KEVIN Meagher slams his critics for carping about the amount of money our Government spends on overseas aid. Kevin says he finds it "frankly disgusting" that anyone should want to deny the children of developing countries access to basic healthcare. I
IS it not time that the Council Planning Committee looked seriously at the applications to build new housing developments, such as the one at Fish Fold Farm/Lee Hall, which has been repeatedly opposed by people who have no consideration for others? Those
A MURDER hunt has been launched after the body of a woman was found behind Bolton Community College. It was revealed today that the woman, who has not been named, was a 20-year-old prostitute. She was found with serious head injuries in a car park off
AFTER two days of full competition, the World Cup proper got started for most of us yesterday morning. Yes, that's right. I set my alarm for 6.25am, just in time to enjoy John Motson's first commentary of the 2002 competition. Motty started with a bang
ENGLAND are down but they are anything but out. A draw against Sweden came as no surprise and it leaves us still in with a good chance. What was important yesterday was that England did not lose because two victories against Argentina and Nigeria would
SPRING View looked as if they had consolidated their stay at the top of the table after they had bowled out Clifton for a modest 115 - but they reckoned without the individual talent of the opposition. Teenager Andy Griffiths played his part with the
NEWS OF THE WORLD: Michael Owen last night saluted his new England strike partner Darius Vassell and vowed: "We'll fire England to victory." SUNDAY MIRROR: Sven-Goran Eriksson has told his players they can go all the way in the World Cup, starting this
THE SUN: David Beckham has warned that England face crashing out of the World Cup against Argentina unless they learn how to play for 90 minutes. DAILY MIRROR: David Beckham has warned his England team that a repeat of their second-half display against
THE SUN: Rio Ferdinand has promised: "We will give everything to bring the World Cup home." DAILY MIRROR: Owen Hargreaves last night pledged to pick the greatest stage of all to score his first goal as a professional footballer. DAILY STAR: Sven-Goran
FOOTBALL mad brothers Simon and Johnny Jones were so keen to get their favourite seats to watch England's first World Cup match that they volunteered to clean their local pub. The pair asked landlady Carole Crane if she would open the Nab Gate, in Arthur
AS the nation goes Golden Jubilee crazy a controversial punk anthem which attacks the monarch is selling well in Bolton music stores. The Sex Pistols have re-released 'God Save the Queen' which caused a stir when it first came out during the Queen's Silver
A CHIP pan set on fire at a house in Waterview Park, Leigh, just after 10pm on Saturday.
VANDALS set fire to a Nissan Sunny dumped in Coal Pit Lane, Hindley Green early today. The vehicle was destroyed.
A FORD Escort was set on fire in Dudley Avenue, Whitefield, in the early hours of yesterday.
FIREFIGHTERS rescued a terrified kitten at 11.30pm on Saturday. The pet had become stuck behind a gas cooker at a house in Bridges Street, Atherton.
