Local Life - Wigan North - Aug/Sep 2013

Wigan North Edition

Aug/Sep 2013

Your Summer Bucket List Jack’s Tracks visits Bickerstaffe

Photo: Cross Farm, Standish © Peter Bretherton

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uzanna’s Pub and Restaurant is a beautiful restaurant and pub (formerly known as Gallaghers) only five minutes drive from the A49 at Standish. After a full and sympathetic refurbishment, Suzanna’s opened for business in September 2011, and has already gained a regular clientele from both near and far. The pub is open every day and food is served every day except Monday. A single menu ranges from pub classics such as fish and chips, burgers and sandwiches to full three-course à la carte dining. Vegetarian options are a specialty, as is our Sunday afternoon Roast. Real ale beer and a range of lagers are available, as well as an extensive wine list. Happy Hour (heavily reduced drink prices) runs every afternoon. Suzanna’s is also available for private functions and conferences, with a complete range of set menus and buffets and full audio-visual facilities. We also run special evening events from time to time. Full details of this and all our events and functions are listed on our website.

opening hours Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Pub Hours 15:00 - 23:00 12:00 - 23:00 12:00 - 23:00 12:00 - 23:00 12:00 - 01:00 12:00 - 01:00 12:00 - 23:00 Food Service Closed 12:00 - 20:00 12:00 - 20:00 12:00 - 22:00 12:00 - 22:00 12:00 - 22:00 12:00 - 20:00 Happy Hour 16:00 - 23:00 16:00 - 19:00 16:00 - 19:00 16:00 - 19:00 16:00 - 19:00 16:00 - 19:00 16:00 - 22:00

38 Little Scotland Blackrod Bolton BL6 5LW 01942 832639 reservations@suzannas.com www.suzannas.com suzrest @suzrest

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Scotland

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Local. Valued. Trusted.

Culinary Flair If you’re anything like me then you might like to think you know your way around the kitchen. From time to time we all fancy ourselves as a bit of a master chef in the safety of our own home; I am pleased to announce that as of this issue we might actually be able to get you a few steps closer to that goal! Local Life has managed to bag some very coveted cooking time with BBC Masterchef finalist Jay Tinker. Jay appeared in the popular show in 2012 and made it all the way to finals – so you know he’s got good form when it comes to cooking up a storm. Send in a picture of your attempt, and we’ll tweet out your efforts to our followers on Twitter? For those of you who don’t want to be chained to the kitchen; there is plenty more going on in this issue to get you out and about and enjoying the summer. Jack recently paid a visit to Bickerstaffe so make sure you catch up with his walk starting on p56, there’s a great feature also on how to keep the kids entertained with a summer bucket list on p54 and the What’s on section is packed with ideas for great family days out. Anybody else out there who would like some free publicity for their community event be sure to let us know by e-mailing the details to editorial@locallife247. co.uk See you next time,

In this issue 34 North West Air Ambulance 48 What’s On in the North West 50 Puzzle Page 52 Your Pets 54 Summer Bucket List 56 Jack’s Tracks visits Bickerstaffe 60 Garden Diary 63 Jay Tinker’s Recipe Page 65 Saving Money with Martin Lewis 66 Motoring 70 Good Traders Section 76 Puzzle Page Solutions 78 Useful Numbers Advertising deadline - Thursday 7 August Published - Thursday 22 August Publisher: Local Life 247 Ltd, Unit 8, Hewitt Business Park, Winstanley Road, Orrell, Wigan WN5 7XB T 01695 627 999 @

Next issue - September

info@locallife247.co.uk W www.locallife247.co.uk sales@locallife247.co.uk design@locallife247.co.uk accounts@locallife247.co.uk

Sales & Editorial: Chris Pearce, Nicola Gray Design & Production: Peter Bretherton Accounts & Distribution: Sally Boon

Local Life is published every month. The magazine will be distributed into the following edition areas on an alternate monthly basis. The Wigan West edition is delivered to over 12,500 private homes and businesses in Orrell, Billinge, Winstanley, Up Holland, Highfield, Marus Bridge, Roby Mill and parts of Pemberton. The Wigan North edition is delivered to over 12,500 private homes and businesses in Standish, Shevington, Whitley, Appley Bridge, Standish Lower Ground, Parbold, Newburgh, Wrightington and Hilldale. You can also pick up a free copy of Local Life at Sainsburys or Tesco Extra in Wigan. Local Life is also published in the West Lancashire and St Helens areas. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or other cause. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced without the prior written consent of Local Life 247 Ltd.

nicolag@locallife247.co.uk

Local Life Media

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When you receive the new edition of Local Life - remember to recycle the old one.

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Parbold Village Festival The 17th annual Parbold Village Festival is back this Saturday (13th July) and the popular event is returning to its roots at the traditional venue of Alder Lane playing fields. The fun kicks off from 1pm and this year’s theme is a ‘Monster Fest’ with lots of little monsters enjoying themselves. Attractions will include the ever popular show exhibits including; Barn Owl Bill, bouncy castle, slide, archery, and a charity 5k run by the local ladies running club Pink Panthers. Local band Frisky Jazz will be playing throughout the day, together with loads of stalls, tombola, a refreshment marquee, bbq, and the pub tug-of-war. Please note there will be no off street parking at this year’s event - for further information please contact Steve Morgan on 01257 463772 or Anne Pryor on 01257 462176

North West in Bloom Judges from North West in Bloom will be doing the rounds in Standish on Thursday 25th July – they will be meeting at St Marie’s Church at 9am. Any residents that would like to support the event by being at places on the route to meet the judges and help to promote the area should get in touch as soon as possible. The route that the judges will be following includes; Woodfold Primary School, residential gardens around Southlands Avenue, St Marie’s Bowling Green, Mayflower Meadow, St Wilfrid’s Parish Church, Standish Library, Standish Dishes, Pit Tub area, Cenotaph, Rose Garden and Standish Community Centre. If you would like more information or would like to get involved on the day please e-mail the committee on standishforum@live.co.uk.

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The Gap If you’re worrying about what on earth you’re going to do to keep the little ones happy over the summer, The Grove Community Association in Burscough has the answer. The team is now busy planning their summer programme, which will be full of fun activities, for young people between the ages of 8 -13 during the summer school holidays. The programme will offer varied activities on a Monday, Wednesday and Thursday based at The Grove on Station Approach from 9.30am to 4.00pm. Daily activities will include arts and crafts, indoor and outdoor sport, cooking, swimming, music, dance, drama, archery, outdoor adventure activities, workshops and much more. This will all be available for a basic cost of £8 a day - free registrations are now being taken for young people between these ages, who live in, go to school or are cared for in Burscough, Newburgh, Rufford, Holmeswood, Scarisbrick and Lathom. Dates for pre-booking sessions and activities will be held at The Grove between 2pm and 6pm on Tuesday 16th, Thursday 18th, Monday 22nd and Wednesday 24th July. Places will be kept for people who just wish to come along and pay on the day. For further information and up to date news please visit the website at www. thegapburscough.org.uk or call Liz, Lou or Sue on 01704 896424 (option 3).

Luncheon Club Everybody loves a good feed, so if you want to fill your boots why not join the St Wilfrid’s Luncheon Club on Wednesday 17th July? The group will be meeting at 12.30pm in St Wilfrid’s Parish Hall on Church Street to enjoy a roast dinner, rice pudding and tea and coffee. The cost is just £4 and needs to be paid at the time of booking - just call into the Parish Hall.

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Competition Winners The lucky winners of our competition to win family tickets for Farmer Ted’s Farm Park were Shelley Spence from Glenside in Appley Bridge (pictured with Annabelle and Thomas), Mr R Burgess from Brokfield, Parbold, and Mrs Kim Atkinson from Manse Avenue, Wrightington. Well done to all the winners!

Capturing your precious memories Crafty Clay Standish Library will be hosting a crafty clay session on Thursday 15th August from 2pm-3pm. Take the kids to join in the art session with artist Brian Rollins and see what they come up with. The session is suitable for children aged 6 years and over – places are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment. For more information pop into the Library and speak to one of the assistants or give them a call on 01257 400496.

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Tatton Picnic Concerts Katherine Jenkins is one of Britain’s favourite singers and if you’re a fan you‘ll be glad to know that the classical superstar will be lighting up Tatton Park on Sunday 21st July. Katherine will be performing a selection of much-loved classics such as Rule Britannia, Jerusalem and Land of Hope and Glory. In addition the concert will feature some of her favourite pieces including, Les Filles de Cadiz, Someone to Watch over Me and I Could Have Danced All Night. This fantastic finale to the weekend comes complete with pop-opera four piece Amore and the National Symphony Orchestra – ending with a stunning fireworks display. Tickets start from £31 so for more information or to book your ticket please contact 0844 847 2457 or book online at www.tattonparkconcerts.com

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Shevington Fete Shevington and District Community Fete will take place on Saturday 3rd August and will be opened by actress Sue Johnston. Sue is famous for her roles in Brookside, The Royle Family, Lapland and many other productions. Currently, of course, she is appearing as Gloria, the mother of landlady Stella, in Coronation Street. The fete will start at 11am, at the Recreation Ground where there will be a variety of stalls, children’s and adult’s sporting activities, children’s rides, and live music. St Anne’s Parish Rooms are hosting a craft fair and Shevington Methodist Church will host stalls including crafts, local heritage displays and information stands run by local organisations. Sue Johnston will officially open the fete at 12.30pm in the marquee area. The Coronation Street and Royle Family star has

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personal links to Shevington and is attending in the memory of the late Tim Hooley, who lived in the area and was a close family friend. The gardening show, which has run in the village for 29 years, is being held in the Youth and Community Centre and will be open to the public at 1pm, a prize-giving will be held at 3pm and produce will be sold from 4pm. There will be lots to do for people of all ages, from a teddy bears’ picnic and story time to a tug of war. A park and ride taxi facility will operate on the day from the bus stop outside the Plough taking people up to Shevington High School. If anyone would like to find out more about the fete, please email shevingtonanddistrictfete2013@hotmail. co.uk, follow @ShevingtonFete on Twitter or search Facebook under Shevington and District Community Association.

