Things to do and places to go this weekend. St Helens Show Sherdley Park, Marshalls Cross Road, St Helens (tel: 01744 455349) A day out for all the family with entertainment including children's playworld, live bands, traders and exhibitions, a fun fair
MAY I respectfully suggest that town councillors, regardless of political leanings, organise their meetings during evening hours. When Horwich was under the guardianship of Lancashire County Council, the only person to receive payment at these meetings
THE Oxford Grove Residents' Association is not as great as their leader, Jack Sinclair, would have you believe. I live in the same street as him and, for years, we have suffered with dangerous double parking. Some cars even park side by side outside his
IF Bolton Council Highways Department is urging the public to help them keep roads free from overhanging vegetation, as per your recent article, I suggest they have a word in the ear of most property owners and Bolton Golf Club about the state of Chorley
I WISH "Jack Sinclair" would make up his mind. We either have or have not got CCTV installed on Chorley Old Road. But, nevertheless, surely if we do, they should be visible with signs indicating their existence. The idea is to not only detect a crime,
THE cream of Bolton's youngsters will represent the Central Area Youth Cricket Council in the annual AGMA/LCB U16s Youth Cricket Festival. Matches take place on Monday against Lancashire U15s Festival squad at Stretford, on Tuesday against South East
A MAN with a bizarre passion for gas tanks is set to display his first major art exhibition at a renowned gallery. Owen Hurcombe, 28, of Lawton Close, Higher Wheelton, became fascinated by the giant steel structures after living near one as a youngster
THE hugely popular Royal Lancashire Agricultural Show makes its final appearance at Chorley's Astley Park at the end of this month. The prestigious show, which takes place July 26-28, will be at a different venue next year, yet to be decided, say show
Your guide to the housemates Alex Alex is a paradox -- a technically beautiful looking individual with the mannerisms of your great Aunt Nora. It is an intriguing combination and although his non-stop nagging nearly got him evicted in the first week he
A MAN has been arrested by detectives investigating the rape of a 12-year-old girl in a secluded field near Westhoughton. The 22-year-old was arrested on suspicion of rape at his home shortly after 7pm last night. He has not been named but is from the
SPENDING a scorching Saturday at home waiting for an electrician who didn't show is not my idea of fun. There were plenty of other things I could have been doing -- like hearing Bury bands Elbow and Hanky Park play out of their skins at the climax of
IT was the weight of the mighty Royal Oak against the military minds of the General Williams when two teams met in the great Lancashire Quiz Challenge. The Bolton team from the Bradshaw pub took on the Burnley pub for the recording of the quiz as part
ATLANTIS, The Valley, Eagley Brook Way, Bolton Beachball Front magazine search for the best beach babes, with pop, dance and R&B tunes to put you in that summertime mood Friday, £4 before 11pm, £5 after Vodka Republic Get nostalgic with 70s, 80s and
LOOKING for something different to do this summer? Then Bury's new countryside events calendar is full of ideas. "Out and About in Bury" gives details of a variety of activities including walks and rambles, cycle rides, scavenger hunts, bat talks and
KIDS between five and 14 from all over Bolton can enjoy six action packed weeks of fantastic summer fun in Bolton Leisure Centres. An impressive range of sports and activities will be on offer to youngsters throughout the summer holidays. There is something
FULL-back Leam Richardson, currently on tour with the squad in Italy, has just pen to paper on a new one-year deal with Wanderers. The 22-year-old was out of contract at the start of the month, but has agreed to extend his stay with the club, whom he
BOLTON Wanderers' fighting spirit in the Premiership last season helped raise £8,000 for the Salvation Army. The charity had a match day car park at the Heritage Somerfield Group site in Cranfield Road, Lostock, which proved popular with fans travelling
PEOPLE are being invited to have a go at a fishing fun day tomorrow (Saturday) on the Ashton Canal in Vesta Street, off Mill Street, Ancoats, Manchester. Participants will have free use of fishing tackle, and National Federation anglers will be on hand
BOLTON and Farnworth youngsters have won first and third places in an inter-county Army Cadet competition. ARMY Cadets from Bolton and Farnworth detachments have won first and third places in an inter-county competition by giving a clear demonstration
DJ SARA Cox's infamous live interview with Ali G on Radio One has come under fresh attack from the Broadcasting Standards Commission. Paul Bolt, BSC director, said the foul-mouthed chat had upset many listeners earlier this year. He said: "A constant
