Tour operator First Choice has reported a rapid recovery in sales of holidays following the Asian tsunami, which cost it more than £1 million. First Choice said the catastrophe in Asia had significantly disrupted the market in the first two weeks of January
Redressing the £27 billion UK savings gap and tackling the "scandal" of women's pensions were two of the priorities for the finance industry and the Government as they moved to avert a retirement crisis, a conference was told The Association of British
WELL, what a surprise! The plans to "revamp the Market Hall have been given the go-ahead. Cllr David Wilkinson says it's in the interests of the future of Bolton. Yeah, right! This would be the same Bolton with empty shops on Newport Street? The Bolton
I HAD the dubious honour of being present at the planning meeting at the Town Hall last Thursday evening. Although I have no business interest in the Market Hall, I have a great affinity and love for Bolton and I thought it was my civic responsibility
With reference to the boundary changes to our three parliamentary seats in Bolton. I think that the boundary changes which are being proposed by the boundary commission are a fair proposal. It is very important that our members of parliament represent
GOLBORNE Cricket Club are looking for an all rounder/bowler of 1st XI standard to join them for the 2005 season. Golborne are a friendly club and would welcome anybody who wishes to join them. Please contact Denis Ormshaw (Chairman) on 0791 734 7565 or
CRICKET club officials are counting the cost of the latest in a spate of vandal attacks which has cost them thousands of pounds. Louts smashed wooden spectator seats at Bradshaw Cricket Club during a wrecking spree on Tuesday night. The latest attack
THE new outdoor cricket season is still a couple of months away but Leigh CC Under 13s have just secured the first trophy of the year, overcoming a gallant Hindley St Peters side in the Wigan & District Indoor Six-a-side Tournament at Lowton Community
TOWN Hall staff are off sick 10 days a year on average, new figures have revealed. The sick days taken by workers for Bolton Council - the town"s biggest employer - is costing tax payers nearly £10million a year. And the leader of Bolton Council, Cllr
TYLDESLEY Swimming and Water Polo Club have become the first club in the North of England to receive the ASA Kitemark Swim 21 accreditation silver award at both teaching and skill development levels. A lot of hard work, time and dedication to the sport
FIVE boys from Bolton School have been called up for a Great Britain water polo training camp in Barcelona. Fifteen-year-old goalkeeper Edward Scott is the youngest of the five to be selected with 16-year-olds Peter Hutchinson and Robert Rae and 18-year-olds
There was a big turnout for the Radcliffe Swimming Club Annual Shrimps Gala before a large and enthusiastic audience of parents and friends at Radcliffe Pool. The Shrimps Gala is for the club's junior members, with races over one length of the pool in
TRIBUTES have poured in from far and wide this week, paying respects to Dave "Ding Dong Do" Higson, who died suddenly on Tuesday. Sam Allardyce and Phil Brown, on behalf of the current squad, John McGinlay, currently in America, who spoke for stars of
REV Greg Yerbury, vicar of St John's Church, Top o'th' Moss, Bolton is moving to become vicar of St James' Church, Breightmet.
A FLEA market will be held by the Bleak Hope Animal Sanctuary on Rochdale Road, Edenfield, on Sunday, March 13 between 11am and 2pm. For details call 01706 822577.
