TRADERS in Westhoughton hope that a high street clothes retailer will revitalise the town centre. Ethel Austin - which is opening 200 new stores across the UK and creating 2,000 jobs - is transforming two vacant units in Pavilion Square into a large store
IN today's hysterical climate we hear so much about child abuse (which I totally condemn) but I would like to ask what is society going to do about the increasing menace of abusive children? The Bolton Evening News has highlighted this recently with two
ALMOST exactly a year ago today, I wrote to add to the debate regarding postal ballots, and the large reported numbers of spoilt papers, due to the shambolic way the ballot papers were set-up. Yet again, our council seem to have learnt nothing from their
SO petrol prices have risen once again. We are now paying at least 81p a litre. I am not totally shocked and I do not put all the blame on the Government. Firstly, I do agree that we have one of the highest petrol taxes in Europe, so that is some of the
THE 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings will be marked on June 6. LESLEY RICHARDS talks to war veteran George Culshaw who survived four years of conflict himself but lost his brother in action SIXTY years may have dimmed the memories of the few surviving
Central Lancashire League: RADCLIFFE slumped to to back-to-back defeats at the weekend. Norden left the Racecourse with four points on Saturday and Werneth capped a miserable weekend for Graeme Simpson's side when they sent them stumbling out of the Wood
TWO 23 year-old men have been taken to hospital after their car hit a lamp post while being chased by a police car in Merseyside. It happened on King's Lane, Bebbington, Wirral, in the early hours of Thursday. Merseyside Police said officers in a marked
MOTORISTS will face delays from next week as United Utilities carries out renewal works on the outskirts of Bolton town centre. Work will take place for seven days to install new water treatment works at the junction of Mayor Street and Spa Road. It is
MOTORIST Alan Kay, aged 21, of Kestrel Drive, Bury, got behind the wheel twice in two days while already banned, Rochdale magistrates heard. He was banned for two years and received a rehabilitation order after admitting the offence. He also admitted
IT was all aboard for potato fun when a healthy eating bus turned up at St Peter and St Paul's Primary School, Bolton. Pupils enjoyed potato-related activities and got to taste fresh Lancashire spuds as well as meeting Dino, a giant green dinosaur. The
A TV company is looking for people in Bolton who are about to take the gamble of becoming their own boss. Ricochet South is looking for people who are giving up the rat race to set up a business in the hospitality industry. Contact Dave or Jane at Ricochet
IT'S amazing what you can find in a river - as schoolgirl Roisin Begley discovered. The youngster, aged eight, of Halliwell, is checking for creatures such as water lice, leeches, sticklebacks and mayfly at Hall i' th' Wood Historic House and Museum's
AGE Concern has launched its national Grandparent of the Year award as new research shows that grandparents are contributing more to the economy than ever before. The award highlights the importance of grandparents to family life and is a chance for grandchildren
A WEEKEND of fundraising for Royal Manchester Children's Hospital at Pendlebury is being held at Wingates Sports and Social Club. The club has organised a race night for the evening of Friday from 8pm and a day of fun and games for children on Saturday
THE North-west Air Ambulance celebrates its fifth birthday this week, after flying more than 4,500 missions. The service, which is a charity, has saved hundreds of lives in the five years it has been in the air. Chief executive Lynda Brislin said: "This
THREE men have appeared before Bury magistrates accused of concocting a robbery story to dishonestly obtain more £1,300 cash from their employers. Andrew Bennett, aged 19, of The Terrace, Prestwich, Gary Holmes, aged 21, of Minerva Street, Huddersfield
TWO businessmen have made a plea for thieves to return tools stolen from the back of their van last week. Phil Robinson and Lee Gerrard were devastated when they found hundreds of pounds worth of power tools had been taken after thieves smashed their
BBC Radio is celebrating the range of programmes made in Manchester with a radio open day next month. The event will take place from 1pm on Tuesday, June 22, at BBC Manchester on Oxford Road. People will be able to try out digital editing, have a go at
HORWICH Heritage Society is holding an exhibition which features a recreation of a locomotive plate complete with moving parts, to commemorate the town's rich industrial past. The free show, called Horwich Loco Works Remembered - 1884 to 1994, will be
