Archive
-
Date
Missing fans make it an ordinary fixture
MEMO to the man who said I knew nothing about local issues when I said a few months back that Blackburn v Bolton was not a real derby. A crowd of 18,000 that's 13,000 empty seats, at Ewood Park on Saturday for a game between Rovers and Wanderers teams
-
Date
Same game under a different name
FIVE minutes into Sunday's Wigan/West Brom game and Radio Five Live commentator Alan Green was impressed with the home side's hardworking tactics. "This is not negative football, it's pressure football," he said. Funny, when Bolton used the same tactics
-
Date
Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce would do England proud
IF missing the point was an Olympic event, the hysterical reaction to Sven-Goran Eriksson's latest indiscretion would have brought a string of gold medals. The foreign England manager (that will never sound right) has been reported to have told a News
-
Date
Newell right to expose bung culture
HOPEFULLY, Luton Town boss Mike Newell will continue his campaign against scum managers who take bungs. Any manager who takes money for conducting transfer deals should be kicked out of the game. Supporters' hard-earned cash funds football, while
-
Date
Newell right to expose bung culture
HOPEFULLY, Luton Town boss Mike Newell will continue his campaign against scum managers who take bungs. Any manager who takes money for conducting transfer deals should be kicked out of the game. Supporters' hard-earned cash funds football, while
-
Date
Same game, different name
Same game under a different name FIVE minutes into Sunday's Wigan/West Brom game and Radio Five Live commentator Alan Green was impressed with the home side's hardworking tactics. "This is not negative football, it's pressure football," he said. Funny
-
Date
Missing fans make it an ordinary fixture
MEMO to the man who said I knew nothing about local issues when I said a few months back that Blackburn v Bolton was not a real derby. A crowd of 18,000 that's 13,000 empty seats, at Ewood Park on Saturday for a game between Rovers and Wanderers teams
-
Date
Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce would do England proud
IF missing the point was an Olympic event, the hysterical reaction to Sven-Goran Eriksson's latest indiscretion would have brought a string of gold medals. The foreign England manager (that will never sound right) has been reported to have told a News
-
Date
Odeon and ABC shut for good reason
I'M writing in response to recent readers' letters about the lack of a small town-centre cinema. I, too, remember with nostalgia my childhood visits to the old Odeon and the ABC, and I understand these readers' feelings. However, the Odeon, and in
-
Date
Carry on Sam, says Deano
EXCLUSIVE by Gordon Sharrock: Dean Holdsworth has urged Sam Allardyce to ignore the snipers and keep up the good work. The former Reebok striker, who was a member of the infamous Wimbledon 'Crazy Gang', says the best way his old boss can answer the
-
Date
Ruth Kelly's 'regret' over sex offenders in schools
EDUCATION Secretary Ruth Kelly on Thursday lunchtime expressed "regret" for the worry caused to parents as she revealed in the Commons that 88 sex offenders have not been banned from working in schools. Amid intense pressure over the row, the Bolton
-
Date
Get set for UEFA Cup Final tickets
OPTIMISTIC Wanderers fans who think their heroes will reach the UEFA Cup Final in May need to start preparing next month. For thousands of tickets are going on sale on www.uefa.com at noon on February 20. The closing date is March 20 and if demand
-
Date
Bury rise to Burnage challenge
BURNAGE 31, BURY 19: WITH no league commitment scheduled, Bury visited old adversaries Burnage, who gained promotion last year and are currently lying third in the table, for a friendly. The visitors were unlucky to concede a try after only three minutes
-
Date
We can't help everyone
I read with disbelief the article about the Sudan refugees being given a new start in Bolton. What about the shortage of council houses reported only this week? What about the Sukula family, who have been forced to live on charitable handouts? They are
-
Date
Brown jumps on flag-flying bandwagon
I NOTE, with some cynicism, the support that Gordon Brown has suddenly found for the idea of using the Union Flag as some sort of rallying cry for his main plank. The Chancellor is clearly attempting to remind people that he is supposed to be Tony Blairs
-
Date
Old cinemas were no fun
AFTER the letters about the Odeon Cinema, I'd like to say a few things. I am in my early 20s, and I remember being taken by my parents to the old ABC on Bradshawgate when I was young. To my memory it always seemed cramped, cold and smelly, and I didn't
-
Date
Top marks for exam effort
IT is great news that more pupils in Bolton are passing their GCSE exams. However, what is even more important is that these children attend schools of all types. Bolton School Girls' division is again top of the town rankings with all pupils achieving
-
Date
Sports village takes shape in a good cause
WORK is under way to build the £78 million sports village in Leigh. The massive scheme on a 72-acre site at Marshall Street looks set to revitalise the town. And the area's largest charity will also benefit after leigh Sports Village formed a partnership
-
Date
Attention!
ITV is looking for volunteers prepared to spend a month of their summer at a 1950-style army base as part of a new series of Bad Lads Army. Apply online at www.twentytwenty.tv or call 09011 331144 for next month's auditions.
