Archive
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Majority enough for real change
THE government has decided that before big changes are made in the way the country is run, voters should approve them. The introduction of the euro and a new European constitution are both subjects which could be put to the people for approval at a referendum
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Required: work not free fruit
I SEE the Government is going to give free vouchers to low paid families to buy fresh fruit and veg. Will some of them be using their cars to collect them? A better idea would be to sell the car and walk a little more. This way they would be more healthy
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Mum's killing: Man is charged
A FORMER boyfriend has been charged with murdering a young mum who was attacked as she pushed her baby along in a pram. Bevan Richardo Williams, who is in his 20s and from Chorley, was due to appear at the town's magistrates court today. The move came
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Emerton 'penalty' anger
BLACKBURN midfielder Brett Emerton today insisted he was denied a 'definite penalty' against Southampton at the weekend. The Australian midfielder had his heels clipped by Graeme Le Saux as he burst into the box in the 16th minute of Saturday's 1-1 draw
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Care crown for teen
A SELFLESS teenager, who has devoted the last couple of years to helping people in need, has been crowned Lancashire Young Person of the Year. Student Jennifer Redman, 17, of Peartree Crescent, Walton-le-Dale, now plans to spend her £1,000 prize money
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Learning a lesson with dad
IT'S a family affair for one Preston dad and his twin sons who are all studying the same course. Steven Ingham, 43, of Garstang Road, was so keen to spark his 17-year-old sons' interest in their chosen careers that he enrolled on the same electrical course
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Fun and laughter lined up
A FEAST of family fun and laughter is on the cards this summer as the entertainment line-up for the Preston International City Festival is put together. More than 35 events and attractions have already been pencilled in over a ten-day timetable with room
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Balloon festival chiefs launch website
BURNLEY Balloon Festival organisers have launched a new website to encourage more people to visit the annual event. Preparations for the third annual festival, which takes place in July, are well under way, with added attractions including the Utterly
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Roadshow success
MORE than 70 people turned out for the first in a series of six roadshows organised by Burnley Council. The event at Daneshouse Community Centre provoked debate on a range of issues, from the clearance of homes in the area, to the work of the police and
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Pensioner wants an end to yobs problem
A RETIRED widower has called on councillors to find a solution "quickly" to the problems surrounding a derelict sports ground in Reedley. Noel Aldersley, a World War Two veteran, has lived in Raedale Avenue for more than 60 years and claims he has never
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Dancers put through their paces
MORE than 100 dancers from all over East Lancashire descended on Pendle over the weekend to take part in the Nelson Dance Festival 2004. The festival, which has been running for more than 50 years, is held at the Pendle Hippodrome Theatre, in New Market
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25 years ago
A DISABLED Darwen woman was hoping to start a voluntary taxi service to help people caught up in the long-running ambulance drivers' dispute, get home from hospital. Miriam Grear of Tudor Close appealed to taxi drivers and private car owners to spare
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10 years ago
LECTURERS at East Lancashire colleges were protesting over new contracts, despite a Court of Appeal ruling that they could not strike. Staff at Accrington and Rossendale College formed peaceful 'protest lines' at the main gates to voice their anger at
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Police probe burglary and arson attack on takeaway
POLICE were today investigating claims of a burglary and arson attack at a takeaway restaurant in Clayton-le-Moors. Officers said the Alahi Tandoori takeaway in Whalley Road, was badly damaged by the fire following a robbery at the premises earlier. The
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Credit card fraud man behind bars
A 46-YEAR-old man has been jailed for six months for his part in a credit card fraud. Blackburn magistrates heard that John Royston Squire visited travel agents to buy airline tickets and thousands of pounds worth of euros after a mystery female had "
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Celeb boost for green fingers
