THE Engineering Employers' Federation, the manufacturers' organisation in the North-west, today welcomed the efficiency measures contained in the Chancellor's spending review. John Malam, the federation's North-west chief executive, said: "These are tough
STAFF were sky high at the offices of Bolton-based commercial insurance broker Opus when North-west Air Ambulance arrived to receive a £2,000 donation. Following a year of fundraising by Opus staff, Bolton manager Paul Twitchett and employee benefits
STAFF at the Co-operative Insurance Services (CIS) office in Bolton are waiting to hear about their future after 2,500 job losses were announced by the company on Wednesday. The CIS office on Churchgate employs 46 staff, with a mixture of roles including
DAVE Johnson won the Doe Hey Saturday Open on the bottom lodge with 1 carp for 9lbs-11ozs. Second was Bob Fearnhead with 6lbs-6ozs of bits, and third Fred Yates 3lbs-0ozs.
BRADSHAW Fisheries have a few tickets left for the "Hooked On Fishing, Not Drugs, Nor Crime", in which young people are invited to take part in fishing matches for big prizes. These will be held over the school holidays. Ring 01204 307197 for further
ANYONE interested in learning how to fly fish can now do so with a local finstructor. To find out more, contact Mike on 07786 682272, e-mail mikeflyfishing@AOL.com or visit his website www.flyfishinginstruction.co.uk
THE Dixon Green Wednesday Open was won by Mick Booth with three bream and a few bits, on the tip with worm for 10lbs-12ozs. Harry Collier had skimmers on pellets to register 5lbs-0ozs for second place. Third was Mick Head with 3lbs-14ozs and fourth was
LORD Nelson AC fished their sixth aggregate match of the year on Cudmore's Number One Lake and quite a few anglers found fishing difficult in the strong winds. Pellets, worm and casters were found to be the best attraction on the day. Results: 1st. Martin
BRITAIN'S Olympic athletes will be wearing skimpy aerodynamic outfits when they compete in Athens next month. And the resulting preview of the kit has brought much tut-tutting. You can't tell me that all of the people avidly watching track and field events
IS nothing sacred? They're now introducing all sorts of famous "stars" to our favourite soaps to spice them up. Patsy Kensit is doing sultry bitch in Emmerdale and Norman Wisdom made a surreal appearance in Coronation Street as, ahem, basically Norman
nI'VE got mixed feelings about the pigeons in the town centre. It's difficult sometimes to find a seat that hasn't had their messy attentions and they can be a nuisance, but it's nice to see local wildlife among the buildings even in the form of pigeons
IN spite of the obvious potential danger to law-abiding pedestrians I'm starting to sympathise with local skateboarders. We may not want them zipping around the town centre, using monuments and passers by as enjoyable manoeuvres, damaging the former and
HAS Stephen Fitton ever read the list of names on the Dunscar War Memorial? Has he ever wondered who these men were and wondered about the families they left behind? Some family names appear several times and in both wars. Has he ever wondered about the
WHO do these people think they are, wanting to move a war memorial just so they can make more money. Do they not realise that the soldiers fought and died for this country. The memorial was put there in memory of the local soldiers and should be left
FEW can be better placed to make comment as regards the proposed construction work at Dunscar, as our property directly overlooks the Memorial. During our 10-year occupancy, I have seen horses, rabbits, dogs and cats, and even a heron, but never the alleged
I AM confused as to why Bolton Council have decided to take such drastic action against skateboarders in the town centre. Yet again, it all comes down to money. How pathetic a £500 fine. It is ridiculous. If Bolton Council were really concerned about
IN reply to "Parents of yobs to be evicted" (Bolton Evening News, Wednesday, July 7). Firstly it can take months to get enough evidence against these yobs to do anything. Then, if they are successful, what happens then? They move in with family or friends
OLDHAMS Community Primary School closes its doors on Friday, July 16, one year short of its 50th anniversary and after a long, hard and passionate battle won and then lost. At the very least there needs to be a public thank you to all staff, past and
From the Evening News, July 16, 1904: AN accident happened on Friday afternoon at the works of Messrs Crumblehulme and Sons, iron founders, Emblem Street, Bolton. A ladle containing molten metal was being conveyed through the works by four workmen when
BOLTON Arena is one of only four leisure complexes in the country to become a "hub centre" for tennis. The Middlebrook centre was selected for the prestigious role after bosses from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) visited all 110 applicants to compare
