Archive

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Dreadnoughts open up four-point lead at the top

Runcorn Apec Taxis Darts League DREADNAUGHTS have opened up a four points lead at the top of section two after a 5/4 win against Navvy Lads last Thursda. Second placed Union Tavern slipped to third after going down 5/4 to RAOB Buffs. Fifth placed Navigators

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13 lucky for the Ladies

THE number 13 may be considered unlucky by some. Not so Winsford Ladies who, on Sunday, won their 13th game in a row, this time beating Stockport County Blues 5-0. Winsford are currently top of Cheshire and Manchester League Two, having scored 88 goals

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by the Rev David Ottley

Priest-in-charge, St Luke's Church, Goostrey FOR the people of Israel destruction at the hands of Babylon was total and traumatic. Whole families taken off into exile, sons and daughters sold off into slavery and the Promised Land snatched from their

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Major injury blow for Andrew Farrell

Wigan today confirmed that their Captain Andrew Farrell will be out for four months following knee surgery which was carried out last night. Wigan Chairman Maurice Lindsay said, "It is devastating news for both Andrew and the club. He picked up the injury

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Gap visit for officers

OFFICERS from Cheshire County Council have visited Lostock to look at possible road safety measures after the Guardian highlighted problems in the area. The main area they looked at in their visit last Monday was the junction of the A556 with Birches

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Bold move from Widnes U13s results in whitewash

Orrell U13s 0 Widnes U13s 60 DARRYL Bold once again put on a tremendous show of strength and pace, which the opposition couldn't handle, and eventually he ended scoring 35 points. After a shaky start one of the backs tried to overcomplicate their moves

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Win, loss and draw - games for all seasons

Widnes U7s 25 Tarleton U7s 25 Widnes U7s 15 Tarleton U7s 20 Widnes U7s 30 Tarleton U7s 25 A WIN, a loss and a draw was a fair result for the U7's first fixture of the New Year. Tarleton fielded a big and experienced side with several talented runners

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Enthusiastic side overwhelm opposition

Widnes RUFC U8s 40 Tarleton RUFC U8s 20 Widnes RUFC U8s 30 Tarleton RUFC U8s 20 TARLETON were the first visitors of 2005 to Heath Road last Sunday and were totally overwhelmed by an enthusiastic Wids side. Strong defence continually forced Tarleton back

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Girls struggle again

Halton Girls U16s v Bradwell Belles U16s THE girls struggled again with only nine players but worked really hard throughout the game. To join us at Halton Girls U16s ring Karen Whitley on 0151-423 5727.

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Beechwood on a roll

Beechw'd Celtic U8s 3 Pex Hill Rgers U8s 2 Best Sports League A GREAT game at Haddocks Wood saw Celtic make it 15 wins in a row, but only after a scare from an impressive Pex Hill side. Beechw'd Roma U12s 8 HRBL U12s 0 SEAN Moore was a deserving man of

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HUCKNALL LINED UP IN CUP QUIRK

IT COULD be a case of 'better the devil you know' for Steve Burr in the fourth round of the FA Trophy. In a twist of fate Northwich Vics, who conquered Halifax Town in round three, could well line up against Burr's old club - Hucknall Town. Hucknall,

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Every child's nightmare

FORMER BBC war reporter Martin Bell, who served the people of Knutsford as their MP for four years, spent five days in Sri Lanka and witnessed the devastation of the Asian tsunami for himself. Here the Unicef ambassador tells the Knutsford Guardian about

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Plans for a clean sweep

REDUCING anti-social behaviour is the aim of a campaign that will see the streets of Middlewich swept clean of abandoned vehicles. Congleton Borough Council launched its two-week vehicle amnesty on Monday in a bid to remove the vehicles for free and stem

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Award winner Angela focuses on the future

A MIDDLEWICH mum of three who battled against the odds to complete her academic studies has had her achievements honoured. Single mum Angela Sutherland, of White Park Close, has spent the past three years studying for a HND in art and design photography

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Signed, sealed and delivered for future

A VISION for the future of Middlewich will be signed and sealed tomorrow night, Thursday, as a steering group marks its annual meeting with the delivery of its constitution. Since 2001 Middlewich Vision project officer Caroline O'Brien and support officer

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Comfortable win

Fives Athletic U21s 2 Runcorn FC Halton U21s 6 (Runcorn win 8-3 on aggregate) Divisional Cup Second Round Second Leg AN outstanding best of the season performance gave Runcorn a comfortable win over one of the top teams in the league and a place in the

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Pool creditors won't get their money back

THE company director behind the bankrupt business venture MidPoint Sports will not be paying out to previous creditors now the company has been wrapped up. Marjory Issatt had been working with Michael Davey towards plans for an ambitious sports complex

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Bed crisis in hospital

A BED crisis at Leighton Hospital has led to all elective operations being cancelled. Chief executive Simon Yates took the decision on Monday after a large number of extremely poorly people were admitted with chest and respiratory problems. Mr Yates said

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Patrols stepped up after attacks

THE presence of community wardens in Middlewich is being stepped up after vandals went on a wrecking spree over two weekends. Despite the decision taken last week to close one of the town's few public parks at night, vandals managed to enter Fountain

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Sixth formers beat leaders

Widnes & Runcorn Sixth Form College 26 Wakefield College 24 LAST Wednesday Widnes and Runcorn sixth form college defeated the current Yorkshire student rugby league leaders in a closely contested national cup round two fixture. Widnes and Runcorn

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Clean team praise for the boys

