Archive
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EVENTS taking place in East Lancashire on Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Guided stroll -- Musbury Valley (8). Meet Helmshore Textile Museum car park, Holcombe Road, Helmshore, 10.30am. Burnley & Pendle Ramblers meet Walverden reservoir, 7.15pm (4 miles). Spring Vale Ramblers evening walk -- Sunnyhurst. Meet Falcon Avenue
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Hoax calls alert
CHILDREN making malicious phone calls and wasting firefighters' time have been warned that they will be tracked down. The warning came after Blackburn Fire and Rescue received three malicious calls in three and a half hours last night. The first was at
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Third teenager to face drugs swoop charges
A THIRD teenager has appeared in court charged in connection with the seizure of amphetamine worth £1.25million from a house in Blackburn in May. Ibrar Ashraf, 19, of Whitewell Place, Blackburn, is jointly charged with Rizwana Ibrahim Patel, 19, of Mount
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Here comes the bride...
PETER the lover and Linda the bride are just some of the intriguing characters in Pepperpot Hill Amateur Theatre Group's first ever "straight" drama - Willy Russell's Stags And Hens. Best known for their award-winning musicals, Pepperpot Hill have decided
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Glad Labour reign has ended
I AM overjoyed that we will now have a council in Burnley that is not going to be dictated by Labour and hope that all parties will now do their best for the people of Burnley and look after everyone's best interests. JEAN STEWARD, Beachley Square, Burnley
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No regard for the voters
MAY I express my disgust at the attitude of the resigned councillors who gained their seats with the Labour banner and were voted in by constituents on this basis. They are now touting their councillorship round the other main parties like a cheap market
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There should be new elections
I AGREE with Councillor Kate Hollern over the issue of the Blackburn with Darwen councillors who have declared themselves independents. The people involved should quit. As we vote for councillors and their party alliances, there should be another election
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Don't let Six ever return
WITH reference to your recent article "A Betrayal of the Voters," I agree with your view that this is not the time for opportunism and personal ambition. If, in the future these same individuals attempted to return to the fold, my advice to the Labour
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Dismayed at resignations
OVER the past few days I have read with interest your coverage of the recent events following the elections at the town hall. Like a lot of people, I don't know the ins and outs of politics, but am dismayed at the resignation of the six councillors from
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How could they switch so suddenly?
I HAVE been utterly shocked, dismayed and angered at the resignation of the six Labour councillors. The local and the European elections have delivered enough shocks to be endured, only to be followed by irrational, questionable and ill-motivated resignations
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Man jailed for blinding friend
A MAN who attacked his best friend during a row leaving him blind in one eye has been jailed for 27 months. Mark Howarth, aged 35, forced Brian Derbyshire to the ground and kicked him once, causing him to lose the sight in his left eye. Mr Derbyshire
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Cycle theft victim
AN 11-YEAR-OLD boy was forced to hand over his bike to a youth who threatened him with a knife in Talbot Grove, Bury, on Friday night. The boy was approached by the offender on Talbot Grove, Bury, at around 9.15pm. He demanded that the boy hand over his
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Top marks for high-speed 999 response times
THE local ambulance service is one of the best in the country for responding to life-threatening emergency calls. Government figures have revealed that Greater Manchester Ambulance Service attended 82.5 per cent of Category A calls, the most serious type
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I will beat them!
