THIS week the Citizen invites its young readers to try their hand at being a local reporter. We want youngsters to write stories which will be published in your priceless weekly newspaper. The articles can be about anything that interests young people
A SUMMER of fun for Blackpool children brought praise from grateful parents. Blackpool Council's seven summer playschemes were so popular that nearly 900 youngsters had registered in the first week of the school holidays. A report to this week's tourism
THE entire full-time teaching staff at Lancaster's flagship Adult College could face the chop in the latest wave of cost cutting measures. Negotiations among college governors this week recommended that three teaching posts and two part-time management
SPEEDING motorists in Lancaster and Morecambe are the first in the county to be targeted by hi-tech speed cameras. Mobile camera and radar units - the first in the North West - were out at various spots across North Lancashire from yesterday. The units
LANCASTER'S MP Hilton Dawson has made a 'boob' which put him on page three of a national newspaper. Hilton jokingly told a survey that he had never heard of the Spice Girls and featured in a Sun story as one of six MPs who were unaware of the all girl
BLACKPOOL mayor and staunch football fan Fred Jackson still hopes to cheer on his team at a brand new £100m superstadium at Whyndyke Farm. The mayor spoke out as stalemate between the club and developers continued - though the developers put in plans
RUGBY-MAD Euro MP Terry Wynn was chairman of his dream team for just three days. The Leigh-based, Wigan RL fan was still dreaming of leading the Warriors out at Wembley after being asked to lead a Central Park syndicate. But it all became pie-in-the sky
A TYLDESLEY farmer has blamed bonfire local youngsters for causing the deaths of three of his prize cows. And what may have started as a prank, has left Jim Patrick of Garrett Hall Farm with a bill for £1,600. Mr. Patrick, who complains he has long been
POLICE investigating a string of bizarre animal slaughters have warned pet owners to be on guard against "a very sick person or gang." The owners of three pet rabbits woke on Saturday morning to find the bodies of their pets dumped in the garden of their
AFTER more than four years in a war zone, two East Lancashire men have returned to their safe havens in Hyndburn. Geoffrey Rawcliffe, of Shakespeare Avenue, Great Harwood and James Randles, of Hermitage Street, Rishton, have spent the last four years
A LEIGH man who smashed a pint glass in the face of a workmate during his firm's Christmas party was sent to prison for three years. Steven Law, 24, of Moresley Close, Leigh, had denied intentionally wounding Darren Rushton at the party, held at Wigan
EAST Lancashire Tory MP Nigel Evans ended a visit on board the Royal Yacht Britannia by urging the Government to ensure it is replaced. The Ribble Valley politician said he has detected a growing cross-party feeling in favour of such a move in the Commons
THUGS and troublemakers in Tyldesley pubs face a drinks ban over Christmas and New Year. The town's concerned Pubwatch members have banded together to impose the festive threat on trouble makers. From now, anyone causing problems will automatically find
A CHEEKY crook was taken by surprise when he tried to rob a wine shop. For when he demanded money after threatening to shoot Mandy Calland, 32, he didn't reckon on the sudden appearance of Mandy's dad Doug, 64, carrying a two-foot long stick. The stand-off
ROY Hodgson has been forced to rule both Colin Hendry and Martin Dahlin out of his plans for Saturday's big Premiership battle with Chelsea at Ewood. The Blackburn Rovers boss revealed today that neither player had any chance of making the squad for the
EVERYONE'S claiming victory after the Xanadu by-election battle in Hope Carr Ward. But it's Labour's Mark Hale who'll be taking his seat on Wigan Council with a 400 vote majority after a four-way fight which hinged on a one-issue debate: the proposed
STALLHOLDERS in Leigh Market are fuming over what they see as the "couldn't care less attitude' of market bosses who are leaving them open to attack and theft - despite paying a massive £800,000 a year in rents. But Wigan Council say they are aware of
TIME after time I hear the same comments regarding the situation of those living near to Xanadu - "I can understand the fears of local residents but the pluses outweigh the minuses," and "I sympathise with locals who live near to the site but this is
COLLEGE courses are helping people with mental health problems get back on track. The Bridging the Gap programme offers flexible courses including crafts, yoga, cookery and swimming, with no questions asked if you skip the odd class when you're not feeling
I WOULD like to raise a number of points in relation to articles in last week's Journal (Nov 6, 1997). Firstly, I would like to strengthen Mr Baybutt's claim that the snow making machine intended for Xanadu will not create vast amounts of pollution. However
I RECENTLY wrote to you about Adult Education problems in Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley. I had also written to Ms Murdin, Principal of Wigan and Leigh College. In her reply to me and in a statement she made to the Press on the subject, she implied that
HUNDREDS of people packed into Preston Flag Market and at Leyland's Memorial on Sunday (Nov 9) to remember those who died for our country. The old veterans of two world wars past and the many conflicts since, marched through the streets in proud but humble
A LEADING member of Blackburn Groundwork has defended the Prime Minister's son in a Remembrance Day "casual clothes" row saying: "He was wearing our T-shirt." The Prime Minister apologised after his children were criticised for wearing T-shirts in Whitehall
WATCH out Naomi, move over Cindy and make way Claudia, for up-and-coming catwalk stars could soon be filling your shoes. Fashion students at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston, will be showing off their clothing creations in a fund-raising
