Archive
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Musical legends head for resort
THREE musical legends are on their way to the Fylde to perform with a top Blackpool band. Blackpool Brass has arranged for Kenny Baker, Eric Delaney and Don Lusher to make guest appearances with them during the year. The series of guest concerts, each
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Marathon man's big day
THE Citizen's own marathon man, Brian Gillibrand, is guaranteed to stand out from the crowd when he takes to the London streets on April 21. For he will be decked in the familiar tangerine of his beloved Blackpool Football Club. The 34-year-old is to
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New plans for links
PROPOSALS for a Business Links scheme for East Lancashire are expected to be put forward by May. Top level discussions have been going on between the local councils, ELTEC, the Chamber of Commerce, enterprise agencies and other groups since the DTI turned
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Screams for pop star Peter
A SHINING new star was given a big Blackpool welcome as hundreds of screaming young girls queued up outside HMV record store to meet him. Heart-throb singer Peter Andre, 22, is a massive hit in his adopted home of Australia and is now on a promotional
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Mum's plea for lap-top learner
THE mother of a 12 years old Hesketh Fletcher pupil is appealing for the return of a laptop computer used by her son who suffers from learning difficulties. The computer, an Amstrad Notepad, was stolen after it had been left in Craig Saetta's school bag
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New plans for Leigh Infirmary
A REDEVELOPED Leigh Infirmary has a vital role to play in local health care. Wigan and Leigh Health Services NHS Trust have laid out development suggestions which highlight Leigh's importance in the health service structure. A leaked Trust document clearly
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Putting people in touch
PEOPLE with time on their hands and organisations which need volunteers, are invited to contact a searchline. Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Council for Voluntary Service put people who are willing to help in touch with organisations which need
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Disabled anglers will get their own lodge
DISABLED fishing enthusiasts will be given the chance to enjoy their sport in safety, thanks to a dedicated angling club. Newrad Fishing Club in Darwen has started to build a new, specially-designed fishing lodge at Watery Lane Reservoir. The ambitious
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Brave Gwenne died doing the job she loved
THE GRIEVING family of Gwenne Mayor were today coming to terms with the brutal death of their 45-year-old daughter-in-law. Mrs Mayor died along with 16 of her pupils when crazed gunman Thomas Hamilton burst into her Dunblane classroom. The elderly parents
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Swan Lake shooting misery
AIRGUN-carrying hooligans slaughtered a hand-tame goose and used a mute swan for target practice in a senseless weekend attack. Wildlife lovers were horrified to find the lifeless body of a Canada Goose floating on the "Lucky Hollow" pond on the fringe
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Delving into the past for a hero
A PRESTON pensioner has been called on to play Sherlock Holmes in an incident which happened more than 50 years ago. War veteran Arthur House is playing detective to help piece together the mysterious disappearance of his former platoon sergeant, Hugh
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Another draw Bridge!
PREDICTING Bamber Bridge results would hardly stretch the talents of Mystic Meg ... and this one was just as easy ... another draw. Twelve in the the Unibond League Premier Division this season so far. The first half of this dour affair, at the edge of
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Watling Street gets a footpath
MUMS with prams need no longer risk their lives walking along busy Eastway - thanks to six years of hard slog by two Preston councillors. Sherwood councillors Marie Milne and Jennifer Greenhalgh have finally persuaded the Commission for New Towns to stump
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School's Greek links
A SCHOOL governor has helped a Preston primary school forge links with children from the Greek village he served in during the war. Ron Yates, 72, was on the island of Chios in 1944 distributing medical supplies to locals. He made so many friends, including
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Borough in league cup final
TWO fine headed goals by league leading scorer David Gardiner, ably supported by the mercurial Michael Murphy, set up Radcliffe Borough for a league cup final appearance following their 3-0 win over Ashton United. But thoughts of an all-Bury final were
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Council tax or Mayor's car?
HOUSEHOLDERS in South Ribble will have to foot the bill for a quarter-of-a-million pound shortfall in government grant this year. Council tax will rise by eleven per cent in April which means South Ribble residents will have to pay up to an extra £100
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Joe's pit stop
A PRESTON pensioner has found fame on the small screen because of the 25 years he spent working as a miner. Joe Crofts, 73, of Blackpool Road, Preston, will be making his debut next week in the new BBC2 series A Man's World. The Yorkshireman found fame
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How much dung in milk?
YOU reported (LET, March 9) that a dairy had been fined for selling three bottles of milk contaminated with dung. It was further stated that the Environmental Health Department found the milk was contaminated four times over the accepted level. This I
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Does your child carry a weapon?
