LOCAL companies with lorries stuck in the French truck blockade can claim compensation from the French government. This was revealed by Gary Titley MEP following a meeting with the European Transport Commissioner Neil Kinnock. Mr Titley, who represents
CLUB members are reminded that the next meeting of Standish Ski Club will be held on Thursday December 12 at Wigan Cricket Club, commencing at 8pm, when details of the flight times for the early season trips will be available together with the chance
I AM writing with regards to the front page article of the Citizen (November 21). If I were in the Tories' shoes I wouldn't like to see a story printed about children not being allowed to go to a Christmas party, owing to the death of their grandfather
NORTH End's impressive run of four wins in a row came to an abrupt end on the wind and rain soaked pastures of Gigg Lane. It took Bury just 13 minutes to unlock the Preston defence as Lennie Johnrose got clear of a static back four and shot beyond Bobby
CRISIS club Blackburn Hawks are calling on their supporters to dig them out of their current slump of five successive defeats. Player-coach Jim Pennycook described it as the worst period of his Hawks career - but he knows the value of the die-hard supporters
THE company which owns the Preston and Leyland Citizens is to become one of the three largest publishers of regional and local newspapers in the UK. Newsquest Media Group Ltd has been given consent to acquire Westminster Press Ltd from Pearson plc for
GHOSTS, ghouls and things that go bump in the night! They are appearing all over the region according to Sybil Lucas-Brewer, one of the founder members of the new Paranorth Ghost Club. And the members are out to prove it. Sybil and veteran ghostbuster
ONE of the six Victoria Crosses "won before breakfast" could be coming home to Bury - if a Lottery bid is successful. The Lancashire Fusiliers Museum in Bury is hoping to put in a bid for the VC won by Cpt Richard Raymond Willis during the Gallipoli landings
WE ARE writing in response to the pensioner who wrote in last week's Journal asking "Why don't the good stop the thugs?" It is suggested that we should get interested in sport. I am not interested in sport and neither are a lot of my friends. All we ask
COUNTY councillors claim services will be hit as they face cuts of £54 million from their budget to stay within government spending limits. County councillor Chris Cheetham, finance sub-committe chairman, said: "To meet the demands of more children in
A SHOPKEEPER stared death in the face for the third time when a robber held a knife to his throat and demanded cash. A year to the day since he bought his off licence on Albyn Bank Road, Avenham, grocer Poobalasingam Santhakumar was forced to hand over
A FORMER Leyland woman is making her mark in the world of embroidery - and now she's illustrated two books with her designs. Belinda Downes, 34, who attended St Mary's High School, Leyland, uses bright, colourful needlework to decorate her books. So far
OSWALDTWISTLE Civic Society is the latest organisation to oppose proposed plans for an out-of-town retail and business park on the outskirts of Blackburn and Hyndburn. The society joins local traders and Friends of the Earth to voice their concerns that
NUISANCE neighbours could be booted off council estates if they persist in pestering other residents. Blackburn Council is introducing 'get tough' measures to stamp out problems caused by a mindless minority who heap misery on law-abiding citizens by
ENJOY the bright lights of the Big Apple, shopping in Manhattan, mingle with the stars on Broadway - that's how the advertisement read. To Carol Mabberley of Bishop's Way in Penwortham, it sounded like the ideal graduation present for her 21-year-old
TRANSPORT chiefs are pleading with bus operators to make sure local people have a merry - but safe - Christmas. They say they want people to go out and have a drink to mark the festive season, without having to worry about the cost of a taxi home. And
A VACUUM cleaner and chip board box may seem like strange tools for designing aircraft, but British Aerospace worker George Seyfang used them as inspiration. George, 52, who works at the Warton site in Business Development, has won an accolade for his
THE LEADER of Lancashire County Council, Louise Ellman, said she estimated council taxes could rise between eight and ten per cent following the Budget. In my view this is a direct consequence of the reckless and irresponsible policies of Michael Heseltine
MOTORISTS prosecuted for driving without due care and attention could escape conviction - if they go back to school! Lancashire Police are launching a new scheme offering offenders the chance to take up a one-and-a-half day course for £100. The aim is
REGARDING the remarks of C A Bakewell calling for the clearing of the names of soldiers of the 1914-18 war, who were charged with cowardice and desertion in the face of the enemy, I can find no excuse against this charge. Every man had to watch his friend's
NO apologies were made and no-one was named at the emotionally charged meeting of Preston Council to discuss the long-awaited report on Operation Angel. The auditor's report concentrated on land deals made by Preston Borough Council in the 1980s which
GOVERNMENT inspectors have given Bury's Elton High School top marks in a newly-published report. A team from Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, described Elton as "a good school in which many pupils make good progress." The report, published
TONY PARKES takes his rejuvenated Rovers to Premiership new boys Leicester City on Saturday warning his players there are no easy games in the top flight. The cunning Foxes have been the surprise package of the Premiership and Tuesday night's 2-0 win
ON the day a former patient of Whittingham Hospital begins an indefinite term in Broadmoor for kidnapping and attempted murder, Trust bosses have vowed to stop it happening again. Douglas Byelong, 56, and his wife Julie, 26, were both patients at the
SNORING may well be an irritating habit but it can also be a sign of something far more serious. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) has only been identified in the last ten years and can mean poor health, severe sleepiness and lack of concentration. Bury's
HERO or villain is the question being asked in Bury in the wake of Chancellor Kenneth Clarke's latest Budget - the last before the General Election. Reaction in the borough was predictably mixed. Although MPs and business chiefs gave broad acceptance
