Blackburn Rock 'n' Roll Club, St Paul's WMC, Montague Street, 8pm. "Ragdolls," Thwaites Empire Theatre, Ewood. "Fused" Textile Exhibition, by Action Factory Artists, The Lewis Textile Museum, Museum Street. Until April 9. Cyber Drop-In, 9.30am-11.30am
SPAGHETTI Bolognese, fish fingers, mash and peas or feta and red onion parcels - not the menu at a trendy restaurant but an example of first course choices for pupils at two Ribble Valley primary schools. The Cobbled Corner at Chipping took over the catering
RESULTS round-up PREMIER DIVISION Shirt Club 3, Victoria Ht A 4; Roach Ht A 2, Hamers Arms 5; R & Crown Rams 3, Masons Arms A 4; Swan Ht Rad 5, Welcome Inn A 2. FIRST DIVISION New Inn A 4, Derby Ht A 3; Last Orders A 3, Old White Horse 4; LL WMC 2
PEOPLE in the corridors and offices of academicism in Blackburn College have decided that "hobby classes" are no longer affordable. For many the classes are a therapy that keeps them out of doctors surgeries; a discipline; something to stretch their capabilities
IN Jack Straw's article in your paper (March 17) he talks about the need to bring closure on matters concerning the Balkans war and that those with "blood on their hands" should be brought to account for their actions. Never more has such a true word
A FAMILY whose only son died from meningitis has been left devastated after robbers desecrated his grave. The robbers have been labelled "sick" by mum Vicky Wright and dad Fintan Morgan after they stole sentimental ornaments and ripped up a weeping willow
LITTLE rays of sunshine from a Radcliffe playgroup enjoyed a special party as a thank-you for helping to get the group off the ground. Sunshine playgroup, based at Radcliffe (St. Mary's) Parish Church Hall, was started in January by local childminders
JUST when Engage Super League newcomers Leigh Centurions thought life in the top flight could not get any tougher, it just did writes Mike Hulme Reeling from the sudden departure of Australian playmaker Jason Ferris, the Centurions lurched into another
BLACKBURN Rovers are likely to have a new sponsor on the front of their famous blue and white shirts next season. As I understand it, current sponsors HSA are pulling out in the summer and Rovers have already opened talks with several other leading companies
LET'S give Barry Ferguson a round of applause. The Scot this week admitted his desire to win silverware was one of the reasons why he quit Blackburn Rovers for a return to Rangers. Well that ambition was realised on Sunday as his side won the CIS Insurance
A MAN has been charged with murder following an alleged street attack in Burnley which left a man dead. Derek Lomas, 21, appeared before magistrates in Burnley yesterday charged with killing Damien Smyth in an assault last October. Mr Smyth died in Burnley
FAKE designer gear seized in a raid in East Lancashire is being passed on to help victims of the tsunami. Branded clothes, watches, videos, shoes and perfume worth £7million were grabbed by Trading Standards officers during a raid in Waterfoot, Rossendale
A BURNLEY horse and pony rescue centre has been forced to close its doors after five animals contracted a virus. The Horses and Ponies Protection Association's (HAPPA) centre at Shores Hey Farm, Black House Lane, Briercliffe, has been shut to visitors
PEOPLE in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale are getting healthier according to the area's director of public health. Life expectancy for people living in the area is below the national average, with deaths due to respiratory disease 27 per cent higher than
A GOVERNMENT minister has vowed to learn lessons from an independent inquiry into the death of a toddler who drowned while his minder was drunk. Children's minister Margaret Hodge made the pledge during a meeting at Westminster with the grandmother of
BURNLEY'S designs for its public art project the Panopticon have been altered because of fears it could scare wildlife. The Singing Ringing Tree is a whistling scaffold structure which is planned for land at Crown Point. But horse riders and wildlife
BURY'S popular Mill Gate shopping centre is on a roll with a programme of events and attractions to celebrate Easter. Themed entertainment runs throughout the Easter school holidays until March 31 and includes Easter card workshops, face-painting and
THE owner of a Radcliffe restaurant has been fined £3,000 after admitting to fly-tipping near his premises for the second time in four months. Vincenzo Cabuderra, the proprietor of the Italia Mia in Stand Lane, appeared before Bury magistrates in a prosecution
PENDLE'S civic leaders are rallying behind a campaign to save train services to Colne as fears the line could be closed continue to grow. The railway line between Blackpool and Colne is on a Government list of 'rural' routes which need to increase passengers
TOP campaign manager Laurance Wedderburn has been selected as the prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate for Leigh. The 34-years-old former special advisor to the Shadow Home Office and campaign manager for Iain Duncan Smith until his selection