THE new M65 extension looks likely to open before the year's out. A Department of Transport spokesman said: "Unless we have non-stop snow, the extension will be opened in the first or second week of December. I would like to say for certain that it will
ROY HODGSON will have his fingers crossed this weekend hoping his star players return from international duty unscathed as Rovers prepare for the most crucial period of the season. Rovers take on championship rivals Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal
A HEROIC bobby has spoken of his hour-long ordeal urging a suicidal man not to jump from a multi-storey car park. Sergeant Nigel Ralphson discovered the 22-year-old man sitting 80-feet high with his legs dangling dangerously over the edge of Preston's
ASIAN teenagers across East Lancashire are being targeted in a propaganda war launched today against the menace of drugs. The message uses the Islamic law to hammer over the anti-drug message and has the backing of religious leaders. The Shari'Ah, part
COUNCILLORS are voting this afternoon (Nov 13) whether to approve a scheme restricting access to a car park in Frenchwood, Preston. The £4,500 project is aimed at preventing travellers from camping on the recreation ground next to Esplanade. The plans
HERBS and spices from all over the world were shipped in for an ancient ritual in Preston Parish Church on Saturday (November 8). The hallowing of the bells had all the qualities of a pagan festival with men in black robes, huge artefacts lined down the
IT was a far better performance by Preston North End on Saturday (Nov 8) as they paraded new striker Tony Lormor from Chesterfield alongside Lee Ashcroft and both players ended up on the scoresheet. Preston started brightly and could have been two up
A COUNCIL will investigate new recycling schemes for cans and clothing but members have been warned that some have been too successful. Rossendale environmental health chief David Taylor told councillors that the North of England was now saturated with
MORE than £1 million is coming to the borough tackle an impending winter crisis in local hospitals. And a third of the extra government cash is earmarked for "bed blocking", giving 40 elderly people a proper home rather than being stuck needlessly in
COUNCILLORS, town hall officials and police met the public this week to discuss the problems on Radcliffe's Bolton Road estate. A special meeting called onm Monday, November 10, by the estate's Tenants and Residents Association let them raise their concerns
TINY tots from Bolton-by-Bowland Primary School went back in time to the era of Charles Dickens for the annual Children in Need appeal. They wore Victorian costumes and ate lunch, Oliver Twist style, to raise cash for the charity. But instead of poor
HUNDREDS of people packed Bury Parish Church on Monday to pay their final respects to "a highly respected man of God and the people". Those words, probably more than any others, fittingly summed up the life and work of Canon J. R. Smith, whose death last
CRIME-BUSTING techniques pioneered in Burnley are to be copied across the UK. The system involves targeting known criminals, watching their activities and encouraging them to stay within the law by giving help with housing, employment and problems such
NEW tuition fees for students are set to start the political pot boiling tonight (Thursday). The £1,000 fee has been branded a poll-tax for students by Pendle Councillor Tony Greaves. He and Liberal colleagues will call for the plan to be scrapped and
ACCRINGTON's Shokat Ali bowed out of the Liverpool Victoria UK championship at Preston Guild Hall. Ali, the 27-year-old world No 59, was beaten 9-6 by Grimsby's Dean Reynolds in a match which almost broke a world record. It lasted 542 minutes, the second
REGARDING the case of the lady who won £2,000 at bingo and was upset because she was paid in cash (Your Rights, LET, November 15), if she had no bank account she would have had more hassle getting a cheque changed into cash. Surely, her first thought
THE decision by Home Secretary Jack Straw today that Moors murderess Myra Hindley will end her days behind bars is not only right because it is totally in tune with public opinion. It is also - as near as the law can fulfil - in tune with justice and
LEIGH ATHLETIC swept away a young and enterprising Tarleton team, winning 5-3. The Ricks, Scott and Wilson, gave Athletic the early advantage, and, with Steve Kidd outstanding in midfield, they continued to dominate. Bryan Edwards then provided the cross
THE distressed family of meningitis victim Sammy Forrest spoke today of their horror at the speed at which the bubbly three-year-old was struck down by the killer bug. Sammy, who has meningococcal septicaemia, is critically ill and on a ventilator in
ATHERTON LR comfortably disposed of NWCL Division One bottom club Darwen with a 4-1 home win. Former Ramsbottom United and Leigh RMI defender Mick Charlton made his LR debut, as did another midweek signing from RMI, Gary Jones. Both players slotted in
LIBERAL Democrat councillors John Beirne, Kath Brown and Joyce Taylor have cautiously welcomed news that Hays Chemicals want to refurbish their site in Sutton rather than extend it. It follows an earlier appeal by Councillor Beirne for St Helens Council
BURNLEY Council is to pay £5,000 compensation to a contractor after calling off a proposed housing repair scheme. Work should have started on October 13, with residents contributing to the cost, but it was called off after all but three house owners dropped
LEIGH RMI must be just about fed up of facing derby rivals Radcliffe Boro. The double act faced each other for a third time in Saturday's FA Trophy second qualifying round - and, for the third time this season, the match ended in stalemate. Happily, in
ST HELENS Council is calling for a national registration scheme to be set up on body piercing and to deal with any unscrupulous operators. There is currently no specific law or licensing scheme which controls body piercing, but because of its increased
LEIGH MR showed discipline and steel to turn over champions West Hull 21-16. And they began in a big hurry. Scrum-half Mike Devine scooped up a loose ball and raced down the field to dive in between the sticks, giving Winston Sarsfield the easiest of
