Archive

  • Group looks to bumper profits

    CARPET and tile group Gaskell is looking forward to bumper profits. The East Lancashire-based firm said results for the year to December 31 were likely to beat the forecasts of city brokers and were now expected to be at least £3.3 million. The firm,

  • £1.5m breath of fresh air

    AN investment programme at a factory of more than £1.5 million is paying dividends. Burnley-based air filter manufacturer Interfilta has recently ploughed the money into new plant and to improve production methods at its Farrington Road factory. The result

  • Flower business wilts as display ban wrecks trade

    A FURIOUS florist is calling for the scrapping of a "crazy" council ruling to prevent further job losses in East Lancashire. Aileen Molloy, of Coulton's Florists, says she has already been forced to let one of her staff go as a direct result of the controversial

  • TEN YEARS AGO: Brewers' leisure plan

    BLACKBURN brewers Daniel Thwaites were planning massive investment to transform a disused town centre warehouse into a leisure complex. The former bonded warehouse at the corner of Penny Street and Salford, in Blackburn town centre, was set to feature

  • Labour launches its European agenda

    LABOUR has launched its agenda for the Presidency of the European Union with a promise that it will be good for areas like East Lancs. The theme of the six-month Presidency, beginning in January, is bringing the European Union closer to the people. Cabinet

  • Directors pay tribute to their famous five

    HARRY and Barry Turner, joint managing directors of the Brookhouse Group of Companies, proudly presented long service awards to five employees of the Darwen-based business. Awards were given to Ethel Boothman, Alan Hindle, Stephen Thomas, Tommy Grimshaw

  • Councillors lack common sense over road safety

    IF ANYTHING epitomises the lack of intelligence and common sense exuding from Hyndburn Council, it's the recent comments by Councillors Goldsmith, Dickinson and Thom in your article "Conflict of views on road humps' (LET. December 2). This was about the

  • BAe fury over new BBC documentary

    BRITISH Aerospace is claiming a controversial TV documentary could threaten the future of Eurofighter project. Hundreds of jobs will be safeguarded in East Lancashire through the £35 billion project, but BAe is furious at a planned Panorama programme

  • CLARETS: Waddle's apology to 'loyal' fans

    CHRIS Waddle's outspoken stance over heckling Turf Moor fans has mellowed as he begins the build-up to Saturday's vital home game against Wigan Athletic. The Burnley player-manager, incensed at the time, has been prepared to look at things again now that

  • Straw 'concern' for for smaller traders

    HOME Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw agreed that small businesses would be unable to compete with large stores this Christmas, with the controversial crackdown on outdoor displays. Mr Straw voiced his concerns in a letter to Mike Crane, owner of

  • ROVERS: Bolton Duffed up in Lancashire "derby"

    Blackburn Rovers 3 Bolton Wanderers 1 - Peter White's big match verdict DERBY games are notorious for throwing up unlikely heroes ... and villains. No question where Bolton midfielder Alan Thompson stood, sent off for a 23rd-minute assault on Jeff Kenna

  • Now is time to rid society of this smoking problem

    REGARDING the Government's recent "U-turn" on tobacco advertisements connected with motor racing and that they may make it illegal to sell cigarettes to anyone under 18. Is it not now time to do something positive to eradicate the smoking problem out

  • FIVE YEARS AGO: Sports pavilion gutted

    A BLAZE which gutted a popular school sports pavilion was under investigation. Father Kevin O'Neill, principal of St Mary's College, Blackburn, said the fire was a "big blow for the school" and confirmed the pavilion would cost "many thousands" to replace

  • ROVERS: Whelan's Ewood return in FA Cup

    DAVID Whelan, who suffered a broken leg in Blackburn Rovers' last FA Cup final appearance, will make a nostalgic return to Ewood Park on Saturday, January 3 - as chairman of Wigan Athletic. The former Rovers full back has done a Jack Walker, albeit on

  • ICE HOCKEY: Hough's puff brings the house down

    Blackburn Hawks 8 Paisley Pirates 4 ; Murrayfield Royals 5 Blackburn Hawks 8 CHRISTMAS has arrived early for born-again Lancashire Hawks with two timely victories all neatly gift-wrapped for their long-suffering fans. There hasn't been much cause to worry

  • There must be no tolerance for hoaxers

    A PART-TIME East Lancashire firefighter, found guilty of making hoax 999 calls in order to claim call-out pay, awaits sentence by the courts. But he already knows his fate with the fire-brigade - the sack. That fire-fighters sometimes do this is, we are

  • Blair faces 'unthinkable' opposition

    IF THE government's determination to press on with cuts in single parents' benefits is a sign of its radical approach to welfare, then the disclosure today that it may tax or means test all state benefits suggests that Tony Blair's order to "think the

  • ROVERS: Bohinen transfer request turned down

    LARS Bohinen summed up his Ewood dilemma today - "I am too good to be sold but not good enough to play, that's the problem." The Norwegian international, concerned that his World Cup prospects are going down the plughole without a regular starting place

  • Frozen in time! Memories of the bitter British winter of 1963

    Looking Back, with Eric Leaver THE FIRST snow of the winter always sets us wondering whether more is in store and whether this winter will be a stinker. But what was the worst winter you remember - the Big Freeze of 1963, the agony of 1947 or the wartime