HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 2 - BURY 0 RONNIE Jepson's happy homecoming lasted until kick off. The ex-Huddersfield hero got a big hand as he was introduced to his former worshippers and could have had a big hand in their downfall. But his bitter-sweet return to
A LANCASTER PC needed emergency surgery after being stabbed in the hand during a violent struggle with a prisoner in a police van. PC David Bell suffered the injury after James Harkin lunged at his face with a butterfly knife Preston Crown Court heard
A VETERAN magician from Bispham has finally achieved his life's ambition - to play the London Palladium - at the grand old age of 78. Mark Raffles, of Normandie Avenue, is already celebrating his 60th year as an entertainer and magician this year, so
I was shocked when I saw the photograph of Stephen Booth on your front page - particularly associated with a 3-year sentence for editing a revolutionary magazine. It was coincidental that in the same edition of your newspaper Nightingale Hall Farm had
WARDERS at Lancaster Castle Prison say they are concerned for their safety following a 'riot' at the weekend. Up to 20 prisoners ransacked two dormitories on Friday night, smashing windows, furniture and electrical fittings. Inmates involved in the riot
Widnes Tigers 12 St Helens Crusaders 24 CRUSADERS produced a strong second-half display to take the spoils. The sides were level at 6-6 at the break thanks to a try by NDE Format man of the match Rogers, converted by Whitrow. And after the break further
ST HELEN Combination outfit Owens Corning Ravenhead gained more silverware when they won the initial final of the new Champions Cup of the North West Inter League Alliance. The St Helens Star Premier Division champions beat Warrington Premier Division
A TOUGH crackdown is on the cards for council tenants who fail to pay their rent and ignore the problem. And with nearly 500 tenants, some from the Leigh area, being taken to court since April and 32 being evicted, the Housing Department is showing it
A NETWORK of access centres has won an award. The 12 'Inform' adult guidance and information centres in East Lancashire have received the North West Quality Standard Award. The centres were launched last year in an initiative between ELTEC, colleges,
Cllr Pat Rye claims the residents of Bulk wanted a parking scheme because of a commuter problem. Here's my recollection of what happened when two nice council researchers came round, some years back, to ask about this: Council researcher: Do you ever
UGB Lions 18 Mayfield 24 PLAYING with a full 13 players and four subs for the first time this season, UGB gave a strong Mayfield side a real run for their money. The visitors were bolstered by several players from their National Conference League side
A BUS stop blunder has enraged Blackmoor people. A signal scheme to ease a traffic bottleneck at the Princes Avenue/Manchester Road junction resulted in a bus stop being moved. But residents say nobody told them a bus shelter would be resited in front
A TYPICAL display from Blackpool saw them fail to capitalise on a number of good chances against Plymouth on Tuesday night (December 2) at Bloomfield Road. The lack of finishing up front meant frustration for a side who regularly dominated play and they
A NEWSLETTER to help attract investment into East Lancashire has been launched. 'Elan' has been produced by the East Lancashire Partnership to raise the profile of the region by highlighting new sites and property developments that are available to potential
Portico Panthers 46 Blackbrook A nil PANTHERS never looked like losing this mudbath encounter against their local rivals. D. Ward set the ball rolling with a try near the sticks, converted by J. Leyland. Both sides lost a lot of ball in difficult conditions
IT'S jingle tills all the way for stores in Blackpool's booming town centre - and Teletubby-mania is playing a big part in this year's early Christmas shopping boom. Merchandise from the hit children's television show is this season's best seller and
PRESTON shoppers will be able to spend a penny, peseta or punt when a high street store welcomes foreign currencies at its cash tills. Department store Marks and Spencer is planning a £10 million trade-in of its old tills for a new computerised system
MINISTER Margaret Beckett got an ambitious glimpse of the future when she officially opened Hyndburn's award winning Globe Centre. THE award-winning Globe Centre was officially opened this week by Margaret Beckett MP who got a glimpse of the enterprise
A DARWEN firm has rescued a major North West group of companies - and saved 120 jobs. Brookhouse, the India Mill-based tooling and composites company and sponsors of the landspeed record-breaking Thrust Supersonic car, has bought the SPD Group from the
RISING snooker star Lynette Horsburgh almost pulled off the shock of the season, coming close to beating the world number one at Preston's Guild Hall. The 23-year-old, who has just completed a Law and Accountancy degree at the University of Central Lancashire
MEMBERS of Bickershaw Methodist Church are praying for a miracle to keep the building open. For after almost a century of worship, the final remaining 15 churchgoers are struggling to increase their number and are facing closure. And the minister is even
JUBILANT health chiefs have placed an order for a near £1 million piece of life-saving medical equipment - paid for by the people of East Lancashire. The East Lancashire SuperScan Appeal has hit the golden figure which paves the way for the arrival of
LEADING eco warriors have promised to lend their support to Darwen's fight against a windfarm development on the town's moors. The activists' pledge comes as fears continue to grow in Darwen that one of the area's last unspoilt areas of natural beauty
MADCAP comedian Harry Hill drops in at the Guild Hall in a couple of weeks with his zany routine and a few old friends. The former doctor quit the medical profession when he decided it wasn't for him and has since scooped an array of top awards on the