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Business Review

rosemary conley classes come to WN6 Chris Whistlecroft, the Rosemary Conley franchisee for Wigan, is pleased to announce that she will be opening classes within the WN6 area of Wigan from September. Chris has been running successful Rosemary Conley Diet & Fitness classes within the Wigan area since September 2002 and has helped thousands of people to lose weight and become slimmer, fitter and healthier and she is really looking forward to hosting sessions in Standish, Shevington, Appley Bridge and the surrounding areas. “The regular class format is a weigh-in, talk and then 45 minutes of exercise, usually aerobics or zumba or toning or circuits” says Chris. “Losing weight is hard and research demonstrates that those who chose to do this with the support of a group have a greater success rate than those who go it alone. We have many members who come along to our classes just to take part in the exercise session. Not only does it help them to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but many friendships are made along the way and attending sessions becomes part of their social life”. For many who have a lot of weight to lose and perhaps haven’t exercised for a while or at all, then taking part in a group exercise class can sometimes be quite daunting. But, together with employee Annette Lord, Chris works hard to make classes motivating, educational and most of all fun! Chris continues, “I also offer a variety of other courses including Interval training, bootcamps and hooping . “As a fully qualified fitness instructor, I am trained to adapt the exercise to enable people of all ages and fitness levels to participate”. Chris is also launching a new style dance fitness programme called Fitsteps within her classes from September. This unique programme has been created by Natalie Lowe and Ian Waite from ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. It’s easy to learn, fun to do and a combination of the best known and most popular Latin and Ballroom dances, and the best bit…you don’t need a partner!” Classes in the WN6 area will launch week commencing 9th September. Chris will be holding open days on Saturday 30th August and 7th September where members of the public will be welcome to go along. You can chat with Chris about the new classes, meet members from other classes and take part in a variety of exercise taster sessions. You can also pre-book your place in one of the new classes before they start and take advantage of a limited free membership offer (see voucher on this page for details). For further information contact Chris on 01942 824557, or on her mobile 07968 608861 or email christine. whistlecroft@rosemaryconley.com.

Free Membership Starting w/c 9th September For details of classes and to book your place call Chris on 01942 824 557 or email christine.whistlecroft@rosemaryconley.com Places limited & must be pre-booked before 30th August

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Standish WI Standish Women’s Institute have been on the move of late; the group will now be holding its monthly meetings at Ashfield House Hotel in Standish. The move, from St Wilfrid’s Parish Hall, will give the group the extra space for meetings with a current membership of 52. The group has gone from strength to strength since being set up in March and now has a walking group and plans for a theatre/cinema group, a singing group and a baking group in addition to a monthly speaker. Other activities are also planned throughout the year. Meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month, starting at 7pm in the Langtree Suite at Ashfield House. New members and guests are very welcome. For more information please contact Diana on 01257 404078 or just come along on the night.

Community Funding This year Shevington and District Community Association have decided to look at how to spend its hard earned funds. The Community Association is hoping to support two or three projects that will benefit large sections of the community. The winning projects could be supported with a £5,000 cash injection. Bids or suggestions need to be submitted by midNovember, so now is the perfect time to get your thinking caps on and apply for the funding. All the submitted ideas will be considered and the Community Association will decide if they would like to hear more information about a proposed scheme. In addition, local organisations are invited to submit bids for amounts of up to £250 - they can apply now for these smaller grants. The Association hopes to award small grants to six or seven local groups this year. The association exists to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Shevington and District which comprises Shevington, Shevington Moor, Shevington Vale, Standish Lower Ground, Crooke Village and parts of Appley Bridge. Funds held by the association are the result of local voluntary fund raising activities over a number of years. For further details and application forms please contact the Secretary, Sheila Milnes on 01257 253735 or e-mail ShevingtonandDistrictCommunity_Association@ hotmail.co.uk

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Mini Maker Faire Join the Maker revolution at the 2nd annual Manchester Mini Maker Faire at the Museum of Science and Industry. If you or the kids enjoy building, crafting or inventing this is the event for you! An explosion of inventors, 3d printers, hackers and crafters will take over the Museum for one weekend to show off the wonderful things they’re making and share what they are learning. This will be the place where craft joins engineering, technology

fuses with fashion and robots meet art – and that’s just the start. The is event takes place on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th August, is suitable for all ages and better yet its FREE! For more information please go online to www.makerfairemanchester.com

Haigh Show The annual Haigh Show will be taking place on Sunday 18th August and this year is set to be bigger and better than ever! Entertainment will include a farmers market, animal and equestrian classes, dog show, handicrafts and horticulture, rides, vintage tractors and lots of trade stands. The main ring attractions include the Holcombe Hunt Parade with Hounds, young farmers displays, birds of prey and a Hog Roast. Admission is £7 for adults and £3 for children. For more details and tickets please visit www.haighshow.com

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Bridges over Troubles The next exhibition at the Cross Street Gallery in Standish will be Bridges over Troubles, a first ever joint exhibition for Wigan husband and wife team Michael and Sara Fahey (pictured). This exhibition of paintings and sculptural works will run from Friday 26th July to Friday 30th August at the Gallery. Mike has been painting for many years. In 2007 he gained his BA (Hons) Fine Art working with portraits and was seen on TV’s “Brush with Fame” in 2005, painting the portraits of TV personalities such as Toyah Wilcox, Paul Nicholas and Shobna Gulati (Sunita from Coronation St). Mike finished runner up for the Manchester heats of the TV show. He completed his Masters degree in Fine Art in 2010 and much of his recent work has been an exploration of the more serious use of painting throughout history linking to family history, local history and ancient and present day life. His work has been shown in various places in the UK but this is the first show he has done at home in Wigan. Sara graduated from the University of Central Lancashire in 2012 after completing her Ceramics BA(Hons). Already though, Sara is becoming a veteran exhibitor with shows at PR1 Gallery, The Harris Art Gallery and Museum (both in Preston, the Turnpike in Leigh and now locally at the Cross Street Gallery in Standish. Sara’s

work is loosely inspired by the late Barbara Hepworth, but her chief interest is the application of glazes using the ancient Japanese Raku technique which can produce startlingly beautiful results. The Bridges over Troubles exhibition runs from Friday 26th July to Friday 30th August at the Cross Street Gallery on Cross Street in Standish – admission is free.

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Parbold this summer! Th e Sto cks Tav ern & Lunches A ernoon Teas

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fundraiser was the idea of four year old Corey Coggins from Standish. Corey lost his father, Ric Coggins, to Bowel Cancer in 2011 and wanted to hold the event in memory of him. To keep up to date with the duck race and plans for next year please follow @DaddysDuckRace on Twitter.

Parbold Wildlife Group The Parbold Wildlife Group is on the lookout for new members and people to help with their projects. The group records sightings of wildlife and helps to maintain the area for local people to enjoy. They are currently looking for anyone to help the clear up of the thistle and ragwort in the area throughout July, either of an evening or Saturday morning. Anyone interested in lending a hand should contact the secretary on 01257 462909 or e-mail abelchris@talktalk.net.

Quacking Success Hundreds of people gathered to support Wigan’s first ever charity duck race which raised over £4,500 for Wigan and Leigh Hospice on Sunday 30th June. The fundraiser took place on the Leeds Liverpool Canal and saw over 1,000 ducks take to the water. The

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Park Hall Re-Launch Last Sunday saw the successful launch of a brand new Antiques & Collectors Fair at Park Hall Hotel, Charnock Richard, Chorley. Park Hall has been an internationally recognised venue for world famous antiques and collectors fairs since the 1970’s, once hosting Europe’s largest with over 500 traders and thousands of visitors to this weekly one-day attraction. Charnock’s Antiques & Collectors Fair has partnered with Park Hall Hotel to re-launch everyone’s favourite Sunday day out, opening its doors to national and international traders and savvy public looking for that timeless investment. The Fair will run from 9.30am3.30pm every Sunday. Antiques industry entrepreneurs Kerry and Paul, co-owners of Charnock’s Antiques & Collectors Fair, have been regular traders at Park Hall for the last 20 years, both boasting successful businesses in this niche market. Their professional relationship has developed over many years and combined with a mutual trust, drive and ambition they have launched this high quality antiques and collectors fair in the new home of Park Hall’s Lancastrian Suite, which will be its weekly Sunday venue, supported by Lavender Hotels. The fair will feature a range of up to 150 stalls filled with mixed antiques and collectables including jewellery, pottery and crockery, silverware, furniture, paintings, military ware, clocks and watches, retro and nostalgia. Food and beverages will be served on site or you can enjoy a meal in the Park Hall Hotel from their special Sunday menu. Heskin’s Kerry Welsh, a business partner in this new venture said: “The antiques trade at Park Hall has needed an injection of enthusiasm for a long time. Park Hall is an amazing central venue with fabulous facilities for hosting a fantastic day out. These days, life flies by at 100 miles an hour and people demand higher quality experiences for their leisure time and we aim to give them just that. Myself and Paul will be working around the clock to pull this event together with the Park Hall management to make it a huge success and we hope people will come and join us.” Jeanette Marshall, Marketing Manager for Park Hall Hotel commented: “We are delighted that the new weekly antiques and collectors fair at the Hotel has

been re-launched with Kerry and Paul, both of whom have the full support of Lavender Hotels. It is anticipated that other activities will be developed to support the antiques including a craft fair and specialist hobby style events and we are open to suggestions should someone approach us with an idea.” To enquire about a stall at Antiques & Collectors Fair at Park Hall Hotel, please contact Paul on 07944 433666.

