Archive
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EVENTS taking place in East Lancashire on Saturday, December 22:
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Janet Anderson MP advice surgery, Library Theatre, Darwen, 10-11am. Origami Christmas trimmings -- drop in workshop for everyone, Blackburn Museum, 11am-4pm. Back Out
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A knight to remember!
Night of my Life - Michael Berry, project director of Blackburn's Red Brick Theatre, recalls meeting a giant of stage and screen "I HAD been speaking to a theatrical agent who mentioned that Sir John Mills intended to do a couple of one-man shows somewhere
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One down, eight to go
HAWKEYE - Pauline Hawkins on the week's TV LOVE it or loathe it, Pop Idol (ITV1, Saturday) is probably the most compelling show on TV at the moment. With more twists and turns than soap scriptwriters can muster, the challenge to find a chart-topper from
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Blinking heck, it's our Helen!
Helen Adams on life after Big Brother BRIAN Dowling might have got Big Brother's £70,000 prize but Helen Adams proved to be the real winner of the reality game show. The Welsh hairdresser made the nation laugh with her "Helen-isms" such as 'I like blinking
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Today's the day
1620: The Pilgrim Fathers landed at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts, aboard the Mayflower. 1840: The Isle of Man decided to give the vote to selected widows and spinsters. 1891: James Naismith invented basketball. 1913: The first crossword puzzle was published
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This week in 1976 25 years ago
BENEFITS BONUS: The DHSS was very concerned that a substantial number of single-child families in Bury had not sent in their claims for child benefit and urged them to do so without further delay. JOBLESS GIVEN THE SACK: Unemployed people in the Bury
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Open Sesame!
BURNLEY Pantomime Society is staging 'Aladdin' at Burnley Mechanics from Friday, January 11, to Saturday, January 19, at 7.15pm. Saturday matinees will be at 2.15pm and Sunday matinees at noon and 4pm.
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You will be left asking for more
PICTURE the scene, a Victorian charity workhouse. Orphan boys march towards their places at the sparse dinner tables. They're dreaming about food, glorious food. But although they are picturing the pleasures of hot sausage and mustard, followed swiftly
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Leaver was right about riots
REGARDING the inquiry into the riots in Burnley, there was only one person who got it right in your reports on the findings (LET, December 12) and that was Eric Leaver in his article about it. It's always the right wing that's to blame. What poppycock
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Home Secretary spoke the truth
I WOULD like to thank Home Secretary David Blunkett for having the courage to speak the truth, and Eric Leaver (LET, December 12) for his article on Mr Blunkett's call for the ethnic community to do more to integrate. We have lost our freedom of speech
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Thank you for my lost purse
I WOULD like to thank the honest person who found my purse and handed it in to Blackburn College, having found a student card inside. I would also like to say thank you to the receptionist at the college who traced my phone number and let me know my purse
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Real danger - or a state of mind?
AS a regular visitor to Darwen Tower, I am concerned about its condition. It has been closed for some time now and nothing seems to be happening to it - certainly, it is not under repair. Were I of a suspicious nature, I might think that our friends at
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Generosity saved the bonfire
I AM writing on behalf of the four Rotary Clubs in Blackburn and Darwen, and the Rotaract Club of Blackburn, to thank the people of Blackburn and Darwen for their wholehearted and generous support for the Bonfire at Witton Park earlier this year. The
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Laugh? I nearly choked on my popcorn
Zoolander (12) reviewed by RICHARD KING YOU can tell that Ben Stiller has come a long way since his directorial debut with the highly under-rated Cable Guy. Zoolander absolutely reeks of big budget. Fortunately Stiller has lost not one iota of his comic
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There is nothing like a Dame...
