WHEN the Mayor of Burnley, Coun Gordon Birtwistle, takes off the chains of office he likes to head into the hills which provide the backdrop to the town. "I love the rugged moorland that's right on our doorstep," he said. "The air is wonderful and you
IF I was God, I wonder if I could stop myself playing superhero, swooping down at every disaster. Here a war, and in I'd dive to smother all and sundry under a blanket of peace. There a terrorist, and down I'd leap, trailing divine cape emblazoned with
I LOVE the Bingley Five Rise staircase locks, which are a true engineering wonder. They were an awesome achievement of civil engineering and raise the Leeds and Liverpool Canal some 60 feet (18.3 metres). They were designed by John Longbotham, of Halifax
ON the same day Paula Radcliffe was breaking the women's marathon world record in Chicago another gutsy lady runner was in action a little closer to home. Bury's Woman of the Year, Marie Caldwell was competing in the Manchester Marathon raising funds
STAND Athletic Football Club have resigned from the North West Counties League. Secretary Dave Jackson said failure to attract a sponsor and people to work on the administrative side at the club had prompted their decision. The team has disbanded and,
UniBond League Division One - Leek Town...1 Radcliffe Borough...2 - A COLD, wet and windswept Harrison Park was a million miles from sunny Colwyn Bay on Tuesday evening, but the result was exactly the same as Saturday -- a 2-1 victory for Borough. Again
WHO is Bury's most eligible bachelor... the man who gets invited to all the parties and is instantly recognisable as "a man about town"? Could it be that Bury FC's own Robbie the Bobbie is moving up in line for the accolade? Certainly, Robbie's engagement
NORTH LANCS/CUMBRIA - Oldham...39pts Bury...3pts - BURY never looked likely to win this game against league leaders and local rivals Oldham. They were outplayed in all aspects, with the possible exception of set scrummaging. Bury showed individual commitment
SAMUEL Naylor used his climbing skills to gain access to the Outdoor Action shop on King Street, Blackburn, where he stole seven Sprayway Gortex jackets worth £1,400. Blackburn magistrates heard that Naylor shimmied up a drainpipe and broke a first floor
REGARDING Margo Grimshaw's article (LET, October 8), yes, we all agree Jim Bowen is a real sport. We must not forget the money he's made for a lot of charities over the last three years or the people who have been on his shows and given them a start in
REGARDING Margo Grimshaw's article about Jim Bowen (LET, October 8) I am completely astounded that anyone in this day and age can support and condone the use of a term such as 'nig-nog', when speaking to a black person, and not understand that it is offensive
REGARDING the proposed "Asian gateway," for Blackburn (LET, September 11) I have supported and congratulation the councils executive on the regeneration of the town centre. I believe that the regeneration so far and that being proposed has been and will
A BURGLAR who went on a £10,000 burgling and thieving spree, is behind bars for four years. Burnley Crown Court heard how drug addict Karl Porter, 32, struck at three homes in the Ightenhill area of Burnley during the town's holiday fortnight. He had
IN CASE you missed it earlier this week, Rovers have received just under 3,000 tickets for their eagerly-awaited UEFA Cup clash with Celtic at Celtic Park on Thursday October 31 (kick-off 8.05pm). Tickets for the game, which is set to be screened live
...a round up of the happenings in and around Ewood Park. RL Test offers ROVERS fans attending today's match at Ewood Park will get the chance to take advantage of a fantastic ticket offer for Great Britain's Test match against New Zealand on Saturday
A BURNLEY hairdressers is celebrating a double success this week after two stylist picked up awards at a regional competition. Mohammed Azam and Ajmal Hussain both cut down the opposition at the Cheshire Championships. Mohammed, 33, won the men's clipper
ORGANISERS of an anti-racism rally are gearing up for the event next week as Burnley MP Peter Pike threw his support behind the cause. The event "Unite to Stop the BNP" is being arranged to bring politicians, clergy, national activists and television
A PROPOSED pioneer care scheme aimed at avoiding bed blocking in Pendle has been welcomed by the borough's executive. The Intermediate Care Pilot will be a partnership between health and social services and is aimed at improving the quality of life for
