JAN Playfer (Letters, August 31) complains that asylum seekers get rough treatment, being shifted around the country and are stigmatised by the voucher system. If this is correct, why is it that daily we see on the news about these people trying to get
REGARDING Hyndburn MP Greg Pope and trainers (LET, September 3), there is a time and place for everything and though Mr Pope would love to be just one of the lads, he must remember he has a role to play and trainers, or coal barges as I call them, do
YOUR headlines on pages three and five on August 31 caused me a wry smile -- the first regarding the invasion of the 'poisonous' hogweed; the second, dental problems of the young. Hogweed is not poisonous to eat. Indeed, its English name is taken from
THE European Union today mounted a major display of political and economic solidarity with America. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw flew into Brussels for emergency talks with his EU counterparts, announcing that the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington
A DAY of mourning has been declared across Europe on Friday, EU foreign ministers agreed this afternoon. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw emerged from talks with his EU counterparts urging everyone in the 15 member states to abide by a three-minute silence
A DAY of mourning has been declared across Europe on Friday, EU foreign ministers agreed this afternoon. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw emerged from talks with his EU counterparts urging everyone in the 15 member states to abide by a three-minute silence
SOUNESS today insisted his side have a duty to the fans to turn on the style in tonight's Worthington Cup clash with Oldham at Ewood. Last season, the Rovers boss admitted the competition did not feature high on his list of priorities as he looked to
SUNDERLAND fans proudly claim The Stadium of Light boasts one of the most intimidating atmospheres in the country. But by quarter past three last Saturday afternoon I can think of two words the Royle Family's Jim Royle might have had to say about that
THE next meeting of the Burnley Task Force, set up to inquire into the causes of racial disturbances in the town, will be held at the Daneshouse community centre. Daneshouse was one of the areas most seriously affected by the incidents in June, along
SURGEONS at Papworth hospital near Cambridge successfully transplanted a heart and lung into 29-year-old Ian Banham from Blackburn. Caver Mr Banham had been called by doctors and rushed to the specialist transplant unit six days earlier. He had been about
A DISABLED man was a prisoner in his own home for four days -- because the street lamps outside his house were being replaced. Work began six weeks ago to remove old-style green lamp posts and put in new slimline grey ones in Fife Street, Accrington,
THE sound of music echoed through Clitheroe when youngsters put on a show to raise money for the Chernobyl Children. 'Song and Dance for Chernobyl' was a sell-out, even before the Friday night concert at the Grand Cinema, Clitheroe and organisers even
CLITHEROE will be in full bloom next spring following a new scheme to encourage schoolchildren to become more environmentally aware. Every primary school child in the town is to be given a free hyacinth bulb. They will then be challenged to show their
COULD it be that behind the Clarets push for promotion this season is a group of men driven by the need for one last taste of success? That is not meant to be an ageist comment, but there will be a feeling among certain members of the Turf Moor camp that
ANCIENT trees in Blackburn's Cathedral Close will not be axed, we are told, so that people can get a better view of the giant and novel £100,000 'flying saucer' sculpture fixed to the Cathedral's wall last month. Fine, but we do learn that three smaller
THE £1.5million move of striker Nathan Blake from Blackburn Rovers to first division Wolves was set to be sealed tonight. Welsh international Blake travelled to Molineux this morning and he was called in for a medical this afternoon. Wolves boss Dave
A NEW bus service from Darwen bus station to Spring Vale has been set up which goes via the library and the health centre. The service, operated by J and S Travel of Darwen goes via Kay Street and Ratcliffe Street on its outward journey and via Ratcliffe
DAVID Nicol put his hand through the living room window when he saw his former girlfriend and one of his friends in her house. Blackburn magistrates heard that Nicol accused his former partner of "rubbing his face in it" before putting his hand through
A DARWEN teenager who is suffering from cancer is set to go to Disneyland next year thanks to generous local people. Cherie Lee Cox, 14, of Ellenshaw Close, suffers from a rare form of cancer and has to go to the Christie Hospital in Manchester for treatment
DARWEN Tower is set to be revamped with work on the landmark set to start later this year. A council spokesman said that strengthening work to the observation platform was due to start in November. The landmark listed structure was closed last October
