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Lancashire | Archive | 1999 | February

Stories for 25 February 1999

Accrington News

Art gallery 'jewel' in £½m Lottery bid

AMBITIOUS plans to give the jewel in Hyndburn's cultural crown a £500,000 facelift have been handed in to lottery bosses. more...

Sex pest still at large

A SEX pest who preys on schoolgirls in Accrington is still at large in the town after two years of offences. more...

Ex-butcher joins piemen's upper crust

BUTCHER turned baker Mark Duckworth has only been making pies for six months - but he's already a prize winner. more...

No prosecution

A YOUTH who was questioned by police after an incident in which an 83-year-old man's dog was killed will not be prosecuted, it has been revealed. more...

Blackburn Business

On the up in Oz!

CLOSER links have been forged between Lancashire's aerospace industry and firms in Australia. more...

Riley cues up more clubs

SNOOKER firm Riley has signed a major deal to supply snooker tables into clubs across the country. more...

Stripping sisters set up shop

SISTERS-in-law Kaye Whittaker and Sharon Harrison have set up a new venture to make the most of their stripping skills! more...

Major fraud on the rise

BIG business fraud rose in the region last year according to figures released today. more...

Into the groove

TWO pals have turned their love of music into a new business. more...

Blackburn Leisure

FIVE YEARS AGO: 800 jobs at risk

ALMOST 800 jobs were to be slashed in Lancashire while council tax bills rocketed by up to 20 per cent following £33 million cuts in Lancashire County Council's budget. more...

TEN YEARS AGO: Bookshops on alert

BOOKSHOPS in East Lancashire were put on a fresh alert over Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses as worldwide furore mounted. more...

Events in East Lancs/ North West tomorrow (Friday, February 26th)

"Spirit of the Dance," King George's Hall, Blackburn, 7.30pm. more...

Blackburn News

Hit and run victim dies

AN ELDERLY pedestrian has died after being hit as he stepped onto a zebra crossing by a car which failed to stop. more...

High anxiety: Is air rage a frightening new phenomenon - or just a load of media hype?

A Channel Four dramatisation last night examined what is known about the events on a recent Airtours flight to Jamaica forced to make an emergency landing to offload 12 passengers. Recent court cases have seen rock stars, itinerant travellers, publicans and policemen accused of disruption on board aeroplanes. British Airways have announced new insurance to cover cabin staff against attack from passengers. Is so-called "air rage" a growing problem or is it just another media catchphrase? Reporter PAUL BARRY investigates. more...

Time to eat organic and stop tampering with nature, says retailer

Food News, with Amanda Killelea more...

Charities' Net profit

THE Auction Club, an interactive website based in Illinois, has formed a new electronic auction service catering for charities and other civic-minded groups. more...

Spare the rod and ruin society

SO the Home Secretary thinks the general public ought to fight crime. more...

Locals are not fools

SO Clitheroe planning consultant Janet Dixon, who claims to have personal knowledge of the proposed site for housing at Billington, says that fears of it having been a domestic tip are unfounded (LET, January 29). more...

Labour's leisure shame

IT is very disturbing that Hyndburn has been knocked back by the Lottery Commission for money to revamp leisure facilities (LET, February 18). more...

Manipulation of nature must stop

REGARDING Mrs T Earp's remarks (Letters, February 22) on the Russian plan to use a huge mirror in space to light up an ice-capped region for mining's sake, she is right to question the long-term implications of yet another of man's manipulation of this planet. more...

No fears over space mirror

REGARDING the concern of Mrs T Earp (Letters, February 22), could I put her mind at rest? more...

Unrealistic to have a go

IT is all very well for Jack Straw to encourage us to "have a go" at vandals and muggers - he has police protection and will have for the foreseeable future. more...

Mirror held up to entire community

FOR all that a great many of the facts and implications of the unpunished racist murder of Stephen Lawrence have been relayed time and again to the public in the span of almost six years since his needless death, the report of the Macpherson inquiry into his killing still comes as a sobering, shaming shock to society. more...

Aero jobs profits boom: Bulging order books promise spin-off for East Lancs firms

BOOMING demand at its Lancashire factories helped profits at British Aerospace soar by 14 per cent to £685 million, it was announced today. more...

Police racism can't be wiped out, chiefs admit

POLICE bosses today admitted they can never wipe out racism in Lancashire Constabulary. more...

Region has lowest Lottery handouts in country

MORE than 200 people keeping their fingers crossed for lottery handouts packed an East Lancashire charities conference. more...

Teenager punched in face

THE mother of a schoolboy who was the apparent victim of "snowball rage" today appealed for the public's help to catch the offender who attacked her son. more...