A MOTORIST whose friend was summoned to appear in court after he lied to police has kept his freedom. Burnley Crown Court heard how Imran Hussain, 20, told the "most elaborate set of lies," after he was stopped by officers and gave the friend's details
A MOTORIST whose friend was summoned to appear in court after he lied to police has kept his freedom. Burnley Crown Court heard how Imran Hussain, 20, told the "most elaborate set of lies," after he was stopped by officers and gave the friend's details
A HELICOPTER pilot sustained a serious head injury in a freak accident, investigators have concluded. He was struck by a rotor blade while going to help an injured colleague. The accident investigators have not made any recommendations in relation to
PUBLIC conveniences in Pendle are to be upgraded as part of a £126,000 refurbishment scheme. The council's executive approved recommendations that 11 of the borough's public toilets should be upgraded. Improvements would include providing both male and
THE first of a series of exhibitions about Hyndburn Borough's next local plan starts today. The council is reviewing the plan and is asking for input from the public. The exhibition is at Church library until October 24. It will then go to Clayton-le-Moors
A WOMAN was forced to jump from a first floor bedroom window of a derelict house after a cigarette set fire to the mattress she was sleeping on. Joanne Conroy, 27, of Bellfield Road, Accrington, told fire and police officers that she fell asleep in the
A DOTING father of four who sexually attacked a woman was today starting a nine month jail term. Burnley Crown Court heard how Peter Roe, 54, struck after the victim had been drinking and fallen asleep and she woke to find him naked. She thought the defendant
A PUPIL at Stonyhurst College enjoyed a taste of army life when he spent a month in Canada with the Queen's Lancashire Regiment. Henry Russell-Blackburn, 17, now has his sights on a military career when he completes his education. Henry, of Walden Road
YOUNG army cadets from Stonyhurst College came out tops in a force exercise on the Isle of Man. They competed against seven teams from colleges in the North West, as well as the Isle of Man Army Cadet Force, in Exercise Manx Clanger. The young cadets
YOUNG actors at Bowland High School, Grindleton, will tread the boards in a play about the foot and mouth epidemic. They will appear alongside the Blaize Theatre Company at the Duke's Playhouse, Lancaster, in a performance of New Life. Penned by playwright
RECENT sorry events have proved that racism remains a problem in football and next Saturday Burnley Football Club will again be doing its best to help "Kick It Out" of the game. The disgraceful treatment of Emile Heskey and Ashley Cole in Slovakia follows
WHEN the Clarets make the long trip to Portman Road on Tuesday it will be almost 15 years to the day since the teams last met. The two sides have not actually been in the same division since the 1975-76 season but on October 25 1977 they met in the League
INTEREST is continuing to grow in the special dinner being held to mark the 40th anniversary of Burnley's FA Cup Final clash with Spurs. The event, to be held on November 14, will be the first time players from the two greatest sides of that era have
...a round up of the happenings in and around Turf Moor. Freezing? it has to be Oldham THERE are certain laws in football that have to be observed. Laws such as Man United always scoring late goals or managers being sacked after receiving a vote of confidence
STAN Ternent's place in the dug-out at the Walkers Stadium will be taken by Chris Barker, a Clarets fan who allowed his heart to rule his head. Barker was successful with a bid of £631 lodged just three minutes before the 4pm deadline and he admitted:
FOR ten years, Shaun Parker has followed the Clarets home and away and there are plenty of people who can't understand why. That is because Shaun is blind and cannot see the game. "Sometimes that has been a bit of a blessing," he joked as he looked back
TEENAGE goal ace David Nugent is set for another taste of first team action after escaping suspension. The 17-year-old enhanced his rapidly growing reputation with a beautifully taken headed goal against Darlington last weekend only to face a three-match
