Archive

  • EVENTS taking place in East Lancashire on Tuesday, July 2

    A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Blackburn Breast Care Support Group, Beardwood Hospital, Preston New Road, Blackburn, 7pm-9pm. Summer Party Night with Strawberries and Cream. Breast Care Nurse in attendance

  • Service is rewarded

    MORE than 150 Mothers' Union members attended their annual Deanery Festival in St Gabriel's Church, Brownhill, Blackburn, when banners from 11 branches were paraded. Long service awards were presented to three ladies for 50 years' service and 11 ladies

  • Schools offer fun

    YOUNGSTERS in Mellor are being offered the chance to take part in a series of summer schools during August. The events will be at Mellor Village Hall from 8.30am to 5.30pm and are open to children from four to 12. A range of activities will be on offer

  • Car pantomime in town centre

    ABOUT the wonderful pedestrianised Church Street in Blackburn -- or so we are brainwashed into thinking -- despite it enraging our own market people, who, incidentally, are charged top-price rents, we are getting a French market there, that is, if there

  • Bus corridor improvements

    ROAD works are underway as part of a project to improve the Leigh to Bolton Bus Corridor. Temporary traffic signals are in place during off peak times on Leigh Road and Kirkhall Lane in Leigh while work is carried out on parts of the footway and carriageway

  • Sex shop 'drug promotion' anger

    POLICE today claimed they could lose the battle to keep some youngsters off drugs after accusing a town centre shop of promoting cannabis. But council bosses fear they are powerless to stop the transformation of the business, which had previously been

  • All over, but I can't wait for 2006

    SO that is it, it's all over for another four years. The best team won and we can't always say that so no matter what weaknesses there have been, it has not been a bad World Cup. But what a finish -- the best keeper in the tournament makes a tragic error

  • Dwight still all right

    ROVERS are still keeping a close eye on Dwight Yorke's situation at Manchester United. Manager Graeme Souness would like to add the Trinidad and Tobago international to his squad for next season but no deal is imminent.

  • Ewood pair to be honoured

    BLACKBURN Rovers duo Hakan Unsal and Tugay are to be featured on a specially commissioned statue to commemorate the achievements of Turkey's World Cup squad. The Turkish government are planning to erect the work in their main parliament building in Istanbul

  • Henning is happy to stay

    BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness has made his third 'signing' of the summer after Henning Berg finally agreed to put pen to paper on a new one-year contract extension over the weekend. Norwegian international Berg had been mulling over his future for some

  • Reward awaits for Souness

    BLACKBURN Rovers have opened talks with Graeme Souness about a lucrative new three-year deal. As we revealed at the back end of last season, the club had always planned to reward the highly-rated Scot with a new contract offer during the summer following

  • Mother thanks woman who helped to save family

    A RELIEVED mother-of-two today praised her next-door-neighbour for waking her family as fire took hold of their house. Lorna Porter, of Emily Street, Burnley, was awoken when neighbour Nicola Burnley banged on her door at about 11.30 last night. Nicola

  • Froth going out of country pub trade

    PUB landlords in a country village today warned people against going into the licensed trade. The warning came after the British Beer and Pub Association revealed how the number of country pubs had almost halved in recent years. In Cliviger, some of the

  • They're stars of the future

    WOULD-BE stars of the future took to the stage in Nelson town centre to perform in a talent show. It was the fifth time the Starquest Talent Competition has been held on a stage in the Place de Creil. Organiser Isobel Davies said: "The winner of the under

  • Police find 'drugs farm'

    POLICE discovered a cannabis farm with up to 100 plants in a house in Brierfield while carrying out raids over the weekend. Eight people were arrested by police who were executing warrants on homes in the Nelson and Brierfield area on Friday, Saturday

  • MP's plea for more funding

    PENDLE'S Labour MP Gordon Prentice has told Tony Blair to make further education a priority. He made the demand at a meeting of the Labour Party's parliamentary committee, of which he is a member, with the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street. He tackled

  • Towneley - a park for all!