AN MP is urging parents to search their children's schoolbags and pockets for knives. Nigel Evans is worried that dangerous weapons are too easily available to youngsters under the age of 16. The Ribble Valley MP says the only way to avoid another murder
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Hail Caesar!
MARCHING on Colchester determined to win the battle Bury's fight ended in defeat at the hands of Caesar. For all their determination the Shakers just could not match his inspiration. After 89 minutes of disciplined work what did the damage was a Tony
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Memories of childhood in print
LANCASHIRE people, famed for their friendliness and good humour, are the subject of another book by former Preston pensioner Kay Davenport. Kay, a 77-year-old widow, has written five books in all, three of which she has published herself, including her
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Margaret's life reads like a film script
FROM an Accrington mill to British MP via a Moscow spy school. The story of Margaret McKay could easily have been the plot of a Hollywood blockbuster. Born in Oswaldtwistle as Margaret McCarthy, the controversial Communist has died aged 89, leaving behind
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Davey flattens Gills
PRESTON did more than enough to snatch all three points from this clash of the table-toppers, but were forced to settle for a share of the spoils thanks to a terrible refereeing decision. With North End leading 1-0 and looking set to accelerate into pole
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Fraud pair spotted trying to buy booze
A COUPLE escaped after a chequebook fraud at a superstore went wrong. The man and woman ran off after alert staff at Asda in Colne spotted the stolen chequebook and card. The couple were trying to buy alcohol from the store, but staff became suspicious
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Return of the wide men for Rovers
THE wide men could return for Rovers this weekend to a faltering European campaign which looks likely to fall wide of the mark. Happily, Jason Wilcox and Stuart Ripley have shaken off their injuries and could be included for the tough trip to Spurs. But
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The year 2,000 leaps ahead
THE answer is in the stars - and it has been found by your ascending Citizen! Puzzled Preston people could not agree whether or not there is a leap year at the turn of the Century. And after a mammoth - and fruitless hunt - round dusty Home Office departments
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Leave this land to Nature
THREE WEEKS ago our controversial Harry Smith column suggested that Bury Metropolitan Borough already has enough parks, woodlands, footpaths and bridleways to satisfy the needs of its people. It doesn't need the Kirklees Valley. Two weeks ago in reply
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Chaos at Ewood as fans are left out in the cold
CHAOS erupted at Ewood Park last night after season ticket seats were closed off because of dangerous overhanging ice on the Walkersteel stand. Long queues meant many Blackburn Rovers supporters missed the kick-off when they found other people had taken
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Teachers, I salute you
A COUPLE of weeks ago at the town hall there was a meeting of the Agreed Syllabus Conference to review the religious education syllabus operating in Bury, and I have to admire the courage of those who attended to discuss this difficult subject. Briefly
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Bus bosses take us for a ride
"TRANSPORT bosses in Greater Manchester have put £1.7 million into making the county's bus fleet the largest fully accessible fleet outside London." So began a Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority press release this week, which heralded the
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5 YEARS AGO: Hand grenade found
HOMES were evacuated and one of a town's busiest roads closed after workmen found a live hand grenade in an empty house. One workman carried the World War II souvenir and hid it behind a pile of bricks until the bomb squad arrived from Liverpool and took
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10 YEARS AGO: Stay-at-home shoppers
EAST Lancashire shopping centres were deserted as stay-at-home shoppers felt the bite of the bus strike. But the bus stoppage did not bring a big boom for taxi drivers, although some business was slightly brisker than usual. Most people had planned ahead
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Japanese talk to Burnley's rising sons
FOR years, the world has been looking to Japan for ideas about how to run a successful modern economy. But the high-tech country is now coming to Burnley for advice on how to boost industry in run-down areas A delegation from the Japanese government visited
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Despicable
REGARDING the front page headline, "Who Killed Daft Dave?" about the murder of Mr David Spencer (LET, March 9), I have to say your description of this man is despicable, deplorable and totally unnecessary. No-one, whoever they are, deserves to be called
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Towneley's champion brass
TOWNELEY High School brass band's amazing success story continued this week as they swept the board at Burnley Festival. The talented youngsters followed up their recent fifth place in the National Youth Brass Band Championship with a 100 per cent record
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Town that's happy to have the blues!
