DERELICT buildings could become a deathtrap, firefighters have warned. An empty house awaiting demolition in Brindley Street was set on fire in an arson attack by young vandals. The severe blaze at 5.14am on Sunday morning threatened to spread to a neighbouring
KYLIE Minogue proved why she is the dancing queen of pop on Sunday as her record-breaking Fever tour ended its run at the MEN Arena. There were no signs of that sore throat as she led her audience on a journey into a futuristic world of fantasy. The audience
NANTWICH CC were denied victory by a spirited eighth-wicket stand from rock-bottom Grappenhall, last Saturday. They looked well on course for a second win in their ECB Premier League season if not for a stubborn 63 from Will Sharp. Though at one stage
IN arguably one of the most important moves the club has made, Nantwich Town have secured the future of their highly-rated player-manager Nigel Gleghorn. No mean feat with loftier opposition in Dr Martin's Premier Division's Stafford Rangers and Unbond
THIS letter is aimed at the heartless driver who ran over 'just another cat' while going too fast up Fleet Lane, Parr one Saturday night/Sunday morning. My daughters, aged four, 10 and 13 respectively, will probably get over the death of that cat, Oscar
I RECENTLY attended a concert given by the St Helens Sinfonietta and thoroughly enjoyed it. The programme of music ranged from Maurice Ravel's 'Bolero' to a light-hearted work called 'Simple Symphony' written by Benjamin Brittain in his late teens. The
CRAIG Jones is hoping to clinch an early Superbike championship victory to put his World Cup dream into top gear. Northwich motor cyclist Jones has won three out of four Junior Superstock 600 rounds in the 2002 series, the latest at Oulton Park on Bank
DANNY Buxton walked away unharmed from a terrifying 90 mile-per-hour crash that has put his chances of retaining the Elf Renaultsport Clio Cup in jeopardy. Buxton was fighting for the lead early in the third round of the championship at Thruxton on Bank
NORTHWICH swimmers successfully defended their Gala Trophy at the recent invitation event at their own pool. Teams from Trafford Metro, Runcorn, and Sandbach took part but Northwich stole the show, winning 30 of the 50 events and taking 17 individual
Cricket round-up SKIPPER Alan Bell believes his table-topping Weaverham side is playing their best cricket since he took over as they kept up their unbeaten start. Saturday's 10-wicket win at Old Parkonians was their third in four games in the Meller
BARNTON FC kept one team up and sent another down from Mid Cheshire League Division One in the final week of the season. Last Tuesday they faced former manager Terry Murphy, now at Middlewich Town, who needed to avoid defeat to guarantee survival. Aiden
Bowls round-up MID Cheshire's juniors inspired their county to victory in the first Drakes Pride Inter County Junior Championship match of the season on Sunday. Cheshire beat Staffordshire thanks to the home players at Wharton Cons, who all came from
NEIL Kelly has described his team's trip down to the capital as a 'perfect day' and said that the travelling army of Viking fans helped to make it even more special. The Vikings emerged as victors by a single point from the clash with the London Broncos
Expecting to be challenging for honours, the NSSC Division club are still searching for their first victory after slumping to a 67-run defeat at home to second-placed Burslem, last Saturday. Despite an early breakthrough with captain Steve Lowndes out
WHAT a weekend for Haslington CC! The NSSC Division One club picked up their first win of the season on Saturday over Rode Park and progressed in the Talbot Cup thanks to victory over Sneyd, a day later. Pro Andre Percival was in form to play the major
A play containing "Sixteen scenarios for the theatre" which come together to "evoke a world of power and fear" comes to the Capitol Theatre, Manchester on May 29 to June 1. Attempts On Her Life by Martin Crimp takes fragments from life and slowly pieces
"Feast", a play for the under sevens by the same people who brought you "The Terrible Grump" and "Trouble Underfoot", comes to the Gateway Theatre, Chester from June 5 to 7. Poor King Nibble is fed up with his endless diet of frozen meals - but can he
Eastenders star "Nasty" Nick Cotton, alias John Altman, stars in the smash hit musical Chicago - coming to the Regent Theatre, Stoke-On-Trent from July 15 to 27. Featuring murder, greed, violence, corruption, exploitation, adultery and treachery, Chicago
Ex circus performer Martin Big Pig will be performing at the Rawhide Comedy Club, Liverpool on May 31 and June 1. The tattooed and pierced Northern Irish performer has audiences screaming and laughing in equal measure with his antics. For more information
Linton Kwesi Johnson, the world's first reggae poet, comes to the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool on May 24. LKJ has a new collection out - Mi Revalueshanary Fren, and gives his own perspective on modern Britain. For more information, contact the box office
Roger McGough, one of Britain's best loved poets, comes home on May 25. The former pop singer and now OBE will be appearing at the Everyman, Liverpool. For more ifnormation, telephone 0151 709 4776.
