The closure of two visa centres in Pakistan could prove a massive stumbling block to Naveed Rana ul Hassan retaining the Stafford Heginbotham "Castle" Trophy. The Pudsey Congs paceman took 79 wickets in the Bradford Cricket League last season to lift
Church leaders in Guiseley, Yeadon and Rawdon have issued a stark warning to thieves and vandals - keep away from our churches. The crackdown comes as churches have introduced faked stone and marked paving slabs to foil those wanting to steal from them
OTLEY traders have backed the launch of the latest defence in the war against crime. The Shoplifting Awareness Campaign was officially launched by PC Heidi Beardsmore of the Otley Community Policing Team in the Market Place. The campaign involves a ten-point
AN appeal has been launched to provide a play area for disabled children at Otley's Wharfemead-ows Park - and a Horsforth woman is starting the fundraising. The town's disability advisory group (ODAG) came up with the idea after meeting five-year-old
OTLEY'S former business leader has hit out at the ending of commercial waste collection by the city council. And he has called on businesses to be allowed to use the household waste site at Ellar Ghyll. On Tuesday, Leeds City Council will pass over the
HUNDREDS of foil kites, puppets and balloons were in the air at Menwith Hill as an estimated 2,000 people protested against military action in Iraq. Organisers claim the demonstration was the biggest at the base for more than 15 years. Several protesters
OTLEY artist Dave Stephenson is facing the biggest canvas of his life. When he attended Bradford Royal Infirmary for treatment recently it struck him how dull and drab the corridors were, and especially the one taking children from the children's ward
aN architect has been struck off the register by the Architects Registration Board sitting in Leeds after he was found guilty of serious professional incompetence. Christopher Davis of The Old Grammar School, Manor Square, Otley did not appear a the hearing
FIVE-year-old Jack Houlden is over the moon after his picture of his mum won first prize in a Mother's Day competition. Now the Guiseley Infant School pupil's picture will go out with every bouquet of flowers sent out on Sunday by Guiseley florist, Flowers
The name of Aireborough looks set to be completely lost under the Boundary Commission's shake-up of electoral boundaries. Towns and villages across Leeds face being reorganised and renamed. But Councillor Graham Latty (Cons, Aireborough) said that the
A community organisation which wants to buy a successful business centre in Manningham has had its prayers answered with a £300,000 boost. Action For Business (Bradford) Ltd, which operates the Carlisle Business Centre, will use the Government cash to
Vicars in Ilkley are determined to keep their churches open all hours despite the threat of vandalism and theft. And as attacks on churches become more common throughout the country, many firmly believe that an open church is a safer church. Clergy in
Blind people are at serious risk of injury in Ilkley because of everyday hazards on our streets, according to a guide dog charity. Overgrown hedges, bollards, caf chairs and holes in the pavement are just some of the problems faced by the visually impaired
A BESTSELLING writer and personality is returning to her roots to become the figurehead for Ilkley's first summer festival. Author Jilly Cooper has accepted an invitation to become president of the company formed to co-ordinate the three-week programme
ACTORS are always told to break a leg - but Gilly Rogers took the drama to new heights as she prepared for her big role. She was rushed to hospital with a severe reaction to antibiotics and a badly swollen arm just days before appearing in Noel Coward's
YOUNG people are being called on to support efforts for Ilkley's skate park after a major fundraising drive failed to attract enough help from youngsters. Charity Pipedream says it needs the help of all sections of the community if it is to achieve its
A Riddlesden mortgage advisor was today jailed for life for carrying out a series of violent sex attacks across the Bradford district. Nicholas Wright was sentenced for three counts of attempted rape over a five-month period last year when he appeared
Taking advantage of superb running conditions last weekend, members of Otley AC participated in two separate road races. On Saturday, The Coniston 14 beckoned some Otley members who had enjoyed the same excellent weather on the club's training weekend
Burley Trojans 2, Kirkby Malzeard 3 An Andrew Dunkley goal two minutes from time handed victory to Kirkby Malzeard and not only resurrected their title aspirations but also severely dented Trojans' own hopes of landing the Premier Division crown. On balance
YOUNG Yeadon soccer player Jamie Wardman has been offered the opportunity of a lifetime - providing he can raise thousands of pounds himself. The 17 year-old has been awarded a scholarship to study and play soccer at the University of Ottawa in Kansas
A man admitted using his wife's credit card to pay for thousands of indecent images of children to be downloaded on to his personal computer. David Alan Collins, of Thornhill Street in Calverley, Pudsey, pleaded guilty at Dewsbury Magistrates Court yesterday
An intense blaze in a carpet warehouse was tackled by firefighters early today. The fire started between the ground floor and the first floor of the two-storey building at the back of Duckworth Lane, Girlington, Bradford. Fire crews from Fairweather Green
People possessing illegal guns will have the opportunity to hand them in to police without fear of prosecution after a national guns amnesty starts on Sunday. Ballistic bags will be provided at Bradford police stations during the month-long amnesty which
