Archive
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ChM-N stopper!
THANK heavens for that often underestimated invention ... the narrator. For the uninitiated who have forgotten to gen up on a musical's background, it's a godsend to have someone on stage helping you to keep up with the plot. And this is one area where
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Arson alert!
PANICKING shoppers fled from a packed Lancaster store yesterday afternoon as a suspected arsonist struck for the third time in three days. The latest incident, in the Littlewoods store in Marketgate caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to clothes
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Dancing ovation for dishy Darren
RECREATING a film which proved such a big hit three decades ago can be difficult, especially when you take it to the stage. But full marks to the producers of Summer Holiday for bringing to the Opera House a show which loses nothing of the entertainment
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ATHLETICS: Hyndburn clock up second win in row
HYNDBURN AC scored their second win in a row in the Northern Mens League Division Four meeting at Pendle. Rory Birbeck had a great match with a winning clean sweep in the throws. This included a fine personal best 45.50 metres in the discus and a hat
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Cashpoint bonanza
THE elusive "feel good factor" could be returning, according to new figures from the national cashpoint network, LINK. Despite being the coldest May for 73 years, activity in the High Street was red hot and levels of cash machine transactions were at
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Hospice stalwart Eunice dies
ONE of Leigh's charity stalwarts has died suddenly at the age of 72. Eunice Hitchen had been the backbone of the Wigan Hospice Leigh branch for the past nine years, having also served as Chairman of the Leigh fund-raising committee. She died on Friday
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Citizen Cliff!
SURELY, now, Blackpool opening nights have had it all . . . a star stopping the show before it has even started. Disbelieving fans watched Cliff Richard take his seat in the stalls to see Darren Day recreate on stage the role Cliff made famous on film
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It's a close shave for Susan
LICENSEES Mavis and Jim Ashton have made a head start in their charity fund-raising efforts by hosting a sponsored head shave. The couple, who run the Victoria on Atherton Road, Hindley Green, helped raise £850, the money split between Christie Hospital
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Right me old fruits, dig deep!
THE Fylde Coast's biggest-ever cash appeal was launched on Wednesday (June 12) with all the razzmatazz of showbusiness and the big top. Organisers of a bid to raise £1.9 million for a new state-of-the-art scanner for Blackpool Victoria Hospital chose
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Flying the flag!
THE ITALIAN soccer squad challenging for the Euro 96 championships have found a couple of unlikely team members - in Darwen! Staunch Italian supporters Claudio Vignali and his pal Pat Ferro will be flying the flag for their "home" country in more ways
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Charity shops blaster
PRIME site charity shops in Leigh have been slammed by Leigh Business Partnership for undermining normal retail shops in the town. According to the Partnership, many such organisations have now become commercial organisations but without paying rates
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Drugs death mum's heart of gold
A POLICE solicitor whose son died of a drugs overdose bravely faced the pusher who sold him killer pills before telling him - I'm delighted to hear you're making a new start. Niamh Astles - who recently became Lancashire police force's first solicitor
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Fight to save other kids
POLICE lawyer Niamh Astles is now campaigning to stop other youngsters from using drugs following her son's death. She is involved in a world-wide campaign to stop kids abusing narcotics. Mrs Astles said in a statement read out at Gareth's inquest: "The
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Parents dissatisfied over school choices
A WIDE-RANGING consultation over how schools decide on how many pupils they take each year is to be launched by Lancashire County Council. The move comes in the wake of widespread dissatisfaction among parents about the way in which admissions in Pendle
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Light years away
TURF Moor bade farewell to a famous landmark today after the four 39-year-old floodlight towers were demolished. Work started yesterday on Turf Moor's new floodlight system and the next stage of a grand £6m ground development plan. The four distinctive
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30 steps back to boom town
GLORY days are promised if a town centre blueprint gets the green light. Leigh Business Partnership has produced a 30-point draft plan to take Leigh successfully into the 21st century. Businessmen believe boom town beckons - but the report says everyone
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LETTER: Literacy outburst
CITIZEN Smith is right to condemn falling standards of literacy. The Citizen itself has been setting a deplorable example for months now by using lower-case letters for proper nouns in your Entertainment Guide. Mr K Ellel, Westwood Ave, Rishton EDITOR'S
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British Baseball League
Razorbacks 8 Bobcats 19: Razorbacks 6 Bobcats 23: PRESTON Bobcats visited Birmingham for a double-header against new team the West Midlands Razorbacks. In glorious weather Preston took both games in the British Baseball League - behind the pitching of
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Push 2000 reaches tower
SUPERMAN and a host of other celebrities have given their backing to a mammoth fund-raising afternoon at Hoghton Tower this Sunday. Push 2000 - a 1,200 mile wheelchair push by three paraplegics from Lands End to John O'Groats - is stopping off for the
