Archive
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Moore and Smalley Palace Shield results
Division A: *BAe Warton 145 - Thornton Cleveleys 50 - BAe Warton are relegated; Dutton Forshaw 85-3 - *Vernon Carus 149-6; *Fylde 130-8 - Fulwood & Broughton 122-8; *Penwortham 144-6 - Garstang 86-6; Springfields 81-8 - *Longridge 161-5; Wrea Green
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Rhinos earn stripes
Widnes Tigers 24 Rainford Rhinos 36 RHINOS made hard work of taming the Tigers. But they scored a fine try when winger Andrew Potter broke clear, and sent stand-off Phil Bromilow under the posts. Rainford scored two more tries before the break through
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Miners dig in for victory
Bold Miners 41 Kirkholt 21 MINERS roared back from a 10-point deficit to comfortably take the spoils. Kirkholt took the lead with two impressive tries -one a brilliant 80-yard effort. But a purple patch before half-time brought Bold 21 points before the
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John nets top safety award
FOOTBALL stadium safety officer John Newsham has netted a top qualification. John, from Darwen, has been awarded the British Safety Council Diploma in Safety Management. John, who works for Blackburn Rovers, will receive his diploma later this year at
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Arson destroys house
TEENAGERS playing on a building site are thought to be responsible for a deliberate fire which caused £50,000 worth of damage. The blaze destroyed the roof and some walls of a Tay Homes detached house on Merrytrees Lane, Cottam on Sunday (September 14
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Wings across the years
STRONG links forged between local air force organisations will be reforged next week. Wings Week begins on Saturday when collectors, mainly ATC cadets, will be seeking contributions for the Royal Air Force Association's annual appeal. The following day
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Growth venture
A £1 MILLION investment programme has been launched to help a gardening products firm grow. The Netlon Sentinel Partnership, a joint venture involving Blackburn based plastic net and mesh manufacturer Netlon. New product development is the main aim of
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Top schjools merger shock
TWO of the Fylde's oldest and most prestigious single-sex schools are set to merge. The governors of King Edward VII School for boys and Queen Mary School for girls, which were founded in 1908 and 1930 respectively, took the historic decision in light
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Grasshoppers' victory over Coney Hill
CONEY HILL 5 PRESTON GRASSHOPPERS 16 HOPPERS progressed to the second round of the National Knockout Cup by virtue of a disciplined performance in the third quarter of the game. Their visit to Gloucestershire had begun well enough with an early Martin
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Finch the Shark killers
Shevington Sharks 4 Haresfinch 12 FINCH produced a tip-top defensive effort to deservedly take the spoils in this hard-fought but good-tempered clash. With the elements in their favour the visitors dominated the first half, creating a string of scoring
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It's a sharp solution
PEOPLE are being asked to keep a sharp lookout for discarded needles and syringes. A recovery service has been set-up to collect and dispose of dangerous sharps found in public places. Hypodermic needles and syringes and other potentially dangerous injection
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Vaux league cricket results
*Chorley 190-7 - Fleetwood 175-8; Kendal v Lancaster - match abandoned because of rain, two points each; Leyland DAF 92-2 - *Leyland 91-9; Morecambe 139-4 - *Blackpool 160-6; Preston 64-6 - *Darwen 103-7; *St Annes 224-4 - Netherfield 203-9. (*batted
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Clock strike again
Clock Face Miners 42 Swinton Bulldogs 22 CLOCK Face maintained their winning start to the season, with this comfortable victory. Winger Gary Devine opened the scoring when he raced onto a well placed kick from Paul Cooney. A 50-metre break by Jimmy Crook
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Top of the pops!
DAMIEN JOYCE'S hopes of becoming a pop star are not just a pipe dream - thanks to his father's favourite pastime. For dad Dennis is so hooked on puffing on his pipe that Damien named his band after him - and now Denbo's Pipe are drawing in attention from
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Clothes call to beat the cold
A LEIGH Christian fellowship is making a cold weather appeal for second hand childrens' clothes. Living Waters Christian Fellowship, based in Scott Street, have distributed the clothes for nearly two years to needy, low income families in the area. Organiser
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Bowler wins top competition
BOWLING queen Joan Jolly was ready to give up playing a few weeks ago when her game went off the rails. But the crown green bowler decided to play on - and has just scooped a top honour in the Isle of Man September Festival. Joan, from Brookfield, Preston
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Pat returns for reunion
A REUNION has been held for the Accrington and Rossendale College lecturers who were controversially sacked last year. The event took place at the Miner's Arms in Accrington on September 13 and was open to anyone who supported the lecturers during their
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Car firm's £300 bid to 'stop the yobs'
A LEIGH car dealership is offering £300 "no questions asked" to anyone who can supply them with the names and addresses of yobs who have been targeting the firm and stealing vehicle parts. Hooper's car sales in Wigan Road has suffered a series of attacks
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Pennies from heaven
A CLERGYMAN has sent out a nationwide appeal for funding so that his congregation can have a new church. The Reverend Geoff Tolley has contacted all of the major charities throughout the country so that the building of the new Central United Reformed
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Prime Time for Priestley
WRITER J B Priestley was, like H G Wells before him and Star Trekkers much later, obsessed with time travel. He penned a number of so-called "time plays" - imaginative speculation about humans thrust into the past or the future. "Time And The Conways"
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Tiny home is a show stealer
CARAVANS come in all shapes and sizes - but this one is wheely tiny, in fact it can even be pulled by a mini! At 2.5 metres by 1.5m and weighing in at 500kg, the new mobile home is the only one of it's kind in the country and is the brainchild of Bamber
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Head tackles MP guest on fees
HIGH School head Alan Bell wants Government answers about plans for higher education fees. The St Mary's RC High boss this week appealed to visiting Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh to query plans to burden families with tuition charges. Welcoming the MP for
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Shield cricket report
Moore and Smalley Palace Shield LONGRIDGE became champions of the Moore and Smalley Palace Shield for the second successive year when they gained a nine-point draw at Springfields. Vernon Carus only got a seven-point draw from their visit to Dutton Forshaw
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300 new energy jobs plan
THREE hundred new jobs are on the cards in Golborne after a local firm won a major contract to help local people save money on their gas bills. Switch Energy based in Golborne Enterprise Park, has won a contract from Norweb to sell energy to half a million
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DJ Kev Seed speaks his mind
There's a new way to clean your dog in Japan - put it on a conveyor belt and let mechanical arms wash, shampoo and dry your pooch in a similar way to a car. It's an ideal way to clean up little shitzus... DEIGO Maradona is in trouble in Argentina as he