MIDDLEWICH Clean Team has honoured four conscientious boys who attend Middlewich Primary School for their efforts in keeping the town litter free. Janet Chisholm, clean team chairman, was joined by fellow members at the Park Road school last week to present

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LEARNING TOGETHER

Children and staff at Victoria Road Primary School in Northwich spent a day exploring how they learn when they welcomed pupils and teachers from Black Firs Primary School in Congleton. Pupils from Victoria Road will pay a visit to Black Firs within the

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STEP BACK IN TIME

Children from Victoria Road Primary School had a historic morning at the Salt Museum in Northwich, where they learned about the Great Fire of London. The pupils, from Years One and Two, have been studying the fire at school and the museum brought the

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Question time for MP Mike

PUPILS at Weaverham High School had the chance to quiz Weaver Vale MP Mike Hall about a wide range of issues when he paid a visit to their school on Friday. They questioned him about Iraq, local issues and his work as a Member of Parliament. Deputy headteacher

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New headteacher ready for a vibrant challenge at The Grange

A NEW headteacher has been appointed at the Grange School in Hartford. Christopher Jeffery replaces Jenny Stephen, who has taken up the post of headteacher at South Hampstead High School in London. He said: "I am very excited at the prospect of leading

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Patch up job will not solve problem

RESIDENTS in Wharton are calling for a permanent solution to a long running problem of poorly maintained road surfaces. Wharton Residents' Association was set up 18 months ago in response to complaints over the poor road surfaces but the situation has

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Comments are rubbish

CLAIMS that Winsford is turning into a 'black bin bag' town have been refuted by a Vale Royal borough councillor. Clr Malcolm Gaskell has hit back at a report in last week's Guardian highlighting concerns from residents that rubbish was piling up in the

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Susan serves up the write stuff in Your magazine

A WINSFORD writing enthusiast has had one of her articles published in a national magazine and hopes it will be the first of many successes. Susan Stag, of Redshank Avenue, recalled her memories of a cookery class she attended in 1960 and was shocked

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Project work set to start

YOUNGSTERS in Moulton have been urged to pass on the message about a new area to be built just for them. Teenagers from the village came to the January meeting of Moulton Parish Council to find out more about the redevelopment of playing fields off Main

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Green grounds to refuse wind farm

A PROPOSAL to build a wind farm in Tarporley should be refused on environmental grounds, according to Eddisbury MP Stephen O'Brien. Mr O'Brien, shadow secretary of state for industry, visited the site at Oxleys Farm on Friday to assess the impact the

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Cadets strike for five-a-side glory

WINSFORD and Middlewich Sea Cadets have had a successful start to 2005 after they won a district five-a-side football competition. The unit breezed to victory against other cadet teams from across Cheshire and will now compete in a national final in Portsmouth

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TOWN CAR PARK COULD BE DEADLY IF A FIRE STARTED

A MULTI-STOREY car park in Winsford has been slammed as 'potentially deadly' after emergency exits were found to be locked. An officer from Winsford Fire Station visited the car park off The Drumber in Winsford town centre on Monday afternoon and discovered

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Parish precept set to rise

THE 2005/6 precept in Barnton could increase by around five per cent, although final figures have not been confirmed yet. A preliminary budget statement has been produced and a discussion took place at the last parish council meeting. Parish councillor

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Lucky to be alive

A RETIRED couple had a miraculous escape as a midnight blaze ripped through their roof. The woman had already fallen asleep, when her husband suddenly realised something was wrong. "He leaned over to turn the bedroom light off but it wouldn't go off,"

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How would you tell parents their child has been killed?

HOW do you break the news to someone that a member of their family has died in a car crash? It is many people's worst nightmare but it is something Cheshire Police family liaison officers have to do every time someone dies on the roads of mid Cheshire

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Workers net £500

PLANS to buy a fishing boat and nets for a tsunami-hit region of India have been announced by Vale Royal Borough Council. Generous employees and councillors have all contributed cash to the appeal - totalling more than £500. The money was presented to

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Smoke ban backed

WEAVER Vale MP Mike Hall is calling for eating out to be made smoke free this year. He says medical evidence increasingly shows that second hand smoke is a major health risk for workers and friends of smokers. Health Secretary John Reid is proposing that

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Let's have a summit so youth can be heard

PROVIDING activities for young people in Vale Royal was one of the suggestions made at a meeting looking at ways to make mid Cheshire a safer place to live. Representatives from agencies including police, fire services, Vale Royal Borough Council and

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200 jobs on the way if superstore plan goes ahead

MORE than 200 jobs could be on their way to the area after supermarket giants Tesco unveiled plans for a new store in Helsby. The potential employment boost earmarked for the village's former BICC Cables site is still in its early stages but parish councillors

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Prince's Nazi act a disgrace, says Auschwitz death camp survivor

A BRITISH Prisoner of War who was incarcerated at the Auschwitz concentration camp has slammed Prince Harry for dressing up in a Nazi uniform. Arthur Dodd, from Sandiway, spent almost two years at the notorious death camp, which was liberated 60 years

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Husky racers on their mars

A NORTHWICH couple are gearing up for a racing event with a difference this weekend. Dog lovers Andrea and Steve Taylor, of Highbank Road, will be the ones taken for a run when they and their six Siberian Huskies take part in the 2005 Aviemore Sled Dog

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We must stop these vandals in their tracks

POLICE have been criticised after a string of vandal attacks in Northwich town centre left cars badly damaged. Hooligans have been on the rampage in the Witton Street area - smashing the windscreens of vehicles before making their getaway. A publican

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Hello dear, I'm locked in the tip

A LOSTOCK man is outraged after he was left locked in Northwich's household waste site on Old Warrington Road for almost an hour. Steve Brearley, of Manchester Road, had taken bottles and papers to be recycled last Tuesday afternoon. He was trapped when

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What went so wrong?

