Leigh Journal | News, sport, education, business, leisure, in the Leigh area

Stories for 29 October 1997

Bolton News

From the BEN files

BOLTON Wanderers' chairman, Mr John Banks is aiming to put entertainment back into soccer and will win back fans by supporting a 'points for goals' plan. Mr Banks, who originated the idea to regionalise soccer two years ago to provide more derby games, is perturbed by poor attendances, not only at Burnden Park, but throughout the Third and Fourth Divisions. The Bolton chief's plan for giving points for goals is a simple one. He would award two points for each goal, and one point for defence. For example, if a side won 1-0 at home, three points would be awarded, two for the goal and one for the defensive record. A side winning 3-0 at home would get nine points - two for each goal, and three for the defensive record.  more...

Late nights to help busy Christmas shoppers

BOLTON'S town centre traders have thrown shoppers a lifeline to stop them getting "shop-wrecked" this Christmas.  more...

You're never too old to keep fit

KEEPING fit and healthy is MORE important as we get older, not less.  more...

Drugs can kill

THE parents of Andrea Murphy, who had taken the dance floor drug GBH shortly before collapsing at her home, must be going through hell at this time.  more...

Bust those head bugs

HEALTHWISE, the North West's health information service, is promoting "Bug Busting" day on October 31.  more...

Help the elderly

HAVE you got a little time on your hands to offer practical friendship to lonely elderly people?  more...

More security needed

ON Monday we condemned thieves who who had been stealing from grieving relatives at Heaton Cemetery as "the lowest of the low".  more...

Daily poem

Clanking chains and ghostly moans,  more...

Precious memories

SIR: I sent you an e mail about two months ago, and was most surprised when I found out that you had published it as "A Letter to the Editor " for which I thank you most sincerely.  more...

Buskers bidding

SIR: I refer to Cllr Gerald Riley's statement that he was surprised that no one seemed to be mounting a campaign to save the ABC Cinema on Bradshawgate.  more...

Fireworks ban

SIR: I refer to the article (BEN, October 23), and Mrs Primrose's comments on the sale of fireworks.  more...

Helping animals

SIR: On behalf of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), I say a big thank you to all your readers who took part in this year's Animal Action Week between October 4 and 11.  more...

Onus on drivers

SIR: I believe, to get behind the wheel of a car, one should take the same responsibility as a pilot of a jumbo jet!  more...

Blind girl's CD set to storm festive charts

A BRAVE little blind girl, with the voice of an angel, has beaten the odds and recorded a CD, which is being tipped to be a hit at Christmas. And now determined eight-year-old Rachael Prest is hoping one day to fulfil her ambition, and to sing a duet with chart topper Celine Dion. In 1995, Rachael, without warning, went blind during a dream holiday to Disney's Magic Kingdom in Florida.  more...

Safest on the roads

SIR: J Walters seems to imply in his letter (Your views, October 20) that most 60-plus drivers are unfit to be on the roads.  more...

Andy's chat and a cuppa with Ronnie Biggs!

A BOLTON man tracked down great train robber Ronnie Biggs in Brazil... then turned him into a Wanderers fan.  more...

What a cheek!

SIR: What cheek to suggest (J Walter's, Your Views, October 20) that over-60s need to be tested every two years. Older drivers are safer drivers.  more...

Ulcer after vein op woman wins £6,500

A FOSTER mother who was left in excruciating pain after a routine operation has won £6,500 damages from Bolton health bosses.  more...

Crackdown on Bad Boy banger sellers

TRADING standards officers have swooped on rogue firework retailers who have been selling banned bangers. A number of retailers in the borough have been caught selling and stocking Bad Boy Bangers and other makes which are now outlawed as part of new Government legislation. And Bolton's trading standards department has stressed that if retailers continue to sell illegal bangers and mortar shell fireworks and ignore the law they will take appropriate legal action.  more...

Banger man's case thrown out of court

A FIREWORK trader has failed in his High Court bid to challenge a Government ban on some types of bangers for Guy Fawkes night.  more...

Bolton sets sights on Commonwealth Games

LEISURE bosses in Bolton are gearing up to the town playing a major role in the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games. Bolton Council's Leisure Services Department has been in discussion with the games committee to highlight the sporting facilities in the borough which would enhance the games.  more...

Reward to nab the veg poachers

AN unusual reward has been offered to catch a bunch of green fingered thieves. Anyone who can lead police to the people responsible for stealing sack-loads of fresh produce from a Bolton allotment can claim - a parcel of VEGETABLES! Gardeners at the Florence Avenue allotments in Astley Bridge are fed up and a little bemused by the night-time raids.  more...

Arm op Madalina to get well soon

BRAVE Romanian girl Madalina Zapodeanu is recovering after having surgery on her arm.  more...

Arm op Madalina to get well soon

BRAVE Romanian girl Madalina Zapodeanu is recovering after having surgery on her arm.  more...

Attacked firefighters may leave bonfires to burn

FIREFIGHTERS were attacked by a gang of youths at a bonfire in Radcliffe last night.  more...