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Ticket chaos at PNE
ANGRY Preston North End fans have hit out the Deepdale ticket office calling it a 'shoddy disgrace'. Upset supporters say the system is now so bad there is chaos at the ground every time tickets go on sale. Annoyed season ticket holder Mark Renno travels
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"Support your centre" call from arts bosses
MORE students are urgently needed to ensure that Bury's historic Arts and Crafts centre thrives into the next Millennium. Huge council cuts means that the Broad Street centre must bring in as much public support and scholars as possible to pay its way
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Bridge outgun Dunston
Bamber Bridge 3, Dunston 2 BAMBER Bridge edged their way into the second qualifying round of the FA Cup beating Dunston FB 3-2 in a close fought first round replay. Brig travelled to the North East for the victory on Tuesday night (Sept 16) after being
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Foggy revs up for a final title bid
THE race for the World Superbike Championship hots up this weekend with Carl Fogarty looking to topple arch rival John Kocinski from the top of the table. The double world champion trails American Kocinski by just two points with only three rounds to
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Warriors round-up and report
Leigh East 32 - Warriors U8s 1 THE first game of the season for the under eights saw a slow start in the first half but when the players lost their nerves, the training of many weeks came into practice. Sam Rukin and brother Tom scored tries with Abbey
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Taking the piste!
SNOW snobs are taking the piste out of Xanadu! I have never written to a newspaper in my life, but the situation demands it, when one or two hundred scheming Xanadu objectors see fit to try and destroy the best project Leigh has had this century. If they
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BLACKBURN ROVERS 6 PNE 0
AT half time North End's task was to climb the North face of the Eiger. By the end of the second half of this match against Blackburn Rovers, their task a week on Tuesday for the second leg now takes on Everest proportions. North End had an early chance
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Action plan to save monument from scrapheap
BLACKBURN Civic Society has drawn up a three-point plan of action to save one of the town's historical monuments from the scrapheap. The society has vowed to write to the local authority and English Heritage in an appeal to bring the century old Revidge
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Preston soldiers defend nuclear sub from attack
Citizen reporter Gill Ellis joins the Territorial Army on manoeuvres. SOLDIERS from Preston were called in to defend a nuclear submarine from attacks by riotous Scots out celebrating their new found freedom. The Territorial Army unit from The Fourth Battalion
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Scrap tuition fees, Bury students' plea to MP
STUDENTS have told Bury MP David Chaytor to help scrap Government plans for tuition fees. More than 250 scholars at Holy Cross College, Bury, presented a petition to the Labour member when he paid his first visit since being elected. The MP for Bury North
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Cancer man meets Prince Charles
PRINCE Charles made his first public outing today since the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales - to have lunch with a Blackburn cancer sufferer. Brian Haynes, of Mill Hill, and his wife Marjorie, met the Prince during a fund-raising visit to Manchester
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Non-league round up
ACCRINGTON Stanley boss Tony Greenwood is set to make sweeping changes to stop the rot after seeing his side lose their last four league and cup games. After losing 1-0 to Leigh in the FA Cup qualifying round on Saturday, Stanley went down 2-1 at home
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Sexual assault trial of teacher priest
A PRIEST who taught at a leading Lancashire public school allegedly sexually assaulted a boy pupil, a jury was told. The boy claimed at Preston Crown Court that Father James Chaning-Pearce carried out indecent assaults on him while he was in his GCSE
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Tribute for Gareth
A SPECIAL mobile unit which promotes the dangers of drugs to children has been dedicated to a Blackburn schoolboy who died of an overdose of the heroin substitute methadone. Gareth Noone, aged16, died almost two years ago and since his death his mother
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End of season cricket results
PRESTON'S final game of the season was badly affected by rain. Eight overs were lost before the game and a further two during Darwen's innings. Preston captain Graham Standring won the toss and put Darwen in to bat. Gary Jackson and Nigel Robbins added
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Rovers aim to bounce back from defeat
ROVERS will be looking to hand out some capital punishment on Saturday as they head for Spurs, aiming to bounce back from their first defeat of the season. Roy Hodgson's men travel to White Hart Lane for the first of two difficult away games in the space
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PNE flashback to 1937/38
NORTH End's sixth league game of the 1937/38 season was at Deepdale on a Monday evening, September 13, against unbeaten Charlton Athletic. Not surprisingly Preston were unchanged after beating Liverpool 4-1 two days earlier. Tactically PNE got it wrong
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Sick Note joins Battery Bob for fire safety
THE stars of TV hit London's Burning have backed a fire safety campaign created in Pendle and set to go county-wide next week. The cast agreed to be filmed for a video as part of the "Battery Bob" campaign aimed at promoting the safe use of smoke alarms
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"Save our centre" protesters lobby council
MEMBERS and staff of Whittle Pike day care centre took to the streets in protest at plans to shut it down. They told social services bosses they were "sick to death" of fighting for their rights and human dignity. Around 50 demonstrators lobbied councillors
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Millennium chief on vital visit
THE boss of the Millennium Commission was visiting Hyndburn today - just before a decision on a handout for a £2.6 million multi-cultural community centre is made. Chief executive Eric Sorensen was looking at plans for the New Era complex, Paradise Street
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Bury gears up for schools cash fight
A MASSIVE campaign for increased funding in Bury's schools will be launched next month. Bury Council is facing £9 million worth of cuts next year and more than half of the cash will be slashed from the education budget. The bid for cash will take off
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Traders oppose DIY store
TRADERS objected to plans for a major DIY store development on the outskirts of Nelson. Shopkeepers and tradesmen opposed the plan by B and Q because they said it would hit long-standing businesses in the town and lead to job losses. Residents also expressed
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Gates a waste
WHO are the brainless wonders in Blackburn Town Hall who sanctioned those lethal and obnoxious looking gates on Northgate? (LET, September 20). What a load of junk, along with all the other bits of scrap metal dotted in and around Blackburn in the name
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Fireworks ban unnecessary
IF sales of large display fireworks are banned, public firework displays will be in jeopardy. Organisers will be forced to use punier fireworks that audiences may not be able to see properly because they don't shoot high enough. People will vote with
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Bike racks a boon!