HOME Secretary Charles Clarke told Hyndburn Council it is to blame for not having enough money to keep the borough's community wardens scheme running. Mr Clarke pledged to help councils keep the wardens going if they could prove they had acted responsibly
THE famous Accrington Carnival is back on track thanks to funding from three local firms. Accrington Lions Club, which has put on the bi-annual event since 1989, feared it would have to be scaled down and were considering making it their last when Hyndburn
A CALL has gone out to parents who fear for their children's safety to name and shame dangerous roads in the community. A new hotline has been launched by Brake, the national road safety charity, which can be used highlight roads near schools and in residential
Ernest Ronald Biggins, aged 22, Maple Crescent, Leigh. No licence, no insurance, riding without protective headgear, carrying a passenger unsafely. Fined £120, costs £35, licence endorsed. Kerry Fearnley, aged 20, Chestnut Drive, Leigh. Driving without
A SHORTAGE of taxi ranks in Clitheroe has forced councillors to agree to grant just one new hackney carriage licence each year. Ribble Valley Council's policy and finance committee this week decided to restrict the number of licences, which currently
BURNLEY striker Ian Moore was today set for a dramatic deadline day move to Leeds United. And Clarets boss Steve Cotterill was busy planning a swoop of his own in the final hours leading up to tonight's 5pm watershed. Moore underwent a medical at Leeds
LEIGH Harriers are hosting an Easter camp for budding athletes. The sessions from 10am to noon on Bank Holiday Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and April 4, 5 and 6 are for children of all ages who will be taught some of the basics of running, jumping and
WALKERS are being invited to take part in an organised short stroll in Bickershaw next Wednesday. The walk will take place at Belmont Avenue, off Rivington Avenue, at 10am. The one hour walk is part of Walks for Health, a series of short walks on flat
A FORMER pupil of Westleigh Wesleyans Primary School is appealing to ex-chums to get in touch. Wilfred Price attended the school near Nel Pan Lane exactly 60 years ago but has since changed his name to Warren Price. Anyone who wishes to get in touch with
LATEST details AFTER the fourth game at Last Orders, it looked as though Papermakers had blown the title as they went 3-1 down, but strength in depth showed as they took the last three without dropping a leg. They didn't even give Last Orders the consolation
BURNLEY striker Ian Moore was today set for a dramatic deadline day move to Leeds United. And Clarets boss Steve Cotterill was busy planning a swoop of his own in the final hours leading up to tonight's 5pm watershed. Moore underwent a medical at Leeds
DETECTIVES have recovered the vehicle believed to have been used to free a prisoner serving a six-year sentence for robbery. Neil Brennan (21), who had been involved in carjackings, escaped on March 2 when he was being taken by taxi from Forest Bank prison
CAMPAIGNERS are one step closer to getting a speed camera erected on a Radcliffe road which has been branded the worst in the borough. Bury Council has submitted an application for the camera to be sited along Bolton Road in the town, after a series of
"WORTH every penny" is how headteacher Paul Heaton described his head cook, Carole Kay. Mrs Kay, who has worked at St Mary's Primary School in Radcliffe for 18 years, is celebrating 25 years in the school kitchen. The children and teachers at the school
THERE was a surprise guest at the February meeting of Radcliffe Townswomen's Guild when Mr Smith came to talk about his connection to the Bolton Royal Theatre. The uncle of Mr Smith was the manager there for more than 50 years and so, as a boy, he had
A 24-year-old man from Hindley accused of kidnapping and sexually molesting a 12-year-old girl has appeared at Liverpool Crown Court. Mark Vernal, of Castle Way, Hindley, pleaded not guilty to the offences on Tuesday which allegedly occured on November
SMALL businesses in Radcliffe are being encouraged to take up their entitlement to business rate relief under a new Government scheme. Bury Council is responsible for administrating the new small business rate relief scheme which has been brought in to
LEIGH Harriers are hosting an Easter camp for budding athletes. The sessions from 10am to noon on Bank Holiday Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and April 4, 5 and 6 are for children of all ages who will be taught some of the basics of running, jumping and
AN Astley road will close for two days next month to allow for rail maintenance. Rindle Road will be shut at the Astley signal box level crossing from Sunday, April 24, at 00.15am to Monday, April 25, at 5.10pm so that Network Rail can carry out work.
