Archive
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Dim future for city stars?
Lancaster City 1 Colwyn Bay 1 THE Blues produced a determined display to round off their season as doubts over the future of three key players emerged. Barrie Stimpson, who produced a solid performance, looks to have kicked his last ball in a blue shirt
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Acrobat is off to Honolulu
ACROBAT Ross Gibson is trading the Fylde for the sunnier climes of Hawaii. The 16-year-old who lives on Headroomgate Road, St Annes, will represent Britain in the World Junior Acrobatic Championships in Honolulu. Ross will be perfecting his discipline
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Stan pays tribute to his champs
AFTER Saturday's (May 3) 2-0 victory over Millwall that gave the Shakers only their third championship in their 112-year history, beaming boss, Stan Ternent, took time out to pay special tribute to his players. "I am just the leech on their backs," he
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Action-gran lifts prize
ACTION-GRAN Joan Matthews took a break from keep fit and craft demonstrations to show everyone else how it's done. Mrs Matthews, 70, of Blackpool Old Road, Highfurlong, won the Blackpool heat of a competition to find the most active retiree. Now she has
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Odds-on favourite
LEGENDARY Grand National winner Red Rum's former stable lad Billy Ellison has written a poem about the wonder horse which he hopes to auction for charity. Mr Ellison of South Shore, Blackpool, spent several years with Red Rum and developed a close friendship
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The sky's the limit
BLACKPOOL'S latest ride opens next month and many people will be finding excuses not to ride on it - claiming a 210ft climb at 80 miles per hour is not for them. But not Doris Thompson, who at 94 has been given the all clear by doctors to try the Pleasure
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Store's path promise
FOOT weary pedestrians have been promised a short cut to Leigh town centre will be reinstated. Contractors building a new superstore complex alongside Atherleigh Way have told Leigh Central Cllr Brian Thomas they will lay a new footpath to replace the
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Now it's a BIG win for Golborne Girls!
A GRANDMOTHER from Golborne has won more than £52,000 on a bingo game, only days after another bingo regular won a similar amount in Leigh. The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said she is sharing her good fortune with her 45 years-old neighbour
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Strang sinks St Helens
BRIAN Strang, who had plagued England's batsmen in Zimbabwe during the winter, turned his attention towards St Helens CC at the weekend. The Wallasey player hit 41 off 25 balls in just 17 minutes, which helped his side to 190-4 declared. And he followed
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New look 'yes' to Terry
THE new-look Worsley Constituency said a resounding 'yes' to new Labour and Terry Lewis. The constituency - which now includes half of Atherton through boundary chages - sent him back to Westminster with a huge vote of confidence by increasing his already
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Louise lets Army computer do the walking!
FROM Fred Longworth High School in Tyldesley via Tesco in Atherton to the former killing fields of Bosnia is a strange route to take. But that's the path Louise Fiendley, whose parents still live in the area, has taken. For Louise, 19, a private with
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Cameras set for street duty
THE centre of Leigh is set to become a safer place. For on Tuesday local businessman Albert Waterfield of Waterfields Bakery will officially switch on the area's electronic eyes which will monitor wrongdoers day and night. Altogether 52 CCTV cameras are
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Pupils set for an African epic
MOSQUITO nets and insect repellent will be top of the list for packing when a group of teenagers embark on an exchange visit this summer. They are heading to Namibia to spend three and a half weeks visiting schools and churches and to take part in practical
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Katy's a table tennis sensation!
YOUNG sensation Katy Parker took the table tennis world by storm at the sport's world championships in Manchester. The 12-year-old from Fulwood, near Preston, earned herself an army of new fans when she became the youngest ever English competitor to compete
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Over and out for veteran councillors
THREE councillors have been honoured on their retirement after completing almost a century's public service between them. Councillors, Frank Higham, Jack Tarbuck and the Reverend Jim Watson were each presented with a plaque and citation by the Mayor,
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Climbers to scale mountain in the dark
A GROUP of climbers will set out to reach new heights by scaling Scafell Pike in total darkness. The seven-strong team of 20 to 35-year-olds from Preston want to complete the Three Peaks Challenge in record time which means climbing through the early
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Baby boppers!
HUNDREDS of teenagers danced the night away at a baby rave for under 18s. Energetic youngsters raved to happy hardcore tracks played by top named DJs including Vibes, Babylee and Freestripe at The Mill on Aqueduct Street, Preston on Friday evening (May
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Kerry kicks to victory
Preston Grasshoppers 32 Winnington 29 STEVE Kerry brought Preston Grasshoppers to victory with the last kick of the game and in so doing ensured that his side would finish third in Courage League Four North. Five penalties from Hoppers skipper in the
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Lessons must be learned says suicide woman's husband
THE husband of a woman who killed herself in a Preston hospital has called for lessons to be learned from her tragic death. Felicity Clarke - who suffered from psychiatric problems - suffocated herself with rubber gloves and cotton wipes when she was
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Colleague's gruesome discovery
A SHOCKED worker found the dead bodies of a colleague and his partner at their quiet Grimsargh home. When 61-year-old Arthur Compsty failed to turn up for work last Tuesday (May 4), one of his worried workmates went to his home near Preston - and discovered
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Award is safe as houses
IT was first time lucky for a Bury estate agent who beat the competition to win two major awards. Mr Stephen Burns' firm has been voted the best independent residential sales office of 1996 in the National Estate Agency of the Year Awards. The fledgling
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Baxenden hope for improvements
ANYTHING can happen in the Vaux Ramsbottom Cup and beleagured Baxenden hope that comes true when they travel to defending Ribblesdale League champions Earby on Saturday (May 10). The Back Lane side - weakened by summer exits and long term injury to skipper
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'God-free' zones not neutral
IN your 'Opinion' column (May 8), you expressed the desire "to secularise all state-aided non-church schools." This is often advocated as a religiously neutral stance. However, to make schools "God-free zones" is hardly neutral; it is not God-neutral,
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Little Dean's daytime nightmares
EPILEPSY is the tendency to have recurrent fits or seizures, it's a neurological condition, largely controlled by drugs. Although there are 420,000 people who suffer from it in the UK alone, it still carries a certain stigma, and, often, those affected
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Ceremony for new mayor
FAMILY, friends and colleagues will pack into Bury Town Hall next Wednesday (May 14), to see the new Mayor of Bury installed. Tory councillor Roy Walker takes over the chains of office from his Labour counterpart Trevor Holt in what is a glittering annual
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Plucky teenager goes back to school after bone marrow op
A PLUCKY Leyland teenager who suffers from leukaemia is back at school for the first time since a life-saving bone marrow transplant last September. But the long-awaited day was blighted by heartless thieves who sneaked into her back garden in Headley
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Can Hodgson stop an Ewood exodus?
