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Lancashire | Archive | 1999 | May

Stories for 21 May 1999

Accrington News

'No politics' pledge from new mayor

CELEBRATING industrial heritage and hailing a bright economic future are the new Mayor of Hyndburn's themes for the year ahead. more...

Ex-soldier jailed for knifing 'old enemy'

A FORMER soldier who knifed an old school enemy has been jailed for three years, nine months. more...

Lifeline for the victims of crime

VICTIMS of crime in Hyndburn will be able to keep in touch with police thanks to a new scheme sponsored by local businesses. more...

Leader takes a break

THE new leader of Hyndburn Council is to temporarily step down, just days after taking up the reins of power. more...

Blackburn Business

Brewer's joy at beer bonanza

BREWERS Whitbread believe the rest of 1999 will be a time to toast bumper sales. more...

Law firm gets a 'serious crime squad'

A LAW firm has launched a new serious crime department. more...

New market for French

TEXTILE group French is moving into a new market. more...

Blackburn Leisure

THE opening sessions of play in the Alexandra Classic sponsored by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and Scottish and Newcastle Retail were won by three local competitors, Malcolm Wensley from Clitheroe and Blackburn men Vincent O'Donnell and John Rushton. more...

BOWLS: Ovalworld Super League

ALEXANDRA moved up into joint second place in the Ovalworld Super League when they completed a clean sweep 6-0 win over neighbours Witton. more...

TABLE TENNIS: Hyndburn League

FOURTH Division newcomers Apples took the Allspeeds Cup with a convincing 5-1 win over Brierfield. more...

BOWLS: Sayers Super League

FRENCHWOOD player Mick Nelson moved to the top of the Super League individual merit awards, sponsored by Brownhill-based financial adviser Terry Sayers, with a terrific performance at Railway Lostock that yielded 12 aggregate points for his 21-9 win. more...

BOWLS: Unhappy Wanderers

SURPRISE defeat of the week was the Knockout Cup win by Burnley Road A away at First Division Ribblesdale Wanderers B. more...

FIVE YEARS AGO: Colourful display

FLOWER power packed them in at Blackburn Council's nurseries during the borough's fifth Green Week Festival. more...

10 YEARS AGO: Litter lout success

LANCASHIRE was almost at the top of a league table for police action against litter louts. more...

Blackburn News

SHELLEY WRIGHT COLUMN: Wedding day didn't go without a hitch

MY brother's wedding was planned with the kind of military precision that should have left nothing to chance. more...

No decision yet on supermart

I WOULD like to thank residents for their observations on the planning application for a proposed supermarket development in Queen Street, Great Harwood. more...

We'll never pay Kosovo cost

COULD someone please explain why this so-called Labour government is spending millions of our taxes on waging war on a Third World country which has never been approved by the people who pay these taxes? more...

Aged help is on target

AS Vice President of Help the Aged's celebrity support committee, Stage for Age, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff and customers at your local Tesco store for adopting Help the Aged as their Charity of the Year in 1998. more...

Keep selection local campaign

REGARDING secondary school selection in East Lancashire, this year some children living in the Ribble Valley have been offered secondary school places outside the borough. more...

Help to end child cruelty

MANY of your readers will be aware of a new campaign launched by the NSPCC aimed at putting an end to the thousands of horrific cases of child abuse that take place in the UK every year. more...

Ada's doing swimmingly

READERS might like to know my progress in swimming the 2,000 lengths and trying to raise £2,000 for Sharron Davies' Imperial Cancer Research appeal for the year 2000. more...

Arrogant Liberals spit in voters' faces

IT IS not as if the Liberal Democrats of Pendle were showing their nasty, petulant face for the first time last night when they plunged the running of the council into chaos. more...

Soccer fans beyond belief

I COULDN'T believe it when I read (LET, May 13) that anyone who is upset over the Rovers' relegation could ring the Samaritans. more...

Let's get more onto the rails

THE RIBBLE Valley already has strong credentials for the revival of railways in East Lancashire. Now, it has steam up for more - as it is announced that Castle Cement in Clitheroe is to take more lorries off the road as it switches shipments of iron oxide to its plant back to rail. more...

Ice show will go on

ON behalf of our members, I would like to thank Blackburn 83 Round Table for their generous gift of £100 towards our trip to Blackpool's 'Ice Show' in June. more...

Priorities all wrong

SURELY, your headlines on Thursday, May 13, should have read: 'Man defending disabled son has throat slashed' rather than Rovers relegated, tears and cheers." more...

Muslim teacher claimed £16,000 false benefits

A MUSLIM teacher of the Koran obtained more than £16,000 in housing benefit to which he was not entitled. more...

Wedding day at hospice

THEIR wedding day was even better the second time round for Bill and Margaret Box, who renewed their marriage vows surrounded by family and friends at the East Lancashire Hospice. more...

'Shame' poster bid to stop speeders

MOTORISTS from Lancashire are to be told in no uncertain terms that they will pay the penalty if they are caught speeding on the M6. more...

sacking unfair says housing officer

A COUNCIL officer who was sacked after she was accused of allocating a house to her brother has taken her case to an industrial tribunal. more...

Parents' happy return to school

PARENTS went back to school to learn more about childcare, first aid and other skills in courses run by Barnado's Blackburn Family Action Project. more...

Blackburn Sport

CRICKET: Claude not troubled by talk of treble

CLAUDE Henderson is proving to be a fast-emerging star in his first season with East Lancs. But the South African all-rounder goes into a big weekend double-header stressing the value of teamwork for the EW Cartons Lancashire League side. more...

CRICKET: Edenfield hit by World Cup

EDENFIELD skipper Brett Storey is looking to professional Mike Smethurst to come good against reigning Jennings Ribblesdale League champions Padiham and county colleague Mark Harvey at The Arbories tomorrow. more...

NON-LEAGUE: Chorley set for reprieve

CHORLEY are set to be saved from relegation after Hucknall Town have all but admitted defeat in their quest for promotion. more...