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Police tame teenagers with football
TAMING teenagers with football - that's the latest scheme dreamt up by Preston Police. Community policeman PC Paul Wilkinson plans to run a five-a-side football league for children on housing estates in Tanterton and Ingol. And he reckons the move could
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The man who fell to earth
MARTIN Webster has multiple sclerosis and he's wheelchair-bound - but it doesn't stop him leading life to the full. Next month he'll be taking to the skies - in a plane 10,000ft above Ulverston in Cumbria and, strapped to another man, will jump out and
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Burma's a star
MEMBERS of the Preston Burma Star have been saving up for four years - finally raising enough money to buy a dog. But it's no ordinary dog because the £1,000 animal, aptly named Burma, is going to change someone's life. Burma's a guide dog for the blind
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Longridge hit Penwortham for six
LONGRIDGE hit Penwortham for six on Saturday - beating them by eight wickets. They are proving to be the team worthy of top spot in the Moore & Smalley Palace Shield. Anthony Procter with 5 for 19 and Andy Dodd 3 for 24 put the whole Penwortham side
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Mindless vandals smash 250 school windows
A HEADTEACHER has slammed the mindless vandals who left her school 'knee deep' in glass and ran up a a repair bill of £6,000 during a sickening, hour-long window smashing spree. More than 250 windows were shattered during the daylight attack on Roman
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Oyston profile on TV
OWEN OYSTON - who earlier this week was moved to Wymott Prison - is back on national television next week - starring in a half-hour Channel4 profile on the events leading up to his recent six-year sentence for rape. The programme, The Trials of O.J.Oyston
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LETTER: If it ain't bust - don't fix it!
REGARDING last week's Citizen Smith article about declining standards of education, I fully agree with all the points raised. There appears to be a golden rule which applies to everything these days - "if it ain't bust, don't fix it." Our education system
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Mums 'afraid to cuddle their children'
PARENTS terrified of being accused of child abuse are unwilling to even touch their own children, claims a Preston physiotherapist. Pat Sutton, Physiotherapy Manager for the Guild Community Healthcare NHS Trust, said modern mums felt they needed permission
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LETTER: Don't blame teachers
REGARDING your latest blast from the past in last week's Citizen Smith column, I was wondering if there was such a thing as selective truth after examining your arguments. I am now starting to believe it is not just the radio which broadcasts Golden Oldie
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Dancing in the streets
CHART-TOPPING Scottish dance outfit Q-Tex paid a flying visit to Preston to play their latest hit. Two band members - currently at number 30 in the UK charts with Let the Love - dropped into HMV on Fishergate to promote the new single. About 20 people
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LETTER: Keep up the good work
AFTER having read all the various letters about noisy neighbours, may we send these writers our utmost admiration. These people have had the courage to speak out and represent many victims who, through fear of reprisals, are suffering in silence. We say
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Bamber Bridge 1 Czech Republic 9
THE scoreline didn't matter ... the splendid occasion mattered far more as 2,300 fans witnessed this Irongate match which was an event that most had only dreamed of! It was sportsmanship at its best. As for the game, Bridge found themselves trailing by
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Big weekend for two local sides
TWO local Lancashire League sides could be celebrating this weekend for different reasons. For while defending champions Rishton could make a dramatic return to the top of the table on Saturday if they beat leaders Lowerhouse, East Lancs are bidding to
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Homes burgled as owners mow the grass
POLICE are linking two burglaries which took place while the occupiers of the houses were out gardening. On Thursday May 23 a thief broke into the houses on Abingdon Drive in Ashton, Preston. He took several items of jewellery and some cash from the first
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Gun truce too little too late says victim's relative
GWEN Mayor and her 16 Dunblane Primary school pupils would still be alive today if guns were not so easily available - that's the view of the teacher's distraught mother-in-law in the wake of the first week of the national firearms amnesty. Lancashire
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Wheelie bins 'pose crime threat'
WHEELIE bins are at the centre of a new crime threat claim police in Leyland. They revealed that since the trash cans on castors were introduced in Lancashire, criminals have been putting them to various different uses. Now, South Ribble residents are
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Hopes sports pitch will be kicked out
RESIDENTS are hoping councillors will kick out plans for a synthetic soccer pitch. People living near the proposed site on land next to Audley Sports and Community Centre, Blackburn, were asked what they thought about the proposed scheme. Eighty four
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Textile firm plans to move base
A TEXTILE firm is planning to move out of its base in Bacup to cope with a growing demand for its products. Gaskell Textiles is hoping to move to a larger warehouse on the GEC estate in Clayton-le-Moors to cope with an increase in demand. The company,
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5 YEARS AGO: 'Bug' alert at hospital
A HOSPITAL food bug alert was launched in Burnley after 35 patients and staff were struck down by a mystery illness. The bug struck this week when 18 members of staff and 17 elderly patients were taken ill at the town's general hospital. A tray used for
