A PAEDOPHILE has been jailed for 10 years for raping a 12-year-old girl he groomed on the internet. John Astley, aged 34, of Wyndham Avenue, Daubhill, met his victim online in January, then, over the next few weeks, struck up a relationship with
THE fire service's new Warrington control centre tried to send a crew from Carlisle to a blaze in Bolton — a 200-mile round trip. Now union chiefs say the controversial centralised control system is putting lives at risk. The bizarre decision
PHIL Gartside has revealed that Wanderers’ season ticket sales are “on par” with those of 12 months ago. Writing in his programme notes for last weekend’s friendly against Vitesse Arnhem, the Whites chairman gave a brief update on numbers – which
LIAM Fontaine has left Wanderers after training with the club for several days, it has been confirmed. The former Bristol City defender, pictured, had been invited to Euxton by Dougie Freedman and appeared in two of the development squad’s friendlies
A SAWN-OFF shotgun has been found in a holdall dumped in woodland. Police found the gun and two rounds of ammunition in a wooded area off Castle Hill Road, Hindley, near Hart Common, on Tuesday. A metallic blue Renault Clio was seen to stop
A SPORTS centre is set for a complete revamp as part of a new "deal" for leisure. Howe Bridge Sports Centre is set to receive a £2.9 million makeover that will see it accommodate traditional sporting activities and leisure projects. The centre
READERS of The Bolton News have the opportunity to crown a winner in the Bolton’s Best 2014 awards. The awards recognise Bolton Council’s brightest and best — and The Bolton News readers can vote for council workers who have “gone the extra mile
A MAN has been arrested in connection with an attack in Chorley Old Road that left a dog walker fighting for his life. The 35-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, and is still in police custody for questioning
CATERING expert Stuart Farnell’s latest venture is the picture of success — thanks to a winning collaboration with local artist Gerry Halpin. Farnells Bar and Coffee Lounge has just opened in Chorley New Road, Horwich. It boasts large examples
WELL, so it goes on— yet another litter pick by Breightment residents, including Cllrs John and Lynda Byrne. Last Saturday we cleared bags of litter in a two-hour long pick starting at the bus stop opposite Breightmet Morrisons. No litter bin
EVER since it was announced by football governing body, FIFA, that Qatar would host the 2022 World Cup, the wisdom of the decision and how the decision was made has been questioned. There have been concerns about Qatar’s human rights record and
I MUST agree with Cllr David Chadwick regarding Dale Haslam’s negative observations (Disruption made clear — Bolton News, July 26) concerning the long overdue modernisation/electrification of the Preston-Bolton rail corridor. As Cllr Chadwick says
SHAME on you Andy Burnham, Leigh MP. People with cancer don’t need you scaring them, they have enough on their plates. I don’t know if your facts are correct but I know from my experience (twice) that I couldn’t have had better care from the
COUNCILLOR Freda Henderson writes and tells us “why we are still suffering” (August 1). She is, of course, entitled to her opinion but her letter contains a significant factual inaccuracy. She tells us that the Cost Price Index (she actually means
MEET the Scrappers... that’s Terry and Lyndsay Walker who are set to become stars of their own reality TV show. The couple, who run Metro Salvage, were followed around by BBC cameras, and their highs and lows will be aired as part of a six-part
A COMBINATION of heroin and heavy drinking led to the death of a man in a bedsit, a court heard. Jason Mullineaux had carried on drinking heavily despite being diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, Bolton Coroners Court was told. The inquest
A DOG show featuring animals rescued by the RSPCA attracted big crowds to Moses Gate Country Park. Organisers said more than £1,000 was raised for the animal rescue charity, with the final total to be confirmed soon. Among the dogs taking part
A SENIOR Labour councillor has accused Bolton Council of failing to inform her properly about an anti-mosque protest in her ward. Crompton councillor and cabinet member Sufrana Bashir-Ismail claims council officers told members of the community