The Tate Liverpool's latest exhibition is Remix: Contemporary Art and Pop, which examines the crossovers between art and muic. It includes portraits of musicians and video installations, and opens on May 25. For more information, visit their website at
INTERNATIONALLY renowned rural landscape and wildlife artist Paul James has brought his narrow boat back to Audlem for his second Festival. The artist leads somewhat of an unusual lifestyle as he lives and works aboard his 70-foot narrow boat called '
A SHOCK bid by developers to bump up the number of homes at Millfields before a vital road link with Welsh Row is provided will bring further traffic problems to the area, claim councillors. Families in Marsh Lane have already staged a protest against
MOVES to introduce a quality public transport system in Middlewich are underway according to a county councillor. Clr Dave Sutton, who represents Middlewich at town, borough and county level, has hit back after claims last week that the provision of transport
PLANNERS have paved the way for the people of Middlewich to make music at a new centre on Mill Lane. At a meeting last month, officials at Congleton Borough Council granted permission for a new music school on the site to the rear of Town Bridge Motors
A NEW group set up to represent the interests of Middlewich residents was officially launched last week. Middlewich First is a joint initiative between a number of the town's councillors and some of the most recognisable members of the community. The
Helen Cox and her partner Jason Dolby tried to put up a curtain pole in the living room when they inadvertently drilled through a main central heating pipe, causing a jet of boiling hot water to stream across the room. The scalding water continued to
A NEW road safety campaign has been launched for motorcyclists. 'Operation Blue Holland' is aimed at making sure riders are wearing the correct clothing and are adhering to the law. Spot checks will be made during the next fortnight to check riders and
TEENAGE Sian Graham is a model student. Whilst reading law at University, she has been hired as a model and film extra. Sian, 19, of Widnes is no stranger to advertising. She was chosen to promote Halton College - her smiling face can now be seen on bus
AN elderly woman had to travel to Warrington Hospital for emergency treatment after discovering a locked door and no doctor on duty at Halton Hospital's Minor Injuries Unit on Sunday. The old lady was taken in a car by friends and had to wait almost five
MIDDLEWICH fell to their first defeat of the season on Saturday despite being left another small target to chase. Their 100 per cent record in Meller Braggins Cheshire League One was destroyed by Hale Barns who, after being bowled our for 106, bounced
A WINSFORD housing estate has been slammed as 'dangerous' and a 'disgrace' by the people who live there. The Shires estate off Wharton Road is, according to the residents, a dangerous place for both adults and children and they are angry about the work
TRAFFIC police are appealing for witnesses after a collision in Runcorn at the weekend. The accident happened on Sunday, May 12 at 1.45pm at the traffic light junction close to the slip road leading onto Boston Avenue. A green BMW, which was leaving the
A NEW Halton Council scheme to reward householders who recycle their green waste at the borough's recycling centres with free compost is now up and running. The scheme, a product of the recently opened green waste composting site, at Haddocks Wood, Runcorn
TEENAGE Sian Graham is a model student. Whilst reading law at University, she has been hired as a model and film extra. Sian, 19, of Widnes is no stranger to advertising. She was chosen to promote Halton College - her smiling face can now be seen on bus
A CAR speeding to get away from police officers brought chaos to the M56 last week when it went the wrong way down a carriageway causing three cars to crash. Three men were treated at Warrington Hospital for serious but not life threatening injuries.