MUCH has been written over the past months concerning changes to the layout of roads in Rishton and, to a lesser extent, Great Harwood, but unless I've missed seeing it, nobody has offered a comment about the cycle racks which have been created. Great
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Let's hope Europe gives East Lancashire lift-off
THE BIDS by three of East Lancashire's councils - Blackburn, Burnley and Pendle - for millions of Euro-cash are ones we must hope to succeed when we discover today what the grants can trigger. For tagged to Blackburn's bid for £5million from the EU, is
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Can minimum wage really be painless?
HAVING long been slow and cautious about putting a figure on its election pledge of a national minimum wage, the government today gave clear signals that it will not be much - and, moreover, that young people may be exempt. This is sure to upset the trade
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Town hall to be 'people's palace'
COLNE'S Victorian town hall could become a 'palace for the people' combining historic architecture and a modern centre for delivering council services. Borough chiefs say the hall is a jewel among public buildings, but its dusty image gives visitors a
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Estate revamp nears completion
THE sixth phase of an eight-phase rolling £10 million project to improve the Lickers Lane Estate in Whiston has been completed. Fifty-one houses in Skeffington and Domville have just received the refurbishment treatment incorporating new road surfaces
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Knife attack on have-a-go hero
A HAVE-a-go cyclist nearly lost the sight of his right eye after tackling two armed robbers. The attack took place just after 11pm on Thursday, September 11 after the 29-year-old victim had gone to the assistance of a shop owner who was chasing the two
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CLARETS: Cowans provides a little Cup cheer
Stoke 2 Burnley 0 CHRIS Waddle has turned to golden oldie Gordon Cowans to launch a Burnley revival, writes TONY DEWHURST. While the 39-year-old could not prevent Burnley's inevitable Coca-Cola Cup exit on their first ever visit to the Britannia Stadium
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New look for Earlestown
THE first scheme in a series of projects designed to take Earlestown into the next Millenium will start next month. The work, which will begin on Monday, October 13, will improve Earlestown town centre and provide a major new infrastructure for local
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Jobs safety bid by Euro MP
A CAMPAIGN to safeguard hundreds of Lancashire textile jobs has been launched by Euro MP Mark Hendrick. Employers in the county fear heavy job losses if the European Commission imposes 'anti-dumping' duties on unprocessed cotton fabric imported from Egypt
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Praying for a reprieve
SHERDLEY Park's Pets Corner could lose its popular birds of prey following the introduction of new legislation. The birds currently attract visitors from throughout the borough, but under new laws St Helens Council would have to apply for a zoo licence
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Final curtain set to fall
THE final curtain is set to fall on a ground-breaking dance troupe whose performances have touched the heartstrings of audiences throughout the world. St Helens International Special Needs Dance Company, whose members all suffer from Down's syndrome,
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Chemical spill brings traffic chaos
TWO police officers were taken to hospital today after a chemical spill on a busy road. The constables, who were first at the scene this morning on Whitebirk Road, Blackburn, were overcome by fumes from sodium bisulphate. PCs Mark Pilkington and Simon
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Bury MP welcomes jailing of "vile" magazine man
BURY South MP Ivan Lewis has welcomed the jailing of a man who published a "vile and evil" hate magazine. Mr Lewis has signalled his strong support for Judge Bathurst-Norman's decision to imprison Mark Atkinson. His magazine, "Stormer", preached violence
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Town bid for a £40m boost
A MULTI-MILLION pound action plan designed to take Blackburn into the new millennium has been unveiled. The £40 million scheme would bring new business and entertainment ventures to change the shape of the town. Town hall bosses and business leaders are
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Dillon: Prison attack
A MAN charged with the murder of five-year-old Blackburn schoolboy Dillon Hull has been attacked in jail by a knifeman. Paul William Seddon, 26, was slashed across the neck with a "home-made" knife by another prisoner at Manchester's Strangeways Prison
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Park earn their cup spot
West Park 25 Stockport 8 PARK booked their place in the next round of the NPI Cup with this hard-earned victory. A well-engineered try involving new prop Steve Mannion, scrum-half Ian Pearce fly-half Martin Strett and centre Carl Bibby and finished with
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School reunion planned
BILLINGE Chapel End Primary School will be holding a reunion for past pupils, staff and governors, on Thursday, September 25, between 3 and 5pm. It is being held as part of the school's 25th anniversary celebrations. Headteacher, Elizabeth Turton, said
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Brook miss the boat
Leigh East 26 Blackbrook 4 WHAT a game of missed opportunities this National Conference first division encounter was! Blackbrook in particular, failed to capitalise upon their first half territorial dominance by missing opportunities which would surely
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Pensioner robbed on way to bingo
A COWARDLY thief snatched an 83-year-old woman's handbag as she was on her way for a night out at bingo. The victim and her husband were walking along Shaw Street at about 6.45pm on Wednesday, September 10 when a tall, thin, young man wearing dark clothing
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Police call time on late-night rowdies
TIME'S UP for rowdy town centre boozers. And police are now looking to re-enlist the help of pub landlords in a bid to stamp-out late-night, anti-social behaviour. Leigh's top police officers are anxious not to be seen as 'kill-joys'. But Ch Insp Steve
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New commander takes over Bury police division
BURY'S new top ranking policeman officially accepted his post this week. Snr Supt Paul Blewitt replaces Mr Chris Wells who has moved to head the Salford division. After spending two years in Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) 'Y' department, which deals
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Special bus return reward
AN Atherton taxi firm is offering a £200 reward to anyone who can tell them the whereabouts of a specially adapted minibus which is used to take disabled children to school. The white, eight seater minibus, reg no E347 GRE, was stolen from a street close
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Town's cup battlers
