fly the flag for England

    I WAS disgusted to hear on the national news that Sloggi has been forced by the Advertising Standards Authority to remove an advertisement in Bury, showing three scantily-clad ladies, because it might offend those attending a nearby place of worship for

  • Parents' heartache as grape kills boy

    THE family of a four-year-old boy who choked to death on a grape today said they were 'too distraught for words'. Oliver Shaw, of Wellbrow Drive, Longridge, died at the Royal Preston Hospital after paramedics battled for more than 30 minutes to revive

  • Twin girl killed by rare heart defect

    A 13 YEAR-OLD girl died as a result of a rare genetic disorder which affects the rhythm of the heart. An inquest heard that the cause of Rebecca Holt's sudden death was only discovered after her twin sister Sophie was tested at Alder Hey Children's Hospital

  • Cotterill plays waiting game

    FINANCIAL constraints are delaying Steve Cotterill's first foray into the summer transfer market. The new Burnley boss completed his first week in the job still looking to boost his squad numbers from the eight contract players he inherited when he was

  • Grace sails through for her mum

    WHEN the women of Elton Sailing Club decided to enter a 17-strong team in the Race For Life event at Heaton Park, little did they know their youngest member would be nine-year-old budding sailor Grace Brooks. Grace, from Ramsbottom, nimbly stepped into

  • Mahmood can't stop another collapse

    LANCASHIRE are staring down the barrel of another heavy Championship after following on against reigning champions, Sussex, at Old Trafford. Sajid Mahmood showed his batting talent with a brutal assault on the Sussex bowlers but was unable to prevent

  • Harry's emotional D-Day visit

    HARRY Sanders has visited Sword Beach in Normandy on four occasions. The first time was on June 6, 1944, when, as part of a 40-strong specialist ammunitions supply unit, he endured a four-hour voyage of hell in rough seas from Plymouth to the French coastline

  • Life with The Lovers gets Carpets frontman on roll

    IT'S a long way from Madchester to Accrington -- 25 miles and 15 years to be precise since Tom Hingley became lead singer for the Inspiral Carpets. Along with the Stone Roses and the Happy Mondays they put the mad into Manchester's music scene in the

  • Barrow back in the hunt

    HAVING celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary by serenading his wife in Sorrento, Shakers' boss Graham Barrow was back at Gigg Lane this week. Having set himself a target of an 18-strong first team squad, he is back on the phone trying to achieve his

  • Toddlers step out

    THEY may not quite be Olympic athletes yet, but children at a Darwen nursery will be toddling for charity next week. The youngsters, aged two to four, at Abacus Nursery School are to take part in Foresters Big Toddle for Barnado's, raising money both

  • Iain sent to top of the class

    FOR the second year running, a headteacher from East Lancashire has been crowned the best in the North West. Iain Hulland, of Alder Grange Community and Technology College, Rawtenstall, was one of four winners from the area in the Regional Teaching Awards

  • Sir is a class act

    GEOGRAPHY teacher Howard Perry has put his school on the map after being nominated for a prestigious education award. While Mr Perry, who is deputy head at Parrenthorn High School, did not win the coveted Guardian Award for Teacher of the Year in a Secondary

  • Boro to splash the cash

    "HEY big spender" may not quite be the right anthem for Radcliffe Borough next season, but the ambitious club will certainly have spent more money on players for the forthcoming season than in previous campaigns. "We've upped the wage bill a bit this

  • Pledge on vetting of nursery staff

    A BLACKBURN nursery has vowed to tighten up checks on staff before they work with children, after a visit from education watchdogs. OFSTED inspectors visited Smiles on Faces, in St Peter Street, for the first time and recommended the policy of ensuring

  • Crime victims to be kept in picture

    CIVILIAN volunteers are being used to keep crime victims informed about the police's attempts to catch crooks so officers can do more urgent work. The new recruits will be trained to "tie up the loose ends" in cases by making 'thank you' calls to people

  • Regulars at caf drink 20-30 pints a day!

