Archive
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Blades cut short Bury's cup dream
BURY 1 SHEFFIELD UNITED 2 TOO many people are saying too many nice things about Bury. When you start getting the sympathy vote you know you've got problems. Blades boss Nigel Spackman and goal hero Dean Saunders were oozing in their praise of the Shakers
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Travel cuts incense workers
A SHAKE up of town hall travel allowances could leave some workers £1,000 out of pocket for doing their jobs. Union bosses claim workers are up in arms about the wide-ranging review. And the council's top brass has been accused of 'double standards' after
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Pinnacle of success
A DESIRE by ICI to bow out of Wyre with dignity has led to plans for a high-tech education, business and visitor centre. Plans were drawn up for the building in Fleetwood, tagged the Pinnacle, after ICI offered to share the costs of a major project if
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Twice blessed
GETTING dressed in the morning is set to be a shared experience for the new vicar of St Paul's Church in Marton . Because when Christopher Wren reaches for his dog collar, wife Ann will be reaching for hers at the same time. The pair, who are taking over
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Wayne's dream is over
SNOOKER ace Wayne Brown's dreams of glory in the Embassy World Championship came to an end on Tuesday. The previous day St Helens star Wayne (seen above) had beaten form world number three Dean Reynolds 10-9 at the Norbreck Hotel Blackpool. But in the
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A question of discipline
ADVICE for small firms on handling discipline problems and absenteeism is on offer at two seminars. The arbitration service ACAS is to stage the two half-day workshops to help businesses deal with two of the most common problems faced by firms. The 'Discipline
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Panto mission for music man Rufus
RUFUS BENNETT has been named as Musical Director with St Joseph's Players. And he is a man with a quicktime mission - prepare the team for pantomime within the next fortnight! The former Lowton High student is excited by the prospect. "It's going to be
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Stadium plea by fed-up fans
BLACKPOOL soccer fans just want to see a stadium built as soon as possible - and they do not care who builds it. That was the message of Blackpool Independent Supporters Association as news broke that a second scheme is being submitted to Fylde planning
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Platinum bond for Bill and Lily
THREE telegrams from the Queen proudly hang on the wall of Bill and Lily Pendlebury's seaside home. Reminders of the vows they made 70 years ago. The amazing ex-Atherton couple have had telegrams from the Queen for their golden, diamond and platinum wedding
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Council get tough on bad tenants
PEOPLE in Westleigh people have been celebrating after an anti-social neighbour was evicted from their estate by the council. The tenant has also been banned from applying for any other council property in a new tough stance which is a council warning
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Firm fined £8,000 for 'river of blood'
POLLUTING a Tockholes brook with "blood-red abattoir waste" has cost a firm £8,000. Blackburn Magistrates imposed the fine on Land Feeds Environmental Ltd and ordered them to pay an additional £1,120 costs after the Preston firm pleaded guilty to two
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The man behind Lancashire Lynx
A NEW season is just around the corner and it promises to be the most exciting time ever for Rugby League in this area. Lancashire Lynx have worked hard in the off-season to build a solid team ready to push for promotion. New Zealander Kevin Tamati is
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Hilda's dying wish
DESPERATELY-ill pensioner Hilda Olden had just one wish in life - to meet her hero celebrity Michael Barrymore. And Hilda achieved her ambition, just weeks before she died. The 61-year-old passed away last Wednesday. Hilda, who lived with her daughter
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Footpath war rages on
THE big guns of the council have won the first battle of the Tyldesley footpaths war. It has been raging for two years. But residents in Sycamore Avenue have vowed to continue their guerilla campaign until the Highways and Works committee capitulate.
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To Russia to learn
ADVENTUROUS student Pav Akhtar is looking forward seeing in the new Millennium thousands of miles from home - in Russia. The globetrotting 20-year-old from Preston is over the moon after becoming the only person in the world to land a prestigious scholarship
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Sporting heroes in Preston for secret party
A SURPRISE was in store for Tom Finney when he popped in to a Preston pub. Sir Tom, recently honoured in the New Years' List, thought he was meeting fans at the Windsor Castle in Egan Street, on Monday (Jan 12). But when he walked through the door he
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LETTER: Wind farms: no way
ROB Wilcock (Citizen Letters, December 31) claims there are three reasons to support wind farms. First he seems to think that if we don't build wind farms we will have to have more nuclear power stations. This is simply not true. Wind farms produce so
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Golfer's unlucky tee-break at the 13th hole
UNLUCKY golfer David Gilmour has the biggest handicap at his club after he broke a leg - at the 13th hole! The 59-year-old from Leyland was left writhing in agony when rain-sodden ground gave way under his feet at Garstang Golf Course, twisting his right
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Lady of the lake
A WHEELCHAIR-BOUND woman, trapped in her home after water flooded over the access ramp, has blamed council delays for leaving her stranded. Catherine Eastham, from Bardsea Place, Ingol, said she feels like the Lady Of The Lake as drainage problems have
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LETTER: Wind farms are 'not nice'
I HAD to reply to Mr Rob Wilcock's support of wind farms on Darwen Moor. I would be the first to agree that alternative means of power are needed, but having read reports about these wind farms, they hardly generate anything at all. Obviously, living
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Strange but true
A COUPLE whose car curiously cut out at the same spot three times have called for other people who have suffered the same problems to come forward. Kaye Sanderson's Toyota lost power as she was driving in Lytham close to an aviation radar on her way to
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Family planning centre hits out at high costs
A FAMILY planning agency in Blackburn has spoken out against a government review which could lead to a charge for contraception. Sheila Shaw is manager of the Brook Advisory Centre in Darwen Street which helps and advises women on contraception and works
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LETTER:Wind farms will disrupt our lives
IN reply to Mr Wilcock's letter concerning the suggested industrial development on Darwen Moor, which some people refer to as a wind farm. I find it difficult to reconcile the dropping of thousands of tonnes of concrete, new roads and drainage systems
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Norwegian world cup campaign starts here
NORWAY'S assault on the World Cup is being prepared and master-minded at Blackburn Rovers' training ground. Once a month, between now and the big kick-off in France, all Norwegian internationals playing in the Premiership will converge on the luxurious
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Fast-track on the buses
RESIDENTS living near a busy Preston road are celebrating after a county council U-turn on plans to add a bus lane to the carriageway. Delighted homeowners on London Road believe new proposals could mean the end of their year-long fight to stop the road
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Junior Hoppers do it again and again...
