Archive
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EVENTS taking place in East Lancashire on Friday, January 30, 2003
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Quiz Night, Nelson Cricket Club, Seedhill, Nelson, 8.15pm. Tae-Bo exercise class, Vincent Farrell Centre, Temple Street, Burnley, 6pm-7pm. 60s Music, Churchills, Bank
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Going bananas
YOUNG children are in for a treat when the Bananas in Pyjamas show, based on the Australian pre-school TV series for 0-5 year olds, comes to the Charter Theatre. Bananas in Pyjamas, B1 and B2, are mischievous twins who cannot resist playing tricks on
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Don't waste this vital £13m chance
A LOT of attention has been focused in the last few years on Blackburn's centre and making it as attractive as possible to shoppers. But many of the town's problems stem from the unattractive, rundown streets bordering the central area - scruffy, down-at-heel
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Status boost will benefit borough
MUCH has been written about Burnley's schools and the need for the borough's education system to be first class. It's a vital investment in the future of an area that has experienced economic and social problems in the past few years that have made all
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Daten pay for poor start
DATEN Hockey Club's ladies first team never recovered from a poor start and went down 3-0 to Neston. Neston scored their first goal from a set piece and Daten had a few chances but found the keeper in top form Carla Metcalf almost stopped a penalty flick
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PC is here for us all to fear
IS there a more tedious, rhetorical and overused expression these days than: "Is this political correctness gone mad?" It is yet again being trotted out in relation to the treatment of Robert Kilroy Silk. Sadly, political correctness 'went mad' long ago
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Problem dogs: Owners at fault
MR Joseph Beardsworth (LET, January 19) obviously he has a dislike for dogs. I feel very sad that Mr Beadsworth has never experienced the close bond of a dog and its owner. I have had dogs for over 30 years and I have never been bitten by any one of them
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Asylum seeker an undesirable
I AM writing in response to "Asylum failures are left to live in limbo" published on January 17. We are told during the court hearing that Karwan Karim stole to highlight the fact that having exhausted all the appeals he could make (at your and my expense
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Home takes good care of precious mum
I WAS visiting my mum at Longfield Residential Home the day of Jessie Hall's tragic accident, which you reported (LET January 14). It is disturbing for me to read how the staff were criticised at the inquest. We believe Longfield is second to none, mainly
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Rovers step up striker search
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness will pull out all the stops in his quest to sign a new striker before the transfer deadline. Rovers are facing a race against time in their battle to bolster their striking resources. But chief executive John Williams is
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Culture vital to drive city forward
CULTURE will play a vital role in regenerating parts of Preston according to Lancashire County Council's cultural strategy. According to the strategy the city is ranked among the most deprived in the country the national index of multiple deprivation.
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Contracts won and lost by BAE
BAE Systems, one of the area's major employers, has landed a £100million contract to update the Ministry of Defence's fleet of Harrier jump jets. The Capability C2 contract is part of the Government's continuation of the £500million-plus programme to
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Best nursery in country
IT WAS cheers all round for staff and children at a Preston nursery after they were named the best in Britain. Headstart Pre-School Centre, in Bow Lane, beat three other nursery hopefuls to win the title of Day Nursery of the Year. Nursery director Anne
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Prison staff walk out
PRISON staff at Lancaster Farms and the Castle were due to walk out today (Thursday) over a pay dispute. The two-day strike follows a ballot of Public and Commercial Services Union members, mainly administrative and support staff, who say this year's
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Let's 'do' the rubbish tippers
A CAMPAIGNING councillor is threatening to increase the pressure on people who 'fly tip' rubbish in Lancaster. Cllr Sheila Denwood says she is urging city officials to prosecute anyone caught in the act of dumping rubbish illegally. It follows an incident
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Council grabs park land
SHRUBS and bushes in a Lancaster park are to be ripped out to end a long running land battle. The greenery, which has been planted around Parkfield House in Greaves Park by a local businessman, encroaches on Lancaster City Council land, say councillors
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Village row brews as pub gets go-ahead
A ROW between villagers is brewing after a new pub was given the nod to open in Heysham. The watering hole will be only metres from the Royal Hotel - and residents are anxious that it will lead to a surge in anti-social behaviour. Thirty-six letters of
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Say 'Goodnight' to bad behaviour
ROWDY revellers and arsonists could see their antics crushed as a drive to tackle residents' worries steps up a gear. 'Operation Goodnight' will see more town centre police patrols at night and a more robust treatment of licensed premises which breach
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Planners sign up to making a splash at Midland
A HOT tub and an outdoor pool will soon give the dilapidated Midland Hotel a touch of class. Plans for regeneration of the world-famous hotel were given the green light by Lancaster City councillors this week. But some residents are holding their breath
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Needles put kids at risk
DRUG users are putting the lives of innocent children at risk by dumping dirty needles close to a primary school. A Morecambe couple has hit out at the addicts responsible after finding a plastic bottle containing three used syringes near their home.
