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Lancashire | Archive | 2006 | February

Stories for 20 February 2006

Accrington News

Teenage rapist gets two-year jail term

AN 18-year-old who raped a frightened teenager twice on successive days was today starting a two-year jail term. more...

Official go-ahead for new health centre

PLANS for a new, multi-million pound health centre in a deprived area of Accrington have been backed by Hyndburn Council. more...

Fraudster jailed

A MAN who escaped a jail term after a £6,250 betting shop scam is now behind bars after flouting the community order he was given for the third time. more...

Town tribute to `Pals' heroes

THE HEROIC sacrifice made by the Accrington Pals was commemorated in the same church that held a service to mark the departure of the conscripts to war 91 years ago. more...

MP's vow over shut library

GREG Pope has launched a campaign to make sure the library building in Church Kirk is saved for community use following its closure. more...

Blackburn News

Residents fight `noisy' St Wilf's music licence

PENSIONERS have urged council bosses to ban productions at a school after claiming the noise of Spice Girls songs and other performances is keeping them awake. more...

600 march in protest at cartoons

MORE than 600 Muslims carried out a peaceful protest in Blackburn town centre against controversial cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed as a terrorist. more...

Knifepoint robbers jailed

TWO Blackburn men involved in a fraud selling luxury items at bargain prices have each been jailed for four years. more...

Blackpool Leisure

Grand time for Spring shows

Dirty Den and Derren Brown will be amongst the stars at Blackpool's Grand Theatre as it celebrates a special anniversary this spring. more...

Bolton Business

Business is on the menu

RED tape, pensions, innovation and takeovers are some of the topics considered for discussion in a panel debate chaired by Mark Edwardson from BBC GMR. more...

£400,000 paid back as reward for revenue rise

BOLTON is to receive a cash windfall of nearly £400,000 from the Government to encourage business growth. more...

Bolton Leisure

Peter Kay tops the chips poll

BRITS would rather share their chips with Bolton comedian Peter Kay than with Hollywood heartthrob, Brad Pitt. more...

Churches unite for Fair Trade

CHURCHES of different denominations are coming together in Astley Bridge to promote Fair Trade fortnight starting March 6. more...

Reality TV fever sets in

REALITY TV fever gripped the region as wannabe stars from Bolton and beyond flocked to auditions for two of the hottest shows on the air. more...

Park's holiday boredom busters

EVENTS have been lined up at Moses Gate Park to keep youngsters amused during the half term holiday. more...

Bolton News

Remembering the hundreds who died on the Somme

A MEMORIAL service to the hundreds of young men from Lancashire who died on the Somme battlefield during the First World War was held in their home town on Sunday. more...

Mums and babies are staying in tune

NEVER mind listening to Westlife - eight out of 10 babies in Bolton are cultivating a taste for classical music as they settle down for their afternoon nap. more...

Man loses his fight to stay in family home

A GRIEVING man facing eviction from his family home because his parents have died has lost his battle to stay. more...

Residents' joy as road closure plan is thrown out

JUBILANT residents are celebrating after planners threw out proposals by Bolton School to close a road as part of its £10 million expansion plans. more...

Delay in mum deaths probe

A PROBE into the deaths of three mothers at the Royal Bolton Hospital has been delayed because health chiefs underestimated how long the investigation would take. more...

Health chief in line for 100pc pay rise

ONE of Bolton's most senior health figures is in line for a 100 per cent pay increase. more...

Violent robber goes on the run

A VIOLENT robber serving time for targeting a Bolton jewellers as part of a hammer gang has gone on the run. more...

Funeral of hit and run victim

THE funeral of a Bolton mother of two who was killed by a hit and run driver is being held on Friday. more...

Drunken louts targeted by police

DRUNKEN teenagers face being fined on-the-spot and having their booze stashes seized as part of a crackdown on drink-fuelled nuisance. more...

Park revamp in heart of Horwich

A SERIES of events are being put on later this year as part of plans to breathe new life into a park in the heart of Horwich. more...

Cataracts link with smoking, says doctors

BOLTON'S top eye doctor says there is a link between smoking and cataracts. more...

More than 2,000 back the campaign

MORE than 2,000 people have so far pledged their support for the Bolton Evening News Back The Baby Unit campaign. more...

