THE Village Hotel and Leisure Club in Bury has revealed plans to build a £1.3m extension. The hotel, at Waterfold Business Park off Rochdale Road, is to have an extra 28 bedrooms added to the rear of the building, taking the total number of rooms up to
COFFEE chain Caffe Nero has announced record annual pre-tax profits of £2.4million for the year ending May 31. The figure compares with £1million profit last year. The firm has opened 43 new outlets in the past 12 months, including one in Deansgate, Bolton
THE falling number of care home places for the elderly has enabled a Bolton couple to fill a growing market gap for bespoke care at home. Joanne Howcroft and her husband Barrie set up Bolton Care Services Limited, which specialises in domiciliary care
I CANNOT understand why the council tax will be increased by 14 per cent from April 2005. It appears that our new Lib Dem council will be no better than Labour. Surely council tax should not increase at all? What is happening to all the tax raked in from
AS you can see from the address, we are not from your area. However, we saw an advert for a play at the Octagon Theatre and thought we would like to see it. The play was the Glee Club and we came to see it on June 26. It was one of the best plays we have
HOW right your recent editorial was to oppose Government proposals for 1,200 new houses in Bolton. The executive member for environment, Cllr David Wilkinson, also expresses his opposition. The issue, as you rightly say, is the number of houses built
THREE brothers returned to their old school - more than 60 years after leaving. James, Robert and Leslie Harrison attended Harper Green School in Farnworth between 1932 and 1940. And things were very different then: pupils left when they were aged 14,
THE headmistress of a leading independent school in Liverpool has been appointed to take over at Bolton School Girls' Division. Gill Richards, headmistress of The Belvedere School, will take over as head of the Girls Division next September, when current
BBC Radio Three is launching a competition for writers to come up with a drama script which uses music as an integral part of the narrative. Winners of the Broken and Blue competition will receive a full commission and have their play broadcast. For details
A 44-YEAR-OLD woman has been mugged for her handbag in Whitefield. The woman was walking along Thatch Leach Lane, Whitefield, at 8.35pm on Monday when a man pushed her and snatched her bag. The offender is described as in his 20s, wearing a dark three-quarter
BOLTON Libraries have announced a further addition to their popular reading circles. From Monday, residents will be invited to talk about their favourite reads over coffee at Tonge Moor Library. Members read whatever they enjoy and come along to share
HOWE Bridge Church is preparing for a welcome weekend from October 22 to 24. Christian rock group 'Flipside' will lead music workshops in the Atherton church school during the week, culminating in a concert in the Leigh Road Scout HQ on Friday, October
A WOMAN was cut free from her car by firefighters after it was involved in a collision. The 37-year-old had been driving a Ford Probe when it collided with a Volkswagon Golf at the junction of Melbourne Road and Willows Lane, Deane, at 2.10pm on Wednesday
BOLTON Council's Countryside Service wants as many people as possible to visit the area's four parks over the weekend. The first challenge is walking from Smithills to Jumbles on Saturday from 10.30am to 2.30pm. The second challenge is from Jumbles to
TWO men from Bury have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man's body was found close to a burning car in Blackley. The man, who has not yet been identified, was found dead at the scene at Colmore Drive with several stab wounds and a number of
PUPILS at a Blackrod school are hoping to put big smiles on the faces of underprivileged children this Christmas with their response to a shoe box appeal. Blackrod Primary School has collected more than 200 shoe boxes containing Christmas gifts for children
BOLTON MP Dr Brian Iddon is encouraging people to apply for a series of grants to install environmentally friendly heating systems in their homes. More than £1million has been spent on the installation of new central heating systems in Bolton South-east
A NEW strategy to reduce health inequalities in the borough has been unveiled by Bolton Council and Bolton Primary Care Trust. The two organisations are working hard to close the gaps that exist between healthier communities and those whose health and
THREE brothers returned to their old school - more than 60 years after leaving. James, Robert and Leslie Harrison attended Harper Green School in Farnworth between 1932 and 1940. And things were very different then: pupils left when they were aged 14,
REAL ale lovers are raising their glasses to a Bolton pub's 11th annual beer festival. The Howcroft Inn's beer extravaganza features 215 types of ale, 26 types of lager and seven different ciders. And the first of the 5,000 people expected to visit the
AN exhibition featuring art work created by children and parents will go on show at a family centre this weekend. Rumworth Sure Start centre will become an art gallery between 10am and 1pm on Saturday to exhibit work by people who went on courses at four
BOLTON Council's Countryside Service wants as many people as possible to visit the area's four parks over the weekend. The first challenge is walking from Smithills to Jumbles on Saturday from 10.30am to 2.30pm. The second challenge is from Jumbles to
REAL ale lovers are raising their glasses to a Bolton pub's 11th annual beer festival. The Howcroft Inn's beer extravaganza features 215 types of ale, 26 types of lager and seven different ciders. And the first of the 5,000 people expected to visit the
RUGBY League aces Leigh Centurions will be hailed as heroes at a civic reception for the promoted side next month. The club's achivement in gaining promotion to the Super League will be marked by Wigan Council at Leigh Town Hall on a date yet to be fixed
