THE proposal for an East Lancashire Unitary Authority is extremely sensible. Not only will it give an authority with the clout to rival cities such as Manchester and Liverpool, but the transition costs in setting it up would be minimised since Blackburn
HAIRDRESSER Susan Lincoln's 50th birthday party produced a £1,520 boost for Pendleside Hospice, Reedley, after she asked guests give donations instead of presents. Family, friends and customers gathered for a party at Ighten Mount Bowling Club, Burnley
A PAIR of Scout leaders in Padiham are hoping to encourage more young people with hearing difficulties to get involved in the movement. Roger and Rosie Urquhart, leaders of the 3rd Padiham St John's Scouts, are both fluent in British Sign Language and
THREE-YEAR-OLD Nicki James, who just a year ago thought he may never walk, has started to take his first steps. Cerebral palsy sufferer Nicki, of Quakers View, Brierfield, could not sit up straight and struggled to put one foot in front of the other.
COLNE Rhythm and Blues Festival has once again been an overwhelming success with thousands of people flocking to the town. Fans young and old flocked to Pendle's premier tourist event as the main streets through Colne became a sea of people on Saturday
Simon, 24, of Darwen, whose poems spelled out the horrors of war and touched hearts across East Lancashire, flew to his base at Tuzla.
PAM Smart snapped back at scientists who cast doubt on her telepathic terrier Jaytee's psychic powers. Pam said Jaytee was telepathic but new research claimed the mind-bending mongrel's abilities were no more than wishful thinking.
CADETS from Leigh and Tyldesley are enjoying an adventure holiday with a military flavour. They have joined forces with 400 members of the Greater Manchester Army Cadets on a two weeks summer camp in Sussex. They are practising fieldcraft and exercises
FINAL preparations are being made by the parents of former county cricketer Ian Folley for a cricket match in his memory. James and Constance Folley, of Clayton-le-Moors, decided to do something to mark the tenth anniversary of their son's death while
MEMBERS of a music club will celebrate a hundred years of harmony next month. The Accrington Clef Club was formed by town music teacher George Oldham, with a membership of just 15. Set up to study classical music, with pieces performed by the members,
ORGANISERS of an exhibition of artwork by an Accrington artist are appealing for his former schoolmates to attend a preview. Leslie Duxbury, a former pupil of Accrington Art School, in Blackburn Road, Accrington, was head of printmaking at Kingston Polytechnic
A COUNCIL leader has been criticised for effectively giving the authority's members an eight week 'summer holiday' without any meetings. Leader of Hyndburn's opposition Labour group Coun Jean Battle said Coun Peter Britcliffe's actions meant he could
SUNDAY, AUGUST 24 BLACKBURN: 10am-1pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road; 10.30am-4.30pm: Superdrug Pharmacy, 5 Stonybutts; noon-1pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 62 New Chapel Street, Mill Hill. DARWEN: noon-1pm: Geloo Brothers, 14 Union Street. ACCRINGTON: 11am
THURSDAY, AUGUST 28 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohens Chemist, 63 Whalley Range; To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 6.30pm: Donald Wood Ltd, 53 Fishmoor Drive;
RECORD crowds attended the 76th annual Chipping Show at the weekend. More than 5,000 attended as the event, at the Chipping Showground, returned to normal following two years of restrictions due to foot and mouth disease. More than a hundred prizes were
BLACKBURN Rovers were still sweating on their bid for Rangers star Barry Ferguson as they prepared for tonight's Premiership showdown with Manchester City at Ewood. Ewood chief executive John Williams faxed a written offer -- believed to be in the region
GRAHAM Branch reckons rock-bottom Burnley are heading down unless they toughen up. Skipper Branch was distraught after bogey side Wigan became the third side this season to take maximum points off the Clarets in Saturday's 2-0 Turf Moor victory. And he
FIFTEEN children from Darwen's Whitehall ward who worked to clean their streets have won praise from Blackburn with Darwen. Fifteen children from the Whitehall ward used their initiative to fill four skips of rubbish over a 48 hour period. Councillor
TWO British detectives are helping an investigation to find an East Lancashire woman who went missing on holiday in Greece. The officers, from New Scotland Yard and the Metropolitan Police, have been carrying out inquiries in Rhodes, where Darwen woman
NEW speed limits are being introduced at two rural blackspots after council bosses admitted previous attempts to cut accidents had failed. The moves -- which will include mobile speed camera enforcement -- will take effect within weeks on the A675 south