A VITAL community service is under threat after both of its paid employees were served with redundancy notices. An emergency meeting is to be held next week to establish the future of Community Action in Rossendale (CAR), a Haslingden-based community
A MAN involved in an armed raid at a home in Atherton has been jailed for two-and-a-half years. Paul Weaver was one of five men who went to the flat of David Ratcliffe in Samuel Street, Atherton on June 7 last year. Liverpool Crown Court heard on Tuesday
UNSELFISH Edna Jones thought of others not herself on her 90th birthday. Instead of receiving gifts to mark the big day cancer survivor Edna, of Cherry Tree Road, Lowton, asked for donations for Wigan and Leigh Hospice. As a result she has presented the
SIXTEEN-year-old Radcliffe weightlifter Andreas Michaelas claimed his sixth title when he lifted the British Under-17 62kg crown. Andreas, of Stand Lane, Radcliffe, a pupil at Wright Robinson Sports College, was on home ground when he posted a total of
RESIDENTS of Dumers Estate in Radcliffe will create a haven for the community this weekend. On Saturday a planting day will be held to ensure a £5,500 garden well project can blossom. Since June last year, Dumers Tenants' and Residents' Association (TRA
SALFORD speaker Glen Atkinson will talk about the construction of Barton Bridge at next Wednesday's Leigh Local History Society meeting. The meeting will take place at the Derby Room, Leigh Library at 7.30pm and members and non-members are welcome.
FAKE designer gear seized in a raid in East Lancashire is being passed on to help victims of the tsunami. Branded clothes, watches, videos, shoes and perfume worth £7million were grabbed by Trading Standards officers during a raid in Waterfoot, Rossendale
THE HIDDEN heroics of Asian soldiers in the Second World War are to come under the spotlight as part of a project led by Blackburn Museum. Many now elderly men in East Lancashire's Asian population were enlisted to fight for the Allies before they left
ELDERLY residents have demanded action after claiming young yobs had been terrorising them and making life a misery. The pensioners from Bridgewater Court, Bank Top, Blackburn, say their windows are being pelted with stones and eggs, cars are being vandalised
FORMER Euro MP Michael Hindley is one of eight serving Labour county councillors to be dumped from the party's candidate list for this year's elections. Mr Hindley, who returned to politics when he secured the Rishton, Clayton-le-Moors and Altham seat
A GOVERNMENT minister has vowed to learn lessons from an independent inquiry into the death of a toddler who drowned while his minder was drunk. Children's minister Margaret Hodge made the pledge during a meeting at Westminster with the grandmother of
A DEPUTY headteacher who was sacked after calling another member of staff Miss Knickers has been awarded £43,000 compensation for unfair dismissal. Unions today called for an overhaul of the disciplinary system after John Hacking's four-year fight against
ON March 14, my partner went for a caretaking job at a primary school in Bury. Also at the interview, were four other candidates and - surprise, surprise - they were already caretakers working for Bury MBC. They were just going for the job because it
I WRITE in response to the letters (March 17) written by Devil's Advocate and Catherine Barry, regarding their views on speed cameras. Anyone who chooses to drive with not tax or insurance and with a blatant disregard for the safety of others, deserves
I'M not half having trouble with my water works. First it was a pouring roof, second the water tank burst and on Saturday a central heating radiator was discovered leaking. Typically the plumber who had used the rad to drain the system when he replaced
FRIDAY Engage Super League Bradford v Leeds 8pm Northern Rail Cup Gateshead v Barrow 7:30 SATURDAY (3pm unless stated) Engage Super League Wigan v St Helens 12:30 Widnes v Leigh 12:45 Salford v Warrington London v Hull Wakefield v Huddersfield Northern