Plenty of fun in a rainy half-term

PERHAPS Karen Stephen chooses to pump her children full of sugary, fizzy drinks, stuff them with additive-enhanced food, cram them into the car and cinema and expect them to watch mindless cartoons during a rainy half-term, but the rest of us have different ideas. more...

Boy, 13, threw brick through bus window

A YOUNG tearaway committed a string of offences which included hurling a brick through a bus window, a court was told. more...

Officials put in hot seat over traffic

RESIDENTS are to be given the opportunity to quiz Bolton councillors and officials about plans to tackle traffic problems in Crown Lane, Horwich. more...

Testing kit will help drink fight

A NEW weapon in the fight against booze-fuelled nuisance looks set to be used by police in Bolton. more...

Nightmare neighbour is thrown out of her home

A NIGHTMARE neighbour has been evicted from her council home because of her anti-social behaviour. more...

Holiday crackdown on louts

THUGS and vandals in Leigh will be targeted during a three-month crackdown on anti social behaviour. more...

War veteran's funeral

THE funeral of a well-known Bromley Cross war veteran will take place on Tuesday. more...

Residents' joy as flats bid is refused

RESIDENTS are celebrating victory in their fight to stop a developer building five blocks of flats in a former railway cutting. more...

Man, 35, dies after being hit by minibus

A MAN who was knocked down by a private hire minibus has died. more...

Groups get help to tackle vehicle crime

COMMUNITY groups in Bury who want to reduce vehicle related crime in their area are being offered a new advice and training pack. more...

Sports award nominations up

NOMINATIONS for the 2006 Bolton Sports and Physical Activity Awards are up by 50 per cent on last year, organisers have revealed. more...

New skills for young mothers

YOUNG mothers will be given the opportunity to learn new skills and meet similar people following the relaunch of popular Bury support scheme. more...

After school club plea

A BOLTON woman is appealing for help to set up a children's after school club. more...

Appeal to find dead man's family

THE coroner's office in Bolton is trying to trace the relatives of a man who was found dead at his home. more...

Booze ban on every street

PLANS to ban booze on every street in Bolton have been drawn up by police and council chiefs. more...

Stubbing it out paid for my £19,500 loco

I WAS pleased to read the excellent article by reporter Jane Lavender on the subject of smoking. more...

Disabled folk prefer carers from council

COUNCILLOR R Ronson is probably right to say Bolton Council's in-house care service for elderly and vulnerable people needed to be reorganised. more...

Pubs all the better with no smokers

AS a person who occasionally uses pubs in the town centre, and who has previously smoked, I feel I have to comment on the smoking ban about to be implemented by the government. more...

Our children deserve safe place to play

I AM writing to you about youngsters having to wait until the summer to see if a play area will be approved by Bolton Council. more...

A weighty question for one job hunter

THE article on the front page of the Bolton Evening News on February 10 (You're too fat to drive a bus), concerning Stuart Wood, who failed in his application to become a bus driver because of his weight, reminded me of an incident I witnessed a few years ago. more...

Care workers feel like we are invisible

I HAVE come to realise that I and other home care workers have been invisible, if the letter from Cllr R Ronson is anything to go by. more...

Ming will get our vote

As members of the European Parliament, we are acutely aware that the old boundary between domestic and foreign policy is fast disappearing. more...

Weekend work is nothing new

I have just read the letter from Cllr Ronson (Changes were needed on care sevices, February 15), who says the changes are being made so that older people will receive help at home seven days a week, not five. more...

Ban is not a popular cause

THE population of Bolton in 2000 was 280,000, of whom approximately 70 per cent do not smoke. more...

The part of Bolton labelled ' unhealthy'

PEOPLE living in a part of Bolton are the sixth unhealthiest in England and Wales. more...

Bolton Sport

Cheers to the beers

FOLLOWING on from the success of last year's festival, the Bury FC Supporters Trust, Forever Bury, will be hosting the Forever Bury Beer Festival 2006 in the social club at Bury's Gigg Lane home at the weekend. more...

Bad break for Shakers' keeper

SHAKERS 0 BARNET 0: Luckless Bury stretched their winless streak to six games - but manager Chris Casper was left cursing another goalkeeping injury. more...

