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Sahil’s ordeal is over!

That’s my boy: Pure joy shines on the face of five-year-old Sahil Saeed as he is reunited with his father, Raja after his two-week international kidnap ordeal

Happy ending to horror tale of kidnap and fear

Five-year-old Shaw boy Sahil Saeed is coming home.

The little Rushcroft primary school pupil, kidnapped ay gunpoint in Pakistan by raiders who held him for two weeks and demanded a £110,000 ransom, was released on Tuesday. Family members rallied round to scrape together the money by selling gold jewellery and heirlooms.

The cheery youngster, of Queen Street, was reunited with his father just after 6.30am UK time today at the home

Date published: 18/03/2010

New stadium wins council support

LATICS’ new £20million stadium has moved a step closer after Oldham Council officially backed controversial plans for the 12,000-seater development in Failsworth.

Council chiefs agreed to push forward with a land deal despite pleas from concerned residents.

The council set out its tactics after the Charity Commission failed to rule whether Lower Failsworth...

Date published: 18/03/2010

PM visits our £17m new cancer centre

GORDON BROWN arrives at the new centre and is greeted by professor Peter Williams, project director, left and Pat Lawrence, head of radiotherapy


GORDON Brown visited Oldham’s pioneering Christie Cancer Centre today.

The Prime Minister is the first VIP to tour the £17 million radiotherapy centre, two days after it...

Date published: 18/03/2010

Flats pair flee as gunman strikes

TWO teenagers were threatened with a gun as they decorated a flat in Littlemoor.

The pair, aged 18 and 19, were listening to music when the gunman entered and ordered them to get out.

One of the teenagers, who does not want to be identified, had received the keys to his new flat that day.

His friend was helping him to paint and he said: “It was frightening....

Date published: 18/03/2010

Manslaughter charge

A MAN has been charged with manslaughter following the death of a young reveller who was attacked in Yorkshire Street.

Louis Patrick Veitch (22) of Caunce Street, Blackpool, will appear at Oldham Magistrates’ Court today. He has also been charged with common assault and causing actual bodily harm.

Andy Molloy was found with serious face and head injuries after a brawl...

Date published: 18/03/2010

Smoker car-wash boss tells of blast close call

Zulfikar Ali, owner of Bubbles Car Wash, with cut water pipes left inside his office

A CAR-WASH owner said he narrowly averted a huge explosion involving shoppers and motorists after discovering a gas pipe at his work had been cut.

Zulfikar Ali (39) said he was struck...

Date published: 18/03/2010

Jobless increase bucks UK trend

7,603 out of work

THE number of people claiming out-of-work benefits in Oldham has risen, bucking the national trend.

Official monthly figures show there were 7,603 people claiming job seeker’s allowance (JSA) across Oldham in February, compared with 7,582 people in January.

Previously there had been four consecutive reductions in numbers.

A breakdown...

Date published: 18/03/2010

Man’s body undiscovered for two months

A JAMAICAN-born grandfather died alone in his Glodwick flat and his body lay undiscovered for up to two months.

John Barthley (72) was a popular member of the community and enjoyed socialising at the West Indian Club in Greengate Street, an Oldham inquest heard yesterday.

He moved to Oldham in the late 1980s but dreamed of one day returning to his homeland.

Mr...

Date published: 18/03/2010

Danger dogs are seized in raids

FIVE dangerous dogs have been seized by police in two raids in Oldham.

The pit bull-type breeds were taken from houses in Brewerton Road, Clarksfield, and Calderbrook Way, Glodwick, following concerns from residents about illegal dogs.

The operation was carried out by police and RSPCA officers.

Two men aged 18 and 20 have been arrested on suspicion of offences...

Date published: 18/03/2010

Shame of charity sweet cheapskates

Oldham’s Mayor is urging council staff and visitors to do like Jim and pay for their charity sweets.

The Macmillan Cancer Support toffees are offered in bags for a £1 donation to the charity at various council locations.