PANTOMIME is all about entertaining the kids (oh, yes it is) and on that score Cinderella at Blackpool Grand Theatre got ten out of ten from a cheering young audience last Thursday night. The youngsters were, in fact, the stars of the show, enthusiastically
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Having a ball at the Tower
DUST off your tuxedos and unpack your ballgowns! The spectacular Christmas Tree Ball is back at Blackpool Tower on Saturday, December 22. But there will be no Cinderella-style running home at midnight. The Ball, which will take over the whole Tower complex
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Emmie coming back to her roots
IT'S all go for up-and-coming pop star Emmie! Not content with recording a new single for release after Christmas, the 23-year-old singer is on a promotional tour and coming to Blackpool's Norbreck Castle this Saturday (December 22). But Manchester-born
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Three hours of movie heaven
LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (PG) reviewed by Richard King Firstly apologies to Mrs Morgan for not reading Harry Potter before reviewing the movie! Sorry but with a personal library backlogged like my own I have little time to read my kid's
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Service hits the right note with full house
ABOUT 350 people packed into Bury Parish Church for the annual Bury Hospice carol service on Monday night (Dec 17). The church's own choir was joined by the choirs of St Joseph's and St Bede's Primary School, Bury, and Gorsefield Primary School, Radcliffe
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Workers have "scent" Santa overseas
WORKERS enjoyed the sweet smell of success with their efforts to ensure a visit from Santa for needy youngsters overseas. Staff at the Eton Hill Industrial Estate firm Fragrance Oils (International) Ltd collected around 85 Christmas shoeboxes packed with
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Packed and ready to go
TRAVEL agents in Bury's Mill Gate Centre packed up their case for Christmas, but not for a festive break under sunnier skies. Staff at Travelcare filled a "Santa's Suitcase" with cuddly toys, colouring books, toy cars and other Christmas gifts for poorly
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Performance makes Christmas for parents
DICKENS' classic, A Christmas Carol, was brought to life by the children of Wesley Methodist Primary School in Radcliffe. All 160 children in the junior department took part in the musical production, and staff designed the sets. Headteacher Mr Geoff
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Parking will revitalise town
PLANS have been given the green light to attract more motorists to Radcliffe. In a bid to halt the decline of shopping facilities in the town centre, and encourage car-owning customers into the area, Bury Council is to build a new car park on land off
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'Heads should roll over death of baby Emma'
A HEALTH watchdog has called for the resignation of the chief executive of the East Lancashire Health Authority after a report into the death of baby Emma Jade Dyson. The report highlighted six factors which might have prevented the death of four month
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First past the post could raise £400
MY money's on the First Ballot! And should anyone be mistaken, David Chaytor's declaration does not signal any political leadership campaign. Instead, First Ballot is the name of a horse the Bury North MP is backing, with a worthwhile cause benefiting
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Last line could hold the key
CHARLTON keeper Dean Kiely plans to intensify Graeme Souness's search for a striker by shutting out Rovers with another clean sheet in the capital tomorrow. The Republic of Ireland international has become something of a cult hero at the Valley since
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Victim hit on head in robbery attempt
TWO would-be robbers left a man bleeding from a head wound after an attack in the street. The 20-year-old man from Nelson received a cut to the back of his head after the men attacked him demanding his cash. The victim, who works in Burnley, had just
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Clarets win again with a visit to hospital children
YOUNGSTERS in the children's wards at Burnley General Hospital were given a welcome pre-Christmas tonic when they received a visit from Burnley footballers. The annual fixture again proved a winner with the kids on the Turner and Deerplay wards who gave
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Dad helps addict escape jail term
A DRUG addict said to have helped himself to property to the tune of more than £7,200 from his father escaped jail -- thanks to his dad. Burnley Magistrates heard how victim Rex Lanceley, whose other son had also been pinching from him, had been helping
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Council wants more say over road cash
EXECUTIVE members of Pendle Council are hoping to be given more say over spending on the borough's roads after an agreement with county highways bosses. The proposals would result in several district and county councils working together with the aim of
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Reviews of the latest sounds
SINGLES: JANET JACKSON: Son Of A Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You), (Virgin) -- Taken from her number one album, 'All For You', Janet's back with an interesting new take on the Carly Simon classic. Dark pumping basslines mix with Janet's trademark
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Storks need form to beat Formby
PADIHAM manager Graham Howarth may ring the changes for tomorrow's tough home tie against Formby. The Storks lost 3-1 against Colne last Saturday and Howarth criticised his NWCL Division Two side's defending. "I am looking for an improved performance
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Wright on goalie search
CHORLEY boss Ken Wright needs to sign a keeper before tomorrow's match at Eastwood Town. Regular keeper Simon Marsh is out and the usual stand-in, Paul Eatock, is not available tomorrow because of work commitments. So Wright has been frantically searching
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Ten years ago
A £50,000 ray of sunshine brightened the dark world of a boy left brain-damaged by a hospital blunder when he was a few months old. Martin Hoyle, of Accrington, suffered a cardiac arrest during a routine operation in 1982.
