TREASURY Minister Ruth Kelly has praised a unique Bolton initiative which aims to tackle poverty and debt. Bolton Council and various other organisations combined in May to form the Bolton Community Finance Partnership -- an organisation which seeks to
CHORLEY face another of their promotion rivals, Farsley Celtic, in the UniBond first division tomorrow and will go above the Yorkshire side if they win. The Magpies are currently just outside the play-off places in sixth position, and have had their progress
MANY people will be shocked at the news that an 11 year-old boy was allegedly strung up in a doorway by a gang of cruel bullies. The Deane School pupil was said to be left hanging dangerously. Five other pupils have been involved, and police are also
WHAT a terrific idea -- giving young teens a state-of-the-art "virtual baby" to take home for the weekend. These "adopted" tots cry, burp and gurgle just like the real-life ones, to give youngsters the chance to take care of a baby before actually having
ANIMAL WORLD, Moss Bank Park, Moss Bank Way, Bolton - Enter the fascinating world of nature touring the enclosures suited to each individual animal's own natural habitat. See farmyard animals, chipmunks, wildfowl and tropical birds. Experience the sights
CELEBRATING its 40th Anniversary this year, the Wildlife Trust in Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is the largest voluntary conservation organisation in the North West. And, with projects all over town, the Bolton office of the Trust is as
YOUNG people wanting information about jobs, training or health will now have even more access to advice thanks to five new outreach centres. The Connexions service, which has replaced the old careers service, is visiting all of Bolton's secondary schools
SO you've made the break away from home, you're ready to brave the world for the first time on your own and you have chosen the bonny town of Bolton as your student heartland. A very wise choice. A wealth of talent has emerged from Bolton over the past
WITH regard to the firemen's strike. I think it would shake them up a bit if they threatened to privatise it. Would they be sleeping on the shift, watching television, doing a bit of polishing, playing snooker or having a natter? I don't think so, and
ALTHOUGH I have a son who is a fireman, I don't think they should be on strike -- they shouldn't have been obliged to take strike action over poor pay. I am, however, fed up of reading comment by politicians and sections of the media to the effect that
I FEEL that I need to respond to two of the letters from Saturday, November 16, regarding the strike by firefighters. J Holding of Horwich does not seem to understand the situation at all by saying that the strike will cause problems for travellers at
MY article about the Falcons Dance Band sparked this response from Eric Holt, of Quakerfields, Westhoughton, who tells me "it brought back many happy memories of when dancing was a contact sport and not a solo spasm! "The Falcons were fantastic. We followed
Time Traveller Simon Topliss continues his fascinating series on the history of Bolton with a look at the town during the Jacobite Rebellions. IN 1688 a great storm hit Bolton. Torrential rain made the Croal flood and the narrow old footbridge, which
WHAT: www.rathergood.com. This is possibly the best and silliest website you'll see this year. Especially if your tastes run to music by the likes of The Vines and Led Zep, and you like cats. Or kittens to be more precise. Wearing caps and smoking fags
A MAN accused of pulling out 18 of his girlfriend's teeth while high on designer drug GHB has been found not guilty. Jason Morris, aged 30, of Nasmyth Street, Horwich, was close to tears after a jury at Bolton Crown Court, sitting in Bury, made a unanimous
CLUB MISTRY, Derby Street, Bolton. Open daily, five full size snooker tables and one pool table. 11am to 11pm daily. Phone Bolton 524695. CROWN AND CUSHION, Mealhouse Lane, Bolton. The Pub in the Club, 8pm. Open daily for snooker and pool. THE LAMB, Blackburn