THE new Mayor of Vale Royal has vowed to raise money for children's charities to mark the borough's year of child safety awareness. Clr Kath Watson serves the Wharton ward of Winsford and is one of the longest serving members on the borough council, now
AN elderly woman had to travel to Warrington Hospital for emergency treatment after discovering a locked door and no doctor on duty at Halton Hospital's Minor Injuries Unit on Sunday. The old lady was taken in a car by friends and had to wait almost five
A CLUB to help local businesses is celebrating its own business boom after moving to bigger offices. The Business After Hours Club has members throughout Northwich and Winsford, but in just a few years it has seen its membership rise from 12 to around
WINSFORD charity the Neuromuscular Centre is celebrating after it was awarded a grant of £10,000 from the Britannia Building Society Foundation. The money will go towards the centre's training programme. The Neuromuscular Centre was set up 12 years ago
RESIDENTS in Little Budworth claim a popular beauty spot could become a mud hole if a controversial plan to drain it goes ahead. The Oulton Mill Pool is one of two small lakes in the village and is a valuable wildlife habitat, attracting plenty of visitors
PUPILS at Woodford Lodge High School have been taking part in a project to prevent children committing crime. The project enables parents and teachers to recognise potential victims of crime and was designed by police, social services and child protection
CHILDREN at the Grange Primary School in Winsford have been given a huge boost after they discovered old mobile classrooms will soon be replaced with a new £400,000 school wing. Headteacher Peter Kennerley was given the good news last week after it was
CHESHIRE Police Authority has signed the contract to ensure Winsford will be the home for the new county headquarters. The authority signed the contract with developer HBG Consortium this week to provide a new police headquarters and training centre at
'WALK In The Park', a sponsored stroll in aid of Diabetes UK will take place in Sherdley Park on Sunday, June 16. The event, part of National Diabetes Week (June 9 to 15) will be started at 11am by Mayor of St Helens, Councillor Tony Brown. Participants
TWO thirteen year-old boys had their bikes stolen following an incident near the lake in Taylor Park, at about 6.45pm on Monday, May 6. The boys who were riding a specialist Blue Vegas BMX valued at £180 and a Red Mongoose Pro BMX valued at £200 were
ALDI celebrated the re-opening of its brand new Haydock store on Thursday after a fire destroyed the shop last summer. New to the Haydock store will be a state of the art checkout scanning system. This will provide customers with an itemised receipt and
FURIOUS Saints fans have condemned the mindless vandals who damaged more than 50 cars during Sunday's derby tussle at Warrington. And reports of alleged assaults upon Saints supporters at the match are still coming in. Having cheered Saints to victory
THE puzzle surrounding the appearance of a giant rodent on the streets of St Helens deepened last week when a flurry of sightings were reported. Following the picture of the monstrous rodent prowling around a car park at the bottom of Westfield Street
ENGINEERING work will affect train services on six Sundays in May and June. On Sundays May 19 and 26 the entire service between Altrincham and Chester, which calls at Lostock Gralam, Northwich, Greenbank, Cuddington and Delamere, will be replaced by buses
YOUNG entrepreneurs at St Nicholas High School have scooped two awards in a regional young enterprise competition. Two innovative companies represented the school in the South and Mid Cheshire Area Finals and Revolution netted the award for media and
A man on a mission CREWE'S Council Leader will be taking after Phileaus Fogg and Michael Palin when he aims to conquer Europe in just 10 days. Councillor Peter Kent is taking on the challenge, which will see him visit 11 countries, to help raise funds
STAFF and parents of a Crewe primary school are celebrating after receiving a hearty pat on the back from inspectors. The OFSTED inspection was carried out at Beechwood School in February and headteacher David Walden this week received what he terms an
SIX athletes from the Crewe-based Cheshire Academy have been selected to represent Britain at the Special Olympic Games. However, sponsors are needed to help meet the £3,500 bill of taking the team to the Games in Austria. The Games are to take place
HASLINGTON'S musical youth will be singing their hearts out in aid of the village's planned super church. The Methodist Church's singing group Aurora will be performing in the Yoxhall Hall with proceeds going towards the £120,000 target needed to help
CREWE'S Marks & Spencer store is to get a £250,000 facelift. Work is to begin this week on the store giving it a new look as well as new products and services. There will be new displays, new fitting rooms and a new look food hall. Bosses are hoping
FARMERS have voiced their disappointment after DEFRA announced 20-day movement standstills would stay in force. The news means farmers cannot move cattle for 20 days after they arrive at their premises. DEFRA has brought in some relaxations to restrictions
A GRAND Re-union and Dance is being lined up by the Crewe branch of the British Legion. The event, a special celebration marking the Queen's Jubilee and V.E. and VJ Days, is being held on Thursday, June 13, at the Crosville Club in Crewe. It will consist
