Archive
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Cure the cause of the crimes
DRUG dependence is at the root of a massive amount of crime. It's generally agreed that the majority of street robberies and burglaries are now carried out by people desperate to get cash to fund their addiction. With this in mind the call by Father Jim
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Jack is short of backing...Political Focus, with BILL JACOBS
JACK Straw must be wondering about the loyalty of his East Lancashire colleagues following his Cabinet bust-up with his successor as Home Secretary David Blunkett over identity cards. The Foreign Secretary and Blackburn MP can normally count on the backing
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On the spot to boot out thugs
LANCASHIRE Constabulary has received more than £200,000 in Government cash to target football hooligans and get them banned from grounds before the European Champions in Portugal. Crime Reporter IAN SINGLETON spent a night watching the police's hooligan
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Soccer: Better late than never
NEWMAN COLLEGE...1 FAIRFIELD...3: THERE was a dreadful start to the afternoon for Fairfield who not only arrived at the ground late, also fell behind inside the first minute. To their credit they fought back and controlled the rest of the first half although
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Angling: Hard graft is paying off
ON Saturday the Bury Society held their third working part on Parkers' bottom lodge. This proved very succesful with the stream spillway cleared of bankside weeds, brambles and overhanging trees as far as the concrete input pipe. The bankside path was
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Athletics: Team effort was key at Moss Bank Park
AFTER the up and down of Rossendale, competitors were once again on a good circuit that allowed for fast open running, combined with a few testing hill climbs. Bury Athletic Club was well represented throughout all the age groups, with several exceptional
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Hunt protester had to put safety first
SO George Dickinson, joint Master of the Holcombe Hunt, says "no-one approached us to complain at the time." That's because people hear they will be verbally or physically abused if they dare to tackle any hunt over their behaviour. The man had his children
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Democracy will be threatened
JOHN Prescott and other politicians advocate a North West regional assembly quoting increased democracy will result. We already have regional MEPs elected by a minority of eligible voters, but the majority of people don't know who, what or where their
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Lawbreakers are going scot free
WHY is it that when you drive past a pole with a little yellow box on you get a) a flash of light, b) a £60 fine, c) 3 points on your licence? OK you should have been observing the speed limit. There is of course another way of getting the said fine and
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Humps failing to slow the riders
AS you are no doubt aware there has been a great deal of controversy between most of the people who live in Tockholes and the powers-that-be at Blackburn with Darwen Council regarding the traffic calming scheme installed in the village earlier this year
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Will support wane when bill comes?
SO PETER Newton has suddenly discovered that Saddam Hussein is a vile and evil dictator (Letters, November 6), which is what many of us were saying approximately 15 years ago when he was responsible for chemical attacks and the massacres of the Kurdish
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Memorial attacked
VANDALS daubed a war memorial with obscene graffiti hours before Sunday's Remembrance Day parade. But thanks to the efforts of a council team the monument was cleaned up in time for the Golborne tribute to the war dead to get underway without a hitch.
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Lotto cash for care places
CHILDREN in Bury will benefit from a £103,000 boost. Money from the National Lottery's New Opportunities Fund will be used to create 112 places for child care providers. The four successful providers will cater for children between the ages of five and
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Nursing chief quits her post
THE chief nurse of the local hospitals trust has quit her post. Staff were informed of the departure of Mrs Denise Houghton, executive director of nursing for The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, by e-mail at the end of last month. Nurses say her departure
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Rebates conman jailed
A CONMAN who tried to get almost £60,000 out of Burnley Borough Council in a rebates scam is behind bars. The town's crown court heard how Michael Pullen forged an Inland Revenue letter claiming charitable status for Burnley Miners Social Club. His application
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Mayor's Christmas wishes come from Kate
FESTIVE primary school pupils have won themselves an early Christmas present from the Mayor of Bury. One of Bury Council's official Christmas cards has been designed by six-year-old Kate Smith of St Mary's CE primary in Hawkshaw. Her creation, entitled
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Council accused of being like Taliban over classes
TOWN Hall bosses have been accused of behaving like the Taliban in their treatment of students at Bury Arts and Crafts Centre. Campaigner Mr Lionel Cox also demanded an independent inquiry into why classes are being shut down at the Broad Street centre
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18 jobs are lost in cost cutting
EIGHTEEN engineers with a Bury-based company have become casualties of the north-south divide. The workers at Miller's Vanguard have been made redundant in a move aimed at achieving major cost cutting, maintaining its profit targets and the security of
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Ferguson plans a happy reunion
SCOTLAND skipper Barry Ferguson is hoping to ruin former club boss Dick Advocaat's return to Hampden Park. The national stadium was a happy hunting ground for both men when they were at Rangers, where appearances in cup finals were the norm. But they
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Thompson injury setback
ROVERS have been rocked by a new injury setback to midfield marvel David Thompson. Thompson has failed to fully recover from a long-standing knee problem, which first needed surgery last February. Now the frustrated former Liverpool star will fly out
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Salute to the fallen
ON the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, the people of Preston and South Ribble lowered their heads for a two minute silence for all our war dead. It followed Sunday's remembrance services when civic dignitaries joined members of the public
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Roll up, roll up
THE Preston born ringmaster of a bizzare stage show featuring Victorian-style 'freaks' is hoping to bring the unique show to his home town. John Haze, know on stage as Doktor Haze, is a founding member of the Circus of Horrors. The group, made up of strange