Friday: CRICKET: Day three of the second Ashes Test in Adelaide, Australia v England - Sky Sports 2 0000 (Sat); Today at the Test - Channel 4 0005 (Sat) SOCCER: Victory Shield Schoolboy International, Northern Ireland v Wales - Sky Sports 1 1930 GOLF:
FORMER Hear'Say singer Suzanne Shaw, from Bury, is on the verge of signing a solo record deal. The 21-year-old blonde is poised to put pen to paper on a contract with Virgin, friends close to the star have revealed. Suzanne is refusing to confirm or deny
BOLTON'S up-and-coming band Kinesis will support top rock group Manic Street Preachers at a sell-out London concert next month. Thousands of fans are expected to pack the Brixton Academy on December 8 for the concert. And Kinesis, who recently signed
SAM Allardyce is keeping his fingers crossed that there are no more disappointments in store before Saturday's clash with Chelsea. "I've actually wondered whether we should train at all," he admitted, "but we've cut the training schedules right down to
JACKSON Browne will be touring the UK for the first time in more than six years. He will be showcasing songs from his new album, The Naked Ride Home, in addition to material from his 30 year career. He will appear at The Bridgewater Hall on Friday, February
Q. Where can you walk a long distance path, get married, remember Ted Moult and struggle to get a signal on your mobile phone? A: England's highest inn, the isolated Tan Hill Inn on the edge of North Yorkshire. The Inn is popular with ramblers as it is
A HEADTEACHER has employed security guards at his school to protect it from thieves who have stolen more than £36,000 worth of computers in the past six months. Tony Buckley, headteacher of George Tomlinson School in Kearsley, has spent £5,000 on extra
PETE Kobak of Leigh Tackle & Bait won the Wednesday Open on Bradshaw Hall Fisheries Lake Four. Fishing from peg 27 using an 11metre pole with pellet as bait, he took an all carp net of 32lbs-0oz to finish clear of second place Ricky Felton of Leigh
FIRE broke out in a house after two people fell asleep leaving a pan of fat on a cooker. One man attempted to put the pan fire out and had to be given oxygen by Bolton Central firefighters when they arrived at the house in Bradford Street at about midnight
The Nutcracker, Manchester Opera House. Runs until Saturday THE Nutcracker returned to Manchester on Thursday night with the squeaky clean ballet once again enthralling a festive audience. This time, the English National Ballet made a few tweaks in a
TURTON Rotary Club has announced details of its annual Christmas sleigh run to help brighten up the festive season for hundreds of disadvantaged youngsters in Bolton. Rotarians will take to the streets and supermarkets of Bolton from the end of November
FIRE crews from across Bolton, Bury and Leigh walked out of their stations at 9am, joining more than 50,000 firefighters nationwide in an eight-day strike after last-ditch talks ended in failure Latest news from the Press Association HERE Station Officer
BOLTON MUSEUM, ART GALLERY & AQUARIUM, Le Mans Crescent, Bolton. Tel: 332211. www.boltonmuseums.org.uk Open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. Admission free. Wildlife Attractions Bolton Aquarium For unique views into the aquatic world visit Bolton
COMEDIAN Peter Kay is up against Pop Idol guru Simon Cowell, and athlete Paula Radcliffe for a new award from the world's biggest selling whisky. The comic, who is in the middle of a sell out national tour, is one of the forerunners for the Johnnie Walker
BISPHAM COMMUNITY CENTRE, Bispham Road, Bispham Bobby Ball Back by popular demand for a night of riotous laughter Bobby Ball shares his incredible life story with the audience. Saturday, 8pm, admission free (donations on the night for Macmillan Windmill
The mountains and moors of England are to be opened up to walkers under new government legislation. Free access to the uplands is planned and the Countryside Agency is producing maps of "open country" which includes mountains, moors, heath and downland
