Archive
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Jenna goes from circus to tragedy
FROM dancing in Blackpool Tower Circus to the lead role in a Greek tragedy, St Annes actress Jenna Rothwell is clearly a rising star. Jenna, 16 and a pupil at King Edward and Queen Mary School, is gearing up to take the title role in the Greek tragedy
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Thanks for your stamps
I WOULD like to thank readers who sent me their used postage stamps over Christmas in aid of the East Lancashire Hospice appeal. The response was excellent. Thank you. D KIMBERLEY (Mr), Duddon Avenue, Darwen BB3 0JJ.
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Name game will cost us
WHAT is this country coming to -- the Post Office is making so much profit that it is going to waste money on changing its name to Consignia. What is it going to cost in increases in postage costs to the public and putting the name Consignia on Post Office
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Go veggie for better health
MANY of us at the start of the year will have resolved to lead a healthier lifestyle. To give up smoking or alcohol, to lose weight and take regular exercise, but the best way to ensure improved health in 2001 is to go vegetarian. Hardly a day went by
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Grip lost on refugees
THE hypocrisy of Labour never fails to astound me. The latest example is that it is reported that 90 of the 170 Afghans who arrived in Britain on a hijacked plane last year are still in the country and have cost the UK taxpayers £5 million. Didn't the
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One problem, two 'solutions'
THE right hand does not know, or care, what the left is doing. On one hand, Employment Minister Tessa Jowell launches a plan to reintegrate criminal offenders into society by their employment, saying, "Ex-offenders leaving prison without a job are twice
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Facts for all to see
ONCE again, readers have to be troubled by the bleating of Darwen-based correspondents, such as Roy Davies (Letters, December 29) and their perceived neglect at the hands of the local authority. As appears obligatory on such discussions, the Christmas
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The Price is right for John
BLACKBURN AND DISTRICT INDOOR BOWLING LEAGUE ON a day when illness wrecked the opening day of the annual singles tournament, defending champion John Price was in tip-top form to march on into the first round proper. A number of preliminary round matches
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Goal hero Jason is a water wonder!
ACCRINGTON AND DISTRICT BOYS LEAGUE UNDER 11S Rishton United 5 Great Harwood Rovers Panthers 0 HAT-trick hero Jason Sarchet was probably one of the few players who was glad this match did not fall foul of the weather. The Rishton hot-shot already had
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Derby day bust-up
Calderstones 2 Rimington 1 EAST LANCASHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION TWO TWO sendings off, three booked and the miss of the season -- just another one of your typical derby clashes! The history between the two clubs goes back a long way and both used to play in
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Teams of four match series
TEAMS HYNDBURN & BLACKBURN ANGLING ASSOCIATION EVENT organisers teAMS Hyndburn and Blackburn Angling Association (Black) walked away with the spoils -- and rewarded sponsor AMS's self employed Andrew Filbin with a late Christmas present. Andrew has
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Steve Tinniswood's Park Patrol
Punchbowl FC have won Blackburn Sunday League's Fair Play Award for December. The Division Three side picked up the award, sponsored by Bleasdales Ltd, for earning maximum points from the three games they played in December. The club won £40 in vouchers
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Murder probe: Police release 3 men
THREE men being questioned by detectives investigating the murder of Burnley man Iain McKay have been released. Two were freed without charge and the other released on police bail pending further inquiries. The three men, all in their twenties, were arrested
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Dailly in talks with Leicester
CHRISTIAN Dailly was due to have talks with Leicester City today after Peter Taylor made an 11th hour bid to lure the Scottish international to Filbert Street. The 27-year-old had been mulling over a move to West Ham after meeting Hammers boss Harry Redknapp
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Moyes praises fightback
PRESTON boss David Moyes admitted he was relieved to go in just 3-0 down at the interval. "We were lucky to go in 3-0 down but I thought we were brilliant in the second half. "The players did it themselves. It is not easy as a manager when you're 3-0
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Derby hero Jansen wants to stay at Ewood
TWO-goal hero Matt Jansen shot down Preston last night in a gripping Lancashire derby and then pledged he wants to stay at Ewood and help restore Rovers into a leading Premiership force. The England Under 21 international -- who was linked with a move
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Doing it by halves
ROVERS 3 PRESTON NORTH END 2 Jansen 5, 18 Hughes 9 Macken 54, Healy (p) 72 JIM Smith must have rubbed his eyes in disbelief when he picked up his paper at breakfast this morning. The Derby County boss left Ewood looking a worried man at half time last
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New chapter for winners
A LUCKY bunch of Preston bookbinders have scooped £178,895 on the National Lottery. The syndicate -- known as the Upper Class Four -- are all workers at Sanderson's Bookbinders, in Primrose Hill, Preston. Syndicate leader Janet Finch could not believe
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Missing out on lion's share
MILD-mannered drama student Ruth Hage was about to get her teeth stuck in to life with a travelling circus -- only to be let down by an internationally-recognised ringmaster just days before she was set to join the troupe. Ruth Hage (pictured), a student
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Police dawn drugs swoop
MORE than 25 suspected drug dealers have been arrested following a dawn raid on a number of addresses in Preston. More than 300 officers, drawn from each of Lancashire's six divisions, took part in the early morning swoop codenamed 'Operation Tetley'.