THE English Junior Fell Championship series opened on Sunday with races from Barley Village climbing Pendle Hill. More than 120 youngsters were attracted to the meeting, no doubt encouraged by the spring weather which followed the recent snow. As an innovation
WHO'S hot - who's not BURY & RADCLIFFE JUNIOR LEAGUE RESULTS LEAGUE UNDER-12 DIVISION ONE Chadderton Jnrs 0, Horwich St Marys 8; Unsworth 2, Marauders 2; Moorside Rangers 2, De La Salle 2. DIVISION TWO Rossendale Utd 1, Ladybridge 9; Chaddy End 5,
THE fresh green of spring is here at last Cold grey winter is now in the past Bulbs spring forth with brilliant hues The bright sunny daffodil, and hyacinth of blue. Carpets of snowdrops, so pure and so white, Gently swaying in the bright sunlight. The
REGARDING your article (LET, March 15) concerning the planned sculpture memorial to former Blackburn MP Barbara Castle to be sited in the new Sudell Cross Plaza. It would indeed be a wonderful tribute to Blackburn's first lady. Barbara Castle MP served
IN 1934, Leslie Hore-Belisha became the Minister of Transport. He successfully reduced the number of road accidents by introducing Belisha beacons at pedestrian crossings, a new highway code and driving tests for motorists. He also realised that the police
A FAMILY today revealed how a ten-year campaign of racism had forced them out of Burnley. Rajesh Patel said he and his wife were so sick of the abuse they had suffered that they were selling up and moving to the West Midlands. Mr Patel, 45, of Printers
A DEPUTY headteacher who was sacked after calling another member of staff Miss Knickers has been awarded £43,000 compensation for unfair dismissal. Unions today called for an overhaul of the disciplinary system after John Hacking's four-year fight against
BURY'S popular Mill Gate shopping centre is on a roll with a programme of events and attractions to celebrate Easter. Themed entertainment runs throughout the Easter school holidays until March 31 and includes Easter card workshops, face-painting and
WALK-In centres will be open and doctors will be on call for people requiring medical attention over the Easter Holidays. Both Prestwich and Bury NHS Walk-In centres will open from 9am on the bank holidays and over the weekend. The Bury centre, in Parsons
COLLEAGUES of a terminally-ill man have rallied round to help him enjoy his precious last months. Wilf Allen was told in January that he could have only 12 months to live after he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. And colleagues of the Asda
A FAMILY today revealed how a ten-year campaign of racism had forced them out of Burnley. Rajesh Patel said he and his wife were so sick of the abuse they had suffered that they were selling up and moving to the West Midlands. Mr Patel, 45, of Printers
PENDLE'S civic leaders are rallying behind a campaign to save train services to Colne as fears the line could be closed continue to grow. The railway line between Blackpool and Colne is on a Government list of 'rural' routes which need to increase passengers
THE other week I saw what I thought was rain running down my bedroom window but subsequently realised that it was actually white of egg and discovered shell on the floor outside. Obviously an egg had been thrown at my window. Now I am worried that someone
THE letter from Catherine Barry (March 17) regarding speed cameras on Bolton Road, Radcliffe, will serve only to increase the grief felt by the bereaved family of Natalie Pickwick Jones. Ms Barry says that a roundabout and railings would help slow traffic
THE letter from "Devil's Advocate" (March 17) must have made every parent cringe. It is ridiculous that this imbecile should brag about breaking the law and getting away with it, while at the same time putting other people - in particular children - at
ALL teams entering the league must register their team and players at the meeting on Sunday April 3 at the Shirt Club, beginning at 12.15pm, to enable fixtures to be drawn up.
