WEEKLY pay packets in Bolton rose by an average of £21.69, or 5.8 per cent, to £396.77 in the year from 2002 to 2003. The figures, based on average comparisons between the two years, put Bolton 31st in a list of towns throughout Britain. However, Bury
TV LICENSING is targeting more than 2,000 businesses in Bolton who are dodging paying to watch the small screen. The authority has drawn up a Business Blacklist of firms which research has shown to be the most likely to be breaking the law by not being
TRADE exhibitors and visitors prefer the Reebok Stadium to Manchester's GMEX Centre. That is the conclusion of North West Manufacturing Exhibition organisers ETES, after moving their annual show from the GMEX, where they have been for six years, to the
WHAT a mess the Government has got itself into over asylum seekers. Surely the "Powers of Europe" should get their heads round a table and decide the same level of benefits for all, whatever country they come to. What did we elect them for? An economic
SOME months ago there was a reference in a newsletter to Somerford Hall, Congleton, Cheshire. This brought back fond memories for my husband and his friend, who used to visit the hall when it was used as a summer camp for children whose parents could
IN answer to adverse comment about the award of increases of around £20,000 per year to council officers currently earning about £80,000 per year. It was reported in the Bolton Evening News (Thursday, October 23) that the council chief executive Bernard
THE article "MP speaks out for ban on hunting" recently appeared in the Bolton Evening News. At the outset, let me say that I am swayed neither one way nor the other on the subject of hunting. What I cannot see is how the devil those who oppose it (including
FOR virulent anti-Europeans like Brian Derbyshire (Letters, October 30) it often looks as if any stick is good enough to beat Europe with. In truth, the imminent crisis in Health Service funding will be entirely unaffected by whether or not we join the
THE caption for this picture read: "Bill Aspinall lived in Cellini Street, Brownlow Fold and joined the loyal North Lancashire Regiment early in World War 1. "He served on the Western Front in France and Belgium and was awarded the Military Medal for
THE saga of the HLKFC women at Horwich has a sequel. After establishing that the initials stood for Horwich Ladies Keep Fit Club (not Horwich Ladies Kentucky Fried Chickens) I have had a telephone call from 86-year-old Mrs Olive Hall (nee Boyes). Olive
THE Pub Landlord, alias comic Al Murray, is in Bolton this week as part of his nationwide tour. In his biography, he says he went to Landlord Academy to hone his skills as a top publican and adds: "The Academy boast the rare honour of being the only college
THE Gossip bets singer Sarah Whatmore must wish she had taken up Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell's offer of marriage. For it has emerged TV's Mr Nasty earned a whopping £33.5 million over the past year thanks to the global success of Pop Idol. A new Sunday
MOST of the world's artists struggle all their lives for recognition. And some of them, like Salford's LS Lowry, have to die before anyone takes notice. But amateur photographer Andy Smith has had a bit more luck, even if it has been achieved 6,000 miles
LATEST tables PREMIER DIVISION Crofters Nomads... 4 4 0 24 4 32 Staff of Life... 4 3 1 18 8 25 Brown Cow... 4 2 2 14 14 18 British Legion... 4 2 2 11 17 15 Shakespeare... 4 1 3 8 20 10 BH Wanderers... 4 0 4 8 20 8 Results: Crofters Nomads 6 Brown Cow
The first pavilion at Old Trafford was built in 1857 for Manchester Cricket Club. In 1884, Old Trafford became the second English cricket ground to stage a Test match, after the Oval. The first day was washed out. The lowest all out score by a visiting
RADCLIFFE-based Castlecroft Camping and Caravans has been appointed a distributor for Avondale Coachcraft touring caravans. Castlecroft, which was established 35 years ago, has a five-acre site on Eton Hill Road which includes workshops, a storage area
BUSINESSES in Bolton experiencing financial difficulties will have more chance of survival as a result of the Enterprise Act 2002. The new law which came into force in September changes key elements of insolvency law. Until now directors of companies