GARDENING celebrities are hoping to grow a lot of new interest in a selection of charities at a fundraising event planned for Billington. Charities including the British Thyroid Foundation, The Christie Hospital Endocrine Unit and Gardeners' Royal Benevolent
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Stone thefts appeal
EARLY morning drivers are urged to help police in an attempt to crack down on theft of stone. Ribble Valley police believe organised gangs are targeting the borough at night to steal stone, which can be sold on at high prices to people who want to improve
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Insight into open country
THERE will be another chance to find out more about new legislation that will open up thousands of acres of countryside in Lancashire. When the new legislation takes effect at the end of September it will give people the 'right to roam' on moorland in
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Safari around reservoir looking out for birds
EXPERTS from the RSPB will lead a Winter Bird Safari around Stocks Reservoir near Slaidburn, on Wednesday, March 10 and there are some places still available. They will be on the lookout for birds such as short-eared owls, a variety of winter wildfowl
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Sublime Seasiders head to Cardiff again
A BRILLIANT 2-0 victory at Hillsborough last night saw Blackpool claim a place at the Millennium Stadium for the third time in four years. With a 1-0 lead from the first leg to defend, the Seasiders had to withstand a barrage of early pressure, but a
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Ternent: We've got to take chances
STAN Ternent believes Burnley were not hungry enough to bare their teeth and make Millwall suffer. The Clarets were beaten in the league for the first time in 2004, despite carving out a glut of goalscoring opportunities at the New Den. Burnley could
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Foggy lands first podium finish
CHRIS Walker made racing history in the opening round of the World Superbike season by achieving the first podium finish on the Petronas FP1. In his first race for Carl Fogarty's Foggy Petronas Racing team, the popular British rider finished third in
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Clarets and Lions locked in race war
BURNLEY and Millwall are in a bitter race war following the weekend defeat at Millwall. Clarets chief Stan Ternent blasted home fans who targeted Clarets defender Mo Camara throughout 90 relentless minutes. Ternent's allegations of 'monkey chants' being
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Lawyer faces theft charges
A SOLICITOR accused of swindling clients out of more than £500,000 has been committed to Preston Crown Court by Blackburn magistrates. Philip Thomas Pressler, 51, faces 41 charges of theft and false accounting which he will answer at the Crown Court on
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Memorial can rest in peace at last
A WAR memorial saved by residents of Darwen has been found a home. The memorial, currently languishing in a works yard in Whitehall, bears the names of 15 First World War soldiers, but last September it was given to a museum more than 100 miles away.
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Respect for action
I just want to say that what Bilal Patel and Sufia Makkan are doing, (Citizen, February 19) is brilliant. If only more people could do the same, (that includes myself). The people in Palestine are in great need of support and the twinning of Nablus with
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SureStart thank you
HOW pleased we were with the newspaper article written by Emma Mayoh with regards to our grandparenting project entitled Grand Reaches Out to Help (Citizen, February 12). SureStart East and Central and Age Concern Preston really do want to make a difference
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Union weigh up pay scale talks
THE Fylde's civil servants are hoping for further talks with management after a two day walk-out by union members last week. Picket lines appeared at Blackpool's Warbreck Hill and Norcross sites and strikes affected Peel Park, Lytham St Annes and a handful
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Charity mag scam
THE Blackpool-based leader of a children's charity scam has been given the maximum fine possible after appearing before magistrates. Patrick Jarrett was taken to court in Manchester after an undercover sting by the city's council. Jarrett, 40, and his
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Asda plan's green light
THERE were cries of 'shame on you' as councillors voted through controversial proposals for a massive new office block on Warren Drive. A packed planning committee meeting saw councillors vote to accept Asda Stores Ltd's application for a three storey
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Pay and display start date
