FORMER Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce has left his role as Blackburn Rovers boss. His final game in charge of the Ewood Park club proved to be Sunday's 2-1 defeat to the Whites at the Reebok Stadium. In a shock move, new owners the
YOUNGSTERS boarded the Santa Express at the weekend to be whisked off to see Father Christmas in his grotto. Children headed for Moss Bank Park to meet and greet Santa in what has become a popular traditional festive treat for youngsters and
RECENT references on this page to the new Bolton Lives Gallery at Bolton Museum, Aquarium and Archive prompted a response from Stuart Whittle, chairman at the Horwich Heritage Centre in Beaumont Road. Stuart invited me to have a look round the
BOLTONIANS should be grateful that they do not have to deal with some of the problems faced by people in other parts of the world. Remote villages in east India, for instance, have had to cope with 70 drunken elephants. They found a fermented
IT is interesting to see that government cuts are forcing reductions in police numbers at the same time that the Justice Secretary, Ken Clarke, wants to slash the numbers of people locked up in jail. This must be that “joinedup thinking” you
CAN you have too much local democracy? I find myself agreeing with the view of Cllr David Wilkinson, pictured, that it would be “lunacy” to hand planning power to residents – a “Big Society” idea floated by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles
LIFE is pretty grim in Coronation Street at the moment. I have not seen all the 50th anniversary programmes, but I gather the famous television soap has featured an explosion, a tram crash, death and destruction. Meanwhile, in the real world
VARIOUS people I know are reluctant to believe it when I tell them that coach parties come from other parts of the country to visit the fair town of Bolton. Those who think the town is a dump must be mystified to learn that Bolton Market hosted
A BROADBAND infrastructure survey has been launched by Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Manchester Digital. The aim of the survey is to find out howbusinesses across Greater Manchester use the internet. The launch follows
VOLUNTEERS from a Bolton building firm have exchanged the baking heat of Africa for the colder temperatures of Bolton. For Seddons’ employees Andy Ogden and Ben Winstanley have just returned to the wintry North West after completing a month
IF the minimum wage were a living wage, it would not be necessary for those in full time work to claim tax credits to make up their money. If our capitalist system were the resounding success that David James likes to think it is, it would not be
I WOULD like to thank a barmaid (named Shirley or Shelley), who works at The Elephant and Castle pub, in Bolton. On Tuesday night I drove from London, where I live, to meet up with my brother. I left my handbag on the back of the chair with £1,000
MR Langdon's letter made a number of good points; basically, we are all in this together, the problem occurred over time and was the fault of a number of past governments. However, the suggestion of an all party approach leaves me concerned.
LAST Sunday morning, I was taking my dog for a walk. I turned up the footpath that passes Gary Neville’s mansion that looms over Harwood. As I moved out of the wooded valley, I was struck with awe when I came upon a family of five wild deer grazing
MR Steve Jones is quite correct when he says that the invasion of Iraq by the USA, the UK, and others, was all about oil, but the invasion of Afghanistan was about the elimination of the Al Qaida and Osama bin Laden after the horrors of 9/11.
I WANTED to dispose on an old suite at the recycling point at Raikes Lane. I loaded up the rented van with my old suite and made my way to Raikes Lane for its safe disposal. Upon my arrival at the site I was met at the gates by a man who said I
I AM sure we all would like to see the council saving all the money it can. However, I am appalled that a reader who does not have the courage to include their name should accuse all members of the council over 60 years of age of fraud without
IN my last letter, I said I would be amazed if anyone in government would make it easier to find which is the cheapest gas and electricity for the consumer. Well, this week I received a phone call from the Ministry to inform me that, from next
THE un-named author of “How dare they spend cash on poster campaign?” (December 7) questions the value of promoting Bolton, in Bury, at a time when the council needs to save money. The reality is that this campaign is resourced by the town
I READ with interest the piece in Bolton News about United Utilities employing tankers to provide water for households during shortages, of course this a cost effective measure for the company so that they can still pay dividends out to their
THE strangest thing has happened; the country has gone to war, but only on a Saturday and Sunday evening from about 8pm, for an hour or two. Either that or the X Factor has taken over. Only during historic moments in TV history have I known such
A MOTHER took her son out of school after he was punished for accessing pornographic material on a school computer. Westhoughton High School told Shirley Ann Burton they had filters in place to stop pupils looking at inappropriate material.