GARTH Dew's four tries against old rivals Fylde helped Preston Grasshoppers' under-10s side notch up two victories on Sunday (Jan 11). They ran out 40-5 and 20-0 winners with Sam Chard and Alex Butler running in three tries each in the two games. The
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Fireman's lift up 12 flight of stairs
WITH a name like Mountain, you'd expect him to be a mean climber. But firefighter Steve, of White Watch in Blackburn, went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure a pensioner got home safely. He was helping to rescue a resident of Bowland House flats
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Anger over plan for estate
PLANS to build a new housing estate have been opposed by angry residents who fear their area is being swamped by large scale developments. Beazer Homes has submitted a planning application to Blackburn with Darwen Council to build 194 dwellings off Sandy
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Thanks, folks
KIND-HEARTED Citizen readers can congratulate themselves as funds raised for our St Catherine's Hospice day care extension appeal have gone through the roof. Since it was launched last July, the Citizen's Brick by Brick campaign has built up more than
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Non-league football round-up
DARWEN manager Steve Wilkes has received a major boost in his battle against being the first manager to have a side relegated in the club's 110 year history by resigning top scorer Denny Khan. Khan left the Anchor Ground four weeks ago to join North West
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Tragedy at Wedding
A WEDDING guest "drowned" more than two hours after falling into a hotel lake. Student Jonathan Williams inhaled a quantity of water when he accidentally fell into an ornamental pond at the Bolholt Hotel in Walshaw Road, Bury. He was taken to Bury General
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Coping with arthritis
ARTHRITIS accounts for a third of all physical disabilities in the UK. It affects people in varying degrees but, at worst, it leaves sufferers in constant pain and unable to move without support. There are some 200 different types with the most common
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Hunger-strike threat as flat is re-possessed
A MAN who was ordered to leave his council flat with his wife and their 15 dogs says he will go on hunger strike if nothing is done to help them find a new home. Peter Bowman, 39, of Burnley Close, Blackburn, says his wife Beatrice's mental health has
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Lorryloads of opposition to beauty spot quarry plans
COUNTY councillors are to get a strong blast over plans to extend quarrying at a Rossendale beauty spot. Marshalls, owners of Scout Moor Quarry, Ramsbottom, have applied for permission to extract an extra 470,000 tonnes of rough rock a year - one third
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FIVE YEARS AGO: Lightning farewell
THE supersonic Lightning fighter which was designed and built by East Lancashire workers made its last flight from British Aerospace at Warton. The 'silver dream' fighter, capable of flying at twice the speed of sound, had been designed, developed and
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Bedside vigil for brave Aimee
AIMEE Read, the schoolgirl with the hopes of all of Bury behind her, has received her potentially life-saving bone marrow transplant. She underwent treatment at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in Pendlebury on Friday evening (January 9). The
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Bus battle as firms vie for route
BUS wars have broken out on a lucrative route through East Lancashire. Accrington-based Pilkingtons are challenging Rossendale Transport, Stagecoach and GM Buses on the route between Bacup and Accrington. The company launched a half-hourly Pilky Bus service
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Every which way by bus! Anthony rides 100,000 miles
COACH-MAD Anthony Griffiths has clocked up more than 100,000 miles on the road to nowhere in particular - starting and finishing at his local bus stop. The fanatical odd job man's latest trip will take him 3,000 miles with a £35.70 ticket on his favourite
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College spending strength 'boosts town trade'
ECONOMIC and cultural activities in Hyndburn are being boosted by Accrington and Rossendale College's multi-million pound business. Councillors have been told that about 65 per cent of the college's £10 million annual budget goes on paying the 200-plus
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Lorry ban signs too big, says angry councillor
NEW signs banning heavy and wide lorries from a Rossendale street are so big that pedestrians are forced into the road to pass them. The double posted signs, seven feet high and nearly five feet wide, banning large vehicles from Thornfield Avenue, Waterfoot
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Health chief will be named 'in days'
HEALTH Secretary Frank Dobson was today on the verge of appointing a new chairman for East Lancashire's Communicare Health Trust. And it is understood that former chief Sheila Maw is the favourite to get the job. Subject to last-minute confirmation, Whitehall
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Plastic bottles problem
IN reply to Jean Lewis's remarks on the shortage of facilities for recycling of plastics (Letters, January 12), the only one I know of is at Booth's supermarket, Clitheroe, which has a small bin for plastic bags. We use this, but where possible use 'permanent
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Call to ban circuses
IN their native land, elephants forage for food and enjoy a social life within their groups. Man is the only enemy who encroached on their land, destroying habitat and culling indiscriminately. Captured young elephants are confined in circus chains, forced
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Better deal for disabled drivers
COUNCILLORS have negotiated more parking for disabled people in the town centre next to Wilkinson's store. Orange Badge holders have no specific facility at this end of town and have been pressing for additional town centre spaces. Informal discussions
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Martin points the way
LEIGH RMI extended their unbeaten run to nine with a 2-2 midweek draw at rainswept Altrincham. But lacklustre Leigh had to fight back from towo down for a share of the points. When Danny McGoona hit Altrincham's second on 50 minutes there looked no way
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RMI let it slip
LEIGH RMI totally outclassed Grantham in front of more than 600 spectators in the first round of the FA Trophy. But, in a careless performance, they had to settle for a tense 1-1 draw. Striker Lee Cryer spurned good chances, besides rattling the woodwork
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Rolling back the skating years
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD THERE were no limits to the gimmicks that enterprising folk would dream up to raise a bob or two in the hard-up Twenties. Among them was marathon dancing in which competing couples shuffled around until they dropped from sheer exhaustion
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Starbeat with Radio City's Darren Proctor
WHAT a scorching start to the year - the warmest January on record. That always happens - every time I book a holiday abroad, it gets really warm in this country. Mind you, I can hardly see myself walking through St Helens Town Centre in a pair of swimming
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Show some respect for old dogs
WALLY ASHCROFT'S Wonder of Pets THERE is a general thought that one year of a dog's life is equal to seven of a human being. This assumption is based on the simple arithmetic that the average life span of a dog is ten years and the human average is seventy
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Drop in jobless figures
LATEST jobless figures for the Bury area have shown a sharp fall. December showed the total number out of work was 2,314 - 72 down on November. The latest figure comprises 1,782 males and 532 females. The unemployment rate for the Bolton and Bury travel
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The mayor's Chinese banquet: New Year feast all in a night's wok!