A PAIR of bodybuilders from a Farnworth gym out-muscled the competition to take two of the top prizes at a national contest. Kevin Aldred, aged 40, and Lewis Neary, aged 22, are now waiting to hear if they will be jetting off to take on Europe's biggest
A PENSIONER died in hospital six weeks after being involved in a road accident, an inquest heard. Frances May Taylor - known as May - was hit by a Transco van as she crossed Albert Road in Farnworth last November. The inquest heard that the 84-year-old
A RECORD number of football troublemakers from Greater Manchester will be banned from travelling to Portugal next month for the Euro 2004 soccer championships. A total of 197 people from the area are currently subjected to football banning orders. Some
THE search is on for people to run their own stall during one of Bolton's biggest country fairs. Bolton Council's Rangers want stallholders who feel they can add something unique to the attractions already booked at the Moses Gate Country Fair on July
THE search is on for people to run their own stall during one of Bolton's biggest country fairs. Bolton Council's Rangers want stallholders who feel they can add something unique to the attractions already booked at the Moses Gate Country Fair on July
A TWO-YEAR-OLD boy who was knocked down two weeks ago as he ran across a Bolton road to greet his father has not yet regained consciousness. Subhaan Kahn had been playing on a toy train in the front garden of his home in Green Lane, Great Lever, on Sunday
GENEROUS tributes to the late Eddie Hopkinson have ensured that the memory of the Wanderers legend will live on as a legacy to aspiring young footballers. The family of the former England goalkeeper, who died suddenly last month, asked for donations to
LABOUR have been out in force in various parts of the Bury explaining how the work they do in Europe has benefited the town and the region. Topping the Labour list of candidates is Radcliffe-based Gary Titley, leader of Britain's Labour MEPs in Europe
THE Tory campaign moved to Ainsworth when one of the region's MEPs visited the village. Den Dover, who defends his seat in the June 10 Euro poll, was out canvassing with party members and local election hopefuls. Mr Dover occupies the number one slot
EVERY council seat will be put to the vote for the first time in 25 years on June 10. A record 267 candidates have put their names forward to contest the council's 20 wards. With none of the three mainstream parties holding a majority in the council chamber
NOT impressed by the so-called "big three" parties in the European elections? Then you can make your cross against a choice of nine others. Also standing are: British National Party: want to leave the EU, control our own politics and economy, stop asylum
UTILITY player Lee Unsworth has committed his future to Bury by signing a one-year contract extension. The 31-year-old joined the Shakers from Crewe on a free transfer in July 2000. He has joined midfielder David Flitcroft and youngsters Daniel Douglas-Pringle
I FEEL that the identity of the smaller towns and villages in the borough are being lost and are being "Boltonised". Here are some examples. The main hospital in the borough is named as the Royal Bolton Hospital, even though it's in the town of Farnworth
THE regal-sounding new ward of Hulton could acquire a grim political reputation. Anxious candidates walking the streets to canvass voters fear it will become the graveyard of a number of political careers at next month's Bolton Council election. No less
BOLTON leisure bosses are enforcing guidelines which restrict the number of children an adult can take swimming. Pressure group Right To Swim has attacked councils for implementing a rule that means a parent cannot take two children into a pool if one
Fans set up web petition to save Street gay WHEN Granada announced that Bolton actor Chris Finch would be leaving Coronation Street, they could not have anticipated the response of a group of dedicated fans. An internet fan site for the show has set up
THE voting problems that saw 10,000 ballot papers spoiled at last year's Bolton Council election could happen again, a councillor warned. Tory Paul Brierley told a council meeting that electors were still unhappy about signing voting forms because they
MICHAEL Strangwood has defied the odds and made it to his 13th birthday - more than four years after doctors gave him just six months to live. Michael was diagnosed with adrenoleukodystrophy (ADL) in March 2000 - a rare genetic disease that has left him
