A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Royal Lancashire Show, Astley Park, Chorley, 9am-6pm. St Catherine's Symphony and Fireworks Display, Hoghton Tower, Hoghton, 7pm-10pm. Blackburn Inner Wheel Charity Shop
I USUALLY hate opening ceremonies. Loads of arty-types and dance and drama students. So it was with caution I switched on last night's opening ceremony for Manchester's Commonwealth Games. And when Steve Redgrave started banging on a big drum my worst
FOR Elkie Brooks, her latest tour which sees her play King George's Hall in Blackburn on Tuesday, is very much a family affair. As she crosses the country promoting Shangri-la, her first new release in six years, Elkie will be supported by her husband
ROBERT Pearce fully justified his late selection for England, winning three of his five races in the European Junior Nations Championship at Sandwell, Birmingham last Saturday, scoring 14 points. The 17-year-old, already the most successful rider in Bury's
WASTED LIVES: Five deaths of motorbike riders in Bury over two months was causing the police concern. Four male bikers died in separate accidents on the borough's roads and one pillion passenger also lost her life. In each case the accident did not involve
I WOULD like to thank all the people who send me their used postage stamps for the East Lancashire Hospice. I started appealing for them four years ago and in that time valuable money has been raised through them. So please keep them coming! (As always
MANCHESTER Dogs' Home is eager to receive nominations for the Dog of the Year Award. Dogs from anywhere in the country are eligible to receive this award. The criteria includes dogs who have performed some outstanding feat of bravery or loyalty or who
THE Manchester Dogs' Home is the largest dogs' home in the country caring for lost and abandoned dogs. The home is launching an urgent appeal to raise funds for its kennel building programme. Last year, it admitted and cared for nearly 7,000 dogs, and
POOR attendance levels, truancy, bullying, vandalism... the list is endless. This is the result of withdrawing school bus services. Darwen Vale High School sent letters to pupils' homes about this one week before the start of the holidays. At the subsequent
ON behalf of the organising committee, we would like to thank all the agencies and individuals who played a great part in making the Blackburn Mela one of the premier family and multi-cultural events in Britain. It is now firmly established as one of
IT seems an unlikely combination, but comedian Johnnie Casson and band leader Andy Prior are getting together for a unique Blackpool concert in the autumn. The pair have agreed to put their respective talents on show at the Pleasure Beach's Globe Theatre
IT MAY only be July -- but staff at Blackpool's Grand Theatre are already thinking turkey, tinsel and magic lamps! Plans for the annual panto are already in place, and it doesn't take a genie-us to guess that where there's a lamp, there's Aladdin. This
A TEENAGER has died after falling five floors from a balcony while he was on holiday in Switzerland. Edd Brierley, 17, of The Green, Osbaldeston, plunged from a hotel in Interlaken. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital but never regained consciousness
THE Queen wowed 175 guests from nearly 120 community groups when she toured the Manchester Jewish Museum. Hundreds of onlookers also lined the streets in Cheetham Hill to catch a glimpse of Her Majesty on Wednesday. Her visit was part of her Golden Jubilee
A GAY couple claim they have been hounded out of their country pub by a malicious hate campaign. The Kettledrum Inn, Mereclough, Cliviger, has been deserted of custom since Neil Pitts, 40, and partner Ben Crossfield, 19, moved in five weeks ago. The pair
ANTI-SMOKING campaigners hope that the Commonwealth Games will bring a breath of fresh air! They have produced a guide to hotels, restaurants and cafes across the region which cater for non-smoking diners and drinkers. The Roy Castle Good Air Award Guide
ROVERS today completed the signing of Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke, before he flew out to join his new teammates on tour. Manager Graeme Souness has been chasing the former Trinidad and Tobago striker Yorke for several months. The 30-year-old
A PRESTON support centre, which helps disadvantaged young people, has been handed a lottery cash boost of almost £250,000. The Foxton Centre, in Knowsley Street, is one of three organisations in Preston and South Ribble to receive funding -- given over
ROADS, junctions and bridges are all set to be sponsored as county council bosses look for new ways of paying for repairs. Lancashire County Council has given permission for a marketing firm to begin canvassing local and national businesses. The money
A PRESTON comprehensive with more than three quarters of its September intake deemed special educational needs is running summer classes to help pupils prepare for high school. Ribbleton Hall High has a large catchment area of low ability children, according