-
Date
No mistaking buses bay
TRAFFIC wardens are back enforcing parking restrictions on a town centre bay after action was taken to make it legal. Bury Council has painted the word 'buses' in Market Street, Bury, to show motorists that the bay is now coach-parking only on certain
-
Date
Refugees resettled
A man, woman and her baby are being resettled in Bury after fleeing persecution and torture in war-torn Southern Sudan. They were among a party of 33 people who arrived in Bolton on Monday from refugee camps in Uganda. Southern Sudan has suffered from
-
Date
Firemen may strike in pension cut fury
MEN could strike over plans to cut their pensions. The Fire Brigades Union's ruling national executive plans a special meeting on February 16 and is recommending a ballot for industrial action. The union is demanding to know why fire crews are being offered
-
Date
Ruth Kelly's 'regret' over sex offenders in schools
EDUCATION Secretary Ruth Kelly on Thursday lunchtime expressed "regret" for the worry caused to parents as she revealed in the Commons that 88 sex offenders have not been banned from working in schools. Amid intense pressure over the row, the Bolton West
-
Date
Wishing for a full house
PANTO season is still in full swing as St Anne's Dramatic and Operatic Society prepares to dish out the slapstick with Aladdin and his Magic Lamp. The classic tale of the peasant boy who discovers a magic lamp housing a genie granting him three wishes
-
Date
Changes planned forhousing waiting list
A COMPLETE overhaul of the council's housing allocations policy will be discussed by Bury Housing Forum next Thursday. Residents are invited to attend the half-day seminar on January 26 which will propose major changes and aim to improve matters for the
-
Date
Third man facing murder charge
A THIRD man has been charged with the murder of Radcliffe man Martin Rankin. Ashley Marshall (18) of Glenvale Close, Radcliffe, appeared at Bury Magistrates Court on Monday following the death of Mr Rankin on December 31. Mr Rankin (37) was attacked at
-
Date
Peter's a safe bet for Bury Hospice!
DARTS wizard Peter Manley proved he was a double top bloke when he visited Bury on Saturday. Peter, nicknamed 'One Dart', hit the bullseye at the new Betfred office in Haymarket Street when he took on all-comers in a 'throw against the pro' competition
-
Date
Scout leaders reap rewards
RAMSBOTTOM District Scouts celebrated the dedication and commitment of their leaders with presentations for long service. Ramsbottom District Commissioner Graham Lord attended the group's annual general meeting to present the awards and a medal of merit
-
Date
Residents have a say on vandals
A PUBLIC meeting to tackle anti-social behaviour in Whitefield is to be held at St Michael's Church community hall in Ribble Drive. Residents complained to Whitefield and Unsworth area board that much of the nuisance and vandalism was caused by young
-
Date
Ann Widdecombe repays town for tea with the vicar
CONSERVATIVE MP Ann Widdecombe will be swapping Westminster for Ramsbottom when she visits the town to talk about her life as a politician and author in a sold-out show. Ms Widdecombe, who retired from the Shadow Front Bench in 2001 and has spent the
-
Date
Police and council hail anti-crime message
POLICE and council leaders have unveiled a new taxi to drive home a message of community solidarity against crooks. The branded cab promotes BurySafe, a scheme launched last year to tackle crime, help residents feel safer and improve the general quality
-
Date
Lions help give boost to Kenya wildlife group
JUST animal magic - that's the £1,777 raised with the help of Bury Lions club and Barclays bank to swell the coffers of the Children of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. The group, based at Bury C of E High School, has been raising cash over a number of years
-
Date
Popular caretaker dies at 60
AN assembly and a minute's silence were held at St Luke's Primary School in Bury on Monday as a tribute to their caretaker David Hardman, who died aged 60. Mr Hardman suffered a suspected heart attack at home in Devon Street, Bury, in the early hours
-
Date
New head delivers a class inspection
A GOOD school with outstanding features is how one inspector has described a top-performing Bury primary. Our Lady of Lourdes RC in Rudgwick Drive was praised in an Ofsted report. In a letter to parents, inspectors felt new headteacher Mrs Donna Kiernan
-
Date
Masked knife man robs shop
A MASKED man armed with a knife robbed a shop in Deane. He walked into the Late Shop in Wigan Road as it was closing at around 11pm. The knifeman threatened a member of staff and stole cash from the till. No one was injured. The robber was white, around
-
Date
Appeal over attack victim
A FRESH appeal for information has been made after a 37-year-old man was attacked in Bolton town centre. The victim was found with head injuries in Moor Lane, close to the Grovenor Casino, at around 10.15pm on Tuesday, January 10. He was attacked in an
-
Date
Taxi and car crash at lights
FIVE people were taken to hospital after a taxi and a car crashed in Bolton. The accident happened at around 3.30pm at traffic lights on Blackburn Road, Bolton, at its junction with Astley Street. The road was blocked and long tailbacks formed as police
-
Date
Robbers with axe raid store
ROBBERS armed with an axe threatened staff during a raid in Leigh - but were forced to flee empty-handed when they could not get the till open. Two men wearing balaclavas walked into the Cost Less in Wigan Road at around 9pm on Monday and demanded cash
-
Date
Mast bid goes before planners