A PARTIALLY-SIGHTED 86-year-old is taking on the might of the Post Office after launching a campaign to save one of Burnley's closure-threatened branches. Former mayor Irene Cooney has organised a rota of volunteers to stand outside the Queen Victoria
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Labour toppled from power
A COALITION of minority parties has reached agreement to take control of Blackburn with Darwen Council and oust Labour from power for the first time in 21 years. Conservative and Liberal Democrats have joined forces with a newly formed independent group
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Newcomer who scooped award
A FLEDGLING actor from Bury's amateur dramatics scene has scooped a top award. Matthew Tanner (18) has been presented with the best newcomer award for his performance in Honk! at the Manchester Musical Awards. The Holy Cross student, of Portinscale Close
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McEveley eyes Rovers return
BLACKBURN Rovers defender Jay McEveley is ready to make his long-awaited comeback after six months out with a serious knee injury. McEveley has not kicked a ball in anger since he dislocated his knee cap during a loan spell with Burnley at the beginning
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Father contacts family
A MARRIED father-of-two who vanished from his home three weeks ago has been in touch with his family. Mark Drummond's family were left baffled and distraught by the 42-year-old's disappearance earlier this month. Police said Mr Drummond left his home
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Poly gift will help group grow
A BURNLEY community group has been given a helping hand to grow food for the community. Prestwich and Athol Street South Residents Association (PASSRA) is setting up an allotment as a community enterprise growing herbs and vegetables and selling surplus
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Bhutia's back in Europe
FORMER Shakers' striker Baichung Bhutia is set for a trial with Cypriot Premier Division side AEL Lemesos, as he looks to prove himself once more in Europe. The 27-year-old Indian international is currently working as a TV analyst during Euro 2004 but
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'Forgotten' garden to get revamp
A 70-YEAR-OLD garden could be in line for a £15,000 revamp after years of neglect and vandalism left it in a "potentially dangerous" state. The sunken garden in Victoria Park, near the Park Avenue entrance, has fallen into disrepair and has been identified
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Man in court as operation goes on
A BARROWFORD man stopped by police at Manchester Airport trying to travel to Portugal for Euro 2004 has been named as Daniel Springett. The 28-year-old was stopped on Saturday and appeared at Manchester Magistrates Court on Sunday. The hearing was adjourned
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Resident trapped entering house
A MAN was left red faced after he became stuck in his front door -- and had to be rescued by firefighters. The resident, aged in his 20s, had forgotten the keys to the property in Church Street West, Radcliffe, and forced a panel of the door to enter.
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Parking scheme set to be scapped
A RESIDENTS-only parking scheme in Colne looks set to be scrapped due to a lack of support from the public. Pendle Council had originally planned to introduce the parking scheme in Dickson Street, Townley Street and Windsor Street and its Colne Committee
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25 years ago
TEENAGE discos in Hyndburn Sports Centre were banned until October after a youth was stabbed when rival gangs clashed. The move was made despite the council being urged not to penalise hundreds of well-behaved youngsters by giving into young hooligans
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50 years ago
A CAMPAIGN was launched to keep two MPs for Blackburn after the Boundary Commission announced plans to axe one. Foxes were becoming an increasing menace in Blackburn and Haslingden, prompting several organised shootings to quell the numbers -- a bus driver
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Guilty plea to killing pensioner
A 21-YEAR-0LD man has admitted the manslaughter of an 87-year-old pensioner who died two weeks after his home was burgled. Graham Holden, of Countess Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawful killing of James Allen on October 31, 2003
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Jail for man who tried to get rid of ecstasy
A MAN who tried to throw ecstasy tablets down a police cell toilet while he was being searched by officers has been jailed for two years. Michael Guittard, of William Street, Clayton-le-Moors, was arrested by police in Blackburn earlier this year after
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Carnival dads on street parade
THOUSANDS of fun-seekers enjoyed Prestwich Carnival on Sunday - despite the wet weather. Families took their dads to St Mary's Park for a Father's Day treat, where they were entertained by top tribute artists JK as Robbie, Justlike Timberlake, Elvis Williamson
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Cotterill wants fans backing
STEVE Cotterill believes the Burnley fans will give their backing to his Turf Moor revolution. The new Clarets chief has now laid out his masterplan to go into the new Championship campaign with a small squad at his disposal. Cotterill openly admits the
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Steve wipes plate clean in a fresh start
VISITORS to Darwen's Whitehall Hotel may have noticed a change to the menu recently, thanks to new head chef Steve Waters. Steve, 27, has been there less than a month but has already completely revamping the dishes, introducing food from across the globe
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Tributes to dead biker
TRIBUTES have been paid to a 27-year-old motorcycle enthusiast who died after colliding with a stationary van. Jon David Glover, of Bolton Road West, Ramsbottom, was riding his Suzuki 750cc when he crashed into the three-and-a-half ton vehicle. Jon had
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McEveley eyes Rovers return