MOTORISTS in Astley Bridge face disruption as work is carried out to build pedestrian islands on several main roads. Bolton Council is installing the islands in preparation for traffic signals being installed later in the year. The work will be carried
THE man who died under the wheels of a lorry in Boothstown on Monday has been named as Ian Thomas Lawler. Mr Lawler, aged 52, of Rushbrook Avenue, Clayton, is thought to have fallen under the wheels of the wagon as he walked along Leigh Road at 1.30pm
A MAN charged with the murder of a Robert Johnston has appeared in court. Ryan McLoughlin, aged 23, of Fairfields, Bromley Cross, appeared before Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday to make an application for bail. Mr Johnston, of Levens Drive, Breightmet
AN Easter appeal has been made by Total Fitness Exercise Hydrotherapy and Rehabilitation Centre, Bolton. The centre is asking members to donate a chocolate egg or Easter related gift which will be presented to the NSPCC. People taking an egg to the centre
PUPILS at a Farnworth primary school are jumping for joy now that their school has been taken out of special measures. Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School, in Beech Avenue, has been making major reforms since it was placed in special measures in October
A BOY who fell into an ice cold river and was submerged for five minutes has returned home - two days after being brought back to life. Connor Scott, aged six, was carried lifeless from the River Tonge after firefighters spotted him at the bottom of the
THE Atherton & Tyldesley Round Table raised their glasses and raised £5,000 for charity. The group has presented the Wigan & Leigh Hospice with a cheque for the money, which was raised from its annual Bent & Bongs Beer Festival. The hospice
A SINGING roadshow was saved from disaster when a Bolton store stepped in to help. Fundraisers from the Christie Hospital panicked when their volunteer singers were struggling to set up a base for a day in Bolton town centre. Marks and Spencer came to
THE man who was killed when he was thrown off his motorbike on the M61 has been formally identified. Mr Angus, aged 44, of Tetbury Drive, Breightmet, died when his Honda CBR 900cc motorbike collided with a tractor unit and was hit by two cars. He suffered
PUPILS at a Farnworth primary school are jumping for joy now that their school has been taken out of special measures. Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School, in Beech Avenue, has been making major reforms since it was placed in special measures in October
PUPILS at a Bolton primary school have helped to organise their own music and dance show to raise money for young victims of the Asian tsunami disaster. Youngsters from Egerton County Primary School, Cox Green Road, will perform alongside a number of
A NEW mobile police station aimed at combating anti-social behaviour will open its doors to the public next week. Copshop 2 in Farnworth is being hailed as the latest weapon in fighting crime and police hope it will repeat the success of their first mobile
BOLTON comedian Dave Spikey is hoping to be reunited with Phoenix Nights co-star Peter Kay for a one-off Christmas special of the show. The Dead Man Weds star, who was once Bolton Hospital's chief medical scientist, specialising in haematology, told an
A TEAM of detectives who have been working to identify bodies in tsunami-ravaged Thailand have returned home. Fifteen officers from Greater Manchester Police's Force Major Incident Team spent two weeks in the disaster-hit area. Led by Det Supt Simon Barraclough
A MAN who was threatened with a machete during a stand-off outside a Bolton nightclub is being urged to come forward by police. Officers have appealed to the public to help identify the man, who was wearing a grey and black shirt and standing with a woman
THE historic bell at a former Bolton church is to be saved. What was St Paul's Church in Deansgate, Bolton, is being converted into apartments. But thanks to the efforts of John Greenhough, from Leicester, the church bell, which dates back to 1865, will
LANCASHIRE Wildlife Trust has a project available to people who want to experience the good life for themselves. The Community Food Growing Project reclaims unused allotments and derelict land to create community allotments. People of all ages and backgrounds
FORMER loyalist terror leader Johnny "Mad Dog" Adair has been told he is not welcome back on his old Belfast stamping ground. Adair is living in exile in Horwich after being released from prison but last month defied a death threat by paying a visit to
ROBERT Kilroy-Silk's new Veritas party has announced that its first candidate in the country will stand in Bolton. David Hodgson will contest a by-election in the White Horse ward of Westhoughton Town Council. The ballot for the seat, vacated when councillor
