THIS year the Great North Run -- the biggest half marathon in the world -- celebrates its 20th birthday, and what a party it promises to be. Celebrities from all walks of life will be joining the fun in the North East on October 22, along with more than
I WRITE in reply to J Holding's letter, BEN, August 22, where he suggests that motorists' anger at the ridiculously high cost of petrol is misplaced! Does he consider that a 44pc increase in price since Mr Blair's government was elected to be reasonable
THE Countryside and Rights of Way Bill holds out so much hope for this country's wildlife -- but a logjam in the House of Lords could put in jeopardy that very promise of a brighter future. This ground-breaking piece of countryside legislation is long
LAST evening (BEN, September 6) David Young prided himself in being instrumental in having the hospital services for this area transferred from the highly considered BRI to the General Hospital. I wonder if he is still proud of this hospital in its present
RESIDENTS were being warned today to beware of reckless petrol thieves who are putting lives at risk during the fuel crisis. Thieves came close to sparking an explosion in a Bolton house by bursting a parked car's fuel tank in a bid to try to steal the
ORGANISERS Bolton Business Ventures are sending out 800 invitations to this year's 11th annual Bolton Business Lecture on October 23. The speaker at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton, will be Malcolm Walker, Chairman of the Iceland Group. A committed member
BOLTON and Bury Chamber is adding its voice to a national call for immediate government action to address the cost of increased fuel prices on British business competitiveness. With escalating world oil prices driving up the cost of fuel in the UK, the
THE Engineering Employers' Federation wants changes in the way the Bank of England's Monetary Committee operates. Mr David Gavan, Deputy Chief Executive of Bolton-based EEF Lancashire, said today: "EEF fully supports the independence of the Bank of England
THE parents of a man with a history of drug problems found their son dead from a heroin overdose when they tried to wake him for work. And coroner Simon Noon has warned other drug users to take heed. Bakery worker David Noon, aged 30, of Hanover Street
A DETERMINED Horwich mum turned detective to track down her daughter's stolen Gameboy. Tanya Elliott, aged nine, was distraught when thieves took the electronic toy she had received as a birthday gift from her Hilton Avenue home. Mum Jane Elliott had
A BAR featuring topless lap dancers would be too hot for Bolton to handle, the council has decided. Councillors turned down an application for a public entertainment licence yesterday on the grounds it would be "offensive to public decency". An application
Bury 0, Colchester 0 KEVIN Duguid spared Bury's blushes as Colchester put the brakes on the Shakers' recent great run of form. Bury dominated from the start of the game but couldn't turn their pressure into goals. In-form striker Adrian Littlejohn went
Telford United 2, Leigh RMI 1 LEIGH RMI were left to pounder what might have been last night as Telford United nicked all three Nationwide Conference points in a 2-1 win. A sparse crowd of just 281 at Worcester City - Telford's temporary home - saw Leigh
VARIOUS BOLTON PARKS, Sounds on Sunday Brass Band Concerts. All bands will play between 2pm and 4pm. Admission free. Sunday September 24, Radcliffe and Prestwich Band will play in Moss Bank Park. For further details ring Bolton 334093. Seats are available
BREWERY ARTS CENTRE, Highgate, Kendal. Sunday September 24, A Feast of Winnie the Pooh performed by Richard Medrington. Performances at 11am when eeyore has a birthday, at 2pm when tiggers don't climb trees and 3.30pm when Pooh and Piglet meet the heffalump
BUDDING Bond Peter Emmett was in 007th heaven as he slipped suavely into the secret agent's shoes. Wife Victoria added the necessary touch of glamour draped across an £86,000 BMW Z8 as Rocky the German shepherd stood guard. But yesterday's recreation
AMERICAN-style school buses could soon be providing a door-to-door pick-up service for Bolton's children. First Manchester Buses yesterday unveiled a yellow school bus at a special presentation at The Reebok Stadium. In the United States, the buses are
TOWN Hall chiefs found themselves in hot water after a prize-winning pool used by disabled swimmers was discovered to be...too cold to use! Visitors to the revamped Jubilee Community Centre pool have been advised not to take the plunge after tests showed
THE Bolton public has given its full support to the fuel refinery protesters and demanded that Prime Minister Tony Blair cuts tax on petrol to resolve the crisis. In a BEN street survey there was unanimous backing for the protests by farmers and lorry
BOLTON is leading the charge of the literacy brigade with the creation of a new trust to raise reading and writing standards. The town will be one of the first in Britain to launch a pioneering body tying together a host of initiatives aimed at boosting
A BOLTON couple are being driven batty by some unexpected high-flying guests. Pensioners Edna and Roland Parkinson had enjoyed 35 years of peace and quiet in their Little Lever home. But problems were to come home to roost for the couple when, three years
PANIC buying has hit supermarket shelves in Bolton and a major bus operator has drastically cut back services as the fuel crisis continues. As fears grow that fresh food supplies could dry up shoppers flooded superstores around the town snapping up extra
OTLEY BLACK SHEEP FOLK FESTIVAL. Friday September 15 to Sunday 17. Morris dancers, a ceilidh and a craft workshop also form part of the fun for this year 9th annual show. For further information ring 01943 464858.