St Helens Town 3 Ossett Town 1 (FA Vase 1st round) Great Harwood 1 St Helens Town 1 (FA Cup qualifier) THIS Saturday Town break new ground at senior level when the travel to Ramsbottom United for what will be the novelty of a league fixture having been
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Police quash closure rumours
MERSEYSIDE Police have denied there are any current plans to close Prescot police station as part of a major police review. Chief Inspector Paul Donnelly has written to both Prescot and Whiston town councils to allay fears that the station may be completely
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New group set to take off
THE Royal Air Forces Association is in the process of setting up a St Helens branch which will serve local members who may otherwise have had to travel to other towns for meetings. The branch have been running for two months and already have 30 members
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Fylde's glimpse of the past
THE Fylde went back in time on Saturday to take part in the National Heritage open day. Marsh Mill Village in Thornton and Blackpool Town Hall went back to their roots by showing the public some of the history connected with the buildings. Old-fashioned
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Snow-show chilly blast
IT was a case of 'snow-show' by local councillors and planning chiefs at a public meeting at Leigh Cricket Club on Monday night by residents opposed to the planned Xanadu ice complex. Now fed-up action committee members are to write to the Prime Minister
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Denis Whittle talks Rugby League with Saints' coach Shaun McRae
A VERY professional performance which meant a more convincing victory than the pundits expected. That was the opinion of Shaun McRae as he reflected on the Premiership conquest of Salford Reds. WHITTLE: More than one media source was tipping Salford,
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Anglers' theft ordeal
A GANG of youths terrorised three anglers and made off with a bike and fishing tackle with a combined value of about £250. The incident took place at about 9.30pm on Friday, September 12 near to the Hotties section of the St Helens Canal at the rear of
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On the buses!
BUSES from a bygone era will come out of the their depots to trundle along the two-boroughs' streets this weekend. Bus enthusiasts are taking vintage vehicles for a drive on Sunday (September 21). The BCN Society - the group which keeps alive the memory
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Public urged to 'shop' car thieves
POLICE are taking on car crime by appealing for tip-offs from the public. Officers from Lancashire Constabulary's intelligence unit say they are alarmed at the high level of vehicle thefts and break-ins they have to deal with. Car crime accounts for about
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Church to benefit from gorge walk
NEARLY 200 people will walk around the Cliviger Gorge on Saturday (September 20) in an attempt to raise £2,000 for a church's restoration fund. And though the 25-mile route could prove difficult for some, it is but a stroll for Eric Wrathall, who has
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Community centre plan axed
A PLAN to use a former warehouse as a community centre has been withdrawn by the owners of the premises. People living in the area around Netwon Street, Audley Range, Blackburn, say the building is being used by large numbers of people most weekends.
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CLARETS: Angry Waddle blasts referee
FURIOUS Chris Waddle fired a broadside at referee Andrew D'Urso following Burnley's Coca-Cola Cup exit at the hands of First Division Stoke City. Waddle was left fuming after Stoke went ahead following a bizarre drop ball incident awarded by the official
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'Top' burglar goes straight
BURNLEY'S number one burgler has volunteered to take part in a new crime-prevention scheme in a bid to kick drugs and prison. The Burnley man, in his mid-20s, is currently in jail after carrying out more than 200 break-ins in three years, including 100
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Waddle warns of cash crisis
CHRIS Waddle says he is short of the cash he needs to buy his way out of Burnley's early-season crisis. But the manager is determined not to buckle under the pressure, which grew after his side were thumped 4-0 by Stoke in the Coca-Cola Cup on Tuesday
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Takeshi jets in to watch his football heroes
JAPAN'S number one Rovers fan Takeshi Yamamoto is cutting short his holiday and flying half way round the world to watch his football heroes in action on Sunday. Takeshi holidayed in Mexico before flying to Washington but he is shortening his States trip
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Probe into attack on young dad
A MAN is unconscious in hospital with serious head injuries after he and his friend were attacked in Daneshouse in the early hours of Monday. Dean Watson is in a 'serious but stable' condition and Michael Royal is recovering at home from head and face
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Lions roar back
UGB Lions 14 Bamber Bridge 12 AFTER a slow start, UG bounced back to take the spoils in their first game of the season. Their lacklustre opening cost them dearly as Bamber Bridge opened up a 10-point lead. However, UG hit back with a fine try by Derek
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ROVERS: Injury crisis
ROY Hodgson is facing a crisis in the centre of defence. Stephane Henchoz had to be substituted during last night's draw at Leicester which left Blackburn Rovers holding onto third place in the Premiership and their unbeaten away record. The Swiss international
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£3m fitness centre for air base
A £3million new swimming pool and fitness centre is set for take-off at a South Fylde air base. British Aerospace's sports and social club hopes to win lottery cash in the new year for the Warton centre which will be open to the public. Planned to open
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Panthers pounce
Portico Panthers 34 Parr Hare & Hounds 28 A LAST-minute try gave Panthers victory in an end-to-end local derby leaving the luckless Hounds to reflect on missed goal kicks and a string of disputed refereeing decisions. Mike Hobin (2), A. Ranson (2)
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Citizen's player of month receives award
CITIZEN reporter Chris Kershaw presented super striker Jonathan Macken with the 1997/98 season's first Player of the Month award. The 19-year-old North End ace scooped the August trophy after being voted by the readers and was awarded it before the Walsall
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Police quash closure rumours
MERSEYSIDE Police have denied there are any current plans to close Prescot police station as part of a major police review. Chief Inspector Paul Donnelly has written to both Prescot and Whiston town councils to allay fears that the station may be completely
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Bingo manager shares his luck
BLACKPOOL bingo manager Mark Jones likes to share his luck and wherever he goes it seems bingo players benefit. Mark, 26, is assistant manager at the Mecca, Church Street, Blackpool, and since he started in March the club has had a string of big National