Food News, with Christine Rutter IT is the banquet that every man can create. The ultimate fast food feast takes just 30 minutes to prepare, regardless of your culinary expertise, and is a perfect speedy way to celebrate Chinese New Year on January 28
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Thugds hunted after Metro attack
DETECTIVES are hunting thugs who attacked a couple on the Metrolink platform at Prestwich. Passengers looked on in terror as a 28-year-old female was dragged along the platform and punched and kicked. A man who was with the woman was also assaulted. Detectives
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By gum, what a good idea!
The John Blunt column NOT all the ideas from Brussels are barmy. For Yorkshire Euro-MP Barry Seal wants a levy imposed on chewing gum manufacturers to pay for cleaning up all the gobbets left behind on pavements. Quite rightly, he points out that the
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Hypnotists ban to be lifted?
STAGE hypnotists could soon get their act together in Bury again if a three-year ban on performances in the borough is lifted. Mr John Birchall, administrator of the Federation of Ethical Stage Hypnotists, wants Bury Council to scrap its decision to prohibit
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Police hunt video gang
POLICE are hunting four men who stole £250, when they burst into the Blockbuster Video store in Leigh at the weekend. The men, who all wore balaclava masks, were armed with baseball bats. They ordered the shop assistant to hand over the cash from the
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Radio Bury by end of the year?
BURY could have its own local radio station by the end of this year. The Radiocommunications Agency have today (January 16) advertised for companies to put in bids for a radio licence to provide a small-scale local service in North and East Greater Manchester
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Old town hall's fate in balance
TALKS on the future of a former town hall will take place as soon as possible, worried residents have been told. Negotiations are under way between Pendle Council and potential buyers over the former council building in Jepp Hill, Barnoldswick. Local
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Taste of triumph
BLACKPOOL'S very own brewery is fizzing to success. Launched only last September, Blackpool Bitter has gone down a treat as far north as Aberdeen and as far south as the House of Commons. Brewery manager Kean Brown said: "It's going very well. We had
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Time to shout about it
ANYONE who feels like shouting the odds about how good life is in Journal-Land could soon get the chance to do it officially! The Town Centres Management team are on the lookout for a town crier for Leigh, Golborne and Platt Bridge. And, although there
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LSH hopes are dashed
Morley 16 Liverpool St Helens 6 LSH went to Morley with high hopes of achieving their first double of the season against the league's bottom club. But a re-vitalised home team recently strengthened by former Wakefield players dashed their hopes with a
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Diana the inspiration for people to give their time
THE death of Diana, Princess of Wales prompted many East Lancashire people to offer their time to help others. And months after her death, people are coming forward to see what they can do, according to a Blackburn volunteer bureau. The Blackburn, Hyndburn
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Dusty's deliverance from sticky end
DUSTY the gerbil, nicknamed after being found dumped in a waste bin in St Helens town centre, has found sanctuary in the town hall. An early morning street sweeper heard the gerbil's cries as he went to empty the bin. Now Dusty is being cared for by kind-hearted
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Store with hearts of gold
ATHERTON Tesco staff are making an 'heart felt' appeal for charity! They are asking customers to wear their hearts on their sleeves to help local children who are sick, disabled or disadvantaged. The store is, for the seventh year, supporting the Variety
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Meteors rocket to national glory
A TRIO of St.Helens' top young wheelchair basketballers were at forefront of a North West victory in the National Junior Championships. Dan Ashall, aged 16, Paul Thomas,15 and Lee Horsley 14, all from the St. Helens-based MSP Meteors club, collected their
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Firebug probe after hostel blaze
ARSON is suspected following a blaze at a bedsit in Dickens House, Bickerstaffe Street on Thursday, January 8. The fire, which was reported at about 7pm, caused severe damage to one of the bedsits on the ground floor. On investigation of the building,
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High flier
WHEN Sarah Boddy is not playing her electric guitar, violin or mandolin, she is usually line dancing, coaching an all-girl football team or practising for her pilot's licence. So, when the multi-talented youngster, from Lytham St Annes High School heard
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MP hot on cowboys
A WITCHFINDER hunt for cowboy directors has the backing of Leigh MP Lawrence Cunliffe. A 24-hour hotline has been launched to expose disqualified company directors who continue to trade illegally. Mr Cunliffe says: "The hotline - 0845 601 3546 - has been
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Waltz time at West Park
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD FROTH-blowers of the Carr Mill Hotel's discussion corner have come up with another yedscratter for customers of this column to mull over. Harking back to the halcyon years of ballroom dancing, they ask: "Can anyone tell us where the
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Council cuts hold 'local democracy' plans back
PEOPLE power will be put on hold with plans to introduce areas committees throughout the borough facing delay. But other aspects embraced within Bury Council's bold Democracy Plan will go ahead. However, the setting up of area committees, a key element
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Watchdogs in sales warning
JANUARY sales "bargains" sometimes cost more say trading watchdogs. Shoppers looking for cheap snips should look at the price, not the reduction, says Wigan's principal trading standards officer Alan Blundell. He said: "There are many ways sales offers
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Super double for Yickers
Higginshaw nil Haydock 23 HAYDOCK produced an impressive display to complete a double over their Oldham rivals. They always looked the better team in muddy conditions and went close to scoring in the opening 15 minutes through full-back Tither and prop
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Old failings sink Park
Aldwinians 26 West Park 18 WEST Park's fallibility away from home which virtually cost them promotion last season re-emerged on Saturday. Aldwinians boosted by the return of former Fylde and Wakefield star Mike Jackson, Graham Sampson from Australia and
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Tommy guns for big comeback
SAINTS' Alliance side will field seven senior squad members when they travel to the Deepdale stadium of Preston North End to face Lancashire Lynx on Sunday. And fingers will be crossed for one injury-cursed star in particular. For stand-off Tommy Martyn
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Staff rally to help Peter