CRICKET: Gallian gains his revenge

LANCASHIRE had a mountain to climb to avoid a third consecutive championship defeat today, thanks to Old Trafford old boy Jason Gallian. more...

CRICKET: Seaside special

DARWEN face a double date at the seaside this weekend, with Vaux Northern League and national knockout cup games against Morecambe. more...

GOLF: Curtis Cup colleagues Kim Andrew and Rebecca Hudson were set for a head on collision in the En

Andrew, who plays at Clitheroe, went into their quarter final match this morning in confident mood having never lost to 19-year-old Hudson in matchplay. more...

United target ace Henchoz

TREBLE-chasing Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson is set to join the chase for Blackburn Rovers defender Stephane Henchoz. more...

Quartet target striker Kevin

FOUR clubs are so far in the hunt for released Clarets striker Kevin Henderson. more...

Kidd set to move for Harkness

FORMER Liverpool star Steve Harkness could become Brian Kidd's first close-season signing as the Blackburn Rovers boss starts to rebuild his squad ready for a major promotion push, writes Peter White. more...

Blackpool News

Drowning man saved

A POLICE sergeant saved a man from drowning off South Pier on Sunday (May 16) evening. more...

New Mayors carry hopes

THE Fylde Coast's Millennium mayors have been given a warm welcome to office by their fellow councillors. more...

Homes needed for 'disaster' children

HOST families are needed in Thornton to take a Chernobyl child for a month this autumn. more...

Supermarket plans - facts or rumours

SIR, - IT would appear that a good deal of misinformation is being spread about the Poulton supermarket proposals (Citizen, May 6). more...

Off the hook

A FISHING shop owner was let off a £20,000 hook by magistrates in a dispute with Blackpool Council over security shutters. more...

Way to combat rowdy visitors

ROWDY visitors boost central Blackpool's annual crime rate to seven times the national average, according to an article by Barbara Crossley (Citizen, April 29). more...

Don't rock the boat

SHOCK plans have been revealed to demolish the boating pool amphitheatre and surrounding rock gardens on St Annes promenade to build a crazy golf course. more...

Collecting old work badges

I WONDER if Citizen readers can help me. more...

Don't be stick in the mud

HARD-CORE campaigners protesting against the redevelopment of the former Leys Road allotments in Blackpool should think about the effects of their actions on other gardeners. more...

Thanks for all the good wishes

I AM writing to thank everybody at the Citizen and all who have passed on their good wishes from across the Fylde Coast since news of my cancer was made public last week (Citizen, May 13). more...

Top of the class

WHEN it comes to education these two schoolgirls are in a class of their own. more...

Birthday bomber

IT may be 50 years since the prototype first flew, but the Canberra bomber - designed in Lancashire - is still going strong. more...

Toast of the coast

E-DAY is just around the corner for Fylde folk and the atmosphere is electric. more...

The write stuff

CARMEL Allison is officially the Cleveleys champion poet after having her work printed in the 1999 National Poetry Anthology which prints the best poems from all over the UK. more...

Puppet power

PUPPET power hit Blackpool at the weekend (May 15-16) with the grand climax of Puppet Up '99. more...

Well done, partner

A HUSBAND and wife team have forged a unique partnership worth £17,000 between the schools they work at. more...

Checking in for big final

IT'S all there in black and white - Northfold County Primary are champions when it comes to chess. more...

Restoring rare piece of history

AN unusual and rare piece of history is being restored to its former glory at a Lytham school. more...

Charities benefit

WHAT do hot dogs, non uniform days and five-a-side have in common? more...

Blackpool Sport

Too little, too late

IT was very much a case of too little too late for Blackpool in their Vaux Samson first round cup tie at Lancaster on Saturday (May 15). more...

Cup treble for YMCA

YMCA U11s 2 FOXHALL BOYS 1 more...

Cricket results round-up

MOORE & SMALLEY PALACE SHIELD more...

An admirable Bully!

"BULLY" for Lancashire ... and for England is a new book from Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 1999, £28.00 ISBN 0 947 76650 2. more...

A Sunday stroll

FLEETWOOD'S passage through to the second round of the Lancashire Cup at Broadwater was no more than a Sunday afternoon stroll (May 16). more...

Sharks snap into action

WYRE Sharks swimming squad, took another step forward with some excellent team and individual performances at this year's Northern Counties' Sprint Championships on Saturday (May 15). more...

Untouchables edge ahead

IN Division A of the Rossall Sixes small-sided soccer league The Untouchables are now in the lead after they beat Wyvale Warriors 1-0. more...

Ten reds triumph

IT'S been nearly 20 years since Layton Institute won the Lancashire Small Table Snooker championship which they had dominated in the 70s. more...

Sportsmark success

SPORTING achievement at Lytham St Annes High technology College has earned a prestigious award. more...

Thin reward

A WINNING draw against South Shore III (115-5) was thin reward for St Annes IV (187-6) on a day when their two Nigels made a vast contribution to the Fylde League division 2 match. more...

A baize of glory

THE Comrades Club on Adelaide Street in Blackpool has the best snooker team of its entire history - achieving a double which has never been done in the snooker league before. more...

Bolton Business

New hothouse for young high flyers

ANOTHER 15 young entrepreneurs are being sought for the Bolton hothouse treatment. more...

Success a team effort

EURODIS HB Electronics says its Acorn sales team is showing signs of significant success. more...

Company roller coasts to award

A LOCAL company is among 11 in the North-west to receive Department of Trade and Industry Smart Awards. more...

Bolton Leisure

Savar Balti and Tandoori Restaurant, Mealhouse Lane, Atherton.

A FEW rays of sunshine and a couple of degrees increase in the temperature are all that are needed to make you feel like giving the pots and pans a miss, leaving the kitchen behind and heading out to eat. After a hectic afternoon out with two lads, we took a vote on where to go and by three votes to one this Indian restaturant won. more...

What's on in and around Bolton, Saturday, 22.5.99

CHILDREN'S Disco, Somerset Road Church, 6pm-9pm. Children £1, adults free, with refreshments. more...

