SIR: As a long-time resident in Jersey, I am unfamiliar with, and have no interest in football. I have returned for a short time to my home town, to find your paper pushing for a knighthood for a man called Nat Lofthouse, who played football for Bolton
FEARS that up to 100 jobs could be lost at a Horwich firm have been lifted. Workers at Horwich Castings, Chorley New Road, had feared large scale job losses were in the pipeline. But in an announcement today, the company said 16 employees would lose their
FRANK Leboeuf appeared fit and well at Stamford Bridge last night to pour scorn on scare stories of an injury crisis at Chelsea. As the guessing game continued over whether Gianluca Vialli will field a severely weakened side against Wanderers in Sunday's
EVERYONE enjoys having a moan about "what's wrong with Bolton". Everyone knows how to fix it, and everyone confidently claims that the blame lies firmly with "the Council". But, when it comes to influencing exactly who is going to run our town, thousands
A UNIQUE musical event is being staged at Chorley Town Hall in aid of St Catherine's Hospice. One of the country's finest choirs will raise the roof for an evening of music and song on Saturday, May 16. The Aber Valley Welsh male voice choir, founded
CHORLEY'S MP Lindsay Hoyle was due to appear on BBC TV programme Kilroy yesterday (Wednesday) as the debate about child killer Mary Bell continued. Mr Hoyle gained widespread support in Parliament for a motion to ban the book after it was alleged Mary
SIR: The UK is currently running its biggest trade deficit since 1990. This deficit mainly reflects higher imports. The trade deficit in goods and services almost trebled between January and February to a figure of £1.7b. These statistics expose the incompetent
CHORLEY MP Lindsay Hoyle has called for a survey of rail bridges in a bid to improve local freight transport levels. Mr Hoyle believes increased use of the rail system would benefit local industry such as the Royal Ordnance factory at Euxton and help
A RESCUE package could save up to 150 of the jobs which are due to be lost at a Bolton clothing firm. As reported in the BEN, 190 jobs will go at the Dannimac factory in Great Lever. But urgent negotiations organised by the GMB union have brought new
HOLIDAYMAKERS are being warned to look out for bogus taxi drivers who are operating illegal airport services from Chorley. Licensing chiefs in the borough have asked passengers to double check before making a journey following an increase in rogue cabbies
AN ancient village church will echo to the sound of music at a special festival this weekend. Organisers of the Rivington Spring Festival can't wait for the curtain to go up on the popular event after attracting quality musicians to perform. The Rivington
PLANS for a new £30,000 diabetes and dermatology centre at Chorley Hospital have been shelved over fears that traffic problems are a "tragedy waiting to happen". Councillors deferred a decision on the facility after concerns that the unit, placed at the
YOUNG ambassadors to Chorley's Hungarian twin town have hailed a recent visit as a great success. Pupils from two of the borough's high schools - Parklands and Bishop Rawstorne - spent a week in Szekesfehervar to sample the country's culture. Accompanied
RESULTS from the Marwill Chorley and District Amateur Cricket League. Saturday, May 2: Division one (*denotes batted first): Brinscall 143-8 (S Critchley 39, D Frost 37, D Woods 8-62); *Chorley St James 145 all out (V Lang 58, G Norris 5-46, S Hilton
RUMOURS are rife that the owners of Blackpool Tower are poised to buy Chorley's up-for-sale Camelot Theme Park. A source close to the Citizen who wished to remain anonymous said entertainments giant First Leisure are believed to have prepared a bid for
CHORLEY voters were expected to flock to the polling stations today (Thursday) for this year's council elections. Several sitting councillors with small majorities were waiting nervously to hear the results, which were expected in the early hours of Friday
Whitehaven Warriors 34, Leigh Centurions 12 THE Centurions are no nearer finding a cure for their travel sickness. A seventh successive away defeat - and a pretty tame surrender at that - threatens to undo all the good work Leigh are starting to achieve
SCREAM 2 (18). Starring: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette and Jamie Kennedy. Time: 2 hours. PREPARE to re-enter a world where death waits around every corner and it's unsafe to be in or out of the house alone - or with anyone else, for that
YOUNGSTERS at Brandwood Primary School have been sampling a little garden culture. As part of a link between the 3D's Partnership, Bolton Bury TEC and the business world, teachers from Brandwood School spent a couple of days work experience at Barton
A GIANT banner hanging on the side of Bury Town Hall sums up the town's pride for its never-say-die football team. The banner, which declares "Well Done The Shakers", congratulates the Gigg Lane side who have retained their First Division slot against
STUDENTS and staff took to the steps of Bolton College yesterday to protest against Government plans to charge graduates to learn. The local protest mirrored similar protests across the country aimed at raising the public's awareness of the controversial
BURY are ready to listen to big money men willing to buy into the club. The Shakers aim to link up with wealthy new financial partners before floating on the Stock Market. Bury's survival in the First Division is only the first step in an ambitious long