PRESTON and South Ribble look set to be hard hit by strike action during 'the summer of discontent' with disruptions affecting Her Majesty's jubilee visit. Negotiations between the union Aslef and executives at First North Western took place on Wednesday
AN ex-serviceman is calling for a clean-up on the Grange estate saying it is 'like Dodge City' and unfit to live in with flats turning into slums. Ron Yates, 80, vice chairman of the board of governors at Moor Nook Primary School, has lived in Ribbleton
POLICE are appealing for information after a man was knocked from his motorbike in a hit-and-run accident. The incident happened in Skipton Road, Earby, at 9.10am on Tuesday, when a silver old-style Ford Escort pulled out of School Lane on to the main
THE sounds of Asia will be heard in Victoria Park on Sunday when the annual Nelson Mela takes place. Last year 5,000 people turned up and organisers are hoping the Mela will be even bigger and better this time. Organised by the Funkaar and Mid Pennine
PRESTON'S Katy Parker is all set to star in the Commonwealth Games when she plays for the England women's table tennis team as the sport is featured in the games for the first time. With interest in the sport set to increase the Preston Table Tennis Association
BURNLEY Mayor and care home campaigner Councillor Gordon Birtwistle today pledged to organise another march with hundreds of protesters, after Lancashire County Council revealed it will axe 32 homes instead of 35. Coun Birtwistle said he was pleased Cravenside
PREPARATIONS are well underway for one of the greatest musical extravaganzas of the year -- the Great British R&B Festival. Now in its 13th year, the August bank holiday festival will turn Colne into the blues capital of Britain for four consecutive
COCONUT shies, a bouncing castle and bar fly jumping were among the attractions lined up for Nelson's Great Marsden Hotel annual fun weekend which raised £1,000 for local charities.
RESIDENTS broke down in tears after they were told their care homes were among those earmarked for closure. Marian Storey , 75, is one of 26 elderly residents at Hill Top, in Accrington. The residential home will be axed along with 31 others across Lancashire
A COUPLE'S plans to set up a skip hire business have been scuppered after councillors threw out their application. Darrel and Andrea Wilson wanted to use a unit in Holme Road, Clayton-le-Moors, to store 50 skips. They may now appeal against the decision
RESIDENTS living behind a disused factory that has been struck by fire several times say they are worried about the possibility of asbestos poisoning. Fire officers were called out to a blaze at the former exhaust factory, on Back Owen Street, Accrington
A LYTHAM man, described by the company he worked for as "a smashing chap", was one of the victims when a helicopter plunged into the North Sea last week. Norfolk Police named Denis Kelleher, of Teal Lane, Lytham, as one of the dead after a Sikorsky S-
A TEENAGER has died after falling five floors from a balcony while he was on holiday in Switzerland. Edd Brierley, 17, of The Green, Osbaldeston, plunged from a hotel in Interlaken. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital but never regained consciousness
ROYAL Lytham's Paul Eales completed his most successful ever Open Golf Championship, on Sunday, with a final round of 67 at Muirfield. His three previous rounds of 73, 71 and 76 gave him an overall tournament score of 287. Last year he failed to qualify
RON HILL-- who many believe to be the best ever all-round British runner -- was in Blackpool recently visiting his mother, who unfortunately has been involved in an accident. Instead of doing his daily run, Ron took part in the first Blackpool Beach 10K
St Annes 133 all out Chorley 104 all out ST ANNES extracted a modicum of revenge for Saturday's League defeat by Chorley when they vanquished the same side in a Thwaites Smooth Beer Cup tie at Vernon Road on Sunday, writes Gerry Wolstenholme. On a slow
HOLLINS-based business advisers DTE are further expanding their operations by opening new offices in central Manchester. The firm, which already has bases in Bury, London and Blackburn, will base corporate recovery and corporate finance teams at the office
A BURY businesswoman is pioneering the likes of retail therapy and a visit to a mouth-watering fudge factory to combat work-related stress. Launched earlier this year, Temika Tracey's Unique Training company aims to provide 20 business and personal development
CARING Bury companies know BEST when it comes to supporting a £1.5 million Embracing Diversity initiative for the disadvantaged. Some of the biggest names in the borough will be giving their backing to the key Bury Employment Support & Training (Bury
THE prospect of facing the club where he first cut his managerial teeth has left Stan Ternent a happy man who is hoping to have more success in knockout competitions this season. Blackpool will be the visitors to Turf Moor in the first round of the Worthington
THE Clarets trip to the Isle of Man ends with a match against the host team in Ramsey tonight and manager Stan Ternent declared: "I'm very happy with the way it has gone. "Tonight's match will be another good work-out for us but, as ever, this is more