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Flitcroft debut chance spoiled by weather
SHAKERS' reserve match at Macclesfield on Wednesday was called off due to a frozen pitch halting David Flitcroft's chances of making his first appearance in a Bury shirt against his old club. Flitcroft has been training with Bury for the last week-and-a-half
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Vicar: why I quit
A VICAR today spoke of his decision to quit just days before taking over at a Nelson parish - and blamed a row over its family centre. The Rev John Riley was due to be instituted at St John's, Barkerhouse Road, and St Philip's, Leeds Road, at a special
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Former Editor dies, at 83
A FORMER editor of the Radcliffe Times has died following a long illness. Mr Harry Spencer (83) edited the newspaper between 1950 and 1973, when it was based at offices in Church Street. He died last Fridayin a nursing home near to where he lived in Boat
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Jacob's part in how the West was won
WILD West historians are trying to piece together the story of a Blackburn man who left East Lancashire in the 1870s -- and ended up fighting in the Indian Wars alongside General Custer. At the age of 18, Jacob Howarth found life as a book-keeper in Bridge
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High street closed as winds blow slates off church roof
TRAFFIC in Preston came to a standstill on Wednesday after six slates fell off the roof of a city centre church. Firefighters, police and council officers were called to Fishergate Baptist Church after workers at Right Move, in Fishergate, reported roof
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50 years ago
BURNLEY'S runaway teenagers were found not in Gretna but back in their hometown. The missing pair 16-year-old Bernard Hartley of Brunel Street and Joan Cole, 18, of Harold Avenue, were found in Westgate. And a 70ft chimney came crashing down in Willow
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10 years ago
THE father-in-law of murdered aid worker Paul Goddall called for his killers to be hunted down. Mr Goodall of Blackburn was gunned down when his Land Rover was hijacked in Zenica, in central Bosnia. And a baker's dozen of daredevils were to parachute
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Players rehearse
A REVIVED theatre group is busy rehearsing for its first play of the year. This time last year Culcheth Players had to cancel their February show because of falling membership, but now they are all set to performer "Kind Cousin", a thriller in two acts
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'Mystery' history book home at last
A MYSTERY piece of Accrington history is to be given a home in the town hall after it was donated to the council. The Jubilee Souvenir Book, which chronicles life in the town from 1878 to 1928, was presented to Mayor of Hyndburn Coun Win Frankland. The
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WI aim to cut out nuisance calls
CULCHETH WI is going to war on nuisance telephone calls. Members have obtained and publicised the telephone number to call to cut down on unsolicited advertising. New president and secretary Pat Forrest and Betty Jones opened the meeting which heard that
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Pensioner scares off conmen
POLICE are appealing for help to trace two bogus workmen who tried to con their way into a quick-witted Tyldesley pensioner's home. The 70-year-old woman was at her Georgian Court home at 1.40pm on Monday when a man called claiming to be a water worker
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Cheers! Beer Bash ready to open its doors
THE Bent and Bongs Beer Bash opens at 6pm on Thursday night marking the start of what should be another cracking three-day event in the Formby Hall at Atherton. Since 1990 the Atherton and Tyldesley Round Table event has grown in stature attracting connoisseurs
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No lawyers' fees for compensation
THE Government has welcomed a move to stop solicitors charging sick miners for compensation claims. The Government already pays solicitors' fees for all successful coal-related health claims so that the full amount of compensation awarded goes to the
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MP wrong about houses
GERALDINE Smith's comments in the Citizen last week are entirely misguided. The Housing bill will not achieve the outcome she anticipates. Rather, it will give rise to what economists term an 'adverse selection' problem. What will happen is that so-called
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We must resist Assembly plan
I SEE from last week's Citizen that top police officers are meeting the Boundary Committee to voice fears about the possible impact of local government reform - to fit in with a North West Regional Assembly - on policing of the region. The report made
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Pass prices slashed for trippers
LANCASHIRE County Council is trying to make travel in the Ribble Valley cheaper by introducing a cut-price Day Ranger ticket. They have been available for some time but from January 25 they can be bought for half-price by holders of concessionary passes
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Please explain why I'm 'completely wrong'
SO I have got it 'completely wrong', remarks Cllr Barker (last week) in response to my letter highlighting the continuing practice at the Town Hall of setting inflation-busting council tax rises. Perhaps he could explain to ratepayers - o by how much
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Let's all starve the cameras
ENOUGH is enough. In 2003, one million speeding fines were paid totalling £73 million - the official target for 2004 is to issue three million fines. This is scandalous and it's time for the drivers of Lancaster to fight back. Road accidents happen mostly