A MAN aged 33 appeared before magistrates in Bury charged with indecently assaulting two schoolgirls. John Daniels, of Cumberland Close, Bury, is alleged to have carried out the offences against the girls, both under 14, in July last year. The case was
A TEENAGER having a party while his parents were away had to call the fire brigade when one of his guests set fire to some clothes. Ten people were evacuated from the house in Cecil Street, Walkden, at 10.30pm on Friday night after the teenager started
DAMIEN Murphy pleaded guilty to two charges of shoplifting. Bury magistrates were told that he had stolen a can of beer and meat from two shops. Murphy, aged 31, of Wincanton Avenue, Brooklands, Manchester, said he was a drug user and alcoholic and had
THE battle against crime in Wigan has been given a boost with a huge increase in the number of CCTV cameras. An extra 140 cameras are currently being added to Wigan and Leigh town centres. The system has already proved effective in the fight against crime
A TEENAGER facing two charges of indecent assault on young girls appeared before magistrates in Bury. Eighteen-year-old Abdullah Saied Jaf, of Radelan Grove, Radcliffe, is alleged to have carried out the two assaults on the girls, one aged under 16, the
BOLTON will host the Royal College of Nursing's first jobs fair in the North-West at the Reebok Stadium on June 27 and 28. More than 40 employers, including Bolton NHS Trust, will have display stands. Linda Thomas, the RCN's spokeswoman, said: "Jobs fairs
A TRIBUTE to Elvis Presley to mark the 25th anniversary of his death is being held at Tonge Ward Labour Club. The event on August 13 will feature rock'n'roll group Good Rockin Tonight, plus DJ Bob (The Duke) Earl and Brenda Lee sound-a-like Kelly Weaver
SERVICES for people with learning disabilities in Leigh and Atherton have been classed as 'high quality' by a team of Government inspectors. The report from the Social Services Inspectorate found that Wigan Council served most people well and showed excellent
A MAN from Bury is battling to be named the best new comedian in the North West. The regional final of the BBC New Comedy Awards is taking place on Wednesday, at The Buzz Comedy Club, in Manchester. Leading stand-up comedian Toby Foster will be compering
AN all-girl trio from Bolton have performed in concert to celebrate the re-opening of Manchester's Piccadilly Gardens. Harwood performers La Caj were invited to appear at the event to celebrate the massive refurbishment of the area. And the success of
JUBILEE FEAST: A medical team which has been working through the Jubilee holiday has enjoyed their own mini-celebration, thanks to a gift from Lotto, formerly the National Lottery. Lotto sent a food hamper to the medical assessment unit at the Royal Bolton
POLICE are investigating a fire at a school believed to have been started by children. Firefighters were called to Our Lady and the Lancashire Martyrs Primary School in Little Hulton just after 6pm last night. The roof of the boiler room, where the fire
A FORMER Bolton man played a key role in the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations when he conducted the military parade at Windsor Castle. Former St Cuthbert's School pupil Michael McDermott, whose mother Alice still lives in Breightmet, now works as a
THE electronic tagging of young offenders which was piloted in Bolton has been extended. New powers to tag 12 to 16-year-olds were given to the town's youth court in April to make them observe a night-time curfew. The Greater Manchester area which includes
RADCLIFFE was transformed into a blaze of colour as the town staged its 37th annual carnival. And all the tried and tested ingredients which have made the traditional gala Radcliffe's premier community event since 1965 again featured prominently in a
EDUCATION chiefs are planning a borough-wide multi-million pound investment in improvements for Bolton schools. More than £6 million has been earmarked for the work with around half of that aimed specifically at primary schools to complete works including
A RANGE of activities have been organised in Bolton to mark Carers Week, starting on June 10. The theme for this year's event is "Carers in the Communities". On Tuesday, June 11, an open day for carers is being held at Thicketford Community Care Centre
A STUDENT missed a crucial university exam after her train broke down for more than an hour. Alya Chulla, aged 23, from School Hill, Bolton, had spent the past few weeks revising hard for the test. She said she was upset when the train -- on its way to
FIVE men from Bolton have appeared in court facing drugs charges in connection with the seizure of heroin, cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis with an estimated street value of £20million. Gary Scott Fenton, aged 24, from Howcroft Close, Bolton; Greg Michael
