Archive
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Events taking place in East Lancashire on Saturday, June 2
'Neville's Island,' The New Millennium Theatre, Burnley Road East, Waterfoot, 7.30pm. John Wright Folk Band, Hoddlesden Conservative Club, 8.15pm. 'Taste of Paradise' Coffee Shop, Paradise Lane, Blackburn, 10am-1pm. Shamrock and Thistle Dance Party, The
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No one should lose their vote
UNNERVED by the rising support among the electorate in recent years for the fictional Apathy Partythe government has made next week's general and local elections a test of the ability of parties to attract stay-away voters back to the ballot box. For
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"STRETCH" IS A BIG SCREEN STAR
CLASSY young defender Chris Armstrong might be a bit out of shape come the start of the new season - if he enjoys his new purchase too much. Stretch, as he's known to his team-mates, picked up a brand new TV from Read, Franklin & Heywood in Bury Town
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PRICE IS RIGHT FOR RAMSBOTTOM
MARK PRICE's decision to use himself as a pinch hitter paid dividends when he smashed 42 runs off 35 balls as Ramsbottom raced to 79 off the first 12 overs in their Inter-League Knockout Cup game against neighbours Rawtenstall. His dismissal heralded
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BRING ON THE BUGGIE MAN
BURY's released striker Lee Buggie could find a footballing home not a million miles away from the one he has just left if Radcliffe Borough boss Kevin Glendon has his way. And former Stoke City midfielder Nigel Gleghorn is another target for the ambitious
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PROMOTION PARK!
SEDGLEY PARK...40pts LAUNCESTON...23pts GOING up in style. That's Sedgley Park Rugby Union Club after their comfortable win over Cornish outfit Launceston. Two tries in the first ten minuets settled Sedgley nerves and the game was won with something to
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KENNEDY'S IN GREAT NICK FOR RADCLIFFE
NICK KENNEDY starred with the bat as Radcliffe won a low scoring game against Walsden on the tight Todmorden Road pitch. Kennedy hit a fine 43 after coming in at number three. Later in the Radcliffe innings John Macauley posted 37 as the visitors chased
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Pound already out the window
IT'S no good the Tories kicking and screaming over the loss of the pound. The 'pound' was well and truly lost in the Seventies. Pounds, shillings, pence, farthings, halfpennies, threepenny bits, sixpences, shillings, florins, halfcrowns, ten bob notes
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Cockerel mistaken for a cockroach
RECENTLY, I took a walk with a friend and his young grandchild and we passed a lovely cottage. The owner was busy tending her garden when my friend's grandchild shouted: "Look at that big cockroach next to that lady!" The lady jumped to one side quickly
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Our shouts are not loud enough
IT seemed rather ironic that after walking through the town and seeing notices saying something like "it's your vote and your voice" that I read remarks by a councillor (Letters, May 20) that seemed to indicate that he was not listening to the electorate's
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Fire crew called out after smell of burning
A FIRE crew was called out to a home for the elderly after staff smelled burning. But officers were unable to locate the source of the smoke odour at the Parklands Home in Lily Hill Street, Whitefield. The Whitefield fire crew spent 45 minutes at the
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Top of the class for fund raising.
THE prospect of leaving their school uniforms at home for the day proved too tempting for pupils at St Monica's RC High School, Bury Old Road, Prestwich. For the generous bunch managed to raise an impressive £2,000 from their efforts during a non-uniform
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Nailing another sculpture
SCULPTURE culture is set to continue in Radcliffe with the news that another major work of art has been commissioned. Jack Wright, the man responsible for the £15,000 Nailing Home sculpture in Smyrna Street, has been asked by the Irwell Sculpture Trail
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Delays warning for drivers
MOTORISTS are urged to plan alternative routes before roadworks begin on two of Bury's busiest highways. The first improvements, which begin in early June, are on Whalley Road in Shuttleworth, from Peel Brow to the Pack Horse public house. Later in the
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Clerics urge BNP election boycott
CHRISTIAN and Muslim leaders in Burnley and Pendle today united to urge voters not to back the British National Party General Election candidate. A letter from ten religious clerics from the Islamic, Catholic, Church of England, United Reformed and Salvation
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Today's the day
1593: Christopher Marlowe's death was enacted in Widow Bull's tavern in Deptford. The author of Dr Faustus, the 29-year-old Marlowe was no angel, described as a drunk, forger, atheist, spy and informer. 1783: The 8ft 4ins Irish Goliath, Charles Byrne,
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Twin town honour for square
RIGHT up our street! That's the borough's German twin town of Schorndorf which has been chosen for the name of a square in Bury. The area outside Marks and Spencer in the Mill Gate centre has now been named "Schorndorf Square" in recognition of the friendship
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Au revoir, Alan
HEAR ye, hear ye. A well-known Bury newsagent is heading off for a new life in France! Alan Phillips, owner of the Town Crier, is saying au revoir to Lancashire after nearly seven years of making sure local folk got their Bury Times. With his wife Carol
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Friends for families wanted
A MOTHER of five young children is the new head of an organisation dedicated to helping families in Bury. Hazel Birtles is the newly appointed co-ordinator of Home Start Bury. The project was launched in April 2000 to offer support, friendship and practical
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Double tops!