November 22: I WAS in Barcelona last week for the MTV Music Awards and had a fantastic time. One of the highlights for me was meeting Pierce Brosnan -- 007 himself. His "people" said he didn't want to have his picture taken with anybody but, and this
HAVE you ever wanted a career in media - such as running a radio or internet station or learning about photography? The Catalyst Community Development team from Bolton Metro is working on an exciting new project in East Bolton which includes everyone
Time Traveller Simon Topliss continues his fascinating series on the history of Bolton with a look at the town during the Jacobite Rebellions. IN 1688 a great storm hit Bolton. Torrential rain made the Croal flood and the narrow old footbridge, which
IS it the end of an era at Manchester United? asks Mick Jones If last season was a one-off, you'd say not. You could say it was because Arsenal had a great season, that the players had been knocked from their stride by Fergie's 'Will he, won't he quit
Straight from the horse's mouth by Fred Done THERE were a few surprises in the Premiership last weekend with Sunderland nicking a point at Anfield. Charlton turned over City at Maine Road and the biggest of all was Wanderers hammering Leeds 4-2. It'll
A TOTAL of £378,000 has been spent giving a golden handshake to a Bury health boss, it has been revealed. Philip Bacon, the former chief executive of Bury Health Care NHS Trust, has received a golden handshake from the cash-strapped NHS as part of a massive
A POLICE operation targeting drug dealers who operate on the streets has arrested 30 people since its launch in October, 10 of whom have been charged. Greater Manchester Police launched the scheme in conjunction with Manchester City Council, drug referral
TWO groups in Bolton have won £100,000 in Lottery money between them. The El Nino Riding School and the Bolton and Bury Out of School Clubs Association will benefit from the money, which comes from the Lottery Community Fund. The Out of School Clubs Association
THE man accused of killing teenage prostitute Carly Bateman is a loner and drunk who would regularly tour the streets of Bolton for vice-girls, a court was told. The drug-fuelled world of Bolton's sex trade was also revealed to the murder trial jury yesterday
LABOUR kept control of Bolton Council after a fierce by-election battle in Daubhill last night. Their candidate Paul Fitzpatrick polled 96 votes more than his closest rival, maintaining the party's one seat majority in the council chamber. He had 721
THE Government is planning a massive crackdown on litterbugs, graffiti louts and fly-tippers as part of a new offensive against anti-social behaviour. But will tough legislation work in Bolton? Dean Kirby investigates ABANDONED chip papers clog gutters
FOREIGN Secretary Jack Straw has called for greater racial tolerance after the far-right British National Party made a shock by-election gain in his constituency. The BNP came from nowhere to snatch the Liberal Democrat ward of Mill Hill in Blackburn
The Nutcracker, Manchester Opera House. Runs until Saturday THE Nutcracker returned to Manchester on Thursday night with the squeaky clean ballet once again enthralling a festive audience. This time, the English National Ballet made a few tweaks in a
ANCHOR INN, Bolton. Friday and Saturday. ARKWRIGHTS ALE HOUSE, Vallet's Lane, Bolton. Homer's Karaoke. Every Saturday. BEEHIVE, Horwich. Karaoke with free draw for all singers and a prize of a gallon of beer. Every Tuesday. Starts 9pm. THE RAILWAY, Bridge
The Lonesome West, Octagon, runs til November 30 - ACTORS Michael Glenn Murphy and Peter Dineen are the best of enemies. The pair star in The Octagon Theatre's latest production as brothers who cannot stand one another. But do not be fooled! Peter said
LATEST tables MONDAY PREMIER DIVISION P W D L F A GD Dc Pt AK's Wrexham... 4 3 1 0 50 19 31 2 10 SCM... 4 3 0 1 41 29 12 1 9 Breightmet... 4 2 2 0 44 21 23 0 8 Halliwell... 4 2 0 2 30 35 -5 1 6 Inter Yemam... 4 1 1 2 31 40 -9 0 4 Brilliant... 4 1 1 2