COACH operator Ellen Smith Tours of Rossendale received a big surprise from TV star Tom O'Connor. The comedian was host at the national Coach Industry Awards when the company came runner-up in the "Marketing Campaign of the Year" category. Its campaign
FORMER pupils of Whitefield School in Nelson are having a reunion for people who left there in 1951 and 1952. The get-together is planned for February 28 at Nelson Cricket Club, and everyone will be very welcome. Organisers want to trace as many people
PENSIONERS Dennis and Nora Myles had a day to forget when vandals set their car on fire just hours after they had been to funeral. The day of mourning ended on a sour note when the Brierfield couple left a social evening to find the vehicle missing, towed
A PLAN to build a mini shopping centre in North Valley Road, Colne, could be on the cards even though Pendle's economic experts are less than thrilled by the idea. Halfords, Great Mills and McDonalds are three of the household names involved, as are a
EMERGENCY teams were put on stand-by early today when a gas leak was reported in Clitheroe. Police and ambulance crews were informed of the incident in Hawthorne Place, Clitheroe at around 2am. A spokesman for North West Gas said: "We received a number
GOLDEN SHOT Winston Sarsfield broke Lock Lane's heart. The Leigh Miners goalkicker was in prime form as Miners reinforced their position at the top of the National Conference with a gritty 21-16 triumph. Lane battered the home side in the opening quarter
SPEEDING tickets and a smash-hit six haul of medals! That was the story for Atherton SC. Members split on a heavy weekend, one group heading for Broughton and the Manchester United Salford Potential Olympian Gala, the second venturing to Rochdale for
LONG-TERM injury victims Paul Warhurst and Ian Pearce could be back in action before Blackburn Rovers find a new manager! That's how it looks at the moment, as the search for a successor to Ray Harford gets ready to rumble on into a seventh week. And
ANTHONY TAYLOR has clinched The Italian Job. The Hindsford FC hotshot is bound for Juventus - having already had a sweet taste of soccer's high life. The nine-year-old sparkled in the Old Trafford cauldron on Saturday when, in front of a packed crowd
THE bid by the Hotties Science and Arts Centre Ltd. for £8.4 million funding towards the cost of the £13.7 million World of Glass museum for the town, has passed its most important first hurdle. The Hotties Board has heard from the Heritage Lottery Funds
THE village which gave us the historic railway trials and the last steam train has scooped another unique achievement by having the first parish council to be awarded the Charter Mark. Rainhill Parish Council is also one of the smaller organisations to
LADY Pilkington joined David Pilkington, the mayor and mayoress and other guests at the official opening of a new NSPCC centre. THE special appeal launched to mark the 100th anniversary of the NSPCC in St Helens came to a joyous conclusion with the opening
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD UNLEASH the bloodhounds and dig out the magnifying glasses! For the trusty amateur sleuths who tune into this ancient page have been set a clue-finding challenge. And we have to turn back the pages of local history two centuries to
METROLINK has announced its Christmas timetable - and while there is extra help for shoppers, there will be no late trams for New Year's Eve revellers. There will be no service on Christmas Day, but there will be double vehicles on Thursday and Friday
PRESTWICH Cricket, Tennis and Bowling Club has hit the money jackpot - thanks to the National Lottery. The organisation has received a grant of £76,250 in the latest round of awards announced from the Lottery Sports Fund. The grant will go towards costs
A REWARD of £1,000 has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a gang who robbed 70-year-old Burnley twins after subjecting them to a terrifying ordeal. Up to five men wearing stocking masks burst into a house in Ormerod Road
I THOUGHT I was long past the stage where anything surprised me. That's one of the benefits - perhaps the only one - of being sixty-plus and extremely cynical. However, something I read the other day left me gobsmacked. Perhaps I'm not as 'socially aware
LEIGH Business leader Gordon Jackson has called for security cameras to be installed all over the centre of Leigh. And he is calling on Leigh MP Lawrence Cunliffe to support the Business Partnership's demand for increases in police manpower. Mr Jackson
A NIGHTMARE Budget has left Bury Council leaders facing even worse cuts than they feared. And, as finance chiefs sifted through detailed figures this week, early indications were that services would be axed to the tune of £13.3 million, while council
TALENTED musician Clare Duckworth is striking up the band as leader of the National Youth Orchestra. The 17-year-old violinist, a pupil at Bury Grammar School, has been a member of the NYO for three years. It was during her annual re-audition that she
STAR Trek fans will soon be going where many have already gone before - the Warner Bros cinema at Pilsworth, Bury. The popular picture house complex is the venue for a charity premiere being held by the British Red Cross. The event, to be held on Friday
A SCHOOL'S finance officer - sacked for alleged gross misconduct - was "inadequately supported and ineffectively managed" it was alleged. The claim was made on behalf of Angela Higham at an Industrial Tribunal at which she brought an unfair dismissal
LYNN Lowey, the woman accused of murdering St Helens businessman Ian Whalley, has died of cancer. She was cremated on Tuesday, December 2. Lowey (40) was accused of poisoning 56-year-old Mr Whalley in January of this year by sprinkling crushed tranquilisers
SHOP boss Harry Smallshaw has put up a 'substantial' reward to recover £3,000 of designer clothes stolen by early morning raiders. Metal shutters protecting ESB Motorcylces in Queen Street, Leigh, were ripped off and a window smashed before the raiders
SNOOKER wizard Wayne Brown has captured another title. Wayne, won the Qudos Pro-Am tournament at Preston with a great last-black victory over Leeds' Craig Butler. Earlier St Helens professional Wayne had beaten Preston's Ian McCullough in the quarter-final
A CARING fund-raiser from Parr has gone above and beyond the call of duty to raise money for the Children In Need appeal. Mike Flaherty raised a total of £400 for the charity on a sponsored cycle but had a lucky escape in the process when he was in collision
