TWO robbers armed with a handgun and shotgun stole thousands of pounds in a violent attack at Shawforth Post Office. Postmaster John Bramall was working alone in the Market Street shop at 3pm yesterday when he was confronted by a masked man brandishing
THE official opening of the Jimmy McIlroy Stand at Turf Moor has been delayed until the Clarets legend has recovered from recent surgery. McIlroy is on the mend but is unable to attend Saturday's home game against another of his former clubs, Stoke City
BREWER Thwaites has launched a fund-raising drive to buy a community minibus. Hundreds of collection boxes are being distributed round Thwaites pubs to support the brewery's Millennium Fund which is hoping to raise £30,000 to buy a specially adapted minibus
BURNLEY may have to brace themselves for the arrival of Ian Wright mark-two at Turf Moor tonight. Shaun Wright-Phillips is following in the footsteps of his sharp-shooting father, whose goalscoring record at Arsenal made him a Highbury legend. Wright's
A MOTORCYCLIST was today fighting for his life after he was thrown from his bike during a race meeting. Stephen Taylor, 40, of Hall Park, Haslingden, suffered head injuries when he was thrown from his Honda 250 RG machine at Aintree Racing Circuit, Melling
GEORGE Slynn's suggested team picked from post-war Rovers' sides (LET Sports Letters, Tuesday, August 10) would indeed have taken some beating. It had all the hallmark of a brilliant team and I just couldn't fault it having seen the players myself. I
A YOUNG dad took the gas meter with him when he moved house. Burnley magistrates heard Lee Rothwell, 24, then by-passed wires and police spotted that the pre-payment meter had been wound on by hand. Rothwell, of Clough Street, Burnley, was conditionally
IN THE glorious summer of 1959, England played a five Test match series against a good Indian team which included fine cricketers like Umrigar, Gupte, Borde and Nadkani, all of whom played as professionals in the Lancashire League. Yet England won the
A fan's-eye view from Ewood Park, with Phil Lloyd CAN you remember March 20th? I've almost forgotten it myself, Rovers last victory in a competitive match, at home to Wimbledon. At my age, I can perhaps be excused for forgetting a few things, but it's
GLEN Little and Alan Lee are pushing for a return to front-line action as Burnley attempt to pull off mission impossible against Manchester City at Turf Moor tonight. Trailing 5-0 from the first leg, the Clarets have a range of mountains to climb if they
A WARD for mentally-ill pensioners at Blackburn's Queen's Park Hospital is set to close after patient watchdogs pledged support for a plan to save £388,000. Most of the cash saved from the shutdown of the 14-bed unit will be used to provide visiting nurses
STEVE Harkness looks to be on his way to Ewood Park after Blackburn Rovers agreed a £500,000 package deal with Benfica for the former Liverpool left back. Talks with the player have yet to get under way but Rovers will be reasonably confident of landing
THOUSANDS of school children were celebrating their GCSE results as examiners reported an "impressive" increase in the number and quality of grades achieved. The GCSE, having completed its second year, was being hailed a success as results showed a 15
PADIHAM followed up their 4-0 midweek Hospital Cup win over local league side Brunshaw with a much more important West Lancashire Football League away victory over Lancashire Constabulary on Saturday. Anthony McCluskey opened the scoring against the Police
THE striker crisis at the club had a domino effect on the Nelson's second string who opened their account with an unconvincing display at a sun-soaked Victoria Park. They were forced to play without a big target man, and to compound matters, Steve Ross
COMPANY League One saw sponsors side Marwill collect the number one spot after quite an enthralling final week finish -taking the league title by a two-point margin. This outcome had seemed highly improbable until other teams faltered in the final game
IF EVER there is a trade that depends on word-of-mouth appraisal, it is the restaurant business. But what a backlash this has for Andy Grey, manager of a Ribble Valley restaurant suffering as the rumour mill grinds away while council officials refuse
KNUZDEN Youth Under-13s are looking forward to the start of their 10th season after a series of good pre-season games, with a few new players coming in their squads look very strong. KNUZDEN YOUTH 15 BLACKBURN BOYS 5 KNUZDEN Youth Under-13s entertained
WHEN the procedural parlance is swept aside, what is clear about the resignation of Councillor Michael Barrett as secretary of Rossendale and Darwen Labour Party - in yet another twist in the murky affair of how colleagues offered Blackburn's housing
NEW signing Zav Bowers bagged his first goals for Harwood as the Reds swept aside United in convincing style at The Showground last night. Bowers struck twice and Neil Baron got the other as Harwood maintained their encouraging start in the First North
A MAGISTRATE retiring after almost 20 years, will soon be seeing life from the other side of the bench. Fred Poulton, Burnley's former chief building surveyor, is set to join the Witness Support Service currently based at Burnley Crown Court, but soon
WORRIES over traffic dangers at two proposed developments in Rossendale Road, Burnley, are to be investigated. Councillors are to visit the sites after council leader Stuart Caddy, speaking as a member of the public, raised both issues at the development
AT last, someone has taken action against those who deliberately flout the law by evading road tax (LET, August 14). I am sure that the vast majority of people who pay their dues and demands, sometimes with a struggle, will applaud the actions of the
FORMER Clarets defender and born-again Christian Eddie Cliff is half way to leading his congregation into a new era and hopefully a new £185,000 church. Eddie, owner of Budjet Exhausts, Church Street, Burnley, has been minister for Wood Top Church for
RUBBISH has been dumped in the back yards of 261 of the 280 empty houses in the Daneshouse area of Burnley, according to a shock report. And a plea to 'stop rubbishing Daneshouse' has come from workers at the Jinnah Community Centre who have surveyed
PRIZEWINNERS in the Great Harwood in Bloom competition received cash awards and certificates. The contest was jointly organised by Great Harwood and Rishton Rotary Club and the Civic Society. Cash prizes were presented by rotary club president Geoff Grundy
MORE than one in ten of the country's most successful companies is based in the North West. Statistics compiled by Dun & Bradstreet found 11.6 per cent of firms boasting sales of more than £10 million are in the region. The South East has 41 per cent
THE Conservative group on Hyndburn Council is considering a radical overhaul of its committee structure in order to concentrate on issues including road safety, improving the borough's markets and cleaning up the streets. A source close to the council
A MAJOR investment programme by a pub group is under way. Nelson-based Devonshire Pub Company has begun transforming a former derelict premises in Burnley town centre. The Coal Street pub development is expected to take up to three months to complete.