St Swithin's Day 862: St Swithin, Saxon Bishop of Winchester, died. He asked to be buried outside where rain could fall on his grave. Some 108 years later, devoted monks decided to move the body from the "vile and unworthy grave". A sudden deluge drenched
WOMEN are being challenged to run three miles to raise money for the Alzheimer's Society. The Flora Light Challenge for Women which is being held on Sunday, September 5, as part of the organisation's 25th anniversary celebrations. If you are interested
BOLTON would benefit from a licensing scheme for street buskers, according to a new survey. A study by Carling revealed 72 per cent of people in the town enjoyed hearing music in public places, with a further 69pc saying they had stopped to listen to
ROYAL Ashton fished their Saturday Open Match in the channel of Rumworth Reservoir and most took skimmers and roach on the short pole. Results: 1st. Darren Turner 9lbs-11ozs, 2nd. Roland Stansfield 7lbs-0ozs, 3rd. John Crook 4lbs-14ozs. The following
A DEMONSTRATION of the New Zealand haka was given to the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Prentice Howarth, by teenagers from South Auckland. The war dance, along with a host of traditional songs, was performed at the Town Hall by 50 children on an exchange trip
AFTER-SCHOOL and holiday club facilities catering for four to 12 year-olds and designed to help working parents and carers have been set up in Astley and Tyldesley. Busy Kids, run by Karen Jackson and Julie Gilman, is based at Astley St Stephen's. It
AN information day on a rare kind of Multiple Sclerosis is being held in September. The day is about primary progressive MS, where symptoms steadily worsen, rather than the usual symptoms of experiencing regular relapses of the condition. The day will
BOLTON South-east MP Dr Brian Iddon wants retail staff to tell him about attacks and threats made by customers. His plea came as he threw his weight behind a campaign by the shop workers' union Usdaw to highlight violence and abuse. It follows a survey
RESIDENTS returned to their homes on Wednesday night after an explosion alert ended in Radcliffe. Firefighters completed the 24-hour cooling procedure of a gas acetylene cylinder that had caught fire. The cylinder was taken away by fire crews at 7pm and
A PRIMARY school headteacher will be swapping the classroom for royal gardens when he meets Prince Charles on Friday. Ian Dryburgh has been headteacher at Blackrod Primary School for 17 years and has been invited to attend the Prince of Wales' celebration
LEGENDARY Beach Boy Brian Wilson arrives in the North-west this month to promote his new album as well as tracks from his unreleased masterpiece Smile. Smile is produced by the acclaimed singer/songwriter and will feature a 10-piece band. The solo album
"WE are watching you." That is the message to known burglars in Little Hulton and Walkden. Offenders are being sent letters from the police warning them that they are being closely monitored and patrols have been stepped up in the area. The tough new
AN empty mill could be given a new lease of life with plans to transform it into 25 luxury apartments. An application to redevelop the former textile factory Edenwood in Stubbins, near Ramsbottom, has been submitted to Rossendale Borough Council. The
BOLTON will take a giant leap back in time this weekend to mark the anniversary of the granting of the town's market charter in 1251. A mediaeval market will be recreated in Churchgate in the town centre on Saturday and Sunday, featuring a variety of
CELEBRATIONS to mark the golden jubilee of High Lawn Primary School were given a helping hand by Mayor of Bolton Cllr Prentice Howarth. The new mayor visited the school, on Holden Avenue, Sharples, as part of an event to mark the 50th anniversary since
MOTORISTS in Bolton are being urged to slow down on country roads to reduce the risk of collisions with farm vehicles. Thousands of free car stickers are being distributed to drivers for the Slow Down For Summer campaign. The North-west Air Ambulance
SAM Allardyce will not be signing Marseille midfielder Brahim Hemdani after talks broke down between both parties on financial grounds. This news contradicted reports that the Algerian had already secured a £1 million transfer to the Reebok. The Wanderers
FIRST and second seeds John Lister and Simon Pearson showed their class in the Bolton Tennis Championships men's singles on Wednesday night. Lister beat veteran Ken Nixon 6-0, 6-0, and Simon saw off Ian Nutter 6-0, 6-2 to reach the semi-finals. In the
BOLTON Council's new Liberal Democrat administration has unveiled the team it hopes will lead the borough into a new era. The group has stamped its authority on the council by slashing the number of members on the executive committee, the most powerful
IN the slaughter of the 1914/18 war, my uncle lay in a shell hole for three days with a shattered leg. Rescued by the Germans, his leg was amputated and he returned home a broken man. In the 1939/45 war, some of my contemporaries in Bomber Command and
