Archive
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Today's the day!
A look back at events in history on December 3 with Mike Badham. 1533: Ivan the Terrible was crowned Prince of Russia at the age of three. His father Vassily was sick with gangrene in the leg, and moved to secure the throne for his son. 1745: John Toler
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It's all in the family
KERRI GASKELL is a Rising star in the sport of karate. The 13-year-old Mornington High student has just been awarded her black belt in the charge of instructor Darren Strong at the Rising Sun club. And now her proud father, Leslie, is following in his
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'People's choice' on new homes
A REFERENDUM to give people their say on where new homes should be built in a Pendle town will be held early next year. The 'people's choice' of possible housing sites in Barnoldswick will be put forward during an exhibition in the town as part of a move
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Roadshow will be main attraction
HOUSEHOLDERS in Blackburn will get better quality water thanks to a £3 million scheme to replace old water mains. North West Water has started work replacing 25 km of pipes in the Queen's Park and Audley areas of Blackburn as part of a £525 million investment
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Ashes tribute to chairman
THE chairman of a football club is to have his ashes scattered on its pitches. Roy Tomlinson, known as 'Big Roy,' had given 20 years of dedicated service to Feniscowles Football Club and his wife, Barbara, suggested the idea as a fitting tribute. Mr Tomlinson
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A score with local firms
PRESTON Grasshoppers had double cause to celebrate last Saturday week. Not only did they win convincingly at home against Bracknell 27-15 to take fourth place in the Jewson League 1, they also celebrated the sponsorship of their new electronic scoreboard
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Curbishley drops big hint
CHARLTON boss Alan Curbishley has dropped another broad hint that he is interested in the vacant manager's job at Blackburn Rovers. As we revealed on Wednesday, Curbishley kept his name firmly in the frame after refusing to dismiss talk of a move to Ewood
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Bumpy road ahead for haulage firm
A BURY haulage company could come to the end of the road because of a massive £130,000 unpaid bill. The future of 110-year-old Smith's of Bury is in jeopardy after administrators were called in to a major customer, Bolton paper machine makers Beloit Walmsley
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Hoppers safe in fourth
HOPPERS consolidated their fourth position in Jewson National League One, defeating Fylde 29-14. A first half that was best forgotten ended even with Martin Emmett twice kicking simple penalties to put Hoppers in front and Nick Booth responding in kind
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Black cat clue to big trip
THE 75-year-old 'black cat' china cup treasured by reader A. Ashton of Moore Drive, Haydock, completes the missing link in an earlier nostalgia piece which appeared on this page. Annie Parker, now 88 and living at Bernard Wood Court, Birchley, retains
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Horton's a Parkes fan
Division One: Port Vale v Blackburn Rovers - Neil Bramwell's preview BLACKBURN Rovers play Port Vale for the first time this season tomorrow. Some would argue that Rovers entertained Brian Horton's men in a frustrating 0-0 draw on the opening day of the
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Events in East/Central Lancashire on Saturday, December 4th
Christmas Fair, Benjamin Hargreaves School, Accrington. Choral Evensong, Blackburn Cathedral, 3.30pm. Christmas Fair, St Judes Church, Accrington Road, Blackburn, 11am. The Illegal Eagles, Guild Hall, Preston, 8pm. Christmas Fair, Chatburn School Hall
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Life is better than that
WHAT can I say after reading the letter headed 'Cruel World' (November 18) but poor Mrs Feeney! The lady seems to be at odds with everyone and everything, not to mention the massive chip on her shoulder which she is having to carry around. There was no
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The fine art of fence sitting
ON Thursday last, the City's Regeneration Sub-Committee met to consider giving the go ahead to the proposed new bus station. The Director of Community Services pressed for an early decision - so that she could guarantee work would be complete by Christmas
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In 'hopping mad' times
DAYS of the famous Tanner Hop are revived by readers Ted and Marie Nelson who have kindly accepted my earlier invitation to take a waltz down Memory Lane. The toe-tapping partnership well remember gliding along the floor of SS Peter and Paul parish hall
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Reply to pagan parent
MAY I reply once more to the 'Pagan Parent'? For the sake of a good debate I would argue that there is a connection between parenthood and Christianity being taught in schools. No child lives in a spiritual/political/ethical vacuum. Pagan Parent originally
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Overnight storm wreaks havoc
HIGH winds, heavy rain and hailstones brought chaos to East Lancashire today after a stormy night across the county. In Buckholes Lane, Brinscall, one person was taken to hospital after part of a tree fell on to an L-registered Rover and brought down
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Workers go south and take skills with them
THE drift of people from North to South should be cut to curb the loss of skills, jobs and investment, claims The Council for the Protection of Rural England. This was the key message presented by Tony Burton, the Council's assistant director, when he
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Wedding certificate's a piece of paper
I WOULD like to reply to Mrs Thompson's letter 'A Matter of Faith' (October 21). I openly admit this lady has some knowledge of widely differing world religions. According to the Bible, the Jeromic version on which today's Christian values are preached
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We are entitled to some answers
CLLR Jon Barry obviously needs no help in dealing with the nonsensical attacks by Cllr Ian Barker on the subject of the recent council decision to advertise the Chief Executive's post (currently filled on a temporary basis). Cllr Barry's recent letters
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Mayor should pay her own fine
I READ your front page article in this week's Citizen about the Mayor of Lancaster who seems to accept parking fines as an 'occupational hazard'. My first thoughts were that 'it happens to the best of us' and that she should take it on the chin and pay
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Happy to queue for once
I AM not often pleased to be in a long queue but I was on Friday when 150 attended the blood donor session at Ramsbottom Civic Hall. It was heartening to see so many people waiting patiently to make their contribution to raising stocks ready for the demand
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Head's refreshing honesty
AS the headteacher of a successful comprehensive high school, it was refreshing to read the comments of Miss Caroline Thompson, headmistress of Bury Grammar School for Girls, concerning the GCSE Performance Tables (Nov 26). She is entitled to be delighted
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Meet Harry - he's bionic!
MEET Harry - he might look like a purr-fect little kitten, but, in actual fact, he is an 11-month old Tom who is about to become the area's first bionic moggie! As a rescue cat of the Bamber Bridge-based charity Cats in Crisis, young Harry is regarded
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Stations shut for Millennium
TYLDESLEY, Atherton and Hindley police stations will be closed over the Millennium Weekend. The public counters will shut on Friday, Dec 31, Saturday, January 1 and Sunday, January 2. Tyldesley and Atherton will also be closed on Monday, January 3 but
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Memories take us into 2000
LOOK forward to the first year of the 21st century and take a peek back at the same time with Leigh's own Millennium calendar. Leigh Business Partnership and Wigan Council teamed-up with Atherton printers Murbros to produce a calendar featuring Leigh
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Beware the floating menace
AN ALIEN plant could be killing Preston's pond life! That's the chilling warning from the Environment Agency which is urging local people to keep an eye out for the Floating Pennywort. The weed is sweeping the North West and has been recently sightws
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Mum's 'rape deal' fight
A LEIGH mum is fighting 'a gross miscarriage of justice' after her 13-year-old daughter's alleged rapist walked free from court. Now she has written to Leigh MP Lawrence Cunliffe and called in Leigh solicitor Bob Toppin to help her find out why, after
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You should apologise!
THE fact that Bury Social Services department has been named in both the national and local press as one of the worst in the country, should make council leaders feel ashamed, especially because it follows a recent inspection report which should have
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A safe bet!
