Archive
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City bid came too early for us
GOOD news doesn't seem to come on consecutive days for East Lancashire and today perhaps proves the point. Yesterday Blackburn with Darwen Council was justifiably proud to have been named "Council of the Year" by the independent Local Government Association
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Why I begrudge the extra taxes
LISTENING to the debates on radio and MPs saying how much money has been put into the Health Service, I think all parties are a lot of two-faced wimps. They won't admit why money has been put into the NHS and state we have huge numbers of asylum seekers
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Cunning ploy by county council
ERIC Leaver's comments (LET, March 6) that there are signs of nerves on the part of the Lancashire County Council leadership over the proposed plans to shut 35 homes for the elderly does not reassure me. I have a niggling suspicion that they did not propose
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Target-meeting waste of money
FROM what we have seen recently on TV, and read in the press, the NHS can seriously damage your health. Doctors, nurses and all hospital staff do a fantastic job. It is the Government who are at fault.The problem is target-meeting. You cannot play around
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Time to put the country first
AT last, through the threat of old people's homes being closed, people have realised how much money the Government is sending abroad and how much money is being spent on asylum seekers and illegal immigrants, not forgetting the millions wasted on bureaucrats
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Council promise fall probe
AN INVESTIGATION will be held into the alleged treatment of a pregnant mum after she reported she had tripped on block paving in a town centre. Mother-of-two Tracy Young was walking along the passageway between the new outdoor market stalls and the former
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We say: Shop The Scum!
THE JOURNAL is backing a Police vow to stamp out a nasty series of cowardly robberies inflicted on lone pensioners in their homes. And following the latest in a despicable string of attacks on the elderly in which a robber threatened to kill an 82 year-old
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No Ewood Park date for Orphanage Cup
THIS year's Orphanage Cup final will not be played on Ewood Park. Despite the success of last year's competition, Blackburn Rovers have decided not to allow the final to take place this season. Instead, the showcase of the charity competition will return
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Tales from the Touchline with Trevor Hanson
I HAVE had to smile to myself recently after reading the comments of our resident Whistle Blower after my last item about refereeing standards. The slating he gave me does not surprise me at all as he speaks exactly how all officials do with a self centred
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Steve Tinniswood's Park Patrol
I BUMPED in to my former Ivy Hotel team-mate Mikkel Mahoney who was telling me that Great Harwood were interested in signing him up. Now I know Mik is a fine goalkeeper but I got to thinking whether the jump from Blackburn Combination Division Three to
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Ewood 'steal' unlikely point
EWOOD Amateurs so nearly got away with daylight robbery. Had Kings not grabbed an equaliser late in to added time, Ewood would have stolen three points from right under the noses of their title rivals. As it was, Kings almost snatched a win right at the
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Havana good time!
I AM grateful for Dr Findlater's helpful response to my letter about Camp X-Ray. Yes, Ernesto (Che) Guevara was and is a revolutionary icon. He was always on the side of the poor and the oppressed and he worked and fought for his ideals not just in Latin
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I want to stay with Blackburn says Yordi
SPANISH striker Yordi last night hinted he wants to make his move from Real Zaragoza to Rovers permanent when his loan deal runs out at the end of the season. The 28-year-old frontman has proved a big hit with fans during his short time at Ewood so far
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Weakest Link
BY THE time you read this I shall be gone from Lancaster, having chosen to move out after 4 years. It is not a sad farewell, by any means. I am leaving behind a dirty little town, which shall sadly never reach its true potential because of the parochial
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Form guide...
