Archive
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Teenager in pub raid ordeal
TWO women were subjected to a horrifying ordeal this week by a masked gangster trio who hid in an attic for more than two hours before they robbed a Lancaster pub. The thieves laid low in the attic of the Sun Hotel on Church Street in the early hours
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The stage is set
MORECAMBE'S famous landmark the Winter Gardens is set to become a multi-purpose theatre to hold concerts, conferences and banquets. The 19th Century theatre which has stood derelict for nearly two decades is set to be restored to its former glory in a
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Get in line ... it's dance time
LINE dance fever has hit Blackpool, so dig out your spurs and brush off your ten gallon hats! This synchronised dance craze which, as the name suggests, is done in lines without a partner, has swept across Britain in a big way and is now arguably as popular
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Stepping stone for job hunters
BLACKPOOL'S young homeless are to be given a launchpad out of the poverty trap. A charity is to establish a residential training centre where they can train in a variety of different subjects as they bid to get better jobs. Foyer Plus Residential Training
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Our own hall of fame
LEGENDARY performers George Formby, Charlie Cairoli and Les Dawson are all stars of yesteryear who have helped make Blackpool the entertainment capital of the UK. Today, Blackpool's star-struck reputation remains strong as the town is still sprouting
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Mugged - for £2 of food!
AN elderly man was mugged and thrown to the ground by a teenage thug...for the £2 worth of food he had just bought. The 65 year-old pensioner was attacked as he walked along Market Street, Leigh. He was approached from behind by the thief who tussled
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Zena fought cancer ... and won
GETTING checked every three years was more or less routine for Zena Bagby, so after her regular breast examination in January the last thing she expected was to be recalled. The breast screening unit, based in Lancaster, detected an abnormality in her
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Gary's the 'mane man'
GARY Yates proved to be the 'mane' man on Monday. He braved the River Glaze in Leigh on Monday and helped Leigh firemen pull his girlfriend's horse from the dark river. Gary was called upon to help after a fruitless 40 minute struggle by local firefighters
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Stars shine for Julie
COURAGEOUS Julie Montgomery is thanking her lucky stars after cheating a premature death. And to show her continuing gratitude to the hospital which saved her life she has arranged a charitable date with three men and a little lady. Four big talents from
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Women taking 'time off'
A TIME off for Women Festival which is to take place in Leigh and other parts of the borough later this month has received the blessing of the council's Leisure Services Department. For the Sports Development and Libraries divisions are working with the
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New life for 'toxic' site
BUILDING work has started on a site which was recently cleared of a toxic cocktail of chemicals left by a former gas works. A £600,000 base for Darwen Access is being built at the Robin Bank site in Darwen, where £1.25 million was spent on decontaminating
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Home wrangle
A RUN-DOWN terraced house earmarked for demolition as part of a plan to build houses on land behind has had a compulsory purchase order put on it by Pendle Council. Councillor Alan Vickerman accused the owner of 21 Pasture Lane, Barrowford, of allowing
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Gypsy protestors hope for second success
GYPSY site objectors successfully bombarded planners with a 1,150 name petition. Plans for a mobile home, stables and hardstanding alongside the East Lancashire Road at Glazebury - which locals fear could be the first step to a gypsy encampment - were
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Grasshoppers to go to the seaside
THE DRAW for the second round of Rugby Union's Pilkington Cup pits Preston Grasshoppers against North Division One side New Brighton. Preston may be apprehensive at the trip to New Brighton, who put out Division Four North side Hereford in the last round
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Dancer dies in blaze
A HORSE was killed when a fire, thought to have been started by arsonists, swept through a stable in Tyldesley. The small stable - home to a 27-year-old mare - was found ablaze at Cooling Lane shortly after 9.30pm. Ten firefighters fought the fire, but
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Short-changed
SMALL charities say they are losing out on thousands of pounds - because of a decision by Leyland market to stop them trading. Many local fundraisers who took advantage of free lettings on the three-day market have been refused permission to set up their
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The mighty Quinn
LEYLAND Warriors saw a depleted U8s while the U9s beat Rylands with top tackler Mark Quinn was one of the try scorers. Other tries were by Ben Balch, Thomas Halstead, Daniel Aspinall and Chris Tuscon. All the conversions were by Phillip Campbell with
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Gone to blazes
CASH shortages mean Preston firemen could soon be crawling to blazes in worn out fire engines. A Government report says a cash crisis has led to a backlog of appliances which need replacing throughout Lancashire. Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate
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Spaced out in Preston
DIVERSE indie band Space landed in Preston to sign autographs for eager fans - before playing a one-off concert at the University of Central Lancashire. The scousers stopped off at Rooster Records, Market Street, on Monday, to promote their new single
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Bryn's plane crash plea
COULD any of your readers help me with the following information. During the war I was stationed at RAF Padgate, near Warrington. One day an American Mohawk plane crashed in a farmer's field, and myself and other airmen were put on guard over this plane
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Cup clash
BAMBER BRIDGE face a crucial FA Cup clash on Saturday with boss Mick Holgate saying: "If we want it enough we will win." Bridge visit Unibond League Division One side Atherton LR in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup - and Holgate is approaching
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Ticket to ride
CAR dismantler Ian Wilson spent the last two years doing the opposite of what he's trained to do. The father-of-three from Ribbleton, Preston, has been working round the clock in his spare time making miniature electric cars as toys for his children.