    FORGET lager, the die-hard drinkers at one watering hole regularly down more than 20 pints a day - of tea! The regulars of the Cabin Caf, next to Blackburn railway station, even have their favourite tipple served up in pint mugs. Every morning retired

  • Teacher jailed in Thailand

    A TEACHER is starting a four-year jail term in a Thai prison after admitting drugs offences. Blackburn man Christopher Egan was facing up to 28 years behind bars after he was arrested carrying drugs in the northern city of Chiang Mai. Today his family

  • Kennedy's taste of USA action

    ACCRINGTON Stanley goalkeeper Jon Kennedy was due to arrive back from South Carolina today after helping the England National Game XI earn a 0-0 draw against the United States USL Representative XI. Kennedy, who has yet to agree a new deal with the Reds

  • BOWLS ROUND-UP: Climbers Harwood thrash the Birches

    GREAT Harwood regained second place in the Super League when they crushed Whitworth visitors Birches Hotel 5-1. Jack Holt, who made easy work of a difficult encounter on paper 21-9, and Tony Dobson, who returned to the squad with a top class performance

  • Thanks to the girls

    I WOULD like to publicly thank all the "girls" from "Team Bury" who took part in the 5km "Race for Life" in Heaton Park. It was a privilege as a mere man to be able to support more than 100 female employees from Bury MBC who gave their time and effort

  • Consultation on the bins will continue

    I WISH to make it absolutely clear that our decision to return to a weekly collection of grey bins will last for the foreseeable future and it is a distinct possibility it will become permanent. Before, and if, any further changes are made to the scheme

  • Let's fly the flag for England

    I WAS disgusted to hear on the national news that Sloggi has been forced by the Advertising Standards Authority to remove an advertisement in Bury, showing three scantily-clad ladies, because it might offend those attending a nearby place of worship for

  • It's time to re-ignite our national pride

    LIKE Ivan Lewis MP, I will not be voting for the BNP but I suggest that Mr Lewis reflects on why this particular party is receiving increasing support. The British are tolerant to a fault but are becoming rapidly uneasy and impatient at governments' (

  • Pupils get words of welcome from TV chef

    Woodhey High School pupils had a certain trepidation when they set out to spend a day cooking in the kitchens of TV celebrity chef Andrew Nutter. Initial fears that it would be like entering TV's "Hell's Kitchen" quickly disappeared after Andrew made

  • Recount drama as Labour hangs on to power

    LABOUR has clung on to control of Bury Council, despite the drama of a recount in the Redvales ward. The Labour party's majority was cut to just two after last night's voting, with the Redvales ward still to be declared. Results for that ward have not

  • I'm voting for the quiet life

    THAT'S enough of that. There's only so much of the elections I can take and thankfully it's all over today and there will be no mention of how one party is better than the next and why postal voting is a farce. There will be no more of those fellows visiting

  • Victims must be kept informed

    WE all want police officers to spend the greatest possible proportion of their working time actually chasing and catching criminals. The pressure on them to do this has seen the employment of more and more civilians within police stations to carry out

  • Spirit of friendship for show soap pair

    IF you thought they were just Keeping Up Appearances, you'd be wrong. For it turns out, despite the fact they never shared a scene together throughout the six series of the ultimate BBC snob-com, Judy Cornwell and David Griffin are actually great friends

  • Brave Adam is winning health fight

    ON the eve of National Carers Week, a call has been made for more to be done to protect the health of the UK's six million carers. Reporter CHRISTINA LLOYD met a family which has backed the call for more support. . . ADAM Ibrahim is three today - but

  • Master of a surreal universe

    Many comedians aren't that funny when you catch them off-duty - but that isn't the case with Ross Noble. He's a quip a minute, as JOHN ANSON discovered. . . INTERVIEWING Ross Noble isn't really possible. Instead, you grab hold of the tail of his comic

  • Last rites and wrongs of post office closures

    THE spectre of post office closures has been blighting communities across the country since Royal Mail bosses announced their Urban Reinvention Programme 18 months ago. But only now it has hit at the heart of East Lancashire and, with 27 offices earmarked

  • Band brought crowd to its feet

    THIS year's Clitheroe Great Days Festival was probably the best yet. All the concerts were so good it's hard to single out any one act. For me, though, the highlight was the Sunday concert by Asere a young Cuban band currently touring the UK. It's a long

  • RUGBY UNION - Tigers snare awards to cap great season

    THE recent Lancashire RFU awards evening saw Sedgley Park named 'Senior Club of the Year,' after lifting the National Two title and Thwaites John Burgess Lancashire Cup. In addition, second row Paul Arnold was named Lancashire Player of the Year,' and

  • Message really touched my heart

    I MAKE a point of reading your Saturday Message column. I like the forthright way Rev Kevin Logan expresses things. The Message on June 5 touched a spring in my heart -- the stark reality of our limited life. We all have a time span known to God alone

  • We have parking problems, too

    I HAVE been reading about the problems of parking around the Infirmary area. Up to now, we on Pilmuir Road don't have to pay to park outside our homes but we still have problems. When Rovers are playing at home we get people parking on the grass verges