GUDNI Bergsson - the man who was "discovered" twice - began his long goodbye to the game he has graced with pride and distinction on Tuesday night (Nov 19) The Bolton Wanderers captain will hang up his boots at the end of the season, bringing down the
ETHNIC minority retailers attended a specialised training programme designed to help them compete for sales. Bolton Council's Ethnic Minorities Business Service organised the three-day event to support shopkeepers who are facing increased pressure --
BAKERY firm Warburtons wants to introduce a new shift pattern for its workers which would mean them working on four days -- and then having the next four off. It is in talks with the trade union officials over the new system that could affect hundreds
Now have a look at this little beauty! We have a whole lotta goodies to offer from The Crocodile Hunter - starring the indefatigable Steve Irwin in his first feature film. Aussie adventurer and wildlife warrior Irwin - a.k.a The Crocodile Hunter - is
FEAST OF SAINT CECILIA, PATRON OF MUSIC 1428: Richard Nevill, Earl of Warwick, so-called Kingmaker who was the power behind the throne during the Wars Of The Roses, was born. He died at the Battle of Barnet in 1471. 1497: The Portguese explorer Vasco
AS the price of older pieces of Royal Doulton, Wedgwood, Royal Worcester and other top quality manufacturers continues to rise, new collectors are constantly looking for other manufacturers on which to focus their attention. In previous columns we have
RANGERS at Pennington Flash Nature Reserve, Leigh, are encouraging bird lovers to visit the area after spotting a rare Canvasback duck in their grounds. It is rarely found outside North America. The reserve also became a temporary home to to a Whiskered
ARE you sick of hanging around the street and feeling bored? Come along to Deane Youth Club and have your own space to chill out, listen to music, play pool or just watch TV! A youth club for 13 to 17-year-olds will be opening on Tuesday at Deane Community
AS an ex-shop steward and lifelong Trade Unionist, I feel I should support the firefighters in their claim for a "decent wage". However, knowing what exorbitant wage claims lead to, I believe the firefighters and/or their leaders are being totally unreasonable
IRRESPECTIVE of who is right or wrong in the current firemen's dispute, what I found astonishing is the facts and figures given to us by the Bolton Evening News. Firstly, they can retire after 20 years on two-thirds' pay, and full pay after 30. What this
ENGLAND'S hopes of halting the Australian juggernaut disappeared with an all too familiar batting collapse and a series of fielding errors in the second Test today. Score: England (first innings) 342, Australia 247-2 England had resumed on a promising
Singles -Rikki & Daz, Rhinestone Cowboy, Out now, Serious Records - HOW the mighty have fallen. It's bad enough that a pair of Manchester DJs have hijacked a classic and set it to a dance beat, but by re-recording the track with them, the legendary
CHELSEA'S emergence as one of the genuine contenders for the Premiership title has been hailed as a personal triumph for Claudio Ranieri's "softly, softly" approach. Famously inconsistent in recent seasons, the Londoners have struck a rich and reliable
CHELSEA chairman Ken Bates has challenged his players to prove their Champions League credentials at the Reebok on Saturday, describing this as a "defining weekend" for his team. Having settled into third place in the table with a hard-earned 1-0 victory
Are you a Wainwright fan? Interest in Lancashire's master fell walker, who died in 1991, has now led to the initiation of a "Wainwright Society" with the backing of Kendal Museum. Wainwright's seven pictorial guides to the Lakeland Fells are legendary
THE Doe Hey Reservoir Sunday opener attracted 20 anglers and for once it was the bloodworm attack that won the day. Kenny Stewart was kept busy catching mainly bits plus the odd bonus perch to notch up a win with 6lbs-2ozs. Bob Fearnhead was pegged opposite
A CANOPY sale in Victoria Square organised by the Bolton branch of the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals raised a grand total of £478.84.