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Five years ago
LOTTERY punter Neil Pemberton cursed a slip of the pen when a bookmaker refused to pay out £430 on a 'winning' ticket because his three looked like a two. The manager of Bradlow, Blackburn, offered him a bottle of whisky to drown his sorrows.
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Lager chief wins bitter battle over pub sales
BUSINESSMAN Andrew Ronnan has won a £125,000 victory over the Government in his campaign to sell imported German lager in pubs. And now he has set his sights on the European Commission and has demanded that President Romano Trudi release information on
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A twist in Tolkien's tale
FILM fans received a sneak preview of The Lord of the Rings movie with a Ribble Valley twist in JRR Tolkien's epic tale. Budding actors from St Mary's Hall, Stonyhurst, performed their own adaptation of the book at the Warner Village Cinemas, Capitol
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Paul makes grade
TECHNICIAN Paul Richards has proved he's simply the best when it comes to mastering the mysteries of the motoring world. For Paul, of Elton Garages in Bury, is one of an elite number of Peugeot mechanics to qualify as a Master Technician under a tough
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Fight to beat the new energy tax
BUSINESS leaders in Bury and Bolton are getting hot under the collar over a new energy tax on business. Now, Bolton and Bury Chamber has started a campaign to stamp out the tax. Bosses stress that the energy tax, combined with the recently introduced
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Goodbye to a big success
A BURY-based project, which helped numerous companies find their feet in the world of information and communication technology (ICT), is "logging-off". For this month sees the end of one of the borough's most influential and innovative ICT projects, ISaware
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Harris's battle was a show of strength
IF ever a group of players had a great chance to put their careers in perspective it was the Lions of Millwall. Star striker Neil Harris's battle against testicular cancer has been a graphic reminder of how serious illness can affect anyone, even fit
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Midfield could be Grant maintained
HAVING served a one match suspension against Stockport County last week, influential midfielder Tony Grant is set to return against Millwall tomorrow. But with competition for places at Turf Moor becoming increasingly competitive, assistant manager Sam
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Clarets focused on Christmas rush
CLARETS players are happy to let their football talking as they prepare for a crucial run of four games in 11 days. Rather than discuss the festive joys of being top of the table at Christmas, they remain focused on the job in hand. And with manager Stan
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Hoping Santa has wins in his sack
SO not long to go now before Santa starts his rounds. And let's hope he can find us a couple of wins in his sack after a couple of disappointing results in the league. Last week's defeat at St James's felt like a real kick in the teeth, particularly with
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Dad and son have write stuff
A FATHER and son team proved they had the writer's touch, by each having a book of their own published on the healing power of massage. Chris (left), and Eddie Caldwell's (right) helpful texts on how to sooth persistent aches and strains were published
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Public to have a say on crime
WANTED! The views of the public on their top crime-fighting priorities. A crime and disorder strategy is being drawn up to pinpoint areas of most concern to residents in the borough. Bury Community Safety Partnership has identified seven priorities, and
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A touch of Frost-y!