PROPOSALS to erect a mobile phone mast will be presented to Horwich planners this week. Plans to install the antenna in the chimney stack in the building occupied by Leach Brierly Accountants, near the junction of Lee Lane and Winter Hey Lane, have been
-
Date
Start to centre eagerly awaited
RESIDENTS promised a plot of land for a community centre in Stoneclough are hopeful building work will start soon - despite the project being dogged by delays. The eagerly-awaited community centre is due to be built alongside a multi-million pound housing
-
Date
School league tables
A BOLTON school once labelled a failure by education watchdogs has been named as one of the most improved in the country. Secondary school performance tables published today show that Withins School in Breightmet has doubled its GCSE success rate during
-
Date
Party time for tiny tots
It was party time at the Tumble Tots Centre in Bromley Cross when children and parents were visited by the group's mascot. The fun-packed event was to mark the first anniversary of group at the Cornerstone Baptist Church, in Lord Stile Lane. Lindsey Rivington
-
Date
Residents praise clampdown on local thugs
RESIDENTS living in fear of thugs have thanked police and council bosses for cleaning up their area. People living on an estate in Radcliffe complained about youngsters, who were making their lives unbearable. The yobs were told that unless their behaviour
-
Date
Child abuse test case - victory for town hall
BURY Council has won a test case against them for compensation by a parent whose child was taken into care following abuse claims. The parent, who cannot be named for legal reasons, brought proceedings against the council to the Court of Appeal in London
-
Date
Jambusters on the way to free up motorways
A TEAM of jambusters are to take to the motorways around Bolton to keep them running smoothly. Uniformed traffic officers in marked cars will take charge of lane closures and recovering vehicles to leave police free to tackle crime. The officers will
-
Date
All creatures great and small at opera for children
PRIMARY school children enjoyed the power and drama of the opera when they were invited to the UK premiere of Shostakovich's Silly Little Mouse. The short opera was performed by Bolton Music Service and the Hall Orchestra at Victoria Hall, in front of
-
Date
An ensemble playing at its finest
A WONDERFUL, heartwarming piece of theatre. Bill Naughton's affectionate 1957 paean to the strength of family and its ability to overcome the social upheavals of the time, is brought brilliantly to life by director Alan Macpherson and a supremely talented
-
Date
Homes plan for site of former college
THE site of a former Islamic college in Bromley Cross has been earmarked for a modern housing development. Barratt Homes has submitted plans to build 86 properties comprising 70 apartments and 16 detached houses on the land in Hospital Road. The development
-
Date
Club sports its £50,000 facelift
A YOUTH club in Blackrod has re-opened following a £50,000 revamp. Blackrod Youth Club in Manchester Road, was allocated the cash from Bolton Council Youth Services last year after years of neglect. The grant went towards replacing the roof of the building
-
Date
£700 fine for football streaker
A STREAKER ran naked across the pitch at a Bury FC league match, wearing only his trainers, for a £70 bet, a court was told. Philip Stapleton streaked across the Gigg Lane pitch on Boxing Day, during the game against Grimsby. Stapleton, aged 26, from
-
Date
Botched murder trial: Officers go free
FIVE police officers will not be charged over a £5 million murder trial involving a Walkden man, which collapsed after a detective was accused of withholding evidence. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said there was not enough evidence
-
Date
25 planted saplings are destroyed
VANDALS snapped 25 young trees in a primary school's mini-woodland. The trees, which were planted last autumn, have had to be dug up. And Naomi Richardson, headteacher of Eatock Primary School, Daisy Hill, said she was heartbroken and sickened to discover
-
Date
Parking ticket for digger working on road repairs
WORKMEN resurfacing streets for a council had parking tickets put on their van and digger. The team working for civil engineers J Hopkins were contracted to carry out the work by Bury Council in the town centre. The workmen had been resurfacing back streets
-
Date
Residents lose footpath row
A FOOTPATH in Radcliffe has become a public right of way following a planning inquiry. Residents living in Osborne Walk challenged a Bury Council decision to declare a footpath at the back of their homes a public space. They argued it was not public land
-
Date
Library to be demolished - and rebuilt
TOWN hall bosses are to spend £800,000 demolishing and rebuilding a Bolton library because many elderly and disabled people cannot get into it. Stairs at the entrance to the 118-year-old High Street library in Daubhill have been proving to be too steep
-
Date
Sports village takes shape in a good cause
WORK is under way to build the £78 million sports village in Leigh. The massive scheme on a 72-acre site at Marshall Street looks set to revitalise the town. And the area's largest charity will also benefit after leigh Sports Village formed a partnership
-
Date
More than 1,000 quit in nine months
MORE people in Bolton are stubbing it out than ever before - with 1,000 people quitting smoking in just nine months. The latest figures reveal that between April and December last year, 1,000 smokers have given up in Bolton, with the help of the borough's
-
Date