FORMER dinner lady Nina Byrom had been complaining of feeling unwell for so long that her family was beginning to wonder if she was making it up. Son James said she had been suffering for a couple of years and had been going constantly backwards and forwards

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New Zealand minister gets attuned to pastures new

A MINISTER is enjoying the new challenges and experiences he faces after moving to Northwich from the other side of the world. The Rev Russell Rigby arrived from New Zealand to take up posts in five Northwich churches in September and is settling in very

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Hospital in bed crisis

A BED crisis at Leighton Hospital has led to all elective operations being cancelled. Chief executive Simon Yates took the decision on Monday after a large number of extremely poorly people were admitted with chest and respiratory problems. Mr Yates said

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Be on guard

I LIVE on Kingsmead and recently I parked at the Tesco Express at 6.30pm. I went into the shop for two minutes. On my return to my car someone had attempted to break into it, damaging the door and lock to the extent that the driver's door will not open

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How much do my bins take?

COULD you or any of your readers point me to any council-published advice about what weight can be put in the new recycling boxes or bags? While I wholeheartedly agree with the need to reduce and recycle as much of our ever-growing rubbish pile as possible

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New A556 suggestion

is ridiculous REGARDING your recent article about a pensioner who was stranded on the central reservation of the A556 and consequent moves to get traffic calming measures, I think it is a ridiculous idea. Apart from the junction with Birches Lane in Lostock

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Give blame where it is due

YOUR correspondent Ungritted is incorrect in trying to attribute blame for the lack of gritting on certain roads in Northwich on Vale Royal and me personally. The responsibility for this service lies with Cheshire County Council's Joint Highways Committee

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ROYAL BRITISH LEGION LADIES SECTION

THE first meeting of the year for the Northwich Ladies Section of the Royal British Legion was well attended and so got off to a good start. There were suggestions for fundraising efforts for the coming year. Four members all celebrate birthdays in January

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HARTFORD WI

PRESIDENT Alison Lord opened the meeting by wishing everyone a happy New Year. She said the Christmas meal at the Oaklands Hotel, in Gorstage, had been a great succeess and guests voted to do something very similar next December. The schedules for the

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WARMINGHAM & DISTRICT WI

There were cries of admiration and expressions of delight as members and visitors moved around a carousel of crafts. The admiration was for the skills of the members who had volunteered to show their skills. Cries of delight followed as their pupils succeeded

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Variety show at Cockhedge to raise money for tsunami appeal

A VARIETY show will take place in the Cockhedge shopping centre this Saturday, January 22, at 12 o'clock in aid of the tsunami appeal. Asda will be providing prizes and several local artists will be performing to shoppers.

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Schools minister drops in at Gateway

NEWLY appointed schools minister Derek Twig MP made his debut speech in his new role on a trip to Warrington. His first speech as minister was at at ARC's Talk Don't Walk conference. Mr Twigg said: "Young people face far more complex social, cultural

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Man robbed in early hours

A MAN was robbed while walking home from the town centre in the early hours. The incident happened close to Warrington Collegiate Institute in Winwick Road last Tuesday around 2.30am. Contact PC Stephen McVeigh on 652222 or the confidential Crimestoppers

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Man suffers cuts to head and eye

A MAN was taken to hospital with cuts to his eye and head following an assault last week. He was in Collin Street when a man got out of a car and hit him over the head with what could have been a bottle. It happened last Monday, January 11, at around

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Leisurely exhibition

Why not find out how the people of Warrington used to spend their leisure hours. The Warrington at Leisure exhibition is only open until Saturday, January 22, at Warrington Museum and Art Gallery. There's cine footage of Warrington and home movies from

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Book sale bonanza at the library

WARRINGTON Library and Museum is holding a book sale bonanza next month. Prices will start from 10p and the sale will include hardbacks, paperbacks, textbooks, children's books, CDs and videos. The sale will take place from 9am to 4pm on Tuesday, February

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Nightclub suffers storm damage

FIREFIGHTERS were called to a town centre nightclub on Wednesday after high winds struck. The gales, which reached more than 100mph, damaged signs and lighting at the Medicine Club on Bold Street. A fire engine and a hydraulic lift were called to make

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Catching up with bin rounds after winds

HIGH winds have been causing problems for the council's waste collection this week with deliveries disrupted twice. The bad weather, especially high winds, caused the council's landfill sites to close last Wednesday and at the weekend. A spokesman said

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Ten years of moving mountans in a crisis

TEN years on and still going strong! That was the toast made by volunteers at Halton Citizen Advocacy as they celebrated a decade of helping people getting back on their feet. "It's been fantastic," says HCA's Larraine Simpson. "We have helped so many

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Town bid to trace 'victims'

KNUTSFORD contacted the UK's Maldives High Commissionaire to ask if an athletics team survived the Asian tsunami. Town clerk Linda Thomas emailed Hassan Sobir to see if members of the group, which had visited Knutsford, were alive. More than 150,000 people

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Why were you in such a rush?