FOOTWEAR workers who have completed a series of qualifications have had their hard work acknowledged. A presentation was held at The Rockcliffe Club in Bacup, when employees of E Sutton and Son, Bacup, Apex Closing, Rawtenstall, and R & W Footwear
THANKS to a family fun day in Edgeside Park on Sunday, children from Waterfoot may soon get their wish for a skateboard ramp in the park and all proceeds from the Party in the Park will go towards the cost of building it. Local children were asked by
PAUL Hargreaves attempted to appease his irate girlfriend by stealing nappies for her child and chocolates for her. But as he left a Brownhill store, Blackburn, without paying, the cashier was talking to an off-duty police officer, who gave chase and
NEIGHBOURHOOD Watch leaders have claimed a new scheme which makes the fridge the latest tool for the emergency services has proved a success beyond their wildest dreams. The Datalink scheme involves people filling in a form containing vital information
A 21-YEAR-OLD man walked down the aisles of a Blackburn shop and swept hundreds of items off the shelves and on to the floor. Blackburn magistrates heard that Anthony Michael Eastwood, fuelled by drink and drugs, then tried to smash up the computer, causing
A PORTRAIT of the 'father' of Blackburn and one of Lancashire's greatest cotton lords John Hornby, is getting a permanent home in the town's Museum and Art Gallery. The painting, by Lancashire-born artist James Lonsdale, cost £3,200 and is thought to
A COUNCIL leader's bid to open up his authority has taken a step forward with the launch of a series of advice surgeries. Coun Bill Taylor, of Blackburn with Darwen Council, will hold 'Meet the Leader' advice surgeries on Saturdays. Coun Taylor, leader
BLACKBURN'S newest and brightest radio service has received the backing of an important sector of the community -- its business people. A commercial radio station needs advertising input to survive and traders have thrown their weight behind The Burn,
BACUP Borough continued their fine away day start to the season after picking up another point at Holker Old Boys. Brent Peters side have now made it 10 out of a possible 15 points away from West View. Bacup gave former Castleton Gabriels keeper John
HIGH-flying Stand notched up their fourth successive win in the NWCL Division Two with two second half strikes. A Dave Channon own goal had given Blackpool Mechanics an opener just two minutes before half time. But Channon made amends, levelling on 54
BLACKBURN HAWKS restored East Lancashire's pride over the north east at the weekend! They succeeded where Rovers failed in taking maximum points off Sunderland in a league match. Having been spared a Saturday night in Grimsby, the Hawks kicked off their
ROSSENDALE United moved to the top of UniBond Division One with a polished performance at hard-working Workington. Jerome Fitzgerald and Craig Sargeson scored in each half as Rossendale kept up their unbeaten start to the season. Despite Dale's 5-2 win
ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman is hoping the fans will get behind his full team tonight when they take on Droylsden at the Crown Ground - even if wantaway striker Gary Williams starts. The 21-year-old has handed in a transfer request last week as
ARMED and masked raiders fled with a small amount of cash from a Bury post office. The robbers burst into the Hollins Post Office in Hollins Lane shortly before 1pm yesterday. One of the men was holding a handgun while his accomplice wielded a hammer.
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Vin Garbutt, The Met, Market Street, Bury, 8pm. Vogue, Chicago Rock Cafe, Burnley. Blackburn Flower Club, Trinity United Reformed Church, Brownhill Road, Blackburn, 7.30pm
THE comments you have received about the town centre winos in Blackburn are spot on. Yet, despite numerous complaints, they continue to make the town centre untidy and beg off anyone who will give them anything. When faced by a smelly, dribbling drunk
REGARDING your report (LET, September 4), while I understand the problems facing the leaders of the Blackburn Diocese and to some extent sympathise, I do feel that they have adopted an autocratic attitude, tinged with arrogance. We, the Patronage Trustees
GMETCALFE (Letters, August 14), is quite right in saying that hunters never eradicate vermin. What they actually do is control the numbers of foxes, hares, rabbits etc to a level that is acceptable to the farmer or landowner and so that the damage they
A BLACKBURN student is stuck in America after all planes were grounded. Paul Vaughan, 20, is staying just outside New York and was due to fly home today. Paul's dad John said he did not know when his son was expected home. John said: "I wasworried sick
AN East Lancashire woman has been frantically trying to contact friends and family she fears may have been caught up in yesterday's terrorist attacks. New Yorker Nicolette Lawson spoke today of the devastation that had hit her home city and condemned
DRASTIC security measures were in force across Britain today following the devastating terrorist attacks in the US. Government buildings, military bases and financial institutions were on red alert after yesterday's atrocities at the World Trade Centre
