ANYONE who has suffered the misery of post operative pain will have the utmost sympathy for former RAF armourer Bill Duffy. Mr Duffy, 60, underwent major spinal surgery but he has been told that he will have to wait nearly a year for physiotherapy, even
CHILDREN at Mellor Pre-School donned their Easter bonnets for a double celebration. The nursery wanted to mark Easter -- and celebrate being awarded nearly £2,500 in funding from Lancashire County Council. The money will enable the pre-school to open
GREEN-FINGERED youngsters will be able to buy more plants for their conservation garden, thanks to a generous car dealership. Pupils at Belthorn Primary School look after their wildlife garden in the school grounds, including a rockery which was built
THE decision to base the Diamond Project in Oxford as opposed to Daresbury is now subject to buck-passing on a massive scale. The New Labour government blames the French government. They deny responsibility. The Wellcome Foundation also denies responsibility
I WAS bemused by your report (LET, April 6) on a Blackburn with Darwen Council meeting where Coun John Williams was accused of inciting racial hatred when he suggested that 80 per cent of asylum seekers were bogus. In my opinion, he was only expressing
YOUR report (LET, April 1) revealed the local MPs who back Blackburn's ruling Labour group in their dogmatic acceleration of the diminution of democracy at the town hall -- Jack Straw and Janet Anderson. But Pendle's Gordon Prentice has reservations,
A GRANDAD who underwent major spinal surgery today spoke of his shock after he was told that he would have to wait almost a year for physiotherapy treatment. Bill Duffy, 60, of Hollin Street, Blackburn, had a major operation to repair a damaged spinal
A WORKING men's club may have to be demolished after it was destroyed by a suspicious fire -- 40 minutes after it was locked up in good order. The Lancashire Fire Service sniffer dog was at Daneshouse WMC in Nicholl Street, Burnley, today to try and pinpoint
BEN Burgess did at least get the sympathy vote, as he had no chance of making a decent impression in a poor team performance. The 18-year-old striker's senior debut was not one to remember but he was desperately unlucky to be handed his chance just when
A LIFELINE for older people in Burnley and Pendle is in jeopardy because of a chronic shortage of volunteers, say organisers Age Concern Lancashire. The Caring Neighbourhood Scheme allows for one volunteer to visit a pensioner once a week for a chat,
RESIDENTS in a run-down Burnley street reckon they are in line to lose the best thing going for their homes -- the view. Householders in Sefton Terrace have been up in arms since Railtrack contractors moved in to erect an 8ft barrier in front of their
AN EASTER crackdown on drunkenness has got Padiham publicans frothing with anger. Burnley police today launched Operation Fizz -- but their letter calling for co-operation from licensees has fallen as flat as a poor pint with Padiham landlords, who do
A DRUG-dealing single mum who has now gone "back to school," has escaped jail. But Gillian Butterworth was warned by a judge she would not be so lucky if there was a next time. Butterworth, 24, who supplied one man with cannabis, was told by Recorder
HERE'S another memory of the mudbath match of nearly 30 years ago. Looking Back recently recalled it -- when non-leaguers Great Harwood FC drew a record gate for their ill-fated tilt at FA Cup glory against Rotherham United. Back then, Harwood was virtually
IT WAS a stone-laying ceremony with a difference -- marking not just the building of something new, but the destruction of something unique...the oldest settlement in Rossendale. It is doubtful whether, in these more conservation-conscious times, a council
TWO one-month old heifers worth £150 each were stolen from a field at New Barn Farm, Tockholes. A spokesman from the National Farmers' Union warned that rustling was on the increase, and the problem had been getting worse for five or six years.
