A Businessman who failed to remove building materials from the pavement has been prosecuted. And Blackburn magistrates heard Paul Rigby, owner of Byrom Supplies, felt he had been singled out for "political reasons". Rigby, 58, pleaded guilty to unlawfully
RIBBLE VALLEY ex-pats living across the globe are reserving spaces at a new memorial wood for when they die. Council workers have had requests from as far away as South America, Asia and Africa after announcing their plans for a dedicated arboretum last
"PETE - do you think you're acting like a complete banker?" asked Big Brother, speaking for a nation, in last night's instalment of the mad house. Even po-faced Pete's couldn't help but crack a smile, admitting it was the best question he'd been asked
A BLACKBURN woman who has admitted a large-scale fraud is facing a possible prison sentence. Julie Cafferty pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court to six charges in a case said to involve £40,000-£50,000. The defendant, 40, of Bentham Road, Blackburn
A MAN with a learning disability has proved he has got the X-Factor after his bagpipe playing was praised by Sharon Osbourne. Michael Lonsdale, 20, from Springfield Road, Great Harwood, had very low self-esteem and lacked confidence over meeting people
A MINORITY of boys are undermining efforts to turn around Darwen Moorland High School because "weak" teachers cannot control them, inspectors claim. The school in Holden Fold is still on course to come out of special measures' in March but HM Inspectorate
WE have got to know each other over the last few years, so you will have gathered that although I don't belong to any particular political party, in the main my leaning is a little to the right, as they say. But, in all honesty, I have to express my
WHY does Mid Pennine Arts persist in trying to foist these Panopticons on the people of East Lancashire who at best seem disinterested in them, if not totally against them? I applaud Hyndburn Council's stance against this project. I am sure local councils
THE House of Lords is about to vote on amendments to the ID Cards Bill. It is generally believed the strategy that Conservative and Lib Dem Lords will take on the Report Stage of the bill will be to amend the bill to remove compulsion. It is unlikely
I DID enjoy Ken Holden's letter (LET, January 13). Instead of wasting vast sums of money on superfluous wars such as Iraq, Switzerland is building two 40-mile long rail tunnels to keep heavy freight off the roads. Meanwhile, Transport Secretary Alistair
GREAT Harwood people are being asked to point out areas of town which need special kerbs to improve disabled access. Leaders of the Great Harwood Area Council have agreed to look at provision of drop kerbs. A plan has been drawn up by the council including
A FISHING shop owner who makes world-renowned salmon lures claims he is being sold down the river by council regeneration plans. Spintec has been based in Johnston Street, Blackburn, for 35 years. But while surrounding properties have been given a facelift
GREAT HARWOOD'S top policeman has promised his officers will be patrolling to cut the amount of illegal parking in the area. Inspector John O'Reilly addressed a meeting of the Great Harwood Area Council after residents raised concerns about wheelchair
THE Asian Business Federation has launched an initiative to make sure businesses in the food and drinks industry comply with new legislation. The ABF, based in Blackburn, has launched Food Smart, a 13-step initiative to make sure firms meet HACCP (Hazard
A DETECTIVE who died when his sports car crashed on the motorway was an award-winning officer whose death has stunned colleagues across the force. Detective Sergeant Mick Thornber, 48, had lived and worked in the Blackburn area most of his 29-year-career
A pensioner died four days after suffering a fall at her home, an inquest was told. Lilian Snape of Queen's Close, died last Tuesday, aged 78. Coroner's clerk John Schofield told an inquest she was admitted to Blackburn Royal Infirmary on January 13
A DARWEN woman queried whether a nicotine patch had played a part in the sudden death of her 38-year-old partner. An inquest heard Andrea West left Garry Lee Cowburn asleep on the settee when she went to bed but came down in the middle of the night to
A NIGHTCLUB door-man has admitted attacking a Blackburn pub landlord who was left fighting for life on his stag night. Barry Dowd, a worker at Blackpool's Syndicate nightclub, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to James Foley. Preston Crown
Hearings at Blackburn Magistrates' Court had an unusual spectator yesterday constitutional affairs minister Harriet Harman. She toured the court in Northgate, meeting staff and observing proceedings as part of a visit to be updated on progress within