A TRAVELLING circus which has been based at Haydock Park Racecourse in St Helens for the last week has strongly denied allegations that they mistreat their animals. A group of protesters from Haydock and the surrounding area have been targetting the Bobby
A PENSIONER who served his country as a submariner during the second world war was given the chance to relive his past thanks to the detective work of a historian. Great-grandfather Tommy York, aged 80, now lives in Borron Road, Earlestown, near St Helens
BURY'S modern shopping facilities are the bees knees for disabled customers. New figures released by the Bury Shopmobility organisation reveal that demands for the charity's services are at an all time high with 492 disabled people enjoying shopping trips
CHILDREN could be saved from serious injury if speed limits outside schools were cut. So says local MP David Chaytor, who has backed a parliamentary motion calling for the limit to be brought down from 30mph to 20mph. Mr Chaytor said the motion he had
HULA Hoops, Cabbage Patch Dolls, Buzz Lightyear dolls, Cyberpets and now: Teletubbies. All these toys have been the craze of all crazes, but now it's the turn of the cuddly fluffy creatures with cathode ray tubes for guts and a limited grasp of spoken
A SECOND drink-driving offence cost a retired college lecturer a three-year driving ban and fines and costs totalling £1480. Philip Schofield, 53, of Brierfield Drive, Bury, was found guilty by Rossendale magistrates of driving with excess alcohol and
AN elderly man has died following a fire at his home in Crocketts Way, Eccleston. The fire was reported at 10.30pm on Friday, Nov 7 and caused severe damage to the living room although the cause is not yet known. Seventy year old Harold Scarisbrick, was
AFTER a busy day dispensing justice on the bench of Bury Magistrates Court, Mr Norman Garnett can relax - by driving his sheep over London Bridge! Not that Mr Garnett has any sheep. But today he will be made a Freeman of the City of London, giving him
A TEAM of detectives working as part of 'Operation Care' are investigating numerous allegations of historical child abuse that are believed to have taken place from about 1970 in care establishments across Merseyside. To ensure that the enquiry is thorough
A SHOPPING precinct will not be refurbished until new tenants have been found. Local MP Ivan Lewis has expressed his disappointment at the news about the Longfield precinct in Prestwich. But he is pleased to have been invited to meet the owners of the
COUNCILLORS have chosen the most expensive of three schemes for a new swimming pool in Bacup. The £1.5 million design by Salford-based HBG Higgs and Hill Northern Ltd was the favourite of all the pools suggested as a replacement for the crumbling Bacup
BURY'S Euro MP Michael Hindley has won his battle for free speech. He is claiming victory after fellow MEPs voted overwhelmingly to lift threats of his suspension for speaking his mind. Mr Hindley represents Lancashire South, which includes the Bury North
POLICE have seized stolen booze and property worth £95,000 in a raid at a warehouse. About 8,400 bottles of whisky, vodka and other spirits worth £55,000 were recovered during a search of the building on Moorfield Industrial Estate, Altham. Officers from
A PRIEST was banned from driving for six months after failing to take a roadside breath test and later failing to give a specimen of breath for analysis. Fr Thomas Gagie, 44, of St Gabriel's, Higher Fold, Leigh was banned by Leigh Magistrates and fined
A STRETCH of the M57 motorway near the Prescot turn-off was closed to traffic for almost 24 hours after an accident in which a man was killed. The accident happened at 7.10pm on Thursday, November 6 when the man walked across three lanes of the unlit
A COUPLE managed to get themselves and their four children to safety after a fire was deliberately started at their Clock Face home. The couple, who sleep downstairs, were awoken at 3am on Wednesday, November 5 by the sound of liquid being splashed around
THE Children of Chernobyl Orphanage Appeal has had a remarkable response to its ongoing shoebox appeal. More than 2,000 boxes full of items such as toothpaste, soap, crayons, soft toys, socks and sweets, all luxury items in the Ukraine, have have been
STAFF at a Leigh day nursery have had an overwhelming response from volunteers keen to see a families Contact Centre get off the ground by next Easter. The Stonehouse Day Nursery which appealed for volunteers to run the weekend centre as a safe, neutral
A SIMPLE £2 bet netted Joan Dickson more than £4,000. However, magistrates in Bury heard how she was always on a winner. For Dickson (32) took advantage of her position as a bookmakers clerk and only placed her bet after she knew the result. In court
Haydock 32 Hindley 6 HAYDOCK marched in to the Barla Lancashire Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history with this commanding performance. Hindley had not been beaten previously this season, but Haydock started like a house on fire and in the
A BLACKPOOL vicar asked his flock for a bit more in the collection bowl on Sunday - £85,000 more to be exact. And his prayers were answered. The Rev Peter Nunn, vicar of All Saints Church, Anchorsholme, wanted the money to be pledged over the next four
A TALENTED trio of amateur boxers have taken another step along the road to Olympic glory. Fourteen-year-olds Martin Murray (42 kilos) and Gary Davis (48 kilos) have fought their way through to the quarter-finals of the All England National Association
BREAD-winning MP Lawrence Cunliffe has applauded moves to keep traditional loaf limits. Leigh MP Mr Cunliffe slammed half-baked ideas to introduce unit pricing throughout Europe. Critics feared a change to the current prescribed quantities regulations
ANDY Preece headed a 74th minute winner to end Burnley's seven-match unbeaten run and put a smile on Seasiders boss Nigel Worthington's face. The Blackpool manager enjoyed this 2-1 derby victory over former Sheffield Wednesday team-mate Chris Waddle.