TROUBLED children have been making more than 250 calls a week from East Lancashire to ChildLine, it was revealed today. The organisation, which tries to help youngsters escape sexual and physical abuse as well as bullying, was phoned 1172 times in a four
GIRL power kick-started a fund-raising spree to help a young cerebral palsy sufferer get mobile. Regulars at the Sir Robert Peel pub, Walton-le-Dale, dressed up as the Spice Girls to tot up cash and send seven-year-old Joshua Newsham for intense physiotherapy
PEACEFUL Astley Green can dream on. Angry locals feared colliery showground plans would shatter their tranquility. But planners turned down Hoyles Promotions' plan to set-up a permanent show ground there. They hoped to stage dog and cat shows, equestrian
ROY Hodgson takes his third-placed Blackburn Rovers side to Highbury on Saturday, laughing off talk that the Premiership title race is already decided - in favour of Manchester United. And the Rovers boss, facing another tough challenge from fourth-placed
STICK a jewel in your navel and get your hips swinging as the exotic art of belly dancing hits Preston. The eastern form of entertainment is weaving its way into town thanks to Helen Shannon who is starting classes at Woodplumpton Village Hall. Helen
DOORS are being opened to homeless youngsters in Preston as a new scheme to take them off the streets gets under way. Families are being urged to let the youngsters into their homes under the project organised by national organisation Night Stop who kicked
A 16-year-old student from Preston College was killed in a tragic accident on Monday when a car collided with a motorcyclist at the junction of Garstang Road and Regent Drive in Fulwood. Salma Coser Khan was a passenger in the front seat of a Rover saloon
ANYONE can easily criticise any decisions made, but I think the so called 'Kamikaze Corner' is a vast improvement on the traffic hold-ups caused with lights in the past. If traffic gave way, as is laid down in the Highway Code, then there would be nothing
BAMBER Bridge's new manager has fired a warning shot to his players: Talk's cheap, now let's see some action. Wayne Harrison's fiery words follow Saturday's (November 29) gut-wrenching defeat at the hands of Gainsborough Trinity in the third qualifying
BLACKBURN'S new £80m link to the motorway network, which has taken nearly four years to construct, should be open by Christmas. There had been conflicting reports that the M65 extension, running from the M6 in Bamber Bridge to the existing stretch of
PNE 3 FULHAM 1 WITH a battling, hard-working performance to equal anything that Preston have produced this season, the challenge of the 'moneybags' outfit from the banks of the River Thames was brushed aside to bring an end to a run of four consecutive
DETECTIVES have launched an appeal for witnesses after clashes between Asian and white gangs left three people with knife wounds. The weekend brawl, which is believed to have started on a Metrolink tram, spilled over on to the platform at Bury Interchange
MY WIFE and I have visited the new Sainsbury's store three times since it opened and have been surprised at the low number of customers. I feel sure that a major contributory factor is the difficulty in negotiating the new roundabout, especially when
NORTH End stood to move above visitors Wolves in the First Division league table if they defeated their second-placed opponents. Vile weather actually halved the expected crowd for what was expected to be one of the season's most attractive matches. With
ONE of the world's top artists arrives in Radcliffe next week to explain the giant sculpture he is to create for the town. The internationally acclaimed Ulrich Ruckriem has been commissioned to make a massive sculpture which will dominate the currently
PEOPLE from as far away as Blackpool and the Fylde coast are snapping up tickets for the Christmas pantomime "A Christmas Fantasy" at King George's Hall. More than a fortnight before rehearsals begin some performances are already almost sold out. Visitors
SOCCER-MAD dad Darren Pond was put on the spot when his son was born on the same day as a vital football match. For while wife Rachael was groaning with labour pains, goalie Darren was weighing up whether he'd get to the game on time. The clock-watching
A MAJOR £200,000 revamp of Bury's town centre traffic routes would create a pedestrians' paradise. Council bosses were last night expected to approve plans to create a new series of pedestrianised shopping areas in the heart of the town while non-essential
A HISTORIC part of Preston is to be returned to its former glory thanks to a £571,000 grant from the Lottery. Grange Park is to be restored as a replica of the gardens designed and built by Edward Milner in the 1860s when it was part of the stately Ribbleton
TRADITIONAL medicine has failed Joanne Green who suffers from Raynaud's Disease, a condition where her hands get so cold she has to wear gloves even in summer. Joanne 28, of Brackenbury Road, Preston, discovered she had this rare circulatory problem 10
FORMER Rugby League ace Kevin Tamati is the man with the tough task of bringing rugby to the people of Preston. The 44-year-old New Zealander is the manager of Lancashire Lynx, the area's only rugby league side, who play their home matches at Deepdale
LEYLAND WARRIORS U9s 60 LITTLE HULTON 44 WARRIORS started strongly and had a good lead at half-time, but slack defence allowed Little Hulton back into the game. However, Warriors replied with further tries to win the game. Try scorers were Richard Brown
GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY 1, BAMBER BRIDGE 0 from weekend of November 29/30 BAMBER Bridge crashed out of the Umbro Trophy at the hands of a powerful Trinity side, but it wasn't the score everyone was talking about. Instead, fans and players alike were left
A LOCAL inventor is hoping to "pocket" a small fortune and chalk up a success with his revolutionary new creation. And soon pub-goers across the country could be "cueing up" to play Whirlpool - the brainchild of Mr Peter West. "I've called it that because