Speed traps net 9,000 officers
POLICE officers have been clocked speeding almost 9,000 times in a year on the streets of Greater Manchester. During the last 12 months, 8,994 officers have been caught by speed cameras in marked and unmarked cars. Of these, 112 were snapped speeding
-
Date
Get set for UEFA Cup Final tickets
OPTIMISTIC Wanderers fans who think their heroes will reach the UEFA Cup Final in May need to start preparing next month. For thousands of tickets are going on sale on www.uefa.com at noon on February 20. The closing date is March 20 and if demand exceeds
-
Date
Euro fun is timely tonic for Whites
SAM Allardyce is hoping to reward the fans who have followed Wanderers on their European adventure by going all the way in the UEFA Cup. The Whites have exceeded all expectations by reaching the last 32 in their debut season in Europe and Big Sam, who
-
Date
Out of Africa - Wanderers' TV stars
WANDERERS' stars will be in the TV spotlight when the 2006 African Nations Cup starts on Friday teatime- and you will be able to watch live action, but only on cable or satellite. The digital channel BBCThree and satellite Eurosport, also available on
-
Date
Carry on Sam, says Deano
EXCLUSIVE by Gordon Sharrock: Dean Holdsworth has urged Sam Allardyce to ignore the snipers and keep up the good work. The former Reebok striker, who was a member of the infamous Wimbledon 'Crazy Gang', says the best way his old boss can answer the critics
-
Date
Amir tickets in short supply
TICKETS for Amir Khan's next professional fight are fast running out. The Bolton fighter will feature on the undercard to Michael Jennings' British welterweight title fight against Young Muttley on January 28 at the Nottingham Arena. Khan takes on tough
-
Date
Five aim for fame in top pop roles
FIVE starry-eyed youngsters will be treading the boards at Manchester Opera House this weekend after winning parts in the latest dance production. Max Mondryk (11), brother Harry (9), Megan Littler (8), Nichola Ferris (10) and Amy Hart (11) will take
-
Date
Pensioners alerted after robbery spate
RESIDENTS of Holcombe Brook and Summerseat are being warned to be extra vigilant when opening the door to strangers following a spate of robberies by thieves who barged into the house. In the last two weeks, four households - all belonging to elderly
-
Date
£27m boost for council homes
BURY'S council house tenants will benefit from a £27 million boost to bring their homes up to scratch. The money is on its way after Six Town Housing, the arm's-length organisation that now runs the council's 8,500 houses, won a two-star rating from inspectors
-
Date
Woman died after falling down stairs
A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER who broke her neck falling down a staircase died when she developed pneumonia in hospital, an inquest heard. Seventy-year-old Zubaida Begum was enjoying a family gathering at her daughter's home in East Street, Bury, in January last
-
Date
No payout to 'abuse case error' mum
A MOTHER who had her baby boy taken away after she and her partner were wrongly accused of abusing him has failed in a test case bid for compensation against Bury Council. The mother, who cannot be named, was traumatised when her one-year-old son was
-
Date
Friends re-united at the weekend
COLIN Marrison has a special reasons to hope he keeps his place in the Bury side at Boston United on Saturday. The best friend of the 20-year-old Sheffield United striker, who joined the Gigg Lane men on a month's loan last week, is midfielder Ian Ross
-
Date
Centurions struggle against Warriors
LEIGH CENTURIONS 6, WIGAN 34 by Mike Hulme: Tony Benson was left with mixed feelings as he saw his new Leigh side outgunned in a friendly against local rivals Wigan Warriors. The Leigh head coach declared himself satisfied with many aspects of his team's
-
Date
Nelson sunk by FC's big guns
NELSON1, FC UNITED 3: Accrington Stanley's Interlink Express Stadium hosted FC for the second time this season, as Nelson switched their home NWCFL Division Two fixture to the historic venue. Unfortunately, the weather was equally as cold as the previous
-
Date
Up a creek, without a Kanu
OUR website betting expert Gerry McDonnell muses about Fergie's face, an Arsenal nap, and Sam Allardyce's stats in this weekend's predictions. He writes: HERE'S something for all you trivia buffs; Steven Spielberg's masterpiece 'The Colour Purple' may
-
Date
MP makes cancer call
BOLTON South-east MP Brian Iddon is encouraging youngsters in his constituency to get involved in two cancer projects. Macmillan Cancer Reliefs education scheme, Cancertalk Week, will be held next week and the charity's annual fundraising event for schools
-
Date
Race on to raise cash for cancer research
WOMEN and girls in the Bolton area who want to take part in the Race for Life in Leverhulme Park this summer are being urged to enter early. Last year, the event's website was swamped by would-be runners from the Bolton area, and the 2,000 places for
-
Date
Size matters in Arena fitness campaign!
NEW Year resolutions might have gone by the wayside, but Bolton Arena is determined to get people back on track. Arena businesses have launched a new special offer designed to get people back into shape after the excesses of the festive season. The advertising
-
Date
Thanks for support
I WOULD like to give my heartfelt thanks to the staff at the WeightWatchers meeting in Bury at Bury Sports Club, for their help towards my successful weight loss. On April 21 2005, I weighed just over 22 stone. Now I am 18 stone 2lbs, losing just under
-
Date
Why are we threatened with losing the little that we have?