Bolton Sport

Wanderers wait for winger's all clear

REEBOK officials are still trying to unravel the red tape holding up Franz Carr's registration.  more...

Local rivals draw a blank - again

Radcliffe Boro 0 Leigh RMI 0  more...

Lancashire Business

We helped with Thrust!

THE story of how East Lancashire engineering skills helped set a new world record was the highlight of a technology roadshow.  more...

A Printoff image

A NEW image for a troubled school has been helped by a design firm.  more...

Eurofighter milestone

ANOTHER milestone in the progress of the Eurofighter has been clocked up.  more...

Lancashire Leisure

TEN YEARS AGO: Priest's red light fury

PROSTITUTES were using a priest's doorstep for sex sessions.  more...

FIVE YEARS AGO: Safety firm's jobs boost

THE opening of a national headquarters of a fire safety firm gave East Lancashire a jobs boost.  more...

Lancashire News

Injured girls rescued in church roof drama

TWO schoolgirls were trapped and injured - and almost fell to their deaths - inside an old church.  more...

Decision day on future of old folk's hospital

HEALTH bosses in Burnley were today expected to respond to a huge public outcry by announcing a stay of execution for a day hospital for the elderly which had been earmarked for closure.  more...

No doctor to be had

I WENT into Little Harwood Health Centre, Blackburn, on Monday, October 13, to make a non-urgent appointment for my husband to see the doctor.  more...

A job for the boys

The John Blunt column  more...

Church to assist in the fight

A CONCERNED church is helping parents protect their children from the menace of drugs.  more...

Band will play for a VC hero

A MILITARY band concert will commemorate a Burnley war hero who died saving his pals in the Gallipoli trenches.  more...

Firemen rescue worker trapped in kiln

FIREFIGHTERS crawled more than 250ft in pitch black to rescue a terrified workman from a cement kiln.  more...

Lancs students' alert over meningitis

STUDENTS have been warned to be on their guard against meningitis after a suspected case of the killer bug in the county.  more...

Gary's movie is the big Fish

SHOOTING Fish, the comedy produced by a Blackburn man's company, has been hailed the most successful British independent film ever.  more...

Fire damages paper works

A FIRE ripped through the roof of a Darwen wallpaper factory last night.  more...

Resource centre is brilliant

THANK you for the chance to use your paper to praise the Women's Resource Centre in Blackburn. It is run by a brilliant bunch of people - women from all walks of life.  more...

Kindest cut: Canal's construction gave wildlife a boost

Nature Watch, with Ron Freethy  more...

Heroes line up for awards

POLICE officers and members of the public who showed outstanding bravery were honoured by the Chief Constable last night.  more...

Straw joins bid to stamp out racism in the police

A REPORT which praised police work against racism in Blackburn has prompted Home Secretary Jack Straw to launch a new drive to stamp out racial prejudice in forces throughout the country.  more...

Dan-tastic! Daniel O'Donnell's surprise call on fan Ivy, 84

PENSIONER Ivy Hudson got the surprise of her life when there was a knock at the door - and in walked Daniel O'Donnell.  more...

Sick veterans owed more than apologies

THE LABOUR government may be blowing away much of the secrecy that cloaked its predecessor's approach to claims that hundreds of soldiers were made ill by vaccines given to protect them from chemical and biological weapons during the Gulf War, but for the sick veterans there can only be small satisfaction.  more...

Law should be clear, not back-door euthanasia

TERMINALLY ill with motor neurone disease and with only weeks to live, 47-year-old former actress and singer Annie Lindsell has won her fight for a painless death.  more...

Probe into contracts call by MP

AN EAST Lancashire MP has demanded a full inquiry into allegations about the way multi-million pound contracts with Lancashire County Council were won.  more...

Police probe road horror as husband fights for life

A MAN was fighting for his life today after a road accident which also left his wife badly injured.  more...

Visiting scheme is my lifeline

I WOULD like to praise the 'Caring Neighbourhood Scheme' run by Age Concern in Blackburn. It has been wonderful for me.  more...

Tricky treat of spaghetti eyeballs!

Mark Templeton Surfs the Net  more...

Don't mess with fireworks say victims

TWO schoolboys burned by exploding gunpowder today warned other youngsters: "Don't mess with fireworks".  more...

Farm girl Sarah, 13, wins battle for rare breed shelters

SCHOOLGIRL Sarah Thorpe has melted the hearts of councillors and persuaded them to overturn planning objections - and put her favourite animals first.  more...

Lancashire Sport

ROVERS: Greek star Donis in limbo after Ewood departure

GEORGE Donis's self-imposed exile from top-class football could stretch into the New Year, following his exit from Ewood.  more...

CLARETS: Hot-shot Henderson's not kidding

NON-LEAGUE scoring sensation Kevin Henderson is gunning for a football league career - with Burnley.  more...

RUGBY: Poor display costs dearly

Blackburn 18pts Vale of Lune 31  more...

CLARETS: Preston's ambition won me, says Eyres

EXCLUSIVE, by Tony Dewhurst  more...

  
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