Bolton News

Saddle up for Mencap

HOW would your readers like to cycle across some of the most breathtaking scenery is the world? Experience the wonders of Egypt on an eight-day, 500km bike ride of a lifetime and celebrate the new millennium by cycling through the last 3,000 years of history along the River Nile. more...

CHEERS: New-style pub's pig out invite!

PIGS are set to invade a pub on the outskirts of Bolton! The Wrights Arms on Belmont Road is celebrating its new look after refurbishment with a pig racing night. more...

From the BEN files

25 YEARS AGO more...

Pool tots can have a splashing time for charity!

YOUNG swimmers in Bury and Ramsbottom are being urged to take the plunge and support a worthy cause. more...

Crausby joins disability vote rebels

BOLTON North East MP David Crausby unexpectedly joined last night's rebellion over cuts in disability benefits as the revolt exceeded the Government's worst fears. more...

Grant aid up for grabs

COMMUNITY groups from Deane, Daubhill and Derby have the chance to develop and improve what they do. more...

Where's respect for the customer?

WHATEVER happened to respect for customers? The majority of bus drivers are ignorant, as are taxi drivers and a lot of shop keepers. You go into a shop and the staff are either all over you or they can't be bothered to serve you. The latter being the more popular, especially in a couple of shops in the Market Place, one in particular. It's the same thing every time you want to buy something, the staff stand chatting, and when you ask if they are serving they all look at you as though you've no right being there. more...

Councillor stranded by tyre slashers

A COUNCILLOR was among several people left stranded by vandals who slashed car tyres. more...

Diane squares up to brainy Bolton

DIANE Oxberry, the BBC North West Tonight presenter and weather girl, was spotted in Bolton's Victoria Square - looking very brainy! more...

THE Wanderers are at Wembley on Bank Holiday Monday (May 31) and we want to hear from World Wide Wan

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion. more...

Dream of a show

OLDHAM Coliseum's forthcoming production of Roughyeds was given an extra boost when Freddie and the Dreamers front man Freddie Garritty dropped in on rehearsals. more...

Chamber helps Paul's tasty training

FARNWORTH-born celebrity chef Paul Heathcote is looking for young would-be chefs from the Bolton area to emulate his great success. more...

Susan wants fairy fans

A WOMAN from Scarborough is appealing to Boltonians who "love and respect" fairies and angels to get in touch with her. more...

THE DAILY POEM: One day at a time

Stirring the surface with lethargic limbs more...

Bippo's good enough to eat his birthday cake

RAMSBOTTOM'S well-known young clown Bippo - alias Gareth Ellis - proved this week that you can have your cake and eat it! more...

Stephen's best of the baddies

WE always said that Bolton Coronation Street's Stephen Billington was a terrific baddie. And this week, the first ever TV Soap Awards confirmed it. more...

They've enough problems

THE HEADING said Better System, but a much better heading to Mrs Walker's letter (Your views, May 12) would have been Bitter System. more...

GMP appeals for more ethnic minority recruits

A MASSIVE campaign is being launched by Greater Manchester Police to recruit people from ethnic minority communities in Deane, Derby and Daubhill. more...

Thugs hit list fear in the classroom

AN angry mum claims a gang of thugs have drawn up a hit list of classmates they plan to beat up before they leave school at the end of this week. more...

Pal Steven could have been in car

A SHOCKED Bolton Wanderers fan has told how he could have been in the car involved in yesterday's horror smash which killed close friend Martin Hunt and his son Ian. more...

Mums, tots are first helping hand 'winners'

NEW toys and new equipment - that's what this lively Farnworth group will have, thanks to the very first local Helping Hands Award! more...

Town to welcome Kosovo refugees

AROUND 80 Kosovan refugees are due to arrive in Bolton next week. more...

Theatre to 'come home'

A HUGE fund-raising push means "home-grown" productions at the crisis-hit Octagon theatre could be playing before Bolton audiences again before the year's end. more...

Bolton fan Julie tried to save crash boy

A HEARTBROKEN woman has described how she fought to save the life of the tragic youngster who died in a car crash with his father. more...

Ex-Showaddywaddy star in cash row

A FORMER Showaddywaddy guitarist says he forked out £200 of his own money to the relatives of a well-known Bolton teddy boy. more...

Rabbit hutch crushes Thomas to death

A BOLTON toddler died after being crushed when a rabbit hutch toppled on him as he played. more...

Public to have say on houses

MEMBERS of the public will be able to have their say when Westhoughton town councillors meet to discuss a controversial housing scheme. more...

Let's have a Lion of the North-west

SURELY the only place to put a "Reebok Lion" is not stuck in the middle of a traffic roundabout, but soaring atop the prominent landscaped hill (former rubbish dump), which dominated the Middlebrook development. more...

Recall those glory days

WELL, Wigan Athletic's long time Springfield Park home has held its last match. Now the fabulous new ground which "Mr Wigan" (David Whelan) had built will be adopted for soccer as well as for rugby league as Central Park, illustrious Central Park on which giants like Jimmy Sullivan, Brian Bevan, James Leytham, murcurial Ale Murphy, Charlie Pawsy and Billy Boston etc regularly played, will soon be ground to dust by the merciless resolute bulldozers. more...

Hovis could save world

RISING Bolton comedy star Hovis Presley has teamed up with a top DJ and an Irish ceilidh band for a benefit gig at The Place tonight. Money raised will go to Health Projects Abroad, a charity which supports volunteers from Britain in their work on health and education development projects in Tanzania. The event has been organised by Kate Webster, of Little Lever, so that she can participate in the scheme. She will go to Tanzania in June and work alongside local people to help build a school and health dispensary. more...

Guitars galore

BUDDING Jimi Hendrixes are expected to flock to the North West guitar Show due to take place at the Palace Hotel, in Oxford Street, Manchester on Sunday, May 30. more...

Market needed tradition

WHAT on earth are our town planners thinking about allowing the revamping of Farnworth shopping precinct on Brackley Street to have taken place as it has? more...