STAN Ternent's place in the dug-out at the Walkers Stadium will be taken by Chris Barker, a Clarets fan who allowed his heart to rule his head. Barker was successful with a bid of £631 lodged just three minutes before the 4pm deadline and he admitted:
TURKISH midfield ace Tugay will commit his long-term future to Blackburn Rovers by signing an extension to his contract early next week. I can reveal Rovers have exercised an option to keep the former Rangers man at Ewood for an extra year after he attracted
The Ewood faithful were treated to a seven goal thriller as Rovers took all three points against Newcastle...read how the action unfolded. Referee, A Wiley, gets the game under way with Rovers kicking off toward the Darwen end. It's a quick start by Rovers
BATTLING youngster John Mark Riding has been given just weeks to live by doctors. The former Lancashire Evening Telegraph Baby of the Year is currently in Australia where it was hoped he would undergo life-saving surgery on a brain tumour. But the specialist
STYLISTS from a Rawtenstall hairdressers will be showing off their skills at two events in the coming weeks. Freddie Cunliffe, Hayley Millar and Mark Morrison from Freddie's will be working with eight models at a professional hair exhibition in London
POLICE in Rossendale have launched a hard-hitting campaign aimed at curbing the misuse of fireworks in the run up to bonfire night after concerns from residents. Police officers throughout Rossendale are visiting shops selling fireworks to remind them
PUPILS at Beardwood High School are being urged to look to last year's Year Eleven and think to themselves: "That is what we can achieve." That is what assistant headteacher Jacquie Petriaho said as last year's pupils returned to the Preston New Road
A WOMAN has been given four months jail for trying to divorce her husband by falsifying documents. Preston Crown court was told that the husband of Tahera Patel had never consented to the divorce. Patel, 28, of Argo Street, Bolton had pleaded guilty at
A 20-year-old man who has repeatedly threatened to commit suicide by throwing himself off the top of a Blackburn town centre car park has appeared in court charged with making threats to kill his girlfriend's dad. But Blackburn magistrates were told that
MORE than 70 years of tradition have come to an end at a Blackburn primary school -- and teachers couldn't be happier! For the first time in the history of Audley Infants and Junior School, pupils and staff will not have to face all weathers and a daily
THE encouraging results of a ban on drinking in town-centre streets -- a 50 per cent drop in crimes involving the use of bottles and glasses as weapons - surely suggests this scheme deserves to be extended. These welcome effects are reported from Accrington
This week, with ANDREW RAWLINSON, 30, actor, director, radio presenter and general manager of Horse and Bamboo Theatre HOLIDAY: On the Norfolk Broads. I was about 10 and had just been involved in a horse riding accident, in which I broke my arm. My parents
SO NOW we know. The secret is finally out. Very few of us realised when we went to fill up our cars at certain petrol stations that we were running the gauntlet of radiation from our mobile phone masts. Shell and Texaco weren't just splashing out on large
SUSAN Whalley's almost matter-of-fact diary entry marked the start of a journey into fear and the unknown; a journey we all dread we may one day have to make. Susan had cancer. Three days later she wrote: "A visit to the doctor's was not the best way
FORMBY flyer Jim Henderson proved he's still the man to beat on a bike when he clinched the Lancashire Road Club's Hill Climb on the Rake at Ramsbottom for the fourth time in five years. His winning time of 2 minutes 27.2 wasn't the best he'd recorded
FA Youth Cup Round One - Bury 2 Lincoln City 1 - BURY FC's youth production line has another crop of talented youngsters on the conveyor belt judging by this victory over Lincoln City on Monday night. Two well taken Steve Maden goals, one in each half
RFU National League Two - Sedgley Park...53pts Fylde...28pts - EARLY in the second half of this game Fylde were leading 28-10, their heavyweight pack had dominated and Sedgley looked out of sorts, out of contention. But the final half hour was won 43-