COMPANIES holding firework displays this year are reminded that they must follow legal guidelines. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), any company holding a non-domestic fireworks display, from a local pub to large hotel, or a corporate event
A SUCCESSFUL scheme to encourage women entrepreneurs is coming to Bolton. The Women's Business Network North West is looking for new participants following the success of a pilot project Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs in Merseyside. The scheme was started
DESPITE the increasing trend towards open-plan office environments, the owners and manager of small businesses want an office of their own. That's the finding of Bibby Factors Northwest's latest research which found a significant 42 per cent of owners
WARBURTONS bread vans delivering bread to commercial customers are having their routes modified to enable them to drop off loaves to Bolton schools. Withins School has become the latest in a series to benefit by having free fresh bread delivered for its
A PENSIONER was pushed to the floor by a robber who stole a small amount of cash from his pockets. The thief approached the 66 year-old man in Ellesmere Walk, Farnworth, at 3.30pm yesterday. The pensioner was shaken but unhurt during the robbery. The
MASKED car-jackers stole a 48-year-old man's Subaru Impreza as he was about to drive away from his home in Glebelands Road, Prestwich. Two robbers threatened the man with an unknown weapon and forced him out of the car. It was later found abandoned in
FIREFIGHTERS put out four car fires during one of the busiest nights of the year. Crews at Bolton Central Fire Station received 20 emergency calls last night, many to bonfires that had been set alight. They also attended four car fires at Bridgeman Street
AN alert was issued today after a large quantity of Diazepam tablets were stolen in a burglary at a pharmacy in Westhoughton. Thieves broke into M&A Pharmaceuticals in Wigan Road in the early hours of this morning. The tablets are circular and yellow
TWO former foster carers appeared at Salford Magistrates Court on Tuesday on charges of child cruelty. Lynne Sheridan and Lesley Broughton, both aged 30, spoke only to confirm their names, addresses and dates of birth. The pair, of Brookhouse Close, Bolton
Man died from drugs cocktail AN unemployed labourer died after he took a lethal cocktail of drugs. Henry William Cleary, aged 43, injected himself with heroin at his home in Westwood Road, Bolton, an inquest was told. Mr Cleary had been taking a number
AN undercover journalist who exposed racism within Greater Manchester Police will not be prosecuted, it has been announced. The Crown Prosecution Service said it had advised GMP there was insufficient evidence to take the BBC's Mark Daly to court. A senior
BOLTON Council has welcomed plans for a voluntary code of conduct to make fast food shops responsible for litter problems but says it would still rather see new laws to tackle the problem. Owners of takeaway shops could soon be required to do far more
BUS passsenger Karen Barton is preparing to hit the High Street after scooping first prize in a bus company's monthly draw. Mrs Barton, aged 60, from Farnworth, won £100 in High Street shopping vouchers as part of North West bus company First's 'First
A DOCTOR is facing a possible prison sentence after being convicted of sexually assaulting two women at his surgery. Former police surgeon Dr Dilip Gore, aged 55, a doctor for more than 25 years, denied the charges but was convicted of five charges of
Phoenix 5 Racers 4 (after overtime): Captain George Awada scored 19 seconds into sudden death overtime on Tuesday night as the Manchester Phoenix overcame a brave fight by the still winless London Racers. Phoenix got away to the perfect start with Awada
SCHOOL stayaways have been warned there will be no hiding place in a major crackdown on truancy. Police and education officers are launching the first operation of its kind around four Bolton secondary schools. Police officers and education social workers
JUSTIN Moorhouse, who plays Young Kenny in Phoenix Nights, will be providing the comedy at a fund-raising dinner and cabaret in aid of Bolton's Drama Workshop Youth Theatre. The event will be held at the Bolton Moat House Hotel on Friday, November 14
