Archive
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Let's applaud this car crime blitz
CAR crime is so widespread -- most car owners have either been victims or know others who have -- that it easily feeds the common public complaint that political tough-on-crime pledges are only so much hot air. How encouraged, then, victims and people
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Fun(d) raising
YOUNGSTERS at St Mary's Catholic High School, Blackpool, raised £430 for Comic Relief. Sixth formers donned Pants to Poverty T-shirts and held a collection. The rest of the school enjoyed an "own clothes" day.
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Lord Baker's boost
YOUNG business brains at a Blackpool school have been praised for their enterprise. Students at Rossall School, near Cleveleys, met Lord Kenneth Baker recently when he dropped in to meet the youngsters involved in the school's Young Enterprise venture
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Crazy for showbiz!
PUPILS at Palatine High school have been proving they've got got rhythm -- by staging a classic Gershwin musical. A cast of 93 pupils are performing the toe-tapping "Crazy For You" at the school this week. The show tells the story of a banker who wants
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OPEN HOUSE - Life in Westminster, with Bill Jacobs
JANET Anderson returned from America after a mission to persuade them that Britain was not closed because of foot and mouth-- only to find she had caught an eye infection. The Rossendale and Darwen MP was afflicted by conjunctivitis, leaving her in agony
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JUST JAMIE: Lisa and me - it's over
I'VE got a bit of celebrity news this week and you can deny it all you want but there's no quenching our insatiable thirst for gossip. Although I would like to think of myself as not so much above it as completely detached from it, the truth is I like
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Rams second half soccer show
Ramsbottom United... 2 St Helens Town... 4 THE Rams surrendered a two-goal half time lead against a St Helens side who completely outplayed them after the break. At the interval there was nothing to suggest Ramsbottom would concede four goals in such
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Boro let goal slip
RADCLIFFE BORO...1 MATLOCK TOWN...1 RADCLIFFE Borough let a one goal lead slip away and eventually were grateful to collect one point against a stubborn Matlock Town. Borough keeper Danny Hurst received his marching orders midway through the second half
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Dozen of delight for flying Park
SEDGLEY PARK...26 NEW BRIGHTON...10 ONCE again Sedgley Park had to dig deep into their reserves of commitment and determination; once again the result was triumph, a 12th successive league win and the team is still on track for, at worst, a promotion
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Stanley avoid another mess
AFTER a dreadful start to the season, Stanley B have eventually got themselves out of another fine mess to climb into the top half of the B&G Engineering C Section, thanks to an 8-1 defeat of Fishpool B last week. Excellent performances from the dazzling
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Battling East
WITH four experienced players out through illness and holidays, a depleted Leigh East Under 10s travelled to unbeaten Blacbrook and gave them a tough game. With six new faces in the side, Blackbrook were held to 12-0 until the final five minutes, with
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Tyldesley enjoy some friendly fire on weekend off
TYLDESLEY RU took a week off from league action and enjoyed the rare day of a friendly at Manchester side Broughton Park. Fielding 5 changes from last weekend's top of the table clash, Tyldesley still had too much power for the home side and came away
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Leigh RU Weekend Teams
1st XV ( v Wilmslow, home, meet 1.15pm) From: N.Aspinall, C.Bailey, A.Billinge, J.Bridge, D.Bullough, J.Cadebo, C.Cooney, D.Derbyshire, R.Fletcher (c), S.Haste, S.Holmes, G.Kendrick, S.Lee, C.Lee, P.Lee, P.Lester, C.Marsh, C.Whittle, P.Whitworth, S.Young
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East take another step on road to promotion
Leigh East 34 Wigan St Judes 12 LEIGH East won one of their most critical fixtures of the season when they defeated fellow National Conference League promotion hopefuls St Judes in a top class game at Grasmere Street. This was an outstanding performance
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Traffic chief retires
LANCASHIRE county council's traffic supremo is retiring after more than 30 years working for local authorities in the North West. Terry Dean who has most recently been responsible for transportation policy at Lancashire County Council, will leave at the
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141 dialling a money saver
REGARDING your correspondent's concern (Letters, March 21), one reason why people dial 141 is to save you the trouble and expense of making a fruitless return call. They may, for example, be calling from a number with several extensions and the switchboard
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Estates threat to natural drainage
ONCE again, another part of Mother Nature's land is to be replaced with a housing estate (LET, March 26). Some people say the one at Haslingden Road, Blackburn, should not be built because it would be next to Fishmoor Reservoir and would be a danger to
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Good news on water bills
AVERAGE combined unmetered household water and sewage bills in the North-west are only going up by £4. Combined bills for United Utilities customers will average £229 from April, compared with £225 last year. The region's bill is lower than the national
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Medals of Merit for Scouting threesome
THREE Bury "Scouters" have been honoured for their services to the movement. The Mayor of Bury, Councillor Bill Johnson and the County Commissioner, Alan Lee, presented the Medals of Merit during a special ceremony. The recipients of the award are Mr
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Armed raid at Sainsbury
ARMED raiders are being hunted by police after they stole £2,500 from Prestwich's Sainsbury store on Saturday evening (March 24). Three men in balaclavas burst into the store at the Longfield Precinct and threatened staff with a handgun. They grabbed
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GMP boss suspended
A TOP police boss is to be investigated following alleged "irregularities" concerning expense claims. Mr Barry Newton, the director of administration at Greater Manchester Police, was suspended from his duties on March 20 following consideration of a
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Player search continues
EXTRA time is required in the search for missing Pakistan footballer Nasir Iqbal. The 18-year-old's current whereabouts remain a mystery after he fled from Bury FC's Gigg Lane ground last Wednesday (March 21) prior to the Shakers' international match
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Biker injured in hit-and-run
WITNESSES are being sought to a hit-and-run accident which left a motorcyclist with a broken leg. Mr Steven Booth (30) from Manchester Road, Bury, was thrown from his Yamaha bike when a car cut across his path at Bury and Bolton Road in Bury on Sunday
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Date set for craft and hobby fair
THE Radcliffe Traders Association is already planning its third craft and hobby fair to be staged later this year. Radcliffe Civic Suite will be the venue for the September 29 event, which has been organised with the help of Radcliffe Area Board and the
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Heartbreak over gay killing
A FORMER East Lancashire pub landlord today fought back tears as he spoke of the killing of his ex-gay partner. A man has been charged with the murder of Noel Toland, 36, after his body was found at his home on the infamous Garvaghy Road, Portadown, Northern
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Tax rise one of highest
THE borough's inflation-busting council tax hike is nearly two per cent higher than rises imposed by similar councils. Government figures show that metropolitan authorities put up their bills by an average of 5.2 per cent, compared to the seven per cent
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Sign is costing me thousands
A BIRTLE pub is losing thousands of pounds worth of trade because people think it is shut due to the foot and mouth crisis. A "no entry" sign posted close to the Church Inn has led would-be patrons to mistakenly believe the pub is a no-go area. But the
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Lottery Bobby dazzler
ONE man and his dog are on the trail of big money after a sniff at Lottery success. George O'Neill, of Eastham Avenue, Bury has taught his blue Bedlington terrier Bobby a whole new ball game. Instead of choosing numbers for the Wednesday draw himself,
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Scaling new heights
INTREPID teachers Mariea Townsend and Linda Johnson are mounting their bid for a new school minibus by scaling Mount Kilimanjaro. The pair, both teachers at Elms Bank Community High School in Whitefield, jet off next weekend (April 7) for Kenya. They
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RMI bid to halt runaway leaders
LEIGH RMI face one of their toughest challenges of the season tomorrow when they travel to table-toppers Rushden and Diamonds. RMI's hopes of a top five finish in their debut season in the Nationwide Conference took a nosedive on Wednesday when they were
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Top dogs ready for Cougars
STILL smarting from their last-gasp defeat at Doncaster, the Centurions are counting down the minutes to Sunday's big NFP showdown at Keighley. The Cougars hold no fears for Leigh who are determined to prove that their Belle Vue setback was nothing more
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Campaign's concerns over phone mast rules
TOO little too late is the verdict on Government action over mobile phone mast fears by a Radcliffe-based campaign group. A change in the law has been announced which proposes that 56 days should be given to decide on planning applications for masts.