BURNLEY is to benefit from a further £1,346,624 of Euro funding - including cash for a project to make the town the Blues festival capital of Europe. Sixteen projects have been approved to receive a total of £1,289,208 with a further £57,416 to provide
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Chess champ Daniel for England
DANIEL ATHERTON is a quick learner. To wile away long winter nights, his father taught him the rudiments of chess. "Within three months he was pasting me," recalled Leigh butcher Ken. That was three years ago. Now 10-year-old Daniel, of Sydney Avenue,
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Police alert for hotel 'sting' couple
POLICE are warning hotel owners to be on the lookout following an incident at a Haydock hotel in which a cheeky couple left without paying their bill. The man and woman paid a deposit for a room at the Post House Hotel in Lodge Lane, Haydock, but next
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Harford facing Ewood injury crisis
RAY Harford had to face up to yet another stunning blow today, as he surveyed the wreckage of a never-ending casualty list which has reached crisis proportions. Key central defender Colin Hendry, pictured right, is now facing a likely two-match suspension
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Mark on top mark for Lion
MARK WALKER'S final flourish has lifted Blue Lion to Davenport Cup glory. His speculative curling cross five minutes from time earned the side a shock 1-0 semi-final success against Three Crowns A in the Leigh & District Amateur Football League knockout
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Muggers break 85-year-old pensioner's arm
AN 85-year-old woman is recovering in hospital after a daylight attack which left her with a broken arm. The woman and a 75-year-old friend were attacked by two men in Barton Close, St Helens as they made their way home from a shopping trip. After snatching
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Party prime for birthday girl Kate
KATE WARD celebrated her 12th birthday in golden style. She scored firsts for Tyldesley SC in the Central Lancashire Age Group Gala at Broughton. Kate won the 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly events - missing out in both by hundredths of a second. Eleven-year-old
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Taking health into the next millennium
OFFICIALS at the St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals Trust are to take part in a national programme of events which aims to advance the NHS into the next century. A range of equipment and exhibitions will be on display at the Recreational Hall in Whiston
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Give us the job ... we can do that!
NEXT time you're checking in at the airport take a close look at the luggage label on your suitcase. There's a chance that the piece of string or rubber band on it was tied by staff at an East Lancashire firm that has cornered what is undoubtedly a niche
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Monica's just a shadow of her old self
MONICA Swift might be just a shadow of her former self... but she's absolutely delighted! For years, Monica was so overweight she could only get about with the aid of a walking stick. But boy has she changed and the other week, she threw away that stick
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Get there by bus - who needs the fuss?
OK, plans for the Western Bypass have been thrown out and we all want to know how we are supposed to get through Lancaster's ridiculous traffic from now on. Many so called transport campaigners are urging us to leave the car behind and take the bus to
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Spreading the Rugby League gospel
SAINTS have received another massive boost in landing a major sponsorship deal with glass giants Pilkington - with the stars of the future very much in mind! For the Silk Cup Challenge Cup finalists have launched a three-year £150,000 schools development
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Fans blame police for cup flare-up
CELEBRATIONS following Saints' Cup semi-final triumph over Widnes were marred on Saturday as high-spirited fans left Central Park and headed for home. A total of 31 Saints fans were arrested for Violent Disorder following the semi-final clash, but some
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I've no stomach for this fight
YOU can bet your bottom dollars there will be one person not paying to view the big fight 'spectacle' in Las Vegas on Sunday. The big TV networks may be holding the world's viewing audience to ransom. And while most will be making a token gesture in ignoring
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Queen has good taste, says MP
RIBBLE Valley Tory MP Nigel Evans has been defending the monarchy on American breakfast time TV. He said the monarchy provided continuity, stability and a head of state above politics. Mr Evans dismissed talk of Will Carling and Princess Diana as "tabloid
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Charity fights for its life
A CASH-STRAPPED charity which provides a vital lifeline for scores of arthritis sufferers in East Lancashire is fighting for survival. Volunteers and more money are desperately needed to help keep the Blackburn and Darwen branch of Arthritis Care alive
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The vegetarian revolution
PEOPLE in the North West are turning to vegetarianism in their droves, according to a new survey by Tesco and the Vegetarian Society. More people in the region describe themselves as demi-vegetarian - eating only white meat and fish - than anywhere else
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Security targets leisure centre crimewave
SPIRALLING car crime has sparked a security step-up at Howe Bridge Sports Centre. Upgraded lighting will soon be in place and security cameras are planned to deter car thieves who target the leisure centre car park. Patrons and staff have called for action
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Denis Whittle talks with Saints coach Shaun McRae
MISSION accomplished! That was the ecstatic reaction of Saints' boss Shaun McRae as his team hit the Wembley trial after a testing semi-final with Widnes. WHITTLE: Obviously the fans are also on Cloud Nine, but there were those who thought Saints made
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Burnley sounds a blue note
BLUES fanatics from all over the country are counting down the days until the start of April. That's when the legendary Burnley National Blues Festival comes to town for the eighth time. This year's event could be one of the best yet, with new, extended
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Talent to waste