    ONE hundred years ago today on June 28, 1902, Towneley Park was opened to the public at a ceremony in front of the hall by Margaret Thornber - the 18 year-old daughter of the Mayor Thomas Thornber. Thomas Thornber was due to open Towneley Park but was

  • Brothers jailed over row on party music

    TWO brothers were jailed after trouble involving a journalist who complained to police about loud music at a party. Andrew Belshaw, 35, was sent to jail for 12 months after attacking former Foreign Office employee Anthony Bell and Stephen Belshaw, 31,

  • Mum's nightmare of boy's stabbing

    A DISTRAUGHT mother today relived her worst nightmare as she revealed a knife slasher had left her teenage son scarred for life. Lee Myers, 18, of Blakeley Crescent, Barnoldswick, has undergone plastic surgery. He was cut from cheek to cheek after a row

  • Ten years ago

    SHOPS in Rishton centre were left without water after a burst main forced the closure of High Street. North West Water said the burst, near the junction of Harwood Road was caused by a sudden surge in pressure.

  • Freedom day honours the Pals

    HUNDREDS of people lined the streets to watch the Freedom of the Borough ceremony in honour of the Accrington Pals. Four hundred soldiers from the Queen's Lancashire Regiment brought Accrington to a standstill on Saturday lunchtime as they marched around

  • Axe hangs over smelly shelter

    A BUS shelter used more as a makeshift toilet could be demolished in an effort to wipe out anti-social behaviour. The shelter, on Sparth Road, Clayton-le-Moors, was made redundant when Lancashire County Council moved back the junction line to make it

  • Mark spearheads cash drive

    THE new development director at Stonyhurst College wants to make more assisted places available to local youngsters. The college has appointed 52-year-old Mark Leslie to spearhead a drive to raise funds for major development projects. The independent

  • Blake's raring to go!

    BURNLEY striker Robbie Blake is raring to go for the new season after making an early return to training following summer surgery. The 26-year-old had a hernia operation at the end of last season and said: "I'm just looking to get some extra training

  • Colne's stand-in makes mark

    STAND-IN substitute professional Adnam Malik claimed a notable first scalp with just his third ball in Transco Lancashire League cricket to suggest that Colne may have unearthed a hidden talent. The Karachi youngster was given an 11th-hour call-up by

  • Barlick thank Peake again

    AUSTRALIAN professional Clinton Peake helped Barnoldswick stretch their lead at the top of the Jennings Ribblesdale League. The spin-bowler scored 76 with the bat and was backed up by Paul Beech with a half century as they set Baxenden a target of 198

  • Reward awaits for Souness

    BLACKBURN Rovers have opened talks with Graeme Souness about a lucrative new three-year deal. As we revealed at the back end of last season, the club had always planned to reward the highly-rated Scot with a new contract offer during the summer following

  • It's Brazil, for the fifth time

    THE world's best keeper made the catastrophic mistake which allowed the world's best striker to score the goal which put Brazil on their way to a record-breaking five World Cup triumphs. Germany's Oliver Kahn spilled a relatively simple shot from Rivaldo

  • Villagers walk into the past

    PARISHIONERS stepped back in time to the Victorian era to process through the village of Helmshore to mark their church's 150th anniversary. The parade of 30 people dressed in Victorian outfits left the vicarage for a Victorian tea party and an evensong

  • Agony, but I loved Lads' Army

    A DARWEN man is putting his flat feet up in bed after nearly crippling himself in front of six million people on ITV1's Lads' Army show. Viewers saw Jamie Dodd, 23, of Earnsdale Avenue, Sunnyhurst, leaving the Gosport barracks in tears of agony and regret

  • Driver trapped after crash

    FIRE crews from Haslingden and Rawtenstall were called to a head-on crash between a pickup van and a car on the Grane Road yesterday which left one driver trapped. The accident, near the Grey Mare Pub at 9.08am, resulted in the road being closed for 30

  • Arson woman waits for help

    A 54-YEAR-OLD woman who threatened to burn down her home with herself in it, is still awaiting sentence. Pauline Nield had been due to hear her fate at Burnley Crown Court but medical help had not been forthcoming. Judge David Pirie adjourned her case

  • Woman aged 73 died after fall in hospital

    AN inquest into the death of a 73-year-old Rossendale woman who died in hospital was opened and adjourned for further inquiries. Roseanne Naylor, of Heightside House Nursing Home, Newchurch, died on June 24 in Burnley General Hospital. She was admitted