BOSSES at Blackburn supermarket Morrisons today confirmed that their new pay and display parking scheme will be going live on March 15. From that date there will be a two-hour time limit on the car park, with a charge of £1. Customers will have this amount
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Disabled children's centre toasts kind brewers
A BLACKBURN disabled children's centre is celebrating a rather late Christmas present - thanks to high spirits from brewery staff. The Blue Tin Roof Centre, based in Mill Hill, was given £600 by Blackburn brewers Daniel Thwaites. The money was raised
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School shuts as token of respect
A BLACKBURN school closed earlier today as coach loads of staff and pupils attended the funeral of their deputy headteacher. Special permission was granted by Blackburn with Darwen Council to St Bede's RC High School to close as a mark of respect to Tim
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Attack on aunt in row over a debt
A ROW between a 30-year-old Blackburn man and his aunt ended in violence outside a bingo hall. Blackburn magistrates heard that Howard Wayne Eastham grabbed his aunt by the throat during the incident and she fell to the floor. Eastham, of Romney Walk,
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Man in drunken fight with ex-lover
WILLIAM Parker, 46, of Lambeth Street, Blackburn, was conditionally discharged for 12 months and ordered to pay £200 compensation by the town's magistrates after admitting assaulting Janet Dugdale. The court heard that Parker and Miss Dugdale had been
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Brave Lauren's splash for cash
COURAGEOUS Lauren Eastham is making a splash for charity - despite battling against a debilitating disease. The 11-year-old has cerebral palsy but has decided to slip into her swimming costume and raise money for the East Lancashire Hospice. The Feniscowles
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Reprieve for dog
A DOG has been offered a reprieve from being put down after it savagely attacked a landlord. Mitzy, a rottweiler-doberman cross, was one of two dogs which attacked John Barnes, landlord of the Havelock Inn, Havelock Street, Blackburn, in June last year
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A curse on both of their houses
THE row between the Government and the BBC over Hutton could be compared to two scorpions fighting -- no matter which one is killed it can only be beneficial. Every member of the ultra-left National Union of Journalists has sworn to give the political
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Something new is really something old
RECENT pronouncements by the Conservative Party that they would, given the opportunity, spend more on Public Services. Including Health and Education while at the same time cut total government spending by a massive £35 billion, is an astounding statement
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Women's football- Women fight back to win
PNE are still riding high at the top of the league after fighting back from a goal down. Bury took a surprise lead on 20 minutes but three minutes later Michaela Barlow equalised converting a cross from Dawn Holland. PNE battled for a second and Jen Simmonds
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Play-off push de-railed
PRESTON boss Craig Brown was left fuming as Ispwich appeared to swap football for basketball as they went in pursuit of victory at Portman Road. A fortunate deflection for Tommy Miller broke the deadlock after 71 minutes, but the ball only made it to
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EVENTS in East Lancashire on Monday, March 1, 2004.
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside Blackburn and District Bird Club, St Silas' Church Hall, Preston New Road, Blackburn, 7.30pm. "Spring Migration in Cyprus," by Susan and Allan Parker. Good As New Sale
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EVENTS taking place in East Lancashire on Tuesday, March 2, 2004.
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Tae Kwon Do, Padiham Town Hall, Burnley Road, Padiham, 5.15pm-6.15pm. Nelson Camera Club, Holmefield House Community Centre, Gisburn Road, Barrowford, 7.45pm. Adults
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Talent showcase
RENOWNED film actor and director Sir Richard Attenborough is backing a new stage production at the Charter Theatre, Preston, next month. Enigma -- A West Side Experience is the latest show to hit the stage under the wing of Imagine! Productions and will
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Keeping faith with changes
BLACKBURN's Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School, in Shear Brow, could become Lancashire's first Muslim state school if the Government approves plans to bring it under the LEA's control. CLARE COOK went to find what life is like and how the education of
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Is new bus pass an identity card?
