Manufacturing firms fear another 26,000 jobs will be axed in the next few months as the sector continues to struggle, according to a new survey. Costs increased "sharply" over the past quarter and confidence has fallen in most parts of the UK, research
AMERICAN TV's Extreme Makeovers makes fascinating viewing as it transforms "ordinary" women into glamourous beings. Now it's coming to Britain and it's bound to score highly in the ratings. But, judging by the US version, everyone comes out looking like
Chelsea footballers may believe that waxing off their body hair is a better look but there are a percentage of females who don't agree. Hairy chests are still ideal places to lay tired heads and cuddle up to on chilly nights. You can't say the same about
SORRY, but I couldn't stifle a feeling of dismay at the artist's impression of what Bolton Market Hall would look like if developer Agora's plan goes ahead. Our handsome Victorian edifice's "makeover" looked like any other shopping centre in any town
WHILE you can't blame anyone for cashing in on celebrity by touring foreign parts, Cherie Blaire's trip to New Zealand and Australia might not win too many fans Down Under. She may well be a successful QC and the mother of four children but - let's call
AMIR Khan is poised to land a high-profile rematch against the man who denied him Olympic gold in Athens last summer. The Amateur Boxing Association have confirmed that a deal had been struck for a Four Nations team to fight the mighty Cubans in Liverpool
SO, T-Mobile wishes to put four antennae on Barrow Bridge chimney, plus three ground equipment cabins. This is a listed building, plus there are three schools close by. Isn't this a conservation area? What would Fred Dibnah think of this? I think this
REGARDING the remarks made by Tony Banks about Royal Bolton Hospital - I fully agree. Three weeks ago, my wife was admitted to the Royal Bolton. While there, she was moved to three different wards in one week. Visiting her one afternoon when she had been
I BELIEVE the real issue behind the shortfall in finance in the NHS is the astronomical cost of drugs, which are mainly controlled by America. A documentary shown on the BBC last year said an American female doctor was threatened for speaking out about
I COMMEND Mr Tony Banks for being outspoken about the state of the National Health Service (NHS). At last someone is prepared to speak out. It isn't just about Bolton. I have regular contact with Manchester Royal Infirmary due to my husband's continuous
From the Evening News February 9, 1995: YOUNGSTERS are being encouraged to forget about boozing - and enjoy drinks in an alcohol-free "pub". The Carpenter's Arms has been such a huge success that it is believed to have reduced petty crime in the Smithills
WESTHOUGHTON Cricket Club will hold their annual meeting on Friday, February 25, at the Tyldesleys, starting at 8pm.
THE Old Trafford Ashes Test is set to be a sell-out. All tickets for Friday and Saturday, August 12 and 13, of the England-Australia match have now been sold, and Lancashire are currently contacting those who have been unsuccessful on these days offering
POLICE are still questioning murder suspect Stuart Milsted after his release from hospital. Detectives want to question the 30-year-old in connection with the murder of pregnant prostitute Danielle Moorcroft. Milsted was discovered on an island in Queen's
PUB landlords in Bolton are ready to turn their backs on round the clock drinking. Early indications are that most licensees in Bolton may stay open an hour or two longer but that there is little enthusiasm for staying open through the night. Under new
LADIES individuals. Best of three February 23: E Newcombe v K Dooley; S Mayer v C Williams; J Ling v M Pickersgill; A Williams v J Hodgkinson. Mixed doubles preliminary round Sponsored by The Stumble Inn Division One P W L F A D Pts Grapes A 9 9 0 47
A TEACHER who shot at a gang of youths has been found guilty of a firearms offence. Linda Walker, aged 47, of Hollyhouse Drive, Urmston, was found guilty of intent to cause fear with a gun by a jury at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday. The court had
THE brilliant Beauty Queen of Leenane runs at Bolton Octagon Theatre until February 19. Andrew Mosley talks to one of the main players about the play and his other career as an author. GED Simmons, who plays the affable Pato Dooley, has a debut novel
MOTORISTS in Westhoughton face delays as work is carried out to renew a gas main. Bolton Council is carrying out the work along Wigan Road, which is expected to be completed by February 15.
