HOW cynical and underhanded can this New Labour government get? On September 1, the three per cent reduction in VAT on fuels comes into force. This was aimed at helping pensioners with their fuel bills, but, by the timing of its implementation, the effect
IRONMAN Paul Guinan is ready to take on the world after a gruelling trial of strength and stamina. The fireman from Blackburn competed in the British Ironman Championships for the first time. And the experience of swimming 2.4 miles across open water
Southend United v Burnley - Tony Dewhurst's big match preview MARLON Beresford pointed the finger at Southend United's chief threat tomorrow and warned: 'Beware of the Boere'. The Roots Hall menace will come in the shape of strapping six foot four inches
VERY many of today's young men and women are striving to carve out for themselves a career and, perhaps, hope eventually to marry and start a family. There are others, however, who think only of criminal activities. Such a one, no doubt, is the evil oaf
GREG Pope MP has called on a cable television company to cut down roadwork disruption after elderly residents complained they were afraid to leave their homes. The Hyndburn MP claims stones and rubble left on pavements by Nynex workmen laying cable caused
RUDRA Singh carries the weight of Haslingden's title expectations on his shoulders in a crucial EW Cartons Lancashire League weekend. The Indian all-rounder has been drafted in for tomorrow's home game against Burnley and Sunday's tough trip to Ramsbottom
YET again, heads teachers in Burnley are refusing to publish their schools' GCSE results with grades. All they will release is a list of pupils who got A to G grades, which is effectively a list of all the pupils who sat the exam. Why do they do this?
RECENTLY we have been made aware of the problems which the Mir Spacecraft has been undergoing. A possible reason for this could be that the astronauts have suddenly noticed another man-made wonder on earth - Hyndburn's new modern and ancient road system
ACCOUNTANT Stephen Birtwell was right when he said a council department's records were being doctored to show that repairs to council houses were being completed on time when they were not. But what happens when he goes through the books again and claims
FRIGHTENED residents called a public meeting with police and councillors after a family evicted from a council house moved into their road. The family, who were evicted from the Green Lane Estate, Blackburn, were the first victims of a high profile nuisance
SUPER student Lucy Haken is celebrating an amazing 10 A* GCSE grades - but reckons the secret of her success has nothing to do with revision. She has one of the best pass rates in the country and says it's down to two years of continuous hard work, not
STRIKER Andy Cooke faces a race against time to be fit for tomorrow's seaside special at Southend United. Player-manager Chris Waddle will delay naming his side until Cooke undergoes a fitness test after the party arrive at their Essex base tonight. Waddle
THE owners of an Indian takeaway who once claimed they were the targets of a hate campaign have won the support of customers in a row with the town hall. The owners of the takeaway in Feniscowles have decided to appeal against a decision to limit opening
THE erection of a fence shutting off entry to Billinge Woods, Blackburn, shows that the tail is wagging the dog when bureaucracy faces democracy. Originally, an order was placed with the contractor which included a gate section for access to the woods
I HEAR that the British Tourist Authority wishes to abolish the Union flag as representative of this country. I would sincerely hope that this idea will be buried by MPs loyal to our image. Why are there so many congenital idiots in high places and so
AN East Lancashire MP has expressed alarm over the planned closure of the Benefits Agency public office in Barnoldswick. Gordon Prentice has written to the agency, stating the alternative of using the Colne office is not convenient for Barnoldswick people
ROY Hodgson's keeper crisis has returned to haunt him on the eve of tomorrow's big Premiership clash against Liverpool at Ewood, with loan man Michael Watt in hospital. The Aberdeen keeper, brought in as cover for John Filan following the pre-season injury
A SIXTEEN year-old girl robber is to seek compensation from the Home Office following a High Court ruling that she was unlawfully caged inside an adult prison. Solicitors acting for the Accrington teenager say the claim will be for "significant" damages
Drive & Stroll, with Ron Freethy: Goosnargh WE in Lancashire have our fair share of what I often call our forgotten villages. The people who live in these places would not be pleased to be called forgotten, so I had better explain what I mean. As
MANCHESTER Airport was plunged into chaos as sunseekers were marooned by a Spanish air traffic controllers' strike. Hundreds of holidaymakers were set to spend the first night of their sunshine break staring at rainswept grey tarmac. Travellers were being
DIGGER driver Thomas Prior and shopkeepers had a amazing escape when his machine ran out of control down a steep hill. The digger was near the top of Montague Street in Blackburn when its brakes failed. It began to run downhill with driver Mr Prior, 35
EDENFIELD can play a major part in the destiny of the Vaux Ribblesdale League. John Kershaw's men travel to second-placed Clitheroe tomorrow - but without their skipper who has torn a thigh muscle. And a shock victory would hand Cherry Tree the chance
THE seemingly-endless saga over the burning of controversial Cemfuel by Castle Cement of Clitheroe has already had more twists and turns than a corkscrew, but the latest is amazing. At the beginning of this month, the firm was banned from using the fuel
IT is pleasing to have read recently, the stand being made by some of our area clergy against hypnotic practice. The dangers of hypnotic or mesmeric practice was published in the year 1875 by Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the Christian Science movement
Political Focus, with Bill Jacobs THE creation of a Scottish Parliament brings a constitutional minefield for the Queen, begging the question of how often she will open it. Four main areas promise bitter constitutional battles between Edinburgh and Westminster
HAVING gone through six of them last season, Colne manager Denzil Hart is facing up to another goalkeeping crisis at Holt House just three games into the new season. Matt Judge, the new first choice, injured his hand during Wednesday night's 4-1 defeat
PEOPLE sweltering through the heatwave are being urged to chill out as tempers begin to boil. Despite yesterday's downpour, temperatures in East Lancashire have this week remained in the mid-80s, and sales of beer, ice cream and electric fans have soared
