Archive

  • Talk talk - US style debate for prospective MPs?

    LANCASTER'S opposing Parliamentary candidates could face each other in an American style debate before the voting starts in the coming General Election. Labour candidate Hilton Dawson and his Conservative counterpart Keith Mans are set to fight it out

  • Step back in time for prom

    BLACKPOOL is looking towards the new millennium - by going back in time. Ambitious plans are in the pipeline to turn the Promenade into a passage through time before the end of the century. And a multi-million pound bid will be made to the Millennium

  • PC Bob gets MBE

    HELPING thousands of wayward youngsters to get back on the straight and narrow has earned a Blackpool bobby the ultimate reward - an MBE. PC Bob Harvey has been named in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for 26 years' service at the Blackpool attendance

  • Flying start for scanner appeal

    THE appeal for a new MRI scanner for Blackpool Victoria Hospital has got off to a flying start. More than £235,000 has already been raised for the £1.9 million life-saving campaign which was given a spectacular celebrity launch at Blackpool Tower Circus

  • Pupils have designs on old Astley

    HISTORY-conscious pupils from Astley St Stephens School have been working hand-in-hand with the Morts Astley Heritage Group. Kerry Meekin wears a T-shirt bearing the logo she designed for the conservationists who have big plans for saving a threatened

  • £500 to help the homeless

    A CONTRIBUTION of £500 has been given to the English Churches Housing Group to help the homeless in Leigh. The money has been handed over to the Railway Road-based project by British Nuclear Fuels and Atomic Energy Authority staff from Risley. The venture

  • Punched and kicked to death

    THE heartbroken father of murdered student Janet Murgatroyd said his daughter had been dead more than 24 hours before he was told. The identity of 20-year-old Janet was confirmed by her mother, Mary, on Monday (June 17) after her body was discovered floating

  • Right to write

    DYSLEXIA experts are holding an open evening information session in Darwen to mark the 100th anniversary of the disorder's discovery. Right to Write is a charity set up to promote the education of anyone disadvantaged by the inability to read and write

  • Free and easier for parents

    FROM July 1 it will be easier for parents in Leigh, Tyldesley and Atherton to apply for free school meals and clothing allowances. A new system will cut out the previous tangled web where only three Education Welfare offices in Leigh, Wigan and Ashton-in-Makerfield

  • LETTER:Check before you chop!

    THE Citizen, June 6, carried an article relating to the prosecution of Mr and Mrs Mason for the illegal pruning of trees at Harlyn Court, Altham. Mr Mason was quoted as saying he had no idea it was illegal to touch the trees, and that he wished Hyndburn

  • Lanky Lah Lah from twin town

    LANCASHIRE songs with a French accent will be heard at a culture club concert next week in Leigh. Guests from twin town Angers will be in Leigh furthering plans for the exciting Euro Maison project. Groups from Leigh and Angers are working on a plan to

  • Community cash eyed by groups

    A SCOUT group which is being plagued by vandals is just one of the Darwen community groups hoping to be given a share of the bumper £4,000 Citizen/ Crown Community Awards. The well established 5th Darwen St Cuthbert's Scout Group is appealing for a grant

  • My brave little lad

    YOUNG David Astbury is facing major surgery for the second time in two weeks. The plucky nine-year-old suffered a massive brain haemorrhage in December and last week underwent neurosurgery at Manchester's Hope Hospital. But the operation was cut short

  • No apology from MP in bonus bust-up

    THE increasingly bitter war of words over the controversial axing of the 'Mayor's fiver' Christmas bonus has moved from Pendle to Westminster. Five Liberal Democrat MPs have tabled an Early Day Motion attacking Pendle Labour MP Gordon Prentice for his

  • Fresh start for Tories

    LOCAL councillor Peter Britcliffe has issued a warning to Hyndburn MP Greg Pope: "You'll have to fight for your seat". The borough's Tories have chosen the primary school teacher as their next prospective parliamentary candidate for one of the country's

  • Headteacher suspended in school shock

    HILIARY DOUGLAS, the Head of Culcheth High School, has been suspended. School governors are now investigating an auditor's report. Mrs Douglas, who has been headteacher at the popular school for the past seven years, has cleared personal items from her

  • Diane's scene out of hell

    DIANE STAFFORD kept alert and cool in the midst of Saturday's terror strike. In the panic following the horrific IRA mega-bomb blitz of Manchester city centre - causing damage estimated at £300million - High Street store supervisor Diane calmly soothed

  • Same again Jack!