SUPER staff at Rosco Clothing have done it again - collecting £400 towards a youngster's much-needed eye operation. Workers at the firm, in Cornwall Street, Parr Industrial Estate, heard about the plight of 18-month-old Peter Fisher through his grandmother
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Cash trip
A delegation from Lancaster council went to London to try and squeeze an extra £610,000 out of the government for the city. The council say their annual grant is £700,000 down because the government excluded a factor about council house sales in their
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ROVERS: Furnell set to leave Ewood
JIM Furnell is to leave Ewood Park after more than 16 years with Blackburn Rovers, first as reserve team boss then with the youth set-up. The former goalkeeper, who turned 60 in November, is negotiating an early retirement package with the club. Furnell
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Traffic trauma
FREEHOLD'S controversial traffic calming scheme is to be reviewed by the city council. The scheme in Ullswater Road and Derwent Road is often gridlocked during rush hour and residents have grown increasingly frustrated. Ward councillor, Ian Barker, has
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CLARETS: Payton set for home debut
NEW striker Andy Payton will make his home debut for Burnley against Southend in Saturday's vital relegation struggle, with player-manager Chris Waddle expected to have just two major injury concerns. Midfielder Michael Williams (ankle injury) and defender
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Net tightens on 'hell house'
RESIDENTS in Morecambe's Clarence Street have asked police, environmental health officers and their local MP to intervene at a house where a woman was recently murdered. A man has barricaded himself in the house and residents claim he is abusive to passers
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ROVERS: Fans vote for full-time referees
BLACKBURN Rovers supporters from as far afield as America and Thailand took part in the CarlingNet Survey - and voted 100 per cent for referees to be made professional. The survey, the most comprehensive piece of fan research conducted on the internet
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ROVERS: Why they're cooking on GAS at Ewood
THE success of twin strikers Chris Sutton and Kevin Gallacher will be a key factor for Roy Hodgson as he prepares to try to add FA Cup progress to Blackburn Rovers' challenge for the championship. Rovers built their title triumph of three years ago on
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100 years doing porridge
PORRIDGE every morning - that's the secret of a long life. And who should know better than Johnathan Smurthwaite, who celebrated his 100th birthday at the Majestic Rest Home on Queens Promenade in Blackpool. He spent his birthday dancing with the ladies
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Chain mail!
A CHAIN letter calling on local residents to take Lancaster City Council to task over the Mr Blobby fiasco is circulating round the district. The letter has been penned by Dr John Whitelegg, who has recently campaigned against the Council's decision to
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Stan looks over the border for goalden touch
JOHN Hendrie could be on his way to Bury in the next few days. The major stumbling block appears to be whether the 34-year-old Barnsley striker is willing to step down a division. Tykes boss Danny Wilson's move for Jan Aage Fjortoft this week would push
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Power to perform
WHAT are your thoughts about living in one of the most concentrated nuclear zones in the world? Lancaster's Folly Pictures is calling on ordinary people to express their thoughts and feelings about nuclear power in a new exhibition called 'Local Concern
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Break a leg!
MOST budding actors dream of a big break, but at one Blackpool drama school they've had three of them - all unwelcome. Two broken arms, a broken leg and a sprain have befallen members of the Whittaker Dance and Drama Centre in the past few months, threatening
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Another goal, another Andy Gray
Reading 1 Bury 1 BURY boss Stan Ternent was reluctant to accept the praise for a superb decision which saw on-loan Andrew Gray climb off the bench to hit a late equaliser for the Shakers at Reading. "It's for other people to decide whether that was an
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Knockout date in store
BOXING fans are in for a treat on Thursday, February 5 when St Helens Town Amateur Boxing Club present a Dinner & Boxing Show at the new Nexus nightclub in Brook Street. Dinner is scheduled for 7.45pm with the top-class ring action getting under way
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Soccer kids earn their stripes
A JUNIOR squad is set to put the Fylde on the worldwide football map in a prestigious tournament in America. The YMCA under-11s team has been invited to take part in the four-day soccer battle - one of the country's top competitions of its kind - by the
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Europe lends a hand
NEW and growing businesses in the Ribble Valley are being offered help from Europe. The Ribble Valley Enterprise Agency has secured backing for small and medium sized businesses to help with financial management, marketing and selling techniques and computer
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Moss Lane hosts derby clash
THE Liverpool St Helens Rugby Union ground, Moss Lane, will be a mecca for13-a-side fans - schoolboy variety in particular - this Saturday morning, January 17, kick-off 10.30am. For, in a clash that is certain to have more 'needle' than the ill-fated
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Shame of casualty patient
A CASUALTY patient stole purses from staff at two hospitals where she was seeking treatment following an alleged assault. Donna Bullough took the property from staff rooms at Leigh and Wigan Infirmaries. And Wigan magistrates heard how she later had a
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Campaigners put boot in!
A BIG protest march is being planned by campaigners fighting to safeguard the future of Ashton Gardens. The march has been organised by the Save Ashton Gardens (SAG) group for January 31 to coincide with Safeway unveiling proposals for its St Annes supermarket
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Haydock ready for their big day
HAYDOCK are gearing up for the biggest day in their history. On Sunday, February 1, they travel to Derwent Park to take on Workington Town in the first round of the Silk Cut Challenge Cup. And they are taking a loyal band of supporters with them for what
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Briefings for bosses
A NEW series of 'boardroom briefings' is being organised for East Lancashire bosses. The briefings, organised by ELTEC, are aimed at executives and directors and the next will look at marketing into the Millennium. Guest speaker at the February 3 event
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Cricketers prepare for new season
AFTER a successful first season in the Southport and District League, Haydock Cricket Club are hoping to improve on that success in the 1998 season. Theu are looking for quality players to boost their current squad both at senior and junior level. Junior
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What a relief!