YOUNG children in Bolton could be allowed to go and see Spider-Man -- but only if enough parents complain about the film's 12 certificate. Bolton's licensing chief Councillor Don Eastwood has pledged to watch the Hollywood blockbuster and consider reducing
YOUNGSTERS donned fancy dress -- and trainers -- to raise money for two charities. Pupils from Bolton School Boys' Division were sponsored to run laps of the athletics track and raised £3,350 for the National Deaf Children's Society and the local branch
EMMERDALE actress Amy Nuttall has said she will never pose scantily-clad again for a lads' magazine. The 20-year-old from Lostock, who plays Chloe in the ITV soap, is reported as saying she had the saucy photographs taken for Loaded because she thought
DAVID Barnett is taking to the streets of London this weekend to join in the Queen's Jubilee Road Race in aid of the Derian House Children's Hospice. David, aged 33, has been a postman with the Royal Mail in Bolton for the past four years. He has been
BOLTON Wanderers' fighting spirit in the Premiership last season helped raise £8,000 for the Salvation Army. The charity had a match day car park at the Heritage Somerfield Group site in Cranfield Road, Lostock, which proved popular with fans travelling
A MOTORIST who drove off after an accident has been convicted in his absence by magistrates. John Richard Mandsley, aged 48, of Goldfinch Drive, Bury, failed to attend a trial at Rochdale Magistrates Court to answer charges of driving in Edinburgh Way
JAY-JAY Okocha will make his Wanderers debut on Sunday, after performing a dramatic U-turn on his plans to retire from international football. The Nigerian met up with his new team-mates for the first time yesterday, as the squad arrived in northern Italy
IT is another busy weekend - today is the Key 103 Feel The Noise concert at the MEN arena so I'm looking forward to catching the likes of Liberty X, Darius and the Sugababes. Plus Toploader have been added to the bill which is brilliant news - I saw them
BRAZILIAN striker Junior travelled to Italy with Wanderers for an extended trial. The 23-year-old from Sau Paulo side Treze-PB was recommended to Wanderers by his agent.
GAMES traffic problems will hit Prestwich, which hosts the lawn bowls tournament in Heaton Park. For the duration of the Games, a park and ride scheme for 4,000 cars will operate in the park between 8am and midnight. Cars will use the Sheepfoot Lane entrance
ABOUT a billion television viewers will be watching five Farnworth dancers perform at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Five dancers from Sandhams Dance Studios were picked to entertain the ceremony's estimated 36,000 audience and the millions
DRIVERS are being warned to stay out of Bury on Tuesday (July 23) when the Queen's Jubilee Baton comes to town. Town centre roads will be closed during the evening rush hour as the hi-tech baton passes through on its way to the Commonwealth Games opening
IT is always fascinating to learn about the things which go on in other offices. Liverpool City Council has banned the use of internal e-mails on Wednesdays in an attempt to encourage staff to talk to each other. Management fads come and go, but this
ST CATHERINE'S Church, Highfield Road, Farnworth, will be holding a funday on Saturday, July 27. There will be stalls selling cakes, a tombola and a name the doll stand. All proceeds will go towards a trip to Blackpool over the summer for the children
EVER fancied yourself as a celebrity escorted by a motorcade? The Royal British Legion can make your dreams a reality with a place on Pedal to Paris, the only charity ride in which the bustling traffic along the Champs Elysees is stopped especially for
I am now 11 years old and I would like to thank you for letting me enter all the prize draws and competitions over the last few years. Here are last jokes for you Bennies' members: Question: What kind of teeth can you buy for a dollar? Answer: Buck Teeth
ON behalf of everyone at St Catherine's Hospice I would like to pass on our thanks to everyone who has given us their time and support by helping with the recent street and house-to-house collections in Preston, Chorley and South Ribble and also to the
THE Bolton League championship chase may become a little clearer over the weekend as two of the major contenders face each other writes Peter Mensforth Tonge and Horwich, locked together in second place two points behind leaders Walkden, clash on Saturday
EX-SHAKERS favourite Wayne Entwistle is on the look-out for Bury players of the past to compete in a charity soccer match against veteran counterparts from Bolton Wanderers. The match is to be played at Radcliffe Boro's Stainton Park ground on Sunday,
TELEVISION personality Tony Wilson is set to open the new Xperiment Gallery at Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry today (Friday). The gallery will include hands-on exhibits, an exclusive area for the under fives, a mind maze with puzzles and
THERE will be plenty of reading material to choose from when youngsters from Bury's Christ Church CE Primary attend their local library next week. Earlier this year, as part of World Book Day, the pupils, together with their counterparts at Hazlehurst