COUNCIL chiefs are hoping a "high profile dignitary" will visit Farnworth war memorial next year as part of celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. They are hopeful of attracting a VIP guest next summer despite being
WANDERERS manager Sam Allardyce described himself as the happiest man in football on Thursday morning following Gary Speed's decision to retire from international football. But he also warned that if the Whites midfield man was approached to replace outgoing
WANDERERS midfield ace Gary Speed had tears in his eyes as he announced his retirement from international football on Wednesday night. Speed decided to call an end to his Wales career after being substituted 12 minutes from the end of their 3-2 defeat
THE National Trust in the North West has lots to offer visitors at this time of the year. From Cheshire to Cumbria, Lancashire to Liverpool - with houses and garden staying open until early November, and several parklands and estates remaining open all
AS our Stub it Out campaign to ban smoking in Bolton's pubs, restaurant and public buildings gathers support, Kathryn Eccles went to Roscow Fold Primary School in Breightmet to hear the views of the next generation. RHIA WALTON fears for her cigarette
A STRATEGY to make health staff happier in their workhas been launched at the Reebok Stadium. The Bolton Primary Care Trust launched the scheme to make life easier for health workers to balance their home and work lives. The aim of the document is to
BULLDOZERS have moved in to create the largest fishing complex in Europe. Work to create a network of canals nearly a mile long has begun at Bradshaw Fisheries as part of a state-of-the-art centre which can be used by anglers with severe disabilities.
A NEW alcohol ban has come into force in Little Lever with people facing fines of up to £80 if they drink on the streets. Police hope the scheme will cut down on anti-social behaviour caused by excessive drinking and improve the quality of life for people
AN off-duty policeman thwarted an armed robbery at bank by telling a hammer-wielding gang: "You're surrounded." Quick-thinking Andy Maltman, aged 38, said how he spotted the masked men entering the Royal Bank of Scotland in Market Street, Adlington. He
AS our Stub it Out campaign to ban smoking in Bolton's pubs, restaurant and public buildings gathers support, Kathryn Eccles went to Roscow Fold Primary School in Breightmet to hear the views of the next generation. Click Stub It Out for all our stories
FIRE chiefs had been conducting extensive research into introducing lifesaving water rescue equipment two years before a firefighter drowned in a lodge while trying to save a teenager, a court was told. In 1997, Greater Manchester Fire Service had begun
A TEENAGER has been arrested by detectives investigating 14 sex attacks in Greater Manchester. Police believe a serial sex attacker has assaulted women in an area including Openshaw, Gorton, Droylesden and Reddish. Officers say a 17-year-old youth was
PETER Kay's latest DVD has become the fastest seller of the year. That Peter Kay Thing sold 130,000 copies in just two days. And in its first week, more than 150,000 have flown off the shelves. It eclipses sales of the second series of Phoenix Nights
A LEADING advocate of North-west regional government has called on successful business leaders to stand for election to a future North West Assembly. Ruth Turner, Director of Vision 21 and a member of the Labour Party's National Executive, made her comments
WELL now, there is Adam Griffiths of the Red Lion in Over Hulton, front page news (Friday, October 8) and looking pretty pleased with himself in front of his well-polished bottles. Not for him the traditional impartiality of Mine Host - he's jumped straight
I took my grandmother shopping on Saturday, October 9. We went to the market and tried parking on their car park (she has a disability card to park free). When trying to find a disabled parking spot we couldn't find any free ones, but there were normal
UKIP agrees with Labour Cllr Cliff Morris, who has said that both Lib Dems and the Conservative councillors had a chance to suggest alternative budgets. However, it seems that neither was brave enough to do so as the local elections drew near. One of
LANCASHIRE and England seam bowler Peter Martin on Thursday announced his retirement from the first-class game due to a persistent knee injury which kept him out of the majority of last season. Martin, aged 35, said: "I have battled all last season with
SMOKING is to be banned in Bolton town centre's Crompton Place shopping centre. People flouting the ban, which comes come in to force on Friday, October 29, will face being evicted. The ban has been announced a week after the Bolton Evening News launched
WANDERERS boss Sam Allardyce suggests Gary Speed, currently being touted as a future Wales boss, should take a leaf out of Alan Shearer's book, and retire from international football first! Allardyce is also set to advise his midfield star to concentrate
PUPILS at a Blackrod school are hoping to put big smiles on the faces of underprivileged children this Christmas with their response to a shoe box appeal. Blackrod Primary School has collected more than 200 shoe boxes containing Christmas gifts for children
WESTHOUGHTON Community Centre is offering free five week taster sessions in information technology. The sessions include topics such as How to use a Mouse and Keyboard and get to know email and internet. The sessions will be held on Wednesdays 3.30 pm
A GARDEN in Harper Green is being given a makeover as part of a new ITV show. Camera crews have this week been filming the progress of the transformation of the garden in the aptly-named Daisy Avenue. The work carried out to renovate the garden will be
