Archive
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MEP's comments were so typical
THE letter last Friday from MEP Gary Titley was absolutely typical of the way in which the overpaid members of this superfluous layer of bureaucracy are searching desperately for ways of convincing us that the European Union is a good thing. I have no
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Daughter's record costs mother £200
A MOTHER from Radcliffe has been fined £200 and ordered to pay £185 costs to Bury Council after her daughter skipped school. Jacqueline Murray, of Coleridge Avenue, was prosecuted at Bury Magistrates' Court last Thursday in a case pursued by the council's
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No violence in the home - MP
A ZERO-TOLERANCE approach to domestic violence should be adopted, according to Bury South MP Ivan Lewis. The Education Minister is backing police in their drive to increase awareness and reduce under-reporting of the crime. The issue of domestic violence
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Big cash boost for local soccer
A £50,000 boost to take football to all sections of the community has been presented in Bury. The money, from the Football Foundation, will employ a borough-wide football development officer to co-ordinate activities over the next three years. The foundation
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Court cuts sentence in drug appeal
A MAN who was jailed for 14 years for his part in a multi-million pound drugs scam has had his sentenced reduced at the Court of Appeal. Christian Wolfendale (36), of Cross Lane, Radcliffe, had admitted two offences of conspiracy to supply class A drugs
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Judge rejects call to cut sex attacker's sentence
A PERVERT jailed for molesting a disabled teenager has failed in an Appeal Court bid to cut his five-year jail sentence. Terence Minshull (53), of Chapelfield, Radcliffe, was imprisoned for five years at Warrington Crown Court in September after he pleaded
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ROVERS RES 2
MAN UNITED RES 2 Young striker gives boss Hughes a gentle reminder DEADLY duo Paul Gallagher and Jemal Johnson threw caution to the wind to give Rovers reserves a point at Morecambe last night. Both strikers tamed the gale-force conditions to find the
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Extension for special powers
SPECIAL police powers to crack down on teen yobs committing anti-social behaviour in Burnley have proved so successful that officers are to continue using them until early next year. A Dispersal Zone in the Trinity area of the town, launched last month
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Pub's boss took £11,000
A FED-up pub boss who helped himself to more than £11,000 from two safes, intending to head off for a new life, has walked free from court. Burnley Crown Court heard how depressed Paul Widdup, 35, then general manager at the Fence Gate Inn, Fence, had
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Grave concern
HEADSTONES in cemeteries across the Lancaster and Morecambe district are to be checked for 'safety'. City council officials will launch a programme of safety testing in Torrisholme Cemetery next week. Grave stones that are found to be unstable may be
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Squatter farmer holds all the aces
A SQUATTER who for more than 20 years quietly grazed his cattle on a 13-acre plot of prime development land could be sitting on a multi-million-pound goldmine after an Appeal Court ruling. David Townley has, since the early 1980s, not paid a penny for
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Knife attack lover gets nine years
A MAN who repeatedly stabbed his gay lover after suspecting him of being unfaithful has been jailed for nine years. James Bronson knifed his boyfriend 13 times after going out earlier to check up on Giann Vialli. When the pair were back at the flat he
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Prentice attacks Blair on QT
LEFT-WING East Lancashire MP Gordon Prentice was slapped down angrily by Tony Blair yesterday when he asked if there had been a single act of renewal in the 10 years he had been Labour leader. During a televised Prime Minister's question time in the House
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Family's new life wouldn't be spoiled by a U-boat!