TWO trophies in four days won't be enough to quench Leigh Centurions' thirst for more honours. With the NFP Minor Premiership and now the Trans-Pennine Trophy safely locked away, the Centurions will now turn their attentions to winning the Grand Final
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Volunteers needed for new BADDAC scheme
VOLUNTEERS are being sought to provide friendship and support to those who feel socially isolated because of their disabilities. Bury and District Disabled Advisory Council (BADDAC) has launched its recruitment campaign for befrienders to coincide with
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Italian ace on Souey's shopping list
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness is weighing up a move for Italian goal-ace Corrado Grabbi. Ewood chief Souness saw the Ternana striker score in a 3-1 win over Trevisco last Sunday. And sources in Italy today told me the Rovers boss could be ready to make
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Ex-Ewood boss dies
BLACKBURN fans and officials are mourning the death of former Rovers boss John Pickering. The 57-year-old passed away yesterday after losing a long battle against illness. Rovers chief executive John Williams spoke for the whole board when he said: "We
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New deal for Jansen
EWOOD goal-ace Matt Jansen has quashed speculation surrounding his future by signing a new four year contract with Blackburn Rovers. The 23-year-old hot-shot has been linked with a host of top clubs over the last 12 months after playing a leading role
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A link to the past
PEOPLE living in Bamber Bridge are being asked to play detective and take part in a local history hunt. The old Co-op shop, in John Street, is to become the office for the New Progress Housing Association which wants to trace one of the shop's previous
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Young winners go to blazes
TWO youngsters were taken on a tour of Burnley Fire Station and presented with Blaze the Bear teddies after winning a colouring competition. Isabelle Connolly, three, and Kurt Aldred, eight, were able to sit in one of the fire appliances as they were
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Grandad victim of hit-and-run driver
A GRANDAD was left lying in the road with serious head injuries by a hit and run driver. Howard Jones, 85, of Walton Lane, Nelson, was taken to Burnley General Hospital where his condition was today described as 'stable'. He was hit at the junction of
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Squash kids court success
YOUNGSTERS from Preston College's Sports Centre are celebrating their success in the Unsquashable Sportsmatch SRA Junior Skills Awards Scheme. The scheme is a fun way to recognise the ability of young players and there are seven awards: one to three star
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Moyes happy with season
AT the post-match press conference Preston boss David Moyes insisted he was not downhearted, writes Tom Parker. He said: "We are obviously disappointed not to win but we have a lot to be happy about this season." Moyes added: "The turning point was the
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Bumper fun day
HUNDREDS of visitors descended on Preston over the Bank holiday for the town's annual Caribbean Carnival. Despite fears that numbers would suffer because of the Preston North End Premiership bid in Cardiff, organisers say the historic 27-year-old event
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Fire victim home
A MAN who was dramatically rescused from a smoke-filled house by his neighbour was discharged from hospital yesterday. George Clark, of Meadow Bank, Accrington, was taken to Blackburn Infirmary on Tuesday evening to be treated for the effects of smoke
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Rebecca's brother, Lee, made a poetic tribute to his beloved sister.
Goodbye Becky. Here I sit on my own, And think of you with your mobile phone. I think of all the good times we had, Which help me when I'm feeling sad. I'll look after mum, dad, Mike and Dan, And not forgetting loving Gran, All the friends and people
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Pupils play opera house
PAST Edinburgh Festival winners, Leigh St Mary's RC High School, Astley, have been invited to perform once again at one of the country's top venues. Hot on the heels of their summer concert at St Joseph's, Leigh, in July, the students will be back at
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Play hopes to turn back time
TURNPIKE Community Theatre is performing the work of local writer June Jackson this week. Her play "Ayesha 2000" follows the story of three middle-aged women bored of hosting dinner parties for their successful executive husbands and their clients. Learning
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Pupil strips for charity trip
HAVING his legs waxed was a pain Adrian Davies was happy to endure to help underprivileged African youngsters. Tyldesley Fred Longworth High pupil Adrian, 15, is trying to raise £2,800 for a trip to Namibia next year when he will be in a group of young
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Club says live shows are the answer
SWITCH off the telly and join us for some real, live entertainment, is the message from folk club members. Singer Pauline Dowsett, a member of host group Calico, has a message for couch potatoes. "Turn off your TVs and treat yourselves to an evening of
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Thieves target stone bench
AN Atherton mum is appealing for the return of the stone bench snatched from her front garden on Sunday evening. Wendy Plumbley, of Wigan Road, was stunned to discover the heavy, grey stone seat had vanished while the family was in the house. Now she
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Fun day puts land to good use
By Brian Gomm MUMS and dads got together to rekindle community spirit with a children's fun day enjoyed by young and old alike. Parents from the "tree area" of Atherton's Hag Fold estate asked their local representative, Councillor Sue Loudon, if something
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THE JOURNAL SAYS: Accountability works both ways
WE all do it. Moan about politicians, that is. Whether at local or national level, it seems our representatives just can't win. But next time something gets your back up, stop to think. Who put the party into power on which you are about to vent your
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VITAL SECONDS COST TEXTILE WORKER'S LIFE
By Court Reporter A FAULTY safety switch may have cost a mother-of-three her life. An inquest at Bury heard how despite frantic attempts by workmates to save Margaret Shaw, the 41-year-old Tyldesley woman died almost instantly from horrendous injuries
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AREN'T carrots expensive?