BLACKPOOL home-owners should have good news when their council tax bills arrive this Spring. For while most of Lancashire will suffer steep rises, Blackpool - which already has the county's lowest rate - hopes to stay the same or even lower. The gap stems
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Fighter fires first missile
THE Eurofighter has completed its first missile-firing exercise, it was announced today. Further trials of the £40 billion project - which will safeguard thousands of Lancashire jobs - have seen the fighter flying at twice the speed of sound and completing
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A twist in the tale
CROOKS have helped local blind and deaf groups save thousands of pounds thanks to stacks of counterfeit cassettes. Preston and North Lancashire Blind Welfare Society and Deafway have been given 10,000 audio and video tapes for talking and visual newspapers
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Crusaders sent crashing
Ashton 10 St Helens Crusaders nil ASHTON tightened their grip on the top of the North West Counties League Division Six after victory over their top-of-the-table rivals. Both sides contributed to a fine spectacle in heavy conditions. Crusaders defended
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Docs dish out dose of exercise
GYM workouts and walking the dog are going on prescription. Instead of being told to "take one of these three times a day" it will a case of doctors dishing out a dose of exercise. Swimming, low-impact aerobics, water aerobics and dancing are included
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On the buses
WALTON-LE-DALE man Charlie Hesketh was presented with an award for being on the buses for 25 years. The 42-year-old from Drakes Hollow was given a certificate and picture by Preston mayor Dick Evans at the Town Hall last Thursday (January 8). Charlie
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PNE chief gets shirty
SPEAKING about the knighthood of Tom Finney put Preston North End's Chief Executive in a bit of a squeeze - because of his tangerine shirt! Peter Church had no meetings planned one day last week and decided to stay office-bound wearing his orange-coloured
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Councils lobby MP for more cash
COUNCILLORS claim that discrimination against East Lancashire's spending levels ignores the level of need in the region. Senior representatives from four East Lancashire councils met with MP Hilary Armstrong - minister for local government and housing
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Shock age of Westleigh car thief
STUNNED police officers found the driver of a crashed stolen car was just 11-YEARS-OLD when they targeted an area being plagued by unruly youths. Police are hailing their clean-up operation of the troubled Westleigh area of Leigh as a big success. But
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Bin day blues in the rain
WET weather has been blamed for a bin day backlog. Householders groaned in despair when, within hours of binmen returning to work after the Christmas break, some refuse wagons were sidelined. As rubbish piled high from the festive holiday collections
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Victoria's Blood role
A LEYLAND actress trained at London's Mountview school is back up north. Victoria Ward is doing a two-week stint at the Charter Theatre in Willy Russell's Blood Brothers in which she plays the role of Brenda as well as acting understudy for one of the
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Bus wars as unions prepare for battle
BUSMEN are prepared to fight to keep Atherton depot. Union leaders say closure plans for the Howe Bridge garage would be "a disaster" for travellers and a blow to future public transport dreams. Baffled union chiefs query the logic behind the closure
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Fourways: A story of success
TWENTY-SEVEN years of specialised care has put Tyldesley's Fourways Centre in a unique position. Since it opened - unofficially in autumn 1974, but officially by then Prime Minister Harold Wilson on March 14, 1975 - Fourways has assessed and helped rehabilitate
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High praise for brass bands
THE Guild Hall in Preston was packed out on Sunday (Jan 11), and people even turned up without tickets in the hope of seeing a brass bonanza. And no wonder, for The Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marine's and JJB Sports Leyland Band were a delight to watch
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Park lovers win battle for path
BATTLING country lovers have won their fight for a path to a beauty spot. The right of way, subject to consultation with Lancashire County Council, will be created next to Witton Park High School, Blackburn. The row blew up last August when school governors
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The cost of council's crisis
A COUNCIL cash crisis could mean job cuts across the county and a rise in the cost of schools dinners, with council tax set to go up by £88 for the average Preston household. Council bosses blamed the problems on Blackpool and Blackburn becoming unitary
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LETTER: Worries over wind farms
IN reply to Mr Wilcock's interesting letter. May I say that I do understand his worries about nuclear power plants and the great difficulties engineers have in disposing with the spent fuel in an environmentally-safe way. But wind farms will never produce
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Housing boom
LATEST survey has revealed that Blackburn with Darwen Council's urban regeneration programme to build homes on re-used sites is well above the national average. The survey shows that of the 527 homes built during 1996-97, 62 per cent were built on brownfield
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New mental hospital on old site
HEALTH bosses marked the spot where a £9.6 million mental health hospital is to be built in Goosnargh, Preston. The five-acre development on the former Whittingham Hospital site will feature almost 60 beds catering for medium secure and high dependency
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Taking the Bard into the future
AN ENTERPRISING Leyland actress is set to take Shakespeare into a new hi-tec era. Cheryl Willis, who is now based in London, is setting up an interactive film company in the capital. The venture involves making films to be watched on computers, and the
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American Mark is Rovers crazy!