ROY HODGSON jumps into the Ewood Park hot seat this summer with his first priority to sort out Rovers want-away stars. Graeme Le Saux and Shay Given head the all-star cast of players who are considering their Rovers' futures and Hodgson will need all
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Race boss quits in shock move
THE chairman of Bury Racial Equality Council (BREC) has sensationally quit while stressing she cannot justify the race body's continuing existence. Mrs Val McGrory, who only took over the hot seat eleven months ago, yesterday confirmed rumours she had
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It's labour day!
MAY the first was most definitely Labour day for a new Preston mum when she missed her first vote to give birth. Eighteen-year-old Maria Whittle was looking forward to marking a cross on the voting paper for the first time, but her overdue baby had other
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Pub tragedy as girl falls down cellar stairs
A PUB-GOER died tragically when she mistook an unlocked cellar door for toilets and fell down the steep stairs. An Inquest heard how 21-year-old Claire Birtwistle from Preston had been enjoying a night out with her half-brother Timothy which ended in
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Crime-free zone as police swoop
BLACKBURN became a crime-free zone "for the first time in memory" as officers continued to target burglars in Operation Sutton. Acting Det Chief Insp Neil Smith revealed today that not one single crime was reported to police in the town on Tuesday night
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Racism - where do Rovers stand?
A LIFE-long Blackburn Rovers fan in exile has urged the club to make a positive stand on racism after witnessing sickening scenes at a league match at Southampton at the weekend. The soccer fan, who did not wish to be named for fear of reprisals against
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Carnival time at Deepdale
Preston North End 2 Walsall 0 MORE than 10,000 supporters turned up for this carnival time in Rio-style celebration, as Preston North End brought down the curtain on the season, and didn't they enjoy it! The final match at Deepdale on Saturday (May 3)
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Anger at bogus applications
A MOSQUE is at the centre of claims surrounding alleged falsified documents. Officials of Bury's Khizra Mosque claim two membership application forms submitted to the Bury Racial Equality Council (BREC) are bogus. Now, the town's race relations chiefs
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Woman in despair over drains
A DESPAIRING householder who has suffered ten years of flood misery has slammed a council for dragging its feet over a drainage problem. Margaret Basnett says when it rains it takes only ten minutes for her garden, driveway and front path to be flooded
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Woman dies in knife tragedy
A BRIDE of four months stabbed herself to death in front of her husband during an argument with her mother over moving house, a Bury inquest was told on Thursday (May 8). Mrs Lisa Marie Whittington grabbed hold of a kitchen knife and plunged the blade
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Boss left days before firm crashed
THE boss of Bury's award-winning Nationwide Telephone Company has told how he left the business a week before receivers were called in. Despite the fact the company has crashed, Mark Bedward is hopeful he and his team can continue to serve existing customers
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Alyce Jayne's ride for help
BUBBLY Alyce Jayne Greenwood wants to help doctors research a condition which affects every day of her life. Seven-year-old Alyce Jayne has suffered from epilepsy since being 18 months old and will always have to take medication. She runs the risk of
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Dark secrets of the past
AN American with local ancestors is probing the dark secrets of her family's past. Janie Stezaker-Garber, from Woodinville, Washington, is trying to uncover the details of a 19th-century murder. A house in Ivy Street, Burnley, was where her great-great-great
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CRICKET: Crawley earns Ashes backing
LANCASHIRE coach Dav Whatmore today backed John Crawley to take on the Aussies. Crawley hit a superb unbeaten 51 on the first day of the Championship game against Notts as his team-mates collapsed to 125 all out on a green pitch. And Aussie Whatmore said
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Tommy's tribute to Young Guns
LANCE TODD Trophy winner Tommy Martyn took time off from his Wembley preparations to pay tribute to Leigh's young guns. The town's Rugby League schoolboys beat Leeds 25-16 at The Willows to win the National Knockout Trophy. Five of the squad were from
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News on the Net
THANKS for the opportunity to catch up on all the news and scandal from East Lancashire via the Internet. I emigrated from Helmshore in 1964. JOHN McGUIRE, Melbourne, Australia. Previous news story Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images
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Speed aces in wrangle
CONTROVERSY surrounded an epic performance by Astley & Tyldesley Speedway in the Northern Junior Fours Tournament. Ridden in atrocious conditions on a storm-swept Hull circuit, they pushed eventual winners Tameside all the way. Then, in Heat 16, James
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Assailants sliced off top of victim's finger
A MAN in his early twenties was brutally assaulted by a gang who set upon him and sliced off the tip of his finger. The man was walking along Gartons Lane in Clock Face at 11.45pm on May 4 when a number of youths leapt out and dragged him into a nearby
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Gang of thugs attacks men
A VIOLENT gang of youths set upon two men in a completely unprovoked attack near the Caldo Garage on Haresfinch Road last week. The attack happened at 11.30pm on Friday, May 2 as the men, both in their early twenties, were walking by the junction with
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This one's for keeps, says Tommy
TOMMY MARTYN pulled his Challenge Cup medal close to his chest and smiled, writes DAVID HODGKINSON. "This one I'm keeping," he said. The Leigh lad, a landslide winner of the coveted Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match in Saturday's Rugby League Challenge
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Neighbours' fury over parking fines
A GROUP of angry residents are calling on the council to provide them with a safe parking area after receiving parking tickets outside their own homes. The homeowners, a number of them Orange Badge holders, all live in Knowsley Road on the stretch between
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Lift-off with £6,000 Falklands order
BUSINESSMAN Graham Parker is getting his winter woollies out of the wardrobe after winning his first export contract. Graham, who runs Independent Telephone Services in Blackburn, is heading for the Falkland Islands after being asked to supply a new system
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Labour duo cruises to victory