The once cheapest veg is now at the highest I have ever seen it. I wasn't the only one who was taken aback by the 89p packs this week. As we perused the greengrocery stall, a woman next to me declared: 'I'm going to get frozen ones, at least you know
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Care homes bought up
A 37-BED residential care home in Bury is among three such establishments sold in a single day. Bridge House in Bury, along with Cheshire-based High Peak nursing home and High Peak Lodge, have been acquired by European Care Ltd, a corporate nursing home
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Top award for Joanne
JOANNE Mahon has won a top award which is safe as houses. For Joanne, who lives in Whitefield, has been awarded the Sales Negotiator of the Year title by her employers, Alfred McAlpine Homes North West Ltd. She was singled out for the accolade because
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Working towards better health...
A BUSINESS support agency is helping to develop a healthy workforce in Bury. Bolton and Bury Chamber has just launched two new services under its Lifestyle health promotion scheme to offer local employees a workout for body, mind and spirit. Fit For The
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LOCAL CRICKET: Records are on the line
TWO of the Northern Premier League's unbeaten sides clash at Windsor Park tomorrow. Chorley take on Morecambe with both sides looking to protect their impressive records and close the gap on leaders Netherfield. There is a further challenge for Chroley
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LOCAL CRICKET: Alec aims to catch the eye
ALEC Scholefield hopes to catch the eye of the county selectors in his new position as Earby professional. The 22-year-old harbours a childhood ambition to play county cricket -- and he hopes playing at Earby, who face Jennings Ribblesdale League leaders
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Youngsters are setting their sights high!
THE sky really is the limit for teenagers who belong to the 1005 (Radcliffe, Whitefield and Prestwich) Squadron of the Air Training Corps. Generations of 13 to 21-year-olds have experienced the thrills of cadet life since the squadron was established
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Masked gang attack pub landlord
A PUB landlord was beaten almost unconscious with a baseball bat in a savage attack by masked robbers. Colin Burbidge, who runs the St Margaret's Tavern in Bury Old Road, Prestwich, needed 12 stitches in a head wound after three raiders burst in on Sunday
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New chapter completed in town centre success
THE latest phase in the ongoing Bury town centre success story has been completed. And the expansion of more pedestrian-friendly streets will build on existing developments to increase the number of visitors to the area. After six years of extensive public
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A "sweet" victory for LabourzTHE Labour Party has had a landslide election victory in Radcliffe than
A poll of local youngsters found that 52.4 per cent backed Blair, while only 17.1 per cent were in favour of the Conservatives. The Liberal Democrats came third with a 15 per cent share of the vote, followed by the Greens with 11.8 per cent, Plaid Cymru
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Make you mind up time for Bury South voters
SIX days and counting. Have you made your mind up yet? If not, the three candidates in Bury South are sure to be pulling out all the stops to persuade voters of their respective merits before next Thursday's (June 7) General Election. And who said politics
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Burnley are prize guys
BURNLEY have set their sights on the Premiership in the next few years -- with a little help from their fans. Turf Moor vice-chairman Ray Ingleby was at the relaunch of the Clarets Foundation last night -- and he's hoping the supporters will continue
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Be proud of them!
Bolton Wanderers 3 PNE 0 Scorers: Farrelly (14), Ricketts (88), Gardner(90) Attendance: 54,328 THIS match was just a bridge too far for North End as a season which has been absolutely wonderful for everyone connected with Preston fell apart at the final
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Store staff keep in trim
B&Q staff are limbering up in more ways than one for the opening of their new warehouse store at Bamber Bridge later this month. More than 70 workers take part in 'energiser' sessions every morning, which involve running, jumping, dancing and singing
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Heaven can't wait for top dogs
ANIMAL lover Carol Parry was 'r-over the moon' after her pampered pooches led the way in a top international dog show. Mrs Parry, 50, of Cranberry Lane, Darwen, came home from this year's Crufts show with a hatful of awards when her two canines beat off
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Festive plans already taking shape
FESTIVE plans to make Christmas one to remember are already under way. Theatre lovers are being invited to follow the yellow brick road for Darwen Library Theatre's December production of The Wizard of Oz. News of the pantomime was announced by bosses
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Five in court over explosion
FIVE young people accused of causing an explosion likely to endanger life have appeared before Burnley Magistrates. The five, charged after an alleged incident in a phone box in Edgeside, Rossendale, on April 27, were all bailed to appear before Rossendale
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Time for summer
GLAZEBURY choir will celebrate "British Summer Time" on June 8. They will give a concert, featuring soloist baritone John Boardman and Manchester junior school steel bands, in the Methodist Church, Warrington Road, at 7.30pm. Tickets at £3.50 including
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Council 'won't bid' for heirloom at sale
A PRECIOUS silver-gilt family heirloom with strong Blackburn links is unlikely to become part of the borough's art collection. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has confirmed that it will not be bidding for the candelabra and candelabrum which is
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Drugs dealer is behind bars
A 45-YEAR-old Blackburn man seen dealing in drugs has been jailed for two-and-a-half years. Robert Davies had led a blameless life for many years. But within a short space of time he had lost his good name, character, his marriage, home and business,
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More asylum seekers are on the way
BLACKBURN is to home more than 125 asylum seekers over the next five years, it was revealed today. Already, more than 20 single and six families of asylum seekers have landed in the borough, with many more on the way. The news comes the day after Abdul
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Road works a 'death trap'
TRADERS have accused council bosses of creating a potential accident blackspot, by closing one of Blackburn's busiest roads. Shopkeepers around Railway Road say they have seen dozens of near-miss accidents in the last week following the closure of Church
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'Stay off our estate'-- 'parasites' warned
A CATHOLIC priest today joined calls to stop "parasite" accident claim companies preying on residents of a Blackburn estate. One family is so fed up with canvassers from various "no win, no fee" personal injury firms knocking at the door that they have
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A season to remember
THE SCENES at the end of the match at The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff were quite different to anything that I have seen in football before. The sight of those thousands of brilliant North End supporters waving their banners and scarves in defeat makes
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Gateway to disaster?