POLICE are appealing for help in tracing a 21-year-old woman missing from her home for more than two weeks. Olapeg Ajike Lapido, of Brookfield, Prestwich, was last seen at 9pm on November 4. She was due to visit her sister in London but has not been seen
Time Traveller Simon Topliss continues his fascinating series on the history of Bolton with a look at the town during the Jacobite Rebellions. IN 1688 a great storm hit Bolton. Torrential rain made the Croal flood and the narrow old footbridge, which
TIME was that Wanderers' fans gloried in Eidur Gudjohnsen's performances. Today they are bracing themselves, fearing the free-scoring Chelsea striker, along with his sidekicks Gianfranco Zola and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, could do untold damage to their
November 22: THE marathon Smash Hits Poll Winners Tour has come to an end, and I finally managed to get myself a few days off to recuperate earlier this week, and it was well-earned, I can tell you! It was a pleasure to appear across the country with
ACTRESS Hermione Norris might be tough-talking DI Carol Jordan in her latest TV role but in real life her heart melted when she found love while filming Wire In The Blood. The 34-year-old Cold Feet star fell for script developer Simon Wheeler, aged 27
BLACKPOOL GRAND THEATRE, Church Street, Blackpool. Details 01253 290190. CONTACT THEATRE, Oxford Road, Manchester. First Wednesday of each month -- The Giggle Factory with Owen Rankin. 8pm. Admission £5 & £3.50 conc. Ring 0161 274 0600. THE COMEDY
COMEDY is a funny old thing, if you'll pardon the pun. What we perhaps laughed helplessly at 18 months or so ago, might now leave us almost totally unmoved. Yet when we see some of those old, grainy comedy shows from the television archives of 40 or more
DISTINGUISHED actor, Sir Tom Courtenay, gives a personal insight into poet Philip Larkin in a world premiere production at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. Pretending To Be Me is an intimate and affectionate tribute to the poet, which blends Courtenay's
MUSU and ACADEMY 1,2 and 3, Oxford Road, Manchester, A + Goldfinger + Voodoo Glow Skulls. Friday, 7.30pm, £13 Drive By Truckers Friday, 7.30pm £9 Australian Pink Floyd Show Saturday, 7.30pm, £14.50 Dawn Of The Replicants Saturday, 7.30pm, £8 The Guthries
MARATHON Man! That's Radcliffe Athletic Club's Steve Hamer who has completed the big three of London, Manchester and New York. Now he is already in training for more punishing exploits next year. The 44-year-old father-of-two is planning to run the London
ALREADY walked the Pennine Way? Then hang on until 2004 and a new official trail will allow you to ride a horse or mountain bike along the hilly backbone of the North. The Pennine Bridleway is a proposed 206 mile route from Middleton Top, Derbyshire to
LEIGH Centurions will fight to keep hold of Simon Baldwin, despite Salford City Reds claiming they will sign him. Leigh are set to offer Baldwin a new contract within the next week and have also rubbished newspaper reports that Dale Cardoza had been offered
POLICE are appealing for help in tracing a 21-year-old woman missing from her home for more than two weeks. Olapeg Ajike Lapido, of Brookfield, Prestwich, was last seen at 9pm on November 4. She was due to visit her sister in London but has not been seen
POLICE have recovered the body of a 57-year-old diver who drowned in a lake at the Dorothea Quarry in north Wales. A remote-controlled robot submarine found the body of Dennis Dransfield, from Oldham, just before 7pm on Thursday. It is thought Mr Dransfield
A MACHETE gang is believed to have carried out raids at a computer firm and a late shop -- within two hours. The four-man gang escaped with cash and a haul of computers after threatening employees with a machete. The raiders first struck shortly after
TREASURY Minister Ruth Kelly has praised a unique Bolton initiative which aims to tackle poverty and debt. Bolton Council and various other organisations combined in May to form the Bolton Community Finance Partnership -- an organisation which seeks to
AN Atherton estate has been transformed in the last two years thanks to a £60,000 fighting fund. The cash, from the Government's Single Regeneration Budget, has led to transformations for the Hag Fold estate. A number of projects have benefited, including
JUBILANT Jason Weatherby is today celebrating buying his dream home -- in a graveyard. The 31-year-old from Kearsley outbid five other hopefuls to buy an unusual property in the middle of Farnworth Cemetery . And his grandmother's grave is just beyond
A TEENAGER has lost his fight for life just two weeks before his 15th birthday. Devoted parents Maria and Peter Anderson lost their much loved son Daniel Green to respiratory failure. Despite their grief they are determined to celebrate their son's short
Phoenix Theatre Company, Kindly Keep It Covered, Chorley Old Road United Reformed Church Hall. Runs until Saturday - THIS is a farce in the best tradition of the word -- fast, furious, and funny. Roland Dickerby and his wife Julia own and run a health
THE situation in Bolton's amateur theatre scene is nothing short of farcical this week. While members of The Halliwell Theatre Group are asking audiences to Pull The Other One, the cast at Phoenix are advising them to Kindly Keep It Covered. Both plays
TWO new National Parks are planned for Southern England. The New Forest National Park is awaiting designation and the South Downs is next in the pipeline in an attempt to protect these two scenic areas.