SOME fans travel the length and breadth of the country to watch their beloved Rovers, but one man travels across the globe to reach Ewood Park. That man is Mark Hall and he is so fanatical about Rovers that he now runs the North American branch of the
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Macc get the knife
IN A humdinger of a cup tie, in very testing conditions, North End stayed on the Wembley trail with this hard earned win on Tuesday (January 13) when the final score stood at Macclesfield 0: PNE 1. David Moyes took charge for his first match as manager
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Tractor ran over father's grave
A DISTRAUGHT son and daughter have attacked Bury Cemetery bosses after a tractor caused damage to their father's grave. Now, an inquiry is under way to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident which has shocked Mrs Marie McDonald and her brother
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Healthy emblem
HEALTH watchdogs are looking for a logo in a bid to raise the profile of their work. At their annual review day, held recently at Accrington Victoria Hospital, the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Community Health Council established the need to
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Hoppers holding firm
HOPPERS made it five league wins in a row, but again let their opponents back into the game after establishing a commanding lead against Hinckley last weekend (January 10). An early Iain Bruce try converted by Rob Smith was just reward for some early
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Schools' standards put to the test
BURY schools are setting standards for others to follow. The local authority has a particularly proud record in the classroom and the Office for Standards in Education is coming to town to find out more. Bury Council has been selected as one of the first
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Fireman's lift
WITH a name like Mountain, you'd expect him to be a mean climber. But firefighter Steve, of Northway, Fulwood, went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure a pensioner got home safely. The father-of-one was helping to rescue a resident of Bowland
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Ramsbottom's changed - but not for the better
RAMSBOTTOM has gone through many changes in the seven years since Reg Hinchliffe left for a new life in South Africa. Mr Hinchliffe lived in the town for four years in the late 1980s, working at Robinson Textiles - now known as Morada Linings - before
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Borough treasurer steps down
BOROUGH treasurer Mr John Cook is to retire in the spring after 34 years in local government. Mr Cook was in London this week as part of a Bury Council lobby pressing for better council funding from the Government. Indeed, the battle against cuts has
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Article aids gardeners
A GREEN-FINGERED group involved in ground-breaking work with young offenders has been given a £500 grant - with a little help from the Preston Citizen. Last November, we highlighted a unique scheme in which the Frenchwood Allotment Association teamed
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Home from home
HOMELESS, addicted to drugs, or alcohol, feeling down and don't know where to turn? If you lived in Cambridge and felt like that, you'd go straight to the Emmaus and get a life. It's a community where people live and work, running small businesses, like
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Obituary: Dennis Hatsell
FOOTBALL hero Dennis Hatsell died in Basildon on January 1, 1998. Yorkshire man by birth, but brought up in Preston, Dennis Hatsell was often seen between the posts as a youngster at Middleforth School in Penwortham. But it was as a goalscoring forward
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Mr Cool on the defensive
HE may be quickly establishing himself as one of the coolest defenders in the Premiership but Stephane Henchoz admits he is a million miles away from filling Chris Sutton's boots. For while the elegant Swiss international defender has forged a formidable
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No style, no guts
ON the final whistle some 150 Preston North End supporters staged a sit-in at the Town End, demanding the dismissal of boss Gary Peters. This was sad to see but it came after Saturday's match (January 10), one of the worst performances by any Preston
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Volunteers take to the streets in rough sleeper survey
COUNCIL officials and volunteers took to the streets of Bury last night (January 15) in a bid to find out just how bad the borough's homelessness problem is. And their search through the darkness could lead to a little light at the end of Bury Council's
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Staff work on despite burglars wrecking offices
A TEAM of dedicated office staff have vowed to carry on working after burglars wrecked their premises. Crammed into the only office still intact, administration staff at Metrolpolitan Tiles, in Blackburn, are refusing to let the break-in ruin the business
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How Toy Town came to Tottington
NODDY fans should make sure they are in front of the television on Wednesday when a Tottington man displays a real extravaganza of memorabilia. John Street (33) of Bradshaw Road, will play a starring role on the Channel 4 show Collectors' Lot, starting
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Daredevil stunt killed Gareth (16)
A DAREDEVIL stunt ended in tragedy, killing teenager Gareth Oliver. The 16-year-old, who had been drinking with school friends at the time of his death, was doing a handstand on the safety railings over the subway on the Asda side of Pilkington Way when
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Market traders warn of town centre traffic chaos
MARKET traders have warned of traffic snarl-ups if roads are closed as part of a multi-million pound redevelopment plan for Burnley town centre. The changes would ban traffic on part of Curzon Street and leave market traders with only one entry/exit for
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Council return empty-handed from capital
COUNCIL bosses have returned empty-handed from a top-level delegation to London, with pleas for more cash from the Government failing. Senior members and officials were told on Tuesday by environment minister Mrs Hilary Armstrong that there would be little
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TEN YEARS AGO: MP ready to deal
LIBERAL MP David Alton was preparing to do an 11th-hour deal to save his Abortion Amendment Bill, by compromising on the time limit in which abortions were allowed. Mr Alton said he would contemplate excluding handicapped babies, and might compromise
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Budgets tighter for arts groups
ARTS bodies in East Lancashire have been told to tighten their belts after once again being given standstill budgets. The Government has cut its grant to the Arts Council by £1.5 million this year, but the North West Arts Board, which distributes the
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Building society 'business as usual'
THE new chief executive of Lancashire's largest building society has pledged 'business as usual' for its loyal staff and customers. Neil Shoesmith has been appointed chief executive at the Nelson-based Marsden Building Society following the shock death
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True angels on Ward 5
REGARDING the criticism of staff at Ward 5 at Blackburn Infirmary (LET, December 27), I was a patient there for eight days after being in the Intensive Care Unit with six broken ribs and a collapsed lung. I would not find any fault with the staff. The
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But we had no say!