But a sign at the Rochdale Road reception desk says the charity is experiencing large losses — £1,339 in three months.

And...

Date published: 18/03/2010

Fondling charge

AN Oldham man was accused at Manchester magistrates’ court of fondling a 17-year-old girl in her home.

Rablawaz Qureshi (37), of Lune Street, was charged with sexually touching the teenager without her consent last October. He was bailed to the city’s crown court.
...

Date published: 18/03/2010

Council scoops national award for housing innovation schemes

CONGRATULATIONS . . . Oldham Council leader Howard Sykes, left, receives the housing award from Richard Kemp, Liberal Democrat leader of the Local Government Association

Council initiatives to help Oldham people with housing problems have been given national recognition.

The council has won the Liberal Democrat Council Group of the Year award for...

Date published: 18/03/2010

MPs slam process to transfer council homes

A PAIR of Oldham MPs are urging tenants to vote against plans to transfer control of Oldham Council’s entire housing stock to First Choice Homes.

Michael Meacher, MP for Oldham West and Royton, and Ashton MP David Heyes, whose constituency includes Failsworth and Hollinwood, have expressed their views in a letter to Housing Minister John Healey.

They say the...

Date published: 18/03/2010

Cattery open for business

A Chronicle story on March 3, “Three escape as fierce blaze rips through farmhouse” reported a serious fire at Bardsley Fold Farm.

The storysaid the farmhouse was badly damaged and that the farm runs a cattery and stables.

We have been asked to point out that the cattery business — Bardsley Fold Cattery — is run completely separately from the...

Date published: 18/03/2010

Big match fans warned of booze penalty

BOOZING football fans heading to Sunday’s clash between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford face on-the-spot fines.

Fans caught drinking near the stadium who refuse to surrender or dispose of alcohol will be hit with a £50 penalty.

And anyone arriving at the stadium under the influence of excess alcohol will be refused entry.

Greater...

Date published: 18/03/2010

Parking fines trail

Oldham Council Cabinet reports


£283,000 in unpaid parking fines is still being chased by the council.

Motorists who didn’t pay up last year were never chased for the cash because of a computer problem.

It was then “written off” by the council, attracting claims of incompetence.

But Councillor Lynne Thompson, Cabinet member for finance,...

Date published: 18/03/2010

Birthday bash for Rotary Club

DISTINGUISHED guests helped the Rotary Club of Crompton and Royton celebrate its 53rd anniversary at a special dinner.

The presidents of Oldham, Chadderton and Failsworth, Saddleworth and president-elect of Oldham Metro joined members and Rotarians from other local Rotary Clubs for an evening at the Bella Vista Ristoranté.

The principal guests were district...

Date published: 18/03/2010

Springing into bloom

FLOWER power . . . Anne Taylor (84), from Shaw, on the flower stall

BEAUTIFUL blooms filled Shore Edge Church, in Buckstones Road, for its spring fair.

Visitors who flocked to the church in Shaw browsed all manner of goods, from cupcakes to fabulous...

Date published: 18/03/2010

Singer’s Oldham church date

Aniko Toth who will perform at the Unitarian Church in Oldham

An international singer will perform in Oldham tomorrow at the Unitarian Church.

Aniko Toth’s grandparents managed to escape the Hungarian uprising of 1956, taking Aniko’s...

Date published: 18/03/2010

School brings history to life

MAKING merry music . . . Tudor Day.

THE Tudors were on the timetable for these time-travelling pupils.

The nine and 10-year-olds from East Crompton St James’s primary, Shaw, wore traditional costumes to find out...

Date published: 18/03/2010

Happy family’s wait for Sahil

THAT’S my boy . . . mum Akila overjoyed after speaking to Sahil

DAD FLIES OUT TO BRING HIS KIDNAPPED SON HOME

THE father of kidnap victim Sahil Saeed was expected to land in Pakistan today to bring his five-year-old home to huge celebrations in...

Date published: 17/03/2010

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