THE intrepid Salt family of Blackburn set sail for a new life in America -- and not even a German U-boat was going to stop them! For just weeks before this picture was taken in 1914, Sarah Salt and her children had survived a torpedo attack in the Atlantic
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Odeon's last film as new sport centre era begins
TWELVE thousand local people were laid off work due to industrial unrest in January, 1974, while at the Nelson Imp you might have seen the Four Most, the Merseybeats or the Swinging Blue Jeans. The new Wimpy Bar was opened in Burnley across from Hall
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Councillors call for an end to dentist crisis
LEADING councillors will tonight call on the area's health bosses to take urgent action to solve Pendle's dental crisis. Five elected members from across the borough have signed a motion asking for an urgent meeting with Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale
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Sit-com
COUNCILLORS are caught up in a "childish" row over who sits where in the council chamber. Pendle Council is considering selling off council houses, working on a £12million revamp of run-down areas and says it has been swindled by the Government to the
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Make your view known on play area
RESIDENTS are being asked to have their say on plans for a new games area in a Hyndburn Park. News that funding for the multi-use games area for Mercer Park had been obtained was revealed last night at a meeting of the Clayton and Altham Area Council.
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Ambassadors mark centenary
TWIN town French Ambassador Anne Louvigny is trading places with Clare Littler as Britain and France celebrate the 100th anniversary of 1904's landmark Entente Cordiale. For the past 15 years, the Leigh area has been twinned with the French city of Angers
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Widow's robber is jailed
A MAN who burgled the home of a 77-year-old widow and then robbed her in the street after she went for help has been jailed for more than nine years. Stewart Smith, of Accrington, forced his way into his victim's Rawtenstall home with a "cock and bull
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Company is top of the class for learning
CABINET Minister and Makerfield MP Ian McCartney will be at Hindley Green fibre glass manufacturer PPG Industries on Friday. Mr McCartney will help celebrate the learning achievements of the company, its workers and members of the local community. PPG
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Motorist cleared of killing
A YOUNG motorist whose speeding car went out of control and struck a pedestrian causing fatal injuries has been cleared of causing death by dangerous driving. But Adam Isherwood was was convicted of driving without due care and attention by a jury at
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Town remembers Lynda Lee-Potter
NEWSPAPER columnist Lynda Lee-Potter, who died last week of a brain tumour, ruffled the feathers of many in her home town of Leigh -- as well as the glamourazzi. She was born Lynda Higginson in Leigh on May 2, 1935, where her father, Norman, was a painter
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Crash girl, 18, loses fight for life
AN 18-YEAR-OLD GIRL has died after being hit by a police van answering a 999 call. Laura Melvin was hit by the van on Saturday night as it travelled along Bury New Road, Prestwich. Laura, of Marston Close, Whitefield, was taken to the North Manchester
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Child porn: Teacher jailed
A FORMER teacher at a top Lancashire public school has been jailed for six months for downloading child internet porn. Christopher Score was trapped by a police operation called Shutdown, linked to an FBI investigation called Ore, which targeted forms
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Pupils in dream Peru trip
PUPILS from Bury Grammar School donned their hiking gear to take part in a once-in-a-lifetime trip to southern Peru. The 14 girls spent a month during the summer exploring the sights of the ancient country as part of a World Challenge Expedition. Students
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Gallagher looks for chance
PAUL Gallagher today revealed his determination not to be a 'one-season wonder'. The 20-year-old Scot has found himself frozen out of the first team picture after bursting onto the scene in style last season. An injury in pre-season has prevented him
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Healy heading to Leeds
Preston have finally agreed a fee with Leeds over the transfer of striker David Healy. The transfer saga, which has seen North End reject three bids, now finally looks set to end with Healy in Leeds today to discuss personal terms. Chairman Derek Shaw
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Luke joins swimming elite
RADCLIFFE Swimming Club's Luke Van Bentum has joined an elite band who have been awarded a 100 mile "swimfit"certificate. To receive the award, eight-year-old Luke had to complete 100 miles in training at Radcliffe Baths, which he did it in just over
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Craft fair
A CRAFT fair is being held from 10am to 3pm on Saturday at the Independent Methodist Church, Argyle Street, Hindley. Admission is free.