A CHEMICAL firm is is line for an award for energy saving. William Blythe, based at Church, is a finalist in the annual Business Energy Awards run by Norweb. The firm installed a new plant to produce acid which cut running costs by more than 50 per cent
CHILDREN from Hyndburn will enjoy a fun-packed day of activities on Friday thanks to a National Lottery grant. The Giant Fun Day will round off Hyndburn Council's summer programme of events which have provided youngsters with many challenging activities
HOW well do you know the history of our area? Most people are aware of the rise and fall of the textile industry, but did you know that there is evidence of civilisation in East Lancashire dating back to the Stone Age? Writer, broadcaster and former teacher
BURY resume their Worthington Cup action a goal to the good when they visit Meadow Lane to take on table toppers Notts County. The Shakers should have had the tie sewn up comfortably after the first leg, but instead face what looks inceasingly like a
BOB Taylor will be hoping to open his account for the season when Darlington visit the Reebok for the second leg of this Worthington Cup first round tie. The striker makes his first home appearance of the campaign tonight after exploratory knee surgery
A MOTORCYCLIST was today fighting for his life after he was thrown from his bike during a race meeting. Stephen Taylor, 40, of Hall Park, Haslingden, suffered head injuries when he was thrown from his Honda 250 RG machine at Aintree Racing Circuit, Melling
FORMER Brookside actor John McArdle got inside information on a new community arts drama which will centre on Haslingden. Literary Project one-O-one is backed by the Action for Haslingden Partnership, which manages single regeneration budget money, and
A fan's-eye view from Turf Moor, with Stephen Cummings IT's a great feeling. You're away from home. There' about 3,000 of you. For the last half hour you've all been singing yourself hoarse, as the Clarets have taken the game to Oldham, looking like they'll
A TOP Labour party officer has quit after a call for two high-ranking councillors to be suspended from Blackburn town hall's ruling group prompted a vote of no confidence in his position. Coun Michael Barrett resigned as secretary of the Rossendale and
Worthington Cup 1st round 2nd leg: Burnley v Manchester City (1st leg 0-5) - Pete Oliver's preview MIRACLES apart, Burnley can forget a run in the Worthington Cup after they lost the opening leg of their first-round clash 5-0 at Manchester City. But the
AT LAST you have restored my faith in humanity. While we don't usually see eye-to-eye on the subject of Manchester United, we agree on something at last (Bramwell Speaks Out, Thursday, August 19). I was at the recent United v Leeds game in question and
MILLENNIUM revellers looking for an all-night party have been warned that most pubs in East Lancashire will not be open after 3am on January 1, 2000. And they may have to buy tickets in advance if they want to spend New Year's Eve in the hostelry of their
I AM very disappointed with the Rovers first three match performances. They seemed short of punch up front and, against Huddersfield, they were very poor in defence. Broomes and Dailly looked very frail in the middle of defence. For the last and winning
PERUSAL of the EW Cartons Lancashire Cricket League table in recent weeks has shown the Hyndburn-based clubs appearing to exhibit all the traits of someone drowning. I accept Enfield's have had good wins recently but this is surely papering over the cracks
Blackburn Rambling Association meet Oddfellows Hall, Regent Street, Blackburn, 8pm. Holiday Auction. Stagecraft, Haslingden Public Hall, Regent Street, 9am-4pm. Parkinson's Disease Society meet Temple Street Resource Centre, Burnley, 7.30pm. Chinese Medicine
A SOLICITOR representing six East Lancashire lorry men has claimed quarry firm Tarmac should be put in the dock for "walking away" from its responsibilities. Michael Cunningham hit out at the firm during the case of tipper lorry operators and drivers
THE manager of a popular eating house today warned jobs could be put at risk by council bosses' refusal to name the establishment at the centre of the Ribble Valley E.coli alert. Andy Grey, 29, manager of the Old Stone House, Mitton, said his business
BLACKBURN Under 14s have been given a bye in the first round of the North West Woodward Trophy. But they face a tough test at the next stage when they entertain last year's winners Manchester. The local youngsters had some experience of inter-association
BURNLEY Community Football Club - comprising players with learning disabilities and special needs - are celebrating a trio of successes. They won Group A, Group B and the Group A play-off final of the North West Regional Tournament, Blackpool. This follows
ROVERS supremo Jack Walker turned up to watch the first home game in his team's new £20 million stadium - and couldn't find a seat! Jack was caught up in the chaos surrounding seats in the ground during the team's 3-0 win over Leicester. Seats in the