IT was "snow" joke when the Murphy family discovered that their 6ft snowman had gone missing from the front garden. And when it came to reporting the apparent theft to the police, Frank and Pauline, of Melton Drive, Hollins, expected a "frosty" reception
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Clarets focused on Christmas rush
CLARETS players are happy to let their football talking as they prepare for a crucial run of four games in 11 days. Rather than discuss the festive joys of being top of the table at Christmas, they remain focused on the job in hand. And with manager Stan
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Savo the man for Rovers
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness has turned to former Aston Villa ace Savo Milosevic as the man to solve his side's striking problems. Ewood chief Souness has contacted Milosevic's representatives about a possible move to Rovers -- initially on loan -- after
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Just beggin' to entertain you
POPULAR Darwen band Gone Beggin' are celebrating the season of goodwill with a new album and a couple of festive gigs. The band, who carry a Celtic World style, play at the Highfield WMC in Darwen on Christmas Eve and then at the Bridge Inn, Church, on
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Emmie winner hitting town
AT 23, Emmie has had a top five single, shared a house with leading boy band N-Sync, embarked on the first steps as a fashion designer -- and now she's heading for Blackburn next week to bring festive cheer to clubgoers everywhere. The girl who brought
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Cash help for nine schools
A HIGH School and eight primary schools in the Darwen area are celebrating after being granted government cash to improve children's achievements. The new Excellence In Cities (EIC) Education Action Zone is part of the Blackburn with Darwen's EIC Initiative
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Students told to 'get real'
STUDENTS at Lancashire's top secondary school were told by their head to "not live in a world of virtual reality and get real!" Headteacher of Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, in Waterfoot, Martyn Morris praised his former pupils for their success
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Award for town centre crusader
A TOP Blackpool businessman has been named as the first person to be awarded the prestigious George Bancroft Memorial Salver. The accolade -- in memory of the former Blackpool Council leader who died earlier this year -- has been awarded to Michael Hyman
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Feed your bins less!
BLACKPOOL folk have been issued with some rubbish advice this Christmas. Lancashire County Council has announced five tips to help residents beat their seasonal bin bag bulge. A council spokesman said: "The traditional season of over-indulgence is almost
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Collision girl,13 suffers 'serious injuries'
POLICE are hunting for a motorist after a teenager was knocked down by a driver early today. The 13-year-old girl, who has not been named, was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary with serious head injuries after the incident near to her home in Revidge
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Motorist killed in M6 pile-up
A MOTORIST was killed today and five injured in a smash on the M6. Police said two heavy goods vehicles and "a number of cars" were involved in the incident near Junction 28 northbound. Emergency crews were called at around 6.45am and firefighters freed
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Boyfriend slapped his 'ex' on face twice
SPURNED boyfriend Shane Williams damaged the front door of his ex-girlfriend's house and threw bricks through her windows. Blackburn magistrates were told this week that he left before police arrived but returned later on, when the council joiner was
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Bonfire back with a bang
BLACKBURN'S biggest bonfire is back with a bang -- after a massive campaign to save it. Organisers revealed today that the Witton Park spectacular raised a record £5,750 for charity. The success has lit the blue touch-paper for future events after apathy
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Callon shock
COLNE'S promising young winger Ben Callon has signed for Squires Gate. The 19-year-old burst on to the NWCL Second Division scene this season and has put in a number of impressive performances down the right for the Holt House side. "I can't understand
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Ground will be ready: Stand
STAND manager Nick Davis is determined to get Ewood Bridge fit for the NWCL First Division. Stand are the runaway leaders of the Second Division and look odds-on for the title - but that will be wasted if their ground, the former home of Haslingden, is
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Baldwin keeps his spot
DARWEN manager Lee Purvis is sticking by his teenage keeper Kevin Baldwin - even though long-serving Lee Purvis is back is back in contention. Purvis played 196 consecutive games for the NWCL Second Division side before missing last week's game at Squires
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Clough's tipping Stanley to go up