  • Table-toppers turn on style

    CRICKET - IT was a grrrrr-EIGHT weekend for Prestwich as they stole a march on their closest rivals with a dazzling double. The side now stand eight points clear at the top of the Lees Lancashire County League, as their nearest pursuers slipped up. Prestwich

  • Unsworth dump favourites to go into semis

    CRICKET - THE boys from Pole Lane had a mixed weekend, knocking Norden out of the Wood Cup on Sunday after losing in the league to Walsden the day before. "We lost to Walsden when we shouldn't," said skipper Paul Entwistle. "We were in a strong position

  • Tyres as fuel is a great idea

    SURELY it is a good thing that Castle Cement is using chipped tyres as fuel (Letters, June 8)? The tyres are completely incinerated, which saves the countryside from 1,000 lorry loads of landfill per year, and it means the company can cut down on using

  • Leigh area council results

    Labour lost ground in the area - one of its traditional heartlands. The party lost 19 of the 60 seats in won last year. We have all the news and results for you here. The results and news Wigan, Bolton, Bury and Salford Councils on our election results

  • Man jailed for stabbing brother

    A GOLBORNE man has been jailed for six years after stabbing his brother in the neck with a diving knife, it has emerged. Andrew Ashcroft, 44, bled to death in his sleep after he went to bed not realising the seriousness of his injuries following a fight

  • Pub raid

    RAIDERS stole cash from from gaming machines at Bury's Robert Peel pub in the early hours of yesterday morning. Several machines were damaged in the raid. At this stage it is not known how much money was taken.

  • Metrolink breakdown

    BURY schoolchildren were among scores of commuters hit this week when a series of incidents put the brakes on Metrolink services. On Tuesday, six trams broke down. There were also claims the vehicles' air compressors were unable to cope with the hot weather

  • Eye care talk for sufferers

    BURY Diabetic Support Group is holding a special talk on the importance of eye care for people with the condition. The meeting takes place on Wednesday, June 16, in the Royal Fusiliers Room of the Town Hall, Bury, at 7.30pm. The group's chairman, Geoffrey

  • Kitten saved

    A KITTEN was rescued by firefighters from a burning house and given first-aid by paramedics for smoke inhalation. Rescuers were called to the terraced house in Cateaton Street, Bury, shortly after 7pm on Wednesday when neighbours spotted flames in the

  • Checks continue into church blaze

    A MAJOR investigation is continuing into the cause of a blaze which ripped through a historic Bury church at the weekend. Three men were arrested shortly after the fire caused severe damage to the disused St Paul's Church in Parsonage Street. They have

  • Helpers revamp school grounds

    GREEN-fingered volunteers made sure that playtimes at St Paul's CE Primary School went with a hop, skip and jump. About 20 volunteers from Co-operative Financial Services, and two from B&Q, went along to help out at the Porritt Street school. Their

  • Jordan's on the ball for England

    SOCCER-mad Jordan Belston is off to Portugal today, two days before he leads England out against France in their opening match of Euro 2004. Jordan (8) is one of ten lucky youngsters chosen by McDonald's, one of the tournament sponsors, to walk with an

  • Labour 'anti war' disaster

    LABOUR suffered an "anti-war backlash" across East Lancashire as the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats made major gains in local council elections. The Tories tightened their grip in Hyndburn -- gaining one seat in the Central ward from Labour -- and

  • Power cut put exams under threat

    GCSE examinations came close to being cancelled when a Ramsbottom school suffered a power cut on Tuesday. Children were sent home from Woodhey High School, Ramsbottom, and 23 other properties were left without power. For a time there was a real risk that

  • Rovers talks with Matteo hit cash hitch

    DOMINIC Matteo will have to take a pay-cut if he wants to become Graeme Souness's second major signing of the summer. Blackburn Rovers officials have opened talks with Matteo's representatives about the possibility of moving to Ewood during the closed

  • Visitors enjoy the great outdoors

    IT was fun in the sun for Whitefield residents who attended a countryside day in Springwater Park. Pond dipping, searching for insects and environmental art were on offer at Sunday's (June 6) event, which was organised by Bury Council's countryside rangers

  • Free advice on diabetes

    PRESTWICH Pharmacy is inviting diabetics to discuss any concerns they may have about their condition. As part of Diabetes Week, which starts on Monday (June 14), the pharmacy in Fairfax Road is offering advice on diet, lifestyle and managing diabetes.