THE Mayor of Westhoughton, Cllr Brian Clare, has notched an impressive £10,100 for the region's top cancer hospital. Cllr Clare decided to dedicate his mayoral year charity funds to Christie Hospital in Manchester after a number of his friends developed
A TIMBER fire left the skies above Farnworth full of thick black smoke early today. Neighbours near a scrapyard in Egerton Street called the fire brigade fearing cars had been set alight, but when fire crews arrived just after 7am they found a large stack
A PARTIALLY-sighted deaf and dumb pensioner was robbed as he sat enjoying the sunshine outside his Manchester home. A thief rifled through the 81-year-old man's pockets in Victoria Square, Ancoats, escaping with cash and keys on Wednesday afternoon, a
MULTI-coloured blooms created by gardeners from Bolton have been impressing visitors and judges at a top flower show. The town already has two winners at this year's Flower Show at Tatton Park, Cheshire, which runs until this Sunday. A display celebrating
A MAN who pulled his partner down by her hair and slapped her in the face was told by magistrates he could have been sent to prison. Seth Lomax, aged 33, a motor accessories worker, of School Street, Radcliffe, admitted assaulting Miss Lisa Edwards, causing
YOUNG children in Bolton could be allowed to go and see Spider-Man -- but only if enough parents complain about the film's 12 certificate. Bolton's licensing chief Councillor Don Eastwood has pledged to watch the Hollywood blockbuster and consider reducing
A MAN who assaulted his ex-partner has escaped a custodial sentence. A court was told that Andrew Mark Christy, aged 23, had been drinking and went to the home of his ex-partner Alison Wyke. Miss Wyke sustained substantial bruising after the attack which
A HUGELY popular headteacher is leaving for pastures new after 37 years in the profession. Ken Vann will bid a final farewell to his pupils today after 19 years as headteacher of Westhoughton High School. When the 59-year-old arrived in Westhoughton in
A SEVENTY-YEAR-OLD former milkman is getting ready to steal the show for the 10th year running -- the Royal Lancashire Show that is. Bill Jones, from Cheshire Court, Ramsbottom, has been show director at the popular summer event since his retirement from
SWIMMERS and non-swimmers are needed for the next Swimming Instructors Course which is taking place at Deane Community Leisure Centre from August 19 to 23. While the course is taking place we are offering all swimmers with abilities ranging from non-swimmer
SUMMER'S here again and its six weeks of blissful leisure for school kids everywhere. Parents, why don't you remove one of your worries by bringing or sending the kids along to The Water Place for lessons in safety in or near water. These sessions include
FAMILY doctor Harold Shipman murdered 215 of his patients confirming him as Britain's biggest serial killer. And the official inquiry into his crimes -- led by Bolton judge Dame Janet Smith -- has concluded that there is a "real suspicion" he could also
THE National Kidney Research Fund has issued a call for all young "heroes" to enter the 2002 Young Hero Awards. The awards aim to acknowledge the bravery of young people who have to cope and deal with kidney disease either as a patient or a carer. They
A SOCCER fan from Blackrod who followed his beloved Wigan Athletic around the country has died aged 33. David Wiggans, known to his friends as Wiggy, died from an aneurysm, a swelling of the wall of an artery, after falling ill at work. His parents, Keith
BRITISH Airways' BA CitiExpress offshoot launched its fifth new route in a year, and the BEN's CHRIS SUDLOW went on one of the first daily flights from Manchester to Zurich. This is his report. Jetting to a city in style THE sleek £15m jet pulled to a
I AM disgusted at the way in which businessman John Blackburn and his board of directors have decided the appeal for the murder of Danielle Moorcroft and her unborn child should not be featured on his billboard. This was a brutal murder not only of one
I HAVE never heard such rubbish from our Government who are supposed to be clever men, to bill householders £1 per bag in a bid to tackle the problem of the growing waste mountains. It won't solve it. It will make it worse. People will be dumping rubbish
THE Territorial Army has come up with a brainwave in a bid to uncover recruits in Chorley. Soldiers from Chorley-based 29 (Volunteer) Military Intelligence Company are staging an open day this weekend for men and women interested in joining their ranks
A FAMILY have had to abandon their home after a fire ripped through the house destroying most of their possessions. Christine and Kevin Clarke escaped through the front door of their home on Buchanan Street, Chorley, as fire took hold of the entire first
A SCHOOLGIRL thought she was going to sink to her death after tumbling 30 feet into a muddy, disused canal. The accident sparked a major rescue operation involving police, fire crews, paramedics and mountain rescue teams who were scrambled to the scene