SUE Coe has been installed as the new president of Great Harwood Mothers' Club. Retiring president Irene Barber installed Sue as president at Bank Mill House, Great Harwood. Irene was given a vase as a memento of her year in office, and both women received
A GATECRASHER who beat up the "birthday boy's" stepdad in front of the man's wife at an 18th celebration has been jailed for 15 months. Burnley Crown Court had heard how Dennis Slater, 21, had been involved in trouble where the food was being dished out
AN exhibition of three dimensional art by students from the University of Central Lancashire is on display at Clitheroe's Platform Gallery. Entitled Ideas, the exhibition boasts the work of 25 students who were all given the same brief. And there are
LEVEL-HEADED Burnley boss Stan Ternent admitted that automatic promotion "is a possibility" after his side had snatched a dramatic 2-1 win at Oxford to close in on the top two places. Late goals from Steve Davis and Paul Weller, coupled with Wigan's defeat
Division Two: Oxford United 1 Burnley 2 - Pete Oliver's match verdict JUST when you think it can't get any better, it does. Three games ago it was a last-gasp equaliser, last week an injury-time winner and then on Saturday Burnley somehow managed to conjure
PAUL Weller has committed himself to Burnley and did his best to ensure that his future at the club will be as a First Division player with a dramatic winner at Oxford United. Having withdrawn his transfer request, Weller is now looking forward to a 10th-season
GRAEME Souness spelled out a few facts of life for his Blackburn Rovers players today, following their bitterly-disappointing flop against Portsmouth. And the Ewood boss said it was "unacceptable" for them to perform so poorly at home after the fans had
A LITTLE white donkey led parishoners from two Rossendale churches on their Palm Sunday walk, marking the start of Holy Week. Churchgoers handed out palm crosses to residents who came out to witness the procession, from St Mary's Goodhsaw, to St John's
NEWSNIGHT anchorman Jeremy Paxman was among the crowd who gathered to watch Jack Straw on his soapbox, but preferred, for once, to keep in the background (see picture) and let others fire the questions. Mr Paxman said he had come to Blackburn town centre
THE Bishop of Blackburn has today spoken out in support of farmers and urged people to help the countryside crisis. In 'The See of Blackburn,' a monthly newsletter from the Blackburn Diocese, The Rt Rev Alan Chesters spoke about the strain which farmers
Doncaster Dragons 82pts, Lancashire Lynx 4 LYNX'S troubled season hit a new low yesterday as they were thrashed 82-4 at Doncaster to continue propping up the Northern Ford Premiership. The rampant Dragons ran in 15 tries as Lynx suffered the worst of
Great Harwood 2 Nantwich Town 3 NON-LEAGUE: HARWOOD slumped to a fourth straight defeat in the FNWTL First Division despite mounting a stirring fightback at The Showground. Trailing 3-0 with just 19 minutes left, Martin Aspinwall and Neil Otley then struck
Royal British Legion Drop-in Centre, Elmfield Hall, Gatty Park, Church, 1pm-3pm. Blackburn and District Stamp Club, Feilden Room, Blackburn Central Library, 7.30pm. Think Floyd In Concert, Haslingden Public Hall, 8pm. Blackburn Fellowship for the Hard
FEW will disagree with the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Alan Chesters, who in Blackburn Diocese's monthly newsletter speaks out in support of farmers. We have said many times that if rural industry is to survive in this country, the government has
HOW very good that the TV licensing authority are to write to evaders, to warn them to buy a licence or they will call (LET, April 5). May I now, after 50 years of compliance with rules, stop buying a licence, as I will have plenty of warning to buy one
REGARDING your report: 'Refugees Head For Blackburn' (LET, April 4), this is a subject that makes my blood boil. The only reason these 'asylum seekers' come to this country is because it's seen as the promised land, a place where they'll be given food
I WISH to express dismay concerning the proposal of the new housing development on Milton Avenue, Clitheroe. Where are we to park our cars on this narrow residential avenue, which is not built as a through road? The congestion on Waddington Road is bad
KELLY: A shade unlucky with the goal which bounced just in front of him at full stretch, little else to do...6 McATEER: Not one of his better games and didn't produce a very convincing performance...5 DAILLY: Okay until the last 10 minutes when he almost
GRAEME Souness spelled out a few facts of life for his Blackburn Rovers players today, following their bitterly-disappointing flop against Portsmouth. And the Ewood boss said it was "unacceptable" for them to perform so poorly at home after the fans had
Divison One: Blackburn Rovers 1 Portsmouth 1 - Peter White's match verdict YOU wouldn't really want to wish an afternoon like this on your worst enemy, but your relatively-new manager....well, that's another matter altogether. Graeme Souness is very clearly
MARTIAL arts experts shed their shoes in a fundraising effort for Pendleside Hospice. Maxine Bolton and Michael Edmondson, front, are pictured presenting a cheque for £758 to Muriel Jobling (chairman of the Hospice) watched by other members of the Go
A WORKING men's club may have to be demolished after it was destroyed by a suspicious fire -- 40 minutes after it was locked up in good order. The Lancashire Fire Service sniffer dog was at Daneshouse WMC in Nicholl Street, Burnley, today to try and pinpoint
A story last week of now-vanished Regent Street in town-centre Blackburn brought back many memories for Lammack reader Arthur Smith -- of how it was in his boyhood and when his parents were living there in the early 1920s. The old School of Domestic Science
CHURCHES linked with local communities in Pendle to express their Hopes and Dreams -- a new musical based on the Lord's Prayer. Supporters packed Colne's Municipal Hall for the two Saturday performances of the show, written by Stephen Deal, with lyrics