THE results of the Parliamentary Election for St Helens North were: John Beirne (Lib Dems) 6,270 David Johnson (Referendum) 1,276 Richard Rudin (UK Independence) 363 Pelham Walker (Con) 8,536 Dave Watts (Lab) 31,953 Ronald Waugh (Socialist Lab) 833. Labour
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Slaughter unacceptable
IN reply to Mr M A Khan (Letters, May 12) seeking to justify the bleeding to death of animals on the basis of religion, he would do well to consider that, as with any religious text, much of what it contains is subject to interpretation. God placed all
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Phil KOs rival
ST HELENS boxer Phil Molyneux scored a stunning victory when he knocked out Hull fighter Dave Thompson in just 37 seconds. Phil's coach Damian Jones told the Star: "The most important thing from my point of view was that Phil showed a tremendous improvement
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Wild walkers in footway protest
ABOUT 200 ramblers walked a stretch of riverside footpath in a protest against its proposed closure. But the owners of the two-and-a-half mile stretch of the picturesque Ribble Way, near Sawley, claimed they have been made scapegoats in the 12-year row
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Rainhill routed
RAINHILL suffered a humiliating defeat on Saturday after drawing the opening three games of the season. Captain Paul Ford won the toss against league newcomers Whitefield and elected to field on what appeared to be a very doubtful wicket. Rainhill failed
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Full steam ahead for Bury traders
PROUD traders in Bury's Bolton Street certainly aren't slow coaches when it comes to highlighting the town's premier tourist attraction. For a gable end is now adorned with a colourful and eye-catching mural of a steam train to underline the fact Bolton
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Rainford continue to impress
RAINFORD Cricket Club XI continued their excellent start to the season with a hard fought victory over Aughton. Invited to bat, Rainford amassed 247-5 from their 50 overs. Openers Anthony Poynton and Mike Cook set Rainford on their way with a 70 run partnership
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Camelot checking pensioner's £4m claim
LOTTERY giants, Camelot, are currently investigating a claim by Parr pensioner, Arthur Prescott, that he has won a £4 million lottery jackpot. Father-of-three Arthur, 69, claims that he has sent details of his winning ticket to lottery headquarters. Camelot
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Singing in the rain
IT rained on Bury's big parade but even the atrocious weather couldn't dampen the spirits of the players or the fans. Around 2,000 hardy souls braved the tea-time torrent on Wednesday (May 7) to welcome their heroes' open top bus to Bury Town Hall and
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First awards for scouts
ESCOUTS Keith Smith and Debbie Taylor received Chief Scout's Awards making it a May Day first for the 7th Tyldesley group. At a ceremony in the 7th Tyldesley HQ , Scouts, award winners' families and Group Scout Leader Peter Knight heard Assistant County
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Pupils meet the challenge
YOUNGSTERS from Hindley's Mornington High performed well in a heat of the 13th annual BT Kiedler Challenge. The endeavour is an outdoor problem-solving competition for teams of eight teenagers, four with disabilities. All the teams completed five activities
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It's Saints v Bulls - round two
WITH the Challenge Cup safely back at Knowsley Road, Saints and Bradford Bulls stage round two in the silverware stakes with a crucial Super League clash at Odsal on Sunday, kick-off 7.30pm. The game is a real four-pointer because, with both sides having
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Fake goods seized
POLICE have scored a coup in the fight against counterfeit goods on sale in Blackpool streets. Officers and trading standards officials swooped over the Bank Holiday weekend arresting traders in the town centre. They seized fake CDs, T-shirts and sweaters
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Strange snacks! The crazy combinations we choose for the odd bite
Food News, with Christine Rutter FANCY spring onions with After Eight mints or cabbage with raspberry ripple ice-cream? They are the kind of curious culinary combinations you would expect to see in a pregnant woman's recipe book. But you would be wrong
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Mum's goodbye after 20 years
ALICE Judge has been mum to thousands. But Alice is now enjoying the quieter life after 20 years in charge at Stonehouse local authority day nursery in Etherstone Street, Leigh. Her lifelong dedication to children began when she qualified as a nursery
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Wife killed herself in hospital
THE husband of a patient who killed herself in hospital has called for lessons to be learned from her tragic death. Felicity Clarke, who suffered from psychiatric problems, suffocated herself with rubber gloves and cotton wipes in the Royal Preston Hospital
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Martyn magic casts spell over Bulls
Saints 32 Bradford Bulls 22 Report by Denis Whittle PICTURED: CUP-WINNING act! Joynt, Newlove and Sullivan hold the cup aloft while Hammond plays a 'supporting role, SUPERB Saints made yet another piece of history with this magnificent centenary Silk
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Making it their business
LOCAL businesses are being invited to join forces at a newly-formed business club set to open in Newton-le-Willows. The club will give people the chance to listen to speakers on topics such as fire prevention, marketing, local authority help and training
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Throwing for distance
MARTIAL arts enthusiasts intend throw each other for the distance of a mile in aid of the Macmillan Cancer Relief charity. Eight protagonists, and one reserve in the event of injury, will combine their throwing power at the Academy of Martial Arts in
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Scratchcard tonic for crime victims
THE St Helens East Victim Support Scheme is to receive cash from the sale of scratchcards at local Somerfield stores. Over the next three months, the scheme, based in Newton-le-Willows Library, will receive part of the proceeds from The Community Charity
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Time to improve
EXTRA help with schoolwork is paying dividends for older pupils at Barden High School, according to inspectors who visited the boys-only Burnley school. Barden was built to accommodate 750 children but now less than 300 are taught by teachers described
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Lost on the red tide
POLITICIAN Tony Greaves paid the price of standing in two elections when he lost his hard-won seat on the county council. His shock defeat at the hands of Labour's Tim Ormrod came as Labour swept to victory across the county. Only hours earlier Liberal
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History in the making
NEW-STYLE history lessons are being served up for primary schoolchildren visiting Gawthorpe Hall. They will find out what like was like for Victorian servants by joining actors playing the parts of butlers and the housekeepers at the hall in Padiham.
