Blackburn Drama Club present "Shakers," College Theatre, Blackburn, 8pm. Praise Party, St Barnabas Church, 85 Johnson Street, Blackburn, 7.30pm. "Spot's Birthday Party," Charter Theatre, Preston, 10am and 4pm. "Eating Lemons" and "The Fox," presenting
BANK staff held their first charity dinner dance to help raise cash for two hospices. More than 100 staff from 13 NatWest branches around East Lancashire and Preston attended the dinner at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors. Mikki Greenbank, of the
A MAY queen was crowned at an East Lancashire village before traditional May Day celebrations. Six-year-old Dominique Smith, of Belthorn, was crowned with a floral wreath before a parade through Belthorn, near Blackburn, and dancing round the maypole
IT is not often that repairs to public highways are praised, but credit where it is due. On Tuesday, April, 25, I informed the appropriate department at 12.30pm to replace a grid on a grate that was missing. Workmen came at 2.50pm. Well done. SHEILA BRENNAN
I AM appealing to readers to take the plunge and participate in the Sharron Davies Mile Swim Challenge from May 14-28. The traget is a mile, done in one or several attempts, individually or as part of a team. The event is to raise funds for the Imperial
I AM a representative for the registered charity BLISS -- Baby Life Support Systems. These systems are incubator units and associated equipment needed to save the lives of premature and sick newborn babies. I am running nationwide sponsored parachute
REGARDING my earlier remarks about paying for the asylum seekers coming to Blackburn and Darwen, Andrew Lain (Letters, April 21) asked what right I had to comment as a Ribble Valley council taxpayer. For his information, my husband runs a business in
I AM trying to locate the burial place of my relative Annie Mottershaw, of 8 Winter Street, Blackburn, who died, aged 20, on December 1, 1942, at Park Lee Hospital, Blackburn, which was called the Corporation Hospital at the time. According to her obituary
EMERGENCY workers had to rescue an 86-year-old woman from her home after young thugs set the flat on fire. The woman, believed to be blind, had to be persuaded to leave by ambulance crews even though flames were spreading through the property. The attack
A LABOUR boss today called for the resignation of Burnley councillor and magistrate Arif Khan as a new proxy vote row erupted on election day. Daneshouse candidate Rafique Malik said LibDem ward rival Coun Khan should go after it emerged his mother and
ROVERS RES 1 EVERTON RES 4 FIERY Everton striker Francis Jeffers sparked a three-goal blitz inside six second half minutes to sink Rovers in their final league game of the season last night. Ian Miller's men were in full control until Jeffers pounced
Brothers Nathan and Adam Matthews won prizes in a decorated Easter egg competition at Burnley Asda store. Eight-year-old Nathan, and Adam, 10, were top in their age groups and won £10 vouchers and an Easter egg each. Winner of the under fives group was
A MAN made late night phone calls to his ex-girlfriend telling her she needed a good hiding and branding her a "bitch". Defence solicitor Graeme Tindall told Burnley magistrates Paul Hendrik Thompson, 41 had a history of psychiatric problems and had not
COMPANY director Brian John Collins died after collapsing at the wheel of his car. Mr Collins, 58, of Rudyard Drive, Darwen, was found to be dead on arrival at Burnley General Hospital after a three-car accident in North Valley Road, Colne, on March 13
SOCIAL security minister Jeff Rooker was quizzed for more than an hour on issues facing pensioners yesterday. Around 30 pensioners attended the public meeting at Fairfield Street Community Centre, Accrington, and asked questions on subjects ranging from
POLICE have launched a hunt for three thieves who were foiled in their bid to steal clothes from a popular factory outlet store. The shoplifting trio -- one white man and two Asians -- were chased out of the Karrimor factory outlet store on the Clayton
A BLACKBURN mosque has gone online. Masjid-e-Zainabia's website includes information about events and the mosque as well as details of places of Islamic interest around the world. http://www.masjidezainabia.org
THE Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley branch of Friends of the Earth has launched its own website. The site contains details of the group's local campaigns, as well as discussion of some wider global issues, such as GM foods. And there is information
FOOTBALL fans can snap up a piece of memorabilia and raise money for good causes through a new online auction. The auction is offering a range of Manchester United and Manchester City goodies. Cash raised from the auction will be split between the Christie
UPWARDLY mobile Burnley have launched The Clarets Foundation which they hope will raise £2 million and help establish the club in Division One. The scheme was unveiled at Turf Moor last night by chairman Barry Kilby, manager Stan Ternent and captain Steve
COMPUTER game retailer Electronics Boutique blamed a price war for sliding profits. The firm, which owns two shops in Blackburn and one in Burnley, saw pre-tax profits fall to £2.8million for the year ending January 31 compared with £15.3million last
PARENTS have the chance to fire questions at senior education chiefs and county councillors at face-to-face meetings in the coming weeks. The local education authority has issued an invitation to anyone who wants to know more about the issues surrounding
THE search is on to find Lancashire's Woman of the Year. Barnardo's is looking for a special woman -- who could be a dedicated neighbour, wonderful mum, devoted carer, or someone who has shown great bravery or triumphed over adversity, or a super sportswoman