I WOULD just like to remind the person who drove close enough to my car bumper during recent bad weather that not all of us have a death wish. Surely no one is in that much of a rush that they have to risk everyone else's lives by driving like an idiot

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Rob's on the decks

LOCAL DJ Rob Curzon is putting on his first Energize night of the year at Winnington Rec on Saturday night. The ever-popular Homegrown Sessions will be hosting the second room at the venue on January 22, between 7.30pm and 1am. The trance line up for

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Parish clerk views uncluttered future

WORKING from home can have its advantages - there is no journey to work and creature comforts are readily at hand. But if you are Helsby Parish Council clerk Jeanette Hughes, being based within your own four walls can mean mountains of paperwork across

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Everglades gets new bosses and new look

A NEW high tech conference centre, refurbished banqueting suite and state of the art leisure facilities are being created at a Halton hotel, following a takeover. The Everglades Park Hotel in Derby Road, Widnes is undergoing major refurbishment, by new

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Band Aid

BIG-HEARTED musicians played and sang their hearts out for free and raised more than £3,000 for the tsunami disaster appeal. Fourteen bands performed at Halton Stadium on Saturday - 14 more offered to play but there wasn't room to fit them in. Organiser

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Fears Halton will lose out in police merger

ANXIOUS councillors fear Halton will lose out in the merger of Halton and Warrington police. They met Chief Constable Peter Fahy twice to put their views 'in the strongest possible terms'. Liberal Democrat leader Mike Hodgkinson said: "The Chief Constable

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Thai monks blessed a restaurant in Knutsford on Monday.

The three monks, who worship at a temple in Salford, performed a short ceremony at the Freemason's Arms' new Thai restaurant - to bring it luck. "It is a tradition that three monks will bring luck and this was the perfect way to celebrate the opening,

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Widnes have to stay positive

Aspull RUFC 1st XV 13 Widnes RUFC 1st XV 5 BEING positive when the worst has happened is difficult but that is exactly what the Wids must do now after crashing to defeat at Aspull. This defeat against a side that had failed to win a league game in 12

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Halton victory at Oswestry

Oswestry RUFC 15 Halton RUFC 17 HALTON played a rearranged fixture away at Oswestry this week. The game was played on a very heavy pitch making it hard work for all. For the second week running Halton's defence was strong with Oswestry camped on their

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Mond lose to Nomads

Chester Nomads 2 Mond Rangers 0 West Cheshire League Division Two LOSING only their second league game of the season the gap at the top of the league has been reduced and Gary Moore's side need to quickly get back to winning ways. Next Saturday Mond are

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Dreadnoughts open up four-point lead at the top: Runcorn Apec Taxis Darts League

DREADNAUGHTS have opened up a four points lead at the top of section two after a 5/4 win against Navvy Lads last Thursda. Second placed Union Tavern slipped to third after going down 5/4 to RAOB Buffs. Fifth placed Navigators lost 5/4 to Wanderers. RNA's

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Warrington and District

Football League Results for January 15: Guardian Cup: Fourth Round: Haydock 2 St Michael's DH 5. Reg Oliver Cup: First Round: Halebank Res 1 Sidac Social Res 2. Frontrunner Premier Division: Beeches 2 Vulcan 3; Moore Utd 0 Penlake 3; Moorfield 1 Halebank

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Altrincham Youth Football League

Results for January 16: U21s Divisional Cup: Round One: Second Leg: Fives Athletic 2 Runcorn FC Halton 6. Carole Nash Insurance U21s: Urmston Town North 1 Urmston Town West 5; Mountfield Rovers 3 Mond Rangers 0; Bradford Road Youth 2 Manchester Power

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North West Counties League

Mark Norris Building Services Results for January 15: Hunslet Warriors 6 Halton Simms Cross 38. Premier Division: Orrell St James 64 Widnes Albion 0. Division Two: Blackpool Scorpions 22 Widnes Ball 10. Division Three: Bamber Bridge 34 Albert Park 4.

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Warrington Sunday Football League

Results for January 16: Premier Division: Lowton Borough FC 1 Reform FC 1; Wanderers 2 Ryder FC 6; Watchy FC 5 Pierpoint & Bryant 2. Division One: Commercial 5 Causeway 1; P&S Eagle 5 Culcheth FC 1; Real Gate 4 Dog & Dart 1; Stocks 2 Monk

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Dean nets own goal

A FORMER captain of a school football team has been sold to a Premiership club for £3million. Dean Ashton, who attended Holmes Chapel Comprehensive, is likely to pocket 10% of the money. "He's earning more in a year than we can in a lifetime," said his

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Continental moves ahead

THE Regal Cinema is about to take a continental turn with a new season of contemporary films from across the globe. This is the first time that the Northwich cinema has shown world films and the venture is something that cinema manager Karl Woods is very

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Space for drama fans

DEVELOPMENT of the Arts in Northwich's dance and drama group, aimed at children aged six and over, has started again this term - but there is still space for anyone who wants to join. The children meet every Tuesday teatime, from 4.15pm to 5.45pm, at

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Spring into Factory's new season

SHAKESPEARE, fairytales, comedies, musicals and drama form part of Fame Factory's spring season. The season starts with the Factory Players performing TWOC (Taken Without Consent) by Marcus Romer, which takes place from Feburary 9 to 12. Follow the lives

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Jim paves the way for action

THE mayor of Middlewich is calling for action to be taken after receiving complaints about the 'appalling' condition of pavements in the town. Clr Jim Basford says there is a major problem with the state of pavements in the town and is especially concerned

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Protesters have still got plenty of fight left