BOLTON will begin to rake in an estimated £30 million when the Commonwealth Games gets underway next week. Sport fans visiting town are expected to spent an average of £168 each. A predicted 190,000 people are likely to make a journey into Bolton, creating
FORGET the notion of teaming curry up with lager or spicy white wines. The Curry Club has come up with a new "ideal" drinking partner for Indian curries -- sherry. Pat Chapman, founder of the club, claims the sweeter the better, and suggests pale cream
TWICE in the last two weeks crowds of about 15,000 people have packed into Haydock Park to watch top class horse racing. Now the racecourse is aiming for another bumper attendance at its annual Saturday evening summer fixture this weekend - the fifth
24:7 reviews the latest albums and singles. SINGLES Ja Rule: Livin' It Up (Out Monday, Mercury) SORRY lads, no J-Lo this time, only Case. Like Ronseal, it's exactly as it says on the tin, and is about living it up. Not to put too fine a point on it, it
In this new series, we ask local clubbers to spill the beans on their likes and dislikes when it comes to a good night out Name: Elaine Occupation: Estate Agent Age: 26 Typical girls' night out: Usually meet at La Scala for nibbles and sangria then commence
TONIGHT (Friday) brings the much-anticipated opening of Life Bar Cafe, the latest addition to Bolton's bar scene. The venue is likely to attract a great deal of interest in its first few weeks but happily I think that it will retain these curious customers
CAN'T afford a holiday this year? If finances demand that you pay off your credit card instead of sunning yourself in foreign climes, Atlantis holds the perfect substitute. The club will be holding a beach party this evening, so you don't have to miss
BOLTON Metro is hosting a whole mass of free summer fun and activities across the Bolton Borough for young people aged 17 and under. Are you interested in: Drama - are you a budding actor? Video & Music - Want to be the next pop idol? Arts - Ever
LOOKING for something different to do this summer? Then Bury's new countryside events calendar is full of ideas. "Out and About in Bury" gives details of a variety of activities including walks and rambles, cycle rides, scavenger hunts, bat talks and
SUMMER'S here again and its six weeks of blissful leisure for school kids everywhere. Parents, why don't you remove one of your worries by bringing or sending the kids along to The Water Place for lessons in safety in or near water. These sessions include
WALSHAW can take a big step towards their fourth consecutive Bolton League title on Saturday before snatching a possible pyschological advantage over their forthcoming Cross Cup final opponents Elton. The leaders face Spring View, who not too long ago
THE BSF Bolton Tennis Tournament level ladies doubles semi finalists were decided on Wednesday. Sue Lawson and Rachel Anders will meet Becky Dennard and Caroline Pyatt, Jane Kehoe and Diane O'Brien will face Lisa Cartwright and Helen Teasdale. Tonight's
GERMAN star Fredi Bobic has labelled Wanderers fans as "unforgettable" as he comes to terms with the fact that he will not be returning to the Reebok Stadium. The striker, whose hat-trick against Ipswich in March effectively kept Bolton in the Premiership
RANGERS at Pennington Flash Nature Reserve, Leigh, are encouraging bird lovers to visit the area after spotting a rare Canvasback duck in their grounds. It is rarely found outside North America. Only last month, the reserve became a temporary home to
BURY Council has won a fight to move an eight-year-old boy to a special school -- 80 miles away from his mother. The High Court has ruled that moving the child from the Bury area to Cumbria does not breach his human rights. His mother, who is a heroin
A WOMAN who has taught both parents and their children during her career retired this week. Angela Egan has been teaching three and four-year-olds in the nursery class at St Columba's RC Primary School, Hall i' th' Wood for the last 28 years. Current
RADICAL plans to jail parents of truant children at weekends would not work in Bolton according to the chief education social worker. The Home Office is considering plans to create the mini-prison sentences as punishment for parents of persistent truants
YOUNGSTERS donned fancy dress and trainers to raise money for two charities. Pupils from Bolton School Boys' Division were sponsored to run laps of the athletics track and raised £3,350 for the National Deaf Children's Society and the local branch of
A HI-TECH electronic information board for bus passengers is to be unveiled in Bolton this week. The computerised device has been installed at Moor Lane station and aims to give commuters up to the minute details on services. It is one of 25 information
LOOKING for something different to do this summer? Then Bury's new countryside events calendar is full of ideas. "Out and About in Bury" gives details of a variety of activities including walks and rambles, cycle rides, scavenger hunts, bat talks and
FIREFIGHTERS were called out after the front door of a terraced house was set on fire. The door of the house in Sunlight Road, Bolton, was badly damaged by the blaze, which started just after 2am today. No one was hurt.