"AWESOME" was the substantially overused cry of the American commentator, as well as the reaction of the two Bury Cycle Speedway riders, on their inclusion in the first ever Great Britain side to tour the USA. Fred Rothwell and club captain Neil Howarth
THE Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Alan Chesters, has announced that he is to step down as chairman's on the Church of England's Board of Education. He has spent the last three years guiding the church's national education policy. Bishop Chesters, whose
WORK has begun on stocking up the shelves in Blackburn's newest supermarket, due to open at the end of this month. Contractors building the Lidl supermarket in Whalley Banks left earlier this week to make way for sales staff, who have now moved in. It
I FIND it extremely sad that a gentleman of Jim Bowen's standards and talent deems it necessary to resign on such a trivial issue (LET, October 7). Perhaps we should have our dictionaries trawled to make sure there are no more faux pas in there of an
THE recent furore involving the immensely-popular entertainer Jim Bowen (LET, October 7) should surprise nobody. The indisputable facts of the matter are that the lunacy of political correctness so beloved by the "Blair Broadcasting Corporation" and the
THE whole of East Lancashire will be covered by just nine Green Goddess engines during the firefighters' strike, it was revealed today. The ageing Army machines, which travel at a top speed of 35mph, will be based in spots near the M65, major residential
THE financial implications of Leigh Centurions' failure to make Super League are already beginning to be felt at Hilton Park. With the future of head coach Paul Terzis still unresolved, Leigh have revealed that three of last Saturday's Grand Final team
ROVERS winger Damien Duff might have had a week to forget after succumbing to a fresh injury blow in Dublin on Wednesday night. But, as the 23-year-old came to terms with his latest set-back, he still took time out to leap to the defence of Mick McCarthy
The Ewood faithful were treated to a seven goal thriller as Rovers took all three points against Newcastle...read how the action unfolded. Referee, A Wiley, gets the game under way with Rovers kicking off toward the Darwen end. It's a quick start by Rovers
STUDENTS at St Hilda's RC High School in Burnley have been learning the secrets of becoming a successful radio presenter and launched their own radio station -- Chix FM. Over 18 weeks nine students at the school were shown the ropes by radio broadcaster
A BANNED driver got behind the wheel because he was late for work on the first day of a new job, a court was told. Burnley Magistrates heard Sheraz Bhatti, 21, who had also been speeding and was not wearing a seat belt, had now lost the job - and had
A BURGLAR who went on a £10,000 burgling and thieving spree, is behind bars for four years. Burnley Crown Court heard how drug addict Karl Porter, 32, struck at three homes in the Ightenhill area of Burnley during the town's holiday fortnight. He had
BURNLEY MP Peter Pike is to visit the town's "DIY school" to find out how the pupils are coping. His decision comes after parents held a candlelit protest outside his home last week. A group of ten parents and their children from the school, based at
A BURNLEY councillor is sending out a warning after a man appeared before magistrates for tipping rubbish in a lay-by yards from a council dump. George Greenwood, of Plover Street, was ordered to pay costs of £509 to the Environment Agency, who brought
SHAKERS midfield ace George Clegg may not be on his way to an early comeback after all. The former Manchester United ace has been sorely missed since suffering knee ligament damage in the Worthington Cup triumph over Bolton at The Reebok this month. And
RESIDENTS are to stage a series of clean-up sessions. The Goshen and Hampson Mill Community Association are co-ordinating the six weekly days, targeting Goshen Woods, Bury. The first session is on Saturday (Oct 19) from 10am-4pm, meet at the Millwood
THE founding father of Haworth Art Gallery's collection of Tiffany glass will be the subject of a one-off lecture next month . ' In search of Joseph Briggs' will explore all aspects of his life from his birth in Accrington and emigration to America to
PLANNERS at Hyndburn are to consider a planning application for a cafe where people have been allowed to smoke cannabis. The application was submitted by Frank Mac, who runs the Studio One tattoo parlour on Warner Street and the coffee shop above it.
