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Fish, chips and mice

The takeaway “hadn’t been cleaned for weeks”, according to inspectors

A ROYTON takeaway was voluntarily closed after inspectors found the premises riddled with mouse droppings.

They also found cigarette ash amid the grime at the John Bull Great British Takeaway in Shaw Road — and a piece of plastic in a fryer.

Owner Karl Highton temporarily closed his business after the inspectors’ visit, before cleaning up and reopening. Yesterday he was fined £1,400, and another £1,490 in costs, after pleading guilty before Oldham Magistrates to

Date published: 16/05/2012

Market instability sees firm quit flagship scheme — for now

AN Oldham company has pulled out of a government flagship scheme aimed at promoting private sector growth.

Diodes Zetex Semiconductors Ltd had successfully applied to the Regional Growth Fund. But the government says the electronic components company, in Lansdowne Road, Chadderton, is one of 10 bidders no to have pulled out of the scheme.

But production director Dave...

Date published: 16/05/2012

Sahil ‘not the same’ since kidnap ordeal

THE father of a Shaw boy kidnapped in Pakistan has told a court that his son has not been the same since his ordeal.

Raja Saeed spoke at the trial in Spain of two Pakistani men and a Romanian woman accused of plotting to kidnap his son Sahil in March, 2010.

Muhammad Zahid Saleem, his wife Gianina Monica Neruja and Muhammad Sageiz deny charges of kidnap of a minor,...

Date published: 16/05/2012

Dream holiday will be my last

Supporters of Christine Cook, who suffers from Motor Neurone Disease, have raised more than £10,500 for her to have a dream and last holiday abroad with her family. Christine is pictured with pupils at Leesfield Pre-school, where she works

A MOTHER of seven with an incurable condition is set for a holiday of a lifetime to Disney World — which she says will be her last abroad with her family.

A kind-hearted community...

Date published: 15/05/2012

Could it be magic? You bet it will!

Can’t smile without you: Barbara Micklethwaite has seen her idol Barry Manilow more than 80 times.

A BARRY Manilow superfan will see her idol and have a brush with royalty in one dream day.

Barbara Micklethwaite (64), who has seen more than 80 of Manilow’s concerts over the...

Date published: 15/05/2012

Gang made threat to kill Sahil

Sahil Saeed with his father, Raja Naqqash Saeed

A MARRIED couple plotted the gunpoint kidnapping of five–year–old Shaw schoolboy Sahil Saeed in Pakistan from a Mediterranean seaside town, a court heard.

Muhammad Zahid...

Date published: 15/05/2012

Flat deaths probe: more tests

INFORMATION surrounding the mystery death of a man and elderly woman in a Coldhurst flat has been passed to the coroner.

A Home Office pathologist’s examination of the 59-year-old man and 69-year-old woman proved inconclusive.

Toxicology tests will now be undertaken to help establish how the pair, found in a flat in Eden Street, died.

Relatives sounded the...

Date published: 15/05/2012

Carer left boys locked in house

A carer who had a “clash of priorities” left her two children locked inside a house while she went to work.

The 40-year-old mother, who cannot be named, left the two boys, aged five and three, inside the house in Holts after failing to organise childcare.

Oldham magistrates heard yesterday the single parent picked up the youngest child from school at...

Date published: 15/05/2012

Blaze goes on at warehouse

FIRE-FIGHTERS remained in Higginshaw yesterday to tackle a deep-seated fire at a plastics storage warehouse.

Around 20 crew members from Oldham, Broughton and Gorton continued to tackle the blaze at the Meek Street warehouse following the blaze on Saturday.

Station manager Ian Tracey said: “The plastic meant there were lots of pockets of fire and although we had...

Date published: 15/05/2012

2,200 disabled hit by welfare reforms

Almost 2,300 disability claimants across Oldham could be stripped of their benefits to help slash the national bill by £2.24billion.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is set to be replaced with Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

Nationally, the Government believes about 500,000 claimants in receipt of the benefit will no longer be eligible — a 15 per cent...

