STAFF surfing the internet when they are meant to be hard at work will cost the region's businesses around 15 per cent of company profits, a survey has said. As staff exchange Christmas e-cards and browse the internet for Christmas gifts, "cyber loafing
A BOLTON company is investing £250,000 in a new extension and machinery after a massive boost in business. Sound Reduction Systems, a firm of acoustic specialists based in Adam Street, Great Lever, produces materials for floors, suspended ceilings and
THEY may be very talented and entertaining (!) but snooker players never look well, do they? This week, 27-year-old Mark Williams beat Ken Doherty in the Powerhouse UK Snooker Championship. Both looked pale, with deep rings under their eyes. The money's
THE buzz for the Christmas No.1 in the charts has all been about the boys' and girls' groups from Popstars: The Rivals. But the smart money might be on a more seasoned campaigner. Elton John has cleverly teamed up with Blue to re-record his "Sorry Seems
THE idea of shopping drink drivers for money may be abhorrent, but it worked last Christmas. Anyone who gets behind the wheel of a car when they've drunk too much is a potential killer. So, don't spare any feelings for them, just ring Crimestoppers on
THEATRES offer a rich seam of entertainment. They come into their own at this time of year and I would urge everyone to go along to local theatres in particular, like the Albert Halls, with its excellent panto Dick Whittington featuring Bolton Bullfrog
From the Evening News, 1992 - WELL done, Bolton! That was the verdict this week when a special presentation was held at the BEN's's Newspaper House headquarters in Churchgate for the Breath of Life appeal. A cheque for £56,500 was presented to consultant
ONCE again you tell us about extra shows and, once again, it is impossible to get tickets. The whole tour is a sell-out. Forty-five thousand seats sold at the Manchester Apollo and 12 nights at the Lowry. Meanwhile, most of Peter Kay's fans in Bolton
WE are writing to thank all your readers who have supported our son Simon Edwards. We feel the sentence of a life time ban from Bolton Wanderers is very very harsh and devastating for Simon and our family. We have all been BWFC fans for many years, and
WITH reference to a recent letter to your column by Mrs K Riley concerning the Westhoughton Carol. It would appear that Wingates Temperance Band are the people to ask about the carol -- that is, if they still play it. It seems to have been composed by
Referee: Graham Poll (Tring). Attendance: 23, 378. Goals: Leeds - Mills 11mins, Fowler 16 mins, Wilcox 73 mins. Shots/headers on target: Wanderers 9 Leeds 5. Corners: Wanderers 5 Leeds 3. Offsides: Wanderers 5 Leeds 5. Fouls committed: United 11 Wanderers
1778: Sir Humphrey Davy, chemist and inventor of the miner's safety lamp, was born in Penzance. 1820: John Bull, the magazine "For God, the King and The People, first went on sale with 750 copies printed. After six weeks, circulation rose to 10,000. 1849
4 mins: Per Frandsen produces the first effort on goal with a long range free kick that is deflected just over the bar. The Dane almost repeats Christian Ziege's goal from Sunday's North London derby. 8 mins: Jay Jay Okocha breaks up a Leeds attack and
A BOLTON man who is facing allegations of blackmailing a major international banking group for £7 million has appeared at the Old Bailey. Kulwant Singh, of Parkwood Drive, Over Hulton, appeared before the court yesterday for a preliminary hearing. The
A BOLTON man who is facing allegations of blackmailing a major international banking group for £7 million has appeared at the Old Bailey. Kulwant Singh, of Parkwood Drive, Over Hulton, appeared before the court yesterday for a preliminary hearing. The
A JUDGE has adjourned sentencing until the New Year on a man who ignited a home made explosive in Bolton town centre. Stephen Davies, of Breightmet Drive, Breightmet, has pleaded guilty to possessing explosives. The 46-year-old took gunpowder from fireworks
TRAIN passengers face chaos on the railways over Christmas and the New Year as drivers stage two 48-hour walkouts. Thousands of people will face disruption this Saturday and Sunday -- the last weekend before Christmas when Bolton is set to be packed with
A VISITING Service is making a Christmas appeal -- for people to give up an hour a week. The Westhoughton Visiting Service is a befriending and sitting service to benefit carers of older people with special needs. To celebrate five years, it is extending
WANDERERS' trip to Liverpool has been put back to Sunday 2 March but could be switched again if the Reds reach the Worthington Cup final. Liverpool's Uefa Cup fourth-round, second-leg leg tie against Auxerre at Anfield on Thursday 27 February has pushed
