BOLTON suffered a major jobs blow today with the announcement that a call centre is to close. A total of 116 jobs are to be axed at Experian's Thynne Street centre by March, 2006. The firm, which is part of the Great Universal Stores empire, has announced
With the weather not at its best during the first months of the year we've made a point of selecting a few indoor, as well as outdoor, attractions for all the family. Not too far away for a decent day out, Cheshire has lots to offer. Blakemere Craft Centre
753BC: Traditional date for the founding of Rome. 1509: Henry VII died and his second son acceded to the throne as Henry VIII. 1816: Charlotte Bronte, eldest of the three Bronte Sisters and author of Jane Eyre, was born in Thornton, Yorkshire. 1836: The
THE bitter legal battle that tore apart the family behind the multi-million pound "Pataks" Indian food empire has ended in a provisional £12 million deal. The peace pact was agreed in the High Court between company boss Kirit Pathak, who lives in Bolton
BLIND Eye by John McLaren is a tense thriller set in modern times, which takes a penetrating look at one of the greatest dilemmas likely to face the modern fighting man and his superiors: when is simply following orders no longer morally defensible? When
TOP pop acts will rock the Reebok this summer in six open-air concerts. Stadium bosses have announced a line-up that they hope will turn the home of Bolton Wanderers into the North-west's best outdoor music venue. The shows will pack more than 32,500
HOLCOMBE Moor, with its panoramic views and lonely monuments, is ideal for an autumn ramble. Pick a good day and you can make out Penyghent, Kinder Scout and even Snowdon from the spur on which the 128ft high Peel Tower now stands. The wide plateau heads
ON a clear day from Kearsley you can see for miles. The whole of the West Pennine Moors in fact, from Winter Hill across to the Rossendale moors. This pleasant circuit from Moses Gate Country Park is a great winter walk. Moorland views, woodland, industrial
COUNCILLORS Prentice Howarth and Don Eastwood are holding their surgery at St Simon & Jude School, Rishton Lane, Great Lever, Bolton, on Thursday, April 22, from 7pm to 8pm.
MOTORISTS are facing weeks of delays as work begins to lay new sewage pipes in Westhoughton. Contractors began digging up parts of Mill Street in the town centre on Monday and could be on site for as many as 18 weeks. Cars were diverted along Park Road
A LORRY driver was assaulted and robbed in Lowton as he slept in his cab. He was dragged from the wagon by two or three men who punched and kicked him, causing him to loss consciousness. The lorry, which contained textiles and Harry Potter and England
PLANS to replace a derelict house with a block of apartments have been rejected by town councillors. Developers wanted to build 15 flats on land at Leigh Street, Westhoughton, after tearing down an empty bungalow. But Westhoughton town councillors refused
THIS year's Horwich carnival royalty has been selected. They are Queen Amy Louise Gilfillan, aged 15, pictured second right; junior queen Karin Maloney, aged 13, right; princess Jessica Forrest, aged 10, front; Rosebud, Gabrielle Whittle, aged seven,
THE long-awaited Horwich locomotive statue is finally on track for installation. After continuously hitting the buffers, the 20ft sculpture earmarked for a roundabout near to the Middlebrook retail park is set to be installed. The white steel construction
Roy Baxendell, aged 70, and John Nangle, aged 68, were presented with engraved crystal plates to mark their 75th donations of blood. Former docks manager Mr Baxendell started giving blood when he was 18 during his National Service.Mr Nangle was recruited
TWO men from Bury have been honoured by the National Blood Transfusion Service at a special ceremony at Old Trafford to thank the area's most committed blood donors. Roy Baxendell, aged 70, and John Nangle, aged 68, were presented with engraved crystal
DEMOCRACY is alive and well in Bolton - or at least in one primary school. Pupils at Westhoughton Primary School are having a taste of politics, power and influence through a new democratically elected children's council. Since the body was formed at
WITH Vladimir Putin elected for a second term as Russian president, Andrew Jack provides a compelling account of the changes that have taken place in the country since its enigmatic leader came to power - and what has stayed stubbornly the same. The book
WINGATES Band is justified in blowing its own trumpet! The brass band has won four top awards in as many months. This is Wingates' best spell on the contest scene for several years and comes as the band celebrates its 130th anniversary year. Among many
Then why not try a challenging new national trail through the hills and vales of Mid-Wales. Glyndwr's Way is a 132-mile route celebrating the history of 15th century Welsh freedom fighter, Owain Glyndwr, who set up a Welsh parliament in Machynlleth. The
JUST over the Yorkshire border, Stoodley Pike is a prominent landmark overlooking the textile towns of Calderdale. Perched high on a moorland plateau above Todmorden, the Pike was originally built in 1815 and it has intriguingly been regarded as a portent
A UNION is continue its battle against teachers' pension age being increased to 65. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers - headed by Bolton woman Mary Boasted - has pledged to continue with its campaign to reject government proposals to increase
PARENTS are taking drastic steps to get their children into good schools, with more than a quarter willing to act dishonestly to secure a place, according to a new survey. Underhand measures considered by parents include falsifying addresses and lying
ATHERTON LR rounded off their North West Counties League campaign with a 1-0 win over fourth-placed Woodley Sports on Tuesday night.
