A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Coffee Evening and Bric-a-Brac Sale, Festival Hall, Gisburn, 7pm. Children's Barbecue, Killup Farm, Todmorden, 6.30pm-8.30pm. Soroptimist International presents "A Murder
TO socially-irresponsible minds it might appear amusing that a crime went unseen because a leafy tree was blocking a street closed-circuit TV camera -- above all, when as the subject of an official protection order, the tree stands always to interrupt
LEIGH Miner's Rangers Under 12's were triumphant in the North West Counties Plate final at Robin Park Wigan on Sunday. They faced tough opposition in West Bank. Both defences were on top form and the score at half time was locked at 0-0. Midway through
RECENTLY the council gave us boxes and bags for tins and paper for recycling. Some of these paper bags have been taken before the council collects them. It may, therefore, be a good idea not to put papers in the bag that contain any personal or banking
REGARDING the proposed windfarm at Scout Moor (LET, June 3), I live very close to Edenfield and am a lifelong Valley resident. I am sick to death of this NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) attitude most people seem to adopt these days. We need a renewable source
SAFETY at this year's Burnley Balloon Festival will be tightened up following the death of a young girl in a freak accident in Germany. The organisers of this year's event - the biggest of its kind in the North West - have promised safety will be top
MOTORISTS are being urged to ditch the car and embrace pedal power this week as part of National Bike Week. People throughout the district are being encouraged to cycle to work in a drive to plug pedal-pushing transport as the green way forward. Local
Highly explosive shells from the First World War were detonated on Middleton Sands after being unearthed at a construction site. Building ground to a halt at Cannon Hygienes new site on Morecambes White Lund Industrial Estate as a bomb disposal squad
Local residents will have their say on whether major decisions affecting their lives should be taken closer to home rather than in Whitehall. Voters could go to the polls by autumn 2004 after Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott announced the region would
SHAKERS, who completed a 3-2 double over Swansea last season, kick off the 2003-4 season with a trip to South Wales on August 9, according to the fixtures published on Thursday. Their first home game is a visit from Scunthorpe on August 16. Rochdale come
A COMPLEX of flats for young mothers and pregnant teenagers in Radcliffe could be a casualty of Government cuts. Although Manchester Methodist Housing Association was given planning permission to build the development eight months ago the land in Bury
YOUNG sailing enthusiasts in Pendle will be able to keep in close contact out on the water - thanks to Thwaites Brewery. A donation from Thwaites' renowned Charitable Trust has signalled the purchase of three VHF marine radios for youngsters embarking
TODAY we are launching our third Pride of East Lancashire Award which is the accolade for Outstanding Vocational Worker. Every day men and women in East Lancashire go above and beyond the call of duty and excel in their workplace. The difference they
A PUB couple David and Helena Shorrock were foxed when a stuffed animal head was kidnapped from their pub. The fox's head, known as Mr Fox, went missing in a blackout at the Nab's Head Hotel in Samlesbury.