FIREMEN warned about the dangers of candles today after two serious house blazes in Bolton. Astley Bridge woman Moya Marrs, aged 31, had a lucky escape in the early hours when a candle sparked a fire which wrecked her living room. And last night a bedroom
A NEW anti-fluoride battle has been sparked in the North-west after Government moves to encourage water companies to add the chemical to supplies. Health Minister Tessa Jowell's plans were backed by Bolton South East MP Dr Brian Iddon, who said fluoridation
EVERYONE enjoys having a moan about "what's wrong with Bolton". Everyone knows how to fix it, and everyone confidently claims that the blame lies firmly with "the Council". But, when it comes to influencing exactly who is going to run our town, thousands
TOWN Hall chiefs are urging people to go out and vote in today's local elections. Record low turnouts are being predicted across the country with the poll being only a year after the General Election. In Bolton, the number of people voting in council
IT'S sad to hear that trade at top curry house the Sunar Gaw in Manchester Road, Burnden is being hit by travellers pitching up at Wanderers' old home opposite. The restaurant is a past BEN readers' award-winner, and still a favourite. We hope the matter
BOLTON artists are enjoying the chance to show off their talents at a major exhibition in the town. More than 150 pieces of art are currently on display in a massive empty warehouse above Copyplan in Bradshawgate. And organiser Gwen Mulliner, a visual
Sweet fields of swaying clover wait Brown cows browse happy by the gate For artist's brush, or writer's pen They pose, and moo, and pose again. Our nearest farm grows common rape 'Keep Out - or Else' warns the gate Where I slouch about in weed and briar
A TOP Bolton curry house is blaming gipsies for a catastrophic loss of trade. Award-winning Sunar Gaw says travellers pitching up at Burnden Park opposite the once thriving Indian restaurant are turning loyal customers away. Manager Abdul Shahid said
A BOLTON councillor says he is determined to get to the root of a problem which he claims is not only an eyesore, but hazardous to pensioners in Westhoughton. Cllr David Wilkinson is furious about the state of grass verges left behind by the Council's
for this SIR: Recently we have been given much opinionated comment about homosexuality. Once again Cllr Peter Johnston (Points of view, April 27) is in the thick of it, seeing himself as the champion of these people, who I hasten to say should be pitied
A POLICE officer had a lucky escape when his patrol car careered out of control during a chase through Farnworth early today. The officer, who has not been identified, was chasing a Metro-type car when he lost control of his police Astra. The car careered
A BOLTON grandad has gone Manx mad - by taking his THREE-LEGGED puppy on a massive trek around the Isle of Man. Marshall Anderton and pet Robbie - named after the three-wheeled Robin Reliant car - plan a 96-mile hike around the island famed for its three-legged
THOUSANDS of ticketless Wanderers fans will watch this Sunday's crunch relegation match in Bolton pubs. Disappointed supporters who couldn't manage to get their hands on one of the 1,500 tickets issued will settle for second-best - watching the game with
PENSIONERS were left 'hitting the roof' when slates from their next door neighbour's council house fell on TWO separate occasions, each time smashing into their home. But both times the council's insurers refused to pay up, leaving householder, Mr Ernest
HEALTH worker Andrew Martin is taking a well-earned break from the baking hot Amazon rain forests of Brazil. Andrew is back in Bolton for a holiday and is hoping to raise money for the villagers he helps. The 33-year-old from Horwich is part of a team
I WOULD like to say a BIG thank you to the Chorley Citizen and to reporter Ian McCawley for writing an article recently on my search for information on my Rigby, Thornley, Turner ancestors and also Mill Hole Cottage. Thanks also to Roy Robinson, ex Chorley
A CHORLEY high school could this autumn become a shining example to others after being included in £1.8 million government plans for a network of nationwide 'beacons'. Parklands High, Southport Road, is in the running for beacon school status which would
CHORLEY'S duty chemist this Sunday, May 10, between noon and 1pm, will be G F O'Brien Ltd, T/A Parkinsons, 97 Market Street. Medicines and appliances may also be obtained from: M D Rimmer, 22 Runshaw Lane, Euxton, between Monday and Friday from 5.30pm
DOZENS of Chorley families are quids in following a council anti-poverty campaign. More than 800 requests for information poured in during the initiative to make more people aware of council tax benefits they might be missing out on. As a direct result
THE discovery of four military shells in an empty house sparked a major alert yesterday. Bomb squad officers were called to the semi-detached in Greensmith Way, Westhoughton, after the devices were found by a workman clearing the house as part of a repossession
THE new Mayor of Westhoughton has proposed a scheme to give people in the town more power. Cllr Bernard Ramsden wants to introduce a community forum which would give residents a chance to have their say in how the town was run. Cllr Ramsden said: "A community