Man of the match: Harry Kewell - THE Aussie was a constant menace to Bolton's defence. He was effective playing alongside Fowler in attack, but even more so when coming from deep and the left flank. MOAN OF THE MATCH: HOW can Wanderers have so many chances
THE search is on for families who enjoy learning together, whether they study at home on the internet, chat in French at their local community centre or go rock climbing en masse. The National Institute for Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) wants to
NEW research has revealed that many young disabled people face discrimination and are continuing to struggle to get the same opportunities as their non-disabled colleagues in the education system. The survey of disabled people aged 16-24, which was funded
PUPILS from Turton and Smithills high schools will be competing in the finals of a competition designed to promote good work in the community and media literacy. The teams of teenagers were due to visit Frodsham in Cheshire to compete against schools
THE Magpies will not pocket three points more easily than they did in this match for which the label 'one-sided' is a gross understatement. Chorley dominated proceedings from start to finish and with steadier finishing would surely have been out of sight
HORWICH Heritage group will be meeting tonight to hear a monologue by Lizzie Jones under the title the Lancashire Witches. The event will take place at Horwich Resource Centre, starting at 7.30pm. All tickets have been sold for the evening, but if any
A 10-year-old boy alerted firefighters to a small blaze at his home -- fearing for his aunt who was asleep upstairs. Ryan Mendleson ran to Whitefield fire station, just 50 yards from his house in George Street, at 8am yesterday to tell the crews about
IF you do not want Christmas to turn into a crisis then safety tips will be available from the experts this week. The Bolton Accident Alert Group will be holding a display in Crompton Place Shopping Centre to offer advice on a range of seasonal safety
BOLTON METRO COMMUNITY CENTRES For further information or to book a room please call 01204 334300 BLACKROD COMMUNITY CENTRE, Greenbarn Way, off Vicarage Road, Blackrod, BL6 5TA The centre houses a main hall with a stage and a side lounge. Other facilities
YOUNGSTERS at a Farnworth school have travelled back to the Roaring Twenties for their end of term show. Pupils from every year group have performed in Harper Green School's unusual interpretation of Ali Baba. Tin Pan Ali is set in 1920s Chicago and tells
A 92-year-old woman who was killed in an accident with an articulated lorry in Bury has been named. Norah Ann Liver collided with the HGV as she was crossing Bury New Road at the junction of Bury Old Road in Whitefield last Thursday. She suffered multiple
SAM Allardyce believes that Bolton must reverse their awful home record if they are to have any chance of staying in the Premiership. The Whites lost for the third time at the Reebok this season with a 3-0 reverse against Leeds last night to add to the
FRANCES Morris from Sharples, sisters-in-law Joan Roberts and Janet Riley from Breightmet, and Gloria Wayne from Horwich, are all in fine voice. The four singers are all members of The Cheshire Chord Company choir which beat 23 other groups to win gold
FARNWORTH Boys under 11s require a goalkeeper. Contact Colin on 01204 708034 for details.
CHURCHES across Bolton will mark the 750th anniversary of the granting of the town's charter with special thanksgiving services. Thanks for the town's achievements and history on Sunday, January 19, bringing a weekend of anniversary celebrations to an
In a hard-fought game two goals in as many minutes (Lee Valentine and Mick Jones) were enough to see off a spirited Rochdale Team. Commanding performances from centre halves Steve Harland and new signing Stuart Hales look good for the rest of the season
ATHERTON Town triumphed in the Manchester League Premier League thanks to a 1-0 victory over Stockport Georgians at Howe Bridge with a goal by Danny Christie to boost their title hopes. In the First Division it was a bad day for the title chasers as both
EAGLEY completed a hat-trick of wins in the West Lancs Premier Division, after a remarkable fight back to emerge 3-2 winners over Bae Barrow. The villagers found themselves 2-0 down after 25 minutes against an uncompromising Cumbrian side who dominated
THE SAM Ashworth Trophy took centre stage in the BSF Over 35s football this week, and the biggest shock was at Longsight Park where an Andy Critchley goal saw Second Division Seven Stars beat First Division high flyers Turton 1-0. First Division Colliers
A NEW director has been appointed at The Christie hospital in Manchester in charge of fundraising for the specialist cancer centre which treats patients from across the region. Toni Leden will lead the appeals which bring in around £5 million a year.