WHILE we were all expecting our council tax bill to rise this year, none of us expected it to go up by a massive 17 per cent, as it is in Blackburn. Of course, finance chairman Coun Bill Taylor assures us that it has nothing to do with the policies of
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MP lashes out at Barlick's 'betrayal'
THE empty shops of Barnoldswick show how small businesses have been betrayed by the government, according to Pendle MP Gordon Prentice. The MP ridiculed a speech by Prime Minister John Major about problems facing small business. He said: "The Prime Minister
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Drink and drugs team honoured
UNSUNG heroes who pick up the pieces of lives broken by drugs and alcohol are to be honoured for their work. But Pendle's quiet men say the honour will only spur them on to their dream of being able to help people in need for every single minute of every
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Road safety plans drawn up
BURNLEY council has drawn up a detailed road-safety plan in an attempt to ensure that the £200,000 it won a national competition is spent here in Burnley. The borough won the cash after coming second in the government's Safe Town contest, but the prize
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Schools on the super highway
LANCASHIRE'S independent schools are to get worldwide publicity after being launched on to the information superhighway. Details of the schools are being published on the Internet where millions of people across the globe - and prospective pupils - will
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New jobs thanks to aero grant
THE first company to cash in on Burnley's £3 million Challenge Fund is creating 54 new jobs. Pendle Aeroform will use a £127,000 grant to pay for environmental improvements at its factory in Hargher Street, Burnley. The hi-tech firm makes parts for P3
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Fenton's tribute
GRAHAM Fenton paid tribute to the greatest Geordie of them all, Alan Shearer, pictured right, after opening his Blackburn Rovers scoring account with last night's winner against Leeds. "There's nobody better to play with up front is there," said the 21
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Shannon's sunshine smile of hope
THE sunny smile of tiny but tough Shannon Ryan is on its way back only a week after open heart surgery. Sixteen-month-old Shannon spent three and a half hours in the operating theatre undergoing microsurgery to put a new patch on a tiny hole in her heart
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Pike clashes with minister over funding cuts
MP Peter Pike has clashed with a government minister over cuts in funding for local councils in Lancashire. He told environment spokesman Sir Paul Beresford that Burnley and its neighbours were in desperate need of money after years of cutbacks. Speaking
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Eric wins his own prize draw!
APTLY named Eric Driver took delivery of a brand-new Renault 5 as star prizewinner in a Burnley high school draw. Lucky Mr Driver, who is chairman of Habergham High School's governors and also a member its parents', teachers' and friends' association
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More Euro money is Burnley bound
BURNLEY has won another £1.3 million of European cash. The council, the college and several voluntary organisations have secured money which will help fund investment in needy areas and training and employment projects. A total of 16 projects were approved
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Blues bag Coleman
JOHN COLEMAN, Morecambe's top goal scorer, has signed for neighbours Lancaster City and was set to make his debut for the Blues last night (Wednesday). Coleman, the Northern Premier League's top scorer in three out of the past five seasons, put pen to
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Caged crusader is grounded
IT'S over. The two-month protest against eviction carried out by Morecambe's Tague brothers was brought to a dramatic climax on Monday. First, Chris Tague was cut out of the steel cage that has been his home since January and then his brother Andrew had
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Blues get the jitters
Harrogate Town 2 Lancaster City 2 THE nerves are jangling at Giant Axe as Lancaster recorded their fourth draw in their last five league games at struggling Harrogate Town on Saturday. And it was a controversial refereeing decision that handed lowly Harrogate
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Like father, like son
KEEPING it in the family couldn't be a better way of describing the Easter show at Blackpool Pleasure Beach - Roy and Phil Walker will be appearing on the same bill. The father and son comics are lined up to play the Paradise Rooms from April 5-7, with
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Captain Courageous on the road again
WHEN it comes to guts and determination Mike Pyke has enough for ten men. He's made a miraculous recovery after shattering both elbows to resume his position as a top wheelchair sports ace. When he fell out of his wheelchair and broke both elbows in a
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Small firms pay price of unpaid bills
LANCASHIRE firms have to wait an average of 46 days to get their bills paid. The results of a survey come as Prime Minister John Major pledged action to deal with late payers. Companies in the county's textile sector have the longest wait - almost 90
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Desperate Des in house court battle
A SPECIALIST surveyor has condemned an Atherton council house as 'unfit for human habitation'. That's what disabled tenant Des Harper was told when he called in consultant Brian Massey because of disatisfaction with his Gloucester Street home. Now he's
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Tram costs spark rows
TRAMS in Cleveleys and Fleetwood could be a thing of the past if a row between Blackpool and Wyre Borough Councils is not resolved. Three years ago Blackpool Council realised essential repairs were needed to the electrical infrastructure of the tramways
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If only we had trams
YOUR article and photographs "Trams finally reach end of line" (LET, March 7) made depressing reading. I suggest "the march of progress on Blackburn Boulevard" is in some ways a retrograde step. In numerous towns and cities in Europe and North America
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Success story for Soroptomist
THE driving force behind a ground-breaking scheme has been named Woman in the Community 1996 by Accrington Soroptimists. Joan Dawson co-ordinates the Contact Centre at Hyndburn Christian Stable, which provides a neutral and safe location for separated
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Seasiders on the up!