WESTHOUGHTON Library opened a new chapter in its history when its £8,000 extension and refurbishment was unveiled. Mayor of Westhoughton, Brian Clare, officially opened the newly refurbished exhibition area in the library, accompanied by entertainment
A MAN claimed an epileptic fit caused a crash which left his vehicle spinning on its roof -- even though he had no history of epilepsy. Brian Hall was two-and-a-half times the legal drink driving limit when his car smashed into a central island in Wigan
OLDER people who want to make a difference to their communities in Bolton could get a grant to start them off. This week is the 18th National Volunteer Week and Help the Aged is urging people aged 55 or over to apply for a special citizenship grant. More
AS the nation goes Golden Jubilee crazy a controversial punk anthem which attacks the monarch is selling well in Bolton music stores. The Sex Pistols have re-released 'God Save the Queen' which caused a stir when it first came out during the Queen's Silver
A YOUTH project has been awarded more than £140,000 as part of a Government handout. Bolton Lads' and Girls' Club has been providing an out of school hours service for children between the ages of 5 and 21 for 113 years and, with only 10 full time and
PARTYMANIA is gripping Bolton. Thousands have already made the most of the Golden Jubilee weekend with colourful celebrations. And thousands more were joining in the fun with street parties today. Bolton is second only to London for the number of street
AN independent report has warned that much more work needs to be done to repair and improve Bolton's crumbling roads. The Audit Commission's inspection team has given the town's highways team just one star out of three. The poor rating follows a Bolton
RIVALDO and Ronaldo got Brazil's World Cup campaign off to an excellent start in Ulsan in an incident packed 2-1 victory over Turkey. The game saw magical skill, red cards and unfortunate controversy but all the talk in the Far East is David Beckham,
MOTORISTS have been urged to leave their cars behind and use buses, trains and trams to watch this summer's Commonwealth Games in Manchester. Organisers have published a transport strategy to get as many visitors as possible to events across the city
TRAFFIC chaos looks set to hit Horwich this summer after transport bosses revealed their plans for the Commonwealth Games. Thousands of motorists will be forced into their cars by a lack of a frequent, dedicated bus or train services from Bolton town
THE Bolton League under 18s team to face the Lancashire County League at Roe Green CC on June 9 will be captained by Astley Bridge's William Halton. The team is: William Halton, capt., Simon Booth (Heaton) wkt, Gareth Carson (Heaton), Danny Guest (Astley
HOLDERS Eagley came safely through the first round of the Bolton League's Hamer Cup beating Farnworth by 40 runs. The two bottom clubs shrugged off much of their disappointing league form to provide a well contested game. Eagley hit 172 and it was their
WHEN Gordon Williams was diagnosed with bone disease as a teenager, all he could see ahead was the end of his promising football career. But little did the 18-year-old realise that he would one day be commonly known in Bolton as "Mr Football" -- the man
THE body of a musician missing for two weeks, has been found in a river at Preston. Philip Rothwell, aged 51, was found on mud flats near Hutton on Friday. A post mortem examination will be carried out on Wednesday.
POLICE in Cheshire have condemned the stabbing of a Warrington pensioner. Harry Upton, aged 75, died after suffering a single stab wound to the head from suspected burglars at his home in Culcheth in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
But it wasn't long before the lows came along, too IT was the moment every English football fan had been waiting for. David Beckham floated the ball into the penalty box, Sol Campbell nodded it into the net -- and back home in Bolton thousands of supporters
A EURO MP has hit out at proposals to give the Government more power to snoop on people's phone calls and e-mails. Liberal Democrat Chris Davies claims the plans, which were approved last week, are a threat to people's individual freedom. The MP says
A £1.5 million Technical Innovation Centre -- the first of its type in the country -- could be in operation in Bolton by September, 2003. The pioneering project by the Northwest Development Agency and partners is aimed at encouraging innovation and creativity
BOLTON Community College is closing eight satellite centres it rents at schools and community centres across the town. Mature students and lecturers have condemned the plans describing them as a slap in the face for community education. The Manchester