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Light at end of tunnel after Nelson windfall
NELSON Football Club plan to spend their award from the National Lottery on providing disabled facilities and floodlighting at Victoria Park. Chairman Ken Broom today expressed his delight after he and a club delegation were presented with a cheque for
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Grumbles probed by health bosses
HEALTH chiefs in Blackburn are investigating a claim that a nurse discussed confidential matters outside the workplace. The allegation was one of 34 complaints received by health watchdogs during the first three months of the year. The familiar problem
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LETTERS:Let them not forget...
Congratulations to our two new MPs, Hilton Dawson and Geraldine Smith. I hope they will strive to put the interests of Lancaster and Morecambe at the top of their agendas and they will not forget the people who put them in power. Let's hope many of the
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Padiham win again but still pipped
Padiham 2, Blackpool Rovers 0 PADIHAM ended their 1996-7 season with a 2-0 win over Blackpool Rovers reserves at the Arbories - but the victory was not enough to give them the West Lancashire League division two title. The Storks lost out on goal difference
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Emergency? On yer bike!
PARAMEDIC bikers could mean the difference between life and death, a recent study has revealed. The results of a pilot scheme showed how paramedics on motorbikes and in cars arrived at the scene of a life threatening situations vital minutes before ambulances
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Hospital beds for squirrels!
BUTTERFLIES and birds, wild flowers and squirrels - they all find a bed at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. So keen is the hospital trust to put something back into the environment that it has established its own wildlife site. Estates manager Ted Wells said
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Sharp fall in failures
BUSINESS failures in the North West fell sharply last month according to figures released today. A total of 15 company collapses were recorded in April, compared with 22 in March. "Figures confirm the region's economy remains buoyant and that conditions
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Vision for the future
BLACKPOOL's two new Labour MPs hope to make real advances for local jobs, housing and schools before the next general election. Gordon Marsden, who swept Blackpool South from the Tories with a majority of 11,600, and Joan Humble, who won Blackpool North
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The agony and the ecstasy
ONE minute you're dabbling in local politics and the next moment you're taking a seat in the House of Commons. Last Thursday 175 new MPs swept to power including Hilton Dawson for Lancaster and Wyre and Geraldine Smith for Morecambe and Lunesdale. Their
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Kings' Coronation
Bury 2 Millwall 0 GROWN men were reduced to tears at Gigg Lane on Saturday (May 3). . . and not just because they were locked out of a packed ground. The memories of twenty-eight years wandering in the wilderness of the Football League's lower two divisions
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Nurses take the honours
TOP nurses from Grasmere Street Health Centre are role models for the rest of the district. GP practice nurses Helen Cooper, Barbara Clarke, Sally Forshaw and Sandra Baxter will be responsible for providing formal induction programmes for new practice
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A little light music!
SWITCHED-on Mayor Alfred Jealous left councillors in the dark at St Annes Town Hall. For the light-bulbs in the Town Hall's reception room were far too bright, he decided, for an official evening soiree. So, he called for a ladder and swapped them for
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Hylda comes home
A TRIBUTE to the uncrowned queen of Blackpool comes to the Grand Theatre this weekend - the very place where she broke box office records more than 20 years ago. She Knows You Know tells the story of the pint-sized Hylda Baker - and who better to portray
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Fatal truth
ON the issue of the Freedom of Information, there are certain happenings in war which are sometimes unjust but are still covered by the Official Secrets Act. If we try to bring them out into the open, we would at least be accused of being unpatriotic
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Amateurs' big night
TOMORROW (Friday) sees one of the biggest occasions in the local amateur Rugby League calendar. It's the final of the Hays Chemicals St Helens Cup. Knowsley Road is the venue for the contest between Blackbrook and Thatto Heath, with the action kicking
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Help is at hand
WHEN 24-year-old Lisa Hersey learned she was pregnant it should have been a joyous occasion. But the unemployed mother of two, living in a cramped flat on the Grange Park estate, didn't know where to turn. With her husband often away and little support
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Eliza took fight to the streets - at 90!