READ skipper Warren Eastham is determined to haul his side out of their mini-slump when they host Whalley in the Jennings Ribblesdale League tomorrow. Read have struggled in the last two games against Ribblesdale Wanderers and Padiham but Eastham is delighted
LANCASHIRE League beware - Jacques Rudolph hasn't finished yet! The Lowerhouse professional has rewritten the league record books after scoring four consecutive centuries. An unbeaten 149 against Accrington, was followed by 154 not out against Rishton
ST Thomas's Church, Blackpool, has claimed a record for "the longest Christian conga" during a community fun day that raised thousands of pounds for a cancer charity. The Mayor of Blackpool, Ivan Taylor, opened the fun day and both he and his wife, Coun
MODEL Heidi Cliff is hoping her career switches into the fast lane after reaching the final lap of the Rally XS Pirelli Girl competition. The 19-year-old Marton girl, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Lee Van Cliff, was placed on a shortlist chosen from hundreds
NEARLY 250 years of tradition will be commemorated as Fusiliers old and young toast "Those who fell at Minden". It was on August 1, 1759, that the XX Foot Regiment, later to be known as the Lancashire Fusiliers, advanced to glory when, despite being outnumbered
BELEAGUERED traders are demanding hostels in Wash Lane are shut down before they are forced out of business. One self-employed mechanic has only been saved from financial ruin after crime-plagued companies chipped in to replace tools stolen in a recent
A SCHOOL that cares has received warm praise from independent inspectors. The Ofsted team sent to look around Sunny Bank Primary in Bury found plenty to please them, confirming not only that the school is providing a good education for youngsters, but
HOSPITAL services in Bury are "performing well overall" according to the latest NHS ratings published this week. The Rochdale Road-based hospital was awarded a two-star performance rating in the 2001/2002 Government "good hospital" guide, after being
BURY Cricket Club plays host to one of the finest collections of world talent seen today. A select XI from the Manchester Association outfit take on Lashings Cricket Club at their Radcliffe Road ground. Lashings are a team based at a Kent wine bar whose
NEILL Hardy is hoping to make his bow back at Stainton Park in Saturday's friendly against neighbours Bury. Hardy played and scored in Radcliffe Borough's opening friendly -- a 4-2 win at Radcliffe Amateurs -- but has been laid low by an Achilles injury
ROVERS today completed the signing of Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke, before he flew out to join his new teammates on tour. Manager Graeme Souness has been chasing the former Trinidad and Tobago striker Yorke for several months. The 30-year-old
BLACKBURN Rovers are flying Israeli international Shimon Gershon out to join their Austrian training camp. Gershon has been tracked by Rovers for some time and the 24-year-old was part of Hapoel's unexpected march to the last eight of the UEFA Cup which
PRESTON boss Craig Brown has been handed a potential banana skin of a tie in the Worthington Cup, but is looking forward to the friendly against Manchester City. His North End side will face Scunthorpe at home on September 10. In theory, the Division
SET your videos and catch a glimpse of hotly-tipped Blackburn band The 'Burn who will be appearing live on the BBC2 programme, Running Late on Tuesday. The programme starts at 11.30pm.
A SUMMER youth scheme aiming to keep youngsters entertained has been launched in Darwen. At Youth Works' Summer Splash, in Anyon Street, activities include climbing, quad-biking and caving. Tracey Scott, senior project worker, said: "The reason for these
A TOILET window of a moving carriage was smashed after youths bombarded a train with stones for the second time in three days. Police issued a stark warning that someone could be killed if thoughtless vandals do not cease their reign of terror. Youths
STAFF at TNT in Ramsbottom are celebrating being named 'Best of British' after collecting two transport industry 'Oscars' at the 2002 Motor Transport Awards. Television presenter Jeremy Clarkson hosted the gala evening at the Royal Albert Hall where TNT
A THREE-year-old boy who was knocked unconscious while running across the road to get to an ice cream van could be home within a week. Samuel Greaves suffered a broken collar bone and broken leg in the accident outside his home in New Line, Bacup, on
IF you can't beat 'em, join 'em -- that's the advice Feel promoter Tim Pearson took when he flew out to join the rest of clubland in Ibiza for the summer. Not content with being one half of the duo which propelled Preston into the superclub league with
THERE'S nothing worse than spending a week in the sun only to be told the best club ever was night under your nose and you missed it. With clubbers everywhere preparing to head for the ultimate party island, Club Culture has compiled the ultimate guide
CHILDREN are to be treated to a helicopter ride along Blackpool's Golden Mile this summer -- as part of a project to assess the effect of proposed casino sites on the resort. Bispham High School has earmarked 35 children to take part in the aerial survey