A LOOK at the key moments and stats from the game against Ipswich Town. Rovers: FRIEDEL: Denied Marcus Stewart with a stunning second half save but he could do nothing about his header 30 seconds later...7 NEILL: Solid defensively but blotted his copybook
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It's getting tight
IT'S been a mixed week for the Irish at the Cheltenham Festival. But, thankfully, at least the 7.45 at Ewood last night went true to form as an Irish thoroughbred edged Rovers a step nearer the winning post in the race for Premiership survival. Damien
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TASK FORCE: Fears go on for taxi drivers
BURNLEY cabbies today revealed attacks on drivers and their vehicles had continued nearly nine months after disturbances in the town. But the secretary of Burnley Private Hire Association Duncan Allan said a new CCTV system should improve security. He
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TASK FORCE: Progress made, more could be done
NEWSAGENT Arthur Wade's shop was smashed up in the disturbances and although his premises have long since been repaired he feels the council has still not got it right. Arthur has run the business in Abel Street at the heart of Daneshouse for nearly 18
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TASK FORCE: Firebombed pub back in business
THE pub which became the unfortunate focal point for the riots will officially unveil a new future tomorrow. The Duke of York at Duke Bar, Burnley, stands refurbished on the corner of Colne Road and Briercliffe Road with landlady Marie Coulston back at
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TASK FORCE: A lesson has been learned
COMMUNITY leaders today said people have learned valuable lessons from last year's disturbances. Burnley Council's deputy Mayor Rafique Malik agreed people had learned valuable lessons. He said: "I think people are going to realise more and more that
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TASK FORCE: Lord Clarke praises joint effort
INQUIRY chairman Lord Clarke today gave Burnley a pat on the back for the progress it had made in the three months since his task force report into the disturbances. The Duke of York public house in Duke Bar, the fire-bombed building at th heart of the
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Council guide to the Jubilee parties
A SIMPLE guide has been produced by Pendle Council to help local people plan for the Queen's Golden Jubilee. It gives advice on events being organised for the period Saturday, June 1, to Tuesday, June 4. The council has also set up a dedicated phone advice
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Residents, staff don't need upset
IWOULD like to formally object to the proposed closures of care homes in Lancashire. Staff and relatives and residents of Fell View, in Longridge, do not need this upset as it needs very little spending on it. S BARNES (Mrs), Buccleuch Avenue, Clitheroe
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90 years old but hopes are dashed
ICANNOT see why the Northlands home for the elderly in Great Harwood should be closed. Never have I heard any complaints about it. It must be awful for those living there, wondering what is going to happen to them. Now aged 90, I was hoping I might end
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Vinegar works plan gets thumbs down
A PLAN to transform the former vinegar works in Barrowford into a block of 30 apartments and two detached houses was refused by Pendle Council after opposition from residents and the parish council. Councillors at the last Barrowford and Western Parishes
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Nursery plan gets £70,000 backing
A COUPLE who are planning an ambitious project to open a private nursery were celebrating this week after hearing they had won £70,000 of government funding. Michelle Newton, and husband Jonathan from Accrington, who are renovating a former pub in Agnes
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Seal is set on green project
A MASSIVE project to turn a former landfill site into a beauty spot has been completed, following fears it would be ruined by bikers. Nearly 4,000 trees have been planted by environmental regeneration group Groundwork as part of a £35,000 scheme in Huncoat
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Council promise fall probe
A COUNCIL investigation will be held over the alleged treatment of a pregnant mum after she reported she had tripped on block paving in Albion Street, Leigh. Mother-of-two Tracy Young was walking along the passageway between the new outdoor market stalls
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Nursing homes warning
NURSING homes could lose their care home registration under new regulations introduced after prompting by Leigh MP Andy Burnham. The move comes following complaints about fee retention. The new government regulations follow a motion tabled by Mr Burnham
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Racing driver buys soccer club
AN East Lancashire racing driver and businessman is set to save York City FC from bankruptcy by becoming the new owner and chairman. John Batchelor's bid -- believed to be around £4.5million -- has been accepted by the club and an official announcement
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Astley's gem
ASTLEY Hall or Damhouse is a hidden gem -- a striking building in a wonderful location. Today Damhouse can be viewed in all its splendour but things weren't always so tranquil. But for the persistence of tireless campaigners probably the finest building
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Ex-firefighter will be a Ground Zero healer
A FORMER firefighter is travelling to New York to revive the minds and bodies of people working around the clock to clear Ground Zero. Stephen Paine, from Tyldesley, will go to Manhattan later this month and use his new skills as a clinical aromatherapist
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Schools threatened
EDUCATION experts are considering the option of closing three primary schools to reduce the high number of spare school places around Tyldesley. In that area 10pc of primary school places are unfilled and closing Shakerley, St John's Mosley Common or
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It's a pipe dream for the main man!
