A MAJOR expansion programme to double production at a Blackburn factory is underway. Tensar International, which employs more than 350 at its two Netlon factories in the town, has started on a £2.5 million investment programme. Most of the cash will be
GOOD causes have scooped a £325,000 jackpot in the latest lottery share-out. The National Lottery Charities Board has announced grants of £11.3 million for 190 charity groups in the North West. And several organisations in Blackburn, Darwen and Hyndburn
AN EARLY morning police blitz will give drivers something far worse than a hangover. Officers throughout Lancashire are targeting persistent offenders and problem areas during this year's Christmas breath test campaign. And that includes watching the
A MAJOR belt-tightening exercise needs to take place at County Hall to ensure the rest of Lancashire does not suffer if Blackburn and Blackpool get unitary status, says Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans. Local government commissioners are recommending the
A NEW ROUND of savage cuts in spending on house building and repairs shook town halls in East Lancashire today. They came in the wake of fears of rate rises in double figures - far higher than the rate of inflation - next year because of cuts in subsidies
THE proposed single currency being foisted on us in 1999 is to be called "a Euro." I can think of a better term. It should be called "a folly," and five follies should equal one "cockup." The inscription on the coin should be, on one side, a clown's head
EAST Lancashire knife dealer Frank Kay hits at the bid to halt stabbings with the nationwide amnesty on knives launched today by police . It is not the knives themselves that the law should be dealing with, but the people holding them, says Mr Kay, one
SOME sanity has been restored to the vexed field of libel suits - with judges, in effect, now setting limits on what damages juries may award. So ends the crazy situation of mammoth pay-outs to people who had their feelings hurt while, elsewhere in the
SO AT last, Cemfuel, the controversial fuel based on chemical waste, gets something of a clean bill of health from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution. But will this ease the fears of residents in the Ribble Valley worried that its being used to fire
BURNLEY today granted Alan Harper a second month on loan with Third Division Cardiff City. The Clarets midfielder played his final loan game for Cardiff against Fulham at Craven Cottage last night. Harper was due to return to Turf Moor this morning after
A HORRIFIC traditional Ghurka blade was handed in early today at Blackburn police station - before a nationwide knife amnesty had even officially begun. Police are now bracing themselves for a massive influx of weapons after bins were put out at stations
THERE has been much publicity about the £9 million cuts that Save the Children must make over the next 15 months. The fall-off in funds is a problem facing many charities and most blame for this, in the media anyway, is being placed on the National Lottery
ONCE again Stanley showed their fighting spirit away from home, coming from behind to win at Marine. The Reds got off to a dreadful start, conceding a goal after only four minutes. Mark Brennan's through ball found Jimmy Blackhurst who hit a powerful
SEVERAL East Lancashire firms have been highlighted in a stockbroker's list of shares to buy, sell or hang on to. The Scapa Group is recommended as a hold/buy by Henry Cooke Lumsden, Wardle Storey as a buy, Wolstenholme Rink as a long term buy, TDS Circuits
EWOOD chief Robert Coar today warned that English clubs were likely to be playing summer football sooner rather than later - and whether they liked it or not. The Blackburn Rovers chairman believes the issue will eventually be forced by UEFA. And he also
THE Chancellor has cut bank base rates by a quarter of a percentage point to 6.5 per cent. Mortgage rates are now at their lowest level for nearly 30 years. The building societies responded by cutting their home loan rates. Mr Charles Tower, the managing
CAMPAIGNERS today vowed to fight on against Cemfuel despite a report by environmental watchdogs giving the controversial waste fuel an initial all clear. After months of deliberation Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution has issued a preliminary report
PARLIAMENTARY candidate for Hyndburn Hugh Neil, above, faces a de-selection meeting in the New Year after refusing to resign. His deadline to quit ran out at 10am today. Hyndburn Conservative Association is now calling a special meeting to ballot members
A RESTAURANT boss has leapt to the defence of Ray Harford's son after he was accused of being drunk and disorderly at a Rovers game. The club has said it is looking into the incident and confirmed that Paul Harford and a group of his friends were asked
POLICE had to be called out to a school after trouble broke out between rival groups of pupils. No arrests were made at Edge End High School, Nelson, but officers were to monitor the premises for a few days. "It is symptomatic of an argument between two
IRECENTLY had to spend 10 days in C2 Ward, Queen's Park Hospital and I would like to thank the doctors and nursing staff for their care. Could I also thank our wonderful district nurse and her team and the twilight nurses from Little Harwood Health Centre
CAN I thank Paul Astley for all his help on obtaining a full refund (£700) from Russian airline Aeroflot after losing my ticket in Moscow? Can I also thank the Rovers fans who were willing to donate their £10 refund from Spartak Moscow, towards the cost
EXPECT Colne to sprint to the top of the Marsden Lancashire League after capturing Ben Johnson as next year's professional. But this 22-year-old South Australian will only be concentrating on his running between the wickets. Johnson is a left-handed opener
HOW I agree with John Blunt (LET, December 13) over giving a good thrashing to young (or indeed any) offenders who use a knife as a cowardly weapon. I think we all should use our voices and make a groundswell of public opinion and impress our MPs that
REGARDING your report on the expected rise in council tax (LET, December 14). Blackburn Council are coming out with the same story year after year - taxpayers are asked to pay more for less. If we are, as expected, going to receive reduced services again
A GUNMAN'S post office raid looked like a push- over ... until he faced little Mavis Fazackerley. Office worker Mavis, 57 years old and just 5ft 1in tall, grappled with the masked robber and tried to wrest his gun from him. Robber David Simpson, who threatened
A WEALTHY businessman and his wife were tied up at their luxury country house by masked raiders who got away with up to £100,000 worth of jewellery and cash. The three-strong gang struck as Peter and Margaret Wolfenden were relaxing at their home at Carr
HEAVY rain made the pitch sticky and slippery, but the Blues adapted well and came away from Bucks Park with a well-earned point. The difficult conditions played their part in this game and restricted both sides to few chances. It was the Blues who had
