I HAVE been in London for a couple of days and with this heat it has been agony. I have come to the conclusion that as a country we definitely ignore the fact that there are extremes in our weather. The hotel room was like an oven, so I asked "Do you
BLACKBURN Centurions Swimming Club members competed in two weekends of competitions at the Manchester Aquatic Centre -- with top honours going to Joshua Walsh and Kaitlyn King. For Joshua and Kaitlyn both obtained national qualifying times as well as
Phillip Aspinall has underlined his true potential by becoming the British under 12s badminton champion. The St Gabriel's Primary School pupil is now ranked number one in the country and has moved a step closer to representing his country. Phillip, aged
Richard Thomas returned to his old stamping ground to set a new race record to help boost his international ambitions. For the former Darwen Dasher was back on the hills above the town to win the Tockholes Gala Fell Race in a best ever time of 37 minutes
St Mary's from Oswaldtwistle clinched a rare double after winning tournaments staged by Blackburn Rovers and Burnley FC. And it was all thanks to the lethal right boot of Bliss Wright! The Saints sharp-shooter top scored as her school went on to win the
The Pride of East Lancashire Awards could be Taylor made for tennis aces Peter and Iain Taylor. For the father and son typify exactly what the awards are about -- success on the court and hard work off it. For while Peter's hard work has come from beyond
MY husband and I retired at 65 and 60 respectively after a lifetime of working full-time. The first five years were the best as we both felt young and active, spent more time with our family and had exotic holidays. But after 70 years your body slows
I CONGRATULATE Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council for their vision in supporting the fourth Mela at Corporation Park. Along with my family, I attended the festival on both Saturday and Sunday and greatly enjoyed the celebration of Asian culture, meeting
THE distraught parents of a football fan who died on a trip to support his team today spoke of their devastation after the teenager who killed their son was jailed for seven years. Andrew McNee, 19, a member of a group of soccer thugs known as the Burnley
BRETT Emerton revealed he chose Blackburn ahead of a clutch of other Premiership rivals because he believes Rovers are a club 'on the up'. The Aussie international had his pick from a host of England's top sides after signalling his intention to leave
NEW Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has launched a fresh bid to land Rovers winger Damien Duff. I can exclusively reveal that the big-spending Londoners have tabled TWO new offers for the Republic of Ireland star in the last 24 hours. And Ewood chief executive
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness believes Lorenzo Amoruso can be a massive influence on and off the pitch next season as he looks to take Rovers to the next level. The 32-year-old was finally unveiled to the Press yesterday after completing the formalities
A MAN has been charged with the manslaughter of his 54-year-old father. Wayne Michael Heaton, 34, is to appear before Burnley magistrates today following an incident at his father's home. Police were called to the house in Montgomery Grove following the
WORK has finally begun on a £22,000 traffic calming scheme after years of campaigning by residents and local councillors. Contractors began work in the Hillingdon Road and Underley Street area of Burnley, five years after residents first complained about
THE devoted parents of an eight-month-old baby are considering starting a fundraising campaign in a bid raise enough money for their child to be assessed by private specialists. The family of tiny Chloe Graham are desperate to find out what is wrong with
PENDLE has been declared a Fairtrade borough. The council has been told by the organisation which promotes better deals for producers in the world's poorest countries that it now officially a Fairtrade area. Pendle Borough Council set up a Fair Trade
ASPIRING actress Hayley Standing is hoping her showbiz career will blossom after becoming friends with Lord of the Rings star Sir Ian McKellen. Graduate Hayley was given a Bonsai tree as a gift by the Burnley-born star after featuring alongside him in
POLICE plans to build houses next to their Accrington station look set to be arrested as the land is classified for another use. Lancashire Police Authority has submitted an outline application to use land between Grange Lane and Wellington Street, Accrington
IT may only be soap, but the recent burglary at Mike Baldwin's Underworld factory in Coronation Street is a little too near the mark for many business owners who have found themselves in a similar situation. The viewers knew the burglary was an inside
IT MIGHT have a name straight out of Loony Tunes, but ACME Refrigeration is deadly serious about business. The ACME name, immortalised in the Warner Bros Roadrunner cartoons, comes from a Greek word meaning pinnacle of excellence. And as sales manager
ROSSENDALE-BASED footwear company has added a third to its storage space without having to lay a brick. The Bacup Shoe Company has been able to cope with increasing demand for its products thanks to the wonders of 3D modelling. Specialists from Nelson-based