A MAN has been given a suspended prison sentence for attacking a taxi driver who he thought was lusting after his girlfriend. Neil John Hardy, 20, of Row Greave Road, Oswaldtwistle, has pleaded guilty to assaulting Kalid Hussain in Accrington just before
A £3million project aimed at ending the traffic chaos at East Lancashire's most notorious roundabout has been unveiled by highways bosses. The Highways Agency has agreed to spend £1.8million installing traffic lights at each of the junctions leading
IF press speculation is to be believed Saturday's defeat against Rovers could be Graeme Souness's last in charge of Newcastle United. Should this prove to be true, how ironic this game can be. I'm sure we all remember the first game after Souness had
JANUARY is notoriously a bad month for Burnley. Sadly, 2006 shows no signs of breaking the mould. Out of the Cup, defeated in the derby, winless since Boxing Day and currently lying eight points off the play-offs, the club clearly needs a lift. Instead
KIWI all-rounder Tama Canning is set to make a sensational return to the Lancashire League with Haslingden. Canning, 28, spent four seasons with Accrington before being released at the end of last season after something of a disastrous season for both
LOYAL servant Graham Branch fears that Ade Akinbiyi will leave Burnley this week if the price is right. The Clarets' longest serving player has grown accustomed to seeing strikers leave the club in recent years to fill a financial black hole. Fouteen
BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes has abandoned his interest in Uruguayan midfielder Gonzalo de los Santos. The former Valencia star, who was recently linked with a switch to Arsenal, has spent the last week on trial with Rovers in the hope of securing a lucrative
Burnley have received an unexpected financial boost with the news that the Turf Moor clash with Norwich City in late March has been selected for live screening by Sky Television. It will be the third time the Clarets have appeared live this season following
NEIL Warnock has dropped his strongest hint yet that Sheffield United are ready to test Burnley's resolve with a new bid for Ade Akinbiyi. The Clarets are waiting with bated breath to see if the Blades follow up two rejected offers with a third, improved
POLICE are investigating after thieves stole an "extremely realistic" replica revolver during a raid on the home of an 80-year-old woman in Accrington. Detective Sergeant Nigel Watson said that it was "very worrying" the high-quality replica weapon should
A WIND farm could be built on the moors above Todmorden if planning permission is given for a single mast to be erected in the area to test suitability. Calderdale's planning department has received an application from energy company Coronation Power
CLITHEROE Parish Church Amateur Operatic Society is busy rehearsing for its musical comedy Crazy For You, which will run from Saturday, February 11 to the following Saturday at St Mary's Centre, Church Street, Clitheroe. The show, written by George and
IRISH music classes for adults are being held in Rossendale to commemorate the centenary of the death of a radical humanitarian who once lived in Haslingden. The classes are part of a series of cultural and educational events planned to mark the death
TWO young Rossendale entrepreneurs are hoping to create their own business empire after expanding their first company. Adam Hindle, of Clough Street, Waterfoot, and Jon Greenwood, who hails from Rawtenstall but now lives in Hollins Lane, Baxenden, have
RESIDENTS in Burnley held a meeting to oppose plans for new mobile phone masts. The event, organised by pressure group Together Against Masts, saw dozens turn up at the Central Methodist Church to oppose the building of new masts. Phone companies have
A DEALER who sold hard drugs on the streets of Nelson has been jailed for five years. Afzal Asif, 22, was caught out after supplying in view of plain clothes police. He was bailed and weeks later was spotted again in Chapel Street, throwing away a chocolate
A BLOCK of rundown flats and shops in Burnley which has been a magnet for drug dealing and arsonists is finally being demolished. Residents have repeatedly complained about anti-social behaviour and have campaigned for years for the block in Calderbrook
RESIDENTS of Barnoldswick turned out to have their say on plans to revamp the town centre. The town council has commissioned Groundwork East Lancashire to come up with proposals for the improvements which went on show in the town square on Saturday.