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Souness dismisses McAteer move
Souness today dismissed talk of a move by Celtic for Rovers midfielder Jason McAteer. A report in the Scottish Press yesterday claimed Bhoys boss Martin O'Neill is planning a £2 million swoop for the Republic of Ireland international. Scottish clubs have
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Craig says Rovers won't fall short
CRAIG Short believes Rovers' Middle East adventure has refreshed the parts other trips couldn't have reached as Graeme Souness's squad prepare for Sunday's crunch derby with Burnley at Ewood. A gruelling schedule of high pressure games left Rovers mentally
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Weaving their magic
LANCASHIRE folk group The Houghton Weavers are set to return to Preston later this month with their unmistakable brand of music and humour that has 'kept folk smiling' for over 25 years. The Houghton Weavers, named after a small town outside Bolton and
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Army steps out
CROWDS flocked to Preston town centre on Saturday for career advice and job opportunities from the Territorial Army. The Armed Forces Information Day gave local people an insight into skills taught in the army from driving a tank to polishing boots. Major
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Travelling successes
LANCASHIRE has become one of just two counties in England to win the prestigious Charter Mark award for its pioneering work with the children of traveller families. Lancashire County Council's Preston based Traveller Education Service ensures children
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Council 'sorry' for gas blunder
COUNCIL bosses have apologised to a tenant who had his gas switched off for more than a month -- because an engineer went off work sick and forgot to turn it back on again! Lorry driver Chris Winskill from Manor House Lane in Deepdale had his gas supply
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Your rights if stopped
LANCASHIRE Police Authority chairman Dr Ruth Henig, has urged the public to know their rights if they are stopped and searched as part of a campaign to encourage more public trust in the force. "Being stopped and searched doesn't mean that you have done
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Crumbling flats may have to go
DEMOLITION of Preston's crumbling Moor Lane flats could be an option, according to council housing chiefs. An independent surveyor's report is due to be concluded this week and a number of recommendations -- which could include the possibility of pulling
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Private bill shock for MP!
LANCASTER'S MP Hilton Dawson has been left stunned by a £286 bill for holding public meetings at the Town Hall. The MP, who has used Lancaster Town Hall on a number of occasions to campaign about local issues, has written to the city council saying he
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Two bodies give backing to bypass
PROPOSALS for a route linking Heysham to the M6 have won the backing of the North West Development Agency and North West Regional Assembly. The bypass is one of 10 major transport priorities which the two bodies have identified as requiring a high level
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Riders to be road safety target
TRAFFIC police will be out with a 20ft-long trailer on the A59 at Bracewell tomorrow, as part of a motor cycle safety campaign. The Pennine Police road safety unit is backing a national DETR initiative targeting both young riders on scooters and the so-called
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Helping science go with a bang
CHEMISTRY lessons will come to life when some of the county's major employers will give practical demonstrations of their work to schoolchildren. The experiments will give students the chance to have a go at real-life chemistry and find out how science
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Benefit cheat is jailed
A MORECAMBE man who cheated the benefits system after undergoing major heart surgery has been jailed for six months. William Charnley, 57, of Baycliffe Crescent, claimed up to £54,000 in benefits over an 11 year period despite earning £100 a week working
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Locals fear a student ghetto
A LANCASTER street is being taken over by private landlords setting up students flats, local residents have claimed. More than 20 people living on Golgotha Road have signed a petition objecting to plans for the extension of one house on the street. They
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Officer calls it a day
ONE of Lancaster City Council's longest serving and best known officers will retire next month. Alf Wrigley, 52, joined the council in 1980 as a senior engineer. In 1983 he was appointed to the post of deputy chief engineer before taking over the key
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Police in hunt for sex fiend
POLICE fear a man who indecently assaulted a teenager in the early hours of last Friday morning had planned a more serious attack. They say the man was only stopped when the 17-year-old woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, called to a group of
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Make sure you're safe
IT'S been six years since Kelly Hancock was killed in a fire but for his grieving parents the circumstances surrounding his tragic death remain painfully relevant. Like many young people in Lancaster, Kelly was a student who rented a room in a property
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Home is where the help is
A NEW around-the-clock service to patients at home is being introduced from next week by Pendleside Hospice, Reedley. Hospice Care for Burnley and Pendle can launch the new service thanks to a £221,000 grant from the National Lottery new opportunities
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Work on hotel will be closely monitored
HEALTH and Safety Executive inspectors are monitoring closely major repair work which is now under way on The Commercial Hotel, Colne, councillors have been told. The prominent Skipton Road building is still covered in scaffolding, eight months after
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Ju-Jitsu proves a big hit with the youngsters
PRESTON College's new Ju-Jitsu sessions are proving to be a real hit with youngsters across the area. It is the first year sessions have been run at the college's Sports Centre in Fulwood and the group now attracts dozens of dedicated children. Instructor
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Warriors find it tough going
St Judes U8s 48Leyland Warriors U8s 20: Leyland put up a creditable performance in their defeat by the class Wigan team. Player of the match Eden Clayton crossed the line twice, the best of which came from a slipped pass from his captain Grant Smillie
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Striker Cresswell issues Gills warning
HIGH-FLYING Preston will be out for revenge on Saturday when Gillingham are the visitors to fortress Deepdale. And after suffering a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of the Gills last December, North End will want to bolster their play-off place prospects and
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LOCAL SOCCER: No show Stanley
ACCRINGTON Stanley are without a match in the UniBond Premier this weekend.
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CRICKET: Double hit for Lancs
RYAN Driver and Graham Lloyd hit half centuries as Lancashire claimed another win on their pre-season tour of South Africa yesterday. Driver, the young left-hander who has arrived from Worcestershire, continued his impressive start with 63 against the
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LOCAL SOCCER: Hot shot stays in
DARWEN: Boss Steve Wilkes is planning a youth revolution in a bid to breathe new life into his flagging squad. The debuts of teenage trio Leigh Smith, Steve Newton and Damian Stewart against Padiham on Tuesday gave the boss cause for optimism ahead of
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Five minutes of fame
THREE Silentnight Beds workers got a small taste of TV fame after winning walk on parts in the hit ITV drama 'Where The Heart Is'. The lucky would-be celebrities -- Kevin Fletcher from Barrowford, Kate Roberts of Barnoldswick and her brother Steven, who
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Helping the old
Elderly people around the county are being encouraged to claim the full benefits they deserve. Lancashire Council's Welfare Rights Service and seven district councils were involved in the annual exercise to increase the take-up rent and rate rebates and
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Time for all PNE fans
A CLOCK face designed by Preston North End (pictured right) was going under a 'virtual hammer' on Friday, March 31 in aid of the UK's Multiple Sclerosis Society. Famous faces including Victoria Beckham, Damien Hurst and Jamie Oliver have joined top North
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Five years ago
PET hamster Hambo was rescued from a burning house and given the kiss of life by Clitheroe fireman Ronnie Eatough. She became overcome with the smoke in her Chatburn flat and had stopped breathing so Ronnie blew into her mouth and revived her.