ELIZA Matthews can claim she played her part in putting new Prime Minister Tony Blair in Number 10. The staunch Labour suppoorter toured the Bickershaw area in a minibus calling through a loudspeaker for residents to back MP Lawrence Cunliffe. And she's
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A mayoral eye-opener
THE past few weeks have been something of an eye-opener for the new Mayor of Pendle. Councillor Jo Belbin, who was due to take up the mantle of the area's First Citizen this afternoon, has lived in Pendle long enough to have her finger on its pulse. But
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Seeds of success for troubled estate
RESIDENTIAL leaders are hoping flower power helps plant the seeds of success on a once troubled housing estate. St James and Chapels Residential Association in Darwen has obtained cash for horticultural workshops to give the area a rosey future. The £1,200
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Tales of yesteryear
THINGS ain't like they used to be. And, according to a new book, that couldn't be more accurate. Local historians Frank Watson and Bob Dobson have compiled Accrington's Changing Face, a collection of 134 photographs of the town and outlying towns. As
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'Protect the elderly' plea from county
VULNERABLE elderly people who are deliberately targeted by crooks need to be protected more by their local community, people in Lancashire told a national survey. The poll, commissioned by insurance company General Accident, shows that 69 per cent of
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No mint sauce for Rupert the lamb
RUPERT the lamb, who was rescued by a kind-hearted animal rights campaigner, faces a happy and healthy life in Cumbria. Carol Duggan tearfully said goodbye to the week-old baby after spending more than a week nursing it back to health. He was given to
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ROVERS: United kids add to trophy haul at Blackburn's expense
FA Youth Cup Final: Manchester United Youth 3 Blackburn Rovers Youth 1 - Peter White reports RED-HOT finishing was the difference at Old Trafford last night, as Manchester United staged yet another trophy presentation - collecting the Lancashire FA Youth
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Ex-police boss on charity patrol
A FORMER police chief is pounding the beat again - in a bid to help improve the lives of handicapped children throughout the North-west. Alan McLeod, who retired two years ago as head of Farnworth Police, is raising money to boost the Mencap Blue Sky
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PIC:Balls)
YOUNGSTERS at Lostock Hall Primary school near Preston have taken up basketball now their school has a new court and posts. And eight-year-old Stewart Bradley was the first in the queue to dunk shots using the modern equipment which came from a joint
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Cunliffe slays Young pretender
LABOUR stalwart Lawrence Cunliffe saw-off the Tory's Young pretender in Leigh. And he's now heading back to Westminster with a 24,492 majority - up over 5,000 on last time - for his fifth Parliamentary term and his first supporting Labour in Government
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LETTER: Captain Sensible he ain't
I WAS appalled by the actions of Tim Sherwood at the weekend when he spat at Jim Magilton during the game against Southampton. I have been a long suffering Rovers fan all season, and I have often felt like venting my anger, but I have managed to control
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Race against time to collect sponsorship
A DISABLED athlete is racing to collect cash to fulfil her dream of competing in South Africa. Wheelchair-bound Lynne Riding, from Starrgate Drive, Ashton, near Preston, says unless she can raise £500 she may not be able to take part in the Disabled Ex-Services
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Lantern appeal is beaming ahead
BLACKBURN Cathedral Lantern Tower is set for a face-lift - thanks to people power. More than £500,000 has been raised by the local community to refurbish the tower. Now organisers say the Lantern Appeal needs an estimated £750,000. The aim of the appeal
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Charity charge to a finish
THEY'RE building up to a big finish in the Atherton Charity Cup. The final will be staged at Alder House next Thursday (May 15, 7.30pm). Latest results: Atherton Town A 1 Pennington 0, Hindsford A 3 Hindsford Youth 0, Church Inn 2 Atherton Town B 3. Fixtures
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Charity walkers are footsore but happy
THIRTY miles down the canal in the pouring rain! Not a fun trip on a barge, but imagine doing it on foot and in less than five hours. That's what two brave runners from Ribbleton did when they set out to raise money for St Catherine's Hospice in Lostock
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Rishton regroup for fresh title tilt
RISHTON are reeling from two disastrous defeats which leaves them well off the pace in the E W Cartons Lancashire Cricket League. The defending champions' hopes of claiming their third successive title suffered an early season blow after going down against
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David's Charter for laughter - review of David Baddiel concert
MULTI-talented David Baddiel kicked up a barrel of belly laughs at Preston's Charter Theatre when he performed his stand-up show. The comic is best known for his laddish antics on BBC2's Fantasy Football League with flatmate Frank Skinner. Both featured
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Vandals wreck plot for third time
A HEARTBROKEN father has been left devastated after his son's grave was vandalised for the third time. John Pender, of Arley Avenue, Bury, told of his despair when he visited the grave at Bury Cemetery, just weeks before what would have been his son's
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Pavilions traffic plea
PEDESTRIANISING a main town centre route could save Blackburn's threatened Pavilion buildings. Members of the area's chamber of trade and local civic society have backed calls to make Church Street a traffic-free zone in a bid to promote the listed buildings
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Head teacher warns of exodus from the classroom
A RETIRING headmaster has warned of an exodus of teachers in the coming months unless the new Government gives them an 11th hour reprieve on the 'now or never' Tory policy on early retirement. Peter Maylor, head of Middleforth Primary, near Preston, is
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Rain stops play!
STREETS Ahead became roads awash when torrential rain put paid to Bury's Bank Holiday entertainments festival. The atrocious weather on Monday (May 5) meant the Streets Ahead Festival had to be cancelled. More than 12,000 people were expected to arrive
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Atkins down...and out
IT was an emotional election for long-serving MP Robert Atkins when he sensationally lost his South Ribble seat last Thursday (May 1). The Conservative MP and former government minister bowed out after serving South Ribble for 14 years. Labour's David
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Northern's hopes are scuppered
BLACKBURN Northern's hopes of making an early impression in the Ribblesdale Cricket League backfired as they were sunk by Padiham to slip to the bottom of the table. Northern batted first but could only reach 96 and the The Arbories side reached their
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Crafty pupils learn to get arty
PUPILS in a Blackburn school will become crafty as they attempt to learn new skills. At the start of next month, Feniscowles Primary School is holding its first ever Arts Week with the hope pupils will get the chance to learn new skills and maybe even
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Rock FM's Kev Seed writes for the Citizen
WHAT will the Yanks think of next? Scientists in the States have bred mice with muscles three times stronger than usual. Don't tell me, they can actually lift the traps to get the cheese out... Just a thought, why isn't there mouse-flavoured cat food?
