A special in-depth BEN report by JULIE FREER looking at Bolton town centre's plans to combat more development at Middlebrook TOWN centre retailers are planning their battle campaign to fight a major US-style shopping development at Middlebroook. They
DETECTIVES are probing a blaze which wrecked the top floor of a derelict mill - the latest in a spate of arson attacks in Horwich over the last eight weeks. Police said the fire was started deliberately, but there is no direct evidence to link it to a
BOLTON'S top young worker has been named at a prestigious Reebok Stadium ceremony. The coveted title of Bolton Bury Training and Enterprise Council Modern Apprentice 1998 went to Louise Mitchell. Louise, 20, who works at Ingersoll Rand European Sales
BUSINESSES in Bolton and Bury are being invited to apply for an undergraduate placement on this year's Shell Technology Enterprise Programme. STEP, which started 12 years ago, provides 1,500 second-year undergraduates with the opportunity to work on business
SIR: Last Saturday, April 25, we wished to catch, on High Street, the 572 bus from town to Swan Lane. The bus leaves town at 6.00 pm and arrives at High Street at 6.08. We were on High Street at 6.00 pm. Need I say that no bus arrived, then two buses
WIGAN'S Wembley dreams may be in tatters but it won't stop them pushing ahead with plans to attract new faces to Central Park. The Warriors, who expect to announce coach John Monie will be signing an extended contract in the next few days, are hoping
SIR: I refer to the letter from Caroline Smith (Points of view, April 23. Jesus loves everyone, more than you can imagine, (John 3 v l6), that is why He died on the cross (Romans 5 v 8). God did not create a gay lifestyle or the permissive society. The
ENGLAND'S top soccer chief has shown his support for the BEN's 'Give Nat a Knighthood' campaign. For Graham Kelly, chief executive of the Football Association, said he was glad to sign his name in one of our special petition books. We managed to catch
JIMMY Phillips is convinced Wanderers have the character to stay calm as the season approaches its nail-biting climax. The man nicknamed 'Jimminho' by his team-mates believes Colin Todd's survival squad has grown accustomed to dealing with the threat
SIR: Once again, as I scan the letters page, I find another of your God-fearing readers "advising" against the "evils" of homosexuality. As far as I can ascertain, the only "evils" associated with being either gay, lesbian or bisexual are the evils of
THE THERAPEUTIC effect of having domestic animals around is well documented. Petting a cat or dog is said to reduce stress and their comfort value is enormous. But thousands of elderly people are being forced to part from their "best friends" the Anchor
SPORTING youngsters from Bury are being called upon to represent their borough in the Greater Manchester Youth Games on June 13 and 14. In the past, Bury has not only achieved high honours but also received the highest accolade from fellow competitors
PLANNING chiefs have already been warned that any new developments could have a "substantial impact" on the town centre. A report prepared for Bolton Council last year by Hillier Parker, one of the country's top retail consultants, has predicted that
A LEARNER driver got into a flap when he swerved to avoid a pigeon in the road - and lost control of his car. Craig Fairbrother, aged 19, was on a driving lesson with his father when he suddenly saw the bird on the carriageway ahead of him in Bradshaw
SASA Curcic had one surprising parting shot as he left the Reebok Stadium on Saturday. "Tell the Bolton squad I wish them all the luck in the world and I hope they stay in the Premiership!" the ex-Wanderer said as he joined his new Crystal Palace team-mates
SIR: We are over visiting relatives and hearing all about your Millennium hopes for city status. Both of us have lived in cities all our lives and we have to tell you they're over-rated. Ask any New Yorker and the chances are he'd rather be in a town
BOLTON'S Youth Service is pitching in to widen its international horizons by inviting two young Ukrainian football teams for a week-long visit. But to achieve their goal, youth workers are having to turn to local businesses for help. Thirty-five children
WANDERERS assumed pole position in the two horse race for Premiership survival today when Howard Kendall conceded: "It's out of our hands now." The Goodison boss surrendered the initiative after seeing his side trounced 4-0 at Highbury - a result that
SIR: It doesn't matter to me, but following the recent 'apology' regarding the Titanic character, Scot William Murdoch, surely the Californian Captain Stanley Lord should be completely cleared also. Let's not forget, members of the Titanic Society, that
Bolton Wanderers 5, Crystal Palace 2 THE cartoon in the Reebok dressing room broke the pre-match tension with typical Merseyside humour. A picture of the good ship Goodison sinking Titanic-like with Howard Kendall and his Everton players hurling themselves
SIR: Your report on 'Student fury' at South College, (BEN, April 24), does a disservice both to the College and to the Bolton Evening News. There was very little in it, which conforms with the facts of the situation, and it is sad to think that the Bolton
A LABOUR candidate has been accused of lying as the political row continues over claims in a leaflet for Thursday's Bolton Council elections. Liberal Democrat Cllr David Wilkinson made the accusation against Cllr David Chadwick, his opponent in the Westhoughton
JIMMY Phillips, who once wore the blue of Glagsow Rangers, will resume his Old Firm rivalry when Celtic visit the Reebok Stadium for a prestige pre-season friendly. Wanderers will meet the Parkhead giants on Tuesday, August 4 to celebrate Phillips' 10
SIR: I nominate for "Rat of the Week" the person who stole the wheels off my car on a car park in Bolton and smashed my window on Friday, April 17. I would like to say to whoever did this, I am seven months' pregnant, live in Atherton, and was stranded
THE rugby league season should be restructured with the Challenge Cup final being held in the middle of the season. Wigan Warriors acting vice-chairman John Martin said the final was staged far too early in the season. "We have only played four league
THE man who drove the van which killed six-year-old Tracy Kennedy faces being kicked out of his council house. Gary Howarth, who is back behind bars after being released early from prison and committing more offences, faces being evicted from his Farnworth
As I look though my window, I see you standing there, Tall and straight, With your head gently moving in the breeze. Your petals of velvet open wide, Golden yellow like the sun. Catching the raindrops that fall from the sky, I often wonder why something
THERE IS nothing succeeds like success, so the saying goes. But that does not apply, apparently, when it comes to Bolton schools. Headteachers at 16 schools have been told that Breightmet and Tonge's bid to become an education action zone next year has
THE No Xanadu campaign will be turning out in force today to show Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott the level of opposition to the artificial snow centre in Leigh. Members of the campaign will attempt to hand Mr Prescott a petition and letter when he
OLD Hall County Primary School in Bury has received top marks. Following a recent Ofsted inspection, the school was classed as "very good". Headteacher Mr Alan Cookson said he was delighted with the report, which he felt reflected the dedication of everyone
25 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, May 4, 1973 RATEPAYER Mr Gordon Worthington was incensed when he heard that the Mayor of Bolton was travelling in style to support the all-conquering Bolton Wanderers. So he has written to the Mayor, Ald. Alan Clarke
By Irma Heger FOR a moment I thought that Jonathan Gash was going to burst into tears. And I had only asked him whether the Lovejoy author's childhood in Bolton was a happy one... Up to then we had been chatting non-stop about his life and work. But this
ANOTHER superstore war is set to break out on the Middlebrook development at Horwich. Developers Orbit have again put in a planning application to Bolton Council for a new Tesco supermarket. But a spokesman for supermarket giant Tesco said today that