Food News by Deborah Yewdall CHILDREN, staff and parents from an East Lancashire school have been eating their way around the world - in the name of research. And now youngsters from Belthorn Primary School are getting ready to put their hard work into
PUPILS from two church schools met the Archbishop of York on Friday. Dr David Hope visited Leigh and Atherton in a whistle-stop tour of the Manchester Diocese. And his first call - accompanied by the Bishop of Bolton, Rt Rev David Bonsor - was at Hesketh
THATTO Heath and Woolston will contest the Burtonwood Brewery Lancashire Cup final for the third time in five years,at Prescot Panthers this Sunday (2.30pm). The sides have each won the Burtonwood Brewery Lancashire Cup three times with Woolston aiming
MRS Margaret Henley has been appointed chairman of St Helens & Knowsley Community Health Trust. A JP and currently senior deputy chairman of St Helens Magistrates, Mrs Henley succeeds Mrs Diane Charnock. "I am delighted to have been given the opportunity
YOUNG men from Lancashire are more likely to have a car crash than anyone else in the country, a survey suggests. The poll reveals that male under-34s from the county are guilty of an average of more than 70 driving blunders a week - making them much
A LITTLE girl's shining eyes said all there is to say about the magic of Christmas when she helped to turn on the festive lights in Burnley Centre. Seven-year-old Samantha Trundle became Santa's little helper for the special occasion. The night was bitterly
I am writing in response to Johnathan Wood's letter in last week's Citizen on behalf of the Nuffield Theatre at Lancaster University. I would be grateful for the opportunity to clear up a misunderstanding regarding the accessible toilets in the Nuffield
WORKERS were forced to evacuate the Evertaut furniture manufacturers on Anyon Street, Darwen, when a fire started in a compressor. Darwen firefighters and an incident support unit were called. The blaze, which smoke logged the building, was caused by
"Why do I bother at all?" Presumably the ignorant and prejudiced writer of the letter in last week's paper ('Name supplied', Citizen 21/11) works so he or she can enjoy a reasonable standard of living. Benefits today hardly cover existence. I have been
A RURAL youth project in the Ribble Valley is hoping to get cash to help Duke of Edinburgh students, through the Internet. If the Youth and Community team secure the funding they need for a pilot project, the Ribble Valley will have one of the first super
HUNDREDS of people are still losing out on what they thought were genuine opportunities to work from home. Staff at the Office of Fair Trading and trading standards officers say bogus homeworking schemes are a major source of complaint, despite warnings
FAMILIES and the young homeless in Lancaster and Morecambe will be the defenceless victims of last week's Budget according to local housing chiefs. Cllr Ian Barker says proposals to build 75 new homes in the district will be halved as a result of Chancellor
DRIVERS facing conviction could shortly be offered a second chance with lessons from the police to improve their behaviour on the road. Now instead of being prosecuted for driving without due care and attention, some drivers will be given the chance to
CHILDREN could soon be thrown out of school unless they show a money-off voucher at the door. Under a new government scheme, parents of four-year-olds can buy their child a year's education using vouchers before compulsory schooling starts at five. Despite
Bromsgrove 2 Morecambe 3 LOWLY Hayes, currently propping up the GM Vauxhall Conference table, must be dreading their visit to Christie Park on Saturday. The Shrimps have lost just once in 14 league games, go second in the Conference if they win their
Seven years for Morecambe man A MORECAMBE man who battered his friend to death with a rolling pin during a drinking binge has been jailed for seven years. Russel Hartley smashed the left side of Ronnie Carradus's skull to pieces with an old-fashioned
WISHING upon a star has made a dream come true for one little Cleveleys girl this Christmas. Emily has Baton's disease, but thanks to When You Wish Upon A Star, the dream-making charity for sick children, she will be flown to Lapland for a super holiday
SHAKERS goalkeeper Dean Kiely expects a hot reception from the Bristol Rovers fans at the Memorial Ground tomorrow but isn't worried in the least. When the two sides met at Gigg Lane five weeks ago a certain section of the Pirates travelling support took
THE CHIEF executive of Blackburn-based public company Scapa has been recognised as one of the country's top managers. David Dunn has been made a Companion of the Institute of Management, the most senior and prestigious grade of membership. He said he
YOUNG "greenies" on the Fylde are invited to enter an exciting competition run by British Telecom. The competition entitled the BT Young Naturalist of the Year Awards 1997 is in it's fourth year and is being organised by the Young People's Trust for the
GIGG Lane was alive to the sound of closing suitcases this week as two more players packed the bags and headed for pastures new in loan deal. Shaun Reid and Stuart Bimson are the latest members of the sizeable Shakers squad to ply their trade away from
I liked the 'Christmas Story' page why don't you carry on the story of Jesus (or through the Gospels) during the year? Lots of people don't know it - why stop at Christmas? Mrs Fawcett, Carnforth. Thanks - but we have a deal with the local churches. They
FOR the first time in the club's history Radclife Boro have topped the Unibond First Division and they did it on style with their four-goal rout of Droyslden. This left the Boro players eagerly anticipating Lincoln's result - their title rivals had started
My name is Jemma Packham, I am 13 and I was the lucky winner of your football boots competition in September. I would really like to thank you loads, I couldn't believe it when my mum told me you had phoned to say I had won. They arrived from Reebok yesterday
A LANCASTER man who coshed a teenage girl over the head with a heavy stone concealed inside a sock has been jailed for 14 years. Stephen Barlow attacked 13-year-old schoolgirl Emma Crane as she walked home from a friend's home in Lancaster on March 31
LABOUR has accused the Tories of a dirty tricks campaign in Blackpool in the approach to the general election. Conservatives are trying to deceive local news media by ghost-writing letters on behalf of Tory supporters in the resort, claims Labour. With