    A LOCAL councillor has been re-elected chairman of an influential social services committee. For Blackburn councillor Jack Bury, 70, who received an OBE in January, it will be his third year in the driving seat of powerful national committee the ACC (

  • LETTER:Who wants this job?

    EVERY week Citizen Smith bangs on about the decay of morals and the downward spiral of society's values and then he points a mickey-taking finger at front-line jobs such as the police and claims they should not be doing the job if they can't deal with

  • Cash in on awards

    BLACKBURN community groups could lose out in the £4,000 cash windfall from this year's Citizen/Crown Paints Community Award scheme. More than half the applications which have flooded into the Citizen office are from organisations in the Darwen area. And

  • Shock for investor families

    A GET rich quick scheme which the High Court ruled amounted to an illegal lottery could leave scores of Preston families penniless. Lancashire's Chief Trading Standards Officer Jim Potts said he knew of at least 50 local families who had invested thousands

  • Missing man found dead on tracks

    THE body of a man was found on the railway line at Boyes Lane, Fulwood on Monday morning. Keith Collum, 39, of Fulwood, was discovered 300 yards north of the road bridge at Boyes Lane at around 6.20am by a train driver going through the area. Mr Collum

  • Son died of ignorance says drugs death mum

    THE MOTHER of tragic Gareth Noone is backing a campaign to bring drug awareness teaching to Lancashire. Since 16-year-old Gareth died of a drugs overdose, last October, his mother has been researching a revolutionary American scheme, the Life Education

  • PNE fixtures 1996/96

    Nationwide Football League Division Two August 17 Notts County (A) 24 Bristol Rovers (H) 27 Crewe (H) 31 Plymouth (A) September 7 Bristol City (A) 10 York (H) 14 Bournemouth (H) 21 Wrexham (A) 28 Millwall (H) October 1 Watford (A) 5 Peterborough (H) 12

  • LETTER: Pavilions: It's time for the truth

    BLACKBURN'S Pavilions on Church Street are worthy of the publicity you are giving them. The Council would appear to operate a 'culling' policy on any building not deemed politically correct or to have any link with the town's heritage. The heart of the

  • Troublemakers caught on film

    A RISING tide of violent crime on Preston's streets has forced police to unveil a new weapon. They have created a mobile surveillance unit - a police van equipped with a video camera to target town centre violence and catch the perpetrators on film. Weekend

  • Postal staff vote on strike action

    POSTIES in Preston are unlikely to be working tomorrow (Friday June 19) due to a 24-hour strike to start at midnight tonight (Thursday June 20). Workers at Royal Mail voted for industrial action after negotiations with managers failed to reach a settlement

  • LETTERS:Shearer should be a freeman

    I WAS filled with pride when Alan Shearer scored the opening goal of Euro '96 against the Swiss at Wembley. I was thrilled to bits when the Rovers targetman struck gold again against the Auld Enemy just a few days ago. And to see him become the competition's

  • Rock on for John

    A ROCK band manager is hoping to turn high notes into bank notes to help fund essential treatment for a young boy suffering from a brain disorder. Impresario Harry Washburn has spent much of the last few months organising a special benefit concert for

  • Even Nazis were humane on animals

    UNLIKE Tom Bromley (Letters, June 11) Mrs Sheila Brennan is a lady of principle, compassion and courage of her convictions, which are qualities which remain a mystery to vivisectionists and their cohorts. Medical experiments on animals, fox hunting and

  • Carpark is a threat, heads complain

    PUPILS are daily risking injury and even death on the busy carpark of three Preston special needs schools, claim their headteachers. Children with physical handicaps and learning disabilities are driven to and from Elms, Moorfield and Sherburn schools

  • Czechs check in at local hotel

    CITIZEN sports reporter John Richardson has learned a thing or two about the Czech football team on his travels. At a recent meeting with Jarslav Dudl, senior advisor to the president of the football association of the Czech Republic, John Richardson

