THE day after Boxing Day a friend of mine turned up on my doorstep and announced that there had been heavy snow above Settle but the roads were clear of traffic. Within an hour we were parked up at Langcliffe and we were trudging through the snow towards
Sandra Blayden, new director of The Samaritans for Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, wants the charity to be less insular and faceless. She spoke to PAULINE HAWKINS about her aims. ONE of the expressions used in training Samaritans in Blackburn
POLICE called to a domestic disturbance found Naveed Alam pushing his girlfriend against a fence and shouting angrily. But Blackburn magistrates were told that before the police arrived it had been the girlfriend who had been the aggressor, scratching
A DRIVER was killed today in a crash which closed a main route into Blackburn for six hours. The victim, believed to be a man, was at the wheel of a Renault Clio which burst into flames after it was in collision with a Citroen Picasso on the A677 Preston
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness has laughed off comments suggesting he could become the next manager of Manchester United. Former United boss Ron Atkinson has touted Souness as the ideal successor to Sir Alex Ferguson when the Scot steps down at the end
YOUNG midfielder Jonathan Douglas today said a heartfelt thanks to the men who have helped to save his career after finally ending his nine-month injury nightmare. The future looked bleak for the 20-year-old Irishman when he suffered a career-threatening
POLICE have appealed for witnesses after a knife-wielding attacker tried to stab a 25-year-old man in the stomach in what they said was an unprovoked attack. The incident happened last Saturday at 8pm as the victim was walking on Westgate, Burnley. He
A SHOPLIFTER who was challenged by security staff from TJ Hughes in Curzon Street, Burnley, then attempted to stab the security guard with a needle. The man had previously stolen two bottles of Calvin Klein Contradiction perfume from a shelf and had been
TOWNELEY Hall, Burnley, is looking for help from the public in putting together a military exhibition. The display will feature medals and awards from the services, and where possible, the Burnley museum want to feature a photograph of the recipient alongside
JOBS may be lost and a town faces a council tax rise due to an estimated £800,000 budget deficit. Accountants revealed that part of the shortfall is due to the fact that Burnley is the only local authority in England to receive less money from central
AN angry man who set about smashing a car with a 12-year-old boy inside, has kept his freedom. David Gregory, 25, who had earlier brandished a key ring with an imitation knife in front of the child's father, behaved totally out of character in a drunken
SHAHID Malik has been appointed by Health Secretary Alan Milburn to serve on a ten-man health policy commission. Mr Malik, 33, of Colne Road, Burnley, the son of Burnley's deputy mayor, Rafique Malik, will sit on the body charged to help set out and develop
A KNIFE-WIELDING father who attacked his wife and wrecked their house after a drinking binge avoided a jail sentence - after his victim told a judge she wanted him home. Mary Smith sobbed as she told a court she was was due to go in hospital for investigation
THE brother of a Burnley man captured fighting for the Taliban in Afghanistan has been jailed for two years for possessing a handgun. Hussain Khan, 23, told police somebody else put the Magnum pistol in the glove compartment of the car he was driving
PUPILS at Mansfield High School are being given even more chance to become technologically minded with the arrival of 45 brand new computer work stations worth £25,000. The Brierfield school has been able to increase the size of its computer network to
A PENSIONER died when she developed deep vein thrombosis after a fall at an old people's home. An inquest was told that Doris Vickers, a retired sewing machinist from Haslingden, fell at the Hilltop Home for the Elderly, in Manchester Road, Baxenden,
Sunday, January 13 BLACKBURN: 10.30am-4.30pm: Superdrugs Pharmacy, 3-7 Stonybutts; 11am-2pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road; noon-1pm: Livesey Pharmacy, 238 Livesey Branch Road. DARWEN: noon-1pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 103 Blackburn Road. ACCRINGTON: 10am
Friday, January 18 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: Moss Pharmacy, 314 Bolton Road; The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst
Wednesday, January 16 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; The Surgery (Chiropody), 132 Lammack Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: The
A HIGH ranking military officer, who encouraged hundreds of youngsters to join the army, has died. Lieutenant Colonel Edward Ashley, who lived in Chipping, was 67. A respected figure across the county, Col Ashley was commandant of the Lancashire Army
DEBT counsellors and the Samaritans today said they hope a revolutionary new money lending scheme will help to prevent tragedies after an inquest found a mother killed herself amid financial worries. The inquest heard that Helen Murphy, 42, of Mersey
CLARETS boss Stan Ternent is not surprised that his £1million striker Ian Moore has been given unstinting support by the fans. "The fans love Mooro because he always gives everything he has got," said Ternent this week after seeing his record buy score