The Royal Golden Wedding EVERY wedding anniversary is special, but for golden East Lancashire husband and wife Bert and Kathy Hunt, theirs is a really royal event. So much so that today they were at Westminster Abbey with today's other Golden Wedding
Barrow Island 23 Blackbrook 14 BLACKBROOK travelled to Cumbria on Saturday still seeking their first ever National Conference league victory over Barrow Island at Rating Lane. But the Islanders put their recent disappointments behind them and halted a
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD THE clatter of clog toes have been sent dancing across this page by Nora Batiste who now lives over on the Wirral but likes to tune into this column. Picking up on an earlier clog-dancing theme, Nora tells us: "My grandfather was
St Helens Town 3 Ramsbottom United 2 TOWN'S title challenge stayed firmly on course with another three points at Hoghton Road on Saturday. But after a whirlwind start which saw them two up by the 14th minute, things got a little too close for comfort
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD WITH another Remembrance Day behind us, reader Henry Collins has been musing over the 'forgotten few' - those who served on the home front, such as the nursing profession, the emergency services and ordinary civilians who became victims
A COSMOPOLITAN collection of model railway buffs will gather in Nelson for a three-day exhibition. People are travelling from Poland, Germany and France to be at Pendle Forest Model Railway Society's annual show. Enthusiasts have worked harder than ever
THE government's much-trumpeted 'New Deal' for jobless youngsters will probably help just 360 people on East Lancashire's dole queue, claim employment experts. Under the Welfare To Work scheme, to be introduced in April, people aged 18-24 will no longer
SHOPPERS across East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire will be told that 'Burnley's Buzzin' in the run up to Christmas. The campaign to boost festive trade is centring on the bee logo which proved such a hit last year. Shopping guides and A5 flyers
THE 500-strong workforce of Borden wallpaper manufactueres in Lancaster is set to enter a new era after the company was taken over by a New York merchant bank. The transfer of Borden Decorative Products, historically known as Storeys, to American bankers
BURNLEY folk can help tackle global poverty by paying a little more for tea and coffee and supporting church and charity work, the town's MP said this week. Peter Pike wants his constituents to play their part in the government's plan to give the world's
A FAMILY held captive during a brutal raid at their home in Bolton-le-Sands last week has made an emotional plea for help. Three masked thugs wielding a carving knife and poker plundered their house escaping with thousands of pounds worth of jewellery
WATER bosses could be forced to take "smart card" payment devices out of hundreds of East Lancashire homes if a High Court challenge is successful. Six local authorities, including Lancashire County Council, will argue that the pre-payment meters are
SKATING stars of the future broke the ice when they auditioned for a dream part in a new Christmas show. The budding Torvil and Deans skated away at Blackburn Arena as they tried to impress the judges and win a part in "A Christmas Fantasy" at King George's
Kettering Town 1 Morecambe 1 LOWLY Kettering, who have yet to win a game this season, snatched a point from travel weary Morecambe at the weekend. The Shrimps spent an insufferable six hours on the motorway before the match, which left them jaded whereas
Nottingham Forest Reserves 1 Blackburn Rovers Reserves 4 JAMES Beattie terrorised yet another Pontin's League defence last night, smashing a first half hat-trick against Nottingham Forest to help Blackburn Rovers Reserves add three more points to their
RESIDENTS' fears are growing over the prospect of piecemeal development on Lytham land owned by Guardian Insurance. They are concerned that the site on Regent Avenue which has outline planning permission for 410 luxury homes will be divided into plots
Altrincham 1 Lancaster 0 LANCASTER City were once again robbed by the man in black on Tuesday night. A match full of dodgy refereeing decisions was capped in the 88th minute when Gary Worthington was clearly fouled in the penalty area. The ref saw it
A SENSATIONAL fortnight of music and dance at Blackpool's Grand Theatre starts with two nights of fiery flamenco fever. Paco Pena's internationally acclaimed production Arte y Pasion hits town on November 16 and 17. Spain's hottest singers, dancers and
BURY FOOTBALL CLUB was plunged into sadness again on Wednesday morning with the news that former secretary John Heap had died of a heart attack. Mr Heap (58) was truly one of the great Gigg Lane characters and his death came as another hammer blow following
SHAKERS' sharpshooter David Johnson has moved to Ipswich Town in a deal worth £1.1million. The 21-year-old travelled to East Anglia at lunch time yesterday and signed just four hours later. Johnson, who was brought to Gigg Lane on a free transfer from
BOSTON singer Amy Rome will mark her welcome return to the Fylde Coast with a live broadcast on Radio Wave from the new Boston Stake Out Restaurant on Queen's Promenade on November 29. Later on that night, Amy will perform at the Norbreck Castle Hotel
Bury 0, Portsmouth 2 FIVE days after one of their best league results in recent times soccer's fickle finger of fate showed the Shakers the V-sign - and it wasn't the victory variety! After dumping league leaders Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, defeat by
ENGLISH Heritage has been asked to join the fight to save part of St Annes' Ashton Gardens from development. An application has been made for the whole area to be placed on the organisation's register of parks and gardens. And although it could be some
A DRIVER was knocked unconscious in a road rage attack in Morecambe on Sunday night. A 33-year-old Lancaster man suffered head and facial injuries after being tailed by two two thugs in a Ford Mondeo, flashing their headlights and attempting to over take