HEALTH bosses closed a ward at Leigh infirmary after an outbreak of the winter vomiting disease. Visitors were asked not to bring children into the hospital to avoid catching the highly contagious bug. Ward Two at the infirmary was closed for 48 hours
CUEMASTERS Snooker & Social Club and Farnworth Snooker Club are the League's representatives in Greater Manchester's Champions League Tournament, and to date both teams are unbeaten and lead their respective groups. The competition is based on the
POLICE in Manchester are clamping down on unlicensed and unroadworthy taxis in a series of stop-check operations. Officers have stopped more than 300 cars in the last month and they are planning to carry out more sweeps. They have so far discovered a
A MAJOR reorganisation of British Airways' regional services from Manchester Airport is to be announced. It is believed Manchester will gain a number of new routes -- but it is feared other parts of the region, possibly the Isle of Man, will lose some
UP to 310 holidaymakers have missed a day of their holiday in the Dominican Republic after a crew member fell sick. The Air 2000 Boeing 767 should have left Manchester airport at half past three yesterday afternoon bound for Puerta Plata. There was a
SPECIAL children from Bolton, Bury and Atherton have been heading up and away for a magic festive treat this Christmas. Yesterday groups of local children were among 156 on a ChildFlight Santa flight from Manchester Airport. The youngsters were treated
A BANNED driver who recently served a 12 year prison sentence could face a return to jail after he appeared before magistrates for offences which included driving while disqualified. Alan McCabe, aged 22, of Heybrook Close, Whitefield, appeared before
CHRISTMAS clubbers and partygoers in Bolton are being warned to be wary of bogus taxi drivers and sneak thieves during the festive season. Thousands of people will be packing Bolton's pubs and bars over Christmas and the New Year. But police say the holiday
PHOENIX Nights star Patrick McGuinness has revealed he has turned down a host of lucrative TV offers -- because he wants to remain loyal to his friend Peter Kay. The 28-year-old, who stars as balding bouncer Paddy in the hit Channel 4 show, Phoenix Nights
LAST year's pantomime at Bolton's Albert Halls broke all previous box office records . . . so this year the same formula for success is being used to create a new show. Dick Whittington stars many of the favourites from last year's show. It is produced
THE Library Theatre Company has developed a reputation over the past few years for providing the perfect Christmas show alternative to pantomime. Following on from The Borrowers and last year's Beauty and the Beast, the theatre features yet another children's
BOLTON Octagon is flying high this Christmas by presenting a home grown alternative to pantomime -- The Firebird. The play is a magical festive adventure story designed to enchant children of all ages . . . and of course those who are still young at heart
Beauty and the Beast, Palace Theatre, Manchester, Runs until February 8 - ENCHANTMENT and magic pour through the doors of the Palace Theatre as Disney brings its own immaculate production of Beauty and the Beast to the stage. The story is an old one -
FAVOURITE faces have returned to Bolton's stage as the pantomime season starts in earnest. Men dressed as women, slapstick humour and innuendo means only one thing. It's that time of year again -- the traditional panto season. Oh yes it is! This year's
ACTOR Antony Bessick, increasingly well known for his regular appearances as Coronation Street cabbie Vernon Bradshaw, co-stars in this year's Bolton Octagon production of The Firebird. The play, described by Antony as a "magical fairytale for all children
UNITED Utilities, which has given almost £3 million to North-west communities and charities this year, has been placed in the top 50 of a company "Giving List" compiled by a national newspaper and Business in the Community's PerCent Club. The company
MANUFACTURING companies have reluctantly accelerated the closure of their final salary pension schemes to both new and existing members over the last three years, according to a major joint survey by the EEF (Engineering Employers Federation) and Aon
CHORLEY FC are ready to launch their assault on the UniBond first division promotion race. Manager Mark Molyneaux has said all season he doesn't want his side at the top of the league where they would be 'there to be shot at'. They currently lie in seventh
IT'S all down to personal taste, but when it comes to Christmas fare you can't beat Greenhalgh's mince pies. The Horwich firm produces the kind of light pastry that's almost a lost art, with a yummy filling. Pity I'm on a diet again...