A SCHOOLGIRL who died after being hit by a police van answering a 999 call told friends she had been drinking lager, an inquest heard. Rachel Sumner, aged 12, died in hospital four days after she was hit by the marked police van in Harpurhey, Manchester
SHROVE Tuesday was celebrated with gusto around Bolton, as adults and children alike competed in the traditional pancake day races. Year Three pupils from Holy Infant and St Anthony's RC school took part in a race at the Asda store in Astley Bridge, watched
HARRY Potter fans across Bolton have swamped bookstores with orders for the latest title - six months before its release. Shops across the town are already reporting large numbers of pre-orders for The Half-Blood Prince, which will be the sixth book in
MEMBERS of the public are being given the chance to challenge the Prime Minister on issues affecting the country. Channel Five is offering people the opportunity to quiz Tony Blair, one-on-one, for a special programme. The programme will follow Mr Blair
A PENSIONER suffering from cancer was hit in the face and robbed of her handbag. Mary Aspden, aged 79, was attacked in Swinton when two men snatched her bag before punching her in the face. She fell to the ground, suffering severe bruising around her
ORGANISERS of Atherton's 16th Bent & Bongs Beer Bash are lifting a glass to another successful event after raising £20,000 for charity. The festival was staged by Atherton and Tyldesley Round Table, who sold a special "tsunami beer" which alone contributed
MAJOR new investment on the West Coast rail line is needed to end weekend train chaos, say campaigners. Pressure group West Coast Rail 250 has joined forces with MPs on the West Coast Main Line All-Party Group to develop a long-term strategy for the line
SUPERSTAR Tom Cruise showed the world how to do it the film Cocktail - and now the North-west Flairing Championships are coming to Bolton. Flairing involves mixing cocktails while juggling bottles, performing magic tricks, telling jokes and singing. And
TINY Elizabeth Mary McGuire took steps to raise money for the tsunami appeal on Saturday - even though she is just 16 weeks old. The baby girl accompanied her parents, Linda and Paul, and 500 other charity walkers took part in a 10 km church-to-church
Gary Speed may have quit the international scene but he shows no sign of slowing down domestically, according to Sam Allardyce. The Bolton manager admits he is astonished at the work ethic of his veteran midfielder, who will miss his first international
SAM Allardyce and his high-flying Wanderers could have the backing of a bumper crowd when they return to the FA Cup trail at the Reebok on Saturday week. Ticket prices for the fifth round tie against the winners of the Fulham-Derby replay have been slashed
FORMER students and staff of Bolton Institute are being invited back to celebrate its elevation to a university. More than 500 guests from all over the world are expected to attend a ceremony at the Albert Halls on Thursday, February 24. The University
HUNDREDS of schoolchildren are to be given a say on how their lives could be made better in an area previously plagued by teenage anti-social behaviour. A survey is to be carried out at Turton High School with 1,400 questionnaires sent out to pupils and
RESULTS and tables Capital 190 Howarth Roofcraft 98; Church Hotel 149 (D) FSCCC B 123; Victoria 117 Adlington 150; Siddons 129 Hanson 137; The Briarfield 88 Bolton Motor Bodies 93 (I); FSCCC A conceded to AJs. P W D L Pts Adlington 15 14 0 1 28 Hanson
WALKERS on the West Pennine moors can now enjoy a stroll round an art exhibition. Ramblers can drop in at the United Utilities information centre, next to the Lower Barn, Rivington, to see displays of artwork from local groups. Sue Harper, manager of
A CARROT a day helps keep cancer away, scientists revealed. A compound in the root vegetable has been found by scientists in Newcastle to reduce the risk of developing the killer disease.