THE Royal Shakespeare Company's version of Cyrano de Bergerac entertains from beginning to end with moments of hilarious comedy, suspense and tragedy. Antony Sher plays the title role of poet, swashbuckling soldier, patriot and a shy man when it comes
THE first woman ever to hold the rank of sergeant major within the Lancashire Army Cadet Force is a Morecambe physiotherapist. Wendy Conroy-Clough, 24, who lives in the resort with her five-year-old daughter, has achieved this ranking after acting as
PENNINGTON Golf Club captain Jeff Pimblett has died after collapsing at a club dinner. Mr. Pimblett, 55, of Kerfoot Street, Leigh, collapsed as he stepped onto the dance floor at the Captain's Annual Dinner. Despite frantic attempts to resuscitate him
WHEN a group of wounded ex-servicemen from Russia visited this country, little did Lytham man Michael Wren-Hilton know it would sow the seeds of inspiration for his first novel. Michael, an ex-solicitor and circuit judge, who has lived in Lytham for most
Green Hall School in Atherton is 40 years old! And to celebrate its ruby anniversary the school is holding an Open Day on Friday, November 21, with former pupils also being invited to drop in for a special get together between 9.30am and 11am or from
I BELONG to a group of second year degree students on a leisure management course, who have been given the challenging opportunity of staging an event of our choosing before the end of April, 1998. In an effort to appeal to a wider audience, we decided
ARSONISTS caused major damage to All Saints Church Hall in Bedford, on Bonfire Night by setting off a firework against the building's dry timber wall. A passer-by alerted the fire service to the blaze on Kenwood Avenue, just off Manchester Road at 11.45pm
HE may be Blackpool Football Club's superfan, but that didn't stop Gary Cook being thrown out of Saturday's derby clash with Burnley (November 8). During half-time at Bloomfield Road, the stalwart Seasider was being interviewed by a BBC film crew in front
A CRACK gymnastic squad have brought home a trophy for the SIXTH year running. The St Helens-based Merseyside Rhythmic Gymnastic Club retained the Carita House Shield in the North West RG Championships at Croxteth. Maintaining their usual high standards
SAMLESBURY Brewery staff dug deep to help two Preston schools - by totally revamping their playgrounds. The challenge was set to mark the 25th anniversary of the Whitbread brewery. Project teams were given just two days and £500 to transform the gardens
PENSIONER Tom Sweeting is always ready to take the plunge but this year he's really making waves. The 70-year-old, from Accrington, has completed a swim of more than three miles for the nationwide BT Swimathon. But the super-fit senior citizen, who was
COUNCILLOR Granville Lord can't escape from complaints about "filthy" Padiham centre...because his own wife is doing the complaining. Shopkeeper Pat Lord says if prizes were awarded for the dirtiest town centre in Lancashire, Padiham would win every time
PRESSURE on hospitals during the busy winter months could be eased by a £22 million NHS handout. And the good news is some of the cash - £500,000 - will improve care in North West Lancashire. It will be spent on keeping waiting times to a minimum, extra
HUNGRY people from all over Lancashire converge on Preston tomorrow (Nov 14) to gamble for their breakfasts and raise cash for charity. Representatives from various organisations, political groups and schools will take part in Oxfam's Hunger Breakfast
OSWALDTWISTLE'S famous cloggers are hoping to dance their way to Disneyland. The popular ensemble have a regular spot at Oswaldtwistle Mills. But they are hoping to take time out in March next year to meet Mickey and pals at the world-famous Magic Kingdom
TENANTS on a troubled Preston estate have begun casting their votes on a scheme that could see a £4 million improvement to their homes. Residents of 145 council houses on the Callon estate are deciding whether homes should be transferred from Preston
POLICE in Preston today (Nov 13) launched a unique leaflet offering drug advice specifically for Asian communities. Lancashire Constabulary unveiled Islamic Law and Drugs - the first advice sheet of it's kind in the country - in a special ceremony at
PRESTON'S University of Central Lancashire is joining forces with Lancaster University to promote medical and health education in the region. Joint projects between the two universities include the development of a Health Research and Development Support
DO any of your readers know the whereabouts of Harry and Edna Mary Eames, who moved from Lancashire to Suffolk in the 1950s and bought a thatched house from the Paine family called Hills Cottage in Bury Road, Lawshall, near Bury St Edmunds. He was an
THE AGM of the Vaux Northern Cricket League saw vice-chairman Norman Brown succeed Cornishman Ken Wilton as chairman after 19 years of service. Ken, aged 75, became a league umpire in 1959 and spent eleven years as league and umpires' secretary from 1970
LOCAL union bosses have been flooded with calls from worried teachers and lecturers following the Citizen's exclusive tribunal story in which we revealed how four sacked lecturers put up thousands of pounds of their own cash to fight their unfair dismissal
JIM PENNYCOOK is looking to his latest import as the answer to end luckless Lancashire Hawks seven-match losing streak. But rather than being a giant Scandinavia sharp-shooter the Hawks have called on one of the latest sports training programmes called
A FORMER RAF pilot believes he may have found parts of a stricken war plane which narrowly missed crashing into a Preston school. Polish-born Richard Danilo, who lives on Conway Drive, Fulwood, has been dowsing near Our Lady and St Edwards school and
NORTH West Water has come under fire from watchdogs for offering a poor service to customers. In response to the 1996-1997 Report on levels of service for the industry in England and Wales, the Ofwat North West Customer Service Committee (CSC) singled
SNOOKER ace John Parrott once joked he would fly to the UK Championships in Preston to make believe he was jet-setting far and wide. The Scouse star was referring to how close Preston is to his home town of Liverpool and implied it was so near he could