THE action group against a gas plant near Middlewich is determined to carry on its protest despite claims that it has given up the fight. Although Residents Against the Plant (RAP) conceded defeat in its four-year battle to stop ScottishPower storing

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Have your say on plans for the eastern bypass

RESIDENTS are invited to have their say on plans for the long awaited final section of the Middlewich eastern bypass this weekend. Homeowners and businesses are being asked for their views on the £11million project, which will link Pochin Way and the

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Campaign a success

A CAMPAIGN launched to combat car crime in Middlewich over the festive period has been hailed a success by organisers. Thefts from vehicles, as well as thefts of vehicles themselves, fell during the 'Boot the Loot' campaign launched by Congleton Borough

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Family matters

A SHEFFIELD man who is delving into his family's past is hoping that someone from Middlewich might be able to help him solve a mystery. John Andrews, from Ecclesall, is trying to find out what happened to one of his ancestors, Fred Wilkinson who he has

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Town centre traffic problems highlighted after church wall hit

TRAFFIC problems in Middlewich town centre have been highlighted again after a lorry smashed into the wall surrounding St Michael and All Angels Church. And the Rev Ian Bishop is hoping that anyone who witnessed the accident will come forward to help

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COUNCIL TAX RISE TO PAY FOR EVENTS

INVESTMENT in arts and culture events for Middlewich has resulted in a hike of almost 50 per cent to the Council Tax precept for the town. But councillors say that the long term economical and regeneration benefits for the town are worth the increase.

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Church minister has a fishy tale

THERE'S something fishy going on at Middlewich United Reformed Church this month, according to the church's minister. As part of The Fish Project, the Rev David Spence is encouraging members of his congregation to begin wearing a fish pin in their lapel

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HEALTHY SCHOOL

Christopher Bayliss and Kyle Woodward, both eight, are helping the environment by using a paperbank at Darnhall Primary School to recycle waste paper. The paperbank is part of the school's bid to achieve national healthy schools status and any money raised

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Shakey start costs the Egerton U8s dearly

Witton U8 4 Egerton U8 0 Egerton got off to a shaky start after the Christmas break. Will Booth and William Abbots worked hard in defence trying to cover a lot of ground. However, Witton dominated the first-half leading by three goals to nil at the break

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Tatton Eagles U8s 2 Winnington A U8s 1

The Eagles battled courageously from the outset. An early lead was established when Sam Holah slotted the ball calmly past the Winnington goalkeeper following excellent link play from Jacob Potts and Angus Kitcher. Sam Proctor was full of tricks in his

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Witton U8 1 Egerton U8 1

Egerton started strongly against an equally matched team. Christopher Corteen-Allen played well in midfield alongside Bradley Berry who kept the opposition at bay with some strong tackles. Joe Lasham kept the game moving by quickly kicking the ball back

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Council Tax rise

WINSFORD Town Council has revealed its draft budget for 2005/6 with charities and organisations set to benefit. Clr Tony Hooton presented the draft proposal at Monday's town council meeting and announced that there would be an increase of 50p per week

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Second festival date will be a knockout

THIS year's Winsford Town Festival is set to be the biggest yet after organisers announced an extra day of entertainment will be on offer. The Town Festival Committee has been busy making arrangements to add an extra day to the festival, which this year

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Help us stop flouting of the fouling laws

MORE dog waste bins have been called for to deal with the increasing problem of dog fouling on Winsford's streets. Grange Residents' Association will now step up its campaign to get more bins installed to ensure the estate remains a healthy place to live

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Support for appeal fund

TOWN councillors have pledged their support for the mayor's tsunami appeal by making various fundraising suggestions. Mayor Don Beckett set up the fund following the Asian tsunami on Boxing Day and has set a target of £5,000. The first fundraising events

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Police reverse decision over ASBO photograph

POLICE have decided to release the photograph of a 15-year-old who was made the subject of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order. Last week solicitors for Cheshire Constabulary would not release the picture of 15-year-old Nicola Jayne Hoare to the Guardian after

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Guide does her best to help the Mexicans

A HARTFORD Guide is determined to raise more than £1,500 so she can join others from across the globe to help people in Mexico. Angela Higson, of Mornant Avenue, had to face a rigorous selection process before she was chosen to go on the trip, although

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A MULTI-STOREY car park in Winsford has been slammed as 'potentially deadly' after emergency exits w

An officer from Winsford Fire Station visited the car park off The Drumber in Winsford town centre on Monday afternoon and discovered the emergency exits locked with a padlock and chain. Andy Banks, subofficer at Winsford Fire Station, said yesterday,

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Every child's nightmare

FORMER BBC war reporter Martin Bell, who served the people of Knutsford as their MP for four years, spent five days in Sri Lanka and witnessed the devastation of the Asian tsunami for himself. Here the Unicef ambassador tells the Knutsford Guardian about

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Honour is sweet news to author

AUTHOR and poetess Joan Millington has had her verse published in a prestigious book of poetry. The prolific writer, of Senna Lane, Comberbach, appears in The International Who's Who with her poem Sweet Valentine, published by The International Library

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Sex pest jailed

A SEX pest who touched and exposed himself in front of boys enjoying a summer swim has been jailed. Warrington Crown Court heard that Michael Joseph Pye, 54, of Grangeway, Runcorn, had previous convictions dating back 25 years for gross indecency and

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Drop in for some help

VALE Royal Citizens' Advice Bureau is aiming to help residents who need their benefits and pensions paid directly into a bank or post office account. It has teamed up with the Department of Work and Pensions, which is no longer issuing traditional order

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Catch up if you can!

