When soldier Mark Cox was injured after 16 years serving in the armed forces he turned his hand to writing. And he focused on his home town of Bolton and his favourite club, Bolton Wanderers, for inspiration for his first novel. Now the book, entitled
Leicester City chairman Milan Mandaric has clarified why he granted Gary Megson permission to speak to Bolton Wanderers about the vacant Reebok managerial position after an afternoon of protracted compensation negotiations. The statement on the
A FAMILY dived for cover when their home was attacked by a gunman. Clive and Jeanette Collins and their son, Steven, were in their living room when a bullet shattered a window in the door. Police tonight said the family had been targeted, ruling out
Nicolas Anelka has put himself in the frame for tomorrow night's Reebok clash with SC Braga. The Whites top scorer has recovered from the thigh injury that ruled him out of Saturday's Premiership defeat at Arsenal and is expected to return against the
The new principal of Bolton Community College has vowed to turn it into a world class educational establishment. Carol Bannerman has just taken up her post as principal and replaces Alison Bowes, who retired from her £106,000-a-year post in December
A TRAINEE gas engineer from Bolton has finished in the top three of a national award. Matthew Taylor, aged 20, from Egerton has just completed a four-year apprenticeship as a gas service engineer with Bolton At Home. He was shortlisted in the apprentice
Stuart Law has admitted that the thought of captaining Lancashire is an exciting prospect that he would struggle to turn down. And the Red Rose batsman has also given Red Rose followers an even bigger boost by admitting that he is definitely signing
A MASKED robber burst into a bookmakers and threatened staff with a gun. The man, believed to be in his 20s, targeted the William Hill shop in Glynne Street, Farnworth, where he pointed the handgun in the face of manager Ian Levay. A 63-year-old woman
JORGE Costa had his own problems to contend with before preparing his players for tomorrow night's opening UEFA Cup group game against Wanderers. The SC Braga coach had to deal with the impending resignation of his club's president, Antonio Salvador,
TV LICENCE dodgers in Bolton could find themselves in for a scare on Halloween. For a team of inspectors will be out and about to make the most of the trick or treat season. The homes of people who have failed to pay up will be targeted on October 31
A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy was grabbed by a man who tried to drag him down an alleyway in Bolton in an attempted abduction. The youngster managed to struggle free and ran to safety. Police were planning to talk to the boy today about his ordeal which happened
AN animal charity champion is celebrating after winning a top award. Carole Marsden works for Paws for Kids, an organisation which offers temporary homes for animals belonging to women or children who flee violent relationships. The 51-year-old
YOU won't see motorcycle racer Oliver Riley testing his skill round the country lanes of Rivington or anywhere else at the weekends. In fact, the 21-year-old racer rarely takes to the road on his bike. Instead, he prefers the company of club and national
Ruth Kelly is the least popular political heavyweight among people who have voted on a new website. The Bolton West-MP and transport secretary scores just 0.3 out of five for her performance on the site www.politicalhearsay.com. The site was set up
A PUB landlady has told how she scooped her children from the bath as a fire raged downstairs. Kelly Dooley, aged 26, was ironing in the kitchen above the Royal Hotel in Farnworth, when thick black smoke began pouring through the floor. She ran downstairs
Alice Band Horseshoe-shaped head wear is no longer associated with David Beckham and physical activity - well unless, of course, you regard power-walking around the Market Place in Bolton as exercise. An alice band is now a fashion-savvy staple that
BOLTON junior champions Chorley gave a creditable performance at Woburn on Sunday when they took third place in the National Inter-Club Championship which featured 12 English club champions. Their aggregate six-man team score of 370 was just one shot
Donald Stirling is the new Austrian Seniors PGA Champion. The Bolton born golfer finished 12th in the Austrian PGA Championship-Carinthian Open with scores of 75, 73, 72 for a total of 222. In doing so he claimed the seniors title to go alongside his
AMIR Khan's crash victim has told how the accident has left him "a broken man". Geoffrey Hatton says he has been unable to work since the crash and is struggling financially. The former foundry worker is now relying on his wife, Moira, aged 71, to care
Bolton first team produced one of the most amazing comebacks in their history in an eight-goal thriller against Rotherham. Bolton knew it was going to be tough against a side which was two divisions above them last season. And they were on the back
BURNDEN Roadrunners men and women impressed with several highly-placed finishers at the Waddington 10k road race. They turned out in force at the picturesque Lancashire event and had three top 10 finishers in the women's race and five top 20 finishers