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The Big Screen The Parbold Picture House has a great line-up of screenings and there is sure to be something to whet everyone’s cinematic appetite. On Sunday 21st July you can sit back and watch the greatest manhunt in history; Zero Dark Thirty focuses on the decade long hunt for Osama Bin Laden. If you fancy something a bit more light-hearted you can wait until Sunday 4th August to watch Untouchable – billed as the world’s number one award winning comedy, this film is based on the true story of an unlikely friendship between a French disabled millionaire and his street smart ex-con caretaker. Other offerings include The Master on Sunday 18th August, this is billed as a landmark American film set in the 1950’s about the relationship between a charismatic intellectual and a drifter who becomes his right hand

man. All viewings start at 7pm in the Village Hall on The Green; tickets cost £3.50 and admission is on the door – for more information please contact 01257 464533 or have a look online at www.parbold.info

Having a clear out?

Whether you’re revamping your home or just having a clear out, there are always unwanted items that are difficult to get rid of! If you have any unwanted furniture or electrical items give the British Heart Foundation a call and they will collect them free of charge. The list includes sofas and armchairs, lounge furniture, beds, tables and chairs, T.V’s, washing machines, fridges, dishwashers and small electrical items. For more information about the service please call 0844 248 9184 or book online at bhf.org.uk/collection

e place to be for authentic ai food!

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Established in 1984 as an emergency glazing service, today Dennis Goulding has grown and moved forward to o er all you need to maintain, enhance and expand your home. We continually invest in and embraced the latest changes in energy e ciency regulations, and still remain a local family business that cares and takes pride in what we do. We don’t employ pushy salesmen, but pride ourselves on working with and listening to our customers to give them exactly what they want. We will treat you with respect every step of the way and on that you have my word! Stuart Goulding

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Shevington

Book Chat Are you interested in becoming a member of the 5th reading group and book chat at Standish Library? This is new group and times and dates will be confirmed according to group members needs when numbers and interest have been confirmed. Everyone is welcome, so to express an interest in joining this group of for further information please contact Standish Library on 01257 400496 or e-mail Standish.library@wlct.org.uk

lookout for new members and now is a great time to find yourself a new hobby. Beginners and experienced players are welcome and members will always be in hand to offer tips and advice. For more information about meeting times and places please e-mail standishtabletennis@hotmail.co.uk

Beach Body Workout If you’re wondering how to achieve your perfect beach body and don’t really know how to get motivated, why not try out the Beach Body Workout at Appley Bridge Village Hall? The fat busting sessions take place every Tuesday at 6.30pm and Yoga Core classes at 7.15pm. Both classes will take place at the Village Hall on Appley Lane North – for more information please call 07979 406284 or e-mail Sjlewis_personaltraining@yahoo.co.uk.

Table Tennis With Wimbledon dominating all the headlines and the country getting behind Murray for the umpteenth year in a row, it’s not surprising that Tennis is popular at this time of the year. But have you ever considered taking up Table Tennis? The Standish Table Tennis Club is on the

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Transform your conservatory with Perfect Fit blinds!

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St Wilfrid’s Holiday Club The summer holidays are upon us and like many parents the dread starts to creep in as to how we are going to entertain the children during their time off! Fear not, the St Wilfrid’s Holiday Club in Standish is here to help. Their children’s club runs from Monday 12th August until Friday 16th August and is perfect for children aged 5-11 years old. The activities will be held at St Wilfrid’s Parish Hall on Church Street each day. There are still a few places left so for more information please call in at the Parish Hall or call 01257 421564. Volunteers are also needed to help with the children – if you would like to get involved please contact Kathryn Ashton on 01257 421564.

The Big Gig The Big Gig is just as big as it sounds, Mesnes Park will be alive with the sound of music on Sunday 14th July from 12pm-4pm. As part of the Wigan International Jazz Festival you can join organisers for an afternoon of free, family friendly entertainment. Enjoy live music, including a jazz band, try one of Frederick’s delicious ice creams and explore Mesnes Park. For more information about the afternoon please contact the park enquiry line on 01942 487 098 or go online at www.wlct.org/ parks.

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Pipsqueaks Fun! If you’re looking for somewhere to entertain your kids or grandkids over the summer, you no longer have that far to go! Pipsqueaks Play Café, which is based at Abbey Lakes in Orrell next to FX Leisure, has a safe and clean play area with separate toddler frame and baby soft play. There are lots of daily activities going on at Pipsqueaks, including messy play, craft, character appearances, singing and story time, but it is open seven days a week and you can drop in at any time! Every Tuesday is Grandparents Day, so bring along your grandchild/ren and you can enjoy a free tea or filter coffee in the café, which also serves a full menu of freshly cooked food for you and the kids! For more details about Pipsqueaks, visit www.pipsqueaksplaycafe. co.uk

Canoeing Club If you’re looking for a bit of adventure and excitement why not join the Saturday Canoeing Club in Wigan? The club is for anyone who wants to learn canoeing and kayaking – it doesn’t matter if you’ve never tried them before because beginners are always welcome and the friendly staff will always be on hand to help. As a beginner you will learn about safety in the water, paddling skills, first aid, the environment and group awareness; you can even work towards your British Canoe Union Awards. The group meets every Saturday between March and October from 1pm-3pm. The cost is £5 for children, £10 for adults or £22 for a family of four. To find out about meeting places please contact the Outdoor Education team on 01942 769812 or e-mail outdooreducation@wigan.gov.uk

Lunchtime Club Whitley Church on Spencer Road is looking for anyone who is interested in joining their lunchtime club. The club is held on the last Thursday of the month at 12.15pm and the cost is just £4.00 and you will be able to enjoy a two course meal plus tea or coffee. This is a great opportunity to meet new friends and have some fun – everyone is welcome! For more information please contact Jean Ashton on 01942 238520.

Journalist Required Temporary appointment for 7-10 months duration to cover maternity leave The successful candidate will be a flexible, highly motivated team player with a good eye for detail. They will have competent writing skills, experience of new media, will be able to demonstrate good featurewriting ability and be a talented photographer. The successful candidate will also be expected to help out in other parts of the company, including sales. Driving licence required NCTJ qualification is necessary Salary dependent on experience To apply, please email your CV to:

How can you entertain the kids this summer?

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Family Camp Out Join the activity leaders at Haigh Country Park for 24 hours of family fun at the annual camp out with a difference! Learn bush craft skills, fire by friction and how to use Kelly kettles – you can also cook on the campfire and enjoy a bat walk. All you need to do is bring your own camping equipment and food, toilets and water will be available on site and children must be accompanied by an adult. The camp out will take place on Monday 19th August from 12pm -12pm the following day – the cost is £10 per person or £35 for a family ticket. Booking is essential so to secure your place please call 01942 487098 – happy camping!

Shevington’s Success Competing in Europe is every football team’s aspiration; Wigan Athletic has just secured their place in Europe and they find themselves in great company! Shevington FC Under 12’s have just returned from a very successful football tournament in France – the team travelled to Wigan’s twin town Angers to compete against similar teams. The lads finished 4th overall, which is a great achievement! Before they were able to take the trip, they had to raise a massive £7,500 towards the travelling expenses. The players, parent and cub would like to thank everyone who helped raise the money, especially Heinz who sponsored the kits and Shelterwise who sponsored the tracksuits. Donations were also gratefully received from Wigan Rotary Club, Morris’ Bakers of Chorley, William Kirby & Sons of Orrell and Wigan Council Brighter Borough Fund.

Learn Bridge Do you enjoy keeping fit? Well, why not keep your mind active as well and learn to play bridge? Wigan Bridge Club are looking for new members and all abilities are very welcome We play on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings and also on Monday, Friday and the first and third Wednesday afternoons of the month. Lessons for beginners and improvers will be starting on Monday September 16th at 7-15pm. Wigan Bridge Club is situated at 38 Bridgeman Terrace opposite Mesnes Park in Wigan. For more information contact Joan on 01257 464267 or look up Wigan Bridge Club on the internet.