Specialist micro-surgery has saved the foot of a three-year-old Bradford girl who suffered horrific injuries in an accident involving a car. Courtney Puttock lost all the skin, tendons and veins from the top of her right foot when it was crushed in the
Malsis School's Under-11 seven-a-side rugby team, from Cross Hills, clinched their fifth tournament victory in three years when they won the prestigious Packwood Haugh Sevens down in Shropshire, an event that they last won in 1997. Sixteen of the strongest
West Leeds 23, Ilkley 22 ILKLEY teetered on the brink of victory on Saturday, coming away from West Leeds the losers by a single point. The game got off to a worst possible start for Ilkley. Dan Nulty, the flying left-winger, was bundled into touch after
Burley Trojans 2, Kirkby Malzeard 3 An Andrew Dunkley goal two minutes from time handed victory to Kirkby Malzeard and not only resurrected their title aspirations but also severely dented Trojans' own hopes of landing the Premier Division crown. On balance
Kirk Deighton U-9s 0, Ilkley U-9s Yellows 3 You may notice some 8 and 9-year-old lads walking 12 inches taller around Ilkley this week, so they should. All the players in the Under-9 squad have done the town proud this season. On Sunday at Kirk Deighton
IT is fitting that the Ilkley was chosen as the place to launch Bradford's latest tourist guide. The town vies with Haworth as the major tourist destination in the district. What Ilkley lacks in literary heritage - although lately it is arguably home
It is the day jobs, not the fixture pile-up, that will decide how Avenue perform tonight. That is the view of manager Trevor Storton as his side head to Droylsden for their third game in six days. Although Avenue are in the midst of a congested period
March 23 could go down in history as the date of the last hat-trick of Jimmy Lowes' long and distinguished career. But try to tell the veteran hooker that and he will quickly point out that it is a long season and he is more than capable of repeating
At least eight overseas stars could miss the first six matches of the Bradford Cricket League's centenary season, partly due to the Gulf War. The octet of Pakistanis, including current one-day international squad members Naveed Rana ul Hassan (Pudsey
If the Bulls get to the Challenge Cup final, they will have at least eight days to prepare for their first shot at silverware. It is understood that if Bradford beat Wigan on April 13, the Super League fixture at London Broncos just five days before the
Walsall were today preparing to end Jamie Lawrence's six-year stay with City. The Midlands club have renewed their interest in the midfielder and planned to wrap up a deal ahead of tonight's transfer deadline. And City were hoping to make a signing of
WHEN Burley Woodhead man George Greaves died recently at the age of 82 many were surprised to hear at his funeral service of his heroism in the last world war. They were even more surprised to learn of a rather unusual meeting he had in Holland three
An Otley woman has said it is business as usual at her shop - despite being the victim of two smash-and-grabs in just over a week. More than £2,000 worth of model cars were stolen during the two incidents but Sue Cliff, who is a partner in the business
SAINSBURY'S plans to build a store in Otley have raised fresh concerns from town councillors. They fear potential traffic problems, the use of man-made materials and the siting of a safety sprinkler system all need to be tackled if the store is to be
FORMER Otley and Ilkley head teacher Dorothy Wood has died aged 86. Miss Wood, who was a former head girl at Prince Henry's Grammar School, Otley and head teacher at the town's Newall Infants School for 14 years, died last weekend at Airedale General
A 66-year-old woman was thrown to the ground as thugs stole her handbag in Otley on Tuesday. The woman was walking along Whiteley Croft Road when she was approached from behind by two youths. One of them pulled the strap on her handbag, making her fall
A Yeadon man has spoken of his sadness at the demolition of the landmark mill he worked in more than 60 years ago. Frank Smith, 77, worked at Yeadon's Scott and Rhodes Banksfield Dyeworks in the early 1940's before he joined the navy. But this week he
A multi-million pound re-vamp of secondary schools in Otley and Guiseley is being supported by a civic leader. Both Prince Henry's Gramm-ar School and Guiseley School have been put forward by Education Leeds along with ten other Leeds schools as high
THE parents and girlfriend of an Otley paratrooper out in The Gulf have spoken of their hopes he will soon return home. Matthew Simpson, 22, flew out to Kuwait on St Valentine's Day with the 9th Parachute Squadron as part of the 16th Air Assault Brigade
Proposals to change Bradford schools' admissions policy, particularly involving moving away from the current "sibling rule", are fraught with difficulty and likely to be controversial. At the moment, brothers and sisters of older children are automatically
RESIDENTS of Addingham are being asked to help make sure that the village looks its best for the spring judging of the Yorkshire and Humberside in Bloom competition. The judges will descend on the village on Wednesday, April 2, and members of the Addingham
AN Ilkley businessman is hoping to rekindle the spirit of St George in a bid to raise money for sports facilities for youngsters. Howard Scaife has unveiled ambitious plans to hold a weekend of celebrations of everything English beginning on Saturday,
STAFF and residents at an Ilkley nursing home are preparing a right royal welcome for a special visitor to the town. The Queen's cousin, Princess Alexandra, is expected to meet patients, volunteers and staff when she visits Riverview Nursing Home, Stourton