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School and head get good report
INSPECTORS from Ofsted found a good school with some very strong features at St Anne's and St Joseph's primary, Accrington. The team praised many aspects including the leadership of head teacher Mark Dixon. He said: "We are all working really hard here
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Improved properties cash grant clawback
LEGAL action is being taken against residents who spend a council's money on doing up their homes and leave them empty. Two cases are currently being chased through the courts by officers from Hyndburn Council, who say they have dozens of houses standing
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Emma and Laura are cancer conquerors
TWO schools attended by cancer conquerors Emma Rudd and Laura Millar have raised life-saving cash for the hospital that treated their star pupils. The girls, now students of Leigh St Mary's RC High, Astley, are both former Twelve Apostles' RC Junior School
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Anger over mine 'eyesore'
OPENCAST anger boiling up in Bag Lane could spill to other parts of Atherton and Tyldesley. An unfinished coal mining project has been labelled an eyesore and potential death trap by locals who warn more problems could be on the way with approval being
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Massive windfall set for Astley and Tyldesley
MILLIONS of pounds may be ploughed in to Tyldesley and Astley and YOU can play a part in deciding how the money is best spent. An ambitious plan costing between £3m-£5m to boost the life chances of young children and their families looks set to be given
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Busway plan will wreck our view, claim
FURIOUS residents say changes to busway plans would ruin their view. People in Chester Road, Tyldesley are upset about amended plans for the proposed Leigh-Manchester guided route. The modifications would raise the level of the busway in front of their
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Nichola's mercy trip
BIG Brother Star Nichola Holt joined Atherton fireman Trevor Foulkes in Atherton on Tuesday to discuss their planned mercy missions to Romania. Father of three, Trevor , aged 48, has travelled to the Ukraine four times and to Romania 12 times giving aid
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We've been Turpined!
WHO said Dick Turpin was dead? The increases in my Council Tax bill over last year's bill are: To LCC -- +3.5 per cent to Lancaster City Council -- +5.96 per cent to Lancashire Police -- +8.45 per cent overall increases -- +4 per cent. Over the last four
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Will Smith be first MBI MP?
I SEE in last week's edition of the Citizen that Morecambe MP Geraldine Smith joined the ranks of the great local mis-informed by critisizing Homeless Action for helping people find accommodation in Morecambe. My initial thoughts are whether Ms Smith
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Warden would not listen to me
FURTHER to the comments made by Disgusted of Morecambe, I will never as long as I live forget the day when a Lancaster traffic warden approached my car whilst parked outside a Lancaster funeral home. I had cause to visit the funeral home in order to identify
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Drnker 'driving in his sleep'
A MAN who admitted he had drunk 15 pints of beer before crashing into a bus stop in Clitheroe town centre believed he could have been driving in his sleep. Blackburn magistrates heard that a breathalyser showed James Russell Sanderson to be four times
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Poulton's ready to go!
THE Poulton area of Morecambe has been chosen by the council to enter a competition to win Government funds. Poulton was selected above Skerton and the West End by the Local Strategic Partnership as the district's choice to go forward and win a place
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Poulton junior soccer
POULTON YOUTH U10s 0 BJFF 2 BJFF, after some good inter play, scored through J White to take a 1-0 half-time lead. The second half was much like the first and White scored a second. POULTON YOUTH U10s 0 BJFF 2 BJFF led at half-time with a goal from A
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Rossall reports
IN Division A of the Rossall Monday Sixes Blackpool Area Divers are just one point ahead at the top following their 1-1 draw with third placed The Cellar while second placed Boca Juniors closed the gap after a walkover win. Fleetwood Flyers beat Blackpool
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Rugby league
Blackpool Scorpions 16 Thatto Heath 21 IN only the Scorpions fourth game in three months the rust showed in a lacklustre display. Thatto Heath took the lead with a converted try when a missed tackle allowed their centre to run 60 yards to score. The outstanding
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STANDPOINT
(A view from the fans from the Real Progress Group) OUR wisdom of Real Progress' noble efforts to win back lapsed Pool fans to boost our attendances must be doubted as it seems whenever a decent crowd turns out our form takes a nosedive! With three successive
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Don't forget the other methods of education
IN response to the article entitled "Truants' Parents to Face Prison" (March 15) I would like to point out that although police officers are entitled to stop people and ask them if they are out of school 'without authority', they should bear in mind that
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Borough bound
MORECAMBE'S record signing, Steve Walters, has left the club in advance of the transfer deadline. Walters, who joined the Shrimps for £25,000 from Northwich Victoria last summer, has moved to Stevenage Borough for a fee reported to be £17,000. It's a
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PSPUBS could stay open all night on New Year's Eve if new proposals go ahead.
And drinkers may also be able to toast the Queen until 1am on June 3 next year -- the day of her Golden Jubilee. Cheers, your Maj.
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The postie can lose my bills
UNBELIEVABLY, nearly 200 million letters are delivered late every day, and one million are lost each week. I hate the postie coming at home because all he brings is junk mail and bills, bills, bills. They can lose the lot every day if they wish. I won't
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Spick and span chicken
SCIENTISTS have invented the world's first self-disinfecting chicken. The birds are given feed containing an enzyme which kills the food poisoning bug campylobacter found in most poultry, and still present in meat not properly cooked. The research team
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First and second blood to Droylsden
Droylsden 3 Lancaster City 2 Lancaster 1 Bishop Auckland 0 CITY'S seven game winning spell came to an end at Droylsden on Tuesday night. A late winner for the Bloods meant that they completed the double over the Blues this season. The Greater Manchester
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Police tune into hi-tech
LEADING telecommunications firms BT and Motorola have joined forces with the police to develop a hi-tech new radio system that is set to hit Blackpool next month. The "Airwave" service, launched in Preston this week, is the first step in plans to equip
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Supermarket sweeps poll
ANSDELL residents have given the thumbs-up to the construction of a supermarket on the local rugby ground. More than 1,000 Park Ward residents voted in favour of the building of a Booths' store on the Fylde rugby ground, Blackpool Road, Ansdell, recently
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Kingsway goes back to drawing board
IT looks increasingly likely that the £40 million Kingsway development in Lancaster will be going back to the drawing board. The council is looking at a new development brief after two years of negotiations with the chosen developer, Chelverton, failed
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Tent plan for punk festival
A HUGE circus tent may be erected on Morecambe Promenade to resolve the Punk Festival row. Negotiations are currently taking place between the council, market traders and punk festival organisers over the best way forward for the 25th anniversary event
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MP wants action for the homeless
LANCASTER MP Hilton Dawson has called on supporters of the troubled Homeless Action charity to lobby their councillors. The possibility of restoring grants to Homeless Action and four other charities is likely to be discussed at the city council's next
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Clean-up challenge
THE council is hoping to be littered with entries for a competition to promote a clean environment. Some primary and high schools in the borough have already agreed to take up the challenge but more entrants are being sought. The Schools Environmental
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Audit finds faults in environment services
COULD do better is the verdict of inspectors looking at Bury Council's environmental services. Everything from street lighting, refuse collection, public toilets and footpaths came under the scrutiny of the Audit Commission. The commission's figures show