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Guide to Tolkien territory
RIBBLE Valley tourism bosses have produced 25,000 copies of a glossy guide to meet demand for information about the area from would-be visitors and Tolkien enthusiasts worldwide. Retail outlets in and around Clitheroe will also stock 20,000 copies of
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No sympathy for Kilroy-Silk
SO OUR 'friend' Mr Duly, from the Freedom Association, has entered the debate in defence of the disgraced ex-MP Robert Kilroy-Silk and his crude outburst against 'Arabs', in the name of freedom of expression. I bet Mr Duly will not be defending the Liberal
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Changes push the boundaries
PEOPLE living in the Ribble Valley have been offered an olive branch in a bid to end a row prompted by plans for a regional assembly. But the area's council leader has warned Blackburn with Darwen Council that he does not want his borough broken up. Coun
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County seeks eight ball aces
EIGHT ball aces from Lancaster and Morecambe are being challenged to test themselves against the best pool players in the region. Lancashire County Pool Association is holding trials to find new players for the county men's team on Sunday at Riley's Snooker
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World Cup comes to Vale
THE rugby World Cup is on its way to Lancaster. The Webb Ellis Trophy, won so gloriously in Australia by Jonny Wilkinson's last minute drop goal, is to go on display at Vale of Lune RFC on Monday, February 16. And the trophy will not be alone - also on
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My relief and anger after Hutton Report
THE last few months have been difficult, above all for the family of David Kelly, whose grief at his death will not end with yesterday's events. I have nothing but the deepest sympathy for what they have endured. Yet I find it hard to describe the sense
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Walking wounded to tackle Swindon
INJURY ravaged Blackpool host Steve McMahon's former club, Swindon, hoping that some of their walking wounded will be back in action shortly. Nine first team squad members missed Tuesday's defeat at Barnsley, an advance on the eight who were missing for
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Defensive errors cost youngsters
CLARETS youth team coach Terry Pashley again bemoaned defensive errors in the 3-0 defeat to the Seasiders. After conceding a stunning opening goal, a mistake by U16 goalkeeper Mark Crossley put the game beyond the Clarets. And a third goal just after
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Ternent triple swoop
BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent was today planning to complete a sensational triple swoop of Premiership players. Charlton goalkeeper Paul Rachubka and Manchester United starlet Neil Wood are both set to join Newcastle midfielder Bradley Orr in signing loan
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Gunby quits the Shakers
MIDFIELDER Steve Gunby has left Bury after asking for his contract to be terminated. The 19-year-old, who joined the Shakers' youth system in 2000, has now become a free agent. Gunby, who was born in Lincoln, made his first-team debut in May 2002 at Peterborough
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New cricket pro wanted
BOLTON Association cricket side Golborne are looking for a professional for the coming season. The candidate should have strong all round ability to fit into a young, maturing side. Contact Graham Marston, first team captain, 0777 492 6853 or chairman
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Ben strikes four times to set up key victory
Oldham St Annes 14 Leigh Miners Rangers 28: FOUR tries from Aussie centre Ben Condon set Leigh Miners Rangers on their way to an Arriva Trains Conference League double over St Annes. For the first 30 minutes the game was wide open with the Miners' Darren
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Tyldesley sink the Shipbuilders
TYLDESLEY RU recorded another win with a 22-15 victory over mid-table BAe Barrow. The Shipbuilders took a early lead but Tyldesley fought back to lead 12-10 at the break with tries for Andrew Dickinson and Mark Dickinson, Ashley Worsfold adding a conversion
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Key trio rip young Widnes side to shreds
Leigh Centurions 58 Widnes Vikings U21s 12 by Mike Hulme: LEIGH Centurions' new midfield triangle of John Duffy, Tommy Martyn and Ian Knott is just the sort of combination that will make them major players again in the race for Super League. Half-backs
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Starbuck aims high after McNiven does the trick...
Leigh RMI 3 Morecambe 1 by Robert Johnson: LEIGH RMI chief Phil Starbuck has set his sights on winning every remaining game in the Nationwide Conference after watching his side blitz Morecambe. David McNiven struck an impressive hat-trick which helped
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Rovers step up striker search
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness will pull out all the stops in his quest to sign a new striker before the transfer deadline. Rovers are facing a race against time in their battle to bolster their striking resources. But chief executive John Williams is
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Ternent triple swoop
BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent was today planning to complete a sensational triple swoop of Premiership players. Charlton goalkeeper Paul Rachubka and Manchester United starlet Neil Wood are both set to join Newcastle midfielder Bradley Orr in signing loan
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Travellers 'may be there months'
RESIDENTS near an unauthorised caravan site have been told it could take up to two months for the council to evict people living there. The site, off Lower Eccleshill Road, Darwen, was originally granted planning permission for the storage of caravans