DARWEN Heritage and Craft Centre is set to close next week -- unless a volunteer comes forward to keep it open. The centre, which is based in council-owned listing buildings in Bolton Road, has staged numerous exhibitions by local artists. Its aim is
A MULTI-million pound scheme to renew an area of Stacksteads is still to go ahead -- despite the fact no work has been carried out so far. Rossendale Borough Council agreed to invite tenders from five consultants to renew a section of Newchurch Road and
SENIOR stylist Mark Morrison proved he was a cut above the rest after he successfully gained a place on the 2002 Schwarzkopf Young Artistic Team. Mark has been working for Freddies Hair Salon, Bank Street, Rawtenstall, since he Fearns High School. He
A MULTI-million pound scheme to renew an area of Stacksteads is still planned to go ahead -- despite the fact no work has been carried out to date. Rossendale Borough Council agreed to invite tenders from five consultants to renew a section of Newchurch
PARISHIONERS prayed for 18 hours for each of five days last week in a marathon prayer-athon. Kay Street Baptist Church in Rawtenstall has 130 members, but the event united the community with other churches joining in and people submitting written prayers
A 82-YEAR-OLD widow is trying to find the sister she has been separated from since 1933. Maud Alexander Kemp, nee Skerritt, of Western Court, Stacksteads, was 13 when her mother Mina died aged 35 from septicemia shortly after giving birth to sister Jean
A MAN who posed as a police officer to get into a 86-year-old woman's flat and steal property may have struck before. Police fear it may be the second time the man has conned a pensioner. The man, who had a speech impediment, used the intercom to get
AN East Lancashire Euro MP claims that gory illustrations of the diseases caused by smoking could be put on to cigarette packets within the next year. Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies said he is pressing for a meeting with Health Secretary Alan Milburn
A WOMAN claims dog-nappers may have taken her sister's pet puppy after it escaped from a back garden. Barbara Hogan let six-month-old Jack out to play in the garden of her home in Ramsgreave Drive, Blackburn. But when she went to let him back in ten minutes
CHORLEY Lynx go searching for their second victory of the season tomorrow when they entertain Swinton Lions at Victory Park, kick off 3pm. Last weekend's match at Hunslet fell foul of the weather so new loan signing Leroy Rivett will make his debut against
BLACKBURN Hawks face a tough double header this weekend, as they entertain the Bradford Bulldogs tonight before heading off for an English Cup clash with table toppers Whitley Warriors 24 hours later. And they'll be feeling far from confident after last
SUNDAY Church of the Good Shepherd walk -- Bold Venture Park for Darwen Tower and Tockholes (7 miles B). Leader B Strahan. Meet church hall, Blackburn, 11.15am. Burnley Pantomime Society presents Aladdin, Mechanics Theatre, Burnley, noon, 4pm and 7.15pm
The Saturday Message, this week with the Rev JOHN CREE, Rector of Chorley I DON'T know why, but I just can't do it. I know that every child over four-years-old can. But I can't. I will just have to wait for my daughter to come and rescue me. I am sure
This week, CHARLOTTE DAVIES, 18, of Blackburn, performing arts student MEMORY: Falling out of my cot when we were in Malta and banging my head on the floor when I was about two. I rocked the cot that much I fell out. JOB: Working in a hairdresser's --
This week, top funnyman KEN DODD says, 'Blackpool belongs to me' I'M greedy because I love all of Lancashire. No matter where I am in the country I try to get home to Knotty Ash after every show. I don't mind visiting other counties, but I prefer to wake
THE recent news that an enterprising employer has been luring teenagers away from studies with the offer of £3 an hour earnings has relaunched the entire debate on pupils and part-time jobs. Should parents refuse to allow or encourage their youngsters
LINDSAY Hoyle has joined a last ditch Parliamentary attempt to persuade BAE Systems to abandon plans to close its Royal Ordnance Factory in Blackburn and sell another at Euxton in his Chorley constituency. The Labour MP has joined more than a dozen others
FOREIGN Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw has officially opened the first International Aid Trust charity shop in Blackburn. The shop, at 80 New Chapel Street, Mill Hill is one of a growing network established by the charity which carries out humanitarian
ALMOST £3,000 of heroin has been recovered by police after a "high speed chase" along the M6 ended in a crash. A Nelson man was arrested following the incident on the northbound carriageway of the motorway. Officers said they were about to check a Nissan
A PERVERT who forced his young victim to write out sexual promises before subjecting her to horrific abuse has been jailed for six years. Computer engineer Neil Anthony Pimblett, of Merchant's Quay, Blackburn, carried out a catalogue of abuse on the nine-year-old
POLICE in Burnley today vowed to hunt down missing suspects in the area and make them face their day in court after no one gave themselves up in a leniency deal. Extra officers have been drafted into the area to track down around 30 people who have missed
EAST Lancashire Labour MP Gordon Prentice has attacked his own government's "corrupting'' proposals for a largely appointed replacement for the House of Lords. Instead he has told Leader of the Commons Robin Cook that there must be a small, largely or
