THE letter recently about naming the complex at Horwich "Middlebrook" also made me wonder why it was so named. Like G Pollitt, I recall Middlebrook starting at Blackshaw Lane and ending at Junction Road, Deane. When I was a child, in the long summer holidays
CAMELOT Theme Park is to get a new 33-metre-high ferris wheel despite objections from nearby residents worried about privacy. The Charnock Richard park, owned by Prime Resorts Limited, wants the wheel as a replacement for the Tower of Terror ride which
RESIDENTS in Anderton say they are fed up with continuous roadworks outside their homes - but worse is still to come! With one lane closed off since last November folk on Babylon Lane have had to contend with noise, mess, traffic jams and lack of parking
MOTORISTS clashed with dozens of travellers today as caravans moved onto a road near Bolton town centre. Workers were forced to sit in their cars for more than an hour after the group placed their vehicles on Calvin Street and began to unload sofas. The
LAST week's talk of a final day shoot-out between Chorley and David Lloyd almost proved premature, when Sarah Bleakley's gang, missing Wendy Birchall, were almost gunned down by a Walkers B side consisting of Nigel Wright, Simon Jones and the Sweet girls
BOLTON Wanderers have received an allocation of 1,100 tickets for their clash against Sunderland on Tuesday, March 5. Kick off 7.45pm. Tickets will be sold by postal application only. Applications are now being accepted from supporters who hold away match
TWO rare football souvenir programmes are to be auctioned this Spring. The elite collectibles relating to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United are under the hammer of sporting auctioneers, Mullock Madeley. Says John Mullock: "These are rare and
THE difficulties facing Michael Ricketts' dreams of breaking into the England World Cup squad have been highlighted by defender Gary Neville, who collected his 50th cap on Wednesday night writes Chris Sudlow Ricketts was given just 45 minutes by manager
YOURI Djorkaeff has quashed doubts over his fitness for Premiership action insisting: "I have never been so fit." The 33-year-old French World Cup winner, who joined Wanderers on Tuesday after being released by German club Kaiserslautern, has played only
THE annual bird race organised by the Bolton Group of the RSPB has showed how many of the area's once-common birds are in decline. Teams of birdwatchers set out to record as many species of birds as possible within a six-mile radius of Smithills Hall
DESPERATE times for social services have helped lead to a 6.5 per cent rise in next year's council tax. Bosses are setting aside £1 million to meet another probable overspend in 2002/03. It follows another traumatic year for the department, which is forecast
LIBRARIES can now bid for Lottery money to fund innovative projects. The New Opportunities Fund is launching a scheme to support cutting-edge projects that will act as a showcase for the People's Network, a programme to put more computers into local libraries
BELEAGUERED Bury Football Club is two weeks away from extinction. That's the ominous warning from joint chairmen and chief executives John Smith and Fred Mason who have spelled out the grim truth about the 117-year-old club. Financial troubles are piling
TEACHERS are invited to discover the classroom benefits of the Commonwealth Games at a roadshow to be held at St Joseph's RC School, Chorley New Road, Horwich, on February 15. They will be shown how they can align school activities to the Spirit of Friendship
SIX community champions have been honoured by a royal command to run in the round Britain curtain-raiser to Manchester's Commonwealth Games. Marathon man Steve Redford, David Potter and Tracey North, of Leigh, John Shepherd, of Atherton, Rebecca Tarry
PREMIER Division -- S of Life 5, Roach Ht 2; LLWMC 6, Rainsough Brew 1; Derby Arms A 1, Summerseat A 6; Hamers Arms 3, S of Life B 4. First Division -- Bridge Tav A 6, The Showboat 1; L Raglan A 4, New Inn B 3; Colliers Arms 4, Swan Tott 3; Morning Star
LEIGH Centurions have increased their already considerable pack power by signing front rower Simon Knox from Oldham. Cumbrian Knox was a member of the Widnes side that won last season's NFP Grand Final but joined Oldham after refusing to go full-time
Scottish Eastern District Championships Aubigny SC, Haddington, nr Edinburgh WITHINS School combined with Aspull Olympic Wrestling Club to take the overall team prize in the Scottish Eastern District Championship. Individually the team took six gold,