FRIENDS of a brave teenager suffering from Crohn's Disease have started a fundraising campaign to give her the holiday of a lifetime. Amy O'Connor, 14, of Blackburn Lane, Bacup, travels to America in November with her mum and sister after being nominated
THE Highercroft community is staging a summer carnival on August 31. The event will be the culmination of several months of preparation and will be led by Coun Dorothy Walsh, regeneration officer Aziz Hafiz and helpers from St. James' Church. Local children
POIGNANT diary entries made days before her death by Blackburn's world famous singing star Kathleen Ferrier are being exhibited in Blackburn Museum next month. Visitors can read the pages which show crossed out singing engagements as the mezzo soprano
A TEENAGER with what a judge slammed as a "dreadful record for violence," was warned if he struck again he could face life in jail. Young dad Stephen Holt, 19, already had a conviction for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and if he committed
THE campaign to fund an exciting expansion plan at Blackburn's newest theatre has got off to a flying start. Less than a week after it was launched, 19 people have already pledged £1,000 each and become official rogues. The aim of the Rogues' Gallery
COMMUNITIES could suffer if police boundaries are changed as part of a new regional assembly, it was claimed today. Members of Lancashire Police Authority are drafting a letter outlining their concerns to the Government ahead of next year's vote on whether
DAWN Halleron's world was put in a spin when her boyfriend proposed - just days before they set off on a two-year trek around the globe. Dawn and boyfriend James Bolton were packed up ready to embark on a one-in-a-lifetime trip round the world when he
THE oven gloves are to be hung up at a family bakery that has been open for 105 years. The owners of Jamieson Bakery in Hoghton, have been unable to replace their present baker, who has been producing their home-made bread and teacakes for 20 years, after
ACCRINGTON Stanley were unable to make their mark on Conference strugglers Forest Green Rovers, despite a rousing second-half at The Lawn. John Coleman's team of battlers turned the match on its head after the interval, putting Forest Green under constant
THE provision of education for children with severe learning difficulties has been transformed since the 1970s. The head teacher of Newfield School in Blackburn is a pioneer of the movement which has moved children with severe learning difficulties away
Open House and Gardens, Browsholme Hall, Clitheroe, 2pm. "The Wizard of Castle Magic," Library Theatre, Knott Street, Darwen, 1pm. Tea Dance, Accrington Town Hall, 1.30pm-4pm. Royal British Legion Ladies General Meeting, Legion Club, Towneley Road, Longridge
EAST Lancashire's Victorian parks are a legacy local residents have been able to enjoy for more than a century. They were planned and landscaped to give people working long hours in conditions that would not be tolerated today somewhere to escape to.
A MUM today appealed for the return of her six-year-old son's bike after it was snatched by a teenager in front of him. Cheryl Clarke, of Zebudah Street, Mill Hill, Blackburn, said Samuel was devastated by the theft of the green, £129 mountain bike three
HAVE you heard the latest sport? Russia has introduced 'keyboard throwing.' Now could this catch on? I've got a vision of the executive suddenly having a wobbly and in an odd moment of madness, grabs his keyboard and 'cobs' it as far as he can throw it
IN July, the House of Lords voted to allow local authorities to adopt a policy of fluoridation with the drinking water supplies. It hasn't become law yet until it is debated in the Commons. If this house follows the Lords and it does become law, who would
WILL the Government scrap existing regional assemblies where devolution is rejected, or are we being faced with a Hobson's Choice? The future of the eight English Euro Regions, which currently exist, is not made clear. Should voters reject devolution
I HAD the pleasure of visiting my home town of Blackburn one weekend on a short trip to the UK. As usual, the people of the North West are as warm and friendly as anywhere in the world, which is something that anyone who moves away must surely miss. However
SPEED restrictions could be introduced on a rural road where a 22-year-old Leigh man crashed a high powered sports car, killing his best friend. Bolton Council and the police are in discussions about how the road can be made safer. Richard Bourke, of
THREE-YEAR-OLD Nicki James, who just a year ago thought he may never walk, has started to take his first steps. Cerebral palsy sufferer Nicki, of Quakers View, Brierfield, could not sit up straight and struggled to put one foot in front of the other.