  • Baby tragedy: cause undecided

    A POST-MORTEM examination on a 15-week-old boy who died after falling asleep on a settee next to his mother has proved inconclusive. Callem Burnett died in the early hours of Sunday next to his 17-year-old mother in a house in Cog Lane, Burnley. The baby

  • Attention! David is on parade

    EX-serviceman David Joseph proudly wore his medals during D-Day celebrations. The 76-year-old, from Whitefield, was part of a group representing the Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women (AJEX) at a special commemoration service at Manchester

  • Dancing the night away D-Day style

    D-DAY celebrations were in full swing at Prestwich Conservative Club last weekend with singing and dancing 1940s-style. More than 100 members arrived at the club on Church Lane to relive the era and spent the night dancing to the decade's classic songs

  • Rosegrove Bulletin

    PLEASE give your support to the Mayor's Fundraising and Farewell Charity Night at Rosegrove Unity Working Men's Club, in Rossendale Road, on Friday, June 18, starting at 8pm. The night will mark the return of the popular Abba tribute duo Disco Raffle.

  • Resignation sparks row

    A PADIHAM town councillor has resigned from the council after accusing the body of becoming party political. Ann Bartlett handed in her resignation to the chairman of the council this week, saying the appointment of Coun Andrew Tatchell as the deputy

  • Fighting spirit of Labour stalwart

    THE widow of a Labour stalwart who died last week has paid tribute to her husband, describing him as a 'real fighter'. Burnley MP Peter Pike has also joined the tributes to ex-councillor and Labour stalwart Henry McCormack, who died at his Wren Street

  • 'Food poisoning can be a killer' warning

    ENVIRONMENTAL health officers in Pendle are highlighting the importance of food safety to help combat the spread of disease. Pendle Council is spotlighting the effects food poisoning can have. Stuart Arnott, the council's environmental health manager,

  • Here we go, at the Mill Gate

    BURY'S Mill Gate shopping centre is staging three soccer-themed days as football fever grips the nation. On Sunday and on June 20 the centre will be giving away Euro 2004 supporter packs with all Mill Gate purchases of more than £25 and offering free

  • Youngest competitor has plenty to shout about

    LIZ Woolnough could really have something to shout about this weekend. Not only is she celebrating her 30th birthday, but she's also about to become the youngest competitor in the first ever Warburtons World Ladies Town Criers Tournament. Liz, who lives

  • Comedy - just as you like it

    A TIMELESS comedy in a timeless setting. Somehow it just feels right to be watching Shakespeare in the peerless surroundings of Hoghton Tower. Evidence suggests that the Bard spent some time at the family home of the de Hoghton's. If he had been around

  • Police warn of drink penalty

    POLICE have launched a bid to stop drink driving as part of a crackdown on troublesome boozers during Euro 2004. Great Harwood police are targeting motorists as part of the countrywide campaign during the football championships in Portugal. Officers have

  • Anti-war backlash

    THE Conservative Party tightened its grip on power at Hyndburn Council as Labour suffered an anti-war backlash in an Accrington town centre ward. Tory leader Peter Britcliffe put his party's success in the Central ward -- the only one to change hands

  • Proud to be both

    WE are told not to fly the flag of St George as it may offend, but to fly white and red balloons instead. What next, people being told what to wear, or no mention of churches or synagogues? I am a Labour voter and an English Jew who is proud to be both

  • Changes at Chiquito's

    A POPULAR Pilsworth restaurant closed this week to undergo a major refurbishment. Chiquito Mexican Grill & Bar, at Park 66, has shut down for 12 days while the work takes place. It will re-open on June 18. General manager Chris Yale said: "We are

  • Beacons light up Spain firms

    BEACONS of best practice in Bury travelled to Spain to help shed light on the benefits of managing a diverse workforce. Officials from Bury Employment Support & Training (EST) and local bosses advised their Spanish and Italian partners on how to effectively

  • Election recount

    LABOUR'S control hangs in the balance with a recount in three seats on Friday. The party needs to win at least one seat in the recount to retain an overall majority and prevent the borough slipping through its fingers. The Conservatives netted 18 seats

  • Window cleaner falls to his death

    A POPULAR window cleaner fell 45 feet to his death from a block of flats in Whitefield. Mr Ted Siddall was cleaning a window on the top floor of a four-storey block in Pinfold Lane, when the tragedy happened. Mr Siddall (64), who was affectionately called

  • Magistrate is sentenced to the easy life

    IT was one BIG family affair when former headteacher Eric Wilson celebrated his retirement from the bench at Bury Magistrates Court. Mr Wilson, from Whitefield, held a party at Stand Golf Club, where he is a member, supported by his five children and

  • England star for a day

    FRIENDS and neighbours decorated the front of a youngster's house to wish him luck in Portugal. While eight-year-old Jordan Belston won't be joining England's Euro 2004 squad on the pitch, he will be there to lead out the team for their opening game.