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Town in £600m boost
COUNCIL bosses have vowed to "reclaim the streets" in an ambitious multi-million pound plan to regenerate Preston's town centre. Cross-party members have lent their support to a five-year scheme which will see Preston challenge to be the North West's
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It's a funny old business
DEATH may not be the obvious subject for a comedy book, but Preston-born funeral director Philip McKenna has decided to lift the coffin lid on his profession and the results are anything but grave. After more than 20 years in the family business in Lancashire
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Murder probe trio freed
THREE men being questioned by detectives investigating the murder of Burnley man Iain McKay have been released. Two were freed without charge and the other released on police bail pending further inquiries. The three men, all in their twenties, were arrested
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Murder probe: Police release 3 men
THREE men being questioned by detectives investigating the murder of Burnley man Iain McKay have been released. Two were freed without charge and the other released on police bail pending further inquiries. The three men, all in their twenties, were arrested
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Pledge to preserve heritage
SAINSBURY's have given an assurance that the listed 1930s facade at the former Prestige factory will form a major part of their new store. Work on the new development in Colne Road, Burnley, is on schedule with the opening planned for this summer with
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Axa jobs on call
AXA Insurance plans to appoint 60 new staff members to its Morecambe call centre on the White Lund industrial estate during the first half of this year. As well as full-time staff the company will be recruiting part-time workers and staff to work over
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'I was Shipman's first intended victim'
IT took Elaine Oswald 25 years to understand why she had been treated as a drug addict at Burnley General Hospital -- she believes she had been the first intended victim of evil doctor Harold Shipman. She now believes the doctor she trusted and later
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MP's anger as orphanage closes after 100 years service
LANCASTER MP Hilton Dawson has criticised the county council's social services for causing the closure of a local orphanage. Lancashire County Council has stopped placing children at Nazareth House children's home off Ashton Road which means it will close
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Mystery of the little black book!
A LITTLE black book with a difference arrived at The Citizen office this week... The black-covered autograph book was sent with an anonymous note, hoping that we could find the owner. So if you are - or know of - the Willacy family who lived in Beecham
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Officers caught online
AN internal audit at Lancaster City Council has revealed that more than half of the authority's officers have misused the internet facilities. Now council bosses are drawing up plans to improve online security following the audit's revelations. The investigation
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Festival row brewing
A ROW is brewing at the Town Hall over which of the popular festivals should be scrapped to save money. The city council has capped this year's festival budget to just £150,000 and a number of festivals will have to be dropped or have their funding reduced
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Factory workers evacuated after fire breaks out
WORKERS evacuated a Nelson factory after trying to fight a fire in a 100 feet long machine used to put a flame retardant coating on textiles. The incident happened at 8.40pm last night at Clarkson Textiles, Lindred Road. The factory became smoke-logged
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Villagers raise reward to catch pig-killer
VILLAGERS are putting up a reward for information leading to the identity of the killers of their pot-bellied pig. Squeak, a Vietnamese pig, was attacked with a wooden stake in a barn at Pendle Heritage Centre and people in Barrowford were so shocked
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Hoppers lose three in a row
IT was three defeats out of three for the Hoppers which has seen them slip in to the bottom four of the National League Two. Preston knew they had a tough match on their hands with Bracknell taking a 13-0 lead in the first quarter. Preston bounced back
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Brig's festive form continues
BRIG carried on their excellent Christmas form by beating Gateshead 2-0 following a good result at Accrington Stanley on Boxing Day. Bamber Bridge opened the scoring with Dave Carrol neatly lobbing the stranded keeper in what was an excellently-taken
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Respect wins national award
PNE and the Preston and West Lancashire Racial Equality Council's attempts to tackle racism have been recognised by a national award. RAFFI (Respect All Fans Football Initiative) in partnership with North End, have won a prestigious Phillip Lawrence Award
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Shock as BAE job losses announced
A WAVE of concern has hit workers at BAE Systems this week after an announcement on Wednesday (January 10) that more job losses were on the cards due to falling sales of the Hawk jet. The aerospace company, based in Warton and Samlesbury, is blaming the
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Five years ago
HIGHLY potent cannabis plants worth tens of thousands of pounds were seized by police during a raid on a town centre drugs farm. Officers swooped on the rented unit, close to Eanam, in Blackburn, after an attempted burglary two days earlier had set off
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Ten years ago
WORKERS at a Blackburn brewery were told that 75 jobs were to be axed. Thirty-nine of the jobs to go at Thwaites' were in the estates maintenance department and were to take immediate effect and the remainder, in the production section, were to be lost
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Cash plea for roving CCTV crime-buster
COUNCIL chiefs hope to step up the war against a borough's crime by buying a £60,000 mobile spy camera. Hyndburn Council has unveiled plans to obtain cash for the roving crime-buster, which would be deployed in trouble hot-spots across the borough. Police
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Thanks for the good publicity
ST John Ambulance would like to thank The Citizen for the good publicity which has ensured successful recruitment and fund-raising, enabling us to continue our service to the community. Your support is invaluable and greatly appreciated. We wish your
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A simple yes or no should do
I AGREE strongly with the points raised by Mrs G Read (Citizen: January 4 ) I and many thousands are in favour of the by-pass going ahead, and like most of us, the sensible thinking types, realise it should have been built at least ten years ago. The
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Answer the question
AS usual Cllr Westwell chose to resort to insults rather than answer the question I posed and completely missed the point I was making. When companies approach the Council with proposals to run a council facility as he did on behalf of Happy Mount Park
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Press gang should be more upbeat
HAVING read your January 4 edition, I feel that I must take issue with Citizen Smith. I usually find his column to be both entertaining and informative. However in the above edition his criticism of the tourism department was, I thought uncalled for and
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Old folk miss out on cash
PENSIONERS in the Ribble Valley are missing out on £303,660 in unclaimed benefits. A telephone survey of 174 old folk revealed payments ranging from as little as 70p to £172 per week were not being claimed. Welfare rights officers are now urging all OAPs
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Get a life for God's sake
FULL marks to Phil Windle of the SPGB for enraging local Christians. Christianity has historically thrived on persecution, not least by converting its persecutors, especially Saint Paul. As a young man, I too debunked Jesus Christ as a deluded madman.