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Ladywell shrine to keep its shine
A BATTLE to stop the opening of a quiet country path leading to a religious shrine has been won. Campaigners cheered when Preston councillors finally threw out the bid to make Fernyhalgh Lane, Sherwood, into a Byway Open To All Traffic. And they claim
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Donors are drying up
BLOOD donors in Blackburn are drying up at such an alarming rate that figures have reached a critical low. While there has been a steady flow of donors in Darwen and Hyndburn, registered donors in Blackburn are down by 1,000. Now the Blood Transfusion
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Traders' fury at £1500 market rent rise
MARKET stallholders have slammed their council landlords for increasing their rents by an annual average of £1,500 - a rise which could send some traders to the wall. Blackburn market's three day traders secured an important meeting with Blackburn Council
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Cash injection for drugs fight
THE government are pouring money into a drugs education scheme backed by campaigning mum Niamh Astles-Noone. The Life Education Trust in Lancashire will receive £60,000 - enough to pay for a mobile unit - from the government's £1.8m Drugs Challenge Fund
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Guide leader falls from cliff
A PRESTON woman plunged 70 feet to her death from a cliff top in North Yorkshire on Saturday. Christine McCann, 49, was out walking at Thornton Force near Ingleton Falls with a group from Christ Church, Fulwood, when she is believed to have slipped and
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Animal magic?
NOAH'S ARK has nothing on the Only Foals and Horses animal sanctuary on the outskirts of Oswaldtwistle. It really is bursting at the seams. Co-ordinator Olive Lomas said "We are getting desperate. We urgently need some more money so that we can expand
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Neighbourhood in mourning
A BEDROOM blaze claimed the lives of two young Preston brothers who firemen believe were playing with a cigarette lighter. Kevin Barr, aged five, and his four-year-old brother Gary died after they became trapped upstairs at their home in Dawnay Road on
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Getting hitched for a snip
IT'S wedding bells at Christmas time for Beverley McAulay and Billy Lynn - and it won't be costing them a fortune! In fact the happy couple reckon they'll save thousands, thanks to the cut-price wedding package offered by a local vicar. The all-inclusive
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Getting to grips with asthma
ASTHMA can be deadly, it can ruin your life, prevent you from working, getting a job, it can even leave you housebound. It's a condition which few people understand until it affects them. It can start as young as six months old or may not come on until
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Speeding motorists set to get the hump
RESIDENTS are to be asked for their opinions on whether traffic calming measures should be installed on a Rishton road. Councillors agreed in June that a speed reducing scheme should be introduced on Station Road. And members of the environmental services
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10 YEARS AGO: Pupils suspended
ABOUT 40 pupils were suspended from St Wilfred's C of E High School, Blackburn, after they threatened residents on a housing estate with logs and pieces of metal during school hours. Millions of small-time investors doubled their money when TSB shares
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5 YEARS AGO: Fire hero saves children
FIRE hero Ronnie Townson rescued two screaming children from the balcony of a blazing pub. The builder was one of the first people on the scene when The Buck Inn, Clitheroe, went up in flames. Stephen Korny, aged 13 and his sister Vicky, 12, were able
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Poem laid to rest
THANKS to all the readers who responded to my query (Letters, September 20), I think the mystery over the poem, 'Mickey Plum,' has been laid to rest for ever. My friend, John Threlfall, is a happy man. His phone has been red-hot with calls and recitations
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Hedgehog numbers down
A HEDGEHOG is a very good friend to have in the garden, but, sadly, there seem to be fewer of them this year, probably because of the long winter. The late spring also means late litters or hoglets and there are again many orphans in need of care this
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Super hack leads record-busters
JUST champion! That's Astley & Tyldesley Cycle Speedway. They wrapped up the Northern Junior Speedway League title in record-busting style at Tameside. Having led the table all season, there was no way they about to fold and, with Damien Hack unbeaten
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Need 'to go' thwarted
ON September 19, I was in the Arndale Centre in Nelson and had a need, not urgent, to go to the toilet. The time was 5.15pm. On reaching the toilet, I found it locked, as did two other gentlemen who, apparently, were 'dying to go.' There was no indication
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Cool hand John plays the 'ordinary' card
ON THE eve of this week's Conservative Party conference, we suggested John Major needed to launch some blockbusters - dramatic and imagination-grabbing policies that pulled the fat out of the fire for the way-behind Tories. And perhaps he still does.