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Celeste's hairing in to open new beauty salon
ONE of the stars of the hair and beauty world is set to open a new salon in Rossendale. Celeste Arnold, who has won a number of top industry honours and worked with stars from sport and show business, will open her new salon in Market Street, Edenfield
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'Public nuisance' left trail of misery
THE first adult in Rossendale to be made subject of an Anti Social Behaviour Order may be kept away from his old haunts in a bid to end the trail of misery he has caused. A judge is taking steps to send Ryan Anderson, 25, to live at a probation hostel
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Volunteer workers wanted
A SERVICEMEN'S organisation is appealing for volunteer case workers. Dennis Wood, a long serving member of The Sailors, Soldiers and Air Force Association, which covers Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley said: "We are getting seriously short of case workers
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Dinner time with Paddy
LEGENDARY Manchester United hardman Paddy Crerand will have some tales to tell about his Old Trafford days with the likes of Denis Law, George Best and Bobby Charlton when he speaks at a sportsman's dinner on Friday, February 20 at Leigh Ex-Servicemen's
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WI history
NEWCHURCH WI will be holding a month-long exhibition at Culcheth Library detailing the history of the organisation in the area. The exhibition starts next Tuesday and other events include a coffee morning on March 10 for the promotion of Fair Trade in
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'Hysteria' transmitted
THE wave of hysteria against mobile phone masts is utterly ridiculous. Many people are quite happy to enjoy the benefits of modern technology, but they react with primitive hostility to any proposal to site the equipment necessary for these marvels. I
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Slim bin advice
WIGAN Council's green team is set to tour supermarkets giving shoppers advice about how to slim their bins. By mid-March every household in the borough will have received a special bag for recycling newspapers and magazines and there will be more advice
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Protect us from masts
RE: The company building phone masts in the Fulwood area. We are writing to address the problems of the phone masts being placed within a one mile radius of our home. We strongly disagree with this placement, in particular, and of any form of mast near
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Anger over cyclists
AS a motorist I am fed up with the constant battering drivers get over driving too fast on the county's roads. While I accept that not all motorists are not law abiding citizens, who drive with due care and attention, it really angers me when other travellers
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Police to break up gangs
POLICE began a crackdown on youth nuisance in St Annes last week as new legislation came into force. Officers now have powers to disband groups of youths, order them to leave an area and not to return within 24 hours under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act
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Household tip
GET a permit if you're binning rubbish at Bispham tip using a van, large trailer or pick-up truck. That's the message to homeowners from Blackpool Borough Council. From next week residents dumping household waste using a 'commercial' type vehicle will
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Gina challenges Tebbit to lunch!
FYLDE sex-swap patient Gina Large has hit back at a leading a controversial Tory peer's comments on proposals for new gender recognition laws with an invitation... for afternoon tea. Hotelier Gina, 56, wrote to the former Conservative chairman, Norman
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Hannah plugs 'gap' in Africa
A WILPSHIRE teenager is filling her 'gap' year with an adventure in Africa. St Wilfrid's CE High School pupil Hannah Stevens, 17, will be working for a project called the Hamlet Foundation in a centre for mentally handicapped adults in Johannesburg, South
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We need cash to help us keep karting
A KARTING centre being forced out of its home to make way for a leisure complex is calling on sponsors to come forward before it has to close. Planning permission was granted in March to build a cinema, bowling alley and health club on land near Bridge
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Matthews makes it to Inter Counties
THE Northern Cross Country Championships at St Helens gave athletes a last chance to win themselves a coveted Lancashire vest. The top six in the recent Lancashire Championships at Blackburn were guaranteed selection for the Inter Counties, but selector
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Antiques road show - and boot sale!
AS a fan of BBC's Antiques Roadshow I can't wait to see what delights the borough's collectors produced when the programme came to Wigan's JJB Stadium last year. I almost took a genuine Victorian baby's pram for evaluation but in the end, as a queue hater
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Leigh Youth
HINDLEY Athletic lost a thriller 4-3 to Wakefield Villa in the Under 16's section. Hindley took a 2-0 lead only for the visitors to turn the game round and go 4-2 up. Hindley pulled one back to set up a barnstorming finish which saw them have two goals
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Key defeat
ATHERTON Collieries, without a match for over two weeks, lost a vital relegation battle game at Skelmersdale by 2-1. Colls were gifted the lead on 27 minutes when Allcroft, in the Skem goal, inexplicably missed the ball and Mark Jones made no mistake.