  • School gunfight plans slammed

    A PRESTON man whose son comforted teachers after the Dunblane tragedy has hit out at plans to hold a mock shoot-out at a school summer fair. Ron Yates's son, Keith, Chief Executive at Stirling Council, counselled Dunblane primary school staff after the

  • Blistering pace on tow path tramp

    SPRIGHTLY pensioner cousins Marie Holt and Marian Smith put their best feet forward to complete a gruelling 127 mile marathon canal walk to raise more than £300 for research into leukaemia. A night spent on a narrow boat and regular soaking of feet with

  • 5 YEARS AGO: Ripped apart by racism

    RACISM was to rip East Lancashire apart unless all ethnic groups were given equal opportunities, according to a racial equality group today. Rafique Malik, chairman of the Blackburn Racial Equality Council, warned in his annual report that there had to

  • GOLF: Furey keeps up with the pace

    A SECOND round three-under-par 70 put Ged Furey firmly in the hunt for the Glenmuir Club Professionals' Championship at County Louth Golf Club in Ireland. After a first round level-par 73, it gave him a halfway total of 143 and a share of sixth spot,

  • ATHLETICS: Three of the best

    THREE local athletes made their marks in the BAF Olympic Trials meeting at Alexander Stadium, Birmingham. Robert Brocklebank of Blackburn Harriers was far from overawed by the occasion. In fact he literally rose to it when he equalled his season's best

  • Scantastic run

    MANY many thanks to everyone who sponsored Gary Mitchell in the London Marathon. Between us we made £1,410 which will be sent to the SuperScan at Blackburn. We were overwhelmed by the support we got and can only offer our sincere thanks to everyone. MARGARET

  • GOLF: Tony takes Ryden title

    TONY Jackson received an early birthday present when he won the Harold Ryden East Lancs GA Championship last night at Darwen. In control from the opening hole, which he won in par, the Blackburn player, 26 next Monday, never allowed game opponent Mike

  • Don't forget how BSE debacle started

    IF EVER there was a hollow "victory" it has to be Prime Minister John Major's hasty retreat over the beef crisis. After a month of bluffing and bravado he has finally climbed down and accepted a Brussels package which meets none of our original demands

  • Tourism bosses target big spenders

    TOURISM in Pendle will in future be targeted at visitors bringing money into the area. The Heritage Centre at Barrowford, already well established on the tourist trail, has done a deal with Pendle Council to become the official tourist information centre

  • Greg's 100 grand reasons to smile

    LUCKY teenager Greg Jordan is laughing all the way to the bank after scooping a cool £100,000 on the National Lottery Scratchcards. The 17-year old from Chain Lane bought the special 'Olympic Team Scratch and Win' card at a newsagents in Hard Lane and

  • Festival plan rocks Barrowford

    PEOPLE living in Barrowford are livid that a planned rock festival could be given the go-ahead without a thought for the neighbours. The idea of a festival in a field off Pasture Lane infuriated local residents, and councillors say they cannot get to

  • Colour runs on the timetable

    YOUNGSTERS who helped to brighten up Earlestown railway station with a splash of colour, will see the result of their efforts when their artwork is unveiled next week. The project was organised by Groundwork St Helens under the banner of Merseytravel's

  • Utility star pledges future to Clarets

    TURF Moor contract rebel Gerry Harrison is ready to pledge his future to Burnley. Utility star Harrison said no to a two-year contract offered by Clarets chief Adrian Heath last month. But,speaking to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph today, Harrison outlined

  • YMCA stalwart Norman is honoured

    THE St Helens YMCA Centre paid tribute to the memory of one of their longest serving members when they opened a new housing court aimed at making people more independent. The Norman Salisbury Court has been developed as part of the YMCA's Housing Strategy

  • Stride across the ocean to leather coup

    A NEW partnership has been formed across the Atlantic to market a major development in the shoe industry. J B Broadley has signed the agreement with Irving Tanning, of Maine, USA, to sell its Laminex products within the Pacific Rim. Laminex is a polyurethane-based

  • Con team in double deception

    POLICE are linking two incidents in which elderly women had money stolen by men posing as water board officials. In the first, reported at 11.50am on Wednesday, June 12, one of the men called at a house in Carr Mill Road saying he had been sent to check

  • At last the trendies are on the run!