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Family petition Downing Street
A FAMILY'S campaign against the use of Depleted Uranium has been acknowledged by the Prime Minister and handed over to top brass at the Ministry of Defence. Mrs Gail Norris, of Heathfield Road, Whitefield, made an emotional journey to Downing Street on
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Praise for the pupil singers
MORE than 500 talented youngsters were seen as well as heard during the best-ever Children of Bury Sing event. Organisers say the weekend's two concerts were the finest since the borough began to host the popular annual musical extravaganza in 1998. On
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Briscoe's derby hopes
CLARETS full-back Lee Briscoe has been given the all-clear to return to training to keep alive his outside chances of a first appearance in the big East Lancashire derby. Briscoe missed Blackburn's 2-0 win at Turf Moor in December with a gashed knee and
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Northern Soul night
COAST to Coast Promotions are holding A Northern Soul and Tamla Motown Night on April 14. Guests can enjoy a happy hour from 8 to 9 pm, £1 a pint of lager and bitter and a 10 man DJ line up including "Digger", Neil Holden, Pete Coulson, Steve Lane and
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Chance for budding poets
CREATIVE Journal readers have the chance to represent Leigh in a national poetry competition. Winning poets from across the nation will represent their towns in a national poetry anthology designed to encourage and seek out budding poets. Entry is free
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Your views on walking
LOCAL people are being asked for their views on how walking can be made a more popular activity. The council is launching "Feet First," a new consultation document aimed at making walking a safe, sensible and enjoyable alternative to cars and buses. The
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Art groups' cash windfall
COMMUNITY arts across Wigan and Leigh have hit the jackpot with a £12,000 grant from the Regional Arts Lottery Programme. Arts organisations across the North West are celebrating after the announcement that £766,767 from lottery funding has been allocated
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Derby clash key to Bury play-off hopes
WITH confidence brimming the Shakers are likely to stick with an unchanged team for Saturday's tasty derby against local rivals Oldham Athletic. A midweek win against play-off hopefuls Stoke City has left Bury on all systems go and manager Andy Preece
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Golden couple celebrate
JAMES and Gladys Goodwin are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary with a family get-together. The couple, of Browning Street, in Hoddlesden, will be joined by family and friends for a special lunch. James, 79, and Gladys, 71, married at St Joseph's
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Abbeyfield Audrey's date with royalty
PRINCE Charles hosted a reception for The Abbeyfield Society who provide security and companionship for the elderly all over the country. The prince, who is patron, hosted the event at St James Palace in London, where he met representatives from all the
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Soccer treat for kids is competition prize
SCHOOLCHILDREN met up with their sporting idols after designing winning entries in a painting competition. Pupils from Moorland High School, Sudell Primary and St James Primary, in Darwen, spent an afternoon meeting and greeting Rovers' players at their
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Police warn of bogus census officials
POLICE are warning people to watch out for bogus officials when the national census begins next week. The warning has been issued at a time when a number of enumerators will be knocking on doors asking questions. It is feared that criminals could use
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Police believe missing OAP will turn up
POLICE investigating the disappearance of missing pensioner Jack Hawthornthwaite today said they believed he would turn up. Mr Hawthornthwaite, 69, went missing from the Highfield Residential Home, in Sudell Road, at about 1am on Tuesday March 13. Detectives
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Compost bins scheme set to make the most of your rubbish
COMPOST bins are to be the way forward in a bid to boost the amount of rubbish recycled in Wigan and Leigh. Wigan Council has joined forces with a supplier of compost bins and local garden centres to offer a 70 percent cut in the price of the unit that
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Police appeal after street 'abduction'
POLICE are appealing for help in tracing a possible kidnap victim one week after he was seen being bundled into a van outside Lee's Bakery on St Helens Road. Shoppers watched in horror as at 12.04 pm on Friday, March 23, a burly man leapt from the passenger
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Education project director takes up new challenge
LEIGH Education Action Zone project director Roland Absalom is taking up a new challenge in Leeds. As part of the team which in 1998 launched the education project responsible for identifying and maintaining good practice in Leigh schools, Mr Absalom,
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Curfew offender awaits sentence
A BACUP man who broke a court's tagging order four times during the festive period could be heading to jail following his appearance before Rochdale magistrates. Steven Edwards, 18, of Cutler Crescent, Stacksteads, Bacup, admitted breaching a curfew order
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Contact your old pals with the Leigh Journal
ALEC Thorpe, of Blakeney, Gloucestershire: "I would like to get in touch with anybody who was in 5G at Ecky Fleck and left June 1971. Some names: Keith Hobson, John Connet, Phil Heaps, Gordon Lengden or anybody else who remembers them and me. alec5544
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Intrepid Michelle moves into a big adventure
ADVENTURER Michelle Andrews will sleep in rain forests and delve deep around a coral reef as she embarks on the experience of a lifetime. But this weekend she'll be engrossed in the world of kings and pawns rather than creepy crawlies and prawns, as she
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Arty Sam scoops top award
LEIGH artist Samantha Brown, 24, has scooped a top award from the Academy of Fine Arts in Manchester. Sam, from Green Lane, Leigh, won the Ted Roocroft Award for an abstract sculpture she created for the annual open exhibition. Inspired by geometric shapes
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Sweet taste of success for bakery celebrating 75 years
LEIGH bakers Waterfields have hit a milestone 75th anniversary this year -- and have kicked off a year of celebration. One of the first events took the company back to its roots in 1926 when a three tier wedding cake cost £5. 15s. (£5.75). The bakery
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Roads closed after club's arson attack
PART of Leigh was closed off as firefighters tackled a blaze which destroyed a social club which locals had branded a dangerous eyesore. Roads in the Plank Lane area were blocked by police as firefighters struggled for three hours to quench the blaze
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'Lowton mall is a crazy scheme'
PROTESTS over the go-ahead for a Lowton mall are mounting. This week nearby resident Jonathan Mellor joined the objections, claiming it would sound the death knell for local businesses. The plan for a new large Co-op store, vet's surgery, shop and community
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'I'm no racer,' says OAP Robert
PENSIONER Robert Stowell has hit out after the council wrote him a letter suggesting her had been driving too fast during an accident at new 'chicanes'. Mr Stowell, 77, of Warwick Road, Tyldesley was annoyed by a reply from Wigan Council after he complained
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Traders' fury over comments on market
FURIOUS Leigh market traders have called for a face to face meeting with Leigh Business Partnership member John O'Brien following alleged comments he made about the state of their trade. The last minutes of the town centre management meeting reported
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Super slimmer Roy is gaining pounds!
SUPER slimmer Roy Lilly has shed an amazing 42 inches off his body and helped raise £8,000 for the Christie's Against Cancer Appeal. His success has inspired his fellow members of Worsley Weight Watchers and among those supporting his fund-raising is
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Sadness as magistrates court closes its doors
LOCAL justice will be dispensed from Wigan from Monday. This morning the final cases will be dealt with at Leigh Magistrates Court bringing to an end an 18 month period in which your Journal led a "Keep our Court" campaign. That campaign, although it
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Brace yourselves
BUSINESSES in Bispham are bracing themselves for disruption as the summer season looms, according to a local councillor. Bispham ward councillor Donald Clapham says locals fear that a double whammy of sea defence and tram track repair work will bring
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Comic's relief is no joke!