A NEW initiative is promising to get Lancashire's homeless people off the streets, off benefits and into work. The Emmaus project aims to form a self-sufficient community providing shelter and work, paying for itself by repairing and selling unwanted
AN innovative neighbourhood watch scheme has scooped a top award for helping to reduce the problem of bogus officials preying on the vulnerable. Blackburn Crime Prevention team joined forces with North West Water to beat criminals posing as employees
A MAN was treated in hospital after a serious car crash in which dangerous chemicals spilled on to a busy motorway. Police and other emergency services rushed to the scene of the horror smash just after 11am on Tuesday morning (Nov 11). But despite the
STAFF and patients from two health centres in Bury have criticised a council decision to introduce on-street pay and display car parking charges. Traffic and engineering councillors sanctioned the move on Monday night and fees will be introduced in selected
A NEW initiative is promising to get Lancashire's homeless people off the streets, off benefits and into work. The Emmaus project aims to form a self-sufficient community providing shelter and work, paying for itself by repairing and selling unwanted
BLACKBURN'S education chief wants children to carry a special street pass while out of school to help in the fight against truancy and youth crime. And Councillor Bill Taylor is pushing for police to stop youngsters in shopping centres during school hours
A NEW chairman has been appointed to Preston Acute NHS Hospital Trust after Carolyn Johnson's three-year contract came to an end and was not renewed. She is to be replaced by Brian Booth, who recently announced his retirement as vice-chancellor of the
BURY'S battle to save its envied education system has received 100 per cent backing from local schools. The chairmen of governors at every primary and secondary school have put pen to paper on the borough's classroom crisis. And they have spelled out
IN response to last week's Xanadu coverage, and in particular the letter from Mark Hale, in which he makes many accusations against both myself and David Morris. If only Mark Hale kept to debating the facts relating to the Xanadu project instead of resorting
ANGRY Bolton Street Business Club members have condemned town-centre parking proposals from Bury Council. Private contract parking at the car park behind the East Lancashire Railway station on Bolton Street looks set to cease from April next year. But
DETERMINED youngsters in Bamber Bridge, near Preston, have rolled into action to canvass councillors for a skating rink. Fed-up teenagers living in the Station Road area came up with a 600-strong petition after constant complaints about their skating
I SEE this year is the centenary of the Darwen Model Lodging House. More power to its elbow, I say. It did have a bad name for the kind of people who stayed there. I never stayed there myself, but have memories of some of the people who did. I worked
BURY traders are being asked to dig deep into their pockets to help get the town's tills jingling this Christmas. They are being urged to contribute cash into a central pot for a massive advertising campaign. And if successful, the promotion could bring
ROBBERS armed with a gun and an axe attacked a man before bursting into his home and stealing rare jewellery worth £5,000. The victim's ordeal began when he answered a knock at the door of his house on Lime Close, Penwortham, near Preston, to be faced
RECOVERING at Sedgley Park from 10-0 down to 10-10 at half-time, Preston Grasshoppers U17s built a platform from which they should have gone on to clinch victory in their Lancashire Cup, second round tie on Sunday (Nov 9). Despite Hoppers taking a 16-
BURY councillors have vowed to take action over illegal street advertising in a bid to boost safety on the borough's highways. Bury Society for Blind and Partially Sighted People has pressed the council to improve access on pavements in Bury, many of
CHURCH attendance figures may be falling across the country but the Bishop of Blackburn has sent out a defiant message that the Christian faith in the Diocese is alive and kicking. The Right Reverend Alan Chesters, left, points to the fact that last year
A PENSIONER was thrown into the air after being struck by a car as he crossed a busy road. An inquest this week heard how 77-year-old Mr Cyril Whyte landed on the bonnet of the Toyota, suffering multiple injuries. He died in Bury General Hospital the
BOOTLEGGERS from East Lancashire desperate to cash in on Christmas are being held up by rival gangs after they dock in Dover loaded with cheap goods. Customs and Excise officials say organised trips by smugglers from this area to the continent have become
AUDACIOUS "smash and grab" raiders have left five Bury stores counting the cost of a pre-Christmas crime spree. In just six days, three town centre clothing shops and two electrical stores were targeted by the gang. All the premises hit are in the area
A JEWELLER is hoping to help a young East Lancashire ice skater put some sparkle into her promising career. Twelve-year-old Dannielle Guppy, who is coached by Olympic ice skater Stephen Pickavance, has secured a sponsorship deal with Blackburn-based Peter
BRITISH Airways offered £147 million for British Caledonian - £90 million less than it had bid the previous July. The merger would mean at least 2,000 job losses, BA said. The initial offer had lapsed automatically after the Monopolies Commission was
PENDLE Council is congratulating itself for a job well done. Its latest facts and figures compiled to comply with the Citizen's Charter confirm it gives value for money and has improved the quality of services with a better bin collection, easier access
SPECTACULAR success is claimed today for the special literacy summer schools that the Government launched this year. They were the three-week courses held in 50 schools during July and August for 11-year-olds who had failed to reach their expected reading