Rovers stewards 'losing battle' over standing away fans

A STEWARD at Ewood Park today claimed that he and his colleagues were facing an impossible task in trying to persuade thousands of away fans to sit down. more...

Boo who? Crowd must get behind Rovers

IN THE words of Brian Kidd, it's a "we and us" predicament at Ewood Park. more...

MILLENNIUM: New

project gives youth a say Pupils more...

Hi-Jack as thief gets the picture

A CROOK took Home Secretary Jack Straw's crimebuster appeal - "Don't walk on by" - too literally. more...

Award scheme winners' night

YOUNGSTERS who have dedicated many hours to self-improvement and helping others are due to receive their reward tonight. more...

Teenage advice hits the spot

A NEW advice manual written by teenagers for Lancashire teenagers has been launched. more...

Blackburn Sport

CRICKET: Brad is back at Bent Gate

BRAD McNamara will be back at Haslingden as professional next season. more...

CRICKET: New Zealander signs up as pro

ACCRINGTON have snapped up New Zealander Mark Bailey as their new professional. more...

Rovers step up hunt for Lomas

BRIAN Kidd looks set to step up his interest in West Ham midfield man Steve Lomas when Blackburn Rovers visit Upton Park on Saturday, desperately needing a boost in their battle for Premiership survival. more...

Jepson plans comeback for Clarets

RONNIE Jepson is on the final straight of his comeback race as he prepares to join the Clarets fight to steer clear of trouble. more...

SWIMMING: Trio Master Metro

THREE members of Darwen SC went into the history books when the inaugural Masters Meet was hosted by Rotherham Metro. more...

ATHLETICS: County's cross to bear!

EAST Lancashire athletes had mixed fortunes in the Inter Counties Cross Country Championships at Wollerton Park, Nottingham. more...

SOCCER: Mighty Oaks tip-top

A CROWD of over 70 watched Jetsun Sunbeds and Oaks United battle it out in a tense and exciting match in the Barden Community Seven-a-Side League. more...

CRICKET: League limited return

LIMITED overs cricket will return to the Lancashire League next season after new rule changes were rubber-stamped by member clubs last night. more...

Clitheroe's cup misery doubles

Clitheroe 0 St Helens 1 more...

SOCCER: Chorley sign Steele

FORMER Winsford United boss Dalton Steele has been appointed as the new manager of Chorley. more...

CYCLING: Clayton's early call

THE cycling road season begins in East Lancashire on Sunday with the long-established Clayton Spring Classic being promoted on a course near Clitheroe. more...

CRICKET: Muttiah for Lancs - official

Muttiah Muralitharan is on his way to Old Trafford - and that's official. more...

ICE HOCKEY: Hawks aim for the top

BLACKBURN Hawks have the greatest possible incentive ahead of tonight's ice hockey crunch at Milton Keynes - win and go top. more...

SOCCER: Stanley loan swoop

ACCRINGTON Stanley boss Wayne Harrison has snapped up Blackpool striker Steve Longworth on loan ahead of Saturday's relegation showdown with Spennymoor United. more...

Rovers crash out as Saha has the last laugh

FA Cup 5th round replay: Blackburn Rovers 0 Newcastle United 1 - Peter White's big match verdict more...

Jepson plans comeback

RONNIE Jepson is on the final straight of his comeback race as he prepares to join the Clarets fight to steer clear of trouble. more...

Kidd steps up hunt for Lomas

Form watch (Rovers v Newcastle)

FILAN: Didn't do anything wrong and, indeed, made a couple of super stops or it might have been worse. 8 out of 10 more...

Gullit full of praise for Metz ace

LOUIS Saha fired Newcastle through to the FA Cup quarter finals at Ewood last night and could have clinched himself a permanent move to Tyneside. more...

Bolton Business

8,000 take a peep into the future

LEADING members of the local business community took a peep into the future this week. Bolton Institute sponsored the Reebok Stadium link for the 1999 DTI Innovation Lecture - 2010, a Business Odyssey. It involved more than 8,000 business people in 40 different venues throughout the country. more...

Beloit workers hope for stability

WORKERS at one of Bolton's best-known factories are hoping for a period of stability following the latest round of job cuts. more...

Bolton Leisure

What's on in and around Bolton, Frid ay, 26.2.99

THEATRE, MUSIC AND DANCE BOLTON Lads and Girls Club present a children's Starlight Cabaret with special guest Mike Whitlow from Bolton Wanderers, singers, musicians, dancers, a disco, a raffle and 'The Full Monty' at Breightmet Labour Club at 8pm. Adults £3 and children and OAPs £1.50 to raise funds for the football team to go on a tour of Holland. For further information tel: 435363 between 8.30am-5pm. more...

Bolton News

Parents tell of ordeal as Hannah survives deadly meningitis bug

RELIEVED parents told today of their young daughter's brave battle against deadly meningitis. more...