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Dream comes true for girls of courage
THREE Preston girls have been short-listed for a Child of Courage Award. Kirsty Carlisle, 13, Chelsea McManus, ten, and Jessica Taylor, 11 have each been nominated for the award by Margaret Parkes, of Preston Young Carers' Support Scheme. Each of the
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City rings with a peal of bells
PRESTON will be ringing with the sounds of bells this week marking its city status and the creation of a new minster. Two new bells are arriving on Friday and for the first time ever the city will have a full complement of 12 bells to ring out on special
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Rosegrove Bulletin
MARCUS Orrell, from Rosegrove, has just returned back from skiing in Austria, a race training camp run by his very own coaches. Marcus received two letters on his return, one asking him to be in the English Schoolboys' Junior Squad which will race in
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All hands on deck for Shakers
WEATHERMEN are worried about a drought yet for Andy Preece it never rains but it pours! The Shakers manager has endured one of his longest weeks in football in the wake of last Saturday's FA Cup defeat at the hands of Rochdale. News that should have given
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PC injury man may face jail
A MAN who smashed a plain clothes police officer's teeth in as he went to arrest a man in the early hours could be facing jail. Lee Dwayne Alderson, 27, was found guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm, after a three-day trial at Burnley Crown Court
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School ploughing ahead despite money problems
THE headteacher of a Nelson school told pupils, parents and staff that his first full year in the job had been one of ups and downs. Geoff Walker told Walton High School's prize evening that pupils' academic achievements continued to make the school proud
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Bungled robbery man jailed for five years
A MAN who tried to stage a robbery at a newspaper office has been put behind bars for more than five and a half years. Colin Ormerod told a woman on the front desk of the Nelson Leader "I want your money and I've got a knife" -- but he fled the shop after
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We'll Meat again
MEAT Loaf has rescheduled his concert date at the MEN Arena to Sunday December 21.Meat Loaf is recovering from flu. Tickets for the original date are still valid for this date. Refunds are available from point of purchase until Friday December 12.
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Rugby Union - Defeat for diabolical Hoppers
ONCE again Hoppers contrived to pile up problems for themselves and lose a match which was there for the taking. They made a bright start but conceded a try to Darlington's big pack at a line out after ten minutes. After a period of error strewn rugby
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25 years ago
SHOPPERS in Darwen had a grandstand view of a Starsky and Hutch-style chase in which two Manchester conmen were hotly pursued through the streets by a couple in a milk van. Eddie and Brenda Brandon of Duckworth Street chased the two men after they realised
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Crowds see the lights go on
HUNDREDS of shoppers and residents turned out for the Christmas lights switch-on in Accrington last night . The crowds packed in front of the Town Hall and queues stretched to Broadway and Union Street. They were treated to a bumper pre-Christmas bonanza
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Raids on churches 'a disgrace'
CHURCHES in Accrington have become the target of thieves after a spate of break-ins. St James Church, in Kirk Church, has been targeted three times in five weeks, with the burglars entering through the stained glass windows of the church each time. The
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Round-the-clock prayers by young churchgoers
YOUNG churchgoers, impressed by a daring 24/7 group which set up a prayer room in a clubbers' mecca on Ibiza, decided to follow suit. The Christ Church, Pennington youth group prepared a room in Church House for a seven day, round-the-clock prayer marathon
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World first for IT specialist
TECHNOLOGY "troubleshooters" PC World Business has launched a UK first to help businesses beset by computer problems. The specialist IT provider, based at the Waterfold Park at Heap Bridge, Bury, has introduced Britain's first-ever remote technology support
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Young people look at society's problems
YOUNG people from Catholic churches have taken part in a youth event to help them learn more about problems facing others in society. The event called "R U Mad Enough to Make a Difference" took place at St William's Chapel, near Longridge, one of the
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Pupils have a tidy win
THREE schoolchildren from Whalley Primary School have won a police competition to educate villagers in 'Keeping their village tidy'. Children from Year 2 were asked to design a poster after PCSO Jason Taylor visited the school to talk about personal responsibility
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Dismal Pool slump again
DISMAL Blackpool slumped to their fifth home defeat of the season, with manager Steve McMahon admitting he is baffled by his side's terrible Bloomfield Road form. Tuesday night's game finished 1-0, thanks to a towering header from Wrexham's giant defender
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More power for plant
BURY North MP David Chaytor will join dignitaries from business and the community at the opening of the extension of Pilsworth Power Plant today. The power plant extension has added a further four megawatts of capacity to the existing site, giving a total
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May reveals injury agony
DAVID May blames himself for the bout of hamstring hell that has kept him sidelined for six weeks. The Burnley defender is finally ready to resume first team action at Derby tomorrow if manager Stan Ternent gives him the green light. But May believes
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Star rating for social services
BURY'S social services have jumped up the performance league and received a "two stars" rating from inspectors. Bosses are celebrating the department's higher grading, which also comes with a "promising" verdict for further improvements. Last year social
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Centre of attention.
BORED youngsters need no longer hang around bus shelters or congregate outside off-licences now that they have a £200,000 new state-of-the art centre to use. The Y Zone in Westminster Avenue was officially opened on Saturday (Nov 8) and replaces the former
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Fluoride in water will stop the rot
BURY'S MPs want to add fluoride to drinking water after local children's teeth were found to be the worst in the country. David Chaytor and Ivan Lewis both voted this week to give health authorities the power to force water companies to add fluoride.