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GOLF: Carman aims for record
PAUL Carman aims to become only the third man to make a successful defence of the Club Professional Championship next week when he competes against the finest field in club pro golf. The 34-year-old from Burnley sets off on Sunday for Drogheda, Ireland
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GOLF: Clash forces champ to miss out
PAUL Dwyer will not be defending the Harold Ryden Trophy, the most prestigious event in local amateur golf, at Darwen Golf Club. The 22-year-old from Clitheroe is hoping to play a major role for Lancashire in the Northern Championship instead (see separate
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Competition is good
SOME correspondents recently wrote in to criticise Nynex Cable Communications. If a company provides 25 per cent cheaper telephone bills, and connection charges for new customers is £25, compared to BT's £116, I know which one I would choose. No wonder
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Meat decline
IT may be a blessing in disguise that the mad cow disease scare shocks and deters people from meat-eating and veers them to vegetarian diets - when we see news pictures of penned and crated farm animals, with doleful eyes, destined for slaughter as perhaps
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Primed cuts
WE'RE being primed to expect it. So Chancellor Kenneth Clarke's latest speech warning about there being no big tax cuts in the autumn budget came as no surprise. His keynote speech to the annual bankers' dinner at the Mansion House has long been recognised
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Council should show respect for its old folk
PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice has tabled a Commons motion calling for the reinstatement of the traditional "Mayor's fiver" Christmas bonus for over eighties in his borough. It may seem extraordinary for an MP to drag what could be considered a petty issue
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Best day in church's history
MORE than 400 people packed into Holy Saviour's Church, Nelson, for the visit of Cardinal Basil Hume, the head of the Roman Catholic church in England and Wales. The special visit was arranged as part of the church's centenary celebrations, and the Archbishop
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Tragic drug victim's pals tell all
THE friends of tragic Gareth Noone made a pact to get him off drugs just 24 hours before he died. His mates - all students - told an inquest how they had started smoking cannabis before some of them moved on to harder drugs. Matthew Hart, 18, of Hacking
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MP 'trailing' Stagecoach
MAJOR Lancashire bus operator Stagecoach faces a demand for advance notice of job losses or timetable changes in East Lancashire. Pendle MP Gordon Prentice is calling for 'timely advance notice' of such issues. He made the request to Stagecoach chief
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Drop dread as Glazebury hang on
A DROPPED ball cost Glazebury dear as they hung on for a draw in the Cheshire Association derby at Appleton. The home side's healthy innings of 199-4 was spearheaded by Mike Arnold, who was dropped when he had scored just two but went on to hit 92, and
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Vandals dig up top bowling green
A PUB bowling green which this week hosts one of the region's top tournaments was a target for vandals at the weekend. Philip Goodall, manager of the Carr Mill Hotel, on the East Lancs Road, discovered the damage - estimated at about £100 - at 12.15am
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Flight of hope for AIT
BURNLEY aerospace firms are bidding for a multi-million slice of a major RAF new plane contract - which could bring 40 new skilled jobs to the town. Aero and Industrial Technology Ltd and Pendle Aeroform are in the United Kingdom Industrial Team of companies
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Mason magic sparks Leigh
ALAN MASON finally weaved his magic - and it was quite breathtaking. The canny Kiwi, who has come in for some stick from some impatient elements at Hilton Park, displayed the full range of his undoubted artistry as Leigh powered in at Barrow. The 41-12
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Seven lives left for Moses
A YEAR-old cat is recovering after being shot for the second time. Moses, a long-haired black cat, has undergone a major operation to place a metal plate in his front paw shattered by an airgun pellet, just four months after being shot in the back! Owner
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Con duo dupes 91-year-old
TWO men posing as water board officials stole £60 from the home of a 91-year-old woman. The conmen called at the house in Cleveland Street, Peasley Cross, at about 12.55pm on Monday, June 10, claiming they had been sent by the water board. After the woman
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Sixty shoe factory jobs to go
UP to 60 jobs could be axed following the decision to close the J. H. Hurst Shoes factory in Jackson Street, St Helens from September. The factory has been operating at the site for 28 years, and although talks are being held in a bid to save the jobs
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Two percent rise for health managers
THE Board of the St Helens & Knowsley Community Health (NHS) Trust has awarded its senior managers a 2 per cent pay rise for the period 1996/97 - almost 1 per cent below the current level of inflation. The decision announced this week affects all
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Stressing the point
A POLICEMAN'S lot is not a happy one these days and it's not surprising that they struggle to keep any sort of check on the rising crime wave (don't let anyone try to tell you things are under control). Problem is, as I see it, that they are too busy
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Top marks for reading project