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Rodney needs help to shoot the rapids!
A DISABLED man is hoping to ride the River Ribble rapids to raise money for charity! Rodney Reddin will spend the winter training for the 20-mile journey between Ribchester and the river estuary. Every penny he raises will go to the Macmillan Nurses and
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Rich richer and poor poorer
THE Thatcher policy of money above all things, has, in the opinion of many, made the rich richer and the poor poorer. This has led to a decline in national confidence. Youngsters resort to crime and disruption because their potential has been sacrificed
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Super centre Swanton on song
TOP-of-the-League Tyldesley RU romped to a comfortable 48-8 triumph against Trafford MV. They had a dream start for a fourth straight win with impressive centre Mark Swanton interception and racing 70 yards for the score, Tim Brown goaling. Within a minute
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Beer we go
FOUR wacky friends are off on a 24-hour money-making fancy-dress trip to France this weekend (October 12-13). The four, who all work at cardboard manufacturers Smurfit Corrugated, of Nelson, are competing in the Beerjolais run in aid of the Scope charity
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Villagers get together to fight nursery plan
VILLAGERS have united to thwart an unwanted garden nursery plan with their own bid for millennium cash to create a village green. Planning permission was granted for the nursery on the site adjacent to Burnley Road East and Peersclough Road, Lumb, despite
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Head blasts education revamp
HEADMASTER David Farrant will tonight (Thursday October 10) launch an attack on plans to revamp secondary education when he speaks to parents. Mr Farrant, head of Walton High School, Nelson, says the Government's proposed changes to re-introduce selection
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Special history lesson for pupils
PRESENT-day pupils at Lyme Infants School, Newton-le-Willows, were able to swap 'now-and-then' tales when old boy Cyril Holland paid them a visit. Newton-born Cyril, who now lives in Northamptonshire, is trying to re-trace his roots. And when officials
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United front in war on poverty
EXPERTS and helpers are banding together to fight poverty in Burnley. Burnley Council is staging a "Making Ends Meet Advice Day" at the Mechanics in the town next Thursday, to coincide with United Nations International Day to Eradicate Poverty. The day
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Riddle of man who jumped on van
POLICE are trying to identify a young man who leapt on to the bonnet of a Ford Transit van while it was travelling round a roundabout in St Helens town centre. The incident happened at about 8.45pm on Sunday, October 6 on the Landings roundabout between
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Coach Hughes quits to join rivals
LEIGH coach Eric Hughes has sensationally joined Wigan. He quit Hilton Park after 17 matches in charge - leaving Leigh to search for their 18th coach in 20 years. And, already, the Second Division club has had three enquiries for the job. One application
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Return of confidence, but skills still lacking
A MARKED increase in confidence has been revealed by the latest survey of North West businesses. But investment plans have remained the same, and some firms reported difficulty in recruiting skilled manual labour, according to the latest quarterly Chambers
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Just the job!