BLACKPOOL rocked to the sound of victory chants on Tuesday night (March 12). The Seasiders romped home 3-1 against their arch rivals Burnley in a thrilling Lancashire derby, rocketing them to the top of Division Two. Tuesday night's win puts the club
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Help us plea from animal refuge
A NATIONWIDE campaign has been launched to save an animal sanctuary. The Only Foals and Horses centre hopes to raise £200,000 to buy the Oswaldtwistle premises they now rent after it was put on sale. The Haslingden Old Road shelter cares for around 100
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Steve's rarin' to go for marathon 37!
MARATHON man Steve Redford is back in the big time. He captured the hearts of thousands as he pounded his way from Paris to Blackpool for Children in Need. Now, eight years and a few aches and pains later, the man from Lightburne Avenue, Leigh is back
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Brave Shannon smiles through heart-op trauma
TINY tot Shannon Ryan has shown her fighting spirit by bouncing back to health after a year-long trauma of heart surgery. And her delighted parents are over the moon after hearing last week's three-hour operation should be Shannon's last. Doctors at Liverpool's
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Surgeon tells of terrible day in Dunblane
A FORMER East Lancashire hospital consultant has spoken of his shock and horror after tending the innocent victims of the Dunblane School massacre. Dr Howard Gibson and his nurse wife Elaine lived in West View, Belthorn, before recently moving to Scotland
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Gypsies cause problems at playing fields
OFFICIALS are taking seriously the threat posed by bands of gypsies to Oswaldtwistle's White Ash Playing Fields. Ward Councillor Peter Britcliffe and Edgar Bignell, Hyndburn's director of community services, met at the site shortly after a group had moved
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Heath-Cliff! Barbara meets idol again
WHEN it comes to the life of pop idol Sir Cliff Richard, Lowton woman Barbara Byrne is perhaps his most loyal fan. For she has travelled as far as Australia more than once to watch all his concerts, and each year travels thousands of miles around Britain
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Disney dream comes true
PINT-SIZED Sarah Lord is about to see her dream come true. The international Make a Wish Foundation has told the fragile six-year-old, who weighs just over a stone, that they will finance a family trip to Disneyworld in Florida. Sarah, who faces a daily
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RL fan rector welcomed
LOWTON St Luke's new rector has joined the parish. Rev John Macauley, currently chaplain at Liverpool College, takes over full-time in Lowton from July. Because of his contract with the college he will not be free for full time duties until the summer
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Little princess follows her sister
THIS year's Leyland Festival Princess is following in the footsteps of her big sister. Holly Watkinson, nine, of St James's primary school, Moss Side, beat 20 candidates for the title on Sunday - four years after her sister Carly was Princess. Moss Side
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Line dancing storms into Leyland
AMERICAN line dancing is set to take Leyland by storm in a four-day festival. Hundreds of dancers from all over the country will don their dancing shoes and cowboy hats in an extravaganza from Good Friday to Easter Monday at the town's leisure centre.
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Blackburn Rovers 1, Leeds United 0: It's golden Graham
ONLY Premiership leaders Newcastle United have won more home games this season than Blackburn Rovers. And not a single top-flight team has scored more goals in front of their own fans. Most of them, of course, have come from the boots or head of Alan
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Joe's call for justice
A BUSY Astley road would be blocked with protesters if a retired developer tried to build on the site of his woodland retreat. Joe Massey reckons that would be the case if he flattened his Church Road home and applied for permission to develop his vast
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Not typical terrorists
A GANG which terrorises a Leyland neighbourhood are not typical of youngsters in the town say police. They say complaints about youngsters behaving badly have dropped by half in the past year and are urging residents to be more tolerant towards young
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Salmon survive
SALMON are breeding in a Lancashire river for the first time in 30 years. The fish have started spawning again in the River Calder, between the River Ribble and Whalley Bridge, thanks to steps by the National Rivers Authority to keep the water clean.