I FIND it totally crass - but typical of Bury Metro and its councillors - that they will provide a state-of-the-art puffin pedestrian crossing to serve a betting shop and off-licence on Ainsworth Road, Radcliffe, yet refuse to upgrade the dangerous zebra
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It's a Christmas cracker
HERE is a cracking Christmas gift idea for the loved one in your life - a present they will treasure for years to come. With the festive season in full swing, people are pouring into all the high street stores, making a mad dash for expensive gifts for
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Pensioners walk of fear
ELDERLY folk living on a Preston estate say they are being intimidated by youths, who are even following them home from the post office after collecting their pensions. The pensioners, from the Larches estate, say the thugs are also subjected to verbal
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Social Services 'failed my family'
YET again, we read in the Bury Times (Nov 26) that Bury Social Services has been condemned by one or other supervisory body. In recent years, this incompetent shambles has been repeatedly criticised in the strongest possible terms by the Audit Commission
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Readers' Recollections: Village of a bygone era
FOR centuries the ancient village of Broughton was a local farming community. The parish straddles the A6 from Preston to Lancaster and is graced with several fine houses and buildings. In 1833 Preston solicitor JWR Wilson built New Bank Hall on the west
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FOOTBALL: Cup rehearsal for North End
PRESTON North End open their mini-series with near neighbours Oldham Athletic tomorrow hoping to stake a claim for the outright leadership of Division Two. But manager David Moyes has warned his players not to underestimate the Latics in what is a dress
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FOOTBALL: Wanderers face injury pile-up
SAM Allardyce is praying Jimmy Phillips can help him solve a massive selection headache ahead of Bolton's home clash against Tranmere tomorrow. Phillips only returned to training yesterday after tweaking his hamstring against Fulham last week. But with
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FIVE YEARS AGO: Power Rangers mania
THE boss of a chain store selling Power Ranger toy figures at two-and-a-half times the normal price rejected claims that he was exploiting the public. Demand was so great that parents were prepared to pay almost anything to get their hands on them. Just
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FOOTBALL: New era starts at Gigg Lane
NEIL Warnock's turbulent reign at Gigg Lane has finally ended, and senior players Andy Preece and Steve Redmond, who have been running the reserves this season, are in charge for the next two games. But team selection for the trip to Gillingham will not
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TEN YEARS AGO: Acid House riot
ACID House revellers pelted police with bricks and bottles and set a police car ablaze in a midnight riot. At the height of the violence, police officers in riot gear were set upon with metal bars, fire extinguishers, bricks and bottles as they tried
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Warning against making a quick Christmas buck
A LEYLAND woman has sent out a warning to all would be homeworkers looking for extra Christmas cash: "Don't be conned like I was." Lisa Gilbey sent £35 to a Chesterfield-based firm, Classic Marketing who were offering to pay staff £50 for every 100 envelopes
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Boards display killer bug message
A PRESTON college is spreading the word about meningitis the old-fashioned way - by making two students wear sandwich boards. The unusual campaign kicks off tomorrow (Friday) and involves two 'lucky' students parading around Preston College's St Vincents
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JUNIOR SOCCER: Barrowford Celtic 4 Darwen Boys 5
BARROWFORD Celtic started the game like a team possessed and were 3-0 up after 15 minutes. Darwen pulled a goal back through Anthony Mills, only to concede another soft goal to go in 4-1 down at half time. Darwen started the second half like their lives
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Damages of £35,000 claimed
PRESTON mother-of-two Alison Worsley who almost died from toxic shock syndrome, has launched a test case High Court claim for damages from the makers of Tampax. The 34-year-old schoolteacher, from St Mary's Close, Walton-le-Dale, claims there were insufficient
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JUNIOR SOCCER: Saints six-hits
ST JOSEPH'S Under 13s had a convincing 6-2 win over Whitworth Valley Wanderers at Wilsons on Saturday. The Saints opened the scoring early in the game with Rob Trotter finishing neatly from close range. Whitworth equalised soon after, courtesy of some
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MILLENNIUM: Queen Mum's centuries span
THANK you for printing my views on the date of the millennium (Letters, November 26). You will now know that the year 1900 was indeed the last year of its own 19th century. An interesting point here arises. If Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother joins us
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NON-LEAGUE SOCCER: Team news
ACCRINGTON STANLEY boss John Coleman is urging his players to put the disappointments of midweek behind them as they prepare for a trip to Belper Town tomorrow. The Reds crashed out of the FA Umbro Trophy on Tuesday night following a shock 1-0 defeat
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Last-gasp winner
FYLDE U15s 15 PRESTON 12 A LAST-GASP penalty kick by Harry Gregory swung a thrilling match in Fylde's favour in this friendly rugby game at Lightfoot Lane on Sunday (Nov 28). Gregory's boot also gave the visitors some compensation for Fylde's defeat in
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MILLENNIUM: Then again, who cares?
THE fervency (and long windedness) of the anti-millennium brigade is quite amusing. There never was 1AD or 19AD or 234AD or even 500AD. The day and year of Christ's birth has always been a matter of guesswork and every year we celebrate his birthday on
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Their art is up in lights
FORGET the kitchen wall - four classroom works of art from lucky youngsters are on display as part of Blackpool's Christmas and Millennium Lights. Drawings by primary school classmates Aimee Partington, Hayley Wolley, Stephanie Byrne and Catherine Iredale
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Dedicated follower of football
A WOMAN in a man's world - that's the sentiment from Seasiders company secretary Carol Banks who has been with the club for five years. Carol, a dedicated follower of football since her parents took her watch Wigan Athletic from the age of three months
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Hockey round-up
LYTHAM ST ANNES 1ST XI 4 ALDERLEY EDGE 0 PLAYING on the Ansdell Arena, LSA returned to their winning ways to put them back amongst the league leaders. An inch perfect pass from Peter Dodds found Dave Robbins on the circles edge who coolly slotted the
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Sarah heads for the top
YOUNG Sarah Halsall is heading for a bright future . . . For the North West's talent scouts have earmarked her as a potential star of the futre in women's football. Sarah, aged 13, from Billinge has been selected to attend the Blackburn Centre of Excellence
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Robbers raid toys 'grotto'
BLACKPOOL businesses are being urged to improve their security in the run-up to Christmas after a break-in at a toy warehouse. Thousands of pounds worth of toys were stolen from the David Halsall Toys warehouse on the Squires Gate Industrial Estate, Blackpool
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Spend cash on keeping us all safe
LEIGH Magistrates' Court is surely part of the law and order system, so, with its closure, may I ask what was its contribution to cutting crime figures in Leigh? Older people are increasingly afraid even in their own homes, with good reason. We are also
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Finch spring shock
Haresfinch 18 Widnes Albion 14 FINCH put their indifferent league form behind them to notch a notable success in this North West Counties Challenge Cup clash. The Division Two strugglers produced a fine team effort to deservedly overcome an Albion side
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Moore misery for Ruskin
Ruskin Park 5 Moore 39 FOR the second week in succession, Ruskin suffered a heavy defeat, this time at the hands of ay fine Moore XV, whose three-quarter line is easily the best in the league. But a least this week, the side played with spirit, and competed
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Tunnel raiders in bank terror
TWO women bank workers were tied up by raiders who escaped with a large amount of cash after tunnelling into the building and lying in wait. At least two raiders struck after staff at Barclays Bank branch in Colne Road, Burnley, turned up for work just
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Local lads power ahead
LOCAL lads Andrew Dugdale and Steve Head powered their way to glory when they won the RSC rally at the weekend. But speaking to the Citizen afterwards Andrew wasn't getting too carried away about the glory of it all. Instead all he could think about was
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Little stars raise a lot
WHAT little troupers! The boys and girls of the Tiptoes Theatre Group wowed audiences at their spectacular variety show in aid of the Macmillan Windmill Appeal. The Stars Into The Millennium show, which had audiences dancing in the aisles at Fleetwood's