I'M not surprised that unemployment continues to rise. Yes, I know the Government say it's falling but no one believes that do they? Biggest problem, of course, is that firms, especially the big ones, are still restructuring at an alarming rate (that's
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Augustinian celebration
A CHURCH started by a Belgian priest in a cottage in Burnley has celebrated its centenary. Father Notterdam was sent from St John's Church in Padiham to organise a mission or daughter church in Lowerhouse. The first meeting was in a cottage on Lowerhouse
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Civic service puts focus on togetherness
PEOPLE of different creeds, colour and age will parade through Accrington town centre on Sunday for the first multi-denominational civic service. Each year, Hyndburn's mayor chooses a church where the civic event will take place and Councillor Mirza Yousaf
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Job-seekers:A waste of bosses' time
I'M NOT surprised that unemployment continues to rise. Yes, I know the Government say it's falling but no one believes that do they? Biggest problem, of course, is that firms, especially the big ones, are still restructuring at an alarming rate (that's
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Blaze firm boss's pledge
A MARQUEE hire firm devastated in a suspected £200,000 arson attack will continue business as usual, its boss has pledged. Robert Gillibrand said Pennine Marquee Hire, based at Lower Ridge Farm, Barrowford, would continue to operate with the help of friends
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Diane's outrage at CSA post plan
PLANS for postal workers to intercept and open Child Support Agency mail to cut the CSA workload have been slammed as "outrageous". Local NACSA branch (anti-CSA group) organiser Diane Penkethman intends taking-up the matter with Leigh MP Lawrence Cunliffe
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Road rage attack on Courtesy Day
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to an alleged 'road rage' assault which took place on National Road Courtesy Day, aimed at promoting calm, rational behaviour behind the wheel! The incident happened at about 6.20pm on Friday, October 4 in the Shaw Street
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Maureen's in a spin
PART-TIME deejay Maureen Young's first taste of the stage left her yearning for more. She appeared as a slave girl in the panto 'Sinbad the Sailor' with Leigh's St Joseph's Players earlier this year. That gave her the chance to belt out a few songs, her
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Saints fight for Big Mac
A COURT ruling on the other side of the world means Saints have a fight on their hands to retain the services on influential forward Derek McVey. McVey, who joined the Knowsley Roaders from Balmain Tigers had signed a contract with Rupert Murdoch's Australian
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Fashion bonanza at Church Square
IF you want to stay ahead in the fashion stakes then make sure that you are at Church Square Shopping Centre on Friday and Saturday, October 25 and 26 for their Autumn Season Fashion Shows. On Friday, October 25, St Mary's Arcade will be buzzing with
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Lottery cash boost for band
OFFICIALS of a long-established band are celebrating their latest piece of 'brass' - a £25,936 grant from the National Lottery! Now the popular Parr Band, which has been a fixture of the local musical scene for more than 65 years, is hoping to swell its
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Reunion for men of music
AN INTERNATIONAL opera star is about to meet the music teacher who helped set him on his career. Geoffrey Balson, of Colne Road, Burnley, used to teach the young Andrew Shore at high school in Oldham about 30 years ago. Since then he has followed the
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Clitheroe sneak an eight-goal thriller
Darwen 3 Clitheroe 5 IN a magnificent advert for non-league football, Clitheroe outslugged Darwen at The Anchor to establish a two-goal advantage in this Floodlit Trophy first round fixture. The home side will rue a sequence of first half missed chances
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Band short of brass
A BURNLEY high school's brass band has launched an appeal for instruments after becoming a victim of its own amazing success The award-winning Towneley High School ensemble, back after a tour of Italy, has attracted scores of would-be musicians wanting
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We are not alone!
UFOs are real and that's official. Government UFO researcher Nick Pope will put the rubber stamp on the phenomenon - which have been reported across Morecambe Bay - at a special meeting in Lancaster this Saturday. The Lancashire UFO Society claim the
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Labour gives last chance to carpeted councillor
A COUNCILLOR who faces disciplinary action is being given a last chance to explain his actions during the Accrington Arndale Centre sell-off. Labour councillor Dave Massey has been accused of misconduct and is to be asked to appear before a meeting of
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Tidy children win trophies
PUPILS and staff at St Mary's School, Newchurch, were in celebratory mood this week as they prepared to collect two trophies in Lancashire's Best Kept Village Competition. The juniors won two awards and the infants finished runners-up after they impressed
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Woman robbed in spray attack
POLICE have issued photographs of two bags similar to the ones stolen in a vicious spray attack on a 32-year-old woman in Lancaster this week. Two attackers sprayed a substance, believed to be CS gas, into the woman's face and grabbed her bag with a substantial
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The right spirit
A Lancaster spiritualist's special gift is earning her hundreds of pounds for local children's charities. Medium Catherine Carlton is so successful that her customers from all over the country have started making donations to help local causes. Recently
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A long walk to victory
WALKING up to the famous Mastermind black chair was the longest stroll of one brainy Blackpool woman's life. Retired schoolteacher Elsie Sadek, of Annersley Avenue, Layton, compared the experience with walking to the scaffold, although admitted that once
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He dresses to impress!
GLAMOUR galore complete with sequins and feather boas - that's what is on offer in the Blackpool heat of the first ever national drag queen contest. Lily Savage and Danny La Rue hopefuls will be lining up to parade their talent in the dazzling event.
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Shy Mike's stage dream
STATESIDE stardom is set to ensure a former Blackpool man can fulfil his acting dream in his old home town. Michael Savage is now the co-producer of Looking Glass, by the California-based Theatre Brillig, which he hopes to bring to Blackpool as part of
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From the Bury Times archive
w/e October 5, 1946. MEN'S HOCKEY Although Preston defeated Bury 5-0 it perhaps may be considered that a five-goal margin was not quite representative of the play. For Bury, Turnbull and Roberts were very sound at the back and Skipp and Petrie were prominent
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Jackie 'hits the booze' for charity
JACKIE Greaves reckons Guinness is good for you! And shortly she's setting out to prove it. The school secretary - who hit the national headlines when she was rescued climbing in the Cairngorms - will be scaling the 3,115 ft Striding Edge in the Lake
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RADCLIFFE BORO have announced changes to their fixture list.