AN historic American-style citizenship ceremony was held in Bolton on Wednesday. Thirteen immigrants were swearing their allegiance to Britain in the first event of its kind to be held in the borough. People from countries as far afield as Russia and
MORE than 90,000 motorway drivers in Greater Manchester face delays as major construction work gets underway to widen the M60 in order to improve safety and cut congestion. It is the second phase of a £102m project and will mean a new, temporary road
A FARMER has met for the first time a cousin he never knew existed. Canadian Shirley Ruttan knew she had a cousin somewhere in England but was struggling to track him down. She and William Hurst, of Westhoughton, finally met - thanks to the Bolton Evening
SHOPPERS and businessmen have thrown their support behind plans to build a futuristic archway which will become Bolton's newest landmark. The curved steel structure will support a new railway bridge on Newport Street over the Manchester to Preston line
BOLTON suffered a major jobs blow today with the announcement that a call centre is to close. A total of 116 jobs are to be axed at Experian's Thynne Street centre by March, 2006. The firm, which is part of the Great Universal Stores empire, has announced
MARY Hamer was a pioneer rock climber and one of Bolton's first women motorists. Her remarkable life story -- told in pictures -- is part of a fascinating exhibition of bygone Bolton being held this month at Bolton Museum and Art Gallery. Hundreds of
MIDLAND Mainline has announced plans for a new Manchester to London rail service which is due to start on Sunday, May 18, for 12 months. It is an alternative service for passengers wanting to travel between Manchester, Stockport and London during the
ALTHOUGH it attracts more than seven million tourists a year, Majorca has areas completely untouched by the hordes of revellers it is famous for. In the north of the island, beyond the ancient and beautiful town of Soller, lie tiny villages where tourist
Heading off for a diving trip to Malta, I envisaged myself swimming, 'Man from Atlantis' style through crystal clear waters surrounded by shoals of exotic fish, writes Sean Wilton. Yes, I'd read the brochures describing the sun-drenched charms, magnificent
TOP pop acts will rock the Reebok this summer in six open-air concerts. Stadium bosses have announced a line-up that they hope will turn the home of Bolton Wanderers into the North-west's best outdoor music venue. The shows will pack more than 32,500
CLAMBERING up the side of a crater on Mount Etna we picked up pieces of lava left by recent eruptions and found they were still hot. We had travelled by coach and minibus most of the way up to a height of 2,500m but our excursion finished with a short
EGYPT is an awe-inspiring place. Bequeathed an astounding legacy of history by the ancient rule of the Pharaoh kings, the country boasts archaeological treasures of jaw-dropping beauty and size. When it comes to having the hairs on the back of your neck
IF life sometimes leaves you feeling Grumpy or Sleepy, here's a nice and Sneezy way to feel Happy again. Don't be Bashful or Dopey, sail away on the Disney Cruise Line - it's just what the Doc ordered! That's what I did with my wife Simone and children
GAZING upward from the quayside, she resembles a giant, freshly-painted skyscraper shouldering majestically towards the leaden canopy of clouds . . . Then, deep below decks, a lone voice sings prophetically: "I believe I can touch the sky." And for one
AFTER the sweltering heat of Florida, walking around a Disney park wrapped up in a sweater, anorak and gloves is something of a culture shock. Thankfully, we found the welcome at Disneyland Resort Paris was much warmer than the extremely chilly October
Bolton Corporation used to operate a municipal camping site for the benefit of local people. This picture, taken in 1943, shows that camping was a big hit on the field in front of Smithills Hall, which was also the site of the Bolton Agricultural Show
Spring is upon us - so perhaps it's time to get the tent out of the loft. Camping has always been popular with Boltonians, even if many of us have memories of storms, floods, high winds and creepy crawlies... Pictures: Top - Five former pupils of Turton
From the Evening News, April 21, 1904: THE silk factory at Westhoughton is included in the property taken over by the newly-formed limited liability company of Joseph Dunkerley and Son Ltd, Oxford Road Mills, Macclesfield. Lancashire at one time occupied