REGARDING a letter about the new bus pass (LET Feb 19), I would like to pose the question: Bus Pass or Identity Card for the North West Regional Assembly? What do your readers think. If it is the latter then we will have been fooled again by the Government
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Chip in to beat the cheats
MUCH has been written lately about uninsured and untaxed vehicles, as well as ones without MOTs. What I would propose would be a device fitted to every vehicle on the road, which would require a sophisticated electronic 'chip' to be inserted to enable
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We still get up, pay taxes and are slated
REGARDING the current grumblings yet again because we Darreners dare to step into the boundaries of them there Blackburn folk. I, together with many others, visit Blackburn on very rare occasions. When I do, I see investment, refurbishment, fancy glass
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Schoolgirls in internet sex trap
A 37-YEAR-OLD man lured Blackburn schoolgirls into sex at a Ribble Valley hotel after meeting them through internet chat rooms. A court heard that Charles Trevor Monaghan's victims were only 14 and 15 years old when they fell for his claim to be from
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Leigh find the target, at last
Leigh RMI 4 Margate 2 by David Magilton: LEIGH RMI gave Margate a lesson in finishing with a rare victory to lift their spirits in the desperate fight to avoid relegation. With just one win in nine games and with decisions and results not going their
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Unlucky Leigh miss out on big cup upset
Leigh Centurions 14 Hull 21 by Mike Hulme: LEIGH Centurions are ready to make the big step up into Super League. It's just not those at Hilton Park who believe that Leigh can hack it with the best - even Shaun McRae reckons they are ready to move onwards
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We're in a real dog-fight
BLACKBURN striker Matt Jansen today warned his Ewood team-mates about the dangers of believing Rovers are 'too good to go down'. The 26-year-old forward, who helped to rescue a point against Southampton on Saturday, is one of only two remaining members
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Spot decision is kick in teeth
GRAEME Souness left Ewood Park on Saturday night wondering just what Blackburn Rovers have to do to win a penalty these days. As the dust settled on yet another unconvincing home performance, Souness was left to rue a controversial refereeing decision
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Kicking out crime together
THE pieces are fitting together for a new community youth group designed to give children in Preston a chance to take part in sports and leisure activities to keep them away from crime. Almost 250 people turned up for the launch of Jigsaw on the all-weather
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Tributes to former head
TRIBUTES have poured in following the death of a "greatly loved" former headteacher who spent his whole career at the same Preston school he attended as a boy. Jack Sharples, 79, who was head of the then St Matthew's CofE Junior School, New Hall Lane,
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King Cotton now a distant meimo
MONDAY marks the day of the 200th anniversary of the death of John 'King Cotton' Horrocks, the man who helped shape Preston as a leading heavyweight during the industrial age. His entrepreneurship helped put Preston on the map as a thriving cotton manufacturing
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'Say no' to flats
A MOTHER has condemned proposals to build 58 flats on the site of a former hotel in Walton-le-Dale claiming extra residents would leave services, such as dentists and doctors, overstretched. It comes as developers Persimmon Homes put forward plans to
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Cancer won't stop Jeff running marathons
A MAN who is being treated for leukaemia is planning to run two marathons as part of a year-long push to raise cash for a cancer charity. Jeff Tate, 43, from Longton, Preston, was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia, a cancer of the blood, last April
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Barrass strike saves Shakers
Bury 1 Darlington 1 by Phil Thorp: IT was a 24th birthday to remember for Shakers full-back Matt Barrass on Saturday. The versatile local lad earned his team-mates a share of the spoils with a second half goal, despite not being in Graham Barrow's original
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Grants to help with hardship
LAST year 18 people in Nelson and Colne facing financial hardship because of cancer received grants totalling more than £6,600 from Macmillan Cancer Relief. For many people diagnosed with the disease, dealing with financial problems can be as difficult
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MP has assembly vote plan dashed
AN East Lancashire MP's bid to ensure that any referendum to set up an elected North West Assembly should require at least half of voters to turn out has floundered in the Commons. Pendle MP Gordon Prentice's Private Members Bill on the issue was talked
