A HOSPITAL boss today revealed that Blackburn Royal Infirmary could shut within 10 years. The closure would mark the end of an era in local healthcare, but would be the fulfilment of a long-term vision to revolutionise in-patient services in Blackburn
AN UNEMPLOYED labourer described as a "loveable rogue" had no reason to hang himself in the garage, an inquest was told. The discovery of Kevin Bogdanovich, 31, by a neighbour came as a "complete surprise" to family and friends giving evidence. Paramedics
PHIL Donnell (Letters, August 16) of Phoenix, Arizona, tells us that they manage there on only seven inches of rain a year. In Britain, where it rains stair rods and cats and dogs, we are down to our last drop of corporation pop. Arizona, Colarado and
ACCRINGTON and Rossendale College student Neil Burgess clinched a top award for his stunning A-level results. The 18-year-old from Great Harwood, gained five grade A passes in chemistry, physics, computer studies, mathematics and general studies. Converted
A PRIVATE hospital run by nuns was sold off just weeks after being left £7,000 in a will by a millionaire. Our Lady of Compassion Hospital in Preston New Road, Blackburn, was bought by Great Northern Health Management. The new owners announced a £1 million
THE county should be proud of the lads of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment who have just returned from a tough tour of duty in Bosnia. They are to exercise the Freedom of the Borough of Burnley by marching through the town with bayonets fixed and colours
AMERICAN ships and aircraft launched another wave of cruise missiles at southern Iraq early today in an attempt to stop Saddam Hussein's latest move against the Kurds. Both sides are claiming success, and with some justification. President Bill Clinton
A CLUTCH of huge orders has continued a week of good news for East Lancashire aerospace factories. Major contracts for the Airbus programme and Rolls-Royce engines have been announced at the Farnborough Air Show on top of the news of the UK's green light
GERMANY'S Euro 96 goal hero Oliver Bierhoff is the latest name to be thrown at Blackburn Rovers from Italian clubs, well aware of the fact that Ray Harford is in the transfer market with big money to spend. And the Udinese striker is a far more realistic
A MAJOR expansion programme at an engineering firm has been speeded up thanks to a £500,000 investment. Lupton & Place, based in Burnley have entered into the unlisted share placing with investment capital group 3i. The link up with 3i will help the
AN East Lancashire landmark has a famous 'brother' - 3,000 miles away in America! Darwen Tower will next year celebrate its 100th anniversary, but unbeknown to many people in the town, a similar structure built by the same family is the pride and joy
WHEN the do-gooders say that sending a criminal to prison is useless they are right - for all the wrong reasons. Our prison system is clearly breaking down. Justice is being turned into poison (Amos 5:7). If we really intend to restore a genuine penal
LUCKY Lee Stockdale today thanked the three friends who saved his life after he fell from a tree with a rope around his neck. Lee, 12, is back home in Warwick Drive, Earby, with a deep red rope burn mark on his neck to remind him off the escape he had
BURNLEY will smash their transfer record today when striker Paul Barnes arrives at Turf Moor for a near-£400,000 fee. The Birmingham City hot-shot was locked in talks with manager Adrian Heath in Cheshire today after Birmingham agreed to sell the 28-year-old
Burnley 2 Mansfield 0 - TONY DEWHURST reports ADRIAN Heath had a Coca-Cola Cup dream today - a Lancashire hot-pot clash with deadly rivals Blackburn Rovers! That's the monster prize the Turf Moor boss hopes awaits the Clarets when the second round draw
PEOPLE power helped persuade councillors to turn down a scheme for a new housing estate at Brierfield. Around 70 residents from the Edge End Avenue area crowded into Brierfield Town Hall last night to press their case against plans by developer Wilcon
TWO East Lancashire Sports Clubs were today celebrating after being told they were to receive cash from the North West Lottery Sports Fund. Blackburn Trampoline Club has received £3,440 towards the cost of updating equipment so its members can continue
LANCASHIRE are facing their second Championship points penalty in three years after 17 wickets tumbled on the first day against Middlesex at Old Trafford. Mike Gatting's side were the opponents in 1994 when Lancashire were controversially docked 25 points
A "SENSIBLE" teenager died after sniffing lighter fuel, a Burnley inquest heard. Darren Holden, a 17-year-old carpet fitter, of Brantfell Drive, died from butane gas poisoning, the Burnley hearing was told. Recording a verdict of misadventure, East Lancashire
AGE: 23 NATIONALITY: English HEIGHT: 6'1" BATTING: Right hand BEST BATTING: 152 not out against Edenfield this season. BOWLING: Left arm orthodox spin BEST BOWLING: Nine for 54 for Ramsbottom against Burnley in 1991. NICKNAME: Fieldo PREVIOUS CLUBS: Lancashire
A GREAT deal of anger has been aroused by the disruption of television reception caused by the newly-erected stands at Burnley Football Club. It is thought that as many as 250 households are affected. Both the club and Burnley Council must have been made
LATE summer and early autumn is a time when many young mammals are killed because of their inexperience, writes RON FREETHY. Last week, for example, I lost count of the number of rabbits and hedgehogs I saw killed on the roads. Adding to the carnage there
A YOUNG mother and her sister are terrified to leave their home because of a gang of thugs. The latest attack on Jean Fisher, 22, and her sister Grace, 15, happened last night when their front doorstep was sprayed with lighter fuel and ignited. Now Jean
Nature Watch, with Ron Freethy LAST week, between the periods of heavy rain, I took advantage of the odd burst of sunshine. I set off to find out how the wildlife along our rivers was faring. I first walked out onto the Lune Estuary and was rewarded by
ELECTORAL wards in Blackburn are to be reshaped because some are more than twice the size of others. A commission appointed to look into electoral boundaries hopes to have the problems ironed out by the time Blackburn becomes a unitary authority in spring