POLICE are hunting a bogus official who robbed an 85-year-old deaf and blind woman in her home in Aspull yesterday. A man claiming to be from the water board knocked on the door of the house and introduced himself to the disabled woman. He entered the
BELEAGURED Bury Football Club is two weeks away from extinction. That's the ominous warning from joint chairmen and chief executives John Smith and Fred Mason who have spelled out the grim truth about the 117-year-old club. Financial troubles are piling
TWO premier teams are through to the semi-finals of the Warburton Cup. Little Lever A gave their D team 10 points start but still ran out comfortable 6-3 winners, two wins each for Ron Durose, Howard Leigh and Phil Riley. Cricketers entertained Hilton
TEN Leonardo da Vinci drawings from the Royal Library at Windsor Castle will go on show in Merseyside to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee. The Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight will be the first venue for the touring exhibition of the Royal Collection
MANCHESTER Airport security staff have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a 36 hour strike. The stoppage will start a week from today. It follows a series of one hour strikes and a two hour strike yesterday. An airport spokesman said it would be business
LANCASHIRE Police Authority is deferring proposals to change the date for the payment of police salaries. Members have decided to put the money-saving plans on hold for a year to allow officers more time to arrange their finances. From April 1 2003, police
TWO people were hurt after a blaze at a Manchester hotel. The fire at the IBIS hotel in Charles Street, started at 2am. A woman suffered a burn to her leg and a man suffered the effects of smoke. Both were treated at Manchester Royal Infirmary. An investigation
A MASSIVE £3.6million spending spree to improve the lives of children in Bolton is well under way. Last year the town was one of 40 areas chosen to run the first wave of the Government's Children's Fund. It is to help children and young people aged between
THE founder of a prestigious boys' choir yesterday admitted indecently assaulting a 14-year-old boy. Adrian Jessett, aged 53, who was also the musical director of the Manchester Boys' Choir, pleaded guilty at the city's Minshull Street Crown Court to
THE family of a Leigh athlete who died after contact with asbestos have attended a public meeting in the hope of re-opening their compensation case. Dennis Topping, of Pennington Road, Leigh, died of malignant mesothelioma last November -- 30 years after
IT was a case of dog eat dog when a Bolton physiotherapist appeared on a television game show which offered a prize of £10,000. Mother-of-three Jill Peters won her spot on the BBC1 show Dog Eat Dog, hosted by Ulrika Jonsson, following auditions in Manchester
FOR many years the Freemasons has been widely regarded as an exclusive, secret society, made up of middle-aged men who perform strange handshakes. But now, with its membership falling, the organisation is coming out of the shadows. The organisation --
ONE of Farnworth Little Theatre's longest-standing dramas has come to a happy end -- with members finally securing its future. The group now owns the theatre building in which hundreds of its productions have been staged. Farnworth Little Theatre was
RADCLIFFE Boro travel to Guiseley tomorrow knowing that any positive result will apply that little more pressure to promotion rivals. Currently in second place and with a four point cushion over Eastwood Town from having played one game less Boro would
By Martyn Hindley LEIGH RMI could achieve the unthinkable at the weekend - and consolidate a place in the middle of the Conference table with victory over North London side Barnet. Leigh may have followed up their fifth place last season with a relatively
IN the Bolton Darts League in aid of the Bolton Senior Gateway Club for mentally handicapped adults, the Gateway Trophy for Ladies Pairs Competition will take place on Friday evening, February 15, at the Moonlight Club, St George's Road, Bolton. Only
NOW a part and parcel of daily life in Bolton the launch of the Evening News 135 years ago was a decided gamble. There was no tradition of local evening newspapers in the country, let alone in Bolton. The only other local evening was a Shipping Gazette
Saturday (Leisure, sport & keep fit and other events) LEISURE, SPORT & KEEP FIT BOLTON EXCEL, Lower Bridgeman Street, tel: 334456: Lifestyles Fitness Suite, Yoga, Judo, Circuits, Short Mat Bowling, Aerobics, Pilates. Open Monday to Friday 7.30am
ANYONE wanting to fish this weekend's matches on Bradshaw's No. 4 Lake should telephone George on 0797 6921007 to book on. Draw time is 9am with fishing from 10.15am to 3.15pm.
