A CAR sales group is fighting a skills shortage by returning to the old tradition of developing home grown talent. Smith Knight Fay is launching a group apprenticeship scheme in conjunction with its vehicle importers - Volkswagen, Audi, Mazda and Toyota
SCOUT leaders at Westhoughton are counting the cost of a fire which ripped through their headquarters on Sunday night. The wooden hut in Barn Hill, off Tithe Barn Street, was partly destroyed in the blaze, which is believed to have been started deliberately
ELDERLY residents are calling for safety improvements on a Farnworth road. Charles Hailwood, 77, of Turnhill Court, claims he and his fellow residents take their lives in their hands every time they try to cross busy Albert Road. He stormed: "You have
THE popular Maesteg and District Male Voice Choir will be singing at Bolton's Victoria Hall on April 26 in aid of Bolton Life Education Unit. The Gala Evening is being organised by the Rotary and Inner Wheel Clubs of Turton. Ivor Samuel, president of
SIR: David Crausby is correct when he states that there has been no industrial action at Beloit Walmsley since 1980 (BEN April 10). He neglects to say, however, that the reason why Beloit Walmsley and many other firms are thriving is because of the Trade
BOLTON has been taking lessons from town centre bosses in the West Midlands about how to run a safe and successful nightlife. Councillors and Bolton's Town Centre Partnership are strongly promoting the development of bars, restaurants and other entertainment
BOLTON Wanderers' fan Joe Lomas is set to share a very special occasion with Burnden Park. Everyone in Bolton must know that Burnden Park was built 102 years ago, but not everyone will know that life-long fan Joe was born the very same year. To mark this
BOLTON North-East Tory candidate Robert Wilson has joined local Tory Minister Tom Sackville in defying John Major and declaring his opposition to the European Single Currency. Mr Wilson will announce his position in his election address despite the official
SIR: Mr and Mrs A Fenny (BEN April 10) do not understand the whole picture of Third World poverty. Many Third World people are not yet far removed from savagery and their progress has been hindered by the withdrawal of the colonial powers. The billions
TYLDESLEY enjoyed a successful trip to East Cumbria to take on Upper Eden. The home side were first to score with a penalty before the Well Street Boys rallied with skipper Dave Sivill breaking away to send a neat pass inside to Lee West who powered his
SIR: I would like to say how much I was moved by Eileen Smith's article on the lurcher who had his throat cut. As a volunteer for Lexus Greyhound Rescue I would just like to say how hard Pat Graham works and she often goes into situations to rescue dogs
SIR: In reply to Mr Derbyshire's letter (BEN April 3). If destroying the world, polluting air and sea, is any measure of importance, then, yes, humans win hands down. If killing animals for pleasure and money equals supremacy, then we can claim first
A COUNCILLOR has issued a health warning to vandals who keep breaking into garages in the Highfield area of Farnworth. Cllr Carl Dennis says many garages, including those behind his home in Coniston Avenue, are made from asbestos. And he says vandals
SEEDFIELD Sports Club's Bolton Combination Premier Division title hopes received a massive setback with a shattering 2-1 defeat at Walkden. Adam Preston opened the scoring for the home side on 16 minutes and that's how it remained until half time. Paul
BOLTON'S soccer heroes will mark their return to the Premiership with a special celebration tour of the town next month. The victorious Wanderers players will be driven through the centre of Bolton in an open-top bus the day after the last match of the
CARNIVAL organisers in Adlington hope to get a big problem sewn up as soon as possible. They are calling for anyone with a sewing machine to lend them a hand to make up a massive nine miles of bunting for this year's carnival. Organiser Colin Prescott
LABOUR candidate David Crausby returned to his own workplace yesterday amid a territorial row with his Tory rival. Engineering Union convenor Mr Crausby was furious when Tory rival Robert Wilson stepped onto his patch at engineering firm Beloit Walmsley
THE JD Wetherspoon pub chain is pledging to offer something different for town centre customers if it gets the go ahead to open in Bolton. The Watford based firm is rapidly expanding around the country, aiming to open 350 new pubs by the year 2001. And
Many many years ago, Man thought the Earth was flat, It was thought to ride upon a turtle Or on an elephant it sat. But as the years rolled slowly by, Man found this wasn't so, So how come the Book of Genesis, Written long ago, Could tell us that the
THIEVES crept into a Bolton family's back yard to steal a prize winning Staffordshire bull terrier - while its owners were in the house. Father of three, Michael Cleary said the theft occurred as the family struggled to come to terms with the news that
A GALA Concert will be held on Saturday, May 31, at the Albert Halls, Bolton, as part of the Bolton Hospice Fifth Anniversary celebrations. Organisers have hired what they think will be a "magical" combination for this special evening which is a joint
25 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, April 14, 1972 WALTER Maloney and Jack Turner are very happy in their work, even though they're working themselves out of their present jobs. They are Street Lighting Department gas fitters. For several months they