CARMEL College in Eccleston has just been awarded the title of 'Associate College' after joining academic forces with the University of Liverpool. For the past three years, the college and university have operated successful degree courses in Science
TWO swimmers from Colne received prizes from TV's Gaby Roslin after setting the country's fastest times in the BT Swimathon. Ken Braithwaite, 40, of Netherleys Close, and Tony Catterall, 50, of Alkincoats Road, both swam three miles in around one hour
ST HELENS Council's weathermen are coming in from the cold! Since early Victorian times, weather measurements were carried out at Victoria Park until the building where the equipment was housed was vandalised and set on fire in 1993. Then the council's
IT could be touch and go again for Burnley player-manager Chris Waddle as he battles to be fit for Burnley's Second Division clash with Grimsby at Blundell Park on Saturday. The knee injury, which has plagued Waddle recently and worsened when he was clattered
CHURCH INN have lost their "unbeaten" tag - Butchered by a Second Division side. Inn, the Division One title hopefuls, stumbled 2-0 to Butchers Arms in the second round of the Davenport Cup. Second-half goals from Steve Butterworth and Matthew Pollard
THEY'RE getting up a head of steam down at Hand Lane. Leigh RU were again in top form as they beat Kirkby Lonsdale 18-13 on whirlwind Saturday. Architects of a classic show were half-backs Chris Marsh and Ross Bullough, the double act a constant danger
TWO 'neighbouring' firms have won awards in the North West's workplace oscars. New Waterside Paper Mills of Darwen and RHP Bearings of Blackburn each won North West Quality Awards. Only eight firms in the region won awards and to have two from the same
THERE was a huge treat in store for young Teletubby fan, Andrew Walsh (PICTURED) when he celebrated his third birthday this month, thanks to the generosity of Hamley's, the world famous toyshop. The brave youngster, who was diagnosed as suffering from
A BURY dentist is due to appear before a disciplinary committee accused of misconduct by failing to employ a proper degree of skill towards a patient. Mohammed Mazharuddin registered as of Unsworth Medical Centre, Parr Lane, Unsworth, Bury, is said to
ST HELENS Council chiefs claim the prospects of generating new jobs and industry in the Newton area have suffered a severe setback following a Government ruling on the future of the former Parkside colliery site. They are currently studying in detail
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD THERE never was such a bizarre pub before - and there's certainly never been one like it since! For the St Helens-based Hont's Globe and London Museum Vaults (how's that for a mouthful?) seems to have been a watering hole graced by
THE WONDER OF PETS with WALLY ASHCROFT THE nights are beginning to draw in. There is much less work to do in the garden. You have settled down after a hard day's work. What could be more relaxing than to sit back and watch a tank full of brightly coloured
A BIZARRE attack on a parked car only ended when Thomas O'Brien had smashed his way through the glass sun roof. And magistrates at Bury heard how not content with just damaging the Ford Fiesta, the 26-year-old then climbed through the broken glass and
I WAS disgusted to read (Letters, November 12) that St Dunstan's, the charity caring for blinded ex-servicemen and women, had their appeal turned down by the National Lottery Charities Board. Men and women who fought for their country and made sacrifices
AN elderly man escaped a fierce blaze which gutted his shop and badly damaged an adjoining living quarters. The clothes shop in Ainsworth Road, Radcliffe, was the scene of a dramatic rescue earlier this year when the floor collapsed, trapping owner Mr
Beech Hill Bulldogs 12 Parr Hare and Hounds 22 A THOROUGHLY convincing display saw Hounds maintain their imprressive winning run. They took the lead when McMillan sent Ian Sherwood over and they quickly followed it up when Bacon's inside pass put Houghton
ST HELENS Snooker Professional Wayne Brown continues his quest for a place in the worlds top 16 tonight (Thursday). He is due to open his account against former world champion Dennis Taylor, in the Liverpool Victoria UK Snooker Championships at The Guild
A TEENAGE girl was killed and another injured following a tragic road accident on Bonfire Night in Sutton, St Helens. An inquest has now been opened into the death of 17 year old Nicola Thompson from Haresfinch who was killed as she and her friend crossed
THE council which banned boxing is to allow hypnotists back into the borough. Fears that participants might suffer long-term harm prompted Bury councillors to impose a ban nearly three years ago. But following Home Office guidance, members have now lifted
Portico Panthers 50 Haresfinch 14 A WEAKENED Finch side was blasted aside by local rivals Portico. An opening salvo that saw Panthers notch up 22 points without reply in 15 minutes set them up for a comfortable victory. Powerhouse prop Chris Ashurst led
WIGAN and Bolton Health Authority is to get a £1,168,000 share of a £22.4 million winter windfall. The allocation will help reduce pressure on hospitals during busy winter months. Nationally £269 million has been put up by the Government to help the NHS
BURY gave a mixed response to calls for a return to the two-minute silence for remembrance on Tuesday. Council workers, shoppers in Mill Gate and staff at Metrolink all observed the two-minute pause for reflection at 11am on the eleventh day of the eleventh
London Welsh 55 Liverpool St Helens 12 LIVERPOOL St Helens suffered their second heavy defeat at London Welsh on Saturday. But it has not destroyed the spirit of the Moss Laners. The Exiles fielded only four of the team defeated by LSH at the end of last
GOURMETS can wine, dine and stay in style at a top country hotel. Hospitality students from Wigan and Leigh College will be hosts at the famed Moorcock Inn offering bargain-priced winter breaks on the outskirts of Clitheroe. Guests can enjoy a three-day
NEARLY 300 workers at a paper mill face an uncertain future with the news that the business has been put up for sale. The shock move to dispose of the BPB Paperboard mill in Stand Lane, Radcliffe, has been made by bosses of its Aberdeenshire-based parent