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Play group given high praise
PLAYGROUP staff have been praised by inspectors for their "contagious enthusiasm and support." Ofsted inspectors said there were no significant weaknesses in the way children were taught at Longridge's Berry Lane Playgroup. But they also suggested opportunities
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Faith Facts
SO Yvette Bierbaum (Letters: Jan 4) thinks the SPGB is rewriting history eh? Well, pardon our 'personal bigotry and self-indulgent pomp' but I'm afraid her triumphant flourishing of the writer Josephus is not quite the 'crushing blow' she thinks it is
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Chat with Pat over why he got the sack
POSTMAN Pat is a famous household name that I remember watching as a tot. So for all those of you who would like to drift back into your childhood years, this site will help you do just that. You are greeted with the Postman Pat theme tune followed by
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Dawson diversion
PROFESSOR Whitelegg (Greens Target Dawson) claims this constituency's severe neglect under the Conservatives has continued under Labour, and will be encouraging us to vote Green in the General Election. Let's remember that many people voted for Ralph
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Flying start for Lytham Ladies
Ladies 1st XI 9 Blackburn 2nd XI 2 LYTHAM Ladies got off to a flying start in the Premier Division of the Lancashire Central Hockey Association. Although they were a goal down after two minutes Ruth Blackburn soon equalised for LSA with a well struck
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Boca Juniors beat leaders Blackpool
IN Division A of the Rossall Monday Sixes, Boca Juniors beat leaders Blackpool Area Divers 1-0 while The Cellar, who are second placed, close the gap after their excellent 8-1 win over Athletico 6 FC. Third placed Fleetwood Flyers had a comfortable 4-
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Scorpions A bomb Heysham Atoms
Heysham Atoms A 11 Scorpions A 26 WHILE the Scorpions 1st XI match was cancelled due to their opponents Blackbrook being unable to field a team, the A team put in a good performance in completing the double over Heysham and going top of the Alliance League
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Can you solve this medal mystery ?
HE picked it up for a few pennies at a jumble sale but now a Poulton man is negotiating with a museum to sell a little piece of Lancashire sports history. It is one of the first football medals to be won by a North West team more than 100 years ago. Andrew
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Thornton battle through the mud
THORNTON CLEVELEYS SHARKS U9s 1 FOXHALL 1 THORNTON scored first when Liam MacDonald picked up the ball from an error by Foxhall's keeper and passed it to Alex Evans who lobbed the keeper. Foxhall equalised on half time. The second half saw the Thornton
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More gloom with possible BAE job losses
WORKERS at BAE Systems this week faced more gloom after an announcement on January 10 that more job losses are on the cards due to falling sales of the Hawk jet. The aerospace company is blaming the latest round of job cuts on a shortfall in the amount
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Burnley take Toulouse' Dadi
BURNLEY have taken Toulouse striker Eugene Dadi on trial. The 6ft hitman Dadi made his name with Linz in Austria. The French first division strugglers snapped him up for £500,000 last season. A product of the Sochaux Academy Dadi has UEFA Cup experience
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Briscoe setback
LUCKLESS Lee Briscoe has suffered a fresh injury set-back which has dashed any hopes of a comeback at Gillingham on Saturday. Briscoe started Burnley's behind-closed-doors friendly at Manchester United yesterday but had to come off almost straight away
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Injury blow for Briscoe
LUCKLESS Lee Briscoe has suffered a fresh injury set-back which has dashed any hopes of a comeback at Gillingham on Saturday. Briscoe started Burnley's behind-closed-doors friendly at Manchester United yesterday but had to come off almost straight away
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Heads held high!
Morecambe 0 Ipswich Town 3 THE FA cup dream may be over, But Morecambe can keep their heads held high after a fine performance against Premiership Ipswich on Saturday. The 3-0 scoreline flattered the visitors, whose organisation and teamwork will fry
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Happy Days for nursery
A POULTON nursery school has scored top marks after its first ever OFSTED report. Happy Days Nursery in Carr Head Lane, Poulton, only opened last November with a total of three staff and eight pupils, but when it came to their recent inspection they were
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Farewell to Mo's special Mister
A VEIL of sadness descended on Marton this week as hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their respects to Roy Moreland, the much loved husband and comedy partner of Blackpool celebrity and Roly Poly Mo Moreland. Roy, who died on January 2 while in hospital
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All adds up for Tim
TIM Allen of Warton, is part of a team of new recruits at the Preston office of accountants and business advisers, KPMG. Tim, aged 23, who joins the company's tax team, attended Carnforth High School and Lancaster Royal Grammar School before taking a
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Pan fire sparks student evacuation
STUDENTS at college accommodation in St Martins were evacuated in the early hours of Tuesday morning after a pan left on a cooker caught fire. Acrid smoke poured through the corridors and an 18-year-old girl was rush to hospital by ambulance suffering
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New canine contract
THE new stray dog kennelling contract has been awarded to Valley View, Hazelrigg Lane, Lancaster. The contract, which runs for a period of 3 years, commenced on January 1, 2001, and from that date all dogs picked up by the Council Dog Warden Service,
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Burnley take Toulouse' Dadi
BURNLEY have taken Toulouse striker Eugene Dadi on trial. The 6ft hitman Dadi made his name with Linz in Austria. The French first division strugglers snapped him up for £500,000 last season. A product of the Sochaux Academy Dadi has UEFA Cup experience
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Derby hero Jansen wants to stay at Ewood
TWO-goal hero Matt Jansen shot down Preston last night in a gripping Lancashire derby and then pledged he wants to stay at Ewood and help restore Rovers into a leading Premiership force. The England Under 21 international -- who was linked with a move
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Good grammar brings results
MINDING your commas and full stops could make the difference between getting promotion or not, according to new research. The study by recruitment specialist Office Angels found 84 per cent of bosses believe excellent work is completely devalued by sloppy
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Move will end 50 years of history
MORE than 50 years of Post Office history will come to an end when Darwen's Sunnyhurst Lane Post Office closes its doors for the final time. The office, close to Sunnyhurst Woods, is closing when sub-postmaster Janice Yates retires on January 23. All
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Towering clock gets high-tech tick-tock
DEDICATED volunteers at a church will no longer have to scale the dizzy heights of the steeple to wind the clock. For 100 years, the clock in the 100ft steeple at St Paul's Church, Bridge Street, Ramsbottom, has been manually wound by volunteers who scaled
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Hi-tech tick for antique clock
DEDICATED volunteers at a church will no longer have to scale the dizzy heights of the steeple to wind the clock. For 100 years, the clock in the 100ft steeple at St Paul's Church, Bridge Street, Ramsbottom has been manually wound by volunteers who scaled
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No light relief
I'M sure there must be a point of being right all the time but I have to report that Citizen Smith hasn't quite got there yet despite another confirmation this week of a scandal first exposed in this paper some time ago. The bill for losing the Civic
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Let's all go bananas!