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Hindsford are spot on for semi
HINDSFORD reached the semi-final of the Murray Shield after a penalty shoot-out at Milton on Saturday. Hindsford started well and had more of the game but good football was difficult on a poor playing surface. Darren Briggs was unlucky when he cut inside
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Rangers keep winning run
LEIGH Miners Rangers U12s maintained their winning run with a 32-4 success over Folly Lane. Tries by Sarsfield (2), Kenny and Ashton, plus three goals from Myers gave them a 22-0 half time lead. Kenny added a second after half time and Elliott produced
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Rid town centre of these people
I AM writing to you with regard to your article of January 20 about Church Street entitled 'Sort it out!" I have to say that I heartily agree with your 'Comment'. In my view the situation can only be remedied if the follow examples of anti-social behaviour
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Bring fake gun laws up to date
THE report on the front page of the Telegraph (January 19) tells about someone being shot six times with a 'not real' pellet gun. Whatever it was, replica or genuine, the effect on the victim was the same. Swans, ducks, dogs and cats have suffered for
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Wife forgives husband for knife attack
A WIFE who was stabbed by her schizophrenic husband in a frenzied attack said: "I can't help but support him". Susan Johnson was attacked, together with her teenage son, by her 48-year-old husband, Diarmuid, last March. But today she said the incident
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A little can go a long, long way
WYRE'S newest arts venue successfully launched its community programme with a gala night for locals. Thornton Little Theatre celebrated its new start in community Arts with a free show starring pupils from three Wyre schools, Fleetwood Youth Theatre Group
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A year on and another chance
THE FA Cup draw was another of those days for the club. I'm sure the chairman and everyone else in the boardroom was looking for that lucky number to solve all our problems, and you could almost hear the groans. But on reflection, I think the mood is
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Vicar: why I quit
A VICAR today spoke of his decision to quit just days before taking over at a Nelson parish - and blamed a row over its family centre. The Rev John Riley was due to be instituted at St John's, Barkerhouse Road, and St Philip's, Leeds Road, at a special
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Eager Leigh plot route to Arriva Trains final
LEIGH Centurions finally get down to business this weekend. Darren Abram's re-vamped squad will kick off their 2004 campaign with a tricky visit to revitalised Swinton in the opening exchange of the Arriva Trains Cup on Sunday. The newlook Centurions
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Benefit cheat's release slammed
COUNCIL fraud bosses have criticised a top judge's decision to let a Preston single mum walk free from court after she admitted stealing £22,000 in benefits. Preston City Council officials said the decision sends out the wrong message to people thinking
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End to bogus callers
RESIDENTS of two Preston housing estates can relax after a new scheme to crack down on bogus callers enjoyed a 100 per cent success rate. Identislot, which comprises of a slot to put an identification card through, an intercom facility and a viewing hole
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Hope for future
COMMUNITIES came together at Preston Minster for a special service to remember those who suffered under the Nazis during the Second World War. The event, now in its fourth year, marked Holocaust Memorial Day and was one of many services to take place
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Debt fear for students
A-LEVEL students in Preston were disappointed after MPs endorsed Prime Minister Tony Blair's controversial university funding bill by a slim majority. Local Labour MPs, including South Ribble representative David Borrow supported Mr Blair in the vote,
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Celebrations after 'specialist' funding
TWO high schools in Burnley are celebrating after being awarded specialist school status. St Hilda's has become the first school in Lancashire to win the status in humanities and it was third time lucky for St Theodore's school in its bid for specialist
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We're after you - bobby warns troublesome teens
TEENAGE troublemakers who are causing upset in a corner of Morecambe are being warned against inflicting further misery on residents. Local bobbies are stepping up patrols in part of the West End to nip the problems in the bud. The action follows a series
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MPs split in top-up vote
REBEL MP Geraldine Smith stuck to her guns and voted against the Government over university top-up fees. The Higher Education Bill, which could see students paying £3,000 in fees each year, was backed by 316 votes to 311 on Tuesday evening. But the Morecambe
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On the run for funds
A SPORTY student is planning to run from Preston to Blackburn in the hope of raising enough money to live in the Caribbean for six months. But it will not be a long holiday, for Mark Tyres will use the time on the Caribbean island of Grenada to develop
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Prison workers strike over pay offer
PRISON Service civil servants in Preston are taking part in two days of industrial action in protest of below-inflation pay offers. More than 2,000 north west members of the Public and Commercial Services Union plan to take the action after pay talks
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Missing mum: Man is arrested
A MAN has been arrested over the disappearance of an Accrington mother-of-six - as her family feared she could be dead. Zainab Begum, 56, of Burnley Road, has been missing since Tuesday, January 13, when a family member saw her looking upset at her home
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Millionaire need not shed crocodile tears
MOST pantomimes include stage effects such as thunder and lightning, musical crescendos and great smoke-screens. All there to confuse the audience. But can any of them bring the house down quite like a millionaire shedding crocodile tears. I wonder what
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Future news sounds bleak for North West
BEFORE Mr & Mrs Hilton Dawson desert Lancaster and run away to the North East with their pensions, they might like to dwell on the possible consequences of joining Lancaster City Council with Barrow and South Lakes by looking into the future and at
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Atoms men win trials
THE form and fortunes of Heysham Atoms have won recognition from higher up in amateur rugby league circles. Four players have been picked out to play in trials for representative teams as a result of their form for the fast improving local outfit. Eighteen-year-old
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Chairman calls for support
ACCRINGTON Cricket Club president Peter Barratt is urging cricket fans to get behind their local teams after his own club announced losses of over £5,000 in the last two years. Barratt, who has been made Accrington's president after 12 years as chairman
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How J-Lo can you go to save cash?
BLACKPOOL Tower is to be rebuilt across the Atlantic -- because it works out cheaper than bringing one of Hollywood's hottest stars to the resort. Hollywood queen, Jennifer 'J-Lo' Lopez, is to star as a ballroom dancer competing in Blackpool's annual
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Rogue car traders have to hit the road
THE WHEELS are about to come off the gravy train for Blackpool's illegal car traders, says Blackpool Borough Council. The council's Trading Standards office is clamping down on sellers parking cars on-street with 'for sale' signs in the windows, causing
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Is your pub a good 'location'?