Bolton Sport

Todd keeps it low-key

THEY might be going to Wembley but Wanderers are intent on treating the Play-off Final like any other league game. more...

CRICKET: Critchley signs as Golbourne pro

IAN Critchley has signed as Golborne's professional for the Bolton Association season. more...

Todd keeps it low-key

THEY might be going to Wembley but Wanderers are intent on treating the Play-off Final like any other league game. more...

Booking hot-line for Wembley tickets

WANDERERS have finalised arrangements with specialist ticket agency Ticketmaster whose 24 hour credit card telephone booking service will handle tickets for the Wembley Play-off Final. more...

RUGBY LEAGUE: Swinton line up a gala match

GIGG Lane plays host to what promises to be a day to remember on Sunday as two of Rugby League's greatest rivals come head-to-head. more...

Burnley News

Trades councils blast Nato for 'ill thought out' bombing

TRADES council leaders from Burnley have given their backing to a call for Nato to stop bombing Yugoslavia. more...

Bank blamed for late council bills

COUNCIL tax switchboards in Burnley rang hot after disgruntled householders were sent non-payment reminders - even though they had arranged for the bills to be met by Abbey National standing order. more...

Bury Business

Success comes naturally

PIONEERING Bury manufacturer Faith Products Ltd has 200 reasons to celebrate its 25th birthday. more...

Women in Business

BURY is to host a half-day "Women in Business" seminar at which one of the guest speakers will be Daily Mail columnist Lynda Lee-Potter. more...

Tim is new partner

SOLICITORS Clough & Willis are continuing to expand in Bury with a new partner joining the firm. more...

Bury News

Reporter jumps to it!

BURY Times reporter Karen Fraser jumped at the opportunity to raise more than £300 for a local charity. more...

School closure notices posted

STATUTORY notices concerning the closure of Brandlesholme CP School have been posted around the borough today. more...

Fire hits market revamp

NEARBY shoppers were evacuated when work on Bury Market's £5 million facelift caused a blaze on Tuesday. more...

Health chiefs defend cancer record

BURY health bosses deny claims that ovarian cancer patients are getting a bad deal. more...

Backing for cannabis motion

A NEW plea for cannabis to be legalised for medical use has been backed by local MP David Chaytor. more...

Court victory for grieving Dad

A GRIEVING father, whose partner died weeks after giving birth to their second child, has won £122,500 damages from Bury and Rochdale Health Authority. more...

Cricket plans bowled a googly

PLANS to create a Millennium home for Unsworth Cricket Club have been hit for six. more...

Leaflet towers above rest

EVERYTHING you wanted to know about Peel Tower... but were too afraid to ask! more...

Eurovision hopes rest of Jennifer

EUROVISION fever is coming to town with the UK's hopes of glory in Jerusalem resting on the shoulders of Prestwich singer Jennifer Frost. more...

Top of the Poppies

THE 1998 Poppy Appeal awards were presented to cadets at the Castle Armoury TA Centre in Bury this week. more...

Bury is so accommodating

BUSINESSES offering accommodation in Bury are being sought for an updated guide to the borough. more...

Chopper chase drama

GREATER Manchester Police's helicopter was scrambled when two suspected burglars smashed into three vehicles during their getaway. more...

Excluded pupils together again

THE 130 pupils who were excluded from Bury CE High School will finally receive their Records of Achievement tonight. more...

Unlucky for some

A NEW police operation to crack down on crime in Bury has proved unlucky for 13 "shoppers". more...

Why was school deputy overlooked?

WELL done Mr Steve Ratcliff and the rest of the governing body of Woodhey High School. By their collective indecision - some might even regard it as incompetence - they now need to appoint not only a new headteacher, but a deputy as well. more...

£2.19 million spent on Ramsbottom

I HAD hoped that we had put aside the parochial churlishness displayed by "Ramsbottom Trader" (Your Letters, May 7). more...

Rats? Vandals? No, heroes!

HAVING been a pigeon fancier for more than 40 years, I feel I must reply to the derogatory remarks of Messrs Woodall and Corcoran (Your Letters, May 14). more...

Headteacher right to act

I WRITE regarding your story headlined: "School leavers excluded days before GCSEs", (Bury Times, May 14). I, too, am very upset but not for the same reason as other parents. more...

Dog's life getting better

MY master has been reading some interesting points to me from the Bury Times (April 30). more...

Why I didn't bother voting

I ADMIT, to my shame, that for the first time ever I failed to exercise my right to vote. more...

Legal 'safety net' under threat

LEGAL support for poor and vulnerable people in Bury is under threat from government plans to reduce the number of law firms who can help people on legal aid. more...

School needs shake-up

WHERE does discipline start and finish at Bury CE High School? more...

Punished for stupidity of others

AS Bury Times readers are now aware, there was a terrible miscarriage of justice at Bury Church High School last Thursday when the entire GCSE exam year was suspended from school. more...

Dawn of new era

IT'S a great honour to serve the borough at the dawn of the new millennium - that was the message from the new Mayor of Bury. more...

Party time in Euro elections

VOTERS have just three weeks to make up their minds what to do in next month's European elections. more...

Young MPs take floor

THE regions's four newest MPs have attended their first "House of Commons" debate... and they all come from our borough! more...

Rally round for refugees

BURY people are being urged to rally round to help the town's first refugees from war-torn Kosovo who will arrive in 12 days' time. more...

How alarming

ANGRY motorists are claiming mobile phone equipment sited on the roof of Prestwich's Longfield Suite is interfering with car alarms - and even leaving them locked out of their vehicles. more...

Deputy quits as job row simmers

THE deputy head who was controversially turned down for the top job at Woodhey High School, Ramsbottom, is to leave. more...

Where have all the flowers gone?

SATURDAY marked the end of an era for Bury's popular outdoor market. After an association spanning 109 years, Margaret Henshaw's family-run flower stall closed for the last time. more...

We want action

FIRE chiefs are demanding council bosses take action to stamp out fly-tippers in Kirklees Valley. more...