THOSE who have watched the classic action film Zulu will revel in this novel, the first in a new series of 19th century wartime adventures in the tradition of Bernard Cornwell and C.S. Forester. The year is 1879 and the British army is constantly in action
MOTORCYCLING: THE Hoghton Tower motorcycle sprint takes place on Sunday April 25. Grounds are open at 9.30 for practice runs and viewing of bikes in the paddock, races start at 12.30 and classes include vintage and classic bikes. There is also a full
SEA-faring adventures have seen something of a revival over the past few years, with the huge success of Master and Commander and The Pirates of the Caribbean at the cinema and Ioan Gruffudd starring in the TV series of the famous Hornblower. Author Jonathan
THIS fascinating new reading on the famous tapestry radically alters our understanding of the events of 1066 and reveals the astonishing story of the survival of early medieval Europe's greatest treasure. The Bayeux Tapestry was embroidered (it's not
FLORENT Laville and Ricardo Gardner could still figure in the Premiership this season, despite putting their comeback plans on hold. The Wanderers duo, both fit again after long injury lay-offs, had been pencilled in for a game in the reserves at Middlesbrough
IT is hard to believe that Liverpool's mighty River Mersey rises in the old West Riding of Yorkshire. Well, at least one of its tributaries does, the River Tame. The Tame is fed from springs on the Saddleworth moors and flows south through the textile
THIS local ramble uncovers the patchwork of riverside pastures hidden in the folds of the steep-sided Irwell Valley between Kearsley, Little Lever and Radcliffe. The odd factory still dominates the river here but there is also the industrial legacy of
A 15-YEAR-OLD pupil has gained A grades in three A-level modules one year early. Tom Alldred, who attends Bridgewater Independent School, Worsley, took three AS level modules in Physics and Maths, gaining straight A grades. Tom, from Worsley, sat the
A TEENAGER thief snatched a handbag from an 18-year-old woman in Bury town centre. She was walking along The Rock on Sunday at about 6pm when the thief, aged around 14, struck. He ran off with another boy of a similar age. Witnesses can contact PC Kahar
A 14-year-old girl has been missing for nine days, sparking fears for her safety. Police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of Leah Holland, who is described as being "very vulnerable". The youngster, who looks older than her years, was
North Star Opera presents a new English translation of Mozart's endearing comic opera, 'The Marriage of Figaro'. Wednesday 26th May at 6.30pm - sign language interpreted performance £5(£3), Friday 28th May and Saturday 29th May £10 (£7). Tickets available
The full list of winners in the 2004 Bolton At Home Awards is as follows: Photography Competition Over 15s winner -- Craig Weatherby Runners up -- Fred Dyer and Michael Whittle Under 15s winner -- Hannah Wright, aged 11 Neighbour from Heaven Winner --
Your guide to local events BOLTON METRO COMMUNITY CENTRES For further information or to book a room please call 01204 334300 BLACKROD COMMUNITY CENTRE, Greenbarn Way, off Vicarage Road, Blackrod, BL6 5TA The centre houses a main hall with a stage and
BETTER security cameras may be installed to make a town centre safer - only if a wrangle over cash can be resolved. Westhoughton's security camera system has been plagued with money problems since it was first mooted in 1997. It is currently in danger
DJ GRANNIES and their neighbours who set up a community radio station to boost the confidence of local youngsters have been rewarded. Oldhams Residents' Association's Oldhams Radio won the Community Award at the 2004 Bolton At Home Awards, held at the
STELIOS wants his Reebok team-mates to set their sights on Europe as they attempt to end the season on a Premiership high. Starved of European action this season, the genial Greek knows the Champions League is an overly-ambitious target but insists it
Section A: Tue: Darcy Lever C&SC B v Rose Lea (Bob Moffat), Heaton CC A v Rupert Ladies A (Gordon Heaton), Nationwide XI v Little Lever XI (Frank Nicholson); Wed: Aspull Ladies XI v Darcy Lever C&SC A (Alison Saunders), Heaton XI v Rupert Ladies
CAN you have too much of a good thing? Not in this town. FPAC have returned with a no-holds barred musical extravaganza that oozes quality, vitality and wit. Director Jean Horrocks gives Cole Porter's classic new life, with excellent orchestration by
(L.O.A.D.S.) is an amateur society affiliated with N.O.D.A. founded in1963. We are a group of enthusiastic performers who enjoy acting, singing and dancing. New members always welcome. For information of how to become a new member,view our website www.lowtonoads.co.uk