AIR passengers who pack sharp objects like nail files and penknives in their hand luggage are being asked to throw them away in new bins at Manchester Airport. From today six large wheelie bins are being put into Terminals 1 and 2, so travellers can dump
I SYMPATHISE and support the letter from "Disgusted". I repeat that, in my view, there is only one adequate punishment that is suitable for a teenager who attacks, robs, threatens, frightens or injures an old person -- surely one of the most despicable
I WAS very proud to be inaugurated as Bolton's new mayor for 2002-2003, and during my year I will be working to promote the borough and its citizens. I am keen to promote regeneration and economic development. I was very honoured to host the Civic Sunday
I AM puzzled by Peter Johnston's letter of May 29. In it he appeals to the "General Will" in much the same manner as those French Revolutionary Politicians who used it as a catch-all justification for political murders and wars of territorial aggrandizement
I HAVE agreed to pay a parking penalty charge of £30 -- but under protest. Driving from the other side of Rochdale to see a play at the Octagon, I drove past the theatre and turned right into Victoria Square. There was one space left, but, after parking
BARBARA Stuart (May 25) says that my call for drugs to be legalised, because the police cannot cope, is giving way to evil. She says the police are losing the battle against such evils as child abuse, arson, muggings, burglaries and murderers, so my logic
IN his weekly column, the Rev Michael Williams, Vicar of Bolton Parish Church, shares his thoughts with readers on life in the town and around the world CONGRATULATIONS to the Roman Catholic bishop who recently announced that he was going to move out
IT is really amazing that, at a time when congestion of the roads is being discussed at almost every level of Government, our council seem to be hell bent on making matters worse, not better! I refer, of course to the single lane marking and the provision
ATHERTON and Spring View must replay their Cross Cup quarter final after the two teams tied on 161-7. The Wigan side needed 12 off the last over to snatch a dramatic win and teenagers David Gornall and Steve Williams came agonisingly close to achieving
THE challenge this week is to write a sporting column which is totally devoid of the words Keane, metatarsal, World Cup and Beckham writes Peter Stafford No one is looking forward to England's three matches in Japan more than me, but I must admit to having
A YOUNG boy was attacked by a neighbour's dog as he was on his way home from playing fields. Simon Cunniffe was walking along Quebec Street, Deane, with a friend when he was attacked by a border collie. The dog, which was four years old, was running along
SO we're off and running and what a way to start what promises to be an unforgettable World Cup. If yesterday's opening match is anything to go by we are in for the most unpredictable tournament for years. Senegal's victory was shocking but not altogether
GET ready for the greatest show on earth. The World Cup is about to blitz our screens and all eyes are on Becks and the rest. They say England have not got a hope of winning it and that could just work in our favour. Expectations always weigh heavily
WALSHAW are threatening to break their poor recent record in the Cross Cup. The Bury side has been unstoppable in the league with three successive titles but they have mysteriously under achieved in the cup. Judging from their convincing victory over
THE family of a cancer sufferer who has lost his fight for life have staged a moving tribute at Bolton Wanderers to honour his final wish. Football fan Michael Devlin, aged 47, refused to give in to lung cancer and set himself four milestones to help
DANNY Mills has spoken of his disappointment at the mistake which cost England so dearly against Sweden. But the Leeds defender, speaking on his personal website on www.eWorldSports.co.uk HERE says he remains upbeat for the tournament and is looking forward
FIFA are to arrange a crisis meeting in the next 24 hours in a bid to solve the ticketing problems. World Cup organisers may give away free tickets to groups of schoolchildren or young footballers to avoid the spectacle of thousands of empty seats at
BOLTON born Chris Woodcock is a consultant analyst for a computer chip manufacturer in Japan. He moved there after marrying a Japanese girl he met at university. Chris, aged 31, who went to Thornleigh Salesian College in Bolton, has sent this Boltonian
THE pub sign outside the Black Horse in Black Horse Street, Blackrod, was set on fire yesterday at 4.30pm.
A DAY trip to Kendal to visit the Quaker Tapestry Exhibition Centre on October 5 i3s being organised by members of Bolton Parish Church. More details are available from Stephen Mort at the church.