NEW speed limits are being introduced at two rural blackspots after council bosses admitted previous attempts to cut accidents had failed. The moves -- which will include mobile speed camera enforcement -- will take effect within weeks on the A675 south
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness is planning to appeal against the straight red card dished out to Steven Reid in Saturday's explosive Lancashire derby with Bolton. The Republic of Ireland international was sent off by referee Andy D'Urso for a late challenge
BLACKBURN Rovers were still sweating on their bid for Rangers star Barry Ferguson as they prepared for tonight's Premiership showdown with Manchester City at Ewood. Ewood chief executive John Williams faxed a written offer -- believed to be in the region
Bolton Wanderers 2 Blackburn Rovers 2 DWIGHT Yorke has scored some vital goals during a distinguished career. Take his effort against Juventus in Turin which kept Manchester United's treble dreams alive in 1999. Or what about his hat-trick in the 6-1
RESIDENTS in the Piccadilly Road area of Burnley have been looking at the progress made to improve their community. The event, held at Holy Trinity School, in Every Street, was a follow-up to one held last October, which aimed to encourage people to get
THE parents of tragic fan Nathan Shaw handed over more than £1,000 to head injury charity Headway this weekend in his memory. Nathan, 17, was killed in Burnley town centre when he was hit on the head with a bottle as he made his way to the Burnley v Nottingham
A BURNLEY day nursery has become the first in the town to receive a quality kite mark. Delighted senior managers and staff at Le Monde Petit day nursery in Burnley will be presented with their 'Quality Counts' kite mark award tomorrow at a ceremony at
A £1.5million extension to Burnley's Towneley Hall has attracted more than 30,000 extra visitors in the 12 months since its completion. In August 2002, former Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire Sir Simon Towneley officially opened the new wing of the town's
PEOPLE living in the Daneshouse and Stoneyholme area of Burnley will be given their final chance to shape the future of their neighbourhood this week. A public meeting will be held at Stoneyholme and Daneshouse Youth and Community Centre on Thursday,
Kidderminster 0 Bury 2 by Phil Thorp: AFTER three straight defeats in their opening three fixtures Bury's trip to Kidderminster, who boasted a 100 per cent league record, was probably a banker home win on most punters' fixed odds coupons. But they wouldn't
VILLAGERS turned out in force on Saturday to support the annual Fence garden show at the Scout and Guide headquarters. Classes included flowers, vegetables, needlework, preserves and paintings, as well as children's categories. Jean Anciant, the former
THE first phase of work to develop Nelson town centre and pull the shoppers back into the town was due to start today. Work was expected to begin on the extension to the Pendle Rise Shopping Centre, in Place de Creil. Pendle Council said it would be working
A NEW baby unit in Nelson which will allow parents to leave their children while they go back to studying has been officially launched as part of Lancashire's first early excellence centre. The Bumble Baby Unit is the latest addition to the Walton Lane
ANOTHER store in Accrington's new Market Square development is set to open with the creation of 40 new jobs. Poundland, a discount store, will open the doors of its Broadway site next month. The market development has been ten years in the planning and
MONDAY, AUGUST 25 BLACKBURN: 10am-1pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road; noon-1pm: Boots Ltd, 2 Cobden Court. DARWEN: noon-1pm: Geloo Brothers, 14 Union Street. ACCRINGTON: 10am-noon: Bentley's Chemist, 42 Avenue Parade; noon-1pm: Tims & Parker,
FRIDAY, AUGUST 29 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: Moss Pharmacy, 314 Bolton Road; The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; The Surgery (Chiropody), 132 Lammack Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: The