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Generations remember.
VETERANS of conflicts old and new filled the streets of Bury to pay tribute to fallen colleagues. In one of the largest Remembrance Sunday (Nov 9) parades the town has seen, more than a thousand service men and women joined emergency services personnel
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Borough boss calling Landon
RADCLIFFE Borough manager Kevin Glendon will ask the departing Richard Landon for one last favour when they travel to Stalybridge Celtic in the Unibond League tomorrow. Glendon hopes Landon, who has left Borough to become Stockport's new kit-man, can
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Ladies soccer: Rovers and out for Bury Ladies
THE day after Bury's FA Cup exit at the hands of neighbours Rochdale, Bury Ladies were unceremoniously dumped out of the womens' competition 7-0 by high flying rivals Blackburn Rovers. After conceding three early goals, two of which might have been disallowed
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Thompson injury setback
ROVERS have been rocked by a new injury setback to midfield marvel David Thompson. Thompson has failed to fully recover from a long-standing knee problem, which first needed surgery last February. Now the frustrated former Liverpool star will fly out
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May reveals injury agony
DAVID May blames himself for the bout of hamstring hell that has kept him sidelined for six weeks. The Burnley defender is finally ready to resume first team action at Derby tomorrow if manager Stan Ternent gives him the green light. But May believes
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Warning: show with a high Led content!
THEY were originally a rock group called No Quarter who played the odd Led Zeppelin classic. But such was the reaction to the Zeppelin material in their set that in January 1996 they decided to play exclusively Led Zeppelin numbers and changed their name
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Pinning down the elusive magic of Sinatra
THOSE of you who were at The Rhythm Station in Rawtenstall 10 or so nights ago must have been impressed by the big band sounds of the Mark Gillbanks Orchestra. I know I was, but then I have been a fan of this terrific outfit for a number of years and
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Lift-off at last for Maupa
It's been a long time coming, but Hyndburn favourites Maupa are about to release as single. They spoke to CLIVE LAWRENCE. . . MAUPA are, at last, poised to put out their debut single -- and to mark the release they play Accrington's King Street Club next
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Hoax caller sparks major operation
POLICE are searching for a hoaxer who said a chemical tanker was on fire at a petrol station in Darwen, sparking an emergency operation. Five fire appliances from Darwen, Blackburn, Accrington and Preston, including a chemical protection unit, were mobilised
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Fury as moor site is turned into mud
CAMPAIGNERS against the development of Cranberry Moor have urged Blackburn with Darwen Council to step in after what they describe as 'destruction' of the vegetation. Protesters want to prevent farm owners Elaine Marsden and Duncan Bell from turning the
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Pupils need 'correct currency' to succeed
STUDENTS from Darwen Moorland High School are being urged to use the right 'currency' when making decisions about their future. During his prizegiving speech last night, headteacher Richard Bridges told a tale about his experience of trying to use Greek
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Youth fined £50 for not clearing up after dog
A YOUTH has been fined by Rossendale magistrates for failing to clean up after his foster parents' dog. The offence occurred on land in Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, and was witnessed by Rossendale Council's animal warden, Dave East, who gave the 17-year-old
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£2million sewers project protects rivers
A £2million project to improve Rossendale's sewer network is now underway. The United Utilities scheme will clean up watercourses which run into the River Irwell by making the sewer network more efficient during very heavy rainfall. Work, which started
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Literary Society
FRANCES Trollope is the subject of Liz Williams' talk to Leigh Literary Society which begins at 7.30pm on Monday at the Derby Room, Leigh Turnpike Centre. The event is open to non-members, £1.50 admission.
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Tributes to 'one of life's nice guys'
THE friends of an East Lancashire businessman who died while on a golfing holiday in Spain have paid tribute to "one of life's nice guys". Kevin Collinge, 59, of Bracken Grove, Helmshore, died overnight on Monday during a four-day trip with eight pals
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Reunion appeal
RAF St Eval would like to contact all ex St Eval personnel, RAF, WAAF, WRAF and all ranks for membership, reunions and newsletters. Over two hundred ex-personnel are already in touch. The next planned reunion is in Torquay in April 2004. For further information
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Phone clue to death crash
A MOTORIST whose van collided with an Atherton motorcyclist causing fatal injuries may have been distracted by talking on his mobile phone moments before the East Lancs Road crash. The accident happened at 7pm on November 15 last year at Haydock Island
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Pride at medal award after 50 long years
I AM delighted to have received my long-awaited campaign medal for service in the canal zone of Egypt during the Suez Crisis of the early 1950s. However, thoughts go out to our fallen comrades -- particularly at this time of year -- now justice has been
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The 'Burn's flame is still flickering
RUMOURS were rife about the future of Blackburn's favourite indie exports as they played this special low-key gig. Even though the gig had only ever been scheduled to air new material after a dreadful few months for the band, it seemed the knives had
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Why those '60s songs just keep coming back
OB-La-Di Ob-La-Da, Call Up The Groups, Silence Is Golden and You've Got Your Troubles -- just some of the great hits of the '60s that will grace the stage at Bolton's Albert Hall next week. And, what's more, they're not being warbled by some second rate
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Pinning down the elusive magic of Sinatra
THOSE of you who were at The Rhythm Station in Rawtenstall 10 or so nights ago must have been impressed by the big band sounds of the Mark Gillbanks Orchestra. I know I was, but then I have been a fan of this terrific outfit for a number of years and
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Run Ruthie run!