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End of the road for speeder Bill, 87
AN 87-year-old motorist today said he felt sickened at being handed a six-month driving ban for committing four speeding offences in three years after more than half a century with a clean licence. Bill Thornton, 87, was banned by Blackburn magistrates
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In the footsteps of Sammy Jo
A TEENAGER who left school with no qualifications has helped the Prince's Trust develop a plan to support similar young people in Lancashire. The trust will today set out a blueprint to help young people who are not in education, employment or training
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Death crash probe man freed
A MAN arrested on suspicion of the death of a 15-year-old Radcliffe girl by dangerous driving has been released on police bail. The girl, who police have now identified as Natalie Danielle Pickwick-Jones, died after she was hit by a car as she crossed
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Rugby union - Injury-hit Hoppers overpowered
HOPPERS were forced to field a very much under strength side against high flyers Waterloo who had won all their 16 league games to date. Nevertheless they gave a good account of themselves for 40 minutes and disconcerted the visitors by their upbeat attitude
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50 years ago
TELEVISION may have been to blame for a drop in Accrington Corporation's bus takings, their transport chairman Mr M. Walsh, told the town council. He said revenues were down largely because of the bad weather but there had been a significant reduction
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Icy weather saved suicidal pensioner
A PENSIONER who tried to kill himself by slitting his wrist and taking an overdose was prevented from bleeding to death by the cold weather. Philip Thomas, 84, of Spring Street, Rishton, went missing after leaving the home he shares with wife Agnes to
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Photo lab set for shutters
THE popularity of digital cameras has helped seal the fate of a Bury photo lab which could close in May with the loss of more than 100 jobs. Colourcare, in Tile Street, is likely to shut its doors due to "economic reasons", say owners Kodak Processing
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'Slip' led to shop smash
A MOTORIST whose foot slipped on to the accelerator instead of the brake smashed into the window of a carpet shop after colliding with another car being driven by a Clitheroe motorist. Stewart Hays, 21, from Nelson, was driving on Active Way, near St
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Bar worker took from the till
A BAR worker at a Langho hotel was caught with his fingers in the till after management set up a covert surveillance system. But Blackburn magistrates heard that while the directors at Mitton Fold Farm put their losses at more than £4,200 James Andrew
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Council tax set to rise by 4.1%
COUNCIL tax in the Ribble Valley is set to rise by 4.1per cent this year. Figures to be presented to the valley's full council tomorrow evening show that the average Band D council tax from April will be £1,193.44 in unparished areas. That is up from
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Clarets and Lions locked in race war
BURNLEY and Millwall are in a bitter race war following the weekend defeat at Millwall. Clarets chief Stan Ternent blasted home fans who targeted Clarets defender Mo Camara throughout 90 relentless minutes. Ternent's allegations of 'monkey chants' being
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Den leaves nasty taste in mouth
THIS morning, relations between Burnley and Millwall Football clubs are at rock bottom. Allegations of racism towards Clarets defender Mo Camara have been made, denied, debated on the airwaves and plastered across every weekend newspaper. It was the talk
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Emerton 'penalty' anger
BLACKBURN midfielder Brett Emerton today insisted he was denied a 'definite penalty' against Southampton at the weekend. The Australian midfielder had his heels clipped by Graeme Le Saux as he burst into the box in the 16th minute of Saturday's 1-1 draw
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Sex-change insight into the male mind
IT made interesting reading -- the story of a man who had a sex swap and then changed back again. Before he became a woman, he believes he -- unknowingly -- took his wife for granted. "Women need constant reassurance. Women need to communicate. I'd go
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New store opens way to jobs
THIRTY-four new jobs have been created as a new food store opens today. Somerfield are opening a £400,000 store at Blackburn with Darwen services, off junction four of the M65. The new store is the first of its kind for Somerfield, being in the motorway
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Offices go-ahead is likely
PLANS to build an office block and 15 houses in Rawtenstall look set to be approved by Rossendale Council. The site, close to the town centre in Millgate Road, was previously occupied by Higher Mill and currently has a number of derelict buildings on
