THESE pupils from a Blackburn school turned fashion models for the day to raise £250 for school funds. They, and the Parent Teachers' Association at Feniscowles Primary, organised the fashion show with the help of children's clothing company Brats. Tickets
MEMBERS of the Whitebirk and Intack Residents Association held their Easter fair at the 2000 Centre in Hereford Street, Intack, Blackburn. There was an Easter bonnet competition, judged by Councillor Dorothy Walsh and a children's bike race, bric-a-brac
A 31-YEAR-OLD man has appeared before Blackburn magistrates charged with raping a seven year old girl. Stephen Brown, of Snowdon Avenue, Blackburn, was also charged with two indecent assaults. The case was sent straight to Preston Crown Court and Brown
TWO maintenance men received an extra-special gift to mark more than two decades of work at a Blackburn school. Brian Strahan has worked as site supervisor at Beardwood High for 15 years and his assistant, Bob Boardman, has been at the Blackburn school
THE Prime Minister in a recent speech last week said that waiting lists for in-patients have gone down. What Mr Blair omitted to mention was that you can't go on an in-patient list until you have seen a consultant. The number of people waiting for their
I WAS very interested to read of David Coggins' sighting of the Aurora Borealis (LET, April 11). I, too, experienced this spectacle, but I was on the Norfolk coast, near Great Yarmouth. It was a sight which I will always remember. Firstly, the brightness
COUNCILLOR David Smith (Letters, April 11) defends the cabinet system shutting out democracy because, firstly, the public rarely attends council debates and, secondly, because it has been ordered by the present Labour government. He did not explain that
HUNDREDS of women in Burnley have been given dispensation from voting in person at next month's council elections -- because of the stress they would face being in close contact with male strangers at polling stations. They will, instead, be allowed either
TWO young children were fighting for their lives today amid fears that they may have swallowed a drugs overdose. A one-year-old boy and three-year-old girl were taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary in the early hours of today. The children, believed to
RESIDENTS turned out in force to clear rubbish from the River Darwen at Hoghton Bottoms. Residents teamed up with the Darwen River Valley Initiative to organise the clean-up, part of the Tidy Britain Group's National Spring Clean event. They were helped
EX-ROVERS player Matty Holmes has had to call it a day through injury. Holmes, 30, moved to Ewood from West Ham in the wake of Rovers' championship success but, for one reason or another, including injury problems, never really made an impact. In the
BARBECUE equipment manufacturers Rectella International Ltd are back in business. The news comes exactly two weeks after a spectacular fire destroyed or damaged two thirds of the premises in Bancroft Road, Burnley. Charcoal is still smouldering in the
A BURNLEY girl has proved to be a real dancing queen in a national competition. Nicole McIntosh (pictured) took the dance floor by storm after winning the Under 10s round of the British Isles Disco Dancing Championships in Prestatyn, North Wales. The
THREE strikes and you're out of circulation, crooks are being told. Posters are being put up outside the homes of suspected criminals warning that burglars and drugs dealers will go to jail. The three-strike rule is here in England and here in Burnley
VIDEO film of youths fighting in Burnley town centre was shown at the launch of Operation Fizz -- a major crackdown on drunkenness and disorder. Pictures of about 15 youths punching and kicking before a large number of police arrived were shown to highlight
TWO charities have received a cash boost after the widow of retired businessman, Thomas Burton Fryer, was overwhelmed with donations and cards. Mr Fryer, 73, of Colne, died in Yorkshire Clinic, Bingley, on March 23, after losing his battle against cancer
A millennium swim challenge to complete 2,000 lengths in the Year 2000 has won staff at Pendle Leisure Centre an honour from the NHS. The centre won a certificate of commendation in the Health Challenge Awards, an annual NHS competition to reward groups
JAIL rebel Martin Brian dashed hopes of an end to the Strangeways siege. The 29-year-old Blackburn man began to do keep-fit exercises on the roof in front of the nation's media. The inmate, known for his Worzel Gummidge impressions on the top of A wing
FOUR shivering guinea pigs were dumped in a cardboard box on the doorstep of an old folk's home. And they might have died if a lady had not stumbled across them in the rain as she walked her dog. The dog would not pass the box and on closer inspection