Bury 1, Plymouth 0 PLYMOUTH' S persecuted Pilgrims received a severe verbal handbagging from boss Neil Warnock who reckoned they'd 'defended like women'. The voluable and passionate Warnock has never been one to skirt such issues but his outburst seemed
I agree entirely with the letter in last week's Citizen regarding the distraught poor woman. No doubt she will now find a more concealed corner to end her life since many can't help but remember her poor sad face. I said a prayer for her and I hope many
IF all you Fylde folk fancy following in the footsteps of Spiderman - now's your chance! The Imperial Cancer Research Fund - which is dedicated to the understanding, prevention and cure of all cancers - is holding a sponsored abseil and is inviting all
THE RSM/Spax/PCS stage rally championship will all be decided by 6pm on Sunday as the two final rounds take place over the weekend. After leading the series for most of the season, the team of Nigel Bunney and Andrew Leach are now second by just a couple
AFTER cheating certain death Snowy the greyhound is now hoping for a happy ending to his "tail" of pain, suffering and neglect. Imprisoned in a cold shed and left to die among the carcasses of four dead dogs, Snowy was in a pitiful and emaciated state
A HIGH speed cross-country bus route could provide the answer to rush hour snarl-ups. Getting to work on time could be taken for granted by commuters if ideas of an ex-rail route busway between Leigh and Manchester get off the ground. Atherton Cllr Joe
DRAMATIC improvements are going on in the Bispham amateur acting scene - and it's all down to one lady. Jennifer Smethurst turned her back on her job with a high street bank to take up a career in the dramatic arts. Now she has been a top Fylde drama
STAFF at Hyndburn Council will have to keep taking nice pills if they are to avoid facing a rap for bullying. That's because the local authority is training a group of staff, including management, to counsel victims of bullying as part of a new policy
REDEVELOPMENT plans for Westleigh Park will transform it into a major attraction for local residents of all ages. The park, which at present has none of the usual play facilities - and is mainly used as a dog exercising area - will be redeveloped in two
GOOD conjurors work by sleight of hand. You are so busy watching what disappears from one hand that you miss it reappearing in the other. In the Budget, the government said it was cutting income tax. But the next day, the money reappeared again when it
FORGET the bone, studded collar and doggie chocs, what your pooch really wants for Christmas is a new outfit. And it won't be Gucci, Armani and Yves Saint Laurent - there's a new designer label which is the ultimate in canine chic. Petcentrics, in Accrington
A DIRECTOR of a Tyldesley financial services company has been sent to prison for two years at Bolton Crown Court. Diane Howarth, 35, of Dee Road, Astley, pleaded guilty to five charges of theft involving a total of £46,000 and to five charges of false
A BLACK bus driver, who accused her employers of race discrimination and unfair dismissal, has been awarded £18,591 at an industrial tribunal. The award, which included £1,000 for injury to feelings, followed a lengthy legal battle by Cynthia Reid. Mrs
PEOPLE in Preston could receive an unexpected phone call next week from someone wanting to know their views on the redevelopment of local hospitals. Health watchdog, the Community Health Council (CHC), has had to resort to a telephone poll as members
SCHOOL governors have backed down over a decision to keep a young girl - who suffers from a rare peanut allergy - out of class because they could not give her life-saving drugs. The U-turn comes just two weeks after governors at St Bartholemews Primary
STARTLED players were forced to break up a footballing fracas after their teammate was allegedly punched in the face - by the referee! The Lancashire Football Association are to hold an inquiry after reports that match official Russell Daley lashed out
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a woman was left shaken in a town centre struggle with youngsters who tried to snatch her bag. On Monday (December 2), just after 6pm, two boys approached the 24-year-old as she walked on Lune Street. They tried
HYNDBURN councillors could be set to join other East Lancashire councils in a protest about cuts in the level of central government support for local services. The motion, put forward by council leader George Slynn, is to be discussed on Thursday at the
A CROWD of hundreds thronged Preston's Flag Market to witness the town's most spectacular Christmas Lights Switch-on ever. They were treated to an amazing laser show which lit up the sky and scribbled dancing patterns across nearby buildings. Wolf, from
CRIME prevention entered a new era on Wednesday as work got under way on installing closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in Leigh and Wigan. Engineers started putting up the poles on which the high-tech cameras will be mounted and it's hoped the whole
SPEEDY Lancashire U13s squad member Edward Keany extended his season's try tally with his second double hat-trick in recent weeks, scoring 30 points in Preston Grasshoppers' 54-0 defeat of Vale of Lune. All three Hoppers junior teams playing at the weekend
OOH, the bare-faced cheek of it! The Conservative Party has had the audacity to ask loyal Labour man and Council cash supremo Cllr Brian Strett for a sub! Lowton Socialist Cllr Strett wears his colours proudly - even down to having the registration number
Schoolboy football in Blackburn is 100 years old and a book has been produced to celebrate that milestone. Peter White took a trip down Memory Lane QUESTION: What's the link between Blackburn Rovers' 1928 FA Cup final captain Harry Healless, former Burnley
EX-MINERS who claim they contracted "vibratory white finger" from using hand-held power tools have fought off a renewed attempt by British Coal to block their damages claims at the first hurdle. Three Court of Appeal judges rejected BC's challenge to
A MAN who died after an horrific beating in Lancaster on Sunday night has left a grieving wife and two children behind. Allan Curtis and friend Andrew Parker were set upon in a violent attack on Mainway in Skerton, sparking a massive murder hunt across
INQUISITIVE Fylde folk are being asked to turn detective for game giant Waddingtons. The task is to help Cluedo bosses at Waddingtons who are attempting to unravel their toughest mystery yet ... where is the family of the world-famous game's inventor?