    FOR close on 20 years I've been banging on about declining standards of education, often in this column. I became increasingly critical of teaching methods - the notion that teachers were some sort of social workers; that competition among kids was a

  • Pilks to sell off Rainhill site

    JUST two years after gaining planning permission to build a new corporate HQ on the site of Rainhill Hospital, Pilkington have announced that they will be developing their Lakeside base and the Rainhill site is now surplus to their requirements and will

  • Clean-up a turn-off

    REGARDING the clean up on Blackburn station, while I don't agree with the Spanish student comparing it with Madrid station, I feel that he is right to condemn the cleaning up of the station. This requires all travellers to walk backwards in order to see

  • Home pride for Hindley

    A HINDLEY-based packaging company has walked away with a top prize. Leighton Packaging Ltd was born out of a love of rugby and home-grown pride. The Platt Lane company, which manufactures corrugated cardboard boxes, was given the title Best Firm in the

  • Ice cream sun days

    ICE cream makers Andrea and Mark Richards always take a keen interest in the weather forecasts - and when John Kettley predicts sunshine they know they are going to be busy. The husband and wife team run Slater's Ice Cream in Nelson, and they are still

  • Swimmers get back to BASICS for Katrina

    ATHERTON Swimming Club went back to BASICs to pay tribute to former member Katrina Andrews, 17, who died from a brain tumour in December. The Brain & Spinal Injuries Charity (B.A.S.I.C.) was close to the heart of the Atherton swimmer, so her many

  • Saints' slaughter in the sun

    PICTURED: a spectacular finish to a Steve Prescott try. Saints 60 Workington Town 16 SAINTS maintained their100 per cent Super League record with this 11-try slaughter in the sun at Knowsley Road. They passed the 50-points mark for the fifth time this

  • Skipper Gill enjoys Wayne's World

    GILL Burns swapped her rugby boots for ballet shoes when she attended a Ballet Master Class given by internationally-renowned dancer Wayne Sleep. The England womens rugby captain, who is also a teacher with the Winburn School of Dance based in Rainford

  • Chris has it all figured out

    BRIGHT pupils of Rainford High School have once again gained top marks in maths competitions run by the University of Liverpool. Year 8 pupil Christopher Wedge beat 3,000 rivals from schools throughout the North West to win first prize in the Merseyside

  • Transport in a vacuum

    THE Government Green Paper 'Transport - The Way Forward,' the first policy paper for over 20 years, while strong on analysis and observation, is weak on action. The Opposition transport paper is on the way. I wonder if we can expect it to be any more

  • Cement protesters to dig for victory

    CAMPAIGNERS intend to dig up the history of a road to add ammunition to their fight to stop it becoming a highway for cement lorries. The campaign started when Tarmac applied for planning permission for work on a disused cement works at the top of Knotts

  • Steaming ahead

    HEYSHAM Port is set to be equipped with a new £2 million berth following a boom in freight trade to Ireland. The new roll on-roll off berth will meet the growing demand from the ferry trade for services to the Isle of Man and Ireland. The expansion, which

  • Howarth is new boss

    PADIHAM Football Club have appointed former Padiham, Burnley United and Burnley Bank Hall FC player Graham Howarth as manager of their first team for their 1996-97 football season in the West Lancashire Football League. His assistant and coach will be

  • Village churches in celebration picture

    THREE village churches have gone into "print" to celebrate the 1,400th anniversary of Christianity in the area. The Chipping churches of St Bartholomew's, St Mary's RC and Chipping Congregational are depicted in 300 prints of a new original watercolour

  • Get out claws!

    A DEDICATED cat lover who has been told she must close her well established sanctuary is calling on Citizen readers to save the day. Three cats and nine kittens desperately need good homes after complaints by locals sounded the death knell for the rescue

  • MP adds voice to school fence row

    IN their fight for extra security at a local primary school, a group of concerned Heysham parents have gained the backing of Morecambe and Lunesdale MP Sir Mark Lennox-Boyd. For years, parents, teachers and governors of Saint Patrick's RC School in Heysham

  • Andrew's royal day

    JUST six months after learning to ride, 18-year-old Andrew Bury is set to take part in one of the biggest displays in the military calendar. Andrew, of Canterbury Avenue, Poulton, will be taking part in the famous musical drive of the King's Troop at