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Success for St Helens CC
A DEPLETED St Helens side defeated Birkenhead Park on Saturday. Put in to bat, the Wirral side struggled to 81 all out after being 46-9 in the face of fine bowling by Steve Jordan (4-9), Mark Wells and Bobby Kenny (2-15). Stumper and skipper Neil Woods
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Musical stars back scanner appeal
THERE'S a treat in store for music lovers at the end of this month - a concert of Gilbert and Sullivan favourites. Songs from the Savoy Operas make up the first half of a musical evening in aid of the MRI Scanner Appeal, with the remainder of the night
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Ahoppers clamour for Diana record
SHOPPERS at a Cleveleys store were so desperate to get their hands on copies of Elton John's tribute song for Princess Diana on Saturday (Sept 13) that police had to be called in to calm them down. John Menzies, on Victoria Road West, had just 50 copies
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Crackdown on illegal pavement signs
BLIND and disabled pedestrians are set to benefit from a crackdown on illegal pavement signs outside businesses. Launched this week by Lancashire County Council, it is supported by many organisations and charities and will make walking on many streets
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1,000 miles to see a dentist
FOR most youngsters a visit to the dentist could never be described as a holiday but that's just what a group of children from Chernobyl have come to the Fylde for. The 14-strong group are staying with host families in Thornton and Cleveleys and during
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LSH throw it away
Lydney 13Liverpool St Helens nil LSH will kick themselves for losing this game. If they had been able to put together any sort of game plan, they would have taken the points. But they lost possession at crucial moments, gave away and missed penalties.
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The look-good factor
ST ANNES councillors are urging Safeway to submit expansion plans which could see the town's prized Ashton Gardens refurbished and surrounding streets re-vamped. After a marathon five-hour meeting yesterday (Wednesday) with Safeway's planners, Fylde Council's
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Alarm saves man in blaze
A MAN suffered from smoke inhalation after an unattended chip pan went up in flames at a flat in Deepdale, Preston. But the tragedy could have been much worse if a fire alarm hadn't alerted a quick thinking neighbour who smashed down the door, allowing
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Yickers have the edge
Widnes St Maries 12 Haydock 14 HAYDOCK fought off a strong challenge from newly-promoted St Maries as they opened their league programme. They began brightly, with the wind at their backs, as Scott, Green and Bloor made good ground. But Maries took the
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New school boss pledge for future
CULCHETH High School has a new headteacher who intends to chalk up a continuing success story for his pupils and staff. Geoff Caton from St Helens took over the top job from Acting Headteacher Alan Parkinson who was himself appointed to take over the
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BLACKPOOL 1, COVENTRY 0
CAPTAIN courageous Dave Linighan rose above the Coventry defence to head in a 76th minute winner to give Blackpool a first leg advantage over the Premiership side. And Pool's skipper, who defied a persistent and painful ankle injury to play, is looking
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The day a star of India shone in town
TV CHIEFS are appealing to elderly Darwen folk to cast their minds back to when they played host to an unusual visitor. . . Mahatma Gandhi. The Indian legend visited Darwen in 1931 at the invitation of the Society of Friends - the Quakers - as part of
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Montserrat volcano refugees flee to East Lancs
REFUGEES forced to flee to East Lancashire from their paradise homes in the Caribbean have told how their island turned into a volcanic hell. The harrowing stories were revealed as representatives of the Montserrat families said thanks to the local people
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Acrylics staff scoop gold award
STAFF from ICI Acrylics at Darwen handed over nearly £3,000 to the East Lancashire SuperScan Appeal. The company donated the £2,000 prize money it received when it won joint first place in the 1997 ICI Global Safety Award. The award, run across the whole
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Diana tribute moves shoppers to tears
AN Elton John impersonator moved shoppers to tears when he performed Candle in the Wind on Preston Flag Market. The fund-raising show coincided with the release of the pop singer's tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, which caused a frenzy in record shops
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Traders need miracle to save town wardens
WORRIED members of Hyndburn's Chamber of Trade have spoken out about the threat to Accrington's pioneering safety wardens. President of the chamber, Susan Fox, told the Citizen: "We all hope to goodness that someone can find the money somewhere. We cannot
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Care kids moved
FIVE children housed in a controversial care home have been relocated after a problem with the home's registration. Lancashire Social Services removed the children who were being cared for at Homeside Care Limited's Moorland View premises in Dunnockshaw
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Top award for borough
HYNDBURN has scooped a major award for its attempts to curb crime throughout the borough. The award, presented to the Hyndburn Partnership at the The National Crime Prevention and Community Safety Awards, comes after the partnership beat off 200 entries
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Samantha back from a taste of Poland
SAMANTHA Ann Jones is back at school following a successful Guiding trip to Poland. The 16 year-old has just joined the Sixth Form at St Mary's High School. But while she was in Poland, Samantha (pictured) - a member of the 9th Tyldesley Guides - still
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ROVERS: Striker takes blame for costly error
Leicester 1 Rovers 1 IT was like an accident waiting to happen. Things have gone so well for Kevin Gallacher at one end of the field this season, something just had to give at the other - and it did, writes PETER WHITE. With Blackburn Rovers in command
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Police chief's hopes for traditional values
STEPHEN Westcott - the face of modern police management - has praised Leigh's traditional values for helping ease the local policeman's lot (writes Malcolm Ryding). Speaking on his last day as a chief inspector before transferring on promotion to superintendent
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From shelf stacker to shop manager
WHEN Councillor Daniel Gallagher voted for a shopping development as a member of Preston council last year, little did he know what surprises were in store. For less than 12 months later Coun Gallagher was manager of Poundstretcher - one of the site's