PEOPLE living in a residential area of Leyland are fuming with council chiefs for allowing a road haulage firm to use their street. Residents in Northgate, off Golden Hill Lane, fear the flood gates have been opened to allow the company, Roadferry, to
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Their docs know best
HAVING read the letter regarding taxi driver medicals (May 18) I thought it reasonable to clarify the local authority's position. Existing and potential taxi drivers are required to provide a medical report on initial application, every five years from
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Tories started pensions slide
ELECTION material distributed by Bury North Conservatives refers to Labour's 75p pension increase as an insult. Quite right, it was an insult and an insult made possible by Conservative legislation. It was the Labour government of the early 70s which
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Wrong to give cash to nurses
I WRITE regarding MP David Chaytor's comments on the £100 million to be spent on the recruitment of midwives and maternity services (May 11). This is wonderful news but one suspects it is another election ploy because it has been reported that maternity
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A special delivery
nA WOMAN whose wish was to travel has had her ashes sent to every country in the world. Vera Anderson, from Oregon, hadn't ventured very far in her 78 years, so after her death, her son mailed her ashes to capital cities around the globe, asking for them
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If this was you
lTHE once transparent bus shelters near Chequerbent have been replaced by boring grey shatter-proof panels, thanks to vandals. Now they are being used as tips. On Tuesday, some thoughtless, scruffy moron had dumped two overflowing bin bags in the shelter
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The one that didn't get away
lFORTY six luxury cars worth hundreds of thousands of pounds have been stolen by crooks using fishing hooks. The raiders cast them through letter boxes to lift keys from side tables in posh homes in villages around Cheshire. The moral to this tale is
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Should we be so mobile?
DOCTORS have called for the Highway Code to be changed to include advice on not using a mobile phone while driving. Anyone with any sense should know already that its a silly thing to do. People argue that using a phone is no more dangerous than smoking
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Just grow up, David
DAVID Beckham's a handsome guy - if he'd have a proper haircut. The styles he has chosen since his rise to fame have done nothing for his good looks. The dangle over the eyes was girlie and the baldy crop doesn't look good on anyone - except those meant
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Sign of the times
lI HAD to smile at an amusing article in the latest copy of Linkline, the magazine from Wigan and Leigh Pensioners' Link. It's fitting for those born before 1940 and a variation on a similar theme I've seen for younger readers. It read: "Those were the
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If you can't stand the heat ...
A BOLTON mum who claimed she was turned into a suicidal zombie by a stage hypnotist has called for such showmen to be banned. She won High Court damages after claiming that the show she attended reawakened memories of sexual abuse when she was a child
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JUST CHAMPION!
Leigh Centurions 52 Chorley Lynx 18 LEIGH Centurions duly wrapped up the Northern Ford Premiership Minor Premiership with four games to spare and collected their first piece of silverware for 11 years. But Leigh know that the end product was better than
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Desperate bid to save gran
THE FAMILY of textile worker Margaret Shaw is planning to take legal action against the Bury firm where she was killed after becoming tangled in machinery. Health and safety officials are also considering a prosecution after hearing a vital safety feature
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Latics celebrate
LEIGH Athletic FC crowned their first season in the Manchester League by securing the first division championship. Their record of 23 wins and only three defeats gave them a four point winning margin over closest rivals New Mills and Breightmet United
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RMI bosses peg admission costs
THE cost of watching Leigh RMI next season will not be going up. Club directors this week announced an admission price freeze for Nationwide Conference games at Hilton Park. But the club is taking steps designed to encourage more junior supporters to
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JUST AJMIE: Second best not good enough
MY political career seems to have got off to a juddering start with the Second Child Party being thoroughly ignored by the good folk of East Lancashire. There is a great deal of irony that a party dedicated to fighting the needs of the overlooked - ie
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UNITED PITCH IN TO HELP SHAKERS
BURY'S historic pre-season friendly against mighty Manchester United will allow the Shakers to carry out essential work to the pitch and the dressing rooms. The rest of the cash raised will be used to simply keep the club afloat. The Shakers line up against
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MYSTERY BID FOR SHAKERS ACCEPTED
A BID by a mystery consortium to buy Bury Football Club has been accepted. If the offer -- believed to be in the region of £1million -- is given approval by the High Court, then the new owners will be in charge for the start of the new season. Because
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This week in 1976 25 years ago
OUT OF WORK: Unemployment levels in Bury were showing no signs of easing. The total of people out of work was 1,355 comprising 922 men and 363 women. ANOTHER CLOSE SHAVE: Hilda Wilkinson of Beech Street, Summerseat, walked away with the "Lovely Legs"
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Car smash sisters leave hospital
TWO youngsters hurt in a crash which killed their sister have been released from hospital. Azra Rawoot, 10, of Glenfield Close, Blackburn, died when a lorry ploughed into the Toyota people carrier she was in with her family after it had broken down on
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Round up kids with 'mounties'
WHY can't we have two of the mounted police patrolling the Fishmoor estate, Blackburn, going round Whitehall Park, in Darwen, because the kids are running riot after dark? On Whit Sunday morning there was glass smashed all over the children's playground
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Free parking will keep customers
IN his remarks about car parking in Darwen (Letters, May 18), Coun Kevin Connor points out that to charge for it would ultimately drive people away. He then goes on to say that the development of Blackburn centre would benefit everyone. The point of not
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Visit sanctuary's 'overflow' site
WHILE the 'Only Foals and Horses' Sanctuary at Oswaldtwistle remains closed due to the foot and mouth disease precautions, supporters are invited to visit the Sanctuary's overflow establishment at Houghton Barn Farm, Altham Lane, Altham, to leave contributions
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A town to be proud of, but which town?