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Cash return on Kingsway
THE £40 million 'jewel in the crown' redevelopment of Lancaster's derelict Kingsway site has lost its sparkle after the developers asked for most of their deposit back. Chelvertons, who won the bid to redevelop the former Kingsway swimming baths and bus
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Hesketh's Christmas message of joy
LANCASTER City manager Tony Hesketh talks directly to the fans this week about his hopes for his side during the crucial Christmas period: 'We are still very well placed in the league - just three points behind leaders Hyde United. If we could pick up
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Fans are treated to a cup cracker
Thatto Heath 18 Haydock 6 THE 300 or so hardy fans, who braved the elements for this midweek Whitbread Cup tie at Blackbrook were treated to a real cracker. On a pitch already saturated before the start and made even worse by continuous rain during the
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Ja-maic-a? No it was a surprise
LUCKY Fylde Coast winner Beverley Shackleton will be jetting from Cleveleys to the Caribbean after scooping first prize in a national competition. Beverley, from Stork Close, entered the national competition at Contessa lingerie store, Thornton, after
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Benefits backlog threatens Christmas chaos
HARD UP local residents will have to wait until the next century before the council gets round to looking at their benefit claims. The current backlog of benefit enquiries stands at 9,997 and it is not expected to level out until March 2000. Town hall
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Routine job for Blues
Lancaster City 3 Corby Town 0A DIFFICULT trip to Leigh or Worskop faces City after they routinely despatched Corby out of the FA Trophy. Two more goals from Chris Ward and a Kevin Barnes strike ensured Lancaster have at least equalled their best ever
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Heath on fire
Thatto Heath Crusaders 24 Widnes St Maries 14 (after extra-time) Lancashire Cup semi-final PLAYING their third game in seven days, this could easily have been a game too far for Heath. Instead they found themselves in a tie that would have graced the
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LSH in the wars
Kendal 64 Liverpool St Helens 5 LSH were somewhat unfortunate to meet a well-organised and disciplined Kendal team that played at the top level of their ability. The visitors are currently suffering an injury crisis and with a small squad they were forced
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Priceless points
BLACKPOOL won only their second home league game of the season in a tense relegation six-pointer at Bloomfield Road on Saturday (Nov 27), beating Cambridge United 2-1. And visiting manager Roy Macfarland paid the Tangerines the most ungracious of comments
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Lifeboat station in line for award
BLACKPOOL'S impressive lifeboat station could trawl in a national award. The one-year-old station is a possible entrant for a Millennium award to be presented by Prince Charles. That's the message following a visit by the president of the Royal Institute
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Dunnes' delight
DUNNES Rovers served up a shock in the St Helens McDonald's JOL. The under 16s outfit beat league leaders St Annes 4-1. At under 14s level Oak enjoyed a fine 5-3 victory over Blackbrook. RESULTS Under 16s: Whiston 7 Basildon 2, Blackbrook 4 Moorfields
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Carnival cash flows
A HELP and advice centre for local people has received a boost from this year's St Annes Charity Carnival. The Face to Face charity, which runs a drop-in centre and advice shop in the town, is among four local causes to benefit from the proceeds of the
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Rethink on bus station
PLANS to build a £1.5m new bus station in Lancaster could be shelved. Councillors from the Independent Group have requested officers to consider building satellite bus bays in the city rather than a central bus station. The satellite bays would cost a
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Sidac have the edge . . .
SIDAC edged home by the odd goal in five in a tight game against Bleak Hill Rovers in the under 15s section of the Rainhill Junior League. RESULTS Saturday Under 10s mini soccer: Captains Lane Celtic 4 Rocket Celtic 2, Lane Ends Athletic 0 Captains Lane
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Searching for Reverend Tony Ainsley
I HAVE hunted high and low without success for all Anglican churches in Blackpool as I am looking for a friend whose name is Reverend Tony Ainsley and his wife is a singer by the name of Serena. I woul be grateful if any readers could help me with his
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A jumbo-sized salvage job
BLACKPOOL Zoo has come to the rescue of two homeless Asian elephants. The Zoo responded to an urgent call for help from owners of the Berlin Circus Union in Germany following the closure of the Big Top. A special trailer was dispatched to the circus'
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Spy list in circulatrng in city
A TOP SECRET list of alleged MI6 spies has been widely circulated around Lancaster. The list of agents names and periods of service is thought to have been compiled by disgraced MI6 officer, Richard Tomlinson, who has fled the country. The Foreign Office
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Town count cost of missed chances
Mossley 3 St Helens Town 2 IN the realm of the First North Western Trains League challenge cup, an away tie at Mossley is just about as hard as it gets. So Town had to be fully focussed and indeed they were. But, individual errors cost them dear and they
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VAT on new housing
THE Government's plan to levy VAT on new housing has attracted controversy. Marc Adams of the Housebuilders' Federation was quoted, on October 21, as saying this would "damage the housing market across the board". Although billed as a move to protect
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Tragic loss
FORMER Sutton Cricket Club captain David Hodgson, of Chestnut Grove, Haydock, died suddenly in Whiston Hospital on Monday night at the age of 52. He had been suffering from leukaemia. Funeral arrangements were being finalised as the Star went to press
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UFO'S spotted in Lytham
VISITORS to a UFO conference will this weekend be treated to a new amazing explanation for airborne phenomena - that some of the "craft" could actually be living creatures. The conference in Lytham promises to be the biggest in Britain this year with
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Attacks highlight need for crackdown
IN the week that the area's police officially announced special measures to combat violent crime there were three serious beatings. One youth is seriously ill in hospital and two others were seriously hurt in separate attacks - one was attacked with a
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Crucial date for Town
ST HELENS Town are to hold an important share-holders meeting on Sunday, December 19. The subject is "The future of St Helens Town AFC." It begins in the club lounge at 120.15am and there will be no admittance after 10.45am, when the doors will be locked
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Hockey hitmen
A DISPLAY full of flair and style saw St Helens Hockey Club inflict a 13-2 defeat on Blackburn. The pick of the goals came from Paul Horton, who played his way in from halfway with a series of one-twos with skipper Phil Travis. Other scorers were Travis
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Pauline's a real first
PAULINE Taylor from Thatto Heath is the first person to sign up with St Helens Chamber for an Individual Learning Account. The mother-of-two signed up for an account to help with the cost of an Association of Accounting Technicians module - equivalent
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The big switch-on
THE Christmas lights will tomorrow, December 4, be switched on in Radcliffe and the town's Traders' Association says it will be bigger, brighter and better than ever . The Mayor and Mayoress of Bury, Councillor John Costello and his wife Anne, will be
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Dream coming true with £2.3m project
WORK will soon start on the refurbishment of Astley's historic Dam House. The old manor house, a Grade Two Listed Building, will be the focal point of a £2.3 million community project which has Lottery backing. Here members of Morts Astley Heritage Trust
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Curbishley drops big hint to Rovers
CHARLTON boss Alan Curbishley has dropped another broad hint that he is interested in the vacant manager's job at Blackburn Rovers. As we revealed on Wednesday, Curbishley kept his name firmly in the frame after refusing to dismiss talk of a move to Ewood
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Pouring money down the drain
NORTH West Water is poised to start work on a £1.8 million scheme to refurbish water mains in Sutton. More than 21 kilometres of old mains are to be replaced in the area. To inform customers about the works, North West Water's mobile visitors centre is
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Bury FC: Supporters have their say
BURY fans wished him a not-so-fond farewell and Sheffield United's supporters won't exactly be rolling out the red carpet for Neil Warnock. Cheering Shakers supporters phoned the Bury Times once the news that Warnock had gone broke yesterday morning.
