It's the end of an era for policing in Aughton with the village's well respected local bobby Ken Lees retiring recently. Colleagues from Aughton's police post treated him to a slap up Chinese meal at the Peacock Inn, Ormskirk, while Insp. Andy Willis told QLocal how highly regarded he was in...

Ormskirk's Alan Wright is anything but a rogue - or cowboy for that matter! But his expertise has helped him win key roles with two national TV programmes of the same name as an 'expert witness'. He's already helped in the BBC's Watchdog/Rogue Traders, and is now featuring in the new series...

A great night was had by all at a special West Lancashire Women's Refuge fundraiser. Hosted by Mayoress Sue Murrin-Bailey and held at Ormskirk's Left Bank, the restaurant was filled as supporters enjoyed a sumptuous three course meal. Guests included Mayor Rob Bailey and local MP,...

by Mike Wilkinson The Ormskirk branch of the RAF Association (RAFA) held a successful Buffet Dance in aid of local Air Training Corp groups at Ormskirk Civic Hall recently. Guest of honour was Mayor of West Lancs. Coun. Rob Bailey who gave a stirring address, praising the astounding good work...

A SENIOR police officer has returned to West Lancashire as a Chief Inspector – after nearly two decades away. Kevin Boyce was born on Merseyside and started his career at the Metropolitan Police in 1983, transferring to Lancashire in 1986. He then worked as a Sergeant in West Lancashire...

Twelve members of the public made sure that Aughton parish councillors knew of their stance over Borough draft plans to substantially 'grow' the village. They spoke at length at the April meeting to quiz councillors - including council leader Ian Grant - over plans concerning land bounded by...

Dear Sir, The level of debate on fracking to extract shale gas in Lancashire has been disappointingly low. This is not a simple issue and cannot be reduced to 'right/wrong', 'good/bad' or 'us/them'. People speaking on behalf of political parties have a special responsibility to avoid...

County Council plans to site a new pedestrian crossing on Junction Lane, Burscough have been criticised by locals. One member of the public had to be reprimanded at April's Parish Council meeting after criticising County engineers who he claimed had not appreciated the problems the new crossing...

Fuel fears are still growing in west Lancashire as motorists try to second guess any strike moves by tanker drivers. This was the scene at Maghull's Shell station on Northway as drivers queued to ensure their tanks were full for if and when any industrial action is announced. Meanwhile,...

A cracking evening's entertainment's promised at a special soccer night in Ormskirk next week! Everton's Pat Van Den Hauwe and Liverpool's Joey Jones will go head to head at the Left Bank on Thursday. Patrick William Roger "Pat" Van Den Hauwe made 401 appearances playing for Birmingham City,...

by Anita Holme Families will be 'bowled over' this Sunday - literally - at a new charity event at Ormskirk Cricket Club! It's to raise funds for the Club along with Bowel Cancer UK. The tournament begins at 11.00 with play until 17.00; we have four teams playing with the victorious team...

by Ken Allen Southport Croquet Club's popular open weekend's being held next Saturday, 28th and Sunday 29th April from 10am to 4pm. Why not come along for a knock? Beginners are welcome and help's offered to everyone. We will provide the equipment: all you need is footwear with flat sole...

by Mike Wellby Ormskirk Breast Cancer Support Group - B.U.S.T (Better Understanding, Support and Treatment) - was established several years ago to provide a support group and network for women diagnosed with breast cancer. It meets on the second Thursday of each month at 7.00pm at Ormskirk...

by Phill Hudson I've recently spent some time in Clitheroe after completing a job for The Grand, a local venue that really plays its part in the community and gets people involved. I was encouraged to go back to Clitheroe after seeing how busy the town centre was and how little shop...

by Andy King With 200 new Scouts in the past twelve months, the West Lancashire area can boast its best ever recruitment figures. Scouting in West Lancashire has grown 1.7% in the past twelve months, taking total Lancashire membership to 11,000. This impressive increase - the seventh...