On Saturday, October12, Boro will be at home to Netherfield KO 3pm in a Unibond League match. This has been brought forward from April 12, 1997. The postponed Unibond Challenge Cup match at Leigh RMI will take place on Tuesday, October 15. The scheduled
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Full-time at Boro
A FULL-TIME manager at a semi-professional side is a rarity but Radcliffe Boro manager Kevin Glendon has taken the plunge. He became General Manager of Radcliffe at the end of September and although faced with a difficult task ahead, he feels he can make
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What a mooo-ving sermon!
PARISHIONERS at St Stephen's in Astley had to take an 'udder' look on Sunday after a cow walked into church! But despite rumours, it wasn't Vicar Chris Bracegirdle's attempt to beef up his sermon. The surprise pantomime cow walked in just as he was starting
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New first aiders join team
TWELVE new junior members known as badgers were enrolled at the annual inspections and awards night for Padiham's St John Ambulance Brigade. At the event, at Padiham's Nazareth Unitarian Chapel, new year badges were presented for the first time to older
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Theatre group scoop second award
DARWEN Youth Theatre are celebrating a second victory in as many years. The group have scooped their second Community Action Award - for their presentation of the musical West Side Story. Their first production, Guys and Dolls, was also a roaring success
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Outdoor theatre part of £500,000 lottery bid
DETAILED plans to put the heart back into a popular Hyndburn park - including a new outdoor theatre - have been submitted as part of a £m Lottery bid. If successful, work could start on rejuvenating Rhyddings Park in Oswaldtwistle, as early as next spring
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Courage of hero
A GALLANT nurse who came to the aid of a woman who had been shot in the stomach is to be rewarded for his heroics. Daring Dino Christodoulou stepped in to try and disarm a gunman after Margaret Sillitoe had been shot at point-blank range in King Street
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Homes sell-off plan could force residents out
RESIDENTS who feel they have been "stabbed in the back" by Hyndburn Council are planning to retaliate. Shocked Within Grove tenants, in Huncoat, are to meet today (Thursday October 10) to discuss how to stop the council selling off their homes to a housing
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Tricks are no treat
LEIGH'S police chief has issued a Hallowe'en 'trick or treat' warning. It comes after Supt David Edge was asked by a Lowton woman to "ban Hallowe'en" on behalf of those who feel intimidated by the seasonal 'japes'. Although he can't do that, Mr Edge has
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Plugged-in for fun
LIVEWIRE workers enjoyed learning how to stay healthy in a safer environment. Spurred on by the current European Safety Week wiring wizards at Leigh's Volex factory last week staged an exhibition which as well as being informative and fun - raised funds
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Telly trolley dash
SHOP workers Wendy Hill and Sharon Southcombe thought their expertise would see them ringing up the prizes on TV's Supermarket Sweep. But the pair, who work at Food Giant in Leyland, hadn't reckoned on a microphone mishap which left the pair £2,000 out
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Bramwell Speaks Out: Jury out on Hoddle
THE jury is still out on Glenn Hoddle. His own 12 good men and true arrived at the right verdict - but lacked a certain conviction. Justice was barely seen to be done and, if it hadn't been for the stunning delivery of foreman Alan Shearer, the new England
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Commuters blow-up over buses
ASTLEY commuters are fuming over changes in the number 34 bus service to Manchester. Carol Matthews says commuters have to wait in pouring rain because bus services have been slashed, and those still running are now running to a different timetable. This
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Tom lights up the world
FOOTBALL legend Tom Finney is being beamed into homes of people worldwide - after being immortalised on a computer cigarette card! The card, starring the former Preston North End great, also features in television adverts for computer giant Microsoft.
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Home clash defeat
A SEVEN-GOAL thriller had both sets of fans riveted as we saw two amazing fightbacks. In the end Preston crashed to a 4-3 home defeat to battling Peterborough. Posh had the chance to take the lead after just two minutes, but O'Connor sent his spot kick
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Bos boss the show
BAMBER BRIDGE sank deeper into trouble at the foot of the Unibond Premier Division as they crashed 2-0 to Boston United. But it was a case of what might have been for the Irongate side, who spurned five clear-cut chances. In the first-half keeper Paul
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Knowledge Park makes jobs
AN ambitious project to develop the county as an international business centre is being set up in Preston. The Harris Knowledge Park is the brainchild of Professor Ted Smith and is thought to be the first of its kind in the country. It's based on the
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Walking the dog
I OFTEN walk in to Leigh town centre to do my shopping, it saves using the car and I enjoy the walk. I could easily go to Wigan, Bolton etc. in the car, but I prefer to support our local shops if I can. I also like to take my dog in to Leigh when shopping
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My amazing Amy
TINY Amy Priestly saved her mother's life after she suffered an epileptic fit. The four-year-old discovered mum Jackie in the lounge of their Holme Slack Lane house in Preston. She had been lying unconscious all night. Amy and her three-year-old sister
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Fighting care battle for 12 months: for what?