GILLY, at the moment, is finding it hard going following Carter all over Preston, in particular to shops selling videos. A couple of years ago, Carter appeared on, and won, an edition of Cilla Black's Blind Date. In the run-up to Christmas, the TV company
CHILDREN at a Bury primary school were in a class of their own when they helped launch an information networking project. Pupils at St Thomas's CE Primary were able to harness information technology to the full when they took part in a video link-up with
A GRANDFATHER has been commended by a judge for capturing an escaped prisoner who broke into a neighbour's house while on the run. Geoff Wolstenholme leapt into action when his wife spotted prisoner George Murphy trying to run off after raiding a nearby
LOCAL children have the worst teeth in the country, according to a new dental survey. The shock statistics revealed that children in the Bury area have some of the worst recorded cases of tooth decay in Britain. Figures from the British Association for
WORKERS had a lucky escape when fire tore through a mill in Clitheroe town centre. Nearly 100 employees had to be evacuated from Bowker Brothers, Lowergate, after the blaze broke out in machinery. Fire crews from Accrington, Clitheroe and Great Harwood
HYNDBURN Tory MP Ken Hargreaves emerged as one of the leading Conservative opponents of the Government's poll tax plans. A letter under his signature - and that of five other back bench rebels - had been sent out to all Tory MPs urging them to back a
LAGER importer Andrew Ronnan has issued a writ against the European Commission in his battle to put real Bavarian beer in British pubs. His Whalley-based Bavarian Lager Company is to challenge the EC to change the UK law which restricts the sale of so
BIRD fancier Ben Mason is all of a flutter after winning the '1997 Early Bird Club Member of the Year' in the prestigious annual awards organised by the 'Cage & Aviary Birds' magazine. And the 16-year-old Parr High pupil, a member of the Lancashire
LEIGH RU beat Aldwinians 17-11 in the first round of the Lancashire Trophy. In a low scoring first half Leigh could only manage a Ross Bullough penalty against the wind, but were only 6-3 down after some solid defending. With the wind in the second half
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD WHAT a joyous razzle-dazzle lot they were . . . the Phoenix Prize Jazz Band from St Helens who splashed the streets with colour and set the pavements ringing to their kazoo, clappers, jew's harp and comb-and-paper music. It's a memory
THE devastated mother of murdered St Helens woman Sharon Lynch (pictured) has spoken of her love for her daughter and determination to help catch her killer. Sheila Johnston, from Parr, spoke to selected members of the press including the St Helens Star
LEIGH Miners Rangers are on a roll! And the rest of the league should take note after they comprehensively beat Castleford Lock Lane 38-14. Even without county back rower Stuart Littler and other forwards Casey and Collier, MR had too much fire power
ANGRY residents of Mill Lane, Sutton, are calling for St Helens Council to recognise their concern over the amount of heavy goods traffic thundering along the road. People who live on the main road say that there has been a problem with HGVs for some
TWO local businessmen have played Father Christmas - by bringing a tree-mendous boost to shops on The Rock, Bury. Fred Bowen and Vic Graham put their hands in their pockets to sponsor a 50ft high Christmas tree which now takes pride of place in the popular
ANGRY neighbours in Windle have launched a campaign to prevent what they claim is the last remaining 'green' space in the parish from being swallowed up by a new housing development. It follows the submission of a planning application for the building
A CHEAP toy is not a bargain if a child gets hurt. That's the message from trading standards bosses in Bury who are reminding shoppers to take care when choosing Christmas presents for their children over the next few weeks. Every year around 36,000 children
SOCIAL services staff in Bury have told a young mother that she cannot spend Christmas with her young child. The woman has supervised contact with the youngster for only three hours a week under a full care order given by the High Court. Social services
A BITTER row has erupted at Greenmount Wild Bird Hospital, leading to the intervention of the Charities Commission. Supporters of the charity declared Tuesday's annual general meeting "a farce", after the two sides battling to take control of the bird
SIX-YEAR-OLD Rebecca Ryan is making a name for herself as a real "Tommy" boy. The youngster is playing the title role in the hit musical spectacular Tommy which opened at Manchester's Palace Threatre on Tuesday. Rebecca, of Richmond Avenue, Prestwich,
SCHOOLS are safe from massive cuts - but people's wallets will be lightened to help pay for it. A £4 million Christmas present for the borough's prized education service has been granted by the Government. But that merely reduces next year's cuts list
CHRISTMAS cheer for the homeless will come in the shape of a hostel with home comforts. Leigh girl Michelle Andrews is one of the organisers made up of 17-24 year-olds from the Prince's Trust Volunteer Team based at Groudwork Trust in King Street, Wigan
A LETTER of support from the girlriend he attacked saved the day for Dean Harris. Magistrates at Bury made it clear they had been contemplating a far more serious sentence until they had read the letter from Sarah Hadfield, the mother of Harris's five-month-old
A MAN who put the fun into fund-raising has died, aged 57. Cliff James, of Canterbury Close, Atherton was the life and soul of the party when the Atherton-based charity champions Conspin Lads and Lassies held their Monday night free and easies. Kidney
THE HIGH-flying 316 (Leigh) Squadron of the Air Training Corps scooped the Merseyside wing's top community award. At the annual ground training competition at RAF Sealand Air Commadore Jon Ford, AOC ATC, presented the George Wood Memorial Sword to proud
HEALTH bosses have reassured dental patients that new registration practices will have only a minor impact in Bury. A government policy of September 1996 made it necessary for all adults to re-register with their dentist if they don't pay a visit in a