Date published: 15/05/2012

Super-fast surfing is a Shaw thing

SUPER-FAST broadband is on its way to Shaw, giving around 10,700 residents much-improved internet access.

BT will also be improving broadband in Blackfriars, Cheadle Hulme, Littleborough, Mottram and Pendleton.

The latest development will take the number of premises in Greater Manchester with potential access to high-speed broadband to around 900,000.

BT’s...

Date published: 15/05/2012

Two found dead in flat

MYSTERY surrounds the deaths of a man and an elderly woman whose bodies were found in a flat in Coldhurst.

Police believe the two died days apart.

Emergency services were called to the Eden Street estate at around 12.30pm on Friday by concerned family members who had not had contact with the 59-year-old man for some days.

Paramedics forced their way into the...

Date published: 14/05/2012

Nine arrested in new sex probe

NINE men have been arrested over a suspected second sex grooming case in Rochdale.

Two men, aged 24 and 26, were arrested on suspicion of sexual activity with a child by officers from GMP’s Public Protection Division on May 4.

The arrests come as part of an inquiry into the sexual exploitation of a teen girl by men since 2005.

In total nine men have been arrested,...

Date published: 14/05/2012

Arsonists blamed for warehouse inferno

EVENING Chronicle reader Amy Matthew captures the drama of Saturday’s blaze with this shot showing the billowing smoke and flames engulfing the building.

A RAGING inferno thought to have been started by arsonists sent a plume of thick black smoke into the air over Royton on Saturday.

At the height of the blaze, 60 fire-fighters battled...

Date published: 14/05/2012

Sahil kidnap ordeal: three face Spanish court

SAHIL Saeed who was snatched by an armed gang

THREE people were appearing in court in Spain today over the kidnap of a Shaw boy who was released unharmed after a 12–day ordeal.

Youngster Sahil Saeed was snatched by an armed...

Date published: 14/05/2012

Polls set for vacant seat

A BY-ELECTION to replace the late Councillor Barbara Dawson in Failsworth East ward will be held on Thursday, June 14.

Barbara, a 67-year-old mother and grandmother, lost her battle with cancer on April 26.

The much-loved Labour councillor died a week before her husband, David Dawson, was set to stand for election in the same ward.

He continued to stand and won the...

Date published: 15/05/2012

High Street fashion stores close doors

ANOTHER of Oldham’s high-street stores closed down over the weekend.

Popular chain stores Dorothy Perkins and Evans, which operated from the same building, shut their doors for the last time on Saturday after years of providing high-street fashion.

Arcadia Group, which owns the two clothing lines, refused to comment.

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Date published: 15/05/2012

Mums’ pedal power backs support group

ON their bikes . . . Rhiain Harris-Larkin (back left) and Joanne McAllister (back, second right) with Huan and Megan (front) and supporters at the sponsored cycle ride

Children have rare genetic condition
TWO mothers are campaigning to raise awareness of a rare genetic condition which affects their children.

Joanne McAllister’s daughter,...

Date published: 15/05/2012

Garry in 1,000-mile cycle challenge

FORMER fireman Garry Dutton, who is taking part in a 1,000 mile cycle ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats

A retired Royton fireman was today due to set off on a gruelling cycle challenge.

Garry Dutton and three friends are cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats (LEJOG) to help...

Date published: 15/05/2012

Olympic date for plucky Richard

Olympic star . . . Greenfield teenager Richard Howarth

A DETERMINED spirit in the face of adversity has resulted in a courageous teenager being selected to represent Saddleworth.

Richard Howarth had limited sight in his right eye from...

Date published: 15/05/2012

Cabin fever!

The proposals would see luxury lodges and space for caravans and tents at the holiday site

Plans for lodge retreat
HOLIDAYS in luxury log cabins could soon be a big draw for visitors to Saddleworth.

Developers are seeking permission to transform overgrown Green Belt land at...

Date published: 11/05/2012

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