LOCAL comic Matthew Neil thought the joke was on him when the Citizen contacted him to congratulate him on his success at a recent comedy challenge. Matt, 19, from Dixon Road, Blackpool, was astonished to hear that he had actually won local heats of The
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Antenna anger
AN ANGRY Blackpool pensioner has slammed a major phone company for putting up an aerial in the middle of a residential area. Terence Gill, of Cambray Road, North Shore, says locals fear not only for their health but also the value of their houses after
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A trip down memory lane
HOLLYWOOD screen siren, Jeanne Crain, is to take a trip down memory lane next month, with a stage production of the1945 film, State Fair -- in which she played the leading lady. This legendary film star is looking forward to seeing the oscar-winning movie
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Toy Story has a happy ending
A CUDDLY dinosaur called Dino is helping children come to terms with the loss of one or both eyes, thanks to the creative genius of a local false eye specialist. Paul Charlesworth of the National Artificial Eye Service (NAES) in Blackpool came up with
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Your rights spelled out
DO YOU know your rights if you are stopped by police and asked to be searched? Dr Ruth Henig, chairman of the Lancashire Police Authority, has launched a new campaign to encourage more public trust in the police force and to ensure people know where they
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We throw Karl a 'lifeline'
THE Citizen has come to the rescue of Blackpool FC boss and farmer Karl Oyston this week -- by putting him in touch with Lancashire RSPCA who have pledged to assist any Lancashire farmer who needs help with food supplies during the foot-and-mouth crisis
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'Hooligan hotline' for soccer clash
FANS are being urged to help stamp out football violence by telephoning a unique hooligan hotline being set up by police for Sunday's East Lancashire derby. The special number, which will only operate on matchday, has been established in response to public
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One more time...'oldie' stars return to stage
FRANK Sinatra crooned again, Billie Jo Spears flirted and Jim Reeves made a comeback at an East Lancashire show. Eight veteran singers with several centuries' experience between them took to the stage at a senior citizens' talent show at King George's
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Our African queen helps build library
AN East Lancashire teenager is taking a year off from her studies to help the less fortunate with theirs. Gillian Birch, 19, is currently in Kenya, where she is spending six months at the Kamahia Primary School, in the district of Gilgil. The school caters
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Police declare war on car crooks
POLICE today declared war on car crooks after a massive operation led to one of East Lancashire's most notorious offenders being jailed. Officers named and shamed Lee Suddick, of Blackburn, on his 19th birthday, and warned other car criminals they faced
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Empty home driving residents mad
A FORMER old people's home is driving residents up the wall and causing a nuisance to emergency services because the alarm keeps going off -- and nobody knows who the owner is. Shadsworth House was a Blackburn With Darwen Council owned old people's home
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Company in security defence
THE company which employed a door-to-door salesman who was jailed for groping a pensioner today insisted it takes security seriously. The move came as Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw asked for a report into the case of Trevor Williams, 32,
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LOCAL SOCCER: Fixtures for sidesa in the region
LOOKING ahead to the fixtures this weekend and next week. Saturday's fixtures -- Worthington Challenge Trophy semi-finals: Curzon Ashton v Newcastle Town; Formby v Kidsgrove Ath. Second Division Trophy semi-final: Bacup Borough v Daisy Hill. Division
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LOCAL SOCCER: This one is for Frank
BACUP Borough are desperate to win the Second Division Trophy this season -- so they can dedicate the success to one of the club's unsung heroes. Secretary Frank Manning has worked on the administrative side of the club for more than 35 years and has
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SOCCER: Preston's Healy in doubt for visit of Gillingham
PRESTON striker David Healy is a doubt for the visit of Gillingham tomorrow after suffering an ankle injury on international duty midweek. The 21-year-old was part of the Northern Ireland side which lost 4-3 to Bulgaria and despite scoring, Healy also
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LOCAL SOCCER: Local rivals make stiff competition for title
TOP-OF-THE-LEAGUE Rossendale United came crashing down to earth when they were beaten at Skelmersdale last weekend. But manager Jim McCluskie said it was a valuable lesson for his NWCL Division One high-flyers to learn with just four weeks before the
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Independents alive & kicking
IT was so nice to read the personal attack on me by Mr Wood in The Citizen (March 22). As is about standard for Liberal Democrats, he has got his facts wrong. Firstly, regarding the Blackpool First Alliance, Mr Wood is fully aware that I resigned from
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Let politicians reap what they sow
AS someone whose parents had a small-holding in Wales, I would like to sympathise with what the farmers are currently going through. It cannot be easy for them to have already lost their animals or be constantly looking over their shoulder for foot and
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When will farmers learn lesson?
IT'S about time farmers owned up to their own responsibilty for the foot and mouth crisis. They have blamed foreigners -- from bogus asylum seekers who supposedly smuggled ham sandwiches, to meat imports from Third World countries. In their anti-foreigner
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Facts on the school buses
HE'S at it again. Your regular correspondent Peter Roscoe airs his bizarre views on the activities of Blackpool's Labour administration (Citizen, March 15). In his latest diatribe Mr Roscoe accuses the Labour group of having an evil plan to axe the school
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We want Councillor Bobby!
I WAS amused to read of the exploits of Bobby, the canine with mystic powers (Bury Times, Mar 27). Surely a dog who is blessed with such a gift for predictions and money-making for his owner could teach our local councillors a thing or two in the financial
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It's still slaughter
DAY by day we hear about the slaughter and burning of infected and possibly infected animals. Smoke blots out the spring sunshine and the livelihood of farmers is lost overnight. Whole areas of the countryside are in a silent deathly paralysis; "slaughter
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Police are let off too easily
ACCORDING to the press, an innocent black man was falsely arrested on trumped-up charges. He was accused of assaulting a police officer and damaging his glasses, and this man was then unnecessarily sprayed with CS gas by the officer. He was later found
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Why they get away with it
THE letter from "Honest Driver" (Your Letters, Mar 20) headlined "Hit the car tax dodgers" caught my eye. On my daily walks around Prestwich and Whitefield I have observed many cars parked on the highway which are either not taxed or the tax disc is out
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Concentrate on the crimes of Saddam
MRS I. Yearden (Your Letters, Mar 13) resorts to the old ploy of referring to another problem instead of the one mentioned in my earlier letter, namely the crimes of Saddam Hussein. I can assure her that I know of many of these crimes, including the poisoning
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All councillors should resign
WITH inflation running at less than two per cent, this year's council tax rise of seven per cent is totally unacceptable. I am firmly of the belief that this council is incapable of handling a budget the size of Bury's. Year after year, they have failed
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I support town centres
IN response to Jonathan Poston and his letter (Mar 20) written after the special Prestwich Area Board meeting of March 6, I wish to point out that I did not launch into a "diatribe", as he put it. What I did was to explain the restrictions which were
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Let's make The King No 1 once again
KING Elvis lives. The greatest performer of all time is being reincarnated. His big seventies' hit Suspicious Minds is to be released next week along with the best ever film made of his life "Elvis: That's The Way It Is" which goes out at cinemas nationwide
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It's good to be BACK!
I CAN now sympathise with back pain sufferers everywhere after suffering almost a week of agony. It came on unannounced and rendered me useless. I rang for a doctor's appointment but being unable to get in the car I was unable to attend the surgery. And
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Canadian Jim wasn't speaking a load of rubbish about litter
NICE one, Canadian tourist and ex-Leigh RL player Jim Hindley who branded Leigh and Atherton "disgusting" last week. Anyone with good eyes can't fail to agree with his opinion on the filth strewn streets. I'm glad someone else who feels the same is brave
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Leigh's Littler link
THE Centurions are being linked with a possible move for Salford utility player Stuart Littler. Leigh coach Paul Terzis has confirmed that Littler is a locally-produced player that he admires and feels would benefit his squad at Hilton Park. "The problem
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Leigh ready to join the union
THE cross-code challenge match between the Centurions and Orrell is on, subject to approval by the RFL and RFU. Leigh officials met their counterparts at Orrell's Edge Hall Road ground last Saturday when they agreed in principle to a formal link between
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'We've lost a battle, not the war'