ANOTHER Blair "U" Turn. What is the latest thing we hear from Mr Blair -- "Identification Cards". In opposition, Mr Blair was all against identification cards, he said they attacked personal liberties. But now in power and having ... lost control of the
WHEN the Commonwealth Games in Manchester is set to attract record crowds and numbers of visitors to the city, with the horrendous crime and security problems that this implies in an area with an already high crime rate, is this Government doing enough
I SHOULD like to speak out in favour of the much maligned traffic wardens who work apparently 24 hours a day, seven days a week assiduously to keep the streets of Bolton free of motorists. To misquote Churchill "never in the history of human conflict
READING the articles in the BEN on the "blame culture" reminded me of something I recently read on the same issue. According to the law -- or an interpretation of it -- responsible people who clear away snow and ice from the pavements outside their homes
THE LETTER from Geoff Pollitt printed on Saturday, February 11, was mainly concerned with the location of Deane, but it included the suggestion that Middlebrook Retail is miles away from the original Middle Brook, which is a part of the Croal, a mile
IT is not very often I agree with a politician of any persuasion. However, in this case, I totally agree with him. But not for the reasons he gives. May I explain. Most car and lorry drivers when in "control" of their vehicles tend to be too relaxed,
AGAIN, we have North West MEP, Mr Gary Titley, using scaremongering tactics to argue the case for giving up the pound for the euro. Mr Titley is very selective with his facts and figures. Yes, the switch over for countries giving up their own currency
A CHORLEY baker was celebrating today after scooping lots of extra bread on the National Lottery. And lucky David Russell, aged 27, told how he only realised he had scooped the jackpot as he was about to leave home for an early morning shift at Tesco
FOUR men have been released on bail after Customs and Excise officers swooped at a village mill and uncovered 3.5 million cigarettes. The warehouse, used by furniture company Downshire House Reproductions, Abbey Mills, Abbey Village, was raided by officers
NEIGHBOURS described how they heard an explosion as a blaze claimed the life of a man in Charnock Richard at the weekend. Martin Lilburn, 59, who lived alone on Willow Drive, died when fire gutted his detached home at 5.30pm on Sunday (February 10). Twenty
A PREGNANT single mother-of-six claims she is being forced out of her home by callous young arsonists. Carol Foster, 31, of Great Meadow, Astley Village, has been firebombed twice in two weeks. The last attack happened when she was out and a 14-year-old
A SECOND man was being questioned today by detectives investigating the murder of schoolboy Ryan Mason. Officers arrested the 39-year-old last night on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to hampering the investigation
BARRY Knight, the referee Wanderers fans love to hate, was at the centre of another storm on Thursday night. Reading manager Alan Pardew launched a scathing attack on Knight after three players were sent off in the scoreless draw at Swindon. The controversial
COLIN Hendry has declared himself fit for first team action after making a successful comeback from his latest injury setback. The veteran Wanderer, sidelined since New Year's Day with knee and ankle problems, came through the reserve team game against
award offer A REWARD is being offered following an armed robbery in Radcliffe. A cash in transit van pulled up outside Black Lane Post Office, on Ainsworth Road, in Radcliffe at 11.35am on Wednesday and two men wearing balaclavas approached a 49-year-old
CORNERHOUSE, Iris (15); Gosford Park (15); Amlie (15); The Experiment; The Son's Room (15); Italian For Beginners; Pauline En Paulette; The Piano Teacher (18); Behind The Sun; No Man's Land; Lili Marleen (15); Metropolis (PG); Sweet Smell of Success (
A COFFEE morning will be held at Christ Church Walmsley Parish Hall, Blackburn Road, Egerton, tomorrow, Saturday, from 10am until noon. Admission is free.
A MAN who suffered deep cuts to his arms following an incident in a Daubhill shop has been discharged from Wythenshawe Hospital. Ismail Ali Adam, of Dijon Street, aged 49, underwent plastic surgery after suffering the injuries at the Khawaja Halal Meat
A SPECIAL Sportswear Promotion, with top name trainers, tracksuits and other sports gear at very competitive prices, will be held at the Barnardo's shop in Brackley Street, Farnworth, from Saturday until stocks last.