IT seems if you want both thrills and chills then Blackpool Pleasure Beach is the place to go. For the top attraction is said to be full of phantoms. The gaggle of ghosts even extends to the Ghost Train itself where the footsteps of Cloggy, a former ride
A TALENTED musician and song-writer from Thornton has been awarded the Freedom of the City in an idyllic area of Oregon -- after dedicating a song to the resort. Gina Quinlam and her husband Norman picked up the prestigious award in the North American
NEARLY 1,000 youngsters will be kept off the streets in Blackpool this summer as part of a holiday activity scheme. The SPLASH crime prevention scheme, which starts on Monday (July 29) is part of a national initiative to give disadvantaged youngsters
A PRESTON mother is coming to terms with the fact that her precious son will never again come home, bang the door and shout 'Where's my mum?'. Marlene Norris was at her son Gary's bedside on Sunday (July 21) when he died following a tragic car accident
ANDREW Peter Shannon ended up fighting with three men who gatecrashed his party to celebrate the birth of his first child. Blackburn magistrates heard that the trio had come to "teach him a lesson" but Shannon eventually got the better of them. He was
LANCASHIRE County Council's Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs is asking people to support this year's Royal Lancashire Show which gets under way today at Astley Park in Chorley. County Councillor Tim Ormrod said: "The Royal Lancashire Show is a real showcase
A SHORT ride on a friend's moped brought a temporary end to Lee Anthony Farnhill's driving career. Blackburn magistrates heard that he rode along Preston Old Road without a crash helmet as a police patrol car was travelling in the opposite direction.
ONE third of a council's services have got worse in the last 12 months, a new report has revealed. Poor performing areas within Blackburn with Darwen Council include time taken processing benefit claims, the percentage of council tax collected, the amount
THE first of 32 care homes to be axed by Lancashire County Council could close within four months, council bosses warned today. Social services boss Chris Cheetham pledged no one currently in a county home would be forced out -- but a report presented
EAST Lancashire people put on their best smiles and took centre stage before the world to mark the opening of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester. Dancer Lianne Tattersall, a schoolgirl who attends Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, enjoyed her moment
TRANSCO Lancashire League stars Mark Higgs and Michael Clarke have been selected to play for Australia A against South Africa A - which means they will miss the end of the season. The Aussie pair will fly out to Africa on August 13 but will be available
HOPES that Blackpool could gain exclusive pilot status to develop resort casino hotels received a body blow from central Government. Blackpool Challenge Partnership, of which Blackpool Borough Council is a leading member, had hoped the town would be able
AFTER going to the Co-op in Ramsbottom, I walked to the nearby cash machine. Upon rounding the corner I was faced with about seven girls, aged from 10 to 14. "Have you got a light?" came the question. "No I haven't, sorry," was my response. "Will you
A MAGNIFICENT performance with bat and ball saw Leyland beat Fleetwood by an amazing 118 runs to achieve their first 15 point victory of the season. The batsmen laid the foundations scoring 221 for the loss of six wickets and then the bowlers finished
A MOTHER who had failed to attend court after the non-attendance of her children at school was arrested and brought before Bury magistrates. Sharon Hughes, of York Street, Bury, failed to attend a hearing date after earlier pleading not guilty to two
SOCIAL services bosses say old folks' homes will stay closed despite a dramatic U-turn by the Government. Ministers have scrapped rules which would have forced homes to meet minimum standards on room sizes and facilities. Bury said it did not have money
IN their Northern Premier League Division One game at Vernon Road last Saturday, St Annes failed to reach the total that their early batting threatened. After an excellent start, the middle order did not capitalise so that they only reached 199-5 after
MORE than 20 local pool players have this week been plying their trade against some of the world's top names at the Commonwealth Games. Local pool enthusiast Don Mills of Toon Crescent, Bury, has organised an exhibition of the game as a demonstration
JUST when things seem to be going great, something comes along to trip you up. In fact, in Radcliffe Cricket Club's case, it was a double whammy that knocked them off the trophy trail as they went down to a crushing 143-run semi-final defeat in the Inter
HOME advantage can be the key to success reckons Bury's Commonwealth Games netball star Tracey Neville. The England ace is convinced that she and her teammates can improve upon the bronze medal they picked up in the Kuala Lumpur Games four years ago.
