CHAMPAGNE corks popped when Bolton-based insurance broker Opus celebrated its fifth birthday amid record performance levels. The Opus Group announced an increase in trading profit by 59 per cent to a company record of £1.9 million - on a turnover of £16.9
PEOPLE in Bolton want business fat cats taxed instead of being hit by stealth taxes themselves. A survey by chartered accountants Jackson Stephen, in advance of the Budget, showed that Bolton people want a reduction in council tax, or a council tax based
BOLTON property developer Carol Ainscow is the leading light in a £100 million development in Ancoats, East Manchester. Her company, Artisan Holdings, is the joint owner - with Peel Holdings and Manchester City Council - of Artisan Ship Canal Developments
BUSINESSES are divided over the benefits of workers from the new countries entering the EU. With ten new countries joining the EU in May, employers will have a larger pool of workers to draw from. But a survey, carried out by the Forum of Private Business
DESPITE the acknowledged fact that no one knows any person who admits to being a bad driver, we are expected to believe the survey reported in the Bolton Evening News that 57 per cent of those surveyed said exactly that. I consider myself a good driver
I READ every night in your paper about the continual demise of our town, be it Westhoughton or Bolton. Where has all the community spirit gone? Where has all the discipline gone? The streets are full of litter, and rubbish is dumped wherever it lands.
THE decision by the National Standards Board regarding the Turton Parish Councillors is grossly unfair, and the local residents will end up worse off by the resignations which have followed. The councillors represent the residents of this small village
Windfarm risk to wildlife I AM very sorry to hear that Mr Brian Derbyshire imagines that wind farms are good for our environment. Studies at a wind turbine site in Wales have revealed that two extremely rare red kites were killed last summer by the rotating
MAY I redress the balance a little regarding the care provided by private care agencies. Not all agencies are making large profits and neglecting the clients they look after. I am sure you are aware that there is good and bad in every industry and it
1133: Henry II, first Plantagenet King (1154-89), was born in Le Mans. 1790: Death of Flora Macdonald, Scottish Jacobite heroine who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape to safety after his defeat at Culloden. 1850: The Menai tubular bridge, joining Wales
FRIENDS have said a big thank-you to the man responsible for the smooth running of Chorley Walking Day for the past 30 years. Derek Beaumont was honoured with a presentation at a ceremony in St Laurence's Church following his retirement as chief marshall
A SURPRISE arrival had a couple leaping for joy this week. Leap year twins Lily Hannah and Mia Jenny Tatlock were born a month early on Sunday, February 29. Their mum Gillian, 30, went into labour at her home in Thistle Close, Chorley, late on Saturday
AN inquiry into the future of Chorley's annual street fair has been launched by Chorley Borough Council The larger rides in last autumn's fair were sited at Friday Street car park but this was criticised by nearby residents and businesses who complained
A GROUP of schoolchildren have packed away their games consoles and television sets in favour of a more traditional pastime -- clog dancing. The youngsters from Trinity and St Michael's CE/Methodist Primary, Out Lane, Croston, jumped at the opportunity
FRED Dibnah's dreams were in tatters today after Bolton Council planners rejected his bid to create his own working Victorian mine. Celebrity steeplejack Fred, who is fighting cancer, wants the mine to be a monument to his life. He has already begun work
SAM Allardyce admitted today that he could face stiff competition for the signatures of Jay-Jay Okocha and Youri Djorkaeff. But the Wanderers boss is hoping the good life at the Reebok will play a big part in persuading his two brightest stars to stay
STEVE Bruce could be tempted to ring the changes in his Birmingham side tomorrow after admitting that two games in less than four days might be too much for his hard-working players. The Blues boss was delighted to see his team bounce back from their
PHIL Gartside has urged his unhappy Wanderers to channel their Carling Cup disappointment into an inspirational force as they shoot for European qualification by the Premiership route. The Reebok chairman is convinced Sam Allardyce and his players have
Wednesday 3rd March 2004:Manchester Phoenix 3 Nottingham Panthers 8. Nottingham,s convincing win against Manchester maintained their unbeaten run against Phoenix this season. Panthers first two goals came within the first ninety seconds of play, with
CHORLEY Lynx coach Mark Lee has demanded more effort from his players after his team fell to a crushing 88-6 defeat by Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in the Powergen Challenge Cup fourth round. A much depleted Lynx outfit had no answer to the pace and power
MOTORISTS are being warned of the risks of leaving their cars running while they are defrosting, after ice bandits struck in the Prestwich area. Thieves targeted two cars which were left unattended with the keys in the ignition. A £12,000 Jaguar was stolen
ANYONE interested in volunteering for Age Concern Bolton can find out more at a volunteering fair on Saturday, March 20, at the charity's centre in Ashburner Street between 10am and 2pm. People can also call Sarah Harris on 01204 382411.