IT is usually a leisurely two-hour trip - but it turned into a four-day Bank Holiday expedition for a group of canal boat owners. When the historic Anderton Boat Lift was re-opened last month, Stuart Edge and twin brother Barry decided to take the trip
CREWE mother Kim Turner will soon be seen riding her Harley Davidson after scooping almost £350,000 on the national lottery. Kim is part of a seven-strong syndicate at the Co-op pharmacy where she works in Audley, outside Crewe, that scooped over £2.4
ORGANISERS of Hartford Rose Fete are looking for 101 Dalmatians to accompany Cruella DeVille in the village's annual parade. But unlike her Disney namesake in the Walt Disney cartoon, Cruella is promising to return all the dogs to their owners at the
THEY'VE had their lives played out in the tabloid press and she has even been branded the 'wife from hell'. Now former MP Neil Hamilton and his wife Christine will be talking about their experiences at a special dinner open to all Vale Royal's business
HEART patients across Vale Royal are to benefit from better equipped ambulances thanks to a Government cash boost. More than £25m has been pumped in to the NHS to buy new life saving equipment for the country's hospitals and ambulance services. Mersey
THE sun shone as residents of Little Leigh and Eaton were out in force to celebrate their annual May fairs last weekend. The special celebration at Little Leigh, which was organised by the WI, marked the Queen's Golden Jubilee and 32 children rode through
A BARNTON taxi driver, who had sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl, has received a two-year community rehabilitation order. Ian Graham, 32, of Coronation Grove, also signed his name on the sex offender's list when he appeared at Northwich Magistrates
YOUNG lionhearts from Frodsham and Helsby put their brains into gear for a business challenge with a difference last week. Pupils from Helsby High School and Frodsham College took on some of the best business brains in Cheshire's schools at the Lionheart
A CUDDINGTON man, who was jailed for 12 months after admitting a manslaughter charge, has been unexpectedly released. Gary Wilson, 28 of Cherry Lane, had already served a two-year sentence for inflicting grievous bodily harm on his victim, Anthony Burgess
I WONDER who runs this town? I was born and bred in Runcorn and I know how we all despair of the constant road works, nonsensical supposedly modernisation and update of the non-existent shopping centre in the old town. All we want, for Pete's sake, is
COMICS Billy Butler and Wally Scott will be one of the highlights of this year's Winsford Festival. The duo will be appearing at Winsford Civic Hall on Sunday, May 26 and it will be their third visit to the town. Their two previous appearances at the
STAFF at the Sessions House are believed to have been told to stick to the same story - and ignore the Knutsford Guardian. This week a source told the Guardian she had seen internal e-mails warning staff to keep to the official line about the court's
ON Saturday Haydock 1st XI lost at home to league leaders Newton. Haydock batted first and were 121/2 thanks to Craig Sackfield 58 and Craig Gardiner 29.Then a collapse saw the home side all out for 141 with Mike Walkden taking 5-29 including a brilliant
I REFER to the article in your issue dated May 8, concerning Manchester Airport's proposals to re-route larger, noisier aircraft down the (green) corridor to the east of Knutsford. Clr Bert Grange says he is urging airport bosses 'to promise that the
THREE Town Hall unions are preparing to ballot their members over industrial action following a pay dispute with bosses. At a time when the borough council's chief executive is earning more than £100,000 a year, some home carers, classroom assistants,
ST Rocco's Hospice has welcomed news that the NHS will no longer charge hospices for its support services - but has called for more to be done to address funding issues. The Government announced moves this week that aim to end the "lottery" in which hospices
CAMELOT, who run the national lottery, are 50 years behind the times, says reader Eddie Grundy. Well, anyway, as far as its new name of Lotto, part of a £72million revamp, is concerned! Eddie of Moss Bank had his memory tweaked by the announcement of
HE was one of my boyhood heroes. A tough, uncompromising wing-half of the old school who could take it or dish it out with the best of 'em. In an immediate post-war era, when footballers were earning about as much as building site tradesmen, Billy Maddison
THERE are very few buildings of true aesthetic value in St Helens. Most of our historic places, such as the Victorian market hall and Helena House Co-op Buildings, became reduced to rubble rather than being renovated as special landmark features. But
There was a mention from 90 years ago when Colonel France Hayhurst opened the village's pavilion and recreation ground. A unique photograph shows the occasion on May 11, 1912, which was to be the colonel's swan song. He had always been a model landlord
FRIDAY, MAY 17 l Haslington Ray of Hope Knitters Stall. Outpatients Hall, Leighton Hospital. Knitted Baby garments and small craft items. Funds to Maternity & Neo-natal Wards, 8.30am-3.30pm. SATURDAY, MAY 18 l Book Sale in Christ Church Hall, Prince
THE HASLINGTON Golden Jubilee Queen has been drawn. The lucky girl is to be Charlotte Matthews of Leyland Grove in the village. The eleven-year-old temporary royalty will be escorted by Alice Whitelegg, aged 9, of Repton Drive and Katy Powell, of Henry