TWO brothers have taken over as licensees of the pub they used to work at as chefs. Jason and Simon Whittle are now managers at The Rose and Crown, Much Hoole, near Preston and they have promised to bring back all the regulars' favourite dishes Converted
THE following is an open letter sent to Lancaster City Council and the Citizen. We write as representatives of several local groups who are concerned about the effect that the proposals contained in the draft local plan will have on the district. We are
PRESTON Grasshoppers RFC have fixed admission charges for their all-ticket fifth round Pilkington Cup tie against Northampton on December 21 at: ground £6; unreserved seating £8; Leeming stand £10. The club is now accepting postal applications from season
FORMER Lancaster City captain Martin Eatough will not be applying for the vacant manager's job at the Giant Axe club despite being linked with the post by outgoing boss Alan Tinsley. The Great Harwood Town supremo said he thought long and hard about returning
FURIOUS Fylde hauliers fear the brakes will be slammed on their businesses after a bludgeoning Budget pushed up the price of diesel fuel. Area manager of the Road Haulage Association Limited, Chris Fylan, believes this could be the end of the road for
TRAFFIC on the M6 could face diversions this weekend if weather permits the removal of a footbridge between junctions 33 (Hampson Green) and 34 (Caton Road). Both carriages are due to close between 9pm on Friday and 6am on Saturday but if the weather
CATERING king Nick Thompson has quite a vision for the future of Blackpool. For the Pleasure Beach heir hopes to turn Ocean Boulevard into a street of first-rate restaurants to cater for the many tastes of the town's funseekers. At 28, Nick is the youngest
A HISTORIC building in Preston is now the home of an exciting new bar which has opened bringing 60 new jobs to the area. The Varsity, on Church Street, is a grade two listed building which has been fully refurbished thanks to a £2 million investment by
A ROAD riddled with pot-holes caused major problems after heavy rain caused them to overflow and flood into an adjacent school's boilerhouse. Four inches of water swamped Spring Hill School on Exchange Street, Accrington, and teachers told the Citizen
THE SOURCE of a mysterious water leak which has turned back yards of homes in Walmsley Street, Darwen, into an accident blackspot could be a forgotten stream. Pensioner, Mary Bromley's family used to own an allotment where St James' Estate is now on Walmsley
THE company which owns The Journal is to become one of the three largest publishers of regional and local newspapers in the UK. Newsquest Media Group Ltd has been given consent to acquire Westminster Press Ltd from Pearson plc for £305 million. The consent
POVERTY, war and family crises in the 17th century were brought to life by two teachers when they donned the dress of the era for a history lecture. Irene Lizzie Jones came as a peasant and told of the struggles and problems of a housewife, and Neil Howlett
Bad behaviour in the classroom from youngsters of all ages is the subject of much heated public debate. But just how well do our education and welfare systems deal with these problems? Or are children falling through the safety net because there simply
COUNCIL Tax payers could find themselves forking out £1 a week extra - and getting less in return. Paying more for reduced services is the price Council leaders fear will have to be paid for the Chancellor's budget income tax cuts. They shook their heads
A HEADMASTER called for an end to acrimony at a racial equality council which was making it "a joke" in the eyes of the public. John Barker said Burnley and Pendle REC should move on from the constant arguments and allegations of bogus groups infiltrating
SCHOOL children are spending an amazing £20 every week on lottery scratch cards, a worried councillor claims. A survey carried out by watchdogs OFLOT reveals 16 per cent of all children under16 buy scratch cards regularly, with 24 per cent stealing from
POLICE have launched a poster campaign in their bid to trap the murderer of Preston student Janet Murgatroyd. Ten people caught on camera the night law student Janet was killed have still not come forward. Police believe any of them could prove to be
PENNIES from Heaven are raining down on the members of Anchorsholme Methodist Church, thanks to the hard work of its spirited congregation and supporting community. For the past year, church members have held all kinds of events in the hope of raising
60s SUPERGROUP The Animals are all set to send a capacity crowd wild with a concert at Preston North End's football ground. Their whistle-stop visit to Deepdale comes after they teamed together with PNE players to record their own version of the band's
TEN schools from around South Ribble are taking part in the Wagon Wheels National Cup the country's biggest and best indoor five-a-side football competition for boys and girls under 12. On January 7, ten boys teams will play each other at Leyland St Mary's
BLACKBURN Police launched their Christmas crime crackdown this week hoping it will be the most successful ever. Within two hours of launching Operation Mistletoe two people were arrested for shoplifting offences. And Crime prevention officer Sergeant