West Park 15 Aldwinians 7 DEFEAT for league leaders Aspull in the Isle of Man and this less than convincing victory over visitors Aldwinians gives West Park a clear two points lead at the top of Thwaites League North West One. But repeated failure to
ST HELENS Council Leader Mike Doyle addressed a top level Euro conference in Germany this Monday (November 10). In his speech he highlighted the need for continued funding to regenerate St Helens and the rest of Merseyside. Mike, who travelled to Halle
TROUBLE spots on Blackpool's roads are being targeted by county councillors with a new series of safety measures. The biggest works will start this winter at the junction of Red Bank Road, All Hallows Road and Blackpool Road in Bispham where a mini-roundabout
ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD WHAT a thrill it was for the amateur pedallers of Newton-le-Willows district when they cycled alongside the king of the track. Reader Reg Chadwick recalls being told by a sporty pensioner, some years ago, about that pre-war visit
A HIGHER Folds man was found dead in his home in Hampton Grove on Friday night after concerned neighbours contacted police. They broke in to find John David Boone, 44, had died after apparently being overcome by fumes after a fan heater scorched his bed
FITNESS fanatics will soon be able to work up a sweat in a new £1 million, state-of-the-art health club based in a Haydock hotel. The new Spirit Club is set to be completed at the end of January 1998 at the Granada-owned Forte Posthouse Hotel in Lodge
BLACKPOOL Illuminations could shine out as a job-creator for the resort. That is the hope of Blackpool tourism and leisure chairman Councillor Roy Lewis, who is pushing for the council to market the resort's unrivalled Illuminations equipment all over
NEWLY-PROMOTED Hull Sharks are understood to have made a massive £350,000 triple bid for Saints' stars Alan Hunte, Steve Prescott and Simon Booth. The Knowsley Road board considered the shock offer on Tuesday, and will discuss it further at next week's
A TASTE of the past will soon be revived in St Helens. And it's all thanks to a new environmental initiative under the St Helens Pathways programme. Work is already under way to establish a Millennium Green on Merton Bank Marsh alongside Singleton Avenue
HINDLEY Green man David Cass has one again launched an appeal for local people to send his their used postage stamps. For David, of Leigh Road, has so far collected in excess of 55,000 stamps in his continuing quest to help The Guide Dogs for the Blind
BLACKPOOL'S North Shore boating pool could sail into the Millennium as an arts and music arena. An unnamed private company has approached Blackpool Council with the idea of using the pool as an "exciting new venue for the Millennium and beyond, dedicated
THE superb achievements of a number of St Helens apprentices from Waterside Training Limited were rewarded during an open evening attended by parents and sponsors. Martin Riley, a refractory bricklayer, was sponsored by Building Services and became their
SERVICMEN and women who gave their lives for their country were honoured in silent tribute at Remembrance Sunday ceremonies across the area. Veterans marched from the British Legion headquarters to the cenotaphs in Nelson and Colne, where the gatherings
JOHN Blunt is probably misjudging the lady who did not pay to have her prescription dispensed (LET, November 12). She may have bought a prepayment certificate, or been collecting medicine for an exempt person. Limiting the number of prescriptions a doctor
HOMELY Celtic traditions and meditative chants could bring new life to a Brierfield church. The Vicar at St Luke's is revamping Sunday evening services in an attempt to increase the numbers in his congregation, and is borrowing ancient and modern ideas
THE authorities were warned nearly 20 years ago that a road through two housing estates would become a rat-run. The late Peter Moorhouse campaigned for a 20mph speed limit and traffic-calming measures when Hillingdon Road, Burnley, was built. His widow
A FIVE-point plan has been drawn up to stem the tide of racial harassment in Lancaster following the publication of a critical report. Living in Lancaster: The Inside Story on Racial Harassment, commissioned by a multi-agency panel with representatives
BURNLEY'S loan striker Gerry Creaney has been recalled to help struggling Manchester City. The move almost certainly means that Chris Waddle has been thwarted in his aim of bringing Creaney to Turf Moor on a permanent deal. City have slid towards the
THE local branch of the Samaritans has made a plea for new volunteers in the wake of an alarming rise in the number of suicides. Resources are stretched to the limit and the Lancaster branch has been forced to close its doors for the first time since
ASIAN teenagers across Burnley and Pendle are being targeted in a propaganda war launched today against the menace of drugs. The message uses the Islamic law to hammer home the anti-drug message and has the backing of religious leaders. The Shari'Ah,
A MINI summit will look at the problems of old terrace houses in Burnley and Pendle when Housing Minister Hilary Armstrong visits the area on Wednesday. Initially, Mrs Armstrong will be in Pendle, where six out of ten of all the houses were built before
A RESIDENTS parking scheme in Lancaster has been slammed as 'a farce' by an incensed resident. Mr Russell Smallwood says that since the scheme started his friends and visitors have had to fork out a total of £200 in fines. And Mr Smallwood, who pays £20
LANCASTER City Council has bought a work of art from local Royal Academy trained artist Chris Robinson. The picture is a superb pencil drawing of Nobel Peace Prize Winner and leader of Burma's Democracy Movement, Aung San Suu Kyi. The council's delve
POULTON'S Christmas lights are to shine again this year - and at least until the Millennium - thanks to another cash injection from Elletson Publishing Company. Owner Gary Dean came to the rescue last year after the town had remained in the dark for four