A FAULTY electrical heater started a fire in the offices of a community group in Pendle. Fire crews were called to the headquarters of Pendle Pakistan Welfare Association (PPWA), Nelson, around 1.45pm yesterday. Fire crews said an electrical fault
A 30-year-old Nelson man who died after being found face down in water at Hartlepool Marina has been named by police as Paul Clement. Police said Mr Clement, who was found in the water on Wednesday evening, was from Lancashire but had been staying with
Two men who admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour have been given community sentences by Burnley Crown Court. Christopher Barnsley, 20, of Walton Street, Colne, was given 100 hours community punishment. Daniel Philips,
A TEENAGE burglar kept his freedom but was warned jail awaited if he continued to offend. Burnley Crown Court heard Ikram Ullah, 19, had been under the influence of drink when he struck at the house in Reedley Road, Reedley and stole a mobile phone.
DETECTIVES hunting arsonists who burned down a Great Harwood nightclub have renewed their appeal for information almost 12 months after the blaze. And today they revealed the car driven into Monroe's and set on fire was bought in Oswaldtwistle four days
A "SPEEDING" driver who caused a head-on smash and then ran off leaving injured people in the wreckage, has avoided jail but lost a bid to clear his name. Lying David Swarbrick, 28, had been on the wrong side of the road when he hit a vehicle being
COPIES of a picture of a world famous surgeon are being sold to raise cash for charity by one of his former patients. Keith Whalley, of Ulster Street, Burnley, was operated on by Sir Harry Platt after he was diagnosed with polio as a seven-year-old
POLICE are to review procedures after a court heard it took officers months to charge a convicted child abuser who had offered a boy cash for sex acts. Terence Bradley, 47, had approached the 13-year-old in Nelson town centre. The victim pointed him
VANDALS have gone on the rampage through an East Lancashire cemetery, desecrating graves and pushing over headstones. And police who suspect drunken youths were responsible for the damage - who sent an empty bottle of cider for forensic analysis in
HEALTH bosses have been slammed for shunning a meeting to address residents' fears over Rossendale Hospital closures. Rossendale Council invited health chiefs to attend a special meeting after concerns were raised over the closures of the rehabilitation
POLICE investigating the death of a man found close to a moorland reservoir above Burnley are appealing for help to trace his mystery last movements. Walkers discovered David Caine, 23, from Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, slumped next to a wall by Clowbridge
AS I forecast, we had some lively times last week as an alliance of Liberal Democrats, Tories, cross-benchers and a few Labour backbenchers defeated the government five times. On Monday we defeated it three times on identity cards. The most important
AN 11-year-old boy from Barnoldswick has shed more light on the area's past after finding a neolithic axe head. Jordan Green, of Gill Meadows, was out with his father Chris and younger brother when he spotted the stone in a stream off Brogdan Lane and
A LATE-night soccer league aimed at giving the red card to anti-social behaviour has kicked off in Burnley. The Brazilian Midnight League has been launched by community groups to try and reduce vandalism and teen nuisance in the evenings when most trouble
THE latest event to help people give racism the red card will be held at Turf Moor this week. Burnley Football Club and police are urging anyone who feels they are being singled out for abuse because of their age, gender, sexual orientation, disability
BURNLEY Football Club is spearheading a drive to get more Asians pulling on the famous claret and blue shirt. The club, along with the International Football Institute, has conducted research to find out why so few Asians become professional footballers
A 20-year-old woman who walked away from a horror smash with minor injuries was today described as "very lucky" by police. The woman was heading towards Blackburn on the Grane Road in Haslingden when she lost control on a tight left hand bend near the
A CABBIE today spoke of his terror after being punched and stoned by thugs. It was the latest in a string of assaults on taxi drivers in the Pendle area. Taxi bosses have condemned the violent yobs and called for more to be done to protect drivers.