FIREFIGHTERS in Leigh said they were glad the long-running pay dispute was over -- but they were disappointed with the final settlement deal. Firefighters nationwide voted three to one in favour of a 16 per cent pay increase at a special union conference
BLACKBURN Rovers will kick off the new season with a home game against Premiership newcomers Wolverhampton Wanderers. Dave Jones's Wolves, who went up via the play-offs last season, will visit Ewood on Saturday, August 16. Graeme Souness's men then make
TWO-HUNDRED people turned up to talk about a perfect vision for Darwen but left last night's regeneration meeting after seeing only a glimpse. Coun Andy Kay, Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive member for regeneration, told the audience: "I'm not
SINGING stars and musical maestros converged on Rossendale for the annual Music Festival. The event attracted hundreds of people from across the North West. Doreen Hacking, entries secretary, said: "We were delighted with the turnout and there was some
A FORD Orion car was abandoned and set alight on a dirt track in Atherton on Tuesday night. One appliance attended the blaze at the dirt track off Devonshire Road at 10.50pm, and it took 20 minutes to extinguish the fire. Firefighters believe the fire
DIABETES UK are urging people taking part in this year's Great North Run to run for their charity. The leading diabetes charity in the UK, which supports all people with diabetes -- including their family, friends and carers -- wants runners taking part
LEIGH'S very own Sherlock Holmes will be on the case when someone is mysteriously murdered in a garden in Glazebury next week. Detective Inspector Fox will be on the scene to investigate the death at Lea Hurst, Hurst Mill Lane next Saturday. But D I Fox
ACCRINGTON Stanley will start their season against fellow Nationwide Conference newcomers Aldershot. Stanley, last season's runaway winners of the UniBond League, travel to the Recreation Ground on Saturday, August 9. It means that Reds fans will have
PRESTON will face West Ham on the opening day of the season and are then matched up against the other two relegated Premiership teams in the first month. The relegated Hammers are sure to attract a full-house to Deepdale on August 9 as the both teams
I RECEIVED an e-mail from Atherton-born actor Dave Dutton after my article last week. He says he had a good laugh about his mam telling us he was out playing when he was in his early twenties, but mothers always think of their offspring as still being
A 29-YEAR-OLD MAN from Bury killed in a horrific head-on collision on the M66 has been named. Paul James Martin, of Bolton Road North, Ramsbottom, suffered serious injuries after his BMW car collided with a Volkswagen Passat. He was pronounced dead at
WHILE I have no doubt that Saddam Hussein was a very bad man and the overthrow of his regime is a good thing, I do have some sympathy with the view that the threat posed by his weapons of mass destruction were exaggerated by both President Bush and our
LEIGH'S First Lady of Rugby Union, Carol Isherwood, has received the OBE in the Queen's 50th anniversary honours list. The former England and Great Britain captain has been recognised for her outstanding contribution towards women's rugby union over the
AN OUTRAGED wife today demanded action after an overgrown tree prevented CCTV capturing a violent attack on her husband. Elaine Nicholson made the plea after learning that police didn't see the "horrendous" incident which left Mark, 34, with a fractured
LEIGH Centurions will not be exchanging young Aussie Pat Weisner for Tommy Martyn. Hilton Park bosses are determined to press ahead to sign Martyn but not if it means losing half-back Weisner as part of the deal. Executive director Derek Beaumont said
BLACKBURN Rovers will kick off the new season with a home game against Premiership newcomers Wolverhampton Wanderers. Dave Jones's Wolves, who went up via the play-offs last season, will visit Ewood on Saturday, August 16. Graeme Souness's men then make
THE man who admitted killing law student Janet Murgatroyd has told a jury that his confession was untrue. Andrew Greenwood said that he did not murder her but had convinced himself he had, which was why he told police he was to blame. Questioned by his
VOTERS in Hapton will be going to the polls again tonight following the resignation of a Labour councillor. Hapton with Park ward councillor Kevin Birchall stepped down from the role on the night the British National Party became the official opposition
TRANSCO is to spend more than £120,000 replacing gas mains in Burnley town centre as part of a multi-million pound package of improvements to the region's gas supply system. The gas pipeline company is spending £51 million this year replacing iron gas
A SEX fiend has targeted six women in a series of attacks in Colne and Padiham. Officers are appealing for witnesses to the four separate incidents. The first happened in Keighley Road, Colne, at about 10.45pm on Friday, June 13 as a 17-year-old girl
PLANS have been drawn up for a £500,000 ecology centre in a rural area of Burnley. Supporters of the proposed residential centre, at Green Clough Wood and Berril's Wood, Cliviger, claim it would be a valuable resource for schools in the area and would