THE race is on for a Bolton schoolgirl who is attempting to row her way into the record books - and she wants to take you with her. Bolton School student Rachel Flanders is hoping her team of Atlantic Angels' will break a double world record if they
Horwich RMI Harrier Katie Ingram continued her current good form recording a course record of 28.37 at last Sunday's Green Drive 5 Mile Road Race at Lytham. Katie finished over two and a half minutes clear of the second lady Emma Calderbank, of Serpentine
FC United v Ossett Albon FC United go into Saturday's difficult clash against fellow Unibond League North high-flyers Osset Albion buoyed by their 3-2 win at Droylsden of the Conference in the Manchester Premier Cup on Tuesday. The Rebel Reds were
Leicester City have cleared the way for Gary Megson to become the next manager of Bolton Wanderers. The Championship club are understood to have finally given their 48-year-old manager permission to speak to Wanderers chairman, Phil Gartside, over
BRAGA coach Jorge Costa believes his side are better equipped to progress in this season's UEFA Cup than ever before. Wanderers meet the Portuguese side tomorrow night at the Reebok Stadium in their first group match, with Braga looking to better their
WHEN Frank Keegan abruptly left his Lancashire home and fled to Australia, he left behind a bewildered mother and child. Whatever his reasons, Frank never stopped running until he reached Australia where he started a new family. He never contacted his
LEE Fairhurst put mechanical troubles and bad luck behind him to claim the first victory in his short BriSCA Formula 2 stock car career. The 16-year-old Harwood driver, in his first season of racing, took top honours on Saturday at Birmingham Wheels
The Sports Desk at The Bolton News is on the lookout for more supporters to join our rota for giving a Fan's View of Wanderers matches. So if you're going to a match already but would like to have your opinions given a much wider audience - initially
SCHOOLS in Bolton are to benefit from a big Government cash boost. Bolton Council will receive more than £58 million in capital funding over the next three years to spend on schools. And the massive injection represents a 761 per cent increase from
Wigan Warriors changed hands today as Harlequins chairman Ian Lenagan announced he has reached agreement to acquire a controlling interest in the Super League club from current owner Dave Whelan. The agreement takes effect from December 1 when Wigan-born
PAINTINGS by a celebrated Bolton artist are to go under the hammer. Work by Roger Hampson will be sold at a specialist northern artists auction at the Urbis in Manchester. There are 14 pieces of his work on offer, ranging in price from £100 to £4,000
Gary Megson, who heard some chants of "Megson for Bolton" by disgruntled sections of the crowd as Leicester City were losing 1-0 to Sheffield United last night has spoken to the Leicester Mercury about the speculation linking him with the vacant Wanderers
DEBENHAMS has revealed that its autumn and winter ranges were being well received as the department store chain offered early signs of a trading revival. The retailer's shares rallied 6 per cent after it reported improved market share and said like-for-like
FOOTBALL kit firm Umbro has agreed to be taken over by sportswear giant Nike in a deal worth £285 million. Umbro, which is based in Cheadle, Cheshire, makes the kit for the England football team, as well as shirts for Premier League clubs including Everton
FIRMS have been urged to give workers more time off in the run-up to Christmas or face problems caused by the "sicknote season." A survey of almost 500 workers, carried out by recruitment website fish4jobs, showed that four out of five had faked a day
PRUDENTIAL'S UK business remains under pressure after third quarter sales lagged behind its worldwide operations. The Pru, which is reviewing the future of 3,000 jobs in the UK, saw domestic sales grow eight per cent to £523 million in the first nine
A DEPUTY headteacher has retired from the school where she began her career. Jean Sharman, aged 56, decided it was time to call it a day when she found herself teaching the grandchildren of her former pupils. She had been at of Eagley Infant School
A FARNWORTH manufacturing firm that specialises in creating "clean air" rooms in hospitals has been bought out in a £12.5 million deal. Howorth Airtech, which employs 100 people at its Lorne Street base, was the subject of a buy-in management buyout
THESE youngsters in Bolton were taught how to get off to a healthy start in life. Timetable lessons were scrapped at Pikes Lane School, Deane, in the week before half-term and replaced by fun keep-fit activities and lessons in healthy eating. Every
OIL giant BP has revealed a 45 per cent fall in profits as production problems continue to blight the business. The firm's third-quarter profits of £1.9 billion, compared to £3.4 billion a year earlier, came in below analysts' expectations, after ongoing
THOSE who aspire to follow in the footsteps of Kate Moss are being given the chance to grace a catwalk. Models and dancers are invited to the first rehearsals for this year's Bolton Bazaar, which kick off tonight. This year's event, at the Reebok Stadium