THE European Union today mounted a major display of political and economic solidarity with America. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw flew into Brussels for emergency talks with his EU counterparts, announcing that the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington
ONE survivor of the terrorist atrocities fled the World Trade Centre as it was hit by a hijacked airplane with his sister and young niece on board, his family revealed today. Ronnie Clifford ran for his life after the first plane struck the twin towers
THE £1.5million move of striker Nathan Blake from Blackburn Rovers to first division Wolves was set to be sealed tonight. Welsh international Blake travelled to Molineux this morning and he was called in for a medical this afternoon. Wolves boss Dave
CONCERN about Romania's poor performance on environmental issues has been expressed by Burnley MP Peter Pike. Mr Pike is chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Committee on Romania and has had links with that country for 20 years. Recently he was asked
AMBULANCE bosses launched their latest weapon in their quest to save lives - a mercy motorbike. The fast response paramedic motorcycle was to hit the streets in order to get ambulance staff to the aid of stricken patients more quickly. World Superbike
SUPPORT for local carers was up by 18 per cent in the Ribble Valley last year thanks to the area's Crossroads organisation. And the number of families helped by the organisation increased by six per cent, according to the Ribble Valley Crossroads retiring
THE chairman of Blackburn's Civic Society has called for one of East Lancashire's most famous buildings to be restored to its former glory. Doug Chadwick visited Woodford Hall with fellow members of the society as part of a Heritage Open Day, which gives
CHERRY Tree skipper David Hayes has hailed his side's Jennings Ribblesdale League title triumph as a real team effort after they destroyed Great Harwood's chances of making history. The Blackburn-based club were crowned champions for the second time in
EVER heard of a bank that won't let you pay money in -- to your own account, no less? Nor had I, until I went to my own with notes for 48,000 Italian lira -- worth about £14 -- left over from a recent trip to Rome. Sorry, they said, we won't accept the
WITH a working year only marginally shorter than that of MPs, who put in an exhausting 169 days a year, it is hardly surprising to find the teaching fraternity in East Lancashire responding to a survey with claims of depression, insomnia and mental stress
A TRIO of key Clarets continue on the comeback trail tonight in the hope of giving boss Stan Ternent a selection headache ahead of the match against Walsall on Saturday. Ian Cox, Lee Briscoe and Mitchell Thomas could all be in line to face Wrexham in
PRESTON'S season went from bad to worse after they were trounced 4-1 by Tranmere in last night's Worthington Cup second round clash. Richard Cresswell was outstanding for Preston and, although Iain Anderson and skipper Sean Gregan also had their bright
TWO special constables from Darwen were awarded a Divisional Commander's Commendation recently. Section officers Chris Aspinall and Pam Walker have worked in Darwen for a number of years. A police spokeswoman said during their duty time they had been
DARWEN artist Bob Lakey recently held an exhibition of drawings in Darwen Library and included among them were three drawings of former well-known Darweners Valderee, Billy Brennan and Bill Hunt. Mr Lakey said: "Before the exhibition this created a lot
A PLUCKY pensioner left with a broken elbow after a 'callous' daylight attack today vowed "I won't let these thugs stop me going out." Elsie Gorton,85, was thrown to the ground and suffered the fracture and bad bruising during the bag snatch. She was
THE Rev John Cree was literally sent off on his bike when parishioners bought him and his wife a cycle each as a leaving present. The gifts were presented to Mr Cree and his wife Jenny after his goodbye service at Immanuel Church, Feniscowles, on Sunday
TOBACCO-filled toothpaste and sweets are being illegally sold at shops in East Lancashire. Trading Standards chiefs revealed they have seized more than 2,000 illegal tobacco products following raids across Blackburn and Darwen. And a leading councillor
JUST when Dave Burgess thought it was safe to presume Clitheroe's season was on track . . . Clitheroe collapsed into first half chaos to slump to NWCL Division One defeat last night -- a shock result after they had scored eight goals in winning their
THIS nine goal encounter provided the neutrals with terrific entertainment but the Rams have got real problems having now conceded 13 goals in their last three games. Russell Brierley gave the NWCL Division One side a great start with a goal after just
PRESTON'S season went from bad to worse after they were trounced 4-1 by Tranmere in last night's Worthington Cup second round clash. Richard Cresswell was outstanding for Preston and, although Iain Anderson and skipper Sean Gregan also had their bright