THE Liberal Democrats now control a huge chunk of the borough. They took seven out of the 20 wards, including the newly created Crompton, Westhoughton North and Chew Moor, Westhoughton South and two Horwich wards. They are also in control of Kearsley
JACK Partridge is the new Lancashire Schoolboy champion after he fired in a two over par 72 over his home course of Bolton Golf Club, on Monday. The 16-year-old pupil at Rivington and Blackrod High School ensured that a Bolton schoolboy retained the U18s
BOLTON Arena is one of only four leisure complexes in the country to become a "hub centre" for tennis. The Middlebrook centre was selected for the prestigious role after bosses from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) visited all 110 applicants to compare
WORK is due to start next month on a £1 million renovation of Bolton's Pack Horse Hotel. Owner Dr Subhash Jajoo is ripping out the dated bar area, kitchens and six ground-floor bedrooms at the Nelson Square hotel to create a luxury bar and dining area
A LANDLORD has issued a rallying cry to pub owners, who he claims are the victim of foul play by TV broadcaster Sky. Douglas Stoneley-Hulme, landlord of the Antelope pub on Manchester Road, Kearsley, says he and other licensees are being forced to pass
THIRTY eight cases of the MRSA superbug have been recorded at the Royal Bolton Hospital in the past 12 months, health chiefs have revealed. The total is three more than was recorded in the previous year, but low compared to other hospitals. Efforts to
FOOTBALL fever saw domestic violence rocket in Bolton by up to 30 per cent last month, new figures revealed today. While a wave of enthusiasm swept the country during last month's Euro 2004 Championships, a sinister side-effect saw violence in the home
NEARLY 40 people from Bolton will take part in a major cycling event to raise money for the Christie Hospital. The annual Manchester to Blackpool bike ride takes place this Sunday, when thousands of cyclists will set off from Manchester's Albert Square
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
POLICE could send messages to people's mobiles phones within 30 seconds of an explosion in Manchester city centre. It is part of a system set up to evacuate the area quickly in the event of major incidents -- such as bombs, gas and chemical leaks, fires
IT WOULD take a huge swing to dislodge Labour from power in Bury, Wigan and Salford. The Labour party in Bury, headed by Cllr John Byrne, has 27 seats, the Conservatives16 and the Liberal Democrats have four. But in Wigan, the battle facing the opposition
LABOUR councillors were left red faced this week after delivering 6,000 election leaflets that inadvertently featured a four letter word. The unrepeatable expletive appeared in the spring edition of the Labour Rose magazine which promotes the work of
THE turnout in Bury is already up on last year. By 4pm on Tuesday, almost 36 per cent of residents had sent back their postal votes, up from 31 per cent in the 2003 local elections. It is also considerably better than the 19.5 per cent turnout in the
ROYAL Mail staff have been thanked for their "magnificent" effort in delivering Bury's ballot papers for Thursday's elections. Mr Mark Sanders, Bury Council's chief executive and local returning officer, said he has not received any complaints from people
LESSONS learned in Bolton from last year's all-postal local election have resulted in fewer spoiled ballot papers this time around. Last year, nearly 10,000 votes were wasted because ballot papers were incorrectly completed. But yesterday, election officials
BURY Council's official newspaper has been reported to the Government standards board by the town's top Conservative. Cllr Roy Walker has formally complained that Bury Metro News was delivered to households after April 30, when the notice of election
BURY'S returning officer has admitted that a missing bundle of voters' declaration forms has still not shown up. The missing batch caused a delay in Redvales ward, because tellers had counted 48 more votes than they had matching declarations. Mr Mark
BOLTON will get its first woman Mayor for 20 years - after Labour councillor Prentice Howarth scraped home by just one vote in the Great Lever ward. But the grandmother of 11 will be a lone Labour voice in the ward as the other two councillors elected
VOTERS in Bury who have learning disabilities are to be given a helping hand so they do not miss out on this month's elections. Voting in the borough is to be conducted exclusively by postal ballot for the first time, and council officials fear it could
PROBLEMS with the postal voting system have deprived pensioner Jim Lowe of his vote this year, after more than 50 years of voting - but ballot papers were sent to his late wife. Mr Lowe, aged 72, became concerned when he and his neighbours in Douglas
A LABOUR party boss has vowed to keep on campaigning despite a brick attack on his home. John Hartshorne, chairman of the Bolton Labour Party has now been offered extra police protection. Mr Hartshorne's wife, Elaine, was sitting in the living room of