BANANAS are most of us they probably thought by most of us to be a pretty boring food. Traditionally known as a fat-busting munchie, what people do not often know is that they can actually form an exciting part of anybody's diet. The fact that they are
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£25,000 stolen in van raid
POLICE need people to help them track down three men who made off with thousands of pounds in a raid on a Securicor van just after Christmas. At 12.31pm on December 28, three men robbed the van as it waited outside the HSBC Bank on Highfield Road, Blackpool
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Carry on nurse - after 20 years!
HOSPITAL is where the heart is for one Blackpool nurse as she returns to her post after a TWENTY-year break. Doreen Gallagher first worked at Blackpool Victoria Hospital from 1972-80 and then left to raise her family. But the calling to care for people
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More gloom with possible BAE job losses
WORKERS at BAE Systems this week faced more gloom after an announcement on January 10 that more job losses are on the cards due to falling sales of the Hawk jet. The aerospace company is blaming the latest round of job cuts on a shortfall in the amount
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Airport rumours are still flying
RUMOURS about the sale of Blackpool airport were inflamed this week when the council failed to give an absolute denial. And critics of the council claim that selling the airport now would not represent "best value" for the town if the new Las Vegas-style
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Crackdown on phoning while mobile
WE all do it, according to the police, but it is careless, dangerous and could lead to you spending time in prison. Driving while using a mobile phone is becoming a common sight on our roads and Blackpool police have launched a hard-hitting campaign to
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Poulton needs a roads re-think
TRAFFIC problems on Poulton's roads have reached such dire proportions, according to one MP, that the whole system needs to change. Hilton Dawson, MP for Lancaster and Wyre, is calling for an extensive review of the town's roads because he says they represent
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Pleasure Island plans bust-up
TEMPERS ran high at a meeting in St Annes Town Hall yesterday (January 10) as residents and Fylde Borough Council officers discussed new plans to expand the Pleasure Island complex on the Promenade. Some residents were strongly against the plans at the
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Let me grieve in peace
A GRIEVING widow from Preston who was preyed on by a number of European cult groups just weeks after the death of her husband has spoken of her anger and heartache. Kathleen Foy from Ingol lost her 63-year-old husband, Peter, last January following a
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Sergeant Cindy best on board
SNOWBOARDING Sergeant Cindy Mellor (pictured) won three awards for her high-speed sport in an Army competition in Austria. Sgt Meller, 27, of the Territorial Army 93 Signal Squadron, Blackburn, won every category in the women's section of the competition
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MP pays tribute to rector
TRIBUTES to the work of Canon Jim Duxbury, who has retired after 15 years as rector at St Leonard's parish church, Padiham, have been made by Burnley MP Peter Pike. He said: "As rector to four churches the job was a very busy one. He had not only represented
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Gas pipeline to cause upheaval
A MAJOR new gas pipeline is expected to cause disruption in East Lancashire when work starts in April. Transco, the gas distribution company, is building the 29km high-pressure pipeline from Samlesbury to Helmshore and is warning that the work will affect
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Anti-violence help for women at risk
A WOMEN'S refuge today praised police for being at "the cutting edge" in tackling domestic violence. Bosses at the Wish Centre in Blackburn say Lancashire Police's special new support packs for victims of domestic violence will help to stamp out the problem
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Anti-violence help for women at risk
A WOMENS' refuge today praised police for being at "the cutting edge" in tackling domestic violence. Bosses at the Wish Centre in Blackburn say Lancashire Police's special new support packs for victims of domestic violence will help to stamp out the problem
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Simon's top of the class
FOUR of East Lancashire's junior athletes have made it to the top of the National Rankings for the Millennium Year, and another eleven are listed among the country's elite. Thrower Simon Bissell, 15, takes centre stage this week as the second of our three
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Will you run for charity?