  • Poster backing for Safer Streets drive

    A POSTER campaign has been launched to back the £1million police safer streets in Lancashire initiative. The double-sided posters have a dual purpose with a warning to offenders that both the police and courts are united in the fight against street crime

  • Jealous addict in death threats

    A MIDDLE-aged amphetamine addict threatened to kill his partner when he believed she had left him for another man. Burnley Crown Court heard how Michael Ragnor, 48, who also abused drink, had a knife on him when later stopped by police. The defendant,

  • Computer boost

    ORGANISATIONS in Blackburn, Darwen and Bacup have been given internet-ready computers as part of a BT-sponsored scheme. BT Community Connections aims to connect local groups to the web and encourage them to use technology to help improve community life

  • Labour big names will salute Baroness Castle

    SENIOR Labour party figures, possibly including the Prime Minister, will celebrate the life of former Blackburn MP Barbara Castle at Westminster on Tuesday, July 9. A special non-religious commemoration of the former cabinet minister who died this year

  • Inland Revenue fines may be 'wrong'

    TAXPAYERS in East Lancashire may be due for a refund on penalties charged by the Inland Revenue because mistakes have lead to people being wrongly fined. Penalties are imposed on taxpayers who do not submit their self-assessment returns by the January

  • Orbital route work due to get into gear

    WORK was due to begin today on the £2.5million missing link in Blackburn's orbital route. At a cost of £5,000 a metre, opposition councillors had claimed the road was too expensive. But council leaders at Blackburn with Darwen insist the road extension

  • Councillor calls for action on former bleach works

    A COUNCILLOR is calling for a former bleach works to be pulled down after asbestos was discovered in the disused building. Environmental health bosses were forced to fence off the former bleach works in Whitebirk Road in Blackburn on Friday after brown

  • Harwood triumphs

    BLACKBURN'S Anthony Harwood won the Revidge Trophy on his home course yesterday. Burnley's Anthony Keenan finished second in the Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit event. Harwood will be hoping to repeat his success in this Saturday's Wilpshire Trophy

  • Parents' guide to...Reforms

    SCHOOLS are set to be told to ask their pupils what they think about issues such as the style of their uniforms and the state of their playing fields. Primaries and secondaries will be legally obliged to consult children if an amendment to the Education

  • Our School... Barden High, Burnley

    SCHOOL REPORT: Motto - Achievement Through Caring and Partnership. Our mission is to strive constantly to create, for our pupils, a caring environment in which high standards of academic achievement and growing social awareness, supported by a partnership

  • Claire takes the record

    THE new president of Bury Lions is the youngest ever in the history of the worldwide movement to hold the title. And 20-year-old Claire Bentley has also notched up another important first. For she's the first-ever female to hold the presidency of the

  • EVENTS taking place on Monday, July 1

    A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. MONDAY Sports Personalities Exhibition, Mid Pennine Arts Gallery, Yorke Street, Burnley. Until July 20. Yoga, Chipping Village Hall, 7pm-9pm. "First Time" -- musical,

  • Pals honour long overdue

    THE battle honours that proudly adorn the colours of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment cannot be matched by another regiment in the entire Army. But none speaks more eloquently of courage and selfless sacrifice than the one that commemorates the Battle

  • Only drinkers can save pubs

    AMID disturbing decline in rural pubs, landlords in a country village today warned would-be licensees against going into the trade. The caution came from Cliviger. There, though some of its seven pubs are thriving and drawing in outsiders, others are

  • Thanks for your best wishes

    I WOULD like to thank all my colleagues at Blackburn Infirmary, patients past and present, family and friends for their cards and expressions of congratulations on my being awarded the M.B.E. Thanks also to Margaret Laycock and Maxine Gardiner. GLORIA

  • Give honours to 'real' people

    REGARDING the Queen's Honours list, I wondered if we could recommend some people in the real world. For example, a choice I would make would be foster mums who sometimes foster 50 or even 100 children. I am sure readers could think of other good people

  • Raise standards, don't lower them

    REGARDING Hyndburn Council's dress code, good for Councillor Peter Clarke (Letters, June 19). The leader of the council should be ashamed of himself for attempting to lower standards of dress. No wonder we have a lack of discipline and pride in the area

  • 'Little brother' makes bid for independence

    OVER the last 18 months, I have spoken to my MP Janet Anderson, council leader Bill Taylor, Sunnyhurst ward councillor Dave Smith and numerous other councillors and officials charged with running the borough of Blackburn with Darwen and have asked them