LOCAL posties will be going Christmas crazy this year! Royal Mail is expecting a record breaking festive postbag. And to cope with demand the company is drafting in extra vehicles and staff. In Wigan and Bolton alone there'll be 33 extra vehicles and
Eccles A 4 Haresfinch 9 FINCH produced a great rearguard action to topple the previously unbeaten Eccles outfit. The big, well-organised home outfit started the match at whirlwind speed and quickly put the visitors' defence to the test with a series of
COAL getters will have to wait and see if they can pick coal from an Atherton tip. Rackwood Colliery Co Ltd want to salvage coal from the old Gibfield Colliery tip. But the plans have brought an outcry from local's who don't fancy more mineral workings
FORMER drug-addicts and alcoholics in Prestwich have been left devastated this week after they were told that their "lifeline" was being withdrawn. And the news from the charity, Turning Point, that it was to close the Craft Factory in Warwick Street
FUGITIVE Andrew Brent is back behind bars after two years on the run. Brent, who was serving a life sentence after being found guilty of the murder of shopworker Janet Cheetham in Rainhill in December 1981, was arrested just a few hours before ITV's new
St Helens Town 1 Burscough 1 THE torrential rain of Friday and Saturday morning abated just too late to prevent Town's clash with Haslingden clash becoming one of several casualties in the North West Counties League on Saturday. In midweek, a single point
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD THOUGH Remembrance Sunday is now well behind us, ex-serviceman John Oates is still a bit hot under the collar about the way in which the St Helens ceremonial parade is operated. Or, to be more precise, the direction in which the salute
Thatto Heath 41 Folly Lane 20 HEATH were flattered by this scoreline after they had coasted through the opening period. They raced into a 22-0 lead only to see Folly Lane rally in the second half to come within two points of them. But with only 10 minutes
POLICE say they are satisfied with the results of the new Safer Shopping initiative - designed to keep St Helens town centre a safe place for Christmas shoppers. The scheme was launched two weeks ago in conjunction with the St Helens Chamber. Detective
BLACKPOOL Airport's longest serving member of staff has decided to hang up his boots and retire. But he'll soon be pulling on another pair to go walking in the Yorkshire Dales where he plans to spend his retirement days. Jim Roper used to work down a
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD IT seems that this old page is now a fixture on the Internet. And I've been heartened and impressed by the global response that has come in - from places as far apart as Australia and the USA. Rather closer to home, David T. McLaughlin
A GRANDMOTHER who went to bingo expecting to take home a free teddy bear ended up winning nearly £100,000. Dora Bibby, 84, went to the Mecca on Talbot Road, Blackpool, on Monday night, after being persuaded by friend Barbara Dalziel who heard they were
SAINTS are being given the chance to cash in . . . For the club is offering a loyalty bonus on season tickets for next season. And admission charges are being pegged at last term's level. Season passes for the 1998 Super League campaign go on sale on
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD JEAN HILL clearly recalls sharpening her childhood teeth on military 'iron rations' - the sort of tough, sweet biscuits that used to be dished out to wartime soldiers. For her mother was a supervisor at the Sutton factory where these
PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice is being challenged to back the growing campaign against cash cuts for lone parents. The challenge came from his Liberal Democrat opponent in the general election. Councillor Tony Greaves has written to Gordon Prentice saying
BANNING meat on the bone - is this not just panic by an inadequate, spineless administration just stumbling along? The Government had three options. But they chose this one, even though the odds against eating BSE-infected meat are equal to winning the
ANGRY bus users say Stagecoach bosses should try a taste of their own service and see how bad it is. More than 400 have signed a petition complaining about buses failing to turn up and running late on the Burnley Wood route, which ran every 20 minutes
LANCASTER City Council has hit back at claims that it is not prepared to evict Ryeland's troublemakers. Housing chief, Cllr Ian Barker, has refuted suggestions made by Independent councillors that the Council has failed in its obligation to evict troublemakers
A TRIBUTE was paid to the headteacher of Pendle's largest high school during its annual awards evening in his absence, as an investigation into the financial management of the school continues. Ernie Pickup, head of Mansfield High, Brierfield, missed
BOARD of Trade President Margaret Beckett came to see the future of industrial Pendle, but her feet hardly touched the ground before she was off again. Mrs Beckett had been due to see the work of local firms when she opened the plush £700,000 Pendle Business
A PAEDOPHILE who sexually assaulted two boys he befriended has been jailed for four years. Norman Shepherd, 56, met the teenage boys while on fishing trips to Morecambe and earned the trust of their parents. But Preston Crown Court heard that he carried
TORY leaders are claiming council tax in some East Lancashire areas could soar by as much as 12 per cent next April. Tory local government spokesman Sir Norman Fowler, who has analysed of the new Government's figures, warned the combination of district
A HUGE envelope marked 'Top Secret' held the news every pupil at Coates Lane Primary School, Barnoldswick, wanted to hear. The 150 pupils cheered with joy when they were told their primary school had become the first in Lancashire to win a Charter Mark
THE Shrimps thundered back up to third place in the Conference on Saturday following a blitz which saw Telford's defence crumble in five minute goal feast. And the jubilant fans had even more to cheer about as rival teams at the top of the table dropped