COUNCILLOR John Milburn (Letters, May 20) states he is dispirited by the negative attitude of people in Blackburn who knock their town. Expanding on the achievements of Blackburn with Darwen Council over the last five years, he ends by saying that while
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Crash claims 'Little Princess'
GRIEF-STRICKEN parents didn't believe the nightmare news that their "little princess" and her boyfriend had been killed in a horrific crash. Rebecca Grant, 19 from Lilford Street, Atherton, and Richard Allen, from Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, died instantly
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Boy, 16, robbed at knifepoint
A TEENAGE boy was robbed of his mobile phone at knifepoint. The 16-year-old was in Bury Interchange at 4.30pm on Tuesday (May 29) when approached by a group of youths. They demanded he hand over property and one threatened him with a knife. Police say
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Nylon bales destroyed in weekend arson attack
FIREBUGS are being blamed for a weekend blaze which destroyed more than 30 bales of nylon. They were contained in an outside storage area at the premises of Rydon Exports in Dumers Lane, Radcliffe. Fire crews from Whitefield and Bury fought the blaze
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Healthy diet serves up top award for nursery
HEALTHY eating is top of the menu for toddlers at Bury College's nursery. It has just been awarded a Heartbeat Award for providing healthy food choices and good standards of food hygiene. To qualify, the nursery's kitchen, food preparation areas and menus
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Hospice to launch annual Yellow Day
BURY Hospice will ensure that the longest day of the year is bright, even if the sun isn't shining. Once again the Dumers Lane hospice has designated June 21 as "Yellow Day" and is encouraging schools, companies and local people to help its fund-raising
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Carnival fun kicks off this weekend
DON'T forget it is Radcliffe Carnival weekend this Saturday and Sunday (June 2/3). The fun begins at Red Bank Playing Fields at 10am on Saturday with a car boot sale and a display by majorettes. Silcocks Fair will spring to life at 11am, running until
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Countdown to Bury Carnival
THE countdown has begun with only nine days remaining before Bury Carnival is staged for the first time in the new millennium. Finishing touches are being put to preparations for the big day by the Bury Times which has taken over the running of the town's
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Postal vote chaos
SCORES of residents face being unable to vote by post in next week's elections after officials were swamped by more than 12,000 applications for ballot papers. And the government said it would "seriously" look at closing election nomination deadlines
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Riders and bikers drive out walkers
WALKERS are being scared off from using Outwood's £2.5 million Country Park because of irresponsible horse riders and motorcyclists, it has been claimed. Ms Tracey Waddington (38) of Grosvenor Street, Radcliffe, has now stopped using it because she fears
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Plans to save jobs are fading
HOPES of a last-ditch reprieve to save 98 jobs at a Radcliffe engineering firm appear to be fading. The shock announcement that Strebor Diecasting, based in Hutchinson Way, planned to shut down was revealed last week. The 70-year-old firm, which produces
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Puppets promote enjoyable reading
A GIANT children's book festival is coming to town along with puppeteers and creative arts. Up to 5,000 youngsters are expected to attend the big event which runs from June 11 to 24 in Bury and Bolton. The aim is to promote the enjoyment of books, illustration
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Homeless praised for museum help
HOMELESS youngsters in Radcliffe have impressed culture chiefs with their commitment to the town's planned museum. Mr Ronan Brindley, assistant curator of Bury Museum, said he has been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of those who live in the Bury Young
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Teenage racer aims for the top (Author: Ben Hewes)
A TEENAGE racing driver from Preston is gearing up to get behind the wheel for a championship event on the world-famous Silverstone track. Tom Boardman will take part in his first night-time competition on Saturday as part of the www.theAA.com British
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Teenage racer aims for the top
A TEENAGE racing driver from Preston is gearing up to get behind the wheel for a championship event on the world-famous Silverstone track. Tom Boardman will take part in his first night-time competition on Saturday as part of the www.theAA.com British
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A fan-tastic performance
THE BOYS on the pitch may not have done themselves justice on the day but there was no doubt about the performance of the fans -- they were simply fantastic. More than 30,000 Preston fans made the journey to the Millennium Stadium by train, coach or car
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Crash drama
FOUR people were taken to Burnley General Hospital but not detained when two cars collided outside the Park View pub, near Higgin Street. A Vauxhall Corsa was being driven by Teresa Duffy, 27, of Wycoller Avenue, and the Ford Escort was being driven by
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Laughter show at school
IF you don't like laughing then stay away from St James Players, Briercliffe, next production, Michael Cooney's hilarious farce "Cash on Delivery" to be staged at St James's School, Lanehead, from June 13-15. The show is directed by Brian Wellock and
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Nursery rhymes brought to life
VISITORS to Towneley Hall and park, Burnley, joined in a nursery rhyme family fun day. The event was held in conjunction with an exhibition at the hall: "The Mares Tale", a touring display of sculptures, paintings, prints, textiles and animation on the
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Flagstone thief is discharged
A MAN who helped to dig up flagstones in a midnight attack on a Brierfield street was jobless and penniless. Burnley Magistrates were told how Michael Brierley, 27, had been approached by somebody asking if he wanted to make "a few quid". Brierley, of
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Woman stole from relative