WINGATES Band is justified in blowing its own trumpet! The brass band has won four top awards in as many months. This is Wingates' best spell on the contest scene for several years and comes as the band celebrates its 130th anniversary year. Among many
A HOUSE of Commons committee has backed plans to allow fluoride to be added to tap water following an impassioned plea by a Bolton MP. Brian Iddon urged fellow members of a scrutiny committee to support controversial Clause 61 of the Water Bill after
SECURITY cameras in Horwich could be turned off if shops and businesses refuse to help to pay for the running costs. Councillors at Horwich called a crisis meeting for local companies but were dismayed when only three representatives turned up. During
A PLAQUE commemorating employees at a former Bolton factory who fought in the world wars has been returned to its original home. The memorial, which is five feet high, remembers men from the tannery works of William Walker and Sons Ltd who lost their
RAPPER Eminem has been helping Bolton pupils to get their environmental message across. They have reinterpreted one of his songs for a new CD which tackles issues ranging from litter and graffiti to global warming. The album features around 180 pupils
AGE Concern Bolton is launching a weekly lunch and leisure club at the Cobden Community Centre in Halliwell, starting on Sunday. People aged over 50 can apply to join the club and enjoy a traditional two-course lunch, including tea or coffee, for £1.80
LATEST results and tables U11 Division: Moston Jnrs 0 Boothstown 11; Astley Bridge 2 De La Salle 4; Moorside 1 Horwich St Mary's 6; Langworthy Jnrs 20 Heywood Rangers 0. U12 Division: Elton/Walshaw 8 Stand 1; Moorside 3 Moston Brook 2. U13 Division One
LATEST scores Premier Division HULTON LANE A ...4 MINERS ARMS ...5 WHITE HORSE ...5 SPREAD EAGLE ...2 ROYAL HOTEL ...4 ELLESMERE ...2 KING WILLIAM ...1 BLUE BELL ...2 Division One MASONS ARMS ...2 PRINCE RUPERT ...1 HULTON LANE B ...4 FARNWORTH SC ...10
DIRECTOR Ian Taylor promises a mix of song, dance and "dreadful humour" in Tyldesley Little Theatre's latest pantomime Jack and Jill. This modern version of a traditional tale features the nursery rhyme characters dealing with Dames, demons and dimwits
CONFIRMATION that Stelios is one of the stars of Greek football came today with news that the Wanderers wide man has topped a poll of his fellow professionals. The 29-year-old attacker has been awarded the coveted Players' Player of the Year for the 2002
BRIGADOON only comes to life every 100 years. But audiences don't have to wait that long to see the inhabitants of this fictional Scottish village as the Lerner and Loewe musical is being staged by the Walmsley Church AODS at the Parish Hall Theatre,
THERE are still some tickets left for Bolton Choral Union's Concert on November 22 at the Victoria Hall, featuring Claire Moore. The first half of the concert features pieces by Andrew Lloyd Webber, such as Memory from Cats, excerpts from Phantom of the
FIGHTING ageism is good for business, says a charity. Age Concern is inviting employers in the North-west to sign its Business Pledge and help to break the age barrier at work and in the market place. An Age Concern/ICM poll found that 71 per cent of
CONTENDER for Most Sick Christmas Gift this year, a commemorative replica of the Twin Towers offered in a gift magazine that came through a colleague's door this week. For just £54, plus £2.85 postage and handling, you could have "an authentically detailed
ASDA stores in Bolton are looking for more than 100 part-time workers with a difference. For the stores want to hire staff to work for just 10 weeks a year. This move is part of a national scheme by the supermarket chain to find a solution to the perennial
WE had temporarily forgotten just how haunted Kevin and Nicola Wells and Sharon and Les Chapman looked, but the start of the Soham trial has brought it all back. Only a heart of stone could fail to respond to the enduring pain and sadness that the parents
KELLY Osbourne may be a style icon to someone but I'm puzzled as to who. The singer from the famously dysfunctional Osbourne clan (dad is Ozzy) is in the UK currently promoting her new album "Changes". But perhaps she could undergo a few herself. Apologies