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Hero yachtsman on dry land
HERO yachtsman Tony Bullimore was again the centre of attention when he sailed into Lancashire last week - although this time the weather was much better! Tony, 58, hit the headlines earlier this year when his round-the-world sailing attempt ended in
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Mission Impossible
CHURCH look to complete Mission Impossible Two on Sunday when they aim to dump league favourites East Lancashire out of the Worsley Cup. The Blackburn Road side caused the shock of the season last Sunday (May 4) when they beat the league leaders in a
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Business is booming
YOUNG entrepreneurs swapped their pens for the production line for a taste of the world of business. Budding Bransons from Preston and South Ribble schools were presented with awards for creating a string of successful small companies. As part of the
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Local elections upsurge in Asian councillors
LABOUR continued to dominate the town hall in the battle for control of the new unitary authority Blackburn with Darwen. The biggest changes were the increase in the number of Asian councillors - from three to nine - and the two new seats created by boundary
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Flu jab death
A PLASTERER became a paraplegic and eventually died after a millions-to-one reaction to a simple and common flu vaccination. Coroner Barrie Williams, recording a verdict of "misadventure" on Thursday (May 8), on 60-year-old Harry Richardson, said doctors
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Children's plea for a play area gets results
CHILDREN who wrote to Burnley Council will get the playground of their dreams - thanks to the Challenge Fund agreeing to provide £2,000. Eleven children from the Melrose Avenue and Kinross Street area of got together to make their plea for a better place
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New mosque will cater for all
A NEW £750,000 mosque could be built in Bury and help forge greater understanding of the Muslim faith. For a library and conference facility will also be provided as part of the new mosque proposed for a site off Bell Lane, Bury. The location is close
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FIVE YEARS AGO: Four hurt in tiles topple
FOUR men were seriously injured when a tiled canopy crashed down on the top of them in Blackburn shopping precinct. They were sitting enjoying the sunshine on a step at the bottom of nightclub Peppermint Place in Lord Square when a ton and a half of tiling
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TEN YEARS AGO: Rivers in NW 'filthy'
THE filthy state of the North West's rivers was highlighted in a Commons' report demanding a crackdown on polluters. The all-party Environment Committee unanimously urged greater freedom for the North West Water Authority to borrow commercially to finance
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Soup-er route to success
WALSHAW High School pupil Amina Latif has proved her flair for creative cooking by reaching the semi-final of a national culinary competition. She is one of 40 young people to be picked to design a soup with a difference at the Creda Challenge this weekend
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CRICKET: Andy not on hand
BARNOLDSWICK sneaked through to the second round of the Vaux Ramsbottom Cup with a six-run victory over Oswaldtwistle Immanuel last night. Bowler Andy Hornsby must have thought he had done enough when he helped dismiss the Victory Park side for 137 on
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Double delight for swim kids
ATHERTON SC are celebrating success in the annual Bury Invitation Gala. For the second time in three years their trip along the M66 resulted in overall victory. The youngsters returned home to Mayfield Street with the Overall Winners Trophy plus the Girls
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Roberts turns up the heat
GLAZEBURY CC's first season in the North West Counties League began with a hard-earned draw at Widnes Recs. The side reached a massive 198-6 before the declaration with Mike Roberts the most effective bowler on 3-57. After tea it quickly became evident
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Skipper Dave misses top ton
DAVE DOVE ran out of time on Saturday. The Leigh skipper was unbeaten on 96 as his side's innings ended at 163-6 and a disappointing draw at Neston. The home side blasted Leigh's attack after losing their opener and finally declared on 180-3, Greg Dimery
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Free meals figures underline the reality of poverty
A DISTURBING report on poverty in the North West today points to the biggest problem facing the new government's dream of a one-nation Britain - creating real jobs. Using the number of children on free school meals as a gauge, the authors reveal the widespread
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Hunt for robbers
POLICE in Nelson are appealing to people who were in town Saturday night to help them solve a nasty robbery. A man of 35 needed hospital treatment after he was attacked in William Street and robbed of £70 as he made his way home after a night out. Detectives
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Four firsts for talented Donna
A TALENTED teenager heading for stardom has scooped a series of top awards at the Blackburn Festival to add to her increasing collection. Donna Louise Peachey says her ambition is to be the first person from Trawden to be on television and her proud parents
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Largest ever majority
PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice quintupled his majority in the general election. He romped home with a majority of 10,824, the largest ever in the Pendle seat and in the former Nelson and Colne constituency. His 25,059 votes represented 53.28 per cent of the
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Adult classes link proves major success
A TRANS-PENNINE partnership launched in January has proved so successful it is set to continue for at least another year. Yorkshire-based Calderdale College has been operating adult community classes at Fearns High School, Rossendale, since the start
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Governors' day is a real winner
AROUND 200 voluntary school governors from all over St Helens showed their commitment to putting pupils first when they gave up their Saturday to attend a key conference. The annual governors conference was held at the Stakis Hotel, St Helens, where key
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Super Kate's triple joy
KATE WARD struck triple gold for Tyldesley SC. Swimming in the 13-Year group she was in stunning form at the City of Chester Open Meet. She won the 100 freestyle - setting a Meet record, hitting a PB and gaining a NQT - the 200 freestyle (NQT) and 200
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Come and see our houses
NEWLY appointed housing minister Hilary Armstrong is set to get an invitation to see living conditions in Pendle. Councillors hoping for a new approach to housing needs were ready to despatch the invitation practically as soon as the ink from Tony Blair's