BOLTON pupils have won through to the national final of the Understanding Industry Presentation Skills Challenge in London next month. Bolton School sixth form boys "out presented" teams from nine other North-west schools to win the regional final, sponsored
Chorley 139 all out Leyland DAF 113 for 8 TWO weekend draws left Chorley still seeking their first league win of the season. Saturday's long trip to Kendal ended in a losing draw after the home side had totalled 199 for 6, largely due to a century from
CHORLEY will become the centre of attention next week when visitors from all over the world flock to see the town's new £150m Mormon temple. A flood of religious tourists, eager for a look at the development - built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
A MOTORCYCLIST was killed in a road smash over the Bank Holiday weekend - when two other leisure enthusiasts escaped serious injury in separate accidents. Neil Lawrenson, aged 23, was riding his Suzuki 600cc on the A49 Wigan Road when it collided with
SIR: I refer to the letters about a knighthood for Nat Lofthouse. To me, knighthoods are given to men of standing who have given outstanding service to the community. What is the standing of Mr Lofthouse? He was a footballer. He was a robust player -
End of the road for Farmers Arms IN the Chorley Nissan Sunday League's Guardian Shield semi-finals, both games paired premier division opposition against sides from division one. Leos met Clayton Orient and thanks to goals from Lilley and Walker, led
A CONTROVERSIAL artistic centrepiece for Ramsbottom will be lifted into position next week. A giant two-ton bronze Grecian Urn, created by acclaimed artist Edward Allington, is to due to arrive at the Market Place outside the Grant Arms pub on Monday.
A BOLTON man who says he was the victim of years of sexual abuse in care homes as a child is furious after being turned down for compensation because he has a police record. The man, who wants to be identified by his first name - Terry - says he was abused
BOLTON Sea Cadets are on the hunt for able hands to make their new home ship-shape. Youngsters from TS Dido, currently based at Kensington Place, Bolton, are due to move to new headquarters in Derby Barracks, Fletcher Street. The Cadets will be homeless
PLUCKY former heart-transplant patients will be among the 150 walkers expected in the tenth annual Rivington Pike walk on Sunday. The seven former patients have all recovered after heart or heart and lung transplants at Wythenshawe Hospital. The event
BOLTON ex-serviceman Robert Longworth is to be awarded the British Legion's top honour in recognition of more than 30 years loyal service. Mr Longworth will be presented with the National Certificate of Appreciation by the Legion's National President,
THOUSANDS of pounds of council cash have been set aside to help local voluntary groups provide social care. Social Services chiefs have budgeted £26,000 to help fund both voluntary and community groups. The cash, awarded through a grant system, will meet
THE schoolchildren in front love Toyota after the car manufacturer gave two Horwich schools a bumper cash award to develop classroom science projects. Chorley New Road and Claypool primary schools received the £1,500 grant as part of Toyota's national
A FITNESS challenge supported by Bolton Wanderers soccer player Dean Holdsworth raised needy cash for seriously ill children. Local sportsmen and women jumped at the chance at taking part in a gruelling triathlon for children's charity Stella Starlight
AN American in Bolton is cooking up a stir in culinary circles. Robert Caton, 24, from San Francisco is studying at Bolton College and was only narrowly beaten to the title of Commis of the Year at the North West Association Culinaire Francaise de Secours
RIVINGTON failed in their bid to land a Lancashire Amateur League championship and cup double. After securing the Division One trophy, Rivs went down 2-0 to Premier Division champions Leigh Athletic in the final of the LAL Open Cup. Leigh took the lead
SIR: I understand there has been a series of letters in the BEN following a report from the Bolton coroner, suggesting that: "It would be sensible for new drivers to undergo motorway training". This was the result of a fatal incident on the M61 motorway
A MURAL highlighting community spirit has been drawing approving glances since it was unveiled at the weekend. School children and local dignitaries have been immortalised in the mural at a Westhoughton estate, which was featured in the BEN on Saturday
25 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, May 7, 1973 HUNDREDS of soccer fans welcomed Third Division champions Bolton Wanderers when they arrived at the Town Hall last night for a civic reception. It was the sixth time a civic reception had been held for the
By Angelina Aspinall IT was ten years ago to the month that Fairground Attraction had a number one hit in the UK singles chart with Perfect. Singer Eddi Reader said she had been really surprised when she heard the news. And Happy? Sort of. "I remember
SIR: The brewers are stretching common sense by opposing current overdue plans to cut drinking and driving. Surprisingly, levels for drivers have not been reduced since Barbara Castle introduced life-saving laws 30 years ago. Drinking and driving just
ORGANISERS report that this year's Bolton and Bury Business Awards gala evening is a complete sell-out. Bolton Business Ventures Ltd have sold all 350 tickets for the black tie dinner (£30 a head plus VAT) to be held at the Last Drop Village Hotel on