A FIREFIGHTER charged with causing death by dangerous driving while answering a 999 call has appeared in court. Ian Robertson, aged 42, of Alderbank Close, Kearsley, appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, accused of causing the death of
DRINKERS in Bolton are being asked to nominate a pub in the town as Britain's most haunted pub. With just over three weeks to Halloween, people are being asked to look out for tell-tale signs of haunting in their local pub, such as cold spots, unexplained
BOLTON South-east MP Brian Iddon has welcomed the Government's announcement that all British passport holders over 75 will be eligible for free ten-year passports from October 18 because of their wartime efforts. Dr Iddon said: "I'm very pleased that
AN exhibition featuring art work created by children and parents will go on show at a family centre this weekend. Rumworth Sure Start centre will become an art gallery between 10am and 1pm on Saturday to exhibit work by people who went on courses at four
VANDALS ran riot damaging several cars in Atherton. Neighbours living in Mealhouse Lane and Gloucester Street were woken at 1.30am on Wednesday by a gang of youths. The yobs smashed a car windscreen, tore off mirrors and windscreen wipers, clambered over
CHARITY fundraiser David Mason has completed his latest swim to raise money for the Mayor of Bolton's charities. The 47-year-old, who has been paralysed down his left side since birth, has raised more than £11,000 for several charities over the last 24
MOTORISTS suffered rush hour delays after two vehicles collided in Bolton town centre on Wednesday. A Rover and a BMW collided on Bradford Street, close to its junction with St Peter's Way at 4.10pm. Firefighters were called to the scene, where they gave
THE headmistress of a leading independent school in Liverpool has been appointed to take over at Bolton School Girls' Division. Gill Richards, headmistress of The Belvedere School, will take over as head of the Girls Division next September, when current
A NEW £600,000 mosque is set to rise into the Bolton skyline after building work began on Wednesday. Olympic boxing sensation Amir Khan laid the foundation stone for the mosque on land off Laburnum Street. The two storey mosque will be 50 metres long
PETER Kay's latest DVD has become the fastest seller of the year. That Peter Kay Thing sold 130,000 copies in just two days. And in its first week, more than 150,000 have flown off the shelves. It eclipses sales of the second series of Phoenix Nights
BOLTON Lads and Girls Club is to appoint a fundraising chief to raise cash for the centre's growing membership. The Spa Road complex needs to find £200,000 every year to finance its ever-increasing numbers. Bolton companies Nick Hopkinson and Scott Dawson
BOLTON will adopt a distinctly European flavour as a continental market takes over Victoria Square from Thursday. More than 30 stallholders from France, Belgium, Spain and Italy are setting up their pitches now ready for the first day of trading. Produce
A SERIES of police raids on known offenders has seen crime rates plummet by half. Officers arrested 23 people whom they believe to be among the most prolific car criminals and burglars in three areas of Bolton following an intelligence-gathering exercise
DUNSCAR war memorial could be made a listed building to protect it from housing developers. David Crausby, MP for Bolton North-east, has made a personal plea to the Government's Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell asking her to bestow the status on the protected
BOLTON Libraries have announced a further addition to their popular reading circles. From Monday, residents will be invited to talk about their favourite reads over coffee at Tonge Moor Library. Members read whatever they enjoy and come along to share
MESSAGES of congratulation have come flooding in to Leigh Centurions after they finally won their long battle to be promoted to Super League. But none will take more pride of place in the Centurions boardroom then the one received on Wednesday from Prime
DOES anybody else have my problems regarding bogus callers, who when you pick up the phone just hang up? I am 35 and find it quite disturbing! What about the elderly? Some people phone me up and try to sell me a mobile phone. I have to tell them to get
USED car traders who turn grass verges and pavements in Bolton into car sales "forecourts" could soon be outlawed. Council chiefs are looking at ways of banishing the unofficial dealers who they claim cause a menace to road users and residents. An ever-increasing
HOUSE prices in Bolton have soared by 62 per cent over the last eight years - but it is still one of the cheapest towns to buy a home in the North West. Two new housing surveys have recorded a sharp rise in house prices in the borough. According to the
THE National Trust in the North West has lots to offer visitors at this time of the year. From Cheshire to Cumbria, Lancashire to Liverpool - with houses and garden staying open until early November, and several parklands and estates remaining open all
MORE than £1 million in grants has been spent on family homes in Bolton South-east to help them keep warm through the winter. MP Brian Iddon claims around 1,321 households have become warmer and more energy efficient since April 2003, because of the funding
A £500,000 pound project to build new passenger facilities at a popular railway station in Bolton will begin next year. A new ticket office, toilet facilities and CCTV cameras will be installed at Horwich Parkway station. The new ticket office will be
A YOUNG man who has been battling cancer is close to beating it - and is urging people who suspect they have a tumour to report it immediately. Lee Fairclough, aged 24, has been given the preliminary all-clear after he found a lump in his testicle 18
FIREBUGS are targetting wheelie bins to use them in burglaries and to help take away stolen goods and drugs. They are being used by burglars as ladders to gain access to low level windows and to scale garden walls. The bins are also being placed next