THE public will be able to give their views on postal voting as part of an investigation which will look into why thousands of ballot papers went missing in Bolton. The Electoral Commission will be contacting community groups and holding a random telephone
ANGRY shoppers tackled Foreign Secretary Jack Straw about the Iraq war when he addressed crowds in Bolton town centre from his soap box. Mr Straw denied the Government had been wrong to go to war, before mingling with people in Victoria Square. He had
LABOUR has clung on to control of Bury Council, despite the drama of a recount in the Redvales ward. The Labour party's majority was cut to just two after last night's voting, with the Redvales ward still to be declared. Results for that ward have not
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
THE outgoing Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Cliff Morris, is the new leader of the town's Labour council group. His appointment has been announced after Bob Howarth, Bolton's Labour leader for the last 24 years, lost his seat last week - one of seven seats lost
ONE of the most bitter battles in Bolton's election campaign ended with Labour emphatically winning the new Rumworth ward. And the result saw two political rivals, who were plunged into a controversy over alleged electoral fraud, shake hands and agree
LIBERAL Democrat leaders have warned off rival parties amid rumours of a plot to keep them from taking power. Chief whip Cllr David Wilkinson told Labour and the Tories that any deal to shut out his party -- the largest group on the council after Thursday's
ABOUT 200 declaration slips were sent back to electors from the first batch of completed postal votes received by Bolton town hall officials -- because they had not been filled in properly. The papers were returned to voters who had failed to sign the
A LABOUR Party boss has been accused of using a 16-year-old teenager as a "political football". Rival politicians have slammed Cllr Guy Harkin and his fellow Labour candidates in the Hulton ward for releasing an election leaflet which identifies the boy
TOWN hall bosses are to hold an internal investigation to discover why thousands of ballot papers failed to reach voters in the local and European postal elections. As part of the review, the Returning Officer, Bernard Knight, will meet with Royal Mail
THE Liberal Democrats became the biggest party on Bolton Council in a night of shocks for Labour. Labour leader Bob Howarth and his deputy, Guy Harkin, who have ruled the Town Hall for 24 years, were voted out as the Liberal Democrats gained seven seats
THOUSANDS of completed ballot papers have arrived back at Bolton Town Hall - while dozens of other voters throughout the town were still waiting their postal ballot papers to be delivered. And today the delays in the delivery of the forms prompted Bolton's
HUNDREDS of voters throughout Bolton were on Saturday seeking answers to the question: "Where are my postal ballot papers?" With only five days remaining to one of the most crucial elections in the history of Bolton Metropolitan Borough, residents are
"WE will do all possible to repay the confidence and the trust which you have placed in us." That was the promise of Labour councillor Barry Briggs as he was installed as the new Mayor of Bury. Coun Briggs, who successfully defended his Radcliffe North
IT is the end of an era in Bolton politics. Council leader Bob Howarth and the deputy leader, Guy Harkin, were today preparing to move out of their offices at the town hall after their devastating defeats. Both men realised they faced an uncertain political
VOTING in the council and euro-elections is under way as around 200,000 ballot papers start arriving at homes across the borough. Here the, minority groups and independent candidates standing for Bolton Council offer their alternative vision of how the
ELECTORS won't be going to the polling booths next Thursday -- all votes for local government and the European Parliament will be done through the post. Everyone on the electoral register should by now have received a ballot pack as it's goodbye to traditional
MANAGERS in the North-west are too afraid to put their feet up and go on holiday, according to a survey conducted by the Chartered Management Institute. The survey found that less than half of managers in the North-west (49 per cent) claimed to use their
BOLTON baker Warburtons has announced the launch of two new Weight Watchers rolls to compliment its existing low-calorie branded bread range. Sarah Miskell, category marketing controller at Warburtons, said: "These are an exciting addition to the current
BURY solicitor Woodcock and Sons has appointed David McCann as a partner in the commercial litigation department. The 37-year-old is a former pupil of Bury Church High School. He joined Woodcocks in 1991 to help build up the firm's commercial litigation
BOLTON Anglers Association hold their Annual Challenge Match on Doffcocker Reservoir on July 25, with an 8.30am draw. Fishing is from 10am--3pm. To book on ring Dave Hanson on 0161 761 7441.