TO all Borough Care Service staff. It will soon be our anniversary. This month we will have been fighting the council for one whole year. What has our efforts achieved? Wigan likes to call itself the 'Caring Borough' - don't you believe it. They don't
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Cup of cheer
NORTH End's new £300,000 signing David Reeves partnered Gary Bennett in attack as Preston picked up the elegant Marsden Cup silverware at this week's match against Blackpool which ended 2:1. Preston looked impressive in the opening stages and it came
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Charles backs fashion mill
PRINCE Charles is about to give Preston's Centenary Mill the Royal Seal of Approval. He sent a team of experts to Preston on Tuesday to tour the mill to take a look at the council's multi-million pound scheme to transform it into an international fashion
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Hobby cops get the 'big stick'
SPECIALS in Preston have been armed with batons in the battle against crime. Volunteer cops on regular duty out on the streets can now defend themselves with American style side-handled batons as well as being issued with protective clothing. Sergeant
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Self help is the best help
A TROUBLED estate in Preston is receiving a face-lift thanks to a newly-formed action group run by residents themselves. The Avenham Tenants Action Group (ATAG), which recently held its first annual general meeting, has in the space of just 12 months
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Theatre face lift
A LEYLAND theatre is to undergo a spectacular extension after South Ribble Borough Council was awarded almost £200,000 lottery cash. The £192,937 windfall - the largest regional award in recent handouts - will be spent providing an attractive conservatory-style
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Three Musketeers at the Charter
THIS brilliantly funny show went down a storm - despite the company having to replace its star, Brian Glover, due to his sudden illness. He was discovered to be suffering from a brain tumour shortly before the tour began, so Christopher Timothy, from
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Food spices up life at school
TOP East Lancashire chef Nigel Haworth cooked up a tasty treat to raise funds for a special learning support unit. Nigel was joined by his partner Craig Bancroft and "cheese detective" Peter Pepperill for the cookery demonstration at Salesbury Primary
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Shame of 'forgotten' monuments to heritage
A ROW has erupted over the shabby state of three important monuments celebrating a town's industrial past. Blackburn Council is under fire for allowing the steam engine, paper-coating machine and water pump in Darwen to rust and deteriorate into eyesores
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Terror gun raids
AN ARMED raid on a Prestwich building society last Friday brought the number of attacks on the branch to eleven in 18 months. But, after ten ram raids on the Halifax Building Society office in the Longfield Precinct, this latest attack, by three men armed
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Armed gang in £14,000 robbery
DETECTIVES are hunting three men after a £14,000 armed raid on a supermarket. The masked gang pounced after a security van drew up outside the Aldi store in Fountain Place, Whitefield. The raiders' stolen Subaru pulled up alongside and two men, armed
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Milky's a marvel
MY wife and I took possession of our house in Langho on October 10, 1961. Dairyman Peter Simpson, of Langho, has been delivering our milk ever since. That is 35 years of service to us and our family. Many thanks, Peter, for your reliable and friendly
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Tory promises all moonshine
I WOULD like to inform Walt Meadows (Letters, September 28) that I conveniently forget nothing. Nor would I say he does, only that he appears not to have known the facts in the first place and any cocoon that's lived in is occupied by himself. Maggie
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East make 'em saddle sore!