IT'S not just on the court that England's netball hopes have a local influence - the team's manager is former Bury Grammar School pupil Sally Horrox. Thirty-four-year-old Sally has been in the England hotseat since just before the world championships
WHEN Barrie Kelly takes his seat in the City of Manchester Stadium tonight he could be forgiven for going dewy-eyed at the thoughts of his own track exploits. The former Bury & Radcliffe Athletic Club sprint star had a glittering career in the 60s
1908: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was set up in America. 1945: The Labour Party won the General Election in a landslide victory. Clement Attlee became Prime Minister. 1956: President Nasser of Egypt nationalised the Suez Canal. This led
MOTHER and daughter Marmalade and Blue are fee'line in need of some tender loving care. The purring pair, aged eight and six, were among five cats and two dogs left homeless when their owner died unexpectedly. Her relatives rehoused the others but Marmalade
ALTHOUGH I feel that there is great need for Asian Awareness Mela in Blackburn, I was disappointed by the functions and content of the recent one in Corporation Park. It did not present anything for the older Asian generation. It had nothing to offer
MANCHESTER Dogs' Home is looking for a home for for one of its favourite dogs - Dorothy or Little Dorrit. She is a brindle Staffordshire Bullterrier, approximately eight years old. She was picked up from Rochdale Police on the 5th June 2002. She may have
I SUPPORT M Robinson's remarks (Letters, July 19) regarding the ugly saga that is beginning to unfold in Burnley which is fast becoming a modern-day 'Little Moscow.' The fact that three British National Party members were democratically elected by some
PREPARE to kiss the Blarney Stone once more as Irish spectacular Lord of the Dance returns to Blackpool next week. This colourful Celtic feast hits the Blackpool Opera House stage on August 6 until August 31 as more than 40 dancers leap, jig and tap their
LADIES slip on your bobby socks, gents dig out those ol' suede shoes and join Blackpool's Grand Theatre for a Sixties spectacular! As part of the theatre's Sunday summer season, The Grand is hosting Reelin' And A Rockin', a show that aims to leave you
ANY sunshine dream will do -- and this summer you can see a rainbow of a show at Blackpool's Opera House. After more than 30 years on the stage, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a legendary mele of mind-blowing music
A FORMER Bury Times journalist will not be prosecuted after he defied a judge's order to name his source for a story about the IRA bombing of Manchester. Despite being warned that he faced jail, Manchester Evening News deputy news editor Steve Panter
A NEW drive to help adults with literacy or numeracy problems has been launched. The Bury Learning Partnership has drawn up a strategy to improve people's basic skills and job prospects. Mr Des Finn, chairman of the basic skills task group, said: "Of
THREE Territorial Army soldiers are to put the peaceful streets of Bury behind them and help in the war against terrorism. Fusiliers Ken Simpson, Daniel Packham and Stuart Briggs will make regional history in September when a 40-strong TA infantry platoon
MOVES to set up formal friendship links with the Chinese city of Datong have been put on hold. Councillors want more information about the benefits to Bury before committing the town to what might be an expensive exercise. A three-strong team from Bury
BLACKBURN Rovers have signed Dwight Yorke from Manchester United. Ewood chief Graeme Souness made no secret of the fact that Yorke was his number one transfer target and he has finally got his man. The full details of the deal are yet to be announced
AN anonymous complaint led to a Preston pensioner being banned for keeping horses for five years. Edward Eccles, 71, received the ban for causing unnecessary suffering to a horse he owned. Eccles, of Middleforth Green, Penwortham, was also found guilty
TWO local volunteers have been given awards for their long service to sport. They may not be famous like Tiger Woods or David Beckham -- but that is because the work they do is all done behind the scenes. The Sport England awards, announced to coincide
A BUS driver was assaulted by a gang of youths who pressed the emergency engine button causing the bus to stop. The attack happened at around 9.10pm on Thursday, July 18, close to the junction of Rutland Street and New Hall Lane, Preston. As the driver
LANCASHIRE Police chief Pauline Clare yesterday admitted she did not know how safe her force's digital Airwave radio system was. The system replaced analogue receivers traditionally used by officers and is set to be rolled out to the rest of the country
COMMONWEALTH athletes from Gambia are shopping in Preston for their equipment and have been put on track by an Ashton sports suppliers at cost price. Robert Waterhouse, the shop manager at Ribble Cycles, Watery Lane, was visited by the Gambian cycle team
A TEENAGER took his feelings out on a car after he learned his mother was dying. Burnley magistrates heard how Nathan Macphail, 18, got up early in the morning and went to a friend's home to drown his sorrows after being given the news. He then damaged