PUPILS from Ilkley Grammar School have accused Ilkley police of being too heavy handed and acting irresponsibly when dealing with their anti-war protest last week. The school was forced to close last Wednesday when around 400 pupils walked out and demonstrated
Traffic fears in High Royds scheme SIR - With regard to the High Royds Development, and as a Leeds city councillor I was in attendance at the local workshop organised by Aireborough Ward CIT in conjunction with the representative of the Ravens group who
Father complains about new rules SIR, - I totally agree with the comments of the parents quoted in your lead story regarding new rules for swimming baths (March13). I am the father of two small children (Aidan is four and Rachael is two) and for the last
A woman who had no computer skills a year ago has just become manager of a Liversedge IT centre. Apart from operating a till at her last job at the Hartshead Moor M62 service station, Wendy Parker, 32, had never before worked with a computer. She became
IN the Leeds Schools' City Cross-Country Championships held at Garforth Community College last Saturday, the boys and girls from Tranmere Park School, Guiseley, ran true to form. In the first race the girls ran strongly to win the race by 29 points. Counting
There was a good attendance of 70 at the annual meeting of the Ilkley and District Motor Club which was held at the club's headquarters, Pool Mills Sports and Social Club. The President, Mrs Janet Kitching, welcomed the new President, Francis Tindall,
Moortown 55, Otliensians 12 OTLIENSIANS went down by eight tries to two in an encounter where they frequently dominated possession but could not put their tackles in to close down a rampant Moortown back line which scored six runaway tries from their
Saracens 104, Grasshoppers 0 GRASSHOPPERS arrived at Cross Green on the back of a heavy defeat at Preston a month ago and in perfect conditions a strong Otley side ran riot to extend their winning run to 12. Saracens were soon on the attack and excellent
Yarnbury 26, Sheffield 15 YARNBURY'S aim of remaining unbeaten for the reminder of the season is still on course after turning over North Two side Sheffield 26-15 in a fiery friendly. Missing an entire front row in Ian Shannon, Phil Wray and Andy Butterfield
Menston Rangers 3, Pannal Sports Reserves 2 A late goal from Gerald Haughian earned Menston Rangers a place in the final of the Spa Cup in a tough semi-final tie. Pannal settled into the game the quickest as Menston looked nervous with the prospect of
Bishop Auckland 1, Guiseley 1 A COMEDY of errors saw Guiseley drop points against Bishop Auckland when victory had looked theirs for the taking. The equaliser came 15 minutes from time when following a weak back pass goalkeeper John Lamb raced out of
The family of a boy who died nine years ago from a heart condition are commemorating what would have been his 18th birthday by raising money for the ward where his two sisters are treated. Daron Lyons died suddenly aged nine and it was only when tests
Regeneration schemes in Bradford have not done enough to help poor children achieve in the classroom, a senior councillor claimed today. Councillor David Ward, executive member for education on Bradford Council, was speaking as a new report from End Child
Youth workers have been given a permanent base in a Bradford village to help keep young people off the streets. Activities which were previously based in a metal Portable On Demand (Pod) youth centre will now take place in Victoria Hall in Queensbury.
Bradford widow Audrey Grainger is a victim of gun crime. The living room window at her home in Larchill Crescent, Odsal, was shattered by someone taking a pot shot with an air rifle. She said several of her neighbours have also suffered broken windows
Too often they are the silent heroes of the community. But last night Bradford was eager to recognise the work of the individuals and groups who have committed their lives to making the district a better place to live. At a special civic ceremony in the
Controversial plans to downgrade the 'sibling rule' - which helps parents get their children into their top choice school - are being discussed with head teachers. The new proposals from Education Bradford would see a new system in place in 2005. Younger
York Ladies 3, Ben Rhydding 5 Ben Rhydding Ladies finally emerged victorious from a real 'game of two halves' against old rivals York. Shortly after the final whistle came the news that league leaders Timperley had been defeated at Chester, which meant
Pool Reserves 1, Addingham 2 Addingham made it to the semi- final of the league Medal Competition for the second year running with this scrappy, poor unconvincing win against Division Two strugglers Pool Resreves. On a fine summers like day Addingham
Ilkley Reserves 3, Spa Athletic 2 Ilkley Reserves ground out another hard-fought win on Saturday which keeps them in the running for the Division Two title. An increasingly bobbly pitch made it hard for Ilkley to play their normal crisp passing game.
Harold Styans 1 Ilkley AFC 2 A slim margin of victory for the Booth's sponsored Ilkley FC against a side fighting to retain a place in the Harrogate Premier League. Harold Styans might feel unfortunate not to share the points but as the season draws to
SIR - Here's another moan from a "home-grown whinger" (Mr Pennington coined this term). Walking through the city (as I do every day) I am becoming incensed and dismayed at the state of the city centre. I have invested money in Bradford and I want to see
The war in Iraq has become the latest reality television phenomenon with millions of people watching the action unfold live. Allied soldiers constantly have cameras trained on them as they try to defeat Saddam Hussein's regime, and Iraq is swarming with