BURTON ALBION'S boss Nigel Clough is tipping Accrington to be a Conference side - even though he is hoping it is not this season, writes DANY ROBSON. UniBond Premier League leaders Burton are the visitors to the Crown Ground tomorrow where a bumper crowd
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Defence the key
RAMSBOTTOM'S midfield hot shot David Yorke-Robinson has signed a contract with the Riverside club. Yorke-Robinson, who has scored 18 goals this season including one in each of the last nine games, was the target of West Lancs League leaders Kirkham and
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NORTH WEST COUNTIES LEAGUE
Fixtures for tomorrow -- Division One: Abbey Hey v Salford City; Atherton Col v Maine Road; Clitheroe v Ramsbottom Utd; Fleetwood Free v Winsofrd Utd; Flixton v Prescot Cables; Glossop NE v Newcastle Town; Kidsgrove Ath v Curzon Ash; Nantwich Town v St
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Lister deserved manager award - Peters
BACUP boss Brent Peters is amazed that John Lister's achievements at taking Colne into the top seven in the NWCL Division Two haven't gained more recognition. The two sides clash tomorrow in a local derby at Holt House and far from being the whipping
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Denis needs festive joy
GREAT Harwood boss Denis Underwood is hoping for some festive joy as his side seek a much-needed NWCL Division One win over Christmas. After a reasonable start, it's been a miserable time for Harwood which has seen them go 13 league games without a win
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Gary will battle for Stanley spot
GARY Williams is hoping the bumper crowd expected at the Crown Ground tomorrow will get behind him when Stanley take on UniBond Premier League leaders Burton Albion. The 22-year-old striker has come off the transfer list and could be on the bench as the
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This is Lights lunacy
THE Lights are on, the Lights are off. The artist(?) Martin Creed pockets £20,000 from the public purse, courtesy of the awards committee of the Turner Prize for Art. Perhaps, to supplement the 2002 Illuminations Fund, the council should enter the Lights
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A threat to guide dogs
THE Guide Dogs for the Blind Association wants the New Year to start with a bang, but we appeal for sensible use of fireworks. The festive season is a time of great joy, but for guide dogs and their owners it can be very traumatic. Fireworks can be a
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No charge for medals
FOLLOWING recent correspondence as to whether the Government ever required a payment of £30 for the issue of a National Service Medal, I made enquiries of the MOD Army Medal Office. The letter I received confirms that medals for sale has never been a
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Warning signs
HAVING driven by car to Fairfield Hospital, along Rochdale Old Road, Bury, I totally support recent comments about the need for a new access route. My average speed from Wash Lane to Fairfield was six miles per hour. The authorities have to consider the
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Buses: still a lot to do
I AM writing in regard to the integrated accessible public transport system which will evidently operate with the help of network maps. It is not maps that we need. It is low-floor accessible buses that everybody can travel on. Four or five years ago,
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Packed in like battery hens
JAMES B. Mason is surely right that Metrolink passengers would prefer to see porters, booking clerks and other staff on the stations, guards on the trams and signalmen for the control and safety of rolling stock (Yours Truly, Dec 13). This doesn't happen
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"Second-hand" trams are all we can afford
WITH reference to the recent article concerning GMPTE's decision to bring in trams from the San Francisco network to ease overcrowding on the Bury-Altrincham Metrolink line, may I say that this measure has been widely welcomed by daily users. It appears
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Fairfield: The verdict
FOUR key areas of patient care are in need of urgent attention after a warts-and-all investigation into the borough's hospital services. Fairfield Hospital was inspected by the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) as acute services provided by Bury
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School morale must be lifted
Already accused of responding with "all's well" spin to a barrage of teachers' concerns over schooling -- ranging from serious staff shortages to forcing schools to accept disruptive pupils -- the government has been given another warning by the profession
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Pantos - don't you just love 'em?
Comedian Phil Walker is back at Blackburn's King George's Hall for the third year running in the town's traditional panto. He talks to PAULINE HAWKINS PHIL Walker, son of comic 'Catchphrase' game show host Roy Walker, finished up in a cast he didn't expect
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Don't get the hump
THE 'Hunchback of Notre Dame' will swing into action at the Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre from Thursday, January 17, until Saturday, January 19, nightly at 7.30pm. It will be presented by the St Mary's Pantomime Group.