A DOG owner has criticised a council blitz on owners who let their dogs foul pavements because, he claims, there aren't enough poop scoop bins. Paul Hutchinson, of St Hubert's Road, Great Harwood, said that Hyndburn Council were right to issue fines to
DARREN Gough has got to be honest when it comes to the selection of the Test squad to face South Africa. The only man who knows if he is strong enough is Darren and really he is the one who has to take that final decision. The knee injury that has dogged
YOUNG people are being consulted about the future of Rossendale while forging closer links with Rossendale Borough Council. Members of Rossendale Youth Council have been invited to get involved in the Comprehensive Performance Assessment of the council
A NEW business venture for craft enthusiasts has opened its doors in Bacup The House on the Corner, in Market Street, will involve a programme of workshops to help local people learn new crafts. Experienced crafters will be able to enhance and share their
PLANS for a £50 million windfarm scheme have been lodged with the Department of Trade and Industry. Scout Moor Wind Farm will provide enough power for the whole of Rossendale consisting of 26 turbines, each a hundred metre high supplying up to 65 megawatts
HUNDREDS of people packed into St Nicholas' Church in Newchurch-in-Rossendale to hear tributes to a "selfless" and "dedicated" young teacher who died on his beloved motorbike. Friends, some dressed in biking gear, relatives and schoolchildren filled the
A SCHEME costing £50,000 to improve seating at Blackburn's King George's Hall complex has been announced. The money will fund the installation of a new retractable seatinsg on the main floor of the hall. Described in a council report as "state of the
Souey won't let him. Chelsea are a good team but they are no match for Blackburn. Roman is going to be nowhere near as successful as Jack Walker! SARAH, via e-mail
REGIONAL Assembly chiefs today urged the county council to re-join their organisation for the good of the people in Lancashire. Lancashire County Council pulled out of the regional assembly, which is currently non-elected and made up of local authorities
AS A Blackburn Rovers fan for 50 years, I think it's a great shame that Dunny has had to leave. He will move on to become a better player. Look at James Beattie -- he has made a great player. Ted Barker (age 79), Chorley
A WORLD War Two veteran has revealed how he was treated like a hero when he returned to the spot where his plane was shot down. RAF gunner Russell Margerison and wife Bette said they were treated like royalty on the trip to Hoogstraten, a town near Antwerp
A TEENAGE lesbian was today beginning a life sentence after murdering her "popular, caring and sensitive" girlfriend in a jealous rage. And today the family of victim Mandy Burton paid her a loving tribute, saying: "Now she can be laid to rest." Louise
I AM a Blackburn Rovers fan and it disgusts me to hear fans are slating David Dunn because he has left the club. David is a teriffic footballer and a lifelong Blackburn Rovers fan, he wouldn't leave unless there was a good reason. Graeme Souness continually
I THINK David Dunn needs to realise that he owes Graeme Souness a lot. When Souness took over David Dunn was a First Division player who was not in the team and had handed in a transfer request. Souness has made him the player he is today. Don't get me
MANDY Burton's life had been self-destructing as she embarked on her first serious lesbian relationship at the age of 30. Her eight-year marriage had ended with divorce in August 2000. She lost access to her young sons, Joshua and Dominic, to their father
I HAVE read with interest the various slants and spin put on the transfer of David Dunn to Birmingham and have come to the conclusion I must be the only person in the world who does not appear to actually know what has gone on. Lots of things have allegedly
NELSON have made goalkeeper Billy Carrington a contracted player as David Hall prepares for his first season at the helm, writes Suzanne Geldard. Hall struck a deal with the 21-year-old after left-sided player Kevin Richardson returned to the club. The
CHRIS Lucketti will lead Preston North End in their charge for promotion when the new season kicks off, boss Craig Brown confirmed this week. Centre-back Lucketti took on the captain's armband at the start of last season following Sean Gregan's move to
ACCRINGTON Stanley hosted an emotional reunion for the team of 1961-62. Eight former Reds, who were playing for Stanley the last time they were involved in the Football League, got together at the newly named Interlink Stadium for the first time in over
It couldn't be any tighter at the top of the Alliance 2000 League with both our teams locked on the same number of points. Our 'B' team joined the 'A' team in joint first place with 143 points after our first string lost their first match of the season
CHEERLEADERS swept awards at a major competition and topped off their training by performing with a top team of British arm wrestlers. The Dance and Performing Arts Centre (DAPA) cheerleaders, of Eanam Wharf, Blackburn, won a host of awards at the UK