I'M glad that Welsh actress Ruth Madoc felt at home in Bolton's Bromwich Street while filming for TV. Some of the street's houses were specially chosen for the drama Mine All Mine because they resemble the Mumbles area of Swansea. It's good to see any
KATIE Telleck has just beaten teenagers all over the country to become the GCSE Student of the Year. She got 11 A stars including the highest mark in music nationally. The 17 year-old from Turton Media Arts College in Bolton has now dropped music to concentrate
JUST when you'd thought that the true British sporting spirit was dead .... along come two sportsmen to change it all. Tim Henman has long been the national darling of Wimbledon. He is British No1, the best we have, and even when he annually got in the
RECENTLY I had the unfortunate experience of phoning Bolton Town Hall and being greeted by an automated voice informing me that there was a queue for attention of at least 10 minutes and perhaps I would like to call back later. I hung on in anticipation
THE Countryside Lover is quite correct about reporting the dumping of fridges and freezers. These are not the only potential pieces of hazardous waste that are dumped around our lanes and fields in Bolton. One of the main problems is the fly tipping of
THIS is a 1946 street party which celebrated victory in the Second World War. The postcard shows a 'sit down do' for the children in Bashall Street, off Marsh Fold Lane. Householders organised and paid for the party -- "showing a community spirit which
HALLIWELL Local History Society has produced another fascinating book featuring views and characters from the area. More Halliwell On Postcards, by founder member Barrie Parker, repeats the formula which led to an earlier volume selling out very quickly
This 1923 picture was captioned: "Robert Wood was the inventor of the 'New Century Racing Plate (shoes for racehorses) which were manufactured by Robert Wood at his Newton Street works, off Halliwell Road. "These plates were very popular with the racing
Guy Fawkes Night: - The law compelling people to celebrate this day was repealed in 1859. 1637: The Ancient Society of College Youths was founded to ring the City of London bells. College youths have rung Bow Bells since 1637 and also ring St Paul's Bells
A PLAQUE commemorating employees at a former Bolton factory who fought in the world wars has been returned to its original home. The memorial, which is five feet high, remembers men from the tannery works of William Walker and Sons Ltd who lost their
From the Evening News, November 5, 1903: METHODISM in Bolton is truly a powerful factor in the spiritual life of the town. If the great meeting held in the Victoria Hall on Wednesday evening may be taken as a criterion, there is manifest amongst its members
A WOMAN is lucky to be alive after a gas blast reduced her Astley Bridge home to a smouldering ruin. The force of the explosion blew off the roof of Patricia Rawlinson's flat, destroyed five rooms, shattered windows and hurled debris 25 yards across the
Manchester Phoenix 5 London Racers 4 (OT) Phoenix captain George Awada clinched the points for Manchester and pushed his side to fourth in the table as London earned their second point of the season by taking the game into overtime. Awada and Mike Lankshear
SVEN Goran Eriksson lookalike Colin Lyne is looking to advance his driving skills. He enrolled on a course at the Bolton branch of the Institute of Advanced Motorists which was holding an introductory session at Great Lever and Farnworth Golf Club. After
He was on Phil Tuffnell's team, alongside equally hirsute radio and TV personality Jonathan Ross. Anchorman Nick Hancock alluded to our Vernon's appeal to the ladies. He said that Kay was "exactly what Jonathan Ross THINKS he looks like" -- which made
PETER Kay brought a smile to the faces of Manchester United fans watching the first home defeat in a year at the Theatre of Dreams last Saturday. The Bolton funnyman joked away as he made the prize draw at half-time as the champions headed towards a shock
PRACTICAL or totally unthinkable? That's the dilemma Lancashire Cricket Club members face as the future of Old Trafford is pushed into the spotlight writes Sports Editor Peter Mensforth Manchester City Council is considering providing the county with