  • Hard line on soft drinks

    DANGEROUS alcoholic spirits which taste of cola or lemonade are being targeted by health bosses in a campaign to protect children in Lancaster from the dangers of drink. Alco-pop such as Lemon lips, Blackcurrant Blitz or Mrs Pucker's Citrus Brew which

  • Oyston team lodge appeal

    JAILED soccer chairman Owen Oyston has made the first step in his fight for freedom. The millionaire owner of Blackpool Football Club, serving six years for the rape and indecent assault of a 16-year-old model, has lodged an appeal against his conviction

  • Little Gem saves the day

    TWO young school pals had a narrow escape after unearthing a live grenade as they played in fields just yards from their homes. Sherrie McGloughlin, eight (pictured) and her best pal Sam Knowles aged nine, of Artlebeck Road in Caton, spotted the rusty

  • Fylde stars in new video film

    A NEW video showing the lesser-known delights of the Fylde Coast has been launched in preparation for the massive influx of visitors expected during next month's Open Golf championship. Fylde Borough, made by The Video Lab in St Annes, aims to put Lytham

  • It's Nanna MBE

    KIND-HEARTED Betty "Nanna" Baines has just received confirmation from Buckingham Palace that she has been awarded the MBE, and now, the proud great grandmother from Carnforth is busy choosing a posh dress and hat to wear when she meets her favourite Royal

  • It's such a scandal my dear!

    EVERYONE loves a gossip - just ask Elizabeth Estensen, star of the Grand Theatre's latest offering. The School For Scandal, Sheridan's Restoration comedy, is full of high society ladies and gents who simply love to talk about others, something which has

  • Buzzing of the Big One

    IT was up, up and away for paralysed pilot Trevor Jones who flew over the Pleasure Beach in a micro-lite aircraft to raise money for Spinal Injury Awareness Week. And not satisfied with scaling the dizzy heights in his purpose-built craft, he took a pal

  • Sixth form gets Metro backing

    THE Sixth Form at Leigh St Mary's RC High is safe. Wigan Metro's Education Department this week pledged its support to the highly-rated school. They spoke out following news that the government was considering the introduction of a voucher scheme - allowing

  • Good lord! ... no way says Karl

    LOTTERY winner Karl Crompton laughed off suggestions he wants to be Lord of the Manor at Lytham Hall. Despite reports in a national newspaper, the ten-times millionaire said he is definitely not interested in the 18th century hall (pictured), which is

  • Freedom lost

    REGARDING Mrs Woods' letter (June 5) about racial prejudice, remember after the Second World War, we heard of all the 'freedoms' we had won by saving all of mankind from slavery by our prodigious efforts. We came out of that war with less freedom than

  • Dairy site shops plan

    DEVELOPER Citypark Land has submitted a planning application for a retail development on the site of the former Associated Dairies, near Eastgate, on the outskirts of Accrington. So far, prospective tenants are Netto Food Store, Poundstretcher and Halfords

  • Shell-shocked thespians will tread the boards

    LAST minute panic spread through a group of local actors when they heard that Manchester city centre had been bombed. Darwen Library Players feared they would have perform their epic outdoor production of "Accrington Pals" without costumes. As the horror

  • Ex-councillor's son found dead

    THE ELDEST son of a former Pendle Labour leader has been found dead on a railway line. John Patrick Nike, 29, suffered multiple injuries after being hit by a train last night on the line between Brierfield and Burnley. He was the son of former Pendle

  • Summer gift for Santa Reg

    FATHER Christmas has been handed an unexpected summertime present. Tyldesley Rotary Club's leading light Reg Hignett is now an MBE. The 54-year-old, who for 12 years donned Santa's outfit to ride the Yuletide sleigh bringing Christmas cheer to thousands

  • Stewart's the 'daddy' of all buskers

    AT 81, busker Stewart Marshall is a great grand-daddy of entertainers. But smiling squeeze-box player Stewart, who lives in Hindley Green, reckons the real star of the street scene is his faithful mongrel Sam. A twist of fate brought them together as

  • He's Shear to stay

    BLACKBURN Rovers assistant boss Tony Parkes today hit back at the persistent Alan Shearer transfer rumours. And he confidently predicted that the Euro 96 golden shot will kick-off the Premiership campaign in the famous blue and white halves of Blackburn