A FOOD hamper is up for grabs for the dad who can change the fastest, neatest nappy. The competition is one of a host of baby-related activities taking place at Asda, Astley Bridge, on March 11 from 10.30am. The day has been organised to celebrate Babies
BARNARDO's charity shop in Farnworth is launching its spring collection of clothes and goods this month. There will also be older items available at reduced prices. All proceeds from the shop goes to helping children and families in the Bolton area. Manager
SIX supervisors have been made redundant at a Westhoughton pizza manufacturer. Wingates-based Stateside Foods Ltd, which was recently sold to a German company, has also closed its Haslingden branch with the loss of 60 jobs. It is believed the cuts follow
GRANDMOTHER Liz MacMahon celebrated her 50th birthday by giving hope to sick children. Liz, whose three-year-old granddaughter Libby Hodgson was born with the genetic disorder PKU, decided to have a fund-raising concert for the Royal Manchester Children's
A NATIONAL study of deaths and injuries arising from police car pursuits has focused on a teenager who died after a chase started in Bury. The Police Complaints Authority has voiced concern over the increasing level of fatalities and serious injuries
THE Carling Cup Final alone should settle the argument of whether or not to have video referees at games. Two penalty decisions at either end could easily have been looked at during the time it takes for players to argue with the referee. If a video referee
I WAS as disappointed as anyone else last Sunday but, since Middlesborough were the better team for all but the last half hour of the first half, I can have no complaint at their winning the cup. Slagging referees off is an unproductive thing to do. How
I CANNOT agree with Sam Allardyce that Boro were the better team. If that was so, why was 70 per cent of the game played in the Boro half, and why did Jussi have only one save to make while the Boro keeper made four outstanding saves? Sadly, Jay-Jay did
side down BEFORE the Carling Cup Final we had veiled threats from Jay-Jay Okocha and Youri Djorkaeff. One stated that he would sign again if Bolton won and earned a place in Europe. The other said winning would not alter his position over signing a new
CRICKET, rugby and football have their history steeped in the traditions of the 19th and 20th centuries. To their credit, cricket and rugby have embraced the technology available in this century. A fourth official not on the pitch, watching the game on
MARK Redshaw is set for his first start in a Radcliffe Borough shirt in tomorrow's Unibond Premier League game at bottom club Wakefield and Emley. With Steve Foster suspended for one match after picking up five yellow cards, manager Kevin Glendon will
Little Lever Sports Club traveled to relegated Old Blacburnians and produced there worst defensive display of the season. Old Blacburnians took the lead on 15 mins with there first attack of the game when Little Lever's defense stood still waiting for
FK TEPLICE...1 CELTIC...0 Masek 35 Attend: 10,000 (Celtic won 3-1 on aggregate) LEVSKI SOFIA...2 LIVERPOOL...4 Ivanov 27, Simonovic 40 Gerrard 7, Owen 11, Hamann 44, Hyypia Attend: 40,281 67 (Liverpool won 6-2 on aggregate) NEWCASTLE...3 VALERENGA...1
FIREFIGHTERS battled a blaze at the disused Robert Fletcher paper mill in Stoneclough last night. More than 200 wooden pallets stacked in a small brick storage unit within the complex were set alight by suspected arsonists, the fire service said. Crews
A POLICE constable from Bolton, murdered 10 years ago, is to be honoured when a police headquarters is named after him. Patrick Dunne was answering a routine call in Clapham, London, in 1993, when he was shot dead. In memory of the 44-year-old, the Specialist
THE Prime Minister has called for tougher sentences for dangerous drivers after hearing about the death of eight-year-old Billy Jo Dean in Bolton. Tony Blair expressed his anger at such cases and said he wanted to send a tough message to those who drive
HISTORIAN and Fairtrade supporter Mike Cresswell led a group of 20 people around the town to look at Bolton's industrial past, as well as shops selling products that help Third World farmers. Mr Cresswell, from Bradshaw, escorted the group of placard-waving