OLD soldiers and comrades of the King's Own Royal Regiment travelled to Lancaster to inspect the grand refurbishment of their regimental museum this week. After a year's hard work and a £120,000 investment, the museum in Lancaster's Market Square has
THE boss of Bubbles in Morecambe says he is 'shocked and astounded' by a City Council report which suggests the leisure complex should be scrapped. The Council is looking anew at tourism in Morecambe and the Bubbles Complex, which includes the Dome, has
Three off-duty Lancashire firemen who chased a youth along Morecambe seafront after they had been subjected to abuse in a pub have each been fined £250. But a judge said he hoped that the part-time officers would not lose their jobs as a result of their
LINDSEY THORNTON stormed to a triple title haul at the national junior table tennis championships. The Bury-based teenager swept the board by retaining her singles title and then added the doubles and mixed doubles championships for good measure. It was
EVEN the weather couldn't deter the crowds that flocked to see the annual Christmas lights switch-on ceremonies in Blackpool and St Annes. Hundreds turned out in Blackpool to see Santa's procession wend its way through to Bank Hey Street ready for the
POLICE have charged 31-year-old David John Bonnell with the murder of his wife, Tracey Bonnell. He appeared before Lancaster Magistrates on Saturday and was remanded in custody. Mrs Bonnell's body was discovered at her Skerton home early last Thursday
LANCASTER progressed to the first round proper of the F.A. Trophy following a hard fought win over Tamworth. Tamworth have a similar record to City in the Dr Martens' League but after a poor start they are one of their form sides and after taking the
FUTURE generations of Blackpool youngsters and adults alike will reap the benefits of a massive tree planting campaign launched in Claremont Park. The initiative is part of a scheme by Blackpool Council to plant 2,300 sapling trees throughout the area
I LIVE on the Ridge Estate in Lancaster. A building firm have just started a contract on the canal bank. I have noticed that the workmen have no hut to have their lunch in and have to sit in the open, in often wet and windy conditions. They have to leave
PRESTON North End have appointed Mick Wearmouth as new Club Secretary following the resignation of Audrey Shaw. Mick will combine this role with his existing job as Club manager of Chorley FC. New Assistant Club Secretary is Pat Elliot who starts her
A FORMER Bury ace did it in midweek and tomorrow it's the turn of the players he left behind to stop Bryan Robson's Middlesbrough hitting top of the division! David Johnson's last gasp equaliser for Ipswich at Portman Road on Tuesday evening, his third
GARY PETERS was disappointed to lose the match: "We got off to a great start with the two early goals and we should have closed things down. We didn't,we kept up the tempo of the game and they got back into it." Asked about Moilanen's mistake which gave
A LUCKY and talented Lytham schoolgirl is drinking from the cup of success after making a break into the glamorous world of television as well as impressing judges closer to home at Blackpool Music Festival. Sacha Croston, of Islay Road, Lytham, has just
"THAT was as good as anything we have done, including our championship year," said Preston boss Gary Peters. "We worked really hard against a good side, it was a team effort - and by that I mean everyone, the players and the supporters. "Our supporters
THE Slyne community has rallied round to help a local teenager who was left paralysed after a tragic car accident. Andrew Hartley, 17, was lined up for a promising football career as a professional at Wigan Athletic before the tragedy struck. He was left
FYLDE comedian Mick Miller is set to kick-start Blackpool into Christmas tomorrow (December 5), with the opening night of Christmas In Paradise. The show promises to be a great party night out combining top comedy, music and dancing with a fabulous dinner
MORE than a dozen people turned up at the Preston Samaritans open evening to find out more about becoming a volunteer. The group gave a presentation on December 1 as part of its recruitment drive to cover weekend and weekday morning shifts. The Preston
I USED to wonder about the meaning of the term, 'New Labour.' Now, I know - it means 'Dictatorial and uncaring.' For example: Use your dentist or you will end up without one. Find a job (where are they?) or you will lose benefit. If your school does not
SNOOKER champion Ronnie O'Sullivan has slammed the behaviour of a drunken spectator who brought an important semi-final to a halt, shouting. The potting ace was playing Stephen Lee in the semi-final of the UK Championships at Guild Hall on Saturday (Nov
JOBS for the boys and girls have been given a boost with a Government-backed project. Wigan Borough Partnership is one of 35 organisations nationwide to be selected to run a Demonstration Project pilot scheme for improving job prospects of 15 and 16 year
DARWEN MP Janet Anderson has published a new analysis of how government money will be spent on her constituency's health services. She revealed that next year the East Lancashire Health Authority will receive an extra £12,258,000 from the government -
PAPER and packaging group David S Smith, which has a major mill in Darwen, has seen its profits collapse by half. Pre-tax profits fell to £29.3 million for the half year to November from £58.6 million. Turnover fell from £615.4 million to £554.8 million
Haydock 17 Pilkington Recs 8 HAYDOCK completed the double over their neighbours in a hard-fought game. Both teams found ball-handling difficult in the wet conditions. But Haydock took the lead with a drop goal by Jones after seven minutes. And the Yickers
CALLOUS yobs have burned down a country park bird hide to the ground and attacked a second which had just received a big cash donation to extend it. Now bird watching enthusiasts are looking at increased security precautions at the Leigh beauty spot.