WANDERERS' limited allocation of tickets for the game at Leeds on Saturday, November 22, go on sale on Thursday to season ticket holders by postal application only. Tickets are priced at £26 for adults and £17 for concessions and will be limited to one
GORDON Strachan has given his personal assurance that Southampton will be back on song at the Reebok on Saturday. The Saints boss slated his players after their 2-0 home defeat by Manchester City and has spent the early part of the week reminding them
SAM Allardyce proved a real winner when he popped in to wish happy birthday to one of Wanderers' oldest fans. Big Sam planted a kiss on the cheek of Annie Lord-Hatton and helped to kick off her 100th birthday celebrations in style. He was the icing on
LEVELS of business output and new orders are the highest that they have been for small and medium sized enterprises in Bolton since the end of 1999. That is the view of the PKF SME Index, a quarterly survey of 800 SMEs operating in the manufacturing,
MARGARET Eddison decided it was time to jump when she was 50, right out of an aeroplane for charity. The Bolton legal information manager marked her half-century with a skydive at the North West Parachute Centre at Grange-over-Sands in aid of Breast Cancer
A TOMBOLA and Jumble Sale held on Bolton Canopy on Tuesday, October 28, by Ladbrokes in Atherton, raised £478. This figure was made up to £600 with money from a raffle later held at the shop. Proceeds will go to Wigan & Leigh Hospice. Many thanks
TRANSCO engineers will conduct gas main repair work along a section of Bolton Road in Bradshaw for over a month. The work is due to start next Monday until mid-December. Bolton Council say traffic delays are expected around the Maple Street junction,
AGE Concern Bolton is launching a weekly lunch and leisure club at the Cobden Community Centre in Halliwell, starting on Sunday. People aged over 50 can apply to join the club and enjoy a traditional two-course lunch, including tea or coffee, for £1.80
POLICE in Rivington are appealing for information after a man posing as a park ranger was seen cutting down and burning trees. The man is described as white, 5ft 10in tall, thick set and tanned with dark hair that is going grey tied up in a ponytail.
FIREFIGHTERS rescued a man from his smoke-filled flat in Breightmet last night after he fell asleep and left a grill pan unattended which caught fire. The 47-year-old man had been drinking at his ground floor flat at the Hollins Sheltered Housing when
A 77-year-old devoted husband took his own life after struggling to come to terms with the death of his wife more than five years ago. Cyril Westhead was found in a secluded car park in his fume-filled car by a policeman on patrol in February. A Bolton
AFTER serving thousands of cuppas during a 27 year career as an assistant in a cafe Margaret Entwistle has hung up her apron. The 58-year-old from Great Lever completed her last shift at The Market Cafe at Bolton's indoor market, Ashburner Street, before
MOTORISTS in Greater Manchester are paying below the national average for fuel, according to a report today. Unleaded petrol in the area costs an average of 75.45p, compared to 77.1p nationally. Drivers who buy diesel are, at 76.62p, also paying lower
A WOMAN who had been diagnosed with diabetes, died after collapsing at her home. A Bolton inquest heard how Lorraine Price, aged 34, who was reclusive, may not have taken medication for her condition in the days before her death. Mrs Price, of Wigan Road
A FIRE brigade union chief has pledged that Greater Manchester firefighters will not go on strike in a new row over their pay deal. And Bob Pounder, head of the Fire Brigades Union in Greater Manchester, has bitterly condemned his own union leadership
COUNCIL bosses have rubber stamped plans to close and then immediately reopen a struggling Bolton school and link it to one of the town's most successful schools. Bolton Council's Executive members took just minutes at a town hall meeting to approve a
SAM Allardyce proved a real winner when he popped in to wish happy birthday to one of Wanderers' oldest fans. Big Sam planted a kiss on the cheek of Annie Lord-Hatton and helped to kick off her 100th birthday celebrations in style. He was the icing on
REFEREE Chris Foy has backtracked on his decision to book Stelios for "diving" in Wanderers' recent home defeat by Birmingham. The St Helens official rescinded the yellow card after reviewing the second half incident when Stelios appealed for a penalty