TRADESMAN Derek Niven was today flushed with success after being named Britain's Favourite Plumber. And, far from being drained by his success, he issued a personal thankyou to the mystery customer who took the plunge and voted for him. Derek, 35, of
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Isle site is good beers guide
YOU need know only two things about this site. It is nicely designed and it is all about beer. Nuff said. The brewery (http://www.blackislebrewery.com/) itself is in Munlochy near Inverness and there's a map if you want to make a pilgrimage. If you are
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Get wardens on trouble estates
rIF Leigh MP Andy Burnham is concerned about gangs of young yobs causing hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage to schools, golf courses, bus shelters and terrifying old people and neighbourhoods so they can't come out at night, it would help
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Sport England 'not biased'
I write in reply to Andy Burnham's rather rash comments ( Journal, 8th March) about lottery funding being biased toward Rugby Union clubs against Rugby League clubs. In the article Mr Burnham quotes that Union clubs have a 50per cent success rate whilst
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Conference Clubs take the ball home by Steve Dunthorpe
SO, The conference clubs have finally done it. In one fell swoop they have wiped out so much of the sympathy they had built up through the continued refusal of the football league to allow more than the measly one up, one down arrangement. The clubs have
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Shrimps go after repeat business
MORECAMBE face the biggest week of the season so far, with a golden opportunity to reach the semi-finals of the FA Umbro Trophy, followed by a big local derby. On Saturday, Morecambe travel to Margate in the Trophy. The Shrimps have already beaten the
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Clarets fall to City
BURNLEY reserves lost 2-0 for the second time in three days but there was more to please manager Ronnie Jepson at Birmingham City last night. With Sunday's derby match looming large on the horizon, it was a very young side that took to the field at Solihull
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Project to reduce Bay crime
A PIONEERING pilot project, aimed at improving the environment and reducing crime and disorder, has begun in Poulton and the West End of Morecambe. The first of four pairs of ' alley-gates' are being placed at either the end of back alleys in Cedar street
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Hitman misses
LANCASTER City face an uphill struggle to get near league leaders Burton Albion after slumping to defeat at Gainsborough on Tuesday night. City must now face tricky trips to Droylsden and Altrincham in the next week, with the Bloods first up on Saturday
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Residential care forum
LANCASHIRE County Council is hosting a local meeting to allow people to play their part in the consultation on the future of residential and day care services for older people. The District Liaison Committees follow other public consultation events and
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Historical date
TYLDESLEY and District Historical Society will hear Alan Davies speak on "A History of Atherton Collieries" at the March 21 meeting at 7.30pm in Milk Street Pensioners' Club.
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Shortfall in council stock upkeep funds
COUNCIL chiefs are to consider future options for Lancaster's council houses after discovering a £22 million shortfall to keep them in prime condition in the future. The shortfall has been identified as the council prepares a 30-year business plan for
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New top cop
LANCASHIRE Police Authority has appointed Paul Stephenson to the post of Chief Constable of the Lancashire Constabulary. He will take up office at the end of July when Pauline Clare completes her seven-year term of office. Currently Deputy Chief Constable
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Greens promote ethical standard for city
LANCASTER should become a 'Fair Trade City' according to the council's Green group. Green councillors this week backed a call for the council to adopt ethical purchasing and investment policies. This could include buying locally produced goods and services
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Pilot sues RLI after botched surgery
A STAR trainee RAF fighter pilot left horrendously brain damaged after botched hospital treatment this week began a High Court fight for a massive £6.7 million in damages. Junior officer Christopher Lynham, 27, won the sword of honour as best man in his
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Lecturers nominated for awards
TWO Lancaster based lecturers have been nominated for a £50,000 national award. Dr Susan Bloxham, deputy director of the Centre for the Development of Learning and Teaching at St Martin's College and Dr Michael Winstanley, senior lecturer in history at
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Miners big win
AN outstanding display brought Leigh Miners U9s their biggest win to date, 40-10 over Royton Tigers. Despite the difficult conditions, the Rangers produced some good footwork and handling as well as being solid in defence. Although the whole squad was
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LEIGH RU WEEKEND LINE-UPS
1st XV v Wilmslow (H). Meet 12.30pm: D Bullough, R Fletcher, I Wright, S Lee, J Miller, J Bridge, D Derbyshire, A Bentham, M Benson, M Prescott, S Young, S Davies, S Haste, P Robinson, P Hampson, S Browning, D Bate, A Ainscough, S Harrison, C Holmes.
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Blackpool make Tyldesley rock!