BAXENDEN folk fear a lottery bid to improve local facilities will fail in the wake of Accrington New Era Centre's recent windfall. A forum, set up to represent the people of Baxenden in their bid to build a community centre, submitted a bid for lottery
A PRESTON museum celebrated 25 years of bringing art to the town with a £1 million exhibition along its grand staircase. Staff at the former County Regimental Museum on Stanley Street, which was renamed The Museum of Lancashire in 1996, brought together
A BUSINESSMAN has been disqualified from acting as a company director after running up debts of more than £800,000 as results of his conduct with eight failed companies. James Ashworth, 39, of Cobham Road, Accrington, was banned for five years at Blackburn
LESLIE Walsh has sent out a Transatlantic Leigh Tech invite. Fifty-five years ago Leslie was in a boys' class of 25 students at the college. This month he'll return to Britain from Apollo, in Pennsylvania, USA, and has asked The Journal to help him fulfil
DEVASTATED Coronation Street character Deirdre Rachid discovered the truth about her wicked fianc - watched by a crowd of East Lancashire holidaymakers! The Christmas bombshell where the character played by actress Anne Kirkbride apparently learns about
A BRAVE postmaster foiled a robbery despite being beaten about the head during the armed raid. Rajan Vaish grappled with a gunman after a shotgun had been blasted into the counter at his Hindley Green post office in Atherton Road, on Saturday. Although
SHOPLIFTERS and hooligans intent on preying on shops in Leigh this Christmas are in for a nasty shock. For they could find themselves swiftly scooped into the long arms of the law as shopkeepers and police join forces to keep riff-raff out of town. It
PLANS for the development of Southern Towngate into a retail and leisure complex have been announced. The blighted Leyland car park has been sold by Metrolands to an Essex-based company which aims to build a bright new shopping area with a traditional
HUNDREDS of determined parents spent the night queuing outside in the bitter cold hoping to get their hands on a Spice Girl - a 12-inch replica doll, that is. Fewer than 200 of the dolls will arrive in Preston for the festive period, and are expected
THE DAYS when the railway really did run past the front of your house weren't so long ago. Trains were once a part of everyday life. Like boiled eggs, jam butties, flat caps, navy blue school knickers, tripe and clogs. Walking round the corner and crossing
SOUTHEND 3 PNE 2 NORTH END have no one to blame but themselves for not securing a third win away from Deepdale on Tuesday. In poor conditions Preston got off to a great start with a goal after just five minutes. Lee Cartwright produced a fine run down
PRESTON GRASSHOPPERS 31 KIRKBY LONSDALE 10 HOPPERS' makeshift side struggled at times against a side four divisions below them in the league structure. Early tries from Lee Douglas and Mike Bailey, with one converted by Rob Smith, established an ideal
WITH reference to the front page story headed 'Kamikaze Corner' in last week's Journal. There should never have been a junction there in the first place. The old bridge used to carry steam trains, so I'm sure it could have been modernised to take today's
GLADIATOR star Hunter rose to the challenge of switching on Preston town centre's Christmas lights in a spectacular event. The muscle-clad Glad, real name James Crossley, mingled with the 3,000-strong crowd, chatted to local fans of the TV show and signed
POLICE investigating a murder in Leicester want to question a man they think could be on the streets of Preston. Detectives are anxious to trace 29-year-old Osron Oscar Samuel, also known as Hamsa Latif, as part of inquiries which have brought them to
ONE of Blackburn's oldest companies will make 29 workers redundant. The Cherry Tree Machine Company, which has been trading for more than a century, said that the loses will come from the shop floor, clerical and administrative posts. The laundry and
I LAST wrote to you at the beginning of September, stating reasons why Xanadu should not be built at Marshall Street. The continuing stream of letters to The Journal confirms beyond doubt that the issue is not just the Pennington NIMBYs' hobbyhorse, it
PRESTON churches have joined forces to take the true message of Christmas to the town - on the backs of buses. The unique festive advertising campaign features bright yellow and red posters bearing simply the word 'Christmas' followed by the copyright
BLACKBURN Rovers have launched a cheeky campaign to attract new supporters to Ewood Park - from areas where bitter rivals Burnley and Manchester United draw their support. The club is looking to boost home gates and has stepped into uncharted territory
SO Blackburn could be in line for a handout of £2.5 million from Europe (LET, November 28). Good show! But I believe it would be a good idea to keep the money (if we get it) well away from the people who, over the past 35 years have done so much damage
A GANG of armed robbers stole more than £70,000 of computers and microchips when they struck at a local firm. Four balaclava-wearing raiders forced a door and threatened two terrified employees at Gamma Management on the Albert Close Trading Estate, Whitefield
POLICE were forced to intervene as protesters tried to put up an eight feet high plastic fence outside the Cotswolds home of Blackburn MP and Home Secretary Jack Straw. About 50 protesters, who were hoping to highlight the plight of immigrants kept in
A FAMILY face losing their home because it stands in the way of a lucrative land-for-homes cash deal. Mrs Ann Whittleworth's council house (pictured) is one of two standing in the way of a link road to a new housing development behind North Avenue, Unsworth
AN award-winning police dog training centre has welcomed plans to launch a nationwide review of training techniques following cruelty claims in the South of England. A police spokesman said Lancashire Constabulary's Dog Training Centre was prepared to
Report from weekend of November 29/30 FORMER Hoppers Mini-Junior players featured strongly in the week's rugby internationals. Will Greenwood established himself in England's back line and Patrick Sanderson performed effectively for the English Rugby
TWO masked raiders armed with a knife robbed Griffin Head petrol station, Huncoat, last night, at 8.45pm. The men, wearing balaclavas, escaped on foot with about £100 in loose change. It is the second raid at the Burnley Road Jet petrol station in just
BOLTON Wanderers boss Colin Todd has spiced up Saturday's Lancashire hotpot showdown by saying he does not fear a backlash after Rovers were mauled by Manchester United. Todd is in buoyant mood after two victories in the space of three days pushed Wanderers
TWO children's private nurseries received glowing reports from a recent OFSTED inspection. Les Enfants, Darwen and Little Gems, Blackburn, are celebrating after the findings by OFSTED inspectors. Les Enfants, one of the first nurseries in the North to