STANDARDS at a Runcorn school have risen at a faster rate than elsewhere in Britain. Teachers and pupils at Gorsewood Primary School were celebrating this week after a very successful Ofsted inspection. Inspectors said: "Standards have risen over the

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Alasdair takes a stab at martial arts work

A GROWING number of people in mid Cheshire are turning to the martial arts for exercise and stress relief - and one businessman is hoping to cater for that demand. Alasdair Walkinshaw has set up Blue Dragon on Chester Road, Castle, in response to what

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Mere charity walk was no easy feat for brave Laura

A BRAVE little girl who could not walk this time last year trekked around Shakerley Mere on Sunday to raise money for the tsunami appeal. Six-year-old Laura Blackhurst, of Owen Street, Northwich, walked twice around the mere despite having the second

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Firm and staff reach an accord on job cuts

A SENIOR shop steward representing 57 workers who lost their jobs at a yoghurt factory in Cuddington says a satisfactory conclusion has now been reached. Richard Davies, from the Transport and General Workers' Union, says the majority of the affected

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TB jabs plan put on hold by trust

A vaccination programme for mid Cheshire school children to inoculate them against tuberculosis has been postponed for three months after another outbreak of mumps. Some 134 cases were reported in the first week of January, which is why the decision has

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Bike event wins new backers

A MAJOR Northwich leisure event has gained a valuable boost from a group of backers. Vivaldi Potatoes and the Vivaldi British Superbike Race Team will take lead roles in this year's Thundersprint, which is being held in the town centre on May 8. Thundersprint

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Bex ready to take on the world

A FACE painter from Rudheath has been named as the runner up in a worldwide competition in recognition of her intricate designs. Bex Vickers, 28, of Shipbrook Road, entered the Snazaroo competition, which is seen as the most prestigious event in the face

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Ban for man dubbed 'scourge of village'

POLICE have welcomed the imposition of a four-year anti-social behaviour order on a man who was dubbed 'the scourge of Weaverham'. The Guardian reported last week how Adrian Hamilton, 20, of The Crescent, threw bricks through the windows of a village

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Chaos looms on A49

A MAJOR road maintenance scheme costing nearly £250,000 begins next month on a three-quarter of a mile section of the A49 Warrington Road at Cuddington near Northwich. The three-week project, centred between the Railway Bridge and Cuddington Lane, starts

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Arthur's agony as op is postponed for third time

A RUDHEATH pensioner who has been in plaster since July has had his operation at Leighton Hospital cancelled three times. Arthur Millington, 76, has been in agony for the past week after he stopped medication in preparation for his third operation. But

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SON WANTS ANSWERS OVER HIS MUM'S DEATH

THE son of a Weaverham woman who died after a routine heart scan is demanding answers from health bosses. Nina Byrom, of Willow Green Lane near Weaverham, went to Wythenshawe Hospital in June last year for an angiogram to check the arteries of her heart

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Stop moaning

I WORK in Northwich and have been treated with nothing but kindness and respect by the people of the town. I have found them to be warm, caring and helpful. But I can't understand why they are such moaners. Nothing seems to suit them. They moan about

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We are fed up with your gin

THIS letter is to the woman who drives along Cherry Crescent, Sycamore Avenue and Hazel Drive in Winsford, and stops to throw her gin bottle under her car. It is becoming a regular occurrence that I and many other residents have to dodge the bottles that

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Protecting the children must come first for our schools

LIKE the Northwich parent (January 5), I enjoyed the pictures of children enjoying themselves doing their nativity plays. I too was saddened that I was unable to take photographs when I attended my daughter's performance at St Wilfrid's. However, I in

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I challenge Tony Blair to try living on my tax credits

I WOULD like to thank your reporter Jim Brakell for his excellent coverage of our trouble with the Inland Revenue tax credit awards and also the kind lady who left us the parcel at Christmas time - it was most kind. The recent newspaper coverage has shown

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ENGLISH SPEAKING UNION

THE January meeting of the Vale Royal branch of the English Speaking Union was well attended by 77 members and four guests. There was an interesting talk from Stuart Mellish entitled Kashmir - a Coveted Jewel. This started with a history of this much

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LITTLE LEIGH WI

GOOD wishes for the New Year opened the January meeting. The choir was thanked for its efforts and for taking part in the Vale Royal Group carol service, which everyone had enjoyed. Maureen Eves and Val Hensby had decorated the WI Christmas tree at St

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WHITLEY WI

MEMBERS of Whitley WI were sorry to hear that Isobel Alms, who had been treasurer for many years, was leaving Whitley and moving to Cornwall. She will be missed by all members. Rita Carter will take over from her, assisted by Mary Highmore. The January

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Warning

after trailer containing toxic chemicals is stolen A TRAILER containing a dangerous substance has been stolen from Appleton. Thieves took the articulated vehicle from the Barley Castle Industrial Estate some time between the afternoon of Sunday, January

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High flying YMCA marks 150 years

BIRTHDAY celebrations for Warrington's YMCA began with a balloon launch at the Town Hall last week. The charity that helps homeless people has been in Warrington for 150 years this year and each month will see a commemorative event. About 50 people visit

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Athletes prove class

The club who hosted the Cheshire Cross Country Championships at Knights Grange on Saturday came away with five team wins out of a possible 11. And even more remarkably, the club claimed a top five team finish in nine of the 11 categories. Vale Royal's