BLACKPOOL 27 TYLDESLEY 12: TYLDESLEY RU do not like to be beside the seaside -- they saved their worst performance of the season for Blackpool where they went down 27-12. Anything but a win for the home side would have meant almost certain relegation
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Bury on track to survive says Preece
BURY FC manager Andy Preece is quietly confident the club will win a stay of execution until the end of the season when they go to the High Court on Friday writes Chris Hall Shakers' administrators were given just two weeks to raise the £400,000 needed
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Everton capture Moyes
DAVID Moyes has joined Everton as their new manager, but who replaces the popular boss at Deepdale has yet to be announced. According to the Everton official web site personal terms have been agreed with both Moyes and a compensation package struck with
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Rookie Jon inspires Shakers' survival bid
BURY boss Andy Preece has hailed striker Jon Newby for a season of heroic performances in a troubled year for the Shakers writes Chris Hall A relegation dogfight can often pose tremendous difficulties for goal poachers, with scoring chances few and far
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Windfall boost for rural area schemes
A 'COMMUNITY chest' of regeneration money has been opened up for groups in rural areas. Projects or community organisations in the East Rural ward of Darwen can apply for grants of up to £600 for equipment, materials, professional fees, transport costs
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Homeless project's security cash plea
A HOMELESS charity today made a bid for extra cash to pay for security measures to prevent people stealing from its lodgers. The Darwen Nightsafe Project, based in the Woodvale area of town, has included the request in its application for yearly funding
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Auditor slams theme park decision
THE District Auditor has described the City Council's role in the disastrous Crinkley Bottom fiasco as unlawful, impudent, irrational and mistaken. Three years and seven months after an objection was first lodged, auditor Clive Portman has issued an explosive
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Prison threat for 'rowdy' drunk teenager
A DRUNKEN teenager who went on a Christmas Day wrecking spree faces a custodial sentence. Burnley Magistrates heard how rowdy Neil Hunter, 19, kicked shop windows and threw a signpost through a car window in Haslingden. The car, worth £850, could not
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Funny bones in new show at centre
AN internationally acclaimed theatre company will be visiting Rossendale later this month with a production called Funnybones. Snap's production is a classic children's tale based on two skeletons called Big and Little, who live in a dark cellar with
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Sunday service
A SUNDAY train service for Atherton will be discussed at a public meeting which starts at 8pm on Monday at the Blue Bell, Bolton Road, Atherton. Wardley Public Transport Users Group is bidding for funding to introduce a Sunday service for Atherton, Hag
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Speed limit plan
FOLLOWING a number of speed related accidents Warrington Council wants to set a 30mph speed limit on another length of road in Culcheth. The proposed new speed limit would be imposed for a distance of 400m on Wigshaw Lane, from its junction with Mustard
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New business in full bloom...
AFTER spending two years studying floristry at college, two friends have gone into business. Cheryl Kershaw, aged 36, and Janette Morgan-Allison, 30, met at Newton College where they hatched a plan which is now up and running in the form of their own
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Barbara treks to raise cancer cash
A BRAVE Culcheth woman is preparing for the challenge of her lifetime -- a 10-day trek in Canada. Following a fight to overcome breast cancer Barbara Pimbley has pledged to raise £2,000 for charity by trekking through the Chilcotin Mountain region, north
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Homewatch staff praised
HOMEWATCH Scheme co-ordinators have been awarded a qualification in recognition of their hard work. For the last 10 weeks co-ordinators --who are the focal point of homewatch groups --have attended Leigh Police Station for tuition. And in return for their
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TV stardom beckons for model Mary
MODEL Mary Habiba Davidson has taken the TV screens by storm after securing herself a presenting contract. After a trial of just four shows working on as a fashion presenter on Manchester based cable channel, channel M, TV bosses have asked Mary, 19,
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Nelson knock down Blackpool
NELSON's twin strikers Martin McClennon and Micky Bartholomew came good with a goal apiece to see off the challenge of the Seasiders in the NWCL Second Division at Victoria Park. McClennon broke the deadlock after 57 minutes when he pounced to fire home
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Driving rain halts Hunt's progress
MICHAEL HUNT'S Portuguese Amateur Open ended in disappointment yesterday when the second round was abandoned due to rain. The Burnley golfer had scored a three-over-par 75 on the first day and was confident of carding at least a level par 72 on the second
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Regionalisation could be healthy
IT MAY be an old argument but it's about time football's authorities gave the lower division teams a helping hand. That helping hand should be a re-organisation of the bottom division and the Conference so that two regional leagues replaced them. Many
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It's all in the name
PUPILS at Lowton High School couldn't have a more appropriately named head of the English department -- Miss Vanessa Shakespeare! If any other school has such an aptly named member of staff? Let me know.
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Green plea...