A REPORT to St Helens Council's Education Committee on the Reading Recovery programme aimed at children who have severe literacy difficulties, shows clear evidence that they have made gains in all areas. The council has a major commitment to the programme
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Optimism as Pilks' profits soar
PILKINGTONS' pre-tax profits have soared by £212 million, a rise of 47%, according to group results for the year to March, 1996. And Nigel Rudd, Pilkington chairman is predicting continued progress for the St Helens-based company which has worldwide interests
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Cash shortage
IWRITE in response to the article 'Granny's Penny-Pelting Protest on Homes Cash' (LET, May 30), when Mrs Audrey Hannah threw fistfuls of coins during a meeting of Burnley Council Housing Committee. I am amazed at the lengths to which this publicity-seeking
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Clitheroe Castle wants crock of gold
A PROJECT to try to win lottery cash to regenerate Clitheroe Castle and its grounds has been given the go-ahead by Ribble Valley councillors. The policy and finance committee heard that proposals have been prepared for a bid under the Urban Parks programme
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Cashing in on stress
A POLICEMAN'S lot is not a happy one these days and it's not surprising that they struggle to keep any sort of check on the rising crime wave (don't let anyone try to tell you things are under control). The problem is, as I see it, that they are too busy
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Shelford signs for West Park
A RUGBY League international who slipped through Saints' fingers has signed . . . for West Park. The Red Rocks-based club has appointed ex-New Zealand, Wigan, Wakefield and Manly forward Adrian Shelford to their back-room team, and also registered him
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Saints in title points quest
UNBEATEN Super League leaders Saints will be seeking their 17th successive victory - including five cup-ties - when basement club Workington Town visit Knowsley Road on Sunday, kick-off 6pm. And with the struggling Cumbrians seeking an unlikely first
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Salute the Princes of Wales
Sheffield Eagles 32 Saints 43 SHORTHANDED Saints stayed on course for championship glory after this points extravaganza as both teams made history in staging a first-ever Super League game at one-time Rugby Union bastion Cardiff Arms Park. And there can
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Calling all Russian Convoy vets
ORGANISERS of the Russian Convoy Club in St Helens have sent out an urgent appeal for new members. The club, which has been in operation for the last 13 years, holds meetings once a month at its base in the Royal Naval Club, Crab Street. Anyone who was
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Intruders smash contents of flat
INTRUDERS who broke into a flat in Millersdale off Clock Face Road, St Helens, between 7pm on Thursday, June 6 and 11am the following day, vandalised the property. A window at the back of the flat was smashed and the offenders completely ransacked the
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Community spirit lost
RECENT reports on local authority housing indicate Blackburn Council is floundering like a huge beached whale, with a problem of its own instigation - induced purely by mistaken socialist dogma. After pumping untold millions of taxpayers' money into the
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Unbeaten Marsh swamps opposition
NICK Marsh made an unbeaten 106 to help Read to a 142-run victory over Baxenden. Shahid Nawz also hit a stylish 76 as the Vaux Ribblesdale League leaders made 243-3 and then bowled the home team out for 101. Second-placed Barnoldswick also enjoyed a win
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Pensioner in drug blunder peril
POLICE are looking for a pensioner who asked chemists for cough medicine and was given the heroin drug substitute Methadone by mistake. Methadone, which is prescribed to heroin addicts, can be fatal if taken to excess or in combination with drink or other
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Resort pair on drug charges
A couple have been arrested and charged in connection with a major drug producing operation in Morecambe. John and Simone Jenkinson, of Park Street in the resort, were arrested after police discovered a cannabis factory in their home in a dawn raid on
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Hi-tech exhibition's a moving experience
AN exhibition of technical wizardry at Turton Tower, near Edgworth, features automated toys which visitors will be able to operate themselves. Many of the objects on show are by Britain's leading automata makers, who have skilfully created moving forms
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Master Ed
BLACKBURN Rovers ace Graeme Le Saux is winning his race for Premiership fitness. Le Saux suffered the heartbreak of losing his England place for Euro 96 after a horrific leg injury against Middlesbrough in December. But now he could force his way back
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A WARNING has been issued by the Preston Disablement Services Centre for people to be on their guard
Recently the conman called on one of the centre's patients, who lives in Heysham, and tried to charge her £25 to mend her wheelchair. The manager of the centre Tony Donbavand said: "This is very worrying and we are currently conducting a full investigation
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Tragic Tracy touches hearts
THE heartbreaking story of 16-year-old Tracy Massey and her brave family has brought an overwhelming response from the people of Burnley. Tracy has been in a semi-coma - brain-damaged, unable to speak and hardly able to move - since an everyday illness
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Knockout idea, says TV's Stuart
ASK Stuart Hall for his verdict on Blackpool and he's sure to say: "It's A Knockout!" The TV personality was in his favourite resort to help promote a new First Leisure marketing campaign aimed at Blackpool hoteliers and guesthouse owners. Stuart shares
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Odour to a Nightingale!