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Supermarket up for sale
TYLDESLEY'S biggest store is up for sale. Supermarket giants Somerfield this week confirmed the Shuttle Street superstore is among those on offer in a multi-million pound sell-off. A Somerfield spokesman said: "We have had lots of interest. It will appeal
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Clarets warning over Wycombe
BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent believes his side will face a different Wycombe team tomorrow compared to the one they came up against on the opening day of the season. An Andy Cooke goal earned the Clarets a 1-1 draw at Adams Park on August 7. But after a
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Pub sign could 'distract drivers'
A PUB at Garswood is to be ordered to remove a sign which planners say could distract motorists and cause a road danger. Members of St Helens Council's Planning Committee decided that the sign, advertising The Stag, should be removed within a month or
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SHURMER: Resign call by leaders
LEADERS from both sides of the council chamber today urged independent councillor Adrian Shurmer to consider resigning. But Coun Shurmer denied any wrong-doing and claimed that opponents on the council were using the episode to launch a political attack
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Hair-raising saga for duo
SID Anderson, site manager at Whiston Willis Primary School, and colleague Phil Summerfield will have to don woolly hats to keep out the cold this winter after shaving their hair off to raise money for school funds. The pair are hoping to raise up to
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Fashion for funds
A FASHION show and cultural evening raised money for victims of the Orissa cyclone disaster at Lancaster University's Great Hall on Tuesday night. Organised by international students at the university it included a buffet meal, a fashion show, cultural
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Round 3 here we come
PRESTON made no mistakes when it came to taking advantage of their second chance to move through to the third round of the FA Cup, beating Enfield 3-0. After a couple of early scares, Preston soon found themselves dominating the game, but it wasn't until
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MPs welcome extra cash
MPs David Chaytor and Ivan Lewis have welcomed the borough's increase in its financial settlement for next year. Their comments come days after it was disclosed that Bury Council had been given a 4.8 per cent increase in its SSA (Standard Spending Assessment
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Bury FC: Suicidal Shakers make it easy
Bury 1 Preston North End 3 CHRISTMAS came early for high-flying Preston as the suicidal Shakers gifted them three valuable points in this hard-fought Lancashire derby. Playing with the confidence born of a 12 game unbeaten run North End were always going
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Sleepy town brass
SLEEPY residents of Atherton were shocked to be roused by the blaring sounds of brass on Sunday. A 40-strong band rattled the windows in Mealhouse Lane as Atherton Independent Methodist Church celebrated its 123rd anniversary with the first open air service
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GUS in profit decline warning
ARGOS-to-catalogue shopping group Great Universal Stores has seen half-year profits damaged as a "serious weakness" in the clothing market hit its home shopping arm. The group GUS, which sells clothes through its Kays, Great Universal, Choice and Innovations
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All-aboard for school lessons
CANAL boat cruises are being launched to educate youngsters into the area's waterway heritage. Converted narrowboat "Kennet" is Leigh Education Action Zone's new floating classroom, made available by British Waterways, to help schoolchildren learn about
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No-calorie see-food diet
Wright On: A wry look at life, with Shelley Wright THREE weeks tomorrow, people across the world will tuck into their traditional Christmas turkey lunch and, as far as I am concerned, that can mean only one thing - there's just 21 days left in which to
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Rival offer to buyout bid?
SHARES in economic development firm Enterprise have rocketed after a possible bid approach. Last month the firm's management team announced it is considering a buyout of the company. Now another approach has been received from an unnamed third party which
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Plea to firms over careers
PLANS are already in the pipeline for the two annual XTEND careers events to be held in March next year. The two conferences, held at Blackburn Rovers' and Burnley football clubs, hopes to match thousand of enthusiastic school leavers with jobs at local
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Boys' club joy at Lottery windfall
YOUNGSTERS at Lancaster's boys club were celebrating being awarded £413,000 from the National Lottery yesterday. The money has been awarded to Dallas Road Boys Club for a complete refurbishment and for re-roofing. Youth workers at the centre began compiling
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First service in new church
THREE years of waiting has finally come to an end for parishioners who will hold their first service in their new church on Sunday. Since dry rot forced the closure of Christ Church Baptist Methodist building in Ramsbottom, parishioners have being holding
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Knife thugs terrorise pensioners
AN elderly Morecambe couple who were threatened with a knife and beaten by two robbers in their own home told the Citizen of their terror this week. The couple, who are both in their 80s, were watching television in the front room of their Hampton Road
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Crime alert for drivers
POLICE in St Helens recorded a total of 73 crimes involving burglary and theft of or from vehicles over the weekend from Friday, November 26 to Monday, November 29. These included 15 house burglaries, 15 burglaries from garages and sheds, 15 thefts of
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118 jobs go in last mill closure
THE area's last mill is set to close bringing an end to an industrial era and the loss of 118 jobs. Workers at the Unit One mill in Atherton got the early Christmas present nobody wanted when they were told the Gloucester Street "Dorma" mill is being
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Monty £2,000 for MENCAP
FOUR bold Leigh men revealed all to over 300 taunting women in a 'Full Monty' strip for charity on Saturday. For weeks the cheeky foursome had been in serious training to reproduce the oscar winning film's security guard dance routine - to raise funds
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Chairman 'mystery' at Saints
DESPITE Saints' denials a fortnight ago that Howard Morris had resigned as chairman, mystery still surrounds the 'hot seat' at Knowsley Road (writes DENIS WHITTLE). Speculation was further fuelled by his failure to attend Thursday's sponsorship launch
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Home plan for barn
COUNCILLORS will visit a 365-year-old Pendleside barn before deciding whether it can be turned into a home. Pendle Council's Barrowford and western parishes area committee deferred a decision on a planning application to convert the barn at Bull Hole
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Police seek witnesses to double heist
POLICE are appealing for witnesses following the theft of two articulated lorries containing an estimated £100,000 worth of electrical items and spirits from Ramage Distribution in Kilbuck Lane on the Haydock Industrial Estate. The theft occurred sometime
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Greenmount go through
GREENMOUNT is the first team to qualify for finals day of the Bury Times Millennium Challenge football tournament. But Higher Lane can count themselves desperately unfortunate not to have moved on to the higher plane! In a bid to promote attacking soccer
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We don't want a shed
MEMBERS of St Helens Council's Planning Committee have decided that a quality development is vital for one of the few key sites left on the approach to the town centre. They have approved a brief which will give guidelines to developers and planning officers
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Bosses go back to school
BOLTON and Bury Chamber is inviting senior business managers to go back to school to drive forward the Business in the Community's Partners in Leadership programme. The national scheme pairs headteachers with senior business managers to translate best
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Come on home
A FORMER Bury couple are "home" from Australia to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary in style. Ellen and Brian Green have lived in Sydney for the last 18 years but arrived back home on Tuesday, November 30, to party in the best possible way -
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ICE HOCKEY: Hawks preview
HAWKS boss Bobby Haig is today biting his fingernails down to the bone ahead of the weekend's fixtures as he waits for news of his injured stars. Haig is confident that Mark McDonald (elbow) and Tony Melbourne (groin) will be fit for Saturday's Border
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Viv snaps moment in history
A PLAYGROUND snapshot taken by a teacher at a local primary school has earned a place in the history books - thanks to a competition run by BBC television. Vivien Cocker's picture of reception class pupils at Halsnead Primary in Whiston during their first
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Ken's giant leap for charity
BETTER than the big dipper at Blackpool! That was pensioner Ken Taylor's verdict on his sponsored parachute jump which raised more than £1,500 for the Cancer Research Campaign. The sprightly 70-year-old from Gaskell Street, Parr, finally completed his
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Saint Alan's a Centurion
LEIGH Centurions have swooped for one of the most prolific young try-scorers in the country. Alan Cross, a 21-year-old centre, has teamed up with the Centurions after years of frustration at St Helens. Although Cross has had the occasional taste of Super
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Warnock: I'd have left anyway
SHEFFIELD-bound former Bury boss Neil Warnock left Gigg Lane yesterday and blasted the abusive fans that made his position at the club untenable. Warnock, who was unveiled as the new Blades manager at a press conference yesterday afternoon, said he was
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More toys please asks Pat
TOYS are coming in at a steady rate for the annual toy appeal by the Mayor of St Helens, Councillor Pat Jackson, but there are still far from enough to meet the demand. The toys are distributed to local children in need, often members of low-income families
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A good deal better
A SUCCESSFUL scheme to encourage improvement of commercial property at Newton-le-Willows is to be extended. Work is underway on the second phase of the project as part of the Newton 21 SRB programme. The area covered is being widened to include all remaining
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Storms wreak havoc across East Lancashire
A FAMILY had a lucky escape when high winds brought tons of masonry from the chimney stack crashing down through the roof of their home. Gerard Collins, his wife and two daughters, were in bed at their home Hood House, Manchester Road, Burnley, at about
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Protest tips from airport naked lady
GREEN field saviours are preparing to dig-in to fight housing plans On Sunday top Eco warriors including Manchester Airport protesters Fungus, the naked treetop lady (pictured on the right of our protest line-up) tunnel champ Colne Pete, Manchester Greens
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SHURMER: I was duped
A MAN accused of being a bogus solicitor chatted with East Lancashire council bosses while on the run from detectives - after they were introduced to him by an ex-policeman who is now a councillor. Independent Hyndburn councillor Adrian Shurmer today
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Three hurt in bypass crash
THREE people were taken to Whiston Hospital following an accident, involving two cars, on the Rainford by-pass at about 5.50pm on Wednesday, November 24. The incident occurred when the two cars - a Ford Escort and Volkswagen Golf - collided in poor weather
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M6 jam chaos
TRAFFIC was held up for six hours on the motorway just outside Lancaster yesterday morning. Traffic had to be diverted through Lancaster and on to A6 after a lorry carrying paint overturned north of Junction 34. The two men aboard the lorry were taken
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Result never in doubt
PRESTON North End now are joint top of Division Two as North End extended their unbeaten run to 13 games with a 3-1 win over Bury. Away to Bury, the result was never in doubt, only the margin of victory, and the Preston supporters loved almost every second
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Keep the Red Rose flying!