With a sparkling showbusiness career and a young child to look after, Ruthie Henshall admits the pace of her life is crazy. But she found time to speak to JENNY SCOTT. . . RUTHIE Henshall agrees her current schedule is madness. Seven months after the
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Brian's a real organ donor!
KEYBOARD specialist, Brian Hurst, will be making music as well as money for this year's Children in Need. Brian, who is based in St Annes, will take part in a 12-hour charity keyboard marathon in aid of the event on Friday, November 18. And Brian has
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Kevin is so sure that the poetry will be pure
IF YOU have a life of rhyme, you could do verse than joining Blackpool's new poetry society. Purely Poetry is being set up by South Shore man Kevin Baskin -- a former hotel worker and now aspiring full-time poet. The 33-year-old dad-of-one said: "Other
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Thornton future under spotlight
THORNTON'S future went under the spotlight on Friday as campaigners for the area held their annual public meeting. Around 200 concerned residents packed into Thornton Lecture Hall to hear Thornton Action Group (TAG) chairman Howard Phillips -- and to
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Power cuts put houses in the dark
THREE houses were left without electricity for 14 hours yesterday after a fault on an underground cable. The power was initially cut to 13 houses in Roman Road, Blackburn, at 9pm on Wednesday night but was restored to 10 properties within an hour. A spokesman
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Chancellor likes tax 'myths' idea
AN East Lancashire council leader's plan to tackle myths about how taxpayers' money is spent has attracted interest from the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Gordon Brown, dubbed the Iron Chancellor because of his prudent economic policy, is one of three
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Little Levi's big surprise
PLANS to give birth in Queens Park Hospital surrounded by midwives went out the window when 23-year-old Kelly Walsh gave birth to her second child -- on her mum's living room floor. Her teenage sister even had to make the delivery while being talked through
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Car crime victim's 'pathetic rip off'
A VICTIM of crime today slammed the "pathetic" justice system after he was left £500 and a car out of pocket while the man who ripped him off walked out of court £170 better off. Richard Moggeridge, from Blackburn, was left £500 out of pocket, minus his
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How kids find out about sex
CHILDREN as young as nine in East Lancashire could be relying on films, soaps and magazines to find out about sex, it has been revealed. Primary school children are being quizzed as part of a pioneering initiative to find out what young people know about
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FA Cup tickets on sale
ACCRINGTON Stanley fans have the chance to book their place for the club's next cup adventure. Tickets are now available for the FA Cup second round tie at Bournemouth on Saturday, December 6, where Stanley will look to continue their giant-killing exploits
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League has a bright future
FOOTBALL matches could be reduced to a bloodbath if new FIFA proposals become reality. The game's governing body is determined to clamp down on cheats, and are considering a suggestion that any player requiring treatment for an injury should have to leave
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Like to add my support to solving tram shelter issue
IN relation to the article "It's Hell to Shelter For Angry Tram Passengers", on page three of the Citizen, November 7, 2003. I would like to add my support to Cllr Jon Bamborough, Cllr Peter Callow and Blackpool Transport's ongoing efforts to resolve
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No way to build bridges
I APOLOGISE that my first letter to the Citizen is over 550 words but I really felt A & S Kilmartin's letter needed a response like mine.. and I am sure other have expressed their feelings in the same way! On a cold and miserable evening in November
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Wealthy should pay extra taxes
DAVID Chaytor MP (Letters, October 31) does not answer my question which was: is he in favour of means-testing? Yes, I do believe that the wealthy members of society should receive the same pension as I do. The reason being that if we had a truly progressive
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Our councillors have changed their minds?
IN response to Councillor Wayne Campbell's letter (November 7), the only "public confusion" regarding the re-development of Whitefield town centre, is over why he and the rest of the council are now intent on promoting any scheme other than Dransfield's
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Fairfield: we need some answers now
I READ with interest the letter from Dr P. Umesh Prabhu, consultant paediatrician at Fairfield Hospital (October 31). I too have heard rumours regarding various departments at Fairfield, and not just Dr Prabhu's. Work is still going on at Fairfield to
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What are they conserving?
IT was with great amusement that I read your front page article (November 7) headlined "Village Strife" about Nangreaves being a Conservation Area and about council criticism of alterations made to properties there. I have been a Nangreaves resident for
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Enough is enough
A LANDFILL firm will be ordered to stop tipping at a Radcliffe waste site after planners finally lost patience with operators. An order to remove more than 70,000 cubic metres of excess debris from Tower Farm could be made after an application to extend
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Teenager faces death sentence
THE father of a teenager facing the death sentence in Thailand believes his son will deserve everything he gets, if he knowingly smuggled killer drugs into Bangkok. Michael Connell was arrested by Thai police on Monday at Bangkok International Airport
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Bollywood judges need a reality check
GET a couple of ordinary people, put them on the telly and make them into stars. We've had Pop Idol, Fame Academy and some more I can't remember because I don't watch telly, I just like talking about it. The latest set to hit our screens is none other
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Why those '60s songs just keep coming back
OB-La-Di Ob-La-Da, Call Up The Groups, Silence Is Golden and You've Got Your Troubles -- just some of the great hits of the '60s that will grace the stage at Bolton's Albert Hall next week. And, what's more, they're not being warbled by some second rate
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Run Ruthie run!