THE outcry over Lancaster's controversial cattle reprocessing plant reached national levels this week. Nightingale Hall Farm came under the scrutiny of the national press amid fears of BSE contamination from the trails of animal waste found spilled across
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Prison switch for Oyston
OWEN Oyston has been moved to a new, purpose-built Category C prison near Preston. The 62-year-old father-of-five was transferred from Liverpool's Walton jail on Monday (June 10) and will serve the rest of his six-year sentence in the medium to low security
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Pair XTEND experience
STEFANIE Hayhurst and Adrian Crabtree are looking forward to a financially rewarding future, thanks to a training scheme run by ELTEC. Former Gawthorpe High School pupil and keep-fit fanatic Stefanie is enjoying keeping the books in shape at Padiham-based
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From Romania with a vow
ROMANIAN schoolchildren are looking forward to a brighter future thanks to the efforts of kids at a Blackpool primary school. Children at Revoe County Primary School helped raise £5,000 to fund parent Stuart Ward's 1,500-mile mission to improve conditions
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Bid to buy disused quarry
IN a bid to secure the future of an old disused quarry near Lancaster environmentalists are planning to buy it and turn it into a Local Nature Reserve. Presently owned by construction giants Tarmac, Trowbarrow Quarry - situated in an outstanding area
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Ahoy there me hearties!
CARTOON bears and a huge pirate tableau are just a few of the new designs being introduced to this year's Illuminations. Several sections of the six-mile stretch of lights will have a whole new look - and Fylde folk are being given a sneak preview at
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Kids with a goal
AN INNOVATIVE soccer coaching scheme is coming to the Fylde in a bid to rediscover the lost art of skill development. The Coerver Coaching Method has been helping youngsters the world over to improve their game since it was introduced in the 1970s by
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Father-of-five, 36, crushed by car
A 36 years-old father of five died after being crushed in a horrific accident outside his home. Bernard Lester, of Cranworth Avenue, Blackmoor, Tyldesley was trapped las he removed the engine of a friend's car. The car was being dismantled for spare parts
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Triple sting
A BLACKPOOL pensioner has become the victim of a TRIPLE sting and lost more than £3,000 after being conned three times in a week. STING ONE - the 75-year-old handed over £1,800 cash to bogus builders who claimed the roof of her Newcastle Avenue home needed
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Drinks with Sir Dennis
MP Nigel Evans swapped drinks and conversation with Sir Dennis Thatcher during a recent Commons lunch for small businessmen. Sir Dennis, famous for his liking of the odd G and T, heard the Ribble Valley Tory call for less red tape. Mr Evans, who hosted
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Olympic swimmers take the plunge for charity
OLYMPIC swimmers Suki Brownsdon and Steve Mellor took a break from their busy training schedules to help hundreds of local schoolchildren take the plunge for a charity. The one-day event at Darwen Leisure Centre was part of the national Uncle Ben's Swim
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Miners' moan
'MINERS' champion Arthur Scargill's plan to save the seafront miners' home at Blackpool has been shot down Management's decision to reject the NUM offer in favour of a private company's bid has been branded out of order by Leigh-based miners' leaders.
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£50,000 Lottery windfall
MORE THAN £50,000 of lottery cash is to be used to attract more voluntary groups to Hyndburn. The Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) will use their latest windfall to open an office in Accrington. A development officer
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New-look Darwen town hall set to open
THE DAYS of travelling to Blackburn for key council services will soon be over for the people of Darwen. A new-look town hall is poised to open for business this Monday in an attempt to make life easier for townsfolk. The 115 year old building has undergone
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Council send out promo packs to push bus sell-off
HYNDBURN Council is sending out promotion packages to companies interested in buying their struggling bus company. The government has given council chief executive Mike Chambers the go-ahead to target companies who might be interested in buying Hyndburn
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Town's super centre hopes
A BOLD community venture looks set to make Atherton the place to be. This week a steering committee sifted through super-sporting club ideas aimed to have widespread appeal. Now they'll run the rule over suggestions and hopefully stage summer consultations
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Just the tonic for recovery boy David
PRESENTS, cards and plenty of laughter - that's the sort of medicine brave David Astbury needs. And he's getting it from his young classmates who are putting a smile back on the nine-year-old's face after a major brain operation Children at Clayton-le-Moor's
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Where have all good kids gone?