ANDY Flintoff went into championship action today knowing that one more good performance would seal a place on the winter tour of South Africa. England are ready to make changes after the debacle against New Zealand - and the Lancashire powerhouse is
Harry's Stable Whispers I AM having a busy day today with three runners at Hamilton this afternoon. The highlight of my afternoon was the return of Saffizz in Racing Channel in Pubs and Clubs Novice Stakes at 3.15pm. We were expecting a big run from him
JOHN Blunt is quite right about the teaching of grammar in schools (LET, August 18). He must be writing from first hand experience. His column contained no less than ten sentences beginning with the words "and," "but" and "for". I was taught not to start
BOYS Club got off to a flying start in a First Division which is down to nine teams with the late withdrawal of Crooked Billet, and champions Northbridge's retirement. The Boys enjoyed a 6-1 win over Craven Heifer thanks to Mark Harrison and Craig Robinson
AS an old Blackburnian, I will be sorry to see Blackburn Royal Infirmary close. But having read the reasons given about transfers between Queen's Park and there, I can understand the problems. I do not know what the health authority plan to do with the
MOST people treat Friday the 13th with great trepidation, but Friday August 13 will long stick in my mind, for more positive reasons - on two counts. First was your report setting out the new structuring of Hyndburn Council, announced by council leader
WITH regard to the replies of Philip Congdon, Coun Douglas Deakin, John Farrer and Granville Broadhurst (Letters, August 2 and 3), I had earlier asked what qualifications Adrian Shurmer of Great Harwood had to advise on traffic calming and, as yet, I
HEALTH chiefs in Burnley are celebrating after the trust's learning disability service received a top national accolade for the third year running. The Charter Mark is awarded for excellence in public sector services and Burnley Health Care Trust's learning
A BAN on a Sunday League player who was cleared by the Football Association has been welcomed by an opposition club. Norrie Doogan, 33, of Berkeley Crescent, Padiham, captain of Lowerhouse pub team Lane Ends A, was convicted at a retrial at Burnley Crown
A LOTTERY bid for up to £1million has been launched in a bid to transform sporting facilities at Burnley's Towneley Park. A serious fire destroyed a wooden pavilion at Lower Towneley playing fields in Christmas 1996 leaving schools and football teams
GLEN Little and Alan Lee are pushing for a return to front-line action as Burnley attempt to pull off mission impossible against Manchester City at Turf Moor tonight. Trailing 5-0 from the first leg, the Clarets have a range of mountains to climb if they
STEVE Harkness looks to be on his way to Ewood Park after Blackburn Rovers agreed a £500,000 package deal with Benfica for the former Liverpool left back. Talks with the player have yet to get under way but Rovers will be reasonably confident of landing
A MAN arrested by detectives investigating the alleged murder of an Accrington father-of-three has had the charge against him dropped. Mohammed Rafiq, 34, of Claret Street, Accrington, was accused of making threats to kill his brother-in-law Mohammed
UNIFORM firm Simon Jersey has joined the e-commerce revolution. The Altham-based company is setting up a site to enable customers to view products, monitor stock levels and order directly over the internet. The system will operate 24 hours a day seven
BREWING is the industry which has dominated the local headlines in recent weeks. Talk of sell-offs, threats over the long-term future of one of East Lancashire's oldest companies and then one of the biggest investments in manufacturing seen in the area
A DRINKS firm boss says he had not expected anyone would rival Whitbread's bid to buy 3,500 pubs. Whitbread, which employs more than 1,000 at its Samlesbury and Guide sites, bid more than £2 billion for Allied Domecq pubs. But rival bidder Punch upped
THIRTY youngsters are having their literacy skills stretched and enhanced during a two week summer literacy school. Their programme of work at Queen's Park High School, Blackburn, is built around the theme of autobiography and also includes the use of
PAY awards across industry in the North West are still falling, with salary rises posing little threat of pushing up inflation, according to a survey released today. The average pay settlement in manufacturing during the three months to the end of June
PENSIONERS in Pendle have been left fuming by cost-cutting measures aimed at saving cash over the festive season. Senior citizens will now have to pay £1 to enjoy the traditional Christmas lunch with the Mayor and fewer of them will be able to take part
MICHAEL Jackson is ready to play through the pain barrier in Preston's Worthington Cup first round second leg at Wrexham tonight with North End 1-0 up from the first leg. The influential defender sustained a cut above his eye in North End's 1-1 draw at