BLACKBURN Rovers defender Jay McEveley is ready to make his long-awaited comeback after six months out with a serious knee injury. McEveley has not kicked a ball in anger since he dislocated his knee cap during a loan spell with Burnley at the beginning
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Cotterill wants fans backing
STEVE Cotterill believes the Burnley fans will give their backing to his Turf Moor revolution. The new Clarets chief has now laid out his masterplan to go into the new Championship campaign with a small squad at his disposal. Cotterill openly admits the
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Eur-OK, councillor tells England fans
A DARWEN councillor today gave his backing to under-fire England fans as he returned from a week of football fever in Portugal. Sunnyhurst ward councillor David Smith said he was wearing his Blackburn Rovers shirt with pride as he mingled with European
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Break-in: Witness appeal
POLICE in Rossendale are appealing for witnesses after a suspected thief was seen riding away from the scene of a break-in. Officers were called to Bentwood Road, Haslingden, after a factory unit was broken into and £1,000 worth of property was stolen
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Earth pals to set up a new branch
GREEN pressure group Friends of the Earth is branching out into Rossendale. The organisation has balloted its members on a move to open the separate branch. The move follows complaints from residents that there aren't any environmental campaigners in
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Final journey of tragic biker Jon
MORE than 500 mourners paid their last respects to biker Jon Glover at his funeral yesterday. It was standing room only for the packed service at Burnley Crematorium. Jon, 27, of Bolton Road West, in Ramsbottom, was riding his Suzuki 750cc in Halifax
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Residents in talks over post office shutdown
A RESIDENTS' group is to discuss the planned closure of Whitebirk Post Office at a public meeting tonight. Whitebirk and Intack Tenants and Residents' Association will be holding the meeting at Accrington Road Community Centre, Blackburn, at 6pm. The
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Kids get aboard the walking bus
SCHOOLCHILDREN and supermarket staff helped raise £240 for a road safety charity by holding a sponsored 'walking bus'. Money raised is being donated to the Huddersfield-based Brake charity, which supports bereaved families of road accident victims and
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Holiday moped hire safety alert
SAFETY campaigners today warned holidaymakers about the dangers of hiring mopeds abroad after a Blackburn woman was seriously injured in an accident. Kelly Ainsworth, 24, of Cleveleys Road, suffered serious head injuries in an accident in Malia, on the
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Conor's a little man for for all season
A MOTHER today explained how she made her son Blackburn Rovers' youngest ever season ticket holder - in memory of his dead father. Angela Molloy, 37, gave birth to Conor on April 16 2003, just months after losing her husband Kieran through heart problems
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MPs react to Blair's Euro deal
BLACKBURN MP and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the new European Constitution was "good for Britain and good for Europe'' as Tony Blair started his campaign to sell it to the British people. Mr Straw said: "We are delivering a flexible Europe," and
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A Tower of strength in crime fight
A RADICAL project where police knock on the doors of criminals and offer help has slashed burglaries, it was revealed today. The figures were released after The Tower Project, seen by some as controversial because it gives unprecedented support to prolific
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We've been cheated
SIX defectors have been branded by their former colleagues as electoral cheats, whose decision to leave the Labour Party and become independent councillors robbed people of their votes. Reporter DANNY BRIERLEY spoke to residents in Audley, Bastwell and
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More than moral issues at stake
THE message coming out of the Blackburn communities of Audley, Bastwell and Queen's Park is loud and clear. The six councillors elected on a Labour mandate have let the electorate down by their decision to jump ship and become independent councillors.
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Biker inquest opens
AN inquest was opened yesterday into the death of a 16-year-old motorcycle enthusiast in Blackpool. Steven Anderton of Sandon Street, Blackburn, was a student at Witton Park High School. He died when his motorcycle collided with a wall on the seafront
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Five in quiz after stabbing
FIVE men were due to be questioned today after a man was stabbed three times in Blackburn. Intruders are believed to have burst into the house in Whalley Road around midnight and pulled a 29-year-old man to the ground. Police investigating the incident
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Youth centre set to open
A NEW centre offering support and guidance to youths aged 13 to 19 is to be official opened in Blackburn. The hi-tech Connexions centre has a wealth of facilities for the borough's teenagers, from internet access to careers advice. Blackburn with Darwen
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Mercy service 'one of best in country'
LANCASHIRE Ambulance Service has been named one of the country's top performing services for the speed of its response to patients. New Government figures show that Lancashire Ambulance Service is one of only two services nationally which met all three
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England verdict: We can win it
THE words 'we can win it' were shouted out across East Lancashire last night as fans celebrated England's 4-2 victory over Croatia. Town centre pubs were packed, with fans arriving early to get a good vantage point for the team's final Euro 2004 group
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Stage Whispers. . .