ANIMAL rights terrorists were believed to be responsible for an Easter chicks fire bomb raid. The attack wrecked eight wagons and caused £200,000 damage at the Mayfield Chicks hatchery in Haslingden. Tmed petrol bombs exploded in wagon cabs, throwing
THE 21st Hoghton Tower Sprint attracted more than 200 competitors, with proceeds going to the trustees of Hoghton Tower. The event, now in its 21st year, was organised by North Western Centre Auto Cycle Union and Marshals North West and was open to both
MORE than 150 people went to the Accrington and District Blind Society's 125th anniversary appeal Easter fair, which has raised £330. There were a variety of stalls and attractions, including a tombola, raffles, cake stall, and a play your cards right
SCOUT and guide movement members from throughout East Lancashire turned out for for the annual St George's Day parades. In Blackburn, Balderstone Band led procession of more than 1,000 which included the band of the Air Training Corps, the parade involved
LUCKY talisman Ian Wright could be punished by the Scottish Football Association again tomorrow. But it won't affect his build-up for Burnley's promotion clash with Gillingham just hours later. The SFA's general purposes committee will decide whether
CRICHTON: Had little to do as the Oxford strikeforce barely tested him, although evidently left his kicking boots at home...6 WEST: Recalled in place of Glen Little, the full-back did a steady job in the face of a couple of storming runs from potential
LEADING plumbers' merchants James Hargreaves Ltd will tap into a new market when they open up in Blackburn early next year. The company's latest outlet will include their modern trade counter facility and first gas fire showroom. Work is set to start
A NEW website has been set up to help young people surf their way to a career. The XTEND initiative in East Lancashire has set up the site -- www.xtend.co.uk -- to detail vacancies at local employers. It also includes interviews with local school leavers
UNIVERSITIES are the keepers of the nation's treasure chest and must pass the key out to East Lancashire if the area is to secure future prosperity. That was the message from Ian Aitcheson, managing director of Blackburn-based Riva and Denise Fabrics,
CHILDREN and teachers went back in time to a Victorian school of a hundred years ago. More than 80 young pupils at Roe Lee primary school, Blackburn, sat in rows and practised their handwriting on slates as part of their "Lives 100 years ago" project.
A SECOND safety drive to cut the number of motorbike accidents on Lancashire roads has been launched by road safety experts. The campaign follows the success of last year's high profile Bike Safe 2000. Police say the growing popularity of powerful bikes
CRIME rates in East Lancashire towns have been slashed over the last year, a police chief has revealed. Superintendent Russ Weaver told a police and community forum in Great Harwood that all types of crime had been cut by 8.6 per cent from last April
HOME Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw was the key speaker at a conference on arson held in his constituency. The event was held at the home of Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park and focused on the role the fire brigade has to play in tackling crime.
TRADING standards bosses are warning people across East Lancashire to steer clear of homeworking and "get rich quick" schemes being promoted by sharks on the internet. The net has provided a new outlet for these schemes, which have traditionally been
HOME Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw was the key speaker at a conference on arson held in his constituency. The event was held at the home of Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park and focused on the role the fire brigade has to play in tackling crime.
A GRANDAD who underwent major spinal surgery today spoke of his shock after he was told that he would have to wait almost a year for physiotherapy treatment. Bill Duffy, 60, of Hollin Street, Blackburn, had a major operation to repair a damaged spinal
A MOTHER today spoke of her joy after her baby, who was born 13 weeks premature, was finally allowed home after nearly four months in intensive care. Michelle Whalley, 36, of Fosse Close, Blackburn and her partner, Billy Allison, 52, were told that their
Clitheroe 0, Vauxhall 2 STEVE Parry admitted his side struggled to contain the physical presence of table topping Vauxhall as Clitheroe crashed, perhaps a shade undeservedly, to their fifth consecutive FNWTL Division One defeat. Clitheroe trailed a one-goal
LANCASHIRE's Benson and Hedges Cup campaign went off the rails with one of their worst-ever bowling displays at Headingley. They handed Yorkshire 40 extras including 29 wides and, from the verge of defeat, the White Rose side cruised to a four wickets
Oldham Town 1 Darwen 3 IT took a half time rocket from player-boss Steve Wilkes to shake Darwen into action as three goals in the final 20 minutes kept their faint promotion hopes alive in FNWTL Division Two. The Anchormen appeared to be heading for a
Rossendale 1 Atherton LR 1 LACKLUSTRE Rossendale now face a fight for runners up spot in the FNWTL First Division after failing to kill off rock-bottom Atherton at Dark Lane. With leaders Vauxhall winning at Clitheroe, the league title now appears to
BLACKBURN Rovers Academy physio David Hancock was floored by Frank Bruno before his gruelling Flora London Marathon run. Hancock was running for Rovers in the "Football Challenge", where a representative from each of the football clubs competes, in club
Nelson 3 Formby 4 NELSON crashed to a disastrous defeat at the hands of Formby to hinder their chances of promotion from FNWTL Division Two. The second-placed Blues have Woodley Sports hot on their heels and either side -- along with outside chance Darwen
Stocksbridge PS 1 Accrington Stanley 3 ACCRINGTON gave their hopes of reaching the UniBond Premier Division a major boost by coming from behind to win this physical and often ill-tempered clash at Stocksbridge. In a match which saw Stanley play the second