THIS is the man detectives are hunting for in connection with a town centre attack that left a father with a brain haemorrhage. Victim Nathan Picton, aged 22, spent five days in hospital after he was punched in En-Vogue bar in Bradshawgate, Bolton
BOLTON will not be “left on the platform” by an ambitious £15 billion scheme put forward by the leaders of key northern cities, the town’s transport bosses have said. Council leaders from Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield got
A GRANDMOTHER has won a battle to have the “disgusting house” next door to her cleared up and its tenants removed. Piles of rubbish dumped at both the front and back of the terraced house in Moorfield Grove, Tonge Moor, were attracting rats and
EACH week police appeal to readers of The Bolton News for help finding wanted suspects. Jozsef Patai, aged 25, failed to attend Bolton Magistrates Court on June 12 when he was charged with possessing a samurai sword. Police said Patai has links
REVELLERS are being warned to look after their belongings while out in Bolton at night after a wave of thefts. PC Andy Vernon said 300 thefts have been reported in the town’s bars over the past year up until July. The majority have been when
A CAMPAIGN aimed at preventing anti-social behaviour has been launched to keep young people entertained during the summer holidays. Police, the fire service, Bolton Council and other local authorities have joined forces to launch Safe4Summer, a
AN aspiring model from Breightmet has the catwalk in her sights, after she won a top beauty award. Teenager Leah Waite, aged 13, was named the Best Emerging Female Model at the glitzy UK Fashion and Beauty Awards, a category open to under-16s.
DEVELOPERS of an abandoned building site in Horwich have launched an appeal against a planning committee decision in a row over affordable housing. Redrow Homes has appealed to the government to judge whether it should be allowed to give £50,000
A FUTURISTIC pill that has revolutionised the way doctors look inside our bodies is now available at the Royal Bolton Hospital. The “Pillcam” is a tiny camera that patients swallow when doctors need to see the small bowel. Unlike the oesophagus
LESLEY Cooke wants the bravery of her great uncle Albert McCann to be recognised — a Bolton soldier who died instantly from a bullet wound on March 7, 1917. She discovered his sacrifice while tracing her family tree and has two photographs of him
A FIRE broke out at the Pound Bakery in Bolton town centre. The blaze, which started in the Market Street branch at about 8.40am today, was tackled by two fire engines. Passers by reported a "horrible burning smell" permeating the town centre
BOLTON television star Paddy McGuinness paid tribute to his father who fought in World War Two. The 47-year-old Take Me Out host was moved by Monday’s events to mark 100 years since the outbreak of World War One. He wrote on Twitter: “Some
A VAN has overturned after hitting a tree in Ringley. The grey Nissan van span after hitting a tree and fell on its side, blocking one half of Ringley Road West. Police were called to the scene at 6.50am today and are now directing traffic
AN action adventure film which transformed the hills of Rivington into the Amazon jungle has scooped three awards. Sophie’s Fortune: The Treasure of Quetzalcoatl is now available to watch online for free, with producer Phil Meachem hoping families
A MAN arrested after a suspected bomb hoax on a Manchester-bound flight has been detained under the Mental Health Act, police said. The 47-year-old was arrested by armed police who greeted flight QR23 from Doha, Qatar, when it arrived at Manchester
JOSH Vela is in the best shape of his Wanderers career but Dougie Freedman admits the youngster still has work on his hands to claim a starting place. Home-grown talent Vela faces a fight with skipper Jay Spearing, Liam Trotter, Neil Danns and
GARY Wood said he did not have enough money to pay his taxi driver to take him all the way home - and minutes later he was dead after being hit by a car while walking on the M61. Mr Wood - described as "the best son you could have" - was killed
DOUGIE Freedman reckons three more attacking signings are needed before his side can be considered promotion candidates. With just four days remaining before the season gets going at Watford, the Wanderers boss is still searching for a solution
A FATHER has warned taxi drivers to check their vehicles after a toddler found a packet suspected to be drugs. James Clayton was travelling to his mum’s home in Breightmet in a Metro Cars private hire vehicle when his two-year-old daughter Hollie