A TERRACED house has been transformed into a home for the whole community where residents will help build a brighter future. What was once a crumbling eyesore on a street in Farnworth has been renovated at a cost of £100,000 to create an Urban Care Centre
ONE of the busiest sections of motorway in the North-west is to be partially closed - with delays expected for jup to six months. Thelwall Viaduct on the M6 in Cheshire has been partially closed due to emergency bridge protection measures following deterioration
AN MP is urging Bolton people to make their voices heard over controversial plans to introduce "entitlement" identity cards. Bolton North East MP David Crausby says it is an extremely important issue. The issue of national identity cards was raised after
THE company started life in the 1800s as Bellhouse Higson, a bleaching and dye works. In the early 1900s it began building coaches. During the Second World War it changed its name to Bellhouse Hartwell and started making planes and their components. It
KEEP up to date with all the scores from Muirfield on www.thisisbolton.co.uk Simply click HERE for a direct link to the official Open Golf site, with latest Leaderboard, interviews and reports Simply click HERE for Hart Common professional Gareth Benson's
IT would be a great shame if the planned train strike by First North Western drivers badly affected the Commonwealth Games. At the moment, there will be walk-outs on ten dates, three of which are on days when the Games events will be held in and around
BOLTON will begin to rake in an estimated £30 million when the Commonwealth Games gets underway next week. Sport fans visiting town are expected to spent an average of £168 each. A predicted 190,000 people are likely to make a journey into Bolton, creating
MANCHESTER Airport kicked off its Commonwealth Games celebrations in earnest with a massive fanfare and a bit of a didgeridoo to launch its fortnight-long extravaganza of live entertainment. The live entertainment has been arranged by the airport as a
NUMBER one seed and champion for the last two years, Nick Hinnigan, was well beaten in the semi finals in the BSF Tennis Championships on Thursday night. He was up against the number five seed John Lister, who at 18 years of age is improving all the time
APOLLO, Manchester Joe Satriani Acclaimed guitar player Saturday, 8:00pm, £17:50 BAND ON THE WALL, Swan Street, Manchester Susie Arioli Swing Band Canadian Susie Arioli and her band performing jazz and blues with a strong 1930s flavour Saturday, 9pm,
MANCHESTER Airport has joined forces with St Ann's Hospice in Little Hulton by sponsoring their annual balloon race with a slogan "Watch the Skies". The sea of 8,000 balloons will be set off by "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" winner Judith Keppel on
DARTS SECTION ONE P Pt Clock Face Z... 6 12 Dukes Gate... 6 10 Farnworth Vets C... 6 10 Farnworth SC... 6 6 Oddfellows Arms... 6 6 Clock Face A... 6 4 Royal Hotel... 6 4 Wellington Hotel... 6 4 Flying Shuttle... 6 2 Kearsley SC A... 6 2 180s: P Newton
IT came as no surprise to hear of Australian winger Lote Tuqiri's defection to rugby union this week - and I expect many other big names to follow. Most cynics will turn to his freshly inflated bank balance as a reason for his cross-code switch but I
Friday July 19 Georgia Entwistle, Aged 6; Gareth Pomfret, Aged 6; Nicole Armstrong, Aged 7 Saturday Thomas Hamer, Aged 8 Monday Christian Ahmed, Aged 10; Shane Royle, Aged 6 Tuesday Jamie Shepherd, Aged 5; Alisha Ratcliffe, Aged 5; Faye Briggs, Aged 8
JELLY Belly beans have to be the best beans in the world. With more than 50 mouth watering and amazingly delicious flavours to choose from, Mr. Jelly Belly knows what is special. That is why he is sponsoring the Rare Breeds Survival Trust which protects
HAVE Chorley and Coppull been moved? Is it a way of keeping strangers out of Coppull and Chorley, or is it a new method of reducing traffic? What do your readers think? The sign (Chorley, Coppull) has been showing the wrong direction for many months.