FURTHER to my recent letter expressing concern at the proposal to close the accident and emergency department at Fairfield General Hospital ('Bleak future if Fairfield loses A&E department' Letters, January 12), I have since read that there is a proposal
-
Date
It's time for change in the NHS - for good reason
I WAS interested to read Aubrey Isaacson's open letter to the Secretary of State for Health ('Leave Fairfield Hospital alone', Letters, December 29). I'm glad that he was pleased with the response of our services during the birth of his grandchild. However
-
Date
Preferred option is to keep fairfield's A&E unit
I HAVE seen quite a lot of coverage in the local newspapers and in letters from people expressing concerns about changes to local health services, and particularly the future of accident and emergency services at Fairfield General Hospital in Bury. I
-
Date
'Hoodies' brought terror to our quiet night out
LAST Friday, January 13 my boyfriend and I were walking home from the Roach Bank Inn on Croft Lane, Hollins, at around 11.30pm. We hadn't been there before as we are both new to the area, having moved into a new property nearby at the end of November.
-
Date
Fury over Post Office 'broken promises'
COUNCIL leaders have launched a blistering attack on the Post Office over its 'trail of broken promises' to reopen a town centre office. They are furious that, after seven months, Bury seems no closer to having a flagship store since Forbuoys closed last
-
Date
Georgian mansion fire
WHITEFIELD'S 200-year-old former town hall has been targeted by arsonists. Passers-by spotted smoke coming from the boarded-up ground floor windows of the Georgian mansion at 5pm on Tuesday. Officers battled thick fumes and flames to tackle the blaze.
-
Date
Cats need a home
LOVING homes are being sought for 38 cats who survived being dumped on a snow-covered lane in freezing temperatures near Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary. The pets will be available for viewing and adoption by the public on Saturday, January 28. And officials
-
Date
Man rescued after falling under tram
METROLINK services running between Bury and Manchester were suspended for a short time when a man fell under a tram on Tuesday night. The emergency services were called at 8pm to the Woodlands Road station in Cheetham Hill. The line was closed in both
-
Date
Sleigh success raises £6,000
RAMSBOTTOM Rotary Club are toasting yet another successful festive collection which brought in £6,000. The club took its annual Christmas float back out onto the streets of Ramsbottom collecting door-to-door as well as holding collections outside Tesco
-
Date
Traders help ease parking
TRADERS and staff have promised to park further away so shoppers are not deterred from going to Bury Market. Around 200 parking spaces have been lost with the building of the new JJB sports and leisure complex, which is due to open soon in Spring Street
-
Date
Witness plea for £35,000 Co-op raid
INVESTIGATIONS are continuing into a £35,000 robbery at a Bury store. A security guard was filling the ATM machine inside the Co-op Late Shop in Ainsworth Road at 8.30am last Friday when he was confronted by a lone offender who threatened him before fleeing
-
Date
Decision time on future of high schools
PARENTS across the borough will know the fate of their children's high schools in just six days time. Councillors on the ruling executive will recommend on Wednesday which two, or even three, secondary schools should close. Statutory notices will then
-
Date
Law Society shuts down bankrupt firm
THE Law Society has closed down a Bury company after two solicitors were adjudged to be bankrupt. Now a Manchester firm has been appointed as agents to handle the affairs of Slater Ellison, based in Broad Street. A spokesman for the Law Society said:
-
Date
Cuts search goes on at town hall
THE search for budget savings and the threat to council jobs continues in Bury. Town hall bosses are trying to find £9.8 million to balance the budget, with the possibility of losing 75 posts. The deadline for staff asking for voluntary redundancy or
-
Date
College course offers chance to learn signing
BURY College is continuing to lead the way by offering a new range of basic sign language and deaf awareness courses. The Disability Discrimination Act has determined that each business must offer a qualified signer where required, and Business Solutions
-
Date
Man broke free from police van and handcuffs
A MAN arrested for smashing the window of a police van managed to break free from the vehicle and remove his handcuffs, a court heard. Glyn Moore (24) of Moss Row, Bury, appeared before Bury Magistrates Court last Thursday after being arrested in the
-
Date
Meeting over health service proposals
A PUBLIC meeting is to be held on Monday evening to give people the chance to have their questions answered on the proposals aiming to transform health services in Bury. The event will take place at Bury Town Hall's Elizabethan Suite at 6.30pm to provide
-
Date
Trek drives upcomputer fund
A Greenmount school is on a high after receiving a £2,600 boost from a trekking expedition. Holly Mount Primary School, in Hollymount Lane, accepted the donation from parent Damian Davies who tackled the infamous Three Peaks Challenge in a bid to raise
-
Date
Driver was three times over limit
A driver involved in a three-vehicle crash, in which her car turned upside down, had three times the legal level of alcohol in her system, a court was told. Ruth Moore (39), of Ash Grove, Walshaw, was before Bury magistrates admitting that she drove with
-
Date
Police used roadblock in drugs arrest
POLICE had to make a roadblock to stop a drug user trying to get away from pursuing police patrols, a court heard. Jamie Hopkins (30), of Broadoak, Bury, admitted he drove without due care and without documents, and was also in possession of heroin. Mrs