POLICE have issued a warning to all those who know kind-hearted young people in the Leigh area. They are being cautioned that unless they act now, the town's youngsters could be in serious danger - of missing out on a top award. Mayor Bernard Coyle has
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Four year time scale for tip
CAMPAIGNERS against opencast mining are bracing themselves for another battle following plans by Britain's biggest private mining group to develop the Lomax site. RJB Mining claims 75 jobs will be created and a huge man-made tip will be be reclaimed and
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Strangled mum's missing minutes
POLICE hope solving the mystery of the missing 55 minutes shortly before divorcee Shirley Brown was strangled to death in her Lowton home will lead to her killer. Shirley, aged 46, was found dead on a dishevelled bed dressed in her nightclothes and a
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LETTER:Mad Cow is a blessing in disguise
AS the pandemonium of Mad Cow Disease rumbles on, maybe it is a blessing in disguise to shock and deter people from the meat-eating habit and veer to vegetarian diets. Factory farms and the butchery trade appears to be declining with the introduction
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Terror attack on boy
A GANG of teenagers kicked one boy in the head and threatened another with a screwdriver before demanding cash. About a dozen youths attacked a 12-year-old boy in Orchard Street, Preston, at 1pm on Monday, May 27. They dragged him into an alley, began
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LETTER: EC referendum call
FRENCH and German farmers are to gain more than British beef producers under an extra £52 million package of aid proposed by the EC. As John Redwood, the Tory Euro-sceptic said: "I find it staggering that France and Germany are getting a large sum in
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Fate of Pavilions put on hold
THE FATE of three historic town centre buildings will have to wait another two months after the subject failed to make the latest council agenda. The future of the Grade Two listed Pavilion buildings on Church Street, Blackburn, will not be debated until
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LETTER: Thanks for all the Rovers news
I READ your 'on-line' newspaper avidly and with much pleasure. Blackburn has been my spiritual home since 1938 when, as a kid living in London, I started to support and follow t'Rovers. My support for the football club has lasted, unabated and undiminished
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Lottery grant saves group
A UNIQUE community service has secured its future after scooping £90,000 from the National Lottery Charity Board. SARG (Solvent Abuse Resource Group) based on Penny Street, Blackburn, is one of the few specialist solvent misuse services in the country
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High-rise drama for mum-to-be
A PREGNANT woman had to be winched through a bedroom window by crane after ambulancemen discovered they couldn't carry her on a stretcher down a spiral staircase. They were told the mum-to-be, who was due to give birth within the month, was in pain as
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LETTER:Controls will not stop gun tragedies
I AM not a firearms enthusiast but I do not think tighter gun controls will prevent crimes like those at Hungerford and Dunblane. The law-abiding citizens will obey the rules but no one can legislate against madness and suicidal rage. I only wish there
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Bandits attack wine bar manager
ARMED robbers handcuffed and gagged the manager of Yates' Wine Lodge in Preston before forcing him to hand over the keys to his safe - and making off with its contents. David Robertson was alone in his flat above the bar on Sunday night when he was confronted
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It's not too late to save farmhouse
CAN anyone throw any light on the plight of an interesting local building? The building in question is a large farmhouse situated around one mile opposite Haydock Park Racecourse across the A580, and on my map seems to be marked as Haydock Park Farm.