LABOUR MP Greg Pope took a break from the pressures of Parliament to judge an Easter drawing competition. The Hyndburn politician was invited to judge a competition held at the Within Grove Cafe in Huncoat. He is pictured with cafe owner Moira Birtwell
EGGS, cards and cake went on display during a competition on an Easter theme held by Great Harwood Mothers' Club. Winners in the egg section were Brenda Vickery and retiring president Irene Barber. New president Sue Coe and Pat Clark won the card competition
THE organisers of this year's Oswaldtwistle Carnival say the deadline for entering the carnival princess competition is May 3. The competition is open to all primary school girls who either live or go to school in Oswaldtwistle. The judging takes place
AN eggcellent time was had by all at an Eggstravaganza fun day, with plenty of fun competitions and games. The Easter fun day at Baxenden CE Primary School for pupils, as well as parents and friends, and was organised by the Friends of Baxenden School
THE fate of plans by Accrington Stanley Football Club to build an all-weather pitch will be decided tomorrow. Hyndburn Council development services committee deferred a decision when it met last month so councillors could visit the site. Plans for an
CHILDREN and parents took part in an eggs-tra special Easter numeracy trail around Ribblesdale Nursery, Clitheroe. More than 100 children teamed up with their mums and dads to take an Easter bunny trip around the Queen's Road nursery, doing sums and solving
CHILDREN from Chatburn CE School had a wild time with Chris Whitehead from Lancashire Wildlife Trust. Mr Whitehead visited the school's wildlife pond, which was donated by Castle Cement, with pupils dressed as bats and insects. They played games and spent
NORTH West Water is pumping £300million into eradicating a bug which caused severe stomach infections across the Ribble Valley last month. Cryptosporidium -- a micro-organism which can make its way into water supplies especially in rural areas -- was
RADICAL recycling reforms have been proposed by a Ribble Valley councillor. Councillor Allan Knox has put forward a motion, which will be read at the full council meeting tonight, to reduce the amount of green glass being used in the borough. Although
THE Clarets' management and players are calling on their fans to get behind them again tonight as promotion fever grips Turf Moor. A crowd of up to15,000 -- which would be the third biggest gate of the season -- is expected for the clash with Gillingham
A fan's-eye view from Turf Moor, with Stephen Cummings THERE's this bloke I work with. And like a lot of the folk I work with, he's a mad keen Burnley fan. Just over a month ago, the Clarets lost two home games in the space of four days to Preston and
Division Two: Burnley v Gillingham - Pete Oliver's match preview JUST over a year ago Burnley were humbled 5-0 by Gillingham in their own back yard as the vultures circled over Turf Moor. Bob Taylor scored four times before half-time and the Clarets players
BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent plans to keep his promotion-chasing side together next season by offering new deals to all his senior players -- including Ian Wright. Detailed contract talks have been put on hold until the summer when Ternent will know which
GRAEME Souness headed a spying mission to Gigg Lane last night, fuelling more transfer speculation as the Blackburn Rovers boss concentrates on his plans to launch next season's promotion challenge. The presence of a trio of Ewood representatives at a
VOLUNTEERS are needed to act as good neighbours to isolated or housebound older people in Darwen. Age Concern is looking for recruits for its Caring Neighbourhood scheme. "We have six people who are waiting for a visitor," explained Christine Nuttall,
AMBITIOUS plans to build a service station complete with hotel and business park look set to go-ahead. The scheme could mean hundreds of new jobs for the area and council officials are recommending approval of the development. The service station is planned
BOOKWORMS in Rossendale have been spending every spare minute reading after joining a new book club. A group of 10 and 11-year-olds from Stonefold primary school, in Rising Bridge, are taking part in a pilot scheme to encourage children to enjoy reading
ARE you a thrill-seeking daredevil? Have you got a head for heights? If so, the Royal National Institute for the Blind has the perfect challenge. The charity is looking for 300 volunteers to abseil 110 feet from Blackburn Rovers' Jack Walker stand at
MORE than 50 youngsters from across Blackburn are having an eggs-tra special holiday learning all sorts of new skills and the meaning of Easter. St Francis' Church, Feniscliffe, Blackburn, is hosting a holiday club until tomorrow and activities include
MORE than 1,600 people enjoyed a 'Brass Night at the Proms' and raised £6,000 for charity. Accrington Rotary Club organised the event, held at King George's Hall, Blackburn, to raise money for their three named charities -- the double donut scanner at