A GAY couple claim they have been hounded out of their country pub by a malicious hate campaign. The Kettledrum Inn, Mereclough, Cliviger, has been deserted of custom since Neil Pitts, 40, and partner Ben Crossfield, 19, moved in five weeks ago. The pair
EAST Lancashire people put on their best smiles and took centre stage before the world to mark the opening of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester. Dancer Lianne Tattersall, a schoolgirl who attends Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, enjoyed her moment
BURY FC have been drawn a money-spinning home tie against Stoke City in the first round of the Worthington Cup. The Potters - newly promoted to Division One - can be expected to bring a sizeable away following to Gigg Lane on Tuesday, September 10. It's
YOUNGSTERS enjoyed a bug hunt at Walverden Park, Nelson yesterday. Pendle will be kept entertained for the next few days of their summer holidays by taking part in a search for the hidden treasures of Pendle's parks. Under tens will be joining the council's
A THIEF in the grip of drugs punched a security guard who tried to stop him getting away from a shop. Burnley Magistrates heard how Craig Franks, 29, had tried to make a run for it after refusing to go back into the store. Franks, who helped himself to
POLICE today revealed they were to put more officers on the street during the summer holidays in a bid to crack down on juvenile crime. Officers from Pennine Police in Pendle said the new initiative was designed to prevent trouble and damage caused by
BEST-selling author Pete McCarthy, the Reduced Shakespeare Company and pub landlord Al Murray are among the highlights lined up as part of the autumn season at Burnley Mechanics. There's something for everyone in the programme announced this week which
A SPLASH of high fashion added sparkle to the first fun-packed day of the Royal Lancashire Show. Ladies day, featuring best-dressed lady and girl competitions, fashion shows and make-overs, were highlights.
LUCKY Accrington mum Jacqui Adams enjoyed a taste of the high life after winning a luxury weekend for two on the Internet. Jacqui, 30, of Water Street, and her partner Jason Adamson, 29 lived in the lap of luxury at a five-star hotel in the Lake District
INVESTIGATIONS by a specialist team from the Royal College of Surgeons are continuing into the conduct of an orthopaedic surgeon at Burnley General Hospital The Rapid Response Review team from the RCS in London was called to Burnley General Hospital in
A HEARTBROKEN widow has spoken of her distress after gravediggers left a 5ft pile of soil on her husband's grave, crushing flowers and damaging a container. Mary Humphries, of Heywood Road, Accrington, has visited the grave of her husband Thomas three
RESIDENTS living behind a disused factory that has been struck by fire several times say they are worried about the possibility of asbestos poisoning. Fire officers were called out to a blaze at the former exhaust factory, on Back Owen Street, Accrington
AN inquest into the death of a four-year-old boy known as a "diamond geezer" to his dad heard how the tot ran out into the path of an oncoming car. Witnesses told the hearing Bradley Louis Turner, of Lime Street, Clitheroe, flew into the air after being
THE bright lights of Hollywood will provide an unusual curtain raiser for the young rugby and hockey players from a Lytham school. Los Angeles was the first stop on a three-week tour to New Zealand by 52 players from King Edward VII and Queen Mary School
WITH the countdown to the new football season underway, Blackpool have signed Simon Grayson on a free transfer from Premiership Blackburn Rovers. Thirty-two-year-old Grayson had been training with Pool for a couple of weeks prior to signing a two-year
BURY-based engineering firm William Hare had had its palm crossed with silver! For the business, located at the California Works at Castlecroft, has been presented with a silver award to mark its commitment to safety. The company was among more than 30
CARING teenager Lucy Crozier, of St Bede's RC High School, Lytham, has won a trip to London for designing a logo for the New Fylde Families Project. "I was thinking about children whose parents get divorced or whose mum dies and they need someone to help
NIK Michopoulos's form and fitness could be more important than ever as manager Stan Ternent has admitted: "At the moment I can't afford to carry two keepers." The Greek stopper is the only senior keeper at the club and, although former Turf Moor hero
WEST INDIES all-rounder Keith Semple may have led Darwen to the top of the Northern Premier League - but that doesn't mean he is happy with his form. The 31-year-old, who turns 32 next month, scored just 10 in the rain-affected winning draw at title rivals
IF you thought Beckham's Mohican was a bit over the top, how about this for turning heads! Oonagh Black was just one of hundreds of punks who descended on Blackpool last weekend sporting their favourite safety pins and outrageous hair styles for a festival