FRIDAY, MAY 17 l AB/CD, brilliant tribute to AC/DC with ten years' experience on at Crewe's Limelight. Music from 9.30pm. Entrance is £6. l The Friday Rock Night at Rafters, upstairs at Limelight Club. The Clear, Stranded and The Random. Entry £4 on the
CALLING all Guardian Rose Bowl Award 2001 winners. Plans are now well underway for this year's prestigious ceremony, which celebrates the best of amateur drama and singing talent in Vale Royal. The event is due to take place on Saturday, June 22 at Northwich
AUDIENCES will hopefully be treated to a truly 'perfick' evening when the Harlequin Players become The Darling Buds of May next week. The heart-warming story is the first in a series of five humorous tales written by HE Bates about the happy-go-lucky
A NEW Halton Council scheme to reward householders who recycle their green waste at the borough's recycling centres with free compost is now up and running. The scheme, a product of the recently opened green waste composting site, at Haddocks Wood, Runcorn
A CIVIC reception to celebrate the installation of Halton's new Mayor, Cllr Glyn Redican, has been switched to a new venue - due to a rescheduled rugby match. Sky TV moved the Widnes Vikings v Hull game from Sunday, May 19, to Friday, May 17. The start
A NEW road safety campaign has been launched for motorcyclists. 'Operation Blue Holland' is aimed at making sure riders are wearing the correct clothing and are adhering to the law. Spot checks will be made during the next fortnight to check riders and
TEENAGE Sian Graham is a model student. Whilst reading law at University, she has been hired as a model and film extra. Sian, 19, of Widnes is no stranger to advertising. She was chosen to promote Halton College - her smiling face can now be seen on bus
AN elderly woman had to travel to Warrington Hospital for emergency treatment after discovering a locked door and no doctor on duty at Halton Hospital's Minor Injuries Unit on Sunday. The old lady was taken in a car by friends and had to wait almost five
A TRIUMPHANT school is celebrating after receiving two prestigious national awards - within two days! SS Peter & Paul RC High School has received a 'Sports Mark' award in recognition of its commitment to physical education and sports provision. A
A PERVERT exposed himself to a woman in an electric wheelchair. She was targeted as she drove past the bus stop on Liverpool Road near to Sundown Avenue. A man shouted for her attention and when she looked he was exposing himself to her. The incident
A NOSTALGIC picnic by the sea is being recreated to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee. West Bank will be turned back to Victorian times for a 'Stroll Along The Prom' on Monday, June 3, from 12 noon until 5pm. This colourful free event promises to rekindle
MAY I, through your letters page, thank all the people of Windle who voted for me in the election on May 2. The letters, cards, phone calls, flowers and personal messages of congratulation have been quite overwhelming and I cannot stress how grateful
MAY I, through your pages, congratulate the electorate of Rainford for once again making our village the highest turnout of voters in St Helens once again. I would also wish to congratulate my opponent, Councillor Tony Brown, on his victory and wish him
NEXT season starts next week for Terry Murphy as he sets about plotting Middlewich Town's route back towards the North West Counties League. The manager will waste no time beginning his hunt for new players after finally steering his side clear of relegation
WIDNES maintained their remarkable away record with an outstanding victory over London Broncos at Griffin Park, writes Mark Farmer. The Vikings actually scored what turned out to be the winning point with 25 minutes of the match still remaining with a
NEW Zealand's table tennis team have switched their training base to Northwich in preparation for the Commonwealth Games. The town's former England star Mike Johns got to know some of the players during his international days and they turned to him for
VALE Royal Athletics Club smashed its previous best medal haul at the Cheshire County Track and Field Championships. They won 23 golds, beating last year's record of 14, and broke five county records at Victoria Park in Warrington on Saturday and Sunday
Like all keen Star Wars fans I was eagerly awaiting my next fix after The Phantom Menace and this latest episode didn't disappoint. Set 10 years on from the first film, Anakin Skywalker is now in his late teens and on his way to becoming a fully fledged
AROUND 150 fighters took part in a National Judo Exhibition in Crewe, last Saturday. Organised by the Crewe All Stars Judo Club, youngsters and adults made their way to the Victoria Centre from all over the country to an event that was world-class. Making
A THIRD consecutive victory was denied championship-chasing Weston as Hem Heath went defensive to grind out a draw, last Saturday. Missing influential all-rounder Gareth Lello, Weston made a great start thanks to openers Paul Tibbetts (38) and Alex Bailey
CREWE FC's final mission ended up in big disappointment, last Saturday. Looking to end a solid season by lifting their home town's premier trophy, Ian O'Reilly's boys were forced to settle for runners-up medals by Alsager Facility. The underdogs, three
The premier of London-Paris-London, the latest work by the DAthe Dance Theatre Company, takes place at the Neptune Theatre, Liverpool on May 28. The company believe their work to be accessible and open to interpretation - and say it deals with topics