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BARNTON END DOMINANCE

DREAMS of a third consecutive Mid Cheshire Cup Final clash between Middlewich Town and Middlewich Town Reserves have been crushed by the club's biggest rivals, Barnton. The Townfield Lane side knocked Steve Moore's reserves out at the quarter final stage

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what's on

WEDNESDAY 7.30pm: Bridget Jones' Diary at Marthall and Ollerton Village Hall. Admission £3 THURSDAY 2pm-4pm: Tea dance at the civic centre to the Bert Grange Band. Admission £2 including refreshments and raffle FRIDAY 7pm-9pm: Knutsford Liberal Democrats

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Panto time at Little Theatre

KNUTSFORD Little Theatre presents the pantomime Hickory Dickory Dock from Friday. The notorious burglar Maggie Pie has escaped from jail, but the police are hot on her high heels. With her partner in crime, Scouse Mouse, she decides to hide in the clock

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Daffodils spring unexpected surprise

Spring came early to parts of Knutsford this week - as residents awoke to a carpet of snow. In Lower Peover daffodils greeted drivers on their route to work. "I couldn't believe there were daffodils growing in January," said architect Alan Jackson. "I've

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Three to face assault charges

POLICE arrested three men this week after a man's jaw and cheekbone were broken in an alleged assault in Knutsford town centre on New Year's Day. Officers said that two 18-year-olds and a 20-year-old from Knutsford had been charged with assault after

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Snow surprise for drivers

Snow and ice covered Knutsford yesterday (Tuesday) but drivers were prepared for the bad weather. Police said motorists had listened to severe weather warnings and taken extra care on the roads. "There were a number of minor collisions but nothing serious

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Woman, 60, protests at 'bland designs'

A GRAFFITI artist - believed to be a 60-year-old woman - defaced the advertising boards outside the former Royal George Hotel in King Street last week. She spelt out her objection to the £10million development with a carefully-crafted message to passers-by

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Jazz it up with Andy

POPULAR jazz musician Andy Scott will be taking to the stage at Debees Music Bar with his band DB5 tonight, Wednesday. The band consists of John Barber on trombone, Andy Scott on saxophone, Ollie Collins on bass guitar, Dave Hassell on drums and Laura

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Vikings unveil their new look

OUSTED regulars, overseas unknowns and emerging young talent have all paid tribute to the hunger and winning mentality within the new-look Vikings squad. Despite being tipped for relegation, competition for places is fiercer than ever and Frank Endacott's

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Eco-park questioned

A MAJOR project to create an ambitious eco-park on Ince Marshes could create 3,500 jobs. But Helsby Parish Council has voiced some concerns about an incinerator being put on the site as a result of the scheme. The Peel Holdings project would involve the

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What's on in Knutsford

WEDNESDAY 19 JAN - 7.30pm: Bridget Jones' Diary at Marthall and Ollerton Village Hall. Admission £3 THURSDAY 20 JAN 2pm-4pm: Tea dance at the civic centre to the Bert Grange Band. Admission £2 including refreshments and raffle FRIDAY 21 JAN 7pm-9pm: Knutsford

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KNUTSFORD: Panto time at Little Theatre

KNUTSFORD Little Theatre presents the pantomime Hickory Dickory Dock from Friday 21 January. The notorious burglar Maggie Pie has escaped from jail, but the police are hot on her high heels. With her partner in crime, Scouse Mouse, she decides to hide

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Head to learn his fate

SUSPENDED Halton College principal Graham Hilton will soon learn his fate. A special committee set up by the board of governors is soon expected to announce its findings. Mr Hilton was mysteriously suspended on full pay on October 29, last year, by chair

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Better late than never...an actor's life for me

IN SHORT trousers, teacher Keith Fielding, 51, went back to school this week. He sat alongside his pupils as they giggled at his hairy legs! "Looking at their mannerisms and the way they say things has really helped me with my acting," said Keith, a teacher

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Genius whose life fell apart in crown court

HE was a mathematical genius whose code cracking system helped Britain to defeat Nazi Germany. But Alan Turing's life became unbearable after he was tried at Knutsford Crown Court for being homosexual. Now Peter Mather, of Egerton Square, Knutsford, wants

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Second round place secured

Widnes St Maries 14 Oldham St Anne's 12 WIDNES St Maries U16s went through to the second round of the national cup competition after somewhat of a slow start to the game, after travelling up to Oldham St Anne's. Within the first 20 minutes of the game

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Runcorn Sunday League

Results for January 16: Premier Division: Union Tavern 2 Bridge Timber 1. First Division: Halfway Vets 3 Last Orders 2. Bob Orme Challenge Cup: Prelim Round: Redmonds 5 Cholmondeley 2; Riley's 1 Brewer 2. First Round: Roosters 2 Bunner 4; Q's Tavern 1

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Halton Stadium Widnes and District Domino League

Results: Section A: Village SC A 2 Appleton Arms 3; Parklands 1 Mill Brow SC B 4; RO Bells 4 Holy Family 1; HGSC C 2 Black Horse 3; Horse & Jockey B 2 Millfield 3; HGSC B 3 USC 2; Sundowner 3 Majors 2. Section B: Wid Rec 4 Queens 1; Bowling Club 2

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Village Premier Domino League

Results for January 13: Blundell 3 Commercial No2 2; Millfield 4 Doctors 1; Smithy Manor No1 1 Our Lady's 4; Simms Cross 0 Prince of Wales 5; Lowerhouse 2 Ball 3; Moorfield SC 1 Great Lakes 4; Yew Tree 2 Smithy Manor No2 3; Cricketers 3 Halton Stadium