THANKS to whoever has taken the trouble to clean up the patch of grassland behind the homes in Maple Crescent which back onto the by-pass. For months I've tut-tutted as I've passed the site as more and more rubbish has built up in the hollow behind the
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Hunt for hospital hit-run driver
POLICE in Bury are hunting a hit-run driver after an elderly pedestrian was left lying in the road outside Fairfield General Hospital this morning. The incident occurred shortly after 8.30am when a black Toyota Corolla driven by an Asian male was in collision
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Residents want crematorium plans laid to rest
DETERMINED bosses will tonight make another attempt to win permission to create a £1.5 million crematorium in Radcliffe. And planning chiefs have recommended an outline application be granted unconditional approval, even though councillors had already
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Leigh Youth Soccer
STANDISH Juniors and league leaders Golborne Sports fought out a 2-2 draw in the Under 13s section. Standish took the lead after 25 minutes and then doubled their advantage early in the second half. Golborne still trailed going into the final 15 minutes
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RMI boss slams Hilton Park pitch
Leigh RMI 0, Nuneaton 1 by Martyn Hindley: RMI manager Steve Waywell added further fuel to an already controversial afternoon at Hilton Park as he responded to Leigh's first league defeat for two months by tearing into the state of the pitch. Nuneaton
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Words and cash help harmony
THREE months after publication of Lord Clarke's report into last summer's Burnley disturbances plenty is happening. Leading figures from business, community organisations, faith groups, public service managers and councillors have been talking hard about
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Help necessary 24 hours a day
THE urgent need of old people requiring the basic services of a care home far exceeds the desirability of bringing the homes up to government standards. It should be obvious to the persons making decisions on this matter that by the time old people reach
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Elderly deserve better than this
SURELY, it must be seen that there is a real need in our community for homes for the elderly like Cravenside in Barnoldswick. For most people it is not an easy decision to place a loved one in these homes. It is done after much thought and usually because
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Most cultures look after their own
THE attitude of Lancashire County Council in proposing to evict the elderly from their council-run care homes gives the impression that old people are not respected and wrongly suggests to impressionable young people that the elderly have outlived their
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At the mercy of power-mad folk
IT had been my intention to ask the Lancashire Evening Telegraph to campaign against the closures of so many homes for the elderly. These old people deserve better than County Councillor Hazel Harding and her 'new thinking' of care, whereby old people
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Government policy crippling services
IT is thanks to the Government that councils are aiming to provide 'better value.' This means that hard and unfair decisions are being made. Blackburn has seen the effects of this with the closures of two of its homes for older people, and no doubt we
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Closures would be sacrilege
ISUPPORT the campaign for the retention of the county council-run old peoples' homes in East Lancashire. Since moving to the area some 15 years ago, and having worked in general medical practice here for 12 years, as well as in care of the elderly and
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Blackburn Youth League lose out in 10-goal thriller
BLACKBURN Youth League under 18s lost 6-4 in an incredible Lancashire Inter League Cup final against Bolton Federation League in Leyland last night. Blackburn trailed 3-0 but two goals from Liam Hill Parker, Andrew Riding and Shakil Butt took the game
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Whistle Blower with Neil Yates
MY colleagues from t'other page have been understandably frustrated by their lack of activity in recent weeks. Official figures confirm our suspicions that winters are becoming milder but certainly much wetter. Hence the blight of frozen pitches has been
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Woman, 68, attacked in her home
A BURY woman, aged 68, was the victim of a vicious attack in her home on Tuesday night. She was threatened with a knife after answering a knock at her door in Rectory Lane. The offender then forced his way into the house and punched and kicked the lady
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Three raiders target shop
ARMED robbers terrified staff at a Rawtenstall supermarket with a crow bar and stole a substantial amount of cash and cigarettes. The gang walked into Kwik Save at Newhallhey near to Rawtenstall Railway Station at 7.45pm yesterday just before the store
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City status for Preston
IT'S OFFICIAL -- Preston is a city. The good news was announced following a £30,000 bid in August last year, the town's second attempt. Preston beat local rivals, Blackburn, Warrington, Bolton and Blackpool to the prestigious accolade. The town's mayor
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Cup clash is as tough as it gets
HARDMAN Dave Furner is expecting Leigh Centurions to provide Wigan Warriors with as stern a test as any of the top Super League sides writes David Magilton The local rivals come face to face in the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Challenge Cup quarter-final at
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No defence for offence
I HAVE never in my life read anything so scathing and disgraceful as the 'letter' or perhaps one should say 'rambling' from Neil Windle, Socialist Party GB. If such as he is representative of socialism (and I sincerely believe not) then the sooner we