THE Stroke Association is looking for people with places in the Flora London Marathon to run in aid of the charity. Last year participants in the marathon raised more than £34,000 to fund vital research and support for people affected by stroke, this
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Ridiculous
THE Bishop of Blackburn has spoken of his approval of Blackpool's playing host to refugees (Citizen Jan 4). Many of these so-called refugees fought with the French police that they might be permitted to leave for Britain where the pickings are richer.
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Big boys gambling with my future
I WANT my slice of the cake and don't try to tell me that I am not bloody well entitled to it. If Blackpool is going to become some gambling Mecca or an American satellite resort, then I want my cut. I've got half a million pounds worth of investment
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20 pieces of silver
THIEVES risked their lives by scaling scaffolding, climbing 100ft and smashing their way through a clockface in a daring raid on a Radcliffe church. They then ripped the safe from the vestry wall of St Thomas and St John's Church and took around 20 pieces
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Mind your business
BUSINESSES in Bury are being warned to beware of aggressive bogus callers claiming to be monitoring rating appeals on behalf of the Government. There have been several cases of businessmen and women in the borough being targeted by unscrupulous companies
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Events in East Lancashire on Friday, January 12
Janet Anderson MP Surgery, Sudellside Community Centre, Darwen, 5.30pm-6.30pm. Jack Straw MP Surgery, Mill Hill Community Centre, New Chapel Street, 4pm-5pm and Little Harwood Community Centre, Whalley Old Road, 5.30pm-6.30pm, both Blackburn. AWF Wrestling
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Message on debts must be sharper
NO matter how much validity there may be in the contention by Blackburn with Darwen's finance supremo, Councillor Gail Barton, that the debts of almost £1million written off without a word by executive members are only a small proportion of the amount
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Heaven help us, say struggling churches
CHURCHES in East Lancashire appear to be going through a tough time. Arson attacks and closures have created a crisis and last weekend saw the demise of two Methodist churches in one day. Lack of support was blamed and Methodists say the problem is nationwide
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Kiddies join crime fight
YOUNGSTERS, including four-year-old Thomas Lang dropped into Blackburn Police Station during a community safety evening to have their new bikes security code stamped by PC Eileen Smithson. The idea is to help deter theft and allow any stolen and recovered
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Mayors are rival fans
THERE was plenty of friendly rivalry when Blackburn Rovers took on Chester City in the FA Cup at the weekend... including civic rivalry. Councillor Jack Bury, the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen and an Ewood Park regular, was in attendance along with counterpart
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Biro raised a stink
REGARDING Albert Morris's observations (Letters, December 28) about the 'biro' used by cloth inspectors in the textile industry in the 1930s, I thank him for reminding me of the most miserable time of my life. I worked at Hindley's in Barrowford -- the
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Tales from the Touchline
"THINGS can turn around very quickly in football." A cliche used by many a pundit but one that rings true for the Sunday League team, Uncle Jack's FC who a few of my Witton team play for. Two seasons ago Uncle Jack's gained promotion from Division Three
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Whistle Blower with Neil Yates
AND SO the nightmare season continues. After three months of incessant rain we then get Siberian temperatures and half a foot of snow (so much for global warming). Many local leagues are in a state of near crisis with in some cases a deficit of over 100
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Burnley girls book cup final date
BURNLEY FC GIRLS U14S A 7 EVERTON GIRLS U14S 0 REIGNING Cup holders Burnley FC GIrls Under 14s A reached the Lancashire Cup Final for the second year running with this sweet victory over the Toffees. With recent signing ex-Evertonian Karen Boyle c tied
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Title rivals stalemate
BLACKBURN SUNDAY LEAGUE DIVISION ONE Old Toll Bar 1 New Gardeners 1 NEW Gardeners underlined their championship credentials when they ended the100 per cent record of leaders Old Toll Bar. Toll Bar dropped their first points of the season in a fascinating
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Dental world first for East Lancs pupils
HUNDREDS of East Lancashire children are to have their teeth varnished in a research programme into preventing tooth decay. In a world first, a fluoride-free varnish will be tested to see if it acts as a barrier to acid attacks. If the trials are successful
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You're better off!
SOUTH Ribble MP David Borrow has revealed new figures that show local home-owners are saving £1,000 a year due to lower and stable mortgage rates. More than 26,000 householders in the South Ribble area are benefiting from the government's policy of economic
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First Freeman dies aged 102
SOUTH Ribble's first ever Freeman of the Borough has died, aged 102. Linda Craven (pictured), of Sherdley, Fowler Lane North, Farington Moss, died in Chorley and District Hospital on Saturday, December 30 after a fall at her home. Her funeral takes place
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Zoggs slog sweetens up doughnut appeal total
A NELSON swimmer completed 20 miles at Pendle Leisure Centre and helped raise more than £2, 200 for charity. University student John Drummond, 29, of the Padiham Road area of Burnley, was attempting to swim a continuous 2000 lengths -- the equivalent
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Street attack on youth denied
A YOUTH ended up on the ground seemingly unconscious after an alleged street attack at the hands of a relation of a teenaged girl. Burnley Crown Court heard how the girl was said to have rung Michael Crawford, 18, on her mobile phone complaining that
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Pets left to die
A LANCASTER animal sanctuary claims this Christmas has been the worst on record for abandoned animals. Staff at Animal Care on Blea Tarn Road have been horrified at the sheer number of dogs, cats and other animals abandoned over the holiday period. The
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Officers caught online
AN internal audit at Lancaster City Council has revealed that more than half of the authority's officers have misused the internet facilities. Now council bosses are drawing up plans to improve online security following the audit's revelations. The investigation
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Plea to save jazz festival
A ROW is brewing at the town hall over which of the popular festivals should be scrapped to save money. The city council has capped this year's festival budget to just £150,000 and a number of festivals will have to be dropped or have their funding reduced
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Weekend bouts
BAMBER Bridge Leisure Centre, Brindle Road, is hosting an amateur boxing event on Saturday January 13. The first bout starts at 3pm and tickets are priced at £4.50. For more information call (01772) 322012.