POLICE hunting robbers who stole money from security guards filling a cash machine in Burnley are appealing for people in Colne for help. The raid took place as the guards from Securicor were filling the machine at 10.10pm on Tuesday at the new Spar Shop
A TROUBLED father of two who subjected a young mother to midnight terror after bursting into her Oswaldtwistle home is still awaiting sentence. Andrew Roberts, 39, had his case adjourned until March 22 for the defence to obtain a psychiatric report. Judge
A BUILDER who suffered brain injuries after a major road accident more than 10 years ago is just a hop, a skip and a jump away from helping other victims. Darren Helm, a self-employed builder working in Accrington, was involved in a road accident in September
RESIDENTS whose homes are in line for a major transformation under a regeneration project are set to view the end result of a similar scheme. The ambitious regeneration scheme for the Lower Antley area of Accrington could see dramatic changes with a state-of-the-art
Thursday, January 17 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohens Chemist, 63 Whalley Range; To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 6.30pm: Donald Wood Ltd, 53 Fishmoor Drive
Monday, January 14 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: Moss Pharmacy, 314 Bolton Road; The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst
Tuesday, January 15 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst Road; Geloo Bros, Cleaver
CLARETS striker Andy Payton is looking at up to two months out of action. Payton sustained a leg wound in Burnley reserves' 1-1 home draw with Tranmere Rovers in their Avon Insurance League Premier Division clash on Wednesday night. The challenge with
BURNLEY are set to be without striker Dimitrios Papadopoulos for their fourth round FA Cup tie against third division Cheltenham. The Greek under-21 has been called up for an international friendly against Portugal to be played in the week prior to the
SHEFKI KUQI'S arrival at Sheffield Wednesday is unlikely to prompt Gerald Sibon's departure to Turf Moor. Clarets boss Stan Ternent is believed to have bid in the region of £500,000 for Stockport County striker Kuqi, but the Finnish international joined
PRESTON boss David Moyes is mulling over a swoop for Blackburn midfielder Damien Johnson. As I understand it, the North End chief is keen on the Northern Ireland international after watching him in action for the reserves recently. But any hopes of a
BURY chairman Terry Robinson has challenged fans to show how much they want a football club in the town. The Gigg Lane supremo has urged people in the town to come on down to back the team in Tuesday night's Second Division clash with Huddersfield Town
"THE name's Bond....James Bond....and I'd like to thank the people of Darwen for keeping 007 on the road for my next blockbuster movie." Strange - but true. For key components for the 190mph Aston Martin Vanquish supercar have been designed and manufactured
A CONTRACTOR removing a steel tank from a loft in a former vicarage stood on a rotten joist and fell 10ft to the floor below. Nigel Jenkins, 48, was working for contractors who were carrying out the work at the property in Manchester Road, Haslingden,
A TEENAGER who was found lying in a pool of blood after being shot in the head has died in hospital. Today police, who have already charged a man with attempted murder, were considering further charges. Anthony James Rigby, 18, was discovered at his flat
THE NFU today warned farmers in Lancashire that they have only one more month in which to study the draft map of 'open country' and get comments back to the Countryside Agency. The deadline for comments is February 11. David Collier, the NFU's Regional
A BAR worker at a Blackburn club was punched in the face by a man who had earlier argued with committee members. Tina Jones, 23, had gone to call a taxi, having completed her shift, when the violence occurred at Audley Working Men's Club. Her attacker
POLICE are investigating a suspicious fire which destroyed a Chorley discount store in the early hours of yesterday. Firefighters were called to tackle the blaze, which quickly spread throughout Sandy's Discount Store in Ackhurst Road, Common Bank Industrial
A COUNCILLOR who spent £200 tackling Blackburn's slippery side streets with his very own "grit wagon" is campaigning for more salt bins to prevent casualties. Audley councillor Hussain Akhtar dug deep into his own pocket, during the Christmas grit crisis
AY caramba.....children in Lancashire could soon be travelling to school Bart Simpson-style! Lancashire County Council is considering bringing in yellow school buses to improve transport for children. Education chiefs hope the buses will cut vandalism
A COUPLE have spoken about the heartbreaking decision to take their 11-month-old daughter off a ventilator so they could hold her in their arms as she died. Robert and Charlotte Smallwood, of Ailsa Road, Shadsworth, Blackburn, had hoped to give Kathryn
A PIECE of Blackburn's past will be consigned to the history books when demolition teams move in to raze the oldest piece of the town's former workhouse to the ground. The Victorian buildings at Queen's Park Hospital, which date back to 1881, are being
A RAMSBOTTOM man is spearheading a £600,000 investment in national radio in the north of England. Ian Bent has put together a team of radio journalists, producers and editors at Manchester's Broadcasting House to boost Northern input on both BBC Radio