Truants: When court is the last resort . . .

By Angela Kelly IT looks like the classic modern parental dilemma. more...

From the BEN files

25 YEARS AGO more...

Beware of strangers bearing gifts...

PEOPLE are being urged to be cautious about replying to letters which have been dropping through Bolton letter boxes this week. more...

Family's heartbreak at South Africa road death

BOLTON ex-pats living in South Africa are comforting a heartbroken couple after their teenage son's tragic death. more...

Loyalty is rewarded for Captain Jones

LOYAL service comes naturally to Captain Fred Jones, who enjoyed the VIP treatment at the weekend. more...

Label it all

DEFENDING genetically modified food, Tony Blair claimed that genetic science could become as important as computers. Yes, but we are not forced to eat computers. Our Tony says: "There is no scientific evidence on which to ban GM Food." Well, there was no scientific evidence on which to ban the drug thalidomide and the feeding of herbivore cows with sheep's offal, and we all know what happened there! more...

Amateur boxing off the hook!

BOXING fans have won a knockout victory after their sport was given the backing of Bolton councillors. Leisure services members last night decided that they would support the sport ... despite calls from the British Medical Association to think again. They decided they would give their backing to amateur boxing provided that clubs are affiliated to the Amateur Boxing Association and apply its rules. more...

Fluoride fighters to tackle MP

BOLTON people opposed to fluoridation of water have been urged to write to Bolton MP David Crausby in a bid to force a public inquiry on the issue. Councillors from around the North-west met in Bolton yesterday to draw up battle plans against new Government moves to add fluoride to tapwater. Today, the chairman of NW Councils Against Fluoridation, Cllr Noel Spendlove sent out a rallying call. more...

£1.4m boost for social services

DELIGHTED social services chiefs are celebrating having an increase in their budget for the first time in years. more...

Daily poem

RESPECT I saw an old lady knelt by the side of a grave, more...

Small-fi not so small fry

BOLTON student Peter Tonge has come up with an invention which could bring music to the ears of hi-fi industry bosses. more...

OPINION: Tighten laws

THIS newspaper has already stated clearly its backing for a restricted ban on fireworks. So, we sincerely hope that Bolton MP Dr Brian Iddon's Commons Motion receives cross-Party support. more...

4.7pc council tax rise gets blessing

LEADING councillors are set to give their backing to a 4.7 per cent rise in Bolton's council tax tonight. more...

Daily poem

MOTHER'S LOVE A mother's love is always true, more...

Sports clubs to join free rates league

BOLTON town hall chiefs have given local sporting clubs and other organisations a transfer into a "free rates league". more...

OPINION: Boost for boxing

EAR-BITERS apart, we welcome the boost to local boxing that Bolton councillors gave last night. more...

Bangers and smashed

BOLTON MP Brian Iddon has called for the Government to act to prevent fireworks tragedies at the Millennium caused by too much drink. more...

Rockers to beat out the anti-drug message

PUPILS from George Tomlinson School, Kearsley, will be going on the beat next month as part of a new international Rock Challenge. more...

Lake is a drain on our patience

LEISURE bosses are planning to drain a lake which has formed in one of Bolton's biggest parks. more...

Heroine Betty dies aged 81

BOLTON heroine Betty Powell has died at the age of 81. more...

Help the elderly

WHY not, out of the millions of pounds unclaimed National Lottery money, help senior citizens electric bills. more...

Charities under fire over arms investment

BOLTON charities have come under fire for investing in companies involved in exporting arms. more...

Brave Blaine's in the swim

ONE of the youngest members of a tragedy-hit family is following in the footsteps of his brave relatives. more...

Check your pension books, OAPs urged

PENSIONERS in Bolton could be losing out due to problems with the Benefits Agency's new computer system. And they are being urged to check the amount they receive to see if there are any irregularities. According to the North West Society of Chartered Accountants, up to a third of all new pensions paid since last July were wrongly estimated, with a knock-on effect on tax codes. more...

Budget cuts mean bigger sixth forms

A-LEVEL students face bigger class sizes next year as education chiefs slash the cash available for school sixth forms. more...

Another success story for our jobs challenge

KENNETH Mann is our latest success in the Millennium Jobs Challenge, which aims to find at least 365 jobs until 2000. more...

Fire officers to ballot for industrial action

FIRE officers may ballot for industrial action over proposed major changes to the service. more...

We'll party on

BOLTON and Bury have been offered a glimmer of hope that they could have some cash help towards their millennium celebrations. But it will be less than £5,000 and it will still leave a huge amount of money to be found from local businesses, council budgets and from other organisations. The bids will have to be submitted by individual local organisations rather than a borough-wide bid. more...