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Deadline looming for community awards
CROWN Paint's community cash is proving popular with hard-up charity groups. Applications are pouring into Citizen offices for a share of this year's £4,000 awards. Galligreaves Community Base in Blackburn hopes judges will look kindly on its request
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Gala success thanks
MAY I thank everyone who contributed to make the recent Hilton Park gala weekend so successful and enjoyable. Firstly, a huge thank you to those companies and individuals who sponsored events and donated goods and prizes, with special mention to ASDA
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Leyland all out for 30 runs
LEYLAND were annihilated at Kendal at the weekend - dismissed for a paltry 30 and remain entrenched at the bottom of the table. Kendal's opening bowlers, Alan Potts and Meynick Pringle, took 6 for 13 and 4 for 16 respectively. The home side only took
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Skipper aims to go out in glory
SHEER guts, determination and the will to win has pushed Blackburn Northern up amongst the Ribblesdale Cricket League pace-setters. Now, skipper Nigel Robbins believes his in-form side has the ability and strength to catch runaway leaders Read - and make
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Smithy restaurant up for sale
THE Smithy Restaurant at Little Eccleston, just off the A586 main road from Garstang to Blackpool, has been put up for sale by the Manchester office of leading business agents, Christie & Co. The current owners are Alan and Beryl Chapman who have
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Blackburn Cathedral set to host flower festival
BLACKBURN Cathedral is preparing to bloom into flower next week when it hosts one of the biggest flower festivals in the North West. Flower arranging clubs from across the diocese will converge on the Cathedral which will be cleared of all seating to
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Labour at loggerheads
OVER the last few weeks the extent of the cracks in the Labour leadership are beginning to become very apparent, no matter how hard they try to paper over them. As soon as Labour comes under any kind of pressure the divisions become very clear. Gordon
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Runaway's message to troubled teenagers
A PRESTON schoolgirl who sparked a massive police hunt when she went missing from home for six days has had an emotional reuinion with her mum. And she has sent a heartfelt message through the Citizen to other teenagers who may feel like running away
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Cheers to new wine tasting group
YOU don't have to be a connoisseur to enjoy a little tipple as wine lovers from across Preston are finding out at a new Wine Tasting Group. The club is the brainchild of solicitor Stephen Burns of Thorntrees Avenue in Lea, who has been sipping and slurping
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Rovers giants in head to head clash
THEY'VE clashed three times on the pitch and had numerous scraps on the training field, but on Saturday, June 15 Alan Shearer and Colin Hendry face each other on one of football's greatest stages. Rovers' two true world class stars come face to face at
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Big Dave slims down to speed up
A BURLY biker has shed his bulk in a bid to battle with the best in the Manx Grand Prix. Dave Calwell, who lives off Wood End Road in Clayton-le-Woods, spent six months in his slimming quest to lose two and a half stones, dropping to a trim 12 stone.
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Firm to axe 20 as print trade falls
TWENTY jobs are to be lost at the Darwen firm Wolstenholme International because of falling trade in the printing industry. The jobs will go across all departments, including technical, engineering and production staff as well as office workers. The firm
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Mayor Mirza's new dream for harmony
EAST Lancashire's first Asian mayor, Mirza Yousaf, has been appointed the joint president of the Hyndburn and Rossendale Racial Equality Council. The Accrington businessman and Mayor of Hyndburn was made joint president at the annual meeting of the council
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10 YEARS AGO: Call to ban plutonium
LANCASHIRE county councillors have called for a blanket ban on the transportation of deadly poisonous plutonium through the county. In a unanimous vote at County Hall, councillors agreed to ask British Nuclear Fuels to avoid Lancashire when delivering
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GOLF: Minnows make a killing
WITH many of Europe's top stars engaged in this week's US Open, the minnows of the PGA European Tour will be hoping to make a big killing at Slaley Hall. A new fixture on the tour, the Slaley Hall Northumberland Challenge, which began this morning, offers
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Histories of blight
PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice wants to hear from people whose lives have been spoiled by developments such as roadworks which take years to come to fruition, or never materialise. He says the planned Yorkshire-bound M65 extension through Colne is a classic
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Council offices swap holiday shut-downs
A WEEK-long Christmas shutdown of council offices in Hyndburn has been given the go-ahead by councillors. Instead council offices will be open for business for the first time on Easter and Spring Bank Tuesdays in 1997. The shift of two days leave was
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Bernie brings back tuneful memories
SONGSTERS of Haydock Male Voice Choir will be hitting the high notes in Southport when they take part in a special concert commemorating the last war. The choir are one of the main attractions at the event at Southport Theatre on Saturday, June 29, and
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Pendle witches trail tourism boost
A NEW tourism trail to attract visitors to Pendle is being launched in time for the summer holidays. The Pendle Witch Trail is a journey through historic Lancashire and brings to life the true story of the witchcraft trials of 1612. The trail was devised
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Hot Rod honours Miners men of steel
ROD RAINES brought the curtain down on another season of hot Rugby League for Leigh Miners. The former Wigan and Keighley forward, who founded Miners in 1966, returned as guest of honour to hand out the end-of-term awards. At senior level a mid-table
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Double delight from Golborne heroes
GOLBORNE produced two heroes for the valiant Bolton Association. But it wasn't enough in their inter-league challenge with the Central Lancashire League. They were bowled out still needing 12 runs after the CLL's total of 203-7 was reduced to 186. Golborne
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Daniel's king of the qualifiers
DANIEL KINGS has been in golden form. The Atherton SC star notched his fifth National Qualifying Time of the season in winning the 12-Year 400 freestyle at the Northern Counties. He followed up with a silver in the 200 IM (also in an NQT). Clubmate Andrew
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Netlon set for garden divisions merger
ONE of Blackburn's major employers has announced that part of its operation is to merge with a Yorkshire-based group. But the directors of Netlon Ltd, which employs over 350 in factories in Mill Hill and Shadsworth, say the merger is good news for the
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Nurses suspended in nose stud row
TWO nurses at Whiston Hospital have been suspended from their jobs after refusing to remove nose studs. Hospital officials say the decision to suspend auxilliary staff, Barbara Mower, from Thatto Heath, and Mandy Childs, from Prescot, was taken after
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Pupils set sail for Sweden
A PARTY of 23 students from various schools in St Helens borough have set sail for Sweden to take part in a cultural and work experience visit. The young people are all involved in a two-year Training Young People for Industry Scheme. Half the group are
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CRICKET: Hegg stakes test claim!