CONGRATULATIONS to all those who ran a mile for Sport Relief at the weekend. This includes Prince William who turned up unexpectedly with his brother Prince Harry (who didn't race because he'd injured his knee) at the London run. He finished in a very
THE argument that shifting historic Dunscar War Memorial to build homes would renovate the land there simply won't wash. It may sound fine on a planning application, but the reality is all about hard cash. Obviously there is no sin in building luxury
I'M currently convalescing after a hip operation and generally better in health than temper. Daytime TV is not really helping and desperation is driving me into deep conversations with the cat. A friend, however, kindly lent me the boxed video set of
AS a World War Two veteran now in my 80s I thought that I had seen everything in this life -- but now a developer is seeking permission to remove a war memorial to the two World Wars' heroes who gave all to keep our country free. The place the memorial
THERE are plenty of serious cyclists around in Bolton - dedicated sorts with all the equipment and energy to match. But cycling has traditionally been an enjoyable activity for young boys and girls. I seem to remember pedalling my new BSA to the countryside
BOLTON Cricket Club enjoyed a one run win to reach the semi-final of HC Smith Trophy. In an exciting encounter Bolton notched up 168 for nine against Whalley Range, with Chris Grant top scorer on 54. Whalley looked out of it at 51-5, but led by skipper
A DRUNKEN disqualified driver who "stole" a bus and left a trail of destruction in his wake -- including 12 damaged cars -- has been jailed for 20 months. Chey Dewitt was chased down a street by bus company staff after he drove off in the single-decker
ANDREW Flintoff marked his Twenty20 debut with a blazing innings and took over as Lancashire captain but it was not enough to see them to victory over Yorkshire at Headingley. He was upstaged by Australian Ian Harvey who finished unbeaten on 108 from
622: The traditional starting day of the Islamic Era, when a persecuted Muhammad fled from Mecca to Medina. 1821: Mary Baker Eddy, US religious leader who founded the Christian Science movement, was born. 1918: The last Tsar, Nicholas II, was murdered
AT last...a real crackdown on the drunken yobs in Bolton town centre who turn a night out into a nightmare. The Bolton Townsafe Partnership Group, launched this month, is showing its teeth and building on measures to show troublemakers that they are simply
A GANG of men broke into a pub and locked staff in its office before stealing money from the safe. The men broke into the Bishop Blaize pub on Chester Road, Stretford, just before midnight on Wednesday. Police say one of them was armed with a metal bar
GORSEFIELD Primary School's football teams achieved a double victory. The boys' team lifted the Scholes Cup after winning Radcliffe's annual primary school tournament and the girls' team won the Bury Junior Schools Sports League. Year Six teacher and
A BOLTON secondary school has scooped a £316,000 sports lottery grant to create a new sporting facility. Thornleigh Salesian College is one of four Bolton schools to benefit from the £500,000 bumper pay-out. Thornleigh's share will be spent on a full-size
YOUNG arsonists who set fire to a Hindley Green primary school have been condemned by fire officers. At Wigan and Leigh Youth Court, one boy aged 11 and two aged 12 were each given 12 month referral orders, and their parents ordered to pay £250 compensation
FORMER non-executive director of the Bolton Primary Care Trust, Ebrahim Adia, is being welcomed back on to the board. Dr Adia had to step down when he took the decision to stand in the European elections. But, as he was not elected, he has taken up his
RESIDENTS are being warned to keep their car keys safe after thieves used poles to fish keys through windows and letter boxes in a spate of thefts in Bury. Thieves have used the method to steal keys from near doors, windows and letterboxes, during a number
THE quality of careers education at the Bolton School Girls' Division has been recognised with a prestigious award. Over the past 18 months, the Girls' Division Careers Department has been working towards the Careers Education Quality Award. Vilma O'Shea
A DRIVER being questioned over a car crash which left two people dead and three young girls seriously injured is due to answer bail on Thursday. The 21-year-old, from the Bolton area, was arrested on May 1, after a red Mazda MX-5 mounted the pavement