THE first section of Blackpool Pleasure Beach's brand new ride for 2002 codenamed WK2 arrived recently. Construction is well under way in the Tom Sawyer area of the park and thrill seekers should prepare to fly by the seat of their pants later this summer
SUMMER sunshine smiled on the crowds at Bispham with Norbreck Children's Gala on Saturday. The crowning of Gala Queen Rebecca Sharpe by Blackpool Mayoress Councillor Mrs Sylvia Taylor and the colourful gala procession went without a hitch --apart from
THORNTON animal-lover David Morton, 49, was buying dog biscuits in his local pet store when he made a decision which changed his life. He popped next door to the Lawsons Road Spar shop to buy an extra National Lottery ticket. And David's bumper £163,000
HOLCOMBE Brook Primary School held its first presentation evening to celebrate the achievements of final year pupils over the last 12 months. And so successful was the Year 6 leavers presentation evening, that the head teacher, Mr Graham Howarth, is now
THOUSANDS of people showed their support for the farming community by making the diamond Bury Agricultural Show a record-breaking event. Bury and District Agricultural Society staged its 60th show at Burrs Country Park on Sunday after the foot and mouth
IT LASHED down with rain, but nothing could spoil their special day! Hundreds of well-wishers lined the streets of Bury to watch as a group of determined people, young and old, carried the Queen's Jubilee Baton on its journey to the Commonwealth Games
A HOST of former Bury FC and Bolton Wanderers players are set to battle it out for a good cause on Sunday, August 11. A charity soccer match between ex-stalwarts of both sides has been arranged at Radcliffe Boro's Stainton Park ground. Among the Bury
MANCHESTER United and England star Gary Neville brings his world famous soccer schools to town next month. After the success of last year's schools all proceeds are again being donated to Bury Football Club. The Bury FC soccer schools have been running
ANOTHER poor batting display saw Ramsbottom fall further down the Lancashire League and their supporters are desperately looking for some confidence-boosting victories with the Worlsley Cup final only three weeks away. Once again professional Clarke and
IF you can't beat 'em, join 'em -- that's the advice Feel promoter Tim Pearson took when he flew out to join the rest of clubland in Ibiza for the summer. Not content with being one half of the duo which propelled Preston into the superclub league with
WHEN in Rome, do as the Romans. So when in Ibiza, party where the workers do -- and check out Burnley legend Paul Taylor in the process. He has taken his Retro brand -- born in the early 1990s as the old Angels night in Burnley began to take off -- out
THE Milltown Brothers are back in the studio working on their third album and looking to erase the painful memories of their fall from grace. Featuring the original line-up of Matthew and Simon Nelson, James Fraser, Barney Williams and Nian Brindle the
THERE'S nothing worse than spending a week in the sun only to be told the best club ever was night under your nose and you missed it. With clubbers everywhere preparing to head for the ultimate party island, Club Culture has compiled the ultimate guide
BEST-selling author Pete McCarthy, the Reduced Shakespeare Company and pub landlord Al Murray are among the highlights lined up as part of the autumn season at Burnley Mechanics. There's something for everyone in the programme announced this week which
PREPARATIONS are well underway for one of the greatest musical extravaganzas of the year -- the Great British R&B Festival. Now in its 13th year, the August bank holiday festival will turn Colne into the blues capital of Britain for four consecutive
THE Milltown Brothers are back in the studio working on their third album and looking to erase the painful memories of their fall from grace. Featuring the original line-up of Matthew and Simon Nelson, James Fraser, Barney Williams and Nian Brindle the
WHEN he was three years old Tom Bass decided, like many little boys, that he wanted to be a train driver when he grew up. But unlike lots of youngsters, Tom, now 14 who lives in Marton, is still holding tight to his dream. When First North Western heard
FOR Elkie Brooks, her latest tour which sees her play King George's Hall in Blackburn on Tuesday, is very much a family affair. As she crosses the country promoting Shangri-la, her first new release in six years, Elkie will be supported by her husband
TWO part-time soldiers from Blackpool are packing up their kit-bags and heading off to Afghanistan to support the war on terrorism. The men, both members of the Lancastrian and Cumbrian Volunteers based in Preston, have volunteered to leave their families
IT WAS a proud moment when Blackpool opened its streets to the Queen's Commonwealth baton relay runners. The baton, which had passed through 23 Commonwealth countries in 84 days, reached the Fylde Coast at around 11am on Tuesday. A total of 25 community
VIOLENT crimes involving glasses and bottles are being targeted by police in Blackpool in a £30,000 initiative which was launched yesterday (Wednesday). Bottle bins designed to cut glass-related incidents began rolling out in the crackdown called Operation