WARREN HEGG has batted his way into England contention with his sensational innings in the Benson and Hedges Cup semi-final, writes ANDY WILSON. That was the message from England coach David Lloyd today after Hegg hammered 81 from 62 balls to set Lancashire
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Police house blaze heroes' award
TWO police officers who rescued a man from his blazing home have received bravery awards. Early on Sunday last October 1 PCs Nicola Wignall and Paul Creig were told of the house fire in Cutler Lane, Stacksteads. They found the front door in flames and
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Snag halts boy's vital brain op
A YOUNGSTER'S potentially life-saving operation had to be halted at the last minute when doctors hit an unexpected snag. Schoolboy David Astbury, nine, who suffered a massive brain haemorrhage last December, was due to have surgery at Hope Hospital, Manchester
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Three stores set to open
THREE leading retailers want stores in a proposed retail park on the edge of Accrington town centre which could create around 20 new jobs. The prospective tenants are Netto Food Store, Pound Stretcher and Halfords; and negotiations are underway with a
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Denis Whittle talks with Shaun McRae
PICTURED: Another mercurial try from Alan Hunte A HIGHLY-SATISFACTORY result after our first real taste of summer rugby. That was the view of Saints' boss Shaun McRae as he reflected on the victory over Sheffield Eagles in the pioneering trip to Cardiff
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Labour MP demands benefit fraud crackdown
PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice is backing demands for a crackdown on benefit fraud. Labour's Shadow Social Security Secretary Chris Smith called for new action to catch benefit cheats. And the Government has adopted nationwide a successful telephone hot-line
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Mixed fortunes for Lowerhouse
LOWERHOUSE followed disappointment against championship rivals Todmorden with a victory in their derby match with Burnley on Sunday. Shawn Flegler, bowled for a golden duck in the seven-wicket home defeat on Saturday, made 53 not out against Burnley.
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Michael and his film crew have it in the can
A YOUNG film maker and his crew are anxiously waiting to hear if their first movie receives a placing in a Czech Festival. Michael Booth, 19, and his company, Generation Next Films, are also appealing to anyone who can provide them with equipment and
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Lucas at the sharp end
LUCAS Industries, the global automative and aerospace systems supplier, has built a new manufacturing area, or "cell", at its fabricated systems in Burnley, specifically to supply US defence giant, McDonnell Douglas, with canisters for the ship-launched
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Lights out at Turf Moor
THE end of an era was heralded in spectacular fashion at Burnley Football Club as Turf Moor's famous floodlights disappeared overnight following a specialist operation at the ground. The floodlights - which have stood proudly at the stadium for more than
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Angry students in mystery paper chase
MYSTERY surrounds the disappearence of 1,400 copies of the Lancaster University's student union magazine this week. Editor Louis Barfe suspects foul play and claims that distribution of the tabloid magazine, SCAN, which has a circulation of 2,000, was
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Clarets boss linked with Croat stars
BURNLEY boss Adrian Heath watched the vast array of continental talent on show in round one of Euro 96 and said: "If it were possible to sign players of that stature, I would jump at the chance." He knows most European stars are much too far up the football
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Traders miss out on market share
A ROW has erupted between traders in Morecambe over plans to use part of the town centre as an open air market. Shopkeepers are outraged over plans to turn Queen Street into a two-day market which they say will bring unregulated trade into the area while
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Students plan to lobby Parliament
HARDLINE students are organising a national rally and plan to lobby Parliament to protest about shock redundancies which look set to rock Lancaster University. The announcement comes as140 academic and non-academic positions are under threat due to the