ROADWORKS will disrupt the 593 bus services in the Tamar and Firs Lane area of Leigh from Monday. Wigan Road will be closed to traffic between Siddeley Street and Cowburn Street for 12 weeks. The 593 service will be diverted from Tamar via Nel Pan Lane
A COUNTRY show with a difference is being staged this weekend at Astley and Tyldesley Miners Welfare Club, Gin Pit Village, Tyldesley. Dogs and ferrets will compete for prizes at the Astley and Tyldesley Running Dog Club event on Saturday and Sunday which
BUDDING pop stars are being invited to audition for a showcase of talent this weekend. Bolton-based APA Stageworks is organising the second Bolton Festival pop show and is looking for young people between the ages of 11 and 17 to audition. The show, at
WOULD-be female models can win a contract and take part in a shoot for Evian mineral water at Lake Geneva in France. Evian representatives will be at All Saints, 52 King Street in Manchester on Friday from 1pm to 2pm and 4pm to 5pm with London model management
CROSS-country international Peter Riley has had his 2004 Olympic hopes dashed by injury - but the Leigh athlete already fancies his chances for the event in Beijing in 2008. The former Leigh Harrier missed the Olympic trials at Manchester last week due
A BOLTON secondary school has scooped a £316,000 sports lottery grant to create a new sporting facility. Thornleigh Salesian College is one of four Bolton schools to benefit from the £500,000 bumper pay-out. Thornleigh's share will be spent on a full-size
SAM Allardyce was close to making up for a summer of frustration on Thursday as he homed in on former Real Madrid centre-back, Julio Cesar. The 25-year-old Brazilian, who has played in four European leagues, was the star turn as Wanderers kicked off their
LEIGH will be staging an open night at Hilton Park on Monday. Doors opening at 6.30 followed by a parade of the players plus a friendly soccer match with Leigh RMI at 7pm. There will also be a bouncy castle, BBQ, penalty completion for kids against the
WIGAN Warriors have confirmed that prop Danny Sculthorpe has signed a new three year deal which will keep him at the JJB Stadium until the end of 2007. Sculthorpe who is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury has been in tremendous form and has become
DARREN Abram has a hooking headache to cure before Sunday's Arriva Trains Cup Final against Hull KR. Untried youngster Kieran Maddox could be the surprise selection in the key position with continued doubts over Paul Rowley, Dave McConnell and Mick Govin
A LANDLORD has issued a rallying cry to pub owners, who he claims are the victim of foul play by TV broadcaster Sky. Douglas Stoneley-Hulme, landlord of the Antelope pub on Manchester Road, Kearsley, says he and other licensees are being forced to pass
FOOTBALL fever saw domestic violence rocket in Bolton by up to 30 per cent last month, new figures revealed today. While a wave of enthusiasm swept the country during last month's Euro 2004 Championships, a sinister side-effect saw violence in the home
BOLTON election chiefs and Royal Mail bosses have blamed each other for the town's postal vote shambles. The man in charge of the election, Bolton's returning officer, Bernard Knight said: "We had all our ballot papers with the Royal Mail in plenty of
YOUNGSTERS voting for the first time have warned the politicians to buck-up their ideas if they want to win their votes. Students from Turton High School are eagerly awaiting the chance to take part in the local and European elections on June 10. They
IT has been one of the bitterest election campaigns Bolton has seen. A police investigation into accusations of dirty tricks has been the hallmark of the campaign in the new Rumworth ward. Then last Friday night, a brick was thrown by an unknown attacker
WE have all heard of the three mainstream parties, but who else is standing in next week's euro-election? Gareth Tidman explains who they are and what they stand for. IT has been a long and lonely campaign trail for the North-west's euro-constituency's
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
SHE may be Bolton's first female council leader, but heavy metal fan Barbara Ronson says she has more in common with rock group Iron Maiden than the Iron Lady. Gareth Tidman asked her how she intends to keep the men in tune. SHE is the shopkeeper's daughter
CANON Slade junior girls have every reason to be pleased with themselves after producing a magnificent performance in the English Schools Track and Field Cup. The 12-strong team beat the best schools from Carlisle to Manchester to win the North-west final