Peak performers

IT was a case of survival of the fittest for a team of dedicated fund-raisers who travelled to three countries in 24 hours to tackle a trio of mountains. more...

Get children off streets

SCHOOL playing fields will be opened up in a bid to get children off the streets. more...

The Way We Were

MARJORIE WILSON, who lives in the Lake District, recalls pre-war Whit Walks in Bury more...

Today's the Day

A look back on days in history on May 21 with Mike Badham more...

Get your ticket now

HAVE you got your ticket yet? Pupils who left Unsworth Comprehensive School in 1978 will hold a 21st anniversary reunion next Friday, May 28. more...

Bury Sport

Bury FC: Warnock blunts Blades rumours

NEIL Warnock has firmly dismissed talk of him quitting Gigg Lane for the Sheffield United job. more...

Cricket: Double gloom for Unsworth

IT was a miserable weekend for UNSWORTH as they followed up a poor performance in the Central Lancashire League with a first round exit from the Wood Cup. more...

Bury FC: Shakers axe Reid

SHAKERS assistant boss Ron Reid this week became the first casualty of the club's drop into Division Two. more...

Rugby League: Tight finish as Cougars show teeth

Swinton Lions 14, Keighley Cougars 15 more...

Rugby League: Sick kids benefit from Lions' Family Day

GIGG Lane plays host to what promises to be a day to remember on Sunday as two of Rugby League's greatest rivals come head-to-head. more...

Chorley News

Motorways are vital to economic success

I WOULD like to respond to the letter, April 29, about the M65. more...

Cash boost for renal service

CHORLEY kidney patients have been given a real boost following a £2.3m investment in renal services. more...

Applause for councillor

REFERRING to the letter by Derek Holland and Pat Cuerden re: Station at Coppull. more...

Guard against fairy tales

WITH the run up to the European elections, voters should be on their guard against fairy tales of abundance from the EU. more...

Magpies boss leaves club under cloud

CHORLEY football manager Dalton Steele has parted company with the club after less than three months in charge. more...

Villagers baffled by bridge repairs

RESIDENTS in Brinscall are mystified by work being done to strengthen a 100-year-old bridge. more...

Chorley cats are feline sore

CHORLEY cats are likely to be feline a little sore over the coming weeks. more...

MP slams name change plans

LINDSAY Hoyle has slammed British Aerospace bosses over plans to change the company name. more...

Anger over dirty house

FED up residents have been promised action over a rat-infested empty house that has made their lives a misery for weeks. more...

Councillor lifts lid on station toilets

THE Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is being urged to tackle the region's train operators after bosses refused to give the green light for toilets on Chorley's railway station. more...

Chorley mayor makes the history books

CHORLEY'S Millennium mayor took up office this week and prepared for a truly exciting year ahead. more...

Dance to the beat

LANCASHIRE folk can now dance to the beat of a different drum soon, as Oldham gears up to celebrate its 150th anniversary. more...

Investment boost to the region's rivers

ENVIRONMENT watchdogs have welcomed a big boost in investment this week which could bring significant improvements to Lancashire's rivers - including Chorley's Yarrow and Douglas. more...

Glowing report for school

A CHORLEY high school is celebrating a glowing report from government inspectors. more...

Lights, camera and cut!

A ROW has broken out over a crime-busting town centre camera - which can't see properly! more...

Chorley Sport

Red Arrow cricket

RESULTS from the Red Arrow Services Chorley and District Amateur Cricket League: more...

Michael proves he's a knockout

BOXER Michael Jennings got his professional career off to a dream start last weekend - with a first round knockout. more...

The ball's in their court

MEMBERS of Chorley Tennis Club are making a real racquet after being awarded almost £87,000 from lottery funds to build new facilities. more...

A high note for Chorley

KENDAL CC 199-8 CHORLEY CC 200-5 more...

Clitheroe News

MP's fury after sacking of health trust trio

A TORY MP is calling for a top level meeting following the sacking of three members of a health trust board. more...

Cement firm goes back to the rails

BOSSES at Castle Cement in Clitheroe have decided to take some lorries off Ribble Valley roads in favour of delivering goods by rail. more...

Village to fight school closure threat

A CONSULTATION exercise into the proposed closure of a tiny village school has been launched. more...

Colne News

Drug dealers must serve community

TWO drug dealers who supplied cannabis to their friends escaped a jail sentence when they appeared at court. more...

Darwen News

Don't take away the music plea

PUB licensees and artistes who claim their livelihoods are being threatened by pub entertainment laws have vowed to fight for changes. more...

Lancaster News

Crimewatch update on bomb

DETECTIVES investigating the firebomb planted at Crofters Fold, Heysham, say they have had a positive response after it appeared on Crimewatch. more...

Bitter parting shots

OUTGOING mayor Abbot Bryning criticised negative campaigning and 'vilification' which 'cast a shadow' over the recent elections this week. more...

Police urge caution over doorstep deals

A LANCASTER bobby contacted the Citizen this week to warn the people of the city against buying goods on their doorstep. He felt he had to make the warning after a recent case. more...

Mackenzie talks tough

MEDIA personality Kelvin MacKenzie is reportedly looking to expand his broadcasting empire by buying the local Bay Radio station in which jailed tycoon Owen Oyston has a stake. more...

War halts school trip to Hungary

A DREAM school trip for local youngsters has become an unexpected casualty of NATO's bombing campaign. more...

Unions to rally teacher support

TEACHER'S union chief Christine Blower visited the district this week to rally opposition to the Government's education plans. more...

Archdeacon promoted

THE Archdeacon of Lancaster, Robert Ladds, is being promoted to Bishop of Whitby. more...

The China Syndrome

THE money problems of Lancaster and Morecambe? Lack of trust of the people in the local authorities? The crumbling buildings and businesses in the district? The solutions to these problems facing the new regime at the city council are easy - it's all a question of location and energy! more...

Parents take next step in appeals engagement

THE local government ombudsman has been called in by Lancaster and Morecambe parents to investigate the appeals system for children entering secondary schools. more...