  • Scream may hold clue to killer

    AN early-morning scream could hold the clue to a killer. It came from the home of Shirley Brown, viciously murdered at her Lowton home last week. Now detectives hunting the maniac who strangled 46-year-old Shirley at her bungalow in Allerby Way are hoping

  • I won't let thugs beat me says hostage

    YATES'S Wine Lodge manager David Robertson who was held hostage for three hours by masked gunmen, has vowed to put the ordeal behind him. Despite nightmares and sleepless nights, he is putting on a brave face and it's business as usual at the Wine Lodge

  • LETTER:Cafe clients are sitting ducks

    EVER since the Tea Break cafeteria opened between the two escalators in the shopping precinct, customers have been showered with cigarette ash from youths smoking as they slouch over the rail above and dust from cleaners sweeping the floor above. Missiles

  • From flu to full fitness

    A SCHEME aimed at improving the health of Prestonians has been hailed as a success in a council report. Exercise Your Options, launched last year, is a scheme whereby fitness instead of traditional forms of medicine, is the key. Sufferers of a range of

  • Unitary council one step closer to reality

    UNITARY status for Blackburn and Darwen has moved a step closer with MPs set to debate the issue in Parliament next week. Special orders giving effect to Environmental Secretary John Gummer's decision to allow Blackburn to 'go it alone' were set before

  • Foggy's the pasta master

    BLACKBURN Bullet Carl Fogarty (pictured) stepped his world title challenge up a gear with a superb win in Italy. The superbike king stormed out of a five-man pack at the last corner to take the chequered flag in race one at Monza. Showing the form which

  • Mr Baxi quits

    PHILIP Baxendale is quitting as a Preston heating firm Baxi director - ending a 130 year family link with the firm - in the middle of a fat-cat row over bosses pay. His decision to step down comes as the company's chief executive has been attacked for

  • Councils blast government over benefits

    LOCAL authorities have slammed the government for the lack of financial help in promoting benefits, while fraud investigations are rewarded with subsidies. Hyndburn Council made £95,000 for identifying £600,000 worth of benefit fraud during 1995/96. But

  • Chris steps into the crucible

    CUP clashes always throws up a bit of extra spice and Great Harwood's trip to Barnoldswick for the semi-final of the Ramsbottom Cup is no exception. For the cup holders' fiery professional Chris Killen was once a favourite at the Victory Park side and

  • Preston beaten again to go joint bottom of Vaux Cricket League

    PRESTON lost to Blackpool - their seventh defeat of the season - at Stanley Park by 86 runs, sending them to the bottom of the table along with unlucky Leyland. Blackpool finished at 218-5 off their allotted overs. Paul Simmonite top scored with 114 and

  • WWII revolver discovered in guns amnesty

    A REVOLVER from World War II is among a haul of guns and ammunition which have been handed in to police as part of the nationwide amnesty. Aimed at keeping weapons away from criminals, and as a direct result of the Dunblane tragedy, the amnesty means

  • Big Al's our hero

    ENGLAND'S dramatic march through to the quarter finals of the European Championships has been spearheaded by the toast of Blackburn, super hot-shot Alan Shearer - and local children were quick to applaud their hero. At the Allsports store in Blackburn

  • Toddler starts blaze

    THREE people are lucky to be alive after a fleeing their blazing Preston home - thought to have been started by a young boy playing with matches. Firemen say the house in Westfield Drive went up in smoke early on Tuesday morning after matches or a lighter

  • Magic-al's our priceless gem!

    BLACKBURN Rovers would have to receive a world record transfer fee of £15 million if they were ever to part with Alan Shearer. Such has been the impact of super Shearer on Euro '96, Rovers' assistant manager Tony Parkes believes a club would have to cough

  • Be our eyes and ears urge police

    FEARS that Lancashire could become a terrorist target following the IRA bomb attack on Manchester are being taken seriously by police. The weekend's scenes of devastation proved a deadly reminder of the bomb found at Preston's Royal Navy recruitment office

  • GPs' health fears over water pay scheme

    TWO leading public health experts have expressed fears that North West Water's controversial pre-payment smart card scheme could lead to serious health problems - if water supplies are cut off. East Lancashire Director of Public Health, Dr Stephen Morton

  • Coroner warns: Cool off at your peril...