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Meal handout poverty of one in four children
MORE than a quarter of children in Lancashire live in poverty, say the authors of a worrying new report. The Greater Manchester Low Pay Unit has based its claim on government statistics about the number of children entitled to free school meals in the
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Leigh snap up Keighley Kiwi
LEIGH have made one swoop on Cougar Park - and they hope to make it a double. They signed New Zealand scrum-half Latham Tawhai from Keighley and then immediately turned their sights on another unwanted Cougar in Carlos Hassan. Tawhai and Hassan are among
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Thugs kicked boy for coat
TWO young thugs punched and kicked a teenager before ripping off his valuable coat and £25 in cash. The 17-year-old victim and a friend were walking along Hard Lane near Hurst Special School at about 9.30pm on Tuesday, April 29, when three youths approached
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Top draw from Unbond giants
IT WAS inevitable the Big Guns of the UniBond Division One would take the championship into last Saturday's epic decider. Leigh RMI and Radcliffe Boro shared the points at 2-2 in a midweek thriller. And that left them both on 82 points, Boro having the
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Distant echoes from two wars
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD THE plea from reader N. Smith, of Cooper Street, St Helens, for any information about the placename origins of the Wargrave area of Newton-le-Willows has drawn interesting response. Keen historical fact-finder Stan Roberts of Wharmby
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RMI back in big time
LEIGH RMI were made to sweat in Saturday's final drama. They were forced to endure almost 30 minutes of 'extra time' agony before claiming their place in history. A 0-0 home draw with Gretna meant RMI had to bite their fingernails as players and officials
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Power on for five year plan
ST HELENS Council has approved a bid by National Power to carry out a five-year regeneration plan of the former Bold Power Station site which is expected to create the space for up to 500 new houses. The land has lain derelict since the power station
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Citizen Smith & the amazing, dancing Blair!
So the refreshing wind of political change is rushing through the dank and musty corridors of power following the Tories ejection from the last-chance saloon. Well as you sip on your Perriers on the way back from the bar where the Tories were so abruptly
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155 jobs at new superstore
MAJOR retailer, B & M is creating 155 new jobs in St Helens by launching a new superstore. More than 1,500 people inundated B & M for jobs at the new superstore in the Church Square Shopping Centre. Almost one in 10 people are unemployed in St
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Rumbling back to the good old days
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD A READER with fond memories of genuine horse power dips back into the past - to his time as van lad on the last nag-drawn railway delivery vehicle to rumble around the streets of St Helens. Terence Leech, who describes himself as
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Dawning of a new era
So, a new era begins, with a new government, a clean sweep after 18 years of Tory rule. Somebody wrote in to the Citizen suggesting that if I did not vote then I would not be entitled to comment on matters of a political nature. Utter tosh. However, vote
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Champ sales surge
BURY's championship triumph has provided a boost for the club's official merchandisers. The town's Birthdays shop, the official stockists of Gigg Lane and Old Trafford souvenirs, expect bumper sales of blue and red keepsakes. Last Saturday (May 3) saw
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East Lancs goes barking mad for digi-pets
PEOPLE in East Lancashire are going mad to get their hands on the new "virtual" computer pets. The latest Japanese craze - cyber pets such as Digital Doggie and CompuKittie - are a sell-out in shops countywide with some retail outlets even on a waiting
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Court jail warning
THE manager of a home for recovering mentally ill patients was given three weeks to clear a council tax debt or face jail. Rossendale magistrates told Bernadette Chapman of Heron's Reach, Ramsbottom: "You've escaped custody by a hair's breadth." The court
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Recs left hanging on
SATURDAY saw Owens Corning St Helens Recs hanging on for a draw at home to Sefton in a Liverpool Competition fixture sponsored by D.D.M. Recs won the toss and asked Sefton to bat on a greenish wicket that looked as though it would help the home bowlers
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Festival of football
FORMED just six months ago, 'Kicks' mini-soccer school, which is targeted at boys and girls aged five-11, has already attracted more than 250 youngsters onto its books. Now project founders, coaches Tony Greenall and Ian Smith, have organised a free-admission
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Perfect match for fan Gillian
FANATICAL Bury FC supporter Gillian Filkins changed her wedding plans so she could attend the team's last match of the season. Gillian, of Waterside Road in Summerseat, had planned her wedding, which took place at Bury Register Office on Saturday (May
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Lessons for Town to learn
St Helens Town 1 Maine Road 1 TOWN consigned season 96/97 to the record books at Hoghton Road on Saturday with a display which on another day may have produced maximum points. Even so, they left it late to salvage a point and keep the Mancunians deep
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Mike voted new council Leader
COUNCILLOR Mike Doyle will succeed Dave Watts as the new leader of St Helens Council. Coun Doyle, who represents Rainhill, has been deputy leader for the past four years and will replace Dave, who stepped down after becoming MP for St Helens North. Councillor
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LSH go down fighting
Leeds 44 Liverpool St Helens 10 THE 44-10 scoreline flattered Leeds who although controlling most aspects of play, did not dominate a committed LSH, who never threw in the towel. Leeds, the league's only full professionals, have spared no expense in amassing
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Crook robs woman in wheelchair
A VULNERABLE, wheelchair-bound woman was targeted by a sneak thief who stole her purse from her handbag. The 49-year old woman was shopping in Marks and Spencer in Church Street, St Helens, on Saturday, May 3 between 3.20 and 4.15pm when the thief struck
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Heritage on the hoof