A HARD-up young woman who stole a relative's purse after they met by chance at hospital could be facing jail. Burnley magistrates bailed Rebecca Oxley, 26, until June 22, for a pre-sentence report and told her they were not ruling out custody. Oxley,
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Witness plea over park sex attack on girl
POLICE today appealed for witnesses following a serious sexual assault on a 17-year-old girl in Thompson Park Burnley.. The attack took place as the young woman was walking alone near a bridge close to the Queen Victoria pub area of the park at 3.30pm
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Party leader stands down after 18 years
BURNLEY Liberal Democrat Gordon Birtwistle has stood down as party boss in the town -- after 18 years as a group leader on Burnley Council. But engineering firm chief Coun Birtwistle says his decision is nothing to do with his national party's decision
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Party-goer was naked in street
POLICE were taken aback to spot a naked teenager walking through Padiham in the early hours -- but nobody was more surprised than the man himself. Burnley magistrates were told how diabetic Aiden Kevin O'Brien, 18, had missed the buffet at an 18th birthday
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Councils pay tribute to crash victim
TRIBUTES have been paid by Burnley and Pendle councils to a woman who was killed in road accident near Clapham, North Yorkshire. Mother-of-two Heather Smith, 35, of St Matthew Street, Burnley, was riding her motorbike towards Settle last Thursday when
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Woman bound over for rumpus
POLICE called to a surgery rumpus found a woman shouting abuse at a vet and staggering about. Burnley magistrates heard how Pamela Smith, 45, had become upset because her dog may have to be put down. Smith, of Leeds Road, Nelson, admitted breaching the
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Fence to be replaced
A SECTION of missing fence at the entrance to Victory Park, in Barnoldswick, will be replaced after members of the council's West Craven Committee expressed concerns about it. A report to the committee said that the fence and a stile were removed by contractors
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My Gran's going to be a Big Brother!
FAMILY and friends of Big Brother's East Lancashire candidate 45-year-old Anne Edgar have pulled out all the stops to make sure the public votes for the outgoing grandmother. Viewers will find out tonight whether Anne, who has a 16-month-old grandson
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Madam Butterfly at King George's Hall, Blackburn
THE Chisinau National Opera (pronounced Kishinaw) was back in Blackburn with its latest production of this ever-popular opera. They just get better. The Eastern European way of staging seems static to Western taste but, in this particular opera, this
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New leader intends to take a "consensus approach"
COUNCILLOR Howard Gore says he wants to develop the democratic cabinet system adapted by the authority in January last year under the leadership of former council leader Coun Gina Lewis. He is calling for greater political participation and urges people
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Five years ago
A BURNLEY-based pop group on the brink of mainstream success made their TV debut TV. Indie band Syndicate performed their latest single Taxi on the Granada Tonight Programme.
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Ten years ago
A SNACK bar owner at a lay-by in Cliviger was forced away because of travellers dumping waste near her caravan. Janet Abbott, of Read Street, Burnley, claimed she was being put out of business as people weren't stopping because of the travellers.
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Farmer dies in tractor accident tragedy
A FARMER has died from massive head injuries after his tractor toppled over on a steep lane 20 yards his home. David Proctor, 62, of Matt Bridge Farm, Broadfield, Oswaldtwistle, died after the accident on Benjamin Row. An ambulance arrived on the scene
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Former council boss dies
A FORMER Hyndburn Council finance director died on the way to church. Ronald Shuker, of the Coppice, Clayton-le-Moors, collapsed as he and his wife Dorothy made their weekly trip to St Wulstan's Church, Great Harwood. Mr Shuker, 59, is believed to have
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'Crucial' sex attack witness is found
POLICE investigating a sex assault have found a "crucial" new witness and hope to issue an artist's impression of the attacker soon. The woman, in her 50s, was walking through Priestly Clough, a parkland area off Royds Avenue, Accrington at 6.30pm on
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Stories can be bags of fun
THERE are lots of new stories to read at seven schools in Leigh's Education Action Zone. It's all part of a new initiative dubbed StoryBags, designed as an aid to raising standards of achievement in reading. The EAZ-funded bags, of which 70 are ready,
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Juniors to join in Fun Run
BLACKPOOL Sports Council's 16th annual Fun Run will take place in Stanley Park on Wednesday, June 20. This year a junior event for children up to the age of 11 has been included. The junior distance will be 1600m (four laps of the track) and the event
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Burnley are prize guys
BURNLEY have set their sights on the Premiership in the next few years -- with a little help from their fans. Turf Moor vice-chairman Ray Ingleby was at the relaunch of the Clarets Foundation last night -- and he's hoping the supporters will continue
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CRICKET: Donald quitting main stage
SOUTH AFRICAN fast bowler Allan Donald may have played his last Test match after asking to only be selected for one day matches, the United Cricket Board of South Africa announced on Wednesday. The UCBSA has accepted the request, but Donald has agreed
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LOCAL CRICKET: Young guns ready for battle
ONE Young man will be celebrating a Worsley Cup semi-final place when East Lancs and Bacup meet at Alexandra Meadows tomorrow. It's a clash of the Young pros with East Lancs all-rounder Brad facing his fellow Australian Shaun for a last four spot in the
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Lancs face long battle
MARK CHILTON hit an unbeaten century to save the follow-on for Lancashire in their match against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road. Opener Chilton finished the day with 102 out of Lancashire's 251 for eight as they dipped under the target just before the
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Action man Greg!
