MORE homes were broken into in Bolton last year than in any other town in Greater Manchester, figures reveal. But the town's police officers also solved more crimes compared to their colleagues throughout the rest of the county. Despite their efforts,
TRADERS in Westhoughton say the town centre will become a "no-customer" zone for three months while £400,000 improvement work is carried out. The chamber of trade is demanding compensation from Bolton Council for lost earnings to shops and other businesses
EIGHT people were arrested in a police operation to combat drug dealing in Bolton early today. Police officers swooped on addresses in Deane and Daubhill. A large haul of stolen goods and a quantity of drugs was seized by the police team. The swoop was
STAFF at Little Lever's Hanburys have officially turned the place into a 'super-store' . . . after being judged the company's best branch in the region. Manager June Marshall's winning smile says it all as she and her staff scooped the top title in the
ISRAEL was today warned by Bolton MP Brian Iddon that it was doing to the Palestinians what the Germans had done to the Jews in the last war. He was speaking after a three-day visit to the Palestinian territories under Israeli rule. Dr Iddon, Labour MP
SIR: A few weeks ago I was in the railway enquiry office at Trinity Street, where I had a fall and fractured my left elbow quite badly. I was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital, where I had to have an operation. I was taken to G3 ward. What a super ward
THE job which is known as "the hottest seat in Bolton" has again been advertised. Council chiefs want to recruit a new director of social services on a salary of between £51,735 and £57,483 a year. It was originally advertised in the autumn after previous
POLICE are warning visitors to a local beauty spot to be on their guard to stop them becoming victims of thieves. Rivington is a very popular recreational area, with many visitors arriving by car to take walks and picnics. Sometimes vehicles are left
A FARNWORTH man has blasted gas companies after he was caught up in a confusing dispute over his supply. The trouble started for David Collier when a Manweb salesman called at his home in Colchester Drive, trying to persuade him to switch from British
A TEENAGER who was left with catastrophic brain damage when he was starved of oxygen at birth has won damages of more than £1 million. Raymond Spencer, who is now 19, was born just two minutes after his twin sister, Suzanne, who was not injured in the
MOLLIE Temple is the woman who will lead Bolton Institute into the millennium as it strives for university status. The BEN can exclusively reveal today that Mrs Temple, aged 57, has been chosen as the Institute's new principal. The mother-of-two has quit
25 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, June 5, 1973 MANCHESTER Health Committee decided today to stick to its original plan to add fluoride to the water supplies of all their consumers, which would include people in Bolton, Westhoughton, Bury and Radcliffe
WE fully back the crackdown by Bolton police on people using their mobile phones while driving. It beggars belief that it has become an acceptable part of modern life that people are quite happy to operate a potentially lethal machine while chatting casually
SIR: I read with great interest your article (May 28) describing the Mormon Temple at Chorley, a truly impressive building that dominates the skyline, and a focal point for travellers on the M61. The new building has attracted many thousands of visitors
A REVOLUTION in entertainment for the young could soon be speeding its way into Bolton. An enterprising builder hopes to open a skate park in the town for roller blading, skate boarding and BMX bike enthusiasts. But the park promises to be a far cry from
LANCASHIRE today saluted Mike Atherton for helping then beat the Billy Joel blues. Old Trafford staff were stunned yesterday morning, when after months of preparation, Joel's throat infection forced the cancellation of his concert with Elton John. But
SIR: Newspaper headlines, media coverage wide and far, and for what - Paul Gascoigne, a footballer who can't even speak good English! It does prove to me how all the wrong people and personalities can have such influence on daily life. I wish England
SIR: In May 1995, John Arthur, Ken Rimmel and others founded an Association of former Royal Air Force and Defence Fire Service personnel. Since its foundation, the Association has steadily grown, with now some 340 members. There are now regular reunions
BOLTON Council chiefs are being asked to think again before spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on stone work for refurbishments to Victoria Square. Tory Cllr John Walsh said the council could be wasting money by laying artificial granite setts on
IAN Atkins, Lou Macari, Chris Kamara and Neil Warnock head the list of men Bury want as manager. Northampton boss Atkins has emerged as the surprise new frontrunner for the job Bury plan to fill by the middle of next week. Atkins possesses all the qualities