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Red-head key to kidnap bid
A RED-head could hold the key to the identity of a man being sought by Police following the attempted abduction of a nine-year-old girl. Police are appealing to the woman to come forward and help them in their search for the tall, black attacker who struck
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Freddie finds a friend
FREDDIE the lonely Rainbows' mascot is no longer alone thanks to the Citizen. Three weeks ago we ran a story about Preston's Grimshaw Street Rainbows group. All the girls had moved up to Brownies and with no new recruits, the group faced an uncertain
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Love down under
DEAF cricket star Neil Pritchard made the catch of his life when he married fiancee Christine Moore on the banks of Sydney Harbour in Australia. The couple who married while Neil, 24, was playing in the Deaf World Cricket Cup, met at Preston Deaf Club
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Thanks for the chair
A DISABLED Preston man is braving all weathers to raise cash for the charity that helped him. Ray Kirkham sits in his electric wheelchair outside the Community Transport centre in Chapel Yard, Lune Street, Preston. His aim is to sell 75,000 tickets and
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Veggie advice
HELP is at hand for would-be vegetarians this month. March is Go Veggie month and Healthwise, the region's health information service, is helping to promote it by offering free vegetarian fun packs. The aim of the month is promote a healthy lifestyle
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Paramedics plan rapped
A LOCAL councillor has slammed a revolutionary new scheme to draft paramedics into hospital at the week-end to support junior doctors. Blackburn Council health spokesman Frank Gorton is concerned that patients will lose out when a pilot scheme starts
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Not in front of the children
SMOKERS all over Britain were stubbing out this week on the annual guilt trip known as No Smoking Day on Wednesday. The thrust of this year's message was emotional blackmail and the main question on non-smokers' lips was; 'what about your children?'.
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Briarcroft's happy dancing days
MY husband and I were saddened to read of the forthcoming demolition of the Briarcroft youth centre. We have fond memories of dancing to records in the early 50s. So much so that we named our bungalow "Briarcroft" as a reminder of those happy days. J.Hall
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Woman mugged at home
A FRAIL pensioner was thrown to the floor and had his wallet snatched by an intruder who broke into his home. The thief broke into the old man's home in Brook Street, Preston at 6pm on Tuesday February 27, and escaped with and a large amount of cash.
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Hawks Premiership dream dies
IT'S all over for sad Blackburn Hawks. Two defeats on the opening week-end of the Premiership play-offs have all but ended any hopes of reaching the top flight. Mike Cockayne's battle weary troops sunk to a 6-3 defeat in front of a disappointing crowd
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Two churches share one spire
CELEBRATING its centenary this year the Church of the English Martyrs in the Alexandra Park district of Manchester has a strong, lasting link with Ramsbottom. In 1926 St. Andrew's (Dundee) Presbyterian Church (picture inset) on the corner of Kay Brow
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Stolen for your mum?