With a sparkling showbusiness career and a young child to look after, Ruthie Henshall admits the pace of her life is crazy. But she found time to speak to JENNY SCOTT. . . RUTHIE Henshall agrees her current schedule is madness. Seven months after the
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Soccer: Bowed out in seven goal cup thriller
SPEKE...4 HIGHFIELD UTD...3: "IT'S not the winning that matters, it's the taking part." Try telling that to the Highfield management team who had to endure this match! They travelled to Merseyside to take on a confident Speke in the quarter finals of
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England match tickets auction
SOCCER fans can go shopping for England v Denmark tickets at Asda in Radcliffe. The Pilkington Way store has two tickets for Sunday's international at Old Trafford and are taking bids, starting at £80 for the pair. Supporters go to the store, write down
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Rival developers in face-off
RIVAL developers for the transformation of Whitefield town centre will go head-to-head in a public exhibition. A special meeting of Whitefield and Unsworth Area Board will take place on Tuesday evening (nov 18)to examine two sets of proposals. Plans on
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Car crime victim's 'pathetic rip off'
A VICTIM of crime today slammed the "pathetic" justice system after he was left £500 and a car out of pocket while the man who ripped him off walked out of court £170 better off. Richard Moggeridge, from Blackburn, was left £500 out of pocket, minus his
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Champagne flows on thespians' 30-year run
ENTHUSIASTS from Bury's only amateur dramatics club enjoyed a taste of the actors life with a bubbly celebration to mark their 30th anniversary. Members of St Joseph's Players gathered for a meal at the Red Hall in Walmersley, where they were addressed
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Don't leave home without it!
STRANDED holidaymaker Ian Lawless found that a trade warehouse card opened all the right doors when his official identity documents went missing in Prague. Minutes before setting off for his return flight to Manchester, the 37-year-old accountant realised
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Garner: New look Todd is a bonus
BLACKBURN Rovers' recent defensive problems prompted calls for the immediate return of Craig Short. But I'm not so sure if Graeme Souness should be rushing to bring back the veteran defender given the way that Andy Todd has been performing since he returned
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Honour for Royal Hussars
IT was a proud day for Preston and Leyland when The King's Royal Hussars marched through the streets to commemorate their freedom of the boroughs. It was an honour bestowed on the regiment in recognition of services to the boroughs and the nation. The
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Death of air raid siren man
A PRESTON pensioner who used to turn on the air raid sirens during the Second World War died after a fall, an inquest heard. George Nelson, 90, died after stumbling over a settee at his Thorntrees Avenue home, in Lea, while trying to put in eye drops
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Welcome home boys
AS one set of soldiers made the long journey home from the Gulf this week, another was preparing to jet out to the troubled region. Members of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment (QLR), based at Fulwood Barracks, Preston, returned home to a hero's welcome
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Umar talks radio
TALKING comes easily to call centre operator Umar Ayub who deals with scores of people each day. But at night the 25-year-old has a different audience in his role as a presenter on a new radio station in Preston, set up to broadcast during the Muslim
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Town lit up by spirit of Christmas
YOUNGSTERS Asad Shah and Talia Roberts joined cartoon favourites Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck as Burnley's big Christmas lights switch-on was held in the town centre. Crowds braved the weather to turn out in their hundreds for the event, which included a
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Council in effort for a new image
BURNLEY Council is advertising for top consultants to help it change the image of the town. As part of the public relations campaign dubbed Raising Civic Pride in Burnley, the authority has advertised for consultants to research peoples' perspectives
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Doctor's fame set to live on
THE work of a doctor who eased the pain of thousands of East Lancashire patients will be celebrated at a hospital open day. Ward Three at Rossendale Hospital will be renamed after Dr Gerald Bond in a ceremony next Thursday. Dr Bond trained as a doctor
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Security - through a burglar's eyes
POLICE in Burnley will be looking at houses through the eyes of a criminal to find lapses in security that would make them a target for would-be thieves. In an initiative dubbed "Beat the Burglar" they will identify homes where simple crime prevention
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PM's pledge for Burnley
PROBLEMS facing Burnley's housing and schools were taken to the top when the town's MP grilled Tony Blair. Peter Pike asked the Prime Minister at Question Time to do what he could to speed up decisions on cash bids from the council in both areas. And
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Rebates conman jailed
A CONMAN who tried to get almost £60,000 out of Burnley Borough Council in a rebates scam is behind bars. The town's crown court heard how Michael Pullen forged an Inland Revenue letter claiming charitable status for Burnley Miners Social Club. His application
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Robbie loses his head!