Vital point as Leigh go on the defensive

STAFFORD RANGERS 0, LEIGH RMI 0: RMI produced a superb rearguard action to secure a valuable point against runaway leaders Stafford. more...

Mane haunts his old club Rovers

FORMER LR player Mane McKenzie scored against his old employers to stretch their winless run to seven games. more...

Shot-shy Boro pay heavy price

OSSETT TOWN 2, RADCLIFFE BORO 0: Boro paid the price for their lack of strikers, as they slipped deeper into the relegation zone with defeat in Yorkshire. more...

Battling Leigh edge out rivals

LEIGH CENTURIONS 27, WIDNES VIKINGS 20: Centurions maintained their perfect start to their Northern Rail Cup campaign with a crucial victory over likely promotion rivals Widnes. more...

Centurions draw Russians in cup

LEIGH Centurions have a home draw against Russian side Strela Kazan in the third round of the Powergen Challenge Cup. more...

Sports award nominations up

NOMINATIONS for the 2006 Bolton Sports and Physical Activity Awards are up by 50 per cent on last year, organisers have revealed. more...

Giants heading for title

BELFAST Giants can win the Elite League against Cardiff at the Odyssey Arena on Wednesday night after they won on Sunday and challengers Newcastle lost. more...

Fans force Amir to beat hasty retreat

AMIR Khan had to be whisked away from the Everton Park arena after the crowd turned on him on Saturday night. more...

Green light for Phoenix ice rink at last

MANCHESTER Phoenix ice hockey fans are celebrating a new future for the club and ice sports in general, following full approval of plans for a new ice rink in Altrincham more...

Bolton Wanderers

The Big Match Verdict by Gordon Sharrock

HONESTY may well be the best policy, but try telling that to Stelios. more...

Sam's waiting game for England job

SAM Allardyce must wait until next month, at the earliest, before knowing if he is to be an official contender for the England manager's job. more...

Sam not worried about fixture pile-up

SAM Allardyce was in bullish mood on Monday as Wanderers faced the prospect of playing four games in eight days next month. more...

Wanderers away in sixth round of FA Cup

WANDERERS' cup luck deserted them in the draw for the sixth round of the FA Cup on Monday lunchtime when they were drawn to travel to meet the winners of the Aston Villa-Manchester City replay if they beat West Ham in their fifth round replay at Upton Park. more...

Top marks for Ricardo

BOLTON Wanderers star Ricardo Gardner paid a visit to a school - and picked up an award from Education Secretary Ruth Kelly. more...

Burnley News

Car thief says sorry to vicar

A VICAR whose defrosting vehicle was taken by a thief sent a judge a letter as the culprit faced sentence. more...

It's as easy as ABC for police

TWO youths from the Trinity area of Burnley have been given Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) by the police and council as part of an ongoing drive to reduce crime and grime in the area. more...

Creche for town's shoppers

A NEW playgroup and creche could be the answer to boosting trade in Burnley, town centre bosses said today. more...

Police clamp on rowdies outside pub

POLICE have used new powers to send nuisance youths packing from outside a Burnley pub. more...

Arsonists slammed for targeting mill again

YOUTHS have been blamed for a blaze at a former Burnley furniture factory last night. more...

Mark handed bug-fight prize

A SLOGAN thought up by a Burnley matron is to go on posters throughout hospitals in the country urging patients to help in the fight against superbug MRSA. more...

Bury Education

Schools D-Day - but by invitation only!

BURY'S threatened high schools will face their D-Day on February 28 - and the date with destiny is by invitation only. more...

Bury Leisure

Cheers to the beers

Bury News

Groups get help to tackle vehicle crime

COMMUNITY groups in Bury who want to reduce vehicle related crime in their area are being offered a new advice and training pack. more...

Bury Sport

Shakers make vital point

SHAKERS 0 BARNET 0: Three goals were disallowed as relegation-threatened Bury earned a valuable point at home to fellow strugglers Barnet. more...

Bad break for Shakers' keeper

SHAKERS 0 BARNET 0: Luckless Bury stretched their winless streak to six games - but manager Chris Casper was left cursing another goalkeeping injury. more...

Chorley Sport

Chorley 1 Stocksbridge 1

WITH both teams eyeing a play-offs spot, this was a predictably tight encounter but Stocksbridge will be happier with a point than the Magpies, who missed out on the chance to close the five-point gap between the two clubs. more...