THE Smithy Heritage Centre in Kiln Lane, Eccleston, is holding a Horse Shoeing Day this Saturday (May 10). The day's star attraction will be a show horse and farrier who are travelling from North Wales to take part in the demonstration. There will also
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Denis Whittle talks to Shaun McRae
SATURDAY's Wembley final was not about luck - it was simply a case of the better side winning. That was the opinion of Shaun McRae on the Challenge Cup showdown which he amplified at our weekly face-to-face on Tuesday afternoon. WHITTLE: It's a cliche
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Salute brings a glittering reward
A ST HELENS company has been presented with a top business award at a glittering awards ceremony in Manchester. Universal Arches Limited, based at the Bold Business Centre, scooped a prestigious Duke of Westminster Award in the New Business Category,
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No competition in church
ON the topic of church attendance, I smiled at the tongue-in-cheek comment in your editorial (LET, May 9): "Is Mr Stevenson advocating the cancellation of Sunday night television?" But I have to disagree with your heading that "It's up to churches to
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Trawl through cookware books
CREDITORS of Prestige want liquidators to investigate transactions by the management of the cookware company for two years before its demise. The firm went into liquidation with debts of more than £10 million and since December has been in the hands of
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Save Our Spire
OPPONENTS of the plan to demolish St James's Church spire, Burnley, will gather for a public protest on Monday (May 12). Local historians and artists will join protest organiser Steven Smith to ask people to sign a petition. The spire, the last remaining
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CLARETS: Heath spending plans backed
ADRIAN Heath has got the green light to play the summer transfer market. But how much the Turf Moor board of directors have given the Clarets chief to spend on new blood remains a closely guarded secret. Heath signalled today he is ready to make his first
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New mayor pledges dignity after predecessor's sex shame
THE new Mayor of Burnley, Enid Tate, promised a year of pride and dignity as she took over the reins of civic leadership. Retired headmistress Mrs Tate became one of the few ever to hold both the office of mayor and mayoress in the long history of the
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LETTERS: Democracy in the UK!
BEFORE General Elections disappear from the public mind for another five years may I briefly respond to the comments of Cllr Lodge in last week's Citizen. He suggests that non-voters simply 'cannot be bothered' with the intellectual process of distinguishing
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ROVERS: Hodgson faces tough Swedish tour opener
ROY Hodgson will be thrown in at the deep end when he takes charge of Blackburn Rovers this summer - with a debut game for the new boss against top Swedish outfit IFK Gothenburg. Champions in their own country a record 17 times and regular competitiors
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Bumper bunny risks the wheels of God's minister
A ROAMING rabbit is at the centre of an unholy row between neighbours. Lay minister Alison Alp admits she would have "no qualms" about running her car over Bumper because he eats her cauliflowers and forces motorists to swerve to miss him. But the eight-year-old
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Barlick latest to fall before Read
READ are setting the early pace in the Vaux Ribblesdale Cricket League senior league. After three games they top the table with 19 points and a run-rate of 63. Barnoldswick were the victims of Read's good form at Whalley Road on Saturday, as the visitors
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Carnforth gets the station approach
CARNFORTH'S famous railway station is on the right track for a face lift - with a little help from the locals. Members of the Carnforth Railway Station charity trust have commissioned plans to restore the landmark to its former glory based around the
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CLARETS: Box prices slashed by new Clarets marketing team
BURNLEY'S new sales and marketing team have launched a Turf Moor commercial revolution. Under the driving force of club secretary John Howarth, the four-strong team have instigated a major drive to strengthen and promote the profile of the Second Division
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Superstar sings for free
OPERA star John Tomlinson is returning to his native East Lancashire next month to raise money for a junior choir. Oswaldtwistle-born bass Mr Tomlinson has sung all over the world and sings leading roles regularly with English National Opera and the Royal
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Terror in the skies
A DREAM holiday turned into a nightmare in the skies for a young couple when brawling passengers put an aircraft in danger. Burnley and Pendle ambulance driver Paula Riley was trying to catch some sleep when the trouble erupted next to her. She and her
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Vulnerable fear new cash cuts
A MORECAMBE woman says new laws to cut housing benefit for single people under 60 could leave her homeless. Angela Taylor, 49, is distressed about new legislation which means housing benefit will be slashed to the equivalent cost of renting a room in
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What's the story morning glory? Dawn raves planned for Dome.
COUNCIL chiefs swept aside police fears and voted to stage two all night rave parties in Morecambe it emerged this week. Licensing bosses gave permission to hold raves until 6am at Morecambe Dome in May and June despite strong police objections. Originally
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Market saved from fire
A BLACKPOOL market was saved from being razed to the ground thanks to the skill of firefighters and an alert taxi driver. The driver spotted smoke pouring from St John's Indoor Market, behind Talbot Road bus station, at 5.30 on Bank Holiday Monday morning
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Ady fight put on hold
BURY'S boxing champion Ady Lewis will not defend his British Flyweight title on May 15 at Everton Parks Sports Centre. The shock news was announced after his opponent, Commonwealth title holder, Peter Culshaw, pulled out of the fight with suspected broken
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Cream rises!
Woking 1 Morecambe 2 The Shrimps saved one of their best performances to last and ensured that they finished in fourth place at the end of the season - their highest place ever to date. Manager Jim Harvey said: "We have finished fourth, a lot higher than
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Matthews blow for Bury
STRIKER Rob Matthews will be out of action until October after undergoing a second knee operation. While his teammates were securing glory with a 2-0 win over Milwall, Matthews was in hospital recovering from ligament damage. He had a similar repair job