WHEN Robbie the Bobbie lost his head, crisis-stricken staff at Gigg Lane kept theirs. The Shakers' costume piece disappeared after a home game against Hull last month when it was left on a table in the main stand corridor. Despite a thorough search of
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Shakers down to bare bones
ANDY Preece's Bury squad is stretched to the limit ahead of tomorrow's Nationwide Division Three trip to Bristol Rovers. Harpal Singh is expected to be out until the New Year after dislocating his shoulder in training earlier this week. Striker Gareth
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Shakers catch Burnley cold
IT may have been the coldest day of the season so far when Bury's youth team travelled to Burnley on Saturday, but they came home with a result to warm their hearts. Luke Horrocks found himself in the right place at the right time to net the Shakers'
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Curfew order is reduced
A STONEMASON attacked a supermarket's female security guard after stealing £60 worth of goods, a court heard. Burnley Crown Court was told that David Pengilly, 45, had first been sentenced tp 120 hours' community punishment by magistrates after being
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Excalibur's light duties
LANCASHIRE'S longest serving police horse is returning to duty after being attacked in Nelson. Excalibur, a 19-year-old stallion, was left with a gashed left thigh after two men drove a motorbike at him in June. But he is set to return to the streets
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Mother crashed car into ditch after drinks
A WOMAN was almost four times the drink-drive limit when she crashed in a ditch late at night, a court was told. Burnley Magistrates heard that Tracey Anne Doult, 39, director of a Burnley transport firm, had her young son with her as she drove home from
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Hockey- Victory puts Preston second
HULL opened the scoring with a neatly worked penalty corner strike after a period of sustained possession. This was Preston's wake-up call as the burly Australian, Blanchfield, returned to the Hull D with a bustling run and shot, which ended with the
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Showcase festival concert of area's talents
DANCERS, singers and drama enthusiasts are to join forces for a concert to celebrate one of Colne's best loved festivals. Festival Showcase will feature the talents of some of the best competitors to have taken part in the annual Luther Greenwood Memorial
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50 years ago
TWO pilots were killed when two RAF Meteor jets collided and crashed at Edgworth near Darwen. Wreckage was scattered over half a mile. Prince Charles was five years old. He spent his birthday at Royal Lodge, Windsor, with Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother
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10 years ago
A FRANTIC father chased his car as it rolled down a steep hill with his three children inside. Tony Sugden and his wife Toni of Dukes Brow, Blackburn, had just put his children in the car when the handbrake failed. All three escaped unharmed. Elderly
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Tree fall girl's joy at trip home
A SCHOOLGIRL who almost died after falling out of a tree while collecting conkers took a step closer to recovery this week. Vanessa Milek, 13, who suffered serious head and internal injuries, went home for the first time last weekend and if all goes well
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Northern life was spur for prize author
AN Accrington-born man is sharing success with a childhood pal after winning a prize in one of the UK's top five writing competitions. Author David Swann beat off the challenge from more than 4,500 people around the world to win a prize - and he credits
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Atherton cruise party are trapped on virus-hit ship
ESCORTED out of Athens by gunboats and barred from Spain by armed guards was the sort of VIP treatment an Atherton cruise party didn't expect. Seventeen days in the Med turned sour three days out from Southampton for brothers Harry and Brian Smallshaw
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Little Andrew can look forward to normal life
LITTLE Andrew Gerrard can now behave like a little boy after being wrapped in cotton wool for his first four years. Mum Gillian Linnane is looking forward to giving him the freedom to play football and ride a bike following successful cranial surgery
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Historic buildings will be protected
HISTORIC parts of Prestwich and Whitefield are to be made official conservation areas. Town hall bosses want to preserve some of the finest buildings from the Victorian/Edwardian era, which would mean homeowners would be restricted from making "inappropriate
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Summer job led to death 50 years later
A STUDENT'S summer job proved to be the death of James Morton -- half a century later. An inquest heard that the 69-year-old retired engineer handled asbestos while working at a power station where his dad was a boss in 1953. He died in August 2003 as
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Tribute paid to charity store worker
THE manager of a Clitheroe charity store today paid tribute to volunteer Edmond Cambien whose body was found in a lodge after he went missing from home. Mr Cambien had volunteered in the Age Concern charity shop in Moor Lane every Tuesday for 10 years
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O'Grady banned for months
FYLDE skipper, Dylan O'Grady, has been banned by his club for 10 weeks after his sending off in the stormy clash against New Brighton last weekend. Former Irish international O'Grady will serve the ban irrespective of the outcome of an RFU disciplinary
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Best boss?
JACQUI Marsden of the Chestnut Court Nursing Home in Bury has been chosen as a regional finalist in the nationwide search by Park Hall Hotel, Charnock Richard, to find Britain's Best Boss. Jacqui started work at the home six months ago as deputy manager
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Beast lies in wait for in-debt Dichio
BRIAN Jensen is planning a hairy experience for former team-mate Danny Dichio at Derby tomorrow. Burnley's Beast plans to hunt down Dichio for payment following a bet he won last season when the striker chickened out of a bet. Jensen explained: "I know
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LOCHEAD: Time for strikers to shape up
ALL eyes have been on the defence in recent weeks as they seem to be taking the brunt of the blame for the current dip. And it's self-evident that individual mistakes in silly positions are still costing us goals at crucial times. I say this having been
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Richard could be King of England
RICHARD Chaplow has already got England scouts sniffing after his spectacular rise through the ranks. But Burnley boss Stan Ternent has warned the classy Clarets youngster he will have to bide his time before being put forward for international recognition
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Diver pools resources for record swim attempt.