A TWO-year-old boy was rescued by firefighters after getting his foot trapped in a drain. Martina Johnston, 20, said her other son, three-year-old Connor, had alerted her after Steven, two, got his foot trapped outside his home in Ermine Close, Fishmoor
WHATEVER sport you follow, it appears there is corruption, bribery, match fixing and drug taking at the highest level -- football, athletics, horse racing and the latest fiasco of cricket. It's certain millions of pounds have been lost or, rather, conned
A FOOTBALL fan whose parents named him after the entire Burnley football team is threatening to ditch the names in favour of the club's arch rivals. David Welch, 25, has told his Clarets-mad mum and dad Gillian and Ray that he is considering honouring
AS a senior citizen, I am amazed that Burnley FC have issued a notice that all discount season tickets have to be obtained before the end of April, when in other years, it has been June. I, like many other fans, are waiting to see them go up to the First
EXCITING plans to take East Lancashire forward were on the agenda at a special conference today. Hilary Armstrong, Minister of State for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning, was launching the strategy for East Lancashire's future at the conference
IN RESPONSE to the criticism of my attitude to Jack Walker (Sports Letters, April 11), may I say that I have looked again at his track record, but have not changed my mind. I acknowledged in previous letters the fine ground and infrastructure and Walker's
RAMSBOTTOM United can do neighbours Rossendale United a massive favour tonight by beating Newcastle Town at the Riverside. Rossendale and Newcastle are locked in a battle for runners up in the FNWTL First Division with the Staffordshire side currently
SOURAV Ganguly was aiming to shake off a lacklustre start to his Lancashire career when they faced Durham today in their third Benson and Hedges Cup qualifier. The India captain misfired badly in the first two games, scoring a total of seven runs, and
STEVE Parry has resigned as manager of First North Western Trains League outfit Clitheroe. Parry, who took over at Shawbridge 18 months ago following the sacking of Denis Underwood, will step down from his post at the end of the season. The former Haslingden
Dany Robson on the London runWHEN a spotty dog overtakes you after 18 miles of the Flora London Marathon, it could be a signal to give up. The hound bounded past, the fairy then danced through and a caveman, a bee and a policeman, complete with helmet
BRISTOL ROVERS 0, PRESTON NORTH END 2 DEEPDALE will celebrate an Easter Parade this weekend as Preston North End put finishing touches to promotion to the First Division. They can all but touch it now and the matches against Scunthorpe United and Cambridge
THEY came, they saw - and they learned. More than 30 pupils in year four at Wensley Fold primary school got to grips with the world of newspapers during a fact finding visit to our head office and printing plant. "It was very exciting, because I hadn't
WOULD you like free, hands-on classroom support for your school? Schools ordering any of our current Newspapers in Education resources are welcome to invite NIE co-ordinator Rita Shaw to run newspaper activities or to support other newspaper related school
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
IF the fat was not already in the fire in the refugee debate, in which accusations of racism have already been hurled, then it seems sure to be tonight as Tory leader William Hague calls for all new asylum-seekers to be held in detention centres. Clearly
A THOUSAND tulips planted to mark the millennium at the East end of Blackburn Cathedral have burst into flower. The red and yellow tulips were planted last year close to the Boulevard by members of the Cathedral congregation. Gordon Shaw, of Whinney Lane
REGARDING my remarks about the Rev Kevin Logan, of Accrington, who wishes to sell his church windows to pay for a community centre, I know some people are upset by this. I was also quite wrong to criticise the quality of some of the Blackburn church services
SPRING is the busiest time in the garden, but for arthritis sufferers, it's also the most painful time. Now help is at hand, in the Arthritis Research Campaign's booklet, Gardening and Arthritis. It shows how you can carry on gardening, suggesting ways
THE points raised by Mr L Lawes (Letters, April 3) about local 'cabinet' government are certainly food for thought. And, once again, the whole question of secrecy is raised. I am sure that, given the opportunity, Blackburn with Darwen Council will bleat
COUNCILLOR S Greenwood (Letters, April 10), states that it is Blackburn with Darwen Council's job to provide the tenants with accurate, factual information to enable them to make a decision. Would he tell us when this information will be forthcoming?