A new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman's hit West End musical Whistle Down The Wind comes to the area in June. The tale of a girl who finds a man she believes to be Jesus in a barn opens at the Regent Theatre, Stoke-On-Trent from June
The Scottish Play comes to the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, from May 28 to June 1. Shakespeare's darkest, goriest and most chilling play gets the "no frills" treatment by award winning company Northern Broadsides. For more information, call
A BUDDING pilot from Wrenbury was killed after taking a bend on a busy main road too quickly. Teenager Paul Keegan died a day after the accident in Leighton Hospital and his father told an inquest into the death how he had advised his son he needed to
A SLIGHTLY surprised Nantwich Independent, Arthur Moran, this week took the helm of Nantwich Town Council The council appointed Cllr Moran at short notice after it was due to install the former vice-chair Cllr Cliff Davies in the Chairman's seat. However
NANTWICH Outdoor Brine Pool reopens this Saturday! Along with the unique brine pool, the facility also provides a large grassed area and patio area for sunbathing on the sun loungers and a caf. "Families have been enjoying the pool and great fun family
BUSINESSES have demonstrated massive support for this year's Nantwich Show. With traders booked at the July event in force, it looks like 2002 could be the biggest and best in its 105-year history. That's the plan as organisers look to bounce back in
POETRY group the Salt Town Poets have embarked upon a series of workshops designed to highlight the various art forms associated with the spoken and written word. The first session explained the finer points of performance poetry and gave people the opportunity
A CAT is purring with delight after a kindly teacher adopted him during a vet's visit to Cledford Infant School last week. Ian Hopkins, a surgeon at Middlewich Veterinary Surgery, brought Becks, a six-month old stray, to show the children when he came
OFFICIALS and parishioners at St Michael And All Angels have bade a fond farewell to one of the church's most staunch supporters. Hugh Malkin has retired from the post of church warden after just over nine years in the position, three years more than
MIDDLEWICH has welcomed a new truck dealership to the town. Thomas Hardie, a Knowsley-based Volvo sales company, has launched a new showroom at a purpose-built location at Brooks Lane. The new truck dealership joins Thomas Hardie Used Vehicle Sales which
THE OWNER of a family-run garden nursery in Middlewich has been left heartbroken after thieves broke into the centre and stole more than 20 jubilee hanging baskets. Pauline Kirkham, who runs Watersmeet Nursery on Nantwich Road, is devastated by the theft
THE LONG wait was finally over when Middlewich's new Internet and young persons centre opened for business. Microchips centre on Wheelock Street opened to a rapturous welcome on Thursday after almost two years of preparation and a lot of hard work. The
A RESIDENTS protest group has hit out after energy giant ScottishPower accused it of lying during a presentation to council officials. During a meeting at Cheshire County Council, a representative of ScottishPower accused Residents Against the Plant (
A PIONEERING safety initiative has already saved lives, it was revealed this week. A unique advertising campaign has prompted more than 40 residents a week to seek free home fire safety checks. Cheshire Fire Service has teamed up with Halton Council and
A NEW Halton Council scheme to reward householders who recycle their green waste at the borough's recycling centres with free compost is now up and running. The scheme, a product of the recently opened green waste composting site, at Haddocks Wood, Runcorn
A CIVIC reception to celebrate the installation of Halton's new Mayor, Cllr Glyn Redican, has been switched to a new venue - due to a rescheduled rugby match. Sky TV moved the Widnes Vikings v Hull game from Sunday, May 19, to Friday, May 17. The start
WINSFORD Flash is looking for star sailors of the future when it holds its annual open day on Saturday. The club's members, including regional and national champions, are inviting all budding boaters to join them on the water to experience sailing first
FUNDRAISERS at St Luke's Hospice are celebrating after receiving a much needed financial boost for its country fair. The hospice has announced that the Cheshire Building Society is to sponsor the event which marks the start of Go Yellow Week and takes
NEXT season starts next week for Terry Murphy as he sets about plotting Middlewich Town's route back towards the North West Counties League. The manager will waste no time beginning his hunt for new players after finally steering his side clear of relegation
A CIVIC reception to celebrate the installation of Halton's new Mayor, Cllr Glyn Redican, has been switched to a new venue - due to a rescheduled rugby match. Sky TV moved the Widnes Vikings v Hull game from Sunday, May 19, to Friday, May 17. The start
WIDNES maintained their remarkable away record with an outstanding victory over London Broncos at Griffin Park, writes Mark Farmer. The Vikings actually scored what turned out to be the winning point with 25 minutes of the match still remaining with a
A NEW road safety campaign has been launched for motorcyclists. 'Operation Blue Holland' is aimed at making sure riders are wearing the correct clothing and are adhering to the law. Spot checks will be made during the next fortnight to check riders and