OUT-of-control yobs in Westhoughton are making life unbearable for other teenagers in the town, claim despairing youth workers. The problems of drunken behaviour among a gang of the town's children came to light last month following a night-time brawl
A HARD-HITTING poster campaign will be launched by Bolton Council in a bid to show the true cost of discarded litter. The bright orange posters will be highly visible on the side of buses and hoardings and will feature a £50 note, discarded among litter
MIDDLETON Brass Band are paying a return visit to St Katharine's Church, Blackrod, next month. The concert begins at 7.30pm on April 16, and tickets are available from the church or by ringing 468150.
POP singer Lulu is coming to the Reebok Stadium. The star, pictured, is to stage An Evening With Lulu in the Wanderer's Premier Suite. She will sing her hits and talk about her life. Reebok bosses expect the exclusive, black-tie event to be a 900-seat
THE Ladies' Three-a-Side competition will take place at Rumworth and Hulton Conservative Club on Monday. Players must be there by 8.10pm for the 8.15pm draw. Officials: J Speddy, M Bell, J Handley, and J Heyes. This week's 180s: M Scott (JAPT); L Fairclough
BOLTON Institute has been named among the top 12 higher-education institutions in the North-west for innovative environmental technology. And the institute's details are included in a new publication to help companies tap into expertise available. Environmental
PAY settlements in engineering and manufacturing have remained at 2.3 per cent for the past four months, according to the Engineering Employers Federation (EEF). This figure is significant as January is the month in which most settlements in this sector
A BLACKROD man has invented a new product to keep car boots clean. Tim Valentine had the same problem that many people have when they transport dirty items in the their car boot - and decided to do something about it. He said: "There are products on the
IF you would like to see real rubbish and the after effects, visit Halliwell - especially the back streets around Berther and Bride Street. Yesterday, while walking my dog, in the space of 10 minutes I saw a sofa, chair, microwave, pile of used clothing
THE letter from C N Gregory of Old Links Close expressing his/her consternation of having to contend with horse droppings after football matches at The Reebok made me smile. CNG in all earnestness requests the police to train their horses to do their
FULL marks to Bolton Council for listening and responding in a positive way to the very real concerns our community has to the problem of litter on our streets. In spite of pressures to reduce council spending, they have found significant resources to
MOST of us are well aware that litter is a huge problem. It is an eyesore, and it attracts vermin. It is also very expensive to clean up. It is easy to blame the Council, whose job it is to clean up the mess dropped by others, but are we being fair in
STALLHOLDERS in Bolton Market Hall look to have had an enjoyable social life in the 1950s. Mr Herbert Whalley of Brook Gardens, Harwood popped into our office with these pictures which belonged to his late mother, Kathleen Whalley. Mrs Whalley and his
WHEN Bolton Market Hall opened on December 19, 1855 it marked the beginning of Bolton's markets under municipal control. It was hailed as the largest and finest Market Hall in the county. A souvenir booklet produced for the centenary in 1955 included
From the Evening News, March 5, 1904: A sensation was caused at Darwen last night by the disclosure that an elopement has taken place of a lady moving in the best local circles, the wife of one of the most popular cotton manufacturers in the district,
A POLICE car on its way to an emergency call smashed into a wall at one of Chorley's most notorious accident blackspots. An investigation has been launched after the vehicle, which had its blue flashing lights and siren in use, crashed into the wall of
A FED up Chorley teenager became a TV star for a day after contacting the BBC when she was refused a free school bus pass. The pupil, who attends Holy Cross High, has to pay £1.50 a day on the bus because education chiefs say she does not live the required