ALMOST one in ten local health workers say they have been bullied by work colleagues -- nearly all of them by their boss. And more than a third revealed they were not aware of any policies or procedures in place to deal with harassment or bullying in
POLICE have released "shocking" pictures of three small boys, one as young as six, building a massive barricade on a railway line at St Helens. They put a shopping trolley, tyres, tree trunks and traffic cones on the track, with a train just minutes away
A PROCESSING plant is to open in St Helens to help deal with Britain's fridge mountain, Environment Minister Michael Meacher has said. The move comes on top of an extra £40 million for local authorities to deal with the problem. There will now be five
A CRACKDOWN on car crime in Manchester has resulted in the recovery of about £2 million worth of vehicles and 150 arrests. Operation Maiden was a six-month campaign focusing on car-jacking, theft of items from cars and crime prevention. "As a result of
ONE of the busiest sections of motorway in the North-west is to be partially closed - with delays expected for jup to six months. Thelwall Viaduct on the M6 in Cheshire has been partially closed due to emergency bridge protection measures following deterioration
BOAT yard owner Paul Lorenz is fighting to save Leigh's historic Bedford Basin from housing developers. Owners and the Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs (AWCC) have backed his objections to plans to build 51 apartments, an access road, car parking
A TRANSPORT nightmare could be on the cards after train drivers threatened to strike on three of the 10 days of the Commonwealth Games. First North Western drivers will walk out on July 28 and 29 and August 4 -- the day of the closing ceremony. A spokesman
THE wedding season is here, meaning many of us can look forward to scanning gift lists and donning our best outfits to celebrate marriages in the next few months. Despite statistics which tell us that around one in three marriages will end in divorce,
WESTHOUGHTON Community Leisure Centre Pool has re-opened today (Friday) and tomorrow there will be a fun/splash session between 2pm and 4pm. Every child who attends will receive free pop and sweets to celebrate the pool being back to normal.For more details
THE Children's Hospitals Appeal Trust is looking for brave people to dive with sharks at the Blue Planet Aquarium, Ellesmere Port. If you would like to take part in this fund-raising event for regional medical services ring 0161 276 8700. Full diving
MULTI-coloured blooms created by gardeners from Bolton have been impressing visitors and judges at a top flower show. The town already has two winners at this year's Flower Show at Tatton Park, Cheshire, which runs until this Sunday. A display celebrating
A SEVENTY-YEAR-OLD former milkman is getting ready to steal the show for the 10th year running -- the Royal Lancashire Show that is. Bill Jones, from Cheshire Court, Ramsbottom, has been show director at the popular summer event since his retirement from
TURTON Community Leisure Centre is open as usual whilst work is carried out to improve the centre. The Centre is open Monday to Friday from 5.30pm to 10.30pm, Saturday 9am to 5.00pm and Sunday 8.30am to 4pm Don't be put off by the work being undertaken
THERE's more to Zurich than banks and with new cheap fares available summer is the time to go. Chris Sudlow reports Click HERE for more pictures of Zurich and the surrounding area MENTION European City Breaks and where do you think of travelling to? Barcelona
Sunday and Monday BOLTON MUSEUM, ART GALLERY & AQUARIUM, Le Mans Crescent, Bolton. Tel: 332211. Open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. Admission free. Bolton Aquarium For unique views into the aquatic world visit Bolton Aquarium, where there are fish