CRICKET club officials are counting the cost of the latest in a spate of vandal attacks which has cost them thousands of pounds. Louts smashed wooden spectator seats at Bradshaw Cricket Club during a wrecking spree on Tuesday night. The latest attack
THE funeral of Bolton Wanderers' biggest fan has taken place on Thursday. Dave Higson, whose catchphrase "Ding Dong Do" became legendary among football fans across the country, died last week aged 58, after collapsing in the driveway of his Morris Green
AMIR Khan is one of six nominations in the Newcomer of the Year category in the prestigious Laureus World sports awards. The 18-year-old Olympic silver medallist from Bolton, who is hotly-tipped to turn professional in the next couple of months, will
BRADFORD Bulls are set to sack disgraced hooker Ryan Hudson, who will leave Odsal without ever playing a match. The 25-year-old Hudson, who was part of the Great Britain squad 18 months ago, faces an uncertain future in the game after being handed a two-year
BOLTON Lads and Girls Club will be holding a soccer school at Hacken Lane this Easter break. The school will run for children from years three to six from Tuesday, March 29, to Friday, April 1, between 9.45am and 12.15pm. The action will include themed
LEIGH'S failure to deal with set-pieces cost them dear again. Their defensive frailties handed their opponents victory and Carlisle, following three successive defeats, were delighted to get back on to the winning track. Two of the three goals came from
RADCLIFFE BORO 2, PRESCOT CABLES 1: IT will never be known if the teacups were flying in the Radcliffe Boro dressing room at half-time, but whatever measures Kevin Glendon took to galvanise his team certainly had the desired effect. A woeful first half
FLY-TIPPERS who dumped more than 30 bags of poisonous paint-dye on the banks of a Bolton fishing lodge are being hunted by environmental officers. Members of Bolton and District Anglers Association were horrified after being told by the Environment Agency
HE might not be on centre court at Wimbledon yet, but young tennis ace Alex Jackson is cleaning up in more ways than one. The Canon Slade High School pupil is following in the footsteps of Tim Henman after landing a contract with a washing powder manufacturer
A MAN jailed for shooting his wife with an air rifle after an argument over a shepherd's pie has won his right to an appeal. Simon Lee, who comes from Horwich, is currently serving nine years in Garth Prison, Leyland, for attempted murder after shooting
THERE are two big celebrity weddings looming - and both of them on the same day. Friday, April 8 sees the marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles at Windsor Town Hall register office and, over in Weatherfield, Ken and Deirdre marry for the
AMANDA Fairclough had a burning ambition to become an actress, but it wasn't until she reached her 30s that she managed to make that dream a reality, landing parts in Shameless, Cops, Coronation Street and Cutting It. Now, through her acting school, she
THE following planning applications have been submitted to Bolton Council for approval: BOLTON/TURTON 70322/05 - Mr D Elliott, 61Midford Drive, Bolton. Erection of conservatory at rear. 70401/05 - Ms S Stone, 8 Thorns Close, Bolton. Erection of conservatory
A NEW mobile police station aimed at combating anti-social behaviour will open its doors to the public next week. Copshop 2 in Farnworth is being hailed as the latest weapon in fighting crime and police hope it will repeat the success of their first mobile
THERE are two big celebrity weddings looming - and both of them on the same day. Friday, April 8 sees the marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles at Windsor Town Hall register office and, over in Weatherfield, Ken and Deirdre marry for the
THE fact that Princess Ida is one of Gilbert and Sullivan's lesser-known works is testament to the New Rosemere's achievement in making every number sound familiar. The 2004 Bolton Evening News Best Musical winners pull off this story of the battle between
THREE Bolton business owners are celebrating a successful race night in aid of the British Red Cross. Gary Lovatt, Chris Halloran and Daniel Robinson, raised more than £2,000 through the night at Premier Fives, Leverhulme Park. The men, who run Moorish
Energy group International Power is celebrating confirmation that it is to replace Cairn Energy in the index of the UK's top 100 firms. The FTSE 100 Index's Europe committee, which decides promotions and demotions, also said in its quarterly review that
NATIONAL Grid Transco has signed contracts with two utility engineering companies to carry out work on gas mains renewal projects across the North West over the next three years. The contracts, worth £42.5m to Willow Construction Services and £48.8m to
A THIRD generation family business says it fought back against the decline in manufacturing by marketing itself on the Internet. Firwood Paints Ltd is based at Oakenbottom Road and was set up in 1925 to manufacture coatings for industrial applications