Haslingden Primary School showed they were equally at home on the court as they were at the crease after enjoying that double winning feeling. For the Ryfield Avenue school rounded off the hugely successful Haslingden Schools Sports Festival by winning
DURING the trial, Berry's defence team questioned why Stephen Champ had not been taken more seriously as a suspect. Alastair Webster QC, while stopping short of calling him the killer, said there were serious question marks of his involvement. But today
A quintet of East Lancashire darts players are set to do battle with the country's finest in the Embassy Gold Cup Great Britain Finals. Following their success in the Lancashire qualifiers, Clitheroe hot-shot Andy Gudgeon takes his place in the individuals
A TOP judge was today due to hear further argument in Blackburn Rovers star Dwight Yorke's test case appeal against a speeding conviction. At London's High Court, the striker is challenging an October 2002 speeding conviction after he was allegedly clocked
I AGREE with Pendle MP Gordon Prentice on regional government which will have no power over education or transport. Bye, bye Pendle and here comes Greater Blackburn. The town centre of Nelson will be decimated with no council staff to shop there. The
REGARDING the girls from Westholme School in Blackburn who are taking part in an English Channel swimming marathon (LET, June 28). I too, am 'swimming the Channel' -- at the Mercer Hall Pool in Great Harwood -- and up to date have done 620 lengths --
IN response to Phil Mattrick's views (Letters, June 30), I have only two comments to make: 1. Firearms are designed and manufactured as a tool to kill and maim. 2. If the people of Britain could own firearms as in the USA, we would only succeed in sharing
I COULD not agree more with the comments and conclusions of Mr Paul Atherton about speed cameras (Letters, July 8). If his costing of the set-up is correct, it must amount to quite a few million pounds for these instruments. Despite claims to the contrary
A TEENAGE lesbian was today beginning a life sentence after murdering her "popular, caring and sensitive" girlfriend in a jealous rage. And today the family of victim Mandy Burton paid her a loving tribute, saying: "Now she can be laid to rest." Louise
GRAEME Souness last night told rookie goalkeeper David Yelldell: 'You will get your chance next season.' The £100,000 signing from Stuttgart Kickers has been brought in to provide cover for experienced duo Brad Friedel and Alan Kelly. And Souness has
THE government is to review the Riot (Damages) Act 1886 following the 2001 disturbances in Burnley, Bradford and Oldham. Under the system if a disturbance is declared a riot, the local police authority has to pay out for damage to businesses and properties
A MOTHER of three was allegedly raped on her kitchen floor as her children watched a video in the next room, a jury was told. The woman ended up injured after she was groped, dragged into the dining room and pushed on to the table, causing one of the
IT'S all gone quiet over there! That's the verdict on Burnley's song-shy fans after the club's supporters failed to make it into a national league table of soccer chants. A top ten of footie songs compiled by holiday firm Thomson failed to throw up any
THE distraught parents of a football fan who died on a trip to support his team today spoke of their devastation after the teenager who killed their son was jailed for seven years. Andrew McNee, 19, a member of a group of soccer thugs known as the Burnley
A POSITIVE and productive meeting of the Cliviger Challenge Steering Committee was held recently, with those present considering the questions to be included in the parish questionnaire. After discussions the questionnaire has been condensed from its
THE seal of approval is expected to be given to Pendle's Outdoor Recreation Strategy next week. Strategic Leisure was appointed in December 2002 to work in partnership with Pendle Borough Council to develop such a strategy. A playing pitch assessment,
WHEN Sarah McDonald was nine years old she was diagnosed with diabetes. But luckily for Sarah, now 11, and a pupil at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, she was allocated her own Florence Nightingale in the form of Carol Wade. Carol, a specialist children's
AN ACCRINGTON man has admitted his involvement in receiving a lorry containing thousands of pounds worth of alcopops. Geoffrey Royal, 29, of Manor Street, admitted assisting unknown offenders who had committed robbery, kidnap and false imprisonment to
ROLLS-ROYCE was the big winner at the Paris Air Show, announcing around £2 billion of new orders for its Trent engines and long-term service agreements. And while the news was a major boost for the company's operations at Barnoldswick, industry leaders
AT a time when many textile businesses are floundering, Helmshore-based Musbury Fabrics is going from strength to strength. The family-run company is celebrating its 70th year in business by recording sales at record levels. Musbury Fabrics is perhaps
PLAYING in one of the best brass bands in the country stirs the soul, makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and forms lifelong friends, according to Edward Tarling. But the administrator for Leyland Brass Band, currently All England Masters