BURY ABC's Olympic hero Amir Khan will be taking part in the Joan Rhodes Memorial 5K Road Race. The event takes place on Wednesday, March 30, starting at 6.45pm from outside the Falcon Inn, Church Street, Littleborough. Entry fee is £3 for club runners
ALMOST 20,000 local people will be able to travel free on the buses next year. Figures obtained by Leigh MP Andy Burnham indicate that 18,243 people in the Leigh constituency will able to benefit from free local bus travel from April 2006. Chancellor
SMALL businesses in Radcliffe are being encouraged to take up their entitlement to business rate relief under a new Government scheme. Bury Council is responsible for administrating the new small business rate relief scheme which has been brought in to
A CAFE owner who makes healthy home-cooked meals for pupils has urged more schools to follow Jamie Oliver's 'lunchtime revolution'. Karen Haworth, who owns The Cobbled Corner, Chipping, took over catering at two village schools long before the celebrity
LOWTON reader Peter Sergeant asks if it is a coincidence that within days of the first sod being cut for the new multi-million pounds Leigh Sports Village at Pennington, the "Green Spaces Yours To Enjoy" signs have once again appeared among the daffodils
LET'S give Barry Ferguson a round of applause. The Scot this week admitted his desire to win silverware was one of the reasons why he quit Blackburn Rovers for a return to Rangers. Well that ambition was realised on Sunday as his side won the CIS Insurance
AN FA Level One Coaching Course is being held at Radcliffe Boro's Stainton Park home. It will run on the following days: Saturday April 16, Sunday 17, Monday 18, Wednesday 20 and Saturday 23, cost £85. For more information contact Kevin Glendon on: 724
BURY JUNIORS 2, RADCLIFFE BORO U14 4: Boro Under 14s travelled to Lower Gigg and emerged with the North Bury Junior Football League Premier Division points after a hard-fought tussle. The visitors dominated the first half in terms of possession but were
LATEST details Radcliffe Short Mat League PRESENTATION evening will be held on April 29, at St Marys Social Club, Radcliffe, tickets available from Mr A. Smith, Tel No. 0161 723 4671. The league has vacancies for next season. Anyone interested please
BLACKBURN Rovers are likely to have a new sponsor on the front of their famous blue and white shirts next season. As I understand it, current sponsors HSA are pulling out in the summer and Rovers have already opened talks with several other leading companies
SALFORD speaker Glen Atkinson will talk about the construction of Barton Bridge at next Wednesday's Leigh Local History Society meeting. The meeting will take place at the Derby Room, Leigh Library at 7.30pm and members and non-members are welcome.
A FORMER pupil of Westleigh Wesleyans Primary School is appealing to ex-chums to get in touch. Wilfred Price attended the school near Nel Pan Lane exactly 60 years ago but has since changed his name to Warren Price. Anyone who wishes to get in touch with
A 26-year-old man accused of a serious attack has appeared at Liverpool Crown Court. Lee Croston, of Warwick Road, Atherton, pleaded not guilty on Monday to wounding John Liptrot with intent on September 2 last year. Croston was remanded on bail to await
RICHARD Davies from 10th Cubs has finally received his Bronze Award. Well done Richard, sorry you had to wait for so long. He is still waiting for his Moving On award from the Beaver section (see what you can do Nichola, please!) The 10th Radcliffe Cubs
A 39-year-old woman accused of stealing £13,000 belonging to The Card Factory shop in Leigh has denied the allegation. Sandra Munro, of Eldon Street, Tonge Moor, Bolton, is alleged to have stolen the money in June and July last year. She appeared at Liverpool
A COUPLE returned to the place they met to celebrate 50 years of marriage. Love blossomed again in Blackpool's Winter Gardens where Alan and Barbara Jenkins met in their teens. The couple set eyes on each other at the seaside resort on a works outing
A TEENAGE habitual drinker has been jailed for 16 weeks after admitting a racially-aggravated attack on a taxi driver. Peter Loftus (18), of Redbank Road, Radcliffe, was arrested on March 6 after a night of drinking in Bury town centre. Loftus appeared
ATHERTON Swimming Club has hosted its final gala at the doomed pool. Twenty two young members of the club, battling back from the threat of folding after 102 years, took on Chadderton SC in a Central Lancashire Intermediate League fixture and, despite
NEWCHURCH WI have celebrated their 46th birthday. At the anniversary party in Newchurch Parish Hall they had an appropriate speaker, Elaine Burridge, whose subject was "Gift Wrapping With a Difference". The competition for a folded serviette was won by