    A CORONER has joined police and North West Water urging children to avoid taking a dip in ponds, lakes and reservoirs now summer has arrived. Blackburn Police and North West Water have issued 'No Swimming' warnings in a bid to keep children away from

  • Murder of the perfect daughter

    THE heartbroken father of murdered student Janet Murgatroyd said his daughter had been dead more than 24 hours before he was told. The identity of 20 year-old Janet (pictured) was confirmed by her mother, Mary, on Monday, after her body was discovered

  • Search for soap addict

    STARS from top soap opera Brookside were today helping the search for an obsessive fan missing from home. David George Adams, 27, is believed to be in Liverpool and may have tried to find the famous set after he disappeared from his Blackburn home two-and-a-half

  • 10 YEARS AGO: Ballot in the balance

    STRIKING British Aerospace workers were today awaiting the outcome of a 'back to work' ballot. The strike began two months earlier and today a package thought to include a £250 lump sum was put to members of the Amalgamated Engineering Union. Workers

  • RACING: New Century fails at Ascot

    NEW Century, owned by Blackburn businessmen Stan Short, Bill Kelly and Tony Barker, finished 16th in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot won by Yeast. For three quarters of the race the four-year-old featured among the leaders but ran into traffic trouble

  • Danielle's a little angel

    WHEN teenager Danielle Holding saw a neighbour needing a helping hand she did something about it. Unassuming Danielle, who is just 13, became a good friend to Steven and Mary Robinson, of Colne when one of their children became ill. She helped them with

  • Water rationing health fear for poorer families

    A TOP doctor today spoke of his fear that hard-up families trying to save water could be putting their health at serious risk. And Dr Stephen Morton has called for the introduction of a national water policy in a bid to stop low-income households being

  • Still life after the office

    TALENTED Philip Gerrard has given up a 20-year career in estate agency to become a professional artist. The former Rainford High School pupil, who was brought up in Windle, specialises in still life paintings, reminiscent of the Dutch masters. And his

  • Matheu aims to scoot his way into record books

    MOST people may think he's off his trolley but madcap Matheu Parry reckons his two-wheeled sponsored scooter push will land him in the record books. The 23-year-old from Brierfield is aiming to scoot around 1,000 miles from John O'Groats to Land's End

  • Double blow rocks Leigh

    LEIGH hit a dismal double at the weekend with a draw and a defeat against St Helens Recs and Sefton. On Saturday St Helens piled on the runs to finally declare on 229-4 off 36 overs. Dave Potter was Leigh's best bowler taking 3-55. In reply, Leigh got

  • Fire firm clinches £1.4m Navy deal

    A ST HELENS-based fire-protection company has clinched a £1.4 million contract to protect the crew and officers of the Royal Navy's Type 23 Frigates. Under the terms of the prestigious deal, Ginge-Kerr Ltd. of Fleet Lane, Parr, will now be supplying the

  • Fear rules as Atherton stay top

    ATHERTON started and finished Saturday as Bolton Vimto Association leaders - but not without a scare! Chasing only 125 for victory, thanks mainly to Jonathan Fearick's 5-42, they slumped to 60-6 as Tom Elliott opened with 4-30. Pro Andy Hall (62) and

  • Support group for burns victims

    STAFF at the Mersey Burns Unit in Whiston Hospital have succeeded in organising the North West's first-ever support group for post-burned patients. BRAVO (Burns Rehabilitation and Voluntary Organisation) has been set up by St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals

  • Deano purrs to golden ton

    GOLDEN BOOT Dean Purtill fired Leigh to a fourth straight win. An immaculate display of goalkicking in Sunday evening's Hilton Park heat left Bramley battered and beaten at 54-20. Winger Purtill sailed past a century of points in just his ninth game on

  • Dumped pigs spark Mad Cow scare

    ST HELENS Council's Environmental Health Officers are investigating how 400 pigs feet and legs came to be dumped in a field near School Lane, Rainhill sparking a Mad Cow Disease scare. Initially, the complaint referred to the remains as coming from cattle