Fans set up web petition to save Street gay WHEN Granada announced that Bolton actor Chris Finch would be leaving Coronation Street, they could not have anticipated the response of a group of dedicated fans. An internet fan site for the show has set up
STAFF at a Bolton travel agency are flying high after a new trans-Atlantic airline deal. St Andrews Travel has been hand-picked by airline giant American Airlines to sell and distribute tickets for its new non-stop Manchester-to-Miami service, which starts
LAST Friday, I attended a concert at the Albert Halls in Bolton, by the Bolton Youth Orchestra, which was quite splendid. However, it was a great pity that the audience was so very small. We have in Bolton an excellent music service, of which we can all
IN response to all correspondence that is appearing in the local press, bill boards, etc., concerning dog fouling and the fine imposed should they be caught in action. I feel that this should also be extended to our cat owners, who let their pets roam
NINETEEN louts who have been blighting Bolton with their anti-social behaviour have been named and shamed in the Bolton Evening News. Bolton Police are distributing leaflets carrying their pictures and are urging residents to report them if they breach
MARK Chilton led the way as Lancashire fought back into a strong position on the second day against Middlesex at Old Trafford. The opener fell just seven runs short of his second century of the season as the Red Rose side finished on 253-2, with Mal Loye
DETECTIVES investigating the rape of a teenager at a train station who was then attacked again have arrested two men. The girl was attacked in Liverpool's Lime Street station last week. She was then sexually assaulted a second time by two men she thought
BRIDGE repairs may affect motorists in Montserrat for the next fortnight. Bolton Council engineers are renovating a bridge from Edge lane to Walker Fold Lane. The work is expected to finish on June 6th.
IT was all aboard for potato fun when a healthy eating bus turned up at St Peter and St Paul's Primary School, Bolton. Pupils enjoyed potato-related activities and got to taste fresh Lancashire spuds as well as meeting Dino, a giant green dinosaur. The
STAFF and children at a long-running playgroup celebrated its 30th anniversary. Youngsters were treated to special fun and games at Daisy Hill Pre-school, United Reformed Church, Leigh Road, Westhoughton, while staff and parents enjoyed a celebratory
A TEAM of seven Worsley school pupils have taken third place in a prestigious national competition looking at transport for the future. The St George's RC High School Year Nine pupils entered a powerpoint presentation on alternative fuel into the Futec
MAINTENANCE work on Burnden Viaduct is set to affect motorists again over the coming weeks. St Peter's Way will be closed overnight, northbound from Raikes lane slip road to Bradford Street and southbound from Turton Street/Folds Road to Farnworth slip
STAFF and children at a long-running playgroup celebrated its 30th anniversary. Youngsters were treated to special fun and games at Daisy Hill Pre-school, United Reformed Church, Leigh Road, Westhoughton, while staff and parents enjoyed a celebratory
JUNE Lee is searching for a little masterpiece to put the finishing touches to a play. "The Wings of Love", a Stephen Pearson painting, features prominently in the production of the TV classic Abigail's Party which will be staged by St Joseph's Players
A TEAM of seven Worsley school pupils have taken third place in a prestigious national competition looking at transport for the future. The St George's RC High School Year Nine pupils entered a powerpoint presentation on alternative fuel into the Futec
MEMBERS of a Bolton movie-making club will be swapping tips on the continent when they embark on an exchange trip to Germany. The team of 12 Bolton Moviemakers will travel to Bolton's twin town of Paderborn at the weekend as guests of the town's own video
POLICE are anxious to speak to a group of youths after a set of car keys were stolen from a Bolton town centre office. The gang, believed to be four or five-strong, were seen outside the Bolton Evening News office in Churchgate moments before the theft
THOUSANDS of cinema-goers across Bolton flocked to watch the epic film Troy last weekend and this weekend is set to be just as busy. Cinema bosses are predicting that they will have their busiest week at the box office when blockbuster movies, disaster
THE funeral of a Bolton woman who plunged to her death while on holiday has been held. A service for Sharon Leyland, aged 34, of Darcy Lever, took place at Overdale Crematorium on Wednesday. Her husband Robert, her 15-month-old daughter Morgan Louise