USDAW, the union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, has signed 40 new negotiating agreements during the last two years and has recruited more than 74,000 new members during 2002. CBI's plea THE CBI is urging ministers to drop the idea of legislation
THE scheme by Essex rail services to give out "name tags" so that commuters who are all partied out this month don't miss their stations is a great idea. Let's try it here in Bolton, but in pubs rather than on trains. If landlords issued customers with
IN RESPONSE to Brian Derbyshire's letter, November 30. He seems to think that religious conviction depends upon an accident of birth. It does not. The Christian Bible teaches us to question, to gain accurate knowledge, to make choices. Is hesuggesting
From the Evening News, 1992 - WELL done, Bolton! That was the verdict this week when a special presentation was held at the BEN's's Newspaper House headquarters in Churchgate for the Breath of Life appeal. A cheque for £56,500 was presented to consultant
YOU probably don't know that an RAF plane once dropped in (or on!) Affetside. It came as a surprise, too, recently, to Jim Francis, of the Turton Local History Society, because when some time ago he wrote the "History of Affetside", he knew nothing about
IT was supposed to be the night of the long knives with all sharp objects pointed most definitely in the way of Terry Venables. But football does not run according to any scripts, which is a pity because on a cold mid-December night there was an air of
Today (Tuesday) - SOCCER: Worthington Cup, Manchester United v Chelsea - Sky Sports 2 1900. CRICKET: One-day international VB Series, England v Sri Lanka - Sky Sports 2 0300. BOXING: Heavyweight bout, Pele Reid v Joseph Chingangu - British Eurosport 2000
DAILY MIRROR: Leeds eased the pressure on under-fire boss Terry Venables last night with their first Premiership win in fives games. THE SUN: Gerard Houllier has apologised to Liverpool's fans and players after the club's worst run for 19 years. DAILY
THAT most festive of events, the Bolton Choral Union Family Carol Concert takes place on Saturday night, 7.30pm. The concert at the Victoria Hall, Knowsley Street, Bolton, will also feature Besses o' th' Barn Brass Band and the children of St Thomas of
ROYAL Mail bosses have announced the last recommended posting dates for UK deliveries before Christmas. Second class mail should be posted by tomorrow and first class by Saturday, December 21. Opening hours over the festive period have also been announced
THE ART LESTER BIG BAND: The Pennine Suite, Horwich RMI Social and Recreation Club, Chorley New Road, Bolton. Every Tuesday. 8.30 to 11.00pm. Free. KEN WARD BIG BAND: Leigh Liberal Club. Every Monday. 8 to 11pm. Free. RONNIE MOORE BIG BAND: Sacred Heart
BOLTON Evening News readers feel that the Wanderers decision to ban Simon Edwards for life was harsh. While many accepted Wanderers had to take some form of action after Edwards had run on to the pitch to complain to referee Neale Barry after the official
WE'VE all been grateful for findng a shop open on Christmas Day when we've run out of milk, or forgotten the cranberry jelly. But, I still think that the decision by many supermarkets to close on December 25 this year, after so few customers wandered
CHRIST Church Amateur Theatre Society, Little Lever, and MDM Entertainments are staging Aladdin and his Magic Lamp from January 23 to 25, at 7.15pm nightly, with a 2.15pm Saturday matinee. Performances are at Christ Church, Mytham Road, Little Lever.
MEMBERS of Farnworth Performing Arts Company are planning the "purr-fect" pantomime with Puss In Boots. Following last year's success, the company presents its second pantomime from January 22 to 25 at Astley Bridge Theatre Church. The action will take
ONE of Bolton's longest established theatre groups has been forced to disband due to a lack of support. Our Lady of Lourdes Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society held a special general meeting in a last ditch attempt to save the group, but although the
YOUNGSTERS enjoyed a continental day out when they joined their older colleagues at Harper Green Secondary School. The 24 pupils from feeder primaries Queensbridge, Plodder Lane, St Stephen's Kearsley Moor, Kearsley West, St John's and St James', spent
CHILDREN are being placed under too much pressure to do well at an early age, according to a couple who have notched-up 73 years between them as teachers. Mike Chapman and his wife Bernadette are looking forward to putting their feet up and enjoying a
FATHER Christmas has been planning his annual tour of Westhoughton with the help of the town's Rotary Club. On December 17 he will visit the Hoskers, Sandalwood and Wearish Lane. On December 18 he will travel to Eatock Way and Drake Hall. He will then
A DRIVER was cut out of her car by firefighters after an accident on Burnden Way, in Horwich. Firefighters freed the woman shortly after 7.41am today. She was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital.