WITH Mothering Sunday approaching we once again set about thinking how we can show our appreciation to our mother. I've always used the expression "It's the thought that counts" when my children ask me what would I like to receive. Well I've got just
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Heather saves mum's life
LITTLE Heather Stirzaker brought more than just a bit of luck to her mum - she saved her life! For when the brave nine-year-old saw her epileptic mum struggling for life at the bottom of a swimming pool - she dived in to pull her to the top. "She was
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Council rapped in expenses row
MORE than £8,000 could be saved if Blackburn Borough Council scrapped its controversial practice of distributing surplus cash from expenses budgets to councillors. That's the view of Blackburn and Darwen Liberal Democrats who have slammed the council
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Probe into hoax drugs warning
A HOAX letter being sent to Preston schools warning teachers of a new drug being sold to children has been slammed by police as a hoax. The spoof circular, claiming to be from drugs giants ICI, says brightly coloured tattoos laced with LSD are being targeted
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Activists march to keep hospital
FEARS for the future of Ramsbottom Cottage Hospital had local Labour activists out in force last Saturday to voice their concern. The move follows the decision to close Bury's Florence Nightingale Hospital, which has sparked fears that the Cottage Hospital
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Sex attack prompts warning from vicar
THE VICAR of a church close to where a young girl suffered a horrific sexual attack has spoken out about the sense of fear in the community. And the Reverend Simon Bessant, Vicar of the Church of the Redeemer on Old Bank Lane, Shadsworth, has called for
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Leyland Warriors: Tuson thrashes Golds
WARRIORS U8s played Golborne and won 40-30 but their performance was not up to this teams usual standard. Tries were scored by Chris Tuson (4), Daniel Aspinall (2) and James Lloyd (2), with conversions by Daniel Armstrong, Jonathan Walker, James Lloyd
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Dial 253 for town hall
IT'S all change for Bury Council's telephone numbers and there's a giant banner draped over the front of the Town Hall to tell everyone. The Local Authority is being phased onto the new FeatureNet system which will substantially cut the cost of telephone
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Town planner feels the heat of village fury
A FURIOUS council official threatened to leave a heated public meeting about controversial proposals to build a high density estate in Tockholes. Blackburn planning officer Peter Kuit said he would "much rather be having his tea" than taking abuse from
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Preston's Peters desperate for win
NORTH End take on Darlington on Saturday - and desperately need a victory against the Quakers if Gary Peters has his way, they will get it. That last home effort against Rochdale ranks up there with Preston's worst in the last couple of years. Preston
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Market traders slam car park fees
ANGRY market stall holders in Bury are up in arms about the Council bumping up the town's car parking prices. And they warn that if nothing is done soon to resolve the situation Bury Market will go to the dogs. Several stall holders who have had their
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School kids blitz litter
LITTER louts beware - the SCAT team are after you. Members of Moorland High's School and Community Action Team in Darwen have been targeting the litter problem in their area. They have been out and about tidying up the streets around the school and in
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WildCats beat Plymouth
VICTORY tastes that much sweeter when achieved against all the odds and there was a pride of Wildcats enjoying a remarkable success over on of their closest rivals. With their squad decimated by injuries and illnesses there were only six available WildCats
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Disgusting
WE HAVE been reading the Lancashire Evening Telegraph daily for 50 years, but found your front-page headline about murder victim David Spencer (LET, March 9) disgusting and humiliating to his family and friends. MR and MRS A McKAY, Clifton Street, Darwen
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People polluters
BLACKBURN Council are exaggerating any danger to health from the local pigeons. I doubt if they could produce a single case of anyone being infected by contact with the pigeons. I think the real reason for their bloodthirsty plan to destroy the pigeon
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The questions that need answers after Dunblane
AS THE shock of the Dunblane massacre gives way to an awed horror and grief among millions, it is vital that everything is now done to ensure, as far as is humanly possible, that such an unbelievable tragedy may never occur again. And though little can
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Green army's big dig transforms landscape
IF you go down to the woods today you are in for a green surprise. Grimebusting residents from Grane Road in Haslingden turned out in full force over the weekend to plant over 300 trees in Mary's Wood. The area is owned by farmer Spike Hodbod who has
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Monaghan hits the glory trail
GARY MONAGHAN has left Leigh RU on a cloud of success. The winger, who has now been snapped up by Sale, was in outstanding form for Lancashire at the weekend. His side crashed 36-16 to Warwickshire in the CIS County Championship semi-final. But there
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Alan's got the luck of the Irish
LANDLORD Alan Murdock has an extra reason to celebrate on St Patrick's Day - he's in the final of a top competition. Alan, 40, won a place in the UK's Best Barperson of the Year contest after transforming an old, derelict pub into a thriving Irish bar
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First for Spring a-ding Miners
LEIGH MINERS are, fingers crossed, en route for a Spring revival. They scored their first away of the season on Saturday, 28-10 at bottom club Millom. And they will be looking for a first three-in-a-row this season when they face Mayfield at Twist Lane
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Army duo speak of Bosnia suffering
ST HELENS soldiers Alan Clubb and Simon Kilgannon, members of the British element of the NATO Implementation Force (IFOR) sent to Bosnia in December, have spoken about their harrowing experiences in the war-ravaged country. Former Grange Park pupil Alan
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Pigeon courts?