FINANCE expert Sue Counsell will add up three sets of figures and hope they total 11,176 feet. Sue, of Heyworth Avenue, Blackburn, is member of a team taking on the Three Peaks Challenge next month, which involves scaling Ben Nevis, 4,406ft; Snowdon,
A POST-NATAL support group has won a commendation for its work to improve the health and well-being of mums and babies. Doctors Mary Belshaw, David Gebbie and Katherine Burn, at whose Blackburn surgery the group meets, and health visitor Kath Thomson
EAST Lancashire MP Peter Pike has warned ministers not to take any steps to merge two community health councils into a single body. He has told them that it is vital that they "remain local and do not become remote." The Labour backbencher successfully
BLACKBURN schoolgirl Rachel Cotton enjoyed a VIP trip to London as part of a national competition run by the Disney Channel. Rachel, 13, was among 17 winners in the cable television station's Incredible Story Studio competition which involved more than
EMERGENCY workers had to rescue an 86-year-old woman from her home after young thugs set the flat on fire. The woman, believed to be blind, had to be persuaded to leave by ambulance crews even though flames were spreading through the property. The attack
CARL Fogarty has been ruled out of racing for another two months. The World Superbike champion was told the devastating news by a specialist, who examined his fractured arm in Oxford yesterday. That means the earliest he could race would be at Laguna
GREAT Harwood have confirmed the appointment of Lancashire batsman Mark Harvey as their new professional after cancelling the contract of Indian Ashu Dani. Dani failed to arrive in the country yesterday so the Cliffe Park club moved quickly to appoint
SPRING was in the air for members of Blackburn Artists' Society. Mayor of Blackburn Coun Salas Kiani was guest of honour at the artists' spring millennium exhibition at St Gabriel's Church, Brownhill Drive. Artists and members of the public gathered to
SOLDIERS swapped their bayonets for a beer barrel to help the disabled. Three volunteers from the Army teamed up with Blackburn sales manager Dave Murray to take part in a challenge to launch Independence Week which starts on Saturday. The week is an
I AM trying to trace former students of Sedgley Park Teacher Training College, Manchester, who attended from 1962-65. We are holding a grand millennium reunion next month and would like to invite as many as possible to attend. For further details please
THANKS once again for the interesting opinion expressed by your inimitable John Blunt in his column regarding the public art scheme at Blackburn Cathedral (LET, April 19). We realise that Mr Blunt is not a supporter of public art, not, it would seem,
A FORMER St Mary's College student is busy raising money for a six-week conservation visit to coral reef pollution in Indonesia. Angela Louise Hosford (pictured), who lives in the Manchester Road area of Burnley, is in her second year at Birmingham University
TROUBLE-torn residents have handed police photographs of a gang who have plagued their neighbourhood and made their lives a misery. Angry householders from the Abel Street and Evelyn Street area of Burnley won a promise of swift police action after they
A TEENAGER who had been driving for less than four months lost control on a notorious bend and collided with an oncoming car, killing the 86-year-old passenger. An inquest heard that Andrew Sunderland, 17, was towing a twin axle trailer, and he had only
HUNDREDS of youngsters were kept on their toes when they took part in the Blackburn Festival of Speech, Music and Dance. The boys and girls competed on the second day of the popular festival at Darwen's Library Theatre. The festival, which attracted entries
BANK staff held their first charity dinner dance to help raise cash for two hospices. More than 100 staff from 13 NatWest branches around East Lancashire and Preston attended the dinner at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors. Mikki Greenbank, of the
CHILDREN'S favourite Harry Potter is coming to the big screen in a film version of one of J K Rowling's tales. Fans can follow the film's progress through the official movie website. There's not much there at the moment but it promises to be first with
CRIME and disorder groups met up for an informal reception at Ribble Valley Council chamber. Hosted by the mayor, Coun Brian Collis, it was attended by more than 50 people charged with scrutinising the borough's crime hot-spots and suggesting new strategies
THERE are few things more annoying in internet life than waiting ages for images to appear, or a file to download, when you are paying the phone bill for your net access. Staring at a half-empty screen, thinking of the cash it's costing you could be a
UPWARDLY mobile Burnley have launched The Clarets Foundation which they hope will raise £2 million and help establish the club in Division One. The scheme was unveiled at Turf Moor last night by chairman Barry Kilby, manager Stan Ternent and captain Steve
A HEADTEACHER from Rossendale today launched an attack on the Ofsted system of naming and shaming schools, which he said created an "unhealthy climate of fear". Clive Taylor, head of Waterfoot Primary, slammed the current inspection framework as ludicrous
WHEN you think of garlic mushrooms you invariably think of mushrooms coated in breadcrumbs served with a garlic mayonnaise dip. Well think again. How does this compare? Whole button mushrooms sauteed in roast garlic stock with the addition of double cream
A FAMILY have paid tribute to a 'Good Samaritan' neighbour who stopped their home from being destroyed in a blaze. Taxi driver Dave Kirkby came to the rescue following a fire in the home of his neighbour Linda Logan. Linda, 50, lives at Park Place, Redlam