Printing of school tables slammed

CALLS have been made to scrap the publication of school league tables after an outcry in Bolton. more...

Sick mail leaves Bill in tears

EVIL pranksters left a Bolton pensioner in tears after mailing him sick chain letters. more...

Council all set for a clean sweep of anti-litter awards

LITTER-BUSTING bosses could scoop five major environmental awards - only days after the BEN highlighted the town's grot spots! Bolton Council have been nominated in the Tidy Britain Group's People and Places Awards, which recognise groups who have made significant improvements to their local area. The town is up for first place in Best Community Awareness, Best Community Involvement, Best Management of Litter and Waste and Programme of the Year. more...

Who makes problems?

I was most interested in your article of February 4, stating that firms are being advised by their lawyers to get rid of problem workers, before the new £50,000 tribunal ceiling comes into force. What I would like to know is who decides what a problem worker is? Is it someone who turns up late whenever they want, is an ill-mannered, disrespectful sloppy worker and has a 'couldn't care less' attitude to everything and everyone or, is it the person who is well mannered, never late, has a high moral standard and does their best according to the ability but, has the audacity to speak out about unfairness at work, intimidation, bad management and health and safety issues? In my opinion, it should be the former but, I fear, with the amount of unscrupulous employers since Thatcher's reign, it would be the latter - with the excuse of personality clashes or attitude problems. more...

Why the e-bike will go faster than e-mail - well, almost!

BEN journalist Frank Wood tests out a new German invention which can help make the streets of Bolton go really green . . . I HAVE just had a taste of how the pioneering driver must have felt as he chugged the very first motor car through the streets of Bolton. more...

Not just animals

FIRST it was the dogs, then it was the pigeons and now we have the cats. For goodness sake let's leave the poor animals alone. Of course they make a mess, but so do humans. more...

Bolton Sport

NON-LEAGUE: Matthews strikes again

LEIGH RMI's only realistic hope of bringing silverware to Hilton Park this season was kept alive after they beat a weakened Altrincham side 2-1 in the President's Cup replay last night. Striker Neil Matthews scored both goals to double his tally in a barren five month spell, but the Railwaymen had to hang on in the last 20 minutes after Niell Hardy finished off one of the better moves of the game. more...

WANDERERS: Early goal sinks young reserves

Wanderers Res 0 Grimsby Res 1 A goal after just four minutes put paid to Wanderers' hopes of recording their third successive Pontins League win. more...

Todd back to square one

TOMMY Schramm's big Reebok trial ended in disappointment last night. more...

Gavin takes his leave

GAVIN Ward was lining up a reunion with his old Leicester boss Brian Little today after agreeing to join Second Division Stoke City on a free transfer. more...

Ticket shortage

THOUSANDS of the most loyal and dedicated Wanderers fans will be denied a chance to see next month's Stadium of Light showdown with Sunderland. more...

RUGBY: Leigh call foul over Parr injury

LEIGH Centurions are pressing RL disciplinary chiefs to take action on the foul tackle that has put Chris Parr out of this weekend's Challenge Cup tie at Widnes. Parr, a recent recruit from Rochdale, was hit by a high shot during Sunday's Northern Ford Premiership defeat at Dewsbury and although Leigh were awarded a penalty, the second rower took no further part in the game and he is still in some distress. more...

Burnley News

Man on GBH charge

ONE of three men said to have attacked a 21-year-old who is now fighting for his life appeared before Burnley magistrates. more...

Why cabbie Alan is seeing red

CABBIE Alan Hosker is seeing red over a Burnley Council decision that Hackney Carriages in the town can be any colour . . . so long as they are black. more...

Couple still quizzed on girl's window fall

DETECTIVES were today still questioning two people about a young woman plunging through a bedroom window and suffering serious injuries. more...

Clarets scoop top items for new museum

CLARETS directors have taken delivery of three historic items which will be among the star exhibits in a new museum at Turf Moor. more...

Clitheroe News

Dog owner slams 'cruelty' allegations

A WOMAN who was labelled the accomplice of a man jailed for cruelty to animals has pleaded to be left in peace with her dogs. more...

Traffic island crash leaves dad feeling marooned

A WORRIED father has demanded action after a traffic island designed to slow down speeding motorists outside his house was demolished by a wagon. more...

Colne News

Hit and run victim dies

AN ELDERLY pedestrian has died after being hit as he stepped onto a zebra crossing by a car which failed to stop. more...

Darwen News

Car park plans set to get the boot

RESIDENTS in Edgworth look set to have won their battle to prevent Turton Football Club building a new car park near their Thomasson Fold headquarters. more...

Ideas conference for a better town

PEOPLE who are dedicated to making Darwen a nicer place to live will share ideas at a special conference. more...

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