A DEFIANT council-tax rebel who has already been jailed three times for not paying his bill was escorted from a court room by police. George Thistleton, 74, refused to leave Chorley Magistrates' Court after JPs said they would delay sentencing for five
COUNCIL tax payers in Chorley face a 5.4 per cent rise this year after the borough council abandoned plans to hike up their portion of the bills by almost ten per cent. The council had proposed a 9.9 per cent increase and slashing opening hours at historic
A CHORLEY couple are still seeking compensation from a leading housebuilder two years after buying a home with rooms too small. Gordon and Carol Bulloch paid £160,000 for their four bedroom house on Wimpey's Beechwood Grange estate in Chorley. Last week
AS Chorley tried to come to terms with the tragic death of Melanie Horridge, family and friends have spoken of their shock and disbelief. Melanie, 25, was discovered by three teenagers lying in an alleyway between Stratford Road and Wright Street, Chorley
RESULTS: Division One: Bolton CC 38 Walmersley B 20. Division Two: Markland Hill B 27 Chorley 21; David Llloyd B 29 Walkers C 24; Barrow Bridge 29 Bolton School A 18; Bradshaw 28 Holcombe Brook B 25. Division Three: Bolton School B 27 Markland Hill C
Bolton Table Tennis League: HILTON A have jumped to the top of the Premier Division following their 8-1 demolition of Lostock. Rammy A drop to second but have two matches in hand. Hilton Tameside, who are in third spot, scraped home 5-4 against lowly
Manchester Phoenix 3 Nottingham Panthers 8: An ice hockey film currently enjoying huge success in the United States is 'Miracle'. Starring Kurt Russell, it tells the true story of how Herb Brooks coached a team of college kids to Olympic Gold glory in
BOLTON is to receive a £10,000 funding boost to develop music lessons in primary schools. The government wants musicians and teachers to build up innovative partnerships so they can creat first class musical experiences for childen, as part of a new drive
A RECRUITMENT drive to encourage more people to become special constables will be held at the weekend. An information stand will be stationed at Astley Bridge Police Station on Saturday between 11am and 2pm.
A PRIVATE hire driver was assaulted by two passengers who stole his takings. The man was attacked after he picked up three passengers in Lenham Gardens, Breightmet, last night at about 11.40pm. The men got into the taxi but one got out and walked away
LEADING figures in Worsley's dream of becoming a world heritage site have held a meeting to discuss their bid. More than 30 delegates are involved in Worsley's world heritage site steering group. The picturesque village - one of the birthplaces of the
ROAD closures in Bolton Road, Bury, after a fire at the National Tyres firm on Wednesday were lifted yesterday afternoon. Police sealed off routes around the A58 Bolton Road for 24 hours on Wednesday afternoon to allow acetylene cylinders in the premises
A MAN threatening to jump from a motorway sign was talked down by police negotiators last night. The 28 year-old climbed on to a motorway sign on the M67 westbound carriageway near Tameside at 10pm. A section of the motorway was sealed off but the man
PUB drinkers were attacked by a gang of eight men armed with machetes, wooden sticks and golf clubs. Three cars pulled up outside The Clarence pub, in Bolton Street, Ramsbottom, at 8pm on Wednesday and the gang burst inside. Police say they smashed a
A CHARITY concert has raised £906 towards the refurbishment of a church in Horwich. The Rev Mike Thomason has thanked everyone who came to the Smithills Senior Brass Band concert last weekend for their contributions towards the rebuilding of New Chapel
AN airforce man who crashed his car into a telephone box was nearly three times over the legal alcohol level, a court heard. Lee Patrick Sawdon, aged 22, of Mostyn Avenue, Bury, who is an avionics technician with the RAF at Cosford, admitted a charge
Katie Melua, who's evening show at The Lowry has already sold-out, will be appearing at Music Zone, Manchester this Sunday to sign copies of her latest album. Already tagged by sections of the media as 'the next Norah Jones', the precociously graceful