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Church objects to plan for skate park
A CHURCH in Bacup is opposing plans for a new skateboarding area in a nearby park. St Saviour's Church and the Church of England Manchester Diocese have both written to Rossendale Council objecting to Groundwork Rossendale's proposals for a skate and
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£2m improvement project moves on
THE second phase of a £2million project to improve Rossendale's sewer network will get under way today.. The United Utilities scheme, to clean up watercourses which run into the River Irwell, began last November. Work will begin today at the junction
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Mast fight success
GREAT news -- the Orange mast in Black Bull Lane, Fulwood, is not going ahead and the application has been withdrawn. Many thanks to The Citizen for your support and the great article and publicity provided by your staff. A good result for local people
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Council pledge on tax
BLACKPOOL Council has pledged to keep tax increases down in future after agreeing an 8.7 per cent hike for next year. Rumours that this year's increase could be smaller than expected because of last minute pressure from Government circulated in the hours
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Healthy outlook for hospitals
'EXCELLENT and innovative' is how a top medical professional has described the Fylde's hospitals. Sylvia Denton OBE, president of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), praised Blackpool Victoria, South Shore and Devonshire Road hospitals after visiting
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Beauty catches eye of the Tiger
HE MAY not have won the 2001 Open -- but golfing legend, Tiger Woods, still has good reason to remember his trip to Royal Lytham. The notoriously private American has revealed for the first time how he met and fell for his fiancee, Swedish beauty Elin
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Coast could be Wyre-d for sound
THE north end of the Fylde Coast could soon have its own local radio station. A group is being set up to bid for a new not-for-profit community radio service, to be known as North Fylde Community Radio. The new office of communications, Ofcom, is to begin
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Please release me
SUPPORTERS of a Blackpool man who has spent 14 years in the Thai prison dubbed the 'Bangkok Hilton' are to start a new bid for his freedom. John Davies, 62, has chronic asthma and has suffered two strokes but is forced to share a cramped cell at Klong
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Narrow escape
FYLDE firefighters have again urged householders to install a smoke alarm after a family narrowly escaped a serious blaze at their Blackpool home. Crews from South Shore and Blackpool arrived to tackle the fire which had erupted in the kitchen of a terraced
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Parking fee revolution
CONTROVERSIAL plans to charge for car parking on streets in the centre of Blackpool are back on the agenda. Pay and display machines could be in place within months as Blackpool Council bosses claim they have learned from their experience the last time
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Bouncing babes arrive on Leap Year Day!
PROUD parents across East Lancashire jumped for joy yesterday as their newborn babies arrived into the world on Leap Year Day. Since December new mum and dad, Elaine Cooney and Adam Talbot, suspected baby Abigail would be born on February 29 - and so
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'I'm the victim of a witch hunt'
A LEADING councillor claims he is the victim of a Government witch hunt to "out" Freemasons. Councillors must comply with a new national code of conduct, introduced this month, which says membership of a masonic lodge has to be declared in a register
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Coleman's 'tired' Reds are held to a point
ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman fears a hectic season may be taking its toll on his leg weary troops after they picked up only a point at lowly Farnborough. The Reds chief knew his players were capable of a better performance than the one they
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Down Your Street...
BLACKPOOL Pensioners Pressure Group holds it next monthly meeting at the Waterloo Hotel, Waterloo Road, on Tuesday, March 2, at 2.30pm. New members and friends welcome. A speaker from Care and Repair will also attend. Further information is available
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Halt the maths crisis, say unions
EAST Lancashire teaching unions today called for radical action to halt the crisis in maths teaching. Schools are increasingly struggling to fill maths posts and maintain quality teaching. Now the National Union of Teachers and the National Association
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Police plea after crash man dies
A 57-YEAR-OLD man has died 36 hours after he suffered serious facial injuries in a road accident in Bury. Alan Read, of Bramworth Avenue, Ramsbottom, was driving a Rover 414 along Bolton Road when he was involved in a collision with a VW Golf travelling
