A HORRIFIED young mother and her baby daughter were kidnapped and taken on a terrifying journey by a man who threatened to infect the 11-week-old child with AIDS. And the woman's husband was forced to watch helplessly as his family were driven away from
WORRIED health bosses are seeking Government help to plug gaps in an 'alarming shortage' of NHS dentistry. East Lancashire Health Authority has submitted a bid for up to £40,000 to boost the availability of treatment in the district. Its chairman Bill
READING David Southworth's screaming, abusive name-calling in his letter "New Labour Dreams", I actually believed I was listening to the hysterics of his hero Arthur Scargill, who was also full of hot air. As for most readers agreeing with the description
TRADING standards officers are calling for tighter controls on money-making schemes after receiving reports of copycat versions of the Titan scam which brought 200 complaints in the county. Despite the Court of Appeal's decision which declared the get-rich-quick
EXAMINATION elation at achieving exceptional GCSE results turned to dismay when Arif Aslam missed out on the photo call for successful students at Habergham High School, Burnley. Arif had to leave to visit his father who was in hospital following a gall
THE NUMBER of youngsters dabbling in drugs was rocketing, according to a grim report. Drug workers had released statistics showing a massive increase in teenage addicts seeking help. Members of the community drugs team, based in Blackburn, said nearly
LANCASHIRE are running out of chances to get their game back together for the NatWest Trophy final after the rain came to their rescue at Headingley yesterday. They have just three more games - in the Championship and Sunday League against Sussex at Hove
THE DIRTY old River Darwen is to become the focus of a clean-up campaign that brings a major economic and environment boost along its banks. For though far cleaner than it used to be, this East Lancashire river has a bad reputation to live down - that
ROOM at the Inn saved Burnley's rain-soaked St Monday Festival. The Weavers' Triangle outdoor event seemed set to sink under heavy downpours. But the management of the new canalside pub, The Inn of the Wharf, threw open their doors to provide a warm welcome
THERE was a mixed report for Padiham St Leonard's Primary School after inspectors called. The OFSTED watchdogs found the majority of pupils reached satisfactory standards in most subjects. Standards of behaviour were high. Pupils' spiritual, moral and
ADRIAN Heath's hunt for a striker could have ended temporarily - in his own backyard! Because the early season form of rookie centre-forward Andy Cooke has offered Heath food for thought as he scours the nation for extra firepower. Cooke opened his account
TOM Finn, presently with Wolves, is set to be appointed as Blackburn Rovers' new secretary. Mr Finn, aged 40, has vast experience in the job after starting with his hometown club Oldham where he was secretary from 1976-1987. He then joined West Ham and
CUSTOMERS will be able to pay electricity bills at Accrington town hall following the closure of the Norweb shop in the Arndale centre. Hyndburn Council has negotiated a deal with Norweb to collect electricity accounts. Alterations are beginning this
JASON Wilcox is on his way back - and the Blackburn Rovers winger is hoping he might even be able to figure in one of the next two home matches against Leeds or Derby. Ruled out of the pre-season friendlies, Wilcox had minor knee surgery to clear up a
THE men left Colne Muni in love - with a beautiful blonde American pianist, writes LYNN ASHWELL. And the women wanted to take home the boyish, charismatic vocalist from The Hoax. The last night of the great rhythm and blues festival was a passionate one
SO HERE we go again on the annual council tax increase merry-go-round. May I draw your readers' attention to the fact that it is Burnley's Labour-led council that is responsible for wasting the money made available to them by council tax payers and that
BURNLEY boss Adrian Heath is taking a keen interest in Swansea City's out-of-contract central defender Keith Walker. The 30-year-old Scot, who has figured in more than 300 League games for Stirling Albion, St Mirren and Swansea, has already trained with
SOME ran, some walked and some pushed prams around the four mile fun run route, but all pooled their efforts to raise cash for charity. More than 80 staff and friends from Cobble Blackburn Ltd, in Gate Street, took part in the firm's annual run round
HOUSEHOLDERS were branded "prisoners" as a stormy meeting over Pendle's plans to bulldoze up to 300 town centre homes ended in disarray. More than 100 angry householders protested that they had been trapped by the council's announcement that it intended
CLITHEROE's Stuart Andrew has added yet another major amateur title to his collection. He won the Silver Pheasant Trophy at Fairhaven by a massive nine shots with two magnificent rounds of 69 - 10 under par. Blackburn's Tony Jackson came second. Stuart
WE have been asked to inform on anyone we believe is claiming social security benefit they are not entitled to. Although it has not mentioned it, would the Government also like us to inform it of those people we believe are not claiming social security
LICENSEES in East Lancashire are bidding for open-all-hours pubs - so that closing time is no longer determined by the law. Instead, they want publicans themselves to be allowed to decide when their premises are open or shut - day or night. Is that a
AN escaped bull had to be shot dead by police marksmen after going on the run from Haslingden auction market. The bull escaped from an enclosure off Broadway and charged down Grasmere Road yesterday lunchtime. The police helicopter was called in to track
A £100 million bid to help the aerospace industry has been launched. The Consortium of Lancashire Aerospace is joining forces with the Society of British Aircraft Constructors to campaign for Government cash to help develop new technologies. Dennis Mendoros
AFTER reading Simon Donohue's report (LET, August 17) on the Oak Hill Park Sound '96 festival, I couldn't help but think he had completely missed the point of the event by comparing it with Oasis at Knebworth. To come to the conclusion that Sound '96
POLICE in Burnley are desperately trying to trace the father and brother of a young clubgoer who died from suspected Ecstasy poisoning after ignoring his mum's pleas to quit drugs. Jason Ali, 21, collapsed in a coma at a Bradford night club 48 hours after
DETECTIVES are appealing for witnesses after £300 was stolen from the home of a 93-year-old woman in Queen Anne Street, Haslingden. She awoke from a Sunday afternoon nap to find a man in her hallway. He asked for change for a taxi. When she went to the
"Oh, if a man's reach could exceed his grasp - or what's a heaven for." An obscure quote to some but one which perfectly sums up a dynamic East Lancashire businesswoman. Suzanne O'Donnell strives to reach new heights and to pursue her vision for the future
AS A devout Muslim, and proud of my origin, I am writing in response to the views of Dr Surinder Bihant Singh. Nothing can justify his attempt to infuriate the Muslim community with his own brand of malice and anti-racist views, which are more akin to
ONE of the Ribble Valley's best known pubs is back on the market. The Wellsprings, on the side of Pendle Hill above the village of Sabden, last operated as a high-class fish and chip restaurant. But Whitbread brewery took possession from local businessman