GRAHAM Branch today urged Burnley not to sell star striker Ade Akinbiyi. The club's longest-serving player issued a direct plea to chairman Barry Kilby as Turf Moor braces itself for a third bid by promotion-chasing Sheffield United to land the 14-goal
BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes will step up his search for a new striker amid fears that Paul Dickov could be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Dickov suffered a dislocation of his shoulder following an innocuous-looking clash with Titus Bramble during
DANIEL Barritt was celebrating in Monaco today after a dream debut in the World Rally Championship. The 24-year-old navigator from Hapton guided Japanese star Fumio Nutahara to victory in the production car class on the Monte Carlo Rally, which finished
THE day after Lancashire and England's Andrew Flintoff received the Freedom of Preston for his cricketing heroics, Accrington Stanley hit a maiden half century. Ian Craney's single strike earned the Reds their 50th Conference win. And to add extra oomph
I WONDER if the experts who failed to save London's "distressed" whale can apply their skills to humans? Because if ever a manager looked and sounded distressed in equal measure then it was Steve Cotterill after the worst week of his managerial reign
THOSE Blackburn Rovers fans who made the pilgrimage to St James' Park thanked their lucky stars on Saturday evening as they spilled out into the cold North East air. For a split second, you could be forgiven for thinking they were giving thanks for Morten
STEVE Cotterill gave his depleted side a huge pat on the back for their efforts before preparing to whisk them off for a welcome break. The Clarets boss felt Burnley gave their all in the absence of suspended striker Ade Akinbiyi, only for Preston to
Mark Hughes has backed Newcastle counterpart Graeme Souness to ride out the storm that is threatening to engulf him. "I know Graeme well and I've got a lot of time for him as a guy," said the Welshman. "He brought me to Blackburn as a player and I've
MARK Hughes hailed another magnificent performance from Ryan Nelsen and his defensive colleagues as Blackburn Rovers turned up the heat on hapless Newcastle manager Graeme Souness. Nelsen did a brilliant job of snuffing out the record seeking Alan Shearer
THE man with the big collars and an obsession with badgers made a return on Saturday with the delightfully silly Harry Hill's TV Burp. Love him or loathe him (I love him) you can't deny the man has an uncanny knack of finding humour buried in otherwise
Darwen's academy plans have been boosted by the news that students of such centres improve three times faster than mainstream pupils. But critics like the National Union of Teachers say the figures simply prove that academies are selective. Darwen's
COLD-calling salesmen could be barred from hundreds of Accrington homes within weeks. Community leaders are preparing to launch a "no cold calling" zone in the town to protect residents from bogus callers. Accrington has been identified as a priority
Firefighters were called to St Paul's C of E Primary School, Union Road, Oswaldtwistle after a pupil got her leg stuck sliding down a bannister. The crew was called at 10.30am on Friday to free the girl after teachers' attempts to release her failed.
THE GOVERNMENT will decide whether to back plans for an East Lancashire university by the summer, a minister has pledged. Bill Rammell MP, Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, told a private meeting of education staff
A lot of people have a television in the bedroom but it's a real passion killer, research has shown. Couples who have a TV in their bedrooms make love only half as often as those who keep it a telly-free zone, a study by a leading Italian psychologist
RE the front page on January 14 saying: Our teachers are bored. I think many students would agree with me when I say that many of our teachers are boring. I work in schools and I have listened to lessons where the teachers drone on and on and when their
THE review of Brokeback Mountain (LET, January 6) called it: "a masterpiece, cinematic alchemy, gorgeous, haunting, jaw-dropping, heart-rending, stunning," and many more superlatives. So how come I can't see this film in Blackburn? The new Vue cinema
Blackburn Rovers were not the only local team to enjoy a victory over Newcastle at the weekend - Blackburn Hawks also brushed aside their North East opponents in the English National Ice Hockey League. While Rovers triumphed at St James Park on Saturday
WHILST I applaud the actions of dog walkers who clean up dog mess I would like to point out that the used plastic bag should then be binned either at home or in a disposal box. Some owners deposit bags in bushes or hedges where they will remain. Do they