DISAPPOINTED but far from downhearted. That was Paul Terzis' immediate reaction after seeing his side's 12 game winning streak come to a juddering halt at Doncaster last Sunday. He was quickly on the attack again, claiming Leigh have lost a battle, not
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FIERY DRAGONS TURN UP THE HEAT
Doncaster Dragons...16 Leigh Centurions...11 IT had to happen sometime. Leigh's 100 per cent NFP record was sent up in a puff of smoke by the Dragons but you can't help feeling the Centurions threw it away rather than Doncaster winning it. Had they hung
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Final chance for Hill
DAISY Hill look to reach their first major final for many years tomorrow when they travel to Bacup. The local side will start as underdogs despite a superb 1-0 quarter-final victory against Alsager last weekend. Assistant manager Brian Smith says: "It
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Golborne go goals crazy
A GOAL after only 20 seconds from Paul Townshend set Golborne Sports on their way to a stunning local derby 10-1 annihilation of Garswood Reserves. David Buckley made it 2-0 after 12 minutes with Golborne well in control. However, a long range effort
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Swan off as Leigh lose for first time in 2001
Forest Green Rovers 3, Leigh RMI 1 AFTER racking up an unbeaten run of eight matches, RMI were finally undone by a passionate Forest Green side on Wednesday night. The Railwaymen's first visit to Gloucestershire produced a thrilling battle between two
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Town's double keeps them on promotion track
ATHERTON Town completed a seven day double over rivals Pennington, following a 4-0 home win with a 2-0 away victory at the weekend. With an unbeaten run now stretching back 13 games, Town have moved into second place in the Premier Division table and
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Centenary festival
THE 100th Lytham St Annes festival of music and speech will be held at Lytham St Annes High Technology College, Worsley Road, Ansdell, on April 6 and 7. Performances run from 9am-5pm each day, with an evening concert on both nights, starting at 7pm. Pay
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Veivers out for Batley clash
SWINTON Lions will be missing loose forward Phil Veivers for the visit of Batley to Gigg Lane on Sunday (3pm). The influential Veivers was rushed into hospital with appendicitis earlier this week and is expected to be missing for four to six weeks. It's
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BURYSPORT - £50k reached now all roads lead to Oldham
THE Bury Times sponsored Save Our Shakers Appeal this week passed the £50,000 mark - and it's all down to you! This Wednesday's fundraising night at Chicago Rock Cafe raised £1,300 taking the fund to an amazing £50,640. The Bury public, Shakers supporters
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Leigh RU Juniors
A LATE try from Forshaw, his second of the match, gave Leigh Under 12s a 21-21 draw with Bolton. Forshaw's first try wiped out Bolton's early lead before the visitors went ahead again. A fine try from Robinson put Leigh back in it but it still needed
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U14s power into last four
LEIGH East Under 14s progressed into the last four of the NW Counties Cup with a 22-16 win over Crosfields. Steven Mullaney popped over a drop goal in the first minute before Adrian Dootson scored in the corner from a break by Darryl Kay. Mullaney converted
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Today's the day
1842: The world's first anaesthetised operation was performed by Dr Crawford Long when he removed an encysted tumour from the neck of James Venable, having first rendered him unconscious by administering sulphuric ether on a tower. The operation was so
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Campaign to boost council house image
HOUSE-HUNTERS are to be targeted in a marketing campaign to convince more of them to switch from the private sector to council-type housing. The move is part of a pilot scheme to change the beliefs of many people that only single mums and homeless people
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Children join the press gang
BUDDING newshounds are to be given the chance to see their work in print, thanks to a pioneering news agency hot off the press in East Lancashire. The Children's Express news bureau is run by teenagers for teenagers and aims to help schoolchildren get
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Stiff penalties for the road repair slowcoaches
FIRMS who dig up roads for maintenance work in Lancashire could be fined £2,000 for every day they get behind schedule. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Lancashire County Council has decided to impose fines if contractors exceed an agreed deadline
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Armed thugs supermarket raid terror
TERRIFIED staff handed over £715 to armed thugs who raided their store. Two masked men armed with handguns forced staff to open the safe of Aldi Supermarket, in Castle Street, Tyldesley. They snatched the cash and escaped in a blue N-registered Volkswagon
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Fund-raising on write lines
A FUND-raising night at the Village Leisure Club, George Street, Prestwich, raised £1,588, thanks to a storyline from Coronation Street. A script from the TV soap fetched £110 in an auction in aid of the Christie's Against Cancer appeal. The event, in
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MP makes a special call to BT
BURY North MP David Chaytor called in at BT Cellnet's Dumers Lane call centre for a face to face chat with telephone advisors. It was the first time he had visited the centre. one of the borough's largest employers ,and it was deemed high time for him
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Fenton photo up for auction
A CRIMEAN war scene captured by a pioneering Bury photographer could fetch up to $4,500 at a New York auction. The photograph, measuring 10in by 14.5in, was taken by Roger Fenton in 1856. Fenton, who lived from 1819 until 1869, was the world's first accredited
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Police declare war on car crooks
POLICE today declared war on car crooks after a massive operation led to one of East Lancashire's most notorious offenders being jailed. Officers named and shamed Lee Suddick, of Blackburn, on his 19th birthday, and warned other car criminals they faced
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Some like it hot
ADVENTUROUS pupils at Higher Lane Infants school in Whitefield are hot stuff when it comes to learning about different cultures. For the youngsters in Year 1 got their teeth into an Indian banquet as part of their studies about the spring festival of
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Korean War vet's joy at return of his medal
A VETERAN of the Korean War has had one of his three stolen campaign medals returned with the help of the Bury Times. Children found the 68-year-old Unsworth man's United Nations Service medal in Butterstile Lane, Prestwich, a week after it was stolen
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Victory for the special grime squad!
As our successful campaign draws to a close, the final winners are honoured for remarkable achievements in improving the environment Campaigner Anita Birch was honoured at the Lancashire Evening Telegraph's annual Grimewatch awards when she was named
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Dunn fit and raring to go
MIDFIELD dynamo David Dunn today declared himself ready and raring to go ahead of Sunday's big derby date with Burnley after successfully recovering from a toe injury. The 21-year-old midfield star was forced to pull out of England's Under 21 internationals
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Tower countscost of disease
THE stately home famous for naming sirloin steak is having to turn away thousands of visitors due to the foot and mouth epidemic. Preston's Hoghton Tower (pictured) could be facing huge losses after being forced to close acres of gardens and woodlands
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Temple of zoom
ENGINEERS are busy putting the finishing touches to work so that local Mormons can see one of their church's main events live from the USA. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, holds its General conference at
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Stop the yobs!
SHOPKEEPERS in Deepdale have directed their anger at the police who, they say, are doing nothing to stop gangs of children -- some as young as ten years old -- turning the area in to a Bronx-style ghetto. A parade of Asian shop owners in Harewood Road
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Don't shield sex pervert, pleads councillor
A BURNLEY councillor has made a personal appeal to whoever is sheltering a sex pervert who preys on young children to come forward. Coun Andrew Holder is a friend of the parents of the six-year-old boy who was indecently assaulted by the bike-riding pervert
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Petition calls for winter fuel pay to stay
SHOPPERS in Burnley town centre this weekend will be invited to sign a petition to keep the winter fuel allowance for all pensioners at £200 next year. The petition has been organised by Burnley Labour Party in a protest against their own government.
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They're offski!
A LANCASTER nightclub manager is to be one of the first people to voyage from Morecambe to Blackpool by jetski! Dave Jones is general manager of Lancaster's Liquid nightclub and will be one of around 15 people attempting the 34-mile round trip for charity
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Wife's dying screams caught on tape
A LANCASTER woman's last desperate screams were caught on tape as she was knifed to death by her husband, a court heard this week. Shirley Reghelini had made a 999 call before Gilbert Reghelini returned to the house and repeatedly stabbed her. She had
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Heartbreak over gay killing
A FORMER East Lancashire pub landlord today fought back tears as he spoke of the killing of his ex-gay partner. A man has been charged with the murder of Noel Toland, 36, after his body was found at his home on the infamous Garvaghy Road, Portadown, Northern
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Winning respect
A PRESTON group were celebrating today after scooping the prestigious BBC ASIA Achievement in Sport Award. The presentation was made at the third annual Asian, Success, Innovation and Achievement awards, held at Birmingham's NEC Arena. The Respect All
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Sven lookalike Journal man Colin has a Big Breakfast!