-
Date
Centurions struggle against Warriors
LEIGH CENTURIONS 6, WIGAN 34 by Mike Hulme: Tony Benson was left with mixed feelings as he saw his new Leigh side outgunned in a friendly against local rivals Wigan Warriors. The Leigh head coach declared himself satisfied with many aspects of his team's
-
Date
College course offers chance to learn signing
BURY College is continuing to lead the way by offering a new range of basic sign language and deaf awareness courses. The Disability Discrimination Act has determined that each business must offer a qualified signer where required, and Business Solutions
-
Date
Trek drives upcomputer fund
A Greenmount school is on a high after receiving a £2,600 boost from a trekking expedition. Holly Mount Primary School, in Hollymount Lane, accepted the donation from parent Damian Davies who tackled the infamous Three Peaks Challenge in a bid to raise
-
Date
The Chris Casper Column
THAT was a big win for us, I asked for a massive performance from the lads and I certainly got that. I dont think Torquay are a bad side, they are in a bit of a false position and I can see them getting out of trouble, but our workrate was good and we
-
Date
Disabled 'will back crackdown'
THERE are more than 15,000 people claiming incapacity benefit in Bolton. The figures came to light after the Government announced a crackdown on disability benefit cheats who are swindling millions of pounds a year. Long-term disability claimants will
-
Date
Lunchtime quiz for MP
BURY businesses will get the chance to quiz the Economic Secretary to the Treasury at an event this month. Ivan Lewis, Bury South MP, is holding a lunch meeting with members of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce. He is keen to meet local businesses
-
Date
Get set for UEFA Cup Final tickets
OPTIMISTIC Wanderers fans who think their heroes will reach the UEFA Cup Final in May need to start preparing next month. For thousands of tickets are going on sale on www.uefa.com at noon on February 20. The closing date is March 20 and if demand exceeds
-
Date
Residents have a say on vandals
A PUBLIC meeting to tackle anti-social behaviour in Whitefield is to be held next week at St Michael's Church community hall in Ribble Drive. Residents complained to Whitefield and Unsworth area board that much of the nuisance and vandalism was caused
-
Date
Georgian mansion fire
WHITEFIELD'S 200-year-old former town hall has been targeted by arsonists. Passers-by spotted smoke coming from the boarded-up ground floor windows of the Georgian mansion at 5pm on Tuesday. Officers battled thick fumes and flames to tackle the blaze.
-
Date
Fire brigade staff shake-up
A NEW watch is now up and running at Bury fire station as part of a staffing shake-up throughout Greater Manchester. Traditionally, all fire stations in the county have operated with four watches, or shifts. However, under the new plans introduced by
-
Date
New head delivers a class inspection
A GOOD school with outstanding features is how one inspector has described a top-performing Bury primary. Our Lady of Lourdes RC in Rudgwick Drive was praised in an Ofsted report. In a letter to parents, inspectors felt new headteacher Mrs Donna Kiernan
-
Date
Airport security mansold counterfeit DVDs
A SECURITY officer at Manchester Airport has admitted breaching copyright laws by selling fake DVDs and CDs to colleagues. Allan Hodgkinson was producing the counterfeit movies and music albums at home to supplement his income, a court was told last week
-
Date
Coleman wants new faces
ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman was hoping to add at least one new face to his squad before Saturday's home game against Cambridge United. The Reds boss is looking to strengthen during the January transfer window as his side hopes to build on
-
Date
Spitting is not macho, let's have it banned
SO now we know who has started young men spitting. A footballer! When I was young, which is a long time ago, I remember notices, quite large ones, on the trams, to the effect that spitting was prohibited and that if you were caught you would be prosecuted
-
Date
High schools beat average at GCSE
HIGH schools in Bury are continuing to perform better than the national average, according to new tables released on Thursday. In Bury, 57.8 per cent of pupils gained five A to C grades - just above the national average of 57.1 per cent and a four per
-
Date
Number of jobless is on the increase
UNEMPLOYMENT in Bolton has risen, new figures show. The most recent statistics reveal that in November, there were 4,280 people out of work in the town. That is an increase of 0.5 per cent on the previous month, and a rise of 0.2 per cent on the same
-
Date
New groundsman wanted as Gordon calls it a day
AFTER overseeing and tending Greenmount Cricket Club's picturesque ground for more than 38 years, Gordon Horrocks has finally called it a day. The former Bury FC and Ramsbottom CC groundsman has a reputation for preparing a wicket that is second to none
-
Date
I saw yobs who overturned car
Following the story of January 17 about rampaging yobs overturning a car, I also witnessed these yobs around 8.15pm on Friday, January 13. There were around 50 to 60 of them in Bennetts Lane deliberately preventing traffic driving on the roads. When vehicles
-
Date
Closed pool helped me keep mobile
I READ with interest the letters from Carl Machin and P A Allan. In the past I have had numerous letters published in your newspaper on the subject of the lack of a swimming pool in Bolton. It is a disgrace. We had three pools once, which were closed,
-
Date
Bolton pride has its limits
I'M heartened to know that, being an ex Boltonian, I'm probably 'open, friendly, colourful and straightforward', not to mention displaying 'generosity, decency and good humour' (Letter, January 6). So I followed Mr Hurst's recommendation to 'tell the