RESIDENTS are demanding something is done to clear up a dirty alleyway which has become a dumping ground for rubbish and furniture. They complain the alley between Heys Lane and Frances Street, Darwen, is like a bombsite, constantly full of debris and
REFUSE collections will continue as normal during Easter. Bins normally collected on Friday will be collected on Saturday, there will be no service on Easter Monday and collections during next will take place one day later than usual. Those residents
TWO masked men who robbed security guards at gunpoint in Lowton are still being hunted by police. The pair confronted the security guards as they delivered cash to a convenience store on Church Lane at 10.50am on March 14. They threatened them with a
RESIDENTS are invited to have their say on the changing face of house building in Leigh. Wigan Council's planning and regeneration department is urging the public to speak up about new proposals for open spaces and how applications for new housing developments
CULCHETH WI experienced microlighting for the retired through the experiences of speaker Noel Alms. He told members the machines were an innovation from the space programme in America in the 1960s and gave the history of their development and regulation
PATIENTS worried about the future of their doctor's practice can rest assured that it is to remain open. The Ashton, Leigh and Wigan Primary Care Trust is to take over the running of the branch surgery at 155, Wigan Road, Leigh, on June 21. A spokesman
THE annual hunt is on to find the borough's best gardeners. Now in its third year, Wigan and Leigh Housing's competition is one of the highlights of the calendar for Leigh's hordes of horticulturalists. The previous two years have seen more than 230 fans
LEIGH'S poor public transport system is to be addressed by a leading Government minister. Transport Minister Tony McNulty has pledged to look into the public transport provision in the town after an impassioned speech in the House of Commons by Leigh
MORRIS dancers from Radcliffe scooped cups and medals at the English town and country carnival competition at Fazakerley, Liverpool, on Sunday. The Morisco's troupe competed against girls from the north west. The junior team were first and Jade Dyer won
YOUNGSTERS got stuck into glueing and cutting to help develop their creative skills. Children from Chapelfield CP in Radcliffe, along with others from Holy Trinity Primary and St John with St Mark Primary in Bury, Whitefield Community Primary, and the
AN investigation has been launched after a Blackburn beat bobby was seriously injured in a car crash while off duty. PC Nicola Furness, community beat manager for Galligreaves, Griffin and Witton, is off on sick leave following the crash in the Walton-le-Dale
POLICE today said the arrest of 40 suspected drug dealers over the past six weeks had made Blackburn, Darwen and Hyndburn safer places to live. And a senior officer also hailed the success of a groundbreaking scheme which seeks to conquer the drug habits
CATHERINE Barry's idea (Letters, March 17) about putting a roundabout on Bolton Road, Radcliffe, near to Harper Fold Road, is ridiculous. How can you have a roundabout 10 yards from a pelican crossing? Anyway, the problem with speeding drivers is at night
IT is almost a year since this Labour council was elected on their promise that they could deliver a 2.7 per cent council tax, not just for 2004 but also for 2005 (Red Rose magazine). So what did we get this year? Cuts of £3 million and council tax at
DEREK Ryder (Letters, March 17) alleges that open government "does not apply to them", by which he means Labour MPs and councillors. I think we are fortunate in having two MPs in Ivan Lewis and David Chaytor who are frequently featured in the local press
CELEBRITY chef Jamie Oliver has certainly stirred up a storm with his mission to serve up healthier school dinners. His campaign to ditch junk food is a great one and should be applauded. But what I'd like to know is why did school dinners change to give
"VERY Concerned Parents" (Letters, March 17) wrote about the potential hazard to pupils resulting from the siting of the new Radcliffe Riverside High School on the former East Lancs Paper Mill site, adjacent to the Tower Farm landfill site. Their concern
JUST when Engage Super League newcomers Leigh Centurions thought life in the top flight could not get any tougher, it just did writes Mike Hulme Reeling from the sudden departure of Australian playmaker Jason Ferris, the Centurions lurched into another
A DISABLED youngster is to have her respite care slashed by more than 80 per cent by social services because of a budget crisis. Emily Riley, aged eight, suffers from cerebral palsy and epilepsy, and has had her 232 hours of respite care per year cut