The Bolton News’s We’re Backing Bolton campaign is hotting up—with the support of a host of TV favourites. Celebrity chefs The Hairy Bikers, James Martin and Gino D’Acampo rate the town as a “tasty dish” after wowing crowds at this year’s Bolton
IT’S time to decide which school has the X-Mas Factor! Every day last week, talented young singers from seven schools across Bolton were featured spreading a little festive spirit and wowing readers with their rendition of Christmas songs —
YOUNGSTERS can make the most of their time off school over Christmas by meeting newfriends at the Bolton Council of Mosques youth club in Vicarage Street, on December 23 and 30. Call 01204 363680 for more details
PEOPLE who overindulge themselves at Christmas time are being encouraged to walk it off. A four-mile walk from Moss Bank Park car park, past Smithills Hall and over to BarrowBridge and back, will take place on December 26, at 2pm. For more details
FIREFIGHTERS were left scratching their heads after a man was reportedly trapped in a car — but found no-one there. A crew from Bolton fire station were called to Blackburn Road between Egerton and Darwen at 6.30am yesterday by a man who said
A HOUSE was gutted in a blaze after a suspected arson attack. Police are investigating the fire, which started at about 2am last Friday morning at a house in Hillcrest Avenue, Leigh. The alarmwas raised when next door neighbours noticed smoke
THIEVES broke into and damaged 27 caravans on a compound in Radcliffe and escaped with a haul of electrical goods. Staff from JR Leisure ar r ived at Castlecro f t caravan storage site on Saturday morning and discovered intruders had caused
BOLTONMPDavid Crausby has challenged the Prime Minister David Cameron over the rising cost of fuel bills. During Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Crausby, pictured, raised the fact profit margins for energy companies have recently risen by 38
WEEKEND fun was in abundance at Leverhulme Park Community Leisure Centre. Excited youngsters jumped for joy on the bouncy castle, tried their hand at being a Gladiator-style fighter while testing out their racing skills on the Go-karting track
A CENTURY after the Pretoria Pit tragedy, the lives lost in the disaster and the devastating impact it had on the people of Westhoughton, has been brought to life by schoolchildren. As part of a special project on the 100th anniversary of
GRUDGING paise from Sam Allardyce was music to the ears of Wanderers captain Kevin Davies as his side celebrated their first home win over Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League since 1998. “Sick is an understatement,” said the former Whites boss in
A CAMPAIGNER whose daughter was knocked down on a Horwich road has taken his fight to the Mayor of Bolton. Andrew McGarry presented a petition with more 200 signatures to the Mayor, Cllr John Byrne, last week urging the council to install measures
BOLTON Advanced Motorists have welcomed the news that Justice Secretary Ken Clarke is willing to look at the sentences handed out to dangerous drivers who seriously injure their victims. The group, which was one of the early backers of The
THE cream of Bolton Council staff will be rewarded for their efforts at a glittering ceremony this week. The Bolton’s Best awards, sponsored by De Vere Whites Hotel, celebrate the work staff do to help the council improve the quality of life
PALS of Ollie Dowie are “getting shirty” to help the teenager raise money for his mum’s new charity — Boot Out Breast Cancer. Ollie, aged 17, whose mum, Debbie, overcame the disease last year, organised a wacky shirts day at Bolton School where
AMANwas taken to hospital with a head injury after he was in collision with a car in Chruch Street, Little Lever. at about 5.15pm yesterday. The man, who is thought to be about 35-years-old, was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital. His injuries
UP to 1,000 people were evacuated from a supermarket and shopping centre after an explosion left eight people injured. Shoppers ran out in panic from the Ellesmere Centre in Bolton Road, Walkden, after a fridge apparently exploded in the new
A MURDER inquiry has been launched after a man from Farnworth was found dead on a canal bridge 20 miles away. Paul Begley, aged 43, was found by dog walkers just after 8.30am on Saturday morning. His body was discovered on a canal bridge
FABRICE Muamba admits he was relieved to put to bed one of Wanderers’ most unwanted jinxes with his goal in the Lancashire derby. Not since 1998 had the Whites secured three Premier League points on home soil against their rivals, and they had also failed
STUART Holden never saw his derby winner hit the back of the net – but still rates it among the best moments of his footballing career. The US international’s stunning strike handed Wanderers their first victory over Sam Allardyce since he walked out
A MAGICAL FAIRYLAND By Claire Stevens - 2008 The sun is brightly shining in a clear blue sky. Jack Frost has been very busy over night. The roofs, trees and gardens, are shimmering in white, and glittering like diamonds in
Had Owen Coyle wanted to match Blackburn Rovers’ muscle, their physicality, he would no doubt have started the match with Fabrice Muamba in the middle of the park. But a firm believer in his own team’s footballing abilities, Coyle sent out