TUESDAY, AUGUST 26 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst Road; Geloo Bros, Cleaver
GRAHAM Branch reckons rock-bottom Burnley are heading down unless they toughen up. Skipper Branch was distraught after bogey side Wigan became the third side this season to take maximum points off the Clarets in Saturday's 2-0 Turf Moor victory. And he
Burnley 0 Wigan 2 GALLOWS humour should have been the sole domain of Stan Ternent. But opposite number Paul Jewell chipped in first with a frank admission on another afternoon of pure frustration for the Clarets boss. "I thought for the opening ninety
DARWEN Community Centre enjoyed a lick of paint and a general revamp thanks to a dedicated ten-strong team. Grafters from the Blackburn Partnership invested time, money and effort into giving the Knott Street Centre a much needed facelift. Three separate
LANCASHIRE dialect poet Jim Atherton, standing 5ft6in, is dwarfed by his 6ft 6in high water lilies. Jim, 77, of Waterfield Avenue, Darwen, has no idea why it has grown so unusually tall this year -- although he did put some different concentrated manure
DARWEN FC manager Steve Wilkes today told of his brush with Sunderland counterpart Mick McCarthy who told him: "You can keep your record." McCarthy's team beat Preston North End 2-0 at the Deepdale stadium to avoid equalling Darwen's 104-year-old record
A VICTORIAN park could soon become a no go area for residents if vandal attacks continue. That's the stark warning from Friends of Bold Venture Park who are worried that anti-social behaviour and vandalism in the park, off Belgrave Road, Darwen, are becoming
THE Environment Agency is investigating a diesel spill into the stream in Rawtenstall town centre. Shoppers had noticed a strong smell coming from Limy Water, near to the Focus DIY store, and a film on the water's surface. The Environment Agency was called
CHIEF Constable Paul Stephenson pledged that the quest for truth amid allegations of police brutality and lies would be thorough and probing. Lancashire's police chief spoke out after District Judge Paul Firth's comments as he threw out a case of threatening
THWAITES' world famous Shire Horses are toasting yet another trophy-winning year. The distinctive Blackburn brewery horses have proved to be the 'mane men', winning success in more than ten national competitions in a wide range of disciplines. Led by
TWO old companions from Blackburn Fire Station who helped save many lives have been reunited after 28 years. The two Dennis fire engines served side by side in the 1960s and 70s. The 1956 model, lovingly-restored by crews at Blackburn in the 1980s and
Wilkes still happy despite defeat Darwen retain record but slip out of the cup NEAR MISS: Darwen's Denny Khan went close to scoring at Fleetwood FLEETWOOD TOWN...1 DARWEN...0 DARWEN made an early exit from the FA Cup at the extra preliminary round stage
ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman refused to be downbeat, despite seeing his side crash to their third defeat out of four games. And he was adamant the best is yet to come from his UniBond Premier Division champions as they adapt to life in the
To tips on the Clearing system BURNLEY boy Scott McKavett has used his experience as an undergraduate to produce advice for A-Level students going through clearing. The civil engineering student is now a successful undergraduate at the University of Bradford
COUNTY Hall bosses have been given a cash warning as they carry out a major overhaul of special educational needs in Lancashire. Head teachers have warned that the system of statementing special education children must be urgently reformed in a bid to
Centurions 78 Dewsbury Rams 18 by Mike Hulme: THE Centurions and Salford City Reds will slug it out next weekend for the honour of the National League One Minor Premiership. Leigh's runaway 14-try win over bottom club Dewsbury and Salford's equally impressive
RESIDENTS have spoken of their horror after a 20-year-old man was stabbed to death in Ramsbottom. The victim was found lying at the rear of a semi-detached bungalow in Rostron Road, Ramsbottom, at 9pm on Friday. He was taken to Fairfield General Hospital