JUST yesterday, I bumped into Burnley legend Brian Miller in town. "Any news on Ade?" was his opening gambit. It seems even someone with a half a century of involvement with the Clarets was as desperate for daily updates as the rest of us! Well today
DOZENS of obese children in East Lancashire are being sent to slimming clubs by their GPs in a bid to fight the flab. Children as young as 11 are now being admitted to groups that normally cater for adults, as obesity levels among the area's youngsters
SIR Alex Ferguson has admitted that his decision not to sign Morten Gamst Pedersen has somewhat backfired. Pedersen has proved a particular thorn in Ferguson's side, scoring both goals in Blackburn's Premiership win in September as well as levelling Louis
HUNDREDS of pensions staff in Simonstone will go on strike tomorrow in protest over job cuts. Around 30,000 jobs are being cut from the Department of Work and Pensions and now the Public and Commercial Services Union, which represents more than 310,000
MORE than 30 top architects and developers from as far away as Holland, London and Bristol visited the Whitefield area of Nelson in a bid to win the chance to transform the historic area. They were the six teams which have got through the selection competition
AN illegal immigrant who sexually attacked a "vulnerable" Burnley schoolgirl has been jailed for 18 months. Father of two Nasir Javaid, now 37, took the 15-year-old child back to his flat in the town and tried to have sex with her in 2003. Afterwards
ASIAN families taking their children on long holidays to the Indian sub-continent are being blamed for giving Pendle the worst truancy rates in Lancashire. Along with Burnley, Pendle comes bottom of a specially-compiled chart of school absences compiled
IT MAY take a little longer than expected but Blackburn captain Richard Spicer has set his sights on leading his team back to where they belong. The club were hoping for a quick return to North Two West following relegation but those plans have had to
A WOMAN was pounced on and indecently assaulted by a hooded man as she made her way to work. Police said the incident could have been even more serious had it not been for a passer-by who disturbed the attacker. The woman, who is in her 40s, was walking
AN OSWALDTWISTLE mother of three who cheated her way to almost £13,000 benefits she wasn't entitled to has kept her freedom. Former drug addict and prolific offender Lisa Dwyer, 38, was living with her partner but claiming as a single mother and did not
A FORMER photographic shop and printers is to be expanded to provide office space for businesses in Clitheroe. Pye's has occupied the York Street site since it opened as a photographic shop in 1918 and has been a printers for the last few years. Now,
GOALS will always be the staple diet for any striker worth his salt. And Bramall-Lane bound Ade Akinbiyi has gorged himself ever since he arrived at Burnley 11 months ago. The mark of a real goalscorer is how many times he comes up with that crucial strike
Richard Ashcroft, the rakish ex-Verve frontman, has just announced a major nine-date tour, and he'll be coming to Blackpool on May 9. Billinge-born Ashcroft's comeback single Break The Night With Colour hit number three at the start of the year, while
BURNLEY today agreed to sell star striker Ade Akinbiyi to Sheffield United for a club record £1.75m. Akinbiyi was dramatically pulled out of the Clarets' winter training trip at the 11th hour after the two Championship clubs struck the seven-figure deal
MOTHERS with young children in Darwen are being given an opportunity to meet others in a similar situation while learning a new skill. The Women's Centre, based in Blackburn, will run free courses at venues in Darwen for women with pre-school children
I WONDER if anybody else agrees that people are very selfish today. I live in the Pothouse area of Darwen and constantly have to clean up dog mess. I have contacted the council which says that this is classed as "anti-social behaviour" and it would provide
A Bacup pensioner died two weeks after falling out of bed, an inquest heard. The hearing was told that Dorothy Johnson, 90, was discovered by staff at Burwood Rest Home, Todmorden Road, in the early hours of May 1, last year. She was taken to hospital
MORE than 500 people have signed a petition to save Waterfoot library from closure. Villagers were outraged when Lancashire County Council announced the library was one of nine to close in a bid to save money. Steve Taylor, owner of Steve's Quality Fruiterers
A TEENAGE graffiti artist who offered to clean up his own mess to avoid prosecution has been ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid community work. Blackburn magistrates heard that James Bonnick, who daubed his 'tag' (stylised signature) on buildings throughout
PERSISTENT truants face early-morning visits from police in a bid to ensure they get to class. The move by officers in Blackburn with Darwen comes after new figures revealed that attempts to reduce truancy are appearing to stagnate. Despite repeated truancy