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Here comes Cinders
THE Methodist Church Players will present a traditional version of the pantomime 'Cinderella' early in the New Year. Cinders will be on stage from Tuesday, January 8, until Saturday, January 12, starting at 7.30pm at the Greenbrook Methodist Church Hall
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Banknote policy cannot be argued
MARI Thompson (Letters, Dec 17) says she never had to go to the bureau de change to spend English money over the border in Scotland. I spent 12 years working between England and Scotland and had no problems with either English or Scottish banknotes. But
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Concern over Darwen Tower
AS a regular visitor to Darwen Tower, I am concerned about its condition. It has been closed for some time now and nothing seems to be happening to it - certainly, it is not under repair. Were I of a suspicious nature, I might think that our friends at
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Paedophiles: Hollow words from Minister
FOLLOWING the tragic murder of her daughter by paedophile Roy Whiting, the mother of Sarah Payne made an agonised plea to the authorities to make sure that this stops happening time and time again. Almost immediately, Home Office Minister Beverley Hughes
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Choir of little angels
YOUNGSTERS raised their voices and the roof during a well-attended Christmas carol service staged at Bury Parish Church. Around half a dozen schools took part in the popular festive event, organised by Ramsbottom Music Festival. And pictured are three
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I blame the drivers!
THE man in charge of Blackburn's new orbital route today blamed bad drivers for the confusion which has marred its opening -- and said they should start reading the road signs. Coun Ashley Whalley's view was attacked by opposition councillors, who accused
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MPs latest register of interests
TWO overseas trips have been registered by MP David Chaytor in the latest register of Members' interests. He visited Japan in April 2000 for the annual conference of Global International. His air fare and hotel accommodation was paid for by the Globe
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Merry Christmas across the world
CHILDREN championed the Czech style of celebrating Christmas at Radcliffe Junior School's carol concert. Pupils from the Coronation Road school made festive Christingle candles from the country, decorated with oranges, cocktail sticks and ribbons, to
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Luxury comes to old hall
THE former Prestwich Town Hall is to finally receive a much-needed facelift and be turned into luxury flats. The Grade Two listed building has been plagued by vandalism since its closure as Manor Park nursing home, two years ago. As reported in the Bury
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Lesley's a window winner
A WINDOW of opportunity opened up for a Radcliffe businesswoman and now she's a winner! For Lesley Longworth's busy fruit and veg store in the town's Blackburn Street has captured a unique inaugural best dressed shop window award. She certainly had the
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Rovers sex attack allegation: Woman quizzed
POLICE today revealed they had interviewed the woman at the centre of an allegation of a sex offence at Blackburn Rovers training ground. Detectives quizzed the girl after an alleged incident at Brockhall Village, off the A59, on Monday night. The allegation
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Savo the man for Rovers
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness has turned to former Aston Villa ace Savo Milosevic as the man to solve his side's striking problems. Ewood chief Souness has contacted Milosevic's representatives about a possible move to Rovers -- initially on loan -- after
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Duff is ready to take centre stage(THHUMBNAIL:tduff2112)
ROVERS winger Damien Duff is ready to step into the breach as an emergency centre forward in a bid to ease manager Graeme Souness's striking worries. With Matt Jansen currently out injured, Souness's attacking resources are down to the bare bones with
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Hand in hand for playground plan
A PROTEST against plans to cut the budget for children's play facilities in Burnley was held outside the Town Hall. About 50 campaigners, many of them children with their mums and dads, joined hands outside the town hall. Campaign chairman, Chris Keene
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We want to know more about mum's final hours
AN inquest into the death of a 70-year-old Burnley woman shortly after surgery has been adjourned at the request of her family who are demanding to know more about her final hours. The sons and husband of Letizia Lombardi want to hear evidence from the
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Tackle child poverty, plea
PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice has called on Chancellor Gordon brown to do more to tackle child poverty by raising incomes and improving services. He made his demands following the publication of the pre-budget report consultation document: "Tackling Child