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Super head at Westminster
SUPER head Iain Hulland has been given a double Commons congratulation for winning one of the profession's top awards. After the 55-year-old won the Promethean Award for Headteacher of the Year at the 2004 National Teaching Awards, his local MP Janet
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Drama on high seas
KATHY Lewis will relate tales of "High Cs on the High Seas" at Lowton WI's next meeting, at 7.15pm on Wednesday, November 3, in the Barwell Room at Golborne High School. Non members are welcome.
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Music society's Sunday concert
LEIGH Music Society is holding a Sunday afternoon concert which starts at 2.15pm on November 7 and features flautist Daniel Chandler and pianist Kevin Thraves. Admission at the door is £6, children £2.
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Umpire is a big hit at Probus club
CRICKET umpire Tom Wilson gave a humorous talk on his sporting life to Tyldesley Probus Club. He started in the Northern League at the age of 17, progressing to the minor counties and in 1968. He became a first-class umpire in 1976, officiating in county
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MP's cash plea to pensioners
PENSIONERS are being urged not to miss out on credits they are entitled to. Leigh MP Andy Burnham said: "Gone are the days of 40-page application forms and the intrusive weekly means tests. Instead, we have made applying straightforward, less intrusive
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Charity appeals for help
ANIMAL-loving customers at a Golborne store are being asked to support their pet charity. Asda is running its Pet Week until Sunday in support of Pet Search, a charity run by volunteers which was established more than 10 years ago to care for abandoned
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Singer makes a date for Valentine's Day show
SINGING sensation David Kidd will return to Leigh Miners next year following his sell-out show at the club where he was first spotted. Concert secretary Tommy Higgins and his artiste wife, Betty Taylor, discovered the 33-year-old Leigh vocalist when he
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Helen gives a good account of herself
HELEN Jackson has accountancy in her blood. The business development partner at independent chartered accountants Jackson Stephen, in Bradshawgate, Leigh, has been cited as one of the top 10 young accountants -- and the only one in the North-west under
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No bonus for wardens
COUNCILS in East Lancashire have turned down a proposal for cash bonuses for parking wardens who minimise the number of incorrect parking tickets being issued. The proposal is one of several, under new national guidelines overseen by the British Parking
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Sorry girls, I'm working!
A FIRE crew was "ambushed" by women revellers who mistook them for a team of hunky nightclub promotional workers. Now brigade bosses have issued a safety warning amid fears that girls with a soft spot for men in uniform could cause an accident. The incident
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On-the-spot fines for all litter louts
PEOPLE caught dropping litter in Blackburn and Darwen face £50 on-the-spot fines from this week. Blackburn with Darwen Council has agreed new by-laws so officers can issue fixed penalty notices to people who refuse to pick up their rubbish. Ultimately
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Let's hope break means we skittle Leigh
The Paul Mullin column THE Lancashire lads reigned supreme at ten-pin bowling this week. I have to admit I was only a spectator because it's not really my game, but myself and Ged Brannan had fun on the sidelines watching the action unfold. There was
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Ten-man Toffees sink Preston
LEE Carsley saw red on a foul night at Goodison - but not before he'd effectively killed off Preston's Carling Cup dream. The former Blackburn Rovers midfielder curled a 51th minute free-kick from the edge of North End's penalty area around their wall
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Pupils in dream Peru trip
PUPILS from Bury Grammar School donned their hiking gear to take part in a once-in-a-lifetime trip to southern Peru. The 14 girls spent a month during the summer exploring the sights of the ancient country as part of a World Challenge Expedition. Students
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Stop this stupid petty bickering
COUNCILLORS in Pendle will tonight become the latest members of an East Lancashire local authority to seem hell bent on behaving in a way which confirms the worst fears of a cynical public. This year we have seen six Blackburn councillors leave the Labour
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Police parking ticket ludicrous
WITH reference to the booking of police cars by traffic wardens (LET, October 23), I find the comment by a council spokesman that "wardens would book illegally parked police cars as they did not know when they were actually on duty" totally ludicrous.