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No u-turn
THREE of your letter writers in recent weeks have used up a lot of space to complain about me, about the Green Party and about who did or did not support a road in Lancaster in 1992. What is really interesting about this discussion is that all three have
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Blame the dictators
MORE in sorrow than in anger I note once again that it is impossible to say the word 'socialist' without some people screaming 'tanks' and 'purges' and 'Siberian salt mines' at you. The replies to Neil Windle's recent letter on the monarchy brought forth
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Police out of touch with drugs
The hysteria surrounding drugs continues unabated with numerous stories on the front pages of national newspapers. Home Office minister Bob Ainsworth speaking on behalf of the Government admitted that they are "not going to be entirely successful in keeping
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Swede is still dreaming
SUPER Swede Nissa Johansson last night revealed he still hasn't given up on his World Cup dreams as battles to keep Rovers in the Premiership. Graeme Souness's £2.75 million signing from Nuremberg has turned in some impressive performances over the last
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Daft Dinger
HOW embarrassing it must be for Prof Whitelegg personally and the Greens generally to be defended by 'Barry Bell' (now better known locally as 'Daft Dinger'). This intellectual giant of the Gormless Greens has now polluted the pages of your paper for
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SPGB reputation
THE sad thing about the Socialist Party (SPGB) is that its members appear to be so concerned to express their contempt for just about everybody from every class of society in the existing system, that they fail to communicate properly what it is they
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Council team are best in country
A PROJECT which helped part of Burnley clean up its act has earned Burnley Borough Council a prestigious national award. Council chiefs have received a People and Places award in the New Programme of the Year category for their Squeaky Clean programme
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TASK FORCE: Action to pick up pieces
IT IS just three months since the Task Force report into the disturbances was released. Reporter Catherine Smyth takes a look at how people have progressed since then... SO what progress has been made so far on the 15 recommendations? 1Form a strategic
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Cousins search
IAM tracing my family tree and would like to make contact with my cousins, Francis and Thomas Clarke, who used to live in the Bank Top area of Blackburn and, I believe, still live in the town. EILEEN EASTHAM, 3 Milton Close, Darwen. Tel 01254 776234.
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Put jubilee cash into the homes
LANCASHIRE County Council should realise we are taking people's homes away from them. If the council can spend £28,000 on the Queen's Jubilee, we are sure the Queen would rather see this amount of tax-payers' money spent on people being able to remain
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MP wants answers on 'dip'
PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice has repeated his call for the Government to make a statement on the hazards of organophosphate sheep dip. Mr Prentice recently challenged Leader of the House Robin Cook to make a statement on the Government's position on the
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Business star stands down
EAST Lancashire's 'first woman of business' Mavis Gradwell has announced she will be stepping down as managing director of corporate clothing specialist Simon Jersey in May. Mavis, a former finalist in the Veuve Cliquot Businesswoman of the Year Awards
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House plans for RU ground
HOME builders Barratt have submitted a planning application to Wigan Council for 153 houses on Tyldesley RUFC's former Well Street ground. Other applications include: The Gospel Hall, Manor Street, Golborne - security fence; 45 Lime Grove, Lowton - first
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Court route for love-tug nightmare
A SUPPORT group for parents whose children have been abducted today said love-tug cases like the one involving East Lancashire mum Josephine Bromley were "a nightmare." Its director said the only way to win them back would be through the foreign courts
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Baseball bat raiders strike
A SHOPKEEPER was threatened with a baseball bat in an armed robbery at a Bickershaw shop. Shortly after 6pm on Friday two men wearing balaclavas entered G and J Pye, a grocers and off-licence, on Bickershaw Lane. One stood by the door, while the second
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Resident's anger at rat-run drivers
A BEAT bobby is joining a campaign for traffic calming measures to beat rush-hour rat-run drivers. Area constable Simon Booth is backing Hindley Green residents of Edinburgh Drive, Stuart Avenue and Taylor Road who are fed-up with their estate being used
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Joan's triple celebration
FOR 40 years award-winning volunteer Joan Elsby has cooked up a winning formula for pensioners -- hot meals, trips and companionship. Next week a triple celebration will mark Joan's 80th birthday, her four decades as an organiser and Astley Luncheon Club's
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George urges more residents to help themselves
THE chairman of a self-help residents' group is urging more families to band together to tackle crime in their area. George Robinson, co-founder of Leigh's successful Palatine Square Residents' and Homewatch Tenants' Association, would like to see more
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Rights of way list is issued
A LIST of public rights-of-way still closed following the foot and mouth outbreak, has been issued by the North East Lancashire Ramblers Association. The group, which includes 320 members of the Clitheroe Ramblers, has compiled the list with the help