COURAGEOUS Castlefields residents were praised by detectives for helping to convict the killers of disabled father-of-two Wayne Shaw. John Jameson, 41, of Ferryview Walk, was sentenced to life and Stephen McDonagh, 35, of Richards Close, was jailed for
ST HELENS Council has shuffled the pack for its new look Cabinet - a top team of eight councillors who in the new democratic framework will drive forward major policies to benefit townsfolk. Here is the breakdown of responsibilities; l Council Leader
A COUNCILLOR is going to continue with her 'people friendly' policy. After requests from the community, Councillor Pat Martinez-Williams has now cancelled her surgery at Windlehurst School in favour of extending the successful 'mobile meetings' and 'telephone
For the attack and subsequent death of the 36-year-old, who used to attend Greenbank Special School in Hartford, was the latest in a string of tragedies to hit the family. In 1972 his brother Brian, aged 22, died of head injuries after he had been in
His sisters, Carol Lloyd of Saltney, Maureen Jones of Blacon and Joan Ankers of Newton, Chester, were at Friday's hearing. They told how the killing of Anthony had a catastrophic effect upon them and how their mother had since died 'of a broken heart'
THE annual swimathon held by Sandbach Rotary Club had a record number of swimmers this year. It is thought the swell in numbers has resulted in nearly £6,000 being raised. The event was held at Sandbach Swimming Pool and 71 teams, comprising some 400
AN INQUEST heard how a Crewe railway worker died of natural causes after concerns of asbestos exposure. A signal installer, Stephen Walley, 37, died of a cancerous lung on 23 July 23, 2001. A non-smoker, Mr Walley visited his GP with the left side of
THERE is still time for any last minute adult learners to get in on the act, with a range of courses still available around the borough. Adult Learners' Week was celebrated in Crewe and Nantwich with a series of workshops and introductory sessions at
PROPOSALS for a new north west regional assembly have been given a frosty reception by politicians at all levels across Northwich, Winsford and Middlewich. Last week deputy Prime Minister John Prescott announced plans for eight regional assemblies around
What about the workers? WORKERS have suffered a bitter blow with Doncasters Precision Machining's decision to relocate from Crewe. The 250 staff based within the Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motors site at Pym's Lane had pinned their hopes on a borough location
IT'S ODDS-on Nantwich's Reaseheath College will be packed when its gates are opened to the public this Sunday. An against-the clock bungalow build, a team adventure challenge and displays ranging from western horseriding to buttermaking will be just some
A BARNTON couple have been sent to prison for three years each - after £425,000 was stolen from a Winsford company. Carol Taylor, of Townfield Lane, had admitted stealing the money from her employees LINPAC Mouldings, where she was employed as the wages
A CHARITY flight to Prague with 350 invited paying guests - raised £10,000 for local charities. The event was run by the Rotary Club of Northwich Vale Royal and organised by Captain Mike Underdown, his wife Di, Mike and Rachel Seaman and Bill and Carole
POLICE are hunting knife-wielding robbers who struck at a post office in Frodsham last week. At 2.15pm on Thursday, a 61-year-old woman was working behind the counter at St Hilda's Drive Post Office when two men burst in. One was carrying a knife. They
AN ANDERTON firm has been fined £12,000 - after a concrete mould weighing half a tonne fell onto an agency worker's head. Amazingly Stephen Worrall survived the accident, which happened at Anderton Concrete Products Ltd, on October 21, last year. Matthew
IN reply to 'A yob plagued resident of Hale' in the World, May 1, I do not know of anyone who has said they want a chip shop in Hale. We have two public houses that serve food. We certainly do not want a 20-storey block of flats. The landlords of the
AS a member of St Thomas church, Ditton, I would like to support Sue Wynne's outspoken objection to the proposed closure of the church, printed in the World on April 24. It is a great blow, both to the worshippers and to the many organisations who use
I AM writing to complain about emptied wheelie bins being left strewn along the pavements. On Thursday, May 9, I followed a young woman pushing an elderly lady in a wheelchair up the top half of Greenway Road in Widnes. On three occasions she had to stop
I WAS very impressed to read about residents in the town centre getting alleygates fitted to the back entrances of their terraced homes. The council has said, through the World, that this has already reduced crime, vandalism, dog muck etc and made people
AN INQUEST has been opened into the death of a two-year-old boy who drowned after falling into a lake. Euan McGoff slipped through a gap in the garden fence and fell into lake behind his grandparents' home in Mereside Road last week. Police said the little
A PERVERT ambushed girls on their way to school and flashed pornographic pictures at them. The scruffy man sprinted across the Moor to stop a 12-year-old girl and her friend as they walked to Knutsford High School. On Friday the girl's mum claimed he
DEVELOPER Matt McCloskey was this week staying tight-lipped about the new owner of Knutsford's old library. The Birmingham-based developer sold the Brook Street library last week. But on Monday he told the Knutsford Guardian he could not reveal who had