YOU just can't keep a good man down. On Saturday Atherton professional Greg Dimery came to his side's rescue with a stunning fielding display as the Higham Park side forced a draw in their top of the table clash at Edgworth. The following day he hit an
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Leigh have weekend of mixed fortunes
LEIGH CC experienced mixed fortunes in their league matches over the weekend with a defeat at Bootle and victory against Huyton. Bootle made a steady start despite the loss of opener Reilly to Sikander for a single and moved to 62-1 from 25 overs. Selwood
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Fight to restore canal
STEEPLEJACK Fred Dibnah has lit the fuse for a campaign to restore the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal to its former glory. The TV celebrity presented a cheque for £3,000 to British Waterways to carry out a study into the possibility of revitalising
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Hospital menus to get makeover
BE patient as improvements to hospital food in Bury are on their way! More choice and a range of new dishes will soon be on the menu when Bury and Fairfield help usher in a £40 million nationwide scheme to overhaul hospital food. A new menu for the NHS
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Big names answer call to help Beth
FANCY owning a guitar signed by Noel Gallagher? Or how about one of the few that Pete Townshend didn't smash? These and other instruments signed by some of the biggest names in music can all be bid for at a charity auction on Saturday (June 2). The Sedgley
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Biscuit boss building on new business recipe
COOKIE king Richard O'Sullivan could never be accused of biting off more than he can chew. For the former Whitefield man, who started off working in a Manchester restaurant, has successfully expanded the popular Millie's Cookie chain beyond expectations
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Bury voters will look North next Thursday
VOTERS in Bury North have six days left to decide where their crosses will go come the General Election. If you haven't made up your mind yet, the six candidates in Bury North and South are sure to be pulling out all the stops to woo voters before next
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Rovers eye Italian ace
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness is weighing up a move for Italian goal-ace Corrado Grabbi. Ewood chief Souness saw the Ternana striker score in a 3-1 win over Trevisco last Sunday. And sources in Italy today told me the Rovers boss could be ready to make
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Rob's a team player
BLACKBURN-BASED Cavalier Carpets has strengthened its management team, with the appointment of Rob Load as operations director. A self-confessed cricket fanatic, Rob, 40, played for the second XI in his native Gloucestershire and also enjoyed success
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£8m dream deal is boost for Bill
THE entrepreneur who built up Burnley-based Northern Textiles into one of the UK's leading pillow and quilt manufacturers has announced a "dream £8 million deal". Bill Gleave, chief executive of French plc, Northern Textiles' parent company, has sold
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MILLERS CHASE SHAKERS PAIR
FIRST Division Rotherham United are not only interested in Bury's Chris Swailes, they are also after long-serving skipper Nick Daws. The Millers assistant manager John Breckin revealed that he and boss Ronnie Moore were currently compiling a list of players
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New alert over bogus workmen
SAFETY advice has been issued by police to prevent further people falling prey to bogus officials. The move follows two incidents involving elderly residents in Darwen. Det Sgt Ian Critchley of Darwen CID said: "We want to reiterate to the elderly and
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Designs on new premises
A WALLPAPER design company will soon be moving premises to the former St James Church in Waterfoot. Tim Wilman is currently based at Bacup Road but will be moving to the former church in five or six weeks. The company is owned by Tim Wilman, son of wallpaper
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Vandals attack church
A CHURCH where ten windows have been smashed in the last five months is counting the cost after another window was broken on Wednesday night. Caretaker Walter Sewell checks Hall Fold United Reformed Church, Whitworth, every night and discovered the vandalism
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Daredevils wanted for the ultimate free fall
PARACHUTISTS use parachutes, bungee jumpers use rubber "ropes" but what do scad divers use? The answer, as visitors to Stacksteads fun day will discover, is nothing. They free fall 150 feet into a large frame surrounded by air tanks and known as a scad
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Homes to be fired in TV drama
TWO houses on Bacup's Pennine Road estate will be set on fire this month -- but the 'arson attack' will be carefully stage-managed as part of a TV drama. Unlike the producers of BBC2's comedy The League of Gentlemen, who turned down Bacup as the location
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'Cracker' hired to solve murder
DETECTIVES hunting the brutal axe murderer of former Rossendale man Danny O'Brien are bringing in a Cracker-style psychologist to carry out a profile of the killer. The senior psychologist will use evidence already gathered from the luxury house in Midgley
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Road safety
POLICE chiefs and Wigan councillors and officers will meet Hindsford residents this month to discuss traffic calming measures in Lodge Road, Hindsford. The meeting will be held on Tuesday June 5 at the Sacred Heart Parochial Centre in Lodge Road from
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CHILDREN from Two Porches School will benefit from the generosity of the Leigh Group of Freemasons w
Group chairman Eddie Caulfield, secretary Tony Bent, charity delegate Geoff Rimmer and John Phillips are pictured handing the donation to head teacher Mrs Lesley Roberts and chairman of governors Colin Mickleburgh.