WATERHEAD 32 WESTHOUGHTON LIONS U8S 24: The Lions ran a tough tackling Oldham team very close. Game star was Chris Brownlow with four tries, two scoring passes and 15 tackles, but the Player of the Match award went to Declan Burke for a fine game and
NEWLY appointed Centurions skipper, Darren Fleary, will sit out Saturday's opener against Huddersfield - the club he skippered last season. Fleary has not yet fully recovered from a knee injury and the Centurions are likely to be led out in Super League
PREMIERSHIP, Coca-Cola and international games for the rest of the week WEDNESDAY International: England v Holland (7.45pm); Northern Ireland v Canada (8pm); Rep of Ireland v Portugal (7.30pm); Wales v Hungary (8pm). FRIDAY Coca-Cola Division One: Bristol
HAVING just read the final episode, I feel I must put pen to paper to tell you how much I have enjoyed reading about Cllr Morgan's efforts to lose weight over the past year. I and many of my friends have greatly enjoyed reading about the highs and lows
MORE than a dozen people returned home to Bolton from their dream holiday with a serious infection last year. Infections such as typhoid, malaria and even leprosy were among the illnesses people picked up while on holiday. In 2004, nine people contracted
CANCER sufferer Gemma Feeney was stunned when she discovered TV stars Peter Kay and Patrick McGuinness on her doorstep. But she quickly composed herself to offer them a cup of tea - and was pleased when the pair said they wanted to donate some money to
WORRIED bus users have been assured that they will not be left stranded when a vital route in Bolton is withdrawn. Residents in Darcy Lever and Breightmet had hit out at operator First Bus after learning that the 536 and 537 services, particularly used
ALL homes in Bolton will have a recycling container by next March as the council faces up to stiff Government targets. Town hall bosses have announced plans to provide another 37,500 green boxes, for recycled bottles and cans, and a further 15,500 green
ANYONE switching on their radio around Horwich on Wednesday and Thursday will be able to hear the sounds of Rivington and Blackrod High School pupils. The school has spent the last six months planning the two-day broadcasting adventure, which has been
BOLTON Ramblers will explore the Lakes on their monthly Saturday coach trips starting in March, walking about 10 miles and visiting most of the major lakes and climbing Helvellyn. The walkers will have a short four-mile walk this Sunday, starting from
FAMOUS women from Bolton are the subject of a forthcoming presentation by Smithills Hall and Park Trust. The production, which is being funded by a Heritage Grant, will be called Footsteps from the Past. Anyone interested in helping with the event is
ONE of Liverpool's promising unsigned indie bands, We See Foxes, who feature a Bolton drummer, supported recently-signed The Black Velvets at a Manchester gig. The band opened on Tuesday night at the Night and Day club in Oldham Street, Manchester. The
YOUNG fundraisers from St Helen's Road Methodist Church, Bolton, are helping to build a new community centre. Twenty children from the Sunday School are putting on performances of the popular panto Beauty and the Beast from February 16 to 19, at 7.30pm
The famous Brat Pack era will be relived in Bolton with a live concert called The Kings of Swing. The show features a 15-piece orchestra under the direction of Greg Francis, and presents some of the best swing vocalists currently touring Europe, including
A Bolton Wanderers fanatic has finally received her dream birthday present - soccer star El Hadji Diouf's shirt. Nicola Kennedy, who shares the same birthday as Diouf, was told she would receive the forward's shirt as a birthday present after the Premiership
CROMPTON Fold beat Castle Hill 2-0 to win the six-a-side primary school Withins Cup football competition. Eleven schools entered with Hardy Mill, Crompton Fold and Red Lane the group winners, and Castle Hill qualifying as best runners up. Semi finals
THE top three sides in the John Smith's Farnworth Winter Rounders League won to leave Adlington two points clear of Hanson, who in turn, are two points clear of Capital. Siddons' eight-run defeat at the hands of Hanson dropped them to fourth, two points
LATEST details U15 Jubilee Cup: Bolton Conty Eagles 3 Atherton Colls 1; Westhoughton Rangers 3 Aspull Jnrs 4. U18 League: Atherton Town 1 Radcliffe Town 3; Bolton County Youth 0 Standish Juniors 1; Farnworth Boys 3 Boothstown 1; Hindsford Hawks 2 Bolton
CLARE Gribbon, manager of the Barracuda Bar on Nelson Square in Bolton, has beaten off competition to win the award for Best New Pub Development of the Year at the Barracuda Group's Annual Awards. The Barracuda Bar opened at the end of July 2003 after
CHRISTINE Williams, a personal travel consultant based in Bolton and working for independent travel agency, Travel Counsellors, has written to her local MP David Crausby to lobby for better financial protection for UK customers booking their holidays.