A TENANT liaison officer for social landlord Connaught has been named the best in the north. Carole Gilbert, aged 43, of Daisy Hill, won the title Northern Tenant Liaison Officer (TLO) of the Year at an awards ceremony held at the Palace Hotel in Manchester
A DELICATESSEN owner has raised nearly £5,000 for Bolton Hospice - simply by asking customers to donate their spare change. Ann Hardcastle, who owns The Delicatessen in The Precinct in Farnworth, has been collecting cash for the hospice for the last
A LANDOWNER wants to build a detached house on land in Central Drive, Westhoughton. Michael Dean, of Marshbank, Westhoughton, wants to build the house on vacant land at the junction with Back Church Street. A decision is expected from Bolton Council
THE Remembrance Poppy Appeal was launched at the Mayor's Parlour yesterday. The Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Barbara Ronson, has shown her support for The British Legion by pinning a poppy to her lapel to highlight the start of the poppy campaign. Cllr Ronson
FIVE homes are to be built on the site of a demolished detached house, despite objections from residents. Number 7 Old Kiln Lane, Markland Hill, will be replaced by a smaller, detached house, with two more houses and two flats built in the garden and
TICKETS for tomorrow night's UEFA Cup tie with Braga are priced at £10 (adults) and £5 (concessions) for season ticket holders who purchase before 5.30pm tonight. After this time, all tickets will cost £15 (adults) and £10 (concessions). Next Wednesday
THE new Farnworth winter season started on Sunday. There are several new names in the league, some because the teams have changed their names, but four of the 12 teams are new to the league. BYP Ladies is the new name for Hanson and the two teams had
AN animal rights campaigner will be force-fed outside Bolton Town Hall as councillors vote on whether to introduce a ban on "delicacy" foie gras. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) protester will sit down at a waiter-serviced table
Police investigating a mugging in which a 17-year-old boy was thrown into a canal have arrested a man in connection with the incident. A 26-year-old man from Stalybridge has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and is currently being interviewed by
MOVING and powerful photographs of memorials and cemeteries honouring war dead form the centrepiece of this year's Remembrance commemorations at the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester. The exhibition by award winning photographer Brian Harris celebrates
CITROEN'S first ever SUV, the C-Crosser, breaks new ground for the French maker, combining distinctive Citroën qualities of strong styling, practicality and sound green engineering to provide buyers with a sleek, spacious, robust and comfortable car with
Heavy traffic is reported on the M60 near Worsley after a crash and oil spillage. Check out the latest Traffic Updates for the Bolton area HERE. Check out the latest Traffic Updates for the Bury area HERE.
YOUNG dancers will be flying the flag for Bolton when they swap the stage for the rugby pitch. Sixty secondary school pupils will be under the international spotlight as they perform in the opening ceremony to mark the start of the rugby league Test
AN apprentice at Renault Bolton is celebrating this month after qualifying as a Renault Technician. Sean Spencer, aged 19, from Bolton, pictured right, has qualified after completing a three-year Advanced Apprenticeship Programme earlier this year.
HOLIDAYMAKERS will be able to get a ticket direct to the Continent when Virgin Trains link up with Eurostar. Tickets from Manchester Piccadilly to Paris, Brussels, Disneyland Resort Paris and dozens of connecting destinations across France and Belgium
PEOPLE often blame parents for the actions of their children, but controlling the behaviour of youngsters is sometimes easier said than done. Now teenagers are being asked to sign contracts with their parents, promising to behave in a certain way. The
With reference to the story "Victim says he forgives his attackers" (October 18), these young men have come into this country to carry out voluntary work in the community and have been attacked by young people in the Halliwell area. I live in this area
IT is a well-known fact that a prolific few commit the majority of crimes. Whether it be drug-dealing, car thefts or burglary, the arrest of a small number of people can often lead to a large drop in crime. Yesterday, police in Bolton paid early-morning
RON Shambley (October 18) seems to think that Black History month and Gay History month can only be supported by the council as an alternative to the provision of better public services. This is not the case, and some of the services he complains about
I WAS driving along Chorley Old Road on Sunday, at about 10pm, and was approaching the zebra crossing near Captain's Clough Road when I saw a group of three or four teenage boys kicking what I thought was a football in the middle of the road. There was
MICHELLE Clarke, chief officer of Bolton Carers Support, got it spot on by saying, "Real carers don't go on strike". I have been a full-time carer for my husband for five-and-a-half years now, and up until September I was getting carer's allowance.