DEFENDER Craig Short, who made a welcome return from injury in Saturday's draw with Portsmouth, believes big can be beautiful as far as Rovers are concerned in their last few League fixtures. Foir the remaining visitors to Ewood are the First Division's
A fan's-eye view from Ewood Park, with Phil Lloyd IT'S all very well for the new manager to be upset about Saturday's attempt to bore 17000 people senseless. He hasn't had to watch this kind of drivel all season! We came expecting to see a committed,
A TEENAGER fractured a bone in his back during an assault outside a Burnley takeaway. The 19-year-old went to hospital and is now having to wear a back brace. Just after midnight on Sunday, April 9, he was in the Balti King, Yorkshire Street, when a group
CAR criminals in East Lancashire have taken a special fancy to Citroen Saxos, owners were warned today. Officers working on Operation Freedom, a five-man unit targeting auto crime, have identified the T-registered Citroen Saxo as being the car most likely
SEVEN Prince's Trust Volunteers from Burnley and Pendle will receive awards for 12 months of hard work in front of thousands of people on Saturday. The Team Five group will be presented with their final certificates at half time in the Burnley v Millwall
HUNDREDS of women in Burnley have been given dispensation from voting in person at next month's council elections -- because of the stress they would face being in close contact with male strangers at polling stations. They will, instead, be allowed either
BUSINESS people from across the North West gathered to see the first printing press of its kind in the UK unveiled at an expanding Pendle firm. The digital eight-colour press, built in Germany and then shipped over in parts to its new home at Printoff
POLICE say elderly people in the Colne area should be vigilant when drawing money from the bank, building society or post office. The warning comes after a thief attacked and robbed a 65-year-old woman in Colne town centre. Enid Lawrence, who lives locally
TWO brothers appeared before Hyndburn magistrates accused of assaulting a man they believed passed information to police. They are accused of assaulting Andrew Myerscough and smashing furniture and fittings at his home in Craven Street, Accrington, on
A CHILD will be killed on the stretch of road outside Accrington Town Hall unless speeds are cut, according to the chairman of the Hyndburn police and community forum. And Maurice Cowell, former mayor and Labour Party candidate at next month's local elections
A TROUBLED Haslingden housing estate is to get a £780,000 make-over aimed at creating a fresh future and renewed community pride. The ambitious project at West View, beset with a poor image and problems of crime and juvenile nuisance, finishes off the
RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has travelled to Brussels to lobby Euro MPs about the plight of farmers in East Lancashire. Mr Evans is delivering the message that farmers need more help as they try to cope with the deepest recession in farming for more
Detailed contract talks have been put on hold until the summer when Ternent will know which division the Clarets will be playing in and how that effects his budget. But he has informed his out-of-contract players of his plans which means that the likes
YOUNGSTERS proudly displayed their Easter bonnets during a special celebratory parade. The infant pupils at St Cuthbert's Primary School, Darwen, wore the hats at a party. A competition was held during the event for the best bonnets. Easter eggs were
A CLEAN-UP put the finishing touches to an area recently transformed with £120,000 of environmental works. Land at Shorey Bank, Darwen, has benefited from refurbished footpaths, trees and benches and repairs to the bridge. Funded by Blackburn with Darwen
THE former technical director of a successful East Lancashire company has died at his home, aged 83. Jacob Albert Franke van Dijk, of Turton, had a career with the international firm, Mullards, now Philips, which spanned nearly 40 years. A father of six
A CHALLENGE has been issued to Richard Caborn, minister for trade and industry responsible for the regions, to visit cash axed wards in Rossendale. Coun George Lee, Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Rossendale and Darwen, and a councillor
BLACKBURN Rovers star John Filan made his first public appearance for months -- and got booked. Goalkeeper John called in at St Augustine's RC High School in Billington to address 90 Year 10 pupils as part of the annual Book Week activities. The students
I AM a life-long Blackburn fan, but after reading about Burnley FC's new season ticket pricing for the under 16s at £35, I must take my hat off to them and say well done. I have a nine-year-old son who I have been taking to watch Rovers here and there
A GIANT supermarket has won its battle with a town hall over a plan to build a convenience store alongside a petrol station. Safeway had been told by Blackburn with Darwen Council it could not build a mini-supermarket along with the new petrol station
A NEW ecumenical officer for Churches Together in Lancashire (CTL) has been appointed. Mrs Terry Garley succeeds the late Rev Donald Parsons, who died last year, and will take up her post on August 1. John Hudson, chairman of CTL, said: "We are delighted
THERE were 66,000 watching Wales in a meaningless friendly. Kids tickets are selling faster than tripe down the M65 -- even if the fayre on offer is little better! So what of Ewood ? Mr Walker has stated he intends to continue to support Rovers in the
TWO young children were fighting for their lives today amid fears that they may have swallowed a drugs overdose. A one-year-old boy and three-year-old girl were taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary in the early hours of today. The children, believed to
I READ with interest Trevor Hanson's comments in Tales from the Touchline (Sport Extra, April 12) as I, too, am concerned about injuries in football, but I think that some of Trevor's remarks are misguided. As an amateur goalkeeper of renown, Trevor knows
CLITHEROE'S Kim Andrew is one of four survivors from the last Curtis Cup side to be selected for Britain and Ireland women's amateur team. They face America at Ganton on June 24-25. Seventeen-year-old Becky Brewerton will become one of the youngest players
CARL Fogarty has rediscovered his trademark fighting spirit in time for Sunday's World Superbike championship round in Australia. "I'm fired up now. Let the games begin," said the reigning world champion as he arrived in Sydney today. An injured Fogarty
Great Harwood 1 Atherton Cols 3 HARWOOD boss Denis Underwood confessed he cannot wait for the season to end after his struggling Reds slumped to a fifth successive league defeat. Another ragged display, littered with missed chances and slack defending