BLACKBURN brewer Daniel Thwaites has never been short of bottle - especially when facing major decisions affecting operational efficiency and customer care. So, when confronted with a bottling dilemma, following the closure of the brewery's long-term
ROSSENDALE'S very own 'Knight of the Black Pudding' has set his sights on conquering the nation's tastebuds. Andrew Holt's black puddings can already be found among the gourmet food at posh London store Fortnum & Mason and top chefs are now discovering
PHILIP Hilton was determined not to follow his parents into the mill when he left school. An ultimatum from his father - "If you can find yourself a job, you won't need to go into the mill" - spurred him into action. With the help of his mother and a
BURNLEY pace ace James Anderson aims to leave the Clarets in a spin with a surprise return to Turf Moor today. The fast bowler is a special guest of Burnley Cricket Club as they take on their footballing neighbours in the annual friendly cricket match
STAN Ternent is pushing his players through the pain barrier to ensure there is no repeat of last season's dismal start to the season. The Clarets squad have been enduring up to three gruelling spells each day to reach the peak of fitness for the big
ENGLAND coach Duncan Fletcher has denied Lancashire fans a rare chance to see James Anderson and Andrew Flintoff at Blackpool this week. Fletcher has told the centrally-contracted pair to take a complete break ahead of the start of the Test series against
STAN Ternent is pushing his players through the pain barrier to ensure there is no repeat of last season's dismal start to the season. The Clarets squad have been enduring up to three gruelling spells each day to reach the peak of fitness for the big
NEW Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has launched a fresh bid to land Rovers winger Damien Duff. I can exclusively reveal that the big-spending Londoners have tabled TWO new offers for the Republic of Ireland star in the last 24 hours. And Ewood chief executive
A COACH and emergency funds are needed to help give children, whose parents were made redundant from Crown Wallcoverings, a holiday to remember. Organisers are in desperate need of the coach to take the children on a day out and money to pay for the special
FEARS that Crown Wallcoverings might close altogether on Friday have been allayed by union officials. Rumours were circulating among former workers that business at the wallpaper plant would cease at the end of the week. An former Crown worker with ten
A MYSTERY underground newsletter entitled 'Blackburn without Darwen' has been slammed by Darwen councillors who have told the anonymous writers to 'put up or shut up.' The letter, which contains no name or printing address, includes a phoney planning
A 22-YEAR-OLD disqualified driver raced through the streets of Longridge at speeds of up to 70 mph on a Friday night -- just three days after he had been banned. Blackburn magistrates heard that Robert McKenna sped down a back alley at more than 30 mph
A MOTORBIKE mechanic has enlisted the help of a local artist to help him rev up business interest after moving to new premises. A huge 15-ft gloss painting of a racing bike in action will adorn the doors of Mick Morant's Motorcycle Workshop on Carlisle
DAVID Dunn's school tell us about the community work he does and some of us have been party to that but that is not exceptional considering how highly paid he is. He should be doing that type of work as part and parcel of his job and so should the other
AN EAST Lancashire tourist attraction looks set to solve a neighbourhood parking problem if planners give the go-ahead for a new coach park. Oswaldtwistle Mills applied to planners at Hyndburn Council to convert a piece of vacant land off Spring Hill
NOW the dust has settled on Dunny's transfer and the facts are known, I feel compelled to write and defend him. Is there anyone who has not fallen out with their gaffer? In one transfer we have paid back 70 per cent of the cost of the academy, all this
DETECTIVES had no forensic evidence or murder weapon, but the motive of jealousy became clear as they conducted a painstaking inquiry. And despite the lack of hard evidence, Louise Berry would be charged with murder in just five days. A team of 60 officers
I AM very disappointed at the bad press David Dunn is getting from so-called Blackburn fans. I have known Dave since he started playing football and can assure you he has not left Blackburn for money. As for Mr Souness saying he did not like his lifestyle
POLICE searching Berry's house found a number of love letters which laid bare her obsession with Mandy and her torment. Officers believe they were written in the weeks leading up to the murder, as Berry's confusion and frustration over her relationship
PRESTON could pick up their first silverware of the season tomorrow night when they face Chorley in their opening pre-season fixture. A trophy honouring the memory of Jack Kirkland, Chorley FC's former chairman who died last year and was a big PNE fan
NORTH End will hold its first open day for three years when it opens the doors to the public on Sunday, August 17. Supporters will be given the chance to meet the first team and management, take part in question and answer sessions and get autographs.