GUESTS had to be evacuated from a town centre hotel after yobs set fire to a shed next door. Andrew Burke, owner of the Cross Keys, said 13 guests had been awoken by the intense heat. Crack "One of the bedrooms was right next to the burning shed so the
JOYCE Hopewell believes in the power of the universe. So much so, that she makes her living from it - as an astrological psychologist. The mother-of-two uses the planets to help teach others about their strengths, weaknesses, energy levels, motivation
DE. bees in Winsford has more live music tomorrow, Thursday, with a welcome return for Bolton band Mazeppa. Comprising Otto Ohlson on guitar and vocals, Brad Wood on bass, drummer Phil Holmes and pianist Paul Swannell, the band combine their musical interests
CREWE Alexandra chairman John Bowler has ruled out any immediate changes to the Football League that could hamper a promotion push next season. There's no doubting that the club are looking to bounce back into the top flight of the League, next season
A FINE team performance sprinkled with individual brilliance has seen Rainford make their best start to a season for some time. Dave Tulley's side now sit proudly at the top of the Southport League as the only side with a 100 per cent record after an
ON Saturday, Eccleston entertained Singlehurst at their new home ground in Earlestown. Batting first Eccleston were soon in trouble losing three wickets for only three runs. It was only when Johnson (25) came to the crease that things began to steady
ON Saturday, Sutton CC First XI visited Prescot and Odyssey. Skipper Reynolds lost the toss and found himself in the field so threw the ball to the evergreen Ray Foster, who proceeded to turn in an incredible bowling performance finishing with figures
TOFT 1st XI...213 for 4 wickets dec (48 overs) Upton 1st XI...189 for 8 wickets (52 overs) ON a glorious day at Booth's Park, marred only by a cool breeze, Toft won the toss and elected to bat on what turned out to be a perfect pitch for cricket. After
THE New Zealand table tennis team will train at Egerton Youth Centre before the Commonwealth Games. New Zealand, one of the strongest teams in the competition, have requested that SportBreak arrange some of the North West's leading players to practice
MERE visited local rivals Holmes Chapel in an aggressive game that both sides wanted to win. They lost the toss and were put in to bat with openers Danny Eckstein and Doug Green off to a tremendous start. Mere were 78 without loss when Doug Green came
ACOUSTIC sessions at the Cats bar in Middlewich are back this Sunday after a short break. This week the musical entertainment will be led by Mark Henderson but there is also an open jam session, with all musicians welcome to join in. Everything is set
WARRINGTON has been boosted by news of a £6 million grant, covering a number of years, to provide more social housing in the town. It is one of only five councils in the country which has been awarded the cash, and although no detailed decision has yet
WIDNES maintained their remarkable away record with an outstanding victory over London Broncos at Griffin Park, writes Mark Farmer. The Vikings actually scored what turned out to be the winning point with 25 minutes of the match still remaining with a
SEASON tickets for Runcorn FC Halton are now on sale for season 2002/03. There is no increase in price on last season and if bought before the end of June the prices are; Adults £119, Children/OAP £59 and Under 14s will continue to be free with a paying
WE'RE taking another plunge into the old tin-bath! For there's been a challenge to the claim of Alan Winstanley (May 2) that he could possibly have been the last to experience just such a sudsy session beside a roaring coal-fired domestic hearth. Alan
ombs away! A VIATION buff Keith Atherton has come up with some welcome additional detail concerning the old Haydock RAF station. Very much a "hush hush" base during the Second World War, it boasted neither landing strip nor helicopter-pad and seemed to
ONE of the most important archaeological sites ever to be found in the North West has revealed secrets dating back 2,000 years. The Nantwich site is to be found on the Kingsley Fields development off Welsh Row and archaeologists have uncovered hundreds
WITTON Albion Girls under-12s capped their tremendous season by clinching the treble in dramatic style on Saturday. They won the League Cup, to add to the league title and Knock-out Cup, with victory in a thrilling penalty shoot-out at Moss Farm against
BRIAN Pritchard has reassured Witton Albion supporters, who have voted him their Player of the Year for the fourth time in five years, that he hasn't quit the club. The centre half left his position as commercial manager in March for a career in the police
A CREWE based pie company has cooked up just the 'Wright' support for a musical thriller being staged by a professional company. Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, is the current show at The New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme. The fiendish tale
A SPECIAL concert is being held in memory of a brave and loving mother, who lost her battle against cancer recently. Sue Dwyer was a wife and daughter and much loved by many in her community and the concert at Nantwich Civic Hall is aimed at raising funds
THERE'S a French connection in the popular Ealing comedy heading for The Lyceum at the beginning of next month. Souvenir Eiffel Towers play a significant part in the plot of 'The Lavender Hill Mob', one of the celebrated studio's most successful films