WHAT a sad state of affairs it is when we have to send our children to a club to teach them how to be fit and healthy. But the reality of modern living, in a world dominated by video games and satellite TV, is that scores of youngsters will put their
SO there will be no more clock tower as we know it to admire on King William Street, Blackburn. A timepiece would look well on Church Street. Otherwise it's a case of if you want to know the time ask a policeman -- oops sorry, traffic warden! I MACK (
The clock tower in King William Street, Blackburn, is to vanish. All I can say is it's about time! The clock tower which used to be a beautiful timepiece was transformed into a huge monstrosity and has rarely told the right time since somebody in their
RE the story 'Borough ban on blade soccer boots' of January 12. Blades are dangerous, studs are dangerous. I have been on the receiving end of an injury from blades but am still unsure how different my injury would have been if the player concerned was
HUNDREDS of pensions staff in Simonstone will go on strike tomorrow in protest over job cuts. Around 30,000 jobs are being cut from the Department of Work and Pensions and now the Public and Commercial Services Union, which represents more than 310,000
Sunderland Reserves 3 Blackburn Rovers Reserves 0: A youthful Blackburn Rovers reserve side crashed to a disappointing defeat at the hands of Sunderland last night. The Black Cats took the lead in the 14th minute when a shot from Martin Woods broke to
BRAD Friedel has hailed the magic of the Carling Cup as he aims to lead Blackburn Rovers to their second final in four years tonight. Friedel was one of the stars when Rovers lifted the trophy in 2002, turning in a Herculean performance at the Millennium
BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes is sweating on the fitness of Craig Bellamy ahead of tonight's Carling Cup semi-final second leg with Manchester United at Old Trafford. The Welsh international is available again after completing a one-match suspension, which
STEVEN Reid is backing Morten Gamst Pedersen to deliver another knockout blow at Old Trafford tonight after the Norwegian has been hailed as Blackburn's answer to Diego Maradona! Pedersen has already scored three times against Manchester United this season
SEMI-FINAL specialist Frank Stapleton reckons nobody should expect a thriller when Manchester United and Blackburn clash in tonight's second leg. But he also says that's the reason why Mark Hughes's men have every chance of reaching their second final
BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes today roared 'We can do it!' as Rovers head to Old Trafford knowing they need to score to keep their Carling Cup dreams alive. Tonight's semi-final second leg is delicately poised at the halfway point after Rovers and Manchester
A WOMAN shopworker was hit in the stomach by a street robber in Burnley who fled with several thousands of pounds of takings. The victim was carrying the day's takings to the Post Office in Coal Clough Lane at 5pm on Monday when the robber grabbed her
OLDER people gave their views on NHS services and were given health advice at an event in Burnley. More than 80 residents aged 55 and over were invited to the New Life Church, in Sycamore Avenue, by the Patient and Public Involvement Forum, a watchdog
POLICE are hunting a pair of young arsonists who have set fire to a number of trees in Burnley. A group of teenagers were seen running down a back alley following one of the incidents which happened at about 9.10pm on Sunday when a conifer was set alight
YOUNGSTERS with stars in their eyes are invited to take part in auditions for a talent contest. The singing competition has been organised by Brunshaw Action Group, in Burnley, with the support of Pennine Police. Police bosses say the aim of the competition
A HOUSING company has launched a drive to keep Burnley youngsters off the streets by making them feel part of the community. Calico is funding Street Scene, a range of activities aimed at youngsters in the Accrington Road area. The scheme, launched this
An 80-year-old Nelson woman had £600 stolen after a bogus tradesman called at her door. A man went to her house in Edward Street and said he had done some repair work, but nothing had been done to the property. He took the cash and a black leather purse
A MAN originally charged with raping a five-year-old girl is facing jail after admitting attacking her. Cuthbert Taylor, 51, admitted assault by penetration and sexual activity with a child, between April and June, 2005, when he appeared at Burnley Crown
ASIAN families taking their children on long holidays to the Indian sub-continent are being blamed for giving Pendle the worst truancy rates in Lancashire. Along with Burnley, Pendle comes bottom of a specially-compiled chart of school absences compiled