BOLTON Ladies crushed Salford University on Sunday with a convincing display in which Sarah Grange contributed an amazing five goals. The Ladies dominated their opponents throughout, with Grange converting two short corners in the first half. Sue Booth
BOLTON Men's First Team came back from two goals down to seal an important victory over Crewe Vagrants and keep up their chase for promotion. Currently riding high in the league, Bolton looked to be dead and buried 10 minutes into the second half but
LEIGH Amateur Boxing Club provided four boxers for a combined Lancashire/Yorkshire side that faced a Preston City Select Team at Preston Guildhall. Westleigh High School's 15-year-old flyweight Martin Pilkington was the first Leigh boxer on show and faced
I AM writing in response to all those people complaining about the green recycling boxes. Why are you complaining? At least you have the option of using the green box for recycling your cans/bottles etc. I travel to the local recycling centre at the weekend
1876: The first recognisable words were transmitted by telephone over 100ft of wire. Speaking to his assistant, inventor Alexander Graham Bell said: "Mrs Watson, come here, I want you." 1886: Cruft's Dog Show came to London, organised by Charles Cruft
FORMER Bolton railwayman George Glover has sent me some amusing memories of his early days in the job after starting as a 15-year-old engine cleaner in 1942 at the Plodder Lane Motive Power Depot opposite the Royal Bolton Hospital. Mr Glover, of Richmond
10 years ago from the Evening News March 10, 1995: Bolton Council bosses are pleading with bereaved relatives to remove "unauthorised" items from graves. In recent years increasing numbers of families have been ignoring council regulations in certain
Bolton Metro swim squad savoured success when they competed at Sheffield's Ponds Forge international pool, against clubs from all over the North of England. All the swimmers have recently endured a 3 month training routine set by coach Mike Halliwell,
GOLDEN girl Kasha Hampson is aiming to follow in the wake of her swim star brother Richard at university in the United States. The 16-years-old Howe Bridge Aces star, who recently returned from the International CSSF Games in Malta with a haul of four
HE might not be on centre court at Wimbledon yet, but young tennis ace Alex Jackson is cleaning up in more ways than one. The Canon Slade High School pupil is following in the footsteps of Tim Henman after landing a contract with a washing powder manufacturer
A MAN was stabbed in the head and face after the car he was travelling in was rammed several times in Manchester. The man, aged 38, was getting out of a white Ford Fiesta on Thornsgreen Road, Woodhouse Park, Wythenshawe, when he was attacked on Wednesday
AN AUCTION of rare stamps will be held by the Bolton Philatelic Society at the St Andrew and St George United Reform Church on St George's Road at 7.30pm on Thursday, March 17. For details call Brian on 01204 307252.
TERRY Waite will tell the story of how he survived nearly five years as a hostage in Beirut at St Peter's Church, Darwen, on March 20. Concert pianist Vincent Billington is also appearing. Tickets are £10 - call 01254 703929.
A GUIDE to the flowers and plants on show at Bolton Art Gallery's popular exhibition Lancashire Landscapes will be held on Saturday when Patricia Francis, keeper of botany, will take visitors on a journey through the county's landscape. The event takesplace
A 22-YEAR-OLD man has been charged with the rape and assault of a 19-year-old woman in Leigh last month. John Andrew Scott Lever, of Mayfield Street, Atherton, was appearing before Wigan Magistrates Court on Thursday. He is accused of an attack in Leigh
A MAN who sparked a police search when he went missing from his houseboat in Wigan has been found safe and well. Peter Wynn, aged 68, was reported missing from his canal boat in Abram on Tuesday night. Police and underwater search teams scoured canals
A CHILDREN'S club in Halliwell is looking for volunteers to help the group. The After 5 Kids Club provides a safe environment for children, aged five to 13, who get involved in arts and crafts, computer work, sports, games and community projects. If you
MOTORISTS in Farnworth face disruption as work is carried out constructing traffic islands and a mini roundabout over the next three weeks. Bolton Council's engineering department will also be working to install pedestrian refuges on Plodder Lane, at
PLANS to give biggest research grants to elite universities like Cambridge have been criticised by unions. The Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce), said it was giving research-based universities more money than those that focused on teaching
A NEW bus shuttle service between Piccadilly and Oxford Road train stations in Manchester will start on Monday. The 147 service, operated by Bullocks Coaches, will run every 10 minutes during peak times, and every 15 minutes during off peak times, Monday-Friday