REGARDING Blackburn Council's plans to trap and shoot the town's pigeons, I see from a national newspaper that someone has been stealing the pigeons from Trafalgar Square in London. And although they can't be prosecuted for theft, they can be under the
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We're skint! so don't con us Mr Clarke
THE writing has been on the wall for a considerable time but few people seem interested or concerned enough to read it. However, the message is becoming increasingly clear; so clear in fact that not even the blind - and by that I mean those who will not
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Holiday island murder
A MURDER investigation is underway on the holiday island of Lanzarote after a 27-year-old man was found dying from stab wounds. Mark Richmond from Blackburn was found lying in the road outside a popular disco in the resort of Puerto de Carmen. He had
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Salvation Army concert at parish church
TO raise cash for its building fund the Parish Church of St. Thomas and St. John in Radcliffe will be the concert venue this Saturday for The Blackpool Salvation Army Band. The church is in need of extensive repairs for dry rot, wet rot and damaged stone
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Burglar rooted to tree!
POLICE in pursuit of two criminals caught one, and a police dog showed them where the second was hiding - up a large tree! The incident happened in Bury during the early hours of Tuesday morning when police were called to the Leisure Lakes Sports Shop
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Bury celebrates new cycle lanes
NEW cycle lanes and road markings have been introduced on both sides of Walmersley Road in Bury. They run between Bury General Hospital, Buckley Street, and into St Mark's Square. The green tracks are Bury's first on-road cycle lanes which are set to
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Students bid for places in China
SCHOOL heads from 120 schools in the Manchester area are being invited to nominate one student each to studying Chinese society - first hand. Holy Cross College in Bury is on the list but have not yet announced their candidate. The trip is being made
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Wembley fever grips Saints fans
WITH six weeks still to go before Saints' big Silk Cut Challenge Cup Final date Wembley fever is already mounting in the town, with ecstatic fans besieging the Knowsley Road ground for tickets.Despite bitterly cold weather long queues formed from as early
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Library casts its Net far and wide
NELSON Library is set to become one of the first in the county where customers can surf the net. Within the next few weeks it will be possible to exchange news and information with as many as 50 million web users throughout the world, 500,000 of whom
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Chunnel link for village
HEYSHAM Port could be in line for a direct link to the Channel Tunnel after proposals for a new rail freight terminal were revealed. The plan would help clear lorries off Britain's overloaded road network in an environmentally friendly move to have them
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Only pride left for Carnforth
Carnforth RFC 0 Workington 81 CARNFORTH faced title favourites Workington on Saturday and were treated to a rugby display from the Cumbrians. Workington looked to run the ball straight from the kick-off but found the Carnforth pack in good form under
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Atoms crush Shaw
Shaw 4 Heysham Atoms 54 THE Atoms kept their title hopes alive with a nine-try extravaganza against Oldham side Shaw on Saturday. The first four tries of the game came within 15 minutes of the kick-off with the Atoms flying into a 26-0 lead putting them
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Clarets eye winger Morrissey
GLOBETROTTING Adrian Heath, pictured right, is prepared to comb Europe and Africa to bring an intercontinental flavour to Turf Moor. The Burnley boss continued his widespread search for fresh talent today on the domestic front with at least a dozen phone
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Council in the pink on Blobby
MORECAMBE'S ill-fated Crinkley Bottom park raised its head again this week in a report published by the Local Government Ombudsman. The Ombudsman was called in when residents living close to Happy Mount Park complained about the Blobby buildings being
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New boss makes rallying call to fans
ADRIAN Heath is hoping for a massive show of support for his first home match in charge on Saturday (March 16). The new boss wants fans to forget any off-the-field issues and concentrate on getting behind the team for what will be a very tough game. Swindon
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Dance mania hits Middleton
THE Collins English Dictionary defines Bohemia as 'a place frequented by unconventional people'. Hold on to your hats Middleton because during Easter weekend, Bohemia will be arriving in your village bringing thousands of young people to the area. Organ
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Health trust faces cuts
CASH-strapped health chiefs are being forced to reduce hospital administration costs as a way of coping with another financially tight year. David Chew, chief executive of Burnley NHS trust, has told employees that more savings will have to be made in
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Gas blast drama
THE picture tells its own story. This is the scene on Sunday afternoon as a gas explosion rocked the city centre bringing Lancaster to a spectacular halt. Construction worker David Sloane, 25, is still recovering in hospital after a 40ft shooting flame
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Shrimps fall foulof man in black
Morecambe 0 Halifax 1 MORECAMBE'S slipped to their fourth successive Conference defeat at Christie Park on Tuesday night in yet another game that turned on a dubious refereeing decision. The Shrimps were on top in a forgettable encounter with inspired
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Internet 'detective'
BUSINESSMAN Anthony Capstick is set to take on a new role - as an Internet detective! Anthony, who runs an online information service in Whalley, has been asked to help BBC Radio 5 for the start of Science Week. He'll use the Internet to try to answer