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Sheep rustling threat to farms
FARMERS are facing a new threat as livestock prices soar following foot and mouth disease - sheep rustling. Police have issued a warning after 19 pregnant mule ewes, with a combined value of £2,000, were stolen from Clough Farm fields, Catlow Road, Slaidburn
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Romance of the rails
THE beauty of the internet is that you can zip around sites on a subject, yet take in a range of different styles. For example a quick tour of railway art proved an interesting journey. First stop was an old Lancashire railway station brought back to
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Raining champions
WEATHER more akin to December than March greeted the 150 crews on Saturday morning as they left Cockermouth to contest the 27th Malcolm Wilson Rally. The conditions in both the Whinlatter and Grizedale stages had a two to three inch covering of snow which
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Driver seeks sponsors
MORECAMBE rally driver Adrian Marrocco is looking for sponsors as he gets the new season under way in a new Ford Sierra Cosworth. Adrian's car has a Group A engine and six-speed gearbox, but Adrian hopes to attract sponsors to continue his rallying careers
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Boardman ends speculation
ONE of British motor sport's hottest young talents has ended speculation about his future by signing for one of the strongest squads in the 2002 MSA British Touring Car Championship. Tom Boardman, who last year, at 17, was the youngest ever driver in
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Rally night manoevers
ONE rally in a day is most people's idea of hard work, but Warton's Stuart Newby managed to get through two tough courses. Stuart and his navigator, Paul Holmberg, started at 6am on Saturday morning in a Group A Subaru Impreza as a course car on the famous
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O'Hanlon to stand in for North End
BURNLEY'S big derby clash with Preston North End on Sunday hardly needed spicing up. The two clubs are both chasing a play-off spot as they aim to return to the top flight and the stakes could not be higher. But now it looks increasingly likely that North
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Singer/songwriter welcomed
LEIGH Folk Club are welcoming contemporary singer/songwriter Ian Bruce to Railway Road. Ian, who is known for his powerful but sensitive voice, will make his first visit to the club on Friday March 22.
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New venue for college
ST MARTIN'S College has opened a new performance venue in Lancaster. The Black Box Studio is in the newly converted Askwith Building and includes a lecture theatre, IT suites and office spaces. More than £18,000 was raised by staff and students towards
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Salmon released into Lune
MORE than 23,000 young salmon were released into the River Lune this week. The restocking of the river with young fish, aged about 12 months old and five inches long, occurred at various stretches of the river on Monday. The fish were reared at a hatchery
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ASDA employees have family feel
IT'S a family affair down at Lancaster's ASDA store. No less than 30 mothers work alongside one or more of their sons or daughters at the Ovangale Road store. And, this week, ASDA will be welcoming two sisters who have visited the store every day since
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Thieves target car dealers
CAR dealers on the White Lund estate fear that criminals are targeting their vehicles to teach 'wannabe' thieves how to steal cars. Following a weekend which saw an auto crime spree of up to 19 vehicles targeted, White Lund car dealers have spoken out
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Trust us!
A CHARITABLE trust is the only way to secure the future of one of Morecambe' s most important buildings, the Friends of the Winter Gardens will tell the city council next month. The Friends say a trust, made up of members of the friends, local councillors
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Police appeal for witnesses
A TEENAGER had his coat and a chain stolen by three thugs while a gang of other youths looked on. The 16-year-old victim and his brother were on Townley Street, Morecambe when they were approached by a group of teenagers. A discussion followed about who
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Classic squash
CLASSIC 1 scored eight points from their home fixture against Lancashire Health and Racquets. Mike Howard was outrun and lost 3-0. Howard Thornley fared better and was much more in contention, but still went down 3-1. Graham Collier and Tod Bulmer started
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East back in play-off frame
Leigh East 22, Skirlaugh 16: LEIGH East put themselves back in the top five play-off frame with a solid, if unspectacular victory, over the Humberside visitors. It was a welcome return to winning ways after the previous defeat at Woolston but it was still
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Souness hails Duff wonder goal
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness declared that his rejuvenated Rovers are now the masters of their own destiny following their 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Ipswich. And he hailed Damien Duff after the Irish winger scored a wonder goal to help sink the
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Everton capture Moyes
DAVID Moyes has joined Everton as their new manager and who replaces the popular boss at Deepdale has yet to be announced. According to the Everton official web site personal terms have been agreed with both Moyes and a compensation package struck with
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Patient in ball of flames horror
A 56-YEAR-OLD woman was taken to hospital with 25 per cent burns after running into the staff room of a nursing home engulfed in flames. The patient at Crawshaw Hall Nursing Home in Burnley Road, Crawshawbooth, remains in intensive care at the Royal Preston
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New group for blind