In response to D Simms letter "Carers are committed to their jobs AND families" (October 22), I am 18 years old and work 40 hours a week on national minimum wage. When I am not working, I work really hard caring for my disabled father, cooking, cleaning
I have been a proud trade unionist for more than 50 years and I would defend the right of trade union members to take democratic action in support of their policies. We are presently in dispute with a section of our carers workforce. This workforce consists
IT is disappointing that at least two letter writers have construed Michelle Clarke's letter in a political way. It seemed to me that she was simply drawing attention to the need for a bit more clarity when referring to carers - people who look after
WHEN the Spice Girls were first formed in the mid-1990s they were a great antidote to the plethora of boy bands of the time. Their "girl power" not only made fame a level playing field, but also proved a potent argument for young females to demand a
THE young Mormon missionary beaten up by a 14-strong Halliwell gang forgives his attackers. He was with a colleague when the two were attacked as they took a shortcut. Their "sin" to the yobs who left one with a suspected fractured jaw, cuts and bruises
ONE way to improve literacy and promote genuine interest in reading is to encourage the playing of Scrabble. It's a terrific game, teaches everyone new words, encourages us all to trawl through the mental dictionary to find ones to score highly and makes
OUR national rugby team may have lost in the World Cup final, but their bravery showed them to be champions. Some played with injuries, including captain Phil Vickery, pictured, and all emerged battered and bruised from their efforts. Slightly different
CONGRATULATIONS to all concerned in the Bolton Octagon's brilliant production And Did Those Feet. The football-based play brought standing ovations every night and you couldn't get a ticket for love nor money. It was triumph of talent, taste and true
IF Bolton's primary school children are to be believed, hundreds of them are regularly drinking alcohol. A survey by the Schools Health Education Unit reveals that one in six boys and one in 10 girls aged between nine and 11 has drunk lager or alcopops
IT'S a mean thing to do right now, but I'm going to mention the C-word. Yes, the build-up to Christmas has already started and, even though we try to put off the moment when we have to seriously consider specific gifts and celebrations, it's now becoming
ARE you a size six and looking for a frock to rock the party? Well, sadly, you've missed the boat. The knock-out dress Kate Moss wore to Swarovski Fashion Rocks for The Prince's Trust last week was sold for a staggering £5,100 on Ebay today - bidding
More than 500 police officers took part in Greater Manchester Police's largest ever crackdown on burglary, codenamed Corral. Officers served over 45 search warrants, made over 140 arrests and seized over 160 vehicles in the largest ANPR (Automated
Since the beginning of time, our Granny's have been telling us to wrap up warm when going out to avoid a chill. Well never has it been more fashionable to do so. And this time it's more about the staple winter coat being the fairy on the top of the tree
POP heart throb Donny Osmond will turn on the Christmas lights tomorrow at the Trafford Centre. He will be joined by X-Factor star Chico and former Blue singer Simon Webbe. Donny will also be joined by members of the Hollyoaks cast when he flicks the
A MAN accused of stabbing his girlfriend to death and burying her under a cellar floor had a history of violence against his partners, a court heard. Former Bolton resident, Frederick Lawlor, aged 54, is charged with murdering Dorothy Carre, aged 56,
A SHOT was fired through the door of a house in Bolton. Police were called to the Morris Green Lane area at 11.30pm after reports of gunfire. A handgun was found. Three men aged, 22, 21 and 18 have been arrested in connection with the incident
MASCOTS will race around the Middlebrook retail park in Horwich to celebrate the announcement of its new charity of the year, the British Heart Foundation. In a bid to raise funds and awareness for the organisation, mascots from various retailers on
TV veteran Johnny Ball will speak at Manchester Science Festival today. The Bolton-born presenter will speak about the "scaremongering" surrounding the issue of climate change at the Museum of Science and Industry, in Manchester, at 11.30am and 2.30pm
PHIL Gartside admitted last night that the process of finding a manager capable of keeping Wanderers in the Premiership was both complex and difficult. The Bolton chairman, speaking for the first time since the departure of Sammy Lee, confirmed he had
PHIL Gartside is on collision course with Leicester chairman, Milan Mandaric, after making it clear he wants Gary Megson to manage Bolton Wanderers. The Foxes' supremo is furious after turning down the Bolton chairman's second request to speak to his
FANS have given Wanderers' managerial targets a thumbs-down. Out of 699 people who voted for who they wanted to be the next Bolton boss, more than half voted against the four serious contenders. Gary Megson, who is favourite for the job after Wanderers
Wanderers managerial target Gary Megson dodged questions about his position as Leicester boss after Sheffield United beat his side 1-0 at the Walkers Stadium. Megson claimed to know nothing about what was reported to be another approach from the