HECTOR the Mynah bird may have flown away from home but he certainly knows his pedigree. Whenever staff at the Bolton RSPCA office in St George's engage him in conversation, the bird simply replies: "Just call me sir". But the bird's chatty style is not
A 22-YEAR-OLD man is due to be sentenced on Thursday afternoon for the manslaughter of his five-week-old daughter. Andrew Ashurst, of Formby Avenue, Atherton, pleaded guilty to shaking baby Leah Marie Aldridge to death when he appeared in court earlier
A MAN who was found hanging at his Morris Green home died as the result of an experiment that went wrong, an inquest heard. Edward Jenkins, aged 52, was found hanging near his bedroom at the St Dominic's Mews house he shared with his brother, Paul. Paul
A PROPOSAL to ban alcohol from the streets of Horwich and Blackrod is a step closer to being implemented. The consultation period for the proposed bans, which would cover both town centres, as well as residential streets, has passed and no objections
STAFF at a Bolton travel agency are flying high after a new trans-Atlantic airline deal. St Andrews Travel has been hand-picked by airline giant American Airlines to sell and distribute tickets for its new non-stop Manchester-to-Miami service, which starts
WANDERERS are bracing themselves for a summer sales spree with fans flocking to the Reebok in record numbers. Early indications suggest there has been no backlash to the season ticket price rise that was announced last week with the prospect of a fourth
LIB Dem candidate Chris Davies got on his soapbox in Prestwich and Bury to argue his case. Mr Davies is the party's only MEP in the North West region, and is confident of at least doubling that total in the elections. The party is pitching itself against
BURY man David Newns is hoping it will be third time lucky in the European elections. Mr Newns, of Hollins Close, is the only Euro candidate from any party who lives in the borough. He is number five on the Tory list. Born in 1947, he runs the UK subsidiary
THE Bolton Evening News has given the three mainstream parties fighting the council elections in Bolton the chance to appeal for your postal vote. We asked their leaders to address four key issues: Anti-social behaviour and crime, litter and pollution
POWERFUL striker Phil Denney has turned his back on Conference football to sign for Radcliffe Boro. The 24-year-old front-runner was courted by Leigh RMI and Northwich Victoria but has linked up with manager Kevin Glendon after coming to the end of his
A SISTER at the Royal Bolton Hospital has completed 25 years service. Sister Ann Hogan, a sister on ward L2, in the medical and elderly directorate, completed her 25 years in December 2003 and was presented with a long-service award this month.
THE public voice on health issues in Bolton was "silenced" when community health councils were abolished, a new health champion said. The health councils' replacements - the new patient and public health forums - were launched yesterday. And the chairman
TRADERS in Westhoughton hope that a high street clothes retailer will revitalise the town centre. Ethel Austin - which is opening 200 new stores across the UK and creating 2,000 jobs - is transforming two vacant units in Pavilion Square into a large store
A WOMAN ordered to leave her council house within a month because of drug dealing has denied selling heroin. Donna Waterworth said she is devastated over her eviction after housing bosses secretly recorded 706 visitors to her house in Farnworth. The 37
PUBS where football violence erupts during next month's Euro 2004 soccer championships could face closure, according to police chiefs. The tough warning for licensees follows the violent scenes in Bradshawgate and surrounding area after England's 1-0
FIRE union leaders in Greater Manchester said on Thursday said that they would press on with plans to ballot members to take industrial action - despite a breakthrough in the pay dispute. Hopes of an end to the firefighters dispute rose when union leaders
THOUSANDS of cinema-goers across Bolton flocked to watch the epic film Troy last weekend and this weekend is set to be just as busy. Cinema bosses are predicting that they will have their busiest week at the box office when blockbuster movies, disaster
BBC Radio is celebrating the range of programmes made in Manchester with a radio open day next month. The event will take place from 1pm on Tuesday, June 22, at BBC Manchester on Oxford Road. People will be able to try out digital editing, have a go at
A TV company is looking for people in Bolton who are about to take the gamble of becoming their own boss. Ricochet South is looking for people who are giving up the rat race to set up a business in the hospitality industry. Contact Dave or Jane at Ricochet