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Juniors slump in second half
PRESTON'S visitors took advantage of an early lead at West Cliff as the juniors were still dreaming of tinsel and Christmas pudding. Preston have stuttered this season, thanks to be being religiously caught out on the break, but by half-time both sides
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Injury worries mount
PRESTON travel to the capital on Saturday (January 13) to face Wimbledon's not-so Crazy-Gang looking to notch up a few more away points. Yet, it's not going to be easy with Preston's injury list looking more like a roll call at the local A&E department
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Magic tale of mice and men
Nutcracker, at the Palace Theatre, Manchester TCHAIKOVSKY's delightful tale of the dolls that came to life was delivered superbly by the Chisinau National Ballet. Yuri Grigorovich, former director with the world renowned Bolshoi Ballet, choreographed
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End's in sight to crusade
CONVICTED double murderer Peter Fell is six weeks away from freedom, his family and local MP claimed today. Fell, released from jail in December after 17 years behind bars, has received confirmation that he will appear at the Court of Appeal in London
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'Asbestos scare' for old folk
ELDERLY residents in Blackpool are living in fear following the revelation that their sheltered accommodation could be contaminated with deadly asbestos. Residents at Hobart Place in Anchorsholme, pictured here, contacted ward Liberal Democrat Councillor
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First-aid kids' plea for help
A YOUNG first-aid group is under threat because it cannot find a leader. Longridge St John Ambulance Badgers, formed more than ten years ago, may have to fold if someone is not found soon. The group has around 15 boys and girls aged between six and ten
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Browsing around
Steve saved up money to make a simple website to highlight the problems of living on the streets. Now he's been offered a job and somewhere to stay, and is starting a new campaign for the homeless (www.hungryandhomeless.co.uk) What nasty chemicals lurk
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Gibson: Mel and fe-Mel
HERE'S a site perfect for anyone who loves celebrity gossip, with information about all the top showbiz stars. I looked up one of my all time favourite actors, the heart throb Mel Gibson. The site kept me up to date with all the celebrity news. I found
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Licensing boss' clean sweep
UNDER-AGE drinkers and drug users have been told their days are numbered by a new licensing boss. New chairman of the Ribble Valley Licensed Victuallers Association Peter Hopkinson, who runs The Dog Music and Sports Bar in Wellgate, Clitheroe, said he
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Dawson diversion
PROFESSOR Whitelegg (Greens Target Dawson) claims this constituency's severe neglect under the Conservatives has continued under Labour, and will be encouraging us to vote Green in the General Election. Let's remember that many people voted for Ralph
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So there's this bloke goes into a pub...
IF YOU are looking for a change from your local, then look no further than our own good pub guide. This detailed site gives drinkers the chance to get some expert advice before visiting pubs in Lancashire. It gives the user the opportunity to give their
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Learn to play the Silophone
IN MONTREAL, Canada, there is an old grain silo built in the 1950s to handle huge stockpiles that arrived by rail and left by sea. Changes to world markets left the enormous structure obsolete and it closed down in 1996, leaving a concrete empty shell
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Too generous Lytham let lead slip
Lytham 1st XI 2 Morecambe 3 AFTER the Christmas break Lytham looked rusty at times, but managed to dominate the first half with some good passing movements. Quick thinking by David Hans released Chris Hadley down the wing and then after combining with
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Ref's bad day at the office
Lancaster City 3 Emley 3 LANCASTER were left fuming after a string of refereeing errors denied them all three points against league leaders Emley. The man in black, Leo Higgins, was at the centre of the controversy as all three Emley goals shouldn't have
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Inquiry into winter gardens loan deal
AN inquiry is being called for following the discovery of vital documents which shed new light on the £1.3 million Winter Gardens deal. Leading councillors have asked the authority's chief executive, Mark Cullinan, to launch a formal enquiry into the
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Pool crash in Vans Trophy
LDV Vans Trophy Northern Section Second Round: Lincoln 3 Blackpool 1 By Chris Reece POOL'S hopes of winning a trophy this season ended on Tuesday night when they crashed out of the LDV Vans Trophy at the first hurdle. The home side always looked the more
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Sarah in bid for cadet award
A BLACKPOOL St John Ambulance cadet, who was hailed County Cadet of the Year for Lancashire last June, is hoping to go one better this weekend when she competes for a national title. Sarah Snell, 17, from Houseman Place, has been a member of Lytham St
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Presenting Plans
ON January 15 at 7pm, residents of Castle Ward are invited to a public meeting in Willow Lane School. The architect Alison Grant will be presenting plans for the Marsh Community Centre, and people will also have the chance to give their own ideas. Contacts
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That's the spirit
ON January 18 from 7-9pm, the first session of "Connecting with Spirit" will take place in The Friends Meeting House in Lancaster. Paul and Eleyna Williamson will help the participants to explore ways in which they can connect with spirit and listen to
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Town remembers hotel chain founder Hilda
HILDA Webb, the woman responsible for building up a thriving St Annes hotel business from humble beginnings, was tenderly remembered in a funeral service this week Mourners turned out in droves on January 8 to pay their last respects to Hilda at the service
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Where the heart is
THE Charity Organisation Heart Concern has changed venue from the Ophthalmic Out Patient Department at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary to the St Thomas Centre in Marton Street Lancaster. Miss Geraldine Smith MP opened the new venue which was celebrated
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Sharp signs again for Blackpool
BLACKPOOL Cricket Club's professional Marcus Sharp is returning for a fourth term next season, making him the longest serving professional at the club since Bill Alley in the 1950's, writes Gerry Wolstenholme. At Fleetwood Robert Kennedy, a New Zealand