n GET ready for a Night On The Tiles, as Oswaldtwistle Players prepare to audition for Frank Vickery's play of the same name. The auditions will be held on Monday, July 19, at 7pm, at a venue to be confirmed. Call Gayle Knight on 01254 387851 for a copy
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Murder checks at Bury house
A BURY house has been searched in connection with an investigation into a conspiracy to murder. Police declined to identify the property but confirmed that homes were also searched in other nearby towns as well as on Merseyside and Northern Ireland. The
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No sleeping during this show
YOUNG performers at Bury College won't have the audience snoozing when they put on their latest show The Pajama Game. Staged by second year performing arts students, the show takes a light-hearted look at love, life, relationship disputes and industrial
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Electrical fears after fire in soap factory
AN electrical fault is being blamed for a fire which threatened to destroy a soap factory in Ramsbottom. A man walking his dog at about 9.30pm on Friday spotted smoke in the Kays Soap Works in Kenyon Street and alerted firefighters. Crews from Bury and
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Shrews want RMI striker
SHREWSBURY Town manager Jimmy Quinn has confirmed his interest in signing Leigh RMI striker David McNiven. But Quinn added that he may have to offload a couple of players to bring in the striker, who was RMI's leading scorer last season. "At the end of
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Centre two-day closure
PADIHAM Leisure Centre will close this week to allow for the first stage of a refurbishment programme. The centre will close on Thursday and Friday while works to tackle water treatment, improve disabled access and changing facilities, update the gym
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Beat bobby targets grot spots
COMMUNITY Beat Manager PC Sue Sanderson has joined forces with residents on her beat in Stoneyholme in a bid to target local grot spots. Sue has organised a community litter pick in partnership with Asda, Burnley's Community Wardens, Sure Start, the council
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Peep behind the police scenes
A GROUP of youngsters working with the Prince's Youth Trust will take a behind-the-scenes tour of Burnley police station. The visit, organised in conjunction with Business in the Community, will take place on Thursday. Young people will see the hi-tech
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Shop blaze blamed on summer sunrise
THE stunned owner of a blaze-hit opticians has blamed the summer solstice for a fire that destroyed a shop display today. The blaze at Eye Site, in the Briercliffe Shopping Centre, broke out at about 6am as the sun's rays were directed through a magnifying
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I will beat them!
A PARTIALLY-SIGHTED 86-year-old is taking on the might of the Post Office after launching a campaign to save one of Burnley's closure-threatened branches. Former mayor Irene Cooney has organised a rota of volunteers to stand outside the Queen Victoria
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Barrass close to Gigg deal
MATTY Barrass is confident he will be a Bury player for the forthcoming season. Barrass, aged 24, the Shakers' right back has had to iron out one or two technicalities in his negotiations with the club to cement a new 12 month contract. "It's been a nightmare
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Police hunt girl's park sex attacker
A TEENAGER was indecently assaulted while taking a stroll through an East Lancashire park with two young children. The 15-year-old girl was near the duck pond in Victory Park, Barrowford, at 11.30am on Sunday with the two youngsters, when she realised
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Grand plans for old cinema site
PLANS for the redevelopment of the former Grand Cinema site in Nelson are expected to get the go-ahead next week. The proposals would see the site of the historic cinema building, which burned down in 2001, transformed into offices, shops and a new cinema
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School Olympics fires up pupils
THE Olympic torch was carried into a Barnoldswick primary school yesterday to spark off a week of sporting activities. Pupils at Coates Lane primary school held an opening ceremony for their Olympic week with children performing dances from each of the
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10 years ago
A BID to speed up the redevelopment of Blackburn Rovers' Ewood Park was kicked out by councillors. The club wanted work to take place from 7.30am till 8pm so it would be ready for the start of the season, but councillors said residents were entitled to
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Passenger's back broken in horror smash
A PASSENGER in a car involved in a "race" suffered a broken back when the vehicle slammed backwards into a tree, a court was told. Blackburn magistrates heard that the car driven by Aslam Zaka Uldin was travelling at up to 70 mph when he lost control