A DISGRACED police officer is facing the sack after being convicted of assaulting a female solicitor at a CID Christmas party. Detective constable Tony Halliwell (42) will have to go before a disciplinary hearing and a decision on his future will be made
BURY'S MPs gave their wholehearted support to a ban on hunting with dogs. David Chaytor and Ivan Lewis voted along with hundreds of their colleagues during last Friday's Commons vote, which saw a huge majority in favour of a ban. Now they want the Government
CARE homes are getting away with poor treatment of older people because in some cases it is impossible for them or their relatives to complain, according to Age Concern. The charity has raised its concerns with the Office of Fair Trading after carrying
ROVERS go gunning for Arsenal on Saturday, looking to put another dent in the Gunners' championship charge and hand out some more capital punishment. Roy Hodgson's side are unbeaten in three league visits to London this season and have not lost there
STUDENT Vicky Catterall won a coveted place as a volunteer working overseas - but must find more than £3,000 to pay for the trip. Seventeen-year-old Vicky, who is at Nelson and Colne College, won the chance to spend a year in South Africa after beating
LAST week, you reported that they were switching on the Christmas lights in Darwen. I think they would have done better running a competition and calling it Find The Lights. C LOWCOCK, Highfield Road, Darwen. Previous news story Converted for the new
AWAY from its strippergram scandal, Lancashire Constabulary has something to celebrate - a big boost for recruitment. Some 50 more officers are to be added to the force. That's bad news for the criminals and great news for the community. But do you remember
CLEARLY, in demanding the resignation of Detective Constable Joe Scanlan, the officer whose birthday party led to the strippergram scandal that rocked Lancashire Police, Chief Constable Pauline Clare is determined that the integrity of the force shall
ONE of East Lancashire's largest and oldest employers is to merge in a multi-million pound deal. Office supplies firm FH Brown of Burnley, which employs about 280 people, is joining forces with London-based Dudley Stationery Ltd. A statement issued by
A DETECTIVE at the centre of a strippergram scandal has vowed to take his case to the Home Secretary after being forced out of his job. Police bosses have asked DC Joe Scanlan to resign following a two-day inquiry headed by Chief Constable Pauline Clare
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD IT seems that not all the Yanks drafted to this part of the North West during the second world war were based at Burtonwood. In reply to a recent query as to whether members of the US forces were ever stationed at Haydock, reader
A MURDER inquiry has been launched following the shooting of a Newton-le-Willows man whose body was left in a car park at Whiston Hospital late on Monday evening. Despite receiving emergency treatment at the hospital, car dealer John Haselden (24) from
MAN of steel John Lucas broke the pain barrier in an incredible 140 mile, multi-marathon muscle strainer. Round-the-world adventurer John, a former Leigh St Mary's RC High student, swam 3.8 kilometres, cycled 179.2 kms then ran a 42.2 km marathon in a
CENTRAL defender Neil Moore is Chris Waddle's biggest injury worry for Saturday's Lancashire derby against fellow-strugglers Wigan Athletic at Turf Moor. Moore picked up a knee injury in Burnley's last game - a 3-1 defeat at Bristol City - and, at this
CHURCH Inn left it late on Saturday. They snatched a last gasp winner against Rileys to move in to the quarter finals of the Redwaters Coronation Cup. With extra time looming Wayne Woods netted his second of the game to secure a dramatic 3-2 win. Jamie
OPERATION Wellbeing, a pioneering initiative for victims of rape or sexual assault is being launched at Whiston Hospital today (Thursday, December 4). Now, any woman attending Whiston Hospital who has been subjected to a sexual attack or rape will be
CHRISTMAS has come early for one man who scooped £100,000 at the bookies. The family man, who has asked not to be named, collected his winnings from Stanley Racing on Ainsworth Road, Radcliffe, on Tuesday after a nail-biting weekend. "He correctly predicted
AN irate mother has accused St Helens Council of ignoring the views of local people following the decision to close Haydock Central Library. Justine Griffiths, whose three young children attend Legh Vale Primary School, says she only heard about the closure
A CHRISTMAS appeal to bring toys to needy children and teenagers has been launched by social services. Last year's appeal meant hundreds of children in the borough received new and second-hand presents. Bosses hope for a generous response this year as
WONDER OF PETS with Wally Ashcroft THE majority of aquarists install a lighting system in their fish tanks so that they see their fish clearly. This is natural but the provision of light is much more important than that. Light is essential to life and
WHAT do Trevor Francis, Ron Atkinson and David Pleat have in common? Yes, the trio are all recent managers of Sheffield Wednesday. But there is another more binding similarity - their appalling attempts at co-commentary. Trevor Francis is the most surprising
ON Saturday, Mr Martin Ross challenged readers to construct a meaningful letter without using the letter 'E.' This is the first shot at it we have received, but I think it falls outside the 'rules' by shortening 'kilometres' to 'kilos' and operation to
Food News, with Christine Rutter SVELTE TV Gladiator Rocket is full of surprises. You might think this rising athlete would be a paragon of virtue when it comes to healthy eating. She's got legs that run for miles, toned muscles and a figure with a hint
LOTTERY luck could smile on one of the borough's leading amateur drama organisations. Plans have been drawn to create a new, purpose-built 80-seater theatre to replace Whitefield Garrick's current headquarters in Bank Street. The scheme, which is expected
A RADCLIFFE man has undergone a marathon nine-hour operation to reattach a finger torn off in a works accident. And colleagues of Mr Steven Cook, 33, are anxiously awaiting news of whether the micro-surgery carried out at Manchester's Withington Hospital
Saddleworth A 6 Parr Hare & Hounds 16 HOUNDS returned to winning ways with this hard-fought success at Oldham, thanks mainly to an excellent defensive effort. The visitors started well with centre Stu Weir grabbing an unconverted try. Then loose-forward
A MAN has claimed that a pilgrimage organised by an East Lancashire woman has cured his crippling back complaint. John Garbutt, 31, suffered a crushed vertebrae in a freak accident with a horse three years ago. He developed osteoarthritis and had to wear