FILM makers are looking for a village pub, doctor's clinic, country house and hospital garden to 'star' in a new feature film being shot in the North West. Standish Films is trying to find suitable locations for its thriller 'The Intruder', due to be
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East sound a play-off warning
Leigh East 35 Wigan St Pat's 12: DON'T count Leigh East out of the Arriva Trains Conference top six play-offs. That was the message that came loud and clear from Grasmere Street as East saw off old rivals St Pat's in comfortable, confident fashion. Scoring
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Masked robbers attack man in raid
A 52-YEAR-OLD man is recovering after a group of masked men brandishing baseball bats burst into his house early this morning. Christopher Bradbury, of Vale Street, Turton, heard intruders in his house at around 3.30am and was confronted by three or four
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Special measures for failing school
A FAILING high school has been put under "special measures" and given two years to improve after an education watchdog ruled standards were unacceptable. Parents of more than 1,000 pupils at Moorland High School, Darwen, have been sent a letter explaining
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Voluntary groups get Community Chest funding
VOLUNTARY and community groups in Bacup and Stacksteads are to benefit from Community Chest funding. Groups in the Valley are eligible to receive up to £250 for funding to go towards various community projects. Grants have already been donated to groups
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Star trekker John
THE caring uncle of a Bacup youngster with a rare genetic disorder is gearing up to walk the Inca Trail. Terminally ill Jack Heath, four, has been diagnosed with Hunters Syndrome, which affects only one in every 150,000 boys in the country, and means
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A fishy tale...
FLYING fish gave themselves up to provide a meal for merchant navy crew on a trip to Buenos Aires. Eddie Oldham continued his account of life aboard ship on his second visit to Tyldesley Probus Club. He recalled a 36-day voyage from Hull to Argentina
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Church archives open to public
CHURCH archives will be open for visitors to browse through at an open and gift day next week. St Michael and All Angels', Howe Bridge, historians will also be pleased to speak to anyone with any information, photographs, programmes or leaflets covering
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Where is Michael?
CONCERNS are growing for the safety of a man who last week was reported missing from his Leigh home. Michael Weston, aged 34, was last seen on January 21. He is 6ft 1ins tall, of medium build, with short, black, receding hair and brown eyes. He speaks
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Hard work rewarded
AFTER undertaking quality accreditation, Chorley and South Ribble CVS Volunteer Bureau has been awarded our national Quality Mark and is to be commended on their hard work and success in achieving this. As part of our membership-wide quality system, the
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Blair nearly Humbled
JOAN Humble was the Fylde Coast's only rebel as MPs came close to inflicting a humiliating defeat on the Government over tuition fees. Blackpool North and Fleetwood MP, Mrs Humble, voted against variable fees in Tuesday's crucial vote in the House of
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It's a flying shame
A NORTH West Euro-MP has championed the fight to urge the EU to raise public awareness of travel related blood clots among British travellers. Labour MEP, Arlene McCarthy, claims millions are being "denied critical health information" warning of the risk
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Life for body in boot murderer
A MAN who left his ex-fiancee's body in the boot of her car on a street in Blackpool has been jailed for life after being convicted of her murder. Car salesman, William McInnes, 46, of Toll Cross Street, Parkhead, Glasgow, strangled Helen McKenzie, 31
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A little help from our friends
A FYLDE action group are hoping to get by with a little help from their friends after launching a £500,000 fight to improve their local playing fields. Park View 4U was launched in style with local kids, parents and residents sending out an 'SOS' to anybody
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Funding bonanza
STAFF at four East Lancashire schools are celebrating after they were awarded specialist school status. All were included in the latest round of prizes announced by the Department for Education and Skills today. Witton Park High School, in Blackburn,
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£13m boost to transform town centre
A £13MILLION project is set to transform parts of central Blackburn and stop East Lancashire shoppers flooding to other towns. Councillors were told yesterday that a bid for money from the North West Development Agency, which could trigger private investment
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Bad attitude reaches Canada
I RECEIVED a surprise call from Neil McCall in Goose Bay, Canada, a man aware of the usually friendly reputation of people in our area. His opinion was rocked, however, by the unfriendly treatment he received when he tried to complete a financial transaction
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A drop of the white stuff and it's chaos again
ONE inch of snow again caused total chaos on our roads on Tuesday morning. Why? There seems to be no reason for it. Traffic was jammed throughout the district with Manchester-bound traffic causing bottlenecks at Astley and tailbacks from Green Lane to
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Down Your Street...