LEIGH EAST produced the first major shock of the amateur Rugby League season. The Grasmere Street battlers revived memories of their glory years to beat Premier League giants Saddleworth in the Burtonwood Brewery Lancashire Cup. Super East won 24-20,
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Beware of the lying rat
PITY poor pedestrian Barbara Beardsworth. For the motorist who knocked her over was not kindness itself, as it seemed, but a lying, cunning rat. He displayed great concern for her, gave his name and car number right away and even volunteered to take her
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Sand stormer for top Mark
QUICKFIRE centre Mark Hudspith was in sparkling form as Leigh RU socked Sandbach 35-16. He was supported by stand-off Ross Bullough and hooker Paul Deakin, the pair having an outstanding match. After an exchange of penalties Phil Robinson powered in for
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Cracking boost for children
A SUPERMARKET in Clitheroe is going crackers to raise money for Children In Need. Booth's in the town and across Britain are selling special crackers containing toys. Asda, Argos and Sainsbury's are among others joining the scheme in which 25p from the
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Greenalls buy Logwood Mill for £11 million
LOCAL businessman Peter Tyer has sold the Logwood Mill Hotel and Leisure Club and Derby Lodge Hotel to the Greenalls Group plc for £11 million. The 61-bedroomed Logwood Mill Hotel on Fallows Way, Whiston, which has a successful leisure club that boasts
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Man always on a sticky wicket
EXPLANATION of an umpire... He is a man who, for five months of the year, devotes his leisure time to enabling 22 other men to enjoy themselves. He is a man who, on the hottest of summer days, becomes a human clothes stand, while on cold April evenings
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Wheeler's late saver for RMI
LEIGH RMI extended their unbeaten run to 11 games with a battling 2-2 draw at Worksop. They had the luxury of taking a fifth minute lead before defensive mistakes allowed Worksop to go in front. But Paul Wheeler popped up 10 minutes from time to ensure
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Horror injury shocks colls
STEVE COFFEY suffered a horror injury at the weekend. And the Atherton Colls ace could have lost a leg but for prompt action by medics. He was rushed for an immediate operation on a dislocated hip at Stoke Hospital. Coffey, the former Bolton Wanderers
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Craig's classy act pays off
A FORMER Rainford High pupil is heading for the bright lights of London to tread the boards of one of the country's top drama schools after winning a prestigious scholarship award from a top West End impresario. Craig Stephens (18) from Billinge, was
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New-look Miners eat 'em up
HUMBUG! That's the new war cry down at Leigh Miners. The club paraded their new black-and-amber strip for their 3rd round Burtonwood Lancashire Cup clash against Wigan's Rose Bridge. And the Toffee Men felt the full crunch of a determined Miners - showing
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Trader fined for safety breach
A LANCASHIRE-based market trader and his supplier have been convicted of selling floor cushions which did not meet fire safety requirements after a prosecution brought by St Helens Council's Trading Standards section. St Helens Magistrates heard that
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Tim on a creepy quest
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD EVER had a hair-raising experience of the supernatural kind? Then Tim Follin, who has a video documentary project in hand, would love to hear from you. Tim, the son of the late Mike Follin, a close St Helens journalist chum of mine
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Iron-fisted Jimmy re-lives battles
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD THERE'S a savage tweak of arthritis in Jimmy Richardson's famous fists these days. But there was a time when his iron-knuckled exploits won him fame in a faraway land. For as a regimental champion, war hero Jimmy demolished the 1943
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1,000 call helpline in HIV scare
NEARLY 1,000 people have called a special Whiston Hospital helpline after it was revealed that a surgeon had been diagnosed as having HIV, the AIDS virus, although officials stress he has not got AIDS. Within hours of the news being disclosed by hospital
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Big market plans on ice
PLANS to redevelop town centre markets and secure a big name department store have been delayed as a result of legal action being taken by a number of market traders, who say they were not consulted properly with regards to the plans. The traders are
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The siege of Indian Village
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD ANY kid born in th'Indian Village (as a hemmed-in pocket of old houses was once known) suffered from an identity crisis. Being perched at the meeting of three district boundaries it left them puzzling over whether they were Parrers
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More woe for LSH
Liverpool St Helens 12 Fylde 40 LSH suffered their heaviest defeat so far this term, and their third at home, against table leaders Fylde who overcame a poor first half, to run out easy winners. LSH prop Colin King was sent off for the second week in
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Teenagers arrested after superstore raid
QUICK-off-the-mark police officers foiled two would-be burglars who broke into Halfords Superstore on Friday, October 4. The officers reacted to an alarm at the shop on St Helens Retail Park, Warrington New Road, and it was reported that some cycling
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Food News: A master class
MANY top chefs would run a mile rather than start cooking school dinners. After all, most of us associate school meals with lumpy mash, soggy veg and sloppy semolina and not a meal you would happily pay for. But top Lancashire chef Andrew Nutter was only
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Big store bid for mill site
TOWN centre superstore plans could revitalise Tyldesley. Cheshire based developers Bushwing has applied to Wigan Council for permission to build a food supermarket and petrol station on the old Barnfield Mill site off Shuttle Street, Tyldesley. Phase
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Shake-up in surplus places
SURPLUS secondary school places in St Helens are costing the council around £400,000 each year. Now a big review is underway to resolve this problem in a bid to improve education services and meet Government guidelines. It costs the authority £260 for
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All square in derby clash
St Helens Town 1 Prescot Cables 1 AFTER just three minutes of Saturday's wind-affected derby at Hoghton Road, Town's Gary Bickerstaffe raced onto King's pass to shoot his side ahead. Seven minutes from full-time Paul Hartley missed out on two great chances
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Whizzing round the Big Apple
RUNNERS Gillian and Stephen Geoghegan are off to tackle the New York Marathon to buy a young boy a special wheelchair. Staff nurse Gillian, 39, who works at Burnley General, is a relative newcomer to running, but she has been pounding the roads around
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Don't meter our water!