VOLUNTEERS at a homeless charity in Accrington which provides "emotional first aid" to those in need helped over 35,000 people last year. Visitors to Maundy Relief, Abbey Street, have tripled over the last year as volunteers help not only with finding
I ONLY found out this week people round here used to get taken to court and fined if they didn't turn up for work. I'd still be in the dark were it not for an elderly lady reminiscing about the time she was sued by her employers at the mill after missing
Burnley Youth 7 Macclesfield Town Youth 1: Cayne Hanley hit the hat-trick trail as Burnley youth team went goal crazy ahead of a week of crucial cup clashes. The teenage striker bagged three goals to help trounce 10-man Town and keep the Clarets hot on
BURNLEY today agreed to sell star striker Ade Akinbiyi to Sheffield United for a club record £1.75m. Akinbiyi was dramatically pulled out of the Clarets' winter training trip at the 11th hour after the two Championship clubs struck the seven-figure deal
IF Blackburn Rovers are to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford tonight then the battle for midfield supremacy holds the key to our chances. If United have one weakness at the moment then it's in the centre of the park following Roy Keane's sudden departure
BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes today roared 'We can do it!' as Rovers head to Old Trafford knowing they need to score to keep their Carling Cup dreams alive. Tonight's semi-final second leg is delicately poised at the halfway point after Rovers and Manchester
A FORMER photographic shop and printers is to be expanded to provide office space for businesses in Clitheroe. Pye's has occupied the York Street site since it opened as a photographic shop in 1918 and has been a printers for the last few years. Now,
A MAN suffered a gash to his head during a violent incident at a Darwen bar praised for its safety and security. But today Reg Gorton, owner of Bar Java, in Wellington Road, said he was happy with the way the situation had been handled, despite one of
PERSISTENT truants face early-morning visits from police in a bid to ensure they get to class. The move by officers in Blackburn with Darwen comes after new figures revealed that attempts to reduce truancy are appearing to stagnate. Despite repeated truancy
A TEACHER who complained he was feeling tired fell asleep at the wheel of his car before it drifted across the road smashing into an HGV, an inquest heard. The hearing was told Alan Squire, who told colleagues he had fallen asleep at the wheel twice before
A WOMAN who has just returned to work after almost three years on incapacity benefit has backed a new Government crackdown. Joanne Day, 36, said many who claimed benefit could be fit to return to work - a situation ministers have pledged to tackle head
Hundreds of worried pilgrims crowded around a photo display at a medical centre in Mina, Saudi Arabia, scanning anxiously for pictures of loved ones who may have been among the 362 people killed the day before in a deadly stampede. Medical officials at
A high performance car dealer in Bradford has been jailed for 25 years for plotting to flood the district with 130kg of heroin with a street value of £7 million. Father-of-four Khalid Malik lived the high life while selfishly ignoring the tragedy and
IT must have come as a relief to Foreign Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw after reading the headline "Town Hall ordered to cut budgets by 10 per cent" that party leaders on Blackburn with Darwen Council, Conservative Colin Rigby and New Labour Kate
HYNDBURN Council is to improve pavements in Oswaldtwistle for the elderly and disabled after complaints. Elderly people living in Springfield Mews sheltered housing, who use mobility scooters, were having problems because of the lack of dropped kerbs
THE East Lancashire economy could grind to a halt if the moderately high chance' of a flu pandemic becomes reality, doctors have warned. Under a worst case scenario' outlined in a new report, only essential services would be available for up to six weeks
A POPULAR family hairdresser in Oswaldtwistle is looking forward to his well-earned retirement after only taking one week's holiday in the last 20 years. Peter Bentley, 60, has been in business for the past 41 years at his salon on Union Road, and in
A SELF-confessed alcoholic asked magistrates to keep him in custody rather than give him bail so he could beat the drink. And after three weeks in jail Mark Murray, 39, of Fishmoor Drive, Blackburn, was told to undertake an alcohol misuse programme and
A FORKLIFT truck driver pleaded guilty to breaking two of his girlfriend's ribs less than a month after being convicted for a similar attack on her. Martin Holden, 36, of Bolton Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting his girlfriend of two years