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Clapton clocked speeding on the M6
LEGENDARY rock star Eric Clapton lives life in the fast lane - now he's counting the cost of being caught speeding...in Leyland! The famous guitarist was stopped in his gleaming one-week old silver Ferrari 550 on the M6 southbound on his birthday, March
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DISAPPOINTED North End fans admitted after the match their Coca Cola Cup Wembley dreams were over -
5,000 Deepdale faithful - the official crowd was 22,564 - were right behind their team until the final whistle. With five minutes to go, and the scoreline at 5-0, they were still declaring they were going to win the match 6-5! North End boss Gary Peters
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Banned drivers
DRIVERS banned from driving at Preston magistrates from Sept 8-12 were: Richard Alston, 61, of Cambridge Court, Preston and Gary Davey, 38, of Blackpool Road, Ashton, were banned for three years. Kevin Barry, 25, of Glen Grove, Ribbleton, and John Bridges
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Mick's healing hands for PNE players
WHEN Mick Rathbone comes home from a long day at work he doesn't have time for hobbies - but when your job IS your hobby who cares! The 38-year-old North End physio, who once wanted to be a vet, has enjoyed football from his days as an apprentice at Birmingham
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Brave mum backs anti-drugs drive
THE mother of a teenager who tragically died from an overdose has backed a campaign to give children more information on the dangers of drugs. Lancashire Police solicitor Niamh Noone, who lost her 16-year-old son Gareth two years ago, spoke candidly at
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Robert's new era
A NEW ERA is about to begin for members of the Elim Pentecostal Church in Blackburn. For not only have they just got a new minister, they are also launching a youth recruitment drive and opening a new extension to their building. The Reverend Robert Clarke
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Record breaker!
ELTON JOHN'S re-worked 'Candle in the Wind 97' is breaking records all over the country - not least in the Blackburn factory where it is being made. The hit - which sold out across the country within hours of going on sale last week - has had the Polygram
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Arts group to launch health advice cards
IT'S good talk - that's the message from Preston Community Arts Project (Prescap) to people with learning disabilities. But it's not to encourage gossip or big telephone bills, the advice comes as a health tip for those who might not know what to do when
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Police "slow down" warning to drivers
BURY police are putting the brakes on speeding motorists. The police's tougher stand coincides with the hard-hitting national "Kill Your Speed," campaign which was launched this week. The aim is to make speeding socially unacceptable Insp John Sargeson
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Police slam do-it-yourself breathalysers
A PRESTON road safety chief has slammed a new personal breathalyser for putting unsuspecting drivers at risk. The gadget supplied by Manchester firm Grendonstar, is a do-it-yourself breathalyser for the morning after. Chief inspector Ian Bell has warned
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PNE boss Peters slams WAlsall tactics
PRESTON boss Gary Peters said: "It was a frustrating performance as they put ten men behind the ball and it was always difficult for us to break them down." He added that the Walsall manager had "apologised for the way they played but they had to do that
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Are there antiques in your attic?
BURY Rotary Club is delving into the fascinating world of antiques for its latest charity effort. And it has called in a top Sotheby's expert and TV personality to front the special event. David Battie, a regular on the popular TV antiques programme and
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Youngsters win first match in three years
DELIGHTED soccer-mad youngsters scored a new goal when they won their first football game of the season - and their first win in three years! Players from Leyland Junior Football Club's Under-14s side beat Southern League rivals Lostock Hall 4-3 on Sunday
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Threat to future of two old people's homes
TWO old folks' homes could be sold off and turned into very sheltered housing. Killelea House in Bury and Claremont in Prestwich have been singled out because the social services department is broke and cannot upgrade them. Elderly residents would not
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No crock of gold for North End
PRESTON NORTH END 0 WALSALL 0, Sep 13 THE rainbow which lit up the sky above Deepdale prior to the match didn't have a crock of gold at the end of it for Preston and by full time it had turned into a black cloud. Preston were expected to win, but they
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Firebugs put skids under model car club
A BURY model car club looks to have reached the end of the road after firebugs torched a £5,000 rostrum near its purpose-built track. And the devastating blaze is also likely to wreck the chances of the town hosting a major UK radio-controlled car champioship
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Danger trucks halted in safety swoop
A CRACKDOWN on lorries carrying dangerous substances was launched at dawn today. The "Chemcheck" exercise was a joint operation between the Health and Safety Executive and police in seven counties. In Lancashire, lorries carrying chemicals, explosives
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Bury hosts major casual labour conference
SACKED Mersyide dockers and a man dismissed for trying to form a union will spearhead a major conference on casual and agency labour this weekend. The event, being staged tomorrow (Sat Sept 20) is being organised by Bury, Radcliffe and District Trades
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MP's 'regrets' over events
MP David Mellor spoke in the Commons about his "regrets" over events which led him to resign as National Heritage Secretary. In a personal statement, Mr Mellor told a packed and silent House that he was the author of his "own misfortunes". But he said
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Hospice looks to future expansion
BURY Hospice has seen another year of progress and change In his annual report, presented to the annual general meting on Tuesday (Sept 16), chairman Mr Colin Caffrey said that from March 1996 to March 1997 the Hospice cared for 106 residential patients
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Clean-up call
WHEN is Blackburn with Darwen Council going to pay a decent wage to someone to clean up Darwen Street? On Sunday morning I went there to meet a friend. The litter bins were overflowing and chips, pizzas, etc, were on the ground. Soon, the shops and offices
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Area a ghetto