PARENTS and grandparents are being recruited to help try to lower the number of child road accidents in Bolton. Several primary schools are taking part in Kerbcraft, a new scheme designed to help improve roadside skills. Volunteers work with small groups
A TEENAGER was still in a critical condition in hospital today after being injured in an accident with a car in Bolton. Robert Chadwick, aged 18, was in Blackburn Road, Astley Bridge, near to the junction of Sweetloves Lane, at about 11.30pm on Friday
LEIGH'S Turnpike Gallery presents Jigar: films by Alia Syed from June 22 to August 3. Alia Syed is well known on the film festival circuit, having exhibited at Tate Modern and the National Film Theatre. This is her first major solo gallery exhibition
ANGRY health care assistants from Bolton will stage a demonstration next week demanding equal pay. They will travel to Eccles on June 12 to lobby the Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health Trust Board meeting. A representative from Unison, representing
THE Rotary Club of Turton's 11th annual duck race will be held on Sunday at Bradshaw Brook in Bradshaw. The popular event next to the cricket club will start at 11am. Funds from ticket sales will go to help many local charities, including Bolton and St
BOLTON'S Steam Museum is opening the doors of its new home to the public for the first time. The historic museum, now situated behind Morrisons in Chorley Old Road, is run by the Northern Mill Engine Society, which was set up in 1966. The original museum
RESIDENTS' pleas for a skateboarding park have received the backing of MP Ruth Kelly. Ms Kelly was recently presented with a petition signed by more than 100 households in the Johnson Fold area of Bolton calling for the skateboard park to be installed
FOOTBALL mad brothers Simon and Johnny Jones were so keen to get their favourite seats to watch England's first World Cup match that they volunteered to clean their local pub. The pair asked landlady Carole Crane if she would open the Nab Gate, in Arthur
POLICE have warned homeowners and holidaymakers to safeguard their property and themselves against thieves and muggers this summer. Every year, thieves steal belongings as residents' backs are turned and burglars break into empty homes knowing the owners
A NEW appeal has been made for urgent investment to ease Bolton's private sector housing crisis. Bolton has 22,000 unfit private-owned homes and 5,000-6,000 of them are beyond repair and need knocking down. Bolton South East MP Brian Iddon says properties
THE family of a young girl who suffered a serious eye injury on a dangerous metal display hook have welcomed a compensation pay-out made by store bosses. Matalan has paid out £1,700 to five-year-old Demi-Lea Corr, who was scarred when she fell onto one
THE family of a cancer sufferer who has lost his fight for life have staged a moving tribute at Bolton Wanderers to honour his final wish. Football fan Michael Devlin, aged 47, refused to give in to lung cancer and set himself four milestones to help
THE World Cup is now well underway - and you don't have to miss out on any of the latest news! We have linked to a number of websites to give all the latest information, scores and reaction. Try these: Click on our live reports link on the World Cup page
THOSE who have doubted Horwich's staying power at the top of the table must now be realising the leaders' early success has been no flash in the pan. You might have been forgiven for thinking otherwise at the start of their innings on Saturday as they
CALLS by the Vicar of Bolton for hard drugs to be legalised have received a mixed response from Bolton Evening News readers. Some agree with Canon Michael Williams that the war against drugs is being lost and now the only way to counter the smugglers
MOTORISTS have been urged to leave their cars behind and use buses, trains and trams to watch this summer's Commonwealth Games in Manchester. Organisers have published a transport strategy to get as many visitors as possible to events across the city
TEENAGER David Gregory was an outgoing student with everything to live for. But nearly four years ago, his parents found him dead in his bed, at the age of just 19. His parents, Chris and Judith Gregory, of Old Links Close, Heaton, along with their three
TRAFFIC chaos looks set to hit Horwich this summer after transport bosses revealed their plans for the Commonwealth Games. Thousands of motorists will be forced into their cars by a lack of a frequent, dedicated bus or train services from Bolton town
ACTION movie Spider-Man looks set to become Bolton's biggest ever film money-spinner. Spidermania is gripping the town as hundreds of people have booked to see the film over its preview weekend. It is already making thousands of pounds profit for the
TENANTS are backing plans for a new company to run Bolton's crisis-hit housing services. The Government has given the council the go-ahead for an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) and backed the move with £41.6 million. Early indications are
A TV documentary about the axe killer who bludgeoned a former Harwood man to death could be screened later this year. The mother of victim Daniel O'Brien has been approached by "dozens" of production companies -- said to include Manchester-based Granada
WHEN Gordon Williams was diagnosed with bone disease as a teenager, all he could see ahead was the end of his promising football career. But little did the 18-year-old realise that he would one day be commonly known in Bolton as "Mr Football" -- the man