DIVER Keith Creed hopes to have enough in the tank to complete a gruelling underwater swim for charity before going on to attempt a world record. Keith, of Hodder Way, Whitefield, plans to swim 22 miles, the distance of the English Channel, in just over
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Bellamy slams wind farm plan
PROTESTERS battling against controversial plans for a £50 million wind farm at Scout Moor have won the backing of well-known naturalist David Bellamy. He led a 400-strong march up Knowle Moor where United Utilities and Peel Holdings want to build 26,
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Bosses held at gunpoint
FOUR company bosses were held at gunpoint and robbed as they held a board meeting. Masked raiders burst into Vision Commercial Kitchens in Whitefield on Tuesday at 7.45pm. They were armed with a handgun and large wooden staves and threatened the bosses
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Cash axe threat for carer group
BURY'S Carers Partnership faces shock closure if social services bosses carry out their threat to axe its funding. The department is concerned at the way the registered charity is being managed and plan to suspend funding at the end of the year. The loss
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Leaked papers cast doubt on A&E
FAIRFIELD General Hospital could lose its accident and emergency department and children's services in a radical shake-up. The Bury Times has obtained leaked consultation documents which indicate major trauma services could be transferred, leaving Fairfield
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Thai boxing: Becky's blasting her way to national titles
PRESTWICH Thai Boxing Club's Becky Berry is the new ISKA English championship holder. Radcliffe-based Becky, who is trained by Rick Lewis at the Bodytalk gym in Whitefield, clinched the title in the fifth round of what was a thrilling bout in Birkenhead
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Soccer: Coaching the coaches is the way forward
WATCH out Alex Ferguson, move over Andy Preece, twelve local football coaches have successfully completed their Level 1 Certificat in Coaching Football. The course was organised and delivered through Bury Metro Sports Development Unit, in conjunction
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A Norse kind of sound
IF you went to see The Beautiful South play at King George's Hall last week, you might have been intrigued by their support act Magna. The Norwegian duo created an intriguing sound thanks to their use of electronic sound effects and unusual instruments
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The 'Burn's flame is still flickering
RUMOURS were rife about the future of Blackburn's favourite indie exports as they played this special low-key gig. Even though the gig had only ever been scheduled to air new material after a dreadful few months for the band, it seemed the knives had
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Soccer: Fitton cracker leaves Barrow boys reeling
RAMSBOTTOM UTD...3 BARROW...2: A FINISH that Ruud Van Nistelrooy would have been proud of created another upset in East Lancashire as the Rams dumped Barrow out of the Marsden Trophy. Accrington Stanley made the headlines just up the road on Sunday as
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Christmas treat for ex-workers
WORKERS made redundant from Crown Wallcoverings, Darwen, in July this year, are planning a family Christmas party. The event, organised by former employee Nigel Jones and his wife Tracy with help from Darwen Lions, will take place on Saturday, December
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Business students set to shadow mentors
A GROUP of final year students from Darwen Vale High School will be shadowing Capita employees over the next seven months as part of a new mentoring scheme. The scheme follows a successful pilot project last year in which six Darwen Vale business studies
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MPs surgery date
LEIGH MP Andy Burnham's Saturday (November 15) surgeries are at Hindley Leisure Centre, Mornington Road, from 9.30am to 10.45am. Alos at the Leigh Advice Centre, Market Street, from 12noon to 1pm.
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Have a say on services
ROSSENDALE council has announced ambitious plans to transform itself from the worst council in the country into one of the best within the next five years. Council leaders are urging Rossendale people to complete, and return, a questionnaire that will
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Youth Crime group meeting
POLICE, councillors, community groups and interested locals will gather tomorrow at 7.30pm in Golborne Methodist Church, Heath Street for the fourth Golborne and Lowton Youth Crime meeting. MP Andy Burnham invites people to join them.
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Drugs? They're black pudding herbs
BLACK pudding specialist Andrew Holt was on the receiving end of an entirely different kind of grilling. For, on his recent return from a food festival he was stopped by customs officers at Vienna Airport who suspected he was trying to smuggle drugs back
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Home help for teen
BEATRIZ, a student from Mexico who is studying at Hutton Grammar School, is looking for a new home. She is currently still in a temporary home with no bed or bedroom and is desperate for more permanent accommodation. She would really like to find a lively
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Bling out the old, Bling in the new!
Feeling posh? Well reserve your ticket for a night to remember in Ribchester on New year's Eve, writes DAVID HIGGERSON. . . FOR a different way to bling in the New Year -- pardon the pun -- Ribchester appears to be the place to head come December 31.