Bold Miners 18 Weaverham 19 LACK of discipline cost Bold dear in this top-of-the-table clash. They scored four tries to the Cheshire side's two. But the visitors cashed in with penalties. Weaverham raced into an 8-nil lead with a penalty and a converted
EMBARRASSED council officials have ordered a raunchy quote on a concert poster to be covered up after it left them blushing. They decided comments on posters for a rock concert at Accrington Town Hall had gone too far and banned the offending posters
EXTRA police patrols will be out and about across the borough during the Christmas and New Year clampdown on drink driving. And a local police chief has appealed to motorists not to drink at all if they are to drive. Inspector John Sargeson, head of Bury
Ruskin Park 8 West Park 24 WEST Park earned their place in the second round of the Lancashire Trophy -but they were made to fight all the way by their neighbours. A spirited display by Ruskin Park held their NW One visitors West Park to a single point
Clock Face Miners 20 Leigh East 4 CLOCK Face impressively maintained their unbeaten home record. Despite the heavy pitch, both teams started at a fast pace, and the visitors opened the scoring after 10 minutes with an unconverted try. Clock then started
ST Helens and Knowsley Health Authority and local dentists are concerned about the number of patients who may soon have difficulty obtaining dental treatment. Problems with registration at dental surgeries could occur for those patients who have not visited
THE Government's latest BSE scare over British beef has been described as "farcical" by Bury's butchers. Despite a ban on the sale of beef on the bone, many meat traders in the town centre were yesterday continuing to sell joints such as T-bone steaks
ST HELENS North MP Dave Watts has welcomed this year's local government funding package unveiled by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott on Tuesday. After being elected in May, Dave pledged to fight for a fairer deal for St Helens and for an end to the
AN accountant holds the key to Saints' Super League team-building plans He's David Wood -the Rugby League's first salary cap officer, who starts works on Monday. He's responsible for ensuring that clubs spend no more than 50 per cent of their gross income
ANOTHER away defeat for Blackpool against Walsall on Saturday (November 29) saw them fail to tame rampant Frenchmen Roger Boli and Jeff Peron. Walsall's passing game meant they were a constant danger and Boli had three chances in the opening ten minutes
A CHRISTMAS tree described by many Leigh residents as 'pitiful' when it was erected outside the Town Hall is to be replaced this week. A new 25 foot tree has been ordered to replace the 15 foot 'privet' which was put into place on Friday. The tree, paid
LANCASHIRE'S most senior special constable has decided to hang up his boots and retire after 26 years. David Hutton who lives in Pheasant Wood Drive, Cleveleys, has been acting head of Lancashire's Special Constabulary for the past two years. Before that
MORE staff are to be recruited at police operations rooms to deal with the rise in calls from members of the public. The staffing levels will rise by 65 at four area operations covering Greater Manchester Police area, including Leigh. Calls last year
EXTRA police patrols will make for harder criminal pickings this Christmas. Thieves will face the full force of the law in the Leigh, Atherton, Tyldesley, Golborne and Hindley centres as police chiefs work to make it a happy shopping Christmas. Leigh
Blackbrook 4 Shaw Cross Sharks 8 SO near and yet so far! That was the story as far as Blackbrook were concerned on Saturday. They lead for about 70 minutes before victory was snatched from their grasp with just five minutes left. So, Shaw Cross retained
A LOCAL man has criticised the council's plans to remodernise the town centre saying they are not accessible enough to disabled people. Geoffrey Holland, from Haydock, is registered disabled but can walk unaided without a wheelchair. However, while he
COUNCIL tax bills look set to go up by ten per cent in Pendle and Burnley - but not a single penny of the increase will be spent by our town halls. The increase, announced at the same time as a likely two per cent rise in council house rents, will help
BLACKBURN Rovers have launched a cheeky campaign to attract new supporters to Ewood Park - aimed at bitter rivals Burnley and Manchester! The club is looking to boost home gates but insists the drive is not designed to poach fans from neighbouring clubs
BURNLEY manager Chris Waddle will be hoping for better times ahead after another tough week at the Burnley helm. Despite winning 2-1 at home to Northampton on Saturday, Waddle threatened to resign unless the boo-boys start getting behind the team. Throughout
PROUD mum-to-be Nighat Farooq had almost given up hope of having a child after two failed IVF treatments. But her disappointing turned to joy when she became pregnant - naturally. The 29-year-old and her husband Mohammed had been trying to start a family
BOBBIES on the beat in Burnley and Pendle will be armed with tear-gas spray within a few weeks. It is being added to the police armoury of American-style side batons and fixed handcuffs as part of a county-wide move. Officers across the area have begun
I'M amazed Brian Pearson should attack Labour's policies by saying we should do more to revitalise the West End. Whilst he was still a councillor, he was one of the few who criticised the housing renewal programme there. Had it been up to him, less would
AUTISM, the 'invisible disability', is in the public eye for seven days. A national awareness week is being held to make people aware of a syndrome which affects an estimated 120,000 people in Britain. Support groups for families of sufferers say the
TROUBLED children have been making more than 250 calls a week from East Lancashire to ChildLine, it was revealed today. The organisation, which tries to help youngsters escape sexual and physical abuse as well as bullying, was phoned 1,172 times in a
DISCUSSIONS are to be held to determine how to make trams easier to board. A working party is being set up with representatives from Blackpool Transport, Lancashire County Council as well as Blackpool and Wyre Borough Councils. They will consider the
A NEW tourism and leisure strategy to meet Fylde people's needs for sport and recreation in to the 21st Century is being worked on by council chiefs. They have employed a team of specialist consultants to carry out research into what sporting opportunities
THE 'Mr Blobby' fiasco will cost local tax payers more than £1 million, it was revealed this week. Lancaster City Council has backed down from its legal battle with Noel Edmond's Unique Group and agreed to an out of court settlement of £1 million plus
A SQUAD of South African netball players are in for a week to remember when they visit the borough later this month. The Under-17 and Under-19 teams from Paarl High School, Cape Town roll into the country on Sunday, December 14 and YWCA (Juniors) Bury