JOURNAL man Colin Lyne had his best ever breakfast this week . . . in front of millions of television viewers. Since Colin's uncanny resemblance to England soccer team manager Sven-Goran Eriksson was highlighted in last week's Journal sports pages and
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Local cases before the magistrates
CASES dealt with by Leigh Magistrates' Court include: Matthew Fairclough, Leigh Road, Leigh, without lawful excuse destroyed the driver's door window of a car to the value of £100 belonging to Emma Woodall; harassing Emma Woodall -- discharged conditionally
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Resort is poor relation
WITH reference to your item last week regarding Victoria Pavilion here in Morecambe. I would like to say very strongly that we do need a theatre here. How can visitors be expected to come here when there are no attractions? The comedy theatre and exhibition
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Blackpool Rangers junior soccer
BLACKPOOL RANGERS U9s 0 POULTON ST JOHN'S 0 BR had loads of chances, but just couldn't get the ball in the net, due to PSJ's good defence and keeper, Scott who was outstanding. BLACKPOOL RANGERS U9s 0 POULTON ST JOHN'S 0 THE second game was also a deadlock
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Satellite towns neglected
I READ with growing disillusionment about council decisions that seem to say 'We know what we are doing, please don't bother us with your petty concerns. We know better about what you need than you do.' I say this as more and more decisions are made over
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Old rivals deny Shrimps
Morecambe 1 Southport 2 Morecambe 0 Yeovil 0 OLD rivals Southport denied Morecambe a North Lancashire derby final against their neighbours from across the Lune, Lancaster City. In a game hit by call ups to the England semi-professional squad, with Stewart
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My concerns about refuge
THE shock closure of Lancaster's women's refuge is to be reported to the Charities Commission by an employee. And with three women and four children facing eviction from the refuge in the next 48 hours, co-ordinator Carol Singleton-Hughes has broken a
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Web widens
BOLTON and Bury Chamber have got themselves a piece of American pie! For US businesses are logging on to the Chamber's website www.chamberhelp.co.uk. in their droves. Of the 2,000 plus visitors who log on each month, around a quarter of them are businesses
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Briscoe's derby hopes
CLARETS full-back Lee Briscoe has been given the all-clear to return to training to keep alive his outside chances of a first appearance in the big East Lancashire derby. Briscoe missed Blackburn's 2-0 win at Turf Moor in December with a gashed knee and
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Vegas vision verdict soon
PUBLIC reaction to Leisure Parc's Las Vegas vision for Blackpool will soon be revealed as the consultation campaign, named Let's Talk, draws to a close. A working party of the members of the private and public sectors has been meeting with community groups
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Bid to beat flooding
MAJOR improvement work is to begin next week to eradicate flooding problems in the Norbreck area. The improvement package has been put together by North West Water and Blackpool Borough Council in a bid to end the drainage problems around Mossom Lane.
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Council man vanishes
POLICE were last night trying to contact a Blackpool Borough Council officer who has vanished following the revelation that £30,000 is missing from council funds. Landlord Liaison Officer Peter Earnshaw, 36, believed to have a home address in Rossall,
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Mercy mission
BLACKPOOL priest the Rev Malcolm Worsley is on a mercy mission to Brazil this Easter in a bid to help 2,000 street children, many of whom are forced into prostitution at just ten years old. A former Fleetwood social worker, Mr Worsley is director of the
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Hardship hotline a hit
HILTON Dawson MP has asked constituents suffering severe financial hardship because of the foot and mouth epidemic to contact him after hearing that some children were turning up at school without dinner money. He said benefits were available to those
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Slaughtered cattle expected soon
THE carcasses of several hundred cattle slaughtered in Cumbria to halt the foot and mouth epidemic will be arriving at Lancaster's Nightingale Hall Farm by the end of the week. The Army, under Brigadier Alex Birtwhistle, have been given the job of disposing
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HGV driver faced hail of bricks
TWO men smashed the windscreen of a HGV after a crash on the Heysham bypass road after a crash at 7pm on Tuesday night. The Leyland Daf truck collided with the red Peugeot, possibly a 305, driven by the men after it broke sharply on the road. The men
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New season starts on Tyldesley track
ASTLEY & Tyldesley Miners' Welfare Cycle Speedway Club hosted the opening round of the Northern Fours League and Junior League matches at Gin Pit on Sunday. With a cold wind and a relaid track, which cut up slightly in places, there were plenty of
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Easter ritual falls victim to farming crisis
THE foot and mouth crisis has forced church leaders to cancel one of Ramsbottom's oldest traditions: the walk of witness up Holcombe Hill. And people are being warned they face arrest if they try to set foot on the moors on Good Friday. For the first
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Asbestos cancer killed plumber: inquest
THE work Alan Fletcher carried out as a plumber left a deadly legacy which was to take its toll many years later, an inquest heard. Mr Fletcher (60), of Ainsworth Road, Radcliffe, had worked with asbestos, sometimes covered in clouds of the deadly material
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Cash to help the battered women
BATTERED women in the borough will have extra professional help in the borough thanks to Government funding. The Home Office has approved a bid from the Bury Community Safety Partnership to tackle domestic violence. A £49,000 grant will employ a specialist
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£10,000 computer theft at school
COMPUTERS worth more than £10,000 were stolen from a Ramsbottom school in a daring raid while night classes were being held. Thieves kicked in a door panel to get into Woodhey High School on Monday night (March 26). The door of the technology suite was
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Back to the future
BURY is on track to establish a unique bond with an American city. Around 60 citizens of Woodbury were in town this week to restore a historical link between the city and the borough first established more than 300 years ago. The new found friendship,
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10-year deal sealed
BLACKBURN-based Precision Polymer Engineering has overcome stiff competition from the United States to supply seals for use in the Eurofighter. The company has been awarded a 10-year contract by W.L. Gore & Associates to provide micro seals to be
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Survey warns over energy taxing
THE Government's green tax on energy will cost millions of pounds for industry in East Lancashire. A survey by the Chamber of Commerce has found that the Climate Change Levy, which will be introduced on April 1, will add almost 14 per cent to companies
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Carers needed
lTHE Expansion of the Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre is to go ahead after funding from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust. The Carers Centre on Charles street, Leigh, is now looking for volunteer befrienders. Call 01942 606086 or call in at the open session
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Home for Sooty?
THE Royal National Institute for the Blind is seeking homes for Sooty. The charity, which offers information, advice and support to anyone with a serious sight problem, wants the area's shops, pubs, clubs and garden centres to place their 'Sooty' fund
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School children in church show
ATHERTON Sunday School children are celebrating their anniversary this weekend with a double performance in church. Pupils at the Independent Methodist Church, Mealhouse Lane, along with the adult choirs, will present God's Gift Box at the 10.45am service
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Hotel scoops rosette award
THE Marriott Worsley Park Hotel and Country Club has been awarded an AA rosette for the high standard cuisine served at its Brindley's restaurant. An inspector visited the hotel anonymously to carry out the annual inspection. during his stay he sampled
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Poster campaign on railway yobs
POLICE have launched a poster campaign in a bid to encourage witnesses of the vandal attack on an Atherton railway to come forward. Commuters on the Manchester Airport to Blackpool North train were lucky to escape injury when vandals placed a 16 foot
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Officer hurt in motor cycle chase
A POLICEMAN was injured at the end of a high speed motorcycle chase which resulted in a 20 year-old man being arrested. The police motorcyclist, who has not been named, was injured in a collision as the chase, which began in Bolton on Tuesday night and
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Ups and downs of contest with bounce
WORLD class gymnasts are to descend on Darwen for the first competition of its kind in almowst 20 years. Bosses at Darwen Leisure Centre are gearing up for the North West International Trampolining Cup which has just been awarded international status
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Home alone kids' dad 'needs help'
A DAD who left his children to fend for themselves while he went out with his girlfriend had previously tried to get help from social services, a court was told. Blackburn magistrates heard that David Kay accepted that he could not cope with his 15-year-old
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Oak tree in spruce-up
THE finishing touches were put to a project aimed at improving the local area with the planting of a 10ft oak tree. Groundwork Rossendale has worked alongside the Haslingden Environment Trust and residents from York Avenue estate on the project, which
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Volunteer appeal for new group
THE MOTHER of a son with learning disabilities is hoping to start a group for adults with the same problem -- but needs volunteers to make her vision work. Widow, Mrs Frances Raftery, aged 59, plans to open a Gateway club at The Orchards Centre on Chatham
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Traditional Easter Parade filmed by French TV
DANCERS from Bacup could be seen performing their traditional Easter parade by seven million TV viewers. A French TV company is considering filming the Britannia Coconutters traditional Easter boundary-to-boundary dance. If the filming goes ahead seven
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Face to fez!