SO, El Caudillo, head of the junta, delivers a stinging riposte to your Lancashire Evening Telegraph. It is a little bit self-righteous of us, says Malcolm Doherty, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, to lecture them about their decision to close
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The people's service
MAY I thank your reporter Christine Rutter, for featuring Blackburn with Darwen Council's Advice Centre and staff in Tuesday Topic (LET, January 6). The piece offered some very pertinent advice and information to people who may have run up debts over
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Labour right to seek best deal
IT IS, perhaps, an insight into how far reaching the Blair revolution has been when we see a Labour council pencilling in privatisation of services without flinching. True, the exploration by Blackburn with Darwen Council of the option of private sector
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Farce of hospital staff parking
I HAVE worked for the health service for many years and feel that, after my experience trying to park my car recently before starting work, the public should know just how caring the management are for their employees. As most people are aware, staff
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Cunliffe the spark for Tyldesley
TYLDESLEY RU whitewashed Furness 30-0 in one of their best performances of the season. Defence was the key with the visitors, placed second in the league, never looking like scoring. Cunliffe bagged a brace of tries with others from Edge, Hughes and Sivill
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Powerless after cable box explosion
ONE thousand homes in the Blackbrook area were without electricity earlier this week following a small explosion at a cable box in Boardmans Lane. The box was just outside Blackbrook Rugby Club and suddenly exploded at around 4.30pm on Monday. Firefighters
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Leigh grab Gale force
LEIGH have appointed one of Rugby League's top administrators to the Hilton Park board. Tony Gale, who was Financial Controller of the Rugby League in Leeds until a few months ago, will bring considerable financial expertise to Leigh. "He was a huge help
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Jogger may hold murder clue
POLICE investigating the murder of Newton car dealer John Haselden are appealing for a man to come forward whom they believe may have some information. At around 11.40pm on the day of the murder - Monday, December 1 - the man was seen jogging along Stoney
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LR pay the price
ATHERTON LR went down 3-1 at home to NWCL Division One title hopefuls Kidsgrove Athletic - paying a heavy price for a terrible start. The Potteries side went two goals up before the Atherton players had begun to shake off the ring-rustiness of a weather-induced
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Drug charges after dawn raids
SIXTEEN people appeared before magistrates in St Helens charged with drug offences following dawn raids by police in St Helens after 'close liaison' with St Helens Council and concerned community groups. Operation Market Place saw approximately 80 officers
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Flashback photo revives happy memories
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD ANN Gray describes herself as looking like "a cross between Norah Batty and little Orphan Annie" - or at least that was the impression which sprang to mind when she spotted herself in a school line-up taken 35 years ago. But that
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Rocket man's pride 'n passion
ROCKET MAN Pete Williams has high hopes for his low-level flier. Culcheth speed demon Pete has relentlessly pursued his passion to become Britain's fastest on two wheels. Thirty years ago Pete, 55, from Churchill Avenue, was third quickest in Europe on
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Tragic family gives meningitis warning
A GRIEF-STRICKEN family is warning other parents to be extra vigilant for signs of meningitis following the death of their three year old son from the deadly meningococcal septicaemia strain. Blond, blue-eyed Joshua Lamb (SEEN HERE) from Rimmer Grove
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Back through the haze of history
By NEVILLE DENSON IN these days of open and almost constant hostility towards smokers and the tobacco companies, it's pleasing to be able to reflect on cigarette cards as one good thing tobacco brought. They were issued in cigarette packets from 1885
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Beacon of hope
BURY market stands as a beacon of hope in bucking the local and national trend of declining trading conditions in the market sector. In fact, this admiring observation about Bury's trading resilience is being made by neighbours and competitors Heywood
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Health tonic
FYLDE folk are in for a massive health boost after a £5.4 million cash injection into the region from the Government. The windfall was £2.2 million more than expected by the North West Lancashire Health Authority and will now be used to improve health
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New gateway to Europe
BLACKPOOL Airport is gearing up for a buoyant New Year after the most comprehensive UK passenger survey every undertaken shows an increased demand for flights from Lancashire. The survey, carried out by the Civil Aviation Authority, reflects the views
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Kids' designs destined for T-shirts
YOUNG winning designers have received prizes for their top art work and could see their bright ideas printed on a T-shirt. Six youngsters from across Pendle received £5 vouchers in a competition organised by Colne and Nelson market halls. Each market
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Language units torched at school
POLICE are investigating causes of a fire which destroyed two language units and caused more than £50,000 in damage at Robins Lane Primary on Sunday. Fire officers say the blaze was the work of arsonists and the school will be closed for a week while
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'Ello, 'ello sarg!
BOBBIES at Bispham police station are praying two of their colleagues don't get promotion. For then they'll have to answer to Sgt Andy Sergeant and Sgt Andy Sargent. The latter - the shorter and younger of the two constables - started at Bispham a week
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Any answers?
THINK you know a bit about sport? Here's your chance to prove it . . . Pilkington Recs are holding their inaugural team sports quiz at their City Road HQ on Thursday, February 12. Teams of up to four players are being invited to compete for a new trophy
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They've not all gone potty
I CONTINUE to read with waning interest about William Straw, son of Home Secretary Jack Straw, and how his life will carry on regardless. What has annoyed me is the opinion of so many people who have written into newspapers both locally and nationally
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Budapest trip for Emma
A STUDENT with an appetite for adventure is off to Hungary after winning the Thwaites Scholarship. Emma Rabone (17), of Hawthorn Avenue, Radcliffe, has been selected by the Mayor of Bury, Councillor Roy Walker, to be an ambassador for her town during
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Fylde: hosts with the most
FIRST impressions count - which is why Fylde Borough Council has got together with the North West Tourist Board to make visitors to Fylde feel as welcome as possible. The two organisations have teamed up to put on a one-day training course called Welcome
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Transplant could not save suicide mum.
SURGEONS carried out emergency transplant surgery to save the life of suicide mum Wendy Rae. The 44-year-old mother of two had consumed 50 paracetamol tablets over a period of two days before her husband, Winston, found a suicide note under her bed. Rushing
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Safety first for Cunliffe
TOYS were involved in accidents involving 36,000 children last year. Now safety-conscious Leigh MP Lawrence Cunliffe has welcomed the Government's new toy safety campaign. He warns shoppers to look out for dangerous toys in the January sales. He stresses
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ELR back on track
THE plan to extend the Bury-based East Lancs Railway into Heywood is back on track and it is expected the final legal documents will be exchanged in the next few weeks. Officials involved feared the plan, which is also seen as vital to the further regeneration
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Chris joins the international brigade
A LOCAL cycling star aims to steer to success after being called up to the National Under-23 Road Racing team. Chris Burrows, 20, of Leach Lane, Sutton, is preparing himself for two weeks' training in Alicante, on Spain's Costa Blanca. He will be part
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Residents rehoused after hostel fire
FIREFIGHTERS tackled a major blaze at the Priory Hotel on Prescot Road earlier this week. Over 20 per cent of the roof was severely damaged by the fire which started at about 2.30pm on Monday.. In addition, water caused damage to the rest of the building
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Sea-sliders!