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Car Boot Sale A Car Boot Sale is being held this Saturday (13th July) at St Bernadette’s School on Church Lane in Shevington. The event runs from 9am-12 noon and will be inside the school if the weather is wet. Proceeds go to parish funds and local charities. If you fancy having a clear out then pre-booking is £7 per car and an ‘on the day’ booking will set you back £8. For more details, please call 01257 425347.

to capture the imaginations of the whole family. You can watch a dog display team, falconry displays and even some sheep dog trials. If you’re more into arts and crafts then take a peek at some chainsaw wood carving, coppice crafts or some clogg making. Other attractions will include live folk music featuring the Long Hill Ramblers, a climbing wall and various children’s rides and entertainment. Admission is free so make the most if it – for more information please contact 01695 622794.

Green Fayre Beacon Country Park is the place to be if you’re looking for a day out on Saturday 20th or Sunday 21st July. The Green Fayre will be held at the park in Upholland between 11am-5pm and there will be lots of activities

The Art of Rugby League The Rugby League World Cup is coming to the UK in November and Wigan Council is inviting artists across the borough to take part in an exciting art competition. To celebrate the tournament, artists are being asked

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to complete their paintings by Friday 30th August so they can be included in the competition. All entries will be judged by an independent panel and the winner will receive £100 worth of vouchers, with 2nd place receding £50 and 3rd place £30. For more information about the competition please have a look online at www.wigan.gov.uk/rlwartcomp or call Nick Burdekin on 07774 090637.

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Wigan Music Society Wigan Music Society will be hosting a recital on Saturday 28th September – now you might think that this seems like advanced notice but the tickets book up quickly and we don’t want you to miss out! The recital will feature live entertainment from soprano, Laurie Ashworth, accompanied by John Gough. The performance will take place from 7.30pmat the Trinity United Reformed Church on Milton Grove in Wigan. Laurie was the winner of the Kathleen Ferrier Song Prize in 2010 and the runner-up in the Kiri Te Kanawa Opera Prize in the same year, so this is a performance you don’t want to miss. Wigan Music Society has always aimed to help young local musicians and although Laurie is well established she is a local girl from Appley Bridge! Tickets are now on sale at a cost of £10 per person, £9 for members and £1 for students - for more information please contact 01257 462138.

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Care from the Air Is it a bird, is it a plane? No it’s the North West Air Ambulance (NWAA) and their bright yellow chopper has been caring for local people since 1999. You may not know a lot about the NWAA and hopefully you won’t ever need their services in your lifetime; but with their two helicopters they fly life-saving missions seven days a week, 365 days a year. On average the helicopters and their crew are deployed five times a day, with this number rising to ten times a day during the summer months. The doctors and paramedics on board provide rapid treatment, hospital transfers, and ultimately, give the gift of time to patients across the entire North West region each year. Since it launched in 1999, the charity has flown over 11,000 missions across the region. It costs in excess of $4.2 million per year to maintain the aircraft and with almost no central government funding they rely on the generosity of their supporters. The NWAA has recently launched a new appeal for local volunteers to help at the family fun events throughout this summer. The Charity is not only seeking donations but would now like to hear from local volunteers to help raise awareness of their work and raise vital funds for its service at a variety of events up and down the region. The new recruits will act as ambassadors for the charity on the day, supported by North West Air Ambulance

Charity staff. The North West Air Ambulance Charity is looking for volunteers for the following events this summer: • Saturday July 13th & Sunday July 14th - The Aviation Show at Manchester Airport • Sunday August 25th - Ormskirk Motorfest Anyone interested in becoming part of the NWAA team this summer or if you would like to make a donation can visit www.nwaa.net/volunteer or to find out more, please contact Wendy Askew on 0800 587 4570 or email wendy.askew@nwaa.net

So far the NWAA have completed 606 missions this year Nick Roberts rescued in 2010: “I had a torn aorta which was bleeding into the cavity where my lung should have been. I urgently needed transferring to Wythenshaw Hospital for treatment. Luckily the air ambulance came to my aid; they managed to get me to hospital in less than 10 minutes.” Stephen Summerscales rescued in 2011: “I’ll forever be grateful to the North West Air Ambulance crew. Without their skill and commitment, and if I’d have been transferred by land ambulance, I wouldn’t be here today.”

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Distributors Required Local Life launches a new magazine into the Chorley area next weekend and we’re looking for people to help with the initial distribution of the magazine in the Coppull, Adlington, Euxton and Eccleston areas. We can offer excellent rates of pay, a generous mileage allowance and you’ll be supplied with delivery bags and distribution maps. Distributors must be over 13 and will be fit, enthusiastic and reliable. This may suit enterprising families who are looking to earn extra money for their summer holidays. Please e-mail your name, address and landline number to sallyb@locallife247. co.uk as soon as possible for details.

Chorley Tow n Edition

ion Chorley Rural Edit

Fi Aug/Sep 2013 rst & Last with Sue Johnst on Jack’s Tracks visits Wheel ton Taste Test in Euxton e-Biking in Heskin Taste Test in Adlington Jack’s Tracks visits Rivington Astley Hall © Peter Bretherton

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Boredom Busters With the holidays fast approaching the ‘B’ word strikes fear into every parent’s heart! But boredom can be a thing of the past with Abraham Guest’s free family fun taster courses. The courses are aimed at both adults and children to help them work together through play and fun activities. The sessions are fun and full of activities that the children will love, from imaginative play, simple puppets, masks and creating their own books. The sessions are free and all the materials will be provided for you. A minimum of one adult must attend with their child – limited places are available so to avoid disappointment and to find out when the sessions will be held please contact Megan Smith on 01942 776191.

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Your Health

Successful ageing Over the last few decades there has been a massive increase in the average lifespan that lots of us are going to be lucky enough to have. The average estimated lifetime of a Briton is now estimated to be at around a golden eighty years. I’ve certainly seen an increasing number of people in their seventies and beyond enjoy competitive sport, skiing, challenging walking holidays, and all whilst juggling the demands of looking after several grandchildren! Some of these people have health problems, indeed sometimes serious ones, but these people have learned to adapt and maximise what they can do rather than what they can’t. In doing so, they naturally manage these health problems relatively very well. These people certainly challenge the many commonly held ideas that include phrases such as “I’m not getting any younger, at my age... what can I expect?” and so on. Avoiding buying into these concepts is one of the foundations of what is called successful ageing. Most people who successfully live to a hundred or so seem to have remarkably positive, optimistic outlooks, constantly seeking out new challenges. This in turn reverberates through their daily lives so that they live happily and healthily. The other thing I’ve noticed is that they tend to keep very active, and here are just a few things that they tend to do; choir practice, dancing, day trips, charity work, college courses, part-time jobs, any and all hobbies, sport, university of the third age, rambling/ walking clubs, tennis, golf, exercise classes, drama, gardening and allotments, clubs and societies of every shade. The trick is to try one. Enjoying any of these activities will ensure that body and brain are regularly engaged and are kept healthy and able to enjoy life. It is often said that we are social animals, and this is a need that we can meet in such activities as we age. Successful ageing incorporates limiting or managing disease and disability, as well as keeping a good level of physical mental and social function by making good lifestyle choices. Fundamentally it revolves around keeping active and happy. Dr Mike Paull, Chiropractor.

Festival of Transport Wigan’s Festival of Transport will be wowing crowds on Sunday 25th and Monday 26th August at Haigh Hall Country Park. The festival will include a huge range of vehicles on static display, as well as classic, vintage and commercial vehicles, fire engines, military trucks and a variety of specialist car clubs. There will also be lots of trade stalls, a craft fair, traditional fun fair licensed bar and catering. Whether you’re a keen motor buff or you just want an interesting and enjoyable day out, Wigan Festival of Transport is a great day out for all the family. Tickets start from £4 for adults and £3 for children with discounts for two day tickets – for more information or to book your tickets please call 01942 496855 or go online at www.festivaloftransport.co.uk

Home visits also available in: Southport, West Lancs & surrounding areas

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Bring your Cons Conservatory roof before “Conservatory overheats in summer and winter temperatures rival the North Pole!”

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Money & Investments - by David K Barton APFS Cert CII(MP)

Early Pension Release - Be on your guard!

Pension release is when you agree to transfer your pension savings to an arrangement that will allow you to access your funds before you reach the age of 55. In rare cases, such as terminal illness, it’s possible to access pension funds before the age of 55.

There are a number of companies(most of which are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) that are now cold calling individuals with promises of immediate tax free cash . Whilst this may sound tempting it is fraught with potential issues. For most people, promises of early cash are false and are likely to result in serious tax consequences. Transferring your pension early can result in tax charges and penalties of more than half the value of your pension savings, and those being targeted are usually not told about these potential tax implications. You need to understand the risks of releasing or ‘cashing in’ your pension before 55, when it’s fraud, how you might be targeted with illegal pension transfer or pension loan o ers and who to contact if you suspect it. Some pension transfer schemes that o er to release your pension before the age 55 can be illegal if you are misled about the consequences of entering into one of these arrangements. This could be because you’re not informed of the tax consequences, fees involved or how the remainder of your pension savings are invested. An increasing number of companies are targeting individuals claiming that they can help them release their pension cash early. You may be targeted through websites, mass texting or through cold calls o ering pension loans or opportunities to cash in your pension. You should be very wary about giving out information in response to a text or cold call. You should always make sure that you know who you’re dealing with. You should always take appropriate nancial advice before using pension release websites and be aware of the potential for charges being imposed by HMRC. Converting your pension into cash before the age of 55 might sound very attractive if you urgently need money. However, if something sounds too good to be true, it often is. The risks of cashing in your pension early include: • You may be poorer in retirement. You can only use your pension fund once. If you release your pension, there will be much less (or no) income from it when you retire.

