IAN McAllister, chief executive of Ford UK and president of the Society of Motor Manufacturers, is one of the leaders of a new "green taskforce". It aims to encourage the use of cleaner fuel technology to minimise environmental damage by road vehicles
THE best Christmas present for dog-owner Christina Taylor is to have her pets back from quarantine. The Bury College lecturer, of Duncombe Road, Great Lever, said she has had six months of "hell". She was featured in the BEN in October when she argued
A BOLTON primary school is today celebrating a cracking Christmas cash bonanza. After an 18-year fight, the Government has stumped up the cash to make the dream of a new Oxford Grove County Primary School a reality. Staff at the 93-year-old school which
HEARTLESS thieves have snatched a special machine which could mean life or death for an asthmatic Bolton youngster. Burglars who raided Joanne Hurst's home made off with a nebuliser, used to help her 12-year-old son, Gareth, breathe when he has an asthma
A HUGE jobs boost for the region has moved a step closer after yesterday's announcement that £4.5 million of European cash is earmarked for Leigh's futuristic Snowdome. But already moves are afoot by objectors to try to get the EC to reverse its decision
THE third annual Bury Rapidplay Chess Congress at the weekend was a huge success, thanks to sponsorship by local firms Downham Train Epstein, accountants, and Woodcock and Sons, solicitors. A total of 115 players took part in the congress held at the
BOLTON MP Brian Iddon today praised the town's neighbour dispute mediation service, which he founded as a councillor. In a special Commons debate, the former housing chairman called for more funding for the scheme in Bolton and others like it. He told
SIR: I read with interest the article by Mrs Beryl Willetts regarding VAT on Charity goods. Wasn't it her government who brought in VAT in the first place? B Howarth Alexandria Road, Westhoughton Previous news story Converted for the new archive on 14
SIR: It's about time you were made aware of the ridiculous situation regarding parking in Bolton. I received a car parking ticket simply for parking outside a designated area, although I was not blocking any other vehicle or access and, indeed, the ticket
WE hope that the festive plan next week by the ASDA store at Middlebrook for 24-hour shopping starts a trend. Work patterns these days have changed dramatically, with shifts and flexibility the watchwords. It is entirely practical that shopping hours
WHATEVER the perceived moral rights and wrongs of using youngsters in the fight against illegal tobacco sales, Bolton's possible reintroduction of this ploy to trap offending shopkeepers is certainly timely. Yesterday, the Health Education Authority launched
THE Mayor of Bolton is looking for a special female ....to become the town's Woman of the Year. The annual search has started to find a local female who deserves the town's top accolade. At stake is a cheque for £250 and a crystal trophy, and the chance
DETECTIVES are probing a drugs link in the deaths of a couple discovered at a house in Leigh today. The bodies of a man and woman were found in an upstairs bedroom at the house in Glebe Street in the early hours. A doctor was called to the scene but the
TWO North-west chartered accountancy practices have merged but will continue to use their own names. The combined accountancy and business services department is to be headed by Barbara Shuttleworth at the Quayside, Salford head office of Frenkel Topping
CHORTEX, a trademark of Stott & Smith, has been recognised as an Investor in People. The company, established in 1904 by the local Taylor family, is now a part of Coats Viyella Home Furnishings. It designs, markets, sells, manufactures and distributes
THIEVES stole Christmas presents, carefully wrapped and stored away in a Bolton nursery school, the night before youngsters were due to enjoy their party. But the nursery school staff and youngsters' parents were determined the thieves would not break
EDUCATION bosses have been slammed as "penny-pinching" by a teachers' leader after refusing to provide a travel escort service for pupils with behavioural problems. Yvonne Dickinson says her 10-year-old son, Craig Sanderson, who travels to and from Horwich's
SOME of Bolton's town centre retailers are not doing enough in the pre-Christmas spending boom to fight off the threat of out of town shopping centres and the city centres, a report claims. The nationwide survey looked at sample locations in thriving
SIR: As Christmas approaches, I ask the people of Bolton to give a thought for the homeless of our town. I also appeal, in the name of humanity, for them to give whatever they can in support of charities for the homeless. As we enjoy the material and
SOME of Bolton's town centre retailers are not doing enough in the pre-Christmas spending boom to fight off the threat of out of town shopping centres and the city centres, a report claims. The nationwide survey looked at sample locations in thriving
SIR: In the national newspapers, they say that dog racing is becoming popular again. Who was responsible for closing down Bolton's Dog Track at Manchester Road? Why on earth did the leisure planners not see this possible popularity and add a dog track
SIR: I read with great interest the article in the BEN, November 25, (The good old days of classical music). It takes me back to when, aged about 11, I joined the choir at St George's. It was about 1923. In the first instance the vicar Canon H J Edsee
SIR: Fluoride is a poisonous by-product of a commercial chemical process. The so called safe amount of fluoride which can be ingested is counted in parts per million meaning that dosage is critical. Babies, who drink large amounts of water relative to
SIR: I have followed your correspondence on the Internet version of the BEN with interest. My experience of The Lido might be of interest to you. During the war, many evacuees from The Channel Islands were welcomed in Bolton and the children attended
My name is Joey, I suppose it had to be. For I'm a little budgie, It's plain for all to see. I have a nice house, Where they look after me. My cage is cleaned out often, And the food and water's free. There is a little mirror, That keeps me company. It
BOLTON'S first black mayor today spoke of his sadness at standing down as a councillor after 17 years' service. Cllr Campbell Benjamin, aged 82, is the borough's oldest councillor and has represented the Breightmet ward. He was mayor in 1993-94, but he
WHAT a treat this festive season is for all those who longed for a Christmas in the old-fashioned style. All those images of a Dickensian Christmas are back with us and back for real. The Prince of Wales's paramour rides to hounds while the common people
BOLTON children could once again be taking part in undercover operations to identify shopkeepers who sell tobacco illegally to under 16s. Test purchases by children were carried out until 1996. During that year's informal tests, 20 out of 57 minors were
BOLTON housing chiefs today received more than £9 million ... for being one of the best departments in the region. The Government has allocated the money to spend next year on improving and building new homes. Bolton has also been judged an authority
25 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, December 16, 1972 A CHRISTMAS cracker! That was the verdict of traders today as thousands of people poured into Bolton on the biggest festive shopping spree of all time. 'People seem to have more money to spend this
NEIL Cox faces an important test tonight as he prepares to answer a Premiership SOS. Wanderers' £1.5 million full-back, out of first team action for four months, is on standby for a return at Leeds on Saturday. But he must first brush up his match fitness