A CIVIC society today demanded action over a £150,000 fountain which never works. Chairman of Accrington Civic Trust, Alan Benson, urged Hyndburn Council to seek compensation from the company which erected the structure outside the authority's Scaitcliffe
NINE year-old Charlie Dunne didn't forget the little girl she met when they were both in hospital encased up to their waists in plaster. And when Charlie read about the bid to raise funds to send her friend Laura Carr, of Wigan Road, Leigh, to Florida
A RUGBY League fanatic who hitched a ride to every Leigh in England to raise money for his local club has returned from his marathon road trip. Darren Bates began his sponsored hitch-hike to raise money for Leigh East amateur RL Club -- travelling to
POLICE are looking for a giggling gun gang who shot a pensioner in the leg as he walked past Tyldesley Park late on Monday evening. Seventy-years-old Don Shaw and his pal Roy Charnock were returning home at 11.35pm when Don was hit in the left calf by
SIX pupils have left motorists with a chilling reminder to curb their speed by asking: "What would you say to my parents if you killed me?" The youngsters from Ribblesdale High School, Clitheroe, teamed up with police for three hours yesterday to pull
ONE of the odd things about politics and government is that you can help start things and then years later, after you've moved on, they pop back. Ten years ago I was Labour's Shadow Environment and Local Government spokesman in Opposition. I desperately
LANCASTER City Water Polo team continued their domination of the British water polo scene with a dramatic victory in the ASA cup final over arch rivals London Penguins - proving they are Britain's top team. Lancaster travelled to Manchester's Commonwealth
A WORLD record 52 Rugby League mascots will mark a major moment for Leigh Education Action Zone. The Zone, which ends it mission on December 31, is marking its achievements through the last five years with a series of events under the global banner of
GOLBORNE were left frustrated as Blackrod's last pair held up their victory charge. Golborne were put in and Ross and Tyrer batted sensibly to pushed the score along well. Ross was in fine form and reached his 50 with the score on 62. Tyrer started to
A PAIR of dynamic fundraisers have donated more than £2,000 to the mayor's charity... by taking part in an exhausting 220-mile horse and cart trek to mark the annual Appleby horse fair. Alistair Mitchell, owner of Musbury Fabrics, Holcombe Road, Helmshore
THE Wigan and Leigh Hospice will host a tombola on Friday to raise funds for the Hospice. There will be tea tasting, prize winning competitions and cake and tea at the Ingleside sheltered home, Upper George Street, in Tyldesley at noon. Admission is 50p
DAREDEVIL Leigh MP Andy Burnham led a team of 45 abseilers over the side of Leigh Parish Church tower to bring a two year £120,000 repair fund raising marathon to a thrilling climax. The spectacular event raised almost £10,000 -- £7,600 boosting the church
RETIRED Lancashire police inspector Kenneth Hinchcliffe downloaded nearly 1,000 indecent images of children and stored them on discs. Blackburn magistrates heard that the former bobby, who had 26 years' exemplary service, normally used the internet to
TRIBUTES have been paid to former Archdeacon of Blackburn David Robinson, who has died at the age of 72. He was Blackburn born and bred and served as archdeacon from 1986 to 1996. Retired Blackburn canon Michael Taylor, who was a close friend of Archdeacon
JACK Straw today promised to make public "as much as possible" of a Home Office inquiry into the murder of an Iraqi asylum seeker. Farhan Samsuddin Hamad, 20, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday after being found guilty of stabbing his friend
A MAN drowned when his car plunged into a river - but police failed to respond to a call about the vehicle for two hours, an inquest has heard. Today the family of devoted father Anthony Holt said that they were angry over the police's delayed response
FOR once readers have not yet managed to solve a mystery -- this time of a sporting hero. Former Sportsman landlord Denis Stanton and his pal Vinny Kearns have spent a year trying to solve the riddle of a cap found in the loft at the Leigh pub 30 years
TICKETS for the Arriva Trains Final against Salford at Rochdale on July 6are on sale from Sunday. The times are: Sunday 22nd June 9am-2pm: Season Ticket Holders, Lottery and LISA only (Proof of memebership needed). Sunday 22nd June 5pm-6pm: Programme
Dewsbury Rams 12 Leigh Centurions 31 by Mike Hulme TOP against bottom didn't bring the sort of lop-sided result that's blighted recent seasons. But it still went with the formbook. The 10-team National League One is providing stiff competition week in
A SUCCESSFUL junior football team which has won 11 trophies in 12 years is to break up. Pennington Athletic, coached by Dave Ward and Nick Manning, will break up because most of the squad are going to university this autumn. Dave and Nick have run the