LANCASHIRE traditions were enjoyed by local people who gathered to celebrate Lancashire day on Saturday. Potato pie suppers, black puddings, traditional Lancashire music and dances were just a few of the treats enjoyed by the 200 guests At Bury's Bolholt
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Homelessness a key issue
DOZENS of volunteers and homeless people from The Big Issue in the North magazine dropped front door keys in Lancaster and Morecambe last week. The keys each have a label attached saying "help a homeless person get one of these," a fact about the homeless
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Help for those in need
WOMEN fleeing domestic violence are hoping for a brighter Christmas this year. Bury Women's Aid, the charity which provide refuge for victims of domestic violence and their children, is appealing for people to help with their fund-raising efforts to make
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Bridging the years of rail
LANRY bridges, remember 'em? If the answer is "yes" then David Norman's 30 year-old photograph of the railway bridge across St Helens Road at Pennington will evoke memories. Maybe of Pennington Park or a similar bridge at Queen Street - just a train's
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Fare dodge crackdown on trains
FIRST North Western, the region's train operator, is cracking down on fare dodging with a 42-strong squad of inspectors poised to hit stations. The ticket collectors will not have a fixed pattern so fare evaders will not be able to predict when and where
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Scooter hit squad on target
SELFISH drivers who cause traffic hold-ups by inconsiderate parking will be targeted by new-look traffic wardens. This week Greater Manchester Police launched a team of scooter-mounted wardens to help get to trouble spots quickly. The hit squad will wear
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Play before beauty
FRENCHMAN Farid Diaf could be the key to Preston's success in the league and the cup as he prepares to put the club before his Gaelic looks. Following an appearance on the subs' bench during Tuesday's FA Cup win against Enfield at St Albans, Diaf could
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B&Q clamp down
LANCASTER motorists can consider themselves warned by a shop manager who declared 'keep out of my car park...or else!' B&Q manager Paul Portelli says he is sick of car drivers using his shop's car park as a free, all day parking spot - so he has called
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Town hosts safety seminar
DELEGATES from around the country and Europe gathered in Bury yesterday, December 2, to take part in a pioneering conference. Representatives from police, government and community agencies were present at Bury Town Hall for Britain's very first National
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Edwina tops the bill...
MEMBERS of the business community gathered to hear author, broadcaster and former politician Edwina Currie speak at St Helens Chamber's fourth annual dinner. More than 200 business representatives met at the Haydock Thistle for the evening dinner and
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People power to shape prom
PEOPLE power has helped reshape the next phase of Morecambe's coastal defence works at Sandylands Promenade. Following a public consultation exercise the council has agreed to back a scheme which includes a children's play area, retention of the pool
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Governor quits after mystery claims
MYSTERY surrounds the allegations which led to the shock resignation of Woodhey High School's chairman of governors last Wednesday. In a statement Mrs Julie Goulding, Bury's director of personal and community services, said Mr Ratcliff had offered his
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Playzone for Thatto Heath
A FACELIFT for Thatto Heath has been given the go ahead by St Helens Council's Leisure Committee. The £150,000 scheme includes the removal of redundant features, reducing the risk of crime, the provision of a multi-use games area and a toddlers play area
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MP's pension plan
LANCASTER MP Hilton Dawson directly challenged the prime minister about the government policy on pensions last week. Mr Dawson - who is campaigning to increase the old age pension - reportedly criticised the government at a meeting of Labour MPs in London
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In tune for big concert
PRIMARY schoolchildren will be raising the roof at Bury Parish Church on Tuesday, December 7, for the borough's biggest Christmas Concert. The event is the "grand finale" of Ramsbottom Music Festival choral workshop which has been running for a month.
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Jester wins holiday show in box prize
THE local creators of a unique 'Show in A Box' package have received a Millennium commission from top holiday company Thomson. Jester Productions Ltd, which records in Lowton, has been asked to write a summer 2000 show to be used in the tour operator's
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Dogged campaign begins to bite
A CLAMPDOWN on irresponsible dog owners has led to a number of appearances at Lancaster Magistrates Court. The city council has issued the names and details of residents who have been prosecuted for dog related offences. Julie Stead of Morecambe, whose
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High tech resource for our community
A LAPTOP computer scheme for local communities is proving to be a major success. Funded by the Government for adult and community learning, the scheme is being co-ordinated by St Helens Council's Family Learning Arts and Community Team and aims to teach
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Borough bids farewell to Dai
HUNDREDS of mourners packed Bury Parish Church on Tuesday afternoon as the borough bade a fond farewell to one of its best-loved adopted sons, David Davies. Members of Mr Davies's family and many close friends were joined by around 300 people at the service
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BEA hits 100 mark
"TON up" - that is Bury's thriving Business Environment Association. The organisation has just welcomed its 100th member into its fold. And given that the BEA has only been operating in Bury for two years, its enviable membership number is quite a remarkable
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Store plunge horror
A BLACKPOOL woman was in a critical condition in hospital last night (Dec 1) after plunging 40 feet from the roof of British Home Stores in the resort. Eyewitnesses reported seeing 28-year-old Pamela Clarke at the edge of the roof on the Church Street
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Reward offered after armed robbery
A £5,000 reward has been offered after a lone robber staged an armed robbery outside the Argos store in Bury. The masked thug hit a security guard over the head before fleeing with a cash box containing a "substantial" amount of money, believed to be
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Saints get their man
NEVER-SAY-DIE Saints finally got their man on Tuesday when South Sydney scrum-half Darrall 'Tricky' Trindall signed a two-year contract. The deal for the 27-year-old, who was wanted by Wigan, was finalised in Australia by Ellery Hanley, and Saints are
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Weights dropped at leisure centre
WEIGHT training is to be dropped from the activities at Sutton Leisure Centre because of a decline in the number of users. St Helens Council Leisure Committee has agreed to the closure of the weights training room which will revert to its former use for
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Police smash works scam
POLICE have been given the "thumbs up" from a plastics company after officers smashed a lucrative works scam. Two employees of plastics manufacturers Thumbs Up in Dumers Lane, Bury, have been arrested and bailed pending follow-up investigations after
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We're coming home!
PAUL Anderson and Simon Baldwin are coming home to join Leigh Centurions' march back to the top. The ex-Sheffield Eagles pair signed one-year deals at Hilton Park on Wednesday to end a marathon chase by coach Ian Millward. "It's taken quite a few weeks
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All systems go!