A CHARITY has pledged more than £2m to set up the world's first teenage cancer research centre in Manchester. The Teenage Cancer Trust have put up the cash to fund a team run by the University of Manchester and the Christie Hospital in Didsbury. More
WOULD-be female models can win a contract and take part in a shoot for Evian mineral water at Lake Geneva in France. Evian representatives will be at All Saints, 52 King Street in Manchester on Friday from 1pm to 2pm and 4pm to 5pm with London model management
WEST END heartthrob Michael Ball will bring the curtain down on the hit Big Light On series of pop concerts at the Reebok this weekend. Tickets to see the Big Light On show and star of theatre and musicals are selling out quickly and stadium bosses are
CAMPAIGNERS have demanded answers to questions which still hang over plans to start mining coal again in Bolton. Councillors say they hope to meet with UK Coal this month after it was revealed that the firm had started procedures that would allow them
A YOUNG man who died from cancer two years ago will be remembered when his friends take to the football field. Peter Catterall, from Darwen Road, Bromley Cross, died from Hodgkin's Lymphoma at the age of 22. He had spent four years being treated at the
BOLTON Council's new Liberal Democrat administration has unveiled the team it hopes will lead the borough into a new era. The group has stamped its authority on the council by slashing the number of members on the executive committee, the most powerful
A RELATIVE of two war heroes remembered on a memorial under threat from developers has warned: "You move it over my dead body." David Ainsworth, whose great uncles are among around 100 names on the Dunscar war memorial, has joined those who have reacted
ALMOST 85,000 Wigan borough residents voted in the Euro elections -- a 36.25% turnout. otes cast in Wigan were: British National Party 7608, Conservatives 13449, English Democrats Party 1705, Green Party 4214, Liberal Democrats 8138, Liberal Party 3338
NORTH-west Conservative MEP David Sumberg has hit out at reports that the Government is to press ahead with plans to lower the voting age to 16. It is believed the move is to be discussed at the Labour Party's winter conference with a view to including
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
BOLTON MEP Chris Davies has been elected leader of the 12-strong group of British Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament. Mr Davies, aged 49, who has been the party's environment spokesman for the past five years, will use the position to argue
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
BOLTON schools are being urged to ditch their political apathy and take part in some mock elections. The Hansard Society's Citizenship Programme has worked in conjunction with the DfES and the Electoral Commission to provide schools with everything they
ABOUT 14 million postal ballot forms for June's European and local elections have been sent to homes in four regions of England, incl,uding the North-west. Voters will choose their MEPs and councillors entirely by post. It is hoped that the trial move
THE UK Independence Party, committed to withdrawing from the European Union, is making up ground on the main parties in the election for MEPs, according to an opinion poll. The YouGov survey put UKIP on 14 per cent, just four points behind the Liberal
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
WEST END heartthrob Michael Ball will bring the curtain down on the hit Big Light On series of pop concerts at the Reebok this weekend. Tickets to see the Big Light On show and star of theatre and musicals are selling out quickly and stadium bosses are
AS hundreds of voters throughout Bolton were on Saturday seeking answers to the question: "Where are my postal ballot papers?" it was revealed a further 1,000 have gone missing in Aspull. With only five days remaining to one of the most crucial elections
THE Labour Party in Bolton has been reported to the Audit Commission for "improper use" of public money. Election leaflets which the party is posting through doors asks voters to fill in a tear-off slip to post back to the town hall. The slip asks people
THE European elections brought good news for the Liberal Democrats and the UK Independence Party. The Lib Dems doubled their number of North West MEPs to two, while the UKIP took a seat for the first time in the region. Labour and the Conservatives each
WATCH out for the purple post if you want to vote in the all-out Bolton Council and European Parliamentary elections next month. That is the message from Bolton Council's election team which will be sending out some 200,000 voting papers to people across