GOLBORNE CC U15s were beaten by six wickets by Standish. Golborne openers Carr and Tom Hart were soon in trouble, Hart surrendering his wicket without troubling the scorers in the third over. The other Golborne batsmen also found it difficult to get to
IF we are to have another Task Force or suchlike in Burnley following the recent local election results, I beg of these in command not to lumber us with any more of Tony Blair's New Labour dead wood. Because, believe me, the sight of any more of them
HOW many other residents of Great Harwood share my outrage at the action by Hyndburn Council on the Memorial Park playing fields? Many of the horse chestnut trees have been chopped down, under a smokescreen of tree disease. Now, we are told that some
THE day before the 1997 general election, Tony Blair proclaimed that there were just 24 hours left to save the NHS. So what does health minister Ms Hazel Blears suggest six years on? -- yet another madcap idea to keep the government fresh. New Labour's
A SEX fiend has targeted six women in a series of attacks in Colne and Padiham. Officers are appealing for witnesses to the four separate incidents. The first happened in Keighley Road, Colne, at about 10.45pm on Friday, June 13 as a 17-year-old girl
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today insisted he's not prepared to get drawn into a bidding war for Millwall midfielder Steven Reid. Souness has already had a £2 million offer rejected for the highly-rated Republic of Ireland international. But Lions chairman
THE horrors that can be caused when road safety is ignored will be brought to life in the coming weeks when police act out a road accident in Burnley. The re-enactments are being staged to highlight the carnage that can be caused on the town's roads by
POLICE community support officers will join residents this weekend to make a clean sweep of things in the Rosehill and Briercliffe areas of Burnley. Residents will meet PCSO Cathy Clough for a litterpick on Saturday in Rosehill and on the following Saturday
SAFETY at this year's Burnley Balloon Festival will be tightened up following the death of a young girl in a freak accident in Germany. The organisers of this year's event - the biggest of its kind in the North West - have promised safety will be top
RESIDENTS are celebrating victory in their 20-year battle for traffic calming measures on a road they say is 'like the M1'. After consultation between Lancashire County Council, local councillors and residents, a scheme was put together to suit everyone
ST LEONARD'S Primary School children have had a very busy week. Sports Minister, the Rt Hon Richard Caborn visited the pupils and staff and saw the measures initiated by the headteacher, Mrs Julie Bradley, to help the children achieve their potential
FRIENDS of the late Dame Thora Hird are being invited to a special memorial service in Westminster Abbey. It will be dedicated to the actress's life with a gathering of friends, family and colleagues. The BBC has written to Evelyn Archer, Friends of the
PRIVATE hire cabbies have united with hackney drivers as they prepare for battle over bus lanes. Solicitors have been instructed this week to start legal action against Lancashire County Council in the campaign to get bus-only restrictions lifted. As
RESIDENTS in Pendle will have the opportunity to have their say on the future of the borough's SRB6 regeneration programme during a public meeting. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 1, at 6.15pm in the Civic Theatre, Stanley Street, Nelson. The
THOUGH it's nearly eight years since he smouldered his way into millions of female hearts in the TV dramatisation of Jane Austen's love story, Pride and Prejudice, rich and handsome Mr Darcy, played by Colin Firth, is still most women's dream date, according
A HOSPICE fundraiser helped raise more than £300 as part of the National 'Tea at 3' event. Pat Beale, Chairman of Colne and Nelson Fundraiser for the Hospice held the event at her home in Colne. Around 70 people attended helping to raise £355 for Pendleside
BENEFIT cheats in Pendle have been warned that the council will not tolerate their behaviour after it successfully prosecuted a woman who pleaded guilty to eight charges of making a false statement to obtain housing and council tax benefit. Dena Lyall
KEN Savage, managing director of Fraser Eagle, said: "Everyone at Fraser Eagle is very proud to be involved with the Pride of East Lancashire Campaign. "We appreciate the support the company receives from the local community and see this award as an opportunity
YOU don't have to have a stack of medals or break records to be a winner. And you don't need to be first choice to prove that you are indispensable. For behind every medal winner, there is a true champion. Behind every record breaker there are those who
THE Fred Longworth Brass Band will next week commemorate the 60th anniversary of the famous World War II Dambusters raid in a special concert. The event will take place at the Tyldesley Rugby Union Club on Thursday 26 June, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £4
MATHS marvel Andrew Wood was a wizard at solving brain teasers and it all added up to success. Andrew, 12, from Primet High School, Colne, beat off a 20-strong field to win the British Telecom Maths Challenge.