A COMPUTER company which logged on to the potentially lucrative software applications sector is enjoying a sustained remarkable growth. In just four years, Flexsys (UK) Ltd has increased its workforce from six to 38 and seen its annual turnover soar to
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What sick mind could do this?
A CHARITY collection box for a children's hospital has been stolen from a shop counter. The box, in aid of Alder Hey Hospital's Rocking Horse Appeal, had been on the counter of locksmiths J. G. Eckersall's in Lingholme Road for a few months. Owner Gary
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Blow for Chelsea
THE young girl whose triumph over leukaemia has been one of the most heart-warming stories of the year has suffered a set-back. Nine-year-old Chelsea Noone, of Alma Street, Radcliffe, had been hoping to return to school following months of isolation.
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Race tension mounts
POLICE fear an escalation of racial tension in Bury could end with the death of a child in a street fight. Now senior officers are appealing to parents and community leaders to help diffuse a potentially explosive situation in the East Ward area. The
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SWIMMING: Houldsworth steps up Olympic push
SWIMMING star Stacey Houldsworth took another step towards her Sydney Olympics dream with an impressive Great Britain debut in Brazil. The Great Harwood teenager won the 200m freestyle and was second in the 400 and 800m freestyle events at the World Cup
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Millennium 999 appeal
EMERGENCY services have made an impassioned plea for the public not to misuse the 999 line during the Millennium weekend. Police, fire and ambulance chiefs say an increase in calls for vital emergency services could be at an all-time high during this
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Lodge protestors inquiry delay bid
A PUBLIC inquiry to decide the fate of a Bury wildlife haven could be postponed until the summer. Stately Developments, the company behind plans to build on the Barracks Lodge at the rear of Newington Drive, have asked the Planning Inspectorate to delay
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Big crackdown on youth nuisance
A SCEHEME aimed at stopping youths causing a nuisance is being launched by police this weekend. Operation Stephenson, which will last for four weeks, will be launched in Rainhill Village in an effort to combat the escalating youth problem in the area.
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Awards ceremony honours locals
BURY'S own annual celebration of the individuals who do so much for their community is staged next week. Once again, the Awards for Voluntary Service in the Community are to be handed out to a handful of dedicated local recipients in recognition of the
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Pupil exclusions rising
SCHOOLS in Bury are failing in their attempt to reduce the number of pupils they exclude. Despite a government drive to reduce permanent exclusions, the number in Bury shot up from 55 in 1997/98 to 79 in the last academic year - more than 40 per cent
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Pupils' art shows perils of smoking
LOCAL school children have given their backing to the launch of Support, a new service to help people stop smoking. Pupils from St Mary & St Thomas Primary School in Barton Street, St Helens took part in a poster competition organised by the Health
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Swift action on tenant
ST HELENS Council has taken swift action after a tenant used his dog to threaten staff at one of its local offices. The incident happened at Eccleston local office when a tenant used threatening behaviour towards staff, and it was alleged, also agitated
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So much to celebrate!
LEADERS from local government, business and the community turned out in force for a presentation, hosted by the BBC's Felicity Goodey, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Ravenhead Renaissance partnership at the Stakis Hotel. The partnership is made up
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Jab alert for young...
HEALTH officials in St Helens and Knowsley are urging all teenagers aged 16 and 17, who are not at school or college to come forward for their meningitis vaccine. The new meningitis C vaccine is being made available to young people in schools and colleges
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Reflections of an old master!
YOUNG Harry Case started drawing at the age of three in the rear of the family barber's shop in College Street where he was born. And 87 years later he is still painting and exhibiting his pictures as a member of the St Helens Art Club at the ripe old
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Can you help?
TRACING your family roots can be a very fascinating and surprising task. Mr Bill Lomax, of Edmonton, Alberta, in Canada, is trying to trace his family history but needs a helping hand. Mr Lomax is searching for information on his grandfather William Lomax
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25 years ago
In The Bury Times this week in 1974 BREAD: The bakers' strike was biting in Bury. Staff at Hames' Shop on Princess Parade were told to stay at home because there was no bread to sell. Other bakers in Bury had to lay-off staff because the situation was
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Super Seven for Higher Fold
HOTSHOT Neil Clayton netted twice in Higher Fold Labour Club's 7-1 win over Astley Villa. The Leigh & District Amateur Football League's leading scorer took his tally to 23 for the season. Division One leaders Fold cruised to an easy victory with
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'Hole in wall' plan blocked
A CONVENIENCE store chain has been told it can advertise cash machines outside a shop in Barnoldswick but not install the "hole in the wall" cash points. Planning permission was refused for two cash machines outside the Day & Nite store in Church
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Carnival scrapped
THE Carnival is over with the shock news that Bury's premier annual gala event is being laid to rest after 30 years. Officials of Bury Lions Club, which has organised the carnival since the late 1960s, made the unexpected announcement yesterday. President
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Starbeat with DJ Shaun Tilley
HELLO once again and here we go, into the last month of the 20th century. It's a time when we can't help but wonder who'll make history by being in the number one slot on December 31. Don't forget to check me out on Radio City's North West Top 40 every
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Emergency ward will slash waiting
CONGESTION in Bury's casualty department is set to be dramatically reduced thanks to the new emergency admission ward at Bury General Hospital. Last month health bosses agreed to refurbish Norris Ward at the hospital, formerly used as a surgical ward.
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Action spotlight: Payton v Devine
BURNLEY hot-shot Andy Payton has few equals in the Nationwide Second Division. But one man who can claim to push him fairly close is Wycombe front-man Sean Devine. In terms of style of play and physical stature, the two strikers are like chalk and cheese
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Action spotlight: Duff v Rougier
TONY Rougier has made the most of his new lease of life as a striker. Having initially filled in when Tony Naylor and Carl Griffiths were unavailable, and with Marcus Bent on his way to Sheffield United, Rougier was pushed forward from his customary position
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LSD wrecked my life - Gran
GRANDMOTHER Valerie Bateson is suing the NHS for wrecking her life - 35 years after she was prescribed LSD for post-natal depression. The 57-year-old mother-of-three claims she was given the unlicensed psychedelic drug after the birth of her first child
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Lenny's hunger
Division Two: Burnley v Wycombe Wanderers - Andy Neild's preview LENNY Johnrose hardly has fond memories of facing Wycombe during his time at Turf Moor. But the 30-year-old midfielder is desperate to line up against them tomorrow after being frozen out
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Council rejects tragic family's cash
THE mother of a young girl who died while crossing a busy Preston road says council bosses have turned down an £18,000 donation from her family to pay for traffic-calming measures. Grieving mum Carol Chippendale is now asking residents to back her campaign
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Ex-Mayor booted out by own party
A FORMER Mayor of Blackburn has been told his political life as a Labour councillor is over by regional party bosses. Blackburn with Darwen councillor Mike Madigan, who has been a councillor for 24 years, has had his appeal against a decision to deselect
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You gave me a real boost
JUST a note to thank you for the publicity that you gave to my recent exhibition in your 'What's On' section in the St Helens Star. It was much appreciated and gave a boost to the exhibition. Tommy Leonard, Hillside Avenue, Newton-le-Willows. Converted
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Stan's warning over Wycombe
BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent believes his side will face a different Wycombe team tomorrow compared to the one they came up against on the opening day of the season. An Andy Cooke goal earned the Clarets a 1-1 draw at Adams Park on August 7. But after a
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Police force 'open to all'
A HIGH ranking police officer today claimed that the force was more open than ever before, on the eve of his retirement. Assistant Chief Constable David Smith, 52, a former head of Blackburn police, also welcomed the register for masons in the force -
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Talks end Longfield deadlock