  • Mum caught in bomb terror

    PICTURED: JACKIE is reunited with, from left, Rebecca (3); Leah (18 months); and Rachel (8). A YOUNG mum caught in the horror of Saturday's Manchester bomb outrage thought she was never going to see her loved ones again. Jackie Byrne, from Sutton Leach

  • Trust says sorry for faults

    PEOPLE can have confidence in a new complaints system introduced by Burnley Health Care NHS Trust, says the chairman of a local health watchdog. Frank Clifford of the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Community Health Council, was commenting on the findings

  • We won't forget, Witschge

    England's glorious victory over Holland was memorable - and so were the words of one Dutch football player called Richard Witschge who made some pretty damning remarks about Blackburn, its football club and the people who live in the town. In a Sunday

  • 69 TBA jobs on the move

    SIXTY-NINE jobs are to go at the TBA Composites plant in Hindley Green. But the entire workforce at the Leigh Road set-up is being offered the chance to move to the company's main factory in Rochdale. Hindley Green is a satellite works of Spotland-based

  • Saints face crunch at Wigan

    A TITANIC struggle is in prospect when Super League leaders Saints clash with second-placed Wigan at Central Park tomorrow night (Friday) kick-off 7.30pm. As ever pride will be at stake in a mouthwatering showdown, and with Saints currently three points

  • Denis Whittle talk with Shaun McRae

    TO some extent Sunday's match was an action replay of the game at Workington in March, but Town gave us a more problems on defence this time. So said Saints' boss Shaun McRae after Sunday's 60-16 points bonanza. WHITTLE: Seventeen successive victories

  • Heath eyes his man

    BURNLEY boss, Adrian Heath, is still chasing his 21-year-old Portugese man 'o war in time for the start of pre-season training next month. Heath is also believed to be having talks with an English First Division midfielder and a Premiership defender.

  • Hard work has its reward

    A SCHEME to make parts of St Annes more accessible to disabled residents has been rewarded by Action For Better Access. The Fylde pressure group has recognised months of hard work carried out by Lancashire County Council by presenting representatives

  • Fiend slaughters pet sheep

    A FAMILY still reeling from the horrific slaughter of their pet sheep put on a brave face to take part in a school fete. Frank and Diane Heap had planned to take both their prize-winning Wensleydale Rams, Knuckles and Tails, to St John's Junior School

  • Musical youths to make their mark

    A GROUP of musical youths have sung their way through to the final of a prestigious national music festival. Alexandra Perry, 5, John Quinn, 6, and Tom Pilkington, 6, all from Burnley, sang and clapped their way through to the final of the 1996 Yamaha

  • Council staff in training for 'front line'

    A COUNCIL'S housing staff are to be groomed to professional standards by an independent estate agent. A two-day training programme for 'front line' ???staff in Blackburn Council's housing department will concentrate on developing 'interpersonal skills

  • Anne's music is a golden blend

    A MUSICAL co-written by Colne teacher Anne Conlon is set to lift the lid off exploitation in the third world. She was commissioned by the World Wide Fund for Nature to write the work with her long-standing collaborator Peter Rose after previous successes

  • Public medicine to aid ambulance service

    THE lives of people living in Lancaster and Morecambe could be saved by the public thanks to an initiative from Lancashire's Ambulance Service. Bosses at the service are getting ready to launch the new, fund-raising, Save A Life appeal aimed at training

  • Isobel to hit the big time

    SHE may not be Julie Andrews, but Lancaster's Isobel Hamid is about to hit the big time. The hills of, erm, Southport will be alive with the sound of music when 60-year-old Isobel takes to the stage in front of almost 2,000 people in the final of a national

  • Burnley hailed as a crime buster

    BURNLEY is being held up as a shining example to others when it comes to tackling crime. The town's reputation as a major 'crime buster' is growing throughout the country thanks to the highly acclaimed initiatives launched during the last year. Various

  • Gun amnesty success

    WITH two weeks of the national firearms amnesty gone, more than 25 guns have been handed in at police stations in the Lancaster and Morecambe area. The amnesty, launched in the wake of the Dunblane tragedy, is designed to allow people with illegally held

  • 'Eur' the best, say footie fans

    WE MAY be bitter rivals on the football field, but big hearted Brits have won the hearts of the Germans. A trio of visitors to Euro '96 called by the Citizen offices this week to say thank you to the local lass who saved their holiday. As their national