Brought to you by David Barton of Prosper Independent Financial Advisers who is a Chartered Financial Planner specialising in investment and pensions advice to the over 50s.

David K Barton APFS Cert CII(MP)

Call Prosper today on 01257 423 800 to arrange your no obligation initial consultation. www.prosper-ifa.co.uk

Telephone: 01257 423 800

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•

You may be hit by unexpectedly high fees. As part of the release transaction, you will probably have to pay the organisers a ‘commission’ or ‘arrangement fee’ and these can typically range from 10–30%. You may be misled as to the consequences of the transfer. You may not be informed or misled as to the huge tax consequences of making such a transfer. You may be hit with signi cant charges by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). If you release your pension, you need to tell HMRC and will have to pay tax. If you fail to tell HMRC and HMRC contacts you rst, you may be charged penalties and interest in addition to the tax.

•

•

It is important to also watch out for the alternative names given for forms of pension release, including pension loans, pension transfers and pension liberation. Pension release should not, however, be confused with ‘Pension Unlocking’. With pension unlocking, a person aged 55 or over can release up to 25% of their total

pension as a tax free lump sum. Unlocking your pension will almost certainly mean you will have less income in retirement and, as a result, unlocking is only suitable for a very limited number of people and circumstances. In the event of any early pension release approach, I would seriously recommend that you consider taking advice from an experienced nancial adviser.

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Accountancy - by Chris Alcock ACMA

Guide to Choosing an Accountant If you are looking to appoint an accountant or change accountants, here are some basic tips on helping you choose: a airs which leaves you free to grow your business? 7) Make sure they have experience in your sector. A good example is do they have experience of on-line trading and e-commerce. 8) Ask to speak to existing clients before signing up. A decent accountancy rm should be happy to arrange. Do they provide testimonials from satis ed clients? 9) Make sure your accountant keeps in touch with your business - not just at year end! It may be too late to take any necessary action after the event! 10) If at some stage you decide to sell your business, you will need a good accountant more than ever to minimise any tax liabilities payable on the sale. A good accountant will help you grow your business and add considerable value. CMA o ers a free initial consultation, either at our o ce or yours, at a time to suit you. If you would like to see how we can help please get in touch.

Tips for choosing an accountant 1) Choose an accountant before you start your business. A good accountant will provide valuable business advice to help on the right road to success. 2) Make sure your accountant is fully quali ed, these quali cations will be displayed on any promotional material or the company’s website, otherwise make sure you ask. 3) Big is not always better – Look for a good match. It is essential that your accountant works with small business clients. Would you prefer to work with one person on a day to day basis? 4) How much does the accountant charge? Most modern rms o er a xed annual or monthly fee to complete all business tax requirements. This helps you avoid any nasty surprise bills! 5) When you rst meet a prospective accountant. It is important to develop a good relationship and know that your nances are being handled by someone you trust. A exible accountant will come out and see you at your o ce at a time to suit you. 6) What other services does the accountant provide - can they take care of all your bookkeeping, payroll and tax

Tax Tips of the Month If you are a VAT registered business, consider switching to the at rate VAT scheme. This can help you simplify the bookkeeping process and reduce the amount of VAT that you have to pay To see how we can help you please get in touch: Chris Alcock ACMA CMA Accountancy 39 Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge, Wigan, WN6 9DR Tel: 01257 255521 Email info@handsonaccounting.co.uk www.handsonaccounting.co.uk

CMA is a proactive accountancy rm based in Appley Bridge. We provide the usual services such as accounts and payroll services. We can also help you with your bookkeeping if you hate doing this!!

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Beware of bogus council tax claims People in Wigan Borough are being warned to ignore companies who claim they are owed money by the council. Scores of residents – many of them elderly have been contacted by firms claiming they could be due a council tax refund because their property is in the wrong Council Tax band. Some of these companies state they are working with Wigan Council to recoup their cash. But council chiefs have said such claims were false and warned residents to reject any approach from a private firm. They stressed Wigan Council is not working with any company regarding council tax refunds. They added residents can find out for free if their council tax banding is wrong - without paying a commercial firm to find out for them.

Wigan Council has been told elderly residents in particular are being targeted by firms claiming council tax changes mean they are owed huge sums. However, council tax bandings are rarely altered and any change would generally affect a group of properties and would be well-publicised. Residents who want to know if they are paying the right amount, or if they are owed a refund, can find out by contacting the Valuation Office in Manchester who will investigate for free. To report incidents of bogus callers, call the Police on the non-emergency number, 101. For further advice, contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 (calls charged at local rate).

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Summer time means more accidents

– How to protect yourself.

As the weather changes for the better the number of accidents on the roads also increases.

The glare of the sun in drivers’ eyes, distracted by the sunshine, concentration and attention to the road tends to wane, and as a result there are more accidents on the roads. If you are unlucky enough to be involved in such an accident, this unfortunately tends to lead to a period of stress and worry when you may not have your vehicle and you may even end up losing time and money with absence from work due to injury. All because of an accident that was not your fault. We have all heard stories of people leaving the scene of the accident without giving their details or it later being discovered that they were not insured at all, making the whole incident even more stressful than necessary and ultimately resulting in the innocent party being out of pocket. This need not always be the case, there are some simple guidelines that you can follow to prepare for the worst should it happen while you are driving. The last thing that anybody wants is to lose their no claims discount on top of the stress of dealing with an accident. It is essential that the person at fault for the accident is correctly identified, if they are not, there will be no person to pursue for any losses you may suffer and you will ultimately end up footing the bill. To prevent this, always keep a pen and paper in your car. Write down the full name, telephone number, address and registration number of the ‘at-fault’ driver and car. It is also useful to note a brief description of the person driving the ‘at-fault’ vehicle. Although the person responsible for the accident may initially accept responsibility for the accident, this often changes when they realise that this accident will affect their own no claims bonus. It is therefore important that you obtain evidence of the circumstances and damage to all vehicles and names of any witnesses to the accident. If anyone gives you their details as a witness, take as much information from them as possible. Look around you too. Is there a shop or garden nearby in which someone may have witnessed your accident? If you have any concerns about either of the above, then telephone the police and report the accident immediately. Do not worry, you are not wasting police time in doing this. The next step is to report the accident to your insurance company, it is a clause in every insurance policy that

all accidents must be reported. A failure to do this may ultimately result in them not assisting you or even accepting the version of events as presented by the other motorist. Finally, if you are injured visit your GP or the hospital. Whiplash and neck injuries can be very painful and a trip to the doctor may result in a quick referral to physiotherapy or exercises which will ultimately result in a speedier recovery.

At Craig and Co we specialise in personal injury claims of all types. We guarantee that your claim will only be dealt with by an experienced member of staff who will listen to your concerns and deal with your claim as quickly and efficiently as possible. We act on a “no win no fee” basis. If you have been involved in an accident call us on 01942 211670 to discuss any potential claim with our local, experienced team.

Call - 01942 211670 19 Queens Court, Wardley Street, Wigan WN5 8BF

victoria@craigandcolaw.co.uk www.craigandcolaw.co.uk

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What’s On in the North West Green Fayre at Beacon Park The Green Fayre at Beacon Park near Up Holland is West Lancashire’s premier countryside event, celebrating the great outdoors and countryside life. Don’t miss demonstrations in a variety of woodland crafts including, chainsaw carving, willow weaving, basket making and hooping. The show arena will also include sheepdog trials, Viking battles and birds of prey displays. A music marquee houses a variety of folk and traditional music performers. When: Cost: Details: Where: Sat 20th July & Sun 21st July (11am-5pm) Free 01695 622794 WN8 7RU

RHS Flower Show Tatton Park The North’s greatest garden party has lots of fresh ideas for visitors. Check out the Great British Allotment area, or if ornamental plants are more your thing, head to the Floral Marquee to find a huge choice from some of the UK’s top nurseries. Don’t miss some fascinating show garden designs. Ladies Day returns by popular demand on Friday 26th July. When: Cost: Details: Where: Thur 25th July – Sun 28th July £23.50 www.rhs.org.uk WA16 6QN

Speke Hall Vintage Festival Travel back in time at Speke Hall near Liverpool this summer! Back by popular demand, this is your chance to see beautiful veteran, vintage and classic vehicles on display, chat with their owners, and visit the amazing Vintage Market for timeless bargains. You can chill out to the retro sound of live performers and enjoy delicious food cooked on site at the Festival. When: Cost: Details: Where: Sat 20th July & Sun 21st July (11am-5pm) Free www.nationaltrust.org.uk.speke-hall L24 1XD

Knowsley Flower Show The Knowsley Flower Show celebrates their 15th year! The Floral Marquee will be a blaze of colour and scent, and this year they have classes suitable for anyone, every age and capability including some special classes for children and young people themed around their crystal anniversary. Also new for 2013 is a Food for Thought area sponsored by Love Food Hate Waste with lots of advice on healthier eating and free recipe giveaways and lots of tips on how not to waste food.