A STINGING attack by a Tory minister on Lancashire Social Services came just days after the same department won two top government awards. Environment Secretary John Gummer accused the county's social services of inefficiency in the same week it's own
IF in doubt, keep them out - that's the message to householders worried about visits from unwanted callers. Preston Police have launched a plan of action, The Doorstep Challenge, to give residents protection against bogus callers. This follows a series
I AM sure most Citizen readers will have been pleased the government has abolished most handguns from being used in sport. However they may not be aware there is one so called sport which has been exempted from the legislation. Foxhunters are still going
A WOMAN whose life was devasted by a drink driver talked about her experience at the launch of Lancashire's drink drive campaign in Preston. Life became a nightmare for Denise Cowburn on Christmas morning nine years ago when her grandfather was killed
I WOULD like to thank the person who kindly handed in my bus pass to the Accrington Transport Office. I was greatly relieved not to have to undergo the hassle of replacing it. Mary Clark, Jubilee Street, Oswaldtwistle. Converted for the new archive on
A SCHOOL caretaker expelled from a Bury gun club has been fined £500 by magistrates after a teacher uncovered ammunition and shotgun cartridges in a storeroom. At Rochdale Magistrates Court on Wednesday Paul Fell (36) of Littleborough admitted three charges
WHAT a very thoughtful 'Thought For The Week' in The Journal recently. However, I am outraged at the implications contained in it. If the person who wrote it was in any way knowledgeable about the security arrangements and inspections by the police, which
HOPPERS used their first friendly fixture of the season to allow five or six squad members the opportunity to stake their claim to a place in the side for the attractive Pilkington Cup tie against Northampton on December 21. Vale took an early lead with
IT was very much a case of the late, late show as Preston North End, in their white shirts, produced an avalanche of attacks on the Gillingham goal, only to come up against one of the most resilient defences in the division. It seemed that whichever way
A WOMAN was brutally murdered, stripped and then dumped in a boating lake by a stranger with "an urge to kill", a judge heard. And as her naked body floated away, 23-year-old Stephen Roe, high on a cocktail of drink and drugs, laughed as he stood at the
HEALTH chiefs have played down statistics which reveal that meningitis infection has soared by nearly 40 per cent in East Lancashire this year. Official figures reveal 43 Burnley and Blackburn area cases of the killer strain meningoccal meningitis - the
WARRIORS U14s started brightly against St Cuthberts with tries for Michael Smith and Daniel Wright, one of which was converted by Ian Schofield, but a string of handling errors consigned the home team to long periods of defence and the final score was
BURY Council has been condemned by the Local Government watchdog for the way it handled a row over places being offered at Tottington High School. Ombudsman Mrs Patricia Thomas this week published her report which said the council - and the school - were
ONE of Clitheroe's best known and best loved citizens has been awarded the highest of civic honours for a lifetime of devotion and dedication to the town. Miss Dorothy Rushton has been made an Honorary Burgess, the top accolade which the town council
MARTIN Eatough will not be applying for the vacant manager's job at his former club Lancaster City - despite being linked with the post by outgoing boss Alan Tinsley. The Great Harwood supremo said he thought long and hard about returning to the Dolly
ONE in every 12 women in Britain will develop breast cancer, that's 32,000 women in total each year and almost half of them will die. It's the depressing reality of a devastating disease, but it can be stopped - if it's caught early enough. And the best
PARENTS are to be asked to chip in with ideas on how to raise £90,000 towards the cost of building a new village school. Governors and staff at St Thomas' Primary School, Barrowford, have been told the school will have to find 15 per cent of the £850,000
BURY'S trade will suffer a damaging 25 per cent downturn when shoppers flock to the new out-of-town complex at Dumplington. That is the alarming forecast of a retail expert who will examine the impact on Bury and other nearby towns on a special BBC TV
HEALTH watchdogs fighting for their futures today received a major boost in their battle for survival. Community Health Councils (CHCs), the eyes and ears of patients for more than 20 years, have been campaigning against proposals which would leave them
RADCLIFFE Town Hall is to be given away in a last-ditch gamble to save the landmark building. Council chiefs have agreed to sell the 85-year-old building for just £1 so that it can be used to provide accommodation for the homeless. But the deal is dependent
A RUMPUS broke out in Blackburn council chamber as an asbestos protester tried to deliver a "Christmas present." Protester Tom Howard, accompanied by a man in a Father Christmas outfit, tried to empty a bag of polystyrene over council leader Frank Higham
THE North West came bottom of the league in the annual battle for more NHS cash. Health Secretary William Waldegrave signalled that the North West Regional Health Authority was to receive £1,439.6 million is 1992/3, a percentage rise of 8.2 per cent.