CONCERNING Sam Spence's remarks (Letters, September 15), I live in the same area of Blackburn and over the past two to three years it has become like a ghetto. I have relatives due to visit from Australia and I dread to think what they will think about
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Ted's the poor man
I NOTICED that media tycoon Ted Turner has given one billion dollars to the poor on a whim, while he has said that Christianity is 'for losers'. Clearly, one of God's thoughts got through to him, but then Christianity is about love of God and people,
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Beer money jibe sheer hypocrisy
NICE work, says John Blunt (LET, September 17), talking about former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke landing a plum £120,000 a year boardroom job. He refers to this job of two days a week as earning "a bit of beer money". On the same page, however, he says
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Cub hunt cruelty
WHILE foxhunting has featured prominently in the news in recent months, I wonder how many are aware of the existence of cubhunting, which begins this month? Each year, hunts shoot hounds which have reached the age of five or six, as they are considered
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Five cows killed by train
RAIL chiefs have launched an investigation after five cows were struck by a train and killed on the Ribble Valley rail line between Ramsgreave and Langho stations. Mystery surrounds how the cows got on the line and where they came from, a spokesman for
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Prostitution - a man's world
IN response to Mr J Pilkington advocating that prostitutes should be helped rather than hounded (Letters, September 19), while I agreed entirely in principle, I feel it necessary to expose some of the underlying values inherent in his argument. Firstly
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Our town is like the Wild West, say residents
LATE-NIGHT revellers urinating through letter boxes and smashing windows are making Clitheroe like a Wild West town at night, a public meeting was told. The late-night drinking problems are being caused because the town centre has some of the most popular
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Conman preys on vulnerable OAP
A MAN conned his way into the home of a vulnerable old woman and made off with her savings. The thief called at the 87-year-old victim's house in Link Avenue, Blackbrook, at about 1.30pm on Tuesday, September 9, asking if she knew the person who used
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Moves to form new equality council
TALKS are being held to investigate the possibility of setting up a Racial Equality "super council" for East Lancashire to cover Burnley, Pendle, Hyndburn, Rossendale and the Ribble Valley. It stems from the decision six months ago to withdraw funding
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Double joy for Westleigh
WESTLEIGH CC are celebrating an unprecedented double. The first team clinched the North West Counties Cricket League crown on Saturday - just one week after the second team tied up the Second Division title. For the seniors it was a marvellous step-up
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Jon's charity mission
A ST HELENS police officer is organising a special fund-raising event for a charity that is close to his heart. Detective Inspector Jon Dawson, head of Child Protection and Domestic Violence for the St Helens area, is organising a Last Night of the Proms
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Dim's full of vim
GREG DIMERY marched to a super century at the weekend. The Leigh opener was in majestic form with both bat and ball as the team swept to an emphatic nine-wicket win at Marchwiel. First he put the brakes on the home batsmen, his spin attack claiming 3-
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Cryer cracker lifts RMI
LEE CRYER has put Leigh RMI on the road to Wembley. He took just seven minutes to score his first senior goal for his new club to earn them a place in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup. The former Atherton LR striker, signed in the summer, was
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Weary Leigh fade away
FOR patched-up and battle-weary Leigh it was a half too far. In just 16 second-half minutes their dreams of Old Trafford were shattered as impressive Whitehaven raced into a match-winning lead. Leigh had given it everything in the first half and trailed
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Michelle's a star trekker
CHARITY champion Michelle Harrison is going from one extreme to the other in her tireless quest to raise money for local worthy causes. Earlier this year, beat bobby Michelle walked a gruelling 100km across Israel in sweltering conditions to raise more
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Marsh venue for millenium fair
LOCAL environmental groups are staging the Blackbrook Millennium Green Fair to raise awareness of the forthcoming Millennium Project soon to be established in the area. The fair will be held on Merton Bank Marsh between 11am and 4pm on Saturday, September
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Town centre revamp
ENVIRONMENTAL works which are set to transform St Helens town centre will start on Monday, September 29, and will bring major improvements to Ormskirk Street, Bridge Street, Brook Street and Milk Street. The work is the first phase of a massive council
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Bury pupils top of the UK class
PRAISE has been heaped on Bury school pupils who have again led the nation with their excellent GCSE results. At a Bury Council education committee meeting on Wednesday (Sept 17), councillors discussed the examination grades which have been achieved in
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Double success for Recs
OWENS Corning St Helens Recs first and second elevens enjoyed victory over Huyton at the weekend. The firsts at Huyton elected to field first on a damp Huyton Lane wicket. Scott Williams could, and should, have had immediate success but saw chances dropped
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Tougher action is needed for teenage boozers
AT LONG last the police have the powers to sort out the teenage thugs who linger on our street corners. I'm talking about the annoying drunks who plague the town centres of this great nation of ours. Finally, if the police spot any one under the age of
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Illegal scramblers get on their bikes
A NEW scheme to tackle illegal scramblers in Ramsbottom and Tottington has been hailed a success by police. Since the presence of the Greater Manchester Police Force's off-road unit in Ramsbottom, complaints regarding illegal bikers have fallen. Whittingham
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Vital success for Sutton
SUTTON collected a vital win against Cheshire Lines in their battle for the First Division status next season. Lines batted first on a damp New Street track and looked set for a good total at 62-3. But a magnificent spell of swing bowling by Steve Brimelow
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Police probe widow's distressing "invitation"
AN 88-year-old Whitefield widow was distressed to receive a letter inviting her to wife swapping parties. And the police became involved when the equally distressed couple, whose address was on the letter, began receiving replies. Now Whitefield police