Vote had nothing to do with race

AFTER reading Hilton Dawson's letter today I felt compelled to reply. I am one of the many Castle ward voters who decided against voting for Stanley Henig in last week's elections, as was my democratic right. I also believe that a democratic right in this country is that of freedom of speech. more...

Green light hopes for multiplex

A MULTIPLEX cinema development in the heart of Lancaster is expected to be given the go-ahead at a planning meeting next week. more...

Stuart's King of the phone booth!

FIFTEEN minutes of fame have arrived for a Lancaster University student whose face features in a new BT advertising campaign. more...

Villains put in the picture!

LANCASTER'S flourishing nightlife is to feature on film - courtesy of Lancashire Constabulary. more...

Paragliders cheat death

TWO paragliders who crashed in mid-air and plummeted 300 ft to the ground have miraculously survived. more...

'Stinger' trap police enquiry

A HIGH speed police chase from Lancaster ended up with a man being cut out of his vehicle and taken to hospital yesterday (Wednesday). more...

Waiting list drop welcomed

HOSPITAL waiting lists in the district have been reduced by 600, new figures reveal. more...

Charity hit by wave of villains

CALLOUS thieves have been targeting collection boxes left in pubs to raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. more...

The leader carries the can

I WRITE in reply to last week's letter regarding the MP for Lancaster calling for a debate on racism. more...

Defeat had nothing at all to do with race

I WAS very worried when I read Hilton Dawson's letter about Stanley Henig and racism and then I became even more worried when I remembered that he is not merely a member of the public but an M.P. who ought to know better. more...

Don't bet on it

IT was reassuring to read of the promised return of the three ex-councillors for Castle ward (Citizen: May 13) do they not think that the voters might have a say in this? The letter says the voters of Castle ward have spoken but have Henig, Sutton and Rye listened? more...

Has our MP lost the plot?

I FEEL that our local MP has lost the plot completely. He must have been wearing his social worker's hat when he wrote the letter that appeared lat week, (Citizen: May 13). more...

Thanks to the voters

I WOULD like to thank the people of Carnforth for electing me to represent them as an Independent on Lancaster City Council. The warmth and generosity shown towards Julie and me by so many people, during and after the election, has been wonderful. more...

MP's racism smokescreen

HILTON Dawson's letter (Citizen: May 13) is certainly correct in its opening about democracy but he belongs to a party that doesn't agree because it practises political/cultural racism. more...

He's not listened

RICHARD Graves claims to have been involved in "deep discussions" with the county council over the future of Fair Elms... it's a shame he didn't understand what he was told. Simply, Social Services are responding to what older people want, services that keep people in their own homes, support for older people to enjoy their independence. Homes in Lancashire are underused, over 300 surplus places costing millions. It is the department's intention to switch all the money saved to care for the elderly in their own homes Full public consultation including a public meeting will be held before any decision is made. more...

Boss man

I OFTEN read reviews in local papers and wonder just how accurate they actually are, well Greg Morgan in his review of the 'Boss' was spot on. more...

Lancaster Sport

Sharpening the Axe!

CITY councillors will consider Lancaster City FC's planning application for major ground improvements on Monday. more...

It's only a game!

A LANCASTER therapist and football fan Steve Lewis is offering help to all those driven mad by the beautiful game. more...

Speed is the key

Morecambe 147 Leyland DAF 147 more...

Second round beckons

Lancaster 180-5 Blackpool 149-9 more...

Leigh News

Battered heroes can still win war

IN military terms Leigh might have lost the battle - but they can still go on and win the war. more...

Millward faces new injury crisis

OUTSTANDING full-back Stuart Donlan has given Leigh a massive injury scare. more...

When HMG was a hive of industry

TAKING a break from producing machinery to help farmers feed postwar Britain are fitters from Leigh engineering firm Harrison, McGregor and Guest. The Albion foundry was a hive of industry producing a famous range of farming implements. more...

Jack's a giant battler

LITTLE Jack Bannister is a kid in three million. more...

Summer hols to be axed

LONG summer holidays could be axed in local schools! more...

New mayor Bill will help carers

DISABLED sports-mad youngsters, first-aiders and unselfish carers will not forget Millennium Mayor Bill Smith. more...

It's time to ask for help

LOCAL voluntary and community organisations are being invited to apply for Grant Aid. more...

Safety first at Atherton school

CHILDREN are helping plan ways of making going to school safer. more...

Billy Whizz on way to Leigh

RUGBY maestro Jason Robinson is coming to Leigh. more...

Looking for Millennium youngster

THE search is on for Greater Manchester's first Young Citizen of the new Millennium. more...

Bishop Vincent opens new school

A NEW-LOOK junior school was opened in Hindley Green on Tuesday. more...

Residents demand action on Home torment

UNHAPPY Hag Folders are asking how much pain do they have to endure before an end is put to their suffering. more...

Spies and lies in murder thriller

THRILLER writer Max Telligan returns from a business trip to Munich to discover he is dead. Murdered! more...

Junction is miles better

THANK goodness something has been done about Leigh's scariest junction. It's miles better. more...

Jack's a giant battler

LITTLE Jack Bannister is a kid in three million. more...

Treasure giveaway for community groups

WIGAN Council is again opening up its Community Treasure Chest. more...

Woman rescued after car crash

A WOMAN was cut from the wreckage of a car after her husband is believed to have suffered a stroke at the wheel. more...

Flood storm hits Blackmoor village

TORRENTIAL rain brought nightmares flooding back for Blackmoor people. more...

These boots were made for dancing

LEE TURNER has the world at his feet! more...

They're playing our tune!

THE JOURNAL is helping visitors tune-in to Leigh's proud heritage. more...

Machete raiders hit shop

A TERRIFIED shop assistant threatened by two men armed with a machete managed to thwart the thieves by pressing a panic alarm button. more...

United fillip for pensioner John

STROKE victim John Jordan saw his beloved Manchester United clinch the Premiership on Sunday. more...