A FAMILY have paid tribute to a 'Good Samaritan' neighbour who stopped their home from being destroyed in a blaze. Taxi driver Dave Kirkby came to the rescue following a fire in the home of his neighbour Linda Logan. Linda, 50, lives at Park Place, Redlam
LANCASHIRE are finally up and running in the 2000 Championship -- thanks to a superb bowling performance by Peter Martin. After failing to take a single bonus point from their rain-ruined opening match against Kent in Canterbury, Lancashire claimed maximum
CLAIRE Blackshaw rolled back the years to clinch the Lancashire Women's County Championship for the second time in her career at Formby last weekend. And now the Blackburn member has set her sights on the Northern Counties Team Championships as Lancashire
A RARE conjunction of the planets tomorrow has put astrologers and soothsayers in dread of an awful event. But it is the alignment today of England's voters in three separate spheres -- the council elections, the vote for London's mayor and assembly and
A BLACKBURN school is looking at how it can cut its energy bills as part of a major environmental project. Students at Queens Park High School have been monitoring energy efficiency in their classrooms. The scheme was set up with the Esso Young Energy
ROMAN Catholic Benedictine monks from the new Monastery of St Benedict, Bamber Bridge will sing the Magnificat and Nunc Dimitis during a special millennium celebration. 'That's the Spirit!' will be held at Preston North End's Deepdale stadium on Pentecost
WE want to hear from any young ladies who have a good sense of humour as we are currently serving in Kosovo and need cheering up. Drop us a line, please. All the boys of the SQMS Dept, 6 UK Log Regt, ECH Sqn, Op Agricola, BFPO 555.
BLACKBURN Rovers midfielder Garry Flitcroft today reaffirmed his commitment to the club ahead of Sunday's crucial clash against his old club Manchester City. The tough-tackling 27-year-old has been touted as a possible transfer target for the Maine Road
YOUNGSTERS at Burnley General Hospital received a visit from a Molennium Mole. The Lancashire Waste Awareness Campaign Mascot visited the Children's Outpatients department and Children's Wards to raise awareness on waste and recycling. Winners of a waste
A LABOUR boss today called for the resignation of Burnley councillor and magistrate Arif Khan as a new proxy vote row erupted on election day. Daneshouse candidate Rafique Malik said LibDem ward rival Coun Khan should go after it emerged his mother and
HEAD teachers will go on patrol with the police as part of a crackdown on under-age drinking in Pendle this summer. Operation Flock will be launched at the weekend in a high-profile drive to tackle the problems of young drinkers and juvenile nuisance.
TORIES counted the cost at town hall elections throughout East Lancashire as Labour and Liberal Democrats cashed in on the anti-Government backlash. Tories lost control of formerly "true blue" Ribble Valley, grabbing the same number of seats as Liberal
THE Mayor of Hyndburn, Coun Bernard Dawson, is pictured getting into the spirit of Rishton's May Day activities, helping little Christopher Eddlestone make a mask. Residents enjoyed the sunshine and took part in dozens of events in the community gardens
Mums were on parade when a church held it's Mothers' Union Deanery Festival. St John's Church, Accrington, was the venue for the festival. Pictured are (from the left), diocesan president Brenda Entwistle, Helen Barrett, standard bearer, Brenda Owens,
THE Soroptimists International of Rishton and Great Harwood installed Dr Pam Russo as their new president at a dinner held at the Old Post House, Clitheroe. Her chosen charities for the year are Breakthrough for Breast Cancer, The Milk Run, The East Lancashire
Tennis player Martina Hingis has turned her attention from one kind of net to the other! The Czech-born star has launched her own official website, with plenty of information for fans. http://www.martinahingis.com/
THE woman who has got electors to polling stations across the Ribble Valley for the past 11 years has decided to retire. Kathleen Law, elections and licensing officer for Ribble Valley Borough Council, is taking early retirement because of osteoarthritis
UNLESS you are famous -- or infamous -- for something, you are not likely to ever be interviewed by a journalist. Not unless Tom Mangan's got your e-mail address, that is. Tom has spent the last couple of years interviewing people from all walks of life
STEVE Davis has seen it all before as a Burnley player. He was at Turf Moor the last time the Clarets made it into Division One six years ago. But he admits it's different this time around and with the club on the crest of a wave, will do everything in
MEMBERS of one of East Lancashire's oldest rambling clubs are sharing their experiences to celebrate the millennium. Spring Vale Rambling Class, which was set up in Darwen 105 years ago, has put together a booklet called Rambler's Gems. The publication
PASTRY CASE THESE can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container for up to four days and simply reheated in a hot oven in minutes. Buy a good quality frozen pastry. Roll out 4mm thick and cut into 4cm squares Brush with egg wash (beaten egg
TREATMENT for cancer patients in East Lancashire looks set to be extended. Chemotherapy for lung and haemotological cancers is already being carried out at hospitals in Blackburn and Burnley to prevent patients having to travel to Preston. Now a joint
A NEW face has joined the team of fund-raisers set to make East Lancashire Hospice's new day care centre a runaway success. Professional fund-raiser Stuart Andrew, 28, has already shown what he can do by raising £500,000 for the Hope House children's