POLICE called to a house raid in Accrington met the burglar coming out of the property but thought he was a concerned neighbour, a court was told. Officers then went back to Stephen O'Callaghan and asked him to lift his foot after finding a shoe print
EIGHT A-level students from Clitheroe Royal Grammar School are being groomed as future world leaders. The group are off to the USA for a global conference aimed at producing tomorrow's pioneers. They will be among 80 students from across the globe invited
A MAN has been charged with wounding after two men were allegedly stabbed at a birthday party. Gary Wilcox, 20, of Highercroft, was due to appear before Blackburn magistrates today following an incident at a community centre in Lawrence Street, Bank
A DETECTIVE died yesterday after a motorway smash in his car. Tributes were today paid to Detective Sergeant Mick Thornber, 48, who lived and worked for most of his career in the Blackburn area. Cheshire police said DS Thornber lost control of his
RESIDENTS are being invited to talk to developers of Whitworth's new civic hall at an open meeting. Builders McGoff and Byrne will be at the drop-in evening to show locals how plans for the new civic hall are going. Final schemes are now being put in
A STORM of protest has erupted over plans to close a popular Rossendale library. Users of Waterfoot Library have attacked the decision by Lancashire County Council and fear the closure would deprive the town's people of accessible book lending facilities
A BURNLEY man has appeared in court in connection with the discovery of cannabis resin worth more than £4million. Sarfraz Ahmed, 29, of New Hall Street was one of three men charged with conspiracy to supply controlled drugsfollowing the discovery of
A Chinese New Year workshop will be held at Rossendale Museum, Whitaker Park, Rawtenstall, on Sunday, January 29 from 1.30pm-3.30pm. Visitors can find out how the new years are named and take part in craft activities, including making a lion toy and
BARROWFORD'S latest bobby on the beat is saying G'day' to residents. Police Community Support Officer Neil Wallin, 40, has lived in Melbourne, Australia for most of his life. Born and bred in England, he has now settled back here and after working as
A WOMAN who made neighbours' lives hell by playing loud music day and night has been fined £700. Ellen Morris, of Duckworth Street, Barrowford was found guilty at Reedley Magistrates' Court of 23 separate offences of playing loud music. She was fined
FOUR louts who were part of a vicious gang attack on an innocent father of two in Earby are facing jail terms. Leigh Jarvis, 21, and Jonathan Farrell, 17, were yesterday convicted of violent disorder and assault causing actual bodily harm, after a four-day
A NELSON school has raised more than £1,800 for children affected by the Pakistan earthquake. Whitefield Infant School and Nursery Unit organised a series of fundraising events including a competition to guess the name of the teddy bear, the number of
A NEW CCTV system in Barnoldswick is already helping police in the fight against anti-social behaviour. Youngsters in the town have been fined for unruly behaviour after being spotted by the town's new Big Brother-style cameras. Police handed out seven
A teenager had to undergo surgery on a broken leg after she was hit by a car on one of the major routes out of Burnley. The 13-year-old girl was running across Westgate near to the Little Chef roundabout when she was hit by a blue Nissan Primera. The
A HUSBAND and wife singing duo are to star at a concert being held to help raise cash for the Rossendale-branch of the NSPCC. Singer Miranda Bevan of Ramsbottom will be appearing alongside her husband Kenny Orr and other friends of Opera North who all
A BURNLEY youngster died after he was hit by a taxi while enjoying an afternoon on his bike, an inquest heard. William Haigh, nine, died when his bike collided with a Toyota Avensis in Belvedere Road at 5pm on Sunday, July 3. The inquest heard William
POLICE today reassured the public they were doing all they could to find those responsible for a violent vehicle robbery and a botched burglary. A man putting his Audi S4 in the garage of a house in Grassmere Road, Helmshore, was attacked by masked raiders
AN Asda cashier who stole more than £4,300 from her bosses at the Burnley store has been jailed for eight months. Karren Ashton, 38, helped herself to money and then set out to make the books looked like they balanced. She worked almost unsupervised
AN East Lancashire amateur football club is appealing for a wealthy benefactor to help shoot it to glory. Padiham FC, nicknamed The Storks, is looking a new chairman to take over the hot seat at the Arbories and invest in improving the club. Present
A 33-YEAR-OLD Nelson man has died after being found face down in water at Hartlepool Marina. The emergency services were alerted after members of the public heard shouts for help from the dock at around 11.30pm on Wednesday. Police attended the scene