Aintree Hot Air Balloon Festival The event will feature a fantastic array of Hot Air Balloons of various shapes and sizes. There is a giant funfair, helicopter rides, licensed bar, and the event would also feature a special Glow Night on the Saturday, where the balloons light up to a choreographed musical display. There’s also a full program of family orientated entertainment, including mini circus performances, with clowns, jugglers and magic.

When: Sun 4th Aug (11am-5pm) Cost: Free Details: 0151-443 5749 www.knowsleyflowershow.com Where: L16 3NA

Family Fun Raceday Haydock Park’s fabulous family fun race day returns in the summer holidays and this year’s theme is ‘Under The Sea’. Join them for an action-packed family day out not just with fantastic racing, but with FREE children’s activities ranging from face-painting to bouncy castles, craft workshops to funfair rides ... but best of all it’s FREE for children 17 and under, accompanied by a paying adult. Sat 20th Jul & Sun 21st Jul (Sat 12noon-10pm – Sun 12noon-6pm) Cost: £3 (children under 1.2 meters free) Details: 0161 6220555 Where: L9 5AS When: When: Thur 8th Aug (gates open at 12.10pm) Cost: £32.40 Details: 01942 402624 www.haydock-park.co.uk Where: WA12 0HQ

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Blackpool Air Show Blackpool Air Display is a magnificent seaside air display for all the family. Every year sees bigger and better displays as crowds gather along Blackpool’s Golden Mile. From the Spitfire to the ultra-modern Typhoon there is something for everyone and the Blackpool Air Show. The main action takes place between Promenade Point and South Pier.

Southport Town & Country Fair This popular event moves to a new home at the Leisure Lakes in Mere Brow. Attractions include the 360 bicycle stunt team, horse carriage driving, a shopping mall, craft marquee, sheepdog displays, duck herding, children’s entertainment and a bouncy castle. Also for the children there will be a bee, worm and reptile house, donkey rides and you can even enter your own dog into the daily shows at 1pm. Sat 24th - Mon 26th August (10am-5pm) Adult £5, Senior £4.50, Child £1 Family Ticket £12 (2 Adults, 3 Children) Details: 01704 212734 www.garden-festivals.com Where: PR4 6JX When: Cost:

Lytham Proms Festival Weekend Photo © G Lee

When: Cost: Details: Where:

Mon 12th August Free www.visitblackpool.com FY1 5BD

This is the biggest musical and cultural event in the town – the event is held on Lytham Green, next to the iconic windmill. Over the course of the weekend you can enjoy live performances from Jason Donovan, Tony Hadley, Russell Watson, Rita Ora and Conor Maynard. When: Cost: Details: Where: Fri 2nd Aug – Sun 4th Aug £32.50 - £40 0844 888 9991 FY8 1LW

Southport Flower Show Located in Victoria Park, the Southport Flower Show features stunning show gardens, the finest flower and vegetable displays, specialist foods and books, celebrity guests and much more. Every day there is something new happening, from talks and lectures to cookery presentations in the kitchen. The main arena entertainment brings you jousting medieval knights and free flying birds of prey, dog displays and the fun of what happens when sheepdogs meet Indian Runner ducks. Don’t miss it!

The Garstang Show This is the 198th Garstang Show this year, with 15,000 visitors expected it’s set to be a fantastic day out for the whole family, with entertainment for all ages and tastes. There will be a number of free events for children, as well as the popular horticultural & agricultural exhibits. The Galloping Acrobatics are booked for this year, so come and see all manner of trickery on horseback!

When: Thur 15th Aug – Sun 18th Aug Cost: £16-£21 Details: 01704 547147 www.southportflowershow.co.uk Where: PR8 2BZ

When: Cost: Details: Where:

Sat 3rd Aug Children £2, Adults £12, Family Ticket £28 07967 313346 PR3 1JS

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49

Puzzle Corner

Wordsearch Sudoku

Guess where?

Photo courtesy of Wigan Heritage Services http://wiganimages.wlct.org/ Answers are on page 76 of this magazine

Can you find all of the Eighties’ pop acts in the grid? a-ha Baltimora Bananarama Billy Idol Cyndi Lauper Erasure Five Star Genesis Go West Kajagoogoo Kate Bush Kim Carnes Kim Wilde Madonna Men at Work Mike Oldfield Mr. Mister Nik Kershaw Prince Soft Cell The Waterboys Thomas Dolby Toto Ultravox

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51

Love Your Pets - by Dr Shams Mir BVSc&AH,MVSc,DrMedVet,MRCVS

Why Regular Worming of Dogs is so Important Our pet dogs can harbour a range of internal parasites. Besides their adverse e ects on the health of the dog, some of them can have serious implications on human health. Therefore, controlling these infections is of vital importance.

Many puppies are born with the roundworm Toxocara canis infection, transmitted to the pups through placenta and milk. The larvae travel through the blood stream to the lungs, via liver in case of oral infection, are coughed up and swallowed, they then settle in the intestines and start laying eggs by the time the puppy is merely three weeks old. Worms can interfere with the nutrient absorption turning a puppy thin and pot-bellied; larger numbers can lead to obstruction of the intestine and death. Dogs are infected through eating hatching eggs, eating prey or uncooked meat containing worm larvae. Some puppies have been shown to pass as many as up to 2 million worm eggs in faeces in a day and some dogs have been shown to pass worm eggs in spite of worming treatment every three months. The worm eggs can survive for more than a year in the environment. The hookworm Uncinaria stenocephala, is another type of intestinal worm, is common in dogs that have access to grass runs. The infection is contracted by ingesting larvae hatched from the hookworm eggs in the environment. A less common species Ancylostoma caninum is known to cause infection with the larvae

directly entering through the skin. The even less common whipworm Trichuris vulpis lives in the large intestine with the head buried in the intestinal wall. Unless the worm infestation is heavy, adult dogs may only show subtler e ects like poor hair coat. The heart-and-lungworm Angiostrongylys vasorum, and the lungworm Crenosoma vulpis infections are contracted by dogs from eating infected slugs and snails. In case of A. vasorum adult worms live within arteries of lungs causing a variety of problems including blood clotting disorders presenting as bleeding from the nose or mouth or sudden onset neurological signs due to bleeding within the brain. Occasionally, larvae reaching the eyeball can lead to serious eye diseases. In case of C. vulpis adult worms live in bigger airways, with heavy infection causing persistent cough, exercise intolerance and breathing di culties. The greyhounds are known to be particularly susceptible to this infection. It is obvious from the above that to safeguard the health of our pet dogs, regular treatment against these worms is extremely important. But it is even more important that to safeguard the human health in general and the family health in particular, as there is some evidence that we are more likely to contract parasitic infections from our own pets. Whereas the regularity of this treatment is very important, it is even more important to use medicines that can assure high level of e cacy against the widest range of above mentioned parasites. Though cheaper, over- the- counter medicines are too basic to provide the required e cacy and o er the required assurance. If you need further information on the right approach to worming your pet dog, please do not hesitate to contact me on 01257 463 142. Dr Shams Mir BVSc&AH,MVSc,DrMedVet,MRCVS Veterinary Surgeon Sunrise Veterinary Surgery 6 The Common Parbold WN8 7DA Tel: 01257 463 142 www.sunrisevets.co.uk

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High Days & Holidays Join the Heritage team in Mesnes Park on Tuesday 23rd July from 10.30am-2.30pm for their first event of the summer. Summer holidays were enjoyed by many in Victorian Wigan, so take a step back in time and see how they spent their summer weeks having fun. You can watch the Punch and Judy show, play Victorian games and make something to take home. For more information please call 01942 828 508 or e-mail leisurequeries@wlct.org.

Craft Workshops The Mossy Lea Crafters will be hosting a summer holiday craft workshop on Friday 16th August for children aged 5+ and adults. This is your chance to flex your creative muscles and try out a new craft or two; you can try your hand at knitting, crochet, sewing, felting, weaving, embroidery and Japanese braiding. There will be two sessions on the day, you can choose from 10am-12pm or 1pm-3pm and the cost is just ÂŁ3 per child and adults go free, any profit made will be donated to Cancer Research. The cost of the session will cover materials so all you have to do is book your place and turn up at the Mossy Lea Village Hall on Mossy Lea Road in Wrightington; to book your place please contact Andrea Gaskell on 07590 116912 or Carolyn Cross on 01257 423128.

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Agility classes UK Rally Obedience classes Puppy classes One to one training Puppy socialisation parties Give Jo a call today on 01257 423726 or email her on jo@standishdogtrainer.co.uk

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Summer Bucket List

30 fun things to do with the kids during the summer holidays!

The summer holidays are nearly upon us; six glorious weeks stretched out in front of us and, let me guess, no ideas on how to keep the kids entertained. I bet you can hear the echoes of ‘I’m bored’ already! But, spare a thought for 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Make a scrapbook Host a sleepover Make ice cream sandwiches Get the kids to tidy their rooms and sell the surplus stuff at Burscough’s Car Boot. Make a bird feeder and wait for the local birds to stop by and check it out Swim - see how many laps you can swim in a row. Keep practicing and then see how many you can do by the end of the summer Go up to Beacon Park in Dalton, climb a tree and roll down a really big hill Pitch a tent in the garden and spend the night camping out. Build a den in Fairy Glen Run around in the rain - this shouldn’t be too difficult with our weather! Fly a kite Catch a fish with a net the kiddywinkles, being stuck at home every day can get really boring so here are thirty ideas for summer activities that won’t break the bank. Have a look at our summer checklist and see how many you can get through.