Clarets Sport

American waits for chance to shine

YOUNG American Danny Karbassiyoon is determined to finally kick-start his career in England at Burnley. more...

Cotterill: Back us for the run-in

SEVE Cotterill has made an impassioned plea for fans to back Burnley to the hilt as he gears up for the final 12 games of the Championship season. more...

Clitheroe News

Drink drive mother 4 times limit

A WOMAN who attracted the attention of a police officer because she was struggling to park her car was found to be more than four times the legal drink drive limit, a court was told. more...

Colne News

Trainer footprints help catch burglar

A BURGLAR caught out by footprints from his trainers claimed a man had borrowed them and committed the raid. more...

Darwen News

Food festival first for town

TOURISM chiefs hope to attract thousands of people to Darwen later this year when the town hosts its first ever food festival. more...

Pensioners campaign for bus re-routing

MORE than 100 pensioners have signed a petition campaigning for buses to be re-routed down their road after timetable changes left them facing longer walks. more...

School fears over dog bin

A BIN overflowing with bags of dog dirt outside a primary school has sparked outrage over hygiene. more...

Lancashire Business

Role play class war

EAST Lancashire primary school teachers are being forced to take on extra roles for nothing by heads looking to slash their wage bills, unions have claimed. more...

Jobseekers hope Time is right for them

ALMOST 100 hopefuls turned up for the chance of jobs created by the firm which rescued the Time computer brand from the ashes. more...

Businessmen get together

A group has been set up to help small East Lancashire businesses work together. more...

Lancashire Leisure

Single review: Spank Rock - Rick Rubin (Big Dada)

Baltimore trio Spank Rock's new single sounds nothing like the work of legendary producer Rick Rubin, who has produced artists as varied as Run DMC, Slipknot and Shakira. But this track is just as diverse. more...

Dave keeps magic of the '60s alive

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich was a name that tripped easily off the tongue for pop fans in the Swinging '60s. They're still going strong and coming to Preston on April 6. more...

Single Review: Alkaline Trio - Burn (Vagrant)

Their last single, Mercy Me, strayed dangerously towards manufactured pop-punk territory, but this new release from Chicago rockers Alkaline Trio is a satisfying return to serious head banging, death-obsessed action. more...

Get drunk on a bevy of blues!

BLUES fans can look forward to three days of world-class performers with the arrival of the 18th annual Burnley National Blues Festival on Easter Bank Holiday (April 14 to 16). more...

Ghetto heaven

The Ghettobillies are a raucous, crazy mix of lustful country funk and disco bluegrass. All the way from Chicago, they're coming to the Burnley on February 25. more...

Single review: The Fallout Trust - Washout (At Large)

The intro to Washout is so similar to Razorlight's Golden Touch, you half expect Johnny Borrell to chip in any second. more...

Single review: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Is This Home On Ice (Wichita)

For those sat in an office watching the clouds outside while trying to maintain interest in their computer screen, this is not a good soundtrack. more...

Zutons en route

Liverpool indie five-piece The Zutons are back with a new single, album and a tour that's coming to Preston on May 6. more...

Rhythm Sticks at the ready for festival

ONE of the UK's most influential new wave bands has been announced as the headline act for this year's Darwen Live festival on May 29. more...

Album review: Neil Diamond - 12 Songs (Columbia)

HAVING worked his magic and brought Johnny Cash to a new generation of music lovers, producer Rick Rubin is attempting to repeat the trick with Neil Diamond. more...

Album review: Chris Brown - Chris Brown (BMG)

One listen to Chris's 16-year old voice and you're tempted to draw comparisons. more...

Album review: Ray Davies - Other People's Lives (V2)

BELIEVE it or not, this is the former Kink's first solo album. more...

Album review: Johnny Mathis - The Very Best Of (BMG)

ONE of the most distinctive voices and with an impressive back-catalogue of great songs. more...

Degrees show for Numan

Electro-pop pioneer Gary Numan is gearing up to release his first new studio album in over five years, and he's following it up with a tour that calls at Preston on April 22. more...

Delays on the way

Guitar-pop fabulists Delays play Preston on February 24 as part of a massive 19-date UK tour in support of their new album You See Colours. more...