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Lift-off at last for Maupa
It's been a long time coming, but Hyndburn favourites Maupa are about to release as single. They spoke to CLIVE LAWRENCE. . . MAUPA are, at last, poised to put out their debut single -- and to mark the release they play Accrington's King Street Club next
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Vulnerable 'under attack' claim
BLACKPOOL Council says it is not responsible for massive hikes in costs for people receiving personal care through the resort's Social Services. Anchorsholme Cllr Jon Bamborough, was planning to raise the issue at a full council meeting last night (Wednesday
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Concern grows for missing schoolgirl
POLICE are growing increasingly concerned for the safety of a 14-year-old girl who has been missing from her Blackpool home since Halloween night. The family of Charlene Downes has not seen her since she told her mother she was going to the Carousel on
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£19,000 benefits fraud widower sent to prison
A BLACKPOOL man has been jailed for three months after admitting claiming more than £19,000 in benefits which he was not entitled to. Peter Phillips, 60, was jailed at Blackpool Magistrates Court last Wednesday (November 5) after pleading guilty to three
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New green flag puts Fylde on crest of a wave
LOWTHER Gardens has been flagged up as one of the best in the country after it received a national award. The gardens have been given Green Flag status, the top national standard for parks and green spaces across England and Wales. The award was presented
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Planning chief resigns
A SENIOR Fylde councillor has stepped down from the chairmanship of the borough's planning committee after an alleged breach of the council's code of conduct. Conservative Cllr Bill Thompson says he has done 'nothing wrong' and will fight accusations
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Death was by natural causes
AN 86-year-old died as a result of natural causes and not, as was originally considered likely, as a result of exposure to asbestos. An inquest heard that Milton Hewell, who lived at Lyndon House residential home, Blackburn, died as a result of inhaling
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A natural break for young seasonal shoppers
YOUNG adults tired of seasonal shopping will have a chance to rest at Blackburn Central Library in the coming weeks. The library is offering films for ages 15 to 25 on Saturdays starting on November 29 and continuing until Christmas. All films start at
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Stolen mail found in postman's home
A POST Office investigator placed a "test" package after receiving information that a Blackburn postman was stealing bank cards from the mail. Blackburn magistrates heard that when the bait was taken, the investigators went to the home of Stephen Higham
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'Spare them jail' idea for addicts who go thieving
A PRIEST running a drugs rehabilitation charity has called for addicts who fund their habit by committing crime to be spared prison. Father Jim McCartney, chief executive and founder of Blackburn's Those on the Margins of Society (THOMAS), said prison
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Gin dummy leaves pub job in jeopardy
A LEADING pub landlord today admitted his position as chairman of a respected association was under threat after he was convicted of substituting spirits for the second time. Derek Hawarth, landlord of the Fox and Hounds pub, in Ewood, and chairman of
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Keep up the good work - Coleman
ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman has admitted that he had been getting a little concerned about his side's struggle to win of late. However, that was before a week that has seen Stanley beat League opposition in the FA Cup and then topple table-toppers
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Wilkes needs a lift after collapse
STEVE Wilkes has to lift himself up from his lowest point following his team's embarrassing exit from the Lancashire FA Marsden Trophy on Tuesday. Darwen were winning 3-0 with 20 minutes to go in their first round tie at home to NWCL Division One side
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Hall faces Hill climb
NELSON boss Dave Hall is remaining on his guard - despite his side hosting rock bottom Daisy Hill tomorrow. Hall is wary of the Bolton club despite the fact that they have only won one game in North West Counties Division Two this season. However, it
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Coates enjoys the coast
NIGEL Coates is brimming with confidence after Colne pulled off a cup shock against a side three divisions above them on Tuesday. The North West Counties Division Two leaders won 4-2 at Southport in the first round of the Lancashire FA Marsden Trophy.
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Peters praises Premier showing
BRENT Peters finally saw his Bacup Borough side shift into top gear with Wednesday's 5-0 thrashing of Holker Old Boys. And the manager was drooling as a Darren Emmett hat-trick and two from Rhodri Giggs sent Bacup storming into the second round of the
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Clitheroe completes switch to Chorley
MARK Patterson has completed the signing of Chorley-born Lee Clitheroe from Southport. And the right-sided utility man could be joined at Victory Park by another player who has been released by the Sandgrounders, defender Paul Haddow. However, before
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Sculpher's still looking for a striker boost
LEE Sculpher is looking to strengthen his forward line by capturing Ramsbottom United striker Glyn Barker. The Clitheroe manager is still looking to compensate for the recent loss of Lee Cryer to Rossendale, but Barker is considering an offer from another
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It's my toughest test yet
PADIHAM manager Vince Overson is calling on his players to raise their game for tomorrow's clash with Great Harwood Town. The North West Counties Division Two title-chasers meet at the Arbories with Overson keen for his side to banish the memory of Wednesday's
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Rams refuse to go charging in
RAMSBOTTOM United chairman Harry Williams is refusing to push the panic button as the hunt for a new manager picks up pace. United will start interviewing next week for the vacancy, which came up when Andy Grimshaw resigned last week over work and family
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Rhetoric was 'offensive and inflammatory'
WITH regards to a letter in your paper of November 6, A and S Kilmartin, Ormont Avenue, Cleveleys. The rhetoric used by them I found both offensive and inflammatory, even though I myself have no involvement, people who deem it necessary to pursue a complaint
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Womens' football
WITH both sides battling hard and playing attractive football PNE finally got the breakthrough on the stroke of half-time. Mel Martin laid on a precise pass to Michaela Barlow, who blasted the ball home. Durham were clearly more committed from the re-start
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One or two let the side down
On Sunday I attended the parade and wreath-laying at the war memorial outside Bury Parish Church where it was particularly pleasing to see so many young people taking part as members of organised groups. The vast majority of these youngsters behaved splendidly
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Big Issue sellers are not beggars
THE pun will have escaped correspondent John Greenway (Letters, October 31) but one of the reasons the Big Issue is so-called is that its subject matter, homelessness, is just that: a big issue. And the fact that a council 40 miles away has, sadly, felt
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School makes Andy its hero
A GULF War survivor has been honoured by his former high school, who have named an award after him. Trooper Andy Julien was seriously injured when his tank was bombed in a "friendly fire" attack in Iraq in May. The 18-year-old was temporarily blinded