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13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.

Go on a really long bike ride down the canal Make a mud pie Make a daisy chain Play pooh-sticks in the Douglas at Appley Bridge Empty out the loose change jar, catch a train to Southport and spend an hour on the Penny Falls machines in the amusement arcades Go to Kenyon Hall pick-your-own, near Warrington pick some blackcurrants or gooseberries and make a pie or crumble for tea Go star gazing Hunt for bugs Take your camera round all the local sights and make a local calendar. Go on a nature walk at night Visit Haigh Hall and have a game of crazy golf! Take binoculars or a telescope up Parbold Hill on a clear day and point out the sights. Find a geocache – you can read more about it at www.geocaching.com Find a maize maze – find the nearest one at www.maize-maze.com Catch the train to Manchester and visit the Museum of Science and Industry Create some art with things you find on your nature walk Toast some marshmallows on a campfire Go on a Jack’s Tracks and explore the local countryside

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Jack’s Tracks

Bickersta e & Scarth Hill This month’s walk is just shy of 6 miles, starting out from the Stanley Gate car park, passing through the village of Bickersta e and up over Scarth Hill, on what is mostly quiet country lanes and farmland. Apart from the pub where you start out from, there isn’t anywhere on route to stop for refreshments, so do carry water and snacks to keep you going until you return to the Stanley Gate, where you can rest your legs and enjoy a good meal. On the walk, there is one point to bear in mind. At the far end of Bickersta e Plantation, there is a very narrow wooden bridge (a plank basically) crossing the brook. If this bothers you, then bypass the woods by walking

straight to the A506, then turn left along it until picking up the route again. This alternative route is marked in orange on the map.

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Stanley Gate to Bickersta e Plantation Leaving the car park, cross the A570, turn to your left and walk to the tra c lights. At the junction turn right into Liverpool Road and continue walking for about 130 yards to where you’ll see a public footpath sign is on the opposite side of the road. Cross over the road and take the path through the eld and then take a right towards the old windmill. When you reach the main road turn left and keep going until you come to the Holy Trinity church in Bickersta e. From the church you go directly across the road, continuing round the corner and down Hall Lane for about 330 yards, passing the school and the entrance to Hall Farm. You will eventually come to a lane on your right. As you go down the lane you’ll pass the Keepers Cottage on your left. Keep going down the lane; you’ll soon see the footbridge that you’re aiming for that crosses the M58. You go along the left hand side of the hedgerow, over the bridge, following the path down, across Bickersta e Brook on to the end of Long lane. If you’d like to avoid the narrow plank bridge at the far end of the woods, take the alternative route (shown in orange on the map) up the lane and left onto the A506. Bickersta e Plantation to Scarth Hill From the lane, take the footpath opposite the fenced o area, that leads into the woods. After about 120 yards you’ll see a path to your left. Follow it over the brook and continue on down through the woods. The path gets quite vague in places, but it’s obvious enough for you to follow until emerging at the plank bridge. Having bravely negotiated the plank, make your way through the long grass and continue along the right hand side of the eld toward the A506. On reaching the main road, cross over and turn left. You then continue along the road for about 180 yards until reaching the footpath sign on your right.

Water Tower Built around 1974, the water tower at Scarth Hill has a water capacity of around 400,000 gallons and replaced the previous ‘pepperpot’ tower of 112,000 gallons, built in 1879. As soon as the new tower came into service the old one was demolished. The nearby pump house, built on the site of an old windmill, still stands, but has been sold and converted into homes. Turning right walk up the left hand side of the hedgerow, then at the end of the rst eld switch to the right hand side of the hedgerow and continue up towards the woods. On reaching the woods, cross back to the other side of the hedgerow and continue

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along the side of the woods until reaching Grave yard Lane. If it’s a clear day, stop for a moment, look to the southwest, and try to pick out some of the landmarks in the centre of Liverpool. On Grave yard Lane you go right and walk all the way up the lane until reaching Long Lane. You turn left onto Long Lane, walk for about 100 yards, then at the footpath sign take the track on your right up the hill. Ahead of you, and sitting at the top of the climb is Croppers Farm, situated on the junction of Croppers Lane and Poppy Lane. Passing the farm, you carry straight on up Poppy Lane towards the water tower. The lane joins Scarth Hill Lane before emerging at the A570. You go right along the main road for about 50 yards. Here, you cross the main road and take the public foot path that appears to lead down a private driveway. Just a few metres into the driveway the footpath turns o to the right. You’ll nd the grass here is quite long, but it soon thins out as you reach the highest point of the walk. Scarth Hill to Stanley Gate As you continue along the path, go down past the side of Delph Farm and along the grassy track until

emerging on to Whiteley’s Lane. Now you go right and stay on Whiteley’s Lane for about 650 yards, until reaching the sharp left hand bend. You leave the road here, taking the track on the right. Follow this to the rst hedgerow on the right, then, keeping to the left of the hedgerow go right along the public footpath. At the end of the hedgerow you cross the wooden footbridge and continue along the track, across the eld towards the left of the woods (Alcock’s Plantation) ahead of you. Passing the woods you go slightly to your left and follow the right hand side of the hedgerow until reaching the main road. The pavement is on the other side of the road, so cross over and go left, following the road back to the Stanley Gate. There, cross back to your starting point. Please ensure you wear appropriate clothing and footwear whilst walking. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the walk is accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or other cause.

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Garden Diary - by Angie Barker

The National Gardens Scheme Do you know, Hubby does have a lot to put up with and he never complains but recently, when I announced that I wanted to see if our garden was good enough to be accepted into the National Gardens Scheme, I could see he was a little crest fallen. He must have been thinking, oh lord she will be spending even more time in the garden now – and what if the garden doesn’t make the grade – will she start re-designing the garden from scratch – and how much will that cost! Well, the morning of the NGS visit I was very nervous. One of the criterions for acceptance is that your garden

Award Winner

must hold 45 minutes of interest. My garden is not a large one by any means, it is nestled in the middle of a modern housing estate, was this really something that the NGS were looking for? Well Hubby needn’t have worried because I was delighted when the o cials from the NGS who came to inspect the garden accepted it into the scheme. For those of you who don’t know, the NGS is an organisation which encourages privately owned gardens to open to the public on certain days throughout the year. A small admission fee is charged and cups of tea are sold and all monies collected go to charity. Have a look on their website – www.ngs.org. uk – to see if there are any gardens open near you – it is a fantastic way of picking up ideas from ordinary gardeners, as opposed to swanky show gardens. So if you’ve ever wondered what my garden looks like, next year (around the end of June) you can come along and see it for yourselves. In the meantime, this photo taken on the day the NGS visited in June gives you a little preview. Hubby by the way is much relieved – but he knows that come next June he will, as ever, have a lot to put up with.

Angie is a quali ed award-winning garden designer who will plan your garden to your needs from start to nish, supplying reputable contractors and the ideal plants.

Call Angie now for your free consultation! Author: Angie Barker Dip GD (Inst GD) BA (Hons) Garden Design For All Seasons Tel: 01942 522 405 Mob: 07857 008 383 www.angiebarker.co.uk

Award Winner

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For your daily fix of Local Life...

Parbold’s Vill age Festiva l takes pla this year on ce Saturday 13t h July at the playing fiel ds off Alder Lane betwe 1-5pm. Priz en es are up for gra following bs in the sections; Flo wers, Fruit and Vegeta bles, Dome stic (Food), Handicrafts, Art and Pho tography. There are als o 24 differe nt classes for children’ s efforts too . If you’re interested in entering an exhibit please pic , k up a Festiva l Schedule from the DIY Centre on The Comm or from Par on bold Librar y.

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Recipe - by Jay Tinker

Pear Tarte Tatin Served with ice-cream Ingredients • Dessert Pears • Butter • Vanilla pod • Puff pastry • Sugar • Vanilla ice cream

Method 1. Core the pears and peel them. Poach the peeled pears with the vanilla pod and some sugar for 10-12 minutes 2. Roll out the puff pastry to make individual bases to roughly the size of the pear 3. Heat equal amounts of the sugar and butter in a saucepan and place over a high heat until bubbling. Shake the pan and stir the buttery sauce until it separates and the sugar caramelises to a toffee colour 4. Pour the caramel into small pie tins 5. Slice the pear into wedges and place in the pie tins, cut a circle of puff pastry to fit the pie tin – use another pie tin as a template 6. Brush the puff pastry with egg yolk and place on top of the pear 7. Put in the oven at 180 for approximately 30 minutes or until golden brown, then tip over onto a plate 8. Add the Vanilla ice cream then serve

20 Springfield Road, Aughton L39 6ST 01695 423 324 www.tinkers-aughton.co.uk

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INSTALLATION, SERVICE & REPAIR

BOILERS, COOKERS & FIRES

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Money Saving - by Martin Lewis