  • Cabbies can fly the flag for their country

    BURY Council has waved away suggestions it could ban the St George flag being flown from taxis during Euro 2004. Some authorities in Greater Manchester had originally stated cabbies could lose their licence by flying the patriotic flag as a show of support

  • Saddle up for week of pedalling

    PEDAL power has arrived in the borough and town hall bosses are urging residents to get on their bike. The council has produced a new cycling map and magazine to mark National Bike Week, which starts tomorrow (Sat June 12). The "Safer Cycling Routes"

  • Now or Nether for title chase

    DARWEN have an ideal opportunity to step up their bid to retain the Northern Premier League title tomorrow. The champions are away to Lancaster, where victory will enable them to make vital ground on runaway league leaders Netherfield. Chairman Peter

  • Old folk fear loss of sheltered homes

    ELDERLY residents in a sheltered housing scheme in Prestwich are demanding assurances they will not lose their home. Residents of Clarkes Hill, off Rectory Lane, fear they will be moved out of their flats if major refurbishments are carried out and worried

  • Golfer Mike wants a day to say thanks

    GRANDAD Mike Heath is hoping to get local businesses tee'd up for a day of golf in aid of the hospital which saved his life. Engineering consultant Mike, who lives in Swinton Crescent, Unsworth, wants to thank Fairfield General Hospital for helping him

  • Carragher is the man to fill Terry's boots

    The SIMON GARNER column. . . IT just wouldn't be England, would it, if there wasn't a injury crisis to worry about going into a major football tournament. Two years ago in Japan, David Beckham's metatarsal injury became a national obsession. Now John

  • 'Stalker' becomes Mr Nasty for Silverstone

    BEWARE of The Stalker at Silverstone! THE influence of Foggy PETRONAS Racing team boss Carl Fogarty has rubbed off on his rider Chris Walker in the build-up to this weekend's British round of the Superbike World championship. Walker, nicknamed The Stalker

  • Political correctness suffocating national pride

    MP, I will not be voting for the BNP but I suggest that Mr Lewis reflects on why this particular party is receiving increasing support. The British are tolerant to a fault but are becoming rapidly uneasy and impatient at governments' (note the plural)

  • Sloggi poster was offensive, say advertising chiefs

    A POSTER featuring four scantily-clad women which provoked anger among worshippers in Bury has been given a dressing down. The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a complaint lodged by Bury Muslim Khalid Hussain, who along with other representatives

  • BOWLS - RADCLIFFE CIVIC CUP

    THIS year's Radcliffe Civic Cup competition was played at Openshaw Park number two green which was in wonderful condition. Eight top bowlers contested the final stage out of a entry of 67 bowlers. Game of the quarter-final was between Super League bowler

  • CRICKET - RADCLIFFE

    BIG HITTERS AND MEAN BOWLERS RADCLIFFE blitzed Middleton on Saturday at the Racecourse, with Aussie batsman Bruce Cruse and paid man Pasan Wanansinghe hitting runs for fun. The home side hit 225-4, with the Moonrakers restricted to 178 in reply, thanks

  • Cotterill plays waiting game

    FINANCIAL constraints are delaying Steve Cotterill's first foray into the summer transfer market. The new Burnley boss completed his first week in the job still looking to boost his squad numbers from the eight contract players he inherited when he was

  • Rovers talks with Matteo hit cash hitch

    DOMINIC Matteo will have to take a pay-cut if he wants to become Graeme Souness's second major signing of the summer. Blackburn Rovers officials have opened talks with Matteo's representatives about the possibility of moving to Ewood during the closed

  • Bernie shows caring side of rock and roll

    Rock legends playing Burnley -- and all in a great cause. GAIL ATKINSON spoke to Bernie Marsden about a very special gig. . . WHEN former Whitesnake guitarist Bernie Marsden got the letter asking him to perform in Burnley to raise funds for the family

  • Teenager's memory will live on

    A SPORTS trophy will be created in honour of a tragic teenager from Tockholes. Hundreds of mourners packed into St John Vianneys RC Church, Blackburn, yesterday to say goodbye to Chris Bradshaw, 16, who died at his home last week. Chris, who lived in