Leigh Sport

Tyldesley swimmers hit the high spots

TYLDESLEY swimmers struck gold in the Northern Counties age group championships at Wigan. more...

Fir flies with the Village

FIR TREE and Bedford Village are champions of the Bedford & District D&D League (sponsored by E Massey Transport). more...

Aces high for A&T riders

SPEED ACE Damien Hack helped England to a 93-85 win over Scotland in the Junior Cycle Speedway International. more...

Athletic hit the century

A 3-2 victory at Lymm ended Leigh Athletic's fine league campaign. more...

Leyland News

Public asked for transport views

BUS and rail users in Preston and Leyland are being asked for their views on the future of public transport across the county. more...

Sorry, but I won't resign!

CONTROVERSIAL councillor Michael Moulding has decided NOT to resign from Preston Borough Council. more...

Leyland Sport

Bravehearts fall at the final hurdle

PRESTON'S promotion dream died the most agonising death in front of 1300 Northenders at the Priestfield Stadium and more than 6,000 watching via the big screen at Deepdale. more...

Lytham News

The money mayors

RETIRING mayors from Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre will leave much more behind than fond memories this year. more...

Lytham Sport

Cup cruise for St Annes

ST ANNES had a comfortable eight wickets victory over Fleetwood at Broadwater in the Vaux Samson Cup, first round . more...

Nelson News

Pendle: A council without a leader

SEVEN hours of argument has left Pendle Council with no leader and no party in control, after moves by Labour to take the helm were blocked by their Liberal rivals. more...

New plans for town centre spy cameras

THE controversial issue of CCTV security cameras in Pendle has been switched back on after Labour and Tory councillors combined to press ahead with investigations into how they can be funded. more...

Company boosts turnover but profits slump

PROFITS at a company which employs more than 1,000 people across East Lancashire have slumped by more than £6 million in the last 12 months. more...

First Citizen makes a 'clean sweep'

A UNIQUE 'clean sweep' of civic duties was claimed when Liberal councillor Edwina Sargeant donned the robes and chains of office, to become Pendle's Millennium Mayor. more...

Mum cleared of attack on police

A MOTHER-of-two who bit a policewoman, has been cleared of an assault charge. more...

Lower Duchy flag, urges MP

PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice has called for the flag to be lowered on the ancient title of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. more...

Preston News

Have YOUR say on team

TALK of the Town End was launched at the start of this year to give Citizen readers and PNE fans the chance to have their say on North End. more...

Trust is in crisis

RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has launched a scathing attack on Secretary of State for Health Frank Dobson's handling of the Guild Community Healthcare Trust's management crisis. more...

Software companies facing writ in the U.S.

IN this week's Game File, we take a look at some of the latest news and scandals to be hitting the game scene, and we take a look at Tanktics on PC and R-Type Delta on Playstation. more...

Spaced out at the cinema

THE force looks set to be with us 24 hours a day after cinema bosses in Preston were given permission to open round the clock for the launch of the new Star Wars blockbuster movie. more...

Hospice has it all boxed up...

CARING staff at St Catherine's Hospice have boxed up a clever idea for raising vital cash for the charity with the launch of a 'small change box' for loose change. more...

Beacons of learning

MORE Lancashire schools have been named as "beacons" - lighting the way for others to follow. more...

Mayor: My year in office was wonderful

A YEAR in the life of Mayor Rose Kinsella comes to an end today (Thursday) when she dons the mayoral chain for the last time. more...

Inspired to step into the future

A GLOWING Ofsted report has delighted staff and pupils at Frenchwood County Primary School - and inspired them to brush up on their IT skills. more...

Precious... Sophie's date with Eurovision

PENWORTHAM girl Sophie McDonnell is hoping to score full points, not nil points, when she heads off to woo the crowds at Europe's biggest music event. more...

Leaving, for better or for worse

MICHAEL Bamber reckons he's tied the knot more than 10,000 times - but he's only said 'I do' once! more...

50 years on, and Canberra is still flying high!

IT may be 50 years since the first was built, but the Canberra, designed in Warton, is still going strong today. Modern versions of the aircraft are currently in the air over Kosovo in a reconnaissance role and Nasa still operate two. more...

Volunteers needed for 'battered wives' helpline

FEMALE volunteers are needed to staff the Preston Women's Refuge Domestic Violence Helpline. more...

£40 million shrine to the bard

FORGET Stratford, the Bard centre of the world is set to become a village near Preston after plans were unveiled for a £40 million Shakespeare shrine. more...

And sell us our daily bread!

SHOPPERS were pew-ing up for their daily bread when Asda hosted the first-ever supermarket worship. more...

Living in Callon hell

I RECENTLY read an article in the Citizen stating that "outraged residents on the Callon estate were up in arms at television ghetto claim". more...

Get your pension with your papers

GREENLANDS Post Office, Preston, will open up in new premises next Thursday (May 27). more...

Go on, get on yer bike

SCHOOLCHILDREN are to be involved throughout the launch of a nationwide campaign in Preston. Pupils from St Ignatius RC Primary, Ribbleton Avenue Infants and Holme Slack County Primary were given talks about alternative forms of transport to the car for Green Transport Week. more...

Crippling costs for cabbies

I READ David Higgerson's article (May 6 issue), about lorry jobs "at risk". I would like to suggest that hackney carriage drivers are in a worse dilemma. more...

Role of the ARP warden

YOUR article called Look, Dive and Vanish caused me some amusement, but the apparent mix-up of the Home Guard and the ARP services was a bit out of line. more...

Paper has great content

THE Citizen's generosity is admirable in my eyes and the people of Preston are so grateful to the newspaper, not only for the fact that it is free but because it has great content. more...

Preston Sport

How they shaped up on the Deepdale turf

PRESTON North End have a small squad, which has been stretched to the limit over the season. more...

Lucas slip so costly

AFTER pulling off the save of his life to keep Preston in the lead, David Lucas chose the most important game of the season to commit his biggest howler. more...