A GANG of thugs battered and kicked a man unconscious before stealing his money during a vicious robbery on the Middle Walk in Blackpool. The 46-year-old victim was approached by three thieves at 10.50pm on Monday, July 15. When they asked him for money
THORNTON Cleveleys Labour Party is demanding to know why Wyre residents are facing cuts in services and increased charges. "This council has taken the decision to cut services in Thornton Cleveleys without the slightest thought for the outcome of their
PUBLIC services are set to grind to a halt for the second time in a month as council workers strike in a bid for more money. Swimming pools, libraries, playgroups and some schools will shut as a result of the action, organised by the three unions which
ACCRINGTON Stanley fans will get the chance to see new signing Mike Marsh for the first time at the Crown Ground when a Blackburn Rovers XI visit tomorrow. The Rovers side will include Ewood out-of-favour striker Egil Ostenstad, and several youngsters
NEIL Hodgson is hoping to make home advantage count this weekend as he roars into World Superbike action around his favourite track, Brands Hatch. "I love it round here and I have done well in the past," admitted the Burnley-born racer as he can at last
I AM researching a book I intend to write about the living conditions in the workhouse and orphanages around the country in the early 1900's. Was life hard? Was it sad? Was there cruelty in those establishments? If you would like to share your memories
YOUR correspondent Stephen Bate in his inaccurate letter about the resort casinos debate at Westminster (Citizen, July 18) claimed that I had tried to mislead Parliament by saying about resort casinos "the vast majority of people in Blackpool take the
HOW appalling it is that the situation in this country calls for ID cards. The only debate that arises is whether the money for the purpose could be better spent differently. If cards, then it is no use calling them "Entitlement Cards" (Non-Entitlement
ANYONE who heard BBC File On Four (July 10) can have been left in no doubt that the EU is an utterly useless and corrupt organisation and that our ever joining it was consummate folly. What the programme made abundantly clear was that the net contributors
AS a supporter of Longview Animal Centre, Division Lane, Blackpool, our local RSPCA animal care centre, I am writing to say how close we are to reaching our target of £5000 per month in standing order donations. As you know if we don't reach this target
JOE Curran's letter (Citizen, July 18) cannot go unchallenged. Mr Curran represents the town centre licensees. The very same people have in recent years actively promoted drinks such as alcopops and their successors, the vodka-based mixers, all of which
I KNOW Gordon Marsden, the Labour MP for Blackpool South, is a former editor of History Today but that is no excuse for re-writing history with his statement that "the vast majority of people in Blackpool take the view that this could be of great benefit
A LEYLAND great grandmother has welcomed the latest generation to her family -- a great great granddaughter. In a giant reunion, the Wilkinson family met up in Lostock Hall to show off their latest addition -- baby Mya-Jade. Little Mya-Jade was shown
FOLLOWING a second "show" of public consultation, Bury Council's executive committee have confirmed a decision to close four old folks homes and change the use of others. Whilst various reasons are given to justify this, I believe that it is in order
I SIMPLY can't get my head around the news (Bury Times, July 19) that in light of the Chancellor's spending spree for education, Secretary of State Estelle Morris is extolling the virtues of matching cash injections to schools with improving standards
ACCORDING to national reports, a number of convicted juvenile murderers are about to have their jail tariff cut. Step forward Lord Chief Justice Woolf, a strangely out-of-touch gentleman, whose judgements are beginning to make Lord Longford seem positively
BOTH the North Bury Junior League, and myself as secretary, have recently been the subject of much criticism on these pages. The criticism revolves around a rule passed by the clubs at the recent AGM, whereby a player who is registered with a professional
THE light shooting out of the television breaks through my eyelids and drags me back to reality. I had only been asleep for a matter of minutes, but at least I was asleep. It had taken me hours to get that stage. Hours of tossing and turning, of rearranging
SUNDAY Shows at the Grand and Opera House. Blackpool Grand Theatre (01253 290190) Reelin and a rockin -- non stop sixties hits from Gerry Marsden of Gerry & The Pacemakers, Mike D'Abo from Manfred Mann, Dave Berry from The Cruisers, Brian Poole from
SHOWS at the Winter Gardens, the Tower and more. Winter Gardens and Piers (01253 292029) Legends -- two different tribute shows featuring sound-alike Roy Orbison, Kylie Minogue, Rod Stewart and more. Venue: Central Pier every Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat and