A DRINKING ban in Accrington town centre has led to a 50 per cent drop in the number of glass and bottle crimes. The Crystal Clear campaign was launched in July to stop people taking glasses and bottles from bar to bar. It is backed by legislation introduced
A SCHOOLBOY who started a £3million blaze which gutted three Accrington businesses has walked free from court -- but a judge said he hoped the victims would understand he had no choice. The boy, then just 13, lit a crisp packet in a plastic crate which
Judge tells youth to apologise to fire victims By WENDY BARLOW Court Reporter BLAZE: Firefighters tackle the fire, which gutted three businesses at Eastgate Retail Park, Accrington, last year A SCHOOLBOY who started a £3million blaze which gutted three
A HOUSEHOLDER in Clitheroe who went out to remonstrate with men causing a disturbance outside his home late at night had his front door window smashed for his trouble. Blackburn magistrates heard that one man apologised but Justin Waterhouse followed
THE headteacher of an award-winning Catholic high school in Ribble Valley has hit out at "assessment overload" in the British education system and warned of a recruitment crisis in teaching. Anthony MacNamara, head teacher of St Augustine's RC High School
A LEADING expert in Steiner education will give a talk at the Station House, Whalley, on Tuesday, October 29, at 4pm. Janni Nicol, early years representative for the Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship UK, will speak on: 'What is the right age to begin
TWO pensioners who said they could have been killed in an accident at a junction blackspot today backed an MP's call for something to be done. Kenneth Swales, 79, and wife Monica, 69, were in a collision on the A59 at the Clitheroe and Sabden junction
A GROUP of carefully selected Scouts are packing for the "trip of a lifetime" -- to the sun soaked beaches of Thailand. A specially designed camp is being built in Sattahip to cope with 40,000 Scouts who have been invited to the twentieth World Scout
PLANS to create an £11million health care centre in Darwen have been unveiled. The new centre will combine several existing GP surgeries and the town's health centre, and will be built next to Darwen Leisure Centre, on what is currently a football field
A FANTASTIC collection of weird and wonderful puppets performed in a timeless freak show in Rossendale last night. The Dynamic New Animation company brought their Skin Deep Circus to the Horse and Bamboo Theatre in Waterfoot. The show is based on the
STYLISTS from a Rawtenstall hairdressers will be showing off their skills at two events in the coming weeks. Freddie Cunliffe, Hayley Millar and Mark Morrison from Freddie's will be working with eight models at a professional hair exhibition in London
FORMER East Lancashire TV and radio presenter Pattie Coldwell has died after a long battle with cancer. The ex-Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School pupil had been told the cancer had spread to her brain and was inoperable. Coldwell, who was 50, was best-known
CRISIS-HIT travel giant MyTravel has been plunged into more chaos as a rival holiday firm pulled its brochures off their shelves. And as the Financial Services Authority announced it was launching an inquiry into the company's shock profits warning, shares
TWO warring, middle-aged neighbours, said to have came to blows, have been bound over by a judge who warned them to call a truce. Burnley Crown Court heard how violence was said to have erupted when Derek Bolton's dog broke free from him and Anthony Wall
RADCLIFFE Boro declared themselves delighted with the draw for the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup which gave them a home tie against Nationwide Conference high-fliers Chester City. Boro chairman Bernard Manning Junior said: "It's a fantastic draw
A VICTIM of repeat burglaries installed a security camera at his home -- and later recognised a neighbour caught on video raiding his property. Intruder Robert Farrington was faced with the bizarre situation of watching his own crime on TV when the CCTV
A 39-YEAR-OLD woman who claimed income support on the basis that she was unfit to work was employed as a newspaper street vendor. Blackburn magistrates heard that Maureen Scanlon was overpaid by £1,906 over an eight month period during which she was earning
TWO days after being bailed on a drink drive charge Leslie Hartley was seen in a drunken condition getting behind the wheel again. Blackburn magistrates heard that on the first occasion Hartley gave a breath test reading more than three times the legal
MORE than 2,000 people have backed a coffee shop owner's campaign to be allowed to remain open as he resubmits a bid to keep trading. Puccino's boss Ian Finch is asking for planning permission for his King William Street, Blackburn, venue in the hope
STAFF at a national shoe store could soon be starting the day at work with a difference -- by rapping! Blackburn-based sales assistant Naseem Khan - aka Nas-T - has impressed bosses at Brunswick Warehouse so much with a rap he wrote they are thinking
THE whole of East Lancashire will be covered by just nine Green Goddess engines during the firefighters' strike, it was revealed today. The ageing Army machines, which travel at a top speed of 35mph, will be based in spots near the M65, major residential
A NUMBER of stillwater anglers were disappointed with their catches last week, some describing the form as grim. With the first frosts now upon us they are, unfortunately, unlikely to notice any improvement tomorrow. Others were more realistic with their