PENSIONERS have the opportunity to develop their computer skills thanks to a new course. Wigan and Leigh Pensioners Link have developed a Learn Direct base following the success of their information technology classes. Learn Direct will run at Link Centre
A HARWOOD pub is holding a fund-raising night to help out a troubled primary school. The Seven Stars in Lea Gate is hosting an auction on Saturday night (February 16) to raise money for Longsight Primary Shcool's legal fund. The event starts at 7.30pm
A CHOIR from a Bolton school will be taking part in a festival of music with young people from across the north of England. The choir from St Joseph's RC High School, Chorley New Road, Horwich, will be performing at the Music For Youth Regional Festival
A CARE home in Leigh has become the only residential home for elderly dementia sufferers to receive a Government Charter Mark award. The Heathside Dementia Care Home in Plank Lane was given the Charter Mark -- a much sought after seal of approval for
MOTHER-of-two Alexia Sibthorpe left a court in tears after being ordered to pay £250 compensation to a woman she claimed had slept with her husband. Manchester magistrates heard how Sibthorpe, aged 26, of Thorpe Street, Walkden, had attacked 24-year-old
A WALKER used his mobile phone to call for help after falling into a swamp in Bolton. The man was walking near to the M61 motorway and Middlebrook railway station when he fell into the marsh. He managed to alert police via his mobile phone and a search
PUPILS from two Bolton schools are set to welcome athletes to the Commonwealth Games. Youngsters attending Masefield Community Primary School and Ladywood MLD Special School will perform the official welcome song, "The Mancunian Way", written especially
RADICAL education changes proposed by the Government grabbed national headlines this week -- but some ideas are old news around Leigh. A new Green Paper examines what youngsters aged 14 to 16 will be expected to study and the number of compulsory subjects
A VITAL scheme to strengthen Green Lane Bridge has been delayed for a year. Bolton Council highways chiefs had hoped work could start on the priority site -- the main route to the town's hospital next month -- but have been forced to put back the project
JENNINGS BUILDERS PREMIER SECTION P W L F A Pt Df Beasts... 10 8 2 31 19 47 12 Rumworth A... 11 5 6 27 28 37 -1 Patriots... 11 5 6 27 28 37 -1 Deaf A... 10 6 4 24 26 36 -2 Roy's Rovers... 9 4 5 24 21 32 3 Bombers... 10 4 6 23 27 31 -4 Young Guns... 10
STRAIGHT DOMINOES Bay Horse 8, Bowling Green 7; Black Bull 6, Horwich Cons 9; Crown Hotel 8, Rivington Club 7; Reform Club 8, Schooner Inn 7; Squirrel Hotel A 7, St Mary's A 8; St Mary's B 7, Squirrel Hotel B 8; Vic & Albert 9, Vic Tavern 6. Vic &
TWO rare football souvenir programmes are to be auctioned this Spring. The elite collectibles relating to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United are under the hammer of sporting auctioneers, Mullock Madeley. Says John Mullock: "These are rare and
UNITED's travelling fans seem to win few friends wherever they go, but you can't criticise them for ingenuity in getting a cheap deal, writes Chris Sudlow. Since the club's first ventures into Europe more than 40 years ago many fans have preferred to
By Phil Thorp: SHAKERS wonderkid David Borley has given the club a massive lift by signing a new contract. He and another of the Gigg Lane side's promising youngsters, defender Michael Nelson, have put pen to paper on two-and-a-half year deals. The double
THE semi finals of the Jim Worsley Memorial Trophy, sponsored by Federation Breweries, are to be played at Cuemasters on Monday, February 18 -- Tonge/Bre Cons C v Rileys SC A2; Bradshaw Cons A v Cuemasters SC A1. Three-a-Side Snooker Third Round on Wednesday
AT the Norwich Union Fun in Athletics North West Regional Competition held at Robin Park, a team of Horwich RMI Harriers & ACs U11 girls competed against representative teams from across the region and finished the day as runners-up - to Lancashire
AN Afghan soldier claiming he is Manchester United star Ryan Giggs's "biggest fan" was among those limbering up for an historic game of football in Kabul. Said Douad will play in the Afghan team against soldiers from Britain and other peacekeeping nations
A BANNED motorist gave his brother's details when police stopped him, a court heard yesterday. Ricky Prakash Parmar was stopped in Dearden Street, Little Lever, as he drove around in a Honda Prelude. Only when he was taken to the police station did he
TRAFFIC police are trying to trace the relatives of a 44-year-old pedestrian who is fighting for his life following an accident. They are unsure what the man's real name is but believe he is called Alan James Board, Alan James Robinson or Alan Robert
PART-TIME soldiers in Bolton could be called on to defend key installations from terrorist attacks if Ministry of Defence proposals are given the green light. The Territorial Army may well be given an enhanced role in a so-called "homeland defence" to
A TRADER has pledged to shut up shop after 21 years because of plans for a McDonalds drive-through. Ken Pickles runs hardware store Ken's Den in Higher Market Street, Farnworth, next to the council car park where the fast food chain wants to build a restaurant
A MAN who admitted leaving his cancer-stricken dog untreated and starving is facing a jail sentence. RSPCA inspectors found 18-year-old Labrador bitch Sheba with a bleeding cancerous tumour four centimetres long on her head in Shaun Crossley-Wilson's
A SHOCK decision by the Government to reject Bolton Council's plans to inject millions into its ailing council homes means the housing service is left in crisis. Housing chiefs now have difficult choices to make on the best way forward to clear a £150m
THE political world in which the Evening News first saw the light of day was very different from that of today. Internationally Britain was still Great, had an Empire and could settle most problems by sending a gunboat. At home people were far more interested