BISPHAM - BISPHAM United Reformed Church Ladies' Friendship Group will be holding its monthly coffee morning in the church hall, Warbreck Drive on Wednesday, February 4 at 10.30am. Coffee and biscuits 30p, plus various stalls. A BINGO evening takes place
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Family's second carjack terror
MOTORIST Neil Aspden was carjacked by an armed gang in Radcliffe -- just three months after his partner endured a similar terrifying ordeal outside work. The 44-year-old electrician had just pulled up outside his home in Poolfield Close when the gang
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Winter bowls
THE 15th winner of the Pennington Park Winter Bowling competition was John McCaul who beat Sylvia Jeffries in the final 21-14.The consolation final was won by John Prestwich who beat Mal Thompson 21-16.
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Intimidated by the 'townies'
I STRONGLY agree with the comments made in your report. I myself go to Church Street, Blackburn, to meet my friends. I understand that people may feel intimidated by our presence, but me and my friends haven't done anything wrong. The 'townies' all claim
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Town, playground for young drivers
I WAS astounded at the front page filled with pictures of young children congregating in Blackburn. They have to congregate somewhere and when I was at school in Blackburn the same problems occurred -- only the groups were Mods and Rockers. If you only
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Disc plan could make roads safer
A LABOUR MP wants to clamp down on motorists driving without insurance by introducing new legislation. Leigh MP Andy Burnham wants to make it compulsory for drivers to display a disc in their windscreen to show that they are insured. Mr Burnham decided
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Performance with a twist
THE final act twist is one of the oldest tricks in the dramatist's book. But rarely is it as well executed in the excellent production of Trap for a Lonely Man at the Grand Theatre. If it weren't for the twist, this would have been a fairly routine exercise
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Special measures for failing school
A FAILING high school has been put under "special measures" and given two years to improve after an education watchdog ruled standards were unacceptable. Parents of more than 1,000 pupils at Moorland High School, Darwen, have been sent a letter explaining
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Souness is now Mr Cool
GRAEME Souness' reputation for being one of the most fiery and passionate men in football has never deserted him during his four years at Ewood Park. But despite continued brushes with authority and clashes with officials, Brad Friedel has noticed a significant
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Pupils will raise roof
SCHOOLCHILDREN from across Preston and South Ribble are uniting to raise money for local charities. Choirs and bands from six schools will perform music at Preston Rotary Club's third annual concert at the Guild Hall, on Saturday, March 13, at 7.30pm.
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Warning to 999 crews
LANCASHIRE'S police, fire and ambulance drivers have been warned they will face prosecution if caught speeding without good reason. It comes after a report revealed speed cameras are snapping ambulances up to 700 times a month as they travel to emergencies
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Drug still illegal warns inspector
A POLICEMAN who walks the beat in an area of Preston that has seen a string of drug-related crimes is warning people that using cannabis is still an offence. Inspector David Aston, of Lea police station, said people should not believe that growing, supplying
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Police put CCTV van in the public eye
THE police CCTV van will be touring Briercliffe next week to give residents the chance to take a closer look at the vehicle. The £80,000 mobile CCTV unit, which was funded by Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale councils, has been operating in the Pennine division
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Traffic brought to standstill
BLIZZARDS brought chaos to parts of Burnley yesterday when snow brought traffic to a virtual standstill. Traffic travelling along the M65 motorway from Colne to Burnley was reduced to speeds of less than 5mph. The bad weather also prompted a number of
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Padiham and Hapton Bulletin
THE Mayor of Padiham, Coun Bob Clark, Coun Chris Smith and JP Mrs Carol Stinton have met with community beat managers from the police and the new headteachers of Gawthorpe High School, Andrew Mackenzie to discuss the vital role the school plays in Padiham's
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Emily plans jungle adventure
A PRIMARY teacher is heading off to far-flung Borneo to care for the king of the swingers as a jungle volunteer. But there'll be no monkeying around for Emily Brown, who will be working six days a week for two months looking after sick and orphaned orang-utans
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Workers suspend strike as pay talks go ahead
A REPRESENTATIVE of workers at a Nelson file store has warned they are still prepared to strike if last-minute talks fail to reach a pay deal. Members of the Public and Commercial Services union at the Department for Work and Pensions file store were
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Fitter surprised Gaul was passed as seaworthy
AN inquiry into the loss of the Gaul has heard from a fitter who claimed he was surprised the trawler was passed as seaworthy. In a statement read out to the Hull-based inquiry, retired fitter Geoffrey Good said he worked on the Gaul before her last fateful
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Bid to keep Post Office open fails
A VILLAGE post office is to close its doors for good next month after a deal to keep it open fell through. The Post Office had announced that the Foulridge branch would remain open when subpostmistress Barbara Bradbury, 61, retired. But, in fact, Mrs
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25 years ago
EAST Lancashire's big two were drawn together in the fifth round of the FA Cup. But they had to get through their fourth round replay games first. Pet gerbils and goldfish were killed by vandals who rampaged through Longridge Infant school.