SPORTS GREAT LEVER COMMUNITY CENTRE, Bradford Road, Bolton. Thai Boxing Tuesdays 7pm-8pm. Thai Boxing for children Saturdays, noon to 1pm. Ring Bolton 522568. EAGLEY SPORTS AND LEISURE CLUB, Hough Lane, Bromley Cross. Yoga classes, Thursdays, 8pm-9.30pm
BLACKPOOL PROMENADE, Blackpool. Blackpool's annual Illuminations. Runs until November 5. EAST LANCASHIRE RAILWAY, Bury pictured. For more information ring 0161-764 7790. TATE GALLERY, Albert Dock, Liverpool. Ring 0151 702 7400 WHITWORTH ART GALLERY, The
I AM very surprised the BEN has come out in support of the petrol blockade, especially when in previous editions it has called for more money for Bolton Hospital, and more money for the police and pensioners. Just where does the BEN think this will come
CAN anyone tell me why is it that none of these hauliers or farmers ever tell us where cuts should be made to fund their reduction in fuel tax? They already pay no tolls to use our motorways, and drivers pay half the income tax of their colleagues in
I THINK it is outrageous that the police have not moved the farmers and hauliers who are preventing tankers from reaching petrol stations. This politically-motivated attack on ordinary motorists by farmers and hauliers, who last week were telling us they
THE fuel crisis and blockades could cause chaos to the weekend's football fixtures. That's the warning from Sam Allardyce after Wanderers were almost caught out by one of the traffic-choking blockades en route to Grimsby last night. With the team bus
By Gordon Sharrock: Grimsby Town 0, Bolton Wanderers 1 IT is far too soon in his career to know how history will judge Michael Ricketts' contribution to the cause. But the Wanderers of the new Millennium already have a lot to thank the young striker for
THE Association of Chartered Certified Accountants is warning that taxpayers could face frustration if they do not send in self-assessment tax returns before the September 30 deadline. Tax will be automatically calculated if they do so and ACCA says any
MOTORIST organisations are warning people with garages to use them - to prevent opportunist thieves stealing their petrol. The AA said today said drivers should be on their guard following on from cases earlier this year when prices soared and thieves
TAXI drivers crippled by increases in petrol and insurance have written to Bolton Council asking to put up black cab fares. They are doubtful they will see increases this year after councillors decided to take a closer look at the proposal. Drivers are
A STONE statue of King Edward VII which provided a landmark at the old Bolton Royal Infirmary is to be moved to the new hospital site in a bid to preserve the town's heritage. The stone memorial stood proud over the main entrance of the Infirmary's nursing
BOLTON music sensation Badly Drawn Boy is on top of the music world this morning after winning the industry's top award. The 30-year-old from Breightmet -- real name Damon Gough -- beat 11 acts, including bookies' favourites Coldplay and Richard Ashcroft
SAM Allardyce is ready to bow to goal power and give Michael Ricketts a place in his starting line-up against Portsmouth at the Reebok on Saturday when Wanderers return from their triumphant travels. The powerful young striker scored his fifth goal of
BLACKROD Town's forthcoming event "A Celebration of Football in Blackrod 1974 to 1994" has had the village soccer grapevine buzzing. Event main organiser Denis Flatters explained: "Since we first mentioned having this reunion, phone bills in Blackrod
BOLTON CHA RAMBLING CLUB. Saturday, September 16, Yarrow Valley, Anglezarke and Round Loaf, 12 miles. Start 10.30am from Rivington. For all walks ring 697610. BOLTON ART CIRCLE, exhibitions, third Sunday of the month, art fair in the Penny Farthing Suite
25 YEARS AGO From the Evening News, September 12, 1975 ONE of the women who took part in a flour bomb attack on Home Secretary Mr Roy Jenkins last night gave her reasons today. And she said it was the beginning of a campaign her group was launching. The
LOCAL THEATRES OCTAGON THEATRE, Bolton. Ring Bolton 520661. PALACE THEATRE, Manchester. Ring 0161 242 2524. OPERA HOUSE, Manchester. Runs until Saturday Nov 11, The Phantom of the Opera. Tel 0161 242 2524. LIBRARY THEATRE, Manchester. Ring 0161 236 7110
BURY MET CAFE BAR, Market Street, Bury. HORWICH RMI CLUB, Chorley New Road, Horwich. Friday September 15, King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys. Ring Bolton 468085 (9am to 5pm) or Bolton 468911 (6.30pm to 9pm). MOSES GATE HOTEL, Farnworth. GYPSY'S TENT,
BOLTON'S police authority representative has vowed to fight any plans to "downgrade" Remembrance Day celebrations. The BEN revealed that war veterans taking part in Blackrod's Remembrance Sunday Parade will have to gather at the war memorial instead of
JAZZ BLUE CAT CAFE, Shaw Rd, Stockport. Ring 0161 432 2117. BURY JAZZ SOCIETY, Mosses Community Centre, Cecil St, Bury. Ring 0161-761 2079. COTTON TREE HOTEL, Prince St, Bolton. Ring 520237. EAGLEY JAZZ CLUB, Eagley Sports Club, Bromley Cross, Bolton.