A TEACHER who virtually built up a special needs department from scratch in just two years has been honoured with a top regional award. Julie Levy, head of special needs at Westleigh High, received the prize for excellence in special needs teaching in
AN ABANDONED van leaking diesel has been discovered yards from the seat of a blaze that ripped through an old factory. The discovery was made at the former OXO plant in Great Harwood, close to terraced housing in Windsor Road. And residents have now called
A MAN prone to depression stabbed himself to death, an inquest heard. The death of Paul McCarthy, aged 44, sparked murder investigations after his body was found at his Morris Street home in Tyldesley with multiple stab wounds to the chest. But Bolton
AN OUTRAGED wife today demanded action after an overgrown tree prevented CCTV capturing a violent attack on her husband. Elaine Nicholson made the plea after learning that police didn't see the "horrendous" incident which left Mark, 34, with a fractured
LEIGH MP Andy Burnham welcomed the Government's announcment to allow local people the chance to vote to have an elected North West Regional Assembly. The Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said on Monday that people in the North West would be able to
A COUPLE have been left fuming after thieves stole more than ten valuable chimney pots worth £1,000. Thieves struck two weeks ago when they broke through locked gates, into the garden of Enid and John Scotford, of Upton Road, Atherton, and stole four
A LEIGH Harriers' star who only took up athletics seriously last month has won his first county honours. Fifteen-years-old Tashon Gallagher struck gold in the Greater Manchester Schools' Championships lifted the intermediate 400m title in 51.8 sec. The
CEMENT firm bosses today hailed an exhibition detailing plans to burn animal waste a success, after the fuel was given a tentative welcome. Around 30 residents and environmentalists attended the event, outlining proposals to use waste meat and bones at
THOUSANDS of young people and hundreds of volunteer managers, coaches and event organisers are preparing for the county's largest youth sport event. The Lancashire Youth Games 2003 The Games, on Saturday, June 28, from10am - 6pm at Salt Ayre Leisure Centre
LANCASTER'S First XI cricketers were made to toil in the sun by the Kendal batsmen, who piled up the days highest score in the Northern Premier League of 291 for five declared on a batsman's paradise at Lune Road on Saturday. Opener Martin South led the
BLACKPOOL face the toughest possible start to their 2003/2004 second division campaign with a tough away trip to QPR. The Seasiders have lost their last three games against the London side, who start as one of the favourites for the title after losing
BURNLEY babes Matty O'Neill and Joel Pilkington have given Stan Ternent a timely boost by signing professional terms with the club. The Accrington-born duo - both products of the Centre of Excellence - have agreed initial 12-month terms with the Clarets
BURNLEY will kick off the new First Division campaign in familiar surroundings with a home game against Crystal Palace. The Eagles travel to Turf Moor when the season gets up and running again on Saturday, August 9. The Clarets then hit the road a week
CARL Fogarty has chosen young Italian rider Lorenzo Mauri to replace injured James Haydon on the FP1 for this weekend's seventh round of the World Superbike championship. Mauri was recommended to the Foggy Petronas Racing team boss by Ducati chief Davide
A BLACKPOOL teenager has been viciously battered and stabbed to death in front of his grandmother and two young sisters. The 16-year-old boy was attacked after a gang of intruders broke into his home on Jesmond Avenue, in South Shore, at around 8pm on
Karate kid on top of the world A KARATE KID has become a world beater after winning a gold medal at a world championship. Ten-years-old Andrew Battersby of Fell Street, Leigh, was crowned world champion at the GKR World Cup in Birmingham after he won
ATHERTON CC's dismal run continued on Saturday when they were soundly beaten by neighbours Astley & Tyldesley who replied to the home sides 206-6 with 210-3 with 12 overs to spare. A&T's total was built on the back of a superb innings of 118 not
It was a weekend of further disappointment for EDS Leigh with their failure to win at Northern, which caused them to drop to third frombottom of the league, being followed by dismissal from the National Knockout competition by the same opposition. In
BURNLEY will start the new First Division campaign in familiar surroundings with a home game against Crystal Palace. The Eagles travel to Turf Moor when the season gets up and running again on Saturday, August 9. The Clarets then hit the road a week later
A PRIEST who earned the nickname "Bishop of Darwen" after boosting congregations is leaving for a new life in Bournemouth. The Rev Kevin Arkell, vicar of St Peter's Church, Darwen, and St Paul's, Hoddlesden, will hold his final service on August 16, before
LOWTON churches have raised over £5,500 for Christian Aid -- smashing last year's total. The village's five churches raised £5,658 during last month's Christian Aid Week-- £1,302 more than last year.