AFTER their 3-0 defeat at Luton on Saturday (Jan 10) Blackpool's season is rapidly turning into a battle against the drop, rather than for a play-off place. Luton, on the other hand, finished the match on a high note with an improving season in the balance
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MP leads debate on fuel poverty
BURY North MP David Chaytor won a chance to open a special debate in Parliament this week - and urged the Government to act now and save thousands of lives. Mr Chaytor won the chance for an adjournment debate in the House of Commons on fuel poverty and
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Sweet revenge for Miners
Bamber Bridge 14 Bold Miners 20 REVENGE was sweet for Bold as they beat Bamber Bridge, the side who had broken the Miners' unbeaten run earlier in the season. Bamber Bridge started the stronger, running in two converted tries in the opening 10 minutes
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Frank is cash in the bank!
COMEDIAN Frank Carson is renowned for his generosity and he certainly lives up to this reputation when it comes to the MRI Scanner Appeal. To date he has already pledged £8,000 to the campaign to buy a state-of-the-art scanner for Blackpool Victoria Hospital
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Police focus in on crime
BEWARE, wrong uns! The boys in blue have their eyes on you. The New Year marks a security step-up with police going directly on screen to clamp down on town centre crime. Spy-in-the-sky TV cameras are now linked to a monitor at Leigh Police Station via
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Relegation haunts Ruskin
Ruskin Park 7 Crewe and Nantwich 19 THIS was another disappointing result which adds to Ruskin's relegation worries. Once again, it was the power of the opposition pack that gradually wore down the home eight to pave the way for a valuable if unspectacular
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Woman screamed at home intruder
A TERRIFIED woman was awoken by the sound of an intruder searching her house while she was in bed. The incident happened at 8.30am on Saturday, January 3 at her home in Robins Lane, Sutton, when the woman, who is in her 40s, went downstairs to investigate
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Kitten clings on by a whisker
ROVER may be a dog's name, but nothing could be more fitting for a little kitten found under the bonnet of a car after a 100-mile round trip. Simon Peacock's Rover saloon was parked outside his friend's house in Ansdell when a small crowd gathered around
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Lessons in life for pupils
ST HELENS students are receiving special training so that they can give immediate help to any victim of a coronary attack whose heart stops beating. Sixth-form students at Rainford High, Carmel College and Newton High are among the 100 local people who
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Lottery grant set in stone
A PROJECT to create a distinctive pebble mosaic as the centre-piece of Lytham's recently re-developed Clifton Square is set to go ahead after a successful lottery bid for nearly £30,000. Work on the large mosaic has now started and Fylde councillors are
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Punch began saloon brawl
A LEIGH pub was transformed in to a 'Wild West saloon' when at least 20 customers started fighting, Bolton Crown Court was told. Glasses were thrown and bar stools used as weapons, said prosecutor Alaric Bassano. One man was knocked unconscious and another
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Police step up heat on burglars
POLICE are launching a new initiative to target the increasing number of burglaries around some parts of St Helens. Operation Lancet has been drawn up by DS Don Gordon from the St Helens Police Burglary Squad and will target areas in Sutton, Clinkham
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Guiding light
A POULTON woman who has never been abroad, is about to set off on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Russia. Samantha McWhinnie, 23, of Birch Way, will be involved in teaching English to Russian youngsters and her accommodation during her three-week stay will
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Cash boost in local promotion
KEY employers and major companies are being offered a cash incentive to invest in and promote Leigh and Golborne town centres. Coalfield Challenge and Wigan Borough Partnership are putting up a pound-for-pound incentive for a joint initiative. Firms regionally
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Big let-down for Town
St Helens Town 0 Mossley 1 AFTER straining at the leash for the past three barren weeks, Town's return to action was something of an anticlimax at Hoghton Road on Saturday when they suffered their first home defeat of the season. This reverse may not
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Kids' version of the Ex-Files
ENTERPRISING pupils at Sutton Oak Primary School have come up with a new way of raising money by recycling old files. Thousands of files were sent to every school in 1986 as part of the then new National Curriculum. However, a few years later, everything
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A Tony award!
A BIG-HEARTED sixth former who spends his spare time helping disabled children and elderly people has won a youth award for his efforts. Anthony Watson, 17, a pupil at Blackpool Sixth Form College, was given the award after competing in the tough regional
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Katherine splashes out to help brothers
FAMILY friend Katherine Leyland took the plunge to raise money for two brothers suffering from debilitating medical conditions. Seven-year-old Damon Birch, from Whalley Avenue, Windlehurst, was born with a severe form of asthma, while two years ago his
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MP's action call
THE case of jailed Galgate anarchist Stephen Booth is to be examined by top government officials. Lancaster MP Hilton Dawson is arranging a meeting with the Attorney General John Morris QC to discuss the case. Mr Dawson wants the appeal to be heard as
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Lucky to be alive
TWO workmen were buried under a pile of masonry and rubble after the wall they were working on collapsed on top of them last week. Firecrews from Morecambe had to dig out demolition workers, Gerard Briggs and Jamie Hancock, from under eight tonnes of
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Mixed fortunes on crime statistics
VIOLENT crime is increasing in Lancaster and Morecambe. But police are jubilant about the new figures as they show a big reduction in burglaries, car thefts and road casualties. There what police call a "slight" increase of 18 extra incidents of violent
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Step on the gas
THORNTON'S proposed gas power station looks set to become a reality after Wyre Borough Council approved developer Canatxx's application. The planning sub-committee raised no objections to the plan, which will use existing space on the ICI Hillhouse site
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Vigilantes jailed for nine months
TWO Morecambe men who took the law into their own hands and beat up an alleged stalker have both been jailed for nine months. William Inniss and Robert Railton frogmarched the man down the street and into a flat where they punched and kicked him. Preston
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Grand nights out
THERE'S entertainment galore at Blackpool's Grand Theatre in the next three weeks - and Citizen readers could win tickets for one of the top shows. The programme kicks off on Sunday (Jan 18) when the BBC Big Band covers the whole spectrum of big band