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Lights "are a hazard"
WHILST driving along Market Street towards the town centre I was blinded several times by the bright lights displayed on the roof of the Peel pub. I was temporarily blinded and only just managed to stop when a car in front of me braked sharply. I consider
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Hospital memories
TO celebrate 150 years of caring for sick children, Great Ormond Street Hospital is on the hunt for past patients, nurses and doctors. Were you a patient, or the parent of a patient who benefited from pioneering surgery? Perhaps you remember going to
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Time to get going
NELSON boss John Bailey knows it is time his side start showing their true colours. The Blues, one of the pre season favourites for promotion, have fallen away having won just once in their last 11 NWCL Division One games. Now with Cheadle, Colne and
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Clitheroe out for Rams
DEFENCE will be the key to victory for Clitheroe in tomorrow's local derby against Ramsbottom, says manager Lee Sculpher. The Blues have hot shots Lee Cryer and Neil Spencer - who scored 58 goals between them last season - up front and the Rams have Russell
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Death probe into works accident plunge
HEALTH and safety officials have launched an investigation in to the death of a 33-year-old man who suffered a blood clot on his brain after a works accident. Ian Ward, of Turner Street, Barnoldswick, died in Royal Preston Hospital on December 6 after
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Angry father saw red over 'foul language'
AN angry dad saw red when he believed his ex-partner's current boyfriend used "foul language" in front of his daughter. Burnley Magistrates heard how John Kershaw, 29, kicked Jacqueline Hardy's door, smashing the lock. The day after, following his works
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Victim had been too scared to go out at night
A MAN who died after an attempted break-in at his flat was a virtual prisoner in his own home after being plagued by youngsters, it was revealed today. Trevor Whitehead, 61, was terrified to leave his house after dark after groups of teenagers threw stones
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Painter poet and the art of saying thank you
A DECORATOR has put pen to paper and written a poem thanking the man who helped him back into work. Receiving poetry from a new deal client was a first for personal adviser Damian Bowling but for Peter Worthington, of Worston Close, Accrington, it was
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Clarets win again with a visit to hospital children
YOUNGSTERS in the children's wards at Burnley General Hospital were given a welcome pre-Christmas tonic when they received a visit from Burnley footballers. The annual fixture again proved a winner with the kids on the Turner and Deerplay wards who gave
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Council announce their holiday plans
COUNCIL leisure centres will shut and refuse collections stop over the festive season. Goshen, Philips and Coney Green sports centres will be closed from December 22 to January 1 inclusive. However, Bury's Castle leisure centre will be open every day
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Little Zoe's a card sharp!
SHE'S top of the tree when it comes to designing a winning Christmas card! That's five-year-old Zoe Wetherall whose artistic talents have won her school £500. Zoe, a pupil at Greenhill primary school, Bury, triumphed in a children's competition to design
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Woman lay on track
AN Unsworth woman told her hospital carers she was going to kill herself, moments before she was struck by a tram, an inquest heard. Miss Audrey Jane Hayhoe lay across the track in the tunnel at Whitefield Metrolink Station as a tram travelled towards
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Inspector stands by "church yobs" claim
OFFICIALS of a Whitefield church and social centre have challenged police claims that some yobs targeting the premises are the children of its members. They reacted angrily to comments from Inspector David Jones, head of Prestwich and Whitefield Township
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Years of drinking kills former labourer
A CONCERNED father who took a sledgehammer to break down the door of his son's home in Bury found him dead in bed, an inquest heard. Bury District Coroner Mr Barrie Williams was told that 41-year-old Timothy John Entwistle, a former builder's labourer
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Community hall plans fail
AMBITIOUS plans to build a community hall in Tottington may be scrapped. So disappointed are officials of St Anne's Church with councillors, who again refused to approve their plans for a new hall, that they are now "seriously" considering abandoning
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2001 - the year that talent got its chance
THE local headline makers of 2001 were Blackburn bands The 'Burn and Tompaulin. Both took giant steps forward on the national circuit putting Blackburn and East Lancashire firmly on the musical map. The 'Burn spent the early months locked away in their