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Star and venue made it a great night out
ONCE again at a sell-out show last Tuesday night, Daniel O'Donnell lit up the stage at King George's Hall, Blackburn, with his own inimitable style from ballads and country to rock and roll, magnificently supported by Mary Duff. Reluctantly, at the end
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Bush is asking too much
I HAVE just read in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph that there is talk of sending troops of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment back to Iraq to "fill the hole" left by the Americans. The British army, made up of proud historic regiments, is only a small
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Petition against post office closure
A 1,600-signature petition calling on the Post Office to rethink its closure plans is being presented to Parliament on Thursday. Leigh MP Andy Burnham will tell the Commons that the threatened closures will leave thousands of people more than a mile from
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Two men face trial
TWO men are to face trial accused of stealing fuel from a Ramsbottom quarry site. Andrew Dootson (44), of Alder Avenue, Bury, and Alan Holt (35), of Holme Avenue, Bury, denied a charge of stealing diesel worth £100, belonging to Marshalls, of Ramsbottom
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Scheme is really handy
ELDERLY and vulnerable residents who are afraid of being overcharged by cowboy builders can take advantage of a new scheme in Bury. The Anchor Trust has a handyperson scheme - Anchor Staying Put which can make small repairs to homes for the cost of the
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Family searach hits dead end
AFTER seven years compiling a family tree, Julian Dixon is itching to extend his search. Mr Dixon (33), from Chelmsford, Essex, is hoping Radcliffe Times readers can come to the rescue as he has reached a standstill with his family family in Radcliffe
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£350 fo mum of truant pupil
A DAUGHTER'S poor attendance and lateness at school has cost a Radcliffe mother £350. Parent Lyndsey Enion, of Bright Street, failed to appear before Bury magistrates on Thursday but was fined £200 and ordered to pay £150 costs to Bury Council. The court
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Bury South MP's £117,000 expenses are below average
RADCLIFFE MP Ivan Lewis claimed below-average expenses for doing his job, according to new figures. The Labour education minister received £117,517 in allowances for 2003/04, putting him in 363rd place of the country's 659 MPs. The national average was
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Oh, my Gord!
A DISTRAUGHT victim has lost £25,000 after falling for a Europe-wide Lottery scam which convinced him he had won a fortune. The 25-year-old Blackburn man took out bank loans, ran up credit card bills and used up savings after being told to send off taxation
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Car park to shut for £21m centre
A BURNLEY town centre multi-storey car park will close on Monday so work can start on a new £21 million health and leisure centre. St Peter's car park will shut before demolition work starts on the concrete stack on Wednesday. Today council bosses moved
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Town remembers Lynda Lee-Potter
NEWSPAPER columnist Lynda Lee-Potter, who died last week of a brain tumour, ruffled the feathers of many in her home town of Leigh -- as well as the glamourazzi. She was born Lynda Higginson in Leigh on May 2, 1935, where her father, Norman, was a painter
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A hall lotta love
THE legend of Casanova has been brought to life in Towneley Hall's historic surroundings for a new BBC costume drama. And councillors are hoping the move will help boost tourism at the town's landmark building. Film crews and actors descended on the Burnley
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Natalia stirs up Haffner
THE Haffner Orchestra has a new conductor - a woman and Venezualan. One player has called rehearsals with Natalia Luis-Bassa (pictured) 'electric', while another says her commitment to music is complete, though she is good humoured and funny. And the
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Get your act together
LOCAL people who reckon they have a talent for acting and a desire to get themselves on screen are being offered a unique opportunity next week. An Acting for Film and Television training course is coming to the Royal Kings Arms Hotel, Lancaster, for
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Something to smile about
MORE and more people are getting access to NHS dental care in and around Morecambe Bay. That's the official line from the area's Primary Care Trust as it recruits more dentists. Dental access centres have been able to provide an extra 3,000 treatments
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Permits promise cockle control
THE man in charge of fishing in Morecambe Bay believes a new permit scheme will prevent more cockling deaths. Dr Jim Andrews, chief executive of the North Western and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee, hopes his new scheme will bring better regulation
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Party tribute to death crash girl
THE family and friends of a teenager killed at one of the town's notorious accident blackspots are to celebrate her 16th birthday with a party in her memory. Natalie Danielle Pickwick Jones died after a collision with a car in Bolton Road, Radcliffe,
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Little angels in retinue of May Queen