Free Crimea show

Indie stars The Crimea and Clearlake are putting on a free show in Preston on March 5. more...

Album review: Richard Ashcroft - Keys to the World (Parlophone)

His third solo release since the demise of The Verve, Ashcroft's Keys To The World bears all the hallmarks of a great pop-rock album, but then leaves a rather unpleasant after-taste. more...

Lancashire News

On the hedge of war

A neighbour has become the first resident in East Lancashire to be ordered to chop down trees under new anti-social behaviour laws. more...

Residents fight `noisy' St Wilf's music licence

PENSIONERS have urged council bosses to ban productions at a school after claiming the noise of Spice Girls songs and other performances is keeping them awake. more...

Science is a vital subject

A lot of subjects now commonly taken at GCSE and A level were unheard of a generation ago. more...

Lancashire Sport

Cotterill: Back us for the run-in

SEVE Cotterill has made an impassioned plea for fans to back Burnley to the hilt as he gears up for the final 12 games of the Championship season. more...

Bellamy: I'm here to stay

BLACKBURN striker Craig Bellamy today said I'm here for the long haul' as he outlined his plan to help transform Rovers into a leading Premiership force. more...

Leigh News

Holiday crackdown on louts

THUGS and vandals in Leigh will be targeted during a three-month crackdown on anti social behaviour. more...

Leigh Sport

Battling Leigh edge out rivals

LEIGH CENTURIONS 27, WIDNES VIKINGS 20: Centurions maintained their perfect start to their Northern Rail Cup campaign with a crucial victory over likely promotion rivals Widnes. more...

Nelson News

Hope of new life for historic area

AN historic area of Nelson could get a £600,000 cash boost, helping to create job and business oppor-tunities. more...

Sleeping pills led to arson threat

A sleeping pill addict attacked his mother then armed himself with petrol and threatened to torch their house. more...

Northend Sport

Preston North End 0 Middlesbrough 2

TWO clinical finished from Yakubu were enough to end Preston's cup dream - and their run of 25-game unbeaten run. more...

Prestwich,Bury Leisure

Society's second dinner

TICKETS for the annual Fairfield Baby Lifeline Society dinner are on sale in a bid to raise money for Fairfield Hospital's special care baby unit. more...

Group's art on view at library

AN art exhibition is being held at Prestwich Library, displaying the talents of the Friday Art Club. more...

Prestwich,Bury News

College will still be axed

THE proposed closure of Prestwich Arts College WILL go ahead as planned in 2011. more...

Prestwich,Bury Sport

Tigers make their point at last

SEDGLEY PARK 35, NEWBURY 35: Tigers finally halted their dismal run of defeats, claiming a share of the spoils in this home draw with middle of the table Newbury. more...

The Sharks Jet in at the double

WITH players falling like ninepins at the moment, Sedgley Park have turned to Guinness Premiership neighbours Sale Sharks for some urgent temporary replacements, with the Whitefield club signing two of the Sharks' stars of the future on loan for the remainder of this season. more...

Rawtenstall News

Fears over £40m development

CIVIC leaders fear a £40million plan to regenerate Rawtenstall Town Centre would see developers "taking over Rawtenstall". more...

Flying high like heroes

MANAGERS at Ski Rossendale say the winter Olympics has inspired young hopefuls to flock to the slopes to learn skiing and snowboarding. more...

Young yobs pay price for vandal attacks

THREE yobs have been hit in the pocket after a police investigation into a "mini crime spree" in the Greensnook area of Bacup. more...

Council tax rise could be 2.2 percent

COUNCIL tax increases in Rossendale could be as little as 2.2 per cent the lowest to be announced in Lancashire so far. more...

Rovers Sport

Why Rovers is safe haven for Craig

IT'S one o'clock on a Thursday afternoon and Blackburn Rovers' Brockhall training ground is abuzz with talk of the previous night's victory over Manchester United in the Premiership. more...

Bellamy: I'm here to stay

BLACKBURN striker Craig Bellamy today said I'm here for the long haul' as he outlined his plan to help transform Rovers into a leading Premiership force. more...

Rovers' striker insurance fight

Blackburn Rovers will today continue their fight today for a £4million insurance pay-out after striker Martin Dahlin's career was ended by injury. more...

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