The Storm The leaves start to rustle on the tall Aspen tree, Birds begin to twitter, nervously. Overhead a canopy of dark, brassy cloud, Veils the earth in a heavy shroud. Lightening strikes in blinding flashes, I count to three and the thunder crashes
SIR: Your June 1 correspondent, I Cooper (Elector Bolton West), is undoubtedly the same Ivan Cooper who wrote to you on this very subject some weeks ago. He is quite right in thinking that some may think his suggestion, that in becoming pregnant, Ruth
A SHOCKED widower discovered his wife had "signed-up" for a new gas contract - 14 years after she died. The sick con trick is the latest in a growing number of examples of customers who have fallen victim to a rogue salesman. As reported in the BEN, a
AN angry father-of-two is calling for the introduction of tough legislation to govern the sale of pet rabbits. He, and other parents, have backed Bolton RSPCA spokesman, Kathy Kay's, accusation that larger pet stores sell the ever-popular furry animals
oDonohue, on loan from Hull Sharks, and Grundy, from Wigan Warriors, both ended their lone spells this week and coach Norman Turley and Chairman Mick Higgins met today to decide the next course of action. "The final decision rests with Norman, and of
YOUNG Wigan Warriors prop Neil Baynes has been given the opportunity to reproduce his barnstorming Alliance League performances in the first team on Sunday. The 20 year old's inclusion against Salford Reds is at the expense of Stephen Holgate, in an otherwise
SIR: Having read the letters about the price increases at BWFC, I share their anger and disgust. The powers-that-be couldn't care less, so the only way to beat them is 'boycott them', until they realise that the majority of people don't get their sort
A STRAY dog found itself in a sticky situation when it became stuck in mud at the edge of the River Roch in Bury. Firefighters arrived at the scene yesterday afternoon to find the black and white border collie unable to make it's way up the muddy banking
BLACKBURN Rovers have sensationally entered the bidding for Alan Thompson. As tabloid and radio reports claimed Aston Villa had pipped Leeds in the race to sign the Wanderers midfield ace, it emerged today that big-spending Ewood Park bosses have thrown
A NAKED man flagged down passing drivers on the motorway after he was forced to strip at knife point by a thug who stole his car. The 35-year-old man was threatened by the man in Worsley Woods at a well known meeting place for gay men. He was ordered
ELEVEN years ago, Lynne Fitzharris left Bolton to start a new life in Australia. Settling in quickly, she soon carved out a successful career as a fitness instructor at a leading health club in Penrith, about 50 minutes drive from Sydney. Now Lynne is
THE rogue gas salesman sacked earlier this week could be back knocking on doors within days, a consumer group has warned. Officials at the Gas Consumer Council issued the warning after learning of the bogus salesman's actions from the BEN. The salesman
PRODUCTION at Greenhalgh's Craft Bakery is expected to be back to normal today following a fire in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Bosses at the bakery praised firefighters for their quick response in dealing with the blaze at their Lostock factory
CARNIVAL fever hits Bury and Radcliffe this weekend with a breathtaking array of events to keep the whole family entertained. Monster trucks and daredevil dogs are just some of the attractions at Bury carnival on Sunday, which this year celebrates its
BOLTON Police chiefs hope to put the brake on a road death threat by pulling the plug on motorists using mobile phones. Drivers spotted using their phones while driving are now quickly finding themselves "engaged" in talks . . . with the police. Motorists
A MAN died in a fire caused by a candle which toppled over as he slept. Mark Brady, aged 39, was dragged unconscious from his fume-filled flat by firefighters. Ambulance paramedics and firemen tried to revive him on the pavement outside his home in Park
PANICKING parents are treating their children for head lice - even though they haven't got them! Now a Bolton health chief is warning that they should not use a special lotion on hair unless they are certain the children are infected. Dr Robert Aston,
BOLTON is set to play a leading role in a new Government programme to improve the quality of life for older people. The borough, together with Bury, is one of only 28 pilot projects nationwide being launched today as part of the 'Better Government for
KIND-HEARTED folk in Farnworth have united to raise cash - inspired by a brave beat bobby fighting cancer. Residents young and old have collected hundreds of pounds for Christie Hospital, Manchester, where Pc Graham Westwell, 37, is receiving chemotherapy
CARLISLE remain hopeful of success in their bid to tempt Peter Beardsley to Brunton Park. The Cumbrian club's chairman Michael Knighton says he is in talks with the Wanderers' transfer-listed former England star, who still has a year left on the contract
WITH August approaching, the customary rush for new and second hand cars will soon be underway. Wendy Rowe, managing director of Retaina Group, leaders in passive security, is urging car buyers in the Bolton area to keep security in mind. She says: "With
