MOTOR group Cowie, which has a dealership in Blackburn, is the UK's most successful, according to a survey. Trade journal Motor Trader has highlighted the group as the industry's most profitable company for the third year running. It also attained the
MORE than 3,000 East Lancashire aerospace workers were today flying high after news of a £1 billion Chinese order. The deal to supply 30 Airbus jet aircraft behind the Bamboo Curtain is seen as a major breakthrough for the consortium behind the plane
A LONGRIDGE councillor has resigned as mayor just hours before being sworn in. Coun David Smith was made deputy mayor of the Ribble Valley on Tuesday and after a day of deliberation said he could not do the two jobs at once. Coun Smith, a Conservative
COUNTY councillors were today on a fact-finding mission to Castle Cement's Clitheroe works in a bid to resolve a dispute over the controversial Cemfuel. The site visit was arranged to help councillors make a decision on legal action after residents claimed
A MUCH-criticised revamped town centre street has been closed to traffic yet again while paving stones are repaired. And town hall bosses are warning there is more disruption to come for the street in the near future. All traffic will be banned from Ainsworth
A BRAVE neighbour saved the life of a man who collapsed in a burning house. Quick-thinking David Wannop dragged his next door neighbour, John Fitzpatrick, to safety after he was overcome by smoke and passed out in his home in Willows Lane, Accrington.
TESCO won a £200 million-plus battle for northern supermarkets group Hillards, thanks to the 'Man from the Pru.' Prudential gave in to the temptation of a Tesco offer, which put Hillards share price at twice value they were at the start of the year. Labour
EXPORTERS will be given tips on how to navigate the travel minefield at this month. The next meeting at the East Lancs Export Club will look at how companies can cut the cost of overseas travel and find the best deals. Ayscough Travel of Burnley, will
MIKE ATHERTON is back in the runs in the nick of time. The England captain had a terrible start to the season with just 96 runs in his first eight innings for Lancashire. But Athers battled back and today completed a half century in the second innings
THE £1billion deal with the China for 30 European Airbus jetliners is a big boost for East Lancashire. It secures the jobs of thousands of workers at British Aerospace, which is part of the Airbus consortium, and injects spin-off orders into their suppliers
IF nothing else, the conduct and background of surrogate mother Karen Roche, who lied that she had aborted the child she was carrying for a Dutch couple, demands that tighter controls on surrogacy should be brought in. For the revelations of her past
SHOWJUMPER Harvey Smith's son Robert is being sponsored this season by Senator International, based at Huncoat Business Park. All of Robert's leading horses will carry the Senator name and he will make his first appearance under the new sponsorship deal
VANDALS who placed heavy sleepers across the rail line in Burnley could have caused tragedy, British Transport Police warned today. Only swift action by the driver, who spotted the obstruction, saved the train from smashing into the sleepers and possible
THE incoming mayor's Civic Sunday parade will wend its way through the streets of Oswaldtwistle this weekend. Coun Maurice Cowell was sworn in as Hyndburn's first citizen at a mayor-making ceremony in Accrington town hall on Thursday night. The annual
CLEO, the cat with a taste for narrow escapes, is home at last after her latest escapade. The three-year-old seal point Siamese went missing over a week ago from owner Liz Emmott's home in Fence and despite a widespread search it seemed she may have run
THE committee we formed to oversee the 'Friends of Kris Appeal' have decided that having achieved the target of £7,000 to close the fund. It is now almost two years since Kris passed away and though the memory of his personality and courage will remain
I AM delighted with the Stork Margarine free gift which I won in your competition a few weeks ago and have just received. The apron, gloves, cookery book and leaflets and the muffin tins and baking tray are truly wonderful. This is the third time I have
VICTIMS of the BT international sex lines mystery have been turning a telephone industry watchdog's phones red hot with rage. The news follows a series of complaints from disgruntled East Lancashire phone users who have been landed with bills for calls
MONEYBAGS Preston North End are threatening to wreck Burnley's summer spending plans, writes TONY DEWHURST. The Clarets reluctantly gave up the chase for Northern Ireland defender Colin Murdock when he agreed a £100,000 move to Deepdale earlier today.
I EXPRESS my sincere thanks to all the organisations and individuals who have made my year of office as Mayor of the Ribble Valley so memorable. We have been welcomed wherever we have been and it has been a privilege to meet so many people and hear how
CRIME-BUSTING success is putting the town of Accrington in the national spotlight as a model for others to follow. Hyndburn Council's unique combination of closed-circuit TV cameras and community safety wardens is to be featured in a new series of the
LOAN star Niklas Gudmundsson has been a big hit in East Anglia in the last few weeks but could still miss out on the chance of a permanent move to Ipswich Town, writes PETER WHITE. For Portman Road boss George Burley admitted today that, even though a
I TOTALLY agree with the single parent on Family Credit (Letters, May 8) about the cut in the school clothing grant. Sometimes it seems as if working people on low incomes are discriminated against. Since my husband started a job, which he loves, three
NEW mayor Peter Greenwood promised to do his best for the people of Blackburn and Darwen as he leads the borough into a new era. The former leader of Blackburn Council, and his wife Dorothy, have been given the honour of being the first mayor and mayoress
IN drawing attention to the sad state of Stockbridge Lodge at Gawthorpe Hall, Padiham, Mary Fletcher (Letters, April 30) implied it belonged to the National Trust and expressed surprise that they should be responsible for its neglect. The Lodge does not
A CHARITY has hit out at the makers of alcopops after a survey revealed children as young as 11 have been drinking them. The Greater Manchester and Lancashire Regional Council on Alcohol says a report by Health Promotion Wales has proved makers of the
HOME Secretary Jack Straw will be expected to deliver the pledges he made to police as an opposition MP when he speaks to their annual conference next week. The Blackburn MP is due to address more than 1,000 officers about the future of the police service
BUDDING businesses competed for the coveted East Lancashire Young Enterprise crown. Pupils from schools from throughout the area launched and ran their own business ventures and the best won places in the finals. Overall winners were Elan, a business
PETER Sleep plays for Accrington against Werneth tomorrow as the EW Cartons Lancashire League embarks on an exciting new chapter - described by the former Australian Test star as a "brilliant concept". Fourteen Lancashire League clubs come up against
IT was most interesting to read your article (LET, May 2) about the Whitsun processions which used to take place in Lancashire before the war. But I was surprised that there was not even a mention of one of the biggest and the most colourful of them all
THE people of Hyndburn are being urged to pump up their pride in the borough. The new Mayor, retired lorry driver Coun Maurice Cowell, has pledged to promote "Recognition and Pride in Hyndburn" during his year in office. The 63-year-old Oswaldtwistle
AN embroidered map of an East Lancashire town made 50 years ago is to go on display. The plan of Brierfield was made by the late Lilian Edmondson, a former teacher at Briercliffe School, in 1945. It was unearthed by her son, John, as he sorted through
IT was crunch time today for a jittery horse in his battle to overcome his nerves and beat a life ban from the race track. Owner Harry Barlow was so confident that the Swan at Whalley would pass the stalls test that he was betting £500 on the outcome.
SCHOOLCHILDREN rubbed shoulders with town hall VIPs when Pendle's new mayor took office. Councillor Jo Belbin is a governor at Laneshaw Bridge and Christ Church primary schools, Colne, and staff and children from both schools enjoyed the civic splendour
THE two founders of a recruitment business have called it a day in the year of its Silver Jubilee. Alan Whalley and Ann Maddock are retiring from the Tempo Staff Services recruitment agency they launched from an office in Blackburn in 1972. Staff at the