BOLTON North-east MP David Crausby MP is urging clubs, schools and youth organisations not to miss out on the chance of grants of up to £10,000 from the latest phase of funding from the national Make Space campaign. The scheme, which aims to ensure there
THOUSANDS of scooter riders will take to the roads around Bolton this weekend for the popular Ginger's Easter Egg Run. The riders will start their trip from Lowton Civic Hall and they make their way to Manchester Children's Hospital to deliver their easter
TOTS will take part in a Toddle Waddle on Sunday to raise funds for the Meningitis Trust. The walk will start at Dew Crops Nursery at the Christ Church Primary School, Harwood, at 10am and finish at Safeways, Harwood at 11am. Natalie Yates, aged 29, who
A DIRECTORY of health and sporting activities has been produced to inspire people to get active and try something new. Bolton Council's Health Development Team has compiled the booklet to prove that exercise classes and activity sessions are accessible
A RESIDENTIAL social worker who had recovered after a bout of depression took a combination of alcohol and prescribed medication which proved fatal. But evidence from her family suggested that Hazel Lyne, of Beech Avenue, Horwich, would not have intended
BOLTON Wanderers soccer star El-Hadji Diouf has ignored strict parking laws for the second time in days. The 24-year-old striker was booked after illegally parking his £40,000 Lincoln Navigator in a bay reserved for disabled motorists outside Piccolinos
ACTION is being demanded to curb the spread of advertising posters in Bolton. Residents in Farnworth and Kearsley say posters and banners attached to empty walls are turning the area into an eyesore. Councillor Bill Collison, ward member for Kearsley,
A BOOZE ban on Westhoughton's streets could be extended to curb a growing teenage drink problem in Daisy Hill. Councillors fear an on-street drinking ban which came into force in Westhoughton town centre last year pushed the problem of young drinkers
YOUNG Nathan Howarth is making good progress in hospital after a vital operation last month. The six-year-old had a stem cell transplant at the end of February which, if successful, will extend his life considerably. He has to stay in an isolation room
A PENSIONER who makes cakes for charity has found a new fan of his baking - the Prime Minister. Jack Morgan has baked around 50 cakes a week over the past eight years for community groups to raffle off as prizes and has raised more than £40,000. But this
RESIDENTS are celebrating news that homes which were left unfinished for nearly seven years are finally to be completed. People living nearby in Egerton petitioned Bolton Council after becoming fed up with the state of the three storey homes on Shorefield
TRANSPLANT patients in Bolton are taking part in a drive to encourage more donors to come forward. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the organ donor register and, as part of the anniversary celebrations, UK Transplant is aiming to add one million
WOULD-BE young athletes are being sought to take part in the country's largest youth sport event to be held in Bolton this summer. The Greater Manchester Youth Games 2005, will take place in the town for the third year running, on the weekend of June
WOULD-BE young athletes are being sought to take part in the country's largest youth sport event to be held in Bolton this summer. The Greater Manchester Youth Games 2005, will take place in the town for the third year running, on the weekend of June
A MAN accused of murdering his 83-year-old father, broke down and wept when he told detectives how he saw the victim's battered body on the drive of their home. Jules Lowe, who may have been sleepwalking at the time of the killing, said the last he recalled
THE owner of a motorcycle showroom was badly burned as he tried to fight a fire which swept through the workshop of his Bury business. Roy Armstrong was rescued by his son from the inferno after the two men tried to fight the blaze. It spread through
BOLTON Wanderers soccer star El-Hadji Diouf has ignored strict parking laws for the second time in days. The 24-year-old striker was booked after illegally parking his £40,000 Lincoln Navigator in a bay reserved for disabled motorists outside Piccolinos
PHIL Brown believes Wanderers have what it takes to qualify for Europe this season, provided they can keep their nerve. "We are so close now that you can almost touch it, feel it and taste it," said the Wanderers assistant manager. "We just have to make
TWO desperately disappointing near-misses have fired Kevin Davies' determination to go all the way in the FA Cup. He might be honed from Sheffield steel but even he has been scarred after being robbed of appearances in two finals. At the tender age of
World Cup winner, Marcel Desailly, is aiming to take a leaf out of Fernando Hierro's book and returning to mainstream football. The former France international is coming the end of his contract in Qatar and is considering playing in Europe again. "I have