A GROUP is being set up to give visually impaired and blind people the opportunity to meet and socialise. The first meeting is being held at 2pm on Tuesday, March 19 at the Carers Centre/Pensioners Link in Charles Street, Leigh. For more information contact
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Call in the experts to deal with fire
FIREFIGHTERS stressed the importance of calling in the experts no matter how insignificant a blaze may seem after a chip pan left went up in flames in a Leigh house. Leigh crew put out the pan fire in an end terraced house in Henrietta Street. Leading
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Armed raider leaves empty-handed
A MASKED raider armed with a pistol fled from a town centre newsagents' shop after a bungled robbery. A man wearing a balaclava and armed with a handgun entered the shop at 6.45am on Tuesday in Railway Road, Leigh. The shop assistant heard the door as
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Homes evacuated
RESIDENTS were roused from their beds and told to stay indoors or evacuate their homes as a precaution against a possible explosion after an early morning garage blaze. Firefighters maintained a 25-hour vigil over a potentially dangerous acetylene cylinder
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Former Borough Engineer dies, 63
AN old boy of Leigh Grammar School, who went on to become Borough Engineer, has died at the age of 63. As a tribute to John Simm's work in the borough flags flew at half-mast on municipal buildings-- an honour normally reserved for mayors, freemen, councillors
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City status for Preston
IT'S OFFICIAL -- Preston is a city. The good news was announced following a £30,000 bid in August last year, the town's second attempt. Preston beat local rivals, Blackburn, Warrington, Bolton and Blackpool to the prestigious accolade. The town's mayor
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Health doubts on 999 radio system
LANCASHIRE firefighters are to use a controversial radio system. Lancashire Fire and Rescue service is the first brigade in the country to adopt Airwave - a state of the art digital radio system which it is hoped will significantly improve communications
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City bid fails again
BLACKBURN with Darwen has lost out in its bid to become a city for the second time in two years -- this time to local rival Preston. But the leader of the borough's council said missing out on the Queen's Golden Jubilee honour would not affect their quest
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Williams hopes Dale move will work for Reds
GARY WILLIAMS is hoping to play his way back into the plans of Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman during his loan spell at Rossendale United. The 22-year-old striker has been pushed out of the first team reckoning by the form of Paul Mullin and Lutel
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Big turnout for race meet
THE first English Fell Championship Race for 18 months attracted 450 runners to Barley on Saturday. The nine mile Half Tour of Pendle was to have been the pipe opener in last season's championship, but it was cancelled at the eleventh hour as the foot
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We can beat the drop says Holden
GREAT Harwood chairman Bill Holden is backing manager Denis Underwood to save his side from the drop. The club are currently bottom of the NWCL Division One and criticism has been levelled at the Harwood boss - especially from one fan who wrote into the
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Man questioned over caravan park death
POLICE officers are treating the death of a 39 year old woman as murder after a body was discovered at a caravan park in Wigan Road, Leyland. Police were called to the Croft Park caravan park at 9.45am on Wednesday, where Alice Radcliffe's body had been
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Beware the scratchcard phone-in
READER Malcolm Isherwood has sent me nine scratchcard promotion games he has collected from papers over the past couple of weeks -- and, guess what, they're all top tier prize winners. Blow me down with a feather. He wants me to warn people not to spend
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Bowled over by bowling green
I WAS bowled over to see the state of the former Sportsman bowling green. The once velvet-like swathe of grass is now a muddy playing pitch. Where the likes of the country's top crown green bowlers, including the great Brian Duncan and Norman Fletcher
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Wigan spy learns little
Leigh Centurions...16 Workington Town...14 Mike Hulme reports from Hilton Park JOHN Kear is astute enough to acknowledge that he didn't see the real Leigh when sent on a spying mission into the Centurions' camp. Stuart Raper's assistant across the Borough
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Golborne drop vital points
GOLBORNE SC 2 , POYNTON 2: GOLBORNE SC dropped another two points in the race for the Mid-Cheshire League title against a poor but spirited Poynton side. The home side never turned their superiority into goals and defensive lapses in concentration were
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Flying Eagles
WITH one eye still on a famous treble Hindsford Eagles U13 took another step nearer their target with a 5-3 win over Farnworth in the Jubilee Cup quarter final. Goals from Matthew Eckersley, Sam Smith and Danny Young gave them a 3-1 lead but they allowed
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Leigh Soccer League: Renshaw lands Trophy stunner
A GARY Renshaw goal on 70 minutes saw bottom of the Division One table AFC Limelight pull off one of the shocks of the season. The goal sealed a 1-0 Carl Brown Memorial Trophy quarter-final win at table-toppers and championship favourites Kersal Vale
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Latics blow big chance
IN the Air Miles Manchester League Premier Division, Leigh Athletic spurned the chance to go top when New Mills returned to Derbyshire with all three points thanks to a 3-2 win. The Millers were 3-0 up in no time through Dave Morgan, Mike Donnelly and