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Shakers win will make Preece's day
BURY head into a busy Christmas period full of confidence and with one immediate aim - to save their manager from a bit of stick writes Steve Canavan of the Bolton Evening News The Shakers take on Blackpool tomorrow, a club Andy Preece captained and the
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Another power failure hits parts of town
PARTS of Darwen were left without electricity on Wednesday afternoon -- for the second time in two months. Shops in Bridge Street and Church Bank Street were left without power from about 2.40pm. A spokeswoman for United Utilities said they did not know
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Free computer help
A COMPUTER firm from Rossendale has helped four local groups by providing them with second-hand computer systems for free! NCS Support Services, in Bacup Road, Rawtenstall, asked for local groups to contact them if they wanted a computer and so far four
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Takeaway closed after hygiene offences
RUBBISH infested with red ants and special fried rice which was unfit for human consumption was found at a Chinese take-away in Ramsbottom. Lam Po Yip, who runs the Lucky Star in Bolton Street pleaded guilty at Bury Magistrates to ten different food hygiene
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Print clue led to arrest
SNEAK-THIEF John Stephen Slater owned up to a theft at the Salvation Army Hostel in Blackburn, almost 18 months after the offence. Blackburn magistrates were told that his fingerprints had been found on the window of a room at the hostel, from which a
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Tory voice moves up in Europe
NORTH West MEP Robert Atkins has moved up the pecking order in the British Conservative delegation in Europe. He has been appointed the Tory spokesman on the Trade and Industry Committee of the European Parliament. Mr Atkins said the newly-elected leader
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Scarred victim appeal for calm from Christmas revellers
IT HAS taken nearly two years for Brennan Clemance to recover from a glassing which not only wrecked his trip to Corfu but nearly ruined his life. Now he has appealed for revellers to make sure they don't get involved in Christmas violence, in a bid to
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Matt is Hould-ing the fort for Dale
JIM McCLUSKIE has hauled his troops out of their worst spell since he took over at Rossendale United - and now he wants to lead them to promotion. McCluskie has been in charge at Dark Lane for 15 months and took his side to promotion from the North West
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Keep religion out of schools
IN the current debate about "faith schools" and whether to have more or less, I believe that schools, colleges and universities should confine their remit strictly to education. Religion is not and never likely to be an exact science as the ever increasing
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We need public inquiry after fiasco
A PUBLIC inquiry should have been on the agenda a long time ago on the sale of land and buildings at Ashton Gardens by Fylde Borough Council. After the fiasco at the town hall last Monday evening it is essential. I went to the town hall under the impression
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All the best from The Citizen...
and all at No 249 and 251 Waterloo Road, Blackpool... IT'S known as the Waterloo winter wonderland. And if you take a trip to Sue Severn's amazing Christmas house you'll know why! Sue, 53, and her daughter Sharon, 34, have converted the fronts of their
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Damned if we do, damned if we don't
AFTER reading Gerry Van Hecke's letter (Dec 4) I am tempted to conclude that, as local councillors, "we are damned if we do and we are damned if we don't". When we turn down development proposals because we do not consider them to be appropriate or cost-effective
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Ramsbottom "tranquil"? Don't patronise us
IF Ramsbottom is such a "haven of peaceful tranquillity," to quote Supt. Westcott (Bury Times, Dec 14), why are so many of the town's elderly people terrified to answer their front door at night? The town centre at night is a magnet for yobs in speeding
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Pensioner driver killed in wall crash
A PENSIONER died after his car careered out of control in Prestwich and crashed into a wall surrounding Heaton Park. Mr Michael Say, aged 83, of Bailey Street, Prestwich, was driving a Ford Fiesta in Middleton Road towards its junction with Victoria Avenue
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Soldier killed in range accident
A LOCAL soldier has been killed in an accident during a training exercise in Northern Ireland. Sergeant Major Michael White died when he was shot in the shoulder on a firing range at a base in County Down. The 42-year-old, from Prestwich, suffered major
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A big hit in Miss
FOUR-year-old Benjamin Tang has made his stage debut while providing the "aah" factor for one of the world's most famous musicals. The Whitefield cutie has no experience of drama school or modelling, but has been appearing two or three times a week in