PRESTWICH'S premier shopping centre could be given a facelift for the new Millennium. If given the go-ahead, plans could see major refurbishment work at the Longfield Precinct together with an additional 7,500 sq ft of retail space being created. And
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'Tail' with a happy ending
IT was great news about the return of Marley the cat (Star, November 11). I do love a happy ending. I own three cats and know how pleased Suzanne must be on his return. He looks a beautiful cat and it's great that he is safe and well. P. Sephton, Vincent
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A matter of pride
BAMBER BRIDGE boss Tony Greenwood is taking his team back to the drawing board in his quest to pull them up the UniBond League. After his side's dramatic FA Cup run, Tony Greenwood is concentrating on getting his players' minds focused on the Premier
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Local echoes of the airship
THERE'S plenty of hot air in the old postbag this week - but of the interesting and informative kind! Reader K. H. of St Helens picks up on the Zeppelin theme raised by Joe Jones of Sutton (November 18) who recounted boyhood memories of a stately airship
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Pay your own fine madam
LANCASTER town hall in its upper echelons is not exactly seen as a beacon of competence or excellence so it is rather sad that the immediate reaction of our first citizen to the imposition of a fixed penalty for illegal parking is to dismiss the incident
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Power line cancer link
A RADCLIFFE man who fled his home and left his job after fears about power lines says he has been vindicated by a new study. Mr Bill Singleton (56) and his wife, Margaret (53), ran the Sparking Clog pub in Radcliffe from 1991 to 1994, living on the premises
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Thanks for a fine day
MAY I, on behalf of the Royal British Legion and everyone who attended the Remembrance Sunday service, congratulate the St Helens Borough Council for the organisation of the event in light of the pedestrianisation of Victoria Square? In particular, special
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Feightin' talk in old-time Billinge
THEY certainly tell some gradely tales in Billinge, where Lanky twang is still very much in evidence. And reader Tom Topping, from Beaumont Avenue, St Helens, comes up with a little purler, in proving that it wasn't always fair play in that 'Land of the
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All sides are guilty
I TOO read the letter from Councillor Denwood recently which was printed in the local press. I thought it a bit tactless and opportunistic for the councillor to have written it in the tone she did and as a fellow member of the Scotforth Labour Party I
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Cash boost for drug fight
A PIONEERING service that helps young substance abusers across the borough has been awarded a £291,272 grant by the National Lottery Charities Board. Early Break was established in Bury in 1994 by Mr Ian Clements, a drug advisor to Bury Health Authority
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What became of Tardis boxes?
A COUPLE of intriguing yedscratters have popped up in the old mailbag. And they're certain to test the memories of our silver-thatched brigade. C. B. of Eccleston asks: "Whatever happened to the St Helens street-directory map which used to be located
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Could do a bit better
PLENTY of strengths but some weaknesses to work on. That was the summary of the initial findings from the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) for local government after its six-strong team spent a week taking a close look at the council and how
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Not such a dismal picture
WHAT a dismal picture the writer of the letter entitled 'Cruel World' (Star, November 18) conjures up. It reads like something out of the Dickens era. I am one of a family of nine children (now in our 60s and 70s). So-called 'surviving' now, compared
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Here's mud in your eye
CLLR Denwood's letter re the Remembrance Day service was a disgrace. An attempt to gain political advantage publicly in what was a poorly disguised sideswipe at the Greens... "didn't we look good? Aren't the others simply dreadful?" Can it be a coincidence
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The end of an era
AN old-established Bury printing company, which can trace its roots back to 1760, has posted its own obituary notice. W. H. Winterburn, which fiercely guarded the old but traditional methods of printing, has finally closed its doors. But it leaves behind
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Director banned for seven years
A BUSINESSMAN from Preston was disqualified from acting as a company director for seven years in the Preston District Registry earlier this month. The disqualification order prevents Christopher John Moyles, of Valentine Meadow, Cottam, from being director
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Surprise surprise Thanks a million!
I SHOULD like to reinforce the remarks made by "Public Servant" in your last edition on the subject of the Salt Ayre scandal. The shocking control (or lack of it) which led to the waste of yet another million pounds of tax payers' money was bad enough
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Wood you believe it?
COUNCIL and environmental agencies have come up with a tree-mendous idea to kick-start the borough's Millennium celebrations. The Millennium Wood will be located at Outwood in Radcliffe and everyone - from the very young to the not so very young - can
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Reformed addict overdosed
A REFORMED drug addict who was training as a counsellor died after taking a heroin overdose, an inquest heard. John Brett Jackson, 27, was found in his flat in Corporation Street, Clitheroe, on August 11. His parents became concerned when they hadn't
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Readers' Recollections: Prisoners' memories recounted in book
IN February 1942, after fighting bravely in Europe and the Far East, the remaining members of the Lancastrian 88th Field Regiment were captured by the Japanese. Three-years as POW followed during which, among other things, the men were used as forced
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Home for Christmas
THE man accused of murdering Preston student Janet Murgatroyd will be home in time for Christmas. Magistrates agreed to allow Andrew Philip Greenwood, 25, to spend December 24-28 with his family. The descision was made at a hearing in South Ribble Magistrates
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Emergency teams rehearse for Y2K
POLICE and the emergency services in Preston tested their readiness for the Millennium with a special exercise earlier this month. Around 30 members of local police, fire and ambulance services, along with representatives from Preston Borough Council
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Three, two, one ... Countdown to big switch on
THE annual popular Christmas lights switch-on - by David Lonsdale of TV's Heartbeat - drew the crowds to Preston's Flag Market last week. David, who will play Dame Tilly in Preston's pantomime Goldilocks and the Three Bears, flicked the switch at 6pm
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Not all swear words offend
I AM sick to death of correspondents criticising young people on this Letters page. When will these adults start to realise that times are changing and that some their views are very offensive to young adults like myself. They criticise bad language but
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He gave help and support
TOGETHER with many other citizens of Bury I was deeply saddened by the news of the death of Councillor David Davies whose well-earned retirement from public life was tragically cut short. Always true to his ideal of public service, Coun Davies offered
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Games for a laugh
LITTLE tots from Wonderland Kindergarten, in Ashton, are tops when it comes to raising loads of cash for children less fortunate. And last week's BBC Children in Need appeal was just the excuse they needed to don their colourful nightwear and spring into
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Steward ignored racist chants
I WRITE after watching the Bury and Preston North End game on Saturday. I was sitting in the South Stand because Preston fans had been allocated the Family Stand where I would normally sit. Because of the way Bury were playing, some fans were losing their
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Drink drivers to be shopped
LANCASHIRE Constabulary launched its annual Christmas 'Don't Drink and Drive' campaign yesterday (Wednesday). The campaign will take a different approach, by focusing on intelligence-led targeted policing, in addition to the high-profile roadside checks
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School gets a scathing report
RIBBLETON Hall High School has been rated the hundredth worst school in England. But it is not all bad news for the county, Lancashire schools in general have moved ahead of the national average in grades. And the truancy rate for the county is at 0.9
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'No bugs in our hospital'
PRESTON'S healthcare infrastructure is ready to face the millennium bug, according to a new report. Members of the Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust board were told that, following extensive research, they are ready to tackle the year 2000, and patients
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Shipman breaks down in court
DR HAROLD Shipman broke down in court yesterday (Wednesday) as he told of the death of one of the 15 patients he is accused of murdering. Shipman buried his head in his hands in the witness box while giving evidence during his trial at Preston Crown Court
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Venables to coach Deep Dale
FOOTBALL coach Shabbir Ahmed has led his five-a-side team to the national finals for a tournament - now he is hoping someone else will lead his side to glory. His team, Deep Dale FC, need to win one more game if Shabbir is going to lose his job, and the