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Derby joy for Pilks
Thatto Heath 18 Pilkington Recs 19 A DROP goal by Recs' Barla youth international tourist Nick Camman ensured the City Road side to the spoils in this derby encounter. Earlier scrum-half Ste Gauchwin has given Recs a good start with a penalty goal. But
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Firebugs could be "framed" by video
ARSONISTS who caused £200,000 of damage to a local firm were caught in the act by security cameras. They struck at the tube and plumbing suppliers Ashworth Frazer on Sunday (Sept 14) afternoon. The alarm was raised at 3pm when a resident saw smoke billowing
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Homes acquired in £23m deal
TWO Leigh nursing homes are included in 14 to change hands in a £23 million deal. The Eton Hall Nursing Homes group - Richmond House nursing home in Mitchell Street, Leigh and the Mayfair House Nursing Home in Nel Pan Lane, Westleigh, Leigh - has been
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Council's bloomin' good show
BURY'S determination to blossom and bloom has been rewarded. A special "Certificate of Merit " has been presented to the borough by the Tidy Britain Group as part of this year's North West in Bloom competition. Judges decided that the area deserved applause
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Cables' power surge
Nantwich Town 0 Prescot Cables 4 Report by Bert Taylor ELECTRIFYING Cables surged to victory at blustery Nantwich. The game had hardly started when the hosts were a goal down. Back to his industrious true form, Peter Cumiskey started the move by winning
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'Road rage' appeal
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a suspected 'road rage' attack. The incident took place at about 1.50pm on Saturday, September 6, in Blackbrook Road. A teenage motorist was driving along when, without warning, another car suddenly pulled out of
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Plans go in for M55 services
FYLDE may be set to get its long-awaited service station with a proposed site on the M55. Up to 150 permanent jobs would be created if planning permission is granted. An outline planning application has been lodged by Hallam Land Management with Fylde
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Golborne no more 'soft option' for thieves
CLOSED circuit TV cameras could be watching over the comings and goings of Golborne town centre before Christmas. Businesses in the town have backed a scheme which would put them in the picture in their attempt to stamp out crime. Local firms have been
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Brett arrives as Andy goes
SAINTS' took the first major team-building step for next season in signing Sydney-born pack star Brett Goldspink from Oldham on Wednesday. No transfer fee was involved with the player being a free agent, and Saints have leased Brett from the Australian
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Fanta-stic day by the sea
STUNNING New York supermodel Janina Davis flew in to Blackpool to perform the Fanta-stic switch-on ceremony of Blackpool Tower Illuminations from North Pier. Janina, hailed as the hottest model of '97, spent a wet and windy day in Blackpool being whipped
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Saints close in on Premiership crown
REPORT by Denis Whittle Saints 26 Salford Reds 12 PREMIERSHIP Final glory is now just 80 minutes away for Saints, and omens for ultimate triumph are bright indeed following this wholly convincing quarter-final victory in monsoon conditions at Knowsley
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Shipmates ahoy!
A ONCE-thriving organisation with maritime connections has sent out an urgent SOS signal to former matelots to help keep their ship afloat. For the Royal Naval Association Club, Volunteer Street - a friendly port-of-call to countless sea-dogs over the
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Top nursing award for pioneer Mike
A NEWTON nurse has received a top prize for his innovative work with schizophrenics during a special ceremony at London's Dorchester Hotel attended by more than 300 honorary guests. Father-of-four Mike Smith, a psychiatric nurse who works part-time at
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Meter battle goes to High Court
THE fight to stop controversial pre-payment meters being installed at homes in Burnley and Pendle goes to the High Court in London on November 24. Lancashire County Council is challenging the decision by water watchdog Ofwat not to ban North West Water
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Ladies first in jobs market
WOMEN now outnumber men in Burnley's workplaces - but often they are in low-paid jobs. With 18,400 females among the borough's 36,100 workers, Burnley has the fourth highest proportion of women workers in the North West. And because women are more likely
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Owzat? Nelson could be cricket capital
NELSON will earn a place on the national sporting stage if a school's plans to build a cricketing centre of excellence succeed. Test match stars of the future could soon be honing their skills at a state-of-the-art coaching centre at Edge End High School
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Royal honour for crime fighters
CRIMEBUSTERS in Burnley have received a royal reward for making communities safer and turning young people and persistent offenders away from law-breaking. HRH the Princess Royal presented borough representatives with a certificate at a ceremony in London
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Brake now! Police warn speeders
TRAFFIC police in Burnley and Pendle are backing a hard-hitting campaign aimed at drivers who put lives at risk by speeding. Officers say the government's £3.5 million worth of TV and radio publicity is needed to change motorists' behaviour. Commercials
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Beauty tips from mother of ten
A GLAMOROUS model and mother of ten is coming Blackpool on Sunday to share her top beauty secrets. Annette Edwards, 46, whose children range from two to 28 and is now a grandmother, has modelled for Coca Cola and Adidas and is currently Nivea's advertising
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Late delivery sinks Crusaders
Royal Mail 24 St Helens Crusaders 18 A LATE try crushed Crusaders' victory hopes. They found it an uphill struggle after going behind to a 10th minute try. However, they hit back with a touchdown from man-of-the-match Whitrow, who grabbed a second later
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Dome crane set to give Millennium a giant lift
A CRANE firm is getting set for the job of the century. GWS, based at Great Harwood, is supplying four special cranes as part of the huge construction project to build the Millennium Dome in the capital. A 500-tonne mobile crane has been used to lift
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Blackpool memorial sevice for Princess
POEMS, songs and tributes flowed in honour of Princess Diana at a Blackpool memorial service on Sunday. At the service in St John's Parish Church, in the town centre, schoolchildren led prayers and recited their own poems on the theme of A Time to Remember