THE campaign to stop pre-payment water meters being put in Lancashire homes was stepped up this week, despite reassurances from North West Water (NWW) and a temporary halt on installing the devices. The leader of the county council, Louise Ellman, called
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Shrimps are victorious
Morecambe 2 Northwich Vic 0 The early exchanges in the first half saw Morecambe creating many chances with Leaver and Jackson beating several players before forcing action from the keeper the third and sixth minutes. Shrimps kept the pressure up until
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Lorry bridge mis-hap
AN embarrassed driver was left waiting for a salvage company to rescue his vehicle after he tried to drive a 13ft lorry under a 12ft bridge. The driver, a worker for William Pownall carpet manufacturers, of Manchester, had been driving the lorry along
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Taylor saves Stanley blushes
Knowsley Utd 1 Accrington Stanley 1 FOOTBALL was not the order of the day at Alt Park as Accrington produced a poor performance against one of the UniBond Premier League's lesser teams and were forced to settle for a draw. Supporters who wanted to watch
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We are not a selling club defiant Harford tells fans
DEFIANT Ray Harford told Blackburn Rovers fans today: "We're not a selling club." Tabloid reports have linked Colin Hendry, Graeme Le Saux and Tim Flowers to moves away from Ewood Park this week. But Harford rapped: "The national newspapers are trying
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Milkman celebrates 35 years on the doorstep
MILKMAN Peter Simpson had a shock awaiting him on the doorstep today. Customers Dennis and Jean Knight were celebrating the day they moved into their home in Hillcrest Road, Langho, 35 years ago and realised it was also the very day that Peter delivered
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It's D-Day for Ossie!
WORLD War Two veteran Ossie Wilkinson is preparing to "fight them on the beaches" to stop a D-Day landing vehicle from being scrapped. The spirited 76-year-old plans to write to Defence Secretary Michael Portillo to save the historic transporter from
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Oyston faces court again!
Rape victim to claim damages from tycoon JAILED businessman Owen Oyston is facing another High Court hearing. The girl whom he was found guilty of raping at his mansion near Lancaster has issued a writ for damages for personal injury and other losses
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Beresford: 'I feel let down'
CONTRACT talks with Marlon Beresford have hit a fresh obstacle today. Discussions with Burnley's number one goalkeeper have remained deadlocked for several weeks now but Beresford revealed: "I went in to meet the manager with the full intention of signing
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Carry on Barnes-storming
FIVE-star striker Paul Barnes opened his Burnley account in style - and now his manager hopes he can keep up the good work. Adrian Heath broke the club's record transfer fee to bring Barnes to Turf Moor. It took the ex-Birmingham forward nine games to
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Award for RLI building
THE Royal Lancaster Infirmary's new Centenary Building is responsible for the destination of this year's prestigious Building Contractor of the Year award. National company Laing was named as this year's winner at a gala dinner held at the Grosvenor House
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FURY over slur on fund-raisers
FURIOUS fund-raisers have accused a killjoy of putting a dampener on a successful night's tour of the pubs. The Friends of Rebecca charity, which is raising money to help a severely disabled child, had collected money at seven pubs around Burnley and
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Shrimps start October revolution
Slough Town 1 Morecambe 2 THE Shrimps should be in buoyant mood as they entertain Manchester-based Flixton at Christie Park in the third Qualifying round of the FA Cup this weekend. For Jim Harvey's men go into the tie on the back of cracking form which
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Sky high success
LOTTERY cash is helping to make a grand difference to a Blackpool theatre. The resort's Grand Theatre received a financial boost from the National Lottery in June worth £681,000. A ten-week transformation has since taken place using the money, along with
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Power cut!
260 jobs to go at Heysham power plant WORKERS at Heysham's power stations were left shell shocked this week after hundreds of job cuts were announced. The first of the 260 job losses by Nuclear Electric are expected to go in the next few months just before
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Future plans for town centre
AMBITIOUS plans to jet Blackpool town centre into the next century are being laid before residents so they can give their views. A questionnaire inviting opinions on the area is being circulated with a consultation leaflet on the council's hopes for the
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No need for rural firms to be isolated
RURAL businesses in Lancashire will be given an insight into the latest communications technology at a series of workshops and seminars. The aim of the events is to show how rural firms can compete regardless of their geographical location. The events