EAST is to meet West in a mad, bad battle of the chefs. Turkish restaurant manager Bayram Pallavus and head chef Geoff King have been 'doing battle' for the last three months, both claiming to be able to do each other's jobs. They work at Holden Vale
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JOURNAL OPINION: Sad day as court closes
MONEY -- £37,000 a year, or less than twice the purported national average salary -- was a major factor behind the closure of Leigh Magistrates Court. In the early stages of the closure process eminent legal eagles in the town voiced the opinion that
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Servicemen's club for sale, but it WILLremain open
ATHERTON'S well loved servicemen's club is up for sale but the club's secretary has reassured members it will NOT be closing down. Douglas Findlay, secretary of The Discharged and Demobilised Sailors' and Soldiers' Association Club on Tyldesley Road said
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Victoria Mill to get much-needed makeover
A NEW look is set for Atherton's controversial Victoria Mill -- and its renovation could create 100 new jobs. The dilapidated 19th century building on Bolton Old Road has long been the subject of debate among councillors and residents, who have generally
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Council prevents strike action through a High Court injunction
WIGAN Council successfully obtained an injunction to stop a planned strike by Unison from going ahead -- just a day before it was due to take place. The controversial strike, planned for Tuesday this week was slammed by Wigan Council, after it was revealed
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Teenage terror in Fleetwood
A BRUTAL gang thug punched a 17-year-old girl in the face when she refused to hand over money in Fleetwood. As the teenager walked along Poacher's Way on March 18, at 8.10pm, she was surrounded by a large group of males and females who demanded her cash
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Incinerator is hot air
CLAIMS that the Fylde Coast could soon be home to a giant incinerator have been rubbished by a Lancashire county councillor. Coun Richard Toon branded the claim by environmental pressure group Action to Reduce and Recycle Our Waste (ARROW) North West
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Industry link course coup for college
BLACKBURN College is one the first 18 in the country to offer a new degree course aimed at bringing academics and industry closer together. The course, starting in October, will train computer and electronics boffins needed by local firms. Blackburn College
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Pastures new for five police horses
POLICE divers have become the latest casualties of a reorganisation which today also saw the retirement of five police horses. The Underwater Search Unit has now had half its staff axed and been moved from its base at Lancashire Police headquarters to
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SOCCER: Bolton keen to turn on style at Reebok
BOLTON, who have failed to win at home since overwhelming Scunthorpe United in the FA Cup fifth round on January 27, hope to get back to winning ways. But they face a tricky challenge tomorrow with the visit of Wimbledon to the Reebok Stadium. Further
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How to get rid of yobs
I AM writing regarding the proposed "Viva Las Blackpool". Who are we kidding? Does Blackpool need to be turned into a gambling mad resort? Only Leisure Parcs can seen the attraction. And why? Because they are anticipating fat bank accounts and huge profits
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FACTORY FARMING
Animals - have you freedom? Can you roam, free from harm? Well then you are no animal Down on the factory farm. Not for you, the battery cage Where hens can spread no wings Bereft of feathers, burned off beaks And greedy profit sings. Not for you the
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Are the Lights a lame duck?
PROPOSALS for improving and funding Blackpool's Illuminations have been slammed as "nothing new" by John Herdman, a former manager of the Imperial Hotel and current chairman of Blackpool South Conservatives. Ideas presented to the Tourism and Economic
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I support more consultation
CORRESPONDENT J. R. Leach (Your Letters, Mar 20) asks me what has happened to consultation and democracy. Furthermore, he/she accuses me of telling him/her simply to do as he/she is told. Nothing could be further from the truth. I was behind the scheme
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Soccer scheme for Tyldesley
SP Soccer is setting up another of their successful Youth Development Centres at Garrett Hall Primary School, Tyldesley. Starting on April 2, the Centre will operate each Monday between 5pm-6.30pm. The Centres provide qualified football coaching for boys
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Leigh RMI Juniors
LEIGH RMI U15s sealed a Jubilee Cup Semi-Final meeting with big rivals Hindsford with Priest, Aldred and Crisculo goals securing a 3-1 victory over Litchfield. RMI's U13s battled back from 3-1 down at half time to earn themselves a point in a 3-3 draw
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Leigh Youth League
HINDSFORD Rovers came from a goal behind to send title rivals Pennington Athletic crashing to their first league defeat of the season. There was little between the two top teams in a scoreless first half but with 10 minutes of the second half gone Pennington
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RMI leave it late to shoot down the Bulls
Leigh RMI 2 Hereford United 1 LEIGH RMI confirmed themselves as championship dark horses in the race for Division Three football next term, as they defeated ex-league club Hereford United and avenged their elimination from the FA Trophy. That night it
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Lord praises backroom staff for improvement
ATHERTON LR's Alan Lord, one of the most experienced managers around in the entire North West Counties League, is eager to point out that the credit for success at the club since he took over is shared. He readily recognises the great benefits of a quality
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Events in East Lancashire on Saturday, March 31
Spring Fair, Lowerhouse Junior School, Burnley, 12.30pm-3pm. Springtime Serenade Concert by Haslingden and Helmshore Brass Band with Accrington and Great Harwood Male Voice Choir, Antley Methodist Church, Blackburn Road, Accrington, 7.30pm. Therese Raquin
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Scott's skimmer bream enough to take title
LAST Wednesday afternoon the Bury Societies National Team Open took place on the Island Lodge, with twenty two anglers participating. Top spot fell to Darren Scott (Middleton) fishing peg 28 using tip to take skimmer bream 7-4-0, in second place John
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Bury toppled by leaders
DE LA SALLE 26 BURY 9 THE visitors to the Salford home of De la Salle were always going to find it hard work playing the unbeaten leaders of the league, whose only minor hiccup was the draw the previous week against Tyldesley in what we are given to understand
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Treble joy for Ramsbottom
WITH the Division One title virtually secure, the players of Ramsbottom Town A began the cup final week with a possibility of gaining a treble, if they could add the Dwyer Cup and the MacDonald Cup to their silverware haul. Another team to be found in
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Famous five on tour...
FIVE up-and-coming young RL players are currently on tour in France with the BARLA Great Britain Young Lions squad. The five are: Simon Warhurst, Martin Meadows, Lee Rowley (all Leigh East), Darrell Rowlands and Richard Varkulis (Leigh Miners Rangers)
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Tommy guns down Hill!
Leigh Miners Rangers 78 Dudley Hill 2 LEIGH Miners Rangers ushered Dudley Hill one step closer to relegation with a superb display of aggressive attacking rugby that ripped the cellar-dwellers to shreds. It was in the backs that most of the damage was
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This week in 1976 25 years ago
ROYAL APPOINTMENT: Bury Lions' new Carnival Queen for 1976 was 19-year-old Karen Millett, a machine operator at Greenwood and Coope carpet manufacturers in Ramsbottom. Karen of Pennington Street, Walshaw, beat stiff competition from eleven other beauties
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I'll be back, vows Baroness Castle
BARONESS Castle of Blackburn today vowed 'I'll be back' after spending a night in hospital following a collapse in the House of Lords. The former Cabinet minister sent a special message to her former constituents through the Lancashire Evening Telegraph
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Firms reassured over dodgy fax claim
BUSINESSES targeted by dodgy companies offering directory services at extortionate rates were today told that a free alternative is available. The Lancashire Evening Telegraph is among businesses sent a fax from a company saying it can make junk faxes
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Yobboes are the Thatcher kiddies
CORRESPONDENTS who attempt to blame all the evils of society on the current government forget one thing. The thugs and yobs of today are not four year olds, but 14, 16, 18 and 21-year-olds. They are the Thatcher children reaching maturity: a generation
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Busing Clarets fans a disgrace
REGARDING the arrangements for the Blackburn Rovers v Burnley derby match, I am absolutely disgusted at being forced to pay £4 for a coach leaving Turf Moor at 9.30am that I and many others don't want to take. It means arriving at the ground about two
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Lauren in dreamland
OSCAR night may seem a world away from Blackpool Grand Youth Theatre, but one aspiring actress doesn't think she's in wonderland to dream of being the next Julia Roberts. Lauren Ainge,15, from Kirkham Grammar School, will tread the boards on the Grand's
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Cherie comes back home
CHERIE Blair, the Prime Minister's wife, returns to the town -- and the place -- of her birth on Monday. She will officially open the new obstetrics unit and unveil its foundation stone at Fairfield General Hospital in Bury. She was born at Fairfield.