LEIGH MP Andy Burnham's surgeries due to take place this weekend have been rearranged. The Hindley sessions will be combined into one extended meeting at the Bethel Community Church, Atherton Road, Hindley Green, on Friday, June 27, from 7.30pm to 8.30pm
THE Fred Longworth Brass Band will next week commemorate the 60th anniversary of the famous World War II Dambusters raid in a special concert. The event will take place at the Tyldesley Rugby Union Club on Thursday 26 June, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £4
FIREFIGHTERS were called to attend to a chemical leak at a waste management area in Lower Green, Astley at 8.25 am on Tuesday morning. A forklift truck at the Virivor Waste Management Company had accidently pierced a barrel containing hydrogen peroxide
A LEIGH High School has retained its Investors in People status. Westleigh High School, Hindley Green and Leigh's Technology College, first won the recognition in 1999 but was recently re-assessed when the school's open style management and clear vision
A VILLAGE school has received a second first class report from government education watchdogs. Golborne St Thomas' CE Junior and Infants' School, last inspected by Ofsted in 1998, noted that since their last visit both teaching and learning have improved
AN ATHERTON woman claims a gang of children as young as nine are making her and neighbour's lives a misery -- in a series of intimidating incidents. Mavis Conway, of Byron Grove on the Hag Fold Estate, alleges that a group of kids aged between 9 and 14
AN intruder who was caught by the man whose house he was burgling has been given two-and-a-half years jail. A judge heard how Stephen Houghton switched on a light to startle the culprit, took hold of him and managed to restrain the struggling Lee Holden
EAST Lancashire is preparing to go Harry Potter potty this weekend to celebrate the fifth book by author JK Rowling. Supermarkets are making copies of the book available at 12.01am on Saturday -- and the Post Office is bracing itself for a deluge of parcels
A MAN with more than 30 burglary offences on his record has been given the chance to break free from crime - with the help of the Blackburn THOMAS charity. Anthony Creighton was told by a judge at Preston Crown Court that he had been looking at a three
THE mother of a tragic drug overdose victim cried as she heard the details of his death. Lillian Dixon was the only person to attend the inquest into the death of her son Gary, who died after swigging methadone from a bottle following an all day drinking
A STARK warning is being sent out to people planning noisy summer parties: Turn it down, or we will take your stereo. The Blackburn with Darwen Council threat follows the prosecution of a man who has been hit with an anti-social behaviour warning -- and
A COUNCILLOR today hit out at a smear campaign after posters were put up claiming he planned to turn a pub into a Muslim school. Coun Mohammed Khan, deputy Blackburn with Darwen Council leader, said he had been forced to speak out after the leaflets were
A LEIGH High School has retained its Investors in People status. Westleigh High School, Hindley Green and Leigh's Technology College, first won the recognition in 1999 but was recently re-assessed when the school's open style management and clear vision
I WAS bemused watching a chap shopping by mobile phone. He was walking down the cereal shelves reading out a list of all the boxes for his other half to select. What a slow, expensive and annoying way (to others) to pick up groceries.
NO wonder athletics is a minority sport. Has anyone tried to buy a pair of spikes in the area? Colleague Rob Johnson, who has just taken up the sport, was in desperate need and tried finding a pair in the town this week. It's an impossibility. I'm told
INFLUENTIAL hooker Paul Rowley will be missing for at least the next month after fracturing his hand in last Sunday's win at Dewsbury. Leigh's worst fears were confirmed when x-rays showed a break to a metacarpus bone in the back of his hand. His injury
LEIGH RMI fans have the opportunity to cut their playing idols down to size - by paying to turn out against the first team at Hilton Park. The club is looking for 22 players to take part in the match on Saturday July 19. Each fan will play at least 45