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Top cops will act
POLICE chiefs have vowed to investigate reports of under-age drinking and criminal damage caused by youths gathering in Morley Street and Millers Lane, Atherton, and South Lane, Astley. The vow came at the first meeting of Leigh's new police forum, the
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Foot and mouth crisis not over
THE foot and mouth crisis may not be properly discussed at the coming General Election. However, it seriously affects us all wherever we may live. The disease has not vanished. The apparent drop-off in cases is due partly to decisions to 'slaughter on
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Chemists rota
THE local Sunday chemist rota. Blackpool: Boots, 28-38 Bank Hey Street, 10.30-4.30pm; Co-op Pharmacy (in Asda), Cherry Tree Road, Marton, 10-4pm; Moss Chemist, Morrisons, Squires Gate Lane, 10-4pm; Lloyds Pharmacy, 110 Talbot Rd, 10-5pm; Superdrug, Hounds
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Putting up the barricades
A HEALTH centre has had its windows smashed so many times it is putting up a barricade in an attempt to keep vandals out. At one point Ingol Health Centre, in Tanterton Hall Road, was targeted so many times by vandals that staff refused to replace the
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Two bailed on election conspiracy charge
A PROMINENT Labour councillor has appeared in court charged with conspiracy to defraud and perjury. Leader of the North West regional assembly and former deputy leader of Lancashire County Council Frank McKenna, 38, of Field View, Skelmersdale, appeared
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Men win landmark payout
TWO Blackburn men have become the first in the United Kingdom to gain widows' benefit payments in landmark cases. Until now, only women qualified for the money, even if the wife was the main family breadwinner, but the Human Rights Act has outlawed sex
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Men win landmark payout
TWO Blackburn men have become the first in the United Kingdom to gain widows' benefit payments in landmark cases. Until now, only women qualified for the money, even if the wife was the main family breadwinner, but the Human Rights Act has outlawed sex
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Bogus police target teenager
DETECTIVES are warning people to be on their guard against bogus officers after a teenager was lured into a car by two men claiming to be police. The 17-year-old was walking along Farm House Close, Blackburn, when he was approached by two men driving
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Baby death inquest calls for doctor to explain
AN inquest was brought to a halt after a father demanded a GP give evidence about the death of his baby daughter hours after she was examined. Nimra Anwar, of Inkerman Street, Blackburn, died 14 hours after her concerned parents took her to a medical
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SOCCER: North End duo agree new deals
BRIAN Barry-Murphy and Mark Wright have agreed new three-year deals at Preston. The youngsters would have been out of contract this summer but have impressed manager David Moyes. Midfielder Barry-Murphy broke into the first team squad this season, making
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Shootings show we have failed
SO it's finally happened right here in Bury. The shootings at Elton High School are undeniable proof of what we, our parents, and our grandparents all said: that God's standards were unattainable, ridiculous, and unnecessary. So we set our own standards
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Remains can't be disturbed
I UNDERSTAND that All Saints Church, Bury, is up for sale and, while I agree with the redevelopment of the Walshaw Road building, which must be better than years of neglect and vandalism, what concerns me and others is the future of the graveyard. Generations
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Health spend is welcome
ALTHOUGH investment in Bury and Rochdale Health Authority is in line with the national average, the distribution of funds within the health authority has left Bury NHS Trust historically at a disadvantage. However, I welcome the progress that has been
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Vote with your heads this time
A GENERAL election is almost upon us and I live in the key constituency of Bury South. Yet Prestwich, Whitefield and Radcliffe are quickly becoming slum areas and ghost towns. What have our local councillors or our MP done to improve this situation? Nothing
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Novelty ties are wearing thin!
MALE adornment through the ages has taken many forms, from cave men painting their faces through to Regency dandies, and even the hippie bead and "flower power" brigade. Now there is a new trend that seems to be gathering pace. Every man has one, some
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Like it or not, it's their right
WHILE browsing through the message board on the Bury FC official web-site one day last week, I came upon an article referring to an anti-racism petition which I though might be worth a look. To my horror, I found that this article was a personal attack
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Longfield can't survive Tesco expansion
I WAS present at the recent meeting with Sainsburys, organised by Ivan Lewis, when the petition against closure of their Prestwich store was presented. While everyone who attended the meeting spoke of their disappointment at Sainsburys' decision, it was
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A REVAMPED pub in Wilmslow is being renamed "The Man in the White Suit" to honour journalist Martin
Any ideas what a pub could be named in tribute to Leigh's long-serving MP, Lawrence Cunliffe, who has stood down after serving the town for 22 years? Send me your suggestions.
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The fed-up Samaritan
I FELT a bit sorry for a woman wearily pushing her trolley round a supermarket car park. "Can I help?" I asked. "I can't find my car anywhere," she said, "I hope it's not been stolen." "So do I", I sympathized, and tried to help by asking if she had any
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'Till death do us part
TWO cases of wife-husband beating caught my attention this week. A 28-years-old Romanian was arrested for beating his wife unconscious after she refused to peal an apple for him. Did he want her to eat it for him as well? Meanwhile, here, a father-of-two
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Centurions add to their silver collection!
Keighley Cougars...0 Leigh Centurions...36 THIS cup collecting business is becoming quite a habit. Like buses, you wait ages for one and then two come along together. After going 11 years without a sniff of silverware, the Centurions have now got a couple
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Daisy pair step down
DAISY Hill FC's management duo of Brian Richardson and Brian Smith have stepped down at New Sirs. Smith says: "Brian and I have enjoyed our time on the footballing side at Daisy Hill and we're leaving the club in a very healthy position in that regard