Energy The increased demand for fuel during a harsh Spring has pumped up wholesale gas and electricity prices. Some pundits predict another energy price hike round towards the end of year, hoicking prices by 10% - a high burden that would leave many choosing between heating and eating. So even if the sun’s shining, there’s never been a more important time to sort your energy bills. Here are my need-to-knows: 1. Ensure no price hikes for TWO winters and save. EDF has launched a new tariff that can provide welcome respite for many. Do a comparison and it may not come top, so many will miss it. Yet it’s certainly one to consider. The EDF Blue Feb 2015 fix (my.edfenergy.com/gaselectricity/blue-plus-price-promise) will save someone with typical bills on a standard dual fuel tariff £200 a year. Crucially, it lets you lock in the rate, guaranteeing no price hikes for 22 months. 2. Join my free Cheap Energy Club Switching tariff to save is crucial. The problem is that most deals only last a year or two, then you’re bumped back onto costly standard tariffs. To fight back, I’ve set up www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub. It compares to check you’re on the cheapest tariff. Then each month it does a background comparison to see if you’re still on the cheapest tariff and will alert you when you need to move again. 3. Direct debit is 5%-10% cheaper If possible, pay by fixed MONTHLY direct debit for a discount. Though always do regular meter readings for accuracy as your bill is estimated. As energy usage is seasonal, you will find yourself in credit in summer and debit in winter. If you find you’re too heavily in credit, you can get a chunk of the amount you’ve overpaid back before arranging for a lower direct debit. 4. Mythbusting—is it cheaper to leave the heating on low all day? This is a common urban myth, according to the Energy Saving Trust. Yet you save energy, and therefore money by only having the heating on when it’s required. Using a timer is best, as your thermostat is designed to turn your heating system on and off to keep your home at the temperature you set it. 5. Green Deal– is it worth it? The Green Deal’s designed to let you pay for energy– efficient home improvements such as under floor heating, double glazing, efficient boilers, loft and solid wall insulation from the ‘savings’ you make on energy bills. It can be a boon for many, though you may need to pay for an inspection first. If you’re going to do it, do it as soon as possible, as millions of pounds of cashback is available to first adopters.

Each month, Martin will be writing a feature for Local Life - advising our readers how to save thousands of pounds every year! Don’t miss it!

Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert, is an award-winning campaigning TV & radio presenter, newspaper columnist and a best-selling author. An ultra-specialised journalist, focusing on cutting bills without cutting back, he runs and founded the UK’s biggest money site, www.moneysavingexpert.com with 13 million monthly users.

Get Martin’s FREE tips and money-off vouchers emailed directly to you each week by signing up to www.moneysavingexpert.com/tips

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Test Drive - by Andy Enright

IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED...

The original version of the fourth generation Nissan Micra supermini singularly failed to hit the spot. That model has had some hefty revisions to bring it up to scratch.

With slicker exterior styling, a much-improved interior, more equipment and better value for money, Nissan’s latest MK4 Micra has turned over a new leaf and has quietly morphed into a wholly respectable supermini. Originally launched in the early Eighties, the MK2 Micra became the very first Japanese model to win the European Car of the Year award. Nissan decided to build the car in Britain and style the MK2 and MK3 models with a daring flair that perfectly suited an ever-more image-conscious small car market. That’s been less the case though, with the Micra MK4, which arrived here at the very end of 2010. Out-sourced for build in India, the original MK4 model

was cheap. The problem was that it rather felt it too and, as a result, sales were disappointing and lagged behind Nissan’s Qashqai, Juke and Note models. By 2013, it was clear that this design didn’t just need a refresh - it needed a root and branch re-think. Of all the aspects of the original version, the one that probably needed the least work was the way it drove. It was always good fun to drive and its light weight gave it some pretty nimble reflexes. The latest model doesn’t change a whole lot here, instead just tuning the details. The big draw remains the DIG-S engine and this is really the model you need to be targeting. The heart of the Micra DIG-S is a direct injection engine teamed with a supercharger - hence the car’s name: Direct Injection Gasoline-Supercharger. Although it has clearly been designed to cap emissions and fuel consumption, the lightweight, low-friction 1,198cc three-cylinder unit produces the power expected from a conventional 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine. With 98PS on tap, it’ll get to 60mph in less than

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11 seconds and feels quicker. A five-speed manual gearbox is fitted as standard but there’s also the option of a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) automatic which makes town driving easier. You can also buy the Micra with an 80PS 1.2-litre normally aspirated engine should you wish to save around £1,500 model for model. There’s no diesel option.

Prices haven’t changed much, which means you’ll pay somewhere in the £10,000 to £15,000 bracket. The Micra has been designed to be one of the safest small cars around, with ESP stability control fitted as standard alongside ABS brakes and six airbags. The interior also now benefits from dash-mounted AUX-in and USB slots linked to all audio units, while a 12v socket has

The Micra’s most obvious changes are to the exterior. The entire ‘face’ has changed with a redesigned grille re-establishing a stronger link to Nissan’s corporate look with the familiar circular badge ‘held’ within a chromed extended V-shaped motif. The bonnet, wings, headlamps and front bumper are also changed. And where fitted, the front fog lamps have been given a bit more prominence with chrome edging. The rear features a re-sculpted bumper, LED tail lamps and a panel at the bottom of the tailgate. The fresher look is complemented by different 15 and 16-inch alloy wheel designs. The interior has come in for a rethink too, with the instrument graphics ahead of the driver improved for greater clarity, while there’s a totally new centre console with restyled air vents. Gloss black finish on the centre console and a silver look to the gear selector finisher combine with retextured door armrests and better quality seat and door pad fabrics. Storage space elsewhere in the cabin is generous with no shortage of pockets, boxes and cubbies.

been added, allowing mobile phones or MP3 players to be recharged on the move with ease. There’s also the availability of Parking Slot Measurement and Rear Parking Sensors. PSM measures parking slots and alerts the driver as to whether the Micra can be safely parked in the space or not. Nissan has demonstrated that you don’t need to go to the expense of shelling out for a hybrid or even for a modern turbodiesel engine. The DIG-S will manage 95g/km, which means a free road fund licence. Fuel economy is similarly excellent with a manual Visia model returning an astonishing 68.9mpg. The big question is whether these changes are enough. Buyer behaviour can be a tough thing to change and it will be hard to divert customers from their Fiestas and Corsas. The Micra’s chances won’t be transformed overnight but this is now a car you could recommend to somebody who doesn’t want to follow the crowd. I think Nissan would call that a result.

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Motoring

Travelling Overseas Anyone thinking of travelling to the Continent for a trip this summer is being urged to ensure they have adequate motor and travel insurance cover before they leave Britain. Direct motor insurer, Touchline, is also advising motorists to familiarise themselves with the rules of the road of our EU counterparts, many of which have alarmingly high incidents of road traffic accidents. France is one of the most notorious countries for road accidents, with Portugal recording the highest number of fatal road accidents. It is claimed that England has the least number of such accidents.

Advice from Touchline includes: • Give your insurers adequate notice of departure dates, where you will be going and who will be driving the car. If possible, arrange for another driver to share the driving. • Take all important documentation - car registration, driving licences, insurance documents, green card and E111 etc - but don't leave them in the car! • If you're going to Spain, ask your insurer for a bail bond. • Familiarise yourself with the road signs and speed limits before you leave the UK. • First aid kits, fire extinguishers, spare bulbs, advanced warning triangle and headlamp converters are legal requirements in some European countries. It is also recommended that you carry fuses, fan belts and a spare clutch cable. • Check speed limits. These vary depending on where you may be travelling. Some countries impose lower limits for inexperienced drivers or in bad weather. • Don't drink and drive. In some European countries, it is an offence to drive with ANY alcohol in the blood. • Many EC countries carry tolls on the motorways and some can impose on-the-spot fines for motoring offences. Ensure you carry enough currency to cover such costs. • Take a spare set of car keys. • Always display a GB or Euro sticker on the rear of your car.

GB

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Building services Joinery Specialists

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LOCAL, RELIABLE, FRIENDLY PROFESSIONAL AND HONEST • Conservatories & Orangeries • Extensions • Refurbishments & Alterations • Fencing & Decking • Garage & Loft Conversions • Kitchens & Fitted Bedrooms • Doors & Windows • All aspects of joinery work

Call Phil - 01257 425997 or 07703 007675 ARLEY FITTED KITCHENS & BEDROOMS • Manufacturers & Fitters of built-in Bedroom & Kitchen Furniture • Bathroom Units • Replacement Tops & Doors Visit or ring showroom to arrange for FREE estimates Arley Cabinet Co. Ltd 214a Gidlow Lane Wigan WN6 7BN Mon-Fri: 8am - 4.30pm Sat: 9am - 12pm

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Does your home need a facelift?

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Puzzle Corner - Solutions

The picture on page 50 was of the junction of Church Road and Shevington Lane, with Prince Albert Colliery in the background

Jobs Domestic Cleaners Required – All Areas Growing company requires cleaning staff for immediate start. You must be honest and reliable, and all references supplied will be checked. Flexible hours to suit your lifestyle and good rates of pay for the right candidate. For details call Stephen or Joanne on 0800 043 0722 or 01942 203442. Distributors Required Local Life requires distributors (aged 13+) for the following areas; Abbeydale/Mill Lane/Millbank area in Appley Bridge, the Park Hey Drive/Newgate Avenue area of Appley Bridge, the Trevore Drive/ Chorley Road area of Standish and the Spencer Road/ Whitley Crescent area of Whitley. Distributors will typically work for 2/3 hours every 8 weeks, delivering in their own neighbourhoods. You must be fit, enthusiastic and reliable. Please e-mail your name, address, landline number and date of birth to sallyb@ locallife247.co.uk

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