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Doing it by halves
IF ever there was a game of two halves this match between two of the founder members of the Football League, had to be it. Preston were hit by a three-goal salvo inside 18 minutes as Blackburn started like an expresss train and ran Preston ragged. Early
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Traffic concerns hit fuel strategy
CONCERNS over the effects of increasing traffic congestion and rising air pollution are curbing demands for special fuel tax concessions for small and medium sized businesses, according to a new report. The study by Lloyds TSB on "Transport and Government
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Party tragedy of couple's fall -- inquest
A NEW Year family party ended in tragedy when an elderly couple fell together down the stairs. An inquest heard how Hilda Heyworth, 74, of Grane Road, Haslingden, died on New Year's Day after falling down the stairs at her daughter's two-bedroom terrace
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Josh gets a rare Buzz
LITTLE Josh Smith was undergoing a vital CAT scan in hospital when thieves committed the wickedest crime of the festive season -- they stole his favourite toys. Four-year-old Josh, from Bispham, suffers from epilepsy and was having a scan in Blackpool
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Lancs drivers buck national trend
CHRISTMAS drink-drive figures released this week show that Lancashire has bucked the national trend with a fall in the number of arrests. Statistics from Lancashire Police show a significant drop in the number of people caught driving while over the limit
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Veteran Mark shows true grit in Joe Salt Race
ROSSENDALE Harriers past and present were the leading veterans in the Joe Salt Road Race at Littleborough. Mark Aspinall, who has recently left Rossendale to rejoin Clayton, completed the 5K route in 16:34 to defeat Phil Taylor by 27 seconds. The pair
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"Bishop's got it all wrong"
WITH regard to the article "Ray of Hope In A Sea Of Despair" by Peter McLean in The Citizen (Jan 4), he quotes the Bishop of Blackburn speaking to his congregation on Christmas Day. The Bishop equates the innkeeper opening his stable door to Joseph and
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Pensioners deserve better than this
BRITAIN'S elderly have been badly let down by successive Conservative and Labour Governments. Labour only gave pensioners an insulting 75p in April, then when Gordon Brown handed out a £43 billion pre-election spending spree, he still couldn't find even
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Cup dream shattered
DESPITE having eight players including influential skipper Sean Gregan missing through injury and illness, North End controlled Saturday's match (January 6) for ninety per cent of the time, but a whole raft of chances were missed and that proved to be
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Let me grieve in peace
A GRIEVING widow from Preston who was preyed on by a number of European cult groups just weeks after the death of her husband has spoken of her anger and heartache. Kathleen Foy from Ingol lost her 63-year-old husband, Peter, last January following a
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Doing it by halves
IF ever there was a game of two halves this match between two of the founder members of the Football League, had to be it. Preston were hit by a three-goal salvo inside 18 minutes as Blackburn started like an expresss train and ran Preston ragged. Early
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East Lancs cricket hopes
VISUALLY impaired cricketers from across East Lancashire could get the chance to represent their country in the World Cup. For a roadshow to look for the best cricketers in the county comes to Burnley on Saturday and budding stars have a definite incentive
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Dailly in Foxes talks
CHRISTIAN Dailly was due to have talks with Leicester City today after Peter Taylor made an 11th hour bid to lure the Scottish international to Filbert Street. The 27-year-old had been mulling over a move to West Ham after meeting Hammers boss Harry Redknapp
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Councillor slams police
A PRESTON councillor has slammed proposals by Lancashire police chiefs to enlist a private security firm to protect their headquarters in Hutton -- at a cost of £450,000 to council taxpayers. Councillor Joe Fitzgerald says the cash should be spent on
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Jet set vet's charity quest
A TRIP of a lifetime beckons for a Leyland vet (pictured) who is to jet off to Africa next month as a volunteer for charity. Rebecca Dixon, 26, from Dalehead Road, Leyland, will fly out to Malawi on February 3 for a two-year stay with the Voluntary Service
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Royal treatment
A PRESTON Tax Office worker is off to London to meet the Queen after being awarded an MBE. Inland Revenue personal secretary Indira Mistry (pictured with her official MBE letter), 44, of Chalfont Field, in Fulwood, Preston, will receive her award later
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Pike's 'tax' confusion clarified
EAST LANCASHIRE MP Peter Pike has clarified remarks over exempting local homes in the bottom band for council tax from payments following protests from councils. In a speech at Westminster the Burnley MP appeared to suggest that the best way to persuade
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Helen's floral examination
AN exhibition of colour photographs, Zen Floral Revisited , by Helen Burrow has gone on display at the Dukes Gallery. Taken from close range, Helen's photographs are vivid and striking images of flowers. Helen has experimented with close up flower photography
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University doctor's work to benefit cancer sufferers
A SCIENTIST at Lancaster University is to carry out a new piece of cancer research which could potentially be of benefit in understanding many types of cancer. Dr Jane Owen-Lynch from thew Department of Biological Sciences has received funding from the
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Sharp signs again for Blackpool
BLACKPOOL Cricket Club's professional Marcus Sharp is returning for a fourth term next season, making him the longest serving professional at the club since Bill Alley in the 1950's, writes Gerry Wolstenholme. At Fleetwood Robert Kennedy, a New Zealand
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Mixed week for YMCA
YMCA A U10s 3 BLACKPOOL RANGERS A 0 YMCA B U10s 9 BLACKPOOL RANGERS B 0 YMCA played delightful football in the A game and won with two strikes from Max Rothwell and a goal by recent signing Rob Dickinson. In the B game Rangers started brightly but YMCA
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ST John's Hospice call for runners
ST John's Hospice in Lancaster is looking for people to compete in the British 10k open road race. They have been allocated twelve places in the race and are seeking six men and six women who would like to join the St. John's Hospice team of runners.