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Visitors get the wildlife bug
VIPs and schoolchildren converged at Castle Cement's Ribblesdale quarries near Clitheroe in celebration of the company's first 'Bug Week'. The event, to celebrate the quarry's wildlife diversity, was organised to run in conjunction with National Insect
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Work eases Devil hotspot
WORK to improve safety at a notorious accident blackspot starts next month. A stretch of the A671 Whalley Road near Read, known locally as Devil's Elbow, will be closed for two months. In the past five years, five serious accidents have been reported
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PAYTON: It could be time to drop Owen
WHEN it comes to Wayne Rooney, words now escape me. For an 18-year-old he is simply breathtaking. Awesome. World class. At last England has a real working class hero who doesn't ponce about in sarongs wearing diamond earrings. If only Michael Owen was
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Work packs real Punch
BURNLEY'S Rose and Crown pub is getting a dramatic facelift - costing more than £150,000. Punch Taverns, bosses of the Manchester Road venue, are carrying out a series of improvements with an emphasis on making it a leading 'community' pub. As part of
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Try the chicken dish, chop chop!
NIMBLE fingers will be the order of the day at several East Lancashire pubs. Brewers Fayre has challenged Western customers to prove their agility with the chopsticks - in order to sample a new menu. At Langroyd Hall, in Colne, and the Spread Eagle, in
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Cheggers plays pop the question!
ENGAGED couple Darren Foster and Sam Lilley were swept off their feet when they found out they had won GMTV's Wedding of the Year competition on Friday. TV celebrity Keith Chegwin knocked at the home of Sam's mother in Chatsworth Close, Hollins, Bury,
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Actor's words of advice to business people
A MEETING dedicated to helping entrepreneurs develop their businesses is to be held regularly in Burnley. Burnley Business Club held its last meeting, which was deemed a success, at the Inn on the Wharf on Wednesday. A 'mini market' was set up for nine
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Amir's our World Champion!
BURY Boxing Club's Amir Khan was crowned world champion after fighting his way to the world junior lightweight title in South Korea. And, the Olympic medal hope won the under-19's tournament despite injuring his hand in the early rounds of his title challenge
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Residents crack down on crime
RESIDENTS on a problem Stacksteads estate are to join forces with police to crack crime. They plan to set up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme, covering the Cutler Crescent and Cutler Lane areas, following concerns over drugs and anti-social behaviour. The
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Police say 'play on' to street soccer kids
GUIDELINES over when to stop youngsters playing football in the street have been issued to police following complaints about budding soccer stars causing a nuisance. But residents have been warned that impromptu matches won't be broken up for the sake
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Why we are more likely to die early
PEOPLE in East Lancashire are around 20 per cent more likely to die early because the area suffers from poor housing, bad diet and low wages. Newly released figures for 1998 to 2000 today lift the lid on the perils of living in East Lancashire - with
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Labour toppled from power
A COALITION of minority parties has reached agreement to take control of Blackburn with Darwen Council and oust Labour from power for the first time in 21 years. Conservative and Liberal Democrats have joined forces with a newly formed independent group
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Stanley set to sign Aussie
ACCRINGTON Stanley's hopes of signing Aussie goalkeeper Jason Petkovic now hang on a work permit. Reds manager John Coleman today revealed that Perth Glory star Petkovic has agreed in principle to join the Conference side in time for next season. However
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No sleeping during this show
YOUNG performers at Bury College won't have the audience snoozing when they put on their latest show The Pajama Game. Staged by second year performing arts students, the show takes a light-hearted look at love, life, relationship disputes and industrial
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Garden tribute to ex-councillor
YOUNGSTERS in East Bury used their "Ground Force" to help turn an eyesore into a community garden. They designed a mural for the garden -- at 90 South Cross Street, Bury -- in memory of the late councillor Connie Fitzgerald. It was opened on Saturday