Wordsworth may have complained but he could do little to stop the railway extending into his beloved Lake District. The train terminus at Windermere, taking its name from the nearby lake, opened in 1847 and the resort town quickly sprung up between the
MORE than half of the adults quizzed in a survey would oppose any law making it illegal for parents to smack their children. A Populus poll of 1,045 adults showed that 59 per cent thought parents should have the right to smack children. And 35 per cent
THE COUNTIES of Cheshire and Derbyshire meet in the wild rolling hill country between Macclesfield and Buxton. This is a landscape of woodlands, forests, reservoirs and farmsteads scattered below high moorland ridges which reach their peak at Shining
BOLTON primary school children can flex their creative skills in a writing awards challenge. The Write Here, Write Now 2004 writing awards challenges year four and five children to complete a story by Gillian Cross, a poem by Brian Patten or a piece of
BOLTON Under 15s just missed out on lifting the Lombardy Cup after going down 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out against Valdossola Caleio at the Como Stadium in Italy. It was a disappointing end for Bolton, who had gone through the tournament without conceding
SHAKERS defender Danny Swailes looks certain to miss the final three games of the season after suffering knee ligament damage at the weekend. The big Bolton-born centre back didn't take to the field for the second half of the Shakers' match at Yeovil
THIS man is being hunted by detectives in connection with an early morning sex attack on a woman near a Bolton town centre subway. The 47-year-old victim was walking up Churchbank from the direction of the subway when a man - who concealed his identity
MANCHESTER United has stepped up security checks at Old Trafford after speculation terrorists were planning an attack there. Extra security checks implemented for the game with Charlton Athletic on Tuesday night will be repeated for the visit of Liverpool
SCORES of Bolton runners are nursing sore limbs and tending to blistered feet after pounding the capital's streets in the London Marathon. There were inspirational stories of mums, dads and grandparents who battled through the pain barrier to raise money
STAFF Sergeant James Hall's moving diary of his time serving with the Royal Horse Artillery in the First World War is just one of a collection of wartime memories at the Bolton Revisited exhibition. The diary, written in pencil over a two-year period
POLICe have searched four more homes in Greater Manchester as it was revealed Manchester United have stepped up security checks at Old Trafford after speculation terrorists were planning an attack there. Extra security checks implemented for the game
Ken Bennett visits a perfect holiday paradise of year-round sun, golden sands and crystal clear waters with pix in weekend folder Aloha! Hawaii LET me take you on a journey to a land two thousand miles from anywhere and where the only thing you should
SPAIN'S Costa Brava conjures up an image of beaches and bronzed bodies - but during our tour of Catalonia we were delighted to discover there is much more to the region. Get clear of the tourist areas such as Tossa del Mar and Lloret de Mar and there
AS Premiership salaries continue to astound the ordinary working man, here's a look back to what Wanderers players were earning at the turn of the century. "FROM the Evening News, April 20, 1904: EVERYTHING passed off very successfully at the annual meeting
WHEN most people think of Holland, they think of Amsterdam, windmills, cafes, clogs and tulips. But there is another side to this magnificent country which is still largely undiscovered by the British traveller. The historic cities of Arnhem and Nijmegen
GEE, you folks from Scotland?" "No, from near Manchester, England, actually." "That's near Scotland isn't it?" "Well about 150 miles away." "Wow, England's that big?" he said, shaking me firmly by the hand. God Bless Americans. What the tough-looking
FREEDOM Ladies won the Bolton Rounders League Champion of Champions Tournament with a seven run defeat of Willow Ladies in the final at Westhoughton CC. Willows batted first with a 25 start and struggled to hit 75 runs. They lost four batters for no score
THE motor on the fisherman's canoe slowly cut through the jungle noises, briefly interrupting the feeling that the paradise island was all ours. The sun sizzled down on the forest canopy, but the fisherman was wearing a thick woollen balaclava above his
