BOSSES at one of Blackburn's biggest employers are optimistic about the future despite a worldwide currency crisis which cost them almost a quarter of profits. Scapa Group, which has headquarters in Preston New Road, has announced a drop in profits of
CASH to repair Hyndburn's crumbling roads has been slashed for the fifth year running. The borough coucil has received £822,300 for highway maintenance, £107,200 down on last year. Tory group leader Coun Peter Britcliffe said the derisory allocation was
THOMAS the tank engine was put back on the right track by a Hyndburn firm. A 3ft 6ins Thomas face was mistakenly sent to Lancashire instead of Kent where it was urgently needed for children's entertainment. Workers at Shaw Packing Limited of Bridge Street
SNOOKER-mad dad Kevin Bellusci was determined to give his son every chance of making the grade in the game. But the family's two-up, two-down terraced house in Argyle Street, Darwen, wasn't big enough for the full-size snooker table Alfonso, 17, wanted
AFTER a cliffhanger wait, the Government has agreed to bend the rules and allow Pendle Council to spend more than £800,000 on renovations for decaying homes. Pendle Council, backed by the area's MP Gordon Prentice, campaigned long and hard to persuade
THE Prime Minister and Jack Straw have rightly condemned the behaviour of drunken morons in Marseille. However, I think now is the time for a chunk of money to be diverted from our contributions to the European Union stitch-up. This would compensate the
TABLE-topping Lancashire Lynx travel to the Spotland Stadium, Rochdale, tonight hoping to maintain their 100 per cent record on the road. But the game against Oldham will be their toughest so far if the bruising encounter three weeks ago is anything to
MRS Gladys Robinson's "No place for gays in forces" (Letters, June 12) reminds me of the time when there was a place for them in the forces. I refer to the Second World War, when millions of men where conscripted. There was no time to question their sexual
AN ANIMAL charity is calling on people to stop littering the countryside after a bird almost died when it became trapped in a plastic bag dumped in a lake. RSPCA Inspector Chris Heyworth rescued the gull from Rowley Lake, Burnley, when the carrier bag
A FRIGHTENED mother has warned parents to be on the alert after youngsters removed the needle from a bloodstained syringe found near a newly-opened play area. Karen Ingham, of Lancaster Drive, Padiham, said a local child found the syringe about 100 yards
I MUST say I feel ashamed to be English today - even though we won against Tunisia. Yet again, "our lads" - Lancashire lads, too - made us feel ashamed because of their behaviour. Every single time they go abroad to watch football they have to show up
BREAKING records is nothing new to Settle run machine Surendra Bhave. So it has come as no great shock to Bhave to find himself in such prolific form in the Ribblesdale League, writes PETE OLIVER. That doesn't mean, however, that he hasn't enjoyed each
WILLIAM Hague today marked his first year as Tory leader with a tour of Yorkshire and questions from sixth-form pupils in Lincoln, but how is his own report card marked? If the opinion polls are a guide, then his performance lacks distinction. The Conservatives
YOUR editorial (LET, June 16) asking how English soccer hooligans got to France in the first place was dead right. Whatever the Home Secretary may say, this awful spectacle was not "tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime," but more the opposite
LOCAL government finance is so shot through with stringency that councillors seem permanently locked in a struggle with cuts in services. But should the prudence that taxpayers expect ever turn into economies that put people's lives at risk? Alarmingly
Regarding pavement obstruction, the Chamber of Trade states that all members of Blackburn with Darwen Council were sent copies of their questionnaire. That is not correct. I was not sent one until I requested one and I received it last Thursday. For the
BLACKBURN Rovers' World Cup warriors could be set to miss the club's opening shots of their pre-season tour of Sweden, writes PETE OLIVER. Scottish trio Colin Hendry, Kevin Gallacher and Billy McKinlay and England goalkeeper Tim Flowers are likely absentees
A LEADING expert in document management has set up his own East Lancashire consultancy in a bid to get businesses organised. David Hindle, 37, is operating his new company, Document Management Projects Ltd (DMPL), from his Lower Darwen home until he can
A COMMUNITY crime prevention initiative has been handed a £5,000 boost by British Aerospace bosses. The School Community Action Team scheme, launched six years ago by Lancashire Constabulary, encourages students to stamp out crime in their neighbourhoods
THE success of an East Lancashire company, which is the largest of it's kind in the world, looks set to continue with new headquarters, management team and logo. E J Riley, which produces snooker equipment, will move from Padiham to a 60,000 sq ft purpose-built
HOME Secretary Jack Straw told the House of Commons the Lancashire Evening Telegraph was "the world's finest newspaper". The Blackburn MP praised the paper during a Commons debate on the Human Rights Bill. As MPs - who have heard Mr Straw pay the compliment
BRAVE Becky Houghton has picked up an award for helping others, despite suffering from diabetes. Becky's caring nature and devotion to her family has won her a prize in the British Diabetic Association's Young Achievers Awards. Becky, a pupil at Shadsworth
PUZZLED publicans David and Helena Shorrock have called out the hounds in a countrywide hunt for a fox at the centre of a kidnap drama. Mr Fox, as he is known to locals at the Nab's Head Hotel in Samlesbury, usually adorns the wall of the snug. But he
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a man was beaten up in Blackburn town centre following a "road rage" incident. The man, not been named by police, was taken to hospital after being kicked and punched in a busy town centre street by two thugs.
I WAS delighted to read (LET, June 11) that the SuperScan appeal has reached its £1 million target thanks to the generosity of local people. The scanner will really be a lifesaver to a lot of people, detecting illnesses before they have a chance to develop
A DETAILED investigation is to be carried out into pollution in the atmosphere in Accrington. Figures show that concentrations of sulphur dioxide monitored within the town were far in excess of those recorded in four other North West authorities. Accrington
THE sounds of 17th Century Lancashire at the time of the infamous Pendle Witches have been captured on a "time travel" tape launched to boost tourism in the area. Visitors and local people will be able to travel back almost 400 years thanks to the audio
I WOULD like to thank all the people, in Pendle and beyond, who donated to the Cancer Research Campaign's recent national Starflower Appeal. This year is the Campaign's 75th anniversary, and to commemorate this event it was hoped to distribute three million
KEITH Arthurton has the Lancashire League run record in his sights after a prolific start to the season, writes PETE OLIVER. The Rawtenstall professional has scored 652 league runs from just nine visits to the crease and has scored more than current record
FIRE chiefs are warning lives could be at risk if deteriorating equipment is not brought up to date. A report to members of the Combined Fire Authority warns millions of pounds needs to be spent on new vehicles and uniforms for the county's fire crews
HAVE our councillors nothing better to do than carry on the stupid saga over A-boards? I find it disturbing and pathetic. This has been a form of advertising for decades. It is about time our councillors turned their attention to more serious problems
CARL Fogarty is in for a testing time at Misano - but the Ducati racer has done his homework. The Blackburn ace is currently 26 points adrift of championship leader Troy Corser going into round six in San Marino, writes ANDY NEILD. But he is expecting
AFTER hearing of his recent death, allow me to give this appreciation of Keith Newton... I had the good fortune to help former Blackburn Rovers' player Mick McGrath run one or two junior football teams and, one year, after a great season, we suggested
REGARDING your recent reports on the A-board saga, the chairman of the regeneration committee, of Blackburn with Darwen Council, openly admits (LET, June 12) that some Labour councillors would have difficulty in answering the questionnaire provided by
GLENN Little has never wavered from his desire to stay at Turf Moor - despite making himself one of the hottest properties in the lower divisions, writes PETE OLIVER. Little's performances in the second half of last season marked him down as a player