-
Date
New groundsman wanted as Gordon calls it a day
AFTER overseeing and tending Greenmount Cricket Club's picturesque ground for more than 38 years, Gordon Horrocks has finally called it a day. The former Bury FC and Ramsbottom CC groundsman has a reputation for preparing a wicket that is second to none
-
Date
Groundsmen pitch in to solve water problem
A TEST pit dug in the middle of the Gigg Lane playing surface has solved the waterlogging puzzle that has plagued Shakers groundsman Mike Curtis and his staff for seasons. It would appear that the drains that were laid below the pitch in the summer of
-
Date
Residents lose footpath row
A FOOTPATH in Radcliffe has become a public right of way following a planning inquiry. Residents living in Osborne Walk challenged a Bury Council decision to declare a footpath at the back of their homes a public space. They argued it was not public land
-
Date
Hole in wall raiders are foiled
TWO men tried to smash their way into the post office in Harwood. The pair used a sledge-hammer to try and break down the wall at the rear of the premises in Lea Gate at around 9pm on Tuesday. But the men were forced to flee empty-handed when residents
-
Date
Keep an eye on birds in your garden
PEOPLE are being encouraged to become birdwatchers for an hour to help the RSPB. On January 28 and 29, the annual Big Garden Birdwatch is being held and people are being asked to spend an hour in their gardens on one of the days noting down the birds
-
Date
Amir tickets in short supply
TICKETS for Amir Khan's next professional fight are fast running out. The Bolton fighter will feature on the undercard to Michael Jennings' British welterweight title fight against Young Muttley on January 28 at the Nottingham Arena. Khan takes on tough
-
Date
Police success
HIGH visibility police foot patrols in Bury town centre during the last month led to a largely trouble free festive period. Despite Bury town centre attracting more night time visitors to pubs, bars and clubs than ever before, Operation Lazne has been
-
Date
Pubs help staff kick the habit
PUBS in Bolton are encouraging staff to stub it out by providing a free advice line for those who want to quit. Managers at the Beehive, Lostock, and the Cotton Kier in Bolton town centre are working with Nicorette to give staff a helpline number, a personal
-
Date
All creatures great and small at opera for children
PRIMARY school children enjoyed the power and drama of the opera when they were invited to the UK premiere of Shostakovich's Silly Little Mouse. The short opera was performed by Bolton Music Service and the Hall Orchestra at Victoria Hall, in front of
-
Date
Library to be demolished - and rebuilt
TOWN hall bosses are to spend £800,000 demolishing and rebuilding a Bolton library because many elderly and disabled people cannot get into it. Stairs at the entrance to the 118-year-old High Street library in Daubhill have been proving to be too steep
-
Date
Belly dancers have a wobbly start
THE ancient art of belly dancing is normally seen in the Middle East - but is making its way into Bolton. New belly dancing classes have started at the Bolton Excel Leisure Centre and look likely to be a huge success. Katy Carmichael, said: "It was a
-
Date
Smoking is blamed as lung cancer cases rise
BOLTON'S top lung cancer doctor is urging smokers to stub it out after the number of people being diagnosed with lung cancer increased in 2005. Last year, 163 people were told they had the disease, which is nearly always terminal, after being diagnosed
-
Date
More cash for door-to-door service
A POPULAR door-to-door public transport service is proving such a success that it is being extended. The Barrow Bridge Local Link scheme has proved so popular in its first few months of operation that transport bosses have decided to extend its funding
-
Date
Anger over council tax demand to dead woman
COUNCIL tax demands are still being sent to a woman who died a year ago. Bolton Council is adamant Annie Flitcroft owes them £215. And the council has been bombarding Mrs Flitcroft's daughter, Gillian Barnett, with payment demands. Mrs Barnett, aged 46
-
Date
Carnival in a comeback
A SUMMER carnival is set to make a comeback this year after it was axed for the first time in its history. Organisers of Adlington Carnival say this year's event will be bigger and better than ever to make up for last year's cancellation. Last year's
-
Date
Number of jobless is on the increase
UNEMPLOYMENT in Bolton has risen, new figures show. The most recent statistics reveal that in November, there were 4,280 people out of work in the town. That is an increase of 0.5 per cent on the previous month, and a rise of 0.2 per cent on the same
-
Date
Carnival in a comeback
A SUMMER carnival is set to make a comeback this year after it was axed for the first time in its history. Organisers of Adlington Carnival say this year's event will be bigger and better than ever to make up for last year's cancellation. Last year's
-
Date
Habsi aiming to be number one
NEW Reebok keeper, Ali Al-Habsi, has his sights on being Wanderers number one. But, for now, he is happy just watching and learning from the man he one day hopes to knock off the top spot, Jussi Jaaskelainen. Al-Habsi, the Oman international rated the
-
Date
Up a creek, without a Kanu
OUR website betting expert Gerry McDonnell muses about Fergie's face, an Arsenal nap, and Sam Allardyce's stats in this weekend's predictions. He writes: HERE'S something for all you trivia buffs; Steven Spielberg's masterpiece 'The Colour Purple' may
-
Date
Plea to residentsto help raise £75,000 price tag
THE race to protect lodges in Lowercroft from development is a step closer to the winning post. The Friends of Cockey Moor, Whitehead's and Parker's Lodges group are now urging residents living near to the sites to help with their fundraising so they
-