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Pleasure Island plans bust-up
TEMPERS ran high at a meeting in St Annes Town Hall yesterday (January 10) as residents and Fylde Borough Council officers discussed new plans to expand the Pleasure Island complex on the Promenade. Some residents were strongly against the plans at the
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Mystery blaze at waxworks
LOUIS Tussauds Waxworks on Blackpool Promenade came close to becoming one giant candle this week after the fluorescent sign on the front of the building mysteriously caught fire. Steve Marshall from Leisure Parcs, who own the popular seafront attraction
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Jamie gets his wheels
IT was first time lucky for a Poulton teenager as he passed his driving test. But for Jamie Neilson it was more of a challenge than most, because he has only one leg. Eighteen-year-old Jamie suffers from osteosarcoma, a disease which affects the bones
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Trolley loads of cheer
FAMILIES living in emergency temporary accommodation in Blackpool over Christmas received a welcome dose of festive cheer -- in the shape of 40 supermarket trolleys full of goodies! Helen Kearsley from Blackpool Borough Council's Social Services Department
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Juniors to help Hothouse flower in 2001
FOLLOWING a Christmas break, the junior choir has started up again at The Hothouse every Wednesday between 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm. The sessions are free to all, and are open to any young person serious about singing. The choir is run by local singers Angie
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Labour 'secrecy' attacked
"LABOUR is increasing secrecy in local government, shutting out the press and public from the council chamber", claims David Nuttall, the Conservatives Prospective Parliamentary Candidate commenting on new local government access to information regulations
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Search is on for Guardian Angels
EVERYONE needs a guardian angel, even businesses. The hunt is on to find senior East Lancashire business people to pass on their experience and expertise to local firms as part of the Guardian Angel entrepreneurs network. Around 15 "angels" already operate
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Spotlight on voluntary groups
VOLUNTARY and community groups across Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale will gather to discuss their work and their responsibilities at the Council for Voluntary Service. One-to-One surgeries will be held in conjunction with the Charity Commission on February
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Michael hits a top note
BRASS playing teenager Michael Davis has scaled new heights of success by winning a coveted place in the National Youth Brass Band. Michael, 14, from Little Marton, has been picked to join the band and play at two special concerts in April. He has been
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Strike ballot goes ahead
STRIKE action is still looming after an emergency meeting between social services bosses and union members failed to stop council workers balloting for industrial action. UNISON branch secretary Tony Garnsey says members have welcomed concessions made
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Mayor cuts cake to open new bakery
A MASSIVE new bakery has been officially opened by Blackburn with Darwen Mayor Councillor Jack Bury. Inter Link Foods' new 32,000 square foot bakery (pictured) on the Shadsworth Business Park already employs 170 people at its premises at Crossfield Street
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'I was Shipman's first intended victim'
IT took Elaine Oswald 25 years to understand why she had been treated as a drug addict at Burnley General Hospital -- she believes she had been the first intended victim of evil doctor Harold Shipman. She now believes the doctor she trusted and later
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Dental world first for East Lancs pupils
HUNDREDS of East Lancashire children are to have their teeth varnished in a research programme into preventing tooth decay. In a world first, a fluoride-free varnish will be tested to see if it acts as a barrier to acid attacks. If the trials are successful
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Mixed reaction to Straw's 'Big Issue' £10
HOMELESS people and charity workers have defended Home Secretary Jack Straw after he demanded change from a Big Issue seller on the streets on London. But two homeless people selling the magazine on the streets of East Lancashire branded the Blackburn
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Harriers trio make the grade
BLACKBURN Harriers have three stars high in the rankings. Andrew Lake is 18th in the long jump with 5.95m, but he has also gained a Grade 1 standard in the high jump and a Grade 2 in the hurdles. He was the Lancashire Champion in both high jump and hurdles
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Looking for lost family
I AM looking for information of my mother's family. I was born in 1945 in Blackpool to Irene Mary (Miller) and Richard F Obarr. Irene was born in 1918 in England and died in Loma Linda, Canada, in 1951. She and dad were married while dad was in the Second
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Search for relatives
I AM writing on behalf of a friend in The Netherlands who is researching the crew of an RAF Lancaster bomber of 103 Squadron which crashed near Esch in the south-east of Holland on June 17, 1943. Sadly all the crew were killed. The pilot of this aircraft
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Quality of care that matters
I HAVE been reading the exchanges on the letters page regarding residential homes and would like to air my thoughts on the points made. I do agree that your correspondent Mr Crossley was correct when he stated: "What is most important is the quality of
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'Asbestos scare' for old folk
ELDERLY residents in Blackpool are living in fear following the revelation that their sheltered accommodation could be contaminated with deadly asbestos. Residents at Hobart Place in Anchorsholme, pictured here, contacted ward Liberal Democrat Councillor
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Brett seals future with Tangerines
STRIKER Brett Ormerod has pledged his future to the Seasiders by signing a two year contract with the club. The deal has been finalised and has delighted manager Steve McMahon who sees the forward as playing a key part in Pool's future. Defender Brian