LEIGH Harriers' cross country stars scored an hat-trick of individual victories and two team firsts in the South East Lancs League at Oldham. North West Women's League champion Gemma Farley added the league title to her tally after winning the U15 two
THE first group of pupils joining a new primary school are set to become mini eco-warriors. The Valley School -- which is scheduled to open in 2004 -- will be the most "environmentally friendly" school in town. The school is being built to house pupils
THE success of Bolton comedian Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights TV show is being used to promote culture in neighbouring Chorley. Following his success as part of the Phoenix Nights team at the British Comedy Awards, Whittle-le-Woods funnyman Dave Spikey has
BOLTON Music Service proudly unveiled its latest ensemble at an open day and showed its members have more than one string to more than one bow! Because these were no ordinary instruments being played. Instead they belonged to a new Gamelan -- a 36-piece
Premier Division P W D L F A Pts Griffin... 10 6 3 1 39 23 21 Tonge Moor Cons... 7 6 1 0 33 9 19 Bowling Green... 11 5 2 4 42 36 17 Doffcocker... 10 4 2 4 24 18 14 Hare & Hnds BTN... 9 4 2 3 24 24 14 Black Horse Tyl... 8 3 3 2 24 21 12 Grapes Hotel
SECTION ONE P Pts Rumworth D... 12 65.5 Tonge Moor A... 13 60.0 Rumworth C... 12 57.0 Rumworth B... 12 56.0 Breightmet A... 12 53.5 Halliwell C... 13 52.0 Adlington... 11 51.5 Halliwell A... 13 51.0 Dunscar C... 13 51.0 Tonge Moor B... 13 49.5 Rumworth
THE MILLIONAIRE boss of a sportswear retailer was depressed about business troubles before he hanged himself, an inquest has heard. Duncan Sharpe, aged 43, chief executive of JJB Sports, was discovered in a field in Anna Lane, near Bolton by Bowland.
ENGLISH Heritage is to honour the man who wrote the world's first electronically stored computer programme, with a blue plaque. Professor Tom Kilburn was one of the founder members of the Manchester University computing team, and an associate of mathematician
THE success of Bolton comedian Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights TV show is being used to promote culture in neighbouring Chorley. Following his success as part of the Phoenix Nights team at the British Comedy Awards, Whittle-le-Woods funnyman Dave Spikey has
AN innovative toy could be at the top of every Bolton dog's Christmas present wish list this year. Pet shop bosses in the town say the Talk To Me Treatball is proving very popular with dog owners in the town because it allows them to talk to their pets
PROFESSIONAL storyteller Taffy Thomas was guaranteed to spin a good "yawn" at The Octagon, Bolton. He told bedtime stories to a spellbound audience of young children at the theatre. Children were invited to dress for the special "slumber party" in nightclothes
THIEVES have stolen large sections of a couple's garden wall -- dismantling it piece by piece in the dark. Homeowners Nicola and Karl Daley could not believe their eyes when they found 34 large slabs of York stone had been taken off the wall. Today Mrs
A POLICE officer denied that a DNA sample taken from an alleged robber could have contaminated a vital piece of evidence, a court heard. Det Sgt Steven Retford said that because the bag containing the mouth swab taken from a suspect was sealed there was
ASTLEY Bridge under 18's are seeking emergency goalkeeping cover. Anyone interested should be under eighteen now and available for Sunday games and for Thursday evening training. For more details contact Trevor Lester on 07901 598122 after 5.30pm.
A £20 million motorway junction built to relieve congestion caused by people driving to superstores was officially opened today. A new junction eight has been constructed on the M62 in Warrington, close to the Ikea and Marks and Spencer stores. It has
THE biggest pantomime production Manchester has seen opens at the Opera House on Thursday night. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs stars Lily Savage -- in the role she's made her own -- as The Wicked Queen. It runs until Sunday, January 12 at The Opera
THAT most festive of ballets, The Nutcracker, just got even more of a Christmas feel to it . . . by being put on ice. For the first time in its history, the Royal Northern College of Music's Opera Theatre is hosting an international world class production
THE search is on for families who enjoy learning together, whether they study at home on the internet, chat in French at their local community centre or go rock climbing en masse. The National Institute for Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) wants to
FARNWORTH Boys under 11s require a goalkeeper. Contact Colin on 01204 708034 for details.
GREATER Manchester Under 19s gave their hopes of reaching the semi finals of the Northern Counties competition a boost with a couple of wins against West Yorkshire and Cheshire last week. The county's senior schoolboy team started with a 4-3 reverse against