ARSENE Wenger would never admit it, but he will not relish another trip to the Reebok - not with a place in the FA Cup semi-finals at stake. The Arsenal boss has suffered some painful experiences at the hands of Bolton Wanderers, and the last thing he
BOLTON Arena is hosting a LTA International men's $10,000, and a ladies $10,000 satellite event next week. The event features British and international world ranked players who could be future stars of the game. Local prospect Simon Roberts, whose world
AS I promised in my last column, here is some information about next week's Continental Market. Brunomart French and Continental Market will be transforming Victoria Square into a French style boulevard from Thursday 17th - Saturday 19th March between
How do you feel about public displays of affection? Let's call them PDAs for ease of use and because I like pointless abbreviations that make me sound like a smug businessman. Anyway, PDAs divide the human race. One person's affectionate pat is another's
Octagon, Bolton Beautiful Thing Award-winning story about life on a Manchester council estate, filled with nostalgic music and promising a witty and winning take on what it is like to be 16 and falling in love. Until Apr 2 (except Easter Monday, 28 Mar
DARREN Abram reckons Leigh Centurions should be enjoying the relatively calm waters of mid-table by now instead of remaining marooned at the foot of the Engage Super League table. The Leigh coach believes that his team's two away games so far - Warrington
FA CUP fever has gripped Bolton as they prepare for the big quarter final clash against Arsenal. To mark the game, kit suppliers Umbro will be bringing the FA Cup to the Sports Soccer store at the Middlebrook from 12.30pm until 4.30pm on Friday. Fans
DAISY Hill are pressing ahead with their plans to install floodlights at their New Sirs ground. Last month the North West Counties League side received a £32,500 grant from the Football Stadia Improvement fund of the Football Foundation for the project
A FORMER Leigh soccer team is ready to get their kits on again - to raise money for charity. Ten seasons ago the Westleigh Village Club ran two successful teams in the Leigh Soccer League and now the search is on to get those two sides back on the pitch
AFTER a winless February, Radcliffe Borough boss Kevin Glendon is basking in the glory of back-to-back wins over Lincoln United and Prescot Cables, achieved over the last six days. "It's been a really awkward time with all the injuries we've had but we've
PRAISE for the three councillors who had the courage to vote against the Market Hall proposals. They were councillors Mrs Maureen Connell (Little Lever), William Collison (Kearsley) and Alan Walsh (Over Hulton) of the Labour, Liberal and Conservative
A NEW litter bin, which can also be used to dispose of dog waste, is to be put up at playing fields in Horwich in a bid to encourage dog owners to keep it clean. The new bin is expected to be installed before April on the playing fields off Crown Lane
AN AUCTION of rare stamps will be held by the Bolton Philatelic Society at the St Andrew and St George United Reform Church on St George's Road at 7.30pm on Thursday, March 17. For details call Brian on 01204 307252.
TERRY Waite will tell the story of how he survived nearly five years as a hostage in Beirut at St Peter's Church, Darwen, on March 20. Concert pianist Vincent Billington is also appearing. Tickets are £10 - call 01254 703929.
BOLTON'S evening economy has been singled out as a shining example to other town centres by government chiefs. And the town will join two other areas, Westminster and Cheltenham, to be praised in Westminster next week. Representatives from the Bolton
MINIATURE CCTV cameras are being secretly placed in bus shelters to deter vandals. Councillors and police in Little Hulton have welcomed a pilot scheme that is running for the next three weeks at undisclosed locations around Salford. If it is successful
A MOTHER of twins was over the drink drive limit when she was killed after her car careered out of control at high speed and crashed into a lamp post. Emma Scowcroft, aged 28, was not wearing a seat belt when her car careered out of control into a lamp
THOUSANDS of scooter riders will take to the roads around Bolton this weekend for the popular Ginger's Easter Egg Run. The riders will start their trip from Lowton Civic Hall and they make their way to Manchester Children's Hospital to deliver their easter
TOURISM chiefs are discussing the future of information centres used by millions of visitors to the Lake District. The move comes amid plans by the Lake District National Park Authority to axe three centres to save money. The meeting on Thursday will
THE much-loved music of Neil Diamond and Barbara Streisand has been skilfully woven together to form the exciting musical celebration Manhattan Nights. Inspired by these superstars' dynamic performances, this extraordinary musical celebration receives