THERE'S no plot, nothing much happens and it's all absolutely riveting. The Weir, by Conor McPherson, is set in a remote part of Ireland near a weir. Three local men, another who has "escaped" and a young woman from Dublin, drink the evening away telling
FEARS of a mass invasion of Manchester by ticket-less Glasgow Rangers fans for the Champions League "Battle of Britain" clash with United at Old Trafford on Tuesday proved unfounded. Although a large number of fans were expected to make the journey down
FEARS of a mass invasion of Manchester by ticket-less Glasgow Rangers fans for the Champions League "Battle of Britain" clash with United at Old Trafford on Tuesday proved unfounded. Although a large number of fans were expected to make the journey down
A DRIVING instructor has slammed the published waiting times for a test as "misleading" after one pupil was told he would have to wait up to three months. As reported in last week's Bolton Evening News, the Driving Standards Agency claimed on its website
A CASH crisis is threatening the future of a residents' association. Officials at Farnworth Central Residents' Association have revealed they are struggling to pay the monthly rent to Bolton Council for their Queen Street base. They claim they are the
HORWICH Leisure Centre will be the first to benefit from the £18 million being ploughed into Bolton's ailing leisure centres. The money, coming from a 15-year partnership between Bolton Council and commercial company Serco Leisure, will bring big changes
A TEARFUL 16 year-old girl told a court how a taxi driver held her down and raped her. But Wayne Darcy, aged 31, of Pole Street, Tonge Moor, denies rape and said sex had been consensual. Darcy is alleged to have carried out the rape on April 19 of this
AN 83-year-old housebound woman was left bruised and battered by a robber who attacked her for £20 as a Bolton man acted as lookout. Olga Keegan was beaten by Mark Andrew Harrison, aged 24, of Darley Avenue, Chorlton, as Christopher Derek McGuire, aged
BILLS for up to 10 million customers served by two water companies are to rise next year, industry regulator Ofwat warned today. The changes, which are still subject to public consultation, will result in a £26 increase in the average annual bill for
A REUNION for former pupils of Breightmet High School (now the Withins) will be held on November 29, at the Ainsworth Arms, Halliwell Road, at 8pm. Pupils who left the school at the end of term 1981 are welcome. Anyone interested should email Julia Ridyard
RAPPER Eminem has been helping Bolton pupils to get their environmental message across. They have reinterpreted one of his songs for a new CD which tackles issues ranging from litter and graffiti to global warming. The album features around 180 pupils
BOLTON Under 14s made it three games without defeat when they held Wigan to a goalless draw in their challenge match at Sharples School. Westhoughton High School have been given a home tie against Holy Family Catholic high school (Merseyside) in the third
MARIO Jardel, Ibrahim Ba, Henrik Pedersen and Anthony Barness are in the Wanderers reserve squad for Wednesday night's game against Blackburn at Morecambe (ko 7pm).
STELIOS is one of five members of the Wanderers squad whose international commitments next week will rule them out of the Reebok friendly against the crack Brazilian side, Sao Paulo, on Saturday, November 15. Jussi Jaaskelainen will be away with Finland
WHITE Horse moved to the top of the Premier Division thanks to a 5-3 home victory against Spread Eagle. Tim Gallagher hit four goals for White Horse and Harrison the fifth. Roberts replied for Spread. In a thriller Hulton Lane raced into a 3-0 lead against
THE Bolton Sunday League kicked off their first cup competition of the season with Horwich Vic taking on Farnworth Whites in the Premier Division Cup. In a closely fought preliminary round tie Vic earned a place in the first round by edging home 1-0 .
THE stage will be set for a Victorian thriller when Farnworth Little Theatre presents Patrick Hamilton's Gaslight. Stephen Stubbs is directing the play. This is his second production at Farnworth. He has previously directed for the Phoenix Theatre Company