A NEW safe driving initiative is being introduced at the Business Express depot in Station Road, Blackrod. The company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Littlewoods Home Shopping Group, provides a 48-hour parcel delivery service from 32 depots and two
BOLTON'S Paul Nicholls has sensationally quit top soap Eastenders. But his mum exclusively told the BEN today that it's not because he is cracking-up like his character tormented teenager Joe Wicks. Julie Greenhalgh said her heart throb son had planned
THE ambitious plans to redevelop the derelict site at Nelson Square above have already been scaled down because of opposition from the courts. And the application for a drinks licence by JD Wetherspoon is crucial to the new revised plans. Developers Cathco
A GANG of art thieves escaped with a £20,000 haul of pottery, jewellery, paintings and clothing in a burglary at a Bradshaw house. The haul includes six paintings - mostly of scenes of Salford - by artist Bob Richardson. Detectives believe the thieves
LANCASHIRE will look forward for Richard Green to stage a repeat of last year's Roses spectacular when they launch the new cricket season at Headingley tomorrow. Both sides are without all their internationals for the four-day friendly, with Mike Atherton
SIR: Having just received several election leaflets from both candidates of the main parties, I was appalled to see the personal attack on the Labour Candidate. Mr Crausby has been a gentleman in this election and has maintained his dignity throughout
A STUDENT has been left scarred for life after being attacked last month by two burglars brandishing a knife - and a table leg. Lee Ridyard, aged 23, was slashed across the head and face with a knife brandished by a man who broke into his home. A second
SIR: Housing chiefs say they are planning to get tough on nuisance neighbours who cause misery on council estates. What about nuisance 'council tenants' living in once quiet residential streets. because of the council paying landlords up to £80 a week
SIR:I refer to recent correspondence of events in the Wolfenden Street area and agree with the authors of the letters. We residents of the Boardman Street Flats complex are sick to our teeth. We are mostly disabled pensioners who went through the war.
SIR: I was disappointed to see the BEN last week copy one of the bad habits of the tabloid press by publishing details of a major event in a well known soap episode in advance of its screening. (Derek Wilton's death in Coronation Street). I can only suppose
SIR: How can or why are companies and councils allowed to build where they like. Could it be greed? Council people and officials told us that Singing Clough, Kearsley, the old tip, would have to settle for 100 years at least before they could build a
SINGING star Gary Wilmot has sent his best wishes to Farnworth AODS who are staging Me and My Girl at the Albert Halls, Bolton, from April 21 to 26. Gary has starred in the show as the Cockney Bill Snibson. His message to Farnworth was: "Best wishes to
A TEAM of marathon runners from Bolton is heading for Holland to tackle the fastest route in the world. And they are appealing for sponsors to boost their fund for deaf children. The runners, all members of Horwich Harriers, have been in intensive training
PARTNERSHIP is the key to operating a successful night-time economy in Bolton, according to town centre manager Maria Appleton. She believes that strong and supportive links between Bolton Council, pub operators, the police and the magistrates can make
AFTER Eagley's West Lancs League Division One title hopes had already been dashed by a midweek defeat by Kirkham and Wesham, Saturday's home game against Fenniscowles produced another below par performance in a 3-3 draw. Having found themselves two goals
A REVOLUTIONARY new service aims to put Halliwell residents in the picture to help solve council problems more quickly. For the next few months callers to the Halliwell Action Team office will be able to talk face-to-face with staff at Bolton Town Hall
RADCLIFFE Boro can recapture the Unibond Division One top spot with a victory over Ashton United at home tonight. Boro were knocked off pole position for the first time since mid November by Leigh RMI on Saturday. Kevin Glendon's men had no fixture on
BOLTON County are bang on course for the Bolton Boys' Federation Under 16's title after two emphatic wins. They hammered second-placed Deane Youth 9-2 with goals from Ryan Cain (5) and one each for Conroy, Kay, Hallows and McDonald. County followed it
AN ex-Bolton man visiting his home town thought he had stumbled on a scene from inner city America during a quiet family walk. Patrick Kelly, of Tampa, Florida, was taking a relaxing stroll in Barrow Bridge when he came face-to-face with workmen dragging
CHRIS Lucketti is tipping Bury to home in on promotion. Skipper Lucketti believes the Shakers' remarkable form at Gigg Lane will be enough to clinch a place in Division One next season. Boasting the best and only unbeaten home record in Britain, Bury
THREE Bolton players were disciplined by the club for their part in the mass brawl that became known as the Battle of Burnden. The identity of the trio or the punishment meted out has not been revealed but Wanderers' prompt action could well have saved
THE Nathan Blake-Bobby Gould race row was described today as a "storm in a teacup" by the top official of the Welsh FA. President Brian Fear insists Gould's job as national manager will not be on the line when the FAW management committee meet tonight