BURNLEY'S MP is asking people to get writing in support of a bid for National Lottery cash by the borough's Council for Voluntary Service. Peter Pike wants folk to boost the CVS's chance of success by sending letters to the MIllennium Commission. The
JIM Pennycook today boomed out a message of defiance: "We'll get it right." Ice-cool Pennycook, player-coach at trouble-torn Blackburn Hawks, is refusing to buckle under suggestions that his side just aren't up to the rigours of the Northern Premier League
WATERLOO RU have given up their bid to sign Leigh's Tongan international centre Jimmy Veikoso. The Courage League Division Two side had been keen on a permanent deal after Veikoso had impressed in a series of trials. But any hopes of a deal have fallen
LEIGH RMI are celebrating at the double after a weekend of success on and off the field. They closed the gap at the top of the UniBond First Division with a 1-0 derby win over Atherton LR. And then found they had been named UniBond First Division 'Club
MAURICE McCARTHY is stepping down. For three years he has been an Inter-League manager for the Leigh & District Amateur Football League. Now the league is on the lookout for a new man. If you are interested write to secretary Steve Speakman at 62
IT'S A SOMEWHAT surreal picture, we admit, but the image of Lancashire's first-lady, Chief Constable Pauline Clare, belting a load of strippers out of the boxing ring is a knock-out nonetheless. For, suddenly, the force's portable ring has been declared
TELEVISION teams will be in the Ribble Valley tomorrow, to prepare for the filming of a Songs of Praise programme in the New Year. Producer of the Sunday evening BBC programme Norman Ivison will be meeting as many local clergymen as possible to get a
LEIGH RU kept their heads to beat higher-ranked Oldershaw 13-7. And it was all down to team commitment and superb tackling. They forged ahead with two penalties from Mark Hudspith, keeping command despite losing out in the line-outs. Then Jim Bridge outpaced
POLICE chiefs have banned strip-tease girls from the force's boxing ring at sportsmen's dinners. The canvas arena is owned by Lancashire Constabulary's boxing club and the exotic dancers have used it as a stage...until now. News of the ban was given to
TWO top Russian industrialists completed a fact-finding visit to the UK with a tour of the facilities provided by St Helens-based Inchcape Testing Services Environmental Laboratories. Dmitry Renne, chairman and chief executive of Geningconsult, an engineering
JOLLY Alan Chisnall has so much Christmas spirit that he could be mistaken for Santa Claus himself - but he's still waiting for a chance to don the famous red cloak and white beard. Since the first week in November the pensioner's bungalow has been a
WORK has started on strengthening Mill Lane bridge in Newton. The essential work involves demolition and beam replacement operations and will result on road closures as follows: 10pm, Friday, December 6, to Monday, December 9 (weekend); 10pm, Saturday
ROSSENDALE and Darwen MP Janet Anderson is helping to drive a purge on under-age boozing through Parliament. She is one of the sponsors of an all-party move to outlaw under-18s consuming alcohol in public. The private members bill is being moved by Tory
PRESCOT School is celebrating for the third time this year following an excellent OFSTED inspection report. Staff at the school, which has already benefited from new buildings and has experienced its best exam results, are delighted with the latest OFSTED
HAT-TRICK hero Lee Berrisford led Tyldesley RU to a super 37-23 win against a spirited Broughton. The visitors, playing a tight game and boasting possibly the largest front row seen at Well Street this season, began well and went clear with a try from
A LIBERAL Democrat councillor has accused St Helens Council of putting "the final nail into the coffin" of a Sutton children's playground. Gerrards Lane Adventure Playground was closed in October, 1994 and since then, the Liberal Democrats say it has
LEIGH are preparing for the Brave New World of Summer Rugby League. The second Summer Season is still a full three months into the distance. It gets underway in March - but Leigh, like every club in the 13-a-side code, is aware that this time they will
COUNCIL Tax rises next year could hit double figures as St Helens again loses out in the Government's Budget stakes. The council needs to find £3 million to balance the books despite recent news that the Government estimated that it was under-funding
BEDDING and cabinet furniture maker Silentnight is negotiating to buy a rival company for around £5 million. Colne-based Silentnight wants to buy Meredew Cabinets, near Barnsley, from its parent company the Spring Ram Corporation. The East Lancashire
MORE than 70 guests from local business, industry and commerce attended St Helens Chamber's Budget Breakfast last Thursday at Stakis St Helens Hotel. A comprehensive presentation gave budget changes and an overview of how it will affect businesses in
CHRISTMAS and the New Year will soon be on us and we will all eat, drink and make merry. I hate to think what 1997 will bring. In 1996 our once-so-proud country had the Dunblane massacre, 368 murders, 11,478 break-ins, 341 drug related deaths, 6,992 cars
A RADCLIFFE hill walker was taken to hospital semi-conscious and suffering from hypothermia after being caught in a blizzard. Donna Ward, aged 30, was with a party of friends on Great Hill on the Bolton moors when Sunday's snowstorm struck. The alarm
THE poorest people in the country are being made to pay for the Government's crackdown on fraud, according to a Blackburn councillor. Jack Bury has criticised the Conservatives for phasing out extra payments made to single parents living on income support
LOCAL charities and voluntary groups are invited to apply for the latest round of Lottery cash for good causes. The new grants, launched this week, are under two themes: new opportunities and choices and voluntary sector development. The first set will
EVERY day is a feast day for pigeons in Burnley, say pest control officers. Town centre streets are almost paved with food, attracting flocks of flying guests from near and far. It all amounts to a "feral peril" with the birds spreading disease, such