  • Daniel's legacy of life

    THE parents of a young man who died after a freak road accident today revealed they had released his organs to help others. Daniel Thompson, who worked as a HGV mechanic in Blackburn, was thrown from a Land Rover Discovery as he returned with friends

  • Haven is hell for Terzis

    Whitehaven Warriors 13, Leigh Centurions 12 by Mike Hulme THE Centurions are convinced that a touch judges error cost them two vital points in Cumbria yesterday. With 12 minutes left Leigh looked to have secured a priceless victory when winger Mark McCully

  • Ewood pair to be honoured

    BLACKBURN Rovers duo Hakan Unsal and Tugay are to be featured on a specially commissioned statue to commemorate the achievements of Turkey's World Cup squad. The Turkish government are planning to erect the work in their main parliament building in Istanbul

  • Turkey take third place

    HAKAN Sukur scored the fastest goal in World Cup history as Turkey finished in third place after a 3-2 victory over co-host South Korea. Sukur, who had failed to score in Turkey's previous six matches in the tournament, netted the goal just 10.8 seconds

  • Braziliant from South Americans

    RONALDO scored two second half goals as Brazil won the 2002 World Cup with a 2-0 triumph over Germany. Brazil, the only nation to qualify for all 17 tournaments, improved upon its own record haul by winning a fifth World Cup title. "I feel happiness and

  • Trust praise for equality scheme

    AN equality scheme has been introduced by Burnley Health Care NHS Trust to improve equal opportunities and promote good relations between people of different ethnic groups. The trust has already achieved much in this area including being awarded Investors

  • Spar shop offers Post Office service

    THE relocation of Harle Syke's Post Office into the Spar shop from September has been welcomed by Burnley MP Peter Pike. He said: "This is an important service in Harle Syke and I was involved in the fight for a temporary service to serve the area when

  • Poster backing for Safer Streets drive

    A POSTER campaign has been launched to back the £1million police safer streets in Lancashire initiative. The double-sided posters have a dual purpose with a warning to offenders that both the police and courts are united in the fight against street crime

  • Shopping fall led to death of man, 85

    AN active pensioner's health went downhill after a town centre fall as he did his shopping. A Burnley inquest was told how Patrick Brien, 85, had previously enjoyed walking his dog, but gradually became less and less active. Acting East Lancs Coroner

  • Elderly offered warmer homes grants

    GRANTS are being offered to vulnerable and elderly people in Pendle for better insulation in their homes. Owner occupiers and private rented tenants in Whitefield, Bradley, Walverden, Southfield and Marsden areas of Nelson, Vivary Bridge and Waterside

  • Pleasant memories bygone trade

    AFTER stirring up reminiscences of old-time horse-and-cart traders, prompted by recent glimpses here of the fish man who served folk 70-odd years ago in Blackburn's long-gone Fisher Street and of Bogganio's ice cream business based there, Looking Back

  • Hospital order

    A HOSPITAL bed is not yet available for a mentally ill burglar who medics say needs treatment. Dean Mortimer is still in the hospital wing at Preston Prison where he has been for some time but a judge wants to send him to Calderstones Hospital, Whalley

  • Thief was caught red-handed

    A THIEF who took a generator from a building site claimed he was punched by the owner. Burnley Magistrates heard how Dennis Williams, 20, was kept in a container by the victim until police arrived and his solicitor told the court the man hit him in the

  • 'We've gone quiet' on homes closure

    PENDLE Council has been accused by one of its own members of keeping a low profile in relation to Lancashire County Council's proposals to close residential homes. Coun Mary Norcross, a representative for Craven ward, has been heavily involved in the

  • Five years ago

    A PIGEON fancier who helped organise a "race of the century" spoke of the disappointment that it was ruined by bad weather. Alan Parker of Downham, said: "I'm distraught that after all the build up this should have happened."