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Ball bulldogs get strung by scorpions

Blackpool Scorpions 22 Widnes Ball Bulldogs 10 THE Ball made the journey to Blackpool expecting a difficult encounter and that's exactly what they got. With the squad still depleted through injury, the Ball managed to get a team together, but they could

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Vikings unveil their new look

OUSTED regulars, overseas unknowns and emerging young talent have all paid tribute to the hunger and winning mentality within the new-look Vikings squad. Despite being tipped for relegation, competition for places is fiercer than ever and Frank Endacott's

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Tight game won in the air

Union Tavern 2 Bridge Timber 1 IN what was always going to be a tight game, it wasn't until half an hour gone that there was a shot on goal with both sides cancelling each other out in defence through to midfield. Bridge started the second half with more

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Bin here before!

DAY 18 without a bin collection! What would we do if we had a disaster in Runcorn, because we couldn't rely on Halton Council? One day of windy weather and all bin collections designated for that day cease. The last bin collection was December 24, the

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A late store is the last thing we need

HOW many residents of Liverpool Road and surrounding areas are aware of proposals to build a late store supermarket on the site of the former Ditton School and Widnes Motors? Proposals over the last few years of developments on the site have included

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Let's not allow 85 years' history go to waste

IT comes to something when a successful football team, as Runcorn FC has been for so many years, a team our fathers and grandfathers supported through thick and thin, should be so near to extinction. It's mainly because local people have turned their

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Singing praises of wonderful charity

I AM writing to your letters page to tell you about the wonderful work of a local charity. The charity concerned is Halton Citizen Advocacy; I first became involved as a client back in 1994. They helped me with problems I was having as a carer. Later

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Witton lose two strikers

WITTON Albion's already limited squad has been trimmed further with the departure of strikers Craig Sargeson and Gavin Salmon. Salmon, who joined from Droylsden at the start of January, played just two games for Albion before leaving for UniBond First

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Are litter pickers an endangered species?

I WOULD like to ask the council if litter pickers in Widnes are an endangered species? I have not seen a litter picker in Cooper Street or Regent Road or any of the streets off Albert Road since before Christmas. The streets are in a terrible state, what

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Let's restore Queen's Hall to former glory

I FINALLY got around to reading the papers that came over Christmas. On the front page was an article asking for views on the possible renovation of the Queen's Hall. I would love to see it renovated in the manner you describe as the hall has many memories

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Club score low draw

KNUTSFORD Rugby Club's match with Buxton ended in a nil-nil draw on Saturday. They made the journey to Buxton for a fixture that had been re-arranged before Christmas. Ironically, the weather at 'Sunnyfields' proved to be horrendous, with thick mist making

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Shakey start costs the Egerton U8s dearly

Witton U8 4 Egerton U8 0 Egerton got off to a shaky start after the Christmas break. Will Booth and William Abbots worked hard in defence trying to cover a lot of ground. However, Witton dominated the first-half leading by three goals to nil at the break

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Choir wins radio prize

MOVE over 50 Cent, the Christmas rappers from Holy Family primary are the new boys in town. Their rhyming skills were the key ingredient in a prize-winning performance by the school choir. The choir won a Century FM competition to have their song broadcast

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WOMAN: 'I KILLED AGNES'

A DRUG addict mother has admitted battering gran Agnes Hanrahan to death - but is fighting a murder charge. Denise Davies confessed to police she fractured the 73-year-old's skull by hitting her up to 40 times with a stone ornament. But the 53-year-old

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By the Rev David Ottley, Priest-in-charge, St Luke's Church, Goostrey

FOR the people of Israel destruction at the hands of Babylon was total and traumatic. Whole families taken off into exile, sons and daughters sold off into slavery and the Promised Land snatched from their hands. All that they had built gone, the city

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Park and ride could be possible on small scale

A SMALL scale park and ride facility could be set up in Lostock Gralam following a feasibility study. But there is unlikely to be a larger, strategic site in the area as had earlier been anticipated. Following the study by JMP Consulting, stakeholders

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Athletes prove class

VALE Royal Athletics Club have proven they are the dominant force in cross country in Cheshire. The club who hosted the Cheshire Cross Country Championships at Knights Grange on Saturday came away with five team wins out of a possible 11. And even more

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Highest ever win recorded

Widnes U12s 108 Tarleton U12s 7 WIDNES U12s hosted Tarlton this Sunday and recorded their highest ever win. The team played tight disciplined rugby and as usual the forwards were at the centre of the work winning clean ball for the backs. Morris, Buckle

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IT COULD be a case of 'better the devil you know' for Steve Burr in the fourth round of the FA Troph

In a twist of fate Northwich Vics, who conquered Halifax Town in round three, could well line up against Burr's old club - Hucknall Town. Hucknall, who Burr left to join Vics last summer, still have to win their third round replay agasinst Southport following

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Long and winding road

Whitchurch U15s 17 Widnes U15s 7 WIDNES travelled down the A49 to Shropshire putting in a very competitive performance against a very strong set of forwards. Playing into a stiff wind the Wids defended heroically. Williamson, Dennett and Forrest in the

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In search of Barbara

I AM trying to find a lost friend called Barbara from about 13 years ago. When we met she lived in a bed-sit in Derby Road in Widnes. She got a flat in Hough Green and that was the last time I saw her. The flat has since been demolished and was situated