TOM Turner was tipped out of his wheelchair and left unconscious by attackers. The incident happened after Tom had visited the Botanical Gardens Club on Tyldesley Road, Atherton. And this week, in a letter to The Journal, his wife, Lillian asks: "Why
FORGET Richard Branson and Anita Roddick, two Bury Grammar School pupils have the future in their hands. Claire Taylor (17) and Hannah Townley (16) have been chosen to visit China and Hong Kong as "business and social leaders of the future". The girls
A HOMELESS project has appointed a researcher to help people without a roof over their heads. Lynda Davies started work on Monday. Her research could be a lifeline to the 1,000 single people in Wigan Borough who have been homeless. Lynda is based at Arley
PUPILS were kept under guard by staff for more than half an hour after armed post office raiders dumped their getaway car near Westleigh High School, Leigh. Head teacher Stephen Preston ordered everyone to stay indoors while he and senior staff, patrolled
A FORMER principal boy from pantomime has been appointed the new general manager of Blackpool's Grand Theatre. Stephanie Sirr will replace Danny Moar, who is leaving to become director of the Royal Theatre in Bath. Stephanie, 31, will take up her position
A TEAM of divers from St Helens got more than they bargained for on an expedition in the Forth of Clyde when they uncovered the remains of the only fatality of a shipwreck which happened more than 90 years ago. The seven members of the Northern Union
ALL dressed up and nowhere to go - that was TV star Jenny Powell in Blackpool on Sunday December 1), 24 hours late for the town's Christmas lights switch-on. The dizzy dish of Wheel of Fortune fame is set to star in pantomime at the Grand Theatre this
EUROPEAN kings Saints are set to leave Knowsley Road after playing there for more than 100 years - but for one game only! For the Super League and Challenge Cup winners have switched their home fixture against Castleford Tigers on Sunday, April 27, to
FERAL peril in Burnley is causing real problems. And now the council's pests experts wants to enlist the public's help to cut down the number of pigeons in town. Feral pigeons have few natural predators and have now developed into large flocks congregating
ST HELENS pupils are achieving higher than ever exam grades. The Government's league tales show a dramatic rise in the number of our pupils achieving five A-C GCSEs - an overall eight per cent increase since 1993. Chair of Education, Councillor Marlene
FARMERS who care about the countryside should get cash help to encourage them to look after bird life, according to Pendle's MP. Gordon Prentice (pictured) says the Government is not doing enough to reverse declining bird populations. He wants an aid
WITHIN a few weeks we all could be part of a massive genetic experiment as, by Christmas, 60 per cent of our food could contain genetically-manipulated ingredients. When this year's soya harvest arrives from the USA, it will be contaminated with genetically-engineered
FUND-RAISING by a group of friends will help families who may be at risk from cancer. The Christie Hospital's Burnley and Pendle supporters handed over £11,000 for a clinic dealing mainly with genetic breast cancer. The cash will be used to screen women
MORECAMBE'S Christie Park will boast a brand new, £300,000 cantilever stand at the start of next season as the club continues to plan for promotion to the Football League. Officials at the club unveiled the plans this week. The new, covered stand at the
A VILLAGE headteacher who was investigated following an alleged incident involving classroom discipline has been allowed to return to school by governors. Philip McDermott went on paid leave of absence after the half term holiday following an allegation
BURNLEY go into Saturday's second-round FA Cup tie at Walsall on the crest of a wave. Unbeaten for six games and defeated only once in their last 11, the Clarets have put themselves into a strong league position, just three points and four places behind
Neil Bramwell Speaks Out THE rosy redness of some rose-tinted spectacles is blinding. My cornflakes weren't so much spluttered as vomited on reading some of this morning's headlines from Vienna. 'Eric Idol' and 'How Captain Cantona conquered Vienna' were
VIOLENT crime and burglaries in Lancashire are on the increase, according to the latest police figures. The worrying statistics were released by the Lancashire Police Authority along with the police service performance indicators. The figures are compiled
JOHN Major presented a gold medal this week to chiefs of a service for people with learning disabilities. It is the second time it has won the government's prestigious Charter Mark award. The Burnley NHS Trust unit is one of only a handful of winners
BURNLEY'S board have handed Adrian Heath some early Christmas cheer with the message 'Carry on spending'. But the Clarets boss will only dip into the Turf Moor vault if the right player becomes available. An extensive scouting network is continually highlighting
HOUSEHOLDERS face a hike of around eight per cent in council tax charges in the wake of last week's Budget. Exactly how much it will go up is not certain, but even the most conservative estimates put the lowest-banded properties in both Burnley and Pendle
KIND-HEARTED aunt Julie Clark has stepped into Santa's shoes to bring some Christmas joy to her ailing nephew. Julie, along with her boss at Legends on Bolton Street, Blackpool, have arranged a special fund-raising day so they can buy festive gifts for
BURY boxing sensation Ady Lewis will be hoping to take a major step nearer a British title eliminator when he fights for the vacant Central Area Flyweight crown at Tara Sports and Leisure Centre, Shaw this Sunday. Standing in his way is the experienced
Lancaster City 4 Worksop Town 2 THINGS may not be at their best behind the scenes at managerless Lancaster City at the moment but team spirit is ensuring that's not the case on the pitch. The Blues are unbeaten in the three games since Alan Tinsley resigned