by Alan Lenton Are all the partners in the local community strategy committed to “challenging yet realistic targets” to improve the needs and aspirations of communities and strive as an LSP to take action to address local concerns? According to MP Rosie Cooper, Working in partnership "will...

by Lawrence Critchley A new military heritage society's been formed for south west Lancashire. The Lathom and Burscough Military Heritage Society has been created to promote the area's military heritage, and supply research resources to help educate young and old alike.

by Rose Halsall This year marks the 400th anniversary of the formation of the Foundation Trust of Ormskirk Grammar School, now Ormskirk School. To celebrate this momentous occasion, a black tie Gala Dinner is being held at Knowsley Hall in the presence of Lord Derby, who is himself a...

John Palmer is the NFU North West’s new business development manager, replacing Andy Williams who retired at the end of April after 41 years of service to the organisation. The 47-year-old father of four has spent the last 13 years of his professional career managing a commercial field sales...

by Alan Lenton It's that time of year again as west Lancashire's party political machines crank up prior to the local elections. You won't be able to get through the porch soon without a leaflet from one or more candidates boasting about their record - or knocking the opposition! But have...

Servolution hits Ormskirk over the next two weekends as a special project at Greetby Hill School aims to paint part of the town green - not red!

VARIETY - the children’s charity is holding an “apreciation award dinner” for Ormskirk's legendary Jon Culshaw later this year. It's taking place at Blackpool's Imperial Hotel on Friday, 21st September in recognition of his wonderful charitable support of Variety - and outstanding entertainment...

Ryan Dowbakin was back at his desk at Burscough's Priory High this morning - minus a certain something... No wonder then instead of a well earned pat on the back, he should get numerous pats on the head after his efforts for Derian House Children's Hospice. Ryan had his head shaved yesterday...

A Google-funded project to help journalism start-ups is being held at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston. UCLan MADE (Media and Digital Enterprise) won the Google funding last year to help digital entrepreneurs from across Europe and the Middle East get the training they need to get...

The Co Op has defended 'unco-operative' parking in Burscough village centre outside its store. Their comments came after long queues build up regularly as the truck delivers from outside the store for up to twenty minutes at a time. QLocal reporter Roger Blaxall was stuck for twenty minutes...

FASCINATING old newspaper reports were shared with WI members in Rufford when journalist Angela Danby visited them recently. Angela took along copies of the Southport Visiter from the late 1800s and early 1900s, revealing many amusing stories covered by reporters in the early days. More than...

by Gareth Kingsley Ormskirk Summer Darts League starts again next week on 23 April; our thanks to QLocal which is covering our 2012 season. Taking part this year are The Hayfield, the Buck, Burscough's Stanley Club, Aughton's Dog and Gun, the Halton Castle in Westhead, the Railway, the 22...

by Mark Lancaster Photos: Matthew Wright I approached Steve at the Heaton's Bridge last year about staging an early season military vehicle get together in April.

by Gill Yates The prospect of staying behind after school every Tuesday to do extra spellings would not appeal to many children - but these four pupils are different. Each week they arrive hungry for new and increasingly harder spellings (and for the chocolate 'brainfood' to sustain them!),...

by Sue Watkinson Oh. La, La! – an evening of Parisian fancy with French acoustic café jazz and popular music with Fifi La Mer (vocals and accordion) and her three musical colleagues is coming to Aughton. It’s at the Village Hall on Sunday evening, 13 May, starting at 7.00 p.m. Tickets are...

A speech and language therapist from Ormskirk has won a national award for helping people communicate when illness or disability robs them of the ability to talk. Andrea Robinson and Ruth Young (right) of Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Trust were crowned overall winners at London's...

Three out of 10 council seats are not being contested by the highly unpopular Liberal Democrats at local elections. They are in increasing disarray as an unreceptive tide of UK public...

by Victoria Hannah Girl Guiding NW has selected a group of seven young women to travel to Madagascar to undertake a water sanitation project. Madagascar is a large island in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa. It is a beautiful but poor country with diverse wildlife, 90% of which...