PART of Manchester city centre will be sealed off when the Labour Party Spring Conference is held next weekend. As part of the major police and security operations, G-Mex, the Manchester International Conference Centre (MICC) and the Midland Hotel will
SAM Allardyce set his sights back on Europe today as he handed down a challenge to his crestfallen Carling Cup finalists. The Wanderers' boss admits the scars of the Millennium Stadium defeat will take time to heal but he says qualifying for the UEFA
A THIRD person has been arrested in connection with the death of four railway workers hit by a runaway trailer in Tebay, Cumbria. British Transport Police said the 42-year-old man from Chorley was arrested at a police station on suspicion of manslaughter
I WAS appalled by the refereeing decisions. When a referee gives decisions like Mike Riley did on Sunday, I cannot tolerate it. It says a great deal when the fans and the team are very concerned to find out who the referee is. It was a poor decision by
FROM arriving on Saturday to leaving after the match, the friendliness and banter with the Bolton fans were superb. Although I am a staunch Boro fan, because of past experiences we know how you will be feeling. The people of both Bolton and Middlesbrough
SO, here we are again. Another big game has come and gone and dear old Jay-Jay has touted himself on television for a pay rise or a transfer. Am I the only one who thinks that he is a player who repays his big wages by being occasionally inspirational
WHILST I understand the manager's disappointment at losing the final, hitting out at all and sundry does neither him nor the club any credit. "If I makes mistakes I get the sack he says." Wrong. The last few weeks has been littered with his mistakes but
TITLE-CHASING Bolton Under-14s aim to keep in contention at the top of the Greater Manchester Schools' League when they travel to Wigan tomorrow. In the Greater Manchester Schools' County Cup, Bolton Under-15s are away to Salford - a tie to be played
Premier Division: Bolton County v Old Boltonians; Bolton Lads Club v Rossendale Amateurs; Gregorians v Bury GSOB; Radcliffe Amateurs v Hesketh Casuals; Little Lever SC v Rochdale St Clements. Division One: Bolton Wyresdale v Astley Bridge Sladians; Chorley
Premier Division: Bolton County v Old Boltonians; Bolton Lads Club v Rossendale Amateurs; Gregorians v Bury GSOB; Radcliffe Amateurs v Hesketh Casuals; Little Lever SC v Rochdale St Clements. Division One: Bolton Wyresdale v Astley Bridge Sladians; Chorley
REDROW LANCASHIRE LEAGUE: Premier Division: Bolton County v Old Boltonians; Bolton Lads Club v Rossendale Amateurs; Gregorians v Bury GSOB; Radcliffe Amateurs v Hesketh Casuals; Little Lever SC v Rochdale St Clements. Division One: Bolton Wyresdale v
SMOKERS in Bolton could be forced to stub out their cigarettes in the future as civic leaders consider making the town one of Britain's first smoke-free zones. Bolton Council is looking at the effect a total ban would have on the town following the Government's
ANTI-Fascists are to launch a campaign today to defeat the British National Party in this year's European and local elections in the North-west. Campaign group Unite Against Fascism were meeting at Manchester Town Hall with an array of speakers. They
A WESTHOUGHTON businessman has been jailed for six years for helping to dispose of the body of a murdered market trader by setting it on fire. Terence Cook, of Landedmans, was convicted yesterday at Preston Crown Court and branded by the judge, Sir Rhys-Davies
DAHLING, of course I'll come up with some reasonable expenses now that we're parting. You know me - ever frugal. I've made a list of what I'm going to need, and I know you won't find it unreasonable. I've been in touch with that nice Diane Richie and
AN air-traffic controller has been suspended after two passenger jets nearly collided at Manchester Airport. A holiday jet carrying 220 passengers was forced to abort its take-off when another plane crossed the airport runway on Sunday. The My Travel
STELIOS Giannakopoulos reflected on Wanderers' nightmare Carling Cup Final start by admitting: "We started like we had been hypnotised!" But the Greek international, who won seven league titles with Olympiakos, says the Final eclipsed anything he has