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Soccer chief refuses to talk to fans
PRESTON North End chairman Bryan Gray has cut off all links with a newly-formed supporters group, blasting them for being 'more interested in self publicity than the club.' Mr Gray has written a stinging letter to the chairman of PSG 2000, a new pressure
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Top college rewarded for community effort
BISHOP Rawstorne college has won a prestigious national award for its involvement with the local community. The International Language College, Out Lane, Croston, along with 270 other colleges and schools from across the country, will receive the Schools
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Brilliant boss mourned by workforce
THE sudden death of a popular local businessman has sent shockwaves through his workforce, who say he was a brilliant boss and a wonderful character'. George Bamber died suddenly in the Royal Preston Hospital last Friday, aged 61, after suffering what
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JUNIOR SOCCER: Huncoat JFC
AFTER several matches narrowly losing, it happened again for Huncoat Utd Under 10s, despite valiant efforts going down 3-2 to Rishton. Scorers were Benjamin Hoskins (man of the match) and John Spencer. The Under 13s crashed to a 6-1 defeat at the hands
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Hospice losing out to conmen
GREEDY children are depriving a cash-strapped Lostock Hall charity of vital funds after taking to the streets and impersonating genuine collectors. Bosses at St Catherine's Hospice say they a concerned by the 'significant' number of calls and complaints
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More research needed on student drop-outs
THE disclosure in the first official university league tables that nearly one in five students drop out is doubly disturbing. For this is wasting more than £200 million a year of taxpayers' money, but, perhaps worse, it is wrecking the lifetime opportunities
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Child could hold vital clues
THE toddler son a Preston woman found strangled in her bath could hold vital clues to his pregnant mother's tragic death. Detectives hunting the killer of 20-year-old Christine Askey hope to coax vital clues out of her three-year-old son, Cameron, who
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TABLE TENNIS: Engineers' fine nine
ALLSPEEDS' visit to East Lancs in Division One of the Hyndburn Table Tennis League, resulted in a fine 9-1 away win for the engineers with Keith Ward, Keith Jackson and fearsome Frank Hamer the winning trio. East Lancs shared the points in a 5-5 draw
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Coroner right to condemn 'Burke and Hare'
AMID the row over organs being removed from the bodies of children who died at the leading North West children's hospital at Alder Hey, Liverpool, the city's coroner, Andr Rebello, likens the doctors responsible to the early 19th-century body snatchers
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MILLENNIUM: Popular choice
IN reply to Ernest Allen regarding the correct date for the start of the 21st century (Letters, November 25), you asked if the year 1900 is regarded as being in this century or the last. The answer is that 1900 is popularly regarded as being in the 20th
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NON-LEAGUE SOCCER: Steve Twigg's it!
STEVE Parry has twigged the secret of maintaining Clitheroe's splendid FA Vase record - stop Darren Twigg. The big Newcastle Town striker stands between the Blues and a place in the fourth round of the competition. Town are hot on the heels of Vauxhall
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Small-sided soccer update
ANSDELL Sevens League results. Premier Division - Lytham Town 8, St Annes Sportmen 3; St Annes Boys 2, Zeroes Heroes 4; Statestrong 4, Royal 5; The Pistols 1, Taffee Traders 6; Zeroes Heroes 5, Peel Park 1; Blackpool Airport 2, Arvin Exhaust Reserves
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MILLENNIUM: Cause for confusion
TO Ernest Allen (Letters, November 25) and all those people who believe 2001 should be celebrated as the millennium year, I submit the following. I was born in 1928 (I don't remember it, but I have an official document that says so). In 1946, the Government
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Guard attacked in garage raid
A SECURITY guard was attacked with a crowbar and robbed after stopping at a petrol station in Haydock. The victim had pulled his Securicor van into the Shell station on the Manchester-bound carriageway of the East Lancs Road near Haydock Lane at about
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JUNIOR SOCCER: Round-up
WHALLEY Under-Eights 1 JUNIOR TERRORS 0 WHALLEY completed very well against the older Terrors team and defenders Matthew Bagot and Caspar Steel were outstanding at the back. Whalley hit the Terrors on the break. Thomas Jeffrey won a decisive tackle and
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Festive fair
EVERYONE'S welcome at Hawes Side Primary School's Christmas Fair tomorrow (Dec 3). The event, from 5.45pm-8pm will be opened by Father Christmas and will include stalls, a tombola and raffle. Children can have their photo taken with Santa in his grotto
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Frontrunners!
INDIVIDUAL and team success was the reward for a determined display by cross country runners from King Edward VII and Queen Mary School in the Stanley Park series. Pride of place went to the year 8 runners, with Emily Wildon running superbly to take second
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MILLENNIUM: An excellent suggestion
FOLLOWING my earlier remarks, you posed the question: "Is the year 1900 considered as being in this century or the last?" (Letters, November 25). There is no doubt that 1900 was the final year of last century, hence the name for that century being the
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Teamwork triumphs
STUDENTS from a Lytham school proved they had the whole world in their heads after they triumphed in a geography quiz. Simon Lambert, Merita Crookenden and Lindsey Cooper all 15, represented King Edward VII and Queen Mary School in the Blackpool and Fylde
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Super service with a smile
WHAT marvellous and quick, efficient service we received from Clays of Blackburn. We purchased some worktops and decided we needed another to complete the kitchen. Not knowing the name of the pattern, I phoned the firm and tried to explain the colour
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BAe scheme takes off
CHRISTMAS came early for several Fylde schools when British Aerospace donated 30 computers. The donation was the pilot for a scheme to dispose of BAe's redundant IT equipment. BAe Warton site general manager Jim O'Shaughnessy said: "With BAe constantly
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Bardsley misses Wrexham trip
BLACKPOOL travel to Wrexham this Saturday (Dec 4) without David Bardsley. The experienced defender will miss the Racecourse Ground clash after he picked up his fifth booking of the season against Cambridge United. Manager Nigel Worthington said: "David
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MILLENNIUM: Take your pick over which celebration is correct
IF one chooses to ignore the fact that even the most learned of Christian scholars cannot prove definitively (to the year, let alone the date) when the birth of Christ actually occurred and if one also ignores the date errors relating to use of the Julian
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Vale of tears
Vale of Lune 6 Chester 16 A NUMBER of missed penalties cost Vale of Lune dear in this defeat against second placed Chester. Having won 102-0 last week against West Park Bramhope, Chester were on the crest of a wave but the Vale battled hard and the visitors
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Tigers maul Clock
Widnes Tigers 24 Clock Face Miners 6 THREE unopposed first half tries set the seal on this game as Widnes Tigers proved too strong for spirited Clock Face. The Tiger's first try came after just three minutes, but Clock dug in, with John Hayhurst, Steve
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Audit check at home
AN investigation is under way into finances at a county council run old folks home, the Citizen can reveal. A spokesman for the county council has confirmed that internal auditors have been inspecting the accounts at Beaumont View Residential Home on
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Boys pay penalty
ST HELENS Schools under 11s suffered an agonising defeat at the hands of in the quarter-finals of the North-West Cup on Saturday. Kirkby took the lead against the run of play but John Bathurst equalised before half-time. In the second half St Helens scored
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Jilted boyfriend blew up shop
A SPURNED boyfriend will spend Christmas in custody after being found guilty of causing an explosion at the business of his ex-girlfriend's father. Jurors at Bolton Crown Court deliberated for three hours before returning a unanimous verdict on Grant
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Triple delight
FOR the third time on the run Lancaster's under water polo team won the championship this week. This was the hardest fought of the three campaigns and it was a nail biting climax to a long, hard season at weekend. Lancaster were slight favourites before
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Warm message for the elderly
BLACKPOOL North and Fleetwood MP Joan Humble took time out on Friday (Nov 26) to visit one of her constituent's homes to support Warm Homes Week. Ms Humble called in to see Mary Malia, in Marlborough Avenue, Thornton, to see how she had benefited from
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No nonsense approach will kill 'sick society'
DURING a recent visit to The Journal web site, I read with interest the story of Dawn Parkinson and her campaign to rid Leigh of its 'sick society'. First, I would like to commend her for her stand and hope that others with similar concerns will support