THE May Queen and her retinue pose for the camera outside St Alban's RC Church, Blackburn. The year is 1942 and this group of seven-year-olds from St Alban's mixed infants, had been chosen to take part in the annual May procession. This photograph of
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50 years ago:
A BLACKBURN prisoner made a daring break for freedom, but was recaptured hours later. The 39-year-old man fled Parkhurst Prison in the Isle of Wight while with an outside working party six miles from the prison walls. The "trusted prisoner" was serving
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10 years ago:
A Roman Catholic college was criticised after withdrawing its pupils from a national immunisation programme on moral grounds. Stonyhurst College pulled out of the measles and rubella vaccination after it was revealed the vaccine was developed using an
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25 years ago:
AN East Lancashire sanctuary for battered women closed after women were accused of treating it like a hotel. The home operated for four years as the last hope for more than 200 mothers and 400 children who fled from violent husbands. But boss Dorothy
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New plans for an old building Ballroom set for redevelopment
PLANS to turn one of Accrington's oldest buildings into a restaurant, offices and apartments were approved last night. North West developers Axicon Ltd applied to Hyndburn Council for permission to develop the former Conservative Club, Canon Street, which
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Friends mourn Leigh's 'Silver Fox'
THE funeral took place on Monday of flamboyant Leigh businessmen, Jimmy Wilcock, aged 57. Always smartly dressed, Jimmy was a real man-about-town involved in the world of clubs and pubs. His funeral was attended by many and one of the mourners, former
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Hotel's sports village booking
A TOP hotel chain has joined the growing band of commercial and leisure companies wanting outlets at the Leigh Sports Village. The project team learned last week that one of the country's major hotel chains has given a commitment to build a 100-room hotel
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Tributes paid to former mayor
A FORMER mayor who dedicated a major part of his life to public service has died after a long fight against prostate cancer. Tributes have been paid to former Atherton Councillor and honorary Alderman "Fiery" Jack Sumner, aged 85, who died on Sunday.
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Mum collapses with shock after fire rescue drama
TWO friends dragged a teenager from a blazing house as they returned from a christening. Mike Prince and Chris Ridsdale braved the heat and choking smoke to drag the 17-year-old from the kitchen of his Golborne home after a chip pan caught fire. The drama
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Family's pain over tribute
THE family of a rugby fan who died suddenly are upset over the fate of permanent tributes to him when Leigh Centurions move to a new ground. And while the family of 31-year-old Paul Bent have been involved in a five-year dispute with the club to correct
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Decisions from Wigan and Leigh Magistrates' Court
Elicia Barker, aged 30, Heather Grove, Leigh. Theft of spirits and packed meats from Asda. Drug Treatment and Testing Order for 12 months, costs £20. David John Pek, aged 20, St Ambrose Road, Astley. No insurance, failure to stop after accident, failure
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Town led the way on curbing nuisance
FROM little acorns do great oaks grow. I don't want to sound too extravagant, but one of the many satisfying things about getting into government is that you can then do the things you said, that the little germs of an idea dreamt up in opposition can
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Wind farm threat to town - Pike
THE Government must act to stop Burnley being surrounded by wind farms, the town's MP Peter Pike has warned a Minister. He said he supported renewable energy sources such as wind farms but added that the single such development on the moors above Burnley
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Clarets make midfield signing
BURNLEY today signed West Bromwich Albion midfielder James O'Connor on a one-month loan. The 25-year-old midfielder will join the squad to travel to play Queen's Park Rangers this weekend. Former Republic of Ireland Under 21 International, O'Connor joined
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SPUR US ON
BURNLEY will bid for another Premiership scalp after being paired with Tottenham Hotspur in the Carling Cup fourth round. The Clarets reward for dumping Aston Villa out of the competition is another home tie against Jacques Santini's side - the second
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No fears for gallant Boro
ALTHOUGH he may be down to 13 fit players for the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying round tie at Hereford United on Saturday, Kevin Glendon will be telling his Boro players to play without fear. "What have we to lose?" he said. "I only have a 16-strong squad to
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Pledge to traders on centre
TRADERS on Darwen's three-day market have urged those in charge of plans to alter the town centre to "show their faces" instead of hiding behind lots of questionnaires. Two consultations have been carried out to allow residents to put their views on proposals
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Car fire
A FORD Escort car was abandoned and set alight in the early hours of Monday in Selwyn Street, Leigh. The blaze destroyed the car and damaged garden gates and fencing.