A BOLTON-based tax adviser could pick up a top award at this year's prestigious Lloyds TSB Asian Jewel Awards after he was recognised for his skills and foresight in business. Sufyan Ismail has been short-listed for the Professional Excellence Award -
A BOLTON manufacturer, has "landed" a contract to help transport the most powerful man in the world. APPH Limited, based on the Wingates Industrial Estate, will make the landing gear on a new fleet of 23 Marine One US Presidential helicopters for the
A BOLTON furniture specialist has stepped in to help a television company complete a house makeover. When Channel 5's "How Not To Decorate" urgently needed a specialist designer and manufacturer of Chesterfield suites, George Maxwell, based on Hanover
SIR Elton John is all set to appear at the Reebok Stadium this summer, and he appears to be at the top of his form. Judging by this picture of him on American TV this week, he is also in terrific shape - slimmer and looking well, from his tousled locks
I BET you laughed at that Julia Roberts' line in Notting Hill when she talked quite seriously to Hugh Grant about having a screen "bottom double". Now, 19-year-old British actress Keira Knightley has done just that for her new film, Domino. Not sure which
STU Francis is the Bolton comedian who many adults will remember from his "I could crush a grape!" Crackerjack days on TV. His comedy has never been right-on, alternative or any of the words that pass for trendy, but he has always had a solid career in
FREE places on a badminton coaching course are being offered by Bolton Council. Two courses are available, Level 1 at Harper Green Leisure Centre and Level 2 at Hayward Leisure Centre. Free places are possible for existing players or coaches who are over
I AM writing to you on behalf of the family of Harry and Tom Taylor, who you featured in your paper. I must congratulate and thank you for the successful outcome regarding the listed status of the Dunscar War Memorial. It finally puts us at our ease and
I would like to ask those dog owners in the Harwood area of Bolton who walk their dogs in the vicinity of Brookfold Lane to show a bit more consideration and respect for others by cleaning up the mess their animals leave behind. I understand that it is
1540: The first recorded horse racing meeting in Britain was held at the Roodeye Field, Chester. 1855: The "Devil's Footprints" appeared in snowbound Devon - 100 miles of cloven hoofprints, eight inches apart in a single line and measuring four inches
ROUND-the-clock drinking came a step closer in towns like Bolton, Bury and Leigh. The Government's plan to relax licensing laws is taking effect in November, despite the many voices raising a dissenting note. It is entirely understandable that people
MANCHESTER prison had the highest number of suicides at any jail in England and Wales last year, according to the Howard League for Penal Reform. Six people in custody took their own lives at the prison, formerly known as Strangeways, giving it the worst
Octagon Theatre, Bolton The Beauty Queen of Leenane A plain, lonely woman in her early 40s lives with her ageing and manipulative mother in County Galway. The two are locked in a bitter battle of wills, but when her mother interferes with Maureen's first
ANYONE switching on their radio around Horwich on Wednesday and Thursday will be able to hear the sounds of Rivington and Blackrod High School pupils. The school has spent the last six months planning the two-day broadcasting adventure, which has been
THREE men were given treatment by the emergency services after a fire broke out in a second floor Bolton flat early on Wednesday. Fire crews were called to Paderborn Court, near the town centre, at 12.05am after reports of a fire in the flat. The flat
BLOOD donor sessions will be held on February 23, at Walker Memorial Hall, Ridgway Gate, Bolton, from 1.30 till 3.30pm and 5.30 till 7.30pm. Further sessions will be held at the same times on February 24, at The Mill at the Pier, St Thomas Street, Wigan
AN 81-YEAR-OLD motorist died after he crashed into three cars that were waiting at traffic lights. George Ernest Woodward, of Summerseat, near Bury, was driving a Ford Fiesta at 5.20pm on Monday, near the junction of Moorgate and Walmersley Road in Bury
FIRE bosses have urged householders to throw away their chip pans, after figures revealed they caused 74 fires in Bolton last year - more than any other town in the area. Barry Dixon, chief fire officer in Greater Manchester, recommends people replace
A BOLTON car dealership has launched its annual Lent Appeal. Perrys Peugeot Dealership, on Bridgeman Street, is asking staff for unwanted chocolate given up for Lent. Over the next 40 days they will collect Easter eggs, chocolate bars and sweets to donate
BLOOD donor sessions will be held on Wednesday at Walker Memorial Hall, Ridgway Gate, Bolton; next Monday at The Community Centre, Vicarage Road, Blackrod; and on Thursday, February 17, at The Masonic Hall, Brookfield, Westhoughton. Each session will
Women diagnosed with breast cancer will be able to compare treatments and see how long they will have to wait at different hospitals using a new guide. Charity Breast Cancer Care has produced a booklet giving details of breast cancer services across the
A Bolton Wanderers fanatic has finally received her dream birthday present - soccer star El Hadji Diouf's shirt. Nicola Kennedy, who shares the same birthday as Diouf, was told she would receive the forward's shirt as a birthday present after the Premiership