  • Novel plan to combat graffiti

    YOUNG people in Oswaldtwistle could be given a free hand in decorating their new youth shelter in a bid to combat graffiti. The novel plans are set to be put forward at a meeting of the town's youth and community centre tonight . Several agencies have

  • Pudding enterprise gets just desserts

    PUDDING secrets handed down through the generations have proved the recipe of success for Gisburn businesswoman Helen Colley. The 36-year- old is taking the pudding world by storm with her mouthwatering recipes from great-great-grandmother Janet Anderson

  • Daniel's legacy of life

    THE parents of a young man who died after a freak road accident today revealed they had released his organs to help others. Daniel Thompson, who worked as a HGV mechanic in Blackburn, was thrown from a Land Rover Discovery as he returned with friends

  • Marlon move will have to wait

    FORMER Burnley favourite Marlon Beresford is looking for a new club as of today. The Lincoln-born goalkeeper's contract with Premiership outfit Middlesbrough ran out yesterday and, while Clarets boss Stan Ternent has said he would like to see the 32-year-old

  • Seedhill plays host to County seconds

    SEEDHILL was playing host to Lancashire Seconds today for their Second XI Trophy group match against Durham - weather permitting of course! Ramsbottom's Lee Daggett and Burnley's James Anderson were in the team for the one-day match at Nelson Cricket

  • Rain stops play!

    THE misery of the 2002 season continued yesterday with all Transco Lancashire League matches abandoned due to rain. There have now been 25 no results this season and there are no reserve dates remaining. So there was no change to the league standings

  • Blake's raring to go!

    BURNLEY striker Robbie Blake is raring to go for the new season after making an early return to training following summer surgery. The 26-year-old had a hernia operation at the end of last season and said: "I'm just looking to get some extra training

  • Skip to bring double reward

    PUPILS are being urged to skip at school to raise money for a national cause and their own coffers. Darwen schools can get involved in the British Heart Foundation fitness and fund-raising event at Darwen Leisure Centre. Several primary and secondary

  • Help sought in death crash probe

    POLICE are anxious to talk to witnesses who may hold the key to a double fatal road traffic accident in North Yorkshire. Two young men died in the crash which happened on the A61 betwen Wormald Green and South Stainley near Harrogate and Ripon on Tuesday

  • Dealer buys out shop's record stock

    A BUSINESS closed its door after it was cleared of all its stock -- not by a burglar, but by a specialist record dealer. The dealer, from Cornwall, contacted the owners of Pride Records in Bank Street, Rawtenstall, by e-mail about 12 times on Monday expressing

  • Firms warned over Spanish guide

    BUSINESSES in East Lancashire are warned to be alert after a ruse involving a Spanish travel guide company was exposed. A number of small businesses in the Manchester and Cheshire areas were contacted for information by European City Guide, based in Barcelona

  • Man took cocaine to ease pain from toothache

    RAYMOND Joseph Dawson turned to illegal drugs to help with medical problems. Blackburn magistrates heard that heart attack victim Dawson used cannabis as a relaxant and decided to try cocaine for pain relief after developing toothache. Dawson, 50, of

  • Cash boost for primary schools

    THREE primary schools are celebrating after being handed £1.25million to provide new sports and arts facilities. The cash is part of a £130 million boost for 300 junior and infant schools in England, announced by Education Secretary Estelle Morris and

  • Family distress at inquest comments

    THE family of a Blackburn man killed in a car crash has held a private meeting with East Lancashire coroner Michael Singleton to express their distress at comments made during an inquest into his death. Imran Ehsan Aziz, 22, of Randal Street, was killed

  • Sex shop 'drug promotion' anger

    POLICE today claimed they could lose the battle to keep some youngsters off drugs after accusing a town centre shop of promoting cannabis. But council bosses fear they are powerless to stop the transformation of the business, which had previously been

  • Irish Open

    DENMARK'S Soren Hansen scored his first European Tour win at the Murphy's Irish Open following an exciting sudden death play-off. The 28-year-old produced a decisive birdie two at the fourth extra hole, the 17th, after he had finished tied on 14-under-par

  • Dwyer rising to the Challenge

    AMERICAN Scott Kammann staged a blistering finish to steal victory in the Open des Volcans from under the nose of Belgian teenager Nicolas Colsaerts and Marcello Santi of Italy. Kammann trailed Colsaerts by three strokes with three to play, but finished

  • Schools face shake-up to meet student needs

    SECONDARY schools face a major shake-up after Education Secretary Estelle Morris branded the nation's 40-year-old comprehensive system a failure. The minister claimed that schools had failed in their mission to raise standards for all. And she outlined