  • 'I'm no hero' says blaze rescue teen

    A HEROIC teenager has been awarded a prestigious honour for her bravery in rescuing her two younger brothers from a house fire. But today the noble youngster said: "I'm no hero, I did what anybody would have done." Vicky Ticehurst, 16, put her own life

  • Family fun time

    FUN for all the family is promised at Park View Primary School's summer fair tomorrow (Sat June 12). The event runs from 1pm to 4pm and attractions include a circus workshop, inflatable assault course and donkey rides. There will be face-painting, a karate

  • Raising the roof

    A TRUMPET and organ concert will raise the roof and vital funds at St Mary's Church in Prestwich. The Summer Concert for Organ and Trumpets will take place at the church in Church Lane, on Saturday, June 26 from 7.30pm. The programme will be varied and

  • Man died after 'litre of whisky a day'

    A RETIRED hotel manager said to drink a litre of whisky a day died of paracetamol toxicity because his liver function was compromised by the alcohol, an inquest was told. Edwin Hall had been admitted to hospital and was being treated for alcohol withdrawal

  • It's time for fans to look to bright future

    Sport Talk, with PAUL PLUNKETT EVERY Clarets fan should today pledge their support to Steve Cotterill. For the club to move forward and match the ambition of the new manager - and the boardroom which appointed him - Burnley Football Club has to unite.

  • Anger at church attack

    THE news of the suspected arson attack on St. Paul's Church in Bury has left me very angry and deeply upset. I was christened in that church and saw cousins christened there. I attended St. Paul's C of E primary school and, from Harvest time through to

  • Well-known window cleaner dies in fall

    A POPULAR window cleaner fell 45 feet to his death from a block of flats in Whitefield. Mr Ted Siddall was cleaning a window on the top floor of a four-storey block in Pinfold Lane, when the tragedy happened. Mr Siddall (64), who was affectionately called

  • MP in the swim for Jimmy

    Open House, with BILL JACOBS ROSSENDALE and Darwen MP Janet Anderson will take part in a triathlon - stunning her colleagues at Westminster. She will swim a mile to help Rossendale Tory councillor Jimmy Eaton, displaying a previously unknown athletic

  • CRICKET - Tottington St John's CC

    Skipper leads the way TOTTINGTON St John's skipper Clive Brooks proved the match winning catalyst at the weekend as Saints continued their charge up the North Manchester Cricket League Division One with an 84 run victory over rivals Glodwick. After a

  • CRICKET - Bolton League round-up

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  • CRICKET - Bolton Association round-up

    DOUBLE VICTORY BOOSTER WALSHAW celebrated a winning weekend when they followed up their emphatic league victory at Edgworth on Saturday by reaching the semi-finals of the Cross Cup, beating the present holders, Spring View, at home on Sunday. Top scorer

  • BOXING - Amir wins approval for world title bid

    AMIR Khan has persuaded his Great Britain coach to let him challenge for the World Junior Championship this weekend. The 17-year-old, who will be Great Britain's only Olympic boxing representative in Athens this summer, has flown out to Jeju, in South

  • CRICKET - Ramsbottom CC

    Double defeat for plucky Rams DESPITE putting up a bold show, injury hit Ramsbottom were knocked out of the Worsley Cup on Saturday by a powerful Nelson side. Once again luck seemed to be against them when they lost the toss in cloudy conditions and were

  • CRICKET - Manchester Association round-up

    Swinton are Moor of a Side than Bury BURY slumped to another heavy defeat when they travelled to Swinton Moorside on Saturday. Scott Leach took the early wicket of Swinton opener Arfan Hussain but Swinton soon took command and made the Bury attack toil

  • FOOTBALL - Ramsbottom United

    Derek's in the Rammy hot-seat RAMSBOTTOM United have unveiled Derek Egan (pictured) as the club's new manager, succeeding Vince Overson who resigned recently. This will be 40-year-old Egan's first management role, although the former Oldham Athletic youth

  • Anchored to the bottom

    STAND Cricket Club entertained Heywood in the hope of their first win of the season, and having won the toss elected to bat. Having lost Warren early on, captain Wilkinson and Craig Ferguson took the attack to the Heywood opening bowlers. Wilkinson with

  • Festival hit right notes for fun time

    MY mum saw an article in your paper about the Clitheroe Great Days Festival. Because I have been before and enjoyed myself I asked her if we could go and see the concerts. The Old Rope String Band were on and I really like them. Mum and dad took my sister