SOLDIERS in Iraq will have their say in the local and Euro elections, even though they are thousands of miles away. Around 40 people in the armed forces have registered with Bolton Council as service voters. They are set to make their mark at the ballot
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
RETIRED accountant Frank Warburton is worried about missing his chance to vote in next month's Bolton Council elections. Mr Warburton said he had been told that Bolton Council could not guarantee the arrival of his ballot paper for the all-postal vote
THE pilot postal vote experiment introduced next week is intended to encourage more people to take part in the local council and European elections writes Leigh Journal columnist Lesley Richards I hope it does, but I have my doubts. People are not natural
POSTMEN are working overtime to make sure every ballot paper is returned on time for the council and euro-elections on June 10. Royal Mail workers will carry out special collections on Bank Holiday Monday, with town hall chiefs expecting a large proportion
ABOUT 5,000 Bolton voters may not have received their postal voting forms, it was revealed on Monday. The error came to light after councillors checked town hall records for the number of streets which have not returned a single ballot paper. Party leaders
TEENAGERS in Bolton are unconvinced about proposals to lower the voting age to 16. Pupils from Canon Slade Secondary School say they do not know enough about the council or political parties to make an informed decision. The Bolton Evening News spoke
BOLTON'S deposed deputy council leader is planning a return to politics by aiming to become the borough's first representative on an elected North-west assembly. Guy Harkin, who had been the council's number two for almost 25 years, vowed to make a comeback
A COUPLE who lost their daughter to cancer last year are to stand for election for Wigan Council in her memory. Ian and Irene Franzen are two of five members of the same family who will contest seats for the Community Action Party (CAP) in a bid to carry
AN anonymous election leaflet being delivered to the homes of Asian families in Bolton has been branded as "racist and inflammatory." The leaflet entitled How Muslims Should Vote, has been brought to the attention of police and described by Supt Alan
A LABOUR candidate has accused an election rival of "dirty tricks" after a police investigation into allegations of electoral fraud in a Bolton Council ward. Ismail Ibrahim, who was questioned by police, hit out at Neil McAlister, one of his political
ELECTION bosses in Bolton, where 5,000 postal ballot papers failed to reach voters, have revealed that from Tuesday they will no longer be able to respond to requests for ballot papers to be re-issued and sent through the post. Anyone who has not received
A CANDIDATE standing in the Bolton Council elections has been jailed for nine months for indecent assault. Now, Lib Dem leaders are telling electors not to vote for their candidate Tanwir Taj Din, standing in the Tonge and Haulgh ward. It is too late
THE new election ballot papers are a doddle for most people - but they could get the elderly in a twist. That is the message from voters filling out ballot packs in our Bolton Evening News election experiment. Three out of five people completed the voting
FORGET the Kennedys, the Gandhis and the Churchills... When it comes to family political dynasties, look no further than Bolton. Almost two in every 10 people taking part in next month's Bolton Council election are related to at least one other candidate
THE Liberal Democrats were accused of being Labour's "puppets" as Cllr Barbara Ronson was voted in as the first female leader of Bolton Council on Wednesday night. Just minutes after the party unveiled the team it hopes will lead the borough into a new
IT could be weeks before Bolton electors know who will be making the final decisions in the council chamber. For the second year running Bolton Council does not have a controlling party, despite the Liberal Democrats' successes. Labour lost its overall
BOLTON'S postal ballot has been branded "a shambles" as even more voters complained they had not received their voting packs. Angry councillors hit out at the organisation of the local and European elections just one day before the polls close. And with
BURY-based letting management and property refurbishment specialists Michael Wood Homes has become the main sponsor of the Bury Rapidplay Chess Congress. The company joins regular sponsors Metcalfe & Co Accountants. The club's main event, to be held
