Atherton Online

Isn’t getting up in the early hours exhausting? The excruciating creek of bones as you rise from your slumber, the addictive urges of some of the finest tinned Nescafe, the effort of strolling from your bedroom to the bathroom, the making of the bed (crying as you straighten each corner of the duvet as if you are doing some form of community service) the making of the breakfast and even the communicating to your other half, with half hearted answers and grunting responses. What a grueling task. No wonder us Brits think the snooze button is one of the most ingenius ideas. I am currently learning how to get the most of my days, as at the moment, at least for me, there just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in a day to fill my every desire, dream and ambition. Always something to do. If we didn’t have to incorporate eating into our lives I’m sure we would all have an extra 2 hours or so. Never have we spent so much time, chopping, peeling, prepping and munching.

A boy has been attacked and robbed in Astley.

On the evening of the 16th January 2012, the 17-year-old was walking along Merlewood Drive when he was approached from behind by a group of men. The boy was then hit by one of the men causing him to fall to the floor where he was hit again.

The offenders demanded the boy's mobile phone and stole his headphones.

The victim was not badly injured, but has been left very shaken.

Detonators have been stolen by thieves who broke into a building site on Bolton Road in Atherton.

The unknown offenders stole three mobile phones and six bright, yellow rail detonators between the evening of Tuesday 24th January 2012 and early Wednesday morning.

Two women kicked another woman to the floor in a violent robbery in Golborne, Wigan.

On the evening of Saturday 21st January 2012, the 20-year-old woman was walking home from

work along Lowton Road when she was kicked to the floor from behind.

Two women then launched into an attack on her trying to rob her handbag while punching and
kicking her.

The victim managed to fend the attackers off and protect the bag.

Police were checking vehicles for stolen metal in the Platt Bridge, Hindley on Saturday 21st January.

Police arrested a 32-year-old man from Hindley on suspicion of abduction, and a 49-year-old man from Platt Bridge on suspicion of a public order offence and possession of a Class B drug.

The checks were part of Operation Alloy, Greater Manchester Police's crackdown on metal theft. The operation was also aimed at combating road traffic offences, and police issued two endorsable fixed penalty notices to motorists for having defective tyres and using a mobile phone while driving.

I apologise for my lack of punctuality this week, however I can simply say that I am proud to even have managed to check-in with you all this week. The past 7 days have been full of the usual thrills and spills, yet with a lot of hard work in-between! My career seems to be taking off from nowhere and I'm learning plenty about myself as I go along. Never have I written so much in a week! One achievement I would like to broadcast to you all is the fact I have now learnt how to touch type! What a skill to have. As a journalist, I'm sure it is one skill which shall be useful when rushing and forcing myself to meet those dreaded deadlines!

I made my way into Bolton on Wednesday as I do every week at the moment and I still cannot justify the £4.50 for a day saver. In-fact the ideal price I would be willing to stretch to is no more than £1.50. Why? Uncomfortable journey's, ghastly bus drivers and quite frankly it would be more comfortable to walk. There is just a lack of manners everywhere across towns these days and of course they cost nothing! As I was just about to leave Bolton bus station on Wednesday, just as the driver had began to move from the stand... one vile woman began shouting obscenities owing to the driver not stopping. You may think, well why didn't he stop? Apparently as soon as the driver starts to move and closes his doors at the bus station they are not allowed to open the door and stop to allow any more passengers to get on board. Understandable, yet of course how annoying if you or I were that woman? Either way luckily she was left standing there as the bus certainly didn't need her foul mouth to add further despair to the journey. Maybe the drivers lack in manners due to us? The public!

Plans for Atherton Community School continue to progress and Chapel St - the sponsor of the new school - have now announced the appointment of Elizabeth Haddock as the Principal Designate of the new school, which is due to open this September.

Elizabeth will soon be taking up her post, in order to get fully immersed in the plans and preparations for the school and will be attending Chapel St’s next community consultation meeting at 7.30 pm on 1st February 2012, for local parents and carers. (Venue: Jubilee Hall Function Room, St Richard Parish Centre, Stanley Street, Atherton).

Elizabeth has considerable experience in successfully raising attainment and aspirations in education as well as having the track record of successfully opening two academies.

Her teaching experience began in Mexborough, a South Yorkshire mining village where her interest in working alongside communities began. She has had almost 30 years of teaching in a range of schools both in Britain and overseas, at all levels of seniority.

Thieves stole thousands of pounds worth of jewellery in Leigh.

At around 10.20pm on Wednesday 4 January 2012, thieves broke into a jewellers on Silk Street, Leigh and smashed a display cabinet.

They took a number of watches before leaving.

The watches are described as being of high value and included a Citizen limited edition Red Arrow, DKNY, Fossil, Armani and Thomas Sabo.

Detective Constable Sheena Maerevoet from Wigan CID said: "The watches are collectively worth a lot of money and it is highly likely those responsible will try to sell them. I would urge anyone who is approached to buy watches in a suspicious manner to contact us as soon as possible.

"There are not many Thomas Sabo watches sold in the area so if you are asked to buy one, please get in touch."

Happy New Year!

Yes I know It is shocking to think we are already nearly halfway through the first month of this new year, thus my wishes seem just that little bit too late. It seems just seconds ago that we were all perched around our dining tables over indulging in many a Turkey, the roasties (done to perfection) and also the pigs in their cosy little warm winter blankets. I am already missing the sights of the flashing, pulsating and static fairy lights all over people's homes as I observe on one of my many journey's... not to mention playing the critic of people's outside garden decorations. Providing you haven't suffered with consuming far too many calories I do very much hope 2012 is shaping up to be a delightfully enjoyable one for you all so far. It is very difficult in now trying to get back to normal as I'm still firmly in the holiday mode! A lovely few weeks though and just another three hundred and so days before we can enjoy once more.

An elderly man was conned out of several hundred pounds by bogus workmen in Astley.

Sometime between 12pm and 1pm on Thursday 22 December 2011, a 76-year-old man answered a knock at the door of his home on Ennerdale Road, Astley.

A man offered to repair some of his roof for money and returned later that day with two other men and materials.

The victim was then asked for a further payment and convinced him further work needed to be done to the rear of the property.