Date
Health trust chief will retire early
THE chief executive of Bury Primary Care Trust is to retire early, it has been revealed. Evan Boucher (56) has been the trust's chief executive since its creation in April 2002 and was previously acting chief executive of Bury and Rochdale Health Authority
-
Date
Boro lack killer instinct
NORTH FERRIBY UNITED 2, RADCLIFFE BORO 1: Boro again belied their lowly position to give runaway UniBond Premier Division leaders North Ferriby a scare but they returned from Humberside empty handed thanks to a superb display from the home side's new
-
Date
USA award for John
JOHN Cunliffe, a former Turton High School pupil now studying in the United States, has taken his latest step towards realising his ambition to become a professional footballer. The 21-year-old striker from Edgworth has been voted ahead of players from
-
Date
Boro lack killer instinct
NORTH FERRIBY UNITED 2, RADCLIFFE BORO 1: Boro again belied their lowly position to give runaway UniBond Premier Division leaders North Ferriby a scare but they returned from Humberside empty handed thanks to a superb display from the home side's new
-
Date
Odeon and ABC shut for good reason
I'M writing in response to recent readers' letters about the lack of a small town-centre cinema. I, too, remember with nostalgia my childhood visits to the old Odeon and the ABC, and I understand these readers' feelings. However, the Odeon, and in particular
-
Date
Jimmy Bell column: We've got a score to settle
YOUR next game in football is always your biggest. But they don't come much bigger than Cambridge United and Exeter for us. Especially at this stage of the season. It is vital that you win your home games, and everyone will expect us to beat Cambridge
-
Date
Evening buses are back after clamp on vandals
BUSES will back on the streets of Little Hulton - more than three years after they were halted by repeated vandal attacks. The bus route is being reintroduced thanks to a new crackdown on anti-social behaviour. The 36 evening service, provided by First
-
Date
Baby unit saved my little boy
WHEN Joel-Gabriel developed breathing difficulties minutes after his birth, his parents were horrified to hear that there were not enough staff to care for him at the hospital where he was born. In a desperate bid to save him, Joel-Gabriel was transferred
-
Date
Baby Jamie inherits cherished war medals
LITTLE Jamie Owen Hilton is a hero to his family at just 10 days old - and he has the medals to prove it. The tiny tot, born to mum Amy at the Princess Anne Maternity Unit at the Royal Bolton Hospital, is the first boy in his maternal family for 100 years
-
Date
School league tables
A BOLTON school once labelled a failure by education watchdogs has been named as one of the most improved in the country. Secondary school performance tables published today show that Withins School in Breightmet has doubled its GCSE success rate during
-
Date
Blackpool B&B 'one of world's best hotels'
A 10-bedroom bed and breakfast hotel in Blackpool has been named alongside some of the world's most exclusive hotels in a travel awards scheme. The Norwood Hotel ranked in the top 10 in two categories of the Travellers' Choice Awards, voted for by holidaymakers
-
Date
An ensemble playing at its finest
A WONDERFUL, heartwarming piece of theatre. Bill Naughton's affectionate 1957 paean to the strength of family and its ability to overcome the social upheavals of the time, is brought brilliantly to life by director Alan Macpherson and a supremely talented
-
Date
Tigers fail in final session
NOTTINGHAM 23, SEDGLEY PARK 16: A continuing inability to stamp their mark on a game in the third quarter, together with an inspired change of strip at half-time by the Nottingham coaching staff, condemned Park to defeat number 11, the only crumb of comfort
-
Date
Confusion over collection
A LEAFLET telling me that my recycling box was to be emptied on the Wednesday between Christmas (normally it would be Tuesday) then two weeks later I received another leaflet saying there would be no refuse collection Christmas week? So therefore, I didn't
-
Date
Post office is on the map
AS I was coming out of Bury indoor market recently, I noticed some free leaflets on Bury town centre. They seem to be from Bury Metro. Right in the middle on The Haymarket was marked the Post Office! Of course, as we all know, the post office has not
-
Date
Concerned over possible threat
I AM concerned about the possible closure of the accident and emergency department at Fairfield General Hospital. It is an absolute disgrace if it closes. A lot of people will suffer or even die. It will be too far to the nearest hospitals and people
-
Date
Make your voices heard
I FEAR the question is not how long will it take for the no-smoking ban to bed in at Fairfield (Letters, January 12), but will there be any beds at Fairfield open long enough for this to take place? How long before the Strategic Health Authority and Bury
-
Date
A parking fine for a digger!
WORKMEN resurfacing streets in Bury town centre got a shock when their transit van and digger were given parking tickets. The team work for civil engineers J Hopkins but were contracted to carry out the work by Bury Council, who also happen to contract
-
Date
50 brilliant things that make Bolton such a great place to visit
THE well-respected travel guide The Rough Guide to England called Bolton an "unsung mill town" and said it was not a town it could recommend to tourists - we beg to differ! It caused an outcry among civic leaders and tourism bosses leapt to Bolton's
-
Date
Protection of children our priority - Ruth Kelly
UNDER-fire Education Secretary Ruth Kelly has spoken exclusively to the Bolton Evening News website ahead of the Commons statement on Thursday that could make or break her political career. The Bolton West MP will reveal in the Commons the number of