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Cash boost for motor heritage
A LEYLAND museum struggling to make ends meet has been handed a cash boost of nearly £100,000. The British Commercial Vehicle Museum, which houses nearly 100 vehicles dating from the 1890s to the present day, plans to spend the Lotto cash on preserving
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Family in search of 'stolen' Spike
A FAMILY are appealing for the return of a dog they say is their only reminder of an uncle who died on New Year's Day. Vanessa Divine, of Percy Street, Accrington, took in three-year-old Jack Russell Spike after the death of Stephen Ball. Mr Ball, 44,
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Chess honour for Richard
CHESS-MAD Richard Furness has been honoured for 40 years service as a top judge. Richard, of Cranwell Avenue, Culcheth, has been presented with the British Chess Federation President's Long Service Award. The top man, Gerry Walsh, called at Richard's
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How could dad have drowned?
THE SON of a man who died in a "freak" accident in Spain today said he was "bewildered" about how it happened. Alan Taylor, of Windsor Road, Great Harwood, was on holiday on his yacht in Spain when he slipped and banged his head as he was boarding a 38ft
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150 years of ministry
THE New Year of 1854 brought the Crimean War, the formation of Leigh Cricket Club -- and the consecration of Pennington's new Parish Church. New Year 2004 rang in the start of Christ Church's 150th anniversary celebrations and parishioners can look forward
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Call for friends to help keep old castle
A GROUP is being formed to support the future development and management of Clitheroe Castle. The Norman castle is currently the subject of a bid for National Lottery cash by Ribble Valley Borough Council but it wants to form a 'friends' group to give
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Heysham face tough draw
NEWLY promoted Heysham face a tough task in round one of the Westmorland Cricket League's major knockout cup. The Division Two champions, looking forward to their first term in the top flight as summer comes around, have been drawn against league champions
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It's make or break time
THE big two in local football are heading for a make or break month of matches. Morecambe and Lancaster City both harbour ambitions of stepping up to better things in the soccer pyramid - but have seen their hopes fade with poor results. February could
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Gnohere's injury setback
BURNLEY defender Arthur Gnohere is back on the treatment table after another injury setback. The Frenchman suffered a recurrence of his recent hamstring injury in training and faces another few weeks on the sidelines. However, there is better news regarding
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Doing up the place for the parents
WORK has begun on a new kitchen, lounge and bathroom for the children's wards at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. The five week revamp, the first of two phases of development, includes creating a kitchen so that visiting parents will have somewhere close
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Showing signs
A UNIQUE set of autographs from yesteryear is going on display at Blackpool Football Club. Signatures of soccer greats including Sir Stanley Matthews are in the collection donated by Weymouth businessman Paul Rainford. "It's a set of Blackpool and Manchester
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New ground creates history
LEIGH Centurions and Swinton Lions create history on Sunday when they become the first professional RL teams to play at Sedgley Park RU Club's Park Lane headquarters. The Lions' new home in Whitefield has excellent facilities and playing surface. Admission
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Golborne take another step on promotion trail
Widnes Tigers 0 Golborne Parkside 29: GOLBORNE Parkside open age team took another step towards promotion after a four week gap without a game. Playing their first game under the new coaching set up headed by David Tickle, Golborne scored their first
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Injured ref calls game off
LEIGH RU first XV's match at Old Anselmians was dramatically abandoned when the referee suffered a calf muscle injury and was unable to continue. Leigh were leading 15-14 at the time. Anselmians had taken an early lead from a penalty but Leigh replied
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Careful drivers win praise from police
HEAVY snow storms across East Lancashire brought disruption to the areas schools and roads -- but police praised motorists for their careful driving. Children were sent home for the day, some roads were impassable and rail services were badly delayed
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Kennedy delighted at international call-up
ACCRINGTON Stanley goalkeeper Jon Kennedy has revealed his shock and delight at being called up to the England National Game XI squad. But the surprise wasn't so much the fact he had been picked - more the timing of his selection. "I was a little disappointed
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Living it up in Largs
WITH reference to Mrs J Harwood's letter (Citizen, January 15) regarding the whereabouts of or disposal of landau horses once they have reached the end of their 'useful' lives. Before Mrs Harwood casts any more unsubstantiated aspersions on anyone may
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Restriction could kill struggling industry
IT is impossible to avoid the fact that through a number of contributory factors, the holiday trade in Blackpool has been in decline for some years now, confirmation of which is regularly made by both national and local media. The evidence is also clearly
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RMI's date with Patterson
LEIGH RMI's scheduled Marsden Lancashire Trophy quarter-final tie next Tuesday against Mark Patterson's Chorley will be the next time RMI are in action as the first team have a blank weekend.
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LR Juniors
ATHERTON LR U15s had a 3-1 win over Astley Bridge in their first game of the year. Atherton's goals came from Sean Barns (2) and Shane Sargent with Daryl Hughes the man of the match. The U9s produced their best performance of the season in romping to
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Rope move
to fourth WITH the top three teams out of action, Rope and Anchor moved into fourth place in the Leigh and District League with a 4-1 home win over Atherton Royal. Goals from McPike, Tipping, Jackson and Helme gave Rope their victory. Barrington scored