North End fans? They're just the greatest

CITIZEN PNE reporter Tom Parker believes North End's supporters are simply fan-tastic. Writing especially for We'll Support You Ever More, he explains why... more...

Look out for some new faces next season

THEY are the side that delighted the fans this season with some spectacular performances. But expect to see some new faces in the side from next season. more...

Player of the month

PEOPLE power plays its part - that's the theory behind our Citizen Player of the Month competition. more...

Well beaten Lynx left to languish

A DEPLETED Lancashire Lynx side slumped to their eighth defeat in a row as Workington Town made short work of them in this 36-8 rout. more...

Injury crisis leaves Lynx on the brink

NOT only are Lancashire Lynx allergic to winning, they are now facing a major injury crisis. more...

Night a dream died

The looks on the faces of the fans said it all on Wednesday night as they watched the match on a screen at Deepdale. more...

Leyland Daf lose out in 'same scores' thriller

CRICKETERS at Leyland DAF must be feeling down in the dumps after crashing out of the Vaux Samson Cup by the tightest of margins. more...

Rawtenstall News

Couple shocked at cruise ship disaster

AN East Lancashire couple were in shock today after hearing that the luxury cruiseliner they holidayed on last week had caught fire and sunk while carrying some of the new-found friends they made on board. more...

Penny pinch plea for charity

COUNT up that change and donate it to Rossendale Hospice is the request of the penny pinching appea. more...

St Helens News

Marie's pledge to town

NEW leader Marie Rimmer has announced plans to re-structure St Helens Council and to consult and involve the public in decision-making. more...

Walk this way!

PRIMARY school children from the borough will be taking part in Walk To School Week next week as part of the campaign to highlight safety issues. more...

Caroline is toast of the Party

THE word party has taken on a whole new meaning for bubbly student Caroline Lawson. For the 21-year-old, who is currently studying for a BA Honours Degree in Public Policy Management at De Montford University in Leicester, is the toast of the Conservative Party after becoming its youngest councillor in the country by winning a seat on Rushcliffe Borough Council in Nottingham. more...

Council gets tough on software fraud

ST HELENS Council's Trading Standards officers are stepping up their campaign to stop home computer owners illegally copying or selling software. more...

Pat is sworn in as new mayor

NEW Mayor of St Helens, Councillor Pat Jackson, was sworn in at the traditional Mayor Making ceremony at St Helens Town Hall yesterday (Wednesday). more...

Con woman robs OAP

A PENSIONER was conned out of his savings by a woman who claimed to be a health visitor. more...

Teenager's narrow escape

A TEENAGE girl had a narrow escape when her grandparents caught her being led away by a man at about 5.45pm on Sunday, May 16. more...

College sets shining example

CARMEL Sixth Form College has been given a glowing report - and a healthy cash boost. more...

Feeding is pet subject

A FEEDING code at Sherdley Park's Pets Corner has been introduced to protect animals that suffer minor health problems when fed by the public. more...

Thieves drive off with furniture

THIEVES broke into an industrial unit at the weekend and stole three furniture vans, two of which were loaded with sofas and suites worth thousands of pounds. more...

Search for old rugged cross

A WOMAN from the West Midlands has contacted the Star in a bid to trace the whereabouts of a granite carved cross which her uncle made in the 1930s. more...

Police plea after graveside robbery

POLICE have are appealing to members of the public to help them trace a teenage girl who stole a 79-year-old woman's handbag as she tended to a grave. more...

Goulding fined

FORMER Saints skipper Bobbie Goulding has been ordered to carry out 240 hours community service and pay more than £3,200 in costs and compensation after admitting attacking two men during a row over a taxi. more...

Come on you Gunners

ATTENTION all former Gunners! more...

Gun raid drama

A MAN wearing a black motorcycle helmet and brandishing what appeared to be a shotgun, burst into the High Street branch of the Halifax bank at about 3.50pm on Thursday, May 13 and threatened a woman cashier. more...

Curtain up on new era at Theatre

THE curtain is about to rise on a new era for the Theatre Royal. more...

Street to get £150,000 facelift

A £150,000 scheme to give a bright new look to Bridge Street, Earlestown, will begin next month. more...

Search for old pals

ORGANISERS of a reunion party for former Penketh High School pupils are trying to trace five old classmates who came from the Clock Face area. more...

Civic salute to centenarian Catherine

MAYORESS and Mayoress of St Helens, Councillor David and Mrs Betty Craig, popped in to Parr Nursing Home to help mark a very special milestone when resident Mrs Catherine Killilea celebrated her 100th birthday. more...

Hygiene award for pub

STAFF at a popular pub are celebrating after being officially declared the cleanest and brightest in St Helens. more...

Town with a heart of gold

A WOMAN who thought her purse containing £700 had been stolen, has contacted the Star to praise the honesty of an anonymous good Samaritan who handed it in at a town-centre restaurant. more...

Let our children play in safety

I AM a local mother of two children, a girl aged nine years and a boy aged seven, and I am writing about my concerns about the road that I live in. One Sunday my son was playing in the road where we live, when a car taking a short-cut through the estate was in collsion with him while he was on his roller boots. more...

Make sure your vote counts ...

ON June 10 it's the elections for the European Parliament and a new voting system will be in place for the first time. more...

Kingfishers in big comeback

THOUGH I've never experienced the delight of seeing a kingfisher in the wild (my nearest sighting was under a glass case in the local museum) I'm reliably informed that this magnificent bankside bird is making a modest comeback locally. more...

Wonders of the watery wireless

IN this age of digital TV and remote-controlled CD systems, there are still a few greybeards around who can remember when home entertainment involved 'watering' the wireless set! more...

Monster of the deep!

WHO knows what hidden menaces lurk in the murky depths of our local canal? more...

Audrey relives royal delight

IT was the proudest moment in the teenage life of Audrey Woods when she was crowned Rose Queen of Moss Bank before a crowd of hundreds of applauding parents and youngsters. more...

Joe's first baby claim

JOE Gray believes that he has a unique distinction. more...

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