THE Marie Curie Cancer Care's Great Daffodil Appeal has been launched in Bolton. The event at Asda, Middlebrook, raised more than £670 which will pay for local nursing in the town. Last year the charity provided almost 3,500 hours of nursing care to cancer
AN appeal has been made for the return of a notebook containing vital notes. Mrs Paula Eaton, who works for East Bolton Regeneration, mislaid the A4 spiral bound pad with a green and black cover in Bolton town centre last Thursday morning "I had been
AN exhibition to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War is to be held at venues throughout the North-west. Their Past Your Future, a £10 million, two-year programme of events, will be funded by the Big Lottery Fund. The exhibition
A TEENAGER with a history of committing car crime in Bolton has been warned he faces jail if he breaches an Anti Social Behaviour Order. Ian Krista, aged 19, of Hulton Lane, Deane, was convicted at Bolton Magistrates Court of taking a vehicle without
SIX-year-old Nathan Howarth will on Wednesday take the first steps towards his new life. The youngster starts 10 days of chemotherapy, which will be immediately followed by a life-saving stem cell transplant. Nathan, from Great Lever, suffers from Falconi's
BOLTON 13, HEATON MOOR 14: Tom Lee put in a man of the match performance for Bolton - but was it wasn't quite enough to de-rail Heaton Moor's title ambitions. After last week's poor performance at Tarleton, an understrength Bolton knew they had to improve
NINETEEN high-flying students proved once again that Bolton School is top of the class, as they received their offers of places at Oxford and Cambridge Universities. The 10 boys and nine girls will start their courses at the prestigious learning establishments
WEST BANK BEARS 24, BOLTON METS 16: Despite having played only one game in the last two months, Bolton Mets put up a stiff challenge against West Bank Bears of Widnes. Mets were able to field a strong side, but they got of to a slow start and trailed
SHAKERS 0 SHREWSBURY TOWN 0 by Phil Thorp: Shakers boss Graham Barrow is going striker hunting before Saturday's game at Boston United, and on this showing he has got his priorities right. For the second successive home clash in a matter of days his overstretched
BOLTON-born David Flitcroft talks to Mark Iles about Shakers' current injury plight SUCH is the crippling injury crisis at Bury these days, there are not enough players at training for a five-a-side game, claims Shakers midfielder David Flitcroft. Manager
YOUNG people are being urged to have the MMR jab following a huge rise in mumps cases. The number of cases has shot up from 15 in 2003 to 70 last year. And with fears that the number could increase further this year, doctors say people aged between 14
RED Kites - spectacular birds of prey which have been successfully reintroduced in Yorkshire - will be the subject of a slide talk by photographer Doug Simpson on Thursday. The event, organised by Bolton RSPB Group, will be at Smithills School at 7.30pm
THE Master Builder of the Year Awards 2005 is looking for nominations of any UK builder, from a large commercial firm to a sole trader, for a top award. For details and an entry form go to www.findabuilder.co.uk or call 0800 152 522. Closing date for
THE mystery of a missing photograph which showed a young family meeting Princess Diana has been solved - two years after it was stolen from a handbag on Bolton market. Relatives of Patricia and John Green, formerly of Worsley, recognised the couple in
COMIC Relief's 10th Red Nose Day took a funny turn as TV's One Foot in the Grave actor Richard Wilson helped launch "Red Nose Day 2005 - Big Hair and Beyond" in the North-west. The actor, who played grumpy Victor Meldrew, was at the City of Manchester
YOUTH worker Gerry Luczka got an official pat-on-the-back from the Prime Minister during the premier's recent visit to the region. Gerry was one of 10 people to be picked by Education Secretary and Bolton MP Ruth Kelly to meet Tony Blair as he toured
Rotary Club of Bolton le Moors, hold meetings every Wednesday evening except weeks which include Bank Holidays or Bolton Holidays. Meetings are held at the Last Drop Hotel, Bromley Cross. Meetings start at 7.00 for 7.30 pm including a meal on the first
WORK to end one of the North-west's worst traffic bottlenecks is almost over. Thelwall Viaduct is fully open to daytime traffic for the first time in two-and-a-half years. The M6 viaduct in Cheshire was partially closed in July 2002 for a £52 million
AN exhibition to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War is to be held at venues throughout the North-west. Their Past Your Future, a £10 million, two-year programme of events, will be funded by the Big Lottery Fund. The exhibition
ALL the scores Premier Division BRADFORD ARMS 2 TONGE UTD 4 JOLLY WAGGONER 5 LADYBRIDGE 3 ARMITAGE 5 ARKWRIGHTS 2 Division One CLIFTON RANGERS 2 PIED PIPER 4 GREENFIELDS 2 DARCY LEVER 4 Division One Cup Round One BRITANNIA FNWORTH 9 PRINCE RUPERT 1 FOX
SCOTTISH band Idlewild are back with a new album and a national tour that takes in Manchester. The four-piece have come a long way since they first burst onto the indie-rock scene with raw debut mini-album Captain in 1998. A couple of years later the
FAST food chain Domino's Pizza has announced plans to set up 15 new franchised pizza delivery stores in the North-west, as part of the company's ongoing plan to open 50 stores a year. The expansion represents a potential investment of more than £3million