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Group hears tales about farming life
FARMING experiences will be highlighted by Ian Addison, who will address Leigh Literary Society at 7.30pm on Monday in the Derby Room at Leigh Turnpike Centre. Admission for non members is £1.50. Society membership costs £13 per year. Refreshments will
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Life on the liners
CRUISE ship singer Kathleen Lewis returned to Culcheth WI to tell more tales of her glamorous life aboard the liners. Mrs Lewis recalled the times after she left the P and O line and began working for Royal Viking visiting Japan, Pitcairn and Easter island
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Charity pleads for help
CHILDREN'S charity Barnardo's is urging people to give their time to help the nation's most disadvantaged children. Saturday is Make a Difference Day, organised by Community service Volunteers and is the country's biggest day of hands-on volunteering.
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Joyce is best woman for the job
WIGAN Council has appointed a woman as chief executive for the first time. Yorkshire woman Joyce Redfearn takes over from Steve Jones, who retires next May. Wakefield-born Mrs Redfearn will become the council's fifth chief executive since the metropolitan
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'Gay vows' town in the pink
BLACKBURN has become the gay "wedding" capital of Lancashire -- and same-sex ceremonies are boosting the local economy. Around 15 couples have so far taken part in the commitment ceremonies -- which carry no legal weight -- since they were introduced
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£30k purge to eliminate yobs
A PURGE was today launched on anti-social behaviour in Blackburn and Darwen after the borough was made a pilot area for a government crackdown. The council is one of 50 in the country, which also include Burnley, to be given £30,000 from the Home Office
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Oh, my Gord!
A DISTRAUGHT victim has lost £25,000 after falling for a Europe-wide Lottery scam which convinced him he had won a fortune. The 25-year-old Blackburn man took out bank loans, ran up credit card bills and used up savings after being told to send off taxation
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Turnaround is complete
A STRUGGLING primary school which faced possible closure after being blasted by inspectors has completed an amazing turnaround with a glowing Ofsted report. St James' CE Primary, Brindle, was placed in special measures after it was described as giving
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'I have to do what is best for club'
ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman believes the imminent departure of Lutel James is the best solution for the striker and the club. James, who has been with the club since the summer of 2001, agreed to go on the transfer list after failing to force
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Aspinall blossoms
in Red Rose race Clayton Harrier in driving seat for the title MARK Aspinall is half way towards a successful defence of his two titles in the Red Rose Cross Country League. The Clayton Harrier was the winning senior in the Sunday meeting at Wilson Playing
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Everton prove too strong to handle
Preston were unable to secure a cup upset as they went down 2-0 to Evertn at Goodison Park. Lee Carsley fired the Blues ahead just after the break but he went from hero to villain on 68 minutes, when he was red carded after a clash with Eric Skora. Preston
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Actress gets big screen chance to stop violence
AN actress from Bury is to feature on the big screen - and help stop domestic violence. Joanne Venet (40), of Chapeltown Road, Outwood, will play a woman who is abused by her partner in Wishful Thinking by Salford writer Simon Powell, The film is to be
